Surreybirder's lep blog (2 Viewers)

[Surreybirder]

If you can't beat them, join them.
I put my trap out for the first time in almost two weeks last night. At 10.30, it was buzzing - literally. There were at least four hornets around the trap. Being a bit paranoid (I reacted very badly to my last wasp sting), I just turned the trap off and left it. So my expectations were not too high this a.m. However, it wasn't a total disaster as I had my first ever magpie moth.
The only other catches were ruby tiger, a dead straw dot, a moribund hornet and an unided micro.
I've also had two cheap ticks in the form of a blue-bordered carpet and buff footman which I had photographed but not identified! My CR has emailed me the results of various specimens and photos taken during July. I won't bore everyone with a list of micros that I'd never heard of but apparently
736 Monochroa lucidella (Gelechiidae) was only the 4th modern Surrey record.
I've had two 2nds and a 4th so far this year - which I suspect is a reflection of the fact that there are not many micro recorders in Surrey rather than the wonders of my location.
Ken

 

[Surreybirder]

I didn't put the trap on last night because it was windy and quite cool. But I still managed a couple of new species for the year. The buddleia and the hemp agrimony in particular were attracting quite a few moths. I found a couple of six-striped rustics among them. Also nfy, a lime-speck pug at a house-light. I also found this micro, possibly a tortrix, which I haven't managed to pin down though I've been through Mike Wall's thumbnails.
I only need about 6 more species to bring my garden list up to 400, so still some way to go to catch Mocha, Terry, Grampy or whichever name he's currently using
Ken

PS I think I've found the tortrix:
1048 Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana

 

[Surreybirder]

footmen

I've now had five 'footmen' species in the garden this year so I thought I'd post the photos for comparison.
Ken

 

[pie]

Good variety Ken,

I like the Ruby Tiger, amazing pattern.

It will be interesting to see the enteries in this months photo comp.

Got caught without a camera at a BBQ on the weekend, but a friend let me use a mobile phone to capture a UFO enjoying the remnants of spilt red wine and nibbles (not mine, I never spill a drop!!)

Just waiting now for the pics to be sent back to me.
Will post if anything interesting shows.

 

[Brian Stone]

Where's the Ruby Tiger?

 

[Surreybirder]

I suppose for completeness I should put rosy footman up!
And here's a ruby tiger
Ken

 

[Brian Stone]

Ah, that's better. I do like Rosy Footman, although for 'completeness' there should be another 10 species (plus the stramineola form of Dingy).

 

[Andrew]

Nice to see various footmen alongside each other.

Even if only to prove to me that they do EXIST!

 

[Surreybirder]

Ah, that's better. I do like Rosy Footman, although for 'completeness' there should be another 10 species (plus the stramineola form of Dingy).

I'll have to rely on you for the other 10, Brian, as they've never visited me. I like the look of crimson speckled but I'm not holding my breath to see one!
Ken

 

[pie]

Aw, see I just assumed!!!

 

[black52bird]

f. stramineola footman

Aw, see I just assumed!!!

Just because Brian asked for it, and he identified it from my picture, and I happen to have caught it when I was in Norwich (at UEA) in early July..here it is again, for comparison.

Dingy Footman: Eilema griseola f. stramineola

Hope it helps

David

 

[Surreybirder]

2nd August

The good news was that there were only two hornets in the trap (plus a wasp) - and also that we finally had some heavy rain :bounce:
Not so good, there were few moths... but one was a micro that I don't recognise. I have done a quick skim through UK moths thumbnails but not spotted it, so grateful if someone could name it.
Other moths were:
flame shoulder (sev)
dark arches
common carpet
common rustic agg.
mother of pearl
the spectacle.

Ken

 

[Brian Stone]

Pretty sure this has cropped up a couple of times recently. Isn't it Eudemis profundana?

 

[Surreybirder]

Thanks, Brian. It's a lot darker than the examples on UK moths and on Mike's site but perhaps the orange tuft is diagnostic.
Ken

 

[Surreybirder]

3rd August

It was quiet last night with cooller temps.
New for year was dusky thorn.
Also seen: brimstone
flame carpet
common rustic agg
20-plume
a plume
a Crambid
common white wave
a very pale footman

 

[hjalava]

4. Agriphila tristella,
5. probably Amblyptilia punctidactyla (it's not reddish brown like A. acanthadactyla)

 

[Surreybirder]

Thanks, Harri, you're amazing!

 

[Brian Stone]

5. probably Amblyptilia punctidactyla (it's not reddish brown like A. acanthadactyla)

Agreed. It also has the rather 'peppered' look of punctidactyla.

 

[Surreybirder]

Agreed. It also has the rather 'peppered' look of punctidactyla.

That'll be a new one for me if confirmed.
I suspect that my footman could be hoary, as it was very pale and sat in a rather 'scarce' posture. I'm sending it to my CR for checking. He had 10 recently!
Ken

 

[Surreybirder]

4Aug06

Very quiet last night. Only new one for year was
lesser broad-bordered yellow underwing