Surreybirder's lep blog (1 Viewer)

[Surreybirder]

bargain

I had one of those 'ping' moments on Monday. I have been considering whether to buy a new moth trap as my 80W MV (borrowed) was in a poor state (one vane missing, rain cover cobbled together with glue). But I was put off by the feeling that I might have to spend £200 to get anything significantly better (I'm not a DIYer). Anyway I was walking the dog through our local industrial estate when I had one of those 'ping' moments. One of the workshops makes bespoke aquariums. So I asked them whether they might be able to copy the vanes/rain shield of my moth trap. They've done a brilliant job - and they only charged me £6!
Even though the conditions are not great tonight, I've put the trap on, just to test it out.
Ken

 

[Surreybirder]

Well I had seven moths despite the strong wind.
Satellite
feathered thorn
mottled umber
December moth
What I think is a winter moth agg.
And two very worn specimens that could be brick or yellow-line quaker or not!
Ken

 

[hjalava]

3. looks like Epirrita autumnata to me.

 

[Surreybirder]

I hope you're right, Harri, as I've not had that one before. I'll send it for 'analysis'. It was smaller than other Epirrita sp. I've had.
Ken

 

[Surreybirder]

Well, I had an autumnal moth, but not the one shown earlier. It's a new species for me - though not a particularly striking specimen. I just got some results back from my CR. I also had a grey shoulder-knot (first of year) that I had overlooked earlier so my list is creeping up!
Ken

 

[Surreybirder]

23 Nov

Things have quietened down considerably.
Last night I had:
December moth
mottled umber
presumed brick

3 moths in about 5 hours!

 

[hjalava]

Yes. it is A. circellaris.

 

[Surreybirder]

Thanks, Harri. You're a brick (as we say in English!)!
It is mild here but we've had no sunshine and it's quite windy, so I don't think there's any point running the trap again tonight.
Ken

 

[Surreybirder]

not a good night

The trap had only been on for about an hour tonight when we suddenly had a violent thunder storm. Various fuses blew in the house and the trap went off. Now I cannot restart it. I suppose it's possible the bulb or the choke has blown, or perhaps the circuit breaker. At least I know that the mains power is working again. Not much I can do about it in the dark!
Ken

 

[Surreybirder]

Well, I don't know what was going on on Saturday. The trap worked fine last night. Unfortunately I didn't catch anything.

 

[Surreybirder]

A few moths last night, at last.
December moth 5
mottled umber 3
20-plume 1 (in house)
Ken

 

[Surreybirder]

I had my first winter moth agg. last night - clinging to our window in the horrible weather.

 

[hjalava]

That one is Operophtera brumata.
This species (with O. fagata) was in flight during October in Finland, interrupted because of snowy conditions in the beginning of November, and were in flight again from the middle of November, when the snow had melted away.

 

[Surreybirder]

Just two moths last evening
December moth
Silver Y

 

[Surreybirder]

That one is Operophtera brumata.
This species (with O. fagata) was in flight during October in Finland, interrupted because of snowy conditions in the beginning of November, and were in flight again from the middle of November, when the snow had melted away.

My county recorder had it as an Epirrita, so I've not had a definite winter moth so far.
Red admiral flying today, despite low temps.
Ken

 

[MikeWall]

My county recorder had it as an Epirrita, so I've not had a definite winter moth so far.
Red admiral flying today, despite low temps.
Ken

I'd agree with him Is that Jim Porter?

 

[hjalava]

Well, I'm absolutely sure that the moth is O. brumata. All Epirrita species have angled submedian fasciae, in Operophtera they are almost straight (like on the picture).
In O. brumata the postmedian fascia meets the inner margin vertically, in O. fagata slightly glancing.

 

[Surreybirder]

I'd agree with him Is that Jim Porter?

No, Graham Collins, though I think he works closely in cahoots with JP.
Ken

 

[Surreybirder]

Well, I'm absolutely sure that the moth is O. brumata. All Epirrita species have angled submedian fasciae, in Operophtera they are almost straight (like on the picture).
In O. brumata the postmedian fascia meets the inner margin vertically, in O. fagata slightly glancing.

Sorry, Harri, not much I can do about it! He wrote:

poss Winter moth is some sort of November though - Winter has very rounded wing-tips and looks like the classic heart shape, November has almost pointed wing-tips.

Personally, I don't feel I have the experience to add to the debate.
Ken

 

[Surreybirder]

Allowing for minor disagreements over one or two IDs, I have had 337 definite species of moths in my garden in 2006. (This compares with 98 species of birds in my 5 km square.)
17 species of butterfly and 15 of dragonflies near my home.
I glow-worm!
Not a bad year.