Latest Sightings

30-May 125W MV (Highlights):

East Lulworth

• Watsonalla cultraria Barred Hook-tip 1
• Protodeltote pygarga Marbled White Spot 1

31-May Field record:

Kingcombe Meadows DWT

• Bactra lancealana >50
• Panemeria tenebrata Small Yellow Underwing 1
• Autographa gamma Silver Y 2

A brand new for the garden in one Scalloped Hazel !  Chunky moth.  New for the year are singles of Bright-line Brown-eye, Angle Shades, Small Phoenix, White Ermine and two Flame Carpets

Numbers picking up now, with 2 Tachystola acroxantha, Cochylis atricapitana, Garden Pebble and Vine's Rustic all being new for year. Also, a Silver Y

15 moths of 10 species. New for year - Common Swift, Bright-line Brown-eye, Cochylis atricapitana and Pseudoswammerdamia combinella.

Another reasonable catch by this year's standards; FFY singles of Eudonia angustea and Red-green Carpet, 7 Green Carpet, a Common Pug, 3 Brimstone Moth, singles of Waved Umber and Cinnabar (FFY), 3 Flame Shoulder, a somewhat late Common Quaker and a Hebrew Character.

sorry, brain not engaged, I meant Clouded-bordered Brindle

Not so bad.  14 individuals of 11 species.  Highlights: Yellow-barred Brindle, Waved Umber, Swallow Prominent, Pale Tussock.

At last, it's starting to happen and I'm away for the weekend! 6 species including 1 Scalloped Hazel, 1 Clouded Brindle and 2 Green Carpets.

Poplar Hawk one, White Ermine one, Brimstone Moth one, Green Carpet one, Nut-tree Tussock two. 7 species.

The best night so far this year with 18 moths of 10 spp., including 6 very fresh Green Carpet, a Least Black Arches and a FFY Heart and Dart.

Much better night with two species new for site: White-pinion Spotted and Acleris hastana/cristana, both to actinic.

Maiden's Blush, Small Magpie and Least Black Arches were FFY.

Esperia sulphurella caught by day on inside of the kitchen window!

28-May 125W MV:

East Lulworth

• Petrophora chlorosata Brown Silver-line 1
• Eilema sororcula Orange Footman 1
• Spilosoma lubricipeda White Ermine 1

Shaggs

• Menophra abruptaria Waved Umber 1

Very poor!

First for year singles of Knot Grass and Nut-tree Tussock in a total of just 7 moths representing 6 species.

Cold, windy and clear- not good for moths. Just 16 moths of 7 species. New for year- White Ermine and Treble Lines.

Very cold night, with a full moon resulted in poor catches, with highlights being Nematopogon swammerdamella (NFR), Birch Mocha (FFY), Green Carpet (FFY), Common Pug (FFY), 2 Common White Wave (NFR) and 5 Common Heath (NFR)

Still very poor, 1 Red Twin-spot Carpet, 2 Muslin Moth, 1 Hebrew Character. Butterflies are starting to build in numbers, so let's hope the moths follow likewise.

Still low numbers and micros are almost non-existent. 10 moths of 7 species from last night: Green Carpet - 3, Muslin, Marbled Brown, Great Prominent - 2, Pebble Prominent, Poplar Hawk and Nut-tree Tussock

Still low numbers and micros are almost non-existent. 10 moths of 7 species from last night: Green Carpet - 3, Muslin, Marbled Brown, Great Prominent - 2, Pebble Prominent, Poplar Hawk and Nut-tree Tussock

Singles of Garden Carpet, Green Carpet, Brimstone Moth, Poplar Hawkmoth (NFY), Least Black Arches and 2 Hebrew Character.

Just singles of Spectacle (FFY for garden) and Pebble Prominent plus 4 Hebrew Character (6deg c)

My minimum temperature was 1c and I caught zilch !

Still poor numbers at Rodwell, with 8 species, with the highlights being 2 Brimstone Moth, Bright-line Brown-eye (FFY). Common Quakers still hanging on, but Shuttle-shaped Dart the most numerous species.

Min temp overnight was 5 deg C, just 1 Brimstone Moth, 1 Hebrew Character. This night last year, I had 26 species, that's some change.

On Butterfly transect walk, 9 Green Carpets, more moths than butterflies

I have run my trap every night since my last reporting, mainly for security reasons as a result of my recent break-in, and no moths have been seen.

Lunar Marbled Brown 23 eggs laid during the day before release.

Gusty and chilly with occasional showers.  Only 9 moths of 4 species with just Lychnis and Rustic Shoulder-knot worthy of a mention.

Less moths than yesterday, but worth a mention were: Rustic Shoulder-knot, Waved Umber, Mullein, Swallow Prominent and Pine Beauty.

By day at Rodwell, a new for garden Esperia sulphurella.

Just 25 moths of 8 species. New for year- Pebble Prominent and Heart and Dart.

17 moths of 11 species including Pebble Prominent. Chinese Character, Nut Tree Tussock, Chocolate Tip and 2 Muslin Moth. FFYs for garden: Knot Grass, Scorched Carpet and Green Carpet (2)

Still very poor here. Only 1 Lesser Swallow Prominent and 1 Brimstone Moth, but both first this year.

Just 16 of 10 species including: Streamer, Brimstone, Waved Umber, Lunar Marbled Brown, Silver Y (1), and Flame Shoulder.

13 moths of 7 species.  NFY were singles of Narrow-winged Pug and White Ermine.

Red Twin spot Carpet, Monopsis weaverella and 4 Roeslerstammia erxlebella were the highlights.

By day a Scarlet Tiger larva was found feeding on Russian Comfrey in the garden.

Promising conditions prompted me to put the trap out last night and I was rewarded with 27 macros of 14 sp.& 7 micros

New for the year were -

Bright-line Brown-eye, Peppered Moth, Poplar Hawk Moth, Yellow-barred Brindle - 2, Pale Prominent, White Ermine and Common White Wave

Things are looking up!

At last a few moths, best of the bunch were: Waved Umber, Pebble Prominent, Herald, Coronet, Purple Thorn, several Least Black Arches, 2 Nut-tree Tussock, Sallow Kitten, 3 Common Pug, Dark Sword-grass and Silver Y.

New for the year were two Swallow Prominents, and singles Nut-tree Tussock, Pebble Hook-tip and V-Pug

19 moths of 13 species including singles of Iron Prominent, Muslin, Waved Umber, Pebble Prominent, Early Thorn and garden FFY singles of V-Pug, Chinese Character, Twenty Plume, Least Black Arches and Chocolate Tip (1 Carpet still to ID)

Diasappointing here as well - just 11 moths of 8 species, including (FFY) singles of Tachystola acroxantha, Currant Pug and Waved Umber and a Least Black Arches.

Conditions seemed good, but the moths decided to stay away (or there just aren't that many around). The total catch was: 2 Great Prominent, Marbled Brown and a Hebrew Character.

Warm (12C), fairly still and overcast. The omens looked good, but only 15 moths of 9 species in 2 traps plus a few Cockchafers!

An overnight temperature staying at 12C produced just 30 moths of 14 species. The modest highlights were: (FFY) Currant Pug and Yellow-barred Brindle, plus Scorched Carpet, Waved Umber, (FFY) Lobster Moth, and Shuttle-shaped Dart, plus Flame Shoulder, Nut-tree Tussock and (FFY) Rustic Shoulder-knot.

12 moths of 6 species including 1 Buff Ermine, 1 Garden Carpet (FFYs for garden) and 3 Muslin Moth

Singles of Garden Carpet (FFY), V-Pug, Brimstone, and Sallow Kitten (FFY); otherwise just a Common Quaker and 3 Hebrew Character.

At last a few to count, including singles Early Thorn, Flame Shoulder, Clouded Drab and a very dark Ruby Tiger. Two beautiful Brimstone moth. MV 7.5c min

Singles of Brimstone and Puss Moth, Iron Prominent and 2 Flame Shoulder (all FFYs for garden).  Singles also of Lunar Marbled Brown, Waved Umber, Pebble Prominent, Muslin and Powdered Quaker.  12 Hebrew Character, 3 each of Clouded Drab and Early Grey

125w MV light. Highlights: singles of Brindled Pug, V-Pug, Scorched Carpet, Brimstone, Waved Umber, White Ermine, Least Black Arches 2, a single Pale Pinion and a Silver Y in a catch of 22 of 13 species.

Actinic trap produced fewer moths but NFY- Muslin Moth, Mullein and Puss Moth

22 moths of 15 species, with notables being Caloptilia rufipennella, 2 Elachista canapennella, Mompha epilobiella (New for garden) Common Carpet (New for year), Brimstone Moth (NFY), Least Black Arches (NFY), Knot Grass (NFY), and 1 Angle Shades.

Also, A Jersey Tiger larva feeding on Green Alkanet.

Lesser Swallow Prominent one, Shoulder Stripe one, Nut-tree Tussock one, Rustic Shoulder-knot one.  9 degrees.

Signs of improvement here, with singles of Depressaria radiella, Common Swift (FFY) and Green Carpet (FFY), 2 Brimstone Moth, singles of Least Black Arches, Shuttle-shaped Dart, Flame Shoulder, and Cabbage Moth (FFY) plus 6 Hebrew Character and a Common Quaker.

12 moths of 5 species including 1 Swallow Prominent and 1 Pale Prominent (FFY) plus caterpillar of Broad Bordered Yellow Underwing in garden soil

Improving numbers,24 moths. FFY -Shuttle-shaped Dart, Angle Shades, Herald, Double-striped Pug and Rustic Shoulder Knot. Also Dark Sword-grass

125w MV light. Temperature held at 6C at dawn.  The tally of just 21 moths of 6 species included FFY Brindled Pug, Brimstone, Pebble Prominent, White Ermine and FFY Flame Shoulder.

something is better than nothing, particularly after a minimum overnight temp of 2 deg C, 1 Nut-tree Tussock, 1 Frosted Green, that's all.

Only four moths - the highlight was a pale, male Muslin Moth, the first of the year. I optimistically assume that it will get better!

15-May 125W MV (highlights):

East Lulworth

• Agrotis ipsilon Dark Sword-grass 1

That is all!

At Leigh, 13 May 2013, a Poplar Hawkmoth.

The first V-Pug of the year, otherwise nothing of interest.

Temperature at 9C here at dawn.  Just 25 moths of 7 species to two Actinic lights, including singles of: White Ermine (FFY), Dark Sword-grass, and Lychnis (FFY), and the rest were the regular Orthosia species.

Breezy and showery (5 degC low) - not much to report:

Early Thorn, Engrailed - 2, Hebrew Character - 3, Common Quaker - 2, Clouded Drab and Great Prominent.

By day, an Angle Shades

8-May 125W MV (highlights):

East Lulworth

• Agrotis ipsilon Dark Sword-grass 1

Shaggs

• Odontosia carmelita Scarce Prominent 1
• Agrotis ipsilon Dark Sword-grass 1

7th May 2013
At Briantspuddle, two Frosted Green were new for the garden, and new for the year there were Parsnip Moth, Twenty-plume Moth, Lunar Marbled Brown, Red Twin-spot Carpet, Purple Thorn and a Great Prominent (J McMillan).  At Winterborne Stickland, singles of Scorched Carpet, Flame Shoulder and a Herald in addition to the usual species (L de Whalley).  At Yetminster, 11 species, including a Streamer, Pebble Prominent, Waved Umber, Red Twin-spot Carpet, Shoulder Stripe and a Nut-tree Tussock (C Burningham).

6th May 2013
A Pale Pinion was first for the year at Chickerell (C Pinder).  At Durlston, just two Common Quaker and an Early Grey (P England).  At Poole, singles of Maiden's Blush, Brindled Pug, Oak-tree Pug, Muslin Moth, six Common Quaker, a Clouded Drab, Hebrew Character, three Early Grey, Nut-tree Tussock and a Silver Y (M Lawson).  New for the year at Leigh were Water Carpet and Pebble Prominent (G Nash).  The pick at Yetminster was a Dotted Chestnut (C Burningham).

5th May 2013
At Tincleton, new for the year Eriocrania subpurpurella, Shoulder Stripe, Scarce Prominent and Lunar Marbled Brown; Richard comments that he has managed 50 species so far ths year, compared with 135 in 2011 and 80 in 2012.  An Agonopterix arenella was new for the garden at Leigh (G Nash).

4th May 2013
A Dark Sword-grass and a Silver Y of interest at Durlston (P England).  Two Ringed Carpet on a tree next to the topple light-trap in Wareham Forest (V Giavarini).  At Leigh, 27 moths of 8 species, with new for the year Waved Umber, Purple Thorn, Lesser Swallow Prominent and Muslin Moth (G Nash).

3rd May 2013
At Chickerell, numbers still low but a bit more variety with singles of Depressaria daucella, Agonopterix alstromeriana, Acleris cristana, Least Black Arches, and Powdered Quaker, two each of Common Quaker and Hebrew Character and an Early Grey (C Pinder).  Better conditions than of late at Tincleton with a mix of early and mid-Spring moths comprising 47 of 19 species; the highlights were: single Rush Veneer, five Early Thorn, two Early Tooth-striped, a first for the year Pebble Prominent, a single Dark Sword-grass, first for year Red Chestnut and two Nut-tree Tussock and a single Oak Nycteoline (R Cottle).  At Burton, among the usual were new for the year Light Brown Apple Moth, Eudonia angustea, March Moth, Pine Beauty, Shuttle-shaped Dart and Powdered Quaker (J Southworth).  At Leigh, a new for the year Streamer (G Nash).  Muslin Moth and Hebrew Character at Gillingham (G Hopkins).

2nd May 2013
At Durlston, a Silver Y found dead (P England).  Among the usual Orthosias, a Nut Tree Tussock was new for the year (G Nash).  New for the year at Gillingham were Lunar Marbled Brown and Nut-tree Tussock (G Hopkins).

1st May 2013
Brindled Beauty and Powdered Quaker new for the year at Leigh (G Nash).  At Yetminster seven Hebrew Character, a Small Quaker, Clouded Drab, Powdered Quaker, Early Grey and a Silver Y (C Burningham).

7-May 125W MV (highlights):

East Lulworth

• Saturnia pavonia Emperor 1

Shaggs

• Agrotis ipsilon Dark Sword-grass 1

Among the usuals at Rodwell, were new for year, Garden Carpet and Shuttle-shaped Dart.

6-May 125W MV (highlights):

East Lulworth

• Autographa gamma Silver Y 1

The forecast fog didn't arrive and with clear sky and temp down to 3C there were just 34 moths of 11 species including singles of: Shoulder Stripe, Early Thorn, Brindled Beauty, Dark Sword-grass and Red Chestnut.

7 traps out for the BC event, producing 397 moths of 44 species, with the highlights being Dyseriocrania subpurpurella, 9 Frosted Green, Marbled Pug, 2 Streamer, 2 Shoulder Stripe, 2 Waved Umber, 3 Purple Thorn, Brimstone Moth, Puss Moth, Pebble Prominent, 3 Great Prominent, 3 Dark Sword-grass, Blossom Underwing, Tawny Pinion, Pale Pinion, Satellite and Nut-tree Tussock.

The tally here on a mild night included: Common Plume, Streamer, Early Thorn, Brindled Beauty, Red Chestnut, and Chestnut in a catch of just 36 of 8 species.  The season species total now staggering up to 26 so far.

A Frosted Green and a Scarce Prominent were the highlights.

A milder and cloudier night here produced 48 moths of 12 species. The modest highlights were: Shoulder Stripe, Red Chestnut, 3 Early Thorn, 1 Purple Thorn and 1 Brindled Beauty.

Larval searches at Rodwell produced 2 Jersey Tiger, 3 Large Yellow Underwing, and 4 Lesser Yellow Underwing larvae, as well as an adult Caloptilia syringella.

The first prominent of the year! A Lesser Swallow Prominent.

2-May 125W MV (highlights):

East Lulworth

16 spp. overnight with Polyploca ridens Frosted Green the only new for year in the garden.

Update: Make that 17, forgot to mention Thera britannica Spruce Carpet, also NFY.

New for year was Elachista canapennella, among the usual species. Also, by day at Rodwell, Leek Moth