Latest Sightings

Much better despite a wet night.  31 individuals of 29 species identified.  Highlight a single Bordered Straw. Plenty of FFYs including Common Swift, Pebble Hook-tip, Broken-barred Carpet, Pebble Prominent, White Ermine and Spectacle.

A cool min 8.8 degsC here also - with 27 of 13 species, inc: Brown Rustic, Bright-line Brown-eye, CM & Gdn Carpet, Scalloped Hazel, Pale Tussock, White Ermine

Cold.  15 moths from 2 traps!

FFY Common Wainscot, Treble Lines, White-point and Large Yellow Underwing, among 38 moths of 13 spp.

23 species including FFY Brown Silver-line, Clouded Silver and May Highflyer (an uncommon moth at Tolpuddle).  Also a mystery Pug which may be Larch.

13 species, nothing new this year but included 1 Purple Bar and 1 Common Swift

Numbers increasing New moths included Privet Hawkmoth, Pale-shouldered Brocade, Shears, Clouded Silver, Garden Carpet and Red Twin-spot Carpet, Only migrant was Rusty-dot Pearl

15 species including 1 Poplar Hawkmoth, 1 Eyed Hawkmoth, 1 Garden Carpet, 1 Brown Rustic, 1 Least Black Arches

Chilly.  Low numbers but 24 species.  FFY Buff Ermine and Ingrailed Clay.

35 of 15 species inc: Peppered Moth, Dk Sword-grass, B-line B-eye, with FFY Poplar Grey, Coronet, Pebble Hook-tip, Poplar Kitten, 3 Marbled Minor agg (min 8.6 degsC)

10 species including 1 Common Marbled Carpet, 1 White Ermine

Chilly again and not so much cloud.  30 species including 2 White-point but I guess these are just the local population.  FFY Common Marbled Carpet, Marbled Brown and Alder Moth.

On a guided walk starting at 1400hrs, 2 Forester, 1 Buff Tip

12 species including 1 Peppered Moth, 1 Cinnabar, 1 Common Swift, 1 Chocolate Tip, 1 Noctocelia cynosbatella, 1 Udea ferrugalis (Rusty-dot Pearl)

Fall to just 34 of 17 species inc: Common Swift, Silver-ground Carpet, White Ermine, Chocolate-tip, Treble Lines, with FFY Figure of Eighty, May Highflyer, Brown Rustic, Cataclysta lemnata (Sm China-mk) Min 8.2 degsC

A little colder than the previous night.  29 species including FFY Ruby Tiger and Treble Lines.

Around 50 of 26 species inc: Iron Prominent, B-line B-eye, Waved Umber, Evergestis forficalis, with FFY Lst Blk Arches, Sallow Kitten, Dk/G Dagger agg, Orange Footman, Wax Moth, 3 Coxcomb Prominent (min 9 degsC)

8 brd-bord bee hawks nectaring at rhododendron and 10 male emperors to pheromone in the afternoon. Overnight traps Sunday morning had 67 species, best being poplar lutestring 1, poplar hk 6, lime hk 2, eyed hk 1, grey birch 3, seraphim 2, dk-barred twin-sp cpt 3, pale oak beauty 5, treble-bar 1 and musotima nitidalis 6. Excellent mothing at last, most bee hks I've seen at one time and all in about 20 mins. One slight surprise though, no lge red-belted c/wing to pheromone.

15 species including 1 Scorched Wing, 1 Cinnibar, 2 Setaceous Hebrew Character, 1 Small Waved Umber, 1 Common Pug, 1 Evergestis forficalis, 1 Anania hortulata, 1 Brown Rustic

No migrants last night but improving numbers. Best of the new for year were Orange Footman, Mottled Rustic,, Grass Rivulet and Clouded Border

Some moths at last. 22nd May, 26 species of macro, including a female Fox Moth.  23rd May, 17 species with a Portland Ribbon Wave and an Eyed Hawk.

Another warm, still and cloudy night with some mist.  Best night this year.  35 species including 1 Silver Y.  FFY Privet Hawkmoth, Orange Footman, Marbled Minor, Small Clouded Brindle, Burnished Brass, Lychnis and Pale Mottled Willow.

A much better night with 15 macro species and 32 moths. Migrants were Bordered Straw (2) and Diamond-back Moth. Among new for year were May Highflyer , Common Swift (3), Nut-tree Tussock (2) and Pale Tussock

1 Wood Tiger, great to see!

13 species including 4 Pale Tussock (including 1 female), 1 Chocolate Tip, 2 Common Swift, 2 Buff Tip, 1 Poplar Hawkmoth, 1 May Highflyer.

11 species, including 1 Poplar Hawkmoth, 2 Silver-ground Carpet, 1 Coxcomb Prominent, 1 Pebble Hook-tip, 1 Shoulder-striped Wainscot, 1 Mottled Pug

Best catch so far this year - One MV trap in sub-urban garden. A new for the garden Brown Silver-line, together with NFY Orange Footman(2), May Highflyer, and an early Willow Beauty. 22 macro and just 5 micro ID'd.

Best trap of the year so far including Orange Footman (4), Birch Mocha, the second Light Brocade of the decade (last in 2002) and the first Alder moth since 1963! Both of these last 2 new for me.

Chris Thain

Increase in numbers to 56 of 27 species: Common Marbled & Silver-ground Carpet, Spectacle, Pebble & Swallow Prominent, Heart & Dart, White Ermine, Chinese Character, Scalloped Hazel, 12 Sm Square-spot FFY macros: Chocolate-tip, Green Carpet, Poplar Hawk, Common Swift, Treble Lines, Buff Ermine, Set Hebrew Character.  FFY micros: Scoparia ambigualis, Celypha lacunana, Parapoynx stratiotata (R China-mk) Min 11.6 degsC

Warm, still and cloudy.  A good night.  53 moths of 27 species in two traps including one very fresh White-point and 1 Phtheochroa rugosana (which may be FFG).  FFY Common White Wave, Scalloped Hazel, Large Yellow Underwing, Chinese Character, Snout, Shears (not a moth I get very often) and Grey Pine Carpet.

A hint of better things to come here, with 24 moths of 10 spp: LBAM, Garden Carpet, FFY Poplar Hawk-moth, 3 Heart & Dart, 3 Shuttle-shaped Dart, 2 Flame Shoulder, Setaceous Hebrew Character, 10 Small Square-spot, FFY Clouded Brindle and FFY Rustic Shoulder-knot.

14 moths of 10 species. Still windy and cold up here. Highlights Bordered Straw and Silver Y . New for year Treble Lines,, Common Pug and White Ermine.

Grim still here, but Pale Pinion and Silver Y worth a mention. First Poplar Hawk of the year also.

Singles of Burnet Companion and Mother Shipton by day at DWT Kingcombe Meadows (Stones Common).

no species caught for two nights running. Where are all the moths?

Slim pickings on a chilly night. Only 8 individuals of 6 species. FFY of Scalloped Hazel, Poplar Hawkmoth, Buff-tip and Flame Shoulder.

Marshwood MV lamp. 18.5. 2015.  Fairly cold, very wet night

Reasonable,considering the weather

I each of : Poplar Hawkmoth, Spectacle, Muslin Moth, Brimstone, Flame Shoulder, Hebrew Character

2 Swallow Prominent

mild night, little wind, yet poor numbers of moths, 7 species, singles of Brimstone, Green Carpet, Hebrew Character, Pebble Prominent, Small Square-spot, Common Quaker and one unidentified micro.

14/5: Bordered Straw.

17/5: Mullein, Chocolate-tip.

Two Hummingbird hawk moths in garden on Bugle. One Garden Carpet

Just 11 of 7 species with FFY Scalloped Hazel

7 species, one each of Small Square-spot, Flame Shoulder, Hebrew Character, Pebble Prominent, White Ermine, Common Wainscot, Shears.

Stubhampton Bottom, 13.5.2015 – 7 Drab Looper. We are keen to encourage survey for this dayflying moth, please report any sightings to

Chilly.  8 moths from 2 traps!

1 Narrow-bordered Bee Hawkmoth, feeding on Bugle, a fascinating sight to see!

Eight species here, including a Dark Sword-grass and a Silver Y.

Just 18 of 12 species here also, inc: Great and Swallow Prominent, Muslin, Shuttle-shaped Dart, 2 Pale Tussock, 4 Red Twin-spot Carpet with FFY Plutella xylostella (min 10.7 degsC / cloudy)

Pale Tussock

Only 12 species including FFY Common Swift.

As yesterday, just 12 of 10 species inc: Silver Y, P.combinella, H. pseudospretella FFY Heart and Dart, Puss Moth, White Ermine (min 10.6 degsC)

Not expecting much, so a Bordered Straw and a Dark Sword Grass were a nice surprise. Also a garden first with a single Mompha raschkiella.

Only 11 moths including 1 Silver Y.  FFY Angle Shades, Heart and Dart, Small Square-spot and Vine's Rustic.

12 of 10 species inc: E Grey, Swallow and Lssr Swallow Prominent with FFY White Ermine, Pale Tussock, Clouded-bordered Brindle (min 10.6 dgsC)

A Hummingbird Hawk-moth in the garden in Lyme Regis (per Roger Boswell)

A Dingy Mocha to MV Trap, Map Ref: SZ003978 (photo) (per James Fradgley)

Return to min 4.2degsC and just 12 of 9 species, inc: Nut-tree Tussock, Muslin, Pebble Prominent, Brindled Beauty, White-shouldered House Moth FFY Spectacle and Angle Shades

A very calm night but poor results, 4 species only, 1 each of Muslin Moth, Flame Shoulder, Hebrew Character, Spectacle

Much colder overnight and very few moths.

Around 30 of 20 species inc: Great, Swallow and Lssr Swallow Prominent, 4 Muslin Moth, A.arenella, P.combinella with FFY Chinese Character, Common Pug, Silver Y, Twenty Plume (min 9.3 degsC/dry) 2 micros yet to ID

Another good night.  62 moths of 28 species.  New moths for the year not mentioned below: Water Veneer, Common Wave and 5 very fresh Poplar Hawkmoths.

Similar numbers here (33 of 20sp) inc: Streamer, L Marbled Brown, Dk Sword-grass, Brindled Beauty, Red Twin-spot Carpet with FFY Clouded Silver, Pebble Prominent, Ruby Tiger, V-pug, Bright-line Brown-eye, Evergestis forficalis (min 9.1 degsC)

Evergestis forficalis (Gdn Pebble)

Reasonable numbers: 30 individuals of 18 species. FFY included Brindled Beauty, Waved Umber, Chocolate-tip, Nut-tree Tussock and Silver Y (my first migrant of the year).

Warm and still.  A good night.  57 moths of 31 species including 1 Mullein - I haven't had one of those for some time.  New for the year moths not mentioned below: Cinnabar, Blood-vein, Poplar Kitten, Clouded-bordered Brindle, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Yellow-barred Brindle and Middle-barred Minor.

Didn't manage to get the trap out, but Purple Bar, Brimstone and Pale Tussock at outside lights all FFY.

Most productive night of the year so far, 22 sp recorded. Immigrants represented by 2 Silver Y and a Dark Sword-grass. NFY were Red Twin-spot Carpet, Silver-ground Carpet, Buff-tip, Least Black Arches, Garden Carpet, Blood-vein and Lychnis. Micros represented by Epinotia immundana and Scrobipalpa acuminatella. (see photo)

45 moths of 22 species made it worth putting the trap out - best were singles of Lime Hawk-moth and Waved Umber. Common Swift, Least Black Arches and Clepsis spectrana were also first records for the garden.

Agonopterix arenella, Depressaria radiella, Depressaria ultimella, Epiphyas postvittana, Pale Mottled Willow, Bright-Line Brown-Eye, Waved Umber and Scorched Carpet among just fourteen species trapped overnight.

Around 20 of 11 species inc: Great Prominent, Powdered Quaker, 2 Flame Shoulder, 4 Nut-tree Tussock, 2 E.postvittana (LBAM), 1 Endrosis sarcitrella (W-sHM), with FFY Scorched Wing and Depressaria radiella (Parsnip Moth) Min 8.2 degsC/cloud

First trap for a while.  36 moths of 19 species.  1 Silver Y.  Also some not mentioned below: Pebble Hook-tip, Pebble Prominent, Buff-tip, White Ermine and Shuttle-shaped Dart.

Still dismally low numbers here. Among the limited species logged were: Muslin, Red Twin-spot Carpet, Green Carpet, Brimstone and Treble Lines.  Local Bluebell-filled woodland patch now showing emerging Cameraria ohridella the Horse Chestnut Leaf Miner.

Fall in total by half to 14 of 10 species, despite higher temp of 8.1 degsC/cloudy.  Just one NFY Eudonia angustea.  Others included Lunar Marbled Brown, Flame Shoulder, Brindled Beauty, Muslin, P.combinella, 2 E.postvittana

The best night for me so far this year included singles of Rush Veneer, Herald, Mullein, and (first for garden)Tawny Shears.

4 Dark Sword-grass, Herald, Swallow Prominent and bizarrely, yet another Lunar Marbled Brown were the best here.

Just 30 of 12 species inc: 3 Brindled Beauty, 2 Swallow Prominent, with singles of Brimstone, Pale Mottled Willow, Waved Umber, Great Prominent, FFY Peppered Moth, Dk Sword-grass (min 7.6 degsC/cloudy/lt rain)

Dark Sword-grass and Silver Y best on offer here.

Mullein the only species worth a mention.

Not much flying in the wind and the rain. Best of the 13 species were singles of Scarce Prominent and Maiden's Blush.

6 species, singles of Purple Bar, Red Twin-spot Carpet, Lunar Marbled Brown, Flame Shoulder, plus 3 Brimstone Moth, 3 Hebrew Character

Immigrants represented by Dark Sword-grass and Diamond-back. Pale Tussock plus Heart and Dart were new for year.

Worth a mention were: another Lunar Marbled Brown, Nut-tree Tussock, Pale Prominent, V-Pug and Pale Mottled Willow.

Conditions still not good ,but Waved Umber(3) and an early Spectacle.

Just 20 but 9 species: 11 H Character, 2 C Drab, singles of Gdn Carpet, Brimstone, E Grey, Brindled Beauty, Nut-tree Tussock, with FFY Mullein and Water Carpet (Dry/min 8.1 degsC)

Mullein

Rush Veneer, Chocolate-tip and Lunar Marbled Brown the best here, the latter only my third ever I think.

Again low numbers but new for year Brimstone (2) and Tachstola acroxantha