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Moth Sightings Archive - July to December 2007
~ Monday 31st December 2007 ~ Peter Hall has produced the final chart for 2007 of the UTB Cumulative Moth Species, showing the total number of species as 714 - an increase yet again compared to previous years.
Dave Wilton sent the following update on 29th December: "Nothing has been seen at Westcott over the past several weeks except for occasional appearances by Winter Moths at windows around the house, including two on Christmas Day. However, thanks to Peter Hall working overtime at his microscope over the holiday period, I can now add a few more moth species to the UTB list just before it closes for 2007: Oegoconia deauratella (13/8), Eucosma hohenwartiana (13/8), Bryotropha domestica (23/8), Calamotropha paludella (23/8), Mompha bradleyi (25/10), Mompha jurassicella (1/11) and Northern Winter Moth (25/11) all from my garden at Westcott, plus Agriphila selasella (19/8), Epinotia maculana (7/10) from Finemere Wood and Argyresthia albistria (25/8), Batrachedra praeangusta (25/8), Caloptilia betulicola (25/8) from Rushbeds Wood." ~ Monday 3rd December 2007 ~ 1st December - Moths seen by Dave Maunder around Aylesbury since 22-11-07 are: December Moth (1); Scarce Umber (2); Mottled Umber (1); Winter Moths (10); Feathered Thorns (2); Emmelina monodactyla (3) and Light-brown Apple Moth.
On 29th November Chris Woodrow sent the following picture of a male and the flightless female Vapourer Moth: "To get a photograph of the two of them together was quite a 'coup'! The other photo is of Vapourer Moth eggs resulting from their mating. The pictures were taken in my garden (Benson, Oxon) in mid-October and it was only when I uploaded them to my computer recently that I realised that I had both male and female Vapourer moths in the picture, with the female on top of her coocoon! The egg picture was taken this week, after Dave Wilton suggested I had a look to see if the female had laid any eggs. The pictures were not easy to get as the insects were on the underside of the coping stone of a wall only 2 feet off the ground."
Dave Wilton sent the following report on 28th November: "On 26th November the trap at Westcott managed to bring in a grand total of eight moths, comprising December Moth (1, my first in the garden this year), Winter Moth (3), Feathered Thorn (3) and a very dark form of Mottled Umber (1, ab. Nigra). Photographs of the December moth and the melanic Mottled Umber appear below. The following night I trapped at Rushbeds Wood just to get some "ticks in the box" from there of the main winter species. Nearly 70 moths came to the trap but from only six species: December Moth (18), Winter Moth (15), Feathered Thorn (26), Scarce Umber (2), Mottled Umber (6) and Acleris notana/ferrugana (1)."
~ Sunday 25th November 2007 ~ On 20th November Dave Wilton trapped again at Finemere Wood: "Continuing the recent trend there, moth numbers rose yet again. This time they topped the 250 mark which must be something of a record for late-November! Moths caught were Caloptilia stigmatella (2), Diurnea lipsiella (1), Scrobipalpa costella (1), Acleris notana/ferrugana (16), Acleris cristana (1), December Moth (3), November Moth agg (16), Winter Moth (12), Feathered Thorn (94), Scarce Umber (92), Mottled Umber (6), Sprawler (4), Satellite (2), Chestnut (2), Barred Sallow (1) and Pink-barred Sallow (1). I just wish my garden trap would produce a list a tenth of this size! A photo of Acleris cristana is shown below - it has some very distinctive "scale tufts" on the forewings - I wonder what purpose they serve?"
Dave Maunder sent the following
reports from Aylesbury: The following news came
from Peter Hall on 17th November: "Moths recorded recently are:
November 10th : December Moth and
Yellow-line Quaker. October 31st :
Yellow-line Quaker, Feathered Thorn, Snout and Pale November (confirmed
via dissection)."
~ Sunday 11th November 2007 ~ Dave Maunder sent the following news on 10th November: "Just a few moths seen around Aylesbury this week:- Angle Shades (1, 6th); Winter Moth (1, on 7th); Feathered Thorn (1). ~ Friday 9th November 2007 ~ David Redhead ran an overnight garden moth trap in Oxford on 7th November: The mild conditions with a minimum temperature of 8C resulted in good numbers with 44 macro-moths - in fact a higher total than any of his eight October traps produced. The high total was down to just two species - November Moth spp 21 and Feathered Thorn 15 (all males). There were another five species in lower numbers - Green-brindled Crescent 2, Large Wainscot 2, Mottled Umber 1, Red-green Carpet 2 and his first Winter Moth of this winter.
Alastair Driver sent this report on 5th November: "Just back into moth trapping after a month in Queensland, followed soon after by a week in Scotland and a month catching up with work and domestic duties! Had trapping sessions with the Robinson Trap at Ali's Pond LNR in Sonning on Friday 2nd and Saturday 3rd November with the aim of improving the autumn moth list for the site, as I have not trapped there before in November and I duly got the kind of results I was hoping for! Friday night turned out to be a lot colder than forecast so only caught 6 moths of 4 species: Large Yellow Underwing, Satellite, Red-line Quaker and Yellow-line Quaker, but the last 3 were all new for my parish list. Saturday night was better with 15 moths of 8 species caught - new for the parish list was Dark Chestnut, new for the site list were November Moth agg., Feathered Thorn and Blair's Shoulder-knot and the other species were Yellow-line Quaker, Grey Pine Carpet, Lesser Yellow Underwing and Snout. Photos of Satellite and Dark Chestnut are below."
Dave Maunder sent the following update from Aylesbury on 4th November: "Moths seen last week were:- Green-brindled Crescent (1), November moths agg. (3), Feathered Thorns (3), Blair's Shoulder-knot (1) and Emmelina monodactyla (6)." ~ Thursday 1st November 2007 ~ Jan Haseler reports seeing a Scarce Umber on a wall at Shinfield Park this morning, 1st November. Dave Wilton sent his latest moth trap reports: "There's not been much to report from my garden at Westcott of late, with few species and low overall catches, although on 28th October I was pleased to get a Figure of Eight (I was beginning to think that the species would not put in an appearance here this year). It has been rather different at Finemere Wood, however, where the catches may not produce too many species but the overall numbers have been steadily increasing! My session there on 13th October (see report below) produced 103 moths, on 26th October I caught 128 and last night, 1st November, the total rose to 188! A new species for the UTB list put in an appearance on 26th October: the micro-moth Diurnea lipsiella (see picture below). This is an autumnal relative of Diurnea fagella which appears in early spring, both species having non-flying females equipped only with vestigial wings. The full list for 1st November at Finemere comprised: November Moth agg (34), Feathered Thorn (82), Mottled Umber (1), Figure of Eight (3, down from 40 on 26th October), Green-brindled Crescent (16), Sprawler (39), Merveille du Jour (3), Satellite (2), Chestnut (2), Brick (2), Pink-barred Sallow (1, looking very tired), Snout (1, a male in good condition) and micros Acleris variegana (1), Acleris emargana (1). Were it not for the high volume of bat activity, I'm sure my Feathered Thorn count would have passed one hundred. It also seemed to me that many of them were more prettily marked than the Field Guide gives this species credit for and I've included photographs of three, one female and two males, to illustrate this."
David Redhead sent the following
reports of some recent moth traps: "I ran a garden moth trap (Oxford) on
31st October, and got my first sighting of a Sprawler - anybody know why it
is called the Sprawler as its looks a very well ordered moth to me? I also caught
2 Feathered Thorns, 1 Large Wainscot and 3 November Moth spp.
~ Sunday 28th October 2007 ~ Derek Brown ran his garden moth trap on 26th October with the following results: "I only had three moths in the Beenham trap on 26th, but all three were new for the year - Sprawler, Brick and Figure of Eight and the latter was new for the garden list."
Dave Wilton trapped the 700th UTB moth species of this year when he ran his garden moth trap on 24th October: "On 22nd October I returned home to Westcott after a few days away to find an example of the micro Acrolepia autumnitella flying around inside the house, while another garden trapping session overnight on 24th October produced November Moth agg. (2), Sprawler (1), Blair's Shoulder-knot (1), Green-brindled Crescent (3), Red-line Quaker (1), Yellow-line Quaker (1), Lunar Underwing (3), Sallow (2), Acleris variegana/Garden Rose Tortrix (1) and another as yet unconfirmed tortricoid moth." 23/10 - David Redhead sent the
following three moth trap reports:
~ Sunday 21st October 2007 ~ David Redhead sent the following brief news from Oxford today, 21st October: "I ran a garden moth trap last night and, unsurprisingly, got just 1 Green-brindled Crescent and 1 November spp." ~ Friday 19th October 2007 ~ 18/10 - Peter Hall ran a 'European Moth Nights' moth trap (see the report sent in by Dave Wilton on 15th October for more information about EMN) in his Ballinger Common garden on 12th October, with the following results: "Epiphyas postvittana,Acleris variegana,Red-green Carpet, Common Marbled Carpet,Brimstone Moth,Dark Sword-grass,Large Yellow Underwing, Setaceous Hebrew Character,Common Wainscot,Black Rustic,Blair's Shoulder-knot, Green-brindled Crescent,Merveille du Jour,Satellite,Chestnut,Red-line Quaker, Yellow-line quaker,Lunar Underwing,Barred Sallow,November moth,Brick and Straw Dot. Also at a window tonight (19th October), an Autumnal moth (both November and Autumnal identified via genitalia)." On 17th October Dave Maunder reported on a few more moths that he's seen recently in Aylesbury: "Silver Y (1); Red-line Quaker (1); Vapourer moths (3 - all on 14th); and November moth agg. (1). I think Peter Hall was right about a second generation of Vapourer moths being out!"
David Redhead sent the following news
of some recent sightings and moth trap results: "Stuart Jenkins has just
sent me a photo of a December Moth he found in the
grounds of Bullingdon Prison on 15th October. It
was a bit lively and Stuart had to use flash for the photo so it's not suitable for the
website unfortunately. Stuart also sent the photo (below) of Angle Shades.
Dave Wilton sent the following
report on 15th October: The nights of 11th until 15th October were
designated "European Moth Nights" [see http://euromothnights.uw.hu/
and scroll down to find "Information 2007 (English)"]. Anyone else who trapped on those
nights, which had some of the best mothing weather this autumn, might like to consider
sending in their macro-moth sightings using the recording form on the site. I was very
pleased to be able to record 50 species over three days, although only one still appears
to be new to the UTB list!
~ Sunday 14th October 2007 ~ Shirley and John Spencer managed to put their light box out this weekend, October 13th, and identified the following moths: "Black Rustic 4, Lunar Underwing 2, Sallow 1, Grey Pine Carpet 1, Feathered Thorn 1, Merveille du Jour 1. The last named was a new species for our garden." 14th October - Moths seen in Aylesbury by Dave Maunder over the last week were: Frosted Orange (1); Sallow moths (3); Silver-Y (3); Large Ranunculus (3); Blair's Shoulder-knots (11); Lunar Underwings (3); Green-brindled Crescent (1); Common Wainscot (1); The Rustic (1); Snout moths (2); Large Yellow Underwings (4); Lesser Yellow Underwings (3); Shuttle-shaped Dart (1); Setaceous Hebrew Character (1); November moths agg. (2); Willow Beauties (3); Common Marbled Carpet (1); Garden Carpet (1). Derek Brown had a first for his garden in Beenham on 12th October: "A Red-line Quaker and another new one last night (13th) - Brown-spot Pinion which doesn't seem to be on the UTB list so far."
Peter Hall ran a trap in a private wood in Bucks on 12th October with the following results: November Moth,Dark Chestnut,Common Marbled Carpet, Merveille du Jour,Red-green Carpet,Chestnut,Snout,Satellite,Lunar Underwing,Sallow, Acleris emargana,Barred Sallow,Brindled Green,Straw Dot,Figure of Eight,Single-dotted Wave, Brick,Cydia splendana. "I also had 2 records in my garden at Ballinger Common on 12th: Vapourer and Agonopterix heracliana. The Vapourer is interesting because it implies a second generation is out there." Ched George thought 12th October seemed ideal for autumnal moths: "I had a Delicate here in Radnage. Also Red-green Carpet (1), Yellow-line Quaker (8), November Moth sp. (8), Smoky Wainscot (2), Brindled Green (1), Black Rustic (2), Large Yellow Underwing (3), Blair's Shoulder-knot (3), Snout (1), Sallow (2), Barred Sallow (4), Setaceous Hebrew Character (8) and Common Marbled Carpet (2). No Brown-spot Pinion this year yet." 12th October - David Redhead's overnight garden moth trap attracted a reasonable variety of moths but lowish numbers: "There were four additions to my 2007 garden list with Red-line Quaker (2), Beaded Chestnut (1), Feathered Thorn (1) and Satellite (1). The other 11 macro-moth species were Sallow (3 - all the patterned form), Snout (3), Blair's Shoulder-knot (2), Large Yellow Underwing (2), Common Marbled Carpet (1), Engrailed (1 - extremely tatty), Frosted Orange (1), Green-brindled Crescent (1), Large Wainscot (1), Pink-barred Sallow and Spruce Carpet. (1)." Peter Hall provided the following UTB Cumulative Moth Species Chart to the end of September:
~ Wednesday 10th October 2007 ~ Several UTB members attended the English Moth Recorders Conference hosted by BC in Birmingham on Saturday 6th October. A brief report follows: The "Moths Count" project, under which the National Moth Recording Scheme is being set up with the assistance of the various county recorders, will result in a central database from which a provisional atlas of UK macro-moths will be published in four years time. At the moment the project is only funded for these four years but the aim is to set up the recording scheme as a permanent fixture. Production of species maps should begin next year and these will be made publically available on the internet down to a 2km square resolution. While it is intended that on-line recording will eventually be an option, the route by which records reach the database will continue to be via the county recorders so that the records can be verified. Further information can be found on the "Moths Count" website. The next National Moth Night will be held on 7th June 2008." On 9th October May Webber sent this quick report
on the major species she saw in September: Ched George reported the following on 9th October: "I half-expected to list several firsts for the year with last night's catch (8th October) which included Satellite, Merveille-du-jour, Blair's Shoulder-knot, Feathered Thorn and Large Ranunculus." Peter Hall ran his Ballinger garden
moth trap on 30/09/07 and 06/10/07 with the following results:
Another trapping session by Dave Wilton in his garden at Westcott on 6th October saw a further improvement in numbers: "96 moths of 24 species arrived at the Robinson. New for the year were November Moth agg., Bulrush Wainscot and Acleris sparsana. A further trip to Finemere Wood on 7th October brought in 78 moths from 24 species and I was particularly pleased to find that by far the most numerous moth there was the Figure of Eight. I got 19 examples of this species, which the Rothamsted Research data recently showed has declined in numbers by 95% over the past 35 years. Others caught at Finemere included Feathered Thorn, Satellite, Chestnut, Brick and Merveille du Jour."
The following news came from David Redhead: "On the afternoon of 6th October, I was cutting back the vegetation in our lane (in Oxford) when I disturbed a moth which turned out to be a Yellow-line Quaker. Three garden moth traps on 1st, 5th & 7th October brought variable results with 8, 3 and 17 macro-moth species respectively - overnight temperatures being the main reason for the differences. In spite of the low variety on the 5th all three species were "new" with Large Wainscot and Sallow being additions to my 2007 garden list and Brindled Green being an addition to my all time garden list. Altogether October to date is proving a good month for "new" species with one more addition to my all time list with a Deep-brown Dart (7th) and five more additions to my 2007 list with Mottled Umber (1st), Blair's Shoulder-knot (7th), Green-brindled Crescent (7th) Pink-barred Sallow (7th) and Red-green Carpet (7th). Other species recorded were Snout, Common Marbled Carpet, Large Yellow Underwing, Spruce Carpet, Brimstone, Lesser Yellow Underwing, Common Wainscot, Copper Underwing, Lunar Underwing, Pinion-streaked Snout, Red Underwing, Small Square-spot. The photos show one of the two, difficult to tell apart, plain forms of the Sallow - this one is so lightly marked to be impossible for me to identify. A photo by Dave Wilton has recently been posted of the patterned form - of the four Sallows I have caught, two were the patterned form and two the plain forms. The Large Wainscots photo shows the variation in size and colour - in my experience it is usually the smaller ones that have the slight reddish tinge."
~ Saturday 6th October 2007 ~ Another overnight trapping session in Dave Wilton's garden at Westcott on 3rd October brought in 20 species: "Better than of late, but unfortunately there was nothing new amongst them - Common Marbled Carpet (1), Grey Pine Carpet (1), Dusky Thorn (1), Large Yellow Underwing (5), Lesser Yellow Underwing (1), Setaceous Hebrew Character (4), Square-spot Rustic (6), Black Rustic (1), Blair’s Shoulder-knot (4), Beaded Chestnut (3), Lunar Underwing (35), Barred Sallow (1), Pink-barred Sallow (1), Sallow (3), Dusky-lemon Sallow (1), Red Underwing (1) and Snout (3), with micros Archips podana/Large Fruit-tree Tortrix (1), Epiphyas postvittana/Light Brown Apple Moth (1) and Acleris variegana/Garden Rose Tortrix (4). Micromoths have actually been few and far between in the trap of late but I've noted three other species in the garden during the daytime over the past three days. They comprise Agonopterix ocellana on 3rd October (disturbed while mowing the lawn) and Mompha epilobiella on 4th October (found resting on the garage door), while two examples of the tiny Anthophila fabriciana/Nettle-tap Moth were enjoying today's sunshine. Pictures of these three appear below."
3rd October - Dave Maunder has seen a few more moths in Aylesbury recently: "Red Underwings (2); Large Ranunculus (10); Merveille du Jour (1); Frosted Orange (1); Cabbage Moth (1, 2nd - 2nd brood?); Vapourer Moths (2); Angle Shades (1); Marbled Beauty (1, 30th); Canary-shouldered Thorn (1); Dusky Thorns (4); Garden Carpet (1). Also last night, 2nd October, I ran my garden trap and caught: Blair's Shoulder-knot (2); Large Ranunculus (1); Lunar Underwings (3); Large Yellow Underwings (2); Lesser Yellow Underwings (7); Angle Shades (2); Snout (1); Dusky Thorn (1)."
~ Wednesday 3rd October 2007 ~ Dave Wilton had 74 moths of 15 species in his trap at Westcott on 1st October: "While still not a brilliant return, it was an improvement over what I've managed to get in the trap for a week or two now. The moths comprised Common Marbled Carpet (1), Large Yellow Underwing (6), Setaceous Hebrew Character (3), Square-spot Rustic (5), Black Rustic (1), Blair's Shoulder-knot (3), Brindled Green (1), Beaded Chestnut (2), Lunar Underwing (37), Barred Sallow (1), Pink-barred Sallow (1), Sallow (4), Dusky-lemon Sallow (1), Silver Y (2), Snout (5) and Acleris variegana/Garden Rose Tortrix (2). Photographs of three of these species appear below. One of my local "specialities", Dusky-lemon Sallow normally starts to appear here in small numbers from mid-September onwards and I was beginning to think I wouldn't see one this year. There are certainly other species flying locally as I've also recorded Brimstone Moth, Canary-shouldered Thorn, Dusky Thorn, Lesser Yellow Underwing, Common Wainscot, Deep-brown Dart, Frosted Orange, Burnished Brass, Agonopterix alstromeriana, Eudonia angustea and Emmelina monodactyla in the garden over the last three days. If the overnight temperatures hold up maybe there'll be a further improvement in trap numbers."
~ Sunday 30th September 2007 ~ Dave Wilton did another damp four-hour
stint at Finemere Wood on 28th September: "It produced just 25 moths
of 16 species, but included amongst them were examples of Mottled Umber,
Chestnut and Green-brindled Crescent. Only the Green-brindled Crescent appears still
to be new for the UTB list because we are now starting to get newly-emerged specimens of
those species which over-winter. Jan Haseler sent the following
two reports today, 30th September: "The Berkshire Moth Group field trip
to Inkpen Common on 7th September,
organised by Nick Asher, recorded 211 moths of
36 species, including 1 Autumnal Rustic and
8 Neglected Rustics. ~ Monday 24th September 2007 ~ Dave Maunder caught the following moths in his Aylesbury garden moth trap on 22nd September: Deep-brown Dart (1), Brindled Green (1), Centre-barred Sallow (2), Rosy Rustic (1), Silver-Y (1), Lunar Underwing (1), Large Yellow Underwing (5), Lesser Yellow Underwing (1), Dusky Thorn (3), Willow Beauty (2), Common Marbled Carpet (2), Garden Carpet (2).
Dave Wilton sent this catch-up report on his recent trapping sessions at Westcott: "New for my garden list this year have been Brindled Green and Sallow (both 15th September) and then Deep-brown Dart and Lunar Underwing (both 20th September). I trapped again at Finemere Wood on 22nd September and this time got more unwanted visitors than moths, the trap bringing in 40+ Hornets as against just 37 moths of 21 species even though the weather was quite reasonable. However, amongst the moths were my first Small Wainscot and Barred Sallow of the year so it was worth the trip. Photos of some of the "autumn collection" from Finemere appear below!"
~ Thursday 20th September 2007 ~ On Wednesday 19th September David Redhead, Mike Wilkins and Dave Wilton ran two 125wt MV traps until midnight at the Otmoor RSPB Reserve near Beckley, Oxon. "Sheltered from the strong SW'ly wind, one trap did reasonably well and brought in Orange Swift (1), Common Carpet (1), Common Marbled Carpet (2), Green Carpet (2), Brimstone Moth (8), Canary-shouldered Thorn (2), Willow Beauty (1), Flame Shoulder (1), Large Yellow Underwing (7), Small Square-spot (1), Setaceous Hebrew Character (10+), Square-spot Rustic (10+), Common Wainscot (10+), Brindled Green (1), Common Rustic agg. (1), Rosy Rustic (4), Large Wainscot (1), Svensson's Copper Underwing (1), Burnished Brass (1), Straw Dot (1) and Snout (10+) along with micros Emmetia marginea (1), Parapoynx stratiotata/Ringed China-mark (1), Trachycera advenella (1) and one more requiring expert attention. The other trap was placed out in the middle of the reserve but as a consequence was very exposed to the wind and it came as a surprise to find any moths in it at all! However, the trap did actually produced a grand total of six individuals, comprising Orange Swift (1), Ruby Tiger (1), Small Square-spot (1), Square-spot Rustic (1) and Common Wainscot (2)."
~ Wednesday 19th September 2007 ~ Dave Maunder ran his garden m.v. trap on 13th September in Aylesbury with the following results: Black Rustic (1), Frosted Orange (1), Centre-barred Sallow (1), Old Lady (1), Square-spot Rustic (5), Common Wainscot (1), Large Yellow Underwing (7), Lesser Yellow Underwing (7), Snout (2), Dusky Thorn (3), Green Carpet (3), Garden Carpet (2), Common Marbled Carpet (1), Brimstone (3), Willow Beauty (2), Double-striped Pug (1).
18th September - An unconfirmed report of a Clifden Nonpareil seen on the 31st August in the Oxford area has just been received. ~ Monday 18th September 2007 ~ David Redhead has run a further 5
overnight garden moth traps recently, with the following highlights:
Nigel Partridge sent this update on 17th September: "I recorded my first Black Rustic of the year last night (16-09-07, Loosley Row) which I don't think is on the UTB 2007 Species list yet." Peter Hall supplied the latest chart of the UTB Moth Species count to the end of August: "We normally add around 40 species up until the year's end from the end of August, so the most likely total for 2007 is 701 species. I’ve amended the graph slightly to add totals for previous years."
~ Friday 14th September 2007 ~ Nigel Partridge recorded another moth at home in Loosley Row which is new for this year's UTB species list: "A Parsnip Moth on 12-09-07. Thanks to Peter Hall for confirming the ID."
Dave Wilton ran three moth traps recently with the following results: "An overnight trapping session in my garden at Westcott on 11th September produced nothing out-of-the-ordinary apart from my first Dark Sword-grass of the year. The forecast suggested that 13th September was going to be the last reasonably warm night for a while so I ran the MV trap at Finemere Wood for four hours, producing 128 moths of 40 species. The most numerous moth was the Green Carpet (45 trapped), although they were exceeded by the number of Hornets attracted to the trap so it was quite an "exciting" session! Other noteworthy moths were Peach Blossom (1, rather small and battered but presumably second-brood), Chevron (5), Red-green Carpet (1, my first of this year's brood), Grey Pine Carpet (2), Willow Beauty (1, a miniscule specimen with a wing length of 15mm), Pink-barred Sallow (1) and micros Ypsolopha parenthesella (2), Ypsolopha sequella (1), Epermenia falciformis (2), Acleris emargana (1). The Chevrons were interesting in that a couple were really fresh specimens. Their flight period is supposed to be from July until mid-September yet this is the first time I've ever caught them at Finemere despite trapping there every couple of weeks since the Spring. I also ran the actinic trap overnight at Westcott on 13th September but, apart from the continued invasion of Large Yellow Underwings (76 recorded), there was little of note apart from a Bordered Beauty and my first garden Pink-barred Sallow of the year."
~ Monday 10th September 2007 ~ Dave Maunder sent the following reports: "On 6th September I ran my garden m.v. in Aylesbury and recorded the following:- Old Lady moth (2), Brindled Green (1), Centre-barred Sallow (1), Silver-Y (1), Spectacle (1), Pale Mottled Willow (1), Common Rustic (2), Rustic (1), Square-spot Rustic (5), Flame Shoulder (1), Common Wainscot (3), Marbled Beauty (2), Large Yellow Underwing (16), Lesser Yellow Underwing (10), Canary-shouldered Thorn (1), Dusky Thorn (2), Willow Beauty (11), Green Carpet (4), Garden Carpet (2), Riband Wave (1), Small Dusty Wave (1), Brimstone (2), Yellow Shell (1), Light-brown Apple Moth (10+), and Agriphila geniculea (1). Also on 8th September I found a Herald moth larva and a Vapourer moth larva on Sallows at Fairford Leys, also a passing Vapourer moth and back home on my garden Birch I found Buff-tip larvae (21, 4th stage), Grey Dagger larva (1), and another Vapourer moth larva (1)."
~ Friday 7th September 2007 ~ Dave Wilton sent the following
report on 5th September: "After a week in south-western France watching
Jersey Tiger and Dewick's Plusia as common day-flying moths and then seeing a whole host
of what to us are rarities in the trap each night, it was back to reality at Westcott
on 4th September! 283 moths of 45 species came
to the Robinson, of which Pale Eggar, Feathered Gothic, Centre-barred Sallow,
Old Lady and Frosted Orange (all illustrated below) were new for the garden this year.
The other species present were Riband Wave, Common Carpet, Common Marbled Carpet,
Green Carpet, Lesser Treble-bar, Brimstone Moth, Canary-shouldered Thorn, Dusky Thorn,
Willow Beauty, Turnip, Flame Shoulder, Large Yellow Underwing, Lesser Yellow Underwing,
Small Square-spot, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Six-striped Rustic, Square-spot Rustic,
Common Wainscot, Mouse Moth, Dark Arches, Common/Lesser Common Rustic, Flounced Rustic,
Vine's Rustic, Pale Mottled Willow, Burnished Brass, Silver Y, Straw Dot and Snout
along with micros Hofmannophila pseudospretella/Brown House-moth, Acleris forsskaleana,
Acleris variegana/Garden Rose Tortrix, Cydia splendana, Acentria ephemerella/Water Veneer,
Agriphila straminella, Agriphila tristella, Catoptria falsella, Pyrausta purpuralis,
Trachycera advenella and a couple still to be identified.
David Redhead ran his Oxford garden moth trap on 3rd September: "Owing to the low overnight temperature it produced only 21 macro-moths but 2 new species for my 2007 garden list with singletons of Centre-barred Sallow and Lunar Underwing. Others were: Large Yellow Underwing 10, Square-spot Rustic 4, Small Square-spot 2, Burnished Brass 1, Green Carpet 1 and Setaceous Hebrew Character 1." ~ Monday 3rd September 2007 ~ Ched George reports that the
Bucks Amphibian and Reptile Group had a meeting at Stoke Common on Saturday
1st September. "Apart from several Brown Chinamarks near one
of the ponds, I was surprised to find 2 Fox moth larvae. It is possible
that this species is a new record for the site?" On 31st August David Redhead ran
an overnight moth trap in his Oxford garden which resulted in the highest number of macro-moths (80) he
has recorded for the last month. They included an addition to his
all-time garden list with a Maple Prominent and two additions to his 2007 garden list
with a Pinion-streaked Snout and 7 Copper Underwing. Also recorded were:
Large Yellow Underwing 30, Green Carpet 7, Burnished Brass 5, Brimstone 4,
Square-spot Rustic 4, Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing 3, Snout 3,
Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing 2, Flame Shoulder 2, Lesser Yellow Underwing 2,
Setaceous Hebrew Character 2, Blood-vein 1, Bordered Beauty 1, Canary-shouldered Thorn 1,
Clouded Border 1, Common Wave 1, Dusky Thorn 1 and Small Square-spot 1.
That over-sized micro-moth, Mother of Pearl, is still about with 14 counted
making this year's total 367 but still a long way short of last year's final
total of 835. The second Chequered Fruit-tree Tortrix of the year was also present.
On Thursday night, 30th August, Stuart Jenkins and David Redhead set up an overnight moth trap in the grounds of Bullingdon Prison. The following day these species were identified: Large Yellow Underwing 14, Square-spot Rustic 3, Common/Lesser Common Rustic 2, Green Carpet 2, Magpie 2, Snout 2, Common Marbled Carpet 1, Flame Shoulder 1, Flounced Rustic 1, Pale Eggar 1, Setaceous Hebrew Character 1, Single-dotted Wave 1, Six-striped Rustic 1, Small Square-spot 1, Straw Dot 1 and Yellow-tail 1. The Pale Eggar (see photo) - a "new" moth to both Stuart and David - was especially pleasing.
~ Friday 31st August 2007 ~ In his Earley (Reading) garden trap on 28th August Mark Calway had the following: Argyresthia goedartella,Plutella xylostella,Hofmannophila pseudospretella, Carcina quercana,Blastobasis lignea,Epiphyas postvittana,Cydia pomonella, Agriphila geniculea,Parapoynx stratiotata,Pyrausta aurata,Trachycera advenella, Riband Wave,Garden Carpet,Tawny Speckled Pug,Double-striped Pug,Brimstone Moth, Willow Beauty,Shuttle-shaped Dart,Large Yellow Underwing,Lesser Yellow Underwing, Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing,Setaceous Hebrew Character,Square-spot Rustic, Marbled Beauty,Straw Underwing,Flounced Rustic,Vine's Rustic,Pale Mottled Willow, Burnished Brass,Straw Dot,Copper Underwings agg. plus numerous wasps and some unidentified Caddis flies. Nigel Partridge sent the following on 29th August: "Not new for the list, but I thought it was worth sending. Lovely moth. Mocha at Loosley Row on 29-08-07."
Peter Hall and Dave Wilton ran a moth trap in Rushbeds Wood on 25th August with the following results: Ypsolopha scabrella,Ypsolopha parenthesella,Ypsolopha sequella,Coleophora hemerobiella, Batia unitella,Hofmannophila pseudospretella,Carcina quercana,Agonopterix arenella, Hypatima rhomboidella,Blastobasis adustella,Blastobasis lacticolella,Pandemis corylana, Pandemis heparana,Ditula angustiorana,Acleris forsskaleana,Acleris laterana, Acleris emargana,Apotomis betuletana,Epinotia ramella, Epinotia nisella,Rhopobota naevana,Epiblema uddmanniana,Cydia splendana, Agriphila straminella,Agriphila geniculea,Acentria ephemerella,Trachycera suavella, Trachycera advenella,Maiden's Blush,Common Carpet,Green Carpet,July Highflyer,Magpie, Brimstone Moth,Dusky Thorn,Large Yellow Underwing,Lesser Broad-border,Square-spot Rustic, Copper Underwing,Dun-bar,Common Rustic,Flounced Rustic and Straw Dot. ~ Monday 27th August 2007 ~ 27th August - David Redhead ran two garden moth traps over the weekend adding the following species to his 2007 Oxford garden list: Currant Pug, Flounced Rustic, Old Lady, Six-striped Rustic and Square-spot Rustic. Ched George had a Feathered Gothic in his Radnage garden on August 24th. On 23rd August Dave Maunder ran his garden m.v. trap in Aylesbury and caught: Old Lady (2); Six-striped Rustic (1); Square-spot Rustics (15+); Flounced Rustic (1); Common Rustics (2); Angle Shades (1); Cabbage Moth (1); Spectacle (2); Silver-Y (1); Large Yellow Underwings (55+); Lesser Yellow Underwings (17); Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings (2); Flame Shoulder (2); Setaceous Hebrew Character (1); Marbled Beauty (5); Orange Swifts (8); Willow Beauties (12); Dusky Thorns (2); Brimstone Moths (5); Yellow Shell (1); Riband Waves (3); Green Carpet (1); Garden Carpets (4); Common Carpets (3); Double-striped Pug (1) and Gold Triangle (1). Dave Wilton ran his MV trap in his garden at Westcott again on 23rd August, which was quite a warm night: "While I did get more than 500 moths of 70+ species, the only thing of any interest was a single migrant Great Brocade which had presumably found its way here from Scandinavia on the recent north-easterly winds."
25th August - Peter Hall sent the following records from a moth trap in his Ballinger garden on 20th August: Orange Swift,Anthophila fabriciana,Ypsolopha parenthesella,Batia unitella, Blastobasis adustella,Pandemis corylana,Epiphyas postvittana,Acleris variegana, Celypha lacunana,Apotomis betuletana,Rhopobota naevana,Cydia splendana,Agriphila straminella, Agriphila tristella,Agriphila geniculea,Evergestis forficalis,Pleuroptya ruralis, Trachycera suavella,Trachycera advenella,Dioryctria abietella,Euzophera pinguis,Maiden's Blush, Riband Wave,Common Carpet,Yellow Shell,Brimstone Moth,Peppered,Willow Beauty, Coxcomb Prominent,Black Arches,Dingy Footman,Flame Shoulder,Large Yellow Underwing, Lesser Yellow Underwing,Lesser Broad-border,Least Yellow Underwing,Small Square-spot, Setaceous Hebrew Character,Six-striped Rustic,Square-spot Rustic,Svensson's Copper Underwing, Old Lady,Dun-bar,Common Rustic,Vine's Rustic and Straw Dot. ~ Thursday 23rd August 2007 ~ Martin Townsend sent the following interesting news today, 23rd August: "Thomas Merckx and I had 5 Great Brocades in actinic traps near Northmoor, Oxfordshire, last night and Martin Corley had 3 at Pucketty Farm. I was half expecting to get it - even though the wind has been predominantly northerly, the low pressure over Holland has dragged in air that has come right across from the Baltic, and it's the usual time of year for them. These are exceptional numbers this far west though." Dave Wilton ran 2 moth traps
recently: "On 19th August I ran
the MV trap in Finemere Wood for four very slow
hours and got 84 moths of 42 species. There was nothing of note apart from my first
Red Underwing of the season. When settled and looking from above this is a very
drab-looking moth but from underneath it is quite strikingly marked in black, white and
red (see photo below). This is similar to the view that I got as it patrolled up and down
the main ride at Finemere, gradually getting closer and closer to the trap. The white
stripes were particularly well illuminated by the 125wt bulb, making we wonder what on earth
this large creature was!
Alastair Driver sent this update on 20th August: "I've recently added Old Lady and Vapourer to my day-flying moth list for the year." Peter Hall ran his regular garden moth trap in Ballinger Common on 14th August, resulting in the following 44 species: Athrips mouffetella,Blastobasis adustella,Epiphyas postvittana,Acleris laterana,Celypha lacunana, Lathronympha strigana,Cydia splendana,Crambus pascuella,Agriphila straminella,Agriphila tristella, Agriphila geniculea,Catoptria falsella,Pyrausta aurata,Pleuroptya ruralis,Endotricha flammealis, Trachycera advenella,Small Fan-footed Wave,Riband Wave,Flame Carpet,Red Twin-spot Carpet, Small Phoenix,Yellow-barred Brindle,Magpie,Brimstone Moth,Early Thorn,Willow Beauty,Iron Prominent, Lesser Swallow Prominent,Dingy Footman,Flame Shoulder,Large Yellow Underwing,Lesser Yellow Underwing, Lesser Broad-border,Small Square-spot,Setaceous Hebrew Character,Cabbage,Grey Dagger,Mouse, Straw Underwing,Dun-bar,Dark Arches,Common Rustic,Spectacle and Straw Dot. ~ Saturday 18th August 2007 ~ Peter Hall reports on the results of five traps
run at two locations on National Moth Night, 11th August: Dave Maunder ran his Aylesbury garden m.v. on National Moth Night, 11th August: "These were the meagre results! Old Lady moth (flew around light then off); Rosy Rustic (1); Spectacle moths (3); Square-spot Rustic (2); Dot moth (1); Bright-line Brown-eye (1); Large Yellow Underwing (5); Lesser Yellow Underwing (1); Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing (1); Orange Swift (1); Yellow-tail moths (2); Dusky Thorns (2); Willow Beauty (4); Common Carpet (4); Brimstone moths (3); Yellow Shell (1); Riband Waves (10); Tawny Speckled Pug (1); Gold Triangle (2); Endotricha flammealis (2) and Phlyctaenia coronata (2). That's it for NMN, but a few more sightings in Aylesbury recently include:- Dark Arches (2); Marbled Beauty (4); Grey Dagger agg (2); Pale Prominent (1); Spectacle moth (1); Silver-Y (1); Dusky Thorn (2); Yellow Shell (2); Willow Beauty (4); Common Carpet (1); Riband Wave (1); Vapourer moths (3) and Pyrausta aurata (1). Let's hope the weather picks up again soon!" Tom Stevenson trapped overnight on 17/18 August in his Benson garden: Willow Beauty, September Thorn, Marbled Beauty (3), Large Yellow Underwing (2), Uncertain (2), Garden Carpet, Common or Lesser Common Rustic, Copper Underwing.
Tony Towner sent two lists of
sightings on 17th August:
"I ran my garden trap in Tilehurst throughout the night on 03/08/07.
Moths recorded were as follows: Scalloped Oak (1) : Large Yellow Underwing (3) :
Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing (1) : Willow Beauty (1) : Shuttle-shaped Dart (6) :
Lime-speck Pug (1) : Light Brown Apple (6) : Uncertain (1) : Common Rustic agg (1) :
Vine's Rustic (1) : Crambus pascuella (1) : Chrysoteuchia culmella (1) :
Trachycera advenella (1).
Adam Bassett ran several garden traps
in Marlow Bottom recently, including one on National Moth Night,
11th August:
"A distinct lack of numbers and very few species of Noctuidae. I trapped 12 Black Arches -
all male on August 3rd, which usually show up in numbers at this time, together with
2 Waved Black. A Large Emerald on July 29th was new for the garden." On National Moth Night,
11th August, a joint Berkshire Moth Group / Upper Thames Butterfly Conservation moth-trapping
night was held at Little Hidden Farm, Hungerford:
New to the UTB 2007 Moth Species list were: David Redhead sent the following report on 15th August: "Whilst replenishing the bird feeders early this morning (15th August) Wendy disturbed a Red Underwing from the front porch of our house on the edge of Oxford. Following a short but heavy shower I set out on the usual early morning dog walk across the rough grassland above our house and the dog managed to flush out a faded Green Carpet - was this a remnant first brood, in spite of its last appearance in the garden moth trap being on the 8th June, or was it a second brood which had suffered cosmetic damage in the preceding terrible Tuesday? A wander through the nettle patch also put up 8 Mother of Pearl." ~ Tuesday 14th August 2007 ~ The most exciting news so far
for National Moth Night, 11th August, was from Alan Gudge
in Frieth (south Bucks), who reported: "On National Moth Night we had
a Jersey Tiger in our garden trap. Our son-in-law,
Drew Garrett, who happened to be here retrieved it and caused a certain amount of
interest when he brought it into the house! I discussed it the following day with
Martin Albertini and with Ched George and gather it is a first for the county."
Martin Harvey ran a trap in his garden near Aylesbury, Bucks, for National Moth Night, 11th August: "Nothing all that unusual, and slightly more micro species than macro. Acleris holmiana was a new species for me. The two Sallow Kittens had both been attacked, and had their wings removed, presumably by wasps (of which there were two in the trap), but none of the other moths had suffered; I guess Sallow Kittens just taste nice? The full list was: Cameraria ohridella, Spindle Ermine (Yponomeuta cagnagella), Ash Bud Moth (Prays fraxinella), Honeysuckle Moth (Ypsolopha dentella), Batia unitella, Borkhausenia fuscescens, Brown House Moth (Hofmannophila pseudospretella), White-shouldered House Moth (Endrosis sarcitrella), Blastobasis adustella, Blastobasis lacticolella, Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix (Pandemis heparana), Argyrotaenia ljungiana, Large Fruit-tree Tortrix (Archips podana), Light Brown Apple Moth (Epiphyas postvittana), Pseudargyrotoza conwagana, Acleris forsskaleana, Acleris holmiana, Garden Rose Tortrix (Acleris variegana), Lobesia abscisana, Cydia splendana, Codling Moth (Cydia pomonella), Dichrorampha acuminatana, Agriphila straminella, Agriphila geniculea, Eudonia mercurella, Pyrausta aurata, Udea prunalis, Mother of Pearl (Pleuroptya ruralis), Gold Triangle (Hypsopygia costalis), Endotricha flammealis, Euzophera pinguis, Least Carpet, Single-dotted Wave, Riband Wave, Common Carpet, Small Waved Umber, Brimstone Moth, Dusky Thorn, Purple Thorn, Scalloped Oak, Peppered Moth, Willow Beauty, Pine Hawk-moth, Sallow Kitten, Pebble Prominent, Swallow Prominent, Heart and Dart, Shuttle-shaped Dart, Flame Shoulder, Large Yellow Underwing, Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, Square-spot Rustic, Bright-line Brown-eye, Sycamore, Marbled Beauty, Straw Underwing, Dun-bar, Dark Arches, Rosy Minor, Straw Dot." Peter Hall sent the latest graph showing moth species totals per month: "As can be seen, the early advance of species is now reverting back to normal with the graph for 2007 and 2006, for end of July, very similar. We are currently 10 species ahead of 2006, whereas in May we were 104 species up and June 73 species up."
~ Monday 13th August 2007 ~ Nigel Partridge had the
following list of moths at Loosley Row on National Moth Night,
11th August:
"Carcina quercana, Pleuroptya ruralis, Endotricha flammealis, Blastobasis adustella,
Evergestis forficalis, Acleris forsskaleana, Sitochroa palealis, Phlyctaenia coronata,
Small Scallop, Single-dotted Wave, Shaded Broad-bar, Yellow Shell, Common Carpet,
Brimstone Moth, Riband Wave, Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, Willow Beauty,
Dark arches, Red Twin-spot Carpet sp, Lesser Yellow Underwing, Marbled Beauty,
Cloaked Minor, Dun-bar, Small Fan-footed Wave, Large Yellow Underwing, Scalloped Oak,
Clay, Treble-bar, Straw Underwing, Flame Shoulder, Scarce Footman and Small Rivulet.
Alastair Driver set the Robinson Trap up at Ali's Pond, Sonning on National Moth Night, 11th August, and caught 24 macro species: "Small Rivulet was the only new species for my parish records, but new for the year for me were Grey dagger agg. Mouse Moth, Least Yellow Underwing, Pebble Prominent, Straw Underwing and Copper Underwing." Tom Stevenson's National Moth Night report follows: "The overnight tally for my home made Skinner trap with 25w Blacklight Blue bulb under my carport in Benson (Oxon) for the night of 11/12 August 2007 was: Marbled Beauty (6), Light Brown Apple Moth (4), Brimstone, Large Yellow Underwing, Dusky Thorn, Rustic, Codling Moth, Ruby Tiger, Pyrausta aurata (why can’t this pretty micro have an English name?) and Mouse moth." For National Moth Night on 11th August Dave Wilton ran an actinic trap for three hours at Finemere Wood and the MV in his garden at Westcott all night: "The combined count of macro species reached the dismal total of 56 (29 at Finemere, 47 at Westcott) and comprised Drinker (2), Oak Hook-tip (1), Pebble Hook-tip (3), Blood-vein (1), Riband Wave (9), Red Twin-spot Carpet (3), Shaded Broad-bar (5), Common Carpet (3), Yellow Shell (1), Purple Bar (2), Small Phoenix (1), Green Carpet (1), Small Rivulet (1), Lesser Treble-bar (5), Magpie (8), Clouded Border (1), Brimstone Moth (12), Canary-shouldered Thorn (1), Dusky Thorn (1), Scalloped Oak (1), Peppered Moth (1), Willow Beauty (10), Common Wave (1), Pine Hawk-moth (1), Poplar Hawk-moth (1), Sallow Kitten (5), Iron Prominent (1), Lesser Swallow Prominent (2), Swallow Prominent (4), Coxcomb Prominent (2), Yellow-tail (5), White Satin (2), Black Arches (3), Scarce Footman (3), Common Footman (2), Heart and Dart (1), Flame Shoulder (22), Large Yellow Underwing (19), Lesser Yellow Underwing (1), Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing (10), Small Square-spot (4), Smoky Wainscot (2), Common Wainscot (4), Dark/Grey Dagger (1), Knot Grass (1), Straw Underwing (4), Svensson's Copper Underwing (1), Olive (1), Dun-bar (2), Dark Arches (4), Cloaked Minor (1), Common/Lesser Common Rustic (32), Dusky Sallow (2), Rustic (8), Silver Y (1) and Straw Dot (5). I'm still working on the micros but, if anything, they were even more disappointing with about 26 species (19 at Finemere, 16 at Westcott). Those identified so far include Blastobasis lacticolella (1), Agapeta hamana (1), Acleris forsskaleana (1), Cydia pomonella/Codling Moth (1), Epinotia nisella (1), Agriphila straminella (6), Agriphila tristella (1), Catoptria falsella (2), Acentria ephemerella/Water Veneer (238!), Phlyctaenia coronata (1), Pleuroptya ruralis/Mother of Pearl (1), Endotricha flammealis (2), Phycita roborella (3) and Euzophera pinguis (5). The Water Veneer appeared in both traps but the majority (228) were at Finemere and arrived within a few minutes of the trap being switched on. Pictures of two species trapped at Finemere appear below."
David Redhead's National Moth Night Oxford garden moth trap on 11th August produced 28 species of macro-moth and 65 individuals: "These included one addition to my all-time garden list with a single male Twin-spotted Wainscot and another two additions to my 2007 list : Common Wave 1 and Dusky Thorn 2. Others were : Brimstone 9, Large Yellow Underwing 8, Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing 8, Common/Lesser Common Rustic 3, Spectacle 3, Straw Dot 3, Swallow Prominent 3, Common Carpet 2, Dun-bar 2, Flame Shoulder 2, Svensson's Copper Underwing, Vine's Rustic 2, Willow Beauty 2 and singletons of Buff Arches, Canary-shouldered Thorn, Chocolate-tip, Crescent, Dingy Footman, Mottled Rustic, Olive, Scalloped Oak, Shuttle-shaped Dart, Small Phoenix, White Satin and Yellow-tail. Amongst the micros identified was the Chequered Fruit-tree Tortrix, another addition to my all time garden list, and identified with the help of Nigel Partridge's report and photo to the UTB Website on the 6th August. Mother of Pearl numbers were back up from last time to an estimated 55 and Endotricha flammealis 1 and Small Magpie 2 were also present."
~ Saturday 11th August 2007 ~ Derek Brown sent the following report on 4th August: "In my garden (Beenham, Berks) on 3rd August I had 8 new species for this year: Peacock Moth, Maiden's Blush, White-spotted Pug, Buff footman, Straw Underwing, Shaded Broad Bar, Waved Black and one that might be new for UTB, Least Yellow Underwing."
On 10th August Derek had another 7 new moth species for the year: "Leopard, Broad-Bordered Yellow Underwing, Lime-speck Pug, Ear Moth, Iron Prominent, Lesser Swallow Prominent and my first ever White Satin Moth."
~ Friday 10th August 2007 ~ Thanks to Tim Watts and Dave Ferguson
who both passed on this sighting from the Bucks Birders group: "Little Marlow,
9th August: Not much bird-wise last night, (1 juv. Common Sandpiper, 1 Ringed Plover
and our first 3 returning Snipe) but Colin's sharp eyes picked out not 1 but
2 Red Underwings on buildings between the pit and the village."
Dave Wilton sent this update on 10th August: "Thanks to Peter Hall, further moths confirmed from my trap during June included Plain Pug, Cochylis hybridella, Deltaornix torquillella, Epiblema roborana, Epiblema rosaecolana, Epiblema trimaculana, Parornix finitimella and Udea ferrugalis/Rusty Dot Pearl all from my garden at Westcott plus Choristoneura hebenstreitella, Coleophora albidella, Epinotia demarniana, Paraswammerdamia albicapitella and Pseudosciaphila branderiana from Finemere Wood. Additions for the first half of July have included Acrobasis consociella, Anacampsis populella, Athrips mouffetella, Bryotropha senectella, Coleophora peribenanderi, Grapholita funebrana, Lobesia abscisana, Paraswammerdamia lutarea and Piniphila bifasciana all from Westcott along with Coleophora lusciniaepennella and Metzneria lappella from Rushbeds Wood. Over the last couple of weeks the results from my garden trap have been nothing short of abysmal compared to last year. The one reasonably warm night recently, on 5th August, produced about 80 species (just over 300 moths) but nothing new. The same night in 2006 brought in a similar number of species but twice as many moths." David Redhead sent the following moth trap report today, 10th August: "Three overnight actinic moth traps situated on arable farmland near Merton, Oxfordshire produced a reasonably impressive combined haul of 18 species of macro-moth and 94 individuals: Common Wainscot 20, Willow Beauty 17, Common/Lesser Common Rustic 14, Common Carpet 10, Smoky Wainscot 8, Magpie 4, Shuttle-shaped Dart 3, Snout 3, Brimstone 3, Flame Shoulder 2, Single-dotted Wave 2, Spectacle 2 plus singletons of Dark Arches, Large Yellow Underwing, Olive, Orange Swift, Purple-bar and Svensson's Copper Underwing. The sunrise on the way was even more spectacular than the Magpie moths!"
The following report came from Alastair Driver on 9th August: "Many thanks to Peter Hall for helping me to identify pictures of a couple of micros from my trapping session back on 30th July at home in Sonning. They were Trachycera advenella and Eudonia mercurella.
David Redhead ran another garden moth trap in Oxford on 7th August: "Again, not a spectacular catch and nothing new for the UTB list this time but it did contain my first Black Arches (male) of the year (and only my second ever). The only other one worthy of mention was a Pebble Hook-tip."
~ Wednesday 8th August 2007 ~ Jan Haseler sent the following report today, 8th August: "74 species of moth were identified at the Reading & District Natural History Society event at Withymead Reserve, between Goring and South Stoke, on Saturday 4th August. They included: Dark Spinach, Slender Pug, Dusky Thorn, Argyresthia goedartella, Pammene aurita and Donacaula forficella." Nigel Partridge recorded another moth species new to the UTB 2007 List: Barred Rivulet, Loosley Row, 06-08-07.
Tom Stevenson ran his home made skinner trap with a 25W blacklight blue bulb on 6th August in his Benson garden: "Not a great deal to report but the following: Common Carpet, Willow Beauty, Yellow Shell (2) September Thorn, Uncertain, Flame Shoulder, Lychnis and what I think is either a Grey/Dark Dagger (see photo below)."
David Redhead held a garden (Oxford) moth trap on 3rd August: "An improved but still not spectacular catch except it included my first ever Clouded Magpie and my first Canary-shouldered Thorn of the year."
~ Monday 6th August 2007 ~ 6th August - some moths seen recently in Aylesbury by Dave Maunder include: "Elephant Hawk-moth (1); Poplar Hawks (3); Spectacle (1), Gothic (2); Flame Shoulder (1), Shuttle-shaped Dart (1); Ruby Tiger (1); Dingy Footman (2); Common Footman (1); Buff Ermine (1); White Satin (1); Yellow Tail (1); Nut-tree Tussock (1); Sallow Kitten (1); Pale Prominent (1); Marbled Beauty (2); Scalloped Oak (3); Willow Beauty (7); Peppered Moth (1); Dusky Sallow (1); Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing (1) - all caught in my garden m.v. trap; other moths seen were:- Old Lady moths (2) - on my garden buddleia; Copper Underwing (1); Pale Prominent (1); Swallow Prominent (1); Coxcomb Prominent (1); White Satin (1); Yellow-tail (1); Poplar Grey (1); Buff Ermine (1)." Nigel Partridge sent this addition to the moth species list today: "Pandemis corylana (Chequered Fruit-tree Tortrix), 05-08-07, Loosley Row. Thanks to Peter Hall for confirming the ID."
At Yoesden Bank this morning, 6th August, Dave Ferguson recorded: 6-spot Burnet (4), Yellow Shell (4), Shaded Broad-bar (3). Peter Hall ran his MV Light Trap in his garden in Ballinger Common on 29th July with the following results: Cameraria ohridella,Ancylis unculana,Yponomeuta sedella, Ypsolopha dentella (Honeysuckle),Plutella xylostella (Diamond-back), Blastobasis adustella,Agapeta hamana,Pandemis heparana (Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix), Archips podana (Large Fruit-tree Tortrix),Ptycholomoides aeriferanus,Epiphyas postvittana (Light Brown Apple), Pseudargyrotoza conwagana,Acleris holmiana,Acleris laterana,Acleris variegana (Garden Rose Tortrix), Celypha striana,Celypha lacunana,Ancylis badiana,Rhopobota naevana (Holly Tortrix), Spilonota ocellana (Bud),Cydia pomonella (Codling),Chrysoteuchia culmella,Crambus pascuella, Agriphila straminella,Evergestis forficalis (Garden Pebble),Pyrausta aurata,Phlyctaenia coronata, Udea prunalis,Pleuroptya ruralis (Mother of Pearl),Hypsopygia costalis (Gold Triangle), Orthopygia glaucinalis,Endotricha flammealis,Aphomia sociella (Bee),Conobathra repandana, Trachycera advenella,Phycita roborella,Pebble Hook-tip,Least Carpet, Dwarf Cream Wave,Single-dotted Wave,Riband Wave,Common Carpet,Yellow Shell,Small Phoenix, Green Carpet,July Highflyer,Small Rivulet,Double-striped Pug,Lesser Treble-bar,Brimstone Moth, Scalloped Oak,Willow Beauty,Engrailed,Buff-tip,Sallow Kitten,Iron Prominent,Yellow-tail, Black Arches,Dingy Footman,Scarce Footman,Common Footman,Ruby Tiger,Heart & Dart,Flame Shoulder, Large Yellow Underwing,Lesser Yellow Underwing,Lesser Broad-border,Double Square-spot, Bright-line Brown-eye,Smoky Wainscot,Coronet,Lunar-spotted Pinion,Dark Arches,Slender Brindle, Common Rustic,Ear,Uncertain,Rustic,Nut-tree Tussock, Straw Dot and Fan-foot. ~ Friday 3rd August 2007 ~ 2nd August - Nigel Partridge sent the following sighting from Loosley Row: "I think this is a new one for the UTB Species list: Straw Underwing, Loosley Row, 01-08-07."
Peter Hall counted 45 Striped Lychnis
larvae on their foodplant of Dark Mullein at their usual site near to Wendover on 2nd August:
"The larvae are a little late this year, so now is a good time to search for them. I saw first
instars all the way through to final instars.
David Redhead ran two overnight moth
traps in his garden in Oxford recently: "31st July
was remarkable for being an all time low for my garden in July - just 13 macro-moth species and 20 individuals as
follows : Buff Ermine 4, Chocolate-tip 3, Clouded Border 2, Single-dotted Wave 2,
Bright-line Brown-eye 1, Common Footman 1, Crescent 1, Dingy Footman 1, Flame Shoulder 1,
Poplar Hawk 1, Riband Wave 1, Swallow Prominent 1, White Satin 1. Also just one
Mother of Pearl - corresponding time last year I had an estimated 220.
~ Wednesday 1st August 2007 ~ Tim Watts had his first sighting of a Hummingbird Hawk-moth this year on 30/07/07 seen on the roadside in Whitchurch, Bucks. On 29th July at Lodge Hill Dave Ferguson recorded the following moths: Six-spot Burnet (1), Common Carpet (2). "Also, this photo of a Dusky Sallow was taken at College Lake yesterday (31st July). It is a moth that has read the book!"
David Redhead reports on the moths seen at the recent Greenham Common Field Meeting: "On Sunday 28th July, during our attempt to see 25 butterfly species, an interesting haul of moths was made at Greenham Common: Grass Emerald (a new addition to the 2007 UTB Moth Species list, spotted by Dave Ferguson), Lesser Treble-bar, Six-spot Burnet, Sitochroa palealis, Shaded Broad-bar, Cinnabar (adult and caterpillars) and Pyrausta purpuralis."
Derek Brown had a few new moths in his garden in Beenham, Berks on 27th July: "Copper Underwing, Magpie and Garden Dart (I had the latter checked by Martin Harvey)."
~ Saturday 28th July 2007 ~ Dave Maunder reported another two Day-flying Moths today: "I've had a couple of family outings the last couple of days: on Friday 27th we went around Hartwell cemetery and saw a Shaded Broad-bar moth. Yesterday, 28th, we went for a walk around Coombe hill and the monument and I saw Six-spot Burnets (6)." Nigel Partridge recorded a Tawny Speckled Pug in his garden at Loosley Row on 27-07-07.
Alastair Driver sent the following news today, 28th July: "I had a specimen of Aglossa pinguinalis (Large Tabby) indoors at home in Sonning on 20th July and my first ever Narrow-winged Pug, also indoors at home on 24th July."
David Redhead sent this update
on 25th July: "Two more July garden moth traps on the
19th and 25th July
produced the following 9 additions to my 2007 garden list: Campion, Chocolate Tip,
Crescent, Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, Round-winged Muslin, Short-cloaked,
Small Scallop, Svensson's Copper Underwing and Endotricha flammealis. The
Small Scallop is actually an addition to my all time garden list.
I also saw a Cistus Forester at Swyncombe Down
on 19th July. I think they can
only be told apart from the Forester Moth by an expert, but I'm assured there is only
Cistus Forester present at Swyncombe.
Dave Ferguson sent the following Day-flying Moth records recently: "2 Shaded Broad-bars at Bradenham on 22nd July, a Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet at Dorney Lake Rowing Centre on 24th July and 2 Six-spot Burnets at College Lake on 25th July. ~ Tuesday 24th July 2007 ~ Jan Haseler sent the following update today: "On the day-flying moth front, can I add: Hummingbird Hawk-moth (Tilehurst, 24th June) and Shaded Broad-Bar (Moor Copse Extension, 28th June). Also: Evergestis pallidata (Moor Copse Extension, 22 Jul) and at the Reading and District Natural History Society mothing night at Whitchurch-on-Thames on 14 July, over 130 species of moth (mostly identified by Norman Hall), including 10 Chalk Carpets, 1 Campion, Dusky Sallow, Royal Mantle, Small Scallop, Acleris comariana (Strawberry Tortrix), Acompsia schmidtiellus, Cydia fagiglandana, Helcystogramma rufescens, Mecyna flavalis flaviculalis, Merrifieldia baliodactylus, Yponomeuta sedella." Nigel Partridge added another species to his day-flying moth list: a Shaded Broad-bar found in his Loosley Row garden on 12-07-07. Wendy & Mick Campbell added two more day-flying moths to their list today, 24th July: Six-spot Burnet, seen at Ibstone Common, Bucks and a Shaded Broad-bar seen at Asham Meads BBOWT Reserve. On 21st July Reg Vernon sent the following photographs of Angle Shades which he found on his kitchen wall on 15th March. This attractive moth can be found in every month of the year, but is most frequently seen from May to October.
On 22nd July Dave Wilton sent his latest moth trap
report: "On 19th July, the night before the deluge, I got
quite a reasonable catch at Westcott and the following
is a list of macro species trapped: Leopard Moth, Lackey, Chinese Character, Buff Arches,
Common Emerald, Small Emerald, Blood-vein (1), Least Carpet, Small Fan-footed Wave,
Single-dotted Wave, Riband Wave, Shaded Broad-bar, Barred Straw, Double-striped Pug,
Treble-bar sp, Clouded Border, Early Thorn, Purple Thorn, Scalloped Oak, Willow Beauty,
Poplar Hawk-moth, Swallow Prominent, Pale Prominent, Yellow-tail, White Satin,
Dingy Footman, Scarce Footman, Common Footman, Short-cloaked Moth, Heart and Dart,
Shuttle-shaped Dart, Flame Shoulder, Large Yellow Underwing, Lesser Yellow Underwing,
Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, Dot Moth, Bright-line Brown-eye, Clay,
Brown-line Bright-eye, Smoky Wainscot, Common Wainscot, Sycamore, Marbled Beauty,
Angle Shades, Olive, Dun-bar, Lunar-spotted Pinion, Dark Arches, Common/Lesser Common Rustic,
Small Dotted Buff, Uncertain/Rustic, Mottled Rustic, Pale Mottled Willow, Nut-tree Tussock,
Blackneck, Herald, Waved Black, Snout and Fan-foot.
The micros included: Brachmia blandella,
Blastobasis adustella, Archips podana/Large Fruit-tree Tortrix, Acleris forsskaleana,
Celypha lacunana, Eucosma campoliliana, Eucosma cana, Cydia pomonella/Codling Moth,
Chrysoteuchia culmella, Agriphila straminella, Catoptria pinella, Eurrhypara hortulata/Small Magpie,
Udea prunalis, Pleuroptya ruralis/Mother of Pearl, Hypsopygia costalis/Gold Triangle,
Orthopygia glaucinalis, Endotricha flammealis, Pempelia formosa, Phycita roborella and
Emmelina monodactyla.
~ Monday 23rd July 2007 ~ Adam Bassett reports a small catch
on 15th July, but Buff Arches was new for his Marlow Bottom (Bucks) garden.
"Riband Wave (10) was the most numerous and a few new year ticks: August Thorn (2),
Yellow-tail, Black Arches, Buff Footman (7) and Ruby Tiger." The full catch was: Peter Hall led the very enjoyable
joint BIG/UTB BC/BBOWT moth trapping evening at Dancersend (Coombe Hill side) on July 14th
which was attended by 13 people. He provided the following report: "We trapped 151 species, of which 58
were micros and 93 macros. New to the site were Acleris aspersana, Ancylis achatana,
Aphomia sociella, Bryotropha terrella, Cameraria ohridella, Coleophora anatipennella,
Enarmonia formosana, Moraphaga choragella, Nephopterix angustella, Oidaematophorus lithodactyla,
Pseudatemelia josephinae, Rhopobota naevana, Scoparia basistrigalis, Teleiodes luculella,
Teleiodes vulgella. This brings the species list for the site to 509 species, thank you all
for attending." The full list is below: A few more moths caught in Dave Maunder's Aylesbury garden m.v. trap on 18th July were:- "Buff Tip (1); Buff Ermine (1); Common Footman (1); Dark Arches (1); Heart & Dart (1); Smoky Wainscot (1); Shuttle-shaped Dart (1); Dot Moth (5); Riband Wave (3); Small Fan-footed Wave (2); Single-dotted Wave (1); Common Carpet (1); Endotricha flammealis (1) and Phlyctaenia coronata (1) - not a very good night for moths as it was clear and cooler, I suppose! Other moths seen recently are:- Old Lady moths (3, all on 13th feeding on my garden Buddleia!); White Satin moth (1, on 14th); Silver-Y (1 - my first this year - such a contrast to last year's huge numbers!); Vapourer (6), and Horse Chestnut leaf miner on Chestnuts in Ellen road - spotted after seeing Peter hall's article." ~ Friday 20th July 2007 ~ Dave Wilton sent this update
on 18th July: "Peter Hall has kindly confirmed another batch of moths
for me from late-May and early-June which included the following species new to the UTB list:
Shaded Pug (from Seven Barrows, Berks),
Monochroa lucidella (from Finemere Wood, Bucks) and Bryotropha similis, Caloptilia syringella,
Cnephasia incertana, Coleophora alcyonipenella, Coleophora glaucicolella,
Ephestia parasitella, Eudonia pallida, Luquetia lobella,
Monopis laevigella, Nemapogon wolffiella, Nematopogon metaxella, Plutella porrectella,
Scoparia subfusca (all from my garden at Westcott, Bucks).
While gardening on July 17th, Wendy Wilson disturbed a Least Carpet from her privet hedge, near a wild honeysuckle, in Gerrards Cross. "I attach a photo and also one of a Six-spot Burnet. As you can see it has just emerged from its pupa. This was in Gerrards Cross parish churchyard, where I saw several of them on July 5th.
Nigel Bullen found a Poplar Hawk-moth on a wall by his office at Oxfordshire County Council on Monday morning, 16th July.
Geraint Morris sent this news on 16th July: "An Oak Eggar flew into my living room tonight in Milton Keynes, Bucks."
Derek Brown sent the following moth records from his garden in Beenham, Berks, on 16th July: (29/06) Dwarf Cream Wave; (7/7) Single Dotted Wave; (13/7) September Thorn; Rosy Minor; Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing; Cloaked Minor; (14/7) Small Rivulet; Double-lobed.
On 16th July, Nigel Partridge reported that he had a Hummingbird Hawk-moth in his Loosley Row garden recently (see photo below) and a Six-spot Burnet on 15th July. Also on 16-07-07, he recorded Cloaked Minor and Golden Plusia.
Peter Hall recorded
first instar Striped Lychnis larvae at their usual site in
Cryers Hill, Bucks, on 15th July.
~ Monday 16th July 2007 ~ Alastair Driver had a good trapping session in the garden last night (15th July) at home in Sonning before the rains came again: "I caught 26 macro spp. including my first garden record of Poplar Grey. Firsts for the year for me were: Common Footman, Scarce Footman, Least Carpet, Common Rustic agg., Chinese Character, Knot Grass, Common Carpet and Cloaked Minor. Also caught the micros, Pleuroptera ruralis, Hypsopygia costalis and Phlyctaenia coronata." David Redhead ran two overnight garden (Oxford) moth traps on 13th and 15th July: "The first I have managed in July, producing 74 species of macro-moths of which two, Gothic and Dark Umber, were additions to my all time garden list. Another 32 were additions to my year list, in order of abundance they were : Dingy Footman, Poplar Grey, Yellow-tail, Common/Lesser Common Rustic, Dark Arches, Single-dotted Wave, Elephant Hawkmoth, Olive, Scalloped Oak, V Pug, White Satin Moth, Clay, Common Carpet, Dot Moth, Dwarf Cream Wave, Fan-foot, Scarce Footman, Small Blood-vein, Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, Common Emerald, Dagger (grey or Dark), Dingy Shears, Double Lobed, Herald, Knot Grass, Large Twin-spot Carpet, Lesser Yellow Underwing, Light Arches, Privet Hawk-moth, Ruby Tiger, Sycamore and White-spotted Pug. The Privet Hawk-moth was only the second I have ever caught in my garden moth trap and after identification it was carefully hidden in the privet hedge. But it obviously did not like the spot I had chosen as a few minutes later it began to madly fly round the garden including head-butting me twice, with noticeable force, before settling on the top of the canvas gazebo where it presented an obvious meal for a bird. My second attempt to hide it in the privet hedge proved more successful. Six micros were identified including my first of the year for Bee Moth, Gold Triangle, Phlyctaenia coronata and Mother-of-Pearl, the latter already having a running total of 62."
Dave Wilton reports that a
reasonable trapping session in the garden at Westcott on 10th July brought
in more than 70 species: "There was nothing out of the ordinary
amongst the macros, but the micros included Acleris variegana/Garden Rose Tortrix,
Brachmia blandella, Coleophora mayrella, Limnaecia phragmitella,
Mompha ochraceella and Yponomeuta evonymella/Bird-cherry Ermine.
~ Sunday 15th July 2007 ~ This news came from Mark Calway on 14th July: "This Wormwood (2211 The Wormwood Cucullia absinthii) was an unexpected visitor to my garden (Earley, Reading) moth trap (Skinner/125MV) last night. It is a notable B species (Nb) and although it is absent from the UTB listing from 2004 -2007 it has been recorded, infrequently, in our area."
Peter Hall ran his garden moth trap at Ballinger Common on 9th July, catching 62 species: Pandemis cerasana (Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix),Archips podana (Large Fruit-tree Tortrix), Clepsis spectrana (Cyclamen tortrix),Clepsis consimilana, Lozotaeniodes formosanus,Lozotaenia forsterana,Ditula angustiorana (Red-barred Tortrix), Tortrix viridana (Green Oak Tortrix),Celypha striana,Celypha lacunana,Rhopobota naevana (Holly Tortrix), Epiblema uddmanniana (Bramble Shoot),Cydia pomonella (Codling),Chrysoteuchia culmella, Crambus pascuella,Acentria ephemerella (Water Veneer),Eurrhypara hortulata (Small Magpie), Udea prunalis,Drinker,Buff Arches,Common Emerald,Small Emerald, Small Fan-footed Wave,Treble Brown Spot,Riband Wave,Large Twin-spot Carpet,Barred Straw, Clouded Border,Scalloped Oak,Peppered,Mottled Beauty,Common White Wave,Light Emerald, Privet Hawk,Poplar Hawk,Elephant Hawk,Lobster,Dingy Footman,Scarce Footman,Common Footman Buff Ermine,Short-cloaked,Heart & Club,Heart & Dart,Large Yellow Underwing, Setaceous Hebrew Character,Double Square-spot,Bright-line Brown-eye,Broad-barred White, Coronet,Dun-bar,Dark Arches,Slender Brindle,Common Rustic, Uncertain,Rustic,Mottled Rustic,Burnished Brass,Silver Y,Waved Black, Snout and Fan-foot.
Peter Hall provided this latest chart on the UTB Cumulative Moth Species Total for this year to end of June:
~ Thursday 12th July 2007 ~ 11th July - Moths seen in and around Aylesbury by Dave Maunder recently include: "Old Lady (feeding on my garden buddleia flowers at dusk, twice - on 7th & 10th); also on 8th July I ran my garden m.v. lamp and caught:- Lackey moth (1), Peppered moth (1), Willow Beauty (1), Large Yellow Underwings (7), Dark Arches (1), Dot Moths (2), Cabbage Moths (2), Bright-line Brown-eye (1), Smoky Wainscots (2), Broad-barred White (1), Small Square-spots (2) and Small Magpies (2). A few other moths seen elsewhere were Vapourer moths (4), Yellow Shell (1), Garden Carpet (1), Common Footman (1), Bee moth (1), Swallow-tailed moth (1) and another 4 Gypsy moth larvae pupating under wall-ledges." Shirley & John Spencer ran their moth trap again on 7th July: "After a spell away and some adverse weather conditions since our return, we have at last had our lightbox out again! We caught the following species in our garden at Riseley on July 7: Buff Tip, Common Footman, Elephant Hawkmoth, Dark Arches, Large Yellow Underwing, Scalloped Oak." Alastair Driver had a good trapping session at Ali's Pond LNR last Saturday 7th: "I caught 24 macro-species of which Cream Wave and Delicate were new species for my parish list and Coronet (ab. coronula) was new for the site list. Other firsts of the year for me were Light Emerald, Lesser Yellow Underwing, Clay (see photo below of male underside) and Dot Moth."
Nigel Partridge had his first Hummingbird Hawk-moth and Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet of the year in his Loosley Row garden on 8-7-07. Also, on 11-07-07 he caught a Toadflax Pug in his garden moth trap.
Peter Hall added to his day-flying moth tally by recording a Narrow-bordered 5-spot Burnet on 7th July at Bacombe Warren, Bucks. He also reported a daytime observation of Aethes tesserana up at Lodge Hill on 9th July plus Yellow Shell, Cinnabar (adults and larvae), Chrysoteucha culmella and Teleiodes sequax. Paul Bowyer led the UTB Moth Trap
event at Holtspur on Friday 6th July. Along with Peter Hall and
Martin Albertini they ran 3 traps, which produced the following 67 species of moth: 6th July - Dave Wilton sent the following photos to go with his Finemere moth trap report (see 4th July).
Adam Bassett sent this update on 6th July: "Another micro from my garden (in Marlow Bottom, Bucks) on June 29th, courtesy of Peter Hall, which does not appear on the UTB list yet is Phycita roborella." ~ Thursday 5th July 2007 ~ Peter Hall recorded a Vapourer moth at Coombe Hill, Wendover on July 2nd. He also sent the following news and photos of the Horse Chestnut Leaf miner, Cameraria ohridella on 5th July: “These photos are typical of many (White Flowered) Horse Chestnut trees at the moment, especially in the south of the County (Bucks). They have severe infections of Horse Chestnut Leaf Miner, Cameraria ohridella. The Vale of Aylesbury now has many infections too, but less severe. Please take a look around your locality and send any records in to myself or your County Recorder (see links at the top of this page). In photo 3 you can see a total of 4 larvae, they are inside the leaf”. Finally, at Laplands Farm today, I recorded a Six-spot Burnet. Another daytimer, but no sign of Scarlet Tiger."
Dave Wilton ran the MV trap at Finemere Wood for a couple of hours on 4th July: "I got 60 species for my trouble although I wasn't exactly overwhelmed by moths. Most came along in ones or twos and the biggest numbers of single species were provided by Minor Shoulder-knot (10) and Drinker (9). New for me this year were Lesser Cream Wave, Small Fan-footed Wave, Shaded Broad-bar, July Highflyer, Swallow-tailed Moth, Yellow-tail, Dingy Footman, Dun-bar, Ypsolopha parenthesella, Lozotaeniodes formosanus, Hedya salicella and Apotomis capreana. Shaded Broad-bar needs to be added to my day-flying list, as does Hummingbird Hawk-moth which visited our Westcott garden on 29th June." Thomas Merckx sent this update on 3rd July: "I noticed Ruddy Carpet is not yet on the list; I trapped one during the night of 29/06/07 at a site in Hailey (Witney, OXON). Also, Becky Dulieu, Martin Townsend and I have already trapped several (ca. 20) Pale Shining Brown at sites in Oxfordshire. The first two individuals were trapped the night of 23/06/07." Danny Howard sent this report on 3rd July: "I saw a Small Blood-vein resting on the recycling box in our garden last night (2nd July) in Temple Cowley, Oxfordshire. I also currently have a number of Fox moth larvae. The eggs were laid back in May on a sheet I was using for trapping. In the morning I found the eggs right next to a rather dozy female cockchafer and thought they might have been hers. Turns out they were Fox Moths and they’re on their fourth instar now and doing well on bramble from the garden!"
Adam Bassett ran his moth trap in his Marlow Bottom (Bucks) garden on 29th June and 1st July: "3 new species for the garden were Beautiful Carpet (on 29th June) which unfortunately flew off before I could photograph it, Broad-barred White and 2 Leopard Moths. The full list is: Common Swift,Leopard Moth,Small Magpie,Bee Moth,Pebble Hook-tip,Common Emerald, Clay Triple-lines,Small Fan-footed Wave,Treble Brown Spot,Riband Wave, Beautiful Carpet,Barred Straw,Fern,Pretty Chalk Carpet, Dark Umber,Foxglove Pug,Green Pug,Scorched Carpet,Brimstone Moth,Lilac Beauty,Peppered Moth, Willow Beauty,Mottled Beauty,Engrailed,Common White Wave,Clouded Silver,Light Emerald, Buff-tip,Lobster Moth,Buff Ermine,Heart & Club,Heart & Dart,Large Yellow Underwing, Broad-barred White,Coronet,Bird's Wing,Dun-bar,Dark Arches,Clouded Brindle,Uncertain, Pale Mottled Willow,Silver Y,Beautiful Hook-tip,Snout,Fan-foot and Small Fan-foot." Tony Towner ran his garden trap in Tilehurst on 29/06/07 between 22:15 and 01:15: "Moths recorded were as follows: Elephant Hawkmoth (5) : Peppered moth (1) : Miller (1) : Fan-foot (3) : Dark Arches (1) : Heart and Club (4) : Heart and Dart (4) : Beautiful Hook-tip (1) : Small Blood-vein (1) : Slender Brindle (1) : Scarce Footman (1) : Chrysoteuchia culmella (1)."
Peter Hall's Ballinger Common garden moth trap on 25th June attracted the following moth species: Plutella xylostella (Diamond-back),Pandemis cerasana (Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix), Pandemis heparana (Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix), Archips podana (Large Fruit-tree Tortrix),Clepsis consimilana, Ditula angustiorana (Red-barred Tortrix),Pseudargyrotoza conwagana,Celypha striana, Celypha lacunana,Hedya nubiferana,Cydia pomonellan (Codling),Chrysoteuchia culmella,Crambus pascuella, Eurrhypara hortulata (Small Magpie),Udea prunalis,Udea olivalis,Dioryctria abietella, Myelois circumvoluta,Common Emerald,Small Dusty Wave,Treble Brown Spot,Riband Wave,Clouded Border, Brimstone Moth,Swallow-tailed,Peppered,Willow Beauty,Mottled Beauty,Engrailed,Common Wave, Privet Hawk,Poplar Hawk,Elephant Hawk,Scarce Footman,Common Footman,Buff Ermine,Turnip, Heart & Club,Heart & Dart,Flame,Large Yellow Underwing,Grey Arches,Bright-line Brown-eye, Smoky Wainscot,Coronet,Dark Arches,Uncertain,Mottled Rustic,Silver Y,Beautiful Golden Y, Plain Golden Y,Snout,Fan-foot and Small Fan-foot. ~ Tuesday 3rd July 2007 ~ Mick & Wendy Campbell visited Laplands Farm and Rushbeds Wood on Sunday 1st July and saw their first Scarlet Tiger moth of the season and 2 Straw Dots. On Sunday 1st July David Redhead recorded: 3 Scarlet Tiger moths in Heyford Hill Lane. At home in Oxford on 2nd July Burnet moths were noticeable by their apparent absence in the morning but numerous in the afternoon with all those identified being Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnets. A Cinnabar was also seen. Alastair Driver joined the Day-flying Moths Challenge today, with the following list of species: Cinnabar, Hummingbird Hawk-moth, Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet, Shaded Broad-bar, Silver-Y and Yellow Shell. Nigel Partridge sent a new addition for the UTB Species list: Brown-line Bright-eye, Loosley Row on 30-06-07.
On Friday 29th June Dave Wilton carried out his transect in Finemere Wood and in the evening ran his overnight moth trap in his Westcott garden: "Moths seen in Finemere Wood were Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet (3), Clouded Border (2), Marbled White Spot (1) and Silver Y (1). My garden Robinson trap produced my first reasonable catch for a week or two, with more than 400 moths from about 80 species ending up in the trap. Best of the bunch were Lappet and Scarce Silver-lines, with Scarce Footman, Clay, Smoky Wainscot, Olive, Pleuroptya ruralis/Mother of Pearl and Phycitodes binaevella also new for my garden year list. The following evening a Blackneck came to our kitchen window light."
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