Moth Sightings Archive - July to December 2007

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~ 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:
"18/11 - Only a few moths seen over the last week which were:- Green-brindled Crescent (11th) and Winter moths (3 - 11th, 13th & 14th). Season nearly done with, I think!
21/11 - The only moths I've seen recently were 11 Winter moths, all around porch lights at the flats where I used to live - must have been quite a hatching on Monday night!"

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)."

Peter also sent the latest charts showing UTB sightings of moth species this year compared to previous years:

~ 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.
Last night, 1st November, Stuart Jenkins and I ran a couple of overnight traps in the grounds of Bullingdon Prison. Stuart's Skinner trap gathered a total of 38 macro-moths from 5 species - Feathered Thorn (19), Sprawler (16), Figure of Eight (1), Green-brindled Crescent (1) and November Moth spp (1). My Robinson did slightly better with 49 macro-moths and 6 species - Sprawler (23), Feathered Thorn (16), November Moth spp (4), Figure of Eight (3), Green-brindled Crescent (2) and Sallow (1) plus 3 micro-moths - Acleris rhombana (2) and Acleris variegana (1). We swapped the traps round from last time and the Robinson's better performance this time was due to location but, interestingly, the Skinner performed relatively much better than the Robinson had last time (see my report of 22/10 below) in the inferior location. When I got back home this morning (2nd) I noticed 3 November Moth spp and a Feathered Thorn resting on an uncurtained kitchen window where a light had been left on overnight."
[In answer to David's question, Martin Townsend replies that the Sprawler gets its name from the 'head back' defensive posture adopted by the larva.]

~ 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:
21st October - "I ran an overnight Robinson Trap in my Oxfordshire garden with frost on the ground in the morning - just 3 moths - Green-brindled Crescent, November Moth and Yellow-line Quaker.
22nd October - Overnight in the grounds of Bullingdon Prison with a minimum temperature of 3C. Stuart Jenkins' home made Skinner Trap made an excellent start to its working life by capturing 33 macro-moths from 8 species - Green-brindled Crescent (23), November Moth (3), Yellow-line Quaker (2), Feathered Thorn (1), Figure of Eight (1), Merveille du Jour (1), Mottled Umber (1) and Red-line Quaker (1). Also a single micro - Acleris variegana. Meanwhile my own Robinson Trap netted just 8 macros from 4 species and no micros - Green-brindled Crescent (4), Figure of Eight (2), Lunar Underwing (1) and Yellow-line Quaker (1). The marked difference in catches was to some extent due to the positioning of the traps with the Skinner in the more sheltered position but we could not help feeling there was another factor at work.
23rd October - With the Robinson back home, I ran it again overnight in my garden and in spite of there being frost on the ground again in the morning obtained my best catch of the three nights with 15 macros from 10 species - November Moth (4), Green-brindled Crescent (2), Large Wainscot (2), Common Marbled Carpet (1), Deep-brown Dart (1), Red-green Carpet (1), Red-line Quaker (1), Satellite (1), Snout (1) and Spruce Carpet (1). Also a single micro moth - Emmelina monodactyla agg. Probably the improved catch on two nights previously was due to it not getting really cold until the second half of the night. (November Moths confirmed by Martin Townsend.)"

~ 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.
I ran my overnight garden moth trap on 14th October at Littlemore, Oxford - the variety was down a bit on a few days previous but overall numbers were up with November Moth agg (5), Green-brindled Crescent (4), Sallow (4 with three patterned and one plain), Large Wainscot (3), Snout (3), Blair's Shoulder-knot (2), Shuttle-shaped Dart (2), Spruce Carpet (2), Brimstone (1), Feathered Thorn (1), Large Yellow Underwing (1), Red-green Carpet (1), Red-line Quaker (1) and Willow Beauty (1).
On 17th October I ran another garden moth trap and, after finding ice on my car windscreen, was quite surprised to get any moths at all - just 5 = Green-brindled Crescent (2), Blair's Shoulder-knot (1), Feathered Thorn (1) and Yellow-line Quaker (1). Surprisingly the Feathered Thorn had not actually bothered to seek the warmth of the trap and was sitting on the box covering the electrics. This did enable me to get a photo of it (at the third time of trying) and you can see the water droplets on it."

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!
On 12th October I ran my garden trap at Westcott and got 98 moths, comprising: Grey Pine Carpet (1), November Moth agg (6), Clouded Border (1, rather unexpected!), Willow Beauty (1), Large Yellow Underwing (9), Lesser Yellow Underwing (1), Setaceous Hebrew Character (11), Square-spot Rustic (2), Deep-brown Dart (1), Black Rustic (4), Blair's Shoulder-knot (5), Green-brindled Crescent (2), Red-line Quaker (2), Brown-spot Pinion (1), Beaded Chestnut (2), Lunar Underwing (25), Barred Sallow (1), Pink-barred Sallow (1), Sallow (11), Straw Dot (1), Snout (1) and micros Hofmannophila pseudospretella/Brown House Moth (1), Epiphyas postvittana/Light Brown Apple Moth (1), Acleris sparsana (1), Acleris rhombana/Rhomboid Tortrix (1), Acleris variegana/Garden Rose Tortrix (5) and Eudonia angustea (1).
On 13th October I trapped again at Finemere Wood and managed 103 moths of 24 species, comprising: Red-green Carpet (2), Common Marbled Carpet (2), Spruce Carpet (1), November Moth agg (10), Feathered Thorn (1), Mottled Umber (1), Figure of Eight (41), Large Yellow Underwing (2), Setaceous Hebrew Character (1), Black Rustic (1), Green-brindled Crescent (10), Brindled Green (3), Satellite (1), Chestnut (2), Dark Chestnut (1), Lunar Underwing (6), Barred Sallow (2), Pink-barred Sallow (2), Sallow (4), Copper Underwing (1, very tatty) and micros: Plutella xylostella/Diamond-back Moth (1), Hypatima rhomboidella (1), Acleris emargana (5) and Epinotia nisella (2), while Bordered Beauty (1) was found by our outside light back at Westcott.
Finally, on 14th October at Westcott I disturbed Emmelina monodactyla (3) whilst mowing the lawn and the overnight garden trap brought in 57 moths of 26 species. These included many of those already mentioned plus Brimstone Moth (1), Brick (1), Merveille du Jour (1), Dusky-lemon Sallow (1), Silver Y (1), Agapeta hamana (1) and Cydia splendana (1).
And thanks to Peter Hall for the following ID confirmations, just received:
Westcott (12th) November Moth (6).
Finemere (13th) November Moth (7), Pale November Moth (2), Autumnal Moth (1).
Westcott (14th) November Moth (4), Pale November Moth (3)."

~ 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:
On 23/09/2007 - Canary-Shouldered Thorn x1, Burnished Brass x1, Black Arches x6, Common Wainscot x4, Large Yellow Underwing x7, Centre-Barred Sallow x1, Double Square-spot x4 and Rustic x5.
On 22/09/2007 - Lunar Underwing x1, Shuttle-shaped Dart x2, Common Marbled Carpet x1, Black Rustic x3, Snout x1, Common Wainscot x9, Large Yellow Underwing x9, Double Square-spot x2 and Rustic x2.

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:
On 30/09/07 - Epiphyas postvittana, Common Marbled Carpet,Grey Pine Carpet,Spruce Carpet,Brimstone Moth,Large Yellow Underwing, Lesser Yellow Underwing,Setaceous Hebrew Character,Beaded Chestnut,Lunar Underwing, Barred Sallow,Sallow,Svensson's Copper Underwing,Angle Shades and Snout.
On 06/10/07 - Epiphyas postvittana,Acleris sparsana, Red-green Carpet,Common Marbled Carpet,Large Yellow Underwing,Setaceous Hebrew Character, Black Rustic,Blair's Shoulder-knot,Green-brindled Crescent,Merveille du Jour, Large Ranunculus,Satellite,Beaded Chestnut,Lunar Underwing,Barred Sallow,Sallow, Burnished Brass and Snout.

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.
My garden trap at Westcott continues to produce very poor returns, the only new species of late being a Blair's Shoulder-knot last night, 29th September."

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.
On 21st September, I had an Orange Sallow in my Tilehurst trap."

~ 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:
"7th September - 95 macros which just edges into second place for my garden in 2007 - I think this says more about May, June, July and August than September. Two additions to my all time garden list with Small China-mark (Cataclysta lemnata) and Garden Carpet - the latter being the first in over a decade of garden trapping must be some sort of record.
9th September - 42 macros plus a male Donacaula forficella. Rather surprised by this as the books say it is on the wing in June and July but subsequent enquiries showed that its flight period is now recognised as being much longer and others have recorded it in the first week of September.
11th September - just 20 macros owing to the low overnight temperature and nothing of note to report.
14th September - 64 macros including my first Frosted Orange of the year. Also my first Rhombid Tortrix (Acleris rhombana) of the year. Unusually 3 Old Ladies (all showing signs of age) - I have only ever caught singletons before.
17th September - 60 macros including an addition to my all time garden list - a Large Ranunculus. Also the dark nigricans form of the Silver-Y - although I realised it was unusual I didn't know it was rare until I read the book afterwards - now I wish I had taken a photograph!
On all five occasions Large Yellow Underwings were the top dogs although second brood Snouts ran them close last night. Copper Underwing numbers have also been notable but they were all in such a poor state I could not decide which of the two species they were."

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.
Thanks to Peter Hall I can also give the yearly total another boost with the following micro-moth ID confirmations from my Westcott garden: Acleris kockiella (formerly A.boscana), Acleris ferrugana, Acleris laterana, Coleophora albitarsella, Coleophora lineolea, Coleophora versurella, Eudemis profunda, Monochroa lutulentella, Monopis weaverella, Pammene fasciana and Recurvaria leucatella (all during the second half of July) as well as Aproaerema anthyllidella, Aspilapteryx tringipennella and Coleophora saxicolella (all during the first half of August)."

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?"
[Martin Albertini - County Moth Recorder for Bucks - comments that there have been a few records, larval and adult, of Fox moth at Stoke Common, the most recent being in 2000.]

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.
Also, at Swyncombe Downs on 31st August Wendy & David Redhead recorded 12 Common Carpet moths and 1 Green Carpet.

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!
On 20th August another overnight session in the garden at Westcott brought in 145 moths of 43 species, better than expected but still well down on what should be around at this time of year. Macro species caught were Orange Swift, Single-dotted Wave, Garden Carpet, Common Carpet, Purple Bar, Common Marbled Carpet, Green Carpet, Lesser Treble-bar, Brimstone Moth, Pebble Prominent, Swallow Prominent, Turnip Moth, Shuttle-shaped Dart, Flame Shoulder, Large Yellow Underwing, Lesser Yellow Underwing, Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, Small Square-spot, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Six-striped Rustic, Common Wainscot, Mouse Moth, Straw Underwing, Dark Arches, Common/Lesser Common Rustic, Flounced Rustic, Rosy Rustic, Rustic, Vine's Rustic and Straw Dot. The micros included Ypsolopha dentella/Honeysuckle Moth, Blastobasis lacticolella, Acleris forsskaleana, Celypha lacunana, Agriphila straminella, Agriphila tristella, Pleuroptya ruralis/Mother of Pearl, Trachycera advenella, Amblyptilia acanthadactyla and Emmelina monodactyla as well as a couple more still requiring confirmation."

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:
Peter Hall, Martin Albertini, Andy McVeigh and Julia Carey ran 4 traps at Bacombe Warren, a chalk bank in Bucks: Orange Swift, Phyllonorycter tenerella,Ypsolopha scabrella,Ypsolopha parenthesella, Coleophora lutipennella,Batia unitella,Carcina quercana, Agonopterix liturosa,Bryotropha senectella,Bryotropha terrella, Acompsia cinerella,Hypatima rhomboidella, Blastobasis adustella,Blastobasis lacticolella,Agapeta hamana,Pandemis corylana,Archips podana, Aleimma loeflingiana,Acleris laterana,Celypha lacunana,Apotomis betuletana, Eucosma campoliliana,Spilonota ocellana,Cydia splendana,Agriphila straminella,Agriphila tristella, Agriphila inquinatella,Agriphila geniculea,Catoptria falsella, Acentria ephemerella,Eudonia mercurella,Pyrausta aurata,Pyrausta purpuralis,Pleuroptya ruralis, Endotricha flammealis,Conobathra repandana,Acrobasis consociella,Trachycera advenella, Pempeliella dilutella,Stenoptilia bipunctidactyla,Scalloped Hook-tip, Pebble Hook-tip,Buff Arches,Small Fan-footed Wave,Riband Wave,Red Twin-spot Carpet,Shaded Broad-bar, Common Carpet,Yellow Shell,Small Phoenix,Green Carpet,July Highflyer,Small Waved Umber, Small Rivulet,Barred Rivulet,Tawny Speckled Pug,Juniper Pug,Treble-bar, Lesser Treble-bar,Brimstone Moth,August Thorn,Dusky Thorn,Scalloped Oak,Peppered,Willow Beauty, Pine Hawk,Iron Prominent,Pebble Prominent,Lesser Swallow Prominent,Coxcomb Prominent,Yellow-tail, Black Arches,Dingy Footman,Common Footman,Flame Shoulder,Large Yellow Underwing,Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, Lesser Broad-border,Setaceous Hebrew Character,Square-spot Rustic,Clay,Straw Underwing,Dun-bar, Cloaked Minor,Common Rustic,Rustic,Nut-tree Tussock and Straw Dot.
Peter's garden in Ballinger Common (one trap): Orange Swift, Carcina quercana,Bryotropha terrella,Blastobasis adustella,Pandemis heparana,Acleris laterana, Enarmonia formosana,Cydia splendana,Agriphila straminella,Agriphila tristella,Acentria ephemerella, Pleuroptya ruralis,Endotricha flammealis,Phycita roborella,Euzophera pinguis,Riband Wave, Common Carpet,Phoenix,Brimstone Moth,Willow Beauty,Pebble Prominent,Black Arches,Common Footman, Flame Shoulder,Large Yellow Underwing,Lesser Broad-border,Small Square-spot,Grey Dagger, Copper Underwing,Mouse,Dun-bar,Dark Arches,Common Rustic,Lesser Common Rustic, Uncertain and Spectacle.

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).
I then ran the trap again the following week for National Moth Night on 11/08/07: Large Yellow Underwing (4) : Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing (2) : Willow Beauty (1) : Shuttle-shaped Dart (3) : Mother of Pearl (1) : Light Brown Apple (5) : Brimstone Moth (1) : Flame Shoulder (3) : Dark Arches (1) : Riband Wave (1) : Copper Underwing (1) : Scalloped Oak (1) : Angle Shades (1) : Yellow Shell (1) : Common Rustic agg (2) and Cydia splendana."

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."
*Orange Swift,Mother of Pearl,Bee Moth,*Pebble Hook-tip,Large Emerald,Small Fan-footed Wave, *Single-dotted Wave,*Riband Wave,*Common Carpet,*Yellow Shell,Phoenix,*Small Waved Umber, *Pretty Chalk Carpet,Dark Umber,Magpie,*Scorched Carpet,*Brimstone Moth,*August Thorn, *Dusky Thorn,Early Thorn,*Purple Thorn,*Scalloped Oak,Peppered Moth,*Willow Beauty, Clouded Silver,Elephant Hawk-moth,Buff-tip,*Iron Prominent,Lesser Swallow Prominent, *Coxcomb Prominent,Maple Prominent,*Vapourer,*Black Arches,Dingy Footman,Buff Footman, Common Footman,*Shuttle-shaped Dart,*Flame Shoulder,*Large Yellow Underwing, *Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing,Straw Underwing,*Dun-bar,*Common/Lesser Rustic, *Ear Moth,Uncertain/Rustic,Nut-tree Tussock,*Straw Dot,Waved Black and Snout. (* indicates moth trap on NMN.)

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:
Cochylimorpha straminea, Eupoecilia angustana, Cochylis flaviciliana, Marasmarcha lunaedactyla and Six-striped Rustic. Click here to see photos of the moth trap event and to read Jan Haseler's full report.

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 adds: "Jersey Tiger was one of the target species for NMN and it has been spreading in the south-east (especially around London where it is now resident), but this is the first record I've heard of for the UTB area."]

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."