September Garden Mothing Round-up

Massively far behind now due to various reasons!

This is my highlights from September all rolled into one compact(ish) post.

Starting right at the end of August until the 30th of September

I went from the 27th of August to the 11th of September to get a new for year species, an incredibly long time to wait for anything different.

Highlights were...

Catch Reports - Back Garden - Stevenage


26/08/19 - 125w MV Robinson Trap

Centre-barred Sallow 1 [NFY]
Frosted Orange 1 [NFY]
Argyrotaenia ljungiana 1 [NFY]
Caloptilia semifascia 1 [NFY]
Coleophora alcyonipennella 1 [NFY]
Ypsolopha alpella 1 [NFY]

27/08/19 - 125w MV Robinson Trap

Stenolechia gemmella 1 [NFY]

02/09/19 - 125w MV Robinson Trap

Pearly Underwing 1 (Second for the year)

11/09/19 - 125w MV Robinson Trap

Brindled Green 1 [NFY]
Acleris sparsana 1 [NFY]
Cameraria ohridella 1 [NFY]

14/09/19 - 125w MV Robinson Trap

Lunar Underwing 1 [NFY]
Dichrorampha acuminatana 1 [NFY]

15/09/19 - 250w Clear MV Robinson Trap

Barred Sallow 1 [NFY]
Deep-brown Dart 2 [NFY]
Yellow-line Quaker 1 [NFY]
Epinotia tenerana 3 [NFY]
Udea ferrugalis 2 [NFY]

16/09/19 - 125w MV Robinson Trap

Sallow 2 inc f.flavescens [NFY]

19/09/19 - 125w MV Robinson Trap

Mallow 1 [NFY]

21/09/19 - 125w MV Robinson Trap

Four-spotted Footman 1 [NFY]

23/09/19 - 125w MV Robinson Trap

Beaded Chestnut 1 [NFY]
Brown-spot Pinion 1 [NFY]
Large Ranunculus 1 [NFY]

24/09/19 - 125w MV Robinson Trap

Black Rustic 1 [NFY]
Orange Sallow 1 [NFY]

26/09/19 - 125w MV Robinson Trap

Chestnut 2 [Season first]

27/09/19 - 125w MV Robinson Trap

Merveille du Jour 2 [NFY]
Red-green Carpet 3 [NFY]

30/09/19 - 250w Clear MV Robinson Trap

Cacoecimorpha pronubana 1 [NFY]
Depressaria badiella 1 [NFY]
Ypsolopha ustella 1 [NFY]

Ypsolopha ustella

Barred Sallow

Beaded Chestnut

Brick

Cacoecimorpha pronubana

Chestnuts

Deep-brown Dart

Mallow

Large Ranunculus

Four-spotted Footman

Dichrorampha acuminatana

Depressaria badiella

Merveille du Jour

Pearly Underwing

Red-green Carpet

Sallow f.flavescens

Field Trip - Gadesprings Watercress Beds - 20th/21st September

As it was my weekend on to work, I decided to run some moth traps down at Gadesprings Watercress Beds, leave them on all night, and sift through them come the morning.

Saturday night seemed to be the most favoured night weather-wise, but strangely, the cooler night before produced more moths and more species!

38 species were noted over the two nights, many common Autumnal species were present, as well as late Summer stragglers.

3 species worth mentioning were, Dewick's Plusia, Cypress Pug and Large Wainscot.

Dewick's Plusia is a recent migrant/suspected colonist (Although no larvae have been found yet in Hertfordshire) with numbers increasing year after year. It is thought that the larvae feed from low growing herbaceous plants and Common Nettles, of which there is an abundance almost anywhere in the United Kingdom.

Cypress Pug never use to be a common moth, but seems to be spreading around fairly nicely. Hemel Hempstead seems to have a healthy population.

The Large Wainscot is no doubt breeding amongst the Phragmites on the reserve as we have found it in low density in years past.

All in all, a nice selection of moths to observe and record.


Here is the full list

Catch Report - 20th/21st/09/19 - Gadesprings Watercress Beds - Hertfordshire - 1x 125w MV Robinson Trap, 1x Twin 15w Actinic/Synergetic Combo, 1x 40w Actinic + 30w Compact Fluorescent Briefcase trap & 1x 160w Mercury Blended Robinson Trap - 4 traps in total

Macro Moths

Angle Shades 1
Black Rustic 3
Brindled Green 3
Brimstone Moth 2
Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing 5
Burnished Brass 3
Common Marbled Carpet 1
Common Wainscot 5
Copper Underwing 1
Cypress Pug 1
Deep-brown Dart 8
Dewick's Plusia 1
Flame Shoulder 1
Large Wainscot 1
Large Yellow Underwing 25
Lesser Yellow Underwing 10
Light Emerald 2
Lunar Underwing 5
Rosy Rustic 3
Ruby Tiger 2
Sallow 6
Setaceous Hebrew Character 15
Shuttle-shaped Dart 4
Snout 5
Square-spot Rustic
Turnip Moth 2
Vine's Rustic 10
Willow Beauty 1
White Point 5


Micro Moths

Agriphila tristella 2
Blastobasis adustella 2
Cameraria ohridella 3
Celypha lacunana 5
Epiphyas postvittana 2
Emmelina monodactlya 1
Eudonia pallida 2
Pleuroptyra ruralis 1
Plutella xylostella 8

Black Rustic

Brindled Green

Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing

Burnished Brass

Cypress Pug

Dewick's Plusia

Large Wainscot

Lessser Yellow Underwing

Field Trip - Weston Park - 12/09/19

On Thursday last week, I was invited to run some moth traps at Weston Park, a mere 6 minute drive from where I live.
I was greeted at 7pm, and shown around the grounds and decided on a few good areas to position my traps.
The day had been warm in the sunshine but with a cool wind developing at times.
Full cloud cover ensued after dark but the wind didn't drop and I think this slightly hampered the numbers in the end, in fact one trap I decided to re-site because of the gusty conditions.

Thankfully the three other traps that were tucked away faired much better. 

It was extremely exciting and rewarding coming to an area so close to me that has never been properly explored for moths before.

I packed up at around half midnight and left just after 1am with a pretty tidy list for this time of year with 44 species.

Best Macro Moth for me was an Orange Sallow, owing to the mature Limes in the vicinity.. expected really.
Also 3 forms of Elachista canapennella had my head scratching! 

Many thanks to Margaret Luis for organising the evening for me, I shall be back hopefully soon.

Here is the full list

Catch Report - 12/09/19 - Weston Park - Hertfordshire - 1x 125w MV Robinson Trap, 1x 250w MV Clear Robinson Trap, 1x Twin 15w Actinic/Synergetic Combo & 1x 160w Mercury Blended Robinson Trap - 4 traps in total

Macro Moths

Angle Shades
Brimstone Moth
Brindled Green
Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing
Brown-spot Pinion
Centre-barred Sallow
Common Wainscot
Copper Underwing
Dusky Thorn
Engrailed
Flame Shoulder
Green Carpet
Large Yellow Underwing
Lesser Yellow Underwing
Light Emerald
Lunar Underwing
Oak Hook-tip
Orange Sallow
Orange Swift
Red-green Carpet
Setaceous Hebrew Character
Small Dusty Wave
Snout
Square-spot Rustic
Straw Dot
Vine's Rustic
White-point

Micro Moths

Acleris sparsana
Agriphila geniculea
Blastobasis adustella
Cameraria ohridella
Celypha lacunana
Cydia splendana
Elachista canapennella
Elophila nymphaeata
Emmelina monodactlya
Epiphyas postvittana
Parectopa ononidis
Phyllonorycter sp
Plutella xylostella
Scrobipalpa costella
Stigmella sp
Ypsolopha alpella
Ypsolopha parenthesella

Epiphyas postvittana

Brindled Green

Brown-spot Pinion

Centre-barred Sallow

Lesser Yellow Underwing

Orange Sallow

Orange Swift Female

Elachista canapennella

Elachista canapennella

Elachista canapennella

Field Trip - Sherrardspark Wood - 03/08/19

Finally getting my bottom in to gear and posting some of the field trip reports from last month.

First up, the moth group trip we did to Sherrardspark Wood on the outskirts of Welwyn Garden City.

The day had been relatively warm and the night time temperatures held up, unfortunately the catches were poor and apart from a few nice species, numbers were dominated by hundreds upon hundreds of Blastobasis adustella, in fact it was hard to see past them at times!

The best moth of the night was a single Nemapogon ruricolella, only the 5th modern record for Herts.

Aristotelia ericinella was found in good numbers around the Heather.

For the temperature, we were a little disappointed, maybe we were too late for the good stuff!

Below is the full list from the night.

3^rd August 2019: Sherrardspark Wood, Hertfordshire.

·       North-east monad – TL2314: Colin and Graeme’s team

·       South-west monad – TL2223: Ben

List 1: north-east tetrad

12.010 Morophaga choragella ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)     

17.003 Ypsolopha dentella (Fabricius, 1775)                                      Honeysuckle Moth

17.005 Ypsolopha scabrella (Linnaeus, 1761)                                    

17.009 Ypsolopha sylvella (Linnaeus, 1767)                                      

18.001 Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus, 1758)                                         Diamond-back Moth

20.012 Argyresthia goedartella (Linnaeus, 1758)                               

20.021 Argyresthia pruniella (Clerck, 1759)                                        Cherry Fruit Moth

28.008 Metalampra italica Baldizzone, 1977                                      

28.014 Crassa unitella (Hübner, 1796)                                                

31.001 Carcina quercana (Fabricius, 1775)                                         

32.031 Agonopterix alstromeriana (Clerck, 1759)                             

35.050 Aristotelia ericinella (Zeller, 1839)                                         

41.002 Blastobasis adustella Walsingham, 1894                                

49.024 Pandemis corylana (Fabricius, 1794)                                       Chequered Fruit-tree Tortrix

49.109 Agapeta hamana (Linnaeus, 1758)                                          

49.144 Eudemis profundana ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)        

49.341 Cydia splendana (Hübner, [1799])                                          

49.342 Cydia fagiglandana (Zeller, 1841)                                           

62.029 Phycita roborella ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)              

62.034 Acrobasis repandana (Fabricius, 1798)                                   

62.077 Endotricha flammealis ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)     

63.025 Anania hortulata (Linnaeus, 1758)                                           Small Magpie

63.034 Udea prunalis ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)                    

63.038 Pleuroptya ruralis (Scopoli, 1763)                                            Mother of Pearl

63.054 Cydalima perspectalis (Walker, 1859)                                     Box-tree Moth

63.064 Scoparia ambigualis (Treitschke, 1829)                                  

63.074 Eudonia mercurella (Linnaeus, 1758)                                     

63.080 Chrysoteuchia culmella (Linnaeus, 1758)                                Garden Grass-veneer

63.081 Crambus pascuella (Linnaeus, 1758)                                      

63.089 Agriphila tristella ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)              

63.093 Agriphila straminella ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)        

63.102 Catoptria falsella ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)              

63.115 Acentria ephemerella ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)        Water Veneer

63.116 Cataclysta lemnata (Linnaeus, 1758)                                       Small China-mark

65.005 Drepana falcataria (Linnaeus, 1758)                                        Pebble Hook-tip

65.011 Tethea or ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)                            Poplar Lutestring

69.003 Laothoe populi (Linnaeus, 1758)                                              Poplar Hawk-moth

69.007 Sphinx pinastri Linnaeus, 1758                                                Pine Hawk-moth

70.004 Idaea rusticata ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)                    Least Carpet

70.011 Idaea dimidiata (Hufnagel, 1767)                                             Single-dotted Wave

70.013 Idaea biselata (Hufnagel, 1767)                                                Small Fan-footed Wave

70.016 Idaea aversata (Linnaeus, 1758)                                               Riband Wave

70.029 Timandra comae Schmidt, 1931                                               Blood-Vein

70.059 Camptogramma bilineata (Linnaeus, 1758)                             Yellow Shell

70.061 Epirrhoe alternata (Müller, 1764)                                             Common Carpet

70.111 Asthena albulata (Hufnagel, 1767)                                           Small White Wave

70.252 Biston betularia (Linnaeus, 1758)                                             Peppered Moth

70.258 Peribatodes rhomboidaria ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) Willow Beauty

70.277 Cabera pusaria (Linnaeus, 1758)                                              Common White Wave

70.299 Geometra papilionaria (Linnaeus, 1758)                                  Large Emerald

71.012 Notodonta dromedarius (Linnaeus, 1767)                                Iron Prominent

72.010 Lymantria monacha (Linnaeus, 1758)                                      Black Arches

72.011 Lymantria dispar (Linnaeus, 1758)                                          Gypsy Moth

72.017 Orgyia antiqua (Linnaeus, 1758)                                              Vapourer

72.024 Phragmatobia fuliginosa (Linnaeus, 1758)                              Ruby Tiger

72.043 Eilema depressa (Esper, 1787)                                                  Buff Footman

72.044 Eilema griseola (Hübner, [1803])                                             Dingy Footman

72.046 Eilema complana (Linnaeus, 1758)                                          Scarce Footman

73.032 Colocasia coryli (Linnaeus, 1758)                                            Nut-tree Tussock

73.038 Acronicta psi (Linnaeus, 1758)                                                 Grey Dagger

73.062 Amphipyra pyramidea (Linnaeus, 1758)                                 Copper Underwing

73.082 Cryphia algae (Fabricius, 1775)                                                Tree-lichen Beauty

73.084 Bryotropha domestica (Hufnagel, 1766)                                  Marbled Beauty

73.096 Hoplodrina octogenaria (Goeze, 1781)                                    Uncertain

73.128 Amphipoea oculea (Linnaeus, 1761)                                        Ear Moth

73.169 Mesapamea secalis (Linnaeus, 1758)                                       Common Rustic

73.172 Mesoligia furuncula ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)          Cloaked Minor

73.215 Cosmia affinis (Linnaeus, 1767)                                               Lesser-spotted Pinion

73.216 Cosmia trapezina (Linnaeus, 1758)                                          Dun-bar

73.325 Agrotis puta (Hübner, [1803])                                                  Shuttle-shaped Dart

73.342 Noctua pronuba (Linnaeus, 1758)                                            Large Yellow Underwing

73.343 Noctua fimbriata (Schreber, 1759)                                           Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing

73.345 Noctua comes Hübner, [1813]                                                  Lesser Yellow Underwing

73.348 Noctua janthe (Borkhausen, 1792)                                           Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing

74.007 Bena bicolorana (Fuessly, 1775)                                              Scarce Silver-lines

List 2: south-west tetrad

To follow.

List 3: Composite – all areas

Tineidae

12.010 Morophaga choragella ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)     

12.033 Tinea trinotella Thunberg, 1794                                              

Bucculatricidae

14.007 Bucculatrix albedinella (Zeller, 1839)                                     

Yponomeutidae

17.003 Ypsolopha dentella (Fabricius, 1775)                                      Honeysuckle Moth

17.005 Ypsolopha scabrella (Linnaeus, 1761)                                    

17.009 Ypsolopha sylvella (Linnaeus, 1767)                                      

Plutellidae

18.001 Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus, 1758)                                         Diamond-back Moth

Argyresthiidae

20.012 Argyresthia goedartella (Linnaeus, 1758)                               

20.021 Argyresthia pruniella (Clerck, 1759)                                        Cherry Fruit Moth

Oecophoridae

28.008 Metalampra italica Baldizzone, 1977                                      

28.010 Hofmannophila pseudospretella (Stainton, 1849)                   Brown House-moth

28.014 Crassa unitella (Hübner, 1796)                                                

28.024 Tachystola acroxantha (Meyrick, 1885)                                  

Peleopodidae

31.001 Carcina quercana (Fabricius, 1775)                                         

Depressariidae

32.031 Agonopterix alstromeriana (Clerck, 1759)                             

Gelechiidae

35.050 Aristotelia ericinella (Zeller, 1839)                                         

35.107 Psoricoptera gibbosella (Zeller, 1839)                                    

Momphidae

40.011 Mompha langiella (Hübner, 1796)                                          

Blastobasidae

41.002 Blastobasis adustella Walsingham, 1894                                

41.003 Blastobasis lacticolella Rebel, 1940                                        

Tortricidae

49.024 Pandemis corylana (Fabricius, 1794)                                       Chequered Fruit-tree Tortrix

49.062 Acleris forsskaleana (Linnaeus, 1758)                                    

49.091 Pseudargyrotoza conwagana (Fabricius, 1775)                      

49.109 Agapeta hamana (Linnaeus, 1758)                                          

49.144 Eudemis profundana ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)        

49.223 Rhopobota naevana (Hübner, [1817])                                      Holly Tortrix

49.260 Zeiraphera isertana (Fabricius, 1794)                                      

49.338 Cydia pomonella (Linnaeus, 1758)                                          Codling Moth

49.341 Cydia splendana (Hübner, [1799])                                          

49.342 Cydia fagiglandana (Zeller, 1841)                                           

49.367 Pammene fasciana (Linnaeus, 1761)                                       

Pyralidae

62.010 Elegia similella (Zincken, 1818)                                              

62.029 Phycita roborella ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)              

62.034 Acrobasis repandana (Fabricius, 1798)                                   

62.076 Hypsopygia glaucinalis (Linnaeus, 1758)                               

62.077 Endotricha flammealis ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)     

Crambidae

63.025 Anania hortulata (Linnaeus, 1758)                                           Small Magpie

63.034 Udea prunalis ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)                    

63.038 Pleuroptya ruralis (Scopoli, 1763)                                            Mother of Pearl

63.054 Cydalima perspectalis (Walker, 1859)                                     Box-tree Moth

63.064 Scoparia ambigualis (Treitschke, 1829)                                  

63.074 Eudonia mercurella (Linnaeus, 1758)                                     

63.080 Chrysoteuchia culmella (Linnaeus, 1758)                                Garden Grass-veneer

63.081 Crambus pascuella (Linnaeus, 1758)                                      

63.089 Agriphila tristella ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)              

63.093 Agriphila straminella ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)        

63.102 Catoptria falsella ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)              

63.109 Pediasia contaminella (Hübner, 1796)                                    

63.115 Acentria ephemerella ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)        Water Veneer

63.116 Cataclysta lemnata (Linnaeus, 1758)                                       Small China-mark

Drepanidae

65.005 Drepana falcataria (Linnaeus, 1758)                                        Pebble Hook-tip

65.011 Tethea or ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)                            Poplar Lutestring

Sphingidae

69.003 Laothoe populi (Linnaeus, 1758)                                              Poplar Hawk-moth

69.006 Sphinx ligustri Linnaeus, 1758                                                 Privet Hawk-moth

69.007 Sphinx pinastri Linnaeus, 1758                                                Pine Hawk-moth

69.016 Deilephila elpenor (Linnaeus, 1758)                                        Elephant Hawk-moth

Geometridae

70.004 Idaea rusticata ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)                    Least Carpet

70.011 Idaea dimidiata (Hufnagel, 1767)                                             Single-dotted Wave

70.013 Idaea biselata (Hufnagel, 1767)                                                Small Fan-footed Wave

70.016 Idaea aversata (Linnaeus, 1758)                                               Riband Wave

70.029 Timandra comae Schmidt, 1931                                               Blood-Vein

70.036 Cyclophora punctaria (Linnaeus, 1758)                                   Maiden's Blush

70.037 Cyclophora linearia (Hübner, [1799])                                      Clay Triple-lines

70.053 Xanthorhoe designata (Hufnagel, 1767)                                  Flame Carpet

70.059 Camptogramma bilineata (Linnaeus, 1758)                             Yellow Shell

70.061 Epirrhoe alternata (Müller, 1764)                                             Common Carpet

70.111 Asthena albulata (Hufnagel, 1767)                                           Small White Wave

70.133 Perizoma alchemillata (Linnaeus, 1758)                                  Small Rivulet

70.226 Opisthograptis luteolata (Linnaeus, 1758)                               Brimstone Moth

70.252 Biston betularia (Linnaeus, 1758)                                             Peppered Moth

70.258 Peribatodes rhomboidaria ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) Willow Beauty

70.277 Cabera pusaria (Linnaeus, 1758)                                              Common White Wave

70.299 Geometra papilionaria (Linnaeus, 1758)                                  Large Emerald

70.305 Hemithea aestivaria (Hübner, 1789)                                         Common Emerald

Notodontidae

71.012 Notodonta dromedarius (Linnaeus, 1767)                                Iron Prominent

71.018 Pheosia gnoma (Fabricius, [1777])                                           Lesser Swallow Prominent

71.022 Ptilodon cucullina ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)              Maple Prominent

Erebidae

72.010 Lymantria monacha (Linnaeus, 1758)                                      Black Arches

72.011 Lymantria dispar (Linnaeus, 1758)                                          Gypsy Moth

72.017 Orgyia antiqua (Linnaeus, 1758)                                              Vapourer

72.024 Phragmatobia fuliginosa (Linnaeus, 1758)                              Ruby Tiger

72.030 Euplagia quadripunctaria (Poda, 1761)                                    Jersey Tiger

72.043 Eilema depressa (Esper, 1787)                                                  Buff Footman

72.044 Eilema griseola (Hübner, [1803])                                             Dingy Footman

72.046 Eilema complana (Linnaeus, 1758)                                          Scarce Footman

Noctuidae

73.032 Colocasia coryli (Linnaeus, 1758)                                            Nut-tree Tussock

73.038 Acronicta psi (Linnaeus, 1758)                                                 Grey Dagger

73.062 Amphipyra pyramidea (Linnaeus, 1758)                                 Copper Underwing

73.082 Cryphia algae (Fabricius, 1775)                                                Tree-lichen Beauty

73.084 Bryophila domestica (Hufnagel, 1766)                                    Marbled Beauty

73.096 Hoplodrina octogenaria (Goeze, 1781)                                    Uncertain

73.099 Hoplodrina ambigua ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)          Vine's Rustic

73.128 Amphipoea oculea (Linnaeus, 1761)                                        Ear Moth

73.169 Mesapamea secalis (Linnaeus, 1758)                                       Common Rustic

73.172 Mesoligia furuncula ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)          Cloaked Minor

73.215 Cosmia affinis (Linnaeus, 1767)                                               Lesser-spotted Pinion

73.216 Cosmia trapezina (Linnaeus, 1758)                                          Dun-bar

73.317 Agrotis exclamationis (Linnaeus, 1758)                                  Heart and Dart

73.325 Agrotis puta (Hübner, [1803])                                                  Shuttle-shaped Dart

73.342 Noctua pronuba (Linnaeus, 1758)                                            Large Yellow Underwing

73.343 Noctua fimbriata (Schreber, 1759)                                           Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing

73.345 Noctua comes Hübner, [1813]                                                  Lesser Yellow Underwing

73.346 Noctua interjecta Hübner, [1803]                                             Least Yellow Underwing

73.348 Noctua janthe (Borkhausen, 1792)                                           Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing

Nolidae

74.007 Bena bicolorana (Fuessly, 1775)                                              Scarce Silver-lines

250w Robinson Trap

Aristotelia ericinella

Bucculatrix albedinella

Cataclysta lemnata

Clay Triple-lines

Elegia similella

Flame Carpet

Mompha langiella

Pediasia contaminella

Psoricoptera gibbosella