13th June overnight I ran my first garden moth trap with my new skinner trap from ALS (Anglia Lepidopterist Supplies). A reasonable success with 36 species and 77 moths. Elephant Hawk Moth 6; Large Yellow Underwing 2; Dark Arches 3; Heart and Dart 18; Marbled Minor 5; Scorched Wing 1; Common Pug 2; Uncertain 2; […]
Only my second moth trap of the year – A modest catch with a few rare species – Foxglove Pug; Elephant Hawk-moth; Pine Hawk-moth; Maiden’s Blush; Green Pug; Heart & Dart (17); Common Pug (5); Fan-foot; Common Wainscot (2) Garden Carpet (2); Willow Beauty; Pale Mottled Willow; Gold Spot; Treble Lines; Spruce Carpet; MICROS –Small
A trap at Kings Newton on 26th-27th July produced a Eulamprotes atrella, which maybe a new micro moth for Derbyshire. In addition a variety of Macro moths including Dusky Thorn, Pebble Prominent, Knot Grass, Sallow Kitten, Maple Pug, Angle Shades, Magpie Moth and Drinker. Also Puss Moth caterpillars were coming along nicely. Eulamprotes atrella – Kings
The following images are a selection of moths that were trapped overnight on 20th July 2016 at Spring Cottages, Overseal, Leicestershire. Agriphila selasella – above 3 images – A localised species – Tony Davison© – Note the white longitudinal streak, that splits into three or four fine branches Coleophora deauratella – above 2 images – One
My good friend Will Soar had a cracking moth trap at Kings Newton overnight of 16th July 2016, with well over 80 species, including some interesting micros and a potential county first – 12.017/BF217 – Nemapogon koenigi (wolffiella) – White-speckled Clothes Moth – Nationally Scarce B. I spent several hours with him on Sunday morning, photographing some
Over the past few days (end of May into early June 2016), 100’s of thousands, possibly millions, of the tiny moth, Plutella xylostella, have arrived in Britain. They have been trapped and observed in unprecedented numbers, right across the country and it must be one of the biggest influxes ever. The Diamond-back Moth, to give
The 9th Garden Trap of the year and I can’t believe I’ve done so few moth traps this year! Conditions were mild overnight for time of year and so I was in high spirits for something good. The trap turned-out to be rather disappointing. Species in no particular order were as follows – Common Marbled
Another garden trap with low numbers and species count and the 8th trap of the year. Conditions were good early on but turned cool and damp later. Species list in no particular order – Angle Shades 1; Large Yellow Underwing 31; Lunar Underwing 2; Lesser Yellow Underwing 3; Common Wainscot 1; Common Marbled Carpet 1;
Garden Trap number 7 and a disappointment. Conditions were perfect on the evening of the 12th but overnight temperature dropped and then heavy rain set in. Result was basically a trap full of “Underwings”. Trap results in no particular order – Large Yellow Underwing 27; Lesser Yellow Underwing 5; Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing 1 female; Brimstone
This weekend is National Moth Night, covering evenings of the 10th,11th & 12th September. So to mark the weekend this was top be my 6th garden moth trapping session of the year. Few surprises but there was one, a Red Underwing, a garden tick. Not in the trap however, I noticed it on the side
The fifth trap this year, trying desperately to catch a migrant, Bordered Straw would be rather nice!! A rather cool and breezy night, with some light rain, think this was the culprit for a relatively poor trap. Still lots of Large Yellow Underwings though. Seems more this year than in previous? So results were in
Not been moth trapping as much as I would have liked this year, this was only my fourth garden trap of the year. A very warm and still night, so conditions were about perfect. What I didn’t expect was literally a trap full of Large Yellow Underwings, over 100 in all. My largest ever count
My second trap of the year 27th June2015. Hoping for the odd migrant but nothing of great interest over night other than seven Elephant Hawkmoths, the largest number I’ve caught in my garden in 12 years of trapping. Also a single Cockchafer. The list in no particular order – Elephant Hawkmoth 7; Marbled Beauty 2;
25th June 2015 overnight – First moth trap of the year – In no particular order – Heart & Drat 8; Dark Arches 2; Elephant Hawkmoth 1; Brimstone Moth 1; Setaceous Hebrew Character 1; Foxglove Pug 2;Buff Ermine 2; RibandWave 1; Marbled Minor 2; Rustic 2; Snout 1; Flame 1; Garden Carpet 1; Silver-ground Carpet
A very mild night was forecast, so I chanced my arm and put the garden actinic trap on. My 12th Moth trap of the year and at last a rare immigrant. Boom !!! An Udea ferrugalis, or Rusty Dot Pearl to give it it’s common name. The last time I caught one, was 12th October
Another perfect night for moth trapping, warm reasonably calm with a slight breeze and low cloud. My 11th garden trap of the year and it turned up an unexpected garden tick and a great county moth. Persistence certainly pays off when moth trapping. never give up as you absolutely have no idea what you are
My 10th Garden Moth Trap of the year. The weather is ideal for moth trapping at the moment, with unusually warm and mild temperatures for September. Over-night conditions calm but result was poor and just a little disappointing. Maybe my expectations were running high. A total of 41 moths of 21 species, including 1 migrant.
Part Two – National Moth Night 2014 taking place during 3-5th July 2014. My second trap over NMN weekend and my 9th trap of the year. Turning out to be overall the best trap of the year so far, adding a new species to my garden list – Tawny-barred Angle. A total of 37 species
National Moth Night 2014, the annual celebration of moths and moth recording, takesplace on three days and nights, 3-5 July 2014. I decided to run two traps during the period and my first one was overnight on 3rd. July is traditionally the best month of the year for quantity of species and in past years
The 7th Trap of the year and despite overnight drizzle and rain, just under 30 species with several new ones for the year and a new micro for the garden – Teleiodes vulgella. A good year for Elephant Hawkmoth as another three in the trap, taking the months total to a dozen, the most I’ve
The 6th Moth Trap of the year and another reasonable garden trap but numbers of species down for some reason. Nothing spectacular yet but surprise with this catch was 6 Elephant Hawkmoths. A total of 29 species in no particular order:- Elephant Hawkmoth 6; Flame 3; Marbled Minor 8; Peppered Moth 1; Dark Arches 7;
My fifth and best trap of the year so far. Produced, in no particular order, the following 23 species:- Snout 1 (2nd Generation); 1 Dark/Grey Dagger; 2 Freyer’s Pug; 7 Heart & Dart; 1 Poplar Hawkmoth; 1 Elephant Hawkmoth; 8 Willow Beauty; 1 Dark Arches; 1 Flame; 2 Flame Shoulder; 1 Bright-line Brown-eye; 2 Marbled Minor;
Overnight conditions were clear but the air temperature dropped and it was quite a chilly night. This certainly had an impact on the number of moths trapped and it was disappointing when I opened the trap this morning. Having said that, I did get a garden tick and a new photo for the website –
Best moth trap so far this year with a good selection of species, including two semi-rares for South Derbyshire. The change in the weather definately made the difference as the evening was dry and warm. In no particluar order – 1 Pale Prominent; 1 Green Carpet; 3 Garden Carpet; 1 Brimstone Moth; 1 Flame Shoulder;
12th May 2014 – Overnight weather was wet and cool and so not many species in the trap this morning. My second garden trap of the year. Results – 1 Argyresthia trifasciata*; 1 Brown House Moth – Hoffmannophila pseudospretella 1 Garden Carpet; 1 Grey Pine Carpet; 1 Scalloped Hazel; 1 Shuttle-shaped Dart Garden Carpet – Derbyshire
