Hatley moths, 13-21 July

Least Yellow Underwing

Large Twin-spot Carpet

Red/Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet

July Highflyer

Dark Sword-grass (left)

Black Arches

Rosy Rustic

Dot Moth and Brown-line Bright-eye

Hatley moths

A small selection of moths caught on 9-10 and 7-8 July. Last night's catch was my biggest yet, with c300 moths of c60 species (full list here).

Lime Hawkmoth

Peach Blossom

Dusky Sallow

The Dun-bar

Large Emerald

Swallow-tailed Moth

The Lackey

Beautiful Golden Y

Cambridge, 8 July

A surprising find on the outside wall of the house last night, 0877 Stathmopoda pedella. One of several new micro species which takes the garden list past the 400 mark. Apparently an Alder specialist; the only other such species i've recorded here is a single Dingy Shell.

pete
CB1 3ST
40W actinic
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38

Hatley moths, July 10

I've just started moth trapping again after a long break.

Burnished Brass

Elephant Hawkmoth

Eyed Hawkmoth

Barred Yellow

Scorched Wing

Marbled Coronet




Dark Arches

It's been quite good so far, with the highlight being 20 hawkmoths on our first attempt (11 Privets, 5 Elephants and one each of Small Elephant, Pine, Poplar, Lime and Eyed). I'm still pretty rusty (especially on the. er, brown ones...) but it's good fun. More pics and details on my blog.

Orton Waterville moths, 3 July 10

Several nice catches in the MV trap last night included my second garden Small Ranunculus and a dapper Four-spotted which was new for the garden list.

Small Ranunculus

Four-spotted

A brief spell with the clearwing lures pulled in 4 Red-belted Clearwings - the first arrived in less than 10 minutes of the lures being hung up!

Red-belted Clearwings

Hatley moths, 3 July

Figure of Eighty

Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing

Poplar Grey

The Flame

Female Ghost Moth

Cambridge, 24 June 10

Clouded Brindle Apamea epomidion, a new species for the garden. However, the oval is elongated and run into a blurred kidney mark, producing a quite striking pattern. Not unusual in this species, judging by the number of similar images on the web.

pete
CB1 3ST
40W actinic
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38

Cambridge, 28 May 10

A splendid pair of Eyed Hawkmoths Smerinthus ocellata, present on this alium sp. from dawn 'til dusk on 28 May

Treble Lines Charanyca trigammica, best year here for this species

The Shears Hada plebeja, first of the year here

pete
CB1 3ST
22W actinic
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38

Cambridge, 23 May 10

The first Latticed Heath Chiasma clathera for the garden

pete
CB1 3ST
22W actinic
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38

Marbled Coronet, Orton Waterville

This beauty was in the trap a few nights ago - a rare species in Hunts and striking to boot.

Cambridge, 18 May 10

Oak-tree Pug Eupithecia dodeneata, probably! Smaller (forewing 8-9 mm) and a greyer/whiter appearance than the brindled Pugs i've seen here. Shape and pattern don't seem quite right for Dwarf Pug, but it wouldn't be the first time i've got a Pug sp. wrong.

pete
CB1 3ST
22W actinic
Canon400D + 50mm/f2.5 macro

Emperor Moth, Orton Waterville, 28 April 10

Belated photos of a beautiful surprise Emperor Moth to MV light in the garden. My first here and not particularly common in Hunts.

Cambridge, 15-17 May 10

Pale Prominent Pterostoma palpina, singles recorded most years

Waved Umber Menophra abruptaria, another species of which singles occur most years here

pete
CB1 3ST
22W actinic
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38

Orton Waterville, April 10

Two moths from recent nights;

1. Lunar Marbled Brown, NFG

2. Powdered Quaker

Orton Waterville, 19 Mar 10

A few highlights from last night's catch:

1. Yellow Horned - uncommon locally and new for the garden list.

2. Acleris cristana - another rare moth in the VC but regular in the garden. A variable species - this form is my favourite, although this particular individual is worn and less contrasting than some.

3. Twin-spotted Quaker - new for year.

December Moth, Orton Waterville, 17 Jan 10

This male December Moth was the first garden moth of 2010 (provided I conveniently ignore the Winter Moth in the same trap...)