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...)

Satellite, Farcet Fen, 29 Oct 09

Satellite, Farcet Fen, 29 October 09. Attracted to light, 15w actinic. Only my second record of this supposedly common species, and exactly three years to the day since the first.

Photo © Steve Dudley / Panasonic Lumix FZ-30

The Sallow, Cambridge, 14 Oct 09

The first record of The sallow Xanthia icteritia here.

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

Feathered Gothic, Cambridge 03 Sept 09

The first Feathered Gothic, Tholera decimalis, to light in an otherwise dismal catch; a female judging by the lack of feathering on the antennae.

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

Marbled Beauty, Cambridge, 19 Aug 09

Marbled Beauty Cryphia domestica is the only Cryphia species i've recorded in the garden. It has occured in modest numbers every year since i started trapping, but always the grey-green form with little variation. This morning, well as several of the form usually seen here, there was an attractive yellow-green variant in the trap.

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

Farcet Fen moths

Coxcomb Prominent, Farcet Fen, 01 August 09. Attracted to light, 160w MVB. The first for the garden and the first to be caught in my 5km square since 1989.

Dark Spinach, Farcet Fen, 13 Aug 09, Attracted to light, 160w MVB. The first since 2005.

Dark Sword-grass, Farcet Fen, 09 Aug 09, Attracted to light, 160w MVB. 

Gold Spot, Farcet Fen, 11 Aug 09, Attracted to light, 160w MVB. A new species for the garden and my 5km square.

Small Dusty Wave, Farcet Fen, 13 Aug 09, Attracted to light, 160w MVB.

Small Waved Umber, Farcet Fen, 11 Aug 09, Attracted to light, 160w MVB. Only my second record here.

Straw Underwing, Farcet Fen, 06 Aug 09, Attracted to light, 160w MVB.

Photos © Steve Dudley / Panasonic Lumix FZ-30

Recent Farcet Fen moths

Sallow Kitten, Farcet Fen, 29 July 09, attracted to light (160w MVB).

Round-winged Muslin, Farcet Fen, 25 July 09, attracted to light (160w MVB). A worn individual. Only the second record for here.

The Olive, Farcet Fen, 29 July 09, attracted to light (160w MVB). Only the second record for here.

Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, Farcet Fen, 29 July 09, attracted to light (160w MVB).

Iron Prominent, Farcet Fen, 3 Aug 09, attracted to light (15w Actinic).

© Steve Dudley / Panasonic Lumix FZ-30

Recent Farcet Fen moths

Its not been a stunning year to date here, but good catches have produced the odd new moth for the garden.

Amblyptilia acanthadactyla, Farcet Fen, a new species for me, the garden and my square. Attracted to light (160w MVB), 22 July 2009.

Chinese Character, Farcet Fen, ttracted to light (160w MVB), 22 July 2009.

Double Lobed, Farcet Fen, attracted to light (160w MVB), 13 July 2009.

Least Carpet, Farcet Fen, attracted to light (160w MVB), 22 July 2009.

Small China-mark, Farcet Fen, attracted to light (160w MVB), 22 July 2009.

Swallow-tailed Moth, Farcet Fen, attracted to light (160w MVB), 13 July 2009.

Toadflax Pug, Farcet Fen, attracted to light (160w MVB), 19 July 2009.

Copper Underwing, Peterborough, entered building during day, 16 July 2009.

© Steve Dudley / Panasonic Lumix FZ-30 & Leica D-Lux 2

Bordered Pug, Elton

The first since 2004.

Bordered Pug Eupithecia succenturiata

© Brian Stone Canon A640

White Admiral, Bedford Purlieus

Several showing rather well at Bedford Purlieus today.

White Admiral Limenitis camilla

© Brian Stone Digiscoped with Canon A640 and Leica APO77 x20

Yellow-tail, Cambridge, 10 Jul 09

The first ad Yellow-tail Euproctis similis for the garden, although the larvae were found on the birch trees along the road several years ago

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

Scarce Elton moths

Ebulea crocealis


Dark Umber Philereme transversata


Aethes rubigana


The Coronet Craniophora ligustri


Golden-rod Pug Eupithecia virgaureata


© Brian Stone Canon A640

Dark Spectacle Cambridge 05 Jul 09

The first Dark Spectacle Abrostola triplasia for the garden. According to the Waring/Lewington guide, this species prefers areas with acidic soils. Unexpected on the calcareous, clay-ridden alkaline stuff around CB1.

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

Farcet Fen moths, 4-5 July 09

After two weeks away and missing all this great mothing weather, I was itching to get the traps out when I returned home. First up was the 160w MVB which brought me a 50+ species, 400+ individual insect catch, followed on Saturday night with the 15w actinic which produced the expected much lower numbers, but did manage a first for the garden - The Miller.

The Miller, Farcet Fen, 5 July 09. Attracted to light (15w actinic). New for the garden.

Birds Wing, Farcet Fen, 4 July 09. Attracted to light (160w MVB)

Pale Prominent, Farcet Fen, 4 July 09. Attracted to light (160w MVB)

White Satin Moth, Farcet Fen, 5 July 09. Attracted to light (15w actinic)

Yellow-tail, Farcet Fen, 5 July 09. Attracted to light (15w actinic)

© Steve Dudley / Panasonic Lumix FZ-30

Elton, 4 July 09

This is another garden first. Maple Prominent and July Highflyer are both only second records for the garden.

V-pug Chloroclystis v-ata


Maple Prominent Ptilodon cucullina


July Highflyer Hydriomena furcata


Acleris forsskaleana


Beautiful China-mark Nymphula stagnata


Small Fan-footed Wave Idaea biselata f. fimbriolata


Marbled Beauty Cryphia domestica


© Brian Stone