23rd & 24th August 2016

My first couple of sessions  in the last week of August produced fourteen species, nothing spectacular, in fact all described as ' common and widespread ' but  for me, every new species identified was as exciting as seeing one of the rarer moths, and all in my back yard.

Brimstone Moth - Opisthograptis luteolata

There were  three Brimstone Moths found in the Skinner Trap, and an easy one to identify, a medium sized moth from the family Geometridae,

Seen well within its flight period of April to October.

Another medium sized yellow moth found in the trap was another relatively easy to identify, a slightly worn and tatty individual.

Yellow Shell Camptogramma bilineata

Another moth described as common and widespread and apparently quite variable ranging from bright yellow to dark brown, the darker individuals more commonly found around the rocky places of Scotland and Ireland., flies between June to August, which probably explains the condition of this individual, prefers damper habitats, nice to find in the garden.

Silver Y    Autographa gamma

Another Common and Widespread Migratory Moth of the family Noctuidae , which flies at both night and day, easily to identify with the Y letter  clearly seen on the wing Can be seen right through from Spring to autumn.

Apparently a well known immigrant species ( I didn't know that ). can occur anywhere in Britain, and in autumn the breeding population of spring migrants is swelled even further by the arrival of more migrants.

Regularly attracted to light, two found in my trap. wingspan of 35-40 mm.

Straw Underwing Thalpophila matura

This attractive looking moth is from the family Noctuidae, described as fairly common and widespread ( getting Better) flight period is between July and August, regularly comes to light and sugar, so lucky to see this one this year, fairly large thickset moth with a wingspan of 38mm-46mm.
 I was unable to see the straw coloured  under- wing on this occasion but the broad dark fore-wings, white outer cross line were clearly seen.

Small Square-spot Diarsia rubi

This next moth was a bit tricky , my initial identification was that this was a Heart & Dart, a common species which flies between May and July, so my sighting was just out of the flight period, the Heart & Dart is also described as having a  distinctive black band across the thorax when viewed head on, which does not show on my moth.

A  more likely candidate is the small square spot, another common species which flies between

 May-June and again August - September, this has a wing span of 28mm-33mm. this also seems to fit the photograph in my field guide, so until confirmed or corrected a tentative identification of Small Square spot.

Front view no dark band across thorax

Square-spot Rustic Xestia xanthographa

This individual caught in the trap appeared quite worn, but the square spots on the forewing are clearly visible, fits into the flight period of August - September and a common species which frequents light trap. a wing span of 32-35mm so only slightly bigger than the small square spot above, hopefully a better specimen will turn up next year for a photograph.

Lesser Yellow Underwing Noctua comes

Another common and widespread moth usually on the wing between July and September, so my August sighting well within  the right period, also attracted to light.  

There is a wide range of colour variation and pattern on the forewings, but I am pretty confident this is the Lesser Yellow under-wing

Wingspan of 37-45 mm, the underwing colour was not visible on this specimen.

 The Uncertain,  The Rustic or Vines Rustic ???

This moth caught in the trap at the end of August has been difficult to identify,  I am torn between  The Uncertain Hoplodrina octogenaria , the Rustic Hoplodrina blanda, Vine's Rustic Hoplodrina ambigua all of which are very similar looking moths,

The Uncertain  and the Rustic flying between June and August, Vines Rustic flys between May and October. All of pretty much similar wing span, 

Common Wainscot Mythimna pallens

This is the one and only Wainscot caught in the trap,  my field guide seems to indicate at least six different species, I,m pretty confident this is the Common Wainscot, again common and widespread, two generations here in the south flying between May and October.
The hind wings on the Common are suppose to be a cleaner white, but this could not bwe seen.

Now for a look at some of the smaller moths found in the trap, not sure what the criteria is for Micro moth.
Lots of these small moths which I believe are called :-  Light brown Apple moths

 Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana

This tiny moth, a leaf roller, considered a pest species in Australian orchards was believed to have been introduced accidentally into Cornwall in 1930, quickly spreading northwards now considered  very common in some areas and still a pest species.
 flight period of two generations between May and October.

Lime-speck Pug Eupithecia centaureata

Just one of these moths in the trap,  which I believe is a Lime-Speck Pug, also suppose to resemble a bird dropping, reducing its attraction to predators.
Again describe as fairly common and on the wing between April and September , so my sighting fits there ok.

Double-striped Pug Gymnoscelis rufifasciata

A second Pug found in the trap, tentatively identified as a Double-Striped Pug described as common, two generations, April-May and again in August, that fits with my trapping.
Described as a variable species, recognized by the two prominent dark fascia across the fore-wings, which gives this pug is common name, I found it quite hard to distinguish not as prominent as I was expecting, the ground colour of the fore-wings varies from light to dark reddish brown, a dark band across the abdomen can e clearly seen though.

           Brown House-moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella

This moth was not technically in the trap but found on the Kitchen wall, another common moth which can be found throughout the year, but commonest in the summer.

Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla

Another Moth found lurking on the Kitchen walls was this strange looking moth called a common plume.

One of the commonest of the 'Plume' moths found all over Britain, and one of the few to be found in the early part of the year, as the adults occur in all months. They feed in two overlapping generations on leaves and flowers from late May to September.

Garden list beginning August 28th 2016

1.- Brimstone

2.-Yellow Shell

3.-Silver-Y

4.-Straw Underwing

5 - Small Square-Spot

6.- Square Spot Rustic

7.- Lesser Yellow underwing

8.- Uncertain !

9.- Common Wainscot

10.-Light Brown Apple Moth

11.- Lime-Speck Pug

12.- Double-Striped Pug

13.-Brown House moth

14.-Common Plume

Additions to Garden list :-   15/8/16

15. Common Carpet
16. Copper Underwing
17 Spectacle
18 Scalloped Oak
19 Lesser Bordered Yellow Underwing
20  Bright line, Brown Eye
21 Jersey Tiger.