May 2017

Three sessions this month  producing new species for the garden list.
The first session on the evening of 21st May 2017  trapped the following
1 - Cabbage moth*
1 - Light Emerald*
2 - Common Marbled Carpets*

Cabbage Moth Mamestra brassicae

Although a common species throughout most of the country , I have only caught one , there is suppose to be considerable variation in size and markings, which will probably make this one hard to identify in the future, but can always be identified by the presence of a curved 'spur' on the tibia of the foreleg.( can't see that on mine) wingspan of 37-45 mm.

Considered a pest species feeding as its name suggests on cabbage and related crops. flies between May through to September.

Common Marbled Carpet Dysstroma truncata

This small moth is from the family Geometridae, flies at night and attracted to both light and  nectar-rich flowers and sugary foods which is fairly unusual for the family.

Another common and variable species found throughout the country,

 flying in May and June and again in August to October.

wingspan 24-30mm

Light Emerald Campaea margaritaria

Another member of the Geometridae family, and one of a number of Emerald named moths, pale green in colour, which fades with age to almost white,the fore-wing has a blood red tip which extends as a line along the outer edge of both fore and hind wings.
The fore-wing has two white lines outlined in green, the hind-wing,  just one line.
A common moth which flies from June to August, in the south of the country another partial second generation flying in August to September.
The female is considerably larger than the male.

25th May 2017 - A good selection of Moths caught in the trap last night, with a few new species for the garden list.*

1- Campion Moth *
1- Light Emerald Moth
1 Peppered Moth *
1 Setaceous Hebrew Character.
1- Heart & Dart
1- Common Marbled Carpet
2- Green Pug*
1- Silver-Ground Carpet*
1 Willow Beauty*
3- Clouded Border*
2- Marbled Minor*
1- possible Garden Dart

The Campion Sideridis rivularis

Another widespread moth which has found its way to my garden, flies mainly in May and June, here in the south of the country, a second generation flies in August and September. will be interesting to see if any are caught then.

Alleged to look like The Lynhnis, a moth which I am yet to come across, 

( The Lynhnis  does look similar although the  stigmata do not appear to join at the base , more greyer in appearance with no purple colouring.)

The Campion has two fore-wing stigmata joined at the base. Fresh specimens have a purple suffusion. which you can make out on this specimen.

Peppered Moth Biston betularia

Although classed as common and widespread, my favorite catch so far. fairly large stout bodied moth with a wingspan 35-60mm, its flight period from May to August, so fits nicely.

There are two forms, an all dark individual dominant in the north of the country, where it is susceptible to industrial melanism, references now say that these are declining in these areas.

The wings of this moth are white, peppered with black speckling, which varies in amounts.

Willow Beauty Peribatodes rhomboidaria

This appears to be one of several similar species ( see diagram below ), but this which I believe is the Willow beauty is one of the most widespread and common, they fly between June to September, with occasional records in May and a peak in August.  So my sightings at the end of May are just within the acceptable flight period. They  readily come to light.

There appears to be two forms, both of which have found their way to my  moth trap.

 Typical forms are brownish with darker streaks and markings, but there is also a greyish form, f. perfumaria, as well as an almost black melanic variant.

wingspan of 30-38mm

Marbled Minor Oligia strigilis

Two of these caught in the trap last night, there appears to be a complex of three species which are difficult to tell apart. This Marbled white is by far the more common, flying between May through to July, fairly small macro moth with a wing span of 22-25mm.

The other two closely related species are the Tawny Marbled Minor and the Rufous Minor.

Three micro moths found in the trap and identified as the following.

Green Pug Pasiphila rectangulata

I'm not surprised this small micro moth from the  Geometridae family has turned up in the garden trap, especially as a large pear tree dominants the garden.

 (the caterpillars feed on the blossoms of apple and pear as well as other fruit trees)

Described as fairly common and variable flies between June and July attracted to light.

Silver-ground Carpet Xanthorhoe montanata

Another common micro moth found throughout the country, flies between may into July, another variable species displaying a wide range of differing colours, although all forms have whitish ground colour to wings. 

wingspan of 24-28mm 

Clouded Border Lomaspilis marginata

Delicate little micro moth usally disturbed from low undergrowth during the day, its natural flight time is at night flies between May to July.

wingspan of 30-38mm the brown and white markings show considerable variation

???

This unidentified moth has me stumped,  quite a dark looking moth although the camera flash makes it look more colurful than it actually was.

The last session on the 31st May brought in a few more unseen species

3 - Dark Spectacles*

1 -  Cabbage Moth

2 - Common Quakers

4 - Heart And Dart

1 - Clay

1 -  Treble Brown Spot*

1 -  Light Emerald

5  - unidentified ??

Dark Spectacle Abrostola triplasia

Not a very good image, a few focus problems, but clearly a Dark Spectacle, flight timing says from June to July, my sighting close enough on 31st May, possibly a second generation in the autumn.
Described as reasonably common in the south of the country.
all the I.D. pointers can be seen, greyish ground colour, straw yellow basal area, cross lines edged in black, description says that the kidney and oval spots edged also in black which can just be made out.

Treble Brown Spot Idaea trigeminata

Another small Micro moth from the Geometridae  family, described as a distinctive moth found around woodland edges and hedgerows.

Flies from late May to early July with a wingspan of 23-25mm.

Moths unidentified 31/5/2017

The  well worn moth below remains unidentified, but there are a couple of possibilities, 

White Point? White Spot Brown Line?

Garden list 

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.

Additions -  September 2016

22. The Snout *

23. Setaceous Hebrew Character *

24. The Clay *

25. Lunar Underwing (3) *

additions to garden list, March 2017

26. - Hebrew Character

27. - Common Quaker

28. - March Dagger Moth

29. - The Streamer

additions April 2017

30. - Early Grey

additions May 2017

31. - Cabbage Moth
32. - Light Emerald
33.- Common Marbled carpet
34. - Campion
35. - Peppered Moth
36. - Green Pug
37.- Silver-Ground Carpet
38. - Willow Beauty
39. - Clouded Border
40. - Marbled Minor
41. - Dark Spectacle
42. - Treble Brown Spot