Pear Tree Moths: July 2018

27th July

Silver Y found resting on the curtains within the house. first one for the garden this year.

Silver Y

22nd July

Good night in the trap with a few new species for the garden list.
Jersey Tiger, White Ermine ( F ), two Small Magpie Moths, Canary Shouldered Thorn *, Gypsy Moth *

Canary-shouldered Thorn Ennomos alniaria

Not hard to see why this moth was so named with its beautiful canary yellow thorax or shoulders.

just a single generation that flies between July to October, attracted to light and reported as quite common, frequents woodland, gardens, first one seen in my garden.

Gypsy Moth Lymantria dispar

Gypsy Moth Lymantria dispar

Another first for the garden the Gypsy Moth, this one with its large bat ear antennae is the male, dark brown wings, the female is much lighter, almost white with black markings.

This moth considered in Europe as a common pest, bred in parts of London in the mid nineties where it was subjected to an eradication campaign by DEFRA. but is now resident in small colonies across the southeast. Its the larvae that causes the damage feeding on a range of deciduous trees.

Fortunately no females seen so hopefully no egg laying and subsequent foliage damage.

Others moths found in moth trap included the following

Small Magpie

White Ermine (female)

new additions for garden list :-

80.- Canary Shouldered Torn

81.- Gypsy Moth

18th July

Jersey Tigers being seen in the Garden and surrounding area in high numbers.

14th July

Six species in the trap from last night including one Nut tree Tussock probably second brood, Mother of Pearl seems very common around the night garden at the moment, one Scalloped Oak, two Ruby Tigers, one Bright-line, Brown-Eye. one Least Yellow Underwing

A Footman species new to the Moth Trap could be either Common Footman or the Scarce Footman

added to garden list :- 79. -Scarce Footman

Nut Tree Tussock

Scalloped Oak

Ruby Tiger

Least yellow Underwing

Bright-Line,Brown-Eye

Scarce Footman Eilema complana

Looking at the collar on the two Footman found in the trap both had all yellow collars as described in the diagrams below, wings were held tight to the body as seen in the photographs, flies in July to August, said to inhabit Heathland and moorland habitats but found in the south and east of the country. not sure why it was in the garden habitat though ?

7th July

The Warm dry nights continue, another opportunity to put the moth trap out in the garden.

An excellent nights mothing for me with fourteen species found in the moth trap with just one new species for the garden in the form of a spectacular Elephant Hawk Moth, a moth I have been hoping to see in the garden.

the complete list is as follows

1. Dark Arches (2)

2.Elephant Hawk Moth * (1)

3. Ribband Wave (3)

4. Willow Beauty

5 Swallow Tail 92)

6. Heart & Dart

7. L-Album Wainscott

8. Clouded Silver

9. Lesser Yellow Underwing (5)

10. Mother of Pearl

11. Large Fruit tree Tortrix

12. Bright-Line, Brown-Eye (2)

13. White Ermine

Garden list as of 7/7/2018 - 78 - Elephant Hawk Moth

Elephant Hawk-moth - Deilephila elpenor

I have to admit my favorite moth caught to date, described as common, but this is the first I have seen in the garden for two seasons now. flying between May and July they are said to be attracted to light, they feed on the nectar of plants like Honeysuckle, fuscia.

The larvae which gives the moth its name because the head and neck resemble an elephants trunk feed on Rosebay willow herb.

distinguished from its smaller cousin the Small Elephant Hawk moth by the pink dotted line running down the centre of the thorax and the bars on the wings.

selection of moths caught on the Seventh of July