August 2018

24th August

Orange Swift Triodia sylvina

I have had two of these Orange swifts turn up around my conservatory windows on consecutive nights, the first was a very worn individual but could just about make out some identification features, the second was a better specimen and a definite Orange Swift and a first recorded  in the garden.

Surprisingly smallish moth, both orange in colour which probably makes them male, which are suppose to be smaller and brighter than the female. female being more brown.

The antenna appear much smaller than usual.

Orange Swift 22nd August 2018

Orange Swift 24th August 2018

Garden list

83. Orange Swift



19th August

  Placed the moth trap in a new position in the garden, closer to some Valerium and other flowering shrubs in the hope of some new moths, alas the nights haul consisted of  the following
Cabbage Moth -1
Straw Underwing -3
Copper Underwing -1
Large Yellow underwing -1
Heart & Dart -2
Powdered Quaker ? -1

no new moths for the garden.

Cabbage Moth

Straw Underwing

Straw Underwing

Straw Underwing

Copper Underwing

Large Yellow Underwing

Heart & Dart

Powdered Quaker ??

2nd August

On a warm clear night not so many moths around the moth trap. the following did make there way into the trap, 3- Jersey Tiger Moths, 1- Brimstone, 2- powdered Quakers, 1 Bright-line, Brown Eye,
1 Heart and Dart, and new for the garden list 1 Common Rustic. which brings the garden list up to

82. - Common Rustic

Common Rustic Mesapamea secalis

Although the field guide claims this as common and widespread , its the first one to make the garden list, the two white markings very distinctive.

Formerly a single species, this has now been split into a complex of three, giving Lesser Common Rustic (M. didyma) and Remm's Rustic (M. remmi) 

fly's July to August .

other moths noted as follows

Jersey Tigers

Heart & Dart

Powdered Quaker