Vestal

Twenty five species recorded here at Norchard last night, including this rather late Vestal. Singles of Rush Veneer, Diamond-back Moth and a Silver Y made up the migrants.

Tuta absoluta

A final survey of Avon Meadows Wetlands, Pershore last night came up with a surprise pristine Tuta absoluta which, was more likely from the nearby horticultural glasshouses of the Vale of Evesham than the Iberian peninsula, despite that damp southerly breeze. Other more expected species were a minimum of 12 Large Wainscots, Brick, Beaded Chestnut, Red-line Quaker, 2 Garden Rose Tortrix and a Scrobipalpa costella. 4 of these were new for the reserve.

Avon Meadows: Tuta absoluta

Bringsty Common October 30th

Very mild last night and I ran one mv light all night. 23 species if you count November moth agg. as a single species. I shall be looking at octavals soon. November moth agg. topped the numbers at 20, followed by Yellow-line Quaker at 11. Mottled Umber appeared (2), so I have very little now to add to the list for year 1. I'll do another post when all the micros are id'd, but we are running well past 500 species so far for the garden. Other moths of interest to grace the trap last night were: Blood-vein, Snout, Sprawler, Grey Shoulder-knot, Blair's Shoulder-knot, Satellite and Grey Pine Carpet, plus the usual Yellow Underwing free group. Peter Hall

Hill-topping Moth

Whilst looking for the (then absent) Snow Buntings at the summit of North Hill, Malvern yesterday afternoon at 1,200 feet, the last thing I was expecting to see was a close fly-by Hummingbird Hawk-moth zipping south. FFY as well! Wonder if there are any November records for VC 37?  Have about 100+ tiny Pearly Underwing larvae at moment - let me know if anybody wants some to rear through on Dandelion, Dock, Cabbage etc.

Winners and losers

Just been comparing results with the last 9 years of recording and come up with the  following lists. How do they compare to your recording?
Winners: Beaded Chestnut, Black Rustic, Beautiful Hook Tip, Buff Ermine, Buff Tip, Common Rustic agg, Flame Shoulder, Dot Moth, Lime Speck Pug, The Rustic, Six-striped Rustic, Small Square Spot.
Losers: Common, Garden and Green Carpets, Common and Dingy Footman, Lunar Underwing, Purple Bar, September Thorn, Treble Lines, White Ermine...plus long term decline for Brown--Line Bright-Eye.
October so far has been above average (certainly better than September except for my garden first Hedge Rustic on the 9th). Last night 3x Merveilles and 2x Streak took the macro list for this year to a round 300.
Finally-in response to a former blog about Peppered variety, we have recorded 500 Peppered in the garden since 2007. This included 6 intermediate (1.2%) and 6 dark (1.2%).
Ian Machin

Ivy Flowers

Just been out to check some Ivy flowers at Warndon Wood and despite the councils best attempts to destroy half of it, I managed to find a Yellow-line Quaker, 2 Bricks and 6 Chestnuts in 30 minutes on what remains. The moths are quite approachable and continue 'nectaring' despite being in the torch beam. 70% of the flowers are already past obvious stamen stage and developing into berries. Went 2 weeks ago and saw nothing at all.

Warndon Wood: Yellow-line Quaker

Bringsty Common October 21st

Inspired by Bill's post, and a mild but breezy night, I ran one mv trap in the garden. 27 species recorded, of which 5 were micros. I thought I would list them to compare. In order of recording:
Red-line Quaker 2
Merveille du Jour 3
Red-green Carpet 3
Barred Sallow 2
Figure of Eight 2
Sallow 3
Yellow-line Quaker 11
Angle-shades 1
Feathered Thorn 1
Rosy Rustic 1
Common Marbled Carpet 1
Lunar Underwing 2
Large Yellow Underwing 1
Setaceous Hebrew Character 4
Green-brindled Crescent 3
Satellite 1
Beaded Chestnut 1
Chestnut 2
Pink-barred Sallow 1
Black Rustic 1
Brown-spot Pinion 1
November moth agg. 1
Acleris variegana 1
Acleris rhombana 1
Acleris laterana 1
Hypsopygia costalis 1
Nomophila noctuella 1

Bringsty Common: Satellite

Bringsty Common: Hypsopygia costalis

Bringsty Common: Figure of 8

Bringsty Common: Merveille du Jour

Hypsopygia costalis is rather late, but not exceptionally so.
Peter Hall

Balcony moths

Sunday night was a productive one for moths on my balcony overlooking the Laugherne Brook, with 19 moths of 13 species recorded. A fresh Merveille du Jour undoubtedly stole the show.

1 Merveille du Jour
1 Dusky Thorn
1 Blair's Shoulder-knot
1 Lunar Underwing
1 Barred Sallow
2 Lesser Yellow Underwing
2 Large Yellow Underwing
1 Setaceous Hebrew Character
1 Angle Shades
1 Black Rustic
1 Red-line Quaker
5 Common Marbled Carpet
1 Prays ruficeps

Merveille du Jour

Angle Shades

Black Rustic

Barred Sallow

Common Marbled Carpet

Dusky Thorn

Phyllonorycter comparella

This little gem emerged yesterday courtesy of a leaf mine collected along the Laugherne Brook last week...

Phyllonorycter comparella

Bringsty Common October 4th & 5th

Finally a warmer night! I ran a single MV light on the 4th and caught 116 moths of 31 species (26 macro and 5 micro). Topping the bill was Large Yellow Underwing (24), followed by Lunar Underwing (19) and then Black Rustic (10). The catch was dominated by Autumn species and new for the year were Deep-brown Dart, Beaded Chestnut, Barred Sallow, Pine Carpet and Green-brindled Crescent.

Meanwhile on the very mild and wetter 5th, despite early night heavy rain (0.36 inches overnight), the trap was busy for the time of year, even if it was only Tipula paludosa. 28 macros and 9 micros. 104 moths. Additions from the 4th were Yellow-line Quaker, Brick, Turnip, Rosy Rustic, Common Wainscot, Knot Grass, Shuttle-shaped Dart, Dusky Thorn, Agonopterix arenella, Orthopygia (Hypsopygia) glaucinalis, Epiphyas postvittana and the rather nice Palpita vitrealis. Peter Hall

Bringsty Common 4th: Deep-brown Dart

Bringsty Common 4th: Green-brindled Crescent

Bringsty Common 5th: Palpita vitrealis

Leaf mines along the Laugherne Brook

I'm lucky enough to have my student house in Worcester back out onto the Laugherne Brook, with a fantastic range of broad-leaved trees overhanging our garden. I'm looking forward to spending the next month or so blitzing them for leaf-mines, but here are some I found in a brief search yesterday evening...

Stigmella aceris on Field Maple

I believe the row of Poplars behind our house are where Tony first discovered Phyllonorycter comparella new to Worcestershire. Many of the trees are out of reach, but some of the more accessible saplings had mines containing pupae which I hope will emerge soon...

Phyllonorycter comparella

Phyllonorycter platani on London Plane.

Phyllonorycter leucographella - emerged from a leaf-mine collected from Pyracantha last week.