Trench Actinic on 9th

With the garden being rather poor in recent nights it was off to Trench Wood NR on Friday with the 15watt battery actinic skinner stashed for 6 hours in a quiet corner. 12.5 degrees, overcast with drizzle at end. 5+ Scarce Umber, 16 Mottled Umber, 4 December Moths, 9 Feathered Thorn, 
19+ Winter Moths and what looks like a Northern Winter Moth made for a great last field session of the year.

Bringsty Common December 7th

With such mild nights forecast, I thought I would venture out of the house into the garden and run a moth trap. The minimum temperature was 11 degrees, but after that low point at 8pm, most of the night was above 12. The rain didn't start until around 9am. The first few hours were quite busy, and the latter part of the night less so. The trap was sighted near to one of my hedges. I will run another tonight nearer the wooded strip at the bottom. 8 species with December topping the bill as expected with 53 individuals. One late Red-line Quaker, otherwise the list was Scarce Umber (1), Feathered Thorn (1), Yellow-line Quaker (1), Winter (3), Red-green Carpet (2) and Northern Winter (1). Peter Hall

Bringsty Common: December moths

 

Peppered in November!

A Peppered Moth came to light in Llanveynoe on the edge of the Black Mountains on Tuesday night. Has anyone ever seen one this late?  Latest record on the Herefordshire database is September 20th and that was in 1984.
Phyl King

November Peppered

Bringsty Common

Whilst howling under the super-moon last night - it looked a normal size to my eyes - I ran one trap at the bottom of the garden by the dingle. The November aggregates were coming in at a steady stream (many had left by first light again, or in the busy Robins belly) and the trap was quite busy for the time of year. 8 species with Novemnals around the 50 mark, Feathered Thorn at 12 and December 9, including a well sized female. My first garden Dark Chestnut and my first Brick of the season in the catch.

3 days before on the 11th, I also had Sprawler, Chestnut and Grey Shoulder-knot among the catch. What was probably my last red ichneumon of the season too last night, which was duly potted up ready to send the years collection of them off to the Natural History Museum for identification. If anyone else is interested in potting up the "Ophions" in alcohol, let me know and I'll give you the experts contact details, he would welcome some from Worcester in particular.

Peter Hall

Bodenham Migrants October 29th

Alongside Silver Y, Nomophila noctuella and Udea ferrugalis, the trap recorded the 8th Herefordshire record for Palpita vitrealis, the last being from Bringsty Common in 2015. Robin Hemming

Bodenham: Palpita vitrealis

 

Warndon late October

A slightly odd looking (broken cross-bar) male Gem at Warndon on night of 28th October, was a site first as well my first self-trapped one. Diamond-back Moths last 2 nights. Nice to see a few late autumn moths including Brick, Sprawler, Spruce Carpet, Oak Nycteoline and three Figure of 8' s - holding up

 nicely here. Lots of Juniper Carpets and Rhomboid Tortrix; also late Clepsis consimilana and Ypsolopha sequella

Late October night in Colwall

A surprisingly good night on 25th. The highest number were Merveille du Jour at 5 - they've been turning up regularly this year but I've never had that many before. Also 2 Heart and Dart as well as the usual October selection. Only micro was Light Brown Apple. Total 15 species. Setting the light again tonight as it's forecast to be very mild. Phyl King

Merveille du Jour pair 25th October

Bringsty Common October 27th

Despite the strong wind, I put out the trap last night as it stayed relatively mild. The trap was filled with caddis and Ophions also. 12 species plus what a friend calls "Novemnals" to id. My first December of the season (2). Both Spruce and Grey Pine Carpet despite the lack of any foodplant nearby plus the usual suspects too. Most frequent was Yellow-line Quaker at an impressive 5! There was a micro as well, Carcina quercana, and this matched the latest date for Herefordshire, with the first on October 27th 2006. Peter Hall

Bringsty Common: Carcina quercana

Bringsty Common: December moth

 

Recent garden moths

Had very little quantity recently, but made up for it in quality with Mallow, Flounced Chestnut and Autumnal Moth. Hoping for more this week with milder conditions forecast. Macro year list well down this year-only 279 species-but 8 new ones for the garden!

Late Shoulder-striped Wainscot

A Shoulder-striped Wainscot turned up in the trap in Colwall on Tuesday night. Has anyone else had one this late?
My first ever Deep-brown Dart last week
 Phyl King

Deep-brown Dart

Very late Shoulder-striped Wainscot

Bringsty Mothing

I only run moth trap(s) on reasonable nights (when I remember to set things up!), so last night looked the best night for a few days, although it did go down to 5.2 just pre-dawn, but stayed in double figures up until midnight. Not a lot of moths - 42 moths but I did record 20 macros and 3 micros. Happy with that. My first Merveille du Jour of the year (4), Red-line Quaker (1), Yellow-line Quaker (1), Grey Shoulder-knot (1), Brindled Green (1), Satellite (1), Green-brindled Crescent (2) - Barred Sallow (4) and Sallow (2). A very late second brood Light Emerald. Topping the numbers was Lunar Underwing with just 5, and only 1 Large Yellow Underwing! Peter Hall

Bringsty Common: Light Emerald

Bringsty Common: Green-brindled Crescent f. capucina

Bringsty Common: Satellite

 

Bringsty Mining

This week I had the pleasure of visits from Dave Wilton (Buckinghamshire) and then a few days later, Steve Palmer (Lancashire). Both were keen to help me look for leafmines and it was very successful.

We recorded the following: 

Hawthorn: Phyllonorycter corylifoliella, Parornix anglicella, Stigmella regiella, Stigmella oxyacanthella, Ectoedemia atricollis and Phyllonorycter oxyacanthae.

Blackthorn/Damson: Stigmella plagicolella, Phyllonorycter cerasicolella and Phyllonorycter spinicolella.

Aspen: Caloptilia stigmatella

Hazel: Phyllonorycter coryli, Phyllonorycter nicellii, Stigmella floslactella, Stigmella microtheriella. Parornix devoniella, Callisto denticulella.

Dogwood: Antispila treitschkiella.

Ash: Caloptilia cuculipennella, Caloptilia syringella, Phyllonorycter geniculella.

Alder: Stigmella alnetella, Stigmella rajella, Caloptilia elongella.

Bramble: Stigmella aurella, Coptotriche marginea.

Birch: Phyllonorycter ulmifoliella, Stigmella sakhalinella, Stigmella luteella, Parornix betulae, Lyonetia clerkella, Stigmella lapponica.

Sycamore: Phyllonorycter geniculella, Caloptilia rufipennella.

Dogrose: Stigmella anomalella, Coleophora gryphipennella.

Apple: Lyonetia clerkella, Leucoptera malifoliella.

Oak: Tischeria ekebladella, Ectoedemia albifasciella, Stigmella atricapitella and a psychid to be id’d.

Willow/Sallow: Phyllonorycter viminiella, Stigmella salicis, Caloptilia stigmatella, Phyllocnistis saligna, Phyllonorycter salicicolella, Phyllonorycter salictella and Stigmella obliquella.

Willowherb: Mompha raschkiella.

Cherry: Phyllonorycter cerasicolella, Lyonetia clerkella.

Honeysuckle: Phyllonorycter trifasciella.

Wych Elm: Stigmella ulmivora, Stigmella viscerella, Stigmella lemniscella and Phyllonorycter tristrigella.

Thistle: Coleophora peribenanderi

Pyracantha: Phyllonorycter leucographella

Field Maple: Phyllonorycter acerifoliella

Horse Chestnut: Cameraria ohridella

Not a bad list for a few hours trawling the garden and Common with a pub lunch at the Live and Let Live thrown in too. Peter Hall

October moths - Whitchurch

Pretty quiet in the Whitchurch garden in these cold windy nights. Tuesday night was a stand out night though, with 27 species and the second garden record of Gem. Merveille du Jour the other highlight that night. Actually the best October night ever here, in terms of species anyway, but I don't have many records to compare with. It'll be interesting to see what turns up the rest of the month as I'm trapping most nights at the moment.

Gem

Merveille du Jour

Hummingbird Hawkmoth

My first Hummingbird Hawkmoth of the season in the garden this evening. It seemed to favour this Salvia called " lipstick". It was in the garden at Norchard, Worcs around 6.30 pm whizzing about.

Blotched Emerald

I had an interesting catch this morning at Norchard, Worcs, which included this unusual second brood Blotched Emerald. Also a Swallow-tailed moth and  Light Emerald. Also a first for year Green-brindled Crescent and a Red-line Quaker plus Pine Carpet and Pinion-streaked Snout. Four Silver Y, and a Diamond-back were the only migrant species.
Necrodes littoralis the Shore Sexton beetle was also present.

Butterfly conservation E-moth

The latest issue of "E-moth" is available and well worth a read and ogle at the excellent photos used from Patrick and Oliver at the link here

 

Cypress Pug in Herefordshire

I've just received this photo of a Cypress Pug, caught in Cradley on August 25th. As far as I know it's the first for Herefordshire - does anyone know of others?
Still hoping for a Vestal in Colwall - last night was cold but there were still over 100 Lunar Underwing, and my first Autumnal Rustic of the season.
Phyl King

Cypress Pug, Cradley

Another Vestal

I thought I'd use that title for Phyl. Ran one trap in the garden last night in Bringsty Common (E. Herefordshire) and was rewarded with 92 moths of 28 species, 25 of which were macro-moths. Topping the list was Lunar Underwing (21). Lots of Autumnal species now including Black Rustic, Beaded Chestnut, Brown-spot Pinion, Pink-barred Sallow. Still getting Square-spot rustic, Centre-barred Sallow and Rosy Rustic. Momentarily excited when I saw a huge moth on the wooden lamp holder of the mv trap, but it was a Red Underwing...and I did check the underwings just in case of Clifden Nonpareil. I usually see most of my annual Red Underwings on the house wall first thing in the morning, but this is the first record for this year. Migrants? Nothing as exciting as Gavin's moth, 1 Silver Y and 1 Vestal. Peter Hall

Bringsty Common: Red Underwing

Bringsty Common: Red Underwing

Bringsty Common: Vestal

 

Bordered Straw

A nice surprise on Sunday 18th September after a relatively quiet autumn in SE Worcs so far for migrants.

Another garden first

Last night I was surprised to discover a Cypress Pug sitting on the rain guard! I am not aware of the status of this moth in the county-I do recall Mike having one at Norchard some years ago. Can anyone enlighten me? Very few Autumn moths so far-only 3 Lunar Underwings! Best micro last night was campoliliana.

Colwall garden migrants

When will I get a Vestal in  my garden?? Only migrants are Silver Y (up to 4 a night) and on Monday night a Dark Sword-grass. The trap is dominated by Lunar Underwing - approx 120 on Monday - and Large Yellow Underwing, together with numerous craneflies and wasps. The large numbers of Brimstone, up to 40 earlier in September, are now down to 1 or 2.

Dark Sword-grass, Colwall

Phyl King

Convolvulus Hawk-moth

I was pleased to find this Convolvulus Hawk-moth in the Robinson this morning at Norchard, Worcs. Also my first two Blair's Shoulder-knot of the season.

Bringsty Common this week

All the talk this week was of migrant moths, with winds coming directly from the Sahara. I think the highlight was Evan Bowen-Jones catching a Convolvulus Hawk-moth on Bromyard Downs. Convolvulus Hawks have been turning up all over the place, with the exception of my garden of course.
It was an interesting week, dictated by unusually warm and muggy weather, thunderstorms on Tuesday and an annoyingly bright moon.

Monday (12th) I ran 2 mv lights in the garden. The traps were pretty busy for the time of year. Overall 274 moths of which 256 were macros - 32 species. For micros 18 moths of 11 species.  Back in first place was Brimstone again (31), followed by Large Yellow Underwing (30), Green Carpet (27), Snout (23) and then Centre-barred Sallow (22). What a good year this last one is having. Migrants? Silver Y (2) and Udea ferrugalis (1). My first Brown-spot Pinion of the year, Brindled Green (3), Lunar Underwing (4). I had 9 Copper Underwing - as yet no Svensson's. My first Pale Mottled Willow of the year and presumably a second brood Pinion-streaked Snout. Sallow moth was a regular (7).

Tuesday (13th) we had around a half inch of rain, most of it delivered heavily with thunder and lightning. It was still warm and muggy in the evening, so enticed by migrant moths 2 mv lights went out again. What a difference. 110 moths of which 94 were macros. 22 species of macro, 8 micro species. I make that a 60% drop in numbers. Topping the bill were Snout (13), Large Yellow Underwing (11) and Brimstone (10). Migrants? One Silver Y. Best numbers of Autumnal Rustic for the year (6), my first Svensson's Copper Underwing and a nice second brood Olindia schumacherana.

Wednesday (14th). Still warm and muggy but clear skies and a very bright moon. So bright, I had a clear shadow and could make out colour. Only 86 moths of which 69 were macros. 23 species of macro and 6 micro. Topping the bill was Green Carpet (11), Snout joint second (8) with Acleris variegana (8) and then Light Emerald (7). My first Pink-barred Sallow made an appearance. Migrants? None.

Thursday (15th). An evening at Broadmoor Common meant only 1 mv was put out in the garden. No rain at all but it was partly cloudy and the moon came and went and it was slightly cooler than previous nights, but still fairly warm. 53 moths of which 46 were macros. 19 macro species and 6 micros. Topping the bill - tied between Large Yellow Underwing (7) and Brimstone (7). Next best was Square-spot Rustic on 5. Migrants? Yippee a Vestal and 4 Silver Y.

The moth traps have been put away for a few days. So in the space of a week I went from nearly 300 moths to just over 50. Peter Hall

Bringsty Common: Brindled Green

Bringsty Common: Pink-barred Sallow

Bringsty Common: Vestal

Bringsty Common: Sallow

Bringsty Common: Oak Nycteoline

Bringsty Common: Olindia schumacherana

Bringsty Common: Frosted Orange

Dodford 5th and 6th September

To take advantage of the warm spell I put out 2 traps in the garden on 5th September and had 527 moths of 64 species including first for the year Rosy Rustic and Lunar Underwing but the count was dominated by the (expected) 121 Large Yellow Underwings and the unprecedented 121 (coincidentally) Brimstone. I have seen large numbers of Brimstones in the previous few weeks but only in the 60s. Also large numbers of Blastobasis adustella (45) and Square Spot Rustic (50).

A new for garden was the not very common Nephopterix angustella. A bit battered and worn but it is quite distinctive. Also nice to see Pinion-streaked Snout

Nephopterix angustella

Pinion-streaked Snout

 On the evening of the 6th the forecast was again warm but I decided just to put the one trap out.

Result was less species 54 but more moths 546 as the LYUs had increased to 206. However there were still 85 Brimstone and 41 Centre Barred Sallow and again 50 Square Spot Rustic. I am going to give myself and the moths a rest for the next few days.

Of note amongst the usual suspects were the strange looking Wax Moth ,  my second ever Meal Moth and the first Sallow of the year.

Wax Moth

Meal Moth

Pete Smith

Dodford

Argyresthia semitestacella

Following Steve's success recording this species at Pipers Hill Common I visited the site on Mon 5th September with Sam and we spent 40 mins netting the beech but had just two Coptotriche marginea for our efforts. Returning to Halesowen at dusk I put the trap out (near to beech) as it was a warm night and was pleased to have a decent catch of micros which amazingly included Argyresthia semitestacella, a first record for the garden.    Patrick Clement

Argyresthia semitestacella

VC37 Grey Chi

Ben Coleman was kind enough to keep a couple of Grey Chi from his garden trap at King's Heath and this evening I saw both. These moths are very pale silvery grey - not at all like the greener more banded forms I saw at Tynemouth (Northumberland) a few years ago. The well vegetated, mature suburban gardens on the south side of Birmingham obviously have some magic element that the rest of Worcestershire no longer does. Elsewhere records have seemingly dried up from the Malverns and the odd sites in the northwest. There must be some doubt as to those reported in a Droitwich garden in June 2001. Perhaps they still survive on The Lickey Hills where altitude and habitat is presumably still suitable. Anyway for now it seems that the gardens of south Brum are the only good reservoir population of this species in the Vice County. A Eudonia angustea was potted in Ben's front garden just before I left!

.

Bringsty Common September 4th

As soon as I put the trap out last night, it started to rain and was a light drizzle for much of the night. The catch was surprisingly good considering and bodes well for the warm nights to come. In total 251 moths of 41 species, of which 225 were macros making up 28 of those species. Still good numbers of Brimstone (14) and second brood Light Emerald are increasing now (8). Topping the bill was Large Yellow Underwing of course with 67 individuals, followed by Square-spot Rustic with 41. It was nice to catch a Frosted Orange and Autumnal Rustic and also a Pale Eggar. Migrants were limited to a single Nomophila noctuella, 2 Silver Y and either a migrant or home bred Plutella xylostella. Craneflies abounded. I shall await my Beautiful Marbled tonight... Peter Hall

Bringsty Common: Frosted Orange (with Brimstone, Snout and SHC)

Bringsty Common: Light Emerald

Bringsty Common: Autumnal Rustic

Bringsty Common: Pale Eggar

Bringsty Common: And plenty of Tipula paludosa

 

Beautiful Marbled

Richard Clements reports a Eublemma purpurina found in his garden on the 31st near Ross-on-Wye. This is a county first for Herefordshire. Rob Hemming

Argyresthia semitestacella

a day and 23 years after Tony had his at Piper’s Hill, I went early evening thinking there may be some good visibility for netting with the sun low in the west, illuminating lots of flying creatures. Although not that confident it only took me 25 minutes to net 5 and see another escape. I parked on the east side of the road by the imformation board ‘car park’. Crossed that busy road on foot and headed for the open area of beech where there is only leaf litter on the ground. There are about 15 trees in that area where the branches either hang to waste level or at least are reachable to ‘sweep’ with net. This was 18:45 to 19:15 only. Also netted 2 Phyllonorycter maestingella,  an Ypsolopha ustella and an Acleris sparsana. Last years negative triple trap effort in the same place now seems a waste of time and perhaps even more evidence that many micros are best looked for during the day. There may be some images in due course.

 

Whitchurch moths

Hi,

Numbers of moths holding up quite well here, though many are small brown noctuids. A bit of variety provided by the first record of Cypress Pug (28th) and the second of Vestal (30th). Rush Veneer found most nights and a couple of Rusty Dot Pearl in the last week. Dusky Thorn having a great year, max. 22 so far.

John

Vestal

 

Rush Veneer

Cypress Pug