Another Late One

Ran the garden trap here on Bringsty Common last night for the first time in 10 days. 23 species with micros topping the frequency table with Acleris variegana commonest with 14 individuals followed by Eudonia angustea with 11.  Best macro was Lunar Underwing with 9.  However,  included in the mix was a Short Cloaked moth and trawling through the Hereford database it seems the previous latest record was August 15th in 1991.  Having access also to the Bucks database I see they have recorded occasional very late records, even one in October, but not very often.  Not sure if it is an attempted second brood, or a confused individual perhaps. Peter Hall

Wigmore Rolls Monday September 17th

With garden catches running at around 40 to 45 species per night at the moment, and Monday forecast to be mild,  I met up with Rob Hemming and trapped at Wigmore Rolls, a nice Forestry Commission site just up from Leominster.  Hornet management kept me busy, but unfortunately the moths did not and it was very slow going for the 3 hours the traps were run.  However, lots of singeltons pushed the tally for my 2 Robinsons up to around 35 species. A very tatty Cydia splendana  along with a Dingy Footman and a Marbled White-spot. 3 fresh Dusky Thorn. Also arrived was a Small Wainscot and a  Brick. Plenty of Red-green Carpet and Common Marbled Carpet. Pandemis cinnamomeana topped the micros.  The biggest surprise was a Satin Lutestring, which is yet another species that may be starting to second brood? Most records for this moth are late May to mid-July.  Peter Hall

Wigmore Rolls: Satin Lutestring

 

Re Puss Moth or Sallow Kitten

Aaron, I would say you are correct with Sallow Kitten. I have reared both species from eggs and looking at my photographs above, although the colour and appearance of both species changes significantly during development, the spiracles of the Puss Moth larva always seem to be clearly visible on a clean background - far less so in the case of the Sallow Kitten.

Patrick Clement

Puss/Kitten Caterpillar

I found this caterpillar on a Violet Willow in my garden today but can't decide if it a young Puss Moth or one of the Kitten Moths. I'm leaning towards Sallow Kitten but not at all sure.

 

Ectoedemia sp.

I was wondering if it is possible to identify this Ectoedemia species from the photograph. It came to mv light overnight at Norchard ,Worcs?
A busy garden moth scheme Robinson trap on Friday night, recorded 210 moths of 44 species here, with no migrants.

Bringsty Common September 2nd

It was still 18 degrees here at midnight and I ran two traps in the garden.  34 macros and 19 micro species with Large Yellow Underwing making up for lost time - 86 counted.  But of most interest was a second generation Lilac Beauty.  No signs of any migrants whatsoever. Autumn species restricted to a single Frosted Orange and 3 Feathered Gothic. Peter Hall

Bringsty Common: Lilac Beauty

 

Migrant

This morning at Burlish Top, Stourport, I flushed a 'white' moth around the bracken. Without a net, I tracked it around for a few minutes until I could get a reasonable view of it settled. It turned out to be Palpita vitrealis, a rare migrant this far inland. It eventually disappeared and could not be refound. What is the status of this moth in the county?