Bodenham March 24th

Despite the cold nights recently, I ran a moth trap in the garden last night and very pleased I did. Highlight was a Red Sword-grass. In total the list was March (1), Shoulder Stripe (1), Oak Beauty (1), Early Thorn (1), Hebrew Character (13), Small Quaker (17), Common Quaker (7), Clouded Drab (3), Early Grey (1), Red Sword-grass (1). Robin Hemming

Bodenham: Red Sword-grass

 

Mediterranean Flour Moth, Ephestia kuehniella

A post on Twitter last week from Jarred Tibbets caught the eye of Steve (Whitehouse).

Jarred had reported a probable Mediterranean Flour Moth caught in a pheromone trap at the garden centre bird-food store where he works in West Hagley. Steve obtained a rather battered dead specimen which, because of it's poor condition, would require dissection and this was quickly followed by a live moth in good condition which I collected and photographed.

Both specimens have now been dissected and confirmed as Mediterranean Flour Moth, Ephestia kuehniella, apparently the first Worcestershire records for 120 years. The species has most likely been present during the intervening years, it just needs someone with an interest in moths to be in the places where it is likely to be found i.e. food stores, flour mills etc.   Patrick Clement

Ephestia kuehniella

Bringsty Common March 17th 2020

A warmer night, so out went the Robinson into the garden. A bit breezy for the first part, however in the end I recorded 14 species and in no particular order: March (2), Brindled Pug (1), Common Quaker (12), Small Quaker (31), Red Chestnut (5), Oak Beauty (2), Twin-spotted Quaker (4), Clouded Drab (2), Chestnut (1), Blossom Underwing (1), Early Grey (1), Hebrew Character (2), White-marked (1) and Emmelina monodactyla (1). Earlier in the week there was what is now the usual Mompha sturnipennella in my bathroom. About half the county records are from my house and garden. It induced a visit from Steve W, who then passed it on to Patrick C who took his usual wonderful photo of the adult, which you can view here:https://mothdissection.co.uk/species.php?Tx=Mompha_sturnipennella . Peter Hall

Bringsty Common: Blossom Underwing

 

Common Quakers

Numbers of Common Quakers rose to 15 in my garden at Norchard, Worcs on Friday night, in the relatively mild conditions. They included the ab. confluens, top, and a strongly marked individual, lower.