VC38 Compton Verney

I got to trap at Compton Verney on Tuesday (27/07) with a few other moth-ers from VC38

We ran 10 traps between us and whilst number of species and individuals wasn't as expected a couple of individuals made up for it

Marsh Oblique-barred was a new species for VC38

Dichomeris alacella if confirmed by the Micro CMR will be the 3rd county record

Will be trapping at Coughton Court on Monday night so be interesting to see what turns up

Lee

Whitchurch 23-25 July

 As elsewhere a number of exciting moths showed up over the period with several new for the garden. The best macros were Privet & Pine Hawks appearing on successive nights. Others were Marbled Green (2), presumably wanderers from the Forest of Dean, and both L-album & Silky Wainscots.

Amongst the micros were first records of the splendid Dasycera oliviella, presumably coming down from the Doward, and Eidophasia messingiella. I also retained an Acleris which may prove to be logiana, not 100% sure what I'm looking for, just struck me as different from kochiella which is occasional here.

Rosy Rustics and Straw Underwing arrived to remind us that autumn for moths is not far away!

Marbled Green

Privet Hawk-moth

L-album Wainscot

Dichomeris alacella

Pine Hawk-moth

Eidophasia messingiella

Acleris sp.

Dasycera oliviella

Hemp Agrimony Plume

Silky Wainscot

Brilley was brill?

Accompanied by David G and Sarah C, we ran 3 Robinsons on the Bulmers farm near to Brilley last nght. It avoided the storm (unlike where I live) and was dry and warm for the 3 hour session. Slow but steady and it will be a while before the full list becomes available, but my 2 traps have so far produced 107 species with maybe another 10-20 to add sometime in the future. I think between the 3 traps the total will reach around 140 species. In between the expected species there were some nice finds as well. The suspected Eudonia delunella from the last visit was repeated, this time with more than 10 spotted and id will be confirmed, but I can think of nothing else it can be. Prevous records: 1971, 1892 and 1887. So nice to find a good colony. There have been a few recent sightings of Marsh Oblique-barred in Herefordshire in recent years, following on from it first record in 2017 and again last night double figures of this tiny macro-moth. Then just as a footnote, in the garden, which was remarkably busy considering the storm that hit us shortly before dark (98 species), there was a Least Carpet in the trap.  Peter Hall

Brilley Court Farm: Eudonia delunella

Bringsty Common: Least Carpet

 

A lot of Angles

I'm sure it has been a busy week for a lot of recorders...finally. Up until last night I'd caught 2 Angle-striped Sallow here on Bringsty Common, a moth that appears in low numbers every year. However last night I had 11 in the single trap that operated, which is by far a record high for me. Peter Hall 

 

Kent Black Arches etc.

 

The warm weather seems to be helping dispersal or possible migration with a few more Silver Y and Diamond-backs about. This was my first Kent Black Arches at Norchard, Worcs this morning. The Wormwood was only my second which arrived on the 19th. 1,550 Water Veneer were in one Robinson trap positioned in an asparagus field last night.

Sitochroa verticalis

A busy few sessions this week with this rise in temperature, last night's saw 434 moths of 82 species to two traps in my Evesham garden.

A few highlights over the past week included my first UK record of Sitochroa verticalis.

Was nice to see a Drinker, only recorded this in one year out of seven when I lived in Bidford.

Nice to see a fresh looking Barred Rivulet too

Lee

Lappet

 Great to have a Lappet in the trap yesterday morning. A first for us and according to Peter, the first in the county since 2010. 

Four-Spotted Footman

 Four-spotted Footman in a Hereford City Garden in a Skinner trap on the 13th July. 8th record for the county I am informed.

Common Hill NR

Common Hill NR: Dark Umber

 This is a small reserve close to Fownhope and mostly limestone. I ran 2 Robinsns for my usual 3 hour spell. It cooled down quite a bit and the wind picked up so the last hour wasn't too productive. I have a few Minors to identify and maybe half a dozen micros too, but totals at the moment come to 68 macros and 34 micros. Of interest: Brussels Lace (2), Dark Umber (4) and Box-tree moth Cydalima perspectalis. I've got a couple of Ferns which I'll check out to find which of the 2 species they are, although I've yet to see a Cryptic Fern here so far. Peter Hall

Common Hill NR: Brussels Lace

Common Hill NR: Box-tree moth

 

 A group of us are trapping and marking Elephant Hawk-moths in the hope of learning something about their movements, etc. If you are not one of the group but happen to trap a marked moth can you please make a note of the id letter and number written on the wing, the date trapped and the location of the trap. Please then send the details to me at martyn.davies808@gmail.com so that I can update our records. Thankyou.

Doward 8th July

 A pleasant surprise to find this L-album Wainscot in my old actinic this morning.

Peter H tells me its the 8th Herefordshire record. No longer a coastal moth!

Also described in Manley as very local is Spatalistis bifasciana and requiring 'withered leaves on many trees'. Well plenty of those here now with the Ash Dieback, Dutch Elm and some Oaks suddenly dying.

Norchard, Worcs, 2/7/21

 

A busy Garden Moth Scheme night saw a single Robinson record at least 87 macro species in my garden. 32 Hawk-moths- mainly Elephant, 11 Swallow-tailed Moths, and quantities of others, was quite a sight. The list included new site records for Four-dotted Footman and Silky Wainscot.