Another from the wood store.

Mompha jurassicella

Only my second garden record for jurassicella but my third Mompha species for the year, the other two being M. langiella and the inevitable M. subbistrigella (5 individuals).

Patrick Clement

Trench Wood Sunday 21st

Another mild weather window and the 15w Actinic once again in situ in a sheltered part of the wood for 5 hours yesterday. Fine drizzle at end but a dozen species included my earliest Yellow Horned there, Small Quaker, The Engrailed, 4 March Moth, Satellite, 2 Small Brindled Beauty, Pale Brindled Beauty, Dotted Chestnut, 3 Chestnut and a male Diurnea fagella. Back home in the garden an Agonopterix alstromeriana, 2 Ypsolopha ustella  and 6 Common Quaker all before midnight.

Trench Wood: The Engrailed

Trench Wood: Yellow Horned

Acrocercops brongniardella, Halesowen 8th Feb

Acrocercops brongniardella

This moth was discovered in our lounge yesterday, presumably off the firewood. It's a species I have wanted to see for some time because it can be really nicely marked, with blood red eyes. Unfortunately this one is not particularly attractive nor well behaved hence the snap in a pot.

The wood store, where I suspect it was overwintering, is very close to oak trees so I shall check for mines later in the year.
Patrick Clement

4th February

Oak Beauty was the visual highlight in the Warndon garden trap last night plus Diamond-back Moth, 8 Common Quakers, 2 Hebrew Characters and 5 other species. The battery actinic at Trench Wood till midnight was very productive for a single trap with March Moth, The Engrailed, 3 Spring Usher, 8 Pale Brindled Beauty, 6 Small Brindled Beauty, 25 Chestnuts, 6 Dotted Border and The  Satellite. A mating pair of Dotted Border were torched on spindle near the gate just prior to midnight.

Warndon: Oak Beauty

Halesowen last night.

I put the trap out in the garden for the first time last night, mild but breezy, so reasonably pleased with 5 species, although only the usual suspects. It's just nice to see some moths.

Chestnut x2
Agonopterix heracliana x2
Dotted Border
Acleris notana/ferrugana
Brindled Pug

Patrick Clement

Warndon Wood again Sunday

Put the 15w actinic Skinner into Warndon Wood LNR for four and half hours on Sunday evening in 12.5 degrees C, cloudy but breezy  conditions. A very early Brindled Pug, 3 Small Brindled Beauty, a Dotted Chestnut (which does not seem to have been in hibernation very much this winter) and 7 Tortricodes alternella. Too windy for my garden, since my neighbour chopped down the only mature tree giving me any shelter from westerlies!

It's always worth getting your eye in at start of season with common pug species – I see Dave Grundy had 27 in the Wyre in 11 traps on the same night!! 

Thought I was keen with one ‘just up the road’  .....

Steve

Warndon Wood: Dotted Chestnut

Warndon Wood: Small Brindled Beauty



Warndon Wood: Brindled Pug

National Moth Recorders' Meeting 2016

Yesterday it was the annual meeting held in Birmingham. Over subscribed again with a waiting list. There were a number of people attending from Hereford and Worcester and I think for once, Hereford outnumbered its close neighbour in attendees. I'd publish a photo of them but they sneaked out early.

There were talks from a variety of people and most were very interesting. Zoe Randle announced the structure for the regional and national verification panels for inclusion of micro-moths into the system. A number of us from the 2 counties are on the Midlands panel I'm pleased to say. After Zoe the programme was:
Changing Fortunes of Moths in Yorkshire by Charles Fletcher (Yorkshire CMR). A very interesting talk on increases and decreases of certain species due presumably to climate change.
Conservation of Fisher's Estuarine Moth by Zoe Ringwood (Natural England). Where she spoke of its perilous survival and measures being taken to not only protect it, but increase its range
The Bordered Grey enigma by Paul Brooks - an Englishman living in Angus. How he was tasked to find out more about the Scottish colony which he was successful in doing
Burnets, cyanide bombs and colonisation by Mika Zagrobelny (Copenhagen University). Fascinating talk about the uses of cyanide in the 6-spot burnet
The Dark side of Street lighting by Callum MacGregor (Newcastle University/CEH). The affects of street lighting on moth behaviour
Some like it Hot by Georgina Palmer (York University). Reasons why species respond to climate change
and finally A Focus on Moths (the Youth Nature Network). A society trying to get young people involved in the outdoors

In between it was a chance to catch up and chat with colleagues from around the country. Over 200 people attended and a buffet lunch was supplied. The image was after the mid afternoon coffee break where some unscrupulous folk had sneaked out to head for home, leaving a few empty seats.

If you've never attended one of these events, you should think about going. It's well worth your while. They videoed it all and are going to try and upload the days' speakers and produce a video link on the BC website of the day. When this happens I'll let you know and provide a link to view.  Peter Hall