Saturday night at Norchard, Worcs

My traps were also busy in my Worcestershire garden on Saturday night with many new for year species. A Buttoned Snout was a new 10 km square record for a species possibly expanding its range. Poplar Lutestring is a local wonderer not seen here every year. Not sure about Matilella fusca ? which could have been a migrant? A single Diamond back moth was the only positive migrant present.

Mansell Gamage 9th May 2020

Last warm night for a while, though it still went down to 7C here. 31 species in my trap including Buttoned Snout and Aethes smeathmanniana. And a personal favourite of mine, Chinese Character.

Aethes smeathmanniana

Buttoned Snout

Bringsty Common May 9th 2020

I had intended to do a summary of the last few nights of moth trapping in the garden, but I thought I would just detail yesterdays' events. Things had been hotting up regarding species numbers with 37 macro species and 6 micro species on the 7th, then a small increase on the 8th to 39 macro species and 11 micro species. As you will all know, yesterday was very warm and humid and we avoided any rain showers. A dog walk across part of the Common here during the day recorded Celypha lacunana, Monopis weaverella, Anania fuscalis, Glyphipterix fuscoviridella, Glyphipterix simpliciella, Micropterix calthella, Grass Rivulet and Common Carpet. I ran 2 Robinson type MV moth traps in the garden and to date I have recorded 80 species with around 8-10 micros still to identify later. It's an astonishing number for the time of year and I am losing track of all the "earliest records", not just from my recording but other recorders too.

At midnight it was still 15 degrees outside and the May Bugs were having a ball. The traps were not busy, but a steady influx of moths was noted when I spent half an hour just before midnight having a good look. I know some of you like to see what is out and about (there is a weblink down the right hand side which also helps - What's Flying Tonight), but in no particular order (as they were recorded with numbers in brackets): Micropterix tunbergella (1), Epinotia immundana ((5), Esperia sulphurella (1), Cochylis nana (1), Aphomia sociella (6), Pyrausta aurata (1), Notocelia cynosbatella (8), Celypha lacunana (7), Monopis weaverella (2), Syndemis musculana (1), Crambus lathoniellus (2), Elachista canapennella (18), Anania hortulata (2), Epiphyas postvittana (1), Spuleria flavicaput (1), Grapholita jungiella (1), Knot Grass (3), Brimstone (16), Pebble Hook-tip (8), Green Carpet (19), Brown Silver-line (14), Common Carpet (13), White-pinion Spotted (12), Seraphim (5), Grass Rivulet (4), Small Phoenix (10), Pale Tussock (8), Peppered (3), Clouded Border (9), Flame Carpet (5), Least Black Arches (5), Rivulet (1), Flame Shoulder (11), Red Twin-spot Carpet (6), Lime Hawk (1), Bright-line Brown-eye (1), Pale Prominent (1), Common White Wave (1), Brindled Pug (5), Angle Shades (1), Shuttle-shaped Dart (2), Waved Umber (2), Iron Prominent (2), Scalloped Hazel (8), Alder (3), Orange Footman (11), Clouded Silver (1), Common Pug (6), Yellow-barred Brindle (1), Silver Y (1), Broken-barred Carpet (2), Treble Lines (8), Muslin (10), Nut-tree Tussock (4), Pebble Prominent (6), Poplar Hawk (2), Treble-bar (1), Buff Ermine (1), Hebrew Character (4), Lesser Swallow Prominent (4), Common Marbled Carpet (2), Oak-tree Pug (5), Alder Kitten (1), White Ermine (1), Flame (1), Maiden's Blush (2), Common Quaker (1), Silver-ground Carpet (1), Mottled Pug (4), Shoulder-striped Wainscot (1), Grey Birch (3), Oak Hook-tip (1), Dwarf Pug (2), Ruby Tiger (1), Sandy Carpet (1), Silver Cloud (1), Clouded-bordered Brindle (1), Cream Wave (14) and Brown Rustic (1). Peter Hall

Bringsty Common: Alder moth

Bringsty Common: Clouded-bordered Brindle

Bringsty Common: Oak Hook-tip

Bringsty Common: Pale Tussock

Bringsty Common: Sandy Carpet

Coleophora sp.

I was wondering if this Coleophora sp. could be named from the photo? I realize that there are a few similar species. It came to mv light in my Worcs garden last night.

Bringsty Common May 7th

Finally a slightly warmer night, albeit with a bright moon at times. 42 species including the joint earliest ever record of a Common Lutestring. Equalling Robin Hemmings record from 2011. I'll report more on Sunday. Peter Hall

Butterfly Conservation E-moth Newsletter

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Small Yellow Underwing

Small Yellow Underwing flushed in meadow at Sellack this afternoon, nearby were small numbers of what I believe are Field or possibly Common Mouse-ear its food plant. Thanks to Peter Hall for his assistance with identification.