Cuckoo's at Midnight

A terrific night at Cuckoo's Hollow with masses recorded between 8:30pm and 12:30am using the usual range of techniques (beating, netting, sugaring, MV and actinic light). The Lime Hawk-moth, Leopard Moth and Peppered Moth went down very well.

100+ moths of 47 species

0017 Common Swift (Hepialus lupulinus), 4
0161 Leopard Moth (Zeuzera pyrina), 1
0385 Nettle-tap (Anthophila fabriciana), 1
0870x Oegoconia sp., 1
0893 Mompha epilobiella, many on Willowherb in evening
0937 Agapeta hamana, 1
0970 Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix (Pandemis cerasana), 1+
0972 Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix (Pandemis heparana), 1+
0994 Clepsis consimilana, 1
1002 Lozotaenia forsterana, 3
1011 Pseudargyrotoza conwagana, 2
1033 Green Oak Tortrix (Tortrix viridana), 1
1083 Marbled Orchard Tortrix (Hedya nubiferana), 2
1293 Garden Grass-veneer (Chrysoteuchia culmella), 20
1329 Donacaula forficella, 2
1345 Brown China-mark (Elophila nymphaeata), 1
1354 Small China-mark (Cataclysta lemnata), 3
1428 Bee Moth (Aphomia sociella), 3
1654 Figure of Eighty (Tethea ocularis), 4
1765 Barred Yellow (Cidaria fulvata), 4
1834 Common Pug (Eupithecia vulgata), 2
1860 Green Pug (Chloroclystis rectangulata), 2
1906 Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata), 1
1931 Peppered Moth (Biston betularia), 1
1941 Mottled Beauty (Alcis repandata), 4
1956 Common Wave (Cabera exanthemata), 1
1958 Clouded Silver (Lomographa temerata), 5
1979 Lime Hawk-moth (Mimas tiliae), 1
1997 Sallow Kitten (Furcula furcula), 1
2011 Pale Prominent (Pterostoma palpina), 3
2089 Heart & Dart (Agrotis exclamationis), 5
2092 Shuttle-shaped Dart (Agrotis puta), 1
2098 The Flame (Axylia putris), 2
2102 Flame Shoulder (Ochropleura plecta), 1
2126 Setaceous Hebrew Character (Xestia c-nigrum), 1
2128 Double Square-spot (Xestia triangulum), 1
2160 Bright-line Brown-eye (Lacanobia oleracea), 3
2187 Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi), 1 larva
2198 Smoky Wainscot (Mythimna impura), 1
2278 Poplar Grey (Acronicta megacephala), 1
2334 Rustic Shoulder-knot (Apamea sordens), 1
2337x Marbled Minor agg. (Oligia strigilis agg.), 3
2340 Middle-barred Minor (Oligia fasciuncula), 1
2474 Straw Dot (Rivula sericealis), 2
2489 The Fan-foot (Herminia tarsipennalis), 1
2492 Small Fan-foot (Herminia grisealis), 1

Soldier Beetle (Cantharis livida), 1
Spotted Crane-fly (Nephrotoma appendiculata), many at light
Water Beetle (Ilybius sp.), 1

Strawberry Ground Beetle (Pterostichus madidus), abundant after dark.
Ichneumon Fly (Amblyteles sp.), many among the lakeside vegetation in the daytime.

Leopard Moth (Zeuzera pyrina)


Lime Hawk-moth (Mimas tiliae)


Peppered Moth (Biston betularia)


Figure of Eighty (Tethea ocularis)


Double Square-spot (Xestia triangulum)


Garden Grass-veneer (Chrysoteuchia culmella)


Donacaula forficella


Pseudargyrotoza conwagana


Nettle-tap (Anthophila fabriciana)


Agapeta hamana


Strawberry Ground Beetle (Pterostichus madidus)


Nikon CP995

Friendly Frogs

When we first moved into this house about eight years ago it was swarming with slugs and snails. Almost anything planted would be eaten overnight and nocturnal forays would yield bucket loads of snails. A few years of gardening for wildlife and encouraging thrushes and amphibians and we now have a veg patch with healthy young lettuces, beans, etc. and although we still have the slugs and snails they are now kept in check by the predators. All without a sniff of a chemical.

Anyway our little pond hosted at least 9 Common Frogs and a Toad and four of our friendly frogs are shown below.

Common Frog (Rana temporaria)


Nikon CP995

Nature fights back

Another lunchtime bike ride to Woodston Ponds NR. Unfortunately in shorts I was ill prepared for the onslaught. The nettles were all over the paths but I managed to avoid most and realised a little late that the slight stinging on my legs was not nettles but a mass of biting migdes. Add to that the hayfever and clipping my shin on the bike I looked like I had been in a war by the time I got back.

Anyway the dragonflies were quite good with all of the following seen from the bridge over inlet between Thorpe Meadows and the ponds.
Emperor Dragonfly (Anax imperator)
Hairy Dragonfly (Brachytron pratense)
Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum)
Banded Demoiselle (Calopteryx splendens)
Red-eyed Damselfly (Erythromma najas)
Blue-tailed Damselfly (Ischnura elegans)
Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathigerum)

The pictures are all of creatures disturbed from the undergrowth and snapped in between sneezing fits. Click for larger images.

Flame Shoulder (Ochropleura plecta)


Common Frog (Rana temporaria)


Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum), teneral (male - thanks Steve)


Nikon CP995

Light Trapping in Garden

A few year first last night to the light trap. Also far more Crane-flies than usual.

69 moths of 26 species

0017 Common Swift (Hepialus lupulinus), 4
1082 Plum Tortrix (Hedya pruniana), 1
1392 Udea olivalis, 1
1428 Bee Moth (Aphomia sociella), 1
1758 Barred Straw (Eulithis pyraliata), 1
1764 Common Marbled Carpet (Chloroclysta truncata), 1
1860 Green Pug (Chloroclystis rectangulata) 2
1937 Willow Beauty (Peribatodes rhomboidaria) f.perfumaria, 2
1981 Poplar Hawk-moth (Laothoe populi), 1
1994 Buff-tip (Phalera bucephala), 2
2061 Buff Ermine (Spilosoma lubricipeda), 1
2089 Heart & Dart (Agrotis exclamationis), 12
2098 The Flame (Axylia putris), 2
2102 Flame Shoulder (Ochropleura plecta), 2
2123 Small Square-spot (Diarsia rubi), 1
2278 Poplar Grey (Acronicta megacephala), 1
2302 Brown Rustic (Rusina ferruginea), 3
2321 Dark Arches (Apamea monoglypha), 1
2333 Large Nutmeg (Apamea anceps), 7
2334 Rustic Shoulder-knot (Apamea sordens), 10
2337x Marbled Minor agg. (Oligia strigilis agg.), 6
2340 Middle-barred Minor (Oligia fasciuncula), 1
2380 Treble Lines (Charanyca trigrammica), 2
2474 Straw Dot (Rivula sericealis), 1
2477 The Snout (Hypena proboscidalis), 1
2489 The Fan-foot (Herminia tarsipennalis), 4
Hawthorn Shieldbug (Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale), 1
Soldier Beetle (Cantharis rustica), 1
Water Beetle (Ilybius ater?), 1

Most pics can be clicked for a larger image.

Buff-tip (Phalera bucephala)


Willow Beauty (Peribatodes rhomboidaria) f.perfumaria


The Fan-foot (Herminia tarsipennalis)


The Snout (Hypena proboscidalis)


Barred Straw (Eulithis pyraliata)


Poplar Grey (Acronicta megacephala)


Common Swift (Hepialus lupulinus)


Bee Moth (Aphomia sociella)


Common Marbled Carpet (Chloroclysta truncata)


Green Pug (Chloroclystis rectangulata)


Plum Tortrix (Hedya pruniana)


Small Square-spot (Diarsia rubi)


Middle-barred Minor (Oligia fasciuncula)


Hawthorn Shieldbug (Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale)


Spotted Crane-fly (Nephrotoma appendiculata)
Male

Female


Nikon CP995

Buff night at Stibbington

Managed to run a 15W actinic overnight at the Stibbington Pits nature reserve. Three species named Buff...!

53 moths of 27 species

0017 Common Swift (Hepialus lupulinus), 3
0926 Phalonidia manniana, 1
1076 Celypha lacunana, 1
1133 Epinotia bilunana, 1
1348 Ringed China-mark (Parapoynx stratiotata), 5
1648 Pebble Hook-tip (Drepana falcataria), 1
1653 Buff Arches (Habrosyne pyritoides), 1
1727 Silver-ground Carpet (Xanthorhoe montanata), 1
1764 Common Marbled Carpet (Chloroclysta truncata), 1
1776 Green Carpet (Colostygia pectinataria), 1
1956 Common Wave (Cabera exanthemata), 1
1976 Privet Hawk-moth (Sphinx ligustri), 1
1981 Poplar Hawk-moth (Laothoe populi), 2
1994 Buff-tip (Phalera bucephala), 1
2060 White Ermine (Spilosoma lubricipeda), 3
2061 Buff Ermine (Spilosoma lubricipeda), 1
2089 Heart & Dart (Agrotis exclamationis), 2
2098 The Flame (Axylia putris), 1
2102 Flame Shoulder (Ochropleura plecta), 1
2173 The Lychnis (Hadena bicruris), 1
2198 Smoky Wainscot (Mythimna impura), 2
2199 Common Wainscot (Mythimna pallens), 2
2333 Large Nutmeg (Apamea anceps), 10
2337x Marbled Minor agg. (Oligia strigilis agg.), 4
2380 Treble Lines (Charanyca trigrammica), 2
2434 Burnished Brass (Diachrysia chrysitis), 1
2474 Straw Dot (Rivula sericealis), 2

Most pics can be clicked for a larger image.

Privet Hawk-moth (Sphinx ligustri)


Poplar Hawk-moth (Laothoe populi)


Buff Arches (Habrosyne pyritoides)


Buff-tip (Phalera bucephala)


Buff Ermine (Spilosoma lubricipeda)


Pebble Hook-tip (Drepana falcataria)


The Lychnis (Hadena bicruris)


Common Marbled Carpet (Chloroclysta truncata)


Common Wave (Cabera exanthemata)


Ringed China-mark (Parapoynx stratiotata)


Phalonidia manniana


Epinotia bilunana


Nikon CP995

Mid-June mothing

I had some of my best moths in mid-June last year and with temperatures rising during this week hopes are high for some good catches over the next few days.

44 moths of 23 species (** = new for garden)

0017 Common Swift (Hepialus lupulinus), 2
**0246 Tinea semifulvella, 1
1076 Celypha lacunana, 2
1392 Udea olivalis, 2
1428 Bee Moth (Aphomia sociella), 1
1991 Elephant Hawk-moth (Deilephila elpenor), 1
2061 Buff Ermine (Spilosoma lubricipeda), 1
2089 Heart & Dart (Agrotis exclamationis), 5
2098 The Flame (Axylia putris), 1
2107 Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba), 1
2160 Bright-line Brown-eye (Lacanobia oleracea), 1
2198 Smoky Wainscot (Mythimna impura), 2
2199 Common Wainscot (Mythimna pallens), 1
2302 Brown Rustic (Rusina ferruginea), 5
2321 Dark Arches (Apamea monoglypha), 1
2333 Large Nutmeg (Apamea anceps), 3
2334 Rustic Shoulder-knot (Apamea sordens), 5
2337x Marbled Minor agg. (Oligia strigilis agg.), 3
2380 Treble Lines (Charanyca trigrammica), 2
2434 Burnished Brass (Diachrysia chrysitis), 1
2450 The Spectacle (Abrostola tripartita), 1
2477 The Snout (Hypena proboscidalis), 1
2489 The Fan-foot (Herminia tarsipennalis), 1

Click on pics for larger images.

Tinea semifulvella


The Snout (Hypena proboscidalis)


The Spectacle (Abrostola tripartita)


Burnished Brass (Diachrysia chrysitis)


Treble Lines (Charanyca trigrammica)


Dark Arches (Apamea monoglypha)


Brown Rustic (Rusina ferruginea)


Smoky Wainscot (Mythimna impura)


Bright-line Brown-eye (Lacanobia oleracea)


Buff Ermine (Spilosoma lubricipeda)


Elephant Hawk-moth (Deilephila elpenor)



Udea olivalis


Nikon CP995