Stibbington Moths

A good catch at Stibbington last night including the locally scarce Muslin Footman.

45 moths of 30 species with one to ID
1175 Bramble Shoot Moth (Epiblema uddmanniana), 1
1201 Eucosma cana, 1
1293 Garden Grass-veneer (Chrysoteuchia culmella), 1
1331 Water Veneer (Acentria ephemerella), 2
1334 Scoparia ambigualis, 3
1338 Dipleurina lacustrata, 2
1634 The Lackey (Malacosoma neustria), 1
1654 Figure of Eighty (Tethea ocularis), 1
1702 Small Fan-footed Wave (Idaea biselata), 1
1713 Riband Wave (Idaea aversata), 1
1766 Blue-bordered Carpet (Plemyria rubiginata), 1
1887 Clouded Border (Lomaspilis marginata), 1
1921 Scalloped Oak (Crocallis elinguaria), 1
1981 Poplar Hawk-moth (Laothoe populi), 4
1994 Buff-tip (Phalera bucephala), 5
1997 Sallow Kitten (Furcula furcula), 1
2038 Muslin footman (Nudaria mundana), 1
2050 Common Footman (Eilema lurideola), 1
2087 Turnip Moth (Agrotis segetum), 2
2089 Heart & Dart (Agrotis exclamationis), 1
2107 Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba), 1
2126 Setaceous Hebrew Character (Xestia c-nigrum), 1
2160 Bright-line Brown-eye (Lacanobia oleracea), 1
2199 Common Wainscot (Mythimna pallens), 1
2283x Dark/Grey Dagger (Acronicta tridens agg.), 1
2314 Dingy Shears (Parastichtis ypsillon), 3
2321 Dark Arches (Apamea monoglypha), 1
2337x Marbled Minor agg. (Oligia strigilis agg.), 2
2381 The Uncertain (Hoplodrina alsines), 2

Click the pictures for a bigger images.

Muslin Footman (Nudaria mundana)


Blue-bordered Carpet (Plemyria rubiginata)


Clouded Border (Lomaspilis marginata)


Sallow Kitten (Furcula furcula)


Turnip Moth (Agrotis segetum)


The Lackey (Malacosoma neustria)


Poplar Hawk-moth (Laothoe populi)


Buff-tip Moth (Phalera bucephala)


Peppered Moth (Biston betularia)


Common Footman (Eilema lurideola)


Bramble Shoot Moth (Epiblema uddmanniana)


Dingy Shears (Parastichtis ypsillon)



Nikon CP995

Cool night moths

Another cooler night (perhaps down to 6 degrees centigrade) and a more managable catch for the garden with two firsts for the garden (**).

54 moths of 26 species
0647 Brown House-moth (Hofmannophila pseudospretella), 1
1001 Lozotaeniodes formosanus, 1
1063 Celypha striana, 1
1334 Scoparia ambigualis, 1
1392 Udea olivalis, 2
1421 Large Tabby (Aglossa pinguinalis), 1
1708 Single-dotted Wave (Idaea dimidiata), 1
1937 Willow Beauty (Peribatodes rhomboidaria) f.perfumaria, 2
1991 Elephant Hawk-moth (Deilephila elpenor), 2
2011 Pale Prominent (Pterostoma palpina), 1
2040 Four-dotted Footman (Cybosia mesomella), 1
2050 Common Footman (Eilema lurideola), 3
2061 Buff Ermine (Spilosoma lubricipeda), 3
2089 Heart & Dart (Agrotis exclamationis), 10
2098 The Flame (Axylia putris), 3
2126 Setaceous Hebrew Character (Xestia c-nigrum), 1
**2155 Dot Moth (Melanchra persicariae), 1
2160 Bright-line Brown-eye (Lacanobia oleracea), 4
**2205 Shoulder-striped Wainscot (Mythimna comma), 1
2321 Dark Arches (Apamea monoglypha), 3
2333 Large Nutmeg (Apamea anceps), 3
2337x Marbled Minor agg. (Oligia strigilis agg.), 2
2381 The Uncertain (Hoplodrina alsines), 2
2434 Burnished Brass (Diachrysia chrysitis), 2
2450 The Spectacle (Abrostola tripartita), 1
2474 Straw Dot (Rivula sericealis), 1

Click the pictures for a bigger images.

Shoulder-striped Wainscot (Mythimna comma)


Dot Moth (Melanchra persicariae)


Four-dotted Footman (Cybosia mesomella)


Lozotaeniodes formosanus


Buff Ermine (Spilosoma lubricipeda)


Common Footman (Eilema lurideola)


Burnished Brass (Diachrysia chrysitis)


Scoparia ambigualis


Celypha striana


Nikon CP995

Daytime Insects

Most of the weekend was cool but it brightened up this afternoon and as a result quite a few insects appeared. Many hoverflies appeared including the first two Episyrphus balteatus of the year, with one ovipositing on raspberry. Red Admiral, Large White and Meadow Brown butterflies all put in an appearance and there were plenty of bees and flies. The Large Tabby moth (one of the largest micro moths) was in the house and could have flown in overnight.

Click the pictures for a bigger images.

Bombus hortorum (thanks to Stuart and Harry for help with the ID) feeding at Foxglove



Large Tabby (Aglossa pinguinalis)


Syrphus ribesii (tentative ID)



Chrysops relictus (a Horse fly - thanks to Malcolm for the ID)


Nikon CP995

Nothing to see

As PBC outings go this one has to be the worst attended ever. Even the trip leader didn't turn up. Of course the fact that we were supposed to be looking for insects and that the weather had become especially cool and damp might explain it. I hung around the car park at Barnack Hills and Holes for a while just in case anyone turned up (but everyone was far too sensible). In the meantime I managed to find a few things to see around the car park despite the unfavourable conditions. In fact if you look at the picture of the Yellow Shell below you will see that the underside of the vegetation was positively bristling with insects.

As usual the pictures can be clicked for a bigger image.

Yellow Shell (Camptogramma bilineata)


The Mullein (Shargacucullia verbasci) larvae on Dark Mullein (Verbascum nigrum)


Dark Mullein (Verbascum nigrum)


Pyramidal Orchid (Anacamptis pyramidalis)


Nikon CP995

Damp Mothing

Last night was cooler, damp and drizzly in comparison with the recent sticky conditions. So it was more out of curiosity about how much less there would be to see in the morning that I put a trap out. In the end it was quite a good catch with a few year firsts and my first ever Small Angle Shades (not an uncommon moth but still new to me).


65 moths of 32 species
0647 Brown House-moth (Hofmannophila pseudospretella), 1
0970 Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix (Pandemis cerasana), 1
0980 Variegated Golden Tortrix (Archips xylosteana), 1
1016x Cnephasia sp., 1
1033 Green Oak Tortrix (Tortrix viridana), 1
1293 Garden Grass-veneer (Chrysoteuchia culmella), 8
1304 Agriphila straminella, 1
1344 Eudonia mercurella, 1
1392 Udea olivalis, 2
1713 Riband Wave (Idaea aversata), 3
1758 Barred Straw (Eulithis pyraliata), 1
1931 Peppered Moth (Biston betularia), 1
1937 Willow Beauty (Peribatodes rhomboidaria) f.perfumaria, 1
1961 Light Emerald (Campaea margaritata), 1
2050 Common Footman (Eilema lurideola), 1
2061 Buff Ermine (Spilosoma lubricipeda), 1
2089 Heart & Dart (Agrotis exclamationis), 8
2098 The Flame (Axylia putris), 8
2107 Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba), 1
2126 Setaceous Hebrew Character (Xestia c-nigrum), 1
2160 Bright-line Brown-eye (Lacanobia oleracea), 1
2199 Common Wainscot (Mythimna pallens), 1
2302 Brown Rustic (Rusina ferruginea), 1
2305 Small Angle Shades (Euplexia lucipara), 1
2321 Dark Arches (Apamea monoglypha), 3
2333 Large Nutmeg (Apamea anceps), 3
2337x Marbled Minor agg. (Oligia strigilis agg.), 6
2340 Middle-barred Minor (Oligia fasciuncula), 1
2380 Treble Lines (Charanyca trigrammica), 2
2381 The Uncertain (Hoplodrina alsines), 1
2450 The Spectacle (Abrostola tripartita), 2
Ophion sp. (an ichneumon fly) 1


Click the pictures for a bigger images.

Small Angle Shades (Euplexia lucipara)


Light Emerald (Campaea margaritata)


Green Oak Tortrix (Tortrix viridana)


Variegated Golden Tortrix (Archips xylosteana)


Peppered Moth (Biston betularia)


The Spectacle (Abrostola tripartita)



Nikon CP995

The Sycamore Awakes

This larva insisted on pupating just after being photographed on 23 September 2004, so it has been kept in a safe place ever since and today emerged as a pristine imago.

The Sycamore (Acronicta aceris) - click for bigger pictures





Nikon CP995

Chim Chim Cher-ee

Visited Barnack Hills and Holes this lunchtime specifically looking for this gorgeous little moth. It is a dayflier in grassy, limey places and rather locally distributed. It may be small but it has loads of character. I particularly like the way it waves its wings slowly after settling. I encountered about eight moths, mainly on the western side of the reserve.

Other species present:
Chrysoteuchia culmella
Crambus lathoniellus
Crambus perlella
The Cinnabar Tyria jacobaeae
Small Heath Coenonympha pamphilus
Ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus
Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina
Marbled White Melanargia galathea

Chimney Sweeper (Odezia atrata) - click for bigger pictures





Crambus perlella


Fragrant Orchid (Gymnadenia conopsea)


Nikon CP995

Even More Garden Moths

The run of hot weather continues and resulted in the best catch of the year so far.

202 moths of 65-6 species
0450 Hawthorn Moth (Scythropia crataegella), 1
0647 Brown House-moth (Hofmannophila pseudospretella), 3
0977 Large Fruit-tree Tortrix (Archips podana), 1
0994 Clepsis consimilana, 1
1002 Lozotaenia forsterana, 3
1010 Red-barred Tortrix (Ditula angustiorana), 3
1016x Cnephasia sp., 1
1033 Green Oak Tortrix (Tortrix viridana), 12
1076 Celypha lacunana, 1
1293 Garden Grass-veneer (Chrysoteuchia culmella), 2
1329 Donacaula forficella, 1
1338 Dipleurina lacustrata, 2
1344 Eudonia mercurella, 2
1376 Small Magpie (Eurrhypara hortulata), 1
1392 Udea olivalis, 8
1428 Bee Moth (Aphomia sociella), 5
1654 Figure of Eighty (Tethea ocularis), 1
1682 Blood-vein (Timandra comae), 1
1708 Single-dotted Wave (Idaea dimidiata), 1
1711 Treble Brown Spot (Idaea trigeminata), 1
1713 Riband Wave (Idaea aversata), 4
1728 Garden Carpet (Xanthorhoe fluctuata), 1
1758 Barred Straw (Eulithis pyraliata), 3
1765 Barred Yellow (Cidaria fulvata), 1
1860 Green Pug (Chloroclystis rectangulata), 5
1904 Scorched Wing (Plagodis dolabraria), 2
1922 Swallow-tailed Moth (Ourapteryx sambucaria), 1
1931 Peppered Moth (Biston betularia), 1
1937 Willow Beauty (Peribatodes rhomboidaria) f.perfumaria, 3
1941 Mottled Beauty (Alcis repandata), 1
1976 Privet Hawk-moth (Sphinx ligustri), 1
1981 Poplar Hawk-moth (Laothoe populi), 1
1991 Elephant Hawk-moth (Deilephila elpenor), 5
1994 Buff-tip (Phalera bucephala), 2
2050 Common Footman (Eilema lurideola), 1
2061 Buff Ermine (Spilosoma lubricipeda), 4
2069 The Cinnabar (Tyria jacobaeae), 1
2089 Heart & Dart (Agrotis exclamationis), 25
2098 The Flame (Axylia putris), 21
2102 Flame Shoulder (Ochropleura plecta), 2
2107 Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba), 2
2126 Setaceous Hebrew Character (Xestia c-nigrum), 4
2128 Double Square-spot (Xestia triangulum), 1
2160 Bright-line Brown-eye (Lacanobia oleracea), 3
2199 Common Wainscot (Mythimna pallens), 1
2278 Poplar Grey (Acronicta megacephala), 1
2302 Brown Rustic (Rusina ferruginea), 8
2321 Dark Arches (Apamea monoglypha), 3
2333 Large Nutmeg (Apamea anceps), 8
2337x Marbled Minor agg. (Oligia strigilis agg.), 10
2380 Treble Lines (Charanyca trigrammica), 1
2381 The Uncertain (Hoplodrina alsines), 2
2389 Pale Mottled Willow (Caradrina clavipalpis), 1
2434 Burnished Brass (Diachrysia chrysitis), 1
2450 The Spectacle (Abrostola tripartita), 1
2473 Beautiful Hook-tip (Laspeyria flexula), 1
2474 Straw Dot (Rivula sericealis), 1
2477 The Snout (Hypena proboscidalis), 3
2489 The Fan-foot (Herminia tarsipennalis), 14
Still to confirm:
518 Coleophora mayrella, 1
533 Pistol Case-bearer (Coleophora anatipennella), 1
765 Teleiodes vulgella, 1
866 Brachmia blandella, 1
962-8 Cochylis sp., 2
1824 Fletcher's Pug, 1

Click images for bigger pictures.

Swallow-tailed Moth (Ourapteryx sambucaria)


Small Magpie (Eurrhypara hortulata)


Scorched Wing (Plagodis dolabraria)


Blood-vein (Timandra comae)


Barred Straw (Eulithis pyraliata)


Pale Mottled Willow (Caradrina clavipalpis)


Mottled Beauty (Alcis repandata)


Green Pug (Chloroclystis rectangulata)


Masked Assassin Bug (Reduvius personatus) - thanks to Steve for the ID.


Nikon CP995

Pyrausta aurata

Just ran the one trap as time was a bit short this morning (hence few photos). Still one new species for the garden (**)
80 moths of 35 species
0870x Oegoconia sp., 1
**0965 Cochylis hybridella, 1
0970 Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix (Pandemis cerasana), 1
0994 Clepsis consimilana, 2
1002 Lozotaenia forsterana, 1
1010 Red-barred Tortrix (Ditula angustiorana), 1
1016x Cnephasia sp., 1
1076 Celypha lacunana, 1
1115 Ancylis achatana, 1
1331 Water Veneer (Acentria ephemerella), 2
1344 Eudonia mercurella, 1
1348 Ringed China-mark (Parapoynx stratiotata), 1
1361 Pyrausta aurata, 1
1392 Udea olivalis, 6
1654 Figure of Eighty (Tethea ocularis), 1
1707 Small Dusty Wave (Idaea seriata), 4
1708 Single-dotted Wave (Idaea dimidiata), 1
1711 Treble Brown Spot (Idaea trigeminata), 1
1713 Riband Wave (Idaea aversata), 1
1765 Barred Yellow (Cidaria fulvata), 3
1906 Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata), 1
1958 Clouded Silver (Lomographa temerata), 1
1994 Buff-tip (Phalera bucephala), 2
2089 Heart & Dart (Agrotis exclamationis), 11
2098 The Flame (Axylia putris), 11
2107 Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba), 1
2126 Setaceous Hebrew Character (Xestia c-nigrum), 1
2302 Brown Rustic (Rusina ferruginea), 2
2321 Dark Arches (Apamea monoglypha), 1
2334 Rustic Shoulder-knot (Apamea sordens), 1
2337x Marbled Minor agg. (Oligia strigilis agg.), 8
2381 The Uncertain (Hoplodrina alsines), 2
2434 Burnished Brass (Diachrysia chrysitis), 1
2474 Straw Dot (Rivula sericealis), 1
2489 The Fan-foot (Herminia tarsipennalis), 4

Click picture for a bigger image.

Pyrausta aurata


Nikon CP995