This week's moths

67 species recorded over the past couple of days. A full list below the photos.

Small Elephant Hawk-moth Deilephila porcellus


Small Elephant Deilephila porcellus and Elephant Hawk-moths Deilephila elpenor


Small Elephant Deilephila porcellus, Elephant Deilephila elpenor and Poplar Hawk-moths Laothoe populi


The Cinnabar


Swallow-tailed Moth Ourapteryx sambucaria


Common Emerald Hemithea aestivaria


Cochylis hybridella


Tinea semifulvella


Double Square-spot Xestia triangulum


Canon Powershot A640

67 species recorded over the past two days:
0246 Tinea semifulvella
0870x Oegoconia sp.
0925 Phtheochroa rugosana
0965 Cochylis hybridella
0977 Large Fruit-tree Tortrix (Archips podana)
0980 Variegated Golden Tortrix (Archips xylosteana)
0989 Timothy Tortrix (Aphelia paleana)
0994 Clepsis consimilana
1002 Lozotaenia forsterana
1010 Red-barred Tortrix (Ditula angustiorana)
1011 Pseudargyrotoza conwagana
1032 Aleimma loeflingiana
1033 Green Oak Tortrix (Tortrix viridana)
1076 Celypha lacunana
1083 Marbled Orchard Tortrix (Hedya nubiferana)
1115 Ancylis achatana
1293 Garden Grass-veneer (Chrysoteuchia culmella)
1301 Crambus lathoniellus
1342 Eudonia angustea
1392 Udea olivalis
1428 Bee Moth (Aphomia sociella)
1439 Trachycera advenella
1654 Figure of Eighty (Tethea ocularis)
1669 Common Emerald (Hemithea aestivaria)
1682 Blood-vein (Timandra comae) (both forms)
1711 Treble Brown Spot (Idaea trigeminata)
1713 Riband Wave (Idaea aversata)
1727 Silver-ground Carpet (Xanthorhoe montanata)
1742 Yellow Shell (Camptogramma bilineata)
1758 Barred Straw (Eulithis pyraliata)
1776 Green Carpet (Colostygia pectinataria)
1817 Foxglove Pug (Eupithecia pulchellata)
1834 Common Pug (Eupithecia vulgata)
1906 Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata)
1922 Swallow-tailed Moth (Ourapteryx sambucaria)
1931 Peppered Moth (Biston betularia)
1937 Willow Beauty (Peribatodes rhomboidaria)
1958 Clouded Silver (Lomographa temerata)
1961 Light Emerald (Campaea margaritata)
1981 Poplar Hawk-moth (Laothoe populi)
1991 Elephant Hawk-moth (Deilephila elpenor)
1992 Small Elephant Hawk-moth (Deilephila porcellus)
1994 Buff-tip (Phalera bucephala)
2040 Four-dotted Footman (Cybosia mesomella)
2050 Common Footman (Eilema lurideola)
2060 White Ermine (Spilosoma lubricipeda)
2061 Buff Ermine (Spilosoma lubricipeda)
2069 The Cinnabar (Tyria jacobaeae)
2087 Turnip Moth (Agrotis segetum)
2089 Heart & Dart (Agrotis exclamationis)
2092 Shuttle-shaped Dart (Agrotis puta)
2128 Double Square-spot (Xestia triangulum)
2154 Cabbage Moth (Mamestra brassicae)
2160 Bright-line Brown-eye (Lacanobia oleracea)
2302 Brown Rustic (Rusina ferruginea)
2321 Dark Arches (Apamea monoglypha)
2327 Clouded Brindle (Apamea epomidion)
2333 Large Nutmeg (Apamea anceps)
2334 Rustic Shoulder-knot (Apamea sordens)
2337x Marbled Minor agg. (Oligia strigilis agg.)
2380 Treble Lines (Charanyca trigrammica)
2381 The Uncertain (Hoplodrina alsines)
2384 Vine's Rustic (Hoplodrina ambigua)
2389 Pale Mottled Willow (Caradrina clavipalpis)
2434 Burnished Brass (Diachrysia chrysitis) (both forms)
2473 Beautiful Hook-tip (Laspeyria flexula)
2489 The Fan-foot (Herminia tarsipennalis)

Stenurella melanura at Bedford Purlieus

This was new to me. I only identified it because my copy of the excellent new photographic guide to the insects of the New Forest arrived today. This has a good selection of longhorn photos in its comprehensive pages. I've a bit of a soft spot for longhorn beetles and this one, which is smaller than most, is given the common name Black-striped Longhorn Beetle.

Stenurella melanura

Canon Powershot A640

Black Hairstreak, Bedford Purlieus

Found this at Bedford Purlieus this afternoon. I've only ever seen them at Glapthorn Cow Pastures before now. It's had a hard time of it and seems quite early in the season.

Other insects about were Large Skippers, loads of Speckled Woods, a Red Admiral, Southern Hawkers, a teneral Common Darter and a fair few Common Blue Damselflies. Green Oak Tortrixes were flitting around the oak trees and the grass moths Crambus lathoniellus and Chrysoteuchia culmella were in the grassy areas.

Elephants and Hook-tips

Hawk moths have been in relatively short supply so far this year so it was nice to get two Elephants this morning. Beautiful Hook-tip was another highlight as was yesterday's Phoenix (only the second for the garden), which unfortunately did not sit for a photo.

Elephant Hawkmoth Deilephila elpenor




Burnished Brass Diachrysia chrysitis f. aurea


Beautiful Hook-tip Laspeyria flexula


Canon Powershot A640

Mull Mountain Hares

Another cracking week on The Ross Of Mull. The highlights were the confiding Mountain Hares around Fidden Farm.

Mountain Hare Lepus timidus




Skylark Alauda arvensis


Raven Corvus corax


Lapwing Vanellus vanellus


Canon EOS 500D EF 70-300mm IS USM

Scorched Wing

A selection from an unremarkable session last night.

Scorched Wing Plagodis dolabraria



Buff Ermine Spilosoma luteum



Lime-speck Pug Eupithecia centaureata


Red Twin-spot Carpet Xanthorhoe spadicearia


Plum Tortrix Hedya pruniana


Expr2 number
0409a Argyresthia trifasciata 1
1082 Plum Tortrix (Hedya pruniana) 1
1724 Red Twin-spot Carpet (Xanthorhoe spadicearia) 1
1825 Lime-speck Pug (Eupithecia centaureata) 1
1834 Common Pug (Eupithecia vulgata) 1
1851 Golden-rod Pug (Eupithecia virgaureata) 1
1904 Scorched Wing (Plagodis dolabraria) 1
1961 Light Emerald (Campaea margaritata) 1
2061 Buff Ermine (Spilosoma lubricipeda) 1
2089 Heart & Dart (Agrotis exclamationis) 3
2302 Brown Rustic (Rusina ferruginea) 1
2333 Large Nutmeg (Apamea anceps) 8
2334 Rustic Shoulder-knot (Apamea sordens) 2
2380 Treble Lines (Charanyca trigrammica) 5
2384 Vine's Rustic (Hoplodrina ambigua) 1
2450 The Spectacle (Abrostola tripartita) 1
Cockchafer (Melolontha melolontha) 9

Photos taken with Canon Powershot A640

New garden moth

A real case of little and large last night. The garden first has a wingspan of just 8mm compared to more like 80mm for the Eyed Hawk-moth.

Phyllonorycter hilarella

Canon Powershot A640

Eyed Hawk-moth Smerinthus ocellata


Lime Hawk-moth Mimas tiliae


Canon EOS 500D 18-55mm IS USM

Pale Oak Beauty

Another garden first. This large geometer was the pick of a fairly good catch last night.

Pale Oak Beauty Hypomecis punctinalis



The Spectacle Abrostola tripartita


Poplar Hawk-moth Laothoe populi


Bee Moth Aphomia sociella


0974 Argyrotaenia ljungiana 1
0985 Carnation Tortrix (Cacoecimorpha pronubana) 1
0986 Syndemis musculana 1
1011 Pseudargyrotoza conwagana 1
1428 Bee Moth (Aphomia sociella) 3
1654 Figure of Eighty (Tethea ocularis) 1
1819 Mottled Pug (Eupithecia exiguata) 1
1834 Common Pug (Eupithecia vulgata) 2
1937 Willow Beauty (Peribatodes rhomboidaria) 1
1944 Pale Oak Beauty (Hypomecis punctinalis) 1
1956 Common Wave (Cabera exanthemata) 1
1981 Poplar Hawk-moth (Laothoe populi) 1
2019 Chocolate-tip (Clostera curtula) 1
2063 Muslin Moth (Diaphora mendica) 5
2092 Shuttle-shaped Dart (Agrotis puta) 1
2302 Brown Rustic (Rusina ferruginea) 1
2334 Rustic Shoulder-knot (Apamea sordens) 4
2380 Treble Lines (Charanyca trigrammica) 2
2384 Vine's Rustic (Hoplodrina ambigua) 3
2450 The Spectacle (Abrostola tripartita) 1
2492 Small Fan-foot (Herminia grisealis) 1
Cockchafer (Melolontha melolontha) 8

Photos: Canon Powershot A640

Poplar Kitten and friends

Among the moths caught over the past two nights these agreed to be photographed for the record. The kitten is only the second garden record.

Poplar Kitten Furcula bifida


Angle Shades Phlogophora meticulosa



Garden Pebble Evergestis forficalis


The full list for the past two nights:
0017 Common Swift (Hepialus lupulinus)
0986 Syndemis musculana
1174 Epiblema cynosbatella
1356 Garden Pebble (Evergestis forficalis)
1376 Small Magpie (Eurrhypara hortulata)
1654 Figure of Eighty (Tethea ocularis)
1728 Garden Carpet (Xanthorhoe fluctuata)
1764 Common Marbled Carpet (Chloroclysta truncata)
1819 Mottled Pug (Eupithecia exiguata)
1830 Wormwood Pug (Eupithecia absinthiata)
1834 Common Pug (Eupithecia vulgata)
1981 Poplar Hawk-moth (Laothoe populi)
1998 Poplar Kitten (Furcula bifida)
2011 Pale Prominent (Pterostoma palpina)
2028 Pale Tussock (Calliteara pudibunda)
2063 Muslin Moth (Diaphora mendica)
2089 Heart & Dart (Agrotis exclamationis)
2092 Shuttle-shaped Dart (Agrotis puta)
2102 Flame Shoulder (Ochropleura plecta)
2145 The Nutmeg (Discestra trifolii)
2306 Angle Shades (Phlogophora meticulosa)
2334 Rustic Shoulder-knot (Apamea sordens)
2380 Treble Lines (Charanyca trigrammica)

photos taken with Canon Powershot A640

Elton Insects

A walk by the Island, Elton Bridge and the lock revealed a large number of mayflies and other insects typical of this time of year. The first Red-eyed Damselflies were also on the river.

Ephemera vulgata, male


Pyrochroa serraticornis


Green-veined White Pieris napi


Canon EOS 500D EF 18-55mm IS USM

More moths

The heavy rain held off until the morning and there were a few new moths in the MV trap.

0141 Nematopogon schwarziellus 1
0247 Tinea trinotella 1
0610 Elachista argentella 1
0947 Aethes smeathmanniana 1
0974 Argyrotaenia ljungiana 2
0986 Syndemis musculana 4
1174 Epiblema cynosbatella 1
1288 Twenty-plume Moth (Alucita hexadactyla) 1
1651 Chinese Character (Cilix glaucata) 2
1819 Mottled Pug (Eupithecia exiguata) 2
1834 Common Pug (Eupithecia vulgata) 3
1853 Oak-tree Pug (Eupithecia dodoneata) 2
1906 Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata) 2
1981 Poplar Hawk-moth (Laothoe populi) 1
2007 Swallow Prominent (Pheosia tremula) 1
2019 Chocolate-tip (Clostera curtula) 1
2028 Pale Tussock (Calliteara pudibunda) 1
2060 White Ermine (Spilosoma lubricipeda) 1
2060 White Ermine (Spilosoma lubricipeda) 1
2063 Muslin Moth (Diaphora mendica) 2
2089 Heart & Dart (Agrotis exclamationis) 1
2092 Shuttle-shaped Dart (Agrotis puta) 1
2190 Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica) 1
2334 Rustic Shoulder-knot (Apamea sordens) 2
2380 Treble Lines (Charanyca trigrammica) 3
2384 Vine's Rustic (Hoplodrina ambigua) 1
Cockchafer (Melolontha melolontha) 5

Pale Tussock Calliteara pudibunda, male


Swallow Prominent Pheosia tremula


Hebrew Character Orthosia gothica


Treble Lines Charanyca trigrammica


Canon Powershot A640

Moths

Cloud, a new moon and less wind means a few moths at last. Among them a first adult of The Mullein for the garden, previously only known from a single larva. I've only just planted Verbascum in the garden a few weeks ago.

1356 Garden Pebble (Evergestis forficalis) 1
1428 Bee Moth (Aphomia sociella) 1
1981 Poplar Hawk-moth (Laothoe populi) 1
2063 Muslin Moth (Diaphora mendica) 2
2089 Heart & Dart (Agrotis exclamationis) 1
2092 Shuttle-shaped Dart (Agrotis puta) 2
2098 The Flame (Axylia putris) 1
2334 Rustic Shoulder-knot (Apamea sordens) 1
2380 Treble Lines (Charanyca trigrammica) 4
2384 Vine's Rustic (Hoplodrina ambigua) 1
Cockchafer (Melolontha melolontha) 2
Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris) 1
German Wasp (Vespula germanica) 1

The Mullein Shargacucullia verbasci


Poplar Hawk-moth Laothoe populi



German Wasp Vespula germanica


Canon Powershot A640