Solid start to the year

Mainly thanks to fruitful early stage searches (predominantly for micros) the year list is already just above 30 species, not bad for late January.

The highlight by a country mile being the Yarrow-feeding larvae of Aethes margaritana; not much to look at now but the adult completes a real ugly duckling story.





Some of the rest include:

Raspberry Clearwing larvae - good to see the local colony thriving, although under the threat of development!
Pammene regiana - cocoons under Sycamore bark
Limnaecia phragmitella in Typha seed heads
Metzneria metzneriella larvae in Knapweed seed heads
M. lappella larvae in burdock seed heads
Angle Shades and Brimstone Moth larvae
Female Early Moth
Luffia ferchaultella cases in several locations
Cases of Coleophora gryphipennella masquerading as thorns on Dog Rose

The only other adult moths have been Ypsolopha mucronella, Agonopterix heracliana, Dark Chestnut, Mottled Umber and Emmelina monodactyla.

Late addition to the garden year list

Having missed out on this one in the Spring was pleased to get a Satellite as the only visitor to the garden trap last night.

Autumnal Assembly

It has been a good autumn so far at the garden trap, this just a chance to reflect on some if the beauties trapped thus far...

Brown-spot Pinion and Autumnal Rustic




Brindled Green




Beaded Chestnut



Sallow, Barred Sallow and Pink-barred Sallow



Black Rustic

Vestal variations

Well it is certainly turning out to be a pretty good autumn for migrant moths and I have managed to get in on the action a little too.

Had five Vestal over the last three days, showing the considerable variation in this beautiful species.

Yarrow double-header

Whilst I was actively searching for the first of these - Coleophora argentula larval cases - the second was a chance find - Yarrow Pug larva

Both on Yarrow in the field by the house.

Coleophora argentula larval case




Yarrow Pug (Eupithecia millefoliata) larva





Dave

700 and beyond...

Whilst finally getting MapMate up to date, after what has been a very busy season, I realised that I have now passed the 700 species mark for my humble back garden.  Some of the species that pushed it beyond 700 are illustrated below...

Scallop Shell (Rheumaptera undulata)



Pempelia obductella



Loxostege sticticalis



Evergestis limbata

Moths of the Lot 2013: part II

As things are slowing up a bit at the garden trap, time for a few more from this summer's trip to SW France...

Eublemma pura




Scarce Chocolate-tip (Clostera anachoreta)




Agrotera nemoralis



Alchymist (Catephia alchymista)