Signs of life...

Having run the trap for three consecutive nights a few more moths are now turning up, although numbers are still very low:

4 Hebrew Character
Common Quaker
March Moth
Chestnut
Dark Chestnut
2 Agonopterix heracliana
2 Emmelina monodactyla

Slight improvement

Well the respite from really cold and wintry weather has seen a rise in the number of moths around with a few being added to the garden year list including Early Moth, Early Grey and Chestnut.

Early Moth




Early Grey



The most notable sighting though was of a significant flush of emergence of Dotted Border and Early Moth, with the blackthorn bushes by the house literally crawling with them two evenings ago.



This was followed a night later by a flush of dozens of Agonopterix heracliana on the garden hedge, was fascinating to see so many at once.

What a beauty...

Took delivery yesterday of the twin 30W actinic set up from ALS to use as interchangeable with the existing MV electrics on the Robinson trap and gave the light a run out last night. All in all a good result including one new for year that I'd been anticipating for a few days - Oak Beauty. Always a treat and much loved by the kids (keeps them going until the hawkmoth season!)...

Trap Report - Twin 60W actinic Robinson - Back garden


Diurnea fagella 
Agonopterix heracliana
Oak Beauty
Satellite
Twin-spotted Quaker 2
Clouded Drab 4
Common Quaker 2
Small Quaker 3
Early Grey 2
Hebrew Character 5
March Moth

Couldn't resist some of these pics: In this one it's like an old Vulcan bomber with two wingmen And if anyone has any ideas as to what the Clouded Drab said to the Oak Beauty...

A much improved night

Last night actually delivered a good cast of the usual early spring suspects to the garden trap:

Tortricodes alternella (2)
Agonopterix heracliana 
A. alstromeriana

Early Moth
Chestnut
Satellite (2, both with white markings this time)

Common Quaker

Dave

Another new for year and a vestigial winged female (updated with pics)

Well it was mild, as promised, last night, but rather blustery.

However, had two moths in the trap:  Tortricodes alternella (new for year) and Agonopteix heracliana.

Perhaps the highlight was finding a female Early Moth (Theria primaria), on the blackthorn bushes just over the garden hedge.  Spend hours of searching for these each winter while out walking the dog and usually only turn up two or three, so pleased to find this one last night.  Always fascinated by these vestigial-winged beauties.

Dave

The steady trickle continues

As the mild weather continues, the trap will be staying out.

Last nights trapping in the garden:

2 Agonopterix heracliana
Pale Brindled Beauty

Not one, not two but THREE moths....

Given the return to somewhat milder temperatures and prompted by seeing good numbers of moths in the car headlights this evening decided to put the trap out, glad I did as the return was a 'bumper catch' of three moths!

125W MV trap, back garden, 18:00 - 06:30

2 Agonopterix heracliana
Satellite (Eupsilia transversa)