Miner Forty-Niner

Whilst it may be a little behind last year, I am once again on the cusp of 50 species for the year.

The majority of the list is of course made up of early stage micros and miners plus the customary January 1st tick of Raspberry Clearwing galls and larvae.




The usual suspects are also putting in an appearance at the garden trap, with numbers rising steadily over recent days, including Grey Shoulder-knot, Dotted Border, Oak Beauty and Clouded Drab








...and apologies for the dodgy reference to a Scooby Doo villain, couldn't resist given that it's leaf miners that have contributed most significantly to the year total to date...



Ectoedemia heringella tenanted mines

Usual suspects already?

Amazing isn't it, only a couple of weeks ago we were all bemoaning the drought of moths and yet already those now turning up are falling in to the 'usual suspects' category...

Now getting a steady flow of Orthosias each night with the odd representative from other families, including a few more micros.

Away we go.....

Finally, the moths begin to arrive...much warmer (dare I say almost hot temperatures) have resulted in the expected upturn in fortunes both when dusking and to the garden trap. Macros still predominate to the trap whilst micros continue to be encountered much more when dusking.

And the Puss Moths reared from eggs last year have started to emerge from their long slumber with 5 thus far.  They're crawling all over the kitchen in a "My family and other animals" sort of way....

Catch report - 125W MV back garden trap, East Kent

Cochylis atricapitana
LBAM - 7
Parsnip Moth
Endrosis sarcitrella
Pale Prominent
Waved Umber - 3
Small Waved Umber
Angle Shades
Flame Shoulder - 2
Green Carpet - 12
Common Carpet
Red Twin-spot carpet
Shuttle-shaped Dart
Clouded Drab
Fern
Shears
Latticed Heath

Some photo highlights:
 

Same old, same old, almost...

The garden trap is definitely seeing a lull at the moment with just relatively low numbers of the usual suspects - Early Grey and Small Quaker most numerous, another couple of Eudonia angustea, whilst Clouded Drabs seem to have dried up.

Had a trip yesterday afternoon, to Fowlmead Country Park, which achieved the main purpose of bagging Orange Underwing for the year list, as two were seen at the first mature birch clump within minutes of arrival (they were the only two in an hour long foray).

Had good success with early stage micros too, including Limnaecia phragmitella larvae and plenty of Ectoedemia heringella mines - details and pics on my Kent Micro Moths blog:

http://kentmicromoths.blogspot.co.uk/

Dave

A strange case of 50 not out

Having been very active in searching for early stages (mines, larvae, cases etc) I reached the total of 50 species for the year yesterday afternoon whilst searching lichen-covered headstones in a churchyard!

There were dozens of Luffia ferchaultella cases wherever there was lichen - I counted 45 on one headstone alone.




And in the trap last night, nothing new just an increase in some of the numbers:

Ypsolopha mucronella
Diurnea fagella 4
Epiphyas postvittana
Clouded Drab 10
Hebrew Character 12
Small Quaker 4
Early Grey 3
Twin-spotted Quaker 3
Common Quaker
March Moth
Oak Beauty

Dave

Catch report 21st March

Catch report 21/3/12, Back garden twin 30W actinic Robinson

Eudonia angustea (nfy)
Emmelina monodactyla
Shoulder Stripe
Hebrew Character 4
Small Quaker 3
Common Quaker
Twin-spotted Quaker 2
Clouded Drab 4
Satellite 2
Early Grey 5

Dave

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...

Two more new for years, a little overdue

Amongst the usual suspects this morning were two more new for year, two that I would have expected before now but better late than never...

Small Quaker



Clouded Drab