Usual suspects plus cat for ID...

A new month but on the moth front it is decidedly business as usual.  Of note was the record total of 7 Dotted Border for the garden trap.

Back Garden trap results 1st March 2012

Tortricodes alternella
Emmelina monodactyla 3
Dotted Border 7

Hebrew Character 9
Early Moth 2
Satellite
Chestnut 2
Pale Brindled Beauty

Plus on the night time dog walk:

Female Early Moth
Angle Shades caterpillar
Three as yet unidentified caterpillars (ca. 17mm long), browsing on Blackthorn buds (comments welcomed) Edit: Thanks to Douglas over on Back Garden Moths - these look like Lesser Y U cats.

Dave

Last of the February moths

A good night at the garden trap again to end a very productive February:

Spring Usher (NFY)
March Moth
Dotted Border 4
Chestnut 2
Satellite
Hebrew Character 7
Early Grey
Tortricodes alternella 2
Emmelina monodactyla

plus Dark Chestnut out dusking

Latest pics

March Moth

Early Grey

Hebrew Character and its inherent variability

Lets hope March continues in a similar vane

Dave

Unexpected locations...

On the way home this evening waiting for a connection at Dover Priory recorded two species attracted by the station lights:

Pale Brindled Beauty

Tortricodes alternella

Nice to have records from another square.

Dave

Catch report 28/2/12

Exceptionally mild yet again, another new for year - Early Grey

Garden trap catch report 28/2/12

Emmelina monodactlya

Agonopterix alstromeriana

A. heracliana

Tortricodes alternella - 2

Early Grey (nfy)

Chestnut

Satellite

Common Quaker

Pale Brindled Beauty

plus another female Early Moth (and 2 males) on the dusking foray.

Dave

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