From the Garden Trap 11/06/2021

Yes, I completely lost the will to come up with tenuous, witty or cryptic blog post titles. Here's three from last night, in a trap bulging with NFY species - if not numbers of individuals!

Varied Coronet - less than annual here, rarely more than one in a year and all singles since 2002

Coronet - this went from VC55 rarity to common in decent sites in the early 2000s. There was one record from 1977, until we had a couple at Clipsham Quarry on 11th July 2003. On 26th July 2008, I had 66 on one night at Pickworth Wood, and by then it was starting to turn up in gardens etc. In my garden it has quickly gone from NFG in 2016 to annual trap fodder.

Treble-bar - much less than annual, this is the 7th record and individual

Always worth checking the claspers ....

Seeing as a coronet is a type of horn, horns are more treble than bass, and in recognition of a great band that I'm looking forward to seeing in Oct (new album in Sep), here's a horny ditty that'll make you tap your feet.

post-script - arse, I'm thinking of cornet. Oh well.

Lightning, Man!

Another attempt with the new editor. I've logged comments and feedback, and so far had fuck all feedback from Google / Blogger / whoever. I suspect the aim is to make the editor better for on the hoof blogging by phone users, and fucking useless for more conventional blogging. I think I can work around everything except the labelling at the minute - which I will try again when I've finished typing and aligning pictures etc ....

So far this evening, it's the first day since Monday that we've not endured late evening torrential rain and thunderstorms just before dusk. We have plenty of rain today though, just without the cracks and humidity. Consquently the moth trap has not been out since Sunday night. Here's a couple from that trap, and a couple of screen captures from a short bit of vid I managed to catch of some of the lightning on Tuesday evening.

Large Tabby

The third garden record, singles in July 2006 and July 2010

Coronet - a particularly smart individual

Lazy

A quick post today, a bit of a lazy pre-meat aperatif. Not been anywhere and not intending to do anything other than fire up the barbie, enjoy the evening and crack open some bottles of Doombar. Oh, and then fire up the moth trap.

First up though, I spotted and potted this beetle yesterday and although I recognised it I checked it out. I then realised that whilst I recognised it, and think I've seen it before, it's not on my list so happy days!

Poecilus cupreus

There were a couple of these in the moth trap last night, though they can't be taken to species from a photo ....

Psallus varians sl

And otherwise here's a few moths taken over the last few days ....

Maiden's Blush

Siver-ground Carpet

Heart and Dart - first of the year was abberant, and I've had three or four like this over the week

Scorched Wing

Freyer's Pug

Small Phoenix

Coronet

Hell, I can't even be arsed to think of a musical interlude that matches the post.

Yee-haw!

I done gone got a damn fine garden tick ya'll, and it's a redneck fer sure.

Red-necked Footman, 672nd garden species, 313th macro

This is yet another species that not that long ago was a major county rarity. I remember how surprised and pleased we were to see it back in 2004. I'm not aware that it has started spreading like Orange Footman, but I do know it's been picked up in a couple of other gardens recently so I guess it is, Either way, it was the first thing I saw in my Synergetic trap and the last thing I expected to see.

The traps were busy, but the other highlights for me were the first properly variegated form of Coronet that I've had here, and a female Ghost Moth which is only the sixth for the garden. Also good to see a few other summer species turning up.

Coronet

Ghost Moth

Barred Yellow

Buff Arches

Terror Stickers

Pterostichus ... come on then, how would you pronounce it?

I used to think it was Te-row Stick-us (ie with four syllables, but spoken with accent on the St making it sound like two words), but then I heard someone say Te-ros-tic-us (still four syllables, but flowing more evenly as one word).

Either way, it's doesn't matter how you say it as when you find one it's pretty much inevitable that you won't identify it immediately from external characters. I've still got three from Ketton Quarry on 02/06/2017 to sort out when I can be arsed to get the key and microscope out. I think I know what they are, but I could be well out and they may not all even be Pterostichus spp. Here they are anyway, one day I'll update this post with their ID.

Big Pterostichus sp. - possibly P. nigra

Medium Pterostichus sp. - possibly P. maddidus

Small Pterostichus sp. - possibly P. strenuus

I've got a new phone - ditched my iPhone 5S and now have a Samsung Galaxy S8. Here's a quick snap I took of leaf mines on Colmbine that we have growing on the front garden. It's not cropped, just straight off the phone and resized for the blog.

Phytomyza miniscula - a leaf-mining fly

And here's a couple from the garden trap last night:

Silver-ground Carpet

Coronet - still waiting for a nicely variegated individual

A couple more moths

Here's a couple that managed to avoid getting sodden in my rain-soaked Synergetic trap last night - one clinging perfectly sheltered to the underside of the light array, and one tucked up underneath a window sill just above the trap.

It's just over a decade ago that the only chance of seeing Coronet in VC55 was at some of the better mothing sites in the far-east of Rutland. There was a distinct population growth in Rutland up to 2008, and after I found one at work in Leicester in 2009 there has been a steady spread through VC55. I had my first garden records last year in July, and really pleased to see a couple already this year .... which raises all sort of questions about why a single-brooded species that is normally on the wing between June and July is turning up (worn) in my garden trap in mid-May. Hopefully this will be a regular going forward - though I hope I start getting the more variegated form - all mine so far have been this darker/greener form.

Coronet - 18/05/2017

Muslin Moth is annual, as long as I bother to trap during it's flight period. Usually I get ones or twos at most, with six being the highest count on one night in the garden. My MapMate tells me that on 27/05/2005 we had 64 of these across 12 traps at Gibraltar Point! You can't beat that furry frontage.

Muslin Moth - 18/05/2017

KQ Shots - Macros

Small Purple Barred

Brown-tail

Fern

Ear Moth

Dusky Sallow

Square-spotted Clay

Small Waved Umber

Small Emerald

Coronet

Garden Dart

Dun-bar

Dark Umber

29/07/2011 N. Devon Moths

Ran 2 traps in the inlaws garden last night - the 22W/18W Synergetic/CFL combo and the 80W/11W Actinic/CFL combo trap. Excellent catch with a few expected goodies (or at least ones I don't/won't get in my garden). Total catch was 358 of 89 species, including a micro that is a British tick for me.

Cedestis subfasciella

0424 Bird-cherry Ermine (Yponomeuta evonymella) 1
0441 Paraswammerdamia nebulella 1
0443 Cedestis subfasciella 1
0647 Brown House Moth (Hofmannophila pseudospretella) 1
0787 Bryotropha terrella 2
0873 Blastobasis adustella 1
0938 Agapeta zoegana 1
0972 Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix (Pandemis heparana) 2
1038x Acleris laterana/comariana 1
1108 Lobesia abscisana 1
1207 Pine Leaf-mining Moth (Clavigesta purdeyi) 1
1288 Twenty-plume Moth (Alucita hexadactyla) 1
1293 Garden Grass-veneer (Chrysoteuchia culmella) 3
1304 Agriphila straminella 11
1305 Agriphila tristella 9
1376 Small Magpie (Eurrhypara hortulata) 3
1378 Phlyctaenia coronata 1
1390 Udea prunalis 5
1395 Rusty-dot Pearl (Udea ferrugalis) 4
1405 Mother of Pearl (Pleuroptya ruralis) 3
1524 Emmelina monodactyla 1
1640 Drinker (Euthrix potatoria) 3
1652 Peach Blossom (Thyatira batis) 1
1653 Buff Arches (Habrosyne pyritoides) 4
1690 Small Blood-vein (Scopula imitaria) 1
1702 Small Fan-footed Wave (Idaea biselata) 5
1708 Single-dotted Wave (Idaea dimidiata) 3
1713 Riband Wave (Idaea aversata) 9
1724 Red Twin-spot Carpet (Xanthorhoe spadicearia) 11
1738 Common Carpet (Epirrhoe alternata) 4
1758 Barred Straw (Eulithis pyraliata) 1
1759 Small Phoenix (Ecliptopera silaceata) 6
1777 July Highflyer (Hydriomena furcata) 3
1803 Small Rivulet (Perizoma alchemillata) 5
1830 Wormwood Pug (Eupithecia absinthiata) 2
1858 V-Pug (Chloroclystis v-ata) 2
1862 Double-striped Pug (Gymnoscelis rufifasciata) 1
1884 Magpie Moth (Abraxas grossulariata) 1
1906 Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata) 3
1917 Early Thorn (Selenia dentaria) 3
1921 Scalloped Oak (Crocallis elinguaria) 5
1922 Swallow-tailed Moth (Ourapteryx sambucaria) 1
1937 Willow Beauty (Peribatodes rhomboidaria) 5
1945 Brussels Lace (Cleorodes lichenaria) 2
1947 Engrailed (Ectropis bistortata) 1
1956 Common Wave (Cabera exanthemata) 1
1958 Clouded Silver (Lomographa temerata) 4
1961 Light Emerald (Campaea margaritata) 1
1981 Poplar Hawk-moth (Laothoe populi) 1
1991 Elephant Hawk-moth (Deilephila elpenor) 1
1994 Buff-tip (Phalera bucephala) 1
2003 Pebble Prominent (Notodonta ziczac) 3
2011 Pale Prominent (Pterostoma palpina) 1
2037 Rosy Footman (Miltochrista miniata) 8
2044 Dingy Footman (Eilema griseola) 23
2047 Scarce Footman (Eilema complana) 1
2049 Buff Footman (Eilema depressa) 2
2050 Common Footman (Eilema lurideola) 18
2057 Garden Tiger (Arctia caja) 1
2061 Buff Ermine (Spilosoma luteum) 4
2064 Ruby Tiger (Phragmatobia fuliginosa) 1
2089 Heart and Dart (Agrotis exclamationis) 5
2092 Shuttle-shaped Dart (Agrotis puta) 3
2102 Flame Shoulder (Ochropleura plecta) 12
2107 Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba) 35
2109 Lesser Yellow Underwing (Noctua comes) 2
2110 Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing (Noctua fimbriata) 1
2111 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing (Noctua janthe) 27
2128 Double Square-spot (Xestia triangulum) 1
2155 Dot Moth (Melanchra persicariae) 1
2160 Bright-line Brown-eye (Lacanobia oleracea) 3
2173 Lychnis (Hadena bicruris) 1
2193 Clay (Mythimna ferrago) 1
2198 Smoky Wainscot (Mythimna impura) 2
2284x Dark / Grey Dagger (Acronicta tridens/psi) 2
2289 Knot Grass (Acronicta rumicis) 4
2291 Coronet (Craniophora ligustri) 2
2318 Dun-bar (Cosmia trapezina) 2
2321 Dark Arches (Apamea monoglypha) 24
2338 Rufous Minor (Oligia versicolor) 3
2343x Common Rustic agg. (Mesapamea secalis agg.) 5
2360 Ear Moth (Amphipoea oculea) 1
2361 Rosy Rustic (Hydraecia micacea) 1
2381 Uncertain (Hoplodrina alsines) 5
2425 Nut-tree Tussock (Colocasia coryli) 3
2450 Spectacle (Abrostola tripartita) 1
2473 Beautiful Hook-tip (Laspeyria flexula) 1
2477 Snout (Hypena proboscidalis) 2
2489 Fan-foot (Zanclognatha tarsipennalis) 1

Brussels Lace

Rosy Footman

Garden Tiger - absolutely knackered, but really pleased to see it as I honestly can't remember the last time I saw one

Coronet

Ear Moth

Ketton Quarry / Grange Top Quarry 11/06/2010

A combination of fatigue, kids school gala, kids parties and (shockingly bad) football has meant that this is a day late.

With the crappy weather last week, a planned mothing venture on Friday night was starting to look a bit optimistic. But things brightened and warmed up on the Friday afternoon and we decided to go ahead. The site was the Grange Top working quarry which is the big active quarry immediately adjacent to the old workings which are now part of the Ketton Quarry reserve. Back in 2005 Four-spotted was discovered on the working quarry, and this prompted a few visits to the site after being duly health and safety inducted. Aside from the Four-spotted, we recorded some great species at this site (mainly interesting micros like Epiblema grandaevana, Aethes tesserana and Celypha rosaceana). It was some time since the last visit so we were keen to check on the Four-spotted colony.

After being let in by the security guard we headed into the quarry to check out the sites we'd previously worked. That's when the original plans fell by the wayside. Firstly, an area I'd previously worked with great success was now a big freshly quarried hole. Absoloutely no way to access it even with a 4x4, let alone my Vectra estate. The next problem was that the area where the Four-spotted colony was (is?) was also inaccessible as the new routes through the quarry were flooded. Of course these issues do not affect the huge quarry tippers that were parked up at the quarry entrance.

I opted for the backup which was to run traps along the boundary track that runs between the old and new quarries. However even this was impacted as a new gate across the access point meant that I had to lug everything manually - bloody hell, haven't had to resort to that for a fair while. Unfortunately by the time we'd fannyed about and eventually got set up it was too dusky for any site shots.

Conditions were much better than in the week, but still not great. In fact whilst it stayed dry and the temps were okay to start, the light breeze progressively developed into strong wind. We ran a sheet, 4 x 125W MV traps and the 80W actinic in the boundary area from dusk to c01:00. Temps were c15°C - 11°C. The clear highlight was a superb Netted Pug.

Netted Pug

The other main highlight was Grass Wave (Ketton Quarry is the only site in VC55 where this species has been recorded), backed up by the increasing but still appreciated Coronet, Pale Oak Beauty, Treble Lines and Marbled White Spot. Plenty of firsts for the year, and good to see a few more micros on the wing. The overall catch of 252 of 80sp. was not too bad considering the wind.

Grass Wave

Yearticks:
0014 Ghost Moth (Hepialus humuli) 1
0726 Metzneria metzneriella 2
0770 Carpatolechia proximella 1
0874 Blastobasis lacticolella 2
0936 Cochylimorpha straminea 1
0937 Agapeta hamana 1
1133 Epinotia bilunana 1
1168 Gypsonoma sociana 1
1201 Eucosma cana 2
1219 Lathronympha strigana 1
1293 Garden Grass-veneer (Chrysoteuchia culmella) 4
1294 Crambus pascuella 1
1392 Udea olivalis 3
1742 Yellow Shell (Camptogramma bilineata) 1
1752 Purple Bar (Cosmorhoe ocellata) 1
1823 Netted Pug (Eupithecia venosata) 1
1867 Treble-bar (Aplocera plagiata) 6
1941 Mottled Beauty (Alcis repandata) 8
1944 Pale Oak Beauty (Hypomecis punctinalis) 3
1961 Light Emerald (Campaea margaritata) 2
1970 Grass Wave (Perconia strigillaria) 4
2069 Cinnabar (Tyria jacobaeae) 1
2087 Turnip Moth (Agrotis segetum) 5
2291 Coronet (Craniophora ligustri) 3
2380 Treble Lines (Charanyca trigrammica) 8
2422 Green Silver-lines (Pseudoips prasinana britannica) 2
2442 Beautiful Golden Y (Autographa pulchrina) 1
2477 Snout (Hypena proboscidalis) 4

Highest counts:
0017 Common Swift (Hepialus lupulinus) 26
2337x Marbled Minor agg. (Oligia strigilis agg.) 17
1776 Green Carpet (Colostygia pectinataria) 12
1301 Crambus lathoniellus 11
1727 Silver-ground Carpet (Xanthorhoe montanata) 11
1176 Epiblema trimaculana 9
2089 Heart and Dart (Agrotis exclamationis) 7
1958 Clouded Silver (Lomographa temerata) 6
2410 Marbled White Spot (Protodeltote pygarga) 6

Best of the rest:
0883 Mompha raschkiella 1
1501 Platyptilia gonodactyla 1
1652 Peach Blossom (Thyatira batis) 1
1904 Scorched Wing (Plagodis dolabraria) 1
1979 Lime Hawk-moth (Mimas tiliae) 1
1980 Eyed Hawk-moth (Smerinthus ocellata) 1
1991 Elephant Hawk-moth (Deilephila elpenor) 2

Adrian also ran a couple of 125W MV traps in the main quarry, albeit in fairly open and unpromising situations. Yearticks for me from these traps were:

1302 Crambus perlella
2216 Shark (Cucullia umbratica)
2322 Light Arches (Apamea lithoxylaea)
2330 Dusky Brocade (Apamea remissa)

Once we decided to pack up, things again started to go awry when Adrian's Discovery decided to go AWOL. The remote key fob packed up and the car would not disarm the immobiliser when opening the car using the key - blaring horn, flashing lights and no ignition. Feck. After an hour or so of this in between pulling in my traps, it was clear that the car was going nowhere. We had to drive out onto the main quarry in my car to retrieve the 2 traps and gennie. Luckily they were in fairly accessible spots so no getting stuck or trying to negotiate ridiculous inclines etc - however my car is now absolutely caked up in concrete-like limestone slurry. Proper hardcore mothing! It meant a late night though; I dropped Adrian off on the way home and by the time I'd checked a few IDs, fridged a few bits in pots and had cup of tea it was starting to get light. 03:45 - time for bed ......

Epinotia bilunana

Gypsonoma sociana

Lathronympha strigana

Eucosma cana

Coronet

Treble Lines

Beautiful Golden Y