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Moth Sightings 2012 - BC Upper Thames Branch
This page is for
recent moth sightings in the BC Upper Thames Branch area, to show what's on the
wing now. The first reported sighting of each moth species (any of its life stages: egg, caterpillar, pupa, adult) is in red text.
Please also remember to send all your records to the appropriate County Moth Recorder:
Martin Harvey (Berks),
Martin Albertini (Bucks)
or Martin Townsend (Oxon).
The County Moth Recorders and Peter Hall, Bucks Moth Officer, are able to assist
with identification of moths.
MOTH SPECIES RECORDED TO DATE – AS AT 13/05/12
~ Sunday 13th May 2012 ~ Dave Wilton sent this report: "On 12th May a daytime visit to the disused railway cutting at Westcott, Bucks produced examples of Aethes piercei, Rhopobota stagnana, Grapholita jungiella, Pyrausta purpuralis & Common Heath (Dichrorampha plumbagana was also found there on 8th May), while on 13th May at the Calvert Jubilee Reserve, Bucks I found Pancalia leuwenhoekella (sitting on a daisy, wingspan less than 10mm!), Adela rufimitrella & Cydia ulicetana (swarming on gorse). Additions to this year's garden list at Westcott have been few but have included Common Carpet (8th May) and Cnephasia stephensiana, Red Twin-spot Carpet & Seraphim (all 10th May)."
Mick & Wendy Campbell walked part of the disused railway at Salden, Bucks on 13th May: "It was only 12C when we set off and a cold wind was blowing across the track. However, during one of the few sunny spells, this Cinnabar managed a short flight."
David Redhead reported the following from Littlemore, Oxon: "While checking my garden for butterflies on Friday 11th May, I noticed some of the Garlic Mustard flowerheads bore about half a dozen of the long-horned micro-moth, Adela rufimitrella including a mating pair. However, this year, for a variety of reasons including the weather, my overnight garden moth trapping has been almost non-existent but the decent daytime weather over the last two days encouraged me to make the effort - not sure it was worth it - Saturday 12th May = just 1 White Ermine!!!!, Sunday 13th May = 3 Green Carpet, 1 Hebrew Character, 1 Muslin Moth, 1 Swallow Prominent & 1 White Ermine. The difference being about 3C on the minimum overnight temperature. This morning is once again grey and wet!" This report came from Dave Morris: "Another micro for the list, Argyresthia trifasciata caught in my Seer Green, Bucks garden on 11th May." Chris Bottrell sent the following report: "Since my last posting the trap's been out twice a week in my Merton (Oxon) back garden with the egg boxes drying out in the airing cupboard the next day. Really low catches: 14/4 - 1 moth, 18/4 - 2 of 1 species, 21/4 - nothing, 26/4 - 3 of 2, 29/4 - 6 of 4, 2/5 - 2 of 2 and 5/5 - 5 of 3, comprising in total Shuttle-shaped dart (1), Common Quaker (1), Clouded Drab (5), Hebrew Character (10) and Early Grey (2). Last Wednesday night (9/5) despite it raining (again!) a bumper catch of 7 moths: Red Twin-spot Carpet (1), Purple Bar (1), Green Carpet (1), Powdered Quaker (2), Clouded Drab (1) and Hebrew Character (1)." Robert Payne had a successful trapping session at
Black Park, Bucks on 8th May: "I caught the following:
1 x Pebble Prominent - must be a female as it has laid eggs in the container!
1 x Pebble Hook-tip,
1 x Tawny-barred Angle,
1 x Scalloped Hazel,
1 x Birch Mocha,
2 x Brimstone,
4 x Various Pugs - probably Brindled,
2 x Green Carpet,
1 x Bee Moth (Aphomia sociella).
I also got a Pine Bud Moth (Pseudococcyx turionella) which
I understand is Nationally Scarce."
Mary Elford reported the following: "2 new ones for your list I think: Scarlet Tiger larva (on 4th May) and a Coxcomb Prominent which was on the outside of my garden trap on the morning of 9th May here in Bampton, West Oxfordshire. The Scarlet Tiger larva was feeding on hollyhocks. I brought it indoors to show my grandson – hence the photo of it on my carpet!"
Another quick update from Dave Morris: "A couple of day-flying micros from the fields and hedgerows of Seer Green, Bucks on the afternoon of 8th May: Incurvaria masculella and Adela rufimitrella."
Robert Payne did a bit of trapping on 7th May near Hedgerley, Bucks: "I got one each of the following: Green Carpet, Brimstone, Nut-tree Tussock, Red Twin-spot Carpet (I think this may be new for the year) and Flame Shoulder."
Dave Morris reported the following: "On a walk in Church Wood, Hedgerley, Bucks armed with a torch in the evening of 4th May - 1 Acleris notana/ferrugana and 1 Green Carpet. Then on 8th May I had a couple of micros in Seer Green, Bucks: a Caloptilia syringella flying in the garden at dusk and an Acleris literana on the house in the morning."
~ Friday 4th May 2012 ~ Mary Elford reported the following: "These 2 moths were in my trap in Bampton, West Oxfordshire on 1st May: Spectacle and Poplar Kitten."
Dave Morris sent this update from Seer Green, Bucks: "I trapped again on Sunday night, 29th April and, along with a Hebrew Character and 2 Early Greys, I had a Yellow-barred Brindle. Then on the 1st May I had couple of new species for the year in my trap which I believe to be Pebble Prominent and Grey Pine Carpet. Also Emmelina monodactyla and 2 Brindled Pugs."
Dave Wilton sent this news: "Things seem to have picked up a little at last. Monday 30th April was, relatively speaking, quite warm and sunny and during a visit to the disused railway cutting here at Westcott, Bucks I found Grapholita jungiella, Pyrausta purpuralis and Common Heath all active during the daytime. New species in the garden trap that night (before it started to rain) were Pyrausta aurata, Chinese Character, Pale Prominent & Flame Shoulder, while amongst the moths trapped in a private wood near Buckingham were Mottled Pug, Scalloped Hazel & Pebble Prominent. On 1st May the trap at Westcott added Garden Carpet, Oak-tree Pug, V-Pug, Brindled Beauty, Least Black Arches, Iron Prominent, Chocolate-tip & Silver Y to my garden year list." Nigel Partridge reported the following from Loosley Row in Bucks: "I managed to get the trap out on 1st May for a few hours and only managed one moth, a Waved Umber." Rob Payne reported the following: "I had a female Incurvaria masculella at my flat in Langley, Berks on 1st May - I think that this area falls within the catchment for Upper Thames. I believe that this is a new moth for this year for the area." Dave Morris reported the following: "From my garden trap in Seer Green, Bucks on 27th April - 1 Hebrew Character, 1 Pale Mottled Willow, 1 Brimstone."
~ Saturday 28th April 2012 ~ 23/04/12 - The Moth Stats have been updated - see link at the top of this page. Dave Morris sent this report: "Not much seen of late due to the appalling weather, but on Tuesday night (24th April) I trapped 1 Brindled Pug, 1 V-Pug, 1 Early Grey and 1 Common Quaker in my garden in Seer Green, Bucks and on Friday afternoon (27th) during a brief period of sunshine, I had about 6 Adela reaumurella flying around a hawthorn in my garden."
Dave Wilton reported the following: "Rather surprisingly, on 24th April we managed a day without rain in this part of Bucks and, with a little bit of sun occasionally too, I thought that just maybe a few more species would have been tempted to emerge. Another visit to Finemere Wood that evening proved to be a disappointment, though. The temperature fell quickly under clear skies to just above freezing (and perhaps the moths already knew about about the wind and rain that would follow on the 25th!), so the catch was just 23 moths between two traps in two and a half hours: Frosted Green (2), Brindled Pug (3), Brindled Beauty (1), Lesser Swallow Prominent (2), Swallow Prominent (1), Lunar Marbled Brown (2), Small Quaker (1), Lead-coloured Drab (3), Common Quaker (6), Clouded Drab (1) & Chestnut (1). The only other noteworthy moths that I've recorded over the previous week or so have been Muslin Moth here at Westcott on 20th April followed by daytime sightings of Adela reaumurella at Littleworth Common and Neofaculta ericetella & Cydia ulicetana both at Stoke Common all on 21st April. Finally, Hofmannophila pseudospretella (Brown House Moth) was found flying indoors at Westcott on 23rd April."
~ Monday 23rd April 2012 ~ David Redhead sent the following report on 20th April: "In the sunshine, a swish with my net at the lowest branch of the Horse Chestnut tree at the bottom of our garden in Littlemore, Oxon produced two Cameraria ohridella, a Harlequin Ladybird and several minute things beyond my powers of identification. I am pretty sure the first Horse Chestnut Leaf-miner moths were about a week ago but every time I remembered to check them out the heavens opened. Even as I write this report there are drops of rain falling off my hair on to the keyboard! Never mind they are now forecasting the coldest May in a century!" ~ Tuesday 17th April 2012 ~ Will Atkinson reported the following:
"Last two week's moth trapping reports from my garden in Culham, nr. Abingdon, Oxon:
Andy King sent this news from Chorleywood, Bucks: "I've not been doing a huge amount of mothing lately, due largely to the cool nights. However, amongst just three individuals in my home trap on 13th April was Zelleria hepariella, a small foxy-coloured moth with a head-down, bottom-up posture, presumably just out of hibernation."
Robert Payne sent this report: "I did some more trapping on 13th April at Andrew's Hill Lane near Beaconsfield, Bucks (OS ref SU963881) resulting in 15 moths of 11 species: Chestnut - 2; Brindled Pug - 1; Twin-spotted Quaker - 1; Small Quaker - 1; Common Quaker - 1; Hebrew Character - 1; Clouded Drab - 2; Eriocrania subpurpurella - 2; Dotted Chestnut - 1; Nut-tee Tussock - 2, new to observer and Scarce Prominent - 1, new to observer."
Dave Wilton sent the following: "A Swallow Prominent to the garden trap here at Westcott, Bucks on 7th April has been the only addition to the garden year list over the past two weeks, thanks to the dismal night-time weather. I had a bit of excitement on Friday afternoon (13th April), though, when the first adult emerged from my Emperor Moth pupae that have been over-wintering in the garage. It was a female and, despite the lateness of the hour, I placed her out in a netting cage at 5pm in the hope of attracting a wild mate. Sure enough, after 30 minutes a male appeared on the scene and after the usual frantic search he managed to track her down. They were permitted to get on with what they do best, hopefully ensuring next year's supply of females!"
Marc Botham sent this report on 13th April:
"Just got two different people independently showing me photos of a moth they saw on two different
butterfly transects, one in Bucks, one in Oxon (VC Berks), but both Ruby Tiger! I was surprised
at the first one but the weirdness and déjà vu of the second one was more surprising. So details as follows: Mark Calway reported the following:
"At the Berks Moth Group meeting on 12th April, members reported
the following moths seen in Berkshire this year and which do not appear on the 2012 UTB species list
(as published/available 12/04/2012). Some species putting in early appearances: ~ Thursday 12th April 2012 ~ 12/4 - A new report from Peter Hall has been added to the 2011 Moth Sightings - click here. Chris Bottrell reported the following:
"Recent inclement weather has significantly reduced the overnight catches in my
Merton (Oxon) garden. My meagre results have been: Dave Maunder sent this report: "On the 7th April I found a specimen of Esperia sulphurella in my garden here in Aylesbury, Bucks - it doesn't seem to be on the UTB year-list yet. Not much else found around here recently except a few Early Greys, Oak Beauty (1, 7th); Nut-tree Tussock (1, 8th); Clouded Drab (1, 8th); March Moth (1, 4th). Also I had two Angle Shades hatch from larvae found in my back garden."
~ Tuesday 3rd April 2012 ~ Dave Wilton sent the following update today: "With the forecast looking dire for the next week I made a last-minute decision to run a trap at Finemere Wood, Bucks yesterday evening (2nd April), even though the temperature there was already down to single digits at dusk. However, in a couple of hours the Robinson brought in 20 species, which wasn't too bad: Eriocrania subpurpurella (1), Diurnea fagella (5), Semioscopis steinkellneriana (2), Frosted Green (2), March Moth (1), Shoulder Stripe (1), Streamer (1), Brindled Pug (5), Purple Thorn (4), Oak Beauty (4), Red Chestnut (2), Small Quaker (27), Blossom Underwing (2), Lead-coloured Drab (3), Common Quaker (11), Clouded Drab (5), Twin-spotted Quaker (20), Hebrew Character (3), Satellite (1) & Chestnut (2)." Tony Rayner sent this report: "On 2nd April we had a dark form of the pyralid Pyrausta despicata (formerly P. cespitalis) in our Cholsey, Oxon meadow during the day. Identification by Bryan Barnacle, confirmed by Richard Lewington and Phil Sterling. This is apparently very early for the species."
Dave Morris sent the following report: "A few moth sightings from a walk through RSPB Church Wood in Hedgerley, Bucks on 2nd April: Orange Underwing sp. - 2 (including 1 in the garden of the White Horse pub. Based on the local trees, they would have been most likely OU - the first was seen adjacent to a large area of Birch/Silver Birch and there are no aspen in the area), Brindled Pug - 1 and Eriocrania subpurpurella - 1." Will Atkinson reported the following: "This week's trapping from my garden in Culham, nr. Abingdon, Oxon on 31st March produced Common Quaker (1), Small Quaker (11), Clouded Drab (4), Hebrew Character (5), Early Grey (1). Also, the sunny clearings in the BBOWT reserve at Rushbeds Wood, Bucks were alive with Orange Underwings sp. on 1st April." Jim Asher sent this report: "I saw my first Pyrausta aurata on 31st March on our kitchen window in Marcham, Oxon - it must have flown in from the garden on Friday. Goater has it as flying in May, so I guess climate warming and a hot March have pushed it on." Ross Newham had a productive couple of hours in the cold at Little Wittenham Wood, Oxon on the night of 30th March: "I recorded over 190 moths of 16 species. Most notable were four White-marked - caught only a couple of kms from my 2011 records of the same species. Other 'highlights' were 3 Frosted Green and over 42 Brindled Pug including several of the dark hirschkei form."
~ Friday 30th March 2012 ~ Dave Wilton sent the following report: "New species seen over the past few days have included Adela cuprella "dancing" above sallow blossom at Finemere Wood, Bucks on 27th March, Powdered Quaker in the garden trap at Westcott on 28th March and Mottled Grey and Northern Drab trapped near Ivinghoe Beacon on 29th March. Although neither of the latter pair of species is supposed to be particularly scarce, they are certainly good records for Bucks and appear to be new to the 'All-time' UTB list (see Moth Stats)."
Phil Penson was carrying out a butterfly transect on 29th March and found an early male Common Heath moth at Chilswell Valley, just west of Oxford. The earliest sighting reported to the website in previous years was 10th April 2011. Dave Morris reported the following: "In Seer Green, Bucks I caught an example of what I am told is Eriocrania subpurpurella. I attach a photo (see below), although it isn't great and the moth flew off before I could get a better one!"
Adam Bassett says he still hasn’t put his moth trap on this year but has had a few kitchen window records at home in Marlow Bottom, Bucks: "15th March: Dotted Chestnut (my 6th record since first recording it in 2009, including having 2 together, so obviously doing well in my area). 27th March: Agonopterix ocellana. 28th March: Caloptilia semifascia. 29th March: Mompha subbistrigella (usual bathroom record!). Plus Diurnea fagella, Agonopterix heracliana, Agonopterix arenella, Alucita hexadactyla, Amblyptilia acanthadactyla, Winter Moth, Early Moth, Pale Brindled Beauty, Dotted Border, Satellite from earlier in the year and an Orange Underwing sp (presumably not Light as I don’t know of any Aspen in the area) flying around birch on 28th March and another OU sp flying around the car park at Ivinghoe Beacon yesterday, 29th March. By the way, I also heard a report of a Hummingbird Hawkmoth feeding in a Flackwell Heath, Bucks garden on March 26th." Rob Payne sent this report today: "I managed to sneak a half hour's trapping session down Andrew's Hill lane (near Hedgerley, Bucks) last night, 29th March and had: 3 Common Quakers, 3 Small Quakers, probable - Eriocrania subpurpurella, 3 Oak Beauties, 3 Frosted Green, 1 Brindled Pug." Dave Morris ran his garden trap in Seer Green, Bucks on 28th March: "Although the overall haul was neither large nor unusual, I did trap my first Dotted Chestnut for my garden. Also, this afternoon (29th) while gardening, I disturbed a roosting Early Thorn." Dave Ferguson sent this moth sighting: "At Stoke Common, Bucks on 29th March I saw an Orange Underwing sp on a patch of bare earth by a pond. It flew up, caught the breeze and vanished before I could photograph it." This report came from Nigel Partridge: "One more that looks new to this year's list: V-Pug, 28-03-12, Loosley Row, Bucks." Mary Elford sent the following: "Just to add to Alan Strawn's report below, I've just seen a Hummingbird Hawkmoth in my garden in Bampton, West Oxon feeding on a pot of violas - 28th March." ~ Tuesday 27th March 2012 ~ Alan Strawn reported the following: "I observed a Hummingbird Hawkmoth today, 27th March, feeding on a clump of aubretia in a garden I was working in at Cholesbury, Bucks near Tring today. Earliest I have ever seen one. ~ Monday 26th March 2012 ~ Peter Cuss sent the following: "Had the garden trap out on Sunday 25/03/12 in Caversham, Berks. Among the haul was one species I don't think has been recorded so far this year, a Herald." This report came from May Webber: "On Saturday 24th March I ran my garden moth trap in Long Hanborough, Oxon and caught many Quakers and Early Greys. However, the highlight was the Pine Beauty which I have not caught before in my trap and an Early Thorn which although is a frequent visitor, it never fails to wow me!"
Chris Bottrell reported the following: "Things are starting to liven up in my Merton (Oxon) back garden. On Wednesday 21st March 70 moths of 6 species were caught in the 60W Actinic: Red Chestnut (1), Small Quaker (21), Lead-coloured Drab (1), Common Quaker (29), Clouded Drab (11) and Hebrew Character (7). Then last Saturday evening, 24th March, 88 of 11: Caloptilia semifascia (1), Emmelina monodactyla (3), Shoulder Stripe (1), Early Thorn (1), Red Chestnut (1), Small Quaker (30), Blossom Underwing (1), Common Quaker (29), Clouded Drab (11), Twin-spotted Quaker (4), Hebrew Character (6). Dave Wilton sent the following update: "The year's garden list here at Westcott, Bucks has not increased by much since my last report, although perhaps noteworthy for its early appearance was that of a fresh Eudonia angustea on 19th March. I got a rather worn Acrolepiopsis species to light on 22nd March but couldn't decide if it was autumnitella or assectella (Leek Moth) so that one will have to await the attention of Peter Hall's microscope. Away from home, a short trapping session at Calvert, Bucks on 15th March brought in a reasonable haul, including my first sightings of Agonopterix alstromeriana and Red Chestnut. I ran one MV and one actinic light for three hours in private woodland near Buckingham on 22nd March and got a pleasing 27 species, including Pammene giganteana (interesting choice of name for a moth with a wingspan of barely 16mm!), Streamer, Brindled Pug & Blossom Underwing. A visit to chalk downland on the Ashridge Estate on 24th March didn't produce quite as much but it was still nice to see Dotted Chestnut (no longer as scarce in Bucks as its "Notable B List" status might imply) and Nut-tree Tussock. Recent daytime sightings have included my first probable Orange Underwing in Bernwood Forest on 15th March and the first confirmed Light Orange Underwing at Kingswood on 22nd March."
~ Saturday 24th March 2012 ~ Will Atkinson sent this report today:
"Two weeks trapping to report from my garden in Culham, Oxon.
Dave Maunder found a number of moths in Aylesbury, Bucks over the last week: "They included - Lead-coloured Drab (1 - my first ever in Aylesbury); Twin-spotted Quaker (1); Small Quakers (3); Hebrew Characters (2); Early Grey (1); Engrailed moths (2); Shoulder Stripe (2); March moths (2); Dotted Borders (2); Depressaria heraclei (Parsnip Moth) (1)."
David Redhead sent the following report: "Ran my 125MV Robinson trap last night (23rd March) and overnight in my garden in Littlemore, Oxon it caught the following:- 24 Clouded Drab, 14 Hebrew Character, 8 Common Quaker, 8 Lead-coloured Drab, 5 Small Quaker, 4 Oak Beauty, 4 Twin-spotted Quaker, 1 Pale Pinion & 1 Early Thorn but not a single micro-moth. The Brown Hairstreak egg count at Bernwood Meadows, Bucks on Friday 23rd March produced a girdle of Lackey moth eggs." This report came from Tony Rayner today: "On 21st March I caught Common Quaker; Clouded Drab; Dotted Border; Double-striped Pug; Early Grey; Hebrew Character; Pale Pinion; Satellite; Small Quaker & Twin-spotted Quaker in our Cholsey, Oxon garden."
Marc Botham went in search of the Barred Tooth-striped last night: "I went to Buttler’s Hangings SSSI in West Wycombe, Bucks last night (23rd March) with Ross Newham who joined me later in the evening. Sadly, despite 5 Actinic light traps, 2 MV light traps, a batch of wine ropes and several searches of the Privet on site with torches neither of us were lucky enough to encounter Barred Tooth-striped. However, during a modest catch of the usual suspects for this time of year there were a couple of early records of species not yet posted on the UTB website: Chinese Character – caught by net at dusk whilst setting up, and Nut-tree Tussock which we had two possibly three of at light traps. Sadly no other highlights on what was a largely disappointing evening, but the temperature did drop markedly." Dave Morris reported the following today: "Trapped with a friend in a wood near Hedgerley, Bucks last night (23rd March) for a couple of hours: Small Quaker - 11, Common Quaker - 2, Diurnea fagella - 6, March Moth - 4, Engrailed - 13, Oak Beauty - 1, Dotted Chestnut - 1, Lead-coloured Drab - 1, Brindled Pug - 3, Early Tooth-striped - 11, Chestnut - 1 and Streamer - 1." ~ Friday 23rd March 2012 ~ Dave Morris sent this report today, 23rd March: "A moth sighting to report - Orange Underwing, sunning itself on the road on Bottom Lane, Seer Green, Bucks close to Hodgemoor Woods. Unfortunately I wasn't able to catch or photograph it so can't definitively state it was this species as opposed to Light Orange Underwing, but I note the latter feeds on Aspen, of which there are none in the area, whereas there is quite a stand of birch within Hodgemoor Woods. Also, yesterday morning, 22nd March, I had a micro, now id'd as Ypsolopha ustella adjacent to my trap, in Seer Green." Robert Payne sent this report: "I did an hour's trapping at Andrew's Hill lane on 21st March near Hedgerley in Bucks. Amongst others I had Dotted Chestnut and Early Tooth-striped come to the light. Full record will be sent to the County Recorders."
Mark Calway sent the following report: "I had 28 separate sightings of Orange Underwing/Light Orange Underwing at the top of birch trees on 19/03/2012 in Berkshire. Then on 20th March I netted one for a positive identification at Padworth Common and found it to be the Orange Underwing (photo below). Also, along with the usual suspects (e.g. Yellow Horned, Hebrew Characters, Small Quakers etc.) I had a nice fresh specimen of Semioscopis avellanella to light on Monday night (19/03/2012).
This report came from Andy King on 19th March: "It is quite possible to stand in the middle of the River Chess in Chesham, Bucks and not get your feet wet - there is no water there! Searching through the seed-head fluff of a Bulrush on an 'island' I found a Limnaecia phragmitella larva. The trick is to stay upwind of the seed-head as you dismantle it, or you'll spend more time brushing off seeds than it takes to find this quite common moth caterpillar."
Chris Bottrell ran his moth trap on 14th March in his Merton (Oxon) garden: "Being a cold night it produced only 9 moths of 5 species - Small Quaker (2), Lead-coloured Drab (1), Common Quaker (4), Clouded Drab (1) and Hebrew Character (1). Then despite an early evening downpour the Saturday session (17/3) gave a total of 20 moths of 5 species, Red Chestnut (2), Small Quaker (2), Common Quaker (9), Clouded Drab (5) and Hebrew Character (2)." ~ Friday 16th March 2012 ~ Nigel Partridge reported the following: "One more that looks new to this year's list: Water Carpet, 14-03-12, Loosley Row." ~ Wednesday 14th March 2012 ~ Derek Brown sent this report from Beenham, Berks: "I had a Dotted Chestnut on Saturday evening, 10th March, in the trap."
Dave Wilton sent this update on 12th March: "The warmer weather of the last few days has brought a noticeable increase in moths to the garden trap here at Westcott, Bucks. Numbers are now averaging around 60 individuals of 14 species each night and new for the year have been Engrailed, Lead-coloured Drab, Twin-spotted Quaker (all 8th March), Early Grey (9th), Diurnea fagella (10th - wings only, a bat casualty) and Agonopterix arenella, Early Thorn (11th March). Another visit to Finemere Wood, Bucks on 10th March produced my first four-digit moth tally of the year, all to a single Skinner MV trap run from dusk until 11pm: Tortricodes alternella (44), Yellow Horned (53), March Moth (9), Shoulder Stripe (7), Small Brindled Beauty (103), Engrailed (4), Pale Brindled Beauty (5), Oak Beauty (13), Early Moth (1), Satellite (3), Chestnut (4), Small Quaker (1181), Lead-coloured Drab (1), Common Quaker (28), Clouded Drab (2), Twin-spotted Quaker (15) & Hebrew Character (2). Small Quaker is obviously having a good year: their total was for individuals that had settled but many more were arriving at the light as I tried to switch it off. Good job I didn't run the trap all night or I'd still be counting now!" Marc Botham reported the following: "I had these two species on 11/03/12 which might still be new to the 2012 species list: Silver-Y at actinic light in Cowley and Buttoned Snout caught flying around a conservatory in Cowley, Oxon." Chris Bottrell sent this report: "The late February sessions in my Merton (Oxon) back garden produced nothing of note: 12/2 - nothing, 15/2 - nothing, 18/2 - nothing, 23/2 - 4 moths of 2 species, 25/2 - 3 of 2, 29/2 - 4 of 2. 5 species in total: Pale Brindled Beauty, Satellite, Dotted Border, Common and Small Quaker. March has started off with an upturn in the usual Orthosia sp. 3/3 - 12 moths of 4 species, 7/3 - 3 of 2 and, with the recent improvement in the weather, my 10/3 catch comprised 45 moths of 8 species: Caloptilia semifascia (1) [thanks to Peter Hall for correcting my identification], Diurnea fagella (1), Emmelina monodactyla (1), Small Quaker (10), Common Quaker (25), Clouded Drab (2), Twin-spotted Quaker (1), Hebrew Character (4)."
A couple of reports recently received from Dave Maunder:
"Not too much found in Aylesbury, Bucks over the last month, just:-
Ypsolopha mucronella (1, 9th); Dotted Borders (11); Pale Brindled Beauties (14);
March Moths (2); Early Moths (7);
Angle Shades (1st adult) (1, 22-feb);
Common Quaker (1); Hebrew Characters (5); Amblyptilia acanthadactyla (1, 10th March);
Emmelina monodactyla (2) and Agonopterix heracliana (8). I've attached a photo (see below) of an exeptionally nicely
marked Dotted Border found on 11th March at Fairford Leys sports club.
Dave Morris sent these reports:
"I trapped again in Seer Green, Bucks on 9th March for the Garden Moth Scheme:
Hebrew Character - 3, Twin-spotted Quaker - 3, Small Quaker - 11, Silver Y - 1,
March Moth - 1, Common Quaker - 5, Satellite - 1, Emmelina monodactyla - 1,
Diurnea fagella - 1.
Andy King sent the following report: "My actinic trap in the garden at Chorleywood, Bucks (VC24) caught six species of moth on 8th March. As far as I can see, only Diurnea fagella is not already on your list, although of most interest to me was a pristine Shoulder Stripe - a garden first." ~ Wednesday 7th March 2012 ~ Marc Botham and Ross Newham visited the Warburg Reserve in Oxon on 2nd March, recording 135 moths: Acleris cristana (1), Acleris ferrugana/notana (7), Agonopterix heracliana (2), Amblyptilia acanthadactyla (2), Chestnut (20), Clouded Drab (8), Common Quaker (7), Dotted Border (1), Early Grey (1), Early Moth (4), Hebrew Character (5), March Moth (4), Pale Brindled Beauty (3), Satellite (23), Small Brindled Beauty (8), Small Quaker (27), Streamer (1), Tortricodes alternella (6), Yellow Horned (3), Ypsolopha mucronella (1), Ypsolopha ustella (1).
Dave Morris sent this report from Seer Green, Bucks: "Trapped again on 2nd March under the Garden Moth Scheme. 1 new species at the end of the list: Small Quaker - 8, Common Quaker - 1, Chestnut - 1, Hebrew Character - 2, Tortricodes alternella - 1, March Moth - 1, Early Moth - 1 and Brindled Pug - 1." Mark Griffiths sent the following: "I found this on 29th February in my garden in Garsington, Oxon. Pretty sure it is a Scarlet Tiger caterpillar - I had one a few years back - plus one adult. It looked as if it was trying to eat the buds on a wild rose sucker. It disappeared the next day - hopefully finding something more to its liking. The mysterious "silk" in the picture is actually cat hair!"
~ Friday 2nd March 2012 ~ This news came from Dave Morris: "I haven't had any new moth species of late here in Seer Green, Bucks, but I had a caterpillar on 1st March identified as Square-spot Rustic." Dave Wilton sent this report: "I ran a couple of MV lights in Finemere Wood, Bucks for three hours on 28th February and they brought in a pleasing 767 moths of 16 species, although well over 350 of them were Tortricodes alternella! New for the year were Yellow Horned and a rather early Pine Beauty. Amongst the catch in the garden actinic trap at Westcott that same night was a Grey Shoulder-knot." David Redhead reported the following: "27th February - Garden in Littlemore, Oxford - overnight 125MV Robinson Trap = 10 Dotted Border, 2 Chestnut, 2 Clouded Drab, 2 Twin-spotted Quaker and singletons of Lead-coloured Drab, Pale Brindled Beauty, Satellite, Small Brindled Beauty, Small Quaker and 4 Tortricodes alternella." ~ Monday 27th February 2012 ~ 27/2 - A new report from Peter Hall has been added to the 2011 Moth Sightings - click here. Tom Stevenson sent the following report yesterday from Benson, Oxon: "I discovered an Agonopterix alstromeriana in the bedroom when I turned in last night (25th February). Thanks to Peter Hall for the I.D." Nigel Partridge sent this sighting: "One that might be new for the list: Clouded Drab, 24-02-12, Loosley Row, Bucks." Dave Morris ran his trap in Seer Green, Bucks again on 24th February: "I caught: Chestnut (4), Common Quaker (2), Hebrew Character, Early Grey, Small Brindled Beauty, Spring Usher, Tortricodes alternella (3)." Andy King reported the following: "I caught 43 moths in around 2 hours at Philipshill Wood, nr. Chorleywood, Bucks (VC 24) on 24th February with 11 species. Only one species is not already on your 2012 list and I was a little surprised to see it - an Engrailed - quite, but not impossibly, early I would have thought." Tom Stevenson sent this report: "My first moth of the year - Agonopterix sp. (probably heracliana) on my Benson (Oxon) front door attracted to the light on 24th February." ~ Friday 24th February 2012 ~ Tony Rayner sent the following: "My Cholsey (Oxon) garden trap on 23rd February produced 7 species of which Common Quaker (2) and Pale Brindled Beauty (1) were the most notable and early records for the site." Dave Morris reports another reasonable night's trapping on 23rd February in Seer Green, Bucks: Satellite, Common Quaker, Spring Usher, March Moth, Tortricodes alternella (6), Emmelina monodactyla. ~ Thursday 23rd February 2012 ~ Dave Morris sent the following report:
"I have a few moth sightings from a garden trap in Seer Green, Bucks: This report came from Ali Driver: "Had this Dark Chestnut come to my lounge window last night (21st February) in Sonning, Berks - a new garden record and only the second for my parish list."
Ched George reported the following from Radnage, Bucks: "1 Dotted Border, 1 March moth, 1 Pale Brindled Beauty, 1 Chestnut and 4 Tortricodes alternella on 21st February." Andy King sent this report on 18th February: "No sooner had I posted you about my latest moths in Chorleywood, Bucks (VC24) when another new one for the year turned up, at an indoor light: Small Quaker." ~ Saturday 18th February 2012 ~ 18/2 - A new report from Peter Hall has been added to the 2011 Moth Sightings - click here. This report came from Andy King yesterday: "With the melting of the snow many more moths seem to have decided Spring has sprung. In my trap in Chorleywood, Bucks (VC24) last night (16/02) were Early Moth, Satellite, March Moth, Tortricodes alternella, Hebrew Character, Pale Brindled Beauty and Chestnut." Dave Wilton sent this news: "Another visit with a single trap to Finemere Wood, Bucks on 14th February brought in nine different species, including the first sightings that I've had this year of Shoulder Stripe (my earliest ever) and Dotted Border."
Chris Bottrell reported the following: "So far this February, nothing from the trap in my Merton (Oxon) back garden. 4 sessions, one where I had to extract it from the snow in the morning! However 2 Agonopterix heracliana found in the cottage on the 10th February." ~ Sunday 12th February 2012 ~ Andy King sent this interesting report: "The weather really isn't conducive to running a light-trap at the moment, but all is not lost! I have managed to locate over-wintering caterpillars by 'dissecting' Teasel seed-heads. Supposedly, up to five species live in these; I've found two and only one of these was in Buckinghamshire (Chorleywood and Chesham). It's a prickly job, but if you split a Teasel seed-head vertically the larvae of Endothenia gentianaeana (ugly name) may be found in the pith in the centre, one caterpillar to a seed-head. They really are quite common - perhaps 70-80% of the examples I've looked at contained a caterpillar. Some are unlucky and get cut in two, I'm afraid, but most survive and the seed-head may be bound back together again and left outside for them to emerge as moths in the spring. They are already fully fed, so the plants don't need to be put in water. A picture is below."
David Redhead sent these moth sightings for
January: ~ Saturday 4th February 2012 ~ Chris Bottrell reported the following on 30th January: "At last a moth! Despite 7 previous sessions in the back garden here in Merton (Oxon) my first moth for 2012, a Satellite on the evening of 28/1. Been cold and damp down here on the moor." ~ Saturday 28th January 2012 ~ Dave Maunder reported these sightings: "I found this batch of Vapourer moth eggs under a gravestone in Hartwell cemetery, Bucks (with accompanying 7-spot ladybird!) this afternoon, 28th Jan. Other moths seen around Aylesbury since my first new year report have been:- Pale Brindled Beauties (4, on 20th); Winter moths (4 - last one on 14th); Mottled Umber (1, on 25th) and possible Acleris ferrugana on 25th (awaiting verification from Peter hall). Hasn't seemed like good enough weather to try my garden trap yet!"
Dave Wilton sent this update: "Here at Westcott, Bucks Acleris schalleriana appeared at a lit window on the evening of 22nd January while Ypsolopha ustella came to the actinic trap on 24th January (this year's first addition to the all-time garden list - very nice!). Both were probably disturbed from hibernation during tidying-up in the garden. Another visit with a single MV light to Finemere Wood, Bucks for a few hours on 25th January produced a decent quantity of moths even if there was little variety. The catch comprised Tortricodes alternella (25), Winter Moth (2), Small Brindled Beauty (5), Pale Brindled Beauty (31), Spring Usher (316), Early Moth (2) & Chestnut (5). This is the first time that I've caught Small Brindled Beauty in January so it looks as though the ever earlier emergence trend for some species might be continuing this year."
Derek Brown sent the following from Beenham, Berks: "I had a very early Double-striped Pug indoors on 25th January (which may have entered via the cat-flap)."
~ Saturday 21st January 2012 ~ Dave Wilton reported the following: "While searching for flightless female moths during a trapping session in the Oakley Wood car-park at Bernwood Forest, Bucks on 10th January I found this Angle Shades caterpillar active about three feet up an oak trunk. The following night the garden trap at Westcott, Bucks produced my earliest ever Early Moth, while species trapped in Finemere Wood, Bucks on 20th January included Tortricodes alternella as well as Winter Moth, Pale Brindled Beauty, Spring Usher, Mottled Umber, Early Moth & Satellite."
Andy King was trimming the flowerheads off an old Lavender bush on 11th January and disturbed a hibernating Common Plume moth (Emmelina monodactyla) in his garden in Chorleywood, Bucks. "It was a bit grumpy about this and it was a while before I could get the attached photo."
Mary Elford sent the following report: "I decided to put my garden trap out on 10th January after a period of hibernation and was surprised to find this very early Early Grey here in Bampton, West Oxfordshire. Lots more delights to come, I hope!"
~ Tuesday 10th January 2012 ~ Ched George's first night of trapping in his garden in Radnage, Bucks produced the following: Spring Usher and Pale Brindled Beauty on 9th January. ~ Monday 9th January 2012 ~ 9/1 - A new report from Andy King has been added to the 2011 Moth Sightings - click here. Andy King sent the following report on 9th January: "My first moth for 2012 was Alucita hexadactyla (Six/Many/Twenty-plume Moth) which flew out from the logs I'd brought in for the fire in Chorleywood, Bucks." Alastair Driver set his Robinson trap in his garden in Sonning, Berks on 6th January: "I was expecting my first moth of the year to appear at it soon afterwards, but in fact the solitary Winter Moth that did appear was beaten to the first of the year title by a healthy-looking specimen of Epiphyas postvittana (Light Brown Apple Moth) which flew out of the spinach from my nearby allotment that I was washing for dinner that evening." Dave Wilton reported the following: "A trapping session at Finemere Wood, Bucks on 6th January got me started for the year, although just 15 moths in three hours was rather a poor showing for woodland at this time of year. Perhaps at 7C it was still a bit chilly for them, or maybe numbers had been decimated in the gale force winds of the previous few days. Species caught were Spring Usher, Mottled Umber, Satellite and Chestnut." ~ Sunday 8th January 2012 ~ This report came from Mick A'Court: "Saw my first moth of 2012 this morning (3rd January) in the shape of a Mottled Umber on the wall by the door of the College Lake visitors centre in Bucks." Nigel Partridge's first moths of the year were: "New species for this year at Loosley Row, Bucks: Winter Moth 01-01-12, Endrosis sarcitrella 02-12-12." Dave Maunder sent his first sightings of the new year: "My first three moths in Aylesbury, Bucks of 2012 were:- Brick moth (a very worn specimen!); Pale Brindled Beauty (1) and a Winter moth near Hartwell house. Good to find a few moths on a very mild first day of the year!"
Peter Hall started off the 2012 season with the following report: "At one second past midnight in my garden in Ballinger Common, Bucks: Mottled Umber (2); Pale Brindled Beauty (1), all at the study window. Also a Winter moth came to the window later on that night." [Reports for January to December 2011 have been archived.] |
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