25th May 2018

The first really decent catch of the year with 45 species, with some migrant action (Silver Y x 8 and Diamondback x 1). Just one new for the garden (and an overall lifer):

[405] May Highflyer

May Highflyer Hydriomena impluviata

For some reason I hadn't really expected this species despite it being seemingly common over the border in Norfolk. Although on viewing the old VC29 checklist it is considered to be scarce. 

Tried some clearwing lures the following morning - two Red-belted came in to the CUL lure after a while..

Red-belted Clearwing Synanthedon myopaeformis

21st May 2018

A new gelechiid for the garden list:

[404] Scrobipalpa costella

Scrobipalpa costella

I've only recorded this species (venacular name - Winter Groundling) once before in Cottenham and on that occasion it was a much paler individual with much more obvious dark subtriangular marks. The identity of this one was only apparent in the photos I took...its not exactly a stunner.

Otherwise, this Monopis crocicapitella was new for the year. At least I'm fairly confident that is what it is on size alone:

Monopis crocicapitella

9th & 11th May 2018

Despite predicting that I wouldn't get many new moths from now on, a few appeared over the nights of 9th and 11th May:

[400] Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet
[401] Purple Bar
[402] Yellow-barred Brindle
[403] Least Black Arches

Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet is often indistinguishable from Red Twin-spot Carpet (they both have 'red' and 'dark' barred versions) but all the pointers on this individual seem to be towards Dark-barred:  

Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet Xanthorhoe ferrugata

Purple Bar is a smart carpet (that isn't very purple mind) and this one is only my 3rd record in Cottenham. Both previous records were 2nd generation individuals in July and August 2013.

Purple Bar Cosmorhoe ocellata

Yellow-barred Brindle was regular at Corbett Street so its a little surprising that it hasn't turned up here before now. This one nearly eluded me too, helped by young Dylan I noticed it up high up on a wall late in the afternoon:

Yellow-barred Brindle Acasis viretata

Least Black Arches was something I caught on my very first trap night in Cottenham I believe. However I haven't recorded in since 2014; so it was nice to find two on the wall next to the trap:

Least Black Arches Nola confusalis

6th May 2018

The bank holiday weekend was tremendously warm although night time temperatures were relatively cool. Consequently moth numbers are still low but I did manage two new moths for the garden:

[398] Mullein
[399] Campion

So the 400 is nearly up in just over two years of trapping. Considering my list at Corbett Street reached just 457 after seven years it has obviously been a productive couple of years. It does suggest that new moths are going to be quite hard to come by now. 

The Mullein is a superb moth and this one is only my second record in the village, with the Corbett Street record being as far back as 2010 (also in May).

Mullein Cucillia verbasci

Campion has completely avoided my Cottenham traps until now. It was slightly mystifying as it seems to be fairly regular nearby including northern Cambridge. I was concerned I was overlooking worn specimens and putting them down as Lychnis but there was certainly no mistaking this one:

Campion Sideridis rivularis

Best of the rest was this Puss Moth, always a great one to catch:

Puss Moth Cerura vinula

3rd May 2018

[397] Emperor Moth

After seeing some reports of the EMP lure working in attracting the odd Emperor Moth locally I thought I would give it a try. I put out the lure at 12:30 in seemingly perfect conditions - and didn't have a sniff over a lunch hour. Bill Mansfield did get success in the late afternoon though, so I returned to the garden at 16:00. Within 20 minutes I wondered why that Peacock butterfly was playing so much attention to the lure...when it slowly dawned on me what it was! Suddenly there was three Emperor moths doing laps around the garden. I manged to net two of them and took the lure in to give the other male a break.

Emperor Moth Saturnia pavonia

A completely brilliant moth and one I had only seen once before - a tatty female in the Cairngorms about 20 years ago.