26th August 2018

One of my most wanted micros finally turned up, the exquisitely marked Ypsolopha sequella (AKA Pied Smudge)

[476] Ypsolopha sequella

Mid to late August normally coincides with a dramatic loss in diversity of catches and so it transpired with less than 35 species recorded. There are plenty of individual moths about though, it is just dominated by a handful of species such as:

Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba

Setaceous Hebrew Character Xestia c-nigrum

Common Wainscot Mythimna pallens

20th August 2018

Happy to add Large Thorn to the garden list, my first trapped in the village since 2012:
[475] Large Thorn

Large Thorn Ennomos autumnaria

Just as surprising was a Barred Sallow - a regular enough moth in the autumn but this is incredibly early - my previous early date was 29th September!

Barred Sallow Xanthia aurago

Also present was the fairly common Small Dusty Wave, just a species I hadn't bothered to photograph before:

Small Dusty Wave Idaea seriata

16th August 2018

A much reduced catch compared to recent weeks but I was rewarded with an excellent new addition to the garden list:

[474] Mompha propinquella

Mompha propinquella

New for the year was this Epinotia ramella, which unlike last years record is of the standard form:

Epinotia ramella

7th August 2018

Three new for the garden this time:

[471] Epermenia falciformis
[472] Epinotia nisella
[473] Tawny-barred Angle

Epermenia falcifoirmis is a good looking micro that seems to be quite local in the region. Its also the second species of this genus recorded this year.

Epermenia falciformis

Last year at about this time I recorded some worn Epinotia species that remained unidentified. Two similar moths occurred in this trap, both with a faint chestnut patch on the forewing - so these (and presumably last years) seem good for E. nisella. 

Epinotia nisella

No such ID problems with this Tawny-barred Angle that was on the wall next to the trap. Only my second in Cottenham, with the previous record being from July 2015:

Tawny-barred Angle Macaria liturata

The other highlight was my second ever Oak Nycteoline and the first to stick around for a photo:

Oak Nycteoline Nycteola revayana

3rd August 2018

After a week away not much has changed - the heatwave goes on. Still plenty of moths around but diversity has started to fall as is typical in August. Still some micros of interest including three new:

[468] Stigmella atricapitella
[469] Prays ruficeps
[470] Recurvaria nanella

At least two of these tiny stigmella were present, the second species of this genus I've recorded this year. The black head and white eye caps look a good fit for S. atricapitella (AKA Black-headed Pigmy) although there are similar species:

Stigmella atricapitella

Prays ruficeps

Recurvaria nanella

New for the year was Tawny Speckled Pug which is annual in small numbers:

Tawny Speckled Pug Eupithecia icterata

Norfolk Moths July/ August 2018

A couple of trap nights on holiday in north Norfolk with the actinic resulted in a few species I haven't recorded down here:

Black Arches Lymnatria monacha

Rosy Footman Militochrista miniata

Agapeta zoegana f.ferrugana

Rosy Minor Litoligia literosa

Caryocolum fraternella (assumed)

Barred Hook-tip Watsonalla cultaria

Dioryctria sylvestrella

Dioryctria simplicella

Scalloped Hook-tip Falcaria lacertinaria

Lathronympha strigana

Eudemis profundana