22nd September 2020

A couple of quiet catches recently haven't produced anything unexpected so a return of three new moths for the garden was a pleasant surprise. This was just reward for braving the early morning downpours that necessitated a move of the trap to the car port.

The best moth was a Breckland Plume, a nationally scarce b species that is rarely recorded in the County; although there is has been at least one previous record this year. As it name suggests it is resident in the Brecks in addition to parts of coastal Norfolk and Suffolk.

Breckland Plume Oxyptilus distans

One of the key features is the lack of dusky fringe markings on the final forewing lobe, which distinguishes it from the similar but even rarer O. laetus:

A late Spilonota tortrix caught my attention in being slim and with a suffusion of grey scale markings. These are all good features of S. laricana (Larch-bud Moth). This species was previously thought to be a variation within S. ocellana  (Bud Moth) which commonly occurs here in mid-summer. 

Spilonota laricana

The final new moth for the garden involved two Deep-brown Dart. This species turned up twice at Corbett Street prior to 2015. 

Deep-brown Dart Aporophyla lutulenta

[618] Breckland Plume

[619] Spilonota laricana

[620] Deep-brown Dart

4th September 2020 - Catocala craziness

 Finding my second Clifden Nonpareil on the gate by the trap at 2230 was exciting enough but by morning a second Catocala species had arrived.  Yet again it wasn't the expected Red Underwing but a fantastic Dark Crimson Underwing. It was remarkable to catch these two species together, especially as neither had seemed remotely possible here in Cambridgeshire until this year. 

The Clifden is definitely a different individual than the one caught here in late August and since then several more have been seen in the County.

Dark Crimson Underwing Catocala sponsa

Clifden Nonpareil Catocala fraxini

[617] Dark Crimson Underwing

26th August 2020

For a supposedly common moth, the stunning Bordered Beauty doesn't turn up here very often. In fact this is the first for the garden and only the second I've seen in the village; the previous being in 2013.

Bordered Beauty Epione repandaria

Signs of autumn continue with the years first Barred and Centre-barred Sallows. Here's the latter:

Centre-barred Sallow Atethmia centrago

While Dioryctria abietella was new for the year:

Dioryctria abietella

Box-tree Moths are becoming more regular now and my first melanic version turned up:

Box-tree Moth Cydalima perspectalis 

A fairly late Lobesia abscisana was of some interest as was a smart Vapourer:

Lobesia abscisana

Vapourer Orgyia antiqua

[616] Bordered Beauty

19th August 2020

 A belated new moth the garden was a Toadflax Pug, a  species that was annual in my old garden:

Toadflax Pug Eupithecia linariata

Dewick's Plusia was formerly extremely rare but is now turning up much more regularly. This one was just the second for the garden though: 

Dewick's Plusia Macdunnoughia confusa

A handful of other species were new for the year including the migrant Rush Veneer:

Rush Veneer Nomophila noctuella

While Small Square-spot has turned up in the last three years now:

Small Square-spot Diarsia rubi

This Prays ruficeps is just the third record I believe:

Prays ruficeps

[615] Toadflax Pug