The results are in

After finally sitting down to the data entry for 2015's moth trapping (I blame the house move) it appears that the final species total at Corbett Street was 457.

This was from 6 full years and also the tail end of 2009. This is more than I ever expected, especially as I only started looking at micro moths in 2013.

Keeping records of each trap night provides a bit of an opportunity at looking at some stats...here's the cumulative list as it developed from 2009 to 2015:

Corbett Street Moth List

Obviously that doesn't tell the whole story as the rapid increase in 2013 reflects when I first started recording micros. Although it does imply that I hadn't reached a plateau quite yet, but it does suggest that it might be quite difficult to record much over c.300 macro moth species round here.

Species totals in each year showing both macro and micro moths:

Moth species recorded each year

2009 doesn't really count as I started in late July, but overall the number of macro moths species recorded was quite variable. 2012 was the best year while last year was quite poor. 2015 had a cold spring and I didn't trap in late summer much at all. The total of micro species recorded in a year does in contrast seem remarkably consistent; which is quite surprising as I expect that I overlooked some of the more cryptic species in 2013.

 A graph showing trap effort:

Trap nights each year at Corbett St

So although 2012 was the year when most macro species were recorded, effort was not at the level of 2011 or 2014. Quite amazing (or worrying?!) that the trap went out 70 times in 2014! 2014 did result in the greatest species total of all moths.

A graph showing species recorded in each month gets a predictable result:

Moth species recorded each month

So July rules without having any real competition (324 species), while both June and August (219 and 218 respectively) are some way behind. The graph does suggests that I need to get the trap out in January and February...perhaps!

21st May 2016

It couldn't get any worse than the previous night so a return of 12 species seems almost reasonable. A bonus was a species I've never seen before Nephopterix angustella ('Spindle Knot-horn') and a tortrix I've failed to identify (**later identified as Epinotia immundana by David Griffiths**). 

New for the garden:

[28] Common Swift
[29] Light Brown Apple Moth
[30] Nephopterix angustella
[31] Streamer
[32] Spruce Carpet
[33] Setaceous Hebrew Character
[34] Marbled Minor
[35] Epinotia immundana
[36] Common Pug

Nephopterix angustella

Epinotia immundana

Common Swift Korscheltellus lupulina

Streamer Anticlea derivata

Spruce Carpet Thera britannica

Flame Shoulder Ochropleura plecta

20th May 2016

Despite seemingly favourable conditions the results were pretty disastrous - 2 moths!

One was the first grass moth (crambid) - Crambus lathoniellus, but I'm not sure that counts as a highlight.

[27] Crambus lathoniellus

Crambus lathoniellus

19th May 2016

A handful of common species new for the year but both numbers and diversity still low. A Diamond-back Moth has the honour of being the first 'migrant' caught in the garden. 

[23] Pebble Hook-tip
[24] Large Nutmeg
[25] Brimstone Moth
[26] Diamond-back Moth

Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata

Diamond-back Moth Plutella xylostella

Large Nutmeg Apamea anceps

17 May 2016

A poor catch for this time of year especially as the weather appeared quite useful. Our local Soprano Pipistrelles were out in force early on but judging by the results in the moth trap they would have struggled (unless they munched everything in sight befoire it got to the trap of course....).

Just 10 moths of 8 species with a few expected (and common locally) species new for the garden:

[16] Brown House Moth
[17) Agonopterix arenella
[18] Bee Moth
[19] Double-striped Pug
[20] Garden Carpet
[21] Waved Umber
[22] Muslin Moth

There was the second Swallow Prominent of the year and no apologies for posting another photo of that species below.

Agonopterix arenella

Bee Moth Aphomia sociella

Waved Umber Menophra abruptaria

Garden Carpet Xanthorhoe fluctata

Muslin Moth Diaphora mendica

8th May 2016

A scorching day so the trap was out again and 6 new species were added. Was good to get two of my favourite species, Puss Moth and Chocolate-tip. The former was on the fence and nearly over looked in the rush to cycle to work. 

[10] Hebrew Character
[11] Knot Grass
[12] White-shouldered House Moth
[13] Flame Shoulder
[14] Chocolate-tip
[15] Puss Moth

Puss Moth Cerura vinula

Chocolate-tip Clostera curtula

Hebrew Character Orthosia gothica

Knot Grass Acronicta rumicis

New garden, new moth list - 7th May 2016

Finally charged the battery and dusted off the trap for a first trapping night at the new house. The first moth seen was a Nut-tree tussock on the outside of the trap. Overall there was a moderate result of 9 species:

[1] Nut-tree Tussock
[2] Pale Tussock
[3] Red Twin-spot Carpet
[4] Pine Beauty
[5] Angle Shades
[6] Shuttle-shaped Dart
[7] Swallow Prominent
[8] Powdered Quaker
[9] Early Grey

No micros of any persuasion. Pine Beauty is possibly the scarcest species - I only recorded it 2/3 times in the old garden. 

So the Corbett Street moth list ended on a respectable 455. Merveille du Jour ended up being the final addition which was a suitable way to finish I would say. 

Nut-Tree Tussock Colocasia coryli

Pale Tussock Calliteara pudibunda

Swallow Prominent Pheosia tremula

29th October 2015

Damp and fairly mild conditions resulted in only a few moths to be sorted pre-work. A Grey Pine Carpet was the scarcest (2nd garden record I think) but legged it before a photo was taken. New for the year and photographed were Green-brindled Crescent and Dark Chestnut:

23rd October 2015 - Merveille du Jour(s)

The trap was out more in hope than expectation last night but it was worth it - Merveille du Jour is on the garden list at last (#455) and there were two. The first was potted on the fence at 21:00 and the second was on the side of the trap - I only notice it once I started packing up. A truly stunning moth.

Very few other moths although a worn Yellow-line Quaker was new for the year:

While a Silver Y was amazingly the first one recorded since early September;

16th October 2015

Just a handful of moths over the weekend with the best being this Feathered Thorn. I've only recorded this species twice before so it was some compensation for there being, yet again, no sign of my most wanted moth (which will remain nameless).

Eudonia angustea

5th October 2015

There was consistent rain last night although with the mildest overnight temperatures for a while alongside, the trap went out again. It was certainly worthwhile with 27 species which is an excellent return for October. I had my latest ever records of Green Carpet, Rosy Rustic and Vine's Rustic while Barred Sallow (2)  and Black Rustic (4) showed up for the first time this year.

Rosy Rustic

Barred Sallow

Black Rustic

There were also a few micros to be picked through for the first time in an age. All common species but latest ever records of Blastobasis lacticolella and Clepsis consimilana were of note.

Blastobasis lacticolella

Clepsis consimilana

3rd October 2015

Even fewer moths this morning and no sallow species at all. There were the first Blair's Shoulder Knots of the autumn plus a White-point. White-point is still noted as being an immigrant species although they appear here regularly in small numbers throughout the summer and autumn - surely there is a local breeding population??

Blair's Shoulder-knot

White-point

Common Marbled Carpet

2nd October 2015

A cold night here again so I wasn't very hopeful of turning up much; indeed I couldn't see anything at all when I had a quick peek at 9pm. However there were three moths new for the year when I turned over the boxes this morning including the second garden record of Deep-brown Dart plus the more regular Red-green Carpet and Beaded Chestnut.

Deep-brown Dart

Red-green Carpet

Beaded Chestnut