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

26th July 2018

The flood of new moths shows no signs of abating, with the latest selection taking the garden list attained in not quite three years past that of what I achieved at Corbett Street in  seven!

[462] Bucculatrix ulmella
[463] Borkhausenia fuscescens
[464] Stathmopoda pedella
[465] Apotomis betulatana
[466] Grapholita compositella
[467] Dewick's Plusia

There were two headliners, with the formerly rare migrant now probable scarce resident, Dewick's Plusia, being much anticipated:

Dewick's Plusia Macdunnoughia confusa

The second major highlight was much less expected: the quite frankly weird micro Stathmopoda pedella:

Stathmopoda pedella

A small micro at the trap bottom looks good for Bucculatrix ulmella:

Bucculatrix ulmella

I've done incredibly well for tortricids this year with a stack of new ones and here's another:

Apotomis betuletana

...and another in the form of Grapholita compositella which is locally regionally and one I wasn't anticipating here:

Grapholita compositella

Borkhausenia fuscescens is more expected (I recorded it a few times at Corbett Street):

Borkhausenia fuscescens

24th July 2018

A surprise when checking the egg boxes was not one but two male Oak Processionary moths. I had heard about some turning up in coastal locations but still! Even more amazing was that it quickly became apparent that an influx was under way with multiples also recorded by Pete Holt and Ian Barton on the same night. This bunch may be the first VC29 records? The species isn't exactly popular due to various issues and the London adventive population is subject extensive control measures. These migrant individual are all males though - and possibly from the continent so no threat locally just yet....

Oak Processionary Thaumetopoea processionea

There were three new for the garden in total:

[459] Bactra furfurana
[460] Oak Processionary
[461] Fen Wainscot

There were two, probably three Bactra furfurana of various forms. This one being the most distinctive:

Bactra furfurana

Fen Wainscot has been one I was concerned that i had overlooked in the past - however after capturing this one I don't think I have - they are quite obvious:

Fen Wainscot Arenostola phragmitidis

Pale Prominent Pterostoma palpina

21st July 2018

I rarely trap on consecutive nights but on this occasion the forecast convinced me that I should. A reward of six new species for the garden including one of my most wanted species, Peach Blossom, justified it somewhat.

[454] Zelleria hepariella
[455] Phalonidia manniana
[456] Eucosma conterminana
[457] Peach Blossom
[458] Small Wainscot

Peach Blossom didn't disappoint after a nine year wait for one in Cottenham

Peach Blossom Thyatira batis

Zelleria hepariella is a distinctive but rare micro - not sure how many records there have been in VC 29 but its not likely to be many:

Zelleria hepariella

This totricid took a little more work before I settled on its identity:

Phalonidia manniana

Small Wainscot has never been regular in Cottenham and this was a fresh individual:

Small Wainscot Denticucullus pygmina

I was a little surprised that on looking up records that I had recorded A. subpropinquella just once previously in the village:

Agonopterix subpropinquella

After the previous nights influx Horse Chestnut Leaf miners were down to a sorry 50, while Blastobasis adustella are also commoner than they ever have been with >20 recorded each night currently:

Blastobasis adustella

Of other interest was a 'proper' looking Argyresthia albistria after the odd looking individual last month:

Argyresthia albistria

While Bryotropha affinis is regular in small numbers:

Bryotropha affinis

20th July 2018

A huge haul of moths including a ridiculous 250+ Horse Chestnut Leaf Miner made it hard work picking out the good stuff. There were also 120 Common Rustic agg. which must be a record number. I do seem to be getting a handful of new moths each night currently though with three turning up this time around:

[451] Gelechia senticetella

[452] Eucosma campoliliana

[453] Dark Spinach

The tortix didn't stick around for a photo which is a shame as it was quite smart. The other two did though and the Dark Spinach was the first I've recorded in the village:

Dark Spinach Pelurga comitata

G. senticetella (AKA Cypress Groundling) is a scarce adventive gelechid:

Gelechia senticetella

Some of the classic late summer species are now appearing:

Least Yellow Underwing Noctua interjecta

Copper Underwing Amphipyra pyramidea

Euzophera pinguis

Agriphila tristella

Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiotata