13th March 2017

Just a single moth to the trap but a new one for the garden (and only my second in Cottenham) 

[270] Dotted Border

Dotted Border Agriopis marginaria

11th March 2017

An Oak Beauty as the first moth of the year is not a bad way to start. Not much else, although Grey Shoulder-knot isn't particularly regular (first record here and perhaps my 4th or 5th in Cottenham. After not trapping last year in early spring, Common Quaker is also new for the garden - somewhat of a guaranteed species this time of year. 

[267] Oak Beauty
[268] Grey Shoulder-knot
[269] Common Quaker

Oak Beauty Biston strataria

Grey Shoulder-knot Lithophane ornitopus

Common Quaker Orthosia cerasi

2016 Review

September / October 2016

Some almost forgotten moths from a handful of trapping nights last autumn included four new for the garden:

[263] The Sallow
[264] Black Rustic
[265] Beaded Chestnut
[266] November Moth agg.

The Sallow Cerrhia icteritia

Black Rustic Aporophyla nigra

Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing Noctua fimbriata

Wax Moth Galleria mellonella

Beaded Chestnut Agrochola lychnidis

So the year total of 266 wasn't too bad considering very little spring and autumn trapping. Now on to 2017....

25th September 2016 - Convolvulus Hawk-moth

This monster was in the trap this morning:

[262] Convolvulus Hawk-moth

Convolvulus Hawk-moth Agrius convolvuli

A classic migrant that has had a decent run of records on the coast the last couple of weeks but still brilliant to get one here. This is almost certainly a 'second-hand' lifer as Martin Fowlie caught one the night before and its surely the same individual. 

17-18th September 2016

A few classic autumn species starting to arrive now although the main excitement was a brief Hummingbird Hawkmoth that fed briefly on our small buddleja and then zoomed off over the wife towards next door. No chance for any photos but exciting nevertheless. 

[258] Mallow
[259] Hummingbird Hawkmoth
[260] Large Ranunculus
[261] Lunar Underwing

Mallow Larentia clavaria

Large Ranunculus Polymixis flavicincta

Lunar Underwing Omphaloscelis lunosa

12th September 2016

A woeful catch with only...

[257] Rosy Rustic 

...being of note. Hopefully some of those lovely autumnal moths aren't too far away. 

Rosy Rustic Hydraecia micacea

31st August 2016

Clear highlight of a moderate catch was a smart Webb's Wainscot - a first for me in Cottenham and a species that is listed as Nationally Scarce B.

Webb's Wainscot Globia sparganii

Not much else was new:

[253] Blastobasis lacticolella
[254] Eudonia angustea
[255] Small Dusty Wave
[256] Webb's Wainscot

Eudonia angustea

26th August 2016

Glad to add one of my favourite moths to the garden list:

[252] Frosted Orange

Frosted Orange Gortyna flavago

Nothing else of note so here's pictures of two of the regular late summer grass moths:

Agriphila geniculea

Catoptria falsella

24th August 2016

Despite some spectacular electrical storm the humidity won out and I hobbled into the garden to put the trap out. Nothing too thrilling turned up although a few things escaped as I struggled with the basics of picking up an egg box without dropping it back to the floor again. Nevermind. 

Four new:

[248] Orange Swift
[249] Cochylis hybridella
[250] Agriphila geniculea
[251] Garden Pebble

Orange Swift Hepialus sylvina

Cochylis hybridella

Nutmeg Anarta trifolii

12th August 2016

Putting out a moth trap with a freshly broken ankle was a rather poor idea and I wasn't even rewarded for my bravery/stupidity with anything too exciting. Sallow Kitten is always nice to see though and a couple of other species were also new to the garden:

[245] Agriphila selasella
[246] Sallow Kitten
[247] Straw Underwing

Sallow Kitten Furcula furcula

Agriphila selasella

Straw Underwing Thalpophila matura

Flounced Rustic Luperina testacea

6th August 2016

First trapping night in the month of August turned up a superb Drinker - this species seems to be common in many places locally but studiously avoids Cottenham - it was only my second record in the village. A Brown China-mark was a long awaited new moth - not sure how I've managed to avoid that one over the years. 

Drinker Euthrix potatoria

Brown China-mark Elophila nymphaeata

A total of 9 new for the garden:. 

[236] Acrobasis advenella
[237] Catropia falsella
[238] Brown China-mark
[239] Drinker
[240] Maiden's Blush
[241] Lime-speck Pug
[242] Canary-shouldered Thorn
[243] Square-spot Rustic
[244] Flounced Rustic

Maiden's Blush Cyclophora punctaria

Canary-shouldered Thorn Ennomos alniaria

Lime-speck Pug Eupithecia centaureata

Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla

Spectacle Abrostola tripartita

Acrobasis advenella

Bramcote, Notts 31st July

Caught around 35 species at 'home' last weekend including a few I haven't had in Cottenham:

Antler Moth Cerapteryx graminis

Common Wave Cabera exanthemata

Caloptilia robustella

Slender Brindle Apamea scolopacina

Species list:

Caloptilia robustella
Diamondback Moth Plutella xylostella
Bryotropha domestica
Bryotropha affinis
Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana
Scoparia ambigularis
Phycita roborella
Chrysoteuchia culmella
Crambus pascuella
Catoptria pinella
Catoptria falsella
Mother of Pearl Pleuroptya ruralis
Water Veneer Acentria ephemerella
Buff Arches Habrosyne pyritoides
Small Rivulet Perizoma alchemillata
Riband Wave Idaea aversata
Small Fan-footed Wave Idaea biselata
Garden Carpet Xanthorhoe fluctuata
July Highflyer Hydriomena furcata
Slender Pug Eupithecia tenuiata
Common Wave Cabera exanthemata
Willow Beauty Peribatodes rhomoidaria
Swallow Prominent Pheosia tremula
White Satin Moth Leucoma salicis
Common Footman Eilema lurideola
Shuttle-shaped Dart Agrotis puta
Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba
Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing Noctua janthe
Double Square-spot Xestia triangulum
Cabbage Moth Mamaestra brassicae
Antler Moth Cerapteryx graminis
Dark Arches Apamea monoglypha
Slender Brindle Apamea scolopacina
The Dun-bar Cosmia trapezina
Marbled Beauty Bryophila domestica
The Uncertain Hoplodrina octogenaria