Amazing moth weekend

Midsummer weekend and the mothing was incredible. In all, 88 macro moths of 44 species with plenty of new for year examples, taking the running total for the garden to over 120 species. Plenty of micro moths, too. Some I managed to id, two with Graeme Smith for dissection and others I just was so mothed out, I couldn't find the time.
On Sunday I was leading a summer butterfly walk and wanted to keep a good selection of moths to show, hence my main aim on Saturday night/Sunday morning was to pot and fridge colourful examples. This I did with:
common emerald, clouded border, yellow barred, common white wave, poplar hawkmoth, Eudonia mercurella, dot moth, buff ermine, green pug, small yellow wave, beautiful hooktip, lilac beauty, brimstone and buff tip.
When introducing folk to moths for the first time, I always try to show that they are not all dull brown insects, that in fact they are, at least, as colourful as butterflies. Consequently, I stayed at the trap until 2a.m on the Sunday morning and then returned at 5a.m. to take what was actually in the trap before the local robin intervened and scoffed the lot.

barred yellow

buff tip

engrailed keen to read the field guide.

common emerald

Anyway, the new for year were:
Dot moth
small yellow wave
common emerald
riband wave
Anania stachydalis
beautiful hooktip
Agapeta hamana
barred yellow
red barred tortrix
bird cherry ermine
lilac beauty
short cloaked moth
double square spot
July highflier
pale shouldered brocade
Orthopygia glaucinatis
waved black
rustic
engrailled
Eudonia mercurella

Not too bad for a couple of nights.