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Monday 28 July 2014

Electric storm mayhem

The trap was running well at midnight, with several interesting moths potted and many recorded upon arrival. However, a huge overhead electric storm and torrential rain meant that I couldn't get to the trap at 4.30a.m. as planned, so back to bed and a late arrival.
Inside, was carnage. Many were just unidentifiable, no scales left and translucent, albeit still able to fly. Unfortunately, many roosting on the lower parts of the egg boxes had drowned or were stuck to the cardboard and also unidentifiable. All in all, I was lucky to get to 43 species (20 macros, 23 micros) of 71 moths, with several new for the year records and one new for me:  Ypsolopha scarabella. A well marked individual at that. See below. Also, new for me was a Coleophora hemerobiella.
New for the year were barred red which was badly worn but recognisable, Acleris asperana which a bird had tried to eat so some missing, see below and a late id from yesterday, Scorparia subfusca.
Numbers were supplied, inevitably,
 by riband wave, dingy footman and Pleuropyta ruralis
Ypsolopha scarabella

Acleris asperana


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