New species for parish records

Over the last couple of nights the numbers of moths trapped has increased markedly, with over 100 in the garden Skinner last night and then night before. The portable Heath trap was also deployed last night, in a field opposite the village pub, where, traditionally, very low catches have been made. Last night proved the point once again with just 26 moths by 11.15pm of 13 species. However, an Old Lady was the 246th macro for the year.
Back at the garden Skinner trap on the 21st a year high of 31 Setaceous hebrew characters. This was beaten on the 22nd when the total reached 38 before dropping last night to 22.
Also on the 21st, 33 Large yellow underwings were taken at Pig's Green.
In the trap last night a Nephopterix angustella, which was a new for parish record earlier this year and now I have taken 8 since late May.
Also, a Phycitodes binaevella was a new for year records, taking the micro total to 180 species for 2017.
However, the highlight was a very battered moth, presumed to be a Clay triple lines, a new moth for me when I receive confirmation. Having rechecked my lists, I noted a double entry of Lesser spotted pinion, originally taken in 2012 and one I must have overlooked when I claimed the specimen I took this year as a parish first. Consequently, the Clay triple lines becomes moth species 699 for the parish.

White point

Presumed clay triple lines. Sadly 3 good moths I have taken for the first time this year (Ruddy carpet, Pretty Chalk carpet and this) have all been in disappointing condition.

Garden carpet

Nephopterix angustella

All this renewed activity means I am still on or around 699 species for Little Hadham Parish, with a total of 7700 moths identified so far this year.

Moth records update

Ear moth

The weather continues to conspire against up lepidopterists, with night time temperatures being low or heavy rain meaning it is too damp to get out. Consequently, since the 14th August I have trapped every night at home, but only at Westland Green (14th) Suffyldes Wood (16th) and Millennium Wood (20th)
At home a few new additions to the year list in the form of Ear Moth species, Jersey tiger, Frosted orange and Udea ferrugalis whilst away trips have only realised a Wood carpet from Suffyldes and Agriphila selasella from Millennium Wood last night.
The records for the year now show I have trapped 7263 moths of 424 moth species. Hoping to get out, even just for a short time each evening this week and have a visit to East Wood on the warmest night, which at present looks like being Tuesday.

Jersey Tiger

Frosted orange

Flame carpet

Wood carpet

New for Year moths in first half of August

The weather recently has been very poor, damp, heavy rain and or/cold and clear with a bright moon. Consequently, fewer moths than would be anticipated for August.
However, things are beginning to pick up and last night, with the 15 watt heath trap set along a well wooded bridle path, I took 53 moths with a fair few expected new for year.
Before this, I had just run the garden Skinner 125 watt trap in the garden. Here I have added:
Straw underwing (04.viii.17)
Small phoenix (04.viii.17)
Cocylis molliclunana (04.viii.17)
Amblyptilia acanthadactyla (09.viii.17)
Canary shouldered thorn (11.viii.17) Only my 2nd record following a 2014 capture in Millennium Wood
Dusky thorn (12.viii.17)

Canary shouldered thorn

same insect

Dusky thorn

Canary shouldered thorn

Last night, (13.viii.17) at Valley Fields I took new for year specimens of:
Dark sword grass
Purple bar
Svensson's copper underwing
Six spot rustic
Square spot rustic.

Dark sword grass from Valley Fields

dark sword grass from garden on the same night

Flounced rustic

These additions take the total species for the year to 418, with 241 macros and 177 micros. In total, now up to 6651 moths for 2017.

New Moth species

Thursday night found me carting all the gear to Stocking Wood, in the east of the parish. Quite a wander along footpaths before setting up. Disappointingly, a very quiet night, with nothing new for the year apart from a couple of Cydia splendana and just 54 moths in total, leading me to pack up at midnight.
Back home looked slightly more promising as I stored the kit away and identified a few for confirmation. However, upon emptying the Skinner trap in the morning I was in for a pleasant surprise. I had already listed as new an Orange swift as I arrived at the last egg box. Upon turning it over, a superb Garden Tiger, a new species for me and my parish records. Very pleased indeed.

Cydia splendana

Garden tiger

Garden tiger

Garden tiger

Last night, just the Skinner trap gave up around 60 moths. New for year were Straw underwing, Small phoenix and Cochylis molliculana. These additions take me to a tantalising 699 species for the parish. Wonder what the next new moth for the parish will be?

Cochylimorpha straminea

Cochylis molliculana

400th moth species for 2017

Last night I just ran the 125 watt Skinner trap in the garden as it was drizzly and unpleasant. None too expectant, so a pleasant surprise when I checked the trap at 6.30 this morning. In total, just 54 moths of 27 species, but in amongst these, 5 new for year species: Yponomeuta plumbella, Mouse moth, Flounced rustic. Copper underwing and 2 White points. The latter an unusual moth for the garden. Last year I took 2 in the garden trap on one night, the 3rd September. These were the only 2 records for 2016, so, indeed, a good moth for the parish.
The first new for year was the 400th species identified within the parish, last year, the 400th species was taken on the 11th August 2016, made up of 210 macros and 190 micros. This year the total of 400 has been reached with 226 macros and 174 micros, not too far out.
Also, another milestone was reached with the Flounced rustic being the 300th moth species taken in the garden this year. Again, a comparison with last year, when the 300th garden species was trapped on, amazingly 3rd August 2016, one day out!

Peppered moth

Mouse moth

Yponomeuta plumbella

1st white-point, showing that the dot does not have to be perfectly circular, so not a diagnostic feature as mentioned in some guides

2nd white-point with a more perfect white point.

July records and Stats so far this year

Following my Sri Lankan visit, I returned to moth trapping on 20.vii.17 and the following night before another hiatus as we were in Norfolk for a couple of nights.
Very disappointing weather conditions meant both home and away traps were not recording insects in any great numbers. On some occasions, it just wasn't worth the effort to set up the 15 watt heath trap at one of the 14 local sites I have used this year.
A new for year record on the 21st was a browntail, but better was a new for parish records: a yarrow pug. Upon our return from Holkham, nothing notable on the 24th whilst the following night, I ventured out to Pig's Green, a damp green lane surrounded by mature trees. In with the 50+ hornets upon my return at 11.45pm were Cydalima perspectalis (NFY) and another new for the parish record in the shape of Least Yellow underwing. At home that night, a relatively poor haul to the garden 125 watt Skinner trap included a new for year Agriphila tristella.

Black arches

Hummingbird hawkmoth

Least yellow underwing

A hummingbird hawkmoth was noted in the garden on the 26th and everyday since whilst a reasonably early rosy rustic and Notocelia roborana were new for year in the garden trap that night. The best of the haul was my first record of Bordered pug, not a common moth for gardens.
The 27th was just a home trap night, giving a new for year record of Coleophora trifolii. Similar set up the following night realised a new for parish record of a rather worn Maple pug.
The 29th was particularly poor so on the 30th I thought I may as well run the heath trap, nothing to lose, so I left it from 8.30pm until 11.45 on a footpath crossing Ash Valley Golf Course. Plenty of goat willow, fescues and lots of longer grasses. Consequently, plenty of shaded broad bar, but also Cochylis hybridella , new for year. On the same night, the garden trap gave up new for year records of Monopsis weaverella and Archips rosana.

Bordered pug

Coleophora trifolii

Cochylimorpha straminea

On the last night of the month, I set the Heath trap on a field margin, adjacent to some elder and nettle scrub. only 10C and breezy meant, in total just 33 moths of 9 species. Amazingly, all at the trap were micros, with the only macro being a magpie that I netted as I walked back to the car with all the gear. In these micros a new for year Cochylimorpha straminea.
So, the start of a new month and the Heath trap left until near midnight in an unmanaged deciduous woodland, where over 70 moths were taken. This total included new for parish records of Lesser spotted pinion whilst at home, another reasonable haul of 65 included Argyresthia albistria and cabbage moth being added to the year list.

Ypsolopha scabrella

Lesser spotted pinion

Argyresthia albistria

As from 01.viii.17 my annual records stand at:
6211 moths identified of 399 species made up of 226 macro species and 173 micro species.
With 34 species added to the parish list so far in 2017, I have now recorded 698 moth species in Little Hadham since I started recording on a daily basis in 2011. This total is made up from 344 macro species and 354 micro species. I anticipate the 700th parish record within the next week or so.