August was a month of contrasts with some of the hottest days on record whilst a few nights were far too cold for successful mothing. At the end of July I was on 203 macro species and 163 micros, a total of 366 species for the year, predominantly from the 125MV Skinner in the garden but supplemented by evenings out around the rural East Herts parish where I live. For away trips I run a 15W actinic heath trap.
A
Flounced rustic on the 1st was new for the year (NFY) before no trapping for a couple of evenings due to having a new shed/office/Mothicce built at the end of the garden. This is now complete and houses all my moth equipment including fridge and bookcase for field guides. Really pleased with it!
A
Copper underwing,
Bordered beauty,
Cloaked minor and an
Oak hooktip were NFY's for the macro count whilst a
Cydia splendana, and
Cameraria ohridella were on to the micro list for 2019 on the 4th.
Blastobasis adustella were having a good year during this month, with counts well into double figures most nights. A
Straw underwing was NFY on the 5th along with a
Gypsy moth,
Square spot rustic and 2
Mompha propinquella. On the 6th a
Nephopterix angustella (also having a good year here in VC20) was my 5000th moth of the year.
Week one concluded with an NFY
Orange swift and an
Argyresthia bonnetella.
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| Flounced rustic |
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| Oak hooktip |
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| Bordered beauty |
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| Cydia splendana |
The 8th offered a NFY 2nd generation
Flame carpet and the 1st
Jersey tiger of the year and several
Shaded broad bar. The following night was very windy with numbers much reduced and it wasn't until the following night, the 10th that more NFY's appeared in the shape of
Svennson's copper underwing and a new record for the parish: the much awaited though unwanted
Oak processionary. A
Cabbage moth on the 11th got on to the year list before I had a couple of nights camping in North Norfolk and trapping on the saltmarsh at Stiffkey.
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| Gypsy moth |
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| Jersey tiger |
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| Orange swift |
A migrant
Udea ferrugalis was the only surprise after another cold night on the 15th whilst an
Argyresthia semifusca got on to the micro list on the 17th. No other NFY's were taken in week 3, a week dominated by Jersey tigers, and increasing numbers of Square spot rustics, Setaceous hebrew characters and wainscots.
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| Argyresthia semifusca |
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| Udea ferrugalis |
The final days of August saw an increase in overall numbers presenting themselves at the trap along with a
Cochylimorpha straminea on the 22nd, a
Pyrausta aurata,
Small wainscot and
Rosy rustic on the 24th.
An exceptionally warm and calm night on the 25th brought in good numbers in excess of 160 moths of 49 sp including the first
Jersey tiger f lutescens and
Grapholita funebrana. Another busy night on the 16th gave up a good selection of NFY's:
Frosted orange, Currant pug and
Crambus pascuella.
A trip out to a local wood on the 27th offered:
Treble bar,
Pandemis corylana,
Epinotia nisella, Acleris emargana,
Acleris rhombana and
Agriphila selasella in a haul of over 100 moths. The garden trap, whilst full, didn't give up anything new.
The following night, 28th another new for parish record in the form of a
Dark spectacle as well as an NFY
Six striped rustic. Another chilly night on the 29th passed without any revelations as did the 30th. The last day of the month, in improved conditions, gave up a very late
Beautiful golden Y whilst a
Hummingbird hawkmoth fed during the day on the garden buddliea.
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| Pyrausta aurata |
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| Hummingbird hawkmoth |
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| Beautiful golden Y |
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| Acleris emargana |
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| Agriphila selasella |
August ended with a total of 227 macro moths and 178 micros, a total of 405 species for the year. The 400th sp was taken on the 27th as was the 6000th moth for 2019.
The month ended on 6323 moths.
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| Frosted orange |
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