Moth Review for October

 The garden 125 MV Skinner trap ran every night as usual whilst the smaller 15Watt actinic trap was placed out on just a handful of times in the local allotment or Millennium Wood but rarely trapped more than 2 or 3 moths

In total, 10,532 moths have been recorded for 2022. This list is made up of 463 species, broken down to 250 macros and 213 micros.

9 new species of macro were recorded in October: Mallow, Dark Sword Grass, Yellow-line quaker, Merveille du Jour, November moth (checked) Red-line quaker, Brick, Feathered thorn and December moth, taken on 31.x.22.

Plenty of micros in the form of leaf mines with plenty still to check whilst also Eudonia angustea and Acleris sparsana were new for the year. 24 leaf miners so far identified including new for parish records of Ectoedemia atricollis and Phyllonorycter joannisi. Three local woods have so far been checked: Millennium Wood, Stocking Wood and Caley Wood.

A total, excluding leaf miners, of 244 moths were trapped in October with the only blank night on the 8th. Highest count was on the 1st October with 24 moths taken of 10 species. Highest species count was on the 22nd when 14 species were recorded in a haul of 21 moths.

A few migrants came to light including Nomophilia noctuella, Dark sword Grass, possibly Turnip, L-album Wainscot and Angle shades.

Somewhat unusual appearances were Cydalima perspectalis on the 27th, my latest date yet and a very out of season Blotched Emerald on the 22nd when a late Copper Underwing was also taken.

Turnip

Feathered Thorn

Merveille du Jour