Sharing the results from my latest Moth Trap Session. I have written posts about setting up a moth trap and on collecting the results if you want some more background info on how and why I use a Moth Trap
Date: 12th June 2023
Weather:
I've already mentioned that we were on Holiday to Dumfries and Galloway. We are staying in a small Lodge, just outside the town of Dalbeattie, and as we are right next to a nice patch of mature woodland, I've brought my trusty Moth Trap along with me.
I've already completed one session 3 days Prior to this which was super productive with 7 new species seen. Its now time for a 2nd trapping session tonight. It will be interesting to see what will appear what will be different... and more to the point will I find anything else new?
Weather wise, its been unusually warm all week still. Not as warm as it was during the previous weekend, but still slightly uncomfortable highs of 26C. The more interesting thing is that the warmth is going to remain tonight, and it feels super muggy and humid. This isn't good for Dan's, but very good for moths.
Its also good for flies, so I'm expecting more bites tonight!
I did strip off earlier and sprayed midge spray EVERYwhere, so fingers crossed that could help? Well it did a bit, but as you can sort of see in the 2 pics below
...there was a lot going on! This didn't include the clouds of midges swarming above the trap. But hey, I'm only here a short while, I might as well make the most of it (and suffer the consequences tomorrow!)
So 2nd session is a go... will I see anything new?
Results: 99 moths of 41 species
Summary of Results:
... will I see anything new?
Er well yes I did!
Shortly after taking those pics of the flies I noticed a large chunky moth on the white sheet
It thought it was one of the Swift Moths, similar to what I caught last time, and I was sort of right. This is a Female Ghost Moth, which is part of the same family as the Swifts.
I have technicaly seen this species before while at a special Moth Trap Event I attended 3 years ago. One of the highlights for me was to see the male Ghost Moth, and it is white colours that give him the name, as you can see below
Ghost Moth - male (see in July 2020)
But as amazing as he looked, I had yet to see a female... well, until tonight of course!
Doesn't she look amazing!
Ghost Moth - female (Hepialus humuli)
So that is technically a new sighting for me, if it wasn't technically a new species, and so it was definitely a highlight for the week.
There was just one other new species see this evening:
A Scorched Wing (Plagodis dolabraria)
The species gets its name I guess from the vague resemblance to burnt paper. This is one of the moths from the Geomitridae family. It appears to be relatively common across the UK (except in Lincolnshire apparently) so I am really pleased to have finally ticked this species off!
The evening continued much as it did in the last session, getting busier and busier as the evening progressed. I was seeing a lot more species than I did the previous session which was testament to how warm and humid it was.
Lesser Swallow Prominent - Pheosia gnoma
All the rest of the species out there were ones I had seen before, but some were rarer than others, so it was a good opportunity to get some pictures of moths I rarely see back at home
Iron Prominent - Notodonta dromedarius
The Iron Prominent was nice to see, and then there were a nice selection of small Geomitrid Moths too
Small Yellow Wave - Hydrelia flammeolaria
(looking a little worse for wear here!)
Common White Wave - Cabera pusaria
Clouded Border - Lomaspilis marginata
At 1:30pm I eventually turned the trap off, happy with what I had seen in the past 2 sessions. Lots of interesting moths, lots of new species... and a chance to update my moth image library with some new and better pictures.
I had planned to do a 3rd session, but decided the 2 sessions had been productive enough (and exhausting enough too!) The following morning, I went through and took the relevant shots required and then I packed the trap away.
On that note, I'll leave you with one of my fave pictures of the whole week, the gorgeous female Ghost Moth:
After the long day today touring the Forest of Galloway, and then the late night moth trapping, we are going to have a much easier day tomorrow. After a much needed lay-in we will be of to see some Red Kites just north of Castle Douglas, and it promises to be spectacular!
Notes on Pictures: Since I started moth trapping 5 years ago, I have been slowly building up collection of Library Images. The idea being that once I have taken a picture of a particular species of Moth, I don't need another picture of the same species a year later. It’s a waste of time and energy. I only take pictures of new species, or of moths that are difficult to ID, so I can get the records verified.
While in my care, all individuals are looked after, and after Photographs have been taken, they are all released safely outside.
All names confirmed and checked via Wikispieces
Further Research from UK Moths and NatureSpot
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