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: 24th June 2023
Weather:
And now its time to take a break from from the holiday posts... I'm now back at home in Lincolnshire, and its been 3 weeks since I last trapped at home. Compared to the exciting location on holiday, my current location of a suburban garden surrounded by farmland on 3 sides is not as interesting.
But I'll make do with what I have I guess...
Besides, the plus of being back at home is there will be no midges tying to eat me alive!
I'm expecting good results tonight by the way. The Summer here is in full swing, its been warm for the last week and even warmer today with highs of 26C. It is also predicted to still be 20C at midnight (feeling like 24C with the humidity), which is very warm indeed. Add to that the favorable mild breeze from the South and tonight should be busy. It may not be quite as exotic as the sessions in Scotland but there should still be plenty to see...
A point proved when I saw my first moth while setting up which was a Beautiful Plume. A moth which wasn't seen in Scotland, and is the first time I have seen it this year. I can also see lots of Chaffer Beetle flying up near the top of the neighbors Elder Tree
So on that note, lights on, here we go!
Results: 162 moths of 57 species
Summary of Results:
Good grief!
I did say it was gonna be busy! even by just 11pm, I had already tallied 42 moths of 20 different species, it was beginning to become overwhelming haha! It definitely was due to just how warm it was this evening.
A lot of time was spent checking each moth as it arrived, or as I spotted it either inside or outside the trap. I recorded over 160 individuals, but there was easily more than that out there.
By far and away the highlight was this Dark Spinach:
Dark Spinach - Pelurga comitata
It was the first time I have seen this species here, and becomes the latest to add to my life list
Total species of moths seen in the UK now stands at 445 species... 329 species seen in the garden, the rest have been elsewhere on holidays or days out. There are over 2,500 species of Moth in the UK, so still more to find yet!
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Just the one new species this time around, but still some other interesting moths to see, I've included a selection below
*I'm not gonna include a picture of all 57 species seen, it'll take me days to write this up!
Barred Yellow - Cidaria fulvata
Donacaula forficella
Beautiful Hook-tip - Laspeyria flexula
I saw 2 other species of Hook-tip while in Scotland, this Beautiful Hook-tip is the species that I usually see while at home
Green Oak Tortrix - Tortrix viridana
Bramble Shoot Moth - Notocelia uddmanniana
Gold Triangle - Hypsopygia costalis
I don't record the Gold Triangle very often, so this was nice to see.
And then 2 finish, I saw 2 different types of Coronet Moths:
Coronet - Craniophora ligustri
Varied Coronet - Hadena compta
There is a 3rd Coronet species - Marbled Coronet (Hadena confusa), but that is much rarer and more likely to be seen further down the country. That said, there are a handful of records of it in my county of Lincolnshire, so there is always a chance I guess...
...I'll just have to keep my trap on, and my eyes peeled!
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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unless otherwise stated.Check out my website for more of my work.