Garden Moths 2012

Mothman · 09-08-2012 7:28pm

Half-cocked wrote: »

Help! Can't ID this one, FW about 14mm.

Shaded Broad-bar

Half-cocked · 09-08-2012 7:39pm

Mothman wrote: »

Shaded Broad-bar

I should have known that, have a photo of one from last year...

littlebug · 09-08-2012 9:21pm

Would have been my first Buff Arches. I need to get out of bed earlier.

4A169BB3D2CD4AFDBB012D8CBAC86573-0000331913-0002965492-00240L-00000000000000000000000000000000.jpg

Half-cocked · 10-08-2012 8:15am

littlebug wrote: »

Would have been my first Buff Arches. I need to get out of bed earlier.

I'll bet either a Wren or a Robin, they seem to be experts at latching on to moth traps.

Mothman · 10-08-2012 9:10am

littlebug wrote: »

Would have been my first Buff Arches. I need to get out of bed earlier.

I would log it.

I record wing fragments from bat roosts.

littlebug · 10-08-2012 9:16am

Half-cocked wrote: »

I'll bet either a Wren or a Robin, they seem to be experts at latching on to moth traps.

"Who me?"

009D721030414DAA897EC8C8BE9D1FC5-0000331913-0002965696-00500L-BDC788E1A80648D9BA835DC7A88947DB.jpg

The culprit! I was out earlier this morning so no mothless wings lying around but he/ she found me anyway and hung around, getting as close as 1 metre away, waiting for moths to fly (and quite a few did) and taking note of my hiding places! Island Robins are very brazen!
I have 3 nights of moth trapping notes and 200+ photos from here to sift through with lots of micros and pugs so it's going to take a while! In the meantime here's one that I really want to be 1511 Merrifieldia Tridactyla but wanting won't make it so and I don't know if it can be differentiated from 1510 Merrifieldia Leucodactyla.

508B88C699F449E8A9AF10058CD3A201-0000331913-0002965695-00500L-DFC73B28C05F4FB080E40AEF15F4A816.jpg

Half-cocked · 10-08-2012 12:11pm

I opened my skinner trap one morning and a Wren came zooming out of it! Scared the daylights out of me.

V_Moth · 10-08-2012 5:49pm

Moths from the ECNR last night:

-Drinker (8)
-Lesser Swallow Prominent (2)
-Yellow-tail (2)
-Lesser BBYU (3)
-Poplar Hawkmoth (1)
-Smoky Wainscot (4)
-Barred Red (1)
-Common Rust (4)
-July Highflyer (1)
-Common Footman (4)
-Burnished Brass (1)
-Small Magpie (1)
-Small Phoenix (1)
-Yponomeuta spec (1)
-Miller (1)
-Small FF Wave (1)
-Straw Dot (1)
-Ypsolopha dentella (1 / To be confirmed)

A good night with 18 or 19 species. The Miller was a lifer and I have never trapped as many Drinkers before.

Plenty of Butterflies and Dragonflies on the reserve this morning: Small White, Large White, GV White, Meadow Brown, Peacock, Common & Holly Blue, Speckled Wood / Emperor Dragonfly (2 +2 in tandem), Common Hawker, Common & Ruddy Darters, Blue-tailed Damsel, Azure Bluet.

Notable birds: Crossbill (sev heard), Curlew, Buzzard (1), Sparrowhawk.

Half-cocked · 11-08-2012 11:56am

27 species last night, all the usual suspects. 13.9 deg C.

Is this an Ear Moth? FW 16mm.

picture.php?albumid=1912&pictureid=13680

Also, is this a Common Wave or a very faded Riband Wave? FW 15mm. This is the actual colour, not an overexposed shot.

picture.php?albumid=1912&pictureid=13681

picture.php?albumid=1912&pictureid=13681

V_Moth · 11-08-2012 2:42pm

I am pretty sure the first is an Ear Moth agg. , but I think the second one may be a Common White Wave. The lower crossbands look too straight for Ribiand Wave to me.

Last night in the garden:

-Large Yellow Underwing (2)
-Lesser Yellow Underwing (1)
-Mottled Beauty (2)
-Dark Spectacle (1)
-Common/Smoky Wainscot (1)
-Scalloped Oak (1)

The Dark Spectacle is new for the site and my first since 2010. Also some additions and corrections from yesterdays ECNR moths:

-White-line Dart (1?)
-July Highflyer (2 - not 1)

[Some photos from yesterday added to the Recent Photos thread]

Mothman · 12-08-2012 12:17am

V_Moth wrote: »

I am pretty sure the first is an Ear Moth agg. , but I think the second one may be a Common White Wave. The lower crossbands look too straight for Ribiand Wave to me.

Spot on

Last night in the garden:

-Large Yellow Underwing (2)
-Lesser Yellow Underwing (1)
-Mottled Beauty (2)
-Dark Spectacle (1)
-Common/Smoky Wainscot (1)
-Scalloped Oak (1)

I'm only getting Smoky at moment with the odd Southern thrown in though Common Wainscot can turn up throughout the Summer.

V_Moth · 12-08-2012 8:51am

Mothman wrote: »

Spot on

I'm only getting Smoky at moment with the odd Southern thrown in though Common Wainscot can turn up throughout the Summer.

Thanks. I checked it again later and it turned out to be a Smoky. Didn't realise Southern occurred in Wicklow - will have to check the Wainscots in the ECNR more carefully.

In the garden this morning:

-Riband Wave (3)
-Large Yellow Underwing (2)
-Lesser BBYU (1)
-Common Rustic agg (1)
-The Uncertain (1)
-Mottled Beauty (1)
-Blastobasis spec (4)*

Highest count of Riband Wave for the site. *Probably Blastobasis adustella.

Half-cocked · 12-08-2012 11:43am

Mothman wrote: »

I'm only getting Smoky at moment with the odd Southern thrown in though Common Wainscot can turn up throughout the Summer.

Just revisiting some of my records of Wainscots and would like opinions on the pic below. I had it down as Common but looking again at flight seasons and the posts above, I'm wondering if it is Smokey? Trapped regularly between 13th July and 10th August.

picture.php?albumid=1912&pictureid=13685

picture.php?albumid=1912&pictureid=13685

thebishop · 12-08-2012 4:02pm

Lots of Moths about on Friday night,not alot of species. Temp was still 20c at 3am.
True Lovers Knot x 6
Spectacle x 3
Flame Shoulder x 14
Straw Dot x 1
Smoky Wainscot x 2
Small Fan-footed Wave x 1
Snout x 1
Magpie x 1
Flame Carpet x 2
Dark Arches x 2
Burnished Brass x 3
Uncertain x 1
Light Brown-apple Moth x 9
Brown House Moth x 1
Scoparia Ambigualis x 1
Large Yellow Underwing x 12
Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing x 39
Lesser Yellow Underwing x 6

SmokeyEyes · 12-08-2012 5:13pm

Newbie on this thread, love moths but only discovering this corner of Boards for the first time:)

This little guy came in last night, looked him up and found out he's a magpie moth which seems common enough but neither of us had ever seen one, he's beautiful:)

V Bull · 12-08-2012 10:54pm

A Brimstone Moth I think..

A Sharp-angeled Carpet I think..

V_Moth · 13-08-2012 11:04am

V Bull wrote: »

A Brimstone Moth I think..

A Sharp-angeled Carpet I think..

Yes on both counts. In the garden this morning:

-Large Yellow Underwing (7)
-Common Rustic (1)
-Square-spot Rustic (1)
-Heart and Dart (1)
-Blastobasis adustella (3)
-Carcina quercana (1)
-Hawkmoth spec. (1)

The Carcina was new for the site, while the Square-spot is new for 2012. Also, the first Hawkmoth for the garden, seen at dusk last night buzzing around. From what little I saw of it, I suspect it may have been a Hyles species, but wouldn't be 100% sure.

littlebug · 16-08-2012 9:35am

I saw a Deaths Head Hawk Moth yesterday... pinned

They're HUGE!!!:eek: It would be some shock to find one in the trap. Anyone ever seen a live one?

trebor28 · 17-08-2012 3:16pm

Mothman, or anyone else for that matter.

last night i happened across a moth, fairly normal one, maybe 3/4 of an inch long, mostly brown wings with a design on it.

but it had some amber/orange on its abdomen.

i only saw this when it was walking along flapping its wings as they do. not sure was it all orange or parts or stripes or whatever.

i tried to do a google search but didnt see anything similar.

anyone shed any light on it?

Half-cocked · 17-08-2012 3:18pm

Sounds like a Yellow Underwing of some sort - going by size I'd guess Lesser Yellow Underwing.

trebor28 · 17-08-2012 4:26pm

Half-cocked wrote: »

Sounds like a Yellow Underwing of some sort - going by size I'd guess Lesser Yellow Underwing.

did a quick google search, could well have been it.

is there much of a variation between the amber/yellow colour?

the guy i saw looked very amber/orange in colour.

jmkennedyie · 18-08-2012 12:32am

littlebug wrote: »

I saw a Deaths Head Hawk Moth yesterday... pinned They're HUGE!!!:eek: It would be some shock to find one in the trap. Anyone ever seen a live one?

Not me, but, I believe this is a pic of a live one that turned up on a wall or tree in a new housing estate by the Liffey in Clane Co. Kildare 2 or 3 summers ago...a resident noticed it and phoned it into moths.ie who came along and got some pics...
http://www.moths.ie/index.php?menu=1973.php&a=0

Mothman · 18-08-2012 6:43am

Half-cocked wrote: »

Just revisiting some of my records of Wainscots and would like opinions on the pic below. I had it down as Common but looking again at flight seasons and the posts above, I'm wondering if it is Smokey? Trapped regularly between 13th July and 10th August.

Definitely Smoky

littlebug · 18-08-2012 11:35am

back to the low numbers in my own garden after some fairly heavy rain yesterday.
Lesser Broad Bordered Yellow Underwing x 3
Large Yellow Underwing x 2
Dark Arches x 2
Bright Line Brown Eye x 1
Garden Grass Veneer x2
Mother of Pearl x1

Mother of pearl new to me

Still working on identification of my 300+ island moth catch

Half-cocked · 18-08-2012 12:01pm

19 species, 93 moths total last night. 16.8 deg C. Getting quite a few very worn and faded individuals that are beyond ID. First Flounced Rustic of the season. I'm now convinced that my GMS site for the trap was badly chosen. I definitely get better catches on non-GMS nights when the trap is closer to the house. Possibly the neighbours security light is drawing moths from further afield. And the blasted Wren is always lurking at the bottom of the garden to feast on the catch:mad:

A friend up in Downpatrick had his large garden trapped by experts last weekend - 8 MV traps, 65 species, 568 moths. Puts my little efforts to shame!

V_Moth · 19-08-2012 9:07am

In the garden this morning:

-Willow Beauty (8)
-Common Rustic (3)
-Riband Wave (2)
-Lesser Yellow U (5)
-Lesser BBYU (8)
-Large Yellow U (10)
-Least Yellow U (1)
-Small Fan-footed Wave (1)
-Udea lutealis (2)
-Blastobasis adustella (3 or 4)

The Least Yellow Underwing is new for the site and by the looks of it, one of the few records for County Dublin.

jmkennedyie · 19-08-2012 10:39am

Well not my garden, but a nearby riverside to support a heritage week event later today. Was hoping for a hawkmoth or garden tiger. Ah well, at least a few new ones for me.

1350 Beautiful China-mark x 3
1732 Shaded Broad-bar x 1
1738 Common Carpet x 1
1759 Small Phoenix x 1
2006 Lesser Swallow Prominent x 1
2107 Large Yellow Underwing x 9
2321 Dark Arches x 2
2343x Common Rustic agg. x 3

Half-cocked · 20-08-2012 9:17am

I was recording the moth below as a Silver Y but it seems very dark and markings slightly different to others I have photographed. Could it be a Beautiful Golden Y with a fused Y marking?

picture.php?albumid=1912&pictureid=13810

picture.php?albumid=1912&pictureid=13810

Mothman · 20-08-2012 11:44am

It is Silver Y
The locally bred Silver Ys, as ones bred n cooler climates are usually darker than ones from say Southern Europe. This may well be an "Irish" Silver Y or one from nearby such as France.

Often see plenty dark ones in late Summer.

Had Peacock Butterfly in trap this morning. Peacock is now most numerous butterfly in my garden, which is saying something, because there have been loads of Large Whites and Small Tortoiseshells

thebishop · 20-08-2012 8:18pm

Friday nights catch.
Green Pug x 1
Double-striped Pug x 1
Garden carpet x1
Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet x 1
Flame Shoulder x 12
Early Thorn x 1
Dark Arches x 4
Spectacle x 2
Dark Spectacle x 1
Straw Dot x 1
Burnished Brass x 1
Campion x 1
Mother of Pearl x 1
Bryotropha Domestica x 1
Rosy Rustic x 1
Ear Moth agg x 1
Small Square-spot x 1
Large Yellow Underwing x 24
Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing x 14
Lesser Yellow Underwing x 5
Least Yellow Underwing x 1.

V_Moth · 21-08-2012 9:23am

This morning in the garden:

-Willow Beauty (8)
-Common Rustic (1)
-Lesser BBYU (3)
-Large Yellow Underwing (11)
-Lesser Yellow Underwing (6)

Also two Crossbills flying north. The Least Yellow Underwing from Sunday morning:

littlebug · 21-08-2012 9:49am

Straw Underwing? Very pretty! Took me a while though despite such clear markings.

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Half-cocked · 21-08-2012 6:02pm

I think this is a Spindle Ermine, but maybe an Apple Ermine?

picture.php?albumid=1912&pictureid=13813

Mothman · 21-08-2012 7:39pm

littlebug wrote: »

Straw Underwing? Very pretty! Took me a while though despite such clear markings.

It is and I think it's a few years since I've seen one

Half-cocked wrote: »

I think this is a Spindle Ermine, but maybe an Apple Ermine?

I don't do these.
I've recorded Spindle and Apple Ermine as larva, but I think trying to ID the adults is futile

littlebug · 21-08-2012 8:45pm

And here's a piece of wall

I nearly missed this one. Striped Twin Spot Carpet?

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V_Moth · 23-08-2012 9:44am

In the garden this morning:

-Willow Beauty (6)
-Large Yellow Underwing (1)
-Lesser Yellow Underwing (1)
-Common Rustic (1)
-Uncertain/Rustic (2)
-Flounced Rustic (2)
-Blastobasis adustella (2)

The Flounced Rust are the first of the year. Two additions for the previous session were Small Fan-footed Wave and Common Footman, the latter being new for the site.

Although not a moth, the highlight last night was a Green Sandpiper heard at around 9pm. An unexpected garden tick!

jmkennedyie · 24-08-2012 7:26pm

Tried some other gardens this week but mostly large yellow underwing. Some pics...

I guess Uncertain (rather than Rustic)...what do you think?

Grey Dagger caterpillar? (from about 2 weeks ago)

What seems to be a latish (Aug 22) Map-winged Swift

PS was using nhbs online (impressed with their 3-4 day delivery with standard postage option) but discovered Philips 15W actinic bulbs available from Wesco in Naas about €12.50 in case anyone interested.

Mothman · 24-08-2012 10:20pm

jmkennedyie wrote: »

I guess Uncertain (rather than Rustic)...what do you think?

Square-spot Rustic. Quite variable and is around for next couple months sometimes in large numbers.

Grey Dagger caterpillar? (from about 2 weeks ago)

Yes

What seems to be a latish (Aug 22) Map-winged Swift

That is late and looks quite fresh. This weather - heavy rain (well it is here) is hard on moths aging them quite quick.

PS was using nhbs online (impressed with their 3-4 day delivery with standard postage option) but discovered Philips 15W actinic bulbs available from Wesco in Naas about €12.50 in case anyone interested.

I haven't bought tubes (the 15W UVA blacklight) this year but they were comfortably under €10 last year. I got a box (I think 24) last year from my local supplier and they were about €6.50 each. They were less then €8 for single bulb.
Perhaps they up in price this year.

Mothman · 24-08-2012 10:21pm

littlebug wrote: »

And here's a piece of wall I nearly missed this one. Striped Twin Spot Carpet?

It is

V_Moth · 25-08-2012 10:41am

A couple of moths in the trap despite all the rain overnight:

-Willow Beauty (1)
-Large Yellow Underwing (2)
-Blastobasis adustella (3)

littlebug · 28-08-2012 9:29am

quiet last Friday with just a few Large Yellow Underwings and Lesser broad bordered yellow underwings.

Yesterday the pups chewed my egg trays to tiny pieces :pac: better than chewing all the shoes I suppose

Anyone want a pup:pac:

thebishop · 28-08-2012 1:21pm

Still a few around here. Showers on Friday night.Not as wet as usual.
Light Brown Apple Moth x 3
Grass Emerald x 1
Flame Shoulder x 5
Dark Arches x 1
Silver Y x 1
Peach Blossom x 1
Gold Spot x 3
Angle Shades x 1
Small Wainscot x 1
Rosy Rustic x 2
Square-spot Rustic x 1
Large Yellow Underwing x 8
Lesser Yellow Underwing x 3
Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing x 3
Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet x 1

Half-cocked · 28-08-2012 5:51pm

I think this is a Beautiful Plume Amblyptilia acanthadactyla?

picture.php?albumid=1912&pictureid=13865

And this Dart - is it a White Line Dart or something else?

picture.php?albumid=1912&pictureid=13866

jmkennedyie · 29-08-2012 12:43am

Mothman wrote: »

Square-spot Rustic. Quite variable and is around for next couple months sometimes in large numbers.

...

Thanks for all that.

Aug 26 in a friends garden...nice to see some of the other Underwings...

1708 Single-dotted Wave x 3
2111 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing x 4
2107 Large Yellow Underwing x 3
2109 Lesser Yellow Underwing x 3
2343x Common Rustic agg. x 2
2321 Dark Arches x 4

V_Moth · 29-08-2012 1:51pm

A couple of moths in the trap this morning:

-Willow Beauty (1)
-Large Yellow Underwing (4)
-Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing (1)
-Flounced Rustic (1)
-The Phoenix (1)

First site record of The Phoenix. There seem to be relatively few records of this species in Ireland. I wonder if this is due to under-recording or because it a migrant to this country?

littlebug · 01-09-2012 10:42am

Just 5 large yellow underwing and 2 lesser BBYU. There was a carpet but it flew before I got to it.

Also... 2 of these below. anyone any ideas? second photo is more blurred but shows the length of the antennae. I must get that micro book!

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jmkennedyie · 01-09-2012 11:17am

Nice pics littlebug. Went through the illustration pages of Sterlin/Parsons/Lewington Field Guide to Micro Moths a few times but it is not jumping out at me

. The few that seemed similar to me don't seem to occur in Ireland, or at this time, or have distinguising features I can't make out in your pics. Also I have just noticed that not every micro-moth is illustrated...some are covered by text descriptions only. Hopefully someone else can work out...

Half-cocked · 01-09-2012 11:57am

OK night last night. First Copper Underwing of the season plus some new micros. More trouble with a wren beating me to the trap in the morning!

littlebug · 01-09-2012 12:15pm

Thanks for looking jmk:) my first port of call with the micros is the "what's flying now" sections of a few different sites but nothing jumped out at me, then browsed through the thumbnails on ukmoths but anything I was drawn to look closer at was flying in May/ June. I just realised it was still there so brought it in for better pics. I think half the antenna was gone in the first pic too so it wasn't me :pac:
Body about 10mm, antenna slightly longer.

C75C198A28AE44708A701196BF5D3C06-0000331913-0002993447-00500L-92A433816BC3483583DAE1791C477E10.jpg

Half-cocked · 01-09-2012 1:18pm

littlebug wrote: »

Thanks for looking jmk:) my first port of call with the micros is the "what's flying now" sections of a few different sites but nothing jumped out at me, then browsed through the thumbnails on ukmoths but anything I was drawn to look closer at was flying in May/ June. I just realised it was still there so brought it in for better pics. I think half the antenna was gone in the first pic too so it wasn't me :pac:
Body about 10mm, antenna slightly longer.

Theres nothing jumping off the page that looks like this in the field guide. I'll have another more careful look when I get time. Can you brighten up the image at all to bring out more detail? Mess around with saturation and contrast? It won't look lifelike any more but it may enhance some of the detail. for ID purposes.

Garden Moths 2012

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