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Garden Moths 2012

  • 12-02-2011 10:14am
    #1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,498 ✭✭✭


    Anyone one interested in giving this a go?

    Garden Moth Scheme

    Suitable for beginners and ALL gardens. Some participants only have a balcony.

    This is an annual survey of moths in gardens covering Britain and Ireland.

    It requires running a moth trap overnight and recording most of contents the following morning once a week from March to Nov. Up to 9 weeks with no more than 3 in a row can be missed. This means that one can start near end of March having missed the first 3 weeks. So there is still time to get organised.

    Requirements, moth trap, guide book....enthusiasm and a willingness to learn :)

    The last 2 are easy and cost nothing :D

    The guide book is relatively straight froward, but will cost in the order of €30-€40
    Field Guide to the Moths of Great Britain and Ireland 2nd edition
    Waring , Townsend & Lewington. (link to publisher) about half way down.

    There is a concise version which has the same plates, but in my opinion, the full version is worth it for the extra meaningful info, but if the budget cannot stretch the concise version will do.

    Moth traps not near as straight forward and unless you go a DIY option, can cost a pretty penny cent and even then, its hard to do it under €50. The issue is electrics and out door environment.

    A moth trap is basically a light source and a retaining box/bucket etc. The box is often the DIY part and the light source is often sourced from specialist moth trap supplier. One of my traps uses fish tank electrics with the control unit in a plastic lunch box type container.

    See guide to Moth Trapping includes plans for building your own trap
    and Guide to Bulbs

    and see here for list of moth trap suppliers

    I'm hopeful that Littlebug and Half-cocked may be interested in joining the 15 or so currently participating in Ireland, but maybe there are others?

    One last thing is, that taking photos of the moths and uploading them to internet will be really helpful with regard identifying them.

    Any queries, just ask away....


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Comments

  • Registered Users Posts: 4,319 ✭✭✭Half-cocked


    No rest for the wicked - spring/summer GMS starts this Friday. Thought I'd start a new thread. I'm desperately trying to finish building a new trap in time. Having only caught 3 moths for the entire Winter GMS, I caught 4 the night after it ended! 2 Common Quakers, 1 Hebrew Character and 1 Double Striped Pug.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 70 ✭✭Gardener3


    Put the 40W Actinic out in the garden last night and was pleased to get:

    Chestnut x2
    Clouded Drab
    Common Quaker x2
    Diurnea fagella x2
    Double-striped Pug
    Early Grey (NFY)
    Early Thorn x5
    Engrailed
    Hebrew Character x2
    March Moth
    Pale Brindled Beauty
    Yellow Horned (NFY)
    Tortricodes alternella - very worn but a micro I've not recorded here before


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,498 ✭✭✭Mothman


    Thanks to Half-cocked for starting this thread.
    I've messed up the opening post by copying the OP from last years thread.
    Sorry :o

    But it contains good info :)


  • Registered Users Posts: 4,319 ✭✭✭Half-cocked


    Gardener3 wrote: »
    Put the 40W Actinic out in the garden last night and was pleased to get:

    Chestnut x2
    Clouded Drab
    Common Quaker x2
    Diurnea fagella x2
    Double-striped Pug
    Early Grey (NFY)
    Early Thorn x5
    Engrailed
    Hebrew Character x2
    March Moth
    Pale Brindled Beauty
    Yellow Horned (NFY)
    Tortricodes alternella - very worn but a micro I've not recorded here before

    Nice catch, I only got 2 common quakers on Tuesday night. I'm switching from 15w to 40w actinic, hopefully will boost the numbers.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,832 ✭✭✭littlebug


    the trap is out :) Quite windy :( so I won't get over excited.

    Last year I had 15 moths on the first night.
    I wonder will Mothman beat his record breaking 270 moths from night 1 last year :D


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,498 ✭✭✭Mothman


    No chance, just not a good moth day today.
    Will be doing well to even get a 10th of that


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,832 ✭✭✭littlebug


    Too much weather. No moths but I'm relieved that the trap was intact this morning :rolleyes:


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,498 ✭✭✭Mothman


    littlebug wrote: »
    Too much weather. No moths but I'm relieved that the trap was intact this morning :rolleyes:
    I know how you feel with regard the trap. The wind and torrential rain woke me up during the night.
    It was reasonably mild for the first part with temp up to 9C. It dropped to 4c at dawn with frost and ice.

    0461 Ypsolopha ustella 1
    1663 March Moth (Alsophila aescularia) 3
    1917 Early Thorn (Selenia dentaria) 1
    1926 Pale Brindled Beauty (Phigalia pilosaria) 1
    2187 Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi) 15
    2188 Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta) 24
    2189 Twin-spotted Quaker (Orthosia munda) 4
    2190 Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica) 7
    2243 Early Grey (Xylocampa areola) 1
    2258 Chestnut (Conistra vaccinii) 6

    Half the species and about a quarter of the moths compared to last year!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,832 ✭✭✭littlebug


    Mothman wrote: »
    The wind and torrential rain woke me up during the night.

    same here . and when I was up tending to a sick child I was worrying about the moth trap :D

    Not a bad catch there considering...


  • Registered Users Posts: 4,319 ✭✭✭Half-cocked


    1 Hebrew Character last night.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 320 ✭✭thebishop


    I had the same start as last year.No Moths.


  • Registered Users Posts: 4,319 ✭✭✭Half-cocked


    Did the GMS last night as I am away all weekend.

    1 Hebrew Character
    5 Common Quakers
    1 Early Thorn
    2 Double-striped Pugs


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,832 ✭✭✭littlebug


    I just put the trap together and hoovered loads of dead flies out of the bulb connection bit :eek: LOADS of them.
    Looking reasonable weather wise this week. Fingers crossed :)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,832 ✭✭✭littlebug


    1 lonesome little clouded drab in the trap (and a slug).
    Gave me a chance to use my new lens :)

    ED78B6B72786455B820F95980395E92C-0000331913-0002770175-00500L-A098FA383B1D49C496A9206E9C687C3D.jpg

    D5609B102A9A453AA68DCD90E98B59A1-0000331913-0002770174-00500L-BF6731D24FDE4E90B59B17F21172906A.jpg


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,498 ✭✭✭Mothman


    I'm going to have to use different site. Robin cleaned the place up before I got to trap at 6.15 this morning. :(
    The sheet had absolutely no moths on it. usually 20+ moths if not many more on the sheet. Overnight min of 11C
    The different site won't be near as good...or convenient, but would be outside this Robin's territory.

    0468 Rhigognostis incarnatella 4
    0663 Diurnea fagella 8
    0670 Depressaria daucella 1
    0998 Light Brown Apple Moth (Epiphyas postvittana) 1
    1053 Acleris hastiana 1
    1663 March Moth (Alsophila aescularia) 9
    1746 Shoulder Stripe (Anticlea badiata) 1
    1852 Brindled Pug (Eupithecia abbreviata) 1
    1917 Early Thorn (Selenia dentaria) 5
    1926 Pale Brindled Beauty (Phigalia pilosaria) 11
    1930 Oak Beauty (Biston strataria) 3
    1934 Dotted Border (Agriopis marginaria) 16
    2182 Small Quaker (Orthosia cruda) 14
    2187 Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi) 45
    2188 Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta) 18
    2189 Twin-spotted Quaker (Orthosia munda) 11
    2190 Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica) 17
    2243 Early Grey (Xylocampa areola) 2
    2258 Chestnut (Conistra vaccinii) 7


  • Registered Users Posts: 320 ✭✭thebishop


    Mild and misty here last night. 3 moths.
    Common Quaker x 1
    Chestnut x1
    Early Grey x 1.
    Early Grey was one I didnt have last year.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,498 ✭✭✭Mothman


    I've selected new site for GMS and ran trap last night for this week and the results are remarkably similar!!

    0468 Rhigognostis incarnatella 1
    0663 Diurnea fagella 17
    0998 Light Brown Apple Moth (Epiphyas postvittana) 1
    1044x Acleris ferrugana/notana 1
    1663 March Moth (Alsophila aescularia) 9
    1746 Shoulder Stripe (Anticlea badiata) 1
    1769 Spruce Carpet (Thera britannica) 1
    1852 Brindled Pug (Eupithecia abbreviata) 1
    1917 Early Thorn (Selenia dentaria) 4
    1926 Pale Brindled Beauty (Phigalia pilosaria) 6
    1930 Oak Beauty (Biston strataria) 11
    1934 Dotted Border (Agriopis marginaria) 13
    2182 Small Quaker (Orthosia cruda) 20
    2187 Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi) 37
    2188 Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta) 31
    2189 Twin-spotted Quaker (Orthosia munda) 25
    2190 Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica) 25
    2236 Pale Pinion (Lithophane hepatica) 1
    2237 Grey Shoulder-knot (Lithophane ornitopus) 1
    2243 Early Grey (Xylocampa areola) 2
    2258 Chestnut (Conistra vaccinii) 5


  • Registered Users Posts: 4,319 ✭✭✭Half-cocked


    I put out 2 traps last night and my old 15w caught more than my fancy new 40w GMS trap - I hope I haven't picked a bad site for the GMS. At least all species were present in both (I can't run both on GMS nights).

    Total catch:

    Common Quaker x13
    Early Thorn x2
    Early Grey x3
    Plume x2
    Double-striped Pug x2
    Hebrew Character x 12
    Epiphyas postvittana x2


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,832 ✭✭✭littlebug


    I put the 40w actinic out last night and caught 4 moths.
    1x Clouded Drab
    3 x Hebrew Character

    6F3E8160B64F448CBB659414854D3834-0000331913-0002773777-00500L-4C2E89B751E74AD4AB17B47A4909A56D.jpg

    Closer look at the detail... looks like a carpet :)
    7357768991BF4A5DA2AAFE4EE790BE45-0000331913-0002773778-00500L-5FA0695372174445817773B1E6544E90.jpg


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,498 ✭✭✭Mothman


    Damp 8C early in night falling to 5C by dawn.
    4 hibernating/overwintering species.

    1852 Brindled Pug (Eupithecia abbreviata) 5
    1917 Early Thorn (Selenia dentaria) 9
    1926 Pale Brindled Beauty (Phigalia pilosaria) 2
    1930 Oak Beauty (Biston strataria) 2
    1934 Dotted Border (Agriopis marginaria) 1
    2182 Small Quaker (Orthosia cruda) 7
    2187 Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi) 32
    2188 Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta) 53
    2189 Twin-spotted Quaker (Orthosia munda) 17
    2190 Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica) 26
    2236 Pale Pinion (Lithophane hepatica) 1
    2237 Grey Shoulder-knot (Lithophane ornitopus) 4
    2243 Early Grey (Xylocampa areola) 14
    2256 Satellite (Eupsilia transversa) 2
    2258 Chestnut (Conistra vaccinii) 2

    Compare to last week 17 Diurnea fagella and 8 March Moths last week, none this week and only a single Dotted Border compared to 13 last week.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,832 ✭✭✭littlebug


    A cool, dry (lovely) starlit night here which brought no moths.
    So far the MV light hasn't made any difference though I think it was another week before we really got established last year. I might put the actinic out tonight.


  • Registered Users Posts: 4,319 ✭✭✭Half-cocked


    Temp dropped to 4.4 last night but still got a few:

    Hebrew Character x4
    Common Quaker x3
    Early Grey x3

    The Early Greys all had a lovely pinkish tinge that doesn't really show up on the photos.

    picture.php?albumid=1912&pictureid=12246

    picture.php?albumid=1912&pictureid=12247


  • Registered Users Posts: 4,319 ✭✭✭Half-cocked


    littlebug wrote: »
    Gave me a chance to use my new lens :)

    What did you get?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,498 ✭✭✭Mothman


    Temp dropped to 4.4 last night but still got a few:

    Hebrew Character x4
    Common Quaker x3
    Early Grey x3

    The Early Greys all had a lovely pinkish tinge that doesn't really show up on the photos.
    known as ab. rosea. In my experience most of the Early Grey are tinged pink, some quite strongly. I believe this form is unusual in many parts of Britain.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,832 ✭✭✭littlebug


    What did you get?



    Sigma 50mm F2.8 D Macro lens :) got it before Christmas but only getting to use it now. I'm looking forward to trying to get some half decent pics of micros as I just couldn't focus on the smaller things with the regular lens. Also... eyesight for the small stuff isn't great (or for the big stuff for that matter:rolleyes:).


  • Registered Users Posts: 320 ✭✭thebishop


    Friday nights catch.
    Common Quaker x 1
    Small Quaker x 1
    Hebrew Character x 1
    March Moth x 1


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,832 ✭✭✭littlebug


    Kids spotted this lovely Angle Shades this morning by the front door. A bit early I think and new for my garden though I have had the caterpillars a couple of times (also on the front doorstep :))
    0F43110EE1214534B220710CB989B47B-0000331913-0002787524-00240L-00000000000000000000000000000000.jpg


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,832 ✭✭✭littlebug


    Just two Hebrew Characters this morning... and a wasp :eek:

    Numbers way lower than this time last year despite the mild weather the last few days.


  • Registered Users Posts: 4,319 ✭✭✭Half-cocked


    4 Early Greys
    3 Hebrew Characters
    1 Epiphyas postvittana

    Min 7 degrees C last night. Disappointing. Still, its early in the season.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 320 ✭✭thebishop


    One Small Quaker on Friday night.Windy night.7c.


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