Garden Moth Recording 2011

thebishop

Ended the same as the first night I put the trap out with an empty trap on Friday night. Had 114 species for the season which wasnt so bad considering all the street lights around the trapping site.Looking forward to March

Gardener3

Yes, I had an empty trap to finish off GMS 2011 as well

So far this November I've had a Brown House-moth and a White-shouldered House-moth and last night trapping in woodland brought a solitary Chestnut.

By this date last year I'd recorded 307 moths of 20 species for November!

littlebug

Mothman wrote: »

I *think* this is a Brindled Ochre
I will need to cross reference but might not get round to it tonight
A species that hibernates AND does not feed as an adult. That's along time without filling up
A good record if it is, and probably a good record if its something else

I had a browse around a bit more and Brindled Ochre is still the only possibility I can come up with. It looks like one and the habitat is right so....:pac:
The only thing that is a bit out is the time.... is 3rd November much later than previous records? I do think the islands have their own micro-climate with often milder conditions than the mainland so I imagine this would have a knock on effect. Pity I can't trap more regularly out there

Meanwhile back home the Winter GMS starts tonight so having taken a break for the last few weeks of the main GMS I'm putting the trap out tonight. I would guess that I'll have little to do in the morning bar put the trap away again

Half-cocked

Well, got off to a great start with the GMS, a big fat zero! Not even the usual selection of miscellaneous insects - earwigs, wood lice etc.

littlebug

likewise... not a thing in the trap. Too windy I think.

Half-cocked

Got a Feathered Thorn last night.

Mothman

littlebug wrote: »

I had a browse around a bit more and Brindled Ochre is still the only possibility I can come up with. It looks like one and the habitat is right so....:pac:
The only thing that is a bit out is the time.... is 3rd November much later than previous records?

I'm happy that it is Brindled Ochre.
As for timing, it's a species that is known to hibernate, so in theory could be seen anytime during next few months though there are no recent Spring records in ireland.

Mothman

Half-cocked wrote: »

Got a Feathered Thorn last night.

And a front view of one at my trap this morning.


My garden trap list from last night.

1795x November Moth agg. (Epirrita dilutata agg.) 21
1923 Feathered Thorn (Colotois pennaria) 17
2227 Sprawler (Asteroscopus sphinx) 1
2232 Black Rustic (Aporophyla nigra) 1
2240 Blair's Shoulder-knot (Lithophane leautieri) 1
2258 Chestnut (Conistra vaccinii) 6
2263 Red-line Quaker (Agrochola lota) 2
2264 Yellow-line Quaker (Agrochola macilenta) 3
2273 Pink-barred Sallow (Xanthia togata) 2
2306 Angle Shades (Phlogophora meticulosa) 2
2441 Silver Y (Autographa gamma) 1

First Wicklow record of Sprawler

trebor28

two moths i found recently.

am i right in assuming that the number of moths would be quite low at this time of year Mothman? excluding our current mild spell of course

Mothman

trebor28 wrote: »

two moths i found recently.

am i right in assuming that the number of moths would be quite low at this time of year Mothman? excluding our current mild spell of course

Sprawler and Feathered Thorn
Would you pm details of sightings?, I'd like to enter the records. Species at this time of year are generally not well recorded.

The mild spell is making little difference to numbers, except that the source of the mild air is from southern areas and this can bring moths in. The mild weather does help with regard to recording them.
There are not many species on the wing at moment, but these species can be abundant, with counts of 50+. Most of these moths are woodland species, and if you are away from woodland, then there may be very few moths.

trebor28

Mothman wrote: »

Sprawler and Feathered Thorn
Would you pm details of sightings?, I'd like to enter the records. Species at this time of year are generally not well recorded.

The mild spell is making little difference to numbers, except that the source of the mild air is from southern areas and this can bring moths in. The mild weather does help with regard to recording them.
There are not many species on the wing at moment, but these species can be abundant, with counts of 50+. Most of these moths are woodland species, and if you are away from woodland, then there may be very few moths.

i thought they were the same as the two you had posted alright but wasnt sure.

littlebug

I had the delicate task of rescuing a Feathered Thorn that had got caught in a cobweb outside my daughters (upstairs) bedroom window this morning One moth rescued and he lives to do whatever moths do another day.
Second county record ? Both at my house:)

Half-cocked

littlebug wrote: »

I had the delicate task of rescuing a Feathered Thorn that had got caught in a cobweb outside my daughters (upstairs) bedroom window this morning One moth rescued and he lives to do whatever moths do another day.
Second county record ? Both at my house:)

Thats terrible! You've deprived a poor spider of its dinner;)

littlebug

Half-cocked wrote: »

Thats terrible! You've deprived a poor spider of its dinner;)

that had crossed my mind but this way the moth lives and my daughter goes to school happy so on balance the rescue mission option won.

swifts need our help!

I'd really like to find out what moths visit my garden

Mark

littlebug

swifts need our help! wrote: »

I'd really like to find out what moths visit my garden

Mark

Check out all the links on the first post of this thread and start getting yourself geared up for next Spring! It's rather addictive

Recently I was just pulling the car into an aquaintances driveway, an old house with lots of mature trees around it, when my exact thoughts were announced from the back seat by my daughter "this would be a great place for moths!"
So not only is it addictive, it's contagious!

Half-cocked

Nothing in the trap last night:mad: I did find this caterpillar in the bottom of the trap though. About 25mm long. I think it is/will be a large yellow underwing?

trebor28

3 tonight Mothman.

Mothman

trebor28 wrote: »

3 tonight Mothman.

Red-line Quaker
Feathered Thorn
November Moth agg.

The latter is one of 3 species that cannot be determined reliably by external features. agg. is short for aggregate.

Mothman

Half-cocked wrote: »

Nothing in the trap last night:mad: I did find this caterpillar in the bottom of the trap though. About 25mm long. I think it is/will be a large yellow underwing?

Yes, I think it is. There was one at my trap couple nights ago.

Mothman

Ran traps past 2 nights.
Here are combined results
0464 Diamond-back Moth (Plutella xylostella) 3
0874 Blastobasis lacticolella 4
0998 Light Brown Apple Moth (Epiphyas postvittana) 3
1044x Acleris ferrugana/notana 2
1342 Eudonia angustea 1
1395 Rusty-dot Pearl (Udea ferrugalis) 5
1631 December Moth (Poecilocampa populi) 2
1760 Red-green Carpet (Chloroclysta siterata) 3
1764 Common Marbled Carpet (Chloroclysta truncata) 1
1768 Grey Pine Carpet (Thera obeliscata) 1
1795x November Moth agg. (Epirrita dilutata agg.) 39
1923 Feathered Thorn (Colotois pennaria) 64
1933 Scarce Umber (Agriopis aurantiaria) 1
1935 Mottled Umber (Erannis defoliaria) 2
2126 Setaceous Hebrew Character (Xestia c-nigrum) 2
2258 Chestnut (Conistra vaccinii) 2
2262 Brick (Agrochola circellaris) 4
2263 Red-line Quaker (Agrochola lota) 5
2264 Yellow-line Quaker (Agrochola macilenta) 4

Took some photos, but it was dark and raining and a couple raindrops on lens has resulted in fuzziness.

Scarce Umber


Don't often see female Feathered Thorn at trap. Quite a different colour to males. Female is on the left.


Also first December Moth of season, female. There was a male in the trap this morning.

trebor28

Mothman wrote: »

Red-line Quaker
Feathered Thorn
November Moth agg.

The latter is one of 3 species that cannot be determined reliably by external features. agg. is short for aggregate.

how can they be ID'd then? dissection?

Mothman

trebor28 wrote: »

how can they be ID'd then? dissection?

Yes, though it is possible to determine the males by anaesthetising them and checking them via a microscope.

littlebug

Nothing in my trap on Friday night bar hundred of flies but there was heavy rain all night so that didn't surprise me. I put the trap out again last night thinking the good weather would have helped but no.. still nothing. Gonna be an easy GMS season I think :rolleyes:

Half-cocked

littlebug wrote: »

Nothing in my trap on Friday night bar hundred of flies but there was heavy rain all night so that didn't surprise me. I put the trap out again last night thinking the good weather would have helped but no.. still nothing. Gonna be an easy GMS season I think :rolleyes:

Same here, nothing Friday, nothing last night.

littlebug

empty again and one side of my trap fell to bits Quite demotivating.

Half-cocked

1 Angle Shades last night - my first record for the winter gms.

Mothman

In the trap this morning.
The Large Yellow Underwing is an immigrant probably from southern Europe. There have been others reported with typical immigrant species this month.
First Winter Moth of the season.

0998 Light Brown Apple Moth (Epiphyas postvittana) 1
1053 Acleris hastiana 1
1795x November Moth agg. (Epirrita dilutata agg.) 2
1799 Winter Moth (Operophtera brumata) 1
2107 Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba) 1

Mothman

littlebug wrote: »

empty again and one side of my trap fell to bits Quite demotivating.

Oh dear

Winter trapping does not suit the glass half empty kind , this is why you are suited

The motivation needs to be how do I sort out the trap so it's weather proof

littlebug

Mothman wrote: »

Oh dear

Winter trapping does not suit the glass half empty kind

The motivation needs to be how do I sort out the trap so it's weather proof

N'ah I'm going for the prize for most weeks trapping with no moths caught