Garden Moths 2013

Half-cocked

Caught my first moth of 2013, so started a new thread for this year. I think it is a Dark Chestnut?

Half-cocked

2 more Dark Chestnuts last night. 6 deg C. I'm up to 5 GMS records for the entire winter! (Plus a couple of non-GMS species).

Half-cocked

Last night of the Winter GMS tonight, noticed a few snow flakes drifting down as I put the trap out. I won't be expecting anything in it tomorrow morning.

littlebug

GMS night 1
Two years ago I had 15 moths on the first night. Last year I had zero.

Half-cocked

Zero last night. Heavy frost. Things can only get better.....

littlebug

Nothing here either.

thebishop

Had 3 moths here.Early thorn x 2 and Clouded-drab x 1. They were in the trap before eleven o clock.Temp was 7c until after midnight the it dropped as low as 2c as the night went on. First time having anything in the trap on the first night.

jmkennedyie

This guy landed on my front door 2 nights ago...my first Dotted Border (a male). Females are flightless I see, so won't be so obliging I guess...

Half-cocked

A Beautiful Plume in the trap tonight.

Half-cocked

...and a Herald this morning. Flew before I could get a photo. 5.1 deg C.

littlebug

Old bulb and new bulb



See new bulb is much brighter. I wasn't imagining things (I think) :o:o

Half-cocked

littlebug wrote: »

Old bulb and new bulb



See new bulb is much brighter. I wasn't imagining things (I think) :o:o

Hmmmm. I'd better check mine so.

littlebug

My first of the year. Clouded Drab (I think).

thebishop

Wet night here .One Early Thorn all alone. Those Thorns seem to prefer the outside of the trap,two last week and one this week and none ventured inside.

Half-cocked

thebishop wrote: »

Those Thorns seem to prefer the outside of the trap,two last week and one this week and none ventured inside.

I've noticed this too. I'll often find them on the side of the shed or on nearby branches. Have yet to see one this year.

Half-cocked

1 moth last night (I think a Common Quaker?), despite the temp dropping to -1.2 deg C.

thebishop

+2C down here. Heavy rain and sleet for most of the night.No Moths.

Half-cocked

1 Hebrew Character last night.

thebishop

Nothing to report here from Friday night. Temp as low as 2c and windy.

Half-cocked

Nothing here either.

Half-cocked

Got 2 Early Greys and 1 Common Quaker last night - biggest catch this year!

Half-cocked

Having caught a few moths during the week, I see the temp is due to drop again for GMS night:(

littlebug

Very frustrating I really feel for anyone just starting out with all these weeks with empty traps.

Half-cocked

Well hopefully it will all come good when the season picks up a bit.

thebishop

Temp 14c here at the minute.It might tempt something to hatch this evening.4 Weeks with no moths.Its a bit like going fishing.:)

Half-cocked

4.2 deg C last night.

1 x Early Thorn
1 x Early Grey
1 x Common Quaker
1 x Hebrew Character

Another bumper catch by this years standards!

thebishop

Nothing in the trap again last night. 5 Weeks without a moth.temp low 1c.Must improve sometime.:)

Half-cocked

Last night, 9.8 deg C.

4 x Early Grey
3 x Hebrew Character
1 x Common Quaker

1 of the Early Greys was the pink tinged variety.

Half-cocked

2.2 deg C last night, but very mild early on.

Early Grey x 25
Hebrew Character x 8
Common Quaker x 5
Double-striped Pug x 1
Herald x 1

plus 1 very large angry Bumblebee!

thebishop

Another blank here again last night. Six weeks without a moth.Temp was 4c. It can only get better.

Half-cocked

More Early Greys, Hebrew Characters and Common Quakers last night. Also 1 Early Thorn.

Mothman

Not a good night!
The following across 4 traps.
2187 Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi) 1
2188 Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta) 2
2189 Twin-spotted Quaker (Orthosia munda) 1
2190 Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica) 3
2243 Early Grey (Xylocampa areola) 1

Did fair better couple nights ago. Though not spectacular
This is 2 traps
0006 Eriocrania subpurpurella 1
0648 White-shouldered House Moth (Endrosis sarcitrella) 1
0670 Depressaria daucella 3
1053 Acleris hastiana 1
1747 Streamer (Anticlea derivata) 1
1852 Brindled Pug (Eupithecia abbreviata) 10
1862 Double-striped Pug (Gymnoscelis rufifasciata) 5
1881 Early Tooth-striped (Trichopteryx carpinata) 2
1917 Early Thorn (Selenia dentaria) 4
2182 Small Quaker (Orthosia cruda) 1
2186 Powdered Quaker (Orthosia gracilis) 1
2187 Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi) 7
2188 Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta) 2
2190 Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica) 18
2243 Early Grey (Xylocampa areola) 9
2258 Chestnut (Conistra vaccinii) 1
2423 Oak Nycteoline (Nycteola revayana) 1

As for Garden Moth Scheme 1st quarter
Taking my best site, numbers are just above 1/3 of my previous poorest return which was 2009. Overall numbers are less than 1/4 when averaged to numbers per trap per night.

My 4 traps thus far. I've only ever ran one trap previously.
8 nights as I was away for Easter, but that was a bad moth night and would not have increased numbers by much.

75 moths Robinson 125W MV (same site as last year)
138 moths Actinic 15W Veg Patch (Site for first 3 years)
45 moths Actinic 15W Bog
98 moths Skinner 125W MVFarmyard

356 moths across the 4 traps over 8 nights, an average of 44.5 moths per night, or 11.1 moths per trap per night.

Previous years from single trap (Robinson MV) only
2012 570 71 moth per night (8 nights)
2011 1289!! 143 per night
2010 690 77 per night
2009 426 47 per night

Even the economic downturn has not been as bad!

Average temperatures for what its worth
2013 3.5
2012 5
2011 5
2010 2.5
2009 4

What we didn't get this quarter was any mild spells till late April and this bypassed GMS night. Usually March provides mild weather.

Half-cocked

Last night 4.1 deg C

6 x Hebrew Character
3 x Common Quaker
2 x Early Grey

After a quick glance at the previous 2 years numbers are way down.

thebishop

Another blank here last night. 4 Moths for the 9 weeks. Last year had 28 for the same period and 57 the year before.

littlebug

interesting stats MM.

I'm at 2 moths over the 9 weeks . I've the trap out tonight instead of last night though I think it's going to be just as cold so don't really expect any.
Oh well...it'll be easy to complete the spreadsheet!

littlebug

Well I can add 1 Hebrew character to my haul for the year!

littlebug

doubled my catch for the year so far last night with 2 Hebrew Characters and a Powdered Quaker. Won't be trapping again til Friday week by which point the moths will be out in full force !

Half-cocked

littlebug wrote: »

Won't be trapping again til Friday week by which point the moths will be out in full force !

We hope.....

V_Moth

Three moths in the trap this morning:

-1 Dark Sword Grass
-1 Common Quaker
-1 Unidentified Pug

Could this be Oak-tree pug? Forewing was 20mm across.

Half-cocked

V_Moth wrote: »

Could this be Oak-tree pug?

It certainly looks like one, and the FS is correct.

I trapped Thurs night and last night, 10.8 and 12.2 deg C respectively, and just 4 species in small numbers:

Double-striped Pug
Early Grey
Hebrew Character
Common Quaker

I was really hoping the recent mild weather would have changed things, maybe next week......

Mothman

Another unfriendly moth night with a min of 4C and then breezy. Stayed dry, though a shower when going through traps.

4 traps
0006 Eriocrania subpurpurella 1
1126 Ancylis badiana 3
1747 Streamer (Anticlea derivata) 1
1759 Small Phoenix (Ecliptopera silaceata) 1
1851 Golden-rod Pug (Eupithecia virgaureata) 1
1852 Brindled Pug (Eupithecia abbreviata) 1
1917 Early Thorn (Selenia dentaria) 7
2091 Dark Sword-grass (Agrotis ipsilon) 1
2182 Small Quaker (Orthosia cruda) 1
2186 Powdered Quaker (Orthosia gracilis) 7
2187 Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi) 4
2188 Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta) 3
2190 Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica) 20
2236 Pale Pinion (Lithophane hepatica) 1

But you may be interested in how these were distributed among the traps. So individual traps lists below

Farmyard Skinner 125w
1747 Streamer (Anticlea derivata) 1
1759 Small Phoenix (Ecliptopera silaceata) 1
1917 Early Thorn (Selenia dentaria) 4
2091 Dark Sword-grass (Agrotis ipsilon) 1
2186 Powdered Quaker (Orthosia gracilis) 7
2187 Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi) 1
2188 Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta) 2
2190 Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica) 14

Bog battery 15w actinic
2190 Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica) 1
+ 9 Crane flies!

Garden 15w actinic
1851 Golden-rod Pug (Eupithecia virgaureata) 1
1852 Brindled Pug (Eupithecia abbreviata) 1
1917 Early Thorn (Selenia dentaria) 1
2187 Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi) 3
2188 Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta) 1
2190 Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica) 3

Garden Robinson 125w
0006 Eriocrania subpurpurella 1
1126 Ancylis badiana 3
1917 Early Thorn (Selenia dentaria) 2
2182 Small Quaker (Orthosia cruda) 1
2190 Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica) 2
2236 Pale Pinion (Lithophane hepatica) 1

littlebug

wet, windy and cold here and again just one Hebrew Character in the trap this morning.

Mothman

Some sun today and I spotted this in garden


A Mother Shipton

Half-cocked

3 Hebrew Characters and 1 Common Quaker last night, 6.2 deg C. Caught a Cockchafer too.

littlebug

I missed one this morning. My son found this Puss Moth on the wall this evening but not on gms list.

Mothman

littlebug wrote: »

I missed one this morning. My son found this Puss Moth on the wall this evening but not on gms list.

Too big to see? :pac:

Always check the wall thoroughly!
Its moths like these make all the blanks and poor returns worthwhile, and well done...the son!

littlebug

Mothman wrote: »

Too big to see? :pac:

I could blame my eyesight but truth is I didnt look as I wasn't expecting to see anything!
The trap blew over this morning so now I've one perspex panel with a corner broken off and the other with a little round hole in the middle. Some patching to do for next week

Mothman

I'm almost cock a hoop! :-)
The previous night here was cold and poor for moths, but last night.....a different story! It was 10C at midnight with light wind. Temperature did drop down to 6C before midnight, but overall it was a relatively good night for moth recording and I got a relatively good return of 22 species from the 4 traps.

Some facts about the catch.
Hebrew Character was the only species represented in all 4 traps.
Brindled Pug was in 3 traps and Flame Carpet in 2.
All the other species, ie. 19 out of 22 were in just one trap! So each trap almost had a unique list!

Most of the specimens were fresh. A shame I didn't bring my camera, because the Yellow-barred Brindles were of different forms and really vibrant. One was the green form and the other the yellow form.

0697 Agonopterix arenella 1
1136 Epinotia immundana 1
1722 Flame Carpet (Xanthorhoe designata) 2
1747 Streamer (Anticlea derivata) 1
1750 Water Carpet (Lampropteryx suffumata) 1
1759 Small Phoenix (Ecliptopera silaceata) 4
1768 Grey Pine Carpet (Thera obeliscata) 1
1852 Brindled Pug (Eupithecia abbreviata) 3
1858 V-Pug (Chloroclystis v-ata) 1
1881 Early Tooth-striped (Trichopteryx carpinata) 1
1883 Yellow-barred Brindle (Acasis viretata) 2
1902 Brown Silver-line (Petrophora chlorosata) 1
1917 Early Thorn (Selenia dentaria) 1
1947x Engrailed/Small Engrailed (Ectropis bistortata/crepuscularia) 1
2006 Lesser Swallow Prominent (Pheosia gnoma) 1
2078 Least Black Arches (Nola confusalis) 1
2091 Dark Sword-grass (Agrotis ipsilon) 1
2186 Powdered Quaker (Orthosia gracilis) 3
2187 Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi) 2
2188 Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta) 1
2190 Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica) 14
2469 Herald (Scoliopteryx libatrix) 1


Common Cockchafer (Melolontha melolontha) 21
Nicrophorus humator 1 (a burying beetle)

littlebug

cold, wet and windy here and just one powdered quaker in the trap. I didn't notice any on the walls etc but I'll get the boy to have a good look around for me later

thebishop

Had two moths last week.One May Highflyer and one Early Thorn.Last night had one Yellow-barred Brindle all on its own

Half-cocked

Had to trap GMS last night.

1 x Common Quaker
1 x Rustic Shoulderknot
1 x Yellow-barred Brindle
1 x Light Brown Apple Moth

34 Cockchafers. Had one up my trouser leg while checking the trap last night:eek: