Garden Moths 2015

Half-cocked

Don't know if there's any interest in a thread for this years Summer GMS but here goes! Things have been very slow so far this year but finally starting to pick up in the last couple of weeks.

Had my first Poplar HM of the year last night and on Friday night a very rare Sandy Carpet.

Woodville56

Dunno if this species is a garden moth or not but spotted quite a few of them yesterday evening in an uncut meadow - the picture isn't of great quality ( taken at a distance with a camera phone) as they didn't hang around to get a close up. It's the underside of the moth in the picture but wing colour same on upper wing.
I'd describe them as quite small slate grey / blackish moths with a fairly prominent white edge to forewing tip - checking the field guides points me towards a Chimney Sweeper moth ? Are they a common species ? Haven't noticed them
before yet there were quite a few of them
on the wing last evening ? Any thoughts from moth / butterfly experts out there ?

Half-cocked

Chimney Sweeper alright. Not a species I'm familiar with, not widely recorded in Ireland.

Bonedigger

Not seen in a garden, but in a wheat field - it looks like a Beautiful Golden Y (I find it difficult to distinguish between a 'Plain' and a 'Beautiful').

Half-cocked

^^^^^

Beautiful Golden Y. Nice photo.

Bonedigger

Half-cocked wrote: »

^^^^^

Beautiful Golden Y. Nice photo.

Thanks for that Half-cocked - I wasn't wholly confident I was right.

Half-cocked

Lime Hawkmoth in my garden this morning, possibly the 2nd ever Irish record:)

magicbastarder

would there be a breeding population here?

Half-cocked

magicbastarder wrote: »

would there be a breeding population here?

Not known. The 1st record was 8km away from my one back in 2010, so it might indicate a population somewhere in Dublin. If someone found larvae it would answer the question.

tombrown

Moth masquerading as a twig in Donegal (about 2" long)

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Or two moths even. I'm not great on moths but it looks like mating Buff tips.

tombrown

O yes - I can see that now. Shenanigans on the boiler house door

Half-cocked

Making baby Buff Tips.

splish

Cherry-bark Moth Enarmonia formosana on the back door yesterday.

Half-cocked

^^^^^

Not fair! I always get the drab faded examples.

The Hill Billy

We had a hummingbird hawk moth snacking on the lavender in the back garden this morning. Caught it on video, but very poor quality.

Half-cocked

The Hill Billy wrote: »

We had a hummingbird hawk moth snacking on the lavender in the back garden this morning. Caught it on video, but very poor quality.

Please report to Moths Ireland, really nice to see one.

The Hill Billy

Half-cocked wrote: »

Please report to Moths Ireland, really nice to see one.

Done.

Bonedigger

I had a surprise visit from a Hummingbird Hawkmoth to my garden in June.
They're fascinating looking creatures. I've already posted images of it to the 'Some pictures I took recently' thread, so you may have seen them already (thanks The Hill Billy - your post has given me the perfect excuse to upload one or two of these images again ).







I was unaware of the Moths Ireland website (it's a great site), so have also submitted a record of the sighting.

ncur

I am hoping a boardsie can identify this beauty that I found in my greenhouse this morning?

Bonedigger

It's a Garden Tiger moth (Arctia caja): http://www.irishmoths.net/pages-moth/m-2057.html

You're right, they are beauties!:)

ncur

Bonedigger wrote: »

It's a Garden Tiger moth (Arctia caja): http://www.irishmoths.net/pages-moth/m-2057.html

You're right, they are beauties!:)

Thanks Bonedigger, appreciate the id.

fryup

any idea what moth this is??

splish

Its a butterfly. Meadow Brown.

Bonedigger

This Square-spot Rustic (Xestia xanthographa) flew into the kitchen a week or two ago:

Half-cocked

Half-cocked wrote: »

Lime Hawkmoth in my garden this morning, possibly the 2nd ever Irish record:)

Here's some news: http://www.mothsireland.com/?p=925

Half-cocked

Caught a Pink-barred Sallow last night, first record for my garden.

ncur

My greenhouse is a moth magnet, here's another pretty one that I found yesterday, I think I'm right in saying it's a Brimstone moth?

Bonedigger

Very nice! Yeah, I think you're right, it does look like a Brimstone.
Half-cocked may be able to confirm that for you? While you're at it Half-cocked, can you confirm if the moth below is a Silver Y? It didn't look as reddish in colour as the Golden Y's. I didn't really want to disturb it, so didn't get a great shot. Is the 'Y' mark on the wings exclusive to Silver Y's?

Bonedigger

A couple of caterpillars I spotted in Pollardstown Fen yesterday:

Fox Moth caterpillar Macrothylacia rubi




Knot Grass Moth caterpillar Acronicta rumicis