The first micro looks like one I had a while back that we were unable to identify - this time I've kept it.
The second actually died over night - it's small size has me foxed.
The third I've also kept.
The geometer - yet another form of Mottled Beauty.
Finally, possible candidate for Lesser Common Rustic (that one I didn't keep).
Mark Griffiths, Garsington, Oxford.
I think the third one is Celypha lucanana which has fooled me more than once.
ReplyDeleteFurther to the Robin problem I went to my Robinson trap the other day and from the noise expected the biggest moth you ever did see!. A Robin was trapped inside and was mighty glad to get out.
Hopefully then it won't come back! I thought I'd had a breakthrough yesterday - no Robin activity. Today there were two waiting for me. So I relocated. Both then turned up. I went to a third location and for the first time ever they had ago when I did the release (I thought that part of the garden was another robin's territory). I think in future I'll take the trap for release to the usual place but then give it an hour and return.
ReplyDeleteLooks like Enarmonia formosana for the first one, Engrailed for the fourth, one and possibly Common Rustic agg for the last.
ReplyDeleteMy problem is more with blackbirds than robins, although both are about!
ReplyDeleteI've found the best solution is to release the moths at dusk. Most will immediately take to flight whereas releasing during the day most will hide in vegetation which is no defense!
It's a faff because you need to pot all your moths, even ones you've seen and photographed before, but it seems to result in many more "escaping".
Talking of blackbirds, I've mentioned before, I have one male come in, despite a fly screen. to make sure I haven't missed any in the egg boxes, or trap. Last night I was dozing about 5 am, when I heard a tapping noise. When I opened my eyes, I found my blackbird had let himself in and was checking window sill for insects. I gently coughed and he strolled back to the window and let himself out, with a backward glance that said "thanks for all the moths".
Hi Mark, your first moth looks to be a good likeness for Grapholita lobarzewskii which, although seemingly becoming more widespread locally, is still quite a good moth and could do with having its bits examined to confirm the identity. The second is Phalonidia manniana, then as already stated you have Celypha lacunana, Engrailed and Common Rustic agg.
ReplyDeleteMy predator problem is frogs. I have had up to 9 waiting expectantly around the trap. A few years ago a Black Arches was sitting on the outside of the trap, very obvious again the wood of the Robinson and well within the range of an active frog but the frogs ignored it. That dazzle pattern works wonders. A month ago I found a froglet inside the trap. Goodness knows how a 1.5 cm long frog managed that.
ReplyDeletethanks everyone for the IDs and advice. I went out to find the Robin sitting on the garage to work out where I was going but I was allowed to sort in peace. I've now put the bottom part of the trap with the moths, covered up in the complete shade of the garden and a bit later I will go out and do the release.
ReplyDelete