A Blog for moth recorders in Bucks, Berks and Oxon
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Thursday, 18 October 2018
December already!
My first December Moth turned up this morning, along with what I think is a Dark Chestnut?
Haven't trapped these before, but have been experimenting with Heath traps in different parts of the garden.
Hello Linda, I've only ever had one October sighting of December Moth locally out of 750+ individuals and that was on the 30th so your moth is definitely very early! This is a year when lots of records are being broken so I suppose it shouldn't come as too much of a surprise.
I'm reasonably sure that your other moth is indeed Dark Chestnut. While the sharp ninety-degree angle between costa and termen is perhaps not as clear-cut as usual, having lightened your picture in Photoshop the greasy appearance is obvious and the small lighter-coloured dots along the costa become clear too. I'm getting them regularly in the garden at the moment, both on ivy and in the trap.
Thanks Dave. Interesting to hear about timings for December Moth, but as you say, this is an unusual year. I found it very hard to get a decent photo of the Dark Chestnut....it was too dark!
Hello Linda, I've only ever had one October sighting of December Moth locally out of 750+ individuals and that was on the 30th so your moth is definitely very early! This is a year when lots of records are being broken so I suppose it shouldn't come as too much of a surprise.
ReplyDeleteI'm reasonably sure that your other moth is indeed Dark Chestnut. While the sharp ninety-degree angle between costa and termen is perhaps not as clear-cut as usual, having lightened your picture in Photoshop the greasy appearance is obvious and the small lighter-coloured dots along the costa become clear too. I'm getting them regularly in the garden at the moment, both on ivy and in the trap.
Thanks Dave. Interesting to hear about timings for December Moth, but as you say, this is an unusual year. I found it very hard to get a decent photo of the Dark Chestnut....it was too dark!
ReplyDeleteFirst 2018 December moth in Sibford last night (19th).
ReplyDelete