Two nil returns during the past seven nights made it all the more surprising that I still managed to get a dozen species to light in the garden over the week. That total was mostly thanks to the one decent night (28th November) when 20 moths of nine species turned up: Blastobasis lacticolella (1), December Moth (3), Winter Moth (2), Northern Winter Moth (1), Feathered Thorn (1), Scarce Umber (1), Mottled Umber (9), Satellite (1) & Dark Chestnut (1). The other three to make up the dozen were Mompha epilobiella (29th), Agonopterix heracliana & Agonopterix alstromeriana (both 30th).
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| Agonopterix alstromeriana, Westcott 30th November |
I may pick and choose when I run the light from now onwards although generally speaking it is worth giving the first few hours after dark a try even if it is going to be frosty.
Dave Wilton Westcott, Bucks
I'm starting to get nil returns as well, Dave. On the 29th I got the season's first nil result for one of my traps and just two Winter Moths in (or rather, beside) the other. Last night was completely blank for both traps. Last night's result was hardly surprising with a full moon, almost-clear sky and temperature hovering around +1°C.
ReplyDeleteWe've got three months of very few moths now, but at least when December is out of the way we're into a new year and the list starts over again. Ah, the excitement ... will my first moth of 2021 be a Winter Moth or a Mottled Umber?!!
ReplyDeleteWith your extensive records, Dave, you could probably work out the odds.
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