Cydia interscindana

Robin Knill-Jones had another example of Cydia interscindana to MV light in his garden in Denham, Bucks last night.

Thorns

 Based mainly on resting posture is the first of these September and the second August?

Andy Newbold, Sibford Ferris, Oxon.

Influx of Hoary Footman

Had at least half a dozen Hoary Footman in the trap last night in Sonning - in addition to a similar number of (not at all) Scarce Footman - the first of the year for me. I've only ever had the odd singleton of Hoary Footman before so either they are no longer just a coastal species or they were blown in on the winds last night. What do colleagues think?

Hoary Footman (Footmen?)

Yponomeuta rorrella?

 After seeing Dave's note about this species and having reviewed my photographs, I if this is Yponomeuta rorrella? I had two grey small ermines on 27th July. This is darker than Dave's I think but the terminum is grey and there is that little white patch in front. Can the ID of this one also be confirmed? Actually due to a mishap I still have one of the moths, it died a few hours after potting.

 

Mark Griffiths, Garsington, Oxford. 

Merrifieldia baliodactylus

This plume came to our outside lights last night at Loosley Row, Bucks. After consulting Colin Hart's book I think it's Merrifieldia baliodactylus given the dark line along the costa which ends in a narrow spot. 

Opinions welcome.

Thanks,

Nigel

Red-tipped Clearwing

 

A very nice surprise. I found this inside the house yesterday, resting on a doorframe. I don't have the pheromone lure for this species so was pleased that it had found its own way.

Westcott, Bucks

The fourth seven-day period of July proved to be another good week for moths in the garden with a further three nightly catches of 100 or more species.  Unfortunately our "heat-wave" period seems to have ended so further such results might be harder to come by now.  Last night (28th), after an afternoon and evening of heavy thundery showers, a brisk overnight breeze along with clear skies and a bright moon conspired to produce a very poor catch indeed for the time of year. 

     (22nd)  544 moths of 123 species; Zelleria hepariella, Metalampra italica, Aproaerema larseniella (retained for checking), Oncocera semirubella & Latticed Heath all new for the garden year-list.

     (23rd)  388 moths of 91 species; Plutella porrectella, Epinotia brunnichana & Ear Moth (retained) all new for the year-list.  

     (24th)  452 moths of 108 species; Yponomeuta rorrella, Prays ruficeps, Canary-shouldered Thorn, Dusky Thorn & Mouse Moth all new for the year-list.   

     (25th)  542 moths of 95 species; Bulrush Wainscot was the only species new for the year-list.

     (26th)  647 moths of 132 species; Tinea pellionella (retained), Aspilapteryx tringipennella, Phyllocnistis saligna, Epinotia nisella, Eucosma conterminana, Flounced Rustic & Straw Underwing all new for the year-list.  

     (27th)  464 moths of 78 species; Agonopterix liturosa, Slender Brindle & Lesser-spotted Pinion all new for the year-list.  

     (28th)  118 moths of 40 species;  Coleophora hemerobiella & Balsam Carpet both new for the year- list.

Here we are, still in the height of summer, but the appearance of the Thorns, Flounced Rustic and Straw Underwing suggests that autumn is only just around the corner as far as moths are concerned.

Eucosma conterminana, Westcott 26th July

Oncocera semirubella, Westcott 22nd July

Latticed Heath, Westcott 22nd July

Canary-shouldered & Dusky Thorns, Westcott 24th July

Lesser-spotted Pinion, Westcott 27th July

However, the best moth of this period appeared last night when there was little else going on.  At dawn an odd-looking smallish Carpet with its wings almost closed together was noticed resting on one of the conservatory windows next to the actinic trap so was potted up for later examination.  It proved to be the first visit here from a Balsam Carpet (albeit rather a tired-looking individual).  The closest habitat is likely to be in the River Thame between Chearsley and Nether Winchendon, three or four miles to the south, where I know there is Orange Balsam.  It becomes the garden's 447th macro species.

Balsam Carpet, Westcott 28th July

In the past I'd always lumped Yponomeuta rorrella with cagnagella, malinellus and padella as species that couldn't be determined on sight, but after consultation with experts locally it seems that if one is very careful this species can be safely identified.  Prior to the 24th I'd not knowingly seen it anyway and that seems to fit with it being seldom encountered in the UK other than during periods of migration.  While both malinellus and padella can also have grey scales to a greater or lesser extent on the forewing, on rorrella there is a greyish suffusion in the centre of the wing which is very consistent in its shape and the terminal fringe is also grey, but a thin strip of white remains along the costa with a slight "bulge" just before the dorsum.    

Yponomeuta rorrella, Westcott 24th July

On the 27th I had my first attempt this season at using a wine-rope at the front of the house (away from the lights in the back garden) and it brought in Mouse Moth (1), Dark Arches (1), Cloaked Minor (1) & Herald (3).  No sign yet of any of the larger species, although both Old Lady and Red Underwing could appear any time now and this method is often the best at attracting them.

Dave Wilton Westcott, Bucks

Toadflax Brocade?

I had what I think is a Toadflax Brocade in my trap in Abingdon this morning.  Confirmation would be welcome!

David

Toadflax Brocade © David Hastings

Sorry...

...but it's me again! 

The only thing I can make this into is Udea prunalis, but I haven't been able to find any images anywhere that show four white spots like this has, plus it looks too strongly marked in general, so I fear I'm on the wrong page again! However shape looks good as do white legs and whitish body, and FL of 12 mm is OK so...?! Comments appreciated as always.

Thanks

Phil T

Vitula biviella?

This pyralid from East Oxford on 25 July looks like a very good match to Vitula biviella (Pine-blossom Knot-horn). It really lacks any of the warmer colours that I am used to seeing on Ephestia spp. From the micro maps link, it has been seen in VC22 at least once, but (assuming it can be identified) is this another expanding species and are there more recent records from VC23?

Possible Vitula biviella, East Oxford, 25 July 2021

Worn Brown Scallop?

 Hi can you confirm if this is a Brown scallop please,very worn,and i think the other is a worn large twin spotted carpet,many thanks.

Mike Higgs Banbury

Cochylis hybridella?

 The closest I can get with this is Cochylis hybridella, but the habitat around here is certainly not chalk or limestone, so I'm unsure. Of the similar species in Sterling & Parsons, the closest is C. dubitana, but there is no dark streak at the base of the costa. FL 7mm. 

Bright and green

My first Tree-lichen Beauty last night, delightfully green.  And I wonder if the micro below might be Yponomeuta irrolrella rather than the Willow Ermine because of the positioning of its smudges.  Many thanks for help. Moths abound here.  Martin Wainwright, Thrupp, Oxon

Small Ranunculus?

 Size is borderline but the Large is not out until Sept/Oct? 

  Mark Griffiths, Garsington, Oxford.

Old Ladies and ID question

Good to see a group of around 40 Old Ladies in a huddle on what I believe is a sewage pipe under the A4074 through Benson. Caught this last night and having searched the book asking for help please. 2mm grid.

Cloaked Carpets?

 It's been a long time since I've posted on here but I'm still busy mothing at every given opportunity. Last night I had 60 Macro species which was pretty good and amongst them were what I'm pretty sure are two Cloaked Carpets. Woukd someone be kind enough to confirm this? The second year in a row I have caught them. I was also delighted to catch my first ever Drinker. What a funny little moth. I also had two Festoon and a female Black Archers.

Many thanks, Lorna Woolhouse, Checkendon, South Oxon 

Mainly pugs, with apologies

On the macro front, like many others, I've been plagued by pugs here in Wolvercote, Oxfordshire. I'm posting a few below - though first, an individual I absolutely know I've had before, but cannot for the life of my remember, or find, the species:

Unknown (but surely identifiable) macro, 22/7/21

On the pugs - these three all look fairly distinctive: the first, which was small but I didn't manage to measure, is probably a Double-striped; the other two I'm not sure about.

Unknown pug, 22/7/21

Unknown pug, 22/7/21

Unknown pug, 19/7/21

Finally, more in hope than expectation, any thoughts on the individual below - probably too far gone to identify, but one never knows. As ever, many thanks for any ideas and suggestions.

Unknown macro, 22/7/21

Steve Goddard

A few micros

Some good nights in the last week or so in my garden in Wolvercote, Oxfordshire, and inevitably that's meant getting somewhat behind in record-keeping. In the first twenty days of July, I had nearly 100 new for year - many of them species which in previous years were dead certs for June or even earlier. My year list is, I suspect, developing to be similar to or better than last year's, my first in this garden.

There are a few problem moths which I'm going to present in the hope of help in this and a couple more posts. First, some micros: the first, some 21mm, looks like and is the right size for Schoenobius gigantella, but I've got into trouble before for being too sure about that and similar species. The second looks like a gelechiid, but I can't work out which; and the third and fourth likewise I have ideas for - the Celypha lookalike looks very distinctive, but I'm not confident I've pinned it down.

Possible Schoenobius gigantella, 25/7/21

A possible gelechiid, c.5mm, 20/7/21

Maybe Celypha cespitana, c.8mm, 21/7/21

Possible Brachmia blandella, 21/7/21

There are a few, below, which I'm pretty unsure about - as ever, any suggestions would be welcome. They look, notwithstanding the dodgy quality of the photos, fairly distinctive, but I've drawn a blank. As ever, many thanks for any corrections/suggestions.

Unknown micro, 18/7/21

Unknown micro, 25/7/21

Unknown micro, 24/7/21

Steve Goddard

Still clearing up...

 ...after a mega catch five days ago, with one or two micros still causing me problems, so help appreciated as always.

This I have tentatively ID'd as Grapholita janthinana.

This I think is Bryotropha senectella

Horrible photo, but this I have as Rush Veneer

This I think is possibly Glyphipterix fuscoviridella

and finally 

I have no idea!

Thanks as always for any help.

Phil T