Bradenham and Green Farm (2)

Adding to Peter's report below, another day-flyer noted at Bradenham was Nemophora metallica, one of three members of that family of 'long-horns' which it is well worth looking out for on flowers of scabious at this time of year.

Nemophora metallica, Bradenham 23rd July

Dave Wilton

Bradenham and Green Farm July 23rd

Did a bit of Striped Lychnis surveying today at both places, together with Messrs Wilton and Albertini. Highlight for me was seeing my first larva - a first instar around the flower tip - settling down to take a photo and then getting stung by a wasp. I'd knelt right next to a Common Wasp ground nest. Usain Bolt eat your heart out. Whilst surveying I also spotted the moth Sitochroa palealis and a little later Mister Wilton pointed out a Dusky Sallow. Plenty of other day fliers including Agriphila straminella, Shaded Broad-bar, Pyrausta aurata and a plethora of plumes. Peter Hall

Bradenham: Sitochroa palealis

Bradenham: Dusky Sallow

Green Farm: Striped Lychnis larva

Identification help

Hi all, Having a bit of trouble working out what these ones are as I'm just starting out, any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you :)
Sophie

End of summer nigh

As well as the garden looking like a desert I'm starting to get some of the species indicative of the end of summer: Square-spot Rustic and Copper Underwing have joined the mix over the last couple of nights for example. Seeing Dave's post mentioning Old Lady reminded me that I had an unusually early record of Old Lady flying around our outhouse in mid-June and have been seeing 1-3 individuals ever since that with 2 in the house one night a couple of weeks ago. Perhaps the most interesting moth of last night was a Pearly Underwing with a supporting migrant cast of Diamond-back Moth, Rush Veneer and Silver Y. Another pair of Garden Dart's and a second, smaller Toadflax Brocade also kept up the interest in an otherwise small and uninspiring catch. M Botham, Didcot

Garden Darts, 22/07/15 Didcot

More news from Westcott, Bucks

Further species added to the garden year list here over the past few nights have included Old Lady (19th, actually a daytime sighting when it was found flying around indoors), Least Yellow Underwing (20th) and Bucculatrix nigricomella, Epermenia chaerophyllella, Ypsolopha scabrella, Endothenia gentianaeana, Epiblema roborana, Plain Pug, Nutmeg, Broad-barred White, Straw Underwing & Small Wainscot (all last night, 21st).  I also had yet another Small Mottled Willow last night but no other migrants.  There are several 'big' pugs around just now which look really smart and are relatively easy to ID when fresh (I've seen Wormwood, Plain and Pimpinel over the past two nights).  The Plain Pug is illustrated below along with a very smart melanic form of Phycita roborella which came to the same trap.   

Old Lady, Westcott 19th July

Plain Pug, Westcott 21st July

Phycita roborella, Westcott 21st July

Dave Wilton

Shades of grey

Is this a melanic form of Eudonia mercurella?

And has anyone any ideas as to what this micro (or should it be nano) is?

Dave Ferguson, Beaconsfield

Fernham

I spent a couple of hours trapping in fields near by old haunt in Fernham (VC22) last night. An impressive 100 species were recorded in this short period, including a second site record of Kent Black Arches (Meganola albula). Also taken was this fresh and rather plain Depressarid, which looks to be a good candidate for D. sordidatella.

Yellow Shell

How unusual is this patterning on a Yellow Shell - I don't remember seeing one like this before. I suppose I am making a big assumption that it is a Yellow Shell with my record!

Rosy Footman and Treble Bar (hopefully)

I attracted my first Rosy Footman to the garden last night. A rather tatty specimen, but still a very pretty little moth.

Last September I received some help on this blog with identifying a Lesser Treble Bar - in particular, the sharp angle of the basal line. This time I think I have a Treble Bar. The basal line seems to me to have a much more rounded angle, and I also include a photo of the abdomen which hopefully confirms my id. I look forward to the expert's opinion.

Steve Trigg, Cookham

Micro query

I have one micro which I cannot locate,any help would be welcome. Many thanks. FW:5mm

Steve Lockey (Garsington)

2nd gen Toadflax Brocade

Had my first of the second generation of Toadflax Brocade in garden trap on night of 21st July. Saw it flying around the 'stumps' of my Toadflax plants that are just starting to show some recovery after having been completely devoured by 20+ larvae (I had to remove almost half of them and collect food plant as they had none left). Also had a garden first, Magpie Moth, which might not be so exciting to everyone else, but having trapped in various gardens for nearly 10 years I have never had a single one before and only see them, sometimes in good numbers, out in the countryside. I still reminisce about the days when I had them all over the currant bushes in our garden as a kid and it was really nice to finally get a garden record and in Didcot of all places. In fact Didcot is turning out to be a fairly surprising place. Moth numbers and species totals overall are fairly low, still, but some of the species turning up are quite good. I have had 3 Garden Darts over the last week for example. This is a moth I rarely see anywhere let alone in the garden and is another garden first. However, Ross Newham caught this species just up the road in Didcot when he used to live here a few years back, so I guess it was less of a surprise than it might have been. Migrants still elude me and I can only imagine what I might have caught had I still been at Lonesome Farm where I was in a bit of migrant highway. Marc Botham, Didcot

Magpie Moth and Toadflax Brocade to 20W CF actinic in Didcot on 20th July

Slight surprise.

I was slightly surprised to find, at my Chorleywood porch light last night, an Opostega salaciella, similar to the Pseudopostega mentioned below by Dave. I have regarded this as a species of rather more open spaces than a suburban environment. It is true that the larval foodplant, Sheep's Sorrel, exists in what is laughingly referred to as a lawn, but that's round the back of the house.

Not only is it small, it also has its eyes covered by eyecaps, shown in both photos. It is difficult to surmise why they are there.

With this moth was another:

Most moths that look like this are Cork Moths, but I'm not yet convinced and there are up to half a dozen less common alternatives. The future of this moth is not rosy....

Andy King.

Homefield Wood again

I made another visit to Homefield Wood near Marlow, Bucks last night, where the trees provided a good screen from the stiff SW breeze.  There was plenty of moth activity although very little from species that I haven't already recorded there this year.  Clouded Magpie was out in force with 23 recorded between the three lights.  Black Arches was also numerous and one of them I brought home to photograph because it looked rather dark and it turns out to be a melanic form which is illustrated in Skinner.

Melanic Black Arches, Homefield Wood 20th July 

It was also nice to see August Thorn and September Thorn side-by-side because I've struggled with this pair in the past and I'm sure others do too!  When at rest the August Thorn (upper) holds its wings at a lower angle and the two cross lines remain fairly widely spaced when they reach the lower edge of the forewing.  September Thorn (lower), which is a 'chunkier' moth, holds its wings higher and the cross-lines come much closer together at the lower edge of the forewing. 

 

Amongst the micros at Homefield Wood, Pseudopostega crepusculella appeared again and Monochroa cytisella was out in numbers (16 seen).  My best find, though, was what I hope is the crambid Pediasia contaminella which, if correct, appears to be only about the fourth record for Bucks.

 

Possible Pediasia contaminella, Homefield Wood 20th July

 

While at the wood I completed a torchlight survey of the dark mullein growing there.  More than 200 plants were checked altogether and eight Striped Lychnis caterpillars were found, one in BBOWT's meadow area and the rest along the main Forestry Commission ride.

 

Dave Wilton

 

 

More problems

The Yellow Underwings have arrived and yet another learning curve to get my poor head round. If I had to guess (which I do) I reckon all these are Large but grateful for confirmation or otherwise.

Tom Stevenson, Benson

Confirmations please

From a few days ago - I think the first two are forms of Agriphila straminella and the other one one of the Marbled Minor ag.

Mark Griffiths, Garsington, Oxford

Agonopterix for confirmation

Am I correct in identifying this micro (fw 10mm) as Agonopterix arenella? I disturbed it in my garage when moving some paint pots (DIY does have some benefits!).

Steve Trigg, Cookham

Green Pug posture

This Green Pug never laid its wings flat like a pug which was very confusing. Is this posture usual?

Dave Ferguson, Beaconsfield

Tussock?

Is this a worn Tussock?. It has the look of one but the markings don't look right. Help please!

Steve Lockey (Garsington)

Small Marbled

I checked my trap at 22:35 last night and found this Small Marbled resting on the top! very happy!!!!! Have many been trapped in Bucks?

Small Marbled 19/7/15 Milton Keynes

 Darren Seaman, Milton Keynes.

July Highflyer?

hi, this one is worn and I failed to pot it up - I thought it might be a JUly Highflyer which I've had a few times but it looked a bit too big. Can anyone confirm?

Mark Griffiths, Garsington, Oxford