Still quiet here

Just 2 moths in the trap last night, Hebrew Character and this poorly marked one that has me scratching my head - help please. About 20mm head to toe.

Tom Stevenson, Benson

Live updates on Berkshire moths

For the Berkshire moth records we have set up a new 'activity' page on iRecord that shows all the moth records from the latest two weeks - this means that it can be used a bit like the "what's flying tonight" websites, but it's based on live data that gets updated as soon as the records are added to iRecord.

Click here to see the activity page, and you can choose from four different tabs:

• Summary - overall totals and map
• Species, which shows all the species recorded in the last two weeks,and can be sorted to find out which species has the most records etc.
• League tables - a bit of fun if you like that sort of thing!
• Trending - also a bit of fun, but includes a selection of the latest Berks moth photos that have been added to iRecord

For further info about this and other Berks moth activity pages see the Berkshire Moth Group website.

I think these activity pages are a great way of keeping up to date with what's happening in the county, but they do of course only show the data that is being added to iRecord. A substantial proportion of Berks moth records come in to the county database via other routes such as MapMate and via spreadsheets - that data is not shown on iRecord. For now, iRecord can only offer a partial view of moth recording in the county, but it has the great advantage of updating 'live' every time a moth record is added.

Here we go again

Further to my last post about the two Emperor moths hatching: the male spiralled off into the skies of Walthamstow on release yesterday but the female flew only a couple of yards to a fence where she remained all day. Come evening, there was no sign that she had attracted a male in spite of staying at her post through alternating sun, drizzle, heavy rain and even hail, all of which took their toll.

So we boxed her up again and released her in Thrupp this morning. Again, she went only a short distance and is now perched on a wall. I will check for suitors during the day but meanwhile, on examining the four remaining cocoons (and finding it impossible to tell which two are now empty), I discovered these, below. Whether they are fertilised or not, I do not know, but she spent some hours in the box with the male. He was from the same mother as she was, but I do not know if this makes a difference. Advice and experience always greatly welcome, though I'm not sure I've got the time to raise another family, so may tuck the eggs away in a hawthorn hedge.  Martin Wainwright, Thrupp, Oxon

Micro-moths and USB microscopes

Some of you may have noticed that there is now a wide selection of USB microscopes available. A quick search on Amazon, for example, will display a large number ranging from about £20 up to well over £100.
I thought I would try out one of the cheaper models to see if it could be a useful additional tool for helping to identify some of the smaller micro-moths. As well as displaying an enlarged live image on your computer screen, the microscope also has the ability to instantly capture the image - which is saved as a jpeg file.
Obviously, you are reliant on your chosen moth staying still under the microscope while you look at it. If it is a lively individual, you are back to keeping it in a pot and examining it with a hand lens.

My chosen microscope (the Maozua 5MP model listed as a best seller on Amazon) arrived a few days ago, and today I had an Epiphyas postvittana that seemed willing to sit quietly while I studied it. I have posted a couple of the resultant photos below - one image of the whole moth, and one showing detail from the head. I don't think they are too bad for a first attempt.

As the moth season progresses, I will report back on whether I think the USB microscope has been of benefit in helping with micro-moth identification, and hopefully post a few more pictures.

Steve Trigg, Cookham

At home and at work...

Since some recent nights have been conducive to putting the traps out, I have been doing exactly this.

No great numbers so far, but in my garden, only the second Angle Shades I have ever had at home (I've seen plenty elsewhere over the years, and it is one of my favourite moths...)

Also, I got a new 20W UV bulb at Christmas so I built another trap around it, and it went out last night at my place of work, adding Water Carpet and Frosted Green to my year list.

Dave Morris, Seer Green

Two poor nights on the chalk

Chalk downland isn't really the place to be at this time of year but I have three or four such sites on my list of monthly regulars for 2016 and if they don't get trapped in April then several of the early spring species will be missed.  On Monday night I visited a site not far from Stokenchurch which produced a reasonable 16 species, of which a pair of Dotted Chestnuts were the only real highlights although Acleris literana and Amblyptilia acanthadactyla were nice to see.  The plume is one of the few which over-winter and makes a change from the ubiquitous monodactyla.

Dotted Chestnuts, 4th April

Amblyptilia acanthadactyla, 4th April

Last night the usual three-hour session was spent on a hillside above Princes Risborough where unfortunately it seemed impossible to get out of the very annoying breeze (spectacular views to the west, though, even as far as Didcot power station!).  A mere ten species turned up, of which Early Tooth-striped and Ypsolopha mucronella were the only things of interest.

Early Tooth-striped, 5th April

Ypsolopha mucronella, 5th April

The garden hasn't produced all that much of late either, although Streamer (3rd) and Dotted Chestnut (5th) have been added to the garden list for this year.

Dave Wilton
Westcott, Bucks


 

Is this a Common Quaker?

Last night's garden trap here in Cookham had the moth pictured below, which I think is just one of the variable forms of Common Quaker, but I would like a second opinion as the dark dashes left me unsure.

Other moths in the trap were Hebrew Character (2), Clouded Drab (2), Epiphyas postvittana (1) and my first Brindled Beauty of the year.

Steve Trigg, Cookham

Two years on

A happy day: the hatching has happened of two of my remaining pupae from the brood of 25 Emperor Moth caterpillars I reared from eggs left in the trap by a female in May 2014. Today's were a male and a female and they are now at large in Walthamstow, on the fringe of Epping Forest, where I took them to show our granddaughter. She has a brother, hatched six days ago, so the timing was nice. Martin Wainwright, Thrupp, Oxon

Admin message

Now that the season is starting to warm up and some of you are returning to use the blog after an absence of several months, just a couple of little reminders:

Please don't forget to add a title to your post.  This should go into the long, thin box marked "Post Title" which is above the tool-bar, easily missed when you are keen to get on with typing your sightings.  If you don't add a title then Blogger does so automatically using the first few words of your report, which can sometimes look distinctly odd!  

Please also remember to mention your general location somewhere in the report and add your name at the end of it.   The name is important for those who receive e-mail notifications, who wouldn't otherwise know who the report is from, while the location is very useful because we cover such a large area with different habitats.

Finally, one or two people may still have issues with adding images, where the Blogger picture selection process works as advertised but for some reason there's a failure when trying to insert them into the report.  We've never really got to the bottom of why this happens, but if you are one of those affected then please consider uploading your report without the pictures and then sending any images to the admin address and we'll add them for you as soon as possible.

Down to earth

Much less numerous last night (well, it's not as though 14 individuals was a huge haul for the 3rd, but it was better than expected), with the only issue the rather undistinguished micro below: I'm thinking 'Cnephasia sp.', but if anyone knows better, do let us know.

Steve and Xander Goddard

Rather drab unknown micro, 4/4/16

First go with the trap in 2016

So we put the trap out for the first time this year in Wolvercote, Oxfordshire, on 3rd April, and had quite a good haul, considering. Actinic bulb only, but we managed nine species (assuming I've got them all right, which I think I have): Chestnut, Clouded Drab, Early Grey, Epiphyas postvittana, Hebrew Character, Herald, Pale Pinion, Powdered Quaker and Twin-spotted Quaker. Of those, four weren't caught in the garden at all last year, which feels quite promising. A few photos below, a couple just to check we've got them right.

Steve and Xander Goddard

Chestnut, 3/4/16

Hebrew Characters, 3/4/16

Herald, always a pleasure to see, 3/4/16

Despite their differences, I think both Pale Pinions, 3/4/16

Powdered Quaker, 3/4/16

Elachista canapennella?

As promised in last post here are some images of the unidentified moth from Warburg. I've looked at it over and over and think it might be Elachista canapennella. These are supposed to be out from April onward and the males are plain brown so seems to fit, but would appreciate opinions as not wholly convinced. Third image is a bit blurry but the only one I could get a scale bar of any sort in focus (each bar = mm) and so is really just to show size (~6mm). Marc Botham, Didcot

Bagworm...

Found a couple of these at Chiltern Open Air Museum this morning. From looking at pics on-line, it looks to me like Taleporia tubulosa but I'd appreciate other opinions.

Dave Morris, Seer Green

Radnage, Bucks

The Radnage, Bucks.  MV trap did well last night, no doubt ably assisted by the large male Sallow in good bloom nearby.

22 Hebrew Character, 12 Common Quaker, 9 Clouded Drab, 2 March moth, 1 Engrailed, 1 Twin-spot Quaker, 1 Dotted Chestnut, 1 Oak Beauty,1 Pine Beauty, 1 Diurnea fagella.

 Apologies to Peter as yet again no photo!

Ched George

Nice catch

Left some traps out at Warburg NR last night and despite getting absolutely soaked setting up had a fairly decent night with 30 species - quite amazing given how many 'expected' species were absent. 3 White-marked might well have been top moths had they not all been so worn as that, like Dave the other night, was my target and a moth I don't see very often - strangely no other species seemed to be that badly affected by the heavy rain. However, top moth for me was a female Oak Beauty. In the 15 or so years I have been trapping I have never seen a female of this species, even when I have had nights with over 100 males! So this really was worth getting soaked for. Other species of note were what seems to me like a fairly early Scalloped Hook-tip, Dotted Chestnut in every MV trap, Acleris logiana, and two micros which I am not 100% sure of identification yet, but one definitely seems to be Caloptilia populetorum and the other looks like an Elachista but also resembles Amphisbatis incongruella (will try and get some decent shots to post for opinions). Was also nice to see fresh Yellow-horned and Frosted Green side-by-side again for second year running having last year considered that to be unusual and a first for me, and my first of the year Brindled Beauties. Marc Botham, Didcot

Male and female Oak Beauties, Warburg NR 03/04/16

Yellow-horned and Frosted Green both showing the yellow horns, Warburg NR 03/04/16

Caloptilia populetorum?, Warburg NR 03/04/16

Tawny Pinion

A bit more about in Milton Keynes this week, including my second garden record of Tawny Pinion on Saturday night along with Brindled Beauty NFY. Ive been getting up to 10 species per night, Early Grey, Early Thorn, Shoulder Stripe, Common Quaker, Small Quaker, Twin-spotted Quaker, Double-striped Pug, Hebrew Character, Clouded Drab, Oak Beauty, March Moth, A heracliana, Diurnea fagella and E postvittana have all been caught.

Darren Seaman. Milton Keynes

There's a little more of interest about now

A trip out into local woodland for the usual three hours with an MV light last night produced 165 moths of 21 species.  The target was White-marked, of which I got four individuals, and Nut-tree Tussock appeared too.

White-marked, 1st April

Nut-tree Tussock, 1st April

Back at home the garden actinic brought in 59 moths of 10 species and they included my first Powdered Quaker of the year.  Amongst the others were two Heralds out of hibernation, a moth that is always pleasing to see.

Powdered Quaker, 1st April

Dave Wilton
Westcott, Bucks

Sorry I'm a little early!.

Amoungst the usual culprits last night this very welcome visitor. A Lesser Swallow Prominent if I'm not mistaken. Temp. up here last night 7.5 degrees.

Steve Lockey (Garsington)

Makes a change

If I'm not mistaken, a Pale Pinion joined the more expected cluster of Hebrew Characters and Quakers in this morning's eggboxes. I'm irredeemably hopeless on the small, brownish moths but I think the one below is a Small Quaker. It is certainly small. Apologies for the state of my thumb but it's my best shot at a scale provider.  Martin Wainwright, Thrupp, Oxon

Amphisbatis incongruella

I find it very satisfying to target a species and get it, which is what happened this morning at Stoke Common, near Fulmer in Bucks. Various books and websites state Amphisbatis incongruella flies in the morning in sunshine and is often associated with the various heathers, which is why I went to Stoke Common. I knew it was small, but it is a really tiny, dark unmarked brown and, in approaching two hours of searching, I only saw three definite flights. These were of about two or three feet, low down, from one heather to another. This is an obscure little moth! I originally caught it by sweeping the heather, but it was well over an hour before even that worked. The sun was in and out, so that might have influenced things, but I only encountered it between about 11.30 and 12.00-ish, so there is a good chance it hides deep in the heather for the rest of the time.
Good luck if you go looking for this one!

Andy King.

Psychoides verhuella

5 examples of Psychoides verhuella emerged this week from Hart's-tongue fronds collected from Adwell,Oxon in January. Thanks to DW for enlarging the picture. Pity it cannot show the purple sheen.

Ched George

They all count

Found indoors yesterday, this year's first of what I expect will be many examples here of Endrosis sarcitrella, the White-shouldered House Moth.

Endrosis sarcitrella, Westcott 29th March

Dave Wilton
Westcott, Bucks

Can I have a moth on my finger, please?

A granddaughter's visit and her request, above, prompted me to put out the trap for the first time in nearly a month (the mixed weather having been the main deterrent). Her finger was well occupied as a result, with arrivals including an Oak Beauty, a March Moth, several Common Quakers and Hebrew Characters and a Clouded Drab.  Martin Wainwright, Thrupp, Oxon

Scarlet Tiger caterpillar observation

Found my first Scarlet Tiger caterpillar this afternoon, curled up as I was weeding. I usually see them about this time of year on warm days on stems of plants that aren't their foodplant, usually a couple of feet up. I've found them in the past on rose suckers, pear suckers, and rosemary. I assume they are sunning themselves? I've seen them go up and then shortly after they descend.

This one was smaller than I usually see them - whether it's because they are smaller this year or if it's only the bigger ones that climb up I don't know.

As far as I can tell they are feeding on Herb Bennett, Geum urbanum - I've found them in several places over the years and that was more or less the only thing growing there. Previously I've found them on nettle and another time I think one was feeding on forget-me-not which seems to have now died out in the garden.

Brindled Pug?

Having seen the comments on Andy's poorly marked Brindled should I change my decision on what I

have down as a Double-striped Pug?

Steve Lockey (Garsington)

Brindled Pug?

As anticipated a much better night last night in terms of numbers of moths(30). However, my only new species for the year was this pug. I am not confident with pug identification but based on the UK moths website I have provisionally identified it as a Brindled Pug. I would appreciate confirmation before adding it to my records.

Andy Newbold, Sibford Ferris, Oxon.

Identifiable?

Is this crittur identifiable for GMS purposes?. My best guess would be Common Quaker.

Steve Lockey (Garsington)

Small numbers of moths in Longwick

My garden tends to not do too well early in the season - perhaps because the vegetation is restricted to hedgerows and shade trees predominantly with little of what could be called woodland.

Three moths last night - of three species. Common Quaker and Hebrew Character were at least joined by a Dotted Chestnut which gave a little more interest to the catch!

Andrew Kershaw

Oak Beauties

Results are slowly picking up in my Aylesbury garden now, but still only up to ten species. These two Oak beauties were a welcome sight yesterday! Dave Maunder

Oak Beauty, males, 22-3-2016