Five identifications

I found 10 of the first species in the trap this morning, but they all left me flummoxed, as have the other four sp below.  Ideas gratefully received.  Nearly 60 other species this morning!

Barnaby Briggs

1

2 sorry about the photo...

3 

4

5

Oak Eggar again

I wasn't expecting a garden record of Oak Eggar at Westcott, Bucks quite this quickly!  Wendy Wilson's captive-bred female from Otmoor was released here just eight days ago (see http://upperthamesmoths.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/oak-eggar.html) and last night a fresh female came to the garden trap.  She is definitely a different moth because there are subtle but clear differences in the shape of the discal spot and the width of the lighter brown area beyond the postmedian fascia.  Furthermore, this female has a 'normal' sized abdomen whereas the earlier one had lost a lot of body mass due to laying most of her eggs before she departed.  



Oak Eggar, Westcott 26th July

The Oak Eggar was actually one of three new macro species for the all-time garden list in last night's catch, the other two being a rather worn and tired-looking Chevron and a reasonably smart Small Seraphim.  The Chevron is mainly a woodland species and seems to be in decline locally although there are a couple of known colonies within five kilometres of here.

Chevron, Westcott 26th July

Small Seraphim, Westcott 26th July

One other smart moth which turned up last night was the Marbled Beauty illustrated below, of the yellow form rather than the more usual green.  Otherwise the catch was fairly typical of the last few nights with 130 species being caught (64 macro, 66 micro).  Other items new for the year included Phyllonorycter schreberella, Lyonetia clerkella & Flounced Rustic.  The late-Summer thorns are making regular appearances now (three each of Dusky and Canary-shouldered last night) and Agriphila straminella has moved quickly to take over the top slot as most abundant species in the trap (161 counted).  Riband Wave, Dingy Footman (replacing Common Footman) and Flame Shoulder are currently providing the highest macro returns.    
 

Marbled Beauty, Westcott 26th July

 

Finally, I should mention a couple of notable records from the Rothamsted Insect Survey trap at Marsh Gibbon, Bucks for which I've been identifying the catch for just over a year now.  On 6th July the trap caught a Lappet, while the following day produced an exceedingly early Rosy Rustic.

 

Dave Wilton

 

 

Underwings

Two different underwings here in the Ropbinson trap, if I've got my ID correct. A male Straw Underwing above and a Copper (or maybe Svensson's Copper) Underwing below. Has anyone else found that the latter are incredibly jumpy moths once disturbed, racing over the eggboxes (and my dressing gown) to get away from the light, once disturbed. All the time I have known them, thy have held the gold medal in this respect. Nice to have the calm and unruffled Vestal here too. Martin Wainwright, Thrupp, Oxon

Another New Garden Species...

Another possibly slightly overdue first for my garden with this Tree-lichen Beauty last night.

Also new for my bedroom list, this Canary-shouldered Thorn...

Dave Morris

A couple for ID

Sorry, these are bad pics and neither with a scale against them.

The first I thought might be Agripphila straminella, the second maybe Phycita roborella.

Mark Griffiths, Garsington, Oxford

Chrysoclista linneella

After Martin A.'s post a few days back, I have trapped what I believe is the above species in my Seer Green garden. I'm not aware, though, of any particularly nearby lime trees... it had a potting accident, but at the head end, so is retained.

At least my garden catches have been increasing in numbers over the last few days, although nothing close to our recent trip to Portland. Highlights (well, new for year, anyway) were August Thorn and Tawny-speckled Pug.

Lots of Coxcomb Prominents at the Burial Park, and a Large Emerald which was just nice to see.

Dave Morris

Confirmations Please

From last night, the first three I'm fairly confident on, the last one not so much.

I think I have Least Yellow Underwing (with a Lesser Broad Bordered Yellow Underwing for scale).

Oak Hook Tip

Straw Dot

Wood carpet - looks nothing like the one in Townsend but does look like other pictures I found.

Mark Griffiths, Garsington, Oxford.

Micro help needed

I have 3 micros that I would like some help identifying if possible.
The first one looks to me like Dioryctria sylvestrella (although I believe D. abietella is more common). The fw measured 14mm. Here are 2 photos.

The other 2 micros below I haven't managed to put a name to. Both have a fw measuring 6mm.

Steve Trigg, Cookham

Gigantic

This arrival gave me a surprise this morning. Apart from Mother of Pearls, it's one of the biggest micros I've seen. I hope I'm right in thinking that it must be Schoenobius gigantella. In the macro world, Ruby Tigers have meanwhile taken over as my main visitors (among many).  Martin Wainwright, Thrupp, Oxon

Quick query

Although the photo's awful (and I'm sorry for the lack of size indicators), I wondered whether the moth below from last night's catch in Wolvercote might be confirmable as a Bryotropha affinis (speckled scale effect, etc.) - or is the photo to blurry to be sure? Many thanks in advance. Steve and Xander Goddard.

Possible Bryotropha affinis, 23/7/14

Holtspur Bottom

Another trapping session at our reserve near Beaconsfield, Bucks last night didn't produce a great deal of interest although there were plenty of species flying (about 140 identified).  Amongst the macros, Ruby Tiger and Flame Shoulder were particularly plentiful, while Cochylis hybridella, Pyrausta aurata and the 'grass moths' were most abundant amongst the micros.  Tree-lichen Beauty was added to the site list last August so it was good to see that species again, a nicely-marked specimen appearing at one of the two traps.  Amongst the micros the highlight for me was finding Acompsia schmidtiellus, which I've not seen before (two were trapped).  This marjoram feeder is quite an uncommon species and there are only about four previous records for Bucks.  Mecyna flavalis put in an appearance and it was also nice to get Sitochroa palealis at both traps, a moth I used to see quite regularly five or six years ago but rarely since then.

While at Holtspur I took the opportunity to make a torchlight search of the 20 or so Verbascum nigrum (Dark Mullein) plants along the northern edge of the reserve and managed to find 33 Striped Lychnis caterpillars.  During the search I was surprised by how much Solidago (Golden-rod) there is so I'll have to keep an eye out for Golden-rod Pug which is rare in Bucks.  Its caterpillars appear to feed on Ragwort as well, which until recently has been in plentiful supply on site!  Dave Wilton

Tree-lichen Beauty, Holtspur Bottom 23rd July

Acompsia schmidtiellus, Holtspur Bottom 23rd July

Sitochroa palealis, Holtspur Bottom 23rd July

Confirmations and IDs please

These are from last night except for the last one.

I think I have;

Bird Cherry Ermine - on the basis of the number of dots
Dusky Thorn (no kink in the cross line)
Caddis fly or maybe Nematopogon?
Pyrausta aurita
Crassa unitella - but the antennae look wrong (2 pics)
Caddis fly or Nematopogon?
Least Carpet
Mouse Moth

Re the last one - repost - I assume this one isn't a Bird Cherry Ermine as it has less spots but maybe we can't go further than that. But even saying it's not a Bird Cherry Ermine would be useful as I can then seperate out Bird Cherry vs Small Ermine group (not Bird Cherry Ermine)


Mark Griffiths, Garsington, Oxford.

One and the same?

I think that this little visitor this morning (above), with what struck me as an unusual resting position, is Endotritcha flammealis and perhaps it solves the mystery - in my mind - of a moth which called two days ago (below). Are they the same? There seem to be lots of similarities although the earlier one was larger. There are differences in the pattern but I cannot see any macros which fit the bill. Mind you, there a lor of things I cannot see. Help much appreciated as always.  Martin Wainwright, Thrupp, Oxon

Up to Date!

I've finally managed to get up to date with my moth records and so allowed myself a fresh trapping last night. Nothing too exciting though Bryotropha affinis, White Plume, Copper Underwing and Small Rivulet were all new for the year. I'm left with a couple of rather worn moths that I thought I'd throw out there in case anyone can do anything with them. The Pug does look rather plain and was quite small (16mm wing tip to wing tip) and rather plain. The other moth has a distinctive shape and a yellowish hue.

mystery Pug

Unknown

Two for ID confirmation

Bit of a quiet night last night, two micros up for IDs.

The first one I think is Lozotaeniodes formosana, the second one I'm alot less certain about, possibly Euzophera pinguis?

Mark Griffiths, Garsington, Oxford

Four-spotted?

My Robinson trap has enough Footmen of various sorts every morning at the moment to staff Blenheim Palace and Waddesdon several times over, but this one today looked different. Am I right in thinking that he is a male Four-spotted Footman? I was also struck by the way this Gold Spot (I think, rather than a Lempke's GS) was sleeping, or at least completely comatose, with its forelegs dangling free. Martin Wainwright, Thrupp, Oxon

Garden firsts

Had a Webb's Wainscot on Sunday night in my Milton Keynes garden, also Ear Moth, presuming this is the only one of the ears in this area. Small China-mark and what i think is Diamond-back Moth along with a very weird looking Common Rustic agg? Cant find any matching this anywhere.
Darren Seaman, MK