Garden Moth Recording 2011

Half-cocked

Caught last night - Lime-speck Pug???

littlebug

GMS Week 9?
It's a starry starry night in South Mayo so it may be another quiet one on the moth front.

Mothman

Half-cocked wrote: »

Caught last night - Lime-speck Pug???

It is

Been a frosty week here, but tonight is really mild - still 12C, so I expect good list in morning.

Some new species of year include
Pale Tussock
Small Square-spot
White-pinion Spotted....

I'd say there'll be a few others

littlebug

littlebug wrote: »

GMS Week 9?
It's a starry starry night in South Mayo so it may be another quiet one on the moth front.

although I've just had a peek and it's reasonably active out there with a few micros and macros flapping about so maybe some will go in.

Oh and a cat was having a peek in the box too :rolleyes:

Half-cocked

Bloody fox ambushing cockchafers coming to the trap:mad:

thebishop

Nice night here too. Temp still above 10c. One Brimstone and one White Ermine on outside of trap.

Gardener3

Clear and cool here but there's some activity round the trap - probably caused by the Emperor that bombed in and is now unsettling the other occupants!

Half-cocked

Anyone know what this is?

Mothman

That's a Bee Moth..take a look at page 13 or 15 (depending of edition) of Waring guide.

Trap report
After frost all week, GMS falls on a mild night again...with min of 10C. Quite fresh though which is not favourable.
33 species logged (only 20 on GMS list) but my 2nd smallest catch in overall numbers of this GMS quarter and a definite changing of the gaurd with no Clouded Drab and a number of season firsts. Pod Lover is a first for garden blown in with the easterly wind from the coast

1126 Ancylis badiana 1
1722 Flame Carpet (Xanthorhoe designata) 1
1725 Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet (Xanthorhoe ferrugata) 3
1746 Shoulder Stripe (Anticlea badiata) 2
1750 Water Carpet (Lampropteryx suffumata) 1
1759 Small Phoenix (Ecliptopera silaceata) 8
1778 May Highflyer (Hydriomena impluviata) 1
1834 Common Pug (Eupithecia vulgata) 2
1852 Brindled Pug (Eupithecia abbreviata) 3
1862 Double-striped Pug (Gymnoscelis rufifasciata) 1
1881 Early Tooth-striped (Trichopteryx carpinata) 3
1883 Yellow-barred Brindle (Acasis viretata) 1
1904 Scorched Wing (Plagodis dolabraria) 1
1917 Early Thorn (Selenia dentaria) 3
1951 Grey Birch (Aethalura punctulata) 1
1957 White-pinion Spotted (Lomographa bimaculata) 1
1958 Clouded Silver (Lomographa temerata) 4
2003 Pebble Prominent (Notodonta ziczac) 3
2006 Lesser Swallow Prominent (Pheosia gnoma) 1
2011 Pale Prominent (Pterostoma palpina) 1
2028 Pale Tussock (Calliteara pudibunda) 1
2063 Muslin Moth (Diaphora mendica) 2
2078 Least Black Arches (Nola confusalis) 7
2123 Small Square-spot (Diarsia rubi) 1
2162 Glaucous Shears (Papestra biren) 1
2167 Pod Lover (Hadena perplexa capsophila) 1
2186 Powdered Quaker (Orthosia gracilis) 8
2187 Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi) 7
2190 Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica) 9
2387 Mottled Rustic (Caradrina morpheus) 1
2425 Nut-tree Tussock (Colocasia coryli) 1
2450 Spectacle (Abrostola tripartita) 1
2469 Herald (Scoliopteryx libatrix) 1

Gardener3

Clear, cool and breezy for the GMS here, total of 54 moths of 19 species:

1759 Small Phoenix 2
1902 Brown Silver-line 1
1920 Scalloped Hazel 1
1931 Peppered Moth 1
1981 Poplar Hawk-moth 1
2006 Lesser Swallow Prominent 1
2015 Lunar Marbled Brown 4
2063 Muslin Moth white 2
2123 Small Square Spot 4
2186 Powdered Quaker 1
2187 Common Quaker 2
2188 Clouded Drab 11
2190 Hebrew Character 16
2469 Herald 2

Plus:
Emperor
Water Carpet
Ruddy Highflyer
Ringed Carpet
Red Chestnut
Brindled Pug
Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet

littlebug

it stayed fresh and cool here (min 7.3C) which resulted in few moths but some species new to me.
I'm not doing so well on identification this morning

Parsnip Moth?


Broom Moth?


After that I'm a bit stuck...




I also had one Muslin Moth, a Clouded Drab and one Hebrew Character and a micro that got caught
in a gust of wind before I could get a proper look but at a glance it looked like another agonopterix arenella.

thebishop

Best night here since GMS started.
White Ermin x1
Brimstone x 4
Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet x2
Peppeed moth x1
Clouded border x1
Hebrew character x3
Flame shoulder x2
Chestnut x2
Common Wave x1
Broken-barred carpet x1
I think I had one Small thorn but it flew off before I got a chance to check it.

Mothman

littlebug wrote: »

I'm not doing so well on identification this morning

Parsnip Moth?

Seems likely

Broom Moth?

Yes

After that I'm a bit stuck...

Common Marbled Carpet
Small Square-spot
Rustic Shoulder-knot

Beginners usually struggle with the latter, Common Marbled carpet is very variable and you'll probably become very familiar with Small Square-spot

littlebug

Mothman wrote: »

Common Marbled Carpet
Small Square-spot
Rustic Shoulder-knot

Beginners usually struggle with the latter, Common Marbled carpet is very variable and you'll probably become very familiar with Small Square-spot

I'd looked at Common Marbled Carpet as a possibility but decided against it I didnt even come close with the rustic shoulder knot and I should have got the small square spot but probably couldn't see the wood for the trees at that point!
Encouraged by all the new species on Friday night I've put the trap out again tonight. More clouds so far so hopefully it'll stay milder.

littlebug

My first Emperor Moth



plus a very pretty Peppered Moth on the back wall



and this... Early Grey or Glaucous Shears? I don't think the habitat is right for GS but I'm having trouble seeing the differences? Not a great pic. I'd need a ladder to get a better one.


Also in the trap 1x Powdered Quaker, 2x Hebrew Character, 1 x Broom Moth, 1x Garden Carpet.

Half-cocked

Wasn't going to bother tonight, but noticed a few moths circling around the kitchen window. 5 mins after setting up the trap, I have the following:

Clouded-bordered Brindle (?)


Brimstone


and the highlight of the evening for me, a male Pale Tussock

Durnish

is this a Pale Tussock, "captured" on a wall in Donegal?

Gardener3

Hi Durnish - its a Puss Moth

Mothman

littlebug wrote: »

and this... Early Grey or Glaucous Shears? I don't think the habitat is right for GS but I'm having trouble seeing the differences? Not a great pic. I'd need a ladder to get a better one.

It's a Glaucous Shears, seems to be turning up in may gardens this year...
Never had an Emperor myself

Half-cocked

Need help with these 3, I think the first one is a Rustic, but otherwise I'm lost!

Mothman

Half-cocked wrote: »

Need help with these 3, I think the first one is a Rustic, but otherwise I'm lost!

First one is a particular form of Clouded-bordered Brindle named ab. combusta

2nd usually causes problems, Rustic Shoulder-knot and the 3rd must be Grey Pine Carpet

Half-cocked

Mothman wrote: »

First one is a particular form of Clouded-bordered Brindle named ab. combusta

2nd usually causes problems, Rustic Shoulder-knot and the 3rd must be Grey Pine Carpet

Thanks Mothman, I had looked at Grey Pine Carpet and decided the colouration was wrong. I need to look more closely at the markings in future due to the variation in colour!!!

Mothman

Was wondering whether the weather would allow me to put trap on...but i've tied it down.

Lo and behold it's almost calm now and a mild 12C.

It seems the rain may miss me and if wind can remain low for some of the night, I may get a reasonable catch.

littlebug

I was thinking the same. There were some ferocious showers here earlier but it's dry now but still quite windy... appears to be calming a bit so the trap is out

Gardener3

Forecast isn't good but fingers crossed, a couple of half bricks in the bottom of the trap and a large upturned bucket over the sockets on the extension lead!!

Mothman

In the end it was calm all night!! with some rain and temp 11-12C, so once again the best night of the week weather wise.

Unfortunately, I'm having a problem with my nocturnal robins at my GMS site. I'm going to give it a break for 3 weeks and try again and if problem persists then give up for this year.
The problem is a very clean sheet with wings of large moths left. I have only used this site once a week but I did mention about this robin singing his heart out at midnight some months ago

45 species with highlight being a Satyr Pug which is a garden and 10k first

0892 Mompha subbistrigella 1
0893 Mompha epilobiella 1
0966 Cochylis atricapitana 1
0986 Syndemis musculana 1
1126 Ancylis badiana 1
1648 Pebble Hook-tip (Drepana falcataria) 1
1693 Cream Wave (Scopula floslactata) 3
1722 Flame Carpet (Xanthorhoe designata) 1
1750 Water Carpet (Lampropteryx suffumata) 1
1759 Small Phoenix (Ecliptopera silaceata) 13
1769 Spruce Carpet (Thera britannica) 1
1819 Mottled Pug (Eupithecia exiguata) 1
1828 Satyr Pug (Eupithecia satyrata) 1
1835 White-spotted Pug (Eupithecia tripunctaria) 1
1852 Brindled Pug (Eupithecia abbreviata) 2
1853 Oak-tree Pug (Eupithecia dodoneata) 1
1858 V-Pug (Chloroclystis v-ata) 3
1883 Yellow-barred Brindle (Acasis viretata) 1
1887 Clouded Border (Lomaspilis marginata) 1
1906 Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata) 2
1917 Early Thorn (Selenia dentaria) 1
1920 Scalloped Hazel (Odontopera bidentata) 1
1947x Engrailed/Small Engrailed (Ectropis bistortata/crepuscularia) 5
1955 Common White Wave (Cabera pusaria) 1
1956 Common Wave (Cabera exanthemata) 1
1958 Clouded Silver (Lomographa temerata) 3
2000 Iron Prominent (Notodonta dromedarius) 1
2003 Pebble Prominent (Notodonta ziczac) 2
2006 Lesser Swallow Prominent (Pheosia gnoma) 3
2011 Pale Prominent (Pterostoma palpina) 8
2028 Pale Tussock (Calliteara pudibunda) 9
2060 White Ermine (Spilosoma lubricipeda) 2
2069 Cinnabar (Tyria jacobaeae) 5
2078 Least Black Arches (Nola confusalis) 5
2102 Flame Shoulder (Ochropleura plecta) 1
2123 Small Square-spot (Diarsia rubi) 4
2160 Bright-line Brown-eye (Lacanobia oleracea) 1
2186 Powdered Quaker (Orthosia gracilis) 4
2187 Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi) 1
2188 Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta) 2
2190 Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica) 13
2236 Pale Pinion (Lithophane hepatica) 3
2387 Mottled Rustic (Caradrina morpheus) 1
2423 Oak Nycteoline (Nycteola revayana) 1
2425 Nut-tree Tussock (Colocasia coryli) 2

Mothman

I've just been given the suggestion to place some rubber snakes about the trap. I hope the robins don't know about the lack of snakes in Ireland

littlebug

Mothman wrote: »

I've just been given the suggestion to place some rubber snakes about the trap. I hope the robins don't know about the lack of snakes in Ireland

hope it works. The robin must have been very happy with the set up!

Is it too early for grey dagger?
It's a good job I'm not getting many moths as it's taking me so long to identify the few new species I have every week :rolleyes:

Mothman

littlebug wrote: »

Is it too early for grey dagger?

No!
Guide books are guides, this is a very early season....even earlier than 2007.

It's a good job I'm not getting many moths as it's taking me so long to identify the few new species I have every week :rolleyes:

First season can be hard and overwhelming. Very steep learning curve.

This was Gardener3 a year ago and look how much she knows now

littlebug

Todays count.... again small numbers but some new species. Min temp 10.2C.

On the wall were-
1 x Peppered moth
1 x Pale Tussock
1 x Grey Dagger

In the trap
3 x Muslin Moth
2 x Broom Moth
2 x Rustic Shoulder Knot (I think)
2 x Small Square Spot
1 x Garden Carpet
1 x Emmelina Monodactyla

and a couple of these.... so small I couldn't focus properly on it. I'm not even sure it's a moth:o. The only one I can find like it on Ukmoths doesn't appear on the mothsIreland database so I'll assume I'm wrong :rolleyes: