Catch Report - 19/03/12 - Farmland/Back Garden - Hertfordshire

Considering it was a clear sky and very cold again this morning with a ground frost, it didn't seem to affect the number's much, probably due to the day-time temperature peaking at around 14c then slowly dropping away until midnight.

133x Small Quaker's were the most numerous moth beating the previous highest of 87x individuals.

Nothing exciting and no new for year's.


Catch Report - 19/03/12 - 125w MV Robinson Trap - Back Garden/Farmland


Macro Moths

8x Twin-spotted Quaker
133x Small Quaker
24x Common Quaker
27x Hebrew Character
29x Clouded Drab
1x March Moth
1x Early Grey
2x Oak Beauty
1x Satellite

Micro Moths

1x Diurnea fagella
1x Agonopterix heracliana



Small Quaker












Twin-spotted Quaker

Catch Report - 15/03/12 - Balls Wood - Hertfordshire

Well I expected to be drowning in moths as I approached Balls Wood at 6.00pm with 14c on the car.

Sadly I got more in the garden that night!

I did stay for 3 hours as well until about 9.30pm

Did manage to pick up new for year's Brindled Pug, Yellow Horned and Shoulder-stripe though.
I have yet to trap a Pug in the garden this year...maybe tonight will change that.


Catch Report - 15/03/12 - 160w MBT Tripod + hanging vertical sheet - Balls Wood


Macro Moths

10x Chestnut
2x Shoulder-stripe [NFY]
12x Engrailed
3x Common Quaker
1x Satellite
5x March Moth
3x Hebrew Character
5x Clouded Drab
8x Yellow Horned [NFY]
3x Brindled Pug [NFY]
7x Small Quaker
5x Twin-spotted Quaker

Micro Moths

1x Tortricodes alternella
3x Diurnea fagella


Yellow Horned










Twin-spotted Quaker

Catch Report - 15/03/12 - Farmland/Back Garden - Hertfordshire

Another good night for numbers with 56x Small Quaker being the most numerous.

A getting slightly late Small Brindled Beauty was a surprise, and it was in fantastic condition.

No new for year's but I did get some lovely colour forms of Clouded Drab and my 2nd and 3rd Lead-coloured Drab for the year which I was pleased about.

The weather continues to stay very unsettled with cool mornings.

Apologise for the photo quality as it is very gloomy outside this morning, making photography hard!



Catch Report - 15/03/12 - 125w MV Robinson Trap - Back Garden/Farmland


Macro Moths

2x Lead-coloured Drab
3x Twin-spotted Quaker
56x Small Quaker
23x Common Quaker
9x Hebrew Character
18x Clouded Drab
3x March Moth
6x Oak Beauty
2x Chestnut
1x Satellite
1x Engrailed
1x Small Brindled Beauty

Micro Moths

1x Diurnea fagella


Lead-coloured Drabs










Clouded Drabs (showing huge variation in colour)











Diurnea fagella

Catch Report - 11/03/12 - Farmland/Back Garden - Hertfordshire

An absolutely stonking catch last night for the back garden with a grand total of 209 moths of 15 species and funnily enough the night was very cool and breezy but it must have been the day time temperatures that held just after dusk, as it was a hive of activity at about 7pm.
Best moths of the night included a single Engrailed, Oak Nycteoline and a superb Lead-coloured Drab and an absolutely mint one at that!
Small Quaker was most numerous with 87 examples followed by 37 Hebrew Character and running up in third was Common Quaker with 34 specimens to it's name.

Twin-spotted Quaker is always an early season favourite of mine and so it was nice to pick up two fresh examples of the same colour form.

Onwards and upwards I hope now!




Catch Report - 11/03/12 - 125w MV Robinson Trap - Back Garden/Farmland


Macro Moths

1x Lead-coloured Drab [NFY]
1x Oak Nycteoline [NFY]
1x Engrailed [NFY]
1x Early Grey [NFY]
2x Twin-spotted Quaker [NFY]
87x Small Quaker
34x Common Quaker
37x Hebrew Character
26x Clouded Drab
1x Dotted Border
3x March Moth
7x Oak Beauty
4x Chestnut

Micro Moths

2x Diurnea fagella
2x Agonopterix heracliana


Lead-coloured Drab










Twin-spotted Quaker's










Early Grey











Clouded Drab










Drabs








Engrailed








Hebrew Character

Catch Report - 08/03/12 - Farmland/Back Garden - Hertfordshire

A poor night by recent standards, considering it stayed above 6c all night.
The next trapping will be on sunday 11th and hopefully I will trap more than just 6 for 11 hours of light!


Catch Report - 08/03/12 - 125w MV Robinson Trap - Back Garden/Farmland


Macro Moths

2x March Moth
1x Small Quaker
1x Common Quaker
1x Chestnut

Micro Moths

1x Diurnea fagella [NFY]



Diurnea fagella

Catch Report - 01/03/12 - Farmland/Back Garden - Hertfordshire

Happy St.David's day and a memorable night for me as well with two species I didn't expect to find in my trap this morning, Ypsolopha mucronella and a Dotted Chestnut.
The Ypsolopha mucronella is my 3rd ever in 6 years and new for the garden.
The Dotted Chestnut is my 7th and first for my garden as well.

The rest of the catch comprised of the usual suspects.

The trap is now packed away for the weekend and possibly well into the week as chilly temperatures are once upon us (I wonder how many people made the mistake of planting bulbs already!)



Catch Report - 01/03/12 - 125w MV Robinson Trap - Back Garden/Farmland


Macro Moths

1x Dotted Chestnut [NFY]
3x Dotted Border
13x Hebrew Character
10x Satellite
1x March Moth
5x Oak Beauty
5x Pale Brindled Beauty
13x Small Quaker
1x Common Quaker
9x Chestnut

Micro Moths

1x Ypsolpha mucronella [NFY]
5x Tortricodes alternella


Dotted Chestnut












Ypsolopha mucronella

Catch Report - 29/02/12 - Farmland/Back Garden - Hertfordshire

Leap year night and so March is already upon us...how quick has this year gone already!
A very good night moth-wise with high numbers again, best moths were my first spring reecord of Grey Shoulder-knot and a single Small Brindled Beauty.
A rise from 2 (from the previous night) to 10 (this morning) Hebrew Character's was of note.

One more night of trapping for me tonight then i'm having the weekend off.



Catch Report - 29/02/12 - 125w MV Robinson Trap - Back Garden/Farmland


Macro Moths

1x Grey Shoulder-knot [NFY]
3x Dotted Border
10x Hebrew Character
10x Satellite
2x March Moth
2x Oak Beauty
8x Pale Brindled Beauty
4x Small Quaker
2x Common Quaker
10x Chestnut
2x Spring Usher
1x Small Brindled Beauty

Micro Moths

10x Tortricodes alternella
4x Agonopterix heracliana
1x Ypsolpha ustella


Grey Shoulder-knot











Ypsolopha ustella

Catch Report - 28/02/12 - Farmland/Back Garden - Hertfordshire

As we move towards the end of the month, things are really picking up in my part of the Country, an astonishing 82 moths of 15 species last night, including 23 examples of Satellite alone.
New for year was a single Clouded Drab.

Another mild night is on the cards for tonight.


Catch Report - 28/02/12 - 125w MV Robinson Trap - Back Garden/Farmland


Macro Moths

1x Clouded Drab [NFY]
2x Dotted Border
3x Hebrew Character
23x Satellite
1x March Moth
3x Oak Beauty
4x Pale Brindled Beauty
1x Small Quaker
1x Common Quaker
4x Chestnut
1x Spring Usher

Micro Moths

27x Tortricodes alternella
1x Acleris notana
1x Acleris cristana
9x Agonopterix heracliana



Clouded Drab












Small Quaker










13 of the Satellites











Acleris cristana

Catch Report - 27/02/12 - Farmland/Back Garden - Hertfordshire

Another mild night not getting below 9c, and yet another very pleasing catch including two new for year Agonopterix alstromeriana, a very pretty Depressariinae.
A total of 46 moths mainly made up by the ever variable Tortricodes alternella.

Easily the best 'Flying thing' was a huge Great Diving Beetle that was getting rather agitated trapped in the Robinson! Although as soon as I potted it, it settled down.

Catch Report - 27/02/12 - 125w MV Robinson Trap - Back Garden/Farmland


Macro Moths

3x Dotted Border
2x Hebrew Character
4x Satellite
3x March Moth
2x Pale Brindled Beauty
1x Small Quaker
2x Common Quaker
6x Chestnut

Micro Moths

2x Agonopterix alstromeriana [NFY]
19x Tortricodes alternella
1x Acleris notana
2x Agonopterix heracliana


Agonopterix alstromeriana












Great Diving Beetle

Catch Report - 26/02/12 - Farmland/Back Garden - Hertfordshire

After a very mild day with glorious sunshine, the night turned out to be quite cool indeed with a brisk South-westerely wind and temperatures down to 6c I didn't expect much to be in the trap except perhaps a few of the previous species.
But....I was really pleased with new for year Dotted Border, Oak Beauty and Hebrew Character.


Catch Report - 26/02/12 - 125w MV Robinson Trap - Back Garden/Farmland


Macro Moths

1x Dotted Border [NFY]
1x Hebrew Character [NFY]
1x Oak Beauty [NFY]
3x Satellite
1x March Moth
1x Pale Brindled Beauty
1x Chestnut


Micro Moths

1x Tortricodes alternella


Oak Beauty










Dotted Border










Hebrew Character

Catch Report - 23/02/12 - Farmland/Back Garden - Hertfordshire

A little cooler last night with slightly more wind evident. The catch once again blew all my expectations away with only my 3rd ever Early Moth and new for year singles of Common Quaker and Small Quaker.
I shall be having a break over the weekend and back to trapping on the Monday.


Catch Report - 23/02/12 - 125w MV Robinson Trap - Back Garden/Farmland


Macro Moths

1x Common Quaker [NFY]
1x Small Quaker [NFY]
3x Spring Usher
5x Satellite
3x March Moth
4x Pale Brindled Beauty
3x Chestnut
1x Early Moth

Micro Moths

4x Tortricodes alternella

Early Moth











Common Quaker










Small Quaker

Catch Report - 22/02/12 - Farmland/Back Garden - Hertfordshire

A cracking night with temperatures getting milder as the night went on, at 12am when I returned home there were Moths everywhere! and I duly potted up 16 there and then.
By the morning a grand total of 31 Moths were to be found including 2 new for year Micro Moths, Acleris notana and Ypsolopha ustella.
5 each of Satellite and Spring Usher headed the Macro list.
The trap is all set again for tonight which promises to be just as mild.

Catch Report - 22/02/12 - 125w MV Robinson Trap - Back Garden/Farmland


Macro Moths

5x Spring Usher
5x Satellite
1x March Moth
1x Small Brindled Beauty
1x Pale Brindled Beauty

Micro Moths

1x Ypsolopha ustella [NFY]
2x Acleris notana [NFY]
5x Agonopterix heracliana
1x Acleris cristana
12x Tortricodes alternella


Acleris cristana










Acleris notana









Ypsolopha ustella

Catch Report - 21/02/12 - Farmland/Back Garden - Hertfordshire

Things are slowly getting exciting! with 2 more new species for the year but what was supposed to be a very mild night with minimal wind turned out to be sporadically windy and quite chilly and down to 6c this morning.
Tomorrow and Thursday evening look the best nights this week to get some more Moth action.



Catch Report - 21/02/12 - 125w MV Robinson Trap - Back Garden/Farmland


Macro Moths

1x March Moth [NFY]
1x Satellite

Micro Moths

1x Agonopterix heracliana [NFY]


March Moth









Agonopterix heracliana

Catch Report - 16/02/12 - Farmland/Back Garden - Hertfordshire

Another mild night and the Moths came in 3x3 with 3 each of Chestnut, Satellite and Spring Usher.
New for the year was a single Tortricodes alternella, a moth I don't get very often in my garden, but where I have recorded 300+ individuals within mature oak woodland in a single night in previous years.
Very pleased with the last two nights of trapping but unfortunately it is not to last, as we are expecting a cold front for the next few nights into early next week, so the trap is packed away again!


Catch Report - 16/02/12 - 125w MV Robinson Trap - Back Garden/Farmland


Macro Moths

3x Chestnut
3x Spring Usher
3x Satellite

Spring Usher's









Spring Usher - Cryptic form








Spring Usher - Semi-melanic








Micro Moths

1x Tortricodes alternella [NFY]


Tortricodes alternella

Catch Report - 15/02/12 - Farmland/Back Garden - Hertfordshire

A great night last night, with 14 moths found this morning, including 1x Small Brindled Beauty, 1x Pale Brindled Beauty and 12x Chestnuts.
Pics to follow and the trap will be out overlooking the woodland once again.

Interestingly the second trap near the house scored zero!

Pale Brindled Beauty











Small Brindled Beauty

Slovenia Trip

Hi all
Looking at going away to Slovenia for a week again and staying here.

http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/rentals/moravske-toplice/20852

I shall be going from the Sunday 1st July for one week.

If anyone is interested in joining me then please let me know.

Regards

Catch Report - 24/01/12 - Farmland/Back Garden - Hertfordshire

Only the 4th trapping session of the new year and as we roll into a very cold start to February there is little pickings, and it just has not been worth articulating the trap into position and then proceeding to burn 125 watts of electricity for upto 10 hours.

On the positive side I managed my first 'Micro' Moth of the year, unexpectedly it turned out to be an Acleris cristana, not a common Moth for me.


Catch Report - 24/01/12 - 125w MV Robinson Trap - Back Garden/Farmland]


Macro Moths

2x Chestnut

Micro Moths

1x Acleris cristana [NFY]


Chestnuts












Acleris cristana

Spurge Hawk-moth - Chalk Pastel

Spurge Hawk-moth - Chalk Pastel, a photo by Bennyboymothman on Flickr.

Done recently by me whilst supporting special needs people at Art College with whom I work with.

Catch Report - 11/01/12 - Farmland/Back Garden - Hertfordshire

Much cooler this morning and with just one moth to count, things were looking grim indeed, luckily it was a nice fresh Spring Usher which is a new one for the year.
The next week looks very cold indeed and so therefore I won't be trapping.


Catch Report - 11/01/12 - 1x 125w MV Robinson Trap - Back Garden/Farmland


Macro Moths

1x Spring Usher [NFY]

Micro Moths

None Recorded


Spring Usher

Catch Report - 09/01/12 - Farmland/Back Garden - Hertfordshire

Well nothing of note, but 13 moths (7 of which were Chestnuts) was a good catch, using just my 22w Actinic about 80 metres closer to the woodland that overlooks my farm.
The MV the previous night situated in the garden attracted only 4 Moths, so I think again it proves that it is not the power of the light but the location.
Need some more cable now to reach right upto the corner of the woodland (more expense in the game of Mothing!)

Catch Report - 09/01/12 - 22w Actinic - Back Garden/Farmland

Macro Moths

7x Chestnut [NFY]
1x Mottled Umber
5x Winter Moth

Micro Moths

None Recorded

Catch Report - 08/01/12 - Farmland/Back Garden - Hertfordshire

A pleasing start to the year with 4 moths this morning, a bonus being all different species to get the species count off to a good start for 2012.
Best Moth was a single Early Moth, a Moth i've only recorded a few times before (this being my 3rd ever).
Mild conditions continue to dominate our weather systems with highs of 10c and lows of 6c expected over the next few days.


Catch Report - 08/01/12 - 1x 125w MV Robinson Trap - Back Garden/Farmland

Macro Moths

1x Early Moth [NFY]
1x Mottled Umber [NFY]
1x Winter Moth [NFY]
1x Pale Brindled Beauty [NFY]

Micro Moths

None Recorded

Early Moth (An overdue better picture of this species)










Pale Brindled Beauty

Catch Report - 22/12/11 - Farmland/Back Garden - Hertfordshire

Well I think that's it for the year now, just a few found this morning and to be honest not worth the electricity burnt all night! See you all in the new year!


Catch Report - 22/12/11 - 1x 125w MV Robinson Trap - Back Garden/Farmland

Macro Moths

2x December Moth
3x Mottled Umber
1x Chestnut

Micro Moths

None Recorded


Mottled Umber

Catch Report - 21/12/11 - Farmland/Back Garden - Hertfordshire

Mild again and averaging about 10c all night, so the trap was put out in some vain attempt in attracting something other than flies and beetles, indeed it did, by morning 12 Moths were found in and around the trap. Being the longest night as well made it about 1 moth per hour!


Catch Report - 21/12/11 - 1x 125w MV Robinson Trap - Back Garden/Farmland

Macro Moths

5x Winter Moth
4x December Moth
2x Mottled Umber
1x Satellite

Micro Moths

None Recorded

December Moth