Essex Moths

Foreward

My Blog's aim is to promote and encourage others to participate in the wonderful hobby that is Moth-trapping.
So why do we do it? well for some people it is to get an insight into the world of Moths, for others it is to build a list of species much like 'Twitching' in the Bird world.
The reason I do it....you never know what you might find when you open up that trap!
I hope to show what different species inhabit our Country by getting people aware of what is out there.
On this Blog you will find up-to-date records, pictures and also a drop-down menu linking to the different species that I have recorded. (which can be found by clicking the drop-down menu above or alternatively clicking the scrolling Moth Gallery in the sidebar)
Again this is work in progress but I hope to aid some identifications and monitor population trends by doing so.

Please also check out the links in the sidebar to the right for other people's Blogs and informative Websites.

Thanks for looking & happy Mothing!

Friday, 5 February 2010

Moth Migration

Only last year was it known that Butterflies and Moths migrate just like Birds

We all know that we get an influx of migrants yearly from the continent, Butterflies such as the Painted Lady, Red Admiral and Moths such as the Silver-Y, Rush Veneer and Diamond-back Moth being the commonest.
Scientists now have tracked these insects flying back over across the channel!!

Here's a sound clip that might interest you...

Click Here

And the article

Click Here

New Species added to Database

Epermenia falciformis

Tortricodes alternella

Diamond-back Moth (Plutella xylostella)

Acleris emargana

Parndon Wood - Wednesday 04th February 2010

Another session at this beautiful Woodland, the weather looked just right so I went about setting up my gear.
I returned at 1am to my absolute amazement there were literally hundreds of moths....at the beginning of February! it was quite breathtaking and the next hour and a half was spent counting all of them as best as I could!
A new Moth for the site was recorded in good numbers, Tortricodes alternella.

Pictures
----------

March Moth

Tortricodes alternella

The sheet

Videos
--------

Catch Report Thursday 04th February 2010 Parndon Wood - 160w MBT Robinson + 40w Actinic w/Sheet
---------------------------------------

Macro Moths

212x Spring Usher
114x Pale Brindled Beauty
15x March Moth
9x Dotted Border
1x Mottled Umber

Micro Moths

36x Tortricodes alternella [NFY]

Thursday, 4 February 2010

A new Moth!! the Early Moth

This evening I noticed a Moth alight to my rear security light as it settled on the window of the back door, the shape from the underside screamed Winter Moth, I thought no it's abit late for one of those now and the wings look almost triangular in appearance.
On better inspection from the outside an Early Moth was discovered, bring my Garden total to 330 species of Macro Moth since March 2008.

Early Moth - indoors

Early Moth - on the window

Grass Moth guide (Crambidae)

The Berkshire Moth Group have a fantastic guide for identifying the group of Micro Moths classed as 'Grass Moths'

Check it out here

Thursday, 28 January 2010

New Species added to Database

Bordered Beauty

Bordered Straw

Bordered White

The Brick

Brigh t-li ne Brown-eye

Brindled White-spot

Parndon Wood - Wednesday 27th January 2010

Did a session at a local Woodland this evening from 4.30pm until 12am

Using a 160w MBT Robinson setup and 40w hanging Actinic along with a vertical hanging sheet and 2 ground sheets, I placed the Robinson one side of the sheet and supported the Actinic the other side of the sheet.

The weather wasn't great and persisted with showers and strong gusts but eventually did settle at about 10pm, mildish evening between 4 and 6c.

The catch was as follows and was surprisingly good with a few early species noticeably March Moth, some brilliant variations of Spring Usher and some pretty Dotted Borders too

Pictures
----------

Dotted Border

March Moth

Mottled Umber

Pale Brindled Beauty

Spring Usher

Catch Report Sunday 27th January 2010
Parndon Wood - 160w MBT Robinson + 40w Actinic w/Sheet
---------------------------------------

Macro Moths

3x Chestnut [NFY]
6x Dotted Border [NFY]
4x Mottled Umber [NFY]
2x March Moth [NFY]
14x Pale Brindled Beauty [NFY]
14x Spring Usher [NFY]
1x Satellite [NFY]

Micro Moths

None recorded

Friday, 22 January 2010

New Species added to Database

Blair's Shoulder-knot

Blood-vein

Blotched Emerald

Blue-bordered Carpet

Monday, 18 January 2010

First Moth record of the year!

10' or 2010 to be precise got off the mark last night.
I decided to use my 40w Actinic as the 160w MBT bulb does not seem to do that well early season.
I was greatful for a single Winter Moth at about 9pm... over four hours after i'd put the trap on.

I decided to turn the trap off at 12am as it once again got quite chilly and wet.

Catch Report Sunday 17th January 2010
Hatfield Broad Oak - 40w Actinic
---------------------------------------

Macro Moths

1x Winter Moth [NFY]

Sunday, 17 January 2010

Winter Moths

Lots seen last night whilst driving home from work at 9.45pm, surprising as it was quite foggy and not surprising most of them were coming to the headlights alongside various wooded areas along my journey.
Nothing to my security light last night which signifies that if I want to catch some Moths I think i'm going to have to go to them at this time of year!