More variety but few moths

The warmest day of the year yesterday, with highs touching 22 degrees, unfortunately the wind got up in the evening, and coming from the east, was blowing right into the garden.

A minimum of 5.6c was recorded at 6.10am this morning, still not warm enough for me, but it was warm enough by day to supply the garden with some great fresh emergences.

 

With a cracker of a 'twig-like' Mullein and the colourful Early Thorn present, both about on cue for arrival on this date.

My earliest ever Hawk-moth of any species was a nice surprise, my earliest Lime Hawk by 18 days, a record that has stood for 11 years. 

 

11 species was fairly typical for the first week of April here.

No time for netting on the patio (family film night) 

I may try this evening but it's a bit cooler today.

Moth garden list for 2025 stands at 48 species

04/04/25 - Back Garden - Fordham - East Cambridgeshire - Actinic Trap

Macro Moths

Early Thorn 1 [NFY]

Lime Hawk-moth 1 [NFY]

Mullein 1 [NFY]
Brindled Beauty 3
Clouded Drab 2
Common Quaker 2
Double-striped Pug 1
Early Grey 3
Hebrew Character 2
Small Quaker 1

Micro Moths

Emmelina monodactyla 1 

 

Mullein

Early Thorn

Lime Hawk-moth

 

Netting better than a trap

Warm days ensue, but cold nights abound sadly, pretty dreadful in my garden, being so flat and open (especially from the north & east).

Before the trap was lit on Thursday night and as I was feeling much better, I sat on the patio with my net and watched the paling evening sky towards the west.

Netting 10 moths of 8 species was very rewarding, 5 of which were new species for the year, though I was a bit annoyed that the Caloptilia stigmatella legged it during it's photoshoot, an uncommon moth in my garden with just one record in 2022.

 

Best moths were two different forms of Epermenia chaerophyllella and a fresh Agonopterix purpurea.

 

A very early Scrobipalpa was a surprise, an overwintering or freshly emerged ocellatella.

 

To the trap overnight, a similar amount of moths, with just 1 newbie, a fluffy male Muslin Moth.

 

The weather looking forwards continues the theme of warm days and even colder nights with a touch of frost!

Moth garden list for 2025 stands at 45 species

03/04/25 - Back Garden - Fordham - East Cambridgeshire - Actinic Trap

Macro Moths

Muslin Moth 1 [NFY]
Brindled Beauty 2
Clouded Drab 2
Common Quaker 4
Double-striped Pug 3
Early Grey 2
Hebrew Character 1
March Moth 2
Small Quaker 2

Micro Moths
 
Agonopterix purpurea 1 [NFY] (netted)
Caloptilia honoratella 2 [NFY] (1 netted)
Caloptilia stigmatella 1 [NFY] (netted)
Epermenia chaerophyllella 2 [NFY] (netted)
Scrobipalpa ocellatella 1 [NFY] (netted)  
Agonopterix arenella 1
Caloptilia semifascia 4 (1 netted)
Emmelina monodactyla 1 

 

 

Muslin Moth

Epermenia chaerophyllella

Epermenia chaerophyllella

Caloptilia honoratella

Agonopterix purpurea

Scrobipalpa ocellatella

Still poor nights but I had a trick up my sleeve for future nights..

Another warm day on Wednesday, although I was rather under the weather.

 

A small selection of moths were recorded when I eventually got out of bed. 

The best moth was a lovely fresh Angle Shades, and a very grey looking 'leady' Common Quaker, emphasing further, how much Common Quaker can be mistaken for Lead-coloured Drab.

 

Still warm days but bitter at night here in the east sadly, the net will be put to good use at dusk on the patio on calmer evenings to come.

Moth garden list for 2025 stands at 39 species

02/04/25 - Back Garden - Fordham - East Cambridgeshire - Actinic Trap

Macro Moths

Angle Shades 1 [NFY]

Brindled Beauty 1

Clouded Drab 3

Common Quaker 6

Early Grey 1

Hebrew Character 2

Small Quaker 1

Micro Moths

 

Emmelina monodactyla 1 

Common Quaker

Angle Shades

Quiet and cold nights

Still cold here in the east, with a frost this morning and lows of 1.6c, there were just 12 moths in the trap.

On Saturday night it was a little warmer at 8c and so the trap was deployed. Sadly the wind ruined it and the species count wasn't worth bothering with.

I did pot up a new for year Nut-tree Tussock though.

During the day I popped the EMP lure out for ther Emperor Moth, and within minutes there was one fluttering around it, potted up and calmed down for a quick photo, sadly it was the probably the most damaged of the trio! A further 2 came in after roughly half an hour, then the lure went back in the freezer (To as not to interupt the mating instincts any further).

Still cold and clear, maybe it'll pick up in a week or two.

Moth garden list for 2025 stands at 38 species

29/03/25 - Back Garden - Fordham - East Cambridgeshire - Actinic Trap

Macro Moths

Emperor Moth 1 [NFY] (To EMP Lure)

Nut-tree Tussock 1 [NFY]

 

Nut-tree Tussock

Emperor Moth

 

The trap takes a back seat.

A funny old week of weather last week, with some warm days, followed with some really chilly and breezy nights which has been utter crap for moths to light.

Fear not, because my secret weapon added (potentially) 2 new species for the year, and the kitchen and the bathroom yielded another two newbies.

Netting at dusk seems to always throw up a good moth or two and this week was no exception, with two Caloptilia species, one screams falconipennella, so that might be two in two weeks here which will be a garden tick.

 

In the bathroom was a Monpha and the kitchen harboured an Agonopterix, who needs a trap at this time of year, clearly not me as it's been rather a waste of electricity and early rises.

 

I did get a rather mint Red Chestnut though so it was all worth it.

 

Temperatures are rising again, but sadly not at night so it'll be back to dancing around the patio with a net, frolicking around like Mary Poppins!

Moth garden list for 2025 stands at 36 species

25/03/25 - Back Garden - Fordham - East Cambridgeshire - Actinic Trap

Macro Moths

Red Chestnut 1 [NFY]

Clouded Drab 2

Common Quaker 3

Double-striped Pug 2

Hebrew Character 2

March Moth 2

Small Quaker 1

Twin-spotted Quaker 1

Micro Moths 

Agonopterix arenella 1 [NFY]

Caloptilia rufipennella 1 [NFY]

Mompha subbistrigella 1 [NFY]

Caloptilia falconipennella 1 (TBC) 

Caloptilia semifascia 1 (netted)

Diurnea fagella 3

Epiphyas postvittana 2 

Twin-spotted Quaker

Agonopterix arenella

Caloptilia falconipennella possibly

Caloptilia rufipennella

Mompha subbistrigella

Red Chestnut

The Perfect Night

Well after a very warm day for practically mid-March, and highs of 20 degrees, the night promised to be overcast and mild, and indeed it was.

With winds easing at dusk and complete cloud cover, the minimum all night was 11.5c.

Precipitation was present but it was nothing to worry about and the humidity had increased by the morning with the light showers.

 

A thin layer of Saharan dust was also visible on the rain guard, sadly no exotic migrants.

What there was though, were plenty of moths!

 

A full 19 species made it the best night of 2025 so far (hardly surprising given how hard going it's been this year so far) with 63 moths noted.

 

7 new species caught me up a bit on last years total as well, and I predicted a few hours before that I will probably, in the first time in nearly two decades, catch a Brindled Beauty before a Pale Brindled Beauty. 

That realisation became apparent last night before bedtime, with a speckled Brindled Beauty nestled deep within an egg tray crevice.

  

A third Oak Nycteoline for the year was noteworthy, as was a lovely fresh Herald and a couple of decent micros to boot.

Also both Chestnuts were new for the year.

 

Getting a little cooler at night now for the forseeable, but nothing too drastic.

Moth garden list for 2025 stands at 32 species

21/03/25 - Back Garden - Fordham - East Cambridgeshire - Actinic Trap

Macro Moths

Brindled Beauty 1 [NFY]

Chestnut 1 [NFY]

Dark Chestnut 1 [NFY]

Herald 1 [NFY]

Clouded Drab 6

Common Quaker 23

Double-striped Pug 2

Early Grey 4

Hebrew Character 7

March Moth 3

Oak Nycteoline 1

Twin-spotted Quaker 1

Micro Moths 

Acleris kochiella 1 [NFY]

Caloptilia semifascia 1 [NFY]

Mompha epilobiella 1 [NFY] 

Agonopterix alstromeriana 1 

Agonopterix heracliana 1

Diurnea fagella 4

Emmelina monodactyla 3

 

Oak Nycteoline

Acleris kochiella

Brindled Beauty

Caloptilia semifascia

Dark Chestnut & Chestnut

Double-striped Pug

Herald

Mompha epilobiella

 

Warming up once more

A very quiet spell during the middle part of March, things have improved recently though with species reaching the double figure mark, numbers still relatively low for the time of year though.

On Wednesday night the pick of catch were 3 newbies, Clouded Drab (3), Double-striped Pug (1) & Small Quaker (1) all three are around 2 weeks late compared with last years data.

 

I'm also still down on last years species count, in fact i'm 18 species behind on this same date.

 

Only the Clouded Drabs were worth photographing really, as the DSP shot off during its photoshoot, and the Small Quaker was horribly worn. 

A second Twin-spotted Quaker was also nice, a sandy-coloured specimen this time.

 

And a rather smart vivid Hebrew Character was also nice.

 

At dusk I netted two Lyonetia clerkella, one dark form and one light form.

 

Looks reasonable tonight after a somewhat muggy and murky day.

 

Moth garden list for 2025 stands at 25 species

19/03/25 - Back Garden - Fordham - East Cambridgeshire - Actinic Trap

Macro Moths

Clouded Drab 3 [NFY]

Double-striped Pug 1 [NFY]

Small Quaker 1 [NFY]

Common Quaker 4

Hebrew Character 3

March Moth 2

Pine Beauty 1

Twin-spotted Quaker 1

Micro Moths 

Lyonetia clerkella 2 [NFY] - Netted at Dusk

Diurnea fagella 2

Emmelina monodactyla 1 

Twin-spotted Quaker

Clouded Drab

Clouded Drabs

Hebrew Character

Lyonetia clerkella

A cooler night of late

By this morning, the temperature had dropped to 5 degrees, not ideal.

The catch reflected this, with just 4 species noted.

Luckily a Twin-spotted Quaker was new for the year.

 

Today in that warm sunshine, and once the breeze had abated, the ARG lure attracted a year first Pammene giganteana, the first species to a lure this year.

 

It's looking a bit rocky at night now moving forward.

 

Moth garden list for 2025 stands at 21 species

08/03/25 - Back Garden - Fordham - East Cambridgeshire - Actinic Trap

Macro Moths

Twin-spotted Quaker 1 [NFY]

Common Quaker 7

Hebrew Character 2

Micro Moths 

Pammene giganteana 1 [NFY]

Emmelina monodactyla 1 

 

Twin-spotted Quaker

Pammene giganteana

 

Similar sized catch, more variety!

A really nice catch of moths last night to my garden trap, with plenty more inside the trap come dawn.

 

Numbers of Common Quaker and Hebrew Character increase slightly and some quality filters through, with Oak Beauty, Oak Nycteoline and a stunning Pine Beauty, what a smashing little moth. 

Temperatures are starting to dip at night from now on, tonight might be the last chance for a good week.

 

Moth garden list for 2025 stands at 19 species

07/03/25 - Back Garden - Fordham - East Cambridgeshire - Actinic Trap

Macro Moths

Early Grey 1 [NFY]

Oak Beauty 1 [NFY]

Oak Nycteoline 1 [NFY]

Pine Beauty 1 [NFY]

Common Quaker 8

Dotted Border 1

Hebrew Character 6

March Moth 1

Micro Moths 

Agonopterix heracliana 1

Diurnea fagella 1

Emmelina monodactyla 1 

 

 

Oak Nycteoline

Oak Beauty

Early Grey

Pine Beauty

A couple of recent catches as temperatures soar in the daytime

A very warm spell came over us from Monday, but it was still very chilly at night with frosts.

By Wednesday night however, things improved overnight, and temperatures remained in double figures making the moths move once more.

A good selection over the past couple of nights, certainly a vast improvement on the whole of February.

 

Species I have yet to see (that I get annually) Early Moth, Chestnut, Dark Chestnut & Pale Brindled Beauty, some are getting worringly past their peak flight period. 

Spring Usher is a rarity here, dipping on it last year, will it reappear in time in 2025?

 

Moth garden list for 2025 stands at 15 species

05/03/25 - Back Garden - Fordham - East Cambridgeshire - Actinic Trap

Macro Moths

Common Quaker 1

Dotted Border 1

Hebrew Character 2

Micro Moths 

Agonopterix heracliana 1

06/03/25 - Back Garden - Fordham - East Cambridgeshire - Actinic Trap

Macro Moths

Common Quaker 6

Hebrew Character 4

March Moth 7

Micro Moths 

Diurnea fagella 1 [NFY]

Agonopterix alstromeriana 1

Agonopterix heracliana 2

Emmelina monodactyla 1 

Hebrew Character

Common Quaker

Diurnea fagella

That's better!

With a slightly warmer night and minimums of 12 degrees, Friday night looked rather good for a spot of mothy action.

With 13 moths of eight different species, that is about as good as it gets in my garden this time of year, very pleasing indeed.

Highlight was a nice fat female Black-spotted Chestnut, a regular but sporadic moth here appearing usually in late October to mid-November, and then again mid-February to late March.

Two Tortricodes alternella were noteworthy, I usually struggle with these and I might get 1 or 2 a year, so 2 in a night was rather good going, a predominantly woodland moth from my experience.

The macros and micros stand at 7 species a piece for the year.

Moth garden list for 2025 stands at 14 species

21/02/25 - Back Garden - Fordham - East Cambridgeshire - Actinic Trap

Macro Moths

Black-spotted Chestnut 1 [NFY]

Common Quaker 1 [NFY]

Dotted Border 1 [NFY]

Hebrew Character 2 [NFY]

Micro Moths 

Tortricodes alternella 2 [NFY]
Agonopterix alstromeriana 1
Agonopterix heracliana 4
Epiphyas postvittana 1 

Tortricodes alternella

Black-spotted Chestnut

Common Quaker

Dotted Border

Hebrew Character

Hebrew Character

3 weeks fallow

It's seemed like yonks since I last ran my garden moth trap, not far off a month ago to be precise.

The last two nights have been fairly mild, with lows of between 8 and 12 degrees, pretty good for the end of February, the caveat was the keen south winds we are experiencing currently.

Unfortunately that's pretty much knocked the numbers on the head, with just a couple of moths to show for it. 

The smart Satellite was nice, the March Moth was a bit ragged from the wind though!

Tonight is worth a shot, but it will be wet and still windy. 

Moth garden list for 2025 stands at 9 species

19/02/25 - Back Garden - Fordham - East Cambridgeshire - Actinic Trap

Macro Moths

Satellite 1 [NFY]

Micro Moths
 

Agonopterix heracliana 1 [NFY]

 

20/02/25 - Back Garden - Fordham - East Cambridgeshire - Actinic Trap

Macro Moths

March Moth 1 [NFY]

Micro Moths

Agonopterix heracliana 1

Satellite

Agonopterix heracliana

March Moth