Monday 31st
Windy again and there were just 82 moths of 32 species. Silver Y's were down to two and there was one Diamondback. A male Oak Eggar was probably searching for the females which had been in the previous two nights.
Sunday 30th
The wind continued to pick up and the temperature reduced to 13.9°C. This resulted in a catch of 200 moths of 58 species. There was the first Six-striped Rustic of the autumn plus 11 Silver Ys and three Dark Sword-grasses.
Saturday 29th
Last night was fairly humid and of the same minimum. There were 367 moths of 85 species. Common Rustic agg, still rules with 99 individuals. There were six species of Wainscot - Common, Smoky, Southern, Small, Brown-veined and Twin-spot which was a good selection.
Friday 28th
Although breezy it was overcast which kept the minimum above 17.3°C. The catch increased to 267 moths of 67 species.
Although there have not been good numbers of migrants there was the second Convolvulus Hawk-moth for the year. Common Rustic agg. remained most numerous with 62. Two moths of note were a Jersey Tiger and a Pigmy Footman.
Wednesday 26th
Last night was wet and windy but the cloud kept the minimum at 15.8°C. Eighty eight of thirty eight species moths braved the conditions. Flounced Rustic plus Small and Webb's Wainscot were new for the year.
Tuesday 25th
Last night was cool, down to 9.2°C . This resulted in a catch of 180 moths of 45 species. Common Rustic agg. continued to be the most frequent macro with 27. There were three Silver Ys a Diamondback and a dark Dog's Tooth.
Monday 24th
The wind arrived Saturday night but was not quite as strong as forecast and the rain was no where near as heavy as expected, but the trap might not have been safe. Anyway Sunday night was dry and the wind reduced, even the minimum temperature increased to 14°C. There were 294 moths of 63 species. This included 12 Silver Ys, two each of Dark Sword-grass and Diamondback, plus a Rush Veneer.
Saturday 22nd
It remained dry last night but as the unsettled weather approaches it got a bit cooler at 11.5°C. Two traps were operated and both caught 181 moths! The car-park trap had 77 species and the Feeders trap 64 species.
Small Rufous, Brown China-mark, Rosy Rustic, and Brown-line Bright-eye were new for the year. The latter is not annual here. Other interesting moths were Pine Hawk-moth, Clancy's Rustic, and 15 Silver Ys.
Despite the vile forecast 17 intrepid people ventured out and got up close and personal with a good variety of moths added to by some extras brought in by a local moth-er from a different habitat. We avoided the showers but the trap will not be out tonight just in case the forecast is correct.
Friday 21st
Although it felt muggy a cooler belt of showers passed nearby and the temperature dropped to 12.5°C. The catch reduced accordingly to 284 moths but with still a good variety of 86 species. Diamondbacks reappeared with 11. Canary-shouldered Thorn was new for the year.
In the field the 'micro' Nemophora fasciella was found on its usual host Black Horehound. There are good numbers of Hummingbird Hawk-moths nectaring on any suitable plant
Thursday 20th
News from the previous night where one of the ones to be checked was shown to be our first record of Prays peregrina. This scarce moth was new to science in 2004. The good conditions continue with humid nights and a minimum of 16.4°C. Although the catch was down to 334 moths there were 101 species. The top two egg boxes held singles of five species of hawk moth, all in fresh condition, namely Pine, Eyed, Poplar, Elephant, and Small Elephant. New for the year were Small Blood-vein, Acrobasis suavella and Sitochroa palealis.
Unfortunately conditions do not look good for the weekend. We will still try for Saturday evening as the Moffice is reasonable size and we can keep out of the forecast rain. If it does rain and blow this will be the first moth night to be hit by such conditions.
Wednesday 19th
A return to more humid and less windy nights saw the minimum increase to 14.6°C and the catch increase to 384 moths of 95 species (plus a few more still to be worked out).
Broad-barred White, White-spotted Pug and Tree-lichen Beauty were new for the year in the main trap. Also new was the scarce pyralid Moitrelia obductella and our second ever record of the tortrix Eudemis porphyrana. European Corn-borer increased to 14 but migrants remain scarce e.g. eight Silver Ys and three Diamondbacks.
Hopefully this upward trend will continue as it is our next moth night this Saturday.
Tuesday 18th
The evening started unsettled but calmed down, the temperature still dropped to 12.9°C.
There were 193 moths of 54 species. Scalloped Oak and Brindled Plume were new for the year and Common Rustic agg. was most numerous with 24. There were seven Silver Ys, a Delicate and a Dark Sword-grass.
Monday 17th
After the stormy wind of Saturday it dropped enough to put the trap out on Sunday night. The breeze still had an edge to it and the minimum was 12.1°C. There were 217 moths of 48 species. This included a Clancy's Rustic, a Dark Sword-grass and eight Silver Ys. Although there were 14 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings there were no Langmaid's Yellow Underwings.
Saturday 15th
It was very windy last night but not a great deal of rain. A catch of 205 moths of 47 species was not bad considering. This included three Silver Ys and a Diamondback.
Friday 14th
The same minimum but more cloud saw the catch increase slightly to 238 moths of 63 species. Garden Tiger, Coronet, Angle-barred Pug and Dingy White Plume were all new for the year and the second generation of Reed Daggers put in an appearance.
The moth of the day graced a visitors trap with our second Sciota rhenella of the year.
Thursday 13th
The unsettled weather continues but it remains dry here. The minimum went down to 12.9°C and the catch reduced to195 moths of 49 species. Dusky Plume was new for the year and there were six Silver Ys and a Dark Sword-grass.
Wednesday 12th
Still breezy and a bit cooler at 14.3°C. The catch changed slightly to 387 moths of 75 species. The clear highlight was the third Splendid Brocade for the year. There were no new macros to note but the pyralid Phycita roborella was new for the year. Dark Arches maintained its top spot with 87 followed by 52 Chrysoteucha culmellas.
Tuesday 11th
Much breezier last night and the shower clouds were quickly cleared. Although the minimum was up to 16.1°C the catch was very similar in numbers with 335 moths of 77 species.
Fen Wainscot was new for the year.
Monday 10th
Although it felt humid it clearly cleared overnight and the temperature reduced to 12.9°C. This reduced the catch to 327 moths of 77 species. A couple of interesting migrants appeared with our second ever record of Sub-angled Wave and the first Vestal of the year. There were also 14 Silver Ys and two Dark Sword-grasses. Drinker and Dingy Footman were new for the year as was our first 'Rhubarb and Custard'- Oncocera semirubella.
A visitors trap added Speckled Footman to the list of migrants.
Sunday 9th
It remained humid overnight but there was no rain. The minimum temperature remained the same and so it was another busy trap. There were 775 moths of 147 species with a few more still to work out.
Apart from 19 Silver Ys and four Delicates the remainder of the moths were residents. New for the year were Magpie, Lackey, Rosy Wave and, best of all, our second record of Citron Plume. Also of note were 14 Bright Waves, four Silky Wainscots, three Poplar Lutestrings and singles of Elegia similella, Anerastia lotella and Nyctegretis lineana. The first of the next generation of White-point emerged.
Saturday 8th
It remains dry but very humid here and with thin, high, cloud the minimum was 16.2°C. This brought about a big increase to 760 moths of 136 species. Despite the onset of a gentle south-easterly there were few migrants but plenty of local specialities. The highlight was a Sussex Emerald. Others included Aphomea zelleri, Pyla fusca, Anerastia lotella, Rhodophaea formosa and five Bright Waves. The 102 Dark Arches were exactly equalled by an emergence of Brown-tails (also 102). The latter might not be good news for the local brambles and hawthorns.
New for the year were Dusky Sallow, Mottled Beauty, Plain Pug and Channel Island Pug.
Friday 7th
The first time below 10 for sometime with a minimum of 9.5°C. That combined with a still fairly bright moon reduced the catch to 138 moths of 39 species. Lunar-spotted Pinion was new for the year. Common Footman, 27, fell just short of Dark Arches, 28.
For the first time for a few weeks there were no Delicates. There were seven Silver Ys and a Dark Sword-grass.
Thursday 6th
Last night the temperature dropped to 10.2°C and the catch reduced to 170 moths but increased to 49 species.
The only new species for the year was Anania perlucidalis. Common Footman increased to 15 and there were three knights in White Satin.
Wednesday 5th
A great rarity last night it rained heavily. At least the cloud covered the very bright moon at times.
Despite the conditions there were still 205 moths of 41 species. This included ten Silver Y's and a Pale Shouldered Brocade.
Today was very warm and the pheromone lures drew in a Lunar Hornet Clearwing and two Red-tipped Clearwings. The former reminded me of why I hesitated when I found one in a mist net all those years ago, they are superb hornet mimics.
Tuesday 4th
A slight improvement last night and the minimum temperature crept up to 12.2°C. There were 227 moths of 54 species. Dark Arches improved to 77 and for once there was a relatively fresh Pine Hawk-moth.
Such is the change in species and populations these days European Corn Borer, eight Silver Ys, five Delicates, two Dark Sword-grasses and a Diamondback could all have been locally produced rather than migrants.
Monday 3rd
It goes from one extreme to the other very quickly. At present there is a very bright moon and when the cloud clears it easily out competes the moth trap, also the temperature drops. Last night was down to 11.3°C and there were 103 moths of 40 species. Brown-tail was new for the year and there were four Delicates, a Silver Y and a Diamondback.
Sunday 2nd
The night started cloudy and muggy before the sky cleared and the temperature went down to 12.5°C. The warm start gave another excellent night with 961 moths of 105 species.
Sadly, because they only survive one night, 456 of these were Water Veneers. The highlights were our second ever Cosmopterix scribaiella and our third ever Sciota rhenella. A nice unworn Goat Moth, a Rosy Minor and Anania crocealis were all new for the year. Five Delicates and a Clancy's Rustic were probably local. There were 15 Silver Y's and a Rush Veneer. Langmaid's Yellow Underwing led Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing four to three.
Saturday 1st
A bit warmer last night, at 16.8°C, helped by a bit of cloud and breeze. There were 500 moths of 60 species. Dark Arches returned to form with 181 and there were 52 Large Yellow Underwings. The migrant event was the first Convolvulus Hawk-moth of the year, there were also nine Silver Ys.
There was a nice photo of a Forester Moth, taken here, posted on the Kent Moth Group Facebook page. It is always good to get confirmation this species is hanging on here.