Last Moth Evening of the year.
Saturday October 10th
Earlier Start time - 1630. All welcome, meet in the car park and see what was caught the previous night.
This event is free, but donations are welcome.
Wednesday 7th
Despite some forecasts it was warm last night with a minimum of 15.1°C. This gave good conditions for moth activity and the trap held 228 moths of 26 species. There was an emergence of Small Mottled Willows with 73 counted, mostly very fresh and clearly marked. Lunar Underwing was next with 58, followed by 23 Large Wainscots. Other migrants were six Rusty Dot Pearls, four Rush veneers and singles of Silver Y, Bordered Straw and Palpita vitrealis. There were no wasps.
Tuesday 6th
It was a bit warmer with a minimum of 10°C. The number only went up to 232 but the variety increased to 36 species. A very fresh looking Convolvulus Hawk-moth was the best along with a couple of Pinion-streaked Snouts. There were two Scarce Bordered Straws and one Bordered Straw.
Monday 5th
The night was cooler with a minimum of 7.6°C but there is hardly any moon and so moths are still active. There were 216 moths of 28 species. Dusky-lemon Sallow reached four and amongst the migrants were six Rush Veneers, four Vestals, three each of Rusty Dot, Small Mottled Willow and Scarce Bordered Straw plus singles of Gem, Palpita vitrealis and Radford's Flame Shoulder.
An indication of the evening dampness is the regular appearance of Great Silver Diving Beetles. Thankfully there was no repeat of the number of wasps.
Sunday 4th
Calm and clear again with a minimum of 8.6°C. It was another good catch of 168 moths of 32 species. After a quiet summer there were also a lot of wasps in the traps. Lunar Underwing totalled 79 and there was the first Feathered Thorn of the autumn. Feathered Brindle continued their good show with another 17. Migrants included four Small Mottled Willows, three Vestals and singles of Scarce Bordered Straw, Palpita vitrealis and Four-spotted Footman. The feeders trap added five Vestals, three Small Mottled Willows, two Rush Veneers and two Feathered Brindles of note.
Saturday 3rd
Essentially ideal conditions to the previous night being a very calm, clear night. There were 163 moths of 24 species in the main trap with half the catch being Lunar Underwing. A fresh Dark Spectacle was five days away from being our latest record, Feathered Brindles did well with ten, and migrants involved three Small Mottled Willow, two Scarce Bordered Straw, a Vestal, a Turnip, a Pearly Underwing and a Palpita vitrealis.
The feeders trap added three Rusty Dot Pearls and an extra each of Small Mottled Willow and Scarce Bordered Straw.
Friday 2nd
The sky cleared and the temperature went down to 7.7°C. The catch reduced accordingly but there was still a nice variety including some migrants. The first Brown-spot Pinion was the best moth as we did not get one last year. Large Yellow Underwing was down to just two.
Migrants included eight Rusty Dots, four each of Rush Veneer and Small Mottled Willow. The feeders trap added three more Small Mottled Willows, four Rush Veneers and a Vestal.
Thursday 1st
Last night was mild and humid with a minimum of 13.6°C It was an interesting catch with 196 moths of 39 species.
Lunar Underwing just beat Small Mottled Willow 41 to 35. Oak Rustic (of the white-marked form) was a first for the year. Musotidia nitidalis (Golden Fern) seems to be settling in the area and there was a first one for the main trap. There were also two Dusky-lemon Sallows, a species which is part of a recovery project we are participating in.
Migrants included three Palpita vitrealis , seven Rusty Dot Pearls, ten Rush Veneers, two Vestals and a Diamondback.
On the non-moth side there were two Western Conifer Bugs.