Sadly the cooler conditions forecast did arrive yesterday, a shame as it has been a pretty good autumn so far. Hopefully it isn’t the end and some better trapping conditions will return later on in the week.
I’ve been trapping quite intensively recently trying to take advantage of the warmer nights while they lasted, mostly in the garden but occasionally up in the woods on the course when I’ve had a chance. This has resulted in some interesting captures. I noticed that one of my bulbs on a MV trap appeared to be duller than on my other MV so I changed it for a new one which was much brighter, this maybe also increasing the catch. The old bulb was the original I got with the trap and must be at least 8 years old. Do they lose brightness over time, I wonder?
Best moths seen were Four-spotted footman on the 3rd October (a female, my first of that sex and my second of the species for the year, is it about to become resident in the area?) and Pearly underwing (a very worn one) on the 2nd, only the second site record.
First for years included Black rustic, which has gone from zero seen to becoming quite numerous, where have they been? Large wainscot (a few), Acleris sparsana, Red-line quaker (1st Oct), Merveille Du Jour (2 on the 2nd Oct), Feathered thorn (2nd Oct), Deep-brown dart (also 2nd Oct), Beaded chestnut (just the one so far on the 3rd). Still a few regulars not recorded yet like Yellow-line quaker.
Unexpected second brood moths have continued to appear, with more Rosy footman, plus Yellow-tail, Buff footman, Riband wave, Small fan-footed wave, Mottled rustic and Beautiful hook-tip.
Still getting a few Flounced rustic, some of these being noticeably small individuals. Pine and Grey pine carpets have been numerous with some interesting colour forms of the latter seen. The Sallow is now regular with a good number of 4 trapped on the 2nd, all different forms.
A Western Conifer Seed Bug was found on the wall of the house close to where the trap was run on the 2nd, only the second site record here and the first live one. The first record a few years ago was of one I found squashed between a window and the frame, must have been hiding there when I shut it.
I also went out one evening down the lane from the house where I knew there were some patches of flowering Ivy. This was surprisingly unproductive with not many moths found, commonest species being Snout with around 20 seen, a reflection on the edge of field habitat I was walking through. Only 6 species were located, with the best moths found singles of Pale pinion and Agonopterix propinquella. On returning back down the lane, I disturbed 2 Badgers on the gravel drive of a house not too far from where I live. Not the best of views when I put the torch on them, just 2 grey hairy backsides shooting off rapidly up the track!
Neil