Dewick’s Plusia at Bradwell

Posted on 21 September 2012 by keith

Ran a trap last night the first time since the 8th. This being the most exciting time of the year for me when the weather is right, for migrant and unusual records. Very pleased, therefore, to find a Dewick’s Plusia in the trap along with Pearly Underwing, Dark Spectacle and White-point. 32 species in total including the first Brindled Green of the year. Silver Y continue in number at dusk with 13, but only one in the trap. 13 Angle shades at light making it the most common species at the trap

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Cost of running a moth trap

Posted on 19 September 2012 by Tony Prichard

Following a recent conversation at a moth night and a comment on an email group I got to wondering how much it actually costs to run a moth trap overnight.

The formula is quite simple to use as long as you know the cost of a unit (kWh) of electricity. If the following is not correct then let me know, my physics is a bit rusty.

Cost  = power of lamp in kW x kWh cost x number of hours

Assuming a unit cost of 15p per kWh (which is a little on the high side but will depend on your supplier/tariff.

Cost of a 125W MV lamp per hour = .125 x 15 = 1.875 pence per hour

Cost of a 40W actinic per hour = .04 x 15 = 0.6 pence per hour

Cost of a 15W actinic per hour = .015 x 15 = .225 pence per hour

The following table summarises approximate costs for a range of running times. Values are rounded to nearest 0.5p

125W MV 40W actinic 15W actinic
Cost for 8 hours 15p 5p 2p
Cost for 10 hours 18.5p 6p 2p
Cost for 12 hours 22.5p 7p 2.5p

Personally I’ll continue splashing out the higher cost for the MV the extra moths are worth the expense :-) .

Tony

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Toadflax Brocade larvae in south Ipswich

Posted on 18 September 2012 by Tony Prichard

I’ve just had a report of a Toadflax Brocade sighting from a south Ipswich garden, where it was feeding on Purple Toadflax. I’ve had problems tracking down the larvae of this species in the last few years in Suffolk so this is good news.  Something to keep alert for if you come across any Yellow or Purple Toadflax.

Tony

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A splash of autumn colour in the trap.

Posted on 16 September 2012 by Neil

More of the autumnal species appeared at the single trap I ran in the garden last night – Sallow (2) and Red-green carpet (3). Also 4 Feathered ranunculus.
Just waiting now for the large patch of Ivy to come into flower in the garden, I normally get a nice selection of the autumnal moths on that.

Neil

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Sudbury area, some larvae – 15th September 2012

Posted on 16 September 2012 by Tony Prichard

I was out doing some day-time searching for larvae and leaf-mines yesterday in the Sudbury area. I’d say that both currently appear to be a bit thin on the ground. From the larvae I’ve seen at this site and others I’d guess that the season is still running a week or two behind so maybe things will pick up shortly.

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SMG Moth Night – Dunwich Forest – 14th September 2012

Posted on 16 September 2012 by Tony Prichard

Four people turned up for this meeting – the last on the year’s programme. With the breeze appearing to come from the south we headed to our usual spot on the northern edge of the forest, although on reaching the site we realised that the wind was actually coming from the north but wasn’t too bad down on the track.

Seven lights were put out along and to the side of the track and for a change the sheet light did quite well. An early visitor was Webb’s Wainscot with a Brown-veined Wainscott a bit later. Moth of the night, Oblique Carpet, also turned up at the sheet – not a moth we’ve seen too much of in recent years.

Moth activity tailed off after a couple of hours with just under 40 species recorded in all. Other species of interest were Bulrush Wainscot, Pandemis corylana, Cochylis implicitana, Frosted Orange, Eudonia truncicolella and Buff and Dingy Footman.

Tony

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A few more autumn species and a migrant

Posted on 16 September 2012 by Raymond Watson

Now picking up the Black Rustic, Brown-spot Pinion and Lunar Underwing and a nice migrant by way of the Bordered Straw. A late Smoky Wainscot in good condition. Still an excess of Large Yellow Underwing but in addition to the common E. postvittana and C. lacunana the 15th saw three worthwhile micros, an Elachista apicipunctella and a Phyllonorycter and Gelechid both still to be identified.

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Numbers going down…

Posted on 15 September 2012 by Neil

Only moths of note from a very small catch on Thursday night (13th) were 2 more Brindled green, 2 Feathered ranunculus and 2 Autumnal rustic, the last two being my first records of those species for the year. Commonest moth in the traps Flounced rustic with 28 noted. Oh, and I almost forgot another record of Small square spot.

Neil

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Autumn is here

Posted on 12 September 2012 by Raymond Watson

With the coldest night this end of the year so far and following on from Neil’s Brindled Green I have a couple of Autumnal Rustics to bring the message home.
Only 24 species on the night of 11th from 2 traps. May have some warmer more productive nights before the real cold sets in and looking forward to the chestnuts in the hope of picking up the Red-Headed again.

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First decent catch of moths for September.

Posted on 10 September 2012 by Neil

First nights trapping this season for me with Large yellow underwing present in numbers (c.60 seen). Also good number of Square-spot rustic. Only moth I had that I would call a bit unseasonal was Lesser swallow prominent (4 trapped). Other moths of possible interest caught included: Crambus hamella, Adoxophyes orana, Small square spot (surprisingly the first site record since 2009!), Heath rustic, Lunar yellow underwing (2), Feathered gothic (10, a good number) and the first of the autumnal species Brindled green (2).

Neil

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