Scottish Moths...

We have just been up to Speyside for the week. Hoping that I might 'jam in' on a Kentish Glory, the trap was duly packed along with a tub of the irresistible concoction called simply 'sugar' to dab on fence posts to draw out nectar feeders. Well, the best laid plans and all that, didn't cater for it still being winter up there with very few moths at all let alone the holy grail. Not to be beaten, the trap was on every night but the sugar is still in its container.. Only one night was blank when it was clear and -1.5. Three new species for me plus 3 nice Red Sword Grass that I have only seen once before.

Code	Taxon	Vernacular	Individuals
663	Diurnea fagella		1
1051	Acleris logiana		1
1750	Lampropteryx suffumata	Water Carpet	3
1881	Trichopteryx carpinata	Early Tooth-striped	21
1927	Lycia hirtaria	Brindled Beauty	1
1947	Ectropis bistortata	Engrailed	1
2139	Cerastis rubricosa	Red Chestnut	2
2187	Orthosia cerasi	Common Quaker	8
2188	Orthosia incerta	Clouded Drab	2
2190	Orthosia gothica	Hebrew Character	80
2241	Xylena vetusta	Red Sword-grass	3

Craignay, Dulnain Bridge.

The garden trap site.

Hebrew Characters, brown scottish ones. Some didnt have any markings.

Engrailed

Brindled Beauty

Acleris logiana

Early Tooth Striped

Red Sword Grass 

A different Red Sword Grass.

Normal Service will be resumed...

...once that northerly wind buggers off!

I have decided to postpone the trapping for the foreseeable due to the constant nagging cold northerly winds we are having. Last night 3 Hebrew Characters was little compensation for the effort. Looking at the forecast, that might mean several days of rest because there doesn't seem to be any change for the better over the coming week...

Off piste-but only just.

Least Black Arches

Dark Sword-grass

Last night myself and John Rutter did a couple of hours trapping on Lord Howick's estate, not far from home. After the poor weather last week and the slow results from the garden it was a last minute decision to go ahead...

We used a 125w mv Robinson and a 160w blended bulb over a sheet.

The Least Black Arches was the earliest in the county by 2 days.

8.30pm - 10.45pm

Taxa
0663 Diurnea fagella 1
1750 Water Carpet (Lampropteryx suffumata) 8
1852 Brindled Pug (Eupithecia abbreviata) 5
1917 Early Thorn (Selenia dentaria) 2
2078 Least Black Arches (Nola confusalis) 1
2091 Dark Sword-grass (Agrotis ipsilon) 1
2139 Red Chestnut (Cerastis rubricosa) 3
2182 Small Quaker (Orthosia cruda) 3
2188 Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta) 7
2190 Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica) 7
2256 Satellite (Eupsilia transversa) 1

1 pug to id.

40 moths of 11 sp.

Shark!

5 degree min 11pm but 7 degrees at dawn.

Just as things take a down turn, another new species appears. My first Chamomile Shark, only the 4th for VC68 and the earliest in the county by 10 days.

Taxa
0663 Diurnea fagella 1
0688 Agonopterix heracliana 2
1917 Early Thorn (Selenia dentaria) 1
2187 Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi) 1
2188 Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta) 1
2189 Twin-spotted Quaker (Orthosia munda) 1
2190 Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica) 7
2214 Chamomile Shark (Cucullia chamomillae) 1

15 moths of 8 sp.

Chamomile Shark

01/04/12 Another surprise new species...

A raggy arsed Oak Nycteoline.

6 degree min with full cloud cover.

VC 68's third record of Oak Nycteoline was a new species for me, in a very reasonable catch.. A very localised species in Northumberland.

Taxa
1663 March Moth (Alsophila aescularia) 1
1746 Shoulder Stripe (Anticlea badiata) 1
1750 Water Carpet (Lampropteryx suffumata) 1
1917 Early Thorn (Selenia dentaria) 3
2139 Red Chestnut (Cerastis rubricosa) 6
2179 Pine Beauty (Panolis flammea) 1
2182 Small Quaker (Orthosia cruda) 9
2186 Powdered Quaker (Orthosia gracilis) 7
2187 Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi) 1
2188 Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta) 5
2189 Twin-spotted Quaker (Orthosia munda) 1
2190 Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica) 33
2423 Oak Nycteoline (Nycteola revayana) 1 NEW

70 moths of 13 sp.