An Interesting Night's Mothing

As Tuesday was the last of the good weather for a while, I decided to fire up the moth trap.  It was an interesting night with several new species which were also new for the year (NFY) as well as regulars.

• Heart and Dart 7
• Flame Shoulder 1 NFY
• Codling 1NFY
• Marbled Minor 1 NFY
• Bright-line, Brown-eye 1 NFY
• Notocelia trimaculana 1 NFY

Bright-line, Bright-eye

Bright-line, Bright-eye

Codling

Flame Shoulder

Marbled Minor

Notocelia trimaculana

A Good Night's Mothing.

A Good Night's Mothing

I had a good night's mothing last night.  The temperature remained above 10C all night and it was a new moon so, basically, no moon which is good.  I was up at 5.00 this morning emptying the trap and annoyingly had two or three escapees before I could get them potted.  During the day I managed to ID those with which I was unfamiliar and then photographed them tonight, also suffering a couple of escapees.  Below are images of new moths for me plus the heart and dart which I photographed against a different background than previously.

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Heart and Dart

Poplar Grey

Poplar Grey

Poplar Grey

Rustic Shoulder Knot

Treble Lines

Moth Trapping

Moth Trapping

With the weather being so warm, I decided to set the moth trap last night.  It was probably my best session so far with 10 moths from 5 species, 3 of which were new to me.  So, 14 species for the garden this year so far.

• Light Brown Apple x5
• Heart and Dart  x2
• Clouded Bordered Brindle  x1
• Peppered Moth  x1
• Spectacled Moth  x1

The spectacle is a superb moth named after the 'spectacles' in it's fur above the head.  I remember studying the peppered moth as part of my evolution work as a student and was fascinated that as cities became more industrial and buildings and trees covered in grime, a dark version of this moth adapted and became successful because its dark colouring camouflaged it on the polluted surfaces.  The dark coloured or melanic form was not known until 1811.  Because predators were able to spot the light moths more easily, the dark moths were more likely to survive and reproduce.  The peppered moth case is an example of natural selection.  In this case, changes in the environment caused changes in the characteristics that were most beneficial for survival.

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Clouded Bordered Brindle

Clouded Bordered Brindle

Peppered Moth

Peppered Moth

Spectacle Moth showing the 'spectacles'

Spectacle Moth

Spectacle Moth

Mothing Disaster

A Moth Trapping Disaster

As it was a fine warm afternoon yesterday I decided to set the moth trap, despite the poor forecast for today.  I went to bed thinking that I would be OK, after all the weather is never as bad as the forecast.  At 4.00 am I was suddenly aware that it was raining; not just raining but siling down.  I shot out of bed and out in my pyjamas to gather up the trap and accoutrements.  Fortunately the egg boxes inside the trap were still dry.  I finally checked it at 7.00.  Only four moths but all different species, two that were new for the year (NFY):

• Common Quaker
• Heart and Dart
• Miller (nfy)
• Campion (nfy)

The next challenge came with the photography in the bitter cold and strong winds.

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Campion

Campion

Miller

Miller

Third Mothing Session

It was a very warn day yesterday and forecast to be warm overnight so another mothing session seemed in order.  The best yet; 11 moths of 6 species:

• Plume  1
• Hebrew Character 3
• Early Grey 1
• Small Quaker 2
• Clouded Drab 3
• Common Quaker  1

All seem rather worn, so I wonder if these species are getting to the end of their flight period.

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Common Quaker

Common Quaker

Hebrew Character

Hebrew Character

Hebrew Character

Small Quaker

Hebrew Character

Second Session with the Moth Trap

Last night I set the moth trap again and had a better catch.  I had 7 moths of 4 species:

• Early Grey   4
• Common Quaker  1
• Small Quaker     1
• Clouded Drab   1

Clouded Drab

Clouded Drab

Common Quaker

Common Quaker

Early Grey

Early Grey

Early Grey

Early Grey

My First Session with a Moth Trap

A good friend has lent me his moth trap to experiment with, so last night I set it up and left it running all night.  This morning it contained the magnificent total of three moths; not surprising as it is still early in the season.  I have also been told that moths prefer overcast or even drizzle, certainly humid, and to avoid clear starry skies as was the case last night.  After a bit of a struggle I identified my trophies as common quaker, hebrew character and earl grey moths.  What fantastic names moths have.  The next problem was to photograph them.  I have a collection of lichen covered twigs and branches which I can select from and carefully used a fine paint brush to transfer the beasts to my chose perch.  Another piece of advice I have been given is to chill the moths in the fridge for a couple of hours which causes them no harm but slows them down for photography.  It would have been helpful if I had done so as the earl grey constantly shivered its wings as the photograph shows.  I thought that it would settle down, but before I could change to a faster shutter speed, it flew off.  Ah well, we live and learn.  I thoroughly enjoyed the experience, though, and will be trying again.  It could keep me amused during this period of social isolation.
The Fuji 80mm macro lens was perfect for this job.

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Common quaker

Common quaker

Earl Grey

Hebrew Character

Hebrew Character

Hebrew Character

Hebrew Character