Review of Moth Trapping in 2023

We were delighted that David Baker and David Laughlin were able to return during 2023 to set their moth traps in our garden. This is the 11th year they have carried out moth trapping in the garden and we are now up to 117 micro species and 253 macro species having been recorded here. You can see a full moth list on this link. I am always amazed at the beauty and diversity of the moths we get in the garden, just one example is the canary shouldered thorn moth pictured here.

David B has once again provided us with a full report of the moths trapped in 2023 – thank you so much.

Night 2023/1

After a long run of dismal results throughout the early spring period we delayed our initial visit until Saturday 26th May when things appeared to be be improving in our home traps. Temperatures were rising and we were hopeful again. The results are shown below.

49.166 Celypha lacunana  1
49.338 Cydia pomonella – Codling Moth 1
69.003 Laothoe populi –  Poplar Hawk-moth 1
70.036 Cyclophora punctaria – Maiden’s Blush 1
70.079 Thera britannica – Spruce Carpet 1
70.222 Petrophora chlorosata – Brown Silver-line 4
72.015 Calliteara pudibunda  – Pale Tussock 5
72.020 Spilosoma lubricipeda – White Ermine 3
73.158 Apamea sordens  – Rustic Shoulder-knot 3
73.264 Lacanobia thalassina-  Pale-shouldered Brocade 1
73.329 Ochropleura plecta  – Flame Shoulder 1

Night 2023/2

We returned on Saturday 10th June after a very hot and sticky day hoping for an increase in activity.
However, we were very disappointed with the catch next morning. Apparently the moths disliked the high temperatures as much as I did. Our poor catch is set out below.

49.004 Ditula angustiorana – Red-barred Tortrix 1
62.001 Aphomia sociella –  Bee Moth 1
63.025 Anania hortulata  -Small Magpie 1
69.003 Laothoe populi  – Poplar Hawk-moth 1
70.258 Peribatodes rhomboidaria – Willow Beauty 1
72.019 Spilosoma lutea – Buff Ermine 1
72.020 Spilosoma lubricipeda-  White Ermine 1
73.101 Charanyca trigrammica – Treble Lines 2
73.317 Agrotis exclamationis – Heart and Dart 5
73.333 Diarsia mendica – Ingrailed Clay 1

Night 2023/3

We ran the traps again on Saturday 24th June, the evening prior to Vanessa’s Wildlife Day, and arranged to retain a sample of specimens to be left with Paul Davis, and wife Ann, to be shown to any visitors to the Butterfly Conservation stand who may express an interest. Although the catch was not very large it did include 4 newcomers. Two of these were micros and two macros. The results of the trapping are shown below with the newcomers highlighted in red.

18.001 Plutella xylostella – Diamond-back Moth 1
28.014 Crassa unitella 1
45.030 Pterophorus pentadactyla –  White Plume 1
49.004 Ditula angustiorana – Red-barred Tortrix 2
49.038 Clepsis consimilana 1
49.166 Celypha lacunana 3
49.288 Epiblema foenella 1
49.338 Cydia pomonella – Codling Moth 1
63.018 Anania coronata 1
63.080 Chrysoteuchia culmella –  Garden Grass-veneer 12
66.003 Malacosoma neustria – Lackey 1
70.085 Cidaria fulvata – Barred Yellow 1
70.207 Lomaspilis marginata – Clouded Border 1
71.025 Phalera bucephala – Buff-tip 1
73.046 Subacronicta megacephala – Poplar Grey 1
73.092 Caradrina morpheus – Mottled Rustic 1
73.096x Hoplodrina octogenaria/blanda Uncertain/Rustic agg. 9
73.159 Apamea unanimis – Small Clouded Brindle 1
73.282 Hadena compta – Varied Coronet 1
73.291 Mythimna pallens – Common Wainscot 1
73.317 Agrotis exclamationis – Heart and Dart 2
73.342 Noctua pronuba – Large Yellow Underwing 1
73.361 Xestia triangulum-  Double Square-spot 1
74.003 Nola cucullatella – Short-cloaked Moth 1
74.008 Pseudoips prasinana britannica – Green Silver-lines 1

Night 2023/4

Our next visit was made on Saturday 08 July during a spell of warm, fine, weather. The Sunday morning count, when completed, showed that we had recorded 39 species including 3 new micros and just 1 new macro. As usual these are highlighted in red within the list shown below.

16.001 Yponomeuta evonymella – Bird-cherry Ermine 3
49.025 Pandemis cerasana  – Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix 1
49.061 Acleris holmiana 1
49.109 Agapeta hamana 1
49.144 Eudemis profundana 1
49.161 Celypha striana 1
49.166 Celypha lacunana 1
49.266 Eucosma hohenwartiana 1
49.269 Eucosma campoliliana 1
49.288 Epiblema foenella 1
49.294 Notocelia uddmanniana- Bramble Shoot Moth 1
49.338 Cydia pomonella – Codling Moth 1
63.038 Patania ruralis – Mother of Pearl 3
63.079 Calamotropha paludella 1
63.080 Chrysoteuchia culmella Garden Grass-veneer 15

69.003 Laothoe populi – Poplar Hawk-moth 3
69.016 Deilephila elpenor-  Elephant Hawk-moth 4
70.016 Idaea aversata ab. remutata –  Riband Wave [non-banded form] 1
70.093 Gandaritis pyraliata – Barred Straw 1
73.169x Mesapamea secalis agg. Common Rustic agg. 1
70.258 Peribatodes rhomboidaria –  Willow Beauty 1
70.265 Alcis repandata –  Mottled Beauty 1
70.270 Ectropis crepuscularia -Engrailed 1
70.280 Lomographa temerata  – Clouded Silver 1
70.299 Geometra papilionaria – Large Emerald 1
72.045 Eilema lurideola – Common Footman 16
72.053 Herminia tarsipennalis- Fan-foot 3
72.069 Laspeyria flexula -Beautiful Hook-tip 1
73.015 Autographa gamma- Silver Y 4
73.037x Acronicta tridens/psi Dark Dagger / Grey Dagger 2
73.046 Subacronicta megacephala -Poplar Grey 1
73.047 Craniophora ligustri -Coronet 1
73.096 Hoplodrina octogenaria/blanda- Uncertain/Rustic agg. 6
73.175 Oligia versicolor -Rufous Minor 1
73.267 Lacanobia oleracea – Bright-line Brown-eye 1
73.293 Mythimna impura – Smoky Wainscot 1
73.298 Mythimna ferrago  – Clay 1
73.317 Agrotis exclamationis – Heart and Dart 10
73.329 Ochropleura plecta – Flame Shoulder 1
73.342 Noctua pronuba – Large Yellow Underwing 23
73.343 Noctua fimbriata -Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing 1
73.348 Noctua janthe – Lesser Bd-bordered Y/Underwing 1
73.359 Xestia c-nigrum – Setaceous Hebrew Character 1
73.361 Xestia triangulum – Double Square-spot 2

Night 2023/5

A wet early morning was forecast for Sunday 30 July but we installed the traps as usual with hope that things would not be too bad. I was awakened at home at 0520 hrs by a heavy fall of rain which, thankfully, ceased by 0600 hrs and gave me a chance to carry out my moth-count at home before leaving for Stillingfleet. We managed the count without recourse to sheltering in the glass-houses and the list shows our results which, whilst not a long list, does show 1 newcomer to the site.

16.001 Yponomeuta evonymella – Bird-cherry Ermine 2
41.002 Blastobasis adustella 1
49.161 Celypha striana 1
69.003 Laothoe populi – Poplar Hawk-moth 3
70.011 Idaea dimidiata – Single-dotted Wave 4
70.016 Idaea aversata-  Riband Wave 1
70.016 Idaea aversata ab. remutata – Riband Wave [non-banded form] 4
70.036 Cyclophora punctaria – Maiden’s Blush 1
70.236 Ennomos erosaria – September Thorn 1
70.237 Selenia dentaria – Early Thorn 1
71.013 Notodonta ziczac – Pebble Prominent 1
71.020 Pterostoma palpina – Pale Prominent 1
72.009 Leucoma salicis – White Satin 1
72.019 Spilosoma lutea – Buff Ermine 1
72.024 Phragmatobia fuliginosa – Ruby Tiger 3
72.044 Eilema griseola – Dingy Footman 6
72.045 Eilema lurideola Common Footman 5
72.046 Eilema complana Scarce Footman 2
73.096x Hoplodrina octogenaria/blanda Uncertain/Rustic agg. 4
73.169 Mesapamea secalis Common Rustic 4
73.293 Mythimna impura Smoky Wainscot 1
73.328 Axylia putris Flame 1
73.342 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 22
73.345 Noctua comes Lesser Yellow Underwing 1

Night 2023/6

We set up on a fine summer evening on 12th August when trapping at home was bringing only moderate results. This was apart from an exceptional new moth for VC64 found in my trap that same morning. It was a Toadflax Brocade and except for a previous years sighting at Pocklington it would have been the most northerly sighting for Britain. Ah well, I was still highly chuffed with such a beauty.

So what awaited us at Stillingfleet? Well it turned out to be a reasonable catch with one newcomer, a Straw Underwing.

03.001 Triodia sylvina Orange Swift 1
16.002x Yponomeuta padella/malinellus 3
41.002 Blastobasis adustella 2
49.024 Pandemis corylana Chequered Fruit-tree Tortrix 1
62.048 Euzophera pinguis 1
62.077 Endotricha flammealis 1
63.089 Agriphila tristella 2
70.011 Idaea dimidiata Single-dotted Wave 1
70.036 Cyclophora punctaria Maiden’s Blush 1
70.141 Gymnoscelis rufifasciata Double-striped Pug 1
70.234 Ennomos alniaria Canary-shouldered Thorn 1
70.258 Peribatodes rhomboidaria Willow Beauty 1
71.012 Notodonta dromedarius Iron Prominent 1
72.024 Phragmatobia fuliginosa Ruby Tiger 2
72.044 Eilema griseola Dingy Footman 4
73.022 Plusia festucae Gold Spot 1
73.045 Acronicta rumicis Knot Grass 2
73.064 Amphipyra tragopoginis Mouse Moth 2
73.062x Amphipyra pyramidea agg. Copper Underwing agg. 1
73.084 Bryophila domestica Marbled Beauty 1
79.096x Hoplodrina octogenaria/blanda Uncertain/Rustic agg 1
73.109 Thalpophila matura Straw Underwing 1
73.169x Mesapamea secalis agg. Common Rustic agg. 3
73.325 Agrotis puta puta Shuttle-shaped Dart 1
73.329 Ochropleura plecta Flame Shoulder 1
73.334 Diarsia rubi Small Square-spot 3
73.342 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 76
73.345 Noctua comes Lesser Yellow Underwing 1
73.348 Noctua janthe Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing 4
73.359 Xestia c-nigrum Setaceous Hebrew Character 1

Night 2023/7

We turned up at just after 7 o/clock on the evening of Saturday 9th September on what was declared on the google-box to be the hottest day of the year. The sky to the south-east was turning into a darker, threatening colour, and as we left a few drops of rain fell on the car. By the time we had reached the roadway it was pelting down driven by a torrential wind. we continued driving through the torrent until reaching a clear and dry roadway at the A64 roundabout. There was no further sign of rain at all from there to home. On the Sunday morning we found that the traps had suffered a little but were not as saturated as we had dreaded. So we found a regular catch with one newcomer, a micromoth Tinea semifulvella, a woodland species often occupying bird’’s nests.

12.032 Tinea semifulvella 1
49.039 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 8

70.029 Timandra comae Blood-Vein 1
70.079 Thera britannica Spruce Carpet 2
70.097 Dysstroma truncata Common Marbled Carpet 2
70.235 Ennomos fuscantaria Dusky Thorn 7
72.024 Phragmatobia fuliginosa Ruby Tiger 1
73.062x Amphipyra pyramidea agg. Copper Underwing agg. 3
73.064 Amphipyra tragopoginis Mouse Moth 1
73.099 Hoplodrina ambigua Vine’s Rustic 2
73.131 Luperina testacea Flounced Rustic 1
73.186 Agrochola lychnidis Beaded Chestnut 1
73.193 Omphaloscelis lunosa Lunar Underwing 2
73.219 Atethmia centrago Centre-barred Sallow 3
73.291 Mythimna pallens Common Wainscot 9
73.319 Agrotis segetum Turnip Moth 1
73.329 Ochropleura plecta Flame Shoulder 2
73.342 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 27
73.343 Noctua fimbriata Broad-bordered Yellow Und/wing 1
73.345 Noctua comes Lesser Yellow Underwing 1
73.357 Xestia xanthographa Square-spot Rustic 3
73.359 Xestia c-nigrum Setaceous Hebrew Character 23

Night 2023/8

The numbers, of both species and specimens, had been decreasing over the last few weeks with the milder weather seemingly holding back the usual Autumnal moths. As David, my usual companion on these trips, was feeling the effects of his Covid and Flu injections earlier in the day I decided to take my single home trap to Stillingfleet to reduce the “carting about” between the usual 2 traps. As it turned out I was ably assisted by my wife, Pat, who acted as my minder on a quickly darkening evening.

At 0800 hrs on Sunday morning, 8th October, I was greeted by Vanessa and we went to inspect the trap. There were several species resting on and around the trap, the most conspicuous being a splendidly marked Boxtree Moth. This moth was not welcomed in this garden with its Box topiary owing to its reputation of larval damage done by this adventive species.
Some preventative measures will surely have to be taken but I agreed to remove the adults from the site. However, presumably they were only a small proportion of the moths in the adjacent areas. Good luck Vanessa.
The other newcomer, a Grey Shoulder-knot, was more welcome, it being a woodland moth with a larval diet centring on oak trees.

63.054 Cydalima perspectalis Box-tree Moth 3

70.079 Thera britannica Spruce Carpet 2
70.095 Chloroclysta siterata Red-Green Carpet 3
70.107x Epirrita dilutata agg. November Moth agg. 4
73.068 Allophyes oxyacanthae Green-brindled Crescent 1
73.068 Allophyes oxyacanthae Green-brindled Crescent[ab.capucina] 1
73.113 Phlogophora meticulosa Angle Shades 2
73.134 Rhizedra lutosa Large Wainscot 1
73.180 Tiliacea aurago Barred Sallow 1
73.182 Cirrhia icteritia Sallow 1
73.186 Agrochola lychnidis Beaded Chestnut 4
73.189 Leptologia lota Red-line Quaker 1
73.202 Lithophane ornitopus Grey Shoulder-knot 1
73.210 Eupsilia transversa Satellite 1
73.224 Griposia aprilina Merveille du Jour 2
73.233 Aporophyla nigra Black Rustic 3
73.342 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 2

After a long, lingering, head and chest cold in late October I decided on 1st November to halt our Stillingfleet trapping for 2023 and re-stored the traps in the garage for a good “sort-out” later on when health, and hopefully the weather, improves. Numbers at home had dwindled into single figures and the likelyhood of anything new seems very remote.
This leaves us with, subject to any erroneous counting, a total of 117 micro species and 253 macro species being recorded during our 11 full seasons at Stillingfleet. Where does time go?

Let’s hope that 2024 enables us to start again in late spring and add to these totals!