The Autumn Moths

 

It has been a bit slow on the mothing front for the past couple of months and unfortunately a bit boring as well. The experience last autumn, when I started using the moth trap, was one of opening the trap each morning and finding new and exciting species to photograph and read up on. Not only has this autumns catch been almost identical to last years but the main excitement has come from counting the number of Box Tree moths in and around the trap. Counts in the thirties and forties were not unusual and even on poor days the Box were outnumbering other moths by around four to one. Not really what you want to see from an invasive pest species.

Then there is the guilt that goes with having to deal with the captured moths. Do I release them, knowing that a number of my neighbours have Box trees growing in their gardens, that are likely to be devastated, or do I kill them all. Easy choice really, it's not the moths fault that they are here, nor will my killing a few have any real impact on the outcome, and I can't face having to kill forty or so moths every morning. 

Anyway, they are quite a nice looking moth. - unless, that is, you grow Box trees.

Box Tree Moth - Cydalima perspectalis

Brown variant - about 20-25% of sightings.

So no Oleanders or Clifdens this autumn but still a few of the less common (for me) UK moths that are worth recording.

Barred Sallow - Xanthia aurago

Black Rustic - Aporophyla nigra

Common Marbled Carpet - Chloroclysta truncata

Red-line Quaker - Agrochola lota

With this Blair's Shoulder-knot being one of only two new moths on the garden list in the past couple of months.

Blair's Shoulder-knot - Lithophane leautieri hesperica

There have also been a few of the so called migrant species, especially during the last couple of weeks with warm southerly winds blowing. The best and also new for the garden being two Gems on the 24th October and a third on the 26th.

Gem - Orthonama obstipata

Olive-tree Pearl - Palpita vitrealis

There also seems to have been an influx of Rusty-dot Pearl - Udea ferrugalis and a couple of Blair's Mocha - Cyclophora punctata. Both of these put in regular appearances during the year so I would imagine there are local established populations as well as the migrants.

Also, one caterpillar in the garden. I think it might be a Hebrew Character

Possible Hebrew Character Caterpillar

Last year I picked up a few moths in in the garden during the first couple of weeks of November but then nothing until March. I think, if I am to see any of the winter moths, I will have to take my search out into the countryside and into the local woods.