Autumn Moths

 

The garden mothing season is coming to an end. I have tried putting the trap out through the winter but I see very few moths and nothing of real interest. I also now have to contend with the thought of wasting all that electricity to power the trap for a potential zero return.

My total for the year to date is 297 species with around 215 of those being caught in the garden. Not bad given my urban location although I do benefit from being on the south coast and thus the chance of the occasional migrant species. 

Looking back , the year could have delivered a better total but with a cold spring I was off to a poor start and later in the year I didn't get the trap out as often as I would have liked.

Even so, the last two or three months have still proved to be interesting with a few new species for the garden list amongst the usual autumn regulars.

Bordered Straw - Heliothis peltigera 

European Corn Borer - Ostrinia nubilalis

Scarce Bordered Straw - Helicoverpa armigera

These first three are possible immigrant species although they may now be able to establish temporary colonies along the south coast.

Four-spotted Footman - Lithosia quadra

The Footman was caught in a spiders web. I rescued it but it didn't last very long. I'm never sure if I should intervene or just let nature take its course. Spiders have to live as well but not when a new garden tick is a stake.

Fern Smut - Psychoides filicivora

Little Ermel - Swammerdamia pyrella

Toadflax Pug - Eupithecia linariata

Plus two new species trapped whilst spending a night up in Suffolk.

Hedge Rustic - Tholera cespitis

Centre-barred Sallow - Atethmia centrago

Numbers wise, there were still some good mothing nights but each year this autumn period seems to be dominated by four species, Rush Veneers, Heart and Dart, Light Brown Apple Moths, and the various Yellow Underwings. Most are in poor condition and emptying the trap in the morning can be a real disappointment.

Perhaps the only good news is that the number of Box Tree moths has fallen drastically this year, although this is probably because their food plant has all but disappeared in the area.

Some of the more interesting moths in the garden trap are shown below

Clancy’s Rustic - Caradrina kadenii

Common Marbled Carpet - Chloroclysta truncata

Flounced Rustic - Luperina testacea

Garden Tiger - Arctia caja

Green Carpet - Colostygia pectinataria

Peach Blossom - Thyatira batis

Pebble Hook-tip - Drepana falcataria

Plumed Fan-foot - Pechipogo plumigeralis

Red-green Carpet - Chloroclysta siterata

Satin Wave - Idaea subsericeata

and a Carnation Tortrix from Pagham Harbour.

Carnation Tortrix - Cacoecimorpha pronubana

One final moth, found waiting for me by the front door when we came home yesterday afternoon, a Vapourer. Most years I see plenty of them flying around the garden during the day. This year just one in early July and this one mid November.

Vapourer - Orgyia antiqua