Mallow Groundling

 

I would like to be able to trap moths in the garden throughout the year but the period from mid November to the end of March has traditionally proved to be a waste of time. I have tried but other than the occasional Light Brown Apple Moth all I have managed to do is to waste a lot of electricity.

This year with a cold wet spring things have been even slower with the first signs of life being a Waved Umber and Ruddy Streak in the trap on the 29th April.

Waved Umber - menophra abruptaria

Ruddy Streak - Tachystola acroxantha

May has been slightly kinder but with the nights still being on the cold side, the catches have been small both in size and variety

The late start to the season also introduces further complication to the Quakers, Uncertain and Rustics where "date seen" becomes a less reliable indicator. The moth below has the strong cross band between the kidney marks, that I am looking for on the Uncertain but the longitudinal white lines on the outer half of the forewing would seem to indicate Common Quaker.

 

Common Quaker - Orthosia cerasi

Not so easy with the next one. I'm still looking for the Uncertain as it is early in the season but there is no kidney cross band and it looks more like a Rustic or maybe a Vines Rustic. I think I will have to go for the Vine's Rustic.

Vine's Rustic - Hoplodrina ambigua

Treble Lines - Charanyca trigrammica

Pale Prominent - Pterostoma palpina 

Knot Grass - Acronicta rumicis

Hebrew Character - Orthosia gothica

Freyer's Pug - Eupithecia intricata

Early Grey - Xylocampa areola

Yellow-faced Bell - Notocelia cynosbatella 

Narrow-winged Grey - Eudonia angustea

Least Black Arches - Nola confusalis

A couple of Mallow Groundling in the trap on the 24th May were my best find of the year so far. At about 8mm in length, they are not much to look at but they are classed as Nationally Scarce B, so worth recording. Unfortunately not a new species for me as I had them in the garden a couple of years ago.

Mallow Groundling - Platyedra subcinerea

I also attended a mothing session at Woods Mills, being present when they opened the trap in the morning. Again the numbers were a bit disappointing following another cold and windy night but there were at least a couple of moths that I hadn't seen before.

Common Swift - Korscheltellus lupulina

May Highflyer - Hydriomena impluviata

and always nice to see, a Poplar Hawkmoth, my first of the year.

Poplar Hawkmoth - Laothoe populi

Whilst early May was a start to my mothing season, the nights ever since have been cold, clear and windy, not good for moths. Give me a few overcast, still and humid evenings to get things going again.