Waxwing

Waxwing
"To see a world in a grain of sand,
And a heaven in a wild flower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand
And eternity in an hour."

From "Auguries of Innocence"

by William Blake

Thursday 19 July 2012

More New Moth Species for the Garden

Sunday night's moth trapping session produced a few nice surprises on Monday morning including several new garden "ticks". Not too many micros to identify as I tend to pot the macros first resulting in many of the micros escaping.

Despite looking distinctive the first moth took me a long time to identify. I am pretty sure it is Shaded Broad-bar (Scotopteryx chenopodiata) a new species for the garden. The photos aren't brilliant but it was rather lively!



This by the way is a species of conservation concern under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP)



As mentioned in yesterday's post this beautiful Peppered Moth - another new garden species.



Scalloped Oak



Single-dotted Wave - New for year



Flame - New for Year



I think this is another Garden Grass-veneer

Edit - Many thanks to David Shenton for confirming this species



I thought at first the next species was a worn carpet but on checking the moth "bible" and various websites I now think it is July Flyer which would be another garden "tick"

Edit - Thanks again to David Shenton for letting me know this is a Green Pug (sadly not a new garden tick but a new species for the year)



I haven't a clue which species this micro is - sorry very blurred photos it was very very lively.

Edit Many thanks again to David - this is a Juniper Webber (Dichomeris marginella)






And two species (the first a carpet and the second one of the noctuids) which are so worn I haven't attempted to identify these. But it does illustrate some of the id problems I have with moths especially as I often struggle with even the well-marked individuals!





As always if any of the above identifications are incorrect please let me know and I would be especially grateful if anyone could confirm my identifications of Shaded Broad-bar and July Flyer.

Summary of Moths Trapped Sunday, 15th July

Minimum Temperature 11.3 degrees Centigrade

15w Actinic Skinner Trap

9.30 till dawn

2381 Uncertain (Hoplodrina alsines) x 24

2382 Rustic (Hoplodrina blanda) x 2

2089 Heart and Dart (Agrotis exclamationis) x 4

2321 Dark Arches (Apamea monoglypha) x 8

1304 Agriphila straminella x 1

2098 Flame (Axylia putris) x 3 New for Year

1713 Riband Wave (Idaea aversata) x 2

1921 Scalloped Oak (Crocallis elinguaria) x 2

1708 Single-dotted Wave (Idaea dimidiata) x 1 New for Year

1524 Emmelina monodactyla x 1

1931 Peppered Moth (Biston betularia) x 1 New for Garden

1293 Garden Grass-veneer (Chrysoteuchia culmella) x 2

1732 Shaded Broad-bar (Scototeryx chenopodiata) x 1 New for Garden

July Flyer x 1 (would be new for garden if confirmed)??
Edit Green Pug x 1 (New for Year) not July Flyer

plus

Juniper Webber (Dichomeris marginella) x 1 NFG

5 comments:

ShySongbird said...

A good selection there Caroline. Again, I'm afraid I am no help with IDs despite my books! Moth ID does seem to be a minefield and with so many of them I find it very easy to become confused ;-) I hope some of the expert moth bloggers will be able to help.

The Peppered Moth is a beauty and your piece about it on yesterday's post, which I have only just managed to catch up with, was really interesting! I was surprised by just how fascinating I found it!

BTW. The Ina Taylor book arrived today in lovely condition and I know I will love it :-)

Unknown said...

Your blurred micro, just above the worn moths, is Juniper Webber (Dichomeris marginella).

Dave

Unknown said...

Apologies for double commenting, your poss July Highflyer is a Green Pug for me (albeit in a strange resting position)and yes, above this is Chrysoteuchia culmella.

Regards

Dave

Rohrerbot said...

Love those first 3 moths. The one you had on your last post is really beautiful. The first one reminds me of a leaf. I'm glad you have more moths to ID. That's gotta be fun going in the morning to check the area....what will you find? I'm the same way with birds. There's that adrenaline rush of finding something new. Hope they keep coming:)

Ragged Robin said...

ShySongbird - Hi Jan yes moth id is very confusing and that is from someone who has been trapping for over 2 years now!! I sometime despair I will ever improve my limited skills!

Glad you liked the Peppered Moth and enjoyed the post. I must admit I find evolution especially the History of Life of Earth absolutely fascinating!

So glad your Ina Taylor book has arrived in good condition - I envy you being able to read it for the first time - its a great book. Enjoy :)

David Shenton - Please don't apologise for double commenting - I really am exceedingly grateful for your help. I've found the Juniper Webber now in the new Micro book - its a rather pretty looking moth.

Thanks so much too for confirming my Garden Grass-Veneer and for the Green Pug. I've revisited the pug section in Waring book - I am afraid July Flyer was more wishful thinking on my part!

I will edit the blog shortly.

I have just found your blogs - they look fascinating and I think I could learn a lot from them so I will add them to my Blog list if you have no objection.

Many thanks again for your help and for commenting.

Rohrerbot - Thanks Chris - the ones you mention are particularly beautiful. I am still very pleased with my Peppered Moth!!

It definitely is great fun opening the trap in the morning as you never know what you will find and there are so many moth species you often find something new. I can only compare it (as have many others before me) to being a child opening a stocking from Father Christmas (Santa Claus) on Christmas morning :)

I still get the adrenaline rush from new bird species too or from species that are a bit out of the ordinary and not often seen :)

Isn't the natural world wonderful!!