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

Tuesday 18 September 2012

Moths from last Weekend

Highlights from the moth trap last weekend were another Autumnal Rustic and Brimstone Moth and the first Lunar Underwing of the Year

Lunar Underwing (Omphaloscelis lunosa)



There were a couple of Silver Y too. A very pretty little moth with a white "y" shaped mark on each wing. We see these a lot feeding on valerian flowers in the garden - they remind me for some reason of Hummingbird Hawkmoths. I've not been lucky enough to see one here in England but saw loads when we were on holiday in Jersey several years ago.

Summary of Moths Trapped Friday 14th September

7.30 until dawn
Minimum Temperature 7.0 degrees centigrade
15w Actinic Skinner Trap

2441 Silver Y (Autographa gamma) x 2

1937 Willow Beauty (Peribatodes rhomboidaria) x 1

2107 Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba) x 9

2109 Lesser Yellow Underwing (Noctua comes) x 2

2353 Flounced Rustic (Luperina testacea) x 6

1906 Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata) x 1

1764 Common Marbled Carpet (Chloroclysta truncata) x 1

2297 Copper Underwing (Amphipyra pyramidea) x 5
(Thought at one stage I had a Svensson's Copper Underwing but it only had one of the four characteristics that distinguish it from copper)

2117 Autumnal Rustic (Eugnorisma glareosa) x 1

0998 Light Brown Apple Moth (Epiphyas postvittana x 1

2270 Lunar Underwing (Omphaloscelis lunosa) x 1 New for Year


There were quite a lot of Daddy Long Legs (Crane Flies) in the trap too this week.

5 comments:

Rohrerbot said...

Not so sure I'm a fan of Daddy Longlegs:) I had one on my face once and it tickled. When I realized what it was, I screamed:) Hummingbird moths are fascinating. I haven't seen any of them this year....maybe one will come my way before winter. Cool moths! Hope you have a good morning.

Bovey Belle said...

Only a few of these are "known" to me. I shall have to go and look the others up. We tend to get Oak Eggars, Dot Moths, Magpie Moths, Yellow Underwings and some unpronouncables. I have to say, I haven't been noting them for a while now so I shall renew my interest.

Ragged Robin said...

Rohrerbot - Thanks Chris. Daddy Longlegs move in a most peculiar fashion and do seem to like landing on people!

Hope you see a Hummingbird Hawkmoth before Winter! Have a good day.

Bovey Belle - I would be really interested to hear of the moth species you see. I get lots of the various Yellow Underwings, a few Magpie Moths, just one Dot moth and unfortunately its not the right type of habitat for Oak Eggars. You are lucky to see the latter - beautiful moths. We found one last year at a nature reserve we visited - very sad as it was badly damaged.

Hope you enjoy your renewed interest:) Although some are hard to id, moths are fascinating :)

Jerry said...

Haven't had a Lunar Underwing yet, but it can only be a matter of time!

Ragged Robin said...

Jerry - I only get a few each year - but worth the wait! Hope you get one soon.