Friday, 10 August 2012

Moths Again!

A belated report of moths trapped on Monday night. There were a few species new for the year - Orange Swift and Straw Underwing

Orange Swift (a male - the female is brown)



A couple of queries. The third cross line on the "wave" species below does not seem to be kinked at the outer edge so is it possibly a Plain Wave?? or just another variation of Riband Wave? The moth is a similar size to Riband Wave.

Edit - Many thanks to Stewart (The Orthosia) for confirming this is a Riband Wave - the non banded form remutata



I think this micro moth might be Acleris forsskaleana? which would be a new species for the garden.

Edit - Thanks again Stewart for confirming my id - really chuffed I got this one right :)



Summary of Moths Trapped Monday 6th August

9.00 p.m. until dawn
Minimum Temperature 10.3 degrees centigrade
15w Actinic Skinner Trap

015 Orange Swift (Hepialus sylvina) x 2 NFY

1713 Riband Wave (Idaea aversata) x 1 Edit x 2

2107 Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba) x 5

1937 Willow Beauty (Peribatodes rhomboidaria) x 1

2111 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing (Noctua janthe) x 2

2381 Uncertain (Hopolodrina alsines) x 3

1293 Garden Grass-veneer (Chrysoteuchia culmella) x 2

2293 Marbled Beauty (Cryphia domestica) x 3

2343 Common Rustic (Mesapamea secalis) x 1

2303 Straw Underwing (Thalpophila matura) x 3 NFY

0656 Tachystola acroxantha x 1

plus the two queries

1036 Acleris forsskaleana x 1?? would be NFG

Edit -id confirmed by Stewart (many thanks!!)

Possible Plain Wave (Idaea straminata) x 1?? would be NFG
Edit - this is Riband Wave see above


There were dozens of micros and I have to admit to letting most of them go. I have decided that, unless they are particularly distinctive (i.e. easier to id!) or on the Garden Moth Scheme list, I will not try to identify them at the moment. Hopefully, one day when I have more time and/or my macro id skills have finally improved, I will tackle this group of moths!

4 comments:

  1. Hi Caroline, all your id's are correct. The Riband Wave is the non banded form remutata, its the commonest up here and into Scotland...

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  2. Hi Stewart - Many thanks for all your help again :) Pleased I got the micro correct and thanks for the useful info re: Riband Wave. All the best Caroline.

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  3. I'm always thankful for people who can ID something on the spot. Some species are really hard to ID. Glad you a second opinion. That first moth has really nice color.

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  4. Rohrerbot - The Orange Swift's are rather pretty and make a change from the huge amount of moth lbj's I trap :) I'm still very hesitant on moth id! so am really grateful to people like Stewart and Dean and a few others who come to the rescue :) Have a good weekend!

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