Promising conditions - a mild, calm and misty night - produced a disappointing catch of around 160 moths of 62 species. Once again, Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, Shuttle-shaped Dart and Rosy Footman were the most numerous species.
I had two new moths for the garden list, Lesser-spotted Pinion, and the micro Aspilapteryx tringipennella.
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| Lesser-spotted Pinion |
Recorded as fairly common in Jersey, the larval food plants are various species of Elms - none of which are present in or near my garden, as far as I am aware. Presumably a wandering individual?
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| Aspilapteryx tringipennella |
Yet another micro moth which is shorter than its name, Aspilapteryx tringipennella is a common species in the island. Members of the family Gracillariidae have a distinctive "head up" posture, but are difficult to identify to species. Hopefully I got this one right!
Grass veneers (Crambidae) are numerous at the moment, with Agriphila tristella (top) and Agriphila selasella (bottom) currently the two most numerous in the garden.
These two individuals are quite distinctly different, but as with most moths, they are quite variable in appearance, and can be tricky to separate.
My garden is mostly surrounded by oaks and sycamores, but does hold a couple of mature conifers, and more extensive stands are to be found within a few hundred metres. These presumably explain the presence of Pine Carpet, although I am not aware of any Scots Pine (its food plant) nearby.
This species was first recorded in Jersey in 1986, and is considered scarce within the island. I have, however, caught about half a dozen in the last few weeks, and it may now be more numerous than currently thought.
The very similar Grey Pine Carpet is considered to be a much more common moth locally, but I have actually trapped fewer individuals of this species than of Pine Carpet. The deep 'V' notch in the leading edge of the cross-bar of the forewing is perhaps the most useful diagnostic feature.
Continuing with the Pine theme, I also trapped this rather splendid Pine Hawk-moth, my first since mid-July. This is perhaps the dullest of the locally-occurring hawk-moths, but still a large and spectacular insect. Mid-August must be right at the very end of the flight season for this species, so I was quite surprised to find such a fresh-looking individual.
The adults feed on the nectar of flowers, but the larvae feed on a variety of conifers.
One of the more confusing groups of moths are the Mochas, and some individuals are very difficult to identify (well, for me at least!). Fortunately, this nicely-marked Maiden's Blush poses no great problems, with the obvious rosy patches on the forewings.
In contrast, Jersey Mocha requires more careful analysis, and was overlooked locally for many decades due to its similarity to other Mocha species. It can be identified by the rather inconspicuous white dot on each wing lacking a clear black border, although in some individuals, there can be a rather faint black border to the dot on the hindwing.
Jersey Mocha was unknown in the UK until very recently, and although it remains rare and local, is now colonising the south coast.
| Species | Count |
| Jersey Tiger | 1 |
| Rosy Footman | 12 |
| Cydia splendana | 2 |
| Phycita roborella | 7 |
| Saltern Ear agg | 2 |
| Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing | 16 |
| Acleris forrskaleana | 4 |
| Shuttle-shaped Dart | 12 |
| Riband Wave | 1 |
| Buff Footman | 4 |
| Hoary Footman | 5 |
| Knot Grass | 3 |
| Pine Hawkmoth | 1 |
| Common Footman | 1 |
| Maiden's Blush | 3 |
| White-line Dart | 1 |
| Willow Beauty | 1 |
| Guernsey Underwing | 1 |
| Black Arches | 3 |
| Oak Nycteoline | 1 |
| Common Rustic | 4 |
| Coronet | 1 |
| Dun-bar | 8 |
| Orache | 1 |
| Ruby Tiger | 2 |
| Four-spotted Footman | 5 |
| Cloaked Minor | 2 |
| Nutmeg | 4 |
| Copper Underwing | 1 |
| Flame Shoulder | 2 |
| Vine's Rustic | 3 |
| Yponomeuta sp | 1 |
| Svensson's Copper Underwing | 1 |
| Twin-spotted Wainscot | 1 |
| Buff Ermine | 2 |
| Oak Hook-tip | 2 |
| Scarce Footman | 3 |
| Uncertain | 3 |
| Straw Dot | 1 |
| Jersey Mocha | 2 |
| Pearly Underwing | 1 |
| Dot Moth | 1 |
| Mother of Pearl | 1 |
| Peppered Moth | 1 |
| European Corn-borer | 1 |
| Lesser-spotted Pinion | 1 |
| Red Twin-spot Carpet | 1 |
| Udea ferruginalis | 2 |
| Double-striped Pug | 1 |
| Zeiraphera isertana | 2 |
| Celypha lacunana | 3 |
| Agriphila tristella | 1 |
| Scarce Chocolate-tip | 1 |
| Aspilapteryx tringipennella | 1 |
| Agriphila straminella | 1 |
| Aroga velocella | 1 |
| Pediasia contaminella | 1 |
| Engrailed | 1 |
| Eudonia mercurella | 1 |
| Pine Carpet | 1 |
| Eupoecilia angustana | 1 |
| Blastobasis adustella | 3 |
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