Night of 13th August

Another sub-par catch, with around 90 moths of 44 species, but an interesting selection nonetheless.

 

I trapped 3 new species - Lunar Thorn, Canary-shouldered Thorn and Square-spot Rustic. 

Identifiable here as a second-generation moth, the rather lovely Lunar Thorn is described as fairly common in Jersey.

 

The name comes from the 'crescent moon'-shaped markings on the wings.

 

 

One of the night's more interesting moths was this Barrett's Marbled Coronet, the third I have trapped in my garden this year. This species is quite similar to a number of Noctuids, but as far as I can tell, the characteristically-shaped pale patch between the oval and the trailing edge of the forewing is diagnostic.

Taxonomic study suggests that the form occurring in the Channel Islands and France represent a different species from the UK resident population. It is listed as 'not common' in Jersey.

In my previous post, I discussed Jersey Mocha, and its similarity to other mochas, noting that the white wing spots lack a clear black borders.

The other regularly-recorded species is Blair's Mocha. This was first observed in Jersey in 1995, and is an increasingly recorded migrant and possible resident. The black borders to the white spots are obvious on this individual.

The lovely Peach Blossom is among the more attractive of Jersey's moths. It is considered common in the island, but this was my first for several weeks. Given its relatively fresh condition, it is presumably a second generation moth.

The larval food plant is Bramble; anything prepared to help keep this in check is more than welcome in my garden.

 

A rather more subtly attractive species, Chocolate-tip is an uncommon species in the island - this was just my third record. In common with the other members of its family (Notodontidae), the adults of this species are unable to feed.

 

And finally, a rather un-prepossessing, and distinctly un-rufous Barred Red. Considered locally common, this was just my second record - the first being worn almost beyond recognition.

Species	Count
Hoary Footman	2
Dun-bar	6
Agriphila tristella	3
Agriphila straminella	1
Flame Shoulder	2
Black Arches	1
Shuttle-shaped Dart	10
Pine Carpet	1
Zeiraphera isertana	2
Phycita roborella	3
Cabbage	1
Straw Dot	1
Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing	1
Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing	6
Least Yellow Underwing	1
Knot Grass	4
Nutmeg	2
Copper Underwing	1
Vine's Rustic	5
Buff Arches	1
Blair's Mocha	1
Jersey Tiger	2
Dingy Footman	1
Canary-shouldered Thorn	1
Four-spotted Footman	2
Dark Arches	1
Buff Ermine	2
Dark -barred Twin-spot Carpet	1
European Corn-borer	1
Common Rustic agg	3
Crescent Dart	1
Large Yellow Underwing	1
Cydia splendana	3
Buff Footman	1
Carcina quercana	2
Lunar Thorn	1
Peach Blossom	1
Barred Red	1
White-line Dart	2
Chocolate-tip	2
Turnip	1
Square-spot Rustic	1
Blastobasis adustella	3
Depressaria sp	1

Night of 11th August

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.

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?

 

 

 

 

 

 



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



Night of 8th August

An indifferent catch of around 140 moths of 66 species, not helped by a towel malfunction allowing a lot of moths to escape before I could go through them.

Probably the most interesting moth was a very worn Pine-tree Lappet - perhaps the same individual I caught 10 days previously, when it was in much better condition.



Pine-tree Lappet

First recorded in Jersey in 2005, Pine-tree Lappet is probably now resident in the island. Although a common Continental species, it remains an extreme vagrant in the UK, other than a small, local and probably introduced population in Scotland.

The species can be a serious pest in conifer plantations.



 

Hawkmoths are always a welcome sight in the trap. The diminutive Small Elephant Hawkmoth is one of five hawkmoth species so far recorded in my garden, and is one of the commoner Sphingidae in the island. More typically a heathland species, I caught my last one just over a month ago.

 

In my previous posting, I included a photograph of Svensson's Copper Underwing. The two British species of copper underwing are very similar and require careful separation. Although not a diagnostic feature, the shape of the second cross-line on the  upper-wing on this specimen is indicative of Copper Underwing.

 

An apparently reliable feature separating the two species is the colour of the palps. Svensson's Copper Underwing has dark palps with pale tips, whereas Copper Underwing has entirely pale palps as illustrated in the photo above. Svensson's is considered the less common of the two species locally, but the comparative abundance of the two species is probably not fully understood.




After struggling with look-alike pugs during the early Summer, it has been something of a relief to catch more distinctive species during the last couple of sessions.

 

Both White-spotted Pug (top) and the rather striking Narrow-winged Pug (bottom) were new ones for me.

 

White-spotted Pug is listed as common in the island, whereas Narrow-winged Pug is described as being 'not common'.

More pug excitement was to be had in the form of a few Lime-speck Pugs, V-Pugs and Bordered Pugs.

The only other new species for me was this rather inert Pebble Prominent, a common species locally.

 

 

 

 

Orache was first recorded in Jersey in 1987 as an adventive migrant. Still a rarity in the UK, it is now a well-established and common resident in the island, and I typically trap a couple most nights.

 

Quite a variable species, this specimen was particularly well-marked.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Species	Count
Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet	1
Mother of Pearl	3
Phycita roborella	5
Hoary Footman	1
Buff-tip	2
Bud Moth	3
Dingy Footman	3
Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing	7
Common Footman	1
Peppered Moth	1
Uncertain	7
Vine's Rustic	1
Common Rustic	13
Orache	4
Nutmeg	2
Shuttle-shaped Dart	5
Pearly Underwing	4
Lesser Yellow Underwing	2
Scarce Footman	2
Dun-bar	5
Endotricha flammealis	3
White-line Dart	4
Flame Shoulder	1
Brussels Lace	1
Cydia splendana	3
Pine-tree Lappet	1
Bird Wing	1
Saltern Ear	1
Straw Dot	1
Zeiraphera isertana	2
Cloaked Minor	1
Buff Footman	4
Copper Underwing	1
Bright-line Brown-eye	1
Rosy Footman	2
Diamond-back Moth	4
Pebble Prominent	1
Riband Wave	2
Least Carpet	3
Teleoides luculella	1
Small Elephant Hawkmoth	1
Angle Shades	1
Four-spot Footman	1
Buff Ermine	1
Chinese-character	1
Carcina quercana	1
Lime-speck Pug	2
Maiden's Blush	1
Ypsolopha ustella	1
Elegia similella	1
Trachycerca adventella	1
Pandemis corylana	1
Catoptria pinella	1
Acrocercops brongniardella	1
Agriphila tristella	1
Horse-chestnut Leaf Miner	1
Acrobasis adventella	1
Small Fan-footed Wave	1
V-Pug	2
Fan-foot	1
Swallow Prominent	1
Snout	1
Willow Beauty	1
Blastobasis adustella	1
Drinker	1
Bordered Pug	2

 

Night of 6th August

A warm, calm and very muggy night with heavy rain in the early morning promised much, but proved unexceptional with 235 moths of 79 species.

 

The most abundant species was Silver Y, with 28 in the trap. Although most were standard issue, a few unusually small ones included this tiny individual, with a 5p coin provided for scale. This is presumably of the form gammina, which is said to arise from starvation of the larva.

 

Silver Y f.gammina, with 5p coin for scale

 

Other 'frequent flyers' included Shuttle-shaped Darts, once again numerous as second-generation individuals emerge, Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, and Rosy Footmen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 





Guernsey Underwing

I have caught 1-2 Guernsey Underwings every trapping session during the last couple of weeks. Most have been a bit tatty, but this rather beautiful specimen was in pretty good condition. The orange underwing is just visible in this photo.

 

As far as I am aware, this species remains unrecorded in the UK, but is now seemingly well-established in Jersey.

 

I generally struggle with Pugs - they are difficult enough when fresh, but most of the ones I get seem to be worn beyond recognition. This cracking Bordered Pug made for a welcome exception, being both fresh and highly distinctive, and a

first for the garden to boot.

 

Other new 'macros' for the night included Ruby Tiger, Dark Sword-grass, and Pearly Underwing.





  

Palpita vitrealis, a striking transluscent moth, was one of two new micros for the garden, the other being Trachycera advenella.

 

Copper Underwings have started appearing in the trap in the last week or so. The dark palps with pale tips identify this one as Svensson's Copper Underwing.

 

 

Species	Count
Black Arches	2
Small Fan-footed Wave	2
Phycita roborella	1
Common Footman	1
Dun-bar	6
Least Yellow Underwing	5
Rosy Footman	8
Riband Wave	3
Silver Y	28
Knot Grass	9
Kent Black Arches	1
Blair's Mocha	1
Maiden's Blush	2
Straw Dot	1
Endotricha flammealis	5
Nutmeg	5
Garden Grass Veneer	2
Early Thorn	2
Flame Shoulder	7
Shuttle-shaped Dart	21
Buff Footman	4
Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing	8
Peppered Moth	3
Buff Ermine	5
Cloaked Minor	5
Brussels Lace	1
Double Square Spot	1
Dark Arches	2
Common Rustic	7
White-line Dart	1
Uncertain	7
Orache	3
Swallow Prominent	1
Four-spotted Footman	2
Cydia splendana	3
Buff Arches	6
Pearly Underwing	5
Dark Sword-grass	2
Bird Wing	1
Iron Prominent	1
Acleris forsskaleana	2
Zeiraphera isertana	1
Bordered Pug	1
Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix	1
Scarce Footman	3
Small Magpie	1
Grey Dagger agg	2
Dot	4
Small Angle Shades	1
Hoary Footman	1
Red Twin-spot Carpet	1
Carcina quercana	2
Large Yellow Underwing	1
Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing	1
Ruby Tiger	1
Teleiodes luculella	1
Dingy Footman	1
Mother of Pearl	1
Diamond-back Moth	2
Crambus pascella	3
Guernsey Underwing	1
Least Carpet	1
Palpita vitrealis	1
Apple Ermine	1
Svensson's Copper Underwing	2
Anania lancealis	1
Epiblema foenella	1
Acleris sparsana	1
Trachycera adventella	1
Crocidosema plebejana	1
Ananis verbascalis	1
Agriphila tristella	1
Catoptria pinella	1
Eupoecilia angustana	1
Aroga velocella	1
Blastobasis adustella	5
Acrocercops brongniardella	1
Caloptilia rufipennella	1
Crassa unitella	1