To trap, or not to trap...? (part II)

I faced a similar dilemma to Graham last night, and also decided to put out the trap to see if anything had survived the wind and the rain. My session was not as productive, with only 14 moths of nine species attracted. Nevertheless, I did get a new moth for Batch Valley, a Lunar Underwing, and very nice it was too. This is a species first trapped by Graham on 12 September, scroll down or see here, and like several moths, this species has a variety of forms. Last nights was one of the darker forms, as compared to the yellower form trapped by Graham.

Lunar Underwing

The commonest moth in the trap last night was Silver Y. This is an immigrant which appears in varying numbers, though it is usually quite common and apparently this year is a good one for it. The spring immigrants produce a brood, so this moth is in fact likely to be of local origin. In fact, on the same date Graham trapped his first Lunar Underwing, he also discovered a Silver Y pupa. Any well-stocked garden may have Silver Ys nectaring at dusk at the moment, and the metallic Y shaped mark is the distinctive marker on this beautiful moth.

Silver Y

The First Cold Night

Only nine moths in the trap this morning, but that was to be expected with the low temperature.
Nevertheless there was a Lunar Underwing, a very variable moth, but its name comes from the pattern on its underwings, which is its distinguishing feature.

Lunar Underwing


Garden Tiger, Arctia caja larva.

However, a couple of interesting items during the week were a small, VERY hairy caterpillar found on a Juncus sp.  in the water meadow down Ludlow Road. This is still to be identified.














Silver Y pupa

Similarly, on a walk round part of Coppice Leasowes reserve, I found a pupa in its silken sheath attached to a yellow Iris leaf. I shall have to wait some time for the moth to emerge.