March(ing) on

The trap has been on only 4 times in March, based generally on the supposed overnight temperature.

The month is progressing and the numbers of moths gradually increasing, but no new species for the site so far.

On Thursday 6th there were only 8 moths, of 7 species, but on Saturday 8th this increased to 23 moths of 8 species, one of them being an over-wintering Ypsolopha ustella. However, the disappointment of this catch spurred me on to try again on Sunday night (9th) and the catch was much improved.
There were 47 moths of 10 species, including a fairly early Shoulder Stripe - only my second one here - and all the usual suspects of the early part of the year, including a Clouded Drab, not a nice name for a quite variable moth - one that has not been featured here before, well, that I discover by chance is not true - but it does not appear on the label list.

So, on Friday night, with the promise of 8° overnight (which I think was actually only 6) the trap went on and there were 48 moths (8 species) this morning. 35 of these were Small Quaker and there was a Pale Pinion, Twin-spot Quaker and an Early Grey. Unlike Mike, I rarely get Mottled Grey here, due mainly to habitat difference.

So, no photos from me today, as everything in the trap has already featured here, but you can find a picture of a Clouded Drab by clicking on Pale Pinion on the list and seeing it on the same page!

Not quite Philadelphia!

The title might make sense if you know what the city of Philadelphia is sometimes called.

Yes, "Quaker City", but why 'Not quite'?  Well, because although there were a lot of Quakers in the trap this morning, it was a lot fewer than there are in Philadelphia.

There were 112 moths in the trap this morning, the largest number since I began trapping here last August, and this included 88 Quakers, as follows: 76 Small, 11 Common and 1 Twin-spotted.





Common Quaker



As I said in my previous post, these are known as 'Orthosias' and include the Small Quaker and the Hebrew Character which have already featured. It also includes the "Drabs" and I have included a photo of a Clouded Drab and one of a Twin-spotted Quaker. Both of these species are new to us here, although quite common.






Twin-spotted Quaker

 








Clouded Drab



The rest of the catch included Oak and Pale-brindled Beauties, Satellites, Hebrew Characters, a Chestnut and another new for the site, a Pale Pinion, as below.





Pale Pinion