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!
Showing posts with label Shoulder Stripe. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Shoulder Stripe. Show all posts
Saturday, 15 March 2014
Tuesday, 23 April 2013
Home and away
The 80 Watt trap was at home on Saturday night and the 125 Watt trap was away - less than a mile away at Woodcote, quite close to the Long Mynd hotel as part of the SACWG moths surveys.
Catches in the two traps were remarkably similar, the away team scoring a couple more species and 12 more moths. Both traps contained an Early Grey, only a day behind the one in Mike's garden. Otherwise nothing was new.
However, my trap last night, though not as full as I hoped (41 moths, 10 species), had two new moths for the Stretton Moths list.
The Shoulder Stripe is quite common and the colours can be quite variable.
The very pleasant surprise was to spot a golden coloured micro-moth sitting on the rim of the trap, If the sun had not been shining, I would not have seen it, glinting there in the early morning sun.
It was an Eriocrania, now renamed as Dyseriocrania subpurpurella. This moth, with a wing length of about 6mm is a leaf miner on Oak trees. They are often speckled with purple - as its name implies, but this one lacks any such colouration and is unusual in that it is "stripey".
Catches in the two traps were remarkably similar, the away team scoring a couple more species and 12 more moths. Both traps contained an Early Grey, only a day behind the one in Mike's garden. Otherwise nothing was new.
However, my trap last night, though not as full as I hoped (41 moths, 10 species), had two new moths for the Stretton Moths list.
The Shoulder Stripe is quite common and the colours can be quite variable.
 |
| Shoulder Stripe |
The very pleasant surprise was to spot a golden coloured micro-moth sitting on the rim of the trap, If the sun had not been shining, I would not have seen it, glinting there in the early morning sun.
It was an Eriocrania, now renamed as Dyseriocrania subpurpurella. This moth, with a wing length of about 6mm is a leaf miner on Oak trees. They are often speckled with purple - as its name implies, but this one lacks any such colouration and is unusual in that it is "stripey".
 |
| Dyseriocrania subpurpurella |
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