Best Moths of 2024 Roundup

2024 was a tough year for moths nationwide, numbers have slumped dramatically in the last few years, this year was quite possibly the lowest dip I've ever experienced, with most species represented by one or two individuals.
Common moths were at an all time low, but diversity was up with a large variety of species seen throughout the year.
 
The weather was challenging to say the least, with countless windy nights, not many warm and muggy nights to choose either. Rainfall was an issue, even during the peak of diversity.
 
Some really special moths were added to the garden list, some maybe expected eventually, but others completely out of the blue.

In total, a whopping 70 new additions, 23 were macro moths and 47 were micro moths. Not bad considering it was my 3rd full year of recording moths here (starting in September 2021).

2025 has a lot to live up to and I shall hope for higher numbers of the common moths otherwise we might be in serious trouble..
 

Happy mothing all and I will see you in the new year.
 
 
1. Small Eggar 13/03/24 - Fordham, East Cambs (New species) It was very early on in the season to not only add a new species for the garden, but a new moth for my records. A wonderful Small Eggar. Even better, it was a female which are seldom seen to light.

2. Golden-rod Pug 11/04/24 - Chippenham Fen, East Cambs (New species) A rare Pug in the east it appears, with random dots here and there. It was great to get this dark form dissected and confirmed. It is a new record for me and the nature reserve. In July I got my 2nd example and added it to the garden list!

3. Grapholita internana 29/04/24 - Aspal Close Nature Reserve, West Suffolk (New species) A brief lunch time wander around this rather noisy nature reserve (right next to Mildenhall) yielded a single Graphilita internana. This is a new species of tortrix moth for me, associated with Gorse, the caterpillars feed within the seed pods.

4. Chrysoesthia sexguttella 09/05/24 - Fordham, East Cambs (New species) A perfect night for a spot of netting on the patio yielded 10 species before the lights were on, this rather dull looking moth to the naked eye, becomes quite smart under magnification. A new species for my records.

5. Niditinea striolella 13/05/24 - Chippenham Fen, East Cambs (3rd for Cambs) The rarer of the two Nidtinea species was carefully dissected by Colin Plant. There are some records from Wicken Fen, but these are 40+ years old. Chippenham Fen does well for these small birds-nest moth species, fuscella is regularly seen there on my visits.

6. Red-tipped Clearwing 16/06/24 - Fordham, East Cambs (New species) The 8th species of Clearwing was attracted to the VES lure, a very welcome Red-tipped Clearwing. The two obvious missing species are both the Hornet Clearwings, maybe next year?
 
7. Aproaerema taeniolella 21/06/24 - Chippenham Fen, East Cambs (New species) It was great to confirm my first of this species. The diagnostic white on the underside clinched it, the moth was released unharmed after a littler dose of c02. Not a particularly common species, they are very cheeky and will twist and twirl when they alight to the trap, much like metalmark moths do abroad.

8. Haplotinea insectella 21/06/24 - Chippenham Fen, East Cambs (2nd for Cambs) A rather large speckly Tineid was potted up from the garage doors at Chippenham Fen. Inspecting it through the glass tube, it certainly didn't look quite right for the similar (but generally smaller) Niditinea species, for which Chippenham Fen is a good site for. There is only one previous record of Haplotinea insectella from Cambridgeshire, dating back to 1905! from Wicken Fen.

9. Coleophora pennella 21/06/24 - Fordham, East Cambs (New to Cambs) Two selected Coleophora that looked different in my trap in June turned out to be new species for Cambridgeshire, whats more, both were potted up on the same night! The species are more associated with coastal areas and occasionally wandering into the brecks where its foodplant Bugloss is plentiful.

10. Coleophora lassella 21/06/24 - Fordham, East Cambs (New to Cambs) The 2nd incredible Coleophora species, a nationally scarce moth typically associated with sand dunes, how it ended up in my garden trap is beyond me. The foodplant Toad-rush is present in Cambs, so maybe there is a population locally.

11. Evergestis extimalis 26/06/24 Fordham, East Cambs (New for garden) This species turned up on the busiest night for my moths my garden has ever seen, 123 species were noted and I stayed up until psast midnight jotting and potting. This particular Pyralid I have only previously seen in Essex, my last was in 2013. A very good moth for the garden list and the highlight of the night.

12. Phaulernis dentella 08/07/24 - Fordham, East Cambs (New species) A rather non-descript moth was netted on the evening of the 8th of July. Initially I thought it was either Elachista or maybe an Epermenia, but it was rather dumpy and not behaving at all like any familiar species. It was to be Cambs 2nd ever Phaulernis dentelle, the first taken 118 years ago at, you guessed it, Wicken Fen.

13. Plumed Fan-foot 19/07/24 - Fordham, East Cambs (New species) Highlight of a warm night after the warmest day of the year undoubtedly went to a brand new macro moth for me, a Plumed Fan-foot... well what was left of it, such a terrible state it was. At least the snout and antennae were still present I guess.
I've been lucky to encounter this species abroad a couple of times in Croatia and Slovenia.

14. Orthotelia sparganella 20/07/24 - Fordham, East Cambs (2nd Cambs record) A day later and with the heat still present, another new species for the garden turns up, the cracking reedbed specialist, Orthotelia sparganella, a really unusual looking and rather large micro. I have only ever recorded them previously at Sawbridgeworth Marsh on the Herts/Essex boundary.
 
15. Stathmopoda pedella 22/07/24 - Fordham, East Cambs (New for garden) This little colourful character gets a special mention for being such an oddity. It certainly hasn't been a common species for me over the last 18 years. An excellent addition to the garden moth list.

16. Oncocera semirubella 09/08/24 - Fordham, East Cambs (New for garden) A very bright moth brought colour to an otherwise dull trap, my first Rhubard & Custard to the garden trap was very pleasing indeed. Not a rare moth by any standards, but they seem scarcer here in the fens as opposed to my old haunt in north Herts on the preferred chalky soil.

17. Clouded Magpie 11/08/24 - Cranwich Heath, Norfolk (New species for UK records) I was invited by Mark Hows to join himself and Iain Leach at Cranwich Heath, well wev didn't make it threre because of livestock issues, so the camp area had to do, it was quite breezy but we all got plenty of good moths. Best for me were my first UK trapped Clouded Magpies, and there were plenty of them! A great little site that I will return to next year.


18. Silver Y oddity 13/08/24 - Chippenham Fen, East Cambs (Unusual specimen) A really strange Plusiinae species came to my trap at nearby Chippenham Fen in mid August. It certainly was very strange looking, and I needed to rule out anything rare like certain African and Far East species that shared some resemblance. The moth was dissected a week later by Colin Plant and was indeed just a weird looking Silver Y. Panic over!

19. Depressaria ultimella 26/08/24 - Fordham, East Cambs (New species) A new Depressaridae was always going to be hard to achieve, given that I have seen a fair few of the British species now. So when an ultimella turned up, I was rather shocked. There appear to be only a handful of records here, mostly confined to this area. A fairly plain and boring looking thing I must admit.


20. Lesser Treble-bar 31/08/24 - Fordham, East Cambs (New species) Lesser Treble-bar is one of those moths, where i'm pretty sure I've seen one before, but have probably forgot to check the odd specimen. But then I think back and I can't think of any that I let go without checking the abdomen tip, so I was elated to strike gold in the garden after checking maybe several hundred of them over the last 15 or so years.

21. Dotted Clay 01/09/24 - Fordham, East Cambs (New for garden) For so late on in the year, it was great to add 3 new garden moths on the 1st of September (normally the new additions fall between May and August, being the time for peak diversity). Dotted Clay was an absolute corker and one I took 3 weeks earlier in Norfolk, but this one was in pristine condition.

22. Anarsia spartiella 01/09/24 - Fordham, East Cambs (New for garden) The other Anarsia species put in an appearance on the same red-letter night on the 1st of September (Discounting the uber rare and only known by 1 record, lineatella). It Feeds from Gorse and Broom (for which Cambridgeshire is pretty much devoid of) but not 10 miles away there are swathes of it in nearby West Suffolk. Clearly a blow-in moth but they all count.

23. Ancylosis oblitella 01/09/24 - Fordham, East Cambs (New for garden) A cracking pyralid this one, with it's colourful mid-riff toothed scales, a moth I've taken infrequently over the years a wanderer or possible migrant. It's another tick for the garden list.

24. Palpita vitrealis 06/09/24 - Fordham, East Cambs (New for garden) What a stunning moth this Pyralid is, very similar to the infamous Box Moth, but smaller and more refined. I did trap my first last year at Chippenham Fen, and a year prior to that, Leslie Gardiner trapped one in his garden in my village, so I had to strike gold (or white in this instance) at some point. It is a primary migrant to our shores, but there is the potential in the future for localised breeding. Through October I kept getting them and I was up to 9 individuals by the end of the month.

25. Cosmopterix pulchrimella 21/09/24 - Fordham, East Cambs (New species) A teeny tiny moth was found in one of the egg trays come the morning. It was a rather shiny Cosmopterix that I didn't recognise and was sure I had not seen before. I was right, a great record of Cosmopterix pulchrimella.

26. Pale & Dusky Lemon Sallow 04-05/10/24 - Fordham, East Cambs (Back to Back Lemon Sallows) This pair were noteworthy for being just a day apart. AI am very lucky to get Pale-lemon Sallow in the garden, but it appears it isn't common. This being only my second one since 2021. Dusky is more frequent in the county, but this was again only my 2nd garden record. A lovely pair to capture together.


27. Streak 02/11/24 - Fordham, East Cambs (New species) I thought it was all over for new species for the garden, until the 2nd of November featured a cracking Streak flying around the actinic tubes. Certainly an unexpected moth for the garden list, but probably more common towards the east in west Suffolk, where there is a plentiful supply of foodplant for the species to thrive. It was to be a milestone as well, the 400th macro moth species to be recorded in my garden.

 

 

The last new species for awhile?

The 4th of November saw 2 new species for the year, and 1 new for garden species (which sadly got away when I went to pot it, drat).

December Moth was the first of many usually, there's now been 4 this week.

A very worn Orange Sallow was welcome, one of my latest record for this species, usually a early to mid September moth here. 

Last but not least was a flighty Ypsolopha ustella, which never made it in a pot for a photo! happens sometimes.

November Moth increased dramatically with 11 examples and the light brown apple jobs to 12.

On Wednesday night I just noted the potential migrants, of which there were a fair few still kicking around.

Things are going quieter and cooler now, about time I suppose. After all it is mid-November nearly!

Moth garden list for 2024 stands at 629 species

04/11/24 - Back Garden - Fordham - East Cambridgeshire - Actinic Trap

Macro Moths

December Moth 1 [NFY]
Orange Sallow 1 [NFY]
Black Rustic 2
Blair's Shoulder-knot 1
Clancy's Rustic 1
Gem 1
Green-brindled Crescent 2
Feathered Thorn 2
Merveille du Jour 2
November Moth sp 11
Red-green Carpet 4
Sprawler 2
Spruce Carpet 3

Micro Moths

Ypsolopha ustella 1 [NFG]
Epiphyas postvittana 12
Plutella xylostella 1
Udea ferrugalis 1

06/11/24 - Back Garden - Fordham - East Cambridgeshire - Actinic Trap

Macro Moths

Angle Shades 1
Delicate 1
Gem
Scarce Bordered Straw 1
Silver Y 2
Turnip Moth 1

Micro Moths

Udea ferrugalis 1

Spruce Carpet

December Moth

Gems

Green-brindled Crescent ab.capucino

Musotima nitidalis

Orange Sallow

What a Gem again! Plus a shock new macro

Saturday night was another succesful night, with a good variety of moths. A much smarter Acleris schalleriana, Merveille du Jours ramping up, and another Gem, the third this year now.

 

The best moth went to a completely new species for me, a magnificient Streak, the first for cambs in 12 years! I was surprised how big they were, reminding me of a Broom-tip I was took in France many years ago.

The garden list is now 35 species off of 900. 

The weather stays fairly mild, misty and murky with nights still above 10 degrees, unbelievable really.

Moth garden list for 2024 stands at 626 species

02/11/24 - Back Garden - Fordham - East Cambridgeshire - Actinic Trap

Macro Moths

Streak 1 [NEW!]
Black Rustic 4
Clancy's Rustic 1
Cypress Carpet 1
Double-striped Pug 2
Feathered Thorn 5
Gem 1
Large Yellow Underwing 1
Lesser Yellow Underwing 1
Merveille du Jour 5
November Moth sp 5
Red-green Carpet 3
Sprawler 1
Spruce Carpet 1
Willow Beauty 1

Micro Moths

Acleris schalleriana 1
Emmelina monodactyla 2
Epiphyas postvittana 7

Streak

Acleris schalleriana

Cypress Carpet

Gem

 

What a Gem

Another rather respectable catch here on Friday night, with 16 species present.

No new species, but the 2nd Gem of the year, a female this time was well worth the effort of running the trap.

This is the first year that i've recorded this species in the garden.

Moth garden list for 2024 stands at 625 species

01/11/24 - Back Garden - Fordham - East Cambridgeshire - Actinic Trap

Macro Moths

Beaded Chestnut 1
Black Rustic 3
Blair's Shoulder-knot 1
Brick 1
Clancy's Rustic 1
Feathered Thorn 2
Gem 1
Large Wainscot 1
Lesser Yellow Underwing 1
Merveille du Jour 1
November Moth sp 2
Red-green Carpet 2
Willow Beauty 1

Micro Moths

Emmelina monodactyla 3
Epiphyas postvittana 9
Eudonia angustea 3

Gem

 

A multitude of Conistras & Carpets

A really good catch very similar to the previous night, with 19 species but quite a different cast of moths.

Best were two new species for the year, a smart Juniper Carpet and a red-shot Red-line Quaker.

 

Better still, there was a Cypress Carpet as well, this species also flies in the summer, which is when I recorded my first for the year.

 

The Conistra were out in force, the Chestnuts. All 3 were represented, Chestnut, Dark Chestnut & Black-spotted Chestnut, all 3 were previously recorded earlier on in the spring. 

 

The plume moth Emmelina monodactyla is rife at the moment, it was nice to see the different colourations, and the stunning Merveille du Jour continue to have a bumper year.

 

The weather still hangs on, but it's starting to cool down slowly now (about time really) i've never known such a mild Autumn. 

Night time temperatures still continue to hold above 10c.

Moth garden list for 2024 stands at 625 species

29/10/24 - Back Garden - Fordham - East Cambridgeshire - Actinic Trap

Macro Moths

Juniper Carpet 1 [NFY]
Red-line Quaker 1 [NFY]
Black-spotted Chestnut 1
Black Rustic 1
Blair's Shoulder-knot 1
Chestnut 1
Cypress Carpet 1
Dark Chestnut 1
Large Wainscot 3
Lesser Yellow Underwing 1
Merveille du Jour 4
November Moth sp 8
Red-green Carpet 4
Scarce Bordered Straw 1
Spruce Carpet 1

Micro Moths

Acleris sparsana 1
Emmelina monodactyla 4
Epiphyas postvittana 3
Scrobipalpa ocellatella 1

Red-line Quaker

Black-spotted Chestnut & Dark Chestnut

Cypress Carpet

Dark Chestnut

Emmelina monodactyla

Juniper Carpet

 

Latest from the garden moth trap

It was a good start to last week in my garden, but it has taken this long to post about it, the main reason being that I haven't been able to photograph the selected species until Saturday! I kept opening the pots of the moths that were kept safely in the fridge, to provide fresh air for them.

I'm glad to say that all were released back into the wild safely today, albeit much later than I wanted to.

 

There was one new species for the year amongst a haul of 20 species, a lovely marked Mottled Umber.

 

Green-brindled Crescent & Black Rustics dominated the catch, with 7 and 6 examples respectively.

 

The return of a Dark Sword-grass was noteworthy, until I realised it was the same example I caught on the 23rd, 5 days earlier. There was no doubting it. Still my only record this year. 

The weather continued to be mild, particularly at night for the time of year, rarely dropping below 10c.

Moth garden list for 2024 stands at 623 species

28/10/24 - Back Garden - Fordham - East Cambridgeshire - Actinic Trap

Macro Moths

Mottled Umber 1 [NFY]
Angle Shades 2
Barred Sallow 1
Beaded Chestnut 4
Black Rustic 6
Clancy's Rustic 1
Dark Sword-grass 1
Green-brindled Crescent 7
Mallow 1
Merveille du Jour 2
November Moth sp 3
Red-green Carpet 3
Setaceous Hebrew Character 1
Shuttle-shaped Dart 1
Silver Y 1
Sprawler 2

Micro Moths

Acleris schalleriana 1
Cydalima perspectalis 1
Epiphyas postvittana 1
Eudonia angustea 1

Shuttle-shaped Dart

Acleris schalleriana

Beaded Chestnut

Dark Sword-grass

Mottled Umber

 

Warm Autumn

It has been ridiculously warm this past week, with highs of 19 degrees, most days have been above 16 degrees, certainly well above the average which hovers between 12-14 degrees, more like 10-12 by the end of the month.

At night it is still balmy, only one night this week did it drop below double digits. Some nights I have'nt run my trap because it's been nippy and and misty. 

 

Here are two catches from last week, which saw the first Dark Sword-grass of the year (late for a year first) and several Feathered Thorns.

Other notables included a late Hypsopygia glaucinalis, Ephestia species and Brimstone Moth.

 

The first seasonal Black-spotted Chestnut have also arrived.

The smattering of migrants continues, with regular Scarce Bordered Straw, Delicate and Udea ferrugalis.

Palpita vitrealis has had a bumper year here, the first yeah i've recorded this species.

I will continue to run my trap if it stays mild.

Moth garden list for 2024 stands at 622 species

23/10/24 - Back Garden - Fordham - East Cambridgeshire - Actinic Trap

Dark Sword-grass 1 [NFY]
Feathered Thorn 2 [NFY]
Angle Shades 1
Barred Sallow 1
Black Rustic 2
Common Marbled Carpet 1
Delicate 2
Garden Carpet 1
Green-brindled Crescent 4
Large Wainscot 1
Large Yellow Underwing 2
Mallow 1
Red-green Carpet 4
Scarce Bordered Straw 1

Micro Moths

Acleris variegana 1
Emmelina monodactyla 2
Epiphyas postvittana 3
Phyllonorycter messaniella 1

 

25/10/24 - Back Garden - Fordham - East Cambridgeshire - Actinic Trap

Macro Moths

Angle Shades 2
Beaded Chestnut 2
Black-spotted Chestnut 1
Black Rustic 1
Blair's Shoulder-knot 1
Brimstone Moth 1
Delicate 1
Feathered Thorn 2
Green-brindled Crescent 3
Large Wainscot 1
Large Yellow Underwing 3
Lesser Yellow Underwing 2
Mallow 1
Merveille du Jour
November Moth sp 1
Red-green Carpet 3
Scarce Bordered Straw 1
Setaceous Hebrew Character 1

Micro Moths

Blastobasis lacticolella 1
Ephestia sp 1
Epiphyas postvittana 4
Hypsopygia glaucinalis 1
Musotima nitidalis 1
Palpita vitrealis 2
Plutella xylostella 1
Udea ferrugalis 2

Large Wainscot

Dark Sword-grass

Feathered Thorn

 

Scarce Bordered Straw

Palpita vitrealis

Hypsopygia glaucinalis

Feathered Thorn

Black-spotted Chestnut

Marvel of the Day

A wet trap this morning was brightened up by the first 'Marvel of the day' Merveille du Jour moths to grace the trap this year. The 620th species recorded thus far. This figure is 23 species behind 2023 and a whopping 45 species behind 2022's total. Fordham, East Cambs

19th October 2024

Merveille du Jour

Another weeks mothing round-up

Still quiet, but some good moths still around, and plenty of migrants (which could also be home grown species now, who knows.

3 new species for the year this week, all on different days. Sprawler on Monday, November Moth on Tuesday & Acleris notana/ferrugana on Friday

Other notables included some late'ish flying species, Clepsis consimiliana, Blastobasis lacticolella, White-point and an odd Noctua retained for dissection (in case of it being tertria) It's a female, so we will see.

Moth garden list for 2024 stands at 619 species

15/10/24 - Back Garden - Fordham - East Cambridgeshire - Actinic Trap

Macro Moths

Sprawler 1 [NFY]
Angle Shades 1
Black Rustic 1
Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing 3
Clancy's Rustic 1
Delicate 1
Garden Carpet 1
Green-brindled Crescent 1
L-album Wainscot 4
Large Yellow Underwing 1
Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing 1
Lesser Yellow Underwing 2
Mallow 2
Red-green Carpet 1
Sallow 2 f.flavescens
Scarce Bordered Straw 1
Square-spot Rustic 1
Willow Beauty 1

Micro Moths

Acleris variegana 1
Epiphyas postvittana 2
Palpita vitrealis 1
Phyllonorycter messaniella 1

 

16/10/24 - Back Garden - Fordham - East Cambridgeshire - Actinic Trap

Macro Moths

November Moth sp 1 [NFY]
Black Rustic 2
Clancy's Rustic 5
Delicate 1
Green-brindled Crescent 1
L-album Wainscot 1
Large Yellow Underwing 4
Lesser Yellow Underwing 1
Red-green Carpet 1

Micro Moths 

Carcina quercana 1
Clepsis consimiliana 1
Emmelina monodactyla 1
Epiphyas postvittana 4
Scrobipalpa ocellatella 1

18/10/24 - Back Garden - Fordham - East Cambridgeshire - Actinic Trap

Macro Moths

Black Rustic 6
Clancy's Rustic 1
Delicate 2
Green-brindled Crescent 2
Large Yellow Underwing 2
Lesser Yellow Underwing 2
Red-green Carpet 1
White-point 1

Micro Moths 

Acleris notana/ferrugana 1 [NFY]
Blastobasis lacticolella 1
Emmelina monodactyla 1
Epiphyas postvittana 5

Sprawler

Sallow f.flavescens

Noctua sp

November Moth sp

Clepsis consimiliana

Blastobasis lacticolella

White-point

Acleris notana/ferrugana

 

Weeks mothing round-up

This week hasn't been too bad at all in my garden, with warmer nights and extremely mild days (19c at the top end is silly for October).

I ran my trap on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday here, but won't run it for the next couple of nights as its set to drop to low single figures.

The best night of the week was Monday night with 35 species jotted down, probably an October species record for here (without checking for sure).

Just the 2 new species for the year, with a superb glinting Green-brindled Crescent and a rather plainer (but scarcer) Brick, in fact it's a new species for the garden!

Last night, the only moth of note was a mint Satellite, the first of the season.

 

Common migrants are still in great supply, with regular Scarce Bordered Straw, Palpita vitrealis, Clancy's Rustic, L-album Wainscot & Delicate. The latter 3 species are probably resident here now.

 

Wrap up, it's getting cold now until Sunday night at the earliest.

Moth garden list for 2024 stands at 616 species

07/10/24 - Back Garden - Fordham - East Cambridgeshire - Actinic Trap

Macro Moths 

Green-brindled Crescent 1 [NFY]
Angle Shades 1
Beaded Chestnut 1
Black Rustic 2
Blair's Shoulder-knot 1
Brimstone Moth 1
Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing 2
Burnished Brass 1
Clancy's Rustic 3
Dark Spectacle 2
Delicate 1
Grey-pine Carpet 1
L-album Wainscot 3
Large Yellow Underwing 10
Lesser Yellow Underwing 3
Light Emerald 1
Lunar Underwing 2
Pale Mottled Willow 1
Pink-barred Sallow 1
Setaceous Hebrew Character 4
Silver Y 1
Vine's Rustic 1
Willow Beauty 4

Micro Moths 

Acleris rhombana 1
Acleris sparsana 1
Aproaerema anthyllidella 1
Carcina quercana 1
Emmelina monodactyla 2
Eudonia angustea 1
Musotima nitidalis 3
Nomophila noctuella 2
Palpita vitrealis 1
Plutella xylostella 1
Scrobipalpa ocellatella 1
Udea ferrugalis 1

08/10/24 - Back Garden - Fordham - East Cambridgeshire - Actinic Trap

Brick 1 [NFG]

09/10/24 - Back Garden - Fordham - East Cambridgeshire - Actinic Trap

Satellite 1 [Season First]

Palpita vitrealis

Carcina quercana

Green-brindled Crescent

Musotima nitidalis

From Pale to Dusky!

With a cracker of a Pale-lemon Sallow yesterday night, imagine my excitement of finding a Dusky-lemon Sallow in the garden trap this morning!

I have never caught both in one year let alone a day apart, incredible.

It was extremely satisfying photographing the pair side by side.

Other good moths included several Delicate's, Scarce Bordered Straws, a single Clancy's Rustic and Scarce Bordered Straw. 

 

The robinson trap is really working much better than my storage box at retaining, and the trap had plenty of moths inside this morning.

 

A tiny Phyllonorycter messaniella was new for the year and what I thought was late, isn't actually in certain parts of the country, the peak flight season for them is now! A species of Phyllonorycter that multi-broods and possibly overwinters during mild winters.

A welcome yearly addition having seen my last one on the 29th June 2022! 

 

Today whilst releasing the moths in my garden from last night, I spied a lovely Grey Dagger caterpillar, my first of this species in larval form.

Milder conditions are here now, but it could be windy and wet.

Moth garden list for 2024 stands at 614 species

05/10/24 - Back Garden - Fordham - East Cambridgeshire - Actinic Trap

Macro Moths

Dusky-lemon Sallow 1 [NFY]

 

Micro Moths

 

Phyllonorycter messaniella 1 [NFY] 

 

Delicate

Pale-lemon Sallow & Dusky-lemon Sallow

Dusky-lemon Sallow

Grey Dagger Caterpillar

Phyllonorycter messaniella

Scarce Bordered Straw