Wicken Fen - Field Trip - 09th July

I made a trip down to Wicken Fen on the 9th of July, and was joined by Mark Welfare whom was on a road trip down south, travelling from Northumberland.

It had been a very warm day with highs of 34 degrees and it was set to be a very mild night hovering just below 20 degrees by the time we were packing up, an almost tropical night.

We both setup traps in different areas to cover as much ground as we could.

Warm, humid and it didn't matter that the sky was clear because we had no bright moon to contend with and with a warm airflow, lows of 18c were expected by dawn. 

Unfortunately the wind was a bit gusty at times, and one of my traps was rather exposed to this, trays kept falling over, the groundsheet kept flicking up, and moths were scattering several metres beyond the trapping area, making it difficult to find them amongst the grass.

I ended up packing away by around 2.30am, Mark still had a few traps to go, but I had to shoot off because of work the next day. 

Mark continued to add extra species that didn't feature on my list and was exceptionally pleased to get the only Lappet of the night to his trap.

All in all Mark managed possibly over 20 new species for his records and drove home the next day happy indeed.

 

For me personally there were several star moths.

 

On the larger moth front I was well pleased with some of the scarcer species such as the (Not so common) Common Lutestring, plenty of Reed Dagger's, both forms of Brown-veined Wainscot and an Ear Moth species that stood-out to me.

I retained the specimen for a photograph and and comparing it to a Saltern Ear that I have taken on the North Norfolk coast before, it certainly looks spot on for that species.

 

The moth will be dissected and if correct would be the first record for Wicken Fen and possibly Cambridgeshire.

 

Another good find amongst the hundreds of moths crashing around the bulb was a small Blastobasis species.

On the night there was only one Blastobasis adustella, they hadn't really got going yet this early, so the other moth I potted up did not look right for this species.

Further investigation and comments from others have said that it is probably vittata, another possible new species for Wicken Fen!

 

Eupoecilia ambiguella, the Vine Moth was good to get again, and a much better conditioned specimen than my previous two.

The smallest but prettiest moth of the night went to the tiny 10mm Chrysoesthia drurella. Until you get a close-up of it, you cannot appreciate its true beauty.

 

259 species in total was excellent for just two intrepid trappers. 

 

I look forward to returning when we get another warm and settled evening. 

 

 

09/07/26 - Wicken Fen - East Cambridgeshire - 1x 125w Clear MV Trap, 2x 125w MV Traps 1x 250w Clear Robinson Trap, 1x Actinic Bucket Trap & 1x 30w Led Trap

Macro Moths

Black Arches 
Bordered Beauty 
Bright-line Brown-eye 
Brimstone Moth 
Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing 
Brown-line Bright-eye 
Brown-veined Wainscot 
Buff-tip 
Bulrush Wainscot 
Burnished Brass 
Canary-shouldered Thorn 
Chevron 
Clay
Cloaked Minor 
Clouded Border 
Common Carpet 
Common Emerald 
Common Footman 
Common Lutestring
Common Rustic 
Coronet
Cream-bordered Green Pea 
Crescent 
Dark Arches 
Dark Umber 
Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet 
Dewick's Plusia 
Dingy Footman 
Dog's Tooth 
Dotted Fan-foot
Double Lobed 
Double Square-spot 
Drinker
Dun-bar 
Dusky Sallow 
Dusky Thorn
Dwarf Cream Wave
Ear sp (probable Saltern TBC)
Elephant Hawk-moth 
Fan-foot 
Fen Wainscot 
Ghost Moth 
Gold Spot 
Goat Moth
Grey Dagger 
Grey Pug 
Heart & Dart 
Iron Prominent 
Jersey Tiger
July Highflyer 
Kent Black Arches 
Knot Grass
Lappet 
Large Emerald 
Large Yellow Underwing 
Latticed Heath
Least Carpet 
Least Yellow Underwing 
Leopard Moth
Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing 
Lesser Yellow Underwing 
Lesser-spotted Pinion
Lime-speck Pug 
Lunar-spotted Pinion 
Magpie Moth 
Maple Pug 
Marbled Clover 
Mere Wainscot 
Mouse Moth 
Nut-tree Tussock 
Nutmeg
Oak Eggar 
Oak Hook-tip 
Pale Prominent 
Pebble Hook-tip 
Pebble Prominent 
Peppered Moth
Pine Carpet 
Poplar Hawk-moth 
Reed Dagger
Reed Leopard 
Riband Wave 
Round-winged Muslin 
Ruby Tiger 
Rustic 
Scarce Footman 
Setaceous Hebrew Character 
Shaded Broad-bar 
Silver Y 
Single-dotted Wave 
Slender Pug 
Small Fan-footed Wave 
Small Mottled Willow 
Small Rufous 
Small Seraphim 
Smoky Wainscot 
Southern Wainscot 
Spectacle 
Straw Dot 
Swallow Prominent 
Tawny Wave 
Tree-lichen Beauty 
Turnip Moth 
Uncertain 
White Satin
White-spotted Pug 
Wormwood Pug 
Yellow Shell 

Micro Moths

Acentria emphemerella 

Acleris cristana
Acleris ferrugana/notana
Acleris forsskaleana
Acrobasis advenella
Acrobasis repandana 
Acrobasis suavella 
Adaina microdactyla 
Aethes cnicana
Agapeta hamana 
Agapeta zoegana 
Aglossa pinguinalis 
Agonopterix alstromeriana 
Agonopterix arenella 
Agonopterix conterminella
Agonopterix kaekeritziana
Agonopterix nervosa 
Agonopterix propinquella 
Agonopterix purpurea 
Agonopterix subpropinquella 
Agriphila tristella 
Anacampsis blattariella/populella
Anania coronata 
Anania hortulata
Anania lancealis 
Anania perlucidalis 
Ancylis badiana
Ancylosis oblitella 
Aphomia sociella 
Apotomis capreana 
Apotomis lineana 
Aproaerema anthyllidella 
Archips podana 
Archips rosana 
Argyresthia albistria 
Argyresthia goedartella 
Aspila janthinana 
Batia lunaris 
Batrachedra praengasta 
Blastobasis adustella 
Blastobasis lacticolella 
Blastobasis vittata
Brachmia blandella 
Bryotropha affinis 
Bryotropha basaltinella 
Bryotropha senectella
Bryotropha terrella 
Bucculatrix nigricomella 
Calamotropha paludella 
Caloptilia falconipennella
Caloptilia stigmatella 
Cameraria ohridella 
Cataclysta lemnata 
Catoptria pinella 
Celypha lacunana 
Celypha striana 
Chilo phragmitella
Chrysoesthia drurella
Chrysoteuchia culmella 
Clepsis dumetana
Clepsis spectrana
Cochylimorpha straminea
Cosmopterix lienigiella 
Crambus lathoniellus 
Crassa unitella 
Cydia fagiglandana 
Cydia pomonella 
Cydia splendana 
Dichrorampha alpinana/flavidorsana 
Dichrorampha simpliciana 
Ditula angustiorana 
Ectoedemia intimella
Elachista consortella
Elachista maculicerusella 
Elachista utonella
Emmelina monodactyla 
Endothenia ericetana 
Endothenia gentianaeana/marginana
Endotricha flammealis 
Endrosis sarcitrella 
Epiblema foenella
Epinotia cruciana
Epinotia nisella
Ethmia quadrilella
Eucosma campoliliana 
Eucosma cana
Eucosma hohenwartiana 
Eucosma obumbratana 
Eudemis profundana 
Eudonia lacustrata 
Eudonia mercurella 
Eudonia pallida 
Eupoecilia ambiguella
Euspilapteryx auroguttella
Euzophera pinguis 
Evergestis limbata 
Gelechia muscosella
Gelechia soroculala
Grapholita/Aspila janthinana
Gynnidomorpha alismana
Gypsonoma aceriana
Gypsonoma dealbana
Gypsonoma sociana 
Hedya salicella 
Helcystogramma rufescens
Homoeosoma sinuella 
Hypatima rhomboidella
Hypsopyqgia glaucinalis 
Limnaecia phragmitella
Mompha epilobiella 
Monochroa palustrellus
Nemapogon koenigi
Neocochylis atricapitana
Neocochylis hybridella 
Neocochylis molliculana 
Niditinea fuscella/striolella
Nomophila noctuella 

Nymphula nitidulata
Opostega salaciella
Ostrinia nubilalis 
Pammene fasciana 

Pandemia dumetana
Pandemis heparana 
Parachronistis albiceps
Parapoynx stratiotata 
Patania ruralis 
Pediasia contaminella 
Phalonidia manniana/udana 
Phycita roborella 
Phyllonorycter comparella
Plutella xylostella 
Ptherochroa inopiana 
Pyralis farinalis 
Pyrausta aurata 
Pyrausta purpuralis 
Rhopobota naevana 
Schoenobius gigantella
Sciota adelphella 
Scoparia subfusca 
Scrobipalpa ocellatella 
Sitochroa verticalis 
Spilonota ocellana
Stathmopoda pedella
Thiotricha subocellea
Tinea columbariella 
Tinea pellionella
Tinea trinotella 
Vitula biviella
Yponomeuta evonynella
Yponomeuta rorrella 
Zeiraphera isertana

Thiotricha subocellea

250w Clear MV Robinson Trap

Acleris hastiana

Agonopterix kaekeritziana

Blastobasis vittata

Bulrush Wainscot

Chrysoesthia drurella

Common Lutestring

Ear Moth sp

Ectoedemia intimella

Epiblema costipunctana

Eupoecilia ambiguella

More catches to catch up on

Whilst the weather remained warm and dry (sadly a bit too dry now as we haven't had rain for nigh on a month now here in the East), the weather turned rather unseasonably windy and a little chilly towards dawn on some nights over the weekend and into this current working week.

Catches have decreased as a result, and new species have slowed to a crawl. This is expected as so many species have already turned up 2 to 3 weeks early this year. 

Below are the highlights of 3 recent catches as It's been a stupidly busy week I am keeping it brief.

Best moths included Plain Pug (2nd garden record), my 2nd Depressaria chaerophylli of the year, a 2nd brood of Dog's Tooth, the uncommon Peach Blossom, and the even scarcer Agriphila inquinatella.

Platytes alpinella was a new garden moth, a moth associated with coastal areas but can wander inland, sadly just a phone picture as I lost it using my camera!

A cool East wind is now blowing into the garden, so the evenings aren't ideal.

 

Moth garden list for 2026 stands at 615 species 

 

10/07/26 - Back Garden - Fordham - East Cambridgeshire - Actinic Trap

 

Macro Moths

  

Lesser Common Rustic 1 [NFY] 

Plain Pug 1 [NFY]

Small Emerald 1 [NFY]

 

 

12/07/26 - Back Garden - Fordham - East Cambridgeshire - Actinic Trap

 

Macro Moths

  

Peach Blossom 1 [NFY]

Macro Moths

Platytes alpinella 1 [NFG]

 

 

13/07/26 - Back Garden - Fordham - East Cambridgeshire - Actinic Trap 

Macro Moths

  

Twin-spotted Wainscot 1 [NFY]

Macro Moths

Agriphila inquinatella 1 [NFY]

 

 

Depressaria chaerophylli

Garden Dart

Lesser Common Rustic

Limnaecia phragmitella

Plain Pug

Scrobipalpa atriplicella

Small Emerald

Platytes alpinella

Peach Blossom

Twin-spotted Wainscot

Agriphila inquinatella

Some more new species for the year

More moths and another good catch, with the previous nights moths emptied down the road, it was nearly a completely new set of species (Bar the common ones, Leopards, flammealis, Least Carpets all still going strong). 

New species are slowly tailing off now as we approach mid-summer, a lot of species are already finishing or may go for either 2nd or a 3rd brood dependant on species, especially if this warm weather continues. But we desperately need some rain!

Amongst the macros, Mouse Moth was extremely early, and my earliest garden record by 2 weeks.

During the day, a cracking Raspberry Clearwing came to the TAB lure, probably the last Clearwing species this year I guess?

We keep the warm weather, but it is slightly more bearable now thank goodness. 

Moth garden list for 2026 stands at 609 species 

 

09/07/26 - Back Garden - Fordham - East Cambridgeshire - Actinic Trap

 

Macro Moths

  

Dark Sword-grass 1 [NFY]

Dusky Thorn 1 [NFY]

Mouse Moth 1 [NFY]

Raspberry Clearwing 1 [NFY] 

 

Micro Moths

Coleophora conspicuella 1 [NFY]

Dioryctria abietella 1 [NFY]

 

Scoparia sp

Acleris literana

Coleophora conspicuella

Dark Sword-grass

Dusky Thorn

Mouse Moth

Raspberry Clearwing

 

Ditton Park Wood - Field Trip - 05th July

I made another trip to Ditton on the 5th of July, and after a warm and humid day, the night looked very good indeed moths.

A slow start but it did pick up, macro moths were very slow to come in, and with the temperature still at 20 degrees at midnight, the micros were having a field day! 

The traps were heaving once more with tinies and although there were quite a few macro moths, they were mainly of the same species, with at least 30 July Highflyers and 50 Minor Shoulder-knot.

On the Highflyers, they are o so variable and many forms were observed, one though was beyond beautiful and deserved a photograph, what a green! 

Best moth for me was a large Tineidae, Nemaxera betulinella which is new for me and seems to be only the 3rd county record.

There was also a massive shock in the MV trap when I was packing away, a Lunar Hornet Moth! it was actually buzzing around the lamp as I went through the trays, has this been documented before I wonder? A moth that is usually only seen during the daytime either on tree trunks or to its own pheromone lure.

Other top moths included Agonopterix kaekeritziana, Oxypteryx atrella & Thiotricha subocellea. 

Another Choristoneura species was retained for dissection.

It was a great trip, but I expected it to do better (I sound like Thomas Tuchel all of a sudden). 

 

05/07/26 - Ditton Park Wood - East Cambridgeshire - 1x 125w Clear MV Trap, 1x 250w Clear Robinson Trap & 1x 30w Led Trap

Macro Moths 

Beautiful Hook-tip 
Black Arches 
Bright-line Brown-eye
Brimstone Moth 
Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing 
Clouded Border 
Clouded Silver 
Common Carpet 
Common Emerald 
Common Footman 
Common White Wave 
Conmon Wave 
Coronet 
Dark Arches 
Dark Umber 
Dingy Footman 
Double Square-spot 
Drinker 
Dun-bar 
Early Thorn 
Elephant Hawk-moth 
Grey Dagger 
Haworth's Pug 
Heart & Dart 
July Highflyer 
Kent Black Arches 
Large Yellow Underwing 
Latticed Heath 
Least Carpet 
Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing 
Lesser Yellow Underwing 
Lunar Hornet Clearwing
Lunar-spotted Pinion 
Marbled Minor 
Marbled White-spot 
Mere Wainscot 
Minor Shoulder-knot 
Mottled Beauty 
Oak Hook-tip 
Pale Prominent 
Peach Blossom 
Peppered Moth 
Poplar Hawk-moth
Pretty Chalk Carpet 
Riband Wave 
Rosy Footman 
Ruby Tiger 
Rustic
Scarce Footman 
Shaded Fan-foot 
Silver Y 
Single-dotted Wave 
Slender Pug 
Small Blood-vein 
Small Dotted Buff 
Small Fan-footed Wave 
Small Mottled Willow 
Smoky Wainscot 
Snout 
Southern Wainscot 
Spectacle 
Straw Dot 
Swallow-tailed Moth 
Uncertain 
Wormwood Pug 
Yellow Shell 
Yellow-tail 

Micro Moths

Acleris forskalleana 
Acleris holmiana
Acleris notana ferrugana 
Acrobasis advenella 
Acrobasis repandana 
Agapeta hamana 
Agapeta zoegana 
Agonopterix alstromeriana 
Agonopterix heracliana sp 
Agonopterix kaekeritziana
Agonopterix liturosa 
Agonopterix subpropinquella 
Agriphila straminella 
Aleimma loeflingiana 
Alucita hexadactyla 
Anacampsis blattariella populella
Anania coronata
Anania hortulata 
Anarsia innoxiella 
Apotomis betuletana
Apotomis capreana
Aproaerema taeniolella
Archips podana 
Archips rosana 
Archips xylosteana 
Argyresthia albistria 
Argyresthia brockeella 
Argyresthia pruniella 
Aspila janthinana 
Athrips moyffetella 
Batia lunaris 
Batrachedra praengasta 
Blastobasis lacticolella 
Blastodacna hellerella 
Brachmia blandella 
Calamotropha paludella 
Caloptilia stigmatella 
Carcina quercana 
Catoptria pinella 
Celypha lacunana 
Choristoneura sp
Chrysoteuchia culmella 
Clepsis consimilana 
Cnephasia sp 
Crambus perlella 
Crassa unitella 
Cydia fagiglandana 
Cydia inquinatana 
Cydia pomonella 
Cydia splendana 
Ditula angustiorana 
Endothenia gentianaeana marginana 
Endotricha flammealis 
Epiblema costipunctana
Epinotia brunnichana
Epinotia nisella
Epinotia solandriana
Eucosma cana 
Eudemis porphyana 
Eudemis profundana 
Eudonia lacustrata 
Eudonia mercurella 
Euspilapteryx auroguttella
Euzophera pinguis 
Evergestis limbata 
Gelechia soroculala 
Gypsonoma minutana
Gypsonoma sociana 
Hedya pruniana 
Hedya salicella 
Hofmannophila pseudospretella 
Hypsopyqgia costalis 
Limnaecia phragmitella 
Lobesia abscisana 
Lyonetia clerkella 
Metalampra italica 
Mompha epilobiella 
Monochroa cytisella
Nemaxera betulinella
Notocelia uddmanniana 
Oegoconia sp 
Oncocera semirubella
Ostrinia nubilalis 
Oxypteryx atrella
Pammene fasciana 
Pandemis heparana 
Parachronistis albiceps
Parapoynx stratiotata
Paraswammerdamia albicapitella 
Paraswammerdamia nebulella 
Parornix sp 
Phalonidia manniana udana 
Phycita roborella 
Phyllonorycter ulmifoliella
Pleuroptya ruralis 
Plutella xylostella 
Ptherochroa inopiana 
Recurvaria nanella 
Rhopobota naevana 
Scoparia ambigualis 
Scoparia basistrigalis 
Scrobipalpa ocellatella 
Sitochroa verticalis 
Spilonota ocellana 
Swammerdamia pyrella 
Teleiodes vulgella 
Thiotricha subocellea
Tinea trinotella 
Yponomeuta cag mal pad 
Yponomeuta evonynella 
Yponomeuta rorrella 
Ypsolopha parenthesella
Zeiraphera isertana

30w Led Trap

250w Clear MV Robinson Trap

Agonopterix kaekeritziana

Dun-bar

Epinotia nisella

Euspilapteryx auroguttella

July Highflyer

Lunar Hornet Moth

Nemaxera betulinella

Oxypteryx atrella

Zeiraphera isertana

A HUGE Haul

With highs of 32 degrees on Wednesday and lows of just under 20 degrees (19.8c at just after 4am) it was one of the top 3 warmest nights of the year!

Subsequently the moths were absolutely heaving in the garden, although it was fairly slow to get going as it was still fairly light at half 10, owing to the clear sky.

Over 100 species were observed up until midnight and again when I arose at 3am. 

Highlights were as follows.

Endothenia ericetana - A new garden moth and probably expected at some point, as I have recorded them locally at the fens, a very nondescript species and very similar to quadrimaculana, a little smaller though with less pronounced markings.

Acrobasis tumidana - A suspected migrant moth, this being my 3rd garden record over the years. Easily missed bleary-eyed, but once under a hand lens or through a macro lens, those raised scale tufts become apparent. 

Depressaria chaerophylli - The second Depressaria species this week (After taking a suspected douglasella/pulcherrimella beforehand). A well-marked individual, just about sporting that rusty edge to the first part of the leading edge of the forewings.

Besides the quality micros, there were some great larger moths as well, including Dark Spinach, Dewick's & Webb's Wainscot.

That lot plus a further 9 new for year species, brought me over the 600 species mark for the year, unprecedented. To put this into perspective, I was on 540 species this time last year.

Trapping continues as the nights stay mild, if a little breezy here in fenland. 

Moth garden list for 2026 stands at 602 species 

 

08/07/26 - Back Garden - Fordham - East Cambridgeshire - Actinic Trap

 

Macro Moths

  

Dark Spinach 1 [NFY]

Dewick's Plusia 1 [NFY] 

Dingy Footman 1 [NFY] 

Gypsy Moth 1 [NFY]

Lesser-spotted Pinion 2 [NFY] 

Webb's Wainscot 1 [NFY]

 

Micro Moths

Acrobasis tumidana 1 [NFY]

Argyresthia goedartella 1 [NFY]

Bucculatrix thoracella 2 [NFY] 

Calamotropha paludella 1 [NFY] 

Cydia inquinatana 1 [NFY] 

Depressaria chaerophylli 1 [NFY] 

Endothenia ericetana 1 [NFG] 

Phyllonorycter maestingella 1 [NFY] 

Zelleria hepariella 1 [NFY] 

 

Acrobasis tumidana

Argyresthia goedartella

Bucculatrix thoracella

Cydia inquinatana

Dark Spinach

Depressaria chaerophylli

Dewick's Plusia

Dingy Footman

Endothenia ericetana

Gypsy Moth

Webb's Wainscot

Zelleria hepariella