Below average temperatures

April has been fairly unremarkable so far this year in terms of the weather, maybe we've been spoilt too much in previous years?

Day-time temperatures have been around average for the time of year, but there have been plenty of days inbetween that have been below average.

Night times are now as low as 3 degrees, cold enough for a light frost. 

1 new species was added to the year list last night, the smart Coronet.

Runner-up prize went to the second Pale Pinion of the year, a nice dark-marked specimen. 

Moth garden list for 2026 stands at 91 species

18/04/26 - Back Garden - Fordham - East Cambridgeshire - Actinic Trap

 

Macro Moths 

Coronet 1 [NFY]
Brimstone Moth 2
Clouded Drab 2
Common Quaker 2
Double-striped Pug 2
Frosted Green 1
Muslin Moth 7
Oak-tree Pug 2
Pale Pinion 1
Shuttle-shaped Dart 1
Swallow Prominent 1

Micro Moths 

Epiphyas postvittana 2

 

Pale Pinion

Coronet

 

Wicken Fen - Field Trip - 16th April

I made a trip to Wicken Fen last Thursday and setup 3 traps spread around the entrance area to Sedge Fen and one 100 metres South of the car park.

The day had been fairly mild at 17 degrees, nothing spectacular but with overcast conditions expected into the night, the temperature was hopefully going to hold up in the lows teens, and luckily that was the case.

 

The only caveat was a brisk westerly wind that started to whip up an hour in. It got fairly strong at one point, and it was blowing my sheet and egg trays everywhere, so I decided to pack up the two exposed traps, and leave the sheltered ones on until at least midnight.

 

Moths were rather slow to come to all of the traps, a smattering here and there and no particular volume, but the variety of species was most pleasing.

 

Several Reed Daggers were Cambs earliest records by over 2 weeks, a continuing trend year on year as early emergence records are broken. 

On the otherside, a single Grey Shoulder-knot was getting on for being too late, I very rarely see them post-hibernation past March. 

 

The micro moths were dominated by numerous species of Elachista & Agonopterix, 2 Agonopterix heracliana/ciliella were retained, and both have since been identified as ciliella.  

 

The biggest shock of the night was a whacking great Red Sword-grass, spotted along the boardwalk next to one of the traps.

This is a new moth for me and also for Wicken Fen! 2nd county record and firdt recorded in 1992! Unbelievable.

 

My thanks to Joe and Tim for the access. 

 

16/04/26 - Wicken Fen - East Cambridgeshire - 1x 125w Clear MV Trap, 1x 250w Clear Robinson Trap, 1x 40w/22w Bucket Trap & 1x 160w MBT Trap

Macro Moths

Bright-line Brown-eye 
Brindled Pug 
Chinese Character 
Clouded Drab 
Common Quaker 
Dotted Chestnut 
Double-striped Pug 
Early Tooth-striped 
Engrailed 
Frosted Green 
Hebrew Character 
Latticed Heath 
Least Black Arches 
Nut-tree Tussock 
Oak-tree Pug 
Pale Prominent 
Pale Tussock 
Pebble Hook-tip 
Pebble Prominent 
Powdered Quaker 
Purple Bar 
Reed Dagger 3
Red Chestnut 
Red Sword-grass
Ruby Tiger 
Spectacle 
Swallow Prominent 
V-pug 
Waved Umber 

Micro Moths

Agonopterix alstromeriana 
Agonopterix arenella 
Agonopterix ciliella 
Agonopterix heracliana 
Agonopterix ocellana 
Agonopterix purpurea 
Agonopterix yeatiana
Cameraria ohridella 
Depressaria daucella
Elachista canapennella
Elachista maculicerusella 
Elachista rufocinerea 
Emmelina monodactyla 
Epiphyas postvittana 
Mompha epilobiella 
Monopis crocicapitella 
Parornix sp 
Plutella xylostella 
Psyche casta (case)

Reed Dagger

160w MBT Trap

Agonopterix ciliella

Agonopterix yeatiana

Depressaria daucella

Elachista maculicerusella

Elachista rufocinerea

Grey Shoulder-knot

Red Sword-grass

 

Cooler, a sign of things to come.

Last night was a little cooler than of late, with lows dipping into single figures for the first time in nearly a week, and therefore the tally dropped a bit.

But it was still worth it for 4 new species overnight, and a bonus micro found sitting on the shed whilst I was checking my lure bucket traps.

 

The fourth Acleris literana was worthy of a mention, not usually a common moth here.

 

A bit cold at night now sadly, but we'll see.

Moth garden list for 2026 stands at 90 species

17/04/26 - Back Garden - Fordham - East Cambridgeshire - Actinic Trap

 

Macro Moths 

 

Nutmeg 1 [NFY]
Pale Tussock 1 [NFY]
Waved Umber 2 [NFY]
Brimstone Moth 1
Brindled Beauty 2
Chinese Character 1
Clouded Drab 4
Common Quaker 1
Double-striped Pug 4
Frosted Green 2

Knot Grass 2
Muslin Moth 1
Oak-tree Pug 3
Shuttle-shaped Dart 2
Swallow Prominent 3

 

Micro Moths

 

Esperia sulphurella 1 [NFY] (Daytime) 

Eudonia angustea 1 [NFY]
Acleris literana 1
Epiphyas postvittana 6
Elachista canapennella 1

Pammene giganteana 1 (To ARG Lure)

 

Waved Umber

Acleris literana

Elachista canapennella

Esperia sulphurella

Eudonia angustea

Knot Grass

Nutmeg

Pale Tussock

 

Earliest ever Willow Beauty

I trapped my earliest Willow Beauty on Thursday night, a rather small specimen more akin to the late summer third broods, I guess it's pupated a little early and emerged rapidly. 

It was good to see some more of the returning common species as well. The temperature stayed just into double figures all night, but with a gusty wind once more by dawn.

The best moth of the night was a slightly worn Depressaria radiella, a moth that should be much more common than it is, this is only the 3rd garden record in 5 years. It feeds from various varieties of Umbelliferae which is prolific pretty much everywhere.

Whether it's not strongly attracted to light? or maybe it is easy pickings to be predated on within the stems of the dead plants over winter, who knows. 

 

After the warm day of 20 degrees on Thursday, I made a trip out as I knew it would be turning cooler at nights now for at least a week.

Moth garden list for 2026 stands at 85 species

16/04/26 - Back Garden - Fordham - East Cambridgeshire - Actinic Trap

 

Macro Moths 

 

Angle Shades 1 [NFY]
Iron Prominent 1 [NFY]
Seraphim 3 [NFY]
Spectacle 1 [NFY]
Streamer 1 [NFY]

Willow Beauty 1 [NFY]
Chinese Character 1
Clouded Drab 2
Common Quaker 1
Double-striped Pug 4
Early Grey 2
Hebrew Character 2
Nut-tree Tussock 4
Oak-tree Pug 4
Pale Prominent 1
Pine Beauty 1
Red Chestnut 1
Swallow Prominent 2

 

Micro Moths

 

Depressaria radiella 1 [NFY]
Elachista canapennella 1 [NFY]
Epiphyas postvittana 3 

 

Willow Beauty

Angle Shades

Depressaria radiella

Iron Prominent

Seraphim

Streamer

 

Warm, slightly humid, dry, Moths!

It's not been too bad in my garden lately for variety, numbers are a little low but that is April in a nutshell here.

Wednesday night was a warm (minimums of 13 degrees) and a cloudy night, and very still compared to most of the year so far! 

A real mix of moths were present with both new macros and micros arriving.

Best moth was the tiny little Phyllonorycter corylifoliella (2nd garden record and last seen in 2022) Scrobipalpa acuminatella was runner-up, an annual visitor, the latter which I initially thought was a very early Monochroa species, until I got it under a hand lens and saw the orange flecks, this early, only Scrobipalpa acuminatella is viable.

All 3 new for year micro moths broke emergence records by upto 3 weeks! 

Another good night was on the cards last night including my 2nd field trip of the year.

Moth garden list for 2026 stands at 77 species

15/04/26 - Back Garden - Fordham - East Cambridgeshire - Actinic Trap

 

Macro Moths 

Scorched Carpet 1 [NFY]

Shuttle-shaped Dart 2 [NFY]
Clouded Drab 3
Common Quaker 2

Double-striped Pug 5

Early Grey 1

Frosted Green 1

Oak-tree Pug 1

 

Micro Moths

 

Aphomia sociella 1 [NFY]

Phyllonorycter corylifoliella 1 [NFY]

Scrobipalpa acuminatella 1 [NFY]

Emmelina monodactyla 1

Epiphyas postvittana 3 

 

Shuttle-shaped Dart

Aphomia sociella

Phyllonorycter corylifoliella

Scorched Carpet

Scrobipalpa acuminatella

 

Two Cucullia sent me capers

It was looking like a proper good moth night last night, after highs of 18 degress and expected minimums of 13 degrees, in fact the forecasters held their promise, and with fairly light winds and thick cloud the moths did not disappoint!

Numbers still fairly low, but I always expect this in April in my garden. 

29 moths of 24 species were recorded, plus 2 angry Queen Wasps that picked the best moment to arrive, when I was going through the trap at quarter to 6!

8 new species for the year was excellent, which included a very special moth, a moth new to me, the Chamomile Shark. The 20 year hunt had ended, and after searching countless sites for the moth over two decades in suitable scrubby, chalk grassland and brownfield sites, the journey ends in my garden, unbelievable.

And what a belting dark specimen it is! It was nice to pose next to a Mullein, the other Cucullia species that graced the trap overnight.

Other highlights included a real splash of colour matching the fading Daffodils in the garden, the first of probably countless Brimstone Moths.

On the tiny's front, Cameraria ohridella, Agonopterix purpurea and the slightly larger Platyedra subcinerea were all welcome returning visitors. 

Changeable now, but tomorrow night might come good? 

 

Moth garden list for 2026 stands at 72 species

14/04/26 - Back Garden - Fordham - East Cambridgeshire - Actinic Trap

 

Macro Moths 

Brimstone Moth 1 [NFY]
Chamomile Shark 1 [NEW]
Chinese Character 1 [NFY]
Mullein 1 [NFY]
Pale Prominent 1 [NFY]
Brindled Beauty 1
Clouded Drab 1
Common Quaker 1
Double-striped Pug 2
Early Grey 1
Frosted Green 1
Hebrew Character 2
Nut-tree Tussock 2
Pine Beauty 1
Red-green Carpet 1
Swallow Prominent 1

Micro Moths 

Agonopterix purpurea 1 [NFY]
Cameraria ohridella 1 [NFY]
Platyedra subcinerea 1 [NFY]
Agonopterix heracliana 1 
Alucita hexadactyla 1
Emmelina monodactyla 1
Epiphyas postvittana 5
Plutella xylostella 1

 

Chinese Character

Mullein & Chamomile Shark

Pale Prominent

Platyedra subcinerea

Brimstone Moth

Chamomile Shark

 

Chilly

After a fairly mild day yesterday I tried trapping once more, but by half 11 I packed up as it was pretty deperate out there and all I had to show for it was 2 Hebrew Characters.

Forgetting that I didn't actually look through my trap when I switched it off last night, I just went through it this evening and found 1 more Hebrew Character and a Common Quaker, riveting!

I also checked the lure bucket traps and found 2 Pammene giganteana in each one, and then I disturbed a year first Elachista rufocinerea, result!

Then it rained... so I cleaned the patio off once more and was sweeping the remains of a Swallow Prominent, another new one albeit just sets of wings, the birds must have found one I missed! 

Local friend Leslie Gardiner also brought round a moth he trapped last night, a quick inspection revealed that it is a Depressaria chaerophylli, a scarce moth in the county, but which seems to have a little stronghold around here. 

Moth garden list for 2026 stands at 64 species

12/04/26 - Back Garden - Fordham - East Cambridgeshire - Actinic Trap

 

Macro Moths

Swallow Prominent 1 [NFY]

Common Quaker 1

Hebrew Character 3 

Micro Moths

Elachista rufocinerea 1 [NFY]

 

Depressaria chaerophylli

Elachista rufocinerea

Swallow Prominent...apparently

 

 

 

Cool breezy and quiet

Not great here last night in my garden, despite fairly decent lows of 8.6c, the breeze wasn't welcome and knocked the night on the head really.

But, there was one new species for the year amongst the paltry 5 moths that did show their faces.

A nice Acleris literana was only the 4th garden record, and the two Lunar Marbled Browns are far from common moths here, being the single new for year.

A little bit cool now for a few days then we should be getting some warmth once more. 

Moth garden list for 2026 stands at 62 species

10/04/26 - Back Garden - Fordham - East Cambridgeshire - Actinic Trap

 

Macro Moths

Lunar Marbled Brown 2 [NFY]

Powdered Quaker 1

Micro Moths

Acleris literana 1

Emmelina monodactyla 1 

 

Powdered Quaker

Acleris literana

Lunar Marbled Brown

Chippenham Fen - Field Trip - 08th April

The first field trip of the year started local, at nearby Chippenham Fen.

After the warmest day of the year so far of 25 degrees, it certainly was worth a go, and with overnight lows of around 11c it should have been pretty much perfect for early April or as good as to be expected.

Unfortunately the heat of the day quite quickly vanished after dark, dropping 10 degrees in just over an hour, a usual feature so early on in the year and coupled with the crystal clear sky which didn't help matters.

But I perservered and was certainly rewarded with some early season quality moths.

I also trialed an unknown brand 125 watt clear mercury blended bulb that doesn't require a choke. I ran this light off of my powerpack and after an hour, not one moth! So I swapped it out for my usual 160 watt mercury blended bulb and then left it another hour, and there were at least 10 moths. Conclusion? I think it's a fake mv incandescent bulb! Won't be using that again then...

4 other traps were sited 50 metres apart around the reserve, and all lights attracted a variety of different species with the (real) 125w Clear bulb that requires an actual choke to run, the clear winner, with the big 250w clear beast only slightly behind. 

Numbers were a little lower than expected given the conditions, but we are between flight seasons now, with the early Spring moths tailing off a tadge and the odd late Spring moths emerging, species such as Chinese Character, Ruby Tiger and Scorched Carpet all featuring in the catch.

Best moth of the night was a nice fresh Grey Birch, a speciality here and one i've yet to record from the home trap.

Some lovely micros were potted up as well including a couple of cracking Agonopterix and the first of many Epinotia immundana.

A pleasing start to the 2026 field trip calendar. 

 

08/04/26 - Chippenham Fen - East Cambridgeshire - 1x 125w MV Trap, 1x 125w Clear MV Trap 1x 250w Clear Robinson Trap, 1x 40w/22w Bucket Trap & 1x 160w MBT Trap

Macro Moths

Brindled Beauty 3
Brindled Pug 4
Chinese Character 1
Clouded Drab 6
Common Quaker 10
Double-striped Pug 5
Early Thorn 1
Early Tooth-striped 1
Engrailed 15
Frosted Green 11
Grey Birch 1
Hebrew Character 10
Least Black Arches 3
Lobster Moth 1
Lunar Marbled Brown 10
March Moth 1
Nut-tree Tussock 5
Oak-tree Pug 8
Pine Beauty 3
Powdered Quaker 1
Purple Thorn 2
Red Chestnut 4
Red-green Carpet 1
Ruby Tiger 1
Scorched Carpet 1
Small Quaker 1
Swallow Prominent 1
Water Carpet 3
White-spotted Pug 2

Micro Moths

Agonopterix alstromeriana 2
Agonopterix arenella 1
Agonopterix heracliana sp 1
Agonopterix ocellana 2
Agonopterix subpropinquella 1
Alucita hexadactyla 1
Caloptilia stigmatella 1
Emmelina monodactyla 1
Epermenia chaerophyllella 1
Epinotia immundana 1
Gracillaria syringella 1
Mompha epilobiella 1
Pammene giganteana 1
Plutella xylostella 1
Psyche casta (case) 1
Semioscopis steinkellneriana 1
Zelleria hepariella 1

The 'clear' winner 125w MV Trap

Agonopterix ocellana

Agonopterix subpropinquella

Chinese Character

Epinotia immundana

Grey Birch

Semioscopis steinkellneriana

White-spotted Pug