Welcome

Hello and welcome to my moth Blog. I now reside in a small village in East Cambridgeshire called Fordham. My Blog's aim is to promote and encourage others to participate in the wonderful hobby that is Moth-trapping.
Moth records are vital for building a picture of our ecosystem around us, as they really are the bottom of the food chain. They are an excellent early indicator of how healthy a habitat is. I openly encourage people to share their findings via social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter & Instagram.
So why do we do it? well for some people it is to get an insight into the world of Moths, for others it is to build a list of species much like 'Twitching' in the Bird world. The reason I do it....you just never know what you might find when you open up that trap! I hope to show what different species inhabit Cambridgeshire and neighbouring counties.
On this Blog you will find up-to-date records and pictures.
I run a trap regularly in my garden and also enjoy doing field trips to various localities over several different counties.
Please also check out the links in the sidebar to the right for other people's Blogs and informative Websites.
Thanks for looking and happy Mothing!

KEY

NFY = New Species For The Year
NFG = New Species For The Garden
NEW! = New Species For My Records

Any Species highlighted in RED signifies a totally new species for my records.

If you have any questions or enquiries then please feel free to email me
Contact Email : bensale@rocketmail.com

My Latest Notables and Rarities

Wednesday, 30 March 2022

Latest from the home and work traps

Some great variety at the moment, less quantity now as the weather takes an expected turn for this time of year, so no trapping until at least Monday night now.
On Monday, I once again stood in the garden watching the sunset and keeping my beady eyes on any moths flying around.
In 20 minutes I spotted 6! But I only managed to net 3, as the others were out of range of my sweep.

Another Caloptilia stigmatella (Which would not co-operate for a photo), and two garden firsts in the form of Epermenia chaerophyllella and another Caloptilia, which has keyed out today at Colin Plant's, as rufipennella. 
But, it will be dissected just to 100% confirm identity as looking at the literature, the dotting does not conform to what is written about this species!
The dark chocolate-brown tibia and single thin central band seem to still be the key to naming this species.
Other highlights were two Pammene giganteana, the 2nd and 3rd records for the garden this year. One was a particularly smart example and warranted a photo.
 
At work I was greet with 18 moths of 8 species to the little actinic, the pick being a worn Scrobipalpa costella, and a mint (green) Acleris literana, which is always a regular moth for me there.


Moth garden list for 2022 stands at 45 species

28/03/22 - Back Garden - Fordham - East Cambridgeshire - Daytime
 
Micro Moths
 
Caloptilia rufipennella 1 [NFG]
Epermenia chaerophyllella 1 [NFG]
Caloptilia stigmatella 1
Pammene giganteana 2
 
28/03/22 - Work - Bishop's Stortford - East Hertfordshire - Actinic Trap
 
Macro Moths
 
Clouded Drab 1
Commmon Quaker 6
Early Grey 1
Hebrew Character 2
Small Quaker 1
 
Micro Moths
 
Acleris literana 1
Emmelina monodactyla 5
Scrobipalpa costella 1
 
Acleris literana

Caloptilia rufipennella

Epermenia chaerophyllella

Pammene giganteana

Scrobipalpa costella



Posted by Bennyboymothman at 19:56

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