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

Thursday 28 July 2022

Recent moth mutterings from the home trap

Slowly catching up, and quieter nights recently have allowed me to come to a slower pace.
In fact, I ran my trap last night, and the moth cast was more akin to late August! 
 
The leaves are already falling around here, not from the autumnal change, but withering from lack of moisture, you know.. that wet stuff that falls from the sky usually every week without fail, sometimes for days on end? Not this year, infact it has now been the joint driest July on record with the year 1911.

The moths have certainly taken a hit in recent days here with variety plummeting.

But lets not get too despondent, for nature will always recover and find a way, particularly if it is something we just cannot control (rainfall).  

Here are two catches from Saturday night, and Monday night.
Both were quite varied catches including some real beauties.
 
Agdistis bennetii was the biggest surprise, but not the biggest moth (That went to the stunning Red Underwing).
Agdistis bennetii is a rare moth inland, usually confined to coastal areas, so what is it doing in my garden? Bill Mansfield (The Cambs CMR) made a good point about them residing here in Cambs near the road salt centres along the M11 corridor, as he had taken them before at Trumpington Meadows.
Nevertheless it is a moth I haven't seen for over 10 years.
 
On Monday night there were more surprises in store, with some stunning species such as Dog's Tooth, White-spotted Pinion, Plain Pug and another 'Pretty in pink' Tawny Wave.
 
The Dog's Tooth was my second garden record, after taking one in May.. I cannot believe this is the same species! The difference is quite astounding.
 
A pleasing few nights in the garden for sure!


Moth garden list for 2022 stands at 568 species

23/07/22 - Back Garden - Fordham - East Cambridgeshire -125w MV Blaclight Robinson Trap + 15w Synergetic tube
 
Macro Moths
 
Red Underwing 1 [NFG]

Micro Moths

Agdistis bennetii 1 [NFG]
Bucculatrix thoracella 1 [NFG]

25/07/22 - Back Garden - Fordham - East Cambridgeshire -125w MV Blaclight Robinson Trap + 15w Synergetic tube
 
Macro Moths
 
Plain Pug 1 [NFG] 
White-spotted Pinion 1 [NFG]
Dog's Tooth 1 
Tawny Wave 1

Agdistis bennetii

Red Underwing

Dog's Tooth

Dog's Tooth (1st brood left, 2nd brood right)

Plain Pug

Tawny Wave

White-spotted Pinion


Posted by Bennyboymothman at 20:51

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