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

Tuesday, 11 July 2023

Warm, muggy, moths!

Another warm day on Saturday, followed by a humid night and perfect for seeing a good variety of moths.
And indeed there were plenty to observe! 
During the day, I recorded my 6th Dusky Clearwing to the TAB lure, incredible! I wonder whether next year will see the same numbers? I also continue to get Cydia pomonella to this lure, nearly a dozen records now spanning the last 2 weeks.
 
Argyrotaenia ljungiana I missed out on the spring brood, and instead recorded it on Saturday as the 2nd summer brood.
Another strange one was the Autumn/Spring form of semifascia showing up. Usually at this time of year semifascia sports a yellow wedge, the offspring of the over-wintering moths, so quite late considering this moth may have been on the wing since last September!

Also a really dark Phtheochroa inopiana was interesting, dark brown and completely deviod of markings, only identified from it's distinct triangular tent-like shape, coupled with the palps.
 
There was also a massive influx of Yponomeuta species, over 100 were noted counted, with over 20 of them Yponomeuta rorrella.
Other winners were over 30 Least Carpet and 26 Nutmegs.

The most interesting moth however went to a micro, a rather dark presumed Scriobipalpa. I've had several people suggest Tuta absoluta, though i'm not 100% convinced, although that would be a welcome new for garden and also a rare moth for Cambs. The moth has been retained for disssection.

Only new for year species listed below.


Moth garden list for 2023 stands at 483 species
 

08/07/23 - Back Garden - Fordham - East Cambridgeshire - Actinic Trap

Macro Moths
 
Lesser-spotted Pinion 1 [NFY]
Peach Blossom 1 [NFY]
Tree-lichen Beauty 2 [NFY]
 
Micro Moths

Acleris holmiana 1 [NFG] 
Acleris forsskaleana 3 [NFY]
Acrobasis suavella 1 [NFY]
Argyrotaenia ljungiana 1 [NFY]
Blastobasis adustella 1 [NFY]
Limnaecia phragmitella 1 [NFG]
Lobesia abscisana 2 [NFY]
Phtheochroa inopiana 1 [NFY]
Phyllonorycter comparella 1 [NFY]
Scrobipalpa sp 1 [TBC]
Yponomeuta rorrella 22 [NFY]













Posted by Bennyboymothman at 20:12

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