Moth Trapping so far in 2021 up to June 2nd 2021

 

Moth trapping this year has been very poor with the cold wet and windy weather making it impossible to put the trap out, it’s been so windy on occasions that the trap could have been blown away.

The first time I was able to successfully trap was the 22nd of February when I caught an Early Grey and a Hebrew Character which was a new sighting for me. The next successful trap was the 4th of March with another Hebrew Character. The 16th of March was slightly better again with 4 moths, Hebrew Character, Common Plume, Clouded Drab and Oak Beauty. The last 2 also new captures. The 18th of March just 2 moths an Oak Beauty and a Hebrew Character. Things started to look up during the warmer spell of weather towards the end of March with 11 moths of 4 species caught new for the year a Common Plume and a Beautiful Plume being a new capture. On the 24th 4 moths including a March moth being another new species. The 29th of March brought another 4 moths with a Silver Y being a year first. Another good haul on the 31st brought 9 moths of 6 species with Small Quaker being a new moth and Twenty Plume moth being a year 1st. The 1st of April I had 5 moths but nothing if interest the rain, then set in so it was the 21st of April before the trap went out and although I only had 5 moths Brindled Beauty, Common Pug and Small Dusty Wave were all new sightings and Light Brown Apple moth was a year first. Another longish gap to the 10th May when 9 moths turned up with a Privet Tortrix being new for me and Shuttle Shaped Dart and Bee Moth new for the year. On the 15th of May 9 moths Nut Tree Tussock and Cabbage Moth were new life sightings and Heart and Dart, Brimstone and Garden Carpet year ticks.


Nut-Tree Tussock - Bath Birdwatcher

 3 Moths on the 17th May but nothing new. The 20th May a Knot Grass and Vines Rustic being year firsts. 28th May brought a year first in the form of Common Marbled Carpet. 


Common Marbled Carpet - Bath Birdwatcher

Things were really starting to look good for moths with high pressure and warm nights replacing the breezy and chilly ones we had been having and so it proved with on the 30th of May with 13 moths caught Treble Lines and Orange Footman being firsts and Codling Moth and Small Magpie new for the year.


Treble Lines - Bath Birdwatcher


Orange Footman - Bath Birdwatcher

 A Cockchafer beetle was also in the trap with a Mayfly. The 1st of June was another good night with 12 moths but nothing new then last night the 2nd was a stellar night with 24 moths including a stunning Buff Tip a moth that looks like a broken silver birch twig and a Muslin Moth the dark male but both new for me.



Buff Tip - Bath Birdwatcher

Double Striped Pug, and Willow Beauty new for the year.

 

That’s it so far this hopefully just a start to a successful year.

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