Butterfly Conservation Upper Thames Branch

Moth Sightings Archive - January to June 2010

~ Monday 28th June 2010 ~

Dave Maunder sent this report on 27th June: "On Friday evening (25th June) I went to the Bernard arms beer-garden in Gt. Kimble, Bucks and saw approx. 20-30 Scarlet Tiger moths flying around the garden - a lovely sight! They were also in thechurchyard next door. Weekend moth trapping in my garden here in Aylesbury Friday/Saturday nights (26th/27th June) produced a total of 61 species, some of thebetter ones were:- Privet Hawk (1, a female, which gave me some eggs which hopefully I'll be able to rear to show my son!); Eyed Hawks (2); Lime Hawks (2); Elephant Hawks (3); Leopard moth (1); Lackey moth (first adult) (1); Buff-tip (1); Buff Arches (1); Figure of 80 (3); Coxcomb Prominent (1); Sycamore moth (1); Poplar Grey (1); Miller moth (1); Reddish Light Arches (1); Brown Rustic (1); Cinnabar moths (3); White Ermine (1); Swallow-tailed moths (7); Peppered moths (3); Blood-veins (3); Scorched Wing (1) and Blue-bordered Carpet (first adult) (1)."

Scarlet TigersPhoto © Dave Maunder

Peter Cuss ran his garden trap on 26th June in Caversham, Berks: "I was surprised to get a Scarlet Tiger, I always think of this as a species that has fairly distinct colonies, has anybody else seen it in this area? I also had Elephant Hawk, Green Silver-lines, Treble Brown Spot, Dark Arches, Light Emerald, Beautiful Hook Tip, Brimstone and Heart & Dart."

Tim Watts reported the following on 26th June: "Our best ever garden moth sighting!! Colleen and I were delighted and amazed to find a Scarlet Tiger resting on our front door in Whitchurch, Bucks this morning, 26th. This is a moth we've never seen before, anywhere and one we'd dreamed of seeing!! The door is glass so the picture is of its underside taken from inside our porch, guess a full view of underside is unusual? We couldn't get out to see the front so carefully opened the door. It flew instantly and its brilliant red wings showed well in flight, it landed in a roadside Oak."

Scarlet TigerPhoto © Tim Watts

Tom Stevenson sent this report from Benson, Oxon on 26th June: "I put one ofmy 25w BB traps out overnight last night, 25th June, with the following results: BuffErmine 1, Flame 1, Minor sp. 3, Heart & Dart 1, Clepsis spectrana (Cyclamen Tortrix) 1, Shoulder-striped Wainscot 3, Barred Straw 1, Agapeta hamana 1, Uncertain 1, Double Square-spot 2, Heart & Club 1, Common Carpet 1, Nemophora degeerella 1, Scoparia pyralella 1 and Straw Dot 1. Photos of someof the prettier ones attached (see below)."

Barred StrawPhoto © Tom Stevenson

Double Square-spot_s_TStevensonPhoto © Tom Stevenson

Nemophora degeerellaPhoto © Tom Stevenson

Keith Mitchell sent this moth trap report on 26th June: "Interesting moths from my garden trap in Stoke Goldington, Bucks on 25th June included year firsts: Celypha striana, Blotched Emerald, Common Emerald, Small Dusty Wave, Barred Yellow, Privet Hawk-moth, Common Footman, Double Square-spot andDot Moth."

Common EmeraldPhoto © Keith Mitchell

Peter Hall reports Leucoptera laburnella leaf mines all over an old Laburnum tree in Great Missenden, Bucks on 24th June.

Paul Bowyer sent the following on 24th June: "I would like to report a moth seenin my house in Flackwell Heath, Bucks - Aglossa pinguinalis (Large Tabby). I was in 2 minds about this as the book informs me that its larvae feed on sheep dung!"

~ Thursday 24th June 2010 ~

David Redhead sent the following on 23rd June: "I was disappointed by the numbers in my third garden moth trap for June on the 22nd. Just 59 macro-moths but from 33 species of which one was an all-time addition to my garden list - an Oblique Carpet - plus 15 new for 2010 - Barred Yellow, Beautiful Golden Y, Beautiful Hook-tip, Buff Arches, Currant Pug, Dark Arches, Dingy Shears, Double Square-spot, Green Pug, Light Emerald, Riband Wave, Single-dotted Wave, Smoky Wainscot, Snout & Treble Brown Spot."

Dave Maunder sent these sightings on 22nd June: "Some moths found over thelast few weeks in Aylesbury, Bucks were:- Scarlet Tiger (1, my first adult in Aylesbury - my son found it at Bearbrook school on 10th); Puss moth eggs (3, + 1 3rd instar larva on 20th); Pebble Prominent larva, also on 20th; Sallow Kittens (2, 7th); Maiden's Blush (1, on 9th - my first from Aylesbury). Also I've run my garden m.v. lamp a couple of times recently and some of the better results were:- Green Silver-lines (1); Buff Arches (1); Figure of 80 (1) - on 6th; Elephant Hawk (1) and Figure of 80 (2) - both on 12th; Poplar Hawk (1); Cinnabar (1); White Ermine (2); Buff Ermine (1); Clouded-bordered Brindle (1) and Pale Prominent (1) on 21st. Last night (21st June) at dusk I saw feeding on my garden Sweet william flowers: Varied Coronets (2); Broad-barred White (1); Silver Y (2), and Large Yellow Underwing (2). Still waiting to see if I'll get the Small Ranunculus likelast year!"

Elephant HawkmothPhoto © Dave Maunder

Adam Bassett reported the following: "Thanks to Peter Hall for confirming a batch of records from my garden (in Marlow Bottom, Bucks) - the following are currently new for the UTB year list: 3 records of Acleris logiana, 2 from November 2009 and a 3rd from 20th March 2010 constitute the first records for Bucks. This species was previously only known in Scotland, but has been recorded in southern counties in recent years. Narrow-winged Pug (15/4), Caloptilia elongella (24/4), Parornix devoniella (24/4), Deltaornix torquillella (30/5). The only other recent moths new for the year from some poor sessions in the cold are: Cydia fagiglandana, Argyresthia pruniella (19/6) and Blastobasis adustella (20/6). Lastly, some moth records from 23/6: Argyresthia sorbiella - new for the garden, thanks again to Peter for identifying this, and new for the year: Parachronistis albiceps, Pandemis cinnamomeana, Archips podana, Mocha, Dwarf Cream Wave and Scarce Footman."

Acleris logianaPhoto © Adam Bassett

Nigel Partridge sent this record on 21st June: "Isotrias rectifasciana, 20-06-10, Loosley Row, Bucks. Thanks to Peter Hall for confirming the ID."

Anni Byard sent this report on 21st June: "Just thought I'd report my first ever sighting of a Scarlet Tiger Moth, in Long Wittenham, Oxon today, 21st. Unfortunately it had suffered severe damage to one of its wings, but this meant I could return home and get my camera; it hadn't really moved since I first spotted it."

Scarlet TigerPhoto © Anni Byard

Peter Hall sent this update: "An addition to the report for Incombe hole on the 16th June for me and Dave Wilton - the daytime sighting of Merrifieldia leucodactyla."

David Redhead reports seeing a Hummingbird Hawkmoth at Otmoor, Oxon on Thursday 17th June.

Derek Brown reported the following: "We had a Hummingbird Hawkmoth in our garden at Beenham, Berks on 13th June."

~ Saturday 19th June 2010 ~

David Redhead sent the following today: "My overnight garden moth trap in Littlemore, Oxon on 18th June produced one of my lowest returns ever for June with just 22 macro-moths from 18 species. However, they did include my first Round-winged Muslin moths of the year, a pair."

Dave Wilton sent another report from mid-Bucks: "Trapped in my garden at Westcott on 8th June were Scrobipalpa costella and Nomophila noctuella (RushVeneer). A night-time expedition to Pilch Fields near Great Horwood on 9th June produced nearly 80 species, including several Ghost Moths, a Maple Prominent and a Dark Sword-grass, while Metzneria metzneriella, Agapeta zoegana & Small Dotted Buff may still be new to the UTB list. Seen during the daytime at Finemere Wood on 11th June was Argyresthia spinosella, while at Westcott that night I added Dusky Brocade to my garden year list. Peter Hall and I visited the Ivinghoe area on 16th June and found two newly-emerged Six-spot Burnets on Pitstone Hill and several Chimney Sweepers at Incombe Hole and on the Beacon itself. Disturbed while mowing the lawn at Westcott later that day were Crambus pascuella and Pterophorus pentadactyla (White Plume). Peter and I trapped in Bernwood Forest on 17th June. Apart from an invasion of Tortrix viridana (Green Oak Tortrix), arrivals at the four lights seemed very slow as it was yet another cold night, so it came as some surprise to find that our combined lists totalled more than

100 species. Those which might still be new to the UTB list include Argyresthia glabratella, Argyresthia brockeella, Choristoneura hebenstreitella, Spatalistis bifasciana, Aleimma loeflingiana, Pseudosciaphila branderiana, Apotomis turbidana, Epiblema uddmanniana, Drinker (first adult), Blotched Emerald, Four-dotted Footman, Double Dart, Minor Shoulder-knot and Grey Arches. It was very pleasing to see several Orange Moths as well."

Orange MothPhoto © Peter Hall

Four-dotted FootmanPhoto © Peter Hall

Double DartPhoto © Peter Hall

~ Thursday 17th June 2010 ~

Danny Howard sent the following yesterday: "Thought I would report my first sighting of two adult Scarlet Tiger Moths this morning (16th June) at the colony onCowley Road, Oxon near the Plain roundabout."

This report came from Tom Stevenson: "A colleague, Alan Brampton, sent me a photo of a Red-belted Clearwing found in his house in Benson, Oxon on 13th June."

Red-belted ClearwingPhoto © Alan Brampton

Dave Wilton sent this report on 15th June: "A Bucks Invertebrate Group field meeting was held at BBOWT's River Ray Reserves on Saturday 12th June. Moths seen during the daytime at Gallowsbridge Farm included Glyphipterix thrasonella (in large numbers around juncus), Celypha lacunana, Crambus lathoniellus, Chrysoteuchia culmella, Opsibotys fuscalis, Pyrausta purpuralis, Lackey (a fully-grown caterpillar), Blood-vein, Yellow Shell, Grass Rivulet, Middle-barred Minor, Burnet Companion, Mother Shipton, Silver Y & Straw Dot, while Small Yellow Underwing was added to the list at Leaches Farm. Several traps were run at Leaches Farm that night but the temperature dropped quickly and only about 60 species were caught. The star item was Oblique Carpet (pictured below), while others included Elophila nymphaeata (BrownChina-mark), Brown Scallop & Light Arches which may still be new to the UTB list."

Oblique CarpetPhoto © Dave Wilton

Karen Roberts sent the following report on 15th June: "Wycombe Wildlife Group Moth Trap at Wren Davis Farm, Prestwood, Bucks on 11th June. The following moths were identified: Garden Pebble, Little Emerald, Straw Dot, Common Swift, Ghost Moth, Brimstone (2), Snout (2), Silver-ground Carpet, Flame Shoulder (2), Green Carpet, Heart & Dart (3), Common Marbled Carpet (2), Treble Lines, Buff Arches, Angle Shades, Setaceous Hebrew Character and Small Magpie."

David Redhead reported the following on 15th June: "Monday 14th June brought several moth firsts for me for 2010. The Shotover Moth Group are doing the second of their surveys of the year and emptying the two actinics traps set up on Sunday evening, 13th June, in the pouring rain brought my first Mottled Beauties of the year along with singletons of Double Square-spot, Udea Olivalis and Phlyctaenia perlucidalis (the latter identified by Martin Townsend). Then in the afternoon, whilst walking the dog round the setaside field at the top of our lane, I came across a pristine Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet Moth (first adult). This should not have surprised me as the previous day I found a cocoon with the pupal case hanging out in the grassland near my house but could not find the emergent moth. At the same time Wendy saw our first garden Scarlet Tiger Moth of the year (in Littlemore, Oxon) but this cannot claim to be a first sighting for the UTB area as whilst we were firing up the next set of moth traps at Shotover that evening Colin Williams told me there were five Scarlet Tiger Moths (first adult) flying around his garden, just off the Iffley Road in Oxford, last Saturday (12th June). When I sent the results of the Shotover moth trapping to Marc Botham he told me the prize catch to date in this session was a Beautiful Carpet which he found in one of the traps he set up in Brasenose Woods on Saturday evening (12th). The Beautiful Carpet appears to have been reported to the UTB Website only once before, in 2006."

Adam Bassett sent a few more recent records from his garden in Marlow Bottom, Bucks: "New for the year are:June 10th: Nemapogon wolffiella, new for the garden and thanks to Peter Hall for confirmation, Udea olivalis.June 11th: Purple Bar, Light Emerald, Lime Hawk-moth, Elephant Hawk-moth, Uncertain, Mottled Rustic, Snout. Also Cochylis nana, new for the garden and thanks to Peter Hall for confirmation.June 12th: Triaxomera parasitella, Dipleurina lacustrata, Map-winged Swift (f. gallicus), Barred Yellow, Pebble Prominent, Large Yellow Underwing."

Map-winged SwiftPhoto © Adam Bassett

Eleanor Slade reported the following: "The WildCRU/Earthwatch project caught a single Double Square-spot at our Robinson trap in Bean Wood, Oxon on the night of the 10th June."

~ Wednesday 16th June 2010 ~

Peter Hall reported on three Bucks moth traps in early June: Peter's garden moth trap in Ballinger Common, Bucks on 2nd June produced the following highlights new to the UTB Species list: Pine Hawk-moth, Smoky Wainscot, Glyphipterix simpliciella. A trapping session at Aston Clinton Ragpits on 4th June produced these new species: Barred Hook-tip, Dark Arches, Tawny Shears, Epinotia demarniana, Eupoecilia angustana and Lathronympha strigana. The BIG (Bucks Invertebrate Group) moth trap at Turville Heath on 5th June, with 6mv Lamps produced 127 moth species: Micropterix aruncella, Nemophora degeerella, Adela rufimitrella, Nemapogon cloacella, Caloptilia robustella, Ectoedemia albifasciella, Cameraria ohridella, *Cydia pactolana, Swammerdamia pyrella, Roeslerstammia erxlebella, Plutella xylostella, Coleophora albicosta, Coleophora caespititiella, Esperia sulphurella, Teleiodes luculella, Hysterophora maculosana, Agapeta hamana, Syndemis musculana, Ptycholoma lecheana, Pseudargyrotoza conwagana, Cnephasia incertana, Celypha lacunana, Hedya pruniana, Bactra lancealana, Epinotia rubiginosana, Epiblema trimaculana, Pammene albuginana, Chrysoteuchia culmella, Crambus lathoniellus, Acentria ephemerella, Scoparia ambigualis, Eudonia pallida, Evergestis forficalis, Udea olivalis, Aphomia sociella, Ghost, Common Swift, Map-winged Swift, Scalloped Hook-tip, Oak Hook-tip, Pebble Hook-tip, Peach Blossom, Maiden's Blush, Flame Carpet, Red Twin-spot Carpet, Silver-ground Carpet, Garden Carpet, Common Carpet, Water Carpet, Purple Bar, Small Phoenix, Red-green Carpet, Common Marbled Carpet, Grey Pine Carpet, Broken-barred Carpet, Green Carpet, May Highflyer, Pretty ChalkCarpet, Grass Rivulet, Foxglove Pug, Mottled Pug, Wormwood Pug, Common Pug, Grey Pug, Shaded Pug, Brindled Pug, Small Yellow Wave, Seraphim, Scorched Carpet, Tawny-barred Angle, Brown Silver-line, Scorched Wing, Brimstone Moth, Peppered, Pale Oak Beauty, Brindled White-spot, Common Wave, White-pinion Spotted, Clouded Silver, Privet Hawk, Pine Hawk, Lime Hawk, Poplar Hawk, Elephant Hawk, Buff-tip, Lobster, Iron Prominent, Great Prominent, Coxcomb Prominent, Pale Prominent, Marbled Brown, Pale Tussock, Orange Footman, White Ermine, Buff Ermine, Least Black Arches, Heart & Dart, Flame, Flame Shoulder, Ingrailed Clay, Small Square-spot, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Pale-shouldered Brocade, Common Wainscot, Shoulder-striped Wainscot, Alder, Brown Rustic, Small Angle Shades, Angle Shades, Clouded-bordered Brindle, Clouded Brindle, Small Clouded Brindle, Large Nutmeg, Rustic Shoulder-knot, Marbled Minor, Tawny Marbled Minor, Middle-barred Minor, Treble Lines, Rosy Marbled, Marbled White Spot, Green Silver-lines, Nut-tree Tussock, Burnished Brass, Silver Y, Beautiful Golden Y,

Plain Golden Y, Mother Shipton, Straw Dot and Small Fan-foot.*Peter commented that Cydia pactolana is a particularly nice record as it is a county first. Previously only recorded in 6 vice-counties, all in southern England, this record makes Bucks the 7th.

~ Saturday 12th June 2010 ~

Keith Mitchell reported the following from Stoke Goldington, Bucks: "At home,moths recently included the first and only Large Yellow Underwing (disturbed during the day) on 5th June. Garden firsts: May Highflyer, Tawny-barred Angle, Treble-bar and White-pinion Spotted on 5th June, with the supporting cast Common Swift (27), Agapeta hamana (3), Epiphyas posvittana (Light-brown Apple Moth), Celypha lacunana (Dark Strawberry Tortrix) (6), Epiblema cynosbatella, Crambus lathoniellus (5), Aphomia sociella (2), Myelois circumvoluta (Thistle Ermine), Green Carpet (2), Small Waved Umber, Mottled Pug (4), Common Pug (6), Scorched Carpet (2), Scorched Wing (2), Brimstone(2), Peppered Moth, Pale Oak Beauty, Clouded Silver (3), Lime Hawk-moth, Eyed Hawk-moth (2), Elephant Hawk-moth, Buff-tip, Pale Tussock, White Ermine (9), Buff Ermine (6), Turnip, Heart and Dart (14), Shuttle-shaped dart (2), Flame Shoulder (3), Setaceous Hebrew Character (4), The Shears, Common Wainscot (8), Brown Rustic (8), Small Angle Shades, Clouded-bordered Brindle, Large Nutmeg (28), Rustic Shoulder-knot (28), Middle-barred Minor (14), Treble Lines (8), Straw Dot, Marbled Minor Agg (7).Additional moths this weekend (12th June): Chrysoteuchia culmella, Scoparia ambigualis, Eurrhypara hortulata (Small Magpie), Common Wave, Pale Prominent, Flame, Cabbage Moth and Varied Coronet."

Cabbage MothPhoto © Keith Mitchell

Varied CoronetPhoto © Keith Mitchell

~ Thursday 10th June 2010 ~

David Redhead sent these reports today, 10th June: "The Upper Thames Branch moth trapping evening at the Oxford University Harcourt Arboretum on Friday 4th June was a great success. In fact we were overrun by moths and we are still trying to work out exactly what we caught. The confirmed macro-moth list stands at 86 species (it will probably finally exceed 90) and includes Alder Moth, Angle Shades, Broad-barred White, Common Carpet, Coronet, Large Yellow Underwing, Rivulet, Shoulder-striped Wainscot, Snout & Willow Beauty. We were unable to do the micro-moths justice but several Scoparia ambigualis were noted and Marc Botham retained some that took his fancy and has so far come up with the following identifications - Alabonia geoffrella, Assara terebrella & Blastobasis lacticolella. Thanks also go to Karl Lofthouse, Richard Comont & Eleanor Slade for helping to make the event a success.The first 2010 Oxford University WildCRU/Earthwatch/HSBC moth project has just

started, again under the management of Eleanor Slade. As a result two 125MV Robinson traps were run for 3 hours in the first scallop past the Chalet in Wytham Woods, Oxon on the evening of 3rd June. The first 30 moths captured were markedand subsequently took part in a trial controlled release experiment. During the threehours the two MV lights pulled in 36 macro-moth species of which the most notable were an Alder Moth, Flame & Willow Beauty. The experiment proper stated on the evening of 7th June with the two Robinson traps being run overnight on the eastern edge of nearby Bean Wood and the marked moths being released the following evening. The following species of interest have been caught to date:7th June Green Arches, Large Yellow Underwing & Light Emerald;8th June Dark Sword-grass; 9th June Beautiful Hook-tip, Perinephela lancealis, Scarce Silver-lines & Tortrix viridana (Green Oak Tortix) - all singletons except the Green Oak Tortrix ofwhich there were several in pristine condition.In between all this I managed to run an overnight garden moth trap in Littlemore, Oxon on the 6th June and added 17 macro-moth species to my 2010 garden list including an Obscure Wainscot and the first of what will be many Large Yellow Underwings.Submitting these three reports on the 10th June I am surprised to still be able to claim the first, second & third Large Yellow Underwings on 4th, 6th & 7th June at three different sites."

Richard Comont reported the following today: "I had Scarce Silver-Lines in mygarden trap in Headington, Oxon on the 2nd June."

Adam Bassett wrote as follows on 10th June: "I forgot to mention that we had a Small Dusty Wave in our house at Marlow Bottom, Bucks on June 2nd."

Ian Stevenson sent this follow-up to his report of 7th June (see below): "The Small Chocolate-tip trapped at Wildmoor Heath, Berks, on 5th June has now beenconfirmed by Les Finch, which is good news!"

Nigel Partridge sent this sighting on 9th June: "This one was attracted to the house lights last night: Freyer's Pug, 08-06-10, Loosley Row, Bucks."

Freyer's PugPhoto © Nigel Partridge

~ Tuesday 8th June 2010 ~

Dave Wilton sent the latest results for his recent moth trapping: "On 2nd June at Westcott, Bucks I added Small Clouded Brindle to my garden year list, while from two traps in Bernwood Forest, Bucks that night Hedya nubiferana (Marbled Orchard Tortrix) and Alder Moth might still be new to the UTB list. A visit to SevenBarrows, Berks on 3rd June produced single examples of Cistus Forester and Five-spot Burnet. The latter species I have assumed from flight time alone (more were seen at Hackpen Hill, Oxon later in the day) because Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet shouldn't be on the wing until the end of June. Further investigation will

be required. On 4th June the garden trap at Westcott managed to bring in more than 70 species, including Aphelia paleana (Timothy Tortrix), Eucosma cana, Acentria ephemerella (Water Veneer), Pleuroptya ruralis (Mother of Pearl), Green Pug, Light Emerald, Shoulder-striped Wainscot, Poplar Grey & Mottled Rustic. In Bernwood Forest that night I got my first Orange Moth of the year. Acting on a tip-off, on 5th June I went to BBOWT's rarely-visited reserve at Pilch Fields near Great Horwood, Bucks where a sizeable colony of Chimney Sweeper moths was found (24 counted). Other day-flying species seen there included Elachista argentella, Cochylimorpha straminea, Chrysoteuchia culmella, Crambus perlella, Crambus lathoniellus, Yellow Shell, Small Yellow Underwing, Burnet Companion, Silver Y & Straw Dot. I ran a single MV trap in Finemere Wood, Bucks that night and new for me for the year were Ptycholoma lecheana, Gold Swift, Small Seraphim & Beautiful Golden Y."

Chimney SweeperPhoto © Dave Wilton

Adam Bassett sent this update from Marlow Bottom, Bucks today: "Some trapping results from the weekend - all records June 5th unless stated 4th. Despite this being my 7th year of trapping at this site, I had three new macro species for thegarden list: Figure of Eighty (4th), Knot Grass and Miller and a pending pug. Other records new for the year were: Oak Hook-tip, Treble Brown Spot (4th), Silver-ground Carpet (4th), Common Carpet (4th), Spruce Carpet (4th), Green Pug, Small White Wave, Peacock, Brown Silver-line (4th), Scorched Wing (4th), Willow Beauty (4th), Pale Oak Beauty, Square Spot (4th), Common White Wave (4th), Clouded Silver, Lobster, Iron Prominent, Maple Prominent (4th), Marbled Brown, Flame Shoulder (4th), Ingrailed Clay, Setaceous Hebrew Character (4th), Bright-Line Brown-Eye (4th), Common Wainscot (4th), Shoulder-striped Wainscot (4th), Coronet, Bird's Wing, Brown Rustic (4th), Small Angle Shades, Angle Shades (4th), Clouded Brindle (4th), Middle-barredMinor, Vine's Rustic (4th), Beautiful Golden Y (4th), Straw Dot (4th), Fan-foot.Micros new for the year list were: Teleiodes luculella, Agapeta hamana, Pandemis cerasana, Epinotia bilunana, Tinea semifulvella (4th), Hedya pruniana (4th), Monopis obviella, Epiphyas postvittana, Acentria ephemerella (Water Veneer, 4th). Thanks to Peter Hall for his help in confirming some of these, all June 5th unless stated otherwise: Endothenia nigricostana (6th) - second record for Bucks, found flying in the garden during the afternoon; Nemophora degeerella, Celypha striana, Chrysoteuchia culmella, Scoparia pyralella and Eudonia pallida. Finally, I had day flying Hummingbird Hawkmoth and Silver Y on June 6th."

Ian Stevenson reported the following on 7th June: "This weekend I ran a moth event at Wildmoor Heath, Berks and also ran a couple of traps in other locations. This came to a total of over 90 Macro moth species!At Ewelme Watercress beds on 4th/5th June, I found 34 species, including six species of Hawkmoth and the following which haven’t yet been reported on UTB : Burnished Brass, Poplar Grey, Reddish Light Arches, Shoulder-striped

Wainscot. At Warburg also on 4th/5th June I found 17 species, the highlights being: CoxcombProminent, Iron Prominent, Treble-bar, Lobster moth, Privet Hawkmoth.At Wildmoor on 5th June we found 44 species with some great moths including: Barred Red, Bordered White, Common Carpet, Fox moth, Grass Wave, RibandWave, Small Chocolate-tip (which is just awaiting final confirmation), Small Seraphim, Treble Brown Spot, True Lover's Knot and Willow Beauty. With thanks to Les Finch, Roy Dobson, Martin Woolner, John Warren and others for helpwith ID."

Nigel Partridge sent this report from Loosley Row, Bucks on 5th June: "Last night (04-06-10) was the busiest night of the year so far. Moths that don't look to be on this year's UTB list yet are: Mompha subbistrigella, Pseudargyrotoza conwagana, Agapeta hamana, Acentria ephemerella, Treble Brown Spot, Spectacle and Turnip."

~ Thursday 3rd June 2010 ~

Nigel Partridge reported the following on 3rd June: "A couple more from our garden in Loosley Row, Bucks, for the list: Treble-bar, 31-05-10 and Purple Bar, 02-06-10."

Another brief update from Dave Wilton on 2nd June: "A visit to BBOWT's Bernwood Meadows reserve adjacent to Bernwood Forest, Bucks this afternoon (2nd June) produced numerous examples of Opsibotys fuscalis, Grass Rivulet and Silver Y which were disturbed with every few steps through the grass. Also seen, and my main reason for the visit, were five Foresters, a UK Biodiversity Action Plan priority species."

ForesterPhoto © Dave Wilton

Adam Bassett recorded the following in his garden in Marlow Bottom, Bucks:"A few more garden records new for the year from May 30th: Pebble Hook-tip, Blood-vein, Privet Hawkmoth, Poplar Hawkmoth, Buff-tip, Muslin, Large Nutmeg, Silver Y and Spectacle. The following micros were also new garden records, all May 24th - thanks to Peter Hall for confirming the ID: Monopis laevigella, Esperia sulphurella, Spuleria flavicaput, Syndemis musculana, Ancylis mitterbacheriana and Ancylis laetana."

On 1st June Dave Wilton sent the following report from mid-Bucks to round off the month of May: "I have forgotten to mention that a Sallow Kitten was trapped at Moulsoe on 23rd May. Recorded during the daytime on 28th May at Bernwood Meadows were Cochylimorpha straminea and Dichrorampha acuminatana, while that same afternoon a single Five-spot Burnet was seen at its

only known site in our region close to the Calvert land-fill. The garden trap at Westcott on 28th May brought in Hedya pruniana (Plum Tortrix), Blood-vein, Purple Bar, Lime-speck Pug & Small Elephant Hawk-moth which were all new to my year list. On 31st May at Westcott I added Vine's Rustic and Small Fan-foot, while in Bernwood Forest that night three traps managed to attract around 70 species, including Tinea semifulvella, Glyphipterix forsterella, Lobesia reliquana, Bactra lancealana, Little Emerald, Small Angle Shades, Large Nutmeg, Straw Dot and the nationally scarce Common Fan-foot."

Common Fan-footPhoto © Dave Wilton

Lobesia reliquanaPhoto © Dave Wilton

Five-spot BurnetPhoto © Dave Wilton

David Redhead sent this update on 31st May: "Yesterday evening (30th May) Martin Townsend came round to examine my 'collapsed' Narrow-bordered Five Spot Burnet colony (see report below) in Littlemore, Oxon. He pointed out the presence of Yellow Meadow Vetchling, a foodplant, that I had overlooked in 2009 presumably because most of it had been eaten before it flowered by the hundreds of larvae present. So the final line of my previous report should perhaps point out that the foodplants are apparently more abundant although the immature stages of the moth are less abundant. Martin's more practised eyes also spotted the micro-moth Eucalybites auroguttella which has only been reported to the UTB website once before. In spite of this it is considered a common moth but vastly under-recorded, as many micro-moths are. Its larvae mine the leaves of St. John's-wort which is abundant on the site." (Thanks to Dave Wilton for the use of his photograph below. Wendy)

Eucalybites auroguttellaPhoto © Dave Wilton

~ Sunday 30th May 2010 ~

Mark Calway sent this report today: "There was a beautiful, freshly emerged, female Hornet moth on the trunk of a Black Poplar in Reading, Berks yesterday morning, 29th May. I actually spotted the pupal case sticking out of the trunk before I saw the moth, which was a couple of feet above it. This is the earliest date I have recorded the Hornet moth in Berkshire. I was just checking some trees, during chillylight rain, on the off-chance of an early emerging male, in order to get an idea as to

when they start to emerge."

Hornet MothPhoto © Mark Calway

Hornet MothPhoto © Mark Calway

David Redhead reported the following from Littlemore, Oxon today: "At the start of May last year I reported that the 0.5ha of grassland near my house was heaving with Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet moth caterpillars. On the 19th May 2009 I did an accurate count of half the site which indicated a total of 650 cocoons and 160 ascendant caterpillars and by the time I returned from holiday in Scotland at the start of June the adults had started to emerge. Since my return from holiday in Somerset this year, on the 22nd May I realised I had not noticed any larvae or cocoons in the same area. So last Thursday I searched the whole area carefully and repeated the exercise this morning, Sunday 30th. On Thursday 27th May I found just 5 cocoons and 3 fully grown Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet caterpillars and by today the total had risen to 20 cocoons but no caterpillars to be seen. Even allowing for most things being a fortnight late this year it appears the size of the colony has fallen by about 50 fold in one year - to my eye the habitat is unchanged and the foodplants are just as abundant as last year."

Keith Mitchell sent the following on 29th May: "Low numbers of moths in the trap last night in Stoke Goldington, Bucks, but it included the first Brown Rustic of the year."

Nigel Partridge sent this sighting on 29th May: "One more for the list: Brown Silver-line, 26-05-10, Loosley Row, Bucks."

~ Thursday 27th May 2010 ~

Dave Wilton reported the following today: "Time for another update from mid-Bucks. The trap here at Westcott on 20th May added Celypha lacunana, Figure ofEighty, Grass Rivulet, Lesser Treble-bar and Lychnis to my garden year list. At BBOWT's Leaches Farm Meadows on 22nd May I saw many examples of the pyralid moth Opsibotys fuscalis flying in the daytime alongside Grass Rivulets (they share the same foodplant, yellow rattle) and care needs to be taken to differentiate the two because they are similar in size. Both were seen again in somenumbers at Asham Meads later in the day, accompanied by the much smaller microGlyphipterix fuscoviridella. A trapping session in Bernwood Forest that night brought in another good selection, including Agonopterix subpropinquella, Peach Blossom, Poplar Lutestring, Cream Wave, Peppered Moth & Green Silver-lines. Amongst the moths trapped at Moulsoe on 23rd May were Caloptilia semifascia, Emmetia marginea & Ingrailed Clay. Disturbed from vegetation near Twyford (the one in north Bucks) on 24th May was a Silver-ground Carpet while the garden trap at Westcott that night added Eurrhypara hortulata (Small Magpie)& Small Square-spot. A daytime visitor to the garden at Westcott on 25th May was

Anthophila fabriciana (Nettle-tap) and the trap contents at Whitecross Green Wood that night included Grey Pine Carpet, Elephant Hawk-moth & Middle-barred Minor. Finally, in the railway cutting adjacent to Salden Wood on 26th May Irecorded two Chimney Sweeper moths."

Keith Mitchell writes from Stoke Goldington, Bucks: "Attracted to the light last night, 26th May, despite the rain was a Dwarf Pug confirmed by Martin Albertini (photo below). Around the garden on Marjoram were 8 confirmed Pyrausta aurata. A single Small Magpie and a Dark Strawberry Tortrix (Celypha lacunana) were also disturbed."

Dwarf PugPhoto © Keith Mitchell

Dave Maunder sent this update today, 27th May: "Some more moths seen around Aylesbury, Bucks, over the last few days include:- Lime Hawk-moth (1, 25th); Silver-Y (1, 26th); Pale Tussocks (2); Pale Prominent (1); Swallow Prominent (1, 20th); Miller moth (2, 20th and 26th); White Ermine (1, 21st); Red-green Carpet (1, 25th - a late specimen!), and Cinnabar (23rd)."

Lime Hawk-mothPhoto © Dave Maunder

Red-green CarpetPhoto © Dave Maunder

Adam Bassett reported the following from Marlow Bottom, Bucks on 26th May: "A further trap from May 24th gave me the following garden year ticks: Celypha lacunana, Crambus lathoniellus, Evergestis forficalis (Garden Pebble), Eurrhypara hortulata (Small Magpie), Clay Triple-lines, Flame Carpet,Red Twin-spot Carpet agg, Common Marbled Carpet, Yellow-barred Brindle, Peppered Moth, Pale Tussock, Buff Ermine, Rustic Shoulder-knot, Green Silver-lines and Small Fan-foot. I also trapped another Buttoned Snout, which in contrast to the very fresh looking moth of the 22nd, was very worn and tatty."

Mike Flemming sent the following on 26th May: "Wood Tiger [Parasemia plantagenis plantagenis]. Seen flying in very hot bright sunshine at the BBOWT Seven Barrows Reserve, Berks on Monday 24th May."

Wood TigerPhoto © Mike Flemming

Mark Calway sent the following on 25th May: "In Stanford Dingley, Berks on Saturday (22nd May 2010) this fine fellow was netted by Roy Dobson. It's Alaboniageoffrella."

Alabonia geoffrellaPhoto © Mark Calway

David Redhead ran his moth trap on 24th May: "My overnight garden moth trap in Littlemore, Oxon added 18 macro-moth species to my 2010 garden list. Perhaps not surprising as it was the first MV light I had run for over a fortnight and most are now "old hat" but some still appear to be additions to the UTB 2010 list - Brimstone, Buttoned Snout, Clouded Brindle, Common Wave, Dingy Shell, Figure of Eighty, Orange Footman, Pale Oak Beauty, Pale Tussock, Rustic Shoulder-knot, Sandy Carpet, Scalloped Hazel, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Small Phoenix, Spectacle, Treble-lines, White Ermine & White-spotted Pug. The Buttoned Snout is also a first for the garden although I did have one flying in my study on the 1st February 2005. The White Ermines just failed to make double figures or first place, which was taken by the Poplar Hawk-moths with 11. A subsequent walk to the grassland near my house to count the Common Blues (5 males) also produced a Burnet Companion and several Silver-ground Carpets."

Ian Gamble sent this report on 24th May: "I visited Ivinghoe Beacon, Bucks, on 23rd May and among the butterflies were several day flying moths: Burnet Companion 3, Cinnabar 6 and the local Small Purple-barred 2. At Pitstone mothsincluded 20 Cinnabar and a single Burnet Companion."

Small Purple-barredPhoto © Ian Gamble

Tom Stevenson sent this report on 24th May: "Myself and son Ian ran two 25w

Blacklight Blue traps overnight at Ewelme Watercress beds LNR, Oxon with the following results: Buff-tip (1), Muslin (6), Shuttle-shaped Dart (1), Common Swift (3), Setaceous Hebrew Character (1), White Ermine (3), Privet Hawk-moth (1), Treble lines (1), Rustic Shoulder-knot (1), Common Wainscot (1)."

Buff-tipPhoto © Tom Stevenson

Privet HawkmothPhoto © Tom Stevenson

Alastair Driver reported the following on 24th May: "I trapped again in my Sonning (Berks) garden on Friday 20th May. Numbers and variety still really low despite the long-awaited warmer temperatures. However I did add Ochreous Pug to my parish records and Orange Footman to my garden list. New for the year were Peppered Moth, Treble Lines and Brimstone Moth. Also caught Aethes smeathmanniana, Tinea Trinotella, Tachystola acroxantha and Epiblema cynosbatella."

Epiblema cynosbatellaPhoto © Alastair Driver

Keith Mitchell ran his garden trap in Stoke Goldington, Bucks on 20th May: "It produced Common Swift, Cacoecimorpha pronubana (Carnation Tortrix), Myelois circumvoluta (Thistle Ermine), Red Twin-spot Carpet agg, Spruce Carpet, Broken-barred Carpet, Brimstone, Waved Umber, Pebble Prominent, Lesser Swallow Prominent, Pale Prominent (2), Pale Tussock, White Ermine (3), Shuttle-shaped Dart, Flame Shoulder (2), Bright-line Brown-eye, Clouded Drab, Hebrew Character (3), Rustic Shoulder-knot (4), Treble Lines."

Carnation TortrixPhoto © Keith Mitchell

~ Sunday 23rd May 2010 ~

Adam Bassett sent the following update today: "Having hung up my moth trap for a few weeks due to the weather, I had it out twice over the weekend. All dates 21/5/10 unless stated 22/5 - I had 1 new garden tick (Marlow Bottom, Bucks) in the form of a May Highflyer and not surprisingly, several new garden year ticks: Tinea trinotella, Caloptilia syringella, Endrosis sarcitrella (22/5), Agonopterix ocellana (22/5), Phtheochroa rugosana, Epiblema cynosbatella, Common Swift, Small Phoenix, Broken-barred Carpet, Green Carpet, Small Waved Umber, Foxglove Pug (22/5), Mottled Pug, Common Pug, White-spotted Pug, Double-striped Pug (22/5), Tawny-barred Angle, Scalloped Hazel, White-pinionSpotted, Eyed Hawkmoth (22/5), Coxcomb Prominent (22/5), Orange Footman,White Ermine (22/5), Cinnabar, Heart & Dart, Shears, Light Brocade, Campion,probable Tawny Marbled Minor (1 for P. Hall) (22/5), Treble Lines, Buttoned Snout (22/5)."

Mark Calway sent this report today: "Five members of the Berkshire Moth Group checked out some potential new sites for the Drab Looper on Saturday 22nd May. Searches were limited to light wooded areas in the vicinity of Stanford Dingley, Berks. Eleven Drab Loopers were found in 6 new locations."

This update came from Nigel Partridge on 23rd May: A few more from our garden that were not on the list when I last checked: Depressaria heraclei (Parsnip Moth - was D.pastinacella) 20-05-10, Scalloped Hazel 20-05-10, Aphomia sociella 21-05-10, Broken-barred Carpet 22-05-10, Foxglove Pug 22-05-10 and Treble Lines 22-05-10."

Peter Cuss ran his garden trap in Caversham, Berks on 20th May: "I caught Tawny-barred Angle, Pebble Hook Tip, Pale Prominent, Chinese Character, Least Black Arches and Shuttle-shaped Dart."

Dave Wilton sent this update on 20th May: "What a difference a warmer night makes! Three hours with three traps in Finemere Wood, Bucks on Wednesday 19thMay produced well over 70 species, including Micropterix calthella, Incurvaria oehlmanniella, Adela reaumurella, Tinea trinotella, Pseudoswammerdamia combinella, Prays fraxinella, Esperia sulphurella, Agonopterix arenella, Agonopterix ocellana, Scrobipalpa acuminatella, Syndemis musculana, Acleris hastiana, Ancylis laetana (a new species for the site and for me, picture below), Ancylis badiana, Grapholita jungiella, Oak Hook-tip, Pebble Hook-tip, Chinese Character, Red Twin-spot Carpet, Streamer, Water Carpet, Broken-barred Carpet, Green Carpet, Mottled Pug, Common Pug, Brindled Pug, Oak-tree Pug, V-Pug, Small White Wave, Seraphim, Scorched Carpet, Scorched Wing, Brimstone Moth, Early Thorn, Purple Thorn, Scalloped Hazel, Waved Umber, Pale Oak Beauty, Brindled White-spot, Common White Wave, Common Wave, White-pinion Spotted, Clouded Silver, Iron Prominent, PebbleProminent, Lesser Swallow Prominent, Coxcomb Prominent, Pale Prominent, Marbled Brown, Great Prominent, Pale Tussock, Orange Footman, White Ermine, Least Black Arches, Flame Shoulder, Pine Beauty, Small Quaker, Powdered Quaker, Common Quaker, Clouded Drab, Hebrew Character, Miller, Clouded-bordered Brindle, Marbled White Spot & Spectacle. A number of additional micro-moths have still to be confirmed. Other new species for the year forme over the last week or two have included Pammene rhediella at Westcott, Bucks on 6th May, Argyresthia trifasciata at Westcott on 18th May, Carpatolechia proximella, Maiden's Blush, Spruce Carpet & Puss Moth all seen in Bernwood Forest on 18th May and Elachista argentella & Crambus lathoniellus near Woodham, Bucks on 19th May."

Ancylis laetanaPhoto © Dave Wilton

Nigel Partridge sent this on 20th May: "Another new one for the year - Netted Pug, 19-05-10, Loosley Row, Bucks."

Netted PugPhoto © Nigel Partridge

Keith Mitchell sent these sightings on 20th May: "Cloud cover meant some moths at last from my garden in Stoke Goldington, Bucks: An early Fern (we have lots of Clematis), Poplar Kitten, Brindled Pug, Oak-tree Pug, V-Pug, Brimstone(5), Emmelina monodactyla, Purple Thorn, Pale Oak Beauty, Clouded Silver (2), White Ermine (2), Muslin, Flame Shoulder, Powdered Quaker, Hebrew Character (6), Spectacle. Some photos below."

FernPhoto © Keith Mitchell

Poplar KittenPhoto © Keith Mitchell

V-PugPhoto © Keith Mitchell

On 20th May Adam Bassett sent this report: "I noticed a Plutella porrectella flying around the garden (Marlow Bottom, Bucks) today, May 20th. It was resting onRed Valerian, but we have plenty of Sweet Rocket nearby, which is the larval food plant. I also found a Cydia pomonella (Codling Moth) in my parent's conservatoryin Hurst, Berks on May 18th, which seemed a little early."

Peter Cuss enjoyed a walk at Aston Upthorpe Downs in Oxon on 18th May: "There were lots of Cinnabar moths and a Mother Shipton."

Nigel Partridge sent this sighting on 19th May: "One more for the list: Caloptiliasyringella, 18-05-10, Loosley Row, Bucks."

Caloptilia syringellaPhoto © Nigel Partridge

Tony & Ro Rayner sent the following on 18th May: "Yesterday, May 17th, day-flying moths in our Cholsey (Oxon) meadow included Burnet Companions and Small Yellow Underwings."

Jan Haseler reported the following on 16th May: "Seen at Lardon Chase, Berks on 15th May: Crambus lathionellus, Thisanotia chrysonuchella. Other recent moth sightings: 9th May, Reading and District Natural History Society field trip to Hungerford Marsh: Micropterix calthella on the flowers of Marsh Marigold."

~ Monday 17th May 2010 ~

National Moth Night, 15th May - Jan Haseler sent this report: "The Berkshire Moth Group recorded 25 moth species at Bradfield College on National Moth Night,including Lime Hawkmoth, Chocolate-tip, Great Prominent, Pebble Prominent, Pale Prominent, Acleris literana, May Highflyer and Balsam Carpet. 3 lights were run in the college nature reserve next to the River Pang and 2 were run in the field next to the Science Block."

Balsam CarpetPhoto © Jan Haseler

May HighflyerPhoto © Jan Haseler

Acleris literanaPhoto © Jan Haseler

National Moth Night, 15th May - Dave Wilton reported the following: "It should really have been called 'National Lack-of-Moths Night' unless you were deep inside some sheltered woodland. The garden trap at Westcott, Bucks brought in 20 individuals of 10 species, of which Rustic Shoulder-knot was the only new one forthe year. I also helped out at a BBOWT event on Brill Common, Bucks where a similarly small total was eventually obtained from three lights, although for the first hour or more the 40-odd partipants had only a single Brimstone Moth to look at! Other species there eventually included Chinese Character, Coxcomb Prominent, Bright-line Brown-eye and Pale-shouldered Brocade."

National Moth Night, 15th May - Karen Roberts reported on the moth trap at Hughenden Valley, Bucks: "On a cold night, Paul Bowyer and I identified the following:- Brimstone (3), Scorched Carpet, Green Carpet, Hebrew Character (2) and Evergestis forficalis (Garden Pebble)."

National Moth Night, 15th May - Dave Maunder's trap produced the following on NMN: "My results for National Moth Night from my garden here in Aylesbury,

Bucks, were pretty poor, I only caught:- Pale Tussock (1); Muslin Moth (1); Heart and Dart (1); Flame Shoulder (1); Clouded Drab (2); Red Twin-spot Carpet (1); Garden Carpet (1); and Brimstone (1). The previous night (14th) I had:- Chocolate-tip (1); Buff-tip (1); Powdered Quaker (1); Pale Tussock (1); Waved Umber (1), and Brimstone moth (1)."

Chocolate-tipPhoto © Dave Maunder

National Moth Night, 15th May - Alastair Driver sent this report: "A very disappointing catch with the Robinson Trap at home in Sonning, Berks, last night 15th May - just 3 species: Shuttle-shaped Dart (5) Brindled Pug (1) and Lime Hawk-moth (1). I did catch the very attractive Phtheochroa rugosana the night before though, 14th (see photo)."

Phtheochroa rugosanaPhoto © Alastair Driver

National Moth Night, 15th May - Keith Mitchell sent these results for his garden in Stoke Goldington, Bucks: "The Robinson Trap produced a ridiculous 4moths: Hebrew Character (2), Common Quaker, Pale Prominent."

National Moth Night, 15th May - Nigel Partridge reported the following from Loosley Row in Bucks: "Given the improvement in the weather I was hoping for a few more for NMN: Clouded Silver, Rustic Shoulder-knot, Garden Carpet, LeastBlack Arches, Hebrew Character, Common Quaker, Pale Tussock, Nut-tree Tussock, Common Pug, Clouded Drab and 30+ Cockchafers! Also, the previous night, 14-05-10: Yellow-barred Brindle, White-spotted Pug."

National Moth Night, 15th May - Peter Hall reported as follows: "2 MV traps were run at York’s Wood and 1 at Shabbington Wood in the Bernwood Forest complex in Bucks. The species list in the end was quite good considering how cold it was – 6 degrees by 11.30pm. Attendees were myself, Martin Albertini, Andy McVeigh and Julia Carey. The most numerous moth was the impressive Great Prominent at both sites.Bernwood Forest: York's Wood - Great Prominent, Nut-tree Tussock, Hebrew Character, Lesser Swallow Prominent, Pale Tussock, Oak-tree Pug, Maiden's Blush, Birch Mocha, Pebble Prominent, Iron Prominent, Coxcomb Prominent, Grey Birch, Brimstone Moth, Brindled Pug, Red Twin-spot Carpet, Purple Thorn, Lunar Marbled Brown, Seraphim, Scalloped Hook-tip, Powdered

Quaker, Frosted Green, Marbled Brown, Lobster Moth, Early Tooth-striped, Waved Umber, Common White Wave & Nematopogon swammerdamella.Bernwood: Shabbington Wood - Great Prominent, Nut-tree Tussock, Hebrew Character, Orange Footman, Swallow Prominent, Pale Tussock, Oak-tree Pug,Maiden's Blush, Birch Mocha, Pebble Prominent, Marbled White Spot, Iron Prominent, Coxcomb Prominent, Grey Birch & Brimstone Moth.Running a single moth trap overnight in my garden in Ballinger, Bucks, produced a less spectacular list: Brimstone, Lobster, Brindled Pug, Powdered Quaker and Clouded Drab – all singletons."

National Moth Night, 15th May - Tom Stevenson sent the following results: "Could they please choose a slightly warmer night for national moth night next year? Just 4 moths in my overnight garden trap in Benson, Oxon comprising Muslin (2), Shuttle-shaped Dart (1) and Early Grey (1). I suppose you shouldn't expect much more with the air temperature falling to just over 1°C!"

~ Saturday 15th May 2010 ~

Keith Mitchell sent this report from Stoke Goldington, Bucks, on 15th May: "Only four moths last night, 14th May, but Poplar Hawk-moth was the first for the year, with my second Chocolate-tip. Photo below of the Poplar Hawk-moth (not theusual angle). Hopefully moth night will be more productive."

Poplar Hawk-mothPhoto © Keith Mitchell

Dave Wilton sent this news on 14th May: "Pancalia leuwenhoekella might be a bit of a mouthful to say, but it is a pretty little micro-moth which it is worth keeping an eye out for at the moment, particularly in the Chilterns. It is a day-time flyer about 6mm in length. When the sun goes in the moth can be found resting on flowers and the example illustrated below was one of three seen on daisies today atthe Calvert Jubilee BBOWT reserve, Bucks."

Pancalia leuwenhoekellaPhoto © Dave Wilton

Pancalia leuwenhoekellaPhoto © Dave Wilton

~ Thursday 13th May 2010 ~

David Redhead sent the following report on 9th May: "Emptying my moth trap (in Littlemore, Oxon) on Saturday morning, 8th May, was not a pleasant job, owing to the cold and drizzle, but fortunately it did not take take long - just 9 moths! 3 Swallow Prominent, 2 Chocolate-tip, 2 Hebrew Character, 1 Clouded Drab and the consolation prize - my first Poplar Hawk-moth of the year."

Poplar Hawk-mothPhoto © David Redhead

~ Saturday 8th May 2010 ~

David Redhead reports seeing his first Cinnabar of the year while carrying out abutterfly transect at Swyncombe, Oxon on 7th May.

Dave Wilton reported the following on 6th May: "When will this long run of cold nights end? At least on 5th May the forecast was correct for once in that it did remain cloudy overnight so ended up being "slightly less cold" here at Westcott, Bucks! This encouraged a reasonable selection of moths to visit the garden trap that night: Parornix sp (3), Ypsolopha mucronella (1), Elachista canapennella (7), Cosmiotes freyerella (2), Scrobipalpa acuminatella (1), Pebble Hook-tip (1), Red Twin-spot Carpet (2), Garden Carpet (1), Streamer (1), Common Pug (1), Brindled Pug (2), V-Pug (1), Double-striped Pug (1), Brimstone Moth (5), Common Wave (1), Pebble Prominent (2), Pale Prominent (1), Least Black Arches (1), Red Chestnut (1), Powdered Quaker (7), Clouded Drab (3), HebrewCharacter (23) & Early Grey (1). The Parornix and the two Elachistid species will need confirming by Peter Hall in due course. The Orthosia species seem to be going on and on, particularly the Hebrew Character which has had a really good season here. The Clouded Drab doesn't seem to want to go away either and I havehad some very fresh-looking examples in the last few days. The only other species that I've added to my garden list over the past week have been Plutella xylostella/Diamond-back Moth (30th April), Incurvaria masculella (during the daytime on 1st May), Clouded Border (1st May) and Shuttle-shaped Dart (4th May), while Seraphim was seen at Moulsoe, Bucks on 4th May."

Alastair Driver sent this update on 6th May: "Another miserly session with the Robinson Trap in the garden at home in Sonning, Berks, last night (5th May) - but firsts of the year for me were Iron Prominent, Plutella xylostella (Diamond-back Moth ) and Nematopogon swammerdamella."

Keith Mitchell sent this report from Stoke Goldington, Bucks, on 6th May: "No big numbers of moths again (4th May), but the first Diamond-back (Plutella xylostella), Swallow Prominent, Green Carpet, Brindled Beauty, Powdered Quaker (2) and Brimstone of the year made an appearance last night. Hebrew Character (16) still the most numerous."

Dave Maunder sent this report from Aylesbury, Bucks: "I ran my garden trap last night, 5th May, and got:- Mullein moth (1); Cinnabar moth (1); Powdered

Quakers (3); Common Quaker (1); Hebrew Character (1); Flame Shoulder (1); Waved Umber (1); Brimstone moths (2); Red Twin-spot Carpet (1); Double-striped Pugs (3). Also over the last week I've had another 4 male Emperor moths `assemble` to females in my garden here in Aylesbury - nice results!"

Powdered Quakers (left),Cinnabar (centre) &

Mullein (right)Photo © Dave Maunder

MulleinPhoto © Dave Maunder

Adam Bassett reported the following on 5th May: "A couple of micros from the garden/house (Marlow Bottom, Bucks) not currently on the list: Micropterix tunbergella (4 May) - thanks to Martin Albertini for confirming this pretty little moth that found its way into my kitchen; Nematopogon swammerdamella (23 April and another 4 May), their larger size should preclude schwarziellus. A Maiden's Blush on 30 April was also new for the year list."

Micropterix tunbergellaPhoto © Adam Bassett

~ Friday 30th April 2010 ~

Another update was received from Dave Wilton on 29th April, mostly new micro-moths: "On 25th April I found an example of the diminutive Phyllonorycter schreberella, length about 3mm, indoors at Westcott, Bucks. On 27th April a trapping session at Finemere Wood, Bucks added Ypsolopha mucronella (a welcome first sighting for me of this species, with its strange resting posture), Syndemis musculana, Least Black Arches & Pebble Prominent to my year list. On 28th April new species caught in Bernwood Forest included Pseudoswammerdamia combinella, Pammene argyrana, Pale Prominent & Swallow Prominent, the most numerous moths that night being Great Prominent (36) and Nut-tree Tussock (42). Earlier in the day I had found several confirmed examples of Pyrausta purpuralis near Westcott, while in the garden that night the Robinson brought in a handful of micro species which included Tinea trinotella."

Phyllonorycterschreberella

Photo © Dave Wilton

Ypsolopha mucronellaPhoto © Dave Wilton

On 29th April Nigel Partridge sent another couple of moth species which are new to this year's list: Small Phoenix and Pale Tussock, 28-04-10, Loosley Row, Bucks."

Peter Cuss reported the following on 29th April: "I had the garden trap out for the last couple of nights in Caversham, Berks. On 27/4 I caught: Brimstone Moth, Hebrew Character, Nut-tree Tussock, Common Quaker, Small Quaker, Early Grey. On 28/4 I had Lesser Swallow Prominent, Least Black Arches, BrimstoneMoth."

David Redhead caught a Flame Carpet in his 125W MV Robinson trap in his Littlemore, Oxford garden on 27th April.

Mary Elford sent the following two reports: "In my garden trap in Bampton, West Oxfordshire on 27th April were: 1 Spectacle, 1 Pale Mottled Willow, 1 Muslin and the ever present Hebrew Character. Then on 28th April, a beautiful White Ermine moth came to the trap."

SpectaclePhoto © Mary Elford

White ErminePhoto © Mary Elford

27th April - Alastair Driver set the Robinson trap in his garden in Sonning, Berks over the last couple of nights: "Catch numbers and variety really poor withjust a few Hebrew Characters and Common Quakers and singletons of Double-striped Pug and Brindled Beauty. I did catch my first Muslin Moth of the year though last night (26th April)."

Adam Bassett ran his garden moth trap in Marlow Bottom, Bucks at the weekend: "A few garden year ticks: Purple Thorn (23/4), Shuttle-shaped Dart (24/4), Lesser Swallow Prominent (24/4), Scorched Carpet (24/4), Currant Pug (24/4) and Acleris cristana (24/4) along with my first May bugs, a Nicrophorus humator, a couple of caddis flies, a wasp and a bumble bee!"

Keith Mitchell sent this report from Stoke Goldington, Bucks, on 25th April: "Very few moths in the garden trap at the moment, but Chocolate Tip, Dotted

Chestnut and Streamer made an appearance last night (24th)."

Another update from Nigel Partridge: Least Black Arches, 24-04-10, Loosley Row, Bucks.

Tom Stevenson reported the following on 25th April: "I put 2 x 25W blacklight blue moth traps out at Ewelme Watercress Beds LNR (Oxon) overnight 24th April with the following results: Muslin (2), Nut-tree Tussock (1), Streamer (1), HebrewCharacter (13), Common Quaker (9), Powdered Quaker (2), Clouded Drab (4) and an un-identified pug. Photos of Muslin, Streamer and the pug (in case anyone wants to try an ID) are below."

MuslinPhoto © Tom Stevenson

StreamerPhoto © Tom Stevenson

Pug (unidentified)Photo © Tom Stevenson

Dave Wilton sent the following report on 25th April: "I got my first Chocolate-tip of the year in the garden at Westcott, Bucks on 19th April, followed by my first Muslin Moth of the year on 23rd April. Half a dozen of the small tortrix moth Grapholita jungiella were disturbed from grass at the Blue Lagoon, Bletchley on 24th April, while a three-hour trapping session in Bernwood Forest that night added Pebble Hook-tip, V-Pug, Barred Umber, Brimstone Moth, Purple Thorn, Grey Birch, Scarce Prominent & Great Prominent to my year list. Going back in time to my update of 28th March, Peter Hall has confirmed that both of the Nemapogon spp moths illustrated from Westcott turned out to be Nemapogon cloacella. Peter has also confirmed my tentative identifications of two micro-moths caught in Bernwood Forest at the beginning of April. The first, on 5th April, was Acleris notana while the second, on 6th April, was Pammene giganteana. The latter was the first record of the species for Bucks."

Barred UmberPhoto © Dave Wilton

Scarce ProminentPhoto © Dave Wilton

Grey BirchPhoto © Dave Wilton

Pammene giganteanaPhoto © Dave Wilton

Trevor Sawyer says he was travelling from Cambridge to Hampshire on 24th April: "I stopped off at Aston Upthorpe Downs in Oxfordshire hoping to see some butterflies. While I was there I also saw some moths: 1 Burnet Companion and a few Pyrausta nigrata."

David Redhead ran his moth trap in Littlemore, Oxon on 23rd April: "It produced my lowest overnight total during this April but did add four macros to my 2010 list - Chocolate-tip, Flame Shoulder, Pale Prominent & Swallow Prominent. All appear to be firsts for the UTB website this year. It is interesting to compare them with first reports in previous years in the "Moth Stats" - on average they are 15 days later than last year but 8 days earlier than 2006 - very similar to the Brown Hairstreak egg hatching - see my report of Thursday 22nd April on the Butterfly Sightings page."

Dave Maunder sent this news from Aylesbury, Bucks: "On 24th April I had a couple of female Emperor moths hatch that Dave Wilton had given me and in just over an hour of hatching I had a nice male fly into my garden here in Aylesbury and mate with one of them - good to see this species still in the Aylesbury area (first oneI've seen here since the 70's!)."

Emperor Moths (m & f)Photo © Dave Maunder

Emperor Moths pairingPhoto © Dave Maunder

Nigel Partridge reported the following: Purple Thorn, 23-04-10, Loosley Row, Bucks.

Purple ThornPhoto © Nigel Partridge

~ Friday 23rd April 2010 ~

Pete Eeles reported the following on 23rd April: "I spent a couple of hours relaxing at the Hartslock reserve near Goring, Oxon today. On the moth front I saw 4 Burnet Companion, a single Mother Shipton, a single Pyrausta aurata and either Pyrausta cingulata or Pyrausta nigrata (unfortunately, I didn't manage to get a photo). All in all, a worthwhile trip for sure!"

Burnet CompanionPhoto © Pete Eeles

David Redhead sent these two reports on 20th April: "On the evening of Saturday 17th April, Marc Botham and Samantha Amy ran a 125W MV light for 2 hours in the scrub at Slade Camp, Shotover, Oxford and in spite of the low temperature caught 8 Clouded Drab, 6 Small Quaker, 4 Common Quaker, 4 Hebrew Character, 3 Eriocrania subpurpurella, 2 Brindled Beauty, 2 Pebble Prominent and singletons of Brindled Pug, Early Grey, Frosted Green & Streamer.Marc Botham, Martin Harvey, David Redhead, Martin Townsend & Mike Wilkins spent the evening of Sunday 18th April searching the wild privet at Aston Upthorpe,Oxon by torchlight for the rare Barred Tooth-striped. They failed to find the target species but Marc did manage to net a Tissue Moth much to the delight of David & Mike as it was an all-time first for both of them."

This update came from Dave Maunder on 20th April: "Some more moths found in Aylesbury, Bucks, over the last few days include:- Puss Moth (1, 20th); Twin-spot Quaker (1, 20th); Nut-tree Tussock (1, 19th); Early Greys (5); Clouded Drab (1, 15th); Early Thorn (1, 15th). Also on 19th April I ran my garden trap and got:- Powdered Quaker (1); Common Quakers (4); Early Greys (4); Pale MottledWillow (1); Hebrew Characters (4); Double-striped Pug (2); Light-brown Apple Moth (Epiphyas postvittana) (1) and Agonopterix alstromeriana (1). At Finemere Woods on 18th April I found 5 Orange Underwing sp. moths, a couple of which I got close enough to photograph as they drank moisture from marshy ground!"

Puss MothPhoto © Dave Maunder

Orange Underwing sp.Photo © Dave Maunder

Dave Wilton sent these Bucks sightings on 19th April: "My traps have provided

very few new moth species over the past week. A three-hour session in Bernwood Forest, Bucks on 18th April added Eriocrania subpurpurella, Scalloped Hook-tip,Pine Beauty & Nut-tree Tussock to my year list but there was nothing else of noteapart from two examples of the Great Diving Beetle (Dytiscus marginalis), a very large aquatic beetle, both of which flew into the trap. They made a change from the smelly Sexton Beetles and Cockchafers which will no doubt be invading the traps inthe not too distant future! While the night-time sessions have been disappointing, I have managed to add a few day-flying moth species over the past two days. On 18th April I found Mompha epilobiella flying in our garden at Westcott, Bucks and half a dozen Cydia ulicetana were seen flying around gorse bushes on the southern edge of the Calvert land-fill. Today, 19th April, two male Common Heath moths were active in the disused railway cutting west of Westcott airfield. I also hada female Emperor Moth emerge, at last, from amongst the pupae which have been over-wintering in my garden shed. This allowed me to carry out some "assembling" for wild males this afternoon. She was taken to a couple of scrubby sites in the vicinity of Calvert and Edgcott, attracting two male Emperor Moths at the first and one at the second, both within 20 minutes. I then took her back to my garden whereanother pair of males arrived within five minutes. She was allowed to pair up with one of those, hopefully to provide me with further offspring for next year."

Jan Haseler sent this sighting on 19th April: "I netted a Pyrausta nigrata at TheHolies, Berks, on Sat 17th April."

Tom Stevenson sent the following report on 19th April: "A slow start to the year's moth trapping in my Benson (Oxon) garden with 4 Emmelina monodactyla, 2 Small Quaker, 1 Hebrew Character and 1 Powdered Quaker."

Powdered QuakerPhoto © Tom Stevenson

Nigel Partridge reported the following from Loosley Row in Bucks: "Knot Grass, 17-04-10. This looks to be a fairly early record for this species. Also caught on the same night that were new for the year for our garden were Brindled Beauty and Lunar Marbled Brown. The previous night produced four Powdered Quakers. Having never seen one before, it was slightly surprising to get four on thesame night."

Knot GrassPhoto © Nigel Partridge

~ Friday 16th April 2010 ~

Dave Maunder sent these sightings on 13th April: "Some more moths found in Aylesbury, Bucks recently were:- Brindled Beauty (1 - a good find for me, my last specimen seen in Aylesbury was back in 1985!); Early Thorn (1); Dotted Border (1) - all on 11th. Also Early Grey (3) and Emmelina monodactyla (6) on 12th. I ranmy garden m.v. on 7th April and got:- Satellite (1); Small Quakers (4); Common Quakers (7); Clouded Drabs (2); Hebrew Characters (11), Early Greys (2); Double-striped Pug (1)."

Brindled BeautyPhoto © Dave Maunder

May Webber sent the following on 13th April: "I caught a Streamer yesterday. It was very beautiful."

StreamerPhoto © May Webber

Nigel Partridge sent this update on 12th April: "A Nut-tree Tussock on 08-04-10 here at Loosley Row in Bucks."

Ched George reported the following on 12th April: "Mild temperatures finally reached the mountains of Radnage, Bucks, giving 35 moths at MV on April 7th. On April 10th over 200 arrived: Early Grey 1; Satellite 1; March Moth 1; Chestnut 2; Early Thorn 2; Pale Pinion 1; Brindled Pug 1; Twin-spotted Quaker 4; Clouded Drab 18; Small Quaker 22; Hebrew Character 71 and Common Quaker 77."

~ Tuesday 13th April 2010 ~

Adam Bassett ran his garden trap in Marlow Bottom, Bucks on April 10th: "It produced 177 moths of the usual Spring species. 2 each of Lunar Marbled Brown and Streamer were new for the year, whilst Common Quaker was the most numerous with 57."

Dave Wilton sent the following update on 11th April: "An Orange Underwing was confirmed at Whitecross Green Wood, Bucks on 8th April (both species may be present in the wood), while a Tawny Pinion attended my garden trap at Westcott, Bucks that night. Just over 500 moths of 26 species visited two MV traps at nearby Finemere Wood on 9th April, of which Frosted Green, Streamer, WavedUmber and Lunar Marbled Brown were new for the year. Then on 10th April at Westcott the Robinson brought in the largest garden catch of the year so far, even though there was nothing particularly exciting present: Diurnea fagella (4), Shoulder Stripe (2), Streamer (2), Brindled Beauty (1), Early Thorn (6), Engrailed (1), Red Chestnut (2), Small Quaker (19), Lead-coloured Drab (1), Powdered Quaker (42), Common Quaker (65), Clouded Drab (33), Twin-spotted Quaker (1) & Hebrew Character (59)."

Brindled BeautyPhoto © Dave Wilton

Frosted GreenPhoto © Dave Wilton

Waved UmberPhoto © Dave Wilton

David Redhead sent this report on 11th April: "Last night's overnight garden trap(10th April) produced only just over half the number of moths my previous one did, five nights ago, but with slightly more diversity with 13 species of which 5 were additions to my 2010 list - Brindled Beauty (5), Nut-tree Tussock (2), Powdered Quaker (1), Satellite (1) & Streamer (1). Repeaters were Hebrew Character (18), Common Quaker (10), Clouded Drab (9), Small Quaker (3), Twin-spotted Quaker (3), Early Thorn (2), Lead-coloured Drab (2) & Herald (1) - not a micro-moth in sight."

Brindled BeautyPhoto © David Redhead

Nut-tree TussockPhoto © David Redhead

Dave Maunder sent these sightings on 10th April: "A couple of species found today, 10th April, here in Aylesbury were:- Brimstone moth (1); Shoulder Stripe (1); Early Thorn (1); Diurnea fagella (1); Double-striped Pug (1) and at Egyptian Springs near Hartwell (Bucks) I found my first ever Scarlet Tiger larva on Comfrey - a nice find!"

Scarlet Tiger larvaPhoto © Dave Maunder

~ Friday 9th Ap

May Webber sent this report on 9th April: "I ran my moth trap in Long Hanborough near Witney, Oxon last night (8th April) for the first time this year! I caught mainly Hebrew Characters and Quakers but I did catch two that might still be new to the Species list: Herald x1 and Powdered Quaker x1."

Dave Wilton sent this update on 7th April: "A Powdered Quaker came to my garden trap at Westcott, Bucks on 4th April but the only other new species at home has been Endrosis sarcitrella/White-shouldered House Moth found indoors on 7th April. A couple of recent trapping sessions in Bernwood Forest, Bucks, have produced good totals, though. Three hours with three traps in Oakley Wood on 5th April produced 784 moths of the following 29 species: Diurnea fagella, Semioscopis steinkellneriana, Agonopterix heracliana, Agonopterix ocellana, Tortricodes alternella, Acleris ferrugana/notana, Acleris cristana, Emmelina monodactyla, Yellow Horned, March Moth, Shoulder Stripe, Brindled Pug, Early Tooth-striped, Early Thorn, Oak Beauty, Dotted Border, Engrailed, Red Chestnut, Blossom Underwing, Small Quaker, Lead-coloured Drab, Common Quaker, Clouded Drab, Twin-spotted Quaker, Hebrew Character, Early Grey, Satellite, Chestnut and Dotted Chestnut. The same amount of effort in Shabbington Wood on 6th April produced 843 moths from 28 species, of which Ypsolopha ustella, Agonopterix arenella, Water Carpet, Red-green Carpet and Oak-tree Pug were different from the previous night. While the overall number of moths from those two sessions might seem very high, more than three-quarters of each catch was made up of Small and Common Quakers!"

Dotted ChestnutPhoto © Dave Wilton

Early Tooth-stripedPhoto © Dave Wilton

Water CarpetPhoto © Dave Wilton

On 7th April Adam Bassett says he had a Brown House Moth (Hofmannophila pseudospretella) flying around his lounge in Marlow Bottom, Bucks on the eveningof 6th April.

Thomas Merckx reported the following on 6th April: "MV-trap in my South Leigh(Oxon) garden on the night of the 5th April produced: Diurnea fagella: 1, Hebrew Character: 33, Small Quaker: 45, Chestnut: 1, Clouded Drab: 3, Common Quaker: 14, Lead-coloured Drab: 1 (kept for ID - will take picture, is small, has rounded wings, and has feathered antennae), Powdered Quaker: 11 (these might be new for this year's UTB list, and they were all very fresh!). Also, at outdoors lamp Tubney House, Tubney, Oxon on 5th April: Diurnea fagella: 1."

David Redhead ran his overnight moth trap in his garden in Littlemore, Oxon on 5th April: "My garden moth trap on the 5th April again broke the century and added four new species to my 2010 garden list, one of which appears to be new to the 2010 UTB list - Common Quaker (22), Clouded Drab (19), Lead-coloured Drab (17), Hebrew Character (16), Small Quaker (12), Twin-spotted Quaker (9), Early Grey (2), Oak Beauty (2) and singletons of Diurnea fagella, Early Thorn, Engrailed, Herald and Pale Pinion."

HeraldPhoto © David Redhead

~ Sunday 4th April 2010 ~

David Redhead was pleased to report that the moth species just out-numbered the number of attendees at the first of the 2010 Upper Thames Branch moth trapping sessions: "It took place at the Oxford University Harcourt Arboretum, just south of Nuneham Courtenay, on the evening of Good Friday, 2nd April. On a cooler than ideal evening, 14 Branch members & guests inspected a good number of moths attracted to five 125MV and seven actinic lights and the following 16 species were identified, in order of abundance:- Small Quaker, Hebrew Character, Common Quaker, Clouded Drab, Lead-coloured Drab, Chestnut, Twin-spotted Quaker, Diurnia fagella, Water Carpet, Engrailed, March Moth, Brindled Pug, Dotted Border, Oak Beauty, Red Chestnut & White-marked. The White-marked was the highlight of the evening as it was a first for most of those present. Two Hares boxing entertained us while we waited for the first moth arrivals and during the evening a Minotaur Beetle was found crawling across one of the sheets - being an unusual dung beetle there was some discussion about its food source."

Moth trapping at Harcourt ArboretumPhoto © Jim Asher

Minotaur BeetlePhoto © Jim Asher

Adam Bassett reported as follows on 3rd April: "A trap in my Marlow Bottom, Bucks garden on April 2nd didn't yield any new year ticks for UTB, but 2 Dotted Chestnuts and 1 Early Thorn were new year ticks for me and the first time I have trapped multiple Dotted Chestnut. Otherwise just lots of Small Quakers (84), Hebrew Characters (26), Common Quaker (21), Clouded Drab (10), Twin-spotted Quaker (6), March Moth (3), Chestnut (2) and Satellite (1)."

Peter Cuss sent the following sightings: "I found this Ruby Tiger caterpillar on my garden seat in Caversham, Berks on 1/4/10. Then, during a walk at Hungerford Marsh, Berks, today 4/4/10 (os 174 SU 333687) a Drinker Moth caterpillar."

Ruby Tiger caterpillarPhoto © Peter Cuss

Drinker Moth caterpillarPhoto © Peter Cuss

~ Thursday 1st April 2010 ~

This came from Dave Maunder on 31st March: "A few more moths seen around Aylesbury, Bucks recently incude:- Engrailed moths (4); Shoulder Stripe (1); Dotted Borders (4); March Moths (3); Pale Brindled Beauty (1, 23rd); Grey Shoulder-knot (1); Common Quakers (2) and Agonopterix heracliana (1). Also on 28th March I ran my garden trap and got:- Dotted Border (1 - a melanised specimen); Common Quaker (1) and Hebrew Characters (4)."

EngrailedPhoto © Dave Maunder

Dotted BorderPhoto © Dave Maunder

Ched George sent this record on 29th March: "Acleris logiana showed up on my front door light on 24/3. There is an alternative species so it will need dissecting,but it is highly likely to be correct."

On 29th March Dave Wilton sent this report: "A Light Orange Underwing was netted and confirmed at Kingswood, Bucks on 28th March, one of eight seen flying around aspen in the woods there. A couple of hours spent in nearby Finemere Wood that evening, prior to the onset of rain, produced a lot of moth activity. 510 individuals of 20 species were trapped, including Diurnea fagella, Semioscopis steinkellneriana & Blossom Underwing. Needless to say, the most numerous were Small Quaker (155) and Common Quaker (174). I thought the two pictures below might be of interest. The first shows the flightless female Diurnea fagella, looking at first glance more like a shield-bug than a micro-moth! I found this example as a caterpillar inside a rolled-up leaf of hornbeam at Chinkwell Wood near Brill, Bucks on 30th September last year and wondered what it was. Reared through indoors at home, the moth emerged in mid-January. The second picture shows a female March Moth which I found on a tree trunk at Finemere on 14th March."

Diurnea fagella f.Photo © Dave Wilton

March Moth f.Photo © Dave Wilton

Adam Bassett sent the following on 29th March: "The only new year additions from my trap in Marlow Bottom, Bucks on March 27th were Diurnea fagella and Pine Beauty."

Derek Brown reported the following on 28th March: "I had a couple of new moths for the year at Beenham (Berks) last night, 27th March, Clouded Drab and Early Thorn."

Early ThornPhoto © Derek Brown

Dave Wilton sent this update on 28th March: "I've been trapping regularly, both in the garden and elsewhere locally, but there has been little new to report. As others have mentioned, the Quakers and Drabs are about in good numbers but fewnew species seem to have joined them yet. Perhaps that's as well because it looks as though the weather is set to deteriorate again. Indoors at Westcott, Bucks on 20th March I had a probable Nemapogon wolffiella, with another on 23rd March accompanied by two more that looked more like Nemapogon cloacella, but they'll have to be confirmed in due course by Peter Hall. They appear to have emerged from the same cherry logs beside the wood-burning stove in our living room that have already produced four Esperia sulphurella. That's the life, having the moths come to you while sat in a comfy chair watching the 10 o'clock news! The only otheradditions to the garden list for this year that may be worth mentioning have been Agonopterix ocellana (24th March) and Red Chestnut (25th March). A short trapping visit to Bernwood Forest on 27th March produced 171 moths of 16 speciesbut the only noteworthy item was a single Brindled Pug. However, it was nice to see Dave Maunder's favourite, the Oak Beauty, appearing in good numbers: 55 counted and they were still arriving when I turned off the light."

Nemapogon cloacella (to be confirmed)Photo © Dave Wilton

Nemapogon wolffiella (to be confirmed)Photo © Dave Wilton

Brindled PugPhoto © Dave Wilton

~ Friday 26th March 2010 ~

David Redhead reported the following from Littlemore, Oxon on 25th March: "In spite of last night's heavy rain my overnight garden trap on 24th March broke the century for the first time in 2010 - Hebrew Character 25, Lead-coloured Drab 21, Common Quaker 17, Clouded Drab 14, Small Quaker 13, Engrailed 12, Twin-spotted Quaker 3, March Moth 2, Pale Pinion 2, Chestnut 1, Oak Nycteoline 1 and Pale Brindled Beauty 1 = 12 macro moth species and 112 individuals. All the Lead-coloured Drabs were sexed and four were females."

~ Wednesday 24th March 2010 ~

Adam Bassett reported the following today from Marlow Bottom, Bucks: "A few garden year ticks: Engrailed (20/3), Pale Pinion (20/3), Alucita hexadactyla (Twenty Plume Moth) (24/3). Also what was probably an Orange Underwing flying around on 21/3 could not be seen well enough to identify."

Tony Croft sent this report today: "Unusually my first report to you of the season is a moth. At Whitecross Green Wood this afternoon, 24th March, I saw either an Orange Underwing or Light Orange Underwing. It was in a typical circling flight but clearly orange in colour."

Dave Maunder sent this update on 22nd March: "A few more moths found around Aylesbury, Bucks since the 11th March are:- Oak Beauty (2, 1 on 15th, 1 on22nd); Dotted Borders (6); March Moths (4); Common Quaker (1); Emmelina monodactyla (1) and Agonopterix heracliana (1). Below is a photo of one of the Oak Beauties - probably my favourite spring species!"

Oak BeautyPhoto © Dave Maunder

David Redhead sent the following on 21st March: "A belated report of a new (for2010) moth species for the website. At the Bernwood Meadows Brown Hairstreak egg count on Saturday 6th February, Karen Saxl and Phil Penson found a girdle of unhatched Lackey Moth eggs."

~ Saturday 20th March 2010 ~

David Redhead reported as follows on 19th March: "On 17th March a case of gross light pollution occurred when the surrounds of Heyford Hill Cottages in Littlemore, Oxon, were illuminated by the 125MV lights of 3 Robinson Traps. A 15Wactinic Heath Trap was also placed in the middle of a neighbouring Black Poplar plantation. The total overnight haul for all this light power was identified by Martin Townsend who proclaimed a total of 223 moths. Macros = Common Quaker 76, Lead-coloured Drab 48, Clouded Drab 26, Hebrew Character 25, Twin-spotted Quaker 17, Oak Beauty 7, Dotted Border 7, Small Quaker 5, March Moth 3, Chestnut 2, Yellow Horned 1, Pale Brindled Beauty 1. Micros = Acleris notana/ferrugana 3, Acleris cristana 1, Tortricodes alternella 1. The Drabs weresexed and all 74 turned out to be males. The Yellow Horned and Acleris cristana are new species for this location. It is hoped to carry out a repeat exercise next week - it will be interesting to see what the sex ratio is by then."

Nigel Partridge had the following in his garden in Loosley Row, Bucks recently: Clouded Drab on 16-03-10 and Twin-spotted Quaker on 17-03-10.

Peter Hall sent the following results of two moth traps he ran on 17th March: Ballinger Common garden, Bucks: March Moth 2, Oak Beauty 2, Small Quaker 3,Common Quaker 4, Hebrew Character 5 & Satellite 1.Dancersend Reserve, Bucks: Agonopterix heracliana 1, Tortricodes alternella 2,Acleris hastiana 1, Yellow Horned 8, March Moth 76, Shoulder Stripe 1, Small Brindled Beauty 1, Oak Beauty 3, Dotted Border 4, Common Quaker 4, Clouded Drab 2, Twin-spotted Quaker 2, Hebrew Character 7, Satellite 18 & Chestnut 12.

Shoulder StripePhoto © Peter Hall

Small QuakerPhoto © Peter Hall

Twin-spotted QuakerPhoto © Peter Hall

Yellow HornedPhoto © Peter Hall

~ Thursday 18th March 2010 ~

Adam Bassett's garden moth trap in Marlow Bottom, Bucks on March 17th produced the following results: "Agonopterix heracliana (2), Tortricodes alternella (5), Acleris ferrugana/notana (3), Amblyptilia acanthadactyla (1), Emmelina monodactyla (1), Yellow Horned (1), March Moth (3), Small BrindledBeauty (1), Oak Beauty (2), Dotted Border (3), Early Moth (1), Small Quaker (40), Common Quaker (7), Clouded Drab (1), Twin-spotted Quaker (2), Hebrew Character (8), Satellite (4), Oak Nycteoline (1) - garden tick."

Oak NycteolinePhoto © Adam Bassett

Small Brindled BeautyPhoto © Adam Bassett

Twin-spotted QuakerPhoto © Adam Bassett

Dave Wilton sent the following report on 18th March: "At Westcott on 16th March I got Pale Pinion to an actinic trap in the garden. At Westcott on 17th MarchI found Dotted Border (outside) and Esperia sulphurella (inside, my fourth of the year) resting on the glass of the same upstairs window, while Agonopterix heracliana, Agonopterix arenella, Emmelina monodactyla and Shoulder Stripewere disturbed from vegetation in the garden as the lawn was being given its first cut of the year. That night the garden MV trap brought in Agonopterix alstromeriana, Lead-coloured Drab & Clouded Drab, all new for me for this year,as well as March Moth, Oak Beauty, Small Quaker, Common Quaker, Hebrew Character, Grey Shoulder-knot, Satellite & Chestnut. I spent three hours trapping in Bernwood Forest that same evening and got 163 moths from 20 species, of which Acleris cristana & Twin-spotted Quaker may still be new to the UTB list."

David Redhead says his second overnight garden moth trap of the year proved much more successful than the first: "On 7th February I managed just 3 Pale Brindled Beauty but last night (16th March) it produced 10 macro-moth species with a total of 73 individuals - 30 Common Quaker, 14 Hebrew Character,8 Clouded Drab, 8 Lead-coloured Drab, 4 Small Quaker, 3 March Moth, 2 Chestnut, 2 Twin-spotted Quaker, 1 Dotted Border & 1 Oak Beauty. This evening, 17th March, a half inch long Scarlet Tiger Moth caterpillar was climbing up our porch."

Lead-coloured DrabPhoto © David Redhead

Twin-spotted QuakerPhoto © David Redhead

Danny Howard reported his first sightings of the year: "A Hebrew Character tothe outside light in the garden (Cowley, Oxford) on Saturday 13th March, and this morning (17th March) I walked to work and was pleased to see the usual colony of Scarlet Tiger caterpillars towards the plain end of the Cowley Road doing well."

~ Monday 15th March 2010 ~

Derek Brown sent the following on 14th March: "Some new moths to the MV light for a few hours in my garden at Beenham Berks on 14/03/10: Hebrew Character x1; Small Quaker x4; Common Quaker x1; Yellow Horned x1 and Early Grey x1."

Hebrew CharacterPhoto © Derek Brown

Early GreyPhoto © Derek Brown

Adam Bassett ran his first garden moth trap of the year on March 13th in Marlow Bottom, Bucks: "Nothing new for the list, but I had the following: Yellow Horned (1), March Moth (3), Small Brindled Beauty (3) - garden tick, Oak Beauty (9), Dotted Border (1), Small Quaker (3), Common Quaker (1), Satellite (4), Chestnut (2), Tortricodes alternella (5) and Acleris ferrugana/notana (3). Then last night (14th) a Shoulder Stripe appeared on my window."

~ Sunday 14th March 2010 ~

Dave Wilton reported the following today: "At last, some half-decent mothing weather in this part of Bucks! On 13th March at Westcott I got Tortricodes alternella (1), March Moth (3), Oak Beauty (1), Dotted Border (2), Grey Shoulder-knot (1) & Chestnut (1) to the Robinson in the garden. However, three hours spent in Bernwood Forest with a single Skinner trap that same evening produced a bumper crop of more than 350 moths: Tortricodes alternella (52, of which an unusually well-marked example is shown below), Acleris ferrugana (2), Yellow Horned (1), March Moth (60), Small Brindled Beauty (175), Pale Brindled Beauty (5), Oak Beauty (5), Spring Usher (4), Dotted Border (26, including two flightless females found on nearby tree trunks), Small Quaker (1), Satellite (4) & Chestnut (17)."

Tortricodes alternellaPhoto © Dave Wilton

Dotted Border (female)Photo © Dave Wilton

Ched George says that March 13th proved to be the first moth-friendly night for more than a week: "My garden MV in Radnage, Bucks attracted 10 March Moths, 2 Dotted Border, 1 Chestnut, 1 Satellite and 1 Pale Brindled Beauty."

This news came from Derek Brown yesterday: "Finally at Beenham, Berks on 13th March a Common Quaker and little else (1 x Satellite). Still not a single butterfly and I have been trying!"

Common QuakerPhoto © Derek Brown

~ Friday 12th March 2010 ~

Dave Maunder sent this update on 11th March: "A few more moths seen here in Aylesbury this week have been - Oak Beauty (1, on 10th); March Moth (1) and Dotted Border (1) - caught tonight at my garden m.v. before skies cleared to - 1.5 c. ! Below is a photo of the Oak Beauty found at Walton Court shopping centre."

Oak BeautyPhoto © Dave Maunder

~ Saturday 6th March 2010 ~

Dave Maunder ran his garden m.v. lamp in Aylesbury, Bucks on Tuesday 2nd March for the first time this year: "I only got Pale Brindled Beauty (1) and March Moth (1). The following day I found 3 March Moths and a Dotted Border atlocal security lights, so looks like March Moth is well and truly about now!"

Dotted BorderPhoto © Dave Maunder

~ Tuesday 2nd March 2010 ~

Welcome to the website new contributor Karen Roberts who sent the following report on 28th February: "I have been moth trapping for three years with Wycombe Wildlife Group and UTB. I borrow a Skinner trap and send all my sightings and Wycombe Wildlife Group sightings to the County Moth Recorder, Martin Albertini. My garden is quite a good spot as it backs onto Common Wood in Penn, Bucks and I get a good range of moths throughout the year. I ran the trap in my garden on 27th February with the following results: March Moth (3), Satellite, Chestnut and Pale Brindled Beauty."

Nigel Partridge reported the following on 28th February: "One more new to my year list - Oak Beauty, 27-02-10, Loosley Row, Bucks."

Oak BeautyPhoto © Nigel Partridge

Dave Wilton sent this report on 28th February: "A Skinner MV trap was taken to Bernwood Forest on 27th February and run there for three hours, prior to the arrivalof heavy rain, and it produced Tortricodes alternella (1), March Moth (2), Small Brindled Beauty (1), Pale Brindled Beauty (17), Spring Usher (27), Dotted Border (3) and Chestnut (3). Found flying around inside our lounge at Westcott, Bucks, on 28th February was an example of the micro-moth Esperia sulphurella. Their larvae feed on decaying wood so it had presumably emerged from the logs stored beside our wood-burning stove."

Esperia sulphurellaPhoto © Dave Wilton

~ Saturday 27th February 2010 ~

This update came from Dave Maunder today, 27th February: "A few more moths seen recently in Aylesbury, Bucks include:- Oak Beauty (1, 27th); Pale Brindled Beauties (7), Dotted Border (1, 25th) and Indian Meal Moth (Plodia interpunctella) (1, 19th) - probably hatched out of our Guinea-pig grain! Incidentally, included in the Pale Brindled Beauties was a female, found yesterday alongside a male in a porch at Dormer Close flats - I think they both arrived in copulation when the male came to the light - first time I've ever found a female (apart from my pupa-digging days in the 70's)!"

Pale Brindled BeautiesPhoto © Dave Maunder

Pale Brindled Beauty f.Photo © Dave Maunder

Dave Wilton sent the following on 26th February: "With a warmish if rather damp night in prospect, I decided to run the Robinson MV trap overnight in our garden at Westcott, Bucks on 24th February and managed to get into double digits here for the first time this year: Agonopterix heracliana (3), March Moth (1), Pale Brindled Beauty (13), Spring Usher (1) & Satellite (1). Other activity around the trap when it was checked at midnight included an ichneumon wasp Ophion obscuratus in addition to numerous midges, while a Smooth Newt was found walking across the sheet and a House Mouse was busily eating up dropped seeds beneath the bird feeders."

Nigel Partridge reported the following on 25th February: "It was much milder last night (24-02-10) so in between the showers I managed a couple of hours with the trap. Amongst the few moths that were attracted was this Dotted Chestnut."

Dotted ChestnutPhoto © Nigel Partridge

Ched George sent this report on 25th February: "A milder last night (24th February) so I trapped some moths in my Radnage garden in Bucks - Pale Brindled Beauty 7, Satellite 1 and March Moth 1."

~ Friday 19th February 2010 ~

Dave Wilton reported the following on 18th February: "I took a single MV trap toFinemere Wood, Bucks, for a couple of hours last night, 17th February, because the forecast showed a minimum of 4 degrees and remaining overcast. I should have known better than to believe it, I suppose! As soon as I'd set up the trap the skies cleared and the temperature quickly fell to freezing but a handful of moths did put in an appearance: Pale Brindled Beauty (4), Spring Usher (5) and Dotted Border (2)."

A few more late-winter moths seen around Aylesbury by Dave Maunder recently include: Pale Brindled Beauty (4) and Early Moth (8). "I've included a photo of two Pale Brindled Beauties found together near the Fairford Leys shops, showing colour differences."

Pale Brindled BeautiesPhoto © Dave Maunder

Adam Bassett, Marlow Bottom, Bucks sent the following on 18th February: "A Dotted Border appeared on the kitchen window last night (17th), just 3 days later than last year."

Derek Brown says he had a Dotted Border at a lighted window tonight, 17th February in Beenham, Berks.

Dotted BorderPhoto © Derek Brown

~ Tuesday 9th February 2010 ~

Dave Wilton sent this update on 6th February: "I've nothing new to report but I thought I would share these two pictures of Spring Usher from Finemere Wood, Bucks on 4th February. Amongst the 57 individuals trapped there in three hours thatevening, a couple were of the photogenic black & white form while five more were uniformly melanic. Other moths caught were Winter Moth (4, very late records), Pale Brindled Beauty (52) and Chestnut (1)."

Spring UsherPhoto © Dave Wilton

Spring UsherPhoto © Dave Wilton

~ Saturday 6th February 2010 ~

Dave Maunder reported the following recent sightings: "A couple more early sightings for Aylesbury, Bucks: on 4th February were my first Pale Brindled Beauty of the year and 3 Early Moths. Then on 5th February I found a Spring Usher on a house near mine - the first I've ever come across in town!"

Spring UsherPhoto © Dave Maunder

David Redhead sent this news on 3rd February: "Una Fenton found a Green-brindled Crescent egg at the Bullingdon Prison Brown Hairstreak egg hunt on Friday 29th January. Blue-bordered Carpet eggs were also found there as well asat Otmoor RSPB on New Year's Day and I found some at Astons Eyot in Oxford during January."

~ Saturday 30th January 2010 ~

Dave Wilton sent this news today, 30th January: "On 28th January, while searching for Brown Hairstreak eggs in Island Pond Wood at Launton (a Woodland Trust millennium planting near Bicester, Oxon), I found a hibernating Drinker caterpillar and several Blue-bordered Carpet eggs."

Paul Bowyer reported the following on 26th January: "On Monday January 25thI was called to our member Karen Roberts' house to identify a moth settled on the door of her microwave oven. It was a Double-striped Pug, location Hazlemere Road, Penn in Bucks, backing on to Common Wood."

~ Wednesday 20th January 2010 ~

Dave Maunder sent this report on 19th January: "As with a few others, I've recently seen my first batch of new-year moths, starting with an Early moth on the 18th January, then after last night's relatively mild cloudy night I found Winter moths (4) and Mottled Umbers (4), some of which were nicely marked. I suppose the three weeks or so of icy weather held back the hatching of these moths - nice tosee some at last! All these moths have been found, as usual, by checking security lights locally in Aylesbury, Bucks, after suitable nights!"

Mottled UmberPhoto © Dave Maunder

Mottled UmberPhoto © Dave Maunder

Dave Wilton reported the following on 19th January: "It never ceases to amaze me how resilient our winter-flying moths are. We have snow and/or temperatures well below freezing for seemingly weeks on end and then as soon as the conditionsshow a marginal (and probably short-lived) improvement the moths are back, as active as ever. I trapped in Finemere Wood near Quainton, Bucks for a couple of hours on 18th January and got 273 individuals of nine species. Newly-emerged were Pale Brindled Beauty (4), Spring Usher (15) and Early Moth (2). However, the majority were species that will have been on the wing in suitable weather since late last year, comprising Acleris hastiana (1), December Moth (2), Winter Moth (129), Mottled Umber (109), Satellite (3) & Chestnut (8). This is the latest that I'veever trapped December Moth. Martin Albertini tells me that prior to this season there were only three Bucks records beyond the end of December, all from 2002."

Early MothPhoto © Dave Wilton

Spring UsherPhoto © Dave Wilton

~ Sunday 17th January 2010 ~

Alastair Driver reported seeing these moths in Sonning, Berks on 17th January: "I was woken from hibernation with singles of Mottled Umber and WinterMoth on my porch window last night (16th January) - despite the pouring rain!"

Mottled UmberPhoto © Alastair Driver

Winter MothPhoto © Alastair Driver

This came from Derek Brown on 17th January: "I managed to get the trap out for an hour last night, 16th January, at Beenham (Berks) for the first time this year. This pulled in Mottled Umber (1), Chestnut (2), Winter Moth (2) and Satellite (3)."

Mottled UmberPhoto © Derek Brown

SatellitePhoto © Derek Brown

Nigel Partridge reported the following on 16th January: "Attracted to the house lights (Loosley Row, Bucks)) last night, 15th January, were a Chestnut and a Satellite."

~ Tuesday 12th January 2010 ~

Adam Bassett sent this report on 8th January: "My first records of the year are arather hardy Winter Moth which came to our porch light in Marlow Bottom, Bucks, on January 2nd and Agonopterix heracliana which was flying around the lounge on January 6th and had presumably been disturbed and come in with a sack of firewood."

~ Friday 8th January 2010 ~

Dave Wilton starts off 2010 with the following moth report: "This uncommon little moth, Mompha jurassicella, has been found indoors here at Westcott, Bucks many times over the past three winters and for the second year running has provedto be my first moth sighting of the year. It was found flying inside our conservatory during the evening of 6th January, the night that RAF Benson recorded a low of minus 18 Celsius. Not exactly good mothing weather!"

Mompha jurassicellaPhoto © Dave Wilton