An epic storm of moths (Minus the rain)

Posting a little late, after being away for a week in Dorset.

What a night the 29th of June was, Saturday night had been warm and muggy and we were in for clear skies for most of the night, but luckoly the temperature still held up well.

A massive 26 new for year species were noted, and the trap was bursting at the seams come the morning. I'm glad I plumped to fire up the 250w Clear bulb, my god that thing is devastating on warm nights.

Highlights were a tentative Triaxomasia caprimulgella, new to Herts if correct. It looks good comparing to images on Lepiforum, to be dissected.

Also, the smart Syncopacma species sporting all black wings and a white band was also new for the garden, this will be dissected to species level in time. Not content with two new for garden species, a third was found in the trap and two examples to boot...Dioryctria abietella. In fact it's the first Dioryctria to be added to the garden list in 7 years!

Macro moth highlights included, Blue-bordered Carpet, Miller and Rufous Minor (Which I managed to dissect myself...only just!).

Tonight is looking equally as warm temperature-wise after highs of 28 degrees today, I wonder what tomorrow morning will bring!

Garden species count for 2019 now upto 266.

Catch Report - Back Garden - Stevenage - 250w Clear MV Robinson Trap

29/06/19

Macro Moths

Blue-bordered Carpet 1 [NFY] Clay 1 [NFY] Common Footman 1 [NFY] Common Rustic 1 [NFY] Double Square-spot 2 [NFY] Elephant Hawk-moth 2 [NFY] Flame 1 [NFY] Miller 1 [NFY] Rufous Minor 1 [NFY] - Gen Det Short-cloaked Minor 1 [NFY] Small Fan-foot 1 [NFY] Swallow-tailed Moth 2 [NFY] Wormwood Pug 1 [NFY]

Micro Moths

Acentria ephemerella 3 [NFY] Acrobasis repandana 1 [NFY] Anarsia innoxiella 1 [NFY] Crambus perlella 1 [NFY] Dioryctria abietella 1 [NFG] Epermenia chaerophyllella 1 [NFY] Nemapogon cloacella 1 [NFY] Parachronistis albiceps 1 [NFY] Parapoynx stratiotata 1 [NFY] Syncopacma sp 1 [NFG] To be gen det Triaxomasia caprimulgella 1 [NFG] To be gen det Udea prunalis 2 [NFY]