Garden Moths

While we are in lockdown, one aspect of wildlife-watching in the garden which can be informative and interesting is looking at garden moths with the aid of a moth trap. Many moths, but not all, are attracted to light. Moth traps consist of a chamber with a light above, usually with clear baffles round the light so that a moth which is attracted to the light bumps into the baffles and drops, via a funnel, into the chamber below. It is customary for the chamber to have egg-tray sheets inside so that the moths have somewhere to rest until observed and released in the morning. To get best results, the light used needs to be a special one for the purpose. Mercury vapour lamps used to be the order of the day (or night!), but these can now be difficult to source because of safety and ecological concerns and regulations. Actinic bulbs or  fluorescent black-light bulbs are now the safest options.

At least three of the group members have moth traps, including myself and our Chairman, Brian.  The main season for moths is from spring to autumn, although a few species are around in the winter. I'm relatively new to moth-ing, but it seems to me that the best nights are warm still nights with a relatively humid atmosphere - but not wet! This year, the moth season seems to have got off to a slow start, although moths are now being found. However here are a few that Brian and I have found recently. They might not be the most colourful - hopefully there will be some of those later in the year!

Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi) - Ashby de la Zouch garden

Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta) - Ashby de la Zouch garden

March Moth (Alsophyla aescularia) - Ashby de la Zouch garden

Beautiful Plume (Amblyptilia acanthadactyla) - Ashby de la Zouch garden

Early Grey (Xylocampa areola) - Ashby de la Zoucg garden

This next one might look as if it was dead in this photo, but I assure you it was not and flew away later in the day. Quite a large moth - they usually hold their wings closed.

Early Thorn (Selenia dentaria) - Ashby de la Zouch garden

Light Brown Apple Moth (Epiphyas postvittana) - Ashby de la Zouch garden

Diurnea fagella - Ashby de la Zouch garden

Shoulder Stripe (Earophila badiata) - Ashby de la Zouch garden

Small Quaker (Orthosia cruda) - Ashby de la Zouch garden

Twenty Plume Moth (Alucita hexadactyla) - Ashby de la Zouch garden

Brian had his trap out for the first time last week. He manages to give his photographic subjects a much more natural-looking background by placing than on a leaf - I use a green cardboard folder!

Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica) - Blackfordby garden

Powdered Quaker (Orthosia gracilis) - Blackfordby garden

Swallow Prominent (Pheosia tremula) - Blackfordby garden

Silver Y (Autographa gamma) - Blackfordby garden

That last moth is an immigrant from continental Europe but is still relatively common and can be seen flying in the daytime.

I have been trying to source moth traps at a competetive price for the group, should anyone want one. However, the source is having supply problems at the moment due to some key components coming from China. If the situation changes I'll get Brian to put a message out to the group.

If you would like any help with information about moth trapping, or identification of moths, please feel free to contact either Brian Hammond or myself (Richard Pegler). I will say that Brian is very much more an expert than I am (I'm just a novice with a couple of years experience!). 

If you want a good book to help with the identification of moths, I thoroughly recommend the 'Field Guide to the Moths of Great Britain and Ireland' by Waring, Townsend, and Lewington. It can currently be obtained for less than £30.

On-line assistance with moth ID can be found on Twitter from @MothIDUK .

Please consider sending records of any moths seen to the County Recorder - see the 'Wildlife Recording' tab under the banner header.

Happy mothing - take good care - - - Richard