Sharing the results from my latest Moth Trap Session. I have written posts about setting up a moth trap and on collecting the results if you want some more background info on how and why I use a Moth Trap
Date: 16th September 2022
Weather:
Well, the season is definately turning. Its only been 2 weeks since the last trapping session and the weather conditions have changed significantly. With highs today of 17C, its much cooler than it has been. And with predicted lows of just 7C tonight it is much much cooler.
It does meant that the lower temperatures will result in lower numbers of moths. With that in mind, I have chosen to put away the big moth trap I have been using all summer:
...and instead I have gone with the smaller one below:
As the numbers are expected to be lower I don't need such a large trap this time. And a smaller trap is easier to manage overnight, and much easier and quicker to put away the following morning.
Anyway, enough waffling, here we go!
Results: 10 moths of 7 species
Summary of Results:
Ah well... it was quiet, but I expected it to be honest. Autumn is an opportunity for rare migrant moth species, but its pot luck what actually turns up each evening. We never know what will potentially appear, and that is part of the excitement of doing this.
It does mean many evenings can be a bit boring, but it's always worth a go.
Here are a few of the early ones... all useful records of course, but none that were overly exciting:
Light Brown Apple Moth
Large Yellow Underwing
Garden Carpet
Small Blood-vein
All fairly common and standard for the location and the time of year. Night fell at 8pm, and by 9pm all of these were sat around the trap. That was pretty much it until about 1pm when I went outside to check one last time before turning everything off.
With unusual good-timing, 3 moths suddenly appeared near the trap. By this point I was desperate for anything, so I quickly potted them up.
They looked familiar so I checked a reference book:
Field Guide to the Moths of Great Britain and Ireland (3rd edition)
Yep, they look good for a Beaded Chestnut...
Field Guide to the Moths of Great Britain and Ireland (3rd edition)
Wait a minute... the species does look quite similar to the Brown-spot Pinion.
I need to look at these again!
So it looks like Beaded Chestnut can be a variable species (different colour forms for example) but although the Brown-spot Pinion can also be variable too, the black spots near the corner of each wing-tip seem to be a distinguishing feature
I resorted to asking for assistance from more experienced moth-ers on one of the facebook groups...
facebook does have its uses!
And it turns out that my initial attempt at ID was correct. Beaded Chestnut
It's always worth checking these, especially if I am not sure. Of course in terms of recording the results of my moth tap session, I need to be 100% sue that my results are correct.
To be fair, I usually get the Beaded Chestnuts, there was just a brief moment of excitement that I could have a new species to record... but maybe next time eh?
Notes on Pictures: Since I started moth trapping 5 years ago, I have been slowly building up collection of Library Images. The idea being that once I have taken a picture of a particular species of Moth, I don't need another picture of the same species a year later. It’s a waste of time and energy. I only take pictures of new species, or of moths that are difficult to ID, so I can get the records verified.
While in my care, all individuals are looked after, and after Photographs have been taken, they are all released safely outside.
All names confirmed and checked via Wikispieces
Further Research from UK Moths and NatureSpot
If you have any thoughts or opinions on this article then I'd love to see your comments.
And if you really like the content then maybe you would like to upvote or re-hive it.
Check out my website for more of my work.
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