Wychwood Moths: Privet Hawk-moth

Thursday, 2 June 2011

Wychwood Moths first birthday

Today, 2nd June, is one year to the day when moth trapping and proper recording began at Wychwood Moths following collection of the "Ratface Twin 15W actinic/UV Skinner". In that first year, the garden list was 201 macro species (pending a couple of frozen confusing pugs that need to be investigated); but the official garden list is 203 as it includes Hummingbird Hawkmoth which was recorded three times in the garden but all pre-2010 and Feathered Thorn that was recorded in my bathroom in autumn of 2009. Lots of highlights in that period but for pure rarity value, the VC30 vice-county 2nd Toadflax Brocade, one month after the first, was top of the list. However, the thrill of finding such stunning beasts as the Hawkmoths in the trap in the morning still remains, and even among the commoner species there are some more subtly beautiful varieties. I have added a couple of images of favourites here which have not appeared on the blog previously:

Maple Prominent

Peppered Moth

Leopard Moth

Lunar-spotted Pinion

Privet Hawkmoth

Sallow Kitten

Shark

Tawny-barred Angle

Toadflax Brocade

Thursday, 26 May 2011

More NFY - Fresh Hawk-moths

The turn of the season from spring to summer seems to have arrived at Wychwood Moths with the first hawk moths turning up in the trap. A few other NFY also appearing and a noticeable increase in the numbers of micros and other insects being attracted. Anything distinctive is photo'ed for probable later ID but I must admit to not having the patience to work through all the possibilities when there are still plenty of new macros to discover. Trap this week has been dominated by Heart&Dart with max of 35 on 25/5.