Even More Moths

The exciting mothing spell continues - hence another post so soon after my previous one!

I have trapped both nights since my last post, catching 225 macro moths of 54 species on Friday/Saturday night, and 194 macro moths of 45 species on Saturday/Sunday night.  It's out again tonight too!

Elephant Hawkmoths have appeared in excellent numbers, they were the second most numerous species in the trap (behind Riband Wave) on Friday night when I caught 30 of them! 

 

The migration continues, with Bordered Straw on both nights and a single Pearly Underwing on Friday night.  Am still waiting for a my first migrant Hawkmoth for the garden though, which hopefully isn't far away!  

My most surprising catch was a species new to me, so I honestly had no idea what it was when I first saw it in the egg boxes, I just knew it was a type of Wainscot that I had never seen before...

An obvious warmish reddish tinge to it and that striking split black stripe down the wing.  Also note those two rows of black dots on the upperwing which are key to its identification.

 

A Webb's Wainscot it was.  A species that has records from the heart of Axe valley, being a reedy specialist like many of the wainscots.  Most likely this one has just wandered from there, however the fact it seems to be over a month early (shouldn't really be on the wing until August-September) does make me wonder whether it may have originated from a continental population?  

As Wainscots go it's got a lot going for it!

 

Another nice highlight was a species I only caught twice in over ten years of trapping at Mum and Dad's, a Royal Mantle...

I was a little confused by this one mind as the reddy areas seemed to be completely lacking!  Almost looked like a black and white version, it should look like THIS

 

My other highlights, and all firsts for the garden, were more usual species but ones that I always take great delight in seeing...

A not all that ruddy Ruddy Carpet

 

My second Tiger sp for the garden, a lovely Scarlet Tiger

Bum in air which is typical for this species - Phoenix

Marbled Green with friends (Buff-tip and Privet Hawmoth)

Blue-bordered Carpet

Blood-vein. Have already caught a couple of their smaller cousins.

Maybe fairly common, but always stunning.  Rosy Footman.

Not sure numbers will be as impressive tonight.  It is still, but it's also clear so I suspect the temperatures will drop a bit lower than they have in previous nights.  But as we all know it only takes one...