After a cool dry night there was only one moth in the trap but it is a new species for the year.  A Gooseberry Stretchia (Stretchia muricina).

The last few days have been quite wet.  Just one Speckled Green Fruitworm (Orthosia hibisci) in the trap last night.  On another note, it seems that one of my photographs will be used in new a "Moths of Great Britian and Ireland" book by Sean Clancy. Published by BugBook Publishing.  Fame at last :).  Interestingly, some of my brother's moth photographs will also be appearing in this book.  His UK moth blog is at http://mothsofboughton-under-blean.blogspot.ca/.

There was an interesting moth in the trap this morning! I had thought it was a Lasiocampidae or Lymantriidae but after some failed searching I asked Gary Anweiler for help. Gary ID'd it as Twilight Moth (Lycia rachelae). I hadn't considered Geometridae at all. Live and learn..:). Apparently this moth would normally finish it's flight before full darkness. I did put the light trap out well before sunset so perhaps that is the trick. Either way this is definitely a new backyard moth for me and is my second new moth of the year bringing my backyard macro total to 197. At this rate 200 will be a breeze. Thanks again to Gary for the info'.

Twilight Moth (Lycia rachelae)

Twilight Moth (Lycia rachelae)

Twilight Moth (Lycia rachelae)

Twilight Moth (Lycia rachelae)

I missed my entry on the 24th but had 1 False Pinion (Litholomia napaea), 1 Alfalfa Looper (Autographa californica), 3 Speckled Green Fruitworms (Orthosia hibisci) and what I think is a Small Engrailed Moth (Ectropis crepuscularia).  If it is this will be a new Geometrid for me.  Last night there was 1 False Pinion (Litholomia napaea) and 3 Speckled Green Fruitworms (Orthosia hibisci).

Speckled Green Fruitworm (Orthosia hibisci)

Speckled Green Fruitworm (Orthosia hibisci)



6597 Small Engrailed Moth (Ectropis crepuscularia)

It was a warm night with the temperature not falling below +4.  The macro moths in or on the trap were 1 Large Grey Pinion (Lithophane georgii) and 1 Hoary Pinion (Lithophane fagina).  There were also 4 Diamondback Moths (Plutella xylostella).  No new moths for the year today.

Another fairly mild night produced two Speckled Green Fruitworm moths (Orthosia hibisci), one False Pinion (Litholomia napaea), one Dot-and-Dash Swordgrass (Xylena curvimacula) and one Hoary Pinion (Lithophane fagina).

Hoary Pinion (Lithophane fagina)

Speckled Green Fruitworm moth (Orthosia hibisci)

Just one False Pinion (Litholomia napaea) in the trap last night.  I've identified the two micro moths seen yeasterday as Diamondback Moths (Plutella xylostella).  I also had one of these moths in the trap on the 15th April.

Diamondback Moth (Plutella xylostella)

It stayed above freezing last night and the trap tuned up two False Pinions (Litholomia napaea), one Dot-and-Dash Swordgrass (Xylena curvimacula) and a micro that I haven't identified yet.  While walking to our local shops I found a dead Hoary Pinion (Lithophane fagina) on the sidewalk.

False Pinion (Litholomia napaea)

Dot-and-Dash Swordgrass (Xylena curvimacula)



After some wintry nights, the earlier part of last night was 6c so I gave the light trap another try. There were 2 moths in the trap this morning. Another or the same Western Swordgrass (Xylena thoracica) and a Large Grey Pinion (Lithophane georgii). I've only had Lithophane georgii in the garden once before in 2009.


Large Grey Pinion (Lithophane georgii)

As the temperature for the early part of last night was 8c, it seemed worthwhile putting out the light trap.  I recorded my first macro moth of the year, Western Swordgrass (Xylena thoracica).  This moth is a hibernator but previously I have only recorded it during Sept and October.  It's good to get this years macro moth list started!



9875 Western Swordgrass (Xylena thoracica). Taken in Sept 2011.