Another seven moths new for the year.

Tuesday 12th July 2022.

My first Tiger moth of the year, a gorgeous Ruby Tiger.

As temperatures are set to climb into the 80’s or more over the coming days, I would expect the moth numbers to increase and again this morning, there was a reasonable number in and around the moth box including at least four more new for the year. There was a cracking moon last night rising low over the rooftops and with the Swifts bombing and screaming about at dusk, I only wish I had the technology to take some half decent photos of them.

Above, the micro moth Cochylis molliculana and below,  the attractive Acleris forsskaleana; both new for the year.

A healthy 102+ moths this morning of 39 species today with another six species that were new for the year. This included the 'macro' moths, Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, Ruby Tiger and Cloaked Minor. There were an impressive number of micro moths this morning with Crassa unitella, Acleris forsskaleana and Cochylis molliculana also added to my impressive year total.  

Above, the Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing and below, the Cloaked Minor. 

Most numerous this morning were the Riband Waves of various guises, 9 Lime-speck Pug, 10 Bird-cherry Ermine (I have generalised this species as just one species for the Yponomeutidae family are very difficult to ID in the field and though some could be Orchard, Spindle or Apple Ermines, they are easily confused and so Bird-cherry Ermine would be a safe bet). Six each of Endotricha flamealis and the tiny Apple Leaf Miner was also a good number.

The micro moth, Crassa unitella; a moth that is regular in my garden for this time of year.

The following moths were present this morning:

• 1 Ruby Tiger (NFY)
• 12 Riband Wave
• 1 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing (NFY)
• 1 Bright-line Brown-eye
• 2 Garden Carpet
• 3 Pale Mottled Willow
• 1 Buff Ermine
• 7 Willow Beauty
• 1 Cloaked Minor (NFY)
• 1 Lackey
• 1 White Ermine
• 9 Lime-speck Pug
• 3 Common Emerald   
• 1 Double-striped Pug
• 1 Uncertain
• 1 Common Footman
• 1 Common Pug
• 1 Meal Moth
• 5 Common Plume
• 1 Eudonia mercurella
• 2 Chrysoteuchia culmella
• 6 Endotricha flammealis
• 3 Oegoconia quadripuncta
• 1 Crassa unitella (NFY)
• 1 Celypha striana
• 10 Bird-cherry Ermine
• 1 Blastobasis vittata
• 4 Tachystola acroxantha 
• 6 Apple Leaf Miner
• 1 Codling Moth
• 1 Hawthorn Moth
• 2 Ephestia woodiella
• 1 Blastobasis adustella
• 1 Light Brown Apple Moth
• 2 Udea fulvalis
• 1 Metalampra italica
• 1 Acleris forsskaleana (NFY)
• 1 Beautiful Plume
• 1 Cochylis molliculana (NFY)

Above, Flying Ants came out en force over Southsea including this individual which was quickly snapped up by one of the Sparrows. Below, the Dwarf Cream Wave was an additional to this mornings total.

This afternoon, I spent an hour or so with Isabelle and her mum in the back garden and while Isabelle was enjoying herself in the paddling pool, I was keeping an eye out for anything of note I could add to my blog. A few of this morning's moths were spared by the local Sparrows and that included a Dwarf Cream Wave that Sinead found and pointed out to me to identify. A few butterflies flew over the garden including a Large White, Comma and a Holly Blue, but none settled. The Flying Ants were out and about due to this afternoon's very humid and hot weather and many settled in the garden only to be gobbled up by the appreciative Sparrows! Several species of Gull, including Mediterranean and Great Black-backed Gulls, were soaring high overhead, also enjoying the feast of Flying Ants as well as good numbers of Swifts. A surprise Hornet-mimic Hoverfly graced our garden this afternoon when it landed on one of our small tables briefly and then flew off south. 

Above, my Moth Box was up and running last night and below, some photos of last night's rising moon.

It looks like another very humid night tonight with temperatures in the mid-sixties, but I shall have the moth box on again tonight. Currently, I have seen 158 species of moth for 2022 so far, which includes 101 'macro' species and 57 'micro' species. And it's only July! There was a spectacular moon rising last night and so I added some photos to my blog.