Highest total of moths in my garden this year.

Sunday 11th August 2024.

A moth species that is rare in my garden is this Cyclamen Tortrix.

The weekend temperatures are creeping up and up and tomorrow is predicted to be the hottest day of the year and so I shall take full advantage of this by putting the Moth Box on overnight for the next couple of nights. It paid off this morning with my highest total of the year with 130 moths of 49 species recorded that included two more that were new for the year and both micro moths: Cyclamen Tortrix and Elbow-striped Grass-veneer. The former moth is quite scarce in my garden, only recorded twice before whereas the Grass-veneer is a regular moth around this time of year.

My second 'year-tick' of the morning was this Elbow-striped Grass-veneer. 

Again, a good variety this morning that included yesterday's Poplar Hawk-moth still perched in the neighbouring plant by the Moth Box. My third Plumed Fan-foot was present along with three Tree-lichen Beauties, 4 Yellow-barred Brindles, a smart looking Lackey moth and a nice variety of micro moths that included two migrant Rusty Acorn Piercers, Rusty-dot Pearl, Tawny-fronted Straw, Tree-mallow Tortrix, Meal Moth and my second Willow Ermine of the year. Surprisingly, there were no other insects around bar a few Crane Flies this morning.

My third Plumed Fan-foot by the Moth Box.

The moths present this morning included the following:

MACRO MOTHS:

• Poplar Hawk-moth
• Plumed Fan-foot
• Garden Carpet 3
• Dark Arches
• Garden Tiger
• Square-spot Rustic 2
• Dark Sword-grass
• Pale Mottled Willow 6
• Brimstone Moth 9
• Common Emerald
• Tree-lichen Beauty 3
• Small Dusty Wave 4
• Riband Wave
• Marbled Beauty 3
• Double-striped Pug 11
• Lime-speck Pug 5
• Uncertain 2
• Buff Ermine
• Common Rustic 2
• Marbled Green
• Shuttle-shaped Dart 10
• Angle Shades
• Yellow-barred Brindle 4
• Cabbage Moth 3
• Large Yellow Underwing 2
• Lackey
• Silver Y 6
• Willow Beauty 2

MICRO MOTHS

• Ruddy Streak
• Meal Moth
• Bud Moth
• Tree-mallow Tortrix
• Apple Leaf Miner 2
• Elbow-stripe Grass-veneer (NFY)
• Rusty Acorn Piercer 3
• Rusty-dot Pearl
• Common Masoner 3
• Common Plume 8
• Light Brown Apple Moth 7
• Willow Ermine
• Chestnut Tortrix
• Mother of Pearl
• Copper-fringed Drab
• Tawny-fronted Straw
• Rufous Pearl
• Black-banded Masoner 4
• Bird-cherry Ermine
• Cyclamen Tortrix (NFY)
• Dark Moss-moth

The migrant moth, Rusty Acorn Piercer.

The Osprey is still on Fishlake Meadows this morning and the Semipalmated Sandpiper seen yesterday, has taken up residency on Sidlesham Ferry Pool this morning.