Another 100+ moths this morning.

Sunday 29th June 2025

My first Light Arches moth of the year.

It was back to the Moths again this morning and yes, I was up at 4.30am to check my Moth Box, but not only Matt & Emma had theirs on, but also fellow Birder and ‘Moth-er’ James Cutting has joined us as well and boy, did he get some great moths. Another very warm day beckons though it was overcast all morning and a bit breezy first thing in the garden. No hassle from the over-freindly Herring Gull this morning with just the gorgeous Swifts screaming high overhead  for company.

My Moth Box:

The Italian Bark Moth (Metalampra italica) was new for the year.

I broke the 100 barrier again this morning, though it took later in the morning to get a final total as I watered the garden and flushed a load more moths! One pot I watered and FOUR Rusty-dot Pearls moths flew out!!! A final total of 101 moths of 42 species were in and around the Moth Box today which also included two Common Emerald moths INSIDE the house. Among them were a further FIVE more new moths for the year: the macro moth Light Arches and four micro moth species, Italian Bark Moth (Metalampra italica), Bordered Carl (Coptotriche marginea), Leaf Blotch Miner (Macrosaccus robiniella) and an Elderberry Pearl (Anania coronata). Again, a good showing of micro species this morning.

From top to bottom: Elderberry Pearl (Anania coronata), Leaf Blotch Miner (Macrosacca robiniella) and Bordered Carl (Coptotriche marginea) which were all new for the year.

Above, this Olive-tree Pearl was my second of the year as was (below) this Mint Moth.

Other insects attracted to my Moth Box overnight included two Eared Leafhoppers, 2 Cinnemon Sedge, a Summer Chafer beetle and finally, a Red-spotted Plant Bug (a type of Mirid Bug species).

Above, an Eared Leafhopper and below, the Red-spotted Plant Bug.

The following Moths were recorded this morning:

Macro moths:

• Riband Wave x7
• Bright-line Brown-eye x1
• Willow Beauty x8
• Common Emerald x5
• Garden Carpet x1
• Lackey x4
• Cabbage Moth x1
• Double-striped Pug x5
• Lime-speck Pug x2
• Light Arches x1 *
• Dark Arches x2
• Knot Grass x1
• Small Dusty Wave x1
• Silver Y x1
• White Ermine x2
• Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing x2

Micro moths:

• Blushed Knot-horn x6
• Garden Grey x4
• Diamond-back Moth x1
• Brown House Moth x2
• Barred Marble x1
• Ruddy Streak x5
• Garden Mompha x1
• Italian Bark Moth x1 *
• Red-barred Tortrix x2
• Garden Grass-veneer x4
• Meal Moth x1
• Bird-cherry Ermine x3
• Box Tree Moth x1
• Bordered Carl x1 *
• Black-banded Masoner x4
• Mint Moth x1
• Light Brown Apple Moth x1
• Common Plume x4
• Beautiful Plume x1
• Leaf Blotch Miner x1 *
• Large Pale Masoner x3
• Rusty-dot Pearl x4
• Olive-tree Pearl x1
• Elderberry Pearl x1 *
• Bee Moth x1

Emma & Matt’s Moth Box:

Meanwhile, over in Fareham, despite the guys experiencing a problem with the Wasps in their box due to the fact there was a lot of moth wings within it,  Matt & Emma had 29 species this morning from their Moth Trap that included the following moth species:

Macro moths:

• Garden Carpet
• Dark Arches
• Brown-tail Moth
• Riband Wave
• Small Dusty Wave
• Uncertain
• Small Blood-vein
• V-pug
• Common Marbled Carpet
• Wormwood Pug
• Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing
• Coronet
• Dun-bar
• Slender Pug
• Haworth’s Pug
• Smoky Wainscot

Micro moths:

• Rosy Tabby
• Tabby Knot-horn
• Privet Tortrix
• Bee Moth
• Elderberry Pearl
• Garden Grass-veneer
• Garden Grey
• Bud Moth
• Cnephasia species
• Mother of Pearl
• Long-winged Pearl
• Brown Bark Moth
• Diamond-back Moth

James Cutting’s Moth Box:

James had this superb Light Crimson Underwing in his Moth Box this morning.

Over in Drayton, James Moth Box and garden produced a staggering 162 moths of 34 species this morning that included 21 Dark Arches and 17 Riband Wave’s. Included in this large total were the following:

Macro moths:

• Elephant Hawk-moth
• Light Crimson Underwing
• True Lovers Knot
• Riband Wave
• Willow Beauty
• Dark Arches
• Buff Ermine
• Peppered Moth
• Bright-line Brown-eye
• Common Footman
• Smoky Wainscot
• Common Rustic
• Clouded Border
• Heart & Club
• Magpie Moth
• Festoon
• Heart & Dart
• Scalloped Oak
• Uncertain
• Double-striped Pug
• Beautiful Hook-tip
• Coronet
• Brimstone Moth

Micro moths:

• Rosy Tabby
• Rusty-dot Pearl
• Garden Grass-veneer
• Spindle Ermine
• Garden Straw
• Privet Tortrix

While updating my Blog this morning, I heard a lot of noise coming from the local Swifts and eventually, I made my way to the front door to investigate with my camera in hand. Sure enough, one of the young Swifts was poking its head out of one of my nest boxes and so I managed a few photos of the bird as the adults passed by over the road. The good news is that both mine and my opposite neighbours' nest boxes are all occupied and should be fledging soon.