Another 'Lifer' among 100+ Moths.

Wednesday 30th July 2025.

The stunning micro moth Tufted Tortrix.

It was drizzling with rain last night as I had a quick check of the Moth Box before retiring to bed at 11pm. The ground was still a bit wet in places within the garden first thing this morning and I am noticing how much darker it is at 5am and so as this month is drawing to a close, I will be setting the alarm a little later. Where the hell did July go? We are now entering Autumn territory, what with returning Warblers and Hirundines on the move here on the south coast. I heard another Willowchiff calling when I was walking the dogs later this morning, but the Swifts are still screaming high overhead here in Southsea. It was fairly bright and sunny first thing and a bit warmer than yesterday (19 degrees centigrade) and literally wind free.

The Moth Box:

I'm just waiting for confirmation, but I believe this is a Tufted Oak Knot-horn; a very rare moth to Southern England and new to my life list.

A superb total of 106 moths of 39 species were recorded this morning that included yet another three more micro moths that were new for the year and one was a Lifer! A Tufted Oak Knot-horn (Acrobasis tumidana) was found on top of the rain guard of which I am getting it currently checked by Hants Moths. Other new moths for the year included a very smart Tufted Tortrix (Acleris cristana) and another micro moth, Ox-tongue Conch (Neocochylis molliculana). 

Above, one of two Garden Tiger moths and below, one of 8 Golden Twin-spots. I had to pot this individual rather sharpish thinking it was something different, but Obsidentify is 100% convinced it is a Golden Twin-spot.

Above, my first Ox-tongue Conch micro moth of the year.

There were now TWO Garden Tigers this morning along with FIVE Jersey Tigers and up to EIGHT Golden Twin-spots. SEVEN Turnip Moths (most likely immigrant moths) were counted and another Satin Wave was present among a superb array of Moths. Also among the Moths were up to two Harlequin Ladybirds.

The Moths recorded this morning included the following:

MACRO MOTHS	MICRO MOTHS
Brimstone Moth x4	Tufted Oak Knot-horn x1 *
Golden Twin-spot x8	Grey Knot-horn
Silver Y x2	Garden Pebble x1
Turnip Moth x7	Common Plume x11
Pale Mottled Willow x6	Tufted Tortrix x1 *
Heart & Dart x2	Black-banded Masoner x3
Lychnis x1	Common Masoner x3
Uncertain x2	Light Brown Apple Moth x7
Shuttle-shaped Dart x8	Rosy Tabby x1
Grey / Dark Dagger x2	Rusty-dot Pearl x3
Large Yellow Underwing x1	Barred Marble x1
Langmaid’s Yellow Underwing x2	Bramble Shoot Moth x1
Straw Dot x1	Mother of Pearl x2
Canary-shouldered Thorn x1	White-shouldered House Moth x1
Tree-lichen Beauty x2	Ox-tongue Conch x1 *
Small Dusty Wave x1
Knot Grass x2
Garden Tiger x2
Jersey Tiger x5
Dun-bar x1
Satin Wave x1
Lime-speck Pug x2
Double-striped Pug x3
Garden Carpet x1