Norfolk moths: Rockland St. Peter garden, 20 September 2013

A warm, calm, overcast night with a dawn temperature (presumed minimum) of 11.8°C - much milder than the last few nights. The conditions resulted in a jump in moth diversity, with a total of 23 species of macro-moth recorded. Four new species were Grey Pine Carpet, Black Rustic (arriving in force), a lovely Brindled Green and a couple of Beaded Chestnuts, one of which was tricky to separate from Lunar Underwing. 

I checked the trap early, but some of the moths were still around for Andy Swash to look at. He helped with tips for separating the two Copper Underwings based on palp colour and for distinguishing Beaded Chestnut from Lunar Underwing. He particularly enjoyed the Bulrush Wainscot.

Grey Pine Carpet Thera obeliscata - note weakly indented inner edge of central cross-band.

The aptly-named Black Rustic Aporophyla nigra - one of nine.

Beaded Chestnut Agrochola lychnidis

Brindled Green Dryobotodes eremita - somewhat greener in life.

Moths - macros only (23 spp.):-

Idaea seriata	Small Dusty Wave	2
Xanthorhoe fluctuata	Garden Carpet	1
Chloroclysta truncata	Common Marbled Carpet	5
Thera obeliscata	Grey Pine Carpet	1
Colostygia pectinataria	Green Carpet	2
Campaea margaritata	Light Emerald	1
Agrotis segetum	Turnip Moth	2
Noctua pronuba	Large Yellow Underwing	6
Noctua comes	Lesser Yellow Underwing	3
Xestia xanthographa	Square-spot Rustic	1
Mythimna albipuncta	White-point	1
Mythimna pallens	Common Wainscot	1
Aporophyla nigra	Black Rustic	9
Dryobotodes eremita	Brindled Green	1
Agrochola litura	Brown-spot Pinion	3
Agrochola lychnidis	Beaded Chestnut	2
Omphaloscelis lunosa	Lunar Underwing	1
Xanthia icteritia	Sallow	1
Amphipyra pyramidea	Copper Underwing	2
Luperina testacea	Flounced Rustic	1
Nonagria typhae	Bulrush Wainscot	1
Hoplodrina ambigua	Vine's Rustic	1
Hypena proboscidalis	Snout	6