Book review: Much Ado About Mothing

 

Much Ado About Mothing. A year intoxicated by Britain’s rare and remarkable moths

James Lowen
Bloomsbury | 2021
384 pp. | 14.3 x 22.2 cm
Hardback | £18.99 | ISBN: 9781472966995 

Much Ado about Mothing is an action-packed, whistle-stop tour of Britain and its moth inhabitants that conveys all of the drive and excitement but doubtless only a fraction of the hectic schedule of James Lowen’s year-long quest. The reader will be taken by the hand—often gently, but just as frequently whisked along with the author—on his 500 mile days out, up hills and mountains, into dozens of the UK’s remaining wildlife havens, including some of the quirkiest spots in the country: from Sychnant Pass to Orlestone Woods, Muir of Dinnet to Dungeness. If nothing else, this is an enlightening nature-oriented tour of the British Isles.

But it is more than a travelogue. There can be no grounds for feeling short-changed on information. The 380+ pages are stuffed to overflowing with moth names, descriptions, potted life histories, folklore, science, all woven into the fabric provided by James’s entertaining personal adventures with the moths and other like-minded souls who study, love and protect them. The list of amateur enthusiasts and experts that James meets along the way seemingly includes all of the nation’s best known moth experts, enthusiasts and eccentrics. There are constant references to the past giants of moth lore from the 19th century’s J. W. Tutt and P. B. M. Allan, to the 20th’s E. B. Ford, Bernard Kettlewell and Mike Majerus (initials eventually giving way to admission of actual names). Along the way, the principles of Müllerian mimicry and controversy over industrial melanism are succinctly explained, along with the pervasive issue of conservation. Indeed, much of the year is spent seeking out unusual, scarce and geographically restricted species, precisely those whose conservation status is likely to be in jeopardy.

James’s raw enthusiasm and energy is contagious. The Victorian naturalists might be his historical forbears, but this modern-day moth-man comes across as the frenetic millennial—not he the man of leisure idly twiddling a butterfly net after the Sunday service, but rather (ever conscious of other hands on his time) a determined and disciplined aurelian loaded with state-of-the-art professional photographic gear or moth trapping paraphernalia to the point of physical discomfort and potential bodily injury, eyes darting anxiously after his current quarry, fingers of the hands in his pocket jangling the keys of his ‘Quattro’ in anticipation of the next moth rendezvous on the frighteningly long list of appointments. No-one I know would have been able to execute such a punishing schedule that clearly often combined visits to several widely separated sites in one day or required serial all-night vigils followed by days of processing the spoils. The results are apparent, between the covers of this book.

For those who are no stranger to Merveille du Jour and even Clifden Nonpareil, this will make a rollicking good read, and should provide the stimulus to go out and do more, explore new areas, experiment with pheremone lures, or simply overcome the end of week fatigue to put out the Robinson trap on that dull Friday evening. But if you have been wondering what this mothing business is about and are waiting to be nudged into taking the plunge, this book could well be for you. Be warned: mothing is an addictive pastime, and you are unlikely to be able to resist James’s siren call to spend a year or two ‘intoxicated by Britain’s rare and remarkable moths’.

Ghost Moth lek on Rocklands' Chapel Green

Ghost Moths Hepialus humuli are one of the few British moths that have entered popular culture and are—or used to be—generally known to the non-specialist.  In earlier times, when insects were more abundant, meadows more commonplace, street lighting less widespread, and people abroad in the gloaming, an encounter with this species would have been a frequent early summer occurrence. Frequent but nevertheless remarkable. The memorable sight of a dozen or more large white moths hovering over the grass tops as if tethered to a thread in the fading light doubtless gave rise to their name.

Today this sight is considerably less familiar. In fact, unless they make a special effort, even moth-ers have rarely seen it. So when keen moth-man and wildlife writer James Lowen asked if anyone in East Anglia knew of a lek to cover in his forthcoming book, I racked my brains and suggested the two places that I had seen male moths in recent years: Old Buckenham village green and Chapel Green, Rocklands. This latter is a tiny plot of wildlife meadow that was restored by Rocklands Parish Council two decades ago through a Millenium Meadows grant, and financial support from Norfolk Rural Community Council, Norfolk County Council and guidance from Norfolk Wildlife Trust. It is a tiny (c. 0·015 ha) fragment of managed habitat that holds a surprisingly diverse and interesting flora and fauna, amongst which is a lek of Ghost Moths. I say lek, but when I checked back through my records I saw that I had only seen single males in June 2014, and (twice) in July 2016.

On D-Day, Thursday 6 June, despite a cool and windy evening, at 9.45 p.m.. I decided that I could no longer put off checking whether this year would produce an improvement on the singles that my memory had embellished into a weaving and bobbing troupe. I was fully prepared to tell James that the promised lek had not materialised and may have been unreliable in any case. What a relief to find two, then four, then finally a dozen male Ghost Moths "pendeculating" – Kettlewell's neologism for South's "swaying themselves to and fro without making progress".

The following evening, James was able to visit Chapel Green, arriving at 9.20 p.m. on his way back from another mothing assignment at Dungeness with moth expert Will Soar. For the first 20 minutes we enjoyed the meadow's wildflower display, twitching at passing Straw Dots Rivula sericealis and Common Swifts Korscheltellus lupulina (the latter a close relative of Ghost Moth) identified by Will. It was not until 9.40 p.m. that the first of our glowing white targets appeared, immediately followed by another, and another... Soon a group of six males were swaying and weaving on one side of the meadow, with another couple on the other. Our neighbour Carolyn, who coordinates the Chapel Green Management Committee, came out to enjoy the spectacle. We wondered if we might be lucky enough to see females, and shortly afterwards a dull yellowish brown female did indeed appear, immediately to mate with her chosen male. We found two pairs of mating moths, both on tall grass spikes, as well as a bloated female that was surely about to deposit her eggs. By 10.00 p.m. the display was over, and only these five Ghost Moths remained, clinging to their respective stems. The entire show had lasted exactly 20 minutes.



What is going on? A lek is an aggregation of male animals that come together, usually at a traditional site, to display together in order to compete for access to females. The phenomenon is especially well-documented in birds (particularly grouse and manakins) but not so widely-known in insects. In the case of Ghost Moths, the males hover over the grass, fanning their wings in order to release from scent brushes on the tarsus of the rear pair of legs a pheromone that attracts the females. The latter enter the lek briefly, select a mate, copulate on a grass stem and then fly off to drop their eggs over suitable grassy areas. The process was diligently observed and described by Mallet in his 1984 paper.

Formerly common, Ghost Moth is now a UK Biodiversity Action Plan species, listed because its populations are declining markedly. Conservation of this and a suite of other disappearing grassland plants and animals species is precisely the reason that Rocklands Parish Council manage this small area as a wildflower meadow.


More information?

Ghost Moth on NorfolkMoths here.

Rocklands Parish Council Chapel Green wildflower meadow page here.

Previous posts about management of Chapel Green wildflower meadow here.

James Lowen's blog here.


References

Kettlewell, H.B.D. (1973) The evolution of melanism. Clarendon Press: Oxford. 423 pp.

Mallet, J. (1984) Sex roles in the ghost moth Hepialus humuli (L.) and a review of mating in the Hepialidae (Lepidoptera). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 80(1): 67–82. PDF.

South, R. (1908) The moths of the British Isles, second series. Frederick Warne & Co.: London. 388 pp.


Updates

James Lowen's wonderfully illustrated account of tonight's display here.

On the evening of 11 June, despite cool temperatures (10°C), moderate drizzle and a damp SE 2–3 breeze, we counted at least 14 males lekking for exactly 20 minutes 2149–2209. The females are more difficult to spot, but we did see two come in and mate with males. The mild (15°C) evening of 17 June was even more active, with a high count for this year of at least 32 males and 4+ females between 2155 and 2215 (and perhaps later, as I left while it was still in full swing). A quick visit at 2210–2220 on the cool (14°C), evening of 22 June showed 24 males lekking, along with 1 female, though did not have time to check thoroughly.

Norfolk moths: Rocklands School Playing Fields Moth Breakfast, 16 July 2016

The moth whisperers (Simon Best)

To coincide with a Friday night camping event on our village playing fields organised by Rocklands School Council, I ran a moth trap so that pupils, parents and villagers might have a chance to see some of our local moths. Although it was warm (17°C minimum), humid and overcast, the strong breeze at this exposed site and losing the first hour in order not to irradiate the barbecue (light was on from 23h00) made for a slightly smaller haul than expected. I turned off the trap at 04h00, but had been beaten to the moths by an early-rising Blackbird. We opened the trap at 8 am and examined our catch, as we juggled our bacon and sausage butties. In the morning turmoil, with moths quite flighty in the sunshine, the list was not complete, but thanks to our scribe we did manage to note down most of the catch.

Trap full of moths (Ian Scholes)

The first to catch everyone's attention were several showy Swallow-tailed Moths, but they were immediately eclipsed by Elephant Hawk-moths. A fresh Peach Blossom and a Buff Arches that had settled outside the trap, just below the bulb, were next; then two striking Brown-tails, white micro teddy-bears with feathery antennae. Common, Buff and 'melon seed' Dingy Footman obligingly posed almost side-by-side. Early Thorn perched butterfly-like with wings pressed together over its back. Small Magpies were a favourite with the children.

Shaded Broad-bar Scotopteryx chenopodiata (Ian Scholes)

Shaded Broad-bar is a UK Biodiversity Action Plan species, being common and widespread, but rapidly declining (by 73% over the last 35 years). A couple of species that were new for tetrad TL99Y: Brown-tail and Peach Blossom.

Swallow Prominent Pheosia tremula (Ian Scholes)

Elephant Hawk-moth Deilephila elpenor in good hands (Ian Scholes)

The moth breakfast in full swing (Simon Best)

I had not realised that several dozen Lesser Black-backed Gulls use the playing fields as a roost, leaving behind blizzards of moulted feathers. 

Click on the links to see photographs from the superb Norfolk Moths website, managed by Jim Wheeler.


Macro-moths (81 moths of 34 spp.):-

Thyatira baits	Peach Blossom	1
Habrosyne pyritoides	Buff Arches	1
Deilephila elpenor	Elephant Hawk-moth	2
Idaea aversata	Riband Wave	2
Scotopteryx chenopodiata	Shaded Broad-bar	1
Opisthograptis luteolata	Brimstone Moth	2
Selenia dentaria	Early Thorn	1
Crocallis elinguaria	Scalloped Oak	2
Ourapteryx sambucaria	Swallow-tailed Moth	7
Lomographa temerata	Clouded Silver	1
Pheosia tremula	Swallow Prominent	2
Pterostoma palpina	Pale Prominent	1
Hypena proboscidalis	Snout	1
Euproctis chrysorrhoea	Brown-tail	2
Spilosoma lutea	Buff Ermine	3
Eilema depressa	Buff Footman	1
Eilema griseola	Dingy Footman	1
Eilema lurideola	Common Footman	4
Herminia tarsipennalis	Fan-foot	5
Subacronicta megacephala	Poplar Grey	1
Hoplodrina octogenaria	Uncertain	7
Apamea monoglypha	Dark Arches	4
Mesapamea secalis agg.	Common Rustic agg.	4
Lacanobia oleracea	Bright-line Brown-eye	1
Melanchra persicariae	Dot Moth	3
Mythimna conigera	Brown-line Bright Eye	3
Mythimna impura	Smoky Wainscot	3
Mythimna ferrago	Clay	4
Agrotis exclamationis	Heart and Dart	3
Axylia putris	Flame	1
Noctua pronuba	Large Yellow Underwing	3
Noctua fimbriata	Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing	1
Noctua comes	Lesser Yellow Underwing	1
Xestia triangulum	Double Square-spot	2

Micro-moths (7 moths identified, of 3 spp.):-

Pseudargyrotoza conwagana	Yellow-spot Tortrix	5
Anania hortulata	Small Magpie	5
Pleuroptya ruralis	Mother of Pearl	1

Norfolk moths: Rockland St. Peter garden, 8 July 2016

It has been a cool, wet summer, so 20°C made a respectably warm day, and with partly cloudy skies in the evening it looked to be a good night to get out the trap. The temperature held up, with 17.5°C when I turned on the MV light at 22h00 and 13°C when I turned it off at 04h00. A light E breeze. Waxing new moon.

New macro moths for the garden were Blue-bordered Carpet, July Highflyer, V-Pug, Small Yellow Wave, Short-cloaked Moth and Poplar Grey. Large Twin-spot Carpet, Sycamore and Beautiful Hook-tip are local species. All moths were rather flighty, and none posed for photographs.

Large Twin-spot Carpet Xanthorhoe quadrifasiata

Eudonia lacustrata

Macro-moths (102 moths of 43 spp.):-

Hepialus humuli	Ghost Moth	1
Hemithea aestivaria	Common Emerald	1
Idaea aversata	Riband Wave	9
Xanthorhoe quadrifasiata	Large Twin-spot Carpet	1
Cidaria fulvata	Barred Yellow	1
Plemyria rubiginata	Blue-bordered Carpet	1
Hydriomena furcata	July Highflyer	2
Chloroclystis v-ata	V-Pug	1
Pasiphila rectangulata	Green Pug	3
Hydrelia flammeolaria	Small Yellow Wave	1
Lomaspilis marginata	Clouded Border	5
Opisthograptis luteolata	Brimstone Moth	4
Ourapteryx sambucaria	Swallow-tailed Moth	2
Biston betularia	Peppered Moth	1
Peribatodes rhomboidaria	Willow Beauty	6
Cabera exanthemata	Common Wave	1
Lomographa temerata	Clouded Silver	3
Laothoe populi	Poplar Hawk-moth	1
Deilephila elpenor	Elephant Hawk-moth	1
Pterostoma palpina	Pale Prominent	1
Euproctis similis	Yellow-tail	1
Eilema lurideola	Common Footman	5
Spilosoma luteum	Buff Ermine	9
Tyria jacobaeae	Cinnabar	1
Nola cucullatella	Short-cloaked Moth	1
Axylia putris	Flame	2
Ochropleura plecta	Flame Shoulder	1
Xestia triangulum	Double Square-spot	3
Melanchra persicariae	Dot Moth	2
Lacanobia oleracea	Bright-line Brown-eye	4
Mythimna impura	Smoky Wainscot	1
Acronicta megacephala	Poplar Grey	1
Acronicta aceris	Sycamore	1
Apamea monoglypha	Dark Arches	3
Apamea lithoxylaea	Light Arches	1
Hoplodrina alsines	Uncertain	6
Hoplodrina blanda	Rustic	2
Caradrina morpheus	Mottled Rustic	1
Paradrina clavipalpis	Pale Mottled Willow	1
Laspeyria flexula	Beautiful Hook-tip	3
Hypena proboscidalis	Snout	1
Zanclognatha tarsipennalis	Fan-foot	5
Oligia strigilis agg.	Marbled Minor agg.	1

Micro-moths (9 moths identified, of 4 spp.):-

Dipleurina lacustrata	(Eudonia lacustrata)	1
Eurrhypara hortulata	Small Magpie	6
Phlyctaenia coronata		1
Aphomia sociella	Bee Moth	1

Norfolk moths: Rockland St. Peter garden, 9 October 2015

After a sunny day, completely clear skies all night made for a temperature of 12.0°C when I turned on the MV light at 19h00 and 9.1°C when I turned it off at 06h00. A light E air, felt as a slight but persistent chill breeze by dawn. Two buzzing Hornets in the trap had me turn off the trap before dawn (I have a thriving Hornet's nest in a bird box just a few metres from the trap). Waning crescent moon.

Nothing unfamiliar, and something of a relief to have so little morning work!


Macro-moths (17 moths of 11 spp.):-

Chloroclysta truncata	Common Marbled Carpet			1
Epirrita sp.	Epirrita species			1
Colotois pennaria	Feathered Thorn			1
Agrotis segetum	Turnip Moth			2
Aporophyla nigra	Black Rustic			4
Lithophane leautieri	Blair's Shoulder-knot			1
Allophyes oxyacanthae	Green-brindled Crescent			1
Agrochola lota	Red-line Quaker			1
Agrochola lychnidis	Beaded Chestnut			2
Xanthia togata	Pink-barred Sallow			1
Xanthia icteritia	Sallow			2

Norfolk moths: Rockland St. Peter garden, 6 June 2015

After a relatively warm (18°C) and intermittently sunny day, completely clear skies all night, with temperatures of 13.0°C when I turned on the MV light at 21h45 and 9.7°C when I turned it off at 04h00. A light ESE air. Waning gibbous moon.

It took me half an hour to record the catch. A May Highflyer had settled just below the light, while a Privet Hawk-moth was resting on cut branches alongside the trap.


Macro-moths (23 moths of 12 spp.):-

Colostygia pectinataria	Green Carpet	2
Hydriomena impluviata	May Highflyer	1
Sphinx ligustri	Privet Hawk-moth	1
Calliteara pudibunda	Pale Tussock	1
Spilosoma lubricipeda	White Ermine	3
Agrotis exclamationis	Heart and Dart	5
Xestia c-nigrum	Setaceous Hebrew Character	1
Discestra trifolii	Nutmeg	1
Rusina ferruginea	Brown Rustic	1
Oligia strigilis agg.	Marbled Minor agg.	1
Charanyca trigrammica	Treble Lines	5
Diachrysia chrysitis	Burnished Brass	1

Norfolk moths: Rockland St. Peter garden, 23 May 2015

Lychnis Hadena bicruris

It has been a cold spring, particularly compared to the glorious balmy season last year, so I have not felt too bad about not having time to dust off the Skinner trap. I confess that feeling the temperature plunge towards the end of the afternoon was the deciding factor in putting out the trap: I knew that it would not take long to process the small catch. After a warm (18°C) and partly sunny day, skies remained largely clear for most of the night, with temperatures of 12.0°C when I turned on the MV light at 21h30 and 6.5°C when I turned it off at 04h00. A light S air brought with it more than a hint of damp. The waxing crescent moon quickly set, with the new moon having been on 18 May. A Robin and a Blackbird arrived at the trap at 04h10, but there was nothing for them outside the trap.

As suspected, the catch was meagre, but not without interest. A newly-emerged Chocolate-tip was very smart indeed. Lychnis is new for the site and the appearance of three of them coincides with the flowering of Ragged-Robin Lychnis flos-cuculi on the adjacent Chapel Green. Moths of the genus Hadena are specialised to feed on plants of the campion family (Caryophyllaceae), of which Ragged-Robin is a member, but at no small cost to the plant, since the larva can devour much of the seed production. While Red Silene dioica and White Campion S. latifolia seed pods are the favoured food of Lychnis caterpillars, and the adult moths target the nectar of their host-plants, I like to imagine the adults visiting the night-blooming Ragged-Robin that is flowering in profusion next door. At least this would vindicate the name.

Light Brocade is a local moth that I caught at about this time last year.


Macro-moths (11 moths of 7 spp.):-

Clostera curtula	Chocolate-tip	1
Diaphora mendica	Muslin Moth	3
Agrotis exclamationis	Heart and Dart	1
Lacanobia w-latinum	Light Brocade	1
Hadena bicruris	Lychnis	3
Charanyca trigrammica	Treble Lines	1
Abrostola tripartita	Spectacle	1

Norfolk moths: Rockland St. Peter garden, 3 July 2014 ('Moth Night 2014')

Organised by Atropos and Butterfly Conservation, Moth Night is the annual celebration of moth recording throughout Britain and Ireland by enthusiasts, with local events aimed at raising awareness of moths among the general public. This year the organisers are inviting moth enthusiasts to record the moths they observe on any one or more of the days or nights 3rd–5th July. Having checked the weather forecast, Thursday 3rd July looked to be the best night of the three. Sure enough, this short night – the trap was on for six and a half hours – produced a record-breaking catch.
 
After a glorious warm, sunny day, skies remained clear for most of the night, with temperatures of 17.7°C at 23h30 and 12.3°C when I turned off the MV light at 04h15. A moderate SW during the day calmed by evening. The first quarter moon was barely noticeable. Blackbirds
 
Four species of hawk-moths, of which Pine Hawk-moth was new. Peppered Moths came in two flavours: one each of the normal light form and f. carbonaria. Local species included a lovely, fresh Dwarf Cream Wave, 3 Large Twin-spot Carpets, my second Wood Carpet, a Lilac Beauty, Sycamore, another Miller, Dingy Shears, a striking Scarce Silver-lines and 7 Beautiful Hook-tips. Of conservation concern was a Cream-bordered Green Pea which is Nationally Scarce B (species occurring nationally in 31–100 hectads).

Large Twin-spot Carpet Xanthorhoe quadrifasiata

Wood Carpet Epirrhoe rivata

Lilac Beauty Apeira syringaria

Pine Hawk-moth Hyloicus pinastri

Sycamore Acronicta aceris

Dingy Shears Parastichtis ypsillon

Scarce Silver-lines Bena bicolorana

Macro-moths (198 moths of 62 spp.):-

Cilix glaucata	Chinese Character	1
Habrosyne pyritoides	Buff Arches	3
Geometra papilionaria	Large Emerald	1
Timandra comae	Blood-vein	1
Idaea fuscovenosa	Dwarf Cream Wave	1
Idaea dimidiata	Single-dotted Wave	3
Idaea aversata	Riband Wave	7
Xanthorhoe quadrifasiata	Large Twin-spot Carpet	3
Epirrhoe rivata	Wood Carpet	1
Camptogramma bilineata	Yellow Shell	1
Eulithis pyraliata	Barred Straw	1
Perizoma alchemillata	Small Rivulet	1
Pasiphila rectangulata	Green Pug	4
Lomaspilis marginata	Clouded Border	7
Opisthograptis luteolata	Brimstone Moth	6
Apeira syringaria	Lilac Beauty	1
Crocallis elinguaria	Scalloped Oak	1
Ourapteryx sambucaria	Swallow-tailed Moth	2
Biston betularia	Peppered Moth	2
Ectropis bistortata	Engrailed	2
Cabera pusaria	Common White Wave	1
Cabera exanthemata	Common Wave	2
Lomographa temerata	Clouded Silver	4
Sphinx ligustri	Privet Hawk-moth	1
Hyloicus pinastri	Pine Hawk-moth	1
Laothoe populi	Poplar Hawk-moth	1
Deilephila elpenor	Elephant Hawk-moth	4
Phalera bucephala	Buff-tip	4
Pheosia tremula	Swallow Prominent	1
Pterostoma palpina	Pale Prominent	2
Eilema lurideola	Common Footman	27
Spilosoma luteum	Buff Ermine	9
Agrotis exclamationis	Heart and Dart	4
Axylia putris	Flame	1
Ochropleura plecta	Flame Shoulder	1
Noctua pronuba	Large Yellow Underwing	4
Xestia triangulum	Double Square-spot	11
Discestra trifolii	Nutmeg	1
Melanchra persicariae	Dot Moth	2
Lacanobia oleracea	Bright-line Brown-eye	6
Mythimna conigera	Brown-line Bright Eye	4
Mythimna ferrago	Clay	4
Mythimna impura	Smoky Wainscot	8
Acronicta aceris	Sycamore	1
Acronicta leporina	Miller	1
Amphipyra pyramidea agg.	Copper Underwing agg.	1
Parastichtis ypsillon	Dingy Shears	1
Apamea monoglypha	Dark Arches	2
Apamea lithoxylaea	Light Arches	5
Oligia strigilis agg.	Marbled Minor agg.	1
Hoplodrina alsines	Uncertain	7
Paradrina clavipalpis	Pale Mottled Willow	2
Earias clorana	Cream-bordered Green Pea	1
Bena bicolorana	Scarce Silver-lines	1
Diachrysia chrysitis	Burnished Brass	1
Autographa jota	Plain Golden Y	1
Abrostola tripartita	Spectacle	1
Laspeyria flexula	Beautiful Hook-tip	7
Rivula sericealis	Straw Dot	1
Hypena proboscidalis	Snout	3
Zanclognatha tarsipennalis	Fan-foot	8
Herminia grisealis	Small Fan-foot	1

Micro-moths (23 moths identified, of 5 spp.):-

Eurrhypara hortulata	Small Magpie	11
Phlyctaenia coronata		1
Pleuroptya ruralis	Mother of Pearl	7
Aphomia sociella	Bee Moth	3
Pterophorus pentadactyla	White Plume Moth	1

Norfolk moths: Rockland St. Peter garden, 20 June 2014

It might have been about the shortest night of the year, with the trap only on for six hours or so, but it yielded the best catch I have had from this Skinner trap. After a warm, sunny day, skies remained clear for most of the night, with temperatures of 13.2°C at 22h30 and 10.0°C when I turned off the MV light at 04h00. Calm, with the hint of a light S air. A last quarter moon, with the new moon a week off.

There was still almost no activity by 23h00. The trap was almost dead, except for a Aphomia sociella Bee Moth on the wall alongside. I had painted a bit of sugar around the garden, but only a few Marbled Minor spp. had come in. I anticipated a quiet night. But by 03h45 the trap was abuzz with insects attempting to escape. It took me the remainder of the morning to identify and log all the moths, and even then I had to pass over several other pugs, though not Green Pug – an easy call! The more unusual species included a Wood Carpet (noticeably larger than the 2 Common Carpets and with almost no black wavy bisecting line in the outer white band of the forewing; confirmed by Jon Clifton), a Miller resting on the wall, Bird's Wing, a couple of Large Nutmegs (confirmed by Andy Mackay) and a Beautiful Hook-tip on the side of the trap – all nationally local species. Highlights for me were 2 Privet, 2 Elephant and a single Poplar Hawk-moth.  (I only got a quick photo before it left & will post).

Privet Hawk-moth Sphinx ligustri      

Elephant Hawk-moth Deilephila elpenor      

Bird's Wing Dypterygia scabriuscula

Large Nutmeg Apamea anceps      

Miller Acronicta leporina      

Green Pug Pasiphila rectangulata      

Wood Carpet Epirrhoe rivata      

Macro-moths (188 moths of 41 spp.):-

Hepialus humuli	Ghost Moth	1
Idaea biselata	Small Fan-footed Wave	1
Idaea aversata	Riband Wave	16
Epirrhoe alternata	Common Carpet	2
Epirrhoe rivata	Wood Carpet	1
Eulithis pyraliata	Barred Straw	3
Pasiphila rectangulata	Green Pug	3
Lomaspilis marginata	Clouded Border	6
Biston betularia	Peppered Moth	1
Peribatodes rhomboidaria	Willow Beauty	2
Alcis repandata	Mottled Beauty	10
Cabera pusaria	Common White Wave	3
Lomographa temerata	Clouded Silver	3
Sphinx ligustri	Privet Hawk-moth	2
Laothoe populi	Poplar Hawk-moth	1
Deilephila elpenor	Elephant Hawk-moth	2
Phalera bucephala	Buff-tip	11
Eilema lurideola	Common Footman	3
Spilosoma luteum	Buff Ermine	6
Agrotis clavis	Heart and Club	1
Agrotis exclamationis	Heart and Dart	3
Axylia putris	Flame	20
Ochropleura plecta	Flame Shoulder	8
Xestia triangulum	Double Square-spot	19
Lacanobia oleracea	Bright-line Brown-eye	5
Mythimna ferrago	Clay	2
Mythimna pallens	Common Wainscot	2
Acronicta leporina	Miller	1
Dypterygia scabriuscula	Bird's Wing	1
Rusina ferruginea	Brown Rustic	3
Apamea monoglypha	Dark Arches	4
Apamea anceps	Large Nutmeg	2
Oligia strigilis agg.	Marbled Minor agg.	8
Hoplodrina alsines	Uncertain	9
Hoplodrina blanda	Rustic	2
Caradrina morpheus	Mottled Rustic	8
Diachrysia chrysitis	Burnished Brass	1
Abrostola tripartita	Spectacle	1
Laspeyria flexula	Beautiful Hook-tip	1
Hypena proboscidalis	Snout	8
Zanclognatha tarsipennalis	Fan-foot	2

Micro-moths (12 moths identified, of 3 spp.):-

Tortrix viridana	Green Oak Tortrix	1
Eurrhypara hortulata	Small Magpie	10
Aphomia sociella	Bee Moth	1