Cypress Carpet - Thera cupressata

This Cypress Carpet was a welcome find for the Bald Birder on his patio this morning.

The first Kent record was as recently as 21/10/99 - since which it has spread. With the common Leylandii conifer being planted across the county, this moth is set to become more widespread.

Cypress Carpet, 20/5/14, Larkfield, The Bald Birder

Cypress Carpet, 20/5/14, Larkfield, The Bald Birder

Dark Spectacle - Abrostola triplasia

This Dark Spectacle was trapped at Cliffe Marshes RSPB by the Bald Birder on 18/5/14. Luckily it was trapped with a Spectacle, allowing some interest/direct comparisons.

Reportedly widespread in Kent.

UK Moths: "Occurring in suburban habitats, waste ground and woodland margins, it flies in June and July, sometimes with a second generation in the autumn."

Dark Spectacle - Cliffe Marshes, 18/5/14, Bald Birder

Dark Spectacle (left) with Spectacle (right) - Cliffe Marshes

Grass Emerald - Pseudoterpna pruinata

Grass Emeralds caught at Dungeness by The Bald Birder - a two week difference in trapping dates.




Grass Emerald, 15/5/14, Dungeness, The Bald Birder

Grass Emerald, 31/5/14, Dungeness, The Bald Birder

Toadflax Brocade (Calophasia lunula)

From UKmoths: "As a resident species, this moth is restricted to the south-east and central southern coasts of England, where it frequents mainly shingle beaches. It is a relatively recent colonist, arriving around 1950 and quickly gaining a foothold, but appears to be now in decline again. It has two generations, sometimes overlapping, from May to August, and migrants sometimes appear away from the main stronghold in July and August"

Always unexpected, but very welcome, catch in the trap!

Toadflax Brocade, 15/5/14, Hythe, Ian Roberts

Toadflax Brocade, 23/5/10, Paddock Wood, Marcus Lawson

Four-spotted - Tyta luctuosa

This Four-spotted was observed at Hythe Roughs by Ian Roberts.

A species in decline throughout much of its previous range in the UK, Four-spotted is managing to maintain a foothold in the Brecks, New Forest a nd a few other locations in the UK, south of a line from teh Humber to the Severn.

Four-spotted, 14/5/14, Hythe Roughs, Ian Roberts

Dew Moth - Setina irrorella

Dew Moth is an early morning flier that also gets on teh wing from afternoon onwards - frequently to be found resting openly on blades of grass or leaves.

Dew Moth, 13/5/14, Abbotscliffe, Ian Roberts

Barred Tooth-striped (Trichopteryx polycommata)

Caught at St Margaret's at Cliffe, 2/4/2014. my first record of this species.

Barred Tooth-striped (Trichopteryx polycommata)

Dotted Chestnut (Conistra rubiginea)

Caught at St Margaret's at Cliffe, 30/3/2014. my first record of this species.

 Dotted Chestnut (Conistra rubiginea)

Portland Moth (Actebia praecox)

Caught at St Margaret's at Cliffe, 29/8/2013. my first record of this beauty.

Portland Moth (Actebia praecox)

Crescent (Celaena leucostigma)

Crescent, 17/8/13, Holborough Marshes KWT, The Bald Birder

Lappet (Gastropacha quercifolia)

Lappet (Gastropacha quercifolia)

Five of these fantastic Lappets were caught in north Kent on 17 July 2013. Nice to see that they are doing well on at least one site in West Kent.

More information via the Bald Birders blog.

Harpella forficella - New for Kent

This distinctive micro moth was trapped at Holborough Marshes KWT reserve by the Bald Birder on 13 July 2013. It appears to be the first record for Kent and is only about the fourth or fifth British record - the first British record being in Berkshire, 2011.

The larvae feed on decaying wood and under bark of various deciduous trees, and possibly on certain fungi. The British records so far have been in July and August. (UKMoths)

Oncocera semirubella

Oncocera semirubella

Taken in Aug 2012 on Lydden downs by James Hunter.

Metzneria neuropterella

Metzneria neuropterella

The last Kent records were in 1965. In 2011 the species was discovered by James Hunter on the downs near Shoreham and confirmed from photos by John Langmaid. It was also trapped on 3 occasions at the same site this year with up to 5 individuals being caught.

Plumed Prominent

Plumed Prominent - male

17 Nov 2011. Taken near Shoreham. The first west Kent record for 16 years was the reward for a concentrated trapping effort by James Hunter under the food plant Field Maple over a 3 week period.

Black-spotted Chestnut

Male Black-spotted Chestnut

A female of this species was caught on the 8th of November 2011 by Norman Winterman in Dartford and represented the first British record of this species, amazingly the following evening took an even more unexpected turn. Arrangements were made for the moth to be on view from mid-evening in nearby James Hunter's garden. A dozen enthusiasts were attempting to photograph the rather active female in the comfort of James's lit garden shed. Paul Chapman, who was already happy with his views, was standing outside in the garden, next to James's actinic trap. Suddenly a small noctuid moth arrived on a nearby doll's house and Paul instinctively enticed it onto his finger. Almost immediately, shouts of "quick, get a pot!" pierced the night air and the moth was soon safely secured. Everybody was staggered to see that it was another Black-spotted Chestnut, this one a male and in even better condition than the first!

Thanks again to James for the photo, and the text from Birdguides.

Evergestis extimalis

Evergestis extimalis - a local resident in the south-east and occasional migrant elsewhere. Taken by James Hunter in Dartford during August 2011.

Horse Chestnut Leaf-miner

Horse Chestnut Leaf-miner - can be abundant in some areas and another recent addition to the British list.

Argyresthia trifasciata

This titchy micro was trapped by James Hunter in Dartford, May 2012

From UKMoths: This tiny but quite distinctive moth was not discovered in Britain until 1982, when one was caught in London. More recently the species has become widely associated with gardens, and are now regularly found in good numbers around conifers, especially juniper (Juniperus) and Leyland cypress (Cupressocyparis leylandii).

Lace Border

Lace Border. August 2011. A declining chalkland species trapped on the downs in West Kent.


Many thanks to James Hunter for the photo.