Blair's Mocha

Trapped in Biddenden by Steve Broyd on 27th October.

Herald

'I took these photos of a Herald moth on 20 Oct. in my garage in Sandwich. A classic roosting site ie. a cold outbuilding, under some boards.' Thanks to Keith Heaven for these photos.

Merveille du Jour

'Two of the three Merveille du Jour in the trap last night (13th October). They are a regular October visitor to my garden in Ruckinge.' Thanks Bernard Boothroyd

Emmelina monodactyla

Emmelina monodactyla (1524) - A common "Plume" moth found all year round. Taken at light in Paddock Wood on 10th October 2009.

Paddock Wood 10th October 2009

Brindled Green - Another one from the night's catch.

Dungeness 10th October 2009

Red-line Quaker - A nice distinctive Noctuid, fairly common across much of Britain.

Large Wainscot - An inhabitant of reed-beds and riversides being fairly common in the south and east of England then becoming more local to the north.

The Mallow - No prizes for guessing what the main larval foodplant for this species is!

Feathered Brindle - A rather localised moth along the coastline of Southern Britain.

Black Rustic - If only all Noctuid were this easy!

Autumnal Rustic - Another relatively easy Noctuid to identify but more variable than the above.

Feathered Ranunculus - Another coastal moth, found along the southern, north-western and Welsh coasts of Britain.

Many thanks to the staff at Dungeness Bird Observatory for allowing me to photograph some of their catch, it goes without saying that permission must be sought before delving into the trap(s).

Paddock Wood 10th October 2009

Blair's Shoulder-knot - The Collared Dove of the moth world. First seen on the Isle-of-Wight in 1951 then spread rapidly northwards and is found throughout most of England.

Barred Sallow - A rather pallid individual of this relatively common moth in the South and South-east of England, occurring further north on a local basis.

The Vapourer

The Vapourer - From UKMoths "An unusual species in many ways, the males fly during the day.
The females are virtually wingless, an attribute normally associated with winter-emerging species, but the adults are out from July to September, sometimes October in the south."

I found this one on the causeway at Bough Beech on the 4th October, I only had the camera-phone with me so I hope the quality is acceptable.

Clifden Nonpareil - Catocala fraxini Sissinghurst

Brilliant record shots of this once resident, which now may be making something of a comeback if not just an immigrant moth.

Clifden Nonpareil, 22/9/09, Sissinghurst, Steve Broyd

Clifden Nonpareil, 5/9/06, Dungeness, Dave Walker

 

Paddock Wood, 19th September 2009

Silver Y - a common immigrant species often encountered in large numbers during the day on the coast under the right conditions

Silver Y - at rest.

Large Fruit-tree Tortrix - makes a nice change from all the Light Brown Apple Moth in their various guises.

Common Marbled Carpet - I got confused with where the postmedian line is, thus this is a Common Marbled as it's curved and not angular (Thanks Alan)

Common Marbled Carpet - and from above.

All taken at light in the garden on National Moth Night. In total I caught 20 species with the most common being Lunar Underwing.

Re: Update

I added this comment to Josh's post of a few days ago so just thought I'd bump it up as it were:

Hi Chaps,
I agree too, it's not actually as easy as you think photographing moths and I'm only now feeling relatively pleased with my results. A tripod and a remote release are very important/essential. Tony, could you be so kind as to give us a few tips as your photos are great (and your's too Steve!), also what lens do you use and do you use a flash at all? With regards species added to the blog, personally I'd like to see this become a reference for all species encountered in Kent, obviously we don't need duplicates of those already featured (check the labels down the right hand side) unless the specimen you have a photo of is a different form or highlights the variability in a species.I'm more than happy to provide the bread and butter whilst Tony (and hopefully others) can make us jealous with their waifs and strays!

National Moth Night

National Moth Night is on the 18th-19th September. The weather on these dates is supposed to be ok, no rain. I think. If you do take part, do publish your results here and be sure to sendin your totals to NMN through their website. Their is a public event for the night, see details below: county: Kent
location: Denge Woods TR 099 501
where to meet: At the Southernmost entrance to Denge Woods on Pennypot lane
region: South East
date: 18/09/09
start time: 8:30pm
end time: till late
contact phone number : 01303 815171
additional information: Please phone in advance if attending

Lunar Underwing, Knockholt, 12/09/09

One of two trapped last night in my Knockholt garden.

Lunar Thorn - one of an autumn group

Lunar Thorn (Selenia lunularia)

I've only caught two Lunar Thorns, this one on August 2nd this year and one on August 6th 2004. It has two generation and like most thorns it is an Autumnal moth in the second. It has the distinct moon sign on each wing.

Several of the thorns hold the wings half open. There are a lot more of my moth pictures, arranged systematically here.

Jersey Tiger, one to look out for.

This is a scruffy individual, but for some reason tigers seem to get worn quite easily.

Jersey Tiger (Euplagia quadripunctaria)

This moth has a strange distribution. There is a thriving population in London, although how and why it got there is either not know or not talked about! Here on the coast of Kent they may be genuine migrants. I've caught three, one in August 2006 and two in Aug 2008. This year, Peter Wells caught two at St Margaret's, and Nigel Jarman one at Kingsdown, but they missed my traps! They are often found in the day time, roost on walls.

Sciota rhenella caught 8th July 2006 at St Margaret's at Cliffe

These aren't the greatest pictures, but it wasn't a very striking moth. I didn't recognise it and Nigel Jarman came round to help. He wasn't sure and it went to Sean Clancy.

Sean though it was probably S. hostilis but passed it on to Mark Parsons for a second opinion. On dissection it appeared to be Rhenella. There was still some doubt and it went to David Agassis who confirmed rhenella. The moth then featured in Atropos No 31 page 44 as the second record for the UK. The first was at Greatstone on 20 June 2005 taken by Barry Banson.

Tamarisk Peacock at St Margaret's at Cliffe caught on Sept 7th 2009

Tamarisk Peacock (Chiasmia aestimaria)

This is the 5th UK record of this rare migrant. All records are from east Kent, the others are: Sholden (16.08.04), New Romney (28.09.04), Greatstone (07.08.06) and Folkestone Warren (10.09.08).

Convolvulus Hawk-moth From St Margaret's caught on 6th September 2009

Convolvulus Hawk-moth (Agrius convolvuli)

After Peter Wells found on a few days ago I was pleased to trap this very brightly bodied female on September 6th.

Moths From St Margaret's caught on 5th September 2009

Feathered Gothic (Tholera decimalis) female

Large Thorn (Ennomos autumnaria)

Moths From St Margaret's caught on 31st August 2009

Toadflax Pug (Eupithecia linariata)

Marbled Beauty (Cryphia domestica)

Update

Hi all,
I really appreciate you all posting and I think the gallery has really taken off. Its nice to see all the photos of a variety of species. Myself and Tony Morris think that from now on photos on the blog should only represent high quality shots of species (although I admit, its me who posts all the poor quality photos!) I hope you all continue to post and leave a comment if you agree or disagree with the idea.
Cheers
Josh

Knockholt Moths

Flame Carpet

Oak Lutestring

Rosy Rustic

The highlights from trapping in Knockholt last night.

Pine Carpet

Caught at light last night (7th September) in my Knockholt garden. Other recent highlights in the garden have included a Rush Veneer.

Archers Dart

Sent in by Keith Heaven, taken in the dunes at Sandwich Bay on the 11th August.

Paddock Wood - 5th September 2009

Feathered Gothic - A relatively common moth but superbly marked.

Light Emerald - Not much smaller than the Large Emerald and I was pleased that my six-year old son identified it for himself from the Waring and Townsend guide pointing out the red marks on the forewing tips. Now to get him onto those tricky noctuids...

Flounced Rustic - ...speaking of which! Another common and widespread moth.

Carcina quercana - A pretty little micro (although this ones quite a plain individual) which many amateurs (like me!) spend ages looking for amongst the tortricidae.

All taken at light in my Paddock Wood garden.

More photos to come in the week as I've got a bit behind.

Pembury 29th August 2009

Burnished Brass

Rush Veneer

Centre-barred Sallow

Caught at light, Pembury.

Paddock Wood, 15th August 2009

Currant Pug - quite similar to Wormwood Pug (and some others!) but I'm happy that's what it is.

Rhopobota naevana - or by it's English name Holly Tortrix.

Rhyacionia pinicolana - usually associated with pine woods and fairly well distributed over much of England.

All taken at light in Paddock Wood on 15th August 2009