Paddock Wood, 27th March 2010

Oak Beauty - This large-bodied moth is fairly common but it was a real treat to find this one just outside of the trap.

24th March

I found a Twin-spotted Quaker in the house early in the morning and waited until it was lighter which enabled me to gets some nice shots of it. Whilst waiting for my train I found a March Moth at the station.

Red Chestnut

Trapped by Steve Broyd in Biddenden on the 24th March. 'I get one or two a year but we are catching them nightly at Sissinghurst at the moment'

Dotted Chestnut, Sissinghurst 18th March 2010

Dotted Chestnut - A very local species found in the south and south-east of England flying in October and November and then again in the early Spring. Another individual was trapped nearby two night previous in Biddenden.

Many thanks to Alan Pavey for the photos.

Knockholt, 23rd March

An hours session in the garden provided 2 Hebrew Character, 4 Small Quaker and a Common Quaker.

Tudeley Woods, 20th March 2010

The Engrailed - Another highly variable species with two flight periods, March and April and then July and August, common in English and Welsh woodlands but less so in Scotland.

Dotted Border - Widely distributed between February and April.

The Chestnut - The above three photos highlight some of the variation shown by this species, from http://ukmoths.org.uk/ "Wingspan 28-36 mm. One of our commoner species which occurs in the winter, with moths appearing any time from September to May, especially in mild conditions, and can be found at sallow blossom in early spring. Distributed widely over the British Isles, there are a number of variations, but all show a distinctive rounded wing shape. The larvae feed on the foliage of a range of trees, including birch (Betula) and oak (Quercus)."

Paddock Wood, 21st March 2010

Tortricodes alternella - An unusual member of the Tortrix family in that it is one of the earliest to emerge as well as having a long narrow wingshape.


Tortricodes alternella - and from above

Common Quaker - A common resident and as can be seen in this photograph it is quite variable.

Clouded Drab - Another very variable resident found commonly over much of Britain.

Moths from Steve Broyd

The top photo depicts a Yellow-horned Moth from Biddenden and the bottom photo shows Lead-coloured Drab from Biddenden last year.

Steve said this about Lead-coloured Drab - 'This is a notoriously difficult species to separate from Clouded Drab but has different jizz - looking stockier with a rounded forewing and most in males, noticeably feathered antennae. It is much scarcer than Clouded Drab using Aspen and Black Poplar as its primary food plants.'

Knockholt 17th March 2010

I've just had my trap out for 20 minutes or so and caught two moths. I'm fairly sure they are The Satellite on the left and Small Quaker on the right.

Josh

Paddock Wood, 14th March 2010

Twin-spotted Quaker - One of only four moths in or around the trap this weekend, this specimen was in the trap on Sunday evening after I put it on for a couple of hours after dusk. A widely distributed species flying in March and April.

Hebrew Character - another common species with the same flight period as above.

The other two moths were a Satellite and a micro which is still in the fridge and I may, or more likely may not, try to identify later.

Paddock Wood, 3rd March 2010

Pale Brindled Beauty - From http://ukmoths.org.uk/ "The females of this species are completely wingless, or apterous, a feature which is often found in moths which emerge in the winter months.The males fly from January to March, searching for the females which have climbed up tree-trunks. It is fairly common in England and Wales, and scarcer elsewhere in Britain, and may be found in a wide variety of habitats."

This was the only moth in the trap over the two nights I ran it.

Paddock Wood, 31st October 2009

The Sallow - a rather worn and pale individual perhaps of the ab. flavesecens. This species is a fairly frequent visitor in the Autumn to light.

The Satellite - So named due to the two small "satellites" either side of the stigma

Diamond-back Moth - I am reliably informed that this is what this is, any views much appreciated.