The Blackneck, 30th June 2010

The Blackneck - A locally distributed moth in the southern half of Britain. Taken at light by Alan Pavey in Sissinghurst (with thanks to Alan for the photo).

July Belle - St Margaret's, 23/6/2010

July Belle (Scotopteryx luridata)

A shame that it is a bit damaged. This was a garden tick, and first for me on the 23rd. An uncommon moth in Kent.

More from Pembury

Common Footman


male Ghost Moth


Scorched Wing

All trapped on Monday evening at Hawkwell Farm, Pembury.

Hayes - 23rd June 2010

Some nice species last night. A few 'local' and a fantastic Rosy Marbled (Nb).


Blotched Emerald.



Rosy Marbled - Nb.

Pembury, 20th June 2010

Elephant Hawkmoth - always stunning.


White Satin - head on shot here - lovely moth.




Swallow Prominent - note how far the top white bar extends up the fore-wing compared to Lesser.


'My' Rannoch Looper - rather worn and un-stunning. But its rare(ish)!



Small Angle Shades

A selection of moths from last night at Hawkwell Farm, Pembury.

Paddock Wood, 19th June 2010

Peppered Moth - A fairly common and well distributed moth, but one that I always enjoy seeing.

Of interest I caught another Toadflax Brocade on the night of Sunday 20th June, the second one here this year.

One of the most attractive of the day flying grassland moths, the Burnet Companion is more a neighbour of Blues and Dingy Skippers on the cliffs at Langdon. This one was taken on June 8th.

Burnet Companion (Euclidia glyphica)

Some Micro's

As last night was so quiet in my Knockholt garden trap, here's a couple of micro photos.



Above is Agonopterix arenella (697) which was around the Knockholt trap last night.



Below we have Chrysoteuchia culmella (1293) which was netted near Pembury this afternoon.

Ghost Moth

After Steve's picture of a female, I thought I'd add a picture of the male, since it looks so different. As the largest member of the Swift family in the UK it is strange species, having no mouth parts and therefore not able to feed as an adult insect. This one was caught on June 10th 2009, although I did catch a male on June 18th this year (but didn't photograph it)

Ghost Moth (Hepialus humuli)

Pretty Chalk Carpet

There haven't been many good nights mothing this year, at St Margaret's, especially for geometers, but the 5th of June wasn't bad (a warm night for a change). It likes chalky habitats and the caterpillars feed on Travellers Joy.

Pretty Chalk Carpet (Melantia procellata)

Silver-ground Carpet

Slightly lager than a common Carpet, and always looking as if it is faded, the Silver-ground Carpet can been disturbed in woodland clearing in the day, but mainly flies at night. I caught this one in the garden on June 5th.

Silver-ground Carpet (Xanthorhoe montanata)

Small Purple-barred

Another of the grassland day-flying moths the diminutive Small Purple-barred is surprisingly a macro of the Noctuidae Family. This one was flying at Langdon, Dover, in April.

Small Purple-barred (Phytometra viridaria)

Speckled Yellow

Speckled Yellow (Pseudopanthera macularia)

A day flying moth of grasslands, this one was on the Tramway, below the White Cliffs car park at Langdon, Dover on May 25th.

Rannock Loopers at St Margaret's at Cliffe

Two Rannock Loopers at St Margaret's on 18/6/2010, subtly different to each other, but I think they are both males, as the females have much stronger cross lines.

First Specimen.

Rannoch Looper (Itame brunneata)

Second Specimen.

Ghost Moth

"Trapped last night at Biddenden. Ghost Moth is surprisingly scarce in the garden (this female was only the second site record). It is common at Sissinghurst."Steve Broyd

15th June 2010 - Hayes

White Point - Immigrant and recent colonist in the SE. Not sure of the status as a colonist. Suggested in Lewington to be Nb or Local.


Square Spot Rustic - Common throughout.


Dark Arches - Common throughout.

Rannoch Looper, Biddenden

"I missed out during last year's influx of Rannoch Looper so was very pleased to catch this specimen last night - the 427th species of macro moth at this site in just seven seasons. The strong NE winds presumably pushed it this way. There must be others out there" Steve Broyd

Ruckinge, 9th June

Sycamore


Scarce Merveille du Jour

'Two moths from last night. Sycamore and Scarce Merveille du Jour.
The latter is a Red Data Book species and is resident in Hamstreet and Orlestone Woods, and is almost an annual visitor to the garden.' Bernard Boothroyd

Pittswood, Hadlow 7th June

Yellow Shell


Mother Shipton

Thanks to Warren Baker for supplying me with these images of two common day flying moths.

Paddock Wood, 5th June 2010

Treble Brown Spot - A locally occuring moth in Southern England and Wales.

Eurrhypara hortlata - (1376) or Small Magpie, a very common pyralid and often disturbed from nettles in the daytime.

Lozotaenia forsterana - (1002) a large tortrix and makes a nice change from all the Light Brown Apple Moth in their various guises.

Evergestis forficalis - (1356) or Garden Pebble, a common moth in gardens etc.

Biddenden Pine Hawk-moth

"Pine Hawk-moth is less than annual at Biddenden, although several are recorded some years."

Steve Broyd

More from Sandwich

Bright-line Brown-eye

Lime Hawkmoth

Marbled Minor

Clouded-bordered Brindle

Chamomile Shark

The Flame

Latticed Heath

The Lychnis

Dog's Tooth

Eyed Hawkmoth

Yellow Belle