Swallow-tailed Moth

Common and well distributed but always a pleasure to see - not hard to work out why it is so called! Caught in the garden at Paddock Wood, 27th June.

Dusky Brocade

I don't mind admitting that I'm still a relative novice to "Mothing" so am always happy to be corrected if I make a mistake. I am fairly sure that this is a Dusky Brocade but if you think it isn't then please let me know. It was trapped last weekend in Paddock Wood.

Burnet sp.

near Otford, June 2009. It was nice to see Chrysalis, Caterpillar and Moth of the same species this afternoon near Fackenden down.

Peacock Moth

East Blean Woods, 20th June 2009. The caterpillars of the Peacock Moth feed on birch. Taken whilst enjoying a Heath FritFest.

Paddock Wood, May 9th 2009

Above is a Dingy Shell caught in the garden which doesn't contain much damp woodland, carr and other marshy areas from which the Waring and Townsend guide says it rarely strays away from. A good record.

Great Prominent, one of those fluffy moths that kids love to hold! Well, my kids anyway.

This is my first ever blog entry so I hope it's OK and would like to thank Josh for setting it up and allowing me access. More to follow soon.

Mother Shipton

Knockholt, June 2009. The English name refers to the forewing markings, which appear to show an old lady or witch's head.

Green Pug

Knockholt, June 2009. This moth paid my office a visit last night, and was still present this morning, ready to be photographed.

Bee Moth

Knockholt, May 2009
Called Bee Moth (Galleria mellonella) because it lays it's eggs in beehives, where the larvae are pests due to the fact that they damage honey and combs.

Beautiful Golden Y

Hawkwell Farm Woods, Pembury, June 2009

Silver-striped Hawk-moth

This Silver-striped Hawk-moth was caught overnight at Dungeness.

 

Silver-striped Hawk-moth, 28/10/06, Dungeness, Dave Walker

Crimson Speckled

This Crimson Speckled was trapped overnight at Dungeness - fantastic beasties!

 

Crimson Speckled, 26/10/06, Dungeness, Dave Walker

Beautiful Gothic



This first for Dungeness (and Kent?) was caught at the obs - a fantastic find!

Beautiful Gothic, 9/10/06, Dungeness, Dave Walker

Plumed Fan-foot

This Plumed Fan-foot was trapped overnight. Another new species for Dungeness.

Plumed Fan-foot, 3/10/06, Dungeness, Dave Walker

Passenger - Dysgonia algira

Passenger, 21/9/06, St Margarets, Tony Morris

Tony commented, "When I caught this on National Moth Night 2006 I thought that it was the 13th British record. However 2006 was an amazing year with 13 records to add to the previous 12. I think this still made the top 20, but missed out on being best moth of the NMN".

 

 

Passenger, 11/9/06, Dungeness, Dave Walker

In keeping with Tony's comment above, this Passenger was also a top catch for Dungeness BO in 2006!

 

Scarce Bordered Straw

Ten Scarce Bordered Straws where extracted from the moth trap this morning!

Scarce Bordered Straw, 15/09/06

Delicate - Mythimna vitellina

This Delicate was trapped overnight at Dungeness.

A continental migrant, The Delicate (as it should be called!) is most frequent in the UK between the autumn months of August to October.

 

Delicate, 23/8/06, Dungeness, Dave Walker

Small Mottled Willow - Spodoptera exigua

This Small Mottled Willow was an interesting find in the moth trap at Dungeness BO this morning.

An immigrant species, numbers are greatest in the autumn and it has occured throughout the county and not 'just' at Kent's coastal migrant hot-spots!

 

Small Mottled Willow

Clouded Buff - Diacrisia sannio

Clouded Buff, caught overnight on 4 July, was only the second observatory record.

 

Listed as 'fairly common', Clouded Buff is always a welcomed and appreciated find in the moth trap!

 

Clouded Buff (male), 4/7/06, Dungeness, Dave Walker

Pale Shining Brown - Polia bombycina

This continental grey form of Pale Shining Brown was trapped at Dungeness BO by Dave Walker.

 

Previously more widespread, this species is in a very rapid decine across the UK.

 

 

Pale Shining Brown, 19/6/06, Dungeness BO, Dave Walker