18 September 2015

18 September 2015 – National Moth Nights 1 & 2

Canary-shouldered Thorn (Ennomos alniaria)

National Moth Nights took place last week and a trap was set for each evening. Three different sites were chosen: Shandy Hall, York Museums Gardens and the back garden of artist Martin Huxter.  Shandy Hall trap was rewarding in the variety of species that were found and a bright sunny morning to make identification a pleasure. 

Shandy Hall trap with Martin Huxter

Large Yellow Underwing, Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, Brown-spot Pinion, Straw Dot, Lunar Underwing, Magpie, Canary-shouldered Thorn, November Moth, Silver Y, Flame Shoulder, Flounced Rustic, Common Rustic, Rosy Rustic, Eudonia sp., Mouse Moth and Hebrew Character. 

Flame Shoulder (Ochropleura plecta)

York Museums Garden moth-trapping on the following day was a bit of a wash-out – except for the Underwings.  There must have been over 200 altogether with Large Yellow and Broad-bordered Yellow being in the majority. There was a Common Garden Carpet and a Marbled Carpet, a Straw Dot and that was it. Valiant support from Tim Gates and Richard Baker made the process less of a trial in the pouring rain.  We crouched beneath the portico and hoped to find something special but it was not to be.