Insects
27/07/25
The moth -trap, was out again in my Area 4 garden overnight on 26/07/25 and emptied this morning.The catch was 56 moth's of 37 species.
Highlights were the micro moths Catoptria pinella and Rhyacionia pinicolana
and Codling Moth Cydia pomonella
With 9 new moth species added ,the total for 2025 is now 242 species.
Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.
25/07/25
The moth -trap, was out in my Area 4 garden overnight on 24/07/25 and emptied this morning.The catch was 55 moth's of 28 species.
Highlights were Light Crimson Underwing Catocala promissa , Lime-speck Pug Eupithecia centaureata
and Diamond-back Moth Plutella xylostella
This tiny moth is well-known for its migratory tendencies. Sometimes many thousands can appear during the night at coastal migration watch-points.
With 2 new moth species added ,the total for 2025 is now 233 species.
Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.
23/07/25
The moth -trap, was out in my Area 4 garden overnight on 22/07/25 and emptied this morning.The catch was 35 moth's of 21 species.
Highlights were Sallow Kitten Pterostoma palpina , the micro moth Cochylidia implicitana
and Mottled Beauty Alcis repandata
With 2 new moth species added ,the total for 2025 is now 231 species.
Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.
22/07/25
The Knopper gall wasp Andricus quercuscalicis produces knobbly red, turning to brown, growths, or 'galls', on the acorns of Pedunculate Oak. Inside the gall,
the larvae of the wasp feed on the host tissues, but cause little damage.
Oaks, especially the English Oak Quercus robur and Sessile Oak Quercus petraea are the host plants for more than 70 species of cynipid gall wasp.
It is the larval stage of these insects that induce the plant to produce abnormal growths,
known as galls, that enclose the developing larvae. Galls can be seen on Oak trees all along the river, these are in Area 5.
The Silk Button Gall Wasp Neuroterus numismalis produces a fairly common gall and gets its name from its silky button-like appearance. Up to 100 galls can appear on the underside
of the leaves of an English Oak.
21/07/25
The moth -trap, was out in my Area 4 garden overnight on 20/07/25 and emptied this morning.The catch was just 18 moth's of 11 species.
Highlights were Pale Prominent Pterostoma palpina , Gypsy Moth Lymantria dispar
and Peppered Moth Biston betularia
are typically white with black 'peppered' markings.
Two darker forms are more common where the trunks of trees are blackened by pollution. This is a classic example of evolution in action and has been much studied.
f. carbonaria:Is sooty black, frequent in industrial areas correlating with levels of industrial pollution.
With 4 new moth species added ,the total for 2025 is now 229 species.
Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.
19/07/25
The moth -trap, was out in my Area 4 garden overnight on 18/07/25 and emptied this morning.The catch was 76 moth's of 32 species.
Highlights were Pebble Hook-tip Drepana falcataria , Tree-lichen Beauty Cryphia algae
and the micro moth Eudonia mercurella .
With 6 new moth species added ,the total for 2025 is now 225 species.
Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.
18/07/25
Another scorching day and through my Area 4 garden were many butterflies including,
Holly Blue Celastrina argiolus , Gatekeeper Pyronia tithonus
Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta and a Large White Pieris brassicae .
Butterflies will visit any garden, however small if they can feed on suitable nectar plants and a well thought out garden can attract many species of butterfly.
17/07/25
The moth -trap, was out in my Area 4 garden overnight on 16/07/25 and emptied this morning.The catch was 47 moth's of 20 species.
Highlights were the micro moth Ethima quadrillella , Oak Processionary Euproctis similis
and a very worn Mottled Rustic Macaria liturata .
With 3 new moth species added ,the total for 2025 is now 219 species.
Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.
16/07/25
Seen at the Weir pool in Area 5 during Balsam pulling was an Emperor Dragonfly Anax imperator feeding over the pool. Meanwhile in the afternoon at my Area 4
garden, a female Beautiful demoiselle Calopteryx virgo briefly popped in.
15/07/25
A cooler night, the moth -trap, was out in my Area 4 garden overnight on 14/07/25 and emptied this morning.,a much reduced catch with 26 moth's of 18 species.
Highlights were Black Rustic Aporophyla nigra , Yellow-tail Euproctis similis This snowy white moth is easily mistaken
for the similar brown-tail, until it lifts its abdomen to reveal a burst of golden-yellow.
and a Tawny-barred Angle Macaria liturata .
With 6 new moth species added ,the total for 2025 is now 216 species.
Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.
14/07/25
In Area 3 on the river and seen during Balsam pulling under a bridge were 10 + Old Lady Mormo maura . It hides by day in old buildings and sheds, and frequents damp localities as well as waste ground and gardens.
Also seen floating up the river was a dead female Stag Beetle Lucanus cervus .
13/07/25
Another very warm night so the moth -trap, was out in my Area 4 garden overnight on 12/07/25 and emptied this morning.,a reasonable catch with 84 moth's of 27 species.
Highlights were Leopard Moth Zeuzera pyrina , Ruby Tiger Phragmatobia fuliginosa
and a Jersey Tiger Euplagia quadripunctaria .Phragmatobia fuliginosa
With 10 new moth species added ,the total for 2025 is now 209 species.
Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.
11/07/25
Back home after a few days away in Norfolk so the moth -trap, was out in my Area 4 garden overnight on 10/07/25 and emptied this morning.A smaller catch with 74 moth's of just 12 species.
Highlights were Bright-line Brown-eye Lacanobia oleracea and Carcina quercana
with 1 new moth species added ,the total for 2025 is now 199 species.
Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.
