From the garden trap, 04/05/2010

Yesterday was a relatively cool day, with temps only reaching the early teens at best, however by 20:00 it had fully clouded over and was feeling relatively mild for the evening. Even better, the wind had dropped but the forecast for the night was low temps and rain moving in. I thought I was being extremely optimistic, but I decided to get the traps on for the first time since last Wednesday and see what came in.

With low expectations, I went out to have a look at c23:00 and immediately noted a (presumed Pipestrelle) bat hawking over the garden in repetitive circular swoops. Checking the traps I found a nice Lime Hawk on the side of the MV, and a May Highflyer on the side of the actinic along with a flurry of pugs. Emptying the traps this morning in nice sunshine, with no sign of any rain, was therefore a much better experience than I imagined when I put the traps on.

Total catch was 26 of 18sp (125W MV 12 of 11, 80W actinic 14 of 10)

0483 Epermenia chaerophyllella 1
0648 White-shouldered House Moth (Endrosis sarcitrella) 1 [first for year]
0822 Scrobipalpa acuminatella 1
1524 Emmelina monodactyla 1
1728 Garden Carpet (Xanthorhoe fluctuata) 1
1778 May Highflyer (Hydriomena impluviata) 1 [first for year]
1853 Oak-tree Pug (Eupithecia dodoneata) 3
1862 Double-striped Pug (Gymnoscelis rufifasciata) 1
1906 Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata) 1 [first for year]
1920 Scalloped Hazel (Odontopera bidentata) 1 [first for year]
1936 Waved Umber (Menophra abruptaria) 1 [first for year]
1979 Lime Hawk-moth (Mimas tiliae) 1 [first for year]
2007 Swallow Prominent (Pheosia tremula) 1 [first for year]
2092 Shuttle-shaped Dart (Agrotis puta) 4 [first for year]
2186 Powdered Quaker (Orthosia gracilis) 1
2188 Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta) 2
2190 Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica) 1
2243 Early Grey (Xylocampa areola) 3

In addition to this, I potted a couple of male pugs that need their abdominal plates checking - possibly Golden-rod, and also a tiny speck of nothing Stigmella sp. - with only a 4mm wingspan and numerous similar species I have low expectations of sorting that one!

Here's a few shots taken in appalling indoor lighting after taking too long over a couple of post-work pints on the way home.

Waved Umber

Swallow Prominent

May Highflyer

Lime Hawk-moth

The conditions are similar tonight so they're out again, though I think the rain is more of a certainty.

This time tomorrow we may well know who is PM for the next five - probably one that is completely out of touch with public opinion and devoid of ideas. Nothing changes does it!?