Super start to September

On the 2nd I ran my first trap for the month of September. 

I stayed up fairly late, and rose early enough to limit escapees. 74 species was the grand total. That must be a record for September here in my garden, I'm sure of it.

There were two new macro moths for the year making it the best year on record, species-wise at least, with 678 species logged so far in 2026.

The two new ones were Cypress Pug & Orange Sallow, the latter I missed out on last year.

Clancy's Rustic was back, with 3 coming to the trap overnight, not seen since mid-June. 

A second garden record of Crocidosema plebejana was most welcome, both from this year. 

Drinker was rather late, I don't see many in September.

Cooler nights were coming up, a real feeling of Autumn in the mornings. 

 

Moth garden list for 2026 stands at 678 species 

 

02/09/26 - Back Garden - Fordham - East Cambridgeshire - Actinic Trap

 

Macro Moths

Cypress Pug 2 [NFY] 
Orange Sallow 1 [NFY]
Angle Shades 
Blue Underwing 
Cabbage Moth 
Centre-barred Sallow 
Clancy's Rustic 
Delicate 
Double-striped Pug 
Drinker 
Dusky Thorn 
Flounced Rustic 
Frosted Orange
Garden Carpet 
Large Yellow Underwing 
Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing
L-album Wainscot 
Lime-speck Pug 
Mouse Moth 
Nutmeg
Pale Mottled Willow 
Pebble Hook-tip 
Setaceous Hebrew Character 
Shuttle-shaped Dart 
Silver Y 
Spectacle
Small Blood-vein 
Small Dusty Wave
Small Ranunculus 
Snout 
Straw Underwing 
Square-spot Rustic 
Tawny-speckled Pug 
Toadflax Pug 
Treble-bar 
Turnip Moth 
Vine's Rustic 
Yellow Shell 
White-point 
Willow Beauty 

Micro Moths

Achroia grisella 
Agriphila geniculea 
Agriphila tristella 
Amblyptilia acanthadactyla 
Ancylosis oblitella 
Aproaerema anthyllidella 
Archips podana 
Cameraria ohridella 
Celypha lacunana 
Celypha striana 
Clavigesta purdeyi 
Crocidosema plebejana 
Cydalima perspectalis 
Cydia splendana 
Emmelina monodactyla 
Epiphyas postvittana 
Galleria mellonella 
Grapholita funebrana 
Hofmannophila pseudospretella 
Hypsopyqgia costalis 
Monopis crocicapitella 
Monopis weaverella 
Neocochylis atricapitana 
Neocochylis molliculana 
Nomophila noctuella 
Pandemis corylana 
Parapoynx stratiotata 
Paraswammerdamia nebulella 
Plutella xylostella 
Pyrausta aurata 
Scrobipalpa ocellatella 
Udea ferrugalis 
Yponomeuta evonynella

Orange Sallow

Achroia grisella

Aproaerema anthyllidella

Clancy's Rustic

Crocidosema plebejana

Cypress Pug

Drinker

 

France Day 3 - 24/08/26

Another fantastic night, although less moths and species as a result of a huge storm we experienced early evening, and we just had to be out in the hire car getting supplies in from a nearby supermarche!

Luckily we were only 6 miles away, 6 miles too far... driving in over 60mph gusts and torrential rain, debris was raining down on the car.

By late evening it looked like we hadn't any raining at all! But clear skies and a howling wind still, knocked the numbers down a bit.

But who could complain about the first Tiger Moth species of the night (And was to be the only Tiger Moth species of the trip) two stunning Cymbalophora pudica. Over the next few nights they kept returning in low numbers.

There were some lovely micros, some quite scarce such as the Tineidae Myrmecozela ataxella. An incredibly bright Etiella zinckenella was very photogenic.

Stemmatophora rungsi was the best moth, last seen in the Herault department in 2023.

Another warm day was expected on Tuesday and hopefully some lovely new moths overnight.

 

24/08/26 - Felines Minervois - Herault Department - 40w Actinic & 30w UV LED lamp

 

Macro Moths

Cryphia pallida

Cymbalophora pudica

Oak Eggar - Lasiocampa quercus

Pine Hawk-moth - Sphinx pinastri

Scopula marginepunctata

Micro Moths

Achyra nudalis 

Ancylosis cinnamomella

Duponchelia fovealis

Etiella zinckenella

Myrmecozela ataxella

Pediasia contaminella 

Stemmatophora rungsi

Tinea basifasciella 

 

Stemmatophora rungsi

Achyra nudalis

Ancylosis cinnamomella

Cryphia pallida

Cymbalophora pudica

Duponchelia fovealis

Etiella zinckenella

Myrmecozela ataxella

Scopula marginepunctata

 

 

 

France Day 2 - 23/08/26

Another really productive night out on the side patio of our villa.

Running twin 40w Actinic vane setups hanging from bungees, the moths came pouring in, not huge numbers, but the variety was staggering and there were so many different species from the previous night.

 

There were several regionally scarce species as well, and some real headaches for identification, so much so, that I had to lump several species together for fear of being incorrect!

 

The night was once again another warm one, with lows of 21 degrees at 5am. Being late August, it didn't really get light until half 6, so there was plenty of time to pot up the moths from the walls and surrounding floor tiles.

The local Lizards and Geckos, after just one night had already cottoned on to my activities! I guess several moths succumbed to their appetite. 

This was also the first night that I noticed bats racing up and down the pool and across the lights.

 

It's always interesting to see regional forms of our common moths, there were several Clays attracted to the lamps, a few looked rather unusual indeed.

 

One of my favourites was a lovely dainty plume species, Alucita palodactyla, and a rather unusual looking Waved Black proved to be the southern speciality Parascotia nisseni. 

 

Rarest moth was probably the Agonopterix nodiflorella, keyed out on the palps and forewing markings. But I can't be 100% unfortunately.  

 

23/08/26 - Felines Minervois - Herault Department - 40w Actinic & 30w UV LED lamp

 

Macro Moths

Clay - Mythimna ferrago

Dorset Cream Wave - Stegania trimaculata

Eublemma pura

Hoary Footman - Eilema caniola

Horse Chestnut Moth - Pachycnemia hippocastanaria

Idaea cf contiguaria

Middle Lace Border - Scopula decorata

Pale-shouldered Cloud - Chloantha hyperici

Parascotia nisseni 

Scopula submutata

Small Waved Umber - Horisme vitalbata 

White-speck - Mythimna unipuncta

 

Micro Moths

Acrobasis fallouella 

Acrobasis legatea

Agonopterix cf nodiflorella

Alucita palodactyla 

Antigastra catalaunalis

Apatema mediopallidum 

Aristotelia decoratella

Aproaerema cf patruella 

Blastobasis glandulella 

Dolicharthria punctalis

Dysspastus cf fallax

Elachista dispunctella

Emmelina monodactyla

Epinotia thapsiana 

Epischnia cf asteris illotella

Hypsopygia incarnatalis

Laodamia combustella

Lecithocera nigrana 

Nepticulidae sp

Pyroderces argyrogrammos 

Symmocoides oxybiella

Pale-shouldered Cloud - Chloantha hyperici

Parascotia nisseni

Scopula submutata

Acrobasis fallouella

Acrobasis legatea

Agonopterix cf nodiflorella

Alucita palodactyla

Apatema mediopallidum

Aristotelia decoratella

Dolicharthria punctalis

Epinotia thapsiana

Horse Chestnut Moth - Pachycnemia hippocastanaria

Hypsopygia incarnatalis

Laodamia combustella

First night in France - 22/08/26

We had a lovely family holiday to the Herault Department of France which resides in the Occitanie region of Southern France.

We took a short flight to Carcassonne and headed North-east to our base in rural Felines Minervois, a stunning property sat on the edge of a valley that was bordered by lovely montane hills, on the furthest western edge of what would eventually turn into the Alps.

 

I had several setups with me, including two 40w Actinic vane sets, a mobile trap and a couple of led lamps that could be run off of powerbanks for several hours.

 

On the first night it was very warm and with slight humidity, the patio area where I was running two lamps was quite busy.

 

Below were some of the best species I saw on the first night on the 22nd of August.

There were several nights where I recorded some species that we are more familiar here in the UK, they were added onto the final list at the end.

 

Some identifications might be subjective and open for challenging. No specimens were retained as I was unable to bring anything home with me.

Where I am not sure of the species, I have used the Latin word confer, which means to compare or compare with.

It is placed between a genus and a species name (for example, Homoeosoma cf calcella) to signal that an insect specimen closely resembles a known species, but its exact identity has not yet been fully confirmed or verified.

 

About 90% of the moth species recorded were new to my records. 

 

Several stunning Tortrix moths were seen including the pink-flushed Propiromorpha rhodophana & one beautiful moth from the Cnephasia group, Xerocnephasia rigana.

 

Best moth of the night was the 2nd record for the Herault Department of France of the rather smart micro moth, Eteobalea dohrnii. A nationally scarce species, being only the 15th record for the whole of France!  

 

 

22/08/26 - Felines Minervois - Herault Department - 40w Actinic & 30w UV LED lamp

 

Macro Moths

Bryophila raptricula

Caradrina aspersa 

Devonshire Wainscot - Leucania putrescens

Dusky Carpet - Tephronia sepiaria 

Ecleora solieraria

Four-spotted - Tyta luctuosa 

Idaea filicata

Idaea infirmaria

Lorimer's Rustic - Caradrina flavirena

Marbled Green - Bryopsis muralis 

Odice jucunda

Portland Ribbon Wave - Idaea degeneraria 

Purple Marbled Eublemma ostrina 

Small Dusty Wave - Idaea seriata ssp canteneraria

Sorcerer - Aedia leucomelas

Spiny Hook-tip - Watsonalla uncinula

Synaphe punctalis (Another common moth, 10+)

The Passenger - Dysgonia algira 

 

Micro Moths

Aethes bilbaensis 

Ancylolomia tentaculella

Aporodes floralis 

Aproaerema cf patruella 

Bostra obsoletalis 

Cadra figulilella (Very common numbering 30+)

Denticera divisella  

Eteobalea dohrnii (2nd record for Herault Department) 

Euchromius cambridgei 

Homoeosoma cf calcella

Homoeosoma nimbella

Nemapogon nevadella

Neocochylis millierana 

Phalonidia contractana 

Propiromorpha rhodophana

Pyrausta sanguinalis

Scythris cf terrenella

Udea numeralis

Xerocnephasia rigana 

 

Ancylolomia tentaculella

Cadra figulilella

Caradrina aspersa

Denticera divisella

Devonshire Wainscot - Leucania putrescens

Ecleora solieraria

Eteobalea dohrnii

Nemapogon nevadella

Propiromorpha rhodophana

Spiny Hook-tip - Watsonalla uncinula

Xerocnephasia rigana

 

40w Actinic Travel Trap

Patio setup - 40w Actinic & 30w led

 

End of August brings the migrants

The last night of August 2026 was fairly good at my home trap, with no rain overnight (although there was a small chance of a localised shower early morning).

Less species than the last outing, but the quality improved and there were several species that didn't feature in that catch.

Tawny Wave was back again, a real beautiful coloured specimen as well.

 

There were 3 Tawny-speckled Pugs, and the most numerous macro moth was Flounced Rustic at 17. For the micros, Agriphila geniculea was well ahead of anything else, with 22 counted.

 

A 3rd yearly record of Blue Underwing was also great to see, somehow squeezing into my trap. 

 

Best moth of the night was a Scarce Bordered Straw, completing the trio of migrant Straws this year (Bordered & Eastern).

 

There were also several Rush Veneer (Nomophila noctuella) and 5 Rusty Dot-pearls (Udea ferrugalis), possibly the most I've ever had in one night. 

 

Not content with one new moth, a mint Feathered Gothic was also added to the year list, a moth that is scarce here and was last seen in 2023.

 

Just one more moth to make it equal to the best year. 

 

 

Moth garden list for 2026 stands at 676 species 

 

31/08/26 - Back Garden - Fordham - East Cambridgeshire - Actinic Trap

 

Macro Moths 

Feathered Gothic 1 [NFY]

Scarce Bordered Straw 1 [NFY] 

 

Tawny-speckled Pug

Feathered Gothic

Nomophila noctuella

Scarce Bordered Straw

Tawny Wave

 

Chippenham Fen - Field Trip - 12th August (The lost post)

I had processed all of the images for this trip report, but never got round to posting it.

A combination of preparing for our holiday and work I guess getting in the way.

Below are the results for my mid-August field trip, a very fruitful session with just 3 species shy of the big 200.

Some quality moths were seen including a cracking little male Antler Moth, a far from common moth here in Cambs. 

Phyllonorycter hilarella was a newbie for me as an adult. I had previously recorded the leaf mine many years ago.

A Nemapogon species was retained which bears resemblance to inconditella. Gen det will probably prove it to be cloacella! But you never know..

Also, a rather aberrant Argyresthia goedartella got the heart racing, thinking it might be the uber rare ivella, unfortunately it wasn't to be. 

 

Despite the seemingly perfect conditions for migrants, with a warm breeze coming from the south, they weren't as plentiful as hoped. A single Vestal was nice to see though. 

 

With the threat of wildfires now over, on my next visit, I will hopefully venture a little further into the reserve with a battery trap.

 

Until next time. 

 

12/08/26 - Chippenham Fen - East Cambridgeshire - 2x 125w Clear MV Trap, 1x 250w Clear Robinson Trap & 1x 30w LED Trap

Macro Moths

Antler Moth 
Barred Hook-tip 
Blackneck 
Bright-line Brown-eye 
Brimstone Moth 
Broad-barred White 
Brown-veined Wainscot 
Bulrush Wainscot 
Burnished Brass 
Chinese Character 
Clay Triple-lines 
Cloaked Minor 
Clouded Border 
Common Carpet 
Common Rustic 
Common Wainscot 
Common Wave 
Common White Wave 
Copper Underwing 
Coronet 
Delicate 
Dingy Footman 
Dingy Shell 
Dotted Fan-foot
Double-striped Pug 
Dusky Thorn 
Engrailed 
Flame Shoulder 
Flounced Rustic 
Gold Spot 
Grey Dagger 
Gypsy Moth 
Iron Prominent 
Jersey Tiger 
Large Yellow Underwing 
Latticed Heath 
Least Yellow Underwing 
Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing 
Lesser Cream Wave 
Light Emerald 
Lime Hawk-moth 
Lime-speck Pug 
Maiden's Blush 
Maiden's Blush 
Maple Prominent 
Marbled Beauty 
Marbled Clover 
Nutmeg 
Oak Hook-tip 
Orange Swift 
Pale Mottled Willow 
Peach Blossom 
Pinion-streaked Snout 
Poplar Hawk-moth 
Pretty Chalk Carpet 
Riband Wave 
Ruby Tiger 
Sallow Kitten 
Satin Wave 
Setaceous Hebrew Character 
Shuttle-shaped Dart 
Silky Wainscot 
Silver Barred 
Silver Y 
Single-dotted Wave 
Small Dusty Wave 
Small Fan-footed Wave 
Small Mottled Willow 
Small Rivulet 
Small Rufous 
Small Waved Umber 
Snout 
Spectacle 
Straw Dot 
Straw Underwing 
Swallow Prominent 
Tawny Wave 
Tawny-barred Angle 
Tawny-speckled Pug 
Treble-bar 
Turnip Moth 
Vestal
Vine's Rustic 
V-pug 
White Ermine 
White-line Dart 
White-point 
Willow Beauty 
Wormwood Pug 
Yellow Shell 

Micro Moths

Acleris comariana/laterana 
Acompsia cinerella 
Adaina microdactyla
Aethes rubigana 
Agapeta hamana 
Agonopterix alstromeriana 
Agonopterix arenella 
Agonopterix propinquella 
Agriphila geniculea 
Agriphila selasella 
Agriphila straminella 
Agriphila tristella 
Anania coronata
Anania perlucidalis 
Ancylosis oblitella 
Apotomis betuletana 
Apotomis capreana 
Aproaerema anthyllidella 
Archips podana 
Argyresthia albistria 
Argyresthia goedartella 
Argyresthia semifusca
Bactra lancealana
Blastobasis adustella
Bryotropha basaltinella
Bucculatrix frangulella
Calamotropha paludella 
Caloptilia honoratella
Caloptilia stigmatella
Carcina quercana 
Cataclysta lemnata 
Catoptria pinella 
Celypha lacunana 
Celypha rosaceana 
Celypha striana 
Cochylidia implicatana 
Coleophora alcyonipennella/frischella 
Coleophora hemerobiella 
Coleophora vestianiella 
Crombrugghia distans
Cydalima perspectalis 
Cydia amplana 
Cydia fagiglandana 
Cydia splendana 
Dichrorampha simpliciana 
Ectoedemia decentella 
Elophila nymphaeata 
Emmelina monodactyla 
Emmetia marginea 
Endothenia oblongana 
Endrosis sarcitrella 
Epermenia chaerophyllella 
Ephestia sp 
Epinotia bilunana 
Epinotia nisella 
Epinotia ramella
Epinotia tenerana 
Epiphyas postvittana 
Ethmia dodecea 
Eucosma conterminana 
Eucosma hohenwartiana 
Eucosma obumbratana 
Eudonia mercurella 
Eudonia pallida 
Euzophera pinguis 
Evergestis forficalis 
Evergestis limbata 
Galleria mellonella 
Hofmannophila pseudospretella 
Homoeosoma nebulella 
Homoeosoma sinuella 
Hypsopyqgia costalis 
Lobesia abscisana 
Lyonetia clerkella 
Lyonetia prunifoliella 
Mompha subbistrigella 
Monopis weaverella 
Neocochylis dubitana 
Neocochylis hybridella 
Neocochylis molliculana
Nomophila noctuella 
Notocelia uddmanniana 
Oncocera semirubella 
Ostrinia nubilalis 
Pammene aurita 
Pandemis corylana 
Parapoynx stratiotata 
Paraswammerdamia albicapitella 
Parectopa ononidis
Parornix sp 
Patania ruralis 
Phyllonorycter geniculella
Phyllonorycter hilarella
Phyllonorycter rajella
Pyrausta aurata 
Pyrausta despicata 
Pyrausta purpuralis 
Rhodophaea formosa 
Scrobipalpa atriplicella
Scrobipalpa ocellatella 
Scythropia crataegella 
Sitochroa verticalis 
Tinagma ocnerostomella 
Tinea trinotella 
Tischeria eklebladella 
Udea ferrugalis 
Yponomeuta cag/mal/pad

 

Vestal

125w MV Robinson Trap

Antler Moth

Argyresthia goedartella

Argyresthia semifusca

Bucculatrix frangulella

Caloptilia stigmatella

Dotted Fan-foot

Parectopa ononidis

Phyllonorycter hilarella

Phyllonorycter rajella