Some lovely variety

Monday night was a cooler one of late, with lows of 12 degrees, but because it had been fairly mild during the day at 25 degrees and there was little wind, it was certainly worth staying up late potting up anything interesting.

3 new species were added to the year list, 1 macro & 2 micros.

 

Square-spotted Clay was the new macro, a really nice clean specimen with rich purplish shades intersected with dark shadowy windows. 

 

There was also an interesting smart Coleophora that I potted up early morning. Under a hand lens and a few photos later reveal it to be either discordella or saturatella.

I am currently favouring discordella as the other one feeds strictly on Broom, and there is very little if any around here, but maybe it got blown in from the Brecks? Who knows. Either way it'll be a flipping good record (Just 1 previous county record of saturatella and no county records of discordella).

Moth retained for further analysis.

 

Another moth that I have retained was a Phyllonorycter, which superficially looks good for cerasicolella.

 

Some returning species of my favourite genus, the Caloptilias were most welcome, including a right poser of a Caloptilia cuculipennella.

 

At time of writing we are set for a welcome change of weather, with hopefully some rain.

 

 

Moth garden list for 2026 stands at 650 species 

 

10/08/26 - Back Garden - Fordham - East Cambridgeshire - Actinic Trap

 

Macro Moths

Square-spotted Clay 1 [NFY]

 

Micro Moths

Epinotia immundana 1 [NFY]

Ypsolopha sequella 1 [NFY] 

 

Ypsolopha sequella

Caloptilia cuculipennella

Coleophora discordella/saturatella

Epinotia immundana

Phyllonorycter cerasicolella maybe

Square-spotted Clay

 

Ditton Park Wood - Field Trip - 09th August

I made a trip back to Ditton Park Wood armed with 4 traps this time.

Go all out of go home, and indeed it was well worth the extended effort with an extra trap in tow and staying until 2am yielded 182 species in total, a very good August count.

 

There was a good selection of macro and micro moths, but the larger moths were once again a poor showing in comparison with the clouds of micros around each trap.

 

Trying to pick out the quality is never easy, with hundreds of Eudonia mercurella flitting about frantically.

 

Best macros included Ruddy Carpet, two Small Wainscots, a smart Oak Nycteoline and a single Clay Triple-lines spotted amongst a few Maiden's Blush.

 

On the migrant front there were at least 60 Small Mottled Willows across all of the traps, backed up by two Acrobasis tumidana and a smattering of the other regular migrants.

 

I was very pleased with the all white form of Argyresthia bonnetella and an equally nicely marked Acleris laterana, sadly escaping from the pot whilst trying to photograph it. A pot shot would have to do! 

 

Despite the recent workings in the wood, with lots of logging evident the moths were still in profusion.

 

09/08/26 - Ditton Park Wood - East Cambridgeshire - 1x 125w Clear MV Trap, 1x 250w Clear Robinson Trap & 1x 30w Led Trap

Macro Moths 

Black Arches 
Blood-vein 
Bright-line Brown-eye 
Brimstone Moth 
Chinese Character 
Clay Triple-lines 
Cloaked Minor 
Common Carpet 
Common Rustic 
Common Wainscot 
Common Wave 
Common White Wave 
Copper Underwing 
Coronet 
Dingy Footman 
Dingy Footman 
Double-striped Pug 
Drinker
Dun-bar
Flame Shoulder 
Flounced Rustic 
Green Silver-lines 
Gypsy Moth 
Gypsy Moth 
Heart & Dart 
Heart & Dart 
Iron Prominent 
Iron Prominent 
Jersey Tiger 
Knot Grass 
Large Yellow Underwing 
Latticed Heath 
Least Carpet 
Least Yellow Underwing 
Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing 
Light Emerald 
Lime-speck Pug 
Maiden's Blush 
Maple Pug 
Nutmeg 
Oak Hook-tip 
Oak Nycteoline 
Orange Footman 
Orange Swift 
Pale Prominent 
Poplar Grey 
Red Twin-spot Carpet 
Red Underwing 
Riband Wave 
Ruby Tiger
Ruddy Carpet
Rustic 
Sallow Kitten 
Scarce Footman 
Setaceous Hebrew Character 
Shuttle-shaped Dart 
Silver Y 
Single-dotted Wave 
Small Mottled Willow 
Small Phoenix 
Small Wainscot 2
Small Waved Umber 
Snout
Square-spotted Clay 
Straw Dot 
Straw Underwing 
Swallow Prominent 
Tawny-barred Angle 
Tree-lichen Beauty 
Turnip Moth 
Vine's Rustic 
White-point 
Willow Beauty 
Yellow Shell 

Micro Moths

Acentria ephemerella
Achroia grisella
Acleris emargana 
Acleris forskalleana
Acleris laterana 
Acleris literana
Acrobasis advenella 
Acrobasis tumidana 2
Adaina microdactyla 
Agapeta hamana 
Agonopterix alstromeriana 
Agonopterix ocellana 
Agriphila selasella 
Agriphila straminella 
Agriphila tristella 
Anacampsis blattariella/populella 
Anania perlucidalis 
Ancylosis oblitella 
Apotomis betuletana 
Archips podana 
Argyresthia albistria 
Argyresthia bonnetella 
Argyresthia goedartella 
Argyresthia pruniella 
Argyresthia semitestacella
Argyresthia spinosella 
Argyresthia trifasciata 
Aspilapteryx tringipennella 
Batrachedra praengasta 
Blastobasis adustella 
Blastobasis lacticolella 
Bryotropha senectella 
Bucculatrix thoracella
Caloptilia robustella 
Caloptilia honoratella 
Caloptilia stigmatella 
Cameraria ohridella 
Carcina quercana 
Celypha rosaceana 
Cochylidia implicatana 
Coleophora alcyonipennella/frischella 
Crassa unitella 
Cydia amplana 
Cydia fagiglandana 
Cydia pomonella 
Cydia splendana 
Ditula angustiorana 
Ectoedemia decentella
Elachista adscitella 
Elachista obliquella 
Elegia similella
Emmetia marginea 
Endothenia gentianaeana
Endotricha flammealis 
Epermenia falciformis 
Epinotia nisella 
Epinotia tenerana 
Ethmia quadrilella 
Eudemis porphyana 
Eudemis profundana 
Eudonia mercurella 
Euzophera pinguis 
Evergestis forficalis 
Evergestis limbata 
Galleria mellonella
Homoeosoma sinuella 
Hypatima rhomboidella
Hypsopyqgia glaucinalis 
Lathyronympha strigana 
Mompha langiella
Mompha subbistrigella
Monopis weaverella 
Musotima nitidalis 
Neocochylis hybridella 
Neocochylis molliculana 
Nephopterix angustella 
Notocelia uddmanniana
Oncocera semirubella 
Ostrinia nubilalis 
Oxypteryx atrella
Pammene aurita 
Pandemis corylana 
Pandemis heparana 
Parapoynx stratiotata 
Parornix sp 
Patania ruralis
Phycita roborella 
Phyllonorycter corylofoliella
Phyllonorycter trifasciata 
Plutella xylostella 
Prays fraxinella 
Pyrausta aurata 
Rhopobota naevana 
Scrobipalpa ocellatella 
Scythropia crataegella 
Sitochroa verticalis 
Spilonota ocellana 
Stenolechia gemmella
Tinea trinotella 
Tischeria ekebladella
Udea ferrugalis 
Yponomeuta cag/mal/pad 
Ypsolopha dentella 
Ypsolopha nemorella
Ypsolopha parenthesella 
Ypsolopha scabrella 
Ypsolopha sequella 
Zeiraphera isertana

250w MV Robinson Trap with the beast

Acleris laterana

Acleris literana

Acrobasis tumidana

Apotomis betuletana

Argyresthia bonnetella

Argyresthia semitestacella

Caloptilia robustella

Clay Triple-lines

Elegia similella

Epermenia falciformis

Oak Nycteoline

Ruddy Carpet

Small Wainscot

Stenolechia gemmella

Quiet on the new ones

Not much to write home about on the 7th.

A single Straw Underwing saved the day as the sole new species for the night.

A very clean-lined Agriphila tristella nearly got mistaken for a latistria (A moth I was lucky to take only once when I holidayed in Dorset last year).

Two Lychnis were noteworthy, previously I have only ever recorded singles to my trap.

That was about it really.  

Things got a little more varied and interesting as we headed into the weekend. 

Moth garden list for 2026 stands at 647 species 

 

07/08/26 - Back Garden - Fordham - East Cambridgeshire - Actinic Trap

 

Macro Moths

Straw Underwing 1 [NFY]

 

Straw Underwing

Agriphila tristella

Lychnis

Lychnis

 

 

 

Mostly Nutmegs

The garden trap is currently dominated by Nutmegs. I find it really odd these population explosions.

Trapping a mile away at the nearby fen I recorded only 1 recently, over 4 traps! On Thursday night I got to 108 by the morning.

I took a picture of just one of the outside trays, covered in Nutmegs!

 

I have had this explosion experience before way back on the 25th of May 2011 on my parents old farm, post below.

 

https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/2967709613991032655/3653422830189891010

 

That night I recorded no less than 220 Nutmegs over 3 traps!  

 

Some returning macros including Oak Hook-tip and Treble-bar.

 

Best moth of the night was a tiny Endothenia oblongana, confirmed by checking the upper side of the hindwing. 

A scarce moth here in Cambs, but probably less scarce than we think, due to people discounting them as marginea or gentianaeana.

The very pale white transversal band towards the tornal area can be a general indicator of this species. 

 

It is moth no.958 for the garden. 

Another heat wave coming up, heatwave number 11786.

Moth garden list for 2026 stands at 646 species 

 

06/08/26 - Back Garden - Fordham - East Cambridgeshire - Actinic Trap

 

Micro Moths

Endothenia oblongana 1 [NFG]

 

Treble-bar

Endothenia oblongana

Endothenia oblongana

Nutmegs!

Oak Hook-tip

Pyrausta despicata

 

A new species for Cambridgeshire!

I did my check of the lure bucket traps around the garden on Tuesday evening, it is getting a little late for any interest now with just Raspberry and Dusky most likely in this late period so I am not expecting much now.

There was nothing in any of them, until I got to the loranthi lure, intended for Synanthedon loranthi (A non-British species) I found a tiny (unfortunately) dead moth in the bottom.

Under a hand lens I could see it was a Tortrix species and looked close to a Cydia conicolana, but revisiting it later on in the day, it certainly appears to be Pammene juniperana, especially with the light yellow tiger stripes in-between the vertical metallic bands.

The moth appears to be new for Cambridgeshire and one I have certainly not seen before so very worth trying these different lures. A bit gutted it had already kicked the bucket.

In a week, all of the lures will go away in the freezer for next years use.

Stenoptilia zophodactylus was another surprise, keyed out to this species by the all white thoracic saddle and all white legs.

This species appears to have not been seen in the county for over 120 years! Most probably over-looked.

Apodia martinii was the third new species added to the site list

Three garden firsts was exceptional for August.

These were backed up by a year first Rosy Rustic which went missing in 2025.

Speaking of going missing, it seems like it will now be a two year absence for the Lesser Swallow Prominent in my garden and to any of my traps in the field. What has happened to this species locally over the last few years is unexplainable currently. A once common moth for me.

I also took a few pics of some more common moths. A Nutmeg.. one of around 500 this past week that have graced my trap.

Still warm ;l

Moth garden list for 2026 stands at 644 species 

 

04/08/26 - Back Garden - Fordham - East Cambridgeshire - Actinic Trap

 

Macro Moths

Rosy Rustic 1 [NFY]

 

Micro Moths

Apodia martinii 1 [NFG]

Pammene juniperana 1 [NFG] 

 

Turnip Moth

Apodia martinii

Maiden's Blush

Nutmeg

Pammene juniperana

Rosy Rustic

Stenoptilia zophodactylus

 

August brings about new grass moths

Another fairly good catch to bring in August and last Sunday was warm and humid overnight.

The lack of rainfall is starting to become rather worrying, as we have only had two 15-20 minute downpours in 8 weeks now. The first one barely filled the two 80 litre water butts, and the second filled the front one, and made it half way on the back on (only coming off a small shed rood mind).

Best moth of the night went to a smashing Bordered Pug, my second for the garden and last seen 4 years ago! 

A second yearly record of Aroga velocella was also nice, a moth I see far more commonly out on the dry sandy heaths, mind you.. the garden is currently turning into one!

A few migrants also made it through, most notable was the 3rd yearly record of Dark Sword-grass.

Trying to catch up before more warm humid nights approach, this is never-ending! 

 

Moth garden list for 2026 stands at 641 species 

 

02/08/26 - Back Garden - Fordham - East Cambridgeshire - Actinic Trap

 

Macro Moths

Bordered Pug 1 [NFY]

 

Micro Moths

Agriphila geniculea 1 [NFY]

Agriphila selasella 1 [NFY] 

 

 

Dark Sword-grass

Agriphila geniculea

Agriphila selasella

Aroga velocella

Bordered Pug

 

A mini resurgence

Numbers crept up on Friday night here in my garden, on what was to be the last July night of 2026 and what a hot month it had been, carrying on fluidly from the warmer than average June.

Sadly, we still are in desperate need of significant rainfall. 

We've only had a few hours of rain in the past 6 weeks now, and even then it literally ran off and evaporated in the hot July sun that followed. 

I counted around 60 species, which is pretty good for late July here, as we come away from the peak mothing season.

Ancylosis oblitella has had a really successful year, with over 15 records this year alone. In previous years it has only been recorded in 1's and 2's. 

During the days and particularly in the early evening I have had visits from Hummingbird Hawk-moths, I managed an ok photograph of one of them, they a super quick!

There were two welcome new species for the year, a cracker of a Red Underwing and a Flounced Rustic.

The third Striped Hawk-moth of the year was great also, sitting proudly next to the Red Underwing! It was a new species for the garden only this year.

The best of the rest were too boldy marked species, Scrobipalpa atriplicella and a White-line Dart, both showing stronger markings than normal specimens I encounter.

Worth keeping an eye out for Scrobipalpa atriplicella, they can be hard to pick out amongst ocellatella, slightly larger and much more strongly marked and lacking the pale ovals around the ocelli. 

Still warm out there folks...

 

Moth garden list for 2026 stands at 639 species 

 

31/07/26 - Back Garden - Fordham - East Cambridgeshire - Actinic Trap

 

Macro Moths

Flounced Rustic 1 [NFY]

Red Underwing 1 [NFY]

White-line Dart

Ancylosis oblitella

Flounced Rustic

Humming-bird Hawk-moth

Red Underwing

Scrobipalpa atriplicella

Striped Hawk-moth