Micros start mounting up

With warmer days pushing 20 degrees now, but still rather cool nights (down to 2.8c last night) it is now worth running the trap more regularly, as it is taking longer for the temperature to drop.

Although rain is a pain, we desperately need some soon, as the ground is like concrete!

A couple of bonus moths were netted at dusk, although I missed a fair few, two were new species for the year.  

Overnight there was a good mix of macros and micros, the micros is where it really shone, with early records of one Tortrix and 2 Gelechids from the Scrobipalpa group.

 

The first of possibly many? Scrobipalpa ocellatella came to the actinic an hour or so after dusk, this was closely followed by a second, but it was certainly different under a hand lens, and it turned out to be Scrobipalpa atriplicella, a scarce moth here with just 2 previous records.

 

Seperated externally by the broader stubbier forewings and ocelli not being ringed with pale markings, instead they are edged in orange, and the general ground colour is must darker in atriplicella.

 

To be 100% and with worn specimens it is advised to have them dissected. 

 

Hopefully tonight might be more of the same? It certainly feels more humid this evening. 

 

Moth garden list for 2026 stands at 106 species

25/04/26 - Back Garden - Fordham - East Cambridgeshire - Actinic Trap

 

Macro Moths 

Chocolate-tip 1 [NFY]
Least Black Arches 1 [NFY]
Pebble Prominent 2 [NFY]

Yellow-barred Brindle 1 [NFY]
Brindled Pug 1
Double-striped Pug 1
Garden Carpet 1

Iron Prominent 1
Muslin Moth 3
Nut-tree Tussock 1
Red-green Carpet 1
Shuttle-shaped Dart 3

Micro Moths 

Monopis crocicapitella 1 [NFY] (netted)
Neocochylis dubitana 1 [NFY]
Nemapogon granella 1 [NFY] (netted)
Scrobipalpa atriplicella 1 [NFY]
Scrobipalpa ocellatella 1 [NFY]
Epiphyas postvittana 4

 

  

Scrobipalpa ocellatella

Scrobipalpa atriplicella

Pebble Prominent

Least Black Arches

Chocolate-tip - Sadly deceased from a Spider

Yellow-barred Brindle

 

 

Picking up

With a few nights off because of bitter night-time temperatures, it was time to set the trap up once more on Friday night.

Although the warm days are absolutely beautiful, the nights are still rather frigid and I wasn't expecting much.

 

8 species was rather low, but there were two newbies amongst them, and it was worthwhile netting at dusk for a couple of additions.

 

By midnight I switched off as it was down to 4c and by the morning only 1 degree! 

 

This was the first catch of the year without any spring Orthosia species present.  

 

To the lures I managed a garden 2nd Pammene argyrana to it's lure, a slightly grotty looking specimen but pleasing all the same.

I also atrracted the first for the year Carnation Tortrix to the bag of lures. The carrier bag must be impregnated with the scent as it hasn't failed to attract one over the last 4 years! 

 

An odd pale Phyllonorycter species that was netted has been retained. 

 

A Stigmella was keyed out as either crataegella or hybnerella, either would be new for the garden so will go down as an aggregate.

Moth garden list for 2026 stands at 97 species

24/04/26 - Back Garden - Fordham - East Cambridgeshire - Actinic Trap

 

Macro Moths 

Garden Carpet 2 [NFY]
Toadflax Brocade 1 [NFY]

Brindled Beauty 1

Nut-tree Tussock 1
Shuttle-shaped Dart 3
Waved Umber 1

Micro Moths 

Cacoecimorpha pronubana 1 [NFY] 

Pammene argyrana 1 [NFY] (To arg lure) 

Stigmella crataegella/hybnerella 1 [NFG] (Netted)

Elachista rufocinerea 1 (Netted) 

Epiphyas postvittana 1

Phyllonorycter sp 1 (Netted) 

Platyedra subcinerea 1 

 

Toadflax Brocade

Cacoecimorpha pronubana

Garden Carpet

Pammene argyrana

Phyllonorycter sp

Stigmella crataegella/hybnerella

 

No Trap

No trapping here currently, it's just not worth it with this cold east wind and clear skies, hopefully better by the end of next week. A single Endrosis sarcitrella was new for the year list, found inside. Moth species no.92. Fordham, East Cambs.

Endrosis sarcitrella

 

Below average temperatures

April has been fairly unremarkable so far this year in terms of the weather, maybe we've been spoilt too much in previous years?

Day-time temperatures have been around average for the time of year, but there have been plenty of days inbetween that have been below average.

Night times are now as low as 3 degrees, cold enough for a light frost. 

1 new species was added to the year list last night, the smart Coronet.

Runner-up prize went to the second Pale Pinion of the year, a nice dark-marked specimen. 

Moth garden list for 2026 stands at 91 species

18/04/26 - Back Garden - Fordham - East Cambridgeshire - Actinic Trap

 

Macro Moths 

Coronet 1 [NFY]
Brimstone Moth 2
Clouded Drab 2
Common Quaker 2
Double-striped Pug 2
Frosted Green 1
Muslin Moth 7
Oak-tree Pug 2
Pale Pinion 1
Shuttle-shaped Dart 1
Swallow Prominent 1

Micro Moths 

Epiphyas postvittana 2

 

Pale Pinion

Coronet

 

Wicken Fen - Field Trip - 16th April

I made a trip to Wicken Fen last Thursday and setup 3 traps spread around the entrance area to Sedge Fen and one 100 metres South of the car park.

The day had been fairly mild at 17 degrees, nothing spectacular but with overcast conditions expected into the night, the temperature was hopefully going to hold up in the lows teens, and luckily that was the case.

 

The only caveat was a brisk westerly wind that started to whip up an hour in. It got fairly strong at one point, and it was blowing my sheet and egg trays everywhere, so I decided to pack up the two exposed traps, and leave the sheltered ones on until at least midnight.

 

Moths were rather slow to come to all of the traps, a smattering here and there and no particular volume, but the variety of species was most pleasing.

 

Several Reed Daggers were Cambs earliest records by over 2 weeks, a continuing trend year on year as early emergence records are broken. 

On the otherside, a single Grey Shoulder-knot was getting on for being too late, I very rarely see them post-hibernation past March. 

 

The micro moths were dominated by numerous species of Elachista & Agonopterix, 2 Agonopterix heracliana/ciliella were retained, and both have since been identified as ciliella.  

 

The biggest shock of the night was a whacking great Red Sword-grass, spotted along the boardwalk next to one of the traps.

This is a new moth for me and also for Wicken Fen! 2nd county record and firdt recorded in 1992! Unbelievable.

 

My thanks to Joe and Tim for the access. 

 

16/04/26 - Wicken Fen - East Cambridgeshire - 1x 125w Clear MV Trap, 1x 250w Clear Robinson Trap, 1x 40w/22w Bucket Trap & 1x 160w MBT Trap

Macro Moths

Bright-line Brown-eye 
Brindled Pug 
Chinese Character 
Clouded Drab 
Common Quaker 
Dotted Chestnut 
Double-striped Pug 
Early Tooth-striped 
Engrailed 
Frosted Green 
Hebrew Character 
Latticed Heath 
Least Black Arches 
Nut-tree Tussock 
Oak-tree Pug 
Pale Prominent 
Pale Tussock 
Pebble Hook-tip 
Pebble Prominent 
Powdered Quaker 
Purple Bar 
Reed Dagger 3
Red Chestnut 
Red Sword-grass
Ruby Tiger 
Spectacle 
Swallow Prominent 
V-pug 
Waved Umber 

Micro Moths

Agonopterix alstromeriana 
Agonopterix arenella 
Agonopterix ciliella 
Agonopterix heracliana 
Agonopterix ocellana 
Agonopterix purpurea 
Agonopterix yeatiana
Cameraria ohridella 
Depressaria daucella
Elachista canapennella
Elachista maculicerusella 
Elachista rufocinerea 
Emmelina monodactyla 
Epiphyas postvittana 
Mompha epilobiella 
Monopis crocicapitella 
Parornix sp 
Plutella xylostella 
Psyche casta (case)

Reed Dagger

160w MBT Trap

Agonopterix ciliella

Agonopterix yeatiana

Depressaria daucella

Elachista maculicerusella

Elachista rufocinerea

Grey Shoulder-knot

Red Sword-grass

 

Cooler, a sign of things to come.

Last night was a little cooler than of late, with lows dipping into single figures for the first time in nearly a week, and therefore the tally dropped a bit.

But it was still worth it for 4 new species overnight, and a bonus micro found sitting on the shed whilst I was checking my lure bucket traps.

 

The fourth Acleris literana was worthy of a mention, not usually a common moth here.

 

A bit cold at night now sadly, but we'll see.

Moth garden list for 2026 stands at 90 species

17/04/26 - Back Garden - Fordham - East Cambridgeshire - Actinic Trap

 

Macro Moths 

 

Nutmeg 1 [NFY]
Pale Tussock 1 [NFY]
Waved Umber 2 [NFY]
Brimstone Moth 1
Brindled Beauty 2
Chinese Character 1
Clouded Drab 4
Common Quaker 1
Double-striped Pug 4
Frosted Green 2

Knot Grass 2
Muslin Moth 1
Oak-tree Pug 3
Shuttle-shaped Dart 2
Swallow Prominent 3

 

Micro Moths

 

Esperia sulphurella 1 [NFY] (Daytime) 

Eudonia angustea 1 [NFY]
Acleris literana 1
Epiphyas postvittana 6
Elachista canapennella 1

Pammene giganteana 1 (To ARG Lure)

 

Waved Umber

Acleris literana

Elachista canapennella

Esperia sulphurella

Eudonia angustea

Knot Grass

Nutmeg

Pale Tussock

 

Earliest ever Willow Beauty

I trapped my earliest Willow Beauty on Thursday night, a rather small specimen more akin to the late summer third broods, I guess it's pupated a little early and emerged rapidly. 

It was good to see some more of the returning common species as well. The temperature stayed just into double figures all night, but with a gusty wind once more by dawn.

The best moth of the night was a slightly worn Depressaria radiella, a moth that should be much more common than it is, this is only the 3rd garden record in 5 years. It feeds from various varieties of Umbelliferae which is prolific pretty much everywhere.

Whether it's not strongly attracted to light? or maybe it is easy pickings to be predated on within the stems of the dead plants over winter, who knows. 

 

After the warm day of 20 degrees on Thursday, I made a trip out as I knew it would be turning cooler at nights now for at least a week.

Moth garden list for 2026 stands at 85 species

16/04/26 - Back Garden - Fordham - East Cambridgeshire - Actinic Trap

 

Macro Moths 

 

Angle Shades 1 [NFY]
Iron Prominent 1 [NFY]
Seraphim 3 [NFY]
Spectacle 1 [NFY]
Streamer 1 [NFY]

Willow Beauty 1 [NFY]
Chinese Character 1
Clouded Drab 2
Common Quaker 1
Double-striped Pug 4
Early Grey 2
Hebrew Character 2
Nut-tree Tussock 4
Oak-tree Pug 4
Pale Prominent 1
Pine Beauty 1
Red Chestnut 1
Swallow Prominent 2

 

Micro Moths

 

Depressaria radiella 1 [NFY]
Elachista canapennella 1 [NFY]
Epiphyas postvittana 3 

 

Willow Beauty

Angle Shades

Depressaria radiella

Iron Prominent

Seraphim

Streamer

 

Warm, slightly humid, dry, Moths!

It's not been too bad in my garden lately for variety, numbers are a little low but that is April in a nutshell here.

Wednesday night was a warm (minimums of 13 degrees) and a cloudy night, and very still compared to most of the year so far! 

A real mix of moths were present with both new macros and micros arriving.

Best moth was the tiny little Phyllonorycter corylifoliella (2nd garden record and last seen in 2022) Scrobipalpa acuminatella was runner-up, an annual visitor, the latter which I initially thought was a very early Monochroa species, until I got it under a hand lens and saw the orange flecks, this early, only Scrobipalpa acuminatella is viable.

All 3 new for year micro moths broke emergence records by upto 3 weeks! 

Another good night was on the cards last night including my 2nd field trip of the year.

Moth garden list for 2026 stands at 77 species

15/04/26 - Back Garden - Fordham - East Cambridgeshire - Actinic Trap

 

Macro Moths 

Scorched Carpet 1 [NFY]

Shuttle-shaped Dart 2 [NFY]
Clouded Drab 3
Common Quaker 2

Double-striped Pug 5

Early Grey 1

Frosted Green 1

Oak-tree Pug 1

 

Micro Moths

 

Aphomia sociella 1 [NFY]

Phyllonorycter corylifoliella 1 [NFY]

Scrobipalpa acuminatella 1 [NFY]

Emmelina monodactyla 1

Epiphyas postvittana 3 

 

Shuttle-shaped Dart

Aphomia sociella

Phyllonorycter corylifoliella

Scorched Carpet

Scrobipalpa acuminatella

 

Two Cucullia sent me capers

It was looking like a proper good moth night last night, after highs of 18 degress and expected minimums of 13 degrees, in fact the forecasters held their promise, and with fairly light winds and thick cloud the moths did not disappoint!

Numbers still fairly low, but I always expect this in April in my garden. 

29 moths of 24 species were recorded, plus 2 angry Queen Wasps that picked the best moment to arrive, when I was going through the trap at quarter to 6!

8 new species for the year was excellent, which included a very special moth, a moth new to me, the Chamomile Shark. The 20 year hunt had ended, and after searching countless sites for the moth over two decades in suitable scrubby, chalk grassland and brownfield sites, the journey ends in my garden, unbelievable.

And what a belting dark specimen it is! It was nice to pose next to a Mullein, the other Cucullia species that graced the trap overnight.

Other highlights included a real splash of colour matching the fading Daffodils in the garden, the first of probably countless Brimstone Moths.

On the tiny's front, Cameraria ohridella, Agonopterix purpurea and the slightly larger Platyedra subcinerea were all welcome returning visitors. 

Changeable now, but tomorrow night might come good? 

 

Moth garden list for 2026 stands at 72 species

14/04/26 - Back Garden - Fordham - East Cambridgeshire - Actinic Trap

 

Macro Moths 

Brimstone Moth 1 [NFY]
Chamomile Shark 1 [NEW]
Chinese Character 1 [NFY]
Mullein 1 [NFY]
Pale Prominent 1 [NFY]
Brindled Beauty 1
Clouded Drab 1
Common Quaker 1
Double-striped Pug 2
Early Grey 1
Frosted Green 1
Hebrew Character 2
Nut-tree Tussock 2
Pine Beauty 1
Red-green Carpet 1
Swallow Prominent 1

Micro Moths 

Agonopterix purpurea 1 [NFY]
Cameraria ohridella 1 [NFY]
Platyedra subcinerea 1 [NFY]
Agonopterix heracliana 1 
Alucita hexadactyla 1
Emmelina monodactyla 1
Epiphyas postvittana 5
Plutella xylostella 1

 

Chinese Character

Mullein & Chamomile Shark

Pale Prominent

Platyedra subcinerea

Brimstone Moth

Chamomile Shark

 

Chilly

After a fairly mild day yesterday I tried trapping once more, but by half 11 I packed up as it was pretty deperate out there and all I had to show for it was 2 Hebrew Characters.

Forgetting that I didn't actually look through my trap when I switched it off last night, I just went through it this evening and found 1 more Hebrew Character and a Common Quaker, riveting!

I also checked the lure bucket traps and found 2 Pammene giganteana in each one, and then I disturbed a year first Elachista rufocinerea, result!

Then it rained... so I cleaned the patio off once more and was sweeping the remains of a Swallow Prominent, another new one albeit just sets of wings, the birds must have found one I missed! 

Local friend Leslie Gardiner also brought round a moth he trapped last night, a quick inspection revealed that it is a Depressaria chaerophylli, a scarce moth in the county, but which seems to have a little stronghold around here. 

Moth garden list for 2026 stands at 64 species

12/04/26 - Back Garden - Fordham - East Cambridgeshire - Actinic Trap

 

Macro Moths

Swallow Prominent 1 [NFY]

Common Quaker 1

Hebrew Character 3 

Micro Moths

Elachista rufocinerea 1 [NFY]

 

Depressaria chaerophylli

Elachista rufocinerea

Swallow Prominent...apparently