The last three nights have been mild, with a minimum of 12 degrees, and still holding in high double-figures by midnight.
Consequently the moth numbers have increased to between 60 and 90 individuals with species on the 23rd/24th & 25th... 18, 25 & 26 species repectively.
Some truly remarkable moths have kept the garden alive here, as Autumn starts to kick in.
The first Sallow of the year on Friday night and a year first Merveille du Jour really are heralding the changing of the seasons.
Last night I ended up with 9 Beaded Chestnuts, more than I trapped in past 9 years in my old garden on just the one night!
But even better than that was a Feathered Ranunculus found by my son on Saturday morning as he was going out to play in the garden. He spotted it under the side of the back door mat! I must have missed it doing my regular morning routine!!
It is only the second record for the County, and last recorded in 1998 (Unless there any recent records). With this, and another really good moth last night (L-album Wainscot) maybe they are migrants? Or just wanderers from southern and coastal populations.
The L-album is another rare moth here in Cambs with just 3 previous records.
My son's favourite colour is green, and you can imagine his excitement this morning upon showing him 'the merv' he ran upstairs shouting ''mummy'' ''mummy'', ''look daddy found a green moth!''
On top of that, two rather chunky female Large Wainscot's, and a much smaller male were also in the trap.
There is one micro moth to check, possibly an Ocnerostoma sp, but it won't sit still currently.
Below are the new species for the year.
Moth garden list stands at 192 species.
23/09/21 - Back Garden - Fordham - East Cambridgeshire - Actinic Trap
Micro Moths
Tachystola acroxantha 1 [NFG]
24/09/21 - Back Garden - Fordham - East Cambridgeshire - Actinic Trap
Macro Moths
Feathered Ranuculus 1 [NFG]
Sallow 1 [NFG]
Ocnerostoma sp? 1 TBC
Micro Moths
25/09/21 - Back Garden - Fordham - East Cambridgeshire - Actinic Trap
Macro Moths
Large Wainscot 3 [NFG]
Merveille du Jour 1 [NFG]
Tachystola acroxantha |
Sallow |
Ocnerostoma sp? TBC |
Merveille du Jour |
Large Wainscot - Male |
Large Wainscot - Female |
L-album Wainscot |
Feathered Ranunculus |
Beaded Chestnut |
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