Welcome

Hello and welcome to my moth Blog. I now reside in a small village in East Cambridgeshire called Fordham. My Blog's aim is to promote and encourage others to participate in the wonderful hobby that is Moth-trapping.
Moth records are vital for building a picture of our ecosystem around us, as they really are the bottom of the food chain. They are an excellent early indicator of how healthy a habitat is. I openly encourage people to share their findings via social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter & Instagram.
So why do we do it? well for some people it is to get an insight into the world of Moths, for others it is to build a list of species much like 'Twitching' in the Bird world. The reason I do it....you just never know what you might find when you open up that trap! I hope to show what different species inhabit Cambridgeshire and neighbouring counties.
On this Blog you will find up-to-date records and pictures.
I run a trap regularly in my garden and also enjoy doing field trips to various localities over several different counties.
Please also check out the links in the sidebar to the right for other people's Blogs and informative Websites.
Thanks for looking and happy Mothing!

KEY

NFY = New Species For The Year
NFG = New Species For The Garden
NEW! = New Species For My Records

Any Species highlighted in RED signifies a totally new species for my records.

If you have any questions or enquiries then please feel free to email me
Contact Email : bensale@rocketmail.com

My Latest Notables and Rarities

Monday, 26 May 2025

Latest from the garden trap, stormy conditions

A windy ole night on Saturday, I nearly did pop along to Wicken Fen, but a busy day the next day and with the weather extremely unpredictable, I decided not to.
 
Despite the wind and rain through the night at intervals, it stayed mild and at 11pm it was still 17 degrees.
 
60sp was a very welcome return indeed and with 10 new faces gracing the trap.
 
The 4th species of Hawk-moth turned up, a Small Ellie, a couple of different marked Dark Arches, although brown and dull! Aside from them there were some rather smart moths too. Miller and Small Square-spot.
Micro highlights included the 'dalmation spotted' Ethmia quadrillella and the tiny and skittish Argyresthia cupressella.
 
Still fairly mild, but the wind isn't easing just yet, and last nights catch in comparison was poor.
 
The rain is very welcome, but waiting for more settle conditions to get out in the field again.
 

Moth garden list for 2025 stands at 236 species

24/05/25 - Back Garden - Fordham - East Cambridgeshire - Actinic Trap

Macro Moths

Dark Arches 1 [NFY]
Miller 1 [NFY]
Small Elephant Hawk-moth 1 [NFY]
Small Square-spot 1 [NFY]
Snout 1 [NFY]
Bright-line Brown-eye 2
Brimstone Moth 1
Buff Ermine 1
Buff-tip 1
Common Carpet 2
Common Pug 2
Common Swift 10
Common Wainscot 1
Double-striped Pug 1
Eyed Hawk-moth 1
Flame Shoulder 1
Garden Carpet 1
Green Carpet 1
Grey Dagger 1
Heart & Dart 7
Large Nutmeg 1
Large Yellow Underwing 2
Light Brocade 2
Light Emerald 1
Marbled Minor 10
Mottled Pug 2
Muslin Moth 1
Pale Tussock 2
Poplar Grey 4
Poplar Hawk-moth 1
Rustic Shoulder-knot 1
Setaceous Hebrew Character 2
Shuttle-shaped Dart 4
Small Dusty Wave 1
Spectacle 1
Swallow Prominent 2
Sycamore 1 
Treble Lines 4
Vine's Rustic 6
Waved Umber 1
White-point 2
Willow Beauty 2
Yellow-barred Brindle 1

Micro Moths 

Agapeta hamana 1 [NFY]
Argyresthia cupressella 1 [NFY]
Dichrorampha simpliciana 1 [NFY]
Ethmia quadrillella 1 [NFY]
Notocelia trimaculana 1 [NFY]
Anthophila fabriciana 1
Aphomia sociella 3
Bryotropha basaltinella 1
Bryotropha terrella 1
Celypha lacunana 2
Crambus lathoniellus 3
Epiphyas postvittana 3
Grapholita funebrana 1
Hedya pruniana 2
Monopis crocicapitella 1
Pyrausta aurata 1
Sitochroa verticalis 1

Argyresthia cupressella

Dark Arches

Dark Arches

Ethmia quadrillella

Miller

Notocelia trimaculana

Small Elephant Hawk-moth

Small Square-spot

 

Posted by Bennyboymothman at 19:40

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