FlyinginFordham: France Day 2

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