It Rained....

.....well there were a few very small spots of rain this morning when I was checking out the moth trap. I think if it wasn't for the fact that I'm bald, I wouldn't have even realised. After the low cloud drifted away, it turned out to be another very warm day again. It's been quite sometime since we've had some "useful" rain.

Anyway, moving onto the moth trap, there was definitely a reduction in numbers. Whether that was due to the very hot and dry conditions, I'm not sure.

At the moment I have counted 76 moths of 22 species, with 3 firsts for the year and 3 lifers. And there are more to come.

  *First for year

**Lifers

2026 Moth List Here.

Moths recorded:

#1        Double-striped Pug Gymnoscelis rufifasciata x2

#2        Willow Beauty Peribatodes rhomboidaria x1

#3        Jersey Tiger Euplagia quadripunctaria x4

#4        Mullein Wave Scopula marginepunctata x1

#5       *Rush Veneer Nomophila noctuella x4

#6        Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana x11

#7        Bird-cherry Ermine Yponomeuta evonymella x2

#8        Ox-tongue Conch Neocochylis molliculana x9

#10   **Barred Rivulet Perizoma bifaciata x1

#11      Lime-speck Pug Eupithecia centaureata x1

#12      Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata x3

#13      Wakely's Dowd Blastobasis lacticolella x4

#14     *Yellow-barred Brindle Acasis viretata x1

#15    **Spindle Knot-horn Nephopterix angustella x1

#16     *Marbled Bell Eucosma campoliliana x5

#17       Dingy Footman Eilema griseola x2

#18       Small Mottled Willow Spodoptera exigua x17

#19   **Channel Islands Pug Eupithecia ultimaria x1

#20       Common Wainscot Mythimna pallens x1

#21       White-shouldered House-moth Endrosis sarcitrella x4

#22       Knot Grass Acronicta rumicis x1

#1 Double-striped Pug Gymnoscelis rufifasciata

#1 Another Double-striped Pug Gymnoscelis rufifasciata

#2 Willow Beauty Peribatodes rhomboidaria

#3 Jersey Tiger Euplagia quadripunctaria. All four JT's were on the outside of the trap. This individual was the only one I managed to get a partial shot off, before that flew off as well.

#4 Mullein Wave Scopula marginepunctata

#5 *Rush Veneer Nomophila noctuella

#6 Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana

#6 Another Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana

#7 Bird-cherry Ermine Yponomeuta evonymella

#7 Bird-cherry Ermine Yponomeuta evonymella

#7 Another Bird-cherry Ermine Yponomeuta evonymella

#8 Ox-tongue Conch Neocochylis molliculana

#10 **Barred Rivulet Perizoma bifaciata 

#11 Lime-speck Pug Eupithecia centaureata

#12 Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata

#12 Another Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata

#13 Wakely's Dowd Blastobasis lacticolella. aka London Dowd and Large Pale Masoner

#14 *Yellow-barred Brindle Acasis viretata

#15 **Spindle Knot-horn Nephopterix angustella

#16 *Marbled Bell Eucosma campoliliana. aka Pied Tortrix

#17 Dingy Footman Eilema griseola

#18 Small Mottled Willow Spodoptera exigua aka Beet Armyworm

#19 **Channel Islands Pug Eupithecia ultimaria 

#20 Common Wainscot Mythimna pallens

#21 White-shouldered House-moth Endrosis sarcitrella

#22 A worn Knot Grass Acronicta rumicis x1

More on:

#10 Barred Rivulet Perizoma bifaciata UK Moths here and Dorset Moths here.

#15 Spindle Knot-horn Nephopterix angustella UK Moths here and Dorset Moths here.

#19 Channel Islands Pug Eupithecia ultimaria UK Moths here and Dorset Moths here.

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Also in the trap were 1 lacewing, 1 ichneumon wasp, 2 caddis fly, a fly and 6 ladybirds.

Another Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis - form succinea

Common Caddisfly Limnephilus flavicornis

A Parasitoid wasp