Sunday, October 11, 2026

It's Getting Colder

The nights are drawing in quickly and with it, cooler temperatures. After yesterdays strong gale force winds, the wind dropped in the evening and it was a pretty clear night; perfect for the moth trap to go out again.

So after last weeks 46 moths of 16 species, this morning there were the same number of species but more moths, with the majority of the moths being 18 Feathered Ranunculus Polymixis lichenea and 12 Lunar Underwings Anchoscelis lunosa being a close second.

The numbers were 73 moths of 16 species, including 1 First for the year and a Lifer.

  *First for year
**Lifers

2026 Moth List Here.

Moths recorded:

#1        Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana x6
#2        Feathered Ranunculus Polymixis lichenea x18
#3        Olive-tree Pearl Palpita vitrealis x1
#4      *The Mallow Larentia clavaria x1
#5        Narrow-winged Grey Eudonia angustea x1
#6        Large Ranunculus Polymixis flavicincta x11
#7        Square-spot Rustic Xestia xanthographa x4
#8        Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba x4
#9        Lunar Underwing Anchoscelis lunosa x12
#10  **Flame Brocade Trigonophora flammea x3
#11      Feathered Brindle Aporophyla australis x2
#12      White-point Mythimna albipuncta x2
#13      Black Rustic Aporophyla nigra x3
#14      Turnip Moth Agrotis segetum x2
#15      Lesser Yellow Underwing Noctua comes x1
#16      Small Mottled Willow Spodoptera exigua x2

#1 Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana

#1 Another Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana

#1 And another Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana

#1 One more Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana

#1 A 5th Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana

#1 And a 6th Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana

#2 Feathered Ranunculus Polymixis lichenea

#2 Another Feathered Ranunculus Polymixis lichenea

#2 And another Feathered Ranunculus Polymixis lichenea

#3 Olive-tree Pearl Palpita vitrealis

#4 *The Mallow Larentia clavaria x1

#5 Narrow-winged Grey Eudonia angustea

#6 Large Ranunculus Polymixis flavicincta

#6 Another Large Ranunculus Polymixis flavicincta

#7 Square-spot Rustic Xestia xanthographa

#7 Another Square-spot Rustic Xestia xanthographa

#8 Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba

#8 Another Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba

#9 Lunar Underwing Anchoscelis lunosa

#9 Another Lunar Underwing Anchoscelis lunosa

#9 And another Lunar Underwing Anchoscelis lunosa

#9 One more Lunar Underwing Anchoscelis lunosa

#9 A 5th Lunar Underwing Anchoscelis lunosa

#9 A 6th Lunar Underwing Anchoscelis lunosa showing the variation of this species.

#10  **Flame Brocade Trigonophora flammea

#10 Another Flame Brocade Trigonophora flammea

#11 Feathered Brindle Aporophyla australis

#11 Another Feathered Brindle Aporophyla australis

#12 White-point Mythimna albipuncta 

#13 Black Rustic Aporophyla nigra

#13 Another Black Rustic Aporophyla nigra

#13 And another Black Rustic Aporophyla nigra

#14 Turnip Moth Agrotis segetum

#15 Lesser Yellow Underwing Noctua comes

#16 Small Mottled Willow Spodoptera exigua


More on:

#10 Flame Brocade Trigonophora flammea UK Moths here and Dorset Moths here.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Also in the trap were 5 cranefly, a lacewing and a cockroach.

European Cranefly Tipula paludosa

Another European Cranefly Tipula paludosa

And another European Cranefly Tipula paludosa

Common Green Lacewing Chrysoperla carnea

Tawny Cockroach Ectobius lapponicus, also known as the Dusky Cockroach.