October Mothing

After an amazing holiday in Ibiza (24 Sep - 1 Oct) when the daily temperatures were between 27.0°C and 29.0°C it was back home to a much cooler Portland.

So just to see what was about, moth-wise, I put the trap out last night and was pleasantly surprised that there were still a few species about, despite the colder nights.

So the numbers, well there were 46 moths of 16 species including 2 firsts for the year and 2 lifers.

  *First for year
**Lifers

2026 Moth List Here.

Moths recorded:

#1        Lunar Underwing Anchoscelis lunosa x8

#2        Turnip Moth Agrotis segetum x2

#3        Rusty Dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis x4

#4        Small Mottled Willow Spodoptera exigua x3

#5        Feathered Ranunculus Polymixis lichenea x5

#6        Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana x3

#7       *Black Rustic Aporophyla nigra x4

#8        Narrow-winged Grey Eudonia angustea x1

#9     **Large Ranunculus Polymixis flavicincta x5

#10     *Feathered Brindle Aporophyla australis x4

#11      Ruddy Streak Tachystola acroxantha x1

#12      Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba x2

#13   **Beet Moth Scrobipalpa ocellatella x1

#14      Square-spot Rustic Xestia xanthographa x1

#15      Willow Beauty Peribatodes rhomboidaria x1

#16      The Vestal Rhodometra sacraria x1

#1 Lunar Underwing Anchoscelis lunosa

#1 Another Lunar Underwing Anchoscelis lunosa

#1 And another Lunar Underwing Anchoscelis lunosa

#1 And one more Lunar Underwing Anchoscelis lunosa

#2 Turnip Moth Agrotis segetum

#3 Rusty Dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis

#3 Another Rusty Dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis

#3 And another Rusty Dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis

#3 And one more Rusty Dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis

#4 Small Mottled Willow Spodoptera exigua.

#4 Another Small Mottled Willow Spodoptera exigua. AKA Beet Armyworm

#5 Feathered Ranunculus Polymixis lichenea

#5 Another Feathered Ranunculus Polymixis lichenea

#6 Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana 

#6 Another Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana

#6 And another Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana

#7 *Black Rustic Aporophyla nigra 

#7 Another Black Rustic Aporophyla nigra 

#7 And another Black Rustic Aporophyla nigra 

#8 Narrow-winged Grey Eudonia angustea

#9 **Large Ranunculus Polymixis flavicincta 

#10 *Feathered Brindle Aporophyla australis

#10 Another Feathered Brindle Aporophyla australis

#10 And another Feathered Brindle Aporophyla australis

#10 And one more Feathered Brindle Aporophyla australis with a Lunar Underwing Anchoscelis lunosa below it.

#11 Ruddy Streak Tachystola acroxantha AKA an Australian Orange-tip

#12 Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba

#12 Another Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba

#13 **Beet Moth Scrobipalpa ocellatella

#14 Square-spot Rustic Xestia xanthographa

#15 Willow Beauty Peribatodes rhomboidaria

#16 The Vestal Rhodometra sacraria

More on:

#9    Large Ranunculus Polymixis flavicincta UK Moths here and Dorset Moths here.

#13  Beet Moth Scrobipalpa ocellatella UK Moths here and Dorset Moths here.

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Also in the trap was a small fly, cranefly, midge, cockroach and a spider.

A Marsh Fly Dryope flaveola (formerly known as Dryomyza flaveola). Aka a Tree Fly.

European Cranefly Tipula paludosa

Non-biting Midge

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

The Money spider Megalepthyphantes nebulosus (formerly Lepthyphantes nebulosus).......

.......AKA Misty Ground-weaver, in Holland - Foggy Embolic Spider and in Germany - Cellar Large-slim Weaver.