New Moth Species - Canary-shouldered Thorn

Great name and great look - a humdinger of a Moth. It wasn't patient enough to let me get a good photo of it before it cleared off.

Moth Trapping #2

A second trap was set last night so a 4:30am start this morning. Lots of new species for The Beeches but one of the best was not strictly new as it had been recorded in larval stage before. Still worth a photo though. The Elephant Hawk Moth.

Wild Teasel - in all its glory

This new species is now significantly taller than me, has some beautiful mauve flowers and is a big attraction for insects. Hopefully it spreads in the rough ground where it has appeared.

New Moth Species (5 ) - Light Emerald

Another striking new species for me was the Light Emerald (Campaea margaritata). Two or three came to the trap. As it is a typical woodland species we benefit in getting such Moths by our proximity to the woodland and from the trees on site

New Moth Species (4) - Four-spotted Footman

I was going through photos of Moths I didn't take to be identified and found one that I had assumed was the same as the Common Footman that was formally id'd. I looked it up and found it to be a Four-spotted Footman (Lithosia quadra) - a male so it doesn't actually have any spots. This is much less common and widespread than the Common Footman so a pleasing catch. It is also a very elegant Moth (apart from the bald patch!)

New Moth Species (3)

Two more Moths from the trapping. The darker one is a new species for The Beeches list and is a Dot Moth (Melancra persicariae). The plaer one is a Riband Wave and that has been recorded by me previously.

New Moth Species (2)

Another one from last weeks trapping. Possibly the most elegant and definitely with the best coiffeur, I give you the Scalloped Oak (Crocallis elinguaria).