June Moths

June has been a busy month, moth-wise.  We've had the moth trap out on three occasions, the warm still weather making for a sizeable and varied catch each time.  The middle of the month was notable for the number of micros that were caught.  Note that more micros were caught than are listed below, for two reasons - they are liable to warm up and fly off before I get the camera on them - and I am not practiced at identifying them.  On the last date, we had a bit of a disaster.  Normally when we get to the trap in the morning to turn off the light there are a number of moths resting on the ground near the trap and on nearby walls, etc.  This time there was nothing but a number of smug and sated house sparrows.  We will be more vigilant next time and try to get to the moths first.  Not that I begrudge the sparrows a meal, but the moths are so much harder to identify from a few left-over wing fragments.  Photos of the more stunning examples are below together with lists of new moths for the year.  Note that the Red-necked Footman pictured has a yellow neck.  This is an unusual occurrence and it will be interesting to check any others we may get in future.

Pale Tussock - Calliteara pudibunda

Pebble Prominent - Notodonta ziczac

Long-horned Flat-body - Carcina quercana
also known as the Oak Skeletonizer Moth

Eyed Hawkmoth - Smerinthus ocellata

Red-necked Footman - Atolmis rubricollis

Privet Hawk-moth - Sphinx ligustri

1 June 14

Nettle-tap (micro)

Dark Arches

Flame

Garden Grass Veneer (micro)

Iron Prominent

Small Elephant Hawkmoth

Pale Tussock

Bee Moth (micro)

Diamond-back Moth (micro)

Small White Wave

Shoulder-striped Wainscot

Mottled Beauty

Hook-streak Grass-veneer (micro)

Cabbage Moth

Common Marbled Carpet

Pebble Prominent

Marbled Brown

Treble Brown Spot

Alder Moth

Swallow Prominent

14 June 14

Clouded Brindle

Eyed Hawkmoth

Heart & Dart

Mottled Rustic

Narrow-winged Grey

L-album Wainscot

Small Grey (micro)

Olive Pearl (micro)

Yellow-spot Twist (micro)

Straw Dot

Common Swift

Miller

Heart & Club

Clouded Border

Marbled White Spot

Large Yellow Underwing

Long-horned Flat-body (micro)

Common Marble (micro)

Ochreous Pearl (micro)

European Corn-borer (micro)

Lobster Moth

Garden Pebble (micro)

Brown China-mark (micro)

Elephant Hawk-moth

Flame

22 June 14

Red-necked Footman

Dark Bordered Pearl

Barred Yellow

Spectacle

Festoon

Dusky Brocade

Buff Ermine

Fan-foot

Swallow-tailed Moth

Privet Hawk-moth

Pebble Prominent

Burnished Brass

Small Magpie (micro)

Riband Wave

Shoulder-striped Wainscot

Common Footman