Back to Weekly Reports Page 

Feathered Thorn (Colotois pennaria). I found two of these Feathered Thorn. This one is a lot more worn than the other one I found in my 6 Watt Heath Trap which I placed under a pine tree where it was shaded and a bit warmer than out in open, which the flying species would stick to in cooler months to stay as warm as possible. Taken on 15/10/09

Yellow Line Quaker (Agrochola macilenta). I found thee of these in my 6 Watt Heath Trap which was the one I placed under the pine tree where I found the Feathered Thorn in last photo. This is a scarce moth in Northern Ireland, but I found three which was a welcomed sight. Taken on 15/10/09

The Brick (Agrochola circellaris). Another moth found in my 6 Watt Heath Trap. This is another scarce moth and more scarce than the Yellow Line Quacker in last shot. Taken on 15/10/09

This is an Epirrita species. Its hard to tell based on looks what moth this actually is, but a slight indicator could be the size as a few of these species are different sized. I let this go without really knowing what it was. Taken on 16/10/09

These are five Chestnut (Conistra vaccinii) moths. I caught 15 in trap, never seen so many before and I had a few varied species, but they were nice to find. Taken on 27/10/09

3rd: Went to a old piggery in Mountstewart, Co Down, Northern Ireland,  that used to house pigs but is now overgrown with various plants and trees. I went to see what was around as its a local resting place for hibernating Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) and Red Admirals (Vanessa Atlanta).

The weather was sunny and about 12C (53.6F) Didn't actually find much except two micro moths, one belonging to the Nepticulidae, possibly Stigmella plagicolella. Another micro moth is one I have not yet identified, but when I do, I'll post it here.

7th: Its getting cooler here. The night is about 9C (48.2 F) and there is a touch of frost in air. I put out a 6W Heath Trap to see if anything is about in a field with various grasses, gorse, nettles, chestnut trees, Ash tree, oak trees. Not sure if I'll find much this night, but if you don't try, you'll never know.

8th: I didn't find anything in the Heath Trap, but I didn't have the trap in an area shaded from the cold, so it was likely I didn't find anything.

15th: I put a 6W Heath trap in a field beside a mixed forest in Mountstewart, Co Down, Northern Ireland the night before. Acting on advice I was given, I put it under a pine tree where it was shaded and when its colder, its warmer in these areas than in open. I did manage to find two scarce moths, both scarce in Northern Ireland. I managed to find:

1 Angle Shades (Phlogophora meticulosa)
3 Yellow Line Quaker (Agrochola circellaris)
1 The Brick (Agrochola circellaris)
2 Feathered Thorn (Colotois pennaria)
2 Epirrita Moths. Hard to tell just by looking.

20th: Found another one of those Epirrita species of moth, resting on the outside of one of the windows on my house. Didn't want to kill it to identify it, so I don't know which one it is.

21st: Went out for a long walk to see what was about. It was cold and very windy, but dry and sometimes sunny. I didn't find a lot as I thought I would not, but I went to a pine forest beside a mixed forest and saw:

2 Red Admirals (Vanessa Atlanta) - Both fast flying, faster than I have ever seen.
1 Spruce Carpet (Thera britannica) - Thanks to Mike Wall for ID.

I also saw about 30-40 moths all about 20-30mm wingspan and I think they were all the same species. I have not yet managed to find out what they were as I could not catch one or photograph any as they flew too fast or high. 

27th/28th: Put 6 Watt Heath Trap both evenings in a forest edge in Mountstewart, Co Down, Northern Ireland. Both time it rained during night, but it was a warmish evening. Got quite a few moths because I put it inside forest edge where it was warmer and out of direct rain. The temperatures both nights was about 11-13C (51.8-55.4 F) And second night the moon was shining, but trees blocked much of its brightness. Here is my catches both nights (the second night I moved trap a little further from the first time)

27th: (See above gallery for images)

9 Chestnut (Conistra vaccinii)
6 Yellow-line Quaker (Agrochola macilenta)
8 The Brick (Agrochola circellaris)
1 Feathered Thorn (Colotois pennaria)
1 Red-Green Carpet (Chloroclysta siterata)
1 Green-Brindled Crescent (Allophyes oxyacanthae)

28th:

3 Epirrita Moths. Hard to tell just by looking.
15 Chestnut (Conistra vaccinii)
8 Yellow-line Quaker (Agrochola macilenta)
2 Red-Green Carpet (Chloroclysta siterata) - One had hardly any red in it

30th: I put 6 Watt Heath Trap out in in a forest edge in Mountstewart, Co Down, Northern Ireland. There was a full moon and no cloud, so I expected to get nothing because of this. I did get a few moths, including the first recorded migrant Vestal Moth (Rhodometra sacraria) to Northern Ireland and the first known in Northern Ireland to have a pink stripe. Rest lacked pink. I found:

1 Vestal (Rhodometra sacraria)
2 Chestnut (Conistra vaccinii)
4 Feathered Thorn (Colotois pennaria) Two male and two female.

Page last edited: 03/11/2009 22:06