Some recent moths (5-6.7.13)

Leopard Moth (new for garden)

Scorched Wing (new for garden)

Small Elephant Hawkmoth (new for garden)

Small Elephant Hawkmoth (new for garden)

Elephant Hawkmoth & Small Elephant Hawkmoth

Swallowtailed Moth

Aleimma loeflingiana

Beautiful Hooktip

Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing

Burnished Brasses Snout

Chilo phragmitella, probably (new for garden)

Hedya salicella (a micro moth)

Eidophasia messingiella (scarce in VC32)

When I saw this moth in the MV Skinner trap (after night of 6.7.13), I knew it was something distinctive and new for me. Unfortunately, as soon as I lifted the perspex sheet 'roof' of the trap, it flew off. Fortunately, though, it soon landed on the grass and I was able to get these record shots, which allowd me to identify it. It turns out, there have only been two previous records in VC32 (Northants and Peterborough), both in the 1990s.

Common Blue Damselflies 'in-wheel'

Scarce Chaser (male), and friend

Tree Bee

We have a colony of this attractive bumblebee species in a Blue Tit nestbox at the woody back of our garden in Peterborough. Yesterday, I finally got an acceptable photo of one perched. Note the distinctive orange furred thorax, black in the middle and white tail end.

Toadflax Brocade: fourth year running

This little beauty is perhaps my favourite moth, the Toadflax Brocade. Back in August 2010, I found the first for VC32 (Northamptonshire and Peterborough), as well as the first for 'new' Cambridgeshire, in our garden in Peterborough. This moth I caught on 29.6.13, and it is the fourth year running I've recorded it. Durign this time, as far as I know, no one else has recorded it in Peterborough until this year, when TBs have been recorded at two other sites in the city. So, perhaps these lovelies are becoming a bit more established here.

Garden moths from 25.6.13

Dusky Brocade, new for the garden

I caught 62 Heart and Darts...

Elephant Hawkmoth

Celypha lacunana

Green Pug

Phtheochroa rugosana

Freyer's Pug

Plum Tortrix

More moths, moth fans

Clouded Silver

Elephant Hawkmoth

Esperia sulphurella

Grey Pug

Poplar Hawkmoth

Syndemis musculana

Some moths from night of 16.6.13

Broad-barred White

Light Brocade

Notocelia (=Epiblema) cynobatella aka Yellow-faced Bell

Small Magpie

Freyer's Pug

Some moths from last night

Clouded Brindle

Light Brocade

Green Carpet

Only my second trapping session of this very cold year, the first a few weeks ago having produced a grand total of three moths. Last night, both traps combined had 21 species, with Bee Moth and Heart and Dart being the commonest moths. Light Brocade and Clouded Brindle were the highlights. I had both in July last year, but both (particularly the former) are quite local species. Last night, my moth guru Brian Stone also recorded Light Brocade in Elton, Cambs, a first record for his garden, I believe.