Catching Up, Fully

Photographing the moths I catch has become a mild obsession. After more than a year of trial and error I mostly do get images that I'm happy with, given the limitations of my kit, though the smaller micros are a bit of a push. Mind you, there are two variables which give me headaches. One, the light, when it is dim, and two, the moth, when it is naughty.

A few species are as docile as you like, and will sit still for ever. But there are lots at the other end of the spectrum (especially among the micros) which never sit still. There are tricks and techniques that help, but it's amazing how many moths can look totally relaxed one moment, but a nanosecond later have vanished. This is particularly galling when a garden first is involved. Two recent examples in this category are Bucculatrix thoracella and Monopis weaverella. I'm especially miffed at the latter, because I was looking forward to blogging about a moth whose larva feeds on animal carcasses, faeces and suchlike. Its vernacular name is more appropriate than many: Carrion Moth. Ah well, hopefully one day I'll get another.

In the meantime, here are some that behaved...

Monday night, August 7th

102 moths of 56 species; four new for year, three new for garden. The aforementioned B. thoracella was one of the new species for the garden, but the other two posed just fine...

What a stunner! This is Gold Spot. Quite a common moth apparently, but I've certainly not seen one before. It made my day! Typically, as it's a moth with irridescent bits, the camera cannot really do it justice.

As so-called clothes moths go, at 12mm+ this one is a monster. But I think our clothes are safe. Doesn't seem to be that common, with just four Bridport area records on the Living Record map.

Some other well-behaved moths from that night...

Maiden's Blush

Four-spotted Footman. Our first female this year, the sex which does actually have four spots; the males have none.

A strikingly dark Shuttle-shaped Dart.

Roughly 4.5mm of tiny moth. Our third this year.

Our third one of these too.

A very fresh example of this micro. Also a very large example, which turned up with an equally beefy mate...

Beasts!

Not sure why I bothered photographing this dull creature, our fourth of the year. As I said earlier, it has become a mild obsession.

Tuesday night, August 8th

A good night. 159 moths of 63 species; six new for year, two new for garden.

The garden ticks first...

A new tripod moth! I love these things. This one appears to be quite common.

We are not in an area with many pines, so a slightly surprising catch. Common enough elsewhere, but there is only one Bridport area dot (representing two records) on the Living Record map.

Plenty of other decent moths in the trap that night...

Common enough, but this one is fresh out of the box.

Our first immigrant White-point of the year. Last year we recorded it on 12 nights, with a peak of four, but 2022 was an exceptionally good year for migrants.

The first Canary-shouldered Thorn of 2023, accompanied by...

...the first Dusky Thorn of 2023.

Quite often I struggle a bit with the Wormwood/Currant Pug species pair, but this has got to be the most obvious Currant Pug I've seen. Last year we caught seven, which compares with a Living Record tally of eight records (four sites) in the rest of the Bridport area. This one is our fourth of the year. As I've said before, we seem to do very well for pugs here.

Our first Rosy Minor of the year, one of two.

A common and attractive pyralid, and this one is brand new.

Talking of brand new, how about this for an immaculate Yellow-barred Brindle? Apparently they fade to yellow, but I'm not sure we've had one that colour yet. Why name a moth from its appearance when worn?

Wednesday night, August 9th

111 moths of 50 species. One new for year and garden.

The new moth was Monopis weaverella, the Carrion Moth mentioned earlier. 

A really nice, pale Dun-bar.

One of my favourite 'subtle' moths, this is Pale Mottled Willow, and a super-fresh example too.

A fairly common but unspectacular micro. Its appearance here is yet more evidence of my mild obsession with photographing the things.

One benefit of taking all these moth pics is that many species are becoming increasingly familiar to me, and easier to recognise when I meet them again. Repeatedly taking and viewing images definitely helps the learning process. For example, although Blair's Mocha does not feature in this post, I'll bet many regular NQS readers with minimal interest in moths would instantly recognise one!

There is no trap report for Thursday night. It was our 43rd wedding anniversary on Wednesday, and a slightly belated celebration took place in and around Weymouth last night...

The view from our balcony last night. Large glass of single malt just out of view.