Sharing the results from my latest Moth Trap Session. I have written posts about setting up a moth trap and on collecting the results if you want some more background info on how and why I use a Moth Trap
Date: 9th September 2023
Weather:
Over 2 weeks have passed since the last session, and I've been struggling to find the time to do some moth trapping to be honest. However I'm making an extra effort to try it tonight due to just how warm it has been here lately.
After a promising start, the Summer this year has been very cold and very wet. As we move into Autumn we have inexplicably entered a very brief, yet very hot, heatwave.
I'm pretty sure the planets weather system is broken...
Its been hot and sunny during the day, and muggy and humid overnight. Rubbish for humans trying to sleep, but great for moths. Its also good to see that there is practically no wind tonight either.
Its getting late in the year, and the numbers of moths are begining to drop of. Tonight is like to be the last 'busy' night of this year, so I'd better get the trap put out. One thing I do like is the nights start to draw in earlier, so writing this at 8pm its already getting dark.
Lights on, pots at the ready... Here. We. Go!
Results: 56 moths of 19 species
Summary of Results:
Ah well, only 19 species seen during this session. I'm not surprised to be honest, it definitely is a sign we are heading into Autumn.
There was not just a low number of species, but also low numbers of actual moths. Only one was in double figures; the Light Brown Apple Moth at 17, the rest were single digits. Many in fact only appearing in ones or twos.
Here are a few of the slightly more interesting ones, but it is obvious we are moving from more interesting looking Summer species to a sea of Yellows and Browns:
Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing - Noctua fimbriata
Lesser Yellow Underwing - Noctua comes
Centre-barred Sallow - Atethmia centrago
Straw Dot - Rivula sericealis
This Straw Dot was probably the most interesting of the moths seen, purely as it is one of the migrant species that appear in late Summer and Early Autumn. Even then it is still relatively common, and I've seen this species several times over recent years.
However, for the actual highlights of the session, we need to look at a completely different order of insects: Bugs.
Lots of different insects can be attracted to the light trap, not just moths (Lepidoptera), but spiders and beetles and in the case of the next 2 species there were 2 Bug species (from the Hemiptera order)
First up is a type of Shield Bug:
Red-legged Shieldbug - Pentatoma rufipes
Red-legged Shieldbug - Pentatoma rufipes
I have seen this species in the garden once before, and I wasn't able to get pictures, so it was a great opportunity to get close up to this one.
We often get Green Shieldbugs and Hairy Shieldbugs in the garden, so it was really cool to see a different species. With its bright red legs it's quite easy to ID too!
More info here: https://www.naturespot.org.uk/species/red-legged-shieldbug
The 2nd Bug looked weird when I caught it in the moth trap, and I couldn't immediately name it at first. When it was in the pot I noticed it tried to jump to escape (an explosive jump similar to a grasshopper), and that is when I realized that it must be a type of Planthopper or Leafhopper
Eared Leafhopper - Ledra aurita
A quick check of the books revealed it to be an Eared Leafhopper.
The name is somewhat inaccurate as those 'ear tufts' on its head are not actually ears, and instead just part of the structure of the Bugs body.
More info here: https://www.naturespot.org.uk/species/eared-leafhopper
Eared Leafhopper - Ledra aurita
It looks pretty cool though, and its a species I have never seen before, so that is also a plus!
So there we have it... a distinctly average trapping session, rescued in the end by 2 rather interesting bugs, that will do nicely. I'm still going to keep trapping intermittently over the next few weeks, but it will be very much weather dependent
i.e. if its too wet/cold/windy then I won't bother, and if it's dry then I will :-)
What will happen next time? Will it be busy and chaotic? Will it be quieter? Will I find something new to record?
Well, once again, there is only one way to find out!
Notes on Pictures: Since I started moth trapping 5 years ago, I have been slowly building up collection of Library Images. The idea being that once I have taken a picture of a particular species of Moth, I don't need another picture of the same species a year later. It’s a waste of time and energy. I only take pictures of new species, or of moths that are difficult to ID, so I can get the records verified.
While in my care, all individuals are looked after, and after Photographs have been taken, they are all released safely outside.
All names confirmed and checked via Wikispieces
Further Research from UK Moths and NatureSpot
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