Dave Wheatley

27/12 last night in SE Hants. Nothing new, best of 4 Merveille du Jour and a Yellow-line Quaker #teammoth #peteringoutfortheyear

27/17 in SE Hants. Very cold big moon then a couple of showers overnight were not ideal mothing conditions. Cypress Carpet, 4x MdJ and a Vestal were the best. Brick was NFY and I reckon that might be the last for 2026 unless the weather improves in the next 1.5 wks #teammoth

Zero chance of a trap tomorrow night so I’m giving it a go. Clear sky biggish moon and bloody cold. Wogan averted with 2 MdJ, Barred Sallow and a Vestal. A Large Wainscot or a Streak would be nice by morning 🙏 #teammoth

As the weather is officially 💩 I’ve moved into the the lab. Agonopterix scopariella was confirmed by gen det, barely annual in Hants, Mompha divisella was also gen det and is a NFG. Finally a fairly non descript micro turned out to be Bedellia somnulentella which may or may not be a NFG 🤷🏻‍♂️ #teammoth

Well between the 3 traps tonight we barely made double figures. Best moth of the night is a potential Agonopterix scopariella, a speciality of Botley wood, Hants where we were trapping tonight. Next best was 2 Streak, including this one that landed on me both species larva feed on broom #teammoth

@ruthnewby.bsky.social I was wrong there was a Vestal! One of the Phyllonorycter looks like it might be the dark form of Lyonetia clerkella (which I never knew existed) though it won’t settle for a proper photo #teammoth

88/26 in warm but damp conditions. NFY November Moth agg. A nice selection of mothery inc. 7 Phyllonorycter which might remain as such if ICBA to ID them to sp level 😆 8 MdJ was a good count, Least Carpet and Maiden’s Blush were on the late side #teammoth

77/24 in SE Hants. Undoubted star moth was a White Speck, one from my most wanted list, having only previously trapped one on Guernsey. Golden Twin-spot, Blair’s and Grey Shoulder, MdJ best of the rest #teammoth #migrantmothuk

Moth numbers holding up in SE Hants 125/34. Nothing new but a migrant feel to the trap (could be local breeders, who knows this year 🤷🏻‍♂️). 4x SMW, 1x RDP, 1x Clancy’s, 4x Blair’s Mocha, 1x Rush Veneer, 3x L-album W, 4x White Point, 1x Vestal and Turnip. Best of Y. sequella #teammoth #migrantmothuk

101/45 was a decent return from last night. Dewick’s Plusia was the best moth, which took longer to say than it stayed on the edge of the trap! Deep-brown Dart was NFY and a good scattering of common migrants was welcome.Lesser Wax Moth is never common in the garden #teammoth

65/28 seemed a decent return in the moth traps with a distinct autumn feel to the catch. First appearance of the season for Darth Moth and a smattering of Torts. Also an an interesting looking Blastobasis (probably just a worn adustella) #teammoth

Not quite the Mallow or Big Blue I am hoping for, but not a bad start to tonight’s moth shenanigans. Anyone else trapping the light fantastic this evening? #teammoth

A very lacklustre trap last night, down to 32/11. The only highlight was Acleris rhombana, which may or may not be NFY #teammoth

An undemanding 103/31 in SE Hants. 1st Satellite of the season and some nicely marked regulars to keep me interested. Best was the bycatch, Two-spotted Cricket. Highly unlikely to be wild, probably an escape from the pet trade #teammoth

Given the breezy conditions overnight in SE Hants, 161/41 was a decent trap. A good spread of Sallow sp with another record of Golden Twin-spot were nice. Best moth was Bordered Straw (NFG), finally the last of the 3 Straws! 1st Chestnut and Rosy Rustic of the autumn #teammoth #migrantmothuk

169/52 in SE Hants last night. Sallow and Barred Sallow NFY. Another Blackneck suggests a local 2nd gen. Another Ypsolopha parenthesella was a good garden record. What a strange year when SMW, O. semirubella and Vestal are dismissed as common moths and almost certainly local breeders 🤷🏻‍♂️ #teammoth

A blast of summer past in the moth trap last night. 340/69 with only 121 LYU. Endotricha flipping flammealis, Barred Red and Blackneck were unexpected and unusual guests for this time of year. Ypsolopha alpella and parenthesella are uncommon visitors as was Pyrausta despicata #teammoth

344/62 in SE Hants last night. Possible NFYs in Purple Bar, Gold Triangle and Pink-barred Sallow. Unexpected records of Ruby Tiger and Birch Mocha. 4 Orange Sallow is as many as the previous 3yrs combined. A Mompha sp could be NFG but needs 🪓 + not forgetting a new trap record of 177 LYU! #teammoth

A nice trap in the NFwith @alandcs.bsky.social (new ✔️) @keithgodfrey.bsky.social @tomstone.bsky.social I ended up with 4 NFM (thought it was 1) Autumnal Rustic, 5x Feathered Gothic, Agriphila latistria, Pediasia contaminella. 5x C-b Sallow, 6x Horse Chestnut, 1x Brussels Lace best of rest #teammoth

First ever LYU deluge, 153 of them, previous best was about 40!! 314/52 prelim count as it’s very wet so no garden check. NFY Bridled Green, Orange Sallow, Least YU, Golden Twin-spot and Clancy’s R. Best of, 3 Purest Green, P vitrealis and Delicate #teammoth

The traps at the Haven produced very little, even lacking in wetland species. However the 2 big oaks above the trap did come up trumps! Dark Crimson Underwing and Rosy Underwing, which has very few Hants records. Probably attracted to sap runs on the trees. Palpita vitrealis was best of #teammoth

This evening’s trap location is in the depths of ‘Titty Haven’ nature reserve. Lots of promising habitat, unfortunately a colony of bats comes with it 🤷🏻‍♂️ #teammoth

💩 weather but still a lot of moths. 220/54 with some requiring a closer look. An aberrant GP Carpet (Fir?) got my attention but migrants were to the fore. 3x Dark Crimson, 8x Vestal, 1x P. vitrealis, 4x Angle Shades, 2x SMW, 7x O. semirubella, 3x Turnip, 1x A. Tumidana etc #migrantmothuk #teammoth

Last day of August had 188/72 in the traps. Lots of summer stuff, though this year I don’t know now what constitutes a migrant or local breeder 🤷🏻‍♂️ 1st sign of Autumn with Centre-barred Sallow and 1st trap with all 4 head scratchers of Blair’s, Jersey, Maiden’s + Clay Triple-lines to sort 😬 #teammoth

Much reduced numbers last night in SE Hants with 114/44. Biggest surprise was the 2nd garden record of Cloaked Carpet followed by the third, last seen in 2023. An off looking Ephestia will probably turn out to be woodiella and the Blastobasis will almost certainly turn out to be rebeli #teammoth

Wasn’t expecting much with clear sky and low °C so 221/81 was a surprise. Excellent trap overall, best for me was a Dark Crimson, Delicate and Y. parenthesella all NFY. Ni Moth, Palpita vitrealis and 5 Vestal were best of the large numbers of migrants. Ancylis badiana is a long overdue NFG #teammoth

A good trap session in the NF last night with @keithgodfrey.bsky.social @mothyblackburn.bsky.social and Tom Stone. 46 species with some new moths for my Hants list. Like Tim I caught my own Eric, but also Matilella fusca, Ancylosis oblitella and Beautiful Yellow Underwing. All maybe NFM 🤷🏻‍♂️ #teammoth

@mikemoths.bsky.social evening Mike. Do you or any of the Dorset moth-ers have suggestions for somewhere to trap on an evening in the Charmouth area this weekend? Unbelievably (or not) my wife has booked a holiday cottage with no garden. Any help appreciated. Dave

202/91 in SE Hants. NFG Ni Moth, Plumed Fan-Foot and Aristotelia ericinella. Best for me was the return of Burnished Brass. This is my last post for a bit, I’m off social media, it’s all a bit elite and getting like twitching did. I’ll check in for DMs if you need gen det or a NF moth trip #teammoth

Finally got some semi decent photos (better than the previous attempt) of the 2 NFG, Twin-spot Plume and Coleophora hemerobiella (Black-stigma case-bearer). The Coleophora was an absolute swine and wouldn’t sit still even after being chilled and CO2ed. Both scarce moths in Hampshire #teammoth

Big drop in numbers to 114/59 last night. Possibly NFY was Wax Moth and A. inquinatella. A smattering of common migrant moths, with 3 more Light Crimson and 3 E. Quadrillella best of the rest #teammoth

Not sure by trapping tonight I’ll improve on the house captures from today. Heat downed HHM, Twin-spot Plume and Coleophora hemerobiella, the latter 2 if correct are NFG! #teammoth

One for you Mr T, somebody else’s Blastobasis, what do you think? It’s off for a professional chop @sj84turner.bsky.social #teammoth

159/61 in SE Hants. A smattering of migrants inc 5x Cydia amplana. NFY was Dewick’s Plusia. Best of 4x Light Crimson Underwing, Sallow Kitten, female Four-spotted Footman and 3x Ellie Hawk #teammoth

Plain Pug in all its glory, or not depending on your point of view. Personally I like it and it’s different from the usual blend (bland) of variations on the theme of Pug. #teammoth

Temp dropped to 10°C and the moths with it in SE Hants 100/50. Still some goodies, Birch Mocha, E. quadrillella, M. propinquella and a NFG Plain Pug, an absolute brute of a Pug and not really plain at all 🤔 A smattering of migrants (no SMW) and 3 Light Crimson Underwing the best of #teammoth

Two dissections from 10/07. Anacampsis blattariella, NFY and 2nd garden record, both very similar in appearance. The Nemapogon did turn out to be ruricolella which is NFG and uncommon in Hants #teammoth

155/63 last night, lower numbers due to a cock up. 2x Cydia amplana NFY along with 3x Diamond-back, 2 SMW, 1 Rush Veneer, 1 Silver Y, 1 Four-spotted Footman hinted at migration #migrantmothuk Best of: a nicely marked CU (checked) Large Emerald, C. pinella (NFY), LCU and another Sorhagenia #teammoth

Not to self, 50% battery power on the display doesn’t mean that amount of charge is deliverable. Woke up late (again) to lights out and an almost empty trap. It also shows how leaky a trap a Skinner is for moths to escape from, as it was full of moths last night #teammoth

14/07 SE Hants 204/82 moths. The surprise was another 2 Sorhagenia, 4 all told. Annual total is <1 for all 3 species combined! Finally a Kitty Kat. Lesser YU, Arg albistria both NFY. Best of rest Pine Hawk, 2x Light Crimson (uncooperative as always), an interesting Blastobasis for Gen det #teammoth

I don’t thinks there’s anything better than a serendipitous moth. Large Tabby NFY, found in the garage sitting on the solar panel battery #teammoth

Whilst I still try and recover my hearing from last nights double header QOTSA and SOAD (maybe one for you @willowglass12.bsky.social) I’ve put out the the moth traps, after all I don’t need good ears to identify moths #teammoth