May Moths (2 Viewers)

[Paul Chapman]

Yes. Green Pug. Very black and white when looked at from underneath.

All the best
Paul

 

[Farnboro John]

Yes. Green Pug. Very black and white when looked at from underneath.

All the best
Paul

I can confirm that because it moved to the window for a couple of hours so I had the underneath view from indoors. TYVM!

John

 

[JWN Andrewes]

Rarest moth this morning in a garden context was my second Seraphim, very worn, a right shabby article. Much smarter was the year's first Hawk-moth, a Lime. Chocolate-tip and Sandy Carpet (3rd garden) were the other notables.

 

[Allen]

A few unusual ones for me last night amongst the usual
Bufftip
Treble lines
Seraphim (photo)
Brindled White spot (photo in case someone has other suggestions)
Narrow winged Pug (again photo in case of other suggestions)
Spruce Carpet
Foxglove Pug
Orange Footman
White Ermine
Flame Shoulder

 

[Weasel1]

Pretty low numbers so far in May for me, a few NFG's in Common Swift, Brimstone and Green Carpet.

Here is a Muslin Moth from last time out.

 

[Farnboro John]

Massive cock-up forgetting to change the battery over, so the trap light was out when I came down this morning. Who knows what left under its own steam: before I went to bed I had a look and there was lots of moth activity around the trap but it didn't ping me to do the change-over - grrr!

Anyway, the first Poplar Hawk-moth of the year was still there along with three Treble Lines, a Pale Mottled Willow and a Knot Grass. The Poplar even stuck its wings out on being released rather than adopting their usual roosting pose - nice view of the chestnut hindwing spots!

John

 

[Farnboro John]

Pictures from today. I'm less convinced than I was by the Knot Grass: the longer I look at it the more I vacillate between that and Poplar Grey. Weird.

John

 

[JWN Andrewes]

I would call that a Knot Grass John. If your indecision is based on the photo, is it possible that the flash has changed it's appearance slightly from when you clocked it in life? If so I would be inclined to go with first instincts on this one.

 

[dantheman]

I googled briefly which came up with this -

Knoy Grass vs Poplar Grey

Hi, I have been through all the books and looked at the pictures on the internet and I am not a bit confused about the id of the above two. I would therefore appreciate it if someone could look at the attached photos and comment if they believe they are all poplar grey and if not why not. My...

www.birdforum.net

Hindwing useful! Also the white spots indicate Knot Grass ...

 

[aeshna5]

Walking my regular Sunday patch this morning, I was pleased to see one of my favourite micros-Alabonia geoffrella. Such a smart moth & fortunately landed to confirm my hunch.

 

[Farnboro John]

Thank you to both James and Dan. I was happy on first sight and later began to talk myself out of the ID on the photo. It wasn't the best marked ever tbh! Knot Grass it is.

Cheers

John

 

[Allen]

A few different ones last night
Treble lines
Common Marbled Carpet
Seraphim
Lesser Swallow Prominent
Garden Pebble
Brimstone
Bufftip
White Ermine
Brown Silver-line
Small Magpie
Foxglove Pug

 

[Southern Viking]

Thank you to both James and Dan. I was happy on first sight and later began to talk myself out of the ID on the photo. It wasn't the best marked ever tbh! Knot Grass it is.

Cheers

John

I've always done Knot Grass on the white spots on the inner bit of the forewing, but never appreciated the confusion with Poplar Grey if they were less obvious until you posted that!

 

[KenM]

Walking my regular Sunday patch this morning, I was pleased to see one of my favourite micros-Alabonia geoffrella. Such a smart moth & fortunately landed to confirm my hunch.

Just looked that one up A…..does look kinda good.👍

 

[Farnboro John]

Spectacle the NFY this morning, plus singles of Willow Beauty, White Ermine, Treble Lines and Shuttle-shaped Dart. Not much but its not far off full moon.

John

 

[aeshna5]

At Hutchinson's Bank, Croydon today for butterflies but had a smart Mother Shipton, several Burnet Companions & Common Carpets as well as Mint Moths.

 

[Richard D]

Not much from last night - 7 Treble Lines, 2 Pale Mottled Willow, 2 Shuttle Shaped Darts, 1 Vines Rustic, 1 Willow Beauty and a nfy Lycnis

 

[Farnboro John]

A decent haul last night with four NFY: Orange Footman on the window, Diamondback Moth, Vines Rustic and Small Clouded Brindle in the trap. Four Treble Lines top numbers plus two White Ermine and singles of Esperia sulphurella, Flame Shoulder and Poplar Hawk-moth.

John

 

[Farnboro John]

Not the ideal moon conditions for mothing on the night of 22/23 May as shown below!

However, I found a bunch of moths in and around the trap in the morning including some outside it that the Robin and Great Tits had missed: Orange Footman on the window and Esperia sulphurellaon the wall. Small Clouded Brindle and Poplar Hawk-moth photographed after release on the Buddleia but the other moths were totally unco-operative so eggbox shots.

John

.

 

[JWN Andrewes]

Best moth this morning, not much else.