Steve Nash

😆 Haven't bothered for the past couple of nights

Blimey! It'll be interested to see what happens later in the year.

Dark Sword-grass and Small Mottled Willow

Brindled Beauty

Small Mottled Willow

On a cold night in St Mellion (down to 4.3c), Small Mottled Willow & Dark Sword-grass came to light, among 71 moths of 23 species. Beautiful Plume (A. acanthadactyla) & Brindled Beauty were new for the year #teammoth

Are you seeing exigua? A few here this month.

The rains in Morocco and greening of the desert maybe stopping moths from dispersing. You'd imagine there will be a huge emergence over the next couple of months so perhaps May will be similar to 2006!

That's interesting. You'd imagine they'd be abundant down there in Spring.

I know, quite odd looking. Almost like a Light Feathered Rustic!

Dark Sword-grass (Agrotis ipsilon) and Turnip Moth (A. segetum), to light at St Mellion, SE Cornwall (VC2) on night of 8/3. #teamoth

Pale variant of Hebrew Character (O. gothica)

Pine Beauty (P. flammea)

Pine Beauty

Pale variant of Hebrew Character

A calm & cloudy night in St Mellion brought out the moths, with 141 moths of 25 species recorded. Record counts of 3 Pine Beauty (only 6 previous records & earliest record by 13 days), 15 Dotted Border & 3 Ypsolopha mucronella. Also, this very nice pale sandy variation of Hebrew Character #teammoth

Agonopterix yeatiana

Pale Pinion

Caloptilia stigmatella

Ypsolopha mucronella

Also in St Mellion yesterday evening, a long awaited first of Agonopterix yeatiana. Caloptilia stigmatella and Pale Pinion were new for the year. Year total now stands at 50 species.
Also of interest, Ypsolopha mucronella and Angle Shades. #teammoth

Probably explains the lack of migrants recorded as a very small area avoided the cold wind or cold air.

It was such a contrast in conditions Dave. Absolutely perfect early on - 11c, still and cloudy. Just a shame it didn't last!

During a brief spell of calm and mild weather early evening a total of 49 moths of 22 species came to light, including 2 x Small Mottled Willow (Spodoptera exigua). By 10pm, a strong northerly wind developed and the temperature dropped 5c. St Mellion. #teammoth

1 x Dark Sword-grass (Agrotis ipsilon), among 130 moths of 22 species, to light at St Mellion, SE Cornwall on 4/3.

There was a smattering of Saharan dust on the car yesterday evening. #teammoth

Tawny Pinion

Yellow Horned

Peacock

Also in St Mellion, record counts of Tawny Pinion (3) and Twin-spotted Quaker (15) - previous highest was 4! Also, Yellow Horned, 2 Brindled Pug, Red Chestnut, Grey Shoulder-knot & 24 Early Grey. The first Peacock butterfly in the garden on 3/3 & 4/3. #teammoth

Water Carpet

Oak Nycteoline

Yesterday's warm sunshine certainly had an effect on moth numbers, with 128 moths of 25 species recorded - by far the best night of the year here in St Mellion (despite the clear, moonlit skies). 2 Depressaria radiella (Parsnip Moth), 2 Water Carpet & Oak Nycteoline were new for the year #teammoth

Tawny Pinion

The Engrailed

37 moths of 14 species in St Mellion
1 A heracliana agg
2 March Moth
1 Dotted Border
1 Engrailed new for year
3 Early Thorn
1 Oak Beauty
5 Common Quaker
1 Small Quaker NFY
4 Twin-spotted Quaker
8 Hebrew Character
3 Red Chestnut
1 Grey Shoulder-knot
1 Tawny Pinion NFY
5 Early Grey
#teammoth

Just a few Small Mottled Willow so far

Small Mottled Willow

Rush Veneer

1 x Small Mottled Willow (S. exigua) and 1 x Nomophila noctuella (Rush Veneer), among 24 moths of 12 species on a very windy night in St Mellion, SE Cornwall. #teammoth

Twin-spotted Quaker

Female Early Moth

Also in St Mellion, my first ever female Early Moth, which was clinging on to the railings next to the moth trap. And this attractive chestnut coloured Twin-spotted Quaker was among 3 taken. Other highlights were Red Chestnut and 7 Early Grey. #teammoth

Yellow Horned

Mottled Grey

Plutella xylostella

42 moths of 12 species in St Mellion last night. The largely clear skies & cool wind probably kept any migrant activity to a minimum (hopefully tonight!). New for the year were - Plutella xylostella (Diamond-back Moth), Yellow Horned & Mottled Grey, making it 40 species recorded this year #teammoth

Good total Paul. Yes it could be, although the wind picked up here. Clear, breezy and cool here too. I'm hoping it improves when the cloud rolls in later.

V-Pug

Small Mottled Willow

Clouded Drab

32 moths of 16 species in the end at St Mellion last night. Conditions were perfect for the first 2-3 hours of darkness yet very few moths were flying. New for the year were: 2 V-pug, Brindled Pug, Clouded Drab and Small Mottled Willow. #teammoth

😆 Our neighbour has just turned 93. She's as tough as old boots!

Small Mottled Willow

29 moths of 15 species included 1 x Small Mottled Willow (Spodoptera exigua). To light at St. Mellion, SE Cornwall (VC2) on night of 23/2. #teammoth

Twin-spotted Quaker

43 of 14 species in St Mellion
10 A. heracliana agg
1 A. ferrugana agg
3 Double-striped Pug (new for year)
1 Winter Moth (!)
8 Early Moth
1 March Moth
1 Early Thorn
3 Hebrew Character
7 Common Quaker
1 Twin-spotted Quaker (nfy)
2 Chestnut
2 Dark Chestnut
1 Red Chestnut
2 Early Grey #teammoth

The total for the year in St Mellion (light trap only) is up to 30 species (51 species at same point in 2024 and only 15 in 2025). #teammoth

March Moth

Hebrew Character

E. postvittana (LBAM)

22 moths of 11 sp in St Mellion last night:
3 Agonopterix heracliana agg
3 Acleris ferrugana agg
1 Epiphyas postvittana (LBAM): new for year
1 March Moth: new for year
2 Early Moth
1 Dotted Border
2 Hebrew Character: new for year
5 Common Quaker
1 Chestnut
2 Early Grey
1 Angle Shades
#teammoth

Small Brindled Beauty would be most welcome here - there's only 2 records from Cornwall!

Thanks Dave. Yes, racking up the species but numbers are very low. Cooler tonight but may give it a go in the evening again.