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
Dark Sword-grass (Agrotis ipsilon) and Turnip Moth (A. segetum), to light at St Mellion, SE Cornwall (VC2) on night of 8/3. #teamoth
Small Mottled Willow (S. exigua), to light at St Keyne, Cornwall VC2 on 7.3. A. Adams #teammoth
Pearly Underwing (P. saucia) to light at Thurlestone, S. Devon on 6/3. M. Passman. #teammoth
Nomophilia noctuella (Rush Veneer) to light at Brixton, S. Devon on 5/3. C. Vincent. #teammoth
Small Mottled Willow (S. exigua) and Rush Veneer (Nomophila noctuella) to light in Wotter, S. Devon on 5/3. K. May #teammoth
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
Great record. One I've always hoped to see. I did get a new Depressarid to me last night - A. yeatiana (finally!)
Well spotted among the heracliana!
Pearly Underwing (P. saucia) to light at Thurlestone, S. Devon on 3/3. M. Passman. #teammoth
Dark Sword-grass (A. ipsilon) to light at Helston, Cornwall on 4/3. D. Wright #teammoth
The Saharan dust has arrived (my car has quite a covering). Unfortunately a cold front will introduce cold air from the west during the eve, resulting in a chilly end to the night for most of us. Hopefully areas away from the far west will have a mild 2-3 hours after dusk. #teammoth
Postcard live from the field, from Mariposa co-founder David Moore in South Wales:
Recent southerly winds have already ushered the first migrant butterflies our way this spring, with a fine and pioneering Painted Lady found this morning.
@savebutterflies.bsky.social
Thanks Mark. I thought they'd turn up today.
Painted lady at Porthgwarra this morning... @migrantmothuk.bsky.social
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
True Peter, although more likely in an Atlantic airstream than over the Continent at this time of year
Over the next 2 days we could see some of the highest concentrations of Saharan dust recorded in the UK - an exciting event if it happened during the warmer months, but I doubt many moths will cross the nr Continent to reach us. We should certainly see an increase in Painted Lady though #teammoth
Just looked up from a spot of gardening at home to see my second Hummingbird Hawkmoth of the year!
Previously never seen one before the end of March.
SW Hants
@migrantmothuk.bsky.social
#teammoth
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
Small Mottled Willow to light at Abbotsbury last night, part of a whopping 95 of 15 including another Red Sword-grass, 2nd Oak Nycteoline of the week and a Brimstone @migrantmothuk.bsky.social
Small Mottled Willow
Acleris cristana
A selection from the garden trap. Oak Beauty, Twin-spotted Quakers, Common Quakers, Small Mottled Willow, Rush Veneer, Early Moth
Acleris hastiana
A NFY Small Mottled Willow was the best @migrantmothuk.bsky.social overnight in my Plymouth garden trap, along with singles of Rusty-dot Pearl and Rush Veneer among 31/16. Acleris cristana was also NFY here. The work trap had 16/9, with Acleris hastiana NFY here
#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
@migrantmothuk.bsky.social @stevenash71.bsky.social
I recorded this Hummingbird HawkMoth at 1.15pm today in the High Street at Lymington, Hampshire
These are the current wind maps (12 noon on 24/2), showing the route dispersing insects are likely to take over the next 48 hours. #teammoth
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
Painted Lady (V. cardui), observed today (22/2) on St Agnes, Isles of Scilly. Per B. Dawson.
Red-headed Chestnut, to light at Shottisham, Suffolk (VC25) on 21/2. P. Kitchener #teammoth
Yep, they were all tiny. One was the same size as a Dark Sword-grass! Obviously very little to eat in the desert that year!
Here's hoping Paul! I'd be shocked if one isn't recorded in the UK by the end of the week. I caught 3 on Valentine's Day in 2024, my only Feb records.
