Plusinae - Silver, Golden Y's, Brasses ... 

2428 Chrysodeixis chalcites - Golden Twin-spot

The 'twin spots' can be in one blob ... or two. 

Status: A scarce migrant to the UK. On the continent they are resident in Southern Europe, North Africa and the Canary islands.

Habitat/Food plant: The larval food plants are stated as Sage, Vipers Bugloss, Chrysanthemums, Tobacco etc.

1999 - 2023 records:

Taken here on nineteen occasions up till the end of 2017, always as singles, between late July and early November.

Dates of capture: 16/08/99, 30/09/99, 25/07/02, 30/07/02, 01/11/02, 18/08/04, 23/10/04, 19/10/05, 29/10/09, 30/07/12, 05/09/13, 20/07/14, 25/07/14, 15/08/15, 7/11/15, 2/09/2016, 02./09/2017 ... thereafter see below:

In 2018 things went a bit mental with Golden Twin Spots locally as they were obviously breeding in Thanet (or thereabouts?) by this time. All in all I caught 18 individual moths between August 2nd and October 17th with 3 on August 14th, 2 on August 22nd, 2 on September 21st and 2 on October 17th. 2020 went on to be even more mental with 76 individual moths showing between May 20th and November 9th. 

2012 = 1.    2013 = 1.    2014 = 2.     2015 = 2.    2016 = 1.    2017 = 1.    2018 = 18.    2019 = 25+.    2020 = 76.   2021 = 0.   2022 = 3.   2023 = 3. 

Early date: 20th May 2020.

Late date: 9th November 2020. 

Maximum count: The peak was 14 on August 3rd 2020 but also 7 on 22nd September 2020.  


2430 Ctenoplusia limberina - Scar Bank Gem

Status: Very rare migrant from North Africa, the Canary Islands and Madeira. At the time of capture there had been less than twenty UK records.

Habitat/Food plant: The larval food plants in Africa are reported to be Sages, Tobacco, Mulleins etc.

1999 - 2023 records: One record, taken on 13th July 2010.


2432 Trichoplusia ni - Ni Moth

Status: Rare migrant from Southern Europe and North Africa.

Habitat/Food plant: Not properly understood but larvae have been found on Sea Rocket, Marigold and Hawkweed. Will accept many cultivated plants in captivity.

1999 - 2023 records:

Two records here, taken on 8th August 2008 and 17th June 2015.


2434 Diachrysia chrysitis - Burnished Brass

Status: In decline, becoming quite scarce from about 2010 onwards. It had been a fairly regular visitor previously.

Habitat/Food plant: Found in a variety of habitats. The larval food plant is mainly Common Nettle but it does feed on White Dead-nettle, Wild Marjoram, Lesser Burdock and Spear Thistle.

1999 - 2023 records: Once a common visitor to the garden traps, numbers started to decline in 2010 and from thereon they were scarce for whatever reason?

To illustrate, I used to record 20 - 30+ moths annually from 1999 until 2009 apart from a blip in 2004 when I only recorded 4 single moths. Numbers were back to normal by 2005 and in 2002 I took 1 - 3 moths on 38 dates between June 7th and September 18th and in 2008, 1 - 5 moths on 41 dates between June 15th and October 1st ... by 2010 numbers had dropped to virtually nothing by comparison, from then they were always scarce. It's very odd taking into account on how common the larval food plants are locally?

Since the decline, my annual totals of moths here have been:

2010 = 5.    2011 = 1.    2012 = 4.    2013 = 0.   2014 = 1.    2015 = 0.    2016 = 2.    2017 = 2.    2018 = 10.    2019 = 0.    2020 = 2.   2021 = 3.   2022 = 3.   2023 = 4.  2024 = 


243?? Diachrysis stenochrysitis - Cryptic Burnished Brass

Status: Unknown.

Previously lumped in amongst D.chrysistis until news emerged in 2010 (or thereabouts?) that the individuals having joined brassy lines were thought to be of the continental form D.stenochrysitis. As yet I am unsure whether this is a separate full species, though from what I've been reliably informed I suspect it is? There was a lot of controversy at the time when the news initially broke. Fortunately I had taken a few images of the joined up form so could verify what I already knew from memory, that this form had occurred in the garden.

2436 Macdunnoughia confusa - Dewick's Plusia

15th September 2008. 

26th July 2012

16th August 2013

Status: Rare migrant from mainland Europe.

Habitat/Food plant: Common Nettle, Yarrow, Mayweeds, Chamomile, Wormwood etc.

1999 - 2023 records: Seven records, all as single moths taken on 15th September 2008, 26th July 2012, 16th August 2013, 7th October 2021, 1 on 30th April 2022, 16th July 2022 and 17th September 2023.    


2493 Plusia festucae - Gold Spot

Status: Irregular, non annual resident.

Habitat/Food plant: A variety of damp places, canals, rivers, ditches, marshes etc.

1999 - 2023 records: Only two of the first generation (taken on 31/05/2009 and 11/05/2018) has ever showed up here whilst although generally a scarcity, they did show up in very good numbers in 2009 (only) when I took 1 - 2 moths on 15 dates. All the second generation moths have shown between May 29th (in 2017) and August 24th. 

To illustrate, the annual totals since 1999 have been as follows:

1999 = 0.     2000 = 1.     2001 = 0.     2002 = 0.     2003 = 3.     2004 = 0.     2005 = 1.     2006 = 1.    2007 = 4.     2008 = 4.     2009 = 16.     2010 = 0.     2011 = 0.     2012 = 1. 

2013 = 0.     2014 = 0.     2015 = 1.     2016 = 1.     2017 = 4.    2018 = 4.    2019 = 0.    2020 = 0.   2021 = 0.   2022 = 5.   2023 = 0.  2024 = 


2441 Autographa gamma - Silver Y

Status: Common migrant.

Habitat/Food plant: Various ... food plants includes Bedstraws, Clovers, Nettle, Garden Pea, Cabbage and Runner Bean etc.

1999 - 2023 records: The most common of the migrant macro species, it can arrive in vast numbers. The peak counts here have been: 53 on 08/08/04, 80 on 19/07/06, 64 on 29/07/06, 46 on 30/07/10 and 52 on 29/07/2018.

They have shown up around the moth traps here in every month barring February, though always in the largest numbers in late summer and autumn.

2447 Syngrapha intrerrgationis - Scarce Silver Y


Status: Rare migrant.

Habitat/Food plant: A moth of moorland where the larval stage feeds on Heather and Bilberry.

1999 - 2023 records: One record, taken on 3rd August 2018.


2449 Abrostola triplasia - Dark Spectacle

Status: Common.

Habitat/Food plant: Found in gardens as well as many other habitats. The Larval food plant is Common Nettle and Hop.

1999 - 2023 records: Once a species seen only sparingly around the garden, both records and numbers have increased in recent years here. The peak count is 11 seen on 15th August 2021 and the early and late dates were of moths seen on April 21st 2003 and 6th October in both 2007 and 2008.

2450 Abrostola tripartita - Spectacle

The head on view showing the false eyes, after which it received its name

Status: Common, though showing signs of massive decline around the garden by 2010 ish.

Habitat/Food plant: Gardens, ditches, woodland etc. The larval food plant is Common Nettle.

1999 - 2023 records: Never numerous, the peak count was of five moths taken one night back in 2005 when they were far more common than they are now. The early and latest dates were 16th April 2007 and September 16th 2006. The total numbers from 2019 onward show a stark falling of numbers: 

2018 = 15.   2019 = 9,   2020 = 5.   2021 = 7.   2022 = 19.   2023 = 6.  2024 =  

Catocalinae 

2451 Catacala fraxini - Clifden Nonpareil

Status: rare and probably a migrant here? It has recolonised many areas that it went extinct from for many years.

Habitat/Food plant: A species of Broadleaved woodland. The main larval food plant is Aspen though it will accept other species apparently. 

1999 - 2023 records: 1 on 28th September 2023. 

2452 Catacala nupta - Red Underwing

Status: 0 - 6 annually ... numbers would be appear to be falling away in recent years. 

Habitat/Food plant: It occurs in woodland and parkland/gardens etc, the larval food plants are Poplars (Black, White and Aspen) and Willows.

1999 - 2021 records: The early and late dates have been from 31st July 1999 and 21st October in both 2002 and 2004. 

Annual totals (all as single moths)

1999 = 2.     2000 = 1.     2001 = 5.     2002 = 1.     2003 = 2.     2004 = 1.     2005 = 1.     2006 = 6.     2007 = 4.     2008 = 3.    2009 = 3.     2010 = 0.     2011 = 3.     2012 = 1.

2013 = 1.     2014 = 0.    2015 = 0.      2016 = 1.     2017 = 0.      2018 = 0.    2019 = 0.   2020 = 0.   2021 = 3.   2022 = 0.   2023 = 0.  2024 = 


2454 Catacala promissa - Light Crimson Underwing

Status: Very rare, presumably a continental migrant to our part of the UK?

Habitat/Food plant: A moth of ancient Oak woodland. In Britain it is confined to the New Forest. 

1999 - 2023 records: 1 on 27th June 2020. 

Ophiderinae 

2469 Scoliopterix libatrix - Herald

Status: Annual in very small numbers.

Habitat/Food plant: It occurs in any habitat where the larval food plant (Willow/Aspen and Poplars) is found.

1999 - 2023 records: Adult moths over winters and can show up in March/April.  They then show up again during July with second generation moths from September.

Being a low level visitor they generally show up as singles moths, occasional in two's, though not very often. I once found four in the traps on 15th July 2005 but this was exceptional in my experience. Even when trapping away from the garden in prime habitat this would constitute a large haul I feel? 

Annual garden totals:

1999 = 1.     2000 = 1.     2001 = 4.     2002 = 5.     2003 = 3.     2004 = 7.     2005 = 11.     2006 = 3.     2007 = 5.     2008 = 5.    2009 = 4.    2010 = 4.     2011 = 2.     2012 = 2.

2013 = 7.     2014 = 2.     2015 = 4.    2016 = 0.     2018 = 0.    2019 = 0.   2020 = 1.   2021 = 0.   2022 = 3.   2023 = 1.  2023 = 


Rivulinae 

2474 Rivula sericealis - Straw Dot

Status: Fairly regular though never numerous.

Habitat/Food plant: Grassland and marshes ... the larval food plants are various grasses.

1999 - 2022 records: Small numbers of both generations generally show up annually, usually as single moths but 2 - 4 show up every now and then. I did once catch 11 on one night, that said it was way back in 2003 mind you. Though numbers fluctuate massively here the latter years records do show a significant fall in sightings. 

The year on year (rough) tally's have been:

2001 = 1.   2002 = 8,   2003 = 50.   2004 = 30.    2005 = 25.   2006 = 20.   2007 = 5.   2008 = 30.    2009 = 25.    2010 = 10.   2011 = 1.   2012 = 12.

2013 = 9.   2014 = 13.    2015 = 30.  2016 = 18.   2017 = 25.   2018 = 8.   2019 = 8.   2020 = 4.   2012 = 1.   2022 = 10+   2023 = 10+.  2024 = 

2473 Laspeyria flexula - Beautiful Hook-tip

The first capture, taken on 15/08/2015

... and the second [on the very same bit of red slate] on 2nd June 2017. 

Status: Rare, in fact non existent here before 2015.

Habitat/Food plant: Open woodland, parkland hedgerows, roadside verges, old orchards etc. The larval food plants are lichens growing on various trees.

Broods/flight period: One generation, flying from June till August.

1999 - 2023 garden records: Six records (all since 2015) records, taken on 15th July 2015, 2nd June 2017, 17th June 2017, 27th May 2018, 19th June 2019 and 25th June 2019.

2015 = 1.   2016 = 0.   2017 = 2.   2018 = 1.   2019 = 2.   2020 = 4.   2021 = 9.   2022 = 0.   2023 = 13.  2024 = 

Earliest date: 27th May 2018. 

Latest date: 22nd July 2020. 

Peak count: 2 on 6th and 8th July 2021. 


2475 Parasscotia fuliginaria - Waved Black

Almost a whole Waved Black, this one taken in August of 2020. I did get a mint specimen ten years earlier but it escaped out of the trap between me seeing it at night and when I blocked up the traps just before dawn. 

Status: Rare wanderer and possible migrant?

Habitat/Food plant: Mainly damp woodland - the larval food plant is moist Fungi, lichens and the rather vile sounding 'slime moulds' found growing on rotting wood.

1999 - 2023 records: Single moths were taken on 14th July 2010 and 3rd August 2020.


Hypeninae - Snouts 

2476 Hypena crassalis - Beautiful Snout

Status: Rare.

Habitat/Food plant: Open woodland and peat bogs where the larval food plant is Bilberry.

Broods/flight period: One generation, flying in June and July.

1999 - 2023 garden records: One record, taken on 19th June 2018.

Earliest date: n/a.

Latest date: n/a.

Peak count: n/a.


2477 Hypena proboscidalis - Snout

First generation moth

Second generation moth. 

Status: Common.

Habitat/Food plant: It occurs pretty much anywhere, the larval food plant is Common Nettle.

1999 - 2023 records: Showing signs of decline here since 2009/10, though both generations are still seen in half reasonable numbers.

The maximum catch catch was of eight moths on 17th June 2022. 


2478 Hypena obsitalis - Bloxworth Snout

My second sighting here, taken on 29/07/2017 ... the first flew off during my attempted getting it into a pot/photo session, a recurring theme unfortunately. I had to wait a further six years before this individual succumbed to the garden traps, was successfully potted up before sitting through the ritualistic photo session without any frustrating 'flighty' glitches. Since 2019 the tipping point of their establishing themselves here, they became a regular sighting.

One of many variants. 

Status: Rare wanderer, possibly a migrant? Since the 1990's it has been resident between Cornwall and Dorset.

Habitat/Food plant: South facing cliffs apparently ... the larval food plant is Pellitory of the Wall.

1999 - 2019 records:

Six records, taken on 28th September 2011, 29th July 2017, 16th September 2019, 19th September 2019, 1st November 2019 and 3rd November 2019.

2019 - 2023 records: 

Since 2019 the population then exploded ... 

2011 = 1. Then none till ... 2017 = 1.    2018 = 0.    2019 = 4.    2020 = 20+.   2021 = 14.   2022 = ?? 2023 = 73,  2024 

Peak count: 5 on 31st October 2023. 


2480 Hypena rostralis - Buttoned Snout

The one and only record of Buttoned Snout taken here ... unfortunately like so many good moths, it flew off and escaped during the transfer from pot to rocky background ... or in other words, the proper photo session. Anyhow, all I'm left with is this 'on the egg box' memory.

Status: Rare wanderer to the garden.

Habitat/Food plant: Only found in the south-east of England ... the larval food plant is Hop.

1999 - 2023 records:

One record, taken on 15th July 2016.

Strepsimaninae 

2484 Shrankia costaestrigalis - Pinion-streaked Snout

Status: Scarce wanderer.

Habitat/Food plant: Occurs in damp woodland and marshy areas. The larval food plant remains unknown.

1999 - 2023 records:

One record, taken on 17th June 2005.


Herminiinae - Fan Foots.

2488a Pechipogo plumigeralis - Plumed Fan Foot 

Status: Extremely rare migrant until early/mid 2000's and recent colonist to the UK. Probably locally established, though still a scarcity.

Habitat/Food plant: Not fully understood in the UK. On the continent known to feed on Rose, Broom, Ivy and other plants.

1999 - 2013 records: Six records, all as single moths with 30th June being the earliest and 3rd August being the late date.

20/09/2009, 10/07/2010, 27/06/2011, 03/07/2012, 02/08/2012 and 03/08/2013.

2013 - 2023 records: 

After the above, the annual totals were:

2014 = 2.   2015 = 4.    2016 = 2.   2017 = 3.    2018 = 5.    2019 = 11.    2020 = 30+.   2021 = 30+.  2022 = ??  2023 = 83.  2024 = 

Earliest date: 28th June 2024. 

Latest date: 25th October 2022. 

Peak count: 5 on 19th July 2020. 


2489 Zanclognatha tarsipennalis - Fan-foot

Status: Irregular but on the increase presumably?

Habitat/Food plant: Broadleaved Woodland, Parks and gardens - feeding on withered leaves of Oak, Beech and Bramble etc.

1999 - 2013 records: 14 records, all as single moths, between 3rd July (2012) and 31st July (1999)

2013 - 2023 records: 

Since the above, the annual totals have been:

2014 = 4.    2015 = 6.    2016 = 3.    2017 = 7.    2018 = 4.    2019 = 1.    2020 = 4.   2021 = 1.   2022 = ??   2023 = 3.


2492 Herminia grisealis - Small Fan-foot

Status: Irregular.

Habitat/Food plant: Broadleaved Woodland, Scrub, Parkland etc.

1999 - 2013 records: Ten records, all between 16th June (2002 and 2004) and 5th August (2007)
I have taken two moths in a single night/date on two occasions, on 17th June 2005 and 16th July 2013.

2013 - 2023 records:   

Since the above, the annual totals have been:

2014 = 3.    2015 = 1.    2016 = 0.    2017 = 0.    2018 = 0.    2019 = 0.    2020 = 0.   2021 = 0.   2022 = 


2493 Macrochilo cribrumalis - Dotted Fan-foot

Status: Scarce wanderer.

Habitat/Food plant: Marshy areas - feeding on Wood Sedge, Hairy Wood Sedge and Field Wood Rush.

1999 - 2023 records: Twelve records (up to 2011) all single moths, between 27th June (2011) and 21st July (2007) A few have shown here since then. 


2495 Trisateles emortualis - Olive Crescent

Status: Rare migrant.

Habitat/Food plant: Mature Woodland ... feeding on Oak, Beech and possibly Sweet Chestnut.

1999 - 2023 records:

One record of a moth taken on 26th June 2001. Also a rather late one seen on 9th September 2023. The books say the adults fly in June/July though I did see two other unseasonal September sightings round the UK in September 2023 via @migrantmothUK.