Back into moth recording

Late May, and while the weather is still a bit chilly due to cold winds, I noticed moths coming to lit windows and decided it was time to carry out one of my aims for the year: get back into moth recording. With my parents visiting, I hoped I might find something interesting for them to look at.

It turned out that there wasn't much in the trap when I got up at the crack of dawn. In some ways, this was a good thing; a big catch to work through would have taken a long time, especially as my identification skills are so rusty. On the other hand, the few moths here compared to the number and variety I had back on the farm is a bit depressing.

The results, in 2013 checklist order since I need to get back into good recording habits!

70.054 BF1727 Silver-ground Carpet Xanthorhoe montanata : 2
70.226 BF1906 Brimstone Opisthograptis luteolata : 3
72.020 BF2060 White Ermine Spilosoma lubricipeda : 1
73.002 BF2449 Dark Spectacle Abrostola triplasia : 1
73.032 BF2425 Nut tree Tussock Colocasia coryli f. medionigra : 1
73.102 BF2302 Brown Rustic Rusina ferruginea: 2
73.329 BF2102 Flame Shoulder Ochropleura plecta : 5

23.5.18. 15 moths, 7 species. (Wot, no micros? - Ed)

I only realised I had a Dark Spectacle (rather than The Spectacle) when I looked at my photo and saw the cross-lines edged with reddish-brown. The moths I puzzled over were the Nut-tree Tussock and the Brown Rustic. The latter was because, after a late spring, could I really have Brown Rustics in late May when they normally appear from June? But the white marks on the leading edge of the wing and the cross-lines are the key and this male is quite fresh. I must look out the stones and slate I used to use for taking moth photos, although my thumbnail gives an idea of scale.

Brown Rustic Rusina ferruginea

As beautiful and accurate as Richard Lewington's illustrations are in the Field Guide, I don't think they do the Nut-tree Tussock justice, as it's much fluffier and more beautiful in real life. I thought I'd seen it before, but couldn't think what it was and initially looked at the Tussock moths, which are in a different family. The word 'tussock' niggled at me and a scan down the index and through the illustrations confirmed the identity of my lovely visitor.

Nut-tree Tussock Colocasia coyli f. medionigra

Having managed to ID everything (eventually), I feel less daunted by my rusty ID skills. Bring on the next session!