Field Trip - Weston Park - 12/09/19

On Thursday last week, I was invited to run some moth traps at Weston Park, a mere 6 minute drive from where I live. I was greeted at 7pm, and shown around the grounds and decided on a few good areas to position my traps. The day had been warm in the sunshine but with a cool wind developing at times. Full cloud cover ensued after dark but the wind didn't drop and I think this slightly hampered the numbers in the end, in fact one trap I decided to re-site because of the gusty conditions.

Thankfully the three other traps that were tucked away faired much better.

It was extremely exciting and rewarding coming to an area so close to me that has never been properly explored for moths before.

I packed up at around half midnight and left just after 1am with a pretty tidy list for this time of year with 44 species.

Best Macro Moth for me was an Orange Sallow, owing to the mature Limes in the vicinity.. expected really. Also 3 forms of Elachista canapennella had my head scratching!

Many thanks to Margaret Luis for organising the evening for me, I shall be back hopefully soon.

Here is the full list

Catch Report - 12/09/19 - Weston Park - Hertfordshire - 1x 125w MV Robinson Trap, 1x 250w MV Clear Robinson Trap, 1x Twin 15w Actinic/Synergetic Combo & 1x 160w Mercury Blended Robinson Trap - 4 traps in total

Macro Moths

Angle Shades Brimstone Moth Brindled Green Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing Brown-spot Pinion Centre-barred Sallow Common Wainscot Copper Underwing Dusky Thorn Engrailed Flame Shoulder Green Carpet Large Yellow Underwing Lesser Yellow Underwing Light Emerald Lunar Underwing Oak Hook-tip Orange Sallow Orange Swift Red-green Carpet Setaceous Hebrew Character Small Dusty Wave Snout Square-spot Rustic Straw Dot Vine's Rustic White-point

Micro Moths

Acleris sparsana Agriphila geniculea Blastobasis adustella Cameraria ohridella Celypha lacunana Cydia splendana Elachista canapennella Elophila nymphaeata Emmelina monodactlya Epiphyas postvittana Parectopa ononidis Phyllonorycter sp Plutella xylostella Scrobipalpa costella Stigmella sp Ypsolopha alpella