Stevenston moth trapping

[IainH]

Nothing unusual in a 400W trap at Ardeer Quarry LNR, but it was noteworthy that Large Yellow Underwing has been ‘knocked off the top spot’.

Square-spot Rustic x 50
Lesser Yellow Underwing x 33
Large Yellow Underwing x 31
Lesser/Common Rustic x 7
Crescent x 7
Small Square-spot x 4
Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing x 3
Sallow x 3
Common/Dark Marbled Carpet x 3
Dun-bar x 2
Garden Carpet x 2
Small Phoenix x 2
Common Carpet
Flame Shoulder
Dotted Clay
Flame Carpet
Rosy Rustic

[IainH]

A 25W Heath trap amongst blooming heather in dune heath by the sea produced a few interesting moths, including several Heath Rustic and Archer’s Dart.

Square-spot Rustic x 10
Archer’s Dart x 5
Heath Rustic x 4
White-line Dart x 2
Flounced Rustic x 2
Ear sp. x 2
Lesser Yellow Underwing x 2
Large Yellow Underwing
Rosy Rustic
Small Wainscot
Autumnal Rustic


Heath Rustic


Archer’s Dart


Archer’s Dart


White-line Dart


Autumnal Rustic

[IainH]

The main thing of note in two traps at Ardeer Quarry LNR was the selection of autumnal firsts for the year: Canary-shouldered thorn, Frosted Orange and Black Rustic.

Square-spot Rustic x 56
Large Yellow Underwing x 40
Lesser Yellow Underwing x 11
Canary-shouldered Thorn x 6
Crescent x 5
Dark/Common Marbled Carpet x 4
Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing x 3
Flame Carpet x 3
Dotted Clay x 2
Ear sp.
Scalloped Oak
Flame Shoulder
Black Rustic
Small Square-spot
Centre-barred Sallow
Garden Carpet
Rosy Rustic
Small Wainscot
Frosted Orange
Dun-bar
Autumnal Rustic
Small Fan-footed Wave
Sallow

Canary-shouldered Thorn


Frosted Orange


Black Rustic

[IainH]

My first trapping session of the year, at Ardeer Quarry LNR, produced 6 species in a 400W Heath trap.

Hebrew Character x 10
Common Quaker x 5
Pale Brindled Beauty x 3
March Moth
Clouded Drab
Chestnut

Pale Brindled Beauty


March Moth

[IainH]

Living away from Ayrshire, I’d not been doing much trapping. However, being in Stevenston at the end of the month allowed me to do some trapping at Ardeer Quarry LNR. Highlights are pictured below.

Green Silver-lines.


Broad-barred White.


Figure of Eighty.


May Highflyer.


The reserve’s second Small Elephant Hawkmoth.



Yellow-barred Brindle is one I rarely catch.


Alder Moth.


A boldly-marked Seraphim.


White Pinion-spotted.


Shears.

[IainH]

My trapping in Ayrshire has been very limited, but I picture a few highlights below.

Shaded Pug is new for Ardeer Quarry LNR and perhaps new for Ayrshire


Herald.


A mothing event at Stevenston Beach LNR produced 4 Sand Dart - the third Ayrshire record, I think.


The 400W MV trap lighting-up the Orache on Stevenston Beach.

A Dark Sword-grass


A Hummingbird Hawk-moth in my parent’s garden in Stevenston.


I always like seeing Green Arches.

[IainH]

A mothing event organised at Stevenston Beach LNR in mid-August was a bit of a wash-out, but the combined species list for the night was quite long, we found loads of Archer’s Dart on Ragwort and, most importantly, found our target species, the Nationally Scarce (B) Coast Dart.

Coast Dart


Archer’s Dart



Trapping sessions at Ardeer Quarry later in the month produced some interesting finds too.

Manchester Treble-bar (Nationally Scarce B) was a new macro for the reserve.



Dotted Carpet, a local, northern species, was also new for the reserve.



I think that two Garden Darts in the one trap was my highest ever count! I’ve not seen any for a year or two.


Similarly, 3 Olives this year was more than in previous years.


Centre-barred Sallow is regular in August and September, but always nice to see.

[ScottD]

That's a lovely Archer's Dart. I can only dream of getting some of the species varieties in my urban Glasgow garden ...

[AlistairMurdoch]

Hi Iain and Scott,

I can see that recent posts have been made - but I can't find them! I am able to log on - and if other people can read this, then I can post, but not read any other recent stuff - Help!

Alistair.

[AlistairMurdoch]

Hi,

me posting seems to have rectified the problem!

Alistair.