A Boxful

Moths from a garden light trap in an egg box.  25 June 2018.

When I have counted and photographed moths from my garden light trap, I tap as many as I can into one or two of these small egg boxes and then tap them out over concealing plant life.  If I am not careful, blackbirds scour the fence and the ground and pick off what they can.  In fact I have to get out just as it gets light or the blackbirds beat me to it.

Some species will fly off when tapped or persuaded out of their resting place, but many more don't seem to have the energy.  This selection includes 8 Noctuidae, 5 Geometridae, 2 Erebidae and one Sphingidae.  That relates to the numbers in the trap as well as their normal energy levels.  Noctuidae tend to just sit there, and sometimes lie on their backs.  Sphingidae hang on grimly but will fly if they can warm up.  Many Geometridae are quite frisky, and some usually escape before they can be counted.

To continue ...

Swallow-tailed Moth, Ourapteryx sambucaria.  In my garden light trap set on 22 June 2018

Nearly two months since my last post!  I keep getting material together and thinking it's not yet complete enough.   That isn't working, so I'll just post ... some stuff.  Starting with moths.

This is a Swallow-tailed Moth, one of our larger and prettier species.  Above it's on my finger.  Here it's on my garden fence:

Swallow-tailed Moth, Ourapteryx sambucaria.  In my garden light trap set on 22 June 2018

I've been running my garden trap three times a week in the warm weather, and seeing some interesting moths, including several I have not seen before.  For example:

Bordered White, Bupalus piniaria.  On the fence near my garden light trap set on 20 June 2018

A Bordered White, which would not open its wings while at rest, rather like a butterfly in that respect.  There have also been a few with plush upholstery, like this Purple Clay:

Purple Clay, Diarsia brunnea.  In my garden light trap set on 20 June 2018.

And this Rustic Shoulder-knot.

Rustic Shoulder-knot, Apamea sordens.  In my garden light trap set on 12 June 2018

Moths got the name "shoulder-knot" for those dark streaks beside the shoulder fur.  Knots they are not, but "shoulder" is reasonably accurate.

So, this is not a very well organised post, but at least it is one.