On Sunday night (12/10) I had put out my actinic and only 4 moths (albeit of 4 species) were in my trap on Monday morning. Given that poor show, I had no intention of trapping last night. However, in the early evening (at c 7.00pm), I noticed that it was more overcast than forecast and, checking the weather predictions, it showed that the overcast skies were to continue well into the night and the temperatures were benign compared to Sunday (c 12C rather than 9-10C). Consequently, the actinic was placed on the flat roof.
I was surprised this morning at the variety (19 spp.) and increased numbers, though the maximum number (four of black rustic and red-line quaker was quite modest). A good selection of autumn moths - no migrants nor rarities - were in the trap (merveille du jour 3; red green carpet 2; common marbled carpet 3; large ranunculus; red-line quaker 4; black rustic 4; lunar underwing; November moth agg.; square-spot rustic; sallow; green brindled crescent; flounced chestnut, Blair`s shoulder-knot; pinion-streaked snout; red-green carpet 2; spruce carpet; double-striped pug; Eudonia anguistea; Blastobasis lacticolella; Tachystola acroxantha and Carcina quercana). Had I put out the MV then numbers might well have been boosted. It is worth trapping at this time of year to boost your yearly site list.
Blastobasis lacticolella is pretty regular in late summer/autumn with me - it`s an introduced species from Madeira, being first found in London in 1946 and, likewise, Tachystola acroxantha is also an introduction (thought to be from Australia), first noted in Devon in 1908; it is a leaf litter feeder. This moth is occasional in my traps, with the `Carms HQ` being at Adam Dare`s Burry Port garden, where he records it fairly regularly.
I had a bonus this morning in the form of a migrant, as the hummingbird hawk-moth returned to feed on my Salvia `Hot Lips` - some of these Salvias (various colour variants of S. microphylla) are quite popular in garden centres and the like and they are hardy in well-drained soils (mine grows in a mini raised bed on builders` rubble mixed with soil) and the `hummers` do seem to like them! They are easily grown from cuttings and flower from early summer well into the autumn.
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