Moth trapping on Dartmoor

Just back from a week staying with our friends Kevin and Donna Cox at their 'pad' Brook Manor, in the Mardle Valley on the east side of Dartmoor. We made good use of Kevin's Robinson MV moth trap and recorded a huge diversity of species over four trapping sessions. White Ermine Spilosoma lubricipeda was the most abundant species, but we also recorded a wide diversity of species, a few regional specialities as well as a few migrants. Here's a selection of the species trapped during the week.

Double Line Mythimna turca, 10 June - largely confined to south-west England and south Wales

Lobster Moth Stauropus fagi, 10 June

Scorched Wing Plagodis dolabraria, 10 June

Buff-tip Phalera bucephala on a broken Silver Birch twig - amazing camouflage!

Mating Buff-tips Phalera bucephala, 9 June

Elephant Hawkmoth Deilephila elpenor, 9 June

Small Elephant Hawkmoth Deilephila porcellus, 9 June

Pebble Prominent Notodonta ziczac, 9 June

Green Silver-lines Pseudoips prasinana, 9 June

Small Angle Shades Euplexia lucipara, 9 June

Pale Tussock Calliteara pudibunda, 9 June

Barred Umber Plagodis pulveraria, 9 June

Brown Rustic Rusina ferruginea, 9 June - note the rather worn look, even though it is fresh

Peppered Moth Biston betularia, 9 June

Beautiful Golden Y Autographa pulchrina, 9 June

Peach Blossom Thyatira batis, 10 June

True Lover's Knot Lycophotia porphyrea, 13 June

Foxglove Pug Eupithecia pulchellata, 10 June

Brindled Plume Amblyptilia punctidactyla, 10 June