Warm spell brings out the moths

The mothing at my home in Worcester Park has been nuts over the last few days, with warm and humid conditions producing lots of activity around the actinic. I don't know how many species I've recorded (a lot) or individuals (hundreds) but there's been a lot of highlights - some nationally scarce species, lots of beautiful species, and some approaching plague numbers.

Highlights from trapping sessions on the nights of 16/17, 17/18 and 19/20 July include:

Small Ranunculus Hecatera dysodea - 1 on 19/20 July
The Sycamore Acronicta aceris - 1 on 19/20 July
Hoary Footman Eilema caniola - 2 on 19/20 July
Dingy Footman Eilema griseola - 1 on 16/17 July
Sallow Kitten Furcula furcula - 1 on 19/20 July
Tree-lichen Beauty Cryphia algae - 2 on 18 July, 11 on 19/20 July
Rosy Footman Miltochrista miniata - 1 on 16/17 July, 1 on 18/19 July
Ruby Tiger Phragmatobia fuliginosa - 1 on 19/20 July
Jersey Tiger Euplagia quadripunctaria - 1 on 20 July
Scarce Footman Eilema complana - 3 on 17/18 July
Scalloped Oak Crocallis elinguaria - 1 on 17/18 July
Single-dotted Wave Idaea dimidiata - 1 on 17/18 July, 1 on 20 July
Cloaked Minor Mesoligia furuncula - 3 on 16/17 July
Least Carpet Idaea rusticata - 3 on 16/17 July
Marbled Beauty Cryphia domestica - 2 on 16/17 July
Mottled Beauty Alcis repandata, 1 on 16/17 July
Swallow-tailed Moth Ourapteryx sambucaria, 1 on 16/17 July, 1 on 18 July
White-spotted Pug Eupithecia tripunctaria 1 on 16/17 July
Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata - 1 16/17 July, 1 18 July
Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba 1 on 17/18 July
Thicket Knot-horn Trachycera suavella - 1 on 16/17 July
Clouded Slender Caloptilia populetorum - 1 on 17 July
Bird-cherry Ermine Yponomeuta evonymella - 2 on 16/17 July
Dotted Oak Knot-horn Phycita roborella - 1 on 16/17 July
Golden-brown Tubic Batia (Crassa) unitella - 1 on 18 July, 1 on 20 July
Diamond-back Moth Plutella xylostella - 1 on 19 July
Long-horned Flat-body Carcina quercana - 1 on 16/17 July, 1 on 17/18 July
Marbled Piercer Cydia splendana - 1 on 19/20 July
Woodland Marble Orthotaenia undulana - 1 on 17/18 July
Water Veneer Acentria ephemerella - lots on 19/20 July
Horse Chestnut Leaf-miner Cameraria ohridella - huge numbers (hundreds) over this period, probably originating from the Horse Chestnut opposite my garden. Amazing to think that this species was discovered as recently as 1984 in Greece (described as a new species in 1986) and first recorded in Britain in 2002 (just down the road in Wimbledon). It has now 'infected' most of Britain. A rather beautiful but tiny species - I need an extension tube for the macro lens to photograph it properly.

Small Ranunculus Hecatera dysodea, 20 July

The Sycamore Acronicta aceris, 20 July

Hoary Footman Eilema caniola, 20 July

Scarce Footman Eilema complana, 17/18 July

Dingy Footman Eilema griseola, 17 July

Sallow Kitten Furcula furcula, 20 July

Ruby Tiger Phragmatobia fuliginosa, 20 July

Jersey Tiger Euplagia quadripunctaria, 20 July

11 Tree-lichen Beauty Cryphia algae, 20 July

Thicket Knot-horn Trachycera suavella, 17 July

Clouded Slender Caloptilia populetorum, 17 July

Bird-cherry Ermine Yponomeuta evonymella, 17 July

Dotted Oak Knot-horn Phycita roborella, 16/17 July

Golden-brown Tubic Batia (Crassa) unitella, 18 July - love the declining posture of this species.

Marbled Piercer Cydia splendana, 20 July

Woodland Marble Orthotaenia undulana, 18 July