The Bagsy Blog: Moth to the Flame

Saturday, 17 June 2017

Moth to the Flame - Thunder

Moth to the Flame - Thunder - Link
Last weekend was always destined to be something of a

MOTH FEST

as already my friend Dave Foot had booked a bunk with a strong

likelihood of being joined by other eminent company?

While no weekend, or day for that matter, is ever strictly rigid as to what we do

Moths would in fact play a large part but there would also be plenty of other

INSECTS

to test us!

As my own 5 traps are confined to the wide expanse and well appointed

HARBINS FARMHOUSE

GARDEN

it was an obvious place to start.

In typically (ex) Military fashion we started as is usual at the

Stable Trap

where almost immediately the 'rounds' started with something of a

BANG!!

SLOE PUG

was not only an addition to the Recording Area List but a 'first ever' for me personally.

However, there was a massive stroke of luck attached to this capture,

for had Dave not have been there it is no doubt that this 'first' would have been released

as a misidentified Green Pug, shown above (top) for comparison.

While it was quickly realised it had not been an overly productive night, save for the above,

another First for the Year was plucked from the trap at the now redundant 5th gold tee

the tiny but absolutely superb

BARRED YELLOW

Just as we completed the final trap on this leg we met Hugh who was
busily refilling the winter firewood bunker, or had least he would have
been had he not found this

NEST
of a

BLACKBIRD
having been built in the top.
It was now time to travel a little further afield and to the Heath where

Dave had placed his c3 traps overnight and to make rendezvous with another

of our most welcome friends

Doctor Phil Sterling

not only

Natural Environment Manager at Dorset County Council

but also co-author of

a fine tome even if like our self

"we don't do Micros"!

We met close to the

GOAT COMPOUND

where the traps were set that night, and while it may look from this image

that the Goats are interacting there has been some clashing of horns.

As is his want Phil immediately got down to the important task of preying to the

Great God of Macros and Micros

ALABONIA GEOFFRELLA

Only one shortfall here, relating to myself, as it quickly dawned on me

that I had completely forgotten to learn to speak

Fluent Latin

as the the other 2 commenced conversing in that

Foreign Tongue'

However, just a quick glimpse into the traps showed that there had been a reasonable catch,

and hopes were high that we might add a Macro or two to the list.

First out was a fine

SATIN WAVE

followed by c3

PRIVET HAWK-MOTHS

in quick succession followed by the tiny bulk of a

FESTOON

We had started well but there were other interesting and sometime bizarre Insects

among the catch, and none more so than a

ROMBIC LEATHERBUG

and a far more recognisable

14-SPOT LADYBIRD

What may look downright dowdy and uninteresting to the casual observer

was, on the day, singularly the Moth that most captured my imagination a

BRINDLED WHITE-SPOT

along with more captivating beauties such as

HAWTHORN SHIELDBUG

BLACK SILVERHORN CADISFLY

a new one on me, along with an unknown species of

CLUSTER FLY

With the ever changing face of all these wonderful creatures and the magical diversity

it may be difficult to believe that BOREDOM was setting in but, it was certain that

Dave would sense this and do something to distract our attentions for a while.

Returning to his 'folding chair' it was obvious that he had done

something to make it collapse as soon as he sat down on it.

Oh what a tumble, Oh what a laugh!

Via this clip the SYMPATHY can be heard simply oozing out!

He was asked to do it again as the video camera was not on alert

but said there were enough repeats on BBC TV already.

So, if we may continue next out was a

much sort after

SCARCE MERVEILLE du JOIR
and

LESSER TREBLE-BAR

While the other 2 continued potting Insects for identification my task was to
photograph the 'new comers' and release them without further ado.
The final flurry included

FAN-FOOT

MOTTLED BEAUTY

the 'eye-catching'

GREEN SILVER-LINES
and a single

DOUBLE SQUARE-SPOT

With Phil and Dave looking very pleased with themselves that
concluded the Moth Trap side of the day, but Dave was not yet finished.
In the warmth of the afternoon sun he went off looking for the larvae of