Mothing tonight!

[RobinP]

Turned the MV lamp on about 10 pm, bedlam has now ensued. I'd forgotten to close the patio doors so the house is full of insects, the lamp is surrounded by millions of moths and flies, and four cats trying to catch them (2 ours, 2 neighbours). Will report back on the catch tomorrow...

[naturegirl]

Sounds like my kind of fun........

Hope you had a good catch!!

You won't do that again will you! !

Naturegirl

[Dan Salter]

Good luck...im still recovering from my entire friday spent huddled over the moth book identifying so have given them/and me the night off

[naturegirl]

Dan, what reference book do you use?

I use Bernard Skinner's 'Moths of the British Isles' which took me ages to learn in the beginning but now I know exactly which page to look on and I can do a whole trap in about 20-30 minutes. I also do Pyralids and some Micros which I have come to recognise over the years but it is still a steep learning curve with micros I'm afraid. One day I will be able to buy the complete set of Micro books........
But I won't have a job to worry about then........

Naturegirl

[Dan Salter]

Blimey you dont fancy moving in with me for the next 10 weeks do you?

I use....dam i always call it the lewington book but he only does the drawings...well the new one...you the one i mean...?

But they have released a compact version which looks much more user friendly as you dont have to search through for the plates so im getting that too and i DO plan on getting a copy of skinner when i find one?

I imagine as my mothing interest grows i will get into micro's but staying well away from them for this dissertation thing of mine...

i did have a bunch of those little apple eating jobbies though and whats the pretty white one with the dalmation spots?

[naturegirl]

Well I'm still awake Dan, how about you dear boy?

I would willingly move in with you if it helped you achieve your dissertation old chap! As long as i could bring my old dog with me that is?

I do not know the Lewington's book that you refer to?

Why can't you find a Skinner's book?

That would be 'The Orchard Ermine' I would guess?

Naturegirl

[leifus]

our area seems to be completely moth free - nothing at all!!! - for ages

[Adam Cheeseman]

Skinner's book is useful for hindwing information, but the species are in pinned position and many are faded specimens. I do use this from time to time as a reference, given its size.

The one referred to as Lewington is "Field Guide to the moths of GB and Ireland" by Paul Waring and Martin Townsend. Illustrated by Richard Lewington.
ISBN 0-9531399-2-1

Cheers,

Adam

[Dan Salter]

Thats the one cheers adam!

I will pick up skinner but was wary of the pinned and faded issues!...and lewingtons artwork is outstanding!

[naturegirl]

Thanks for that guys, I must get a copy of that Field Guide. Birthday coming up..........

I still rely heavily on Skinner's book and they are not too faded. As said, it does show the hind wing which is useful.

Your white speckled moth could be a Pyralid called Thistle ermine Myelois cribella and they are very common here. The smaller micro is Orchard ermine don't know Latin name for that one. I had about 10 of them in my trap the other night.

Naturegirl