Some Moths during October

 The night-time weather conditions during early October were good for moth-trapping but conditions towards the end of the month were more changeable, with a couple of named storms passing across the UK.

The usual autumnal species predominated but a couple of species were a bit of a surprise.

Turnip Moth (Agrotis segetum) (male)

Autumnal Rustic (Eugnorisma glareosa)

White-point (Mythimna albipuncta)

Green-brindled Crescent (Allophyes oxyacanthae)

Merveille du Jour (Dichonia aprilina)

Chestnut (Conistra vaccinii)

Brick (Agrochola circellaris)

Red-line Quaker (Agrochola lota)

Beaded Chestnut (Agrochola lychnidis)

Lunar Underwing (Omphaloscelis lunosa)

Two colour forms of this variable species.

Scarce Bordered Straw (Helicoverpa armigera)

Migrant and episodic breeder.

Scarce Silver-lines (Bena bicolorana)

This single-brooded species is normally on the wing in June and July. This individual could be a second brood but is more likely to be a late developer during our very hot summer.

Beautiful Hook-tip (Laspeyria flexula)

As with the previous species, this single-brooded moth may be a second brood or a late developer due to our very hot summer.

Dusky Thorn (Ennomos fuscantaria) (male)

Grey Pine Carpet (Thera obeliscata)

Udea ferrugalis 

A regular migrant.

Early Autumn on Pevensey Levels

 The hot sunny summer continued into early autumn. The weather during September and early October was beautiful with temperatures still hovering in the low twenties (degrees centigrade).

2026 has generally been an excellent year for butterflies and moths, especially with regard to the numbers of migrants arriving from the near continent. The star butterfly of the year has to be the Queen of Spain Fritillary (Issoria lathonia), one of our rarest migrants, which arrived in southern England in  unprecedented numbers and certainly produced a British generation. I spent many hours visiting promising sites in my local area but lathonia did not make an appearance for me. 

Regarding our more regular migrants, the Clouded Yellow and Painted Lady also arrived in huge numbers but my impression was that the Red Admiral had a very average year.

Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus)

I fell in love with croceus in my youth when I first encountered it in large numbers in 1969, seeing it everywhere on the downs around Brighton. Even now, my heart jumps a beat when I see it and in recent weeks I have enjoyed watching croceus in large numbers on Pevensey Levels.

Females.

This female seemed unable to relax the wings on her left side. I watched her for some time feeding and in flight and her resting posture was always the same.

My bridge camera is no good for getting in-flight shots but occasionally you just get lucky.

Form helice

Male.

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)

Although this species arrived in large numbers in spring and summer, I only saw rather worn examples during September.

Peacock (Aglais io) (2nd brood)

This is the only 2nd brood specimen that I saw this year.

Wall (Lasiommata megera) (3rd brood)

Female.

Mating pair.

Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) (female)

Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus)

Male.

Female.

Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) (male)

Vestal (Rhodometra sacraria)

This regular migrant moth has also had an excellent year and this is a particularly pink specimen.

Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta) (male)

This and the next species of dragonfly will last late into the season as long as the weather holds and there is food to be found.

Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum) (mating pair)

Suede Bolete (Boletus subtomentosus)

Some Moths during September

After the heatwaves of summer, the weather during September has more-or-less returned to normal for the time of the year. The moth trap has continued to produce some interesting catches.

Blue Underwing (Catocala fraxini)

Blair's Mocha (Cyclophora puppillaria)

This is a first record for my garden.

Vestal (Rhodometra sacraria)

Garden Carpet (Xanthorhoe fluctuata)

Treble-bar (Aplocera plagiata plagiata)

September Thorn (Ennomos erosaria)

Swallow-tailed Moth (Ourapteryx sambucaria) (2nd brood)

Light Emerald (Campaea margaritata) (2nd brood)

Palpita vitrealis

Square-spot Rustic (Xestia xanthographa)

Feathered Gothic (Tholera decimalis) (female)

L-album Wainscot (Mythimna l-album)

Black Rustic (Aporophyla nigra)

Brindled Green (Dryobotodes eremita)

Centre-barred Sallow (Atethmia centrago)

Orange Sallow (Xanthia citrago)

Barred Sallow (Xanthia aurago)

Pink-barred Sallow (Xanthia togata)

Angle Shades (Phlogophora meticulosa)

Vine's Rustic (Hoplodrina ambigua)

Clancy's Rustic (Platyperigea kadenii)