Barnwood Park and Arboretum

Moth Surveys

'Moth Mornings' are held regularly in the Arboretum during the summer months. Moth traps are set up the evening before in neighbouring gardens. These consist of a light that attracts the moths to enter the trap, which is filled with empty egg cartons. The moths settle in the egg cartons and become sleepy. In the morning, the moths inside the trap can be identified and counted before being released unharmed into the environment.

Whilst there are about 60 species of butterfly in the UK, when it comes to moths, there are over 2,500 species. The process of identification is a very skilled task as you can imagine, as differences between species can be subtle. 'Moth Mornings' are enjoyable and interesting. People are usually astounded by the beauty and variety of the different moths inside the traps. An example is the magnificent Elephant Hawk Moth illustrated here. Because the moths are sleepy there is ample opportunity to examine them closely and take photographs before they fly off. 

Moth Morning June 2023

A Moth Morning on the 24th June 2023, after a warm night, produced a fine collection of moths. There were 185 individual moths and 26 different species. The two traps had been placed in gardens adjacent to the Arboretum the evening before.

Below is the list of moths in the traps. All were released after identification.

Photos courtesy of Peter Wilcox

The list gives the common name, followed by the Latin name, followed by the larval food plant. Some common names cover more than one Latin species.

Garden Grass Veneer Chrysoteuchia culmella - base grass stems

Heart and Dart Agrotis exclamationis - herbaceous plants

Heart and Club Agrotis clavis - docks, clover, fat hen, wild carrot

Swallow-Tailed Moth                                                                   Ourapteryx sambucaria - trees and shrubs including ivy          Crassa unitella - under tree bark on decaying wood

Common Fanfoot Pechipogo strigilata - withered leaves of damaged oaks

Shuttle-shaped Dart Agrotis puta - docks and dandelions

Uncertain/Rustic Hoplodrina agg. - low plants inc dead-nettles

Mottled Pug Eupithecia exiguata - hawthorn, blackthorn, dogwood

Buff Arches                                                                               Habrosyne pyritoides - bramble                                                         Crambus perlella - base of coarse grass stems

Diamond-back moth Plutella xylostella - brassicas

Marbled Minor Oligia strigilis - grasses

Tawny Marbled Minor Oligia latruncula - grasses

V-Pug Chloroclystis v-ata - assorted flowers

Willow Beauty Peribatodes rhomboidaria - trees, ivy, travellers-joy

Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba - herbaceous plants

Riband Wave                                                                                       Idaea aversata - bedstraws, primrose, dandelion, chickweed           Eudonia lacustrata - mosses on walls and tree trunks

Dark Arches                                                                                    Apamea monoglypha - grasses inc cocks-foot and couches       Acrobasis advenella - hawthorn and rowan                                 Agapeta hamana - roots of thistles

Wax Moth Galleria melonella - honeycomb

Common Wainscot                                                                    Mythimna pallens - grasses                                                      Crambus pascuella - grasses including fescues

Miller Acronicta leporina - trees including oak, willow, birch, poplar

Flame Shoulder Ochropleura plecta - herbaceous plants