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Rarechat @sibe4me.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

First Clifden Nonpareil and second Dewick's Plusia for the garden...still no Ni Moth ☹️ #teammoth

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Rarechat @sibe4me.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Autumn's well and truly underway... #teammoth

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Rarechat @sibe4me.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Just a question for the experienced...I've been ID-ing Spruce and Grey Pine Carpets by the usual accepted ways...and then I found this...So how many moth-ers actually look at antennae? I've tried photography antennae segments and it's not easy.. My BOC is a Grey Pine in old money. Ideas? #teammoth

Grey Pine and Spruce Carpet antennae identification article

Grey Pine Carpet antennae detail ... or is it Spruce Carpet?

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Rarechat @sibe4me.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Well..to all those moth-ers who live in the south, you have no idea how lucky you are..just spent a long weekend in Oxford and Cambridge...hot and sunny, Clouded Yellows and Hummers on flowers, moths in droves in the car headlights...We should do garden swaps...you'd never complain again 😁 #teammoth

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Rarechat @sibe4me.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

This carpet stumped me this morning until Steve Hind sent me a pic of one he caught a few years ago. Flame Carpet ab.coarctata (Prout)... I couldn't find a similar pic on the main sites. Not sure how common that are but it's the first I've caught. Any ideas on the Phyllonorycter? A Maple? #teammoth

Phyllonorycter... joannisi/acerifoliella ?

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Rarechat @sibe4me.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

For all you who are complaining that your traps were mediocre, they could have been worse...439 Large Yellow Underwings swamped the trap...and all you could hear is clicking...never heard it before and no idea how they made the noise... 😬😳 #teammoth

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Rarechat @sibe4me.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

Four micros, all new for me. Any & all comments welcomed...Mompha lacteela Buff-h Mompha is very uncommon, P.platani Plane Leaf-miner...only the 2nd adult for Cheshire. Lots on mines. Saltmarsh Knot-horn Ancylosis oblitella is 4th or 5th Ches record & Z.hepariella Ash Spinner is uncommon. #teammoth

BOC Plane Leaf-miner Phyllonorycter platani..caught two in the garden

BOC Saltmarsh Knot-horn Ancylosis oblitella

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Rarechat @sibe4me.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

For Olympus TG 5,6,7 users if interested... I've managed to sort the micro moth pics...It's a good set-up.. Rock steady... #teammoth

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Rarechat @sibe4me.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

At last..a real migrant..A very fresh Vestal sat on the wall by the trap made an escape bid. Only frantic air grappling and a double handled grab with a pot, saved the day🤣... but actually just as nice was a striking grass moth which turned out to be White-streaked. Nfm. Nfy was Com Lance #teammoth

White-streaked Grass-moth Agriphila latistria

Common Lance Bactra lancealana.. only three Bactras in Cheshire. The other two are rare. I'll see what the CMR says.

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Rarechat @sibe4me.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

Is this even a moth? 5-6mm. Acting like one but too small to tell if it's a caddis....any comments welcome😁 #teammoth

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Rarechat @sibe4me.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Warmer nights help...migrant Dark Sword-grass, a very black Turnip I was hoping would be a dart, my first garden Dotted Clay and a strongly marked Maiden's Blush, quite worn I think. #teammoth

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Rarechat @sibe4me.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

This is the Odice sp trapped last night in Bramhall, Cheshire. The Spanish are interested as it could be O.suava, but O.jucunda and O.arcuinna are possible. Not necessarily an adventive given the current situation, but that decision is for greater minds. Smart moth though 😁 #teammoth

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Rarechat @sibe4me.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Caught in Cheshire last night. Is the Odice jucunda? #teammoth

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Rarechat @sibe4me.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

@davegrundy.bsky.social Dave ..is this Odice jucunda? A friend has just caught one in Cheshire.

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Rarechat @sibe4me.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

An interesting Small Mottled Willow in the trap last night. Absolutely pristine condition with beautiful dark markings and three white tufts on its head...surely its bred locally, perhaps even in the garden? Also a gorgeous fresh Antler with bronze, black and cream. Stunning. #teammoth

Small Mottled Willow. So pristine to be a local breeder?

Antler Moth...bronze, brown, black, cream, gold and black... stunning

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Rarechat @sibe4me.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

Predicted to be around 1mm of rain, it started at 5pm and is still raining at 2pm nearly 24hrs later. Very windy but 15c o/night. 15c, so 37sp 104 moths. Few migrants. A Silver Y, SMWillow, and a very pale Rusty-dot Pearl. Also, a Dusky Pearl and a nice Golden-rod Pug. #teammoth

Small Mottled Willow... most are incredibly twitchy and fly almost instantly if they feel a movement

Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis... a very pale individual

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Rarechat @sibe4me.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

Numbers of moths right down with 12c and cool. 30sp 89moths. Even so, 4 more Mottled Willows continuing the daily arrivals and some nice common stuff. The darkest Flounced Rustic (hopefully 😅) I've ever seen, a pure gold Brassy Y, a well marked Cyclamen Tortrix and a Dichrorampha sp. #teammoth

Dicrorampha sp, probably Common Daisy Moth Dichrorampha acuminatana

Flounced Rustic... the darkest I've ever seen

A smartly marked Cyclamen Tortrix Clepsis spectrana

A tiny gold nugget... The plain form of Brassy Y Argyresthia goedartella

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Rarechat @sibe4me.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

By this garden's standards, a notable night for migrants. Small Mottled Willow 6 (only 8 Ches records up 2026) and Rush Veneer 2. One moth to turn up was a head scratcher. If I'm right & it's Tree-mallow Tortrix Crocidosema plebejana, it'll be third for Ches. What do you micro men think? A migrant?

Pos Tree-mallow Tortrix Crocidosema plebejana... rare in Cheshire

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Rarechat @sibe4me.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

Moth numbers have slumped but still some nicely marked ones about... that Dot is so velvety. Brindled Poplar Tortrix is so variable but this was the nicest. A green V-pug and a Small Elephant Hawk-moth which was nfg. #teammoth

Brindled Poplar Tortrix Epinotia nisella

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Rarechat @sibe4me.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

So, woke up to Willow Ermines in numbers, always a good sign. First obvious goodie was a Dewick's Plusia, the 8th for Cheshire, Sept Thorn nfg and two good micros. A Beet Moth, 29th record and, if I've got it right, a county first.. Pale Seedhead Moth. What do you all think? #teammoth

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Rarechat @sibe4me.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

#teammoth Looks like it's going to be an ideal night for moths.. mamatus clouds in an anvil cloud, freezing ice crystals and heavy rain potentially... at least the trap is waterproof 🤣

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Rarechat @sibe4me.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

A fresher night with a cool SW breeze. Micros much reduced, half the sp and numbers of recent nights, but still a nice but very jumpy Orchard Ermine on the wall. Rare in Cheshire, a pristine Haworth's Pug was a welcome addition to the garden. Also, a lovely True Lover's Knot and a Phoenix. #teammoth

Orchard Ermine Yponomeuta padella.. a nice smoky grey individual

A pristine Haworth's Pug.. rare in Cheshire. The 17th since 2000.

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Rarechat @sibe4me.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

Moths abound at last. 31c daytime, 18c at night. Struggling to get through the micros but got there. 75sp 400moths. Many new for this garden inc a very local sp Black-banded Masoner, a deeply plummy Purple Clay, what is pres a Blushed Knot-horn a Melilot Case-bearer at 10mm long. #teammoth

Presumably Blushed Knot-horn Ephestia woodiella

Presumably Melilot Case-bearer Coleophora trifolii... 10mm long

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Rarechat @sibe4me.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

Still cool at night.. Just micros to sift through. How confident is everyone with Scoparia/Eudonia? Only ask because three of us got one wrong in Easington when one was gen-detted. Each of us went for different species! A Welsh Chafer Hoplia philanthus was new. At least it was nfg #teammoth

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Rarechat @sibe4me.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

It's 50-something years since I saw a Lunar Hornet Moth.. or Clearwing as it was then. I put the lure out and less than 15 mins later, two turned up! What gorgeous things they are too 😄 Such a privilege to be able to have these in the garden #teammoth

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Rarechat @sibe4me.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

Well, a better night with cloud. 46sp 146 moths with some nice macros and a micro, Maple Snout Anarsia innoxiella being only the 8th record for Ches. I thought they were commoner. Broad-barred White, Dingy Shears and Heart and Club were all nfg. So a goodish night at last. 😁 #teammoth

Maple Snout Anarsia innoxiella..8th for Cheshire

Heart and Club..nfg and one which never occurred in the 70s

Broad-barred White...always a smart moth and should be rarer 😁

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Rarechat @sibe4me.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

After all that rain and cold nights, there were a few nice bits on the wall before dawn. Dagger agg, Variegated Golden Tortrix, Cherry Bark Tortrix and the nicest Flame Carpet I think I've ever seen... the rest of the trap inmates were largely H&Ds and LYUs 😁 #teammoth

Variegated Golden Tortrix Archips xylosteana

Flame Carpet .. one of the nicest I've seen 😁

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Rarechat @sibe4me.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

I thought that I'd try a green 22W Circline instead of the blue I've been using. A bad night to try it...a cold 12c and SW3-4,5-6 with rain, so few moths. Nice Shoulder-striped Wainscot. I never realised that they had a black bar across the forehead. Apart from H&Ds, Ele-hawk was nice. #teammoth

Green 22W Circline lamp used with 2 blue UVs.

Shoulder-striped Wainscot.. showing a dark bar across the forehead

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Rarechat @sibe4me.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

A cold night 10c with a SW3-4 and o/cast. Usual stuff including the Small Marbled from yesterday... let it go in the front garden, and it flew off high...only to be re-caught by the UV. Photos confirmed it. Not many do that. Double Sq-spot, Poplar Grey and a Hawthorn Moth nfg etc 😁 #teammoth

Small Marble...the one from yesterday, re-caught in the UV.

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Rarechat @sibe4me.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

I couldn't get around to the trap until 10-ish due to various things, and left the funnel stuffed with a plastic bag to stop the birds getting in. Good move. I took the lamps and collar off to find a fresh Small Marbled sat near the top of an egg box! 8th Cheshire record. Well chuffed 😄 #teammoth

Small Marbled - prob 8th Cheshire record😁

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Rarechat @sibe4me.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

Managed to beat the birds but only just. 33sp 55moths. Some fresh moths at this time of year. Crescent Tortrix was an eye-catching new micro for me. Quite a few Mint Moths around the herbs and another variation of Seraphim I've not seen. 😁 #teammoth

A nice new one for me.. Crescent Tortrix Epinotia bilunana

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Rarechat @sibe4me.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

No exotic rarities or dapper hawk-moths up here but a nfg in the shape of a Grey Birch in pristine condition which was nice. Also a fresh Figure of Eighty and a very small Spectacle, not much bigger than a minor..and all the usual stuff. 31sp 51 moths sums up the mothing here.. #teammoth

Small individual Spectacle with a minor agg

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Rarechat @sibe4me.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

A night of brief storms & heavy rain, so not much in the way of moths, even if I did beat the Great Tits by a few seconds. Apart from a microcaddisfly which looked like a moth, Triple-spotted Nest Moth, Brindle Tortrix, Plum Tortrix & Spotted Shoot Moth. Latin in the alts. Lots of PLadies. #teammoth

Triple-spotted Nest Moth Tinea trinotella

Spotted Shoot Moth Rhyacionia pinivorana

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Rarechat @sibe4me.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

A cool night with a fresh easterly so a lot less moths, the best of which was a Scorched Wing, which are always nice to see... and common stuff, Com M Carpets, Ingrailed Clay, Freyer's Pug etc... but very few micros.. #teammoth

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Rarechat @sibe4me.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

Second day in the row of temps around 33c. Nights around 14c-15c. So, like buses, 2 more Small Mottled Willows and 21 Diamond-backs confirming insects are reaching northern parts. However, the star was a carpet which made a run for it but was chased down 😅.. Oblique Carpet, another nfm. #teammoth

Oblique Carpet.. scarce in the east of Ches

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Rarechat @sibe4me.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

Thanks to @stevenash71.bsky.social for 1 of his Small Mottled Willows...down with Saharan sand on the trap. Also 2 Diamond-backs & 3 new pugs for the garden..my first ever Dwarf surprisingly, White-spotted & Mottled. 3 tiny micros to be looked at. Northbound Painted Ladies in several spots #teammoth

Small Mottled Willow - less than 30 in Ches since 2000

Dwarf Pug .. New for me, even though common

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Rarechat @sibe4me.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

A cooler night than expected but more moths than usual, so good..😁 Silver Y nfy, a beautifully subtle olivey-grey May Highflyer, furry Pale Tussocks, Seraphim, Grey Pine Carpets etc & 18 micros, 12 of which were Aus Orange-tips Tachystola acroxantha. Also a Shore Sexton Beetle N.littoralis #teammoth

May Highflyer - one of the nicest I've seen... 😁

Shore Sexton Beetle - Necrodes littoralis

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Rarechat @sibe4me.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

Slightly better after a warmer night..14sp 22moths and with lovely fresh moths... and a couple of nice nfg.. Maiden's Blush and Meadow Hook-wing Ancylis badiana.. alongside Set H Character looking very medieval and a Pale Mot Willow with its beige cardigan markings 😁 #teammoth

Setaceous Hebrew Character in pristine condition looking very medieval

Maiden's Blush... one of the loveliest moth names conjured up by moth-ers from a bygone era

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Rarechat @sibe4me.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

Had to change all 3 lamps in the trap after one failed and glad I did..it was so much brighter. Still not enough to bring hordes in, but a nfm, Azalea Leaf-miner Caloptilia azaleella unless you all think otherwise.. 2 Cockchafers, a smart Buff-tip and a fresh Currant Pug 😁 #teammoth

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Reposted by Rarechat

uncharismatic minifauna @minifauna.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

I've been enjoying this so much, I forgot to post a picture of it set up! under 15 min for full set up. if leaving at same location, breakdown/wind safety takes 30 sec. I made it, it works - onward to less urban locations! #teammoth #mothlight #bugsky

white canvas tarp held up by PVC frame. two entoquip UV led lights dangle in front of the sheet. an abundance of insects have gathered.

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Rarechat @sibe4me.bsky.social · 10/05/2026

One moth..a very furry Muslin Moth, saved the night 😅 Always reminds me of a toy we had in the 70s..a Gonk 🤣 #teammoth

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Rarechat @sibe4me.bsky.social · 09/05/2026

I'll get it right this time 🙄 Mothing was dire. My second ever Ochreous Pug rescued things & a H&D was nfy. By-catch invertebrates proved interesting with 3 Deleaster dichrous, a nationally scarce Rove Beetle and a Caddisfly Hydropsyche sp. A cold front just gone south with thunder & rain. #teammoth

Ochreous Pug - my second after it was new for me on Apr 28th.

Caddisfly - Hydropsyche sp, possibly instabilis or contubernalis

Rove Beetle - Deleaster dichrous, nationally scarce apparently. None on NBN near me.

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Rarechat @sibe4me.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

Clawing a few moths back but still struggling with numbers. Lots of foliage out, enough to lay eggs on and blossom to feed on, but few insects in general.

Light-brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana

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Rarechat @sibe4me.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

"[511984-high-flying-kite]."

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Rarechat @sibe4me.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

Well, that was a poor night. 2 SSD, a HC and a Flame Shouder. 2 Diamond-backs were at least migrants. I did miss this yesterday. It was on the wall when I went to put the trap on. May Highflyer in lovely condition. #teammoth

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Rarechat @sibe4me.bsky.social · 03/05/2026

A few moths at last due to a milder night and rain. Still only 10 species with Seraphim and Small Phoenix nfg. Also had a micro I'm not familiar with which I think might be Vetch Moth Aproaerema anthyllidella. Not many records for Cheshire. Any of you micro lads concur? 😁

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Rarechat @sibe4me.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

Another one-moth night, nothing in the trap... but an antennae poking out from behind the lead proved to be yet another new moth for me, a Chocolate-tip. Fabulous big soft front legs...A bit late to the choccy party but pleased to have had one at last...😁🍫

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Rarechat @sibe4me.bsky.social · 28/04/2026

Well, you just never know! Put the trap out under gloomy skies & a very fresh cool NE breeze. Switched it off, fed the birds, had a casual brew & went for a look. One small pug on the outside of the trap, its wings lifting in the wind.. & immediately knew it was new for me.. Ochreous Pug 😁 #teammoth

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Rarechat @sibe4me.bsky.social · 18/04/2026

Moth catches still dire with the best catch for 2 weeks last night.. 3sp 5 moths. Roll on warm weather. An interesting by-catch that seems to be quite uncommon was the beetle Oedemera femoralis, a False-blister Beetle, so not all lost. Anyone into beetles can confirm it? #teammoth #beetle #oedemera

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Rarechat @sibe4me.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

Well, unable to compete with the south-west mega trap lads, I had to be content with 2 migrant Diamond-backs and some fresh pugs...I'm amazed that any migrants made it, but small mercies and all that. Anyway, they'll be shaking in their boots when I get a Rusty-dot Pearl 😆

Diamond-back Moth Plutella xylostella.. one of two and first migrants of the year

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