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The first Convolvulus Hawk-moth, bred from a gravid female taken at light on 8th August emerged today. 59 to go!!! #teammoth

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Annoyed to find a Convolvulus Hawk wing on the lawn yesterday evening. This would have been from the night of 22/9 when I had three others. I spend a couple of hours each morning checking around the moth traps but this one must have been very well hidden (although not from the birds!) #teamoth

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St Mellion cont. Barred Sallow was new for the year. Also, Nephopterix angustella (Spindle Knot-horn) and Acleris emargana (Scalloped Tortrix) - I would have named it Double Bass Moth! #teammoth

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Migrants: xylostella (Diamond-back), 15 noctuella (Rush Veneer), 13 ferrugalis (Rusty-dot),2 vitrealis (Olive-tree Pearl), oblitella (Saltmarsh Knot-horn), 3 Vestal, Pearly Underwing, 3 Turnip, 2 White-speck, 2 Delicate, 3 Small Mottled Willow, 27 Silver Y, Ni Moth & 2 L-album Wainscot #teammoth

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One of the Lobster Moth caterpillars has pupated, spinning a couple of oak leaves together. At first I though this one had cannibalised it as it took me a while to find it! [from 1st instar larvae found in the moth trap] #teammoth

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Steve Nash @stevenash71.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Another spectacular Vestal (R. sacraria) in the St Mellion moth trap last night. Perhaps not quite as spectacular as the one taken a month ago, but the polar opposite, with the pink on the basal side of the forewings, up to the stripe. #teammoth

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59 species in St Mellion on 22/9. Migrants: P. vitrealis (Olive-tree Pearl), 3 Convolvulus Hawk 2 female/1 male. Male had soft wings, so likely emerged close by, 3 Pearly Underwing, White-speck, 7 Delicate, 10 Small Mottled Willow, 3 Scarce Bordered Straw, 2 Ni Moth, plus Jersey Mocha #teammoth

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Steve Nash @stevenash71.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Highlights from the past couple of nights in the St Mellion garden - Rosy Underwing, Convolvulus Hawk, Verge Cricket (Eumodicogryllus bordigalensis) in the actual moth trap, Ni Moth and Autumnal Rustic. #teammoth

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Steve Nash @stevenash71.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Just c800 Large Yellow Blunderwings last night. Also Palpita vitrealis (Olive-tree Pearl), Blair's Mocha 2nd site record, 7 Vestal, 4 Pearly Underwing, 2 White-speck, 9 Delicate, l-album Wainscot, Cosmopolitan, 2 Scarce Bordered Straw, 38 Small Mottled Willow, Ni Moth, Clifden Nonpariel #teammoth

Not quite what I had in mind for a comparison shot!

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Steve Nash @stevenash71.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

The largest total of moths this year in the traps this am. c1500 Large Yellow Underwing covered every egg-tray, making it impossible to spot other species. Tebenna micalis was a long awaited first. Also, Euchromius ocellea (Silver-spotted Veneer) the migrant highlights, St Mellion, VC2. #teammoth

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Steve Nash @stevenash71.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

St Mellion migrants were Porter's Rustic, 3 Loxostege sticticalis (Mugwort Pearl): 16 recorded this week, 19 Vestal, 5 Delicate, Scarce Bordered Straw, 21 Small Mottled Willow. Also 8 Jersey Mocha, female Four-spotted Footman 2 Radford's Flame Shoulder, 3 L-album Wainscot, Dewick's Plusia #teammoth

L. sticticalis (left) and P. despicata for comparison

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Steve Nash @stevenash71.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Huge size difference between Rosy Underwing and Clifden Nonpariel - the later being the first record of the year. St Mellion. #teammoth

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Steve Nash @stevenash71.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

The pick of the migrants on a wet night in St Mellion were: Diasemiopsis ramburialis (Migrant Sable), 3 Loxostege sticticalis (Mugwort Pearl). Palpita vitrealis (Olive-tree Pearl). 7 Vestal. Convolvulus Hawk. 3 Pearly Underwing, 11 Delicate, 43 Small Mottled Willow & Scarce Bordered Straw #teammoth

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The Lobster Moths are doing well, even though there can't be much nutrition in those oak leaves. #teammoth

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Also in St Mellion, the first Pink-barred Sallow of the year and a second garden record of Mecyna asinalis #teammoth

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Also, 3 P vitrealis (Olive-tree Pearl), 47 N noctuella (Rush Veneer), 17 U ferrugalis (Rusty-dot), 34 Vestal, Striped Hawk, 2 Convolvulus Hawk, 13 Dark Sword-grass, 6 Pearly Underwing, Cosmopolitan, 10 Delicate, 4 Scarce Bordered Straw, 47 Small Mottled Willow, 43 Silver Y, Ni Moth #teammoth

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A record count of 9 Loxostege sticticalis (Mugwort Pearl) in St Mellion last night. I thought I had done well until Mick Scott mentioned he's taken at least 16 at Longstone, St Mary's the same night! #teammoth

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Steve Nash @stevenash71.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

Phycitine bingo! 11 Phycidotes/Homoeosoma species were in the traps last night in St Mellion, having not recorded any for over four weeks. Given the new species recorded in the UK recently I'd better get some of these checked. #teammoth

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Heath Rustic - new for the garden and only the 4th VC2 record this century A white aberration of Brimstone Moth. This is the 3rd time I've taken this variant here. Small Marbled - the first since 2nd June. A couple of pink-toned Vestal. St Mellion #teammoth

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Steve Nash @stevenash71.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

All of the Convolvulus Hawk-moth larvae have successfully pupated. Hopefully the adults will emerge in a couple of weeks [ex. female to light on 8/8] #teammoth

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Steve Nash @stevenash71.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Striped Hawk-moth number 50 of the year, in the St Mellion moth traps last night #teammoth

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Steve Nash @stevenash71.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

More notable migrants: S. ocellatella (Beet Moth), 3 Vestal, 2 Gem, White-speck, White-point, 2 Delicate, l-album Wainscot, 19 Small Mottled Willow, Bordered Straw. A Gem was found pumping up its wings just below a large pot of mint. I suspected these were breeding in the garden. #teammoth

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Steve Nash @stevenash71.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

The first full night's moth trapping for a while in St Mellion. 72 species noted. New for year: possible Dioryctria sylvestrella, Neglected Rustic (2nd garden record) & l-album Wainscot. Also, Anania crocealis, Jersey Mocha, Lesser Yellow Underwing (scarce this year) & Dark Spectacle #teammoth

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Steve Nash @stevenash71.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Spot the Eyed Hawk cat! I found three on this tree (only one in view) #teammoth

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Steve Nash @stevenash71.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

2 Verge Crickets (E. bordigalensis) were found (and heard) in the same area of garden patio, by the actinic trap yesterday evening. Seemingly new to East Cornwall (VC2). Impossible to photograph!!! The best from the moth traps on a cold, moonlit night was a single Rosy Underwing. #teammoth

Verge Cricket, well its head and antennae!

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Steve Nash @stevenash71.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

I also discovered a runt today that wasn't present previously, so this one must be a wild larva, brought in from the garden on the bindweed #teammoth

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Steve Nash @stevenash71.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

The Convolvulus Hawk larvae are now fully grown & consuming 3-4 large armful's of bindweed per day. There seems to be four dominant colour morphs among the 50 odd larvae, but no green form! [ex. ova from a gravid female taken at light in St Mellion on 8/8]. #teammoth

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Steve Nash @stevenash71.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

A disappointing night for migrants in St Mellion, with no obvious new arrivals, however this spectacular Vestal (R. sacraria) aberration made it worth the effort in the torrential rain and thunderstorms. I've never seen anything quite like it. #teammoth

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There's a Verge Cricket (Eumodicogryllus bordigalensis) chirping away from a hole in our patio, right under the actinic trap! Possibly new to VC2. It shot out briefly but I couldn't nap it for a photo. Making plenty of noise though!

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Oh great! Just setting up the moth traps and noticed these tiny Lobster Moth cats wandering about on the egg-boxes. More babies to look after! #teammoth

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The Convolvulus Hawk-moth larvae are getting enormous and eating their way through two large storage containers full of bindweed a day. #teammoth

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Migrants were: 10 P vitrealis (Olive-tree Pearl), 7 O nubilalis (Euro Corn-borer), 21 Vestal, Gem, 3 Convolvulus Hawk, 2 Hummingbird Hawk, 7 Pearly Underwing, 3 Cosmopolitan, 3 White-speck, 9 Delicate, White-point, 61 Angle Shades, 182 Small Mottled Willow, 8 Scarce Bordered Straw, Ni Moth #teammoth

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