Guess what I found in my moth trap? *smug grin*

Just wondering how much longer I can milk being deserving of finding exciting new species before people want to kill me :-) - I reckon until the end of year at least! But for the special moth you'll have to wait until the very end of this post, as I'm going back to 20th Sept for these first moths. 

I found some interesting moths that night but only a few species the next few times I put the trap out, as the night temps were dropping to about 6C. However there are actually quite a lot of moths that it is still possible to see at this time of year; it was surprising when I started looking into the world of moths to discover that there are a number of late autumn moths and even winter moths that fly during the cold months, though presumably only when conditions are right, i.e. not freezing or pouring with rain. So this is a hobby that can be done all year round.

These are the species I found on 20th Sept which I have managed to ID. Many of these were very flitty and I could only get pics in the specimen pots which I have not yet washed out, so there are many scales from other moths in them. I'll get round to doing it one of these days!

This next moth is one of my favourites which I've found three times now - you can't really appreciate its subtle but pretty markings until you get close up with your camera lens, as to the naked eye it is just a pale looking moth.  It's not suprising it bears the name of The Delicate.

From UK Moths site: "Wingspan 36-43 mm.

A migrant species, appearing most commonly on the south and south-west coasts of England, usually between August and October, but also sometimes earlier in the season.

The adults vary in colour from very pale yellow to almost orange.

It is considered that some of the earlier migrants during the year may breed in Britain, giving rise to autumn adults, but the larval stage is not well known due to its nocturnal and retiring nature."

The Delicate (Mythimna vitellina).

The Delicate (Mythimna vitellina).

This is the only Sallow species that I have come across so far, although I've seen a number of them.

Centre-barred Sallow (Atethmia centrago).

I have found the Wainscots a nightmare to ID as many are very similar, but this species stands out and is very attractive.

L-album Wainscot (Mythimna l-album).

A very tatty Beautiful Hook-tip (Laspeyria flexula).

At least this is one of those species with unmistakable markings which is easy enough to ID with the naked eye!

Autumnal Rustic (Eugnorisma glareosa).

Autumnal Rustic (Eugnorisma glareosa).

The following three I believe are the same species, only they come in a variety of different colours. Ragged Robin posted a group of them in many different colours on this 2014 post here so I am hoping she will help to confirm if these are in fact that species. They were trapped on 27th and 28th September.

Lunar Underwing (Omphaloscelis lunosa).

Lunar Underwing (Omphaloscelis lunosa).

Lunar Underwing (Omphaloscelis lunosa).

Moving on to 17th October and the only time I've put the moth trap out this month. Some interesting new species again.

UK Moths has this to say about this next species, the Flame Brocade:

"Formerly resident in Sussex, becoming extinct there in the late 19th Century, the species is now resident only in the Channel Islands and elsewhere it is only an immigrant.

Adults have appeared, usually at coastal light-traps along England's southern shores, mainly from Hampshire westwards.

The normal flight period is October and November, most immigrants turning up in the former month.

The caterpillar feeds on low plants such as buttercup (Ranunculus) in the early stages, later preferring such species as ash (Fraxinus) and privet (Ligustrum)." 

I found seven of these in the trap!
Flame Brocade (Trigonophora flammea).

The next two I am not 100% sure of my ID.

Beaded Chestnut (Agrochola lychnidis).

Black Rustic (Aporophyla nigra).

And now we come to the Very Special Moth. I was halfway through going through the egg cartons in the moth trap before I did a double take noticing this rather large moth sitting on the wooden side of the box. I knew what it was immediately and was over the moon....

Can you guess what it is yet?

I think this might give you a clue..... :-)
Yes, it's a Clifden Nonpareil!!! (Catocala fraxini).

To some the Holy Grail of moths is this species; to others it's the Merveille du Jour (I'd love to see one of them too) and for others, perhaps the Death's-head Hawkmoth, which I'd really love to see. But the Clifden Nonpareil is a moth whose name I have been familiar with for many years, well before I got interested in moths or even really interested in butterflies, so that makes it all the more special to me. The larvae of this species feed on Poplars, of which there are plenty around. The wingspan is male 84-100 mm, female 98-112 mm! This article in the Independent newspaper sums up the sighting of this moth perfectly.

I even managed a selfie with my moth when it escaped!

More pics.

Close up of its face and proboscis.

Starting to show those beautiful blue underwings.

Back in the box with the egg cartons prior to release in the evening.

When I released the moths at dusk the CN flew into my Horse Chestnut tree and sat there for about five minutes - it then flew off into the darkening sky looking just like a tiny bat. What a fabulous experience and privilege it was to meet this most sought after moth!