Only two moths came to the light yesterday; probably one of last times my moth trap will be out this year. A lone Satellite (Eupsilia transversa) in the trap and a Sprawler (Asteroscopus sphinx) - a new species for me - on the wall nearby. The Sprawler is a late-flying moth, on the wing from October to December, but peaking around now. It’s a woodland species whose caterpillars rears up its spiny head when threatened, giving the moth its name.
Here are a couple more leaf mines, this time both are from flies. Phytomyza angelicastri is a leaf-miner found on wild angelica and also, as in this case, on Ground Elder. This is the first mine I’ve noticed here on Ground Elder, and is a new species for the garden. The similar-looking mine (but more “random” in direction) on Aquilegia (Columbine) is from Phytomyza minuscula. Many of these miners are very specific which leaves they will go for.
The first two leaf-mines are from the larvae of a Sallow Pygmy moth (Stigmella salicis, #973). These moths have two generations in the Spring and Summer and the twisting mines from the second generation are seen right through to November. The mine doubles back to create a blotch and the frass makes a broken line in the centre of the mine.
The second pair of mines are from the larvae of a weevil Isochnus sequensi (#680), which leaves these dark, blotchy mines. The larva by the second mine is that of a Syrphus hoverfly, which is a predator mostly of aphids and but also other insects.
Some fine fungi, but sadly not in the garden. A local nature reserve at Kemerton is always good for Autumn fungi, and also for otters which I now see on most visits if there are not too many people & dogs around.
This Ichneumon wasp was hunting around the window frames, presumably for spiders egg sacs, as it lays its eggs on them as food for the larvae. This wasp is seen throughout the summer and autumn.
Spotted these impressive hair-like structures growing out of some organic matter (bird poo probably) on our outdoor table. They are sporophores from a pin mold fungus that’s quietly going about its business of naturally breaking down organic waste in the garden. With the current damp autumn weather it should be good for fungi.
I usually clear away some of the nearby spiders webs when I put out the moth trap, but even so there’s often some that get caught and eaten. This Missing Sector Orb Spinner (Zygiella x-notata) has its home in the frame I often put the trap on, and regularly gets a meal of some kind. This species tends to live around houses, mostly outside, making a web that has a 2 sections missing the cross threads.
#362 Missing Sector Orb Spinner (Zygiella x-notata)
Well, it turns out that my neighbour’s not very attractive (IMO) non-native Thuja hedge is good for these two non-native Mediterranean moths! Blair's Shoulder-knot (Lithophane leautieri, #763) was first observed in UK in 1951 and is now established over most of lowland UK. It flies in one generation Sept-Nov; this being the first one I’ve recorded. Cypress Carpet (Thera cupressata) arrived in 1984 and so far its main range in UK only extends as far North as Birmingham. If has two generations, one in May-June and another in August-September.
This Syrphus ribesii was making a nice colourful shot on one of the relatively few flowers left in the garden. It’s a common enough hoverfly, seen right through the autumn until the cold weather hits.
#484 Syrphus ribesii
Found this beetle in the brown compost bin after doing some gardening on Saturday. This bristly weevil’s larvae feed on the roots of clover plants, the adults appear in the late summer and over-winter in soil or leaf litter.
#969 Clover-root Weevil (Sitona hispidulus)
These lacewings were attracted to the moth trap last weekend. The one on the left is a Common Green Lacewing (Chrysoperla carnea agg), which are the commonest species in the autumn as unlike other species they hibernate as adults. I’m not sure about the one on the right - should have had a closer look at it, as it lacks the pale dorsal stripe and has some black markings on its head - so perhaps it is another species.
A couple of caddisflies in the moth trap at the weekend. On the left Limnephilus lunatus is the most frequently caught large caddisfly, named after the crescent moon-shaped pale mark at the tip of its wing. Smaller and less marked, Limnephilus auricula (#968) is a new species for the list. It frequents water edges that dry out in summer, the adults laying eggs in the autumn and the larvae overwintering.
A bit drab, but Ashy Button (Acleris sparsana) was another new species for the garden trapped this weekend. Not a big surprise to record this as it likes Beech trees, of which there is a large one nearby in next-door’s garden. Another micro in the trap, actually a few times lately, was Garden Rose Tortrix (Acleris variegana) - another species which didn’t need to travel far from its plant host.
There are less moths, but this weekend some new species and a bit more variety. White-point was a new one for the garden. Flying in the Autumn, it’s an immigrant from the continent caught mainly in the South-East of England, that may have started establishing a resident population - not a bad catch for Gloucestershire. Superficially similar the Satellite has a different shaped while spot on its wings. This moth can be caught throughout the Autumn & Winter, from September until April. Deep-brown Dart and Black Rustic are both autumn species, typical for this period.
This is one of the commonest Autumn finds in the moth trap. Flying from August to October, it comes in different forms: most commonly (here at least) a dark form with pale veins over the wings, and a paler sandy-coloured form where the veins don’t show so much, but you get black spots towards the tips of the wings instead.
This caddisfly, Stenophylax permistus, was also in the moth trap. Brown speckled with pale patches on the wings, this species has two generations in spring and autumn. Its habitats are seasonal ditches and watercourses, and it is a species that comes to light quite often.
After a few wet and windy weekends I was able to put out the moth trap on Friday night. The catch of moths was right down from early September, but there are some Autumn-flying species around. This moth, Red-green Carpet (Chloroclysta siterata), is one such species, flying in Sept-Oct, hibernating as an adult, then flying again in early Spring. With its cryptic green colours, it’s a handsome moth and a new species for the garden.
This red and metallic-green Centurion fly got trapped inside the house. Called the Twin-Spot Centurion (Sargus bipunctatus) because if the two white spots on the front of its face, it is a late-flying member of this fly family, typically seen sunbathing on vegetation from September through to November.
I wondered what was shredding the leaves of alpine strawberry plants in a planter outside the front door. Turns out to be sawfly larvae from the Strawberry Sawfly (Claremontia confusa). The sawflies are supposed to fly in May-June and people report their strawberry plants being eaten in July, so maybe these are from a second generation.
This is another insect attracted to flowering Ivy. German Wasp is pretty similar to the Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris), but has some slightly different features - especially the black on the front of the face. Where Common Wasp has an anchor-shaped black mark above the mandibles, German Wasp has 3 black spots, though sometimes the centre one is fused (as in this case) into a line. It’s a rather common species, but this is the first one that I’ve identified in the garden.
Passionate about nature, based in Gloucestershire UK; this site is about creating a wildlife friendly family garden and exploring the diversity of animal & plant species that share it with us.
As a nature lover and wildlife gardener I started wondering about the biodiversity in my backyard and just how many species from plants to insects to birds to mammals might live in or visit it.
Much of the wildlife in my small, village garden has been present right under my nose for years without my really appreciating it, so on the way I am learning a lot about different species and how to make a wildlife-friendly environment for them; also getting engaged more in conservation activities around Gloucestershire, Worcestershire and the Cotswolds.
My garden species tally started from zero on June 1st 2018, the target was 1000 species, which I eventually hit in June 2024. But there’s still plenty to see and learn about.
I'm very interested in your comments & advice: whether it's about the blog, some help with identification or just how to make my own little Eden better for wildlife. So please leave a comment or drop me a line if you feel like it!
Graham Tompsett
microedenproject@gmail.com
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