Garden Moth Review 2021

As a casual moth-er, my MV Robinson trap was dusted off for 13 garden appearances this year (once a month & twice in March). This resulted in a fairly average year for me with 111 species and 461 individuals.

14 new species were recorded including Pine Hawk-moth, Cloaked Carpet, Gypsy Moth, Brown-tail and Hoary Footman (Photograph above).

Garden Grass-veneer was the most numerous species with a total of 53 (record). Elephant Hawk-moth was No.2 with 28 (record).

Small Quaker made a return at No.9 with 11. This hasn't been in the top 10 since 2011, but is still a long way off the record set in 2010 with 53.

Others that had a poor year were Large & Lesser Yellow Underwing, Lunar Underwing, Square-spot Rustic and Common Quaker.

A big shout out must go to the Micro Tachystola acroxantha, which came in at No.8 with a count of 12.

Since 2005, Light Brown Apple Moth is by far the commonest moth recorded here, followed by Heart and Dart.

I still haven't recorded the Clifden Nonpareil moth, which seems to be getting quite common in Berks, Bucks and Oxfordshire. Still there is always 2022