Steve Nash
@stevenash71.bsky.social
Lives in Cornwall | completely bonkers about moths! | admin of @MigrantMothUK | fan of punk/metal | grumpy about humans destroying nature | views my own
Small Brindled Beauty would be most welcome here - there's only 2 records from Cornwall!
February 12, 2026 at 10:27 AM
Small Brindled Beauty would be most welcome here - there's only 2 records from Cornwall!
Thanks Dave. Yes, racking up the species but numbers are very low. Cooler tonight but may give it a go in the evening again.
February 12, 2026 at 10:15 AM
Thanks Dave. Yes, racking up the species but numbers are very low. Cooler tonight but may give it a go in the evening again.
Excellent totals Dave!
February 12, 2026 at 9:55 AM
Excellent totals Dave!
I ran the lights in the garden in St Mellion until 10:30pm, with 14 moths of 6 species recorded:
3 Agonopterix heracliana agg.
1 Acleris ferrugana agg.
7 Early Moth
1 Spring Usher
1 Early Thorn (new for the year - earliest ever record)
1 Grey Shoulder-knot (new for the year)
#teammoth
3 Agonopterix heracliana agg.
1 Acleris ferrugana agg.
7 Early Moth
1 Spring Usher
1 Early Thorn (new for the year - earliest ever record)
1 Grey Shoulder-knot (new for the year)
#teammoth
February 12, 2026 at 9:52 AM
I ran the lights in the garden in St Mellion until 10:30pm, with 14 moths of 6 species recorded:
3 Agonopterix heracliana agg.
1 Acleris ferrugana agg.
7 Early Moth
1 Spring Usher
1 Early Thorn (new for the year - earliest ever record)
1 Grey Shoulder-knot (new for the year)
#teammoth
3 Agonopterix heracliana agg.
1 Acleris ferrugana agg.
7 Early Moth
1 Spring Usher
1 Early Thorn (new for the year - earliest ever record)
1 Grey Shoulder-knot (new for the year)
#teammoth
It's been a struggle this year. Numbers are generally low, despite the very mild nights.
February 11, 2026 at 12:19 PM
It's been a struggle this year. Numbers are generally low, despite the very mild nights.
9 moths of 6 species in St Mellion last night. Despite the mild temperatures the wind was a factor:
2 Agonopterix heracliana agg.
1 Acleris ferrugana agg.
2 Early Moth
2 Common Quaker
1 Red Chestnut (new for year)
1 Angle Shades (new for year)
Species total for the year now stands at 25. #teammoth
2 Agonopterix heracliana agg.
1 Acleris ferrugana agg.
2 Early Moth
2 Common Quaker
1 Red Chestnut (new for year)
1 Angle Shades (new for year)
Species total for the year now stands at 25. #teammoth
February 11, 2026 at 10:16 AM
9 moths of 6 species in St Mellion last night. Despite the mild temperatures the wind was a factor:
2 Agonopterix heracliana agg.
1 Acleris ferrugana agg.
2 Early Moth
2 Common Quaker
1 Red Chestnut (new for year)
1 Angle Shades (new for year)
Species total for the year now stands at 25. #teammoth
2 Agonopterix heracliana agg.
1 Acleris ferrugana agg.
2 Early Moth
2 Common Quaker
1 Red Chestnut (new for year)
1 Angle Shades (new for year)
Species total for the year now stands at 25. #teammoth
Just 6 moths of 5 species in 3 traps overnight in St Mellion. Oak Beauty was new for the year (23rd species of the year), and the earliest record here by 4 days.
1 Agonopterix heracliana/ciliella
2 Acleris ferrugana/notana
1 Early Moth
1 Oak Beauty
1 likely Dark Chestnut
#teammoth
1 Agonopterix heracliana/ciliella
2 Acleris ferrugana/notana
1 Early Moth
1 Oak Beauty
1 likely Dark Chestnut
#teammoth
February 10, 2026 at 9:45 AM
Just 6 moths of 5 species in 3 traps overnight in St Mellion. Oak Beauty was new for the year (23rd species of the year), and the earliest record here by 4 days.
1 Agonopterix heracliana/ciliella
2 Acleris ferrugana/notana
1 Early Moth
1 Oak Beauty
1 likely Dark Chestnut
#teammoth
1 Agonopterix heracliana/ciliella
2 Acleris ferrugana/notana
1 Early Moth
1 Oak Beauty
1 likely Dark Chestnut
#teammoth
11 moths of 7 species in St Mellion on 7/2.
1 Ypsolopha mucronella (new for year)
1 Agonopterix heracliana/ciliella
1 Acleris ferrugana/notana
1 Red-green Carpet
6 Early Moth
1 Dotted Border
1 Common Quaker (new for year)
Year list now at 21 species.
#teammoth
1 Ypsolopha mucronella (new for year)
1 Agonopterix heracliana/ciliella
1 Acleris ferrugana/notana
1 Red-green Carpet
6 Early Moth
1 Dotted Border
1 Common Quaker (new for year)
Year list now at 21 species.
#teammoth
February 8, 2026 at 11:09 AM
11 moths of 7 species in St Mellion on 7/2.
1 Ypsolopha mucronella (new for year)
1 Agonopterix heracliana/ciliella
1 Acleris ferrugana/notana
1 Red-green Carpet
6 Early Moth
1 Dotted Border
1 Common Quaker (new for year)
Year list now at 21 species.
#teammoth
1 Ypsolopha mucronella (new for year)
1 Agonopterix heracliana/ciliella
1 Acleris ferrugana/notana
1 Red-green Carpet
6 Early Moth
1 Dotted Border
1 Common Quaker (new for year)
Year list now at 21 species.
#teammoth
11 moths of 6 species, on a wet and windy night in St Mellion. Ypsolopha ustella was new for the year.
2 Agonopterix heracliana/ciliella
1 Ypsolopha ustella
1 Acleris ferrugana/notana
3 Early Moth
2 Winter Moth
2 Early Grey
#teammoth
2 Agonopterix heracliana/ciliella
1 Ypsolopha ustella
1 Acleris ferrugana/notana
3 Early Moth
2 Winter Moth
2 Early Grey
#teammoth
February 7, 2026 at 10:53 AM
11 moths of 6 species, on a wet and windy night in St Mellion. Ypsolopha ustella was new for the year.
2 Agonopterix heracliana/ciliella
1 Ypsolopha ustella
1 Acleris ferrugana/notana
3 Early Moth
2 Winter Moth
2 Early Grey
#teammoth
2 Agonopterix heracliana/ciliella
1 Ypsolopha ustella
1 Acleris ferrugana/notana
3 Early Moth
2 Winter Moth
2 Early Grey
#teammoth
13 moths of 7 species in St Mellion (5/2).
5 Agonopterix heracliana/ciliella
1 Twenty-plume (A. hexadactlya)
1 Red-green Carpet
3 Early Moth - new for the year
1 Winter Moth
1 Spring Usher (5th garden record) - new for the year
1 Mottled Umber (latest record)
17 species for the year #teammoth
5 Agonopterix heracliana/ciliella
1 Twenty-plume (A. hexadactlya)
1 Red-green Carpet
3 Early Moth - new for the year
1 Winter Moth
1 Spring Usher (5th garden record) - new for the year
1 Mottled Umber (latest record)
17 species for the year #teammoth
February 6, 2026 at 10:50 AM
13 moths of 7 species in St Mellion (5/2).
5 Agonopterix heracliana/ciliella
1 Twenty-plume (A. hexadactlya)
1 Red-green Carpet
3 Early Moth - new for the year
1 Winter Moth
1 Spring Usher (5th garden record) - new for the year
1 Mottled Umber (latest record)
17 species for the year #teammoth
5 Agonopterix heracliana/ciliella
1 Twenty-plume (A. hexadactlya)
1 Red-green Carpet
3 Early Moth - new for the year
1 Winter Moth
1 Spring Usher (5th garden record) - new for the year
1 Mottled Umber (latest record)
17 species for the year #teammoth
I think it's more likely to have flown from the Canary Isles or Madeira (where it's now established), as I had several S. European/North African moths that night also.
January 26, 2026 at 8:09 PM
I think it's more likely to have flown from the Canary Isles or Madeira (where it's now established), as I had several S. European/North African moths that night also.
It's certainly taken it's time Chris. Leon also had one the same night so it's a joint first really.
January 26, 2026 at 8:02 PM
It's certainly taken it's time Chris. Leon also had one the same night so it's a joint first really.
I'd imagine Flame Shoulder was the most common species here as I counted 1200, not including the period June to the end of September.
January 26, 2026 at 7:03 PM
I'd imagine Flame Shoulder was the most common species here as I counted 1200, not including the period June to the end of September.
I didn't count the common (non migrant) species so have no idea which was the most common species here. A shame, but there isn't enough time in the day during the summer months.
January 26, 2026 at 6:49 PM
I didn't count the common (non migrant) species so have no idea which was the most common species here. A shame, but there isn't enough time in the day during the summer months.
🙂 Yes, July, September and October were fairly poor. November was much better here!
January 26, 2026 at 6:02 PM
🙂 Yes, July, September and October were fairly poor. November was much better here!
It was a pretty good year Steve, particularly early Summer.
January 26, 2026 at 5:55 PM
It was a pretty good year Steve, particularly early Summer.
St Mellion 2025: New species for the garden included Agonoperix conterminella (9th Cornish record), Platyptilia isodactylus (Hoary Plume), Mecyna asinalis & Crambus uliginosellus (3rd VC2 record) #teammoth
January 26, 2026 at 5:47 PM
St Mellion 2025: New species for the garden included Agonoperix conterminella (9th Cornish record), Platyptilia isodactylus (Hoary Plume), Mecyna asinalis & Crambus uliginosellus (3rd VC2 record) #teammoth
St Mellion 2025: Other migrant highlights included record counts of Ni Moth (9), Slender Burnished Brass (6) - all to ORI pheromone lure and Cosmopolitan (13). Also, 1 Porter's Rustic. #teammoth
January 26, 2026 at 5:34 PM
St Mellion 2025: Other migrant highlights included record counts of Ni Moth (9), Slender Burnished Brass (6) - all to ORI pheromone lure and Cosmopolitan (13). Also, 1 Porter's Rustic. #teammoth
St Mellion 2025: It was a record year for both Striped Hawk-moth (9) & Small Marbled (37), incl a larva found close by. Other highlights were a 2nd garden record of Crimson Speckled & 3 Purple Marbled, which were new to the garden & 2 Rosy Underwing #teammoth
January 26, 2026 at 5:20 PM
St Mellion 2025: It was a record year for both Striped Hawk-moth (9) & Small Marbled (37), incl a larva found close by. Other highlights were a 2nd garden record of Crimson Speckled & 3 Purple Marbled, which were new to the garden & 2 Rosy Underwing #teammoth
I think I only had 15 or so over the year.
January 26, 2026 at 5:11 PM
I think I only had 15 or so over the year.
Scarcer immigrant Pyrales included: 1 Acrobasis tumidana (Tufted Oak Knot-horn), 14 Diasemiopsis ramburialis (Migrant Sable), 1 Spoladea recurvalis (Banded Sable), 7 Antigastra catalaunalis (Toadflax Pearl), 3 Hellula undalis (Old World Webworm) & 5 Euchromius ocellea Silver-spotted Veneer #teammoth
January 26, 2026 at 5:10 PM
Scarcer immigrant Pyrales included: 1 Acrobasis tumidana (Tufted Oak Knot-horn), 14 Diasemiopsis ramburialis (Migrant Sable), 1 Spoladea recurvalis (Banded Sable), 7 Antigastra catalaunalis (Toadflax Pearl), 3 Hellula undalis (Old World Webworm) & 5 Euchromius ocellea Silver-spotted Veneer #teammoth
I know! I think I'd recorded 200 odd in total over the previous 40 years.
January 26, 2026 at 5:04 PM
I know! I think I'd recorded 200 odd in total over the previous 40 years.
The migrant highlight of the year in St Mellion was actually a butterfly: American Painted Lady (Vanessa virginiensis) on 24/8, the 2nd record for East Cornwall.
January 26, 2026 at 5:03 PM
The migrant highlight of the year in St Mellion was actually a butterfly: American Painted Lady (Vanessa virginiensis) on 24/8, the 2nd record for East Cornwall.
The most common migrant species in St Mellion were:
2100 U. ferrugalis (Rusty-dot Pearl)
1679 N. noctuella (Rush Veneer)
1180 Silver Y
1014 Dark Sword-grass
874 Small Mottled Willow [record count]
868 Angle Shades
450 P. xylostella (Diamond-back Moth)
121 P. vitrealis Olive-tree Pearl
#teammoth
2100 U. ferrugalis (Rusty-dot Pearl)
1679 N. noctuella (Rush Veneer)
1180 Silver Y
1014 Dark Sword-grass
874 Small Mottled Willow [record count]
868 Angle Shades
450 P. xylostella (Diamond-back Moth)
121 P. vitrealis Olive-tree Pearl
#teammoth
January 26, 2026 at 4:59 PM
The most common migrant species in St Mellion were:
2100 U. ferrugalis (Rusty-dot Pearl)
1679 N. noctuella (Rush Veneer)
1180 Silver Y
1014 Dark Sword-grass
874 Small Mottled Willow [record count]
868 Angle Shades
450 P. xylostella (Diamond-back Moth)
121 P. vitrealis Olive-tree Pearl
#teammoth
2100 U. ferrugalis (Rusty-dot Pearl)
1679 N. noctuella (Rush Veneer)
1180 Silver Y
1014 Dark Sword-grass
874 Small Mottled Willow [record count]
868 Angle Shades
450 P. xylostella (Diamond-back Moth)
121 P. vitrealis Olive-tree Pearl
#teammoth