Tim Blackburn

A few moths from the French trap that I'd not seen before - Four-spotted, Portland Ribbon Wave, Idaea rubraria (I'm told by A.I.) and Catoptria verellus. #TeamMoth

I do the driving, I do the packing… and because we’re doing a loop from Devon to London via France there was really no option 😎

I suspect a male - at the smaller end of the Lappet size spectrum.

Another first for me today, with the arrival at lunch of a Yellow-legged Asian Hornet. It went straight for the paté, where it was summarily dispatched by my bee-keeping mother-in-law. (I should point out in France, not the UK.) #BioInvasions

I basically snapped the Dusky thinking it was Pebble but just in case. And the Ancylolomia is huge!

A few more moths from France, all species I'd not seen before - Dusky Hook-tip, Porter's Rustic (not quite as dull as expected thanks to its ginger thighs), and Ancylolomia tentaculella (bucking the trend by being a stunning grass veneer). #TeamMoth

Definitely! Also I've never seen Lappet so happy to see this one and not pre-empt our one.

Pretty much what I said.

Moth of the night in France runner up - Black V. One of the commoner moths to light overnight, after Oak Processionary and Orange Footman (I assume, I guess a second generation here?). #TeamMoth

Clear winner for moth of the night in France - Poplar Lappet (Gastropacha populifolia). Absolute stunner. #TeamMoth

It’s actually a relatively cool evening. Later in the week should be better.

I know (the in-laws have nothing to do with it…)

First moth in is just some boring micro…

Wine and cheese a bit of a distraction right now but…

🤞

I’m sure it’s a harbinger of bad times ahead…

Ditto Devon. Ridiculous amounts of fruit from sloes to apples and all in between.

On y va… #TeamMoth

Electrics work, added Coxcomb Prominent and Jersey Tiger without needing light...

MV, though need to check the electrics work. Will let you know my best 6 as and when…

A bit south of Nantes. The owner says it's good for moths, obviously buzzing with HHHMs.

OK, definite moth potential… #TeamMoth

There was one fluttering yesterday evening, but this is a brief post-ferry (Euro Stormies, Sooty Shear) stop on the way south. Possibly later this week if I'm allowed to run the trap...

First morning in France. Pain au Chocolat, coffee, Poplars riddled with Hornet Moth holes and a field covered in Himalayan Balsam. All the boxes ticked.

A red deer but not a Red Deer...

Possibly, or coming on a road trip - can't decide. I'm not seeing anything on the customs information about carrying moths in tubes...

Surely you must have more than that - only a week's trapping in your garden?

It's been a good year, plus some quality field trapping.

One last trap in Devon before heading off, and another decent 335:91. Two NFY with Chequered Fruit-tree Tortrix and Aproaerema anthyllidella, and Bucculatrix thoracella NFG. Also check out that Ear agg... (retained). Now up to 650 for 2025 with 649 photographed. #TeamMoth

I’ve got a kilowatt battery that will run an MV for a few hours, or a couple of actinics all night, plus a couple of lepileds. I’m sure we could set something up.