Nigel Voaden

Acleris bergmanniana, 2nd garden record

Mompha ochraceella, 4th garden record and first since 2022

Phyllonorycter viminiella, 4th garden record

Elachista luticomella, NFG but one I have been expecting as I've recorded it locally elsewhere

The recent heatwave was somewhat briefly felt in Fife with just two good nights for trapping. 29th June was marginally the pick with exactly 600 moths recorded of 144 species in my Burntisland garden. Among these were two NFG, one anticipated, the other not so, and a further 16 NFY. 2/2 #teammoth

Epiblema costipunctana, 2nd garden record

Adaina microdacytla, 2nd garden and VC85 record, the other was in 2018

Tineola bisselliella, 2nd garden record

Aleimma loeflingiana, NFG and 2nd VC85 record, a real surprise as oak feeders are scarce in my garden and this species seems to be genuinely rare in VC85 in general

The recent heatwave was somewhat briefly felt in Fife with just two good nights for trapping. 29th June was marginally the pick with exactly 600 moths recorded of 144 species in my Burntisland garden. Among these were two NFG, one anticipated, the other not so, and a further 16 NFY. 1/2 #teammoth

Sallow Kitten, 4th garden record, 2nd this year

Eucosma campolilana, already a record year for this attractive species here

Phyllonorycter ulmifoliella, 9th garden record and 3rd this year

Toadflax Pug, 3rd garden record and by far the earliest, highlight of the catch

27th June in my Burntisland garden was very warm overnight but quite windy consequently numbers and diversity were lower with 376 moths of 103 species recorded. A few highlights among the pics #teammoth

Plenty of practice working out when it's worth it and when it's better to sleep.

Garden only VC85. June 2025
Moths recorded 3,370
Trap nights 8
NFYs 136
NFGs 3
Lifers 0

Year to date
Moths 6,814
Trap nights 27
NFYs 353
NFGs 11
Lifers 0 (1 elsewhere)

Gothic, just 6th garden record and first since 2022. Box fresh too and the best I've ever seen.

Elachista subocellea, second garden record and there were two this time. These are the only three ever recorded in VC85.

Euspilapteryx auroguttella, only 2nd garden record, came to Cacoecimorpha pronubana pheromone lure

25/06 was another busy night in Burntisland with 492 of 117 species although sadly none of the more interesting migrants down south still not made there way to me yet. 16 NFY including a couple of garden scarcities. Garden year list now 317, one short of a record for the end of June #teammoth

Northern Spinach, 7th garden record

Eupoecilia angustana, only 2nd garden record, the other in 2018. Odd because it's common enough nearby.

Mompha lacteella, 5th garden record, the other four were all in 2020

Etainia decentella, 8th garden record (of 11 individuals)

21/06 Burntisland 676/144. Unfortunately no NFG's which I hope for on big nights but they are becoming increasingly difficult. Several scarce species arrived and there were 43 NFY's! Annual garden total is 301 species now, I've only previously passed 300 once before the end of June 2/2 #teammoth

Shark, 10th garden record

Magpie Moth, 7th garden record and 3rd this year (best ever year)

Isotrias rectifasciana, 3rd garden record, one in each of the last three years so hopefully now establishing locally

Gillmeria pallidactyla, 7th garden record

21/06 Burntisland 676/144. Unfortunately no NFG's which I hope for on big nights but they are becoming increasingly difficult. Several scarce species arrived and there were 43 NFY's! Annual garden total is 301 species now, I've only previously passed 300 once before the end of June 1/2 #teammoth

Phiaris schulziana, not only new for VC85 but one of my favourite micros

Sallow Kitten, only 3rd garden record

Pale Prominent NFG

Alder Moth NFG

30/05 Burntisland 306/94. 3 NFG in one night, two were expected but P schulziana was also new for VC85. 49th new for VC85 I've recorded from our garden in 7 years. Further 11 NFY and garden year list moved to 217, by far highest ever for the time of year. The total garden list moves to 653 #teammoth

I run 2x clear MV125W Robinson, a LepiLED with a homemade trap and the fourth if I bother is a 2x 30W actinic Robinson

That was three, max I run in the garden is four. It's definitely worth putting different types of lights out in even a small garden, as you say it definitely increases the diversity of the catch.

Barred Straw, very early date, a month early and very few Scottish records in May

Bordered Sallow, 9th garden record

Peach Blossom, 9th garden record

Common Wainscot, very early, only one or two previous Scottish records in May, typically a Jul/Aug species here

28th May Burntisland 241 of 71. Rare mild and calm night but with rain second half. 25 NFY moves garden year list to 172. Quite a few interesting records, and some more very early dates. Confirms there are lots of moths about, but good trapping conditions are infrequent. 2/2 - macros #teammoth

Notocelia trimaculana, one of five, usually only record occasional singletons here

Coleophora deauratella

Orthotaenia undulana, 2nd garden record

Udea olivalis, 4th garden record, first since 2021

28th May Burntisland 241 of 71. Rare mild and calm night but with rain second half. 25 NFY moves garden year list to 172. Quite a few interesting records, and some more very early dates. Confirms there are lots of moths about, but good trapping conditions are infrequent. 1/2 - micros #teammoth

Small Angle Shades

Caloptilia azaleella

Psychoides filicivora, the first in the garden since 2021

Sloe Pug, not from the garden but reared from a larva found at nearby Gaddon Loch

153/59 10th May Burntisland. Rare calm night but temp dropped a couple of degrees lower than forecast. 15 NFY including a few record early dates for the garden. Garden year list is on 139 and above average for time of year. Hopefully these easterly winds will end before June and peak season arrives.

I can't remember it, there was 3 NFG in 2022, but that was a 150+ species night in July, not April!

30th April Burntisland 301/74! 4 NFG Phyllonorycter lantanella, Puss Moth, Poplar Grey & Green Silver-lines, 24 further NFYs inc. some very early dates. Garden list moves to 650, year list to 124, previous best end April was just 64. April was ave 2 deg warmer than previous five years #teammoth

A bit cooler overnight 29th April and a slight drop off to 172 of 43 species in Burntisland. Four NFY Coleophora albicosta, Aphomia sociella, Lesser Swallow Prominent and White Ermine. #teammoth

May Highflyer, second garden record

Herald

Early Tooth-striped, long awaited NFG, species 646 for the garden

Green Carpet, earliest here by three weeks, typically doesn't appear till June in Scotland

Burntisland 28th, 196/46. Record diversity night for April. Early Tooth-striped NFG. In addition to photos Iron Prom, Sandy Carpet, Lychnis, Brown Silver-line & Garden Tiger (larva) were also NFY. Red Sword-grass very late. Record counts of A hexadactyla 15 & Least Black Arches 10 #teammoth

White-pinion Spotted

Clouded-bordered Brindle

Parornix anglicella

Cochylichroa atricapitana

111/43 27th April Burntisland, smashed previous best April night for diversity which was just 30. 7 NFY also included Scrobipalpa acuminatella, Common Carpet, Foxglove Pug and Spectacle. Nearby White-pinion Spotted by day at Kinghorn Loch recently arrived and establishing well in Fife #teammoth

Oak-tree Pug, 3rd garden and VC85 record. Spreading in Scotland and seemingly doing rather well at the moment.

Phyllonorycter geniculella

Broad-barred White, no April records before in Scotland up till 2021 at least

Grey Dagger, also no April records before in Scotland up till 2021 at least

76 of 28 in Burntisland overnight 26th April. A good showing for the time of year (but last night greatly exceeded this). 8 NFY also included Flame and Spruce Carpet in addition to the photos. #teammoth

Elachista canapennella

Small Square-spot, earliest ever here

Yellow-barred Brindle

Golden-rod Pug, 1 of 7 which is a good count here

82/26 in Burntisland overnight, better than expected considering it was 10.2deg at dusk dropping to 5.7 at dawn, but it was calm. 8 NFY taking annual garden total to 68, other NFY not shown included Depressaria radiella, Common Pug, Shuttle-shaped Dart and Small Phoenix #teammoth

Acroplepia autumnitella by day, despite having a thriving colony in the garden I have only recorded the adult four times, and never once to light

Powdered Quaker

Nut-tree Tussock, earliest ever, and a record single night count of three

Lunar Thorn, earliest ever

12/10, 101 of 28, a good April night, seasons changing with several more NFYs taking annual garden total to 60 species, a record by ths date. Looks like it will be a while before any more are added based on the forecast though #teammoth

Acleris cristana

Acleris cristana again, this view shows the raised scale tufts and concave forewing well

Agonopterix arenella NFY

Clouded Silver NFY, earliest ever here

11/04, 83 of 22 in Burntisland. 1st good moth of the year, Acleris cristana, 3rd Scottish record and new to VC85. Garden species #645. A calm night with a good range of micros on offer #teammoth

Caloptilia rufipennella

Phyllonorycter blancardella (to NIG lure)

V-Pug

Streamer, a record count of 6 on 12th

10/04, 44 of 15 in Burntisland, warmest day of the year but temperatures dropped overnight and it was too breezy. Seasons changing and NFYs appearing. Record numbers of C. rufipennella and Streamer of late. #teammoth

It is

Yes that's Rhyacionia logaea, not much to confuse them with this time of year. Reckon that might be a VC first

Engrailed NFY, only second record since 2019

Acleris literana NFY

Agonopterix ocellana NFY

Plutella xylostella NFY

275/29 Burntisland, 9 NFY total. Also 4th Oak Beauty of year (6th ever). Record March diversity here with 43 species, all in last ten days. Forecast looks poor going forward though. 2/2 #teammoth

Caloptilia stigmatella

Pine Beauty (3rd garden record)

Amblyptilia acanthadactyla NFY

Alucita hexadactyla NFY

275/29 Burntisland, record for March diversity. 14.1 deg @ dark but only 5.8 at dawn. Would have been even better if one trap hadn't developed a fault and was on and off all night. Nine NFY see photos. Record counts Shoulder Stripe 8, Double-striped Pug 64, Engrailed 2, Small Quaker 6. 1/2 #teammoth

Double-striped Pug

Oak Beauty

Pale Pinion

Small Quaker

157 of 17 last night in Burntisland. Double-striped Pug and Pale Pinion NFY. Pale Pinion only 6th garden record. Oak Beauty 4th garden record, 2nd this year (and latest ever). 4 Small Quaker record single night count here. #teammoth

Small Quaker NFY

Oak Beauty, NFY, only 3rd garden record

Shoulder Stripe NFY

Red Sword-grass, NFY, scarce but usually annual in the garden

Limited decent weather, fractured left arm, and general moth apathy has meant I hadn't put a trap out this year till last night, I'd previously trapped every single month for the last nine years. 99/13 was about half what I would expect for a good night this time of year. Just one micro #teammoth