Steve Nash
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stevenash71.bsky.social
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
An unexpected arrival of migrants in St Mellion (76 moths of 24 species recorded). Palpita vitrealis (Olive-tree Pearl), 23 Udea ferrugalis (Rusty-dot), Gem, Pearly Underwing, 3 Turnip Moth, 2 Radford's Flame Shoulder, Angle Shades, Purple Marbled 3rd of year, all f. carthami & Silver Y #teammoth
November 16, 2025 at 10:30 AM
A few more pics of the migrants from St Mellion, plus a new for garden Scarce Umber, which is, erm, scarce in Cornwall! #teammoth
November 14, 2025 at 1:04 PM
140 moths of 37 species in St Mellion last night. The highlights were Crimson Speckled (2nd site record) and Hellula undalis (Old World Webworm) to light and 3 Slender Burnished Brass to the ORI lure. #teammoth
November 14, 2025 at 12:00 PM
2 Slender Burnished Brass in the ORI lure trap next to the front door, both of which arrived around 2am. All 3 have been taken in this lure trap location, despite hanging 3 other ORI lures in the garden & down the lane. The Aurora also put on a spectacular display. St Mellion #teammoth
November 13, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Glad I put a bag over the bulb to protect it against the horizontal rain! Waste of time this evening but looking good from midnight.
November 11, 2025 at 4:19 PM
There was a 6c temperature swing overnight in St Mellion, with the temp. down to a chilly 7.3c at 19:00, rising to 13.2c at 07:00 (currently 14.2c at noon). The wind is really picking up now but hopefully it will die down completely by midnight.
November 11, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Yet another Cosmopolitan (L loreyi) last night, which was resting on the wall by the MV trap at 19:00 - the 12th specimen of the year in St Mellion, which is a record count. Also, 7 Udea ferrugalis (Rusty-dot), Turnip Moth, Silver Y, Setaceous Hebrew Character & Large Yellow Underwing. #teammoth
November 11, 2025 at 10:29 AM
79 of 25 species in St Mellion
1 Plutella xylostella (Diamond-back)
1 Nomophila noctuella (Rush Veneer)
21 Udea ferrugalis (Rusty-dot)
1 Vestal (R sacraria)
1 Dark Sword-grass (A ipsilon)
1 Cosmopolitan (L loreyi) different to one on 7/11
1 Angle Shades (P meticulosa)
1 Silver Y (A gamma)
#teammoth
November 9, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Also in St Mellion among 96 moths in 26 species: new for year Diurnea lipsiella, Acleris umbrana, Pseudargyrotoza conwagana (Yellow-spotted Tortrix) - my latest ever record - previous 28/10). 2 Grey Pine Carpet, 18 Red-green Carpet, 2 Large Yellow Underwing #teammoth
November 8, 2025 at 1:55 PM
A cool night in St Mellion, SE Cornwall (down to 8.3c), but mild enough early on for the moths to fly. The Cosmopolitain (10th of the year) arrived at 17:15 and the Spoladea recurvalis (Banded Sable) - 4th site record, was potted off the collar of the Robinson trap at 18:30. #teammoth
November 8, 2025 at 10:57 AM
201 of 41 sp in St Mellion. 4 P xylostella (Diamond-back), D ramburialis (Migrant Sable) 14th of year, 2 P vitrealis (Olive-tree Pearl), 75 U ferrugalis (Rusty-dot), 4 Vestal, Gem, Pearly Underwing, 2 Turnip Moth, Dark Sword-grass, Radfords Flame Shoulder, Scarce Bordered Straw, 4 Silver Y #teammoth
November 7, 2025 at 10:41 AM
Other migrants in St Mellion were - 2 Plutella xylostella (Diamond-back), 58 Udea ferrugalis (Rusty-dot), 2 Vestal, Turnip Moth, 3 Angle Shades, 2 Small Mottled Willow, Small Marbled, Dewick's Plusia & 11 Silver Y #teammoth
November 6, 2025 at 4:45 PM
After 163 nights of religiously hanging out the ORI pheromone lure in the garden, I finally caught a Slender Burnished Brass (T. orichalcea) in the lure trap! 3rd site record. St Mellion, Cornwall #teammoth
November 6, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Another night ruined by the wind in St Mellion. 25 moths of 11 species recorded, including: P xylostella (Diamond-back), 2 N noctuella (Rush Veneer), 8 U ferrugalis (Rusty-dot), 3 Silver Y, Ypsolopha ustella & Merveille du Jour. Also, a migrant Pale Damsel Bug (Nabis capsiformis). #teammoth
November 5, 2025 at 10:05 AM
Just 12 moths of 9 species braved with howling wind and thunder storms in St Mellion last night. Two traps were completely empty. Migrants:
1 Cosmopolitan (L. loreyi) - 9th of the year
1 Dark Sword-grass (A. ipsilon)
1 Angle Shades (P. meticulosa)
3 Udea ferrugalis (Rusty-dot Pearl)
#teammoth
November 1, 2025 at 10:33 AM
60 moths of 25 species in St Mellion last night. Quite raw & no sign of new migrant arrivals. P vitrealis (Olive-tree Pearl), 4 Nomophila noctuella (Rush Veneer), 6 U ferrugalis (Rusty-dot), White-speck, White-point, 3 Angle Shades, Scarce Bordered Straw, 2 Silver Y & Clifden Nonpariel #teammoth
October 29, 2025 at 10:27 AM
Caloptilia honoratella (Pale Maple Stilt), taken at light at St Mellion on 6/10 (female) has been confirmed by gen. det. (thanks to Chris Vincent) as the 1st record for Cornwall. Another almost certain specimen was taken 4 nights later, but not retained. #teammoth
October 23, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Down to 8.5c in St Mellion, so 30 species was a surprise. Finding a Purple Marbled (Eublemma ostrina) near the trap even more of a surprise! Also, 5 Udea ferrugalis (Rusty-dot), Nomophila noctuella (Rush Veneer), Vestal (brown stripe), Radford's Flame Shoulder, White-speck & Silver Y. #teammoth
October 22, 2025 at 10:50 AM
I switched the traps off as it felt so raw out (8.5c) but switched them back on when I found a White-speck on the trap. Glad I did as there's a Purple Marbled resting on the drainpipe by the trap!!! St Mellion, Cornwall. #teammoth
October 22, 2025 at 6:45 AM
73 of 32 species in St Mellion, Cornwall on 20/10. Migrants: Red Admiral, Palpita vitrealis (Olive-tree Pearl), 4 Udea ferrugalis (Rusty-dot), 3 Nomophila noctuella (Rush Veneer), 2 Vestal, Turnip Moth, White-speck, 2 Delicate, Angle Shades, Scarce Bordered Straw. #teammoth
October 21, 2025 at 10:00 AM
A calm evening, then wet & windy. 77 moths of 32 sp. Migrants: Antigastra catalaunalis (Toadflax Pearl): 7th of the year, P. vitrealis (Olive-tree Pearl), 4 U. ferrugalis (Rusty-dot), 3 N. noctuella (Rush Veneer), Vestal, 2 Turnip Moth, 2 Radford's Flame Shoulder, 3 White-point, Silver Y #teammoth
October 20, 2025 at 10:48 AM
Also in St Mellion - Pine Carpet, Four Spotted Footman, 3 Lesser Yellow Underwing, 8 Large YU, 3 Set. Heb. Char, 2 Square-spot Rustic, 2 Barred Sallow, 5 Beaded Chestnut, 2 Merveile du Jour, Pale Mottled Willow & Straw Dot #teammoth
October 19, 2025 at 12:11 PM
71 of 30 sp in St Mellion, in some of the worst conditions I have ever mothed in! Migrants: P xylostella (Diamond-back) 2 U ferrugalis (Rusty-dot) 2 N noctuella (Rush Veneer) Vestal 2 Pearly Underwing 3 Turnip Moth 3 White-point 4 Angle Shades Scarce Brd'd Straw 7 Silver Y Dewick's Plusia #teammoth
October 19, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Also, Acleris variegana, C. perpectalis (Box Moth), Buff Arches - latest ever, previous record 12/10/03, Maiden's Blush, Spruce Carpet, Flame Shoulder, Small Square-spot, Large Ranunculus, 2 Merveille du Jour, Frosted Orange, 9 Green-brindled Crescent, Pinion-streaked Snout & 6 Straw Dot #teammoth
October 14, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Also in St Mellion last night, a record 6 Eupoecilia angustana, most of which arrived together at around 8pm. Has anyone else noticed an increase in recent nights? #teammoth
October 14, 2025 at 12:13 PM