Footy Anyone??

You will be pleased to know that this post isn't about football or last night's match (unless, of course, you are fed up with moths, and want to talk about sports), but the Arctiids - the Footmen and Tigers.

These are a fantastic group of moths, with 32 or so species, and I've managed to total 25 in the last three years, and here goes.

Round-winged Muslin - a local species, and one of the few I've yet to see. A moth of bogs in Dorset, so maybe a target species for next year?

Dew Moth - the second of the several I've not see. Extinct in Dorset, and quite rare in England as a whole.

Rosy Footman - Right, one I've seen (hurrah!). In my first year mothing, this colourful footman was only seen once on my only out 'n about trip in '11, but in the past 2 years, I've seen a total of 66, in a mix of garden & out 'n about.

 



 

Muslin Footman - This one was a new one for this year, when one turned up in the garden, looking rather unalive by the morning, but still a garden and me tick, so I wasn't going to complain. A rather smart looking moth, being semi-transparent. The second turned up while walking the coast path in S Devon during July, attracted to a good ol' campsite toilet.

Red-necked Footman - On 2 occasions I have seen this fantastic footman, my second favourite of all the ones I've seen. It first turned up in '11, when I didn't realise that is was quite scarce where I was, almost certainty an immigrant, and then a further few attracted to light at Morden Bog in July this year.

Four-dotted Footman - Another which I saw for the first time this year - on the same night as the above species. So yeah, only seen this one on one occasion, at Morden Bog in July, but there are no records for Weymouth at all, so..

Dotted Footman - One of the rarest I've seen, being Red Data Book species in the UK, but an immigrant where I am. From the garden trap in August, where it was the 5th Dorset Record, which I was pleased with. Not the most exciting moth unfortunately, but hey, can't win them all. Where it isn't a migrant, it is restricted to the fens on Norfolk (or something like that)

Small Dotted Footman - Not seen this one, restricted to fens in Norfolk (or something like that (again..))

Orange Footman - Local spring moth, which I had no records in 2011, 2 or so in the garden in 2012, and then none again this year. Fairly smart looking moth.

Dingy Footman - the second most common Footman for me, having seen both forms, with good numbers every year. Despite being common, no decent photos of it!

Hoary Footman - one record of this one for me, one by day this year while walking the coast path in July. Overcast day, and was completely surprised it was there, just out in the open.

Pigmy Footman - The last of the Lithosiinae footmen I haven't seen. A red data book species restricted to a small patch of coast.

Scarce Footman - First seen in '12, then again on several occasions in '13. Might of had it in '11, but probably overlooked it as Common Footman, so yeah. Also seen it elsewhere (e.g. Morden Bog & Alners Gorse)

Buff Footman - Several during each year, mildly fairly common..

Common Footman - My most common footman, but, oddly, never taken a good shot of one.. so have a shot of a Common Footman Caterpillar..

Four-spotted Footman - This one I had once in the garden in '11, as an immigrant, and a male. Then, in '12 had another male in the garden, and 11 or so males at Broadmayne, and this year, had  4 or 5 males in the garden (still probably immigrants), and the 20 or so at Broadmayne, of which, 2 were females (hurrah!)

Feathered Footman - right, we're off the Lithosiinae, and onto Arctiidae, of which there are 3 Footman, and several tiger/ermines. The Feathered Footman is a dodgy one for Britain, with several mid-something records, which may or may not be of good quality - even if they are, they've not been in the UK for a while..

Specked Footman - This one is another to be a target species next year (maybe), as it is resident in some Dorset heaths, but is rare.

Crimson Speckled - my favourite of the footmen, this is a lovely coloured species, which was wafted in my direction this October. A rare immigrant to our shore.

Wood Tiger - Onto the tigers. Seen this one, in early July last year, by day, when several were seen.

Garden Tiger - I always am happy to see one of these in the trap, as they are fantastic moths, and not too common in my garden.

Cream-spot Tiger - Even better than the Garden Tiger, I've seen the adult of this species on 2 occasions, and a cat on one occasion. Very smart moth.

Patton's Tiger - a rare immigrant which I doubt I'll see, unless Portland gets one and I go to see it.

Clouded Buff - a rather nice moth, which several males were attracted to light when I trapped at Morden Bog.

White Ermine - I don't get this one that often, oddly, with none in '11, and small numbers in the last two years, but I do like them, smart moths.

Buff Ermine - Of the entire family, this is the most common for me, and always nice to get, bringing colour to the trap.

Water Ermine - The last British one I've not seen!

Muslin Moth - I get 3 or 4 each year in the trap, though still not seen a female (which don't fly at night..). My favourite of the entire family, these guys have great faces! :-)

Ruby Tiger - Always proves popular with events, this species is fairly irregular in the garden, but quite common elsewhere when I trap.

Jersey Tiger - By far my most common tiger, with over 50 turning up each year, including several yellow hindwing forms, which are always nice. Have found it breeding in the garden. If you need to see one, come to Weymouth in August, and you have a good chance of seeing one!

Scarlet Tiger - I thought this species only flew by day, I have seen them several times at Radipole Lake flying, but this was proved wrong when 2 turned up in the garden trap, much to my happy surprise. A very nice moth, too.

And last but not least..

Cinnabar - I think this chap is taken for granted, you always see their caterpillars munching on the hated Ragwort, but when you're walking the coast, and catch a glimpse of red flit past you, it's a moment to cherish. Seen the cats on several occasions at Chesil Beach amongst other places, and the adults turn up in the garden traps irregularly, as well as dayflyers on Portland, Chesil Beach, and various heaths..

So that's that.. A lot of pics, and not much reading (though it took me ages to write, and I'm a fast typer)

Just be grateful I didn't do the Noctuids, that's over 400 species..