Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Sweet Success...



Well at last some 'minor' success at the sugar posts. One Rosy Minor and one Common Rustic (above) were actually eating that claggy mixture I made. Times must be tough.



Above - The aforementioned Rosy Minor (top) with a Common Pug (bottom) in the holding pot. I used this because despite a night in the fridge, the Pug flew off one second after I snapped the photo. I have guessed at the pug i.d so if anyone can tell me it is something else please feel free ( in fact I insist, I need the help). The Pug wasn't at the sugar, I took it off the kitchen window.



This one is a Brown China Mark. In our kitchen.

Whilst the mothing might be slow to mercury vapour trappers, the one or two I do get are often new to me so its still quite good. Those old victorian collectors must have really worked hard for their collections before electricity. I might get a trap this month to see if I can catch anything decent, being on the coast and all that....

11 comments:

Blyth Birder said...

Not sure about the pug I'll take a stab at the ID of that holding pot - its an ex-maggot box?

Josh Jenkins Shaw said...

Think the pug is a Foxglove Pug,
ATB
Josh

Stewart said...

BB - You have the scale all wrong. If that was a maggot tub the moths would be like jackdaws! Its a tiny tupperware box about 2 inches cubed.

Josh - Thats interesting I'll check that one out, cheers.I have another pug for you tomorrow, I think its a Grey Pug?

Stewart said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Skev said...

Hi Stewart,

Glad you're having some sugaring success.

I'm afraid the pug is not a new one for you, but you may not have seen this subspecies before. It is a Tawny-speckled Pug ssp. cognata. I think this is probably the commoner form up your way.

Skev said...

Forgot to post link for reference:
http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=3099

Skev said...

Had a modest bit of sugaring success in my own garden last night aswell:
http://skevsblog.blogspot.com/2009/08/sugaring-11082009.html

Ian Fisher said...

Hi Stewart,

Keep checking Tom Tam's nd Hodgy's websites, they both now have a good collection of moth pics!

oldcrow61 said...

You get to see such wonderful moths. Great pictures.

Harry said...

Hello Stewart,
Sugaring is an 'Art Form', it is not only the mixture of Black Cane Treacle and Soft dark brown (and very sticky)sugar plus the secret alcoholic ingredient but it's selecting the good sugarig nights.

Not every night is a good night. Choose one when the wind is from the west or south west, there is good cloud cover keeping in the heat of the day and the breeze is gentle. With luck there may be four or five good sugaring nights a month.

On a good night you can catch as many moths as a Robinson MV trap.

Harry Eales.

Stewart said...

I like it Harry, I'll stick with it and see what happens....