Name that Gnat

Time was at a premium last night, so I had to resort to trapping in the back garden. I had plans to set up the MV, but a drizzle set in at dusk and was still going a couple of hours later so the actinic had to suffice. My thanks to the BBC for failing to forecast that the whole of lowland England would be getting wet overnight.

Usually, low cloud and drizzle drops stacks of moths in, but only twenty graced the trap come the morning. Either the rain put them off, or we are just entering that post-spring lull when the Quakers and Drabs are tailing off and we await the first Ermines, Muslins and Prominents. It is akin to that early-March slot in the birding calendar when many of the winter visitors have pushed off and we await the first Chiffchaffs and Wheatears.

Scores were:

Double-striped Pug - 2
Early Grey - 5
Pine Beauty - 1
Engrailed - 1
Hebrew Character - 5
Chestnut - 1
Common Quaker - 3
Shoulder-stripe - 1
Agonopterix arenella - 1

Aside from moths, there was a thin crust of dead and dying insects on the bottom of the trap as well dozens of live ones hanging around outside. No idea where to start with these, so would be grateful for any pointers.

 

Double-striped Pug

 

Pine Beauty

 

Shoulder-stripe

 

Small, green mozzy-type thing