Moth Study Group Activity for 2025

As in previous years the Moth Study Group started off the year with the ‘Winter get-together’ at Compton Dando Village Hall.

This is generally a very informal meeting to help break up the long almost moth-free winter where members can share their stories and photographs from the previous year and then arrange and discuss the coming year’s events over tea or coffee and some light refreshments. Paul Wilkins did a short presentation, primarily for the newer members of the group, describing and demonstrating with photographs some of the alternative methods of seeing and studying moths other than using moth traps.

‘A much better year’
Following what can only be described as a very poor year for moths in 2024 we were blessed in 2025 with a fairly mild spring and a warm hot summer, which resulted in moth numbers getting back to more normal levels for recent years (see figures below).

Total numbers of moths recorded at the Moth Group Traps (usually 10 Traps)

Year 2023 – Total of 2305 Moths including micro-moths
Year 2024 – Total of 1096 Moths including micro-moths
Year 2025 – Total of 2035 Moths including micro Moths

A summary of each Moth Trap event during 2025 is given below along with some highlighted species.

24 April at Paulton
Three traps were set up in a member’s wonderful garden in Paulton which produced a total of 41 moths including Knot-grass, Swallow Prominent, Waved Umber and the splendid Tortrix species Acleris literana.

23 May at Valley Spring, Combe Down
A moth trap was set up in the extensive gardens of Valley Spring within the beautiful valley of Horsecombe Vale courtesy of the owners and the Head Gardener. The trap attracted a total of 105 moths including 2 No Privet Hawk-moth, Pebble Prominent, Rivulet and an Ingrailed Clay.

1 June at The American Museum
This event also formed part of the Bath Nats main field programme.
Two Mercury Vapour traps and one Actinic were set up in the grounds of the museum and recorded a total of 156 moths, including Blotched Emerald, and Figure of Eighty.

21 June at Biddestone
Two traps had been set up, one in Biddestone itself and another at the Butts in the valley.

As always, the valley trap produced a bumper number of moths, a total of 287 comprising 71 macro species and 31 micro species. The Biddestone trap also produced good numbers, a total of 188 moths. Species of special interest included Barred Yellow, Blue-bordered Carpet and Common Lutestring

10 July at Winsley
A Mercury Vapour trap had been set up on the patio close to the host’s house, where the moths had not only filled the trap but also settled all over the wall of the house.

There turned out to be 75 macro species and 25 micro species providing a total of 451 moths, these included Jersey Tigers, Least Carpet, Golden Plusia, Iron Prominent and no less than 16 Brussels Lace. As well as a fantastic trap, members also enjoyed the host’s excellent baking!

20 July at Perrymead
Two members set up their traps in a lovely garden in Perrymead but despite the overnight rain the traps were extremely productive with 381 moths recorded. Unfortunately the rain continued throughout the morning which resulted in only a few members turning up.

The diversity of species was outstanding as were some of the numbers recorded. This included 24 Small Phoenix, possibly the most ever recorded in one night. Other species of note include Gypsy Moth, Rosy Rustic, Brussels Lace, Privet Hawk-moth, Pretty Chalk Carpet and Black Arches.

2 August at Compton Dando
The Moth Group trap in a member’s garden in Compton Dando is always a very popular event and never fails to produce a good selection of moths. A total of 155 moths were recorded from the two traps set up by two members and these included the rarely seen nowadays, Garden Tiger as well as a Pale Prominent, a Gold Spot and a migrant, The Delicate.

The delicious refreshments provided by the host were certainly well received!

24 August at Summer Lane Combe Down
The Summer Lane trap was again a very popular trap with members and produced some exciting autumn moths. Including Burnished Brass, Peach Blossom, Copper Underwing, White-point and the migrant micro-moth Olive-tree Pearl (Palpita vitrealis). Alas a Clifden Nonpareil or Blue Underwing Moth, previously encountered at some of the traps in the garden here, didn’t turn up on this particular occasion. A total of 196 moths were recorded.

13 Sept at Elm Farm, Keynsham
Our two hosts kindly opened the moth trap morning to all members of the Bath Natural History Society and it was included on the main field programme.

Elm Farm normally produces a bounty of moths, however due to the poor overnight conditions both the numbers and diversity of moths were low with just 12 macro species recorded out of a total of 60 moths. Notable species however included a Nutmeg, Centre-barred Sallow, Silver Y and a Vestal.

4 Oct at Great Chalfield Manor
Poor weather also had an effect on the success of this event with one of the two traps being blown over in the night. However despite this ‘catastrophe’ those attending were rewarded with a stunning Clifden Nonpareil or Blue Underwing as well as the rarely seen Deep Brown Dart and seven White-point.

Moths of special interest also recorded in the Bath area during 2025 include:

• Death’s Head Hawk-moth on two separate occasions, one recorded in the north of Bath on 23 August 2025 and another at Bathford to the east of Bath on 6 September 2025.
• Convolvulus Hawk-moth at Keynsham on 8 September 2025.
• Clancy’s Rustic in Keynsham on 1 October and at Burnett, near Bath on 19 October 2025.
• The White-point has been a regular species this year, with many recorded in our Moth Group traps throughout the year. One member had no less than 59 in his trap on 16 October at Freshford.
• A Varied Coronet was recorded at Walcot in the centre of Bath on 19 June 2025.

One of our moth group members had an amazing year trapping in Freshford. Apart from his bumper trap of White-point on 16 October he has also recorded the Spiny Hook-tip (confirmed by myself) as well as the rare Plumed Fan-foot on 6 November. Originally a migrant, first recorded in the British Isles in1995, the species is now breeding in the south east of England

Micro-moths of note during 2025 are as follows:

• Thiotricha subocella (confirmed by Paul Wilkins) recorded on 9 July at Winsley
  
• Ancylosis oblitella (confirmed by Paul Wilkins) recorded at Freshford on 6 September, this is just the third record for the region.
  
• Triaxomasia caprimulgella (confirmed by Paul Wilkins) caught in a pheromone trap in August.

Finally on behalf of all members of the Moth Study Group, I would like to thank all those who have either hosted or run a moth trap during 2025 for both their support and their hospitality, and also thanks to the organisers who arrange the moth trapping programme and send out notices.

(With thanks to Paul Wilkins for the 2025 report information.)

Carole Catling