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Dark Sword-grass (Agrotis ipsilon)
Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2011 8:06 am
by SteveH
Single Dark Sword-grass (Agrotis ipsilon) and Frosted Orange (Gortyna flavago) in the Elton trap last night, the Sword-grass being our 10th ever and the first since 2004.
Our catches are still dominated by Lesser Yellow Underwing (Noctua comes).
Last night (Thursday 1st September) there were still some 200 Yponomeuta cagnagella on the wing at Frodsham.
Steve
Re: Dark Sword-grass (Agrotis ipsilon)
Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2011 9:57 pm
by PaulMartinHill
Interesting that the Dark Swordgrass (Agrotis ipsilon) was your first since 2004 Steve. They are now almost annual at Marbury CP and seem to outnumber Silver Y's (Autographa gamma) in some years!!
Paul
Re: Dark Sword-grass (Agrotis ipsilon)
Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2011 11:47 pm
by SteveH
Hi Paul,
It might have something to do with the fact that Marbury is about a thousand times bigger than our garden too....
Steve
Re: Dark Sword-grass (Agrotis ipsilon)
Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2011 6:47 pm
by PaulMartinHill
Not really as I only use the figures from the trap in the yard when doing comparisons. As traps don't tend to attract from a large area and the yard is full of buildings, it's almost like trapping in a large garden. Would love to run traps elsewhere in the park on a regular basis!!
Paul
Re: Dark Sword-grass (Agrotis ipsilon)
Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2011 8:36 pm
by SteveH
I'd happily swap you Paul... our garden is 15 by 30 feet.
Clearly they prefer rural parkland to semi-urban gardens.
Actually, on second thoughts I'd not swap 
Steve
Re: Dark Sword-grass (Agrotis ipsilon)
Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2011 9:19 pm
by PaulMartinHill
Do you get many Silver-Y (Autographa gamma) Steve? We've had very few this year!
Paul
Re: Dark Sword-grass (Agrotis ipsilon)
Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2011 11:13 pm
by SteveH
26 Silver Ys so far this year Paul.
Our average since 1991 is 119 per year, with a peak of 626 in 1996 and a low of 11 in 1997.
Steve
Re: Dark Sword-grass (Agrotis ipsilon)
Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2011 8:38 am
by PaulMartinHill
That's interesting Steve, as we don't get many Silver Y's. In fact some years Dark Sword-grass outnumbers Silver Y!! Maybe something to look at across the county with the data for an LCES paper!!
Paul