A greenhorn lepidopterist at large in suburban London

Berrylands Station is on the London Waterloo to Hampton Court line between New Malden and Surbiton, a 25 minute train journey from central London. I became aware of its potential for attracting moths in late August 2008. The station is situated on an embankment with the Hogsmill Sewage Farm directly to the north and a typical mix of suburban houses and gardens to the south. The elevated aspect of the station and the comparative lack of domestic and street lighting in the immediate area mean that it acts like a huge moth trap, there are white-painted covered waiting areas and staircases on both platforms, these are illuminated at night and most of the moths are found in these areas. What follows is my attempt as a novice lepidopterist to record and catalogue all the macro moths I encounter on my daily commute to work along with the occasional "awayday" in search of other British lepidoptera .

Sunday, April 10, 2016

Garden Carpet

Xanthorhoe fluctuata

2008: recorded on 15 dates between August 31st and September 25th, all singles except for two on September 10th, 16th, 17th & 23rd and three on September 15th.
2009: recorded on 15 dates between June 3rd and September11th, all singles except for two on June 9th and three on June 10th.
2010: singles recorded on ten dates between May 27th and September 28th.
2011: recorded on 15 dates between June 5th and September 9th, all singles except for two on June 22nd and July 1st.
2012: recorded on 14 dates between June 7th and August 28th, all singles except for two on June 7th, 8th & 9th and July 13th.
2013: two on June 25th, singles on June 26th, 27th & 28th, July 6th and September 23rd & 24th.
2014: singles recorded on ten dates between May 15th and September 19th.
2015: singles recorded on 11 dates between May 17th and September 22nd.
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