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 17, 2016

Least Carpet

Idaea rusticata

2009: recorded on 18 dates between June 16th and September 24th with a peak count of four on July 3rd.
2010: recorded on 26 dates between June 15th and October 14th with peak counts of five on July 12th, 13th, 20th & 21st.
2011: recorded on 38 dates between May 30th and October 13th with peak counts of seven on July 15th & 26th.
2012: recorded on 20 dates between June 20th and August 10th with peak counts of four on July 12th & 27th.
2013: recorded on 25 dates between July 3rd and October 4th, with a peak count of 12 on July 17th.
2014: recorded on 40 dates between May 20th and September 30th, with a peak count of seven on July 8th.
2015: recorded on 47 dates between June 13th and August 21st, with a peak count of seven on July 26th.
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