Suffolk Moths Blog

Last evening I went to a nearby site where I usually get several Birch Mocha about this time of the month, so that was the target moth. I ran three traps for 2 hours with just 18 moths of 15 species turning up and some of these I netted because they were not coming to the trap. Just 2 new ones for the year, Common Wave & Syndemis musculana but no Birch Mocha.
It was cloudy, the temperature held at 10 deg. and I expected more than this. Numbers are still very low.

Brian

Since I am creating a site list from scratch I put traps out whenever there is not pouring rain or a gale. So these recent poorer nights have provided a few additions.
Pyrausta despicata a little moth even more unsettled than the Silver Y, the very pretty White-pinion Spotted, Elachista atricomella that required identification from the genitalia and the much easier Chocolate Tip and a Knot Grass. All helps to build the list. New for the year has been Setaceous Hebrew Character, Red-green Carpet and Epiphyas postvittana

Brian and I went to Round House marsh, Fritton, last night as it was a night too good to miss.  41 species taken at 5 lights, temperature when we left at 1.15 was 12C. Traps were well spread and all performed well, perhaps the best trap being 40w actinic.
Best moth being Reed Dagger. My personal choice from the rest being;  Purple Thorn, Chocolate-tip, Orange Footman, Waved Umber, Pale Tussock, Pine Beauty, 6 species of Prominent, Red-green Carpet, Grey Birch, Peppered moth and plenty of Water Carpet. Several other season firsts and good numbers of pugs in four species.

It was also nice to here a distant booming Bittern at 1am and also the same Bittern back home, closer, at 2am.

Keith

24 species but only 4 new to my site list. Which were Green Carpet, Brimstone, Herald and Caloptilia stigmatella. Only one other new to the year – Grey Pine Carpet.
I did wonder if the seasons might be reversing though as getting fresh March moths following on from weather worn Orthosias. May have to avoid the rain tonight.

Decided to put 2 traps on last night as it seemed warmer. No sooner had I finished setting up and started heading for home it started to rain again! Didn’t last too long so I was hopeful of getting something. Did rain more overnight so soggy egg trays again in the traps, and fewer than expected moths. 13sp only, 19moths in 2 traps!! Moths new for year included Coleophora albicosta, Shears, Swallow prominent, Pale tussock, Maidens blush, Shuttle-shaped dart and Muslin moth.
Trap out in the garden tonight, perhaps it may be better, can only hope.

Neil

Took a walk back along the Brett River Trail to the office at lunchtime today and managed to find a small patch of buttercups complete with attendant Micropterix calthella.

Also, as a follow up to a recent visit to Wyevale’s in Bury St Eds, this morning I had an example of Prays oleae emerge from a mined olive leaf that I had picked off one of the tree’s for sale. While it still awaits final confirmation, this would appear to be the first Suffolk record of this adventive (pest) species. I’ll upload some pictures to the Members Area of the website soon.

I had a feeling there was a possibility of picking up a Gem or something last night as there was good cloud cover, and a slight breeze from the ENE direction so I put out one trap. Result was two moths, the first of which I knew I had not seen before was CHAMOMILE SHARK the other was a Hebrew Character. A very low count but well worthwhile putting out the trap!

I was coming to the end of a regular walk of mine today at Ashby when attaching the lead to my Jack Russells collar I spotted an Adela reaumurella stuck in her long scruffy fur. There are ways and means of getting records in this poor weather you know! According to the species maps this common moth has not been recorded up this way for some time!