Suffolk Moth Group Newsletter
Issue 34 - Autumn 2004
Edited by
Tony
Prichard
In this issue
Editorial
Another recording season draws to a close after a very productive year.
Initial thoughts during the spring when numbers of moths appeared to be
lower than normal that this would be a poor year appear to have been
wrong. The group has had some success in recording targetted species at
its meetings and some unexpected species have also been recorded. It
has also been a good year for migrants with some unusual species
turning up further inland and not just on the coast. Some evidence that
at least a few of these species may be colonising the county has also
been uncovered. Toadflax Brocade has been recorded as an adult at two
sites in the county recently. With the discovery this year of larvae at
two sites along the coast (N Sherman, A Prichard and Nigel Cumings) on
Common Toadflax it would appear that this is a strong candidate for
being a recent colonist. Matthew Deans at Bawdsey has been recording
large numbers of L-album Wainscot during the year that would also point
to a nearby colony of the species. We plan to look for the larvae of
this species later on as further proof of the species being resident. I
carried out a search for Ethmia
bipunctella larvae earlier in the year at sites where the
foodplant is known to occur, unfortunately this proved negative and
all I managed to find was a Painted Lady caterpillar on the Viper's
Bugloss. As this species has been recorded at a few sites along the
coast this year it will be worthwhile continuing searches for the
larvae of this species. At the same time I checked the Viper's Bugloss
for signs of Cynaeda dentalis
and at the one known site the species would appear to be faring well,
with over fifty cocoons found around the bases of the foodplant.
There are a couple of indoor meetings planned for later on this year,
details of these meetings are given further on. It is also planned to
hold the usual annual indoor meeting in the spring of next year. This
is likely to be sometime in March, although the precise date has not
yet been finalised. More information on this meeting will appear in the
next newsletter. If anyone has any ideas for a main speaker I would
like to hear from you. It is a while since we have visited the museum
collections so I was also thinking of organising a visit to view these
early in the New Year. Please contact me if you would be interested and
I will let you know the details when they are finalised.
I am just starting to think about the meetings programme for next year.
If any one has any suggestions for sites that the group could visit I
would be most interested to hear from you. It is helpful if the owner
or a contact is known for the site so we can arrange permission to
visit the site.
Apologies to those recorders who normally do write-ups for reports from
around the county, I forgot to remind people this time for
contributions.
Any outstanding reports will be more than welcome for the next issue of
the newsletter.
The next issue of the newsletter is scheduled for early February so any
contributions for that issue would be gratefully received. I had hoped
to do an identification article in this issue on Foxglove Pug and
Toadflax Pug and also Pine Carpet, Grey Pine Carpet and Spruce Carpet
but due to lack of space this will appear in the next issue (where I am
normally a bit pushed for material). Following
analysis of the data for the Moths of Suffolk Guide (see later) it
would appear that some recorders may be confusing these species so a
few pointers in their identification may come in useful.
Suffolk Mothers in Spain - Neil Sherman
At the end of August, Matthew Deans, Lee Gregory and myself went on a
short holiday on the Portsmouth - Bilbao ferry, primarily to see
cetaceans and seabirds. Part of this trip involves a short stop in
Bilbao, Spain that allows you a morning to explore the environs of the
port. There is a hill just outside the port, which has some areas of
grassland and heathland, offering habitat for insects as well as birds.
Unfortunately, on our arrival in Bilbao, the weather conditions did not
look too promising for finding day-flying moths, with it being overcast
with occasional drizzle. It was warm, however, so hopes were still high
that we would find some moths! Tapping bushes and generally poking
about did manage to produce some moths, some of which were of interest
as they either do not occur in Britain or are on the edge of their
range there.
Of the micros, the following were of note - Oncocera semirubrella
(plentiful on the hill, flushed from grass), Udea ferrugalis, Nomophila
noctuella (both common) and Mecyna
asinalis (4+ seen, tapped from
bushes - found in the south-west of Britain).
The macros found included Jersey Tiger (one seen flushed from bushes),
Dew Moth (2+ seen flying up on the hill, a new moth for all of us),
Portland Riband Wave (one seen, very local in Britain), Bloxworth Snout
(2+ seen again, another species on the edge of its range in Britain)
and
a wave unknown from Britain, Idaea
eugeniata (2 seen, a lovely delicate
pink colour).
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Portland Riband Wave © Neil
Sherman
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Idaea eugeniata © Neil
Sherman
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Jersey Tiger © Neil Sherman
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Overall we did quite well on the trip, considering the weather (both
sea crossings were pretty rough!).
Cameraria
ohridella,
Horse Chestnut leaf-miner update - Tony Prichard
Since the last newsletter this species has been recorded in quite
widespread locations across the county. It would seem to be showing the
same rapid spread that has occurred on the continent and other parts of
the country. There might have been an initial association between
recorded sites and main roads but recently I have been recording this
species in quiet off-the-beaten track country lanes. I am still
interested in hearing of new sites for this species, especially in the
west of the county where it appears to be less well recorded.
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Cameraria ohridella distribution -
October 2004
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Larger Moths of Suffolk Guide - Tony Prichard
At previous moth group indoor meetings there has been some mention of
working towards a publication on the moths of Suffolk and since then
possibly not
much sign of activity has been evident in progressing this. Over the
last year or so
I've been
working on draft species accounts for the macro-moths that have been
recorded in Suffolk. These have now been made available on the web site
along with updated distribution maps. I realise that those who do not
have internet access will have problems accessing the guide but
producing an initial web version has its advantages. The current guide
has cost very little, apart from time, to produce and allows easy
updating and tuning of the material and layout of the guide. This is
before we
have to commit ourselves to the investment of producing a hard-copy
version of the guide that will be available to all.
The guide can be found on the Suffolk Moth Group web site at http://www.suffolkmothgroup.org.uk/mos/index.shtml
or by going to the main SMG web site and selecting 'Larger Moths of
Suffolk' from the drop-down menu . Where possible information given in
the guide has been derived from the Suffolk moth records in the
database, although for most
larval foodplants and some of the scarcer species I have had to rely
mainly on the existing
literature. There are not too many photographs present at the moment
but these are gradually being uploaded as they become available. Many
thanks to those who have contributed photographs so far. I would
welcome any comments on the guide as the intention is to sort out any
problems while it is cheap and easy to resolve.
Forthcoming Indoor Meetings - Tony
Prichard
There are a couple of indoor meetings coming up shortly. The first was
advertised in the last newsletter so this is just a reminder that we
are having a dissection workshop at the Ipswich Museum on Saturday,
20th November, 1.00pm to 4.30pm. Jon Clifton will be leading us through
the techniques of dissecting and there will be the chance to try out
the process yourself.
The second indoor meeting is an identification workshop at Alder Carr
Farm, Needham Market, Wednesday 1st December
2004 with a 7.30pm start. We've not tried this sort of meeting before
so it's a bit of an experiment. The plan is for people to bring along
slides, photograph prints, digital photos and specimens of moths that
are not yet identified,
identified but need confirmation or posed an identification problem and
would be of interest to other recorders. It should be quite an informal
meeting and it is not intended to have any formal talks on
identification but will rely on contributions from the floor.
Whether this meeting works
well or not will depend on what people bring along so please try to
come along and bring some material with you. On the other hand, please
do not feel that you cannot come along if you do not have any moths for
identifcation it should still be of interest.
The grid reference for Alder Carr Farm is TM091553 and it is situated
on the outskirts of Needham Market not far from the A14.
A good morning's leaf-mining - Tony
Prichard
As autumn arrives and the numbers of moths appearing in traps begins to
wane I start thinking of concentrating more on leaf-miner recording - a
very addictive pasttime. On 26th September Neil Sherman and myself
headed up to
Hinderclay Fen in the north of the county for a morning's recording.
Hinderclay Fen lies on the
Suffolk-Norfolk border just east of Thelnetham Fen where the group has
held previous moth meetings. This was an area of the county for which
we had relatively few species of leaf-miners recorded so it seemed a
good place to visit.
Recording started straight away on the track from the road, where we
had parked, up to the fen. The hedgerows along the track gave a good
start to the list with elm saplings, hawthorn, bramble, dog rose, field
maple, willow and oak trees providing twenty six species (including Ectoedemia quinquella, Bucculatrix bechsteinella and Phyllonorycter schreberella) this
was before
we had even reached the fen itself. As we walked along the western path
through the fen the variety of trees changed with mainly willows, oaks,
blackthorn, aspen and silver birch. These in turn added another 14
species with the pick of the bunch being Heliozela sericiella, Ectoedemia argyropeza, Ectoedemia minimella and a larva of
Swammerdamia caesiella. At the western end of the fen a
small piece of woodland provided more species with Stigmella nylandriella from rowan,
a Psyche casta case, Caloptilia stigmatella on willow
and three other species. A single beech tree had three species, with
the more localised Stigmella
hemargyrella being found but no sign of the commoner Stigmella tityrella. Emerging from
the wood we walked across to the eastern edge of Thelnetham Fen as I
knew from a previous visit that here we would find some alder trees and
hop. As we walked along the path up to the Norfok border we managed to
find six types of mine on the alder (including Heliozela resplendella, Stigmella alnetella, Phyllonorycter rajella and P. kleemannella) and on the hops we
located a mine of Cosmopterix
zieglerella, after some searching.
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Ectoedemia
atricollis on hawthorn © Tony Prichard
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Phyllonorycter
corylifoliella on hawthorn © Tony Prichard
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We decided to start heading back to the cars at this stage and to
return via the roads rather than simply retracing our path. On the path
from the fen to the road a clump of raspberry had mines of Stigmella
splendidissimella. A single hazel provided four more species,
although surprisingly not Parornix
devoniella, normally a common and abundant species. Some more
hedgerow elm provided some further species that we'd not recorded
previously with Bucculatrix
albedinella, Stigmella
ulmivora and Stigmella
viscerella. As we walked up to the village of Thelnetham a small
clump of St John's Wort had the mines of Eucalybites
auroguttella but no Ectoedemia
septembrella. A bit further on in a side lane we noticed some
horse chestnut
trees and not too surprisingly these had mines of Cameraria ohridella on them. By
this stage we had recorded 70 species - this was turning into rather a
bumper list. A detour into the churchyard provided some new tree
species, common lime, London plane, Norway maple and apple. These
turned up another six species (including Phyllonorycter
platani, P. platanoidella
and the localised Stigmella tiliae).
A lone adult male Vapourer moth was also seen flying through the
churchyard - 77 species.
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Stigmella
viscerella on elm © Tony Prichard
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Stigmella
oxyacanthella on apple © Tony Prichard
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As we walked back along the lane to the car from the churchyard there
was not much different in the way of flora apart from some dogwood in
the hedges and a few poplar
trees. The dogwood had some mines that were later determined to be Antispila treitschkiella. We
checked the poplars for Ectoedemia
hannoverella but there was no sign of it but two other commoner
species were found, Phyllocnistis
unipunctella and Stigmella
trimaculella.
In all 80 species recorded from an extended morning's leaf-mining and
general field recording session - the most successful morning of field
recording that I have had. We were fortunate that in our wanderings we
came across so many varieties of trees and shrubs as most of the
recorded species are quite common where you can find the foodplant. It
has certainly
improved the number of species recorded from this 10 kilometre square.
Field
reports - Tony Prichard
Moth Night - Wordwell - 17th July 2004
This is our first year of recording at this site and results so far
have been very promising. The habitat of this site seems to be better
than the Chalk Lane site and more sheltered. Chalk Lane at the
moment
appears rather exposed due to tree-felling in the adjoining plantation
compartments. Four MV lights were run along and just off the
rides, bearing in mind the prevalence of deer ticks in this part of the
county. A few localised species appeared in greater numbers than would
usually expect, Ethmia dodecea,
Mere Wainscot and the small Haworth's Pug. At 2.45am after five hours
of trapping we had managed to record 114 species with the more
interesting species including Cedestis
subfasciella, Sophronia
semicostella,
Piniphila bifasciana, Perinephela lancealis, Small
Scallop, Pretty Chalk Carpet, Fern, Dark Umber, Clouded
Magpie, Pale-shouldered Brocade, Slender Brindle,
Marbled White Spot and Nut-tree Tussock. Surprisingly no Lunar Yellow
Underwing were recorded as the habitat looks suitable - although the
adults may well have entered their aestivation phase.
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Wordwell, in May 2004 © Tony Prichard
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Wordwell, in May 2004 © Tony Prichard |
Moth Night - Snape Warren - 22nd July 2004
This was a further visit mid-week to this heathland site. There had
been some heavy rain on the drive to the meeting site and whilst
waiting for the others to arrive. Just before the meeting time the rain
stopped and it looked as though we would at least get a couple of hours
of trapping in before the next band of rain came over. Considering the
heavy rain beforehand moths seemed to come to the lights in fair
numbers and we had a good number of species in just over two
hours of trapping; Monochroa
palustrella, Aristotelia
ericinella, Aroga
velocella, Acleris
logiana, Pediasia
contaminella, Phlyctaenia
perlucidalis, Ostrinia
nubilalis, Brachmia
blandella, Lackey, Small Scallop, Plain Wave, Chevron,
Canary-shouldered Thorn and Beautiful Yellow Underwing, in all 112
species. One species that we weren't particularly expecting was a Kent
Black Arches, although thinking about it we were not that far from the
coast. Flashes in the sky to the south of us alerted us to thunder
storms heading
in our direction. As these approached the wind picked up and a few
spots of rain fell - it seemed like a good time to pack up. Not soon
enough, as the heavens opened almost immediately. Clearing up was
a rather wet and un-nerving experience with the lightning flashing
around us
and the thought crossing my mind that the metal sheet pole I was
carrying back to the car would
make an excellent lightning conductor.
SMG Moth Night - Easton Broad - 23rd July 2004
A return visit to this broad following a negative search for
White-mantled Wainscot here in 2003. This time we were further inland
where the fen is drier but on reconnoitering the site with the warden
in the early evening the
situation did not look too promising. The reed-beds were largely
inaccessible apart from a rather wet 'path' that lead through tall
reeds to a water course out in the broad. The one good aspect was that
the field we had been given access to had a bit of elevation. This
meant we could position the lights up the slope in the field so that
they were above the top of the reeds and could shine out for a distance
over the reed-bed. We'd not tried this the previous year having placed
the lights closer to the reed-bed edge. This approach seemed to pay
dividends as six White-mantled Wainscots made their way into the traps
over the course of the evening. Other notable fen species included; Calamotropha
paludella, Pediasia
contaminella, Reed Dagger, Crescent, White-mantled
Wainscot, Silky Wainscot and Dotted Fan-foot. Some further interesting
species,
out of the 124 species recorded in all, were Phtheochroa
inopiana, Gypsonoma
oppressana, Adaina
microdactyla, Small Emerald, Lesser Cream Wave, Small Scallop,
White Satin Moth,
Garden Tiger and Kent Black Arches.
Moth Night - Market Weston Fen - 28th July 2004
A mid-week visit to this SWT reserve, with areas of fen, scrub and
grassland, that the group has visited several times in the past. Even
though conditions were rather on the cool side (not unusual for this
site) we managed to clock up a species count of 125 species.
Surprisingly, given the number of previous visits, this list included
20 new site species. It just goes to show that even well visited sites
can still produce useful records. During the evening a plume moth
caught my interest as it looked like rather a large Adaina microdactyla but with a
distinct yellowish hue. This turned out to be Euleioptilus
carphodactyla, a species that I gather is expanding its
range at the moment and has turned up at a few sites in Suffolk
recently.
Other noteworthy species recorded were Agapeta
zoegana, Acleris
holmiana, Epinotia
brunnichana, Eucosma
obumbratana, Evergestis
pallidata, Ghost Moth, Leopard Moth, Small Scallop,
White-spotted Pug, Garden
Tiger, Double Lobed, Flame Carpet, Small Dotted Buff, Scarce
Silver-lines and Nut-tree Tussock
SMG Moth Night - Minsmere - 30th July 2004
This was the second planned event this year to look for White-mantled
Wainscot.
A visit to this large area of fen at the back of Minsmere was made in
2003 with negative results but as the habitat looked suitable another
try this year seemed worth the effort. The previous visit in 2003
had proved rather popular but this year only six people turned up - a
bit less of a bun-fight when going round the traps. Six MV
lights were operated and produced a good selection of fen
species, including three individuals of White-mantled Wainscot. One of
the lights was run on the adjoining piece of heathland and added a few
species to the list that are more associated with heathland. Apart from
the
White-mantled Wainscot other species of note out of the total 134
species included; Orthotelia
sparganella, Endothenia
quadrimaculana, Eucosma
campoliliana, Pediasia
contaminella, Least Carpet, Chevron, White-spotted Pug,
Sharp-angled Peacock, Garden
Tiger, Dotted Clay, Suspected, Reed Dagger, Double Lobed, Small
Wainscot, Crescent, Small Rufous and Dark Spectacle. Many thanks to
Robin Harvey for coming along and helping us out on the night.
Moth Night - Walberswick - 31st July 2004
We had been asked by the English Nature warden earlier in the year to
do some moth surveying of the coastal reed-beds in this area. During
the previous winter some of
the reed-beds had been inundated with sea-water for a period of time
and there was some concern that this might have had an adverse
impact on the fauna. This event was held to do some recording in one of
the areas inundated (Corporation Marshes) and also to look for
White-mantled Wainscot to bring the records for this area up-to-date.
With six lights running it was not long before the traps were full of
moths, clouds of moth scales being visible above the traps as we
approached each in turn. As well as very good numbers of moths in the
traps the number of species recorded was high with 177 species recorded
by the end of the evening. Six White-mantled Wainscot were recorded,
which updated the record for this site and it would appear from the
number of species and numbers of individual moths that the winter
sea-water inundation has not yet had an adverse impact on the moth
fauna of the site. Other species of interest included Monopis
monachella, Mompha
epilobiella, Cochylidia
implicitana, Epiblema
foenella, Pediasia
contaminella, Schoenobius
gigantella, Ostrinia
nubilalis, Phlyctaenia
perlucidalis, Dioryctria
sylvestrella, Agdistis
bennetii, Tawny Wave, Rosy Wave, Plain Wave, Yarrow Pug,
Sharp-angled Peacock,
Chocolate-tip, Garden Tiger, Kent Black Arches, Dotted
Clay, Grey Arches, Dog's Tooth, Star-wort, Reed Dagger, Crescent
Striped, Fenn's Wainscot, Crescent, Twin-spotted Wainscot, Brown-veined
Wainscot, White-mantled Wainscot, Small Rufous, Silky Wainscot, Shaded
Fan-foot, Dotted Fan-foot. Just as were clearing up the last of the
traps a candidate for moth of the night was spotted, a Pigmy Footman,
presumed to be a migrant.
SMG Moth Night - Kings Forest - 6th August 2004
This meeting was cancelled.
BC Moth Night - Ramsey Wood - 7th August 2004
A joint meeting with the RSPB and the Suffolk Branch of Butterfly
Conservation. This meeting was open to the public, although not too
many
public turned up for the event and no BC members. While setting up in
the wood, Neil Sherman and Graham Bull spotted some Cameraria ohridella mines on a
lonely horse-chestnut tree. There has been some discussion about this
recent arrival getting lifts on vehicles to new areas that might
explain its rapid spread. As the main Ipswich-Hadleigh road is not far
from the wood it could be possible that these mines were from adults
that hitched a lift.
The main target species for this evening's recording was the Mocha, as
the wood
contains plenty of field maple and the soil would appear to be chalky
to some degree. In the end we failed to find the target although we
had previously recorded the species in neughbouring Hintlesham Wood in
the spring. The public seemed satisfied with the number and selection
of moths attracted to the sheet light. As one of the 'public' was a
newspaper reporter a few of us were subjected to the usual questions
about moths but fortunately most questions were well fielded by Mark
Nowers, the warden. Surprisingly the public were not put off by the
several hornets that came to the sheet light and were well fielded by
Neil with his net.
Species of interest recorded were Calybites
phasianipennella, Monochroa
palustrella, Agapeta
zoegana, Scoparia
subfusca, Scoparia
basistrigalis, Agdistis
bennetii, Pretty Chalk Carpet, Barred Rivulet and Magpie out of
the 149 species recorded in all.
SMG Moth Night - Orfordness - 13th August 2004
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Orfordness © Jon Clifton
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This was the group's third visit to this site. It was windy on our
first visit and it was rather windy again on this visit - not good news
when the site is rather lacking in sheltered areas. Various areas had
been highlighted by the warden for recording as part of a process
of
systematic recording of the lepidoptera present across the reserve.
Unfortunately
with the rather poor weather results from some of the more exposed
sites were rather disappointing. In all, 68 species were recorded in
eleven MV
traps with the following being the more noteworthy; Coleophora
salinella, Epiblema
scutulana, Eucosma
tripoliana, Pediasia
aridella, Agdistis
bennetii, Ground Lackey, Sharp-angled Peacock, Garden Tiger,
Dog's Tooth,
White-point, Hedge Rustic, Crescent Striped, Sandhill Rustic, Saltern
Ear, Red Underwing. Many thanks to Dave Cormack and Jim Askins for
putting us up and shuttling us around the site.
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Lots of kit © Jon Clifton
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Crescent Striped © Neil
Sherman
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Moth Night - Wordwell - 14th August 2004
As the previous King's Forest meeting had been cancelled we decided to
pop along to this now favoured King's Forest site to see what we may
have missed the previous week. Six MV lights were operated of which one
was an ALS Robinson trap. Five Square-spotted Clay came to
light during the evening and not too surprisingly as there is sizeable
amount of nettle along the track up to the trapping area. This will be
a site that we'll be targetting for larval searches of Square-spotted
Clay in early 2005. The ALS Robinson trap proved its worth when it
pulled in not only a good number of moths but two rather unusual
migrants, Oncocera semirubella
and Great Brocade. It was a shame that Jon Clifton was not there to
capture as promotional material the praises voiced about the merits of
the ALS trap following their capture. In all 119 species were recorded
by the end of the session with other notable species including Aspilapteryx
tringipennella, Argyresthia
albistria, Hypatima
rhomboidella, Clavigesta
purdeyi, Dioryctria
sylvestrella, Royal Mantle, Barred Rivulet, Archer's Dart,
Six-striped Rustic, Nut-tree Tussock and White-point, another migrant
species.
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Great Brocade © Neil Sherman
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SMG Moth Night - Tangham Forest - 20th August 2004
I had originally planned this meeting to look for Square-spotted Clay
in this area of the forest as the habitat certainly appeared suitable.
However,
as we had already recorded this species at the site earlier in the year
the pressure was off. Not many people turned up for this meeting - the
weather had been
rather wet during the day and the clouds on the horizon looked quite
ominous. Thunderous rumblings around us during the evening were a bit
disconcerting, especially after the experience at Snape Warren. Platytes
alpinella, a notable pyralid species put in an appearance - it
is
interesting that this species was quite widespread and prevalent a few
years ago but now seems to have returned to its more usual scarce
status. This site regularly provides both species of Peacock Moth spp.
and did so again this evening, seeing both species together is useful
for contrasting the two species. Other species of note out of the 96
species total were Caloptilia
populetorum, Monochroa
cytisella, Calamotropha
paludella, Crambus
hamella, Dioryctria
sylvestrella, Flame Carpet, Dark Sword-grass,
Six-striped Rustic and White-point.
SMG Moth Night - Westleton Heath - 27th August 2004
This meeting was cancelled.
Moth Night - Dunwich Beach - 28th August 2004
A rather quiet night at this vegetated shingle site, with five lights
running we only managed 49 species. It was certainly passed the peak of
the season. Species of note included Monopis
monachella (a regular in this area), Aroga
velocella, Scrobipalpa
suaedella, White-point, Crescent and Twin-spotted Wainscot
Moth Night - Rendlesham Forest - 29th August 2004
A windy night had us seeking shelter in the rides in this area of the
forest that we had not visited previously. Situated just north of the
old
RAF Woodbridge base there are a few strips of heathland and
broad-leaved trees along the rides between the conifer plantations.
Results,
not surprisingly, given the weather were not good with only 56 species
in total recorded. There were a few species of note - Crambus
hamella, Cryptoblabes
bistriga, Dioryctria
simplicella, Dioryctria
sylvestrella, Spruce Carpet, Buff Footman, Canary-shouldered
Thorn, Feathered Gothic and White-point.
Reports
from Recorders around the county
Records reported in
this section have not been checked by the Suffolk Moth Panel. Many
thanks go to the recorders who provide write-ups for this section.
Sibton 2004 - Recorders Neil Sherman and
Nick Prior
Moth recording started at the
Hall in the walled garden at Sibton last year. This site is within one
of the under-recorded 10-km squares in the county, so the moths here
are a bit of an unknown quantity at the moment, with all records being
important.
This year, 2 Skinner traps were run by myself once in June, early
August and September. There were also a few casual sightings either
seen during the day or at outdoor lighting, mainly being recorded by
Nick Prior, my friend who works at the site. This has resulted in a
total of 176 species for the year (so far).
Macros of possible note included: Figure of Eighty, Streamer,
Red-green Carpet, Barred Rivulet (there is a lot of Red Bartsia, the
foodplant, in the area), Slender Pug, Netted Pug, Sloe Pug,
Sharp-angled Peacock, Dusky Thorn, Orange Footman, Kent Black Arches
(this
and the next species were wanderers from the coast in early August),
Dog's Tooth, Mullein (caterpillars only), Alder Moth, Large Wainscot,
Small
Rufous and Red Underwing.
Micros of possible interest seen were: Metzneria lappella,
Eudemis profundana, Pammene fasciana and Eudonia pallida.
The total for the site at the moment (mid September) stands at
280 species.
Moths at Bawdsey - mid-April to
September 2004 - Matthew Deans
April
A very smart moth at this time of the year is The Streamer - this month
singletons were recorded on 19th and 28th at the security lights.
The former night also produced the first Red Chestnut of the year. A
surprise on 25th was the discovery of three specimens of Scarce
Tissue found at the security lights - a new species for the site
(another individual was seen on 28th). The most interest as the
month drew to a close was the first Least Black Arches of the season on
27th.
May
The first week of the month provided two further records of Scarce
Tissue (on 5th and 6th). Another Streamer was noted on 4th.
I was then away on holiday in Poland for a week. Highlights of the
second half of May included Scorched Carpet (23rd),
White-pinion Spotted (27th), Poplar Hawk-moth (25th) and Chocolate-tip
(19th and 26th).
June
The opening week was quiet with two Chinese Characters noted on 6th and
7th. The first specimens of Mullein Wave (recorded almost nightly
all season) and Figure of Eighty appeared on 8th. The micro Aethes beatricella was abundant
with 28 recorded between 7th
and 17th. Two individuals of Treble Brown Spot were noted on 14th
and 21st respectively.
Things were then to change rather dramatically with the introduction of
regular light trapping on the site. For the last 20 months I had
been gathering records at security lights amassing some 150 species
over this period. One of my 125W M.V. Skinner traps was deployed
and operated regularly from 16th. The first trap-night was very
exciting not knowing what to expect. I was in to work earlier
than ever before to examine the catch! The highlights were Pretty
Chalk Carpet, Maple Prominent, Cream-spot Tiger, Dark Sword-grass,
White-point and L-album Wainscot.
Two Evergestis extimalis were
recorded on 21st (this species becoming a
regular visitor to the trap, 41 recorded up to Aug. 31st) along with
the first site records of Privet and Lime Hawk-moths. I was away in
Scotland for much of the tail-end of the month but Pine Hawk-moth and
Sycamore were trapped on 30th.
Migrant totals for the month were two Plutella
xylostellas
(Diamond-backs), one Dark Sword-grass, two White-points and one Silver
Y.
July
The first of the month produced two more L-album Wainscots, Dark
Sword-grass and Silver Y amongst the building numbers of Large Yellow
Underwings and Dark Arches! The first Least Carpet of the year
was attracted to the security lights on 4th - this species recorded
virtually every night.
The Skinner trap was replaced by an ALS Robinson trap on 6th, hopefully
to retain more moths and allow me a little more sleep! Two White-line
Darts appeared that night with Bordered White and Bordered Sallow on
8th - the latter two species were the sole records for the year.
Singletons of Brown-tail and Garden Tiger were trapped on 12th.
Day-time observations of a Buddleia bush on 13th proved worthwhile with
a nectaring Hummingbird Hawk-moth performing rather well. Singles
were then noted on three further dates this month with two on
29th.
Three Leopard Moths were recorded on 15th along with a Fern, four
Marbled Greens, Fen Wainscot, two Oak Nycteolines and a Dotted
Fan-foot. A Vapourer larva was found by day in the Walled Garden
by the Head Gardener. An Ostrinia
nubilalis (European Corn-borer) was pick-of-the-bunch on
20th along with Elephant Hawk-moth, two Dark Sword-grass and Star-wort
(four recorded this week). A clear immigration of Latticed Heath
took place between 20th and 22nd July with totals of 25, 19 and 12 over
the three nights. Larger numbers were recorded in Essex at the
same time. Massive numbers of Large Yellow Underwings were also
trapped with a peak of 592 on 21st.
A singleton of the rather local pyralid - Pediasia fascelinella was
recorded on 22nd with Phlyctaenia
perlucidalis, Marbled Beauty and
Cream-bordered Green Pea. A Dioryctria
sylvestrella and the first
of four Lesser-spotted Pinions this season appeared on 26th.
Helcystogramma rufescens and
Archer's Dart were noted on 27th.
The following night Acleris holmiana
and Small Emerald were seen. The 29th was a bumper night with two Agdistis bennetii, Oak Eggar,
Gothic and the best of all - a single worn Scarce Black Arches.
It had unfortunately been battered by all the Large Yellow Underwings.
Migrant totals for the month were four Plutella xylostellas
(Diamond-backs), four Ostrinia
nubilalis (European Corn-borers), one
Scarce Black Arches, six Dark Sword-grass and 82 Silver
Ys.
August
The first trap night of the month was 2nd with Satin Wave, Sharp-angled
Peacock, Tawny Shears and Twin-spotted Wainscot the highlights.
Three Nomophila noctuella
(Rush Veneer) on 3rd constituted the first
for the year. Other immigrants that night included 17 Plutella
xylostella (Diamond-back), five Silver Y and a worn Tree-lichen
Beauty. Amazingly another really fresh green Tree-lichen
Beauty was trapped on 4th with a third worn specimen on 9th. Two
Platytes alpinella, Purple
Thorn, White Satin, Dog's Tooth, Crescent
and Webb's Wainscot were all trapped on 4th.
|
Tree-lichen Beauty ©
Matthew Deans
|
Following a recent run of records, a single Ethmia bipunctella appeared
on 6th with the UK BAP species - Square-spotted Clay (9 were recorded
during the season). The security lights produced four Plain Pugs
and a single Ash Pug. Single Sandhill Rustics were picked out
amongst the Flounced Rustics on 9th and 10th. Another good micro
appeared on 10th with two individuals of the rare migratory pyralid
Conobathra tumidana to light.
I was joined by Lee Gregory and Tony Prichard on the night of 11th
running two Skinner traps on The Point in addition to the usual
Robinson trap on campus. It was rather windy but interest was
provided by two more new micros for the site: Epiphyas postvittana in
the traps and a single Melissoblaptes
zelleri at the security
lights. Lee also identified Lesser Cockroach. A very early
example of The Sallow appeared on 15th. The pyralid
Pempelia genistella was a nice
find on 16th - one I had only previously
seen on the south coast. The Robinson trap contained an Ant-Lion
on 17th which was more exciting than the moth catch that night!
The second Pretty Chalk Carpet of the year came to light on 18th with a
fresh specimen of The Delicate.
|
|
Conobathra
tumidana © Matthew Deans
|
Delicate © Matthew Deans
|
I was then away for a week on the Bilbao mini-cruise and didn't trap
again until 30th. There was a huge reduction in species diversity
and numbers. The highlights were the first Hedge Rustic and
Feathered Gothic of the year.
Migrant totals for the month were 28 Plutella
xylostellas
(Diamond-backs), six Udea ferrugalis,
10 Nomophila noctuellas (Rush
Veneers), two Conobathra tumidana,
seven Dark Sword-grass, 38
White-points, one Delicate, three Tree-lichen Beauties and 346 Silver
Ys.
September
Two Udea ferrugalis and a
single of the spindle-feeding Nephopterix
angustella were taken on the first of the month. Small
numbers of
Dark Sword-grass, White-point and Silver Y were trapped most nights but
moth numbers were generally very low in the first week of the month.
New for the year on 7th were Centre-barred Sallow and Lunar
Underwing. This date also produced another Hummingbird Hawk-moth
by day on the Buddleias.
The UK BAP species Lunar Yellow Underwing was new for the site when
singles were trapped at light on 8th and 10th. The second brood
of L-album Wainscot appeared on 10th with three fresh specimens at
light. The species was then recorded regularly throughout the
month with a total of 59 by the month's end. This was clearly
incredibly exciting and posed the question - is it breeding on
site? I then started to undertake surveys for the species in
other areas of the Suffolk coast.
Strong winds mid-month kept catches low but interest was still provided
by The Brick trapped on 12th. New resident species for the site
included Large Wainscot on 14th and Brown-spot Pinion on the
15th. An exciting find on 17th was a Dusky-lemon Sallow which had
been attracted to the security lights. The second Webb's Wainscot
and second Red Underwing for Bawdsey were in the Robinson that night.
|
|
L-album Wainscot © Matthews Deans
|
Dusky-lemon Sallow © Matthew Deans
|
Immigrants during this period included single Pearly Underwings on
14th, 15th, 19th, 23rd and 27th with two on 22nd. A Scarce
Bordered Straw was taken at light and a Dark Spectacle attracted to the
security lights on 18th. All three species were new for the
site. The night of 22nd was certainly worthy of mention with 211 moths
trapped of 28 species including Feathered Brindle and Deep-brown Dart -
both new to Bawdsey.
Another day sighting of Hummingbird Hawk-moth was made on 23rd
nectaring at Buddleia. This date also saw the introduction of a
second trap - a Skinner trap - being regularly operated on site.
Three Blair's Shoulder-knots were trapped that night in the Skinner and
were new to the site. Other autumnal species appearing in the
last week of the month included Mallow, Satellite, Chestnut, Beaded
Chestnut and Barred Sallow. A single Black Rustic was another
welcome new species for the site on 26th.
With warm muggy conditions on 27th, I decided to run a third
trap. The three traps provided a bumper catch of 421 moths of 53
species. The highlights were a late Mullein Wave, three Black
Rustics, 14 L-album Wainscots, one Lunar Yellow Underwing and a
Pink-barred Sallow.
Migrant totals for the month were three Plutella xylostellas
(Diamond-backs), nine Udea ferrugalis,
three Nomophila noctuellas
(Rush
Veneers), eight Dark Sword-grass, seven Pearly Underwings, 27
White-points, one Scarce Bordered Straw and 76 Silver
Ys.
Mendlesham Green Records - July to
October 2004 - Steve Woolnough
One of the more obvious features of this summer has been the
poor weather, which unfortunately restricted 'mothing' activities. The
trap was run on only 13 nights in July, 12 in August and 11 in
September. Nonetheless, some good garden records were still obtained.
A Large Tabby (Aglossa pinguinalis)
was found resting on a beam in the house on 6th July.
More conventionally, a Leopard Moth, the only one of the year, was nice
to find in the trap on 14th. Two days later on 16th July, the first
White-point of the year occurred. There was then to be a gap of one
month before this species appeared again, but was then regular, with
one or two on the 8 dates the trap was run between 16th August and 7th
September. A new species for the garden was Lunar-spotted Pinion, which
first occurred on 19th July, and then on another 5 dates up to 7th
August.
Two of the rarer pugs also showed in July, with a Haworth's Pug on 21st
and a Yarrow Pug on 30th. Along with other recorders, Least Carpet was
also found late in the month, with one on 23rd and three on 30th. The
micro Eudonia pallida
occurred between 21st July and 6th August, with a
maximum of 5 on 30th July. This latter date also saw what turned out to
be the record number of species recorded in the garden on a single
night of the year, with a total of 84 being identified.
Another noteworthy micro was Agriphila
selasella. Supposedly a
salt-marsh specialist, it was recorded on all seven nights the trap was
run between 1st to 15th August, with a maximum count of c15 on 6th.
Beautiful China-mark (Nymphula
stagnata) occurred on three days around the same time, with
singles on 4th, 10th and 15th. The final August micro worthy of mention
was Pyrausta purpuralis,
which was found on five dates between 6th and
21st of the month, with a maximum count of just four on the 6th.
The last of the commoner 'hawks' were seen on 4th August, with both
Privet and Poplar appearing. A Red Underwing was found on the outside
of the trap on the morning of 14th August, whilst Dark Sword-grass
occurred on 21st and 27th of the month. The busiest August night in
terms of species was 67 on 1st of the month.
September saw the usual tailing off of species numbers, with a maximum
count of 36 on 2nd although 26 on 26th was worthy of comment. One of
the species on this latter date was a Convolvulus Hawk-moth, which was
found resting on the outside of the trap shortly after dark. This
record closely mirrors that from last year, when the species was found
in the trap on 20th of the month. Of the usual September suspects, a
good total of nine Dusky Thorn occurred on 4th.
Running the trap into October produced a Brick on 7th. Red-line Quaker
appeared on 14th and 18th. A late Large Yellow Underwing also occurred
on 14th whilst the first Dark Chestnut was seen on the latter of these
two dates. Somewhat surprisingly, given the species was recorded nine
times on five dates last year, Merveille du Jour has not been seen. In
a
similar vein, after several records in August and September of last
year, no Humming-bird Hawk-moth garden records were forthcoming this
year.
At the time of writing (24th October), the trap has been run on 95
nights so far this year, with a total of 319 species having been
recorded.
Moths at Ipswich Golf Club - July to
September 2004 - Neil Sherman
Recording at the Golf Club didn't begin until the 11th, as I was away
on holiday for the first week and the weather was rather poor too.
Although the weather for the rest of the month during the day was warm,
overcast and humid, these conditions overnight were perfect for
mothing. Trapping was undertaken on 13 other nights, with over 100
species being recorded on virtually all occasions. The best night was
the 14th, when 180 species (so far!) were identified, the biggest total
for one night at the site. The total for the month was 357, only 2 more
than the total for June showing how good that month was.
Macros of possible interest included the following. The Goat Moth was
seen twice (on 13th and 20th), making it three records this year. I
have been testing a pheromone for this moth in conjunction with a light
trap nearby for ALS; so initial results seem to show that it works. The
Festoon continued to appear, with 6 records, maximum 6 on the 14th.
Another moth having a good year is Least Carpet, with records on the
14th, 25th (3), and 27th (3). Small Emerald (13th) and Yarrow Pug
(17th) both appeared once. I have only recorded Yarrow Pug as larvae
before here so it was good to trap an adult. Sharp-angled Peacock also
reappeared on the 27th with 3 more on the 29th. Lunar Yellow Underwing
was seen up on the heathland on the 14th, when 3 were trapped. Purple
Clay also appeared on that night, with another on the 15th. Scarce
Silver-lines appeared once, as usual on the 20th. The Shaded
Fan-foot was recorded 6 times throughout the month. There was a good
run of
new macros for the site this month, with 5 species recorded in the
traps. These were: White Satin (25th), Striped Wainscot (15th), Reed
Dagger (21st), Dark Spectacle (13th) and what was the best moth of the
month a Dotted Footman (29th). This was almost certainly a migrant
individual, with another being caught at Minsmere RSPB reserve on the
same night. It was also Ipswich Golf Club's 900th species of moth!
|
|
Dotted Footman © Neil
Sherman
|
Dioryctria
schuetzeella ©
Neil Sherman
|
Micros of note here included Morophaga
choragella (on the 14th and 15th
second and third records). Niditinea
fuscella (the Four-dotted House Moth - 17th), Ypsolopha vittella (on the 25th and
28th - first
records). Eulamprotes wilkella
(also on the 25th and 28th + 29th).
Monochroa palustrella (on the
21st), Acleris logiana
(3 records
of probable second brood individuals). Epinotia solandriana (3
records), Rhopobota naevana
(the Holly tortrix, 3 records first noted
last year), Gypsonoma minutana
(5 records, maximum 5 on the 27th
another species first noted last year). Donacaula forficella (20th),
Achroia grisella (the Lesser
Wax Moth on the 27th). Pempelia
formosa
(on the 28th, a new site record). 4 species of Dioryctria were seen
during the month - the 2 common species plus D. sylvestrella (on the
14th, 27th and 28th) and the second site record of D. schuetzeella
(14th).
There were 2 daytime observations of note this month. A candidate for
moth of the month (before the Dotted Footman turned up) was the
Yellow-legged Clearwing, seen on the 20th, flying around in one of my
polytunnels! The other species seen, again another new site record was
an Aglossa pinguinalis (the Large Tabby), found trapped in a spider's
web inside the workshops on the 28th.
|
Yellow-legged Clearwing ©
Neil Sherman
|
Good trapping conditions continued into the first half of August, with
some hot, humid nights producing more counts over 100 species. The best
night was during this period, with 153 species on the 2nd. Numbers
dwindled from mid month, coinciding with some wet weather. I was also
away on holiday for the last week, so the last trapping night was the
19th.
Macros of possible interest seen included the following. Oak Eggar (3
records, one of these being a male seen during its afternoon flight).
Tawny Wave appeared twice, on the 3rd followed by 2 more on the 8th.
This species is now annual at this site. Least Carpet continued its run
from last month, with 2 appearing on both the 2nd and the 8th. As with
last year, a couple of species appeared that I would not normally
expect at the time of year so could have been second broods - both
Satin Wave (8th, 15th) and White Ermine (2nd) were trapped. There was
one record of Chevron (on the 2nd). Clouded Magpie appeared on the 8th,
the second record for the site. Sharp-angled Peacock was trapped 5 more
times, this has made me wonder whether I have overlooked it in the past
or has it suddenly spread? A Garden Tiger was trapped on the 1st,
in the 11w actinic trap, this being the fourth site record. Lunar
Yellow Underwing only appeared once, on the 11th, but more should be
seen in September. 3 wainscots of note were seen - The Twin spotted (on
the 15th and 16th), the Brown-veined (on the 8th) and a Webb's (also on
the 8th). A new macro appeared on the very warm night of the 8th, a
Dog's Tooth, probably a wanderer from the coast.
Micros continued to provide some interest. Caloptilia populetorum was
seen on the 15th, now annual at the site. Ypsolopha vittella appeared
again after the first records last moth, with 2 on the 8th. Epermenia
falciformis, noted on the 11th, was the second site record.
Another
second site record was Mompha
propinquella on the 8th. The first
Acleris sparsana was seen on
the 11th, showing that autumn is on the
way! Another saltmarsh species to go with the Dog's Tooth was Eucosma
tripoliana, a new site record on 3 dates (1st, 10th and 11th
(3)).
Foodplant is Sea Aster. Another new species was Agriphila selasella,
which appeared 6 times with a maximum of 25 on the 15th. The Nationally
notable Platytes alpinella
appeared once on the 8th. There were 2 more
records of Achroia grisella,
the Lesser Wax Moth, another species that
was recorded for the first time last year. Dioryctria sylvestrella also
continued to be recorded, with 3 records. Yet another saltmarsh moth
was seen on the 3rd, Agdistis
bennetii. This has been seen at this site
a few times in recent years. Another plume of more interest, also on
the 3rd was an Euleioptilus
carphodactyla - this species has been noted
at a few other sites in Suffolk for the first time this year so may be
on the verge of colonising.
The most significant record of the month was the discovery of the
Horse-chestnut leaf miner Cameraria
ohridella on the 5th - this being the
first county record (see the last newsletter for details). I also saw
it again on the 11th, this time on all 3 Horse chestnut trees in the
Golf Club car park.
Another potentially significant moth was seen on the 19th. It resembled
a Pale Mottled Willow in size and shape, but without the dark spots
along the costa, being unicolorous pale brown over the whole wing. It
could be a Porter's Rustic (which would be a county first), but it
requires more detailed examination to be sure - more news will appear
once known!
Not a moth, but a beetle also aroused some interest this month. Another
Sawyer beetle (after the first last year) was trapped on the 10th, at
another location on the site.
|
|
Clouded Magpie © Neil
Sherman
|
Epermenia falciformis ©
Neil Sherman
|
Moth numbers declined during September, with some spells of bad weather
reducing the number of trapping opportunities. Light traps were run on
11 nights, which along with larval records, leaf mines, evening
searches and daytime observations produced a list of 140 species. Light
trapping produced the following records of possible interest at
this site. Red-green carpet appeared 4 times, with a maximum of 4 on
the 27th. This has been the best year ever for this species at the
site. Spruce Carpet appeared on the 16th (2). The first Streak of the
autumn was seen on the 27th, along with the first records of Mottled
Umber on the 26th, 27th and 29th.
Lunar Yellow Underwing was trapped another 3 times after others earlier
in the year. A moth that hasn't appeared in typical numbers is the
Feathered Gothic - 28 have been recorded, while last year there were
77. This could be due to the grass (the larval foodplant) being burnt
out last summer. Heath Rustic appeared twice (6 moths). Deep-brown dart
was trapped 5 times. Centre-barred sallow was caught twice, these being
good records for this site where it appears to be uncommon. A single
Black Rustic was trapped on the 26th, this being the second site
record. Micros noted included Zelleria
hepariella (28th), Acrolepia
autumnitella (29th) and Depressaria
pastinacella (26th), all new site
records. Acleris sparsana and
Acleris rhombana both appeared
regularly
at the end of the month.
During the second half of the month, I started searching patches of Ivy
blossom and over - ripe blackberries after dark to see what moths could
be recorded by these methods. This has produced some interesting
records both of species and of numbers of some moths.
|
|
Herald © Neil Sherman
|
Sycamore larva © Neil
Sherman
|
The best night of bramble searching was the 29th, when 14 species were
noted. Moths seen included Herald, Buttoned Snout, Oak Nycteoline plus
Sallow, Pink-barred Sallow and Barred Sallow. For Ivy, the best night
was the 22nd when 12 species were seen. Buttoned Snout, Pink-barred
sallow, Red-green Carpet and an Old Lady are a few of the moths noted
on the flowers. What has also been of interest has been the totals for
some of the moths seen, compared with numbers at light. Here are some
examples (figures are the totals for the month):
Moth species |
|
At light |
|
On Ivy |
|
On brambles |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chestnut
|
|
13
|
|
49
|
|
145
|
Brick |
|
1
|
|
13
|
|
37
|
Red-green Carpet |
|
9
|
|
1
|
|
0
|
Lunar Underwing |
|
200
|
|
4
|
|
9
|
What can be seen from this is that there is a lot more Chestnut and
Brick out there compared to what the light traps show! The reverse
seems to be true for Lunar underwing, with not many at Ivy or brambles
but lots more at light. I shall be continuing the evening searches
until both finish for the year, so watch this space for more results.
Eye Moths - early August to mid-October
2004 - Paul Kitchener
August
August had started very well, but, not surprisingly, was unable to keep
the excitement going throughout the month, although the numbers of
moths caught remained high.
New micros for the garden were Epermenia
falciformis on the 4th,
Depressaria pastinacella on
the 17th (my first autumn record for Eye of
a moth which was seen frequently at my old address, only ½ mile
away), and Chrysoesthia drurella
and Acleris emargana, both on
the 9th. Other notable micros during the month have included Monochroa
palustrella (three this month, the first garden record of this
distinctive species being as recent as June), Epiblema foenella (sixth
record), Clavigesta purdeyi
(the fifth garden record, all of which have
been in August), Calamatropha
paludella (fourth of the year, a typical
number), one of the five Udea ferrugalis of the year, Nomophila
noctuella (four this month; the years 2001 - 2004 producing
totals of
6/6/155/5), Orthopygia glaucinalis
(a total of nine this year following
last year's blank) and Nephopterix
angustella.
No new macros were seen after the Gypsy Moth of the 8th, it being
rather typical autumn fare with several species being much scarcer than
last year. In this category must go Small Square-spot (2002 - 2004
totals being 223/48/7), Setaceous Hebrew Character (606/2985/495),
Cabbage (39/380/7), Common Wainscot (80/382/75), Angle Shades
(28/90/16, the first one of the year not being seen until 11th August!)
and Burnished Brass (54/167/67).
It has however been the best year ever (out of four years at this site)
for Dark Arches, Uncertain and Frosted Orange. Vine's Rustic has also
had another excellent year (18/130/128).
Small Scallop was recorded for only the third time, on the 8th and a
Dark Spectacle on the 16th was the third this year but only the fourth
garden record. Silver Y numbers this month were virtually the same as
last August, Dark Sword-grass was only recorded twice (on the 9th and
15th) as was White-point (five in all this year), on 18th and 21st (2).
September
The highlight of this month was a Duponchelia
fovealis that came to the
MV on the 27th. That mild night also saw only the third Alucita
hexadactyla of the year and the latest Small Fan-footed Wave
that I've
ever recorded. Also new for the garden, indeed for Eye, was the plume
Amblyptilia acanthadactyla on
the 2nd. The only record this year of
Acleris sparsana was on the
18th and Endothenia quadrimaculana
was seen
for the second time this year, on the 10th, the first garden record
being in June. Single Udea ferrugalis
on the 17th and 19th was a poor
showing. The night of the 3rd produced my first ever September record
of Nephopterix angustella and
only my second September record of
Euzophera pinguis. The first
garden Acleris emargana was
only last
month but, as so often happens with new species, the second soon
followed, with one on the 22nd.
|
Duponchelia
fovealis © Paul Kitchener
|
The only new macro for the garden, this month, was a Pinion-streaked
Snout on the 3rd. It has been a very good autumn for the Mallow with up
to five being caught on most nights, the first appearing on the 22nd. A
Grey Pine Carpet on the 25th was, amazingly, only the second site
record and a Feathered Ranunculus on the 26th, the third record. Apart
from single White-points on the 6th and 10th and the fourth Dark
Spectacle of the year, on the 9th, everything else has been pretty
average. There was a single Grey Shoulder-knot, three Orange Sallows
and ten Silver Ys. A Dun-bar on the 7th was, however, my first
September record and the first Lunar Underwing on the 7th matched my
earliest ever, in 1996.
Early October
Forty-two species have been recorded this month, up to and including
the night of the 12th, a rather average figure for recent years. The
night of the 2nd was more interesting than most with Plutella
porrectella (the first seen in October), Udea ferrugalis, the second
Feathered Ranunculus of the year, Satellite (rarely seen in the autumn
and only the second this year!), Silver Y and probably what will be the
last Burnished Brass of the year.
Other micros have included Clepsis
consimilana on the 9th and two more
Endothenia quadrimaculana
(third and fourth this year) on 1st and 3rd.
It has been the best year, since moving here in 2001, for
Green-brindled Crescent, a moth I could never tire of seeing but which
was much more common in my old garden. The first turned up on the 2nd.
Another moth that has enjoyed a good year is Rosy Rustic and it was
still being caught up to the 10th (it was seen in November in the last
two years). The only record of Large Wainscot was of two on the 1st and
the last Silver Y, so far, was on the 9th. Other macros worth
mentioning perhaps are the Flame, seen on the 10th and my latest ever,
Grey Shoulder-knot, a better showing of Blair's Shoulder-knot this year
and only two Merveille du Jour (and not until the 9th).
Red and Yellow-line Quakers have started off in reasonable numbers, the
first ones being on the 8th and 9th respectively but the sallows have
been hard to come by and Pink-barred out-numbering Sallow by about ten
to one. The eagerly awaited (not)
Epirritas arrived on the 9th when a
November moth graced the trap and I knew immediately that the season
would be over all too soon.
Just to prove, yet again, that you never know what to expect with
moths, on this cold, grey day (15th) a Humming-bird Hawk-moth has just
appeared, trying the remaining flower heads in the garden border. I
wish it well.
Moths at Rendham - mid-April to
September 2004 - Matthew Deans
April
One of the highlights of the second half of the month was the trapping
of single Scarce Tissues on 20th and 21st - the first garden records
(the species was also new to Bawdsey a few days later, see write-up).
Another new species that doesn't often come to light - The Mullein -
was trapped on 25th. Other more regular species seen included:
Early and Purple Thorns,
Lunar Marbled Brown, Muslin, Least Black Arches, Chocolate-tip and
Pale, Pebble, Swallow and Lesser Swallow Prominents by the month's end.
May
Another Scarce Tissue was noted on 5th with a Powdered
Quaker. A Waved Umber was trapped on 6th. I was
then away on holiday in Poland for a week. My return from Poland saw
Pale Tussock, Treble Lines and Rustic
Shoulder-knot out in good numbers. A single V-Pug appeared on
17th, the same night producing Lime Hawk-moth - the first hawk of the
year. Another garden rarity is Great Prominent - one was trapped on
20th
along with a Poplar Hawk-moth. Micros started to pick up with
Phtheochroa rugosana an
interesting species recorded on 25th along with
the first Privet Hawk-moth of the season.
The highlight of the month was the Toadflax Brocade which came to light
on 28th - only the second county record. It was almost certainly
a wanderer from coastal populations. A single Eyed Hawk-moth and
a Beautiful Golden Y were recorded the same night. A Cream Wave (new
for the garden) and Tawny Shears were taken on 29th
with an Orange Footman (also new) and Dark Spectacle on
31st.
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Toadflax Brocade © Matthew
Deans
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June
The trap was first run on 3rd - a night which produced four Large
Nutmeg, Small Angle Shades and Alder Moth. UK BAP species are always
great to record - Buttoned Snout - was a nice
addition to the garden list on 7th with one on the edge of the Skinner
trap. A handful of Cream-bordered Green Peas were also trapped
this week. Hot-on-the-heels of the first Orange Footman in May,
the second appeared on 8th. The 8th also saw three Pine
Hawk-moths in the trap - the highest ever catch.
During the middle of the month some cracking moths were recorded with a
Green Arches (new for garden) and the first Plain Golden Y of the year
on 13th with Flame Carpet and Water Ermine (third garden record) on
14th. A couple of rarely recorded garden tortricids included Lozotaenia
forsterana and Pseudaryrotoza
conwagana on the 16th with a Small
Clouded Brindle. Cold and misty conditions were unwelcome on 21st but a
Puss Moth nearly
made it to the trap and was discovered a few yards away in the grass
and constituted another garden first. A couple of good micros on
30th were Dioryctria sylvestrella
and
Ostrinia nubilalis (European
Corn-borer). Also recorded were
Short-cloaked and Orange Moths and a Lunar-spotted
Pinion.
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Puss Moth © Matthew Deans
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July
The first trap night of the month was 3rd with Garden Tiger,
Broad-barred White and Dingy Shears the most interesting of the
catch. The first Small Emerald and Muslin Footman of the season
were trapped on 6th with the only Blue-bordered Carpet of the year on
8th. Two Lilac Beauties on 14th were a welcome sight together with a
Dotted
Fan-foot (new for garden) and a single Udea ferrugalis. The first
White Satin (two specimens) appeared the same night. The
following night produced The Lackey - one which is getting rarer and
The Miller. Three Lunar-spotted Pinions were trapped on 16th (a total
of 14 were
trapped during the summer). A Lesser Cream Wave was another new
macro for the garden, appearing with Oak Eggar and Peach Blossom on
22nd.
The Robinson trap was run very occasionally at Rendham when it was not
in use at Bawdsey. Only the second Old Lady for the site was
trapped by this method on 25th, a night which also produced a Double
Lobed. Two specimens of The Olive were taken on 27th. Good
numbers of
the Rendham residents were trapped during this period with three Magpie
and four White Satin on 29th. A single Limnaecia phragmitella
also appeared on 29th.
August
The month opened with two Dioryctria
sylvestrella trapped on 1st and
the second Double Lobed of the year. The UK BAP species
Square-spotted Clay first appeared on 2nd (12 were trapped this
month). Easterly winds brought a Kent Black Arches from the coast
to the
Rendham trap on 4th and a Dog's Tooth on 6th - both were garden
firsts. A second Dog's Tooth appeared on 9th with an Ethmia
bipunctella.
Rare in garden terms were Bulrush Wainscot on 11th, White-line Dart on
12th, Birch Mocha on 14th and Bordered Beauty on 16th. A Flame
Carpet was trapped on 18th and then I was away on the Bilbao
mini-cruise for a week. My return saw a significant drop in numbers
with the most exciting
catch a Treble-bar on 28th.
September
A good start to the month was a Red Underwing at M.V. on 1st, Campion
on 2nd and a Nephopterix angustella
taken on 3rd. The Gold Spot has in my experience had a terrible
year, one at M.V. on
10th was the sole record of the year. This night also produced a
Sharp-angled Peacock, seven Burnished Brass, five Silver Ys and seven
White-points. Micro numbers really dwindled but a new addition was the
plume -
Crombrugghia distans on the
14th. Most of the usual autumnal moths appeared on cue, the scarcer
species
Deep-brown Dart and Large Wainscot were trapped on 25th with two Orange
Sallows on 27th.
Contact
details
Please send any Suffolk
moth records, moth articles or other queries to myself (preferably via
email) at :
3 Powling Road,
Ipswich,
Suffolk IP3 9JR
Email : tony@suffolkmothgroup.org.uk
Suffolk Moths
web site (home of the SMG): http://www.suffolkmothgroup.org.uk/
SMG Email
Discussion
Group:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/suffolkmothgroup
Essex County
Moth
Recorder : Brian Goodey, 298 Ipswich Road, Colchester, Essex. CO4
0ET.
E-mail: essexmoths@dial.pipex.com
The
Newsletter
This is the newsletter
for the Suffolk Moth Group. It is available for download from the
Suffolk Moths website and subscribers can receive email notification
when new issues are produced.
Paper copy are available at a £2 per annum subscription. It is
usually intended for four issues
to be produced a year although the precise time of production varies. I
am
always on the look out for articles that will be of interest to moth
recorders
in Suffolk, although field and site reports should be topical. Please
contact me for publication deadlines as this varies with each issue and
tends to be flexible.
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