Met office reports that it was the coldest for 50 years and fifth coldest on record, primarily owing to a particularly cold March. I was informed that my first full year back to mothing, 2012, was not a good year. So what are the opinions for 2013 so far. I thought it might be useful to use the Orthosia species as an example to compare the differing climates. Table below. Please to note that all data is adjusted to the equivalent of 10 nights catches per trap in order to make numbers comparable and rounded up to ensure presence of a species is not ignored. I would appreciate any comparative or analytical comments. So what for the summer season. My spring has struggled to reach the 20 species mark most nights, however the last 3 days have shown promise. Species counts have risen, 26, 38 and 47 from 29th to 31st May. I have had few species additions to my site list. The rise is principally caused by routine site species making their first appearance. However, there have still been Orthosia species present with 2 Clouded Drab (one in good condition) and a fresh Common Quaker on 30th and a Common Quaker and Hebrew Character on 31st. Also a Red Chestnut on 30th.
For a feel on the current status of my catches at Hollesley the new for the year on 31st were:- Marbled Clover, Bird’s Wing, Flame, Elephant Hawk-moth, Eyed Hawk-moth, Rivulet, Grey Pug, Grey Pine Carpet, Scoparia ambigualis, Aphomia sociella, Grapholita funebrana, Notocelia cynosbatella, Elachista apicipunctella, Coleophora alcyonipennella (the first of the genus for the year) Deltaornix torquillella and Monopis weaverella.
A Common Quaker was also taken on 27th October 2011 during an autumn that saw a few unseasonal emergences. All comments appreciated.
I’m not sure that the statistics prove much, interesting as they are. We all know it was a cold March which accounts for the lack of Orthosia records then, but overall there were far far fewer recorded throughout this Spring. Comparatively Orthosia numbers were perhaps exceptionally high last year. The main reason for the vast drop in recorded numbers this Spring would appear to be in relation to large numbers of their larvae being knocked from the trees and killed by the constant heavy rains as observed at IGC by Neil. It will be interesting to see the numbers next Spring if it proves to be as cold or colder than this one and if the Summer is dryer than last. I would still expect higher numbers. It will also be interesting to see the effects of our rapid change in climate on other wildlife and how some species cope much better than others.
Thanks for the notes Keith. Was the high Spring Orthosias in 2012 for all species or just Small Quaker? I recall the heavy rain post by Neil, however, we didn’t get those heavy showers here. They gave up around 10 miles away whether coming from the west or south. We had average rainfall around that time. I don’t think that therefore impacted local populations but they were still low and late this Spring along with many (but not all) moth species this year.