Last night (23 August) I was trapping at an undisclosed site in the north of the county (not too far from Halesworth).
The hot and humid conditions resulted in a high catch of c150 species which included four August Thorns. I got absolutely soaked doing the traps this morning though. I had considered this species extinct in Suffolk as I’ve not heard of any reports in recent years. I would be keen to know where and when you last saw the August Thorn? The same applies to September Thorn, Pale Eggar and Figure of Eight – I fear they may have gone from our county now; since I started mothing.
Also recorded were three of the seriously declining Dusky Thorn and a single Canary-shouldered Thorn; a Tawny Wave, several Square-spotted Clays and a number of Lesser-spotted Pinions.
Micros included my second Lesser Wax Moth of the week.
Hi Matthew,
My last August thorn was three nights ago! (ie at Spexhall on 22nd). The night of 23rd was good here too – Webb’s, bulrush, twin-spotted and brown-veined wainscots (I like wainscots). But no migrants to speak of.
Tony H.
Thanks Tony for the information. Have you recorded August Thorn in previous years? It may be that it is now restricted to the Halesworth area.
The last time I saw an August thorn here in Spexhall was in 2005 (my first year in Suffolk). Also saw one a couple of weeks ago at my son’s MV trap in Wiltshire, so didn’t think it was anything special…
Good luck with the death’s head. I remember turning on my first garden MV trap exactly fifty years ago and hoping for a death’s head… I’m still waiting.