Unseasonal Moths

Unseasonal moths in August and throughout the autumn seem to have been a regular feature of recent years with our strange weather.

The season had been running approximately three weeks late at Bawdsey, although more recently things have caught up. This week amongst vast hordes of Turnips, Cabbages and c-nigrum; I have been catching good numbers of Feathered Gothic along with Centre-barred Sallows, Large Wainscots, Hedge Rustics and Red Underwings which I would normally expect at the end of August.

A single Heart & Dart was perhaps not too unexpected a few days ago as was a Bird’s Wing which can have a partial second generation.

I was however quite astonished to discover in one of my MV traps; a specimen of Pyla fusca on the night of 27 August.   This is not only a new pyralid for Bawdsey; but all the literature says single brooded, flying in June and July.  A most odd record.  I have had a good look at the moth and I am familiar with it’s close congeners.

I would be most interested to hear of any other unseasonal captures recently.

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One Response to Unseasonal Moths

  1. Neil says:

    We had a few Peach blossom at the Beccles meeting the other night, probably second brood rather than late flyers. Only had 1 Hedge rustic here so far and no Feathered gothic, both moths that are resident but I’ll be expecting them to get going shortly, about the right time going on previous years.
    I’ve had 3 records of Broom-tip this year, all in August, much later than the flight period listed in the books which is normally April-July!
    I would agree that generally the first part of the year moths were running 3 weeks behind but seem to have caught up now here.

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