I trapped on 5 occasions during the second half of August. The highest species count was on 21st at 164 species.
My previously reported short lived abundance of the Yellow Underwings was premature as they returned. Large Yellow Underwings around the 100 mark and bolstered by Setaceous Hebrew Character, Turnip and Cabbage. Also common here are Vine’s Rustic, Shuttle-shaped Dart and Flame Shoulder. The moth eating wasps have been back too! All that being said there have still been some highlights, mostly of the micro moths but also picked up a second Ant-lion. Interestingly I picked up a few Cochylis molliculana during this period, a similar timing to last year but not at other times of the year unlike Matthew at Bawdsey.
Two new macros for my site list were The Crescent and Twin-spotted Wainscot. 18 micros new to my site list of which two are rare.
On 28th August I captured two Coleophora asteris. They were one male and one female and may well have flown in together. It is unfortunate owing to the rarity that their identification was not possible without dissection. The moth is reportedly a saltmarsh species feeding on Sea Aster, however there is also the possibility that they may feed on other Aster species. I have a naturalised Michaelmas Daisy in my garden and so am (probably unduly) hopeful it may be resident.
The other rare (but less so) species taken is Glyphipterix equitella. As far as I am aware the only other Suffolk records are by Matthew Deans from Bawdsey Manor where two were taken. The foodplant is common and grows in my garden. This capture suggests there is an established population in this area. My photography is on the improve but the image is of the dead moth (sorry!).
I have also been getting to grips with some of the smallest moths in the trap, so some are included in additional micros new to my site list :- Phalonidia affinitana, Cochylimorpha straminea, Pammene fasciana, Dichrorampha petiverella, Adoxophes orana, Prochoreutis myllerana, Scrobipalpa instabilella, Anacampsis blatteriella, Mirificarma mulinella, Mompha raschkiella, Ethmia quadrillella, Caloptilia robustella, C. populetorum, Bucculatrix ulmella, Stigmella splendidissimella and S. plagiocolella.
Happy mothing.
There are old records of equitella from Brandon but as far as East Suffolk is concerned I am only aware of the recent records from the Bawdsey Peninsula.
Further on Coleophora asteris:- I have a third on 3rd September. Encouraging in respect of a local poputation. I shall refrain from further dissection of Coleophora with this patterning.