Friday night saw a group of us heading up to Aldeburgh for a hastily arranged trapping session to try and cash in on the migration wave that was taking place in the warm conditions. 11 traps (4 actinic) were put out around the ruined cottage halfway along the road to Thorpeness.It was a busy night, with the actinic traps seemingly performing better than the mvs. 180+ species were recorded and yes we were lucky and caught some migrants. Best moth was the Oak processionary in John Chainey’s actinic trap, a nice fresh individual. We also had 4 Cydia amplana, a Dotted footman, a Tree-lichen beauty (that could have been a migrant but also possibly a resident), a few Silver Y, quite a number of Plutella xylostella and 3 Painted lady butterflies (at the traps).
Other resident/wandering species of note included: White-mantled wainscot (2), Green arches (can’ remember seeing this moth at this site before the many times we have trapped it so another possible migrant), Dog’s tooth (lots), Silky wainscot, Lesser cream wave, Agriphila selasella, Reed dagger, Isophrictis striatella, Crescent, Chevron, Euzophera cinerosella, Eucosma lacteana, Webb’s wainscot, Six-striped rustic (first for the season), Epinotia signatana, Gold spot and Rosy rustic (first for the season for me). Best micro was an orangey tortrix which is looking like Epinotia caprana but will need dissection to confirm.
Another very good night’s trapping, hopefully it will continue for a while longer.
Neil