As Matthew has already mentioned in his post, we had the unexpected surprise of catching an Olive-tree pearl Palpita vitrealis at the moth trapping session at Groton wood last night. There were also a few other migrants caught – 2 Plutella xylostella and 3 Udea ferrugalis. Target for the night was the Plumed prominent, mainly to monitor its numbers but for one visiting moth-er from Norfolk it was a new moth. Quite a wait until the first one appeared at just before 7pm. Then they were found in all the traps put out, including an actinic trap. 16 recorded in total. Good numbers of both Winter and December moth also caught, with a scattering of other usual suspects for the time of year. Most notable of these singles of Ypsolopha ustella and Scarce umber. Apart from a short burst on arrival at the site the rain held off and it stayed mild throughout the trapping session, with everyone going home happy having seen the target along with the added surprise moth.
Put out one of the traps in the garden that I unloaded from the car once back home to try my luck and see if an Olive-tree pearl would turn up. No joy, in fact didn’t get many moths at all – 2 November moth, 1 Scarce umber, 2 Udea ferrugalis, 2 Plutella xylostella, December moth and Winter moth. Still, with some milder nights forecast from mid-week I’ll be trying again.
Neil
Plumed prominent has been on my wish list for some time (along with reed leopard and a few others!). As it happens, I was away over the weekend, but I wonder if someone can let me know where the group’s meetings are advertised. I’ve tried to find an events/field meetings link on the web site several times over the last year but I can’t find anything (I can only find the 2013 link). I presume I’m looking in the wrong place?
I would have attended a few of the moth nights if I’d known they were happening.
Incidentally, last night in Wiltshire was -2 degrees. I presume it was milder where you were??
Tony H.
There was no ‘official’ meetings list for 2014, hence why the wasn’t a link on the web site Tony. Most events were arranged amongst some of the group just phoning round to see who was interested in going out. The Plumed prominent event was arranged that way as well as late on in the year you really do have to pick a suitable night as good conditions are few and far between! There will probably be another Plumed prominent event next year as we normally like to go out trapping for it as our traditional last get-together before the end of the year.
The plan for meetings next year has only just started to be discussed amongst some of the core of the group so watch out on the web site and on the blog here for news. Reed leopard is on my target list too so there will hopefully be a trip looking for that but of course this will be in a different county as we don’t get it in Suffolk.
It was a very mild night when we went to the wood on Saturday night, was still 12 degrees when we left at about 8pm. Quite different the next night when it was about 2 degrees at home when I left the house to head to work early Monday morning!
Hope this answers your queries.
Neil