4 of the group met up for some daytime recording at Old Broom, Risby. Beating the various trees and shrubs turned up pretty much the same as on our visit last weekend. Of more interest were the day-flying moths found within a warm sheltered glade in the wood. A mix of grasses and flowering plants were drawing in insects including moths. Some time was spent searching the Germander speedwell for Adela fibulella, which after a short while duly appeared. Also noted were some Adela rufimitrella on Pignut flowers. To add to the longhorn moth collection for the day we also had Adela reaumurella, Nemophora degeerella and Nematopogon swammerdamella.
We then moved on to Ramparts Field picnic area where we searched the Breck grassland and scrub habitats for moths. Beating was pretty much a waste of time so efforts were concentrated on the day-flying moths. Species of note included: Thisanotia chrysonuchella, Mother shipton, Adela fibulella (again round the speedwell), Sitochroa verticalis, Lobesia reliquana, Coleophora laricella (cases on Larch) and Common heath moths. A large green caterpillar was also found on the top of some dead looking Heather, pretty obvious for any passing bird we thought and that turned out to be the larva of a Deep-brown dart. It was also good for butterflies with a Green hairstreak found on a low Oak bush posing nicely for photos.
Then it was on to our final site for the day, Wordwell in the Kings Forest. There is a nice wide ride at that site with a good amount of flowers, primarily managed for Dingy skipper butterflies. First stop was by a patch of Germander speedwell where again Adela fibulella was quickly located. The larvae of Stenoptilia pterodactyla were also swept from the same patch. Other species of note found included: Cream wave, Glyphipterix fuscoviridella, Coleophora paripennella (mines on Knapweed, no case unfortunately), Mother shipton, Crombrugghia distans, Mouse moth larva (swept from speedwell) and probably best of all 2 species of Dichrorampha – sequana and plumbagana. Both new species for me and some of the other guys too.
All in all a pleasant day out seeing some interesting stuff, more than what we would have done attempting trapping on any night over the weekend with the terrible overnight weather. And the only Deer tick I found was in the sweep net, always a bonus when you visit this part of the county:)
Neil