Two early June experiences for me. Quite different to the carefully selected nights previously enjoyed. On the 2nd, a windy moonlit night I was out again at Monk’s Hole/ Scale Marsh. The reason for a revisit after last week was this was my chosen location for a demonstration and talk, at midday on the 3rd, On Lord Somerleyton’s request, for Lord & Lady Somerleyton and management staff from all departments on the Estate on how the moth surveys are conducted. This was a secure and quite hazardous location ideal for leaving out the equipment in situ and showing how the traps are carefully placed and the routing of cables etc, you all get the picture. I wanted an array of specimens to end the show too so trapped for two hours on a rubbish night. 38 species taken with the highlights of Ancylis diminutana, pictured. And Metendothenia atropuncta both already known from the site. The demo for the 14 or so individuals went down very well on the Wednesday.
Last night Brian and I went to a hedgerow and woodland site near Ashby Church. In the morning when out with the dog there was much promise for the night ahead. Four Painted Lady and same number of Silver Y seen in the site area so good signs of migrant presence. The forecast was for a drop in temperature around 2am to around 9c . When the lights went on it was already below 9 and was down to 6c at 00.30 when we had finished packing up with around 26 species between the 8 traps, what a waste of time! New for year, White-point and Common Wainscot. One of the most common moths being Small square-spot. A Silver Y the only migrant.
Small Square Spot seems to be doing well everywhere this year. Perhaps it does well when there is little competition from other species of Leps!