October/early November at IGC – cold winds reduce trapping opportunities.

I’m guessing from the lack of activity on this blog that people suffered the same as I did, hence having little to report for October. With cool conditions dominating the month it was hard to get enthusiastic about putting any traps out! There were some OK nights however mainly at the start and the end of October.
Best moth recorded here during the period was the second site record of Palpita vitrealis, taken on the 10th. This follows on from the first site record here in September this year. The best species count was early on in the month, on the 6th, when my twin actinic plus an mv trap running at home caught 37sp. Two good moths were noted that night, a Four-spotted footman (male) and Nephopterix angustella (only the second site record and possibly a migrant, as Spindle, the food plant is not present locally). Other records of interest included the following. Streak (regular throughout), Maiden’s blush (late one on the 5th), Sallow, Barred sallow (a few), Orange sallow, Pink-barred sallow (small number), Merveille du Jour (regular with good counts of 3 on the 23rd and the 26th), Lunar yellow underwing (7th), Flounced chestnut (2 on the 7th), Mottled umber (first noted 23rd and now regular), Diurnea lipsiella (regular at light and in the daytime). Lunar underwing has been in poor numbers at this site this year, but November moth agg has been around in good numbers with a high count of 45 trapped on the 27th. Autumnal moth has been regular also in lower numbers, with one Pale november moth picked out on the 27th.
Feathered thorn has also been around in good numbers. Chestnut, Satellite and Grey shoulder knot have all been recorded, a sign the season is coming to a close.
So far early November has been very mild for the time of year, albeit a bit wet too! Traps on the 2nd at home recorded 17sp with nothing of note apart from the first December moth for the year. A trap at home as well as a trap running up in the woodland here on the 3rd was better, with a combined total of 23sp. Two more December moths noted, also Ypsolopha ustella, 2 Nomophila noctuella but no other migrants despite the promising warm winds. Just 2 more of my regular resident species to note for the year now – Scarce umber and Northern winter moth.

Neil

Autumnal moth

Autumnal moth

Feathered thorn

Feathered thorn

Diurnea lipsiella

Diurnea lipsiella

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