A few June moths

Not enough June moths yet to make up for the poor start to the year but non-the-less some interest. My best catch of the year still remains that of the 7th which I have reported on previously, however since then I have visited Tangham 11th and Havergate Island 15th as well as run the traps at home. Tangham came close to the best catch with 102 species but Havergate Island was poor with only 37 including searched for species not to light.

The Sharp-angled Carpet seems to be doing well this year with me, having taken a few at home and several in the traps at Tangham. So too has the Cream-spot Tiger. It has turned up at every site I have visited and 12 were captured at Havergate Island. Common species at Tangham were Scoparia pyralella, Lobster, Buff-tip, Cinnabar and Orange Footman and at Havergate Island were Teleiopsis diffinis and the grass moths, Crambus lathoniellus (only), C. perlella, Chyrsoteuchia culmella and Platytes cerussella. Some species characteristic of the habitats of the estuary were taken this time but no Agdistis bennetii despite it having turned up both at home and Tangham. The were two species that were firsts for me at Havergate Island:- Lobesia littoralis and the Shaded Pug. Clepsis spectrana on the island has been playing games with me. I have captured three so far but they have varied in appearance as much as I think possible. One was as typically pictured. The first was an orangey brown base colour with chestnut markings the third initially went down as Aphelia paleana but then I noticed the costal fold. Dissection proved it to be C. spectrana. No markings and the colour a perfect mimic of A. paleana.  

Two species at Tangham turned up melanic variants:-Syndemis musculana and Cnephasia asseclana. Tangham also turned up some pretty moths in contrast:- Nemophora degeerella, Mompha rasckkiella, Ancylis mitterbacheriana, Lobesia reliquana and the Scorched Carpet, plus to repeat the Lobster, Buff-tip and Cream-spot Tiger. Two scarce Coleophora there too. A C. otidipennella, My second the first being in the adjacent 10 km square to the north and a C. lassella, my first and extends the Suffolk occurrence some way from the Ipswich specimen recorded by Neil Sherman.

Just one other catch of note that was pleasing for me was a Cosmopterix lienigiella at home on 10th. This occurs on the Hollesley Marshes so has probably strayed up from there.

 

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