SMG meeting Orfordness 25th June 2016.

With heavy rain falling before the meeting and during the drive to Orford Quay to meet the boat to Orfordness, hopes were not high for this night. However, the rain was due to clear which it promptly did and it didn’t feel too bad once on the ness. Only a light breeze, so no problems with the wind on this quite open site.
8 traps were put out, 2 by Lab 1 out on the shingle, 3 by the Bailey bridge covering the grassland and saltmarsh and the other 3 plugged into the electrics of the various buildings as per usual. There was also the Orfordness static trap on as well.
An early 4.30am start due to the short night. Those who hadn’t got up were soon awakened by the alarm of the Landrover that went off as we tried to start it up to drive to the traps! Probably woke most of Orford up as well I should think! Thick coats were the order of the day as it felt pretty chilly.
All traps were pretty quiet in the morning, as expected really given the way the year is running and the conditions. Still, you don’t know unless you try. Even though there weren’t many moths, there was still some interest. Moths of note included: Agdistis bennetii (seen at dusk, just the one), Cream-spot tiger, Tawny shears (a few, only on the shingle), Star wort (a good number), Monochroa palustrellus, Dotted fan-foot, Scrobipalpa nitentella and acuminatella (on the saltmarsh, confirmed by Raymond by dissection) and Rosy wave. Neither of the 2 target moths seen but not surprised really. However, a Coleophora moth taken from Raymond’s shingle traps has turned out to be a good record – Coleophora nutantella. It feeds on the seed pods of the Sea campion and again was confirmed by dissection.
While sorting the Orfordness static trap, 2 large blue beetle were discovered close by so as there weren’t many moths to sort I took one to try and id. Turned out to be the Blue helops beetle (Helops caerulens). Quite a scarce species, found around shoreline driftwood.
As we didn’t do too well on this meeting there are plans to return again later on in the year probably in early September so watch this blog for more details on that.

Neil

Star wort

Star wort

Blue helops beetle

Blue helops beetle

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