After a poor first half of 2016 we had a spell of summer one week into July. Most moth-ers seem to have taken advantage of it, though numbers were still down for me on early July peaks of the last few years and unlike some of the Waveney Valley moths my interest was mainly in the micros. I trapped at Captain’s Wood on the 6th and Abbey Farm on 8th. Otherwise just at home with the 6th and 8th catches being around the 160 species mark at all sites visited.
Swallow Tailed moth has been common this year and a good number of Evergestis limbata at home this year. Also at home my first Purple Clay on 8th and Archips xylosteana and Blotched Emerald on a couple of days each. A male Elachista scirpi on 14th which seems to be becoming a regular now. Then a beauty that I had been hoping for for a while; Coleophora trifolii on 6th (some may not appreciate my delight!). On the 6th I also caught my 4th Cydia inquinatana of the year. A moth I believe is resident here. A few migrants by way of regular small numbers of Udea ferrugalis, Silver Y and Plutella xylostella, though the latter may now be home grown too. Then on 8th a Pearly Underwing and a pristine Catoptria verellus. Last years C. verellus was rather tatty.
Pleased to get a good catch at Captain’s Wood this time. Lunar Yellow Underwing has been found on two dates now. New to me were a Ypsolopha vittella a beech feeder and Bucculatrix demaryella. Lots of Argyresthia species and in common with Abbey Farm one Coleophora potentillae. I took one of these also at Staverton Park a year ago so that is 3 for me now.
Abbey Farm turned out to be a mosquito feeding ground. Large numbers of Round-winged Muslin in the trap near the reeds and lots of Common White Wave and Stathmopoda pedella in the other trap which turned up more interest. One of those new to me was Bucculatrix cidarella. It sent me fruitlessly searching for images of four spotted Nepticulids before appreciating what it was. Also there amongst the numerous Gelechiids was Monochroa suffusella. Now I first picked this up for Suffolk as a single specimen at home last year. At Abbey Farm there were a lot. Not sure how many as it is not exactly of striking appearance but it turned up 6 to dissect along with Gelechiids and also along with the Coleophora. I am reasonably sure of the ID owing to the size and colour plus the genitalia dissection however the moths exhibit more spots that the images of suffusella in MOGBI and in fact have the appearance of M. niphognatha. The genitalia dissection don’t match that species though.
Wishing all, good mothing.