Autumn moves on at IGC.

With cold nights at present and very few moths being caught here even when I have been tempted to try a trap (which hasn’t been very often) decided it was time to look back at the second half of September and the start of October here at IGC.
Numbers of species remained steady during September, but started to tail off at the start of October down to the low numbers present now (only 9sp last night, 11th Oct).
Species of interest included the following. Webb’s wainscot (14th Sept), Lunar yellow underwing (seen 5 times in Sept, 8 moths, doing well here), Centre-barred sallow (14th Sept), Euspilapteryx auroguttella (18th Sept, first record of an adult moth, larval mines/cones noted many times before on the site), Mallow (2 records) Aproaerema anthyllidella (14th Sept) and Flounced chestnut (3rd and 7th Oct).Some autumnal species have now started to appear, with L-Album wainscot, Brindled green, Barred sallow, Chestnut, Blair’s shoulder knot, Lunar underwing, Black rustic, Deep-brown dart, Streak and Merveille du Jour all seen. More out of season species have included a number of second brood Pediasia contaminella and Pebble hook tip on the 7th October.
Winners during this period have been: Feathered gothic, Deep-brown dart, Pine carpet, Beaded chestnut but especially Black rustic (max 17 on the 7th October). Losers have included Lunar underwing, Brindled green and Large yellow underwing.
Most interesting night for me was the 26th September. Had my 30w twin actinic trap plus a 125w Robinson trap running at home but all the excitement was in the actinic. Had my second Convolvulus hawk of the year, a female Four-spotted footman plus first year records of Sallow and Pink-barred sallow – very happy! Other migration interest above the standard sightings of a few of the commoner species included 43 Plutella xylostella that arrived on the east wind on the 4th Oct, plus another record of Nephopterix angustella on the 15th Sept. Not had anything else despite a lot of recording effort, but that is the way it can go sometimes.
Finally, a few daytime sightings of note. Found a Festoon larva on the 21st Sept, under an Oak. Collected it and it spun up its cocoon straight away. Found a Yarrow pug larva on the 24th Sept in the garden, feeding on an ornamental Achillea. on 3rd Oct, found the spiral mines of Enteucha acetosae on Sheep’s sorrel at several spots on the course.
Will the forecast warmer winds due to arrive at the weekend bring in a few more moths of interest for me? I hope so.

Neil

Convolvulus hawk close-up

Convolvulus hawk close-up

Four-spotted footman female

Four-spotted footman female

Flounced chestnut

Flounced chestnut

Enteucha acetosae mines on Sheep's sorrel

Enteucha acetosae mines on Sheep’s sorrel

This entry was posted in Sightings. Bookmark the permalink.