March mothing 2017 Hollesley

Firstly I must say I am sorry not to have been able to attend the Winter Meeting at Bucklesham this year. I have been without my car since late February and was unable to get a lift. That also means I have been unable to moth away from home recently.

To date March has generally been acknowledged as a good month for mothing. A stark comparison to last year! Very similar species recorded here as elsewhere in the county. The Orthosias started for me on 2nd with an O. gothica and O. cruda. Quite a surprise to pick up the Small Quaker as a starter as it is my least frequent of the commoner Orthosias. Common Quaker, Clouded Drab and Twin-spotted followed on and are in good supply now. A very attractively marked female Lead-coloured turned up on 11th. No Northern Drab so far.  An abundance of March Moth and Dotted Border this year. Both still going strong mid-month.  Tortricodes alternella gave way to Diurnea fagella with both present on 12th. I expect Caloptilia semifascia and C. rufipennella at this time of year but the year surprised me with a C. elongella and a C. falconipennella. The latter is a first for my garden though I have come across it at Bromeswell Green. Until recently I have been wary when Alder feeding species have turned up as I was unaware of the tree locally, however it is present along the Black Ditch at the bottom of my road in a local private nature reserve. The Patch as it is referred to by the owner who has granted me permission to moth there. Tony Pritchard trapped there briefly a few years ago. It is also where Butterbur grows so I am hopeful of establishing it as the source for those I have captured at home.

Further on the micros I have my usual 3 Agonopterix: alstromeriana, heracliana and scopariella. I also turned up an Acleris hastiana. This species always catches me out as they never look the same from one catch to another. This one a dull reddish brown. Must take more note of the broad shoulders and concave termen. One Plutella xylostella on 13th is the only migrant to date. No Mottled Grey here! No Dotted Chestnut this year yet either. Nice to see it turning up more regularly in Suffolk. I have recorded it at Captain’s Wood too. Latest additions to the year have been Double-striped Pug, Grey Shoulder-knot, Red Chestnut and Pine Beauty.

March 2017 aDotted Border Varieties

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