Busy week at the end of March at IGC.

Was away on holiday for the 3rd week of the month so not sure what I missed moth and weather wise, but on my return at the start of last week it was warm so traps were put out again in earnest. Not disappointed either with good numbers trapped including scarcer species. Here is a list.
Dotted chestnut (3rd site record on 28th, seemingly having a good year as others have noted it too), Early-tooth striped (30th), Ocnerostoma friesei (not the most exciting species to look at being all grey – 28th), Water carpet (a few), Phyllocnistis unipunctella (28th), Acrocercops brongniardella (29th), Acrolepiopsis assectella (29th), Agonopterix scopariella (29th), Lead-coloured drab (29th, 2nd record for the year and another female), Acleris hyemana (seen by day on 30th), Lyonetia clerkella (common enough species I know but this was the dark form one rarely noted here – 30th).
Lunar marbled brown, Frosted green, Nut-tree tussock, Herald, Red chestnut, Early thorn (good numbers) have all appeared. Oak beauty and March moth still going at present as hangers-on. I’ve also noted 6 species of Caloptilia: populetorum, semifascia, rufipennella, stigmatella, elongella (an all yellowish specimen that had me head scratching for a while) and Calybites phasianipennella.
Most of the commoner species of Orthosia are appearing in good numbers, apart from Small quaker that is having yet another poor season. Will it ever get back to the days when I would get at least 100 a night? Diurnea fagella is also scarce here this year and used to be common. Pine beauty however is around in excellent numbers, just shows there is local variation if Raymond is finding it scarce. No Blossom underwing here yet, but glad to see a few people are picking it up, was one species I thought would appear as a migrant with the warm winds as it has done in the past.
What a difference it has made having that cold spell in January this year, the main reason I feel numbers are so much better than last spring after the mild winter. Hopefully the rest of the year will follow suit.

Neil

Dotted chestnut

Dotted chestnut

Caloptilia elongella yellow form

Caloptilia elongella yellow form

Lyonetia clerkella dark form

Lyonetia clerkella dark form

Pine beauty - one of our most colourful springtime moths

Pine beauty – one of our most colourful springtime moths

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One Response to Busy week at the end of March at IGC.

  1. Raymond Watson says:

    Your missed week was the poorest for moths in March. I think we can safely conclude that now the Dotted Chestnut is well established across Suffolk. It will be interesting to see how common it becomes. It is one I expect now.
    I get dark Lyonetia at the end of the year. They are much darker than the one you have photoed, almost black?
    Added a few others here at the start of April. Great Prominent, Scorched Carpet, Brindled Beauty and Nutmeg.
    A bit cooler for early April so I may have to wait a while to catch up on species to further inland moth-ers.

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