June has been a phenomenal month for recording moths at IGC, so much so I haven’t had any time to collate thoughts for a write-up till now! Pretty good numbers of moths trapped even on the not so good nights showing there are a lot about. A lot of species appearing earlier than expected e.g. Scalloped oak, Black arches and Dun-bar.
No data input at all as not had time, so can’t say how many species have been noted. Do know that I’ve had 5 new site records: Aristotelia brizella (3rd), Grass rivulet (2 on 10th already reported), Grapholita compositella (in greenhouse on the 13th), Assara terebella (18th) and finally a Larch pug female (30th).
A few other thoughts and observations for the month. Shaded fan-foot (started early in month and regular), Large nutmeg (2 seen, scarce here), Alabonia geoffrella (2nd, another scarce species here), Cream-spot tiger (2nd, again scarce here), Lobesia littoralis (2), Four-spotted footman (2 males, 8th and 21st – think breeding locally now), Festoon (very good numbers), Beautiful golden Y (a few), hawkmoths generally in very good numbers especially Elephant and Eyed, but Poplar very rare this year so far, Dark spectacle (2), Red-necked footman (a few), Grey arches (very good numbers after many poor years here), Buttoned snout (14th), Blackneck (16th, 2nd site record), Rosy marbled (21st, a female, trying to rear some larvae from her eggs), Evergestis limbata (3, following on from the first last year), Caloptilia cuculipennella (first for year 26th), Marasmarcha lunaedactyla (Crescent plume, 3rd site record 23rd), Nemophora fasciella (2 females and a male seen in the garden on Horehound), Yellow-legged, Red-belted and Currant clearwings (all seen in the garden).
I’ve found birds to be a very big problem this year, much worse than previous seasons, raiding my traps mostly for the big moths like the hawks and Buff tips. I’ve even got up before the sun has come up but there were still casualties. Main culprit is a male Blackbird, I’ve seen him above one the traps. Robins and Great tits are also to blame. Hopefully this will ease once they have stopped raising young.
Hopefully others will report how they have got on, there must have been other good moths seen around the county.
Neil
Like your Grapholita! Sounds as manic as it has been here. Lots of less common Pyrales here too. My traps are built to stop the birds and it works, though there is nothing you can do with a Skinner. Birds cannot land on my Robinson design traps. This was deliberate planning as they can on commercial designs. I also raise them so the light doesn’t shine on the ground around and therefore moths don’t settle around the traps and this helps discourage birds before I have got there. Got two Merrifieldia baliodactyla last night. Looks like they have established a population.