Not the best of weather for moths and moth-ing but there were some days that provided good catches and visited The Patch on 7th. Catches of micros have decreased except for Blastobasis adustella in profusion. A single Parornix fagivora was captured at The Patch that was a first for me as was an Acompsia cinerella on 4th at home. Grass moths have moved on to Agriphila tristella, selasella, geniculea and inquinatella but not taken a latistria yet this year. Ancylosis oblitella has been common this year and is now turning up as a dark form. Flounced Rustic in full swing at the end of the period and Light Emerald has appeared too. Lots of Nutmeg and Turnip but not been inundated by large Yellow Underwings this year. Two nice catches of the Tawny Wave and the Treble-bar that turn up in very low numbers each year and a Peach Blossom at The Patch which also provided a very pretty Maiden’s Blush that had me wondering over its identity for a while.
It has been pointed out to me that the ‘Maiden’s Blush’ looks more like a Clay Triple-lines. I followed this up and indeed it is. Also confirmed by dissection. Still a very pretty moth.
An Oak Processionary Moth in a very dilapidated condition arrived on 8th. I had a Poplar Kitten on 15th too. The Kittens confuse me. Whilst I know this one is a Poplar Kitten, large with the cross band strongly and evenly edged, I also get it early before the Sallow Kitten. Poplar Kitten is supposed to be single brooded and the Sallow double brooded though?
Migrants have been the regulars but a lot of Scarce Bordered Straws this year and recently a lot of Dark Sword-grass. My second Pearly Underwing for the year on 15th the first being quite early in the year.
Bactra: Since Paul Kitchener brought the occurrence of Bactra lacteana to Suffolk moth-ers attention I have been finding it at most sites I visit during its flight period. It has been very instructive identifying the Bactra species. I have found that all the bi-coloured individuals have been B. lacteana females. The double black dashes that identify the males on sight is obscured by this colouration of the females. I also note when I look at Lepiforum images that there are no examples of B. lancealana that are strongly bi-coloured and wonder if the variation everyone thought existed in B. lancealana was in fact due to there being two species. I have yet to find much variation in B. lancealana that is also the larger species when compared to B. lacteana. Time alone will tell on this possible difference that hopefully will assist identification on sight.
Celypha rufana: I have captured two specimens of Celypha rufana at home. The first on 7th was the fuscous colour variant and the second on 13th, the reddish brown colour. I presume this is the first record for the county. Both were males and owing to their rarity in the UK and distance from other known locations I find it hard to view them as either wanderers or immigrants. I would therefore encourage other Suffolk moth-ers to watch out for the species. It lacks the rosy pink underlying colour of rosaceana. It also shows the reticulations over the entire wing area whilst rosaceana tends to have it clouded by a brown suffusion basally. C. rufana also shows an indication of two fascia primarily at the dorsal edge. I note one of the images of C. rosaceana on the dissection web site appears to match the reddish brown form of this species and wonder if that was identified by dissection.