September was a strange month for recording – quite good at the very start followed by 2 weeks of absolutely hopeless conditions then good again at the end. Traps were run up until the 7th here, then followed a big gap until I put them out again on the 20th.
The early mild summer has certainly made a number of species have extra broods this year, some that have been noted in previous years and some that have never been seen this late in the year before. Of the more regulars, the following have been recorded – Riband wave, Rosy footman, Buff footman, Ruby tiger, Pediasia contaminella and Swallow-tailed moth. More unusual have been the appearances of Small phoenix, Campion, Southern wainscot (also one noted at Hen reedbeds and already reported), Pempelia palumbella and Spilonota laricana. There have been strong second broods of the hook tip moths and the Satin wave too.
Only one new species recorded during the period, the Box-tree moth (already reported on) trapped on the 7th. Another was noted on the 29th.
Macro observations of possible interest have included the following. Lunar yellow underwing (a good showing this year with regular appearances), Streak (first and only one so far on the 3rd), Dusky thorn (good year), Feathered gothic (poor year only seen first part of the month in low numbers), Dark spectacle (best year ever), Black rustic (very good year plenty about), Deep-brown dart (again, a good year), Mallow (25th), Merveille du Jour (2 on 25th first for year not many others yet), Flounced chestnut (a few with 3 seen on the 1st October) and Red underwing (only record of the year so far on the 1st October, sadly not its bigger cousin!).
Micros: Ypsolopha sylvella (26th) and Dioryctria schuetzeella (7th).
Now onto migrants. I see the coastal trappers have been doing well for these and as usual not that many seem to be heading inland. Have had some luck however. Scarce bordered straw turned up on the 1st, my only record of the year so far. Others seen – Vestal (3rd), Four-spotted footman (on 27th and 28th, both males, may be locally bred) and Gem (a worn male on the 27th is my first since 2006). Only very low numbers of the commoner species like Plutella xylostella, Dark sword-grass and Silver Y noted here.
With cooler nights now starting to set in and numbers of moths declining another year seems to be drawing to a close.
Neil
I am of the opinion that the Dark Spectacle comes in as an immigrant boosting the UK numbers. This is based on my catching numbers of them in my front garden trap as compared to the rear garden trap and this year coincident with an increase in the underwings (including the Lunar).
I wonder if they are coming in as immigrants whether either of the other 2 virtually identical European species are coming in too? They can only be seperated reliably by dissection, so there is an opening for someone to find a new moth for Britain!
That’s very interesting Neil. Unfortunately the flush of them was short lived. They looked much the same as expected but were clear and precisely marked. I shall have to remember this for next year as it doesn’t look hopeful in the near future.