I have wandered no further from home than down the road to The Patch for mothing this last month. The month started poorly but improved considerably as it progressed and then ended with some cold days more in line with expected weather for the time of year with December Moth from 26th bringing that fact home.
It has been a good year here for some species that are normally scarce such as Cypress Carpet that seems to be on the increase, Streak, Blair’s Shoulder-knot and Feathered Brindle. Also high numbers of Phyllonorycter messaniella. One of particular note has been Hypsopygia glaucinalis. So abundant with up to 15 a night (2 traps). There has been discussion in social media as to whether or not it is an immigrant as it has been found by many moth-ers this October. The numbers I have caught have been so unusually high that I believe at least some of them must be immigrant. Another species that has stood out for me has been Adoxophyes orana. Normally lucky if I get one a year. I have seen several this October. Nice to be catching Acleris schalleriana routinely now too. It has been a very poor year here for the Beaded Chestnut. The autumn noctuid Yellow-line Quaker seems to have replaced it though the dominant species in the catches has been the Black Rustic. One of my favourite moths. It has also been another good autumn for the Epirrita and I have recorded the Pale November at The Patch and taken one at home.
As for out of season species and immigrants, I am finding it increasingly difficult to separate moths into these categories these days. Moths deemed as immigrants by some are resident for me. Crocidosema plebejana is a regular double brooded catch in my garden. Rosy Footman has been caught on a number of occasions but there has been discussion as to whether that could be an immigrant. I think not. I caught a Bedellia somnulentella on 24th and another one on 25th in my front garden trap along with other immigrants such as Pearly Underwing and Vestal. I spent days trying to photograph this tiny moth with a novel haircut that would not keep still only to find Neil posting the best photo on this blog. You have my best attempt anyhow. I believe they are immigrants. Neils was caught on 25th too. The Blood-vein has been a regular. Also species that have turned up include, Buff, Common and Dingy Footman, Dark Arches, Swallow-tailed, Brimstone, Kent Black Arches and Clepsis consimilana. I had a Vapourer at the patch on 26th. Not common here.
On 19th I caught a Cosmopolitan. This was the windy day and the day Matthew caught his Death’s Head Hawk-moth. The Cosmopolitan has been turning up in numbers to the UK this October and penetrating well inland. It is also considered to breed in the UK on occasions. On 22nd I thought I had a second one but on closer examination I got to wondering and then examination of the hindwings showed it to be a White-speck but it was smaller than the Cosmopolitan. It is a worn individual of this moth that is resident in the south and my second example. I am thinking that these might be species that we will start to see regularly in Suffolk. In the USA the White-speck has a north-south migration pattern as part of its normal life style. Probably a different climate here but could that happen in the UK? Scarce Bordered Straw, Delicate and Vestal have been in abundance, not just for me but elsewhere coastally in the UK, whilst the more usual ‘regular’ immigrant species have been in relative short supply.