SMG first meeting for 2018 – Bradfield woods SWT reserve – 19th May 2018.

7 moth-ers turned up for this first meeting of the season. A cool night was forecast, coupled with a season running slightly late meant hopes were not high for seeing many moths but you never know unless you try.
A few of us met up earlier in the evening to have a wander round looking for larvae and flying moths. One of the main targets was to try and find larvae of Porrittia galactodactyla on Burdock, Bradfield being a known site for the species. Sadly we were unsuccessful. However, we found an interesting Incurvarid species that none of us recognized. Checking the books revealed that it was Incurvaria praelatella, a new moth for us all and probably the first Suffolk record for 100 years! The moth feeds on Water avens, a plant that is common in this wood. Must surely have been overlooked. So a great start to the event. Also found of note were some Cream wave, Gold swift (lekking males) and mines of Paracrania chrysolepidella on Hazel.
Onto the moth trap part of the event. 34sp noted from 7 traps, not too bad given the conditions. Of note were Grey birch (a few), Brindled white spot, White pinion-spotted, Cream wave and Small white wave. Packed up at midnight with the temperature around 8 degrees so the heaters were on in the cars on the way home!

Neil

Incurvaria praelatella

Incurvaria praelatella

Grey birch

Grey birch

Cream wave

Cream wave

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