The predicted impact of climate change has been evident in the country this year with more extreme weather. Wet/cold spring, hot dry summer and extreme events. The dry spell was dramatically ended here with thunderstorms. The storms which came up from the near continent brought hoards of Turnip and Plutella xylostella with them and a number of Silver Y. The wind direction change has also allowed Cydia amplana, Udea ferrugalis and Nomophila noctuella to visit my traps. The rain cut down the abundant Pima boisduvaliella (10 to 50 a night). Earlier in the month Platytes alpinella and the Footmans were especially abundant and Cameraria ohridella had a swarm in the days just before the weather break. Other migrants have been relatively scarce here, though I have had a Pigmy Footman and whilst the Dark Crimson Underwing had been reported coming into the country mine was a Light Crimson Underwing on 17th. The frequent migrant, the Dark Swordgrass has been virtually absent so far this year, however I did pick it up at The Patch on 19th, where it is becoming a regular catch. Can anyone tell me of it’s preferred breeding habitat?
Although July mothing was a big improvement on that for June the diversity still seemed low. Three species I have noted it being a good year for are the Engrailed, True Lover’s Knot and Yponomeuta plumbella. It has been poor for the Brimstone and also the Large Yellow Underwing. I have rarely taken more than one Noctua pronuba per trap this year which is something of a blessing.
The Oak Processionary moth has been turning up in Suffolk. I have taken two. I see that the forestry web site for the species still only speaks of it being resident in London and the surrounds. Does anyone know differently on this species?
Despite an overall low diversity I have had some good catches. Yponomeuta irrorella arrived on 4th to bring my tally of Yponomeuta up to the full 8 species of this genus to be found in the UK. The long awaited Caloptilia hemidactylella on 23rd and Dark Dagger on 26th were both confirmed. Both were noted to be distinctly different in appearance to their commoner close relatives. On the same night as the Light Crimson turned up I also added a Shore Wainscot and Grass Emerald to my site list. Other species new for my site have been the Common Lutestring (7th), Orange Moth (8th), Monochroa cytisella (11th), Argyrotaenia ljungiana (19th) and the Beautiful Yellow Underwing (to light on 24th).
