June survey highlights

Brian, Allan and I went to Herringfleet Hills on the 23rd. A near perfect night with just a short blustery spell to contend with otherwise warm and still which reflected the high species count for a June night of 225. Moths were plentiful in number especially Shaded Fan-foot. Highlights included Capperia brittaniodactylus, Achroia grisella, Cydia cosmorphorana, Celypha rosaceana, L. conwagana, Red-necked Footman with two recorded, Puss Moth, Scarce Silver Lines, Purple Clay ,Water Ermine, Cream Bordered Green-pea, Valerian Pug, Rufous Minor, Lunar Yellow Under-wing, Birds-Wing and many Alder Kitten. All helped make a very interesting and productive night site left as the Song Thrush started singing.

On the 29th Allan and I went back to Ashby Warren. With the records of the two fresh Red-necked Footman on the 23rd it seemed a good time to visit the local hub of the species. A minor ride was selected for its tree cover and traps switched on at 22.00 on a clear but very warm night. Moths soon started to come in one of the first being M. choragella, until midnight the traps were dominated by micro moth species and the ride gave a good variety of habitats for the four traps. Among the more interesting species seen were E. grotiana, S.weirana, S. nitidana. Many Grey Arches were seen and again Shaded Fan-foot through which you have to scour through to find any other fan-foot species such is their number. I would be interested to hear of any suggested food plant for the species other than bramble as that is not really possible at this site. I think they are on the withered leaves of a tree or trees or dead leaves on the ground possibly. Highlights of the night were Red-necked Footman with 15 counted, A freshly emerged female Four-spotted Footman was the sole example of the species, the first June female recorded there since discovery in 2014. A single Captoptria verellus may have been an immigrant as there are a few at the moment, this was the first recorded on the Somerleyton Estate with the nearest known site for breeding 9 miles away. Also new for  the site a single Oncocera semirubella. 141 species recorded.

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