Suffolk Moths Blog » Things to search for

The ‘Unrivalled’ …

paulb — Sat, 31 Aug 2019 15:26:18 +0000

This year see’s the 20th anniversary of National Moth Night, a celebration of all the things we love and enjoy about this hobby of ours. One of the themes is Clifden Nonpareil (Catocola fraxini) - aka the ‘Blue Underwing’. Despite a much welcome resurgence of this species across the southern counties of the UK it is a species I have only been lucky enough to see on four previous occasions. My first two were courtesy of a moth twitch Matthew and I made to Stiffkey, Norfolk in Sept’ 2001. I then had to wait almost twelve years to the day before seeing one in Kent. My last was back in August 2017, from Hen Reed-beds. The thought of actual catching my own, and in the garden, seemed more fiction than fact but this morning was one of those rare moments when the moth gods finally decided to smile on my trap once again. As I type this post I’m not ashamed to admit that l’m still buzzing from the excitement of turning over the egg tray and seeing this large pale grey/brown moth sat there, and then the panic that sets in when you think don’t fly before I can pot you up. It’s also interesting to note that the nearest poplar plantation I can think of is approx. 4km due south of me (near Rattlesden) !!

And don’t forget to check out: http://www.mothnight.info/home

C.fraxini (Woolpit) 30 Aug 2019

Lyonetia sp’ in Woolpit –

paulb — Sun, 28 Jul 2019 17:49:31 +0000

There are two Lyonetia species on the British list, with clerkella being the one most of us are familiar with. As it happens, even this is an uncommon visitor to my garden trap so I’m in the habit of potting the odd one up for no other reason than to remind myself that this is what it is. Going through the trap after a very warm Wednesday night (24 July) I noticed two Lyonetia which I assumed were both clerkella. Luckily, I potted one up for latter. With the following night also being on the busy side it wasn’t until Friday that I was able to take a proper look. By then, the moth had died but that did make it easier to see through a hand-lens! The most striking feature was actually missing, the orangey-brown spot near the costa, which soon had me wondering if I’d potted up by accident the much rarer prunifoliella. I eventually managed to post some (poor) back of camera images on the local Whats App group and the feedback seems to be positive so, on that basis, below is a picture of what appears to be the second Suffolk record of Lyonetia prunifoliella.

prunifoliella (Woolpit 24 July 2019)

Matthew & Neil have made me aware that John Chainey took prunifoliella at Westleton last summer so I guess the moral of this story is – don’t assume all your Lyonetia are clerkella’s !!

Time to look out for Cydia inquinatana

Raymond Watson — Thu, 04 Oct 2018 17:06:02 +0000

This species is established and spreading in Suffolk. The larvae feed on the seeds of Acer keys. Presently these are falling if they have been eaten. I know they prefer Acer campestre but other Acer species may host them. If you have a Field Maple close to you take a look on the ground and examine the fallen keys. Below is a photo of the ground beneath my trees and then two of eaten into keys.

Another moth to watch out for – Jersey tiger.

Neil — Wed, 08 Aug 2018 16:29:13 +0000

Following on from Paul’s capture of a Jersey tiger recently, one has been noted today at the RSPB reserve at Minsmere. It was noted during the day on Hemp agrimony flowers. With large numbers being reported at it’s known sites further south it is another moth species seemingly expanding it’s range in the warm weather. So watch out both in traps and also in the daytime as it can be seen on flowers.

Neil

Moths at Hollesley June 2018

Raymond Watson — Sat, 07 Jul 2018 15:13:19 +0000

Have eked out time from preventing the desertification of my garden to do a bit of mothing during June, though the weather has not been so good for that either. A few good moth nights had to be used to make the month worth while. Luckily for the National Moth Nights two of those were good for moths. I promised a friend who lives at Clopton I would do one of those nights on his land and I will post that separately along with my escapades at Abbey Farm, Snape. In this post just my garden and The Patch.

My attempts to establish Agrotera nemoralis as breeding at The Patch were thwarted by the poor moth weather during its fight period. However I understand there have been other captures in the county and country that suggest the species may well be establishing itself away from its Kent haunt. The same can also be said of Catoptria verellus. Whilst I captured 7 at The Patch on 30th, it was also being found in Essex and on the south coast without there being a general migration evident from Europe. It is on the move. Look out for it. I have had two at home since my catch at The Patch. Cydia inquinatana is also on the move now being found in the Ipswich area. I suspect it will become a regular for Suffolk soon. I captured a Lunar Yellow Underwing at The Patch which was a surprise for a wetland site. There were also a lot of Shaded Fan-foot there where-as I have had very few at home. Also further records there for Scoparia basistrigalis, confirming it as established there.

At home I managed a few Currant Clearwings but have so far failed to lure any other clearwing species. I have caught one Merifieldia baliodactylus. I thought that the wild marjoram I had grown had died out but that is not so as it seems to have spread away from the original patch so I am hopeful the plume may continue to breed in the garden. Of interest to me during June is that I joined the Metalampra italica club on 19th when I also took a Carpatolechia notatella. I have caught C. notatella at Hollesley Marshes. I wonder if I might also find it at The Patch but have not seen it there yet. New to me on the 1st June was an Adela croesella and Coleophora lassella. An Elachista triatomea on 18th and a Monochroa tetragonella on 29th.

Finally: I have purchased a Malaise Trap. This is because I have decided to try to identify Ichneumon Wasps and the Malaise Trap is one way to catch them (along with other flying insects). However I did not wish to kill my catch. I have therefore modified the outlet to take a screw-on PET drinks bottle. I swap them over, anesthatise the catch to tip them out and sort out what to keep, releasing all the rest. It also catches a few moths. Whilst recently it has mostly been Silver Ys and Pexicopia malvella, both abundant at the moment, I did have a couple of good moths earlier in June; Ancylis obtusana (VC first I believe) and Diplodoma laichartingella.

Orange underwing out now.

Neil — Tue, 27 Mar 2018 15:00:17 +0000

Orange underwing is now out on the wing, saw one last week and another at ground level yesterday. If the sun comes out again then a species worth looking out for anywhere there are Birch trees, especially heathland.
Won’t be too long now till the Light orange underwing emerges either at its only Suffolk site, Wolves wood.

Neil

Orange underwing

Cosmet Quest

paulb — Fri, 30 Jun 2017 20:26:01 +0000

The “Cosmets” – or to describe them more correctly, the Cosmopterigidae – are a small group of mostly black, red and silver marked micro moths. The other thing they have in common is that I’ve not seen many of them. However, last year I came of across what appeared to be the feeding signs of Cosmopterix zieglerella (the Hedge Cosmet) on some river bank Hop along the Gipping in Needham Market. Determined to prove that I was correct, and armed with a valuable bit of advice from Neil, I went out at lunchtime today to do a bit of ‘tapping’. Pretty much the first plant I tried resulted in an adult zieglerella jump into the spring net … and subsequently the pot. Further searches failed to turn up any more but I’m chuffed to bits with this one bit of luck. As for getting a photo, I rate my chances as < 0.5 out of 10!

Just about working …

paulb — Mon, 19 Jun 2017 18:35:27 +0000

.. and that includes me in this heat!

The title of this post actually refers to my umpteen year old set of clearwing pheromones. Monday’s are reverting back to work at the Hadleigh office again so I took the opportunity today to drag myself up the hill along Corks Lane to look for Six-belted Clearwing. I did see a few males but they didn’t hang around for long .. as clear a sign as any that I probably need to re-order some new lures for 2018. I also tried for Hornet Moth and Orange-tailed C/wing (there’s a Guelder Rose by the car park) but failed to attract anything other than a few odd looks from passers by!

Back home, and the trap has been predictably busy these past too nights. Nothing too out of the ordinary yet but Orange and Swallow-tail Moths are starting to appear, as is Green Silver-lines. I also took a single Fern last night which is less than annual here. Lots of micros and pyrals too. Just wish I could remember what they are from one night to the next. Can’t blame that on the heat though, its more old age

Grass rivulet.

Neil — Sun, 11 Jun 2017 17:35:29 +0000

Last night (10th) I trapped not one but two Grass rivulets here at IGC. This is a new species for the site but I am wondering where they came from as the foodplant (Yellow rattle) isn’t present close by. I know Matthew took one of these moths recently at Bawdsey and I am wondering if anyone else has picked it up?
Checking the Suffolk guide online there are only a few recent records and no real suggestion there are colonies as they were both single moths. It is a moth I’ve seen at many chalk grassland sites across the UK during the day as it is easily disturbed from the sward.
Something to watch out for in your own traps or daytime visits.

Neil

Grass rivulet

Moth of the moment – Convolvulus hawk.

Neil — Mon, 12 Sep 2016 19:47:39 +0000

There are good numbers of Convolvulus hawk being noted in the UK at the moment, with some Suffolk recorders getting lucky and seeing the species in their traps. So if you haven’t seen this moth yet at your sites then now is a good time to try and get one!
I have been lucky and saw one on Orfordness (as already reported) and then got one in my garden trap on the 10th (my third site record). Not the same moth I hasten to add, as the Orfordness moth was left over there for a public event later on the Saturday.

Good luck!

My Convolvulus hawk