Suffolk Moth Group Newsletter

Field reports - Tony Prichard

Moth Night at Aldeburgh-Thorpeness - 2nd August 2005

A mid-week return visit to one of our regular coastal sites between Aldeburgh and Thorpeness. Of particular interest was the recording of a singleton of White-mantled Wainscot. This is the first time that we have recorded this species at this site, although we have recorded it not too far way at the North Warren RSPB reserve in the vicinity of Thorpeness Mere. With just a singleton being recorded it is rather hard to be sure whether it is breeding in the immediate vicinity or has wandered from known haunts nearby. It looks as though a return visit in 2006 is on the cards to see if we can have more success.

In all103 species were recorded on the night with other species of interest including Monochroa palustrella, Pediasia contaminella, Pima boisduvaliella, July Highflyer, Magpie, Sharp-angled Peacock, White Satin Moth, Garden Tiger, Kent Black Arches, Dog's Tooth, Tawny Shears, White-point, Reed Dagger, Webb's Wainscot and Blackneck.

Moth Night at Upper Hollesley Common - 4th August 2005

Another mid-week moth night at this heathland SWT reserve, where it appears little recording has been done in the past. Nick Mason had organised this meeting and had invited a few of the locals from Hollesley along. Nick has managed to stir up some local interest in moths with his recording efforts in the area and there was a good selection of moths to see in the early part of the evening. After the locals had had their fill there was just Matthew Deans, Nick and myself left and with a sudden downpour we all ended up getting a soaking. A specimen of Oidematophorus lithodactyla, plume moth, appeared at the light during the evening and was readily identifiable with its tufts of hair scales on the legs. I had noticed that there was some of the foodplant, Fleabane, in the vicinity when we set up, so I'll be back to look for the larvae next year.

Other species of note recorded were Monochroa cytisella, Aristotelia ericinella, Athrips mouffetella, Platytes alpinella, Anania verbascalis, Pempelia palumbella, Tawny Wave, Small Scallop, Plain Wave, Chevron, Sharp-angled Peacock, White-line Dart, Small Rufous, Green Silver-lines. In all 117 species and a reasonable selection of heathland species.

SMG Moth Night - Hinderclay Fen - 5th August 2005

This was the first visit of the group to run moth lights at this fen in the Waveney Valley. Conditions were rather cool so the site did not live up to expectations of a big species list considering the wide variety of habitats present - oak and birch scrub, fen, reed-beds, alder carr and acid grassland. Despite a rather slow trickle of moths to the light we notched up 77 species, including Athrips mouffetella, Euzophera pinguis, Sharp-angled Carpet, Canary-shouldered Thorn, Chocolate-tip, Garden Tiger, White-line Dart, Square-spotted Clay, Brown-veined Wainscot and Nut-tree Tussock. This is a site that we will be planning on returning to in 2006.


© A Prichard - Hinderclay Fen	© A Prichard - Hinderclay Fen

Moth Night - Tunstall Common - 6th August 2005

We were rather unlucky on the night at this heathland site. Weather forecasts had not given any mention of rain and initially there were a good few moths coming to the six lights we had running. With Metendothenia atropunctana, Eudonia truncicolella, Dioryctria sylvestrella, Narrow-winged Pug, Canary-shouldered Thorn, Chocolate-tip, White-line Dart, Archer's Dart and White-point being amongst the 74 species recorded. With a feeling of deja vu from the Upper Hollesley night the heavens opened and we were given a thorough soaking despite huddling under the oak trees - that was the end of that night's recording.

Moth Night - West Stow - 10th August 2005

Continuing the series of mid-week moth nights as weather conditions seemed good we headed for the Brecks, with an overcast sky it was likely that temperatures would stay up even in the Brecks. One of the species we were looking for was Neglected Rustic, we had no luck with that one but there were plenty of other species that kept the interest up. More commonly seen as a leaf-mine on Rosebay Willowherb one of the traps next to a clump of the foodplant attracted an adult of Mompha raschkiella - a colourful micro. A single Cydia coniferana appeared in one of the traps next to a pine plantation, not too surprising as the larvae of this infrequently recorded in Suffolk species feed on conifers. A night with plenty of activity at the lights, including some of the species that we associate with the Brecks, and a respectable species total of 149 species. Other species recorded included Aristotelia ericinella, Phalonidia manniana, Celypha cespitana, Endothenia ericetana, Platytes alpinella, Udea lutealis, Grass Emerald, Tawny Wave, Small Scallop, Oblique Striped, Dark Spinach, White-spotted Pug, Bordered Pug, Narrow-winged Pug, Clouded Magpie, Yellow Belle, White Satin Moth, White-line Dart, Six-striped Rustic, Olive, Small Wainscot, Twin-spotted Wainscot, Small Rufous and Nut-tree Tussock

SMG Moth Night at Orfordness - 12th August 2005

For this overnight stay on this National Nature Reserve we positioned lights in three areas not covered in our previous recording visits. Covering vegetated shingle, saltmarsh, wet meadows and reed-beds we fared rather better than in previous years, helped by the more favourable weather conditions - traps were not in danger of being blown off the site. Six traps were left out over night and inspected in the morning. Having been caught out by Aphelia viburnana during our visit to Havergate Island it was easy to pick out specimens of this moth in the traps. Good numbers of Sandhill Rustic were also recorded along with other saltmarsh/vegetated shingle specialists - Scobipalpa nitentella, Eucosma tripoliana, Pima boisduvaliella, Ground Lackey, Star-wort, Saltern Ear and Crescent Striped. Marbled Green was recorded attracted to the lighted windows of the volunteers' building - this must surely be a resident on the site. Other species of interest out of the 83 species recorded were Aspilapteryx tringipennella, Mompha propinquella, Bryotropha domestica, Agriphila selasella, Garden Tiger, Dog's Tooth, Tawny Shears, Hedge Rustic and Reed Dagger. Thanks to Dave Cormack for putting us up for the night and ferrying us around.

Moth Night at Bawdsey Saltmarsh - 17th August 2005

A rather quiet night at this mid-week moth night aimed at increasing the species list for the Bawdsey area with some saltmarsh specialists. There were still a few species of interest recorded, including futher records of Aphelia viburnana and Sandhill Rustic. Of the 44 species recorded others of note included Eucosma tripoliana, Agriphila selasella, Agdistis bennetii, Ground Lackey, Sharp-angled Carpet, Dog's Tooth, Reed Dagger, Southern Wainscot, Saltern Ear and Twin-spotted Wainscot

SMG Moth Night at Trimley Marshes - 19th August 2005

This meeting was cancelled due to bad weather

SMG Moth Night at Easton Broad - 26th August 2005

This meeting was arranged to target Rush Wainscot but there was a bit of mix up in the arrangements and we ended up recording in another part of the broad to that originally intended. This was probably for the better as we thought that given the poor weather conditions it would be better to run traps in more sheltered areas. Activity around the lights was slow and the temperature started dropping rather rapidly. A trap placed in a rather exposed area of acid grassland did manage to pick up Lunar Yellow Underwing. With a continuing trickle of moths to the lights we managed to rack up 85 species by the end of the evening and these included Monopis monachella, Mirificarma mulinella, Epinotia ramella, Adaina microdactyla, Treble-bar, Dusky Thorn, Maple Prominent, Small Square-spot, White-point, Southern Wainscot, Crescent and Bulrush Wainscot.

Moth Night at Cavenham Heath - 27th August 2005

This was another meeting where we were trying to target Neglected Rustic. A fine start to the evening but with rapidly dropping temperatures on this exposed Breckland site we were not out for that long. The Neglected Rustic proved elusive again and the total of 54 species was rather low. The site appears to have good potential with large areas of heather, birch and oak scrub and acid grassland and nearby areas of fenland habitat. Species recorded included Pediasia contaminella, Eudonia truncicolella, Nymphula stagnata, Narrow-winged Pug, White-line Dart, Archer's Dart, Lunar Yellow Underwing, Six-striped Rustic, Feathered Gothic and Frosted Orange.

Moth Night at Tangham Forest - 28th August 2005

One of our favoured sites at the moment, that can be relied on to produce long species lists and no hornets to date. This time we managed to reach 112 species in all and in contrast to the rather lower 54 species from the previous night. Although to be fair this site has a good mixture of habitats with heathland, birch scrub, wet woodland, fenny areas and pine plantations. Some of the highlights from the night were Caloptilia robustella, Ypsolopha dentella, Aristotelia ericinella, Mirificarma mulinella, Anarsia spartiella, Eupoecilia angustana, Metendothenia atropunctana, Pyrausta despicata, Cryptoblables bistriga, Dioryctria simplicella, Diorcytria sylvestrella, Birch Mocha, Clay Triple-lines, Flame Carpet, Spruce Carpet, White-line Dart, Archer's Dart, White-point, Bulrush Wainscot and Oak Nycteoline.

SMG Moth Night at Belton - 2nd September 2005

A rather quieter night than recent ones at this site in the far north-east of the county. Despite the lack of activity some useful records were made for the area with 69 species in total being recorded. Evergestis extimalis, a notable pyralid, was rather unexpected as I tend to associate this species with the Sandlings to the south or the Brecks. A wandering Agdistis bennetii plume, normally associated with coastal saltmarsh habitats, also appeared at the lights. Other species included Ypsolopha scabrella, Ypsolopha parenthesella, Hypatima rhomboidella, Epiphyas postvittana, Flame Carpet, White-spotted Pug, Poplar Hawk-moth, White-line Dart, Yellow-barred Brindle, Six-striped Rustic, Old Lady, Crescent, Twin-spotted Wainscot and Webb's Wainscot

Moth Night at Snape Warren - 3rd September 2005

A return visit to this heathland site managed by the RSPB. Signs of site management were evident with plenty of birch and gorse scrub clearance. This limited the choices for finding a sheltered spot to run the sheet light. With 60 species by the end of the evening we did rather well. It was a bit unusual to have a Red Underwing flying around the sheet light on a heathland site. Species recorded included Aristotelia ericinella, Cochylis hybridella, Crambus hamella, Cryptoblabes bistriga, Pempelia palumbella, Oak Hook-tip, Sharp-angled Peacock, White-line Dart, Dark Sword-grass, Lunar Yellow Underwing, Dog's Tooth, Feathered Gothic and Dark Spectacle

SMG Moth Night at Tunstall Common - 9th September 2005

We avoided a further soaking at this second visit to Tunstall Common, although there was quite a bit of drizzle during the early part of the evening. Given the numbers of larvae of Lunar Yellow Underwing that we had recorded at this site in the spring it was surprising that Lunar Yellow Underwing was not more in evidence and this makes me suspect that this species may be rather shy of light. In all 69 species recorded, a respectable total for this time of year, including Depressaria pastinacella, Eupoecilia angustana, Cochylidia implicitana, Crambus hamella, Pempelia palumbella, Dioryctria sylvestrella, Agdistis bennetii, Peach Blossom, Treble-bar, Latticed Heath, White-line Dart, Archer's Dart, Square-spotted Clay, Heath Rustic, Hedge Rustic, Feathered Gothic, White-point, Centre-barred Sallow, and Frosted Orange

SMG Moth Night at West Stow Country Park - 16th September 2005

Cold weather meant that we spent most of the time sitting around waiting for moths to arrive at this Breckland site and had only recorded 11 species by the end of the night. Rather a dramatic change following the previous run of moth nights. Searching around the lights at the visitor centre seemed to be just as productive as the MV lamps. The complete species list for the night was Agonopterix arenella, Agonopterix ocellana, Teleiopsis diffinis, Pine Carpet, Grey Pine Carpet, Autumnal Rustic, Square-spot Rustic, Sallow, Angle Shades, Flounced Rustic, Pale Mottled Willow

SMG Evening Meeting at Hadleigh Riverside - 23rd September 2005

A rather disappointing meeting that was originally planned as an evening looking for moths at ivy blossom and blackberries. Most of the ivy blossom had not yet opened and the blackberries were mostly shrivelled up. Four species were recorded in all - Phyllocnistis unipunctella mines in poplar leaves by the car park and Emmelina monodactyla, Angle Shades and Snout recorded later by torchlight.

SMG Evening Meeting at Ickworth Park - 30th September 2005

Due to poor weather the meeting at Ickworth Park was cancelled and we tried the Hadleigh Riverside area again. Even though more of the ivy was in blossom results were just as disappointing with only Common Marbled Carpet, Angle Shades, Snout, Pink-barred Sallow and Lunar Underwing.

Reports from Recorders around the county

Records reported in this section have not been checked by the Suffolk Moth Panel. Many thanks go to the recorders who provide write-ups for this section.

News from Woolpit (Aug – Oct 2005) – Paul Bryant

I touched briefly on the good start I had to August in my last write-up when I mentioned Least Carpet and Oak Eggar being added to the garden list. More was to come as the month of August went by as several more species were ‘apparently’ recorded for the first time. I say apparently because I can’t help wondering how I missed some of them last year.

In total the trap was out on fourteen nights, mostly at the beginning and end of the month, with a roughly 50/50 split between 125w MV or 11w Actinic. Average species counts were generally in the low 20’s but did peak at 40 on 17th and 49 on 18th. Amongst the more regular visitors Pretty Chalk Carpet (1 on 2nd), Lesser Swallow Prominent (1 on 17th & 2 on 18th), Dark Spectacle (1 on 17th - with a Spectacle for comparison), Lychnis (singles on 8th 17th & 18th), Black Arches (1 on 17th) and a Small Waved Umber (18th) were all new site records. Of the pyrales and micros recorded, Elophila nymphaeata Brown China Mark (1 on 18th), Monopis weaverella and Caloptilia populatorum (1 each on 9th), Clavigesta purdeyi (1 on 16th), Scrobipalpa costella, Eudonia profundana and Epinotia nisella (1 of each on 18th) were also new. A scattering of Lime-speck Pugs, Magpie Moth’s and the odd Iron Prominent were the best of the rest.


© P Bryant - Spectacle and Dark Spectacle	© P Bryant - Caloptilia populatorum

September saw the trap out on eleven nights with species counts remaining relatively high to start with (38 on 3rd and 30 on 5th) but soon falling away to the low 10’s come month end, with a distinct bias towards the more autumnal species. Large Yellow Underwing numbers in the garden peaked at 65 on 5th. Of more interest, 2 Pale Mottled Willow were noted on 3rd, another Magpie Moth on the 5th and a Dusky Thorn on the 20th. New site records included Small Blood-vein (1 on 3rd), Rosy Rustic (2 on 7th), Frosted Orange (1 on 20th) and Brindled Green (1 on 27th).

October started off in very much the same way that September had ended with low species counts and little to shout about. In fact, very little trapping took place until the last week of the month when a period of prolonged southerly winds and mild weather saw me trapping virtually every night in the hope that must just catch something good. Things weren’t looking too promising – just the odd Brindled Green, Red-line Quaker and Yellow-line Quaker – until the night of the 27th when I caught a Streak (new for the garden) and my third Feathered Thorn of the week. However, the following night was to prove even better despite the trap only containing three moths. After a bit of confusion one moth was identified as a worn Yellow-line Quaker, the second (no problems here!) a Silver Y and the third; which I knew was something good, a Scarce Bordered Straw. My thanks must go to Matthew who just happened to be passing my door that morning and was able to call in and confirm the identification for me.


© P Bryant - Streak	© P Bryant - Scarce Bordered Straw

As I write this I fear that there will be very little to day about November, suffice to say that the trap has spent all its time safely packed up in our dry, warmish shed! Not to be outdone thought, I’ve managed to clock up an Epirrata sp at the window of the gym and I have also been out-and-about taking grid references for Cameraria ohridella sightings. From what I’ve seen so far I think it’s fair to say that this newcomer to our shores appears to be extremely widespread in the north-west of the county as I have seen the tell-tale mine on virtually every Horse Chestnut I’ve stopped and looked at on my regular route(s) to a from work. I have also seen it on at least one tree just north of Newmarket on the road to Ely, right on the correct side of the Suffolk/Camb’s border.

Happy trapping

Eye Moths, August to November 2005 - Paul Kitchener

August

Unexceptional weather during the second half of the month resulted in fairly average mothing but there were some highlights.

The actinic is not used as frequently as the MV during the summer but I do like to use it now and again as it will often attract something different or at least produce more of some species. I was very pleased therefore with my first Eye record of Old Lady on the 19th. The only other occasion that I’ve seen this moth was also in an actinic trap.

Micros of local interest were the fourth site record (second of year) of Ypsolopha dentella on the 20th, Elophila nymphaeata (two of the three this year on 29th) and Nephopterix angustella (seven between 17 and 31 August, bringing the year total to a best ever ten). Pleuroptya ruralis has had it’s best year ever at this site, the numbers for 2002 to 2005 being 154/495/522/748. This year also saw my latest record for this moth (7th October).

The night of the 30th was the warmest for about three weeks and although nothing new was seen I was well pleased with a Treble-bar (second of the year but only the third site record), Dingy Shell (third of the year), Currant Pug, Vapourer and Dark Spectacle (the tenth and last one of the year). The only Humming-bird Hawk-moth of the year was also in the garden during daylight hours of the 30th.

A Sharp-angled Peacock on the 29th was the only one of the year. This moth was first recorded only last year when an amazing total of nine appeared. The first Dusky Thorn of the autumn turned up on the 11th, about a week later than average and only twelve were seen in all.

Although I missed two weeks trapping at the beginning of September as I was on holiday it seems evident that the decline of this moth in Eye continues. The yearly total of individuals caught from 1998 to 2005 is 53/113/96/53/31/17/13/12.

As mentioned in earlier reports, another moth that has declined, at least over the previous four years, is Small Square-spot. It may be making something of a recovery however as, although only one was seen this spring, the final tally for the year reached twenty four (last year’s total was seven). Flounced Rustic however remains scarce with only six being seen this autumn though I have my suspicions that this is another moth that may be more attracted to actinic light.

A moth that is in this part of the county traditionally thought to be a migrant may have become established, temporarily at least. White-point numbers have been unprecedented and following the four in June another forty two have been trapped in August and September (the last 26th). Given my absence for two weeks who knows how many more there may have been? It has generally been a poor year for migrants and the pattern of records is not unlike that experienced by Mike Hall, just across the border at Scole (about 3 miles from me), which suggests a local origin.

It has been my worst August, indeed year, on record for Silver Y. Only two were trapped though a few more were seen during daylight hours. With only one more in September and two in October the year’s total stands at twelve.

September

A Vestal on the 17th, the first night’s trapping since returning from holiday, was my first record for Eye. The weather that night seemed far from conducive for migration so this was a very pleasant surprise.

The first Mallow appeared on the 18th but numbers were only a quarter of last year’s and the lowest for four years. However, several “September” species had a better year than recently. These included Common Marbled Carpet (three times last year’s total and the most in five years), Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, Brown-spot Pinion and Sallow.

It has appeared to be a relatively poor season for Rosy Rustic and Frosted Orange and Brindled Green remains a very scarce moth around here, one this month and one in October brought the site total to just nine in five years!

Copper Underwing and Mouse numbers have been very low again (just single figure totals for both) and nowhere near the numbers seen during the late 1990’s. This may be due to a change in site, though that seems unlikely for two “common” moths, or as seems more likely these are another two moths that are more attracted to actinic light than to MV.

I believe however that they are genuinely more scarce here nowadays.

The first Merveille du Jour brightened up the trap on schedule (28th) and the total for the autumn reached eleven which is considerably better than the two last year. A Feathered Ranunculus on the 18th was only the fifth site record but it has now been seen for four consecutive years whereas it had only been seen once in six years prior to 2002. Another moth that appears regularly but in very small numbers is Orange Sallow. This year only one was seen (also 18th) but there has never been more than three in a year.

Second generation Burnished Brass were very evident and although the summer numbers had been relatively low the year’s total reached a second best for nine years (2003 producing the most). The last to appear was on 5th October.

October

October was once again a very productive and exciting month. Some very mild nights with southerly winds during the latter half kept expectations high, though as so often happens in mothing when you expect something you get nothing and it’s the unexpected on the more ordinary night that gives the most pleasure.

Four species this month not only provided first site records but it was also the first time I had seen them in Eye. These were Delicate (15th), Epermenia chaerophyllella, Streak (both 26th) and Crocidosema plebejana (28th).


© P Kitchener - Epermenia chaerophyllella	© P Kitchener - Crocidosema plebejana

Not surprisingly a few other migrants appeared, somewhat making up for what has been a poor year for them. Five Plutella xylostella this month (two, 10th) brought the year total to seventeen, about the same as last year, but two Udea ferrugalis (29th and 30th) and one Nomophila noctuella (30th) were the only ones of the year. A Dark Sword-grass (6th) was only the second of the year and the last of the few Silver Y this year was on the 27th.

In terms of good luck, the highlight this month, if not the year, must be finding a Golden Twin-spot, during a coffee break, on the wall of the building where I work in Eye (on the 20th). This is only four hundred yards or so from my garden - so near yet so far. If one just happens to turn up at my workplace how many more must have gone undetected?

Several species appeared later than usual in the mild conditions. The night of the 5th provided latest ever records for Archips podana, Celypha lacunana, Alucita hexadactyla (latest outdoor record) and Brimstone. Others were Pleuroptya ruralis (7th), Orthopygia glaucinalis (second latest site record 16th, there has been one 11th November) and Blood-vein (27th).

Other micros on the wing included Acleris sparsana, nine of which were seen this month and Acleris rhombana (third site record, 4th).

It was good to see a Red-green Carpet on the 28th, almost a year to the day since last year’s first site record. Strangely, Grey Pine Carpet is almost as rare around here as Red-green Carpet, one on the 23rd being only the third site record. My old trapping site, half a mile away, used to turn up double figure counts for this moth nearly every year.

Several late autumn species had a very good season. Blair’s Shoulder-knot and Green-brindled Crescent numbers were the best ever, the latter double last year’s and all between 13th and 28th. Barred Sallow didn’t appear until the 3rd, with the last on 17th, but more were seen than ever before (‘01 - ‘05 totals being 0/4/5/6/27). Large Wainscot has also become more frequent over the last few years; the totals for the same period are 0/1/2/9/17.

I’m pleased to say that all the other expected autumn species showed up in typical numbers with the possible exception of Yellow-line Quaker which has not been seen as much as usual.

November

Up to now (14th) I have trapped only 4 nights and with frosts more likely (particularly on the low-lying ground here in Eye) I don’t suppose there will be many more opportunities, though you never know. The four species seen this month have included a Sprawler (10th), putting in a welcome appearance for the third consecutive year.