Suffolk Moths Blog

Following on from May last year with the lost lady, Brian and I had another moth night with a difference, last night, on the Somerleyton Estate. We set up the 8 traps in the shelter of mixed woodland at Ashby Warren with Fritton Lake to one side and heath the other, both a couple of hundred yards either side of our woodland ride. I thought we would have a good night with Bordered White and Common White Wave coming in as soon as my lights were on. When Brian had set up we went in search of Nightjar on the heath, to no avail, unfortunately. Brian asked if we needed to go back the same way and I said I knew another way back. However it wasn’t long before it all looked rather unfamiliar, we didn’t have powerful torches and everywhere looked the same, that light over there was, after all, just a gap in the conifers where you could see the sky. After about twenty minutes of being lost we did see lights which we thought were ours, but they were lights on the other side of the lake. It was still helpful though, due to our proximity to the lake, and we eventually found our traps. Unfortunately, the traps weren’t full of moths or anything, despite conditions that didn’t seem that bad in the woods hardly anything turned up and the question was will we hit the big 2.0. before the nights out. Packing up at midnight we had managed 23 species with a few first for year for me, this includes White Ermine which was only picked up on the walkabout , Tawny-barred Angle, Spruce Carpet, Freyer’s Pug, Flame. Good number of Orange Footman seen. Best moth perhaps? Birch Mocha.

I trapped on a site 5 miles from Keith alongside the river Waveney and received a soaking!
But it was well worth it as it turned out to be the best evening so far this year with 55 species and over 200 moths recorded before heavy rain set in just after midnight.
Nothing out of the ordinary, but 17 new for the year included White-spotted Pug, Orange Footman, White Pinion-spotted (I only recorded 1 of this species last year) , Grey Pug, Currant Pug, Buff-tip, Light Brocade, Brown Rustic, Scorched Carpet, White-point and first Hawk-moth of the year which was Eyed. A few new micros included C. atricapitana & A mitterbacheriana.
The last 2 traps (of 4) were inspected, logged and put away in pouring rain and the equipment and my clothes are still drying out. Apart from that, conditions were ideal.

Brian

My first night of the season trapping at home last night. Four traps run until 1am, An ideal night up here at Bradwell until some light rain at 12.30, which, as it turns out, was not even enough to wet the ground. 26 species recorded, last year a similar total at this time with 24 species. No Orthosias seen and nothing outstanding to report. Waved Umber 3, Brimstone, Red twin-spot Carpet, Common Swift, Poplar Grey, Pine beauty, Herald, Campion, Oak- tree Pug, Nutmeg, Sallow Kitten, Chinese Character and Green Carpet amongst the catch. Overall numbers of moths low.
I had a daytime sighting of Pyrausta aurata on the 27th.

Went back this morning in better weather to Cornard Country park to have a look at the Small yellow underwings I spotted last weekend. They were still flying in the same area of meadow with the good amount of the foodplant, Mouse-ear chickweed. Counted 5 this time. Adela rufimitrella and Micropterix calthella also noted but no Marsh pugs, a species I was hoping to see in that area.

Neil

I too ran a trap in the garden last night, not expecting too much but I got less than I thought I would! Only 5 moths: 3 Treble lines, Shuttle-shaped dart and a Great prominent.

Neil

Conditions weren’t perfect last night (the 26th) being clear and cool and this was reflected in a mostly empty trap this morning. Just 20 moths of 12 species. New for the year were Green Carpet (the commonest moth), Spectacle, Common Swift, Poplar Hawk-moth, Clouded Border and White Ermine. Best moth, and a new site record, was Seraphim.
Mark

Wondered if it was a silly idea putting the traps out with gusty conditions last night but the catch was better than expected. Still relatively low numbers and 21 species but showing progress. The first cockchafer turned up. Prominents evident as Great, Pebble, Pale, Swallow and Lesser Swallow. Chocolate-tip quite numerous this year. Firsts for the year were Spectacle, Shears (one of them white), Privet Hawk-moth, Common Pug, Green Carpet and Platyedra subcinerea. Still have an occasional Orthosia. Keeping my fingers crossed for the rest of May.

Not an ideal night for mothing but felt it might be the best night of the week so went to what I thought might be a sheltered spot, Brian came along too with one trap as he had to leave early but we were packing up at 11.15. Very few moths on the wing but the falling cherry blossom at the sheet trap kept us alert! 16 species in total. New for the year for me; Pale Tussock, Angle Shades,Rivulet, Adela reaumurella, Monopis weaverella and Syndemis musculana which was the last moth discovered packing away. Flame Shoulder most common moth.