Suffolk Moths Blog

Yes as Matthew reports there are a few more around at the present. Weather should be OK for a few more days. I had 19 species last night from 2 traps. Most abundant was Phyllonorycter messaniella but the best for me was a first time Acleris logiana. No Conistra spp otherwise Acleris sparsana and ferrugana, Blastobasis lacticolella, Epiphyas postvittana, December, November, Large and L-album Wainscots, Feathered Thorn, Grey Pine Carpet, Red-green Carpet, Turnip, Blair’s Shoulder Knot, Green-brindled Crescent, Merveille du Jour, Beaded Chestnut and Yellow-line Quaker.

My catch at Bawdsey Hall this morning totalled 20 species – my highest count of the month in the warm conditions last night.

As the list is quite short I may as well list them so here goes: Acleris hyemana, Acleris sparsana, Epiphyas postvittana, December Moth, November Moth, Winter Moth (first of season), Red-green Carpet, Feathered Thorn, Large Yellow Underwing, Dark Sword-grass (1), Angle Shades, Merveille du Jour, Red-line Quaker, Yellow-line Quaker, Large Wainscot, Beaded Chestnut, Chestnut, Silver Y (3), Snout (particularly late individual) and an unidentified micro.

Numbers at MV have thinned over the last week. Satellite, dark chestnut et al. Commonest species (surprisingly) is sprawler – eg five last night. before the skies cleared.

Tempted by the mild(er) weather to run the trap these past two nights I was a little disappointed by the results. Nothing on the 7th and just 3 moths in the trap this morning – a Chestnut, a Setaceous Hebrew Character and a Feathered Thorn.

I recently decided to buy one of Jon Clifton’s excellent ALS twin 30w actinic Robinson traps after others reported good catches from them. Tried it in the garden for the first time last night and caught 9sp, 19moths so not bad for the time of year. Nothing to spectacular seen, just the usual suspects like Red-line and Yellow-line quakers and Red-green carpet (seems to be doing well this year).

Neil

Tried the MV in the garden last night, for the first time in a week. Blowy but mild. Five moths, of five species, including a sprawler (3rd so far this autumn) and a very late brindled green. Others: grey shoulder-knot, feathered thorn, yellow-line quaker.

A very disappointing count of just five moths in the Bawdsey traps this morning. This compares to 400 moths just a week ago!

Mottled Umber appeared three nights ago (first for the season) and a few Feathered Thorns and November Moths about recently.

Still hoping to catch Scarce Umber and Sprawler before the season is over; and maybe a Red-headed Chestnut.

Noticeable dip in moth numbers in my garden trap last night, no doubt due to the cooler temperature. Only 8sp, with the only migrant a single Rush veneer. Even colder tonight (and probably for a while now), so having a rest from trapping.

Neil

I also had a good number of micros the night before Neil’s (23rd) including one that Jon Clifton has just confirmed the ID as a female Epinotia sordidana which is a new one for me.
I ran the traps where oak woodland joins marshland near the River Waveney for 3 hours and had well over a hundred moths (31 species) the bulk of which were Large Wainscot (35) and the second most abundant was Merveille du Jour. Also included very late Vapourer, Copper Underwing and Green Carpet. Probably the last time I’ll take the generator out this year, so was good to finish on a high note.

Brian