Suffolk Moths Blog

Weather forecast showed cloud cover for last night so a trap went out. A check at 10p.m. only 2 moths in the trap and no cloud, also felt very cold with temperature down to 5 degrees. Not much else in the trap by morning (if you can call it that as it was still dark when I was sorting the trap!). Only 11sp, mostly singles of things, did include first Blair’s shoulder knot for the year, another Merv and also another Brick. I certainly suffer from poor catches here on a sandy heathland site with clear conditions, not close enough to the coast to get the benefit of slightly warmer temperatures that Matthew gets.

Neil

Last night (10th October) was clearer than forecast but still resulted in an excellent range of autumn moths including Blair’s Shoulder-knot (3), Dark Chestnut, Chestnut, Brown-spot Pinion, Red-line Quaker, Yellow-line Quaker, Black Rustic, Green-brindled Crescent, Satellite (2), Pink-barred Sallow and Common Wainscot. 17 macro species in total with Lunar Underwing (10) the commonest moth, just beating Beaded Chestnut (8).

The 8th of October produced a completely different range of species with Setaceous Hebrew Character finally beating Barred Sallow (9-7) into top spot (no SHCs on the 10th). I finally caught a Mallow: not a great surprise as we have a garden full of Hollyhocks but it was my first record. Other species included White-point, Brimstone Moth, Frosted Orange, another Orange Sallow and a late Small Square-spot.

I don’t expect many more nights of potential on my patch for the remainder of this season with a colder or much colder than average second half of Autumn forecast.
On the 8th I decided to make a trip to Ashby to check out the vast amount of Ivy blossom which had just past its best. I checked hundreds of metres of hedge and found nothing except in the church yard where I found the only clump of fragrant blossom. There I found six moths of four species including Chestnut, my only record for the species this season so far. Traps were on at home, with a much better result, 21 species including Dark Sword-grass, Common and Large Wainscot, Burnished Brass, Mallow, Pink-barred Sallow and Meurville du Jour.
A disappointing 14 species on the 10th with Rosy Rustics being the biggest surprise as haven’t seen any for a while.

With SE winds forecast overnight tonight and some cloud moving in, I fully expect a scattering of migrant moths to arrive.  I expect that the odd Convolvulus Hawk-moth, Gem, Vestal, Scarce Bordered Straw and maybe a Dewick’s Plusia or Golden Twin-spot may well turn up in the county.

Only 26 species were recorded last night on what was the coldest night of the autumn so far at Bawdsey; but did include Pale Mottled Willow and Bright-line Brown-eye – both new for October. 

Felt cold first thing this morning whilst going through the trap (in the dark before work), but was warmer the earlier part of the evening so I guess that is why there were more moths caught than the previous night. I had 19sp, including what I would say are late records of Copper underwing and Flounced rustic (although not my latest ever according to my database). Nice things included another Merveille du Jour, 8 Red-green carpet, Grey shoulder knot, another Orange sallow and Pink-barred sallow. Not many moths on the Ivy patch last night, the male flowers have nearly gone over, although did pick up the first Dark chestnut for the autumn on the remaining blooms. The patch should pick up again when the female flowers open.
Not seen any Blair’s shoulder knot here yet, and I’ve only seen one Green brindled crescent (on Ivy), both normally species I see quite a few of.
Not running the trap tonight as the temperature was already down to 6 degrees at dusk here, may even be the first frost of the autumn here in the morning!

Neil

Some cool evenings here on the clay farmland north of Halesworth. Last night very chilly, but for some reason there were more moths about. 26 species in the trap this morning, including the first November moth, black rustic and satellite of the autumn. Sallows all doing well (ie sallow, pink-barred and barred. I’ve not seen an orange here, and centre-barred was over by 19th Sept). Large ranunculus was the highlight – I usually get one or two a year (rather more than feathered ranunculus, which is rare here).

After several nights drawing a blank, the ivy was productive too: sallow, chestnut, angle-shades, common marbled carpet and common plume. This may not sound much, but it’s a big step forward for me!

“All quite on the Woolpit front” is an apt description for what it sometimes feels like in my part of the world.  A lack of tree cover, cool nights and an 11 watt actinic are not the best  bed fellows so last night came as a bit of a surprise with 4 (yes 4) moths of 4 species. Whoopee! The first three were easy – Cabbage Moth, Set’ Hebrew Character and Beaded Chestnut – but the fourth had me stumped. Checking the books and websites again this evening I’m rapidly coming to the conclusion that it is a Feathered Ranunculus – a new species for the garden and one that I’ve only seen on a handful of occasions before. Perhaps victory is in site after all.

Still lots of moths to see at Bawdsey Hall. The first week of October 2012 has produced 65 species as follows: Diamond-back Moth, Anthophila fabriciana, Scrobipalpa costella, Tinea semifulvella, White-shouldered House Moth, Agonopterix alstromeriana, Agonopterix arenella, Epiphyas postvittana, Acleris sparsana, Acleris variegana, Celypha lacunana, Eudonia angustea, Rush Veneer, Common Marbled Carpet, Grey Pine Carpet, Pine Carpet, Mallow, Brimstone Moth, Willow Beauty, Convolvulus Hawk-moth (single on 4th), Dark Sword-grass, Turnip Moth, Shuttle-shaped Dart, Lunar Yellow Underwing (single on 4th), Large Yellow Underwing, Lesser Yellow Underwing, Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, Autumnal Rustic, Pearly Underwing (singles on 6th & 7th), Setaceous Hebrew Character, Square-spot Rustic, Cabbage, White-point, Delicate (5 trapped), L-album Wainscot, Black Rustic, Deep-brown Dart (3 noted), Blair’s Shoulder-knot, Grey Shoulder-knot, Green-brindled Crescent, Merveille du Jour, Brindled Green, Feathered Ranunculus, Satellite, Brick, Red-line Quaker, Beaded Chestnut, Brown-spot Pinion, Chestnut, Dark Chestnut, Barred Sallow, Pink-barred Sallow, Sallow (a few ab. flavescens), Dusky-lemon Sallow (one on 6th), Lunar Underwing, Copper Underwing, Angle Shades, Frosted Orange, Large Wainscot, Vine’s Rustic, Scarce Bordered Straw (single on 7th), Burnished Brass, Silver Y, Red Underwing and Snout.

Last night (7th) was the best night of the week with 48 species caught.

No Orange Sallow recorded this year; but then not much Lime around the area. Yellow-line Quaker, Mottled Umber, Scarce Umber, Spruce Carpet, November Moth, December Moth still to come this month hopefully and a few unexpected surprises would be nice!

Sorry- for Pale Lemon Sallow read Dusky Lemon Sallow. A combination of absent-minded typing and wishful thinking, I fear..

Similar experience here in Grundisburgh last night- fourteen species, all run- of – the mill stuff, but including l-album wainscot, mallow and pale lemon sallow.

Not one micro- which is annoying because I want to play with the new Field Guide by Sterling and Parsons. What do other members think of it, bye the bye? It’s obviously nowhere near comprehensive, but I’ve already found it useful.