Suffolk Moths Blog

Thought I would give it a go between the two spells of rain. Didn’t expect a lot but wasn’t too disastrous. 70 species for the two traps with my first Red Underwing of the year. Setaceous Hebrew Character abundant. Common species:- Large Yellow Underwing, Turnip, Cabbage, Vine’s Rustic and White Point. Nothing outstanding.

With all these Vestals about, I hoped maybe some had reached the marshes alongside the River Waveney so I ran my traps there last evening (well away from the woods to escape the hornets). If there were any Vestals there, they didn’t come to the traps. The only migrants were 4 Silver Y, but there were plenty of Wainscots. Brown-veined, Bulrush (2), Twin-spot (3), Webb’s (3), Small (3) along with a good number of Common, Smoky, Southern and Fen, also other typical marsh and grassland moths were well represented including Gold Spot (6), Rosy Rustic (14), Crescent (16), Reed Dagger (2), Six-striped Rustic (2) and Square-spot Rustic (24). Not many micros apart from the usual China-marks, C. paludella, D. forficella, S. gigantella and just one Cochylis hybridella.

Brian

Last night was the first time I have caught more than one Vestal in a single night. Both of the specimens were at Bawdsey and exhibited a faint pinkish stripe (not the bright red or brown usually seen).

Also decent numbers of the commoner migrants Rush Veneer and Silver Y in particular.

Residents were represented by Pima boisduvaliella, Eudonia angustea, Agriphila latistria, White Satin, Cypress Pug, Webb’s Wainscot, Dog’s Tooth, Marbled Green and Tree-lichen Beauty.

My turn to catch a Vestal last night (23rd), a brown striped Male. C.90sp, so a good night for the time of year. Other highlights included a few more migrants in the form of Rush veneer (3), Plutella xylostella and White point (6, although these may not have been migrants). Residents included Lunar yellow underwing, Streak (also had one of these last time I trapped too, seem early records), Epinotia immundana (a second brood individual) and a wandering Saltmarsh plume Agdistis bennetii.

Neil

Vestal

Mostly cloudy and still last night (23rd August) so numbers were up slightly with 45 macro species. Best moths of the night were a Dark Sword-grass and a Square-spotted Clay. Others of note include Chocolate-tip, Scorched Carpet and Cabbage Moth (a very rare moth here for some reason). Like others around the county, only a single Vine’s Rustic.

The move to a different spot in the garden paid dividends last night with an increase to 43 species. New ones for the village was a rather striking Purple Bar and a very fresh (and very green) Green Pug. Tree-lichen Beauty and Rush Veneer featured again.

Set the trap in a large, ornamental garden (former horse paddock) last night. Just 30 species, which is understandable given the conditions. Two new ones for the village though. Lesser Swallow Prominent has finally given itself up and there were two specimens of the micro Apotomis betuletana. Had two Rush Veneers and another Tree-lichen Beauty. You could almost begin to say that the TLBs are established in the village.

Have set the trap again tonight but in a different part of the garden.

Have had a Scorched Carpet resting in the kitchen all day.

I set the trap last night (21st August) before going to Snape to see Richard Thompson in concert. On our return I saw there were several Silver Ys in and around the trap. I took this as a good sign and sure enough this morning I too had a Vestal (a brown-striped individual).

Nothing much else of note apart from several White-point and my first Pale Mottled Willow of the year. Moth numbers and diversity definitely on the decline with only 36 macro species recorded.

Cooler night, smaller catch but I have a Vestal! Now I need to find a way of luring in a Bedstraw Hawk. Not a lot else to shout about in the catch though. First Dusky Thorn and Setaceous Hebrew Character now the most abundant species. Vine’s Rustic on the rise.