Suffolk Moths Blog

The fruit farm easily passed the poor return of last week, with 50 species compared to just 23 on the 17th. If you strip away the Water Veneers, the total was 136 moths. New moths for my Stutton list were Six-striped Rustic and Yellow Belle. The migrants were 3 Rush Veneers of two forms. Took my a while to appreciate their variability. I also had a pale-form Tree-lichen Beauty. My previous TLBs have always been dark. Flounced Rustic was the commonest soecies with 21. I wonder if in a normal year I would get this number of species, but then again, what constitutes a normal year…

Been very busy for moths the last few days so not had time to post anything, so I’m now listing a few of the highlights. Bucculatrix albedinella (first site record), Nemaxera betulinella (second site record, first only last year of this rare Suffolk micro. One quick photo of it only before it escaped, the same happened last year too, a very flighty moth!), Vitula biviella (regular sightings),  Caloptilia populetorum (a few records),  Oxyptilus distans,  Stenolechia gemmella (now regular), Leucoptera spartifoliella, Tree-lichen beauty, Kent black arches, Webb’s and Bulrush wainscots, Ling pug (2 seen), Dark spinach, Old lady (a rare sighting in a trap). Blastobasis adustella has easy been the commonest moth, I estimate around 1500 seen over the last 3 nights. Argyresthia goedartella has also been pretty common. Grass moths have still been in lower than usual numbers, as have the underwings which have basically been in what I would call pathetic numbers. Same too so far with Flounced rustic and Square-spot rustic (3 only noted so far). No real exciting migrants for me, best night count was the 14 Rush veneer on the 19th. Like Matthew I too have had a Migrant hawker once in a trap.

Neil

Ling pug

Bucculatrix albedinella

Nemaxera betulinella

Nothing as exciting as the previous nights 2nd Vestal record for here but far more species than the previous night with 72 identified. 2 Rush Veneer the most numerous of three common migrant species. Others worth a mention Webb’s and Twin-spotted Wainscot, Lesser-spotted Pinion. Top moth was Gold Spot (3), previous night a single. Could be their numbers are on the up again, have had 5 a night in the past, but they crashed with the Small Tortoishells which have rocketed up to being the most common Butterfly here today with 24 counted.

I am very envious of Matthews Bedstraw Hawk and have yet to pick up a Vestal but have the strikingly attractive Jersey Tiger in the catch of 20th August. Not too hot on photography in a natural setting and the attached image proves the point. However! Otherwise similar species to Matthews Bawdsey site but still waiting for a Sandhill Rustic and Coast Dart. I have also been catching rather a lot of the Coronet many of them dark and quite green tinged. 9 in the catch of 20th. Are these also immigrants? A nice example of Agriphila latistria turned up. Pyrausta aurata and Setaceous Hebrew Character have joined the top abundance class now.

Jersey Tiger 20th August

Last night (20 August) was another excellent night at the traps; more moths than the previous night due to cloud cover.

Amongst the migrants were another Cydia amplana and a Vestal amongst good numbers of the commoner migrants. This is the second Vestal in three nights – both have been of the brown form. It is an extremely rare moth on the Peninsula – I only saw one in six seasons at Bawdsey Manor! Infact it’s rarer than Striped Hawk-moth, Dewick’s Plusia, Porter’s Rustic and Red-headed Chestnut! In my experience they seem to migrate inland rather than on the coast in Suffolk.

Residents included Eyed Hawk-moth (first site record); Ethmia bipunctella, Tinea trinotella, Ypsolopha sequella, Round-winged Muslin, Buff Footman, Large Twin-spot Carpet, White Ermine, Hedge Rustic, Cypress Pug, Tree-lichen Beauty, Dark Spectacle, Lesser-spotted Pinion, Sandhill Rustic to name a few.

If that was not enough excitement there was a Red Admiral in the traps along with Migrant Hawker and a very unseasonal Cockchafer!

I almost feel bad for posting this having read what everyone else has been recording the last couple of nights. The only claim I can stake is that on the 18th I had 46 species in the garden and this morning it was up to 52. The first time I have broken 50 species here. Tree-lichen Beauty on both nights and Lunar Yellow Underwing last night. Trap is set at the old fruit farm tonight, so fingers crossed for the morning…

Two mv’s run, 55 species noted of which Vestal, Silver Y, Rush Veneer and Diamond-back were of personal interest. All of which were in one trap!

Hoards of moths, 158 species, and plenty of other insects. Moth of the night a single Cydia amplana some other good micros including; D. mucronella, E. brunnichana, C. phasianipennella, H. rhomboidella(again) also A. logiana, cristana, hastiana.  A possible schalleriana awaiting confirmation.  Macros, no stand out species;  Webb’s Wainscot, Reed Dagger, Kent Black Arches, Twin-spotted Wainscot, Crescent,Vapourer, Scorched Carpet, Garden Tiger, Poplar and Pine Hawk-moths, and a late Brown Silver-line . One Diamond-back the only other migrant.

A very busy weekend with classic immigration weather!

On Saturday night I experienced my best Bawdsey night for immigration for many years. The migrant tally was as follows:
Cydia amplana 2, Diamond-back Moth 60, Rush Veneer 91, European Corn-borer 1, Gem 1, Vestal 1, Latticed Heath 1, Three-humped Prominent 1 (first Suffolk record for 20 years and only about the 15th British record ever), Jersey Tiger 1 (second Suffolk record), Dark Sword-grass 2 and Silver Y 51.

Of course lots of quality residents too including Dioryctria sylvestrella, Platytes alpinella, Agriphila latistria, Pima boisduvaliella, Meal Moth, Cypress Pug, Barred Rivulet (first Bawdsey record), Clouded Magpie (second Bawdsey record), Coronet, Olive, Vapourer, Dark Spectacle, Square-spotted Clay, Sandhill Rustic, Lesser-spotted Pinion, Marbled Green, Tree-lichen Beauty and Large Wainscot (first of the season).

Last night (19th) I was joined by John Chainey and Jenny Spence; another excellent night but fewer moths. Highlights were Ethmia bipunctella, Ypsolopha scabrella, Sitochroa palealis, Nephopteryx angustella, Peach Blossom, Maiden’s Blush, Satin Wave, Maple Prominent, Reed Dagger and Figure of 80. The highlight however was a superb Bedstraw Hawk-moth!

I set the trap last night (19th August) in the hope of catching something interesting and was not disappointed with a very tatty Tawny Wave. Was this a wanderer from the Breckland colonies or an immigrant?

Numbers of other species still holding up well with around 60 macros. It was also a good night for pugs with another Maple Pug and my first records of Currant Pug and Narrow-winged Pug. Square-spot Rustic is fast becoming the commonest species in the trap. Other species of interest include Peacock Moth, Maiden’s Blush, Yellow-barred Brindle, Magpie(2) and my first Hedge Rustic of the year.

Let’s hope this warm weather continues for bit longer.