Suffolk Moths Blog

Not much better than the first night of the 3. I tried another brownfield site, half of which is now the local industrial estate. Although the temp was around 15 deg. the strong wind again was a big problem and the only place on an open site to run 2 traps was near a hedge. I stayed 1 hour – 13 moths of 9 species was the result. It was difficult to decide on the most exciting moth, probably Burnished Brass, which says it all for the rest! One micro – lemnata.
I wonder how others fared around the country?

Brian

Turned out to be a female pale variant of the Plum Tortrix, Hedya pruniana. Identification by genitalia examination.

After reading Matthew’s reminder about Moth Night 2012, I remembered the idea was to trap brownfield sites if poss. The nearest brownfield site to me is 10 min. drive away, an old caravan site at the back of the beach, abandoned about 20 years ago and left untouched and weedy. The rain had stopped but the wind was getting up, not good for a very open site. I ran a couple of traps close to a bit of shelter from a low bank, but gave up at midnight when drizzle set in. Just 6 moths in 1 and half hours – Homoeosoma sinuella, Aethes smeathmanniana x 2, Epiblema uddmanniana, Heart & Dart and Large Nutmeg. Three larva crawled onto the sheet (for warmth I think) and they turned out to be Five-spot Burnet, or is it a six? It was supposed to be midsummer night; it felt more like midwinter night.
Probably a good site on a better night.

Brian

The catch of 17th was by far and away my best catch to date with 86 species of which 31 were new to my site list. I have got to get more proficient at the identification which is taking too long at present. So the catch included the first Rush Veneer at the site for the year and if you can include an unfortunate one indoors a Tinea pellionella. Site list new macros were Yellow Shell (a striking colour variant), Clouded Border, Freyer’s Pug, Mottled Beauty, Scorched Wing, Rustic, Uncertain, Middle Barred Minor and Clouded Bordered Brindle. The micros were:- Small Magpie, Chrysoteuchia culmella, Homoeosoma sinuella, Taleporia tubulosa, Monopis monachella, Borkhausenia fuscescens, Eucosma cana, Epinotia demarniana, Grapholita funebrana, Cochylis nana, Bactra furfurana, Mompha subbistrigella, Luquetia lobella, Aethes beatricella, Nematopogon metaxella, Ectoedemia decentella, Ectoedemia subbimaculella, Opostega salaciella, Bucculatrix ulmella, Coleophora caespititiella and Coleophora laricella.
The 18th brought me 46 species with 3 new which were Bordered Pug, Treble Brown Spot and Heart and Club. No new on 19th with 42 species and 4 new on 20th with 43 species:- Broad-barred White, Oak Hook-tip, Purple Bar and Crambus perlella.
I was concerned over the strength of the wind last night and consequently didn’t run the traps we shall see what tonight brings but it isn’t encouraging in the forecast.

2 traps out last night in Oak woodland basically full of two species this morning – Tortrix viridana (150) and Brown rustic (10). 46sp in total, with a few nicer moths amongst the common species – Epinotia demarniana, Spatalistis bifasciana (3rd site record) and Lunar yellow underwing. Traps put away just before the rain started to fall again.

Neil