Suffolk Moths Blog

I trapped one of my regular sites yesterday evening for 2 and half hours on Belton Common, most of which is now a golf course but still with a good area of oak woodland. The temperature was still at 12 deg. at 7.00 dropping off to 7 deg. by 9.30, even so, there were lots off moths about. The first Pug of the year was Double-striped and Red Chestnut was also new for the year. Lead-coloured Drab was a new one for the site. The trend continued of large numbers of Small Quaker (118) and small numbers of Hebrew Character (2). Ypsolopha ustella was among the increasing numbers of micros. So 21 species and about 250 moths in the session.
Brian

It was too nice to be in the office today, so I decided to spend my lunch-break at Wolves Wood. As well as a single Comma and several singing Chiffchaff’s, I had a single Light Orange Underwing fly out of the Aspen’s in the usual area. Today’s sighting ties in quite nicely with my own sightings in previous years.

On the 17th Brian Jones and I trapped at Herringfleet Hills with  five lights to around 21.15 hrs. Moth numbers were surprisingly low, I suspect down to the wind coming off the marshes and bare branches on the trees. 13 species in total. New to me were a single Lead-coloured Drab (male) and Yellow Horned(7). A. cristana was of note along with Caloptilia elongella.

It appears that the trend for good numbers of moths this year is continuing, with large quantities of Orthosias appearing now. Last night was the peak for numbers this week, with 365 Small quaker caught in the garden trap, my highest ever total for one night. There were also 102 Common quaker as well, but Hebrew character, Twin-spotted quaker and Clouded drab only in single figures. Other moths recorded included Early grey, Oak beauty, Diurnea fagella and Satellite to name a few.
Previous to last night trapping has been producing on average 160 Small quakers with lower numbers of the other Orthosias, a good count of 15 Yellow horned on the 10th and first year record of Agonopterix scopariella also on the 10th.

Neil

Site list expanded with Early Grey and Grey Shoulder-knot on 1st March and Red Chestnut and A. acanthodactyla on 29th Feb. Then the exceptionally early Silver Y on 29th. Potential for some very cold weather in the next 2 weeks but we shall see how things develop.

Not such a large number of moths for me in the garden trap last night, but a very good species count of 20. Year additions included E.monodactyla, Clouded drab, Hebrew character, Agonopterix umbellana, Acleris cristana and Oak nycteoline. Commonest moth in trap Small quaker with 25 noted.

Neil

13 species recorded here last night. My February 2012 total standing at 19 species. Last nights additions being; Oak Nycteoline, Small Quaker, Clouded Drab, Satellite, Hebrew Character, Dotted Border and postvittana.

Another good haul of moths in the 2 traps I ran last night, with more new records for the year. 16sp, 445 moths. Numbers of Spring usher and Pale brindled beauty starting to drop down, but an increase in Small brindled beauty with 61 trapped. Highest ever numbers of Dotted border trapped – 54. Other things of note were Small quaker (12), Satellite and first year records of Oak beauty (2), Common quaker, Brindled pug, Grey shoulder knot and Caloptilia elongella.
Trap on in the garden tonight hopefully a few more year additions will turn up.

Neil