Suffolk Moths Blog

An interesting mix of species in the traps last night, some nice autumn species next to some unexpected summer ones! Expected species included Deep-brown dart, Large wainscot, Brindled green (4), Feathered ranunculus (4), Frosted orange and Autumnal rustic (3). ‘Summer’ species caught included Willow beauty (2), Oak hook tip (2), Phycita roborella and Ruby tiger – some of these must be third brood now. Also seen were 4 Lunar yellow underwing, my best number in a single night for quite a few years. The Hornets and Wasps hadn’t gone away either!

Pink-barred sallow found by day by Paul Bryant while we were at Pakenham wood today, my first sallow species for the autumn.

Despite what looked like very good conditions for migrants on Friday night, all that turned up in my traps was a single Silver Y and White point. Lots of other species (71 in total) however, with a few things of interest: Ypsolopha sylvella, Trifurcula squamatella, L-Album wainscot, Heath rustic (5), Latticed heath (4), Brindled green (first for year) and Square-spotted clay.

Saturday 3 Sept Brian and I went for our 3rd trip to Roundhouse Marsh Fritton. Excellent conditions and C 82 sp.  Hundreds of Caddis flies out numbered the moths. Best of the macros, Archer’s Dart, Feathered Gothic, Twin-spotted Wainscot and a couple of worn Crescent. The only migrants 2 Silver Y. The highlights were amongst the micros and not realised until later, thanks to Brian who has the patience to do the id’s at home: Cydia coniferana, Grapholita janthiniana, Cryptoblabes bistriga, Acleris emargana were amongst the 20 or so he took home. We also had gigantella on the night which has had a very long season this year. Noting Neil’s comments on Dark Arches, they still remain amongst the catch in  low single figures at home, and we had two Saturday. Surprises were not one Red Underwing despite all the Poplar and using Sugar on 3 trees, and no Large Wainscot.

For the night of 2nd September I had great expectations. Surely, at last, something good must turn up ! I explained to  Jane that I couldn’t miss putting out the moth traps this night due to the migrant prospects looking so good. Having checked the traps around 5.15 am, I was disappointed. Only 46 species to the two traps, the highlights, 3 Silver Y.
At 9.30 I went to clear away the traps. At the 2nd trap, the same spot where I had the Red-headed Chestnut last October, I spotted the Ant-lion fluttering in the grass attempting take-off. I grabbed hold of it and caged it in my hand for 100 metres to where I could safely pot it, as I hadn’t taken a pot with me on this occasion for collecting any last minute finds.
I would put the Ant-lion amongst my top three Insect records to date. I was able to instantly identify it thanks to seeing one on a Suffolk moth group night in Dunwich 3 or 4 years ago. My specimen was released around 7.30 pm on 3 September.

Keith

OK … strictly speaking … its not a Suffolk moth but after a nervous wait one of the Small Marbled larvae collected from Dorset in mid August finally emerged today to bring a little ray of sunshine in what has been an otherwise less than exciting spell for local mothing. In the garden trap the only recent moth of note has been an Old Lady which I caught back on 24 Aug.

A good number of moths in the 3 traps run last night, 92sp in total, some interesting stuff seen. Of note here were L-Album wainscot, Square-spotted clay (2), Heath rustic (first for year), Six-striped rustic, Silver Y (1), P.xylostella (1) and Trifurcula squamatella (2).

As per usual recently, a lot of wasps and quite a few Hornets trapped as well, making the examination of the catch a careful operation!

Saw a Hummingbird hawk in my garden for 10 minutes at 4.30p.m today, nectaring on Verbena and Buddleia, brightening up an otherwise dull day!

Click to view video of Hummingbird hawk at IGC