Suffolk Moths Blog

I’ve spent a bit of time looking at buckthorn over the last few days.  It seems that now is the right time to be looking for Dark Umber and Brown Scallop larvae, as I’ve found quite a few of them.

Dark Umber larvae appear to prefer sitting out on the tips of shoots, the dark streak at their rear matching the dark bud cases of the foodplant. Brown Scallop larvae spin leaves together, often forming pods, and hide up inside of these. They appear to be grazing the leaves on the inside of the pod, which then shrivels up. They probably make quite a few of these pods as I found plenty of vacated ones.

I’ll add some photos when I get a chance.

First seen dates by day from the poly-tunnels are 20 April Pyrausta aurata and Cataclysta lemnata 01 May. Moth numbers very low in the few nights I have trapped so far. First Poplar Hawk on 25 April. Least Black Arches on 29 April. Keith

Hello Everyone

A few more spring species of interest last night here at IGC – Lesser swallow prominent (first for year), A. autumnitella, Caloptilia syringella and Pebble hook-tip (again first for 2011).

The warm dry weather looks set to continue for a few more days yet, so more species should start appearing. I wouldn’t mind a bit of rain however, my garden needs it!

Neil

Not much in the garden trap last night, but did get first year records of Great prominent, Chocolate tip and Shuttle-shaped dart.

Neil

Had Semioscopis steinkellneriana – new for the garden on Friday.

Steve

Hello Everyone

Not too many moths in my trap in the garden here at IGC on the night of the 15th, but some were of interest including a few micros. Only notables listed below:

Least black arches – 1 First for year
Pale pinion – 1
Purple thorn – 1
Elachista rufocinerea - 5
Elachista apicipunctella – 1
Schreckensteinia festaliella – 1

Tony and myself also had a search along a long stretch of Blackthorn hedge at Lavenham on Friday night, hoping for Sloe carpet. We didn’t find any, although we did see a few other species flying round the hedge, nothing too exciting, best probably S. steinkellneriana.

Neil

Hello every one, have been very busy but have trapped twice this season so far, 21 March with one mv, nothing much to report, 14 April with two MV a haul of 10 moths, 5 species, two of which new for me the best being Semioscopsis steinkellneriana, new for my 10k sq I believe although Brian Jones ( who does very,very well out and about with his actinic) took one a couple of weeks ago at nearby Lound. Also had a Frosted Green, not shown on the maps in my sq. either. I’m looking forward to trapping some of the warm nights expected shortly.

Hi All … Not a great deal in the trap last night numbers wise (first Pebble Prom and Powdered Quaker of the year) but he best moth was actually sitting outside the trap, close to a spiders web. On checking the books it appears to be Zelleria hepariella – not only a new species for the garden but a new species for me!!

I managed to record Adela cuprella at 3 more locations today:
Bromeswell green SWT reserve (40+), Daisy’s walk, Rendlesham (20+ round sallows in river valley) and Staverton lakes (10+). It must be at other sites where the Sallow is still in flower, look on sunny days around the tops of the trees for small blackish triangular moths fluttering in clouds. Binoculars are essential as they always seem to be very high up, probably why they have been missed before!

Good luck

Neil

A single Plutella xylostella trapped last night, with 16 other species in 2 125w MV Robinson traps. Other moths of slight interest were first year records of Frosted green (20), Lunar marbled brown (7) and an Oak-tree pug.

2 Water carpet were also seen last night nectaring on Sallow blossom, and 4 caterpillars (final instar) of Lunar yellow underwing were located out on an area of grass heath with very little searching effort.

Adela cuprella is also now on the wing, saw 15 yesterday flying high over Sallows here.

Happy trapping!

Neil