I was having a walk at Hemley this afternoon and looking at some of the eaten leaves for larvae and managed to come across this Emmelina monodactyla larva. Not a larva I’ve encountered before. Now I’ve just to track down Pterophorus pentadactyla a bit later in the year.
Tony
I’ve run light traps a few more times since my last posting and here is the news of interest.
Firstly, the common tortrix moths normally seen in their hundreds here have just not got going yet, perhaps apart from Archips xylosteana. A reflection on the poor year I presume. Certainly this year I didn’t notice the ‘rain’ of caterpillar droppings coming from the Oaks that I normally see.
Notables on the 23rd included: Incurvaria oehlmanniella, Blotched emerald (4, having a good year here), Lobster (2), Bactra furfurana, Festoon, Rosy footman (first for year) and Maple prominent. 11 Silver Y were noted at dusk in the garden, none the previous night suggesting an immigration.
24th, traps at home had the following: Festoon (2), Satin wave, Phtheochroa rugosana, Dark sword grass (first for year), Poplar lutestring, Epinotia abbreviana, Coleophora albitarsella and Rhyacionia buoliana. Best moth was found lurking near the bottom of the trap, an Anania fuscalis, a site first and possibly only the second Suffolk record going by the Suffolk moths web site. This must have wandered in some way as there is no Yellow rattle, the foodplant, nearby as far as I know.
On the 25th a small tortrix moth was potted up after being discovered in my greenhouse. This turned out to be Grapholita tenebrosana, another new site record.
A wander around my small wildflower meadow on the 26th resulted in the discovery of a Nemophora fasciella female found feeding on an Oxeye daisy flower. This spectacular micro I’m usually lucky enough to see one of every year around my garden. I do leave plenty of Black horehound for them.
Finally, the 27th was a quieter night for the traps but I did find a male Four-spotted footman at rest on the outside of the trap I had running using a new 20w WEM bulb, not a bad start for it!
Neil
Phtheochroa rugosana
Grapholita tenebrosana
Anania fuscalis
With heavy rain falling before the meeting and during the drive to Orford Quay to meet the boat to Orfordness, hopes were not high for this night. However, the rain was due to clear which it promptly did and it didn’t feel too bad once on the ness. Only a light breeze, so no problems with the wind on this quite open site.
8 traps were put out, 2 by Lab 1 out on the shingle, 3 by the Bailey bridge covering the grassland and saltmarsh and the other 3 plugged into the electrics of the various buildings as per usual. There was also the Orfordness static trap on as well.
An early 4.30am start due to the short night. Those who hadn’t got up were soon awakened by the alarm of the Landrover that went off as we tried to start it up to drive to the traps! Probably woke most of Orford up as well I should think! Thick coats were the order of the day as it felt pretty chilly.
All traps were pretty quiet in the morning, as expected really given the way the year is running and the conditions. Still, you don’t know unless you try. Even though there weren’t many moths, there was still some interest. Moths of note included: Agdistis bennetii (seen at dusk, just the one), Cream-spot tiger, Tawny shears (a few, only on the shingle), Star wort (a good number), Monochroa palustrellus, Dotted fan-foot, Scrobipalpa nitentella and acuminatella (on the saltmarsh, confirmed by Raymond by dissection) and Rosy wave. Neither of the 2 target moths seen but not surprised really. However, a Coleophora moth taken from Raymond’s shingle traps has turned out to be a good record – Coleophora nutantella. It feeds on the seed pods of the Sea campion and again was confirmed by dissection.
While sorting the Orfordness static trap, 2 large blue beetle were discovered close by so as there weren’t many moths to sort I took one to try and id. Turned out to be the Blue helops beetle (Helops caerulens). Quite a scarce species, found around shoreline driftwood.
As we didn’t do too well on this meeting there are plans to return again later on in the year probably in early September so watch this blog for more details on that.
Neil
Star wort
Blue helops beetle
Significant Plutella xylostella damage to my Kohl Rabi in the garden. I have had similar damage a winter or two ago but this is early in the season and the possible population explosion is worrying.
This is the dorsal view that I mentioned Stuart.
Paul
Eana osseana
I’ve been struggling to put a name to these two that I caught in my garden trap in Ipswich last night, so I was hoping someone with a bit more knowledge might be able to help me out. Am I correct in thinking the gelichid is Pexicopia malvella?
Sorry about the quality, but I have retained the moths and could attempt better photos if required.
Thanks in advance
Stuart
Last night I ran my traps at home and it was very worthwhile. In fact, suddenly, the season seems to be where it should for a typical year. The 4 traps scattered in varied habitats produced a very good mix of mostly regular moths for the site. Traps were packed away with the first drops of rain at 03.30. Of the 111 species some of the best for me were; Water Ermine 5, Cream bordered green-pea, Maple Prominent, Small Elephant Hawk- moth, Figure of Eighty. There were 4 Silver Y well distributed, along with 130 Diamond-back moth. Among the 41 species of micros S. gigantella, E pallidata B. inornatella. Best moths were Cochylis nana and Phalonida manniana which I may have to keep for verification. To me the latter has much more bold, dark, marking than its new confusion species but both species food plants are established here.
My highest count of the year last night, despite (or because of) the rain.2 traps at home 115sp noted with a few species of interest: Red-necked footman, Festoon (at least 5), Dogs tooth (a wanderer from the coast), Morophaga choragella, Shaded pug, Epermenia falcifomis, Poplar lutestring, Epinotia abbreviana and at least 10 Monochroa lucidella. First Green silver lines and Scallop shell for the year also. Good to find traps full of moths for once. Hope it continues now, been a long wait this year.
Neil
Tuesday evening Keith accompanied me on a visit to one of my sites alongside the River Waveney. With clearing skies and a large moon appearing soon after dark we feared it would be another evening in the pattern of most nights so far this year with poor results. This proved true on the first round of inspecting the eight traps with not much activity and just 2 hawk-moths on a night when we expected many, the best moths being a Four-dotted Footman, Alder Kitten and a quite early for the site Shaded Fanfoot. But about 12 midnight the temperature lifted by about 2 degrees and the moths began arriving in good numbers. At the final check I counted over 100 Clouded Border in the 2 traps in the Carr wood, the sheet trap was adorned with 10 Eyed, 5 Poplar, 4 Elephant and 1 Small Elephant Hawk-moths crawling or flying around it and the final count was 109 species. Some of the other highlights were Spinach, Double Dart, several Ghost Moth (male & female), Birds Wing (a very infrequent moth in this area), 3 Alder Kitten and lots of Beautiful Hook-tip a moth that continues to increase in numbers every year. Among the good number s of micros was Olindia schumacherana, Monochroa palustrellus and a couple of male Adela croesella with their absurdly long antennae (Keith had to find a large pot to accommodate the whiskers).
It turned out to be our best night of the year so far which resulted in arrival home as the dawn sky reddened and the first Blackbird was singing. It proved that when the conditions are right, the moths are there.
Brian
Just a reminder that it is the Orfordness field meeting this Saturday night (overnight stay on reserve). Places are limited, I know of 4 people who are coming so far so there is still space for a few more. Meet at Orford quay at 8pm for dropping off and loading equipment onto the boat for transport over to the reserve.
Get in touch with me at neil_sherman@fsmail.net if you would like to come along.
Neil
