This is the first year since I got back to mothing when migrants have been a significant feature though it can sometimes be difficult when local species become abundant to decide if they are also immigrant boosted. A point in case is Cnephasia pumicana and C. longana which I am convinced are significantly immigrant boosted at the same time as the underwing invasion that occurs here on the coast. However; my last post was just before a spell of poor weather in the latter part of July. The weather improved though with a full moon and clear skies initially. I have been running my traps at home in Hollesley fairly regularly since 31st July and though also busy in the house managed to get out to Snape on 8th where I thought I saw the potential for some salt-marsh species to drift onto the site I trap. However I have more of these at home that in the Snape catch. Catches have given species counts between 100 and 200 and the 8th was a landmark in that it was the first catch for a very long time without a Clouded Silver. Mostly fairly regular species for my site. Yponomeuta plumbella has been common recently with normally only an occasional one. Not seen any Monopis monachella this year and Buff Footman has been in short supply. Had a few additions to the site list: a beautiful Clouded Magpie on 5th and a Garden Dart on 8th plus some of the migrant species.
Migrants have featured the Small Mottled Willow with around 6 on average for every catch, a few Bordered Straw, Plutella xylostella, Udea ferrugalis, Silver Y and Nomophila noctuella though the latter reached 23 on 9th and a Gem on 8th. More exiting migrants have been a couple of Four-spotted Footman 4th and 5th and the Dotted Footman 4th and at Snape on 8th. I am a little suspicious that the Dotted Footman could be resident at some of our coastal wetlands. Similarly Oncocera semirubella, Ostrinia nubilalis and Sitochroa palealis that have been turning up may also be resident at present. Amongst all of these an extra special moth turned up on 2nd August. It was potted as ‘rather like but not Euzophera pinguis‘. It took me a while to identify the moth and dissection was carried out that placed it as a Sciota species. Images on Lepiforum and the Dissection web sites identified it as Sciota rhenella, a first for this part of the UK I believe. It was a female without eggs so I am sneakily hoping it may have laid on my Aspen prior to capture. It would be wonderful for them to turn up next year!
