Suffolk Moths Blog

Finally a slightly warmer night to make trapping worthwhile here at IGC. Numbers of moths slowly improving with around 40sp in 2 traps. Nothing really special seen – first Pine, Poplar and Eyed hawks appearing, Coronet (used to be a rare moth in Suffolk but seemingly on the increase now) and Aspilapterix tringipennella. The one trap running close to lots of Oak trees had very few moths in, but was full of Cockchafers. These pesky beetles stop moths going into the trap I’m sure. Any moths that do get in are then trashed by the constant bumbling around of the beetles. Don’t think there is any way I can keep them out without stopping moths going in too. I reckon I caught at least 300 of them last night – I normally do get quite a few of them but this kind of number is exceptional!

Neil

From all our years of trapping in this part of NE Suffolk we have never recorded Seraphim, in fact it has proved as elusive as its heavenly namesake! We have several good stands of Aspen & Black Poplar in the area especially on the Somerleyton Estate but one record for Herringfleet Hills (1987) is all that exists. So yesterday evening with Keith we set up one of our 9 lights as close as we could get to a substantial plantation of Aspens at Blocka Carr on the estate near Fritton Lake, more in hope than full of confidence. On the final check of this trap – there was one, inside on an egg tray.
The evening proved to be the best so far this year and the thick cloud and good temperature no doubt contributed to this. 88 species recorded and around 250 moths came to the traps. For me this included 28 firsts for the year and similar for Keith including Seraphim which is a new species for him.
The Seraphim was main highlight of the evening but other good ones included Birch Mocha, White-spotted Pug, Grey Birch, Alder Kitten, Flame Wainscot, Light Brocade & Pale Pinion and a good number of micros including 9 firsts for the year.
With so many moths to check it proved to be a late session with a 2.15am arrival home but it was worth it to at last see the traps reasonably full of moths.
Now back to cold nights for most of this week

Brian.

Surveying the southern shore and woods of Fritton Lake recently I discovered around a quarter mile stretch of Male Fern. Does anyone know of any specific species that might be targeted and if so at what time of year?
Thanks, Keith

Having been away on holiday for 8 days, moth traps here at IGC hadn’t been run since the 3rd May so with reasonable conditions forecast I ran lights on both the 15th and 16th. Both attempts brought in a good moth for this site. On the 15th, I caught a pristine Toadflax brocade, this my first site record and bringing the IGC lepidoptera list up to 1199. On 16th, fewer moths caught but did include a Mullein moth, my first light-trapped adult of this species following on from my first light trap record of Emperor last month. Other species seen were pretty much expected for the time of year, with Orange footman, Great prominent, Treble lines, Seraphim and White ermine about in small numbers. Still singles of Frosted green and Pine beauty caught also. Micros very thin on the ground with only Dichrorampha acuminatana of note (very few records here).

Neil

Toadflax brocade

Mullein moth

Dichrorampha acuminatana

Last night I trapped this site in Somerleyton, later joined by Brian with two of his traps who has done  very well to manage to do a succession of moth nights. Conditions were excellent with the temperature staying above 13c. For the time of year this was the first visit at the site in ideal conditions so hopes were high for a good result. Slow to start, when Brian arrived he spoke of moths on the wing on the way over and I hadn’t seen a single moth at this time. Things did get moving though and the species count was still growing at 1am.

58 species recorded. Reed Dagger, Maple Prominent, White Pinion-spotted, Poplar Hawk-moth, Clouded Bordered Brindle, May High-flyer, Pale Oak-beauty, Rivulet, Waved Umber, Chinese Character, V-pug, Angle Shades, Scorched Carpet among them. Still some Common Quaker and Hebrew Character about as well as a Powdered Quaker. I was stunned with the freshness of the 3 Red-green Carpet I saw which were all pristine and made it hard to believe that they are single brooded, especially when specimens seen in November at Herringfleet Hills had lost most of their colouring. Pammene Argyrana recorded nearby last year with Swammerdamia caesiella, A velocella and Caloptilia alchimiella (very pretty) among the micros.

Also good to hear the Hobbies back at their nest site for yet another year. Left the site at 1.30 am.

Don’t know what happened but I was struggling with inserting an image. If I still can’t do it you won’t get one. Enough of my problems, back to the moths. Yes in common with Brian and I suspect everyone else it is a relief to see the diversity and numbers up. Hawk-moths about and White Ermine. Really just a good selection of moth species that can be expected to be around at this time of year. Some hangers on; Early Grey, Hebrew Character, Clouded Drab and Powdered Quaker otherwise progress and the weather looks warmer for the next few days. I am currently getting total species numbers in the thirties for two traps. Last night I took two MVs up to Snape so my front garden trap got replaced by my twin actinic and the remaining MV at the rear. The actinic turned up my best catch of the year so far, a Pine Cone Tortrix, Gravitarmata margarotana. Really excited when I spotted it! Could be a pest here in pine forests if it establishes and this one was a female.

Success!

I ran the lights in two separate woodland sites over the weekend and it was quite satisfying to see how many species have emerged for the first time this year. 53 different species were recorded over the visits, 27 of which were year firsts. These included several micros such as Syndemis musculana, Monopis weaverella, Esperia suphurella, Nematopogon swammerdamella, Elachista rufocinerea (several netted), Incurvaria masculella & Celypha lacunana. The macros were Green Carpet, Dwarf Pug, Mottled Pug, Common Pug, Chinese Character, Spruce Carpet, Brimstone Moth, Oak Hook-tip, Least Black Arches, Angle Shades, Scallop Hook-tip, Brown Silver-line, Peacock Moth, Orange Footman, Common White Wave, Scorched Carpet, Clouded Border, Willow Beauty, Chocolate-tip & Bright-line Brown-eye. So at last a nice variety of shapes and colours but still with a few orthosias and Brindled Pugs to tone it down. A couple of mild evenings made all the difference too.

Brian