Suffolk Moths Blog

Finally some moths to perk up what has been a long, dire, period. Although conditions still not ideal. Some nights I have switched off the traps early like on the 4th when I caught a Satellite. On the 5th 46 species including podana, White-spotted Pug and Knot-grass. But the real flurry came on the10th with 48 species including; Dark Arches( not seen for ages), D. forficella, Shore Wainscot, Sallow, Brindled Green, Brown-spotted Pinion, Lunar Under-wing, Black Rustic and Yellow-line Quaker. Back on August 27th 2 Red Under-wings the highlights, these are the only nights trapped at home during this poor spell since my last blog.

Despite running my trap quite a bit recently it has all been somewhat disappointing, with the number of species recorded seemingly reducing at an ever increasing rate – which I attribute to both a lack of tree cover and the reduced pulling power of my 11w actinic. The odd clear night and new moon hasn’t helped either. The only highlights so far have been singles of Bulrush Wainscot, Red Underwing, Rusty-dot Pearl and Rush Veneer. The latter, and the chance sighting of a Clouded Yellow on the outskirts of the village yesterday, gave just the smallest of hints that the odd migrant is still reach these parts but, alas, the much hoped for convolvuli still eludes me.

Arriving at my traps this morning before work – well, still night actually, the down-side to starting at 6a.m – running around the work-shed woodland things looked promising with a number of moths on the outside. A nice Canary-shouldered thorn caught me eye on top of the trap, oh why couldn’t it have been a Dusky, I thought to myself. A moth I’ve never recorded at the site in the 20 years I’ve been trapping here. But, hang on, the torch beam picked up another thorn resting in the grass close by. I couldn’t believe it, it was a Dusky! A common moth to a lot of people and I’ve seen it around the county many times but I was very pleased to see it here! My second new macro of the year following on from the Blossom underwing trapped way back in March.
A good count of species in the traps with 61 recorded. 7 Hedge rustic and 4 Feathered gothic of interest in the macros. Stenolechia gemmella, Acrocercops brongniardella of note in the micros. Continuing the theme on unusual second brood moths, Riband wave, Single-dotted wave, Archips podana, Platytes cerussella, Flame and Carcina quercana noted. Not plagued by underwings here unlike the coastal trappers, only 40 Large yellows noted and singles of the others. No migrants made it this far inland either. Still none of the colourful autumnal species, I see from the web that Orange sallow, Lunar underwing, Black rustic and Yellow-line quaker have been seen already. Maybe one of the more colourful species will make an appearance tonight.

Neil

The catch was more promising with interest and migrants. 90 species with run of the mill migrants; Dark Sword-grass, Rush Veneer Udea ferrugalis, Plutella xylostella and Silver Y.  A Red Admiral in the trap too. Also picked up my third Tuta absoluta of the year, the first Large Wainscot, a Webb’s and the first for my site of a Matthew’s Wainscot. Interesting further second/third broods, or are they just late emergers having been held back by a poor August? In good condition they were Bordered Beauty, Ruby Tiger, Star-wort and Notocelia uddmanniana. Lots of Underwings threatening to become a problem again. Dissection confirmed a Bryotropha umbrosella taken on 2nd September. This was not of the typical form with dark wings and prominent costal and tornal spots but did posses the dark discal spots of paler forms. A better feel on the weather for the next week or two.

Keith & I had our traps out yesterday evening along the tracks near Ashby church which sits in solitude surrounded by fields, hedgerows and woodland. We were praying for a few nice fresh autumn species and possibly some nice migrants, but our prayers were not answered. All we had was one Centre-barred Sallow a Silver Y and a couple of Diamond-backs!
Our evening continued the theme that Neil highlighted on 29th August, mostly second generation species including Scorched Carpet, Flame, Barred Red and Crambus perlella – although the last 2 might have been a stragglers from the summer generation.
Just 54 species recorded (at least 30 being second brood) on an evening that had promised much, had the good cloud cover not cleared just before dusk, leaving us with a bright half-moon and falling temperatures along with its ensuing dampness. We felt that another evening at this promising site with its abundant mixture of plants, shrubs & trees, could produce much better results.
Best moth of the session was the micro – Cochylidia implictana, which was a new one for both of us.

Brian

Brian and I trapped at Wicker Well Somerleyton on an arable field margin with 7 traps on the 28th. The evening started off well with warm conditions that cleared unexpectedly, dropping temps off to near 10c. I expected to be shutting down a trap or too, especially along the Woodland margin but surprisingly only 1 Hornet came to light. 70 species recorded including my best count of Maple Prominent with 3. Single Peach Blossom seen along with Lesser-spotted Pinion, Feathered Gothic, Scorched Carpet, Vapourer, Gold-spot, Riband Wave. Yellow Shell this year particularly numerous up this way, a species I often encounter by day and relatively seldom at light has been common at light throughout the majority of this season, Best micro A. emargana with a late E. quadrimaculana also seen. Autumn species not showing yet.

I had concerns over my generator as it was not running correctly and wouldn’t run without a little choke but it was reliable throughout. A fuel issue due to needing the choke, I decided to ditch the petrol which I bought two months ago, the following day. Now running perfectly on fresh fuel the old fuel still perfectly good for the lawnmower. These small engines really fussy with the fuel quality, which had deteriorated quickly.

With the improvement in night time temperatures in the latter part of this week, moth numbers have increased in the traps (although the species count is still around the same as previously).
Was pleased to find a Crocidosema plebejana in the traps on the 27th, this being a new site record (was a bit worn unfortunately). This brings the IGC lepidoptera total up to 1192sp, so I still need 8 more to get to 1200, might be difficult to reach this year now as summer is at an end.
What was also of note this week has been what I would class as second brood individuals of some of the summer moths appearing. I have been expecting this after the early start to this year’s season and it now seems to be starting. Here is a list of what has turned up, be interesting to hear if any other recorders have picked up on this trend.

Peach blossom
Platytes cerussella
Phycita roborella
Pandemis cerasana
Epinotia signatana

Other things of note the last few days have included: Old lady (I have also recorded this species like others but not at light, found one at rest during the day), Hedge rustic (first ones for the year), Yellow belle, Pempelia genistella, Stenolechia gemmella. My traps unlike the coastal recorders have been pretty much devoid of immigrant species.

Neil

Tony Fox and I paid our first visit to the abundant ivy flowers in Stutton on the 20th August. Since then we have been out on a further three occasions. Last year we didn’t start until the 12th September. This early start has enabled us to pick up some late-summer species and to date we have recorded 26 species.

I had limited mobility last year, but with my shiny new hip now bedded in, the village is my oyster and we don’t have enough time in an evening to get around to all the good spots. We target one area for about 90 minutes-2 hours of searching shortly after dusk. Neil – if you fancy bringing a squad down this way one evening you would be most welcome.

Highlights so far have been Lunar Yellow Underwing (2 on 23rd), Plain Pug (23rd) and the first Dark Sword-Grass (2 on 28th).

Last year we recorded 53 species on ivy (flybys don’t count in my book) and weather permitting we are on target to pass that this year.

The migrant bonanza continues with an Orache Moth at Bawdsey Hall last night (28 August). This is a ‘first’ for the Bawdsey Peninsula and the first Suffolk record since 2002.

The supporting cast has consisted of Diamond-back Moths, Rush Veneers, Rusty-dot Pearls, lovely dark continental Latticed Heaths, Dark Sword-grass and Silver Ys.

Resident species have included three Old Lady this week and several Red Underwings. I have also seen two examples of the White-streak Grass Veneer (Agriphila latistria).

Moth numbers have been rising at Bawdsey in recent nights. I was lucky enough to catch a Golden Twin-spot on the night of 26 August amongst a good catch of commoner immigrants. This is the nineteenth chalcites caught at Bawdsey although the first since 2008.

Two Old Lady and a single Red Underwing were caught last night 27 August.

A Bordered Straw was another noteworthy capture on Sunday 24 August.