Suffolk Moths Blog

It was nice to see a good selection of moths in the trap this morning, the highlight being the second garden record of Small Ranunculus. I also recorded Cinnabar and Sandy Carpet – the fourth and fifth garden records respectively. Others species of interest included Scorched Wing, Buttoned Snout, Lychnis and Agapeta hamana. Still haven’t seen any hawkmoths here yet, and little in the way of pyrals.

Any views please on the identification of this tortrix which I believe is Spilonota laricana.

89 species recorded at this vast site. An area I haven’t trapped before. The moth shown was taken in a trap by Sitka Spruce. There is Larch close by. Other moths included Pseudoswammerdamia combinella and my first Pine Hawk-moth of the season.

Keith

I have just got back from a couple of weeks in France. What a difference a fortnight makes! Before I went away there were rather thin pickings but now the trap is nearly full in the mornings. The catch has been dominated by Treble Lines but it was good last night (31st) to record some local specialities such as Dark Brocade, Cream-bordered Green Pea, Orange Footman and Shoulder-striped Wainscot. Best moth was Brindled White-spot: a new site record. Hawkmoths seem a little on the late side with only Poplar Hawkmoth so far.

Mark

Trapped in the garden last night, more in hope than expectation and was pleased to find a single Small Ranunculus amongst the slim pickings.

It has been hard work these last few mornings with the rain and getting a thorough soaking!  However, this morning was dry and a Cypress Carpet was a most welcome capture – this representing macro number 468 for the Bawdsey list and a species which I was anticipating before too long.  It’s spread into the county has been slow (compared to other recent colonists like Pale Pinion and Dotted Chestnut).

Also in the traps this morning was the first Flame Wainscot of the year.

Having watched the weather forecast showing a move to rain and northerly winds I decided to trap on 25th. Routine traps in my garden and wandered out to the Rendlesham Forest again where I provided a feast for the midges! Catches were not as good as might have been hoped for with 72 species at Rendlesham only two above that at home, though differing considerably. Very few Treble lines in the forest. Conifer feeders were Grey Pine Carpet, Spruce Carpet, Barred Red, Rhyacionia pinivorana and Cedestis subfasciella. No Pine Beauty though nor Pine Hawk-moth that I have taken at home this year. Common moths included Orange Footman, Buff-tip, Cream-spot Tiger, Brown Silver-line, Scalloped Hazel, Scorched Wing, Scoparia ambigualis, Carpatolechia proximella and Elachista canapennella. Interested to find the Coronet as a regular here and Tangham. Please to trap a Phyllonorycter trifasciella (the first I have seen) along with Argyresthia conjugella despite not having noticed the food plant in the vicinity. Also of interest were a Shoulder Striped Wainscot, a Clouded Bordered Brindle, a couple of Mompha raschkiella, several Monopis laevigella and four Coleophora species: striatipennella, albicosta, caespititiella and alticolella.

Catches in my garden were relatively straight forward but did get my first Brachmia inornatella for my site, a dark (not really melanic) Pale Oak Beauty and the first Lunar Yellow Underwing of the year.