Suffolk Moths Blog

Three traps including the actinic deployed at home last night. 20 species in total with Small Quaker out numbered by 2 to 1 by Common Quaker which is about average here. 12 Hebrew Character counted. Good numbers of Early Grey too! Others included Twin-spotted Quaker which I only ever see in low single figures. Best moth was Pale Pinion, the third I’ve seen at home, always in the Spring. Also a great diving beetle female at one of the traps. I had an Angle Shades indoors on the 20th and finally I was pleasantly surprised to see an Orange-tip Butterfly at Wicker Well, Somerleyton yesterday. My first record for the species in March.

I trapped for 2 hours (8.30-10.30) on the nearby Lound Lakes SWT reserve and it proved to be a very busy 2 hours with ideal conditions, thick cloud, no wind, 10 deg.                       Small Quaker at last appearing in large numbers with over 50 counted and similar numbers of D. flagella. Common Quaker the most abundant of the evening, just a few short of 100 counted with Clouded Drab, Engrailed and Hebrew Character just about reaching double figures. New ones for the year were Epiphyas postvittana, Double-striped Pug, Purple Thorn, Powdered Quaker and a new moth for me Ypsolopha mucronella. It is said of this moth that it overwinters in haystacks. The warden on the site has built several small haystacks, one of which was near one of the traps, to encourage grass snakes to overwinter in them. He will be quite interested to learn that a scarce moth is probably using them for the same purpose!                                                                                                     So an interesting evenings trapping with 25 species recorded and about 260 moths counted, best night so far this year.

Brian

I chose the night of March 29 for my first moth-trap of the year in my garden here at Martlesham Heath and it produced a rather surprising first site record – a Nut-tree Tussock. What a start!

First time I have trapped since the 17th and a respectable tally for the garden. It seems that Small Quaker haven’t really taken off this year, unless I am being a impatient. I have continued to use the 30w actinic loaned to me after I trod on my 15w. Totals were – Clouded Drab 10, Common Quaker 15, Small Quaker 7, Hebrew Character 10, Early Grey 5, Twin-spotted Quaker 2, March Moth 2 and singles of Oak Beauty and Brindled Pug (the only new moth of the year).

Wonder if these easterlies will blow some Blossom Underwings across?

I found a fresh Aphomia sociella (Bee Moth) on the fence outside my front door this morning. Not something I’d really be expecting for at least another 6 weeks or so.

With little confidence of seeing much, I set a couple of actinic traps up this evening on the side of the wood sheltered from the NE breeze. The air was calm here and the digital thermometer showed just 5.5 deg. But immediately I switched the lamps on, there was a steady flow of moths with several Engrailed the first to arrive. In 2 hours, 7 pm to 9 pm, about 70 moths of 12 species were recorded including my first Red Chestnuts of the year. Clouded Drab seems to be at its peak at the moment with 25 counted.
So even a chilly evening can sometimes produce results.

Brian

Now the Sallows are in full bloom here at IGC I’ve been checking them quite regularly for Adela cuprella moths, but no sign as yet. Has this moth sunk back into obscurity as it has been known to do in the past? Wasn’t a complete waste of time checking the bushes this afternoon as there was an Orange underwing taking in nectar on one plant, way too high for a photo but a nice view through binoculars. Also saw another one earlier on in the day as well, does seem to be a good year for me for sightings of this moth. Probably to do with the sunshine we have been getting.
No trapping has been undertaken here since the 19th due to the cooler conditions.

Neil

Thanks to Mark and to Neil for the info about how and where to see light orange underwing at Wolves Wood. Went there this morning, arriving just as the cloud came over and the wind got up. However, in the couple of hours I was there I saw 14 light orange underwings, mostly along the track beside the cut coppice (2 were on the west side of the wood). Some flying, some on the muddy leaves. Had a really close view, which I hadn’t expected. So thanks again, Mark and Neil.

I was Impressed by Wolves Wood – quality habitat. Not very much else about. There were several wings of moths floating in the drains, mainly engrailed and a satellite. Chiffchaffs singing, and a woodcock disturbed from the shadows.

Back at home in the north of the county, my garden trap has produced a couple more lead-coloured drab, making it my best year for this species.

Tony H.

Had the twin 30w trap and a 125w MV running last night in the garden. Pleased to find them both full of moths this morning, certainly my highest catch of the year so far. 13sp, 232 moths. Most of the catch Common quaker, with 156 caught. This equals my highest ever total in one night, pity I couldn’t find just one more! Small quaker numbers picked up to 44, but this is still low for this site. All other species in single figures, mostly the usual suspects but new for the year included a Water carpet and 4 Early grey.
Did also trap the previous night up in the woods with 2 MV’s, 15sp but much lower numbers of moths. Both Small and Common quaker in low numbers with 18 of each caught. Was this down to the bright moon perhaps? New for year sightings that night included Brindled pug, Agonopterix umbellana and A. alstromeriana.

Neil

I’ve just been checking a couple of moths I boxed last night. One of them proved to be a lead-coloured drab. I was wondered if anyone else had seen any this year (my last one was in 2011) and looked up the moth blog, only to find there was a new blog in from Jon Clifton along the same lines. An eery coincidence..

Nothing very unusual otherwise, except for the sudden appearance of early thorn (10), shoulder striped(11) and red chestnut.

Good numbers of orange underwing at Westleton on Sunday. I have yet to see light orange underwing and don’t know the right spot in Wolves Wood! Brimstone and comma at Halesworth – and good numbers of small tortoiseshell and peacock.

I’ve also seen several of the busy solitary bee Anthophora plumipes  around the garden. It’s changed its scientific name twice in the last few years, and its common name at least once (it used to be the hairy-legged mining bee but is now the hairy-footed flower bee!). But it is still an engaging creature, like a very active and rather small bumble.

Tony H.