Suffolk Moths Blog

Coastal fog has hampered trapping efforts on some recent nights but migrants have been arriving.  Following on from last week’s Vestal; a single Palpita vitrealis graced one of my traps on the night of 22 September and was the second recorded here this year.  Last night an exquisite dark specimen of the Pearly Underwing arrived complete with silvery crest.  Accompanying it were six Dark Sword-grass and seven Silver Y.  Southeasterlies and Easterlies are forecast for the rest of this week so more migrants are likely.

Amongst the resident species, the past week has produced a new macro for Bawdsey – The Butterbur!  Caught on the night of 20 September - it is only the second one I have seen since my first ten years ago at Rendham.   The Bawdsey macro list is now 463 species.

Also of note has been two Feathered Brindle on the night of 22 September were new for Bawdsey Hall; although previously regular at the Manor.  New ‘on the wing’ this week have been Beaded Chestnut and Feathered Thorn.  A pristine Barred Red was trapped on the 23 September.   I have also seen higher than average numbers of Pinion-streaked Snout this year.

On the subject of snouts, I have also been very fortunate to record two Buttoned Snouts on my lit windows at Hollesley in the past ten days.  I sometimes leave the curtains open and see what moths are attracted in.  On both occasions I have had to lean out of the window to secure the moth!  I have never recorded this species at Bawdsey Hall and it is certainly shy of light.  I do have two spring records at light at Bawdsey Manor though.

Trap on last night for first time in ten days. Generally as expected.. Dominants were lunar underwing, large yellow underwing and setaceous hebrew character (far fewer square-spot rustic). Firsts for the autumn were dusky lemon sallow, large ranunculus, brindled green and black rustic. No migrants at all.

Nothing among my ivy last night except a lesser whitethroat.

The recent warmer conditions have prompted me to dust off the traps again after they were put away while we had the cold, wet and windy weather. Species seen still pretty much the same as earlier in the moth, with the common moths like Square-spot rustic and Large yellow underwing decreasing in number. Proper autumnal species still only in very small numbers so far. Traps run on the 19th and 21st produced: Orange sallow (3 on 19th first for year), Brindled green (first for year on 21st), L-Album wainscot (3 on 21st). Lunar underwing just starting here with single figures noted both nights. A single Webb’s wainscot noted on both nights (different individuals). Most unusual sighting was a fully grown Silver Y larva on the sheet next to one of the traps on the 21st. No migrants recorded.

Neil

After a dismal last ten days of mothing at the Hall; things are showing signs of picking up now.  The cold clear nights with virtually full moon, rain and wind have been largely hopeless with no count higher than 46 species throughout this period.

Despite these uninspiring conditions, low numbers of moths have still been trapped including Dusky-lemon Sallow (one of my autumn favourites) on the night of 18th; The Sallow, Barred Sallow and Centre-barred Sallow.  Brown-spot Pinion, Lunar Underwing, Brick, Autumnal Rustic, Black Rustic, Feathered Ranunculus and L-album Wainscot are all now regular.

Large Wainscots have not really got going yet – after a promising start a few weeks ago they have been largely absent.   Still catching the yellow underwings; hordes of pronuba with fewer comes, janthe and orbona.  Copper Underwings and Mouse Moth dwindling in numbers now with odd singles about.  Red Underwings have been regular even on the worst of the cold nights!  Like the pronuba, c-nigrum have been appearing in large numbers.

Migrants have included a red-striped male Vestal last night (19th Sep) along with a Pearly Underwing.  Dark Sword-grass and Silver Y have been regular in fluctuating numbers.  A few Diamond-back Moth and Rush Veneer about too.  Odd Dark Spectacles could also be migrant individuals.

Micros have largely disappeared but Acleris rhombana, Helcystogramma rufescens, Chilo phragmitella and Catoptria falsella all on 19th were unusually late.  Eudonia pallida and angustea appear occasionally – some of these may be migrants.   Still the odd late Evergestis extimalis about.   Scrobipalpa costella has proved to be quite regular.