Suffolk Moths Blog

The last few nights have been moonlit and cooler, but I kept the garden trap going on two of the last four nights. Total numbers quite low, but a few surprises – scarce silver lines and cream-bordered green pea a couple of weeks later than the main flight seemed to have finished; a very worn poplar kitten, a gem, and an oblique striped on 19th was a pleasant and unexpected addition to the garden list (I live near Halesworth). Webb’s and twin-spotted wainscots added a marshland flavour to a diverse (and dispersed) mix. Weather due to improve; I’ll continue to expect the unexpected.

My first Square-spot rustic of the year in my trap last night, Oh dear. The end of the summer is nigh!

Neil

I read the postings of coastal trappers with interest and envy, thinking that there are some moths I will never catch. So I was delighted when a small green and black moth in the trap this morning (19th) turned out to be a Tree-lichen Beauty. I don’t think that this species has been found so far inland in Suffolk (TM07 10km square). It completely eclipsed another good moth in the trap: my first record of Garden Tiger.

Matthew Deans and I set up 4 traps on the site during a warm humid evening with only a slight breeze. Three MV Robinsons were set in our favourite locations in the ride and wet meadow and the heath trap was located in an opening amongst osiers and reeds. The traps were examined the following morning around dawn. The total species count was 120 and whilst there were some exiting catches the number of micros was low. We were not plagued by any wasps and very few underwings.

As on other visits many species were characteristic of the local habitats and location.  Four Ethmia quadrillella probably took the top place amongst the highlights other up there were 1 Sandhill Rustic, 2 White-mantled Wainscots, 2 Twin-spotted Wainscots, 4 Brown-veined Wainscots and our first salt-marsh Scrobipalpa which was a good one by way of S samadensis. Our specimen looked like the Orford Ness specimen on the Moths of Suffolk site.

Also off the salt-marsh were Aristotelia brizella and Agdistis bennetii. Cosmopterix lienigiella and Brachmia inornatella still flying. Others of interest were Anacampsis blattariella, Acleris laterana, Metendothenia atropuntana, Golden-rod Pug, Canary-shouldered Thorn and a Crescent.

I trapped on 6 days during the first half of August 2013. Total species identified decreased from the highs of late July during the period, ranging 214 on 4th to 126 on 13th. The period included National Moth Nights though only garden and Ruby Tigers were taken here.  Thankfully the delayed onslaught of Large Yellow Underwings also saw their abundance to be short-lived, unfortunately moth eating wasps seem to have taken over recently one poor Ground Lackey had it’s forewing bitten off but most victims succumbed completely. Lots of Silver Y recently as I am sure we are all finding. None of the Gem though, that Matthew seems to be finding regularly, but have picked up a Vestal and Small Mottled Willow.

Second brood of Vine’s Rustic along with Flounced Rustic and Rosy Rustic herald the progress towards a more autumnal look to catches.

I have taken a number of good new species to my site list, some common some rare and two boost the Suffolk County list. So a list!:- Stigmella obliquella, Bucculatrix thoracella, B albedinella, Caloptilia alchimiella, Leucospilapteryx omissella, Phyllonorycter kleemanniella, P ulmifoliella, P heegeriella, P corylifoliella, Coleophora coracipennella, two Caryocolum species to add to the Suffolk list C tricolorella, C proxima, Bryotropha domestica, Ptocheuusa paupella, Grapholita janthinana, Eudemis profundana, Acleris laterana, two Dusky Plumes – Oidaematophorus lithodactylus, White-spotted Pug, Golden-rod Pug, Dark Spinach, Bordered Beauty, Small Waved Umber, Gothic, Brown-veined Wainscot, Wormwood and finally and by no means least a Butterbur.

After a stunning July things are starting to quieten down a bit here. I ran the trap last night (15th) and caught a good range of macros including my first Twin-spotted Wainscot. There were two copper underwings and the dull individual turned out to be the first Svensson’s Copper Underwing of the year. Other highlights included Magpie(2), Dusky Thorn, Maiden’s Blush, Yellow-barred Brindle and Small Waved Umber (rare here as we have no Traveller’s Joy).

During the day there are frequent Silver Y’s, Painted Ladies and Clouded Yellows on the wing but the only other migrants in the trap have been Rush Veneers. Recent records include Olive (4th), Sallow Kitten and Maple Pug (7th) and Bordered Beauty (9th). Oh and the Hornets have arrived.

Brian and I revisted Scale marsh St Olaves on the 13th. I had some nice target species lined up; Fenn’s Wainscot and Dotted Footman both with old records close by and White-mantled Wainscot more a long shot, the habitat looking good for it but cut off from the river Waveney marshes.
Unfortunately no targets seen. A peculiar night with only 75 species on my list many species not coming to light or on the wing under the clear sky. Among those that did show were in low numbers; Olive, Reed Dagger, a couple of Brown-veined Wainscots, White-spotted Pug. The outstanding record of the night was with Crescent, a moth I used to be quite thrilled to see when I started mothing and as it happens one of only a few species of which I keep a head count of. Numbers seemed to be rising year on year up here but how about 108? That was the best count from a single trap! Total on the night was 307 counted. This species and the odd looking Bordered Beauty that I spotted on vegetation on a trap round made the night a memorable one