Well, found the time to write a post following the fabulous mothing during the second half of a warm July. Long one I’m afraid. But worth reading? It has been particularly good here near the coast for migrants and total numbers, as is evidenced by Matthew Deans recent posts for Bawdsey Hall. I have trapped for roughly every other night and turned up 200 plus or minus 20 species each night for my three and sometimes only 2 traps. My abundant regulars have been the Common, Scarce and Rosy Footman, Riband Wave and Uncertain. Also common this year has been Dusky Sallow, Caloptilia semifascia, C rufipennella and Cnephasia pumicana. But more of that last one later. Interesting regulars in low numbers have been Oak Eggar (including males at light), Leopard, Broom, Evergestis limbata, E extimalis and Sciota adelphella. I have taken a number of the Ear Moth but only one Saltern to date. A few of the pretty Enarmonia formosana and was convinced I had Pediasia aridella but a genitalia check disappointed me. A full range of my usual Yponomeuta but not a large enough number of Y rorella to convince me they were an immigrant invasion. Since the emergence of larval collected Y malinellus I have also appreciated I should have recorded it previously and not plumped for the reportedly commoner Y padella. The end of the month has seen the start of Copper Underwing, Tree Lichen Beauty and the second generation of Aethes smeathmanniana and Cochylis atricapitana. No C molliculana spotted yet this year though.
The end of the month also brought the much feared return of the yellow underwings. All species recorded with Noctua pronuba so abundant in my little 40 watt actinic that smaller species had to fight for survival.
Migrants: Immigrants or wanderers? It is often hard to decide but some are clear. I have picked up regulars such as Silver Y, Dark Sword-grass, Plutella xylostella, Ostrinia nubilialis and Rush Veneer (only at the end of the month). Rarer often accepted immigrants have been the Pigmy Footman, Oncocera semirubella and Elegia similella. The very pretty Goniodoma limoniella turned up in numbers with a peak of 9 on 24th with other accepted immigrants on that day. The species was also noted as a first (as it was for me) by Neil at IGC, so I am of the opinion that this was an immigrant not a wanderer from our salt-marsh. Similarly but less clear is Platytes alpinella. This again a first for me and noted more widely in Suffolk. Finally on the migrants I have taken very large numbers of Cnephasia pumicana. Around 150 at the peak and still large numbers, but now faded specimens, have hung around. Considering I only saw 9 for the whole of last year immigration is the only conclusion. C longana was also abundant but this can be quite common. Other Cnephasias were no commoner than normal.
The numbers new to my list during the second half of July has been high. In addition to migrants already listed these have included:- Scallop Shell, Grey Arches, Ground Lackey, Slender Brindle, Double Lobed, Shaded Fan-foot, Hypsopygia glaucinalis, Aphomia zelleri, Acrobasis consociella, Anania perlucidalis, Anania crocealis, Eucosma conterminana, E campoliliana, Celypha rosaceana, Lobesia abscisana, Aethes rubigana, Thiotricha subocella, Athrips mouffetella, Mompha ochraceella, Stathmopoda pedella, Oegoconia deauratella (still to check genitalia), Paraswammerdamia nebulella, Phyllocnistis saligna, Phyllonorycter geniculella, Acrocercops brongniardella and finally Gracillaria syringella.
With some stories to finish? Another Tinea pellionella in the house! Went to empty rainwater out of a wheelbarrow and found a drowned Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet. Went for a shower and found the cubicle occupied by an Old Lady and a Peacock!
