Moth Report for 2018 – Another Good Year
Since 2012, David Baker from the Butterfly Conservation Society has been carrying out regular moth trapping in our gardens By the end of 2018 over 330 different moths have been trapped in our garden – some of them quite rare for the year. This is David’s full report of the 2018 recordings, one of the highlights being this privet hawkmoth.
Moth Report 2018
The year started with terrible cold weather and February and March were very poor moths for moths at home. The decision was, therefore, made to delay our start until things began to improve. We set up on the evening of 21 April 2018 and awaited results. Sunday dawned after a slight amount of rainfall during the night and our count commenced
32.031 Agonopterix alstromeriana 1
70.103 Lampropteryx suffumata f.piceata Water Carpet 1
70.141 Gymnoscelis rufifasciata Double-striped Pug 1
70.237 Selenia dentaria Early Thorn 4
70.239 Selenia tetralunaria Purple Thorn 1
71.011 Drymonia ruficornis Lunar Marbled Brown 1
72.022 Diaphora mendica Muslin Moth 1
73.210 Eupsilia transversa Satellite 1
73.241 Panolis flammea Pine Beauty 2
73.242 Orthosia incerta Clouded Drab 6
73.244 Orthosia cerasi Common Quaker 61
73.245 Orthosia cruda Small Quaker 4
73.247 Orthosia gracilis Powdered Quaker 3
73.249 Orthosia gothica Hebrew Character 14
73.250 Anorthoa munda Twin-spotted Quaker 2
5 new species were recorded for the site which included a dark form of Water Carpet, f. piceata.
Night 2: May 19th
The weather was warming up a bit and a few more species were flying at home so we made our May trip to Stillingfleet on the 19th May to see how things were going in VC61. A mixed catch of 14 species, only one of which was a micro, the “yellow nosed” N.cynosbatella. Of the remaining macros only 4 appeared more than the once and we had no new species to add to the list.
49.292 Notocelia cynosbatella 1
65.001 Falcaria lacertinaria Scalloped Hook-tip 1
69.003 Laothoe populi Poplar Hawk-moth 2
70.094 Ecliptopera silaceata Small Phoenix 1
71.013 Notodonta ziczac Pebble Prominent 1
71.017 Pheosia tremula Swallow Prominent 3
72.015 Calliteara pudibunda Pale Tussock 3
72.019 Spilosoma lutea Buff Ermine 1
72.020 Spilosoma lubricipeda White Ermine 1
73.045 Acronicta rumicis Knot Grass 1
73.242 Orthosia incerta Clouded Drab 1
73.247 Orthosia gracilis Powdered Quaker 2
73.325 Agrotis puta puta Shuttle-shaped Dart 1
73.329 Ochropleura plecta Flame Shoulder 1
Night 3 – early June
Things were getting back to normal after the poor start in the year and it was decided to add an early June session before the Conservation Day in a fortnight’s time. It turned out to be a good decision! We had one new micro with a visit from a “Timothy Tortrix”, one of the micros with a long-standing vernacular name.
Both Davids and Vanessa were surprised when encountering the large Privet Hawk-moth. It is a really splendid specimen with only just over a hundred sightings in the county, the majority being in VC 61 which is our Vice County. A new sighting for us all. The Dark Sword-grass was well worn but still discernable and is not a regular migrant sighting at this time of year.
49.031 Aphelia paleana Timothy Tortrix 2
49.157 Hedya pruniana Plum Tortrix 3
49.158 Hedya ochroleucana 1
49.166 Celypha lacunana 6
49.292 Notocelia cynosbatella 2
63.025 Anania hortulata Small Magpie 7
65.010 Tethea ocularis Figure of Eighty 2
69.002 Smerinthus ocellata Eyed Hawk-moth 1
69.006 Sphinx ligustri Privet Hawk-moth 1
69.016 Deilephila elpenor Elephant Hawk-moth 5
70.016 Idaea aversata ab. remutata Riband Wave [non-banded] 1
70.036 Cyclophora punctaria Maiden’s Blush 1
70.054 Xanthorhoe montanata Silver-ground Carpet 2
70.079 Thera britannica Spruce Carpet 1
70.100 Colostygia pectinataria Green Carpet 1
70.207 Lomaspilis marginata Clouded Border 1
70.222 Petrophora chlorosata Brown Silver-line 1
70.224 Plagodis dolabraria Scorched Wing 4
70.226 Opisthograptis luteolata Brimstone Moth 3
70.252 Biston betularia Peppered Moth 4
70.277 Cabera pusaria Common White Wave 1
70.280 Lomographa temerata Clouded Silver 1
70.283 Campaea margaritaria Light Emerald 1
71.013 Notodonta ziczac Pebble Prominent 1
71.017 Pheosia tremula Swallow Prominent 1
71.025 Phalera bucephala Buff-tip 1
72.002 Rivula sericealis Straw Dot 9
72.003 Hypena proboscidalis Snout 1
72.015 Calliteara pudibunda Pale Tussock 1
72.019 Spilosoma lutea Buff Ermine 8
72.049 Eilema sororcula Orange Footman 1
72.055 Herminia grisealis Small Fan-foot 1
73.001 Abrostola tripartita Spectacle 2
73.015 Autographa gamma Silver Y 2
73.046 Subacronicta megacephala Poplar Grey 1
73.156 Apamea crenata Clouded-bordered Brindle 2
73.173x Oligia strigilis agg. Marbled Minor agg. 9
73.176 Oligia fasciuncula Middle-barred Minor 2
73.317 Agrotis exclamationis Heart and Dart 5
73.327 Agrotis ipsilon Dark Sword-grass 1
73.328 Axylia putris Flame 1
73.329 Ochropleura plecta Flame Shoulder 4
73.333 Diarsia mendica Ingrailed Clay 1
73.359 Xestia c-nigrum Setaceous Hebrew Character 1
73.361 Xestia triangulum Double Square-spot 1
Night 4 late June
The traps were set up on Saturday evening 23nd June, ready for the forthcoming Conservation Day on Sunday, and left overnight as per usual. However, on the Sunday morning only one of the bulbs was still alight. It was assumed that the second bulb had failed but the catch in the trap still working was minimal and so with an almost non-existant catch no record was kept. Thankfully I had taken some moth samples with me from home and managed to show these to the people attending the event at the Gardens.
Night 4a
To make up for the disappointment of last week which, it turned out, was a mistake on my part. I had not removed the time-clocks I used at the Yorkshire Air Museum the previous week. Well, nobody’s perfect!!
All went well and a very good night’s recording on 30th June was managed. 59 species were recorded of which 5 were new to the site. The highlight, because of its size, was the Pine Hawk-moth which, at the time, we thought was a new sighting. However, the records showed that we had seen 3 in one night in July 2014.
For me the Suspected was the best newcomer. I have only recorded it at the Yorkshire Air Museum on a couple of occasions. It was surprising that the Garden Tiger and Common Emerald were new to site and it just shows that gaps of up to four weeks can make recording a bit hit and miss.
31.001 Carcina quercana 1
35.085 Athrips mouffetella 1
39.001 Blastodacna hellerella 1
41.003 Blastobasis lacticolella 3
49.109 Agapeta hamana 1
49.156 Hedya nubiferana Marbled Orchard Tortrix 3
49.166 Celypha lacunana 3
63.025 Anania hortulata Small Magpie 12
63.038 Pleuroptya ruralis Mother of Pearl 1
63.062 Scoparia subfusca 1
63.067 Eudonia lacustrata 2
65.009 Habrosyne pyritoides Buff Arches 2
66.010 Euthrix potatoria Drinker (m) 1
69.003 Laothoe populi Poplar Hawk-moth 1
69.007 Sphinx pinastri Pine Hawk-moth 1
69.016 Deilephila elpenor Elephant Hawk-moth 4
70.011 Idaea dimidiata Single-dotted Wave 2
70.013 Idaea biselata Small Fan-footed Wave 1
70.016 Idaea aversata Riband Wave 11
70.084 Plemyria rubiginata rubiginata Blue-bordered Carpet 1
70.089 Eulithis prunata Phoenix 1
70.093 Gandaritis pyraliata Barred Straw 1
70.097 Dysstroma truncata Common Marbled Carpet 2
70.133 Perizoma alchemillata Small Rivulet 1
70.144 Pasiphila rectangulata Green Pug 2
70.207 Lomaspilis marginata Clouded Border 7
70.243 Ourapteryx sambucaria Swallow-tailed Moth 1
70.258 Peribatodes rhomboidaria Willow Beauty 1
70.265 Alcis repandata Mottled Beauty 6
70.270 Ectropis bistortata Engrailed 2
70.277 Cabera pusaria Common White Wave 1
70.283 Campaea margaritaria Light Emerald 3
70.299 Geometra papilionaria Large Emerald 1
70.305 Hemithea aestivaria Common Emerald 2
71.025 Phalera bucephala Buff-tip 2
72.002 Rivula sericealis Straw Dot 1
72.003 Hypena proboscidalis Snout 2
72.026 Arctia caja Garden Tiger 1
72.045 Eilema lurideola Common Footman 26
72.053 Herminia tarsipennalis Fan-foot 2
72.069 Laspeyria flexula Beautiful Hook-tip 3
73.001 Abrostola tripartita Spectacle 1
73.015 Autographa gamma Silver Y 1
73.096x Hoplodrina octogenaria/blanda Uncertain/Rustic agg. 6
73.162 Apamea monoglypha Dark Arches 4
73.176 Oligia fasciuncula Middle-barred Minor 1
73.173x Oligia strigilis agg. Marbled Minor agg. 2
73.221 Parastichtis suspecta Suspected 1
73.267 Lacanobia oleracea Bright-line Brown-eye 3
73.270 Melanchra persicariae Dot Moth 2
73.293 Mythimna impura Smoky Wainscot 2
73.317 Agrotis exclamationis Heart and Dart 5
73.328 Axylia putris Flame 1
73.329 Ochropleura plecta Flame Shoulder 1
73.334 Diarsia rubi Small Square-spot 1
73.342 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 1
73.359 Xestia c-nigrum Setaceous Hebrew Character 1
73.361 Xestia triangulum Double Square-spot 8
74.003 Nola cucullatella Short-cloaked Moth 1
Night 5 – late July
We managed to fit in a session at the end of July and set up on the evening of the 28th. It gave a better result than I had at home and 26 species were recorded, although none were new to the site.
21.001 Lyonetia clerkella Apple Leaf Miner 1
49.161 Celypha striana 2
63.038 Pleuroptya ruralis Mother of Pearl 1
63.089 Agriphila tristella 1
63.093 Agriphila straminella 4
65.005 Drepana falcataria Pebble Hook-tip 1
70.016 Idaea aversata Riband Wave 2
70.029 Timandra comae Blood-Vein 1
70.052 Xanthorhoe ferrugata Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet 1
70.053 Xanthorhoe designata Flame Carpet 1
71.012 Notodonta dromedarius Iron Prominent 1
71.018 Pheosia gnoma Lesser Swallow Prominent 2
72.002 Rivula sericealis Straw Dot 3
72.024 Phragmatobia fuliginosa Ruby Tiger 2
73.015 Autographa gamma Silver Y 4
73.022 Plusia festucae Gold Spot 3
73.096x Hoplodrina octogenaria/blanda Uncertain/Rustic agg. 1
73.162 Apamea monoglypha Dark Arches 2
73.169x Mesapamea secalis agg. Common Rustic agg. 13
73.216 Cosmia trapezina Dun-bar 8
73.255 Anarta trifolii Nutmeg 1
73.281 Hadena bicruris Lychnis 2
73.325 Agrotis puta puta Shuttle-shaped Dart 1
73.329 Ochropleura plecta Flame Shoulder 2
73.334 Diarsia rubi Small Square-spot 1
73.348 Noctua janthe Lesser Bd-bor/d Yellow U/wing 13
Night 6 – late August
Vanessa’s grandchildren were staying with her for a few days at the end of August and we timed our visit to allow them to help empty the moth-traps in the morning. They are becoming very knowledgeable and enjoy releasing the specimens into the bushes. After a fairly cold evening we still managed to count 17 species only 2 of which were micro-moths. A prepoderance of Setaceous Hebrew Characters led to a bit of tongue-twisting. Nothing new again but, of course, the chances of catching new species are diminishing over the years. Let’s keep fingers crossed for September.
49.039 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 3
63.102 Catoptria falsella 1
70.053 Xanthorhoe designata Flame Carpet 1
73.012 Diachrysia chrysitis Burnished Brass 1
73.015 Autographa gamma Silver Y 1
73.062x Amphipyra pyramidea agg. Copper Underwing agg. 1
73.095 Caradrina clavipalpis Pale Mottled Willow 2
73.182 Cirrhia icteritia Sallow 1
73.291 Mythimna pallens Common Wainscot 2
73.317 Agrotis exclamationis Heart and Dart 1
73.319 Agrotis segetum Turnip Moth 1
73.329 Ochropleura plecta Flame Shoulder 3
73.342 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 8
73.343 Noctua fimbriata Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing 1
73.345 Noctua comes Lesser Yellow Underwing 1
73.357 Xestia xanthographa Square-spot Rustic 11
73.359 Xestia c-nigrum Setaceous Hebrew Character 39
Night 7 end September
Almost the end of September and the nights are colder and longer. We set the traps on the evening of 29th September in Vanessa’s absence, as she was down in Shropshire visiting family. The temperature on previous night had been down to 6 degrees at home. However, things did warm up to around 11 degrees and we had a very reasonable catch. There was only one new-comer, a Green-brindled Crescent, amongst a good selection of autumn moths.
21.001 Lyonetia clerkella Apple Leaf Miner 1
28.009 Endrosis sarcitrella White-shouldered House-moth 1
49.077 Acleris variegana Garden Rose Tortrix 1
70.024 Scopula imitaria Small Blood-vein 1
73.068 Allophyes oxyacanthae Green-brindled Crescent 1
73.180 Tiliacea aurago Barred Sallow 2
73.181 Xanthia togata Pink-barred Sallow 2
73.182 Cirrhia icteritia Sallow 1
73.186 Agrochola lychnidis Beaded Chestnut 14
73.187 Agrochola litura Brown-spot Pinion 1
73.189 Agrochola lota Red-line Quaker 1
73.190 Agrochola macilenta Yellow-line Quaker 1
73.193 Omphaloscelis lunosa Lunar Underwing 6
73.206 Lithophane leautieri hesperica Blair’s Shoulder-knot 1
73.224 Griposia aprilina Merveille du Jour 1
73.233 Aporophyla nigra Black Rustic 2
73.319 Agrotis segetum Turnip Moth 1
73.325 Agrotis puta puta Shuttle-shaped Dart 1
73.327 Agrotis ipsilon Dark Sword-grass 1
73.342 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 6
73.357 Xestia xanthographa Square-spot Rustic 1
However, this turned out to be our last session in the year as unfortunately the season was curtailed by illness and, so, this September visit completed the year of 2018. During the year we recorded a further 5 new micromoths and 11 new macromoths. Our site totals are now 105 micros and 228 macros.
