Moth Review of The Year: Part 5: October and November 2016

The penultimate part of the review. The target for the year, with a Skinner 125W MV running every night in the garden and a battery powered Heath Actinic 15W trap left in one of 14 places several times a week, was to achieve 10,000 moths of 500 species.
October started with 460 moth species recorded for the year and a total of 9094 moths. The race was on.
Unfortunately, a cold snap at this time of year can decimate moth numbers, so pleased to record moths every night apart from 14th and 15th Oct (weekend break in North Norfolk) and 24th - 26th October (bird photo shoot in Aviero, Portugal.
Whilst numbers remained reasonable, new species were hard to come by, having to wait until the 4th for a Merveille du Jour in the garden. The same night I took a Blair's Shoulder Knot, also garden, before the 1st Brick of the year in Millennium Wood on the 5th. The following night my only Mallow of the year to the garden trap but more pleasingly, my first ever Dark Sword grass to the Skinner. This species has been recorded in the parish by Graeme Smith (GJS) but my first record. Things were becoming slower and the next new for year was on the 13th, a Green Brindled Crescent, with a November moth (gen det GJS) on the 16th, and a Pale November moth (gen det GJS) from Brick Kiln Hill opposite local village pub on the 21st.

Barred sallow (left) and Sallow

Blair's Shoulder Knot

Blastobasis lacticolella (7 from on bramble to light on 21.x.16)

No other new records for October apart from Phyllonorycter coryli from Millennium Wood on the 21st, Feathered thorn (28th) and Sprawler (29th.) Both taken in the garden. This meant October ended with 9360 moths of 472 species. Targets were looking tricky: time for some leaf mine action!
My first non moth night since Spring took place on the 2nd Nov, not a great start but Phyllonorycter maestingella from Pig's Green on the 3rd gave me renewed faith.

Brick

2 Brick, Chestnut and Green Brindled Crsecent

Cameraria ohridella

On Sunday 6th we had our annual leaf mining hunt day in Millennium Wood. Basically, families turn up with carrier bags and post it notes and, after an introduction from me about leaf mines and showing the leaves to look for, families disperse through Millennium Wood, returning with bulging bags of leaves for GJS and I to go through. Children love the searching and we enjoy sitting around waiting for them to return!!
In total we added 15 species to the parish list for the year, including a new for parish record of Ectodemia intimella. A good return.

Dark Chestnut

Chestnut

Dark swordgrass.

The next few days I visited most of the sites I had trapped over the year to leaf mine, adding: Stigmella tityrella (beech,) Stigmella hemargyrella (beech,) Stigmella splendissimella (bramble,) Phyllonorycter harrisella (oak,)  Caloptilia rufipennella (sycamore) all on the 9th and then added Tischeria ekebladella (oak,) Stigmella plagicolella (prunus) Phyllonorycter spinicolella (prunus,) Stigmella oxycanthella (prunus,) Phyllonorycter corylifoliella (hawthorn) and Phyllonorycter oxcanthae (hawthorn) on the 10th.
During the Remembrance Service by the village War Memorial on the 13th, I looked down during the 2 minutes silence and noted a leaf mine of London plane, a tree we were standing underneath. Phyllonorycter platani was new for parish records and micro number 247.
At this point numbers of micros become a little confusing as I was grateful to receive gen dets from GJS of micros he had saved from summer but on the 13th I passed 500 moth species with the addition of Stigmella salicis (goat willow,) Phyllonorycter salictella (willow) Phyllonorycter rajella (alder,) and Phyllonorycter kleemannella (alder.) These were all taken from trees on Ash Valley Golf Course, before a garden trap of December moth became my 253rd macro for the year.  More leaf mining searches on the 16th came up with Paronix fagivora on beech and Phyllonorycter geniculella from sycamore.
A December moth from Valley Fields to the actinic trap on the 15th was my 9500 moth for the year.
GJS sent through a few more July gen det records to add of Cnephasia genitalana and Coleophora pumicana on the 21st and by the 23rd I was up to 9600 for the year.  On the 24th, a solitary Scarce Umber from Millennium Wood made the records. Another gen det record on the 30th November (taken 18.vii.16) was a new for parish record of Coleophora serratella, 258th micro for the year.
Consequently, November ended with 258 micros and 254 macros and a total of 9760 moths. One target achieved and seeing as I counted 110 winter moth in dusk flight in Millennium Wood on the 27th, I felt confident 10,000 was easily achievable.

December moth

Feathered Thorn

Merveille du Jour on lichen

Selected macro flight times:
Beaded chestnut: 24.ix.16 - 29.x.16
Merveille du Jour: 04.x.16 - 30.x.16
Blair's Shoulder Knot: 04.x.16 - 20.x.16
Green Brindled Crescent: 13.x.16 - 03.xi.16
November moth:16.x.16 -15.xi.16
Feathered thorn : 28.x.16 - 27.xi.16

Numbers during this period supplied by:
Beaded Chestnut (44,) Merveille du Jour (8) Green Brindled Crescent (19 of which 5 were form capucina ) November moth (17) and Feathered thorn (36)

Hazel with Phyonorycter corylii and Stigmella microtheriella

Phyllonorycter nicelii on hazel

Satellite

December report to follow at the end of the week. With night time temperatures down to -3.5C last night, it doesn't look like I shall be adding anymore.

Moth Review of the Year: Part 4 : August and September 2016

A nearly full period of uninterrupted mothing meant I was out with the heath 15W actinic on many occasions as well as running the Skinner 125W MV trap in the garden each night except 5th and 6th August.
A visit to Millennium Wood on the 2nd gave records of Acleris emargana, Grapholita funebrana and Small phoenix. The latter being the only record for the year. On the same night I took a new for parish records of Acentria ephemerella and Tree Lichen Beauty ( the first of 4.) An Orange swift was the 200th macro of the year.

Plutella porrectella

Acleris emargana

Tree lichen beauty

The following night a trip to Valley Fields gave plenty of moths but nothing new whilst a Yponomeuta malinellus was a new for year record. A further micro, Mompha choragella was trapped on the 5th. However, whilst I was away giving a presentation for the RSPB in Lowestoft and then running an owl pellet show for the weekend at Ipswich Water Festival, Graeme Smith (GJS) ran several traps in Millennium Wood. Amongst good number he and Steve Easby managed to net a Tissue, a singularly rare moth for Herts.
The first Square spot rustic was taken on the 7th, Maple pug (8th), Lime speck pug, Plain pug and Borkhausenia fuscescens all on the 9th, followed by Dusky Thorn (10th,) Cloaked minor and a new for parish Cochylimorpha straminea on the 11th
By this time, the early autumn moths were to be expected, so 5 Svennson's copper underwing from Millennium Wood on the 11th were no surprise, neither were Plutella porrectella and Parornix angicella the following night in the garden

Coxcomb Prominent

Cypress pug

Dusky thorn

A trap in the graveyard at the bottom of the garden the following night resulted in Parapoynx stratiotata and Eudemis profundana as well as Toadflax pug and Juniper pug to the garden trap.
The next successful for new records night was the 15th, when Coxcomb prominent and Gelechia senticetella entered parish records with Currant pug and Nutmeg new for year. A first for the year Rosy Rustic on the 16th from Alder Wood, Copper Underwing (18th) from Hoecroft Lane and the same night another new parish moth, a Cochylis hybridella in the garden Skinner.
Brick Kiln Hill opposite the pub realised a solitary Vapourer on the 19th in amongst a selection of over 30 moths. A Galleria mellonella  was the 200th micro of the year before Udea fulvalis (22nd) Oak hooktip and Depressaria radiella (Hadham Hall 23rd.)
Also on the 23rd a good selection in the garden trap, with Enarmonia formosana, Marbled Beauty, and Udea ferrugalis. However, the night will be best remembered for the arrival of my 1st Vestal, a true immigrant and one that was recorded throughout Herts this year. In total, I had 9, all to the garden trap, with the last one on 13.ix.16.
Few late August moths such as Centre barred sallow meant I finished August with 208 micros and 228 macros. Late additions to records were Digitvalva pulicarie (garden 27th) Cypress pug and Mompha propinquella in the garden on 31st.

Centre barred sallow

Enarmoria formosana

Frosted orange

September kicked off with good numbers to the traps but nothing new for year or parish until 2 white points turned up unexpectedly on the 3rd, an Epinotia ramella (5th), Nymphula nitidulata (6th) and Brown spot pinion (8th)

Black rustic

Deep brown dart

Epinotia ramella

A yellow line Quaker on the 9th let us all know it was Autumn and this was more evident with the arrival of the stunning Black Rustic on the 12th. The 13th gave up new for year records of Agonopterix alstromeriana and Mompha subbistrigella from the garden whilst Phyllonorycter corylii, Ancylis mitterbacheriana and Catoptria pinella and Pink Barred sallow from Millennium Wood.
A community moth night in Millennium Wood on the 15th was well attended with over 20 locals and local press meant a good article in the Herts and Essex Observer. Of particular interest was Ypsolopha horridella, an uncommon moth for Herts, but one we have already taken in this wood. Also, Emmetia marginea, Caloptilia semifascia and Argyresthia albistria.
Autumn truly arrived on the 24th with Beaded chestnut and Grey Pine carpet in the garden, Red Line quaker and Deep Brown Dart (26th) and a Herald in Chapel Lane on bramble (28th.)

Ypsolopha horridella

Yellow line quaker

Red line quaker.

Vestal in smart plumage

Another superb Vestal

September totals now stood at 242 macros and 218 micros, a total of 460, so 40 more species to reach 500 for the year. Still on, I thought at the time.
In total, 9094 moths had been recorded since Jan1st, so 10,000 was also a reasonably feasible total. However, it looked like some leaf mining work was going to be required to get the species list going, so October and November were already looking busy. My fingers were crossed for some warm, calm nights to finish the year.

Selected first and last macro records:
Orange Swift: 02.viii.16 - 30.xiii.16
Maple pug: 08.viii.16 - 23.viii.16
Dusky Thorn: 10.viii.16 - 17.ix.16
Svennson's Copper Underwing: 11.viii.16 - 21.ix.16
Copper Underwing: 18.viii.16 - 21.x.16
Lunar Underwing: 15.ix.16 - 10.x.16

Numbers were supplied by: Orange swift (25) Dusky Thorn (36) Lesser Yellow Underwing (57,) Lunar Underwing (90) and Beaded chestnut (44)

Selected micro dates:
Acleris emargana: 02.viii.16 - 15.ix.16
Acleris variegana: 03.viii.16 - 09.x.16
Udea ferrugalis 22.viii.16 - 07.ix.16
Cochylis hybridella: 18.viii.16 - 01.ix.16

Numbers supplied by: Acleris variegana (61) Agriphila tristella (124), Acleris emargana (14) Udea ferrugalis (9)

Graeme and Steve's Tissue. A superb find in Millennium Wood. (photo GJS)

Moth Review of the Year: Part 3: July 2016

Returning from our Devon trip meant the first trapping day in July was the 3rd. Garden 125W MV Skinner on and off to Suffyldes Wood with the Heath actinic 15W. As previously, it would be a very long list if all new for year moths were mentioned, so I shall concentrate on new for parish records and touch on new for years that are unusual within Little Hadham VC20 parish.
On the 3rd a Lathronympha strigana, Epinotia rubiginosana and Epinotia abbreviana were all new to the parish, as was an Anania perlucidalis in the garden. In total 19 micros were trapped of which 11 were new for the year. Wonder what I missed whilst away?
The 4th was a busy night in the garden whilst a pleasing Aglossa pinguinalis was a new one on the 5th.

A very worn Brown veined wainscot

Catalysta lemnata

Leopard moth

The garden record was again beaten on the 6th with 96 moths of 56 species, including Cnephasia asseclana and Coleophora flavipennella, both new for records. Also, the first July highflier of the year, one of 58 taken, concluding with the final specimen on 16th August. A headtorch visit to Westland Green gave up plenty, including Syncopacma larseniella on the 7th and Hedya salicella to actinic at Valley Fields.
The parish records continued to grow, with Eudonia pallida and Epinotia signatana (garden 7th), Anacampsis populella and Mompha orchaeceella (Ash Valley Golf Course, 10th) Coleophora paripennella and Oidaematophorus lithadactyla (Westland Green 14th) and Small Dotted Buff, Mullein Wave. along with Brachmia blandella and Epiblema foenella (19th Alder Wood). This was indeed a good night  with many new for year species meaning the totals stood at 160 micros and 176 macros by the 20th July, with an Agapeta hamana being the 3000th moth of the year on the 19th.
Maybe one of the year's highlights was the Dusky Plume (Oidaematophorus lithodactyla), not a common moth in Hertfordshire and thanks to GJS for confirming my identification.

Dusky plume (Oidaematophorus lithodactyla.) Possibly moth of the year. GJS photo, Many thanks

The next moth on to my records was a surprise, a leaopard moth to the garden skinner on the 23rd, with a pleasing, if very battered Brown veined wainscot and Helcystogramma rufescens (25th garden), a Catalysta lemnata (Hadham Hall 27th), a Stigmella trimaculella (Garden 28th) and the final new for records was a Tinea trinotella in the garden on the 29th. However, one that had me rushing for the field guides turned up in the garden Skinner on the 26th, a moth I was not at all familiar with. An Olive which, surprisingly, is more common in Herts than I had expected.
A Tawny speckled pug was the 4000th moth of the year and by the end of July the totals were 183 micros and 199 macros. The target of 500 moths looked on but 10,000 moths recorded still seemed to be a long way off considering we were well over half way through the year. A good August and September were needed to guarantee success for both targets.

Epiblema foenella

Hadham Hall trapping site

Olive

Selected first and last dates in July:
Swallow tailed moth: 03.vii.16 - 27.vii.16
Buff tip: 04.vii.16 - 07.vii.16
Small emerald: 05.vii.16 - 25.vii.16
Short cloaked moth: 06.vii.16 - 17.vii.16
Clay: 09.vii.16 - 04.viii.16
Dusky Sallow: 21.vii.16 - 31.vii.16

Numbers this month were supplied by: Large Yellow underwing (180 until 16.x.16), July Highflier (58 until 16.viii.16) Clay (24) Small fan foot wave (43 until 16.viii.16) Dingy footman (155 until 18.viii.16) This total included a quite amazing 43 to the actinic trap in Suffyldes Wood on 25th.

Micro number: Eucosma cana (85) Epinotia nisella (30) Carcina quercana (52), Endotricha flammealis (45) Yponomeuta evonymella (80) Agriphila geniculea (171) Pleuroptya ruralis (116) Crambus perlella (82) and Agriphila tristella (124)

Next installment later in the week, August and September.

Moth Review of the Year: Part 2: May - June 2016

May is a month when there appears to be a lull in moth numbers following the spring emergence, but certain days, with night time temperatures in excess of 8C meant good numbers were taken throughout the month.
On the 1st the Heath trap was set in Suffyldes Wood where I took a Waved umber as NFY whilst I wandered off with torch and net to Millennium Wood. Just one moth here, the only Oak nycteoline of the year whilst the garden gave up a new for parish record of Brindled beauty. Not a bad start to the month.

Brindled beauty, a new for parish record

Agapeta hamana

A Brimstone (5th) along with Agonopterix arenella and Parornix anglicella (New for parish) were pleasing. The following night the heath trap was placed on the slope opposite the village pub. A regular Friday night placement as easy to empty after a few jars with friends and only 400 yards from home. This particular night gave up Red-green carpet, shuttle shaped dart and the first of many common swifts. New for year records followed on an almost daily basis with the next week giving: Green carpet, Scorched carpet and Least Black arches (7th.) The latter being new for parish. Around this time I spent day time flushing and searching, getting an Esperia sulphurella (8th.)
Lunar marbled brown and Epiphyas postvittana(8th,) Aphomia sociella and Celypha lacunana (9th,) Yellow barred brindle (10th,) Rustic shoulder knot (11th) and on the 15th a Scorched carpet was my 500th moth of the year.

Aspilapteryx tringipennella

Clouded border

Dichrorampha simpliciana

Day time searches gave up Small yellow underwing in East Wood on the 16th and Glphipterix simplciella, Common carpet, Silver Y later the same day from Westland Green. I returned at night to take Silver ground carpet and Flame carpet that evening. 17th gave Elasticha argentella on a day time check whilst Freyer's pug, V pug, and oak tree pug all to light.
The new for years kept coming: White ermine (18th) Maidens blush (19th) along with a new for parish Sandy carpet from Alder Wood. Another new for parish records the same night was a Dwarf pug, so the heath trap was certainly paying its way whilst a Spruce carpet was NFY. The evening finished with the first Clouded border of the year in the garden.
By mid May I begin to anticipate the increase in micros and this certainly proved true this year: Cydia pomonella (21st), Evergestis forficalis (21st) Monopsis weaverella (22nd) along with another new record for Little Hadham, a Scrobipalpa costella. The 25th gave the first of many Anania hortulata.

Waved umber

Plutella xylostella

Flame carpet

Macros during this period were Lime hawkmoth, Flame shoulder, Marbled minor, Willow beauty, Treble lines, Red twin spot carpet, Common marbled carpet, Ingrailed clay, Pale mottled willow and Snout.
Day netting over the local golf course on 27th proved most fruitful with 3 new for parish records: Endothenia oblongana, Dichrorampha simpliciana and Coleophora striatipennella along with 11 Dicrorampha plumbana. A Mother Shipton was also recorded before the trap was back on the hill for Agapeta hamana 
The 28th gave new for parish records of Micropterix aruncella and Aspilapteryx tringipennella, again day netting on the golf course.
The month concluded with Spectacle, Poplar hawkmoth, Middle barred minor, Cinnabar, Bright line brown eye, May highflier and Mottled rustic in the macros and Ephestia unicolorella, Plutella xylostella, Crambus lathionellus, Ebdrosis sarcitrella and Scoparaia basistrigalis in the micros.

Spruce carpet

Common swift, 1 of 131 trapped this year

Phone shot of the only Oak nycteoline taken this year netted in Millennium Wood

May finished with totals of 77 macros and 36 micros. This does highlight the importance of daytime netting in grassy habitats as Dichrorampha sequana was taken at the same site as 2015. This was classified as Herts extinct before this colony, feeding on tansy was found.
The last day of May coincided with the invasion of Plutella xylostella, with 57 in the garden trap. In total, 727 moths had been taken.

Selected first and last dates:
Red-green carpet: 06.v.16 - 30.v.16
Least Black Arches: 07.v.16 - 30.v.16
Oak tree pug: 17.v.16 - 22.v.16

May numbers supplied by: Brimstone (164 and last taken 21.ix.16) Scorched carpet (28) Buff ermine (83 and last taken mid August) Common pug (39 and still on the wing until 23.vi.16)

By the time June comes around it becomes way to lengthy to list every new for year record, with ones taken every day during the first 10 days of the month. However, the first Setaceous Hebrew Character was taken on the 3rd, the first of 1060 of this species, the last being recorded on 17.x.16!
New for parish records in June: Callisto denticulella (2nd) Notocelia trimaculana (4th) Pebble hooktip (8th) Coptopriche marginea (9th) Achroia grisella (11th) Gillmeria pallidactyla (18th) Prays fraxinella (22nd)

Achroia grisella

Anania hortulata

Eulia ministrana

In June, a week's camping holiday in Devon meant 7 nights without records, with the trap back on by 03.vii.16.

Other more unusual records during this month were: Pale prominent (4th and only 4 taken) Rivulet (8th and just the one) Scorched wing (9th and 1 of 2) Brindled pug (9th and the only specimen) as was Light arches on the 16th.
A pleasing Green silver lines was only my second ever record on the 19th and followed by another on the 4th July whilst a Fern (22nd) was the only one, the same with Pinion streaked snout (24th)

A new for parish Sandy carpet

Prays fraxinella

Another new record: Pebble hooktip

On the 9th GJS and I ran several traps in Millennium Wood for another residents moth night. Again, a well attended event with families coming along from dusk. Shame that when the best moths are on the wing it is too late for the children to get out on a school day. However, I do pot several to show them at a later date, and take them into the local village primary school. As always, hawkmoths are really popular with children. In all on the 9th we took 46 species of over 250 moths with Yponomeuta cagnagella, Anthophilia fabricana, Nemophora degeerella, Udea olivalis, Tortrix viridana, Tinea semifulvella, Nematapogon swammerdamella and Parapoynx stratiotata being new for year micros and Brindled pug, Scorched wing, Clouded silver, Garden carpet and Yellowshell making the year macro list. In all 30 Silver ground carpets were recorded as well as a further 20 Plutella xylostella and both of these were conservative estimates!
On the 13th a Pale oak beauty to the garden trap was only 3rd parish record and Beautiful Golden Y on the 18th just one of two this year.
On the 21st a new for year record of 59 moths of 36 species taken to the garden Skinner. This record was soon the be beaten with 63 of 40 on the 23rd.
By the end of June the running totals were: 127 macros (Brindled pug being the 100th macro for the year) and 75 micros made up from 1558 moths.

Green silver lines

Wormwood pug

Pine hawkmoth

Selected first and last dates for June
Large nutmeg: 03.vi.16 - 15.vi.16
Straw dot, 1st gen: 07.vi.16 - 25.vi.16
Common wainscot: 13.vi.16 - 21.ix.16 (252 in total)
Brown rustic: 04.vi.16 - 09.vii.16.

Numbers from: Heart and Dart (67) Setaceous Hebrew Character (1060), Light emerald (77) Garden carpet (29) Treble brown spot (35) Straw dot (71 in 3 generations, finishing on 04.x.16)

Next installment, Just July to follow