December started reasonably well, improved during the mid period and concluded with many nights of minus temperatures. However, the 10,000 moth was taken 08.xii.16, a winter moth to actinic light on the local golf course footpath.
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| Blastobasis lacticolella |
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| Chestnut |
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| Any of these were the 10,000 moth for the year. |
During this period I set the Heath trap at a variety of sites whilst visiting others with head torch and net. The best time was invariably at dusk, when winter moth were on the wing in considerable numbers and then, about an hour after dark, I found it worthwhile checking rosehips and guelder rose berries where Satellite, Chestnuts and an occasional Brick could be found feeding.
On the 2nd a Caloptilia rufipennella came to the actinic trap in Millennium Wood, where I also recorded 64 Winter moth and a Satellite. A visit to several sites on the 6th gave up winter moths and satellites as well as a Chestnut at Pigs Green, whilst on the 8th, 2 Dark chestnuts were taken along Hoecroft Lane.
Winter moth numbers were quite outstanding, with 26 on the 7th, 105 from Millennium Wood on the 9th, 90 from Ash Valley Golf Course on the 13th, 82 from Millennium Wood on the 16th, 36 from Valley Fields (18th) 73 at Millennium Wood (21st) and 79 from the same venue on the 31st.
Only unusual records for the month, along with C. rufipennella was a Blastobasis lacticolella taken to headtorch in Millennium Wood on the 9th and a pleasing record, new for the parish of Ypsolopha ustella that came to the actinic trap set at Pig's Green on the 21st.
On New Year's Eve I set the actinic 15W at Alder Wood and then spent several hours visiting many of the sites I had trapped at over the year. The highlight was coming across a newly born muntjac in Suffyldes Wood where I also took 3 winter moth. Between 4.30 and 7.00pm I visited Millennium Wood, Hadham Hall, Suffyldes Wood, Westland Green, Pig's Green, Chapel Lane and the golf course before returning to empty the trap. Here I found a mottled umber (100th species for Alder Wood) and 14 winter moth either on or in the trap. In total, 130 moths were recorded: 122 Winter moth, 5 Satellite and 3 Mottled umber.
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| Sprawler |
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| Mottled Umber |
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| Nomophila noctuella |
The year ended with a total of 514 species and a record for me of 11,130 moths recorded.
TABLE OF TRAPPING RECORDS:
Site
|
Tetrad
|
Times trapped
|
Species count
|
New for parish records
|
Average species per visit
|
Garden
|
TL42F
|
352
|
382
|
32
|
1.08
|
Westland Green
|
TL42G
|
19
|
98
|
3
|
5.15
|
Chapel Lane
|
TL42F
|
18
|
81
|
2
|
4.50
|
Millennium Wood
|
TL42K
|
37
|
185
|
10
|
5.00
|
Suffyldes Wood
|
TL42F
|
24
|
115
|
4
|
4.79
|
Valley Fields
|
TL42G
|
15
|
88
|
1
|
5.86
|
Pig’s Green
|
TL42F
|
18
|
100
|
8
|
5.55
|
Brick Kiln Hill
|
TL42F
|
16
|
81
|
0
|
5.06
|
Alder Wood
|
TL42F
|
15
|
100
|
6
|
6.66
|
Ash Valley Golf Course
|
TL42F
|
11
|
64
|
10
|
5.81
|
Hoecroft Lane
|
TL42F
|
16
|
72
|
4
|
4.50
|
Little Hadham Place
|
TL42G
|
10
|
65
|
1
|
6.5
|
Hadham Hall
|
TL42L
|
8
|
84
|
5
|
9.33
|
East Wood
|
TL42Q
|
2
|
14
|
0
|
7.00
|
The above results were not part of a scientific study, just random placement whilst I did endeavour to trap each site more than 10 times. Hadham Hall stands out as the "best" site by having an average species count per session of 9.33. Here, permission was not granted to trap at this private site until June, so all visits were during the peak period for numbers. East Wood was visited only twice, once to find Small yellow underwing and then a leaf mining visit in November.
However, of particular interest is the closeness of most of the averages with, for example, Hoecroft Lane and Suffyldes Wood. These 2 sites are 400 yards apart and made up of neglected hornbeam, ash and hazel.On many dead trees are bramble and ivy and so it can be expected that tallies would be similar. Alder Wood, as well as alder, contains a small conifer plantation and well established beech and is right next to part of Ash Valley GC where D. petrivella and D. sequana were netted during day time sessions. Also, the best site for Marbled white.
The site chosen at Hadham Hall is next to a pond whilst Millennium Wood is a 16 year old plantation of oak, ash, cherry, hazel, dogwood, hornbeam and guelder rose. I am presently volunteer manager of this 3.75 acre site which is used for leisure by the locals and also by the local primary school for their Forest School Initiative. Superb to see the children of all ages using the wood every Wednesday afternoon.
2017 Targets.
In 2017 I am having a change of philosophy and not just targeting large numbers. I have identified 7 or 8 specific sites within the parish that hold a paricular plant or tree that may offer a chance to take rarer moths within Little Hadham. One site selected has a good stand of black poplar whilst another has gorse and a small stand of broom. Letters have been written to the land owners seeking permission to run the Actinic trap and hopefully these requests will be looked upon favourably. I shall continue to trap at Hadham Hall and Millennium Wood but will be looking to achieve 700 species within the parish by the end of the year. The parish total presently stands at 674 species.
The first big target species will be sloe carpet. Yet to be recorded in Herts but with several sites holding plenty of blackthorn it will be worth trying for. This will require the trap to be set right inside the stand of trees and should also give up good numbers of water carpet. Just need to wait for the blossom.
Finally, wishing all readers and very Happy New Year and I wish you the very best of mothing in 2017.
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| Satellite |
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