September Moth Report

 September concluded with a total of 10,230 moths being recorded for the parish this year. This total was made up of 241 macro species and 208 micro species, most recently, mainly leaf mine evidence. So, the total species so far for 2022 now stands at 449.

Nothing particularly noteworthy for the month but plenty of migratory species arriving at the trap. A Vestal on the 2nd was pleasing and another on the 11th whilst Turnip moths became regular visitors to the trap towards the end of the month.

The highlight was an L-album wainscot on the 22nd which is an uncommon moth for Hertfordshire. Only 8 records for the county and then, remarkably, 2 were taken on the 24th.

Nomophila noctuella was a regular migrant at the start of the month whilst a 2nd generation Cydalima perspectalis only appeared once, on the 22nd.

Plutella xylostella were in very small numbers, taken on the 14th and 20th and no Beet moths here, although taken in several traps around Bishop's Stortford. Ostrina nubalis on the 13th and a not so common Metalampra italica started the month rolling on the 1st when a Udea ferrugalis was also taken

Several Cypress pugs in the middle of the month, both to the garden 125MV Skinner and also in the nearby village allotments to the 15W actinic Heath trap.

Most of the anticipated autumnal macros have now been recorded, rarely into double figures on any night but still a few yet to be taken such as MDJ, Brick, Red line and Yellow line Quakers and no sign of any Catacala sp although a Dark Crimson Underwing was taken in Stocking Wood as was a Clifden Nonpareil, both by local lepidopterist, Graeme J. Smith.

The month has mainly been taken up by working towards the end of my lepidoptera survey of Stocking Wood, a great site for both moths and butterflies. The records and report are now being written for the land owner who seeks advice on how to improve the habitat for insect species and to increase the biodiversity of this 18 hectare deciduous woodland, some of it categorised as ancient.

In total, having searched archive records, it has seen 29 species of butterflies and this year, close to 400 moth species. Of the 29 butterfly species, 27 have been seen this year, the only 2 that were not recorded were Painted Lady and Wall, the latter being a strange record from 1985, but accepted by the County Recorder. No Walls have been recorded in Hertfordshire for several years now, so this is thought to have been a wandering male. The recording continues with obvious omissions hopefully found before the end of the year. An action plan has been devised for volunteers to work in the wood to improve the habitat and regular weekly moth nights planned for 2023 along with a weekly check on the butterfly species. The wood holds plenty of English Elm and Wych Elm so there are resident species such as White letter Hairstreak, Epinotia abbreviana and Acleris kochiella present that are not found in any other local woodland.

Cydalima perspectalis

Cypress pug

L-album Wainscot

Ostrina nubalis

Vestal