A nights trapping in a clear, moonless and calm night certainly had an autumnal feel, although the temperature only dipped to +11 by 0300 in the morning. The smaller numbers of moths caught and some of the species certainly reflected this. However, the obvious highlight of the night were two Devon Carpets, the third and fourth Yorkshire records, following one I caught in the same site last August, and one this August at Hardcastle Crags. They must be resident in the county, and I am sure more records will follow.
Other moths caught were Centre-barred and Pink-barred Sallows, three Brown-spot Pinions and a splendid Red Underwing.
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| Devon Carpet |
The map below published with permission of Butterfly Conservation, shows the current distribution (excluding the Hardcastle Crag record), although Dorset, Wiltshire and some east Midland records of all species still have yet to be added to the map.
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| Devon Carpet with kind permission of Butterfly Conservation |
Now you're getting Devon Carpets, it can be only a matter of time before you find a Cornish Brown.
ReplyDeleteAh, the elusive Cornish Brown...as mythical as Ortolans.....
ReplyDelete