Saturday night's forecast was one of those that needed close scrutiny but I knew if I didn't go for it I would surely miss out. A very warm muggy night but with a front passing over around midnight the wind was due to pick up and a minor threat of at least some rain. I chose Pilmoor again, this time the southern end of the track, a site with tall trees which may at least offer some protection from the wind. As it turned out the temperature was still +25 at 2200 dropping to +17.1 by 0700, the wind did indeed pick up after midnight with strong gusts high up in the canopy which only occasionally percolated down to ground level, and only a very small spit of rain at about 0600 which caused momentary panic but then fortunately passed over.
What a great night with c1300 moths of at least 105 species, including several scarce moths, and at least four were new to me, and there were some very significant records for VC62. The first new one was a tiny moth no more than 3-4mm in length and only a poor record shot taken before it made a dash for freedom. However, the features noted are enough to identify it at Bohemmania quadrimaculella, a rare species in Britain and the first VC62 record since 1868!
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| Bohemannia quadrimaculella |
Another new one for me was Dichrorampha acuminatana, only the second recent VC62 record after two in 1948.
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| Dichrorampha acuminatana |
A Grapholita janthinana was also new to me and only this record is only the third site in VC62, the others are a handful of records in the North-east and a single record in the north of the county.
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| Grapholita janthinana |
I had at least four Anacampsis populella a moth new to me and the first VC62 records since 1883; Harry Beaumont did profer some caution and suggested "To my mind your gelechid does look like A. populella but both MBGBI 4(2) and Sterling & Parsons both say that reliable separation of this and A. blattariella is only possible by dissection unless the moths have been reared (from sallow or birch respectively). This seems to be a bit extreme to me as all my grey Anacampsis have proved to be populella and all the black/white ones blattariella on dissection.". Without actual specimens these may not actually make the grade for acceptance. Here follows examples of each.
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| Anacampsis populella |
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| Anacampsis blattariella |
Three Caloptilia alchimiella added to last weeks record doubles the number of VC62 records. A single Caloptila anglicella was new to me although not particularly uncommon.
Of the other moths trapped the overwhelming majority were of one species, the tiny micro Argyresthis goedartella with at least 450 counted, but oddly enough not photographed... A couple of China-marks were new for the site, an indication of the damp habitat. On checking, the Ringed China-mark seems to be the first VC62 record since 1883 and the Small China-mark seems to be only the 2nd VC62 record.
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| Ringed China-mark |
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| Small China-mark |
A small selection of photos of other micro-moth species follow, with the last one photographed in a lid measuring 20mm diameter, giving an indication of the actual size of the moth.
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| Batrachedra praeangusta |
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| Catoptria falsella |
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| Phyllonorycter geniculella |
A quick summary of catch at Pilmoor wood SE on 6 Aug 2016
Dark Dagger / Grey Dagger (Acronicta tridens/psi) 1
Cnephasia species (Cnephasia sp.) 4
Common Rustic agg. (Mesapamea secalis agg.) 2
Marbled Minor agg. (Oligia strigilis agg.) 4
04.072 a moth (Bohemannia quadrimaculella) 1
15.008 a moth (Caloptilia alchimiella) 3
15.015 a moth (Aspilapteryx tringipennella) 1
15.028 a moth (Parornix anglicella) 1
15.086 a moth (Phyllonorycter geniculella) 2
16.001 Bird-cherry Ermine (Yponomeuta evonymella) 1
16.002 Orchard Ermine (Yponomeuta padella) 1
17.003 Honeysuckle Moth (Ypsolopha dentella) 5
17.005 a moth (Ypsolopha scabrella) 2
17.010 a moth (Ypsolopha parenthesella) 29
18.001 Diamond-back Moth (Plutella xylostella) 7
20.011 a moth (Argyresthia brockeella) 4
20.012 a moth (Argyresthia goedartella) 456
28.014 a moth (Crassa unitella) 7
31.001 a moth (Carcina quercana) 4
32.007 a moth (Agonopterix ocellana) 1
35.011 a moth (Anacampsis populella) 4
35.012 a moth (Anacampsis blattariella) 7
35.018 a moth (Hypatima rhomboidella) 2
36.001 a moth (Batrachedra praeangusta) 1
41.002 a moth (Blastobasis adustella) 7
41.003 a moth (Blastobasis lacticolella) 1
49.024 Chequered Fruit-tree Tortrix (Pandemis corylana) 6
49.025 Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix (Pandemis cerasana) 2
49.062 a moth (Acleris forsskaleana) 5
49.071 a moth (Acleris emargana) 1
49.109 a moth (Agapeta hamana) 1
49.149 a moth (Apotomis turbidana) 13
49.150 a moth (Apotomis betuletana) 15
49.214 a moth (Ancylis badiana) 5
49.231 a moth (Epinotia brunnichana) 44
49.240 a moth (Epinotia immundana) 1
49.249 a moth (Epinotia ramella) 25
49.255 a moth (Epinotia nisella) 10
49.279 a moth (Gypsonoma dealbana) 2
49.281 a moth (Gypsonoma sociana) 4
49.313 a moth (Dichrorampha acuminatana) 1
49.341 a moth (Cydia splendana) 57
49.359 a moth (Grapholita janthinana) 1
50.002 Leopard Moth (Zeuzera pyrina) 1
62.035 a moth (Acrobasis advenella) 2
63.037 a moth (Udea olivalis) 3
63.038 Mother of Pearl (Pleuroptya ruralis) 6
63.060 a moth (Evergestis pallidata) 1
63.064 a moth (Scoparia ambigualis) 21
63.074 a moth (Eudonia mercurella) 5
63.075 a moth (Eudonia pallida) 8
63.093 a moth (Agriphila straminella) 4
63.102 a moth (Catoptria falsella) 1
63.116 Small China-mark (Cataclysta lemnata) 2
63.117 Ringed China-mark (Parapoynx stratiotata) 2
65.001 Scalloped Hook-tip (Falcaria lacertinaria) 18
65.002 Oak Hook-tip (Watsonalla binaria) 4
65.005 Pebble Hook-tip (Drepana falcataria) 14
69.003 Poplar Hawk-moth (Laothoe populi) 1
70.011 Single-dotted Wave (Idaea dimidiata) 2
70.013 Small Fan-footed Wave (Idaea biselata) 4
70.016 Riband Wave [non-banded form] (Idaea aversata ab. remutata) 3
70.045 Shaded Broad-bar (Scotopteryx chenopodiata) 2
70.051 Red Twin-spot Carpet (Xanthorhoe spadicearia) 3
70.055 Large Twin-spot Carpet (Xanthorhoe quadrifasiata) 2
70.061 Common Carpet (Epirrhoe alternata) 3
70.074 July Highflier (Hydriomena furcata) 45
70.091 Northern Spinach (Eulithis populata) 1
70.094 Small Phoenix (Ecliptopera silaceata) 13
70.205 Magpie Moth (Abraxas grossulariata) 1
70.207 Clouded Border (Lomaspilis marginata) 1
70.226 Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata) 4
70.227 Bordered Beauty (Epione repandaria) 1
70.234 Canary-shouldered Thorn (Ennomos alniaria) 4
70.237 Early Thorn (Selenia dentaria) 2
70.239 Purple Thorn (Selenia tetralunaria) 2
70.277 Common White Wave (Cabera pusaria) 2
70.278 Common Wave (Cabera exanthemata) 6
70.283 Light Emerald (Campaea margaritaria) 2
71.012 Iron Prominent (Notodonta dromedarius) 14
71.013 Pebble Prominent (Notodonta ziczac) 6
71.017 Swallow Prominent (Pheosia tremula) 2
71.018 Lesser Swallow Prominent (Pheosia gnoma) 27
71.020 Pale Prominent (Pterostoma palpina) 3
71.021 Coxcomb Prominent (Ptilodon capucina) 1
72.002 Straw Dot (Rivula sericealis) 4
72.003 Snout (Hypena proboscidalis) 1
72.013 Yellow-tail (Euproctis similis) 5
72.024 Ruby Tiger (Phragmatobia fuliginosa) 1
72.043 Buff Footman (Eilema depressa) 4
72.044 Dingy Footman (Eilema griseola) 60
72.045 Common Footman (Eilema lurideola) 4
73.015 Silver Y (Autographa gamma) 1
73.046 Poplar Grey (Subacronicta megacephala) 1
73.084 Marbled Beauty (Bryophila domestica) 1
73.123 Rosy Rustic (Hydraecia micacea) 1
73.147 Small Dotted Buff (Photedes minima) 3
73.168 Double Lobed (Lateroligia ophiogramma) 1
73.216 Dun-bar (Cosmia trapezina) 62
73.293 Smoky Wainscot (Mythimna impura) 1
73.329 Flame Shoulder (Ochropleura plecta) 1
73.342 Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba) 123
73.343 Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing (Noctua fimbriata) 1
73.348 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing (Noctua janthe) 7
73.353 Dotted Clay (Xestia baja) 2
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