Some good arachnid records!

Having found the extremely good Spider Recording Scheme website at http://srs.britishspiders.org.uk/ I felt inspired to have a go at identifying a handful of photographs of spiders I had accumulated over the last few years.  I had a go at four spiders and a couple of harvestmen.  The first response I got confirmed that most were incorrectly identified and that the harvestmen needed to go to another recorder.  Once I got all of the responses back, I had a bit of a shock.  One of the harvestmen, which I had photographed on the wall of the house here in Langthorpe back in January 2008, was a female Opilio canestrinii which was not only new for Yorkshire but possibly only the second UK record; I have been advised by Peter Harvey who runs the SRS scheme, that following the first in Lea Valley in 1999, the next was in Matlock in 2009, then with 4 in 2010 and 9 in 2011 from various other locations. 

Opilio canestrinii, NEW for Yorkshire

Opilio canestrinii

Another spider of interest was a bright yellow Araneus marmoreus var. pyramidatus seen at Pilmoor which was only about the 2nd VC62 record in the last 30 years.

Araneus marmoreus var pyramidatus

One spider I did not have a photo of, but knew rather well was Pholcus phalangioides.  I first came across this one back in 2003 in Dorset, when idly perusing the internet and found a request for sightings of this species on the Dorset Environmental Records Center website.  I looked up, and blow me down there was one of these with a family of spiderlings in an untidy little web on the ceiling.  They are quite distinctive, and when touched they tend to spin round madly.  As it happens I noticed them again when we were renting in Hartwith near Harrogate, and again several times in the house here in Langthorpe.  It turns out, it is a new record for VC65!


Platybunus triangularis was the other harvestman photographed, which was at Low Wood, Sessay, on 12 June 2011, and appears to be the first recent record in the last 20 odd years for VC62.

Platybunus triangularis

The other photos were of more regular species and I include them just for completeness.  I think it just goes to show that spiders are vastly under-recorded and there is plenty of scope for making discoveries...as long as you can identify the little buggers!

Araneus quadratus, Windmill Farm NR, Lizard, Cornwall, VC1

Araneus diadematus, Windmill Farm NR, Lizard, VC1

Pisaura mirabilis, female with egg sac, Holm Bushes near Middlemarsh, VC9.  A new record for 10km square.

Last year's top 20 macros...

A very unscientific look at 2011 compared with the previous two years threw up some quite interesting statistics.  There are obvious drawbacks with such a small data set, and even taking into account 25% more effort through the year, the spread of trapping sites and dates was fairly consistent.  The 20 most numerous macro species were, in most cases, considerably more numerous than the average of the previous two years.

There were declines noted in 4 species, Common Quaker and Small Quaker down due to the extremely good numbers of Spring 2010; Large Yellow Underwing was well down on 2010, but similar to 2009, as was Mottled Beauty which was only fractionally down on the average. 

The next few slight increases may be accounted for mainly by the extra effort, and then there are some dramatic figures, more than doubling for Brown Silver-line, Clouded Border and Yellow-tail.  Next, Flame Shoulder, Common Footman, Dark Arches and in particular Smoky Wainscot and July Highflyer increased greatly, and the amazing numbers of Four-dotted Footman was also the third most common species which in itself is remarkable.

Taxon	Vernacular	2011	2010	2009	Ave 2009/10	% change
Orthosia cerasi	Common Quaker	272	530	135	333	-18.2
Noctua pronuba	Large Yellow Underwing	190	283	180	232	-17.9
Orthosia cruda	Small Quaker	107	201	48	125	-14.1
Alcis repandata	Mottled Beauty	217	133	303	218	-0.5
Campaea margaritata	Light Emerald	122	39	187	113	8.0
Pheosia gnoma	Lesser Swallow Prominent	116	71	99	85	36.5
Orthosia incerta	Clouded Drab	188	223	51	137	37.2
Conistra vaccinii	Chestnut	107	112	22	67	59.7
Xanthorhoe montanata	Silver-ground Carpet	142	81	69	75	89.3
Idaea aversata	Riband Wave	124	39	89	64	93.8
Petrophora chlorosata	Brown Silver-line	175	112	62	87	101.1
Oligia strigilis agg.	Marbled Minor agg.	112	69	39	54	107.4
Euproctis similis	Yellow-tail	131	38	88	63	107.9
Lomaspilis marginata	Clouded Border	194	46	86	66	193.9
Ochropleura plecta	Flame Shoulder	136	39	35	37	267.6
Eilema lurideola	Common Footman	562	119	142	131	330.7
Apamea monoglypha	Dark Arches	109	42	7	25	344.9
Mythimna impura	Smoky Wainscot	122	24	22	23	430.4
Hydriomena furcata	July Highflyer	220	23	33	28	685.7
Cybosia mesomella	Four-dotted Footman	258	0	13	7	3869.2

Four-dotted Footman

The Four-dotted Footman trapped in 2011 were all in the Pilmoor area:

Pilmoor wood SE	SE4672		1	07-Jun-11
Pilmoor wood NE	SE4673		1	07-Jun-11
Low Wood (E), Pilmoor	SE4772		5	14-Jun-11
Sessay Wood, Pilmoor	SE4773		14	14-Jun-11
Pilmoor wood SE	SE4672		1 dead	29-Jun-11
Sessay Wood, Pilmoor	SE4773		82	02-Jul-11
Low Wood (E), Pilmoor	SE4772		21	02-Jul-11
Pilmoor wood NE	SE4673		84	10-Jul-11
Sessay Wood, Pilmoor	SE4773		42	14-Jul-11
Pilmoor wood SE	SE4672		7	21-Jul-11

A mild night was too tempting.

After a run of several mild nights, and 100% cloud cover shielding the almost full moon, I was tempted out to spend an hour or so with the 160MVB over a sheet at Pilmoor.  So while not expecting very much, the odd moths fluttered to the light between 1805 and 1900, but no more thereafter, so gave up gracefully.

The total catch was four Tortricodes alternella, a Winter Moth, Spring Usher and two Chestnut.  To start the year off with a photo of possibly the least inspiring geometrid moths, especially as it is one from the dark end of the spectrum.....

Spring Usher, Pilmoor wood, 10 Jan 2012

As a brief footnote, Charlie has since mentioned that this is the 4th earliest Yorkshire record, and two others were this winter too.

2011 and all that...

The first update for some time, for which I apologise, mainly due to the fact that I have not done any trapping since the warm spell in early October.  In addition, there were other very time-consuming events, including trying to replace the old boiler....no, not a reference to any attempts to change my marital status, but more to vast amounts of cash spent on a temperamental heating system that defies all attempts to burst into life as and when I need the heat!  The boiler has now been replaced (thanks Mother!) just in time for this unseasonal mild weather......hoorah!

So, forgive my indulgence, but time for a bit of a look back on the year so far.  Moth trapping has been the most successful year yet in Yorkshire, with 10,290 moths of 429 species for the year, considerably more than the totals achieved in the previous 5 years, but still only just similar numbers to my annual Dorset garden year-list.  This was obviously assisted by spending 45 nights out and about in the county from late February to early October, an increase of 10 nights on the previous two years. 

Other than a few days trapping in Ireland and a brief foray to Dorset, the highlights for me in Yorkshire were as follows:

Of the scarcer micros, the rare but strikingly pied Ethmia quadrillella at Kilburn on 2^nd June; four Epinotia demarniana from three sites in the Pilmoor area 12^th June to 10^th July; singles of Eucosmomorpha albersana and Cydia coniferana at Kilburn on 2^nd June; four of the reed-dwelling Calamotropha paludella at Staveley 2^nd and 13^th August; five Phlyctaenia perlucidalis at Staveley on 26^th June and 3^rd July.

A Poplar Lutestring at Kilburn on 11^th May, the most westerly of about ten previous records in Yorkshire; single Birch Mocha in Pilmoor area on 7^th June and 14^th July; singles of the beautiful Clouded Magpie at Kilburn on  25^th June, and by day near Scawton on 6^th June.  Brindled Beauty is a scarce moth in Yorkshire, so six in a wood near Helmsley on 22^nd April was a record count; Red-necked Footman consolidated its arrival in the County with three at Kilburn on 2^nd June; unprecedented numbers of Four-dotted Footman with a maximum of 103 at Sessay wood on 2^nd July.

Targeting Aspen in the spring produced a Lead-coloured Drab at Pilmoor on 21^st March; a total of 15 Angle-striped Sallow from five sites, unusually including Brimham Rocks, 2^nd July to the 4^th September; Mere Wainscot recorded from two sites at Pilmoor/Sessay, the first here since first recorded in 1968, and the most northern records of a patchy distribution in the UK.

Speculative trapping on Dallowgill Moor in less than ideal weather produced a Haworth's Minor on 1^st October;   Autumn trapping at Staveley produced some good reed-bed species including a Crescent on 2^nd and 13^th August, two Brown-veined Wainscot on 13^th August, and a Blackneck on 3^rd July; an Anomalous at Brimham on 2^nd September was new for the site.

As far as birding went, no real surprises due very little effort, although had some extremely enjoyable birding in Ireland on the beautiful west coast.  In the totally meaningless quest for new species it was actually a bumper year, with a couple of lifers and several good British and Irish ticks: Stejneger’s Scoter, Black Scoter, Terek Sandpiper, White-throated Robin, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Pallid Harrier and Greater Yellowlegs. The long-staying Northumbrian Yellowlegs was particularly good to see, as it is nearly 30 years since seeing good numbers in the USA and Canada, and my only previous attempt for a British one was the long-distance dip at Great Yarmouth 35 years ago!

What 2012 holds is full of uncertainty…..as Pessi-mystic Meg says "we're doomed!"

That's it for the trapping year then..

A cool clear evening at Pilmoor, dark before 1900, and very few moths.  Three traps out for about 3 hours with only 14 moths making the effort, nine of which were November Moth agg.. As my only trapping is spending time out at night at sites away from home, this sort of return does not warrant the effort.  

I suppose there is leaf-mines which might bring a bit of relief before the really grim months set in.  Roll on April!

I think the next few months entries are going to have to rely on photographic effort for content...unless of course there is an unseasonal heatwave and an influx of migrants....

A funny old day.....

Up early to watch the rugby, and then a drive down to Elvington airfield just south-east of York, to attend the AGM of the Yorkshire branch of Butterfly Conservation.  The pleasant cross-country route, took in a Red Kite lumbering across the road near Ouseburn.  On entering the meeting room in one of the wartime nissen huts at Elvington, I was greeted rather loudly by Charlie Fletcher, the County recorder, saying that he was pleased to see me tickling genitalia these days…I am sure there was a pause in the hubbub of conversation in the room…..

After a number of interesting presentations later, there was the photographic competition, roughly 100 photos, most were extremely good, and I was very chuffed to be called out and pick up a bottle of wine for third place.  This was swiftly followed by one of my tickets coming up in the raffle and winning a tin of Quality Street for the kids.

Swallowtail, Corfu 2011

There was another meeting at the airfield, this one was an MG Owners club rally.  Great to see a handful of Midgets, MGB's and GT's, and some of the awful pretend newer MG's.  One thing that was missing was the MGBGT V8, probably the best car I have ever owned, and the only car I actually sold for a profit.  There was an ordinary GT there which was the same pale lemon yellow colour as my old car, recalling the colour of a Teddy Boys sock.  At one time, I owned the V8 and a Midget, and my Brother-in-law had a Midget,and when visited by Pog when he had his red MGB,we had a rally of our own outside my parents house.

The drive home was accompanied on the Radio with the Radio 2 highlight of the week, Johnnie Walker’s Sounds of the 70’s, and even better heavily featured Pink Floyd.  Brilliant.

A late afternoon request to sort the horse out, which usually means it’s hissing down, I actually managed to get to the yard, walk out and fed the boy, change his rug, and get back to the stable within an almost biblical parting of the stratocumulus, and managed to avoid the rain….Things may actually be looking up!

My other entries were as follows:

Eastern Bath White, Turkey 2009

Clouded Border, North Yorkshire 2011

  

Hungarian Glider,Hungary 2008

Wood White, Hungary 2008

The most effective trapping method

Having read a number of articles on trapping methods and different bulbs, I decided to look at my own data to see which is the most effective type of trap and bulb.  I added up the number of trap events and moths caught using each type of trap/bulb for the years 2009-2011, and came up with an average number of moths per trapping session for each trap.  The figures were remarkably consistent each year.

Trap method                               Events/total moths/average per event
Double Gladiator 2 x 22w actinic       28        660        23.6
40w actinic Robinson                       47      2562        54.5
160w MVBT over a sheet                 67       7593      113.3
125w MV Robinson                        104     13131      126.3

To give some background on the types of traps, the two actinic traps tended to be used more in the off peak seasons, so the numbers might be artificially lower, but even when used in peak the numbers are relatively similar.  

Double Gladiator - 2 circular 22w bulbs, a Paul Batty creation, and most useful when trapping in the garden. Used the least, and tended to be used off season which may reduce the number of moths caught.  Due to being a translucent plastic box, it tends to attract a fair number of moths to the outside walls.

40w actinic Robinson - an upright bulb within plastic vanes, on a home-made Robinson type trap.  This runs from a car battery, and again tended to be used off-peak when it did not warrant staying out overnight. so can be left unattended with a solar switch for the night.  Having a flat top, should not be used in heavy dew, as the moisture collects unwary moths.

I only bought the 160MVBT during 2009, a mercury vapour bulb with a tungsten element added, and used more frequently in 2010, and by 2011 it was used the same number of times as the 125w Robinson.  One of the advantages of the 160MVBT is the fact that it does not require a heavy ballast and control, and plugs directly into the power source, with the disadvantage that it runs even hotter than the 125MV. Of course,  when used suspended over a sheet it requires a flat sheltered location for the sheet.

The 125w Robinson is a standard ALS trap, used by many trappers around the country, and out-performed all of the other methods.  Having said that, the 160MVBT and sheet performs only 10% less effectively than the Robinson, but has the advantage of the catch being visible throughout the night, and would be more useful at a trapping event attended by others.

Photo by Ken Noble

For a proper scientific comparison, I should have 160MVBT on a Robinson and a 125MV suspended over a sheet, but I am happy with the results I achieve, but may consider experimenting further next year..

Although the effectiveness of the various traps are noted above, it should be noted that when a combination of the different methods are used, it can be quite noticeable the different species attracted to the traps.  The different wavelengths of ultraviolet light obviously affect which species are attracted.  I think the mixed combination of bulbs and traps allows greater flexibility to access different habitats at the same site, and also attracts a greater diversity of species.

All the equipment was purchased from Paul Batty http://www.pwbelg.clara.net/mercury/ or Jon Clifton of Anglian Lepidoptera Supplies http://www.angleps.com/.