Moth News: Late spring Review

The first two thirds of May continued as April left off, with cool, damp and rather depressing weather often accompanied by northerly winds. A slight sunny reprieve on the weekend of the 12th allowed a chance to look for day-flying moths but it was not until 20th that night-time temperatures rose high enough for serious trapping to be worthwhile. The last 11 days of the month were a complete contrast, with daytime temperatures gradually climbing to 28°C in Dorset and Highland, with some particularly warm and muggy overnight conditions felt.

Unsurprisingly, scarce migrant records proved few and far between early in the month, although two Striped Hawkmoths were trapped in Kent: one was at Orpington on 1st, with another at Lydd-on-Sea a week later.

Striped Hawkmoth, Orpington (Kent), 2nd May 2012 (Paul Sokoloff).

In between these, a Vestal was seen by day on Wickham Common (Hants) on 3rd, followed by a Dewick's Plusia in Dartford (Kent) on 10th.

Dewick's Plusia, Dartford (Kent), 11th May 2012 (James Hunter).

Single Gems were recorded in Cornwall, Dorset and Essex. The month also saw a steady trickle of Diamond-back Moths that slowly increased to a marked 'spike' of 68 in one night at Portland Bill (Dorset) on 19th. Silver Y records also gathered momentum late in the month, with a good sample count of 11 at Woodnewton (Northants) on 30th followed by 13 the next night at Norton Sub Hamdon (Somerset). These indicator species were backed up by some quality, such as a Scarce Chocolate-tip at Sandwich Bay (Kent) on 23rd and a Bordered Straw at Long Hanborough (Oxon) the following day. Perhaps the migrant of the month was Tony Morris's prize capture of the impressive Lunar Double-stripe at his constant effort site at St. Margaret's at Cliffe (Kent) on 26th.

Lunar Double-stripe, St. Margaret's at Cliffe (Kent), 27th May 2012 (Tony Morris).

There were no immigrant Rannoch Loopers this spring, but a tiny influx of Cloaked Pugs was of interest. The first — in Colin Potter's Coventry (Warks) garden on 25th — was totally unexpected, being only the tenth record for VC38. One also reached Basingstoke (Hants) the next night, while on 27th individuals were found in Southsea (Hants) and Swinton (Lancs). This is a predominately spruce-feeding species that breeds very locally in the UK, and these four — all in gardens — are typical of other vagrant records and thus probably of European origin.

Cloaked Pug, Coventry (Warks), 26th May 2012 (Colin Potter).

Blair's Mochas were recorded at Bonchurch (IoW) on 26th and at Broadwey (Dorset) on 31st.

Blair's Mocha, Broadwey (Dorset), 1st June 2012 (Paul Harris).

The scarce migrant pyralid Loxostege sticticalis (1368) was found by day at Duchal Moor (Renfrewshire) by Neil Gregory on 27th, followed by one coming to light at St. Margaret's at Cliffe (Kent) on 31st.

Loxostege sticticalis, Duchal Moor (Renfrewshire), 27th May 2012 (Neil Gregory).

Further Striped Hawkmoths late on included one photographed at a house in Waterford City on 26th and another to light in Basingstoke (Hants) on the final day of the month. Other more expected migrants were five Hummingbird Hawkmoths, 20 Dark Sword-grass, three White-speck, 27 Rusty Dot Pearl and 26 Rush Veneers. Migrant butterflies were rather scarce, with just five Clouded Yellows and 13 Painted Ladies reported. The only migrant Odonata included four Red-veined Darter dragonflies at one site on the Hampshire coast on 27th, with seven males at Belvide Reservoir (Staffs) on 28th, four at Spurn (E Yorks) on 30th, and others in Lincolnshire, Dorset, Kent and Pembrokeshire.

The stop-start nature of spring 2012 continued into early May, and an adult Small Eggar still on the wing near Lyng (Norfolk) on 9th was rather late — no doubt it had been held up by April's awful weather. Despite March's series of early emergence dates, the picture was again looking grave by mid-May with many late-spring species either present in very low numbers or simply failing to show at all. Some pessimistic moth-ers were talking about a possible 'moth armageddon', with garden catches more like those expected in February than mid-May! Things had to change and, by around 22nd, they did. A combination of much warmer weather and an increase in trapping effort led to scores of first emergence dates right across the country. As a continuation from the earlier spring articles, a table containing a wide selection of emergence dates for macro moths over the period can be found below. Note that this this not intended to be a definitive list for the whole of the British Isles; it is merely a collation by the author from personal communication and online newsgroups and websites.

Table 1: First emergence dates for British Macros, May 2012

Species	Date	Location	County
Small Purple-barred	10th April	High and Over	East Sussex
Iron Prominent	27th April	Tincleton	Dorset
White Ermine	27th April	Puddletown	Dorset
Fox Moth	29th April	South Uist	Outer Hebrides
Grey Scalloped Bar	29th April	South Uist	Outer Hebrides
Satyr Pug	29th April	South Uist	Outer Hebrides
Pebble Hook-tip	30th April	Wimbledon	Surrey
Mottled Pug	30th April	Buckingham Woods	Buckinghamshire
Scalloped Hazel	30th April	Buckingham Woods	Buckinghamshire
Clouded Border	1st May	Sandwich Bay	Kent
Clouded-bordered Brindle	1st May	Tynemouth	Northumberland
Clouded Silver	1st May	Warton Crag	Lancashire
Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet	1st May	Rhoose Point	Glamorgan
Glaucous Shears	1st May	South Glendale, S Uist	Outer Hebrides
Grey Pine Carpet	1st May	Seer Green	Buckinghamshire
Mother Shipton	1st May	Meon Valley	Hampshire
Poplar Kitten	1st May	Bampton	Oxfordshire
Rustic Shoulder-knot	1st May	Tolpuddle Manor	Dorset
Seraphim	1st May	Marston Thrift	Bedfordshire
Spectacle	1st May	Bampton	Oxfordshire
Yellow Belle	1st May	Sandwich Bay	Kent
Dog's Tooth	2nd May	Norton Sub Hamdon	Somerset
Narrow-winged Pug	2nd May	East Lulworth	Dorset
Peppered Moth	2nd May	Wiveliscombe	Somerset
Poplar Hawkmoth	2nd May	Langport	Somerset
Sallow Kitten	2nd May	Shaggs	Dorset
Sweet Gale Moth	2nd May	Askernish, South Uist	Outer Hebrides
Tawny-barred Angle	2nd May	Tincleton	Dorset
Coxcomb Prominent	3rd May	Silverdale Moss	Lancashire
Dwarf Pug	3rd May	Shilbottle	Northumberland
Large Yellow Underwing	3rd May	Rodwell	Dorset
May Highflyer	3rd May	Preston	Lancashire
Purple Bar	3rd May	Rhoose Point	Glamorgan
Scorched Wing	3rd May	Silverdale Moss	Lancashire
Tawny Shears	3rd May	St. Osyth	Essex
Treble-bar	3rd May	Rhoose Point	Glamorgan
White-spotted Pug	3rd May	Sandwich Bay	Kent
Ruddy Highflyer	4th May	Little Treleaver	Cornwall
Buff Ermine	7th May	St. Margaret's at Cliffe	Kent
Buff-tip	7th May	Broadwey	Dorset
Cypress Carpet	7th May	Broadwey	Dorset
Heart and Dart	7th May	Chickerell	Dorset
Latticed Heath	7th May	Braughing	Hertfordshire
Mottle Rustic	7th May	Dumpton	Kent
Shears	7th May	Ipswich	Suffolk
Beautiful Yellow Underwing	8th May	Black Park	Buckinghamshire
Birch Mocha	8th May	Black Park	Buckinghamshire
Cinnabar	8th May	Margam	Glamorgan
Common Swift	8th May	Lower Stondon	Bedfordshire
Current Pug	8th May	Bewdley	Worcestershire
Light Brocade	8th May	Norton Sub Hamdon	Somerset
Lunar Thorn	8th May	Great Fen	Cambridgeshire
Mottled Beauty	8th May	Winterbourne Houghton	Dorset
Orange Footman	8th May	Fritton	Suffolk
Pinion-spotted Pug	8th May	Biggleswade	Bedfordshire
Poplar Grey	8th May	Southport	Lancashire
Common Wave	9th May	Sandwich Bay	Kent
Broad-barred White	10th May	Dumpton	Kent
Marbled Minor	10th May	Norton Sub Hamdon	Somerset
Silver Cloud	10th May	Bransford	Worcestershire
The Flame	10th May	Stockton-on-Tees	Cleveland
Treble Lines	10th May	Warndon	Worcestershire
Argent and Sable	12th May	Bentley Woods	Wiltshire
Burnet Companion	12th May	Kithurst Hill	West Sussex
Devon Carpet	12th May	Lords Lot	Lancashire
Eyed Hawkmoth	12th May	Alderholt	Dorset
Nutmeg	12th May	Rodwell	Dorset
Rivulet	12th May	Denge Wood	Kent
Setaceous Hebrew Character	12th May	Rhoose Point	Glamorgan
Small Yellow Underwing	12th May	Penny Hill Bank NR	Worcestershire
Speckled Yellow	12th May	Bentley Woods	Wiltshire
Toadflax Brocade	12th May	Potton	Bedfordshire
Lychnis	15th May	Merton	Oxfordshire
Broken-barred Carpet	16th May	Bowness-on-Solway	Cumbria
Cream-spot Tiger	16th May	Rhoose Point	Glamorgan
Large Red-belted Clearwing	16th May	Blean Woods	Kent
Sand Dart	16th May	Titchwell	Norfolk
Small Square-spot	16th May	Howick	Northumberland
White Colon	16th May	Titchwell	Norfolk
Alder Kitten	17th May	Bewdley	Worcestershire
Grass Rivulet	17th May	Owston Meadow	Yorkshire
Grey Pug	17th May	Burscough	Lancashire
Ochreous Pug	17th May	Bewdley	Worcestershire
Silver-ground Carpet	17th May	Wiveliscombe	Somerset
Common White Wave	18th May	Chippenham Fen	Cambridgeshire
Dark Brocade	18th May	Corfe Mullen	Dorset
Flame Wainscot	18th May	Chippenham Fen	Cambridgeshire
Pale-shouldered Brocade	18th May	Chippenham Fen	Cambridgeshire
Sandy Carpet	18th May	Chippenham Fen	Cambridgeshire
Silver Hook	18th May	Chippenham Fen	Cambridgeshire
Small Elephant Hawkmoth	18th May	Portland	Dorset
Treble Brown Spot	18th May	Earith	Cambridgeshire
Willow Beauty	18th May	Chickerell	Dorset
Balsam Carpet	19th May	Test Valley	Hampshire
Coronet	19th May	Broadwey	Dorset
Cream Wave	19th May	Bradfield	Buckinghamshire
Drab Looper	19th May	Bradfield	Buckinghamshire
Edinburgh Pug	19th May	Aviemore	Highland
Galium Carpet	19th May	St. Margaret's at Cliffe	Kent
Sharp-angled Peacock	19th May	Cadnam	Hampshire
Six-spot Burnet	19th May	Shapwick Heath	Somerset
Marbled Brown	20th May	Seer Green	Buckinghamshire
Striped Twin-spot Carpet	20th May	Baines Crag	Lancashire
Foxglove Pug	21st May	Bowness-on-Solway	Cumbria
Freyer's Pug	21st May	Funtley	Hampshire
Green Silver-lines	21st May	Finemere Wood	Buckinghamshire
Little Thorn	21st May	East Lulworth	Dorset
Small White Wave	21st May	Polden Way	Somerset

The Pinion-spotted Pug at Biggleswade (Bedfordshire) on 8th was the first in the county since 2006. Such sporadic occurrences are typical of a species that has such a low population density across the country. Another Pinion-spotted Pug was at Sandwich Bay (Kent) on 23rd.

Pinion-spotted Pug, Biggleswade (Beds), 9th May 2012 (Melissa Banthorpe).

Two Dotted Rustics recorded on a small nature reserve near Bourton-on-the-Water (Glos) on 17th again gives renewed hope that the species still clings on as a scarce resident in the Cotswolds, once a former stronghold for the species. Light Feathered Rustics at three sites on the Ashridge Estate (Bucks) around 23rd were welcome records of what is still a scarce species in the south Midlands. More than a handful of White Points in the Home Counties in the fourth week may have included some migrants, particularly those at Ewelme cress-beds (Oxon) on 24th and at Little Billing (Northants) on 26th, both of which were at or beyond the species' normal range. A Jersey Mocha at Falmouth (Cornwall) on 25th and a Portland Ribbon Wave at the same location on 27th were probably warm-weather wanderers from Cornish breeding stock. A Netted Pug at Grange-over-Sands (Cumbria) on 24th was only the second area record in 30 years, while one in Oundle (Northants) on 28th was new for the relevant 10km square. A second colony of Pauper Pug has been discovered on a nature reserve near Alcester (Warks): this species was only added to the VC38 list last year! The annual survey of the red data species Marsh Moth was again carried out on the Lincolnshire coast on 31st. With Paul Waring at the helm, a team of volunteers recorded a total of 58 males from two sites — an excellent count that proves the species is still doing well in its core location. One was also seen at nearby Gibraltar Point NNR the following night, showing that this satellite colony is still present, albeit at a low density. Other species recorded on the survey included Brown Rustic, Valerian Pug, Small Clouded Brindle and White Colon.

Male Marsh Moth, Lincolnshire, 1st June 2012 (Roger Wasley).

Brown Rustic, Lincolnshire, 1st June 2012 (Roger Wasley).

Small Clouded Brindle, Lincolnshire, 1st June 2012 (Steve Whitehouse).

White Colon, Lincolnshire, 1st June 2012 (Roger Wasley).

Following communications with moth-ers in neighbouring Gloucestershire, Oliver Wadsworth and Tony Simpson learned that the colourful micro-moth Digitivalva perlepidella (471) had recently extended its range north within that county. With that in mind, they managed to locate the food plant — Ploughman's Spikenard — complete with feeding signs in southeast Worcestershire during early May. Not only was it a county first, but they also managed to see a pristine adult from a retained pupa in early June — just reward for pioneering work!

Digitivalva perlepidella (Oliver Wadsworth).

Needless to say, most of the major micro-moth news occurred in the last third of the month. Two county firsts in Bedfordshire in a few days involved a Pseudococcyx posticana (1208) at Kempston on 21st followed by a Cydia servillana (1256) at nearby Eaton Ford on 26th. A healthy population of the local Micropterix mansuetella (2) was discovered in Wolves Wood RSPB (Suffolk) by Paul Bryant on 23rd. A Lampronia fuscatella (138) at Borrowdale (Cumbria) on 24th appears to be the first modern-day record for the county, while one in Ipswich (Suffolk) the next day was possibly the first county record for 20 years. A Paratalanta pandalis (1373) at Gait Barrows (Lancs) on 24th was the first at this exclusive county site since 1999. A productive nocturnal survey at Ribbesford Woods (Worcs) on 25th recorded six of the delightful Schiffermuellerina grandis (634) as well as the first county Cydia coniferana (1268) for 100 years! A Pammene obscurana (1225) at Alderholt (Dorset) on 27th was also a county first.

Schiffermuellerina grandis, Ribbesford Woods (Worcs), (Oliver Wadsworth).