The season seems to have started quite slowly with generally poor weather conditions. There has been a lot of wet and windy weather followed by drier but colder nights. I for one have had my trap out on far fewer occasions than normal.
A little while ago I decided that these newsletters need a bit more structure. It seems a good idea to not only pass on news of sightings etc, but also to highlight different aspects of the county moth fauna. For example some of the more important sites in Gloucestershire are worth describing and mentioning a particular target from time-to-time could inspire a reader to go out and look for that species. So this, and I hope subsequent newsletters, will have loosely defined sections. I would also be very happy to include contributions from those who read these newsletters.
Species seen.
Two 2260 Dotted Chestnut have been recorded by Roger Pearce on Haresfield Hill and this species has also been recorded by Liz and Roy Radcliffe at Cinderford. Liz and Roy have also recorded 2185 Lead-coloured Drab and a worn but probable 2423 Oak Nycteoline.
The pretty green 1054 Acleris cristana pictured in last year’s Newsletter 2 has this year been recorded by Roger Pearce and myself.
Also here at St Briavels I have seen the 1925 Small Brindled Beauty the first here since 1998. This species is regularly recorded in the Rothamsted trap at Westonbirt, but rarely elsewhere. I have also had up to ten 1659 Yellow Horned.
This stunning picture of a Humming-bird Hawk-moth was taken by Richard Tyler at Longborough on 17th March. There have been a number of other records from the south of the area. This species must be over-wintering.
Peter Hugo, who has taken on the job of moth officer for the Gloucestershire Branch of Butterfly Conservation, has already put his traps out in a number of locations. Highlights are 1932 Spring Usher at Hailey Wood on 17th February, fourteen 1881 Early Toothstriped at Rodborough Common on 10th March and on a very windy but mild night (16th March) he found sheltered spots at Siccaridge Wood where he recorded 2235 Tawny Pinion, 2140 White-marked (2) and 1659 Yellow Horned and Sapperton Valley Reserve where there were four White-marked.
Site – Rodborough Common
Not only is Rodborough Common one of the best limestone grassland sites in the county, but also it has a variety of other habitats including woodland margins. It is a large area south of Stroud and includes parts of the 1 km squares SO 8402, SO 8403, SO 8404 and SO 8503. Several visits are needed to get to know the area well. The steeper slopes are often the most interesting.
Since 1980 just over 400 moth species have been recorded there. [Compared with numbers achieved with regular trapping in a garden this may not seem many but for a site only visited on a casual basis it is impressive]. Most of the following macro- and micro-moths are day-fliers.
Macro-moths of note include Cistus Forester, Light Feathered Rustic and Argent and Sable (all Notable Nb) and Annulet, Wood Tiger and Small Purple-barred (all Local). The Argent and Sable is of particular interest as this is the last time this moth has been recorded in the county. Matthew Oates saw five or six in May 2000 above Rodborough Manor where young birch is cut and also more mature trees are present.
Nationally Notable micro-moths include Acompsia schmidtiellus, Pancalia leuwenhoekella, Pammene fasciana, Paratalanata pandalis, Paratalanta hyalinalis and Euleioptilus carphodactyla.
Moth to look out for – Orange Underwing
The Orange Underwing flies on sunny days in late March and the first part of April.
Eggs are laid on twigs of birch trees and the young larvae feed on the catkins in April.
From my experience the birch trees are in groups, quite tall and some patience is needed to observe the moths flying high round the trees in the sunshine. They do come to lower levels in the afternoon.
As the map shows it is not uncommon in the county and it is one of the pleasures of early spring to see them flying.
The very similar Light Orange Underwing has the same habits but the tree with which it is associated is aspen. The only known area in the county in which it can be seen is Wetmoor, and it would be very interesting to have another site. A wood where there is known to be quite a lot of aspen is Collinpark Wood (SO7427 etc), and it may be worth looking for the moth there in the next week or two.
Some dates
More detail will be given in newsletters nearer the time.
27th May. BC training day on day-flying moths. Forest of Dean. Booking required.
6th June. Evening GIG meeting, Highnam Wood. Moth trapping afterwards.
9th June. Moth trapping Hailey Wood. Meet at Tunnel House Inn.
24th June. Nagshead Open day combined with GNS bughunt.
10th August. Moth trapping Greystones Farm, Bourton-on-the Water.
11th August. National Moth Night. There will also be a daytime session on Stinchcombe Hill looking for the Chalk Carpet.
10th November. Afternoon meeting at Chedworth, followed by search for the Plumed Prominent.
There will be other moth trapping sessions.
Roger Gaunt, St Briavels, 26th March 2007.