GLOUCESTERSHIRE MOTHS
2007 Newsletter 3
The weather has been mixed since the last Newsletter, but not quite as bad as last May. The hot weather in April accelerated the stages of development for a good number of species. Many seem to have emerged not just days but weeks before their normal time of appearance. It is to be hoped that food-plants have been equally early. It is quite possible that later in the summer we will see more second generation emergence than usual.
Species seen
The Drab Looper has been having a good year. Guy Meredith saw the first of the season on Iron Mills Common on 29th April. At a GIG meeting on May 12th at Black Morgan’s Wood, south of Tintern, it was the commonest insect flying! I counted at least 30. Dave Grundy toured the central Forest of Dean on 17th May and counted a total of 31 in various locations. In the Cotswolds Peter Hugo and Chris Tracey counted 7 in Hailey Wood.
The Little Thorn has also been seen in a good number of places. There were only three records last year (all in June). The first records this year were on 30th April, from Thrupp (Peter Hugo) and Siccaridge Wood (Chris Wiltshire). One was seen at Highnam Wood on 1st May (a new site) (Cherry Greenway per Michael Harper). I have also had two in my Heath traps here at home, and three at Beechwood House. Yesterday Dave Grundy’s band of wet enthusiasts managed to find one on the cycle track below Beechenhurst Lodge.
Another early record was of two Lace Border on Nottingham Hill on 29th April, from Steve Owen. This is a month earlier than any of my previous records for this species and the first on the west of the A46 for nine years.
Matthew Oates reported the Cistus Forester out as early as 27th April on Rodborough Common. At his home in Culkerton he has had his first Mocha, and earlier Scarlet Tiger larvae were invading his moth trap.
Guy Meredith had a hunch and tried his pheromone lures at Woorgreen on 30th April. He managed to attract one species, the Yellow-legged Clearwing. Guy has also bred out Triaxomera parasitella from a larva feeding on Coriolus versicolor, taken from Lineover Wood in February.
Peter Hugo has had what appears to be a Garden Dart on 24th April. This is far too early, but I have seen the photo and it looks right. This is an odd year! Peter has also had the Seraphim (2/5) and Netted Pug (23/5) at his home at Thrupp. He had a very successful overnight trapping at Midger NR when he recorded Mocha (17), Cream Wave (8), Barred Umber (6), Great Prominent (8) and Maiden’s Blush (13) in a list of 43 species.
The Great Prominent has turned up in Winchcombe recorded by Steve Owen. I have searched my records old and new and I can find no other reference to this species in VC 33, so a most unexpected first.
Another very unusual record is that of Bird’s Wing at Pool Hill from Michael Bradley. As I recorded the first for many years near Mitcheldean last year, I wonder if there is a movement south from Worcestershire where it is fairly common in the Wyre Forest.
Peter Hugo has had a report, and seen a photo, of an Emperor moth at Rodborough, a new area.
Richard Tyler is steadily building up a good list at Lower Slaughter. A recent record was of Tawny Shears.
Gordon Avery has had The Seraphim and Epinotia tedella at Hempsted.
Mark Parsons paid another visit to Gloucestershire and went to several sites. His best records were a Small Eggar larval nest at Duntisbourne Leer, Olethreutes arcuella at Siccaridge Wood and Phyllonorycter muelleriella on Knightswood Common.
Dave Grundy, on a day visit, found Ancylis obtusana in the Cannop Valley, the first record since 1964.
Robert Homan uses the old Honeybourne Railway track to get to work in Cheltenham. He found a case on sallow of Coleophora lusciniaepennella, and also two cases of Coleophora laricella in Cheltenham. Fortunately he was unobserved when he caught Argyresthia trifasciata in his umbrella! This splendid Pebble Prominent larva was hatched and fed on sallow from an egg laid some weeks previously.
Liz Radcliffe sent me this fine image of an Alder Kitten trapped at her home on the outskirts of Cinderford.
The most recent records were one in 2005, and two in 2004, so quite a scarce moth and confined to the west of the county.
Finally I left two Heath traps overnight in East Wood on 18th May and on my return next morning I found, as well as a fair number of moths, a mating pair of the spider Micrommata virescens, a very attractive species. It was early in the morning, so my photography was not very good, but it is worth looking at the GNS website www.glosnats.org.uk and clicking on ‘News’.
This is only the second time that the male of this species has been seen in the county, as he leads a short, but no doubt interesting life.
Site – Westonbirt Arboretum and Silk Wood
This large area of woodland is situated SW of Tetbury and was a favourite place for my predecessor as recorder, Jack Newton. There are many interesting old records, however modern records are almost exclusively from the Rothamsted trap that is operated there. The exception to that is our only colony of Barberry Carpet that is carefully monitored by Paul Waring. The Rothamsted trap is run every night and the moths are sent off for identification. The species list totals 461.
Moths to look out for – Cistus Forester and Chimney Sweeper
The Cistus Forester is a metallic green day-flying moth found on various limestone grassland sites in the Cotswolds.
The food-plant Rock-rose is common enough but the moth is not readily noticed as it does not fly far.
It is best observed by examining flowers on on which it may be feeding.
The season has started and runs to July.
The Chimney Sweeper looks like a black butterfly and flies in sunshine. As the name implies it is black, but there is a white edge to the tip and part of the forewing.
It is probably not as common as the map suggests and more records would be welcome.
The food-plant is Pignut (flowers and seeds) and this moth is also found on limestone grassland.
It
is out now and flies until July.
Publication
British Wildlife Publishing is bringing out a condensed version of the ‘Field Guide to the Moths of Great Britain and Ireland’. It has only brief descriptions, but the illustrations are the same, and the format in wiro-binding will make it easier to use in the field. Pre-publication price is £11.95 inc. p&p. After that £12.95.
Dates
6th June There is an evening meeting of the Gloucestershire Invertebrate Group at Highnam Wood at 7pm. It is hoped to run a moth trapping session afterwards, so this will begin as dusk falls. If you intend to come please phone me on 01594 530475 in case there has been a change of plan.
9th June Moth trapping at Hailey Wood, Cirencester Park Estate. Meet at the Tunnel House Inn at 8.30 pm (SO 966 006) Help with carrying equipment would be appreciated. Refreshments available at the pub. Peter Hugo is running it and his phone numbers are 01453 882134 and 07789 361874.
24th June Open day at RSPB Nagshead, combined with GNS Bughunt.
I am also hoping to arrange a trapping session in the Greathough Brook Valley near Brierley during the next week. This will be at short notice when conditions are good. The main objective is to see if the Common Fanfoot (recorded there in 1995) is still present. Please let me know if you are interested and I will phone when a date is chosen.
Roger Gaunt, St Briavels, 28th May 2007. roger.gaunt@btinternet.com