GLOUCESTERSHIRE MOTHS
2007 Newsletter 4
There were spells of reasonable weather in the early part of June but for the most part the period since the last newsletter has not been very good for moth recording. As I write, torrential downpours and cool northerly winds seem to be never ending and the flow of records has virtually ceased. What a contrast with the wonderful weather we had last June!
Species seen
I managed to arrange a trapping session in the upper part of the Greathough Brook Valley (Ware Slade) on the 2nd June. Guy Meredith came with his tent trap and we were joined for part of the session by Liz Radcliffe. Guy recorded Fox Moth, Beautiful Snout and Grey Birch, whereas for once my MV attracted the more interesting micros. The best of these were three gelechid species 764 Pseudotelphusa scalella (first record since 1977), 770 Carpatolechia proximella (second record since 1917) and 773 Pseudotelphusa paripunctella (first record since 1937). I also recorded 774 Teleiodes luculella which is Local and for which I have had six records since 1980, and 968 Cochylis nana.
Earlier that day I visited to prospect the site and noting a good number of young alders decided to try my pheromone lures. I was pleased to attract a male White-barred Clearwing quite quickly at 3.40pm. This is a new tetrad for this species (see map). Until 2004 this species seemed to be confined to the Woorgreens area but we can now see that it is more widely established.
There have been a few other clearwing records.
Steve Owen and Leslie Kent have both had Currant Clearwing to a lure in Winchcombe and Steve also had Six-belted Clearwing (5) on Nottingham Hill. Occasionally I receive a record of a clearwing seen without the aid of a lure, and the latest was from Mark Connelly who had a Red-belted Clearwing on the window sill of his office at Northleach.
Peter Hugo had a successful field meeting at Hailey Wood on 9th June. He recorded an amazing 502/72 individuals/species including Privet Hawk-moth (16), Map-winged Swift (2) and Drab Looper (2) the latter coming to light which is unusual.
An evening GIG meeting at Highnam Wood produced several 217 Nemapogon wolffiella and 220 Nemapogon clematella both species Notable Nb. We did not stay long to light trap as the conditions became poor.
George Davis visited again from Cornwall. At Lancaut on 15th June he recorded Scarce Hook-tip (2) and Square Spot and at Kidnalls north of Lydney on 16th June he recorded Blotched Emerald (7) and Great Oak Beauty (4).
Guy Meredith has had Micropterix aureatella at Wigpool and Merrifieldia leucodactyla at Stenders Quarry.
Roger Pearce is creating a reserve with the farmer’s approval on Haresfield Hill and has been rewarded with his first Wood Tiger. This is a new area for this species. He has also had several Elachista triatomea there.
Some people on Gorsty Knoll near Coleford contacted the GNS and took a mixed bag of insects over to Cheltenham for Robert Homan to look at. Among other things there were several Niditinea fuscella and in particular a specimen of Plodia interpunctella Indian Meal Moth. This is only the third record since 1980.
I received an email from a man who, having used the internet, was convinced that there were a lot of American Red Tent moths in the Southrop area. When I suggested that they were more likely to be Small Eggar he checked these out and agreed with me. An interesting series of records however as there appear to be a lot of larval tents along Hammersmith Bottom NW of Southrop with more in the field boundaries to the north.
A phone call from Mervyn Taylor at Cashes Green near Stroud sought information on how to rear Emperor Moth larvae and deal with their pupae. Apparently a female flew into his kitchen at 10pm one evening. The next day with the help of a neighbour it was identified and released. A little later he found a batch of larvae on his kitchen surface which were taken to the Berkeley Centre and released on bramble. Soon after that another batch of larvae appeared and Mervyn decided to rear these himself. They fed successfully on sloe and at the time he phoned me two had already pupated at the tips of the twigs. I advised him on how to proceed and with a bit of luck he will have the pleasure of seeing adults emerge next spring.
News from the garden traps: Gordon Avery has had Dark Spectacle, Cream-bordered Green Pea, Blue-bordered Carpet and Teleiodes vulgella at Hempsted.
Rosie Castle had this unusual form of what I presume is a Heart and Dart at Yorkley Wood. If anyone recognises something different please let me know.
David Cross has had a lot of Large Nutmeg at Cirencester.
Jon Brock has seen the dark form of the Light Feathered Rustic at Bishop’s Cleeve.
Neil Tappin sent me a picture of a Ruddy Carpet trapped at Northwood Green.
At Thrupp Peter Hugo has seen another Little Thorn, three Netted Pug and a Maple Prominent.
Liz Radcliffe had a good catch at Cinderford on 9th June recording 430/66 including Red-necked Footman (4), Small Elephant Hawk-moth (27) and Blackneck. The latter is the first west of the Severn for 12 years. She also recorded The Delicate on 21st June.
I have had Pinion-streaked Snout and Beautiful Snout here at St Briavels.
Sites: Poors Allotment and The Park, Tidenham Chase
These two sites lie on either side of the B4228 between Coleford and Chepstow.
Poors Allotment SSSI has been grazed on and off probably for centuries. It is a surviving piece of heathland and has been under the wing of what is now Natural England for some years. A committee of local people are trustees. Between one large and one small piece of open area there is some ancient woodland. The moth species list comprises 238 species, the only trapping having been the occasional Heath trap.
On the list are Forester, Epiblema tetragonana, Orange Underwing, Lesser Wax Moth, Four-dotted Footman, Heath Rustic, Antler Moth and Small Purple-barred. The Forester has not been seem since 1995 and is feared lost.
The Park was afforested in probably the 1960’s. It was chosen as one of several sites for restoration as lowland heath. The first section of clearance took place around 2000 and last winter another large section was cleared. The first section is being grazed as much as can be arranged. The moth species list stands at 295 species. It is accessible and some MV light trapping has taken place. In the list that follows the species underlined are first county records. Lampronia fuscatella, Oecophora bractella, Syncopacma larseniella, Mompha ochraceella, Scythris grandipennis, Rhopobota myrtillana, Cydia coniferana, Northern Eggar, Orange Underwing, Grass Emerald, Lead Belle, Chevron, Scallop Shell, Cypress Pug, Heath Rustic, Beautiful Yellow Underwing, Antler Moth, The Suspected and The Anomalous.
Dates
8th July Lower Woods BC and GWT joint meeting. Target White Admiral and SW Fritillary. Meet at ST 746881 at 2pm. Leader Chris Wiltshire.
14th July The Park, Tidenham Chase. The RSPB have a moth meeting there meet at 9.30pm, weather permitting.
20/21 July I hope to pay a return visit to Ware Slade (mentioned above). If you are interested please let me know on 01594 530475 and I will phone to say which of the two dates I have chosen.
Roger Gaunt, St Briavels, 30th June 2007. roger.gaunt@btinternet.com