GLOUCESTERSHIRE MOTHS

2007 Newsletter 5

The extremely wet weather since the last newsletter has virtually put a stop to moth recording. As I write the rains have ceased but the nights have been decidedly cool, consequently this newsletter will have fewer records than usual.

Species seen

Some of these observations are late reports from June.

In the last newsletter I included a picture of an aberrant Heart and Dart, from Rosie Castle. I would like to thank Julian Clarke who quickly put a name to it, it being ab. juncta Tutt., and as Julian commented ‘a fine example’.

Further to George Davis’s visit to Lancaut on the 15^th June, he recorded Eudonia delunella (Notable Nb) there last year and I then considered the record doubtful. On this year’s visit he saw seven and retained four for me to examine. Visually I remained doubtful as they were worn and did not show the contrasting black and white pattern that one would expect. I extracted the genitalia and all four were male. Until Guy Meredith sent me the drawings for the male gen. of mercurella and delunella the matter was unresolved, however on receiving the drawings I was able to confirm that George’s identification was indeed correct. This is the first confirmed record in modern times.

Guy Meredith visited Welshbury Wood on 10^th June and managed to find a new site for Pauper Pug. First discovered in the Wye Valley in 1962, it has now been found in a handful of sites nationally where small-leaved lime is present. Welshbury Wood is well known for its small-leaved lime.

Guy has also found a mine of Stigmella paradoxa on hawthorn on Leckhampton Hill on 29^th June, and on 9^th July found that his 2003 pheromone lures are still working when he recorded Orange-tailed Clearwing and Six-belted Clearwing at Daneway.

John Phillips found Six-belted Clearwing at Blaisdon Wood on 19^th June without the aid of lures.

The Silky Wave was recorded at three sites in the Avon Gorge on 28^th June by Kelly Thomas (BC) and Mike Bradley. This is one of only three sites in the UK for this species. Altogether 30 were seen, and also two Chalk Carpet.

Peter Hugo ran several traps at Soudley on 9^th July. His catch included Blomer’s Rivulet, Pinion-streaked Snout and Small Purple-barred.

I followed up a report that Sidney Freeman had not only seen a Broad-bordered Bee Hawk-moth ovipositing over stones at Siccaridge Wood but had also seen an Oak Hawk-moth (no UK records) at his place of work in Chalford. I had a long telephone conversation with Mr Freeman and did all I could to persuade him that the Oak Hawk-moth was highly improbable and that I could not consider the record without some evidence. However when it transpired that his employer (who also saw the moth) imports beech on pallets, film-wrapped, from Europe I realised that a larva could have pupated in the wood stack and been transported her as a pupa to emerge in the Chalford workplace. In Atropos 31 there are accounts of how the Silvery Gem and Shining Marbled (both new to Britain) have appeared in Herefordshire presumably in the soil containing strawberry plants. Mr Freeman assures me that he will have a camera at work in future!

Robert Homan reared out 30 imagines of Cameraria ohridella Horse Chestnut Leaf Miner from one hand of leaves taken in Cheltenham. This new arrival is now everywhere.

In garden traps, Steve Owen has had Sycamore, Blackneck and Varied Coronet at Winchcombe.

David Armstrong has had Ruddy Carpet at Clifford’s Mesne, and a Waved Black in his house!

Rosie Castle has had Scarce Silver-lines at Yorkley Wood.

Gordon Avery has run his trap most nights despite his garden being flooded at the peak. He has had several Ostrinia nubilalis and also Oegoconia quadripuncta, Endotricha flammealis and Latticed Heath.

Here at St Briavels I have had Clouded Magpie, Ear Moth and Satin Lutestring.

Sites – Coombe Hill Canal and Long Pool Meadows

The disused Coombe Hill Canal was purchased by GWT in 1985 having been designated a SSSI in 1954. The moths have been quite well recorded and there are 303 on the species list.

Long Pool Meadows adjoining the canal were acquired at a later date and being on the flood plain are important for wading birds. The moths have not been so well recorded, and there is scope for more recording though access is difficult. Red-tipped Clearwing are common there, and a Southern Wainscot was of particular interest.

Moths to look out for:

Chalk Carpet. With the last newsletter I sent details relating to this moth. I have so far had no reports of anyone looking for this moth, and I would urge recorders to get out and have a look for it now that the weather is showing signs of improvement.

The Chinamarks. This little group of pyralids is not often recorded, yet they can be knocked up by day on the margins of ponds. They all fly in July and August. The maps show the distributions of the four moths that we have in the county, and I would be happy to have records of any of them. The adults are figured in Goater’s ‘British Pyralid Moths’.