Lepi-Photos - Lepi-blog

New British moth - Herb Emerald

5/1/2017

Recently recorded in Actropos Journal Number 57 is a report on a new British species moth Microloxia herbaria (Hübner, [1813]) trapped in a suburban garden on 23 July 2016 in New Costessey just west of Norwich in Norfolk.

Initial thought were that this species might be a Small Grass Emerald but further investigations with attention to the shape of the antemedian and postmedian white cross lines considered the possibility that this moth was in fact a European species Microloxia herbaria. These white lines were consistent with populations from Italy eastwards through Europe whilst populations from Corsica,Balearics and Iberian Peninsula had weak or absent white fasciae. (See Photo)

70.3075 - Appendix A - Herb Emerald - Microloxia herbaria - (Hübner,[1813]) - Casares, Spain - 19 September 2014 - © Tim Norriss - Note antemedian line virtually missing on this Spanish specimen

The moth is a Mediterranean species from southern Portugal,southern France,Italy,Balkans,nearly all Mediterranean Islands,Turkey,Cyprus,northern Iran eastwards to central Asia.
The larva feeds on various herbs and shrubs like Apple mint,Felty Germander etc

The moth is not migratory so how did it get there?
Further investigations by M.C found they were in the vicinity of a local Garden Centre where further investigation highlighted a recent shipment of Palms from the Italian Island of Sardinia. It is thought to be an adventive species (Appendix A) and has been given the vernacular name of Herb Emerald.
In consultation with authors of the new British Checklist (Agassiz. Et al., 2013) the checklist number is 70.3075

A second record of this species followed the above on 6 August 2016 (Scott & Holman,2016) in Prestbury,Gloucestershire.

So another moth species for the recorders to look out for in 2017

Festive blip

5/1/2017

Unfortunately just before Christmas the webpage selector on the website no longer selected the page I needed to work on and online the lepi-blog just vanished. As we all know it’s not a good time to break down at Christmas, as everyone needs a break including web providers so I just had to do the same. So no Happy New Year from me this year until now, so I apologise for the belated season greetings but nonetheless I hope it is a good one for all of you.

Because the website was down for me still doesn’t mean inactivity as still more new species photos have been sent, although I have lost track of exactly which ones have now been added. Prior to the break down the entire moth photos have been written up and now there are additions to follow including a new British species, which will be reported on possibly tomorrow.

Whilst on the chat line to Weebly it was noted, more because the gentleman concerned didn’t want to mess up anything, this is a large website so I made the decision to delete the taxonomy shown under the family name on the drop down list ie 70.Geometridae
All this info is on the individual species pages so it should affect nobody, I hope.
The moths have been done the butterflies will be done in the next couple of days.

So that’s about it for the moment other than to say we are past the shortest day , furthermore there are now summer months in this year. I hope all you mothers find the rare one or even decide to get a trap and have a go yourselves, so good luck to all for a great year.

Kind Regards

Colin

They think its all over.....

26/10/2016

.....well not quite yet. Buoyed up by the fact we were to have a few days and evenings of above temperature for this time of the year,which,lets face it is nearly November and 16/17ºc I thought I might put out the trap for the first time in weeks. I was hoping my striped arch enemies has finished for the season but alas I was wrong when there were more wasps in the trap this morning than moths. I cant stand coming down to check the trap a find moth wings and body parts let alone where that dopey striped thing is going to put his tail,not into me,thats for sure.

Anyway,it was not all a loss as at last I have a "new for garden species" and its that one, the glorious
Merveille du Jour ,not actually in the trap as I guessed, but found above the outside door arch, so that was good cheer having broken that duck.Not perfect specimen but a pleasure nonetheless.
I did have a Black Rustic,the ever reliable Light Brown Apple moth,Setaceous Hebrew Character,and possibly November or Light November Moth. Dont know how many broods the LIght brown Apple Moth has in Australia but it keeps up with the same here as they are always outside in different apparel,this one being a nice male.

I will give the trap another go tonight so maybe I will be back tomorrow,who knows!!!!

I have been busy writing the species pages as is the case this time of year and have completed at least half of the new moths so on target at the moment.

Regards to you all

Colin

73.224 - Merveille du Jour - Griposia aprilina - (Linnaeus, 1758) - Fleet - 26 October 2016

73.224 - Merveille du Jour - Griposia aprilina - (Linnaeus, 1758) - Fleet - 26 October 2016

73.224 - Merveille du Jour - Griposia aprilina - (Linnaeus, 1758) - Fleet - 26 October 2016

70.107 - November Moth - Epirrita dilutata - ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) - Fleet - 26 October 2016

73.359 - Setaceous Hebrew Character - Xestia c-nigrum (Linnaeus, 1758) - Fleet - 26 October 2016

49.039 - Light Brown Apple Moth - Male - Epiphyas postvittana (Walker, 1863) - Fleet - 26 October 2016

and one over here as well

1/10/2016

I refer to Wednesday evening when I recorded the first garden Convolvulus Hawk-moth record feeding on the Nicotiana in the front garden.
Having grown the plant in the same place for about six or seven years I can only imagine that this migrant has been feeding each year on this late windfall as the plant goes on until the first frost,so now i have seen them in Bulgaria and one metre from my front door.
A little bit like looking for Bilberry Pug larva,travel miles and then see one a couple of miles from home.
I didnt try to catch it to take a mug shot preferring the thought that it had been through enough just getting here.
Will have to check them more often in future.

Absolutely nothing to do with above I thought you might like to see one of the dangers that our butterflies have to contend with at the end of July. Taken at Stockbridge Down it turned my tummy a bit so hope you haven't just eaten

Grip of death - Robber Fly and demise of Small Skipper - Stockbridge Down - 31 July 2016

Update to Guest Blog - Searching for Pug larva 3 - Tim Norriss

18/9/2016

I’m afraid this short blog is a little late against real time due to holidays etc but still relevant to looking for Pug larvae that Tim set out earlier in the year.
The end of August going into September are good times to go for searching many of the larvae, and with a tip off where we might find some Goldenrod, a less than common wildflower these days, we went in search on Salisbury Plain knowing the listed Pugs for this larval food plant include Bleached Pug, Golden-rod Pug and Wormwood Pug.

The actual date was the 23rd August, one of those special days in summer when the sun is shining and its just hot, the sort of day when people are out with their cameras searching that special Brown Hairstreak shot before they are too late and we found a few people doing just that, although we didn’t need to search.

Typical track view but remember you are entering a restricted and controlled area

Onto the track leading into Salisbury Plain the first spot of the day was the good volume of Toadflax growing beside the track and of course Toadflax Pug is also on the list. We spent a little time in the heat searching and sure enough there was evidence that they were there or had been there, as we found plenty of feeding damage to the plants (See photos)
Sometimes the window of opportunity passes you by and for this Pug I’m afraid it will have to be another time.

Common Toadflax grows along the side of the track for a short distance

Is that a Pug entrance hole in the flower on the left,quite possibly

Little doubt seeing entrance/exit holes that these flowers/seeds have been vandalised.

Different angle showing feeding damage

An even better view of feeding damage but alas no Pug larva was found so we moved on.

A wasp Spider conveniently webbed in among the Common Toadflax

Further along the track there was good numbers of Wayfaring Tree -Viburnum lantana - loaded with berries, a lovely meeting place for Brown Hairstreak but alas the wind was just too fresh, although we were to see about three later with one feeding on minerals off the track.

Plenty of nice ripe berries on the Wayfaring Tree for the Brown Hairtsreak but the wind was a little strong this day.

Distictive leaves help to identify this bush

Upon reaching the area where the Goldenrod we started searching for our quarry among the flowers,leaves etc and it was long before Tim found what was left of an escapee namely a Tortrix moth that had emerged leaving the tell tale pupal case showing through the leaf.

Solidago viagaurea - Goldenrod grows beside the track

Going over-are we too late? Only time will tell

Well this one didn't leave it too late as the Tortix moth tell tale sign he emerged very nicely

Next up was a nice little green number, which may or may not be a pug as we cant be sure, but now it will have to wait as it has since pupated.
I found the next mystery “looper” larva sitting outstretched from a Goldenrod flower.That larva has now also pupated and was sadly the last find of the day although Tim went back the following day and found yet another larval species which again we have not yet identified and this is still in larval form but very close to pupating as it fixes itself between leaves with silk to feed in safety.

Unidentified larva No 1

Unidentified larva No 1

Unidentified larva No 2 found as you see it on Goldenrod Flower head

Larger View

Same Larva shot 15 days later. It has now pupated.

49.028 - Syndemis musculana larva - (Hübner, [1799]) - Salisbury Plain - 17 September 2016 - still feeding on Goldenrod between two leaves spun together with silk for protection -will pupate in April/May - identified 20 September whilst writing species page (See) appears to have stopped feeding

Here you can see the silk work-very neat

A few days later I had an email from Tim with some photos of Mottled Pug larva that he had located at Cholderton feeding on Acer(Maple) so we did get our first named species but how Tim found it shows he has good vision as after three weeks the larva is still only about 12/15mm long and as thin as a needle.

Mottled Pug Larva - EUPITHECIA exiguata (Hübner,[1819]) - Cholderton - 29 August 2016 - © Tim Norriss

Mottled Pug Larva - EUPITHECIA exiguata (Hübner,[1819]) - Cholderton - 29 August 2016 - © Tim Norriss

Mottled Pug Larva - EUPITHECIA exiguata (Hübner,[1819]) - Cholderton - 29 August 2016 - taken shot 7 September 2016 and still only 14mm long max.- © Tim Norriss

Photo taken after this blog on 24 September 2016

Updates will of course be passed on as they happen but in the meantime I have a great number of species pages to add text to as well as incorporate the relevant few butterflies found on holiday.

Late summer ‘Leps’ etc in Bulgaria

16/9/2016

Ever since we placed a pin in the map when deciding where to stay in the Portuguese Algarve, only to find a small place called Alvor, which was next to a large nature reserve P and I have tended to be a little fussy and chose sites which suit the swimmer or me, someone who prefers waste land to search out the insects and general nature that satisfies my relaxation preferences.

With the same thoughts in mind we decided to try something different and give Bulgaria a try with a package holiday that fits well in the sequence ‘3E’,think about it. We decided to go right down in the southeast corner of Bulgaria to a small village of Sinemorets which has a normal population of 250 and is almost within the largest nature reserve in Bulgaria called Strandzha Nature Park in Burgas province.The trip from the airport at Bourgas down to Sinemorets takes close to two hours where the views change from busy traffic to narrower roads,better views of the Black Sea coasts and eventually nothing but trees and sandy beaches.

A good tip when checking places on Google Maps is to remember they are,I believe, updated every four years so the rough ground you wish to check out may well be another hotel in these changing holiday resorts linked to package holiday trips. Don’t be fooled by unfinished buildings,they haven’t run out of money its just illegal to do construction work in the summer and for that you have to be appreciative as they don’t want the complaints that used to be a norm on Spanish holidays.
Another thing to remember is this is not the Mediterranean it’s the Black Sea so the most likely person next to you will be speaking Russian or Bulgarian, something hard to differentiate but something that has a different charm about it. It did mean that we were in the minority so meeting another Brit was always an enjoyable encounter.
I would also offer another tip and that is starve yourself before you go as they are all in packages where you can eat as much as you like all day, so my diet is already in operation.

The following day after arrival it’s the rep who is giving you the rundown on the sites and sounds of the area and well as sorting trips,two of which we settled for namely the Photo off Road experience, boy what an experience, and a trip down the Valeka River in a Dragon Boat something that became relevant with my first wild life find.
P also booked the VIP lounge at the airport going home which was another nice experience. No I’m not VIP but after 2 months trying to walk with Achilles Tendonitus and a possible 4 months to go I didn’t care what car dropped me off at the aircraft it was better than walking and there in was my holiday restriction sadly.

Clearly taking a holiday in September is going to limit what is about and also where you are in the country will also dictate what you can possibly see, and this I knew, so any butterflies or moths was going to be a bonus after the poor season over here this year.
I also checked the website http://www.butterfliesofbulgaria.com/main%20menu.html to find out species on the wing and where in the country they are found and would say that most butterfly trips to Bulgaria take place in the west of the country and usually finish in July,early August not the south east of the country.

Following the rep talk which was very professional if not interlaced with a little hyperbole in order to sell the trips,the hundreds of Turtles turned out to be five, we had some food and then settled down the far end on the pool next to a garden with a gezebo built in for the exercise classes which started at 5pm. I had my camera with me so went into the garden near a path where I watched what was flying. I didn’t have to wait long as this massive Great Banded Grayling kept coming in and out of the fence next to the path. Wow, it looked massive and I did manage to get a couple of shots before it was on its way. We saw this butterfly in different places on a few occasions during the week but never had another photo opportunity.
Blues were flying up and down the grass, settling on white clover but it took a mating pair for me to identify the butterfly which lived up to its name very well and was our Common Blue, possibly a Bulgarian form as the orange markings on the females underside were very strong.
Small Whites were plentiful but I was hoping for the Southern Small White but sadly I think I drew a blank on that one although I did think I had found one.
Finally I had good views of the Mallow Skipper which again is very difficult to tell apart from,Tufted Marbled Skipper, Oriental Marbled Skipper and Marbled Skipper, so if I have made a mistake I would be grateful to be told so.

Great Banded Grayling - Kanetisa circe (Fabricius, 1775) It should be noted this is a female who is probably depositing ova into the long grass the next one ready to be released. Take a close look.

Great Banded Grayling - Kanetisa circe (Fabricius, 1775)

61.018/5 - Common Blue mating pair - Polyommatus (Polyommatus) icarus (Rottemburg, 1775) note the strong orange markings on the female

Old habits die hard so its wasn’t difficult to go to bed at night with the lights on and the door open after all chances of being caught out on the 7th level was rather remote and besides its illegal to use a light trap in Bulgaria as it is in many Mediterranean countries.
The following morning I was delighted when I found what was my first moth being a small wingspan and seeing what I thought was antennae but I was wrong. With the help of Tim Norris and Paul Brock was guided in the right direction to find out what it is. Japanese Leafhopper Ricanica japonica is the name and is an alien species to Bulgaria being firstly introduced into Georgia and the Ukraine. Two were captured by the mouth of the Veleka River using light back in 2013 exactly where we were on the Dragon Boat trip along the Valeka which is unique in as much as the river is one of the only places in Europe that was protected by the mountains on the nature reserve during the ice age and as such fauna grows along its sides that one normally finds in jungles like the Lianas Vines.
Readabout it here - https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259702247_Ricania_japonica_Melichar_1898_-_a_representative_of_family_Ricaniidae_Homoptera_Fulgoromorpha_new_to_the_fauna_of_Bulgaria

Only two moths visited the rooms during our visit and both were professional escapologists just vanishing into thin air which I found quite remarkable as you can usually find them, but not these.

Japanese Leafhopper - Ricania japonica

Following the views from the 7th floor I wanted to check out some ground that looked good for Lesser Fiery Copper but alas it was all fenced off so we backtracked to the ground at the top of the path running along the garden with the gazebo and sure enough we found the unfinished hotel and the rough ground I like searching. By now it was steaming but with the adrenalin flowing I was soon finding new butterflies in small numbers like a pair of late Knapweed Fritiallary - Melitaea phoebe and a single Safflower Skipper which is identified by the grey basal colour. The Mallow Skipper showed regularely but the Swallowtail was a rare visitor in the area only seeing one about 4 times and with no photo opportunities.

Knapweed Fritillary Melitaea phoebe GOEZE, 1779

Knapweed Fritillary Melitaea phoebe GOEZE, 1779

Knapweed Fritillary Melitaea phoebe GOEZE, 1779

Safflower Skipper - Pyrgus carthami - (Hübner, 1813) - notice the grey basal area

Mallow Skipper CARCHARODUS alceae (Esper, 1780)

Mallow Skipper CARCHARODUS alceae (Esper, 1780)

Mallow Skipper CARCHARODUS alceae (Esper, 1780)

Another good visitor on site was the Bath White or possibly an Eastern Bath White .
Research in Cyprus where it was believed the Eastern Bath White was the main “Pontia” species coming from its nearest neighbour Turkey has shown this is not the case –Ref 2013, Entomologist’s Gazette 64: 69–78 – synopsis states - “Molecular analysis of Pontia specimens from Cyprus has shown incontrovertibly that the species present on the island is Pontia daplidice. Examination of additional Pontia specimens from adjacent mainland countries of the Levant indicates that Cyprus was populated from the south-east or east, not from the north (Turkey)”.
Based on that information one would think Bulgaria therefore has the Eastern Bath White although recent work suggests the opposite.

Almost everywhere low flying Locusts/Grasshoppers were surprised into flight the first flying in red and the second just large.
When the heat eventually took us off site we went to our favourite spot in the shade in the pool area when I was surprised to find the largest moth I have ever seen actually on the lounger. A photo sent to Tim confirmed what I thought it was namely the Convolvulus Hawk-moth and what attention it drew.I had seen it flying the day before in the same area but never expected it to be found in such a public area.
In this sunny shaded area Red Admiral would come in and do acrobatic flights over the bushes, which usually fooled us into thinking we were looking at something rarer.

Bath or Eastern Bath White?

Bath or Eastern Bath White?

The one that flies red

and the large one

69.004 - Convolvulus Hawk-moth - AGRIUS convolvuli (Linnaeus, 1758) - so close to being sat on

69.004 - Convolvulus Hawk-moth - AGRIUS convolvuli (Linnaeus, 1758) - so close to being sat on

The following day we went on what was termed “Photo off Road” and that was something special and not for the faint hearted as we went flat out along cliffs,head first into ditches and a hells ride through the forest,the latter amazing me that we didn’t lose something against a tree.
It wasn’t all crazy on when Captain Ron demanded it and we took a slow scenic trip from Sinemorets to the Turkish border. There were police half way along this road as they try to cope with 350 migrants a day.
The Turkish border had wonderful beaches which were empty eventually flowing into a river which at half way across is the border line. Both sides have reinforced the beaches against corrosion so as to not lose ground to the other.
We stopped for a bite and a drink and of course a look for butterflies and I did see a few new species, which once again in the heat gave no photo opportunities frustratingly.

The dividing line between Turkey and Bulgaria is the centre of the river leaving the Black Sea between the flags

From another angle

From here we went into a clearing in the forest to be introduced to special hives of bees which produce a very special honey called Manna.
“Manna” honey is a honey produced by bees not from the nectar of flowers but out of secretions left on leaves by other insects who have eaten on them. It is darker in color, reaching red-brown, and is famous for its nutritional and health qualities and unique taste. In Bulgaria it is produced almost only in the Strandzha mountains by the Black Sea in the country's remote south-east corner.
From the honey they also produce Brandy or car fuel as I called it,Vinegar which was nice,and an paste for helping healing of bite, infection etc.
Again just in the clearing a new Satyr flew into the tree and the white flying slowly must surely have been a Wood White which double broods well into September.
Finally was the frightening ride back to the hotel through the forest,once is enough!!!!

Hives in the clearing where new butterflies were seen but sadly not photographed

Hive inspection - look how dark the contents seems to be and the honey is just wonderful

The next day was the more sedate trip down the Valeka river on a dragon boat.
Extremely enjoyable with commentary on all the interesting things about the river and the wildlife in the area, interesting and well worth the trip.
The mouth of the river is now closed by shifting sands with the sea enetering beneath these sands. Later in the season the river rises 8 metres the opening to the sea in once more and the surrounding areas are flooded.

What a beautiful river the Valeka river is and even includes the European Lynx as one of its local animals

One of the 100's of Turtles,well no 5 anyway

The river mouth closed to the sea at this time of the year but later opens to the sea when the floods arrive. Remember Bulgaria is also well known for its skiing resorts so they see both sides of the weather spectrum.The beach by the way is voted in the top 10 in Europe

I wanted to look for other species the next day so we went down to the beach and beyond into the early tree line of the Strandzha national Park where I was sure I would find something different. I did with again Satyrs in flight, which never stopped to be identified, but one I did recognise namely the Cardinal, which initially was feeding on Bramble Blossom. How was there Bramble Blossom still left when temperatures were up to 30c is still a mystery to me but I did manage a record shot. Brown Argus,Clouded Yellow,Common Blues,Mallow Skipper,Odonata,Bugs all added to the entertainment.

The beach looking back to our hotel on the left with the rough ground in front of the new hotel to the right.

The first of the trees leading into Stranzha nature Reserve with me taking shots of birds or should I say trying to.Found 3 European Hornets nests in 5 minutes as they were everywhere

A Cardinal feeding on Bramble Blossom which still amazes me.

Uknown Odonata

Unknown Shieldbug

Uknown Odonata

Uknown Odonata

The final full day I spent an hour or so trying my luck on the rough ground again and managed what I thought was an Eastern Clouded Yellow white form but on reflection I believe they are f.helice.
Another moth I saw regularly might be the Scarce Bordered Straw as well as plenty of what looked like Rusk Veneer.

61.001 - Small Copper - Lycaena phlaeas phlaeas f.eleus (Fabricius 1768) forewing partly suffused with blackish tone - tail on hindwing strongly developed

61.001 - Small Copper - Lycaena phlaeas phlaeas f.eleus (Fabricius 1768) forewing partly suffused with blackish tone - tail on hindwing strongly developed

73.076 - Scarce Bordered Straw - HELICOVERPA armigera (Hübner,[1808]) ?

73.076 - Scarce Bordered Straw - HELICOVERPA armigera (Hübner,[1808]) ?

7014 - Eastern Clouded Yellow - Colias erate (Esper, 1805) - notice the eliptical discal spot

58.010 - Clouded Yellow - COLIAS croceus (Geoffroy, 1785) f.helice

58.010 - Clouded Yellow - COLIAS croceus (Geoffroy, 1785) f.helice or Eastern Clouded Yellow white form?

I guess the conclusion to the trip must be if you want more butterflies and moths go earlier in the season and join one of the butterfly tours but for me it was a holiday first which I cant fault in any way because everything was fine taking into consideration that Bulgaria is newish to the holiday business and still putting in the facilities. I hope it doesn’t change much because I loved every bit of the experience and saw some new species for the first time. Lovely people, lovely country I do hope to go back one fine day.

I hope you enjoyed the trip with me

All the best

Colin

Bit of a mixed bag

12/8/2016

With the weather heating up towards Tuesday from the south we could be recording migrants very soon, especially from the south coast.
Last night there was a little bit of variety as far as records go, but nothing out of the ordinary, but it wont stop me having another go tonight.

Being told I have to put my feet up after a walk up Stockbridge Down forced me to get Achilles tendon bursitis I feel rather smug as it happens to athletes, and I can tell you seniors as well!!!! No wonder the walk around Shipton Bellinger was rather slow.

70.278 - Common Wave Cabera exanthemata (Scopoli, 1763) - Fleet - 11 August 2016

70.226 - Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata (Linnaeus, 1758) - Fleet - 11 August 2016

73.357 - Square-spot Rustic Xestia xanthographa ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) - Fleet - 11 August 2016

73.038 - Grey Dagger Acronicta psi - (Linnaeus, 1758) - Fleet - 11 August 2016

73.062 - Copper Underwing Amphipyra pyramidea (Linnaeus, 1758) - Fleet - 11 August 2016 - first of the year and not a Svensson's!!

73.062 - Copper Underwing Amphipyra pyramidea (Linnaeus, 1758) - Fleet - 11 August 2016 - notice the labial palps have white scales not black as in Svensson's Copper Underwing.

72.002 - Straw Dot Rivula sericealis - (Scopoli, 1763) - Fleet - 11 August 2016

49.024 - Chequered Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis corylana (Fabricius, 1794) - Fleet - 11 August 2016

63.089 - Agriphila tristella ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) - Fleet - 11 August 2016 - tapering of longitudinal streak at cetre and fanned fingers at the termen I/D this one

49.341 - Cydia splendana (Hübner, [1799]) - Fleet - 11 August 2016 - plenty of these around the trap at the moment

I'm still here, its the leps that are missing

7/8/2016

I never thought I would ever say reaching August that I have as yet not had a single decent nights mothing here which means that this concrete jungle is now behaving as one.
Most moths being recorded are second broods so where are the first?

Yesterday against my better judgement and yet because of frustration caused by a treatment of antibiotic which has left me with extremely painful achilles tendons I decided to take a chance and go to Shipton Bellinger to at least see a Brown Hairstreak.
I waddled through the site moving barely a foot at a time until I finally reached the far side of the field where males were reasonable,seeing half a dozen in short time thanks to Andy who also gave me a lift back to my car.
The season is getting on and with it the lack of butterflies was obvious with 2 Red Admiral, 3 Peacock, 1 Comma and Fritillary, 2 Speckled Wood 8 Holly Blue and loads of Brimstone and Whites,Meadow Brown and Gatekeeper everywhere. Apparently there were also a number of Brown Argus although they had gone by the time I reached the nectaring point.

Its difficult to judge what has caused such a bleak season beyond weather and yet where a site is conserved as is the case with Tim and the Hawk Conservancy moths are plentiful with over 140 species seen with 4 traps recently,so is it loss of habitat that is downsizing catches?

I'm sure much will be spoken about this year one that has me saying "Roll on 2017". Sure there is plenty left of this season yet,especially with the moths, as a good friend who last week started moth trapping highlighted yesterday when he recorded a Red Underwing, well done Barry.

Below are photos of last night catch with a couple of shots from Shipton Bellinger.

Good hunting - Colin

49.024 - Chequered Fruit-tree - Tortrix Pandemis corylana - (Fabricius, 1794) - Fleet - 6 August 2016

73.325 BF2092 73.325 - Shuttle-shaped Dart Agrotis puta - (Hübner, [1803]) - Fleet - 6 August 2016

72.024 - Ruby Tiger Phragmatobia fuliginosa (Linnaeus, 1758) - Fleet - 6 August 2016

71.012 - Iron Prominent - Notodonta dromedarius (Linnaeus, 1767) - Fleet - 6 August 2016

73.169 - Common Rustic - Mesapamea secalis - (Linnaeus, 1758) - Fleet - 6 August 2016

73.169 - Common Rustic - Mesapamea secalis - (Linnaeus, 1758) - Fleet - 6 August 2016

Unusual one this one and a new for website moth. At first look it would appear to be a grass moth but in fact its one of the Gelechiids called a Juniper Webber,with its strange straight horns at the front.Its one of those moths whose larvae feed on cultivated or wild Juniper so not so bad after all.

35.022 - Juniper Webber - Dichomeris marginella (Fabricius, 1781) - Fleet - 6 August 2016

Hardly inspiring is it?
So now just a couple or so from Shipton Bellinger

16.007 - Yponomeuta plumbella - ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) - Shipton Bellinger - 6 August 2016

61.003 - Brown Hairstreak - Thecla betulae (Linnaeus, 1758) - Shipton Bellinger - 6 August 2016

61.003 - Brown Hairstreak - Thecla betulae (Linnaeus, 1758) - Shipton Bellinger - 6 August 2016

Guest Blog - More Cholderton Mothing - Part 2 - Tim Norriss

30/7/2016

It’s usually only once a year, sometimes not at all, that conditions are such that you can feel in your bones that it’s going to be a good night’s mothing. Sometimes after all the anticipation it comes to nothing but when its 24⁰C when you are setting up the traps and there’s no wind and its cloudy and muggy then it’s got to be good. It was like this when I again set up the three MV’s on Tuesday 19 July at the Cholderton Estate. I put each Robinson on a sheet with large egg trays positioned around the trap. This provides a little shelter for any moths that don’t make it into the trap itself. I leave the traps running overnight and go back first thing next morning. On this occasion it was still 20⁰C at 05.30 the next morning. I was on my own doing the three traps as Henry was busy on the farm and I quickly took the decision that I would just record species and not record numbers as I usually do.

70.205 - The Magpie Abraxas grossulariata - (Linnaeus, 1758) - Cholderton,Hants - 22 July 2016 - © Tim Norriss

72.066 - Waved Black - Parascotia fuliginaria (Linnaeus, 1761) - Cholderton,Hants - 19 July 2016 - © Tim Norriss

When Henry came back for breakfast and enquired how I was doing I had already got over 100 species and that was without opening any of the traps! Living in the north of the county there is no great expectation of lots of migrants and despite the south-easterly winds that was just as well as despite a smattering of Diamond-backed moths there weren’t any. Waved Black was new for Cholderton and Four-spotted Footman, of which there were 5 including a female, were only recorded here for the first time last year and now seem to be established. Lots of Brussels Lace, Festoon and Magpie as well as singles of Blue-bordered Carpet, Balsam Carpet, Phoenix and Kent Black Arches were the pick of the macros.

70.089 - The Phoenix - Eulithis prunata - (Linnaeus, 1758) - Cholderton,Hants - 22 July 2016 - © Tim Norriss

74.002 - Kent Black Arches - Meganola albula ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)

I had brought breakfast with me and thought I would be done well before lunch-time but by 1pm I still had one trap to do so I was asked in for lunch – many thanks Henry - actually it was Sarah that cooked so thank you Sarah. It took till 5pm to go through the final trap, to pot everything needed for photography later and to id the micros that I couldn’t do on the spot. The total came to 196 species including the Oak Eggar that flew past me after lunch – the first seen here since 1999. And that didn’t include about ten species that would have needed dissection to id. It was great to see lots of micros too including some scarce things like Aethes dilucidana, Assara terrebrella, Morophaga choragella, Eucosma obumbratana, Parachronistis albiceps, Dichomeris alacella and several Argyresthia and Caloptilia. Wow, what a night – certainly the best species range on one night that I have ever experienced.

49.122 - Aethes dilucidana - (Stephens, 1852)

62.047 - Assara terebrella - (Zincken, 1818) - Cholderton,Hants - 19 July 2016 - © Tim Norriss

49.264 - Eucosma obumbratana (Lienig & Zeller, 1846)

35.161 - Parachronistis albiceps - Zeller, 1839) - Cholderton,Hants - 19 July 2016 - © Tim Norriss

35.025 - Dichomeris alacella - (Zeller, 1839) - Cholderton,Hants - 19 July 2016 - © Tim Norriss

I was back on Friday night 22 July for a repeat performance with three Robinson traps again. The temperature went down to 16⁰C that night so it wasn’t quite such a mammoth task in the morning – only 162 species this time excluding the usual unidentifiables. Nice additions not seen during the week were Tinea trinotella, Mecyna flavalis, Acleris kochiella, Spilonota laricana (rare in N Hants), Round-winged Muslin and Juniper Pug. One of the traps was situated near a couple of long-established juniper bushes so this last was not surprising and we do see it every year, but while emptying this trap on this occasion I potted a small tiny plain-looking micro about 3mm long that I didn’t recognise. I nearly didn’t keep it as I thought it looked worn and probably wasn’t going to be identifiable, but I’m glad I did.

12.033 - Tinea trinotella Thunberg, 1794 - Cholderton,Hants - 22 July 2016 - © Tim Norriss

63.039 - Mecyna flavalis - Caradja, 1916

49.085 - Acleris-kochiella - (Goeze, 1783) - Cholderton,Hants - 22 July 2016 - © Tim Norriss .

49.225 - Spilonota laricana - (Heinemann, 1863) - Cholderton,Hants - 22 July 2016 - © Tim Norriss

72.037 - Round-winged Muslin Thumatha senex (Hübner, [1808]) - Cholderton,Hants - 22 July 2016 - © Tim Norriss

On checking with a lens it didn’t look too worn and a check in the book and the internet showed that it was Argyresthia abdominalis. This is a juniper feeder and there appears to be only six previous records of it in Hampshire, the last in 1985. The only other photos of live UK specimens appear to be on the Norfolk Moths website.

20.008 - Argyresthia abdominalis - Zeller, 1839 - Cholderton,Hants - 22 July 2016 - © Tim Norriss

I had a look on the junipers to see if I could find any leaf mines on it without success and decided to run just a single MV between the two bushes on the following night. This produced two more so it must be breeding here. Amongst the 112 species there was another Acleris kochiella, 2 Waved Black, 2 Juniper Pug, Sitochroa palealis and Gynnidomorpha luridana. A trip to an area on Salisbury Plain near Bulford just a few metres outside the Cholderton Estate produced yet another Argyresthia abdominalis beaten from a Juniper bush and another as-yet unidentified Syncopacma swept from Birds-foot Trefoil.

49.104 -Gynnidomorpha luridana (Gregson, 1870) - Cholderton, Hants - 23 July 2016 - © Tim Norriss

20.008 - Argyresthia abdominalis - Zeller, 1839 - Salisbury Plain- 24 July 2016 - © Tim Norriss

A big thank you to Henry Edmunds for letting us run the traps on the Cholderton Estate and all credit to him for the way that it is managed that results in such a huge diversity of Lepidoptera and other wildlife.

Guest Blog - Recent mothing - Part 1 - Tim Norriss

28/7/2016

The general consensus seems to have been that the spring and early summer were pretty poor for most Lepidoptera – one cant help feeling that this must be having an effect on our small bird populations as well as so many rely on the glut of spring larvae on which to feed their broods.

Other than my garden, I moth-trap at two sites regularly and a few other sites on an occasional basis. The two regular sites are the Hawk Conservancy at Monxton where there is a wonderful meadow of wild flowers that was created from an arable field about ten years ago, and the Cholderton Estate which is run by Henry Edmunds as an organic farm. Henry has run a moth-trap here for more than 35 years and we have been assisting since 2008. The lack of pesticides and chemicals shows in the catches. Corn buntings thrive here and whilst watching one singing on 26 July I counted 350 Large Whites (there may have been Small Whites amongst them) and a Clouded Yellow over just one field of barley that had an understorey of charlock.

The sensitive treatment of hedges also has a hugely beneficial effect, you won’t see hedges flailed to waist height and two feet wide on this estate! On this subject I notice, and I quote here from Mark Avery’s excellent blog that:

“The NFU is lobbying hard to be able to cut hedgerows a month earlier than is currently allowed. This is being billed as an unfair restriction on farmers imposed because of EU legislation. I’m not quite sure about that – do any readers of this blog know whether that is actually true?

Is this the beginning of an assault on so-called red tape, and if it is, is it a well-chosen target?

You can’t cut your hedges until September, which rules out sending round the hedge trimmers straight after harvest (which is a convenient time) and you have to wait until September when the weather, and therefore the soil conditions, may be far less favourable.

Farmers have a point – although the lovely Guy Smith, vice-president of the NFU, is quoted as saying ‘The government must give farmers and contractors the opportunity to trim hedges at a time when it is convenient for them.‘ which is typically selfish and pushy of the NFU.”

I would have thought that with the public pouring so much money into farming we have a perfect right to demand that farmers do considerably more than most of them currently do to protect wildlife and that includes cutting hedges later not earlier. Prof Ian Newton FRS in his study of Bullfinches in the 1960’s showed that “The last young Bullfinches left their nests in late September or even in early October. Moreover, late-fledged Bullfinches accounted for a substantial proportion of Bullfinches fledged, and the most productive Bullfinch breeding seasons were those with the highest proportions of late-fledging birds.” It is hardly surprising then that at Cholderton the Bullfinch is still a common bird whereas nationally it has declined by 36% since 1967.

Our second moth-trapping session at Cholderton this year, on 4 June, produced 130 species including 80 Common Swift, 77 Orange Footman and 15 Scorched Wing. There was a single Obscure Wainscot and Red-necked Footman. At this time there was a large immigration of Diamond-backed moths and so it was no surprise to find 449 of them in the three traps.

63.020 - Anania perlucidalis - (Hübner, [1809]) - Cholderton Estate - 5 June 2016 - © Tim Norriss

72.042 - Red-necked Footman Atolmis rubricollis (Linnaeus, 1758) - Cholderton Estate - 4 June 2016 - © Tim Norriss

There were still lots of Diamond-backed moths about, 200 in fact, when I trapped at the Hawk Conservancy on 10 June but the real surprise amongst the 87 species were 45 Syncopcama that have been tentatively identified as S. cinctella. I’m awaiting the results of the dissection. There are 3 similar species that all feed on Birds-foot Trefoil. We had caught just one on our previous visit on 29 May.

73.352 - Green Arches Anaplectoides prasina ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) - Stockbridge Down - 9 June 2016 - © Tim Norriss

35.002 - Syncopacma cinctella - (Clerck, 1759)

The night before I had been trapping on Stockbridge Down with Catherine Hadler, the NT ranger for this wonderful grassland site with lots of valuable scrub. We had also seen Green Arches, Reddish Light Arches and, surprisingly 2 Common Fan-foot. I always associate these with old, often neglected, hazel coppice and I would never have expected to come across them on the down though its possible they may have wandered from the adjacent woodland

72.056 - Common Fan-foot Pechipogo strigilata (Linnaeus, 1758) - Stockbridge Down - 9 June 2014 - © Tim Norriss

The rest of June was a wash-out I’m told but luckily we missed it as we were away watching butterflies in Cuba! In fact the first part of July wasn’t much to write home about either so it wasn’t until 16 July when we went to Isle of Wight for the weekend on the promise of slightly warmer nights that things got considerably better. Our friends Ian and Pat Merrifield live on the northern edge of Parkhurst Forest and have been trapping here for a few years now. I had phoned up a few days before and arranged to bring over an extra trap to add to his two on the Saturday night. We called in at tea-time for a welcome cuppa and to set up ready for Ian to turn them on later.

It was still 16⁰ when we drove back over first thing in the morning and the outside of the traps and large egg-trays that I put round them were covered in moths. Several Festoon and Clouded Magpie were visible around the first trap alone and there were lots of Brussels Lace and Buff Arches. Magpie Moth have become quite scarce in recent years but there were six here along with Bordered Beauty, Small Dotted Buff. Orange Moth, Lunar-spotted Pinion and 4-spotted Footman. I’d never managed to catch up with Muslin Footman before so very exciting to find a nice fresh one in one trap. It made a change also that there were lots of micros to pore over and photograph – Ypsolopha nemorella and Limnaecia phragmitella were things I had only seen a couple of times before.

70.230 - Orange Moth male Angerona prunaria f. corylaria -Thunberg, 1784) - Parkhurst Forest,Isle of Wight - 16 July 2016 - © Tim Norriss

72.041 - Four-spotted Footman - Lithosia quadra - (Linnaeus, 1758)

72.036 - Muslin Footman - Nudari mundana (Linnaeus, 1761) - Parkhurst Forest - 16 July 2016 - © Tim Norriss

70.288 - Brussels Lace Cleorodes lichenaria (Hufnagel, 1767) - Parkhurst Forest,Isle of Wight - 16 July 2016 - © Tim Norriss

It took us till after lunch to identify and photograph all the things that we wanted to. Its not often that I get over 150 species in a night so the total of 155 was especially pleasing for Ian as it added lots to his garden list! Acleris umbrana was probably the rarest find of the night. It seems to have become a little more common in recent years – this was just the second for the island as Ian had caught the first also in his garden on 7 Nov 2014. It is double-brooded and this is the first time that the first brood that flies in July/August has been reported in Hants/IoW.