Byng Road Nature Reserve, Barnet 6 Aug 2011
| Lyonetiidae |
| 263 Apple Leaf Miner Lyonetia clerkella |
| Gelechiidae |
| 779 Bryotropha affinis |
| Tortricidae |
| 936 Cochylimorpha straminea |
| 1011 Pseudargyrotoza conwagana |
| 1205 Bud Moth Spilonota ocellana |
| Crambidae |
| 1304 Agriphila straminella |
| 1316 Catoptria falsella |
| 1334 Scoparia ambigualis |
| 1405 Mother of Pearl Pleuroptya ruralis |
| Pyralidae |
| 1436 Conobathra repandana |
| 1439 Trachycera advenella |
| 1452 Phycita roborella |
| Geometridae |
| 1702 Small Fan-footed wave Idaea biselata |
| 1713 Riband wave Idaea aversata |
| 1738 Common Carpet Epirrhoe alternata |
| 1937 Willow Beauty Peribatodes rhomboidaria |
| Lymantriidae |
| 2033 Black Arches Lymantria monacha |
| Arctiidae |
| 2047 Scarce Footman Eilema complana |
| Noctuidae |
| 2102 Flame Shoulder Ochropleura plecta |
| 2107 Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba |
| 2111 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing Noctua janthe |
| 2112 Least Yellow Underwing Noctua interjecta |
| 2199 Common Wainscot Mythimna pallens |
| 2293 Marbled Beauty Cryphia domestica |
| 2300 Old Lady Mormo maura |
| 2303 Straw Underwing Thalpophila matura |
| 2318 The Dun-bar Cosmia trapezina |
| 2321 Dark Arches Apamea monoglypha |
| 2337 Marbled Minor Oligia strigilis |
| 2340 Middle-barred Minor Oligia fasciuncula |
| 2341 Cloaked Minor Mesoligia furuncula |
| 2382 Rustic Hoplodrina blanda |
| 2474 Straw Dot Rivula sericealis |
Bayfordbury Bioblitz 2 July 2011
* = recorded at pheromones on 2nd July by Andrew Wood
** = seen by several observers in sunshine on 3rd July
All others were recorded at or in association with the light traps.
| Hepialidae |
| 0014 Hepialus humuli (Linnaeus, 1758) Ghost Moth |
| Sesiidae |
| 0379 Synanthedon myopaeformis (Borkhausen, 1789) Red-belted Clearwing * |
| 0382 Bembecia ichneumoniformis ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) Six-belted Clearwing * |
| Yponomeutidae |
| 0424 Yponomeuta evonymella (Linnaeus, 1758) Bird-cherry Ermine |
| 0449 Prays fraxinella (Bjerkander, 1784) Ash Bud Moth |
| Oecophoridae |
| 0658 Carcina quercana (Fabricius, 1775) |
| Gelechiidae |
| 0866 Brachmia blandella (Fabricius, 1798) |
| Tortricidae |
| 0970 Pandemis cerasana (Hübner, 1786) Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix |
| 0977 Archips podana (Scopoli, 1763) Large Fruit-tree Tortrix |
| 0979 Archips crataegana (Hübner, 1799) |
| 0980 Archips xylosteana (Linnaeus, 1758) Variegated Golden Tortrix |
| 0994 Clepsis consimilana (Hübner, 1817) |
| 1001 Lozotaeniodes formosanus (Geyer, 1830) |
| 1006 Epagoge grotiana (Fabricius, 1781) |
| 1032 Aleimma loeflingiana (Linnaeus, 1758) |
| 1033 Tortrix viridana Linnaeus, 1758 Green Oak Tortrix |
| 1037 Acleris holmiana (Linnaeus, 1758) |
| 1063 Celypha striana ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) |
| 1076 Celypha lacunana ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) |
| 1082 Hedya pruniana (Hübner, 1799) Plum Tortrix |
| 1083 Hedya nubiferana (Haworth, 1811) Marbled Orchard Tortrix |
| 1115 Ancylis achatana ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) |
| 1175 Epiblema uddmanniana (Linnaeus, 1758) Bramble Shoot Moth |
| 1201 Eucosma cana (Haworth, 1811) |
| Crambidae |
| 1293 Chrysoteuchia culmella (Linnaeus, 1758) Garden Grass-veneer |
| 1301 Crambus lathoniellus (Zincken, 1817) |
| 1302 Crambus perlella (Scopoli, 1763) |
| 1331 Acentria ephemerella ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) Water Veneer |
| 1334 Scoparia ambigualis (Treitschke, 1829) |
| 1334a Scoparia basistrigalis Knaggs, 1866 |
| 1338 Dipleurina lacustrata (Panzer, 1804) |
| 1376 Eurrhypara hortulata (Linnaeus, 1758) Small Magpie |
| 1390 Udea prunalis ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) |
| 1392 Udea olivalis ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) |
| 1405 Pleuroptya ruralis (Scopoli, 1763) Mother of Pearl |
| Pyralidae |
| 1424 Endotricha flammealis ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) |
| 1436 Conobathra repandana (Fabricius, 1798) |
| 1452 Phycita roborella ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) |
| Pterophoridae |
| 1509 Stenoptilia pterodactyla (Linnaeus, 1761) |
| 1513 Pterophorus pentadactyla (Linnaeus, 1758) White Plume Moth |
| 1524 Emmelina monodactyla (Linnaeus, 1758) |
| Lasiocampidae |
| 1640 Euthrix potatoria (Linnaeus, 1758) Drinker |
| Thyatiridae |
| 1652 Thyatira batis (Linnaeus, 1758) Peach Blossom |
| 1653 Habrosyne pyritoides (Hufnagel, 1766) Buff Arches |
| Geometridae |
| 1669 Hemithea aestivaria (Hübner, 1799) Common Emerald |
| 1699 Idaea rusticata Lempke, 1967 Least Carpet |
| 1702 Idaea biselata (Hufnagel, 1767) Small Fan-footed Wave |
| 1705 Idaea fuscovenosa (Goeze, 1781) Dwarf Cream Wave |
| 1708 Idaea dimidiata (Hufnagel, 1767) Single-dotted Wave |
| 1713 Idaea aversata (Linnaeus, 1758) Riband Wave |
| 1732 Scotopteryx chenopodiata (Linnaeus, 1758) Shaded Broad-bar |
| 1738 Epirrhoe alternata (Müller, 1764) Common Carpet |
| 1752 Cosmorhoe ocellata (Linnaeus, 1758) Purple Bar |
| 1768 Thera obeliscata (Hübner, 1787) Grey Pine Carpet |
| 1777 Hydriomena furcata (Thunberg, 1784) July Highflyer |
| 1782 Horisme tersata ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) Fern |
| 1792 Philereme transversata (Hufnagel, 1767) Dark Umber |
| 1858 Chloroclystis v-ata (Haworth, 1809) V-Pug |
| 1860 Pasiphila rectangulata (Linnaeus, 1758) Green Pug |
| 1862 Gymnoscelis rufifasciata (Haworth, 1809) Double-striped Pug |
| 1887 Lomaspilis marginata (Linnaeus, 1758) Clouded Border |
| 1893 Macaria liturata (Clerck, 1759) Tawny-barred Angle |
| 1906 Opisthograptis luteolata (Linnaeus, 1758) Brimstone Moth |
| 1915 Ennomos erosaria ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) September Thorn |
| 1921 Crocallis elinguaria (Linnaeus, 1758) Scalloped Oak |
| 1922 Ourapteryx sambucaria (Linnaeus, 1758) Swallow-tailed Moth |
| 1931 Biston betularia (Linnaeus, 1758) Peppered Moth |
| 1937 Peribatodes rhomboidaria ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) Willow Beauty |
| 1941 Alcis repandata (Linnaeus, 1758) Mottled Beauty |
| 1947 Ectropis bistortata (Goeze, 1781) Engrailed |
| 1955 Cabera pusaria (Linnaeus, 1758) Common White Wave |
| 1958 Lomographa temerata ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) Clouded Silver |
| 1961 Campaea margaritata (Linnaeus, 1767) Light Emerald |
| Sphingidae |
| 1976 Sphinx ligustri (Linnaeus, 1758) Privet Hawk-moth |
| 1978 Hyloicus pinastri (Linnaeus, 1758) Pine Hawk-moth |
| 1981 Laothoe populi (Linnaeus, 1758) Poplar Hawk-moth |
| 1984 Macroglossum stellatarum (Linnaeus, 1758) Humming-bird Hawk-moth ** |
| Notodontidae |
| 2009 Ptilodon cucullina ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) Maple Prominent |
| Lymantriidae |
| 2030 Euproctis similis (Fuessly, 1775) Yellow-tail |
| 2031 Leucoma salicis (Linnaeus, 1758) White Satin |
| 2033 Lymantria monacha (Linnaeus, 1758) Black Arches |
| Arctiidae |
| 2047 Eilema complana (Linnaeus, 1758) Scarce Footman |
| 2049 Eilema depressa (Esper, 1787) Buff Footman |
| 2050 Eilema lurideola (Zincken, 1817) Common Footman |
| Nolidae |
| 2077 Nola cucullatella (Linnaeus, 1758) Short-cloaked Moth |
| Noctuidae |
| 2088 Agrotis clavis (Hufnagel, 1766) Heart and Club |
| 2089 Agrotis exclamationis (Linnaeus, 1758) Heart and Dart |
| 2107 Noctua pronuba Linnaeus, 1758 Large Yellow Underwing |
| 2110 Noctua fimbriata (Schreber, 1759) Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing |
| 2126 Xestia c-nigrum (Linnaeus, 1758) Setaceous Hebrew Character |
| 2128 Xestia triangulum (Hufnagel, 1766) Double Square-spot |
| 2160 Lacanobia oleracea (Linnaeus, 1758) Bright-line Brown-eye |
| 2192 Mythimna conigera ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) Brown-line Bright Eye |
| 2193 Mythimna ferrago (Fabricius, 1787) Clay |
| 2198 Mythimna impura (Hübner, 1808) Smoky Wainscot |
| 2225 Brachylomia viminalis (Fabricius, 1777) Minor Shoulder-knot |
| 2278 Acronicta megacephala ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) Poplar Grey |
| 2297 Amphipyra pyramidea (Linnaeus, 1758) Copper Underwing |
| 2301 Dypterygia scabriuscula (Linnaeus, 1758) Bird's Wing |
| 2302 Rusina ferruginea (Esper, 1785) Brown Rustic |
| 2318 Cosmia trapezina (Linnaeus, 1758) Dun-bar |
| 2319 Cosmia pyralina ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) Lunar-spotted Pinion |
| 2321 Apamea monoglypha (Hufnagel, 1766) Dark Arches |
| 2322 Apamea lithoxylaea ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) Light Arches |
| 2338 Oligia versicolor (Borkhausen, 1792) Rufous Minor |
| 2339 Oligia latruncula ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) Tawny Marbled Minor |
| 2345 Photedes minima (Haworth, 1809) Small Dotted Buff |
| 2381 Hoplodrina alsines (Brahm, 1791) Uncertain |
| 2387 Caradrina morpheus (Hufnagel, 1766) Mottled Rustic |
| 2425 Colocasia coryli (Linnaeus, 1758) Nut-tree Tussock |
| 2442 Autographa pulchrina (Haworth, 1809) Beautiful Golden Y |
| 2473 Laspeyria flexula ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) Beautiful Hook-tip |
| 2477 Hypena proboscidalis (Linnaeus, 1758) Snout |
| 2489 Zanclognatha tarsipennalis (Treitschke, 1835) Fan-foot |
Totteridge Fields 2 July 2011
| 308 Parornix finitimella |
| 417 Argyresthia spinosella |
| 422 Argyresthia albistria |
| 483 Epermenia chaerophyllella |
| 493 Coleophora serratella |
| 610 Elachista argentella |
| 658 Carcina quercana |
| 844 Syncopacma larseniella |
| 886 Mompha ochraceella |
| 972 Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis heparana |
| 980 Archips xylosteana |
| 994 Clepsis consimilana |
| 1033 Green Oak Tortrix Tortrix viridana |
| 1076 Celypha lacunana |
| 1083 Marbled Orchard Tortrix Hedya nubiferana |
| 1109 Lobesia littoralis |
| 1115 Ancylis achatana |
| 1159 Holly Tortrix Rhopobota naevana |
| 1169 Gypsonoma dealbana |
| 1175 Bramble Shoot Moth Epiblema uddmanniana |
| 1192 Eucosma conterminana |
| 1201 Eucosma cana |
| 1293 Chrysoteuchia culmella |
| 1334 Scoparia ambigualis |
| 1344 Eudonia mercurella |
| 1378 Phlyctaenia coronata |
| 1392 Udea olivalis |
| 1428 Bee Moth Aphomia sociella |
| 1452 Phycita roborella |
| 1504 Platyptilia pallidactyla |
| 1513 White Plume Moth Pterophorus pentadactyla |
| 1524 Emmelina monodactyla |
| 1669 Common Emerald Hemithea aestivaria |
| 1702 Small Fan-footed wave Idaea biselata |
| 1713 Riband wave Idaea aversata |
| 1742 Yellow Shell Camptogramma bilineata |
| 1777 July Highflier Hydriomena furcata |
| 1860 Green Pug Pasiphila rectangulata |
| 1862 Double-striped Pug Gymnoscelis rufifasciata |
| 1906 Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata |
| 1941 Mottled Beauty Alcis repandata |
| 1958 Clouded Silver Lomographa temerata |
| 1991 Elephant Hawk-moth Deilephila elpenor |
| 2050 Common Footman Eilema lurideola |
| 2076 Kent Black Arches Meganola albula |
| 2077 Short-cloaked Moth Nola cucullatella |
| 2089 Heart & Dart Agrotis exclamationis |
| 2128 Double Square-spot Xestia triangulum |
| 2160 Bright-line Brown-eye Lacanobia oleracea |
| 2193 Clay Mythimna ferrago |
| 2198 Smoky Wainscot Mythimna impura |
| 2199 Common Wainscot Mythimna pallens |
| 2205 Shoulder-Striped Wainscot Mythimna comma |
| 2314 Dingy Shears Parastichtis ypsillon |
| 2318 Dun-bar Cosmia trapezina |
| 2319 Lunar-spotted Pinion Cosmia pyralina |
| 2321 Dark Arches Apamea monoglypha |
| 2322 Light Arches Apamea lithoxylaea |
| 2337 Marbled Minor Oligia strigilis |
| 2345 Small Dotted Buff Photedes minima |
| 2381 Uncertain Hoplodrina alsines |
| 2466 Blackneck Lygephila pastinum |
| 2473 Beautiful Hook-tip Laspeyria flexula |
| 2477 Snout Hypena proboscidalis |
| 2489 Fan-foot Zanclognatha tarsipennalis |
| 2492 Small Fan-foot Herminia grisealis |
St Edmunds College, Puckeridge 11 June 2011
Local rain showers and moderately strong wind all day did not bode well for the trip on Saturday evening to the grounds of St Edmunds College at Puckeridge, but at least it did not rain whilst we were there. It was not especially warm, however, and the moths felt like they were only just outnumbered by the moth-ers!Four mv lights were set along the wooded/scrub northern boundary of the sports field and a 15-watt actinic trap was placed in the college nature reserve - a small wooded area nearer to the college buildings.
A rather disappointing list resulted, given that we ran 5 lights from nightfall to about 1.30 am. We may have got more by staying later, of course, but that was beginning to feel like hard work by the time we decided to pack up and go.
| Hepialidae |
| 0017 Hepialus lupulinus (Linnaeus, 1758) Common Swift |
| Tortricidae |
| 0970 Pandemis cerasana (Hübner, 1786) Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix |
| 0977 Archips podana (Scopoli, 1763) Large Fruit-tree Tortrix |
| 1032 Aleimma loeflingiana (Linnaeus, 1758) |
| 1033 Tortrix viridana Linnaeus, 1758 Green Oak Tortrix |
| 1175 Epiblema uddmanniana (Linnaeus, 1758) Bramble Shoot Moth |
| Crambidae |
| 1293 Chrysoteuchia culmella (Linnaeus, 1758) Garden Grass-veneer |
| 1301 Crambus lathoniellus (Zincken, 1817) |
| 1338 Dipleurina lacustrata (Panzer, 1804) |
| 1376 Eurrhypara hortulata (Linnaeus, 1758) Small Magpie |
| 1392 Udea olivalis ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) |
| Geometridae |
| 1682 Timandra comae (Schmidt, 1931) Blood-vein |
| 1705 Idaea fuscovenosa (Goeze, 1781) Dwarf Cream Wave |
| 1727 Xanthorhoe montanata ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) Silver-ground Carpet |
| 1764 Chloroclysta truncata (Hufnagel, 1767) Common Marbled Carpet |
| 1906 Opisthograptis luteolata (Linnaeus, 1758) Brimstone Moth |
| 1955 Cabera pusaria (Linnaeus, 1758) Common White Wave |
| 1958 Lomographa temerata ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) Clouded Silver |
| Sphingidae |
| 1976 Sphinx ligustri (Linnaeus, 1758) Privet Hawk-moth |
| Arctiidae |
| 2050 Eilema lurideola (Zincken, 1817) Common Footman |
| 2060 Spilosoma lubricipeda (Linnaeus, 1758) White Ermine |
| 2061 Spilosoma luteum (Hufnagel, 1766) Buff Ermine |
| Noctuidae |
| 2089 Agrotis exclamationis (Linnaeus, 1758) Heart and Dart |
| 2102 Ochropleura plecta (Linnaeus, 1761) Flame Shoulder |
| 2107 Noctua pronuba Linnaeus, 1758 Large Yellow Underwing |
| 2126 Xestia c-nigrum (Linnaeus, 1758) Setaceous Hebrew Character |
| 2128 Xestia triangulum (Hufnagel, 1766) Double Square-spot |
| 2160 Lacanobia oleracea (Linnaeus, 1758) Bright-line Brown-eye |
| 2199 Mythimna pallens (Linnaeus, 1758) Common Wainscot |
| 2205 Mythimna comma (Linnaeus, 1761) Shoulder-striped Wainscot |
| 2302 Rusina ferruginea (Esper, 1785) Brown Rustic |
| 2321 Apamea monoglypha (Hufnagel, 1766) Dark Arches |
| 2322 Apamea lithoxylaea ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) Light Arches |
| 2334 Apamea sordens (Hufnagel, 1766) Rustic Shoulder-knot |
| 2339 Oligia latruncula ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) Tawny Marbled Minor |
| 2380 Charanyca trigrammica (Hufnagel, 1766) Treble Lines |
| 2381 Hoplodrina alsines (Brahm, 1791) Uncertain |
| 2434 Diachrysia chrysitis (Linnaeus, 1758) Burnished Brass |
| 2450 Abrostola tripartita (Hufnagel, 1766) Spectacle |
Aldbury Nowers N.R 28th May 2011
Report of the extra Herts Moth Group trip looking for Agrotis cinerea but none were found.
Most interesting is probably Mompha miscella - whose larvae mine the leaves of Rock Rose.
It is an Endangered species in Hertfordshire and is hopefully benefitting from the massive re-growth of the
foodplant at Aldbury Nowers following the long overdue removal of scrub and brambles.
List is as follows - species with an asterisk (*) were dissected- numbers are approximate:
| Hepialidae |
| 0014 Hepialus humuli (Linnaeus, 1758) Ghost Moth 1 male |
| 0017 Hepialus lupulinus (Linnaeus, 1758) Common Swift 5 |
| Momphidae |
| 0884 Mompha miscella ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) 1 |
| Tortricidae |
| 0937 Agapeta hamana (Linnaeus, 1758) 1 |
| 0970 Pandemis cerasana (Hübner, 1786) Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix 1 |
| 1011 Pseudargyrotoza conwagana (Fabricius, 1775) 1 |
| 1083 Hedya nubiferana (Haworth, 1811) Marbled Orchard Tortrix 1 |
| 1174 Epiblema cynosbatella (Linnaeus, 1758) 1 |
| 1175 Epiblema uddmanniana (Linnaeus, 1758) Bramble Shoot Moth 3 |
| 1259 Cydia fagiglandana (Zeller, 1841) 2 |
| Crambidae |
| 1293 Chrysoteuchia culmella (Linnaeus, 1758) Garden Grass-veneer 5 |
| 1301 Crambus lathoniellus (Zincken, 1817) 5 |
| 1333 Scoparia pyralella ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)* 2 |
| 1334 Scoparia ambigualis (Treitschke, 1829)* 10 |
| 1338 Dipleurina lacustrata (Panzer, 1804) 1 |
| 1392 Udea olivalis ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) 1 |
| Pterophoridae |
| 1509 Stenoptilia pterodactyla (Linnaeus, 1761)* 1 |
| Geometridae |
| 1726 Xanthorhoe quadrifasiata (Clerck, 1759) Large Twin-spot Carpet 1 |
| 1727 Xanthorhoe montanata ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) Silver-ground Carpet 2 |
| 1742 Camptogramma bilineata (Linnaeus, 1758) Yellow Shell 1 |
| 1773 Electrophaes corylata (Thunberg, 1792) Broken-barredCarpet 1 |
| 1776 Colostygia pectinataria (Knoch, 1781) Green Carpet 2 |
| 1840 Eupithecia subumbrata ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) Shaded Pug 1 |
| 1860 Pasiphila rectangulata (Linnaeus, 1758) Green Pug 1 |
| ---- Eupithecia sp. ? ????? 1 |
| 1876 Hydrelia flammeolaria (Hufnagel, 1767) Small Yellow Wave 1 |
| 1906 Opisthograptis luteolata (Linnaeus, 1758) Brimstone Moth 2 |
| 1931 Biston betularia (Linnaeus, 1758) Peppered Moth 1 |
| 1944 Hypomecis punctinalis (Scopoli, 1763) Pale Oak Beauty 1 |
| 1958 Lomographa temerata ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) Clouded Silver 5 |
| Sphingidae |
| 1991 Deilephila elpenor (Linnaeus, 1758) Elephant Hawk-moth 2 |
| 1992 Deilephila porcellus (Linnaeus, 1758) Small Elephant Hawk-moth 20 |
| Notodontidae |
| 1999 Stauropus fagi (Linnaeus, 1758) Lobster Moth 1 |
| 2000 Notodonta dromedarius (Linnaeus, 1767) Iron Prominent 1 |
| Lymantriidae |
| 2028 Calliteara pudibunda (Linnaeus, 1758) Pale Tussock 2 |
| Arctiidae |
| 2043 Eilema sororcula (Hufnagel, 1766) Orange Footman 1 |
| 2060 Spilosoma lubricipeda (Linnaeus, 1758) White Ermine 2 |
| Noctuidae |
| 2088 Agrotis clavis (Hufnagel, 1766) Heart and Club 1 |
| 2089 Agrotis exclamationis (Linnaeus, 1758) Heart and Dart 9 |
| 2092 Agrotis puta (Hübner, 1803) Shuttle-shaped Dart 1 |
| 2098 Axylia putris (Linnaeus, 1761) Flame 1 |
| 2102 Ochropleura plecta (Linnaeus, 1761) Flame Shoulder 1 |
| 2120 Diarsia mendica (Fabricius, 1775) Ingrailed Clay 5 |
| 2126 Xestia c-nigrum (Linnaeus, 1758) Setaceous Hebrew Character 5 |
| 2128 Xestia triangulum (Hufnagel, 1766) Double Square-spot 2 |
| 2147 Hada plebeja (Hufnagel, 1766) Shears 2 |
| 2163 Melanchra pisi (Linnaeus, 1758) Broom Moth 1 |
| 2199 Mythimna pallens (Linnaeus, 1758) Common Wainscot 1 |
| 2205 Mythimna comma (Linnaeus, 1761) Shoulder-striped Wainscot 1 |
| 2302 Rusina ferruginea (Esper, 1785) Brown Rustic 1 |
| 2323 Apamea sublustris (Esper, 1788) Reddish Light Arches 6 |
| 2326 Apamea crenata (Hufnagel, 1766) Clouded-bordered Brindle 1 |
| 2333 Apamea anceps ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) Large Nutmeg 10 |
| 2337 Oligia strigilis (Linnaeus, 1758)* Marbled Minor 5 |
| 2339 Oligia latruncula ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)* Tawny Marbled Minor 10 |
| 2340 Oligia fasciuncula (Haworth, 1809) Middle-barred Minor 10 |
| 2380 Charanyca trigrammica (Hufnagel, 1766) Treble Lines 15 |
| 2387 Caradrina morpheus (Hufnagel, 1766) Mottled Rustic 1 |
| 2442 Autographa pulchrina (Haworth, 1809) Beautiful Golden Y 2 |
| 2474 Rivula sericealis (Scopoli, 1763) Straw Dot 2 |
| 2492 Herminia grisealis ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) Small Fan-foot 1 |
SHERRARDSPARK WOOD 14 MAY 2011
Last night's outing started well. We arrived at the car park in Sherrardspark Wood, Welwyn Garden City and met with the local "Wood Wardens", who are responsible for undertaking the woodland management tasks. It was fascinating to discover that of the management work, specifically the creation of a clearing on the highest point in the wood, allowed an unexpected growth of Heather (Calluna vulgaris); about five years on this is now the largest patch of heather in Hertfordshire (and there are very few other places where this plant can be found in Herts or Middlesex). We did put a trap here, but mid-May is too early for most heather-feeding moths and we hope to try again in July. Of course, there is now a minor management dilemma - the site is designated a SSSI as one of the best examples of sessile oak woodland in the south-east - but from a county viewpoint they ought to cut down more trees to allow heathland regeneration! I am glad its not my problem! Anyone who wants to run a light in the wood and add to the records is welcome to do so - but please contact me first so I can put you in touch with the right people, otherwise you might get "bounced".
Anyway, back to last night. Four white double sheets were hung from a rope suspended between a tree and a signpost in the central clearing of the wood to create a large screen; in front of this we ran 3 mv lamps and an actinic tube. We also ran 3 Robinson traps along the main ride, terminating in the area of heather regeneration. A heavy downpour or rain occurred just before we set up and the night was rather cold with occasional very spots of rain.
I said that it started well - amongst the first moths to arrive at the sheet was a completely unexpected Map-winged Swift (Hepialus fusconebulosa). A glance at the "Moths of Hertfordshire" shows the strange and very restricted distribution of this species; last night adds a new dot to the map but this reinforces the existing distribution pattern rather than contradicting it. Apart from this, however, the night was rather poor with fewer than expected species for this date and in abysmally low numbers. Lights were run from approx 21.00 to 01.00 hours. The list is as follows:
| Hepialidae |
| 0017 Hepialus lupulinus (Linnaeus, 1758) Common Swift 1 |
| 0018 Hepialus fusconebulosa (DeGeer, 1778) Map-winged Swift 1 |
| Tortricidae |
| 0921 Phtheochroa inopiana (Haworth, 1811) 1 |
| 1212 Rhyacionia pinivorana (Lienig & Zeller, 1846) Spotted Shoot Moth 3 |
| Crambidae |
| 1334 Scoparia ambigualis (Treitschke, 1829) 2 |
| 1356 Evergestis forficalis (Linnaeus, 1758) Garden Pebble 1 |
| Drepanidae |
| 1648 Drepana falcataria (Linnaeus, 1758) Pebble Hook-tip 1 |
| Geometridae |
| 1834 Eupithecia vulgata (Haworth, 1809) Common Pug 1 |
| 1902 Petrophora chlorosata (Scopoli, 1763) Brown Silver-line few |
| 1920 Odontopera bidentata (Clerck, 1759) Scalloped Hazel 1 |
| 1944 Hypomecis punctinalis (Scopoli, 1763) Pale Oak Beauty 1 |
| 1950 Parectropis similaria (Hufnagel, 1767) Brindled White-spot 1 |
| 1955 Cabera pusaria (Linnaeus, 1758) Common White Wave 1 |
| Sphingidae |
| 1979 Mimas tiliae (Linnaeus, 1758) Lime Hawk-moth 1 |
| Notodontidae |
| 1999 Stauropus fagi (Linnaeus, 1758) Lobster Moth 1 |
| Lymantriidae |
| 2028 Calliteara pudibunda (Linnaeus, 1758) Pale Tussock few |
| Arctiidae |
| 2043 Eilema sororcula (Hufnagel, 1766) Orange Footman 1 |
| Noctuidae |
| 2089 Agrotis exclamationis (Linnaeus, 1758) Heart and Dart 1 |
| 2422 Pseudoips prasinana (Warren, 1913) Green Silver-lines 2 |
HERTS MOTH GROUP 2011 INDOOR MEETING
First of all, a big thank you to everyone who came to the annual meeting yesterday and helped make it the success that I believe it was. By the end of the day, nearly 70 people had turned up.
Our guest speaker, Mark Parsons, the Moth Conservation Officer at Butterfly Conservation, gave us a very useful and informative talk about the moth-related aspects of the work undertaken by BC, which is based in Dorset. For almost an hour, Mark gave us an overview the many projects that BC undertakes, or in which it either plays a lead role or for which it provides financial support, in a relaxed and informal style that was perfectly suited to a sunny Saturday afternoon.
The feedback so far received is all positive. Quite a few people were unaware, before the talk, of the full extent of the many and wonderful deeds performed by BC at the national level; it is most reassuring to know that there is somebody out there looking after our moth fauna in this way.
Mark did not charge us a fee for his time (it was his own personal time, being a Saturday, so he would have been justified in doing so) and his travel expenses were very generously covered by Butterfly Conservation. If anyone feels cheated out of the opportunity to part with their money, Mark has suggested that they make a donation to Butterfly Conservation. Having heard during the talk of how that money would be spent I have to say that sounds like a jolly good idea and I encourage those who can afford it to give generously. The address to send donations is Butterfly Conservation, Manor Yard, East Lulworth, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 5QP.
I am happy to report that several people brought along material to share with others. A full two hours was occupied by showing electronic images of moths and related matter brought along on USB sticks, CDs etc and in the back of the hall there were several exhibits of moths and other material. ALS had their sales stand as usual and did a brisk business, including sales of Jon Clifton's latest book "Bird-dropping tortrix moths of the British Isles". This is recommended reading, especially for anyone wanting to "get into" the tortrix moths for the first time. Check out their web site at http://www.angleps.com/ if you missed this. My thanks to Jon and Ad for attending our annual event yet again.
Butterfly Conservation were also selling the brand new "Provisional Atlas of the UK's Larger Moths" -essential library material for anyone interested in moths . if you missed this, go to http://www.butterfly-conservation.org/product/5146/moth_atlas.html.
On the subject of websites, one that got many mentions during the day was the British leaf miner web site. For reference, you can find this at http://www.leafmines.co.uk/. This group has a Yahooo Discussion Group attached that you can join if you wish.
Another site mentioned during the day will be of interest to those dissecting moth genitalia for identification. This is at http://www.dissectiongroup.co.uk/.
I must here offer special thanks to two people - both of whom have enormously important input to the annual meetings.
LIZ GOODYEAR spent the last week baking cakes and organising the "refreshments road-show" for us. We have now had eleven annual meetings, so I think that qualifies Liz's cakes as being a "tradition" - certainly they are well-liked by all present! Thanks also to the ladies who helped Liz on the day - I regret that I did not have time to see who else was doing what, but I did see Betty and Ann in there - my apologies to the others I failed to identify on the day. Imagine the day without refreshments! Unthinkable!! Thanks ladies.
Also I must mention ANDREW WOOD for his computer skills. Without Andrew, who provided the electronic projector connected to his lap top, there would have been no show. Using techniques alien to luddites like myself, USB sticks were inserted, buttons were pressed, and the day flowed smoothly without any hitch. We just broke even on costs. The usual anonymous and voluntary whip round was held with a suggested donation of between £2 and £3 (taking into account the room hire and cost of teas and coffees only - there being no speaker-related costs this year). We raised £138 plus small change (an average of £1.97 per person). Because we had a full programme of visual events, we only had limited time to discuss future recording. I shall therefore summarise here what was said:
FOR HERTFORDSHIRE The Herts Moth Database contains approximately 600,000 records (0.6 million records). Given that Mark told us that the new national Atlas is based on 12 million records, I reckon you should all be proud of the efforts you have made over the years. Thank you!
There are currently 78,000 records sent in various formats on Excel spread sheets for 2008 - 2010 that have been converted into a MapMate compatible format by Andrew Wood. I am now validating these records before I add them to the database. About the same number in word processor files or on scraps of paper are currently held by me and area awaiting a "rainy day".
I still want your records, even though we have published the county moth book. However, we need to make the data useful. If you have a garden that is well-recorded and all your records are included in the moth book already, then a simple list of moths recorded in the year 2011 adds rather little to our pool of knowledge (although any record is better than no record, of course, as these lists do provide us with a "latest known year" for each species).
For regularly recorded sites such as gardens we would, therefore, much prefer to get lists of the numbers of each species on each night. This provides important information on flight periods that has special bearing as these are clearly altering for some species (perhaps through climate change - perhaps not).
We also really do want a better way of capturing the casual records you make whilst out and about - I gave the example of a Cinnabar caterpillar spotted on a road verge whilst waiting at traffic lights. These are important records but not everyone writes them own and sends them to me.
Of course, I want ALL records - so if you can't give them in the desired format then give them to me in a format that suits you. BUT IF YOU CAN USE A FORMAT THAT IS HELPFUL AT THIS END then please try to do so.
The ideal is Map Mate. After than, Excel files in a particular format. Read on .
I recommended MapMate recording software. Although it should be reported, out of fairness, that one or two people had reservations about this, MapMate is nevertheless already the standard in moth recording in Britain and it costs less than £30 (price not verified) plus about £10 per year to receive updates (these are absolutely essential, so you must budget for them). It was suggested by one person who did not like Map Mate that the software is difficult to use, but he did concede that he had not had any training. I therefore volunteered that if anyone buys a copy of Map Mate for use on moth recording in either Herts of Middlesex, I WILL PROVIDE A BRIEF TRAINING SESSION at my home at a mutually convenient date and time. This can be done as a group or on a one-to-one basis. To buy MapMate, go to http://www.mapmate.co.uk/.
IF USING EXCEL SPREADSHEETS TO SUBMIT RECORDS:
If in doubt, ask!
If you already have data in a non compatible format we may well be able to convert it. Ask me or Andrew Wood for advice. For future recording, 2011 onwards, please try to come as near as possible to the ideal which follows:
If at all possible please head the columns as follows on Row 1 (these titles ARE case-sensitive and must be spelled as shown):
Code Taxon Site Gridref Vice County Recorder Determiner Date Date Quantity Method Sex Stage Status Comment
Start data entry on row 2 (do not leave a gap).
Use one sheet for the year - do not use 12 separate sheets for 12 months - we have to combine these or we get to do 12 times as much work!
Use just the one column for dates (not 3 separate columns for day, month and year).
If you did not make counts, enter a capital "P" (for present) in the Quantity column.
Please DO NOT MIX scientific and Latin names. If you want to use both create a separate column (that we can later delete) for one or the other.
PLEASE DO NOT MIX LOG BOOK NUMBERS (THE SPECIES NUMBERS IN MY BOOK) WITH NAMES. If you want to use both create a separate column (that we can later delete) for one or the other.
Please try to spell moth names as they appear in "The Moths of Hertfordshire". This is especially important for names with hyphens and for the use of a lower-case letter after a hyphen.
Avoid commas in site names (because commas are used to sort columns in some text files). My address is "14 West Road Bishops Stortford" and not "14 West Road, Bishops Stortford). Also avoid apostrophes and abbreviations ("Road" not "Rd" and not "Rd.").
Be consistent. If your 2010 records are from "14 West Road" and your 2011 records are from "West Road" the computer thinks it is a different site.
Similarly, be consistent with Recorder and Determiner names. Prefer full points and single spaces "C. W. Plant" not "C.W. Plant" and not "C W Plant".
IF YOU ARE NOT COMPUTERISED - please just carry on sending your records on paper - they are equally important as all the nerdy ones!
FOR MIDDLESEX
Comments about Map Mate above apply for Middlesex as well.
Middlesex was agreed to be overdue a moth book; the last was my own "Larger Moths of the London Area" in 1993, but that covered a much wider area. I did publish a list of micros of Middlesex in 2002 (A provisional list of the microlepidoptera of Middlesex (vice-county 21). London Naturalist 81: 123 - 186) and this has been updated by myself and Rachel Terry ([2005]. Additions and corrections to the provisional list of the microlepidoptera of Middlesex (vice-county 21). London Naturalist 83: 107 - 109 and [2007] Further additions and corrections to the provisional list of the microlepidoptera of Middlesex (vice-county 21). London Naturalist 86: 87 - 93).
Almost all Middlesex moth data already submitted to me for years before 2008 is now on a new Middlesex Moth Database; the bulk of this has been entered for us by those other nice people at GiGL (Greenspace in Greater London) - under the direction of Mandy Rudd. Data submitted for 2008, 2009 and 2010 is on my computer and between Andrew Wood and myself will be put into the Middlesex Moth Database in the next few weeks as time permits. It would be very helpful to get outstanding Middlesex moth data now please, so we can see where we are before we start!
Several people expressed interest in Middlesex recording, but it is less practical for me living in Bishops Stortford to run regular recording trips to Middlesex. Plus, of course, a lot of that vice-county is occupied by London, where trapping might be said to "present a few challenges". A different approach is required. It was also pointed out that given that it will probably take another ten years before we are ready to publish, then yours truly might, if actually still alive and kicking, be long-retired and living elsewhere. Common sense dictates that this project is managed by more than one person. Rachel Terry (who was unable to attend the meeting) already coordinates much of the recording in North London, and has indicated a willingness to be involved; I expect that some time when time permits she and I will approach a few key people with a view to getting things going properly. Watch this space - and feel free to volunteer. Please remember, of course, that we use vice-counties, so for this exercise Potters Bar and southwards is largely in Middlesex, not Hertfordshire.
I hope this provides a useful summary.
