Gloucestershire Moth Report 2011
Moth recording has continued to be a popular activity in Gloucestershire with many people recording in their gardens and a smaller number recording away from home. Most recording is made running light traps. There are far fewer records derived from day-time observation as might be expected. Only a small percentage of records are larval and very few of those are carried through to breeding out the perfect specimen. Digital photography now plays an important part in helping with identification and also disseminating to a wider audience the extraordinarily beautiful forms that exist in the moth world.
Despite all the activity that is taking place Gloucestershire is very much under-recorded being a large county with extensive areas of woodland in the west and north, and very thinly populated rural areas in the east. Parts of the Forest of Dean have never seen a moth trap and even where a regular and well supported trapping programme has taken place such as at Lower Woods, the extensive GWT Reserve near Wickwar, there is still much to discover. In the year under review several sessions have been held in Woodchester Park south of Stroud, Breakheart Hill Quarry south of Dursley and Dymock Wood near the M50 in the north of the county.
The chart below shows numbers of records made in the last five years. The apparent dip in numbers in 2011 is, I hope, temporary. At the time of writing my report a year ago I had had 13542 records for 2010. The number stands now at 18764 and there may be more. I expect more 2011 records will reach me in due course that will level the numbers.
All moths / Macros / Micros2007 / 8860 / 5953 / 2907
2008 / 9723 / 6934 / 2789
2009 / 14274 / 10201 / 4523
2010 / 18764 / 12792 / 5972
2011 / 16774 / 10847 / 5927
The weather in 2011
After a period of very cold weather the season got off to a remarkable start with a very warm April. Conditions were so good that some species emerged up to four weeks earlier than normal. (Later in the year this resulted in second and even third generation adults in species not normally producing these).
Unfortunately this early promise did not continue and the summer turned out to be average only. Things brightened up in the autumn when a period of warm winds from a southerly direction brought many migrants to our shores and the numbers reaching Gloucestershire were more than we normally see.
MACROMOTHS
Top 28 most widespread macro-moth species
Code / Taxon / Vernacular / 10km Records2441 / Autographa gamma / Silver Y / 43
1738 / Epirrhoe alternata / Common Carpet / 42
1727 / Xanthorhoe montanata / Silver-ground Carpet / 42
1776 / Colostygia pectinataria / Green Carpet / 41
2050 / Eilema lurideola / Common Footman / 41
1937 / Peribatodes rhomboidaria / Willow Beauty / 41
1906 / Opisthograptis luteolata / Brimstone Moth / 41
2089 / Agrotis exclamationis / Heart and Dart / 41
2102 / Ochropleura plecta / Flame Shoulder / 41
2107 / Noctua pronuba / Large Yellow Underwing / 41
2111 / Noctua janthe / Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing / 41
1724 / Xanthorhoe spadicearia / Red Twin-spot Carpet / 41
1742 / Camptogramma bilineata / Yellow Shell / 41
2126 / Xestia c-nigrum / Setaceous Hebrew Character / 41
1991 / Deilephila elpenor / Elephant Hawk-moth / 40
1713 / Idaea aversata / Riband Wave / 40
1994 / Phalera bucephala / Buff-tip / 39
1702 / Idaea biselata / Small Fan-footed Wave / 39
2321 / Apamea monoglypha / Dark Arches / 39
2306 / Phlogophora meticulosa / Angle Shades / 39
2343 / Mesapamea secalis / Common Rustic / 39
2199 / Mythimna pallens / Common Wainscot / 39
2188 / Orthosia incerta / Clouded Drab / 39
2477 / Hypena proboscidalis / Snout / 39
2474 / Rivula sericealis / Straw Dot / 39
2198 / Mythimna impura / Smoky Wainscot / 39
2318 / Cosmia trapezina / Dun-bar / 39
2044 / Eilema griseola / Dingy Footman / 39
Records for all migrant macromoths were as follows:
Silver Y (67), Humming-bird Hawk-moth (25), Vestal (12), Dark Sword-grass (10), Small Mottled Willow (5), Small Marbled (3), Pearly Underwing (2), and singletons of Bordered Straw, Portland Ribbon Wave, Rannoch Looper, Convolvulus Hawk-moth, Ni Moth, Delicate, Four-spotted Footman, Gem, White-point, Flame Brocade and Clancy’s Rustic.
The last two have not been recorded in Gloucestershire before, but unfortunately they are unconfirmed as there was no supporting evidence. The rather tattered Portland Ribbon Wave was also a first for the county and appeared in the Mangotsfield, Bristol garden of Denise Whittle on 2nd June followed four days later by only our second county record of a Rannoch Looper.
Notes on selected macro-moths other than migrants in alphabetical order by common name
Clouded Buff This handsome moth can be found in Cinderford Linear Park and in 2011 was found away from Laymoor Quag for the first time.
Cream-spot Tiger (Local) All my few records for this species had been from the south and west of the county so it was a great surprise when John Widgery found a larva on Cleeve Hill in the north of VC33 on 22nd October 2011. This is the only record for VC33.
Double Line The sudden appearance of this moth in several places in 2010 was not a freak event as there were four further scattered records in 2011.
Double Lobed Until 2011 all records of this moth had been east of the Severn. One was trapped at Milkwall, Coleford by Susan Dewsbury on 22nd June and another here at St Briavels on 27th July.
Forester Moth (BAP species) The chance discovery of this moth in Cinderford Linear Park in 2008 has led to several sightings there. A careful search in 2011 established that the moth is present throughout the full length of the Park, a distance of approximately 3 km. Moseley Green some 4 km further south has similar habitat and it is hoped to mount a search there in 2012. A new site was discovered on the edge of the Cotswold Water Park by John Martin.
Hoary Footman (Notable Nb) Perhaps the most unexpected macro record in 2011 was the discovery of a colony of this species in Breakheart Hill Quarry by Steve Chappell. On the night in question, 24th July 2011, Steve had Hoary Footman (12) and Scarce Footman (7) and could readily separate the species when comparing them together. The only other records are very old ones from the Bristol area.
Hornet Moth (Notable Nb.)The amazing reappearance of this moth in 2008 after a gap of 62 years unseen has continued to provide records. There were seven in 2011 from four different people.
Large Wainscot I usually receive three or four records each year of this moth which is quite common. I have included it in my list this year as I have had no fewer than 24 records in 2011.
Light Feathered Rustic (Notable Nb.) This species has only been reported from three places in recent years. It is recorded regularly at Ringhill Farm on Haresfield Hill by Roger Pearce where he had up to six on eight different dates in 2011.
Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk-moth (Notable Na.) Until 2011 we had one record post-1950 when a larva was found in 1993 at a site north of Bisley. Matthew Oates has had two sightings at a site in the Stroud valley which suggests that this elusive insect is still resident in the county.
Northern Drab (Local) Peter Hugo trapped one of these at Sherborne on 10th April 2011, the first record for three years which seems to be the interval between records.
Pine Hawk-moth First recorded in the county in 2006 we now have five records with one in 2011 from Laycombe Ditch Wood south-east of Dursley. All are from the Cotswolds. It is curious that there are no records (yet) from the Forest of Dean though my earlier remarks about how under-recorded it is must be borne in mind.
Plumed Prominent (Notable Na) Recording of this rare moth, which flies in November, is now a regular feature of the programme since Peter Hugo re-discovered it at Withington Woods in 2005. In 2011 recording was concentrated on the Chedworth Reserve where it was found last year. It was found on four separate dates and along the length of this linear reserve. On 12th November thirty-one individuals were recorded altogether.
Silver Cloud (Notable Na) This moth was regularly recorded in the Severn Vale, the national stronghold, but seems to have declined with a handful of recent records only from the north of the county.
Small Argent & Sable Virtually the only recent records for this pretty little moth are from Cinderford Linear Park at the south end where it was found again in 2011. There must be other sites as the food-plant is not uncommon.
Small Brindled Beauty Until two or three years ago this early species was not recorded every year. Latterly there have been six or seven records a year which suggests an increase in the population.
The Streak This species flies in October and records in the last ten years have only been from Rick Benson-Bunch near Newent, and from my garden here at St Briavels.
Waved Carpet (Notable Nb) This species appears to be restricted to the Wye Valley area and the valley east of Stroud. I only have twelve records, going back to the 1950s. Guy Meredith found one in Siccaridge Wood on 11th July 2011.
White-line Snout (Notable Nb) I was beginning to fear that we had lost this moth as the last records had been in 2003. Happily, Guy Meredith trapped one at Lancaut on 26th July 2011.
Wood Tiger This was only recorded from two sites in 2011, Cleeve Hill and Ringhill Farm on Haresfield Hill where a colony appears to have become recently established. It has a flight season of several weeks in mid-summer. I hope the dearth of records is because the many sites that we have have not been visited and not because it has declined.
MICROMOTHS
The table on the next page shows the 20 most widespread micromoths defined by the numbers of 10 km squares in which they have been recorded.
Code / Taxon / Vernacular / 10km Records1304 / Agriphila straminella / 42
385 / Anthophila fabriciana / 40
1405 / Pleuroptya ruralis / Mother of Pearl / 39
67 / Stigmella plagicolella / 39
1305 / Agriphila tristella / 39
1293 / Chrysoteuchia culmella / Garden Grass-veneer / 39
1076 / Celypha lacunana / 38
303 / Parornix anglicella / 38
937 / Agapeta hamana / 38
1376 / Eurrhypara hortulata / Small Magpie / 36
342 / Phyllonorycter coryli / Nut Leaf Blister Moth / 36
1398 / Nomophila noctuella / Rush Veneer / 36
464 / Plutella xylostella / Diamond-back Moth / 35
1011 / Pseudargyrotoza conwagana / 35
1338 / Dipleurina lacustrata / 35
1392 / Udea olivalis / 35
111 / Stigmella microtheriella / 35
1344 / Eudonia mercurella / 35
658 / Carcina quercana / 35
1388 / Udea lutealis / 34
Migrant micromoths in 2011
As has been indicated earlier in this report, there were more migrants than usual in 2011. Numbers of micromoth records were as follows:-
Diamond-back (21), Rusty-dot Pearl (17), Rush Veneer (6), Oxyptilus laetus (2), Tebenna micalis (1) and Palpita vitrealis (1).
As will be seen in the table on the next page, O.laetus and T.micalis are new county records.
Recorders identified by initials on the table on the next page
Gordon Avery (GRA), Steve Chappell (SC), George Davis (GD), Matthew Hollands (MH), Robert Homan (RH), Peter Hugo (PDJH), Neale Jordan-Mellersh (NJM), Guy Meredith (GHJM), Tony Perry (TP), Alan Prior (AP), Roger Ward (RW), Mark Young et al (MY) and Pavlo Zaltowski (PZ).
Name / Stage / Site / Date / Recorder / Comment20 / Ectoedemia decentella / Adult / Bristol / 02/07/2011 / NJM / New to VC 34
21 / Ectoedemia sericopeza / Mine / Cheltenham / 30/06/2011 / RH / New to VC33 and Glos
21 / Ectoedemia sericopeza / Mine / Bristol / 27/07/2011 / RH / New to VC34
107 / Stigmella regiella / Mine / Lower Woods / 19/09/2011 / GHJM / New to VC34
124 / Tischeria dodonaea / Mine / Forest of Dean / 05/11/2011 / GHJM / Several records
145 / Nemophora minimella / Adult / Oakridge / 14/08/2011 / GHJM / Second record since 1953
219 / Nemapogon ruricolella / Adult / Dymock Wood / 04/07/2011 / GHJM / Confirmation of vague early record
243 / Tinea dubiella / Adult / Cheltenham / 03/08/2011 / GHJM / Confirmation of vague early record
365 / Phyllonorycter comparella / Mine / Twyning / 26/09/2011 / RH / New to VC33 and Glos
386 / Tebenna micalis / Adult / Slimbridge / 26/08/2011 / AP / New to VC34 and Glos
512 / Coleophora binderella / Adult / Lancaut NR / 26/07/2011 / GHJM / First confirmed county record
588 / Coleophora salicorniae / Case / Severn Beach / 29/09/2011 / GHJM / New to VC34 and Glos
724 / Metzneria lappella / Adult / Gloucester / 02/06/2011 / GRA / New to VC33
729 / Isophrictis striatella / Larva / Forest of Dean / 13/10/2010 / GHJM / New to VC34
736 / Monochroa lucidella / Adult / Forest of Dean / 06/08/2011 / GHJM / Notable Nb. First record for 10 years.
755 / Stenolechia gemmella / Adult / Breakheart / 02/09/2011 / SC / First record since 1962
806 / Gelechia nigra / Adult / Chedworth / 09/09/2011 / PDJH / Third county record
832 / Caryocolum blandella / Adult / Charlton Kings / 03/06/2011 / RW / New to VC33
841 / Sophronia semicostella / Adult / Dursley / 25/06/2011 / SC / Second record since 1919
879 / Batrachedra pinicolella / Adult / Dymock Wood / 04/07/2011 / GHJM / First record since 1955
885 / Mompha conturbatella / Adult / Forest of Dean / 20/07/2011 / GHJM / First record since 1991
933 / Phalonidia gilvicomana / Adult / Painswick Beacon / 10/06/2011 / PZ / First record since 1996
956 / Cochylidia implicitana / Adult / Thrupp / 22/08/2011 / PDJH / Third county record
964a / Cochylis molliculana / Adult / Charlton Kings / 05/08/2011 / RW / New to VC33 followed by three more records in VC33
974 / Argyrotaenia ljungiana / Adult / Gloucester / 14/07/2011 / PZ / Second county record
1026 / Exapate congelatella / Adult / Breakheart / 22/12/2011 / SC / First record since 1920
1050 / Acleris boscana / Adult / Cambridge / 21/03/2011 / SC / New to VC34
1051 / Acleris logiana / Adult / Eastcombe / 11/11/2011 / TP / Second county record
1101 / Endothenia ustulana / Adult / Lower Woods / 29/06/2011 / GHJM / First record since 1998
1104 / Endothenia quadrimaculana / Adult / Ashleworth Ham / 22/08/2011 / MY / Second record since 1938
1123 / Ancylis laetana / Adult / Lower Woods / 03/05/2011 / GHJM / First record since 1917
1146 / Epinotia rubiginosana / Adult / Cambridge / 01/07/2011 / SC / First record for 10 years.
1147 / Epinotia cruciana / Adult / Dymock Wood / 04/07/2011 / GHJM / First record since 1999
1228a / Pammene ignorata / Adult / GHJM / Now known from four sites in Glos
1275 / Dichrorampha flavidorsana / Adult / Cheltenham / 29/07/2011 / GHJM / First record for 10 years
1336 / Eudonia pallida / Adult / Rare until 2010, now 24 recent records
1373 / Paratalanta pandalis / Adult / Beechknapp / 21/05/2011 / GHJM / Notable Na. First record since 1996
1403 / Diasemiopsis ramburialis / Adult / Cheltenham / 15/06/2002 / RH / New to VC33 and Glos
1408 / Palpita vitrealis / Adult / Eastcombe / 11/11/2011 / TP / Rare migrant
1461 / Assara terebrella / Adult / Parkend / 27/08/2011 / GD / Third record since 1936
1492 / Oxyptilus laetus / Adult / Cheltenham / 30/06/2011 / MH / New to VC33 and Glos
1492 / Oxyptilus laetus / Adult / Forest of Dean / 02/07/2011 / GHJM / New to VC34
1520 / Hellinsia osteodactylus / Larva / Breakheart / 10/09/2011 / GHJM / First record since 1975
Comments on some micro moths