Chalk and Cheese

I really don't like trapping on chalk down-land in April.  It is usually very boring with few moths to show for the amount of effort put in.  Last night on the National Trust's Ivinghoe Beacon, Bucks was no different, even taking into account the almost perfect weather (still t-shirt conditions at midnight) and the spectacular view (from there I could see most of Aylesbury Vale, including the lights of Central Milton Keynes and the red warning lights of the incinerator chimney at Greatmoor and the transmitter mast at Beckley, the latter about 25 miles away).  From 8.30pm three traps, comprising two MVs and a 15w actinic, were run in scrubby areas sheltered from the SE breeze and it took 50 minutes for the first moth to arrive!  In the end I did get 50 moths of 15 species, including one of my targets for the night, but it was hard work.  Mottled Grey and Northern Drab were the two species I was hoping for.  Both fly this early in the season and, in Bucks at any rate, seem to be restricted almost exclusively to the hills around Ivinghoe, so to have a chance of seeing them an April visit is essential.  Northern Drab turned up in each of the traps last night but of Mottled Grey there was unfortunately no sign.  Despite several attempts I haven't managed to find it in Bucks since 2013.

Northern Drab, Ivinghoe Beacon 18th April

The only other moth of note was Dotted Chestnut.  It came to each of the MVs but one trap contained three of them which is the most I've ever seen together.  The remainder comprised Diurnea fagella, Semioscopis steinkellneriana, Streamer, Brindled Pug, Purple Thorn, Early Thorn, Lunar Marbled Brown, Small Quaker, Common Quaker, Clouded Drab, Powdered Quaker, Hebrew Character & Satellite.  

The previous night, which was cooler and windier, I'd run just the two MV lights in woodland at Medmenham, Bucks and the results were completely different, proving that woodland is still the place to be at the moment.  Even though the Orthosias were almost over I still got 180 moths of more than 30 species.  They included ten micros, of which Heliozela sericiella was probably the best of the night although I also have some Eriocranias, a Nepticulid, a Caloptilia and an Elachista which will need dissection to confirm.  Amongst the macros were Frosted Green, Water Carpet, V-Pug, Early Tooth-striped, Scorched Carpet, Purple Thorn, Engrailed, Lunar Marbled Brown, Pine Beauty & Nut-tree Tussock.

Heliozela sericiella, Medmenham 17th April

Scorched Carpet, Medmenham 17th April

Dave Wilton
Westcott, Bucks