More woodland emergences

Having done some leaf-mining there with the Bucks Invertebrate Group in October 2017, last night I ran three MV lights at Rowley Wood which is a new trapping site for me in the far south-east of Bucks, adjacent to Black Park and rather too close to Slough for comfort.  It was another good night for both weather and insects, 635 moths of 34 species appearing within the usual three hours.  Winner of the most numerous species competition by a country mile was Brindled Pug (more than 230 counted), although Birch Shield-bug Elasmotethus interstinctus came a close second with well over 100, most of them to just one trap (a Skinner) although they appeared at all three.  Lunar Marbled Brown came second amongst the moths (65 recorded), including a singleton of the form shown below with an almost entirely white central band and that very obvious 'moon', one which I rarely see locally.  It was also surprising to me that Satellite should appear in such large numbers with 39 seen, probably the most I've ever had at one session.  New species for the year included Pammene giganteana, Oak-tree Pug, Grey Birch and Great Prominent.  Both of the Great Prominents seen were quite worn at the wing-tips, probably due to their preferred method of arrival at the trap which is to walk/fly through the ground vegetation before crawling onto the sheet.

Pammene giganteana, Rowley Wood 20th April

 

Grey Birch, Rowley Wood 20th April

Lunar Marbled Brown, Rowley Wood 20th April

Great Prominent, Rowley Wood 20th April

Dave Wilton
Westcott, Bucks