Not Red, but Dark Crimson Underwing

I heard yesterday from Russell Ness who lives near the M4 junction 7 to the West of Slough.  He sent details of several recently-recorded species, including Jersey Tiger, Gypsy Moth, Oak Processionary, the pyrale Duponchelia fovealis but, best of all, on 5th August a Dark Crimson Underwing Catocala sponsa.

Whilst the site is a couple of hundred metres into modern Berkshire (Slough), it is in the Bucks vc24 recording area for which there is only one previous record of the species and that was in 1844 at Black Park just North of Slough.  In those days it was resident in a number of southern English counties, as well as being a suspected migrant. Today it is known to be resident in a few localities in Hampshire and Wiltshire as well as being a migrant. There have been a number of reports of suspected migrants along the South coast in recent weeks.  With the current weather (about to end) this could be either a true migrant or just a wanderer from established UK colonies.

It is only in the last few years that Clifden Nonpareil Catocala fraxini has become established locally after having been a great rarity.  Could Dark Crimson Underwing be going the same way over the next few years?

Thanks to Russell for sending in his record and allowing his picture to be posted on the blog.

Dark Crimson Underwing 5th August (Russell Ness)

 

Martin Albertini

County Moth Recorder for Bucks