Two Commons

On Wednesday night Martin Albertini and I ran four lights once again on Littleworth Common, Bucks.  Between us we had quite a reasonable species count and a few moths typical of heathland habitat did turn up this time, including Aristotelia ericinella, Ancylis uncella, Agriphila inquinatella, Pempelia genistella, Birch Mocha, Narrow-winged Pug, True Lover's Knot, Suspected & Rosy Minor.  It was also good to see Monochroa cytisella, Oncocera semirubella, Gold Swift, Least Carpet, Gypsy Moth, Kent Black Arches & Tree-lichen Beauty (just singletons of Gold Swift and Gypsy but the others in some numbers).

Aristotelia ericinella, Littleworth Common 24th July

Last night we ran the same four traps on nearby Stoke Common, Bucks which is a much more sizeable area of heather heathland, in fact the largest in VC24.  Most of the same habitat-specialist species turned up, but the main reason for this visit was to try and get records for Small Chocolate-tip at this, its only known site in Bucks, and thankfully it duly showed.  This should by now be the moth's second generation of 2019 but we find it impossible to get records of the first brood so perhaps it is a bit like Ruby Tiger in that early individuals are not particularly attracted to light.  Substantial numbers of Pempelia genistella turned up (40+), including one which was an abnormally dark specimen and after dissection turned out to be Pempelia palumbella.  Other nice species included a Grass Emerald (still green, not faded to grey!), Lesser-spotted Pinion, Small Rufous and several Beautiful Yellow Underwings.   

Pempelia genistella, Stoke Common 25th July

Pempelia palumbella, Stoke Common 25th July

Grass Emerald, Stoke Common 25th July

Small Chocolate-tip, Stoke Common 25th July

Beautiful Yellow Underwing, Stoke Common 25th July

Dave Wilton
Westcott, Bucks