In Bucks, Oak Lutestring is thinly spread in areas of ancient oak woodland. Prompted by Peter Hall finding the moth flying in Herefordshire (see
here), I decided to target Bernwood Forest on the 27th where theoretically it ought to be present but hasn't actually been recorded since 1985. However, even though I was armed with wine ropes as well as MV and actinic traps, the moth failed to show. I'll probably try again in a couple of weeks but having made so many visits to the forest at the correct time of year over the past decade I'm wondering if it has been lost from the site. Tuesday night's visit was still worthwhile, though, with more than 70 species recorded, one of which was Hedge Rustic which co-incidentally hasn't been seen in the Bernwood area since 1985. A very early Red-green Carpet was yet another pointer that winter is nearly upon us! It was good to see Pale Eggar, with a male and three females being the first moths in to the traps before it was really dark, while a Gold Spot was the first site record for ten years.
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| Red-green Carpet, Bernwood 27th August |
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| Pale Eggar, Bernwood 27th August |
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| Mite-infested Hedge Rustic, Bernwood 27th August |
The micros included some interesting species, of which
Ptocheuusa paupella was a new addition to the site list while
Prochoreutis myllerana, normally a day-flyer, was a first for the forest itself although I have recorded it once in the M40 Compensation Area. Other more common species typical of this time of year included
Ypsolopha alpella,
Stenolechia gemmella,
Psoricoptera gibbosella,
Acleris rhombana and
Epinotia trigonella.
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| Ptocheuusa paupella, Bernwood 27th August |
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| Prochoreutis myllerana, Bernwood 27th August |
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| Epinotia trigonella, Bernwood 27th August |
Dave Wilton
Westcott, Bucks
I had Oak Lutestring at Bagley at the weekend, but only one individual. I have had them there in late August in other years, but generally September seems to be the peak there. Numbers seem to have steadily declined since 2012 from double figure counts to single figure counts and more recently singletons.
ReplyDeleteMy count for Haugh Wood, which Dave used a link to, was 12 individuals. One trap which was 20 yards away from a ride and more solid tree cover, had 1, the other 11 were in a very shady tree lined ride. So location may be critical.
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