I ran a couple of MV lights in the eastern part of Bernwood Forest last night and, once I'd waded through all the red-legged shield-bugs (of which there were hundreds) and all the hornets, there were actually one or two nice moths to be found on the egg boxes. I was looking in particular for Catocala species and managed to pick up one extremely tatty example of sponsa (Dark Crimson Underwing) in exactly the same spot that I had one to light in August last year. Tony Croft found one day-flying in Oakley Wood during the hottest part of July so we can but hope that the species has now taken up residence in the Forest.
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| Dark Crimson Underwing, Bernwood 22nd August |
Other things of interest included a couple of examples of the dark form of Tawny-barred Angle which I see only very rarely (neither of them in tip-top condition unfortunately) as well as an early Pink-barred Sallow with slightly mal-formed wings. Edited to add this (and picture): Also a presumed second-brood Small Black Arches, something I haven't seen before.
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| Tawny-barred Angle f. nigrofulvata, Bernwood 22nd August |
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| Pink-barred Sallow, Bernwood 22nd August |
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| Small Black Arches, Bernwood 22nd August |
There was also some migrant activity, with
Nomophila noctuella/Rush Veneer at one trap and, more interestingly, an example of
Palpita vitrealis at the other.
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| Palpita vitrealis, Bernwood 22nd August |
I've seen a few other migrants or potential migrants during "away" trapping in Bucks over the past week, including a female Four-spotted Footman at Finemere Wood on the 15th, a Pearly Underwing at Grangelands near Princes Risborough on the 18th and a Vestal during a Bucks Invertebrate Group field meeting on the 20th on farmland north of Hambleden. A second Vestal was taken by Martin Albertini at the same meeting, along with a Pearly Underwing and Dark Sword-grass, so there must be loads of migrants out there waiting to be caught!
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| Four-spotted Footman, Finemere Wood 15th August |
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| Pearly Underwing, Grangelands 18th August |
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| Vestal, nr Hambleden 20th August |
Dave Wilton Westcott, Bucks
Isn't that a Small Black Arches?
ReplyDeleteHello Ben,
DeleteI've only just noticed your comment here: you are quite right and that's what I meant to type! Thanks for pointing out my error (now corrected). I spent some time deciding what this was and ended up going with Small based on markings and general appearance/shape rather than Least even though it was a rather small specimen. Neither should be flying in late-August, especially in this "early" year when things are going over quickly.
This must be one of the easiest pairs of vernacular names to mix up (possibly only beaten for me by Small and Little Emerald!)
ReplyDelete