Scarce Prominent

I took a couple of MV lights into Bernwood Forest last night.  The forecast occasional drizzle turned into rather persistent heavy rain even as I was setting up (meaning soggy sheets under the traps for the duration, never a happy situation) but the temperature remained in double figures until after midnight and it was worth persevering anyway because the session would probably be my only chance to see Scarce Prominent this year.  The moth is restricted to significant areas of its larval food-plant birch and it has a relatively short flight period, mostly in April (the latest I personally have ever recorded it is 5th May).  Last night proved to be a good one to choose with 14 of them turning up between the two lights, suggesting that the Bernwood population is thriving.

Scarce Prominent, Bernwood Forest 22nd April

Scarce Prominent, Bernwood Forest 22nd April

The two traps brought in 116 moths of 24 species altogether, not an overwhelming total but quite acceptable in the circumstances.  The others comprised Dyseriocrania subpurpurella, Diurnea fagella, Scrobipalpa acuminatella, Frosted Green, Spruce Carpet, Red-green Carpet, Brindled Pug, Early Tooth-striped, Brimstone Moth, Grey Birch, Lesser Swallow Prominent, Swallow Prominent, Great Prominent, Lunar Marbled Brown, Least Black Arches, Red Chestnut, Blossom Underwing, Small Quaker, Common Quaker, Clouded Drab, Twin-spotted Quaker, Chestnut & Nut-tree Tussock.  Apart from Scarce Prominent, the only species to achieve double-digit counts were Frosted Green (21), Brindled Pug (12) & Great Prominent (12). 

Grey Birch, Bernwood Forest 22nd April

Great Prominent, Bernwood Forest 22nd April

Dave Wilton Westcott, Bucks