Notice Board 2008

Site Images: We are keen to complete the species illustrations on the site, additionally some of the earlier photographs now look below par and could be improved. If anyone has photographs of the species that we have not yet pictured, or clear improvements, and does not mind us using them to fill some of our gaps will they please let John Ward know. Any photographs used will of course be acknowledged.

The up to date grid square coverage map is now available by clicking onto:
Request for Information/Records from the County Recorder

IDENTIFICATION AND NOTICE BOARD ENTRIES: Any member of the group is able to handle identification queries on moths at any of their stages and if in doubt will refer the matter on for a second opinion. At the outset the insect should be retained or a realistic photograph provided. In general we would like to hear of the following types of record at the time of recording and for entry on the notice board: -
Moths that are new for the county.
Moths that are classed on the site as very local, scarce or rare.
Moths that are classed as nationally scarce and above in the Field Guide to the Moths of Great Britain and Ireland by Waring, Townsend and Lewington, 2003. Although in some instances the statuses quoted in this book are clearly out of date, particularly the Clearwings, I have established that these are the latest available and are likely to remain valid for some years.
Any exceptional or interesting captures, i.e. very high numbers, species seen months out of season and unusual extremes of variation or melanism etc.
To keep the project within reasonable bounds we will generally only enter the first recording from a locality on the notice board but would appreciate the actual numbers involved at the end of the season.

2008 Records and Notices:

It would be most helpful if all 2008 records could be sent to John Ward as soon as possible once recording for the season has finished with any new species for each site marked please. Any records received after January 15th will be too late for the 2008 season records update.

4 November 2008. One The Gem O. obstipata taken in a garden m.v. light trap in Woodnewton (TL09) by Nick Smith. Is this the last significant record for the county for 2008?

25 September 2008. One Feathered Ranunculus E. Lichenea taken in a garden m.v. light trap at Oundle (TL08) by Phil Horsnail. The third county record of this primarily coastal species.

15 September 2008. One Large Thorn E. autumnaria taken in a garden m.v. light trap at Lower Benefield (SP98) by Perdita Cawthorne.

13 September 2008. A rather disappointing group trip to Everdon Stubbs (SP65) resulted in only 17 macro species being recorded, probably due to the clear conditions and more or less full moon. Click here for full catch list.

11 September 2008. One Scarce Bordered Straw H. armigera was taken at m.v. light in Easton Hornstocks (TF00) by Mark Hammond, Keith Tailby and Pete Clarke.

8 September 2008. One Gold Spot P. festucae found under a buddleia in a Wilbarston garden (SP88) by Keith Walkling.

7 September 2008. One Convolvulus Hawk-moth A. convolvuli taken in a garden m.v. light trap in Oundle (TL08) by Phil Horsnail.

1 September 2008. One Convolvulus Hawk-moth A. convolvuli was recorded in a garden light trap in Woodnewton (TL09) by Nick Smith as part of a much reduced catch size compared to recent nights (31 species total). This was accompanied by a single example of another migrant species, Dark Sword-grass Agrotis ipsilon.

31 August 2008. Two Large Thorn E. autumnaria were taken in a garden m.v. light trap in Woodnewton (TL09) by Nick Smith. This nationally notable species was recorded at this site on a number of occasions in 2007, so this further indicates the presence of a breeding colony in this vicinity.

28 August 2008. One Gold Spot P. festucae taken in a garden m.v. light trap at Lower Benefield (SP98) by Perdita Cawthorne. A new record for this grid square.

28 August 2008. Two Gold Spot P. festucae taken in a garden light trap in Woodnewton (TL09) by Nick Smith. These were present amongst an estimated 1,100 moths in the traps located in his garden.

28 August 2008. One Gold Spot P. festucae taken in a garden light trap in Kettering (SP88) by John Ward.

27 August 2008. One Gem O. obstipata taken at Irchester Country Park (SP96) by Derek Larkin. A new grid square record and a good sign of migration at last.

26 & 27 August 2008. One Gold Spot P. festucae taken on each date in a garden light trap at East Haddon (SP66) by Jenny Wallace and Charlie Barnes. A new grid square record.

26 August 2008. A single Kent Black Arches M. albula was taken by Nick Smith in his garden light trap in Woodnewton (TL09). This is the first county record for this species - one normally found only in the South-east of the country and some parts of Wales.

26 August 2008. One Gold Spot P. festucae taken at Irchester Country Park (SP96) by Derek Larkin. An updated grid square record for this locally scarce plusid moth.

25 August 2008. One Webb's Wainscot A. sparganii taken in a garden light trap in Wellingborough (SP86) by Derek Larkin. The garden in situated fairly close to the River Nene as is the source of the Northampton record below indicating colonisation of the species along the river.

20 August 2008. Webb's Wainscot A. sparganii. A single example of this nationally scarce species was taken at a garden m.v. light trap in Kingsthorpe (SP76) by Pete Sharpe. The second record of the species from this garden site.

16 August 2008. One Death's-head Hawk-moth A.atropos found alive on the pavement in the village of Farthingstone (SP65) by two young lads and taken to Paul Egerton for identification. The moth was subsequently released on a garden plot within the village. A new record for the grid square.

8 August 2008. The event run for Kelmarsh Hall (SP77) resulted in forty-two macro species being recorded, a number of which were new to the estate list. Click here for full catch list.

31 July 2008. One Least Carpet I. rusticata taken at Irchester Country Park (SP96) by Derek Larkin.

30 July 2008 One Yarrow Pug E. millefoliata taken in a garden m.v. light trap in Oundle (TL08) by Phil Horsnail. The second Northamptonshire county record for the moth.

27 July 2008. One Least Carpet I. rusticata taken in a garden m.v. light trap at Kingsthorpe (SP76) by Pete Sharpe. Another Northamptonshire record for this spreading species.

27 July 2008. One Cloaked Carpet E. biangulata taken in an m.v. light trap at Greatworth (SP54) by Terry Stokes. The first record for almost 70 years of this nationally scarce species. An exceptionally good record for Northamptonshire.

23 July 2008. A single Garden Tiger A. caja was recorded in an m.v. light trap as part of an eighty-five species, circa four hundred moth catch at Storefield Wood and Quarry (SP88) by Brenda and John Ward.

23 July 2008. Five Mere Wainscot C. fluxa and two further Festoon A. limacodes were taken by Nick Smith in his garden light trap in Woodnewton (TL09).

19 July 2008. Three Mere Wainscot C. fluxa taken at light at Storefield Wood and Quarry (SP88) by Brenda and John Ward. This nationally scarce moth was part of a hundred and twenty moth catch covering twenty-three species from two m.v. light traps left overnight. An exceptionally low tally for the time of year although rather similar to last years catch of the 7th July 2007 from the same locality when twenty-nine species were recorded.

16 July 2008. Another Ruddy Carpet C. rubidata, and two further examples of Festoon A. limacodes were recorded by Nick Smith in his garden light trap in Woodnewton (TL09) as part of a 99 species catch.

15 July 2008. A single Garden Tiger A. caja was recorded in a light trap at Irchester Country Park (SP96) by Derek Larkin.

12 July 2008. A single Garden Tiger A. caja was recorded in a garden light trap in Wellingborough (SP86) by Derek Larkin. This once common species tends only to be seen inland very infrequently nowadays, with large numbers only recorded at more coastal locations.

12 July 2008. The group outing to Old Sulehay (TL09) resulted in 61 species being recorded. The target species was not seen on this occasion, but a single Coronet C. ligustri was recorded, which was a target species for this site in 2003. We get there in the end! Click here for full catch list.

4 July 2008. No BAP species were recorded at the group trip to Whittlebury Woods (SP64). Best record for the night was a single Lobster Moth S. fagi. Click here for full catch list.

1 July 2008. One Festoon A. limacodes taken in a garden m.v. light trap at Lower Benefield (SP98) by Perdita Cawthorne.

1 July 2008. Nick Smith recorded an amazing 123 species of macro in his Woodnewton garden (TL09), including a single Ruddy Carpet C. rubidata, seven examples of the Nationally Notable Festoon A. limacodes, two The Concolorous P. extrema and a single False Mocha C. porata (NB: the last two being BAP species). Note this is only the second modern (i.e. post-1980) record for Ruddy Carpet in the county.

1 July 2008. Four male Hornet Moth S. apiformis, were attracted to a commercial lure in the poplar wood at the north-west end of Thrapston lakes (SP97) between 08:45 and 09:00am by Mark Hammond.

27 June 2008. A total of thirty-five species were recorded on the group trip to the Brampton Valley Way (SP78 - part of the Kelmarsh Estate). The target species was not seen on this occasion, but a full catch list can be found here.

22 June 2008. Two Cream-bordered Green Pea E. clorana taken at Irchester Country Park (SP96) by Derek Larkin.

20June 2008. The annual group pilgrimage to an "out of county" site proved very succesfull. A total of 101 species of macro were recorded at Maidscross Hill (TL78, Suffolk), including all the target species: Grey Carpet, Lunar Yellow Underwing, Tawny Wave and Marbled Clover. Click here for full catch list.

14 June 2008. Success at last! The group trip to record Hornet Moth S. apiformis proved fruitful with a single male individual responding to a newly available commercial pheromone lure. The moth flew in at 09:30am and seemed quite content to stay in close proximity to the lure, and indeed spent a couple of minutes at rest on the trunk immediately adjacent, before flying off and returning. The trip to record Red-belted Clearwing was not so succesful, despite good weather and the lure being placed on an old Crab Apple tree. However, a number of Six-belted Clearwings were recorded to pheromone lure on the open meadow area.

13 June 2008. The group outing to Everdon Stubbs (SP65) proved to be fairly dissapointing in terms of both numbers of species recorded, aswell as number of moths seen. The target species was not seen, but a full catch list can be found here.

11 June 2008. One The Concolorous P. extrema part of an indifferent catch of 22 species taken from two mv traps left overnight at Storefield Wood and Quarry (SP88) by John Ward.

7 and 8 June 2008. A singleton on 7th June, and then two further The Concolorous P. extrema were taken in a garden m.v. light trap in Woodnewton (TL09) by Nick, Ben & Tom Smith.

7 June 2008. The group trip to Stanwick Lakes for National Moth Night resulted in twenty-seven species being recorded, all in relatively low numbers. This is following the generally observed trend this year, possibly as a result of last years prolonged poor weather. Click here for full catch list.

1 June 2008. A single Bedstraw Hawk-moth H. gallii was recorded at Glapthorne Cow Pastures (TL09) in one of several MV traps set by Roy Hilton. This is a new grid square record, and only the fourth time it has been recorded in the county.

1 June 2008. A single False Mocha C. porata was recorded in a garden MV trap in Woodnewton (TL09) by Nick Smith and family. Records of this species have increased in significance due to it having recently been added to the UK BAP list.

30 May 2008. The group trip to Fermyn Woods suffered from an almost predictable worsening in the weather! Despite a warm, humid afternoon, the skies cleared and temperatures dropped rapidly after sunset. As a result, relatively few moths were seen during the three hour session, with very few "noctuids". the target moth was not recorded on this occasion, even though it is a known site for this species. Click here for full catch list.

27 May 2008. One Marsh Pug E. pygmaeata and the first Chimney Sweeper O. atrata seen flying in the SSSI at Barford Meadows by Brenda and John Ward.

9 May 2008. Three Marsh Pug E. pygmaeata and five Small Yellow Underwing P. tenebrata seen flying at Kings Heath Northampton (SP76) by Pete Sharpe.

4 May 2008. If anyone would like some Emperor Moth S. pavonia eggs for rearing on and assembling next year please let John Ward know. The larvae are easily reared on bramble. The eggs are ex Storefield Wood and Quarry Northants from a large free laying female taken at light on 3 May 2008. As a change from light trapping this is an ideal way to try assembling, a traditional form of field work, that on its day can be unequalled as a way of seeing the males of this and other species. To bolster my reputation for generosity these eggs are of course free.

26 April 2009. Nine light traps were set out at the group trip to Collyweston Great Wood (TF00), the first time the group has visited this location. Twenty-nine species were recorded, although the target species was not recorded. Click here for full catch list.

8 April 2008. One Light Orange Underwing A. notha seen flying around sallow under aspen at Grafton Park Wood (SP98) by Brenda and John Ward and Sean and Michael Welsh.

4 April 2008. One Frosted Green P. ridens was taken at m.v. light in Yardley Chase (SP85) by Jeff Blincow, Bob Gill and Phil Horsnail.

4 April 2008. Two Orange Underwing A. parthenias seen flying around Silver Birch in Bedford Purlieus (TL09) by Nick Smith.

3 April 2008. One Dotted Chestnut C. rubiginea taken at Evenley Wood SP53 by Chris Williams. This is the second record of the species from this locality indicating that there is now a resident population in the area.

1 April 2008. Two Blossom Underwing O. miniosa were taken at m.v. light in Yardley Chase (SP85) by Jeff Blincow.

8 February 2008. As we have now received some more records for January we thought that we would summarise all of the January records and place them on the notice board as the season seems to be off to an early start and then revert to the normal practice of putting only the more notable and unusual species on the notice board. To enable us to do this if anyone has any January records would they please let us know.

We have now received the records for January and the first sightings for each species of the new seasons moths are summarised below: -

29 January 2008. One Oak Beauty B. strataria taken at Evenley Wood Gardens (SP53) by Chris Williams.

28 January 2008. One March Moth A. aescularia taken at Pitsford Reservoir (SP77) by Dave Francis and one Hebrew Character O. gothica taken at Cockley Brake (SP54) by Terry Stokes.

20 January 2008. One Common Quaker O. cerasi seen at Evenley Wood Gardens (SP53) by George Higgs.

15 January 2008. One Pale Brindled Beauty A. pilosaria taken at Pitsford Reservoir (SP77) by Dave Francis.

10 January 2008. One Early Moth T.  primaria taken at Pitsford Reservoir (SP77) by Dave Francis, one Spring Usher A. leucophaearia and one Dotted Border A. marginaria taken at a Woodnewton garden light trap (TL09) by Nick, Ben & Tom Smith.

In commenting on the above there is no doubt that overall moths are emerging earlier. Although seemingly also the case here, the differences are not as clear cut if one looks more closely.  Viz: - The two Orthosia species are known to emerge early in mild spells over the winter months before their main March/April flight period.  The Oak Beauty also seems to have this tendency as a singleton was taken in the Pitsford Reservoir light traps on 31 January 2005 and the species was not recorded again until the main flight in March of that year. With regard to the other traditionally early flying species above, it is perhaps interesting to have regard to some of the records from the old collectors. They relied on fieldwork and did not have our advantages of motorised transport and mercury vapour lamps. Any night time mothing involved the use of paraffin lamps and sheets and if in a woodland often a long trek home on foot or on a push bike. These are the earliest records that I hold from the early part of the twentieth century: - 1 January 1919. Pale Brindled Beauty A. pilosaria, 6 January 1932. Early Moth T.  primaria, 15 January 1932. Dotted Border A. marginaria, 3 February 1918. March Moth A. aescularia, 3 February 1929. Spring Usher A. leucophaearia. These dates are quite similar to those noted in recent years so in terms of phenology pretty much the status quo seems to apply for these species at least.