Moth Report 2019
David Baker from the Butterfly and Moth Group continued his regular moth trapping and recording throughout the year, setting traps on 9 evenings.
New species this year have included the many-plumed moth, small elephant hawk-moth, shoulder striped wainscot, cream-bordered green pea, shaded broad-bar, angle-striped sallow, rusty-dot pearl, bedstraw hawk-moth, featheres gothic, feathered thorn, brick and four micro-moths including the rarely seen Loxostege sticticalis.
This takes the total number of moth species recorded here at Stillingfleet Lodge Gardens since 2012 to 107 micros and 234 macro moths.
You can read the full list of sightings in 2019 below and the full report since 2012 here
Let’s start 2019 as we did on Saturday 20th April and were rewarded with a steady catch of early fliers, although nothing new to site. Home catches had been slightly above normal as the late winter had been reasonably mild.
70.066 Earophila badiata Shoulder Stripe 1
70.141 Gymnoscelis rufifasciata Double-striped Pug 1
70.156 Eupithecia abbreviata Brindled Pug 1
70.239 Selenia tetralunaria Purple Thorn
71.011 Drymonia ruficornis Lunar Marbled Brown 1
71.012 Notodonta dromedarius Iron Prominent 2
71.013 Notodonta ziczac Pebble Prominent 2
71.018 Pheosia gnoma Lesser Swallow Prominent 3
72.022 Diaphora mendica Muslin Moth 1
73.241 Panolis flammea Pine Beauty 1
73.242 Orthosia incerta Clouded Drab 4
73.244 Orthosia cerasi Common Quaker 4
73.247 Orthosia gracilis Powdered Quaker 3
73.249 Orthosia gothica Hebrew Character 9
73.250 Anorthoa munda Twin-spotted Quaker 5
Night 2019/2
Our next visit was made on the 16th May at a time when the catches at home were falling much below average due to a cooler start to the spring. We did, however, have a newcomer. This was surprising as the Many-plumed Moth has been a very common visitor to home.
44.001 Alucita hexadactyla Many-plumed Moth 1
49.292 Notocelia cynosbatella 1
69.003 Laothoe populi Poplar Hawk-moth 2
70.052 Xanthorhoe ferrugata Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet 1
70.053 Xanthorhoe designata Flame Carpet 1
70.100 Colostygia pectinataria Green Carpet 1
70.141 Gymnoscelis rufifasciata Double-striped Pug 1
70.151 Eupithecia pulchellata Foxglove Pug 1
71.017 Pheosia tremula Swallow Prominent 1
71.020 Pterostoma palpina Pale Prominent 1
72.015 Calliteara pudibunda Pale Tussock 1
72.022 Diaphora mendica Muslin Moth 1
73.095 Caradrina clavipalpis Pale Mottled Willow 1
Night 2019/3
Our next session was on the evening of 1st June during a period when I was really “scratching the barrel” for moths at home. The temperatures had been low throughout May and my catches were around 50% of usual. Things were a bit better at Stillingfleet because of the woodland environment so we did not do too badly and even had 3 newcomers on the macro-list.
49.166 Celypha lacunana 3
49.292 Notocelia cynosbatella 1
62.001 Aphomia sociella Bee Moth 1
63.025 Anania hortulata Small Magpie 4
03.002 Korscheltellus lupulina Common Swift 2
69.003 Laothoe populi Poplar Hawk-moth 9
69.016 Deilephila elpenor Elephant Hawk-moth 3
69.017 Deilephila porcellus Small Elephant Hawk-moth 1 70.029 Timandra comae Blood-Vein 4
70.036 Cyclophora punctaria Maiden's Blush 1
70.052 Xanthorhoe ferrugata Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet 2
70.054 Xanthorhoe montanata Silver-ground Carpet 3
70.079 Thera britannica Spruce Carpet 1
70.094 Ecliptopera silaceata Small Phoenix 1
70.144 Pasiphila rectangulata Green Pug 1
70.151 Eupithecia pulchellata Foxglove Pug 1
70.156 Eupithecia abbreviata Brindled Pug 2
70.173 Eupithecia centaureata Lime-speck Pug 1
70.222 Petrophora chlorosata Brown Silver-line 4
70.224 Plagodis dolabraria Scorched Wing 3
70.226 Opisthograptis luteolata Brimstone Moth 9
70.252 Biston betularia Peppered Moth 1
70.277 Cabera pusaria Common White Wave 2
70.278 Cabera exanthemata Common Wave 1
70.279 Lomographa bimaculata White-pinion Spotted 2
70.280 Lomographa temerata Clouded Silver 8
71.012 Notodonta dromedarius Iron Prominent 1
71.017 Pheosia tremula Swallow Prominent 1
71.018 Pheosia gnoma Lesser Swallow Prominent 1
71.020 Pterostoma palpina Pale Prominent 2
72.001 Scoliopteryx libatrix Herald 1
72.002 Rivula sericealis Straw Dot 3
72.015 Calliteara pudibunda Pale Tussock 16
72.019 Spilosoma lutea Buff Ermine 4
72.020 Spilosoma lubricipeda White Ermine 6
72.049 Eilema sororcula Orange Footman 1
72.069 Laspeyria flexula Beautiful Hook-tip 1
73.001 Abrostola tripartita Spectacle 3
73.015 Autographa gamma Silver Y 3
73.022 Plusia festucae Gold Spot 1
73.045 Acronicta rumicis Knot Grass 4
73.101 Charanyca trigrammica Treble Lines 1
73.114 Euplexia lucipara Small Angle Shades 1
73.156 Apamea crenata Clouded-bordered Brindle 4
73.158 Apamea sordens Rustic Shoulder-knot 2
73.173 Oligia strigilis agg. Marbled Minor agg. 16
73.176 Oligia fasciuncula Middle-barred Minor 4
73.255 Anarta trifolii Nutmeg 1
73.264 Lacanobia thalassina Pale-shouldered Brocade 4
73.267 Lacanobia oleracea Bright-line Brown-eye 1
73.301 Leucania comma Shoulder-striped Wainscot 1
73.317 Agrotis exclamationis Heart and Dart 19
73.325 Agrotis puta puta Shuttle-shaped Dart 7
73.328 Axylia putris Flame 1
73.329 Ochropleura plecta Flame Shoulder 7
73.333 Diarsia mendica Ingrailed Clay 1
73.359 Xestia c-nigrum Setaceous Hebrew Character 11
74.011 Earias clorana Cream-bordered Green Pea 2
Night 2019/4
The annual night this year was organised for a weekend date which I could not attend because of a family event and so we attended the Nurseries a week earlier on the 15th June. Unfortunately things still hadn’t improved and the moth counts were very low, both here and at home. Surely things must change soon?
49.037 Clepsis spectrana Cyclamen Tortrix 1
49.166 Celypha lacunana 2
70.054 Xanthorhoe montanata Silver-ground Carpet 2
70.207 Lomaspilis marginata Clouded Border 2
72.019 Spilosoma lutea Buff Ermine 9
72.020 Spilosoma lubricipeda White Ermine 2
73.012 Diachrysia chrysitis Burnished Brass 1
73.176 Oligia fasciuncula Middle-barred Minor 1
73.317 Agrotis exclamationis Heart and Dart 7
73.333 Diarsia mendica Ingrailed Clay 5
73.342 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 2
Night 2019/5
After that poor night of “no return” in June we tried again on 13th July when moths had returned to their usual pattern. We had a very good return withn 3 new micros and 2 new macros. As can be seen there was a large influx of Large Yellow Underwings which were almos absent the previous year. Our home traps had similar explosions of this large moth.
41.002 Blastobasis adustella 1
49.026 Pandemis heparana Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix 2
49.061 Acleris holmiana 1
49.109 Agapeta hamana 3
49.158 Hedya ochroleucana 1
49.159 Hedya atropunctana 1
49.166 Celypha lacunana 2
62.007 Cryptoblabes bistriga 1
62.029 Phycita roborella 1
63.025 Anania hortulata Small Magpie 4
63.038 Pleuroptya ruralis Mother of Pearl 1
63.064 Scoparia ambigualis 1
63.102 Catoptria falsella 1
69.016 Deilephila elpenor Elephant Hawk-moth 21
70.013 Idaea biselata Small Fan-footed Wave 1
70.016 Idaea aversata ab. remutata Riband Wave [non-banded form] 5
70.045 Scotopteryx chenopodiata Shaded Broad-bar 1
70.053 Xanthorhoe designata Flame Carpet 1
70.093 Gandaritis pyraliata Barred Straw 4
70.207 Lomaspilis marginata Clouded Border 5
70.237 Selenia dentaria Early Thorn 1
70.241 Crocallis elinguaria Scalloped Oak 4
70.252 Biston betularia Peppered Moth 4
70.258 Peribatodes rhomboidaria Willow Beauty 1
70.280 Lomographa temerata Clouded Silver 2
71.018 Pheosia gnoma Lesser Swallow Prominent 1
71.025 Phalera bucephala Buff-tip 1
72.002 Rivula sericealis Straw Dot 1
72.003 Hypena proboscidalis Snout 1
72.009 Leucoma salicis White Satin 1
72.026 Arctia caja Garden Tiger 1
72.044 Eilema griseola Dingy Footman 5
72.045 Eilema lurideola Common Footman 22
72.046 Eilema complana Scarce Footman 3
72.069 Laspeyria flexula Beautiful Hook-tip 3
73.001 Abrostola tripartita Spectacle 1
73.012 Diachrysia chrysitis Burnished Brass 2
73.092 Caradrina morpheus Mottled Rustic 1
73.037x Acronicta tridens/psi Dark Dagger / Grey Dagger 1
73.160 Apamea scolopacina Slender Brindle 1
73.162 Apamea monoglypha Dark Arches 12
73.163 Apamea lithoxylaea Light Arches 5
73.096 x Hoplodrina octogenaria/blanda Uncertain/Rustic agg. 54
73.169x Mesapamea secalis agg. Common Rustic agg. 4
73.173x Oligia strigilis agg. Marbled Minor agg. 7
73.211 Enargia paleacea Angle-striped Sallow 1
73.216 Cosmia trapezina Dun-bar 5
73.267 Lacanobia oleracea Bright-line Brown-eye 2
73.270 Melanchra persicariae Dot Moth 1
73.291 Mythimna pallens Common Wainscot 1
73.293 Mythimna impura Smoky Wainscot 3
73.317 Agrotis exclamationis Heart and Dart 31
73.319 Agrotis segetum Turnip Moth 1
73.328 Axylia putris Flame 1
73.338 Lycophotia porphyrea True Lover's Knot 1
73.342 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 79
73.343 Noctua fimbriata Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing 4
73.348 Noctua janthe Lesser Bd-bordered Yellow U/wing 1
73.359 Xestia c-nigrum Setaceous Hebrew Character 1
73.361 Xestia triangulum Double Square-spot 8
Night 2019/6
Temperatures were still reasonably high when we set up on 3rd August and we spent a long time in emptying the traps, counting specimens and releasing them into the adjacent foliage. In all we had 76 species of moth which included 3 newcomers to the site. Better still 2 of the newcomers were scarce migrants. The micro-moth Loxostege sticticalis is rarely seen in Yorkshire and after a few sightings during the 1990’s the latest was at Beverley in 2012. The Bedstraw Hawk-moth is seen more regularly in Yorkshire and the closest to this site was in the Riccall area several years ago.
18.001 Plutella xylostella Diamond-back Moth 3
21.001 Lyonetia clerkella Apple Leaf Miner 1
28.014 Crassa unitella a moth 1
49.025 Pandemis cerasana Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix 1
49.039 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 2
49.091 Pseudargyrotoza conwagana 1
49.166 Celypha lacunana 1
62.028 Dioryctria abietella 1
62.035 Acrobasis advenella 4
62.048 Euzophera pinguis 6
62.075 Hypsopygia costalis Gold Triangle 1
63.002 Loxostege sticticalis 1
63.006 Pyrausta aurata 2
63.031 Udea ferrugalis Rusty-dot Pearl 1
63.038 Pleuroptya ruralis Mother of Pearl 27
63.060 Evergestis pallidata 3
63.079 Calamotropha paludella 1
63.080 Chrysoteuchia culmella Garden Grass-veneer 40
63.102 Catoptria falsella 1
50.002 Zeuzera pyrina Leopard Moth 2
65.005 Drepana falcataria Pebble Hook-tip 9
65.007 Cilix glaucata Chinese Character 1
69.003 Laothoe populi Poplar Hawk-moth 4
69.014 Hyles gallii Bedstraw Hawk-moth 1
69.016 Deilephila elpenor Elephant Hawk-moth 1
70.013 Idaea biselata Small Fan-footed Wave 1
70.016 Idaea aversata ab.remutata Riband Wave [non-banded form] 6
70.029 Timandra comae Blood-Vein 3
70.036 Cyclophora punctaria Maiden's Blush 1
70.052 Xanthorhoe ferrugata Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet 1
70.053 Xanthorhoe designata Flame Carpet 1
70.061 Epirrhoe alternata Common Carpet 1
70.089 Eulithis prunata Phoenix 1
70.205 Abraxas grossulariata Magpie Moth 1
70.207 Lomaspilis marginata Clouded Border 1
70.214 Macaria liturata Tawny-barred Angle 1
70.235 Ennomos fuscantaria Dusky Thorn 7
70.239 Selenia tetralunaria Purple Thorn 1
70.258 Peribatodes rhomboidaria Willow Beauty 1
70.265 Alcis repandata Mottled Beauty 1
70.270 Ectropis bistortata Engrailed 1
71.012 Notodonta dromedarius Iron Prominent 1
71.013 Notodonta ziczac Pebble Prominent 3
71.017 Pheosia tremula Swallow Prominent 1
71.018 Pheosia gnoma Lesser Swallow Prominent 4
72.002 Rivula sericealis Straw Dot 2
72.009 Leucoma salicis White Satin 1
72.013 Euproctis similis Yellow-tail 3
72.024 Phragmatobia fuliginosa Ruby Tiger 3
72.043 Eilema depressa Buff Footman 1
72.044 Eilema griseola Dingy Footman 21
72.045 Eilema lurideola Common Footman 1
72.046 Eilema complana Scarce Footman 1
73.015 Autographa gamma Silver Y 8
73.022 Plusia festucae Gold Spot 5
73.037x Acronicta tridens/psi Dark Dagger / Grey Dagger 2
73.045 Acronicta rumicis Knot Grass 4
73.062x Amphipyra pyramidea agg. Copper Underwing agg. 1
73.084 Bryophila domestica Marbled Beauty 1
73.096x Hoplodrina octogenaria/blanda Uncertain/Rustic agg. 3
73.162 Apamea monoglypha Dark Arches 1
73.168 Lateroligia ophiogramma Double Lobed 4
73.169x Mesapamea secalis agg. Common Rustic agg. 37
73.216 Cosmia trapezina Dun-bar 3
73.291 Mythimna pallens Common Wainscot 4
73.293 Mythimna impura Smoky Wainscot 1
73.317 Agrotis exclamationis Heart and Dart 3
73.325 Agrotis puta puta Shuttle-shaped Dart 5
73.329 Ochropleura plecta Flame Shoulder 8
73.342 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 183
73.343 Noctua fimbriata Bd-bordered Y/w Underwing 6
73.345 Noctua comes Lesser Yellow Underwing 5
73.346 Noctua interjecta Least Yellow Underwing 3
73.348 Noctua janthe Lesser Bd-brd Yellow U/wing 28
73.358 Xestia sexstrigata Six-striped Rustic 3
73.359 Xestia c-nigrum Setaceous Hebrew Character 3
Night 2019/7
After setting the traps on the 24th August I set off for Stillingfleet on the following mild morning wondering how things would be as I only had a low number of species at home. However, my worries were allayed and a good nights catch ensued. We had one newcomer to add to our slowly growing list, this being a lovely Feathered Gothic.
21.001 Lyonetia clerkella Apple Leaf Miner 1
31.001 Carcina quercana 1
49.024 Pandemis corylana Chequered Fruit-tree Tortrix 1
49.039 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 5
49.166 Celypha lacunana 5
63.006 Pyrausta aurata 4
63.038 Pleuroptya ruralis Mother of Pearl 2
63.102 Catoptria falsella 1
63.115 Acentria ephemerella Water Veneer 1
65.010 Tethea ocularis Figure of Eighty 1
70.016 Idaea aversata ab. remutata Riband Wave [non-banded form] 3
70.053 Xanthorhoe designata Flame Carpet 3
70.100 Colostygia pectinataria Green Carpet 3
70.173 Eupithecia centaureata Lime-speck Pug 1
70.234 Ennomos alniaria Canary-shouldered Thorn 1
70.235 Ennomos fuscantaria Dusky Thorn 4
70.258 Peribatodes rhomboidaria Willow Beauty 2
70.278 Cabera exanthemata Common Wave 1
71.012 Notodonta dromedarius Iron Prominent 3
71.013 Notodonta ziczac Pebble Prominent 2
71.017 Pheosia tremula Swallow Prominent 2
71.018 Pheosia gnoma Lesser Swallow Prominent 1
72.002 Rivula sericealis Straw Dot 9
72.044 Eilema griseola Dingy Footman 1
73.015 Autographa gamma Silver Y 1
73.037x Acronicta tridens/psi Dark Dagger / Grey Dagger 1
73.062x Amphipyra pyramidea agg. Copper Underwing agg. 3
73.113 Phlogophora meticulosa Angle Shades 1
73.123 Hydraecia micacea Rosy Rustic 2
73.131 Luperina testacea Flounced Rustic 1
73.169x Mesapamea secalis agg. Common Rustic agg. 1
73.182 Cirrhia icteritia Sallow 1
73.187 Agrochola litura Brown-spot Pinion 1
73.211 Enargia paleacea Angle-striped Sallow 1
73.219 Atethmia centrago Centre-barred Sallow 1
73.253 Tholera decimalis Feathered Gothic 1
73.255 Anarta trifolii Nutmeg 1
73.291 Mythimna pallens Common Wainscot 2
73.319 Agrotis segetum Turnip Moth 1
73.329 Ochropleura plecta Flame Shoulder 20
73.342 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 89
73.343 Noctua fimbriata Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing 6
73.345 Noctua comes Lesser Yellow Underwing 9
73.348 Noctua janthe Lesser Bd-bordered Yellow U/wing 6
73.357 Xestia xanthographa Square-spot Rustic 51
73.358 Xestia sexstrigata Six-striped Rustic 2
73.359 Xestia c-nigrum Setaceous Hebrew Character 93
Night 2019/8
After a mild evening on the 28th September we found a good number of specimens in the traps although 3 species outnumbered the others. I had never seen 22 Black Rustics at one time before but we did manage to see have a newcomer, the Feathered Thorn.
49.077 Acleris variegana Garden Rose Tortrix 1
49.166 Celypha lacunana 1
70.079 Thera brittanica Spruce Carpet 2
70.081 Thera obeliscata Grey Pine Carpet 1
70.095 Chloroclysta siterata Red-Green Carpet 1
70.244 Colotois pennaria Feathered Thorn 1
72.003 Hypena proboscidalis Snout 3
72.024 Phragmatobia fuliginosa Ruby Tiger 1
72.069 Laspeyria flexula Beautiful Hook-tip 1
73.015 Autographa gamma Silver Y 1
73.099 Hoplodrina ambigua Vine's Rustic 1
73.180 Tiliacea aurago Barred Sallow 3
73.181 Xanthia togata Pink-barred Sallow 2
73.186 Agrochola lychnidis Beaded Chestnut 36
73.193 Omphaloscelis lunosa Lunar Underwing 6
73.206 Lithophane leautieri hesperica Blair's Shoulder-knot 1
73.225 Dryobotodes eremita Brindled Green 1
73.233 Aporophyla nigra Black Rustic 22
73.325 Agrotis puta puta Shuttle-shaped Dart 1
73.342 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 2
73.345 Noctua comes Lesser Yellow Underwing 2
73.357 Xestia xanthographa Square-spot Rustic 6
73.359 Xestia c-nigrum Setaceous Hebrew Character 38
Night 2019/9
We decided to try for our latest ever session on Saturday 2nd November and wondered whether we had done the correct thing when driving to Stillingfleet. The day had been very wet and rain was still falling, but now only lightly, as we set up a single trap. Leaving home in the morning the weather was cool and very misty but things had cleared nicely when we arrived at the Nurseries. We recorded 7 species, all singletons, including a newcomer, the Brick.
70.107x Epirrita dilutata agg. November Moth agg. 1
70.244 Colotois pennaria Feathered Thorn 1
73.068 Allophyes oxyacanthae Green-brindled Crescen 1
73.190 Agrochola macilenta Yellow-line Quaker 1
73.192 Agrochola circellaris Brick 1
73.224 Griposia aprilina Merveille du Jour 1
73.233 Aporophyla nigra Black Rustic 1
This was our final 2019 visit and we look forward to starting again in spring 2020, hoping to add to our new total sightings of 107 micros and 234 Macros.