Field Trip - Herts Moth Group Meet - Rye Meads - 06/08/16

Hello all.

Here is the report from the latest Herts Moth Group feld trip at the beginning of August

6^th August 2016:Rye Meads RSPB reserve, Hertfordshire. Herts Moth Group outing

This report must start with an apology – since it appears that we confused people over the meeting place. It transpires that the wrong locality data was copied and pasted from a past program with the result that several people gathered at the entrance to the Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust nature reserve at Rye Meads, which is a short distance east of the intended venue of the RSPB’s portion of the Meads and the other side of the toll barrier on Rye Road. Luckily, someone had a mobile phone and was able to raise me and eventually we all assembled at the same place! If anyone turned up late, without a phone and was unable to find us I offer profound apologies – please contact me if you wish.

In total there was around a dozen of us and lights were scattered across the entire of the somewhat extensive  RSPB nature reserve, with my own 4 lights in the north east section, Graeme Smith’s in the north-west, leaving the entire southern two thirds to Ben Sale and Andrew Raybould, John Chainey and Jenny Spence. I am not sure how many lights we had, since my bad leg prevented me from walking around the whole site and counting, and also because Ben has now disappeared on a family holiday (I do hope he took a moth trap) and is not available for questioning! I guess it was around 15 – 20 lights? These were a mixture of mv lamps and actinic tubes and we could easily have managed more.

In spite of this we only managed 153 species (93 macros and 60 micros) – with a few micros still awaiting dissection for accurate naming. The general theme was quality rather than quantity and many people added new species to their personal “life lists”. The target was “wetland moths” and as the list below shows we managed to achieve that, with examples including Chilo phragmitella, Schoenobius gigantella, Donacaula forficella, Acentria ephemerella (Water Veneer), Parapoynx stratiotata (Ringed China-mark) and Cataclysta lemnata (Small China-mark) representing the micros and Simyra albovenosa (Reed Dagger), Celaena leucostigma (Crescent), Nonagria typhae (Bulrush Wainscot), Archanara geminipuncta (Twin-spotted Wainscot), Archanara dissoluta (Brown-veined Wainscot), Archanara sparganii (Webb's Wainscot), Arenostola phragmitidis (Fen Wainscot), Chilodes maritimus (Silky Wainscot), Earias clorana (Cream-bordered Green Pea)  and Schrankia costaestrigalis (Pinion-streaked Snout) amongst the macros. Most were in good number too, although there was only one Reed Dagger – in Graeme’s very last trap as we packed up around 3am – literally, the last moth of the night and possible the best as this species is known in the county from only two places – here and at Sawbridgeworth Marsh.  We managed a Jersey Tiger at one of Graeme’s lights and a male Gypsy moth came to the 125 watt lamp suspended in front of the sheet hung on the side of my Landrover. There were several Tree-lichen Beauties and a single Box-tree Moth (or Boxworm, depending on which book you read). The award for smallest moth goes easily to Stigmella alnetella, which most doubted I could name – but I did anyway! The Phalonidia manniana was named without dissection and I am happy that it was not an example of the recently split Phalonidia udana. The full list is below – minus the few outstanding micros. If anyone remembers anything that I have missed, do please tell me (likewise if anyone spots any mistakes). As usual, I am using the “old” Bradley names, but I have used the up to date families (I think?).

I look forward to seeing you all on the next trip – see web site for details (www.hertsmothgroup.org.uk).

Colin

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6^th AUGUST 2016:RYE MEADS RSPB RESERVE, HERTFORDSHIRE

Hepialidae

0014    Hepialus humuli (Linnaeus, 1758)                                              Ghost Moth

0015    Hepialus sylvina (Linnaeus, 1761)                                              Orange Swift

Nepticulidae

0115    Stigmella alnetella (Stainton, 1856)                                           

Tischeriidae

0125    Emmetia marginea (Haworth, 1828)                                         

Tineidae

0228    Monopis weaverella (Scott, 1858)                                              

Lyonetiidae

0263    Lyonetia clerkella (Linnaeus, 1758)                                            Apple Leaf Miner

Bucculatricidae

0274    Bucculatrix ulmella Zeller, 1848                                                 

Gracillariidae

0288    Caloptilia stigmatella (Fabricius, 1781)                                     

0294    Aspilapteryx tringipennella (Zeller, 1839)                                 

0368    Phyllocnistis unipunctella (Stephens, 1834)                               Leaf mines on Populus – no adults caught

Plutellidae

0464    Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus, 1758)                                            Diamond-back Moth

Peleopodidae

0658    Carcina quercana (Fabricius, 1775)                                           

Gelechiidae

0758    Recurvaria leucatella (Clerck, 1759)                                          

Blastobasidae

0873    Blastobasis adustella Walsingham, 1894                                  

0874    Blastobasis lacticolella Rebel, 1940                                           

Batrachedridae

0878    Batrachedra praeangusta (Haworth, 1828)                              

Tortricidae

0926    Phalonidia manniana (Fischer von Röslerstamm, 1839)       

0937    Agapeta hamana (Linnaeus, 1758)                                           

0969    Pandemis corylana (Fabricius, 1794)                                          Chequered Fruit-tree Tortrix

0970    Pandemis cerasana (Hübner, 1786)                                            Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix

0972    Pandemis heparana ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)             Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix

0993    Clepsis spectrana (Treitschke, 1830)                                           Cyclamen Tortrix

0998    Epiphyas postvittana (Walker, 1863)                                         Light Brown Apple Moth

1062    Acleris emargana (Fabricius, 1775)                                            

1076    Celypha lacunana ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)               

1113    Eudemis profundana ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)          

1138    Epinotia nisella (Clerck, 1759)                                                    

1159    Rhopobota naevana (Hübner, 1817)                                         Holly Tortrix

1165    Zeiraphera isertana (Fabricius, 1794)                                        

1169    Gypsonoma dealbana (Frölich, 1828)                                       

1175    Epiblema uddmanniana (Linnaeus, 1758)                                Bramble Shoot Moth

1183    Epiblema foenella (Linnaeus, 1758)                                          

1205    Spilonota ocellana ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)               Bud Moth

1260    Cydia splendana (Hübner, 1799)                                               

1261    Cydia pomonella (Linnaeus, 1758)                                             Codling Moth

Crambidae

1290    Chilo phragmitella (Hübner, 1805)                                             

1292    Calamotropha paludella (Hübner, 1824)                                  

1304    Agriphila straminella ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)           

1305    Agriphila tristella ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)                  

1316    Catoptria falsella ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)                 

1323    Pediasia contaminella (Hübner, 1796)                                      

1328    Schoenobius gigantella ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)       

1329    Donacaula forficella (Thunberg, 1794)                                     

1331    Acentria ephemerella ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)           Water Veneer

1344    Eudonia mercurella (Linnaeus, 1758)                                        

1348    Parapoynx stratiotata (Linnaeus, 1758)                                    Ringed China-mark

1354    Cataclysta lemnata (Linnaeus, 1758)                                        Small China-mark

1358    Evergestis pallidata (Hufnagel, 1767)                                        

1361    Pyrausta aurata (Scopoli, 1763)                                                 

1375    Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner, 1796)                                                 European Corn Borer

1378    Phlyctaenia coronata (Hufnagel, 1767)                                    

1395    Udea ferrugalis (Hübner, 1796)                                                    Rusty-dot Pearl

1398    Nomophila noctuella ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)           Rush Veneer

1405    Pleuroptya ruralis (Scopoli, 1763)                                                Mother of Pearl

1409a Diaphania perspectalis (Walker, 1859)                                       Boxworm

Pyralidae

1413    Hypsopygia costalis (Fabricius, 1775)                                        Gold Triangle

1415    Orthopygia glaucinalis (Linnaeus, 1758)                                   

1428    Aphomia sociella (Linnaeus, 1758)                                             Bee Moth

1439    Trachycera advenella (Zincken, 1818)                                      

1452    Phycita roborella ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)                 

Pterophoridae

1504    Platyptilia pallidactyla (Haworth, 1811)                                   

1513    Pterophorus pentadactyla (Linnaeus, 1758)                             White Plume Moth

Drepanidae

1646    Watsonalla binaria (Hufnagel, 1767)                                         Oak Hook-tip

1652    Thyatira batis (Linnaeus, 1758)                                                   Peach Blossom

Geometridae

1680    Cyclophora punctaria (Linnaeus, 1758)                                    Maiden's Blush

1699    Idaea rusticata Lempke, 1967                                                     Least Carpet

1702    Idaea biselata (Hufnagel, 1767)                                                  Small Fan-footed Wave

1708    Idaea dimidiata (Hufnagel, 1767)                                               Single-dotted Wave

1713    Idaea aversata (Linnaeus, 1758)                                                 Riband Wave

1724    Xanthorhoe spadicearia ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)      Red Twin-spot Carpet

1726    Xanthorhoe quadrifasiata (Clerck, 1759)                                  Large Twin-spot Carpet

1732    Scotopteryx chenopodiata (Linnaeus, 1758)                            Shaded Broad-bar

1738    Epirrhoe alternata (Müller, 1764)                                                Common Carpet

1742    Camptogramma bilineata (Linnaeus, 1758)                             Yellow Shell

1759    Ecliptopera silaceata ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)           Small Phoenix

1776    Colostygia pectinataria (Knoch, 1781)                                       Green Carpet

1777    Hydriomena furcata (Thunberg, 1784)                                      July Highflyer

1792    Philereme transversata (Hufnagel, 1767)                                   Dark Umber

1803    Perizoma alchemillata (Linnaeus, 1758)                                    Small Rivulet

1812    Eupithecia inturbata (Hübner, 1817)                                          Maple Pug

1830    Eupithecia absinthiata (Clerck, 1759)                                        Wormwood Pug

1838    Eupithecia icterata (Villers, 1789)                                                Tawny Speckled Pug

1839    Eupithecia succenturiata (Linnaeus, 1758)                               Bordered Pug

1862    Gymnoscelis rufifasciata (Haworth, 1809)                                Double-striped Pug

1883    Acasis viretata (Hübner, 1799)                                                    Yellow-barred Brindle

1887    Lomaspilis marginata (Linnaeus, 1758)                                     Clouded Border

1894    Chiasmia clathrata (Linnaeus, 1758)                                         Latticed Heath

1906    Opisthograptis luteolata (Linnaeus, 1758)                                 Brimstone Moth

1907    Epione repandaria (Hufnagel, 1767)                                          Bordered Beauty

1913    Ennomos alniaria (Linnaeus, 1758)                                            Canary-shouldered Thorn

1914    Ennomos fuscantaria (Haworth, 1809)                                      Dusky Thorn

1921    Crocallis elinguaria (Linnaeus, 1758)                                          Scalloped Oak

1931    Biston betularia (Linnaeus, 1758)                                               Peppered Moth

1937    Peribatodes rhomboidaria ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)  Willow Beauty

1955    Cabera pusaria (Linnaeus, 1758)                                                Common White Wave

1956    Cabera exanthemata (Scopoli, 1763)                                         Common Wave

Sphingidae

1981    Laothoe populi (Linnaeus, 1758)                                                Poplar Hawk-moth

1991    Deilephila elpenor (Linnaeus, 1758)                                            Elephant Hawk-moth

Notodontidae

1997    Furcula furcula (Clerck, 1759)                                                     Sallow Kitten

2007    Pheosia tremula (Clerck, 1759)                                                    Swallow Prominent

2008    Ptilodon capucina (Linnaeus, 1758)                                           Coxcomb Prominent

2011    Pterostoma palpina (Clerck, 1759)                                              Pale Prominent

2030    Euproctis similis (Fuessly, 1775)                                                  Yellow-tail

2033    Lymantria monacha (Linnaeus, 1758)                                      Black Arches

2034    Lymantria dispar (Linnaeus, 1758)                                             Gypsy Moth

Arctiidae

2044    Eilema griseola (Hübner, 1803)                                                    Dingy Footman

2047    Eilema complana (Linnaeus, 1758)                                            Scarce Footman

2049    Eilema depressa (Esper, 1787)                                                     Buff Footman

2050    Eilema lurideola (Zincken, 1817)                                                 Common Footman

2057    Arctia caja (Linnaeus, 1758)                                                        Garden Tiger

2061    Spilosoma luteum (Hufnagel, 1766)                                           Buff Ermine

2064    Phragmatobia fuliginosa (Linnaeus, 1758)                                Ruby Tiger

2067    Euplagia quadripunctaria (Poda, 1761)                                     Jersey Tiger

Noctuidae

2089    Agrotis exclamationis (Linnaeus, 1758)                                     Heart and Dart

2092    Agrotis puta (Hübner, 1803)                                                         Shuttle-shaped Dart

2102    Ochropleura plecta (Linnaeus, 1761)                                          Flame Shoulder

2107    Noctua pronuba Linnaeus, 1758                                                 Large Yellow Underwing

2109    Noctua comes Hübner, 1813                                                        Lesser Yellow Underwing

2111    Noctua janthe Borkhausen, 1792                                               Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing

2112    Noctua interjecta Schawerda, 1919                                            Least Yellow Underwing

2123    Diarsia rubi (Vieweg, 1790)                                                           Small Square-spot

2126    Xestia c-nigrum (Linnaeus, 1758)                                                Setaceous Hebrew Character

2134    Xestia xanthographa ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)           Square-spot Rustic

2160    Lacanobia oleracea (Linnaeus, 1758)                                        Bright-line Brown-eye

2197    Mythimna straminea (Treitschke, 1825)                                    Southern Wainscot

2278    Acronicta megacephala ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)      Poplar Grey

2290    Simyra albovenosa (Goeze, 1781)                                              Reed Dagger

2292    Cryphia algae (Fabricius, 1775)                                                   Tree-lichen Beauty

2297    Amphipyra pyramidea (Linnaeus, 1758)                                   Copper Underwing

2298    Amphipyra berbera Fletcher, 1968                                              Svensson's Copper Underwing

2312    Ipimorpha subtusa ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)               Olive

2318    Cosmia trapezina (Linnaeus, 1758)                                            Dun-bar

2321    Apamea monoglypha (Hufnagel, 1766)                                    Dark Arches

2336    Apamea ophiogramma (Esper, 1793)                                        Double Lobed

2341    Mesoligia furuncula ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)             Cloaked Minor

2343    Mesapamea secalis (Linnaeus, 1758)                                         Common Rustic

2352    Eremobia ochroleuca ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)          Dusky Sallow

2361    Hydraecia micacea (Esper, 1789)                                               Rosy Rustic

2368    Celaena leucostigma (Hübner, 1808)                                         Crescent

2369    Nonagria typhae (Thunberg, 1784)                                             Bulrush Wainscot

2370    Archanara geminipuncta (Haworth, 1809)                                Twin-spotted Wainscot

2371    Archanara dissoluta (Treitschke, 1825)                                      Brown-veined Wainscot

2373    Archanara sparganii (Esper, 1790)                                              Webb's Wainscot

2377    Arenostola phragmitidis (Hübner, 1803)                                    Fen Wainscot

2381    Hoplodrina alsines (Brahm, 1791)                                              Uncertain

2391    Chilodes maritimus (Tauscher, 1806)                                         Silky Wainscot

2418    Earias clorana (Linnaeus, 1761)                                                  Cream-bordered Green Pea

2439    Plusia festucae (Linnaeus, 1758)                                                 Gold Spot

2441    Autographa gamma (Linnaeus, 1758)                                       Silver Y

2450    Abrostola tripartita (Hufnagel, 1766)                                         Spectacle

2474    Rivula sericealis (Scopoli, 1763)                                                  Straw Dot

2477    Hypena proboscidalis (Linnaeus, 1758)                                     Snout

2484    Schrankia costaestrigalis (Stephens, 1834)                                Pinion-streaked Snout

  

Brown-veined Wainscot

Twin-spotted Wainscot

Garden Tiger

Webb's Wainscot

Reed Dagger

Southern Wainscot

Elachista maculicerusella

Cydalima perspectalis

Canary-shouldered Thorn