31 May 2017 Moth evening at Ladycross

Scarce Merveille du Jour

It was a chilly evening for our Lym Nats moth evening and thankfully those who attended were dressed for early Spring rather than for the last night of May. We had three traps running – two tripod traps and a Robinson – all with bright 125w mercury vapour lamps running off generators.  The moths might have been slow appearing initially, but as the evening wore on more moths appeared, although the numbers of individuals per species were low. We ended up with 38 species including several rather special ones such as Brindled White-spot and Scarce Merveille du Jour.

Goat Moth

Paul Brock came along with a female Goat Moth he had bred from a pupae he’d found earlier in the year and as she had not been mated he was hoping that the pheromones she released would attract a male and that he might manage to photograph the mating. As far as is known no-one has yet caught Goat Moths mating on camera. Around midnight, as the last few people were about to leave, a male Goat Moth was attracted to the last trap that we were about to close down. It was introduced to Paul’s female, but showed absolutely no interest in her, alas.

Thanks to Mary Macmillan for bringing and operating the Milford Conservation Volunteers’ generator and moth trap and to Adrian for his help setting up and also during the evening. Thanks also of course to all those who came along.

Species recorded:

Peach Blossom

Scorched Wing

Angle Shades, Brimstone, Brindled Pug, Brindled White-spot, Brown Silver-line, Brussels Lace, Buff Ermine, Buff-tip, Clay Triple-lines, Clouded Silver, Common Marbled Carpet, Common Swift, Common White Wave, Cydia fagiglandana, Double-striped Pug, Flame Shoulder, Fox Moth, Goat Moth, Gold Swift, Grass Wave, Great Prominent, Green Carpet, Light Emerald, Maiden’s Blush, Marbled Brown, Marbled White Spot, Notocelia roborana, Olethreutes arcuella, Orange Footman, Orange Swift, Pale Tussock, Peach Blossom, Pebble Hooktip, Scarce Merveille du Jour, Scoparia ambigualis, Scorched Wing, Straw Dot, Taleporia tubulosa and White Ermine.

Olethreutes arcuella

Species in italics are micros without English names. When one looks closely at micro moths they can look stunning such as the Olethreutes arcuella caught by Mary. Its forewing was barely 8mm long!

(Copyright all photos 
Richard Coomber)