Invasion of the Rannoch Looper

 Moth Traps General, Moths  No Responses »
Jun 222023
 

During June 2023, unusual numbers of Rannoch Looper (Macaria brunneata) moth were arriving in the UK, with Records being reported from a number of inland counties, Derbyshire, Staffordshire, Nottinghamshire, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, and even as far wide as Cambridgeshire, Northumberland and Hampshire. Most counties were recording their first records of this species, and I’m sure there will be many more reports that will emerge as time goes on.

Seemingly then, an unprecedented influx of a species that in the UK is only currently found, as the name suggests, in mature pine and birch woodlands of central and the northeastern highlands of Scotland, that have extensive Bilberry ground cover.

The last influx of this species, arrived from the near continent in 2011, when there was similar weather conditions to June 2023. High temperatures over western Europe, coupled with a number of days of moderate ENE winds across the North Sea, seemed too provide ideal conditions for this moth to arrive on our shores.

Derbyshire’s first record was discovered in a garden moth trap at Fenny Bentley on 15/16th June 2023. Incredibly another was trapped in the same garden on 17/18th June, and then a 3rd record, at Norbrigg’s Flash NR, Staveley, near Chesterfield, on 21st June 2023.

A superb addition to Derbyshire’s macro moth list. Many thanks to the contributors of this post and for allowing me the use of the images, to form a documented account of the occurrence. 

The first record 15th/16th June 2023 – Sam Goddard© – Fenny Bentley
The second Derbyshire record – 17th/18th June 2023 – Sam Goddard© – Fenny Bentley – a brighter individual
The 2nd record for Derbyshire – 18th June 2023 – Tony Davison© – Fenny Bentley
The 3rd Derbyshire record – 21st June 2023 – Sid Morris© – Norbrigg Flash NR, Staveley, Chesterfield

Moth Trapping on St. Agnes 2006 – 14th – 21st Oct 2006

 2006, Moth Traps General, Year  No Responses »
Oct 212006
 

The Isles of Scilly are recognised as one of the best places in Great Britain for recording migrant moths and in 2006 it was one of the best years on record. A permanent Moth Recording Station has been located at the Longstones Cafe now for a number of years and Mick Scott is trapping almost continuously during the year. Many new species to the islands and to Britain have been caught here over the years.

Near perfect conditions prevailed throughout the week. we have southerly to south easterly winds, light rain and very warm air temperatures for the time of year. We trapped on 6 nights with the catches deteriorating towards the end of the week due to strong winds. A blended Mercury Vapour Light & Skinner Trap was used on the evenings of 14th – 19th October at Troy Town Farm on St. Agnes. 
 
During the week on St. Mary’s a potential First for Britain was trapped by Mick Scott at Longstones. A full report is posted on on this Archive under “A new moth species for Britain” 19th October 2006. 
 
The species was eventually confirmed as Palpita testalis on 11th Jan 2007, a first record for Britain. Also Crimson Speckled / Dark Mottled Willow / The Mallow, a first for Scilly, were trapped at Longstones. At Troy Town we had a Merveille du Jour, a first record for the Isles of Scilly / Antigastra catalaunalis / Convolvulus Hawkmoth / Cosmopolitan / Palpita vitrealis/ Scarce Bordered Straw / Small Mottled Willow/ Gem/ Vestal (The pink form indicating a sub-tropical migrant)  Dark Sword-grass and the usual Delicates & White-specks. Also on St.Agnes at Lower Town Barn – Blair’s Mocha / Hymenia recurvalis / Old Worm Webworm completed the weeks rarities.
 
Highlights of the week were –
1 of Palpita testalis – ist record from Britain – Mick Scott – Longstones
 2 of Hellula undalis (Old World Webworm- Rare migrant)
 1 of Antigastra catalaunalis ( Rare vagrant from tropics)
 1 of Palpita vitrealis (Status scarce migrant)  
 1 of Hymenia recurvalis  (2nd record for St. Agnes- rare vagrant from tropics)
 1 of Crimson Speckled – (Rare vagrant from southern europe)
 1 of Merveille du Jour (first record for Isles of Scilly – St.Agnes, Troytown 15th Oct)
 1 of Dark Mottled Willow (2nd for Scilly – Rare Vagrant)
 1 of The Mallow – (First record for Scilly, Longstones)
 1 of Blair’s Mocha – (Rare & irregular migrant)
 1 of Cosmopolitan (Status scarce migrant)
 3 of Convolvulus Hawkmoth 9 (Regular migrant to the islands)
 11 of The Gem (Status scarce migrant
 2 of Small Mottled Willow (Common migrant)
 6 of Scarce Bordered Straw (Common migrant)
 3 of The Vestal (good numbers of this regular migrant, including 1 Pink Form)
 72 of White Speck (good numbers of this common migrant)
 16 of Delicate (good numbers of this common migrant)
 
Selected images below are:-
1) LEFT – 1) Palpita testalis; 2) Crimson Speckled; 3) Hymenia recurvalis; 4) Merveille du Jour 5)Vestal (Pink Form) ; 6) Convolvulus Hawmoth; 7) Delicate 
2) RIGHT – 1) Antigastra catalaunalis; 2) Dark Mottled Willow; 3) Hymenia recurvalis; 4) Mallow; 5) Blair’s Mocha; 6) Dark Sword-grass; 7) Old World Webworm
 
   
 
     
 
    
 
    
 
    
 
    
 
  
 
 

 

A new moth species for Britain – Trapped – St. Mary’s, Isles of Scilly – October 18th 2006

 2006, Moth Traps General, Year  No Responses »
Oct 182006
 

Mick Scott trapped a Pyralid species at Longstone’s, St. Mary’s, Isles of Scilly on 18th October 2006. He initially thought that it was a Grass Webworm species – possibly Herpetogramma centrostrigalis or licarsisalis (1406, 1406a), however the group are notoriously difficult to identify and therefore caution was required as to a positive ID. The species licarsisalis had been recorded in Britain before in 1998 on Tresco, Isles of Scilly (12.10.01) & on the Lizard, Cornwall in October 2004.

The specimen arrived at a time of high migrant moth activity across the islands. I was fortunate to photograph the moth during the day of 19th October 2006. Mick Scott decided to send the specimen off to the Natural History museum for identification due to the doubts on what it was.
 
On 28th October 2006, I received an email from Dave Grundy, advising that discussions had moved on about the ID of the pyralid sp. Photos were compared with those of the Tresco individual in April 2002 issue of Atropos and also the related species in Goater (British Pyralid Moths) and there was doubts about this specimen being a Grass Webworm. Dave was not happy that the St. Mary’s moth was either of the species and having checked out www.leps.it, there was a photo of Palpita testalis, which look far more promising. Although we were all very cautious, this species did look more likely and so it was now a game of patience, awaiting a confirmation from the British Museum.
 
On 11th January 2007, I received an email from Mick Scott & a further one from Dave Grundy, confirming that Martin Honey & Mike Shaffer were both happy that the specimen was in fact Palpita testalis (or Hodebertia testalis, depending on which authority is right about the generic name), a FIRST record for Britain of this species. 
 
My thanks go to Mick Scott for trapping the moth and for the opportunity to see & photograph it and also to Dave Grundy for his meticulous analysis of the photos and his advice on his interpretation of this species being testalis before it was positively confirmed. It was very
interesting to be party to the identification process of this individual. 
 

Moth Trapping on St. Agnes 2005 – 15th – 21st Oct 2005

 2005, Moth Traps General, Moths, Year  No Responses »
Oct 212005
 

St. Agnes offers excellent opportunities for trapping rare & scarce migrant moths in the right conditions. We had several good “Moth Nights” during the week with warm southerly wind, despite being  a little late in the season though.
 
We ran a Mercury Vapour Light & Skinner Trap each night from 15th – 20th October and we were located at Troy Town Farm on St. Agnes. The best evenings were 17 & 18th October with warm southerly winds, cloud & slight drizzle.A Dark Mottled Willow was trapped by Mike Hicks on the 15th October – a first record for the Isles of Scilly. A second was trapped on 17th October by Mick Scott. Also during our week a Tunbridge Wells Gem was trapped on St.Agnes.
 
Highlights of the week were –
9 of Plutella xylostella (Diamond-back Moth)
3 of Hellula undalis (Old World Webworm- Rare migrant)
Nomophila noctuella (Rush Veneer – good numbers)
1 of Palpita vitrealis (Status scarce migrant)  
2 of Scarce-bordered Straw (Scarce migrant)
1 of Cosmopolitan (Status scarce migrant)
 6 of The Gem (Status scarce migrant)
 1 of Small Marbled (A rare migrant less than 20 records)
 1 of Small Mottled Willow (Common migrant)
 1 of Tunbridge Wells Gem (Rare vagrant )
 1 of Dark Mottled Willow (1st record for Isles of Scilly)
 Vestal (good numbers of this regular migrant)
 White Speck (good numbers of this common migrant)
 Delicate (good numbers of this common migrant)
 
 Selected images below are:-
1) LEFT – 1) Cosmopolitan; 2) Dark Mottled Willow; 3) Old World Webworm; 4) Small Marbled 5) Small Mottled Willow; 6) Diamond-back Moth.
2) RIGHT – 1) Cosmopolitan; 2) Vestal; 3) Old World Webworm; 4) Small Marbled; 5) White-speck; 6) Palpita vitrealis
 
    
 
    
 
   
 
    
 
    
 
   
 
  

Kentish Glory – Skye of Curr – Trapped 1st – 2nd May 2004

 2004, Moth Traps General, Year  No Responses »
May 022004
 

The Kentish Glory is a Category A, nationally scarce moth species in Britain. Now confined to the central & eastern Highlands of Scotland. It has declined at sites in Speyside  where the birch woodland has become mature but appears to be on the increase in Deeside where birch re-growth has become extensive.

Where this moth was trapped the birch seems to be just about right.
 
 
 
 
 

Moth Trapping on St. Agnes 2003 – 11th – 18th October 2003

 2003, Moth Traps General, Year  No Responses »
Oct 182003
 

St. Agnes, the most westerly island of the Scilly archipelago, not only offers good birding but is also a superb place for trapping rare migrant moth species.
 
The week of 11-18th October 2003, 
presented a period of ideal weather and the highlights are listed here. The week before we arrived Porter’s Rustic; Radford’s Flame-shoulder; Blair’s Mocha, numerous Convolvulus 
hawkmoth and several other good migrants had all been trapped. 
 
We ran a Mercury Vapour Light & Skinner Trap each night from 11th – 16th October. We were located at Troy Town Farm on St. Agnes. The best evenings were 11-13th October with warm
southerly winds, cloud & slight drizzle. 
 
Highlights of the week were –
  1 of Death’s Head Hawkmoth; 
  2 of Convolvulus Hawkmoth;     
  2 of The Sallow (2nd & 3rd record for St.Agnes); 
27 of Scarce-bordered Straw;
 1 of Ni Moth (only 6 records on St. Agnes prior to 1997)
 1 of Slender-burnished Brass (2 St. Agnes records prior to 1986)
 3 of Cosmopolitan (12 records for St. Agnes prior to 1997)
 7 off The Gem (status scarce migrant)
 3 Palpita vitrealis (status scarce migrant)  
    Vestal (good numbers)
    White Speck (good numbers
    Delicate (good numbers)
    Nomophila noctuella (Rush Veneer – good numbers)   
 1 of Red-veined Darter (Synpetrum fonscolombii)
 
Selected images below are:-
1) LEFT – Death’s Headhawk Moth; 2) Ni Moth; 3) The Gem; 4) Cosmopolitan
2) RIGHT – 1) Scarce-bordered Straw; 2) Slender-burnished Brass; 3) Vestal; 4) Delicate
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
  
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