Norfolk moths: Rocklands School Playing Fields Moth Breakfast, 16 July 2016

The moth whisperers (Simon Best)

To coincide with a Friday night camping event on our village playing fields organised by Rocklands School Council, I ran a moth trap so that pupils, parents and villagers might have a chance to see some of our local moths. Although it was warm (17°C minimum), humid and overcast, the strong breeze at this exposed site and losing the first hour in order not to irradiate the barbecue (light was on from 23h00) made for a slightly smaller haul than expected. I turned off the trap at 04h00, but had been beaten to the moths by an early-rising Blackbird. We opened the trap at 8 am and examined our catch, as we juggled our bacon and sausage butties. In the morning turmoil, with moths quite flighty in the sunshine, the list was not complete, but thanks to our scribe we did manage to note down most of the catch.

Trap full of moths (Ian Scholes)

The first to catch everyone's attention were several showy Swallow-tailed Moths, but they were immediately eclipsed by Elephant Hawk-moths. A fresh Peach Blossom and a Buff Arches that had settled outside the trap, just below the bulb, were next; then two striking Brown-tails, white micro teddy-bears with feathery antennae. Common, Buff and 'melon seed' Dingy Footman obligingly posed almost side-by-side. Early Thorn perched butterfly-like with wings pressed together over its back. Small Magpies were a favourite with the children.

Shaded Broad-bar Scotopteryx chenopodiata (Ian Scholes)

Shaded Broad-bar is a UK Biodiversity Action Plan species, being common and widespread, but rapidly declining (by 73% over the last 35 years). A couple of species that were new for tetrad TL99Y: Brown-tail and Peach Blossom.

Swallow Prominent Pheosia tremula (Ian Scholes)

Elephant Hawk-moth Deilephila elpenor in good hands (Ian Scholes)

The moth breakfast in full swing (Simon Best)

I had not realised that several dozen Lesser Black-backed Gulls use the playing fields as a roost, leaving behind blizzards of moulted feathers. 

Click on the links to see photographs from the superb Norfolk Moths website, managed by Jim Wheeler.


Macro-moths (81 moths of 34 spp.):-

Thyatira baits	Peach Blossom	1
Habrosyne pyritoides	Buff Arches	1
Deilephila elpenor	Elephant Hawk-moth	2
Idaea aversata	Riband Wave	2
Scotopteryx chenopodiata	Shaded Broad-bar	1
Opisthograptis luteolata	Brimstone Moth	2
Selenia dentaria	Early Thorn	1
Crocallis elinguaria	Scalloped Oak	2
Ourapteryx sambucaria	Swallow-tailed Moth	7
Lomographa temerata	Clouded Silver	1
Pheosia tremula	Swallow Prominent	2
Pterostoma palpina	Pale Prominent	1
Hypena proboscidalis	Snout	1
Euproctis chrysorrhoea	Brown-tail	2
Spilosoma lutea	Buff Ermine	3
Eilema depressa	Buff Footman	1
Eilema griseola	Dingy Footman	1
Eilema lurideola	Common Footman	4
Herminia tarsipennalis	Fan-foot	5
Subacronicta megacephala	Poplar Grey	1
Hoplodrina octogenaria	Uncertain	7
Apamea monoglypha	Dark Arches	4
Mesapamea secalis agg.	Common Rustic agg.	4
Lacanobia oleracea	Bright-line Brown-eye	1
Melanchra persicariae	Dot Moth	3
Mythimna conigera	Brown-line Bright Eye	3
Mythimna impura	Smoky Wainscot	3
Mythimna ferrago	Clay	4
Agrotis exclamationis	Heart and Dart	3
Axylia putris	Flame	1
Noctua pronuba	Large Yellow Underwing	3
Noctua fimbriata	Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing	1
Noctua comes	Lesser Yellow Underwing	1
Xestia triangulum	Double Square-spot	2

Micro-moths (7 moths identified, of 3 spp.):-

Pseudargyrotoza conwagana	Yellow-spot Tortrix	5
Anania hortulata	Small Magpie	5
Pleuroptya ruralis	Mother of Pearl	1