The Butterflies and Moths of Martlesham Heath From the Train

The Butterflies and Moths of Martlesham, Heath

by Steve Goddard

We have been living on Martlesham Heath for

four years now and in that time, 28 species of

butterfly and nearly 500 species of moth have

been identified in our recording area (TM2344).

This lies west of the village centre bordered by

Dobbs Lane and forms a large part of what is

known locally as the 'Western Corridor'. Most

of the moths have come to light in the garden

and of all the butterflies seen on the heath, only the Purple Hairstreak has yet to visit us.

The year begins here much as anywhere with Small Tonoiseshell, Peacock, Comma and perhaps a Red Admiral in March. By the end of April we are seeing: Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Orange-tip, Holly Blue, Brimstone, Speckled Wood and Green Hairsueak along with the dayflying Common Heath and Pyrausta despicata, a small brown pyralid. Of these species, Orange-tip appears only in relatively low numbers with Brimstone sightings perhaps not surprisingly even less, although annual. The Green Hairstreak is always a delight to see especially when your first one of the year is usually encountered by a chance distwbance or seen in spiralling flight with a rival male.

May introduces the Small Copper whilst an inspection of the hedgerows will find the 'longhorn' moth Adela reamurel/a and in more open areas the strikingly marked Cinnabar can be found. In the garden, the pretty little pyralid,

Essex Skipper

by Douglas Hammersley

Pyrausta aurata, shows itself for the first time.

June heralds the star butterfly of the heath, the Silver-studded Blue. These days it can be seen by-the middle of the month and even after this relatively cool and dull spring it had emerged by the 11 th. On June 27th, 67 were counted and the annual survey on July 10th produced a total of 377. This figure however, must be a real cause for concern since by coinciding closely with the peak emergence for this year it represents a significant drop from even just three years ago when the survey mark was 699 whilst the year before it was as high as 1470. The last sighting this year was of four worn females on August 10th

The Common Blue appears in low numbers about a week before its more illustrious cousin to occur in greater numbers in August. Around midmonth the Large Skipper can be found daning from sunny hedges whilst at about the same time the last Green Hairstreak bows out. The Brown Silver-line, a bracken feeder also makes its appearance now and is regularly disturbed whilst out walking in the day and this year saw large numbers. The Small Heath is also on the wing but the first recording of this diminutive 'brown' does seem ro vary, usually mid-June, but this year as early as May 23rd. Towards the end of the month we see the first of our summer grassland species: Meadow Brown, Ringlet and Small Skipper with

the Essex Skipper emerging right at the month end or just into July. The Painted Lady is usually seen this month too but as in most places not this year, with our first Suffolk sighting for 2005 being in the garden on August 4th. The same can be said for the Humming-bird Hawk-moth which has become a June regular in the garden except for this year.

Whilst sining in the garden on June 9th last year, it was quite a surprise to see a Broad-bordered Bee-hawk moth visiting Snowberry and almost certainly a female since it appeared to be 'tasting' the leaves. This sighting led to an examination of honeysuckle on the heath and soon the tell-tale feeding signs were found followed by two small larvae - a most pleasing find of this nationally notable species. This year feeding signs were again found together with a single larva but no adults this time.

July brings the first sightings of Gatekeeper, the ever-elusive Purple Hairstreak, Brown Argus and second broods of Holly Blue and Common Heath as well as the Six-spot Burnet. Around the middle of the month several of the glorious Peacocks are gracing our garden Buddleja variety 'loch inch' which seems ro flower early in readiness. We don't normally see Grayling until early August and then only in low numbers but sadly only one individual has been found this year. Similarly, the first sightings of the Wall in our first two years here were in early August although again in low numbers however, whilst writing in the third week of August, for the second consecutive year none have been recorded. Both situations need to be monitored carefully.

By mid August, signs of a fading summer are betrayed by the decline in numbers of Meadow Brown, Small Skipper and Essex Skipper with the last sightings tending to come at the month end together with the last of the second brood of Pyrausta despicata. In the garden meanwhile, the second brood of Pyrausta aurata is again flying around its food plant, Origanum. The last two Augusts have seen Clouded Yellows on the heath but not alas, 2005!

On the arrival of September, the high summer emerging Gatekeeper is // ready to depart together with the 1/ Small Heath but still leaving behind at least a dozen species to enjoy during this early autumn month. Now, most of the butterflies seem to be in the gardens busily nectaring on the last florets of Buddleja, Michaelmas Daisy, Sedum spectabile and Verbena bonariensis.

It is September when the garden moth trap may reveal what is perhaps the moth star of the heath the Lunar Yellow Underwing, a nationally notable and UK BAP Priority species whose presence has been fully confirmed by a Suffolk Moth Group larval survey. Altogether, 22 nationally notable moth species have been identified , from the garden including the two already mentioned and for instance; Tawny Wave, Grass Wave, Festoon, Yarrow Pug and Orange Footman. The total number of moth species so far recorded in the whole of Mattlesham Heath village is 546 with our garden total standing at 467.

As October arrives butterfly sightings become less frequent and are all but over by the month end although last year, our last Small Tortoiseshell was on November 19th and our last Peacock on December 9th! Moth trapping continues albeit rather sporadically over the winter period which keeps the lepidoptera interest going until the springtime moths are again joined by the buncrflies.

Small Copper

by Douglas Hammersley

From, the Train •

By Richard Stewart

I always try to sit by a

window on a train journey. Both Marie

and I find trains the

ideal way to travel, particularly as the route often takes you through beautiful areas of unspoilt countryside, well away from other noisy traffic. Recent 2005 sightings have included Deer, Foxes, three separate Barn Owl sightings on the :East Suffolk line and staring at a Little Owl perched close to the train when it came to a red signal stop just outside Westerfield station.

The East Suffolk branch line is panicularly good as the trains never travel very fast and once you are out oflpswich there is no large conurbation before reaching Lowestoft at the fur end of the line. Often if the train has to stop at a red light, or in certain country stations such as Campsea Ashe and Brampton, there are also good opportunities to record butterflies from the comfort of your seat. Often I can do this without having to fumble for binoculars tucked away inside my rucksack. Species such as Large White, Meadow Brown, Red Admiral, Comma and Small Tortoiseshell can be accurately identified as they are only a few yards away and earlier in the year Peacock, Brimstone and Orange-tip are other possibilities.

A few stations have a now disused second platform and behind the one at Campsea Ashe I have twice recorded Purple Hairstreaks in the relatively short Oaks. However, the best sighting so far was on July

White Admiral

by Beryl Johnson

16th, as I was returning to Ipswich from Lowestoft. At Beccles a derelict platform has been colonised by a rich abundance of wild plants, including Buddleia, Wild Carrot, Ragwort and Mullein. I was the right side to get a close view of a lovely orange Comma in flight then became aware of a similar sized butterfly, mainly black but with a flash of white, and flying nearby. Having seen White Admirals in woods not far from Becdes I instantly concentrated even harder, though I decided not to get my binoculars out as I might lose track of its flight path.

You are also acutely aware that at any second the train may start again. Fortunately at this moment the butterfly settled on a nearby leaf and I was able to add the White Admiral, with fully open wings, to my list of butterflies seen from the train.

• The Suffolk

Show

Through this newsletter and on behalf of the committee I should like to thank the generous but anonymous member who has over the past few years kindly donated hand-made gift tags and greetings cards.

All the proceeds from the sale of these beautifully made cards, with a butterfly motif, go to our Branch Funds.

Beryl Johnson

Painted Lady

by Beryl ]ohmon

Red Admiral

by Douglas Hammersley

Clouded Yellow

by Beryl Johnson