NOTES ON SUFFOLK MOTHS 2011
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COMMENTS AND NOTES ON SOME SUFFOLK MOTHS IN 2011 A. W. PRICHARD This year continued the recent run of relatively poor recording seasons as a cold harsh winter was followed by a hot dry spring, which lasted until the early part of the peak recording season of summer. The summer months were generally wet and recording activities were impeded to an extent although there was still a trickle of notable migrant records during this wet period. Autumn arrived early and a long dry period during October and November brought some further notable migrant records. In (Prichard, 2010) the sighting of the elusive micro Adela cuprella (D. & S.) was reported at Ipswich Golf Course by NS in 2009. Further sightings of this species in 2011 were made by NS on 10th April at a couple of sites at Bromeswell and Staverton. The moth was also seen again by NS at Ipswich Golf Course between 3rd April and 17th April. Not long after, an early season Suffolk Moth Group meeting at Mendlesham on 7th May turned up a new species for the county when the bird-dropping mimic Cochylis molliculana Zeller appeared at the lights. This moth is in the process of rapidly colonising the country having first been recorded in Britain in 1993 at Portland. As the larva feeds in the seedheads of Bristly Oxtongue Helminthotheca echioides, a common and widespread plant, it is likely that this species will become a frequent sight in the near future. I have received a few records for Map-winged Swift Hepialus fusconebulosa (DeGeer) in the last few years. These have been reported from the Breckland area of the county while the only historical Suffolk record listed in Morley was from near Eye in 1859. The moth is generally more prevalent in northern and western parts of Britain with more localised populations in the south-east. The Suffolk Brecks are a popular area for recording moths and it seems improbable that a widespread, largish moth such as the Map-winged Swift could have been over-looked for so many years by a variety of recorders. One possibility is that it occurs in small, localised pockets associated with a particular soil type as occurs in Hertfordshire, where it is found associated with flinty soils. This year, the moth was recorded at Maidcross Hill, Lakenheath by a group of seasoned recorders (MH et al., 12th August). As often occurs, the individual was not retained or photographed and so no positive proof exists of the record. Maidscross Hill is a frequently recorded site so it is unlikely that this species has been over-looked in the past and it leaves some doubt as to the veracity of the record. Any recorders who do encounter this species in the county in future are requested to retain the specimen for confirmation. The Suffolk Moth Group held a meeting in Elveden Forest on 9th July with the objective of recording Map-winged Swift and Satin Beauty Deileptenia ribeata (Clerck), as this is in the vicinity of some recent Map-winged Swift records. The night’s recording proved quite productive with 130 species recorded with some worn Satin Beauties, but no Map-winged Swifts. With the warm dry spring bringing forward the flight periods of some species, it could well be that the Satin Beauties were from the tail end of their flight
Trans. Suffolk Nat. Soc. 48 (2012)