The SuffolkArgus
Autumn 2005
Moth Night at West Stow Country Park - 4th June
Species seen:Meadow Brciwn, Gatekeeper, Essex Skipper, Large Skipper, Small Tortoiseshell, Comma, Common Blue, Small Copper, Small White, Large White, Green-veined White, Speckled Wood (in the wood). Six-spot Burnet moth, Buff Arches moth.
by TonyPrichard This country park situated in the Suffolk Brecks has been visited by the Moth Group several times in the past and normally provides some moths of interest. As well as being a branch event the meeting was open to members of the public. With rather wet and windy weather earlier in the day it was not too surprising when no branch members turned up, although the public were more enthusiastic with around fifteen people turning up for the event. As most of the local recorders were away recording out of the country it was down to just myself to provide the entertainment with a couple of lights. Setting in the sbdter of the trees by the visitor centre and close to the car park seemed to pay dividends with good numbers and a varied selection of species appearing at the light. I always think that this time of year is good for the public as a number of colourful large fluffy moths are on the wing, hopefully dispelling the myth that moths are just brown and boring. One of the earlier moths to appear was Small Elephant Hawk-moth, with several buzzing around the sheet. The colours of Cream-spot Tiger would rival any burcerfly and a couple of individuals again raised a bit of excitement amongst chose around the sheet light. A few more localised species, apart from the Cream-spot Tiger, also made an appearance with Cream-bordered Green Pea, Pinion-streaked Snout and Nascia cilialis. At public events most people have lefr afrer a couple of hours and we would normally expect the more interesting moths to start turning up. This night was an exception with little new recorded afrer midnight. With only a couple of lights running clearing up was rather easy. The full species list for the night was: Common Swift, Cochylis atricapitana, Celypha lacunana, Hedya pruniana, Rhyacionia pinivorana,
Cream-Spot Tiger byMervyn Crawford
Purple Hairstreaks The article in the last Suffolk Argusby Mike Dean bas provoked two members to contribute further comments on this under-recorded butterfly. Here are their comments.
Our visit to Tarcingstone continued during the afternoon with a circular walk around the western inlet of Alton Water Reservoir, where the water now covers the route of the old Al37 Ipswich to Brantham road. This inlet is designated a Nature Reserve by Anglian Water who have created a series of permissive paths around the shore-line. These taking us through varied habitats such as belts of trees, hedgerows, thick lush areas of reeds and rushes, also more open areas of scrub with rabbit grazed cur£ During our walk a total of 17 species of butterfly were noted. Those additional to the morning, being Peacock, Red Admiral, Holly Blue, Ringlet, and a Purple Hairstreak resting on a leaf, at eye level.
by RichardStewart As another masochistic neck-strainer, I was delighted to read Mike Dean's article on Purple Hairstreaks in the Summer 2005 issue. One point to add is their early morning activity if the host Oak gets full sunshine. Recently on holiday in the Spanish Pyrenees Marie and I located them not fur from our base at Casa Guilla. I was certain of the identity but a bit confused because bairstreaks feeding on Bramble close to the Oaks were of another species. I went back a few days later, before breakfast, and was soon able to confirm their identity. I did notice some querulous looks from others when I mentioned that they were often active early in the day. As Mike indicated, this species can be vecy frustrating. I was looking all day on our recent meeting at Alton Reservoir bur with no success. For once I and a few others were actually ahead of the main group who managed ro find one clearly visible and almost at eye level. However, sometimes you just sense that conditions are right for a 'Purple Hairstreak evening' and this is what happened early evening on July 12th. Marie and I got off the train at Westerfield Station and as usual I looked at the Oaks close to the platform. I had noted Purple Hairscreaks there some years ago but not recently, probably because of disturbance when the derelict station building was converted into a house. Now they were there again and also moving to and from an ash across the rails near the other platform. We spent some time observing them and no doubt were the cause
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BurnishedBrass byMervyn Crawford Scoparia pyralella, Scoparia ambigualis, Nascia cilia/is, Udea prunalis, Oak Hook-tip, Chinese Character, Common Carpet, Small Phoenix, Common Marbled Carpet, Grey Pine Carpet, Green Carpet, Sandy Carpet, Foxglove Pug, Narrow-winged Pug, Scorched Carpet, Peacock Moth, Latticed Heath, Scalloped Hazel, Peppered Moch, Pale Oak Beauty, Bordered White, Clouded Silver, Light Emerald, Elephant Hawk-moth, Small Elephant Hawk-moth, Great Prominent, Swallow Prominent, Marbled Brown, Cream-spot Tiger, White Ermine, Cinnabar, Turnip Moth, Heart & Dart, Flame, Flame Shoulder, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Light Brocade, Common Wainscot, Alder Moth, Bird's Wing, Marbled Minor, Cloaked Minor, Treble Lines, Vine's Rustic, Marbled White Spot, Cream-bordered Green Pea, Burnished Brass, Beautiful Golden Y, Snout and Pinion-streaked Snout.
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Also noced:Moths - Mother of Pearl, Riband Wave, Small Magpie. Dragonflies - Brown Hawker, Black-tailed Skimmer, Banded Demoiselle.
Large Skipper by DouglasHammersley 15
