Archive news

Lead-coloured and Clouded Drab - Clouded Drab is a very variable species, and there are some that can appear quite grey and small in size. There is a very good link to a website discussing both species with good illustrations, follow http://pbc.codehog.co.uk/bhs/drabs/drabs.htm

Clouded Drab, Alderholt, 24 March 2011 © T Morris Lead-coloured Drab, Pilmoor, N Yorks, 21 March 2011 © T A Box

Lead-coloured Drab antennae detail © T A Box

Thank you to all those recorders who made the effort to pass their macromoth records to the County Moth Recorder by 31st December 2010.
From now on, please forward all macromoth records to Dorset Environmental Records Centre, Library Headquarters, Colliton Park, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 1XJ. A report of those records submitted and verified by the County Recorder is now available for download. Dorset macromoth report for the DNHAS, - follow link .

For those that wish to have a copy of the 2010 records reported on this site, can download a copy in date order, but minus most of the photographs. These will be made available to view on a separate link in due course. Please note that these records have not all been verified by the County Recorders.- follow link.

The Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland: Vol. 5: Tortricidae. Publication late 2010. Approx. 500 pages and 40 colour plates. In two parts. Hardback. ISBN 87-88757-86-2. Price for both volumes approx GBP 165.00. Latest news from the publisher is that they now expect a publication date towards the middle of 2011 - per T Box

Request - Colour-marked Flounced Rustic - see 6th September in 2010 Archive for details and if you can supply any other information.

The Future of the Dorset Moth Group - Readers will recall my request in the last newsletter for assistance with its production and to put the Group onto a more substantial and formal footing. I received one response and that was apologetic, but negative. This complete lack of interest and enthusiasm gives me no choice but to announce that this will be the last newsletter which will be produced. It is depressing to find that while so many counties have thriving, well organised, active moth groups, Dorset is notable for its apathy.

Terry Box has agreed to continue to run our very successful and respected website. I encourage you all to send Terry your daily records of interesting moths. In future years the two spring reports on the previous year’s records in Dorset, produced by the County Recorders, Peter Davey and Phil Sterling, will be published on the website.

I have made arrangements for all the Group’s assets to be transferred to the Dorset Branch of Butterfly Conservation who will continue to fund the website. The Group’s bank account will be closed following production of this newsletter.

Will you please not send me any more cheques to cover annual subscriptions and will those with standing orders please please inform their own bank that these should be cancelled with immediate effect.

Gordon Hopkins - April 2010

Eds - In response to the effective disbanding of the 'Group' the title of the site has been changed to Dorset Moths, although the URL will remain as Dorsetmothgroup.org.uk. The website will now be the preferred method for communicating records, articles and event news to interested parties. To achieve this aim I commit to keeping the website updated and current, and appreciate your continued support. Please send any articles, information on events, photos, and any records of interest, to me - see contacts for details.

This in no way replaces the need to submit records at the end of the year to the County Recorders, and any records published on this site are for information only, and are not subject to verification. It should not be assumed that publication here is sufficient to have records included in the County records. Please support your Recorders!

Waved Black update (updated 10 August 2010)

Following the publication of a Waved Black in Alderholt on 10 July, has highlighted several other recent records. Please refer to the original text in the Moths of Dorset here for this scarce Notable B species, and I list the known records below:

Harman’s Cross, on 20 July 1991 (B Withers)
Ferndown, on 21 July 1997 (R Cook)
Rooksmoor, on 23 July 1997 (P Davey)
Verwood, on 4 August 2004 (S Palmer)
Verwood, on 12 July 2007 (M Weaver, C Court)
Alderholt, on 23 July 2008 (T Morris)
Wyke Regis, 30 June 2009 (D Foot)
Verwood, on 9 July 2010 (C Court)
Alderholt, on 10 July 2010 (T Morris)
Verwood, on 18 July 2010 (C Court)
Verwood, on 3 August 2010 (C Hill)

Lepidoptera Conservation Bulletin Number 10 - The latest edition of Butterfly Conservations annual Lepidoptera Conservation Bulletin (number 10) is now available to download www.butterfly-conservation.org/lepidopteraconservationbulletin. NB: To make it easier to read on screen you should be able to use the contents page to navigate around the report (hold ‘ctrl’ then click on the subject header).

The Bulletin summarises the work carried out by Butterfly Conservation and our partner organisations over the course of the year and the resulting advances in our understanding of the UK Biodiversity Action Plan Priority Species, both moths and butterflies, including information on distribution, habitat requirements and management. This year’s edition includes updates on conservation efforts for a broad selection of highly threatened moths and butterflies across the UK as well as articles about Lepidoptera recording, Butterfly Conservation reserves, Butterfly Conservation Europe and National Moth Night. There is also a selected Bibliography covering publications of interest in 2008 and 2009 (added 30 Apr).

A 'new' first for Britain - Peter Davey has received some news from Martin Townsend on Jersey Mocha. He has recently identified what he previously thought was a Blair’s Mocha trapped on 18 August 1996 at Worth Matravers, as Jersey Mocha. This pre-dates the first UK mainland specimen, trapped on Portland by John Chainey in 2003, by seven years. (added 31 Mar 10).

Saturniidae of the World (Pfauenspinnen der Welt): by R.E.J. Lampe - just published. Their Life Stages from the Eggs to the Adults.

There are about 1,400 species of Saturniidae worldwide. The author has studied over 300 of these species for 30 years and presents here his photographs of the life stages from the egg, through the larval stages and pupation, to the adult moth. The result is a unique documentation of the metamorphosis of these fascinating insects range.

Text English. 336 colour plates (2949 photos), 9 colour + 2 b/w text figs. SPECIAL PRICE UNTIL 16^TH APRIL GBP £49.99 Thereafter price will be GBP £59.99. Postage extra. GBP 5.00 to UK; GBP 8.00 - 9.00 to Europe; GBP 10.00 -12.00 to rest of World. TO ORDER - Https://www.pemberleybooks.co.uk/cgi-bin/cart.pl?add_item=15518

Moth twitching articles, part 1 - follow link and part 2 - follow link.

Field tips resource - There is a superb resource available on the Suffolk Moth Group website of 'Field Tips' which is a searchable database of hints and tips for finding species of moths - mainly in their early stages. If you are familiar with the book 'Practical hints for the Field Lepidopterist' by J.W.Tutt - then this guide is in the same vein and the site contains mostly tips taken from that book, but with added photographs in some cases. (added 21 Feb 10).

http://www.suffolkmothgroup.org.uk/cgi-bin/field/viewcurrent.cgi

The First British Record of Musotima nitidalis Meyr. - On the 11^th August 2009, David Evans and Mike Jeffes ran moth traps and a light above a sheet on Merritown Heath NR, west of Bournemouth Airport. Among the 55 species of moth in the trap including 24 species of micros was a small pyralid not unlike a China-mark at first appearance which was boxed up for identification later. Unable to identify the species, even with the help of Phil Stirling, Dorset Micro Recorder, further assistance from such luminaries as Rev. David Agassiz, assorted experts at the British Entomological Meeting on the 7^th October at the Imperial College London, and Martin Honey at the British Museum. Martin identified the moth as a pyralid, Musotima nitidalis which is found is Australasia, and in its natural habitat feeds on maidenhair ferns and related species.

There is a huge green waste disposal site close to where the moth was trapped, which handles waste from nurseries, and it may have come to Britain via the importation of plants. DEFRA confirmed that the moth had not been reported in this Country and therefore is new to Great Britain and probably the whole of Europe. (Edited from a short article in preparation by David Evans). (added 8 Dec 09).

Musotima nitidalis

EuCAN Conservation project - At last we have finished putting together the arrangements for next year - I have attached the 2010 information sheet and an application form. You should also shortly find the information on our website www.eucan.org.uk (in its early stages of development at the moment!) and also much other information about EuCAN and the previous visits we have run.

If you would like to apply for a place, please email me the completed application form - even if you have already sent me one. If you know someone who might be interested, please forward this email to them, and to any organisations you think might be receptive. If you have taken part before, unfortunately you cannot apply again - sorry!

For information and application click on links. (Contributed by Nigel Spring). (added 10 Dec 09).

Moths of Dorset - the last section on Pyralids is now added, making this the most up-to-date information on status, distribution, occurrences and flight-time of Dorset moths, with photos. Follow link

Trips and Holidays - see new feature called Trips and Holidays - Hungary and France 2008 to be added shortly. Please let me have any articles or species lists for moths while on holiday in the UK or abroad. Thank you.

Latest edition of eMoth - from Butterfly Conservation, follow link.

New DMG Excel Recording programme - developed by Les Hill, endorsed by County Recorder, and available for download. If anyone experiences any difficulties with the form, please email Les at les@mklep.co.uk for support.

The latest issue of E-moth, the electronic only update of the Moths Count project and National Moth Recording Scheme (NMRS) is now available. The newsletter includes details of our upcoming moth recorders conference in Birmingham on the 23^rd January 2010 and gives an update on the exciting progress of the NMRS. Follow link.

Trip to Slovenia 31st July to 7th August 2010 - Now fully booked - following overwhelming interest and consequently profits should realise £7000 for the Trust.

“Butterfly Conservation's European Interests Group (EIG - http://www.bc-eig.org.uk ) are organising a special trip to Slovenia next summer to raise money for the Hungarian Natural Heritage Trust based at Kercaszomor situated within the Őrség National Park in south-west Hungary. The EIG has had a history of involvement with the Park in recent years and is keen to support the work of the Trust which has already purchased 18 hectares of land that it manages for butterflies, notably the four Large Blue species, and for moths, especially the Golden Eggar, Willowherb Hawk and Reddish Buff. The Trust is now hoping to develop a Conservation Centre to provide accommodation for researchers and visitors alike. The tour will take place from 31 July - 7 August, spending the first half of the week in the Julian Alps and the rest in the limestone karst area around Mt. Nanos near the coast. A very good range of Alpine species including Apollos, many different Fritillaries and Erebias, including very local species like Lorkovic's Brassy Ringlet, Styrian & Stygian Ringlet, will be targeted. The tour will be led by Mike Williams, Vice Chair of the EIG, and run in conjunction with Greeneye Ecotours ( http://www.greeneye.org.uk ) who have offered to organise the tour on a non-profit basis. Further details are available from Mike on 01299 824860 or mike@stagborough.fsnet.co.uk” - contributed by P Davey.

Painted Lady count - Butterfly Conservation’s UK-wide count of Painted Lady’s - 30^th May 2009

In the UK millions of Painted Lady butterflies have arrived in recent days and more are likely to arrive with sunny weather and favourable winds forecast over the coming weekend.

There is a unique opportunity to get better information on the nature and scale of this spectacular and unprecedented migration by taking part in a UK-wide count. Butterfly Conservation are inviting interested recorders to carry out a two hour sample count from 11:00 -13:00 (UK time) on Saturday 30th May. This will enable objective comparison with all other sites recorded in the same way.

The data can be entered online at Butterfly Conservation’s website. http://www.butterfly-conservation.org/sightings/1097/painted_lady_butterfly.html

Simply record the total number that you see flying through your set search area over the full two hours of observation (including the 10% or more that are likely to stop briefly to feed before carrying on migrating). Your search area will either be your garden or over a 20 wide strip of countryside (10m either side of where you stand stationary for the two hours). Pick somewhere with a good view and do not record beyond 20m.

If you do not see any add a zero count - negative records are equally important.

In the notes box of the sightings form – add in this information, with a new line for each (1) confirm that you carried out a full sample count by adding in the time “11:00-13:00”. (2) add ‘OK’ to confirm that the weather was suitable for butterfly flight (3) add your count area – either as ‘My garden” or “20m wide strip” for all other counts in suitable open terrain and (4) add the direction of migration eg “NW” for flying north-west.

Please continue to enter all other counts separately on the same website, including any counts made from 11:00-13:00 if the weather was not suitable for butterfly migration (cold, very windy) and counts made over different time periods and recording bands.

A small number of sites are needed for more intensive recording. If you are interested in taking part over a longer time period (6 hours or more) please email info@butterfly-conservation.org with the subject header Painted Lady Count.

Painted Lady invasion - there is no doubt that there is a remarkable movement of Painted Lady butterflies at the moment, with numerous counts on a broad front across Dorset and beyond. Observations made on the 25^th note that the direction headed is from between south and south-east to north and north-west and continues unabated from previous day, although numbers were fewer. From counts made between 1400 and 1500 at Shapwick, extrapolated at similar density over the county, suggest almost 2 million butterflies at any given time in the county on the day. Occasional singles only on migration still headed north-west to north after 6pm. Many basking on ground, and later seeking out roost sites or sparring with others energetically. Seems that the insects will roost overnight now that they are over land, and resume their flight when and if the sun is available to recharge their batteries tomorrow morning.

Behaviour today interesting. A very small percentage, maybe half a dozen per hour, were distracted by nectar sources in the garden including lavatera, rubus, geranium, etc., for five or ten minutes, then taking off again heading in the same direction as before. The house seemed to prove an obstacle causing momentary hesitation before flying vertically upwards and staright over the roof, whereas a few metres left or right would have been a far more efficient option. Usual behaviour was evident even though the insects were on migration, namely, sparring with others and challenging other butterfly species too for example Holly Blues, and even a bird on one occasion. Immigration flow was irregular, with groups of four or five, and then none for a time, although many singletons too.

Very similar weather set-up to that of June 5-7 1996. In that year, the wind veered to south-west after the main influx before becoming anticyclonic subsequently. This year they forecast west then north-westerly winds before becoming anticyclonic. So Friday onwards could be the start of a warm sunny spell, and so ideal for egg-laying; doubtless the remnants from this influx will still very much be in evidence over the coming week or so (Peter Davey).

The latest issue of E-moth, click here - the electronic only update on the Moths Count project and National Moth Recording Scheme (NMRS). It includes the Moths Count training events for 2009 which have been confirmed to date and news about the continued growth of the NMRS database among other things. You will need Adobe Reader to open the document (this can be downloaded for free from www.adobe.com/uk/ ).

Revised and updated guide for Crambinae - the grass moths - this is a pilot version and copyright is held by Berkshire Moth Group, so the usual restrictions about distributing printed copies apply. This excellent guide has kindly been made available by Nick Asher, and any comments can be emailed to the address included at the end of the guide. Click here.

New - British Moths and Butterflies - A photographic guide - by Chris Manley, DMG member. At last this long-awaited book has been published by A & C Black. In 352 pages it illustrates 1420 species, over 850 macros, 500 micros, 74 butterflies, 315 caterpillars by around 50 photographers; all 2250 photos of live insects. Alan Titchmarsh has kindly written a foreword describing the book as 'Sensational'! Priced at £24.99.

Following Chris's previous book, the Moths of Trigon, this new book has been eagerly anticipated, and I have not been disappointed. Most of the photos are excellent: clear, good colour definition, and being live insects, are shown in natural poses. The text is concise, giving B & F number, name and latin name, size, status, flight time and broad distribution and habitat, and any simple diagnostic feature, followed by foodplant, and finally with the photographers initials. For example, the entry for 1676 Mocha Cyclophona annularia reads "24mm Nb. May-Jun, Jul-Aug. Very local in southern England in mature maple woods. Unmistakeable moth with yellow and chocolate markings. FP Field Maple PGC". The selection of macros covered is fairly arbitrary, with photos of some species which have been recorded only once or twice i.e. Lorimer's Rustic, but there is no photo of the regular form of Map-winged Swift. The book itself, a paperback, is well produced, and easy to use, with a full index, and a list of larval foodplants.

It is particularly pleasing to see a collection of photographs of the more common micros, and I am sure this will be an invaluable aid to those of us who have trouble remembering the latin names of some of these species. In some ways although fulfilling much of what it set out to do, it could have gone one step further; there are plenty of books with photos of butterflies, and the small number of caterpillar and egg photos are of limited use, but to have had rather more micro photos would have been great - an opportunity missed.

I for one will have two copies, one for my bookshelf, and one for a quick reference guide for those micros, and would thoroughly recommend this as a very useful addition to your library. Terry Box.

Latest eMoth Newsletter for 2008, including details on the English Moth Recorders' conference in Birmingham on 31st January 2009. Click here.

Books for Lepidopterists - Good news for those of you who enjoy books on moths and butterflies (although not such good news for the wallet), is that there are a number of exciting books due to be published over the next few months. This includes Chris Manley's book reviewed above. Apollo Books (who now have taken over Harley Books) have a number of interesting publications due, including the long-awaited next volume from the Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland series. Books to look out for include:

The Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland: Vol. 5: Tortricidae. Publication 2009. Approx. 500 pages and 40 colour plates. In two parts. Hardback. ISBN 87-88757-86-2. Price per part approx GBP 60.00 / € 95.00 / US$ 132.00 / DKK 660.00

Schintlmeister: A.: Palaearctic Macrolepidoptera. Vol. 1: : Notodontidae. Publication late 2008. 30 x 22.5 cm. Hardback. Approx. 400 pages incl. 48 high quality colour plates depicting a large number of specimens. Approx. 1800 black and white figures (maps and genitalia). ISBN 87-88757-77-3. EUR 140.00 / US$ 196.00 / DKK 980.00.

Redondo, V. M. et al.: Geometridae Ibericae. Publication late 2008. 29 x 21 cm. Approx. 350 pages incl. 22 colour plates. Genitalia drawings. Text fully bilingual Spanish/English. Hardback. ISBN 87-88757-69-2. Price approx EUR 130.00 / USD 180.00 / DKK 900.00.

Skinner B.: Colour Identification Guide to Moths of the British Isles. 3rd revised edition. Publication late 2008. 25 x 20 cms. Approx. 320 pages incl. 50 colour plates. 57 text figures. Hardback. ISBN 978-87-88757-90-3. Price approx GBP 48.00 / € 69.00 / US$ 99.00 / DKK 480.00.

Huemer, P. & O. Karsholt: Microlepidoptera of Europe. Vol. 6: Gelechiidae II. Publication mid 2009. 25 x 17 cm. Hardback. Approx. 520 pages. About 500 specimens will be illustrated on 20 colour plates. Not less than about 240 species will be covered in this volume. ISBN 978-87-88757-87-3. Price approx EUR 126.00 / US$ 196.00 / DKK 880. 00

National Moth Recording Scheme - latest Emoth April update newsletter now available here.

Moths Count is a partnership project led by Butterfly Conservation. The main aims of the project are to raise the awareness of moths, stimulate and encourage involvement, particularly in recording moths and to set up the National Moth Recording Scheme to gather the information necessary to understand and reverse the decline of moths. We think that is very important for people to be able to find out about moths and moth recording in their area and to get involved with their local group. The Moths Count website can be reached on (www.mothscount.org).

	Dorset Moths