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Latest sightings -  last updated on 04 February at 16:29       


Please contact me with any records of interesting resident species, or migrant moths, including photographs, for publication on the website.  For any records received, permission for publication is assumed.  The sightings are listed roughly from south to north in the county, invariably Portland / Weymouth area is first, followed by Durlston.  The dates below are when overnight traps were set, rather than checked, while daytime records are on the date seen.  I am indebted to local and visiting lepidopterists for supplying their records, and to Martin Cade at Portland Bird Observatory in particular, and other local and national websites.  Please note that all observations and comments published on the Dorset Moths Latest Sightings webpage or any other external website, especially with respect to notable and important Dorset moth records, are unconfirmed and remain so until the record is forwarded to and ratified by the appropriate county moth recorder.  See Submit records.


2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

 

For any moth records of interest including photographs, articles, details of events for the website,

please send to me at grampybustard[at]googlemail.com - replace [at] with @.

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4th February 2012

By day in a snowy Tolpuddle Manor, a Depressaria pastinacella brought in from the woodshed and woken out of its hibernation (J Francis).

 

1st February 2012

By day at Chickerell, a Hummingbird Hawk-moth in the garden (C Pinder).

 

29th January 2012

At East Lulworth, an Acleris ferrugana/notana and a Chestnut in the trap, and three Spring Usher and a Winter Moth on the wall by the trap (L Hill).

 

28th January 2012

A Hebrew Character in very chilly conditions at Broadwey (P Harris).

 

27th January 2012

A cool two degrees at Tincleton, and two Spring Usher came to light (R Cottle).

 

25th January 2012

At East Lulworth, a Tortricodes alternella, Acleris ferrugana/notana, two Winter Moth, two Pale Brindled Beauty, a first of the year Dotted Border, three each of Mottled Umber and Chestnut (L Hill).

 

24th January 2012

A Double-striped Pug and Chestnut at Broadwey (P Harris).  At East Lulworth, two Ypsolopha ustella, two Acleris ferrugana/notana, four Winter Moth, a Double-striped Pug, four Spring Usher, three Mottled Umber and nine Chestnut (L Hill).  At Tincleton, a mild and still night led to an exceptional January catch, the most diverse recorded there, in fact the species total of 18 is what might be expected towards mid-end March: singles of Ypsolopha ustella, Agonopterix heracliana, Scrobipalpa costella, Tortricodes alternella, six Acleris ferrugana/notana, a Rusty dot-pearl, Ambyptilia acanthadactyla, nine Winter Moth, a Double-striped Pug, Pale Brindled Beauty, three Spring Usher, a Dotted Border, Mottled Umber, Small Quaker, two Common Quaker, five Hebrew Character, six Chestnut and a Dark Chestnut (R Cottle).  At Beaminster, an Ypsolopha ustella and a Hebrew Character (M Raper).   

 

23rd January 2012

In the rain at East Lulworth, Winter Moth, Spring Usher and Chestnut (L Hill).  At Tolpuddle Manor, singles of Common Quaker and an early Small Quaker (J Francis).

 

22nd January 2012

At Tincleton, it would seem that now a few orthosids have emerged early that they are sticking around: single Acleris ferrugana/notana, two Common Quaker, singles of Hebrew Character and Chestnut (R Cottle).

 

21st January 2012

An early Pale Pinion at Chickerell (C Pinder).

 

20th January 2012

Breezy but a mild 10° at Tincleton, produced eight moths of four species: two Winter Moth, a Spring Usher, three Common Quaker and two Hebrew Character (R Cottle).

 

19th January 2012

At Shaggs, a Winter Moth and a Dark Chestnut (L Hill).  A Hebrew Character at Tolpuddle Manor (J Francis).

 

18th January 2012

By day, a Hummingbird Hawk-moth found in a building behind Sunseeker yachts on Portland (P Seagrave per P Harris).

A Silver Y at Preston (R Lambert per P Harris).  At East Lulworth, eight Winter Moth, a Spring Usher, six Mottled Umber, a Common Quaker and a Chestnut (L Hill).  The first mild night for a while at Tincleton: a single Agonopterix heracliana, Acleris notana/ferrugana, 15 Winter Moth, single Red-green Carpet, three Hebrew Character and four Chestnut (R Cottle).  At Beaminster, Light Brown Apple Moth and a Double-striped Pug (M Raper).

 

Spring Usher, East Lulworth, 18 Jan 2012 © L Hill

 

Double-striped Pug, Beaminster, 18 Jan 2012 © M Raper

 

17th January 2012

At East Lulworth, a Double-striped Pug (see discussion, below photograph), five Winter Moth, 13 Mottled Umber and a Common Quaker (L Hill).  Just the one Mottled Umber at Shaggs (L Hill).

 

 

Double-striped Pug, East Lulworth, 17 Jan 2012 © L Hill

 

"The pug taken by myself on 17th January, because of its resting posture and without looking at it properly I thought was a Brindled Pug, which considering the current tendency of some species to emerge outside their documented flight periods is reasonable. However, on looking at the markings it clearly wasn't Brindled Pug. Oak-tree Pug was also considered for elimination and quickly so as this would be far too early, which just leaves Double-striped Pug. The markings, if not the resting posture in this instance, are clearly Double-striped Pug and a search for images on the internet found several in this posture for comparison.  Indeed, as is the posture of the moth in Martin's photo on 18th.  So, nothing unusual in this instance, Double-striped Pug is recorded during mild weather in January; however, it is always best to stand back and take a 2nd look at these things, especially with pugs!  This particular specimen resembled the size of the larger Brindled Pug, hence the initial confusion.  Thanks to all who joined in with the fun!" (L Hill).

 

16th January 2012

By day, a Mottled Umber on the garden wall at Burton, a first for the garden (I Southworth).

Overnight, braving below zero temperatures, a Grey Shoulder-knot and a Chestnut at East Lulworth (L Hill).

 

13th January 2012

At East Lulworth, a Mottled Grey, four Winter Moth, three Mottled Umber and a Chestnut (L Hill).

 

Mottled Grey, East Lulworth, 13 Jan 2012 © L Hill

12th January 2012

A cooler night than of late, down to 2 degrees at Broadwey, and just a single Agonopterix heracliana to report there (P Harris).  At East Lulworth, a Rusty-dot Pearl, December Moth, seven Winter Moth, two Pale Brindled Beauty, eight Mottled Umber and two Chestnut (L Hill).

 

11th January 2012

A Dark Chestnut at Preston (R Lambert per P Harris).  More of the same at East Lulworth, with three December Moth, six Winter Moth, seven Mottled Umber and a Chestnut (L Hill).

 

10th January 2012

A Winter Moth at Broadwey (P Harris).  At East Lulworth, Acleris hastiana, five Winter Moth, four Mottled Umber, two Chestnut and Dark Chestnut (L Hill).  Nearby at Shaggs, Acleris hastiana, Rusty-dot Pearl, three December Moth, three Winter Moth, two Mottled Umber, three Chestnut and Dark Chestnut (L Hill).

 

9th January 2012

A similar catch to yesterday at Portland, with the addition of a Dark Chestnut (per PBO website).  At Broadwey, a Common Quaker (P Harris).  An Emmelina monodactyla and December Moth at Preston (R Lambert per P Harris).  At East Lulworth, an Acleris hastiana, two December Moth, four Winter Moth, two Pale Brindled Beauty, two Mottled Umber and five Chestnut (L Hill).  Nearby at Shaggs, two December Moth, three Winter Moth and two Chestnut (L Hill).

 

8th January 2012

At Portland, Scrobipalpa costella, Light Brown Apple Moth, a Rusty-dot Pearl - the first immigrant of the year, Amblyptilia acanthadactyla, Mottled Grey and a rather early Early Thorn (per PBO website).  Two Light Brown Apple Moth and a Pearly Underwing at Chickerell (C Pinder).  Two December Moth at Broadwey (P Harris).  At East Lulworth, singles of Ypsolopha ustella, Acleris hastiana, December Moth, Red-green Carpet, seven Winter Moth, nine Mottled Umber, a Satellite and six Chestnut (L Hill).  At Tincleton, a single Acleris umbrana (conf. by P Sterling - 5th recent Dorset record and what would appear to be the first away from West Bexington), three December Moth, six Winter Moth, and singles of Mottled Umber, Hebrew Character, Chestnut and another late Yellow-line Quaker (R Cottle).

 

Acleris umbrana, Tincleton, 8 Jan 2012 © R Cottle

7th January 2012

A December Moth and two Winter Moth at Durlston, Swanage (P England).  At East Lulworth, three Winter Moth, three Mottled Umber, a Hebrew Character and an unseasonal Yellow-line Quaker, a migrant or partial second-brood? (L Hill).  A cold night at Puncknowle, produced a single Angle Shades outside an otherwise empty trap; it had slightly atypical wing markings, possibly due to scales being rubbed off (M Hetherington).

 

December Moth, Durlston, 7 Jan 2012 © P England

 

Winter Moth, Durlston, 7 Jan 2012 © P England

 

Winter Moth, Durlston, 7 Jan 2012 © P England

 

Angle Shades, Puncknowle, 7 Jan 2012 © M Hetherington

 

Yellow-lined Quaker and Hebrew Character, not often seen together, East Lulworth, 7 Jan 2012 © L Hill

6th January 2012

A Dark Chestnut trapped at Chickerell (C Pinder).  Another handful of moths to note at East Lulworth: three December Moth, a Pale Brindled Beauty, three Mottled Umber and a Satellite (L Hill).  Nearby at Shaggs, three December Moth (L Hill).  A mild night at Tincleton with lowest temperature of 7.5 deg, brought out a mix of winter specialists, hibernators out for a break and some very early spring arrivals: two Acleris notana/ferrugana, five Winter Moth, single Pale Brindled Beauty, three Hebrew Character and singles of Common Quaker, Chestnut and Dark Chestnut (R Cottle).  Three December Moth at Beaminster (M Raper).  Singles of Light Brown Apple Moth, Winter Moth and Hebrew Character at Plumber (W Franklin).

 

Hebrew Characters and a Common Quaker, Tincleton, 6 Jan 2012 © R Cottle

5th January 2012

At Shaggs, an Acleris hastiana, two Mottled Umber, a Winter Moth and two Chestnut (L Hill).  Nearby, a single Acleris hastiana graced the Butterfly Conservation moth trap at Shaggs (L Hill).

 

3rd January 2012

The porchlight at East Lulworth continues to attract with a Winter Moth (L Hill).

 

2nd January 2012

A Chestnut attracted to a porchlight at East Lulworth (L Hill).

 

1st January 2012

The Dark Arches from late 2011 at Broadwey seems to have taken up residence, and becomes the latest Dorset record; there is a documented record for Puddletown on 14 December 2003 (P Harris).

Dark Arches, Broadwey, 1 Jan 2012 © P Harris

 

 

Please note all 2011 records now archived  -  follow archive tab at the top of the page.

 

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This page was last updated 04-Feb-2012