Dorset Moths Internet Discussion group, now up
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News and Views for important
information.
Moths of Dorset
- provisional distribution maps for the larger moths, see
here. Dorset moth status -
minor update with information on species requiring verification, see
here.
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.
