BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION
LANCASHIRE BRANCH
DEDICATED TO SAVING WILD BUTTERFLIES, MOTHS AND THEIR HABITATS
Lancashire, Manchester and Merseyside Butterfly and Moth Recording Report
2019
Laura Sivell Pete Marsh Butterfly Conservation Registered in England 2206468 John Girdley Registered Charity 254937 Butterfly Conservation President Sir David Attenborough Registerd Office Manor Yard, East Lulworth, Wareham, Dorset BH20 5QP President Sir David Attenborough Richard Walker Head Office Manor Yard, East Lulworth, Head Office Manor Yard, East Lulworth, Wareham, Dorset BH205QP Registered in England 2206468 Tel 0870 7744309 Fax 0870 7706150 Registered Charity No 254397 Wareham, Dorset BH20 5QP 01929 400209 Email: [email protected] Stephen Palmer
Butterfly Recording Laura Sivell County Butterfly Recorder Please continue to send your butterfly records (remember, every little helps)to: Lancashire and Merseyside Laura Sivell, email [email protected]. Or by post to 22 Beaumont Place, Lancaster LA1 2EY. Phone 01524 69248. Please note that for records to be included in the annual report, the deadline is the end of February. Late records will still be used for the database, but once the report is written, I’m not going to update or rewrite on the basis of late records. The report is also going to have to be written earlier in the year, in February, as I’m full on with work in March/April and I just can’t do it! Greater Manchester These records should only go to Peter Hardy, 28 Hyde Grove, Sale, M33 7TE, email [email protected] - not to Laura Sivell. Some people have been sending their records to both, leading to a fair amount of wasted time in sorting out the duplicate records. Likewise Lancashire and Merseyside records should only go to Laura. Record Validation A few records that seem improbably out of area or outside the normal flight time have been omitted, or included but with a proviso. Of the Big Butterfly Count records, each record has been checked against a map and those records which were judged improbable - mainly of Common Blue in urban areas - were excluded along with the Marbled Whites. Inexperienced recorders can easily mistake a common from a Holly Blue which would be the likelier species in urban gardens. The New Recorded Squares Table The table now shows the percentage of the total number of squares recorded that showed each species. It should give more accurate trends for the more generalist and widespread species. It will show less change in the rarer species as all/most of these are covered by site transects on the specialised habitats in which they are found, which are going to be visited and counted no matter how many squares are recorded in total. Any change in the percentage of those is going to be partly down to total recording effort, and partly down to trends within the species. The 2019 Butterfly Season An early spring with some unusually warm days, and summer was not too bad but there were wet spells that resulted in flooding in some areas. In Lancashire, we got off quite lightly. Autumn had plenty of warm, dry days. The pattern was repeated in 2020, with a record-setting warm, dry spring leading to drought conditions for some spring species , a rather wet June and July, and August quite unsettled. Nationally, the sunshine was lower than average in June July and August (according to Radio 4). Included in this report are some line charts showing the population trends, with some comments, which relate to Morecambe Bay in general, including some sites in south Cumbria covering years up to 2019. The text that came with the graphs is included in italics. Introduction to a really strange report
This report covers butterflies in 2019 and some highlights of the 2020 season. We were hoping more records would have been submitted early, but little has been forthcoming other than the records from the website, and schemes such as the Big Butterfly Count, iRecord, The Wider Countryside Recording Scheme which are run by head office are normally sent to local recorders late in the year or early the following year; with staff on furlough (some jobs at head office have also been lost) I’m not expecting them any time soon. Late fliers can’t be included but updates will be given about autumn sightings in the newsletter. Because of Covid 19 and the lockdown, transect records won’t cover all species and vulnerable early fliers such as the Pearl-bordered Fritillary will be lacking in monitoring . If anyone who normally walks a transect happened to stumble along a transect route during lockdown for their daily exercise, records can be inputted and will be accepted. The same goes for any casual records that people may be worried about submitting.
Moth reports for 2019 are in this document, but as moths are less seasonal than butterflies, 2020 reporting will not be covered here but will be accessible through the Lancashire Moth Group website in due course.
Hot news at the time of writing is the result of the 2020 Big Butterfly Count: The results of the Big Butterfly Count have been revealed, and fewer butterflies than ever were recorded in each count this year. This was despite a record number of counts being submitted overall (145,249). It means that 2020 saw the lowest average number of butterflies logged per count since the event began 11 years ago, and a -34% reduction when compared to 2019. Cover Photo John Gibson
2
Recorded 2 km squares - as a percentage of the total number of squares in which recordings were made.
0
8
25
21
21
0.3
7.2
1.4
0.1
3.4
1.5
0.1
0.1
0.5
0.2
0.6
4.1
0.2
4.8
0.7
0.7
894
26.1
50.7
48.5
59.6
52.5
75.8
67.6
79.3
68.9
25.2
34.6
46.4
70.8
56.9
18.2
24.2
2019
0
3
1
38
57
33
0.4
8.6
2.2
0.1
4.8
1.2
0.2
0.8
0.2
0.6
7.7
0.2
0.2
859
17.5
42.8
58.7
0.02
44.8
44.7
30.8
54.3
30.3
24.9
13.2
22.4
49.4
81.4
70.7
12.2
13.6
14.7
2018
0
3
0
45
51
17
26
0.2
5.3
1.4
1.2
0.2
0.4
0.5
0.2
0.5
8.8
2.4
0.2
3.8
0.1
0.6
744
17.2
34.9
49.7
50.8
41.9
25.8
72.4
20.2
12.7
43.8
56.5
47.8
13.1
19.3
18.4
2017
0
15
51
0.2
9.7
2.5
0.1
5.3
2.4
0.5
0.8
1.1
0.2
0.4
1.4
7.7
3.2
0.2
3.5
1.4
698
44.4
32.3
54.5
34.6
43.1
54.5
30.5
45.2
16.6
18.6
11.4
30.3
39.3
47.4
15.4
18.7
19.6
2016
0
0
36
27
29
0.3
9.4
1.6
0.1
4.9
1.8
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.3
0.9
2.4
3.8
0.6
0.9
774
17.3
53.8
42.7
52.9
48.9
59.4
48.1
17.8
18.4
16.1
11.1
24.8
34.7
45.2
41.9
16.6
26.6
2015
0
3
0
2
24
0.3
1.6
0.2
8.3
1.5
0.5
0.3
0.7
0.2
0.8
8.9
4.4
1.2
794
11.8
13.6
49.8
37.1
57.5
33.2
67.5
62.9
14.6
55.1
15.3
21.4
29.8
48.4
54.1
44.7
16.7
26.8
28.4
2014
6
0
0
25
33
0.3
8.4
2.8
0.1
3.3
0.9
0.5
0.9
0.1
9.2
1.1
5.8
3.7
4.1
0.5
1.5
554
10.1
43.9
45.4
32.6
52.8
60.3
10.3
18.6
22.4
33.2
46.7
50.1
48.1
10.7
23.2
28.3
2013
4
7
2
0
5
0
9
0
27
17
19
0.4
9.3
3.8
0.2
1.5
1.1
1.1
0.4
1.5
4.7
3.6
3.8
2.2
476
40.6
28.1
45.5
54.5
63.4
25.4
18.8
16.8
32.5
44.8
36.8
34.3
22.7
2012
0
0
7
19
10
16
2.6
2.2
4.1
0.3
5.5
3.7
1.8
1.8
2.6
7.8
1.1
2.6
4.4
3.7
1.1
3.7
479
12.3
31.7
21.2
36.1
26.4
39.9
49.6
47.3
15.2
23.1
28.7
28.7
31.3
32.4
11.1
2011
2
0
0
11
32
25
0.5
1.9
0.1
8.7
2.2
1.5
0.5
1.1
0.3
1.1
4.7
4.3
5.3
8.2
0.3
1.4
524
42.1
26.1
51.9
51.3
53.4
11.6
35.1
15.2
21.9
29.7
45.2
40.6
36.2
20.2
16.4
2010
8
1
0
1
0
45
13
0.3
2.3
2.7
0.1
9.3
3.2
1.6
0.7
0.3
3.2
3.4
4.7
9.1
2.7
1.4
546
39.3
18.8
49.2
31.5
46.1
39.7
57.5
13.9
13.3
26.1
39.7
41.2
52.5
14.8
16.6
2009
2
0
0
6
0.4
7.8
2.9
2.4
0.2
7.8
1.7
1.3
1.7
5.8
0.4
1.5
1.7
3.5
0.2
1.7
447
40.9
23.9
56.5
29.7
42.4
35.5
36.4
30.4
14.3
12.5
28.8
36.4
40.4
49.6
10.7
13.8
15.4
2008
0
0
46
0.6
7.9
1.6
2.6
0.1
8.8
1.6
1.3
0.6
1.6
0.3
1.1
1.9
2.3
4.9
0.6
1.3
601
33.4
19.6
48.2
26.2
48.7
21.4
29.7
19.9
15.6
14.6
30.9
29.6
32.4
34.9
11.9
16.4
14.1
2007
0
0
43
20
32
20
12
0.3
9.7
0.4
2.4
0.1
2.9
1.6
0.8
1.1
0.3
1.3
3.5
4.8
7.8
0.9
615
17.7
49.5
47.6
47.4
37.7
50.2
22.4
22.1
29.9
32.3
37.3
35.7
12.5
20.1
20.6
2006
0
0
33
12
16
0.1
9.3
0.5
2.4
0.3
2.2
1.5
0.9
1.1
9.7
0.3
1.3
1.1
2.4
6.6
2.8
1.3
523
43.4
19.6
21.9
47.2
20.6
50.6
49.1
35.7
15.4
19.8
17.7
27.9
33.4
43.9
16.6
2005
1
0
1
0
41
0.8
0.3
3.3
0.2
2.9
1.3
1.2
0.5
1.3
2.6
5.4
0.5
1.2
573
11.1
42.4
24.2
21.2
45.5
27.3
47.4
50.4
31.2
29.8
22.1
21.6
23.9
35.9
43.6
31.7
10.9
17.2
17.9
2004
0
0
3
14
42
61
44
16
0.5
9.1
0.1
1.7
0.1
1.4
0.8
0.5
0.6
0.2
0.8
1.2
2.1
8.3
1.2
1.2
675
39.9
18.3
29.8
43.5
41.2
12.8
19.6
24.3
39.4
39.2
41.7
15.1
18.5
2003
1
1
0
1
2
0
1
19
0.3
2.8
0.1
1.1
1.1
0.6
0.3
0.5
6.4
0.8
563
10.7
41.9
22.8
18.3
43.6
30.3
56.2
61.8
28.6
34.2
18.2
12.6
35.2
36.1
37.8
46.8
11.2
17.5
20.2
2002
0
1
0
1
0
8.1
0.4
4.9
0.4
0.6
1.2
0.6
0.2
0.6
3.3
2.7
0.4
1.5
481
48.4
22.8
21.8
41.9
34.9
54.6
56.7
14.7
46.3
16.8
16.4
12.6
32.4
42.6
39.5
50.1
10.3
16.6
22.6
2001
0
0
1
0
46
41
0.5
8.6
2.3
0.1
1.4
0.8
0.8
0.8
0.4
0.7
1.7
4.4
1.4
556
47.1
21.7
29.3
38.3
33.4
44.4
34.7
43.7
16.5
18.7
17.8
31.6
39.9
44.9
11.1
19.7
20.3
2000
0
0
9
0
49
39
0.9
7.2
2.2
0.1
0.7
0.8
0.8
0.7
0.4
0.7
0.7
1.2
3.2
6.5
0.2
0.9
704
45.8
18.1
29.2
27.2
25.8
43.6
22.7
17.1
16.1
35.3
44.6
45.5
48.8
17.6
19.3
1999
0
0
0
6
36
31
0.1
6.5
2.8
0.1
0.7
1.4
0.9
1.5
0.6
1.1
0.1
1.7
4.6
8.9
0.6
629
11.9
30.6
21.6
19.2
51.5
54.5
10.8
26.8
14.3
17.8
35.1
39.4
41.8
47.8
15.4
15.2
1998
0
0
0
21
69
38
1.1
3.3
0.1
0.9
1.4
1.3
0.9
9.4
0.4
9.2
1.3
0.6
2.4
3.6
7.9
0.1
0.6
555
11.4
38.4
13.2
25.8
13.2
47.8
27.8
17.2
28.3
31.9
43.5
40.7
17.7
14.9
1997
0
0
0
1 0
5
45
44
2.1
0.1
0.9
1.3
0.7
0.9
0.3
6.5
0.3
0.7
3.9
2.4
0.9
604
12.1
44.7
17.4
29.4
10.3
21.3
44.7
60.5
63.8
41.7
23.3
33.6
35.9
39.7
22.4
19.8
1996
0
1
0
0
51
0.3
2.3
0.1
0.9
0.9
0.9
0.3
3.9
0.9
0.2
0.9
3.7
3.1
0.6
768
11.7
53.3
13.6
26.6
13.2
21.4
34.6
64.7
22.6
51.4
20.8
28.5
34.5
41.6
58.3
34.7
19.7
1995
Total
Large Heath Large
SmallHeath
Ringlet
Meadow Brown Meadow
Gatekeeper
Grayling
Scotch Argus Scotch
Wall
SpeckledWood
Dark Green FritillaryGreen Dark
High Brown Fritillary Brown High
Pearl-borderedFritillary
SmallPearl-bordered Frit
Comma
Peacock
SmallTortoiseshell
CamberwellBeauty
PaintedLady
RedAdmiral
DukeofBurgundy
HollyBlue
Common blueCommon
Northern Brown Argus Northern Brown
SmallCopper
White-letterHairstreak
PurpleHairstreak
Brown Hairstreak Brown
Green Hairstreak Green
Orange Tip Orange
Green-veinedWhite
SmallWhite
Large White Large
Brimstone
CloudedYellow
DingySkipper
Large Skipper Large SmallSkipper
3 All records 2019
4 High Counts table
Highest counts 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 Small Skipper 155 100 41 12 60 54 200 97 150 500 218 220 65 78 140 100 Large Skipper 20 40 50 20 28 33 70 57 25 190 85 80 46 33 25 40 Dingy Skipper 15 11 6 8 10 34 29 29 22 34 35 22 20 18 26 23 Clouded Yellow 1 4 12 2 1 3 3 1 1 6 1 0 1 1 1 Brimstone 12 19 29 31 30 16 36 16 5 21 22 21 27 16 19 30 Large White 50 130 303 50 100 85 200 18 50 300 100 15 60 40 80 130 Small White 50 23 50 280 30 120 32 150 52 130 100 42 50 40 500 122 Green-veined White 50 70 45 30 254 155 100 119 100 229 113 60 60 90 520 36 Orange Tip 23 20 20 20 12 14 20 20 55 22 100+ 20 20 25 40 43 Green Hairstreak 48 70 130 66 100+ 38 92 463 55 12 68 25 34 46 91 150 Brown Hairstreak 1 2 6 2 3 Purple Hairstreak 24 25 50 7 57 67 49 42 11 16 59 20 20 5 103 120 White-letter Hairstreak 1 10 9 5 3 4 10 3 3 16 10 7 7 6 24 7 Small Copper 41 22 23 16 23 24 42 18 150 45 84 56 17 15 322 20 Northern Brown Argus 8 22 32 7 17 49 47 103 24 34 26 16 24 21 16 59 Common Blue 97 150 216 113 88 281 182 250 293 200 268 164 86 86 216 103 Holly Blue 19 6 8 8 8 30 14 5 4 7 14 6 6 10 11 9 Duke of Burgundy 8 4 7 9 5 6 12 15 4 12 7 6 5 4 3 6 Red Admiral 37 75 86 16 46 81 25 50 15 28 100 95 240 359 63 86 Painted Lady 28 3 83 20 1 1000+ 7 20 5 6 20 9 25 10 38 349 Small Tortoiseshell 105 66 1700 31 24 39 287 120 60 280 100 162 152 30 62 160 Camberwell Beauty 1 Peacock 71 58 144 75 49 76 104 71 72 500 50 33 200 50 88 300 Comma 13 7 40 20 6 15 10 14 8 11 15 19 9 16 34 22 Small Pearl-bordered 10 10 11 9 15 24 29 34 33 49 50 13 26 65 40 26 Pearl-bordered Fritillary 40 34 28 34 22 12 25 38 22 13 20 12 14 16 10 14 High Brown Fritillary 38 35 80 10 119 67 52 16 17 6 3 9 2 0 2 Dark Green Fritillary 20 134 14 83 50 88 70 54 293 10 46 36 18 30 30 56 Speckled Wood 67 233 104 72 47 108 65 66 90 50 115 68 67 46 45 106 Wall 60 34 25 5 16 20 11 5 7 17 47 25 23 26 40 15 Scotch Argus 161 304 188 66 134 199 158 221 38 61 54 0 9 Grayling 14 37 81 12 84 108 105 206 98 200 28 26 200 10 27 20 Gatekeeper 136 100 400 62 79 100 205 137 900 300 225 227 166 153 227 162 Meadow Brown 181 194 500 100 295 433 143 425 300 600 474 381 112 289 238 500 Ringlet 1 1 1 25 12 100 50 250 100 248 348 219 190 195 336 390 Small Heath 54 50 37 30 37 59 70 150 75 67 120 80 60 29 100 50 Large Heath 63 28 143 9 5 48 53 20 33 21 18 19 59 97 20 48
5 Small Skipper 2019 First 6th June K Armstrong, Warton Crag Last 27th Aug S Smith, Besom Hill Highest 100+ S Hollingrake, Cibden on 27/8 A Bissett, Ludworth quarry, 29/7
2019 had the best ever transect counts at Jack Scout, Myers Allotment 1, Warton Crag RSPB, Brockholes 1 and 2. The percentage of recorded squares was the highest since 2015.
All Sections
17 Small Skipper 16 None 15 14 13 Jack Scout 12 11 10 9 8 7
Total Number Counted Number Total 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 Year
Dingy Skipper
2019 First 19th April J Swindlehurst, Warton Crag Last 29th June L Renshaw, Carnforth iron works Highest 23 S Graham, Warton Crag on 15th May 2020 (provisional) First 20th May J Sutton, Gait Barrows N Turner, Warton Crag S Hollingrake, Warton Crag Last 25th June B Ingleby, K Armstrong at Myers Allotment Highest 5 S Ryder, Warton Crag Myers Allotment had a good average in 2019, and Yealand Hall Allotments equalled their previous best index.
Most likely, the 2020 flight period was largely missed.
Large Skipper
2019 First 18th May D Balding, Trowbarrow Last 24th Aug C Lumsdae, Old Langho Highest 40 P Knowles, Naden Valley 4th July 40 S Dent, Moses Gate, 29th July There was a good increase at Myers Allotment making 2019 their second-best transect count and a more modest increase at Warton Crag RSPB. Brockholes had a better year on routes 1 and 2
6 Large White
2019 First 22nd Feb K Haydock & J Mills, Heath Charnock Last 21st Oct P Harris, Lytham Highest 130 K Porter, Knott End to Pilling on 1st Aug Most transects had a poor year in 2019, and although the high count in 2019 was higher than the previous year, the percentage of recorded squares fell. Still, common and widespread, doing OK. Clouded Yellow
2019 First 14th May P Daunter, Warton Crag Not at all sure about this—rather early and could have been a misi- dentified Brimstone? 8th July P Kinsella, Hightown Last 19th Sept B Dyson, Lathwaite Only singletons recorded, a total of 7 sightings in 2019 and none have yet come in for 2020.
Brimstone
2019 First 23rd Jan M Sneyd, Sale Last 17th Nov L Renshaw, Pine Lake Highest 30 S Hollingrake, Warton Crag on 14th May 2019 was a good year, with the highest ever percentage of recorded squares and the best high count since 2010. 2020 looks quite good for the early flight period, despite it largely occurring during lockdown. 2019 transect results show good increase at Gait Barrows, best ever at Myers Allotment but a slight decline at Warton Crag. Yealand Hall Allotments had a better year after a few poorer ones. 2020 seems to have been a good year, though not enough transect results have come in to say for sure. Small White
2019 First 25th March I Hillier, Chorltonchester Last 16th Oct B Dyson, Lathwaite L Sivell, Lancaster A Bond, Leigh D Coupe, Didsbury Highest 122 A Bromley, Chorley on 6th Aug
A generally poor year across the transects in 2019, although the good numbers seen in gardens in the later part of the year will have been missed as they occurred after transect walking was finished for the year. Both recorded squares and high count fell however. Late summer and early autumn sightings in 2020 are looking promising.
7 Orange Tip
2019 First 28th March J Watt, Scutchers Acres Fishwick Volunteers, Fishwick Lake K McCabe, Flixton area(3) Last 11th July P Knowles Stoney Hill Highest 43 A Brown, Crawford’s Wood, 30th April This butterfly did well in 2019. Jack Scout transect had their 2nd best year since 1994 and Ainsdale (best ever by double) on the post 2013 route. Myers Allotment doubled their previous high count, too. Gait Barrows BMS and Warton Crag RSPB also had good increase over the last several average years and Yealand Hall Allotments beat their previous best index. Brockholes 1 and 2 both had the best index to date
Green-veined White
2019 First 29th March K McCabe, Flixton Clay Pits Last 23rd Sept S Martin, Belmont Highest 36 N Richie, Drinkwater Park, 3rd Aug On the 2019 transects, Warton Crag RSPB had a pleasing increase after several poor years and Yealand Hall Allotments continued their increasing trend over the last few years. Brockholes had a good year with a new high index on route 1 but a slight decline on route 2.
Green Hairstreak
2019 First 25th March L Renshaw, Birkbank Last 3rd July J Ormerod, Burnt Edge Highest 150 S Hollingrake, Holcome Moor on 5th May Very few transect records came in, not enough to base any assessment on though there’s no arguing with such a positive high count, the best ever in the high counts table. There were other good counts (all 40+) at Blaze Moss, Birkbank, Winfold Fell, Fair Snape Fell, Knowl Moor and Upper Birchen Holts. One can’t help noticing that there are far fewer dots on the map in the Arnside and Silverdale OANB than was the case around 20 years ago.
8 White-letter Hairstreak Brown Hairstreak
2019 2019 First 20th Aug S Graham, Gait Barrows First 3rd July J Beattie, Brockholes Last 27th Aug D Allan, Gait Barrows Last 8th Aug D Wrigley, Yealand Hall Allots Highest 3 S Graham 27th Aug Highest 7 T Dunbar, Rossendale on 23rd S Hollingrake 25th Aug July A Tremethick, 20th Aug. Unusually, 7 in total were recorded on the Ainsdale transect and Yealand Hall Allotments had an index of 8, a good Still there at Gait Barrows and Coldwell, and doing OK. There average for this site. However there was a marked drop in were several sightings in 2020 as well. the proportion of recorded squares.
Purple Hairstreak
2019 First 2nd July P Kinsella, Ainsdale Last 1st Sept J Sharp, Myers Allotment Highest 120 S Hollingrake, Lumb Wood on 21st July Not often recorded on transect, this butterfly equalled the previous high count at Ainsdale. Despite the massive high count, the vast majority of records were of low numbers other than counts of 12 up to 30 at sites around Belmont. Like other Hairstreaks, the proportion of recorded squares fell from the 2018 high to a more normal level.
9 Small Copper
2019 First 19th April P Kinsella, Hightown Last 20th Oct A Mayor, Lytham Highest 20 S Hartley, Reedsholme There were good numbers on the Jack Scout transect (2nd best year) and Ainsdale also had their 2nd-best count. Myers had their best ever count. Brockholes 1 had their best ever year, though there was a decline on route 2. Other sites that yielded good numbers in 2019 were the coast around Fluke Hall near Pilling, Greenbooth, Laneshaw and Anglezark
67% decline. Species far less abundant than formerly alt- hough last year was its best since 2004. Remarkable, consid- ering what the 2018 drought did to the rock-rose!
Common Blue
2019 First 19th April L Renshaw, freeman’s Pools Last 20th Sept P Hardy, Ardwick Highest 103 B Dyson, Pilling Lane Ends on 8th August Northern Brown Argus Transect counts fell from the 2018 high at Ainsdale, back to more usual (though very respectable) numbers. Myers 2019 Allotment had a strong increase to achieve their second-best First 3rd June N Godden, Warton Crag RSPB high count whilst at nearby Warton Crag RSPB there was an Last 3rd Aug P Moreton, Gait Barrows increase but as part of a declining long-term trend. Highest 59 N Godden, Warton Crag RSPB on Brockholes 1 had a very good year, tripling their previous 27th June best index though there was an equivalent decline on their In 2019, Myers Allotment had their best ever numbers on the second route. transect which has been running since 2002 and there was All Sections also a good jump in the count at Warton Crag RSPB. There Common Blue 120 None was a more modest increase at Yealand Hall Allotments 110 Warton Crag RSPB where the species in in low numbers compared to the 100 situation in the early 2000s. 90
All Sections 34 80 Northern Brow n Argus 32 None 30 70 28 26 Myers Allotment 60 24 22 50
Total Number Counted Number Total 20
18 40 16 14 30
Total Number Counted Number Total 12 10 20
8 6 10
4 2 0 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 0 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 Year Year
10 Duke of Burgundy
2019 First 4th May P Kinsella Last 24th May P Kinsella Highest 6 S Mitchell on 13th May
6 is a pretty poor high count compared to how things used to be. No 2020 records have been received as of time of writing. All records were from Gait Barrows, the only site we have left. There are plans afoot to introduce Duke of Burgundy to Myers Allotment, once the habitat is in suitable condition which will involve planting cowlsips over the next few years. The very dry spring of 2020 may have led to wilting and dessication of the primulas on which the larvae feed.
Holly Blue Duke of Burgundy rallied somewhat in 2019. Although we 2019 have yet to see it recolonise many of its former haunts (not First 6th April K Gartside, Greenfield all of which are any longer suitable), 2019 was its joint best M Norbury, Urmston year since 2001. Numerically, the species has decreased by Last 21st Sept S Graham, Nr Caton, Lancaster 78% over the series and as with HBF and PBF, extinct sites Highest 14 G Marsh, Warton Crag LNR on 29th July contribute many “0” indices to calculations which continue to depress the trend. On sites where it survives, the species is 2019 was another poor year for this butterfly in most of our relatively stable. area though numbers are much stronger in south Manches- ter.
Red Admiral
2019 First 8th Jan A Blundell, Tarleton Last 3rd Nov P Harris, Lytham Highest 86 J Fuller, Barton on 25th Sept Ainsdale had their best ever year on their transect and there were good numbers from garden records through September. Generally common and widespread.
All Sections
Red Admiral 55 None 50 Ainsdale NNR
45
40
35
30
25
Total Number Counted Number Total 20
15
10
5
0 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 Year
11 Painted Lady Small Tortoiseshell
2019 2019 First 21st Feb J Buchanon, Fulwood First 10th Jan R Hedley, Smithills Hall Last 24th Oct J Sawyer, Blackpool Last 29th Dec C Alex, Lowerhouse Highest 349 B Dyson, Fleetw’d Marsh, 1st Aug Highest 160 F Bird, Winmarleigh on 13th Sept 2019 was one of those truly remarkable years for this Transect counts were generally on the low side in 2019 migrant, the last of which was 1996 when 68% of recorded though there was a decent late emergence in late squares had Painted Lady records—maps below for September and 2020 seems similar. comparison. Recording was a bit different then—no online recording, phone apps didn’t exist (not sure phones did other than brick-like devices) and the only national scheme at the time was the Garden Butterfly one, so it was most probably less well recorded than it would have been under current circumstances. In 2019 over 79% of recorded squares included Painted Lady, the best to date. It is often the case that the year following a bumper one is distinctly poor, and so it has proved thus far in 2020. It’s interesting to note that, of the transects that go back as far as 1996, counts were much higher in that year than in 2019.
Large Tortoiseshell
One seen and photographed by A Hope near Littleborough on 12th April. It’s origins will remain a mystery.
Camberwell Beauty
No records in either year.
Peacock
2019 First 28th Jan K Haydock, Red Moss Last 30th Nov J Hurst, Atherton Highest 300 L Storie, Chorley on 4th Aug There were good numbers at the Aindale transect , nearly equalling their 2014 record Transect recording shows Peacock to have had a good year in 2019, with increases or strong averages across most sites. After three low years at Yealand Hall Allotments, there was a jump back to normal levels.
12 Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary
2019 First 14th May S Hollingrake, Warton Crag Last 6th July T Dunbar, Warton Crag Highest 26 N Godden, Warton Crag on 13th June There was a small increase at Gait Barrows BMS in 2019, and a similar picture at Warton Crag RSPB. Few at other sites. However, in 2020 there were very good numbers seen at Birk Bank Bog to the east of Lancaster. This site has been holding out with low numbers for years (previous highs typi- cally around 6) but in 2020 it was seen there in the high 30’s.
Comma 2019 was one of its poorer years. Its rate of decrease is 37% over the 30 year series. 2019 First 22nd Feb P Hardy, Moss Hall Farm M Pilling, Hall Lee Brook Last 10th Nov A Bedford, Beacon CP Highest 22 J Fuller, Barton on 25th Aug Transect counts mostly show a steady average though there were good garden counts in late summer, mostly on ivy where what they were doing was noted.
Pearl-bordered Fritillary
2019 First 22nd April G Marsh, Warton Crag Last 24th May L&A Pennington, Warton Crag Highest 14 S Bugge, Warton Crag on 7th May
Many butterfly species have changed their names over the years, and an old name for this species was ‘The April Fritillary’. This was before the calendar changed in 1752 And 11 days were lost. Since then, it has been unusual for it to appear in April this far north, so an earliest date of April 22nd is remarkable. It seems that Warton Crag is now the only site we have left which doesn’t hold out much hope for a good level of genetic diversity within the population..
13 All Sections
70 Dark Green Fritillary None 65 60 Warton Crag RSPB 55
50
45
40
35
30
Total Number Counted Number Total 25
20
15
10
5
0 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 Year Showed a very modest upturn, 2019 was its best year since 2012. Overall, its rate of decline has been 93% over 30 years.
High Brown Fritillary
First 29th July G Marsh, Warton Crag Last 5th Aug G Marsh, Warton Crag Highest 2 G Marsh, Warton Crag, 29th July
No other records. Although not a great year, 2019 was its best since 2013. The That it should have come to this, when we were the national data series is shorter compared to most other Morecambe stronghold not too long ago. There is a single photographic Bay species due to its being absent, or virtually so, until the 2020 record from Arnside Knott but Warton Crag transect early 90s. This low starting point means that it has increased records for 2020 are not available at the time of writing. by 215% since the data series began in 1994.
2019 was its worst year in the series. Its rate of decline has been 96% over 30 years.
Dark Green Fritillary
First 14th June P Kinsella, Ainsdale Last 23rd Aug D Murrell, Trowbarrow Quarry Highest 56 C Ambrose, Ainsdale, 26th June 2019 was the best ever year on the Ainsale transect. Sadly, the butterfly has all but disappeared from Gait Barrows though a few were seen nearby at Myers Allotment. Warton Silver-washed Fritillary Crag RSPB had a sharp increase from the previous year’s very low count. Birk Bank Bog had its first records in 2020, with A worn male was seen and photographed at Lostock by K 28 sightings on one visit by their discoverer. A new colony Haydock and J mills in August, and there were several has also been found in a valley near Hameldon Hill this year. reports from Macclesfield Forest (a bit outside our boundaries) and there has been a suggestion there could be a small breeding population there. There was another seen in a garden in Romily, feeding on Buddleia.
14 Speckled Wood
3017 First 19th Feb C Clay, Morecambe Last 21st Oct R Evans, Lancaster G M Horwood, Ramsbottom Highest 106 J Sharp, Heald Brow on 7th Sept Very good transect count at Ainsdale, other sites generally stable and present in good numbers.
Scotch Argus
Not strictly within our remit, but there were a few seen on Arnside Knott just over the border into Cumbria on 1st Aug in 2019 and 2020 reports came of a fair few there, but far more at Smardale and Waitby.
Grayling
First 1st June J Patton, Silverdale coast Last 19th Aug C Ambrose, Ainsdale NNR Wall Highest 20 S Brindle, Jack Scout, 28th June
First 23rd April c Ambrose, Ainsdale The sites from which records came were Ainsdale, Crosby Last 20th Sept G Ashworth, Greenbooth Coastguard Station area, Hightown, Starr Hills and the Highest 15 G Ashworth, Greenbooth on Arnside/Silverdale AONB. There used to be a strong colony 13th Sept at Fairlawn Dunes near Lytham, more visits there could give 2019 was the 2nd-best transect year at Ainsdale on the us a better picture of the situation. new route but this is one of the very few sites that are Gait Barrows counts have largely declined steeply over the monitored by transect for any length of time, and 2020 past decade, but there was a very slight revival in 2019. transect records for are not available at the time of writing. Ainsdale had a good increase with numbers nearly back to There were some promising sightings from the new transect the 2014 level. at Crosby Coastguard Station in both 2019 and 2020. The proportion of recorded squares in 2019 fell back from 2018’s better level to near the lowest in the series. In 2020 there were some sightings at Hunger Hill near Rochdale and a decent count of 6 at Hightown Dunes (P Kinsella).
15 2019 was a fairly average year for this species in Morecambe Bay. Its long term trend remains stable.
Meadow Brown
2017 Gatekeeper First 19th May D Balding, Great Harwood First 6th June K Armstrong, Canal near Garstang Last 28th Sept P Coates, Alkincoates Last 27th Sept A Mayor, Lytham St Annes Highest 500 S Martin&Co, Belmont, 7th July Highest 162 C Ambrose, Ainsdale NNR on Generally a low average sort of year on the 2019 transect 29th July results, though Yealand Hall Allotments bucked the trend with a good increase, and Brockholes also had a very Good counts in 2019 on transect at Ainsdale, Heald Brow, Jack encouraging leap in the transect index on both routes. Scout , Gait Barrows BMS (best ever), Myers Allotment (best ever), Yealand Hall Allotments (equal best) demonstrate a good year for this relative newcomer. There seems to have been little in the way of expansion in range however, and peak counts fell back.
All Sections
130 Gatekeeper None 120
110
100 Myers Allotment
90
80
70
60
Total Number Counted Number Total 50
40
30
20
10
0 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 Year All Sections 26 Gatekeeper 24 None 22 Gait Barrows BMS 20
18
16
14
12
10
Total Number Counted Number Total
8
6
4
2
0 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 Year
16 Ringlet
First 18th June G Marsh, Warton Crag Last 17th Oct M Cunliffe, near river Calder Highest 390 R&L Brockbank, Heald Brow on 28th June Best ever transect count at Jack Scout, typical of the newly colonised sites in the Arnside/Silverdale AONB. After the step rise of establishment, it’s normal for numbers to fall as has happened at Gait Barrows. Heysham LNR is very much in the early colonisation phase, with their first records in 2018, and 2019 showed a strong increase. Warton Crag RSPB had an excellent high index of over 700, their best yet and the trend of rising numbers at Yealand Hall Allotments continued..
Large Heath
First 7th June L&A Pennington, Heysham Moss Last 8th July T Dunbar, Goodber Common Highest 48 T Dunbar, Goodber Common
This species isn’t well monitored at Goodber Common which is the most extensive site, but the count of 48 from there is higher than usual. There were also counts of 25 (Winmarleigh Moss) and 12 (Heysham Moss). The highlight of 2020 was that the planned release of Large Heath at Astley Moss went ahead. Around 50 pupae raised at Chester Zoo from 6 gravid females taken at Winmarleigh Moss in 2019 were liberated and flew over Astley Moss—the first time the species has been there in around 150 years. We hope that these will continue to breed and flourish there. Records very welcome, but please be careful not to trample Small Heath the site.
First 25th March L Renshaw, Birkbank Last 27th August G Marsh, Warton Crag Highest 50 P Knowles, Naden Valley, 4th July There was a decline at Ainsdale, with 2018’s count more than halved. Heysham LNR had their first transect record since 2014, hopefully there should be more to come although most of local records come from the landscape strip which isn’t transected. In the Arnside/Silverdale AONB, transect counts were generally on the low side. The usual upland sites had a reasonable number of casual records, perhaps not as many as we typically receive.
17 Books for Sale through Lancashire Branch
Pug Moths of North-west England
Written by Brian Hancock (published by LCFS 120 pages)
This invaluable guide to pug moths has made the identification of this diffi- cult group of moths so much easier. The book is amply illustrated with full- colour photographs, distribution maps and flight-times, along with the com- parative features of similar species to allow for correct identification.
By buying the books through your us, you will be supporting the branch with valuable funds for projects across Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Northern Merseyside.
Butterflies and Day-flying Moths of Lancashire
Newly published by LCFS and edited by Pete Marsh and Steve White
(140 pages)
The book is amply illustrated with full-colour photographs, distribution maps and flight periods . This will be an invaluable book if you want to know where and when to find a particular butterfly or day-flying moth around Lancashire.
Books are available to buy at £12.00 for the Butterfly book and £10 for the Pug Moth book, plus £1.40 P&P by emailing Jane Jones at [email protected] with Butterfly Book or Pug Book in the subject title.
Moth Reports
New Lancashire County, VC59, VC60 and 10K square moth records during 2019.—Richard Walker
The weather throughout 2019 was in general poor but in contrast the volume of records sent to Mapmate was considerable. There were 4 new county records, all in VC59 and 2 new to VC60. Also 74 macro and 134 micro records new to various 10K squares. This is a considerable contribution by you all. Thank you. The County Recorders would like to emphasise that due care should be taken when submitting records to them or onto Mapmate. Guidelines as to further action are indicated in the guidance notes and on the recording sheets, be it a clear photo, keeping the moth and sending it for inspection or referral for dissection. Also please use the latest V6 recording sheets. If the moth is potentially a new County or a 10 K square record and one fails to comply, then the record is unlikely be accepted. In many cases an entry which has previously been accepted by the CR presents no problem. In the case of a beginner with an uncommon moth which could be confused with another, a request for a photo might be made. Moths requiring submission to the CR should be fridge-stored with the a correctly dated label attached, name, date, place and method caught and then inform your CMR for instructions. This would save CRs much time and your records could then be validated. Please help! RBW. Formby February 2020.
18 New 10 K square Records for VC59. 2019. Taxon Vernacular Site Stage Recorder & Determiner SD20 73.085 Nyctobrya muralis Marbled Green Formby Adult T. Davenport. Cert. R Walker SD21 72.046 Eilema complana Scarce Footman Ainsdale NNR Adult R. Moyes , C Daly SD31 70.163 Eupithecia lariciata Larch Pug Ainsdale NNR Adult R Moyes. 73.099 Hoplodrina ambigua Vine's Rustic Ainsdale NNR Adult R Moyes. R. Cert. R Walker 73.139 Lenisa geminipuncta Twin-spotted WainscotSouthport Adult R Moyes. R. Cert. R Walker SD32 70.006 Idaea fuscovenosa Dwarf Cream Wave Lytham Adult Holding D J 70.027 Scopula floslactata Cream Wave Lytham Adult Holding D J 70.037 Cyclophora linearia Clay Triple-lines Lytham Adult Holding D J SD52 70.006 Idaea fuscovenosa Dwarf Cream Wave Hoghton Adult G Dixon 71.011 Drymonia ruficornis Lunar Marbled Brown Hoghton Adult G Dixon 71.027 Clostera curtula Chocolate-tip Hoghton Adult G Dixon 74.007 Bena bicolorana Scarce Silver-lines Hoghton Adult G Dixon SD72 66.01 Euthrix potatoria Drinker Oswaldtwistle Adult Unknown 70.008 Idaea seriata Small Dusty Wave Rishton Adult D Bickerton 70.066 Earophila badiata Shoulder Stripe Rishton Adult D Bickerton 70.092 Eulithis mellinata Spinach Rishton Adult D Bickerton 72.015 Calliteara pudibunda Pale Tussock Rishton Adult D Bickerton 73.35 Eurois occulta Great Brocade Rishton Adult D Bickerton. Cert. R Walker SD73 65.002 Watsonalla binaria Oak Hook-tip Brockhall Village Adult J Jones 70.011 Idaea dimidiata Single-dotted Wave Brockhall Village Adult J Jones 70.157 Eupithecia dodoneata Oak-tree Pug Brockhall Village Adult J Jones 70.161 Eupithecia virgaureata Golden-rod Pug Brockhall Village Adult J Jones 72.044 Eilema griseola Dingy Footman Brockhall Village Adult J Jones 73.174 Oligia latruncula Tawny Marbled Minor Brockhall Village Adult J Jones. Gen det f. R Walker 73.175 Oligia versicolor Rufous Minor Brockhall Village Adult J Jones. Gen det 2 m. R Walker 73.190 Agrochola macilenta Yellow-line Quaker Brockhall Village Adult J Jones 73.219 Atethmia centrago Centre-barred Sallow Brockhall Village Adult J Jones 73.325 Agrotis puta Shuttle-shaped Dart Brockhall Village Adult J Jones 73.361 Xestia triangulum Double Square-spot Brockhall Village Adult J Jones SD74 70.029 Timandra comae Blood-Vein Clitheroe Adult J Morris 73.273 Hada nana Shears Clitheroe Adult J Morris SD80 73.36 Xestia ditrapezium Triple-spotted Clay Whitefield Adult J Shackman SD81 72.073 Eublemma parva Small Marbled Whitworth Adult A & S Rush SD91 66.01 Euthrix potatoria Drinker Chelburn Area Larval S Atkins & K McCabe SJ39 73.286 Hadena perplexa Tawny Shears Fazakerley Adult L Ward SJ48 73.039 Acronicta aceris Sycamore Halebank Adult D Hunt. Cert. R Walker, photo 73.252 Tholera cespitis Hedge Rustic Halebank Adult D Hunt. Cert. C Cockbain SJ49 70.009 Idaea subsericeata Satin Wave Croxteth Hall Country Park Adult R Moyes, C Daly 70.3 Comibaena bajularia Blotched Emerald Croxteth Hall Country Park Adult R Moyes, C Daly SJ58 70.171 Eupithecia indigata Ochreous Pug 45 Fleetwood Close Adult J Mitchell-Lisle. Cert. R Walker SJ59 72.046 Eilema complana Scarce Footman Town Centre, St Helens Adult D Owen. 73.039 Acronicta aceris Sycamore Sutton Leach, St Helens Adult S Briers SJ79 70.248 Lycia hirtaria Brindled Beauty Flixton Adult K McCabe. 72.01 Lymantria monacha Black Arches Flixton Adult K McCabe.
19 Micromoths new to VC 59 and VC60 in 2019 Steve Palmer
15.041 Phyllonorycter platani (Staud.) A single mine was located on Moor Park, Preston on Platanus x hispanica (London Plane) during October by S Palmer. This spe- cies is spreading northwards in the UK, is locally common in suitable areas of VC59 and has at last been found in VC60.
15.051 Phyllonorycter lantanella (Schrank) Ten mines were found in Salford, Manchester on Viburnum tinus (Laurustinus) on the 8th March by Ben Smart. This species is new to VC59 and the record is probably linked with amenity planting.
15.090 Phyllocnistis saligna (Zell.) This is a surprising addition to the VC59 list. Mines on bark and leaves of Salix euxina (Crack Willow) were found in Chorlton by Ben Smart on 15th September. It is considered likely these were introduced plants as this is well north of the moth’s known range.
28.008 Metalampra italica Baldizzone This moth came to light in Chatburn, VC59 on the 15th August (B Honeywell). The species has been spreading rapidly north- wards and is not unexpected in the county. It is believed that anther was found a year or two previous to this but details of the record were never submitted to the County Recorder for assessment.
45.027 Oxyptilus laetus (Zell.) As part of a national migration into Britain, this species appeared at two separate sites in the county. The first was in Sil- verdale, coming to MV light on the 4th July (Justine Patton – confirmed by John Girdley) and the second was near Warrington, again to MV light on the 15th July (George Dunbar).
47.004 Epermenia aequidentellus (Hofm.) This overlooked resident came to light at Formby on the 29th July (John Girdley). Searches for the larval feeding signs on Dau- cus (Wild Carrot) would be worthwhile to assess how localised this species is in the county.
49.186 Endothenia gentianaeana (Hübn.) This first for VC60 is probably another over-looked resident. A few heads of Dipsacus fullonum (Teasel) were collected at Mid- dleton NR on the 19th September and moths were bred in late Spring 2020 (Steve Palmer). One was dissected to confirm the identity as the similar (but usually smaller) E. marginana also feeds in the heads of teasel.
63.054 Cydalima perspectalis (Walk.) (Box Tree Moth) This rapidly spreading Adventive is becoming widely established across Britain and following its arrival in south Lancashire a few years back it was not unexpected in VC60. One came to light in Preston on the 2nd September (Carolyn and Steve Palmer) and it has been become a regular at light here during 2020.
Common Heath, Ematurga atomaria atomaria. Last years photographs of the colour variations found within the day flying moth, Six-spot Burnet, Zygaena filipendulae stephensi, gave rise to some inter- esting correspondence. Two recorded having seen the yellow f. flava example and others the more common examples with joined red spots. Another day flying moth with a colour variation worth keeping a look out for is Common Heath. The adult is vary variable from almost white, through to yel- low brown and brown, all commonly seen colours. The adult flies in May through to June generally over heath and moorland . The unusual colour form f. unicolaria is dark grey to black with little or no other markings and has been mistaken, visually, for another day flying moth, that of Chimney Sweep Odezia atrata. A check would soon dispel this notion as flight times and habi- tat are different. RBW.
Copyright Liverpool Museum
20 My Top 10 moths from VC64 in 2019. Bill Honeywell
I like in West Bradford, just outside Clitheroe, and since 1 April 1974 part of the administrative county of Lancashire. Before that, it was in West Yorkshire and, as such, is still in VC64 despite the ‘old boundary’ of the River Ribble being about 200 metres away as the crow flies.
I was asked to provide my fifteen favourites from 2019, and – with time being short – decided to pick fifteen ‘lifers’ – ten macro -moths and five micros. Most were trapped using a 125W MV Robinson trap and all except the first were found in the back garden, where we’re lucky to have a mixed flora, a small boundary stream with ash, alder and hazel, and open fields to the rear. So here goes…
EMPEROR MOTH (Saturnia pavonia) – the only one not found in the Emperor Moth garden so far. But it’s only a 20-minute walk on to Grindleton Fell from home, and being anxious to know whether they existed there, I bought a pheromone lure and wandered up one sunny, breezy late April after- noon. Removing the lure from its screw-top bottle, I was inundated with male Emperors within 20 seconds! Quite an experience.
SMALL ELEPHANT HAWK-MOTH (Deiliphila porcellus) – the larger Ele- phant Hawk-moth is a common and frequent visitor, but in my third year of trapping, several of its smaller relative decided to appear. More delicate somehow, they were a welcome addition to the garden list (which now stands at exactly 400).
Small Elephant Hawk Moth Pine Carpet
PINE CARPET (Pennithera fermata) – We get lots of Spruce and Juniper Carpets, but Pine has been much more elusive. Our neighbour has a much bigger garden with a variety of conifers – proving that it’s important to choose one’s neighbours carefully!
YELLOW-BARRED BRINDLE (Acasis viretata) – Just a gorgeous little moth, more green than yellow if you ask me, but superbly camouflaged and Yellow-barred Brindle amazingly patterned at the same time.
OAK BEAUTY (Biston strataria) – A stunning early Spring moth, on which I love to photograph. The first one I ever caught was on March 15 last year, and the Ides of March were sadly not in the moth’s favour. After being released, the moth flew towards the tall alder at the bottom of the garden. Two metres before reaching safety it was neatly plucked from the air by a passing Greenfinch, and that was the end of that.
21 PUSS MOTH (Cerura vinula) – The only so far to grace my moth trap, and pretty worn at that but still an impressive creature. They must be really striking when fresh – I must grow more sallows.
PINION-STREAKED SNOUT (Schrankia costaetrigalis) – The first one I found had me going through the book of Micro-moths several times before I realized it was in fact a macro. Like lots of moths in our garden, it likes damp habitats (we’ve no short- age of those!)
BEAUTIFUL HOOK-TIP (Laspeyria flexula) – Unmistakable and (like several others on this page) increasing their population and range. As with Collared Doves and Little Egrets, so many moths’ ranges are expanding – or contracting – some of which is probably due to global warming and some of which probably isn’t – it’s only as we spend more time on this planet that we real- ise how much natural change there is in nature.
CLOAKED MINOR (Mesoligia furuncula) – The ‘Minors’ group, especially the Marbled, Tawny Marbled and Rufous, can cause identification headaches, but the Cloaked is distinctive and can be quite striking. It seems out of its habitat with us, but I’ve recorded it in both the last two years.
TAWNY PINION (Lithophane semibrunnea) – It just seems more ‘special’ than Pale Pinion, which looks almost anaemic by com- parison. Said to resemble a piece of bark when at rest, which I’m sure it does.
FIRETHORN LEAF-MINER (Phylonorycter leucographella) – Like the Horse-Chestnut Leaf-miner, this tiny moth is an absolute stunner when viewed through a hand lens. Despite their name, I find their distinctive mines on Rowan leaves and have bred them through to prove it.
MANY-PLUME MOTH (Alucita hexadactyla) – These seem to turn up anywhere – in the light trap, in the garden shed, on plants – and they’re much smaller than you expect each time, but, especially under a hand lens, quite exquisite.
YELLOW-SPOT TORTRIX (Pseudargyrotoza conwagana) – Just a ridiculous combination of colour and pattern!
SHORE MARBLE (Lobesia littoralis) – The names (English and scientific) suggest some rocky seashore but for two years running these have turned up in our rockery, admittedly not far from the Sea-pink (Thrift). A lesson in keeping an open mind.
Dichrorampha acuminatana – Once I found I was interested in moths (hooked would be more appropriate) I started planting more native flower species in the garden. As soon as the plant arrives, the moth finds it, and this is just one example. The moth larvae feed on the rootstock of Tansy, and the adults seem quickly to find it.
So that’s my top 15 from last year. With a total of 95 ‘lifers’, plus those found in previous years, it wasn’t easy making the list, and if I were to do it again next week I’m sure it would be different. Which just adds to the fascination of moths!
Forester moth, a day flying moths on the Sefton Coast which could be in trouble. The four sites where one could have seen Forester, Adscita statices, usually nectoring in afternoon sunshine on Ragwort would appear to have become only one. With regularly daily searches over the last few years no sightings have been seen in the three small Formby sites, Larkhill, last seen 2013, Massam Slack 1982 and Asparagus Field 2015. In all cases the larval food plant, Sheep's Sorrel, has been over grown by bramble, broom, gorse and rank grasses. All these potentially “lost” areas were little more than half an acre in size. Ainsdale NNR, though a small site of about three acres it now has two public dog walking paths through it but with an abundance of Sheep Sorrel it looks healthy enough. Numbers of adult Foresters over the years have fluctuated but the site is by no means safe in the long run. There have been a number of Forester sightings away from the Pinfold Meadow and I would ask anyone visiting this area for bird, butterfly, bee or plant observations etc to note any Forester moths and pass on details to me. RBW, Formby. February 2020.
22 Interesting Lancashire Micro Moth records 2019
The Lancashire County Recorders have processed in excess of 13,000 Records of over 44,000 micro moths this year from a growing number of contributors. This included 480 different species in VC59 and 395 Species from VC60. This article can only scratch the surface by highlighting some of the more significant records.
Justine Patton (JP) found the Plume Moth, Oxyptilus laetus at Silverdale on 04/07/19. This was the first for Lancashire and probably the most Northerly record in the UK from a notable migrant influx of the species into the Southern Counties of the UK. The moth now resides in the collection of the World Museum Liverpool. A further record of this species occurred Just NW of Warrington, George Dunbar, 15/7/2019 From Leighton Moss, 9 individuals of Parapoynx stratiotata (Ringed China Mark) represented a significant upsurge in numbers or this previously very rare species. Astonishingly Caroline Clay recorded 13 together at Silverdale Moss, 3/8/19. The adventive, though beautiful, pest species Cydalima perspectalis Ringed China-mark C Clay (Box Tree Moth) continued its northbound colonisation of VC59 with nine further records this year. The first VC60 record was from Steve Palmers North Preston garden, 2/8/19. Catoptria margaratella is normally seen in good numbers, especially in the moorland areas of the region, however these built to an astonishing peak at Greenbank Farm in Upper Hyndburndale on the 30/7/19 when Pete Marsh recorded 1150 in a single trap! Whilst trapping at Formby National Trust, 25/6/19, John Girdley had an Epermenia aequidentellus come to light. This was in significant record in that it was the first record for Lancashire of quite a local moth, known mainly from Southern England and into Wales. The best of the migrant micromoths this year was a single Palpita vitrealis, seen at Belle Aire Park, Heysham, Kevin Eaves, 5/7/19. Epermenia aequidentellus J Girdley Of the other migrants, there were 60 records of Udea ferrugalis (Rusty Dot Pearl), with a peak count of 4 together at Leighton Moss, 30/8/19. There were 358 records of Plutella xylostella (Diamond-backed Moth). The first was 25/5/19 and the last on 7/11/19, probably indicating multiple arrival dates and later breeding. There were 3 figure counts from some locations. Contrastingly, there were just 10 records of Nomophila noctuella (Rush Veneer) with all but one of these been seen in VC60. Growing interest in “Leaf mines” gave increasing records of the larval forms of several species, seldom seen as adults: Steve Palmer recorded Phyllonorycter platani at Moor Park, Preston, 26/10/19. This was new for VC60 Ben Smart found the mines of Phyllonorycter lantanella on Vibernum tinus, in a supermarket car park in Salford. They turned out to be parasitized but he has since found more and bred them through. 8/3/19. New for Lancashire. Ben also found Phyllocnistis saligna mines on the bark and leaves of Crack Willow, Hardy Farm, Chorlton, 15/9/19. Also new for Lancashire. A foray up north by Ben Smart, Steve Palmer, and John Girdley (28/4) produced the likes of Monochroa tetragonella, Bucculatrix maritima, Elachista Scirpi, Scrobipalpa samadensis and Lampronia morosa, all on the Morecambe Bay Saltmarshes. A productive visit to Middleton Industrial Estate by The Palmers and Mark Young (19/10) included records of Coleophora argentula, Coleophora artemisicolella, Coleophora lineolea and Stigmella speciosa.
Monochroa tetragonelia evidence John Girdley 3/4/2020
23 2019 Macro moth report for Lancashire
The Macro moths, or (generally) ‘larger’ moths form the basis of this report. The ‘micro’ moths have been dealt with separately by Steve Palmer.
Lancashire is blessed with a large number of active moth recorders. Some of these run garden moth traps on a regular basis, some like to ‘go out’ with their traps and, for example, obtain permission to use strictly private land where it is usually safe to leave overnight traps. Others are fond of standing around a sheet in the centre of which is a bulb dangling from a tripod, colloquially known as the ‘sheet and light’ method. More recently pheromone lures have been made available by Canterbury University and the result s from some of these have been quite a humbling experience for those of us assuming a site has been well recorded and not a lot missed! More related to the micro-lepidoptera has been an upsurge in early stage recording, many inspired by Ben Smart’s book. This has also helped to make moth recording a twelve-month activity as the dull depressing days of November and early December can be spent looking for leaves with tell-tale larval ‘squiggles’. Finally, there are a fair number of the likes of Humming bird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum visiting people’s gardens where the record has kindly been entered on the general taxa resource, IRecord.
Anyone wishing to take part in moth recording might like to contact Jane Jones and Justine Patton and join one of their excellent Saturday morning ‘Zoom’ sessions. In the current situation this resource has been a brilliant substitute for the unfortunate absence of any ‘moth trap opening’ and other social events. You might also like to visit the Lancashire Moth Group website and peruse the Newsletters and other helpful information to get you going
The mothing year 2019 (with a few comments re-2020 so far) are presented in ‘chatty diary format’ in the Lancashire moth group Newsletters. Here I will be quite selective and develop themes rather than a strict chronology:
Winter months are key months!
Tempting providence possibly with this title for a 1962/3 type winter and nothing stirring until late March, but the lastfew early years have been quite productive on selected nights. If you drive down a narrow hedge-bordered country lane during the first hour of darkness on a winter’s night, you will see a surprising number of moths fluttering in the headlights. Pre- New Year these are nearly all Winter Moth Operophtera brumata or Mottled Umber Erranis defoliaria . After New Year, Early Moth Thera primaria, Spring Usher Agriopis leucophaeari a, Pale Brindled Beauty Phigalia pilosaria and later on March Moth Alsophila aescularia come into the mix. These are all male moths fluttering around the hedgerows looking for the flightless females. However, this is in a ‘normal early season’ and 2019 was far from normal. Some really warm weather at the end of February was preceded by a lot of warm nights on and off in January. One very local species we monitor at this time is Small Brindled Beauty Apocheima hispidaria at Millhouses, near Wray. This is normally during the first half of March but we would have missed them this year as they emerged en masse with the largest catches ever recorded during the end of February ‘heatwave’. This is the problem with monitoring early year species as there can be variation of up to a month between the main emergence periods depending on the weather. Ridiculously early records in 2019 included an Oak Beauty Biston strataria at Great Sankey on 11 Jan (Joy Mitchell-Lisle), V-Pug Chloroclystis v-ata at Flixton on 2 March (Kevin McCabe) and the day-flying Orange Underwing Archlearis parthenias at Parr and Bold Mosses near St Helens on 25 Feb – usually late March/April! (Ray Banks) Sycamore (Acronicta aceris) Changes in distribution 9
8 Along with dragonflies, hoverflies and several other insect groups, the distribution of some moths is changing quite rapidly. This usually takes the form of a resident 7 species moving north. Some like Sycamore Acronicta aceris have seen a steady 6 accumulation of records in the south of the area since 2017 with six in 2019 and 5 two so far on the database in 2020. Most have been singletons with three at 4
Kevin McCabe’s Flixton garden. 3
Compared to the quite ‘organised march to the north by Sycamore, others are a 2 bit more erratic. Perhaps unfairly, Varied Coronet Hadena compta with its Sweet 1
William munching larvae, is tainted with the label of “nursery hopper”. Certainly SD SE the records are well-scattered with the first in Blackpool in 2015 (Ida and Derrick 9 Smith), one at Haydock on 23 July 2019 (Stephen Bond) and two on the database 8 so far in 2020 at Flixton (Kevin McCabe) and Silverdale (Jim Stonehouse). 7 SJ 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 SK 1 2
24 Other species have rapidly been demoted from ‘notable’ to ‘also ran’ in the space of just a few years. Prior to 2018, Blood Vein Timandra comae was a scarce moth north of the Ribble. Now it is on the ‘expected list’ for northern moth recorders with 39 records in 2019, 28 in 2018 but only 27 in total from 2001-2017 and an isolated record back in 1986. Marbled White Spot Protodeltote pygarga and Vine’s Rustic Hoplodrina ambigua both appear to be following in its footsteps.
Some of the scarcer species are making very slow progress. Brindled Beauty Lycia hirtaria has 15 records for the county and six of these have been from 2015. These include three in 2019; two predictably in the south at Flixton (Kevin McCabe) and Great Sankey (Aileen Riley) but one completely unexpected in north Lancs at Silverdale (Dorothy Bates). Time will tell; whether this species is going to continue this tortuously slow increase.
Use of Pheromone lures
The use of pheromone lures developed by Canterbury University has been very helpful in determining the abundance and distribution of ‘our’ Nationally Scarce Barred Tooth-striped Trichopteryx polycommata. For example, regular trapping in the “Dalton triangle”, east of the M6 saw just two individuals to light trapping at either end of the area. So we assumed this was a minor outpost of the main population around the Arnside and Silverdale AONB and we “might get one or two in the pheromone trap”. It was full of male Barred tooth-striped and a few Early Tooth-striped Trichopteryx carpinata investigating a pheromone which was ‘close’ but not quite right for them. A similar scenario with Emperor moth Saturnia pavonia where the absence at well-recorded pockets of suitable habitat in SD57 (with no ‘dot’ on the National Atlas) took about 45 seconds to rectify after the pheromone was deployed at Docker Moor and two males whizzed in! Canterbury University then turned their attention to Clearwing moth lures. These are usually inconspicuous or very elusive hymenoptera mimics, but their deployment in 2019/20 has already revolutionised the distribution of many species. One of these in Lancashire is Lunar Hornet Moth Sesia bembiciformis and Steve Palmer has been aware of them in his garden at north Preston for 26 years based on larval activity at the base of his willows. In that time he has only ever seen two adult moths yet they are quite fearsome beasties as befitsa top notch mimic of our largest wasp. In a similar vein, Middleton Nature Reserve is very well-recorded...... or so we think. Despite checking willow bases we assumed this insect was absent until it took again a matter of seconds for it to come crashing on to the car windscreen aiming for the lure. How on earth could we have missed such a conspicuous insect? Steve thinks they may emerge and then remain out of sight in the canopy.
Clearwing records during 2019 were highlighted by the perhaps natural extension from the Cheshire side of the Mersey with a Six-belted Clearwing Bembecia ichneumoniformis in the short Bird’s-foot Trefoil-dominated short turf on the old Liverpool Garden Festival site on 8 July (Paul Hopkins). 2020 saw many new sites for Lunar Hornet Moth but, apart from Currant Clearwing Synanthedon tipuliformis from several gardens/fruit growers and the traditional Red-tipped Clearwing Synanthedon formicaeformis records from the Sefton coast, we still await any other new species, although the extremes of weather were not very helpful for searching in 2020. Finally a request: Please don’t leave them out in your garden for hours on end hoping to add to your ‘house list’. This has happened and examples of both Lunar Hornet Moth and Emperor being dragged out of habitat some considerable distance have been aired on social media. Please take your pheromone to likely habitat. Thanks
Migrant moths in 2019
Despite being described by a local serious lepidopterist as scientifically irrelevant and just a bit of excitement, an important incentive for people running moth traps is the hope that they might find for example, a large shape with a skull and cross- bones, nestling on an egg box or one of the more colourful migrant hawk-moths. For example, after an indifferent start, Kevin Eaves’s 2020 mothing year really took off with two Bedstraw Hawk-moth Hyles galii in his trap on the same night at Heysham.
As already mentioned in an earlier paragraph, the balmy weather of early spring also facilitated a corridor from north Africa for some very unseasonal early migrants accompanying the usual dust. These included a Turnip Moth Agrotis segatum and two Dark Sword-grass Agrotis ipsilon at Yealand Conyers on 23 Feb, with one different one on 24 Feb and two more on 28 Feb (Brian Hancock) and what in this context may have been a migrant Angle Shades Phlogophora meticulosa at Great Eccleston on 23 Feb (Maurice Wilby). More unexpected were two Small Mottled Willow Spodoptera exigua at Silverdale (Justine Patton) and a Rush Veneer Nomophila noctuella at Millhouses on 23 Feb (Pete Marsh/Jean Roberts). A Small Mottled Willow was in trap at nearby Ingleton at this time (John Perry).
The next major influx of migrants was from early July with the key species being Small Marbled Eublemma parva. July 2019 produced six out of a grand total of 16 county records with singles in three separate traps at Silverdale on 6 July (Jim Stonehouse), 23 July (Justine Patton) and 25 July (John and Jill Webb). The others were at Rossendale (Steve and Amanda Rush) and Catterall (Kate Hughes), both on 4 July and Lytham on 11 July (Ash Baines). The latter record was accompanied bya
25 Bordered Straw Pyrrhia umbra. The ‘large and spectacular’ slot was filled by a worn and scruffy – but they all count - Convolvulous Hawk-moth Agrius convolvuli at Brookhouse on 3 July (Ian Hartley). Other scarce migrants comprised Delicate Mythimna vitellina at Pilling Lane on 21 Sept (Paul Ellis) and Sunderland on 24 Sept (Jean Roberts) and a Scarce Bordered Straw Helicoverpa armigera at Sunderland on 22 Sept (Jean Roberts). Of the slightly more regular migrants, Small Mottled Willow reappeared during the July migrant-fest at Sunderland, Great Eccleston and Formby with Vestal Rhodometra sacraria at Sunderland, Great Eccleston and Silverdale.
Moths where they shouldn’t be
Another major source of potential excitement are supposed resident species turning up ‘out of the blue’. Whilst Maurice Wilby’s new for 10km square records of Fen Wainscot Arenostola phragmitidis and Southern Wainscot Mythimnia straminea clearly indicate a reed-bed or reedy ditch near Great Eccleston, other records seem to defy any logic. One of these was a tatty Shore Wainscot Mythimnia litoralis in Kevin Eaves’s trap near the end of the Heysham bypass on 26 July. The logical straight- line choice would be a crossing of Morecambe Bay’s not-so-blue sea from the Walney dunes, followed by a leap over the Power Stations! Another excellent record of the same species from Ash Baines at Lytham on 16 July – hopefully they are still breeding at Lytham dunes and it wasn’t simply a wanderer from the Sefton coast. Equally odd was Nicola Garnham’s discovery and photo of a day-time nectaring, way out of range, Dusky Sallow Eremobia ochroleuca near Hornby in 2020. A more regular theme for wanderers involves katabatic winds or just strong easterlies drifting moorland species westwards whence they descend into lowland out of habitat traps. There was an excellent example of this kind of record from Alan Powell with a Haworth’s Minor Celaena haworthii at Fulwood on 3 Aug.
Targeting the correct habitat
The obvious example of where this bore fruit in 2019 has already been mentioned with Paul Hopkins and the Six-belted Clearwing in the nearest correct habitat to the Cheshire examples the other side of the Mersey. Bilberry Pug Pasiphila debiliata was worked out by Brian Hancock a few years ago at Lord’s Lot. Since then a decent colony has been located at Cragg Wood near Baines Crag (NB a strictly private site) and in 2019 the moth was located in similar habitat on Longridge Fell on 22 July. Two days earlier nearby Spout Farm saw the first Maple Pug Eupithecia inturbata for the county but as yet we have not located the Field Maple source! (both Denis Lambert). A rather attritional example was to prove the existence of Brindled Ochre Dasypolia temple in the north eastern moorland edge (they occur just over the border) and a 24/7 use of an upland socket during October finally produced a couple of males.
Key species of conservation concern
The early spring weather already mentioned tuened into rather unfavourable moth weather from mid-March and therefore the sampling of Belted Beauty Lycia zonaria and Barred Tooth-striped suggested a slightly later than usual emergence. The scheduled Belted Beauty visit to Potts Corner/Middleton saltmarsh saw 86 on 15 April (Steve Palmer et al) and the Barred tooth striped numbers in pheromone traps peaked at 53 in Dalton parish on 16 April (Caroline Clay) and 74 on Warton Crag on 17 April (Justine Patton). No significant new sites in our area i.e. recording in limestone woodland to the immediate south east and east of the known range remained blank. Barred Tooth-striped has been written up in some detail by Caroline Clay in, for example, Newsletter 37 pp 11-12 on the Lancashire Moth Group website.
Casual records
The East Lancs invertebrate enthusiasts are coming up trumps with some elusive or thinly distributed day-flying moth species. Allen Holmes has been responsible for new Mother Shipton Callistege mi sites in 2019 at Hurstwood and Kemple End and in 2020 discovered the first ‘upland’ Marsh Pug Eupithecia pygmaeata site – more of which in next year’s report. Please do send in the likes of roadside Chimney Sweeper moths as there are a lot of dots still to be put on maps for day-flying species
Finally thanks to everyone for sending their records in and I hope this report is of interest – I’ve tried to avoid cut and paste from the Moth Group Newsletters so some of you can read about the same moths but in different sentences! https://www.lancashiremoths.co.uk/newsletters-and-other-Documents
Pete Marsh
26 New Lepidoptera Books at World Museum, Liverpool
National Museums Liverpool (NML) is a public body funded by the taxpayer, providing free access to internationally important collections. NML’s role in the Liverpool City Region is wide-ranging but includes facilitating greater understanding of the local natural environment and World Museum’s (WM) Entomology library provides an important part of that offering with >12,500 books (plus journals & reprints). The Lepidoptera section comprises a diverse range of essential British, European and Palearctic works from county butterfly atlases to standard taxonomic texts. However, a decade or more of budget freezes / reductions have prevented NML from keeping up with the plethora of modern literature breaking new ground.
We are delighted to announce that thanks to generous funding from Tanyptera Trust, NML is back up to speed, having invested over £3000 in key recent British and European moth titles such as ‘A Field Guide to the Smaller Moths of Great Britain and Ire- land (2018)’ and ‘Pyraloidea of Europe (Lepidoptera), Volume 4: Phycitinae - Part 1 (2019)’ and in butterfly books such as ‘British and Irish Butterflies: The complete identification, field and site guide to the species, subspecies and forms (2017’).
A full list of Lepidoptera holdings will soon be published on www.northwestinvertebrates.org.uk and with an ongoing library fund until late 2024, investments won’t stop there. The main Entomology library is currently non-lending but discussions are taking place with a view to introducing a limited loan system for those making regular use of WM facilities / involvement with the Tanyptera Project. We would like to encourage all Lepidopterists in the region to make use of the library and to please let us know if we’ve overlooked any publications that deserve a place on the shelves! Please arrange your visit with Assistant Cura- tor of Entomology, Tony Hunter ([email protected]).
Gary Hedges (Tanyptera Regional Entomologist)
And to whet your appetites for what’s to come in the full 2020 report…….
The beautiful Birch Mocha, a new species record for our area. And some people think moths are just dull brown things that eat your clothes. Richard Walker, Formby on 8th June 2020.
And this Dusky Sallow was found by day by Nicola Garnham, near Hornby
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