Norfolk Moth Survey c/o Natural History Dept., Castle Museum, Norwich, NR1 3JU Newsletter No.90 November 2016 INTRODUCTION With the flurry of activity through the latter part of the summer, it is easy to forget how cool, wet and frustrating the early part of the season often was. Opinion generally seems to suggest that, while the range of species seen was much to be expected, actual numbers of moths were down on the whole. However, one event during that early period brought the subject of moths to the attention of the media, both locally and nationally. This was the great invasion of Diamond- backed moths, Plutella xylostella, that took place at the very end of May and the first days of June. It would be no exaggeration to say that literally millions of these tiny moths arrived on these shores, with at least one commentator describing it as “...a plague of biblical proportion”. Several of us found ourselves answering queries and calls from a variety of sources in connection with this influx. Despite the dire warnings proffered by some sections of the media - and others, our cabbages weren’t totally obliterated as a result. In fact, the expected boost in numbers resulting from these original invaders breeding here, just didn’t seem to happen. In what might have otherwise been a distinctly average season, it is good to be able to report that twelve new species have been added to the Norfolk list this year. Amazingly, seven of these have been adventives, including one species new for the UK. This was the Herb Emerald, Microloxia herbaria, captured at Costessey by Matt Casey. CONTENTS: Of course, the plethora of such Introduction Ken Saul page 1 records does raise questions over bio-security, while it also gave me the CMR’s Report Jim Wheeler page 2 opportunity to suggest (tongue in Notable Norfolk Records Jim Wheeler page 4 cheek) that next year we should IMPORTANT NOTICE Recording team page 5 perhaps arrange a field meeting at a local garden centre! Details of all the What’s in a Name Dick Jones page 5 new species and others of interest Garden Sites Top 10 Jim Wheeler page 6 can be found in Jim Wheeler’s CMR 2016 Field Meetings report. Roydon Common – 4th June Phil Heath page 6 For the most part, migrant species Hedenham Wood – 11th June Brian Jones page 7 were a little slow in arriving this year Holkham Dunes – 18th June Dave Appleton page 8 too. The latter half of the season brought more of interest, with fresh Boughton Fen – 2nd July Jim Wheeler page 8 influxes continuing into early Hills & Holes – 9th July Phil Heath page 9 November. As usual, Dave Hipperson Queen’s Hills – 30th July Adrian Gardiner page 10 has compiled a list of species notified so far. We will certainly need to Claxton Manor – 6th August Ken Saul page 10 publish an additional list in our Church Marsh – 27th August Ben Lewis page 11 spring newsletter, so please let us Banham Zoo – 10th September Stewart Wright page 12 know of any migrant records that haven’t already been submitted. Leaf Mines Day – 15th October Ken Saul page 12 2016 Migrant Records list Dave Hipperson page 13 Many thanks are due to all of you Norfolk Moths Website & ALS details page 18 who have come along and supported our field meetings this year. Photographs page 19 Although some were hampered by Norfolk Moth Survey Newsletter 90 Page 1 of 20 unhelpful weather conditions, all did go ahead, with several interesting records being turned up. For National Moth Night in June, we headed for the woods at Hedenham. Despite the rather damp conditions, we did at least see one or two hawk-moths – the target species for this year. As usual again, reports on all our field meetings are included in this newsletter. National Moth Night next year is planned for 12-14 October 2017, and the unusual theme is ivy. Presumably, this is designed to encourage us to search the ivy bloom for feeding moths, which can be a very productive occupation at this season. No doubt, we may be allowed to use light traps as well and, with the later dates, could potentially add a considerable number of records for autumn-flying moths. We are always more than happy to include details of any moth-related events which you would like publicised in our spring newsletter. Do please let us know about anything you are involved with. As I’ve frequently mentioned before, we are also keen to receive any articles for inclusion in the spring newsletter too. Thanks to all of you who have contributed previously, and please get in touch if you would like to pen something for the next edition. Our indoor spring meeting next year will take place on Wednesday 12 April 2017, 7.30 pm, in the Orchard Room at Mangreen Hall, TG215030. Jon Clifton will be telling us about “The history of pheromone lures and their use in Norfolk”. As well as reference to Clearwings, Jon says he will also include details of other species for which lures can be used. Please put the date in your diaries now and come along and join us. In order to cover costs we have to make a charge of £3 for this meeting, but that does include a cup of tea or coffee and a piece of home-made cake. Thanks once again to all of you who have helped and supported us throughout the year, as we have continued on our mission to record and conserve the moths of Norfolk. Ken Saul COUNTY RECORDER’S REPORT Please find listed below a selection of notable records from 2016. The list to date includes 12 species new for Norfolk, 1 new for Vice-county 28 (West Norfolk) and 3 new for Vice- county 27 (East Norfolk). The list also includes several species recorded this year that were last listed by C.G. Barrett in Victorian publications. The New for Norfolk records in more detail: Gravitarmata margarotana (Pine Cone Tortrix) - New for Norfolk Three specimens were trapped at Cranwich Heath VC28 on 20th May 2016 by D. Appleton and D. Norgate. Found throughout Europe, the first British specimen was recorded at Clowes Wood in East Kent, netted in the afternoon of the 1st May 2011. Further records from Leicestershire in 2013 and Suffolk in 2014. Elachista stabilella (Southern Dwarf) - New for Norfolk Several adults seen at Castle Acre Castle in June (10/06/16, B. Heckford, S. Beavan) Microloxia herbaria - Herb Emerald - New to Norfolk and UK (Adventive) Recorded at a garden moth trap in Costessey, July 2016. Originally thought to be a migrant, however this species has no known history of migration. It is now thought to have originated from an adjacent garden centre in a shipment of plants from Italy the same weekend. (M. Casey, 23/07/16) The larvae feed on variety of herbs and shrubs including Thymus Capitatus - Thyme, Mentha suaveolens - Apple Mint, Helichrysum stoechas - Curry Plant group, Teucrium polium – Germanders, and other plants. Norfolk Moth Survey Newsletter 90 Page 2 of 20 Ochsenheimeria vacculella (Cereal-stem Moth) - New to Norfolk New for Norfolk on 24th July 2016, recorded by day at Walsey Hills NOA. (David Bratt, 24/07/16) Relatively scarce, occurring in a scattered distribution across parts of England. Lymantria dispar - Gypsy Moth Only modern-day Norfolk record. A male was trapped at North Creake VC28 on 17th August 2016 (A. Culshaw) Tebenna micalis (Vagrant Twitcher) - New for Norfolk. New for Norfolk in August 2016, seen by day at Queen's Hills, Costessey (M. Casey, 22/08/16) Eublemma purpurina - Beautiful Marbled - New for Norfolk Very rare migrant. New for Norfolk in August 2016, trapped at Filby (D. Hipperson, 25/08/16) Conogethes punctiferalis (Yellow Peach Moth) - New for Norfolk (Adventive) An adult moth flew in to a conservatory at Aylsham and was photographed by Allison Carroll, late morning, on 22 May 2016. Adventive species found in India and Pakistan through south-east Asia to Australia. Likely to have arrived as larvae in imported fruit. Anatrachyntis badia (Florida Pink Scavenger) - New for Norfolk (Adventive) Another adventive species for Norfolk, recorded at a garden light trap in Costessey (M. Casey, 01/09/16) An American species, with a number of records now emerging from Europe. First UK record in 2001 of larvae found feeding on imported pomegranates from Spain in a supermarket in Plymouth, Devon. Phyllocnistis citrella (Citrus Leaf Miner) - New for Norfolk (Adventive) Tenanted mines were found on lemon plants at a garden centre in Rollesby (S. Wright, 14/09/2016) A pest species of Citrus trees in Europe, mines have been detected at port of entry to the UK by the Plant Health and Seed Inspectorate (PHSE) on many occasions. Thaumatotibia leucotreta (False Codling Moth) - New for Norfolk (Adventive) Afrotropical species, recorded infrequently in the UK through accidental importation in citrus and other fruit, usually oranges. First Norfolk record of an adult male moth from a garden trap in Costessey. (J. Lowan, 13/09/16 - Gen. Det. J. Clifton) Prays citri (Citrus Flower Moth) - New for Norfolk (Adventive) Another adventive pest species found at a garden centre in Norfolk. Several open network cocoons with exuviae (including one dead moth attached) on the underside of two lime plants found at Bressingham garden centre (B. Heckford, S. Beavan. 02/10/16) Thera cupressata - Cypress Carpet - New for Norfolk Trapped on the north Norfolk coast at Sheringham by Giles & Judy Dunmore, 15/10/16. Resident and suspected migrant species, first recorded at Walberton, West Sussex in November 1984.