BUCKS INVERTEBRATE GROUP BULLETIN Number 22

Contents The BIG identification and recording questionnaire: Pages 2 - 5 Martin Harvey Highlights of the season: Loosley Row: Nigel Partridge Pages 6 - 7 Highlights of the season: Ballinger Common: Peter Hall Page 7 Crossocerus congener. A new digger wasp for Bucks: Page 7 - 8 Martin Albertini A parasitoid of cockroach eggs and other Hymenoptera from Pages 8 - 9 Stoke Common: Martin Albertini 2011 A busy mothing year: David Wilton Pages 8 – 18 Sphinginus lobatus. A rare malachite beetle new to Bucks: Page 18 Martin Harvey 2011 Moth Review: Martin Albertini Pages 18 – 23 Field Reports 2011 Pages 23 – 32 Note of Thanks: Peter Hall Page 32 BIG News Number 22 Editor: Peter Hall, Melanthia, Chiltern Rd., Ballinger Common, Bucks HP16 9LH e-mail bucks.moths@virgin.net

The BIG identification and recording questionnaire

Martin Harvey

At the end of 2011, BMERC and BIG wanted to find out a bit more about invertebrate recording among members of BIG: who records what, where do the records go and can we encourage more recording? Many thanks to the 41 members who completed the questionnaire, the results of which are summarised below.

The questions were compiled by Martin Harvey, Martin Albertini of BIG and Laura Fennell of BMERC. With hindsight some of the questions could have been made clearer and some of the answers were rather hard to analyse. However, the responses have been interesting and useful.

Which invertebrate groups do you feel confident about identifying?

Unsurprisingly butterflies and moths were the clear front-runners, but for many other groups members are happy identifying at least some species. There was also an “Other invertebrates” category that included woodlice, millipedes and centipedes, aquatic invertebrates, nocturnal parasitic Hymenoptera, lacewings and rotifers.

Which invertebrate groups do you record in Buckinghamshire?

~ 2 ~ BIG News Number 22 Editor: Peter Hall, Melanthia, Chiltern Rd., Ballinger Common, Bucks HP16 9LH e-mail [email protected]

Butterflies and moths are again the clear winners, but a wide range of other groups get recorded to a lesser extent. This question also asked which groups people took photos of and/or kept voucher specimens (but it is not clear from our question how many of these represent sightings that are photographed but not made into biological records):

Looking at these first two questions, there is some drop from the number of people who can identify the various groups to the number that record them:

~ 3 ~ BIG News Number 22 Editor: Peter Hall, Melanthia, Chiltern Rd., Ballinger Common, Bucks HP16 9LH e-mail [email protected]

How do you store your records?

Most people (almost 70%) use a notebook but nearly 60% use a computer database and nearly 40% use a spreadsheet (you could tick more than one box here and some use all three). Of the people using databases MapMate is the most widely used, but Recorder and Levana were also mentioned by more than one person.

What happens to your records?

~ 4 ~ BIG News Number 22 Editor: Peter Hall, Melanthia, Chiltern Rd., Ballinger Common, Bucks HP16 9LH e-mail [email protected] This question is complicated by the fact that many people send their records to more than one place, but it is clear that BMERC is playing an important role in collecting records for groups that have no county recording scheme and in many cases receiving records that are not otherwise being passed on to national recording schemes.

We had hoped to get an idea of how many records are being made that are not passed on to any recording scheme but our questionnaire design didn’t really achieve that. However, it is encouraging to see that the total number of people passing on records for each group is close to the total number of people who record that group,

Would any of the following help you record more, or encourage you to start?

Targeted surveys are clearly an attractive idea for members of BIG and that’s certainly something we can try to develop in the future – if anyone has any ideas or would like to take on a targeted survey please do get in touch. With BMERC’s help, we have occasionally run identification training courses in the past and that is also something we can try to do again. As for field meetings, we already do quite a lot of those, so if you are one of the people who said that these would help you record more please do come along to as many field meetings as you wish! As ever, ideas for future field meetings and offers to lead them are welcome.

Among the “other comments” for this question, a large proportion of respondents said that the main thing that constrains their recording activity is simply lack of time. I’m not sure BIG can do much to remove that constraint, but it is good to know that recording invertebrates is something people would like to do more of if they could!

~ 5 ~ BIG News Number 22 Editor: Peter Hall, Melanthia, Chiltern Rd., Ballinger Common, Bucks HP16 9LH e-mail [email protected]

Highlights of the season: Loosley Row

Nigel Partridge

The number of moth species found in my garden broke through the 500 mark this year, including the 34 new additions listed below.

B&F # Species Name 2011 Date 0125 Emmetia marginea 27th June 0332a Phyllonorycter 29th May leucographella 0409a Argyresthia trifasciata 10th June 0422 Argyresthia albistria 19th June 0451 Ypsolopha mucronella 24th Feb 0765 Teleiodes vulgella 26th June 0779 Bryotropha affinis 29th May 0861 Acompsia schmidtiellus 1st Aug 0905 Blastodacna hellerella 26th June 0936 Cochylimorpha 8th May straminea 0946 Aethes rubigana 10th July 0964 Cochylis dubitana 14th July 0987 Ptycholomoides 26th June aeriferanus 1134 Epinotia ramella 12th Aug Acompsia schmidtiellus (Photo: © Nigel Partridge) 1245 Grapholita janthinana 27th July 1273 Dichrorampha petiverella 11th July 1358 Evergestis pallidata 30th July 1365 Pyrausta despicata 2nd Sept 1398 Nomophila noctuella 15th Sept 1425 Galleria mellonella 2nd Sept 1465 Nephopterix angustella 30th Sept 1474 Ephestia parasitella 13th June 1659 Yellow Horned 21st March 1790 The Tissue 8th April 1840 Shaded Pug 29th May 1857 Dwarf Pug 22nd April 1997 Sallow Kitten 30th April 2105 Dotted Rustic 2nd June 2131 Square-spotted Clay 12th Aug 2171 Marbled Coronet 11th June 2179 Pine Beauty 28th March 2305 Small Angle Shades 29th June 2345 Small Dotted Buff 13th july 2375 Large Wainscot 4th Oct

I recorded five examples of Dichrorampha petiverella, all of which were found on, or around a small patch of Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) in the late afternoon. It is Dotted Rustic (Photo: © Nigel Partridge) obviously a plant to keep an eye on. Further noteworthy site records included the The single Acompsia schmidtiellus was following: attracted to the outside light, as were another • 1 Cream Wave – 8th May six of the new additions to the garden list. The • 2 Blue-bordered Carpets – 13 and 29 June others were caught in a Skinner actinic trap.

~ 6 ~ BIG News Number 22 Editor: Peter Hall, Melanthia, Chiltern Rd., Ballinger Common, Bucks HP16 9LH e-mail [email protected] • 1 Scarlet Tiger – 15 June (found inside the Pseudatemelia josephinae, Depressaria sordidatella, shed) Scrobipalpa acuminatella, Batrachedra • 1 Aglossa pinguinalis – 11 July praeangustana, Blastodacna atra, Archips • 1 Toadflax Pug – 19 July crataegana, Capua vulgana, Cydia funebrana, • 1 Ypsolopha nemorella – 24 July Eudonia angustea, Lappet, May Highflyer and Large Wainscot. This brings the grand total of moth • 3 Waved Blacks – 29 July, 31 July and 5 species for the garden to 724. August • 1 Beech-green Carpet – 17 August

Macro species that had a particularly good year were Brown-spot Pinion, Double Square-spot, Feathered Gothic, Heart and Dart, Large Nutmeg, Lunar Underwing, Riband Wave and Small Quaker. The micros Agriphila geniculea and Pseudargyrotoza conwagana were noticeably more numerous than in previous years. Depressaria sordidatella male genitalia (Photo: © Peter Hall) However, species that were sadly missing altogether were Dusky Sallow, Lime Hawk- moth, Red Chestnut, Small Square-spot, Small Crossocerus congener (Dahlbom, 1845): Waved Umber, Spectacle and White-spotted a new digger wasp for Bucks Pug. Although I have never recorded large numbers of any of these, I usually see a few of Martin Albertini each. This species was added to the British list Perhaps the biggest surprise of all was my last following the discovery of a specimen at record for the year on New Year’s Eve, when I Croxley Common, Rickmansworth, Herts discovered a Large Nutmeg below the outside (TQ09) by Raymond Uffen in 1999. It was with light. I couldn’t quite believe it because the the common Crossocerus podagricus entering normal flight time is mid-May to late July and beetle holes in a dead cherry tree. Notes on wondered if the wine had got the better of me. further records to 2008 include 3 more Herts Thanks to Peter Hall for his help with many sites, slightly East of the original, and a site in identifications throughout 2011. Surrey with all records being of females. During the BIG meeting at Denham Marsh Wood (TQ0188) on 26 July 2008 I collected Highlights of the season: three small black wasps around dead branches. Ballinger Common One turned out to be Rhopalum clavipes, but I wasn’t able to satisfactorily key out the other Peter Hall two, both females. I recently passed these to Matt Smith who identified them as Crossocerus Moth trapping sessions in the garden were congener. They appear to be the first Bucks reduced this season. However, there was still time records and are from the 10km square to add a few more to the overall lisiting for the site. immediately South of that in which it was first These included Stigmella floslactella, Tischeria found in the UK. These continue the female- ekebladella, Parornix devoniella, Phyllonorycter only records for the UK, which fits the pattern harrisella, Phyllonorycter leucographella (leaf mines on Pyracantha), Coleophora saxicolella, across its range through Europe and East to

~ 7 ~ BIG News Number 22 Editor: Peter Hall, Melanthia, Chiltern Rd., Ballinger Common, Bucks HP16 9LH e-mail [email protected] Siberia where far fewer males are found than females. It seems that it’s a genuinely scarce species across its range. Reference: Early J. & Uffen R., Notes on Crossocerus congener BWARS newsletter Autumn 2008.

A parasitoid of cockroach eggs and other Hymenoptera from Stoke Common.

Martin Albertini

As part of a survey for the bees and wasps of Stoke Common (SU9885) during 2011, a malaise trap was operated for several months. Brachygaster minuta (Photo © Peter Hall) While this wasn’t particularly productive for bees and wasps, there were many Two other distinctive Hymenoptera were also Hymenoptera parasitica of various shapes and found during the survey. Eumenes coarctatus: sizes. One strangely-shaped species looked Heath Potter Wasp. A distinctive yellow and vaguely familiar. It had a massive alitrunk black species with a long petiole. Its uses mud (thorax plus first abdominal segment fused to to construct a small nest, which sometimes is a it) with a tiny petiole from the top of the bit pot-shaped. A Notable A lowland heath alitrunk leading to the remainder of the species for which South Bucks is on the abdomen which was slightly expanded, short Northern edge of its range. Several were seen and laterally compressed. On looking this up it and there is only one previous Bucks record. turned out to be a member of the very distinctive looking family Evaniidae, which is Anoplius viaticus: Black Banded Spider Wasp. A mainly tropical but has two UK species. Both large black species with a striking, almost species are associated with cockroach eggs, fluorescent red area on the abdomen. This one for the native species (Ectobius) and one species is fairly widespread across England, but for some of the imported pest species. Stoke is relatively uncommon. It preys on Lycosid Common is known to have a good population (wolf) spiders of which there are usually plenty of the native Dusky Cockroach Ectobius on the common. A single individual was found lapponicus and quite a lot were seen from the and is the second Bucks record. malaise trap catches and other sampling methods in 2011. The parasitoid was 2011: A BUSY MOTHING YEAR Brachygaster minuta whose hosts are the native cockroaches. The female lays a single Dave Wilton egg within an egg inside a cockroach ootheca (egg case containing a number of eggs). The Here in our garden at Westcott moths seemed first instar larva feeds on the egg in which it to have a reasonable although rather was laid and subsequent instars eat the other unexceptional season. I did expect to see eggs in the ootheca. Pupation takes place some changes over previous years, having within the ootheca. Adult emergence is timed elected to use a twin-30w actinic conversion for to co-incide with that of the adult cockroach. my Robinson trap in place of the usual 125w It is assumed this is a first Bucks record. MV set-up. Although I’d had the equipment for several years it had been used only

~ 8 ~ BIG News Number 22 Editor: Peter Hall, Melanthia, Chiltern Rd., Ballinger Common, Bucks HP16 9LH e-mail [email protected] occasionally and I really wanted to give it a single Marbled Green (Cryphia muralis) trapped good run to see if it made any significant on 16 August proved to be the first county difference to the number of moths caught here. record for that species. As the moth has been It was used for the entire year and had the spreading from its former haunts in the added bonus of giving our neighbours a long southwest of the United Kingdom for a number rest from the garden illuminations provided by of years now and is already established in the usual mercury vapour bulb. During the Oxfordshire, a sighting from Bucks was busier summer months I used an 84 litre overdue. Mere Wainscot (Chortodes fluxa) is a ‘Really Useful Box’ with a circular hole cut in scarce ‘Notable B list’ species nationally but is the lid instead of the normal Robinson base actually quite abundant in woodland in this part because it gave greater carrying capacity of the county so a visitor to the garden trap (something that proved to be ‘Exceedingly came as no great surprise. Other interesting Useful’ on some nights!). It also provided for items caught during the year included two more efficient use of larger egg trays than does examples of Lappet (Gastropacha quercifolia), the circular Robinson, but not being completely a Privet Hawk-moth (Sphinx ligustri) - only the waterproof meant that it could only be run if second example ever seen here despite an there was no chance at all of any rain. abundance of the larval foodplant locally - and a Garden Dart (Euxoa nigricans) which was the So far as macro species were concerned, the first I have recorded since 2005. Once actinic light more than lived up to expectations. common, Garden Dart now seems to be a rare There was no noticeable difference at all in the sight in Bucks and this one had its genitalia variety of species caught and certainly no examined by Peter Hall just to be absolutely reduction in the numbers of individual moths. certain of the identification. I did also bump 275 species were recorded for the usual into another example locally and it would be amount of trapping effort, which averages out nice to think that the species is attempting a across the year at just under three dusk-until- comeback. A single Scarlet Tiger (Callimorpha dawn sessions per week. That species total dominula) put in a brief but welcome daytime was down by eight from 2010 but still lies appearance in the garden on 30th June. above the average for the previous six years. Ochreous Pug (Eupithecia indigata), Tawny- There were seven new additions to the garden barred Angle (Macaria liturata) and Large list, taking the overall macro-moth count here Ranunculus (Polymixis flavicincta), all of which to 366: had been first-time visitors during 2010, also made repeat appearances in the garden trap 0379 Red-belted Clearwing (Synanthedon 26th June during 2011. myopaeformis) 1693 Cream Wave (Scopula floslactata) 8th May 1813 Haworth’s Pug (Eupithecia 18th July haworthiata) 1817 Foxglove Pug (Eupithecia pulchellata) 25th May 2105 Dotted Rustic (Rhyacia simulans) 25th June 2295 Marbled Green (Cryphia muralis) 16th Aug 2349 Mere Wainscot (Chortodes fluxa) 18th July

Orange-tailed Clearwing (Synanthedon andrenaeformis) and Red-belted Clearwing (Synanthedon myopaeformis) were attracted to pheromones placed out in the garden during the daytime and the latter species was a welcome addition to the garden list, three Marbled Green at Westcott 16 August 2011 (Photo: © Dave males arriving at the lure on 26th June. A Wilton)

~ 9 ~ BIG News Number 22 Editor: Peter Hall, Melanthia, Chiltern Rd., Ballinger Common, Bucks HP16 9LH e-mail [email protected] tray was brought out for inspection. The real There were the usual fluctuations in numbers total must have been well in excess of 2,500 of the more common species but the only really moths. noticeable absentees were Currant Pug (Eupithecia assimilata) and Small Square-spot (Diarsia rubi). It seemed a bit odd that no examples at all of the normally regular Currant Pug should attend the trap as we even have wild hop (Humulus lupulus), one of its food- plants, growing in the garden. The local Small Square-spot population does seem to have crashed, though and just one solitary example was caught (in previous years it has been counted here in hundreds). I had very few sightings of the moth anywhere else in Bucks either. On the other hand, eight individuals of Dotted Rustic (Rhyacia simulans) attended the garden trap during June and July yet this One side of one overloaded egg tray at Westcott on 28 June species has not been recorded anywhere locally 2011 with more than 270 moths visible (Photo: © Dave Wilton) over the preceding six years. I doubt that this had anything to do with the kind of bulb being Migrant species were few and far between used in the trap. Dotted Rustic is known to during 2011. Dark Sword-grass (Agrotis undergo large fluctuations in abundance and ipsilon) put in only five appearances in the may currently be “on the up”. Numbers of garden trap while just eleven individuals of Setaceous Hebrew Character (Xestia c-nigrum) Silver Y (Autographa gamma) were recorded, and Common Wainscot (Mythimna pallens) the lowest number ever seen here in one year. stood at about a tenth of last year’s totals and However, during July and August Hummingbird Square-spot Rustic (Xestia xanthographa) was Hawk-moth (Macroglossum stellatarum) was a down significantly too, but at the other end of frequent daytime visitor with 25 sightings in all, the spectrum Dark Arches (Apamea including three at once feeding from buddleia monoglypha) had its best year ever here with on 22 July. As usual, a small number of my 672 individuals, coming in at No.4 in the league garden moth records during the year were of table of the garden’s most abundant moths. sets of wings beside the trap rather than Lunar Underwing (Omphaloscelis lunosa) with complete moths. They were usually of the 718 individuals didn’t do quite well enough to more common species - Blood-vein (Timandra prevent Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua comae) and Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis pronuba) from coming second with 746, but luteolata) spring to mind as well as several there’s no doubt about the winner because I species of noctuid - but it still makes me was literally overwhelmed by the numbers of wonder what l might have missed! The Heart and Dart (Agrotis exclamationis). Well in adjacent Westcott Venture Park is apparently excess of 6,000 individuals entered the garden home to one of the largest populations of trap during its flight period, with more than Brown Long-eared Bat (Plecotus auritus) in the 1,200 counted on the night of 27 June alone. county and the little chap illustrated below Never before have I had a trap so full of moths used the roof space of our house as a hotel (and moth wing scales!). 1,824 individuals of from Spring through to Autumn, presumably 96 species were identified from that particular taking advantage of the reduced flying time to catch but many others escaped as each egg a ready source of food.

~ 10 ~ BIG News Number 22 Editor: Peter Hall, Melanthia, Chiltern Rd., Ballinger Common, Bucks HP16 9LH e-mail [email protected]

0063 Stigmella lemniscella (larval mine, 29th Aug elm) 0067 Stigmella plagicolella (larval mine, 28th Aug blackthorn) 0068 Stigmella salicis (larval mine, 29th Aug sallow) 0070 Stigmella obliquella (larval mine, 21st Oct willow) 0083 Stigmella atricapitella 6th May 0092 Stigmella anomalella (larval mine, 2nd Nov dog rose) 0111 Stigmella microtheriella (larval 29th Aug mine, hornbeam) 0150 Adela reaumurella 25th April 0264 Bedellia somnulentella (larval mine, 7th Oct bindweed) 0284 Caloptilia rufipennella 31st July 0310 Callisto denticulella (larval mine, 29th Aug apple) 0333 Phyllonorycter salictella (larval 29th Aug Brown Long-eared Bat at Westcott 28 July 2011 (Photo: © mine, sallow) Dave Wilton) 0367 Phyllocnistis saligna 9th Aug 0420 Argyresthia pruniella 26th July 0526 Coleophora laricella 14th June The species count for micro-moths during 2011 0537 Coleophora kuehnella 15th June failed to get close to the previous year’s record 0544 Coleophora albicosta 12th May 0561 Coleophora therinella (first record 26th July total but, even so, at 206 was still above for VC24) average. Here, though, I think the actinic set- 0790 Chionodes fumatella (first record for 26th July VC24) up may have had a slight influence on 1035 Acleris bergmanniana 25th June numbers. Many of the smaller moths seemed 1102 Endothenia nigricostana 14th May 1202 Eucosma obumbratana 20th July to me to spend most of their time on the vanes 1208 Pseudococcyx posticana 6th May around the bulbs rather than falling into the 1216 Enarmonia formosana 25th May trap itself, while those that did enter it were 1232 Pammene populana 23rd Aug 1245 Grapholita janthinana 2nd Sep more readily able to get out again. As the year 1504 Platyptilia pallidactyla 25th June progressed I found that making notes of (or potting up) what was present during regular Ardent gardeners would be less than impressed checks of the trap in the early part of the night by the state of the flowerbeds and unkempt paid dividends because many of them were no hedgerows in our back garden - weeds longer there when it was closed up at dawn. certainly do have their place here. Of the new The normal 125w Robinson may be better at arrivals this year, Endothenia nigricostana was retaining micros because the vanes are a female found during the daytime considerably smaller and the very hot bulb investigating hedge woundwort (Stachys probably acts as more of a deterrent to sylvatica) that grows in a few shady corners, potential escapees. While a reasonable while the larval records of Bedellia number of new micro species was added to the somnulentella were obtained from bindweed garden list during the year, nearly half were (Calystegia sepium), a plant that even I would either larval-stage leaf mines found on garden agree can be a bit of a pest! The small but vegetation or else daytime sightings of adult very pretty tortrix Pseudargyrotoza conwagana moths. Compared to previous years, relatively seemed to be far more plentiful than normal few were added from the trap itself although I and on 29 May I counted at least ten of them shouldn’t complain too much because they did flying around the garden during the daytime. include two county firsts from one overnight As in 2010, the ‘grass moths’ visited the trap in session in late-July! significant numbers and two of them, Chrysoteuchia culmella and Agriphila straminella, actually made it onto the list of top

~ 11 ~ BIG News Number 22 Editor: Peter Hall, Melanthia, Chiltern Rd., Ballinger Common, Bucks HP16 9LH e-mail [email protected] ten most abundant species here. At the other Despite the reduced number of additions to the extreme, almost an absentee during the year garden moth list during 2011, the overall was Epiphyas postvittana (the so-called ‘Light number of species recorded at Westcott has Brown Apple Moth’) which appeared just the now exceeded 700 by a good margin and at once on 1 October when two specimens came the end of the year stood at 728 from seven to the trap. I failed to record it anywhere else years of regular trapping at this site - quite a in the surrounding area, so maybe two severe respectable total. With seemingly little winters in a row have taken their toll of this difference between the results from the two invader from the Antipodes. different types of light trap, I shall probably continue to use the twin-30w actinic version in the garden during 2012.

Night-time recording of moths elsewhere in the county has been a feature of my mothing year for a while now and 2011 proved to be a particularly busy one (excessively so, my family would say!). Rather than visiting lots of sites just once or twice, I prefer to select a handful of places and survey them as thoroughly as possible throughout the year, trapping once a month between March and October as a minimum. During 2011 eight sites were visited on that basis but, with permission from the Forestry Commission, Bernwood Forest was once again the main target. Peter Hall and I have been trapping there regularly since 2009, updating the species records for this important area of the county. Between us we have now Pammene populana, Westcott 23 August 2011 (Photos: identified in excess of 670 different moth Above Adult © Dave Wilton. Below Male Genitalia © species in Bernwood over those three years. Peter Hall) http://www.dissectiongroup.co.uk/page1542.html During 2011 I made 37 nocturnal visits, targeting Oakley Wood, Shabbington Wood and Hell Coppice. Peter joined me on many of those occasions, running his lights in York’s Wood and a different part of Hell Coppice, so we had good coverage of the entire forest. For 2011 alone our combined species total exceeded 500 by a good margin, of which more than 70 were new records. We failed to repeat our 2010 records for Triangle (Heterogenea asella) but it was good to find Small Black Arches (Meganola strigula) in Oakley Wood, confirming that it is present in all areas of the forest, while the UK BAP priority Larvae of Bedellia somnulentella at Westcott 7 October species Common Fan-foot (Pechipogo strigilata) 2011 (Photo: © Dave Wilton) was seen again in reasonable numbers. Ectoedemia longicaudella, discovered in

~ 12 ~ BIG News Number 22 Editor: Peter Hall, Melanthia, Chiltern Rd., Ballinger Common, Bucks HP16 9LH e-mail [email protected] Bernwood by Peter as new to the UK in 2010, within the forest and in the M40 Compensation was found again in Oakley Wood, Shabbington Area, carried out with the help of Marc Botham, Wood & York’s Wood so appears to be quite sadly proved unsuccessful. The late Lt Col A widespread within the forest. Maitland Emmet found this rare privet-feeding species in Bernwood in the early 1950s but there have been no further records since that time.

Small Black Arches at Oakley Wood 1 July 2011 (Photo: © Dave Wilton)

Ectoedemia longicaudella male genitalia (Photo © Peter Hall) http://www.dissectiongroup.co.uk/page1809.html

A single migrant Blair’s Mocha (Cyclophora puppillaria) caught in Shabbington Wood on 4 October has to be the highlight amongst the larger moths although, for this recorder, finding a rather battered example of Garden Tiger (Arctia caja) sitting on the outside of the trap Common Fan-foot at Oakley Wood 16 May 2011 (Photo: © on 4th July was almost as exciting – how times Dave Wilton) have changed for this once common species in the county! Of the micros, Biselachista At the north-western edge of the county, cinereopunctella, Epinotia nanana, Grapholita Whitfield Wood was visited monthly between lobarzewskii (new to Bucks), Pammene March and October. Surveying had actually albuginana and Cydia illutana were finds of started there in the summer of 2010 but had to particular interest during 2011. A targeted be terminated almost immediately when the search for Barred Tooth-striped (Trichopteryx Forestry Commission decided to put the wood polycommata) early in the year at various spots up for sale. As Peter Hall and I had achieved a

~ 13 ~ BIG News Number 22 Editor: Peter Hall, Melanthia, Chiltern Rd., Ballinger Common, Bucks HP16 9LH e-mail [email protected] site list in excess of 260 species from just three trapping sessions, it was felt to be important that the work was completed if at all possible. With permission from the new owner this was duly accomplished during 2011 and, after a further eight visits between March and October, the site list had increased to 430 species. A range of moths typical of ancient woodland was found there, including such species as Beautiful Carpet (Mesoleuca albicillata), Chevron (Eulithis testata), Dingy Shell (Euchoeca nebulata) and Orange Moth (Angerona prunaria), while one of the highlights was finding Devon Carpet Chimney Sweeper at Water Stratford 21 May 2011 (Photo: © (Lampropteryx otregiata) to be well established Dave Wilton) there. Another place with a Chimney Sweeper colony that was visited regularly during 2010 and for In the same area of the county, a request from the first half of 2011 was Pilch Fields Nature the owner of a farm at Water Stratford (near Reserve near Great Horwood. A list of about Tingewick) to carry out a moth survey resulted 300 resident moth species was compiled for in eight visits at monthly intervals. Managed BBOWT from these damp, unimproved ridge- very sympathetically for all wildlife, the farm is and-furrow meadows. The moths are bounded on two sides by the River Ouse and is presumably unaffected by the stench dissected by a disused railway line. The river emanating from the adjacent chicken farm, produced a few of the more unusual reed- something that can certainly be very off-putting feeding or aquatic micros such as Orthotelia to human visitors if the wind is in the wrong sparganella, Calamotropha paludella and direction! Some of the common day-flying Nymphula stagnata (the ‘Beautiful China- moths that you’d expect at a site like this were mark’), but it seemed to be the water meadows seen, including Narrow-bordered Five-spot and well-established hedgerows along the Burnet (Zygaena lonicerae), Six-spot Burnet railway that provided the majority of moth (Zygaena filipendulae) and Small Yellow records. Pyrausta despicata was found at the Underwing (Panemeria tenebrata), while night- site and it was good to see some of the less time catches included such species as Ebulea common grassland noctuid moths such as crocealis and Lappet (Gastropacha quercifolia), Hedge Rustic (Tholera cespitis) and Double but for me the most interesting was Twin-spot Lobed (Apamea ophiogramma), but the pick of Carpet (Perizoma didymata). This was my first the bunch here was Chimney Sweeper (Odezia sighting of the moth in Bucks and it seems to atrata) of which there is an established colony. be confined mainly to the northern part of the There are only about half a dozen known sites county nowadays. in Bucks for this interesting black moth whose unusual larval food-plant is pignut. As a Two woodland nature reserves also received daytime flyer it is quite likely that the species regular attention during 2011. With permission has been overlooked, especially in the northern from BBOWT, I’ve been trapping regularly at half of the county, so if you stumble across a Finemere Wood near Quainton for the last five colony please remember to tell Martin Albertini! years. Conifer extraction work last winter meant that I wasn’t able to visit early in the season but 33 new species were still found

~ 14 ~ BIG News Number 22 Editor: Peter Hall, Melanthia, Chiltern Rd., Ballinger Common, Bucks HP16 9LH e-mail [email protected] during 2011, taking the site list to 626. never took place). Amongst the impressive Amongst the additions was that ubiquitous pest total of 342 species recorded from my eight of horse chestnut trees, Cameraria ohridella. visits there were Ethmia dodecea, Scrobipalpa One adult was caught in the central turning obsoletella (a first for VC24, rather unexpected circle even though there is no larval food-plant as this is normally a salt marsh species), for miles! Following a similar effort the Gynnidomorpha alismana (another first for previous year, monthly visits to Whitecross VC24) and Chalk Carpet (Scotopteryx Green Wood were made between April and bipunctaria) which has previously been October to try and improve the rather poor list recorded in Bucks only from one or two sites in of micro-moth records for this wood which lies the Chilterns. On the face of it Greatmoor on the border with Oxfordshire. Trapping was would appear to be some distance from typical restricted to the area around the car park in Chalk Carpet habitat but this UK BAP priority order not to damage the species-rich grassland species is known from other inland sites such of the rides, but even so a total of 412 moth as quarries, so the deep excavations on the species (including 199 micros) was achieved land-fill may have attracted it to the area. The over the two years to give quite a respectable foodplant is certainly abundant (bird’s-foot list for the place. Amongst the 96 species trefoil Lotus corniculatus) and two separate added during 2011 was Emmetia individuals were caught, a female on 3 July and angusticollella, of which there is only one a male on 28 July. In April each of the previous Bucks record. The literature states trapping sites produced records of Emperor that the moth doesn’t readily come to light but Moth (Saturnia pavonia), not only during the on 12 August two adults were caught, one to daytime through the ‘assembling’ of males to a each of the traps running that night. captive virgin female but also at night when wild females were attracted to the moth lights. Again fairly close to home, I ran traps monthly During July Six-belted Clearwing (Bembecia between March and October at each of two ichneumoniformis) was another daytime locations that will be affected by plans to discovery, with males being attracted to the construct an Energy from Waste Incinerator at appropriate pheromone lure along the railway, Greatmoor, on the southern edge of the Calvert at the planned Incinerator site and at several land-fill. One trapping spot was adjacent to other locations in the general area. Small the planned site of the building itself while the Rufous (Coenobia rufa), trapped at Greatmoor other was on the disused railway line which the on 28 July, was also a welcome find because it developers want to turn into a road to connect is an uncommon moth in the county. the Incinerator with the A41. The eight visits to the railway produced a pleasing 300 species although few of them were unexpected. Arguably the best of the bunch was Calybites phasianipennella, a tiny graccillariid moth classified as ‘local’ which doesn’t appear to have been recorded previously in Bucks. However, the site closer to where the Incinerator itself might be built did throw up several surprises. The traps were placed on the edge of some massive drainage ditches that were dug in the 1980s and lined with brick The “mega-ditch” at Greatmoor, looking north towards the waste, diverting a water-course prior to clay mountainous Calvert landfill which is visible in the distance; the extraction on adjacent land (which in the end trap site where Chalk Carpet was caught on 3 July 2011 is on the slope at bottom right (Photo: © Dave Wilton)

~ 15 ~ BIG News Number 22 Editor: Peter Hall, Melanthia, Chiltern Rd., Ballinger Common, Bucks HP16 9LH e-mail [email protected] only just inside VC24, being literally within a few metres of King’s Wood National Nature Reserve in Bedfordshire. A splendid total of 357 moth species was amassed in just ten night-time visits to the largest area of heather on the site and they included several important finds. Moths generally associated with heathland, such as Aristotelia ericinella, Neofaculta ericetella, Map-winged Swift (Hepialus fusconebulosa), Narrow-winged Pug (Eupithecia nanata), White-line Dart (Euxoa triciti), Archer’s Dart (Agrotis vestigialis), Autumnal Rustic (Eugnorisma glareosa), True Chalk Carpet at Greatmoor 3 July 2011 (Photo: © Dave Wilton) Lover’s Knot (Lycophotia porphyria), Broom Moth (Melanchra pisi), Antler Moth (Cerapteryx graminis), Suspected (Parastichtis suspecta) and Rosy Marbled (Elaphria venustula), were all recorded in the traps. Rosy Marbled was a particularly welcome find, this being some distance further north than any other known site for the species in Bucks. Other welcome sightings included Monochroa cytisella, Pine Carpet (Thera firmata), Rivulet (Perizoma affinitata) and Pauper Pug (Eupithecia egenaria), all of which are either uncommon or rare in the county. Pine Hawk-moth (Hyloicus pinastri) was found to be quite abundant with 15 different individuals being trapped over three visits during June and July. A daytime visit to the site in March confirmed the presence of both Orange Underwing (Archiearis parthenias) and Light Orange Underwing Six-belted Clearwings at pheromone lure, Greatmoor 14 July (Archiearis notha), individuals of each species 2011 (Photo: © Dave Wilton) being netted to be sure of their identities. Another daytime visit during April with a virgin For me, the most interesting place that I female Emperor Moth failed to attract any surveyed regularly during 2011 proved to be males, yet a torchlight search of areas of Rammamere Heath near Great Brickhill. Martin heather during a couple of the summer Albertini had suggested this to me as an under- trapping visits produced sightings of several recorded area for moths in Bucks and once Emperor larvae so the species is definitely permission had been obtained from the present. Caterpillars of the day-flying Beautiful Greensand Trust, regular trapping took place Yellow Underwing (Anarta myrtilli) were also there between April and October. A part of found by torchlight on the heather. Very sadly, Stockgrove Country Park, Rammamere Heath is an accidental fire during October damaged an area of acid grassland with heather, bracken much of the best area of heathland. Although and birch scrub (an uncommon habitat in the the heather itself will eventually recover, it may county). It lies on the greensand ridge and is take longer for the invertebrates to do so.

~ 16 ~ BIG News Number 22 Editor: Peter Hall, Melanthia, Chiltern Rd., Ballinger Common, Bucks HP16 9LH e-mail [email protected] There was plenty to do locally during the daytime too. Checking on the status of our few remaining colonies of Forester Moth (Adscita statices) took me to a number of unimproved grassland sites in the Vale of Aylesbury during May and June. Perhaps the best of these was Leaches Farm Meadows, on the south side of the A41 near Ludgershall, where the numbers of day-flying moths can be quite phenomenal during those months. A brief hour’s visit in Rosy Marbled at Rammamere Heath 17 May 2011 (Photo: © sunshine to just one of the five meadows Dave Wilton) during the afternoon of 19th May produced a dozen moth species, of which Glyphipterix thrasonella, Opsibotys fuscalis, Grass Rivulet (Perizoma albulata) and Burnet Companion (Euclidia glyphica) were present in their hundreds. The Forester colony there is tiny but seems to be just about hanging on. The moth is actually faring little better at its more well known sites. Bernwood Meadows produced counts of eight on 20 May and nine on 24 May, the star of the first visit actually being a Marsh Pug (Eupithecia pygmaeata) which was found flying around in the western meadow. Asham Meads was the only location where a double- Archer’s Dart at Rammamere Heath 2 August 2011 (Photo: © digit Forester count was achieved during a Dave Wilton) single visit in 2011 with a dozen being noted on 13 June, most of them feeding from the flowers of ragged robin, but for the second year running there was no sign of the species at Lapland Farm Meadows. All of these sites are BBOWT nature reserves. Other places too numerous to mention were also visited during the quest for daytime-flying species but a particular highlight has to have been the search with Peter Hall of a very windy Ivinghoe Beacon on 25 May which produced the first example of Wood Tiger (Parasemia plantaginis) that either of us had seen in the county.

As the mothing season started to wind down in the Autumn I kept myself busy by searching for micro-moth leaf-mines, in particular targeting unrecorded areas of northwest Bucks. Some 25 previously empty tetrads on the Bucks moth Beautiful Yellow Underwing larva at Rammamere Heath 20 database were visited in this way, on the basis June 2011 (Photo: © Dave Wilton) that a single sighting of a larval mine of the

~ 17 ~ BIG News Number 22 Editor: Peter Hall, Melanthia, Chiltern Rd., Ballinger Common, Bucks HP16 9LH e-mail [email protected] ubiquitous Stigmella aurella on a bramble leaf The beetle is believed to breed in dead twigs of is infinitely better than having no records at all oak and possibly other trees. The Stoke of any moth species! Even in the depths of Common specimen was obtained by beating winter I have micro-moths to keep me the lower branches of a medium-sized oak tree company at home. Four species, all of which Quercus robur. Some of these branches were feed on various willowherbs that grow in dead, without foliage and there were small abundance around the playing fields next to scars and cracks in the leaf-bearing branches. our garden (Mompha bradleyi, Mompha The tree is an open-grown specimen, perhaps epilobiella, Mompha jurassicella and Mompha up to 100 years old and surrounded by damp subbistrigella), seem to hibernate inside our heathland on three sides with young birch house every year. They occasionally become Betula and gorse Ulex on the fourth side. The active during the evenings and I have to site is currently being managed by the City of respond, pot in hand, to shouts of “MOTH” London to restore open habitats, with cattle from other members of the family when the grazing the site at the time of this visit. insects begin flying in front of the TV, causing an unwanted distraction while some highly- educational programme such as X Factor is 2011 MOTH REVIEW being viewed… Martin Albertini As usual my very grateful thanks go to Peter Hall for confirming the identities of a large Another year with some unusual weather and number of ‘difficult’ micro-moths trapped generally not very favourable for moths. There during the course of the year. was a hot spell in late Spring and then most of July and August were generally cool and dull. This, along with funny weather patterns in Sphinginus lobatus (Olivier). A rare previous years, has been causing odd malachite beetle new to Bucks emergence times. 2011 was perhaps the most bizarre with individuals of some summer Martin Harvey species appearing in the winter months e.g. Large Nutmeg on 31 December. This species is (This is an edited version of Martin’s original article in The usually out between late-May and early-August, Coleopterist – Martin Albertini). over-wintering as a larva. There have also been reports of late records of Large Nutmeg During the moth evening at Stoke Common on from the neighbouring counties of Berks, Beds 15 July 2011 a single 3mm shiny blackish and Herts. There was one macromoth new to beetle was beaten from an oak tree at the county (one more than last year) and, like SU984854. Subsequent investigations showed last year, many new micromoths. this to be the malachiid beetle Sphinginus lobatus (Olivier) which was first found in the Thanks to all those people who submitted their UK by David Appleton at Titchfield Common, records. This report would not be possible South Hampshire (VC11) in 1982. It has without them. If you still have unsubmitted subsequently been found at some other sites in records, even if just a few, please do send South Hampshire, in Herts VC18 and in West them in now. Gloucestershire VC34. No other records could be traced. It is currently given Red Data Book Details of some of the most notable records K (Insufficiently Known) status. received for macromoths follow, including one from 2010.

~ 18 ~ BIG News Number 22 Editor: Peter Hall, Melanthia, Chiltern Rd., Ballinger Common, Bucks HP16 9LH e-mail [email protected] 2067 Euplagia quadripunctaria Jersey Tiger – 1678 Blair’s Mocha Cyclophora puppillaria - Turville Heath SU7491, one 25 July 2011. Only Chorleywood TQ0296, one male 2 October the second Bucks record for a species that is 2011 (genitalia checked); Bernwood Forest slowly spreading. It has been established in SP6210, one 4 October 2011. This is a scarce the Henley area just over the border in and irregular migrant that doesn’t usually get Oxfordshire and it is nice to see that it has much further than the south coast. However in made it into the nearby part of Bucks. 2011 there was a good influx and, unusually, quite a few made it inland. The only previous 2076 Meganola albula Kent Black Arches – Bucks record was from 1957. Stoke Common SU9885, one 15 July 2011. Only the fourth Bucks record, the previous 1767 Thera firmata Pine Carpet – Rammamere ones being in 2010 (two) and 1998. Heath, Great Brickhill SP9229, one on 24 August, 23 on 28 September, seven on 21 2081 Euxoa tritici White-line Dart - October 2011. Another site for this species Rammamere Heath, Great Brickhill SP9229, 37 that has re-appeared over the last few years. individuals from various sites on the heath 2 August, 24 August & 9 September 2011. 1824 Eupithecia egenaria Fletcher’s/ Pauper Irregularly seen in Bucks and usually only as Pug - Stoke Common SU9885, one male 16 singletons, so good to have so many from one May 2011 (genitalia checked); Rammamere site, probably as a result of the sandy heath Heath, Great Brickhill SP9229, one female 17 habitat. It is well known from the nearby area May 2011 (genitalia checked). These are only of Bedfordshire. the second and third records for Bucks. This used to be a speciality of Small-leaved Lime 2085 Agrotis vestigialis Archer’s Dart - woods in the Wye Valley, but in recent years it Rammamere Heath, Great Brickhill SP9229, one has spread and started to utilize other lime 2 August & six 24 August 2011. Scarcer than species. Of this year’s two records, only the the previous species, but similar in that the second was close to Small-leaved Lime. sandy heath habitat probably suits it and it is well known in nearby areas of Beds. 1855 Eupithecia phoeniceata Cypress Pug – Aylesbury SP8012, one 29 September 2011; 2204 Mythimna obsoleta Obscure Wainscot – Stoke Common SU9885, one 30 September Stoke Common SU9885 one male 26 June 2011 2011. Only six previous records, all bar one (genitalia checked). A spreading species. from the last three years. 2009 produced the first recent Bucks records (at two sites), but none was seen in 2010. 1973 Acherontia atropos Death's-head Hawk- moth – Jordans SU9791, one large larva on 2223 Calophasia lunula Toadflax Brocade – Jasmine 8 September 2010 (reared). An Chorleywood TQ0296, one 5 June 2011; Willen unusual but not unknown foodplant. SP8741 one 20 August 2011. These are the fourth and fifth Bucks records, but only the 1987 Hyles gallii Bedstraw Hawk-moth - second and third for adults. They are also the Newport Pagnell SP8543, one 19 July 2011. most easterly and most northerly (by about This uncommon migrant rarely makes it to 40km) records for the county. Bucks, but this is the third record for this century. 2295 Cryphia muralis Marbled Green – Westcott SP7117, one 16 August 2011. The first Bucks record for another spreading

~ 19 ~ BIG News Number 22 Editor: Peter Hall, Melanthia, Chiltern Rd., Ballinger Common, Bucks HP16 9LH e-mail [email protected] species. Traditionally a moth of southern and 2011 (genitalia checked). A pRDB1 species south-western coasts, it has started to move with very few UK records (possibly less than inland, particularly to the west of Bucks. The 10) and this is only the 5th record for a vice larvae feed on lichens, especially in calcareous county, all of them being in the south of areas, so we may well see it spreading across England. First recognised as British from Kent the Chilterns. in 1973 although a Hampshire specimen dating from 1937 was subsequently discovered. The 2396 Elaphria venustula Rosy Marbled - larval foodplant is thought to be birch. Rammamere Heath, Great Brickhill SP9229, four 17 May & three 3 June 2011. There are 156 Heliozela resplendella (Stainton, 1851) – limited sites for this species in Bucks and only Stoke Common SU9885, two females 16 May one previous record (1976) from the ‘SP’ 2011 (genitalia checked) and a male and 100km square. The 2011 record is by far the female from two later dates. The larvae mine furthest north, by around 18km. leaves of alder. Widespread and locally common in the UK. 2488 Pechipogo strigilata Common Fan-foot – Bernwood Forest SP6210, SP6111 & SP6110, 278 Opogona sacchari (Bojer, 1856) - Turville 19 individuals from four different dates Heath SU7491, one female 3 June 2006 between 16 May and 18 June 2011. Not quite (genitalia checked). An import/vagrant from half the numbers of this BAP species that were the Azores, Madeira and Canary Islands. The recorded at the same site in 2010. larvae feed on banana and sugar cane and can be a serious pest. It would have taken a lot to rival last year’s achievement for micromoths new to Bucks 292 Caloptilia leucapennella (Stephens, 1835) – because they included two species new to the Chorleywood TQ0296, one male 22 June 2011 UK. Whilst there were none new to the UK in (genitalia checked). A Notable b list species 2011 the number new to the Bucks list although widespread. The larvae feed on oak remained similar. However, it seems that this leaves, initially in a mine. year’s bunch included more genuinely rare species, rather than common species not yet 296 Calybites phasianipennella (Hübner, 1813) on the list due to limited recording of micros in – Doddershall disused railway SP7120, one the county. Once again a lot of the new male 12 October 2011 (genitalia checked). A records are due to the enthusiasm of Dave widespread and common species. The larvae Wilton for finding things and Peter Hall’s skills feed on docks, knotgrass and loosestrife, at genitalia determinations (vital for many initially making mines and then spinning leaves micros). together.

Details of some of the most notable micromoth 525 Coleophora solitariella Zeller, 1849 - Stoke records follow, including a few from previous Common SU9885, one male from malaise trap years: 30 June to 5 July 2011 (genitalia checked). Larvae usually feed on greater stitchwort and 10 Eriocrania salopiella (Stainton, 1854) – prefer shady locations. A Notable b list Turville Heath SU9174, 11 June 2011. Vacated species, mainly from the south of the country. leaf mines on birch.

33 Bohemannia auriciliella (Joannis, 1908) – Hodgemoor Wood SU9693, one male 2 July

~ 20 ~ BIG News Number 22 Editor: Peter Hall, Melanthia, Chiltern Rd., Ballinger Common, Bucks HP16 9LH e-mail [email protected] The larvae feed on withered leaves of various plants.

737 Monochroa palustrella (Douglas, 1850) – Stony Stratford SP8040, 13 July 2007. A Notable b list species found in southern England. The larvae feed on dock.

748 Ptocheuusa paupella (Zeller, 1847) - Calvert SP6825, one female 3 September 2011 (genitalia checked). A widespread but local species, the larvae feeding on various plants

Coleophora solitariella male genitalia. Stoke Common (Photo © but especially fleabane which is abundant at Peter Hall) this site. http://www.dissectiongroup.co.uk/page2225.html 790 Chionodes fumatella (Douglas, 1850) - 534 Coleophora currucipennella Zeller 1839 – Westcott SP7117, one male 26 July 2011 Hodgemoor Wood SU9693, one male 11 July (genitalia checked). A widespread Notable b list 2011 (genitalia checked). The larvae feed on species, the larvae of which are thought to aok, hornbeam and sallow. feed on mosses. 561 Coleophora therinella Tengström, 1848 – 796 Aroga velocella (Zeller, 1839) – Westcott SP7117, one male 26 July 2011 Rammamere Heath SP9230, one male 24 (genitalia checked). An old larval record from August 2011 (genitalia checked). A local, 1925 has been rejected because it was mainly English, species. The larvae feed on associated with the wrong foodplant. A sheep’s sorrel. Notable b list species, mainly from the south. The larvae feed on black bindweed. 799 Neofriseria singula (Staudinger, 1876) – Rammamere Heath SP9229, one male 11 June 629 Biselachista utonella (Frey, 1856) - 2011 (genitalia checked). A pRDB1 heathland Whitfield Wood SP6439, one male 26 June species of south-east England which may be 2011 (genitalia checked). A Notable b list decreasing. The larvae feed on sheep’s sorrel. species widespread in England. The larvae feed on various Carex species. 816 Scrobipalpa obsoletella (Fischer von Röslerstamm, 1841) – Greatmoor SP7022, one 637 Crassa tinctella (Hübner, 1796) – male 28 July 2011 (genitalia checked). A Chorleywood TQ0296, one male 8 May 2011 Notable b list species traditionally of coastal (genitalia checked). A Notable b list species, areas but now also found inland on waste mainly found in mature deciduous woodland in ground. The larvae feed on Atriplex and the south of England. The larvae are usually Chenopodium spp. found under bark or associated with decaying wood. 909 Sorhagenia lophyrella (Douglas, 1846) – Ivinghoe Hills SP9616, one male 3 July 2011 656 Tachystola acroxantha (Meyrick, 1885) - (genitalia checked). A Notable a list species Chorleywood TQ0296, 29 May 2011. Originally found in southern England, the larvae feeding an adventive species, probably from Australian on buckthorns. plant material in 1908. It has now become more widespread and is breeding in the UK.

~ 21 ~ BIG News Number 22 Editor: Peter Hall, Melanthia, Chiltern Rd., Ballinger Common, Bucks HP16 9LH e-mail [email protected] (genitalia checked). Not long ago this was a pRDB1 species, but in recent years it has become more widespread across the southern counties of England. The larvae feed on fruits of plum and cherry and possibly apple.

1269 Cydia conicolana (Heylaerts, 1874) - Ballinger Common SP9103, one female 11 June 2006 (genitalia checked). A Notable b list species mainly from the south of England. The larvae enter new pine cones and feed on the seeds, later leaving a tell-tail exit hole. Sorhagenia lophyrella male genitalia. Ivinghoe Hills July 3 2011. (Photo: © Peter Hall) http://www.dissectiongroup.co.uk/page1639.html 1286 Dichrorampha sedatana Busck, 1906 Turville Heath SU9174, one male 11 June 2011 911 Scythris grandipennis (Haworth, 1828) - (genitalia checked). A Notable b list species, Stoke Common SU9885, one male 26 June the larvae feeding in the roots of tansy. 2011 (genitalia checked). A Notable b list heathland species, the larvae feeding on gorse. 1299 Crambus hamella (Thunberg, 1788) – Stoke Common SU9885, at least three 2 930 Gynnidomorpha alismana (Ragonot, 1883) September 2011. A true heathland species – Greatmoor SP7022, one male 28 July 2011 with Notable b list status and found in suitable (genitalia checked). A Notable b list species of places in much of the UK except Northern central and southern England, the larvae Scotland. The life cycle is not known in great feeding in the flower stems of water plantain. detail but the foodplant is thought to be the grass Deschampsia flexuosa. 1144a Epinotia granitana (Herrich-Schäffer, 1851) – Marlow Bottom SU9585, 25 May 2010. This is an adventive/migrant species first found in the UK in 2007 and this might be only the second record. It was a chance find when some photographs of unidentified species were being sorted out.

1200a Eucosma parvulana (Wilkinson, 1859) - Stoke Common SU9885, one female from malaise trap 8 to 15 June 2011 (genitalia checked). There has been a lot of confusion between this species and two others. It is now established that reliable identification of adults Crambus hamella male genitalia. Stoke Common 2 September is only possible from inspection of female 2011 (Photo: © Peter Hall) genitalia. Larvae can be sorted out by foodplants, this species being associated with 1357 Evergestis extimalis (Scopoli, 1763) – saw-wort. Distribution is currently unclear due Chorleywood TQ0296, one male 12 August to the difficulties with identification. 2011 (genitalia checked). This species used to be mostly coastal as a resident and inland 1249 Grapholita lobarzewskii (Nowicki, 1860) – records were probably of migrants. It has now Oakley Wood SP6111, one male 1 July 2011 spread inland, often associated with chalk and

~ 22 ~ BIG News Number 22 Editor: Peter Hall, Melanthia, Chiltern Rd., Ballinger Common, Bucks HP16 9LH e-mail [email protected] is considered as local. The larvae feed on various cruciferae, especially the seed heads. GRANGELANDS & CADSDEN June 11 2011 1478b Vitula biviella (Zeller, 1848) - Stoke Common SU9985, one male 1 August 2011 Roger Kemp (genitalia checked); Hodgemoor Wood SU9693, one female 3 August 2011 (genitalia checked). First recorded in the UK from Kent in 1997 as a migrant. It has quickly become established and spread in the south and now has Notable a list status. The species is associated with pine woods and the larvae are found in pine flowers.

1486 Apomyelois bistriatella (Ragonot, 1887) – Turville Heath SU7491, one female 7 June 2006 (genitalia checked). A Notable b list heathland species of England and Wales as far north as the Midlands. The larvae feed on the fungus Daldinia, although the literature varies between We had a good turnout of 21 people for this D. concentrica and D. vernicosa growing on joint field trip with the Reading and District burnt gorse or dying birch. Natural History Society. The weather was ideal and only turned rainy at the close just after 4 Field Reports 2011 pm.

Seven field meetings were held this year at the There was nothing spectacular to report on the following locations: invertebrate front, only the expected regular species including Roman snails (Helix pomatia) Grangelands & Cadsden June 11 characteristically numerous at Grangelands. On Leader: Roger Kemp the botanical front, notable species were musk orchid 5 spikes (2 weeks later 29 spikes), many Turville Heath June 11 fragrant orchids, bird’s-nest orchids (over), Leader: Tony Harman helleborines in bud which later turned out to be broad-leaved, wild candytuft, dense-flowered Bernwood Forest June 18 fumitory and Alexanders. Hairy rockcress was a Leader: Peter Hall plant new to some.

Stoke Common July 15 The following additional invertebrates were Leader: Martin Albertini recorded:

Wendover Woods July 23 Grangelands & Cadsden Leader: Peter Hall Butterflies Pyrgus malvae Grizzled Skipper Ochlodes sylvanus Large Skipper Fulmer Mere August 20 Gonepteryx rhamni Brimstone Pieris brassicae Large White Leader: Martin Albertini Callophrys rubi Green Hairstreak Aricia agestis Brown Argus Polyommatus icarus Common Blue Burnham Beeches October 22 Pararge aegeria Speckled Wood Leader: Neil Fletcher Maniola jurtina Meadow Brown

~ 23 ~ BIG News Number 22 Editor: Peter Hall, Melanthia, Chiltern Rd., Ballinger Common, Bucks HP16 9LH e-mail [email protected] Aphantopus hyperantus Ringlet refreshments and specimen observation. Eight Coenonympha pamphilus Small Heath Pyrgus malvae Grizzled Skipper members attended plus the leader and this Moths made for a very pleasant day and we were Eurrhypara hortulata Small Magpie Pyrausta aurata fortunate to be blessed by the presence of Chrysoteuchia culmella micromoth expert Dr. John Langmaid. The Celypha lacunana group broke into small parties to explore the Aplocera efformata Lesser Treble-bar Coleoptera Heath and later, the beechwood forming part Adalia bipunctata 2-spot Ladybird of the Farm property. Coccinella septempunctata 7-spot Ladybird Propylea quatuordecimguttata 14-spot Ladybird Calvia quatuordecimguttata Cream-spot Ladybird Oedemera nobilis Pantolon Beetle Hoplia philanthus Welsh Chafer Beetle Orthoptera Tetrix undulata Common Ground-hopper Omocestus viridulus Common Green Grasshopper Leptophyes punctatissima Speckled Bush-cricket Diptera Episyrphus balteatus Marmalade Hoverfly Heteroptera Dolycoris baccarum Hairy Shieldbug Hymenoptera Diplolepis rosae Bedeguar Gall Liposthenus glechomae Ground Ivy Gall Bombus lapidarius Bumblebee Bombus pascuorum Bumblebee 2 finalists for “most pockets” competition (Photo © Peter Hall) Thanks to the National Trust warden Jerry Page who joined us for the Grangelands walk The attached list of species indicates the varied and other recorders (Renee Grayer, Martin interests of recorders. This list would have Harvey and Ken Merrifield). been much longer had the planned light trapping taken place that night. Following a heavy shower prior to dusk, by 9.15pm the TURVILLE HEATH temperature had fallen to 7˚C and with the June 11 2011 forecast of a chilly night (in the event it went below 4˚C), the moth trapping was cancelled. Tony Harman The day temperature just touched above 16°C but the numbers of moths detected was rather low for the time of year. Dichrorampha sedatana was yet another county first from this site.

The Group investgates the beechwood (Photo © Peter Hall) Members met at Turville Heath Farm, where the farm barn was opened as a base for

~ 24 ~ BIG News Number 22 Editor: Peter Hall, Melanthia, Chiltern Rd., Ballinger Common, Bucks HP16 9LH e-mail [email protected]

342 Phyllonorycter coryli Mine 420 Argyresthia pruniella Adult 447 Roeslerstammia erxlebella Case 493 Coleophora serratella Larval feeding signs 537 Coleophora kuehnella Case 688 Agonopterix heracliana Larval 787 Bryotropha terrella Adult 874 Blastobasis lacticolella Adult 883 Mompha raschkiella Mine 970 Pandemis cerasana Adult 1033 Tortrix viridana Adult 1076 Celypha lacunana Adult 1082 Hedya pruniana Adult 1083 Hedya nubiferana Adult 1286 Dichrorampha sedatana Adult 1293 Chrysoteuchia culmella Adult 1301 Crambus lathoniellus Adult 1405 Pleuroptya ruralis Larval spinning Dichrorampha sedatana male genitalia (Photo: © Peter Hall) 1614 Speckled Wood Adult 1626 Meadow Brown Adult 1727 Silver-ground Carpet Adult Turville Heath SU7491 1902 Brown Silver-line Adult Coleoptera 2089 Heart and Dart Adult Athous haemorrhoidalis 2187 Common Quaker Larval Cantharis rustica 2441 Silver Y Adult Calvia quattuordecimguttata Cream-spot Ladybird Harmonia axyridis Harlequin Ladybird Coccinella septempunctata 7-spot Ladybird Bernwood Forest Phyllobius maculicornis Green Leaf Weevil Polydrusus formosus June 18 2011 Ptilinus pectinicornis male Hemicrepidius hirtus A click beetle Peter Hall Hemiptera Heterotoma planicornis Pentatoma rufipes Forest Bug The weather the previous day was very wet Elasmostethus interstinctus Birch Shieldbug Diptera and the day of the meeting was one of Epistrophe eligans A hoverfly sunshine between regular heavy showers. The Episyrphus balteatus A hoverfly temperature was distinctly cool and at the Syritta pipiens A hoverfly ♀ Xylota segnis A hoverfly ♂ meet time of 9pm it was only 12°C. The Dolichopus ungulatus temperature then held steady until midnight Neuroptera Chrysopidia ciliata after which it dropped a little, reaching 9.5°C Hymenoptera by 4am. Cratichneumon coruscator Tryphon bidentatus Campoletis sp. This was a joint meeting with the British Bombus hypnorum Tree Bumblebee Entomological and Natural History Society and Nomada panzeri ♀ as such was co-hosted by Dr. Paul Waring, who Nysson spinosus ♀ Lepidoptera did his Ph.D thesis at the site back in the B&F# Species Stage 1980s. Paul was keen to moth-trap as close to 4 Micropterix aruncella Adult 6 Eriocrania subpurpurella Mine (vacated) his original sites as possible, so traps were set 10 Eriocrania salopiella Mine (vacated) up in the Oakley Wood section apart from one 40 Bohemannia pulverosella Mine (vacated) 77 Stigmella tityrella Mine (vacated) BIG member who decided to visit Hell Coppice 99 Stigmella hybnerella Mine (vacated) instead. Paul was the only representative 148 Nemophora degeerella Adult solely from the BENHS. There was a research 290 Caloptilia semifascia Larval spinning 293 Caloptilia syringella Mine student present along with four members from 303 Parornix anglicella Larval spinning BIG (one of whom was also a BENHS member). 321 Phyllonorycter messaniella Mine 326 Phyllonorycter blancardella Mine As expected, the cool weather, heavy daytime 337 Phyllonorycter hilarella Adult rain and stiff breeze meant that the numbers of 341 Phyllonorycter maestingella Mine

~ 25 ~ BIG News Number 22 Editor: Peter Hall, Melanthia, Chiltern Rd., Ballinger Common, Bucks HP16 9LH e-mail [email protected] moths were very low. By 1am we had all left 1428 Aphomia sociella Bee apart from Paul who stayed all night. 1452 Phycita roborella Macromoths Bernwood Forest Complex SP6110-6111 0014 Hepialus humuli Ghost Moth B&F# Taxon Vernacular 0017 Hepialus lupulinus Common Swift Micromoths 1634 Malacosoma neustria Lackey 0125 Emmetia marginea 1640 Euthrix potatoria Drinker 0450 Scythropia crataegella Hawthorn Moth 1655 Tethea or Poplar Lutestring Coleophora 0492 flavipennella 1667 Comibaena bajularia Blotched Emerald 0756 Parachronistis albiceps 1669 Hemithea aestivaria Common Emerald Carpatolechia 1674 Jodis lactearia Little Emerald 0770 proximella 1702 Idaea biselata Small Fan-footed Wave 0787 Bryotropha terrella 1713 Idaea aversata Riband Wave 0921 Phtheochroa inopiana 1748 Mesoleuca albicillata Beautiful Carpet 0937 Agapeta hamana 1766 Plemyria rubiginata Blue-bordered Carpet 0970 Pandemis cerasana Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix 1776 Colostygia pectinataria Green Carpet 0972 Pandemis heparana Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix 1777 Hydriomena furcata July Highflyer 0977 Archips podana Large Fruit-tree Tortrix 1887 Lomaspilis marginata Clouded Border 0979 Archips crataegana Brown Oak Tortrix Variegated Golden 1904 Plagodis dolabraria Scorched Wing 0980 Archips xylosteana Tortrix 1906 Opisthograptis luteolata Brimstone Moth Choristoneura 0983 hebenstreitella 1924 Angerona prunaria Orange Moth 1020 Cnephasia stephensiana Grey Tortrix 1931 Biston betularia Peppered Moth 1021 Cnephasia asseclana Flax Tortrix 1941 Alcis repandata Mottled Beauty 1024 Cnephasia incertana Light Grey Tortrix 1947 Ectropis bistortata Engrailed 1032 Aleimma loeflingiana 1955 Cabera pusaria Common White Wave 1033 Tortrix viridana Green Oak Tortrix 1958 Lomographa temerata Clouded Silver 1034 Spatalistis bifasciana 1961 Campaea margaritata Light Emerald 1076 Celypha lacunana 1962 Hylaea fasciaria Barred Red 1082 Hedya pruniana 1981 Laothoe populi Poplar Hawk 1083 Hedya nubiferana 1991 Deilephila elpenor Elephant Hawk Pseudosciaphila 1088 branderiana 1999 Stauropus fagi Lobster Moth 1092 Apotomis turbidana 2031 Leucoma salicis White Satin 1094 Apotomis capreana 2037 Miltochrista miniata Rosy Footman 1169 Gypsonoma dealbana 2040 Cybosia mesomella Four-dotted Footman 1175 Epiblema uddmanniana Bramble Shoot 2061 Spilosoma luteum Buff Ermine 1177 Epiblema rosaecolana 2069 Tyria jacobaeae Cinnabar 1293 Chrysoteuchia culmella 2089 Agrotis exclamationis Heart & Dart 1301 Crambus lathoniellus 2102 Ochropleura plecta Flame Shoulder 1313 Catoptria pinella 2107 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 1316 Catoptria falsella 2128 Xestia triangulum Double Square-spot 1334 Scoparia ambigualis 2150 Polia nebulosa Grey Arches 1338 Dipleurina lacustrata 2278 Acronicta megacephala Poplar Grey 1392 Udea olivalis 2302 Rusina ferruginea Brown Rustic 1424 Endotricha flammealis 2314 Parastichtis ypsillon Dingy Shears

~ 26 ~ BIG News Number 22 Editor: Peter Hall, Melanthia, Chiltern Rd., Ballinger Common, Bucks HP16 9LH e-mail [email protected]

2321 Apamea monoglypha Dark Arches Notable b list species and a real heathland 2327 Apamea epomidion Clouded Brindle specialist. A single Diaphania perspectalis, 2333 Apamea anceps Large Nutmeg which is an impressive pyralid moth new to the UK in 2008, was the third Bucks record, the 2337z Oligia sp. Minor sp. first having been found in 2010 at Stoke Green, 2345 Photedes minima Small Dotted Buff about 3km away. This species is a pest on box 2381 Hoplodrina alsines Uncertain bushes and (helped by man) has found its way 2410 Protodeltote pygarga Marbled White Spot to Europe from South-east Asia. The first 2434 Diachrysia chrysitis Burnished Brass larvae (about 40 of them) to be found away 2442 Autographa pulchrina Beautiful Golden Y from a nursery were discovered in Stoke Poges 2443 Autographa jota Plain Golden Y during 2011, so it may well turn up again in 2474 Rivula sericealis Straw Dot South Bucks. 2477 Hypena proboscidalis Snout Schrankia 2484 costaestrigalis Pinion-streaked Snout 2488 Pechipogo strigilata Common Fan-foot

Stoke Common SSSI July 15 2011

Martin Albertini

This was a joint meeting with the Friends of Stoke Common (who were running a “beasts of the night” event). Six BIG members attended and seven moth lights were operated, spread across the main common in order to find spots sheltered from the wind. There were a few Diaphania perspectalis (Photo © Peter Hall) drops of rain at the start, but the forecast was for significant rain around 1am. Believing the Pempelia palumbella (whose larvae feed on forecast, we packed up just before it came heather and heaths) and the Notable b list down. There were just over 20 Friends of Pempelia genistella (whose larvae feed on Stoke Common and they saw a reasonable gorse) were first recorded in Bucks in 2008 and number of species, including hawkmoths, 2009 respectively, both from Stoke Common, despite the rather slow arrival of macromoths so it was good to see them again. There was at the lights. The eventual total of 83 just one of the former, but good numbers of macromoth species was, considering the the latter species. number of lights, rather disappointing for peak mothing season. On a good night one trap Other notable moths were Grass Emerald should have had that number! However, the Pseudoterpna pruinata (whose larvae feed on micromoths did quite well with 75 species gorse, broom and petty whin), this being the recorded. first record at the site since the mid-1980s. A third of the 18 Bucks records are from Stoke Small Chocolate-tip Clostera pigra, whose Common. Kent Black Arches Meganola albula (whose larvae feed on Rubus spp.) is a Notable larvae feed on aspens, willows and sallows, th was first recorded in Bucks at Stoke Common b list species and this was only the 6 Bucks in 2009 when a single individual was seen, so it record. Nemapogon ruricolella (whose larvae was good to see at least four this time. It is a

~ 27 ~ BIG News Number 22 Editor: Peter Hall, Melanthia, Chiltern Rd., Ballinger Common, Bucks HP16 9LH e-mail [email protected] rd feed in bracket fungi) was the 3 Bucks record 455 Ypsolopha scabrella for this Notable b list species. 458 Ypsolopha alpella 461 Ypsolopha ustella Amongst other orders, the star was the tiny 464 Plutella xylostella Diamond-back Moth malachite beetle Sphinginus lobatus, given 490 Coleophora lutipennella RDBK (insufficient data to classify), which was 492 Coleophora flavipennella 493 Coleophora serratella a first for Bucks and there are few UK records 496 Coleophora milvipennis (see separate article). A single Bog Bush 533 Coleophora anatipennella Cricket Metrioptera brachyptera (Notable b list 535 Coleophora ibipennella status) was seen, Stoke Common being 640 Batia lunaris probably the only Bucks site for the species. A 658 Carcina quercana single Dusky Cockroach Ectobius lapponicus 752 Aristotelia ericinella (also with Notable b list status) was seen, this 756 Parachronistis albiceps being another Stoke Common speciality with 760 Exoteleia dodecella limited numbers of sites in Bucks. 771 Carpatolechia alburnella 787 Bryotropha terrella References: Harvey, Martin C. 2011. Sphinginus lobatus 854 Anacampsis blattariella (Olivier) (Malachiidae) new to 874 Blastobasis lacticolella Buckinghamshire. The Coleopterist 20 (3): 145-6 888 Mompha propinquella 892 Mompha subbistrigella Stoke Common (SU9885) 15 July 2011 937 Agapeta hamana Dermaptera Barred Fruit-tree 970 Pandemis cerasana Tortrix Forficula auricularia Common Earwig Dark Fruit-tree Orthoptera 972 Pandemis heparana Tortrix Metrioptera brachyptera Bog Bush-cricket Variegated Golden 980 Archips xylosteana Tortrix Dictyoptera 1006 Epagoge grotiana Ectobius lapponicus Dusky cockroach 1010 Ditula angustiorana Red-barred Tortrix Homoptera 1020 Cnephasia stephensiana Grey Tortrix Iassus lanio A leafhopper 1036 Acleris forsskaleana Heteroptera 1045 Acleris notana Lygocoris viridis A mirid bug 1051 Acleris logiana Stenodema calcarata A mirid bug 1063 Celypha striana Orthotylus ericetorum A mirid bug 1086 Hedya salicella Asciodema obsoleta A mirid bug 1092 Apotomis turbidana Himacerus apterus A damsel bug Kleidocerys truncatulus 1093 Apotomis betuletana ericae A ground bug 1113 Eudemis profundana Pentatoma rufipes Forest shieldbug 1118 Ancylis uncella Lepidoptera 1155 Epinotia brunnichana Micromoths 1159 Rhopobota naevana Holly Tortrix 112 Stigmella luteella 1165 Zeiraphera isertana 123 Tischeria ekebladella 1169 Gypsonoma dealbana 128 Phylloporia bistrigella 1200 Eucosma hohenwartiana 219 Nemapogon ruricolella 1205 Spilonota ocellana Bud Moth 301 Parornix betulae 1211 Rhyacionia pinicolana 353 Phyllonorycter ulmifoliella 1236 Pammene fasciana Horse Chestnut leaf 1255 Cydia ulicetana 366a Cameraria ohridella miner 1260 Cydia splendana 410 Argyresthia brockeella 1288 Alucita hexadactyla Twenty-plume 411 Argyresthia goedartella Garden Grass- 424 Yponomeuta evonymella Bird-cherry Ermine 1293 Chrysoteuchia culmella veneer 453 Ypsolopha dentella Honeysuckle Moth 1294 Crambus pascuella

~ 28 ~ BIG News Number 22 Editor: Peter Hall, Melanthia, Chiltern Rd., Ballinger Common, Bucks HP16 9LH e-mail [email protected]

1302 Crambus perlella 1922 Ourapteryx sambucaria Swallow-tailed Moth 1304 Agriphila straminella 1931 Biston betularia Peppered Moth 1306 Agriphila inquinatella 1937 Peribatodes rhomboidaria Willow Beauty 1313 Catoptria pinella 1941 Alcis repandata Mottled Beauty 1316 Catoptria falsella Common White 1955 Cabera pusaria Wave 1331 Acentria ephemerella Water Veneer 1956 Cabera exanthemata Common Wave 1334 Scoparia ambigualis 1961 Campaea margaritata Light Emerald 1344 Eudonia mercurella 1978 Hyloicus pinastri Pine Hawk-moth 1336 Eudonia pallida 1981 Laothoe populi Poplar Hawk-moth 1405 Pleuroptya ruralis Mother of Pearl Elephant Hawk- 1409a Diaphania perspectalis Boxworm 1991 Deilephila elpenor moth 1413 Hypsopygia costalis Gold Triangle 1999 Stauropus fagi Lobster Moth 1424 Endotricha flammealis 2000 Notodonta dromedarius Iron Prominent 1428 Aphomia sociella Bee Moth 2003 Notodonta ziczac Pebble Prominent 1436 Conobathra repandana 2008 Ptilodon capucina Coxcomb Prominent 1439 Trachycera advenella 2017 Clostera pigra Small Chocolate-tip 1442 Pempelia palumbella 2030 Euproctis similis Yellow-tail 1443 Pempelia genistella 2033 Lymantria monacha Black Arches 1452 Phycita roborella Four-dotted 2040 Cybosia mesomella Footman 1455 Dioryctria simplicella 2044 Eilema griseola Dingy Footman 1461 Assara terebrella 2047 Eilema complana Scarce Footman 1474 Ephestia parasitella 2049 Eilema depressa Buff Footman 1509 Stenoptilia pterodactyla A plume moth 2050 Eilema lurideola Common Footman Macromoths 2064 Phragmatobia fuliginosa Ruby Tiger 14 Hepialus humuli Ghost Moth 2076 Meganola albula Kent Black Arches 161 Zeuzera pyrina Leopard Moth 2088 Agrotis clavis Heart and Club 1645 Falcaria lacertinaria Scalloped Hook-tip 2089 Agrotis exclamationis Heart and Dart 1646 Watsonalla binaria Oak Hook-tip 2098 Axylia putris Flame 1648 Drepana falcataria Pebble Hook-tip 2102 Ochropleura plecta Flame Shoulder 1652 Thyatira batis Peach Blossom Large Yellow 1653 Habrosyne pyritoides Buff Arches 2107 Noctua pronuba Underwing 1657 Ochropacha duplaris Common Lutestring Lesser Yellow 2109 Noctua comes Underwing 1677 Cyclophora albipunctata Birch Mocha Broad-bordered 1665 Pseudoterpna pruinata Grass Emerald 2110 Noctua fimbriata Yellow Underwing 1666 Geometra papilionaria Large Emerald 2118 Lycophotia porphyrea True Lover’s Knot 1677 Cyclophora albipunctata Birch Mocha 2128 Xestia triangulum Double Square-spot 1690 Scopula imitaria Small Blood-vein 215 Melanchra persicariae Dot 1699 Idaea rusticata Least Carpet Bright-line Brown- Small Fan-footed 2160 Lacanobia oleracea eye 1702 Idaea biselata Wave 2193 Mythimna ferrago Clay 1713 Idaea aversata Riband Wave 2194 Mythimna albipuncta White-point 1732 Scotopteryx chenopodiata Shaded Broad-bar 2198 Mythimna impura Smoky Wainscot 1738 Epirrhoe alternata Common Carpet 2268 Parastichtis suspecta Suspected 1752 Cosmorhoe ocellata Purple Bar 2278 Acronicta megacephala Poplar Grey 1755 Eulithis testata Chevron Grey Dagger / Dark 2284x Acronicta tridens/psi Dagger 1789 Rheumaptera undulata Scallop Shell Svensson’s Copper 1846 Eupithecia nanata Narrow-winged Pug 2298 Amphipyra berbera Underwing 1862 Gymnoscelis rufifasciata Double-striped Pug 2301 Dypterygia scabriuscula Bird’s Wing 1893 Macaria liturata Tawny-barred Angle 2318 Cosmia trapezina Dun-bar 1906 Opisthograptis luteolata Brimstone moth 2321 Apamea monoglypha Dark Arches 1915 Ennomos erosaria September Thorn 2343 Mesapamea secalis Common Rustic 1921 Crocallis elinguaria Scalloped Oak 2345 Photedes minima Small Dotted Buff

~ 29 ~ BIG News Number 22 Editor: Peter Hall, Melanthia, Chiltern Rd., Ballinger Common, Bucks HP16 9LH e-mail [email protected]

2381 Hoplodrina alsines Uncertain session and on arrival at 8pm they were 2399 Pyrrhia umbra Bordered Sallow greeted with the sight of mist beginning to 2410 Protodeltote pygarga Marbled White Spot form on the site along with dropping 2421 Bena bicolorana Scarce Silver-lines temperatures. The mist came and went all 2423 Nycteola revayana Oak Nycteoline night and the swirling patterns of the tiny 2441 Autographa gamma Silver Y water droplets in the MV light were probably 2477 Hypena proboscidalis Snout Zanclognatha more interesting than the limited number of 2489 tarsipennalis Fan-foot moths caught. Diptera Tipula cava A cranefly The local Crescent Celaena leucostigma was the Platypalpus cothurnatus A dance fly most interesting species and the only Hercostomus nigripennis A dolichopodid fly macromoth indicative of a wet habitat. Medetera dendrobaena A dolichopodid fly Sphaerophoria scripta A hoverfly Estheria cristata A parasitic fly Fulmer Mere (SU9986) 20 Aug 2011 Coleoptera Dermaptera Harpalus rufipes Strawberry Seed Beetle Forficula auricularia Common Earwig Paradromius linearis A ground beetle Orthoptera Dromius quadrimaculatus A ground beetle Leptophyes punctatissima Speckled Bush Cricket Calodromius spilotus A ground beetle Trichoptera Oxytelus laqueatus A rove beetle Mystacides longicornis A caddis fly Lepidoptera Geotrupes stercorarius Dor Beetle B&F # Butterflies Aphodius rufus A dung beetle Aphodius rufipes A dung beetle 1551 Pieris napi Green-veined White Hemicoelus fulvicornis A woodworm beetle 1574 Polyommatus icarus Common Blue Sphinginus lobatus A malachite beetle RDBK 1580 Celastrina argiolus Holly Blue Aphidecta obliterata Larch ladybird 1590 Vanessa atalanta Red Admiral Serica brunnea Brown Chafer 1598 Polygonia c-album Comma Lagria hirta 1614 Pararge aegeria Speckled Wood Nalassus laevioctostriatus A tenebrionid beetle 1625 Pyronia tithonus Gatekeeper Neliocarus sus Heather Weevil 1626 Maniola jurtina Meadow Brown Strophosoma Micromoths melanogrammum Nut Leaf Weevil Elachista Sitona striatellus A weevil 609 maculicerusella Curculio glandium Acorn Weevil 658 Carcina quercana Rhynchaenus signifer A weevil 1304 Agriphila straminella Hymenoptera 1305 Agriphila tristella Myrmica scabrinodis An ant 1309 Agriphila geniculea Vespa crabro Hornet 1329 Donacaula forficella 1331 Acentria ephemerella Water Veneer Low Farm, Fulmer Mere 1348 Parapoynx stratiotata Ringed China-mark August 20 2011 1405 Pleuroptya ruralis Mother of Pearl Macromoths 15 Hepialus sylvina Orange Swift Martin Albertini 1680 Cyclophora punctaria Maiden's Blush 1713 Idaea aversata Riband Wave th By 8.30pm on the 19 no one had confirmed 1738 Epirrhoe alternata Common Carpet attendance so the daytime part of the meeting Camptogramma was cancelled. However, one member did turn 1742 bilineata Yellow Shell up and carried out some recording from the 1776 Colostygia pectinataria Green Carpet 1956 Cabera exanthemata Common Wave footpaths surrounding the site prior to rain 2044 Eilema griseola Dingy Footman around lunch-time. Four came for the evening

~ 30 ~ BIG News Number 22 Editor: Peter Hall, Melanthia, Chiltern Rd., Ballinger Common, Bucks HP16 9LH e-mail [email protected]

2069 Tyria jacobaeae Cinnabar - larva species were new for Burnham Beeches, which 2102 Ochropleura plecta Flame Shoulder is probably quite a feat, given the coverage it 2107 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing gets. Phyllonorycter platanoidella (on Norway Lesser Broad-bordered 2111 Noctua janthe Yellow Underwing Maple) has Notable b list status. Setaceous Hebrew 2126 Xestia c-nigrum Character Tremendous thanks to Andy and Melissa 2133 Xestia sexstrigata Six-striped Rustic Banthorpe for their expertise which made a 2134 Xestia xanthographa Square-spot Rustic Svensson's Copper huge contribution to the success of the day, 2298 Amphipyra berbera Underwing not to mention the species count. 2343 Mesapamea secalis Common Rustic 2343a Mesapamea didyma Lesser Common Rustic Species are grouped below by host plant. The 2353 Luperina testacea Flounced Rustic majority are Lepidoptera, indicated by their 2361 Hydraecia micacea Rosy Rustic 2368 Celaena leucostigma Crescent Bradley & Fletcher number. Other species are 2384 Hoplodrina ambigua Vine's Rustic labelled by family. 2474 Rivula sericealis Straw Dot Zanclognatha Mine on Alder (Alnus glutinosa) 2489 tarsipennalis Fan-foot 345 Phyllonorycter rajella Coleoptera Mines on Crab Apple (Malus sylvestris) Aphodius rufipes A dung beetle Bohemannia Quedius levicollis A rove beetle 40 pulverosella Hymenoptera 97 Stigmella malella Apple Pygmy Pear Leaf Blister Vespa crabro Hornet 260 Leucoptera malifoliella Moth Arachnida 310 Callisto denticulella Leiobunum rotundum A Harvestman Mine on Ash (Fraxinus excelsior) 293 Caloptilia syringella Burnham Beeches Mine on Aspen (Populus tremula) nd October 22 2011 Arachnida; Eriophyidae; Gall Phyllocoptes populi mite Neil Fletcher Mines on Beech (Fagus sylvatica) 77 Stigmella tityrella Despite the lateness of the season, there was a 81 Stigmella hemargyrella very good turnout of 15 people to search for Phyllonorycter 321 messaniella leafmines in the varied habitats that comprise Phyllonorycter Burnham Beeches. Leafmines are often the 341 maestingella Diptera; easiest way to record a number of uncommon Cecidomyiidae; Leaf and otherwise difficult-to- find species and I Hartigiola annulipes gall hoped we might find up to fifty. In the end we Mines on Silver Birch (Betula pendula) easily exceeded this number of species. 34 Ectoedemia occultella 64 Stigmella continuella The group toured the Beeches and collected 110 Stigmella betulicola mines from a wide variety of vegetation and 112 Stigmella luteella then adjourned to the office to examine the 113 Stigmella sakhalinella materials more closely. 117 Stigmella confusella 301 Parornix betulae The final species count for the day was 70, Phyllonorycter with potential of a couple of extras if mines 353 ulmifoliella breed out as expected. I’m not sure there is Mine on Bittersweet (Solanum dulcamara) anything that is particularly rare, but many of 476 Acrolepia autumnitella these species are very under-recorded with Mines on Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) 67 Stigmella plagicolella only a handful of records for VC24. Several

~ 31 ~ BIG News Number 22 Editor: Peter Hall, Melanthia, Chiltern Rd., Ballinger Common, Bucks HP16 9LH e-mail [email protected]

Arachnida; subbimaculella Eriophyidae; Gall Eriophyes padi mite 123 Tischeria ekebladella Mines on Bramble (Rubus sp.) 154 Heliozela sericiella 50 Stigmella aurella 185 Luffia ferchaultella 125 Emmetia marginea 274 Bucculatrix ulmella Hemiptera; Mines on Wild Cherry (Prunus avium) Trioza remota Triozidae; Leaf Gall 263 Lyonetia clerkella Apple Leaf Miner Mines on Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia) Phyllonorycter 330 cerasicolella 324 Phyllonorycter sorbi Mines on Crack Willow (Salix fragilis) Rhamphus pulicarius Coleoptera: A beetle 367 Phyllocnistis saligna Mines on Sallow / Goat Willow (Salix caprea) Hymenoptera; 25 Ectoedemia intimella Tenthredinidae: 68 Stigmella salicis Pontania proxima Sawfly Mine on Sheep's Sorrel (Rumex acetosella) Mine on Domestic Apple (Malus domestica) Diptera: Phyllonorycter Pegomya solennis Anthomyiidae 326 blancardella Mines on Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus) Mines on Elm (Ulmus sp.) 65 Stigmella speciosa 63 Stigmella lemniscella 284 Caloptilia rufipennella 80 Stigmella ulmivora Phyllonorycter 95 Stigmella viscerella 364 geniculella Phyllonorycter Mine on Whitebeam (Sorbus aria) 352 schreberella Phyllonorycter Mine on Avens (Geum) 325 mespilella Hymenoptera; Other Species, not Leafmines Tenthredinidae: Coleoptera; Heather Metallus lanceolatus Sawfly Chilocorus bipustulatus Ladybird Mines on Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) Coreus marginatus Hemiptera; Coreidae 29 Ectoedemia atricollis Paidiscura pallens Arachnida; Araneae 100 Stigmella oxyacanthella Bucculatrix 275 bechsteinella 303 Parornix anglicella Phyllonorycter 323 oxyacanthae Note of Thanks Phyllonorycter 332 corylifoliella Peter Hall Phyllonorycter 332a leucographella Firethorn Leaf Miner Mines on Hazel (Corylus avellana) This and the previous issue was proof read by Dave 75 Stigmella floslactella Wilton who has proven to be a master of this role 111 Stigmella microtheriella and I purvey my grateful thanks to the time he has 304 Parornix devoniella allocated in checking this document over. Nut Leaf Blister 342 Phyllonorycter coryli Moth This is the only section he hasn’t checked, so I Mine on Holly (Ilex aquifolium) should put a tyepo in just to infuriate him. Diptera: Phytomyza ilicis Agromyzidae Mines on Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) 318 Phyllonorycter tenerella 343 Phyllonorycter esperella Mine on Lime (Tilia sp.) 273 Bucculatrix thoracella Mine on Norway Maple (Acer platanoides) Phyllonorycter 363 platanoidella Mines on Pedunculate Oak (Quercus robur) 38 Ectoedemia

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