Cheshire (Vice County 58) Moth Report for 2016
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CHESHIRE (VICE COUNTY 58) MOTH REPORT FOR 2016 Oleander Hawk-Moth: Les Hall Authors: Steve H. Hind and Steve W. Holmes Date: May 2016 Cheshire moth report 2016 Introduction This was the final year of recording for the National Macro-moth Atlas. A few species were added to squares during daytime searches early in the year but any plans to trap in under- recorded squares were often thwarted by cold nights and it was not until mid-July that SHH considered it worthwhile venturing into the uplands. The overall atlas coverage in the county has been good and our results should compare well against the rest of the country, although there remain gaps in most squares, where we failed to find species which are most likely present. Hopefully these gaps will be filled over the next few years, as recording of our Macro-moths continue. As always, a list of those species new for their respective 10km squares during 2016 can be found after the main report. A special effort was made during the winter to add historical records from the collections at Manchester Museum and past entomological journals, which will enable us to compare our current data with that of the past. Now that recording for the Macro- moth atlas is over, our efforts turn to the Micro-moths and the ongoing Micro-moth recording scheme. There is a lot to discover about the distributions of our Micro-moths across the county and the increasing interest continues to add much valuable information. 2016 was another poor year for moths, with results from the national Garden Moth Scheme showing a 20% decline on 2015 (excluding Diamond-back Moth, of which there was a significant invasion). In one of our gardens, at Higher Poynton, there was also a decline of 20% on 2015 but also a 49% decline on 2013, our last good year. Despite it being a poor year, three new species were added to the county list, Spruce Seed Moth Cydia strobilella on 9th May, Spatalistis bifasciana on 20th June and Stathmopoda padella on 18th July. The map above shows the number of species recorded in each hectad (10km*10km square) during 2016 to illustrate the recording coverage across the county. Despite there being an overall reduction in the abundance of moths during the year, the numbers of species caught, were up in 27 of the hectads, since 2015 and down in only 14 hectads. This was partly due to an increase in the number of recorders submitting their records, before the cut-off for the atlas but also due to P a g e 2 | 77 Cheshire moth report 2016 recorders being more able to recognise an increasing number of species, especially as their knowledge of the micro-moths improve and less so due to recorders visiting under-recorded hectads, although this was a major factor in one square. Most moth trapping continues to be carried out in recorders gardens and although we currently have a good spread of recorders across the county, there remain hectads without a resident trapper. Knowledge on the status of our garden moths is increasing each year but trapping away from our gardens is still very limited, so visits into the wider countryside are likely to produce the most significant rewards. Time and effort dictate that this report cannot be a complete analysis of the years’ records; it does however itemise all macro-moth species that were recorded fewer than 10 times during the year as well as the most notable micro-moths. Throughout what follows, header information relating to each species comprises: 3.004 Gold Swift Hepialus hecta (Linnaeus, 1758) Which, reading left to right detail: Agassiz, Beavan & Heckford species number Species’ vernacular name Species’ taxonomic name Species’ Author(s) As ever, both authors of this report extend grateful thanks to everyone for sending in their records and photographs, which combine to make this report possible. Emperor Moth: Hilary Ash P a g e 3 | 77 Cheshire moth report 2016 Species accounts 2.004 Eriocrania sparrmannella (Bosc, 1791) One to light at Alsager on 9th May (MD). Tenanted leaf mines at Lindow Common on 21st June (BS), Saltersley Moss, Wilmslow on 3rd July, Illidge Green on 4th July and Oakhanger Moss on 14th July (SHH). The last of its family to start mining and subsequently less often searched for. 2.006 Eriocrania cicatricella (Zetterstedt, 1839) A tenanted leaf mine at Delamere Forest on 20th May (MBe). Not found mining as often as other members of this family. 4.040 Stigmella assimilella (Zeller, 1848) Mines on Aspen Populus tremula at Poolehill, Nantwich on 27th October (HJ). Ellesmere Port is the only other part of Cheshire where this species has been found. 4.008 Stigmella glutinosae (Stainton, 1858) Tenanted mines at Holme Wood, Kettleshulme on 20th September (SHH), Thornton Green on 8th October (SWH) and Longhill, Buerton on 9th October (SHH). 4.009 Stigmella alnetella (Stainton, 1856) Tenanted leaf mines at two sites in Buerton on 9th October (SHH). Finding tenanted mines is the best way to separate this species from Stigmella glutinosae, which means inspecting Alder Alnus glutinosa leaves during the brief period in October when the larvae are feeding. With only between 20-30 records of each our knowledge of their distributions is still limited. 4.020 Stigmella paradoxa (Frey, 1858) Leaf mines at Newhall on 2nd October (MBe, SHH, HJ). Leaf mines have been recorded from most parts of Cheshire since 2000, when this species was first discovered in the county, yet despite the coverage we still have only fourteen records of paradoxa in Cheshire. 4.068 Trifurcula immundella (Zeller, 1839) A single larval mine at Sale Water Park on 12th March (BS). 4.085 Ectoedemia argyropeza (Zeller, 1839) Several mines in fallen Aspen Populus tremula leaves at Burton Mere Wetlands on 31st October (MBe). 4.091 Ectoedemia heringi (Toll, 1934) Ten leaf mines at Delamere Forest on 5th November (BS). 8.001 Incurvaria pectinea Haworth, 1828 Larval feeding signs on birch (Betula) at Oakhanger Moss on 14th July (SHH) and on a roadside Hazel Corylus avellana at Acton on 18th September (MBe, SHH, HJ). 12.012 Triaxomera parasitella (Hübner, 1796) Three to light at Ellesmere Port on 29th May, 6th & 8th June (HJ), after the first there in 2015. Huw John P a g e 4 | 77 Cheshire moth report 2016 12.037 Monopis weaverella (Scott, 1858) Singles to light at Waverton on 26th August (H&BC) and in the Dane Valley, Wildboarclough on 1st September (SHH). There are only four previous records on the county database. 12.038 Monopis obviella ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) One to light at Willaston, Nantwich on 8th June (DT). 12.047 Psychoides verhuella Bruand, 1853 Larvae at Arley on 20th March, Hooksbank Wood, Styal on 29th March, Whatcroft on 3rd April (BTS) and Bradwell, Sandbach on 22nd April (SHH). 14.002 Bucculatrix nigricomella (Zeller, 1839) Singles to light at Upton, Chester on 7th August (RW) and Elton on 6th September (SWH). 14.003 Bucculatrix maritima Stainton, 1851 Three cocoons, two of which were tenanted, at Neston Saltmarsh on 26th May, from which adults emerged on 3rd June (MBe, HJ). One to light at Bromborough on 6th June (PHo) and five to light at Ellesmere Port on 17th August (HJ), following strong overnight winds off the Mersey Marshes. All previous records have been on the Dee Saltmarsh. ex-cocoon: Mell Bellingham 15.003 Caloptilia populetorum (Zeller, 1839) Singles to light at Alsager on 6th May, 23rd August and 4th & 5th October (MD) and Sale on 13th August (PBH). Thirteen records since our first in 2013. Peter Hardy P a g e 5 | 77 Cheshire moth report 2016 15.017 Calybites phasianipennella (Hübner, [1813]) One to light at Handbridge on 8th August (KP). 15.019 Acrocercops brongniardella (Fabricius, 1798) A single leaf mine found at Cheadle Royal on 2nd July (BTS) was the only record. 15.025 Parornix betulae (Stainton, 1854) A female to light at Alsager on 13th August (MD) and two females bred from larval mines in birch (Betula) at Bosley Cloud on 23rd September, from which adults emerged 1st & 3rd April 2017 (SHH). 15.037 Phyllonorycter tenerella (Joannis, 1915) Three mines in a Hornbeam Carpinus betulus leaf along the Bollin Valley, Hale on 21st October (SHH), produced adults on 21st (2) and 26th March, 2017. The only previous record on the county database is from Oakmere prior to 1940. Mel Bellingham Steve Hind 16.014 Pseudoswammerdamia combinella (Hübner, 1786) Singles to light at Waverton on 12th May (H&BC) and Shavington on 8th June (RB, TR). Roger Benson P a g e 6 | 77 Cheshire moth report 2016 16.022 Cedestis subfasciella (Stephens, 1834) Four larval mines in Scot’s Pine Pinus sylvestris needles at Little Budworth Common on 1st April, with adults emerging from 18th May (BS). Singles to light at Alsager on 3rd & 13th June, with two on 18th July (MD) and Styal on 2nd July (NG). Nicola Ginn 17.002 Ypsolopha nemorella (Linnaeus, 1758) Singles to light at Higher Poynton on 25th July and 11th, 16th & 22nd August (SHH) and Burwardsley on 13th August (MRW). 17.008 Ypsolopha alpella ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) Larva on oak (Quercus) at Bradwell, Sandbach on 24th May, emerged 20th June (SHH). Singles to light at Waverton on 20th August (H&BC) and Great Sutton on 7th September (MBe). 17.009 Ypsolopha sylvella (Linnaeus, 1767) To light at Great Sutton on 2nd August and 4th (2) & 13th September (MBe), Waverton on 15th August (H&BC), Eastwood End Holiday Park, Adlington on 12th September (SHH) and Oakwood Farm, Styal on 14th September (NG).