Group Newsletter No.3 - November 2003

Welcome to our third newsletter. It's been a busy year for the moth group, with lots of surveys and events. Of course the year's not even over yet. There are still a few brave about, and it is possible to record in every month throughout the year so don't put your traps away for the winter - who knows what you might be in your box for Christmas!

Jayne Herbert (Webmaster and newsletter editor) ------Assistant County Recorders Report

What an eventful year so far with Humming-bird Hawk moths and Convolvulus Hawks 'coming out of our ears' so to speak! I have been amazed at the different forms of the larvae of the Convolvulus Hawk that have been reported to me. Some examples are shown below along with a report from Brian Laney a copy of which follows – many thanks Brian, for your detailed observations:

Convolvulus Hawk-moth larva Red Underwing - Catocala nupta (Linn.) clorana (Cream–bordered Green Trevose Head 21/9/03 © D. Julian Maenporth 20/9/2003 © G. Davis Pea) larva 26/9 ex female taken at mv 21/8/ 2003 Carlyon Bay © P.H. Boggis

Convolvulus Hawk-moth larva Mullein moth larva - Cucullia verbasci Clifden Nonpareil St. Mary’s, IOS 8/10/2003 © Alan Pease (Linn.) Penhale 28/6/2003. 11/9/2003 © M. Scott by kind permission

Pale Tussock larva – Calliteara Convolvulus Hawk-moth larva Cosmopolitan – Mythimna loreyi pudibunda. Sandways nr Calstock. (Duponchel) (right) Mylor Churchtown Portmellon 21/8/2003 © P.H.Boggis 28/9/2003 © Ollie Richings 15/9/2003 © P. H. Boggis

Death’s-head Hawk-moth - Acherontia Convolvulus Hawk-moth larva Earias clorana (Cream–bordered Green atropos (Linn.) Quoit 2/10/2003 © P.H.Boggis Pea) Cocoon 26/9 ex female taken at mv 21/8/ 2003 Carlyon Bay © P.H. Boggis Sennen 12/10/2003 © S. Park

Website www.cornwallmothgroup.org.uk

Sat 11th Oct 2003 one. Black frass exited from the entrance hole reveals One fully grown green form back of the presence of this larva which can be found from Hollyfield car park SW 513 308. September to July. One fully grown brown form just at back of beach at Porthcurno Cove SW 387 223. On the subject of larvae I think it is worth mentioning, Two small larvae, one green and one brown form on simply because of its startling appearance, the larva of rough border at back of Harbour car park, Sennen SW the Mullein moth - Cucullia verbasci (Linn.). The 349 2621/2. one in picture 6 was found feeding with others on One half grown larvae , brown form crossing path Great Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) at the edge of a above Sennen Cove at roughly SW 357 264. field adjacent to Penhale Sands on the 28th June 2003. Two fully grown larvae, one green and one brown form on side of minor road coming into Sennen at roughly Ollie Richings from Sandways near Calstock sent in SW 355 2621/2. a picture (7) of the larva of the Pale Tussock - One small brown form on side of A30 just outside Calliteara pudibunda (Linn.). It had a pink 'tail', as he Land's End at SW 349 250. describes – see photograph. The anal tufts of hair form One small green form in hedge where you pay for car the ‘tail’ that can vary in colour from that described park ticket at Porthgwarra at SW 370 2181/2. here to a dark purplish brown or even black as also the One nearly fully grown brown form larvae on verge of other tufts and hairs. Note how the caterpillar reveals a lane, Porthgwarra at roughly SW 370 218. black ring between the fourth and seventh segments One very young green larvae on headland at when curled. The segments on this caterpillar also had Porthgwarra at roughly SW 373 2171/2. yellow tufts of bristles dorsally.

Sun 12th Oct 2003 I have had the pleasure along with John Gregory of Two fully grown brown larvae on side of lane at Praa breeding through the Cream - bordered Green Pea Sands at roughly SW 580 281/2 and also at roughly (Earias clorana). The eggs were laid on the 27th SW 582 279. August from an adult captured at Carlyon Bay on the Seven larvae, mainly fully grown of brown and green 21st August. The larvae spun up on the 26th of forms found either side of track in Nanquidno Valley September and from the cocoons adults hatched on at roughly SW 361 293. the 17th October. I can see why in the wild, there are One fully grown green form on roadside in Nanquidno often two generations a year! From the picture (9), Valley at roughly SW 365 2921/2. note how the caterpillar pulls its head into the top half of its body forming a kind of ‘hood’. The following is Although not rare in this country generally, one of the taken from both mine and John Gregory's highlights for me this year was George Davis's record observations. at Meanporth on the 20th September of the Red The eggs were laid singularly and in small clumps on Underwing - Catocala nupta (Linn.) (see photograph netting provided for the purpose. They hatched within 5) – always a favourite of mine. This moth was also five to seven days being kept at a constant reported from Cury by Frank Johns and Dave Allan at temperature of 68 deg. Fahrenheit. During the first Torpoint on the 29th September 2003 All, I believe couple of instars, the caterpillars browsed on the would be migrants. underside of the leaves of its food-plant (young shoots of Common Sallow – ). The leaves were One or two envious holiday makers, their faces not skeletonized. The caterpillars soon preferred to decidedly turning 'green' when I mentioned three, spin together two leaves whereupon they proceeded to Striped Hawk-moths in one trap earlier last year (ref. feed from within. This was their feeding habit until Jayne Herbert), have spent a memorable summer pupation. The tough buff cocoons were spun on the holiday here in Cornwall with us. Moths like the stalks of the food-plant. See photo 8. Marbled Green - Cryphia muralis (Forster) and Black Banded - (Polymixis xanthomista (Hüb.) are I have just received some very exciting finds from the quite common here but absent or uncommon Scilly Isles. Mick and Sonia Scott e-mailed me a elsewhere in Britain. photo (10) and record of the Clifden Nonpareil - Catocala fraxini (Linn.) taken from a wall above a Nephopterix angustella (Hüb.) turned up at Bodelva 15watt actinic trap at the Longstone Heritage Centre, near St. Austell. This moth, part of a partial second St Mary’s on the 11th September 2003 at 22.00 to be generation, was reported by John Gregory on the 16th precise. Mick says that the frayed wings were due to and 17th September. It made its first appearance at the moth’s habit of energetically flapping them whilst Portmellon on the 15th July after well over a hundred feeding from sugar. Another moth recorded, a first for years absence. Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly is Ethmia bipunctella (Fab.). It is a sporadic migrant and localised colonist A first for Cornwall, also reported from Portmellon, feeding on viper’s bugloss (Echium vulgare) and other was Euzophera pinguis (Haw.). The larvae feed in Boraginaceae. This moth is another that is found in S. colonies under the living bark of ash (Fraxinus Devon and on the Isles of Scilly but not in Cornwall as excelsior), forming galleries. The larvae may even kill yet! the tree whereupon the colony will move to a fresh Website www.cornwallmothgroup.org.uk Page 2 In the CMG September update I mentioned no records CMG Web site of the Cosmopolitan – Mythimna loreyi (Duponchel). This was rectified the other day when Our web site has recently been redesigned with a few John Cooke sent me a specimen for setting. A photo new features added including some photographs that of it (11) and a Feathered Brindle – Aporophyla anyone can copy and use for their own non- australis pascuea (Humph. & Westwood) is shown commercial projects. taken in my relaxing pot. The Cosmopolitan is on the Numbers of visitors to the site are increasing steadily right. and we have already had people buying books on-line

through the new book section. A number of records are now coming in of the Death’s-head Hawk-moth – Acherontia atropos Don't forget to visit our site and tell your friends about (Linn.). One from an article in the Cornishman where it. Richard Sadler has been asking for sightings which he will be collating, the other from Keith Clarkson who was on holiday and lives in Sheffield. He found this New Field Guide moth (photo 12) on the outside of his 8 watt Heath trap at Seaview Caravan Park, Sennen on the 12th The long awaited Field Guide to the Moths October 2003. It was too big to enter the trap! of Great Britain and Ireland by Paul Waring, Martin Townsend and illustrated I have just received a confirmed record of the by Richard Lewington is now available. It Crimson Speckled – Utetheisa pulchella (Linn.) was well worth the wait. found by John Yarnold at St Buryan between the 23rd and the 26th Sept. 2003; more news about this in our It probably won’t ever replace Skinners but it is very next article. user friendly and a lot less daunting for the beginner.

Finally, may I take this opportunity to thank you all for You can buy this book on-line through our affiliate sending me your records it has certainly been a membership with Amazon or directly from British superlative year so far! John Cooke has kindly Wildlife Publishing. suggested that trappers from around the county may This year's events like to write a summary of their highlights for the season for inclusion in the next newsletter. They would We have had a very busy year this year with events all be most welcome. over the county.

Phil Boggis (Assistant County Recorder) Oct 2003 It was a memorable year for me, especially the wonderful time we had opening some traps up at the Cornwall Wildlife Trust Open Day, in June. Lots of Send us your records people turned up, mainly to celebrate the presentation of Stella Turks MBE, but they all seemed to enjoy the Please don't forget to send in your records to Phil at 6 moths. John Gregory even got a nice picture of Tremena Gardens, , PL25 5QH email himself in the paper. [email protected] The evening at Cabilla was also memorable with so If you would like copies of our recording forms we will many moths coming into the light it was almost be pleased to post you some or you can download overwhelming. One hundred and twenty two them from our website. difference species were recorded that night. Let's hope that next year will be as good.

New logo

Phil Boggis and myself have written articles for the Butterfly Conservation's Cornish Group next issue of Kovadha Kernow the Environmental Records Centre newsletter. When they were putting I would just like to express my thanks to Lee the magazine together they called to ask if we had a Slaughter, a member of the Moth Group, who was until logo they could use and I had to say that unfortunately last year Chairman of the Butterfly Conservation's we didn't. This was followed up by an email from the Cornish Group, for all the help and support Butterfly resident artist Sarah McCartney with an attachment a Conservation have given us. Lee will continue to be brilliant new logo she had designed especially for us. an active committee member for them but is standing Thanks Sarah! down as chairman to spend more time with his family.

Barry Ofield, the newly appointed Chairman will be taking his place from the end of October, and I am

Website www.cornwallmothgroup.org.uk Page 3 sure he will continue the good work. Barry has a keen hope to encourage lots of people, including members interest in moths and is an active moth group member. of the public, to bring last nights moths along for identification. Phil Boggis, is also standing on the Butterfly Conservation committee for another year as the Moth We already have volunteers for the children's event Officer. So I am quite sure that our work with Butterfly but still need people to help with identification for both Conservation will continue to flourish. the adult sessions. If you are prepared to help out can you please contact me as soon as possible?

Next year's events New Egroup Please see the diary page for details of events that are confirmed for next year. There are a number in the For those of you who have given us your email pipeline, which I will confirm in our next newsletter. Or address, you should have been automatically signed you can check our web site for up to date listings. up to our new Egroup.

If you have any special requests or suggestions, I set this up because it was easier for me to send out please contact Phil or myself. reminders and notices to members but then I thought others may wish to also send and receive messages to To start the year off I have arranged a behind the each other. scenes visit to the Royal Cornwall Museum in January. We are going to be able to see a large Initially new members are set up only to receive emails collection that is not usually available. We will also be from me but if you would like to send and receive discussing how our two organisations can benefit each emails from other members of the Egroup, just email other. This initial visit will be on a weekday (daytime) me at [email protected] and I will make the but if members are interested we could arrange a necessary changes. weekend visit later in the year. Places are limited so The Egroup is open to anyone to join; they don't have please book early. to be a member of the Cornwall Moth Group. In September 2003 four members of the Cornwall Cotton grass and pomegranates Moth Group attended an identification workshop run by the new National Macro Moth Recording Scheme at Following up from our last newsletter John Gregory, a Devon Wildlife Trust's headquarters. It was very very active member of our group, is still after cotton informative and a great way of 'networking' with grass seed heads in an attempt to find the tiny micro moth'ers from Devon, Dorset and Somerset attending. moth haworthana that he believes is very Roy McCormick gave a slide presentation of how to under recorded in Cornwall. He is also interested in differentiate moths that were often confused. The any samples from locations outside Cornwall. event was so successful that I have invited Roy to do Just to prove that his interest in Lepidoptera is something similar for us in February. Ian Benallick international, John is also interested in collecting the from ERCCIS will also be giving us a short talk on how tops of pomegranate fruits to see if they contain any we can work effectively with the Records Centre. caterpillars or cocoons. If you are able to collect samples of seed heads or pomegranates, please give send them directly to John Gregory, Lepidoptera House, Bodelva, Par, Cornwall, PL24 2SZ, stating your contact details and in the case of seed heads also the date, location and grid ref.

National Moth Recording Scheme

There should be a leaflet with a questionnaire about this new scheme enclosed with this newsletter. If you haven't received one please contact me. National Moth Night will be on Saturday 22nd May next year. There should be a little poster with details on the back enclosed with this newsletter. If you Butterfly Conservation been working together with lots haven't received one please contact me. For our part, of organisations to develop a National Recording we have organised a joint weekend event with Scheme for Macro-moths. At the moment they are just ERCCIS and the Cornwall Wildlife Trust's junior group in the planning phase but it all depends on funding (as Fox Club. usual. They are currently looking to secure funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund so they can take this Saturday night we will do some intensive mothing then ambitious new project forward. Sunday morning we will have a children's event and Website www.cornwallmothgroup.org.uk Page 4 They already have a web site in place at Cornwall Moth Group www.mothrecording.org.uk but they are a long way off Membership Form actually getting the funding needed for such a project. Please enrol me as a member of the Cornwall Moth Group. The scheme is supported by the British Entomological In keeping with the Data protection Act, I agree to my and Natural History Society, English Nature, RSPB, membership details being held for group purposes only on Biodiversity Challenge, the Biological Records Centre, paper and in computer files that will be accessible only to committee members, and will not be generally distributed or the National Biodiversity Network, Joint Nature released. Conservation Committee, Countryside Council for Wales, Scottish Natural Heritage, Royal Entomological Name(s): ……………………………………………………. Society, Rothamsted Survey and the Heritage Lottery Fund. Address: ……………………………………………………

You can help by filling in the enclosed questionnaire ………………………………………………………………... and returning it to them as soon as possible. The more proof they have that there is a real interested in Postcode …………………………………………………….. British moths the more chance they will have of securing funding. Telephone: …………………………………………………

Cornwall Moth Group wholly supports this initiative, but E-mail: ………………………………………………….…… can members still send all their records to Phil as usual. We can then pass them on in one go. I would also like to join the Egroup: ¨ Yes ¨ No

Please return this form to: Wild Cornwall Phil Boggis, Assistant County Recorder Cornwall Moth Group For those of you who are members of the Cornwall 6 Tremena Gardens, St Austell, Cornwall PL25 5QH Wildlife Trust watch out for a big moth article in the or Email: [email protected] January edition of Wild Cornwall. There are some brilliant photographs in it by Phil Boggis, Duncan Davidson and Roger Driver.

ERCCIS goes International Special offer As some of you will know, I work part-time as Cornwall Moth Group members can get 10% off Webmaster for the Cornwall Wildlife Trust. As well as marked prices on any book listed by Atropos if you are running the Cornwall Wildlife Trust site able to collect them. (www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk), I have just launched a brand new site for The Environmental Records Call Mark Tunmore on (01326) 290287 for more Centre for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly (ERCCIS). details or pay a visit to their web site at www.atroposuk.co.uk. Their new site can now be found at www.erccis.co.uk. Please do go and have a peek if you are able.

Dissection volunteer still required

John Gregory is still prepared to loan a microscope to anyone who is willing to dissect and prepare microscope slides ready for identification. You will need good eyes and a steady hand. That’s my little plug over until the next issue.

Have a merry Christmas and happy Mothing! Other wildlife workshops Jayne ERCCIS has just published its new dates for its wildlife workshops and field trips. As I know a number of members are keen photographers I thought the following workshop may be of particular note. 'Using This newsletter was sponsored Photography For Recording Wildlife on Friday 21st by The Environmental Records November 2003. Centre for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

For further details contact ERCCIS on 01872 240777 ext 213. Website www.cornwallmothgroup.org.uk Page 5 CORNWALL MOTH GROUP - 2004 DAIRY OF EVENTS

Most events are dependant on the weather so please check if the weather is iffy. Please also bring torch, suitable footwear and clothing to events where appropriate.

Thursday 22nd January - Royal Cornwall Museum, Monday 31st May - Amazing Butterflies Muchlarnick, near . 1.30pm A rare chance to look behind the scenes and see the This is organised as a family event with special museums Lepidoptera collection. This will be an emphasis on fun learning for the children but anyone is introduction to see if we can make more use of their welcome to join in. Find out everything you ever collection and if we can help the museum in any way. wanted to know about butterflies. Just a short walk to Please contact Jayne to book your place, as numbers look at butterflies and other . are limited. From Looe follow A387 west then take B3359 to Organised by Cornwall Moth Group . After going through Pelynt take first road on right to Muchlarnick. Parking is available in Saturday 28th February - Identification workshop Muchlarnick (SX217566). Fraddon Village Hall - 10am - 4pm Leader John Gregory Roy McCormick, County Recorder for Devon, has Organised by Cornwall Wildlife Trusts Fox Club. kindly offered to give us a slide presentation showing Contact Tricia Nicholson (01872) 273939. us how to differentiate between many similar species. Also Ian Bennallick from the Environmental Records Saturday 5th June - Moths and Bats Centre for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly will give a Gwithian Green - meet at dusk talk on how our group can benefit working together We will be setting up our traps for moths but if anyone with the Records Centre. is interested we can see what bats are about too. Beginners more than welcome. Heading from Portreath towards on the B3301 coast Please bring packed lunch. road, pass Godrevy and take the track to your left just before Gwithian (SW586414). You will find spaces for parking close Booking is essential, please contact ERCCIS on to the track entrance. 01872 240777 ext 213. Leader Jayne Herbert Organised by Cornwall Moth Group and ERCCIS Organised by Cornwall Moth Group

Friday 18th 19th June - Mid-Summer moths Ponts Mill, meet at SX074563 about 9.30pm till NATIONAL MOTH NIGHT about mid-night. Cornwall Wildlife Trust HQ, Bring a torch and hot drink. Five Acres, Allet, Truro Leader Phil Boggis Organised by Cornwall Moth Group Saturday 22nd May - National Moth Night Some intensive mothing starting at dusk. Saturday 21st August - Moth Night Overnight camping possible on request. Windmill Farm- meet at dusk Leader Phil Boggis Meet in the car park (SW694152). Organised by Cornwall Moth Group and ERCCIS Leader Mark Tunmore Organised by Cornwall Moth Group Sunday 23rd May - Kids National Moth Morning In the Wildlife Garden - 10am Sat 11th September - Moth Leaf Mine Walk A morning for the children looking at the moths Cornwall Wildlife Trust HQ - 2pm trapped during National Moth Night We will be opening a moth trap set the night before Leaders Richard Marsh and Nick Taylor and then have a walk around the nature reserve and Organised by Cornwall Moth Group and Cornwall grounds looking for evidence of micro moths living in Wildlife Trusts Fox Club. tiny tunnels in leaves. Leader John Gregory Organised by Cornwall Moth Group Sunday 23rd May - Identification help Meeting room - 10am Allet Bring any moths along that you caught last night and we will work together to help identify them. Or just come to see what we caught. Organised by Cornwall Moth Group and ERCCIS If you are prepared to lead an event or have any suggestions or articles for our next events, newsletter or web site please contact Jayne Herbert, Email:

[email protected] or phone (01736) Saturday 29th May - Moth morning 363167. Rosewarne College, - 10am

Come along a see what we caught last night. For the latest moth events in Cornwall visit our web Leader Nick Taylor site at www.cornwallmothgroup.org.uk Organised by Cornwall Moth Group