SUSSEX GROUP NEWSLETTER Page 24 SUSSEX MOTH GROUP NEWSLETTER November 2010

Dates of 2011 Indoor Meetings: Thursday 3rd February

Monday 18th April (AGM)

Tuesday 19th July Gypsy Moth by MichaelBlencowe Wednesday 9th November

ALAN PRICE, GATEHOUSE STUDIO/Sussex Wildlife Trust.

Sussex Moth Group Committee

Chairman Graeme Lyons [email protected] 01273-497506 Secretary Wendy Alexander [email protected] 01424-212894 Main Features inside this issue: Chairman’s report by Graeme Lyons 2 Treasurer Alice Parfitt [email protected] 01903-740212 An ace up my sleeve by Michael Blencowe 4 Recorder Colin Pratt [email protected] 01273-586780 Kent Tubic no longer by Steve Wheatley 5 The mysterious world of bats by Jim Barrett 6 Newsletter Editor Penny Green [email protected] 01273-497521 The hunt for day-flying by Heather Martin 8 Kingstanding moth trap by Dennis Dey 9 I’m so glad to see that articles in previous newsletters are inspiring people to get out mothing Raspberry ripple by Michael Blencowe 10 in new places, or looking for day-flying moths for example. Check out Graeme Lyon’s article on Treasures of the far east by Steve Wheatley 12 page 14, you may even like to start exploring other that are found in your moth traps! By-catch by Graeme Lyons As always, this newsletter is only as good as the articles and pictures that you send in, and I’m 14 very grateful to the writers who have contributed to this excellent autumn issue - thank you! Eridge Rocks moth trap by Alice Parfitt 17 Come along to the indoor meetings over the winter, we look forward to seeing you there! Carpet baggers by Michael Blencowe 18 Best wishes, Penny Moth trapping in a Sussex garden by David Webb 20 Mothing in the danger zone by Dave A Green 21 Many thanks to the SxBRC for printing this newsletter. Page 222 SUSSEX MOTH GROUP NEWSLETTER SUSSEXSUSSEX MOTH MOTH GROUP GROUP NE NEWSLETTERWSLETTER Page 233

Chairmans report by Graeme Lyons when it was set up in 2004! For more sightings of all typesnoticeable of natural how history many officialin Sussex signs see theremy With very small numbers of moths visiting the traps we decided to blog http://analternativenaturalhistoryofsussex.blogspot.com/ . were requesting anyone using the ranges Well,head furtherfirst of intoall I’d Sussex like to in saythe ahope great of big netting thank moths you for around allowing some me on board as chairman. I’ve At a recent Butterfly Conservation conference, I caught upto with try notRichard to disturb Fox and the we wildlife were discuss- and the comeof the areed long and way sedge from beds. the spottyAfter much teenager searching counting we managed Heart & Dartsto in his Mum’s back garden shingle habitat. It is probable that if the twentyspot a couple years ago! of moths, Secondly, however I’d like without to say athe big ability thank toyou chase to Steven after Teale for his hard work in the ing my move to Sussex. He immediately commented on the quality of the Sussex Moth Group MoD did not own this land then the habi- rolethem of over chairman; the shingle Steve (inis still case very we much stepped active on in anything the mothing slightly community in Sussex so I don’t Newsletter, making a particular mention of the enthusiasm, humour and excellent content of the tat there would have been lost long ago. thinkexplosive) he will we ever endured be that far the away. frustrating experience of trying to production. I can’t stress enough how lucky we are to have such a dynamic group with so many tempt moths to us with our spotlight. After much trying we netted As it is now the moths, their habitat and keen and accomplished authors and naturalists willing to put pen to paper for every edition and Sotwo what Fen canWainscot you expect and sixfrom Reed me Daggeras chairman? (Nb) that I currently we managed don’t have to a garden, so I won’t be writ- their food plants are all left alone to get ingencourage a regular towards ‘chairman’s us away trap’ from section the vegetation. in the newsletter. I’ll try and keep my highlights of the to have Penny Green to pull it all together into such aon professional to their own format. devices. Keep Well, up apartthe good from summer to a paragraph in the chairman’s report. Working full time as an ecologist, I’m in a good work! Enjoy this issue and I look forward to seeing you aroundany moths a bright deciding light toin a alight field onsometime the tar- positionWe drove to backtry and towards write more the traps about past such a snipertopics as range conservation and, when projects, wider natural history, soon! gets themselves; they may experience a entomologicalwe got there, survey things weretechniques looking etc. up. I’ve Although also built the up temperature quite a list of contacts over the years so I certain amount of ‘human intervention’! willwas try still and cool get moths some guest were speakers starting toin from come further to the afield traps too. in good PigmyThe Footman Magic subsp. Carpetpallifrons result by Sam Bayley and Colin Pratt numbers and we set about sorting through and identifying the by Photo My low point of the year has been slipping a disk in my back which three months on is giving me various species, many of which we had not encountered before. The Midrips and The Wicks are a fantastic and hidden part of Sussex hosting many of the unusual grief even as I write this article. This year has been a struggle. I ran some traps for the Friends of In the spring newsletter we showed a couple of photos of an Reed Dagger moth species that the Dungeness area is so famous for. The very fact that this area is not easily BenfieldGraeme Lyons Country had Park recommended earlier this a year few andspecies could do nothing but watch as half a dozen senior unidentified macro moth. It’s time to put you out of your mis- accessible has helped the habitat many of these moths require to flourish, and who knows what Everitt Jacob citizensfor us to unloaded keep a look the generatorsout for and and one traps of these, and carried them up the hill. Fingers crossed that this ery…... punctalis (Nb), was already in evidence other species are lurking in this most easterly of Sussex sites! Sussex has lost the breeding moth business will all be sorted out by my next field season. Sam says: in some numbers. The micro moth we were species named after it, with Lewes Wave and Brighton Wainscot long since departed. Although Sus- really hoping to see though wasMy a highlight beautiful of the year was a joint record with Penny Green sexThe Emerald moth that does was occasionally pictured in turn the upSpring in Sussex Newsletter as a wanderer, was a real there just could be a small popula- nd species called dentalis, whoseof Marsh caterpil- Dagger at Woods Mill on the 22 July. This moth tionhead hanging spinner on andat the had Midrips myself, just Colin waiting Pratt to be and discovered……... Mark Parsons lars feed internally in the stems ofwent Viper’s extinct Bu- in the UK in 1933 and this moth is only the third giving uncertain thoughts ranging from Common Carpet, Bal- gloss. In the UK this RDB3 species isin confined the UK sinceto then, the second record being caught at Pa- sam Carpet or a strange form of Red Twin-spot Carpet. Finally, after much to-ing and fro-ing, I th the coasts of southern England, andgham as Harbourwe got on the 19 July 2010! Another joint record of sent the moth to Colin to look at in the flesh and the resultant finding was something else, in fact towards midnight the first of five noteturned (with up at Mike Edwards) was the Raspberry Clearwing at it was a Barred Rivulet. the lights. With their striking zig-Fristonzag markings Forest which will feature in an article by Michael Blen- highlighted by the MV bulbs theycowe instantly in this be- issue of the newsletter. Possibly my favourite find I wasn't really convinced by Colin as I couldn't find reference to any Barred Rivulet looking like this on the net or books, until Martin Honey contacted me after seeing the newsletter second- came one of our favourite moths! this year was a micro, the Notable A Orange Conch Commo- phila aeneana, again at Friston hand from someone else who directed me to a website that showed it perfectly. I will never Another species we hoped to seeForest was the during Red an invertebrate doubt you again Colin!! Data Book classified Pigmy Footman,survey although where I was focusing on what we didn't expect was to record anything like the numbers we found. Fifty-four of the nomi- Colin says: Marsh Dagger . When we have nate sub-species were attracted towritten the traps the along survey with up Ithree will write of the yellow sub-species pallifrons, Difficulties over identifications stem from the fact that a moth photograph does not always look anwhich article in Britain about is itknown in the only next from newsletter the coastal as shingle it is a fairlyaround simple Dungeness. like real life and different forms occur in different parts of the UK. Identifying moths from photo- graphs is far more difficult than from a specimen, as they bring to the fore markings that are not methodologyAs the night wore that oncould the be species repeated count on creptany site. slowly towards forty and we were rewarded for stay- ing late, as at 2:30am the first of three Dark Tussock appeared; a salient reminder that finishing normally evident to the unaided human eye. Some County Recorders refuse to identify all moths It does feel that there have been more migrants and dispersing from photographs - and they are the wise ones! residentstrapping at this midnight year than can lead there to have some been species in recentbeing missed. years. SteveAt about 3:30am we started to pack up the traps and then slowly made our way back along the maze of roads towards the Lydd exit. Teale’s first for Sussex, Tamarisk Peacock, being particularly Cover picture: Gypsy Moth by Michael Blencowe memorable.After handing One back of myour firstwalkie jobs-talkie was towe set drove up a out Facebook through page the for gates and as we headed towards theRye mothHarbour group we whichreflected has on been the done long andnight is we active had now. just enjoyed. The Sussex Orange Conch The cover picture is of a Gypsy Moth Lymantria dispar recorded at Friston on 21st August 2010. MothsThe ranges Yahoo were email such group an alien had landscape more emails and init wasJuly athis privilege year since to trap in them for the night. It was Another Gypsy Moth was also trapped that night, 120 miles away at Dunwich Heath, Suffolk. Dark Tussock PagePage222 SUSSEX MOTH GROUP NEWSLETTER SUSSEXSUSSEX MOTH MOTH GROUP GROUP NE NEWSLETTERWSLETTER Page 233

Chairmans report by Graeme Lyons when it was set up in 2004! For more sightings of all typesnoticeable of natural how history many officialin Sussex signs see theremy With very small numbers of moths visiting the traps we decided to blog http://analternativenaturalhistoryofsussex.blogspot.com/ . were requesting anyone using the ranges headWell, furtherfirst of intoall I’d Sussex like to in saythe ahope great of big netting thank moths you for around allowing some me on board as chairman. I’ve At a recent Butterfly Conservation conference, I caught upto with try notRichard to disturb Fox and the we wildlife were discuss- and the ofcome the areed long and way sedge from beds. the spottyAfter much teenager searching counting we managed Heart & Dartsto in his Mum’s back garden shingle habitat. It is probable that if the spottwenty a couple years ago! of moths, Secondly, however I’d like without to say athe big ability thank toyou chase to Steven after Teale for his hard work in the ing my move to Sussex. He immediately commented on the quality of the Sussex Moth Group MoD did not own this land then the habi- themrole of over chairman; the shingle Steve (inis still case very we much stepped active on in anything the mothing slightly community in Sussex so I don’t Newsletter, making a particular mention of the enthusiasm, humour and excellent content of the tat there would have been lost long ago. explosive)think he will we ever endured be that far the away. frustrating experience of trying to production. I can’t stress enough how lucky we are to have such a dynamic group with so many tempt moths to us with our spotlight. After much trying we netted As it is now the moths, their habitat and keen and accomplished authors and naturalists willing to put pen to paper for every edition and twoSo what Fen canWainscot you expect and sixfrom Reed me Daggeras chairman? (Nb) that I currently we managed don’t have to a garden, so I won’t be writ- their food plants are all left alone to get encourageing a regular towards ‘chairman’s us away trap’ from section the vegetation. in the newsletter. I’ll try and keep my highlights of the to have Penny Green to pull it all together into such aon professional to their own format. devices. Keep Well, up apartthe good from summer to a paragraph in the chairman’s report. Working full time as an ecologist, I’m in a good work! Enjoy this issue and I look forward to seeing you aroundany moths a bright deciding light toin a alight field onsometime the tar- Weposition drove to backtry and towards write more the traps about past such a snipertopics rangeas conservation and, when projects, wider natural history, soon! gets themselves; they may experience a weentomological got there, survey things weretechniques looking etc. up. I’ve Although also built the up temperature quite a list of contacts over the years so I certain amount of ‘human intervention’! waswill try still and cool get moths some guest were speakers starting toin from come further to the afield traps too. in good PigmyThe Footman Magic subsp. Carpetpallifrons result by Sam Bayley and Colin Pratt numbers and we set about sorting through and identifying the by Photo My low point of the year has been slipping a disk in my back which three months on is giving me various species, many of which we had not encountered before. The Midrips and The Wicks are a fantastic and hidden part of Sussex hosting many of the unusual grief even as I write this article. This year has been a struggle. I ran some traps for the Friends of In the spring newsletter we showed a couple of photos of an Reed Dagger moth species that the Dungeness area is so famous for. The very fact that this area is not easily GraemeBenfield Lyons Country had Park recommended earlier this a year few andspecies could do nothing but watch as half a dozen senior unidentified macro moth. It’s time to put you out of your mis- accessible has helped the habitat many of these moths require to flourish, and who knows what Everitt Jacob forcitizens us to unloaded keep a look the generatorsout for and and one traps of these, and carried them up the hill. Fingers crossed that this ery…... Synaphe punctalis (Nb), was already in evidence other species are lurking in this most easterly of Sussex sites! Sussex has lost the breeding moth business will all be sorted out by my next field season. Sam says: in some numbers. The micro moth we were species named after it, with Lewes Wave and Brighton Wainscot long since departed. Although Sus- really hoping to see though wasMy a highlight beautiful of the year was a joint record with Penny Green sexThe Emerald moth that does was occasionally pictured in turn the upSpring in Sussex Newsletter as a wanderer, was a real there just could be a small popula- nd species called Cynaeda dentalis, whoseof Marsh caterpil- Dagger at Woods Mill on the 22 July. This moth tionhead hanging spinner on andat the had Midrips myself, just Colin waiting Pratt to be and discovered……... Mark Parsons lars feed internally in the stems ofwent Viper’s extinct Bu- in the UK in 1933 and this moth is only the third giving uncertain thoughts ranging from Common Carpet, Bal- gloss. In the UK this RDB3 species isin confined the UK sinceto then, the second record being caught at Pa- sam Carpet or a strange form of Red Twin-spot Carpet. Finally, after much to-ing and fro-ing, I th the coasts of southern England, andgham as Harbourwe got on the 19 July 2010! Another joint record of sent the moth to Colin to look at in the flesh and the resultant finding was something else, in fact towards midnight the first of five noteturned (with up at Mike Edwards) was the Raspberry Clearwing at it was a Barred Rivulet. the lights. With their striking zig-Fristonzag markings Forest which will feature in an article by Michael Blen- highlighted by the MV bulbs they coweinstantly in this be- issue of the newsletter. Possibly my favourite find I wasn't really convinced by Colin as I couldn't find reference to any Barred Rivulet looking like this on the net or books, until Martin Honey contacted me after seeing the newsletter second- came one of our favourite moths! this year was a micro, the Notable A Orange Conch Commo- phila aeneana, again at Friston hand from someone else who directed me to a website that showed it perfectly. I will never Another species we hoped to seeForest was the during Red an invertebrate Cynaeda dentalis doubt you again Colin!! Data Book classified Pigmy Footman,survey although where I was focusing on what we didn't expect was to record anything like the numbers we found. Fifty-four of the nomi- Colin says: Marsh Dagger Lepidoptera. When we have nate sub-species were attracted towritten the traps the along survey with up Ithree will write of the yellow sub-species pallifrons, Difficulties over identifications stem from the fact that a moth photograph does not always look whichan article in Britain about is itknown in the only next from newsletter the coastal as shingle it is a fairlyaround simple Dungeness. like real life and different forms occur in different parts of the UK. Identifying moths from photo- graphs is far more difficult than from a specimen, as they bring to the fore markings that are not Asmethodology the night wore that oncould the be species repeated count on crept any site. slowly towards forty and we were rewarded for stay- ing late, as at 2:30am the first of three Dark Tussock appeared; a salient reminder that finishing normally evident to the unaided human eye. Some County Recorders refuse to identify all moths It does feel that there have been more migrants and dispersing from photographs - and they are the wise ones! trappingresidents at this midnight year than can lead there to have some been species in recentbeing missed. years. SteveAt about 3:30am we started to pack up the traps and then slowly made our way back along the maze of roads towards the Lydd exit. Teale’s first for Sussex, Tamarisk Peacock, being particularly Cover picture: Gypsy Moth by Michael Blencowe Aftermemorable. handing One back of ourmy firstwalkie jobs-talkie was towe set drove up a out Facebook through page the for gates and as we headed towards Ryethe mothHarbour group we whichreflected has on been the done long nightand is we active had now. just enjoyed. The Sussex Orange Conch The cover picture is of a Gypsy Moth Lymantria dispar recorded at Friston on 21st August 2010. TheMoths ranges Yahoo were email such group an alien had landscape more emails and init wasJuly athis privilege year since to trap in them for the night. It was Another Gypsy Moth was also trapped that night, 120 miles away at Dunwich Heath, Suffolk. Dark Tussock PagePage420 SUSSEXSUSSEX MOTH MOTH GROUP GROUP NE NEWSLETTERWSLETTER SUSSEXSUSSEX MOTH MOTH GROUP GROUP NE NEWSLETTERWSLETTER PagePage215

An ace up my sleeve - an off-the-cuff approach to Kent Tubic no longer by Steve Wheatley Moth trapping in a Sussex garden by David Webb Mothing in the danger zone by Dave A. Green recording Common Fanfoot by Michael Blencowe On 19th July whilst packing up my traps at a coppiced wood near Rye I spotted a tiny or- I had wanted to set a moth trap in my garden in Partridge Green, West Sussex, for some time but as Readingange micro through moth the on species one of descriptionsthe egg-boxes. in WaringIt was newand Townsend,to me so I snappedDungeness a couplerepeatedly photos crops before up InspiredI have neighbours by the success either of side April's a bright Sloe Carpet light was discovery, out of theI revisited question. Colin I back Pratt's onto 'Opportunities open fields forwith asthe a mothhot-spot promptly for a varietydisappeared. of enigmatic moths, and the final stronghold in the UK for some. The Bigwoodland Game hunting'so I thought article there in April'smust be SMG quite newsletter. a variety ofAnother moths ofas Colin'squite a targetsfew came that to attracted the light shin-me Dungeness complex of shingle, gravel pits and wetlands extends over a huge area (it is reputedly wasing from the Common my window Fan at-foot night.Pechipogo However strigilata last year. For I went those to woulda car boot-be scholars sale and out bought there aPechipogo black light. When I got home I leafed through the excellent ‘British Moths and Butterflies: A Photographic the largest vegetated shingle spit in ) but rarely is it noted that part of this area falls within comesThis is fromsuperb pekhus; because the the forearm, light it and givespogon; off attracts a beard. moths This isbut a referencedoes not todisturb the fine the hair neighbours. forelegs I Guide’ by Chris Manley to look for the little orange micro. There aren’t that many bright orange the Sussex county boundary. ofmade this afamily. wooden The box, specific and nameput thestrigilata black lightrefers on to top this of species the box streaked with its wing connections patterning. and For filled once the micro-moths so I thought it would be easy to find. No luck; it certainly wasn’t in the book so my Ibox have with to eggagree boxes. that Ithe managed latin name to trap makes species a lot many more moths sense which than theI had English never nameseen before.because Armed one Mostinterest of thewas Dungeness piqued and complex I vowed fallingto ID it within the next Sussex morning. is owned by the military, and forms the Lydd thingwith my that textbook the Common I managed Fan-foot to identify definitely the isn't macro is common. moths but the micros presented me with a chal- Ranges firing range. As with many military ranges, permits are issued to wildlife surveyors to allow The next morning I downloaded the (rather poor) photos to my lenge. Unless I was sure, I left them out. access for recording at times when the ranges are not being used. It was with one of these permits The Common Fan-foot is a Nationally Notable A species and, as Colin described in his article, is computer so that I could get a good look and started searching that Pen and I arrived at the ranges in late July aiming to carry out a moth survey but, importantly nowI set the in serious trap up danger in the green of extinction house then in Sussex. if it rains It was it doesn`t last reported fuse the in electrics. Plashett Unfortunately Wood, a private I am the UK Moths website. All likely candidates were quickly dis- from our point of view, hoping to get out of Kent and onto the Sussex side of the Ranges. Wielding woodlandnot alone near in finding Ringmer, moths. in 2001 A and I ofhoped sparrows to confirm soon that found it was out still there there. was an easy ready-made counted. Not to be out-done by such a distinctive moth I re- our passes, we stopped at the entrance gates and rather apprehensively presented them to the meal in the greenhouse and if I wasn`t early enough they would strip the trap of moths. You could verted to simply clicking moth-by-moth through the UK Moths I have been granted access to Plashett by its owners to undertake an annual butterfly survey and Military Police, before being told that they knew nothing of our visit that night! At first we were say it was the first fly in restaurant. And then there were the spiders who again found out that mak- species pages. It took about 80 mouse-clicks before a matching on the evening of 4th June I was given the keys to the gate and allowed to drive into the heart of worried that we wouldn't be able to gain access to the Range, but after some sorting out of paper- ing a web in a moth trap was an easy way of insuring a steady supply of food. We won`t mention moth suddenly appeared on screen. There was no mistaking this fantastic woodland. I was joined by David Burrows, Steve Wheatley and Keith Alexander and work and making a few calls the helpful Military Police gave us a walkie-talkie, our own call sign and the moths who thought that tomato plants make a good source of food for their caterpillars, par- the distinctive patterning – it was Bisigna procerella. I was ex- we were armed with six traps and a packet of Jelly Babies. Colin had given me advice on where directed us to where we needed to go to meet a guard to gain access to the Range. ticularly the knot grass where a family of caterpillars was steadily munching their way through my cited to read this is a provisional Red Data Book species the moth had been previously found and I had also received tips on the best way to search for it: tomato plants. A few minutes later we were ushered(pRDB1) through with a gate“only onto a very the few range records and toldfrom we the were south the-east only of avoid the rides and place your traps right under the – the larval foodplant. people there that night. With the remindersEngland” not and to theleave National the prescribed Biodiversity areas Network because map of possible showed However June this year was particularly successful. The Cyprus Carpet was a first for me and one At 20:50 we arrived at the site, parked up and got out of our cars to survey the habitat and decide unexploded ordnance ringing in our them ears, all the to gatebe in closed Kent. behind us, and we started driving out which I needed help in identifying. Sorting out the small brown Noctuid moths is also a long-winded where to place our traps. At 20:53, as we strolled along a ride, a moth flew past. I instinctively through one of the weirdest landscapes we had ever seen. Amongst the fossilised shingle dunes task but I am getting better at it as time goes by especially as I have the help of the British Moths I knew for sure this was a significant find when I told Tony Davis reached out my hand to try to cup it in my palm. At 20:54 the moth flew up the sleeve of my and low-lying scrub were firing ranges and targets of many assorted kinds. We started our journey and Butterflies book by Chris Manley which shows photographs of the moths in their natural state. and he displayed genuine surprise; I’ve never seen Tony sur- fleece. At 20:55 all four of us peered down my sleeve to see a Common Fan-foot resting on my towards the Sussex end of the complex and, 3 kilometres later, the GPS showed we had made it prised before! County Recorder, Colin Pratt, confirmed this to wrist.Here is a summary of the moths I caught in the trap in June from only a small back garden in a vil- into Sussex in between the Midrips and The Wicks. With the wind picking up, and the temperature be a new species for Sussex. On the continent the moth is lage in West Sussex: I caught 82 species of macro moths and 31 species of micro moths that I could dropping quickly, we searched around for somewhere to set up our traps without straying from the At 21:00 four men stood in a wood and debated whether we should bother staying or head home. widely but thinly distributed. Peter Davey & Dave Green re- identify. What I find unusual is that often only one species is caught on one night and I never see it roads. In the end we settled on a spot at the end of one of the firing ranges and a few minutes later This could have been one of the shortest field trips in SMG history and I must admit finding the ported “a few to light each night” during a group trip to Farm again on subsequent nights. I am making a list of number of species caught per night and I will send two 125 MV bulbs shone brightly out over the shingle, the only lights for quite a distance. target species so soon had quickly dispelled all the anticipation and excitement from the evening. Lator in , 2006 [2]. It might possibly be a new colonist it in at the end of the year. However, we unpacked our traps and continued with the survey. Close to traps there was an area of inbrambles the UK and but theour larvaedusking has efforts never elicited been foundaround here. 70 Silver On the-Y continent the larvae are known to feed on lichens on tree-trunks (Beech and ), especially on Among the more notable sightings this year that were new to me were the Cypress carpet, and the accompanied by a couple of Yellow Shell and a Chinese Character; however as darkness fell the All in all, ten Common Fan-foots (Fan-feet?) were re- sandy soils [3]. It is listed as a ‘house moth’ in some sources. Possibly this lovely little moth is an- Cyprus pug, both indicative of the growth of the cyprus trees round here. Also seen ware the Beau- conditions did not seem conducive towards a good mothing corded in Plashett that evening (and I again proved other indicator of climate change and an increasingly continental climate in the South East. tiful tip, Wormwood, Leopard moth and the Delicate, a migrant passing through. I only had one night. We surveyed our surroundings and considered that we irresistible to them when Keith noticed I had been were in one of the most surreal landscapes we had ever encoun- hawk-moth, the Poplar and only a few Ruby Tiger moths, but no Garden Tiger moths this year. Only Jim Porter [4] gives the common name to be ‘Kent Tubic’. Obviously it should now be called ‘Kent walking around with one settled on my hat). Also tered; accompanied by a cacophony of noise from the geese on the var stramineola of the Dingy Footman turned up on two successive nights and of the many mi- and Sussex Tubic’, however, if climate change continues as predicted maybe this beautiful little amongst an impressive haul that evening was my first the nearby Scotney Court Gravel Pits, and with calling waders in cros, OncoceraCyclophoria semirubella annulariawas the most outstanding being mostly pink and moth will become the ‘Common Orange House Moth’. Mocha . We had proved that the the background, the huge expanse of shingle dotted with odd Commonquite spectacular Fan Foot to issee. still doing well at Plashett how- military[1] Manley, buildings C. (2008) felt likeBritish no- whereMoths elseand Butterflies:we had been. A Photographic Guide. London: A & C Black. ever the real test will be to try and find this moth at other locations within the county. Be sure to keep your Back[2] Davey at the & traps,Green moths (2006) wereFarm inLator short & northsupply-east and Hungary a Ruby Tigermoth report 8th - 15th July 2006 eyes – and sleeves – open as you walk around. With was our first species, however within a few minutes the first of [3] http://www.angelfire.com/nm2/natuur/vlinders/bisig_procer.html thanks to Keith Alexander, Steve Wheatley, David Bur- nine Grass Eggar (Na) turned up and, a little while later, a Pale Grass Eggar (RDB) made it to the trap. rows and Colin Pratt. Cypress Carpet [4] Porter, J. (2002) A Label and Checklist of the British Micro-Lepidoptera with Vernacular Names Pale Grass Eggar PagePage420 SUSSEXSUSSEX MOTH MOTH GROUP GROUP NE NEWSLETTERWSLETTER SUSSEXSUSSEX MOTH MOTH GROUP GROUP NE NEWSLETTERWSLETTER PagePage215

An ace up my sleeve - an off-the-cuff approach to Kent Tubic no longer by Steve Wheatley Moth trapping in a Sussex garden by David Webb Mothing in the danger zone by Dave A. Green recording Common Fanfoot by Michael Blencowe On 19th July whilst packing up my traps at a coppiced hornbeam wood near Rye I spotted a tiny or- I had wanted to set a moth trap in my garden in Partridge Green, West Sussex, for some time but as Readingange micro through moth the on species one of descriptionsthe egg-boxes. in WaringIt was newand Townsend,to me so I snappedDungeness a couplerepeatedly photos crops before up IInspired have neighbours by the success either of side April's a bright Sloe Carpet light was discovery, out of theI revisited question. Colin I back Pratt's onto 'Opportunities open fields forwith asthe a mothhot-spot promptly for a varietydisappeared. of enigmatic moths, and the final stronghold in the UK for some. The woodlandBig Game hunting'so I thought article there in April'smust be SMG quite newsletter. a variety ofAnother moths ofas Colin'squite a targetsfew came that to attracted the light shin-me Dungeness complex of shingle, gravel pits and wetlands extends over a huge area (it is reputedly ingwas from the Commonmy window Fan at-foot night.Pechipogo However strigilata last year. For I went those to woulda car boot-be scholars sale and out bought there aPechipogo black light. When I got home I leafed through the excellent ‘British Moths and Butterflies: A Photographic the largest vegetated shingle spit in Europe) but rarely is it noted that part of this area falls within Thiscomes is superbfrom pekhus; because the the forearm, light it and givespogon; off attracts a beard. moths This isbut a referencedoes not todisturb the fine the hairneighbours. forelegs I Guide’ by Chris Manley to look for the little orange micro. There aren’t that many bright orange the Sussex county boundary. madeof this afamily. wooden The box, specific and nameput thestrigilata black lightrefers on to top this of species the box streaked with its wing connections patterning. and For filled once the micro-moths so I thought it would be easy to find. No luck; it certainly wasn’t in the book so my boxI have with to eggagree boxes. that Ithe managed latin name to trap makes species a lot many more moths sense which than theI had English never nameseen before.because Armed one Mostinterest of thewas Dungeness piqued and complex I vowed fallingto ID it within the next Sussex morning. is owned by the military, and forms the Lydd withthing my that textbook the Common I managed Fan-foot to identify definitely the isn't macro is common. moths but the micros presented me with a chal- Ranges firing range. As with many military ranges, permits are issued to wildlife surveyors to allow The next morning I downloaded the (rather poor) photos to my lenge. Unless I was sure, I left them out. access for recording at times when the ranges are not being used. It was with one of these permits The Common Fan-foot is a Nationally Notable A species and, as Colin described in his article, is computer so that I could get a good look and started searching that Pen and I arrived at the ranges in late July aiming to carry out a moth survey but, importantly Inow set the in serious trap up danger in the green of extinction house then in Sussex. if it rains It was it doesn`t last reported fuse the in electrics. Plashett Unfortunately Wood, a private I am the UK Moths website. All likely candidates were quickly dis- from our point of view, hoping to get out of Kent and onto the Sussex side of the Ranges. Wielding notwoodland alone near in finding Ringmer, moths. in 2001 A family and I ofhoped sparrows to confirm soon that found it was out still there there. was an easy ready-made counted. Not to be out-done by such a distinctive moth I re- our passes, we stopped at the entrance gates and rather apprehensively presented them to the meal in the greenhouse and if I wasn`t early enough they would strip the trap of moths. You could verted to simply clicking moth-by-moth through the UK Moths I have been granted access to Plashett by its owners to undertake an annual butterfly survey and Military Police, before being told that they knew nothing of our visit that night! At first we were say it was the first fly in restaurant. And then there were the spiders who again found out that mak- species pages. It took about 80 mouse-clicks before a matching on the evening of 4th June I was given the keys to the gate and allowed to drive into the heart of worried that we wouldn't be able to gain access to the Range, but after some sorting out of paper- ing a web in a moth trap was an easy way of insuring a steady supply of food. We won`t mention moth suddenly appeared on screen. There was no mistaking this fantastic woodland. I was joined by David Burrows, Steve Wheatley and Keith Alexander and work and making a few calls the helpful Military Police gave us a walkie-talkie, our own call sign and the moths who thought that tomato plants make a good source of food for their caterpillars, par- the distinctive patterning – it was Bisigna procerella. I was ex- we were armed with six traps and a packet of Jelly Babies. Colin had given me advice on where directed us to where we needed to go to meet a guard to gain access to the Range. ticularly the knot grass where a family of caterpillars was steadily munching their way through my cited to read this is a provisional Red Data Book species the moth had been previously found and I had also received tips on the best way to search for it: tomato plants. A few minutes later we were ushered(pRDB1) through with a gate“only onto a very the few range records and told from we the were south the-east only of avoid the rides and place your traps right under the oaks – the larval foodplant. people there that night. With the remindersEngland” not and to theleave National the prescribed Biodiversity areas Network because map of possible showed However June this year was particularly successful. The Cyprus Carpet was a first for me and one At 20:50 we arrived at the site, parked up and got out of our cars to survey the habitat and decide unexploded ordnance ringing in our them ears, all the to gatebe in closed Kent. behind us, and we started driving out which I needed help in identifying. Sorting out the small brown Noctuid moths is also a long-winded where to place our traps. At 20:53, as we strolled along a ride, a moth flew past. I instinctively through one of the weirdest landscapes we had ever seen. Amongst the fossilised shingle dunes task but I am getting better at it as time goes by especially as I have the help of the British Moths I knew for sure this was a significant find when I told Tony Davis reached out my hand to try to cup it in my palm. At 20:54 the moth flew up the sleeve of my and low-lying scrub were firing ranges and targets of many assorted kinds. We started our journey and Butterflies book by Chris Manley which shows photographs of the moths in their natural state. and he displayed genuine surprise; I’ve never seen Tony sur- fleece. At 20:55 all four of us peered down my sleeve to see a Common Fan-foot resting on my towards the Sussex end of the complex and, 3 kilometres later, the GPS showed we had made it prised before! County Recorder, Colin Pratt, confirmed this to Herewrist. is a summary of the moths I caught in the trap in June from only a small back garden in a vil- into Sussex in between the Midrips and The Wicks. With the wind picking up, and the temperature be a new species for Sussex. On the continent the moth is lage in West Sussex: I caught 82 species of macro moths and 31 species of micro moths that I could dropping quickly, we searched around for somewhere to set up our traps without straying from the At 21:00 four men stood in a wood and debated whether we should bother staying or head home. widely but thinly distributed. Peter Davey & Dave Green re- identify. What I find unusual is that often only one species is caught on one night and I never see it roads. In the end we settled on a spot at the end of one of the firing ranges and a few minutes later This could have been one of the shortest field trips in SMG history and I must admit finding the ported “a few to light each night” during a group trip to Farm again on subsequent nights. I am making a list of number of species caught per night and I will send two 125 MV bulbs shone brightly out over the shingle, the only lights for quite a distance. target species so soon had quickly dispelled all the anticipation and excitement from the evening. Lator in Hungary, 2006 [2]. It might possibly be a new colonist it in at the end of the year. However, we unpacked our traps and continued with the survey. Close to traps there was an area of inbrambles the UK and but theour larvaedusking has efforts never elicited been foundaround here. 70 Silver On the-Y continent the larvae are known to feed on lichens on tree-trunks (Beech and Birch), especially on Among the more notable sightings this year that were new to me were the Cypress carpet, and the accompanied by a couple of Yellow Shell and a Chinese Character; however as darkness fell the All in all, ten Common Fan-foots (Fan-feet?) were re- sandy soils [3]. It is listed as a ‘house moth’ in some sources. Possibly this lovely little moth is an- Cyprus pug, both indicative of the growth of the cyprus trees round here. Also seen ware the Beau- conditions did not seem conducive towards a good mothing corded in Plashett that evening (and I again proved other indicator of climate change and an increasingly continental climate in the South East. tiful Oak tip, Wormwood, Leopard moth and the Delicate, a migrant passing through. I only had one night. We surveyed our surroundings and considered that we irresistible to them when Keith noticed I had been were in one of the most surreal landscapes we had ever encoun- hawk-moth, the Poplar and only a few Ruby Tiger moths, but no Garden Tiger moths this year. Only Jim Porter [4] gives the common name to be ‘Kent Tubic’. Obviously it should now be called ‘Kent walking around with one settled on my hat). Also tered; accompanied by a cacophony of noise from the geese on the var stramineola of the Dingy Footman turned up on two successive nights and of the many mi- and Sussex Tubic’, however, if climate change continues as predicted maybe this beautiful little amongst an impressive haul that evening was my first the nearby Scotney Court Gravel Pits, and with calling waders in cros, OncoceraCyclophoria semirubella annulariawas the most outstanding being mostly pink and moth will become the ‘Common Orange House Moth’. Mocha . We had proved that the the background, the huge expanse of shingle dotted with odd quiteCommon spectacular Fan Foot to issee. still doing well at Plashett how- military[1] Manley, buildings C. (2008) felt likeBritish no- whereMoths elseand Butterflies:we had been. A Photographic Guide. London: A & C Black. ever the real test will be to try and find this moth at other locations within the county. Be sure to keep your Back[2] Davey at the & traps,Green moths (2006) wereFarm inLator short & northsupply-east and Hungary a Ruby Tigermoth report 8th - 15th July 2006 eyes – and sleeves – open as you walk around. With was our first species, however within a few minutes the first of [3] http://www.angelfire.com/nm2/natuur/vlinders/bisig_procer.html thanks to Keith Alexander, Steve Wheatley, David Bur- nine Grass Eggar (Na) turned up and, a little while later, a Pale Grass Eggar (RDB) made it to the trap. rows and Colin Pratt. Cypress Carpet [4] Porter, J. (2002) A Label and Checklist of the British Micro-Lepidoptera with Vernacular Names Pale Grass Eggar Page 186 SUSSEX MOTH GROUP NEWSLETTER SUSSEXSUSSEX MOTH MOTH GROUP GROUP NE NEWSLETTERWSLETTER Page 719

CarpetThe mysterious baggers by Michaelworld ofBlencowe bats by Jim Barrett on a much grander and more refined scale. Bats shout, and their shout is so Some reports will tell you that Sloe Carpet have a similar No doubt a few eyebrows would have raised when it was announced that this year’s National loud that could we but hear, it would be as noisy as an aircraft taking off, yet As the autumn draws in and those first Feathered Gothics herald the beginning of the end, my habit to Barred Tooth-striped moths in that they tend to sit Moth Night had the broader theme of ‘Bats and Moths’. they receive the resounding echo no louder than a pin dropping. Both fre- thoughts go back to one of my highlights of the 2010 season – way back in April. on the end of blackthorn twigs adopting a pose comparable quency modulated and constant frequency ultra-sound helps them find their As a brand new moth recorder I have not yet had the time to develop any particular prejudices to the way that that species sits on privet. After surveying A few years ago, at one of the first SMG indoor meetings I ever attended, Sam Bayley brought along prey and determine their surroundings, backed up by a neurological and physio- towards bats or birds, though I must admit to feeling slightly foolish when upon chasing a really for Barred Tooth-striped at Mill Hill and Hope Gap it doesn’t an exhibit. As the little plastic pot was passed around the room its inhabitant elicited gasps of admi- logical architecture of such sensitivity and precision, that it would make a state attractive moth disturbed from the long grass in my garden, missing the moth by a fraction with take long to ‘get your eye in’. A scan over the privet with a ration from the attendees. The pot was eventually passed to me and I gazed in, anticipating a col- of the art ballistic missile detection system seem like smoke signals by compari- my sample pot, only for a robin to swoop down and gobble up my moth as if to say, “this is how torch will soon reveal Barred Tooth-striped moths clinging to ourful or intricately patterned specimen. The bland, greyish moth in front of me was rather a disap- son. pointment.the professionals do it, loo-ser”. the end of the twigs. However the difference there is that Bats are sociable and gregarious. Duringyou May are the locating females a pale gather moth together against in the maternal dark background colonies to of So as night fell on National Moth Night at Rowland Wood I went down to the large pond to see if The moth was a Sloe Carpet and its value does not come from its appearance but from its rarity. It privet.roost andHere each we arefemale trying will to rear find a a single pale mothpup in against June. For the the white next background month or twoof blackthorn they will rear in bloom. their I could learn something about bats. had not been seen in Sussex for many years and this specimen had been caught in Surrey and Mr Thisyoung wasn’t and goingteach to them be easy. how to hunt. The colonies will then disperse in September to mate before Bayley had smuggled it over the border to exhibit it that night. hibernating in November. Deep in the human psyche there lies a strong attraction to water. A pond or lake in daylight is a After netting some Streamers, Shoulder Stripes and a Yellow-barred Brindle we approached the infa- shimmering, dynamic, sensuous mirror, it ripples, it shimmers and glints as if decked with Over the following years the Sloe Carpet has kept up its profile at moth group meetings. Tony Davis mousAs with blackthorn so many hedge. of our Clare,native who species had UKopted bats to are wear in wellies,trouble. wasDevelopment able to walk pressure, into the the Blackthorn loss of sunlight encrusted jewels, but at night its aspect is altogether different. As cold mists drift across has encouraged members to go on the hunt for this species and a similar request featured in Colin’s throughnatural thewoodland deep cattle habitat,-poached declining mud while numbers the rest andscanned the reclamationthe thicket withof disused our torches. buildings My have torch the surface it becomes a dark and sinister presence, a malign shadow, the cauldron rim of the ‘Big Game Hunting’ article in the last SMG newsletter. Tony suggested that areas on the borders beamall contributed picked out to a an moth alarming flying decline high above in bat the numbers. blackthorn Sound and at Matthew’s all familiar? torch locked on to it too. withsubconscious, Surrey may a be portal the bestto the place timeless to search. void of Colin’s eternal ‘History chaos. of the Butterflies and Moths of Sussex’ The moth – illuminated like a WW2 zeppelin - started to flutter lower, drawn in by twin tractor- I was also mightily impressed by the dedication and spirit of the Sussex Bat Group recorders. As statesBut thisthat is the my moth imagination can no longer and not be thefound world in East as itSussex. is. For His this research sepulchral reveals vision a series is not of whatrecords it beams of the torches. Clare, who was now in position within the blackthorn, swung her net above Helen told me, “it’s the mysterious and enigmatic nature of bats that makes them such an interest- – seems.mainly Insingletons fact, it teems– recorded with life around and activity.the Surrey In the/ Sussex water borderlands, newts and larval the last of which swim, being thou- a her as the moth came into range – but it somehow managed to duck under the net and avoided cap- ing and challenging group to study”. Far from being the creatures of nightmare, or a well worn recordsands by of Johntiny insectsRadford throng of an individualabove its surface near Petworth and intrepid in 1997. natural aviators, swift of wing and cun- ture. Luckily Clare was able to get a fix on where it had landed. cliché to horror stories innumerable, these intriguing and deft little flying mammals are an integral ning of mind, feed in frenzy. So fast and fleet are they, as to defy our senses. The moth flies early in the year with Colin quoting its flight season as late March to late April – with Whenpart of I arrivedour national with mybiodiversity pot in hand and Clare as such was they able should to point be totreasured. a branch As moth trappers we may extremeTo detect records these in elusive early March creatures and humans the third need week some in May. instruments, The sole andfoodplant fortunately is, unsurprisingly, two young withfind theit hard net tohandle love them,and there but batsin front deserve of me our was utmost a small respect. pale moth cling- Blackthorn.women from the Sussex Bat Group, Kim and Helen, where there to show us how to use them ing to the end of a blackthorn twig in a similar manner to the Barred- Whenmost Ieffectively. think of Blackthorn for some reason I always imagine one particular Blackthorn –a big old toothPuss Stripe. in I managedboots by to gentlyDavid collectBurrows the moth in a pot and as I peered in I was thrilled to see a bland, greyish moth. sloeAs moththicket recorders tucked away we are in theable corner to examine of the what SWT wereserve catch. at A Ebernoe moth caught Common. in a trap In April can be2009 potted, Clare Jeffersexamined, and I photographedhad headed there and armed discussed with for nets, days a torchif necessary. and high This hopes. must However seem like as luxury we started to a bat out TonyAt the rushed beginning over and,of August with someI was contactedamazement, by wasStella able and to Colin confirm of Udimore, that it to whom my telephone intorecorder the reserve who can the only spring infer temperature what species plummeted are present– and by despite interpreting catching the my clicks first and Powdered booms wasnumber indeed had a Sloebeen Carpet given by– confirmationSteve Wheatley that after this speciesthey reported is still aa Sussexmystery large creature that had Quakerthrough there a bat was detector. little to reportWe heard and commonwe headed pipistrelles home. and soprano pipistrelles, each of whom resident.woven aAlf cocoon and Matthew in the were mat thrilled in the that boot their of careful management of the reserve has enabled this species to remain on the Sussex list. How- Incall April at 2010 distinctive Alf Simpson ultra-sound– SMG frequencies, member and from Voluntary which Warden the experienced of Ebernoe listener Common can – distinguish contacted Colin’s classic 1979 MGB and found as he was medifferent as he was types keen of behaviourto look for by the the moth sounds and theyhis thoughts hear. We had had similarly also hoped been to drawn detect to the the water same evergiving it is the no doubt car a a pre much-MOT under spring-recorded clean. moth. After carefully detaching the cocoon, a small blackthornfeeding specialists, hedge at Daubenton’sEbernoe. Alf isbats, justifiably but alas proud they wereof this not piece present of Blackthorn on this occasion.– he has chosen to SMG Chairman Graeme Lyons has suggested that one afternoon next ‘window’ on the underside revealed a freshly leave it unmanaged and as a result it is something to behold when in full flower. In 2009 Alf and Spring could be spent surveying for suitable blackthorn in NW Sussex The other invaluable instrument for the bat recorder is a high power torch. These are used as formed (still greenish) pupa within – about a Matthew Sennett were able to find Brown Hairstreak larvae in the hedge – proof that this elusive returning to a few sites in the evening to search for Sloe Carpet with torches. This could also be com- search lights, scanning the water in wide sweeping arcs. Occasionally a twisting, vanishing shape third of it’s length was visible and showed tiny butterfly is breeding on the reserve. Alf was hoping to top this record in 2010 by proving that Sloe bined with a Brown Hairstreak egg search to support the BC atlas and a visit to The Stag at Balls Cross is seen, a tantalising glimpse, the briefest of impressions, before it is gone and the mind is left hooks on each segment. I then asked them if Carpet was a resident here too. for a pub meal. If you would like to join us please contact us over the winter. wondering whether this spectral flicker was any more substantial than a dream. they knew of any poplar or trees nearby OnContrary April 24th to the 2010 proverb we met bats with are Alf, not Matthew blind, but and as nocturnalTony Davis creatures at the car their park eyes next are to a the secondary country Michaeland they Blencowe showed ([email protected] me a large-leaved hybrid). With thanks to Alf Simpson, Matthew Sennett, Tony churchsense. at I suspectEbernoe that and westrolled have intoall stood the reserve. in a big The empty night building rolled inat andsome we time were and serenaded been intrigued by two Davispoplar and a Clare yard Jeffers or two for from an enjoyable the parked evening’s MGB, mothing. nightingalesby hearing (andour own two voicenot so echoing melodic from Mandarin the roof Ducks) and walls. and in This the is fading essentially light wewhat began bats todo, survey only and bingo! It was a Puss Moth. Colin has photo- the blackthorn in the area. References:graphed and Pratt, will be C. sending (1999) A it Revisedoff with History a note of the Butterflies and Moths of Sussex. Brighton: Brightonto the MG and car Hove club Council. newsletter too. By Colin Knight PagePage186 SUSSEX MOTH GROUP NEWSLETTER SUSSEXSUSSEX MOTH MOTH GROUP GROUP NE NEWSLETTERWSLETTER Page 197

CarpetThe mysterious baggers by Michaelworld ofBlencowe bats by Jim Barrett on a much grander and more refined scale. Bats shout, and their shout is so Some reports will tell you that Sloe Carpet have a similar No doubt a few eyebrows would have raised when it was announced that this year’s National loud that could we but hear, it would be as noisy as an aircraft taking off, yet As the autumn draws in and those first Feathered Gothics herald the beginning of the end, my habit to Barred Tooth-striped moths in that they tend to sit Moth Night had the broader theme of ‘Bats and Moths’. they receive the resounding echo no louder than a pin dropping. Both fre- thoughts go back to one of my highlights of the 2010 season – way back in April. on the end of blackthorn twigs adopting a pose comparable quency modulated and constant frequency ultra-sound helps them find their As a brand new moth recorder I have not yet had the time to develop any particular prejudices to the way that that species sits on privet. After surveying A few years ago, at one of the first SMG indoor meetings I ever attended, Sam Bayley brought along prey and determine their surroundings, backed up by a neurological and physio- towards bats or birds, though I must admit to feeling slightly foolish when upon chasing a really for Barred Tooth-striped at Mill Hill and Hope Gap it doesn’t an exhibit. As the little plastic pot was passed around the room its inhabitant elicited gasps of admi- logical architecture of such sensitivity and precision, that it would make a state attractive moth disturbed from the long grass in my garden, missing the moth by a fraction with take long to ‘get your eye in’. A scan over the privet with a ration from the attendees. The pot was eventually passed to me and I gazed in, anticipating a col- of the art ballistic missile detection system seem like smoke signals by compari- my sample pot, only for a robin to swoop down and gobble up my moth as if to say, “this is how torch will soon reveal Barred Tooth-striped moths clinging to ourful or intricately patterned specimen. The bland, greyish moth in front of me was rather a disap- son. pointment.the professionals do it, loo-ser”. the end of the twigs. However the difference there is that Bats are sociable and gregarious. Duringyou May are the locating females a pale gather moth together against in the maternal dark background colonies to of So as night fell on National Moth Night at Rowland Wood I went down to the large pond to see if The moth was a Sloe Carpet and its value does not come from its appearance but from its rarity. It privet.roost andHere each we arefemale trying will to rear find a a single pale mothpup in against June. For the the white next background month or twoof blackthorn they will rear in bloom. their I could learn something about bats. had not been seen in Sussex for many years and this specimen had been caught in Surrey and Mr Thisyoung wasn’t and goingteach to them be easy. how to hunt. The colonies will then disperse in September to mate before Bayley had smuggled it over the border to exhibit it that night. hibernating in November. Deep in the human psyche there lies a strong attraction to water. A pond or lake in daylight is a After netting some Streamers, Shoulder Stripes and a Yellow-barred Brindle we approached the infa- shimmering, dynamic, sensuous mirror, it ripples, it shimmers and glints as if decked with Over the following years the Sloe Carpet has kept up its profile at moth group meetings. Tony Davis mousAs with blackthorn so many hedge. of our Clare,native who species had UKopted bats to are wear in wellies,trouble. was Development able to walk pressure, into the the Blackthorn loss of sunlight encrusted jewels, but at night its aspect is altogether different. As cold mists drift across has encouraged members to go on the hunt for this species and a similar request featured in Colin’s throughnatural thewoodland deep cattle habitat,-poached declining mud insect while numbers the rest andscanned the reclamationthe thicket withof disused our torches. buildings My havetorch the surface it becomes a dark and sinister presence, a malign shadow, the cauldron rim of the ‘Big Game Hunting’ article in the last SMG newsletter. Tony suggested that areas on the borders beamall contributed picked out to a an moth alarming flying decline high above in bat the numbers. blackthorn Sound and at Matthew’s all familiar? torch locked on to it too. withsubconscious, Surrey may a be portal the bestto the place timeless to search. void of Colin’s eternal ‘History chaos. of the Butterflies and Moths of Sussex’ The moth – illuminated like a WW2 zeppelin - started to flutter lower, drawn in by twin tractor- I was also mightily impressed by the dedication and spirit of the Sussex Bat Group recorders. As statesBut thisthat is the my moth imagination can no longer and not be thefound world in East as Sussex. it is. For His this research sepulchral reveals vision a series is not of whatrecords it beams of the torches. Clare, who was now in position within the blackthorn, swung her net above Helen told me, “it’s the mysterious and enigmatic nature of bats that makes them such an interest- – seems.mainly Insingletons fact, it teems– recorded with life around and activity.the Surrey In the/ Sussex water borderlands, newts and larval the last insects of which swim, being thou- a her as the moth came into range – but it somehow managed to duck under the net and avoided cap- ing and challenging group to study”. Far from being the creatures of nightmare, or a well worn recordsands by of Johntiny insectsRadford throng of an individualabove its surfacenear Petworth and intrepid in 1997. natural aviators, swift of wing and cun- ture. Luckily Clare was able to get a fix on where it had landed. cliché to horror stories innumerable, these intriguing and deft little flying mammals are an integral ning of mind, feed in frenzy. So fast and fleet are they, as to defy our senses. The moth flies early in the year with Colin quoting its flight season as late March to late April – with Whenpart of I arrivedour national with mybiodiversity pot in hand and Clare as such was they able should to point be totreasured. a branch As moth trappers we may extremeTo detect records these in elusive early March creatures and humansthe third need week some in May. instruments, The sole andfoodplant fortunately is, unsurprisingly, two young withfind theit hard net tohandle love them,and there but batsin front deserve of me our was utmost a small respect. pale moth cling- Blackthorn.women from the Sussex Bat Group, Kim and Helen, where there to show us how to use them ing to the end of a blackthorn twig in a similar manner to the Barred- Whenmost Ieffectively. think of Blackthorn for some reason I always imagine one particular Blackthorn –a big old toothPuss Stripe. in I managedboots by to gentlyDavid collectBurrows the moth in a pot and as I peered in I was thrilled to see a bland, greyish moth. sloeAs moththicket recorders tucked away we are in theable corner to examine of the what SWT wereserve catch. at A Ebernoe moth caught Common. in a trap In April can be2009 potted, Clare Jeffersexamined, and I photographedhad headed there and armed discussed with for nets, days a torchif necessary. and high This hopes. must However seem like as luxury we started to a batout TonyAt the rushed beginning over and,of August with someI was contactedamazement, by wasStella able and to Colin confirm of Udimore, that it to whom my telephone intorecorder the reserve who can the only spring infer temperature what species plummeted are present– and by despite interpreting catching the my clicks first and Powdered booms wasnumber indeed had a Sloebeen Carpet given by– confirmation Steve Wheatley that after this speciesthey reported is still aa Sussexmystery large creature that had Quakerthrough there a bat was detector. little to reportWe heard and commonwe headed pipistrelles home. and soprano pipistrelles, each of whom resident.woven aAlf cocoon and Matthew in the were mat thrilled in the that boot their of careful management of the reserve has enabled this species to remain on the Sussex list. How- Incall April at 2010 distinctive Alf Simpson ultra-sound– SMG frequencies, member and from Voluntary which Warden the experienced of Ebernoe listener Common can – distinguish contacted Colin’s classic 1979 MGB and found as he was medifferent as he was types keen of behaviourto look for by the the moth sounds and theyhis thoughts hear. We had had similarly also hoped been to drawn detect to the the water same evergiving it is the no doubt car a a pre much-MOT under spring-recorded clean. moth. After carefully detaching the cocoon, a small blackthornfeeding specialists, hedge at Daubenton’sEbernoe. Alf isbats, justifiably but alas proud they wereof this not piece present of Blackthorn on this occasion.– he has chosen to SMG Chairman Graeme Lyons has suggested that one afternoon next ‘window’ on the underside revealed a freshly leave it unmanaged and as a result it is something to behold when in full flower. In 2009 Alf and Spring could be spent surveying for suitable blackthorn in NW Sussex The other invaluable instrument for the bat recorder is a high power torch. These are used as formed (still greenish) pupa within – about a Matthew Sennett were able to find Brown Hairstreak larvae in the hedge – proof that this elusive returning to a few sites in the evening to search for Sloe Carpet with torches. This could also be com- search lights, scanning the water in wide sweeping arcs. Occasionally a twisting, vanishing shape third of it’s length was visible and showed tiny butterfly is breeding on the reserve. Alf was hoping to top this record in 2010 by proving that Sloe bined with a Brown Hairstreak egg search to support the BC atlas and a visit to The Stag at Balls Cross is seen, a tantalising glimpse, the briefest of impressions, before it is gone and the mind is left hooks on each segment. I then asked them if Carpet was a resident here too. for a pub meal. If you would like to join us please contact us over the winter. wondering whether this spectral flicker was any more substantial than a dream. they knew of any poplar or willow trees nearby OnContrary April 24th to the2010 proverb we met bats with are Alf, not Matthew blind, but and as nocturnalTony Davis creatures at the car their park eyes next are to a the secondary country Michaeland they Blencowe showed ([email protected] me a large-leaved hybrid). With thanks to Alf Simpson, Matthew Sennett, Tony churchsense. at I suspectEbernoe that and westrolled have intoall stood the reserve. in a big The empty night building rolled inat andsome we time were and serenaded been intrigued by two Davispoplar and a Clare yard Jeffers or two for from an enjoyable the parked evening’s MGB, mothing. nightingalesby hearing (andour own two voicenot so echoing melodic from Mandarin the roof Ducks) and walls.and in This the is fading essentially light wewhat began bats todo, survey only and bingo! It was a Puss Moth. Colin has photo- the blackthorn in the area. References:graphed and Pratt, will be C. (1999)sending A it Revisedoff with History a note of the Butterflies and Moths of Sussex. Brighton: Brightonto the MG and car Hove club Council. newsletter too. By Colin Knight Page 816 SUSSEX MOTH GROUP NEWSLETTER SUSSEXSUSSEX MOTH MOTH GROUP GROUP NE NEWSLETTERWSLETTER Page 179

The hunt for day-flying moths by Heather Martin EridgeKingstanding Rocks field moth trip trapreport (1stby July) Alice Parfittby Dennis Dey Scraping the barrel – Isopoda: Oniscidea (Woodlice): You all get them in egg boxes at the bottom Atof thethe AGMtrap. whenThere Tonyis a very Davis good urged key Sussex‘A Key Moth to the Group Woodlice members of Britain to leave and their Ireland’ traps byat Stephenhome Steve Wheatley asked me if I would like to do some moth-trapping at Kingstanding on the Ash- andHopkin go outand andagain see being what a FSC they publication, could find, it Iis thought, reasonable “There’s at £6.95. something useful I can do after Eridgedown Forest. Rocks He’d Nature arranged Reserve an isevening best known with the for Plumpton its sandstone Wildlife outcrops and Habitat and Group associated in the lower counting butterflies for the Rother Woods Project and clearing tracks of fallen twigs!” plants,hope of and hearing as its and moth seeing list consistedNightjars. ofHe species didn’t havethat Ito had ask run me intotwice! during the day while carrying Other things I have recorded in moth traps include Migrant Hawkers, Red Admirals, a cat, a Great out other work, I decided it was about time I organised some light trapping on site. InTit June and 2009a Black I hadRedstart photographed but I figure a theirsmall identifications black and white are moth a little that more landed straight on- forward.the back Iof see my this In the past the weather on our trapping nights there has been passable. That is to say, whilst they chairarticle in verya clearing much asonly a workto discover in progress, later itif therewas a islittle anyone recorded out thereTelechrysis that would tripuncta, like to Trebleadd to- spotthis in Thehave first been night’s dry, at trapping least, there was wasat the usually end of a breezeMay when or a twowind MV’s which were has allrun but along spoilt the it. path Not sobelow for Tubic.future Also newsletter that month, editions a very I very handsome much welcomeAtolmis it. rubricolis, Red-necked Footman with its black thethat rocks. night Sadlyhowever, it was it was rather nigh a oncold perfect, night, beingprobably still, best cloudy remembered and muggy. for A rarethe numberoccurrence of Brown up on wings and bright red neck collar spotted resting on a bramble leaf in a small glade, so I knew if I Silverthe forest-lines in seen my experience.(well we were I’d settrapping us a target in bracken). species forOnly the 26 night, species Silvery were Arches, recorded, as it hasn’tthe most Thanks very much to Tony Davis and Mark Telfer for their help in putting this article together. made a concentrated effort to prowl amongst the trees and coppice re-growth in our wood there interestingbeen recorded of which there were before. Satin We’d Lutestring set up twoand trapsBrindled in the White bunker Spot, area both (for local those species. who know King- could potentially be some rather interesting species to be found. standing). Geotrupes spiniger – a huge dor beetle readily comes to Thankfully the night chosen in July was much more productive with over 70 species recorded. Nematopogon swammerdamella and Nemorphalight but degeerellayou are unlikelywere toeasy see to it record by any –other they means.were fairly TheThe nightWildlife started Group relatively left soon calmly after darkwith asthe they common had seen woodland and heard and twogarden Nightjars, species leaving coming just in, but numerous and sat still, unlike many other minute flittering insects. Oh for younger eyes and better itSteve wasn’t and long myself before to enjoy a Waved the peaceCarpet and and tranquillity Festoon appeared. of the area. Soon So, I inhad the given Kingstanding up recording tradition, num- eyesight! Is it a moth, a beetle, a fly or a bug? Do I attempt to whack a pot over it or will I have a bers,we retired and just to thetried gatehouse to identify for all tea the and species. biscuits! At oneAt about point 00:30 Mark, we my thought colleague we’d said better he’d gojust and pot- better chance of capturing an image on camera if I leave the creature resting in situ? Will it still be tedhave a a‘different look at the looking traps. moth’ It was which perfect turned outside, out not to bea breath an Olive of wind.Crescent, not a species that I was there at all by the time I have made a decision? expectingAs we approached to record our from first the trap site we but could which see doesa lot ofto mothseem activity;to be showing they were up everywhere!at more and Stevemore With limited knowledge and experience each specimen requires sites.pointed The to highlight a grey noctuid of the eveningclose to thefor metrap however,– it was acame Silvery just Arches as were– his packing first. Unfortunately up. A small pinkish it careful observation of every detail, their mannerisms, beautiful was the only one of the night (it is widespread on Ashdown Forest but doesn’t turn up in num- One of the few caddisflies that I can identify - Glypho- moth caught my eye as it landed on the trap, which turned out to be a Rosy Marbled. patterns or strange appendages marvelled at even if they are bers). taelius pellucidus - easy to tell by the pattern and dis- later identified as ‘common’ or ‘ubiquitous’ like Alabonia geof- tinct notch in the wing. Other caddisflies are not so easy We spent a while there, and then moved on to the other trap. It wasn’t on – oh dear. When Steve frella with its oversized labial palps and strikingly marked wings. to identify. checkedA bunch he found of the Old fuel Ladies... cap on the generator wasn’t switched to ‘on’. That done, on it came Some micro moths are very well camouflaged for example Eudo- and we went back to the other trap again. It was even more alive with moths than before. We nia pallida and Agonopterix ocellana whose pale brown speckled Incommuted July a bunch between of Old the Ladies two weretraps, found as you in tend an outhouse to do, not in believing Horsham. our And luck. before We were you ask,checking no I’m

by Michael Blencowe wings Darkblend perfectly-angled with Peacock the bark of tree trunks and branches. notmoths referring to the tosound a WI of meeting churring in Nightjars a make -inshift the village distance hall! and There a vixen are Fox only calling around close 100 by. records By the of Others almost scream, “Look at me!” One sunny afternoon in June this year I couldn’t fail to no- thisend localof the species night we’d in Sussex, logged and 105 none species are of of macros. numbers We like were this very found pleased. without a trap. Wendy and ticeWhilst a tiny inspecting black and my yellow morning's moth catchon low at plants Friston at on the edge of a grassy clearing. I managed to pho- KeithMarbled Alexander White- spotonce was trapped the commonest 16 at their actinic moth ofmoth the trap!night, not True-lovers Knot as you would tograph,August 20th then I was pot intrigued it. With closerto see inspectiona dark geometrid I could see a white band on each antenna and a expect there at that time of the year (we were in amongst birch etc. with very little heather, but gleamingwhose rich stripe deep of brown mauvy and-blue orange scales colouration across each wing between the golden triangles. Through a we did get seven of them). Other moths of interest were: magnifyingwhich initially glass lead I admired me to think the insect it was for the a nigroful-couple of minutes then removed the pot lid. How excit- vata form of Tawny-barred AngleingMacaria to later liturata have .this moth’s identification confirmed as Common Lutestring (1), Satin Lutestring (2), Lobster (2), Peach Blossom, Broom Moth (4), Fes- After ensuring it was safely pottedoliviella, I was ableScarce to Forest Tubic, which as it’s common name sug- toon (2), Rosy Marbled (6), Grey Arches (9), Suspected (1), Sharp-angled Carpet (2), Bird’s Wing examine it more detail and realisedgests from is scarceits wing and ‘local’, found mainly in mature woodland in (1), Coronet (1), Scalloped Shell (1), Beautiful Brocade (1), Light Brocade (1), Pale-shouldered shape that it was not this speciesthe but south a very of dark England where the larvae feed on dead and decay- Brocade (1), Beautiful Snout (2), Clouded Buff (1) and six species of Hawkmoth including Privet. Sharp-angled Peacock alternataing wood.. This is There were a whole load of micros of all shapes and sizes! There is never a John Radford around not a species I encounter with great regularity at when you need one! Friston however, aside from this darkI have individual, thoroughly enjoyed my summer season spent lurking in there were a further three fresh individualsthe undergrowth in the trapand thatnow morning have a short suggesting but varied a local list emergence. of micros All in all a very good night. We didn’t leave until 03:00, it was that good! My thanks go to Steve The moth was duly photographedas and well I consulted as several Colin day Pratt-flying who macros informed to add me tothat our this records was a of for inviting me. melanic form of Sharp-angled Peacockmoths- trappednever recorded at night. before My thanks in Sussex. to Colin The mothPratt wasfor acceptingalso shown to Sean Clancy in Kent whothis has list seen far alater similar than specimen he would before have likedwhich as he I knowreferred it has to asmade ab. fusca (extreme). The moth was thenextra released work for back him. in Friston Forest. Esperia oliviella Photo by Peter Challis Page 168 SUSSEX MOTH GROUP NEWSLETTER SUSSEXSUSSEX MOTH MOTH GROUP GROUP NE NEWSLETTERWSLETTER Page 179

The hunt for day-flying moths by Heather Martin EridgeKingstanding Rocks field moth trip trapreport (1stby July) Alice Parfittby Dennis Dey Scraping the barrel – Isopoda: Oniscidea (Woodlice): You all get them in egg boxes at the bottom Atof thethe AGMtrap. whenThere Tonyis a very Davis good urged key Sussex‘A Key Moth to the Group Woodlice members of Britain to leave and their Ireland’ traps byat Stephenhome Steve Wheatley asked me if I would like to do some moth-trapping at Kingstanding on the Ash- andHopkin go outand andagain see being what a FSC they publication, could find, it Iis thought, reasonable “There’s at £6.95. something useful I can do after Eridgedown Forest. Rocks He’d Nature arranged Reserve an isevening best known with the for Plumpton its sandstone Wildlife outcrops and Habitat and Group associated in the lower counting butterflies for the Rother Woods Project and clearing tracks of fallen twigs!” plants,hope of and hearing as its and moth seeing list consistedNightjars. of He species didn’t havethat Ito had ask run me intotwice! during the day while carrying Other things I have recorded in moth traps include Migrant Hawkers, Red Admirals, a cat, a Great out other work, I decided it was about time I organised some light trapping on site. InTit June and 2009a Black I hadRedstart photographed but I figure a theirsmall identifications black and white are motha little that more landed straight on- forward.the back Iof see my this In the past the weather on our trapping nights there has been passable. That is to say, whilst they chairarticle in verya clearing much asonly a workto discover in progress, later itif therewas a islittle anyone recorded out thereTelechrysis that would tripuncta, like to Trebleadd to- spotthis in Thehave first been night’s dry, at trapping least, there was wasat the usually end of a breezeMay when or a twowind MV’s which were has allrun but along spoilt the it. path Not sobelow for Tubic.future Also newsletter that month, editions a veryI very handsome much welcomeAtolmis it. rubricolis, Red-necked Footman with its black thethat rocks. night Sadlyhowever, it was it was rather nigh a oncold perfect, night, beingprobably still, best cloudy remembered and muggy. for A rarethe numberoccurrence of Brown up on wings and bright red neck collar spotted resting on a bramble leaf in a small glade, so I knew if I Silverthe forest-lines in seen my experience.(well we were I’d settrapping us a target in bracken). species forOnly the 26 night, species Silvery were Arches, recorded, as it hasn’tthe most Thanks very much to Tony Davis and Mark Telfer for their help in putting this article together. made a concentrated effort to prowl amongst the trees and coppice re-growth in our wood there interestingbeen recorded of which there were before. Satin We’d Lutestring set up twoand trapsBrindled in the White bunker Spot, area both (for local those species. who know King- could potentially be some rather interesting species to be found. standing). Geotrupes spiniger – a huge dor beetle readily comes to Thankfully the night chosen in July was much more productive with over 70 species recorded. Nematopogon swammerdamella and Nemorphalight but degeerellayou are unlikelywere toeasy see to it recordby any –other they means.were fairly TheThe nightWildlife started Group relatively left soon calmly after darkwith asthe they common had seen woodland and heard and twogarden Nightjars, species leaving coming just in, but numerous and sat still, unlike many other minute flittering insects. Oh for younger eyes and better itSteve wasn’t and long myself before to enjoy a Waved the peaceCarpet and and tranquillity Festoon appeared. of the area. Soon So, I hadin the given Kingstanding up recording tradition, num- eyesight! Is it a moth, a beetle, a fly or a bug? Do I attempt to whack a pot over it or will I have a bers,we retired and just to thetried gatehouse to identify for all tea the and species. biscuits! At oneAt about point 00:30Mark, we my thought colleague we’d said better he’d gojust and pot- better chance of capturing an image on camera if I leave the creature resting in situ? Will it still be tedhave a a‘different look at the looking traps. moth’ It was which perfect turned outside, out not to bea breath an Olive of wind.Crescent, not a species that I was there at all by the time I have made a decision? expectingAs we approached to record our from first the trap site we but could which see doesa lot ofto mothseem activity;to be showing they were up everywhere!at more and Stevemore With limited knowledge and experience each specimen requires sites.pointed The to highlight a grey noctuid of the eveningclose to forthe metrap however,– it was acame Silvery just Arches as were– his packing first. Unfortunately up. A small pinkish it careful observation of every detail, their mannerisms, beautiful was the only one of the night (it is widespread on Ashdown Forest but doesn’t turn up in num- One of the few caddisflies that I can identify - Glypho- moth caught my eye as it landed on the trap, which turned out to be a Rosy Marbled. patterns or strange appendages marvelled at even if they are bers). taelius pellucidus - easy to tell by the pattern and dis- later identified as ‘common’ or ‘ubiquitous’ like Alabonia geof- tinct notch in the wing. Other caddisflies are not so easy We spent a while there, and then moved on to the other trap. It wasn’t on – oh dear. When Steve frella with its oversized labial palps and strikingly marked wings. to identify. checkedA bunch he found of the Old fuel Ladies... cap on the generator wasn’t switched to ‘on’. That done, on it came Some micro moths are very well camouflaged for example Eudo- and we went back to the other trap again. It was even more alive with moths than before. We nia pallida and Agonopterix ocellana whose pale brown speckled Incommuted July a bunch between of Old the Ladies two weretraps, found as you in tend an outhouse to do, not in believing Horsham. our And luck. before We were you ask,checking no I’m

by Michael Blencowe Alabonia geoffrella wings Darkblend perfectly-angled with Peacock the bark of tree trunks and branches. notmoths referring to the tosound a WI of meeting churring in Nightjars a make -inshift the village distance hall! and There a vixen are Fox only calling around close 100 by. records By the of Others almost scream, “Look at me!” One sunny afternoon in June this year I couldn’t fail to no- thisend localof the species night we’d in Sussex, logged and 105 none species are of of macros. numbers We like were this very found pleased. without a trap. Wendy and ticeWhilst a tiny inspecting black and my yellow morning's moth catchon low at plants Friston at on the edge of a grassy clearing. I managed to pho- KeithMarbled Alexander White- spotonce wastrapped the commonest 16 at their actinic moth ofmoth the trap!night, not True-lovers Knot as you would tograph,August 20th then I was pot intrigued it. With closerto see inspectiona dark geometrid I could see a white band on each antenna and a expect there at that time of the year (we were in amongst birch etc. with very little heather, but gleamingwhose rich stripe deep of brown mauvy and-blue orange scales colouration across each wing between the golden triangles. Through a we did get seven of them). Other moths of interest were: magnifyingwhich initially glass lead I admired me to think the insect it was for the a nigroful-couple of minutes then removed the pot lid. How excit- vata form of Tawny-barred AngleingMacaria to later liturata have .this moth’s identification confirmed as Esperia Common Lutestring (1), Satin Lutestring (2), Lobster (2), Peach Blossom, Broom Moth (4), Fes- After ensuring it was safely pottedoliviella, I was ableScarce to Forest Tubic, which as it’s common name sug- toon (2), Rosy Marbled (6), Grey Arches (9), Suspected (1), Sharp-angled Carpet (2), Bird’s Wing examine it more detail and realisedgests from is scarceits wing and ‘local’, found mainly in mature woodland in (1), Coronet (1), Scalloped Shell (1), Beautiful Brocade (1), Light Brocade (1), Pale-shouldered shape that it was not this speciesthe but south a very of dark England where the larvae feed on dead and decay- Brocade (1), Beautiful Snout (2), Clouded Buff (1) and six species of Hawkmoth including Privet. Sharp-angled Peacock Macaria alternataing wood.. This is There were a whole load of micros of all shapes and sizes! There is never a John Radford around not a species I encounter with great regularity at when you need one! Friston however, aside from this darkI have individual, thoroughly enjoyed my summer season spent lurking in there were a further three fresh individualsthe undergrowth in the trap and thatnow morning have a short suggesting but varied a local list emergence. of micros All in all a very good night. We didn’t leave until 03:00, it was that good! My thanks go to Steve The moth was duly photographedas and well I consulted as several Colin day Pratt-flying who macros informed to add me tothat our this records was a of for inviting me. melanic form of Sharp-angled Peacockmoths- trappednever recorded at night. before My thanks in Sussex. to Colin The mothPratt wasfor acceptingalso shown to Sean Clancy in Kent whothis has list seen far alater similar than specimen he would before have likedwhich as he I knowreferred it has to asmade ab. fusca (extreme). The moth was thenextra released work for back him. in Friston Forest. Esperia oliviella Photo by Peter Challis Page 1410 SUSSEX MOTH GROUP NEWSLETTER SUSSEXSUSSEX MOTH MOTH GROUP GROUP NE NEWSLETTERWSLETTER PagePage1511

RaspberryBy-catch by ripple Graemeby Lyons Michael Blencowe the lure.Ladybirds. This was fantasticYou can getnews a fold– not out just sheet because from I AIDGAPhad found that a newhas allsite the for ladybirds this species in the– but UK be-on cause for the last 3 years I have taken these lures around Sussex and sat and stared at them for OnI wanted 11th August to write 2010 something Mike Edwards that is netted perhaps a Clearwing going to bemoth helpful during to ansome invertebrate of you or surveyat least in be the a for about £2.99. I haven’t used this as I use an old book that is now out of print. I imag- hours while nothing happened. At last this was conclusive proof that I hadn't been sold five small Sussexway of Wildlife generating Trust's some Friston more Forest records project for thearea; county. an area In of recent the 1969 years, acre I haveforest increasingly adjacent to been Lull- ine it works OK though, as this is a small group and like the shield bugs, most of it can be pieces of rubber for £20. The male Raspberry Clearwing was particularly smart with seven yellow ingtonbranching Heath out which into moreis being and managed more difficult by the and Trust obscure through areas felling of natural and grazing history. to improveAs you may biodiver- know done by eye. bands and feathered antennae. I also managed to pinch some of my neighbour’s raspberries while I sity.I have very much become obsessed by beetles this year and I now get as excited by seeing a new Click beetles. The key in Joy’s publication is good for click beetles. With around 70 species beetle as I do a new moth! Moth-trapping pulls in lots of other insect orders other than just Lepi- was there. Delicious!they are not too hard but again a microscope is required. The moth was identified as a Six-belted Clearwing but was later re-identified as a Raspberry Clear- doptera. Not only that, you can find some things by light trapping that are quite rare and difficult DespiteLonghorn being on beetles.the edge Allof thecan forestbe identified this raspberry with relative patch easeis still from some two 2.5km editions from of theBritish other Wild- Fris- wing. Graeme Lyons announced the discovery via our ‘sussexmoths’ internet group and made the to find by any other means. This article is an attempt to show which orders and families occur ton sightings.life Wiping featuring any incriminating excellent drawings raspberry by Richardstains from Lewington my mouth himself. I went These and had are aVolume chat with 18 moth available for moth group members to photograph. Friston is the second known site for this most frequently in traps and what you can do to identify them. my neighbourNumber to find 6 outAugust more 2007 about and her Volume raspberry 19 Number patch. 1Had October she recently 2007. purchased any rasp- species in Sussex. Readers will recall that Keith Alexander had discovered Raspberry Clearwing on berry canes and unwittingly imported the moth into Friston? I was informed that the raspberry hisFirstly, allotment this is inby Bexhill no means in 2009. an exhaustive The species list hadof invertebrates first been detected or literature. in the Secondly UK in Hertfordshire I should say in a To get records of beetles in Sussex I am happy to identify specimens sent to me at Woods Mill or patch had been planted in 1982 and she had never imported any raspberry canes. 2007.word of caution with identifying invertebrates. The generic field guides, such as Chinery, are in- to have a go at photographs sent to my email address [email protected]. complete and you cannot rely on an accurate identification with an incomplete fauna. Thirdly, for ThisTrichoptera recent punnett (Caddisflies):-ful of Raspberry Perhaps the Clearwing most abundant sightings by indicates-catch species that thisand speciesthe order is most much closely more many of these groups, to carryThat out night an accurateGraeme's identification, internet posting specimens got me needthinking. to be In dead2009 andI also a widespreadrelated to thanLepidoptera. previously I got thought hold of and a test under version-recorded of a key– which to families is unsurprising‘A Guide tofor the a memberAdult Cad- of microscope is required to identifycaught them. a Clearwing I know in this the might Friston put Forest people Project off but area I whole while heartedlyleading a thisdisflies elusive or group sedge of flies moths. (Trichoptera)’ How long byhas Peter the Raspberry Barnard and Clearwing Emma Ross.been anIt is overlooked only a key toresident families. of recommend getting a decent'Grayling stereo microscope; Festival' walk literally across a thewhole Downs. new worldThis was of naturalthe first history time I hadcan Sussex?A microscope Time spent or hand near lenslocal is allotments required to anywhere look at the in the‘spur county formula’ armed (the with number a HYL of lure spines could on well the open up before your eyes, withoutever seen you anyhaving Clearwing to go anywhere! and at the Here time is ita wasbreakdown identified of some as a Sixin-- betibia rewarded of each next of Julythe threeand August. pairs of legs). I am told that there is a key to this family that is about to sect orders that commonly occurbelted. in mothUnable traps to sleep,and what I crept you upstairs can do/use and tolooked identify back them. over my old go to print, this will be a welcome addition to my library when it is published. By Graeme Lyons Graeme By photos of that Clearwing and reached for my fieldguides. Unfortu- Thank you to Keith Alexander and Graeme Lyons for causing the splash that inspired me to look Hemiptera (True Bugs): Perhaps the most commonly occurring and obvious bugs in moths traps nately, due to its relatively recent arrival in this country, this moth moreDiptera closely (True in myFlies): records I’m just (and going in my to neighbour’stalk about craneflies garden) andhere thanks (Tipulidae). to Colin There Pratt is afor test further key that in- are the shield bugs. There is an excellent identification guide ‘A Photographic Guide to the Shield- was not described in any of my identification guides. I sent a few formationI received on from this species.Alan Stubbs in 2004 and this is workable, if anyone is serious about craneflies I will bugs and Squashbugs of the British Isles’ by Martin Evans and Roger Edmondson and retails at emails to the internet group and received some identification tips for Raspberry Clearwing, cour- see if I can get you a copy. Mark Telfer tells me that dipterists have commented on how moth about £14.95. The good thing here is that most of this can be done in the field by eye. Another tesy of Keith and Graeme and I was convinced that my 2009 Friston Forest Clearwing was indeed a traps doColeophora not seem to catch serratella anything otherby than Howard very common Matcham flies, quite the opposite to beetles. Raspberrypublication Clearwing. that just covers the aquatic bugs is available, this is heavily key based – there are no plates – but you can generally get to your species. ‘Adults of the British Aquatic Hemiptera: Het- In Neuropterathe pictures (Lacewings):below you can There see the is ainfestation key (that ofalso includes leaves caused scorpion by flies, the mothsnakeColeophora flies and ser- Then another thought struck me. Butterfly Conservation volunteer David Bradford had photo- eroptera’ by A. A. Savage. This costs about £16.50. This website, http://www.britishbugs.org.uk/ ratellaflies) onproducedUlmus procera by AIDGAPsaplings. that isJohn quite Langmaid reasonable kindly and identified OK to use. the‘A moth key forto theme adultsand pointed of British out graphed one of a pair of Clearwings on his Lewes allotment in 2009 and had sent me the slides. If I gallery.html, is great for photos of bugs but is by no means complete. thelacewings lava case and on the their right allies’ bottom by Colin of the Plant photograph. It costs aroundof the leaf £6.95. underside. Also, pleaseHoles remember left where if youthe held them to the light and squinted I could see it was indeed a Clearwing with yellow bands but larvaecatch have any lacewings dropped offto pass to pupate them on are to also our very own obvious. Tony ApparentlyDavis. such heavy infestations are withoutColeoptera the means(Beetles): to viewThe Coleopteriststhese images bible,in more ‘A detailPractical I could Handbook go no furtherof British and Beetles the slides Vol foundI & II’ most unusual. There are literally thousands of mines. The galls refer to the mite Aceria ulmicola; the theirby Norman way to HmyJoy 'to is-do' available pile. I nownow franticallyas an eBook scrambled for about through £65. I havethe pile this and installed located on them my laptop and I Aculeate Hymenoptera (Particularly Social Wasps): Hornets can be a real pain with moth traps (I mines belong to serratella and the lava case belongs to the latter which is just visible in discoveredand is a very I was useful able edition to view to them,my library. backlit, This through is quite my a financial microscope. commitment Peering downthough the so eyepiecehere are know from first-hand experience) but there are quite a few species of social wasp that turn up the bottom of the 'leaf underside photograph'. The black head of the lava can be seen emerging undersome 15xcheaper magnification ways to identify I was able the tomore see likelythe diagnostic beetle families features in mothof a female traps: Raspberry Clearwing. too. If you can bring yourself to get them into a pot you can have a go at identifying them. There is froma very the goodcase. article from about 15 years ago in British Wildlife, Volume 5, Number 5, June 1994. Dung beetles and chafers. There is a key that is out of print unfortunately but I was able to All these photos were reviewed by Keith, Graeme and Colin Pratt. Colin confirmed that both This has all the social wasps in the UK and can be done with a hand lens if the specimen is station- get a copy for about £20 from Pemberley Books. ‘Dung Beetles and Chafers Coleoptera: David's and my records were Raspberry Clearwing - placing this species in Lewes and Friston in ary. 2009. TheseScarabaeoidea’ Friston Forest bysightings L. Jessop. are unusualThe chafers as it andhas dorbeen beetles presumed are easythat theto identify moth has but been the introducedsmaller into the dung country beetles via importedrequire microscope raspberry canesidentification.– raising Alternatively, the question youof how can and get whena key Hymenoptera: Parasitica (Parasitic wasps, particularly Ichneumon Wasps): A vast and huge it became establishedjust to the in dorthe middle beetles of fromFriston John Forest. Walters http://www.johnwalters.co.uk/pubs/ group of insects that I have absolutely no experience with at all. Ichneumon wasps are well known GBB.php for around £2 and these keys are very good. in moth traps. Gavin Broad at the NHM is a national specialist and has sent me a key to nocturnal With thoughtsSexton beetles of raspberries. There is blowinga great websitethrough heremy mindthat hasI had keys another to all thebright sexton idea. beetles, My neighbour as long species (i.e. the ones that come to light). He has given me permission to pass this on to anyone has a sizeableas you cottage don’t garden. mind the A quick stench peer of overdead the flesh! wallhttp://www.amentsoc.org/publications/ revealed that amongst the marrows and who wants it, I can't just post it on the internet. Other than that it will be the old RES handbooks th lettuces shebeetle has a-news/ rather lush raspberry patch. On August 16 2010, following advice from Keith, I which are again unfortunately out of print. Either way, these are not for the faint hearted! popped into her garden at 6pm armed with a HYL clearwing lure. After a quick lap of the patch – and after a few false alarms as wasps and hoverflies flew past – a male Raspberry Clearwing flew to Page 1410 SUSSEX MOTH GROUP NEWSLETTER SUSSEXSUSSEX MOTH MOTH GROUP GROUP NE NEWSLETTERWSLETTER PagePage1511

RaspberryBy-catch by ripple Graemeby Lyons Michael Blencowe the lure.Ladybirds. This was fantasticYou can getnews a fold– not out just sheet because from I AIDGAPhad found that a newhas allsite the for ladybirds this species in the– but UK be-on cause for the last 3 years I have taken these lures around Sussex and sat and stared at them for OnI wanted 11th August to write 2010 something Mike Edwards that is netted perhaps a Clearwing going to bemoth helpful during to ansome invertebrate of you or surveyat least in be the a for about £2.99. I haven’t used this as I use an old book that is now out of print. I imag- hours while nothing happened. At last this was conclusive proof that I hadn't been sold five small Sussexway of Wildlife generating Trust's some Friston more Forest records project for thearea; county. an area In of recent the 1969 years, acre I have forest increasingly adjacent to been Lull- ine it works OK though, as this is a small group and like the shield bugs, most of it can be pieces of rubber for £20. The male Raspberry Clearwing was particularly smart with seven yellow ingtonbranching Heath out which into moreis being and managed more difficult by the and Trust obscure through areas felling of natural and grazing history. to improveAs you may biodiver- know done by eye. bands and feathered antennae. I also managed to pinch some of my neighbour’s raspberries while I sity.I have very much become obsessed by beetles this year and I now get as excited by seeing a new Click beetles. The key in Joy’s publication is good for click beetles. With around 70 species beetle as I do a new moth! Moth-trapping pulls in lots of other insect orders other than just Lepi- was there. Delicious!they are not too hard but again a microscope is required. The moth was identified as a Six-belted Clearwing but was later re-identified as a Raspberry Clear- doptera. Not only that, you can find some things by light trapping that are quite rare and difficult DespiteLonghorn being on beetles.the edge Allof thecan forestbe identified this raspberry with relative patch easeis still from some two 2.5km editions from of theBritish other Wild- Fris- wing. Graeme Lyons announced the discovery via our ‘sussexmoths’ internet group and made the to find by any other means. This article is an attempt to show which orders and families occur ton sightings.life Wiping featuring any incriminating excellent drawings raspberry by Richardstains from Lewington my mouth himself. I went These and had are aVolume chat with 18 moth available for moth group members to photograph. Friston is the second known site for this most frequently in traps and what you can do to identify them. my neighbourNumber to find 6 outAugust more 2007 about and herVolume raspberry 19 Number patch. 1Had October she recently 2007. purchased any rasp- species in Sussex. Readers will recall that Keith Alexander had discovered Raspberry Clearwing on berry canes and unwittingly imported the moth into Friston? I was informed that the raspberry hisFirstly, allotment this is inby Bexhill no means in 2009. an exhaustive The species list hadof invertebrates first been detected or literature. in the Secondly UK in Hertfordshire I should say in a To get records of beetles in Sussex I am happy to identify specimens sent to me at Woods Mill or patch had been planted in 1982 and she had never imported any raspberry canes. 2007.word of caution with identifying invertebrates. The generic field guides, such as Chinery, are in- to have a go at photographs sent to my email address [email protected]. complete and you cannot rely on an accurate identification with an incomplete fauna. Thirdly, for ThisTrichoptera recent punnett (Caddisflies):-ful of Raspberry Perhaps the Clearwing most abundant sightings by indicates-catch species that thisand the species order is most much closely more many of these groups, to carryThat out night an accurateGraeme's identification, internet posting specimens got me needthinking. to be In dead2009 andI also a widespreadrelated to thanLepidoptera. previously I got thought hold of and a test under version-recorded of a key– which to families is unsurprising‘A Guide tofor the a memberAdult Cad- of microscope is required to identifycaught them. a Clearwing I know in this the might Friston put Forest people Project off but area I whole while heartedlyleading a thisdisflies elusive or group sedge of flies moths. (Trichoptera)’ How long byhas Peter the Raspberry Barnard and Clearwing Emma Ross.been anIt is overlooked only a key toresident families. of recommend getting a decent'Grayling stereo microscope; Festival' walk literally across a thewhole Downs. new worldThis was of naturalthe first history time I hadcan Sussex?A microscope Time spent or hand near lenslocal is allotments required to anywhere look at the in the‘spur county formula’ armed (the with number a HYL of lure spines could on well the open up before your eyes, withoutever seen you anyhaving Clearwing to go anywhere! and at the Here time is ita wasbreakdown identified of some as a Sixin-- betibia rewarded of each next of theJuly threeand August. pairs of legs). I am told that there is a key to this family that is about to sect orders that commonly occurbelted. in moth Unable traps to sleep,and what I crept you upstairs can do/use and tolooked identify back them. over my old go to print, this will be a welcome addition to my library when it is published. By Graeme Lyons Graeme By photos of that Clearwing and reached for my fieldguides. Unfortu- Thank you to Keith Alexander and Graeme Lyons for causing the splash that inspired me to look Hemiptera (True Bugs): Perhaps the most commonly occurring and obvious bugs in moths traps nately, due to its relatively recent arrival in this country, this moth moreDiptera closely (True in myFlies): records I’m just (and going in my to neighbour’stalk about craneflies garden) andhere thanks (Tipulidae). to Colin There Pratt is afor test further key that in- are the shield bugs. There is an excellent identification guide ‘A Photographic Guide to the Shield- was not described in any of my identification guides. I sent a few formationI received on from this species.Alan Stubbs in 2004 and this is workable, if anyone is serious about craneflies I will bugs and Squashbugs of the British Isles’ by Martin Evans and Roger Edmondson and retails at emails to the internet group and received some identification tips for Raspberry Clearwing, cour- see if I can get you a copy. Mark Telfer tells me that dipterists have commented on how moth about £14.95. The good thing here is that most of this can be done in the field by eye. Another tesy of Keith and Graeme and I was convinced that my 2009 Friston Forest Clearwing was indeed a traps doColeophora not seem to catch serratella anything otherby than Howard very common Matcham flies, quite the opposite to beetles. Raspberrypublication Clearwing. that just covers the aquatic bugs is available, this is heavily key based – there are no plates – but you can generally get to your species. ‘Adults of the British Aquatic Hemiptera: Het- In Neuropterathe pictures (Lacewings):below you can There see the is ainfestation key (that ofalso elm includes leaves caused scorpion by flies, the mothsnakeColeophora flies and alder ser- Then another thought struck me. Butterfly Conservation volunteer David Bradford had photo- eroptera’ by A. A. Savage. This costs about £16.50. This website, http://www.britishbugs.org.uk/ ratellaflies) onproducedUlmus procera by AIDGAPsaplings. that isJohn quite Langmaid reasonable kindly and identified OK to use. the‘A moth key forto theme adultsand pointed of British out graphed one of a pair of Clearwings on his Lewes allotment in 2009 and had sent me the slides. If I gallery.html, is great for photos of bugs but is by no means complete. thelacewings lava case and on the their right allies’ bottom by Colin of the Plant photograph. It costs aroundof the leaf £6.95. underside. Also, pleaseHoles remember left where if youthe held them to the light and squinted I could see it was indeed a Clearwing with yellow bands but larvaecatch have any lacewings dropped offto pass to pupate them on are to also our very own obvious. Tony ApparentlyDavis. such heavy infestations are withoutColeoptera the means(Beetles): to viewThe Coleopteriststhese images bible,in more ‘A Practicaldetail I could Handbook go no furtherof British and Beetles the slides Vol foundI & II’ most unusual. There are literally thousands of mines. The galls refer to the mite Aceria ulmicola; the theirby Norman way to HmyJoy 'to is-do' available pile. I nownow franticallyas an eBook scrambled for about through £65. I havethe pile this and installed located on them my laptop and I Aculeate Hymenoptera (Particularly Social Wasps): Hornets can be a real pain with moth traps (I mines belong to Coleophora serratella and the lava case belongs to the latter which is just visible in discoveredand is a very I was useful able edition to view to them,my library. backlit, This through is quite my a financial microscope. commitment Peering downthough the so eyepiecehere are know from first-hand experience) but there are quite a few species of social wasp that turn up the bottom of the 'leaf underside photograph'. The black head of the lava can be seen emerging undersome 15xcheaper magnification ways to identify I was able the tomore see likelythe diagnostic beetle families features in mothof a female traps: Raspberry Clearwing. too. If you can bring yourself to get them into a pot you can have a go at identifying them. There is froma very the goodcase. article from about 15 years ago in British Wildlife, Volume 5, Number 5, June 1994. Dung beetles and chafers. There is a key that is out of print unfortunately but I was able to All these photos were reviewed by Keith, Graeme and Colin Pratt. Colin confirmed that both This has all the social wasps in the UK and can be done with a hand lens if the specimen is station- get a copy for about £20 from Pemberley Books. ‘Dung Beetles and Chafers Coleoptera: David's and my records were Raspberry Clearwing - placing this species in Lewes and Friston in ary. 2009. TheseScarabaeoidea’ Friston Forest bysightings L. Jessop. are unusualThe chafers as it andhas dorbeen beetles presumed are easythat theto identify moth has but been the introducedsmaller into the dung country beetles via importedrequire microscope raspberry canesidentification.– raising Alternatively, the question youof how can andget whena key Hymenoptera: Parasitica (Parasitic wasps, particularly Ichneumon Wasps): A vast and huge it became establishedjust to the in dorthe middle beetles of fromFriston John Forest. Walters http://www.johnwalters.co.uk/pubs/ group of insects that I have absolutely no experience with at all. Ichneumon wasps are well known GBB.php for around £2 and these keys are very good. in moth traps. Gavin Broad at the NHM is a national specialist and has sent me a key to nocturnal With thoughtsSexton beetles of raspberries. There is blowinga great websitethrough here my mindthat hasI had keys another to all thebright sexton idea. beetles, My neighbour as long species (i.e. the ones that come to light). He has given me permission to pass this on to anyone has a sizeableas you cottage don’t garden. mind the A quick stench peer of overdead the flesh! wallhttp://www.amentsoc.org/publications/ revealed that amongst the marrows and who wants it, I can't just post it on the internet. Other than that it will be the old RES handbooks th lettuces shebeetle has a-news/ rather lush raspberry patch. On August 16 2010, following advice from Keith, I which are again unfortunately out of print. Either way, these are not for the faint hearted! popped into her garden at 6pm armed with a HYL clearwing lure. After a quick lap of the patch – and after a few false alarms as wasps and hoverflies flew past – a male Raspberry Clearwing flew to Page 12 SUSSEX MOTH GROUP NEWSLETTER SUSSEX MOTH GROUP NEWSLETTER Page 13

Treasures of the far east by Steve Wheatley The best wood in Rother for notable, scarce and threatened moths is.... 1. PETLEY WOOD, near Battle The Rother Woods Project comes to an end this season and has recorded over 600 moth species in the woods of the Rother District at the far eastern end of the county. This includes 22 Nationally Formerly a deer park, paintball arena and now an equestrian Notable or Red Data Book species. Based on the data collected it’s possible to rank the woods ac- centre, this 150 acre oak wood at the head of the Brede cording to the presence of priority woodland moths (e.g. Drab Looper scores high, White-banded Valley is home to an excellent diversity of moths including all Carpet less, and Large Yellow Underwing gets nil points). This quick assessment was devised by of the species mentioned above. The wood has an excellent Butterfly Conservation and Forestry Commission to assess FC sites1. It provides only a broad indica- network of rides between low scrub and mature oaks with tion but it was a fun exercise to apply it to the Rother area. some dense undergrowth. There are sunny clearings with different aspects and some lovely ponds. The rare Tortrix, umbrana, was recorded here in 2010 – a first for Based on an assessment of 68 woods in Rother here are the top five woods for priority moths: Sussex.

5. COCK WOOD at Peasmarsh More surveys at these woods would be welcomed (although Petley Wood strictly by pre-arrangement with the owner or manager). If This small, privately owned wood is part of a series of coppiced Sweet Chestnut woods with oak you’re interested in moth trapping in any of these woods the contact details are available via the standards. Sixty-six Clay Fan-foot were recorded here (50 in one trap) in 2009. Scarce Merveille du Sussex Moth Group committee. Jour and Triangle have also been regulars in the traps. There has been a good continuity of coppic- ing in the wood with various stages of re-growth. There are also damp and undisturbed areas with 1 Butterfly Conservation/Forestry Commission (2007) “Lepidoptera on Forestry Commission Land in plenty of fallen dead wood; this is where the Wild Boar seem to linger. England Conservation Strategy 2007 – 2017”. 4. MILL WOOD at Peasmarsh Just ½ mile west of Cock Wood, this is another coppice wood with oak standards. It has a wide Garden Moth Scheme taken from www.gms.staffs-ecology.org.uk wayleave dominated by heather, gorse, broom and scrubby birch. Half the wood has been divided up and sold in small blocks, resulting in different owners’ activities creating different habitat niches. What do you need to do to take part? You just need to count the numbers of Over 200 moth species have been recorded in three visits (July-August only), including good num- common moths you see in your moth trap, for one night every week from bers of Clay Fan-foot, Olive Crescent, and Festoon. March to November (and you are probably doing that already). The list of 3. BREDE HIGH WOOD moths consists of about 200 species, common in your area and those that are difficult to identify are intentionally left out. This means that the GMS is open A vast and varied 700 acre wood above Powdermill Reservoir and the Brede Valley. A wide to recorders of all abilities - you don't have to be an expert, just get yourself a wayleave provided open space when little else was being done in the wood. The Woodland Trust moth trap and field guide and you will be welcome! This is a rapidly expanding purchased the wood in 2007 (at the time their largest acquisition) and have embarked on an ambi- garden moth-recording scheme that measures the fortunes of our common tious management programme which includes restoration of over 30 acres of open space from moths. And to make it even more attractive to recorders the GMS now has its dense conifer. Waved Carpet, Triangle and Dusky Peacock have recently been recorded. There’s own popular chat-site, regular newsletter, annual report and meeting. good access with many available entry points. To answer questions about what is happening to our environment and more particularly our moths 2. CROWHURST FARM WOODS, Netherfield and our gardens then we need more moth recorders throughout the UK. If you count moths in your back garden and want to make a real difference to the future of moths and our environment Over 500 acres of coppice, conifer and oak straddling a high ridge northwest of battle. There had then get in touch with us to sign up for the new recording season. been little management for 20 years, even so Clay Fan-foot, Olive Crescent and Waved Carpet were all found the first time we trapped. An extensive programme of management has just started which will see many parts of this wood opened up. There are also areas of minimal intervention and sev- So, get in touch straight away if you want to join the GMS - your records will be really valuable. If eral ancient meadows which have remained unchanged for decades. you do decide to join in the GMS then please still send all your moth records to your County Moth Recorder as well, whether common or rare, in your garden or on your travels.