Moth Report for 2015
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CHESHIRE (VICE COUNTY 58) MOTH REPORT FOR 2015 Tunbridge Wells Gem (Chrysodeixis acuta): Ray Bertera Authors: Steve H. Hind and Steve W. Holmes Date: March 2016 P a g e 1 | 53 Cheshire moth report 2015 Introduction After being spoilt with good numbers of moths during 2013-14, we are back to reality again in 2015. Resident species were, on the whole, much reduced this year and leaf mines in the autumn were worse than for many years, especially many of the Phyllonorycters, which were particularly scarce. This was most likely due to the poor spring weather. 2015 was however a good year for migrants, the best since 2006. The highlight of which were two Tunbridge Well Gems Chrysodeixis acuta on 7th October, a species new to Cheshire. Also new to the county during the year, were the three micro-moths; Mompha jurassicella on 11th May, Epinotia fraternana on 30th June, Oncocera semirubella on 2nd August and Cypress Carpet Thera cupressata on 10th July. The maps to the right show the number of species recorded in each hectad (10km*10km square) during 2014 and 2015 to illustrate the recording coverage across the county. Numbers of species were down in most hectads and whilst the norm from a day spent leaf mining in the autumn can often add over fifty species, the scarcity of leaf mines in 2015 is partly responsible for the overall reduction in numbers. Most moth trapping continues to be carried out in recorders gardens and although we currently have a good spread of recorders across the county, there remain hectads without a resident trapper. However, the number of species caught in our garden traps was also down, as was their abundance. Maps produced from MapMate P a g e 2 | 53 Cheshire moth report 2015 The interest in moth recording continues to enjoy increasing popularity. New observers are making valuable contributions, as are members of the general public at large, who are responsible for a good proportion of ‘noticeable’ species such as Humming-bird Hawk-moth. Other data are also being found in various sources, which, together with late-arriving records from previous years now sees the contribution of the bumper year 2014 rise to over 76,000 records (macros and micros combined). Put into a different context, the County Moth database in totality has now reached over a million records, with a shade under 860,000 macros and 202,000 micros, thus 2015 alone accounts for 7.27% of the entire database. The graphs below all clearly show an upward trend and long may it continue. Moth records – micros & macros combined When looking at the ‘bigger picture’ above, it transpires that 2015 still qualified as the 2nd best year for submitted records ever and even accounting for more recorders these days it represents a significant feat given the prevailing conditions. Species recorded – micros & macros combined Species-wise the year was actually quite remarkable, in being just 18 fewer than the all-time record of 969 in 2014. This gap might yet close a little as we still have some records in the pending file awaiting further information (although the same is true for previous years too). P a g e 3 | 53 Cheshire moth report 2015 Weather The entire Country suffered the most horrible spring mothing weather for many years, when no- one was catching anything like their norms in terms of either species or individuals; many species were completely absent in some areas. It wasn’t until early June within some areas of Cheshire that night-time temperatures climbed into double-digits occasionally and July before it became regular, yet returns were consistently disappointing. The accepted best month of the year, July, was comprehensively outgunned by August and it fell to September with its immigrant species to rescue something from the year – though of course this was due to weather elsewhere, rather than here. Summary Despite the unfavourable spring weather our County moth list grew by five in 2015. Further, some ‘recent arrival’ species became so commonly recorded as to no longer be covered by the annual report but yet more came in to replace them. SWH, who has numerous mothing friends in the south of England, was formerly envious of their wonderful spread of spectacular species but with global warming and the trend of movement north, many are now here too. We have much to look forward to in the future. Time and effort dictate that this report cannot be a complete analysis of the years’ records; it does however itemise all macro-moth species that were recorded 10 or fewer times during the year as well as the most notable micro-moths. Throughout what follows, header information relating to each species comprises: 3.004 Gold Swift Hepialus hecta (Linnaeus, 1758) (16) Which, reading left to right detail: Incoming Agassiz, Beavan & Heckford species number Species’ vernacular name Species’ taxonomic name Species’ Author(s) Outgoing Bradley and Fletcher number R S Small Elephant Hawk-moth (left) and Elephant Hawk-moth: Roger Wilkinson P a g e 4 | 53 Cheshire moth report 2015 1.003 Micropterix aureatella (Scopoli, 1763) (3) Found at two new sites this year; Greasley Hollow, Wincle on 25th May (SHH) and Wybunbury Moss on 3rd June (RB). Steve Hind 1.005 Micropterix calthella (Linnaeus, 1761) (5) 697 in or around the flowers of Creeping Buttercup Ranunculus repens at Great Wood, Broadbottom on 7th June (SHH). A thriving colony, although not as many as the 873 counted along the Middlewood Way at Higher Poynton in 1993. 4.009 Stigmella alnetella (Stainton, 1856) (115) Six tenanted leaf mines at Rivacre Valley on 10th October (BS) is our first record west of Delamere Forest. 4.022 Stigmella regiella (Herrich-Schäffer, 1855) (107) A single vacated leaf mine at Frodsham on 19th September (MBe, RHi, SHH, HJ), is only our fourth County record. 4.068 Trifurcula immundella (Zeller, 1839) (46) Larval mines at Burton Mere Wetlands on 17th February and Sale Water Park on 22nd March (BS). 4.085 Ectoedemia argyropeza (Zeller, 1839) (23) Tenanted leaf mines in the green islands of fallen Aspen Populus tremula leaves at Station Road, Stockport on 18th November (RHo). 4.091 Ectoedemia heringi (Toll, 1934) (39) Tenanted leaf mines at Prestbury on 26th October, Delamere Forest on 31st October and Lindow Common on 4th November (MBe, SHH, BS). 7.005 Nemophora minimella ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) (145) Two flying amongst Devil’s-bit Scabious Succisa pratensis at 16:30 hours in a garden meadow at Higher Poynton on 22nd July (SHH), is our first record for 50 years. Steve Hind P a g e 5 | 53 Cheshire moth report 2015 8.003 Incurvaria oehlmanniella (Hübner, 1796) (131) One at Brockholes Wood, Crowden on 4th June (SHH). 9.003 Raspberry Moth Lampronia corticella (Linnaeus, 1758) (136) One to light at Burwardsley on 4th June (MW). 12.011 Triaxomera fulvimitrella (Sodoffsky, 1830) (225) One netted at Bosley Reservoir on 23rd June and one to light at Brockholes Wood, Crowden on 29th June (SHH) are the first records for almost twenty years. Steve Hind 12.012 Triaxomera parasitella (Hübner, 1796) (224) One to light at Ellesmere Port on 3rd June (HJ). All five records this decade have been from three sites between Chester and Ellesmere Port. Huw John 12.037 Monopis weaverella (Scott, 1858) (228) One netted at Tegg’s Nose Country Park on 10th June (SHH). There are only three previous records on the county database. Steve Hind 12.047 Psychoides verhuella Bruand, 1853 (199) Larva at Vale Royal Locks on 15th April (BTS). P a g e 6 | 53 Cheshire moth report 2015 15.003 Caloptilia populetorum (Zeller, 1839) (281) One to light at Higher Poynton on 24th September (SHH). Steve Hind 15.030 Parornix scoticella (Stainton, 1850) (305) Found at two new sites; Great Wood, Broadbottom on 16th August and Frodsham on 19th September (MBe, RHi, SHH, HJ). 15.048 Phyllonorycter junoniella (Zeller, 1846) (328) Larval mines at Withinleach Moor, just off The Street on 1st September (SHH). Steve Hind 16.022 Cedestis subfasciella (Stephens, 1834) (443) Singles to light at Alsager on 29th June, 19th July & 15th September (MD) and Heydon Bridge, Crowden on 8th August (SHH). 17.008 Ypsolopha alpella ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) (458) Singles to light at Waverton on 9th August and 11th & 12th September (BC, HC) and Great Sutton on 30th September (MBe). 17.009 Ypsolopha sylvella (Linnaeus, 1767) (459) 60% of our county records have come from Great Sutton, where again it was found on 17th September and 3rd & 4th October (MBe). It was also found at two new sites this year; Waverton on 11th September (BC, HC) and Oakwood Farm, Styal on 23rd September (NG). Bob & Helen Coan P a g e 7 | 53 Cheshire moth report 2015 19.001 Orthotelia sparganella (Thunberg, 1788) (470) One to light at Handbridge, Chester on 9th August (KP) 19.007 Cocksfoot Moth Glyphipterix simpliciella (Stephens, 1834) (Stephens, 1834) (391) 500 at Burton Mere Wetlands on 30th May (MD), illustrates how abundant this species can be. 19.011 Leek Moth Acrolepiopsis assectella (Zeller, 1839) (473) Singles to light at Shocklach on 14th August (AM) and Ellesmere Port on 20 & 21st August (HJ). Huw John 20.017 Argyresthia glaucinella Zeller, 1839 (416) Singles to light at Higher Poynton on 30th June and 10th July (SHH). All previous county records have been from either Dibbinsdale or Dunham Park. 20.018 Argyresthia spinosella Stainton, 1849 (417) Singles to light at Great Sutton on 30th June (MBe) and Alsager on 13th July (MD). 21.001 Apple Leaf Miner Lyonetia clerkella (Linnaeus, 1758) (263) A vacated leaf mine was found on Cherry Laurel Prunus laurocerasus, a new foodplant for Cheshire, at Timperley on 4th April (GH).