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Telephone: Telephone: 01626 01626 779543 779543 [email protected] NEWSLETTER 2011 ISSUE 4 (AUGUST)

So the Great British Summer is back, bringing the usual bouts of leaden skies, lashing rain and unseasonable cold. Of course there are better spells once in a while, so I expect that for many of us mothing has been mixed over the past month or two; some good nights and some poor.

There’s quite a lot in this newsletter, so less from me and more of the news of exciting immigrants, field trips reports and more. There are also forthcoming field meetings, including a newly arranged one, so do come along.

Happy mothing! Richard Fox

Notable migrants in June/July 2011 Over the last couple of Days of June and into the beginning of July, a number of the Plume Oxyptilus laetus were seen in the southern areas of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Hampshire, with further records in Pembrokshire and Merionethshire with one being taken in Wexford, Ireland. A week or so later came a number of Eublemma parva Small Marbled, a tiny Noctuid macro-moth.

Oxyptilus laetus (Roy McCormick)

The records to date of O.laetus for Devon 2011 are, in date order: Bere Alston, one caught in a polytunnel, 30.6.2011, Phil Barden; Exmouth, one at light, 2.7.2011, Geoff Wisdom; Prawle Point, two netted during the day, 3.7.2011, Phil Barden; Berry Head, three boxed during the evening, 11.7.2011, Stella Beavan and Bob Heckford and two boxed during the evening 12.7.2011, Stella Beavan and Bob Heckford.

The 2011 records of E. parva received so far are, in date order: Uplyme, one at light, 7.7.2011, Oliver Woodland; Holcombe, one at light, 8.7.2011, RFMcC; Teignmouth, one at light, 9.7.2011, RFMcC; Berry Head, four boxed during the evening, 11.7.2011, Stella Beavan and Bob Heckford; Berry Head, 10 boxed during the evening

Members of Council: Richard Fox, Chairman; Roy McCormick, FRES, Secretary/Treasurer; Rob Wolton, Conservation; Nicola Bacciu, Membership & Distribution; Barry Henwood, Ordinary Member.

12.7.2011 Stella Beavan and Bob Heckford and Daddyhole Cove, Torquay, three boxed during the evening 14.7.2011, Bob Heckford. A separate note about Stella and Bob’s visits to Berry Head appears in this Newsletter.

Small Marbled (Roy McCormick)

Another amazing sighting was that of Reddish Light Arches, sublustris caught by Dave Wall at Exmouth on 13.7.2011. Further interesting records include two sightings of Portland Ribbon Wave, Idaea degeneraria, 3.6.2011 and 1.7.2011 at Holcombe where the seems to be hanging on as a breeding colony, and a few of the commoner migrants including one White Point, Mythimna albipuncta , Teignmouth 8.7.2011; two records of Pearly Underwing, Peridroma saucia , one at Hittisleigh, 9.6.2011 and one in Teignmouth, 4.7.2011; three Humming-bird Hawk-, Macroglossum stellatarum , one at Sidmouth, 7.4.2011, one at Bere Alston, 27.4.2011 and one at Plymouth, 29.6.2011 and one Bordered Straw, Heliothis peltigera , Plympton, 27.6.2011, although I have heard of more records of this species, but not received them yet. These are all the records I have to hand, but I expect more. Roy McCormick

Two exceptional evenings at Berry Head The evening of 11 July 2011 was warm, still and fortunately overcast because it was nearly full moon. We paid a visit to Berry Head, Brixham with results that were entirely unexpected.

Despite it being an apparently ideal evening for smaller moths to be flying, very few were. Even Crambids, Grass Moths, could not be disturbed. What did fly were three rare immigrant Plume moths, Oxyptilus laetus and four rare immigrant Noctuids, Small Marbled Eublemma parva . These were all found in a linear distance of less than 200 metres. The Plumes made short flights amongst low vegetation. The Small Marbled flew fairly low and slow and in a rather distinctive way, most around Greater Knapweed Centaurea scabiosa even though the larval foodplant (which does not occur anywhere near where we found the moths) is Common Fleabane Pulicaria dysenterica . All the moths were caught by boxing them, most whilst in flight, with small round plastic containers. None was caught in nets and no light trap was harmed in the making of these records!

As a result we returned the following evening and recorded two Oxyptilus laetus and 10 Small Marbled in the same way.

These are not the first Devon records this year of either species, as shown by Roy McCormick’s article in this Issue, and Atropos ’ Flight Arrivals ( www.atropos.info/gb ) for late June/early July records both species from localities in several English counties. Most are at light and most are of single specimens (although four Small Marbled were recorded at one locality which had at least two traps); none is of both species at the same locality on the same date.

As a small footnote, one of the first occasions that the larva of Small Marbled was found in Britain was in 1982 at Chudleigh Knighton Heath by RJH. Indeed most British records are of adults. With the influx this year, it well worth examining flowers of Common Fleabane for larvae, although larvae of Phycitodes saxicola are very similar and also feed in the flowers.

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The published larval foodplants of Oxyptilus laetus are Andryale integrifolia and Hieracium lanatum . The former does not occur in the British Isles and the latter is only known as an introduction in sand dunes in Norfolk, and so, if these are the only food plants, larvae are unlikely to be found in Devon. Stella Beavan and Bob Heckford

Field Meeting Reports

Hobby Drive, Clovelly, 11.6.2011 The meeting was held, with the kind permission of the Clovelly Estate, along the Hobby Drive. This track wanders through beautiful and varied woodland with splendid views across Bideford Bay, to all intents and purposes ideal moth habitat. And the evening did indeed turn out to be an extraordinary one! As dusk fell and under clear skies the temperature, already low, rapidly dropped to 7 or 8°C. Only the most desperate moths ventured forth under these conditions and some of our dozen traps caught absolutely nothing at all. If it was not for the super-powerful 400W trap that Tony Rouse brought with him all the way from Kent, we would have caught virtually nothing. Fortunately this trap, set under beech trees a little higher up the valley than the rest and where it was perceptibly warmer, brought in a thin scattering.

The 14 moth group members who attended donned woolly hats and thick jackets and with good humour walked back and forth along the drive, with great shouts of joy whenever a lone moth was observed flying erratically towards a trap. Such was our plight that we resorted at marvelling at a common cranefly ( Tipula maxima ), an ichneumon ( Ophion luteum ) and a bristle-tail (Thysanura). Our final moth tally was a meagre 31 individuals of 20 species to our lights. Together with a handful of micros observed as leaf mines or adults netted at dusk, our species total for the night was 30, where we might have expected on a June night to get 100 or more. As for the moth of the night – well, it was one of two caterpillars new to science, either the three-humped prominent or the cherry looper. Blame the giddy effects of hypothermia. Rob Wolton and John Breeds

Lower Drive, Dartington Estate, 2.7.2011 It seems surprising but there are hardly any moth records in the Devon database for the Dartington Estate near Totnes. No longer!

This field meeting was held in conjunction with Aune Head Arts, an arts charity based at Dartington, who kindly facilitated the organisation and insurance for the event. Aune Head Arts had advertised the meeting to interested people locally and, as a result, six members of the public were present along with Elly Stevens who co-led the event. With Devon Moth Group members and support from the Dartington Estate rangers Will and Mike, we numbered 20 in all.

The site selected was an attractive, if steep, piece of unimproved limestone grassland and a strip of mature trees and vegetation along the river bank. Seven MV traps were deployed and we waited for darkness to fall. After introductions, the field meeting got underway with a poem written and performed by Elly - surely the first time a DMG event has started in such literary fashion. Sadly, Richard’s health and safety briefing did not soar to the same heights of artistic beauty!!

The rounds of the traps started, with lots of discussion but few moths. The temperature was falling fast under the clear skies and the moths seemed reluctant to make their appearances. Thankfully, there were a few crowd-pleasers in the first few traps including Ourapteryx sambucaria , Swallow-tailed Moth and Biston betularia , Peppered Moth which obligingly sat on the fingers of all those new to mothing. Singles of Geometra papilionaria , Large Emerald; Abraxas grossulariata , Magpie Moth; and Stauropus 3 fagi , Lobster Moth entertained the crowd, but the list was growing slowly for a July night. Barry Henwood’s trap placed almost at the top of the limestone slope proved to be the most productive, probably because it was in the warmest position – once again the highest trap was the most fruitful.

As always, the good things came to those who waited with both crowd-pleasers such as Deilephila elpenor , Elephant Hawk-moth and Phalera bucephala , Buff-tip starting to arrive after 1.00am. In all, we finished with 71 species, many as singletons, which was disappointing to the more experienced moth recorders but thrilling for the members of the public who were present. The best of the night was probably Helicoverpa armigera , Scarce Bordered Straw, which was the last moth to arrive as we started to pack up around 1.45am, although Apamea scolopacina , Slender Brindle and Diarsia brunnea , Purple Clay were also nice to see.

Many thanks to the Dartington Estate for permission to hold the event, particularly to the rangers, Will and Mike, and to Aune Head Arts for all their help in getting this meeting organised. Richard Fox, Stella Beavan and Bob Heckford

Hackney Marshes, Kingsteignton, 8.7.2011 About 20 people attended the event, not only members of Devon Moth Group and Butterfly Conservation, but also people attracted by an advertisement feature in the Mid-Devon Advertiser. The evening was cloudy but not particularly warm. Light rain fell briefly as soon as the lights were turned on, but that soon passed. While we were waiting for nightfall, Neil Harris, Teignbridge Countryside Ranger showed people around the nature reserve and pointed out old exit holes of Sesia bembeciformis , Lunar Hornet Moth at the base of sallows. He also showed a photograph of an adult he had taken on the site a few days earlier.

Numbers of moths were not high, but nevertheless around 85 species were recorded including some particularly interesting species. The most interesting species was actually the commonest moth in the night – Thumatha senex , Round-winged Muslin. Twenty-one were recorded, which is an exceptional number especially considering that Devon records are few and far between. Other good records included 1 Apamea ophiogramma , Double Lobed; 10 Mythimna straminea , Southern Wainscot; 3 Chilodes maritima, Silky Wainscot and 1 Mythimna obsoleta , Obscure Wainscot.

Doubled Lobed (Shane Farrell) (left) and Obscure Wainscot (right) (Patrick Clement) The foodplant of Double Lobed is Reed Canary Grass which was present on the site. Obscure Wainscot feeds on Common Reed; Southern Wainscot feeds on both Common Reed and Reed Canary Grass, whereas the larvae of Silky Wainscot feed on matter within stems of Common Reed. There were areas of varied vegetation on the site, the trap place underneath large sallows attracted Eupithecia tenuiata , Slender Pug. Amongst the micro-moths, those worthy of special mention were Gypsonoma oppressana , which has few Devon records, Batia lunaris and Limnaecia phragmitella. G.oppressana larvae feed in the buds of poplar – there was a row of large poplars present. L.phragmitella is a marshland species whose larvae feed in the seedheads of Reed Mace. Barry Henwood

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The Charles Dewhurst collection Early in May our Group Secretary Roy McCormick, was contacted by Martin Love (member of DMG), and Jan Freedman the acting keeper of Natural History of the Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery. Jan indicated that space in a backroom of the Museum which housed Charles Dewhurst’s collection was no longer available and Martin enquired if the Devon Moth Group wished to become the curators of the collection.

The collection consists of a large 18 drawer solid mahogany cabinet and a separate 10 drawer mahogany cabinet. Roy contacted me to see if I was interested, and he put me in touch with Martin Love, a friend of Charles’ and himself a Lepidopterist. Martin and I arranged to meet at the museum a few days later, then I realized the collection would be a valuable asset for the Group, as it had a "Devon and Dorset (Moths and Butterflies)" connection plus diaries relating to the specimens. I took possession of the collection on 31 st May 2011. Although the collection is in need of some curation, the cabinets are superb, especially the moth cabinet, and already they have taken a fresh look with a good polishing and I expect the patina to improve as it receives more treatment.

You are all probably now wondering who is Charles Dewhurst? The following is an outline snapshot! Charles Dewhurst was born in Trincomalee, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) in 1946, where his father was a serving officer in the Royal Marines. Charles’ home was originally Yelverton, then Buckland Monachorum. Initially inspired by his father and mother, and then his Godmother who often gave him copies of South's Moths as well as butterfly books for birthdays. They all took great interest in his progress, and his passion for entomology never wavered.

Boyhood interests continued at prep. school where he was inspired by David Wedd, the son of Charles’ headmaster, (now living in Guernsey) who was a real inspiration. His secondary education was at Milton Abbey School, Blandford, Dorset, where his interest in natural history flourished, although when having to play sports like cricket (not “ crickets!”), he always tried to be chosen for "long stop" so he could catch grasshoppers! Cross country running got him into the countryside, so he could observe nature in the surrounding woods and hills (especially butterflies). Instead of weekend games tournaments, he preferred Badger or Roe Deer watching, where he could also enjoy a cigarette under the cover of chewing wild garlic!

There is material from Dorset localities in the collection. Charles remarks that he had a great Headmaster who "understood" his interests, and encouraged a very active natural history club at the school under the enthusiastic guidance from the late Captain Michael Robertson.

After finishing school, Charles worked at the Anti-Locust Research Centre (now Natural Resources Institute), with many of the great Acridologists, under the late Sir Boris Uvarov, Peter Haskell, Cliff Ashall, George Popov, and other inspiring scientists and characters with incredible backgrounds. Much of this period was spent overseas. Having returned from abroad, he completed his degree at London University in 1973, but he was soon back in Africa working on dung beetles, then seconded to work with the late E S Brown and later Derek Rose, where for 19 years in Africa (living in Kenya), he worked in about 20 countries, and then in many other parts of the world undertaking consultancies.

Charles now works in West New Britain (Papua New Guinea), where he has been Head of Entomology for the Oil Palm Research Association since 2005. His position involves a diverse range of duties, centered on implementing an Integrated Pest Management programme for oil palm pests throughout PNG where Oil palm operations are

Charles (second from right) working in the field in Papua New Guinea. 5 rigorously monitored by independent auditors under the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil ( www.RSPO.net ).

Charles thinks are his favourite and, even in Papua New Guinea, they feature along with huge Tettigoniidae (Katydids or Bush crickets) that ravage the oil palms. He is one of the Founder members of The NRGroup of Development Professionals ( www.thenrgroup.net ), a Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society and of the Linnean Society.

As outlined above Charles is a well-travelled and very experienced entomologist with a broad range of responsibilities and interests. He is planning a short home visit in September when he will look forward to meeting those who have helped rescue the collection, as well as seeing it in its present surroundings. Brian Bewsher

Charles helping youngsters identify aquatic on a study day at Chichester Harbour (West Sussex)

Metalampra italica , a Micromoth, in my garden italica is an Oecophorid species that was not described until 1977, from . In August 2003 the first British specimen turned up in the light trap that I occasionally run in my garden. It was also the first to be found outside Italy.

There is a similar species known from mainland Europe, , and initially I thought this was what I had until I compared it with paratypes of M. italica in the Natural History Museum, London. M. cinnamomea differs in having a slightly browner forewing and the subapical costal and tornal spots are larger; there are also good genitalic differences.

In 2004 it was found in Hertfordshire, in 2006 in Bedford, in 2007 in Surrey and on 16 June 2011 in Kent.

Since 2003 specimens have sometimes come to my garden trap but always singly. Then during the early evening of 26 July 2010 I disturbed eight worn moths from a hedge at the rear of my garden. This suggested that it was breeding somewhere in the vicinity.

In the late afternoon/early evening of 2 June 2011, I found nine moths all in a small area of this hedge. Some were sitting on the dead trunk of a Spotted Laurel ( Aucuba japonica ) others were on the leaves. It was obvious from the trunk that there was extensive feeding under the bark and larvae collected subsequently produced this species. (Bob Heckford)

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Larvae were also found under dead bark of Hazel ( Corylus avellana ) and Californian Lilac ( Ceanothus sp.) in this hedge as well as one under the bark of a Weigela sp. in the front garden. Although larvae have been found in Italy under the bark of ( Quercus spp.) and Hop Hornbeam ( Ostrya carpinifolia , a member of the Hazel ) and it has been reared from Oak logs collected in Hertfordshire, as far as I am aware there is no published description of the larva. I made a description that will be published in due course. In general, the larva resembles that of another Oecophorid, Esperia sulphurella , a fairly common species whose larva also feeds under the bark of dead wood.

As far as I am aware the species has not been found elsewhere in Devon. I have lived at my current address for about 30 years and all the bushes that have produced larvae were here when I arrived and I have not added any new bushes, so the source of its arrival is a mystery. All this strongly contrasts with its habitat in Italy which is open deciduous forest up to 1,300 m. Since 2003 it has been found in , and , but I do not have details of the habitats there except that the records are not from gardens.

As some members might know, heretically, I am not a great fan of light trapping and much prefer fieldwork but sometimes MV leads to something interesting! Bob Heckford

Forthcoming events

Friday 29th July 2011, Hazelwood Farm, Sampford Courtenay, nr Okehampton (full details given in the 2010 Annual Report). Meet at the farm SX642997 for BBQ (please bring food to cook) from 19.30 or for moth trapping from 21.00. This is a joint meeting with Butterfly Conservation (Devon Branch). Please phone Paul Butter (01837 82378), in advance, if the weather conditions appear unfavourable.

Friday 5th August 2011, Offwell Woods, nr Honiton. Meet on site at 20.15. Offwell Woods is a 50acre area of mixed woodland, together with heathland, wetland and lakes situated in a steep-sided valley. A two day event in 2003 yielded 178 species including Crambus silvella . From Honiton follow the A35 and turn right signposted to Offwell. Drive into the village and turn right after the church (on right). Follow this road until it passes West Colwell on the right and turn right onto a track (at SY19309884). Follow this for 0.4 mile and then veer slightly right through the entrance gateway to the site. Park in a further 0.1 mile in the 'quarry' lay-by on the left. This is a joint meeting with Offwell Woodland & Wildlife Trust ( www.countrysideinfo.co.uk ). Please contact Stella Beavan (07710 879277 or [email protected] ) in advance, if the weather conditions appear unfavourable.

Saturday 27 th August 2011, Stone Lane Gardens, Stone Farm, Chagford. Meet at car park (SX 708909) at 20.00. Stone Lane Gardens holds national collections of and in a landscaped woodland setting. From the A30 Whiddon Down junction turn off for Whiddon Down. Pass through the village and turn left at the roundabout signposted "A382 Moretonhampstead". Go straight on at the crossroads (ignore right to Throwleigh). As the road bends right take the left turn for Drewsteignton. Carry on for just over a mile. Pass the right turn for Spinsters Rock. Take the next right and the car park is immediately on the left through the yard. From Moretonhampstead follow A382 towards Whiddon Down. Go straight over Easton Cross, pass the Mill End hotel on your left and over the bridge. Go straight ahead at Sandy Park. After leaving Sandy Park take the next right up a narrow lane. Keep on this lane eventually passing Stone Farm on the right. At the top of the lane the road splits left and right. Turn hard right into the Car Park through the yard. Stone Farm and the Gardens are a 200m walk down the road from the car park. This is a joint meeting with the Friends of Stone Lane Gardens, but is free for Moth Group members. Please contact Stella Beavan (07710 879277 or [email protected] ), if the weather appears unfavourable.

Hunt for Ectoedemia heckfordi and other micro-moths Thursday 25 th August 2011, Hembury Woods. This will be a special, daytime trip focussed on looking for leaf mines of the endemic E. heckfordi , whose only locations in the world are in south Devon, and larvae of other micro-moths led by Bob Heckford. Places are limited and must be booked in advance by leaving a phone message or email with Richard Fox (01626 368385 or [email protected] ). Don’t worry if you don’t get an immediate reply, the bookings will be sorted out in mid August. The event is part of our Opal project and is suitable for experienced moth recorders based in Devon, who have already have some knowledge of micro-moths. Meeting time and place will be confirmed following booking.

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