A new moth-ing site for a Butterfly Conservation organised morning. Sharon put out three small actinic Heath type traps last night - we wished it had included at least one MV Robinson. They were put out during heavy rain, the eggboxes were very wet and droopy.
Our early start was worth it. As soon as we parked, David N brought a pot containing a superb Speckled Yellow for us to admire. It's a day flyer which we are unlikely to see as it needs walking in the Brecks to do so. He'd potted it especially for us, people are very kind. Thank you David.
The traps were lacking in quantity but there was enough quality for all. Rosy Marbled was the absolute top moth, even new for Greg. Such a fresh well-coloured specimen too.
Small enough to be a MIcro but the distinctions between Micro and Macro are rather arbitrary - thought to be a means of dividing the moths into reasonable numbers for field guides !
Our third new moth was the breath-takingly beautiful Cream-spotted Tiger. Reasonably common in the Brecks, several were trapped. The hind wings are a bright orange.
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| Pam took this for me |
Tony brought a Four-spotted Footman, Sand Dart and a Marbled Clover.
I thought that Reddish Light Arches was new but we'd seen one at St Helens last year.
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| Pam took this for me |
A trap had been set for us at Weeting NWT too but there was nothing new, A few more Cream-spotted Tigers and lovely Clouded Buffs.
Most of the group then went on to Cranwich where Small Blue butterflies had been found this week. They found two, plus eggs on a foodplant. This species has not been recorded in Norfolk since the last century.
This is our smallest resident butterfly with a wing span that can be a little as 16mm. The sexes are similar in appearance, although the male upperside is almost black with a dusting of blue scales, whereas the female is more dark brown in colour. Both sexes have an underside that is silvery-grey in colour, and not unlike that of the Holly Blue.(UK Butterflies)
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