This was a Butterfly Conservation County moth-ing event with trap opening at Weeting Heath NWT Reserve. James, the warden, had put out his usual one trap at the reserve and four traps, produced by Regional Organised Sharon Hearle, were scattered in the nearby area.
It was well attended - apart from the moths. Last night was cold in the Brecks so very few insects were on the wing. Apart from the disappointment of sparsely occupied traps, sad for both the organisers and the attendee s, it was worth going. A young man produced a Map-winged Swift which he had caught in Abertillery, South Wales, the centre fridge had a Plain Wave and a Royal Mantle in pots and I had three Micro ticks.Stewart was naming the micros before potting them and I had Andy, seated next door to me, resting his broken bone foot, helping with the ID.
The best moth for me was a Shaded Broad-bar. Unfortunately, as is so often the case at these events, it was in a dirty pot.
As everyone gradually drifted away, David N told us that a small group was about to go looking for a Horehound Plume, a real Brecks speciality.
Wheeleria spilodactylus
(Curtis, 1827)
Wingspan 20-25 mm.
This rather attractive plume moth is a local species, found chiefly on the Isle of Wight and a few scattered localities in Wales and in southern England.
It inhabits mainly chalky soils, and is found on the wing from July to September.
The larvae feed on white horehound (Marrubium vulgare) and are well-camouflaged and difficult to see.
They'd be about an hour. I mentioned Forester.........We said we'd wait and spent a pleasant hour chatting to Val (me), Giles and Judy (Pam).
The men returned triumphant. Stewart knew the foodplant and they'd eventually found three Horehound Plumes and a worn Forester Moth. I was delighted.
A really enjoyable session when a few men put themselves out to please the attendees. Thank you.
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