Catfield Fen

 Friday, July 9

The annual mothing event at the Butterfly Conservation/RSPB Catfield Fen is much anticipated. Owing to Covid restrictions, it's two years since the last one.. Catfield Fen reserve is part of the Ant Broads and Marshes National Nature Reserve (NNR), which covers much of the floodplain of the middle Ant Valley. The NNR is one of the best and largest remaining areas of fen habitat in Western Europe. The area is a stronghold for the Swallowtail butterfly - and moths such as Reed Leopard and Water Ermine.

Yesterday's meeting was restricted to previously booked 30 people. Double that number are usually present. Pam and I made sure that our application went in early. The traps are opened in a specially mown, small grassy area, very undulating, and covered in  wet vegetation. Warnings of possible flooding along the narrow entry lane, presaged the deep puddles frequently encountered. Greg waved us into a parking spot next to the table where the traps would be opened. Thank you. 

A few of us sat, others stood, in a straggling semi circle around the table. Mick D'Acourt, Catfield Fen warden, and an expert moth-er, opened the six traps put out by himself and the ever reliable Mike Gasson, around the fen, in pouring rain, the previous night.

Mick called the identification. Andy (micros) and Andrew (macros), both members of our moth group, recorded the catch. Our group was well represented, Greg, Mike, Ann and Richard as well as the others mentioned.

Egg boxes containing the moths, were passed around the group, anything deemed to be a bit special was potted before being passed. Just as well. Despite there being a no photography until the end rule, many people present took so long to look at everything that much had flown before it got to us - at the end of the line. Mick noticed and started passing stuff to us first which did pose a ' which way is this tray/pot going' problem. We all managed pretty well. Most of the potted micros came our way first, which pleased me.

Despite the number of traps, the quantity and species numbers were much lower than in previous years. A mirror of what seems to be happening across the country. No Lempke's Gold Spot at all and a lower count of Reed Leopards than hoped for. Just the one Water Ermine too. This is a photo of the one we had in our garden trap this morning. We do get some unusual species in our catch. 

 

I loved seeing a Silver Hook again. I've only seen one before.

 

Three of the micros were new too.

We had a better catch ourselves this morning. In addition to the Water Ermine, we had our first Dot Moth this year - a pot shot only.

 

Several intruders too. A Great Diving Beetle is an awesome beast. 

 

We often have another beetle species, which is known as an artic to me as it has a segmented head/slender body which bends around corners. I've got it down to family....Hemicrepidius hirtus,. Hairy Click Beetle

What is this? It used to be known as a capsid bug. A minor pest of grain.

The Nature Spot website says... Stenotus binotatus (Timothy Grassbug)
Family: Miridae

A distinctive although somewhat variable species, which is fairly large and roughly parallel-sided in shape. 

Males are generally yellow with extensive dark markings on the pronotum and forewings; females are greenish-yellow with the dark markings much reduced. Both sexes become more strongly marked and deeply coloured with age.

Widespread and very common throughout much of Britain in a variety of dry grassland habitats, both nymphs and adults of this species feed mainly on the flowering heads of grasses. 

Compare: Grypocoris stysi, Adelphocoris lineolatus

Adult: June-September
Length 6-7 mm