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WILGILSLAND The homepage of Pete and Jan Crowther |
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Moths |
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I have been recording moths since 1989 regularly running a UV actinic light trap at my previous home in Cottingham until we sold the house in 2002, and in my present garden at Yew Cottage, Kilnsea, near Spurn Head from 2001 until the present. In addition I used to regularly empty the MV Robinson trap at Tophill Low Nature Reserve from 1990 to 2000. I have also run Heath traps or sugared from time to time at Spurn / Kilnsea since about 1990 and occasionally recorded moths from other sites such as North Cliffe Wood, Beverley, and Hollym. Click here to view my moth lists for Cottingham, Tophill Low, and Kilnsea at Yew Cottage
Spurn and Kilnsea Area Moths Most of my mothing these days has centred on the Spurn
Head and Kilnsea area. Spurn is one of the most important sites in Yorkshire
for the recording of moths and butterflies. Several factors contribute to
this importance: firstly its geographical position at the extreme south-east
corner of the county makes it a natural entry point where those species
which are extending their range northwards into Yorkshire and beyond
Spurn is a notable site for immigrant species. Among the more common species
of macro-moth, Silver Y (Autographa gamma), Dark Sword-grass (Agrotis
ipsilon), and Pearly Underwing (Peridroma saucia), are recorded
regularly every year. The Silver Y, especially, can sometimes be taken at
light or seen feeding on flowers during the day in very large numbers. As
with birds, large influxes of immigrant moths and butterflies of one or more
species may occur when the conditions are right. For example, on 10th August
1988, some 200 butterflies comprising nine species were recorded as moving
down the peninsula in one hour. In years of high immigrant activity, common
species such as Silver Y and the micro-moths, Diamond-back Moth (Plutella
xylostella) and Rush Veneer (Nomophila noctuella), have been
recorded flying or resting during the daytime in their thousands. Even the
less common Perhaps one of the most surprising moths ever to be caught at Spurn was the Maori (Graphania dives), a New Zealand moth, not previously recorded in Britain, which was caught at Spurn by day in July 1950. This was almost certainly an accidental introduction and may have come off a ship passing in the Humber. Such shipborne introductions are always possible, if unlikely, for a maritime site such as Spurn, and it is interesting to conjecture what other exotica might be forthcoming. * This was the first specimen to be correctly identified in the UK.
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such a relatively long period, it would be difficult to know where to select
highlights. I have been fortunate to record several new [VC 61] vice county
species and two new species for Yorkshire, namely Ptycholomoides
aeriferanus taken at UV light at Cottingham on 8th July 1992 and
Coleophora taeniipennella taken at MV light at Tophill Low NR on 9th
July 1998. Another memorable moth, also taken in the Robinson trap at
Tophill Low NR, was Beautiful Hook-tip on 16th July 1997; it was the first
to be taken in Yorkshire since Porritt (1883-6).
as
a result of climatic warming are able to gain a foothold prior to further
expansion; secondly its exposed coastline makes it a natural landing place
not only for bird migrants and vagrants but also for moths and butterflies
flying in from across the sea; thirdly the peninsula combines a blend of
habitats—including sand dunes and saltmarsh—that is unique in Yorkshire; and
finally, the area has been particularly fortunate in attracting the interest
of naturalists, including entomologists and lepidopterists, from as far back
as the late nineteenth century whilst detailed moth and butterfly recording
has been carried out in the area on a regular and systematic basis over the
last three decades.
Most of the moths taken at Spurn are resident species that live on the
peninsula, their caterpillars feeding on the plants that grow there. The
bulk of these moths are relatively common and may be found elsewhere in
Yorkshire. However since Spurn is the only area in Yorkshire where
reasonably large areas of sand dunes and saltmarsh are found in close
proximity, many species of moth which are dependent on these habitats and
their plants, are restricted to Spurn (or at least found only in large
numbers there) in their Yorkshire distribution pattern. Such ‘Spurn
specials’ are the Sharp-angled Peacock (Semiothisa alternata), Star-wort
(Cucullia asteris), Sand Dart (Agrotis ripae), Crescent
Striped (Apamea oblonga), Lyme Grass (Chortodes elymi), and
Saltern Ear (Amphipoea fucosa paludis), to name some of the more
well-known ones.
migrants such as Bordered Straw (Heliothis peltigera) are
occasionally recorded by day in good numbers; for example on 24th August
1996, 16 Bordered Straw were seen feeding on flowers along the peninsula
with Silver Ys. Other less common macro-moth immigrants recorded regularly
if only in single figures are Gem (Orthonama obstipata), Vestal (Rhodometra
sacraria), Humming-bird Hawk-moth (Macroglossum stellatarum),
Convolvulus Hawk-moth (Agrius convolvuli), Delicate (Mythimna
vitellina), and Great Brocade (Eurois occulta). Also on the list
are such comparative rarities as White-speck (Mythimna unipuncta),
White-point (M. albipuncta), Spotted Clover (Schinia
scutosa), Pine Hawk-moth (Hyloicus pinastri), Bedstraw Hawk-moth
(Hyles gallii), Death’s Head Hawk-moth (Acherontia atropos),
Scarce Bordered Straw (Helicoverpa armigera), and even greater
rarities such as Eastern Nycteoline (Nycteola asiatica)*, Golden
Twin-spot (Chrysodeixis chalcites), Ni Moth (Trichoplusia ni),
Clifden Nonpareil (Catocala fraxini), and Blackneck (Lygephila
pastinum).
Lepidoptera at Spurn and Kilnsea 2006 (to end of July)
Moths
This year in the Spurn Kilnsea area, four regular MV light traps have again been in operation. These are the two near Warren Cottage, one slightly to the north and the other to the south; one in the garden at Kew Villa; and one in the garden of Yew Cottage at the north end of the village of Kilnsea. The first three traps are run by Barry Spence and the fourth one is run by Pete Crowther. In addition this year Barry has been running a portable trap from time to time further south along the peninsula. One can only admire his dedication and stamina in emptying up to four traps after a good moth night in July at the very height of the season!
In fact the season was slow to start as the cold wet spring produced very little in the way of good moth catches, both numbers and species giving low counts. However this poor start has been more than made up for since by some exceptionally good catches producing several new records for Spurn and including a large number of migrant species. There have been several features of special interest this year. The large numbers of Brown-tails last year resulted predictably in literally thousands of webs of Brown-tail larvae on the Point and along the peninsula this spring, which caused some concern at the time, although in the event their presence did not seem to cause any great problem. A count of webs seen along a walk down the peninsula from the Point car park northwards on 24th April came to 883 but it was estimated that there would be at least 4,000 if the Point itself were included and the other wider areas of the peninsula that had not been covered on the walk. As for the adult stage, a total of 2,359 Brown-tails was taken by Barry Spence in July in the four traps (three MVs and a portable) that he runs. This total would have been much higher had he not wisely suspended trapping with the portable on the peninsula during the peak time of the flight period; the prospect of emptying a trap literally choc-a-bloc with Brown-tails deterred even his lepidopteran ardour! In addition a further 22 Brown-tails were trapped at Yew Cottage at the northern end of Kilnsea village, and at least a mile from the nearest egg-laying site. Thus the sum total of Brown-tails taken in all five traps operated in the area came to 2,381.
Another interesting feature this year was the discovery by Barry Spence of a unique colony of Marsh Pugs on Chalk Bank. Unlike the usual dark brown insects, these pugs are grey in colour with numerous cross-lines similar to the forms that are to be found resident in eastern Europe. He counted a total of 74 including 22 on 7th June all seen by day.
The year, too, especially June and July, has been marked by some interesting records of immigrant species and some high levels of immigrant activity. Humming-bird Hawk-moths are now regular and frequent in the Spurn area. The first record of the species was uncharacteristically of one in an MV light trap on 13th June at the Warren. Another one was similarly captured the next night and thereafter they were seen almost daily, mainly at Kew Villa. One was seen laying eggs on bedstraw at the Warren on 23rd July. They have also been recorded in good numbers elsewhere in Kilnsea with the first recorded at Yew Cottage on 14th June followed by one to three almost daily there until late July with similar frequent and high counts being recorded at nearby Chapel Cottage a little further south in the village. Other immigrant hawk-moths included Bedstraw Hawk-moth with one being seen by day on 12th July at Chalk Bank and two feeding on honeysuckle at Kew Villa on 17th July as well as a Convolvulus Hawk-moth at MV light on 17th July.
Mid-June and late July saw a number of records for the normally scarce immigrant, Bordered Straw and its even scarcer cousin, the Scarce Bordered Straw. The former was recorded as follows: at the Warren and Kew Villa traps — one on 14th and 15th June then one on 23rd, three on 27th, three on 30th, and two on 31st July; at Yew Cottage — one on 18th June then one on 29th, four on 30th, and one on 31st July. Two Scarce Bordered Straws were taken at the Warren on 30th, and one on 31st July.
Other selected migrant species’ records were as follows (all records are for Spurn supplied by Barry Spence unless otherwise stated):
Bird-cherry Ermine: 17 between 2nd and 30th July including six on 2nd.
Willow Ermine: one on 2nd and 12th July and one on 11th July at Yew Cottage.
Diamond-back Moth: a peak of 104 was recorded on 27th July. Late July was a period of
exceptionally high migrant activity.
Evergestis extimalis: one on 5th and 18th July at Yew Cottage.
Sitochroa palealis: one on 27th July.
European Corn Borer: three on 2nd July.
Least Carpet: one on 5th July at Kew Villa (new record for Yorkshire)
Many-lined: one caught at light on Clubley’s Scrape on 27th July (new record
for Yorkshire).
Orange Footman: one on 11th June.
Reed Dagger: one on 29th July.
Mere Wainscot: one on 20th July.
Small Mottled Willow: 10 records with singles on 14th, 15th and 23rd June plus seven
between 25th and 30th July
Silver Y: large counts as follows: — 250 seen by day on 14th June; 123 in one MV trap
on 11th July; 1989 in one MV trap plus 268 in the other two and 65 at Yew
Cottage (YC) on 23rd July; 868 in three MVs plus 57 at YC on 27th July; and 860
in two MVs plus 224 at YC on 30th July. Daytime sightings include c. 5,000 on 24th and 15,000 on 27th, when they were also observed coming in off the sea in large numbers, and an estimated 25,000 on 28th July.
During the period under review a number of new species have been added to the ‘Spurn List’. These are:
Diurnea fagella: one on 20th April at Wire Dump and one at Point on 26th April.
Celypha cespitana: one on 24th June.
Pammene rhediella: one on 31st May.
Grapholita janthinana: one on 29th June
Grapholita orobana: one on 7th June.
Brindled Pug: one on 4th May.
Slender Brindle: one on 22nd July.
Nut-tree Tussock: one on 4th May.
In addition this year, there have been a number of records of comparatively scarce or notable species. A small selection of them is listed below:
Flame Carpet: one on 26th July.
Lilac Beauty: one on 26th July.
Marbled White Spot: one on 2nd July
Yellow Belle: one on 20th and 23rd May.
Privet Hawk-moth: one on 27th May and one on 11th July.
Lime Hawk-moth: one on 30th June at Yew Cottage.
Heart & Club: one on 5th July at Yew Cottage
Northern Drab: one on 1st and 5th May.
Tawny Pinion: one on 14th April
Grey Shoulder-knot: one on 29th March at Kew Villa, and one on 1st and 12th April at
Yew Cottage.
Marsh Pug. See above for details.
Butterflies
In general the relative abundance of moths recorded during the summer months of June and July has not been matched by the butterflies with comparatively fewer than usual records for several species, particularly among the Nymphalidae, and including butterflies such as Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell. The former gave only one day-count above 20 while the latter was not even recorded in double figures. Of the immigrant species in this group, Red Admiral fared better with almost daily counts since early May but with few in double figures except during the first week in July. Painted Lady has been very thin on the ground this year with only two counts in double figures, both in mid-June, until there was a small influx at the very end of July coinciding with a period of high immigrant activity.
Many other species, too, have been recorded in low numbers including Comma (mostly one to two but one count of three all in July except one in late May), Holly Blue (a few counts of one to two in May and early June and the first record of the second brood — two on 27th July), Brown Argus (a single on 11th and 12th June and two on 29th July), Essex Skipper (one to two only from mid-July), Brimstone (only five records with three on 3rd May being the highest count), and Small Copper (none in May, a single only in June, then three singles in late July followed by a welcome six on 28th July). While other species may have fared better, few have been recorded in outstanding numbers this year as for instance was the Silver Y among the moth species.
Whilst much of the butterfly general picture may have been disappointing, it was considerably brightened by the occurrence of two sightings of what may only be described as exotic species for the area! The first was a sighting of a Large Tortoiseshell in the garden of Kew Villa by the SBO warden, Paul Collins. Unfortunately for the rest of us he was the only observer but it is thought that the butterfly must have come in over the sea as its sighting on 9th May coincided with a period of high immigrant activity during a spell of easterly winds. Significantly another Large Tortoiseshell was also recorded at the same time at Dungeness. The other surprise was the sighting in Beacon Lane near the entrance to Sandy Beaches caravan site of a White Admiral feeding on buddleia. This butterfly was seen by several observers and photographed by Dave Standring.
It will be interesting to observe the butterfly scene during the coming late summer and autumn months especially for those species which appear usually in larger numbers than earlier in the year, for example, Painted Lady, Red Admiral, Holly Blue and Small Copper. Personally I am hoping for a Large Tortoiseshell or a late-flying White Admiral as I missed both of them, but at a pinch I would happily settle for a Camberwell Beauty. Chance would be a fine thing!
Acknowledgement: I am grateful to Barry Spence for making his records available to me for this article
Lepidoptera Update No. 8 (2006:2 — beginning of August to end of October ’06)
Moths
What an extraordinary year this has been for immigrant species of moths not only at Spurn but throughout the country. The late summer and autumn has seen unprecedented numbers of normally very scarce migrants. Indeed to take only one example, records of the hitherto aptly named Scarce Bordered Straw in normal years barely reach double figures across the whole of the British Isles. Bernard Skinner in his authoritative Moths of the British Isles 2nd ed. (1998) writes of this species “An almost annual visitor ... but often scarce and not always achieving double figures. 1988 and 1992 proved to be exceptional with approximately eighty records for each year.” Eighty was the figure for for the whole of the British Isles; this year 140 were recorded here in the Spurn area alone! What the total will prove to be for the British Isles this year stretches the imagination. Other scarce migrants, too, have been recorded in exceptionally high numbers as is shown in the list given below. The star migrant of the year must, however, surely be the almost legendary and very beautiful Clifden Nonpareil which brightened up the day of many moth-ers as well as quite a few non moth-ers when it was displayed at the information centre after its capture in the MV trap in the Warren bushes by Barry Spence on 16th September.
The list of migrants given here is necessarily selective and includes only the normally more scarce species but it has been a good year, too, for the more common ones such as Rush Veneer, Silver Y, Dark Sword Grass, and Pearly Underwing. As in previous years most of the records refer to the two MV light traps at the Warren and the MV light trap at Kew Villa operated by Barry Spence. Unless otherwise indicated the records given below will refer to moths taken in these traps or in a portable trap occasionally operated on Spurn also by Barry. Records indicated by the abbreviation ‘YC’ refer to moths taken in the garden MV light trap at Yew Cottage at the north end of Kilnsea operated by Pete Crowther.
Selected Migrant Species:
Evergestis extimalis: one on 16th September (YC)
Udea ferrugalis: 48; plus 24 (YC including max. of 10 on 16th Oct.)
Dioryctria abietella: one on 17th September (YC)
Vestal: one on 26th September (YC)
Gem: 4 in September.
Convolvulus Hawk-moth 9 in September, one in October; plus one on 1st October (YC)
Humming-bird Hawk-moth 14 in August, 17 in September, and 3 in October (mostly
daytime observations; plus 8 in August and September (YC)
Great Brocade: 3 (Spurn traps on 3rd, 13th and 14th Aug.); plus one on 3rd Aug. (YC)
White Point one on 23rd Aug.
Delicate: 2 in September and 16 in October; plus 3 including a late one on 30th October
(YC)
Red Sword Grass: one on 27th October
Suspected: one on 18th Aug. (this moth corresponded to the grey continental form)
Small Mottled Willow: 19 in August, one in September; plus 2 on 4th August (YC)
Scarce Bordered Straw: 28 August, 65 September, 12 October; plus 33 August to
October with 3 maxima of 4 (YC)
Bordered Straw: 31 in August, 2 in September; plus 6 in August (YC)
Ni Moth one on 14th Aug.
Scarce Silver Y: 7 in August; plus 4 in August (YC)
Clifden Nonpareil: one on 16th September in the Warren bushes MV light trap.
The late summer and autumn period also saw further notable records including several new ones for the Spurn area and also for our vice-county, East Yorkshire (VC 61), as well as a new Yorkshire record. Details are given below. One interesting feature of this extraordinary year which has entered the record books as having the hottest summer and autumn since records began was the occurrence of moths at dates far removed from their normal flight period. A few examples will illustrate this phenomenon: a Small Fan-footed Wave normally flying late June to late August was recorded on 11th October; a Swallow-tailed Moth normally on the wing late June to mid-August was trapped on 10th October; a Currant Pug usually flying May to June and again in August was recorded with two on 16th October. Although it is not unknown for at least the first two of these species to have a partial second generation so late in the year, it is very uncommon.
Other Notable Records:
Caloptilia populetorum: one on 26th August (new record for VC 61)
Calybites phasianipennella: one on 16th September (new record for VC 61)
Phyllonorycter messaniella: one on 12th October
Acleris sparsana: one on 9th October
Acleris cristana: one on 6th August (new record for Yorkshire)
Epinotia caprana: one on 23rd August
Homoeosoma nebulella: one on 24th August (new record for VC 61)
Wood Carpet: one in August
Mallow: one in September; plus one on 19th (YC)
Red-green Carpet: one on 12th September
Yellow-barred Brindle: 4 in August
Antler Moth: two in August; plus one on 8th August (YC)
Feathered Gothic: one on 26th August (YC)
Barred Sallow: one on 27th September (YC only the 2nd record for the Spurn area)
Dusky Lemon Sallow: one on 19th September
Twin-spotted Wainscot: 5 in August; plus another 6 in that month including max. of 3 on 26th
(YC)
Butterflies
The pattern of generally lower than usual numbers of many species during the first part of the year, described in the last Newsletter, was largely repeated in the period under review — late summer and autumn. For example second-brood Holly Blues were represented by singles on only five days in August; both Wall Brown and Gatekeeper respectively only achieved a single count in double figures; Large White reached double figures on only two occasions; whilst Green-veined White was recorded on only five days in August and September with a maximum count of two! Small Tortoiseshell although recorded on most days only once achieved double figures with a maximum count of just 11 on 5th September. Peacock fared a little better with three counts in double figures. Small Copper gave low counts on most days in the second half of September which was some improvement on its poor showing in the earlier part of the year but still far from being in any way exceptional. Other common species such as Common Blue, Gatekeeper, Wall Brown, and Small Heath were also very thin on the ground compared to most earlier years. Brown Argus continues to maintain its precarious hold; it was recorded on eight days in August and September but with a maximum count of only three. The Comma seems to have had a fairly good year with records (albeit of low single-figure counts) scattered sporadically throughout especially September and October. The butterfly, however, that has seen such a dramatic rise in numbers in recent years in our county, the Speckled Wood, again proved to be a success story this year in marked contrast to the species already mentioned. From mid-August to early October it was recorded almost every day with no les than 16 counts in double figures including a high maximum of 37 on 30th August. Of the immigrant butterfly species, Clouded Yellow was seen in only ones or twos on just eight days. Painted Lady fared better with almost daily records throughout the late summer and autumn; mostly counts were in low numbers but higher counts of 30 to 40 on 4th/5th and 13th August must reflect small influxes at those times. Finally among the regular immigrant species, Red Admiral seems to have had a good year with almost daily sightings in all three months, August, September, and October. As usual numbers proved to be highest from late September with almost daily counts in double or even treble figures including maxima of 100 on 26th September, and 115 on 4th and 130 on 23rd October. Finally The butterfly highlight of the year has to be the Camberwell Beauty seen by Terry McEvoy when it flew across the road near Rose Cottage towards Church Field on 17th September. This sighting coinciding with the Clifden Nonpareil captured by Barry Spence the previous night underlines just what a remarkable year this has been for Lepidoptera immigrants at Spurn!
Acknowledgement: I am grateful to Barry Spence for making his records available to me for this article P.A.C.