New recorder and new moths

Post date: Nov 1, 2011 2:17:19 PM

Just added details of the micro-moths that Ian Sims exhibited at last year's BENHS exhibition to the database. These include a new species for the county, and several that haven't been seen for a very long time:

• • Ectoedemia sericopeza, Lower Earley, 06/07/2010: larva, adult emerged 21/07/2010 - NEW COUNTY RECORD

  • Triaxomasia caprimulgella, Lower Earley, 24/06/2010: first record since 1898!

  • Caloptilia leucapennella, Jealott's Hill, 25 & 29/09/2010: beaten from Leyland cypress, first records since 1965

  • Metriotes lutarea, Jealott's Hill, 01/06/2008: larva on Stellaria holostea, bored into oak bark on 10 Jun 2008, over-wintered in shed, emerged 19 May 2009 - first confirmed record since 1924!

  • Altenia scriptella, Hurst, 09/09/2009: larva on Acer campestre, adult emerged 02 Apr 2010 - first record since before 1905!

  • Duponchelia fovealis, Lower Earley, 04/09/2010: second county record (after Norman Hall's first in 2002)

And about a year ago Ian Clayton sent me his first batch of records for a farm near Sulhamstead, and I've finally got them into the database - welcome at last Ian! They include:

• 0370: Hornet Moth (Sesia apiformis), 20/07/2010; 63 records on the database - good record, a first for the 10km square

• 2185: Lead-coloured Drab (Orthosia populeti); database records: 125 - good record

• 2260: Dotted Chestnut (Conistra rubiginea); database records: 58 - good record

• 2316: Lesser-spotted Pinion (Cosmia affinis), 27/07/2008; database records: 70 - good record

• And at the other extreme the 7,775th record of Large Yellow Underwing!