Catch Report - 26/05/12 - Balls Wood, Hertford

About 12 or so people turned up for this first official trip of the year. The weather had been hot and sunny for the previous week and at last the nights were warm - not freezing cold! There was a stiff easterly breeze, but in the wood we scarcely noticed it. A total of 7 mv lamps were operated from generators from 21.30 hours until 04.30 the following morning, though only three of us camped out until dawn, with most people heading for home by about 01.00 hours.

Interestingly, of the 64 macro species caught, 13 species were caught only in that later period between 01.00 and 04.30. One was recorded as a larva crawling across the sheet - presumably having fallen from the overhanging Hornbeam branches.

The macro moth highlight was probably POPLAR LUTESTRING of which we had several. The micros bring the total up to 91 species (with 3 species still outstanding - awaiting genitalia dissection). Best by far is EPINOTIA NANANA (book page 230) which has not been seen in Hertfordshire since 1966 and which I labelled as probably extinct here. The caterpillar feeds on Spruce.

In the following list those marked with an asterisk (*) were named by genitalia dissection. Numbers are approximate. If anyone can remember anything that I have not listed do please let me know.

Catch Report - 26/05/12 - Balls Wood, Hertford - 7x 125w Robinson Traps

26th May 2012: Balls Wood, Hertfordshire: TL 3410

FULL LIST

Eriocrania subpurpurella 1

Common Swift few

Emmetia marginea 2

Incurvaria oehlmanniella 5

Nemapogon cloacella * 2

Monopis weaverella 4

Tinea trinotella 2

Caloptilia robustella 2

Swammerdamia caesiella * 1

Elachista argentella 1

Esperia sulphurella 3

Agonopterix arenella * 1

Teleiodes vulgella 1

Carpatolechia proximella 2

Teleiodes luculella few

Phtheochroa inopiana * few

Cochylis nana * 2

Syndemis musculana 1

Capua vulgana * few

Eulia ministrana sev

Cnephasia communana * 1

Celypha lacunana 1

Ancylis mitterbacheriana 2

Ancylis laetana 5

Epinotia subocellana * 2

Epinotia tenerana * 1

Nut Bud Moth 1

Epinotia nanana * 1

Epiblema cynosbatella 3

Peach Blossom 1

Poplar Lutestring sev

Maiden's Blush 2

Cream Wave sev

Red Twin-spot Carpet 2

Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet 1

Silver-ground Carpet sev

Common Carpet 1

Small Phoenix 2

Red-green Carpet 3

Spruce Carpet 2

Broken-barred Carpet 2

Green Carpet sev

Mottled Pug sev

Common Pug few

Brindled Pug 1

Dwarf Pug few

Treble-bar 1

Small White Wave 3

Seraphim sev

Clouded Border 1

Peacock Moth 1

Tawny-barred Angle 2

Scorched Wing 1

Brimstone Moth 1

Scalloped Hazel 3

Peppered Moth 1

Waved Umber 2

Pale Oak Beauty few

Brindled White-spot 1

Common White Wave 2

White-pinion Spotted 1

Clouded Silver 1

Light Emerald 3

Lime Hawk-moth 1

Poplar Hawk-moth 6

Puss Moth 1

Poplar Kitten 1

Iron Prominent 2

Pebble Prominent 2

Lesser Swallow Prominent 1

Coxcomb Prominent 1

Pale Prominent 3

Chocolate-tip 5

Lymantriidae

Pale Tussock 4

Orange Footman sev

White Ermine 1

Buff Ermine 1

Muslin Moth 2

Cinnabar 1

Least Black Arches 3

Flame Shoulder 1

Twin-spotted Quaker larva on sheet

Pale Pinion 3

Poplar Grey 1

Brown Rustic 1

Rustic Shoulder-knot 1

Treble Lines 2

Marbled White Spot few

Green Silver-lines 1

Nut-tree Tussock few