Autumn Moths

Saturday, October 19th 2019

Last week we were able to put the moth traps out on two nights and both gave successful catches, although some different moths each night. One moth was one of those that we all said 'We know that one!' then there was silence as we all tried to think of its name. Finally we remembered, with the help of the ID book, it was a Sprawler. Although common in the south of the country it is more local in North Yorkshire.

Moths do tend to 'stick' to their correct flight season and this is a great help when identifying them. When we catch one that does not then it is photographed and sent to the VC65 moth recorder, just in case we have the ID incorrect. A Green Carpet moth was caught on both nights and one was also seen on the Field Centre building. We could all ID this moth no problem, but out of curiosity we checked its flight season, which was May to mid July and then a second generation from August to early September. Concerned that the ID was incorrect the moth was photographed in the container. Of course trying to take one when it was released from the container was not possible as off it flew! The reply from the moth recorder was that this moth has been flying later in recent years, possibly due to changes in climate.

We take great care with the moths when we release them for photographing, trying to find a suitable place for them. It had rained heavily and the leaves were covered with water and some moths did not like getting their feet wet so flew off immediately. A fairly dry small twig was found to put a dark form of a Green-brindled Crescent onto and immediately it unfurled its proboscis and began drinking.

The Field Centre building often has a variety of moths on it and we found our first Mottled Umber of the season on the door on Friday.

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