Kent Moths - Trapping Reports For 2002 - 2005

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If you would like a copy of the species trapped, by Tony Steele, please send a SAE marked envelope, to him, with name of site you would like. Please see our branch newsletter for address details or please email Tony for details. We do not and can not publish postal addresses on this site, sorry.

2005

This Ministry of Defence training area is situated along Seven Mile Lane near Wrotham Heath, and is approximately 300 acres in size. The site comprises of long established decidous woodland with small areas of conifers. There are also large expanses of heathland, a rarity in Kent. Many broad woodland rides and fire-breaks crisscross the site giving ample trapping locations. The training area is used extensively by the regular army, the territorial army, cadets and police forces. Relationships with the various forces are very good. They kindly avoid the areas where I am working when trapping. DTA means Dry Training Area, which means no live ammunition is used, just blanks.

Two exploratory trapping sessions were held during 2003, on the nights of 20th June and 15th August. Theses yielded 53 species, including 4 species designated as "Local" and 1 as "Nb" (Norable B). The Local being Pyrausta purpuralis, Satin Lutestring, Peacock Moth and Brindled White Spot, and the Nb being Great Oak Beauty. The habitat requirements of the Great Oak Beauty are long established woodland with mature Oaks, which is the larval foodplant.

Encouraged by theses early results, trapping recommenced in 2004. Unfortunatley I was unable to start until the 25th June. The site was visited seven times, with the last visit on 6th November. A respectable total of 110 species was recorded, of which 7 were Local and 2 Nb. The two Nb were Dotted Chestnut and White-lin Snout. The Dotted Chestnut's preferred habitat is wooded heathland. The main larval foodplant is reported as Apple, but probably feeds on other trees. The White-line Snout is much more interesting. It occurs in damp woodland, conifer plantations and on heathlands. The larval foodpalnt is unknown in the wild.

Trapping started in 2005 on 20th March, and by the 25th June another 12 sessions had been carried out, with most excellent results. Twelve more Local species were recorded with another 2 Nb, these being Eucosmomorpha albersana, a micro moth, and the Broom-tip. The Broom-tip is an inhabitant of heathland and open areas of woodland, where it's foodplant, Broom grows. It tends to favour the more mature plants. The biology of Eucosmomorpha albersana is virtually unknown, only that it is to be found on Honeysuckle.

On 26th May, a meeting of the Mereworth Conservation Group was held, which took form of a Field Walk. After introductions and coffee we set off, led by myself and Bob Francis who is recording the birds at Mereworth. During the walk some Common Heath moths were netted and shown. Although common it was another new record for the site. As the walk neared it's end, and a waiting lunch, David Gardner found, on a young Oak tree, the larval mines of Extoedemia atrifrontella, a Na (Notable A) micro moth.

During the weekend of 8th & 9th July, trapping was carried out over both nights, with outstanding results. An impressive total of 95 species were recorded, which included 4 Nb and 12 Local. The four Nb being Pammene fasciana, a micro associated with Oak and Sweet Chestnut, Anania verbascalis, a pyralid feeding on Wood Sage, Waved Carpet a Geometrid also associated with Sweet Chestnut and Waved Black, a bracket fungi feeder. Stimulated by this, another 16 visits were made to the site, the last being on December 10th. Although no more Nb's were recorded, another 14 Local were. With 277 species recorded so far, which includes 38 Local, 9 Nb & 1 Na, Mereworth is becoming one of the best moth sites in Kent.

281 Species. 39 Local. 9 Notable B. 1 Notable A.

Tony Steele

2004

Species Recorded:

Acleris emergana
The Brick
Red-line Quaker
The Satelitte
Sprawler
Acleris notana/ferrugona
December moth
Pink-barred sallow
Autumnal moth
Yellow-line Quaker
November moth
Blastablasii decolorella
Caloptila stigmatella
Ypsolozha ustella
Diurnea lipsiella
Green-brindled crescent
Common marbled carpet

At home on the window

Udea ferrugalis

Next night

Blairs Shoulderknot

David Gardner

Thanks to Tim Baldwin for his trapping results.

I ran the trap attended from 21.45 - 00.00, then left on overnight. Weather warm (c. 17C) overcast, light breeze.

This was probably my best session to date, the numbers swollen by 200+ Dark Arches but also including some excellent finds, not least a national rarity!

Species Recorded:

45+ species, total of over 300 individual moths.

Observers: Tim Baldwin, Graham Boggia & Jack Boggia

Those of you that attended the KLG meeting will remember the mention of this website and the need for YOUR input. Overall, the site has been well received but we need to move things on and, with the season now well and truly upon us, there has never been a better time to send in your trapping reports.

Being new to moths, my knowledge is very limited at the moment but I am on a very steep learning curve and making progress. My wife is rapidly becoming a mothing widow and has resigned to preparing sandwiches and a flask every time I gaze at the evening sky and check the forecast! One good way to introduce new people to this fascinating subject is to share your experiences in the field. This can be done by actually inviting folk along or by reporting your findings on this site. As you will see, several trapping sessions have already been forwarded but we need more, many more.

From a personal perspective, my sessions are usually confined to just a couple of hours in areas showing few, if any, records. As a beginner, this means ANY record is likely to be a new record and therefore valuable to the Moth Report. I often struggle to ID some of my catch and am always grateful for the patience of David Gardner and Ian Ferguson who never fail me, even when they must be totally fed up with yet more digital pictures in their email of moths that are immediately familiar to them. It is by sharing this knowledge that people like myself sustain an interest in what can soon become a very intimidating subject. Even reports of common moths can make for interesting reading for the new recruit. To show what is needed, I have listed a few of my sessions for this season.

As I say, much of my trapping is carried out on virgin territory and numbers caught are expected to be low. Nonetheless, most of these records are new and all the more valuable.

So, please send in your reports and share your trappings.

Peter Kirby

My first trapping session of 2004 was on the night of 2nd April, at Hemsted Forest near Sissinghurst. This Forestry Commission site covers 4 recording tetrads, and I decided to visit the north west tetrad. Once again I had two Skinner type traps in operation, a 125W MV and a 2X40 Watt actinic, set approximately 130 feet apart. They were situated so that the two light sources did not interfere with each other.

Trapping commenced at 2000hrs, with broken cloud cover and a three quarter moon. The temperature started off mild, but as the evening progressed it soon decreased. The first moth to arrive, at the actinic, was an Early Grey, which was soon joined by some Clouded Drab's. The first arrival at the MV, which was not for some time, was Early Tooth-striped, and then the micro Diurnea fagella. The high-light of the night was the arrival at the actinic of two Broom-tap's, a Notable B species. I discovered this rare species at another location on this site last year.

When I finished at 2300hrs, the actinic had attracted the most moths, 15 individuals of 8 species, while the MV score was 10 individuals of 6 species. One interesting observation on the actinic lamps is that last year when they attracted the Broom-tip (9 of them!) the MV did not have any. It appears that the actinic is proving to be the better light, but I shall continue to carry out more extensive field tests before using them alone. I did fit a single 40 Watt lamp to a Robinson trap and have been running it in my garden, but the "pulling" power is not very good.

2X40 Watt Actinic Skinner Trap

125 Watt WV Skinner Trap

Tony Steele

My interest in moths began more than 25 years ago, but due to living in a built-up area with a rather small over-looked garden, my trapping was restricted to using a heath type trap, fitted with a 6 watt actinic tube. One of the disadvantages of this type of trap is the low catch yield.

I moved to Barnehurst in North West Kent in the autumn of 1995, and as the new garden was now very much larger, and not so over-looked, I was able to use a Robinson type trap, fitted with a 125 watt mercury vapour bulb. Before trapping could begin some much needed remedial work to the garden was required. This entailed the removal of several large conifers and the laying of a lawn. A mixed hedge was also planted, as was many butterfly and moth foodplants.

Trapping began January 1996 and by the end of the first year 225 species had been recorded. After eight years of recording my “garden life list” stands at 363, with the total number of individual moths counted standing at 35,769!!! Many interesting species are now breeding in the garden, and these include pyrausta purpuralis, least carpet, yellow-barred brindle and buttoned snout. Several rare migrants, such as sitochroa verticalis, the vestal and tree-lichen beaut my have been recorded. Even as I write this, January 2004, two new species have been added to my garden list.

to overcome the problem of not upsetting neighbours by using a bright bulb, i am adapting a Robinson trap by fitting it with a 40 watt vertically mounted actinic lamp, which have a light blue glow. i have used these lamps in the field, fitted to a skinner type trap with very good results. Testing will start shortly, and the results will be on the web pages.

Tony Steele

First trip of the autumn was not until 20th September, to Bedgebury Forest. I normally trap near the Forestry Commission offices, but this time I ventured further into the forest, setting up 2 traps on a wide ride leading down to Lou-sa Lake. Although it was nice and mild the nights catch was rather low, with 9 species at the Actinic light and 8 at the MV. Some of the species were Straw Dot, Large Yellow Underwing, Rush Veneer, Common Marbled Carpet, Canary-shouldered Thorn and Pine Carpet. On my way out of the site an inspection was made of the sodium lights outside the Forestry Commission offices and these yielded Square-spot Rustic, Lunar Underwing and Pyrausta purpuralis.

The next trip, on 27th September, was a return visit to the MOD site at Chattenden. Once again both Skinner traps were in use. The Actinic was set up on the grassland known as Rough Shaw, and the MV just inside Lodge Hill Wood, which was in the adjacent recording Tetrad. Weather conditions were ideal, being cloudy and mild. Trapping commenced at 1930hrs and the first to arrive at both traps was Lunar Underwing. The Actinic lamp was again successful, attracting 19 species including Orange Sallow, Common Marbled Carpet, Black Rustic, Brindled Green and Deep-brown Dart. The total for the MV was 14 species, some of which were Barred Sallow, Oak Hook-tip, Snout, Willow Beauty and Grey Pine Carpet.

October 31st saw another visit to Chattenden, this time with the company of David Gardner and his super-duper trap. As usual I had both traps in use, the actinic being set up on Rough Shaw, and the MV just inside the western edge of Lodge Hill Wood. David set his trap up elsewhere in the wood. Trapping commenced at 1700hrs. Although there was good cloud cover, conditions were rather chilly, and about halfway through the evening there was a sudden downpour. The actinic trap in the open had just 3 species. Brick, Yellow-line Quaker and November Moth. The MV, being sheltered fared much better with 6 species including Barred Sallow, the tiny migrant Plutella Xylostella, and Autumnal Moth. David's super-duper trap, also situated in sheltered area, fared well with 5 species being recorded, including Large Yellow Underwing, Satellite and Feathered Thorn.

On November 11th a quick visit was made again to Lodge Hill. With clearing skies and a rising moon, conditions were far from ideal for mothing. The two traps attracted just 6 moths of four species, which were Brick, Feathered Thorn, November Moth and Dark Chestnut. The last outing of the season was to Chattenden Wood on November 15th. Due to motor cyclists and four wheel drive vehicles misusing the wood, it is now kept locked so I had to wait for the owners to allow me access. Trapping commenced at 1650hrs, and by the time I stopped 2 hours later six species were recorded between the two traps, and these were Feathered Thorn, December Moth, Yellow-line Quaker, November Moth, Winter Moth and the pyrale Udea ferrugalis.

Tony Steele

26th September 2003 - MOD Wybornes (a wood on the Hoo peninsular)

Please note that a permit is required to visit this site. Please contact David Gardner for details.

It Rained
Lamps on 7:45 to 11pm : result 17 species
I turned off the white lamp as it can be cracked by occasional rain, the Actinic lamps run almost cold outdoors so can be left on in all rain.
Moths were flying as I set up

Species Recorded

Diamond-back Moth
Blastobasis decolorella
Large Fruit-tree Tortrix (podana)
Epinotia nisella
Red-green Carpet
Common Marbled carpet
Large Yellow Underwing
Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing
Square-spot Rustic
Black Rustic
Brindled Green
The Brick
Lunar Underwing
Barred Sallow
The Sallow
A Copper Underwing (Svensson's?)
The Snout

David Gardner

27th September 2003 - Private woodland, Standford Hill Farm

At the invitation of Peter Kirby I joined him at a private woodland at Standford Hill Farm in a bit called "the forest"

Species Recorded

Diamond-back Moth (been seeing almost brown versions recently)
Hypatima rhomboidella
Oak Lutestring
Common Marbled Carpet
Canary-shouldered Thorn
Large Yellow Underwing
Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing
Square-spot Rustic
The Brick
Lunar Underwing
Straw Dot

Other Information

At Peter's trap, which was in the field next to a forest track, we saw Hornets and a Great Silver Beetle. I understand from a beetle specialist that these need to be reported so if one turns up at your trap please let us know and we will pass the data on. Other big beetles with yellow markings should be reported too, but these can be more difficult to identify down to a species.

Apparently the Great Silver Beetle is migratory (from Europe) and that is why Dungeness is such a good site for them, being the first area with water they see (or smell)

David Gardner

2nd October 2003 - MOD Lodge Hill Wood (Hoo peninsular)

Please note that a permit is required to visit this site. Please contact David Gardner for details.

Still warm at 9pm
Soldiers elsewhere
Lamp on 7:25-11pm : result 27 species
Using sugar mix (from Watkins & Doncaster) on cut apple to see if the moths like that... Yes!
I use apple in the trap to give the moths a chance to feed or drink, when the lamps are on. Apple is available all year and seems to be preferred, no I have not tried melon.
The trap was close to a big low level ivy in full flower
My Bat detector picked up heavy interference from a radar of a boat in Thames, no bats about at all as they would have found navigating difficult with such a loud sound across their listening range

Species Recorded

Lunar Underwing (all colours except red)
Brindled Green
Barred Sallow
Dark Sword Grass
a Copper Underwing (possibly another Svensson's)
Rush Veneer
Large Yellow Underwing
Straw Dot
Agriphila inquinatella
Common Marbled Carpet
Green-brindled Crescent
Red-green Carpet
Bee Moth (mint female)
Oak Hook-tip
The Snout
Yellow-line Quaker
Red-line Quaker
Udea ferrugalis
Orthopygia glaucinalis (three, first of the year for me)
Square-spot Rustic
Figure of Eight
Yellow-tail (mint male)
The Chestnut
Black Rustic
Agonopterix subpropinquella
Agriphila tristella
Summer Fruit Tortrix (Adoxophyes orana)
+Two plume species yet to be identified

David Gardner

16th October 2003 - MOD Ash Wood (Hoo peninsular)

Please note that a permit is required to visit this site. Please contact David Gardner for details.

Not too cold, moon out but hidden from view by hill and trees
Soldiers on exercise but cleared to survey
Lamps on 7-10pm : result 16 species identified
One bat at around 8:30 to 9 some casualties

Species Recorded

Barred Sallow
Pink-barred Sallow
Yellow-line Quaker
Red-line Quaker
Green-brindled Crescent
The Brick
Red-green Carpet (one nice mix the other very deep green)
Satin Wave
The Satellite
Spruce Carpet
Common Marbled Carpet (quite worn)
Acleris emargana
Acleris notata (tripunctana in Ray)
Summer Fruit Tortrix (Adoxophyes orana)
Emmelina monodactyla
Tony Steele is kindly trying to identify three more

Next year (2004) we are hoping to arrange some evenings at sites we have found this year, particularly after the success of Tony Steele's event at Chattenden. These will be an opportunity for recorders who usually just do their gardens to meet other recorders in an interesting site. As generators will be on site you can bring your trap and connect it to one and run the cable in a different direction. For those who have not been to a joint session, it's great fun, interesting to see what the different traps collect and to try and see where differences occur.

David Gardner

Due to family holidays only one mothing trip was undertaken during July, which was to the Chattenden Wood complex on the night of the 5th. Once again the new actinic trap was in use,at a narrow woodland ride junction. As soon as the trap was turned on moths started to arrive with The Clay being first,quickly followed by Uncertain, and many examples of the diminutive Pyralid the Water Veneer. Total for the night was an impressive 43 species, which included Oak Eggar, Buff Arches, Scarce Footman, Flame Shoulder and Marbled White Spot. During the nights proceedings, I was startled by a sudden firework display within yards of me, and upon reporting at the army gatehouse on my way home, was informed it was some American troops celebrating Independence Day.

Four of the several owners of the Chattenden Wood complex were invited to a mothing evening at the site on 1st August. The aim of the evening was to show them how moth trapping is carried out. I had two Skinner traps in operation, Keith Palmer also had two traps, a Skinner and a Heath. lan Fergusonbrought along his Robinson trap and David Gardner brought his super-duper trap, a sort of cross between a Skinner and Robinson. With 6 traps in use throughout the site, we were kept very busy visiting each in turn. Owing to the amount of traps used, the night's results are still being collated.

August 2nd saw a visit to Hemsted Forest at Sissinghurst, using the standard MV bulb Skinner trap. Although there was a clear sky, the temperature was nice and mild. First arrival was Mother of Pearl, swiftly followed by Silver Y, Yellow Shell, Small Fan-footed Wave and Rosy Footman. Although I have trapped this site regularly it is still turning up some good species, such as Triple-spotted Pug and Agapeta zoegana. This night was no exception. During the night I "potted up" 3 moths of a species that I did not immediately recognise, so one was brought home for further investigation and the others released. Upon examining the moth it proved to be White-line Snout, a Biodiversity Action Species. The identification was verified by lan Ferguson.

A return visit was undertaken on August 15th to Mereworth Training Area, an MOD site set in woodland. Once again I has both traps in use, set up in a large helicopter landing area. The MV trap attracted 15 species, and the Actinic 16. The highlight of the night was the arrival of 9 Peacock moths, a rather local species. One advantage of this site is having an armed guard! The next trip was a public event held at Lullingstone Country Park on 22nd August. After a short talk in the centres classroom, to an audience of 20, we started trapping. Two Skinner traps were in use, one by some woodland and the other in a nearby field. The total between the two traps was a respectable 40 species, which included Ringed China-mark, Barred Hook-tip, Pretty Chalk Carpet, Dusky Thorn, Centre-barred Sallow and Flounced Rustic.

On August 24th a visit was made to another MOD site, Rough Shaw, near Chattenden. This is a scrubby grassland site overlooking Cliffe Marshes, bordered by woodland. The night was cloudy and mild and I had the MV trap in use. First species to arrive was Square-spot Rustic, then Straw Underwing, Orange Swift and Common Wainscot. A late example of Oncocera semirubella, a Notable B species, was noted. A single Mocha was also recorded. Other moths included Yellow Shell, Latticed Heath, Copper Underwing, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Cloaked Minor and Snout.

The final outing of August was on the 30th, once again to Chattenden Wood. The weather was not at all suitable, clearskies and rather chilly. Undeterred, I set up both Skinner traps in a recently cleared area. Once again the Actinic lightdid well attracting 12 species, with the MV just 7. Amongst the nights catch were Tawny Speckled Pug, Large Yellow Underwing, Blood-vein, Centre-barred Sallow, Treble-bar and Lesser Cream Wave.

Tony Steele

Tony Morris recorded a Evergestis limbata, using a 125 MV light Skinner type trap, on 4th July. He also recorded at least one Hummingbird Hawk moth in his garden on 4th July.

With kind permission of the owner, a visit was made to Great Chattenden Wood near Cliffe. Two Skinner traps were operated, one with the standard 125W MV bulb, and other some distance away fitted with the prototype actinic tubes. The traps were run from 2150hrs to 2355hrs, and I was kept busy going between them. First to arrive at the MV light was Common Marbled Carpet, quickly followed by Silver-ground Carpet, Water Veneer, Light Emerald, Oak Hook-tip and Elephant Hawk. The MV attracted 35 species in total, including the rare Mocha. First to arrive at the actinic was the Common Swift, followed by Tortrix viridana, Ingrailed Clay, Marbled White Spot, Peacock Moth and Green Silver-lines. The actinic attracted 31 species. There seems to be little difference in the catches between the two types of lamp at present.

The next outing, on June 20th, was to Mereworth Woods, a MOD Dry Training Area. Once again both types of traps were in use, from 2155 to 0010. Conditions were not ideal, with mainly clear skies and a low temperature, but despite this the catch was quite good. The MV lamp had 22 species which included Brindled White-spot, Brown Rustic, Satin Lutestring, Ingrailed Clay and Great Oak Beauty. The new actinic lamp was much better with 27 species Among those recorded were Little Emerald, Scorched Wing, True Lover's Knot, Peacock Moth, Grey Arches and Lobster Moth.

Another "mothing night" was held on 27th June at Bedgebury Forest, for the Friends of Bedgebury Pinetum. After a short indoor meeting trapping got under way. At first the normal 125W MV lamp was used, but after about an hour only 8 species had arrived so the new actinic lamps were used instead. The difference between the two types of light was almost instantaneous, with many more moths arriving, including 2 Pine Hawk. Total species recorded was 37 some of which were Barred Red, Rosy Footman, Peach Blossom, Small Angle Shades, Orange Moth and Beautiful Golden Y. Once everyone had left for home, an inspection was made of the sodium lights on the walls of the Forestry Commission offices, and these yielded Cinnabar, Great Oak Beauty, Beautiful China-mark and Buff Footman.

A return visit to Great Chattenden Woods was undertaken on 28th June. This time just the new actinic lamps were used with great success. First to arrive was the un-banded form of Riband Wave followed by Common White Wave, Dwarf Cream Wave, Buff Arches, Smoky Wainscot and Elephant Hawk. The highlight of the night was my second BAP species of the season, the Festoon. Two individuals were noted, both female, one of which obliged me with some ova whilst boxed. Hopefully they will prove fertile. Despite clear skies and a low temperature, total species recorded was 37.

Tony Steele

The first outing of the year was on April 12th to Hemsted Forest, near Sissinghurst. Trapping started at 2015hrs under good cloud cover, which unfortunately did not last. With a clearing sky the temperature dropped and this affected the catch. When the trap was turned off at 2300hrs a total of 41 moths of just 9 species being recorded. There was the usual spring species which included, Early Thorn, Red Chestnut, Clouded Drab, Engrailed and Early Grey.

May 3rd saw a return visit to Hemsted. On this trip, instead of using the standard 125w MV lamp in a Skinner trap, 2 vertically mounted 40w actinic tubes were used [see picture].This was the first time these lamps were operated in the field and early results look promising. In just two hours of trapping, from 2050 to 2250, 18 species were recorded which included Birch Mocha, Square Spot, Pebble Prominent and Narrow-winged Pug. The high-light of the night was the arrival of nine examples of the Broom-tip, a Biodiversity Action Plan species.

On May 30th a "moth night" was held at Lullingstone Country Park in the Darent Valley. After a short introductory talk in the centre's classroom the serious business of trapping got underway, using a Skinner trap with the standard 125ww MV lamp. The event was meant to be from 2130 to 2330, but with a very interested audience it carried on to 0015. First species to arrive was the Common Swift followed by Treble Lines, Pretty Chalk Carpet, Pale Tussock, White-pinion Spotted, Pale Oak Beauty and Green Carpet. The most interesting moth of the night was the Alder Kitten. In total 35 species were recorded.

New actinic lamps moth trap

Tony Steele

2002

Please note that permission, organised by David Gardner, must be obtained before visiting the site mentioned in this report.

Farnell Farm - 19th June

A total of 67 species were recorded, during a moth trapping session at Farnell Farm. Species included the 2268 The Suspected and 1032 Aleimma loeflingiana.

Lydd - 16th June

A total of 42 species were recorded, during a moth trapping session at Lydd. Species included the 2403 Bordered Straw, a possible early 1359 Cynaeda dentalis, a 2217 Start-wort and some very well marked 1825 Lime-spec Pug.

Lodge Wood - 15th June

A total of 47 species were recorded, during a moth trapping session at Lodge Wood. Species included the 0979 Archips crataegana and 1035 Acleris bergmanniana, neither of which were in Kent in 2001

People wishing to take part in surveys of MOD land should contact David Gardner

David Gardner

For reports from 2006 - 2008 please use the links below: