Lancashire
’s
Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) moth species in 2010
And
Actions for 2011
Listed below are the summaries of searches made in the
Lancashire Vice Counties
of VC59 and 60 during 2010 for BAP Moth species thought
likely or known to occur in the
area.
Details of plans for 2011 are included.
Goat Moth
Cossus cossus
Summary
The species was located in two adjacent near coastal localities in VC59.
At one site two pupal exuviae were located in mid June and at the second a single
adult came to an MV Trap a fortnight later.
Plans for 2011
Any searches for larval signs, pupal cases or adults particularly in the Formby
Ainsdale area would be worthwhile.
Mature Willows and Poplar trees are the most likely
to produce signs of the first two stages although it will use Apple, Ash and others
- the adults come readily to light in late June and July.
Forester
Adscita
statices
Summary
The species was located in small numbers at three relatively adjacent coastal locations
in VC59 in mid and late July.
Three areas in VC60, including the site of a possible
sighting in 2008 were visited but no moths were found.
Plans for 2011
The Formby / Ainsdale dune complex is the area most likely to produce this moth
where it can be found flying or nectaring in grassy/flowery areas in sunny situations.
Searches in damp flower rich meadows in
North Lancashire
during late June and through July would be very worthwhile.
Anania funebris
Summary
The moth was found during daytime searches at three previously known sites on the
Silverdale limestone.
As per last year, the numbers observed were probably down
due the weather rarely being suitable when visits could be made. A request to get butterfly
transect recorders involved in monitoring this species at one site have unfortunately
not produced any takers.
Plans for 2011
Anyone visiting the limestone areas of north
Lancashire
during May and June is asked to keep an eye out for and
report any sightings of this small black, white and yellow micro flying rapidly
in sunny sheltered areas.
Netted Carpet
Eustroma
reticulatum
Following the discovery of this moth in
Lancashire
in September 2009, surveys of the Hyning Wood site, near
Carnforth and other locations where the foodplant occurs took place during 2010.
The moth was found to straddle two 10km squares and significant numbers of larvae
(and a few adults at light traps) were found, particularly on a roadside verge on
the edge of the Wood where recent ground disturbance had benefited the foodplant.
Plans for 2011
The main activity for 2011 will be further counts of the larvae and monitoring of
the health of
the plant communities.
Any reports with an accurate grid ref of the foodplant
(the bright-yellow flowered touch-me-not balsam) found away from the Hyning Wood
area would be very much
appreciated.
Barred Tooth-striped
Trichopteryx polycommata
This species was located at seven previously known sites within and adjacent to
the Silverdale limestone area during April and early May. Most counts were of singletons
but no dedicated trapping
events or larval searches were carried out for this species
in 2010.
Plans for 2011
Any reports of the early flying moth coming to light particularly to the east of
the main colonies in north
Lancashire
would be of great value. Searching for larvae on
wild privet and/or ash would also be worthwhile. Photos of the larvae and
more information on their feeding methods is available if required (see contact
details below).
Belted Beauty
Lycia
zonaria
The coastal colony south of Potts Corner seems to go from strength to strength with
adult records from late March to early May.
A well attended organised search on 18th April produced
the highest ever site count by a long way when 1691 moths were located.
This search covered approximately 70% of suitable breeding habitat on this 2km stretch
of coastal saltmarsh and concentrated on the main area where the moths occur in
their highest density.
It seems likely that the reason for this high count
was the more concentrated emergence period of the moth due to very cold conditions
prevalent until the second week of April.
Plans for 2011
A single date organised search (all welcome!) has been arranged for early April,
about a week earlier than is desirable due to high tides and suitable dates.
See Events programme for details.
Volunteers for a weekly transect walk are being
sought.
Contact Details
If you can help with any of the above or have found any of the species mentioned
then do please get in touch with Steve Palmer or Graham Jones as soon as possible
after the event.
Any larval or pupal finds should be accompanied with a
photograph please.
Steve Palmer –
s.palmer12@btopenworld.com or phone 01772 861570
Graham Jones –
gra_ham_jones@yahoo.co.uk or phone 01772 617 221
Species not recorded in
Lancashire
, but worth searching for
Pyrausta sanguinalis
Scarce Crimson and Gold
The beautiful little pyralid moth is a species of coastal
dune slacks where plenty of the larval foodplant (thyme) occurs. It is present on the
Isle of Man
and sites such as the St Annes dune nature reserve where
patches of thyme occur would be well worth checking for this moth. It flies in sunny conditions
in June and again in August but also comes to light. Reference in Barry Goater’s
Pyralid book to it occurring in
Lancashire
were taken from Beirne (1952). It is possible that Beirne
was referring to the Wallasey records in Mansbridge (1940), which is in
Cheshire
, not
Lancashire
.
Chalk Carpet
Scotopteryx
bipunctaria
Despite the lack of records from our area, this moth, which
is readily disturbed during the day and comes to light, might occur in the limestone
areas of north Lancs.
The adult is on the wing in July and August and the larva
feed on bird’s-foot trefoil.
Dark-bordered Beauty
Epione vespertaria
Although a real long-shot, any upland wet and lightly wooded
areas where creeping willow still occurs in quantity would be worth a check for
this attractive moth.
It only occurs at one or two other northern
English sites
in Yorkshire and Northumberland and a few others in
Scotland
.
Just after sunrise and at dusk in late July and
August would be the best time to target this species in suitable habitat.
Narrow-bordered
Bee Hawk-moth
Hemaris tityus
The possibilities of finding this day-flying hawk-moth
do seem rather slim, particularly after the many years of searching that have taken
place already in areas where devil’s-bit scabious occurs. However, it has colonies across much of
Britain
and must be worth bearing in mind when out walking in damp
flowery meadows or along the wide woodland rides on limestone when the sun is out
from mid-May to mid-June.
Rosy Marsh Moth
Coenophila subrosea
This species was found in
Cumbria
(Roudsea Wood NNR) a few years ago and would certainly
be worthwhile looking for in the few remaining lowland raised bogs where Bog Myrtle occurs.
Searches should concentrate for the larvae in spring and
the adult in August.
Northern Dart
Xestia alpicola alpina
This is very much a high ground species (above 1500ft –
460m) and is believed to occur as an adult in the
Pennines
in odd years.
The larval foodplant is cowberry and the moth flies
from late June to August very late at night but also occasionally in hot sunshine.
Any searches should be centred on concentrations of the foodplant.
White-spotted Pinion
Cosmia diffinis
There is doubt as to whether this moth has ever been recorded
in Lancashire and searches of locations where mature elm still occur have always
drawn a blank.
Its main flight period is in August should you fancy looking
for it.
Searches in the past have concentrated in the Roeburndale
woods. As an incentive, records of any of this elm feeding group,
which includes Lesser-spotted Pinion and Lunar-spotted Pinion would be extremely
welcome as neither has been seen for many years in the county.
Please send details of any of the above,
as soon as possible after the find, to:
Graham Jones (gra_ham_jones[at]yahoo.co.uk)
or
Tel: 01772 617 221
Steve Palmer (s.palmer12[at]btopenworld.com)