Searches for any of the species listed below would be much
appreciated.
Do please let Graham Jones or Steve Palmer (email addresses
at end of this article) know of any finds with, whenever possible, a photo of the
moth, the date found, the site name with a six figure grid ref and the name of the
recorder.
If the larval stages are encountered then please take a
photo of these and the habitat where found, particularly if it is not a previously
known site.
Resident and former resident species
Goat Moth
Cossus cossus
Although last found in the Formby and Ainsdale areas in
2004, much earlier records are known from
Bolton
, Lytham and Houghton in the nineteenth and early twentieth
centuries.
Most finds have been in mid to late June but the moth is
present well into July.
The larva feeds internally on the wood of Willows,
Poplars, Apple, Birch, Ash, Elm and Oak and the moth comes to light.
Forester
Adscita
statices
The last confirmed record for this moth was from Ainsdale
in 2005, but a report from near Haweswater (edge of Gait Barrows) in 2008 strongly
suggested this species was involved.
Searches should be concentrated initially in the
damp flower-rich meadows in north Lancs and the dunes around Ainsdale/Formby specifically
during June and July but damp meadows on the edges of moors could also be worth
searching.
The moth flies during the day in sunny conditions, nectaring
on plants such as ragged robin and clover but will use many other plants.
The larva feeds on common sorrel.
The habitat requirements of the similar Cistus Forester
(dry limestone with lots of rock rose) together with a slightly earlier flight period
should help to separate the two species.
Anania funebris
White-spotted Sable Moth
This moth is confined to the lowland limestone pavement
of north
Lancashire
.
It can be found flitting low and fast in the mid
May to mid June sunshine near its larval foodplant of
golden-rod. Searches of the higher
limestone areas have so far failed to produce the foodplant or the moth but anywhere
the plant occurs, particularly on limestone, would be worth checking.
Netted Carpet
Eustroma
reticulata
Found for the first time in
Lancashire
during 2009, this moth is restricted to damp areas of woodland
where the touch-me-not-balsam occurs.
To avoid disturbance to this very rare moth and
its larva, it is requested that any planned searches for this species should be
co-ordinated beforehand with Graham Jones.
Argent & Sable
Rheumaptera hastata
Last recorded in Lancashire in 1980, this moth may now
be extinct in the county, but it still occurs just across the
Cumbria
border (Meathop Moss) and in one part of
Cheshire
.
Some of the last records came from the Warton Crag
area.
It is a day-flying species preferring warm and sunny conditions in May and June
whose larvae feed on Birch and Bog Myrtle.
Searches of the county’s lowland mosses may still
turn up this strikingly marked black and white moth, although care should be taken
as well marked specimens of the Common Carpet might cause identification problems.
A photo is essential for confirmation of the record.
Barred Tooth-striped
Trichopteryx polycommata
This moth is restricted in Lancashire to the woodland edge
and scrub on limestone around the Silverdale area extending eastwards to
Dalton
and Henridding.
Nationally, the larvae of this early season species
(flying in late March and April) utilises wild privet and ash but it is not known
which it utilises in
Lancashire
.
It is readily attracted to both actinic and mercury
vapour lights.
Torchlight searches for ovipositing females would certainly
be a worthwhile project, as would looking for the larva in May and June.
Belted Beauty
Lycia
zonaria britannica
Rediscovered in
Lancashire
in 2001 on the coastal saltmarsh between Potts Corner and
Sunderland Point, annual surveys of the moth and its larva take place both as organised
events and by individuals.
Searches of adjacent areas of saltmarsh have so
far failed to produce any further sightings but would still be worthwhile.
Historically there have been records from the south
Lancashire
coast and searches of its more usual dune habitat, in the
Ainsdale and Formby areas would be an excellent project. The moth can be found
on the ground during the daytime from late March through to early May and the distinctively
striped larvae in June and July.
Sword-Grass
Xylena exsoleta
Almost certainly extinct now in Lancashire, the moth has
declined considerably across much of
Britain
.
It occurs as an adult moth from September to April,
hibernating during the winter months and comes to ivy and sallow blossom.
The similar Red Sword-grass still occurs at similar times and on similar nectar
sources.
Any reports of this moth must be accompanied by a photo.
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
Steve Palmer (s.palmer12[at]btopenworld.com)