Recent Rare Moth News

Latest news on the UK BAP Priority Species found recently.

Dingy Mocha Cyclophora pendularia

One was in a garden trap in Dorset on 1^st August.

Chalk Carpet Scotopteryx bipunctaria

Ten were seen at a known site in Cambridgeshire on 8^th August. On the same date, at least 12 were seen at what may be a new site in East Sussex. Elsewhere in East Sussex, singles were seen at known sites on 1^st and 9^th August. In Kent, 27 were at a known site on 4^th August, 3 at another known site on 3^rd and singles at two further known sites on the same date. In Surrey, 15 were at a known site on 3^rd, with one at another known site on the same date. In Dorset, one was at a known site on 23^rd July, with 4 and 5 at two other known sites on 30^th.

Barberry Carpet Pareulype berberata

One came to light at a known site in Gloucestershire on 30^th July.

Argent & Sable Rheumaptera hastata

One third and one fourth instar larvae were seen at a known site in Wiltshire on 26^th July.

Drab Looper Minoa murinata

A second brood individual was seen at a known site in Hampshire on 2^nd August.

Straw Belle Aspitates gilvaria

One was at a known site in Kent on 3^rd August, with 2 at another known site in the county on the following day. Eleven were seen at a known site in Surrey on 3^rd. It seems that the drought conditions may be causing over-grazing at some Straw Belle sites this year.

Striped Lychnis Shargacucullia lychnitis

A search of 5 known sites in Hampshire on 2^nd August produced just 2 larvae at one site and 4 at another. One larva was found at a new site in West Sussex on 7^th.

White-spotted Pinion Cosmia diffinis

Singles were seen at two new and one known sites in Cambridgeshire on 26^th July. Additional new sites in Cambridgeshire were discovered on 27^th and 28^th July and two more during the first week of August. Two new sites were also found in Huntingdonshire during the first week of August.

Fenn’s Wainscot Chortodes brevellinea

One was seen at a known site in Norfolk on 20^th July, with 2 there on the following night.

Marsh Mallow Moth Hydraecia osseola

An exceptionally early individual was seen by two observers who are familiar with the species at a known site in East Sussex on 23^rd July.

Light Crimson Underwing Catocala promissa

Singles were caught in a Hampshire garden on 21^st and 26^th July. Singles were also trapped at a known site in Wiltshire on 26^th July and 3^rd August.

Dark Crimson Underwing Catocala sponsa

Two were found at a new site in Wiltshire on 27^th July.

Four-spotted Tyta luctuosa

Three were seen on the regular Peterborough transect on 2^nd August – a good total for the second generation at this site.