2019 Wildlife Review: Moths

A Devon Moth Group event on 20 July recorded over 100 species, including several sand dune specialists such as Shore Wainscot, Hoary Knot-horn Gymnancyla canella, Sandhill Knot-horn Anerastia lotella and Hook-tipped Grass-veneer Platytes alpinella, with Pine Carpet and Water Veneer Acentria ephemerella both new to site and Least Carpet found to be well established. Other new species found this year included Muslin Moth, Triple-spotted Clay, Rose Leaf Miner Stigmella anomalella and the locally distributed Treble-spot Flat-body Telechrysis tripuncta.

Rose Leafminer

The usual day flying species such as Mint Moth Pyrausta aurata, Six-spot Burnet, Yellow Shell and Green Longhorn Adela reaummurella were seen in good numbers, although Cinnabar continue to decline.

Green Longhorn - Alan Keatley

Regular migrant species such as Silver Y, Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis and Rush Veneer Nomophila noctuella were in short supply, although a couple of Hummingbird Hawkmoth were recorded nectaring on Red Valerian and a Convulvulus Hawkmoth spent a day on the Golf Course Clubhouse.

Jersey Tiger - Alan Keatley

Other species recorded on site during the day included Jersey Tiger, Eyed Hawkmoth, The Sallow and Pink-barred Sallow, Thistle Ermine Myelois circumvoluta, Common Alabonia geoffrella and Sulphur Tubic Esperia sulphurella. 

Common Tubic - Alan Keatley

Nests of Lackey caterpillars were widespread but the nests of Brown-tail caterpillars are now largely confined to Warren Point, much of their favoured bramble having been removed. Brown-tail was sponsored by the Recording Group in the new National Moth Atlas. 

Lackey - Alan Keatley