EARLY AUTUMN MOTHS

There has been a nice selection of moths at the country park since the start of September with the moth trap operating on four nights in the first week.
This red underwing pictured above has been one species that hasn't visited the trap but has been found resting on the side of the park buildings during the day. This is the fourth individual over the last four weeks to have been found during the day.

Up to twenty orange swifts have been noted in one night, with some of the males a bright orange colour.

At least one orange sallow is noted each year, a fairly local species in Essex, it feeds on lime.

Another colourful member of the sallow moths is this widespread species the sallow.

The archers dart is the first of the year making a late appearance here. It's a coastal species recorded annually at the park.

Always nice to find an old lady in the trap, dwarfing all the other moths with the size of its big wings.

The beautiful hook-tip seems to be increasing in recent years with this individual a second generation this summer, with the first one appearing at the beginning of June. Still listed as a Red Data Book species for the county.

The third scarce bordered straw of the autumn dropped in the trap on Friday 1st. The last year this scarce migrant was recorded here was way back in 2006.

The L-album wainscot is regularly noted in small numbers at the park in the autumn. One of the few moths seemingly increasing in places in the county.

This small blood-vein was found during the day resting on a door in the toilet building.

Most of the other moth numbers noted recently have been made up with lots of setaceous Hebrew characters and flounced rustics with square spot rustics still increasing. Other moths of interest have included feathered gothic, white-points, oak hook-tip, spectacle, ruby tiger and the migrant micro Evergestis limbata.