Night of 2nd. October 2010
A single worn Delicate was the only migrant in a waterlogged trap.

Atropos migrant insect review – End-September 2010

There were few migrant butterflies reported in the latter half of September. A Long-tailed Blue Lampides boeticus was noted on Alderney, Channel Islands, on 17th (D, Wedd). Very few reports were received of Clouded Yellow Colias croceus.

The advancing season has seen a decline in the number of Odonata species and individuals. There were further sightings of Willow Emerald Damselfly Lestes viridis from the newly discovered Kentish site near Reculver, up until at least 21 September, with widespread reports from various localities in Suffolk during this period.

Migrant Hawker Dragonfly Aeshna mixta appeared in good numbers with c30 at Wells Wood, Norfolk, on the last day of the month. This species is occasionally also noted at light traps, especially on the coast.

It was really the immigrant moths that stole the show in the latter half of the month. Amongst the most exciting captures were a stunning Silver-striped Hawk-moth Hippotion celerio at Portland, Dorset, on 29th (M. Cade) – this site has had a good run of celerio in recent years. A Sombre Brocade Dryobotodes tenebrosa at Sandy Point, Hampshire, on 28th (A. Johnson – see photo Flight Arrivals) was the first on the British mainland away from Dorset.

The only rare plusia species reported was Dewick’s Plusia MacDunnoughia confusa. Records came from St. Osyth, Essex, on the night of 18th (C. Atkins – see photo Flight Arrivals) and from Sissinghurst Castle, Kent, on the night of 22nd (S. Broyd). Amazingly the Essex moth was the third site record this year.

Continuing the good showing of Death’s-head Hawk-moth Acherontia atropos in 2010, a fantastic record came from Montgomeryshire where one was trapped in a garden on 25 September (M. Caplin) - the first County record since the 1970s. A bizarre record from Ripon, Yorkshire, involved an atropos discovered on a door step on the 7th – apparently downed by a local storm! Yet another atropos was light trapped at the Long Pits, Dungeness, Kent, on the night of 28th (A, Bradshaw). A further two records came from Ireland – one found dead on 5 September near Tourmakeady, Co. Mayo, with another photographed in Co. Waterford. In addition to the adults, a couple more larvae were discovered in Somerset on 28th (J. Bebbington).

It has also been a very good autumn for Clifden Nonpareil Catocala fraxini with records at Brownsea Island, Dorset and near Louth, Lincolnshire (see photo Flight Arrivals) – both on 30 September; and at Littlestone, Kent, on 27th (A. Bradshaw) - away from the usual haunts. Belated news concerns two more trapped near Staplecross, East Sussex, on consecutive nights – 10th and 11th September with two further records on Shetland on 10th – at Exnaboe and Whalsay.

Suspected immigrant examples of Pale-lemon Sallow Xanthia ocellaris were light trapped at Bradwell, Suffolk, on 22nd; Eccles, Norfolk, (unknown date) and in Kent at New Romney and Sandwich Bay on 30th.

Amongst the more regular migrants, Convolvulus Hawk-moth Agrius convolvuli was most evident at Portland, Dorset, during the latter half of the month. A convolvuli found on a post by day at Coventry, Warwickshire, on 29th was a noteworthy inland record. Portland also had a run of Delicate Mythimna vitellina in the third week of the month with further records from Cornwall, Hampshire and Kent. The Dungeness, Kent, area was the most productive for Scarce Bordered Straw Helicoverpa armigera with three in the last few days of the month. Vestal Rhodometra sacraria were trapped in Cornwall, Dorset, Isle of Wight, Kent and in Suffolk – where one at Minsmere RSPB on 28th was a decent record, as the species is still a rarity in the County. Just two White-speck Mythimna unipuncta were reported – from The Lizard, Cornwall on 25th and Portland on 27th.

Migrant pyralids included a single Euchromius ocellea at Walditch, Dorset, on 23rd with Palpita vitrealis records from Bonchurch, Isle of Wight, on 18th and Langton Matravers, Dorset, on 21st.

With Atlantic weather systems often producing American land birds in October, it is definitely worth looking out for Monarch Danaus plexippus butterflies and Green Darner Anax junius dragonflies, especially in Southwest England.

October can often be a very exciting month for immigrant moths, which given the right weather conditions could include Crimson Speckled Utethesia pulchella, Dark Mottled Willow Spodoptera cilium or Tunbridge Wells Gem Chrysodeixis acuta.

Atropos would like to thank you for your contributions to the Flight Arrivals webpage. Please keep posting your migrant news coming and we look forward to an exciting October.

Rush Veneer to 80w garden MV night of 1st October

Dewick's Plusia here last night, only my second ever.

A Convolvulus Hawk-moth was found on 29 Sep by Paul Hodges at Coombe Abbey Country Park near Coventry,Warks.
It was found at rest on a fence post.

I caught a Clifden Nonpareil last night (30.09.10) at my usual trapping site at Kenwick Park just south of Louth, Lincolnshire - map ref TF346849.
Roger Labbett

6 Red Admirals basking in weak sunshine disturbed at mid-day today. All within a 100m section of a 1/2mile farm track sheltered either side from strong winds by hedges.

Sombre Brocade trapped at Sandy Point, Hampshire on 28th September. Also 1 Clancy's Rustic.

1 Deaths Head adult recorded in garden in Montgomeryshire on Sat night 25th Sep by Maeve Caplin. First record for the county since 1970s!

Late posting. 21/9/10 Rush Veneer 3 Western Conifer Seed Bug 5
22/9/10 Dark Sword-grass 1 Palpita Unionalis 1. Best of 35 Macros was The Beautiful Gothic (4) RDB3. Full listing sent to Dorset Moth Group.