Atropos migrant insect review – Mid-August 2010

A Camberwell Beauty Nymphalis antiopa seen in flight southwest of Loughborough, Leics, on 9 August was the butterfly highlight of the first half of August. It was pleasing to see the highest number of Small Tortoiseshell Aglais urticae for many years noted at Dungeness, Kent, with 40 on 6th and 100+ at nearby Greatstone on 14th.

The continued presence of the Southern Migrant Hawker Aeshna affinis in Essex was the Odonata highlight of the month. Two male affinis were still present at Hadleigh Castle Country Park, near Benfleet, up until at least 12th August. Directions to Hadleigh Castle Country Park: Use Benfleet Station car park, then follow central path east for 2/3 mile to pond just north of railway and south of ridge. View vegetated ditch running south TQ 788 857.

The first report of the season of Yellow-winged Darter Sympetrum flaveolum came from Winterton North Dunes, Norfolk, on 6 August.

The Southern Emerald Damselfly Lestes barbarus was noted again at Cliffe Marshes, Kent - up to 1st of the month with a single male at Winterton, Norfolk, on 7 – 8 August. Willow Emerald Damselfly Lestes viridis numbers have increased at sites in Suffolk as the season has advanced. Directions to a reliable site: Candlet Farm, Trimley St Mary, near Felixstowe, walk along North/South footpath east of pond at TM 292 366. Please keep to the footpath.

Following an exciting July; it was a very poor first half of August for immigrant moths. The Plusiinae provided the highlights with a Ni Moth Trichoplusia ni at Lizard, Cornwall, on 2 August (M. Tunmore) and Golden Twin-spot Chrysodeixis chalcites at Stockton-on-Tees, Durham, (two on 13th, J. Mason) and at Pegwell, Kent, on 16th.

A single immigrant Great Brocade Eurois occulta at Sissinghurst Castle, Kent, on the night of 16th August (S. Broyd) is hopefully the forerunner of many more to come.

Channel Islands Pug Eupithecia ultimaria is worthy of mention here with the first record for Portland, Dorset, on 8th and three records from Dungeness Bird Observatory, Kent between 31 July and 8 August. A fascinating record from Kent included Welsh Wave Venusia cambrica at Densole, Kent, on 7th (T. Rouse).

The more regular immigrant moths were in short supply although did include a handful of Bordered Straw Helicoverpa peltigera (mostly at Portland and the Dungeness area).

A larva of a Death’s-head Hawk-moth Acherontia atropos discovered at Westonzoyland, Somerset, on 6th must have been an exciting find! Humming-bird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum were widespread and even included larvae found in Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire. Just one Striped Hawk-moth Hyles livornica was noted, at Ruckinge, Kent, on the night of 7th (B. Boothroyd).

Notable micro-moths included the migratory tortrix Cydia amplana at Dungeness, Kent, and Dunwich Heath, Suffolk, both on 11th. Finally, pyralids of note included Conobathra tumidana at Ipswich and Loxostege sticticalis at Minsmere on 16th (both Suffolk).

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 second half of August.