The Dordogne Moths and Wildlife

Transcription

1 The Dordogne Moths and Wildlife Saturday 7 Saturday 14 September 2013 Leaders: Mike Coverdale and David Simpson Trip report Day 1: Saturday 7 September After over two months with hot dry weather in Dordogne, our week started with grey skies and rather wet weather. However the weather was to stay warm and the cloud cover helped our moth catches, if not our afternoon field trips. Jim and Kate were the first to arrive at Bergerac on the lunchtime flight with Flybe from Southampton. They had visited David s holiday cottage before and so were familiar with the area. They brought news that the weather was worse in UK and colder! Next came Roger and Hugh on the teatime flight with Flybe from Gatwick and finally Mary arrived around dinner time with Jet 2 from Leeds/Bradford. Sadly by this time the weather hadn t improved. Meanwhile Mike and his wife Denice had arrived at David s holiday cottage La Cabane du Pommier at Cabant, in the nearby Foulissard Forest. There they had been setting out five Robinson traps around the property ready for the next morning s identification and photography session. Everyone was soon settled in the comfortable Le Barrage riverside hotel and enjoying the first of many tasty meals produced by our hostess for the week, Amanda, manageress at the hotel. With mixed weather forecast David explained to the group that he would only be able to decide locations for the afternoon fieldtrips on the day. Day 2: Sunday 8 September am Despite the cool, wet weather overnight the moth traps proved to be busy and certainly busy enough for the first morning with a good range of species. Moths caught included species such as Orache, Porter s Rustic, Rosy Footman, Mocha, Dumeril s Rustic and White Point, all of which were to become familiar over the coming days. In addition to the moths identified, a range of micro moths unfortunately had to be ignored due to the complexities of identifying them and the most plentiful of these were members of Scoparia and Eudonia. A total of 120 species was identified from the night s catch with the most numerous species identified being Rosy Footman with 91 recorded. Whilst emptying the moth traps a good selection of birds passed by, which included Marsh Tit and Nuthatch regularly visiting the bird table whilst Crested Tit, Middle Spotted Woodpecker, Firecrest, Pied Flycatcher, Blackcap, Willow/Chiff and Short-toed Treecreeper called from the trees - as they did for most of the week. Several Tree Pipits flew over calling their short buzzed whistle. Kate found us our first butterfly a rather bedraggled Large Skipper. Tawny Owls called occasionally as they did throughout the week and Jays were often noisy doubtless upset by the owls amongst other things. In the meadow below the terrace, Hugh recorded the Birch Shield Bug Elasmostethus interstinctus and Forest Bug Pentatoma rufipes. pm After a successful though wet and cool morning, we returned to our hotel for lunch indoors. Due to the poor weather David had arranged to visit Dick Askew s (Travelling Naturalist Dordogne dragonfly holiday leader) house in nearby Saint-Marcel-de-Périgord. He had very kindly offered to show us his moth reference collection if the bad weather continued or if fine we could go butterflying in his large meadow. On leaving the hotel, we stopped by Mauzac dam for a quick look and a few dragonflies were active. There was a Broad Scarlet settled on the wall below us and Hugh saw probable Blue-tailed Damselfly and Blacktailed Skimmer. A Lesser Spotted Woodpecker called from the poplars. Out on the river itself were Great White and Little Egrets plus White Wagtail amongst other commoner waterbirds. Next we drove further downstream to check a site for Lesser Purple Emperor where around 10 had been seen the previous week 1

2 but it was cloudy and cool and nothing was flying. So we continued on to Cabant to pick up Mike and Denice before travelling on to Saint-Marcel. As we drove north the clouds parted and the sun broke through and suddenly the temperatures shot up! Dick was out in his meadow with several friends (Mike Hounsome formerly of Manchester Museum and his wife Beryl, plus Andy and Gil Swash of Wildguides ) all watching a rather nice Long-tailed Blue! The moth collection took a back seat whilst we all scoured the meadow looking for more butterflies. Nearby was a Meadow Fritillary which stayed rooted to a flower during the whole length of our visit. Blues were common mainly Common, Adonis and Chalkhill, and there were a couple of Knapweed and Silver-washed Fritillaries along with a few Meadow Brown, Small Heath, Wall Brown, Gatekeeper, Great Banded Grayling and Speckled Wood. Kate found us a Mallow Skipper whilst Clouded Yellow, Swallowtail and Large and Small Whites were also added to the list. This was a pleasing start to our butterflying sessions after the poor morning s weather. In the adjacent bushes a couple of Cirl Buntings gave their thin seep contact call. After the meadow we were all invited to afternoon tea in the garden. Dick s wife Tish also kindly offered us her famous rock buns. Some of us had a quick look at Dick s moth collection and Mike took photos of some unknowns for identification. Later in the day Roger found a Comma near the hotel and Hummingbird Hawk-moths were active (as they were for most of the week even in rain) along with Violet Carpenter Bees and Asian Hornets. Whilst we did the list, Kingfisher and Common Sandpiper called from across the water. Day 3: Monday 9 September am The moth traps were again busy with a number of new species for the trip being present. We saw the first of many Delicates that we were to see during the week, as well as 3 Convolvulus Hawk Moths, Straw Belle, Horse Chestnut, Scarce Burnished Brass, Rosy Underwing and Light Crimson Underwing to mention a few of the highlights. A confusing array of mocha species were present in good numbers again and took some working through. A total of 116 species was recorded with the most numerous moth identified being the ubiquitous Large Yellow Underwing with 60 counted from the traps. Early in the morning Denice saw what was probably a Pine or Beech Marten near the gite and Mike had a Yellow Wagtail flying over calling. Hugh found us a Dunnock near the hotel at breakfast. The large Midwife Toad tadpoles showed nicely on the margins of the small pond near the terrace. Wall Lizards started to show themselves by the buildings with the drier, warmer weather. Hugh photographed a Lygaeid bug in the meadow Lygaeus simulans. pm After a nice salad lunch at our hotel, we set off for the well known local beauty spot of the Cingle (meander) de Trémolat, an open hillside high above the River Dordogne. With a fine morning and a brightening afternoon we were more optimistic about the fieldtrip. On route a Red Squirrel dashed across the road. We first searched the steep stony slope near the parking area where Berger s Pale Clouded Yellow was flying along with Small Heath, Adonis Blue, Wall and Meadow Browns. Two skippers attracted our attention. The first was another Mallow whilst the second proved to be an Oberthur s Grizzled rather larger and with smaller spots than Grizzled (which flies much earlier in the season). On the thistles and knapweeds we found plenty of the beautiful little burnet moth Zygaena fausta, as well as Six-spotted Burnets - a good start to the afternoon. We walked on along the track finding a Wood White fluttering amongst the bushes. There were several Ruddy Darter dragonflies buzzing about as well. After passing through the woodland we came to a hilltop with grassland and bushes which always seems to act as a magnet to butterflies. We weren t disappointed as a range of interesting species showed themselves: Turquoise Blue, Silver-spotted Skipper, Oberthur s Grizzled Skipper (two more), False and Great Banded Graylings, Chalkhill Blue, Brown Argus plus Weaver s, Glanville, Knapweed and Meadow Fritillaries. Here there was also the first of several Praying Mantises seen during the week. Hugh added another shield bug to our list Aelia rostrata. Before dinner Roger saw three Kingfishers near the dam (his highest total of the week). As we went through the list for the day a Greenshank called over the river with dusk falling and a Black Redstart sang briefly. 2

3 Day 4: Tuesday 10 September am A fabulous selection of moths were in the traps after a relatively warm and muggy night. Some of the more interesting species present were Orache, Passenger, Latin, Scarce Burnished Brass, Sorcerer, Lace Border and the attractive pyralid Eurhodope rosella. In total 177 species were identified from the traps, with the most numerous species counted being Rosy Footman with 122. Amongst all his moths, Mike found a Forest Bug in one of his traps and in the meadow Hugh came across a shield bug Rhaphigaster nebulosa. Later in the morning David took a small group up on to the hill top looking for butterflies as the sun smiled on us. Lots of butterflies were flying. We found a nice colony of False Graylings together with several Spotted Fritillary, Silver-spotted Skipper, Woodland (new for the trip) and Great Banded Graylings, Berger s Pale and Clouded Yellows. Other notable species were Oberthur s Grizzled Skipper, Meadow and Knapweed Fritillaries, Small Copper and Swallowtail, plus a second new species for the trip a Grayling. pm With such a large moth catch the afternoon field trip was delayed until 2.30pm. With less time we headed north to a local site at Veyrines-de-Vergt, a narrow wetland valley bottom adjacent to limestone grassland and scrub. Arriving at the site it was rather cloudy and dull as a large dark cloud filled the sky. However it didn t rain and slowly the cloud drifted away. We had a gentle walk along the track but it was quiet wildlife-wise with a few Gatekeepers, Meadow Browns and a Comma. A loud rustle in the verge was probably a Green Lizard. At the lake we searched for dragonflies, finding Beautiful Demoiselle and a lone Migrant Hawker constantly paroling up and down. A Water Rail squealed briefly from the reeds and a Green Frog cackled once from the margin. Unfortunately the two meadows here had been fairly recently cut and apart from a couple of Ruddy Darters all was quiet. By the pine plantation we passed a party of tits including a Crested Tit. We went up the hill to explore the rough grassland, scrub and fields nearby. Here there were a lot of Chalkhill and Adonis Blues plus a nice mix of others such as: Small Cooper, Wood White, Weaver s, Knapweed, Meadow and Spotted Fritillaries plus Great Banded and False Graylings. Mary found us a Holly Blue to add to the list and there were several Field Crickets on the tracks. Meanwhile Mike and Denice spent the late afternoon in Lalinde where they found a Geranium Bronze amongst the town s flower display. In the evening Sand Martins joined a large flock of House Martins that gathered above the river before the light failed. Day 5: Wednesday 11 September am After very busy traps yesterday, a cooler night found lower numbers of moths in the traps this morning, but with 113 species there was still plenty to look at and photograph. The vast majority of species were present in much lower numbers than the night before, but we did record the only Lewes Wave, Small Mottled Umber, Poplar Kitten, Marsh Oblique-barred and Heath Rustic of the trip. Large Yellow Underwing was the most numerous species in the traps with a total of 52. Three of us (David, Jim and Denice) returned to the Cingle de Trémolat to search for Kate s lost camera flash filter. Jim searched the steep slope and around the area we parked, whilst Denice and David walked on to the grassy hilltop where Kate had spent much time photographing yesterday. Although we conducted a pretty thorough search, sadly nothing was found. However we took advantage of the good weather to enjoy the butterflies including more views of Oberthur s Grizzled and Silver-spotted Skippers, Spotted Fritillary, False Grayling plus a new species, the Red-underwing Skipper. Hugh recorded another shield bug in the meadow: Staria lunata. With fine weather it seemed a good idea to have a short visit to the damp meadow below the gite. However with a good selection of moths to look through and photograph, Mike, Hugh and Roger decided to stay at the gite. Once in the meadow we found our first prize: a beautiful Map butterfly. Further on at the far end of the field was a mass of commoner butterflies in a sun trap amongst the fleabane, mint and hemp agrimony. More interesting were two more Map and Oberthur s Grizzled Skippers, plus Provençal Short-tailed and Longtailed Blues. A fresh Lulworth Skipper was also a major surprise presumably from a partial second brood, which I have not seem here before. There was also a Golden-ringed Dragonfly and Beautiful Demoiselle near the stream, plus a southern rosy chafer Cetonia cuprea and a dark chafer Oxythyrea funesta were also found on flower heads. 3

4 pm After our picnic lunch back at the gite (when we saw our only Scarce Swallowtail), the good weather dictated that we go east to one of the best butterflying sites in Dordogne the Causse de Daglan. As we crossed the bridge at Lalinde a Honey Buzzard soared above the minibus. As we drove through the hills there was a dead snake on the road almost certainly a Western Whip-snake - common in this area. Roe Deer were seen briefly in a field beside the road. Our first site was a narrow valley near Saint-Cybranet. The puddles near the minibus were popular with blues, mainly Adonis and Common but including Provençal Short-tailed and Holly Blues. Along the track by the scree slope were Southern White Admiral and Wall Brown plus Woodland and Great Banded Graylings. Making occasional appearances were several Cleopatra, males and females, one of which Jim managed a photo of, after much scrambling. Meanwhile Mary recorded our only Chaffinch of the holiday! Nearby a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker called briefly. Back down in the damp meadow the flowers were alive with butterflies: mainly browns, whites, fritillaries and blues. These included Brown Argus, Wood White, Queen of Spain, Glanville, Meadow, Weaver s, Silver-washed and Knapweed Fritillaries and another Southern White Admiral. We could have stayed longer but David (and Kate!) wanted to show everyone another site further north at Veyrines-de-Domme where Kate had seen a mass of Great Sooty Satyrs two summers ago. Although it was too late for this species we did see Swallowtail, Painted Lady, Berger s and Common Clouded Yellows, Cleopatra, Woodland, Great Banded and Common Graylings amongst many other commoner species. There were several Ruddy Darters about and Hugh found a Western Willow Spreadwing damselfly. We returned to the hotel happy after the best butterflying day of the week. Day 6: Thursday 12 September am The overnight temperature increased from the previous night and species numbers increased too to a total of 136, with the most numerous species counted being Large Yellow Underwing with 87 present. The only Oblique Carpet, Gem, Chocolate-tip and Clancy s Rustic of the trip were present in the traps, as were 2 Double-spot Brocades, a species questionably recorded in Britain as a genuine immigrant. For the first time this late summer we were greeted by a Robin singing near the terrace. Hugh recorded a Dock Bug Coreus marginatus in the meadow. After the success in the valley yesterday morning, and with fewer moths, all except Mike and Denice went down to the damp meadow later in the morning. Unfortunately the weather was rather cloudy and cool. However there were a few butterflies to photograph including Oberthur s Grizzled Skipper, Wood White and a superb but very late male Large Blue which had just emerged. Hugh found a red and black striped shield bug Graphosoma lineatum (not italicum as previously thought). pm After our picnic lunch the weather did not look promising, however we chose to visit a different habitat on sandstone. This was the Bessède Forest south of the main river, a sandy plateau of pine and mixed forest and scrubby heathland. We parked up by an ONF (Office National des Forêts) section of forest with good tracks. In the fields nearby we saw a group of Mistle Thrushes our only ones on the holiday. Few butterflies were on the wing in the inclement weather, but a very pale bird of prey flew off from a nearby tree a juvenile Honey Buzzard. There were also a couple of Stonechats calling from nearby bushes. Turning into another ride we started to find a few blues - which were all Common Blues. Then we saw a slightly different one which I caught in the net to check a Short-tailed Blue and new for the holiday. We disturbed a few Latticed Heath moths on the verges. There were signs of Wild Boar where the track had been heavily turfed up. One or two Woodland Grayling, Wall, Small Heath, Gatekeeper and Meadow Brown flew up and at a junction of the tracks we found a Knapweed Fritillary braving the weather on a flower head. Hugh found several interesting bugs including the Green Shield Bug Palomena prasena and another shield bug Carpocoris fuscispinus. As we walked back to the minibus I heard a Middle Spotted Woodpecker which we located on a distant dead tree. I nipped back to get the scope and only Hugh had a view before it flew off. As we drove back Kate saw a couple of Foxes in a field and we saw another Red Squirrel and Roe Deer. In the evening Mike and David set up the small 40W Heath Moth Trap at our hotel, to see if this new location would supply us with some new species. 4

5 Day 7: Friday 13 September am In the moth trap at the hotel there was a small selection of moths which included the first Cymbalophora pudica of the trip, a rather attractive tiger, as well as six European Hornets which Mike had to be careful to extract. The traps at Cabant were again very busy after another relatively warm humid night, which resulted in a total of 166 species of moth being identified and Large Yellow Underwing being the most numerous species with 138 and Rosy Footman a close second with 124, the highest count of this latter species during the trip. Other highlights of the catch were the numbers of some species present, including 34 White Point, 62 Fourspotted Footman, 23 Maiden s Blush and 17 Porter s Rustic as well as the only records of the trip of Rest Harrow and Tawny Wave. Mike heard a Grey Wagtail and Tree Pipits call as they flew over Cabant in the early morning, whilst Hugh found another Staria lunata shield bug in the meadow. David took the group up on to Cabant Hill but unfortunately the weather was again cloudy and cool. Relatively few butterflies were on the wing apart from Adonis and Common Blues and a few False Graylings and Meadow Brown. Brown Argus appeared briefly before we returned to the wood and a Honey Buzzard called far away. pm We spent the afternoon near Les Eyzies in the Beune Valleys. Firstly we visited the damp meadows on the Grand Beune. Unfortunately they too had been fairly recently cut, however there were still good flowery margins. As we got out of the minibus there was a Great Banded Grayling flapping around the hedge. Roger found us a Provençal Short-tailed Blue and Mary, a Holly Blue. Further on, in the next smaller meadow Jim and Kate discovered Speckled Wood, Wood White and Glanville Fritillary. Returning to the large meadow we found a large patch of Hemp Agrimony buzzing with insects including another Oberthur s Grizzled Skipper and a Small Copper. David made a circuit of the area and added Lesser Purple Emperor (flying high above towards the surrounding forest), Green-veined White, Silver-washed Fritillary, Southern White Admiral and Map to the list. In his searches David also heard Middle Spotted Woodpecker, Cetti s Warbler, Water Rail and Crested Tit. Six-spot Burnet moth, several Ruddy Darters, Beautiful Demoiselle and Blue Featherleg damselflies, Great Green Bush-cricket, Field Cricket, and two species of conehead bush-crickets were also recorded. We continued on for a final stop beside the Petit Beune stream further to the south. This is an interesting area of reedbed and scrub with adjacent forest and fields. The reedbed and valley bottom were fairly quiet, so we took the minibus to an uncut meadow higher on the valley side. There was a nice selection of commoner butterflies and a large dragonfly made a brief appearance, probably a Southern (or Blue) Hawker. Just before leaving a small fritillary butterfly winged past and settled on a dead flower head in the middle of the field. It was a male Weaver s Fritillary and provided some very nice photo opportunities. Not to be outdone a longeared bat then appeared, though it was still daylight, taking advantage of the flying ant hatch! Day 8: Saturday 14 September Considering the relatively short period of time we all had this morning, only 3 moth traps were run on Friday night, which led to a slightly more relaxed morning, but it has to be said that it was still very busy. A total of 121 species were identified with Large Yellow Underwing once again taking the top spot with 124. The highest number of Delicates for the trip was recorded with 31 being present, making it the third most numerous species counted. Other notable species present were the only trip records of White Speck, Large Dagger, Sesamia nonagioides and Pale-shouldered Cloud. The species recorded this morning took the total number of moth species identified from the traps to 264 over the seven nights of the trip, with an additional two species being recorded by day, which is a good selection of moths for early September. In the meadow Hugh found yet another shield bug: the Southern Green Shield Bug Nezara viridula. At midday David took Jim and Kate to the airport for their flight, but we were all looking forward to next April when Jim and Kate return to the gite. Meanwhile when the moth work had finished at the gite, Mike had promised to take Mary, Roger and Hugh down in to Lalinde to try to re-locate the Geranium Bronze. On cue near the town hall Mike charmed one out of the skies and later on found two more in the market square. Soon it was three o clock and time to take Hugh and Roger to the airport and later at six o clock, Mary. So we said our good byes after a successful moth week in the beautiful Dordogne countryside. 5

6 Mike Coverdale and David Simpson, September 2013 SPECIES RECORDED BIRDS 1. Common Pheasant 2. Mute Swan 3. Mallard 4. Grey Heron 5. Great (White) Egret 6. Little Egret 7. Great Cormorant 8. European Honey Buzzard 9. Eurasian Sparrowhawk 10. Common (Eurasian) Buzzard 11. Common (Eurasian) Kestrel 12. Water Rail 13. Eurasian Coot 14. Common Greenshank 15. Common Sandpiper 16. (Common) Wood Pigeon 17. Eurasian Collared Dove 18. Tawny Owl 19. Common Kingfisher 20. Lesser Spotted Woodpecker 21. Middle Spotted Woodpecker 22. Great Spotted Woodpecker 23. (European) Green Woodpecker 24. Eurasian Jay 25. Eurasian (Common) Magpie 26. Carrion Crow 27. Marsh Tit 28. (European) Crested Tit 29. Great Tit 30. Blue Tit 31. (European) Sand Martin 32. Barn Swallow 33. (Eurasian) Skylark 34. House Martin 35. Cetti s Warbler 36. Long-tailed (Bush) Tit 37. Willow Warbler 38. Common Chiffchaff 39. Eurasian Blackcap 40. Firecrest 41. (Winter) Wren Phasianus colchicus Cygnus olor Anas platyrhynchos Ardea cinerea Casmerodius alba Egretta garzetta Phalacrocorax carbo Pernis apivorus Accipiter nisus Buteo buteo Falco tinnunculus Rallus aquaticus Fulica atra Tringa nebularia Actitis ochropus Columba palumbus Streptopelia decaocto Strix aluco Alcedo atthis Dendrocopos minor Dendrocopus medius Dendrocopos major Picus viridis Garrulus glandarius Pica pica Corvus corone Parus palustris Parus cristatus Parus major Parus caeruleus Riparia riparia Hirundo rustica Alauda arvensis Delichon urbicum Cettia cetti Aegithalos caudatus Phylloscopus trochilus Phylloscopus collybita Sylvia atricapilla Regulus ignicapillus Troglodytes troglodytes 6

7 Eurasian Nuthatch Short-toed Treecreeper Common (European) Starling Common (Eurasian) Blackbird Mistle Thrush European Robin Black Redstart European Stonechat Pied Flycatcher House Sparrow Hedge Accentor (Dunnock) Yellow Wagtail Grey Wagtail White Wagtail Tree Pipit Common Chaffinch European Greenfinch European Goldfinch Cirl Bunting Sitta europaea Certhia brachydactyla Sturnus vulgaris Turdus merula Turdus viscivorus Erithacus rubecula Phoenicurus ochuros Saxicola torquata Ficedula hypoleuca Passer domesticus Prunella modularis Motacilla flava Motacilla cinerea Motacilla alba alba Anthus pratensis Fringilla coelebs Carduelis chloris Carduelis carduelis Emberiza cirlus BUTTERFLIES 1. Swallowtail 2. Scarce Swallowtail 3. Large White 4. Small White 5. Green-veined White 6. Clouded Yellow 7. Berger's Clouded Yellow 8. Cleopatra 9. Wood White 10. Small Copper 11. Geranium Bronze 12. Long-tailed Blue 13. Short-tailed Blue 14. Provençal Short-tailed Blue 15. Holly Blue 16. Green-underside Blue 17. Brown Argus 18. Turquoise Blue 19. Chalkhill Blue 20. Adonis Blue 21. Common Blue 22. Large Blue 23. Southern White Admiral 24. Lesser Purple Emperor 25. Peacock Papilio machaon Iphiclides podalirius Pieris brassicae Artogeia rapae Artogeia napi Colias croceus Colias australis Gonepteryx cleopatra Leptidea sinapis Lycaena phlaeas Carcyrius marshalli Lampides boeticus Everes argiades Everes alcetas Celastrina argiolus Glaucopsyche alexis Aricia agestis Plebicula dorylas Lysandra coridon Lysandra bellargus Polyommatus icarus Maculinea arion Limenitis reducta Apatura ilia Inachis io 7

8 Painted Lady Comma Map Silver-washed Fritillary Queen of Spain fritillary Violet/Weaver's Fritillary Glanville Fritillary Knapweed Fritillary Spotted Fritillary False Heath Fritillary Meadow Fritillary Great Banded Grayling False Grayling Grayling Woodland Grayling Meadow Brown Gatekeeper Small Heath Speckled Wood Wall Brown Red-underwing Skipper Mallow Skipper Lulworth Skipper Large Skipper Silver-spotted Skipper Oberthur s Grizzled Skipper Vannessa cardui Polygonia c-album Araschnia levana Argynnnis paphia Issoria lathiona Boloria dia Melitaea cinxa Melitaea phoebe Melitaea didyma Melitaea diamina Mellicta parthenoides Brintesia circe Arethusana arethusa Hipparchia semele Hipparchia fagi Maniola jurtina Pyronia tithonus Coenonympha pamphilius Pararge aegeria Lasiommata megera Spialia sertorius Carcharodus alceae Thymelicus acteon Ochlodes verna Hesperia comma Pyrgus armoricanus MOTHS K&R number English name Scientific name 63 Orange Swift Hepialus sylvina 1354 Yponomeuta plumbella 1486 Ypsolopha scabrella 1493 Ypsolopha parenthesella 1494 Ypsolopha ustella 1495 Ypsolopha sequella 1525 Diamond-backed Moth Plutella xylostella 1643 Ethmia dodecia 1655 Ethmia bipunctella 2328 Carcina quercana 3827 Hypatima rhomboidella 3852 Dichomeris limosellus 3870 Helcystogramma rufescens 4268 Agapeta hamana 8

9 4271 Agapeta zoegana 4351 Cochylis hybridella 4389 Acleris cristana 4390 Acleris variegana 4557 Archips podana 4722 Celypha striana 4728 Celypha cespitana 4731 Celypha lacunana 5021 Brambleshoot Moth Notocelia uddmanniana 5022 Epiblema roborana 5073 Ancylis badiana 5144 Cydia pomonella 5152 Cydia splendana 5153 Cydia fagiglandana 5154 Cydia amplana 5327 Alucita grammodactyla 5569 Bee Moth Aphomia sociella 5627 Meal Moth Pyralis farinalis Actenia brunnealis Gold Triange Hypsopygia costalis 5661 Endotrichia flammealis 5678 Elegia fallax 5706 Khorassania compositella 5751 Oncocera semirubella 5767 Pempelia palumbella 5854 Acrobasis repandana 5888 Eurhodope rosella 6243 Crambus pascuella 6260 Agriphila inquinatella 6264 Agriphila latistria 6266 Agriphila selasella 6364 Pediasia contaminella 6425 Ringed China Mark Parapoynx stratiotata 6497 Garden Pebble Evergestis forficalis Evergestis pallidata Rusty Dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis 6601 Pyrausta despicata 6604 Pyrausta aurata 6605 Pyrausta purpuralis 6607 Pyrausta falcatalis 6629 Perinephla lancealis 6631 Phlyctaenia coronata 6649 European Corn-borer Ostrinia nubilalis 9

10 6652 Ebulea crocealis 6655 Anania vebascalis 6661 Microstegia hyalinalis 6667 Mother of Pearl Pleuroptya ruralis 6672 Mecyna flavalis 6677 Mecyna asinalis 6680 Agrotera nemoralis 6682 Diasemia reticularis 6690 Palpita vitrealis 6700 Dolicharthria punctalis 6719 Rush Veneer Nomophila noctuella 6749 Grass Eggar Lasiocampa trifolii 6767 Drinker Euthrix potatoria 6780 Odonestis pruni 6824 Poplar Hawk Moth Laothoe populi 6828 Convolvulus Hawk Moth Agrius convolvuli 6843 Hummingbird Hawk Moth Macroglossum stellatarum 7481 Peach Blossom Thyatira batis 7483 Buff Arches Habrosyne pyritoides 7503 Oak Hook-tip Watsonalla binaria 7508 Pebble Hook-tip Drepana falcataria 7512 Chinese Character Cilix glaucata 7512a Cilix hispanica 7527 Clouded Border Lomaspilis marginata 7530 Scorched Carpet Ligdia adustata 7539x Peacock/Sharp-angled Peacock agg Macaria notata/alternata ag 7542 Tawny-barred Angle Macaria liturata 7547 Latticed Heath Chiasmia clathrata 7599 Petrophora narbonea 7609 Horse Chestnut Pachycnemia hippocastanaria 7613 Brimstone Opisthograptis luteolata 7630 Lilac Beauty Apeira syringaria 7641 Early Thorn Selenia dentaria 7654 Scalloped Oak Crocallis elinguaria 7717 Nychiodes hispanica 7754 Willow Beauty Peribatodes rhomboidaria 7790 Brussels Lace Cleorodes lichenaria 7792 Speckled Beauty Fagivorina arenaria 7796 Engrailed Ectropis crepuscularia 7824 Common White Wave Cabera pusaria 7826 Common Wave Cabera exanthemata 7829 Clouded Silver Lomographa temerata 7836 Light Emerald Campaea margaritata 10

11 7922 Straw Belle Aspitates gilvaria 7926 Yellow Belle Semiaspitates ochrearia 7961 Rest Harrow Aplasta ononaria 7966 Jersey Emerald Pseudoterpna coronillaria 8012 Dingy Mocha Cyclophora pendularia 8013a Cyclophora lennigiaria 8014 Mocha Cyclophora annularia 8017 Blair's Mocha Cyclophora puppillaria 8018 Jersey Mocha Cyclophora ruficiliaria 8019 False Mocha Cyclophora porata 8022 Maiden's Blush Cyclophora punctaria 8024 Clay Triple-lines Cyclophora linearia 8028 Blood Vein Timandra comae 8036 Lewes Wave Scopula immorata 8042 Sub-angled Wave Scopula nigropunctata 8045 Lace Border Scopula ornata 8054 Tawny Wave Scopula rubiginata 8062 Small Blood Vein Scopula imitaria 8069 Cream Wave Scopula floslactata 8107 Least Carpet Idaea rusticata 8132 Small Fan-footed Wave Idaea biselata 8137 Dwarf Cream Wave Idaea fuscovenosa 8161 Single-dotted Wave Idaea dimidiata 8167 Satin Wave Idaea subsericeata 8184 Riband Wave Idaea aversata 8186 Portland Riband Wave Idaea degeneraria 8187 Plain Wave Idaea straminata 8211 Vestal Rhodometra sacraria 8224 Cataclysme riguata 8241 July Belle Scotopterix luridata 8245 Oblique Carpet Orthonama vittat 8246 Gem Orthonama obstipata 8252 Red Twin spot Carpet Xanthorhoe spadicearia 8253 Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet Xanthorhoe ferrugata 8275 Common Carpet Epirrhoe alternata 8279 Galium Carpet Epirrhoe galiata 8287 Many-lined Costaconvexa polygrammata 8289 Yellow Shell Camtogramma bilineata 8319 Purple Bar Cosmorhoe ocellata 8341 Red-green Carpet Chloroclysta siterata 8371 Beech-green Carpet Colostygia olivata 8385 Green Carpet Colostygia pectinataria 8400 Small Waved Umber Horisme vitalbata 11

12 8402 Fern Horisme tersata 8435 Cloaked Carpet Euphyia biangulata 8459 Barred Rivulet Perizoma bifaciata 8599 Double-striped Pug Gymnoscelis rufifasciata 8620 Treble-bar Aplocera plagiata 8622 Lesser Treble Bar Aplocera efformata 8681 Yellow-barred Brindle Acasis viretata 8698 Chocolate-tip Clostera curtula 8710 Poplar Kitten Furcula bifida 8719 Pebble Prominent Notodonta ziczac 8724 Drymonia querna 8727 Swallow Prominent Pheosia tremula 8739 Maple Prominent Ptilidon cucullina 8758 Lobster Moth Stauropus fagi 8772 Scarce Merveille du Jour Moma alpium 8775 Large Dagger Acronicta cuspis 8777x Grey/Dark Dagger Acronicta tridens/psi 8780 Poplar Grey Acronicta megacephala 8787 Knot-grass Acronicta rumicis 8789 Coronet Craniophora ligustri 8801 Tree Lichen Beauty Cryphia algae 8839 Clay Fan-foot Paracolax tristalis 8843 Dotted Fan-foot Macrochilo cribrumalis 8845 Shaded Fan-foot Herminia tarsicrinalis 8846 Small Fan-foot Herminia grisealis 8852 Common Fan-foot Pechipogo strigilata 8853 Plumed Fan-foot Pechipogo plumigeralis 8857 Dusky Fan-foot Zanclognatha zelleralis 8858 Fan-foot Zanclognatha tarsipennalis 8863 Marsh Oblique-barred Hypenodes humidalis 8866 Pinion-streaked Snout Schrankia costaestrigalis 8882 Light Crimson Underwing Catocala promissa 8883 Rosy Underwing Catocala electa 8904 Passenger Dysgonia algira 8934 Scarce Blackneck Lygephila craccae 8959 Sorcerer Aedia leucomelas 8965 Four-spotted Tyta luctuosa 8975 Beautiful Hook-tip Laspeyria flexula 8994 Snout Hypena proboscidalis 9006 Small Purple-barred Phytometra viridaria 9008 Straw Dot Rivula sericealis 9049 Scarce Burnished Brass Diachrysia chryson 9056 Silver Y Autographa gamma 12

13 9093 Dark Spectacle Abrostola triplasia 9097 Spotted Sulphur Emmelia trabealis 9114 Marbled White Spot Protodeltote pygarg 9147 Beautiful Marbled Eublemma purpurina 9307x Copper Underwing ag Amphipyra pyramidea agg 9370 Scarce Bordered Straw Helicoverpa armigera 9396 Rosy Marbled Elaphria venustula 9424 Clancy's Rustic Caradrina kadenii 9433 Pale Mottled Willow Paradrina clavipalpis 9450x The Rustic agg Hoplodrina blanda agg 9464 Sesamia nonagrioides 9478 Porter's Rustic Proxenus hospes 9481 Birds Wing Dypterygia scabriuscula 9496 Straw Underwing Thalpophila matura 9501 Orache Moth Trachea atriplicis 9503 Small Angle Shades Euplexia lucipara 9505 Angle Shades Phlogophora meticulosa 9518 Pale-shouldered Cloud Actinotia hyperici 9520 Latin Callopistria juventina 9546 Lesser-spotted Pinion Cosmia affinis 9550 Dun Bar Cosmia trapezina 9679 Double spot Brocade Meganephria bimaculosa 9775 Double Lobed Apamea ophiogramma 9786 Cloaked Minor Mesoligia furuncula 9789x Common Rustic agg Mesapamea secalis agg 9801 Flounced Rustic Luperina testacea 9810 Dumeril's Rustic Luperina dumerilii 9917 Bright-line Brown-eye Lacanobia oleracea 9955 Campion Hadena rivularis Clay Mythimna ferrago White Point Mythimna albipuncta Delicate Mythimna vitellina Common Wainscot Mythimna pallens L-album Wainscot Mythimna l-album Mythimna sicula Anopoma riparia White-speck Mythimna unipuncta Flame Axylia putris Flame Shoulder Ochropleura plecta Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba Lesser Yellow Underwing Noctua comes Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing Noctua fimbriata Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing Noctua janthe 13

14 10105 Least Yellow Underwing Noctua interjecta Epilecta linogrisea Setaceous Hebrew Character Xestia c-nigrum Dotted Clay Xestia baja Neglected Rustic Xestia castanea Six striped Rustic Xestia sexstrigata Square spot Rustic Xestia xanthographa Heath Rustic Xestia agathina Pearly Underwing Peridroma saucia Great Dart Agrotis crassa Shuttle-shaped Dart Agrotis puta Heart and Dart Agrotis exclamationis Nut-tree Tussock Colocasia coryli Black Arches Lymantria monacha Gypsy Moth Lymantria dispar Black V Moth Arctornis l-nigrum Small Black Arches Meganola strigula Kent Black Arches Meganola albula Green Silver-lines Pseudoips prasinana Paidia rica Rosy Footman Miltochrista miniata Dotted Footman Pelosia muscerda Four-spotted Footman Lithosia quadra Buff Footman Eilema depressa Common Footman Eilema lurideola Hoary Footman Eilema caniola Pygmy Footman Eilema pygmaeola Orange Footman Eilema sororcula Speckled Footman Coscinia cribraria Ruby Tiger Phragmatobia fuliginosa Cymbalophora pudica Buff Ermine Spilosoma luteum White Ermine Spilosoma lubricipeda Clouded Buff Diacrisia sannio Garden Tiger Arctia caja Day time observations 3979 Zygaena fausta 3998 Six-spot Burnet Zygaena filipendulae 6843 Hummingbird Hawk Moth Macroglossum stellatarum 7547 Latticed Heath Chiasmia clathrata 9056 Silver Y Autographa gamma 14

15 Notes to the moth list All moths were identified using a range of field guides and various websites. No specimens were taken. Field guides used were: Guide de papillons nocturnes de France, ISBN Field Guide to the Moths of Great Britain and Ireland, ISBN Moths of Great Britain and Ireland, ISBN Field Guide to the Micro Moths of Great Britain and Ireland, ISBN Photography Thanks to holiday participants Roger Wasley (RW), Kate McCusker (KM) and Hugh Griffiths (HG) for the use of their photographs shown on the following pages. Convolvulus Hawk-moth (RW) Rosy Underwing (RW) Orache Moth (RW) Lace Border (RW) 15

16 Jersey Emerald (RW) Four-spotted Footman (RW) Black V Moth (RW) Beautiful Marbled (RW) A burnet moth Zygaena fausta (HG) Western Willow Spreadwing (HG) Provençal Short-tailed Blue (KM) Turquoise Blue (KM) 16

17 Map (KM) Queen of Spain (KM) Humming-bird Hawk-moth (RW) The group at Le Barrage Hotel (DS) 17