Friday 3rd September 2021
The Bough Beech volunteer group has carried out a survey of moths over previous years. This years count took place a couple of weeks later in the year and produced some interesting results. Everybody has seen moths attracted to a bright light, our moth trap uses a light and a large tray of egg boxes. The moths are attracted to the light then settle and hide under the egg boxes. During the evening the trap is emptied, the moths identified, counted and released back into into the night.
Over 20 species were identified and counted. Several species were recorded for the first time and some had not been recorded for ten or more years. This is due to the timing of the survey rather than overall changes to the moth population. It is most important to keep these long running surveys going, they show the slow effects of the changes in climate and habitat on biodiversity. Next years survey will see if the new arrivals are still in residence.
Moths have rather wonderful names as you can see from the list of the 20 species logged during the evening.
Snout
Green Carpet
Brimstone
Vine's Rustic
Orange Swift
Square Spot Rustic
Carcina quercana
Dusky Thorn
Light Emerald
Straw Dot
Jersey Tiger
Smoky Wainscot
Feathered Gothic
Oak Lutestring
Mother of Pearl
Celypha lacunana
Flame Shoulder
Centre-barred Sallow
Webb's Wainscot
Double Striped Pug
We would like to thank Gareth who stood in for our regular expert who was taken ill a couple of days before the survey. We send Keith our best wishes and hopes for a good recovery.
If you are interested in joining in with our work please contact Becky at Bore Place by emailing volunteering@boreplace.org.