Moth trapping in Shingle Street • Shingle Street Community & Conservation

Here are the results of two moth trappings led by Nick Mason as part of the 2015 Shingle Street Survey, both held in Tricia Hazell’s garden at The Battery. The results tabulated here include just the larger ‘macro-moths’.

24 June 15

Calm, sunny morning. Hot in the sun (20C+).

Species	Larval food plant	Habitat

Burnished brass	Nettle, burdock	Gardens, marshland
Shears	Lucerne, herbaceous plants	Open areas, heathland
Tawny shears	Hawkweeds	Open areas, heathland
Flame	Nettles, bedstraw	Grassland, fenland.
Elephant hawkmoth	Rosebay willowherb	Shingle, grassland
Small magpie	Nettles	Widespread
Common swift	Grass roots	Fenland
Satin wave	Herbaceous, grasses	Heathland, hedgerow
White ermine	Nettle, wild plum	Grassland, fens
Mottled rustic	Docks	Coastal
Middle-barred minor	Grasses	Damp grassland, fens
Tawny marbled minor	Grasses	Damp grassland, fens
Straw dot	Grasses	Damp grassland, fens
Shoulder-striped wainscot	Grasses and reeds	Damp grassland, fens
Turnip	Root vegetable shoots	Coastal arable
Vines rustic	Herbaceous and grasses	Lowland pasture, arable, gardens
Mottled rustic	Herbaceous and grasses	Lowland pasture, arable, gardens
Heart and dart	Fat hen, plantain	Lowland pasture, arable, gardens

31 July 2015

Rain overnight and chilly, sunny and fair by 8am. A very small catch.

Species	Larval food plant	Habitat
Drinker	Coarse grass,	Marshy grassland
Common rustic	Grasses, cereals	Farmland, heathland
Mottled rustic	Herbaceous and grasses	Lowland pasture, arable, gardens
Snout	Nettles	Wetlands
Common footman	Lichen and algae	Lowland woodland, coast
Scarce footman	Lichen and algae	Lowland woodland, coast
Brownline bright eye	Grasses, common crouch	Grassland
Brightline brown eye	Nettle, tamarisk	Heathland saltmarshes
Silver Y	Bedstraw, nettles	Coastal (immigrant)

On neither morning was there a big count, which makes you wonder if moth numbers have taken another big fall.

Jeremy Mynott and Tricia Hazell
11 August 2015