Broadcroft Butterfly Reserve Branch Moth BBQ and Trapping 22nd June 2007

by Paul Butter

The branch moth BBQ and trapping session at Broadcoft Reserve was very well attended despite the doubtful weather forecasts. Nearly 100 species were recorded and many of these were nationally scarce moths.

The site's rarest moth , the Red Data Book Portland Ribbon Wave, was spotted on our illuminated sheet rather than one of the six MV light traps.

Everyone enjoyed seeing so many of the beautiful Pyrale Oncocera semirubella which is the colour of rhubarb and custard according to one of the children. This is a very restricted species which was found in good numbers. Generally the numbers of moths was very low which has been the case for much of June so far, but the wind got up during the night which was another factor.

Another rare Pyrale was Dolicharthria punctalis which is confined to the south coast in certain spots. It was easy to spot resting on the sides of the traps looking like an old jet plane with its swept back wings. The Elephant Hawk and Small Elephant Hawk were very popular with people who had never seen such large colourful moths before, the photo shows both species together.

The most surprising catch was of another Pyrale, Phlyctaenia perlucidalis which was first recorde at Woodwalton Fen in 1951. It has gradually spread though Eastern England, East Anglia, the South East, and Dorset by 1998 and Devon in 2001. The odd thing is that it is a marsh and fenland moth and Portland must be one of the driest parts of the county!

We didn't get rained on until the butterfly walk the following day finished, perfect timing!

CLICK HERE for a full list of moths in pdf format.