Newsletter no. 1 April 2000

Page 3

FIELD MEETINGS PROGRAMME

I have tried to arrange trips to span the county (giving everyone an equal chance to attend) and to span three primary moth habitats - marshland, woodland and calcareous grassland. However, I have only been partially successful and was beaten by the need to get this newsletter out fairly fast. Some extra trips may feature in the next newsletter if I can arrange them. Extra moth traps (including actinic traps) are welcomed at all meetings. Please bring a torch or lantern, and don't forget the flask of coffee. A coat is always advisable in case it gets cold later.

Danemead Nature Reserve (Broxbourne Woods complex) Saturday 20th May 2000

Meet: Car park on north side of the road where it bends at grid reference TL 347077 (OS sheet 166, where the line of the Roman road (Ermine Street) crosses the yellow road (Cock Lane) west out of Hoddesdon).

Assemble: from 8 pm to 8.30 pm. Late-comers WALK (cars with equipment may drive - gate not locked) down the track that is Ermine Street until you reach my camper van at the bottom of the hollow then access the reserve via the gate on your left. Waterproof foot-ware may be needed if it has been raining.

Trap site: a series of grassy clearings in mixed deciduous woodland adjacent to a stream. Leader - Colin Plant.

Therfield Heath, Royston Saturday 24th June 2000

Assemble: from 8 pm to 8.30 pm. Late-comers can follow the track west out of the car park across the golf course until it turns left below Church Hill. Keep going - we are at the end.

Trap site: We will be driving west along the unfenced track arising from Therfield Road to the area marked as Pen Hills on the OS map. Vehicles limited to those carrying equipment, but I can get several passengers in the van. Calcareous grassland with scrub/woodland. Non-slip foot-ware recommended for grassy slopes, but avoid walking on golf greens please. Leader - Colin Plant.

Amwell Quarry Wildlife Reserve Friday 14th July 2000

Assemble: from 8 pm to 8.30 pm. Some of our activity will be close to the parking area and latecomers will therefore have no difficulty finding us.

Trap site: An area of former gravel workings restored specifically for nature conservation. It comprises a mosaic of habitats grading from lake, through marsh, reed-bed, short and coarse grassland, and scrub, to semi-mature woodland. Bring warm clothing and dry footwear - mosquito repellent is advised. Leader - Tom Gladwin.

Rye Meads Nature Reserve Friday 28th July 2000

Assemble: from 8 pm to 8.30 pm. Late-comers should be able to find us easily on the reserve.

Trap site: Reedbeds and damp woodland. May need wellies and mosquito repellent. Leader - Colin Plant.

Wilstone Reservoir Nature Reserve (marshland) Saturday 19th August 2000

Assemble: from 8 pm to 8.30 pm. Cars with trapping equipment will be let through the gate to the site. Latecomers can walk down the track.

Trap site: This reserve is a large area of reedbed backed onto by sallow scrub as well as some more established woodland. There is also a small area of old orchard. Wellies may be required particularly if there has been recent rain (or we decide to get adventurous). A barbecue will be available so bring your own food and refreshments. Leader - Ian Burrus.

MOTH WORKSHOPS

We hope to set up a series of workshops, which will combine field craft with laboratory work. Subjects suggested at the moment include identification of leaf-miners, how to examine moth genitalia and how to find clearwing moths. Other suggestions (and offers) are invited. The next newsletter will hopefully include details of some of these.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

IDENTIFICATION

Jim Reid kindly (foolishly?) volunteered himself at the meeting to look at unidentified pugs for Moth Group members. I am not sure of he realises just how many unidentified pugs we may have for him, but if he is mad enough, well, who are we to refuse? Jim added that he may not be able to do much about naming specimens until the autumn, so please don't expect immediate return. Jim's address for pugs is 7 Flambards Close, Meldreth, Royston, SG8 6JX (telephone 01763 260231). I suggest you enclose a stamped addressed envelope if you want a reply and if you don't want the specimens back please indicate, so that Jim does not waste a fortune of postage that is not required.

I remain happy to look at photos or specimens (live or dead) of Herts moths at my home address and welcome visitors to my reference collection by appointment. No particular notice is needed but call me on 01279-507697 to check I am in before you set off across the county!

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

FIELD CRAFT: THINGS TO LOOK FOR NOW

The Teasel Tortrix Endothenia gentianaeana. Split last years dead teasel heads vertically. In the central cavity, usually near the stem, you will normally find either an active caterpillar or lots of silk and droppings if it has died. Likely to be on all sites in Herts where teasel grows.

The Teasel Cochylid Cochylis roseana. Split last years dead teasel heads vertically. The caterpillar eats the seeds which rest against the central core of the flower head. Because it tunnels around the seed head in a spiral, a vertically split seed head will show a line of holes on each side. Finding the caterpillar is possible, but difficult, but if there is a definite row of holes on both sides of the central core this moth can be recorded. Distribution in Herts completely unknown.

The Bramble Leaf-miner Stigmella aurella. Look for gallery mines on last year's bramble leaves still on the plant. A hand lens will reveal that the egg shell remains at the start of the mine on the outside of the leaf. Likely to be on every bramble patch in the county - but is it? Mines which form blotches may not be this species.

The Rose Plume Cnaemidophorus rhododactyla. The larvae feed inside the terminal shoots of wild rose. Look for a terminal shoot that is loosely spun with silk - you may also see frass (droppings). If you gently open the spinning you can find the larva which is yellowish-green with a purple line down its back. Best looked for during May.

Sloe Pug Chloroclysta chloerata Hook an upturned umbrella under remaining sloe blossom and beat with a series of firm taps. You can either look for the maggot-like larvae feeding on the blossom or simply put the beatings into an old pillow case and wait for the moths to appear later (tip - remove spiders first !!!!). Should be on every blackthorn bush in the county.

Hornet Clearwing Sesia apiformis Look for old exit holes at the extreme base of black poplar, Lombardy poplar and also grey poplar. These are about, round and ¹" (7 mm) in diameter. You will need to part the grass and move aside the coke cans and dog mess - they really are at the very base of the trunk. Nothing else makes these holes, but this is only really evidence of past occupation. Report it to me, but go out again at the end of July when fresh pupa cases can be found protruding from the holes. The moths emerge in the second half of June between first light and 10 am. If you get really lucky you may see them walking up the trunk to the tree tops.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

HERTS COUNTY MOTH NIGHT

One of the suggestions from the meeting was that we should have a county moth night. On the chosen evening, everyone would make a positive effort to run a moth trap somewhere new in Herts. Hopefully, those able to do so would run a trap out somewhere else as well as in their garden. Lists from new sites should be sent to Colin. Garden traps should all be turned on as it gets dusk and left to run all night. The next morning, all species should be counted and the results sent to Colin as soon as possible afterwards. Repeating this exercise year after year will certainly be of use in detecting trends in population densities if the night is held a roughly the same season each time. It will also provide extremely useful information on the relative numbers of moths in different parts of the county. It will not matter if the weather is bad because it will be bad everywhere and so results will be comparable.

Because the next newsletter is not due until the end of July, and because I may be late in producing it, I have had to make an "executive decision" over the date. I am mindful of school holidays when some people may be away and am also taking care not to have it too early in case we get another year like 1999. I have therefore decided to hold the county moth night for year 2000 on Saturday 1st July (overnight to 2nd July).

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

NEXT INDOOR MEETING

I have had a suggestion that we should meet twice a year - once at the start of the season as a sort of pep talk to get us fired up and another at the end of the season to review progress and leave time to make plans for the next year. I don't mind myself. What do people think. Opinions welcomed.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

NEXT NEWSLETTER We will try for four a year, but it depends if there is anything to write about. Now is April, so I suggest end of January, April, July and October. Next issue therefore expected end of July so any contributions by start of July, please.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .