HERTS MOTH GROUP
Newsletter number 13 Winter
2007/2008
Edited
by Colin Plant, 14 West Road, Bishops Stortford, Herts CM23 3QP
Telephone:
01279-507697: Mobile 07770 766416: e-mail cpauk1@ntlworld.com
“IDENTIFIFACTION
PROBLEMS”
Saturday 29th
March 2008
1 pm to 6 pm
The Havers Community Centre, Waytemore Road, Bishops
Stortford
Our
annual indoor meeting is, like our field trips, open to all – moth group
members, friends, family and anyone else interested, the more the merrier, please
bring guests. Children are welcome if supervised so that the enjoyment of
others is not adversely affected. The building is accessible to people with
disabilities. Guide dogs welcome. As usual I have already paid for the room
hire and we will have a bucket for voluntary and anonymous donations. A guide figure of £2 per person is suggested.
Tea, coffee and biscuits also covered by these donations and may be taken
freely throughout the afternoon.
The general theme of the
meeting will be moth identification problems.
Using specimens and digital images we will look at a number of species
that are truly hard to separate as well as other species that people often get
confused over. IF THERE ARE SPECIES THAT CAUSE YOU CONFUSION PLEASE TELL ME ABOUT
THEM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE SO WE CAN TRY TO INCLUDE THEM. Don’t be embarrassed –
I will not name you, and it is very probable that other people are having the
same problem. Brian Goodey will then introduce us the basics of how some moths
can be named by looking at their genital apparatus. This is a subject that
frightens some people off – but is in reality quite easy to do in many cases.
It is also the subject for which I have received the most requests over the
past few years. We will try to set up some practical demonstrations during the
informal session after the talks. Dissection “kits” containing the basic
equipment and chemicals for complete beginners to get started on dissecting
moth genitalia will be available for purchase from Anglian Lepidopterists
Supplies (ALS) who, as usual, will have a sales table at the meeting. This will
be in addition to all the usual stuff for sale and Jon Clifton, the proprietor,
will be happy to take advance orders on all kinds of mothing equipment from
nets to generators, from chemicals to moth traps, for postage-free delivery on
the day. Contact ALS on 01263-862068.
Suggested programme (this is flexible – especially the
timings – and all sessions are INFORMAL):
|
1.00 – 1.30: |
tea/coffee |
|
1.30 – 1.45: |
Welcome and news on the
Herts Moth Book |
|
1.45 – 2.45: |
Identification of
‘difficult’ moths (Colin Plant) |
|
2.45 – 3.15: |
tea/coffee/biscuits |
|
3.15 – 4.00: |
An introduction to moth
genitalia dissection (Brian Goodey) |
|
4.00 – 4.15: |
Informal questions to
speakers |
|
4.15 – 5.30: |
Informal session – a closer look at
specimens of species discussed earlier – practical
demonstrations of genitalia dissection – looking at exhibits,
chatting, more tea and biscuits – etc |
|
5.30 – 6.00: |
volunteers to help with clearing
tables and chairs, please |
PLEASE BRING EXHIBITS – examples of the problem species mentioned in the
talk will be on display but please do bring other specimens, photos, poster
displays, photographic slides, digital images on a CD etc, including material
for identification. As always, I will bring selected items from my moth library
– especially books published since the last indoor meeting. A limited number of
microscopes will hopefully be available to look at previously made slides of
moth genitalia.
Overall, the meeting
provides an informal chance to chat
with other moth enthusiasts, whilst several “experts” will hopefully also be
there for you to corner and discuss things with. Specimens and photos that need
identifying are welcomed. No matter what your level of knowledge or area of
interest in moths, I guarantee there will be others there who will be just the
same. There is a kitchen area with a microwave, so if you missed lunch to get
here you can heat up whatever you bring with you at no cost. There are plenty
of power points for anything that needs plugging (although if you are bringing
photo slides we need to know in advance so we can organise a projector). Car parking is on-street in the
adjacent residential area – unrestricted, but please be considerate. Smoking is
not allowed inside the building, but there is a covered area outside the door.
HOW TO
GET THERE ...
A
From
the west From the A.10 eastwards on
the A.120. When you reach the ring road (the first roundabout after leaving the
A.10) turn right (to avoid the town centre) and follow the ring anti-clockwise
over 6 roundabouts until you reach the end at roundabout 7. Turn left here
towards Bishops Stortford then follow directions given below at C.
B
From
the south From Harlow northwards on
the A.1184. After Sawbridgeworth (double roundabout) the next roundabout is the
ring road. Go straight on then follow directions below at C.
C
At the 3rd
set of lights (2nd set is a pedestrian crossing) turn left into Thorley Hill
then follow the directions below at E.
D
From
the M11 motorway Exit at junction 8
(Bishops Stortford and Birchanger Services). Up the slip road to the lights.
Take the second left (first is the services) then at the next roundabout turn
left towards the town centre. Follow this road all the way to town over a small
roundabout, over pedestrian lights, over a mini-roundabout, over more
pedestrian lights at Hockerill College (on your right) until you reach the
“real” lights at the crossroads with the A.1060. Turn left here. Go over the
pedestrian lights and at the mini-roundabout turn right over the railway
bridge. Follow the road to the end then bear left (petrol station on your
right). At the traffic lights turn right and follow directions below at E.
E
Go up the
hill, down the dip, up again and at the end bear left (shops on left) then turn
right more or less immediately. After 50 yards turn left into Benhooks Avenue
then immediately right, then immediately right again into the Centre.
Car parking is free “on street” in the adjacent residential area.
FIELD TRIP PROGRAMME FOR 2008
This is
not yet arranged –nobody has missed out on anything! I hope to have a programme
organised ready for distribution at the indoor meeting and would welcome
suggestions of places we can visit. There needs to be access for my van (beware
of height restriction barriers at car parks) and we must have permission to be
on site, so either you arrange it or give me the contact details so I can do it.
The aim will be to visit a cross-section of habitats so we see a good range of
moth species. Where possible, I will try to arrange trips to sites that are
centrally located so everyone has an even chance of getting there, but this
will be somewhat scuppered by factors beyond our control (e.g., chalk downland
sites are all in the west and north so if we want to see the moths we will have
to travel). Are Saturdays still the
best nights? Let me know what you think, please.
DO YOU NOW HAVE AN E-MAIL ADDRESS?
If you
receive a paper version of this
newsletter it is because you are one of the 72 Herts Moth Group members (31% of
all 230 members) for whom I do not have a current e-mail address (or because
the address I have bounces messages back or because you have chosen not to
allow me to use your e-mail address for this purpose). All moth group members
for whom I do have an e-mail address should receive this newsletter via that
medium. If you now have an e-mail address and prefer to receive electronic
newsletters and messages please let me know, ideally by e-mailing me on cpauk1@ntlworld.com
(note that the digit before the @ sign is a ONE not a letter L). This will make is faster and easier for me to keep
you updated throughout the year.
This newsletter is generously printed and distributed
for the Group by the
Hertfordshire Biological
Records Centre
c/o Environment
County Hall
Pegs Lane
Hertford
SG13 8DN
tel: 01992 555220
Fax: 01992 556152
E-mail: biorec.info@hertscc.gov.uk