Dungeness Bird Observatory

Insects and other invertebrates - 2009

Dec.8th		A late Peacock butterfly was seen.
Dec.7th		A Rosemary Leaf Beetle Chrysolina americana was found at Southview Cottage and is probably the first Dungeness record of this recently arrived insect into Britain. Rosemary Leaf Beetle
Nov.3rd		A Humming-bird Hawk-moth was seen in the Observatory garden this morning.
Nov.2nd		A Clouded Yellow and five Painted Ladies were seen.
Oct.28th		A Grey Shoulder-knot was an uncommon capture in the moth trap, as was a Birch Shield-bug. A Clouded Yellow was also seen. Grey Shoulder-knot Birch Shield-bug
Oct.27th		The first suitable night for moth-trapping for some produced two November Moths, two Dark Sword-grass, three Satellites and 27 Nomophila noctuella. of note. November Moth
Oct.26th		One Clouded Yellow was seen.
Oct.25th		Two Clouded Yellows were seen.
Oct.12th		One Clouded Yellow was seen.
Oct.10th		Two Clouded Yellows were seen.
Oct.2nd		A Pearly Underwing and a Barred Sallow were unusual captures in the moth trap overnight.
Oct.1st		A Clouded Yellow and a Hummingbird Hawk-moth were seen during the day and the moth trap produced a Dark Sword-grass and a Beaded Chestnut.
Sep.30th		Two Clouded Yellows were seen.
Sep.28th		An L-album Wainscot was trapped overnight.
Sep.27th		A Clouded Yellow was seen.
Sep.26th		Of great note was the finding of a female Sickle-bearing Cricket at the Old Lighthouse and is the first Kent record. Sickle-bearing Cricket A Clouded Yellow was also seen.
Sep.25th		A Clouded Yellow was seen.
Sep.21st		A Hummingbird Hawk-moth was seen.
Sep.20th		A Small Mottled Willow and a Pearly Underwing were of note.
Sep.19th		An L-album Wainscot was trapped overnight and a Hummingbird Hawk-moth was seen during the day.
Sep.10th		Another Cypress Pug was the only vaguely unusual moth trapped overnight.
Sep.9th		A Cypress Pug was the only vaguely unusual moth trapped overnight.
Sep.8th		Another two Western Conifer Seed Bugs were found in the garden this morning having presumably been attracted to the lights of the moth traps. As for the moth themselves it was pretty quiet although a Galium Carpet and a Cypress Pug were caught, the former being surprisingly rare at the Observatory. Butterflies seen during the day included two Clouded Yellows and a Comma.
Sep.7th		A Bordered Straw was trapped overnight and a Hummingbird Hawk-moth was seen during the day.
Sep.1st		Moth trapping produced our 11th record of Maiden's Blush but the highlight of the night was the finding of two Western Conifer Seed Bugs Leptoglossus occidentalis. This insect was first recorded in Britain in 2007 and these records follow on from several sightings in the area in 2008 including two at the Observatory on the night of 30th August. They are presumed to be immigrants from an increasing and spreading European population which was originally introduced into northern Italy in 1999. Two different Western Conifer Seed Bugs
Aug.27th		Five Dark Sword-grass and two Orange Swifts were of note from last nights moth trapping.
Aug.26th		Migrant moths trapped overnight included a Vestal and a Pearly Underwing.
Aug.25th		A decent night in the moth traps with a Delicate and a Bordered Straw of note along with an Orange Swift, a Dark Sword-grass and the pyralids Agriphila latistria and 14 Nomophila noctuella. The Delicate Bordered Straw
Aug.24th		A Scarce Bordered Straw was trapped overnight. Scarce Bordered Straw
Aug.23rd		Two White-points were trapped overnight.
Aug.20th		Three Orange Swifts, a Dark Sword-grass and the pyralids Agriphila latistria and *Platytes alpinella* were of note from the moth traps. A Harlequin Ladybird also came to the lights.
Aug.19th		A Hummingbird Hawk-moth was seen during the day and a Speckled Bush-cricket was also of note. Two Small Red-eyed Damselflies were seen at the southern Long Pit.
Aug.17th		A Hummingbird Hawk-moth was seen during the day.
Aug.14th		An Orange Swift, three Dark Sword-grass and three White-points were of note from the overnight moth-trapping.
Aug.12th		Four Dark Sword-grass and three White-points were the only moths of note.
Aug.11th		Three Dark Sword-grass, a few Silver Y's and a Dingy Footman were the only moths of note in the traps.
Aug.10th		Very few moths at the moth traps but goodies still appear with today's highlights being a Rest-harrow and a Red Underwing. Rest-harrow Two male Small Red-eyed Damselflies were seen on the southern Long Pit.
Aug.9th		Two Clouded Yellows were seen.
Aug.8th		Another good night at the moth traps with plenty of variety and a few notable records although overall numbers were not especially high. Of note among the macros were a late Sussex Emerald, a Small Rivulet, a Cypress Pug, two Iron Prominents, a Dingy Footman, two Langmaid's Yellow Underwings, two Webb's Wainscots and three Gold Spots. Pyralids included three *Platytes alpinella* and one Oncocera semirubella. Two Yponomeuta rorella were also trapped. There also appeared to be an immigration of Harlequin Ladybirds with at least 40 coming to the trap. Oncocera semirubella Harlequin Ladybirds
Aug.7th		It was a good night at the moth traps again with the highlight being another new pyralid, *Cryptoblabus bistriga, for the observatory list. Other notable records included another Ash Pug, Bulrush Wainscot* and three Gold Spots. The pyralid Cryptoblabus bistriga and Gold Spot Five Harlequin Ladybirds were also trapped.
Aug.6th		Another good night at the moth traps although genuine migrants were scarce. Notable records included Channel Islands Pug and Pretty Chalk Carpet (both seconds for the Observatory having been added to the list in 2008), two Ash Pugs, a Twin-spotted Wainscot and a Bordered Straw. Notable pyralids included our first record of *Apomyelois bistriatella* along with singles of *Pediasia aridella, Pyrausta aurata* and *Pempelia formosa. The pyralid Apomyelois bistriatella, Channel Islands Pug* and Pretty Chalk Carpet. Also trapped were three Harlequin Ladybirds, the first adults seen for some time.
Aug.5th		Despite what felt like ideal overnight conditions the moth traps were relatively unproductive with just a Lychnis and a Reed Dagger. two Trachycera advenella and 13 Plutella xylostella.of note. A female Speckled Bush-cricket was also attracted to the lights. Eight Small Red-eyed Damselflies were seen at the Long Pits.
July 31st		The first Small Red-eyed Damselflies (three males) of the year were seen at the Long Pits. Moth trapping produced a Langmaid's Yellow Underwing of note.
July 30th		A Clouded Yellow butterfly was seen on the beach in front of the power station.
July 27th		Another good night at the moth traps produced a number of notable records including two Sussex Emeralds, a Currant Pug, a Dingy Footman, another Chocolate-tip, three Small Mottled Willows, a Copper Underwing, two Marbled Greens and a Herald. Chocolate-tip
July 26th		Despite the windy conditions it was a surprisingly good night at the moth traps. The most notable record was of a Langmaid's Yellow Underwing whilst other interesting records included two Sussex Emeralds, a Least Carpet, a Small Waved Umber, a Chocolate-tip, a Dark Sword-grass and a Saltern Ear. A Hummingbird Hawk-moth was also seen during the day. Langmaid's Yellow Underwing Langmaid's Yellow Underwing (left) and Lesser Broad-bodied Yellow Underwing. Note that the slightly darker overall, less colourful appearance and broader and shorter wingshape of Langmaids Large numbers of Painted Ladies, (400 around the moat and in the trapping alone), continue to be seen and a Brown Argus was also of note.
July 23rd		A quiet night at the moth traps with the only notable records being another Sussex Emerald, a Saltern Ear and the first *Udea ferrugalis* of the year. Numbers of Painted Ladies continue to increase with at least 850 counted.
July 22nd		Notable moths trapped overnight included a Small Waved Umber, a Dingy Footman, two Dark Sword-grass, a Marbled Green, two Saltern Ears, our second Double Kidney of the year and 12 Silver Y's. Painted Ladies are still present in large numbers. Another female Speckled Bush-cricket was also found in the trap.
July 21st		Painted Ladies increased to at least 700.
July 20th		There were at least 350 Painted Ladies today along with a Clouded Yellow.
July 19th		An Old Lady and a Small Mottled Willow were of note amongst the nights catch of moths. Good numbers of Painted Ladies are also building up again. Old Lady Small Mottled Willow
July 15th		A True-lover's Knot and a Dark Sword-grass were noteworthy captures from the moth traps.
July 14th		Another decent catch of moths included six Sussex Emeralds, a Least Carpet, an Engrailed, a Mere Wainscot (second Observatory record) and a Small Mottled Willow. Mere Wainscot A Speckled Bush-cricket was also in the moth trap. Speckled Bush-cricket
July 12th		Despite poor conditions overnight there was another decent catch of moths and a few notables headed by our second record of Pine Carpet and third record of Double Kidney. Pine Carpet Taken at a distance of 20 feet with a 500mm lens as it roosted on an inaccessible part of the wall. Double Kidney
July 11th		Overnight moth trapping produced our second Small Ranunculus of the year along with a single Sussex Emerald. Small Ranunculus
July 9th		A reasonable overnight catch of moths included three Sussex Emeralds, two Small Emeralds, a Small Waved Umber, a Buff Arches and the pyralid, Galleria mellonella.
July 6th		A much quieter night produced a Common Lutestring moth but very little else was noted.
July 5th		Another warm night resulted in an excellent catch of moths and including Clouded Silver (third Observatory record), Rosy Footman (fourth Observatory record), L.album Wainscot, Shore Wainscot and the pyralids, Orthopygia glaucinalis (fourth Observatory record) and best of all Evergestis limbata, the second Observatory record of this rare moth. Evergestis limbata Rosy Footman
July 4th		Another good catch of moths overnight produced the following notable records: a Common Lutestring, three Sussex Emeralds, a Double Square-spot, a Shore Wainscot (our first since 1998), Slender Brindle (fourth Observatory record) and 180 Diamond-backed Moths. Sussex Emerald Shore Wainscot Slender Brindle The Marbled White population reached a new record today with at least 1050 individuals being seen.
July 3rd		A warm, muggy night resulted in a large catch of moths overnight. Unusual species included Common Lutestring, Sussex Emerald, The Vapourer, Sand Dart and Poplar Grey whilst of note amongst the pyralids were *Crambus pascuella, Eudonia lineola* and Oncocera semirubella. There were also large numbers of the migrant Diamond-backed Moth *Plutella xylostella* and an emergence/arrival of yponomeutid moths, mostly *padella* but also including one Y.evonymella, the Bird Cherry Ermine, which may well be a new species for the Observatory. Bird Cherry Ermine
July 1st		Large numbers of Marbled Whites are still showing and the first Roesel's Bush-crickets of the summer were singing. Moth trapping was very poor.
June 30th		Numbers of moths at the traps were fairly low last night but they did include a Small Ranunculus, our second record. Small Ranunculus Record numbers of Marbled Whites continue to be seen with at least 600 counted today.
June 29th		Marbled Whites continue to increase with at least 500 being counted in the area.
June 28th		The best of the overnight catch of moths was a Black-neck. Marbled White butterflies are now present in record numbers with at least 290 individuals seen today.
June 27th		Another large catch of moths overnight included a third record of Twin-spot Carpet along with Common Lutestring, two Sussex Emeralds, a Yarrow Pug, Buff Arches and the pyralid, Scoparia ambigualis. Buff Arches
June 26th		A good catch of moths overnight included two firsts for the Observatory trap in the form of a Small Seraphim and a Marbled White Spot. Small Seraphim Marbled White Spot The pyralid Trachycera suavella was also caught, only our sixth record. Trachycera suavella
June 25th		The first Gatekeeper butterfly of the year was seen.
June 22nd		The first Sussex Emerald moth of the year was trapped overnight. A Bird's Wing moth was also an uncommon species for us.
June 21st		A Brown Silver-line was an unusual capture at the Observatory.
June 20th		A Sand Dart was trapped overnight.
June 16th		The pyralid Aglossa pinguinalis (or Large Tabby) was caught overnight - only the second Observatory record. Aglossa pinguinalis The first Marbled Whites of the year were also seen.
June 15th		Another good catch of moths at the traps included our first record of Broken-barred Carpet along with a Common Lutestring, a Grey Pine Carpet and lots of Green Oak Tortrix Tortrix viridana.
June 14th		A good catch of moths included our seventh-ever Rosy Wave. The first Essex Skippers of the year were also seen.
June 13th		Haworth's Pug and Privet Hawk-moth were caught overnight.
June 10th		Overnight moth-trapping produced a Barred Red (our third record), another Four-dotted Footman, a Figure of 80 (only our 12th record), a Shoulder-striped Wainscot and 12 Plutella xylostella. A Hummingbird Hawk-moth was also seen during the day. Barred Red The first Small Skipper of the year was also recorded.
June 8th		Moth-trapping overnight produced a Four-dotted Footman - the fourth Observatory record. Four-dotted Footman
June 6th		Moth trapping overnight produced a new species for the Observatory in the form of a Scalloped Hazel. A Bordered Straw was the only other unusual record. Scalloped Hazel
June 1st		Large Skipper, Grizzled Skipper and Brown Argus were all seen in the trapping area and an Orange Footman moth was trapped overnight.
May 30th		A Hummingbird Hawk-moth and 50 Painted Ladies were seen.
May 29th		Painted Lady numbers were much reduced today but even so, 300 were counted. The first Large Skipper of the year was seen.
May 28th		Painted Ladies were back in force after poor weather yesterday with at least 1600 individuals counted (though as ever this is only what was actually seen and many areas were not visited). Three Clouded Yellows and a Hummingbird Hawk-moth were also seen. The first Black-tailed Skimmer of the year was seen.
May 26th		Painted Ladies continue to dominate the insect scene with swarms of them feeding at any available nectar sources and moving north. A minimum of 2250 individuals were counted. A few Silver Y's were also seen.
May 25th		The highlight of the day was a huge movement of Painted Ladies with at least 1500 counted but presumably many hundreds, perhaps thousands, missed as they were passing through on a broad front and we were basically counting a 50m wide transect. Also involved were a few Large Whites, Red Admirals and two Clouded Yellows (one of the pale helice form). Silver Y's were also arriving in good numbers and a Mother Shipton moth was also noteworthy. Clouded Yellow var.helice Painted Lady On the dragonfly front at least 450 Four-spotted Chasers were seen at the Long Pits along with six Hairy Dragonflies. Four-spotted Chasers. A small part of the masses and three together of the form praenubila.
May 24th		Four Grizzled Skippers and 30 Painted Ladies were seen whilst dragonflies included 180 Four-spotted Chasers.
May 21st		Still large numbers of Painted Ladies in the area along with a late Grizzled Skipper and three Brown Argus of note.
May 20th		A Holly Blue was seen in the trapping area and good numbers of Painted Ladies are still being seen.
May 19th		The first Brown Argus of the year was seen along with good numbers of Common Blues and a few Painted Ladies.
May 18th		The first Small Heath of the year was seen.
May 15th		At least 15 Painted Ladies were seen during the day and a Poplar Lutestring was the best of a small overnight catch of moths.
May 9th		At least four Variable Damselflies Coenagrion pulchellum were seen at the Long Pits. These are the first records since 2005. Coenagrion pulchellum
May 6th		The first Common Blue butterfly, Azure Damselfly and Four-spotted Chasers of the year were seen. Several Small Coppers have been seen which appear to be of the form caeruleopunctata. Note the blue post-discal spots in the hindwing. Small Copper var. caeruleopunctata
May 1st		A Lesser Swallow Prominent was trapped overnight and five Grizzled Skippers were seen during the day.
Apr.29th		The first Red-eyed Damselflies were seen at the Long Pits.
Apr.24th		The first Common Blue Damselfly was seen along with three Hairy Dragonflies.
Apr.23rd		Blue-tailed Damselfly and Hairy Dragonfly were both new for the year and three Grizzled Skippers were seen.
Apr.22nd		Two Green-veined Whites were new for the year.
Apr.20th		The first Painted Lady of the year was seen.
Apr.18th		The first Grizzled Skipper of the year was seen in the trapping area.
Apr.15th		A small catch of moths overnight but with some quality in the form of our second-ever Blossom Underwing and fourth-ever Grey Shoulder-knot. Blossom Underwing and Grey Shoulder-knot
Apr.13th		Two more Streamers and a Diamond-backed Moth Plutella xylostella were trapped overnight and the first Red Admiral of the year was seen.
Apr.12th		The Streamer was trapped overnight and the first Small Copper and Large White were seen during the day. The Streamer
Apr.11th		A Mullein Moth and a very early Knotgrass were trapped overnight. A Light Orange Underwing was seen at the Long Pits. Mullein Moth
Apr.4th		A very early Engrailed was found at the kitchen window this evening.
Apr.1st		A Northern Drab was one of only four moths trapped overnight but was the first Observatory record. Northern Drab
Mar.17th		The first Comma of the year was seen.
Mar.13th		The first Small Tortoiseshell of the year was seen (except for one hibernating individual inside the Observatory.
Mar.1st		The first Peacock of the year was seen.