SUMMARY
OF MACRO MOTHS
RECORDED IN 2012
To
view a list of macro moth species
recorded in Caithness in 2012 click on this link: 2012 List
The early Spring was marked by unusually
warm weather, with Scotland experiencing record temperatures for March
and the warm weather continuing through April. This relatively warm
period resulted in the early emergence of many species with a number of
species recorded their earliest dates for the County. However, the good
start was not to continue and from May onwards the summer and autumn
were cool and damp. As a result the opportunities for using light traps
were limited and the inclement weather made general field work
unproductive. The number of species recorded declined for the second
year running.
167 species of macro moth were recorded in the County during
2012, down on the 178 recorded in 2011, well down on the total of
202 in 2010, but comparable to the 2009 total of 166. 2677
records were received from 23 observers, down on the 2011 total of 2908
and substantially down on the 2010 total of 3600.
FIRST
COUNTY RECORDS
There were no species of macro moth recorded in Caithness for the first
time in 2012.
OTHER
RECORDS OF INTEREST
COMMON SWIFT Hepialus lupulinus
Two records, both on the 5th July, from ND27 and ND35 were only the 5th
and 6th records since 1975
SIX-SPOT BURNET Zygaena filipendulae
Recorded
in ND27
The colony in ND27 appears to be well established and there were
records from adjacent sites. Also coastal records from NC96 and
ND 35 and the first inland record from ND15
DRINKER Euthrix potatoria
Recorded in ND05, ND06 and ND14
Following the first records in 2010 and records in 2011 it was recorded
in 2012 in ND15 and ND26. Appears to be
well established in the County.
COMMON LUTESTRING Ochropacha
duplaris
Recorded in ND27
Records from ND13 and ND27 indicate that this species if more widely
distributed than records suggest
SPINACH Eulithis mellinata
2nd County record from ND33 following 1st record in ND26 in 2008
BROKEN-BARRED CARPET Electrophaes
corylata
3rd County record since 1975 from ND13
NETTED PUG Eupithecia venosata
A single record from ND13 was the first County record since 1975. It
was of the form ochracea
found in Orkney and is possible the first record of this form on the
Scottish mainland.
WHITE-SPOTTED PUG Eupithecia
tripunctaria
Recorded in ND26
Two records from the same site in ND13 constitute the 4th and 5th
County
records.
SCARCE UMBER Agriopis
aurantiaria
Recorded in NC96
Records from ND17 and ND27 were the 3rd and 4th records since 1996. Has
now been recorded in the last three years indicated that lack of field
work in the main flight period may mean that the species is under
recorded.
ELEPHANT HAWKMOTH Deilephila
elpenor
Recorded in ND06
Four records from two sites in ND16 and ND26 indicate that the species
is becoming established in the County following the first record in
2006.
PLAIN CLAY Eugorisma depuncta
3rd County record from ND03 following the 2nd in 2010 and the 1st
in 1991
CABBAGE MOTH Mamestra
brassicae
Two records fro ND16 were only the 3rd and 4th records since 1996. The
species appears to have declined significantly since the 1990s.
SHARK Cucullia
umbratica
Recorded in ND26
An exceptional tear with five records, four from ND16 and one from
ND26, doubling the number of records for the County. All but one of the
records are from July.
NORTHERN ARCHES Apamea zeta
assimilis
4th County record from ND03 . UK status: Na
OBSERVERS
Thank you to the observers listed below who provided records during
2011 and once again a special thanks to Roy Leverton for his help and
support on identification issues.
F Bojda, W Brook, P Castle, P Davey, J Erridge, F Farrow, D Gunn, G Inglis, D Jones, G Jones, M
Legg, E
Maughan, A McBay, D Money, N
Money, A Miller, P Miller, K Munro, D Omand, D Tuerlinkx, J Waddell, D Watt, P
Wright,
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