Field Trip - Hexton Chalk Pit - 09-07-16

Below is the recent report of the field trip from Hexton Chalk Pit on Saturday night.

I have heard it said that setting 20 light traps on a site is a bit of an “overkill”, but last Saturday at Hexton Chalk Pit, a Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust reserve on the border with Bedfordshire, proved this false. Whilst on site, there was a general feeling amongst attendees that we were getting “quality not quantity” as we sat by the vertical sheet, but when the results from all the traps are analysed a staggering list of 173 species is revealed, comprising 100 macros and 73 micros and including several species of raised conservation interest. My own traps and the vertical sheet were set at the far southern end of the reserve amongst the rather nice, flower-rich chalk grassland. Graeme set his traps in the northern part of the reserve and Ben set his at the edge of the wooded marginal areas to the north and north-east. Thus, we covered just about every habitat that was present and added significantly to the species list for this very important nature reserve. Five species are Nationally Scarce (formerly called Nationally Notable) and these are indicated in the list below. I have also provided some notes on five species. Species flagged with an asterisk (*) have been identified by genitalia examination. My apologies for retaining the Bradley names of the species – I have yet to get to grips with the new checklist – perhaps in the winter when it is quiet?

Thanks to Ben (Sale) for organising and leading this field trip.

Colin

FULL LIST FROM HEXTON CHALK PIT 9th JULY 2016

Nepticulidae 0020 Ectoedemia decentella (Herrich-Schäffer, 1855) Nb Yponomeutidae 0424 Yponomeuta evonymella (Linnaeus, 1758) Bird-cherry Ermine 0440 Paraswammerdamia albicapitella (Scharfenberg, 1805) 0450 Scythropia crataegella (Linnaeus, 1767) Hawthorn Moth Plutellidae 0464 Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus, 1758) Diamond-back Moth Coleophoridae 0516 Coleophora trifolii (Curtis, 1832) Large Clover Case-bearer 0518 Coleophora mayrella (Hübner, 1813) 0530 Coleophora lixella Zeller, 1849 Note 1 Nb Oecophoridae 0640 Batia lunaris (Haworth, 1828) 0641 Batia lambdella (Donovan, 1793) 0642 Batia unitella (Hübner, 1796) Depressariidae 0698 Agonopterix kaekeritziana (Linnaeus, 1767) 0709 Agonopterix liturosa (Haworth, 1811) Gelechiidae 0724 Metzneria lappella (Linnaeus, 1758) 0726 Metzneria metzneriella (Stainton, 1851) * 0731 Eulamprotes atrella ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) * 0765 Teleiodes vulgella ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) 0787 Bryotropha terrella ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) * 0844 Syncopacma larseniella (Gozmány, 1957) * 0847 Syncopacma taeniolella (Zeller, 1839) Blastobasidae 0874 Blastobasis lacticolella Rebel, 1940 Momphidae 0886 Mompha ochraceella (Curtis, 1839) 0892 Mompha subbistrigella (Haworth, 1828) Cosmopterigidae 0905 Blastodacna hellerella (Duponchel, 1838) Tortricidae 0937 Agapeta hamana (Linnaeus, 1758) 0938 Agapeta zoegana (Linnaeus, 1767) 0954 Eupoecilia angustana (Hübner, 1799) 0970 Pandemis cerasana (Hübner, 1786) Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix 0972 Pandemis heparana ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix 0980 Archips xylosteana (Linnaeus, 1758) Variegated Golden Tortrix 0994 Clepsis consimilana (Hübner, 1817) 1001 Lozotaeniodes formosanus (Geyer, 1830) 1011 Pseudargyrotoza conwagana (Fabricius, 1775) 1020 Cnephasia stephensiana (Doubleday, 1849) Grey Tortrix 1021 Cnephasia asseclana ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) Flax Tortrix 1031 Eana penziana (Thunberg, 1791) Nb 1064 Celypha rosaceana (Schläger, 1847) 1076 Celypha lacunana ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) 1082 Hedya pruniana (Hübner, 1799) Plum Tortrix 1083 Hedya nubiferana (Haworth, 1811) Marbled Orchard Tortrix 1097 Endothenia gentianaeana (Hübner, 1799) 1115 Ancylis achatana ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) 1168 Gypsonoma sociana (Haworth, 1811) 1175 Epiblema uddmanniana (Linnaeus, 1758) Bramble Shoot Moth 1197 Eucosma campoliliana ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) 1201 Eucosma cana (Haworth, 1811) 1202 Eucosma obumbratana (Lienig & Zeller, 1846) 1234 Pammene regiana (Zeller, 1849) 1259 Cydia fagiglandana (Zeller, 1841) Crambidae 1293 Chrysoteuchia culmella (Linnaeus, 1758) Garden Grass-veneer 1301 Crambus lathoniellus (Zincken, 1817) 1302 Crambus perlella (Scopoli, 1763) 1313 Catoptria pinella (Linnaeus, 1758) 1331 Acentria ephemerella ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) Water Veneer 1333 Scoparia pyralella ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) 1334 Scoparia ambigualis (Treitschke, 1829) 1336 Eudonia pallida (Curtis, 1827) 1338 Dipleurina lacustrata (Panzer, 1804) 1371 Sitochroa verticalis (Linnaeus, 1758) 1374 Paratalanta hyalinalis (Hübner, 1796) Note 2 Nb 1376 Eurrhypara hortulata (Linnaeus, 1758) Small Magpie 1392 Udea olivalis ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) Pyralidae 1417 Pyralis farinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) Meal Moth 1424 Endotricha flammealis ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) 1428 Aphomia sociella (Linnaeus, 1758) Bee Moth 1457 Hypochalcia ahenella ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) Note 3 Nb 1462 Pempeliella dilutella ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) Note 4 1474 Ephestia parasitella Staudinger, 1881 1481 Homoeosoma sinuella (Fabricius, 1794) Pterophoridae 1495 Marasmarcha lunaedactyla (Haworth, 1811) 1509 Stenoptilia pterodactyla (Linnaeus, 1761) 1513 Pterophorus pentadactyla (Linnaeus, 1758) White Plume Moth 1524 Emmelina monodactyla (Linnaeus, 1758) Thyatiridae 1653 Habrosyne pyritoides (Hufnagel, 1766) Buff Arches Geometridae 1666 Geometra papilionaria (Linnaeus, 1758) Large Emerald 1669 Hemithea aestivaria (Hübner, 1799) Common Emerald 1699 Idaea rusticata Lempke, 1967 Least Carpet 1702 Idaea biselata (Hufnagel, 1767) Small Fan-footed Wave 1705 Idaea fuscovenosa (Goeze, 1781) Dwarf Cream Wave 1708 Idaea dimidiata (Hufnagel, 1767) Single-dotted Wave 1713 Idaea aversata (Linnaeus, 1758) Riband Wave 1726 Xanthorhoe quadrifasiata (Clerck, 1759) Large Twin-spot Carpet 1732 Scotopteryx chenopodiata (Linnaeus, 1758) Shaded Broad-bar 1736 Catarhoe cuculata (Hufnagel, 1767) Royal Mantle 1738 Epirrhoe alternata (Müller, 1764) Common Carpet 1739 Epirrhoe rivata (Hübner, 1813) Wood Carpet Note 5 1742 Camptogramma bilineata (Linnaeus, 1758) Yellow Shell 1752 Cosmorhoe ocellata (Linnaeus, 1758) Purple Bar 1758 Eulithis pyraliata ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) Barred Straw 1759 Ecliptopera silaceata ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) Small Phoenix 1765 Cidaria fulvata (Forster, 1771) Barred Yellow 1781 Horisme vitalbata ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) Small Waved Umber 1782 Horisme tersata ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) Fern 1784 Melanthia procellata ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) Pretty Chalk Carpet 1791 Philereme vetulata ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) Brown Scallop 1792 Philereme transversata (Hufnagel, 1767) Dark Umber 1807 Perizoma albulata ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) Grass Rivulet 1813 Eupithecia haworthiata Doubleday, 1856 Haworth's Pug 1834 Eupithecia vulgata (Haworth, 1809) Common Pug 1835 Eupithecia tripunctaria Herrich-Schäffer, 1852 White-spotted Pug 1837 Eupithecia subfuscata (Haworth, 1809) Grey Pug 1840 Eupithecia subumbrata ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) Shaded Pug 1858 Chloroclystis v-ata (Haworth, 1809) V-Pug 1860 Pasiphila rectangulata (Linnaeus, 1758) Green Pug 1862 Gymnoscelis rufifasciata (Haworth, 1809) Double-striped Pug 1876 Hydrelia flammeolaria (Hufnagel, 1767) Small Yellow Wave 1887 Lomaspilis marginata (Linnaeus, 1758) Clouded Border 1906 Opisthograptis luteolata (Linnaeus, 1758) Brimstone Moth 1921 Crocallis elinguaria (Linnaeus, 1758) Scalloped Oak 1922 Ourapteryx sambucaria (Linnaeus, 1758) Swallow-tailed Moth 1937 Peribatodes rhomboidaria ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) Willow Beauty 1941 Alcis repandata (Linnaeus, 1758) Mottled Beauty 1955 Cabera pusaria (Linnaeus, 1758) Common White Wave 1958 Lomographa temerata ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) Clouded Silver 1961 Campaea margaritata (Linnaeus, 1767) Light Emerald Sphingidae 1976 Sphinx ligustri (Linnaeus, 1758) Privet Hawk-moth 1981 Laothoe populi (Linnaeus, 1758) Poplar Hawk-moth 1991 Deilephila elpenor (Linnaeus, 1758) Elephant Hawk-moth 1992 Deilephila porcellus (Linnaeus, 1758) Small Elephant Hawk-moth Notodontidae 1999 Stauropus fagi (Linnaeus, 1758) Lobster Moth Arctiidae 2043 Eilema sororcula (Hufnagel, 1766) Orange Footman 2047 Eilema complana (Linnaeus, 1758) Scarce Footman 2049 Eilema depressa (Esper, 1787) Buff Footman 2050 Eilema lurideola (Zincken, 1817) Common Footman 2069 Tyria jacobaeae (Linnaeus, 1758) Cinnabar Nolidae 2077 Nola cucullatella (Linnaeus, 1758) Short-cloaked Moth Noctuidae 2088 Agrotis clavis (Hufnagel, 1766) Heart and Club 2089 Agrotis exclamationis (Linnaeus, 1758) Heart and Dart 2098 Axylia putris (Linnaeus, 1761) Flame 2102 Ochropleura plecta (Linnaeus, 1761) Flame Shoulder 2107 Noctua pronuba Linnaeus, 1758 Large Yellow Underwing 2109 Noctua comes Hübner, 1813 Lesser Yellow Underwing 2110 Noctua fimbriata (Schreber, 1759) Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing 2111 Noctua janthe Borkhausen, 1792 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing 2120 Diarsia mendica (Fabricius, 1775) Ingrailed Clay 2122 Diarsia brunnea ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) Purple Clay 2126 Xestia c-nigrum (Linnaeus, 1758) Setaceous Hebrew Character 2128 Xestia triangulum (Hufnagel, 1766) Double Square-spot 2147 Hada plebeja (Hufnagel, 1766) Shears 2155 Melanchra persicariae (Linnaeus, 1761) Dot Moth 2160 Lacanobia oleracea (Linnaeus, 1758) Bright-line Brown-eye 2171 Hadena confusa (Hufnagel, 1766) Marbled Coronet 2192 Mythimna conigera ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) Brown-line Bright Eye 2193 Mythimna ferrago (Fabricius, 1787) Clay 2198 Mythimna impura (Hübner, 1808) Smoky Wainscot 2199 Mythimna pallens (Linnaeus, 1758) Common Wainscot 2302 Rusina ferruginea (Esper, 1785) Brown Rustic 2305 Euplexia lucipara (Linnaeus, 1758) Small Angle Shades 2321 Apamea monoglypha (Hufnagel, 1766) Dark Arches 2322 Apamea lithoxylaea ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) Light Arches 2326 Apamea crenata (Hufnagel, 1766) Clouded-bordered Brindle 2327 Apamea epomidion (Haworth, 1809) Clouded Brindle 2330 Apamea remissa (Hübner, 1809) Dusky Brocade 2337 Oligia strigilis (Linnaeus, 1758) Marbled Minor 2339 Oligia latruncula ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) Tawny Marbled Minor 2343 Mesapamea secalis (Linnaeus, 1758) Common Rustic 2350 Chortodes pygmina (Haworth, 1809) Small Wainscot 2381 Hoplodrina alsines (Brahm, 1791) Uncertain 2382 Hoplodrina blanda ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) Rustic 2384 Hoplodrina ambigua ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) Vine's Rustic 2387 Caradrina morpheus (Hufnagel, 1766) Mottled Rustic 2410 Protodeltote pygarga (Hufnagel, 1766) Marbled White Spot 2422 Pseudoips prasinana (Warren, 1913) Green Silver-lines 2442 Autographa pulchrina (Haworth, 1809) Beautiful Golden Y 2443 Autographa jota (Linnaeus, 1758) Plain Golden Y 2450 Abrostola tripartita (Hufnagel, 1766) Spectacle 2466 Lygephila pastinum (Treitschke, 1826) Blackneck 2470 Phytometra viridaria (Clerck, 1759) Small Purple-barred 2473 Laspeyria flexula ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) Beautiful Hook-tip 2474 Rivula sericealis (Scopoli, 1763) Straw Dot 2477 Hypena proboscidalis (Linnaeus, 1758) Snout 2489 Zanclognatha tarsipennalis (Treitschke, 1835) Fan-foot 2492 Herminia grisealis ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) Small Fan-foot

NOTES:

Note 1 Coleophora lixella Zeller, 1849 Nationally Scarce species last recorded in Hertfordshire in the Sandridge area during the year 1890. Larvae feed on Wild Thyme – adult rather striking, on the basis of which I suggest we rename the family “Cooleophoridae”.

Note 2 Paratalanta hyalinalis (Hübner, 1796) Hexton is the only Hertfordshire site for this Nationally Scarce moth, recorded here in 2014, 2015 and now 2016. Should be looked for on other chalk grassland sites.

Note 3 Hypochalcia ahenella ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) Another Nationally Scarce moth – rare in Herts and only on the better chalk grassland sites. Well-spotted by Graeme amongst all the grass moths.

Note 4 Pempeliella dilutella ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) Now called Delplanqueia dilutella and split into 2 species. The true dilutella might be western and/or coastal so ours might be the new species inscriptella. I have 5 males and a female and these need a closer look when they come off the setting board. They are hard to separate on “plumage”, but I have a paper in press (should be published this month) that identifies some features of the genitalia that should allow easy separation.

Note 5

Epirrhoe rivata (Hübner, 1813) Wood Carpet