Laura Sivell Stephen Palmer

Lancashire, Manchester and Merseyside

Butterfly and Moth Recording Report 2012

2

3

Butterfly Recording Laura Sivell

County Butterfly Recorder

What a memorable year 2012 turned out to be - for all the wrong reasons. A decent warm spell in late March promised a

better spring than any we’ve had recently, but the promise was unfulfilled as May turned wet, cloudy and cool - and stayed like

that. June showed little improvement and it was only in August that things picked up. By then of course, it was far too late.

Migrants were few and far between, and most native species suffered reduced numbers and shortage of opportunities to fly,

mate and lay eggs. I expect the consequences will be freely on view in 2013 as well. The weather for 2012 should have been

arrested, and an ASBO slapped on it.

Please continue to send your butterfly records (remember, every little helps) to:

Lancashire and Merseyside

Laura Sivell, email laura.sivell@mypostoffice.co.uk. Or by post to 22 Beaumont Place, Lancaster LA1 2EY. Phone 01524 69248.

Please note that for records to be included in the annual report, the deadline is the end of January. Late records will still be

used for the database, but once the report is written, I’m not going to update or rewrite on the basis of late records. The re-

port is also going to have to be written earlier in the year, in February as I’m full on with work in March/April and I just can’t do

it!

East Lancs

The East Lancs report will no longer be compiled by the Howarths, but John Plackett (jdplackett@yahoo.com) from Nelson Nats

is taking over the role, so please all send your records to him as well as the Lancashire recorder.

Greater Manchester

These records should only go to Peter Hardy, 81 Winstanley Road, Sale, M33 2AT, email pgll@btopenworld.com - not to Laura

Sivell. Some people have been sending their records to both, leading to a fair amount of wasted time in sorting out the dupli-

cate records. Likewise Lancashire and Merseyside records should only go to Laura.

Introduction to the 2012 report

First, I must apologise for the late production of this document. Neither of the moth recorders were able to produce their sec-

tions of the report in the early spring due to other commitments; and Graham Jones , due to his search for a new job, has not

been able to write the macromoth section. Steve Palmer has stepped in (like the hero he is) and provided an update to the

macromoth biodiversity action plans for our most seriously threatened larger moths, along with a table showing new records.

A ‘normal’ 2013 report is expected.

Cover photo: Cauchas fibulella by L Sivell; because it’s time we had a micro on the cover!

Urgent Appeal

The Lancashire Branch Newsletter is in desperate need of articles. Please send anything you may have or can produce, to

Graham Dixon (troubleatmill@btinternet.com).

4

Butterfly Recorders 2011 S Allen M Anderson G Anderton A Ashworth G Ashworth (GA) D Barker (DB) G Barnes D Beattie (DB) R Bedford D Beevers P & P Berry A Bissett (ABi) A Bond (AB) S Bradley (SB) M Brennan (MB) R Briers D Broome

M Broomfield J Brown S Brown S Burnet C Cann S Cartwright J Cass D M Caunce (DC) S Challender C Clarke J Clews (JC) L Coates J Cobham (JC) B Cockburn P Collins B Crooks (BC) M Cunliffe C Daly E Dean (ED) M Dennis

R Dennis M Dockery D Downing T Dunn (TD) B Dyson (BD) J Edwards M & J Elsworth K Fairclough (KF) N Fearnley S Fenner A Ferguson (AF) C Ferguson C Fletcher M Foley (MF) A Foy M Fuller M Garbugg K Garnett J & M Gibson N Godden

S Graham R Greenwood (RG) A Grubb (AG) B Hancock (BHk) P Hardy (PBH) I Harper (IH) P Harris K Haydock (KH) J Hide D Higginson-Tranter (DHT) J Holding D Holland P Hornby (PHo) G Horwood B Hugo J Hurst A & S Imm (ASI) G Jakeman (GJ) P Kinder (PKi) P Kinsella

1992 1993 1994 1995 % 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 % 2001

Small Skipper 33 44 71 153 20.48 132 89 95 133 103 19.96 95

Large Skipper 89 156 166 267 35.74 147 103 87 127 98 18.99 70

Dingy Skipper 6 6 4 5 5 4 4 3 8 8

Grizzled Skipper 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 1 0 0

Clouded Yellow 117 6 16 0 14 1 35 2 96 1

Brimstone 17 26 18 24 3.21 32 41 48 44 58 11.24 38

Large White 171 224 261 392 52.47 286 235 295 340 235 45.54 224

Small White 145 192 241 448 59.97 292 254 246 322 203 39.34 177

Green-veined White 117 148 181 320 42.83 255 219 243 311 204 39.53 179

Orange Tip 101 198 189 265 35.47 231 182 205 246 154 29.84 133

Green Hairstreak 9 14 14 29 3.88 23 19 30 22 24 4.65 7

Purple Hairstreak 10 5 7 7 2 13 9 9 13 13

White-letter Hairstreak 2 1 1 2 2 3 0 5 5 2

Small Copper 122 119 169 219 29.31 216 164 108 121 83 16.08 57

Northern Brown Argus 5 6 7 7 5 4 7 4 3 6

Common Blue 103 116 126 160 21.49 149 100 83 119 100 19.37 71

Holly Blue 79 80 36 30 4.01 41 52 142 158 86 16.66 65

Duke of Burgundy 2 2 2 3 2 3 2 2 3 2

Red Admiral 169 159 263 395 272 156 174 279 222 202

Painted Lady 103 17 134 174 415 44 60 72 176 58

Small Tortoiseshell 194 290 248 497 66.53 396 403 331 345 238 46.12 248

Peacock 113 181 158 266 35.6 290 279 305 311 226 43.79 235

Comma 91 68 66 165 22.08 138 122 104 182 168 32.55 145

Small Pearl-bordered 3 7 8 8 4 5 10 3 3 3

Pearl-bordered Fritillary 5 6 6 7 4 5 6 4 4 4

High Brown Fritillary 6 6 10 7 6 6 9 4 4 6

Dark Green Fritillary 5 4 5 7 6 5 5 4 6 4

Speckled Wood 48 69 65 102 13.65 64 74 117 190 193 37.4 179

Wall 143 175 196 205 27.44 191 147 182 209 143 27.71 99

Scotch Argus 1 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 3

Grayling 16 12 24 18 2.4 12 18 17 15 13 2.51 19

Gatekeeper 76 86 98 105 14.05 115 75 66 133 116 22.48 101

Meadow Brown 155 261 301 410 54.88 294 225 222 322 246 47.67 213

Ringlet 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2

Small Heath 29 60 62 90 12.04 79 66 45 54 43 8.33 36

Large Heath 1 0 1 3 0 7 1 7 1 0

Total recorded squares 389 500 566 747 604 555 570 683 516 432

5

Small Skipper

Large Skipper

Dingy Skipper

Grizzled Skipper

Clouded Yellow

Brimstone

Large White

Small White

Green-veined White

Orange Tip

Green Hairstreak

Purple Hairstreak

White-letter Hairstreak

Small Copper

Northern Brown Argus

Common Blue

Holly Blue

Duke of Burgundy

Red Admiral

Painted Lady

Small Tortoiseshell

Peacock

Comma

Small Pearl-bordered

Pearl-bordered Fritillary

High Brown Fritillary

Dark Green Fritillary

Speckled Wood

Wall

Scotch Argus

Grayling

Gatekeeper

Meadow Brown

Ringlet

Small Heath

Large Heath

Total recorded squares

P Kirk E Kirkby P Kitching (PKg) P Krischkiw V Leather (VL) Leighton Moss Team G Lilley K Lister (KL) D Lumb (DL) J Lund H Macauley (HM) P Macro P Marsh (PM) J Marshall D Martin (DM) S Martin (SM) A Mayor J McCabe K McCabe D McGrath

H McKean (HMK) I & M McLean R Miller (RM) J Mills (JM) D Mower R Moyes (RMy) B & C Murphy Y Mynette J Newton (JN) R Neville G Oakes N Padgett (NP) S Palmer S Parker (SP) T Parry D Patel C Peacock R Petley-Jones (RPJ) M Pilling S Pinnington

J & D Player A Powell L Poxon B Pratt L Price S Priestley C Rae L Renshaw (LR) R Rhodes (RR) S Richardson (SR) L Richmond J Riley (JR) Rochdale Nats Soc (RN) L Rose A Rowett S Ryder (SR) J Sharp (JS) A Shaw B Shaw A Simpson

L Sivell (LS) P Slater (PS) A Small A Smith C Smith (CS) C Smith D Smith (DS) I Smith (IS) J Smith (JaS) J Smith P Smith S Smith (SS) B Snell N Southworth A Stanson R Stevens T Stones J Swales D Talbot (DT) C Tomlinson (CT)

B Townson M Wain JF Walsh (JFW) D Webster N West (NW) T West P Whittaker I Whittle S White J Willis M Winstanley C Wood D Woodward (DW) I Woosey (IW) J Worthington JW) G Wyse

2002 2003 2004 2005 % 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 % 2011 2012

114 139 99 52 13.64 115 71 63 87 86 17.02 96 106

100 116 92 62 16.27 112 78 51 80 99 19.6 119 94

6 5 7 7 9 8 8 8 8 10 10

3 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0

4 7 2 11 65 2 1 15 3 5 0

61 59 58 42 11.02 60 60 46 47 45 8.91 67 40

260 318 228 162 42.51 207 194 200 280 173 34.25 179 166

207 301 172 114 29.92 207 181 158 216 190 37.62 197 179

201 303 245 125 32.8 183 160 138 203 221 43.76 227 199

194 185 199 99 25.98 169 171 115 138 147 29.1 211 154

38 25 27 23 6.03 46 31 27 26 28 4.15 36 18

11 16 12 10 29 12 15 19 23 30 17

3 9 6 4 22 11 7 13 27 28 21

68 147 132 56 14.69 126 79 46 69 128 25.34 115 80

6 7 8 7 8 8 8 5 6 7 7

102 121 120 77 20.2 114 77 53 75 114 22.57 96 77

99 91 122 61 16.01 130 108 124 67 76 15.04 94 100

1 2 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 2

188 332 163 146 282 153 136 239 178 224 125

157 315 169 39 207 118 20 305 62 39 24

347 470 281 181 47.5 268 250 137 209 273 54.05 288 299

316 329 266 185 48.55 269 262 156 241 256 50.69 249 258

164 221 146 77 20.2 180 139 119 165 153 30.29 165 135

4 5 6 6 6 10 8 6 6 7 6

5 4 6 5 4 4 6 4 3 5 5

7 7 8 8 10 8 8 8 8 8 8

6 8 17 10 16 8 8 17 11 12 9

241 316 248 171 44.88 286 258 221 263 257 50.89 257 220

103 104 117 92 24.14 101 48 32 49 48 9.5 22 33

1 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

12 12 17 12 3.14 13 11 9 15 11 2.17 11 17

125 135 134 80 20.99 117 103 83 97 127 25.14 128 129

233 310 236 160 41.99 243 178 156 208 204 40.39 206 193

1 2 2 2 1 9 12 12 9 1.78 14 18

59 69 60 35 9.18 55 44 34 42 58 10.49 48 42

1 4 5 1 2 4 2 2 3 7 3

563 675 537 381 554 487 399 529 505 479 476

6

Small Skipper

First 6.6.12 SR, Brockholes

Last 6.9.12 RG, Ashworth

Highest 150 IS, Ainsdale, 21.7.12

There was a slight increase in the number of recorded squares, and a few ‘best ever’ transect counts (Eaves Wood, Heysham LNR and Warton Crag LNR). The first species records were made on the transect at Jack Scout, with 7 butterflies seen (normally first colonists appear in lower numbers), and there was an increase at Martin Mere. However, Warton Crag RSPB, where the species had been making itself much at home in recent years, had a dramatic decline.

Small Skipper 2008- 2012 (crosses 2003-2007)

Large Skipper

First 23.5.12 JC, Gait Barrows

Last 24.8.12 RG, Rakewood

Highest 25 SB, Arnside Knott

The high figure is less than half that of 2011., and the number of recorded squares was down by around 10%. At most tran-sects, there was a decline, but the best ever counts was made at Arnside Knott, and Heald Brow had an increase.

There were other relatively good counts; 21 from Sefton Park (PS), 19 from Warton Crag RSPB (AG), 16 also at Warton Crag RSPB (RM) and several decent counts from Bottom O’ Th’ Brow, the best being of 23 (GA).

Dingy Skipper

First 12.5.12 SR, Gait Barrows

RPJ, Gait Barrows

Last 22.7.12? MF, Gait Barrows

5.7.12 JN, Warton Crag LWT

Highest 22 RPJ, Gait Barrows

The last date is very late for this species, and the sighting occurred nearly 3 weeks after the previous ’last’ record, so ‘doubtful’. The high count is slightly down on 2011, though some sites (Myers and Heald Brow) had their best ever counts. There was also a slight increase at Gait Barrows and Jack Scout, and a good increase at Warton Crag LWT. Other transects showed a decrease however.

After many years with no records it was very pleasing to see sightings from Lundsfield Quarry, Carnforth (BHk) - a previously known site that had been overlooked by recording visits for a while.

Clouded Yellow

No records for 2012

Large Skipper 2008-2012 (crosses 2003-2007)

Dingy Skipper 2012

7

Brimstone

First 23.2.12 CT, Martin Mere

Last 11.9.12 LR, Middlebarrow

Highest 5 BC, Warton Crag LWT

NP, Heald Brow

A high count of 5 is devastatingly low for this butterfly. What’s worse, both these high counts were made in the spring flight period. Normally, the late summer flight would be in much stronger numbers.

Brimstone 2008-2012. Blue crosses 2003-2007.

Large White

First 20.3.12 AB, Leigh

Last 21.10.12 CS, Sale Water Park

Highest 50 DB, Cuerden Valley Park

Yet another depressing account; a plethora of ‘worst ever’ transect counts, and all the others showed a decline. Many routes, where Large White is frequent if never plentiful, had no records at all.

Small White

First 22.3.12 KMC, Flixton

CS, Chorlton

Last 21.10.12 IW, Wrightington

Highest 52 KF, Aintree Race Course

A slight fall in the number of recorded squares made 2012 a moderately poor year. Worst ever transect counts were made at Heald Brow, Myers Alotment and Eaves Wood and down at all the others, apart from Warton Crag LNR, where there was a slight increase.

Green-veined White

First 24.3.12 HMK, Sefton Coast

Last 18.10.12 KF, Lunt Meadows

Highest 100+ SM, DM, RR, IH, Belmont

Down across the board - and this species is one that does well in damp habitats so it should have thrived across the whole region.

Orange Tip

First 26.3.12 TD, Spring Wood

SS, Avenham Park

Last 22.7.12 MF, Gait Barrows

Highest 55 SM, DM, RR, IH, Belmont

Apart from the Martin Mere and Myers Allotment transects, which were average, it was another case of down across the board. The ‘worst ever’ transects are too many to list.

Orange Tip 2008-2012

8

Green Hairstreak

First 28.4.12 PHo, Beacon Fell

Last 22.7.12 MF, Gait Barrows

Highest 55 GA, Birchen Holts

The high count was one of only two counts of over 20 butterflies. That’s bad. Also, the number of recorded squares was half that of 2011, though the inclement conditions probably kept many recorders at home during the flight season. Transect counts were severely down on all the routes where this species is normally found.

Purple Hairstreak

First 9.7.12 MIM, Rufford

Last 8.9.12 KH, JM, Horwich

Highest 11 SM, DM, RR, IH, Belmont

It’s never easy to assess how well the treetop hairstreaks have done. They don’t make life easy for people trying to count them! In 2012, the number of recorded squares was nearly halved, and there were no transect records on any site - although there were records from Myers Allotment (off the transect). KL counted 10 at Lumb Wood, Rossen-dale.

White-letter Hairstreak

First 7.7.12 DS, Devonshire Road Park

Last 26.8.12 KH, JM, Horwich

Highest 3 PBH, Dead Elms Lane

PBH, Bradley Lane

KH, JM, Blackrod

I think this is the first time sightings of White-letter Hairstreak have exceeded those of Purple Hairstreak.

There were 3 records from the Sefton Coast, 2 from Ainsdale and another from a Formby garden. These are the first good records from Ainsdale, backed up with photographs, following a ‘possible’ in the 1990s.

The work of KM and JM on this species has also produced a good number of records of ova.

9

Small Copper

First 20.4.12 VL, Fleetwood

Last 21.10.12 DC, Freshfield Dune Heath

Highest 150 IS, Ainsdale

120 KH, Wilderswood

Small Copper achieved numbers in 2012 that we haven’t seen for a good number of years, although the small colony on Warton Crag LNR showed a dramatic decline. Heysham LNR had their worst year, and Arnside Knott had their best, with 3 butterflies. ! Showed up at Myers Allotment. Apart from these, the species was not recorded on any transects.

Northern Brown Argus

First 28.5.12 AF, Arnside Knott

Last 10.8.12 DT, Eaves Wood

Highest 24 RM, Warton Crag RSPB

There were other counts at Warton Crag RSPB not far below the highest (which is disappointingly low). The next best was 11 at Arnside Knott (SB), an increase on 2011. There was another slight increase at Yealand Hall Allotments, also at Heald Brow. All the Warton Crag transects had decreases, as did Gait Barrows (worst ever) and Eaves Wood (2nd worst).

Common Blue

First 16.5.12 SR, Middleton NR

Last 22.9.12 SS, Bury

Highest 293 JFW, Fairhaven Dunes

222 BDy, Fleetwood Nature Park

It was the worst ever year on the transects at Martin Mere and Gait Barrows; Eaves Wood, Arnside Knott, Yealand Hall Allotments and Heald Brow all had declines too. Warton Crag bucked the trend, with increases in all management areas and the best ever count for the LNR.

Holly Blue

First 26.3.12 KH, SD6411

PKi, Romily

Last 28.9.12 JR, Chorley

Highest 4 RMy, SD3416

PS, Sudely Hall

Although there was a slight increase in the number of tet-rads recording this species, sightings seem well down. This butterfly is famous for its boom and bust colony size, and now it seems to be well and truly busted. The maximum index on any transect was 1 sighting through the year, in-cluding at sites where a decade ago you could expect to see more than 5 on the same walk.

Small Copper 2007-2011. Crosses are 2002-2006.

Common Blue 2008-2012. Blue crosses are 2003-2007

10

Duke of Burgundy

First 4.5.12 LS, Gait Barrows

Last 22.7.12 MF, Gait Barrows

It was a really poor summer, but this date seems so extremely late as to cause quite a bit of doubt. The next latest was

10.6.12 NF, Gait Barrows

Much more in line with the norm and what would be expected given the conditions

Highest 4 LS, Gait Barrows

Awful awful, awful - that’s the Duke at Gait Barrows (the last Lancashire site) in 2012. They started emerging on cue, but then the weather turned and very few more emerged. The ones I was rearing just rotted and died in their pupae, or dessicated and hatched unable to inflate their wings, as the correct conditions to trigger emergence failed to occur. It seems that any breeding in the wild at Gait Barrows suffered the same fate, as few butterflies other than those released were seen, and there was no evidence of breeding or larval activity across the site other than in the main Duke glade - and there was little enough there. Fewer than 20 larvae were found, barely enough to sustain a colony.

There were no transect records. Extensive searches for the butterfly in adult, egg or larval stages across the site proved fruitless.

Red Admiral

First 12.1.12 RN, Rochdale - very early

Next 23.3.12 AB, Pennington Flash

Last 15.11.12 SS, Haughton Dale

Highest 15 CT, Martin Mere

None of the migrants did well in 2012, with a generally very quiet year for the Red Admiral. Things picked up towards the end of the summer and into autumn, but peak counts were well below what we often get.

Painted Lady

First 20.3.12 JW, Staleybridge

Next was 22.5.12 GA, Greebbooth

With a few seen in the following days.

Last 7.10.12 JaS, Woodley

Highest 5 MB, Bamber Bridge

A disappointing high count, but not surprising. 2012 was another very poor year for migrants. As expected given the conditions, most records were from August and September, mainly of singletons. Very few turned up on transects. 2 at Yealand Hall Allotments was the best, and the only count of more than 1.

Small Tortoiseshell

First 23.2.12 PBH, Croxford

ED, Carleton and Hardhorn

SP, SD4215

Last 28.11.12 LS, Lancaster

Highest 60 DS, Knott End

55 DM, SM, RR, IH, Belmont

51 DL, Edge Lane

The number of recorded squares was the best since 2003, so even in such a bad year, things seem to be picking up again for the Small Tortoiseshell across the region. The high counts are quite good too. On the transects, Martin Mere had an increase, and Gait Barrows BMS had a tiny increase - just a few seen. Warton Crag LNR had neither increase nor decrease, but the other sites had decreases, ranging from moderate (Warton Crag RSPB, Jack Scout) to greater losses (Yealand Hall Allotments, Heysham LNR who had their worst count ever) and a real crash at Arnside Knott

11

Peacock

First 25.1.12 CT, Martin Mere

Last 23.11.12 PBH, PKi, SJ7893

Highest 72 KF, Aintree Race Course

42 CT, Martin Mere

Arnside Knott had an average year, most other transects ranged from slightly down (Myers, Jack Scout) down to very down (Gait Barrows, Trowbarrow, Yealand Hall Allotments, Warton Crag RSPB and LNR, Heald Brow, Leighton Moss). It was the worst year for Eaves Wood.

Martin Mere and Warton Crag LWT both had increases, so the picture is not total gloom.

Comma

First 1.3.12 SP, Aughton, Merseyside

Last 15.11.12 PBH, Sale

Highest 8 CT, Martin Mere

The only transect not having a marked decline was Yealand Hall Allotments, where there was an increase. The high count is also depressingly low.

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary

First 28.5.12 RM, Warton Crag RSPB

Last 22.7.12 MF, Gait Barrows

Highest 33 RM, Warton Crag RSPB

Arnside Knott had a spectacular year, with their best ever count, showing a significant increase, see next column.

Pearl-bordered Fritillary

First 12.5.12 DS, Gait Barrows

RPJ, Gait Barrows

DHT, Gait Barrows

GJ, Warton Crag

JN, Warton Crag LWT

Last 10.6.12 BC, Warton Crag LWT

Highest 22 SR, Warton Crag LWT

On Gait Barrows Wardens transect it was a bad year with a significant decline, and it was also the worst year on the BMS route, with only 1 seen. Yealand Hall Allotments, and Warton Crag LNR and RSPB also had decreases, but Warton Crag LWT had better numbers, with an annual index of 58 - very impressive for these times.

High Brown Fritillary

First 27.6.12 AF, Arnside Knott

Last 15.8.12 RPJ, Gait Barrows

Highest 16 RM, Warton Crag RSPB

2012 was a another depressing year for the High Brown. The high count is around a third of last year’s (on the same site).

On the Gait Barrows wardens transect, only 5 were counted, though there were so few weeks the walk was done that we can’t know just how many there were.

Only one site didn’t show a decline; Warton Crag LWT had 5, the same as last year. On every other transect, numbers were down, and ‘worst ever’ counts at Gait Barrows, worst since 1994 at Arnside Knott, none seen at Eaves Wood for the first year all add up to a very depressing picture for this species.

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary

None

All Sections

Year

2012201120102009200820072006200520042003200220012000199919981997199619951994199319921991

Tota

l Num

ber C

ount

ed

115

110

105

100

95

90

85

80

75

70

65

60

55

50

45

40

35

30

25

20

15

10

5

0

Let’s hope we don’t see a repeat of what happened after their last major expansion!

Warton Crag LWT also had an increase. Every other site had a decrease, although some colonies (e.g. Yealand Hall Allot-ments) remain large enough to give good opportunities for recovery in better conditions.

There were no records from Birkbank Bog (did anyone go there?) or from the other sites near the Yorkshire border, apart from 1 butterfly seen at Thrushgill Plantation (PM).

12

Dark Green Fritillary

First 18.6.12 ASI, Heald Brow

Last 24.8.12 SB, Arnside Knott

Highest 293 SB, Arnside Knott

Although several sites showed a marked decrease (Yealand Hall Allotments, Gait Barrows, Eaves Wood, Heald Brow, others had a different outcome. Jack Scout, Warton Crag RSPB and Warton Crag LNR had increases, whilst Arnside Knott had a good increase, nearly doubling last year’s index.

Speckled Wood

First 24.3.12 HM, Sefton Park

Last 24.10.12 PM, Heysham

Highest 90 PS, Sefton Park

The only site with a transect increase was Arnside Knott; all others had decreases, with ‘worst’ counts at Leighton Moss, Heald Brow, Jack Scout and Gait Barrows.

Not quite in line with the recent media declarations of grass-feeding butterflies having had a bumper year due to the rain!

Wall

First 4.5.12 JC, Birkdale

Last 26.9.12 BC, Warton Crag LWT

Highest 7 BC, Warton Crag LWT

GA, Greenbooth

More gloom. The only transects recording any were Arn-side Knott (very poor),Warton Crag LNR (worst ever), Heald Brow (1 record), Warton Crag RSPB (very few), Warton Crag LWT (down but still a decent sized colony). There was a slight increase in the low numbers at Eaves Wood (possibly benefitting from clearance work at Middlebarrow. The count of 9 at Martin Mere looks like an improvement, but only because the total of 1 in 2011 was so bad. - oh for the heady days of the 1990s when the annual index there was over 100.

Gatekeeper

First 11.7.12 JS, Heald Brow

Last 9.9.12 DL, Coal Pit Road

PM, Heysham LNR

Highest 900+ DM, SM, RR, IH, Belmont SD4150

100+ DW, Hope Carr

Gatekeeper did pretty well: good numbers at Arnside Knott, equal-best count at Eaves Wood, best ever at Heysham LNR, average at Martin Mere - also a goodincrease at Warton Crag LNR. There were, however, significant losses at Jack Scout and Heald Brow.

Dark Green Fritillary

None

All Sections

Year

2012201120102009200820072006200520042003200220012000199919981997199619951994199319921991

Tota

l Num

ber C

ount

ed

460

440

420

400

380

360

340

320

300

280

260

240

220

200

180

160

140

120

100

80

60

40

20

0

Arnside Knott

13

Grayling

First 24.6.12 LR, Arnside Knott

Last 8.9.12 DS, Lytham Dunes

Highest 98 JFW, Fairhaven Dunes

Apart from Yealand Hall Allotments who had a good increase on the transect, all other routes were well down in numbers. The dune colonies around Lytham seemed to do rather better than the limestones.

Meadow Brown

First 6.5.12 DB, White Coppice

Seems extraordinarily early, can it be real?

Next, 27.5.12 NW, Cuerden Park

Last 15.9.12 AB, Romily

Highest 300 DM,SM,RR,IH, Belmont

202 BD, Fleetwood Nature Park

200 IS, Ainsdale

Across the Morecambe Bay limestone transects, Meadow Brown numbers were generally somewhat down; the exception being Warton Crag LWT where there was a slight improvement.

Ringlet

First 26.6.12 LS, Gait Barrows

Last 20.8.12 DT, Eaves Wood

A rather isolated in time late record, the next last was

8.8.12 JN, Warton Crag LWT

AG, Warton Crag RSPB

Highest 100 Pho, Gib Hill

81 RPJ, Gait Barrows

Whoopee! A butterfly that did well in 2012! 9 were recorded at Eaves Wood, whereas no more than 1 had been seen there previously. There was a huge increase at Warton Crag RSPB, and the first records were made on the transects at Myers Allotment (1), Warton Crag LNR (5), Leighton Moss (1), Yealand Hall Allotments (1) and Trowbarrow (2). The transect count at Gait Barrows looks poor, but so many weeks of the transect were missed during the flight season, the butterfly actually did very well there; I had never seen so many.

14

Small Heath

First 12.5.12 GJ, Warton Crag

Last 8.9.12 RN, Summit Quarry

LP, Freshfields

Highest 75 RM, Warton Crag RSPB

There were good numbers at Arnside Knott and a good increase at Warton Crag LWT - average to slightly down across the other limestone sites.

Large Heath

First 29.6.12 SR, Winmarleigh Moss

Last 12.7.12 DS, Winmarleigh Moss

Highest 33 SR, Winmarleigh Moss

Some exciting and hopeful news for this species and others -the Wildlife Trust has bought part of Winmarleigh Moss and the more wildlife-friendly management should improve the site, along with the Trust’s holding on the adjoining Cockerham Moss. Keeping the moss nice and wet shouldn’t have been at all difficult in recent months!

The Large Heath was also recorded at Thrushgill Plantation, part of the Goodber network, by PM.

15

Review of the macromoth BAP species recorded during 2012

Stephen Palmer

Five species of macromoth listed as national Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) species were recorded in Lancashire during the 2012

season. Poor weather conditions during early and mid-season meant opportunities to record some species by light trapping

were reduced.

Goat Moth (Cossus cossus) numbers continued at a low ebb with only 3 adults seen at light at one Formby site between the 5th

and 7th July (R. Walker, D. Rumley). One larval record was received in September in a different 10km square in the Ainsdale

area (M. Maynard). Only very limited survey work was carried out for this species.

Organised searches co-ordinated by Richard Walker for the Forester (Adscita statices) produced some excellent results. Moths

were seen during daytime survey work between the 19th June (R. Walker) and the 21st July (T. Davenport, P. Smith) in five 1km

squares, all in the Ainsdale area of the Sefton Coast. Numbers peaked at 40 moths in three separate 1kms squares on the 15th

July (G. Jones).

The regular survey work to monitor the Netted Carpet (Eustroma reticulatum) colony produced records of some adults. Howev-

er, larval searches are much the most successful way to monitor this moth and the annual search took place on the 10 th Sep-

tember co-ordinated by Graham Jones and produced a superb 509 larvae. Work has been carried out in Hynning Scout Wood

and nearby fields used by the local Bee Keeping community to improve conditions for the Touch-me-not Balsam foodplant by

bramble clearance and seed sowing, the former considerably improving the number of plants available to the moth.

Poor early season weather considerably reduced the number of opportunities to record the Barred Tooth-striped (Trichopteryx

polycommata) and no organised survey work took place. The moth was recorded between the 30th March (S. Stokes) and the

3rd May (G. Jones) at six sites on the north Lancashire limestone – all as single moths coming to light.

Numbers of the Belted Beauty (Lycia zonaria) were well down from previous years. Searches co-ordinated by Stephen Palmer

produced daytime sightings from the usual Potts Corner to Sunderland Point site between the 22nd March and the 6th May.

Numbers on the annual organised search (23rd April) came to 107 female and 63 males counted by the 12 participants. A por-

tion of this site is currently under threat from an offshore wind-farm cable landfall application which is being strongly opposed

by the Lancashire Moth Group and Butterfly Conservation.

16

New 10K records for 2012

SD20

2011 Pale Prominent Formby Alex & Shelagh Parsons

2325 Crescent Striped Formby Charlie Fletcher, Bootle,

Merseyside

SD30

1992 Small Elephant Hawk-

moth Freshfield Dune Heath

LWT Graham Jones

2201 Shore Wainscot Moss Green, Formby Mary Dean & Rod Hill

2259 Dark Chestnut Freshfield Dune Heath

LWT Graham Jones

2399 Bordered Sallow Freshfield Dune Heath

LWT Graham Jones

SD31

1715 Plain Wave Ainsdale R.walker, C.Fletcher,

R.Moyes

2377 Fen Wainscot Birkdale Green Beach Graham Jones

2391 Silky Wainscot Cedar Street, Southport Ron Moyes

2440 Lempke's Gold Spot Birkdale Green Beach Graham Jones & Richard

Burkmar

SD32

1719 Oblique Carpet Marshside, Southport Alex & Shelagh Parsons

1930 Oak Beauty Lytham St.Annes David Wright

SD33

1766 Blue-bordered Carpet Rockingham Rd

Bispham Michael J Bloomfield

1819 Mottled Pug Hardhorn, Poulton le

Fylde Anne Smith

2078 Least Black Arches 18 Holts Lane, Poulton Dyson, Barry

2165 Small Ranunculus Carleton Crematorium Ashley Baines First VC60 record

SD34

1926 Pale Brindled Beauty Carleton Jonathan Scragg

2028 Pale Tussock Carleton Jonathan Scragg

2312 Olive Carleton Jonathan Scragg

2380 Treble Lines Carleton Jonathan Scragg

SD40

1864 Streak Graysons Rd, Rainford,

St. Helens Cheney, A.

SD42

1767 Pine Carpet 29 Bank Croft, Longton,

Preston Roy Boydell

1789 Scallop Shell Walmer Bridge Graham Jones

2367 Haworth's Minor Walmer Bridge Graham Jones

SD45

1897 V-Moth

Heysham Nature

Reserve LWT Girdley, Marsh, Draper,

Roberts, Neville

1957 White-pinion Spotted Heysham Nature LWT John Girdley

17

SD46

1881 Early Tooth-striped 342 Heysham Rd John Holding

SD47

2088 Heart and Club Carnforth railway sidings nr keer

bridge Roy Hilton

SD51

1789 Scallop Shell Euxton Richard Hoult

2044 Dingy Footman Euxton Richard Hoult

SD53

1767 Pine Carpet Lightfoot Green Steve and Carolyn Palmer

SD54

1637 Northern Eggar Bleasedale Moors Barry Dyson

1797 Autumnal Moth Beacon Fell Andrew Barker

SD55

1754 Phoenix Conderside barn J Chadwick

1885 Clouded Magpie Conderside barn J Chadwick

2196 Striped Wainscot Bay Horse, Lancaster Nigel A J Rogers

2312 Olive Bay Horse, Lancaster Nigel A J Rogers

2466 Blackneck Conderside barn J Chadwick

SD56

1646 Oak Hook-tip Baines Crag (near) John Girdley

SD57

1749 Dark Spinach Yealand Conyers Brian Hancock

1753 Striped Twin-spot Carpet Yealand Conyers Brian Hancock

1804 Barred Rivulet Warton Martin Elsworth

1995 Puss Moth Carnforth Jennifer Rae

1998 Poplar Kitten Carnforth Liz Lyon

2162 Glaucous Shears Yealand Conyers Brian Hancock

2164 Broad-barred White Carnforth Jennifer Rae

2183 Blossom Underwing Yealand Conyers Brian Hancock

2303 Straw Underwing Yealand Conyers Brian Hancock

2412 Silver Hook Silverdale, Hale Moss Brian Hancock

SD60

1776 Green Carpet Abram, Wigan Judith Smith

1915 September Thorn Abram, Wigan Judith Smith

2011 Pale Prominent Abram, Wigan Judith Smith

2044 Dingy Footman Low Hall Park R W Rhodes and J D Wil-

son

2368 Crescent Low Hall Park R W Rhodes and J D Wil-

son

2473 Beautiful Hook-tip Abram, Wigan Judith Smith

SD61

1848 Angle-barred Pug Belmont R.Rhodes

2300 Old Lady Belmont R.Rhodes

18

SD64

1653 Buff Arches Wheatley Cottage, Wheatley James Hide and Stephen

Palmer

1669 Common Emerald Wheatley Cottage, Wheatley James Hide and Stephen

Palmer

1708 Single-dotted Wave Wheatley Cottage, Wheatley James Hide and Stephen

Palmer

1760 Red-green Carpet Longridge Fell Andrew Barker

1762 Dark Marbled Carpet Longridge Fell Graham Jones & Andy

Barker

1798 Small Autumnal Moth Longridge Fell Graham Jones & Andy

Barker

1846 Narrow-winged Pug Jeffrey Hill, Longridge Fell Steve Palmer

1856 Larch Pug Longridge Fell Andrew Barker

1860 Green Pug Wheatley Cottage, Wheatley James Hide and Stephen

Palmer

1893 Tawny-barred Angle Longridge Fell Andrew Barker

2049 Buff Footman Longridge Fell Graham Jones & Andy

Barker

2134 Square-spot Rustic Longridge Fell Graham Jones & Andy

Barker

2162 Glaucous Shears Longridge Fell Andrew Barker

2233 Golden-rod Brindle Longridge Fell Graham Jones & Andy

Barker

2250 Dark Brocade Longridge Fell Andrew Barker

2265 Flounced Chestnut Longridge Fell Graham Jones & Andy

Barker

2338 Rufous Minor Wheatley Cottage, Wheatley James Hide and Stephen

Palmer

2341 Cloaked Minor Longridge Fell Graham Jones & Andy

Barker

2345 Small Dotted Buff Wheatley Cottage, Wheatley James Hide and Stephen

Palmer

2381 Uncertain Wheatley Cottage, Wheatley James Hide and Stephen

Palmer

2440 Lempke's Gold Spot Longridge Fell Andrew Barker

2489 Fan-foot Wheatley Cottage, Wheatley James Hide and Stephen

Palmer

SD66

1987 Bedstraw Hawk-moth Crossdale Grains wolfys Pete Marsh

2447 Scarce Silver Y Crossdale Grains wolfys Pete Marsh

SD71

1761 Autumn Green Carpet Edenfield, Rossendale Ina Smith

1775 Mottled Grey Edenfield, Rossendale Ina Smith

1837 Grey Pug Edenfield, Rossendale Ina Smith

1852 Brindled Pug Edenfield, Rossendale Ina Smith

1930 Oak Beauty Horrocksfold, Bolton Jim Ormerod

2145 Nutmeg Edenfield, Rossendale Ina Smith

2437 Golden Plusia Horrocksfold, Bolton Jim Ormerod

SD72

1669 Common Emerald Rishton Dave Bickerton

1708 Single-dotted Wave Rishton Dave Bickerton

1762 Dark Marbled Carpet Jack House area, Oswaldtwistle Mark Memory

1769 Spruce Carpet Jack House area, Oswaldtwistle Mark Memory

1802 Rivulet Rishton Dave Bickerton

1803 Small Rivulet Rishton Dave Bickerton

1819 Mottled Pug Rishton Dave Bickerton

1825 Lime-speck Pug Rishton Dave Bickerton

1830 Wormwood Pug Rishton Dave Bickerton

1832 Currant Pug Rishton Dave Bickerton

1873 Welsh Wave Jack House area, Oswaldtwistle Mark Memory

19

1874 Dingy Shell Rishton Dave Bickerton

1876 Small Yellow Wave Rishton Dave Bickerton

1884 Magpie Rishton Dave Bickerton

1940 Satin Beauty Jack House area, Oswaldtwistle Mark Memory

1947 Engrailed Jack House area, Oswaldtwistle Mark Memory

1994 Buff-tip Rishton Dave Bickerton

1996 Alder Kitten Rishton Dave Bickerton

1998 Poplar Kitten Rishton Dave Bickerton

2050 Common Footman Rishton Dave Bickerton

2061 Buff Ermine Rishton Dave Bickerton

2126 Setaceous Hebrew Character Rishton Dave Bickerton

2128 Double Square-spot Rishton Dave Bickerton

2173 Lychnis Rishton Dave Bickerton

2189 Twin-spotted Quaker Rishton Dave Bickerton

2199 Common Wainscot Rishton Dave Bickerton

2232 Black Rustic Rishton Dave Bickerton

2256 Satellite Rishton Dave Bickerton

2258 Chestnut Rishton Dave Bickerton

2262 Brick Rishton Dave Bickerton

2263 Red-line Quaker Rishton Dave Bickerton

2264 Yellow-line Quaker Jack House area, Oswaldtwistle Mark Memory

2269 Centre-barred Sallow Rishton Dave Bickerton

2280 Miller Jack House area, Oswaldtwistle Mark Memory

2312 Olive Rishton Dave Bickerton

2322 Light Arches Rishton Dave Bickerton

2336 Double Lobed Rishton Dave Bickerton

2341 Cloaked Minor Rishton Dave Bickerton

2342 Rosy Minor Rishton Dave Bickerton

2345 Small Dotted Buff Jack House area, Oswaldtwistle Mark Memory

2353 Flounced Rustic Rishton Dave Bickerton

2381 Uncertain Rishton Dave Bickerton

2382 Rustic Rishton Dave Bickerton

2440 Lempke's Gold Spot Rishton Dave Bickerton

2469 Herald Jack House area, Oswaldtwistle Mark Memory

2484 Pinion-streaked Snout Jack House area, Oswaldtwistle Mark Memory

SD73

1702 Small Fan-footed Wave Spring Wood, Nr. Whalley Andrew Barker

1754 Phoenix Spring Wood, Nr. Whalley Andrew Barker

1811 Slender Pug Spring Wood, Nr. Whalley Andrew Barker

2050 Common Footman Spring Wood, Nr. Whalley Andrew Barker

2335 Slender Brindle Spring Wood, Nr. Whalley Andrew Barker

2489 Fan-foot Spring Wood, Nr. Whalley Andrew Barker

SD74

2138 Green Arches Clitheroe Pete Morris

2150 Grey Arches Clitheroe Pete Morris

2280 Miller Clitheroe Pete Morris

2381 Uncertain Clitheroe Pete Morris

2382 Rustic Clitheroe Pete Morris

SD81

2031 White Satin Rochdale Peter Stevens

2379 Small Rufous Rochdale Peter Stevens

20

SD82

1727 Silver-ground Carpet Shedden Geoff Turner

1728 Garden Carpet Shedden Geoff Turner and Graham

Gavaghan

1738 Common Carpet Shedden Geoff Turner

1756 Northern Spinach Shedden Kevin McCabe

1776 Green Carpet Shedden Geoff Turner

1809 Twin-spot Carpet Shedden Kevin McCabe

2350 Small Wainscot Shedden Kevin McCabe

SD83

1702 Small Fan-footed Wave Burnley Geoff Turner and Graham

Gavaghan

SD84

1722 Flame Carpet Pendle Geoff Turner

1738 Common Carpet Black Moss Reservoir Geoff Turner

SD91

1708 Single-dotted Wave Calderbrook, Littleborough Yvonne Mynett and

S.Pinnington

1789 Scallop Shell Calderbrook, Littleborough Yvonne Mynett and

S.Pinnington

2039 Red-necked Footman Calderbrook, Littleborough Yvonne Mynett and

S.Pinnington

SD92

1856 Larch Pug Cockhill Wood Brian Leecy

SD94

1955 Common White Wave Foulridge area Kevin McCabe

SJ48

1951 Grey Birch Hale Widnes Carol Cockbain

2241 Red Sword-grass Hale Widnes Carol Cockbain

SJ58

1648 Pebble Hook-tip Penketh, Sanky Valley Joy Mitchell-Lisle

1722 Flame Carpet Penketh, Sanky Valley Joy Mitchell-Lisle

1777 July Highflyer Penketh, Sanky Valley Joy Mitchell-Lisle

1827 Freyer's Pug Penketh, Sanky Valley Joy Mitchell-Lisle

1851 Golden-rod Pug Penketh, Sanky Valley Joy Mitchell-Lisle

1867 Treble-bar Penketh, Sanky Valley Joy Mitchell-Lisle

1883 Yellow-barred Brindle Penketh, Sanky Valley Joy Mitchell-Lisle

1913 Canary-shouldered Thorn Penketh, Sanky Valley Joy Mitchell-Lisle

2031 White Satin Penketh, Sanky Valley Joy Mitchell-Lisle

2044 Dingy Footman Penketh, Sanky Valley Joy Mitchell-Lisle

2060 White Ermine Penketh, Sanky Valley Joy Mitchell-Lisle

2063 Muslin Moth Penketh, Sanky Valley Joy Mitchell-Lisle

2088 Heart and Club Penketh, Sanky Valley Joy Mitchell-Lisle

2166 Campion Penketh, Sanky Valley Joy Mitchell-Lisle

2179 Pine Beauty Penketh, Sanky Valley Joy Mitchell-Lisle

2188 Clouded Drab Penketh, Sanky Valley Joy Mitchell-Lisle

2189 Twin-spotted Quaker Penketh, Sanky Valley Joy Mitchell-Lisle

2232 Black Rustic Penketh, Sanky Valley Joy Mitchell-Lisle

2243 Early Grey Penketh, Sanky Valley Joy Mitchell-Lisle

2364 Frosted Orange Penketh, Sanky Valley Joy Mitchell-Lisle

0409a Argyresthia trifasciata Penketh, Sanky Valley Joy Mitchell-Lisle

21

SJ59

1752 Purple Bar Town Centre, St Helens Owen, D.

2380 Treble Lines Sankey Valley, St. Helens Owen, D.

SJ68

1933 Scarce Umber Bluebell Wood, Nr.Rixton Kevin McCabe

SJ69

2281 Alder Moth Windy Bank, Glazebury Roy Rhodes

2302 Brown Rustic Windy Bank, Glazebury Roy Rhodes

SJ79

1812 Maple Pug Flixton Kevin McCabe NEW COUNTY RECORD

2127 Triple-spotted Clay Flixton Kevin McCabe

Micromoth Report for 2012 Steve Palmer Despite the weather just short of 17,000 micro-moth records were submitted covering Lancashire’s two Vice Counties (VC59 and VC60) during 2012, a small decrease on the 2011 total. These were made up of 558 different species, a drop of 34 species from the previous year. The large number of species found precludes mentioning each individually and as a consequence only a summary of some of the more interesting, localised and notable species is presented below.

Four species were added to the county list during 2012 – one was an overlooked resident, one is extending its range nationally, another was a rare migrant and the final one, was an adventive (introduced) species found in grapes from a supermarket. Acleris effractana, the newly discovered resident species, has been searched for over several years since it was split from the common and widespread Acleris emargana. My experience of the moth in Scotland had suggested it was most likely to be found in the higher parts of the county in damp, scrubby areas close to moorland habitat and this proved to be the case. Nigel Rogers had critically examined several possible candidates over the last few years and eventually his patience and thorough-ness paid off. A second specimen, retained from the 2011 season, also proved to be this species. Acrolepiopsis assectella (the leek moth) has been spreading northwards in the UK but was still an unexpected arrival in Lancashire. The nearest known rec-ords were probably at least 100 miles away from John Donnelly’s light trap in Crosby. It can be an occasional garden pest on leeks, so was not exactly welcomed with open arms by some of the keen gardeners amongst us. The third new species, Platy-tes alpinella, was one of those strange and totally unexpected arrivals in a light trap. In one of the worst years we’ve experi-enced for migratory species, this moth chose to arrive with some strong easterly winds. Fortunately Steve Palmer checked his Preston light trap early in the morning on this occasion (not always the case!) as the moth was sitting on the outside, on one of the fins. The final moth, an adventive species, arrived courtesy of a supermarket purchase of grapes in Bootle by Charlie Fletcher. Charlie tried to track down the origin of the packet that Anatrachyntis badia arrived in – the supermarket staff ad-vised it could have been Spain or Brazil so unfortunately we’ll never quite know its origin.

Included in the comprehensive details of the new county records below are a few species added to one or other of the vice counties (59 or 60).

Yponomeutidae

445 Ocnerostoma friesei Svensson – Lightfoot Green SD513333 (60) to MV light 4.viii.2012, genitalia det. – C. A. & S. M. Palmer.

Glyphipterigidae

473 Acrolepiopsis assectella (Zell.) – Crosby SJ325991 (59) to MV light 25.vi.2012 – J. Donnelly.

Coleophoridae

517a Coleophora frischella (Linn.) – Gait Barrows NNR SD479769 (60) to MV light 25.v.2012, female genitalia det. (SMP) – G. Jones.

Momphidae

887 Mompha lacteella (Steph.) – Worsthorne SD870329 (59) to MV light 28.vi.2012, genitalia det. (SMP) – G. Gavaghan & G. Turner.

Cosmopterigidae

0897a Anatrachyntis badia (Hodges) – Bootle SJ39 (59) alive in bag of supermarket Grapes (origin unknown) 28.x.2012, det. B. Smart – C. Fletcher.

22

Tortricidae

1062a Acleris effractana (Hubn.) – Bay Horse SD529525 (60) to MV light 18.viii.2012 male, genitalia det. – N. A. J. Rogers.

Crambidae

1325 Platytes alpinella (Hubn.) – Lightfoot Green SD513333 (60) to MV light 11.viii.2012 – C. A. & S. M. Palmer.

Pterophoridae

1503 Platyptilia ochrodactyla (D. & S.) – St. Annes SD3130 (60) netted amongst tansy at dusk 20.viii.2012 – S. M. Palmer.

A visit to Lancashire by micromoth expert Bob Heckford and colleague Stella Beavan during 2012 resulted in details of the biol-ogy of two micromoth species being understood to a far greater extent than had been the case before. A detailed description of the larva of Scythris fallacella was published during a visit to Warton Crag on the 17th May where the moth was bred follow-ing larvae and pupa being found on Helianthemum nummularium (common rock-rose). Celypha rufana’s larva and foodplants were found for the first time in Britain when Bob and Stella visited Gait Barrows on the following day and again subsequently reared the moth. The foodplants included the dead leaves of Fragaria vesca (wild strawberry) and Potentilla sterilis (barren strawberry).

As well as the new county and vice county records listed above, it was a reasonable year for records relating to species in new 10km squares. Quite a few of these records come from garden light-trap sites, but daytime visits, rearing of larvae and leaf mine searches away from gardens have produced many of the most interesting records. Rearing of larvae and looking for feeding signs can be as successful as light trapping where micros are concerned and I would urge all recorders to give this a try. Try the British Leaf-mining fauna website (http://www.leafmines.co.uk/index.htm) for example as an excellent identification resource.

Over the first few months of each year the bulk of micromoth records relate to overwintering moths from genera such as Agonopterix or Mompha. One such report related to the County’s second Mompha jurrasicella found in Morecambe on the 13th March (J. Girdley - JG). This species, together with M. bradleyi and M. sturnipennella are spreading into and across Lanca-shire and are worth keeping an eye out for indoors or in sheds or outhouses. A similar spread of several of this genus has l ike-wise been reported in Yorkshire (H. Beaumont, pers. comm.). Newly emerged micros coming to light traps early in the season are restricted to relatively few species. One of these widespread but sometimes over-looked species is Tortricodes alternella and this was new to a well recorded garden in Hale (C. Cockbain) on 2nd March.

Biselachista trapeziella had not been noted since the 19th Century in Lancashire and has been the subject of larval searches by a couple of recorders over recent years, unfortunately without success. It was therefore pleasing to come across the larva feeding on Luzula pilosa (hairy wood-rush) in the Brock Bottoms area on 27th April and to rear the moth through to confirm identity (S Palmer – SP). The larva also feeds on L. sylvatica (greater wood-rush) which is a regular plant of the wooded river banks of the Lune and Wyre. Searches here have so far failed to locate the moth but the recent find at Brock suggests further searches would be worthwhile. Another species found by searching for leaf mines in spring is Bucculatrix cristatella, a local but surely under-recorded species which feeds on Achillea millefolium (yarrow). A visit to Marshside (nr. Southport) on 3rd May (K. McCabe, SP) produced a few larval feeding cocoons of this apparently local moth, one of which was bred through.

Tracking species as they expand their range through the county is a fascinating project and garden light trappers can make a significant contribution to our understanding of this spread as it occurs. Tachystola acroxantha, an introduced species in Brit-ain originally from Australia, is doing well and has been reported for the first time in several new areas during 2012. These include Houghton on 20th May (G. Dixon), Widnes on 28th May (P. Hillyer) and Preston on 26th June (C. Palmer & SP). Caloptilia azaleella, another moth on the move, was found in Preston on 26th May (A. Powell), Penketh on 2nd August (J. Mitchell-Lisle – JM-L) and Aintree on 8th August (K. Fairclough – KF). KF also found Argyresthia cupressella new to his Aintree garden on 26th June, a species that was also new to the Southport area on 10th June (R. Moyes). Although associated with garden conifers and junipers, A. cupressella is expanding more slowly than some other garden associated species.

Although the weather was not at its best in following the sunny period of late May, several local species were found in late May and June. All were at light and included Pammene obscurana in Yealand Redmayne on the 25th May (JG), Elachista subal-bidella in Adlington (P. Krischkiw) on 4th June, Crambus pratella at Ainsdale on 12th (R. Moyes – RM), the same site also produc-ing Morophaga choragella (J. Clews, C. Daly & RM) on the 26th. On the same date Agonopterix yeatiana was found in Walmer Bridge (G. Jones), Ancylis unguicella in Rochdale (P. Stevens – PS) and Carpatolechia fugitivella in Rainford (S. Williams). The set of June highlights were rounded off nicely when Homoeosoma sinuella came to light in Carleton on the 28th (J. Scragg).

A table of some of the more notable species found during July, August and September is reproduced over the page.

23

Choreutis pariana is normally a scarce moth in the county but 2012 proved to be a bit of a bumper year for the species with four records! All related to the moths rather than the larval stages and they were found in Chorlton on the 21st July (B. Smart), Parr on the 7th September (R. Banks), Poulton le Fylde on the 9th September (A. Smith) and Flixton on the 11th Octo-ber (KM).

Collecting sead-heads of various plants in late autumn or overwinter is often a good way to see moths that rarely come to light. Heads of Fleabane, Knapweed and Tansy may all produce moths the following spring and summer while heads of Tea-sel can produce a couple of different species, including Endothenia gentianaeana. This very local species in the county ap-peared from some teasel heads collected in Martinscroft by KM.

It is quite unusual for long-term resident species to suddenly put on a dramatic range expansion, but this does seem to be the case with the beautiful orange and black micro, Mompha locupletella. In the 19th and 20th century there had been only eight records while during the first 13 years of the 21st century there have been 52 records, most of these post 2006. During August and early September 2012 the adults were attracted to light at ten sites across the county, including new sites in Edenfield (Rossendale) on the 19th August (I. Smith), Penketh on 21st (JM-L), Euxton on 22nd (R. Hoult), Mill Houses (JG) on 2nd September and Rochdale (PS) on the 9th.

Most people’s experience of the smaller moths relates to those regularly occurring in their light traps. The species found in largest numbers during 2012 was, for the second year running, the bird-cherry ermine Yponomeuta evonymella. This was followed by the light-brown apple moth, Epiphyas postvittana, which has made a good recovery after its dramatic drop in numbers during 2010. The bee moth, Aphomia sociella, dropped out of the top ten in line with the reduced numbers of bumble bees and wasps that have been around over the last two years. Its place was taken by a moorland grass-moth spe-cies Catoptria margaritella. The presence of this species in the top ten is likely to be a transient one as it was found on one occasion during a daytime visit to a damp upland site in huge numbers and also abundantly at a light trap on a couple of up-land trapping sessions.

Coleophora trifolii Westhead A. & S. Parsons 7th Jul. one of several similar species

Crambus uliginosellus Leighton Moss S. Palmer 7th Jul. second site in VC60

Bryotropha politella Loftshaw Moss J. Girdley 14th Jul. local, upland sp. gen. det. SP

Yponomeuta rorrella Heysham NR J. Girdley 16th Jul. search for larval webs

Bryotropha politella Pendle Hill G. Turner 18th Jul. local, upland sp. gen. det. SP

Coleophora adspersella Southport R. Moyes 20th Jul. very local, gen. det. SP

Bryotropha terrella Oswaldtwis- M. Memory 20th Jul. new area for this common sp

Lozotaenia forsterana Glazebury R. Rhodes, J. Wilson 23rd Jul. uncommon sw lancs - new site

Orthotelia sparganella Hoole A. Barker 24th Jul. only 2012 record of this local sp.

Carpatolechia fugitivella Wheatley J. Hide, S. Palmer 24th Jul. new area for this local sp.

Philedone gerningana Pendle Hill G. Turner 24th Jul. new 10km for this upland sp.

Agonopterix liturosa Heysham NR A. Draper 30th Jul. 3rd county record - last 1986

Cochylis dubitana Hale C. Cockbain 1st Aug. new site for this common sp.

Nymphula stagnata Rishton D. Bickerton 4th Aug. widespread, rarely reported

Philedone gerningana Bleasedale B. Dyson 10 Aug. new 10km for this upland sp.

Acleris caledoniana Pendle Hill G. Turner 10 Aug. new 10km for this upland sp.

Prochoreutis myllerana Blackpool A. Smith 11 Aug. good year for this sp.

Eana incanana Whalley A. Barker 11 Aug. very local

Roeslerstammia erxlebella Wigan G. & B. Wynn 12 Aug. spreading northwards

Ypsolopha nemorella Conderside J. Chadwick 14 Aug. very local sp.

Prochoreutis myllerana Conderside J. Chadwick 14 Aug. several found over a few days

Roeslerstammia erxlebella Preston A. Powell 15 Aug. slowly spreading northwards

Nymphula stagnata Horwich J. Mills, K. Haydock 18 Aug. widespread but rarely reported

Argyresthia semifusca Ince Woods J. Donnelly, C. Fletcher 3 Sept. local sp., possibly under-recorded

Depressaria badiella Formby R. Walker 5 Sept. very local - gen. det. SP

Stigmella magdalenae Foulridge K. McCabe 6 Sept. On rowan - 2nd county rec

Depressaria badiella Lytham J. Wardle 14 Sept. very local, gen. det. SP

Bohemannia pulverosella Anglezarke K. McCabe 15 Sept. mines on apple leaves

Ypsolopha sequella Edenfield I. Smith 20 Sept. new area for this common sp.

Parornix scoticella Oswaldtwis- K. McCabe 22 Sept. local - mines on rowan

24

Only one of our micromoths occurs on the National Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) list. Anania funebris is a small but beautiful black, white and yellow day-flying moth that can be seen in May on the limestone areas of north Lancashire. Its flight period during 2012 coincided with some of the worst late spring weather I’ve known. Very cold and cloudy conditions were followed by a brief spell of sunny weather in late May and thereafter the wet set in. For the first time in many years I failed to see the moth at all in Lancashire and only five reports were received between 22nd May and 10th June, from Gait Barrows NNR and Warton Crag. All of the reports were of singletons except two at Gait Barrows on the 25th May (G Jones). Anyone visiting the north Lancs limestone during 2013 is asked to keep a special look out for this moth – any reported sightings can be passed on to Graham or I in the usual way.

Each year Kevin McCabe very kindly puts together a list of new 10km records for each micromoth species and the 2012 list can be seen in the Files area of the Lancashire Moth Yahoo Group (for details about joining this internet group contact Graham Dixon on troubleatmill@btinternet.com or Graham Jones, contact details at the end of this Report). Additionally Kevin pro-vides an invaluable resource showing the distribution of each species by 10km square in a matrix style format. This can be found on the Lancashire Moth Group website www.lancashiremoths.co.uk and is an good way of finding under-recorded areas on the county. Do try to target an area near you during 2013.

I hope many of you have been using the superb new Field Guide to the Micromoths of Great Britain and Ireland by Phil Ster-ling (one of the country’s top micromoth experts), Mark Parsons, head of Moth conservation at Butterfly Conservation and the internationally renowned artist Richard Lewington. In order to assist recorders with developing their micromoth identification skills, a weekend course is being held in late September based initially at Liverpool Museum, followed by fieldwork in Formby and, on the following day at Roudsea Wood and Mosses NNR. Booking for this proved extremely popular and all 30 places were taken within a couple of days of advertising on the internet.

I am always happy to receive specimens or good quality photos of micromoths to identify, particularly from under-recorded areas. When submitting the records it is very important to note if someone else has identified the moth for you, even if this process has been carried out on-line. There are many internet groups covering moths, such as back garden moths or ukmicro-moths which provide this help so please ask for the name of the identifier if it is not obvious from their ‘internet name’. That person should be listed as the Determiner when submitting a record. If there are any subsequent questions about the record it will be known whom to address any questions to.

Please could all those submitting records via Mapmate avoid using anything greater than an eight digit grid reference as this causes problems when extracting the data for onward transmission to other recording schemes. If you want to note a ten digit then this can be placed in the comments column. Six digit references are ideal as far as the Moth Group is concerned.

Thanks to all of you who have submitted records for 2012 and I look forward to a bumper crop of records in 2013.

Borrow a Moth Trap

The Lancashire Branch of Butterfly Conservation has two moth traps available for loan (subject to prior bookings) usually for about a fortnight to a month at a time. One is a mains electricity powered mercury vapour bulb Robinson trap, which has a very bright light and can catch large numbers of moths in suitable conditions. The other is a reasonably portable battery pow-ered 15W Actinic trap which can be used in gardens or elsewhere. Its light output is much lower than the Robinson and con-sequently it catches fewer moths but is ideal for areas where the bright light of the other might cause nuisance to neighbours. The traps come with an identification book and are an ideal way to experiment with moth trapping and to see if it is some-thing you might like to continue with in the future. Even if you don’t take up moth trapping any records you make during the loan period will be of great value in expanding our knowledge of moth distribution in Lancashire.

Species Records Individuals 2011

Yponomeuta evonymella 187 (335) 4714 (2875) 1st

Epiphyas postvittana 882 (506) 3168 (1330) 6th

Chrysoteuchia culmella 542 (447) 2507 (1600) 4th

Agriphila straminella 398 (435) 1773 (2253) 2nd

Eudonia mercurella 599 (480) 1620 (1461) 5th

Pleuroptya ruralis 376 (426) 1162 (1189) 8th

Scoparia ambigualis 355 (368) 1092 (1224) 7th

Udea lutealis 278 (254) 1081 (872) 10th

Catoptria margaritella 67 (42) 1049 (514) -

Agriphila tristella 320 (409) 1007 (1738) 3rd

25

Eaves, Seamus

Ellison, Mary

Elsworth, Martin & Jenny

Fairclough, Keith

Fletcher, Charlie

Foot, Dave

Foy, David

Gavaghan, Graham

Giavanni, Vince

Gibson, John & Margaret

Gilchrist, Peter &

Veronica

Girdley, John

Gleave, Ann

Graham, Stuart

Grubb, Alasdair

Hall, Rick

Halliwell, Steve

Hancock, Brian

Hannan, Amy

Hardy, Peter B.

Haydock, Ken

Heckford, Bob

Heslop, Anne

Hide, James

Hill, Rod

Hillyer, Paul

Hilton, Roy

Holding, John

Hornby, Peter

Hoult, Richard

Hugo, B.

Hutchinson, Tim

Jones, Gary

Jones, Graham

Kippax, Ian

Kitching, Mr. & Mrs.

Krischkiw, Peter

Lambert, Denis

Langrish, Eddie

Lawson, Karen

Allen, Sonia

Anderton, John

Ashton, Pippa

Ashworth, Gavin

Baines, Ashley

Banks, Ray

Barker, Andrew

Barnes, Peter

Bateson, Alex

Beattie, David

Beattie, Jim

Beavan, Stella

Bedford, Alan

Bedford, Susan

Benson, John

Bickerton, Dave

Bloomfield, Michael J.

Bond, S.

Botham, Marc

Boydell, Roy

Briers, SBritt, A.

Broomfield, Mary

Brotherstone, Liz

Brown, David

Burkmar, Richard

Bushell, Colin

Caunce, Dorothy

Chadwick, J.

Cheney, Alec

Christian, J.

Clerk, Mike & Joyce

Clews, John

Cockbain, Carol

Daly, Colin

Darbyshire, Chris

Davenport, Trevor

Davies, Colin

Davies, Ken

Dean, Mary

Deed, Ben

Dixon, Graham

Dockery, Mike

Donnelly, John

Draper, Alan

Dyson, Barry

Leecy, Brian

Lumb, David

Lyon, Liz

Machin, Adam

Mansfield, Phil

Marsh, Pete

Martin, S. J.

Maynard, Maurice

McCabe, Jenny

McCabe, Kevin

McGrath, Dave

Memory, Mark

Miller, Richard

Mills, Jill

Mitchell-Lisle, Joy

Morris, Pete

Mower, Irene

Moyes, Ron

Mynnett, Yvonne

Neale, Eddy

Neil, Gregory

Neville, Reuben

Newton, Jennifer

Ormerod, Jim

Owen, Dave

Packham, Janet

Palmer, Carolyn

Palmer, Steve

Parker, Stuart

Parsons, Alex & Shelagh

Partington, Raymond

Peacock, Colin

Petley-Jones, Rob

Piggot, Alex

Pinnington, Steve

Powell, Alan

Priestley, Stephen

Rae, Jennifer

Rhodes, Roy

Richards, Mo

Riley, Ella

Riley, Geoff

Roberts, Jean

Rogers, Nigel

RSPB Vol. team

Rumley, David

Ryder, Steve

Sarre, Valerie

Scragg, Jonathan

Sefton, Clare

Shaw, Anne

Simpson, Archie

Sivell, Laura

Smart, Ben

Smith, Anne E

Smith, D. A.

Smith, David

Smith, Derek & Ida

Smith, Ina

Smith, Judith

Smith, Phil

Stevens, Peter

Stokes, Sylvia

Sunners, Fiona

Threadgold, L.

Tordoff, Martin

Turner, Geoff

Vale, J

Vickers, D. E.

Wain, Martin

Walker, Ian

Walker, Richard

Walsh, Frank

Wardle, Jean

Whitaker, Terry

Whitehouse, Steve

Williams, Stuart

Wilson, J. Dave

Woosey, Ian

Wright, David

Wynn, Geoff and Barbara

Wyse, Gordon

Moth Recorders 2012

26

Apologies if anyone has been omitted from this list by mistake – if so do please let Steve Palmer know (address be-low).

Please keep the records coming in, with Date, Location, Grid Reference (to six figures if poss.), Recorder and Deter-miner. Please note that records posted on Yahoo or Twitter sites should be submitted as above to the one or other of the County Recorders.

Send Records To:

County Macro-moth Recorder

Graham Jones,

45 Liverpool Old Road, Walmer Bridge, Preston PR4 5QA. 01772 617221 or email - gra_ham_jones@yahoo.co.uk

County Microlepidoptera Recorder

Steve Palmer, 137 Lightfoot Lane, Fulwood, Preston PR4 0AH. 01772 861570 or s.palmer12@btopenworld.com

Records can be sent to either of the above. Please continue to send Mapmate files to Steve (CUK - 1b8). If record-ers would like a written reply acknowledging receipt of their records or other correspondence, a stamped self-addressed envelope would be appreciated by Graham and Steve.