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Spring Moths at Flamborough

Sun 11th May, 2014

Despite a second consecutive cold spring, moth-trappers at Flamborough Head have discovered a few special species in their traps this April and May.

With most records coming from the south-west of Britain, a Pale Pinion caught in the village in April by Martin Garner was only the 6th record for Flamborough. A member of the Noctuid family, the Pale Pinion is a resident moth which emerges from hibernation early in the spring after spending the winter in some sheltered location such as behind loose bark.

Scarcer still, with only two previous records from Flamborough, the Mullein is also more interesting in appearance, with dark outer edges to the pale forewings giving the moth at rest the appearance of a sliver of tree bark. Those with the widest dark bands are likely to be females. Although the larvae (caterpillars) feed on species of mullein plants, as the name suggests, they are equally attracted to garden buddleias.          

While both these moths are resident, overwintering in Britain, there are also many migrants among the sturdy and strong-flying moths of the Noctuid family. By comparison, the Geometer family consists of literal lightweights with a relatively weak flight. Consequently, nearly all British Geometers are resident.

The Waved Umber is one of these. A beautifully marked moth, it has an even stronger southerly distribution than the Pale Pinion, so its appearance in Martin’s trap this spring was most welcome. Broad and narrow dark horizontal lines on the forewing and a distinctive drooping moustache-shaped one across the hindwings break up its outline as well as providing excellent camouflage against a tree.

Like most other Geometrids, the Water Carpet rests with wings held in a typically triangular shape. Although the species is not caught on Flamborough’s Outer Head every year, this spring a few singles have appeared there, while at South Landing, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust’s Living Seas Centre has recorded several. In the north of England, a stunning black and white form of the species sometimes occurs.

For regular updates on Flamborough’s wildlife, including its moths, visit the Flamborough Bird Observatory website.

Gaynor Chapman