Written by Charles Fletcher
Over the last few years, most moth trapping has taken place on the main reserve. This year however nearly all the focus was on the quarry area, especially around some of the newly planted fenland. It is important to establish a baseline of what occurs in the area to make it easier to assess the effects of the planting and if all goes according to plan, to monitor wetland species moving into the area. A surprising 16 new species were logged for the reserve in 2023, one of which was new for Yorkshire and a further three which were new for VC65. This takes the species list to 671. An impressive 303 species were recorded during the course of the year.
New Species
Nemophora cupriacella: this beautiful little “longhorn” moth with shiny coppery wings is very local in the county with very few known sites. Adults were found on 7th and 22nd June on heads of teasel in the sunshine.
Nemophora cupriacella Charles Fletcher
Cauchas rufimitrella: another longhorn moth which is generally found in the daytime around cuckooflower or garlic mustard. One was found in the polytunnel on 19th May.
Narycia duplicella: larvae of the Psychidae or “bagworms” make portable cases out of granular materials, bits of vegetation or dead insect matter. Some can be tricky to identify. This is probably the commonest species and is usually found on lichen-covered tree trunks. Several larval cases were found on a fence post on 22nd October.
Narycia duplicella Charles Fletcher
Nemapogon koenigi: larvae of this Tineid species usually feed in bracket fungi on dead birch trees. Adults occasionally come to light but are more commonly found in pheromone traps set for various clearwing species. Adults were attracted to FOR and VES lures on 15th June.
Nemapogon koenigi Charles Fletcher
Swammerdamia pyrella: this fairly common birch-feeding species came to light on 21st August.
Glyphipterix thrasonella: this rush-feeding species was swept by day on 22nd June at the edge of the fen.
Scythropia crataegella: a hawthorn-feeding species which is gradually moving north. One on the 15th June was the first record for VC65.
Scythropia crataegella Charles Fletcher
Blastobasis vittata: this is a recent colonist to Britain, having come from Madeira like other members of its genus. It is difficult to distinguish from the much commoner B. adustella and needs dissection to confirm. The larvae probably feed on detritus. One to light on 10th July was the first for the county. A second was found in October in Bramley. It may already be more widespread than records suggest.
Neocochylis molliculana: this has spread since it first arrived in the county in 2019. There was a small influx into our area in late August. One was netted on 21st August around its foodplant, bristly oxtongue, which is common in the quarry area. A new species for VC65.
Neocochylis molliculana Charles Fletcher
Rhodophaea formosa: this beautiful elm-feeding species was a major surprise when it was trapped on 10th July. All Yorkshire records are well to our south-east. Another new species for VC65.
Rhodophaea formosa Charles Fletcher
Homoeosoma sinuella: a ribwort-feeding species. It has been slowly expanding its range and has now reached Scotland. Surprisingly one trapped on 10th July was the first record for VC65
Homoeosoma sinuella Charles Fletcher
Humming-bird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum: it is very surprising that this regular migrant species has not been recorded from Nosterfield before. One was seen on the main reserve on 20th July.
Bordered Beauty Epione repandaria: a moth of wet woodland, the larva usually feeding on sallows. One was trapped on 10th July.
Scarce Footman Eilema complana: like most “Footmen”, this lichen-feeder is expanding its range and is an overdue addition to the list. One was trapped on 10th July.
Vine’s Rustic Hoplodrina ambigua: another species spreading rapidly across the county; the larvae feeding on a wide range of herbaceous plants. One was trapped on 21st August.
Autumnal Rustic Eugnorisma glareosa: a heathland/moorland species that is also seen at times on the lower ground. The larvae are polyphagous. One was trapped on 7th October.
Other notable records
Ectoedemia argyropeza: green “islands” formed by the larvae on leaves of aspen were found on 30th October near the polytunnel and near the reed bed.
Depressaria badiella: seven trapped on 31st August were the only ones in the county this year. This very local species depends on Hypochaeris (cat’s ear) or Sonchus (sow thistle) species.
Coleophora tamesis: one to light on 15th June was our second record. A local species, the larvae form a case from which they feed on jointed rush.
Pammene giganteana: one to a pheromone trap on 31st March – the second record for the reserve. The use of pheromones has shown that this oak-feeding species is more common than previously suspected.
Pammene giganteana Charles Fletcher
Leopard Moth Zeuzera pyrina: one on 10th July was our third record.
Red-tipped Clearwing Synanthedon formicaeformis: one to a pheromone lure on 15th June.
Pale Eggar Trichiura crataegi: one on 21st August was our second record. A moth of open woodland in slow decline across the country.
Dark Umber Philereme transversata: one on 10th July. A rather local buckthorn-feeding species.
Netted Pug Eupithecia venosata: one netted around bladder campion at dusk on 15th June at the main reserve. A beautiful and very local species, not seen at Nosterfield since 2016.
Netted Pug Charles Fletcher
Garden Tiger Arctia caja: four on 10th July. A declining species but doing well at Nosterfield.
Miller Acronicta leporina: one on 10th July was the first record of this woodland moth since 2015.
Silky Wainscot Chilodes maritima: nine on 10th July. This reed-feeding species is doing well at Nosterfield.
Small Rufous Coenobia rufa: one on 10th July. The larvae feed on various rush species.
Olive Ipimorpha subtusa: one on 21st August. A declining species. Larvae feed on aspen and other poplars.
Lead-coloured Drab Orthosia populeti: nine each on 23rd and 30th March. A very local moth across the county, but we always get good numbers at Nosterfield because of the proliferation of aspen.
Obscure Wainscot Leucania obsoleta: singles on 15th June and 10th July. Another reed bed species.
White-marked Cerastis leucographa: two on 20th April. A rather local species with a good population in our area.
In 2024 we hope to continue monitoring Nosterfield’s moth population, especially in the newly created fenland. There are several wetland species currently resident to our south east and it will be interesting to see if they spread in our direction.