Some Moths during August

 Good weather conditions for moth-trapping continued throughout August. A good variety of species were attracted to the light, consisting of a mixture of residents, regular migrants and episodic breeders.

Blue Underwing (Catocala fraxini)

Formerly only a rare migrant, this species has appeared in my garden for most years since 2016 and is now an episodic breeder in Sussex and beyond. This magnificent moth impresses even before it opens its wings. With a wingspan of about 3.5 inches (90 mm), I am always surprised when I see this huge moth resting on the house wall next to the light.

Of the images that follow, the first three and the next three are of two different specimens.

Jersey Tiger (Euplagia quadripunctaria) (typical form)

Poplar Hawkmoth (Laothoe populi) (second brood)

Iron Prominent (Notodonta dromedarius) (second brood)

Pebble Prominent (Notodonta ziczac) (second brood)

Vapourer (Orgyia antiqua) (male)

Dark Sword-grass (Agrotis ipsilon) (regular migrant)

Copper Underwing (Amphipyra pyramidea)

Straw Underwing (Thalpophila matura)

Blood-vein (Timandra comae)

Small Dusty Wave (Idaea seriata)

Vestal (Rhodometra sacraria) (regular migrant)

Garden Carpet (Xanthorhoe fluctuata)

Yellow Shell (Camptogramma bilineata bilineata)

Treble-bar (Aplocera plagiata plagiata) (male)

This is the first record for this species in my garden.

Tawny-barred angle (Macaria liturata)

Latticed Heath (Chiasmia clathrata clathrata)

Another first record for my garden.

Canary-shouldered Thorn (Ennomos alniaria) (male)

Chinese Character (Cilix glaucata)

Palpita vitrealis (regular migrant)

Musotima nitidalis (accidental import)

Conobathra tumidana (scarce migrant)

This is a first record for my garden and tumidana may now be breeding in Sussex.

Late Summer on Pevensey Levels

 After a hot summer, there is definitely a feel that autumn is just around the corner. However, this does not mean that the insect season is over just yet, with the potential for more excitement to come during September and October.

The following images were taken during late July and August on Pevensey Levels.

Wall (Lasiommata megera)

(male)

(female)

  

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)

Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus)

 (male)

Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas)

Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum)

(Immature male)

Willow Emerald Damselfly (Chalcolestes viridis)

(male)

Wasp Spider (Argiope bruennichi)

(female)

Suede Bolete (Boletus subtomentosus)

This fungus is also known as Yellow Cracking Bolete.

The Grayling

 The Grayling (Hipparchia semele) is a very rare butterfly in East Sussex and is restricted to just one downland site, which I have visited regularly over the years. 

However, I haven't managed any visits to the site since about 2020 and so I was very keen to reacquaint myself with this interesting species in 2025.

I have always found the peak flight period at this site to be about the last week of July and the first week of August but when I arrived on 6th August, I didn't see any after two hours of searching. It seems that the Grayling has not had a very good year.

By way of allaying my disappointment, here are some images of the Grayling, taken between 2007 and 2015.

Grayling (Hipparchia semele)

(males)

(females)

(mating)

The first two images are of a mating pair successfully fending off a male interloper.

The same pair at rest.