Notes of BMG meeting 8^th July 2010

Location: Maiden Erleigh Local Nature Reserve, Interpretation Centre

Attendees:

Richard Eagling, Ricki Bull, Nick Asher, Paul Black, Ian Clayton, Nick Percival, Les Finch, Jan Hasler, Norman Hall, John & Margaret Notton, John Cole, Grahame Hawker, Mark Calway, Ian Sims, Roger Haywood, Ian Masters, Peter Holland, Peter Cuss

Apologies:

Apologies were received in advance from Roy Dobson, Susan Nichols and Mike Collins

· Notes (usually taken by Roy) taken by Mark

· Refreshments (usually provided by Susan) provided by Grahame

Meeting:

The “round the table”, where members report sightings and records in the last period, was as popular and interesting as ever. Extracts follow:

Ricki: (Earley)

· Species from her garden included Small Ranunculus.

· A trip to Hartslock with Jan produced, amongst others, Ruddy Carpet.

· A trip to Frontiers with Nick P, John L and others was highly appreciated (see report by Nick P below)

· Made a request for good quality photos of moths suitable for reproducing at A4, laminating and using on the display boards.

Nick A:

· New for garden included Large Nutmeg

· Buff Arches and Bee Moths have been seen in good numbers (others agreed)

· Bordered White and some micros (didn’t catch names) were reported

· Meeting at Snelsmoor – Keith Tomar has requested that any beetles attracted be passed on to him

Paul :

· Devon Carpet

· At Snelsmoor: Small Black Arches (Na), Kent Black Arches (Nb) and Red-necked Footman

· Question raised about the description of “nationally notable” in the book Field Guide to the Moths of Great Britain and Ireland: Waring, Townsend and Lewington.

Ian C

· Lots of Elephant Hawkmoths

· White Point 8^th and 19th June

· Many Small Tortoiseshells

· A possible early August Thorn was presented for checking and proved to be the September Thorn

Nick P (Wokingham)

· Since last meeting trapping in garden (approx 7 times) produced 1,125 moths of 135 species

· Leopard Moth

· 14 species of tortrix moth

· Cyprus Carpet (also reported by others)

· Sycamore, Miller and Rosy Marbled

· Beautiful Golden Y

· Frontiers: Nick, John Lerpinier, Ricki Teacher, Ann Lesley, 20 girls plus parents overnight camp. Very successful. BMG represented very well by those who provided traps, info and identification. Highly appreciated. Insisted on making donation of £50:00 to BMG funds “So we can ask you to do it again”. Well done all BMG members involved.

· Horse chestnut leaf miner survey link and info at www.birdguides.com

Les: (Maidenhead)

· 3,600 (Macro) moths of 142 species

· Lackey, Spinach, Cyprus Carpet, Scallop Shell

· 2 x Scarlet Tigers and 3 Old Lady moths, Waved Black

· Thursley Common: Satin Lutestring

· Local Woodland: 3 x Mocha

· Windsor Forest:

o Festoon

o 2 x Heart Moth

o Beautiful Snout

o Pauper Pug

o 69 x Light Red Arches

· Hyde Farm: Striped Lychnis

· Scotland: Light Knot Grass

· Saxon

Les reported on behalf of David White, that he had a Royal Mantle

Les reported on behalf of Bernard Clarke, that he recorded Dotted Fan-foot at Windsor Forest (A new macro for Berkshire)

Jan: (Tilehurst)

· Five-Spot Burnet Zygaena trifolii (confirmed by John Langmaid) – worth looking next May

Norman: (Earley)

· Padworth Common, 23^rd June midsummer's day night: Full moon.

o Grey Arches, Green Arches, Rosy Marbled

· Salisbury

o Cream-bordered Green-pea

o Roger commented – also recorded in Slough

o Ian S commented – should/could be in Kennet Valley – worth checking

John N (Sonning / Sonning Common?)

· Having been away for the last couple of meetings, told how Emperor Moth larvae resulting from assembling earlier in the year, had accompanied him and Margaret on a couple of B&B holidays

· Cones collected from pine last year did not produce hoped-for Cydia Conicolana – Ricki still to check her batch of cones from the same tree

· Epinotia signatana

Jon Cole: (Winnersh)

· Has missed the last 84 meetings! (i.e. last attended about 7 years ago). Now retired (From Jealot’s Hill Research Station) so may be able to attend more frequently

· National Moth Night with Ian Sims at Dinton Pastures – very poor results

· Dragonfly survey with Mike Thurton (county dragonfly recorder)

· Lavell’s Lake: Mother Shipton

Grahame (Padworth)

· Volunteers wanted to man a stand at Earley Green Fair on 7^th August

· Volunteers wanted to man a stand at Berkshire County Show

· Sheepdrove Organic Farm: Possible location for visit/moth trapping

Mark (Earley)

· National Insect Week: Winnersh garden centre (Country gardens) 5-day unmanned display and weekend manned display and exhibition of live caterpillars and butterflies. Promoted UTB BC and BMG. Many leaflets on moths and plants for insects taken and some BC membership leaflets distributed. Much interest from public and staff

· Members of the public reported hummingbird hawkmoth sightings from previous years and brought caterpillars for identification: near full-grown Mullein moth larvae and small Painted Lady butterfly larvae

Ian Sims: (Lower Earley)

· First visit to BMG. Ten minute journey on foot actually took an hour – compensated by finding Dahlica triquetrella at previously unrecorded locations on route and thus increasing known range

· Possible new to Britain Gelechiidae species

Roger: (Finchamstead)

· 137 species of macro moth since last month’s meeting

· Eggs produced by Wood Tiger and Small Chocolate-tip have hatched

· Purple Hairstreak butterflies: 5 newly emerged females found in conservatory

Ian M

· Trapped at 3 locations in the period

· Sandhurst: Lime Hawkmoth

· Caution: Most Riband Wave are ab. Remutata – careful not to mistake for Plain Wave

· Middleton, West Sussex

o Diamond backed moth

o Channel Island Pug

o L-Album Wainscot – 3 per night

o Cream-bordered Green Pea

o Small Yellow Wave

· Tip: Moths coming in too fast to record. Found modern (ie solid state) Dictaphone useful. £30:00 at Comet

· Purbeck, Corfe, Dorset: Small Tortoiseshell

· EXHIBIT: Larvae of European Giant Peacock (Ex Ian Sims from France)

Peter H (Wallingford VC22)

· Ran trap in garden 22 times in last month

· Grass rivulet in garden

Peter C (Caversham )

· 1^st season trapping (for around 15+ years)

· Small Emerald, Scarlet Tiger

· White-letter Hairstreak colony

Moths recorded at Maiden Erleigh Local Nature Reserve, Interpretation Centre. 125W Skinner trap.

We ran out of time to discuss the contact details list.

Meeting closed at 1am Friday 09/07/2010