Report by Gill Stott
On Saturday 4th July The PGP held two concurrent ‘Meet The Moths’ sessions in Brockweir/Hewelsfield and in St Briavels.
At the Brockweir event John Dawson identified moths from three moth traps collected overnight. John’s detailed knowledge of the large variety of moths found was impressive as he named them all methodically, not hesitating to identify them and giving information about the habitats and behaviors of some of them. Meanwhile, at St Briavels, Martin Morris identified moths caught overnight there.
Although it looked as if a healthy number of moths had been collected, John told us that this was only a fraction of the number that would have been found back in the 1970’s when he began his interest in lepidoptery.
The butterfly conservation group (https://butterfly-conservation.org/moths/why-moths-matter/moths-in-decline) tells us that the decrease has been 33% since 1968 with some species suffering more than others and some of these becoming extinct. These include the Garden Tiger and its familiar ‘woolly bear’ caterpillar (down 90% since 1968). Moth caterpillars are a main source of food for many garden birds including tits, robins, wrens and blackbirds. The loss of habitats resulting from more intensive agriculture, commercial forestry, industry and urban development are likely to be major reasons. Less moths and their caterpillars has also affected bat numbers which feed on them and a large cuckoo decline. In addition, the increasing use of pesticides and the way we manage our gardens plus light pollution have contributed to the decline. The State of Britain’s Larger Moths can be viewed here https://butterfly-conservation.org/moths/the-state-of-britains-moths .
At this end of this post there is a list of all the moths John identified and links to their identification alongside. A few photographs were taken too.
How to Build Your Own Moth Trap.
Gill and Andy Stott’s son made one for them as a birthday present and it works quite well. The design is similar to the instructions found here, on the butterfly conservation website Budget Bucket Moth Trap | Butterfly Conservation
It can be powered off a normal 12v battery which allows you to site it well away from the house.
John commented that the LED tube could be dropped into the box a bit lower on ours. I looked at others for sale on line though some reviewers reported finding dead moths. I don’t think we have ever found that in our box. It caught far less than John’s two professional traps but is a good low cost alternative.
Plus a real beauty close up.
List of species identified by John at Brockweir Village Shop
Martin’s List of species identified at St Briavels
| Buff ermine |
| Buff tip |
| Burnished brass |
| Cabbage moth |
| Common carpet |
| Common emerald |
| Common emerald |
| Common footman |
| Common pug |
| Dark arches |
| Elephant hawk moth |
| Eyed hawk moth |
| Garden carpet |
| Heart and dart |
| Hebrew character |
| Peppered moth |
| Riband wave |
| Scalloped oak |
| Silvery Y |
| Swallowtail moth |
| White plume moth |
| Yellow shell |
| Yellow underwing |