A SICKLESMERE GARDEN

Another year has passed, without any great excitement at Sicklesmere. My memory tells me that 2001 has been worse than 2000 for moth numbers. However, my records prove otherwise.

YEAR TOTALS

MONTHLY TOTALS

The numbers compare favourably with the previous year, but are well down on the 1999 figures both in total numbers and species numbers. The Spring 2001 edition of White Admiral No. 48 shows the numbers at this location since 1996.

Trapping in October started with a Red Admiral, Vanessa atalanta, and a number of the more usual moths appearing on the 1st of the month. The following day I found a Dusky-lemon Sallow, Xanthis gilvago, a moth that is local in Suffolk. I had previously recorded it on 28 September 1998. It was nice to see a single Garden Carpet, Xanthorhoe fluctuata, on 4 October. This moth is normally double-brooded, with a third brood sometimes appearing. The adult moth can be seen in every month between April and October. This specimen could have been part of a third brood. A Dark Chestnut, Conistra ligula, put in an early appearance on the 4th of the month. One of my favourite moths, Merveille du Jour, Dichonia aprilina, made its 2001 debut on 7 October. A common moth, but one of the most striking with a beautiful contrast of green and black. I had a total of 7 in 2001 compared with 3 in 2000. A Blood-vein, Timandra comae, (or, if you are one of the older generation of moth recorders T. griseata) was still on the wing on 10 October. The first of four migratory Dark Sword-grass, Agrotis ipsilon, showed on 12 October.

Orthopygia glaucinalis, a pyralid moth usually flying until August, also put in a late appearance on the same date. The first of four Juniper Carpet, Thera juniperata, came to the light on 16 October. A Willow Beauty, Peribatodes rhomboidaria, one of a partial second generation was still braving the elements on 16 October. This moth is usually single-brooded and is on the wing from late June until August. A Red Underwing, Catocala nupta, on 20 October was the second specimen of a moth that has been noticeable by its absence over the last few years. The Sprawler, Brachionycha sphinx, showed a welcome increase in numbers. This is a local moth in Suffolk, but always puts on a good show at Sicklesmere. The 44 recorded between 26 October and 16 November was an increase of 175% over the 2000 total.

Moth numbers decreased considerably during November. On eleven of the nights I didn't record a single moth. A record of Common Quaker, Orthosia cerasi, on 24 November was very unusual because of the timing. This is a moth that normally flies during March and April and should overwinter as a pupa. After some poor years it was encouraging to find that the Winter Moth, Operophtera brumata, had increased in number with a total of 10 during December.

Pale Brindled Beauty, Apocheima pilosaria and Early Moth, Theria primaria, both appeared on time in January, with the former on the 11th and the latter on 12th. Another early flier was a Dotted Border, Agriopis marginaria, on 21 January, a moth that usually flies from mid February through until April. The female of this moth is flightless and is commonly found on oak and a number of other trees.

As I write this account the wind is howling around the oak at the bottom of the garden and the rain is beating a tattoo on the windows, but in a very few weeks time the weather will, hopefully, have improved and the moths will again be flying.

Stan Dumican
Anglezarke, Sicklesmere
Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP30 0TJ

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