What a fantastic evening we had on Sunday here at Langford, as I was joined by our county moth recorder Sheila Wright and fellow moth enthusiast John Osbourne for a night’s trapping down by Phase 2. As the last of the rain cleared just before our arrival, I was hopeful for some good species and the weather was perfect – warm, cloudy, no rain and no wind.
Langford is home to some special moth species, most notably an assemblage of wetland species that feed on a host of plants including common reed, reedmace and reed canary grass. With our recent redevelopment work on site, we were pleased to confirm the continued presence of southern wainscot, or Mythimna straminea to give it it’s scientific name. This is one of the species that gives us our SINC (Site of Importance for Nature Conservation) status and is a local species throughout the English midlands. The larval foodplants are common reed and reed canary grass and the adults can be seen flying in July and August.
Our second star species of the evening was a very unexpected heath rustic, or Xestia agathina. As it’s name suggests this is a species of heathland and moorland and is widespread, but local throughout much of England, Wales and Scotland. It flies from late August and into September and the larval foodplant is common heather. It is likely that this individual may have come from the nearby heathland areas just north of Langford, including the well known Spalford Warren.
Other species recorded throughout the evening include –
brimstone moth
common wave
flounced rustic
large and lesser yellow underwing
straw dot
silver y
setaceous hebrew character
square spot rustic
flame shoulder
dusky thorn
and canary shouldered thorn