20-Aug Moths of Marsh and Woodland

If gooseberries are on site, the Magpie moth may possibly be seen during the day and in numbers. Although variable, it is usually large with heavy black spots on a white background with orange shoulders. Whenever there is a lot of willow or aspen, the Sallow can often be found. If large patches of red and white Campion are present it also is worth looking for the Lychnis and the Campion. A neat hole in one of the seed capsules may indicate a Campion caterpillar is inside as they are fond of eating the seeds.

August is also good for wainscot moths. These are medium sized and often straw coloured with what look like pencil dots on their wings. They are generally confined to marshy areas, reedbeds and drainage dykes, especially along the Lea valley. The Common, Smokey, Twin spotted and Fen wainscots are all either widespread or locally common in such areas. Where there is a good stand of reedmace you are likely to find one of the largest wainscots, the Bulrush wainscot. It chooses to pupate in the central pith of a reedmace stem with its head pointing downwards. Its presence can sometimes be detected by just looking at the condition of the stems. Rarer wainscots include Webb’s, Silky, Small and Striped. The Striped wainscot may possibly still be flying in Richmond park. You will have to wait another month to see a Large wainscot which is even bigger than the Bulrush wainscot.

Thorns are larger than most moths, usually with yellow, brown or brick coloured wings and with either distinctly scalloped or jagged edges. When resting they often look like shrivelled leaves. Their preferred food plants are oak and ash which means they tend to be found in those woods, although they do turn up in gardens.

Occasionally their silken cocoons are found among leaf litter. The most common is the Early thorn which may well have been noticed earlier in the year as it is now on its second brood. These later individuals tend to be a richer, more tawny brown than the earlier ones. The Dusky, Purple and Canary-shouldered thorns are all widespread and common. As its name suggests the Canary-shouldered thorn has a bright yellow thorax.

Among the group it is the Purple thorn that has the richest array of colours, including various shades of purple, red and brown as well as pure white crescents on its wings. The Feathered and September thorn are more likely to be seen next month. Lastly, although so many moths are famous for their colours and intricate markings, this is not true of the Chinese character moth. It looks very much like a bird dropping and is occasionally found on the outside of moth traps in the morning having happily deceived any predators. To become better acquainted with the wide variety of moths flying throughout the summer months you have the choice of either taking a portable moth trap and visiting a host of different habitats or, rather more enjoyably, joining some of the advertised “moth nights” where enthusiasts share their findings.