Following on from the very successful moth survey at Pudsham Meadows in June, with Devon Moth Group, another survey was carried out on the 3rd of July. This was undertaken by DPA Ecologist, Albert Knott, and two additional surveyors, Richard Fox and Mark Hows. All three people have extensive knowledge of moth behaviours and characteristics, meaning that they could confidently identify both common and rare species.

Five light traps were set up at dusk in Sylvia’s Field, Goat Field, Small Field, Pudsham Meadow and on the bridlepath. These were then monitored throughout the night, until 4am. These traps are completely harmless and cause minimum stress to the moths, which are provided with egg boxes to rest in when inside the trap. A high UV light lures them in through a funnel at the entrance of the trap and then they wait a short time before they are identified and released.

During this survey, 144 different species of moths were identified, including the Bramble Shoot Moth, Poplar Hawk-Moth, July Highflyer, Pretty Chalk Carpet, Foxglove Pug, Magpie Moth, Dingy Footman, Scalloped Oak and Swallow-tailed Moth. Adult Swallow-tailed moths are strictly nocturnal and fly only at night, making the sight of one an excellent reward for a long night of surveying. As caterpillars, these moths feed on blackthorn, hawthorn and goat willow, all of which are in abundance at Pudsham Meadows. They overwinter as caterpillars in a bark crevice, before pupating and emerging as adults, which can be identified by their pale yellow wings, with two darker lines crossing the forewings and one line crossing the hindwings. One of Devon’s larger moths, they have a wingspan of up to 6cm.

Moths of Note

Further moths of note include the Waved Carpet, which is mainly restricted to the SW of England and Wales, frequenting managed damp woodland or scrub, and the Galium Carpet, with mainly Southern England distribution in coastal habitats, although it also occurs on calcareous grassland and moorland. The Waved Carpet flies in June and July and it’s caterpillars feed on alder and birch. A medium sized moth, the Galium Carpet can vary in colour depending on location, with particularly darker forms occurring in western Ireland and lighter forms found on chalk and limestone habitats.

Also recorded was the Cloaked Carpet, which is mainly restricted to the SW of England and Wales, preferring woodland edges and hedgerows, and the Slender Brindle, thinly but widely distributed in the southern half of Britain, being a moth of a variety of woodland habitats. The Slender Brindle flies in July and August, with its caterpillars feeding on a range of woodland grasses, including wood-millet and wood-rushes. With consideration to our Land Management Plan, this moth may particularly benefit from the graduated scrub edges we are creating between open meadow and woodland/hedgerows.

The Double Line, a declining moth species restricted to SW England and Wales, was encountered during this survey. This moth breeds in both open woodland and damp grassland habitats, with its caterpillars feeding at night on grasses such as Common Bent, Creeping Soft-grass and Meadow-grass. The damp, herb rich meadows of Pudsham offer an ideal habitat for this moth, with the adults flying in the open areas and the caterpillars potentially feeding and pupating closer to the scrub edges. After breeding, eggs are laid in the folded stem of a foodplant, before hatching and overwintering low down in the grasses, where they feed until May. Then, they pupate in a cocoon in the soil and emerge to fly at night, between mid June and mid July.

Anarsia spartiella, was also spotted. This moth is thinly distributed through the UK and uncommon in Devon. Between May and June, the caterpillars of this moth spin together shoots of gorse, creating a safe space to feed within.

Throughout the year, we host workdays at Pudsham Meadows to conserve and improve the habitat for moths, other insects, invertebrates and small mammals. Our friendly Conservation Volunteers are always delighted to welcome new faces and all tools, equipment and training can be provided. Find out more about upcoming volunteering opportunities on our website.

Image: Albert Knott