Saltmarsh, Newport Wetlands NNR, 6th July

I put out a battery powered, actinic Skinner trap, overlooking a large area of saltmarsh, over-night.

The next morning I recorded 18 species, including 15 Dark Arches, a Yellow-tail, a Drinker, 2 Common Wainscots, 3 Smokey Wainscots and a Dog's Tooth. I had been targeting just one Notable B species - the Crescent Striped and was lucky enough to catch one. Not the most glamourous moth, but this is the most reliable site (and most years the only site) in the Vice County for this moth. Of course, not many areas of saltmarsh in the county are moth trapped. The smooth, silky appearance helps with ID. This was quite early in the flight period and I intend to trap at the same site once a week for the next 2 weeks to try to catch more. Blackrock might me a good site to target?

Crescent Striped

Dog's Tooth

Drinker