Results of the Survey to find Jodia croceago (D&S.) - Orange Upperwing

On the evening of the 12th April 2002, Lee Slaughter, Lisa Best, Frank Johns, Ian Bennallick, my daughter, Abigail and myself ventured forth to Hall Walk, Bodinnick (SX130519) in search of Jodia croceago. It turned out to be a rather chilly night, however we were full of enthusiasm and expectancy. I had prepared some wine ropes and the previous day had inspected the Walk in search of appropriate trees from which I might hang them. The mercury vapour lamps were set some 50 yards apart and out of sight of each other to maximise the catch.

As the evening wore on our hopes of finding J.croceago faded. We were however; rewarded with some interesting species whose larvae feed on oak such as the Frosted Green (Polyploca ridens) (Fab.) and Acleris literana (Linn.) - a Tortrix. Early specimens of the Yellow-barred Brindle (Acasis viretata) (Hüb.), Nut-tree Tussock (Colocasia coryli) (Linn.) and Pebble Prominent (Notodonta ziczac) (Linn.) were also noted as was the Dotted Chestnut (Conistra rubiginia) (D & S.). This is an Nb species. (Nationally notable B, occurring in between 31 and 100 10km squares).

In case you are wondering, may I digress and give you a recipe for making the wine ropes, which are made out of thick sisal about 25 cm long. The recipe is as follows:

• 500-600 ml. of sweet red wine.
• About 750 grams of sugar or enough to reduce down to a thick 'slurp'.
• A few tablespoons of honey.
• Most importantly of all, after the mixture has been heated, a good helping of rum or other strong spirits.

Simmer on a moderate heat until the mixture is thick and just trickles off a spoon. Remember it will get thicker when it is cold, so don't over do the reducing down! Place the sisal (plaited if too thin) into the mixture and let it soak in whilst still hot. If you can smell that sweet aroma so can the moths! Remember that after you have hung up the ropes, you must approach them with a red torch otherwise the moths have a habit of flying away or dropping off! Not every night is a suitable one for this method, however a few nights can be most rewarding and attract moths that are not so often seen at light.

Now to get back to the subject of our survey, it is known that J.croceago is drawn to Sallow blossom in the spring; therefore sugaring or wine ropes may make a suitable attractant where mercury vapour traps fail. However on this particular night it was not found to be so.

I feel sure this moth still occurs in its old haunts, the nature of the trees (small stunted Sessile oaks that keep there leaves in winter) is a clue to where this moth will be found. Where mvl traps appear fruitless, other methods may prove to be more rewarding. I have looked along the whole length of Hall Walk and after careful observation I think the moth maybe found further along from where we trapped and where these particular oaks are more plentiful - conjecture I know, but we must keep trying. Unfortunately the oaks are situated in such inaccessible locations that beating for the caterpillars may prove almost impossible.

Finally the moth species found are as follows:

Bodinnick, SX 130519, Date: 12/04/02, mvl, Recorder/Determiner: P.H. Boggis & F. Johns

Bradley 2000 No. English Name Scientific Name Number sighted

705 - Aganopterix umbellana 1

1061 - Acleris literana 1

1660 Frosted Green Polyploca ridens 1

1663 March Moth Alsophilia aescularia 1

1728 Garden Carpet Xanthorhoe flutuata fluctuata 1

1750 Water Carpet Lampropteryx suffumata 2

1852 Brindled Pug Eupithecia abbreviata 2

1853 Oak-tree Pug Eupithecia dodoneata 1

1858 V-Pug Chloroclystis v-ata 1

1862 Double-striped Pug Gymnoscelis rufifasciata 1

1883 Yellow-barred Brindle Acasis viretata 1

1902 Brown Silver-line Nematocampa chlorosata 1

1906 Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata 10+

1917 Early Thorn Selenia dentaria 5

1919 Purple Thorn Selenia tetralunaria 2

2003 Pebble Prominent Notodonta ziczac 4

2182 Small Quaker Orthosia cruda >5

2187 Common Quaker Orthosia cerasi 40+

2190 Hebrew character Orthosia gothica 1

2243 Early Grey Xylocampa areola 1

2260 Dotted chestnut Conistra rubiginea 1

2306 Angle Shades Phlogophora meticulosa 1

2425 Nut-tree Tussock Colocasia coryli 5

Phil Boggis (Assistant County Recorder)
9th May 2002