White-letter Hairstreak

How common are these round these parts ??

Other recent moths include a Burnished Brass, Silver Y, Snout, Swallow-tailed x3, Garden Carpet, Clouded Border, Large Emerald and Scalloped Oak x3, Buff Arches x2 and Dark Arches x4.

Ryburn valley moths

Some recently caught moths down the Ryburn valley.

Last Night in Hebden Bridge

Hi all,

A regular and small catch last night, but at least it was dry.

common footman 1
Large Yellow Underwing 2
Scoparia Ambigualis 1
Dark Arches 1
Flame Shoulder 1

Winston

Last Nights Moths Sowerby Bridge

An unexciting first haul but many thanks for lending me the trap Andy C and here is what came along last night to my place on Wakefield Road overlooking the canal.

15 + large yellow underwing
7 common rustic
2 dark arches
1 lesser broad bordered yellow underwing

Last nights moths/Northowram

420 Argyresthia pruniella Cherry Fruit Moth 1
464 Plutella xylostella Diamond-back Moth 2
1722 Xanthorhoe designata Flame Carpet 1
1887 Lomaspilis marginata Clouded Border 1
1921 Crocallis elinguaria Scalloped Oak 5
2050 Eilema lurideola Common Footman 1
2107 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 22
2109 Noctua comes Lesser Yellow Underwing 2
2111 Noctua janthe Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing 2
2198 Mythimna impura Smoky Wainscot 6
2199 Mythimna pallens Common Wainscot 2
2318 Cosmia trapezina Dun-bar 1
2321 Apamea monoglypha Dark Arches 7
2343x Mesapamea secalis agg. Common Rustic agg. 12
2441 Autographa gamma Silver Y 1
2477 Hypena proboscidalis Snout 1
Its pretty grim weather(or is it typical) for July but managed a few moths last night list above .If any one would like to borrow a Robinson125 w trap for the next couple of weeks leave a comment below .Im of to Ireland .

Yesterday in Mytholmroyd

I was sat in the car in the rain facing the large expanse of wall that is the end of the launderette on George Street Mytholmroyd and spotted two 2293 Marbled Beauty Cryphia domestica nestled into the mortar gaps between stones close together with no other moths on the wall. Maybe they had been mating. Happy hunting. Winston

ID help please

This Tort emerged today from the folded leaf of hawthorn.Any ideas.??

Hi All

Sorry to go off topic rather (Again). Several Carausius morosus have emerged this week, The indian stick insect! These fascinating insects have a very interesting self sustaining life cycle, live about a year and are easy to care for. They eat the leaves of Oak, privit, rose, hawthorn and ivy. They grow to about 10cm. all you need is a sweet jar, small fish tank (minus water). I am expecting more to emerge in the next weeks and if anyone would like some, let me know.

Win

Cromwell Bottom

Took a walk down at Cromwell Bottom today. Below is a list of what we saw and found.

Meadow brown
Gate keeper
Large white
Small copper
Comma
Speckled wood

Common blue damselfly
Common hawker
Brown hawker

Common wainscot

Withens Clough Car park

Highlights from last night included 2 Scarce Silver Y,50 + Antler Moths,10 Northern Spinach,40 Common wainscot ,2 Barred straw,15 Dotted Clay,3 Small Dotted Buff,True Lovers Knot,Purple Thorn and Purple Bar.

Large Emerald in the greenhouse

Found this in the greenhouse this morning which was a nice suprise,Cunnery wood had the usual large numbers of Brimstone,Bird Cherry Ermine,Single dotted wave,Common Lustering,Snout and a very fresh July Highflyer,Common Carpet,Lesser swallow Prominent and Peach Blossom.Also one 1155 Epinotia brunnichana)(nice one Carol) which seems to be a very underecorded moth in Yorkshire.?

A couple more !!

Not quite sure what we've got here ??

Last nights moths/Northowram

873 Blastobasis adustella 2
969 Pandemis corylana Chequered Fruit-tree Tortrix 1
1076 Celypha lacunana 1
1304 Agriphila straminella 3
1344 Eudonia mercurella 1
1388 Udea lutealis 1
1405 Pleuroptya ruralis Mother of Pearl 2
1702 Idaea biselata Small Fan-footed Wave 1
1708 Idaea dimidiata Single-dotted Wave 1
1713 Idaea aversata Riband Wave 2
1858 Chloroclystis v-ata V-Pug 2
1887 Lomaspilis marginata Clouded Border 2
1919 Selenia tetralunaria Purple Thorn 1
1961 Campaea margaritata Light Emerald 2
2050 Eilema lurideola Common Footman 4
2089 Agrotis exclamationis Heart and Dart 1
2098 Axylia putris Flame 2
2107 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 8
2111 Noctua janthe Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing 1
2136 Naenia typica Gothic 1
2160 Lacanobia oleracea Bright-line Brown-eye 2
2205 Mythimna comma Shoulder-striped Wainscot 2
2306 Phlogophora meticulosa Angle Shades 1
2321 Apamea monoglypha Dark Arches 12
2434 Diachrysia chrysitis Burnished Brass 2
2477 Hypena proboscidalis Snout 7

762 Athrips mouffetella emerges

This emerged today from a cat found on Honeysuckle on the 3rd May in Northowram .

Green Arches

Friday and saturday

With the weather up to its usual July downpours,Im planning to go to Cunnery wood on friday night and Withens Clough Car park(for most of night)on saturday.All welcome...bring a brolly.

Hipperholme last night

I set the MV going last night for a few hours, and had a good return of species (see below). The two photos above are ones I'nm not sure about, top could be a burnished brass but it was smaller than the other I caught and had a greeny tinge to the normally brassy areas - any ideas)

1 Orange swift

2 Riband wave

10 Large yellow underwing

7 Clouded border

10 Common wainscot

1 Brimstone

1 Purple thorn

4 Early thorn (1x 1st gen, 3 x 2nd gen)

2 Buff arches

2 Common footman

1 (1376) Small magpie

2 Common lutestring

1 July highflyer

1 Gothic

1 Lesser yellow underwing

1 Light emerald

1 Scalloped oak

1 Burnished brass

1 Plain golden Y

Recent butterflies

I thought I would post a few butterfly sightings from the past few days

Saturday - in the garden

Comma, GV White, Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Small Heath, Large White

Monday - walk from Luddenden, up river to Jerusalem Farm

Ringlet, Speckled Wood, Comma, GV White, Large White, Gatekeeper, Red Admiral

Also 2 dragonflies (1 in Luddenden and 1 at Jerusalem Farm).

I also found the above pupa at Goitside below Booth, anyone got any ideas what it will turn into - really I should have collected it and let it emerge at home shouldn't I?

News from Todmorden,19 07 09

Hi all,found this argyresthia albistria and a stigmella aurella yesterday on a nice stand of blackthorn,also 2 n b five spot burnet nectaring on rosebay willowherb,2 yellow shell,2 common carpets,and today 20 07 09my 1st gate keeper in tod area at meadows edge and a female common blue on birds foot trefoil we planted up specially to attract this species.all the best Bri.

Scarce Silver Y

Can anyone tell me if this is the Scarce Silver Y .

Last Night in Hebden Bridge

Sunday 19th July - Looking good until about 3.30am when the hammering rain woke me up. A very soggy Skinner trap revealed the following usual visitors. The Mottled Beauty was my highlight. Really like these moths and managed to get this one on a good background I think. Winston

Dotted Clay 2
Northern Spinach 1
Clouded Border 1
Common Wave 1
Mottled Beauty 1
Brimstone 1
Bird-Cherry Ermine 1
Green Carpet 2
Common Rustic agg 1

Totlal - 11

Weekend Moths

These were the best pics. We also got 21 large yellow underwing, a swallow tail, an antler moth and a clouded border that we could ID.

Last nights trapping

I thought I might get away with a break in the weather last night, so the trap went out, the towel went across at 5am but when I got up the whole thing was soaked with the rain. Nevertheless I did manage a good number of moths and if anyone can identify the few that I cannot I would appreciate it.

8 Common Footman

6 Light Emerald

1 Clouded Border

1 Buff Arches

1 Common Swift

15 Large Yellow Underwing

2 Gothic

1 Yellow Shell

1 Lesser Yellow Underwing

1 July Highflyer

1 Lesser Broad Bordered Yellow Underwing

1 Purple Thorn

Also lots of micro moths, but I'm not ging down that path yet.

Ramsden Wood Clough,18 07 09

Hi all,tried with heath trap,unfortunately it packed in again,quite a few species before it did,4 barred straw pic,3 small dotted buff,5 burnished brass,20 smoky wainscot,plain golden y,small square spot among them,what was interesting how many were feeding on soft rush after dark, especially before dawn,mainly smoky wainscot,straw dot,lesser y underwing,ps anyone know if you can overcharge dry lead acid batteries,the charger just lights up green and thats it,nothing to say its charged or anything,id appreciate any info ,all the best Bri.

News from Todmorden,18 07 09

Hi all,on my way to morrisons again,when i happened on this stunning 410 argyresthia brockeella near some birch,getting some good deals lately !! common but superb.all the best Bri.

Trial

Just testing, the blog was locked recently by Blogger as it flagged up as a possible spam blog, now resolved (if this post works!)

Marbled White

In late June the Halifax SS had an outing to Crow Nest quarry and Bruce Hoyle recorded a Marbed White butterfly which is a first for Calderdale .
The plant diversity at Crow Nest Quarry indicates lime in the soil as a result of the
tipping, so maybe the Marbled white was attracted to the vegetation. There was a
hot easterly breeze that day. Brian Cain says he associates this butterfly with wild
scabious in E. Yorkshire. The other site he can remember wild scabious in
Calderdale is Clifton Lagoons, so maybe worth looking there if the weather
conditions/ emergence times coincide again.
Many thanks to Bruce,Brian C and Steve Blacksmith for this information.

Last nights moths(GMS)

Despite this weather I put the trap on at 10 and found a good haul this morning,

873 Blastobasis adustella
1304 Agriphila straminella
1858 Chloroclystis v-ata V-Pug
2050 Eilema lurideola Common Footman
2089 Agrotis exclamationis Heart and Dart
2091 Agrotis ipsilon Dark Sword-grass
2107 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing
2284x Acronicta tridens/psi Dark / Grey Dagger
2289 Acronicta rumicis Knot Grass
2321 Apamea monoglypha Dark Arches
2322 Apamea lithoxylaea Light Arches
2441 Autographa gamma Silver Y
2477 Hypena proboscidalis Snout
and a Light emerald

Painted Lady Cats

Hi all

Has anyone found the cats of Painted Lady yet in Calderdale this year ? There are hundreds, probably thousands of them in spinnings on thistles all along the coast here on the Llyn this year. Mainly on Cirsium vulgare (Spear Thistle) but also on C.arvense (Creeping or Field Thistle).

No insects of any sort moving here today as we are battered in yet another severe westerly gale with torrential rain.....what happened to the dry hot bbq summer the met office forecast earlier this year !

Last nights moths

Another excellent night in Northowram with the MV and a good selection of macros and micros to sort through this morning .This dark Sword grass(above)Small Dusty wave and a pristine 288.Caloptiliaa Stigmatella and 1115 Ancylis achatana the pick of the bunch so far.

News from Todmorden ,15 07 09

Hummingbird Hawkmoth today feeding on red valerian, while working in garden at meadows edge in todmorden.Bri.

phyllonorycter rajella,14 07 09

Hi all,this superb p rajella emerged from alder mine this morning from mine found on 14 07 09,Charlie,you are right they are crackers.all the best Bri.

Cunnery wood ..watch out

Hi Chris ..the Puss Moth larvae pupated last night,inbetween the leaves of sallow ..keep an eye out when you are trimming the hedges.....Will try and post a better pic.

New arrival

A couple of weeks ago I found a black pupa on the underside of a nettle leaf. As we needed to clear that area of garden I put it in the butterfly house in the shed. It hatched this morning to reveal a herald moth. It looks absolutely stunning (photos to follow) and I have now let it go in the garden.

Are these moths common as I have only seen 2 before (both ironically in the garden?

Leopard Moth from last night. Sorry about the poor picture but I took it outside at 12 oclock last night rather than disturb it . Some may say lucky b......... , others , luck of the Irish .

Field trips

Latticed Heath
Hi all,I am planning a trip back to Cunnery wood this thursday the 16th July all welcome and one on the 25th( sat)July ,location to be confirmed.If any one has any ideas on where to go please leave a comment below.

Gothic

Hi All, I was tidying the garden today and a moth shout out from some branches I was clearing. Landed on a plant pot. On closer inspectionit revealed itself as 2136 The Gothic Naenia typica.

It is said to favour marshy locations, well it should be happy here. Winston

Last Night in Hebden Bridge

Hi there Mick and Kath, thats snap! Small but interesting collection of moths last night

Dark/Grey Dagger agg 1

Dun-dar 1

Currant Pug 2

Green Carpet 1

Winston

Grey Dagger

We put the trap out for 1 hour ( rain stopped play) last night and had the usual Underwing , Mercurella and Tortrix and then found this Grey Dagger on the wall. Not a rarety but just a nice clean looking moth

Alder Mine,11 07 09

Hi all,noticed this mine on small canalside alder,nearest i can come up with is 345 phyllonorycter rajella ? if anyone can shed any light on it.all the best Bri.

Cunnery Wood/Shibden.last night

Another excellent hour before the rain stopped play.very large numbers of Brimstone with aprox 50 ,Snout 15,V Pug 12,Light Emerald 10,Clouded Border 7,Green pug 3,Blue Bordered Carpet 1 and 5 Common Lustering with the one I took to photo leaving 30 eggs in the container.
Very busy at home with another40+ sp recorded highlights were Poplar Grey and a beautiful Latticed Heath(a first for the garden).

Leopard Moth

Our reward for spending a wet night in the woods, just come home to find a leopard moth sheltering behind our moth trap!

Midgley GMS

Only three moths last night, a LYU (no photo), Antler Moth (above) and what we think is a Single Dotted Wave? The top photo is of a moth we caught a couple of days ago, looks like it should be easy but we aren't sure what it is.

Cunnery Wood/Shibden..Field Trip No 10(sat night)

I will be there at 9.45 to set up.All welcome

News from Todmorden,10 07 09

Hi all,just found this argyresthia retinella,not so sure whether its typical habitat, Morrisons !! though there are some birch nearby,all the best Bri.

Cunnery Wood/Shibden.last night

Blue Bordered Carpet

July Highflyer
What a splendid hour or so we spent in Cunnery woods last night, Winston commented it was a little like been in one of those butterfly tropical green houses, with bright Brimstones / Light Emeralds,Poplar hawkmoth and Swallowtails wheeling round our heads as soon as we put the light on.It was so hectic we just let the moths fly around the light and tried to id them.Highlights included 3 Blue Bordered Carpet,Bee Moth,Straw Dot,Small fanfoot,Purple Clay,Clouded Border,Mottled Beauty,Common wave,Small Fan footed wave,Common Carpet and a Common Lustering (which we initially id as a dark July Highflyer).