Blue Job

Although I took these at TMR this morning, I have seen a few around in NE Calderdale this last week or so e.g Cold Edge. Funnily enough though they weren't present this arternoon.

Caption comp?

"Good shot sir!" as Winston Plowes another one through the covers.

Burnished Brass

This adult emerged today from a pupa formed in a papery cocoon on the leaf.

1769 Spruce Carpet?

Hi all, I think this is 1769 Spruce Carpet Thera britannica does anyone concur? Win

Easily Confused

Hi all, two micros in the trap last night (amongst others things) which at first sight semed to be the same species. On closer inspection, the bottom one is 970 Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis cerasana. Whilst the two pics above are of 971 Pandemis cinnamomeana. The top one showing the white head which is a diagnostic feature. Keep an eye out for these :-)

Last Nights Moths

905 Blastodacna hellerella (now thats a name)

Buff arches

Small China Mark

Elland Gravel Pits

A walk around Tag loop and Meadow this evening was very relaxing after this afternoons exploits in Africa.(say no more).At least 3000 Narrow Bordered 5 Spot burnet Moths on Vetch,Silver Y's ,Straw Dots,Shaded broad Bar ,Ringlets,Meadow Browns and Common Blues(pic above)flying about the meadow.I also found 3 Small China Mark(which is new to me and Calderdale I think..Paul?)and 6 Brown China Mark on tag cut.Its well worth a look at the moment just for the sheer numbers of Burnet moths alone..

Recent records

Thursday 24th Cunnery Woods

Lime Hawkmoth (above)

Lotsof damselflies down by the pond

Friday 25thShibden Park

Chimney Sweeper

Traping over weekend 25th/26th Hipperholme

Garden carpet

Clouded border

Peppered moth

Small magpie

Large yellow underwing x2

Ingrailed clay

Comon wainscot

Silver ground carpet

Map winged swift

Buff ermine

Flame shoulder x2

Straw dot x2

Dark fruit tree tortrix

Other in garden over weekend

Large white

Small copper

Speckled wood

Large red damselfly

Any help appreciated.

A few of the above seen today, I don't even know if it's a Butterfly or a Moth.


Found this ^^ with its head inside a cap-like deformity (?) on Holly. Orangey stripe down the underside wing edge (2nd pic down). Presumably a Moth.

Ther 2nd pic down ('web' on Rosebay Willowherb), is it likely to be Moth or Butterfly or something altogether different?

News from Northowram

Well what a week that was ,In the field the Ghost Moths peaked at 435,Small magpies 150,Silver ground Carpets 75,Straw Dot and Snouts,At least 55 species of Macro moths in the trap mainly common local species,Green Arches ,Peach Blossom,Green Silver lines ,Broom Moth,Common Swift,Green Pug,Narrow winged Pug,White/Buff ermine , Burnished Brass,4 hawks and my one and only angle shades for the year ,a realy great week for moth trappers.The only downer is not enough time to sort out the hoards of micros ..............ah well

Fox moths(update)

Fox moths are doing well at the moment ,the middle pic is of a discarded skin not a dead cat.??

Knott wood tonight Brian is setting up about 10ish all welcome.(Ian and Tina )if you are going could you please bring attinic trap(ta).

Unknown pupa

Is this a Lepidopterous pupa ??

Beginner's naive questions.

Are these both Meadow Browns and is the moth a Silver Ground Carpet? Any recommendations for species guides would be much appreciated. Cheers.

Common Grass Moths

Hi all, For those new to micros these two can be seen really easily. Just walk through any meadow or area of long grass near you and they can be disturbed during the day. They usually settle head down on a stem of grass or under a leaf. I found these two amongst hundreds today (Wed 23rd) in a meadow next to Charnock Richard Motorway services on the M6. Top - 1301 Crambus lathoniellus. Bottom - 1293 Chrysoteuchia culmella. Winston

Three Micros

Hi All, The top one was found in a field of cows in Style (South of M/CR) on 17th June. Photograph taken on a doc leaf. Looks like some kind of Olethreutinae ? Can anyone help? The middle one is surely 1219 Lathronympha strigana despite being listed as scarce further north and was found near the Trafford Centre car park. the bottom one is the nicely named 989 Timothy Tortrix Aphelia paleana from the same location and although it has no markings it has a remarkably lusterous pearl finish to its wings (appologies for straying outside Calderdale once again). At the moment I am having the most fun looking for micros in breaks from work than examining the contents of the light trap. Winston

Anyone care to put names to these three species? All I know is the top one is a Butterfly (I think!)

Unidentified Moth

Found on the wall bottom in my back yard at approx 1600hrs today. No more than 2 cms across and about 1 cm long.

Not seen one before; no idea of identity.

Strange goings on............2...Gothic

Way back on the 14th April i posted a pic of this cat and no one came up with any suggestions and I did'nt have a clue either.After feeding on dandilion leaves for a while it then pupated in soil about 4weeks ago and emerged last night as this splendid adult Gothic. I also had my first Gothic in the trap 2 nights ago so its bang on time... ..and another breeding species for the garden..

Knott Wood last night

A cool night with temp down to single figures and a strong breeze so catch was well down on recent nights ...Coxcomb Prominent(above)40 Ingrailed Clay.20 Green Carpets and map winged swift the highlights.

A few hawks

Last night was the first time I had all four common local Hawkmoths in the trap 3 Poplars,1 Lime,2 Elephant anf 1 small Elephant,along with 12 Beautiful Golden Y,Gold spot,Peppered Moth and 4 Small angle Shades(I have not had Angle Shades this year so far??).250 Ghost moths last night with 20 pairs in cop and at least 200 + Small Magpies in the field at dusk.

wassat?

Found this interesting critter this evening. The antennae are very long. I have no idea what it is-do you?

Manor Heath

Working at Manor Heath today and pretty sure I had a Dark fruit tree tortrix (972 Pandemis heparana) land on my shirt. Only there a few seconds and then flew off into the grass.

Ghost Moth Spectacular

Tonight was fantastic in the field just in front of my house with no less than 238 Ghost Moths and 190 Small Magpies displaying in the twlight.I found 10 pairs of ghost moths in cop.........They appear for about an hour first showing about 10 o'clock......

Eggs and Caterpillars

the Fox moth caterpillars are pretty much the same but now measure 8mm and are busy scoffing away at Heather




also had a Green Silver Line lay eggs


















and found these eggs in one of my pots, these hatched today, the cats are about a mill in length. I'm not sure just what they are but they may be Knot Grass
































these are Buff Ermine that hatched yesterday, again very tiny, about 1.5 mill




















these are eggs of Angle Shades, these are scattered all round the tub in ones and two's