January Priority Species workshop

Hello all,

To celebrate the new year there will be a priority species workshop on Weds 4th January at 7.15 in the Mytholmroyd Countryside Services Office (above the library). The meeting will include an update on Calderdale's Biodiversity Action Plan and small discussion groups for different species.

It will be a opportunity to discuss actions for priority species in Calderdale for the coming year with Hugh Firman and other interested parties. If you would like to come along and represent Calderdale's lepidoptera please email Hugh to express your interest: hugh.firman@calderdale.gov.uk.

We look forward to seeing you there!


Christine

Arctic Woolly Bear Moth

After our chilly conversation about Frozen Planet, while Winter moth hunting at Hardcastle Crags, I looked up the mysterious 'Woolly Bear' that David Attenborough told us about. It appears that is is the Arctic Woolly Bear Moth, Gynaephora groenlandica, found in Greenland and Northern Canada.
There seems to be some uncertainty about the length of it's freeze-thaw cycles, the estimate of 14 years that Frozen Planet went with, having been revised to 7 years by some sources. However long, it is pretty amazing, and you can still see the clip here in case you missed it.
Christine.

Charlie's back

Glad to see Charlie's blogg is back,,,,,,,,,,,,I for one have missed this great blogg.


http://charlielepidopteraofcalderdale.blogspot.com/

Winter Moths(males and females)and id request..

Hi all, yes, a fantastic night on Sunday at Hardcastle Craggs with the predominent species being Winter moth Operophtera brumata (see below)

With females as well as males being found on trunks

Also (What surely must be) a female Scarce Umber Agriopis aurantiaria. ID comments appreciated.


Pt 2 was a 1 hour session tonight at 5pm in my local woods just to the East of Hebden Bridge. Again a fine display of maybe 30 Winter moths flying and settling on trunks and twigs. 2 females also found and a Scarce umber male.
Win

Sunday Hardcastle Craggs

|Meeting at 4.15/30 in top car park for a couple of hours,,,,,

Female Winter Moth steals the show at Hardcastle Craggs Sat 19 11 11

Interesting nights mothing,  Winter Moths most of the 27 males and 1 female found by trunk searching with a few males coming to car headlights ,2 species came to actinic ie red green carpet and a small autumnal moth id on size all the others to mv light,about 3ft from base of ash tree we found these winter moths in cop the pair slowly made their way up the tree female 1st with male in-tow stopping and seperating when reaching about 5ft up the trunk,whereby the female slowly crawled upto nearly 7ft higher up and stopped on a knot on the trunk presumably laying her eggs,frustratingly out of our view.we also found a few males expanding their wings.also a few of this form of mottled umber,Bri/Andy

Acleris sparansa  x 1
Exapate congeltella  x1
Winter Moth  x  27
Mottled umber  x 6
Chestnut x1
Dark Chestnut x 1
Spruce Carpet x 1
Red Green Carpet  x 1
Autumnal Moth    x 1
Small Autumnal Moth   x 1

Craggs Saturday Night

This saturday meeting 5.15 top car park..target species   Sarce Umber , December Moth (not much chance ) and Sprawler..??(cancelled ;last week due to crap weather) All welcome...Any Records for this year asap please so I can send them to the YNU in time for next years report.....My computer has blown up this week and has caused no end of trouble..Ive lost all this years records on mapmate,hopefully I will be able to salvage some off the old hardrive but if not i will putting them in to the new year.all the best Andy

Craggs Friday Night

1041 Acleris sparsana 2

1760 Chloroclysta siterata Red-green Carpet 1
1795 Epirrita dilutata November Moth 3
1795x Epirrita dilutata agg. November Moth agg. 8
1797 Epirrita autumnata Autumnal Moth 5
1935 Erannis defoliaria Mottled Umber 4
2258 Conistra vaccinii Chestnut 7
Couple of good hours hours before the rain,

What a beauty!

The first of the Mottled Umbers emerged overnight and lo and behold it's a female.It's practically wingless as well as flightless but quite distinctive and should be easy to find by trunk hunting if they are present.Might try and assemble this one tonight.

Autumnal Moth

After finally getting to grips with the Epirrita  gen det,I managed to id 4 Autumnal moths from Hardcastle Craggs on sat night.If any one catches any in the next week or so can the keep them for me.

Harlequin Ladybird - EGP

http://www.metro.co.uk/news/186782-a-spot-of-bother-in-the-ladybird-worldHad a Harlequin Ladybird in the car park at Cromwell Bottom this afternoon.
I didn't i.d. it until I got home and had a quick google on tinterweb. Apparently, they are an invasive alien species new to Britain and even bite people.....allegedly.

The following link is for an article in t'metro.
http://www.metro.co.uk/news/186782-a-spot-of-bother-in-the-ladybird-world 

Craggs sat night

                                               Northern Winter Moth....


1026 Exapate congelatella 1
1760 Chloroclysta siterata Red-green Carpet 11
1764 Chloroclysta truncata Common Marbled Carpet 1
1795x Epirrita dilutata agg. November Moth agg. 12
1798 Epirrita filigrammaria Small Autumnal Moth 3
1799 Operophtera brumata Winter Moth 4
1800 Operophtera fagata Northern Winter Moth 9
1923 Colotois pennaria Feathered Thorn 3
1935 Erannis defoliaria Mottled Umber 7
2256 Eupsilia transversa Satellite 1
2258 Conistra vaccinii Chestnut 10
2262 Agrochola circellaris Brick 2
A realy good night despite the weather plenty of moths still about , torrential rain at 9 stopped us.

A couple of flightless winter moths - sort of....

At last a female Northern Winter Moth has emerged today,albeit looking a bit bedraggled after emergence.No worries about her flying off during the photography session.

Also this other, quite different moth emerged today - any ideas anyone? Should have labelled the pots :-)

Just waiting for the Mottled Umbers now.

All the larvae were collected from Silver Birch in N.Dean wood in late Apr./early May. Northern Winter Moth was one of the most common surprisingly.

Dark Chestnut

Ive never recorded Dark Chestnut locally and records suggest it is not common in Calderdale.This is the closest Ive seen what does anyboby else reckon.???,Also last night Yellow Line Quaker,Barred Sallow,Spruce Carpet,Red Green Carpet,Silver Y, 4 Exapate congellatella and Acleris Sparana



SaturDAY  NIGHT GOING TO RUN TRAP AT HOLLINS HALL FOR A FEW HOURS 6.30 ONWARDS ALL WELCOME

Carpet type

Took me a while to sort this one out.??What does anyone think.??

The Many faces of Mottled Umber 2

The Many faces of Mottled Umber 1.

Hardcastle Craggs Sat night 15th october

Meeting tonight at 7ish in top car park
22 Nov Moth agg
1 Red Green Carpet
1 Brick
2 satellite
Very cold indeed but not bad for a couple of hours,,,,,,,,,

Larvae

Bumped into Martyn at Ringstone today and as we chatted we both noticed larvae Martyn saw the Ruby Tiger and Me the Broom Moth on the wall next to us.??

Last Nights Moths 11th october

First night for a while produced...
Feathered Thorn.....1
Blairs shoulder Knot    6
Common Marbled Carpet  1
Light Brown Apple Moth   3
Mottled Umber            2
Red Green Carpet      3
Yellow Line Quaker  1
Nov Moth agg         1
Spruce Carpet         1
Acleris Sparasana    3
Looks ok for thew next few days..

SAT Night  meeting at Shepards rest and going up Langfiled Common all welcome.....

Brick or Flounced Chestnut or what?

caught this one on 1st October and I just cannot make my mind up what it is, any suggestions?

also this worn carpet on the same date



I take my photo's in RAW format and JPEG, does anyone know how to keep the quality on JPEG's, I know it's not going to be as good as RAW but it does seem to loose a lot of quality, any ideas

Bare Head Tunnel..Shibden(bits and bobbs)

Had a look in the tunnel today,3 Small tortoiseshell,1 Peaock and 1 Herald......
Sat night will be at Hardcastle Craggs 7 onwards
Anyone got any moth reords for this year.???

Late September

B

Barred sallow with small micro underneath.??

Orange sallow 2 reorded this september

                                     Ghost Moth larvae doing well and ready for there first winter

A very late Bee Moth reorded on the 29th september

Northowram last night

998 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 2

1041 Acleris sparsana 4
1048 Acleris variegana Garden Rose Tortrix 3
1728 Xanthorhoe fluctuata Garden Carpet 1
1760 Chloroclysta siterata Red-green Carpet 2
1761 Chloroclysta miata Autumn Green Carpet 1
1764 Chloroclysta truncata Common Marbled Carpet 2
1795x Epirrita dilutata agg. November Moth agg. 2
1935 Erannis defoliaria Mottled Umber 1
2107 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 2
2109 Noctua comes Lesser Yellow Underwing 2
2134 Xestia xanthographa Square-spot Rustic 2
2232 Aporophyla nigra Black Rustic 6
2240 Lithophane leautieri Blair's Shoulder-knot 5
2263 Agrochola lota Red-line Quaker 3
2298 Amphipyra berbera svenssoni Svensson's Copper Underwing (agg) 1
2299 Amphipyra tragopoginis Mouse Moth 1
2361 Hydraecia micacea Rosy Rustic 2
2364 Gortyna flavago Frosted Orange 1

Wenesday night at the Craggs,

I will be setting two lights at Hollins hall on Wenesday evening.from 7.30 onwards if anyone would like to join me...............Weather looks perfect...................It was hrad going sorting through all the common Marbled carpets and Nov aggs but not bad for a couple of hours..Gonna try Monday night about 7ish.at Cromwell bottom..............

1760 Chloroclysta siterata Red-green Carpet 3
1762 Chloroclysta citrata Dark Marbled Carpet 3
1764 Chloroclysta truncata Common Marbled Carpet 35
1767 Thera firmata Pine Carpet 1
1769 Thera britannica Spruce Carpet 1
1795x Epirrita dilutata agg. November Moth agg. 18
2107 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 1
2109 Noctua comes Lesser Yellow Underwing 3
2232 Aporophyla nigra Black Rustic 1
2247 Dichonia aprilina Merveille du Jour 1
2258 Conistra vaccinii Chestnut 6
2262 Agrochola circellaris Brick 12
2263 Agrochola lota Red-line Quaker 1
2264 Agrochola macilenta Yellow-line Quaker 38
2273 Xanthia togata Pink-barred Sallow 1
2367 Celaena haworthii Haworth's Minor 1

Hardcastle Craggs Sat24 09 11

17 species of macros last night,the pick being 2 Pine carpets,2 Merveille du jour 1 was nectaring on Buddliea,1 Black Rustic and 30 Yellow Line Quakers pic of mervielle du jour.

Lime-speck Pug

first pug for weeks and a new species for me, what's the status of this locally Andy

Friends of Cromwell Bottom

This evenings meeting in Brighouse proved to be quite eventful with the formation of an interim committee of the Friends of Cromwell Bottom. It's early days but the next meeting in October will thrash out the details of the constitution.
I will post details later regarding proposed meetings, who to contact, how to get involved, etc, etc.
Many issues were raised at the meeting, and there is a central core of like-minded people who are prepared to have their say in the management of one of Calderdales most important wildlife habitats.
Anybody who has an interest in the flora and fauna of Cromwell Bottom, and its management, is encouraged to get involved.
More to follow.

Micro for id

Caught last night .??

Devon Carpet Habitat Hardcastle Craggs

Some pics showing Devon Carpet habitat near Hollin Hall,foodplant Marsh Bedstraw which seems to like the wetter juncus flushes,also quite a lot down at Gibson Mill near the Dam, theres quite a lot of suitable areas around Calderdale,incidently Fen Bedstraw another possible foodplant grows in this area also.Devon Carpets must be out there in other places in Calderdale ! ps 84 Devons have been recorded so far ,and we have seen 2 generations,which is amazing ! regards Bri,Andy Martyn.

Autumn is with us...............

With 7 Pink barred sallow, 3 Black Rustic , 2 red Green carpet  and Canary shouldered Thorn at Elland last nightt  and Blair s Shoulder knot , Pink - Barred , Barred , Orange and Sallow ,Feathered Rannunculus ,turnip Moth ,Frosted Orange,dark Marbled Carpet,Silver Y ,Diamond Backed Moth,Lunar Underwing at  Northowram oveer the last few days its definatly autumn................

Elland Gravel Pits (thursday night)

Gonna try at EGP thursday night meet 8ish at car park.

Saturday evening

Meet at craggs 8.00ish hopfully run a couple of traps if weather behaves................

1751 Lampropteryx otregiata Devon Carpet 2

1759 Ecliptopera silaceata Small Phoenix 2
1760 Chloroclysta siterata Red-green Carpet 2
1762 Chloroclysta citrata Dark Marbled Carpet 2
1764 Chloroclysta truncata Common Marbled Carpet 9
1768 Thera obeliscata Grey Pine Carpet 1
1862 Gymnoscelis rufifasciata Double-striped Pug 1
2102 Ochropleura plecta Flame Shoulder 1
2107 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 10
2109 Noctua comes Lesser Yellow Underwing 6
2134 Xestia xanthographa Square-spot Rustic 1
2264 Agrochola macilenta Yellow-line Quaker 1
2265 Agrochola helvola Flounced Chestnut 1
2273 Xanthia togata Pink-barred Sallow 2
2306 Phlogophora meticulosa Angle Shades 3
2343x Mesapamea secalis agg. Common Rustic agg. 2
2350 Chortodes pygmina Small Wainscot 1
2441 Autographa gamma Silver Y 1

Spot the Moth ?

This July Highflier looked nice and cryptic on the tree trunk !

Hardcastle Craggs Fri 02 09 11

Cracking night at Craggs,top 2 Neglected Rustics,2, Oak Hook-tip,3,this superb Heath Rustic,and last, one of our target species a Pine Carpet a 1st for Calderdale,good numbers of Devons Carpets again.Bri /Andy.













1405 Pleuroptya ruralis Mother of Pearl 3

1413 Hypsopygia costalis Gold Triangle 1
1646 Watsonalla binaria Oak Hook-tip 1
1708 Idaea dimidiata Single-dotted Wave 1
1713 Idaea aversata Riband Wave 1
1722 Xanthorhoe designata Flame Carpet 10
1738 Epirrhoe alternata Common Carpet 3
1742 Camptogramma bilineata Yellow Shell 4
1751 Lampropteryx otregiata Devon Carpet 16
1759 Ecliptopera silaceata Small Phoenix 7
1764 Chloroclysta truncata Common Marbled Carpet 4
1767 Thera firmata Pine Carpet 1
1777 Hydriomena furcata July Highflyer 1
1862 Gymnoscelis rufifasciata Double-striped Pug 1
1906 Opisthograptis luteolata Brimstone Moth 1
2107 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 5
2109 Noctua comes Lesser Yellow Underwing 3
2110 Noctua fimbriata Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing 1
2111 Noctua janthe Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing 3
2117 Eugnorisma glareosa Autumnal Rustic 5
2132 Xestia castanea Neglected Rustic 2
2134 Xestia xanthographa Square-spot Rustic 30
2135 Xestia agathina Heath Rustic 1
2176 Cerapteryx graminis Antler Moth 9
2269 Atethmia centrago Centre-barred Sallow 11
2274 Xanthia icteritia Sallow 4
2297x Amphipyra pyramidea agg. Copper Underwings 1
2299 Amphipyra tragopoginis Mouse Moth 2
2318 Cosmia trapezina Dun-bar 5
2321 Apamea monoglypha Dark Arches 5
2343x Mesapamea secalis agg. Common Rustic agg. 1
2350 Chortodes pygmina Small Wainscot 9
2353 Luperina testacea Flounced Rustic 1
2474 Rivula sericealis Straw Dot 4
2477 Hypena proboscidalis Snout 1
2484 Schrankia costaestrigalis Pinion-streaked Snout 1