Calderdale Moths , Butterflies and Dragonflies: Found one at last 3 (898 Limnaecia phragmitella)

Wednesday, 16 February 2011

Found one at last 3 (898 Limnaecia phragmitella)

After reading charlies post I went into the garage to have a look at some seed heads I collected from Cromwell Bottom in early Jan when all the water/ground was frozen and you could easily collect them.I was amazed to find at least 10 larvae frome the four seed heads I collected.Thanks Paul and Charlie

6 comments:

charlie streets said...: Nice one Andy. I never thought of going when it was all iced over - just walk straight out to the ones you want!; 17 February 2011 at 00:13
Goldon Gordon said...: Thank gawd you and Charlie have now gathered some larvae ! I could not understand why you guys never found any as they were in 99% of the likely looking seedheads that young Kimber and I looked at which ever site we looked over.; 17 February 2011 at 03:40
AndyC said...: Its only taken 4 years,,,,now what about Stigmella myrtillella....?; 17 February 2011 at 05:19
Goldon Gordon said...: From an email I sent John Langmaid in 2002:

After re-discovering Stigmella myrtillella in Yorkshire last year with Ian Kimber we made a concentrated attempt to find its distribution in Calderdale this summer. Sue and I have discovered that it will only breed on S-SE facing hillsides, is never found in shaded situations however abundant the food plant and altitude seems not to play a part in its distribution as we have found it from the valley bottoms to the highest tops.We now have records from 33 x1k squares and it's recorded in all 6 x10k squares that make up Calderdale.

Its out there Andy ;-)); 17 February 2011 at 07:20
AndyC said...: should keep me busy this summer.....:)); 17 February 2011 at 07:57
charlie streets said...: "Sue and I have discovered that it will only breed on S-SE facing hillsides"

I wonder if that applies to Ectoedemia weaveri as well as I've spent some time searching for it on Norland Bilberry slopes on lower Greetland moor without success. Given that this is a NW facing site it is not surprising that S. myrtilella was also not found. It's strange that Phyllonorycter junoniella is quite common here on Cowberry across most of the site.Maybe it's different with evergreen shrubs or maybe it's just a species requirement thing.; 17 February 2011 at 23:51