Moth ID help please

We caught this moth last night up here in Midgley and are uncertain about its ID. Initial impression was of a very large Rustic type but clearly not one of those, checking books, UK moths etc has led us to think it might be a Dark Brocade but someone else has suggested it might be Glaucous Shears, can anyone help please?

Found this female Emperor up at Scammonden dam on Monday,didnt have my camera so stopped a passer by who took this pic on his i-phone and has just e-mailed it(thanks Gary ).Tecnology is great when it works.Brian found 14 Northern eaggar cats and saw lots of Common Heath egg laying on white holme drain.

Common Heath egg laying by Brian

It's been a bit quiet

Very few posts on here and I guess the poor weather has something to do with that. We've not run our trap much at all, just didn't seem to be much point (coupled with being away a lot), however, correct me if I'm wrong but tonight looks promising? Our trap is out already.

Eyed Hawkmoth.

A pristine male was found resting in a greenhouse at Skircoat Green allotments today (16th). It was found by a lady plot holder who knew I had an interest in such things. Quite a find!

Photo by finder - Joan Sleight.

Mixenden butterflies

Took a walk around Mixenden this morning. Okay might not be the first place you think to go for a walk but a nice stroll from the flats at the bottom up the side of the stream to Ogden and back down produced quite a few hotspots of butterfly activity. Meadow around adventure play area was busy with Orange Tip, males fighting amongst themselves and females hanging about on the cuckoo flower. Bit further along and the footpath from Mixenden Stones towards Mill Lane found lots of Speckled Wood, many of them mating. Males flying around with females hanging on for dear life! Coming back through the woodlands we saw Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell. Not a bad little spot with plenty of flowers out, works a little look if ever you are passing. Chris

April Bumblebee Transect

Hi all,

More invertebrate news! Hardcastle Crags Bumblebee Transect is getting underway for the season. Winston and I just managed to get some records for April on the 30th. We recorded 2 white-tailed bumblebee queens on the transect, and saw another two just before starting.

Compared to last year, there have been far fewer records at the site, a likely consequence of April's decent into cold and windy weather. It will now be walked once a month until October, with the records going to the Bumblebee Conservation Trust. We're hoping to have more records of Bombus monticola, the uncommon Bilberry bumblebee, before the year is through.

If anyone is interested in getting involved with recording, please get in touch with myself or Winston, and we can provide more information.

Christine

WOOD TIGER

Brian Leesey found this today at whiteholme Drain , looks good for wood Tiger which has been a target species for the last few years..Great find Brian

Books for sale

Nick dawtry has these two book for sale if any one is interested leave a message below. Moths of the British Ilses B Skinner British and Irish Pug Moths Riley and Prior

New Micro book

http://www.britishwildlife.com/viewbook.asp?bookid=24 Im ordering mine now...................

Speckled Wood

My first Speckled Wood butterfly of the year, this aft in Sunnybank wood, Todmorden. It is only 2 days later than last year when it was a heatwave.

596 Elachista poae emerges.

A long narrow corridor mine on Reed Sweet-grass found in the canal at Copley. Quite a scarce species in Yorkshire with just a handful of records.

The larvae habitually changes leaves - twice in this case.

The almost black pupa, originally encased in a whitish cocoon.

The adult emerged 10 days after finding the pupa. For once those frantically twitching antennae aren't because it's unsettled and wants to escape, it because.............

I think, and I could be wrong, that this is a female and not soon after taking a few photos she started calling for a mate by raising her wings to emit pheromones.Any info on this behaviour would be good.

449c Prays oleae arrives in Calderdale!

I found myself loitering around Newbank garden centre in West Vale this morning trying my best to look like a customer when in fact I was there looking for olive trees to see if the aforementioned species was present. It took about 2 seconds to find the one and only mine.It contained frass but no larva unfortunately. Only discovered in Britain in 2009 it seems likely that this stowaway is now present in garden centres throughout the land.

E.maculicerusella emerges.

My first ever success at rearing Elachistas brightened up a very poor day weather wise. Just waiting for my two E.poae to emerge now.

News from Tod

A few Emperos about on the moors over the last days along with plenty of Phillenonides lunana and a green Hairstreak,

Attracted to light

Not bothered with the trap recently as the weather is poor.But last night I had Twin spotted Quaker and Early Grey attracted to the kitchen window light.Also Brown House Moth kicking around the recycling.

Bumblebee Transect

Hi everyone,
I'm arranging a walk to introduce new volunteers to the bumblebee transect at the top of Hardcastle Crags (near Blake Dean) and wondered if anyone was interested in coming along? At the moment we are planning to meet at 3.30pm at Widdop Gate parking spot on Sat 14th April. It'll be a walk along the transect route and a bit of information about bumblebee identification. If there are any changes to the planned time or date I'll post an update.
Christine

A new website for Yorkshire moffers

http://www.yorkshiremoths.info/

Have a look at this new sie created by Terry Box and mapmate its realy great.....

Elachista maculicerusella.

This was one of my target species for this year and I was lucky enough to find three tenanted mines on Reed Canary Grass at Tag Meadow on Tuesday. One pupated yesterday on the outside of its mine as they tend to do. I think Paul has reared this species before but it's a new for me.I'm hoping to find more Elachista mines over the coming weeks but it's identifying the various sedges and grasses that's the problem!

Orange Underwing

An excellent year so far for Oarnge Underwing (above)Stoodley Glen saw at least
2,and 2 at Callis Wood today (BL),Cromwell Bottom ..1 on  15th march,1 on the 18th, 6  on the 20th and 2 on the  23rd March.

Red Sword Grass

very few Moths on these cold, clear nights but the quality is great with my third Red Sword Grass in Luddenden. Brian was saying last Saturday that these are something of a Calderdale speciality and are not recorded very often elsewhere in Yorkshire.

Pine Beauty

I've been having small numbers of the more common Moths this last week the highlights being Powdered Quaker, Red Chestnut and this Pine Beauty that turned up last night.

While driving home over Fly Flatts last night there were swarms of Moths and having caught a few they mostly seemed to be Mottled Grey.

Crags 24th March

A great night in the Crags on Saturday with plenty of Moths with the highlights Red Chestnut, Early-toothed Stripe and this stunning Oak Beauty.  Diurnea fagella 4, Brindled Pug 24, Engrailed 3,Oak Beauty 1,Early Toothstriped 1,Chestnut 13,Common 84,Twin Spot 24,Small Quaker 16,Hebrew Char 2,Red Chestnut 1,Clouded Drab 35,Sattelite 2.

Dragonfly sp ??

A medium/large sized dragonfly flew very fast through the garden this morning, heading west .??? no colour or detail .?but I don't think Ive seen one in March before.?? Any one any ideas,?

Caloptilia rufipennella.

Disturbed this in the garden this afternoon. Wingspan and banded foreleg right for this sp.

Last Night in Hebden Bridge

Hi all, Despite seeing record temperatures for March, Hebden was decidedly chilly last night and as temperatures dropped and only a Chestnut and a Common Quaker visiting the MV trap I decided to turn off at 10pm. This morning in very thick fog packing the trap away and not expecting any moths inside. Under the last egg box a fine Oak Beauty :-). Win

Last nights moths

Chestnut  x 1
Common Quaker x3
Small Quaker   x 1
Early Grey   x 1
Clouded drab x 2
Hebrew character x 2
Red Green carpet x 1
I am realy enjoying the actinic so far this year with  a good selection last night.and no hassle to the neighbours.Looks good for the next week or so enjoy it while it lasts.

Midgley...Mottled grey

1st butterfly of the year

Worked in Snake Hill today removing lots of rubbish, but one bright moment early afternoon with a peacock butterfly out sunning itself. My first butterfly sighting of the year.

Female Orange Underwing?

Taken on Sunday 18th at Cromwell Bottom

Bees?

Dear all, not strictly on subject here but saw these interesting insects on a tree yesterday at Jerusalem Farm (Calderdale). Thought they were flies of some kind but looking them up they seem more like a bee, Mabybe Andrena genus? Any ideas? They were about 14mm long

Wends night

Going to try at Cromwell Bottom this week on wens night about 6.45.All welcome

Last nights moths

1 Satellite
1 March moth
3 Common Quaker
2 Hebrew Character
1 Chestnut
1 Small quaker
1 Clouded drab
Also 1 Common Quaker emerged from larvae found at Hardcastle craggs last spring,

North Winter Moth

Had a tidy up of the planters on the dam at Ogden yesterday, and found a female northern winter moth. Checked the description and the wings were a longer than the winter moth.

Also if anyone has any records for Cunnery Wood/Beacon Hill or Scarr Wood could I have a copy so I can put them in the management plans.

Cheers

A good start

A good stat to the year at Cromwell bottm LNR.started with
Yellow Horned  x 6
Oak beauty x 1
Hebrew character x1
Satellite x 4
twin spotted quaker x 5
Common quaker x 32
Small Quaker x 1
March Moth x 1
Acleris Fer/ not x 1
agonopterix herccliiana x 2
Caloptilia stigmatella x1



Looks good for orange Underwing this week......keep your eyes out.

Sat night

Gonna give it a go at Cromwell Bottom on sat night,meeet about 6.15ish.

Twin spotted Quaker and chestnut last night here in Northowram.

Pupa..??

Brian found this interesting pupa today in a broken off old branch


of Ribes sanguineum Flowering Currant,not showing full size but looks

substanstial ! what you think ? Leopard Moth,or Lunar Hornet would be

good !!no doubt somthing common....

Tonight in Hebden Bridge

Three Satellites, Not a frequent visitor here over the last few years :-)

Dark Chestnut of Chestnut

An excellent article from birdguides



http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=3135

Dotted Border

a nice Dotted Border last night along with a Clouded Drab

First Small tortoiseshell

First small tortoiseshell today flying around the garden and 2 Large Bumblebees,Satellite(white spot) and Chestnut last night.
Brian found anomalous and autumnal moth larrvae at jail hole on sat night despite the bitter wind.

First emergence of the year.

320 Phyllonorycter quercifoliella. Reared from a mine on oak found at Elland By-pass 20 days ago. Note the diagnostic basal streak running over half the wing length. A very common moth found almost anywhere the foodplant grows.

First moths

1 orange spot satellite last night and a real cracking 1044/5  Acleris ferrugana / notana .I am going for ferrugana as it shows dark scale tuft.on wings.camera and photo shopnot working too well at the moment.Any way a good start as micro is new to me and only a few calderdale records and none in feb.

Sunday Night..cancelled

I am planning the first trip out of the year this Sunday to cromwell Bottom.weather permiting.Meet at 6 in the car park .Sorry all,not going to be able to make it tonight.Will try again soon.

more Pale Brindled Beauty - 21st February

Satellite

only one Moth again last night but what a cracker

First moth of the year and a new one for me!

Had this rather worn Torticodes alternella attracted to the kitchen light last night.

Pale Brindled Beauty

I've been trying the trap in this milder weather and this beauty turned up last night

Interestingly my only other was on 10th February last year.

Beetle Holes?

Hi All, a tree has fallen near my boat last week to reveal hundreds of these holes in the centre of the rotten trunk. They are about 8-9mm diameter. What larvae could produce such a fine labyrinth of tunnels?

Peppered Moth research

http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/338230/title/Classic_sooty-moth_tale_bolstered_by_new_results

Rescheduled Priority Species Workshop - 22nd February

Hello all,

The rescheduled Priority Species Workshop will be held on Wednesday 22nd February 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 contribute to the meeting please email Hugh to express your interest: hugh.firman@calderdale.gov.uk.

Anybody interested in helping conserve Calderdale's wildlife is welcome to attend.
We look forward to seeing some lepidoptera representatives there!

Christine

Walking for Butterfly Consevation

http://www.justgiving.com/epicbutterflywalk

Lewington's micro book out soon.

For all you micro lovers out there (and hopefully for all you micro haters as well) it looks like the new micro "bible" will be out in May. At thirty quid it covers 900 species with perhaps another book to follow to fill in the gaps.It looks worth buying for the art work alone and hopefully it will be the starting point for ID-ing the majority of micros in the UK - time will tell.

Here's a thread on the subject from Back Garden Moths.

http://back-garden-moths.co.uk/community/showthread.php?10468-Lewington-Micro-moths!

Mottled Grey 11 01 12

Found this Male Mottled Grey today while working at Meadows Edge,the earliest ive ever seen.Regards Bri.

My first of the year

my first Moth of the year turned up last night, a chestnut

despite having a go all winter this is my first Moth since 14th November

Early Moth

http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=6078 This is a good early species to keep an eye out for at the moment,Large areas of hawthorn,Cromwell Bottom should be a good spot.Also the female is another flightless species and may well be found locally.

Sleeping Beauties

Had a look at the Ghost Moths Cats today,seem to be doing ok at 20mm .!!

A nep from last spring.

Harry's just had a look at this one and is confident it's Stigmella lapponica. It was disturbed from Silver Birch in North Dean wood in April last year. Not a rare species by any means but the adults are not often reared because the larvae mine in June/July and the adults don't appear again until the following spring.

Wingspan 5-7mm.

Many thanks

Thanks to all who sent in records for 2011 they are now sent off to the Yorkshire recoreder to be included in the annual report.There were some great records from Calderdale so well done. Also thanks to all who posted on the blogg and also all those who read it .All the best for the new year ahead.

Can you guess what it is yet?

After last night's frost I thought I'd take a look of three of my charges to see how they were coping. No clues as to whether anything is still alive inside but no reason to suggest otherwise. It's little wonder the camouflage is so good having to over winter in such a vulnerable position.

Not much else on the go at the moment other than a few phyllo mines on cherry.

Happy new year

So here we are again,in the quiet of winter.I am planning a trip to hardcastle Craggs tomorrow evening sat,to look for Spring Usher etc...will be there from 4.30 till 7 latest.All the best for the year ahead..........A couple of hours tree searching with torches produced nothing but 2 yellow spot ladybirds and a few spiders...Next week going up langfield common looking for anomalouse larvae..
Some Highlights of 2011 were
Devon Carpets  86 recorded at Hardcastle Craggs only a handful of yorkshire records from one other site..
Pine Carpet ,Buff Footman and Grass Rivulet first calderdale records  from Hardcastle Craggs
Southern wainscot..32 in one night
Silky wainscot....28 same night as southerns.
Golden Rod Brindle at Luddenden Village light trap
Humming Bird Hawkmoth beeding in Charlies garden
Fox Moth to light at Hardcastle Craggs along with dark form of Northern eggar,and eventually finding female Winter moths and sorting out Nov aggs at last..........This year 2012 we will be consentrating our efforts around Cromwell Bottom....Allthe best Andy

Priority Species Workshop POSTPONED

Please note this event has been POSTPONED until February. The new date will be confirmed ASAP. If you would like more information please contact Hugh Firman: hugh.firman@calderdale.gov.uk

Christine

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.