Spring Moths Fri 24th April 2015

Counts , Comments on ID  

6	Eriocrania subpurpurella..12
663	Diurnea fagella..1
1750	Lampropteryx suffumata	Water Carpet..3
1760	Chloroclysta siterata	Red-green Carpet.1
1775	Colostygia multistrigaria	Mottled Grey..1
1852	Eupithecia abbreviata	Brindled Pug..8
1862	Gymnoscelis rufifasciata	Double-striped Pug..3
1881	Trichopteryx carpinata	Early Tooth-striped…6
1917	Selenia dentaria	Early Thorn..1
1919	Selenia tetralunaria	Purple Thorn…3
1947	Ectropis bistortata	Engrailed…1
2139	Cerastis rubricosa	Red Chestnut..7
2182	Orthosia cruda	Small Quaker..14
2187	Orthosia cerasi	Common Quaker..94
2188	Orthosia incerta	Clouded Drab..1
2189	Orthosia munda	Twin-spotted Quaker..1
2190	Orthosia gothica	Hebrew Character..3
2258	Conistra vaccinii	Chestnut…11

Another great night with 170 + moths in 3 hours trapping, Common Quakers were estimated at 94 and could easily be double that number. 3  freshly emerged Purple Thorn were  a good number for this species. Thanks to Colin, Dave and Bri ... Weather  Preceding days warm and very sunny  with temps exceding 15 degrees  On the evening Cooler circa 9 - 10 degrees with threat of rain and brief intermittent drizzle which in the main remained dry throughout . Periodic breeze caused occasional influxes of large numbers of Common Quaker


Additional Entomology    Also  found throughout the night

Necrorophilus humator ,
Stonefly .
Caddisfly, Limnephilidae
Spider Trochosa terricola ,
Cranefly Tipula (rufina) TBC .

The spectacle of the night was probably the Purple Thorn and the the most prolific the Common Quaker aprox 100 +  had Andy and Brian doing cartwheels

1919 Purple Thorn  Selenia tetralunaria  Two specimens for comparison

An Atypical top view showing the open wing stance of this thorn

1750  Water Carpet Lampropteryx suffumata

A number of variations or aberrations occur, including a striking form ab. porrittii, found in Yorkshire, but scarce elsewhere. and appears with the key band markins in a striking black to white arrangement

1760 Red Green Carpet Chloroclysta siterata

1852 Brindled Pug Eupithecia abbreviata

2190  Hebrew Character Orthosia gothica

Early Tooth-striped Trichopteryx carpinata

The larvae feed on various trees, including honeysuckle (Lonicera), sallow (Salix) and birch (Betula).

663 The March Dagger Moth Diurnea fagella

Fresh Specimen from previous session

This is an early spring species, occurring from March to May. It is quite a small moth, with an average wingspan of about 25mm melanic forms occur  in some northern and industrial areas.

2139 Red Chestnut Cerastis rubricosa

The larvae feed nocturnally in late spring on several herbaceous plants such as groundsel (Senecio vulgaris) and bedstraw (Galium)

Common Quaker

1947 Engrailed Ectropis crepuscularia

E sulpherlla


Cranefly  Tipula rufina

A femaile tipulid of the Genus Tipula most likely to be a Tipula rufina , key ID features Wing Veination match, Body pattern , Distinctive black mark lateral on the thorax , leg banding and Phenology

Friday Night

Hope to be running the trap at hardcastle Craggs on Friday night 8.30..all welcome

Last night at the Craggs

The first bumper night of the year  with over 170 moths recorded of 18 species. Thanks to Dave F , Bri and Colin for all the help. Dave also recorded Birch Shield Bug last night our second species of the year with Hawthorn Shieldbug last time. Looks good all week for Orange Underwingt in the Cromwell area. Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock have been seen at Northowram today.

Last Night at the Craggs

663	Diurnea fagella x  2
688	Agonopterix heracliana x   2
1659	Achlya flavicornis	Yellow Horned x 12
1663	Alsophila aescularia	March Moth x 1
1775	Colostygia multistrigaria	Mottled Greyx 1
1852	Eupithecia abbreviata	Brindled Pug x 32
1881	Trichopteryx carpinata	Early Tooth-striped x 2
1917	Selenia dentaria	Early Thorn x 1
1930	Biston strataria	Oak Beauty x 5
1947	Ectropis bistortata	Engrailed x 1
2139	Cerastis rubricosa	Red Chestnut x 2
2182	Orthosia cruda	Small Quaker x36
2187	Orthosia cerasi	Common Quaker x 37
2188	Orthosia incerta	Clouded Drab x 7
2189	Orthosia munda	Twin-spotted Quaker x 17
2190	Orthosia gothica	Hebrew Character x1
2256	Eupsilia transversa	Satellite x 1
2258	Conistra vaccinii	Chestnut x11

SUNDAY NIGHT AT THE CRAGGS

Depending on the weather , I will be running the trap at the crags on Sunday night..about 8ish.  Colin/anyone if you need a lift just text.
Cheers Andy

Spring Crags 21.03.15

13 Yellow Horned
  3 Oak Beauty
  5 Common Quaker
  2 Satellite
  6 Chestnut
Another excellent night for the time of year..



Weather 6 deg Cooler with Chill  Cloudy with threat of rain

Thanks to Andy, Colin,  Brian and Dave with assistance on pictures

Yellow Horned and Common Quaker found by torchlight at base of trees in addition to trap , Dave found a Young Adult Hawthorn Shieldbug

The Satelite - Both the Orange and white spot variants found

The Typical Wing Marks

Often overlooked the large eye of the Satelite

1930 Oak Beauty Biston strataria - plumose feathery Antennae. The patterned camouflage makes it  ideal for sit amongst dappled lichen this time of year a great disguise

2187 Common Quaker Orthosia cerasi

1659 Yellow Horned Achlya flavicornis

As per name the Antennae - or - Yellow Horns

Ogden Water

Found this moth at Ogden Water today, under the security door, preety sure it is a dotted border, but if not then please let me know.

Sat night ..Craggs 6.45....21.03.15

Sat Night ..Too cold tonight gonna try next week....

This sat if weather (too cold) is ok at the Craggs...6.30 meet...................Worth a look for Orange Underwing if your out in the sunshine over the next few weeks in Birch woodland................

Spring Moths

A great night at the Craggs last nigt with a total of 70 moths of 10 species.Thanks to Colin for the photos.....


March Moth       33
Common Quaker 2
Chestnut              9
Oak Beauty         2
Yellow Horned   1
Pale brindled Beauty  4
Dotted Border             5
Satellite                      1
Agonoptrix Her          3
Tortricodes alternella   10



 Local weather Still Full Moon Dark 6:30 Temp 10 Deg Sky Clear

 Thanks to Brian Andy and ALL in the group for help with light etc

2258 The Chestnut Conistra vaccinii

 1926 Pale Brindled Beauty Phigalia pilosaria

 1930  Oak Beauty Biston strataria

2 Specimens varying in band and colour

1663 March Moth Alsophila aescularia

Antennae March Moth

 1934 Dotted Border Agriopis marginaria 

1934 Melanic Dotted Border (Agriopis marginaria f. fuscata)

1659 Yellow Horned Achlya flavicornis

2187 Common Quaker Orthosia cerasi 

Wings recently inflated

1025 Winter Shades Tortricodes alternella

Dotted Border Left Pale brindled Beauty Right

 Non Lepidoptera

 Dung Fly

Spider Trochosa sp likely .T. terricola./ ruricola

SAT NIGHT

If the weather is good(or even ok) we will be at Hardcastle Craggs at about 6.30 on Sat ...All welcome

The Craggs

Good to be out and a few moths about in the cold....
Dotted Border      22+
Spring Usher          1
Chestnut                 1
Pale Brindled Beauty    1


Happy Birthday Bri................

Hardcastle Craggs Friday 20th Feb

Meeting at 6 in Hardcastle Craggs , gonna run the trap for a few hours and do some tree searching.All welcome , if anyone needs a lift leave a message.....

Peacock

I got a report  from Nigel G of a Peacock Butterfly sunbathing near Lumb Falls in Crimsworth Dean on 30th November. A nice late record.

Mega Moths...........

Last night saw in the region of 7,500 Winter Moths in Only House Wood one tree have over 200 individuals on it..A few Scarce Umber and many female Winter moths..............have a look in your local wood....!!!!

Only House Wood

Down the woods again tonight with Steve Cummings in tow with all his camera equipment. Steve set up and started filming Winter Moths in cop and emerging from the leaf litter.
   I had a good look round the rest of the wood, as many as 500 + Winter Moths and 10 pairs in cop  , 2 Scarce Umber , 10 Mottled Umber  and  5 Northern Winter Moths

Down the woods

Popped down into the local beech wood last night , ---
200 + Winter moths
24       Mottled Umber
1 female Mottled Umber

Memories of Summer

Forgot to post this in the summer when I spotted this fine example of a really fresh White-letter Hairstreak Satyrium w-album. This is only the second one I have seen near the town centre.