Straw Dot

Hi All, Has anyone else seen more of these than usual this year. In the last week I have disturbed 3 in grass during the day.

1) Around the edge of a school playground in Widnes.

2) Up on the waste ground over the river tunnel just past Morrisons on the way to todmorden. a good locationfor Small Skippers incidentaly (See pic)

3) Wandering around at Glastonbury Festival

and 4) One in the moth trap recently.

I also read that this moth can be a migrant, any info anyone. Whilst on this subject is there any evidence for reverse migration from the UK in Painted Lady butterflies. A friend saidshe had heard this on the radio?

Win

Puss moths

Went into Cunnery Wood today with the naughty children brigade. Happily the puss moths are doing well, they have striped 2 or 3 branches of the sallow and are still growing in size. If anyone can get a video of them eating it would be well worth it. We counted 7 of them is that the number that were released? and will they spin their cocoons on the sallow itself of waddle off and find another piece of wood - just wanted to know so we don't trim back where they are.#

Peppered moths

Hi everyone,

So following up an exchange with Andy this morning, I thought I would post directly to ask if anyone might be willing to send me some melanic or typical peppered moths they might catch.

I am a biologist working in the Zoology Department at Oxford and have an historical interest in repeating some of HBD Kettlewells (and others) old moth breeding experiments that deduced the genetics of the melanic allele.

I'd be particularly interested in melanic males and females (but typicals would be useful too) and would be willing to cover the postage and packing costs. The moths are usually ok if stored in the fridge for a few days or a week, so you wouldn't have to mess about sending every single one...

Thanks everyone.

Last Night in Hebden Bridge

Hi All, A bumper crop of 31 moths amongst the midge storm last night. Some interesting micros new which were new to me (These has taken all day to identify and with some considerable help) I think they were almost as spectacular as the Macros, judge for yourself. I have been tring to get a pic of a Light Emerald for years now. They never seem to settle. I was lucky last night I think. Can anyone confirm the Ingrailed Clay? Winston

Ypsolopha sequella 1
Mompha ochraceella 1
Crambus sp. 3
Bird Cherry Ermine 3
Scoparia ambigualis 1
Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix 1

Marbled Minor agg. 2
Poplar Hawk-moth1
Large Yellow Underwing 1
Common Footman 1
Map-winged Swift 1
Straw Dot 1
Light Emerald 2
Riband Wave 4
Mottled Beauty 1
Buff Arches 2
Snout 2
Clouded boarder2
Small Square-spot 1

Total - 31

Northowram over the weekend

Burnished Brass

Green arches

The cooler temps dont seem to have made a bit of difference to the trap catch over the last couple of days with,large numbers and species recorded.This Green arches was my favorite.Excellent numbers of Bright Line Brown Eye ,Gothic,Diamond Backed Moth,Common Footman,Flame and Light emeralds.New for the year were Slender Brindle,Secateaous Hebrew Character,Map winged swift,Small Rivulet,Straw Dot,Clay,Swallowtailed moth, Small dusty wave,Pinion Streaked Snout and 1201 Eucosma Cana.
Butterflies,,,,Painted Lady(4)Red Admiral(2)Gatekeeper(2)Ringlet(2)Small Skipper(1)
Speckled wood,Small tortoiseshell,Small Heath,Peacock larvae and Small White

Sallow Kitten egglaying

Heres a pic of sallw kitten in process of egglaying.

Langfield Edge,04 07 09

Hi all,had a few hours with heath trap,a lot cooler mostly clear with light cloud drifting through,a sallow kitten ,map winged swifts 2 in cop,5 true lovers knot,3 broom,and this caloptilia stigmatella pic,also diamond back moth,pic too of sallow kitten egg which was laid on upper surface of goat willow leaf.all the best Bri.

Midgley last night

A better night last night with several new species for us including a Burnished Brass (poor photo, great moth!) and this Gold Spot which looking at the book looks more like a Lempke's GS to us but it does say they are very difficult, any suggestions? Waiting for a couple of ID confirmations from Brian/Andy but the rest of the list is

Large Yellow Underwing 4

Lesser Yellow Underwing 1

Burnished Brass 1

Middle barred Minor 3

Common Footman 2

Northern Spinach 1

Gold Spot sp. 1

Puss Moths

Probably a stupid question this (I'm good at them) but we have kept one of the Puss Moth catapillars and are hoping it will pupate on a log we have put in with it, assuming it does then when can we expect it to emerge? will it overwinter as a pupa or hatch in a few days/weeks?

Peppered Moths

In contrast to just about everyone else things are very quiet up here in Midgley, just getting singles of odd species, nothing like what most of you guys seem to be getting, I think we might try moving the trap. One other suggestion for our lack of moths has been that they may be getting out of the trap before we have chance to check it, anyone got a solution to this (apart from getting up at 4 am!). The Peppered Moths were on our wall by the trap, is it usual for the two forms to mate? Anyone know enough about PM genetics to be able to say what form the next generation will be?

More from Somerset

Hi All

New for me were these two from my Somerset trip. Can anyone help/confirm id. bottom - Single-dotted Wave? Top - Looks alittle like Dotted Border Wave yet unlikely? Help. Also white plume moth which was new but even I can manage to id that one

Win

large skipper??

on ogden moor this morning

also a small heath there too plus 2 meadow browns

Northowram GMS /last night

Uncertain ?

Muslin Footman ?
Still a good number of moths despite the cooler temps.With Short Cloaked Moth,Common Footman(5),Straw Dot and 3 igrant Diamond Backed moths amd a beautiful Amblyptilia acanthadactyla.Also these two above a Muslin Footman and the Uncertain but I am still a bit uncertain about these two.

Ramsden Wood Clough,03 07 09

Hi all,had a try with heath trap dusk till dawn,unfortunately clear skies didnt help,still got 16 species of macro and 2 micro species,barred straw,common footman,5 small dotted buff,2 buff ermine being the pick with lots of green carpets including this strikingly marked one .loads of crambus sp,and a few scop species to be id .all the best Bri.

Cunnery Wood/Shibden.last night

Let the Puss moth cats go in the wood last night.Again a good turn out with Straw Dot(4)Snouts (20+)Light emeralds(30+)Green Oak Tortrix,July High Flyer,Geen Pug(4) and Carpet(5)Poplar hawkmoth,Purple Clay(6)Clouded silver,Clouded Border,Brimstone (20+)Just a few highlights.

Narrow bordered five spot burnets

Lots of these newly emerged in a Northowram field probably well known to Andy C. Also the first Red Admirals I've seen this year, Painted Ladies, the odd Common Blue ( I think, went by rather quickly and didn't have time to pursue) Large Skippers and a battered looking Small Tortoiseshell. Thanks to Trish for camera work (my photos were pretty rubbish, obviously the camera's fault!) -she says hi by the way Andy.

Was interested to read the comments on recording local species by Paul below and agree wholeheartedly with what he has to say. As Andy comments some sort publication giving information about local species and habitats would be good. What would also be nice is an update of Collinsons 1969 work Butterflies and Moths of Halifax and District with all the new, or supposedly new, species added while retaining much of his interesting commentary (which itself draws on records going back to 1863) to give a historical perspective - well, yeah, a lot of work but if it were shared out amongst a few people it might be do-able. I'm certainly willing to volunteer help with the donkey work of typing things up etc. Food for thought anyway.

Moth Recording in Calderdale

I had been going to post this has a comment on the What A Month thread but its sort of grew into a post on its own !

I want to post my thoughts on moth recording in general in Calderdale and hopefully start a discussion on the matter as I don't claim to be correct in all aspects of what I say, these are just my own personal thoughts on the matter

Its not surprising that more "new" species are being recorded in Calderdale each year. This is due to the fact that in the past (and I speak from personal experience here) there were maybe one or two people in any period regularly recording moths in Calderdale. When I started, apart from Brian Cain recording in his garden in the middle of Halifax, there was only me with help from Martin Todoff and Ian Kimber. Second point on this is that we probably have less pollution and a higher annual mean temperature that at any time in the past when moth recording was taking place. This is obviously going to increase the range of species if not the number of moths recorded.Third point on this is that much more of Calderdale is now being regularly light trapped and searched than at ANY time in its past so again more species are turning up. Fourth point is this, probably some of the "new" species to Calderdale are not new at all but have been here all along but no one looked in the right area for them before.

The facet I find most interesting personally is the comparison with Collinsons statement of realative abundance of each species. My own figures tended to tie in with Collinsons for the more common species which were recorded in numbers. This poses the question, why if we suffer much less pollution are these moth populations not growing ? This leads onto speculation that "improvements" in agricultural methods, vastly increased road traffic (just check how many moths are stuck on your radiator grill when you drive at night),the huge increase in light pollution and lastly the vast areas of Calderdale that have been built on in the last 60 years have all played their part. One can only conclude that despite the drop in atmospheric pollution and cleaner rivers, many species are just about hanging on and if the "progress" of the last 60 years continues then ours might be the last generation to be able to record moths in Calderdale in any meaningful way, especially in lowland habitat. This in turn makes every record of every species vital in the fight to try and preserve habitat in Calderdale now, so that hopefully we will not be the last generation to record these marvelous insects

Cherry Trees

It may be worth having a look at your local cherry tree at the moment for two very atractive 'micros'1216 Cherry Bark maoth and 420 Cherry fruit Moth I recorded both yesterday at Northowram.

Somerset Moths

Hi All, Two apologies first. 1) Sorry fornot being around, this is my busiest time of year. My working season is the same as the mothing one unfortunately. 2) Sorry for posting an "Outside Calderdale" subject but thought it might beof interest. Right, went on a 2 day camping holiday with my daughter this week. On a 12 mile walk in the boiling heat we saw a red flash. This turned out to be a Scarlet Tiger. A moth locally abundant where we were (Near Martock on the river Parrett, where we found a colony of 50+) but is rare in the north. The black wings have a lovely green sheen on them. Very difficult to photograph though. The next new one for me was a Blood-vein. enjoy. Winston

What A Month!

June has been fantastic! Lots and lots of Moths, too many to mention, the pick of the bunch this last two days are these,


Double Dart

what's the status of this Moth locally? I'm going to keep it over night if anyone would like to see it, it's a bit lively and hard to get a decent photo of




Puss Moth


Dark Spectacle

I've also had this Plain Golden Y?, which is a bit odd, the markings on the wing join together instead of being seperate, if you know what I mean. I had 3 the other night and this one looked really perculiar, is this normal variation in this species.

Cunnery Wood/Shibden..Field Trip No ??

I will be there at 9.45 to set up.

Wax Moths

Lesser Wax Moth

Wax Moth
Thanks to C.fletcher and Yorkshire moths for the id on the wax moth.Both these species assosiate with bee hives so I presume they are from the local Shibden Honey hives in Northowram.The Lesser Wax Moth runs around like a Mouse Moth.

Time to go

Nick they have fed very well and are ready for collection to be let go somewhere near you ,hope gladso was good.(click on pic for better view).

Afternoon walk

Took a walk yesterday afternoon from home, up Norcliffe Lane to Sunny Bank Farm, then cut down the fields to Sunny Vale before returning to Badger Lane.

Butterflies

Speckled wood

Small skipper

Ringlet

Meadow brown

Small heath

(all above in large numbers, 50+) on lanes and in fields)

lots of grass moths

1 red admiral

1 large white

Might be worth setting up a few heath traps in the grass one night and leaving to see what we find. Also found a half eaten carcass of a moth (bottom) on the road around the old factory. Is it an emerald?

Sunny Vale lake produced lots of blue damselflies, 2 kingfisher, heron and 27 orchids.

Also included the photo of the moth I am having trouble identifying from the trap any help welcome.

Also Andy you mentioned about another visit to Cunnery Wood, do you want to try this Thursday evening?

whiteholme drain micro,15 06 09

Hi all just to let you know that micro as been i d,by Harry Beaumont,as elachista kilmunella,Ians going to use it on uk moths,so thats great.not sure of calderdale status,no doubt under recorded,will see if i can find a few more ont drain !

bits and bobs

Hi all,thought you might be interested in pic of northern eggar eggs,2mm in lenght laid by the Female from Hinchcliffe trip,i dispersed them in suitable habitat,where found.all the best Bri.

Northowram over the weekend

Poplar Grey

Peach Blossom
Loads of new moths in the trap over the weekend including this Poplar Grey.(new for the garden)Peach Blossom,Brrom Moth,Fanfoot,Mottled Beauty,Green carpet,flame Carpet Light Emerald , 409a Argyresthia trifaciata which looks like a minute piece of gold leaf and 1506 Stenoptillia millieridactyla

Withens Clough Car park

Perfect conditions last night ,it was a pitty we could only manage 1 1/2 hours,Still it was great night,
35 True Lovers Knot
27 Map winged Swift(2 f.gallicus)
7 Green Carpet
1 Antler(an early one)
8 Small angle Shades
1 Purple Bar
2 Small Elephant Hawkmoths
10 Northern Spinach
1 Northern Eggar
30+ Middle Barred Minor(many red forms)
+ common species

Withens Clough Car park

Meeting sunday night at 10ish.Still loads of Ghost Moths about here with 178 tonight,the tractors are getting forever closer......5 Gothic in with another 40+ species last night was the highlight.

News From Todmorden,26 06 09

Hi all,got this blastodacna hellerella in trap at meadows edge garden,along with 45 macros,including 2 green arches,common lutestring dark northern form,2 small rivulets,2 elephant 1 pop hwk,9 light emeralds,2 elachista argentella,all the best Bri.

Hipperholme

Firstly just to say thatnks to Brian for sorting out the Centre Vale Park evening, A really good show of different moths and a good turn out of people as well.

Hot on the heals of the success at Tod, I set the trap going last night
4 Peppered moths
2 orange underwings (not sure which type as they escaped as I was getting them out)
1 brimstone
1 snout
1 flame
1 white ermine
1 green silver line
1 cream wave
1 ghost moth (female)
2 pugs
1 common carpet
1 small magpie

also a few I am having trouble identifying.
Chris

Cinnabar Moth

There are far fewer than a few years ago. Perhaps as parasites catch up with them. I watched (a few years back) a couple of Ichneumons hovering near a colony of cinnabar caterpillars in my garden. They responded by flailing their rear ends around but the parasites just kept hanging in the air waiting their chance.

However, one adult cinnabar on Weds 24th June in a field behind the Griffin Inn, Barkisland.

centre vale park moth night,25 06 09,

Heres a coxcomb prominent from centre vale park last night.

Centre Vale Park Moth Night,25 06 09

Hi all,id just like to say a big thanks to Andy Cockroft,Chris Sutcliffe,Roy Johnson Mick Harrop,and every one who managed to make it last night.although clear skies and 1 or 2 midges didnt help ! we still got 20 macros and 6 micro species,and probably quite a few people who will soon be mothing ,which is great.burnished brass,pic included,light emerald,green silver lines,herald,buff arches,peach blossom,coxcomb prominent,brimstone,small angleshades,and beautiful golen y,small magpie impressed every one .Thanks a lot ,All the best Bri,ps a good turn out for a thursday night.

Small Coppers

This was taken a couple of years ago at Northowram,which has a small colony of theses beautiful butterflies.Sorry about poor quality,I started loading then went to make a coffee and it was ready to post.

Cats

Hi all

Some cats that had me totally baffled for a couple of days until Reg Fry put me out of my misery. Sue and I spotted a large number of these cats feeding on Meadowsweet on the coast a week or so back. The large ones were around 1cm in length and the slightly different looking earlier instars were about .5cm in length. My first though was footman spp, no go as they all feed on lichens or dried plant material. I looked through every book I had, did searches for cats on Meadowsweet, even went through evey cat in Porter book and zilch. I posted the photos on Regs website and he came back with early instar Emperor Moth !!! I would never in a million years have got this despite rearing many through in the last instar and from pupa. I have never seen the early instars and to find them on Meadowsweet no more than 20 feet from the sea at low altitude was a complete shock.

testing testing

testin video image

Another Wood Sage cat emerges.

This looks a bit like Acleris notana/ferrugana
its not postvittana.??

Ghost Moth 'Spectacular' 2

sallow kitten

An amazing 268 Ghost moths last night including 22 in cop.If any one fancies seeing this spectacular its in the field opposite my house in Northowram just send me an e-mail or turn up about 10 o'clock.The first moth in the trap last night was a Sallow Kitten which was new for the garden(first Gothic,Burnished Brass,Dark Spectacle and Buff Ermine) and Nick C dropped off 12 Puss moth cats to look after while he's in Gladsto,100+ Chimney Sweeper by widop Gate today ....good times.

ID help please

450 Hawthorn Moth.??

Halifax Scientific Society /Crow nest quarry

Halifax Scientific Society has a walk scheduled at Crow Nest Quarry this Saturday 27th June, if anyone wants to goin them.
All are welcome to join them. Meet 10.30 at Lightcliffe C.of E. Primary School on Wakefield Rd., Lightcliffe. (At the Scout Hut.) Bring a packed lunch.
I understand the Bee Orchids weren't fully developed on 14th. Lets hope they're not finished by 27th!
Steve Blacksmith

Beautiful Yellow Underwing,22,06 09

Heres a beautiful yellow underwing at whiteholme drain,all the best Bri.

Ghost Moth 'Spectacular'

Last night returning from work at dusk,I noticed a Ghost moth flying in the headlights, I stopped the car and put the headlights over the field where it was heading it was amazing to see Ghost moths everywhere I counted no less than 48 males and 8 females 'Lekking'over the field .I returned an hour later and found none.Will try againd tonight nothing special about the field just a mix of Dock,Sorrel ,Buttercup,Nettle and various grasses.