636 Denisia similella

I know its good weather for trapping but I have had a great time this week sneaking off for a couple of hours now and then to look in woods and meadows. Didn't see much today in Pecket Well till I bent down to tie my laces and this good looker seemed to pop out of a dry stone wall. Distinctive markings so I thought I would be able to track this one down. Spent too long looking now and eyes are now boggling! Now correctly identified by Charlie Streets as 636 Denisia similella. seems to be relativly scarce.

Tonight

Bulrush waiscot empty cocoon from todmorden
Meeting with Bri in the car park at Elland Gravel Pits looking for larvae etc about 9ish all welcome,

Elephant Hawk Moth

Local population boosted by one !! Emerged this a.m. Flew off an hour ago, heading south.

News from Todmorden 01 06 10

Hi all,finally back on line ! im doing well for parasitica,even wasps emerged from an emperor cocoon ! is nothing sacred,thats nature.at least a Sallow Kitten emerged on 30 05 10,course it was the middle of the night,anyway thought id make a collage of most of the stages,regards Bri.

Glaucous shears ?

Anyone dissagree with Glaucous shears.?? All you trappers out there should be getting plenty of moths now and looks like an excellent week ahead.

516 Large Clover Case-bearer Coleophora trifolii

Found this little chap nectering on dandelion a few days ago and unfortunately he has had to wait until today for the weather to be bright enough to take his photo. Can't seem to find this one on UK Moths, anyone any ideas? At first it looked like a rather bland specimen but the lens has revealed his beauty. A shimmering golden black sheen to the wings and white ends to the antenae. (About 9mm long).

See latest comment for id notes.

win

Mothless Midgley

Ran both the actinic and an MBT lamp tonight with Brian, too clear and too cold we think, nothing caught and just four distant unknown moths seen in flight. Leaving the actinic running all night in case things improve, fingers crossed for tomorrow.

Monday Night

Im thinking of going to elland GPits on Monday night looking for southern wainscot larvae.if any one would like to join me ................................
late May to early June
The reedbeds should be swept after dark for the larvae. I have seen the larvae near the tops of the reeds in large numbers, where they are rather conspicuous, and used to pick off those within reach, and sweep for the more distant ones with a net. The larva pupates in or on the soil, and emerges without much trouble [Tutt]

Last night Northowram

Been a bit cool again this week but had my first Silver y's(2) and 1 dark Spectacle , 1 Spectacle,small square spot and a Scalloped Hazel(melanic) last night.

Birdguides Moth Article

Latest moth related article on Birdguides can be found at
http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=2112

Jerusalem Farm LNR

Working at Jerusalem Farm today, found this 1648 Pebble Hook-tip, also had large red damselfly and green-veined white.

Mother Shipton

Just IDed this one.

Sat. at Cromwell Bottom.

Last Night in Hebden Bridge

Silver-ground Carpet 1 NFY
Brindled Pug 1
Common Quaker 1
Green Silver-lines 1 N
Common Rustic agg 1 NFY
Lesser Swallow Prominent 1 NFY
Red-green Carpet 1 NFY

Scalloped Hazel 1 NFY

Rather excited to get Green Silver-lines which is a new one for me. I have Seen Scarce Silver-lines at a petrol station in France a few years ago however! Will try and get a better pic of him tomorrow and also the Rustic which didn't seem to have the white in the markings but couldn't see what else it could be. Winston

Clearwing

I found some kind of clearwing on Pellon Lane yesterday, near Burdock Way. It was on the pavement and seemed stunned, may have been hit by a car. I'm not familiar with these, so all I can say is it was 'hornet' like, but not as bright as a Hornet moth. After looking at guide book I feel it closet resembles the six-belted or yellow-legged variety, although I didn't notice the leg colour. Unfortunately I didn't have my camera and just left it on a bush.

Midgley last night

Just 2 this morning in trap but good ones, 1 White Ermine and 1 Water Carpet. Will try trap in a different place tonight to see if we can catch any more....

Knot Grass

Had this Moth last night but I could not decide if it was a Knot Grass or Light Knot Grass, any ideas









last few days

Hebrew Character 4

V-Pug 5

Garden Carpet 22

Small Phoenix 22

Brindled Pug 2

Fox Moth

White Spotted Pug 11

Clouded Silver 5

Common Swift 1

Flame Carpet 1

Scalloped Hazel 13

Cinnabar 4

Brimstone 6

Double Striped Pug 3

Small Angle Shades 1

Clouded Bordered Brindle 2

Shears 1

Light Knot Grass ?

Shuttle Shaped Dart 1

Rustic Shoulder Knot 3

Common Pug 1

Silver Ground Carpet 1

Early Grey 1

nice to see some Cinnabar again

Cunnery Wood

Working on Saturday I had the chance to be in Cunnery Wood for most of the day and see the following

1 Comma
12 Speckled wood
2 Peacock
7 Orange tips (6 males and 1 female)
5 Large white

1 Large red damselfly

Also had 1 Great diving beetle in the pond

Knott Wood sat night

Light knot grass and knot grass last night

1007 Capua vulgana 2
1015 Eulia ministrana 10
1648 Drepana falcataria Pebble Hook-tip 2
1652 Thyatira batis Peach Blossom 17
1722 Xanthorhoe designata Flame Carpet 7
1738 Epirrhoe alternata Common Carpet 3
1750 Lampropteryx suffumata Water Carpet 10
1752 Cosmorhoe ocellata Purple Bar 6
1759 Ecliptopera silaceata Small Phoenix 3
1761 Chloroclysta miata Autumn Green Carpet 1
1835 Eupithecia tripunctaria White-spotted Pug 4
1858 Chloroclystis v-ata V-Pug 3
1906 Opisthograptis luteolata Brimstone Moth 5
1919 Selenia tetralunaria Purple Thorn 1
1920 Odontopera bidentata Scalloped Hazel 27
1951 Aethalura punctulata Grey Birch 12
1955 Cabera pusaria Common White Wave 12
1957 Lomographa bimaculata White-pinion Spotted 3
1958 Lomographa temerata Clouded Silver 6
1992 Deilephila porcellus Small Elephant Hawk-moth 2
2006 Pheosia gnoma Lesser Swallow Prominent 1
2028 Calliteara pudibunda Pale Tussock 2
2102 Ochropleura plecta Flame Shoulder 1
2163 Melanchra pisi Broom Moth 2
2187 Orthosia cerasi Common Quaker 7
2190 Orthosia gothica Hebrew Character 4
2258 Conistra vaccinii Chestnut 3
2280 Acronicta leporina Miller 2
2289 Acronicta rumicis Knot Grass 1
2305 Euplexia lucipara Small Angle Shades 3

Broad-bodied Chasers

Saw a couple of females at Cromwell Bottom yesterday afternoon.

Bits and bobbs

Cat found in the folded leaves of billberry about 15mm (July highflyer)

micro.???? (Caloptilia syringella.)

Cat found on birch at knott wood any ideas.?? (mottled umber)

Loads of these Cat s found in lawnmower Lep.?? (white shouldered house moth)

Tinea trinotella found in back garden this week along with laburnum leaf miner.Spruce carpet,red green carpet,Small phoneix,Clouded silver,Scalloped Hazel,Buff ermine,Yellow barred brindle,flame/ shoulder/carpet,pale sh brocade, and Rustic shoulder Knot were new for the trap last nite

Also 25+ Green veined whites,2 green Hairstreak and 10 orange tips today near Hebden.

Knott Wood sat night

Meeting with Bri on sat night about 9.30 all welcome.Brian has put some pheramone lures up hoping to get Red belted Clearwing so fingers crossed.

Fox Moth

after my worst start to May ever things started looking better with the warm weather but despite that numbers were still very low and then this beauty turns up, this was one of the species that first got me in to Moths as I used to find loads of caterpillars in the Peak District. She's even laid some eggs (photo's to follow)

wanderings this week

Hi all, been working in Manchestr and Leicester this week and came across about 30 caterpillars climbing to the tops of birch saplings to pupate. I think these are Burnets of some kind and were found on some waste ground near the Trafford Centre along with this Caloptilia elongella/betulicola. Yesterday in the sun near Junct 21 of the M1 (Leicester) I saw Speckled Wood and Orange Tip and swarms of 150 Adela reaumurella

Mothing evening with Ogden Wildlife WATCH group

On Saturday 5th June the Ogden Water Wildlife WATCH group are visiting Shibden Park and Cunnery Wood, meeting in the car park at 9pm for a short walk to look for bats and then into Cunnery Wood to have a look see if we can see any moths. Andy has kindly agreed to run the trap in the nursery area from 9.30pm and hopefully we can see more moths than we did the other day. We hope to get into Cunnery Wood about 9.45pm/10pm depending on the number of bats that we encounter.

Just as a bit of back groups the WATCH group is run for children and meets once a month at Ogden Water, we tend to look at all things environmental, from hedgehogs to trees, pond life to birds. It is a way of getting younger people interested and hopefully caring about their local environment. We also run trips out so have been to Jerusalem Farm, Cromwell Bottom and Robin Hoods Bay in the past. Many of the group have visited Cunnery Wood before to look for wildflowers but this is something different with the visit occurring at night. The kids will be accompanied by their parents/guardians and members of the Countryside Service and volunteers who are the leaders for the group will also be there.

If anyone would like to join us, especially for the identification of the hundreds of moths that we will surely get (fingers, toes and everything else crossed) then please feel free to do so.

Chris

No Moth Night again

A great turn out by the general public about 30 for the bat walk which produced pipistrelles and daubenton's but only 1 Common Quaker at the moth traps was a real let down for all who turned up.Many thanks for all who turned up.and Hugh and chris for the very well organised event.In Hebden bri managed 1 Red Green Carpet,1 herald and 3 Scalloped Hazel.


The whole point of NMN is to get other people involved and because of this I think NMN should be a set date each year ie the last week in June early July so we can show other people how fantastic moths are.May ,sept etc are for real enthusiats no the General Public.

Ramsden Wood moth

Took this pic last Sat.

Can anyone confirm ID ?

Friday Knott wood

Sorry for very short notice but meeting with Bri tonight at 9ish ..target Grey Birch

Diamond backed moth

My earliest Diamond backed Moth last night along with 8 Hebrew Character and 1 Clouded drab hopefully it will be the last of the freezing nights and could be ok for National moth night.Brian has his new generator and will be up and running on Sat night at Knott wood and I will definatly be at Cunnery wood about 9ish,

National Moth Night 2010.Shibden and Cunnery wood

http://www.nationalmothnight.info/Hi all nearly forgot about NMN with all this rubbish weather so far this year.Plan is to start at 8.30pm on sat night with a short talk about bats at Mereside by Hugh Firman and also moths if he gets round to it. People can then go on a bat walk and then look at moths or go straight to moth traps.
I will be putting my moth trap in Cunnery wood in the usuall spot ,I think Chris is putting one near the hall.??I will also be putting one near the pond in Cunnery wood.Brian is setting up at Knott wood hebden bridge.all welcome to join in................hope the weather picks up.

Blogg problems

If any blogg members can see this message please leave a comment.Thanks andy

Last night Northowram

My earliestby two weeks Bright Line Brown Eye last night was a nice suprise as were Autumn Green Carpet,Common Quaker (2)Hebrew Character(6)Early Grey(6)Clouded Drab(1)Small Phoneix(1)Brindled Pug(20)Double striped pug(2)and Twenty Pluned Moth(2)

Last Night a New Carpet

Hi all, Last night there were 5 species in the Hebden trap. One however was new to me. Is this a Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet Xanthorhoe ferrugata? It seems right but only has a very slight 'notch' in the inner whitish line as described on UK moths and W & T. (Possible notch circled). Any opinions?

A few pics from Knott Wood .

Water Carpet

Water Carpet

Early Tooth - striped(f.faciata ??)

Oak Nycteoline

Ogden Moth

We found this moth at Ogden on Saturday 1st May. I'm pretty sure it is one of the swift family but not sure which one. Can anyone confirm which species it is. Apologies for the bad photo it was happily sitting on a oog until one of the lads picked it up and it got warmed up and active.

Knott Wood Sunday night/cat

Found this cat feeding on heather at Knott wood last week with martyn and still carnt work it out.?Meeting with bri on Sunday night about 8.45 all welcome.Bri reports this week Water and Dark barred twin spot Carpet at knott wood.Autumn Green Carpet and my first very small Garden carpet of the year in Northowram.

Colden Clough

Took a walk through Colden Clough today, before the rain started. A few Green Veined Whites around Lumb Bank and about 12 orange tip males fighting it out around Hebble Hole.

Heath rustic

This is a pic of heath rustic just before it pupated..

Powdered Quaker

the highlight of last weeks GMS

Knott Wood sat night(the ups and downs)

A brilliant night mothing at Knott wood with Oak Nycteoline the pick of the bunch and an early Lesser swallow prominent.The down side was brian had his genny nicked and my bulb broke as we were setting up so only one trap was run(shame)we are now having a whip round to buy bri a new genny(there only £70quid now)
6 Eriocrania subpurpurella 20
663 Diurnea fagella 6
697 Agonopterix arenella 2
1524 Emmelina monodactyla 1
1760 Chloroclysta siterata Red-green Carpet 1
1761 Chloroclysta miata Autumn Green Carpet 1
1852 Eupithecia abbreviata Brindled Pug 42
1853 Eupithecia dodoneata Oak-tree Pug 3
1862 Gymnoscelis rufifasciata Double-striped Pug 1
1881 Trichopteryx carpinata Early Tooth-striped 19
1883 Acasis viretata Yellow-barred Brindle 1
1917 Selenia dentaria Early Thorn 1
1919 Selenia tetralunaria Purple Thorn 2
2006 Pheosia gnoma Lesser Swallow Prominent 1
2139 Cerastis rubricosa Red Chestnut 8
2182 Orthosia cruda Small Quaker 5
2187 Orthosia cerasi Common Quaker 184
2188 Orthosia incerta Clouded Drab 4
2189 Orthosia munda Twin-spotted Quaker 16
2190 Orthosia gothica Hebrew Character 16
2243 Xylocampa areola Early Grey 4
2256 Eupsilia transversa Satellite 3
2258 Conistra vaccinii Chestnut 39
2423 Nycteola revayana Oak Nycteoline 1
+ a worn flame carpet(?) and 418 Apple Fruit Moth Argyresthia conjugella.

Knott Wood sat night

I am meeting with Bri in Knott wood on Sat night about 8.15,we are going to run two traps ,all welcome

British Cave Research Association

Summer Cave Biology Field Meeting

Wednesday 8th September 2010

Scoska Cave, Littondale, Yorkshire
Below are details of the field trip to the cave where they hav been studying the moths, he would like to invite all Calderdale "moth-ers",


The British Cave Research Association is pleased to invite you to its Summer 2010 cave biology field meeting that will be held from 10.00am on Wednesday 8th September 2010. The meeting will be led by David Hodgson of the Craven Pothole Club, who has studied the biology of Scoska Cave for many years. The Village Hall, Arncliffe, (SD93187195, www.arncliffe.net for full details including local accommodation) will be used as the base venue. The aim of the meeting is to present information on the biology of British caves with Scoska Cave as a prime example. Topics covered in talks will include cave flora, Herald and Tissue moths, David’s work at Scoska, and the Hazelton database of British subterranean biology. These talks will be followed by a visit to Scoska Cave where David will describe his work and point out interesting aspects of the ecology of the cave. The day will end back at the Hall with a summary of the days events and will conclude at 1530-1600.

This event should appeal to those interested in subterranean biology, especially those who want a brief but diverse introduction to the subject. A collection of books and other literature will be available for consultation.

Intending participants should register their interest by Friday 6 August 2010 by email to the meeting secretary, Graham Proudlove: g.proudlove@manchester.ac.uk or, for initial queries, by telephone at: +44 (0)1706 839752. Final communications about the programme will be sent by email to those who have registered. There will be a small charge, to include morning and afternoon refreshments, of £6, or £5 for BCRA members, or £4 for students. Parking will be available close by in Arncliffe Village. We are most grateful to Mrs. B. McKenzie for permission to visit Scoska Cave and to the people of Arncliffe for the use if their Hall.

Equipment required: We will not be travelling very far into Scoska Cave so full caving gear is not required. Wellingtons are highly recommended as greater than boot-depth water may be encountered. Warm clothing and a waterproof jacket are necessary in case of rain. A helmet and light are certainly required. If you cannot supply your own helmet and light we can do so provided you let us know in advance. A small charge will be made for this. You should also provide your own lunch as there is little provision in the village

Two Recent Butterflies

Two recent sightings of butterflies during a week spent with my daughter... The Peacock nectaring on sallow on Barlow Common Nature Reserve near Selby on Fri 16th and the comma the next day near Luddenden foot.

Historical records from 1945

1945 was said to be a 'Plusia' year in the Hebden valley, taken at ' Light'were Gold Spot,Burnished Brass,Golden Plusia Lesser Yellow underwing ,Clouded Magpie and Snout.It may be noted that 'Light' consisted of an open kitchen window with a 150 watt bulb on a white kitcen table,The Naturalist 1945 p154.Gibson,Mills and Sunderland

Knott Wood sat night

What a night,clear skies and cold,but there were plenty of moths about from dusk.-
Common Quaker 152
Powdered Quaker 1
Small Quaker 6
Twin st quaker 38
Hebrew Character 26
Clouded drab 37
Red Chestnut 24
Early Tooth Striped 17
Chestnut 7
Early Thorn 1
Early Grey 2
Brindled Pug 6
Red Sword Grass 1
Satellite 4
D.Fagella 3
Eriocrania subpurpurella 10

Historical records from 1924/5

Recived a load of old records via winston the other day and have just had time to have a look at them.Realy great stuff about sugaring in the Tod /Hebden area 85 years ago, and were still at it.??? There is refernce to sugaring stones on the moor tops and a few sightings of Wood Tiger.Here is the list below of sugaring in hardcastle craggs near the stepping stones on a cloudy 28th june evening in 1924.
Galium carpet x 2
Bordered White (many males and 12 females)
Clouded B Brindle
Welsh wave - many
Broken barred Carpet - several
Small Rivulet x 1
Shears x 1
Flame Carpet x 1
Map winged Swift x 1
Common Swift x many

Midgley GMS

Hebrew Character 11
Clouded Drab 2
Common Quaker 1
Early Grey 2
Chestnut 1

Red Sword-grass

Had a visit from 2241 Red Sword-grass Xylena vetusta on wednesday night. They really are something different arn't they. Was trying to gently persuade it to open its wings for a pic but it prefered to skuttle (And was very good at it too)

Knott Wood last night

Another good session at Knot wood last night with and expert catcher on our side,Maisey Moffer was a dab hand and put us all to shame.
Common Quaker 30
Small Quaker 4
Twin spot Quaker 11
Engrailed 4
Early Thorn 1
Early Tooth Striped 10
Red Chestnut 11
Brindled Pug 3
Clouded Drab 11
D.Fagella 1
Hebrew Character 8
We will be there on Saturday night if any one would like to join us.

Latest Birdguides moth article

Can be found at

http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=2041

Some great photos.

Strange goings on............?

I hav'nt had the trap on for a couple of nights because its been so cold,but it felt a little warmer.So I went to tidy out the trap and set the egg boxes in place.I found this cat curled up in one of the egg boxes.....any ideas.??

News from Todmorden

Bri is having laptop problems at the moment but is well chuffed with two leaf mine emergences this week 363 Phyllonorycter platanoidella and 316 Phyllonorycter roboris.Pics to follow.

Last Night in Knott Wood

Brian and I met in Knott Wood last night. As usual for this week any cloud cleared and the stars all apeared. Also it felt colder than of late to me. Despite this the catch was still a good one. Brian has the official list and is off line at the moment but we had well over 100 moths of 11 species which included 10 Early Tooth-striped, all well marked and one of the target species Brian earmarked for this location. Yellow Horned and Orange Underwing already ticked off.

Clouded Drab x 13
Early Tooth-striped x 8
Diurnea fagella x 3
Red Chestnut x 17
Chestnut x 6
Common Quaker x 41
Twin-spot Quaker x 5
Engrailed x 3
Hebrew Character x 19
Brindled Pug x 2
Early thorn x 1
Small quaker x 2

(numbers from Bri by text)

Winston

Mystery moth

a friensd of mine on the Orkneys caught this on Friday night any ideas,>?????