More Pugs

 Common Pug

 Freyers Pug

Grey Pug

Another good night for Pugs on wednesday with therse  species above and a very fine Green silver Lines.

Midgley Moth

Looks like The seraphim to me what does anyone else think..dont know what size it was .???

516 Large Clover Case-bearer Coleophora trifolii

Hi All, Look out for these at the moment in clover fields, a sleek micro with a silvery sheen to the wings tipped in copper an white ends to the antenae. This one found yesterday afternoon in Pecket Well. Win

Todmorden 23 05 11

Found 1 of these beauties in a Todmorden garden yesterday,3 Micropterix aureatella,regards Bri,also 15 or so Argyresthia trifasciatus on a garden Juniper.

Bradford Ermine Video

Last week I went to Frizinghall to film the Bird Cherry Ermine Cats and uploaded the edited piece last night.......

http://www.youtube.com/user/TheBaldIbis?feature=mhee#p/c/1793C8A30060D976/3/6EZf7ar68Tk

Weekly round up

A poor night at the Craggs on Friday with only 7 moths caught.Lots of larvae collected from oak with pic showing above  for id.??
  Again at home in the trap a poor week with winds,clear skies and  rain.highlight have been 966 Cocylis atricapitana (pic above)Campion,Gold spot ,Beautiful Golden y and first elephant Hawkmoths of the year.
   Small Copper,orange Tip ,Red Admiral and speckled wood on the butterfly front.
    Trapping at the Craggs on friday and Sunday next weekend weather permitting.
Help Please.
Anyone know a sight in west Yorkshire for Brown argus????

Mystery Cat?

Adonis?

This Blue that I filmed down EGP on Thursday, I thought was a Common, but isn't the white border diagnostic for Adonis? Commons have black borders, surely? Undersides are similar in these two species, even down to the spear shaped mark in the centre of the underwings. Any thoughts?

Pugs...Mid March - Mid May at Northowram

White Spotted Pug(top)and Common Pug (bottom)

This year so far I have been studying the pugs at light in the back garden and trying hard to id them.So far the results are as follows----

Brindled pug   22

V-Pug             1

Double striped Pug  3

Common Pug     13

Foxglove Pug     2 (1 on 18th april very early record)

Oak -tree pug  3

White Spotted Pug   1

Pug sp...7

1011 Pseudargyrotoza conwagana 19 05 11

Quite a few of these very attractive common micros on the wing today,the names a bit of a mouthful !! regards Bri.

Friday evening

Craggs at 9ish ...all welcome..gonna try and run 2 traps if bulbs and gennys let us..................Andy and Bri

Heath Royd 10th May - 18th May

Despite the wind' I've had a few moths over the past few days.

2 Brimstone
1 Pale Tussock
4 Scalloped Hazel
3 Poplar Hawkmoth
1 Elephant Hawkmoth
1 Lime Hawkmoth
1 Clouded- bordered Brindle
1 Heart and Dart
1 Shuttle Shaped Dart
1 Dark Spectacle

Ermine Moth "infestation"

http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/local/localbrad/9028253.Families_boyc/See
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-13425031

Agonopterix Sp

Hi All, Sheltering from the rain painting in the shed today when this one popped out from under the workbench, proceeded to dive to the floor and spin round on its back for ages. Surprisingly intact I believe it is 697 Agonopterix arenella. Am I right (Don't see many of these). Win

SUNDAY NIGHT CANCELLED

Sorry all cacelled tonight rain,wind and cold temp.We are planning next Friday night weather permitting.

Hardcastle Craggs thurs 12 05 11

A stark contrast from last weeks temperatures of 17 degrees ! 8 degrees this time reaching no more than 9 degs.only saw 4 moths to light ,Pale Tussock 1 pic,Water Carpet 1,2 Longhorn Moths 140 Nematopogon swammerdamella 2,and a 1007 Capua vulgana 1 found on Alder after dark pic,also a Pale Brindled Beauty larva On Norway Maple and Winter Moth larva also on Norway Maple.regards Andy,Martyn,Bri.

the other night in Hebden Bridge

Pale Tussock 1
Brindled Pug 1
Pug 1
Cherry Blossom 1
Buff Tip 1
Alucita Haxadactyla 1
Clouded Drab 1
Powdered Quaker 1
Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet 1
Flame Shoulder 1
Ruby Tiger 1
Grey Birch 1

Hardcastle Craggs thurs 12 05 11

Having a try Thurs night 8 30 ish meet at top car park,lets hope weathers ok.regards Bri Andy.

Butterflies in Tod

Saw a Wall Brown and 2 Small Copper butterflies at Sunnybank wood, Todmorden yesterday, plus Speckled Wood, Orange Tip, Green Veined white and a Large Red damselfly.

Philip

More Small Yellow Underwings 09 05 11

Saw a small yellow underwing while mowing a garden at Mankinholes today it was nectaring on Daisy,felt bad for mowing the Common Mouse Ear its food plant nearby !also saw another at Rodwell End near Todmorden in the meadows there,and lots of Orange Tip eggs on Ladies Smock/Cuckoo flower.regards Bri.

Heath Royd weekend Moths

Better last two evenings given the rather poor start I've had so far. A mixed bag for a change. Amongst others, Lime Hawkmoth in Fridge preparing for photo shoot!

Peppered Moth ( 1 )
Ruby Tiger ( 2 )
Flame Carpet ( 1 )
Poplar Hawk Moth ( 3 )
Lime Hawk Moth ( 1 )
Bright Line Bright Eye ( 1 )
Shuttle Shaped Dart ( 1 )
Early Grey ( 1 )
Flame Shoulder ( 1 )

last night in Luddenden

Engrailed
Coxcomb Prominent
Small Elephant Hawkmoth

after a great (and wet) night in Hardcastle Crags I had a great night in Luddenden with the following, with the highlight for me this stunning female Engrailed

V-Pug
Foxglove Pug
Brindled Pug 2
White Spotted Pug
Common Pug 2
Garden Carpet
Common Carpet 2
Dark Bordered Twin-spot Carpet
Small Phoenix 3
Flame Carpet
Common White Wave
Engrailed
Small Elephant Hawkmoth
Coxcomb Prominent 4
Lesser Swallow Prominent
Pale Tussock
Early Grey
Ruby Tiger 2
Knot Grass
Light Knot Grass
Grey Dagger
Flame
Flame Shoulder

Small yellow underwing

I found this in the garden this afternoon, thought it was a nice little moth.

Hardcastle Craggs Sat 07 05 11

What a FANTASTIC night,2 lights were run at Gibson Mill and Hollin Hall and it was the latter where it all happened as Andy said,Devon Carpet 1, 1st record of 1st generation in Yorkshire,Grass Rivulet 1,Alder Moth 1,Figure of Eighty 1,Light knotgrass 1,Autumn Green Carpet 2,Purple Thorn 1,Lesser Swallow Prominent 5,Iron Prominent 1,Coxcomb Prominent 1,Pale Tussock 2,Clouded Bordered Brindle 1,Scalloped Hazel 1,Eriocrania subpurpurella 2,Twenty Plume 1,Ruby Tiger 1,Flame shoulder 22,Brown Silverlines 19,Dark Barred Twin Spot Carpet 2,Foxglove Pug 1,Brindled Pug 10,SmallPhoenix 3,Common Wave 1,Common Carpet 1,Oak Tree Pug 1,and quite a few Pugs to be identified yet.although very heavy rain proved trying for both electrics and us !! it was certainly worth the soaking we got,thanks to Andy,Martyn,Nick Dawtrey and myself regards Bri. ps other pic is Light Knotgrass.

Hardcastle craggs .Turns up trumps again..

Another good night at the craggs with Alder Moth ,Figure of Eighty, Light knot grass and this Grass Rivulet which is a first for calderdale and a DEVON CARPET wich is a first spring record for Yorkshire.......full report to follow-----------

6 Eriocrania subpurpurella 1

150 Adela reaumurella 1
150 Adela reaumurella
1288 Alucita hexadactyla Twenty-plume Moth 2
1654 Tethea ocularis Figure of Eighty 1
1725 Xanthorhoe ferrugata Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet 2
1738 Epirrhoe alternata Common Carpet 1
1750 Lampropteryx suffumata Water Carpet 7
1751 Lampropteryx otregiata Devon Carpet 1
1761 Chloroclysta miata Autumn Green Carpet 2
1802 Perizoma affinitata Rivulet 1
1807 Perizoma albulata Grass Rivulet 1
1817 Eupithecia pulchellata Foxglove Pug 1
1852 Eupithecia abbreviata Brindled Pug 11
1853 Eupithecia dodoneata Oak-tree Pug 1
1902 Petrophora chlorosata Brown Silver-line 37
1919 Selenia tetralunaria Purple Thorn 1
1920 Odontopera bidentata Scalloped Hazel 1
1947 Ectropis bistortata Engrailed 2
1956 Cabera exanthemata Common Wave 1
2000 Notodonta dromedarius Iron Prominent 1
2006 Pheosia gnoma Lesser Swallow Prominent 5
2008 Ptilodon capucina Coxcomb Prominent 1
2028 Calliteara pudibunda Pale Tussock 2
2064 Phragmatobia fuliginosa Ruby Tiger 1
2102 Ochropleura plecta Flame Shoulder 22
2187 Orthosia cerasi Common Quaker 1
2281 Acronicta alni Alder Moth 1
2286 Acronicta menyanthidis Light Knot Grass 1
2326 Apamea crenata Clouded-bordered Brindle 1

Last Nights Moths

647 Hofmannophila pseudospretella Brown House Moth 2
892 Mompha subbistrigella 1
966 Cochylis atricapitana 1
986 Syndemis musculana 1
1174 Epiblema cynosbatella 1
1288 Alucita hexadactyla Twenty-plume Moth 2
1376 Eurrhypara hortulata Small Magpie 1
1648 Drepana falcataria Pebble Hook-tip 1
1728 Xanthorhoe fluctuata Garden Carpet 1
1759 Ecliptopera silaceata Small Phoenix 2
1768 Thera obeliscata Grey Pine Carpet 1
1769 Thera britannica Spruce Carpet 2
1834 Eupithecia vulgata Common Pug 2
1852 Eupithecia abbreviata Brindled Pug 5
1853 Eupithecia dodoneata Oak-tree Pug 2
1920 Odontopera bidentata Scalloped Hazel 1
1958 Lomographa temerata Clouded Silver 1
1994 Phalera bucephala Buff-tip 1
2060 Spilosoma lubricipeda White Ermine 5
2092 Agrotis puta Shuttle-shaped Dart 11
2098 Axylia putris Flame 1
2102 Ochropleura plecta Flame Shoulder 2
2160 Lacanobia oleracea Bright-line Brown-eye 1
2166 Hadena rivularis Campion 2
2441 Autographa gamma Silver Y 1

Hi all, Some interesting moths over tue and wed night here on the canal -

Pale-Shouldered Brocade 1
Flame Shoulder 2
Hebrew Character 3
Pale Tussock (m) 1
Brindled Pug 1
Garden Carpet 1
Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet 1

Requiem for a Moth

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/b010t6nr
Requiem for a Moth was an interesting program on R4 this morning
11:00–11:30 on Radio 4

Available to listen again here -

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/b010t6nr

"What does the quest for moths reveal about Britain's human inhabitants?"

Pic - Butterfly Intaglio Print by Ambera Wellmann

Last Nights Moths

Thinking it would be a realy good night last night I was pleasantly suprised to find 3 Campion ,1 Poplar Hawkmoth and 1 hebrew character but dissapointed with only 5 moths.?

Hardcastle Craggs sat night

Meeting with Bri on sat to run two traps one at Gibson Mill and one at Hollin Hall and sugaring the Mop tree.Should be the last one before we get attocked by swarms of midges.
All help will be much appreciated looks like it may be a good one with muggy conditions forcast..

All welcome..

Oak Tree Pugs

A

 couple of oak tree pugs caught at light on the 1st and 3rd May 2011.Strong discal spot,pale area near discal spot both 20mm and early may flight time are good indicators for this species.

Hardcastle Craggs 1st may

 Nematopogon swammerdamella 10
Brindled Pug  32
Brown silver Lines  4
Common quaker        2
Engrailed                 2
Pale Tussock           1
Flame Carpet           1
Autumn Green Carpet    2
Grey Pine carpet               1
Water Carpet                     2
Powdered Quaker              1
Early tooth striped            1
White ermine                   1 
Early Thorn                     1
Coxcomb prominent        1
Hebrew Character          2 
Eriocrania  Subpurpurella    2

Cockchafer bettle              10
Thanks to Sandra for tea and thanks to Bri,Martyn and carol. f

Oak Tree Pug

Heres a nicely marked oak tree pug at 20mm wingspan,personally i dont think wingspan measurements are the most accurate ie not always are their wings fully extended and often 1 wing is tucked slightly in a tad which could mean the differance of a mm or so,which might be crucial with some species of pug,maybe measuring the forewing from base to tip and width of body ! a bit faffy maybe!interesting to see what others think ?

Heads Up for Brimstones

Loads of Brimstones on the wing in Marbury, Cheshire yesterday. I had a fast flying single with ND on 17th downstream of Ryburn Reservoir. Originally thought it might have been a Clouded Yellow. Didn't get chance to film any in Marbury, so hoping some more will turn up over here.
Plenty Green Hairstreaks on the Bilberry around Widdop, and at Sheddon Clough in Cliviger, plus Green Tiger Beetles at Blake Dean

Last Night in Hebden Bridge

An interesting selection last night.

Pale Tussock 1

Common Wave 1

Unknown pug 1

Poplar Hawkmoth 1

Hebrew Character 1

Common Quaker 1

Glaucous Shears (pictured) 1

Hardcastle Craggs Sund 01 05 11

Trying Hardcastle Craggs sund 01 05 11,meet about 8ish if anyone can make it.lets hope it warms up a bit ! regards Bri. ps a few Pugs would be nice,like maybe Ochreous !!

Thorn Help please

This fine 1917 Early Thorn Selenia dentaria visited my trap on 14th April and I put her in a pot till I could get a photo. Moments later I realised she had laid 7 eggs. That was 12 days ago and the eggs have sat there on the worktop till today when 6 have hatched into vigerous 2mm long caterpillars! I read in W & T that Hawthorn is one of their foodplant so I have put some leaves in the small pot and the whole thing in a small jam jar with pop sock and elastic band on top outside. Hopefully they will come out of the small pot and feed. Have I done the right thing and about how long will the different stages take? Please help. Win

Crags Sunday night

Lesser Swallow Prominent from Sunday night in the Crags

Saturday 23rd in Hebden Bridge

Hi All, An interesting selection in the trap on Sunday morning.

Hebrew Character 1

Brindled Pug 17

Unidentified pug 1

Common Quaker 5

Knot Grass 1

Eriocrania subpurperella 1

Alucita Hexadactyla 1 (Which I have only recorded once before years ago in a chip shop!)

Syndemis musculana 1 (At least thats what I think it is , pic below)

Oak Tree Pug 1

Lime Hawk Moth 1

Hardcastle Craggs Sund 24 04 11

A chilly clear night only produced 4 brown silverline,1 lesser swallow prominent,2 brindled pug and 1 common quaker to light,we found 4 brown silverline and 1 water carpet on the wing by torch up at Hollin Hall as we thought it would be even colder down by the river at Gibson Mill,nothing at all came to the sugared tree where Winstons sugar mop usually go,s,regards Bri and Martyn.

Hardcastle Craggs Sund 24 04 11

Having a try at Hardcastle Craggs tonight if anyone can make it ? sorry its short notice,but not been able to get access due to Easter Hols,until today,will meet top car park 730 ish.let us know on this blog if you can make it,regards Bri.

Micro for i.d.

can anyone i.d. this little beauty please

Prominent night in Midgley

Looks like the prominents were out in force last night - We had an Iron Prominent and Pebble Prominent, but the star of the night was our first Poplar Hawkmoth! Also got a cracking Flame Carpet just asking to be photographed. Hebrew Characters were aplenty too with 17 in the trap.

Looking forward to emptying the trap tomorrow morning...

Cock Hill Moor Thursday

Hi All, Wandering on Cock Hill Moor yesterday saw lots of Common Heath and about 30 Green Hairstreak, these two enjoying the sun. Also saw what I think is a wild violet. Can anyone confirm? Win

Hardcastle Craggs thurs 21 04 11

Tried 4 hours or so at Hollin Hall, 22 species, brown silver-line 5,flame carpet 2,a arenella 2,brindled pug 30,red chestnut 2,small phoenix 1,small quaker 1,v pug 1,iron prominent 1,lesser swallow prominent 4,hebrew character 8,purple thorn 1,early thorn 4,common quaker 19,eriocrania subpurpurella 1,diurnea fagella 1,water carpet 3,clouded drab 21,twin spot quaker 1 worn,powdered quaker 2,autumn green carpet 1,common pug 1,and 2 pugs to be checked.a pic of iron prominent.regards Bri. ps im saying nothing about generators !!

Green Hairstreak

Spotted this near Jack Bridge yesterday.

Water Carpet

as predicted by Brian I had my first Water Carpet for Luddenden last night, not as bright as some individuals I've seen but not bad

any more predictionss Brian

Common Quaker - 1 day old

my Common Quaker eggs hatched yesterday and here's one of thee cats, very small at just over 1mm in size, shame I can't post it in RAW format it's lost a lot of detail during compression

Hardcastle Craggs thurs 21 04 11

New genny has arrived will try thurs will meet at top car park 7 30 ish if anyone can make it regards Bri.

Saw my first Speckled Wood of the year today in Sunnybank wood, Todmorden. Quite a few Orange tips around as well.

Purple patch

Looks like were in for a real purple patch over the weekend with tepms set to rocket so good luck .3 Powdered Quaker,Early and Purple thorn ,Common and Foxglove Pug and 20+ hebrew Characters last night.Today at Norland opposite the Moorcock 4/5 Green hairstreak ,2 Common Heath,10+ Peacock,6 Small tortoiseshell an  Incurvaria species which I think is  pectinea  but it was flying round billberry but birch nearby??? .My first Speckled woods and loads of Large and Green veined whites.

Swarming behaviour of insects (Update)

Hi all, A follow up to my post from last week -

http://calderdalemoths.blogspot.com/2011/04/swarming-behaviour-of-insects.html

I seem to have got to the bottom of this. Largely with thanks to Tony Irwin via The Society for the study of flies (Diptera) who have an excellent resource in their website here -

http://www.dipteristsforum.org.uk/

The swarming flies turned out to be Non-biting midges (Chironomidae) are also sometimes called chironomids. There are There over 5000 known species worldwide. Exhibiting a high degree of sexual diamorphism the males have hugely feathered antenae. It is extremely difficult to accurately identify an individual species so this is the best we can do.

Win x

Yesterday's Sightings

Took a stroll on Midgeley Moor yesterday (Sunday) and saw lots of these Common Heath (This one a female with simple antenae) also possible Emperor Moth. Eleswhere Eriocrania, Orange Tip, Peacock, Small Tortoise Shell and a single Green Hairstreak were all on the wing.

White ermine

An early White Ermine this morning resting near the trap.Dont usally get um till erly May.....

Orange Tip stages

Now Orange Tip Butterflies are on the wing its a good time to find the eggs,they are quite obvious to see being orange, around the flower heads especially of Cuckoo Flower cardamine pratensis and Garlic Mustard alliaria petiolata.Females usually lay 1 egg per flower head as the larva are cannibalistic,but as often happens a later Female can lay an egg already with a larva on as in this instance where the younger larva became a meal for the older,the older larva are very cryptic when resting on the seedpods,these were on Garlic Mustard