Oak Eggar

I saw this caterpillar yesterday on the lovely heathland on top of Aaron Hill, between Sowerby and Crag Vale. I am guessing at Oak Eggar moth but maybe someone can confirm? Also disturbed a few Small Heath butterflies and saw about a dozen Small Tortoiseshell on the thistle flowers.

Craggs Sunday night

Meeting tonight at Hollins Hall about 9.30.all welcome

Burnished Brass

Vote against the Badger Cull

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/poll/2011/jul/20/badger-cull-justified

Roils Head

Took this at Norton Tower end of Roils Head today, any ideas.

Craggs Friday

A good search for Devon Carpet larvae proved fruitless this time ,but the swarms of biting midges hampered progress, will have better luck next time im sure.The larvae we did find were not leps.!!! A good couple of hours with the traps before the rain.-------Another Blackneck proves Calderdale is a good spot for this species.
424 Yponomeuta evonymella Bird-cherry Ermine 4

1405 Pleuroptya ruralis Mother of Pearl 18
1428 Aphomia sociella Bee Moth 1
1666 Geometra papilionaria Large Emerald 2
1702 Idaea biselata Small Fan-footed Wave 3
1713 Idaea aversata Riband Wave 6
1722 Xanthorhoe designata Flame Carpet 2
1727 Xanthorhoe montanata Silver-ground Carpet 2
1732 Scotopteryx chenopodiata Shaded Broad-bar 3
1738 Epirrhoe alternata Common Carpet 4
1742 Camptogramma bilineata Yellow Shell 3
1756 Eulithis populata Northern Spinach 7
1758 Eulithis pyraliata Barred Straw 3
1776 Colostygia pectinataria Green Carpet 16
1777 Hydriomena furcata July Highflyer 1
1802 Perizoma affinitata Rivulet 1
1803 Perizoma alchemillata Small Rivulet 1
1817 Eupithecia pulchellata Foxglove Pug 1
1887 Lomaspilis marginata Clouded Border 2
1906 Opisthograptis luteolata Brimstone Moth 5
1921 Crocallis elinguaria Scalloped Oak 1
1941 Alcis repandata Mottled Beauty 3
1958 Lomographa temerata Clouded Silver 4
1961 Campaea margaritata Light Emerald 4
1981 Laothoe populi Poplar Hawk-moth 1
2006 Pheosia gnoma Lesser Swallow Prominent 5
2098 Axylia putris Flame 2
2102 Ochropleura plecta Flame Shoulder 1
2118 Lycophotia porphyrea True Lover's Knot 3
2120 Diarsia mendica Ingrailed Clay 2
2122 Diarsia brunnea Purple Clay 2
2160 Lacanobia oleracea Bright-line Brown-eye 3
2176 Cerapteryx graminis Antler Moth 28
2199 Mythimna pallens Common Wainscot 2
2205 Mythimna comma Shoulder-striped Wainscot 2
2293 Cryphia domestica Marbled Beauty 1
2340 Oligia fasciuncula Middle-barred Minor 4
2439 Plusia festucae Gold Spot 6
2442 Autographa pulchrina Beautiful Golden Y 2
2444 Autographa bractea Gold Spangle 3
2466 Lygephila pastinum Blackneck 1
2474 Rivula sericealis Straw Dot 10
2477 Hypena proboscidalis Snout 15

Grey Scalloped Bar 14 07 11

Had a try on Whiteholme Drain with Actinic sky cleared and cool wind blew, full moon didnt help,1 moth came to the actinic a True Lovers Knot ! i did find 2 Grey Scalloped Bars at Langfield Common my target species also 5 Map Winged Swifts and a Dusky Brocade

Burnet Moths

Had a couple of e-mails this week about 5/6 spot Burnet Moths.The common Narrow Bordered 5-spot  Burnet Moth is easily found in calderdale and there white papery cocoons are a common sight at tag loop at cromwell bottom,..in fact some juncuss plants hold 50 or more in one clump.The 6 spot is less common and now is a good time to look for solitry males flying over areas of Birds foot trefoil .I found 8+ today at Cromwell Bottom.This Large Emerald was found dead in the back garden today.Also second generations of Early Thorn ,Currant and Double striped Puggs have been seen this week.

Fan -foot or Pyralid

Is this a male fan-foot,,  or a Pyralid.??

Devon Carpet larvae search and Moth trapping

Devon Carpet larvae search and Moth trapping this friday at Hollin Hall,Hardcastle craggs ..Meet about 9ish
If its raining cats and dogs we will not be there ..apologies again for last weeks late cancellation..

Ringlets....continue to spread there wings

The first records for Calderdale was on the 8th July 2006 at Crow Nest Quarry, Lightcliffe, 4 males and two females seen in flight. (C.P.Duke, C.V.Duke).


Single male photographed at Sunnyvale on 10th July 2006 (C. V. Duke.)

On the 19th July 2007 ,2 were briefly observed at Only House Wood Northowram then on the 24th 1 was caught and positively identified as this species, 3 adults were observed around bramble bushes at this site on the 27th July 2007.(AC).

1 at Tag Meadow,Cromwell Bottom on the 1st July 2008 was photographed and identified as a female.(AC)In 2008 the species was recorded from many sites in the eastern area of Calderdale and at least 60+ individuals  recorded.(CS, AC &CSut)
  In 2011 they have been seen in very good numbers so far at Cromwell Bottom,Northowram and two new sites at Pellon and Queensbury.Keep and eye out for this species locally it must be spreading towards Hebden Bridge .??

Keep an eye for these two..

Allthough they are regular locally Light Arches(top) and Slender Brindle(below) can easily be overlooked at htis time of year amounst the masses of Dark Arches...

The amazing Limnaecia phragmitella

Charlie wrote this a week or so ago  ...... Limnaecia phragmitella emerged this morning from larvae found in typha seedheads at Tag meadow this winter.As Paul and others have pointed out the larvae put Houdini to shame when it comes to escaping.I had mine in a tupperware box with the lid firmly snapped to and some rubber bands around the middle for good measure - and yep they just pushed their way out no trouble at all!
Today in Northowram......
They are amazing little things...They just keep on emerging this poped out today and I also found 4 large plump larvae trying to escape...where have they come from.??Larvae and adults together.? There must have been over 100 larvae in  the three seed heads collected.

Moth Night 2012

Moth Night 2012 will be on 21st - 23rd June and the theme is brownfield habitats(quaries,disused railway lines,gravel pits).and will be both night and day searches.

A couple from Midgely

Hi Nick/Sandra,check this pic of your Rustic out with Andys pics below.hope its of use,ps there will be quite a few that will be difficult to id ! regards Bri.

A couple from Midgley

A couple of moths from mlast night's trapping in Midgley, one we are fairly sure is Dotted Clay but the other? At first we thought Uncertain but are now wondering if its a Rustic, or are we way off?

Craggs Sat night

14 Hepialus humuli Ghost Moth 2


18 Hepialus fusconebulosa Map-winged Swift 2

1702 Idaea biselata Small Fan-footed Wave 1

1708 Idaea dimidiata Single-dotted Wave 4

1713 Idaea aversata Riband Wave 4

1727 Xanthorhoe montanata Silver-ground Carpet 2

1742 Camptogramma bilineata Yellow Shell 1

1756 Eulithis populata Northern Spinach 8

1758 Eulithis pyraliata Barred Straw 14

1776 Colostygia pectinataria Green Carpet 11

1777 Hydriomena furcata July Highflyer 6

1817 Eupithecia pulchellata Foxglove Pug 1

1887 Lomaspilis marginata Clouded Border 1

1931 Biston betularia Peppered Moth 2

1941 Alcis repandata Mottled Beauty 5

1955 Cabera pusaria Common White Wave 1

1961 Campaea margaritata Light Emerald 2

1981 Laothoe populi Poplar Hawk-moth 1

2000 Notodonta dromedarius Iron Prominent 1

2006 Pheosia gnoma Lesser Swallow Prominent 1

2008 Ptilodon capucina Coxcomb Prominent 4

2050 Eilema lurideola Common Footman 3

2089 Agrotis exclamationis Heart and Dart 1

2102 Ochropleura plecta Flame Shoulder 1

2107 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 2

2120 Diarsia mendica Ingrailed Clay 3

2123 Diarsia rubi Small Square-spot 1

2138 Anaplectoides prasina Green Arches 6

2155 Melanchra persicariae Dot Moth 1

2158 Lacanobia thalassina Pale-shouldered Brocade 1

2160 Lacanobia oleracea Bright-line Brown-eye 2

2176 Cerapteryx graminis Antler Moth 9

2199 Mythimna pallens Common Wainscot 4

2289 Acronicta rumicis Knot Grass 1

2321 Apamea monoglypha Dark Arches 14

2322 Apamea lithoxylaea Light Arches 1

2326 Apamea crenata ab. combusta Clouded-bordered Brindle [melanic form] 2

2326 Apamea crenata Clouded-bordered Brindle 2

2330 Apamea remissa Dusky Brocade 7

2337x Oligia strigilis agg. Marbled Minor agg. 2

2342 Mesoligia literosa Rosy Minor 2

2345 Photedes minima Small Dotted Buff 6

Burnished Brass Chrysitis 'Burnished Brass' 5

2439 Plusia festucae Gold Spot 3

2442 Autographa pulchrina Beautiful Golden Y 4

2443 Autographa jota Plain Golden Y 1

2444 Autographa bractea Gold Spangle 2

2474 Rivula sericealis Straw Dot 8

2477 Hypena proboscidalis Snout 15

Lesser Swallow Prominent

a coomon species locally but I only get 1 a year and here it is a real cracker.

Uncertain and The Rustic

Both these moths are on the wing at the moment and turn up at light traps locally.They look very similar at first but if you take the time to look for the differences they soon stand out...

Burnished Brass

http://calderdalemoths.blogspot.com/2010/07/burnished-brass-update.html Hi all, I have recorded the 3 types of Burnished Brass this week and have put a link to the older post on this subject for NCD and others recording this species at the moment.

http://calderdalemoths.blogspot.com/2010/07/burnished-brass-update.htmlriday


apologies I did'nt make the craggs on friday night but will try sat...

First emergence from the craggs.

This 658 Carcina quercana emerged  today  from larvae found at hardcastle craggs in late may.

Also this Coleophora glaucicolella emerged from Juncuss the same day.It was funny that the larval case moved off the juncuss and fed on sallow that was in the same pot.? In fact some of the case turned green .

A Good article from Birdguides on wetlands

http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=2779

I appreciate these are out of the area however took photos on a birding trip to Spurn on the 14th May and would like to know what they are. I'm sure somebody will id them within minutes of seeing the pictures. Still a lot to learn in this field of study!

Heath Royd, Skircoat Green.

Blackneck ( Top picture ) was a new one for me last night and also pictured Spectacle from a few nights back, quite a comical looking thing really. Others from the past few nights. Burnished Brass, Riband Wave, Light Emerald, Beautiful Golden Y, Common Footman,V Pugs, Cabbage Moth, Bright-line Bright-eye, Clouded Border, Dark Arches, Lozataenia Foisterana, Swallow Tailed moth, Snout, Clay and 7 Poplar Hawkmoths.

Interestingly, I have just spoken with my Uncle in Wibsey, Bradford who reckons he had a Buttoned Snout in his house over the weekend but didn't think to take a digital image! I would imagine this is very scarce?

Brown Scallop

A good night on Monday produced 40 species of Marco including this Brown Scallop and Bordered White - nice one Brian you said I would get one, what next

Elland Gravel Pits

Elland gravel pits today, very warm and sunny, with no wind, ideal for butterflies.
Moths

latticed heath? loads of these

the mallow?

the Blackneck?

clouded border

Plus burnet moths in excess!
Butterflys

-ringlet

also

comma

small tortoishell

large and small skipper

meadow brown

large white

gatekeeper

small heath
Damselflys

-banded demoiselle
also

blue tailed damselfly

common blue damselfly

Dragonflies

-emperor dragonfly

plus about 10 very early brown hawkers around the reserve

Langfield Common 03 07 11

Had a try at Langfield Common Sund night 03 07 11,my plan was to take the Actinic up there especially for Grey Scalloped Bars,but as the skies were very clear and forecast for 5 degrees i didnt bother with actinic and went searching with torch,forgetting just how heavy going it was through heather ! saw roughly 40 Map Winged Swifts,1 Ingrailed Clay,1 True Lovers Knot and eventually 2 Grey Scalloped Bars although managed to snag the net on heather both times !! also found a very worn looking Female Northern Eggar which could barely hold onto the heather,also this Emperor Moth Larva.regards Bri.

Whiteholme Drain 02 07 11

Had my best ever day for Beautiful Yellow Underwings with at least 25 seen on the drain and another 6 or so on Langfield Common,also 4 Northern Eggars,5 Common Heath.regards Bri.

Good days for Butterflies

As i walked out of the house this morning there was a butterfly on the wall....as I got closer it  was a Ringlet ,i had not seen one in Calderdale till 2007 and now there in my garden..Large whites,Small tortoiseshell  and Meadow browns flitting around the front garden.a quick walk down the lane saw Red Admiral ,Peacock ,Small heath ,Speckled wood ,Small Copper, Comma and another 8 Ringlets.Small white and Large skipper later in the afternoon rounded off a good day.Any one else add to that..........?

Craggs

1727 Xanthorhoe montanata Silver-ground Carpet 12

1742 Camptogramma bilineata Yellow Shell 1
1756 Eulithis populata Northern Spinach 11
1777 Hydriomena furcata July Highflyer 1
1941 Alcis repandata Mottled Beauty 4
1955 Cabera pusaria Common White Wave 2
2102 Ochropleura plecta Flame Shoulder 1
2118 Lycophotia porphyrea True Lover's Knot 1
2120 Diarsia mendica Ingrailed Clay 3
2138 Anaplectoides prasina Green Arches 1
2321 Apamea monoglypha Dark Arches 3
2330 Apamea remissa Dusky Brocade 1
2442 Autographa pulchrina Beautiful Golden Y 2
2443 Autographa jota Plain Golden Y 1

Allthough it was cool(9degrees) and clear it was strange at the lack of moths for the first week in July.??is it because there are a million ants around..or was it the cool temps.??

Glast Fest Queues

Hi Again, Took 5 hours to drive to the fest in Glastonbury and then 7 more hours queueing to get onto the actual site! During this marathon a micro landed on my window. Stopped the queue of cars to pot it and here is what we got (above). Could this be 440 Paraswammerdamia albicapitella? Its certainly a mouthfull! Win

Large Blue Country 2

Hi All, Returned to Collard hill last week with 2 objectives. 1) To get a better pic of a decent Large Blue (Which I think I have managed) and 2) to get a pic of 1362 Pyrausta purpuralis amongst the hundreds of 1365 Pyrausta despicata. This second task proved very difficult with two brief sightings which escaped. Also saw one other micro (See above which is prob unidentifyable). Veryt rewarding trip. Win x

Bat walk and Moth Trapping at Gibson Mill Sat 2 July

This sat at Gibson Mill Hardcastle craggs...........Bat walk starts at 9.30 and Moth trapping starts about 10.15.all welcome if anyone wants a lift please leave a message.

Micro for id

Ccaught this on sat night at hardcastle Craggs any one help with id..It should be easy but I carnt seem to find it.??

Small Yellow Wave 25 06 11

Heres a Small Yellow Wave from Hardcastle Craggs sat 25 06 11,regards Bri Andy Martyn.

Hardcastle Craggs

Sallow Kitten (above)

14 Hepialus humuli Ghost Moth 1

18 Hepialus fusconebulosa Map-winged Swift 12
140 Nematopogon swammerdamella 1
150 Adela reaumurella 2
385 Anthophila fabriciana 3
937 Agapeta hamana 2
970 Pandemis cerasana Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix 2
1076 Celypha lacunana 5
1293 Chrysoteuchia culmella Garden Grass-veneer 50
1301 Crambus lathoniellus 3
1334 Scoparia ambigualis 30
1652 Thyatira batis Peach Blossom 3
1713 Idaea aversata Riband Wave 1
1727 Xanthorhoe montanata Silver-ground Carpet 12
1738 Epirrhoe alternata Common Carpet 10
1742 Camptogramma bilineata Yellow Shell 2
1752 Cosmorhoe ocellata Purple Bar 2
1756 Eulithis populata Northern Spinach 3
1764 Chloroclysta truncata Common Marbled Carpet 5
1768 Thera obeliscata Grey Pine Carpet 1
1776 Colostygia pectinataria Green Carpet 27
1802 Perizoma affinitata Rivulet 1
1817 Eupithecia pulchellata Foxglove Pug 1
1860 Pasiphila rectangulata Green Pug 3
1876 Hydrelia flammeolaria Small Yellow Wave 1
1887 Lomaspilis marginata Clouded Border 1
1906 Opisthograptis luteolata Brimstone Moth 8
1931 Biston betularia Peppered Moth 2
1941 Alcis repandata Mottled Beauty 2
1958 Lomographa temerata Clouded Silver 1
1961 Campaea margaritata Light Emerald 3
1991 Deilephila elpenor Elephant Hawk-moth 4
1994 Phalera bucephala Buff-tip 1
1997 Furcula furcula Sallow Kitten 1
2028 Calliteara pudibunda Pale Tussock 1
2060 Spilosoma lubricipeda White Ermine 3
2089 Agrotis exclamationis Heart and Dart 4
2098 Axylia putris Flame 15
2102 Ochropleura plecta Flame Shoulder 28
2107 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 5
2118 Lycophotia porphyrea True Lover's Knot 2
2120 Diarsia mendica Ingrailed Clay 2
2122 Diarsia brunnea Purple Clay 1
2138 Anaplectoides prasina Green Arches 7
2176 Cerapteryx graminis Antler Moth 1
2205 Mythimna comma Shoulder-striped Wainscot 2
2289 Acronicta rumicis Knot Grass 2
2305 Euplexia lucipara Small Angle Shades 2
2306 Phlogophora meticulosa Angle Shades 1
2321 Apamea monoglypha Dark Arches 5
2322 Apamea lithoxylaea Light Arches 2
2326 Apamea crenata ab. combusta Clouded-bordered Brindle [melanic form] 9
2326 Apamea crenata Clouded-bordered Brindle 5
2340 Oligia fasciuncula Middle-barred Minor 17
2442 Autographa pulchrina Beautiful Golden Y 7
2443 Autographa jota Plain Golden Y 1
2477 Hypena proboscidalis Snout 11

Hot and humid in the craggs last night ,Fox moth was the star of the night and we found the foodplant of devon Carpet..Marsh bedstraw.

Hardcastle Craggs Sat night

With the temp set for no lower than 14 degrees,muggy and drizzle on saturday nigth we are planning Hardcastle craggs around Hollins Hall if any one would like to join us.Andy and Bri( bring midge repellent0

Green Snout !

Hi all. I found this lovely green moth with a snout in a friends greenhouse yesterday in Manchester. Can't find anything in W & T like it? Help

Win

Whiteholme Drain 20 06 11

4th attempt on Whiteholme Drain,although still blowing much warmer and the sun finally came out, 1st Moth was Grey Scalloped Bar i flushed which must have been basking, saw at least 15 Beautiful Yellow Underwings so it looks like they are doing well this Year up there, lots of Common Heath, 7 or so Northern Eggars,and found this obviously freshly emerged superb Olethreutes schulziana also 2 Green Tiger Beetles,superb couple of hours,regards Bri.

Cabbage Moth

this emerged from a pupae I found in the garden a couple of weeks ago.