The Many faces of Mottled Umber 1.

Hardcastle Craggs Sat night 15th october

Meeting tonight at 7ish in top car park
22 Nov Moth agg
1 Red Green Carpet
1 Brick
2 satellite
Very cold indeed but not bad for a couple of hours,,,,,,,,,

Larvae

Bumped into Martyn at Ringstone today and as we chatted we both noticed larvae Martyn saw the Ruby Tiger and Me the Broom Moth on the wall next to us.??

Last Nights Moths 11th october

First night for a while produced...
Feathered Thorn.....1
Blairs shoulder Knot    6
Common Marbled Carpet  1
Light Brown Apple Moth   3
Mottled Umber            2
Red Green Carpet      3
Yellow Line Quaker  1
Nov Moth agg         1
Spruce Carpet         1
Acleris Sparasana    3
Looks ok for thew next few days..

SAT Night  meeting at Shepards rest and going up Langfiled Common all welcome.....

Brick or Flounced Chestnut or what?

caught this one on 1st October and I just cannot make my mind up what it is, any suggestions?

also this worn carpet on the same date



I take my photo's in RAW format and JPEG, does anyone know how to keep the quality on JPEG's, I know it's not going to be as good as RAW but it does seem to loose a lot of quality, any ideas

Bare Head Tunnel..Shibden(bits and bobbs)

Had a look in the tunnel today,3 Small tortoiseshell,1 Peaock and 1 Herald......
Sat night will be at Hardcastle Craggs 7 onwards
Anyone got any moth reords for this year.???

Late September

B

Barred sallow with small micro underneath.??

Orange sallow 2 reorded this september

                                     Ghost Moth larvae doing well and ready for there first winter

A very late Bee Moth reorded on the 29th september

Northowram last night

998 Epiphyas postvittana Light Brown Apple Moth 2

1041 Acleris sparsana 4
1048 Acleris variegana Garden Rose Tortrix 3
1728 Xanthorhoe fluctuata Garden Carpet 1
1760 Chloroclysta siterata Red-green Carpet 2
1761 Chloroclysta miata Autumn Green Carpet 1
1764 Chloroclysta truncata Common Marbled Carpet 2
1795x Epirrita dilutata agg. November Moth agg. 2
1935 Erannis defoliaria Mottled Umber 1
2107 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 2
2109 Noctua comes Lesser Yellow Underwing 2
2134 Xestia xanthographa Square-spot Rustic 2
2232 Aporophyla nigra Black Rustic 6
2240 Lithophane leautieri Blair's Shoulder-knot 5
2263 Agrochola lota Red-line Quaker 3
2298 Amphipyra berbera svenssoni Svensson's Copper Underwing (agg) 1
2299 Amphipyra tragopoginis Mouse Moth 1
2361 Hydraecia micacea Rosy Rustic 2
2364 Gortyna flavago Frosted Orange 1

Wenesday night at the Craggs,

I will be setting two lights at Hollins hall on Wenesday evening.from 7.30 onwards if anyone would like to join me...............Weather looks perfect...................It was hrad going sorting through all the common Marbled carpets and Nov aggs but not bad for a couple of hours..Gonna try Monday night about 7ish.at Cromwell bottom..............

1760 Chloroclysta siterata Red-green Carpet 3
1762 Chloroclysta citrata Dark Marbled Carpet 3
1764 Chloroclysta truncata Common Marbled Carpet 35
1767 Thera firmata Pine Carpet 1
1769 Thera britannica Spruce Carpet 1
1795x Epirrita dilutata agg. November Moth agg. 18
2107 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 1
2109 Noctua comes Lesser Yellow Underwing 3
2232 Aporophyla nigra Black Rustic 1
2247 Dichonia aprilina Merveille du Jour 1
2258 Conistra vaccinii Chestnut 6
2262 Agrochola circellaris Brick 12
2263 Agrochola lota Red-line Quaker 1
2264 Agrochola macilenta Yellow-line Quaker 38
2273 Xanthia togata Pink-barred Sallow 1
2367 Celaena haworthii Haworth's Minor 1

Hardcastle Craggs Sat24 09 11

17 species of macros last night,the pick being 2 Pine carpets,2 Merveille du jour 1 was nectaring on Buddliea,1 Black Rustic and 30 Yellow Line Quakers pic of mervielle du jour.

Lime-speck Pug

first pug for weeks and a new species for me, what's the status of this locally Andy

Friends of Cromwell Bottom

This evenings meeting in Brighouse proved to be quite eventful with the formation of an interim committee of the Friends of Cromwell Bottom. It's early days but the next meeting in October will thrash out the details of the constitution.
I will post details later regarding proposed meetings, who to contact, how to get involved, etc, etc.
Many issues were raised at the meeting, and there is a central core of like-minded people who are prepared to have their say in the management of one of Calderdales most important wildlife habitats.
Anybody who has an interest in the flora and fauna of Cromwell Bottom, and its management, is encouraged to get involved.
More to follow.

Micro for id

Caught last night .??

Devon Carpet Habitat Hardcastle Craggs

Some pics showing Devon Carpet habitat near Hollin Hall,foodplant Marsh Bedstraw which seems to like the wetter juncus flushes,also quite a lot down at Gibson Mill near the Dam, theres quite a lot of suitable areas around Calderdale,incidently Fen Bedstraw another possible foodplant grows in this area also.Devon Carpets must be out there in other places in Calderdale ! ps 84 Devons have been recorded so far ,and we have seen 2 generations,which is amazing ! regards Bri,Andy Martyn.

Autumn is with us...............

With 7 Pink barred sallow, 3 Black Rustic , 2 red Green carpet  and Canary shouldered Thorn at Elland last nightt  and Blair s Shoulder knot , Pink - Barred , Barred , Orange and Sallow ,Feathered Rannunculus ,turnip Moth ,Frosted Orange,dark Marbled Carpet,Silver Y ,Diamond Backed Moth,Lunar Underwing at  Northowram oveer the last few days its definatly autumn................

Elland Gravel Pits (thursday night)

Gonna try at EGP thursday night meet 8ish at car park.

Saturday evening

Meet at craggs 8.00ish hopfully run a couple of traps if weather behaves................

1751 Lampropteryx otregiata Devon Carpet 2

1759 Ecliptopera silaceata Small Phoenix 2
1760 Chloroclysta siterata Red-green Carpet 2
1762 Chloroclysta citrata Dark Marbled Carpet 2
1764 Chloroclysta truncata Common Marbled Carpet 9
1768 Thera obeliscata Grey Pine Carpet 1
1862 Gymnoscelis rufifasciata Double-striped Pug 1
2102 Ochropleura plecta Flame Shoulder 1
2107 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 10
2109 Noctua comes Lesser Yellow Underwing 6
2134 Xestia xanthographa Square-spot Rustic 1
2264 Agrochola macilenta Yellow-line Quaker 1
2265 Agrochola helvola Flounced Chestnut 1
2273 Xanthia togata Pink-barred Sallow 2
2306 Phlogophora meticulosa Angle Shades 3
2343x Mesapamea secalis agg. Common Rustic agg. 2
2350 Chortodes pygmina Small Wainscot 1
2441 Autographa gamma Silver Y 1

Spot the Moth ?

This July Highflier looked nice and cryptic on the tree trunk !

Hardcastle Craggs Fri 02 09 11

Cracking night at Craggs,top 2 Neglected Rustics,2, Oak Hook-tip,3,this superb Heath Rustic,and last, one of our target species a Pine Carpet a 1st for Calderdale,good numbers of Devons Carpets again.Bri /Andy.













1405 Pleuroptya ruralis Mother of Pearl 3

1413 Hypsopygia costalis Gold Triangle 1
1646 Watsonalla binaria Oak Hook-tip 1
1708 Idaea dimidiata Single-dotted Wave 1
1713 Idaea aversata Riband Wave 1
1722 Xanthorhoe designata Flame Carpet 10
1738 Epirrhoe alternata Common Carpet 3
1742 Camptogramma bilineata Yellow Shell 4
1751 Lampropteryx otregiata Devon Carpet 16
1759 Ecliptopera silaceata Small Phoenix 7
1764 Chloroclysta truncata Common Marbled Carpet 4
1767 Thera firmata Pine Carpet 1
1777 Hydriomena furcata July Highflyer 1
1862 Gymnoscelis rufifasciata Double-striped Pug 1
1906 Opisthograptis luteolata Brimstone Moth 1
2107 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 5
2109 Noctua comes Lesser Yellow Underwing 3
2110 Noctua fimbriata Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing 1
2111 Noctua janthe Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing 3
2117 Eugnorisma glareosa Autumnal Rustic 5
2132 Xestia castanea Neglected Rustic 2
2134 Xestia xanthographa Square-spot Rustic 30
2135 Xestia agathina Heath Rustic 1
2176 Cerapteryx graminis Antler Moth 9
2269 Atethmia centrago Centre-barred Sallow 11
2274 Xanthia icteritia Sallow 4
2297x Amphipyra pyramidea agg. Copper Underwings 1
2299 Amphipyra tragopoginis Mouse Moth 2
2318 Cosmia trapezina Dun-bar 5
2321 Apamea monoglypha Dark Arches 5
2343x Mesapamea secalis agg. Common Rustic agg. 1
2350 Chortodes pygmina Small Wainscot 9
2353 Luperina testacea Flounced Rustic 1
2474 Rivula sericealis Straw Dot 4
2477 Hypena proboscidalis Snout 1
2484 Schrankia costaestrigalis Pinion-streaked Snout 1

Friday evening

Craggs again should be good weather looks perfect  ..all welcome about 8.30..........

A Skircoat-found chrysalis

Produced this.

Anybody?

Closest I can get is a species of swift?

Golden-rod Brindle

after a rather poor August this Golden-Rod Brindle was a surprise in the trap on Saturday morning, presumably it had come down off Midgley Moor. This is the first record of an adult since the sixties, there must be more on the moors with a caterpillar being found at Ogden a couple of years ago

Craggs sat night

Running trap tonight at 9ish,,,all welcome..............
1405 Pleuroptya ruralis Mother of Pearl 3

1702 Idaea biselata Small Fan-footed Wave 3
1722 Xanthorhoe designata Flame Carpet 5
1738 Epirrhoe alternata Common Carpet 4
1751 Lampropteryx otregiata Devon Carpet 6
1759 Ecliptopera silaceata Small Phoenix 4
1764 Chloroclysta truncata Common Marbled Carpet 1
1777 Hydriomena furcata July Highflyer 1
1906 Opisthograptis luteolata Brimstone Moth 2
2006 Pheosia gnoma Lesser Swallow Prominent 3
2107 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 10
2109 Noctua comes Lesser Yellow Underwing 3
2117 Eugnorisma glareosa Autumnal Rustic 6
2134 Xestia xanthographa Square-spot Rustic 17
2176 Cerapteryx graminis Antler Moth 2
2269 Atethmia centrago Centre-barred Sallow 4
2274 Xanthia icteritia Sallow 1
2306 Phlogophora meticulosa Angle Shades 1
2318 Cosmia trapezina Dun-bar 3
2321 Apamea monoglypha Dark Arches 7
2343x Mesapamea secalis agg. Common Rustic agg. 4
2367 Celaena haworthii Haworth's Minor 1

Hardcastle Craggs Fri 26 08 11

Having a try at Craggs Fri 26 08 11,weather permitting,bout 9pm.

1405 Pleuroptya ruralis Mother of Pearl 2

1722 Xanthorhoe designata Flame Carpet 7
1751 Lampropteryx otregiata Devon Carpet 4
1759 Ecliptopera silaceata Small Phoenix 6
1906 Opisthograptis luteolata Brimstone Moth 1
2107 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 20
2109 Noctua comes Lesser Yellow Underwing 2
2111 Noctua janthe Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing 8
2117 Eugnorisma glareosa Autumnal Rustic 10
2134 Xestia xanthographa Square-spot Rustic 12
2269 Atethmia centrago Centre-barred Sallow 1
2306 Phlogophora meticulosa Angle Shades 1
2357 Amphipoea lucens Large Ear 1
2394 Stilbia anomala Anomalous 1

Female Brimstone Butterfly 22 08 11

Butterfly numbers finally picking up in the garden today,with Peacock,red admirals,large and green veined whites small copper,large skipper,meadow brown,speckled wood,small tortoiseshell,the most interesting being a Female Brimstone Butterfly,we are hoping she might have laid eggs on the Buckthorn we specifically planted up in this garden quite a few years back,hoping to attract this species,as a few wandering Males had been seen !also single Brown and Common Hawker Dragonflies were finally seen only the 2nd/3rd dragonfly species along with a Male Broad Bodied Chaser earlier on in May seen so far this year.

Large Ear 13 08 11

This Large Ear turned up at Hardcastle Craggs 13 08 11,checked by Charlie Fletcher.Bri/Andy.

Message from C.Fletcher

I can't believe Crinan Ear doesn't occur in VC63. It's all over the uplands of VC64 and they are ten a penny at Malham where it is by far the commonest Ear.   Crinan is commonest particularly where Yellow Iris grows though it does use other food plants. Try to stick some traps up in some nice wet upland areas and get a VC63 first.

Craggs Cancelled 20 08 11

Cancelling tonight at Hardcastle Craggs due to the heavy rain.

Crescent 19 08 11 Elland Gravel Pits

Some great local moths last night including 4 Crescents pic,along with single Silky/Southern and Bulrush Wainscots,a cracking night,Bri Andy.
Also brilliant numbers of Sallow and Least yellow Underwing a real autumn feel about lets hope for some migrants this year.!!

Friday evening EGP

Meeting tonight at 9.30..going into lagoon 1 and setting trap there.All welcome..tomorrow night Hardcastle Craggs..................

1405 Pleuroptya ruralis Mother of Pearl 2
1738 Epirrhoe alternata Common Carpet 18
1759 Ecliptopera silaceata Small Phoenix 1
1764 Chloroclysta truncata Common Marbled Carpet 1
1811 Eupithecia tenuiata Slender Pug 1
1830 Eupithecia absinthiata Wormwood Pug 1
1941 Alcis repandata Mottled Beauty 1
1956 Cabera exanthemata Common Wave 2
2006 Pheosia gnoma Lesser Swallow Prominent 1
2092 Agrotis puta Shuttle-shaped Dart 2
2102 Ochropleura plecta Flame Shoulder 2
2107 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 35
2109 Noctua comes Lesser Yellow Underwing 12
2111 Noctua janthe Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing 10
2112 Noctua interjecta Least Yellow Underwing 12
2133 Xestia sexstrigata Six-striped Rustic 5
2134 Xestia xanthographa Square-spot Rustic 4
2176 Cerapteryx graminis Antler Moth 1
2197 Mythimna straminea Southern Wainscot 1
2274 Xanthia icteritia Sallow 32
2318 Cosmia trapezina Dun-bar 1
2321 Apamea monoglypha Dark Arches 22
2343x Mesapamea secalis agg. Common Rustic agg. 2
2368 Celaena leucostigma Crescent 4
2369 Nonagria typhae Bulrush Wainscot 1
2391 Chilodes maritimus Silky Wainscot 1
2474 Rivula sericealis Straw Dot 16

Unknown caterpillar

I found this caterpillar in Scarr Wood today, never seen anything like it before, does anyone know what it is?

Hummingbird Hawkmoth update.

TOP PHOTO:

An adult laying eggs in the garden 47 days ago.

A freshly laid egg on Common Cleavers.

A newly hatched larva at 2mm (bottom left)

A 12mm larva (bottom right).

BOTTOM PHOTO:

Detail of the horn on the mature larva.

The pre-pupal larva turning dull brown and pink.

The pupa.

And finally the adult which emerged this morning.

And the second one emerged this afternoon.Much more cooperative this one - I don't think her wings were ready for flight just yet.

Devon Carpet distibution Map

Many thaks to Butterfly Consevation for this upto date map of Devon Carpet distibution.We are the small spot in the middle if you follow the humber west.It shows the continued spread of this species from its origins down south.

Devon Carpet Mania 13 08 11

Unbelievable for Devon Carpets last night at Hardcstle Craggs 30 seen !! also this Buff Footman a first for Calderdale and Ringed China-Mark,





1348 Parapoynx stratiotata Ringed China-mark 1

1356 Evergestis forficalis Garden Pebble 2
1405 Pleuroptya ruralis Mother of Pearl 1
1648 Drepana falcataria Pebble Hook-tip 1
1702 Idaea biselata Small Fan-footed Wave 7
1713 Idaea aversata Riband Wave 3
1722 Xanthorhoe designata Flame Carpet 1
1725 Xanthorhoe ferrugata Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet 1
1738 Epirrhoe alternata Common Carpet 3
1742 Camptogramma bilineata Yellow Shell 2
1751 Lampropteryx otregiata Devon Carpet 30
1756 Eulithis populata Northern Spinach 3
1759 Ecliptopera silaceata Small Phoenix 8
1777 Hydriomena furcata July Highflyer 8
1906 Opisthograptis luteolata Brimstone Moth 2
1941 Alcis repandata Mottled Beauty 3
2006 Pheosia gnoma Lesser Swallow Prominent 2
2049 Eilema depressa Buff Footman 1
2064 Phragmatobia fuliginosa Ruby Tiger 1
2107 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 20
2111 Noctua janthe Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing 3
2122 Diarsia brunnea Purple Clay 2
2130 Xestia baja Dotted Clay 5
2133 Xestia sexstrigata Six-striped Rustic 1
2134 Xestia xanthographa Square-spot Rustic 6
2135 Xestia agathina Heath Rustic 1
2176 Cerapteryx graminis Antler Moth 35
2198 Mythimna impura Smoky Wainscot 1
2199 Mythimna pallens Common Wainscot 1
2318 Cosmia trapezina Dun-bar 3
2321 Apamea monoglypha Dark Arches 32
2343x Mesapamea secalis agg. Common Rustic agg. 3
2360x Amphipoea oculea agg. Ear Moth agg. 1
2361 Hydraecia micacea Rosy Rustic 1
2434 Diachrysia chrysitis Burnished Brass 1
2439 Plusia festucae Gold Spot 1
2444 Autographa bractea Gold Spangle 1
2474 Rivula sericealis Straw Dot 1

Craggs Sat night

Meeting with Bri tonight 9.30..all welcome.
Recorded 2  very freah Svennsons Copper Underwing last night showing palps,underwing pattern and central cross lines correct.

Bulrush wainscot

Set the actinic in the middle of the reedbed at EGP last night at 10,went to pick it up this morning at 6 .(good new battery)There was one moth in the trap a Bulrush Wainscot..well worth it....

Cinnabar Moth Revival 06 08 11

Finding more Cinabar Caterpillars this Year,found them in 4 places in Todmorden area today,most being 10 on one clump of Ragwort.anyone else finding many in other areas ? regards Bri.

Hardcastle Craggs Fri 06 08 11

Heres a Pebble Prominent from last night

Friday evening(10 Devons) Hardcastle Craggs

A real autumn feel last night with temps well into single figures and feeling chilly.10 Devon Carpets shows there must be a good healthy breeding population and who knows how many we will end up catching by. September ? Dark Marbled Carpet and Six striped rustic added to the autumn feeling...

1648 Drepana falcataria Pebble Hook-tip 1
1666 Geometra papilionaria Large Emerald 2
1702 Idaea biselata Small Fan-footed Wave 3
1722 Xanthorhoe designata Flame Carpet 2
1738 Epirrhoe alternata Common Carpet 2
1751 Lampropteryx otregiata Devon Carpet 10
1756 Eulithis populata Northern Spinach 1
1758 Eulithis pyraliata Barred Straw 1
1762 Chloroclysta citrata Dark Marbled Carpet 1
1776 Colostygia pectinataria Green Carpet 2
1777 Hydriomena furcata July Highflyer 1
1809 Perizoma didymata didymata Twin-spot Carpet 1
1906 Opisthograptis luteolata Brimstone Moth 1
1917 Selenia dentaria Early Thorn 1
1921 Crocallis elinguaria Scalloped Oak 1
1937 Peribatodes rhomboidaria Willow Beauty 2
1947 Ectropis bistortata Engrailed 3
1961 Campaea margaritata Light Emerald 1
2003 Notodonta ziczac Pebble Prominent 1
2006 Pheosia gnoma Lesser Swallow Prominent 2
2107 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 7
2111 Noctua janthe Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing 3
2130 Xestia baja Dotted Clay 25
2133 Xestia sexstrigata Six-striped Rustic 2
2155 Melanchra persicariae Dot Moth 1
2160 Lacanobia oleracea Bright-line Brown-eye 1
2176 Cerapteryx graminis Antler Moth 45
2198 Mythimna impura Smoky Wainscot 3
2268 Parastichtis suspecta Suspected 1
2322 Apamea lithoxylaea Light Arches 1
2326 Apamea crenata ab. combusta Clouded-bordered Brindle [melanic form] 1
2350 Chortodes pygmina Small Wainscot 1
2477 Hypena proboscidalis Snout 2

More info on Copper Underwing ID....

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/593/svenssonsandcopperseper.jpg/

Campion

Photo of Campion as promised Andy.

Common Rustic?

Ear ...Ear...............

Now that Ear Moth sp are starting to appear, I am anxious to find out more about

their distribution in the county this year. I would be grateful if people could
send me three or four Ears from each site over the next few weeks for me to
dissect. Stick them in the freezer for half an hour then pop them in any
container or even just in an envelope and post off to me.


Dr Charles Fletcher
The Forge
Hutton Conyers
Ripon
HG4 5EB

Cheers

Charlie

... perhaps I should have said "Friends, Romans, Yorkshiremen, send me your

Ears"

Any thoughts on this one

Caught this the other night, I think its one of the Beauty 's, its the same size as Mottled and Willow Beauty.

Double Lobed or pale Common Rustic agg?

This is really starting to bug me, is this a DL?

Craggs August 1st

Above a Devon Carpet the 16th individual caught this year at hardcastle craggs,and the red form of July Highflyer which i have not seen before.

15 Hepialus sylvina Orange Swift 2
1405 Pleuroptya ruralis Mother of Pearl 12
1653 Habrosyne pyritoides Buff Arches 1
1666 Geometra papilionaria Large Emerald 1
1702 Idaea biselata Small Fan-footed Wave 14
1722 Xanthorhoe designata Flame Carpet 1
1727 Xanthorhoe montanata Silver-ground Carpet 1
1738 Epirrhoe alternata Common Carpet 3
1742 Camptogramma bilineata Yellow Shell 5
1751 Lampropteryx otregiata Devon Carpet 2
1756 Eulithis populata Northern Spinach 5
1759 Ecliptopera silaceata Small Phoenix 1
1776 Colostygia pectinataria Green Carpet 5
1777 Hydriomena furcata July Highflyer 12
1809 Perizoma didymata Twin-spot Carpet 7
1858 Chloroclystis v-ata V-Pug 2
1860 Pasiphila rectangulata Green Pug 1
1906 Opisthograptis luteolata Brimstone Moth 2
1917 Selenia dentaria Early Thorn 1
1922 Ourapteryx sambucaria Swallow-tailed Moth 2
1941 Alcis repandata Mottled Beauty 1
1955 Cabera pusaria Common White Wave 1
1000 Notodonta dromedarius Iron Prominent 1
2006 Pheosia gnoma Lesser Swallow Prominent 2
2102 Ochropleura plecta Flame Shoulder 1
2107 Noctua pronuba Large Yellow Underwing 12
2111 Noctua janthe Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing 1
2120 Diarsia mendica Ingrailed Clay 1
2122 Diarsia brunnea Purple Clay 11
2176 Cerapteryx graminis Antler Moth 75
2199 Mythimna pallens Common Wainscot 1
2321 Apamea monoglypha Dark Arches 10
2342 Mesoligia literosa Rosy Minor 2
2382 Hoplodrina blanda Rustic 1
2477 Hypena proboscidalis Snout 1
2484 Schrankia costaestrigalis Pinion-streaked Snout 1