Langfield Edge 14 07 12

Quite a chilly night, though cloudy and dry, as the wind came and went,amazingly 4 Confused checked by the 2 bands on the underside of forewing in amongst the Dusky Brocades,also 3 Grey Mountain Carpets only ever seen 2 before in years of searching locally,also this Scop species Scoparia ambigualis ? Regards Andy,Bri,Peter

Grizzly Goings on in the Gorse

Found quite a few Micros Cydia ulicetana around this large Gorse patch,and found a good few of these Pupae inside the seedpods,i opened one up to show.I noticed some small Parasitic Wasps also s earching out the seedpods,whether for ones still with Larvae inside or with Pupae in im not sure,i could clearly see the wasp inserting its Ovipositor into the Pods ! Uhm Nature ! i have retained a few Pupae to see what emerges.Regards Bri.

Sat night Langfiel Common

We are heading up to langfield common tonight looking for moorland specialities.Meet at shepards rest about 9 ish.All welcome...

Check Those Flowers

Theres good numbers of Moths Nectaring on Flowers at the moment,especially after dark,all manner of Flowers, Thistles,Ragworts and Grass Flower heads are worth checking,in fact its far more productive than using Actinic Traps at the moment,on a relatively small patch of Creeping Thistles the other night 2 species of Pug Narrow Winged,Larch and Noctuids including Dusky,Pale Shouldered Brocades,Purple Clay,Large Yellow Underwings,Ingrailed Clay,Middle Barred Minor all were tucking in.These 2 were Dusky Brocades   Regards Bri.

Hardcastle Craggs 07 07 12

A good night at Craggs with 44 species of macros Beautiful Snout top and Scallop Shell ,although raining for quite a time some great Local Moths came in July Highflyer, Barred red ,Narrow Winged pug,Tawny Barred angle, Green Arches Rivulet,Green pug,Dark Spectacle and Northern spinach.at least 25 Mottled beauty (but no Satins).Andy, Bri ,Peter .

Recent sightings

I've been out and about over the last few days (keeping to the drier days anyway), had a few good sightings that you might like to know about. Beechwood Park LNR, Illingworth/Ovenden The meadow was full of chimney sweeper moths, along with speckled wood. Painted Lady Had my first view of a painted lady this year on 4th July, on the road out of Wainstalls towards Castle Carr top lodge,just as it passes over Caty Well Brook (Grid reference SE045287). It was fliting around feeding on thistles Thursday 5th July Angled Shade and lots of Peacock caterpillars on the footpath linking Bradford Road to Hud Hill/Landmere in Northowram/Stone Chair area (Grid reference SE116275) Chris

Larch Pug 05 07 12

Had another try at Cockhill Wood Plantation with Actinic last night left trap right in plantation and typically no Pugs came to the light! i noticed quite a few Creeping Thistles flowering on the main ride seperating the  Larch and Spruce.And Nectaring on the flowers were 3 Melanistic Pugs and a Narrow Winged Pug plus this Normal form Larch Pug,also nectaring with them  Dusky,Pale Shouldered Brocades,Common Rustic Aggs,Clouded Bordered Brindles,LY Underwings,Purple Clay.Actinic pulled in Tawny Barred Angle dk form,3 Green Carpets,Ingrailed Clay,Pale shouldered brocade and Small dooted buff ,Micro Eucosma sp plus another micro yet to be identified,  Bri.

Bad Weather

Ok so we all know that the weather has been poor since the beautiful March , but we have still recorded some excellent moths , its more of a quality year than quantity.So a quick look at the highlights so far
449a Prays Olea
596 Elashista poae
656 Tachystola acroxantha
Eyed Hawkmoth
Wood Tiger
Larch Pug
Devon Carpet
Chamomile Shark
Red Twin Spot Carpet(thanks Charlie Fletcher)
Broad Barred White
and Satin Beauty (thanks Charlie Fletcher)

September and October must be in for a heatwave......

So if the weather is good hopefully trap a Red necked Footman at Hardcastle Craggs sat night 9.45 all welcome...

Satin Beauty

Many thanks to Charlie Fletcher who has re identified this species as a female Satin Beauty ,I had  id'd  it as an Engrailed reared from a cat found at Hardcastle Craggs in May..

Another French Dragon

Ogden

 A couple of days ago now, when it was slightly warmer and dryer. Not much around, but near the golf course there were large numbers of small heaths around.

Headed up towards the ponds to see if there were Dragonflies around, but only really found large red damselflies, though this one appears to have some kind of mite attached to it, though the picture is not great, the orange marking on the side appears to be a cluster of mites. There was one dragonfly, but it saw me as the moment I saw it and it moved away into the trees. It was defiantly a hawker, though it is a bit early!

It started to rain so I left the ponds in the woods, but the rain soon left so I went to have a look at the pond up the back lane. It was still pretty gloomy, but there were around 5 Azure damselflies in the area that I could see. I know the pictures not great...

Also we had this lovely moth in the garden about a week ago now. I think its a Knotgrass moth, though I could well be mistaken.

Found in France

Took this amongst several others on a recent trip to France (La Brenne area), not had chance to get the books out yet, anyone ID i

t?

Cockhill Wood Plantation 01 07 12

C

Purple Hairstreak 30 06 12

Saw a Purple Hairstreak yesterday at Ramsden Wood Clough,in between torrential rain as the sun came out,and plenty of Nemophora degeerella about.regards Bri.

Engrailed

This emerged today from a larvae found on beech at hardcastle craggs in late May.

Moth Night IS On Tonight

Meeting at cromwell Bottom tonight  about 9.30.All welcome.....

Moths at last

Finally got round to putting the trap on last night as the weather for the first time in ages looked pretty good.30+ species of macro including this rather worn Broad Barred white,Cinnabr,Ghost Moth,Pale Sh Brocade,Gothic,Burnished Brass,BGY,,Campion,Buff arches,Freyers Pug(6) and a lot of micros to sort...

Time to get that new guide out.

Even with the new micro guide I knew the Tortricidae were never going to be straight forward. This was reared from oak, forewing 8mm – anybody any ideas?

Skircoat Green allotments.

I had a 656 Tachystola acroxantha floating in the water tub yesterday - a bit worn and crumpled but still alive. One to watch out for as it appears to be expanding its range in to Yorkshire.

Charlie.

Calderdale Wildlife Blog--PROBLEMS?

I have just tried to open the Calderdale Wildlife Blog and I have been warned by my computer security not to open the page as it is a well known fraudulent website! Has anyone else received this message and is there a problem?

Thanks, Philip

Moth Night Cancelled

To nights moth night at Cromwell Bottom has been cancelled due to the RAIN,..I will try and do it next sat night if this weather ever improves.Many apologies for any inconvenience..Andy,Bri  and robin

I know it's rained a lot but a shark in the garden!

I found this resting on my outside thermometer on the 19^th June and passed it off as a Pale Pinion. I took a couple of photos though and have just gotten around to looking at them. Although the moth is very worn it seems to me to be a late Chamomile Shark (a first for me) - anybody have any thoughts?

 There is a patch of Chamomile just a few yards from where the moth was found – I’ll have to have a good search for larvae if it ever stops raining.

Wood Tiger

Heres a few pics of the Wood Tiger emerged on 18 06 12 from a Larva


found on Whiteholme Drain on 05 05 12.only the 2nd ive ever seen both

were larva.it emerged 3 weeks after pupating,superb moths.regards Bri.

Batings in the rain

managed to get out between the showers today ,1 Chimney sweeper,1 Yellow shell,1 Small white,2 Speckled wood,1 silver Y and a few grass moths....

Malachite Beetle

Found this little chap this morning, malachius bipustulatus, the Malachite Beetle, always nice to see them. Win

Bufftip larvae from Todmorden

Bufftip larvae found by Brian leesey. A good night at the craggs on Sat (lots of midges)30 species the pic being 4 devon Carpets , a very late Red Green Carpet and eudonia pallida.10+ Cockchafers

Sat night

Craggs this sat night weather permitting,top car park about 9.30..all welcome

National Moth Night

23 rd June is National Moth Night, cromwell Bottom at 9.30..all welcome bring torch ,net and lets hope its good moth weather for a change.These organised nights allways seem to be a damp squid....If any one has a spare trap brig it along... I am planning to be there till dawn and will leave traps running all night....

Hi all, Found this smart chap yesterday near the trees with the beetle holes (see previous thread from feb - http://calderdalemoths.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/beetle-holes_10.html) Is it a longhorn beetle? and I wonder if he and his mates could be responsible for the holes? Any id help appreciated. Win P.S. the tree with the holes was a sycamore

Its Arrived

In the post today the Field Guide to the Micro Moths of Great britain and Ireland .On first glance it looks great especially the ..at a glance guide to micro moths ..to put them into familys.and the plume moth section looks excellent as they all have common english names.Brilliant drawings by Richard lewington and very informative teat bySterling and Parsons.A bit thin on Nepticulidae and Eriocraniidae but these are best reared through .Hours and Hours of fun......essencial reading for all moffers

Craggs last Night and id help

Red Twin spot Carpet(thanks CF) A great night at the craggs with 23 species more than the whole of april.Got stuck on the micro .?? 2 Devon,1 water,1 Common,2 Flame Carpets,8 lesser swallow,2 coxcombe prominent,1 yellow Barred brindle , 1 Purple Thorn,1 small Square spot,1 hebrew Character,1 tawny Barred angle,hebrew Character,flame shoulder,Brindled,Common,V , and Oak tree Pugs,Bee Moth,Brown silver lines and 16 Scalloped hazel,1 Yellow Barred brindle ..

Foxglove Pug?

Not the best of photos but we think this is a Foxglove Pug? We also had 2 White Ermine, a Scalloped Hazel and a Light Knot Grass last night. The previous night we managed a Herald, the mystery moth (see earlier post) and a White Ermine. Shouldn't there be more??

Craggs Friday Night

Meeting in the top car park at 9.30 all welcome.....hopefully run a couple of traps

Summer day

what a great day to be out,went round Northowram looking for day flyers and was not dissapointed.First of was a Holly Blue,first one here for a few years then 6 Small Tortoiseshell and a couple of Peacocks.large and Small whites and 4 Orange tips.The first small Copper of the year closely followed by 5 speckled woods.The best of the day went to a small yellow Underwing in a new location nectaring on Common Mouse ear allways one of my favourite moths of the year. Last night in the trap was a good Pug night with 3 Foxglove,2 Brindled,1 Double striped and a common.Looks good over the weekend any one up for the craggs on Friday night.??

Moth ID help please

We caught this moth last night up here in Midgley and are uncertain about its ID. Initial impression was of a very large Rustic type but clearly not one of those, checking books, UK moths etc has led us to think it might be a Dark Brocade but someone else has suggested it might be Glaucous Shears, can anyone help please?

Found this female Emperor up at Scammonden dam on Monday,didnt have my camera so stopped a passer by who took this pic on his i-phone and has just e-mailed it(thanks Gary ).Tecnology is great when it works.Brian found 14 Northern eaggar cats and saw lots of Common Heath egg laying on white holme drain.

Common Heath egg laying by Brian

It's been a bit quiet

Very few posts on here and I guess the poor weather has something to do with that. We've not run our trap much at all, just didn't seem to be much point (coupled with being away a lot), however, correct me if I'm wrong but tonight looks promising? Our trap is out already.

Eyed Hawkmoth.

A pristine male was found resting in a greenhouse at Skircoat Green allotments today (16th). It was found by a lady plot holder who knew I had an interest in such things. Quite a find!

Photo by finder - Joan Sleight.

Mixenden butterflies

Took a walk around Mixenden this morning. Okay might not be the first place you think to go for a walk but a nice stroll from the flats at the bottom up the side of the stream to Ogden and back down produced quite a few hotspots of butterfly activity. Meadow around adventure play area was busy with Orange Tip, males fighting amongst themselves and females hanging about on the cuckoo flower. Bit further along and the footpath from Mixenden Stones towards Mill Lane found lots of Speckled Wood, many of them mating. Males flying around with females hanging on for dear life! Coming back through the woodlands we saw Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell. Not a bad little spot with plenty of flowers out, works a little look if ever you are passing. Chris

April Bumblebee Transect

Hi all,

More invertebrate news! Hardcastle Crags Bumblebee Transect is getting underway for the season. Winston and I just managed to get some records for April on the 30th. We recorded 2 white-tailed bumblebee queens on the transect, and saw another two just before starting.

Compared to last year, there have been far fewer records at the site, a likely consequence of April's decent into cold and windy weather. It will now be walked once a month until October, with the records going to the Bumblebee Conservation Trust. We're hoping to have more records of Bombus monticola, the uncommon Bilberry bumblebee, before the year is through.

If anyone is interested in getting involved with recording, please get in touch with myself or Winston, and we can provide more information.

Christine

WOOD TIGER

Brian Leesey found this today at whiteholme Drain , looks good for wood Tiger which has been a target species for the last few years..Great find Brian

Books for sale

Nick dawtry has these two book for sale if any one is interested leave a message below. Moths of the British Ilses B Skinner British and Irish Pug Moths Riley and Prior

New Micro book

http://www.britishwildlife.com/viewbook.asp?bookid=24 Im ordering mine now...................

Speckled Wood

My first Speckled Wood butterfly of the year, this aft in Sunnybank wood, Todmorden. It is only 2 days later than last year when it was a heatwave.

596 Elachista poae emerges.

A long narrow corridor mine on Reed Sweet-grass found in the canal at Copley. Quite a scarce species in Yorkshire with just a handful of records.

The larvae habitually changes leaves - twice in this case.

The almost black pupa, originally encased in a whitish cocoon.

The adult emerged 10 days after finding the pupa. For once those frantically twitching antennae aren't because it's unsettled and wants to escape, it because.............

I think, and I could be wrong, that this is a female and not soon after taking a few photos she started calling for a mate by raising her wings to emit pheromones.Any info on this behaviour would be good.

449c Prays oleae arrives in Calderdale!

I found myself loitering around Newbank garden centre in West Vale this morning trying my best to look like a customer when in fact I was there looking for olive trees to see if the aforementioned species was present. It took about 2 seconds to find the one and only mine.It contained frass but no larva unfortunately. Only discovered in Britain in 2009 it seems likely that this stowaway is now present in garden centres throughout the land.

E.maculicerusella emerges.

My first ever success at rearing Elachistas brightened up a very poor day weather wise. Just waiting for my two E.poae to emerge now.

News from Tod

A few Emperos about on the moors over the last days along with plenty of Phillenonides lunana and a green Hairstreak,

Attracted to light

Not bothered with the trap recently as the weather is poor.But last night I had Twin spotted Quaker and Early Grey attracted to the kitchen window light.Also Brown House Moth kicking around the recycling.

Bumblebee Transect

Hi everyone,
I'm arranging a walk to introduce new volunteers to the bumblebee transect at the top of Hardcastle Crags (near Blake Dean) and wondered if anyone was interested in coming along? At the moment we are planning to meet at 3.30pm at Widdop Gate parking spot on Sat 14th April. It'll be a walk along the transect route and a bit of information about bumblebee identification. If there are any changes to the planned time or date I'll post an update.
Christine

A new website for Yorkshire moffers

http://www.yorkshiremoths.info/

Have a look at this new sie created by Terry Box and mapmate its realy great.....

Elachista maculicerusella.

This was one of my target species for this year and I was lucky enough to find three tenanted mines on Reed Canary Grass at Tag Meadow on Tuesday. One pupated yesterday on the outside of its mine as they tend to do. I think Paul has reared this species before but it's a new for me.I'm hoping to find more Elachista mines over the coming weeks but it's identifying the various sedges and grasses that's the problem!

Orange Underwing

An excellent year so far for Oarnge Underwing (above)Stoodley Glen saw at least
2,and 2 at Callis Wood today (BL),Cromwell Bottom ..1 on  15th march,1 on the 18th, 6  on the 20th and 2 on the  23rd March.