Lichen Case-bearer (Dahlica lichenella)

Following on from the bagworm post below one of the adults emerged overnight and was not the anticipated Narycia duplicella - instead I got the very unexpected and very rarely recorded Lichen Case-bearer (Dahlica lichenella). 

Harry Beaumont seems happy with the identification; there is just one previous Yorkshire record I'm aware of.

As the cases were originally attached to stone I had to cut them off and carefully glue them in the correct orientation to some card when I got them back home. The female - all 2.8mm of her is parthenogenetic which means she emerges with fertile eggs so no need for attracting a mate.

As soon as she emerges she begins laying in side the old case. After a few hours she will die - job done.

She rarely stayed still and flash was used as it was still semi-light outside but some of the pics came out okay.

I  thought she was just laying eggs around the inner edge of the case so I cut it half to have a look when she had finished. Little did I know the case was almost full from back to front!

My identification is largely based on the empty pupal case, in particular the head capsule (see UK Moths for details).

Just a few eggs to rear through now, hopefully I can release plenty back at the site were I found the cases.

I wonder what will pop out of the other case now as my confidence at ID-ing them is none existent.

Lee Mount

From last night some new ones for us photographed which we think we have identified....with amendments !
Common Quakers x 4
Error with Oak-tree Pug x 2 - amended to Brindled Pug x 2
Early Thorn x 1
Agonopterix heracliana/ciliella.  x 1

Brindled Pug

  Amended from Oak-tree Pug to Brindled Pug

 

 Early Thorn - this was a lovely moth a bit like a butterfly with the wings closed

Agonopterix heracliana/ciliella.

March Tubic CB LNR

CB - Lagoon

A quick 10 mins at CB LNR revealed this species of March Tubic and a nocturnal beetle  The Bronze Ground Beetle Carabus nemoralis hunting, its presence coinciding with the appearance of slugs one of its prey

x1 BF663 March Tubic diurnea fagella ABH 29.001 

Update ** The Bronze Ground Beetle Carabus nemoralis  is a common beetle found in gardens, farmland and meadows. Ground beetles are active, nocturnal predators, chasing and catching smaller invertebrates;

Lee Mount

Last night 3rd April - nothing doing till it started drizzling, then a few came in onto the window though I am still working on them !!

Hebrew Character x 1
Common Quaker x 1 - plus maybe this one below ?
1 Brindled Pug x 1 as well as this darker form below ?
Agonopterix hert x 2

 Maybe a worn looking Common Quaker but couldn't get a better photo so might need to give this one up. 

 

 Maybe a Brindled Pug (hirschkei)

 

 No idea - yet !

 

 

No idea - yet !

wing length c17mm

Lee Mount

Just 2 moths last night both late on.
Think I've got i d correct (?)

 Common Quaker

Brindled Pug ?

BAGWORMS!

Hi all,


I had a productive walk around Stainland yesterday and found a few things of interest - the highlight being a couple of Narycia duplicella cases both with larvae inside so hopefully there'll be some adults to follow. They only took about seven years to find...............

 Above (dorsal) and below (lateral) are different views of the same case, around 6mm long. Tapered at both ends, wider on the ventral surface with flanges down both sides and covered with tiny algae particles.

 A second case below.

Also this 4mm long case and larva of a presumed Coleophora lutipennella agg, found on the leaf buds of oak.

And a quick wander around Norland moor a few days ago with a sweep net produced this 16mm long Northern Eggar and a neglected Rustic larva (bottom).

Orange Underwing

First one seen today at Pixie Wood , Cromwell Bottom...............

Grey Pug Cat

One from 14th August 2013

Lee Mount

A quiet week but that cold blast won't have helped.
3 Agonopterix heracliana together in the porch on the evening of 20th March.
Last night a Hebrew Character was half hiding under a window ledge and was still there this morning.

Hebrew Character

ID Help

Anyone help with this................

March so far at Northowram

2 Small Tortoiseshell in and around the garden today  Hebrew Character and 1 Brindled Pug to the outside light last night and  1 Spring Usher and 1 female Dotted Border emerged from pupae I collected last year at Harcastle Craggs............

Lee Mount

Tonight 12th March - I hope i d is correct ?
1 Chestnut
1 Pale Brindled Beauty
1 March Moth
1 (maybe Common Quaker)?
Another I think maybe a micro still to i d (?)

 Chestnut I think (but a different one from this morning)

 Pale Brindled Beauty

 Unidentified ( micro ?)

Common Quaker maybe ?

LIfe At the Craggs 12 th March 2016

Counts Andy C

March Moth 8
Pale brindled Beauty 1
Dotted Border 4
Chestnut 1
Clouded Drab 1
Agonoptrix her 1

Weather 

Cool Still Previous days weather wet / damp / rain. Many Thanks to Andy for Setting up

Other Entomology

Large colonies of Orange Ladybird abundant - these are a fungal eating species which agregate in large numbers

73.242 BF2188 Clouded Drab Orthosia incerta

32.018 BF688 Agonopterix heracliana ( Worn Specimen)

70.247 BF1926 Pale Brindled Beauty Phigalia pilosaria

70.255 BF1934 Dotted Border Agriopis marginaria

70.245 BF1663 March Moth Alsophila aescularia

Craggs 11th March

March Moth                8
Pale brindled Beauty  1
Dotted Border            4
Chestnut                     1
Clouded Drab             1
Agonoptrix her          1

It was good to be out for the first time this year, a little cool but well worth the effort Cheers
    

Lee Mount

Another one I found this morning- looking a bit worn. Maybe a Chestnut ?

Lee Mount

Sorry I didn't make it to the crags this evening but I did get the light on in the conservatory and managed 4 moths of 3 species - need help with two species please !!

First two photo's are of the same moth forewing c20 mm (there were 2 of these but this was the better marked one)  - struggle to i d but maybe a ?? Small or Pale Brindled Beauty...? but I might be way off the mark!!!

 Satellite

Maybe a Brindled Pug ?? - length of forewing 10 - 12 mm

Hardcastle Craggs 11 .March.2016

With the weather looking a bit warmer for the weekend .I am planning to run the trap at the car park at the crags from 7 till 11 ish..All welcome..target  species will be the Spring Usher and the early Orthosia species.Cheers....

Shibden Head - Bare Head Tunnel

Still 7 Heralds there this morning in the tunnel but nothing else showing !

Pammene regiana

After searching on and off over the years I finally found quite a few cocoons and a couple of larvae of this species.

They were all on one Sycamore tree under loose bark - this larva was disturbed from its cocoon when I pulled the bark off - I've "re-housed" it.

The tree was by the towpath near Cromwell Bottom.

Most pieces of bark had cocoons under them but only two were found to contain live larvae - I'll try and rear them through.

Early Small Tortoiseshell 15 02 16

Hi all saw a Small Tortoiseshell flitting about over the ice and frost in the afternoon Sunshine at Langfield Common,on 15 02 16 ,looked a bit out of place on a Winters Day !

Map Mate..

If anyone has map mate I can get a group subscription for £ 4.40 a year all I need is your CUK and £4.40....and e mail address....

Diplodoma laichartingella Pecket Well Clough 13 02 16

Checked a Large Beech Tree in Pecket Well Clough for Diplodoma laichartingella Cases today 13 02 16,and was Amazed to find at least 15 Larval Cases,all on one Tree ! 5 were about a 3rd the size of the majority perhaps indicating Yearlings ? With upto 5 in one recess at the base of the tree,and they were positioned all the way round the tree facing all points of the compass ! Regards Bri.

One to look out for this year..ESSEX SKIPPER

http://yorkshirebutterflies.org.uk/news.htm

Life Among The Lichens

Bed & Breakfast

At  this quiet time of year  a little bit of thought provoking stuff are there any of the British Moths more intimately associated with Lichens as a Larval food source It is  known that the caterpillars of the subfamily Lithosiinae (Arctiidae), or lichen moths, feed on lichens, They are suspected of being algivores, feeding on algae, either free-living, or as a lichen symbiont

There may may be more reasons to gaze on Yorks Stone as a living food source rather than an inanimate object and perhaps more reasons to conserve dry stone walling on Field Margins for Wildlife per se This of of course does not preclude the great value of urban churchyards a fantastic resevoir for these creatures. or indeed the sheltered chalk expanses of Yorshire Dale Arnside or other urban Quarries

Rather than rattle on  I have posted this open thread to add to if any one  has a find directly related to this subject even if it is an Adult Moth on or near its habitat Association to illustrate the Life Cycle. Of course any pictures of the larvae feeding on lichen would be an insight . Where do they actually overwinter Under bark,? Crevices ? Dry Leaf Litter ? Hollow Trees ?

please feel free to add or correct in comments  and i'll add to the list / thread as and when

Many of the British Moths are admirably camouflaged and often dissapar completely when embedded on it although not all will rely upon it as a definitive food source

Examples

Marbled Beauty Cryphia domestica 73.084 BF2293  Larval Food Plant Lichens on WallsThe larva is bluish-grey with orange markings along the back. It feeds exclusively on lichens such as Lecidea and Xanthoria.This species overwinters as a larva.

Xanthoria

Common Footman Eilema lurideola 72.045 BF2050

Larval foodplants are lichens and algae growing on trees and stone. Parmelia But it will also feed on leaves of Hawthorn, Blackthorn and Bramble.

List Of Lichen Feeders

Bankesia conspurcatella    11.007 BF182 The larvae feed on lichens, in a case made of lichens, soil and sand.

Dotted Carpet Alcis jubata 70.266 BF1942   The larvae are bright green with large black dots and feed on lichens such as beard lichen (Usnea barbata).

Round-winged Muslin Thumatha senex 72.037 BF2035 The larvae feed on lichens, especially dog lichen (Peltigera canina), as well as various mosses.

Rosy Footman Miltochrista miniata 72.035 BF2037  The caterpillars feed on lichens growing on trees, including dog lichen (Peltigera canina)

Dog Lichens At Cromwell Bottom

Shibden Head

Bare Head Tunnel - wet afternoon outside so thought I would give the tunnel a check. Wet in there too, dripping a fair bit !
7 Herald Moths  found though I guess there will be others hiding away. This is the best shot I could get in the conditions trying to get near enough to this one on the roof of the tunnel. I came back well happy though !

One to look out for......

Early Moth Theria primaria is on the wing in January and February and is recorded as common in England  .It associates with Hawthorn and Blackthorn and has been recorded in the Cromwell Bottom area , .but not  since early 2002.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to all who read and post on this site..many thanks Andy