GREY SHOULDER KNOT and First Butterfly

Ran the trap for the first time this year last night and at last caught a Grey Shoulder Knot been hoping for this one for the last few years. A first for Calderdale .Also 2 Hebrew Character , 2 Common Quaker, Clouded Drab and a Brown House Moth. Had 3 Small Tortoiseshell flitting about the garden today...................at last looks like spring is with us...............

                Grey Shoulder -Knot  Lithophane ornitopus lactipennis

Small Angle Shades.....

Emerged yesterday from a larva found feeding on HIMALAYAN BALSAM at Bradshaw last September.

Quite a nice looking insect!

Lee Mount

Just three moths this week - not much expected given the cool temperatures - but it's a start.

Satellite x 1 (25th)
Common Quaker x 1 (25th)
Agonopterix heracliana x 1 (26th)

Satellite

Bulrush Wainscot

Whilst on a visit to the Cromwell Bottom compound yesterday I noticed this exit/entry hole in a Bulrush stem. After peeling back the outer layers I could see extensive internal feeding and more holes. Obviously an invertebrate of some kind I can only assume it's a Bulrush Wainscot larva as no other species bore in to typha stems like this - a nice find for me as I've not recorded this species before :-)

NBN Gateway map service has been terminated

Hi all

I assume everyone already knows the following information, after all it's almost 12 months old. I'm always the last to find things out, so thought I'd better pass it on:

Please note that the NBN Gateway map service has been terminated as of 1 April 2017.
As soon as a replacement map service is available, distribution maps will hopefully appear here again.
In the meantime, you can get some idea of distribution from the NBN Atlas websitePlease note that the NBN Gateway map service has been terminated as of 1 April 2017.
As soon as a replacement map service is available, distribution maps will hopefully appear here again.
In the meantime, you can get some idea of distribution from the NBN Atlas website.

View the NBN Atlas Map

The above was taken from:

http://ukmoths.org.uk/species/thyatira-batis/distribution-map

I'm off to go and sit in my cardboard box again now. Sigh.

Moth Report

After many years of collecting records (past and present) , I can see the end in sight. Charlie has been working very hard putting the photos together and Annie has done a great job proof reading the document. If any one has any articles on Calderdale moths stories past and present  , poems etc and would like them included please send them to me ....Cheers Andy

Lee Mount - 9th March

A solitary Hebrew Character in the trap this morning was a nice surprise. Also a Dotted Border the previous day, though that was on the garage door.

New micro book

Maybe one for the micro enthusiasts

https://www.atroposbooks.co.uk/a-field-guide-to-the-smaller-moths-of-great-britain-and-ireland

Shibden Head

Pouring with rain early afternoon so thought I would have a go at the tunnel.
Treacherous conditions in there with snow having blown all the way through and dripping wet from the roof - but I gave it a go hanging on to the walls.

I managed with difficulty to find 7 Heralds. 3 on the roof and 4 in the wall cracks. How strange - they were all covered in minute due drops so wonder how they are able to survive in these conditions (??)
Still fantastic moths to see.

PUGs.....................

This will be a great read if you like Pugs....coming soon

EB Ford Revisitted

After a rigorous and freezing week getting the last remaining Bird Seed Donations out ( EBF Emergency Bird Feeding ) on the FEET non Public Sites it was luxury to start on the volume by EB Ford  - Butterflies in the New Naturalist series . The style of the book having been written circa 1945 is hard work but there are some interesting gems and observations to be re - learned. EB Ford also writ a similar work on Moths

I thought I would just add some notes in this post as I worked through the book for general interest and or discussion given that most of our lepidoptera is quiet

Notes

It was interesting to note the historically reporting of Butterflies through the ages and to  note the reporting of the Purple Edged Copper as an early British species ( debatable)


More to follow............

Lee Mount - 20th February

I left the trap on last night with it being a little milder. Paid off with a March Moth on the trap and a Dotted Border on the door frame though the latter was in a bad place for a photo though it was a different moth from the one the previous day with slightly darker colouration.

I guess this cold snap again will put paid to any more moths this week (?)

March Moth

Lee Mount - 19th February

Another Dotted Border today on the outside door frame. It stayed most of the day but disappeared mid afternoon.

First moth of the year and bagworm map

This Spring Usher in Bankhouse wood ignored all the dry stone walls and lichen covered trees to roost on a painted iron bridge.

I cobbled together this map of the bagworm cases I found near to home in the last two years. All were on or near dry stone walls and at quite high altitude. They're often numerous when they do occur.

If anyone does find any other bagworm species I'd be grateful if they could forward me site details.

Charlie.

Lee Mount -6th February

At last - a moth. But what is it doing out in this weather ???!!
First moth of the year on the garage door first thing and still on the door at lunch-time despite the snow.

Dotted Border

Copley garden

Not a moth or butterfly, but nice to be out in the sun today in the garden and have 2 honey bees feeding on flowers. Also a few wolf spiders battling and stalking each other.

LYU

Had this wandering around the garden wall yesterday , the first of the year.

Early Moths

70.282 BF1960 Early Moth Theria primaria a Spring sp Wonder if any one will stumble on one this year they dont appear  widely reported but probably about

http://calderdalemoths.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/early-moth.html

Proofreader needed

Hi all , I have been putting together the updated version of the Moth and Butterflies of Calderdale (including the first micro List)  . I have done all i can and now need someone to give it a read and pull out all the spelling / grammer mistake. (anyone who knows me  will know there will be many ). Any help greatly accepted .leave message below if you can help.....

Sloth Moth

Feeling Lethargic after Xmas ?

Consider the Coprophagus Sloth Moth Cryptoses choloepi,

Not Strictly in Calderdale but I thought this rather obvious example of adaption might reflect a wider lesson of  some of the more subtle adaptions of moths that go unsung throughout the UK and adds to philosophy that it is what we dont know thats counts. So think twice before we Chop it , Cut It , Kill it , Alter it or Remove it !!!!

Its wing markings admirably marked for living amongst the fur of Sloths were  subsequently Larvae feed on dung.The larvae of the sloth moth, Cryptoses choloepi, live in the dung of the three-toed sloth, Bradypus infuscatus. Adult female moths apparently leave the fur of the sloth to oviposit when the sloth descends, once a week, to the forest floor to defecate.

25th Dec 2017

Just finished a Royal Christmas Dinner.  Not being far from my mind most of the time, I thought I should send seasons greetings to those moth people I've had the pleasure to have met and to those I have not met. Merry Christmas to all.

Here is one of my Christmas deigns for this year.

Ho Ho Ho!

Merry Christmas

A very Merry Christmas To All on the Blog and I suppose as close as you can get to a Santa Moth

LikelyTrosia nigropunctigera 

Maybe  a moth is not what you would "expects from an empty Santa Sack :-) But if you are a Calderdale Moffer its truly a Gift

Best wishes & Seasons Greetings to All those Creatures of the Night known Collectively as "The Calderdale Moffers "

UK Butterflies.........

merry X -mas

How to Moth an Egg

Ingredients

2 Northern Eggars
Burnished Brass with a lid
Clouded Silver Saucepan
Ruby Tiger Tablespoon
Langmaid’s Yellow Underwing
True Lover’s Knot timer

Method

1. cover the eggs with Chevron by about ½-inch
2. Then quickly but gently Swallow Prominent one at a time using a Feathered Ranunculus
3. Now switch a on Conformist, and give the Drinker exactly 1 min
4. remove the Great Brocade from the heat using the Dark Dagger. 

6 mins will produce a soft White Plume
7 mins will produce a firmer, more creamy Frosted Orange

by Winston Powes...........

Lee Mount - 21st December

Still up to 3 Winter Moths about in the last few days and yesterday a nice Mottle Umber also turned up - and still there on the pebble-dashing all day today.

Mottled Umber

Lee Mount - 18th December

2 Winter Moths tonight near the light in the porch. The first moths here  since 2 in the same place on 3rd December.

10th December

Hi,

As it's still quiet on the moth front, I thought I'd post an image I created two hours ago. It's supposed to represent a moth in flight and the air turbulence around it's wings. I hope you don't mind.

 Moth in Flight.

Bare Head Tunnel

Just 7 Heralds today in Bare head Tunnel............................

HELP needed ....................Tree Planting.....

The Friends of Roils Head

Tree Planting!

Roils Head Moor

next to Bridleway Hx 548

(at the top of Broadley Road and Rye Lane)

1.30pm – 3pm

Saturday 2 December 2017

The FoRH (with Calderdale MBC Countryside Team) will be planting a Woodland Trust Tree Pack along the moor side of the Bridleway. To create a natural hedgerow and to establish more food sources for wildlife in the area. Creating a living legacy for future generations.

All are welcome to come and help!

Please wear appropriate clothing

We love Ragwort ...............18th November.

Hi everyone. As this is a quiet time for moths, I thought I would post links to two sites which disprove all the myths about the dangers of ragwort. They also demonstrate that the supposed large number of horses that ragwort, is "known" to have killed, to be untrue.

The ragwort issue surfaces regularly and not enough people know the real truth about it. I found the first site about three years ago, it makes for compelling reading. It's a shame that this information is not more widely known. But then, some of the "Ragwort-is-evil-and-must-be-eradicated" brigade, are high profile people, with easy access to getting their hysterical comments into the eye of the media.

The first link disproves the myths about ragwort. The second link looks very carefully at the statements made by the BHS - British Horse Society. It clearly shows the false premises and dodgy "statistics" about horse deaths by ragwort.

http://www.ragwortfacts.com/ragwort-myths.html

http://www.thepoisongarden.co.uk/blog2/blog241114.htm

Spread the good word for ragwort people!

15th November.

By the door this morning I spotted what for all the world looked like a lump of fluff about 1 inch long. It looked almost like a scrap of rag. As far as I could tell, it was grey and dark grey, with a yellow/buff part near the tail end. I got the ladder to photograph it. Once I was up it, the thing had gone. Blast! I'd looked at it from floor level for about 1 minute.  I can only think it may have been a December moth, (another one I'd love to see). I wasn't close enough to get a good look. I hope it returns.

However, on the fanlight was my first ever Mottled Umber. I did get some photos of this one. Yet another "common" moth I'd never seen!

Mottled Umber.

Door moths

A couple of moths from recent weeks, both found on doors, but they are both causing me problems with the ID. Any help would be appreciated.

 Moth 1. Seen 4.11.17 - Ogden Water

Moth 2. Seen 11.11.17 - Copley

Stainland, 8th November

About 8 pm I found this rather bland moth on the fanlight. That's in spite of the cold and the gusty wind. I don't know what it is, can anyone help, please?

November agg.
Thanks for the ID Andy.

Lee Mount - 5th November

Yesterday on the outside door frame - I think this looks like Pale Brindled Beauty - perhaps a bit early so need to check please !

 

 

Also today 6th from Swales Moor, Ringby Lane, a Red Admiral >W over the top of the hill late morning

29 October

Just one Angle Shades moth today, it looked like the others I saw this year, so I didn't bother to post an image.

I forgot to say that I was surprised to find any moths in view of the strong, gusting wind, rain and cold. It's a hardy moth!

Lee Mount - 24th October

In or around the trap this morning - it makes a difference when the weather is mild.
November Moth agg x 1
Common Marbled Carpet x 1 (worn but still just about showing the orange blaze)
Large Yellow Underwing x 1 (thought it was getting late for them)!
Mottle Umber x 5
Tachystola acroxantha x 1
Light-brown Apple moth x 7
Red-green Carpet x 1
Yellow-line Quaker x 1
Satellite x 1

Will try getting some photos on later if I get time.

Stainland, 24th October .

I have a Red-Green Carpet moth on the door this morning. It's yet another first for me. They really are nice looking little things.

 

Red-Green Carpet.

Gallows Pole Plantation

Had a wander up to the plantation yesterday - with the rain and leaden skies it looked like something out of a dark fairytale. The ground is permanently water-logged and I regularly flushed flocks of Wood Pigeons from the stunted, gnarly tree tops - very spooky!

There were dahlica bagworm cases on the side of the main road at Greetland and on Norland moor near the plantation - seems they are widespread and locally abundant. That's 6 areas at 4 sites now.

Another interesting find was this Exapate congelatella resting on a dry-stone wall by the plantation. I thought with the cool, wet weather it would hang around for photos but it was up and away from the off allowing just one record shot. Seems they do fly on calm afternoons. 

Stainland 20 October

Hi David, yes the size is right for Angle Shades cats. Below are two photos of the green form which I took this year on the 5th of April.

Updated Comment:
I should have mentioned that I've never seen a Small Angle Shades (in answer to your remarks about them.).

Angle Shades caterpillar.

Lee Mount - 20th October

In the trap this morning..
Blair's Shoulder-knot x 1 (a different individual from the day before)
Light-brown Apple-moth x 1

I think this other one could be a Red-line Quaker which, if confirmed, would be another new one for me after the Yellow-line Quaker from the day before.
A much greyer moth than the YLQ though of a similar size and just about showing the outermost cross line along with darker on the kidney marks. I could be missing something though but not sure what else it might be.

UPDATE after a re-think and looking at the pale marks around the kidney - could more likely be Pale Mottled Willow.

Red-line Quaker or Pale Mottled Willow (?)

Caterpillar trail

Thanks for your help Gordon.With your prompt I just found this on Small Angle Shades Euplexia lucipara  - which apparently has two colour forms. Though this reference below does not refer to 2 colour forms on the Angle Shades Phlogophlora meticulosa - though it might have (??)

I did find 2 of the same caterpillars of different sizes on the Phlox - I didn't measure them though the larger one was c24mm and the smaller one was c17mm

http://www.ukmoths.org.uk/species/euplexia-lucipara/larvae-2-colour-forms/

Stainland 20 October

I've just found out that the global decline of insects is far more serious than was thought. Follow the link below, it is not happy reading. (Copy the link and past it into your browser).

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/flying-insects-numbers-drop-ecological-armageddon-75-per-cent-plummet-a8008406.html

Stainland 20 October

The attached photos of an Angle Shades Caterpillar were taken last year. They are simply a cross check reference for David with his caterpillar post. The trouble is, David didn't give an proximate size of the cat he found.  I hope this helps, one way or another.

A quote from:

http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/species/angle-shades

"Larvae that hatch in autumn overwinter as caterpillars and pupate in the soil the following spring to produce the first generation of adults that year".

Angle Shades caterpillar.

Lee Mount - 19th October

Just four moths in the trap this morning
Yellow-line Quaker - x  1 (TBC as it's a first for me. Never had Red-line Quaker either but expect that to be greyer rather than this orangey one)
Mottled Umber x 1
Blair's Shoulder-knot x 1
Acleris sparsana x 1

 Blair's Shoulder-knot

 

 Mottled Umber

 

Yellow-line Quaker

 

Also from earlier in the week

A Red-green Carpet looking a little faded, and a caterpillar found on Phlox with I haven't been able to identify yet.

 Caterpillar still to i d

Red-green Carpet

Stainland 19th October 2017.

Just one moth today, Blastobasis lacticolella. The weather wasn't great during the night, it will have kept most moths safe in bed.

Blastobasis lacticolella.

Lee Mount - 16th October

This morning
Angle Shades x 1
November Moth agg x 3
Common Marbled Carpet x 2 (both faded but still just showing orange blaze)
Light-brown Apple-moth x 3
Tachystola acroxantha x 1
Spruce or Juniper Carpet x 1 - need some help with this one !

 Spruce or Juniper Carpet ?

 

Angle Shades

Northowram 15th October 2017 National Moth Night

Vestal x 1 (first for 10 years )
Feathered Thorn x 1
Light Brown Apple Moth x 11
Red Green Carpet x 2
Blairs Shoulder Knot x 4
Silver Y x 1
Garden Rose Tortrix x 1
Juniper Carpet x  4  ( not seen any for many years so I am tentative about ID )


**Brian Leesey recorded 5 Streak at Meadows Edge Todmorden on Sat Night **