VC 63 Garden Moths 31 May 2018

Garden Moths  Thurs 31 May 2018

Warm 18 o Still. occ light breeze. Humid Moderate

MV 120

Busy pm lots flying including Caddis , Midges . The brims are back en mase

70.226 BF1906  Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata x19

49.039 BF 0998 Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana x2

70.252 BF1931  Peppered Moth Biston betularia  x1
63.025 BF1376  Small Magpie Anania hortulata  x3
70.049 BF1728  Garden Carpet Xanthorhoe fluctuata (day Flying)
72.020 BF2060  White Ermine Spilosoma lubricipeda  x2

72.015 BF2028   Pale Tussock Calliteara pudibunda  x1
69.016 BF1991   Elephant Hawk-moth Deilephila elpenor x1

70.053 BF1722   Flame Carpet Xanthorhoe designata  x3

72.024 BF2064   Ruby Tiger Phragmatobia fuliginosa  x3
70.240 BF1920   Scalloped Hazel Odontopera bidentata x1
63.086 BF1301   Hook Streaked Veneer Crambus lathoniellus x1
70.094 BF1759   Small Phoenix Ecliptopera silaceata
70.054 BF1727   Silver-ground Carpet Xanthorhoe montanata
65.010 BF1654   Figure of Eighty Tethea ocularis

Pug TBC

72.015 BF2028   Pale Tussock Calliteara pudibunda

69.016 BF1991   Elephant Hawk-moth Deilephila elpenor








72.020 BF2060  White Ermine Spilosoma lubricipeda











70.053 BF1722   Flame Carpet Xanthorhoe designata



70.094 BF1759   Small Phoenix Ecliptopera silaceata





70.226 BF1906  Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolat



70.054 BF1727   Silver-ground Carpet Xanthorhoe montanata



65.010 BF1654   Figure of Eighty Tethea ocularis

Stainland, Poplar Hawk Moth.

A neighbour brought me a (live) Poplar Hawk Moth to photograph, an hour ago. It had been in his office at work, about one mile from me. It's the first one I've ever seen, I was so pleased.

When I took the box he'd brought it in back, I said it had been very nice with a little Tabasco and some coriander leaves.

Poplar Hawk Moth

Poplar Hawk Moth Detail

Recent bits

                                                   The lackey

                                                    yellow Tail

A couple of cats form a recent trip to Cornwall.....Cracking night for moth trappers last night and for the week ahead every night looks very good...Gordon leave that outside light on..................I Apologise for not doing any moth nights so far this year , but i have been too busy with other projects and work. But if all goes well we should be able to get something sorted for this weekend. We have recorded 16 species of butterfly so far so keep those sightings coming in , a great effort from everyone so far. I have got a bit to finish off for the report but have got the printers sorted. We all need to get together for the final photo to finish off the back cover...

Lee Mount

A couple from this morning including Buff Ermine - a new one for me here

 Not sure about this one - maybe Bright-line Brown-eye - but not sure as the markings look stronger than the book illustrations show for that species and wondered about Pale-shouldered Brocade (but I didn't get the shoulder !) (?)

Buff Ermine

Rudd Clough and Withens Clough Reservoir

I had quite a few of these day flying similar looking moths today - mostly on the long heather on the road up to the reservoir around 09:30. Could I get to grips with them - No ! Neither could I get a decent photo other than this rubbish one. They looked dark brown in flight, then slightly paler as they landed. Was wondering about one of the 'Heaths'. I just couldn't do better unfortunately. I came down the road later and nothing was about at all.

I did better with this butterfly - a Wall - was I chuffed with this one - though it gave me the run-around for over an hour trying to get a photo with wings open. Not to be as it always landed on the wrong side of the wall,  but I did get enough to clinch identification. I suspected one here last year but gave up on it in the end as I remember, I couldn't get enough on it.

Wall

 

Also present were 3 Small Heath's and numerous 'whites'. Those I was able to identify were all Green-veined Whites

 

Hunting over the pond at the top end of the reservoir was what I thought was a massive Bee by it's colouration but it was 'flying rapid'. No chance of  a photo but it looked like a very fat bodied large dragonfly. Worth checking that pond if anyone goes up there on a hot sunny day.

Marsh Pug colony???

Out and about at Copley this morning I noticed this day-flying pug - I think it's the first I've ever seen on the wing - I thought it was a mint moth type at first. When I saw it was a pug I tried to capture it with camera and pot but to no avail. However, 10 minutes later it or another reappeared a few yards away and I managed just one shot with the camera. I was struck by the concave leading edge and rather pointed wings. I fancifully considered Marsh Pug, and when I read that it flies by day especially around it's foodplant it got me wondering which plant it was nectaring on. Now I'm no botanist but that looks rather like Field Mouse-ear to me...........

One for Colin to ID is this humongous beetle type - I suspect it's one of the longhorns?

The main target of the trip was to find Micropterix calthellas on buttercups but the best I could manage was this M.aruncella male. Also on buttercups were one of the plain-winged female types and c10 Cock'sfoot Moths.

 

This Bactra lancealana was at Hollas Lane Nature Reserve.

Not too great on female type swifts - any ideas. Also from  Hollas Lane Nature Reserve.

MOTH NIGHT AT CROMWELL BOTTOM

Barry Nield will be running a moth trapping event at Cromwell Bottom this coming Saturday night (June 2nd). Meet by the café over the bridge from the car park just before dark - weather looks good. If anyone can offer me a lift there that would be great.


Also this Bud  Moth emerged from another of my Blackthorn larva from Park Wood Crematorium
All four species identified or reared so far from Blackthorn have been new to me!

Lee Mount again !

Last few nights - some queries

This one, above and below was on the garage door this morning but I can't find anything, yet, to fit. The nearest I can get so far is Chrysoclista lathamella though that is a rare moth according to the text book.

 Unidentified Pug
Wondering about Freyer's Pug !

 

I think this one, with the orange/yellow snout could be Notocelia cynosbatella ?

Lee Mount

A few from the last few nights but not posting them all as it's been a bit hectic with lots of moths in the last few days.

 Large Yellow Underwing - above and below. This one baffled me for a while as it seemed a bit early (?) , it was so still but alive, I'm pretty sure that's what it is - newly emerged maybe.

 Flame

 

 Lime Hawkmoth

 

 Pale Tussock

A new one for here (female)

 

 Spruce Carpet  ? (TBC)

 

Tachystola acroxantha

 

Ruby Tiger

Stainland

A Common Marbled Carpet Chloroclysta truncata, (black and terracotta form, at 3 am this morning. It had gone by dawn. No photo.

Wakefield Road, Sowerby Bridge..nice pic of a Sallow Kitten resting on iron railings outside my house. (24th May)

Cromwell Bottom LNR - 0152 Cauchas rufimitrella ABH 7.010

Sun 27th May 2018

This small micro a Longhorn with rufous head was found nectarring on Garlic Mustard by the Calder . The larvae feed within the seed pods .

It shouldnt be confused with the smaller Micropterix calthella ( also with a red head but shorter antennae  ) usually found on buttercup which has mouth parts capable of taking pollen

Garden Moths VC63 Sat 26th May 2018

Sat 26th May 2018

Weather : Moon Approaching Full Weather Humid Cool and Breezy days preceding rain

20w   ACTINIC

I thought I'd run a basic 20 W Actinic largly due to the breezy conditions


Four Moths Came To Light

73.31 7 BF2089    Heart & Dart Agrotis exclamationis

28.009  BF0648    White-shouldered House-moth Endrosis sarcitrella

70.160  BF1835    White-spotted Pug Eupithecia tripunctaria

49.028 BF986      Syndemis musculana  TBC

Open to Correction on this one looks like a non typical ( usually grey ) orange brown a bit early  but flying in sufficient numbers on week 22. Any thoughts

Stainland, 2 White Ermine

On Saturday morning, there were two white ermine by the door.

White Ermine moths

The White Ermine that I showed here on the 21st of May, stayed for 3 days. In the early morning, before the sun came up,  it was on the fanlight over the door, or disappeared for a few hours. The nights seem to have been too cold for it to fly. It always returned to the same spot each night. This made me think that the moth must leave a scent marker that it could recognise. I know it was the same one, as it seemed to have had a slight brush with a light trap lamp and it's markings were identical. You can see the mark / burn in the original photo I posted, and the one above. It's the moth on the right of the photo above. I said it stayed for 3 days, in fact, it had stayed in the area for 7 days. I felt that it was worth sharing  my observations.

Moth for identification

I saw this moth amongst grass in Todmorden today. I don't know the species but hoping someone can help.

Swales Moor

Along Ringby Lane this afternoon again with a target of finding Wall Butterflies in the hot sunshine  and trying to find a sheltered area out of the east wind. No luck with the Wall (try again another day!) but a Painted Lady was a surprise, battling it out with 2 Small Tortoiseshells.

Also present in the top field were at least 4 Small Heath's and  9 + Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Green-veined White and 1 female Orange-tip.

Small Tortoiseshell left and the Painted Lady

Lee Mount - 27th May

Cool, clear and quite breezy overnight with just 2 in the trap this morning..

 Cinnabar

 

 Heart and Dart

Hairy noctuid larva update

This emerged overnight from the larva I posted here about 3 weeks ago. I think it may be an Uncertain but as it's not one I've seen before I'm not so sure (pun avoided there :-)

FW length and hindwing are okay, I can't see what else it could be - anyone have any ideas?

A couple from spring larvae on Blackthorn.

Two new ones for me: A Plum Tortrix from Norland and a Green Pug From Park Wood Crematorium. Thought the pug would have been a much richer green with it being freshly emerged but just a few traces. The pug pupa was about the same size as the "bird dropping" micro.

Small Copper

Steve Blacksmith reports a Small Copper today  at Dudwell Lane on his  broad beans. Many thanks Steve. That is the 13th  species so far this year , with the browns , Skipper 's  and more Hairstreaks to come it could be a very good year. had a Holly blue today at Smith house lane brighouse .................