Is it too early?

to start running the Actinic trap?

Spring ushers in !

My First Ever Spring ushers arrived last night. One dark specimen and one light together with 3 Pale Brindled beauties.

Ivy Blisters

found these blisters on ivy plants in Hebden, are these leaf mines and if so can the miner be identified? or are they a caused by something else?

Winston

Bradford Botany Group

For those of you of a botanical nature, I’ve attached the summer programme of the Bradford Botany Group. They are a great bunch and although very learned they are very friendly. They are visiting a couple of places in Calderdale this year (Crow Nest quarry, Hipperholme (with Halifax Scientific Society) and Clifton Lagoons) and some close by. It’s a good way to see visit interesting reserves and see rare and unusual plants with a nice bunch of people. So do come along if you can. No previous experience required.... great if you are a beginner like me!eddie Jolly(BAP co-ordinator)
CROW NEST QUARRY, HALIFAX Sun, 14th June2:00 pm
Joint visit with the Halifax Scientific Society. The in-filled quarry has a variety of soil types and a diverse flora including good numbers of bee orchid. We aim to produce a complete species list for the site, since it is under threat from development.Leaders: Edie Jolley and Andrew Kafel
SE 132 248From Hipperholme crossroads (SE 124 255), take the A644 SE towards Brighouse. After 1.5 km, turn left just after the Dusty Miller pub, then left again into Spout House Lane. After 400m, the road bends left and turns into St Giles Lane. Take the small lane on the right leading to the football ground car park Wed,
QUEENSBURY TRIANGLE ,15th July 6:45 pm Partly landscaped former railway station and goods yard. Several local and interesting species including wood vetch, northern dock and possibly dittander. Easy walking.Leader: Jesse Tregale SE 107 309 Take the A647 out of Bradford towards Queensbury. About 100 metres before the main crossroads turn right into Station Road at SE104 303. This is a tarmac road, but very rough in places. Park at the end (approx. 500m) by the roadside at the above GR. Wed, 29th July6:45 pm

CLIFTON LAGOONThis area forms part of the Calder flood plain and incorporates a small lake. Plants of interest include pepper-saxifrage, rough hawkbit and, reputedly, lesser bulrush. There are many planted trees on the periphery of the site.Leader: Andrew Kafel
SE 167 221 From M62 junction 25 (Clifton, M62/A644), take the A644 east towards Mirfield and, after just 200 metres, park in the lay-by on either side of the road. The entrance to the site is on the south side of the road.

Guyanan interlude

Hi all, A friend of mine has gone to live on the edge of a rainforest in Guyana for a few years! He lived in Hebden and Calderdale for some time and has sent back this pic taken last week just to make us jealous of the tropical conditions out there. I believe it is a Female Monarch. Roll on summer, Winston

Excellent Book

I can highly recomend this book on British and Irish Butterflies,packed full of information on where to see all the British species of butterfly.

Lepidoptera Apprentice /job anyone.?

BTCV Natural Talent Lepidoptera Apprentice
Organisation: BTCV Scotland
Salary: £12,568
Location: Edinburgh and RSPB Insh Marshes
Position Type: Paid/Fixed Term Contract
Part/Full Time: Full Time
Closing Date: 09 Feb 09
Website: www.btcv.org/naturaltalent
Contact: Tricia Burden
Contact Telephone: 01786 479697
Contact Email: Scotland@btcv.org.uk


Details:
The Lepidoptera apprenticeship will cover the ecology, distribution and conservation of Moths. The apprentice will gain skills in identifying and recording Moths as well as techniques used for surveying and sampling. They will also learn preservation and curation techniques, working closely with Museums throughout Scotland on storage of historical material and voucher specimens.

As part of the apprenticeship, the apprentice will work alongside other Moth experts and with Conservation organisations such as RSPB and Butterfly Conservation to survey for and record LBAP and UKBAP species.
The apprentice will have the opportunity to work with other major collections of Lepidoptera in Scotland culminating in the writing of a report on an aspect of Lepidoptera conservation.

The Apprenticeship comes with a salary of £12,568 per annum, a training budget, equipment budget and travel budget. Anyone can apply for this post. You don’t need qualifications to apply, there are no age restrictions either; all we ask is that you have a passion for conserving our Natural Heritage and the drive, commitment and determination to complete this apprenticeship to a very high standard.

RECORDS

Many thanks to everyone who has sent in records,I now have filed 24,000 records of moths in Calderdale from 1999 to present If anyone has any records past or present still to send in please do.Cheers and lets hope for a warm and long spring/summer and autumn.

1st Caterpillar 2009

Found an Elephant Hawkmoth caterpillar while digging out pathways at Beechwood Park. It could be a good site to try some moth trapping on later in the year.

First Arrival of 2009

After a few no shows with the Skinner trap so far in 2009, This fine Pale Brindled Beauty (melanic form) arrived overnight. The game's afoot. Winston

Hints and Tips

Hi all
As some of you know I run the UK micros yahoo forum and I used to post a regular feature called Moth of the Moment (MOM) every week or so giving hints and tips on topical species people may wish to look for. Most of the tips are sent into me by others and I simply pass them on as and when its a topical species. Last year with my house move etc I dropped this as I simply did not have the time. I am now starting this up again on UK Micros so if you want a few hints and tips, mainly on larvea hunting and mainly micros look on the UK micromoths forum or if Andy wishes I could cut and paste them here as well ?

Larvae hunting

Brian Leesey found 7 Anomalous and 6 Autumnal Rustic larvae at langfield edge last night before the bad weather forced him off the moor.

YNU Lepidoptera Group Meeting

Sunday 8th March 2009
YNU Lepidoptera Group Meeting
Bramham Village Hall
Grid Ref: SE427430
Event Contact: Terry Crawford
10:30 for 11:00 meeting will close by 16:00
The annual meeting of the YNU Lepidoptera Group,If any body fancys going please leave a commont below

No Show

Hi all, Had the trap out last night and night before but nothing I'm afraid for 2009 as yet
Winston

Brown House Moth...Hofmannophila pseudospretella

This was flying round the kitchen today.

Leaf Mines

Hi all
Rob Edmunds has just let me know that himself, Willelm Nellis and with help from Brian Pitkin are about to write an Aidgap key to leafmines. Some prelims will be sent out to field test before the final draft. Anyone interested in taking part in this ?

We have a thaw underway here in Edern after 15 days or so frozen solid. I might try out the MV in the garden tonight if the thaw continues.

New Book

The new book on Moths and Butterflies by Manley is superb. You not only get all the macro moths and butterflies photographed, you also get a load of micros and caterpillars. I only wish the book had been around when I first started.

Why not in Yorkshire ?

Hi all
Just thought I would send you this link which helps moffers here in North wales. It would be nice if you guys eventually got something similar for Yorkshire. Look out for my few records appearing later this year I hope.

http://www.trawsgoed.com/

First Moth today

1 Mompha subbistrigella found resting on a dead oak tree in the local wood .It was very small indeed and difficult to photo.

Caterpillar ID

Hi Chris
As Derek suggested the larva is likely to be Brimstone moth. I was not 100% sure as I have never seen this species in the larval form before. I sent your image to Reg Fry and he comfirms it is indeed likely to be Brimstone. Try to rear through if you can and then Andy will have confirmed breeding at CB. I have always assumed it did breed at CB but its nice to have confirmation.

Blwyddyn Newydd Dda from Sue and Paul