P. conwagana

What a lovely way to start the morning by finding this, 1011 Pseudargyrotoza conwagana at my back door. Despite being a common species I have never come across it and its food plant (Ash) overhangs the area where it was discovered hovering above a neighbours head. It has such fantastic colours, like a canary yellow bank note threaded through with a metallic silver strip.

I think this spring is the most fun I have ever had finding moths and all without using the light trap.

Moth wing for id...

Found in littlebrough.

Diplodoma laichartingella Update 10 06 13

This Diplodoma laichartingella Adult Emerged early this morning from Larval Case collected on 17 03 13 from Callis Wood found at the base of Mature Beech in South Facing hollow.Bri.PS another emerged today 11 06 13 also early this Morning.

Moths about............

Few moths about at last
Northowram..
Clouded Bordered Brindle
Poplar hawkmoth
Foxglove and Common Pugs
Scalloped Hazels
Flame Shoulder
Spruce Carpet
Knot Grass
Campion

Elephant hawkmoth at heath road thanks Sean

from Luddenden..thanks Martyn
Poplars almost everynight
Coxcomb Prominent
Small Elephant Hawkmoth
Brown Silver-line
Buff (1) and quite a few White Ermine
Common Pugs (I think)
Flame, Common & Garden Carpets
Scalloped Hazels
Knot Grass
Herald

Phyllonorycter rajella 04 06 13

Just got this Phyllonorycter rajella Emerge from a Mine on Grey Alder gathered last autumn,amazin anything emerged,as the Leaf was very dry and Shrivelled up !

Blue Help

When I first took this thought it was brown Argus now I reckon this may be a female Common Blue,,,but has a few bits of Brown Argus/Northern B in it.Taken in South Yorkshire.. Anyone give us a few tips,This is the only photo I got........................

Thinking of getting a trap

Hi guys,

Thinking of getting a trap, just wondered if you guys could offer some advice and also by chance is anyone looking to sell one?

Questions I have are along the lines of, how often do the bulbs need replacing? Do the neighbours complain about bright lights being on during the early hours?

Any advice/opinions very much appreciated.

Green hairstreaks

Plenty Green Hairstreaks about today, up to 20 at the back of fly flats along the bilberry paths...

Grizzled Skipper

This one was seen in Oxfordshire   at Ardley quarry ,a carpet of wildflowers and plenty butterflies.
Well worth a visit...http://www.bbowt.org.uk/reserves/ardley-quarry

Dingy Skipper Erynnis tages

Before viewers get too excited, this was not found in Calderdale. A trip to Warton Crag near Carnforth (on my way to work in Edinburgh) revealed a nice Dingy Skipper amongst the usual butterfly species. I would recommend a visit to this reserve. Good for walking butterflies and birds.

moths

First moths last night included a Cinnabar, Buff ermine , Flame Carpet and 3 early Greys...not much but a nice start..................

Historical Note

Last night the 25th May and 28th May  2013,I put the trap on at 9 .55and ran it overnight ,
 I emptied the trap at 5.30 this morning the 26th and 29th May 2013 ,,not one moth................


Ghost Moth update

 

Eggs collected from pair in cop 7th june 2011,started to pupate 15th May 2013.

Curse of the Organised event ..strikes again

1 Early Thorn
1 Red  Chestnut
30 people  
+ rain and wind
Thanks to Bri and Nabil

Watch Out For Wood Tiger Moths

Anyone out and about on the Moors watch out for the Spectacular Wood Tiger Moth,.Its about the time to see the Partlially Grown Larvae as they like to Bask in the Sunshine,they never seem so Common,ive only found 2 in 10 years or so,hopefully just Underrecorded ! theres some pics on this blog from last Year of Larva and Moth.Bri.

Emperor Moths, Saturnia Pavonia 5th May, Whiteholme Reservoir

Coming back from a trip to the Llyn peninsular yesterday I decided to stop off at Whiteholme Reservoir just in case Emperors were on the wing. As soon as I got out of the car the sun went in. Very windy too so wasn’t very hopeful as I set off with my net. Nearly 2 hrs later, still no sun and little more to show for my ramble in the heather than a few Philedonides lunana which keep you on your toes (thx Bri’ for the id tip off). Walking home I saw something, or did I? You know those times when something caught your eye but as soon as you noticed you were past it. Retraced a few steps expecting it to be bird droppings or a piece of litter or like the money in the street that turns out to be a smarty tube bottom. Instead it was a female Emperor, Jackpot! I have been walking the moors for 8 years around Calderdale and this is my first sighting of a female. Very fresh and newly emerged it seemed as the hind wings were still showing a few undulations. Next I noticed it was only 6 inches from its cocoon woven into the tops of the heather. There has been a lot of burning on that moor and the cocoon survived in a little 2ft diameter area of unburned heather when all around it was charred stalks. The caterpillar had chosen well. Having taken some photos and whilst packing up my things I became luckier still. From nowhere a male appeared (the only sighting of the day). Landed about 6 inches below the female and climbed up to join her. I was surprised to see them mate as earlier I saw (what I thought) were eggs. Round pale yellow/white spheres dropping into the heather. Maybe they were something else? Taking some final photographs I left them in peace. By this time on the Riponden side of Turvin road the whole moor was ablaze. Driving back down you could feel the heat of the fire inside the car and it made me think how resilient the Emperor pupae must be to be surrounded by fire and still provide me with so much entertainment.

First Trapping Session of the Year

next Sat 11th May ,at Hardcastle crags I will be running a trap/s ,there will be a bat walk as well  .Hope to see some of you as the long winter is now over,,,,,

Late start............

Finally dusted the trap down and stuck it on,1 Twin spotted,1 Small 3 Common Quaker,2 Early Grey.2 Hebrew Character,2 Clouded Drab and a Brown house moth...

Diplodoma laichartingella update 18 04 13

This Diplodoma laichartingella Larva came out of its Torpid State as the Temperatures increased.Seemed to feed on Dead Bark and as here on this Common Tree growing Moss Species ? Bri. Checked Callis Wood yesterday afternoon 26 04 13 ,really Chilly with that wind,struggled to find 1 Larval Case, must have checked most of the Beeches .Bri. Found 2 Active Larval Cases on Old Oak and 1 old case on Beech at Heights Wood on 01 05 13. Retained Larva stopped feeding on 01 05 13 and suspended itself from Anal Tip of Case by Silken Thread,Hopefully in readiness to Pupation !

First moths for ages

Had Hebrew character ,Small Quaker and White Shouldered House moth last night around the house, Tonight  Im gonna put the trap on......

Bracket Fungi.

I was making the most of the warm weather this morning in North Dean when I came across a group of Birch Polypore fungi. No, I haven’t posted on the wrong blog for on the underside, where the pores are, were three frass filled holes which may or may not be lepidopterous, hopefully time will tell. If they are I’m assuming it will be one of the Tineids, possibly Cork Moth but maybe something a little less commonly recorded such as Nemapogon clematella. I think it will be worthwhile looking out for more in the next few weeks as I suspect they may be quite common – I only found four brackets today (on Silver Birch) two of which contained holes. It may be worth checking other bracket species as well. Happy hunting!