Warm Sun...at last

It was good to be out and about today, managed to see my first Large White , Small Heath and Small Copper today along with Peacock , Small Tortoiseshell , Orange Tip , Green veined and Small White .Also Small Yellow Underwing at Lightcliffe Quarries.

Grass Veneer 1293 Chrysoteuchia culmella

The ubiquitous 1293 Chrysoteuchia culmella appeared today in force on grassland  this gold like moth often appears to the eye large in flight...untill...it settles on grass The larvae feed on the stems of various types of grasses, usually at the base.distinguished with its one or two angled cross-lines and metallic golden fringe to the forewings.

Also Around Plenty of GV Whites

Friday 5th June , Hardcastle Craggs

Running the trap from 9.30 onwards ,next Friday night. All welcome

Craggs Friday 22nd May 2016

Counts and Comments

A very interesting night at the crags , first of all the predominant species was Brown Silver lines and the cold light N/W wind kept it pretty quiet for the time of year. The highlight was a  Devon Carpet and  a handful of Pugs which were all very worn and mainly end of season Brindled Pugs . 2 or 3 interesting ones were taken home for a closer look. One turned out to be  an Ochreous Pug which has not been recorded locally before and the other a Larch Pug which is only known from 1 other site in Calderdale. Its a great place ......looking forward to the next session.... Species recorded , Brown Silver lines 16 .Common Swift 1, Brindled Pug 6 , Devon Carpet 1 , Small Phoenix , Flame Carpet 3 ,Scalloped Hazel 4 , Rivulet 1 , Ochreous Pug 1 , Larch Pug 1 ,
Common Quaker 1 ,Engrailed 2 ,Longhorn 3.



Weather Moon quarter phase  Temp 9-12 dropping as evening progress . Wind light N/W . No Rain . Preceding days intermittingly warm  cold with NE winds cool

Other Entomology

There was a large number of Cock Chafers AKA May Bug Melolontha melolontha  actually a Beetle ,  est 30 periodically dropping in some flight shots are shot below. Followed bt a Dor Beetle , A limonid cranefly, TBC and also the larger Tipula  extensa easily recognised by its patterned wings . Ground beetles and Weevils Polydrusus and Phyllobius where evident as well as other smaller species Cantharids Soldier beetles Cantharis pellucida also dropped in with a Sawfly (Symphyta TBC)

Thanks to Andy Brian and Dave

1751  The Devon Carpet

Wingspan 27-30 mm.

A relatively scarce species, found mainly in the south and south-west of England and south Wales

.The caterpillars are brown with paler buff markings, and feed on common marsh bedstraw (Galium palustre) and possibly also fen bedstraw (Galium uliginosum)

1759 Small Phoenix Ecliptopera silaceata

The main larval foodplants are willowherbs (Epilobium spp.).

Profile showing Upright Tuft 

0017 Common Swift Korscheltellus lupulina

Feeding on the roots of grasses and small plants, the larvae live underground.

1802 The Rivulet Perizoma affinitata

Red campion (Silene dioica) is the preferred foodplant, the caterpillars living inside the seed capsules, eating the seeds.

1902 Brown Silver-line Petrophora chlorosata

It flies in a single generation during May and June, and occupies woodland and upland areas where its foodplant grows in profusion.Bracken (Pteridium aquilinum) is the foodplant of the caterpillars, which occur from July to September.

1844 Ochreous Pug Eupithecia indigata

it is a species of coniferous woodland, and flies early in the year, during April and May. The caterpillars feed on the young shoots or buds of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) or larch (Larix).

Wingspan 15-18 mm.

Image (C) 2015 Andy Cockroft

One last one before the lcamera went to bed.... A White Shouldered House Moth

0648 White-shouldered House-moth Endrosis sarcitrella

Lapping up the soapy surface on washing machine !!

Other Finds of the Night Common Chafer Melolontha melolontha

Tipula extensa - Cranefly

A Sawfly TBC (Symphyta)

0293 Common Slender Caloptilia syringella / 0140 Nematopogon swammerdamella

0293 Common Slender Caloptilia syringella TBC Mating on or around Privet

0140  Nematopogon swammerdamella

Friday 22nd

Running the trap at Hardcastle crags on Friday 22 May , target species will be an early Devon Carpet. All welcome

Eriocrania Sangii

Found 4 larvae today on Silver Birch at Mythomroyd..Spagetti frass and grey larvae the give away for this species. Until a few years ago this was thought to be a rare moth in Yorkshire , but it is now recorded as regular. http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=3370

Regal Piercer - 1234 Pammene regiana

This one AKA Regal piercer found in vicinity of Sycamore in a mixed wooded grass area a cousin  of Pammene aurata seen during the summer on Hogweed slightly later in the season  

Butterflies 8th May

Had my first Speckled Wood at Northowram today , along with Orange Tip , Green veined and Small Whites, Peacock  , Small Tortoiseshell and Comma. Green Hairstreaks have been reported this week and next week should be good for all the early summer species.

The Herald Scoliopteryx libatrix a Willow Feeder

Found CB nr Weir 04.05.2015 on Hawthorn Daytime, This specimen had a marked  glossy silver legs not apparent from the image This moth underpins the importance of Willow accross the LNR The larvae feed on willow (Salix) and poplar (Populus)

1851 Golden-Rod Pug Eupithecia virgaureata Query

1851 Golden-Rod Pug  Eupithecia virgaureata  Cromwell Bottom LNR

Spring Moths Fri 24th April 2015

Counts , Comments on ID  

6	Eriocrania subpurpurella..12
663	Diurnea fagella..1
1750	Lampropteryx suffumata	Water Carpet..3
1760	Chloroclysta siterata	Red-green Carpet.1
1775	Colostygia multistrigaria	Mottled Grey..1
1852	Eupithecia abbreviata	Brindled Pug..8
1862	Gymnoscelis rufifasciata	Double-striped Pug..3
1881	Trichopteryx carpinata	Early Tooth-striped…6
1917	Selenia dentaria	Early Thorn..1
1919	Selenia tetralunaria	Purple Thorn…3
1947	Ectropis bistortata	Engrailed…1
2139	Cerastis rubricosa	Red Chestnut..7
2182	Orthosia cruda	Small Quaker..14
2187	Orthosia cerasi	Common Quaker..94
2188	Orthosia incerta	Clouded Drab..1
2189	Orthosia munda	Twin-spotted Quaker..1
2190	Orthosia gothica	Hebrew Character..3
2258	Conistra vaccinii	Chestnut…11

Another great night with 170 + moths in 3 hours trapping, Common Quakers were estimated at 94 and could easily be double that number. 3  freshly emerged Purple Thorn were  a good number for this species. Thanks to Colin, Dave and Bri ... Weather  Preceding days warm and very sunny  with temps exceding 15 degrees  On the evening Cooler circa 9 - 10 degrees with threat of rain and brief intermittent drizzle which in the main remained dry throughout . Periodic breeze caused occasional influxes of large numbers of Common Quaker


Additional Entomology    Also  found throughout the night

Necrorophilus humator ,
Stonefly .
Caddisfly, Limnephilidae
Spider Trochosa terricola ,
Cranefly Tipula (rufina) TBC .

The spectacle of the night was probably the Purple Thorn and the the most prolific the Common Quaker aprox 100 +  had Andy and Brian doing cartwheels

1919 Purple Thorn  Selenia tetralunaria  Two specimens for comparison

An Atypical top view showing the open wing stance of this thorn

1750  Water Carpet Lampropteryx suffumata

A number of variations or aberrations occur, including a striking form ab. porrittii, found in Yorkshire, but scarce elsewhere. and appears with the key band markins in a striking black to white arrangement

1760 Red Green Carpet Chloroclysta siterata

1852 Brindled Pug Eupithecia abbreviata

2190  Hebrew Character Orthosia gothica

Early Tooth-striped Trichopteryx carpinata

The larvae feed on various trees, including honeysuckle (Lonicera), sallow (Salix) and birch (Betula).

663 The March Dagger Moth Diurnea fagella

Fresh Specimen from previous session

This is an early spring species, occurring from March to May. It is quite a small moth, with an average wingspan of about 25mm melanic forms occur  in some northern and industrial areas.

2139 Red Chestnut Cerastis rubricosa

The larvae feed nocturnally in late spring on several herbaceous plants such as groundsel (Senecio vulgaris) and bedstraw (Galium)

Common Quaker

1947 Engrailed Ectropis crepuscularia

E sulpherlla


Cranefly  Tipula rufina

A femaile tipulid of the Genus Tipula most likely to be a Tipula rufina , key ID features Wing Veination match, Body pattern , Distinctive black mark lateral on the thorax , leg banding and Phenology

Friday Night

Hope to be running the trap at hardcastle Craggs on Friday night 8.30..all welcome

Last night at the Craggs

The first bumper night of the year  with over 170 moths recorded of 18 species. Thanks to Dave F , Bri and Colin for all the help. Dave also recorded Birch Shield Bug last night our second species of the year with Hawthorn Shieldbug last time. Looks good all week for Orange Underwingt in the Cromwell area. Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock have been seen at Northowram today.

Last Night at the Craggs

663	Diurnea fagella x  2
688	Agonopterix heracliana x   2
1659	Achlya flavicornis	Yellow Horned x 12
1663	Alsophila aescularia	March Moth x 1
1775	Colostygia multistrigaria	Mottled Greyx 1
1852	Eupithecia abbreviata	Brindled Pug x 32
1881	Trichopteryx carpinata	Early Tooth-striped x 2
1917	Selenia dentaria	Early Thorn x 1
1930	Biston strataria	Oak Beauty x 5
1947	Ectropis bistortata	Engrailed x 1
2139	Cerastis rubricosa	Red Chestnut x 2
2182	Orthosia cruda	Small Quaker x36
2187	Orthosia cerasi	Common Quaker x 37
2188	Orthosia incerta	Clouded Drab x 7
2189	Orthosia munda	Twin-spotted Quaker x 17
2190	Orthosia gothica	Hebrew Character x1
2256	Eupsilia transversa	Satellite x 1
2258	Conistra vaccinii	Chestnut x11

SUNDAY NIGHT AT THE CRAGGS

Depending on the weather , I will be running the trap at the crags on Sunday night..about 8ish.  Colin/anyone if you need a lift just text.
Cheers Andy

Spring Crags 21.03.15

13 Yellow Horned
  3 Oak Beauty
  5 Common Quaker
  2 Satellite
  6 Chestnut
Another excellent night for the time of year..



Weather 6 deg Cooler with Chill  Cloudy with threat of rain

Thanks to Andy, Colin,  Brian and Dave with assistance on pictures

Yellow Horned and Common Quaker found by torchlight at base of trees in addition to trap , Dave found a Young Adult Hawthorn Shieldbug

The Satelite - Both the Orange and white spot variants found

The Typical Wing Marks

Often overlooked the large eye of the Satelite

1930 Oak Beauty Biston strataria - plumose feathery Antennae. The patterned camouflage makes it  ideal for sit amongst dappled lichen this time of year a great disguise

2187 Common Quaker Orthosia cerasi

1659 Yellow Horned Achlya flavicornis

As per name the Antennae - or - Yellow Horns

Ogden Water

Found this moth at Ogden Water today, under the security door, preety sure it is a dotted border, but if not then please let me know.

Sat night ..Craggs 6.45....21.03.15

Sat Night ..Too cold tonight gonna try next week....

This sat if weather (too cold) is ok at the Craggs...6.30 meet...................Worth a look for Orange Underwing if your out in the sunshine over the next few weeks in Birch woodland................