One to look out for this year..ESSEX SKIPPER

http://yorkshirebutterflies.org.uk/news.htm

Life Among The Lichens

Bed & Breakfast

At  this quiet time of year  a little bit of thought provoking stuff are there any of the British Moths more intimately associated with Lichens as a Larval food source It is  known that the caterpillars of the subfamily Lithosiinae (Arctiidae), or lichen moths, feed on lichens, They are suspected of being algivores, feeding on algae, either free-living, or as a lichen symbiont

There may may be more reasons to gaze on Yorks Stone as a living food source rather than an inanimate object and perhaps more reasons to conserve dry stone walling on Field Margins for Wildlife per se This of of course does not preclude the great value of urban churchyards a fantastic resevoir for these creatures. or indeed the sheltered chalk expanses of Yorshire Dale Arnside or other urban Quarries

Rather than rattle on  I have posted this open thread to add to if any one  has a find directly related to this subject even if it is an Adult Moth on or near its habitat Association to illustrate the Life Cycle. Of course any pictures of the larvae feeding on lichen would be an insight . Where do they actually overwinter Under bark,? Crevices ? Dry Leaf Litter ? Hollow Trees ?

please feel free to add or correct in comments  and i'll add to the list / thread as and when

Many of the British Moths are admirably camouflaged and often dissapar completely when embedded on it although not all will rely upon it as a definitive food source

Examples

Marbled Beauty Cryphia domestica 73.084 BF2293  Larval Food Plant Lichens on WallsThe larva is bluish-grey with orange markings along the back. It feeds exclusively on lichens such as Lecidea and Xanthoria.This species overwinters as a larva.

Xanthoria

Common Footman Eilema lurideola 72.045 BF2050

Larval foodplants are lichens and algae growing on trees and stone. Parmelia But it will also feed on leaves of Hawthorn, Blackthorn and Bramble.

List Of Lichen Feeders

Bankesia conspurcatella    11.007 BF182 The larvae feed on lichens, in a case made of lichens, soil and sand.

Dotted Carpet Alcis jubata 70.266 BF1942   The larvae are bright green with large black dots and feed on lichens such as beard lichen (Usnea barbata).

Round-winged Muslin Thumatha senex 72.037 BF2035 The larvae feed on lichens, especially dog lichen (Peltigera canina), as well as various mosses.

Rosy Footman Miltochrista miniata 72.035 BF2037  The caterpillars feed on lichens growing on trees, including dog lichen (Peltigera canina)

Dog Lichens At Cromwell Bottom

Shibden Head

Bare Head Tunnel - wet afternoon outside so thought I would give the tunnel a check. Wet in there too, dripping a fair bit !
7 Herald Moths  found though I guess there will be others hiding away. This is the best shot I could get in the conditions trying to get near enough to this one on the roof of the tunnel. I came back well happy though !

One to look out for......

Early Moth Theria primaria is on the wing in January and February and is recorded as common in England  .It associates with Hawthorn and Blackthorn and has been recorded in the Cromwell Bottom area , .but not  since early 2002.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to all who read and post on this site..many thanks Andy    

Shibden Head

I ventured up to the top this morning (sun was shining)!! that's a rarity.
I managed to find 8 Herald Moths in Bare Head Tunnel - but they took some finding. Nothing else of note in there where I found 6 on 11th November with 9 for Andy on 22nd/23rd Nov.
They don't seem to pose very well, and it's not easy getting a decent photo in there ! but they are still very nice to see.

Wall Brown Lasiommata megera Decline

There is an excellent treatise here supplemented with NBN Data showing the decline of this once popular species

Wall Brown Decline

I have noted this species on the peripheral Field Margin adjacent to a dry stone wall well trodden and
near cattle. The annual sightings petered of circa 2011/12 and was also mirrored by a specimen at Ogden LNR on the Easterly side of the reservoir near to the stone walling before going onward up the clough

It begs the question as to where if any there might be  strongholds in Calderdale per chance hanging onto to areas of small suitable micro climate  Some of the reasons for its decline are given below

Evidence suggests butterfly is dying out because warmer weather is causing generations to hatch out too late in the year to survive There is more here Wall Brown and Climate Impact

micro-climate at the inland sites was on average 1.2C warmer than at coastal sites, suggesting that cooler conditions by the sea enabled the butterfly to maintain its traditional life-cycle.

It begs the question where is it seen in Calderdale and Why and whether numbers could be augmented at this sites by adding bred numbers

Lee Mount

This evening in the porch light a new moth for here. I  think it could be a Pale Brindled Beauty (?) but I'm not sure.
Wing length is c 20 mm (wingspan 30+mm) along with a much smaller Winter Moth another of which is in the porch light tonight.

Lee Mount

One from Monday night 7th December which looked grey rather than brown ! The pale underwing is throwing me  a bit as is the dark spot on the forewing and wondered if it is getting a bit late for November Moth ?

 I think it's a November Moth agg but not sure ?
Correction - Northern Winter Moth

And one from tonight 8th December - a Mottled Umber

More Winter Moths

Plenty moths in the woods tonight , I counted at least 180 but did not have time to leave the path and get it to main part of the wood. No females or other  species tonight.

On the 9th October I had only one winter moth in the gale force winds...

Lee Mount

Winter Moth last night - but have not identified one previously - wing length approximately 14mm  ?

Lee Mount

First moth I have had for a while - in the garden this morning and I disturbed it in leaf litter before it landed on the Yew hedge -Taxus baccata

Beautiful Plume (I think)

Winter Moths 2

At least 25 Winter Moths tonight in the local wood and it was cold and raining hard  and my first female Northern Winter Moth.(forgot to take camera dammm)
Wednesday
At least 50 Winter Moths tonight and 1 Mottled Umber

Winter Moths

Had a look down the woods tonight  and managed 4 Winter Moths and a Scarce Umber,,This next week or so should produce plenty of these winter species....Also went to Bare Head Tunnel and found 9 Heralds and 1 Peacock butterfly....

Angle Shades , Lee Mount Garden 18.11.15

A nice Angle Shades as I was sweeping up leaves on 18th Nov
Showing quite pink in some areas

Lee Mount

Last night 15th Nov
Still no computer so can't post the photos but pretty sure of a Mottled Umber on the conservatory window with the light on inside.
November Moth agg x 4
Light- brown Apple Moth x 1

And tonight so far 16th Nov
Angle Shades x 1

Lee Mount

A Scarce Umber today on the door frame - well that's what I think it was after first thinking it was a different looking Feathered Thorn. ! I will post some photos as soon as I can to double check but my computer screen  has gone down and it's now in for repair.

Lee Mount and Shibden Head 10th and 11th November

An interesting couple of days...
Yesterday (10th Nov) there was a Beautiful Plume first thing on some Lobelia which is still flowering in the outside planters .
Then Andy tipped me off about a site at Shibden Head where it was possible to find wintering/hibernating Herald Moths. I had never seen them before so this morning I decided to head up there and was thrilled to find 6 (including 3 together) on the roof of a tunnel.
These were the best photo's I could get in the circumstances - but I was well satisfied.

Also in this lower photo - a wintering Peacock Butterfly, a Herald and 2 spiders - it's a wonder the moths and butterflies don't fall victim to these small predators !! - or maybe they do (??)

And this evening with the light on in the house I found 1 November Moth agg and 2 Light Brown Apple Moths on the windows. I understand this latter species was originally from Australia and first recorded in Britain in 1936.!

More Grizzly Goings On Onth Moor !! 2015

Its been a great Year for Fox Moth Caterpillars.Having never found any over the Years at Langfield only Emperor/Northern Eggar Caterpillars,i found lots this Year in Sept/Oct.I noticed this one quite active and not feeding which looked typical for a Caterpillar searching for a spot to Pupate,but as i looked more closely i noticed at least three tiny Grubs/Maggots possibly from a Parasitic Fly or Wasp !! Dont think any Fox Moth will be emerging from this Caterpillar next Year ! Nature Eh.

Lee Mount

Yesterday evening 2nd Nov this micro was in the house. Just about 10 mm long I am still trying to i d but not getting very far.... ! I thought the white head and collar would be  a give-away !!!