Ghosts and Burnets

Came across these three bits of film by me and film by  Steve Cummings a few years ago. Well done Steve they still look great...links below

Dancing in the moonlight

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uvXRpbQDA8

Dance of the Ghost Moth

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZpVDBbYmOo&t=31s

Cromwell Burnett moths 2010

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdGKY6LQcG8

More Butterflys

A walk round Cromwell Bottom produced my first Orange Tip , Green veined White and Speckled Wood....

Next Moth Night

Will be running the trap at Hardcastle Craggs on the 21st April at 8.00.Weather permitting.

Small White

First Small White today along with Peacock and Small Tortosieshell

Another Early Grey

I have another Early Grey this morning by the door. The markings show it to be a different one to the one I saw a few days ago. The moth was in a more accessible place, I got much better photos this time.

There was one Small Tortoiseshell butterfly in the garden as well.

Early Grey - Xylocampa areola

Detail 1

Detail 2

As I was looking at the photos, I saw that the scales are wider at the outside edge and also have small protrusions. I've noticed it before but never really thought about it. I did a little research on moth scales. I suspect they are tapered to help them form a dense heat keeping layer, as they will be packed closer together nearer the body. The ragged edges are I assume, to help with
aerodynamics. This is conjecture on my part, if anyone knows more about this, I'd love to hear it.

I found a nice photo of moth scales on Wikipedia in the public domain. I thought I should put it on here out of general interest. I should mention that I added the text to help make the image more understandable. The photo and the URL are below.

From: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scale_(insect_anatomy)

5th April 2017 Common Quaker Orthosia cerasi

Briefly Ran MV120 . Has been breezy over the past few days and still chilly in the evening with open sky . Moon 3/4 . One or two fleeting visitors not making the trap . Looked like Common Plume and more Common Quakers.



ABH 73.244 BF2187   Common Quaker Orthosia cerasi   x2  (18 -55 standard lens)

Angle Shades Caterpillar - Phlogophora meticulosa

I opened the front door this morning and found a handsome Angle Shades caterpillar - Phlogophora meticulosa on the path. At least I'm fairly sure it is. I've only seen the dark brown variety in our garden before. As I've mentioned before, I have restricted mobility at the moment, I was unable to bend down, or lay on the path. I had to sit on a buffet and take shots from there. They are all a bit soft focus sorry.

It seemed to be eating the dead leaves. I didn't want to disturb it by removing them and watch it curl up. I could have waited until it uncurled, but wasn't really full awake at the time, so that was an after thought. *sigh*

Angle Shades Caterpillar - 

Phlogophora meticulosa

Showing Claspers 

Showing Head

Lee Mount - 3rd April

Another decent evening with 18 moths which included these below - a Satellite and a Double-striped Pug ?

 Satellite

 

 

 Double-striped Pug

 (I think - very small compared with the Brindled Pugs recently)

Butterflys

A few Commas about see Colins post below and one at Cromwell Bottom , A Brimstone also at Cromwell an annual sight these days down there . Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell in Northowram today .A Holly Blue was seen on Kell lane by good friend of the blogg  Pete Smith(thanks Pete).

Twenty-plume Moth and Early Grey

After not seeing any moths for a long time, just after midnight last night, Anne spotted a moth outside our door. I had to use the zoom lens on my FZ72, as I'm not able to climb ladders yet. The shot isn't great, I had to crop it a lot to get it, but it's OK. It was an Early Grey, and a first for me, I'm very pleased. They seem to be the flavour of the month just now looking at the posts in this blog.

Then I saw a Twenty Plume on the inside of the door, I got a reasonable macro shot. It's only the second time I've seen one I think they are so lovely.

In the bathroom I found an White Shouldered House Moth - Endrosis sarcitrella. By the time I'd got the camera, it had hidden somewhere, I didn't find it. Three moths! I suppose the warmer weather is bringing them out.

Twenty-plume -

 Alucita hexadactyla

Xylocampa areola - Early Grey

I'm looking forward to seeing more new-to-me moths this year.

Early grey

Tried the actinic last night and had 2 Early greys and 2 Hebrew Characters

Comma on the Line

Took of on the Bradford side of RH Beck and landed on the other side in Calderdale !!

Lee Mount - 2nd April

3 micros among the other usual suspects

 Could this be Eriocrania subpurpurella

pretty small c 6mm - can just see some purple spots with difficulty

 

 Common Plume

 

Not sure about this one c12mm - seem to be a few possibilities ?

Lee Mount - 30th March

Hectic with moths last night and there were bound to be  a few to struggle with including one or two which seem a bit early (?) !
Common Quaker x 15+
Small Quaker x 2
Hebrew Character x 1
Twin-spotted Quaker x 1 very pale individual
Early Grey x 2
Clouded Drab x 2
Agonopterix heracliana x 1
2 unidentified micros.....
3 Pugs which I am still having a look at - will probably post later to see what anyone thinks of them !


Also, these below for scrutiny?? -photos below
Diurnea flagella  x 1
Ruby Tiger x 1 (maybe a bit early? and showing signs of injury - wonder if this is from scorching on a MV lamp - if it is then a mesh guard is pending as the last thing I want is injuries to the moths !
Bee Moth (early ?) x 1

 Diurnea flagella ?

 

 Ruby Tiger ?

 

Bee Moth ?

 

 

And the 3 different pugs.....all 3 about 10mm wing length which I guess will be either Brindled.. or Double-striped with the top 2 seem to have different wing shapes ?



Lee Mount - 29th March

Early Thorn x 1 (wings tightly closed)
Common Quaker x 6
Early Grey x 1
Clouded Drab x 2

Early Thorn - lower shot is from above

Lee Mount - 28th March

Despite the mist and light drizzle I tried the Synergetic light last night.
Clouded Drab x 1
Early Grey x 1
Common Quaker x 4
Small Quaker x 1
Hope my identification is correct !

 Clouded Drab - a bit squashed up in the egg box !

 

 Common Quaker

 

Early Grey

Orange tip

Had a visit on Saturday afternoon from an orange tip in the garden at Copley. Good to know that spring is on the way.