Stainland 30 August 2017

1 x Marbled Beauty (Orange/brown form).
1 x Acleris notana TBC.
1 x Lesser Yellow Underwing.

This Marbled Beauty, is the first one I've seen this year in what I call it's orange form, hence showing it. It is noticeably bigger than many of the other Marbled Beauties I've seen this season. It was in a tricky spot, so the camera angle was not ideal.

Marbled Beauty.

The next one is worn and has me stumped. I thought it may be Acleris shepherdana, going by the dark scale tufts and reddish patch on the thorax. As it lives in fens and marshes and is not found round here, I ruled it out. It could be Acleris notana, or Acleris ferrugana. OR, I could be wrong on all accounts. It's slimmer and shorter than the Garden Rose Tort. Any ideas please?  

Needs correct ID.

I decided the last moth is a Lesser Yellow Underwing. I seem to have trouble with moths in this colouring and worn or indistinct markings It's certainly a noctuid.

Lesser Yellow Underwing.

The Large Yellow Underwing is still in the same place as it was yesterday.

Stainland. Early Evening 29 Aug. 2017.

Anne and I were doing some Autumn gardening when she disturbed three moths.

2 x Garden Carpets.
1 x Light Brown Apple moth.

I assume that there will be a lot more LBA moths and Garden Rose Torts in our garden, also several other small ones. We have a large hedge for them to hide in, plus many small shrubs in pots.

Garden Carpets.

In case anybody was wondering, I always remove as many spider's webs that are near moths as I can. I know spiders have to eat, but I'd rather not have the moths which visit us killed by them. I did remove the webs in the above photo, but only after I took the shot. Garden Carpets are readily disturbed, I didn't want to miss the chance of a photo.

Stainland 29 August 2017

8 moths today, with one photo I was really pleased to get:

3 x Blastobasis adustella. (More about it below).
2 x Garden Rose Tortrix. (Both same markings).
1 x Light Brown Apple moth.
1 x Large Yellow Underwing.
1 x  Brimstone moth. (Same one as yesterday, it's not moved at all).

You may have noticed that I'm making a collection of the Garden Rose Tortrix colour variations. This one is a little different from the others, although not a great deal so, I admit.

Garden Rose Tortrix.

The next moth is quite worn.

Large Yellow Underwing.

Now for the photo I was so pleased to get. I took it at 4 o'clock this morning. It's the first moth mating I've seen. (Is that a sad thing to be exited about?)

Blastobasis adustella.

Large Whites ( on the Brussel sprouts today)

Northowram (bit of Autumn colour)

                                                         Chevron

Frosted Orange

Also over the weekend , Rosy Rustic , Yellow barred Brindle , Ruby Tiger , Brimstone , Setaceous Hebrew Character ,Flounced rustic , Gold Spot , Orange Swift ,Brown China Mark and beautiful Plume...

Lee Mount

Last few days - lots of moths. mainly Large Yellow Underwings (max 44 one night) and Square-spot Rustics with 20+sp. most nights but can't post them all here.

At Hardcastle Crags Andy mentioned autumn is here when Sallows start appearing ! a couple of nice ones this week plus other interesting moths from the last few evenings.

 This one (2 shots) has me puzzled, not giving much away so think it must be a melanistic individual but can't pin down the species. Slightly larger than Square-spot Rustic.

 Centre-barred Sallow (3 of this week)

 

 Gold Triangle

 Sallow

 

Vapourer

Stainland 28th August 2017

Back from Whitby, still recovering from a hard weeks gigging and lack of sleep, but very content.

Several moths today:

3 x Garden Rose Tortrix.
3 x Blastobasis adustella.
2 x 2 Square Spot Rustics.
1 x Brimstone moth.

Dave put a nice shot of two moths on, which compared their sizes very well. I was quite envious. Now I have a similar one, the Brimstone with a Garden Rose Tort. I'm sorry for the odd angle. they got themselves behind our security light. It was not an easy shot.

Brimstone with 

Garden Rose Tort.

This is only the second Square Spot Rustic I've seen. The last one was at Whitby two years back. It's a lot paler than the first and quite worn.

Square Spot Rustic.

I'm not 100% certain of my idea on this one, hence posting it. I think it's a Eudonia mercurella.

Eudonia mercurella TBC.

I didn't think it worth posting a shot of the Blastobasis a.. We have seen lots of them.

It's teatime and a bottle of first class red wine now...

Garden Moths - Sat 25th August 2017

Sat 25th August 2017

Weather . 15 o C . Dry. Still

MV 120 Robinson

Other Invertebrates  Caddis x2 Sp Neolygus viridis ( Mirid) . Harvestman (x2 Sp ) First moth of the evening pre light  was a Mint fresh Vapourer on the shed door.

Neolygus viridus - a mirid



Comments on Copper Underwing agg and labial Palps looks pale enough to exclude Svennson


72.017 BF2026  The Vapourer Orgyia antiqua

41.002 BF873    Blastobasis adustella x10

65.003 BF1647  Barred Hook-tip Watsonalla cultraria  x1
73.062 BF2297  Copper Underwing Amphipyra pyramidea agg

49.039 BF998    Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana

70.226 BF1906  Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata  x1

73.342 BF2107  Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba x18

70.258 BF1937  Willow Beauty Peribatodes rhomboidaria
73.107 BF2300  Old Lady Mormo maura  x2

70.097 BF1764  Common Marbled Carpet Dysstroma truncata

3.001   BF15      Orange Swift Triodia sylvina
70.016 BF1713  Riband Wave Idaea aversata ab remutata ( Non Banded)
16.001 BF424    Bird-cherry Ermine Yponomeuta evonymella

Tortrix

73.062 BF2297    Copper Underwing Amphipyra pyramidea agg

70.016 BF1713    Riband Wave Idaea aversata ab remutata ( Non Banded) 



70.258 BF1937    Willow Beauty Peribatodes rhomboidaria




49.039 BF998      Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana



70.226 BF1906    Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata



65.003 BF1647    Barred Hook-tip Watsonalla cultraria  



73.107 BF2300    Old Lady Mormo maur



16.001 BF424      Bird-cherry Ermine Yponomeuta evonymella

Todmorden

In the house this evening. Wing span about 15mm and lovely markings.

Lee Mount

Mouse Moth from 23rd August - can't recall ever having seen one of these before though it is one I have been expecting !

 Mouse Moth

 

 

This striking moth was in the trap this morning - I can't think I've seen one with such black oval and kidney marks before, but think it must be a Lesser Yellow Underwing

Lee Mount (queries)

Three moths which am just not 100% certain about

 I think this one above from 22nd August is probably Pyrausta aurata - but never had one of these before.

 Always struggle with Least Yellow Underwing but think this could be one from 23rd August ?

This one from 15th August- such a dark looking moth even though I tried to lighten it up a bit to make the markings clearer-  maybe Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix ?

Norland moor and a cat for ID

Had a very pleasant and informative walk around Norland moor yesterday with the Halifax Scientific Society. As usual, micros were few and far between on the higher part of the moor - infact I only saw three all day, one Agapeta hamana, the other two being new ones to me :-) 

Eupoecilia angustana - larvae feed on flowers and seeds of Heather amongst other plants. A titchy tort at 6mm in length.

Epinotia trigonella at the base of a birch tree - the larvae feed on the leaves. Much larger than the previous species at 10mm.

Anyone know this one - should be easy. About 40 mm long, found scurrying across the towpath at Salterhebble and is now feeding on Ribwort Plantain...........

Painted Lady

Seen in our garden at Todmorden today. First Painted Lady that I've seen in Tod for a few years.

Which species

Standing patiently on our window bottom in Todmorden the other evening. Love to have a name.

Hardcastle Craggs - Life on The Rocks -19th August 2017

Weather :circa 16 o  intermittent light breeze

5 Present AC , CD,  BL, DS, Natalie .

Some micros to follow


1751 Devon Carpet Lampropteryx otregiata ABH 70.104 



1767 Pine Carpet Pennithera firmata ABH  70.077




1647 Barred Hook-tip Watsonalla cultraria ABH 65.003




1645 Scalloped Hook-tip Falcaria lacertinaria ABH 65.001

( Not Found on the evening but added here for comparison )




1648 Pebble Hook-tip Drepana falcataria ABH 65.005





2134 Square-spot Rustic Xestia xanthographa ABH 73.357 



1756 Northern Spinach Eulithis populata ABH 70.091



1344 Eudonia mercurella 63.074  TBC