Lee Mount - 11th Feb

I didn't expect anything this evening, still pretty cool, but a nice March Moth turned up on the fence near the light.

March Moth

Cromwell Bottom 09.02.19

Satellite x 1
Chestnut x 1
Acleris Logiana x 3
Dotted Border female x 2

                                  Only House Wood 11.02.19 3 Dotted Border and 1 female

Lee Mount - 6th Feb

Quite a surprise to find 5 Pale Brindled Beauty's around the trap late evening, before it started raining.
At the risk of being boring all five are here below, all quite similar except the third one down was noticeably smaller than the others and a slightly different shape but I'm pretty sure it's still the same species and not a Small Brindled Beauty (?) though I've never seen one of those.

Finished off the evening with quite a well disguised Dotted Border on the fence.

I shut the trap down at 11:00 pm as heavy rain was forecast during the night.

Cromwell bottom

Had a walk round this evening  with torch and net in the hope of Early Moth (no show) , 5 x Dotted Border , 2 x Acleris Logiana , and 1 Pale Brindled Beauty,,,,,

Lee Mount - 4th/5th February

First moth since 11th January with a Pale Brindled Beauty which arrived last night and was still on the fence by the trap this morning.

Pale Brindled Beauty

Bare Head Tunnel

Had a walk through Bare Head Tunnel yesterday


11 heralds and 5 butterflies within the tunnel. A big size difference in the butterflies so thinking peacock and asking the question do small tortoiseshell hibernate?

January 2019 Butterfly sightings 2019 UK

https://butterfly-conservation.org/butterflies/first-butterfly-sightings-2019

Cromwell Bottom

Barry ran the trap last night down at Cromwell , I had to leave early and there had been nowt to the trap except 1 Pale Brindled Beauty also  I manage to net 1 Acleris Logiana and 1 Dotted Border in the wood..

                                                                Acleris Logiana

                                                    Found this LBAM larvae on Friday

My Moth Collection............

Just browsing some old photos on my phone and came across this pic of my entire moth collection. I was surprised at how small the Bilberry Pug was - you could fit several on my thumbnail.

Oh, and the black dots are Lichen Case-bearers - adult females.........happy days!

Lee Mount - 11th January

This morning I was surprised to find 4 moths in and around the trap. I have been leaving the actinic on all night most winter nights but these were the first results this New Year. Can't wait to get going !!!

 Not too sure of this micro so any help appreciated - Blastobasis sp ? just less than 10mm. Suspect adustella though a bit out of season ?

 2 Chestnut, both in the trap

Pale Brindled Beauty
 (not quite as clear as I would like as could only get this one through the Perspex)

Spring Usher

Many thanks to Martyn H for this superb photo of a Spring Usher from Luddenden Village 6th jan.19 .....
Brian Leesey found a dead Red Sword Grass in Todmorden on the 25th Dec and Dave reports no Heralds in Bare head Tunnel but a Bat sp roosting in there.........

Lee Mount - 26th December

Hope you're all had/having a great Christmas.
A lot milder last night and the moth trap on.
A late evening check produced....
Mottled Umbers x 3
Pale Brindled Beauty x 1

Think this second shot also shows a little of the pinkish abdomen a bit better

 

Shibden Valley

Small Tortoiseshell hibernating in Pete's kitchen. Happy holidays and a great new Year cheers all 

Stainland. Merry Christmas

A very Merry Christmas and a healthy New Year. I hope everyone enjoys the season in their own way.

 Christmas Market,
by Gordon Jackson.

Gordon

12.12.18 , Only House Wood Northowram

Bitterly cold tonight with fog
Winter Moth x 14
           female x 1


16.12 .18
Winter |Moth x 8

Another Blackthorn emergence

My little Blackthorn project I started in April continues to surprise. After putting the 11 pupae outside to overwinter in the garage I was surprised to see that one had emerged in the last day or so - my first ever female Winter Moth, common enough but still a nice surprise.

Larva collected in May from the hedge by the weir at Cromwell Bottom. I was thinking some of the variously sized pupae left may be Early Moths, time will tell.

Stainland.

Scientists have revealed the first vaccine for insects, and hope it could help save the honeybee.

https://www.newscabal.co.uk/could-the-worlds-first-bee-vaccine-save-honeybees/


Not directly about lepidoptera, but I have a feeling that this kind of research could be directed towards moths, butterflies and other vital pollinators. We can only hope.

Only House Wood 6.12.18

Heavy rain and a strong gale in the wood last night and the trees were soaked on all sides. Usually there is at least one dry side .!!

Winter Moth x 10

2 Herald and 1 Peacock(hibernating) in the tunnel at Shibden Park yesterday many thanks Steve Blacksmith...

Bare Head Tunnel (Dec)

Same as last month........
Herald x 11
Small Tortoiseshell x 4 (Hibernating)
Peacock x 2 (Hibernating)

Stainland.

9 am Sunday morning.  A single brave moth on the door, sheltering from heavy rain.

I take it to be a Winter Moth, Operophtera brumata. I'm happy to be corrected.

Winter Moth, TBC.