Monday 25 February 2019

Moth Night update

Well a very successful night was had - shame only 4 turned up on such a warm evening, species recorded this weekend were:
Common Flat-Body (Agonopterix heracliana) 18+
Dotted Border (Agriopis marginaria) 1
The Satellite (Eupsilia transversa) 20+
The Chestnut (Conistra vaccinia) 12
March Moth (Alsophila aescularia) 7
Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi) 10+
Brindled Pug (Eupithecia abbreviate) 1
Black-Headed Birch Leaffolder (Acleris logiana) 1
Beautiful Plume (Amblyptilia acanthadactyla) 1
Red-Letter Flat-Body (Agonopterix ocellana) 1
Pale Brindled Beauty (Phigalia pilosaria) 1

A few pictures of some of the above:

 The Chestnut
 March Moth
 Common Flat-Body
 Common Quaker
 
 Pale Brindled Beauty
 The Satellite
 Brindled Pug
 
 Beautiful Plume
Red-Letter Flat-Body (courtesy AndyC)

& we found this spider - Coelotes atropos - tube web spider

A lot of early moths there from such a warm week which brought them out.

Wednesday 20 February 2019

Moth Night!

This Saturday 23rd, start time 5pm onwards - Again should be completed for approx. 9pm.

If cold please wear warm clothing & if you wish to join the wood wandering please wear footwear for muddy conditions. Bring a torch.

See you there Saturday.

Monday 18 February 2019

Large Midget emerges

Anyone interested in botany will be familiar with the clump of Snowberry growing by the public footpath behind the cabin. Last September I finally found some lepidopterous mines on it which turned out to be those of the Large Midget (Phyllonorycter emberizaepenella). They are not common miners in the UK and are the first of this species I have seen anywhere. They are underside mines which cause the leaves to pucker as shown.

Shortly after collecting a couple of mines the larvae spun these neat, rugby ball shaped cocoons.

After the pupae had over-wintered in my garage they were brought indoors about a month ago and the first adult emerged this morning - all 5mm of it.

The area behind the cabin seems quite rich in leaf mining moths for some reason, it often produces good finds.


Tuesday 12 February 2019

Moth night

Well, we had a lovely freezing wind on a nice cold night & absolutely nothing in the trap for the 7 people present. But the goo produced a Satellite & a Chestnut moth, walking round the woods produced 3 Grey Birch Buttons (Acleris logiana) & 2 flightless Female Dotted Borders.

The 3 winter moths not shown on here before:
 The Chestnut
 
 The Satellite
 
Dotted Border
 
Hopefully hauls should start improving as the nights get warmer - they will, wont they?
 
 

Tuesday 5 February 2019

Moth night this Saturday

Barry will be running a moth night this Saturday night the 9th of February, start time approx 5pm at the Cromwell Bottom Cabin.  All welcome.

Please wear warm clothing, bring a torch.

Thursday and Second Saturday

Just a reminder that every Thursday there is a volunteers meeting at Cromwell Bottom. Come for a short time or stay the day. Hot drinks in the Cabin.
Every second Saturday is another volunteer meeting. Join Robin from Calderdale Council. Always wear sturdy footwear and warm clothing to these meetings.