MOTH NIGHT PICS

A surprisingly warm and calm night brought in plenty of moths to keep everyone happy. There were quite a few new ones for the year, a new leaf miner for myself, a couple to still ID and a rather "unpleasant" beetle that took a shine to Barry ;-)

Perhaps the one I was most interested in finding was this Bulrush Wainscot. I'd found larval feeding signs in the spring on the nearby Bulrushes in the wheel wash ponds so it was pleasing to eventually see one of the adults.

Two Elder Pearls (Anania coronata) continued our good run of Anania species for this year

A well marked noctuid that had me stumped on the night was taken for ID - it turned out to be a Flounced Rustic.

Another tricky one to pin down was much easier to do the next day under natural light - a Rosy Minor showing the grey and reddish markings.

The late summer/autumn sallows are becoming more regular now including this fine Centre-barred Sallow.

Two of the "bird dropping" micros on the night were Bordered Marbles (Endothenia marginana).

A leaf mine found on Crack Willow last Tuesday on Tag meadow was thought to be Willow Midget (Phyllonorycter viminiella). The adult (below) emerged yesterday to confirm my tentative ID. One of the plainer phyllos.

A very small plume with a forewing of just 7mm was located by Barry. It may be just a small, late generation moth of a common species. I'll have to find out more about this one.

Here's one for any beetle experts out there to have a look at. It took a liking to Barry (!) at first as he approached the light and then tried to wander off along the ground where I potted it up.  It's a Nicrophorus species but I'm not sure which one. It was covered initially from head to toe with dozens of mites and smelt quite disgusting. They're carrion feeders and it's not one I've seen before so was wondering if anyone knows of it's status in Calderdale.