Small Elephant Hawk-moth

No prizes for guessing the star of this little lot. The eighth Hawk-moth species for the garden.

77 moths of 40 species
0980 Variegated Golden Tortrix (Archips xylosteana), 1
0994 Clepsis consimilana, 1
1016x Cnephasia sp., 1
1063 Celypha striana, 1
1293 Garden Grass-veneer (Chrysoteuchia culmella), 13
1302 Crambus perlella, 1
1302 Crambus perlella f.warringtonellus, 1
1329 Donacaula forficella, 1
1376 Small Magpie (Eurrhypara hortulata), 2
1392 Udea olivalis, 3
1405 Mother of Pearl (Pleuroptya ruralis), 1
1424 Endotricha flammealis, 3
1481 Homoeosoma sinuella, 1
1524 Emmelina monodactyla, 1
1653 Buff Arches (Habrosyne pyritoides), 1
1708 Single-dotted Wave (Idaea dimidiata), 2
1758 Barred Straw (Eulithis pyraliata), 3
1860 Green Pug (Chloroclystis rectangulata), 1
1922 Swallow-tailed Moth (Ourapteryx sambucaria), 2
1937 Willow Beauty (Peribatodes rhomboidaria) f.perfumaria, 1
1991 Elephant Hawk-moth (Deilephila elpenor), 1
1992 Small Elephant Hawk-moth (Deilephila porcellus), 1
2050 Common Footman (Eilema lurideola), 4
2089 Heart & Dart (Agrotis exclamationis), 4
2102 Flame Shoulder (Ochropleura plecta), 1
2107 Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba), 2
2160 Bright-line Brown-eye (Lacanobia oleracea), 2
2278 Poplar Grey (Acronicta megacephala), 1
2293 Marbled Beauty (Cryphia domestica), 1
2321 Dark Arches (Apamea monoglypha), 2
2322 Light Arches (Apamea lithoxylaea), 1
2334 Rustic Shoulder-knot (Apamea sordens), 1
2337x Marbled Minor agg. (Oligia strigilis agg.), 2
2343x Common Rustic agg. (Mesapamea secalis agg.), 1
2381 The Uncertain (Hoplodrina alsines), 2
2434 Burnished Brass (Diachrysia chrysitis), 2
2450 The Spectacle (Abrostola tripartita), 1
2477 The Snout (Hypena proboscidalis), 2
2489 The Fan-foot (Herminia tarsipennalis), 3
Plus to be confirmed:
410 Argyresthia brockeella, 1
pyralid, 1

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Small Elephant Hawk-moth (Deilephila porcellus)



Little and Large
Small Elephant Hawk-moth (Deilephila porcellus) & Elephant Hawk-moth (Deilephila elpenor)


Swallow-tailed Moth (Ourapteryx sambucaria)


Buff Arches (Habrosyne pyritoides)


Endotricha flammealis



Crambus perlella f. warringtonellus


Argyresthia brockeella


Homoeosoma sinuella


Nikon CP995

Southey Wood

The idea of this lunchtime dash was to see if we could locate any Crossbills as they have been turning up in odd places and appear to be invading the country, at least in a small way. No Crossbills, but Spotted Flycatcher, Marsh Tit and the usual woodland birds were good.

Hoverflies were again in evidence with Volucella pellucens present as well as the ones below.

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Syrphus sp.


Chrysotoxum cautum


Ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus


Straw Dot Rivula sericealis


Nikon CP995

Glapthorn Insects

Of course the target was the Hairstreak, which flies at the end of June and start of July, but there was loads else to see. The site was heaving with insects and also butterfly watchers. There must have been eight cars parked at one point.

I was pleased with the hoverflies. There were at least six species of large hover around and I could have done with longer to watch them. Garden Warbler sang, a Nuthatch called and Common Buzzard and Red kite drifted overhead. Excellent!

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Black Hairstreak Satyrium pruni


Large Skipper (Ochlodes venata)


Volucella pellucens


Myathropa florea


Rutpela maculata (Longhorn Beetle) - Thanks Vince


Nikon CP995

Stibbington Moths

A good catch at Stibbington last night including the locally scarce Muslin Footman.

45 moths of 30 species with one to ID
1175 Bramble Shoot Moth (Epiblema uddmanniana), 1
1201 Eucosma cana, 1
1293 Garden Grass-veneer (Chrysoteuchia culmella), 1
1331 Water Veneer (Acentria ephemerella), 2
1334 Scoparia ambigualis, 3
1338 Dipleurina lacustrata, 2
1634 The Lackey (Malacosoma neustria), 1
1654 Figure of Eighty (Tethea ocularis), 1
1702 Small Fan-footed Wave (Idaea biselata), 1
1713 Riband Wave (Idaea aversata), 1
1766 Blue-bordered Carpet (Plemyria rubiginata), 1
1887 Clouded Border (Lomaspilis marginata), 1
1921 Scalloped Oak (Crocallis elinguaria), 1
1981 Poplar Hawk-moth (Laothoe populi), 4
1994 Buff-tip (Phalera bucephala), 5
1997 Sallow Kitten (Furcula furcula), 1
2038 Muslin footman (Nudaria mundana), 1
2050 Common Footman (Eilema lurideola), 1
2087 Turnip Moth (Agrotis segetum), 2
2089 Heart & Dart (Agrotis exclamationis), 1
2107 Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba), 1
2126 Setaceous Hebrew Character (Xestia c-nigrum), 1
2160 Bright-line Brown-eye (Lacanobia oleracea), 1
2199 Common Wainscot (Mythimna pallens), 1
2283x Dark/Grey Dagger (Acronicta tridens agg.), 1
2314 Dingy Shears (Parastichtis ypsillon), 3
2321 Dark Arches (Apamea monoglypha), 1
2337x Marbled Minor agg. (Oligia strigilis agg.), 2
2381 The Uncertain (Hoplodrina alsines), 2

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Muslin Footman (Nudaria mundana)


Blue-bordered Carpet (Plemyria rubiginata)


Clouded Border (Lomaspilis marginata)


Sallow Kitten (Furcula furcula)


Turnip Moth (Agrotis segetum)


The Lackey (Malacosoma neustria)


Poplar Hawk-moth (Laothoe populi)


Buff-tip Moth (Phalera bucephala)


Peppered Moth (Biston betularia)


Common Footman (Eilema lurideola)


Bramble Shoot Moth (Epiblema uddmanniana)


Dingy Shears (Parastichtis ypsillon)



Nikon CP995

Cool night moths

Another cooler night (perhaps down to 6 degrees centigrade) and a more managable catch for the garden with two firsts for the garden (**).

54 moths of 26 species
0647 Brown House-moth (Hofmannophila pseudospretella), 1
1001 Lozotaeniodes formosanus, 1
1063 Celypha striana, 1
1334 Scoparia ambigualis, 1
1392 Udea olivalis, 2
1421 Large Tabby (Aglossa pinguinalis), 1
1708 Single-dotted Wave (Idaea dimidiata), 1
1937 Willow Beauty (Peribatodes rhomboidaria) f.perfumaria, 2
1991 Elephant Hawk-moth (Deilephila elpenor), 2
2011 Pale Prominent (Pterostoma palpina), 1
2040 Four-dotted Footman (Cybosia mesomella), 1
2050 Common Footman (Eilema lurideola), 3
2061 Buff Ermine (Spilosoma lubricipeda), 3
2089 Heart & Dart (Agrotis exclamationis), 10
2098 The Flame (Axylia putris), 3
2126 Setaceous Hebrew Character (Xestia c-nigrum), 1
**2155 Dot Moth (Melanchra persicariae), 1
2160 Bright-line Brown-eye (Lacanobia oleracea), 4
**2205 Shoulder-striped Wainscot (Mythimna comma), 1
2321 Dark Arches (Apamea monoglypha), 3
2333 Large Nutmeg (Apamea anceps), 3
2337x Marbled Minor agg. (Oligia strigilis agg.), 2
2381 The Uncertain (Hoplodrina alsines), 2
2434 Burnished Brass (Diachrysia chrysitis), 2
2450 The Spectacle (Abrostola tripartita), 1
2474 Straw Dot (Rivula sericealis), 1

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Shoulder-striped Wainscot (Mythimna comma)


Dot Moth (Melanchra persicariae)


Four-dotted Footman (Cybosia mesomella)


Lozotaeniodes formosanus


Buff Ermine (Spilosoma lubricipeda)


Common Footman (Eilema lurideola)


Burnished Brass (Diachrysia chrysitis)


Scoparia ambigualis


Celypha striana


Nikon CP995

Daytime Insects

Most of the weekend was cool but it brightened up this afternoon and as a result quite a few insects appeared. Many hoverflies appeared including the first two Episyrphus balteatus of the year, with one ovipositing on raspberry. Red Admiral, Large White and Meadow Brown butterflies all put in an appearance and there were plenty of bees and flies. The Large Tabby moth (one of the largest micro moths) was in the house and could have flown in overnight.

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Bombus hortorum (thanks to Stuart and Harry for help with the ID) feeding at Foxglove



Large Tabby (Aglossa pinguinalis)


Syrphus ribesii (tentative ID)



Chrysops relictus (a Horse fly - thanks to Malcolm for the ID)


Nikon CP995

Nothing to see

As PBC outings go this one has to be the worst attended ever. Even the trip leader didn't turn up. Of course the fact that we were supposed to be looking for insects and that the weather had become especially cool and damp might explain it. I hung around the car park at Barnack Hills and Holes for a while just in case anyone turned up (but everyone was far too sensible). In the meantime I managed to find a few things to see around the car park despite the unfavourable conditions. In fact if you look at the picture of the Yellow Shell below you will see that the underside of the vegetation was positively bristling with insects.

As usual the pictures can be clicked for a bigger image.

Yellow Shell (Camptogramma bilineata)


The Mullein (Shargacucullia verbasci) larvae on Dark Mullein (Verbascum nigrum)


Dark Mullein (Verbascum nigrum)


Pyramidal Orchid (Anacamptis pyramidalis)


Nikon CP995