Friday, May 20, 2011

Scorched Wing

A selection from an unremarkable session last night.

Scorched Wing Plagodis dolabraria



Buff Ermine Spilosoma luteum



Lime-speck Pug Eupithecia centaureata


Red Twin-spot Carpet Xanthorhoe spadicearia


Plum Tortrix Hedya pruniana


Expr2 number
0409a Argyresthia trifasciata 1
1082 Plum Tortrix (Hedya pruniana) 1
1724 Red Twin-spot Carpet (Xanthorhoe spadicearia) 1
1825 Lime-speck Pug (Eupithecia centaureata) 1
1834 Common Pug (Eupithecia vulgata) 1
1851 Golden-rod Pug (Eupithecia virgaureata) 1
1904 Scorched Wing (Plagodis dolabraria) 1
1961 Light Emerald (Campaea margaritata) 1
2061 Buff Ermine (Spilosoma lubricipeda) 1
2089 Heart & Dart (Agrotis exclamationis) 3
2302 Brown Rustic (Rusina ferruginea) 1
2333 Large Nutmeg (Apamea anceps) 8
2334 Rustic Shoulder-knot (Apamea sordens) 2
2380 Treble Lines (Charanyca trigrammica) 5
2384 Vine's Rustic (Hoplodrina ambigua) 1
2450 The Spectacle (Abrostola tripartita) 1
Cockchafer (Melolontha melolontha) 9

Photos taken with Canon Powershot A640

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

New garden moth

A real case of little and large last night. The garden first has a wingspan of just 8mm compared to more like 80mm for the Eyed Hawk-moth.

Phyllonorycter hilarella

Canon Powershot A640

Eyed Hawk-moth Smerinthus ocellata


Lime Hawk-moth Mimas tiliae


Canon EOS 500D 18-55mm IS USM

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Pale Oak Beauty

Another garden first. This large geometer was the pick of a fairly good catch last night.

Pale Oak Beauty Hypomecis punctinalis



The Spectacle Abrostola tripartita


Poplar Hawk-moth Laothoe populi


Bee Moth Aphomia sociella


0974 Argyrotaenia ljungiana 1
0985 Carnation Tortrix (Cacoecimorpha pronubana) 1
0986 Syndemis musculana 1
1011 Pseudargyrotoza conwagana 1
1428 Bee Moth (Aphomia sociella) 3
1654 Figure of Eighty (Tethea ocularis) 1
1819 Mottled Pug (Eupithecia exiguata) 1
1834 Common Pug (Eupithecia vulgata) 2
1937 Willow Beauty (Peribatodes rhomboidaria) 1
1944 Pale Oak Beauty (Hypomecis punctinalis) 1
1956 Common Wave (Cabera exanthemata) 1
1981 Poplar Hawk-moth (Laothoe populi) 1
2019 Chocolate-tip (Clostera curtula) 1
2063 Muslin Moth (Diaphora mendica) 5
2092 Shuttle-shaped Dart (Agrotis puta) 1
2302 Brown Rustic (Rusina ferruginea) 1
2334 Rustic Shoulder-knot (Apamea sordens) 4
2380 Treble Lines (Charanyca trigrammica) 2
2384 Vine's Rustic (Hoplodrina ambigua) 3
2450 The Spectacle (Abrostola tripartita) 1
2492 Small Fan-foot (Herminia grisealis) 1
Cockchafer (Melolontha melolontha) 8

Photos: Canon Powershot A640

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Poplar Kitten and friends

Among the moths caught over the past two nights these agreed to be photographed for the record. The kitten is only the second garden record.

Poplar Kitten Furcula bifida


Angle Shades Phlogophora meticulosa



Garden Pebble Evergestis forficalis


The full list for the past two nights:
0017 Common Swift (Hepialus lupulinus)
0986 Syndemis musculana
1174 Epiblema cynosbatella
1356 Garden Pebble (Evergestis forficalis)
1376 Small Magpie (Eurrhypara hortulata)
1654 Figure of Eighty (Tethea ocularis)
1728 Garden Carpet (Xanthorhoe fluctuata)
1764 Common Marbled Carpet (Chloroclysta truncata)
1819 Mottled Pug (Eupithecia exiguata)
1830 Wormwood Pug (Eupithecia absinthiata)
1834 Common Pug (Eupithecia vulgata)
1981 Poplar Hawk-moth (Laothoe populi)
1998 Poplar Kitten (Furcula bifida)
2011 Pale Prominent (Pterostoma palpina)
2028 Pale Tussock (Calliteara pudibunda)
2063 Muslin Moth (Diaphora mendica)
2089 Heart & Dart (Agrotis exclamationis)
2092 Shuttle-shaped Dart (Agrotis puta)
2102 Flame Shoulder (Ochropleura plecta)
2145 The Nutmeg (Discestra trifolii)
2306 Angle Shades (Phlogophora meticulosa)
2334 Rustic Shoulder-knot (Apamea sordens)
2380 Treble Lines (Charanyca trigrammica)

photos taken with Canon Powershot A640

Saturday, May 07, 2011

Elton Insects

A walk by the Island, Elton Bridge and the lock revealed a large number of mayflies and other insects typical of this time of year. The first Red-eyed Damselflies were also on the river.

Ephemera vulgata, male


Pyrochroa serraticornis


Green-veined White Pieris napi


Canon EOS 500D EF 18-55mm IS USM

More moths

The heavy rain held off until the morning and there were a few new moths in the MV trap.

0141 Nematopogon schwarziellus 1
0247 Tinea trinotella 1
0610 Elachista argentella 1
0947 Aethes smeathmanniana 1
0974 Argyrotaenia ljungiana 2
0986 Syndemis musculana 4
1174 Epiblema cynosbatella 1
1288 Twenty-plume Moth (Alucita hexadactyla) 1
1651 Chinese Character (Cilix glaucata) 2
1819 Mottled Pug (Eupithecia exiguata) 2
1834 Common Pug (Eupithecia vulgata) 3
1853 Oak-tree Pug (Eupithecia dodoneata) 2
1906 Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata) 2
1981 Poplar Hawk-moth (Laothoe populi) 1
2007 Swallow Prominent (Pheosia tremula) 1
2019 Chocolate-tip (Clostera curtula) 1
2028 Pale Tussock (Calliteara pudibunda) 1
2060 White Ermine (Spilosoma lubricipeda) 1
2060 White Ermine (Spilosoma lubricipeda) 1
2063 Muslin Moth (Diaphora mendica) 2
2089 Heart & Dart (Agrotis exclamationis) 1
2092 Shuttle-shaped Dart (Agrotis puta) 1
2190 Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica) 1
2334 Rustic Shoulder-knot (Apamea sordens) 2
2380 Treble Lines (Charanyca trigrammica) 3
2384 Vine's Rustic (Hoplodrina ambigua) 1
Cockchafer (Melolontha melolontha) 5


Pale Tussock Calliteara pudibunda, male


Swallow Prominent Pheosia tremula


Hebrew Character Orthosia gothica


Treble Lines Charanyca trigrammica


Canon Powershot A640

Friday, May 06, 2011

Moths

Cloud, a new moon and less wind means a few moths at last. Among them a first adult of The Mullein for the garden, previously only known from a single larva. I've only just planted Verbascum in the garden a few weeks ago.

1356 Garden Pebble (Evergestis forficalis) 1
1428 Bee Moth (Aphomia sociella) 1
1981 Poplar Hawk-moth (Laothoe populi) 1
2063 Muslin Moth (Diaphora mendica) 2
2089 Heart & Dart (Agrotis exclamationis) 1
2092 Shuttle-shaped Dart (Agrotis puta) 2
2098 The Flame (Axylia putris) 1
2334 Rustic Shoulder-knot (Apamea sordens) 1
2380 Treble Lines (Charanyca trigrammica) 4
2384 Vine's Rustic (Hoplodrina ambigua) 1
Cockchafer (Melolontha melolontha) 2
Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris) 1
German Wasp (Vespula germanica) 1


The Mullein Shargacucullia verbasci


Poplar Hawk-moth Laothoe populi



German Wasp Vespula germanica


Canon Powershot A640

Monday, May 02, 2011

Elton Odos

A walk around Elton, Yarwell and Nassington produced these plus Common Blue Damselfly and Large Red Damselfly. There were also plenty of butterlfies: Speckled Wood, Orange-tip, Comma, Small Tortoiseshell, Red Admiral, Holly Blue, Green-veined White.

Hairy Dragonfly Brachytron pratense, female



Banded Demoiselle Calopteryx splendens, male


Canon EOS 500D EF 18-55mm/70-300mm IS USM

Ringed Red Kite

Two of these magnificent birds have been buzzing our garden for days now. They often make close passes, sometimes grappling each other and calling. They are not wing tagged but as this photos shows at least one is ringed with a BTO style ring on the right leg.

Red Kite Milvus milvus

Canon EOS 500D EF 18-55mm/70-300mm IS USM

Sunday, May 01, 2011

Holly Blue

A common sight in the garden.

Holly Blue Celastrina argiolus

Canon Powershot A640