White Admiral

Some good butterfly action today at Bedford Purlieus with White-letter Hairstreaks particularly showy and a couple of White Admirals very active but just photographable.

White Admiral (Limenitis camilla)


A better picture is at Weedon's World of Nature.

Nikon CP995

White-legged Damselfly

I'm not sure how often these are seen around here but on a canoing trip along the Nene between Elton and Nassington we came across White-legged Damselflies in two spots alongside small strips of woodland on the eastern bank. In one case there were three pairs in tandem ovpositing.

White-legged Damselfly (Platycnemis pennipes)


Nikon CP995

National Moth Night

Ran traps in the garden and at Stibbington GP nature reserve. Some of the better pictures are here.

Stibbington GP, 15W Actinic
49 moths of 32 species
0972 Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix (Pandemis heparana) 1
1001 Lozotaeniodes formosanus 2
1016x Cnephasia sp. 1
1020 Grey Tortrix (Cnephasia stephensiana) 1
1063 Celypha striana 1
1133 Epinotia bilunana 1
1201 Eucosma cana 1
1293 Garden Grass-veneer (Chrysoteuchia culmella) 5
1331 Water Veneer (Acentria ephemerella) 6
1376 Small Magpie (Eurrhypara hortulata) 1
1405 Mother of Pearl (Pleuroptya ruralis) 1
1713 Riband Wave (Idaea aversata) ab. Remutata 1
1860 Green Pug (Chloroclystis rectangulata) 1
1887 Clouded Border (Lomaspilis marginata) 1
1931 Peppered Moth (Biston betularia) typical 1
1981 Poplar Hawk-moth (Laothoe populi) 1
1994 Buff-tip (Phalera bucephala) 2
2011 Pale Prominent (Pterostoma palpina) 1
2030 Yellow-tail (Euproctis similis) 3
2044 Dingy Footman (Eilema griseola) 1
2050 Common Footman (Eilema lurideola) 1
2087 Turnip Moth (Agrotis segetum) 1
2089 Heart & Dart (Agrotis exclamationis) 1
2098 The Flame (Axylia putris) 1
2107 Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba) 1
2160 Bright-line Brown-eye (Lacanobia oleracea) 1
2197 Southern Wainscot (Mythimna straminea) 1
2314 Dingy Shears (Parastichtis ypsillon) 2
2381 The Uncertain (Hoplodrina alsines) 4
2382 The Rustic (Hoplodrina blanda) 2
2473 Beautiful Hook-tip (Laspeyria flexula) 1

Garden, 125W MV
92 moths of 39 species
0441 Paraswammerdamia lutarea 1
0647 Brown House-moth (Hofmannophila pseudospretella) 1
0862 Juniper Webber (Dichomeris marginella) 1
0905 Blastodacna hellerella 1
0937 Agapeta hamana 1
0994 Clepsis consimilana 2
1016x Cnephasia sp. 1
1177 Epiblema rosaecolana 1
1293 Garden Grass-veneer (Chrysoteuchia culmella) 13
1344 Eudonia mercurella 2
1398 Phlyctaenia coronata 1
1405 Mother of Pearl (Pleuroptya ruralis) 3
1424 Endotricha flammealis 2
1713 Riband Wave (Idaea aversata) ab. Remutata 4
1862 Double-striped Pug (Gymnoscelis rufifasciata) 1
1922 Swallow-tailed Moth (Ourapteryx sambucaria) 3
1955 Common White Wave (Cabera pusaria) 1
1981 Poplar Hawk-moth (Laothoe populi) 1
1991 Elephant Hawk-moth (Deilephila elpenor) 1
2047 Scarce Footman (Eilema complana) 1
2050 Common Footman (Eilema lurideola) 11
2089 Heart & Dart (Agrotis exclamationis) 2
2098 The Flame (Axylia putris) 1
2107 Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba) 3
2128 Double Square-spot (Xestia triangulum) 1
2155 Dot Moth (Melanchra persicariae) 2
2160 Bright-line Brown-eye (Lacanobia oleracea) 6
2321 Dark Arches (Apamea monoglypha) 10
2322 Light Arches (Apamea lithoxylaea) 2
2343x Common Rustic agg. (Mesapamea secalis agg.) 1
2381 The Uncertain (Hoplodrina alsines) 4
2382 The Rustic (Hoplodrina blanda) 1
2387 Mottled Rustic (Caradrina morpheus) 1
2450 The Spectacle (Abrostola tripartita) 1
2477 The Snout (Hypena proboscidalis) 1
2489 The Fan-foot (Herminia tarsipennalis) 2
Black Sexton Beetle (Nicrophorus humator) 1
Nicrophorus investigator 1

Leopard Moth (Zeuzera pyrina)


Southern Wainscot (Mythimna straminea)



Yellow-tail (Euproctis similis)


Poplar Hawk-moth (Laothoe populi)


Swallow-tailed Moth (Ourapteryx sambucaria)


Buff-tip (Phalera bucephala)


Mother of Pearl (Pleuroptya ruralis)


Juniper Webber (Dichomeris marginella)



Dot Moth (Melanchra persicariae)


Common Footman (Eilema lurideola)


Light Arches (Apamea lithoxylea)


Phlyctaenia coronata


Lozotaeniodes formosanus


Nikon CP995

July Insects

Spent the day looking at insects in the garden and the rest of the village. In addition to those pictured here there were plenty of White-letter Hairstreaks around the Elms at Hightgate Hall, a Hornets along Greenhill Road and several other butterflies, including Red Admirals.

Click on the pictures for larger images.

Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus)


Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae)


Volucella pellucens



Platycheirus sp. (tenatively keyed to P. discimanus)



Speckled Bush-cricket (Leptophyes punctatissima)


Parent Bug (Elasmucha grisea), nymph - thanks Harry


Heterotoma planicornis - See also Weedon's World of Nature


Unidentified bug


Assassin Bug with prey


Woolly Alder Sawfly (Eriocampa ovata), larva - the fluffy white stuff is shed to reveal a green larva and leaving little white tufts on the decimated Alder leaves.



Nikon CP995

Watch out for robbers

There was a brief respite from the cool dull weather this evening and many insects made the most of the little bit of sunshine. Among them were these Robber Flies carrying a variety of prey inluding a small moth. There still wasn't that much light so the pics aren't up to much I'm afraid.

Robber Fly (possibly Empis sp.)





Nikon CP995

Last one for a while

With the forecast terrible for the next few days at least this is the last moth session for a while. Sorry there are not many good photos. The subjects were less cooperative than lately.

126 moths of 46 species
* = year first
0465 Plutella porrectella, 1
0866 Brachmia blandella, 1
0870x Oegoconia sp., 5
0874 Blastobasis decolorella, 1
0977 Large Fruit-tree Tortrix (Archips podana), 1
0980 Variegated Golden Tortrix (Archips xylosteana), 1
*0989 Timothy Tortrix (Aphelia paleana), 1
1016x Cnephasia sp., 7
1201 Eucosma cana, 1
1293 Garden Grass-veneer (Chrysoteuchia culmella), 15
1302 Crambus perlella, 2
1329 Donacaula forficella, 1
1331 Water Veneer (Acentria ephemerella), 1
1344 Eudonia mercurella, 1
1376 Small Magpie (Eurrhypara hortulata), 3
1392 Udea olivalis, 1
1405 Mother of Pearl (Pleuroptya ruralis), 1
*1413 Gold Triangle (Hypsopygia costalis), 1
1428 Bee Moth (Aphomia sociella), 2
*1470 Euzophera pinguis, 2
1690 Small Blood-vein (Scopula imitaria), 1
*1705 Dwarf Cream Wave (Idaea fuscovenosa), 1
1708 Single-dotted Wave (Idaea dimidiata), 1
1713 Riband Wave (Idaea aversata) ab. Remutata, 7
1758 Barred Straw (Eulithis pyraliata), 2
1834 Common Pug (Eupithecia vulgata), 1
1862 Double-striped Pug (Gymnoscelis rufifasciata), 2
1887 Clouded Border (Lomaspilis marginata), 1
1906 Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata), 1
1931 Peppered Moth (Biston betularia), 1
1937 Willow Beauty (Peribatodes rhomboidaria) f. perfumaria, 1
*1941 Mottled Beauty (Alcis repandata), 1
1994 Buff-tip (Phalera bucephala), 1
2050 Common Footman (Eilema lurideola), 21
2089 Heart & Dart (Agrotis exclamationis), 4
2098 The Flame (Axylia putris), 11
2107 Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba), 1
*2111 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing (Noctua janthe), 1
2160 Bright-line Brown-eye (Lacanobia oleracea), 1
2321 Dark Arches (Apamea monoglypha), 7
2337x Marbled Minor agg. (Oligia strigilis agg.), 6
2381 The Uncertain (Hoplodrina alsines), 2
2389 Pale Mottled Willow (Caradrina clavipalpis), 1
2489 The Fan-foot (Herminia tarsipennalis), 3

Black Sexton Beetle (Nicrophorus humator), 1

Click the pictures for a bigger images.

Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing (Noctua janthe)



Timothy Tortrix (Aphelia paleana)


Plutella porrectella



Euzophera pinguis


Nikon CP995

Another Small Elephant

As you can see from the photos this is a different Elephant Hawk-moth from the one caught two days ago as it has both wings undamaged.

108 moths of 47 species
** = new for garden
* = new for year
**0014 Ghost Moth (Hepialus humuli), 1 female
0647 Brown House-moth (Hofmannophila pseudospretella), 3
1011 Pseudargyrotoza conwagana, 1
1016x Cnephasia sp., 4
1033 Green Oak Tortrix (Tortrix viridana), 2
1083 Marbled Orchard Tortrix (Hedya nubiferana), 1
1293 Garden Grass-veneer (Chrysoteuchia culmella), 22
1334 Scoparia ambigualis, 3
1344 Eudonia mercurella, 3
1376 Small Magpie (Eurrhypara hortulata), 1
1392 Udea olivalis, 4
1405 Mother of Pearl (Pleuroptya ruralis), 1
1424 Endotricha flammealis, 1
1428 Bee Moth (Aphomia sociella), 2
**1483 Phycitodes binaevella, 1
**1504 Platyptilia pallidactyla, 1
1713 Riband Wave (Idaea aversata) ab. Remutata, 2
1713 Riband Wave (Idaea aversata) typical form, 1
1758 Barred Straw (Eulithis pyraliata), 5
1827 Freyer's Pug (Eupithecia intricata), 1
1860 Green Pug (Chloroclystis rectangulata), 2
1937 Willow Beauty (Peribatodes rhomboidaria) f. perfumaria, 1
1955 Common White Wave (Cabera pusaria), 1
1981 Poplar Hawk-moth (Laothoe populi), 1
1992 Small Elephant Hawk-moth (Deilephila porcellus), 1
*2030 Yellow-tail (Euproctis similis), 1
2050 Common Footman (Eilema lurideola), 7
*2077 Short-cloaked Moth (Nola cucullatella), 1
2089 Heart & Dart (Agrotis exclamationis), 4
2098 The Flame (Axylia putris), 2
2107 Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba), 1
*2109 Lesser Yellow Underwing (Noctua comes), 1
2120 Ingrailed Clay (Diarsia mendica), 2
2128 Double Square-spot (Xestia triangulum), 2
2160 Bright-line Brown-eye (Lacanobia oleracea), 1
2302 Brown Rustic (Rusina ferruginea), 1
2321 Dark Arches (Apamea monoglypha), 8
2322 Light Arches (Apamea lithoxylaea), 1
2327 Clouded Brindle (Apamea epomidion), 1
2333 Large Nutmeg (Apamea anceps), 4
2334 Rustic Shoulder-knot (Apamea sordens), 1
2337x Marbled Minor agg. (Oligia strigilis agg.), 4
2381 The Uncertain (Hoplodrina alsines), 2
2387 Mottled Rustic (Caradrina morpheus), 2
2434 Burnished Brass (Diachrysia chrysitis), 1
2477 The Snout (Hypena proboscidalis), 3
2489 The Fan-foot (Herminia tarsipennalis), 3
To be confirmed:
Stenoptilia sp., 1

Black Sexton Beetle (Nicrophorus humator), 1
Stenotus binotatus (a Mirid Bug), 1

Click the pictures for a bigger images.

Small Elephant Hawk-moth (Deilephila porcellus)


Ghost Moth (Hepialus humuli), female


Yellow-tail (Euproctis similis)


Short-cloaked Moth (Nola cucullatella)


Platyptilia pallidactyla

Detail (striped legs here would indicate P. ochrodactyla)


Freyer's Pug (Eupithecia intricata)


Common White Wave (Cabera pusaria)


Poplar Hawk-moth (Laothoe populi)


Double Square-spot (Xestia triangulum)


Clouded Brindle (Apamea epomidion)


Burnished Brass (Diachrysia chrysitis)


Stenotus binotatus (a Mirid Bug)


Nikon CP995