Pine Hawk-moth, etc.

The usual two traps running again in the garden last night and the largest catch of the year awaited me this morning, including Pine Hawk-moth, which is not very common around here and the nationally scarce Eucosma conterminana. Worth getting up at 04:30? You decide!

202 moths of 63 species plus a few others still to determine.

0424 Bird-cherry Ermine (Yponomeuta evonymella) 1
0441 Paraswammerdamia lutarea 1
0866 Brachmia blandella 1
0965 Cochylis hybridella 1
0972 Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix (Pandemis heparana) 1
1001 Lozotaeniodes formosanus 1
1016x Cnephasia sp. 3
1020 Grey Tortrix (Cnephasia stephensiana) 1
1115 Ancylis achatana 1
1175 Bramble Shoot Moth (Epiblema uddmanniana) 1
1192 Eucosma conterminana 1
1261 Codling Moth (Cydia pomonella) 1
1288 Twenty-plume Moth (Alucita hexadactyla) 1
1293 Garden Grass-veneer (Chrysoteuchia culmella) 42
1331 Water Veneer (Acentria ephemerella) 5
1376 Small Magpie (Eurrhypara hortulata) 2
1390 Udea prunalis 1
1398 Phlyctaenia coronata 1
1405 Mother of Pearl (Pleuroptya ruralis) 15
1413 Gold Triangle (Hypsopygia costalis) 1
1424 Endotricha flammealis 1
1425 Wax Moth (Galleria mellonella) 1
1458 Thistle Ermine (Myelois circumvoluta) 1
1634 The Lackey (Malacosoma neustria) 1
1651 Chinese Character (Cilix glaucata) 6
1690 Small Blood-vein (Scopula imitaria) 2
1705 Dwarf Cream Wave (Idaea fuscovenosa) 1
1707 Small Dusty Wave (Idaea seriata) 1
1708 Single-dotted Wave (Idaea dimidiata) 1
1713 Riband Wave (Idaea aversata) ab. Remutata 9
1713 Riband Wave (Idaea aversata) typical 1
1738 Common Carpet (Epirrhoe alternata) 1
1860 Green Pug (Chloroclystis rectangulata) 2
1906 Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata) 1
1917 Early Thorn (Selenia dentaria) 4
1921 Scalloped Oak (Crocallis elinguaria) 2
1978 Pine Hawk-moth (Hyloicus pinastri) 1
1981 Poplar Hawk-moth (Laothoe populi) 1
1994 Buff-tip (Phalera bucephala) 3
2030 Yellow-tail (Euproctis similis) 1
2031 White Satin Moth (Leucoma salicis) 1
2035 Round-winged Muslin (Thumatha senex) 1
2044 Dingy Footman (Eilema griseola) 1
2050 Common Footman (Eilema lurideola) 16
2061 Buff Ermine (Spilosoma lubricipeda) 2
2077 Short-cloaked Moth (Nola cucullatella) 2
2089 Heart & Dart (Agrotis exclamationis) 2
2098 The Flame (Axylia putris) 1
2107 Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba) 4
2109 Lesser Yellow Underwing (Noctua comes) 1
2111 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing (Noctua janthe) 1
2160 Bright-line Brown-eye (Lacanobia oleracea) 4
2198 Smoky Wainscot Mythimna impura 1
2205 Shoulder-striped Wainscot (Mythimna comma) 1
2283x Dark/Grey Dagger (Acronicta tridens agg.) 1
2293 Marbled Beauty (Cryphia domestica) 2
2321 Dark Arches (Apamea monoglypha) 15
2322 Light Arches (Apamea lithoxylaea) 1
2337x Marbled Minor agg. (Oligia strigilis agg.) 5
2343x Common Rustic agg. (Mesapamea secalis agg.) 8
2381 The Uncertain (Hoplodrina alsines) 5
2384 Vine's Rustic (Hoplodrina ambigua) 1
2387 Mottled Rustic (Caradrina morpheus) 1
2477 The Snout (Hypena proboscidalis) 2

The Lackey (Malacosoma neustria) - compare with the one two days ago


Pine Hawk-moth (Hyloicus pinastri)


White Satin Moth (Leucoma salicis)


Shoulder-striped Wainscot (Mythimna comma)


Round-winged Muslin (Thumatha senex)


Scalloped Oak (Crocallis elinguaria)


Early Thorn (Selenia dentaria)


Dwarf Cream Wave (Idaea fuscovenosa)


Codling Moth (Cydia pomonella)


Eucosma conterminana (Nationally Scarce B)


Nikon Coolpix 995

PBC Barbeque Ferry Meadows

Following the PBC barbeque a few intrepid souls stayed for an hour's mothing near the visitor centre carpark. We recorded over 140 moths of 24 species, the best of which were a few Maple Prominents.

0937 Agapeta hamana 1
1086 Hedya salicella 1
1201 Eucosma cana 1
1293 Garden Grass-veneer (Chrysoteuchia culmella)
1329 Donacaula forficella 1
1331 Water Veneer (Acentria ephemerella) c.100
1392 Udea olivalis 1
1405 Mother of Pearl (Pleuroptya ruralis) 2
1713 Riband Wave (Idaea aversata) ab. Remutata 1
1732 Shaded Broad-bar (Scotopteryx chenopodiata) 1
1766 Blue-bordered Carpet (Plemyria rubiginata) 1
1906 Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata) 1
1931 Peppered Moth (Biston betularia) typical 1
2009 Maple Prominent (Ptilodontella cucullina) 3
2030 Yellow-tail (Euproctis similis) 1
2044 Dingy Footman (Eilema griseola) 5
2047 Scarce Footman (Eilema complana) 2
2050 Common Footman (Eilema lurideola) 1
2107 Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba) 4
2109 Lesser Yellow Underwing (Noctua comes) 1
2128 Double Square-spot (Xestia triangulum) 2
2198 Smoky Wainscot (Mythimna impura) 2
2199 Common Wainscot (Mythimna pallens) 1
2314 Dingy Shears (Parastichtis ypsillon) 1

Maple Prominent (Ptilodontella cucullina)


Yellow-tail (Euproctis similis), female


Shaded Broad-bar Scotopteryx chenopodiata


Double Square-spot (Xestia triangulum)


Hedya salicella


Donacaula forficella, female


Nikon Coolpix 995

Green Soldier Fly

Why this chose the hosepipe to pose on I can't say.

Chloromyia formosa (Green Soldier Fly or Broad Centurion)


Nikon CP995

Bedstraw Hawk-moth

Golly! I always check my actinic skinner trap first and this morning the first moth I saw was a Scalloped Oak (first of the year) and the second was this beauty. Probably the fourth for VC31 (Huntingdonshire). Boy am I chuffed!

Click on the pictures for larger images. Pics of other species and the list for the night below.

Bedstraw Hawk-moth (Hyles gallii)




The Lackey (Malacosoma neustria)


Scalloped Oak (Crocallis elinguaria)


Phlyctaenia perlucidalis


Phlyctaenia coronata


Udea prunalis


Nikon CP995

124 moths of 43 species

0647 Brown House-moth (Hofmannophila pseudospretella) 2
1063 Celypha striana 1
1212 Spotted Shoot Moth (Rhyacionia pinivorana) 1
1293 Garden Grass-veneer (Chrysoteuchia culmella) 36
1376 Small Magpie (Eurrhypara hortulata) 1
1380 Phlyctaenia perlucidalis 1
1390 Udea prunalis 2
1398 Phlyctaenia coronata 1
1405 Mother of Pearl (Pleuroptya ruralis) 5
1424 Endotricha flammealis 1
1428 Bee Moth (Aphomia sociella) 2
1634 The Lackey (Malacosoma neustria) 1
1708 Single-dotted Wave (Idaea dimidiata) 1
1713 Riband Wave (Idaea aversata) ab. Remutata 1
1742 Yellow Shell (Camptogramma bilineata) 1
1758 Barred Straw (Eulithis pyraliata) 2
1860 Green Pug (Chloroclystis rectangulata) 2
1917 Early Thorn (Selenia dentaria) 1
1921 Scalloped Oak (Crocallis elinguaria) 5
1931 Peppered Moth (Biston betularia) typical 1
1937 Willow Beauty (Peribatodes rhomboidaria) f. perfumaria 1
1981 Poplar Hawk-moth (Laothoe populi) 1
1987 Bedstraw Hawk-moth (Hyles gallii) 1
2044 Dingy Footman (Eilema griseola) 2
2050 Common Footman (Eilema lurideola) 2
2089 Heart & Dart (Agrotis exclamationis) 3
2107 Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba) 8
2128 Double Square-spot (Xestia triangulum) 1
2154 Cabbage Moth (Mamestra brassicae) 1
2155 Dot Moth (Melanchra persicariae) 1
2160 Bright-line Brown-eye (Lacanobia oleracea) 1
2198 Smoky Wainscot (Mythimna impura) 3
2199 Common Wainscot (Mythimna pallens) 2
2321 Dark Arches (Apamea monoglypha) 10
2322 Light Arches (Apamea lithoxylaea) 1
2337x Marbled Minor agg. (Oligia strigilis agg.) 2
2343x Common Rustic agg. (Mesapamea secalis agg.) 4
2381 The Uncertain (Hoplodrina alsines) 4
2382 The Rustic (Hoplodrina blanda) 3
2387 Mottled Rustic (Caradrina morpheus) 1
2434 Burnished Brass (Diachrysia chrysitis) 1
2477 The Snout (Hypena proboscidalis) 1
2489 The Fan-foot (Herminia tarsipennalis) 2

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