Brown-tail

A few weeks back I was told about the defoliation of a large section of hedgerow along the A605 near Warmington caused by a colony of Brown-tail larvae. Well the adults are now emerging and have dispersed at least as far as Elton and Yaxley. This is a scarce moth in Hunts (VC31) but perhaps will become more established now.

Two appeared in the trap last night. The Herald is a moth more common at sugar but there were two of these last night too.

Brown-tail Euproctis chrysorrhoea



The Herald Scoliopteryx libatrix


Nikon Coolpix P4

The full trap list:
237 moths of 61 species
0985 Carnation Tortrix (Cacoecimorpha pronubana) 1
0424 Bird-cherry Ermine (Yponomeuta evonymella) 1
0464 Diamond-back Moth (Plutella xylostella) 2
0642 Batia unitella 1
0972 Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix (Pandemis heparana) 1
0980 Variegated Golden Tortrix (Archips xylosteana) 2
0989 Timothy Tortrix (Aphelia paleana) 3
1010 Red-barred Tortrix (Ditula angustiorana) 4
1016x Cnephasia sp. 11
1032 Aleimma loeflingiana 1
1063 Celypha striana 1
1175 Bramble Shoot Moth (Epiblema uddmanniana) 1
1288 Twenty-plume Moth (Alucita hexadactyla) 1
1293 Garden Grass-veneer (Chrysoteuchia culmella) 9
1338 Dipleurina lacustrata 3
1376 Small Magpie (Eurrhypara hortulata) 3
1390 Udea prunalis 2
1392 Udea olivalis 2
1405 Mother of Pearl (Pleuroptya ruralis) 2
1413 Gold Triangle (Hypsopygia costalis) 3
1424 Endotricha flammealis 4
1483 Phycitodes binaevella 1
1682 Blood-vein (Timandra comae) 1
1707 Small Dusty Wave (Idaea seriata) 1
1712 Small Scallop (Idaea emarginata) 1
1713 Riband Wave (Idaea aversata) ab. remutata 10
1713 Riband Wave (Idaea aversata) typical 2
1758 Barred Straw (Eulithis pyraliata) 2
1860 Green Pug (Chloroclystis rectangulata) 1
1887 Clouded Border (Lomaspilis marginata) 1
1917 Early Thorn (Selenia dentaria) 1
1921 Scalloped Oak (Crocallis elinguaria) 2
1922 Swallow-tailed Moth (Ourapteryx sambucaria) 1
1931 Peppered Moth (Biston betularia) typical 1
1937 Willow Beauty (Peribatodes rhomboidaria) 1
1976 Privet Hawk-moth (Sphinx ligustri) 1
1978 Pine Hawk-moth (Hyloicus pinastri) 1
1991 Elephant Hawk-moth (Deilephila elpenor) 1
2029 Brown-tail (Euproctis chrysorrhoea) 2
2050 Common Footman (Eilema lurideola) 41
2077 Short-cloaked Moth (Nola cucullatella) 1
2089 Heart & Dart (Agrotis exclamationis) 8
2098 The Flame (Axylia putris) 2
2107 Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba) 3
2160 Bright-line Brown-eye (Lacanobia oleracea) 7
2198 Smoky Wainscot (Mythimna impura) 2
2199 Common Wainscot (Mythimna pallens) 1
2278 Poplar Grey (Acronicta megacephala) 2
2283x Dark/Grey Dagger (Acronicta tridens agg.) 1
2293 Marbled Beauty (Cryphia domestica) 4
2321 Dark Arches (Apamea monoglypha) 37
2322 Light Arches (Apamea lithoxylaea) 1
2337x Marbled Minor agg. (Oligia strigilis agg.) 2
2343x Common Rustic agg. (Mesapamea secalis agg.) 5
2381 The Uncertain (Hoplodrina alsines) 18
2382 The Rustic (Hoplodrina blanda) 2
2422 Green Silver-lines (Pseudoips prasinana) 1
2441 Silver Y (Autographa gamma) 7
2450 The Spectacle (Abrostola tripartita) 1
2469 The Herald (Scoliopteryx libatrix) 2
2473 Beautiful Hook-tip (Laspeyria flexula) 1

Red-belted Clearwing

Met up with Tony this lunchtime to try out another of the clearwing pheromone lures. I soon regretted the choice of shorts as the route to the old crab apples took us through some fairly dense nettle patches but it was worth it in the end with at least two moths reponding to the 'myo' lure.

We kicked out a few other insects, like the pyralid shown here, and butterflies were plentiful.

Red-belted Clearwing Synanthedon culiciformis


Chilo phragmitella


Small Skipper Thymelicus sylvestris


Nikon Coolpix P4

Scallop Shell

More firsts for the garden last night the best being Scallop Shell and the other Brown Scallop, although the little pyralid shown here is only the second I've seen and is absolutely pristine.

Scallop Shell Rheumaptera undulata


Brown Scallop Philereme vetulata


Pempelia formosa


Common White Wave Cabera pusaria


Nikon Coolpix P4

197 moths of 64 species
0647 Brown House-moth (Hofmannophila pseudospretella)1
0862 Juniper Webber (Dichomeris marginella) 1
0905 Blastodacna hellerella 1
0972 Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix (Pandemis heparana) 1
0980 Variegated Golden Tortrix (Archips xylosteana) 2
0994 Clepsis consimilana 1
1010 Red-barred Tortrix (Ditula angustiorana) 1
1016x Cnephasia sp. 3
1020 Grey Tortrix (Cnephasia stephensiana) 1
1293 Garden Grass-veneer (Chrysoteuchia culmella) 23
1302 Crambus perlella f. warringtonellus 1
1302 Crambus perlella typical 1
1304 Agriphila straminella 1
1316 Catoptria falsella 1
1344 Eudonia mercurella 2
1376 Small Magpie (Eurrhypara hortulata) 2
1392 Udea olivalis 3
1405 Mother of Pearl (Pleuroptya ruralis) 1
1413 Gold Triangle (Hypsopygia costalis) 2
1424 Endotricha flammealis 2
1445 Pempelia formosa 1
1458 Thistle Ermine (Myelois circumvoluta) 1
1524 Emmelina monodactyla 1
1653 Buff Arches (Habrosyne pyritoides) 1
1669 Common Emerald (Hemithea aestivaria) 1
1682 Blood-vein (Timandra comae) 1
1708 Single-dotted Wave (Idaea dimidiata) 1
1713 Riband Wave (Idaea aversata) ab. remutata 11
1713 Riband Wave (Idaea aversata) typical 3
1758 Barred Straw (Eulithis pyraliata) 3
*1789 Scallop Shell (Rheumaptera undulata) 1
*1791 Brown Scallop (Philereme vetulata) 1
1860 Green Pug (Chloroclystis rectangulata) 1
1917 Early Thorn (Selenia dentaria) 1
1937 Willow Beauty (Peribatodes rhomboidaria) 5
1941 Mottled Beauty (Alcis repandata) 1
1955 Common White Wave (Cabera pusaria) 1
1958 Clouded Silver (Lomographa temerata) 1
1961 Light Emerald (Campaea margaritata) 1
1981 Poplar Hawk-moth (Laothoe populi) 1
1991 Elephant Hawk-moth (Deilephila elpenor) 2
1994 Buff-tip (Phalera bucephala) 1
2044 Dingy Footman (Eilema griseola) 1
2050 Common Footman (Eilema lurideola) 41
2089 Heart & Dart (Agrotis exclamationis) 3
2098 The Flame (Axylia putris) 6
2102 Flame Shoulder (Ochropleura plecta) 1
2109 Lesser Yellow Underwing (Noctua comes) 1
2126 Setaceous Hebrew Character (Xestia c-nigrum) 2
2128 Double Square-spot (Xestia triangulum) 1
2160 Bright-line Brown-eye (Lacanobia oleracea) 2
2198 Smoky Wainscot (Mythimna impura) 1
2278 Poplar Grey (Acronicta megacephala) 1
2283x Dark/Grey Dagger (Acronicta tridens agg.) 1
2293 Marbled Beauty (Cryphia domestica) 2
2321 Dark Arches (Apamea monoglypha) 20
2322 Light Arches (Apamea lithoxylaea) 1
2333 Large Nutmeg (Apamea anceps) 1
2337x Marbled Minor agg. (Oligia strigilis agg.) 4
2343x Common Rustic agg. (Mesapamea secalis agg.) 1
2381 The Uncertain (Hoplodrina alsines) 4
2387 Mottled Rustic (Caradrina morpheus) 2
2418 Cream-bordered Green Pea (Earias clorana) 1
2441 Silver Y (Autographa gamma) 1
2477 The Snout (Hypena proboscidalis) 5
2489 The Fan-foot (Herminia tarsipennalis) 2

Hornet Moth

Checked the row of mature Poplars on the north side of the East of England Showground this morning and sure enough there were plenty of exit holes near the bases. The fourth tree had this newly emerged adult crawling up the trunk. Note the wings are not fully unfurled in the first couple of pics and there are still scales on the clear part of the wings. Compare this to the fully emerged ones photographed at Dogsthorpe by Weedon's World of Nature.

Click for larger pics.

Hornet Moth Sesia apiformis




Nikon Coolpix P4

Small Skipper and Emerald Damsel

The rather unpromising litter-strewn layby on the Fletton/Orton Parkway roundabout is right next to the NW corner of Serpentine BP, which is excellent for insects. Meadow Brown and Ringlet butterflies were abundant and I had my first Small Skipper and Emerald Damsselfly of the year this morning.

Small Skipper Thymelicus sylvestris



Emerald Damselfy Lestes sponsa


Nikon Coolpix P4

Small Elephant Hawk-moth

This Small Elephant Hawk-moth and a Cream-bordered Green Pea were the pick of a reasonable catch last night.

Small Elephant Hawk-moth Deilephila porcellus



Nikon Coolpix P4

More Migrants and Garden Firsts

A weekend of excellent moths in the garden. Among 171 moths of 64 species the traps attracted another couple of migrants on Friday night with Diamond-back and a Dark Sword-grass (only the second one for the garden). The star for me though was the tiny Cherry-bark Moth - a really striking tortrix. With only 9 previous VC31 records its another great find and a first for the garden.

Better however was the Red-belted Clearwing that came to the 'cul' pheromone lure within minutes of putting it out on Sunday. The picture is not very clear as the moth dashes around the lure without settling but the wing bases appear to be black ruling out the similar and rarer Large Red-belted Clearwing.

Another garden first was the Mullein caterpillar found by Karen on a garden Buddleia. We have never recorded the adult and it could be a while before this larva provides us with one: they can pupate for up to four years.

Nice to get a good pic of the Barred Straw, a flighty moth at the best of times that has not settled well for me in the past.

And finally a reminder just how big Britain's largest resident moth is.

Dark Sword-grass Agrotis ipsilon


Cherry-bark Moth Enarmonia formosana


Red-belted Clearwing Synanthedon myopaeformis


The Mullein Cucullia verbasci, larva


Barred Straw Eulithis pyraliata


Privet Hawk-moth Sphinx ligustri


Nikon Coolpix P4

White-point

A windy mild night so I ran the trap in an enclosed yard to try to reduce the influence of the wind. As well as the White-point, a rare migrant locally, the first Privet Hawk-moth, Swallow-tailed Moth, Common Emerald and Turnip Moth of the year appeared.

68 moths of 30 species to single 125W MV skinner
0724 Metzneria lappella 1
1083 Marbled Orchard Tortrix (Hedya nubiferana) 1
1177 Epiblema rosaecolana 1
1392 Udea olivalis 1
1669 Common Emerald (Hemithea aestivaria) 1
1711 Treble Brown Spot (Idaea trigeminata) 2
1728 Garden Carpet (Xanthorhoe fluctuata) 1
1758 Barred Straw (Eulithis pyraliata) 1
1776 Green Carpet (Colostygia pectinataria) 1
1860 Green Pug (Chloroclystis rectangulata) 1
1922 Swallow-tailed Moth (Ourapteryx sambucaria) 1
1976 Privet Hawk-moth (Sphinx ligustri) 1
1981 Poplar Hawk-moth (Laothoe populi) 1
2050 Common Footman (Eilema lurideola) 1
2061 Buff Ermine (Spilosoma lubricipeda) 1
2087 Turnip Moth (Agrotis segetum) 1
2089 Heart & Dart (Agrotis exclamationis) 10
2098 The Flame (Axylia putris) 2
2102 Flame Shoulder (Ochropleura plecta) 1
2107 Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba) 2
2160 Bright-line Brown-eye (Lacanobia oleracea) 2
2194 White-point (Mythimna albipuncta) 1
2199 Common Wainscot (Mythimna pallens) 1
2302 Brown Rustic (Rusina ferruginea) 1
2321 Dark Arches (Apamea monoglypha) 10
2334 Rustic Shoulder-knot (Apamea sordens) 1
2337x Marbled Minor agg. (Oligia strigilis agg.) 16
2340 Middle-barred Minor (Oligia fasciuncula) 2
2434 Burnished Brass (Diachrysia chrysitis) f. juncta 1
2489 The Fan-foot (Herminia tarsipennalis) 1

White-point Mythimna albipuncta




Privet Hawk-moth Sphinx ligustri


Common Emerald Hemithea aestivaria


Swallow-tailed Moth Ourapteryx sambucaria


Turnip Moth Agrotis segetum


Nikon Coolpix P4

The Shark

A good catch in the garden MV moth trap last night with The Shark being the second new macro-moth of the year for the garden. I've now recorded 446 leps in the garden. Pale-shouldered Brocade and Small Clouded Brindle are both scarce in the garden too.

58 moths of 21 species to single 125W MV skinner
1392 Udea olivalis 1
1713 Riband Wave (Idaea aversata) ab. remutata 1
1991 Elephant Hawk-moth (Deilephila elpenor) 1
1994 Buff-tip (Phalera bucephala) 1
2060 White Ermine (Spilosoma lubricipeda) 1
2061 Buff Ermine (Spilosoma lubricipeda) 2
2089 Heart & Dart (Agrotis exclamationis) 17
2098 The Flame (Axylia putris) 1
2102 Flame Shoulder (Ochropleura plecta) 4
2126 Setaceous Hebrew Character (Xestia c-nigrum) 2
2158 Pale-shouldered Brocade (Lacanobia thalassina) 1
2160 Bright-line Brown-eye (Lacanobia oleracea) 2
2199 Common Wainscot (Mythimna pallens) 2
2205 Shoulder-striped Wainscot (Mythimna comma) 1
2216 The Shark (Cucullia umbratica) 1
2302 Brown Rustic (Rusina ferruginea) 2
2331 Small Clouded Brindle (Apamea unanimis) 1
2334 Rustic Shoulder-knot (Apamea sordens) 5
2337x Marbled Minor agg. (Oligia strigilis agg.) 9
2380 Treble Lines (Charanyca trigrammica) 2
2384 Vine's Rustic (Hoplodrina ambigua) 1

The Shark Cucullia umbratica


Elephant Hawk-moth Deilephila elpenor



Buff-tip Phalera bucephala


Pale-shouldered Brocade Lacanobia thalassina


Small Clouded Brindle Apamea unanimis


Nikon Coolpix P4

The Vapourer

No sooner had the Green Pug flown the nest than I came across this spectacular-looking larva on the upper branches of our aphid-ridden and honeydew soaked Plum tree. A great opportunity to raise this interesting species and a chance of it being a female. Not only are these hard to find they can 'assemble' males to their pheromones.

The Vapourer Orgyia antiqua


Nikon Coolpix 995 & P4

Green Pug reared to adult

I found this larva under a purple flowering cherry on 7 May. It fed on apple blossom until pupating sometime around 22 May. On about 10 Jun the adult moth emerged.

Green Pug Chloroclystis rectangulata






Nikon Coolpix 995 & P4

Wasp Beetle

Most coleoptera are less than straightforward to identify but some are more distinctive. Like this one. A nice garden first.

Wasp Beetle Clytus arietis


Nikon Coolpix 995 & P4

Little Tern

Just leaving for work this morning and got a message that there was a Little Tern at Ferry Meadows. This is a rare bird inland and they don't appear every year in the Peterborough area (see here). As it was on the way to work I just nipped in and could see the bird hammering up and down Gunwade Lake even before I got out of the car. These record shots are a bit of a miracle and are a testament to how well the P4 can work with the Leica scope. This is a small bird flying fast at up to 200m away over a lake.

Little Tern Sterna albifrons



Nikon Coolpix P4 handheld to 20x eyepieve of Lieca APO77