Shandy Hall Moths
16 August 2015
16 August 2015 – Patron of Steampunk
Poplar Hawk-moth (Laothe populi) My first real introduction to the moth world was about 10 years ago at one of the early trappings at Shandy Hall. Amongst the hoard on that night was an Elephant Hawk-moth and I will never forget the sense of complete, total and utter awe on seeing that exotic vivid pink […]
7 August 2015
7 August 2015 – The Other Micro
Blastobasis adustella The other micro (see previous post) has been officially identified as the Dingy Dowd (Blastobasis adustella). Now it has been pointed out to me it seems impossible that I should have gone backwards and forwards through the Field Guide without noticing the chevron shape the moth carries on its wings. Blastobasis adustella is one […]
6 August 2015
6 August 2015 – Mothing in York
Herald (Scoliopteryx libatrix) On Tuesday night we ventured to York to set the trap. It was getting chilly by the time we arrived at the Yorkshire Museum Gardens, and the wind was picking up, so we set up right next to the museum, sheltered between small bushes. Arriving early the next morning, we saw that […]
3 August 2015
3 August 2015 – Luddington-in-the-Brook
Small China-mark (Cataclysta lemnata) No mercury vapour light was needed to lure this beautiful micro-moth as it danced a mysterious and convoluted flight just over the surface of a garden-pond. Another joined it in flight – and then another. I hadn’t seen the moth before but guessed it might be a China-mark because of the […]
1 August 2015
1 August 2015 – Small Fan-footed Wave
Small Fan-footed Wave (Idaea biselata) This moth is the Small Fan-footed Wave (Idaea biselata). It was observed in a plastic tube as that was the only way to get a good look at it. It kept fluttering around, resistant of immobility, and then would crouch in the cap at the bottom of the tube so […]
29 July 2015
29 July 2015 – Poplar and Oak
Poplar Grey (Subacronicta megacephala) We went out on a windy morning a few days ago to find the trap full of moths – but the catch yielded much repetition. There were many Clays, Large Yellow Underwings, Common Footmen, Muslin Footmen; there must have been a dozen Uncertains and Rustics to note. We combed through the […]
22 July 2015
22 July 2015 – Unwelcome at the Bake Off
Meal Moth (Pyralis farinalis) In today’s catch, we discovered another species new to Shandy Hall. This one is called the Meal Moth (Pyralis farinalis). The genus references an unknown species of bird or winged insect which is supposed to live in fire; we cannot take this literally, and it must simply allude to its attraction to […]
21 July 2015
21 July 2015 – Elegant in Repose
Pimpinel Pug (Eupithecia pimpinellata) The Field Guide says to be careful not to confuse this moth with the Wormwood Pug; and take care not to mistake it for a Yarrow Pug; it could also be a Campanula Pug. Fortunately the photograph (above) was taken at high resolution and the moth’s identity has been confirmed by […]
18 July 2015
18 July 2015 – Bend Sinister
Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix (Pandemis heparana) On the 15th of July we came across a new species – the Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix. It was one of a large number of moths including Garden Tiger, Burnished Brass, and another Single-dotted Wave (readily recognizable because of the time spent identifying it the other day). This Tortrix was fairly […]
16 July 2015
16 July 2015 – Bordered White
Bordered White (Bupalus piniaria) On Wednesday 15 July, we came across the Bordered White, which is a species new to Shandy Hall. It appears in an extraordinary variation of colors, even for just the northern specimens; the ones at Shandy Hall were a tawny color. We happened upon three at once, and all of them […]
15 July 2015
15 July 2015 – The Waves
Single-dotted Wave (Ideae dimidiata) Yesterday morning, while looking at the photographs from Thursday night’s trap, we came to the conclusion that a new species had arrived at Shandy Hall – the Single-dotted Wave (Idaea dimidiata). We had difficulty locating it in Humphreys & Westwood (their illustrated picture is included beneath) because its taxonomy has changed […]
9 July 2015
9 July 2015 – New Moth, New Intern
Elephant Hawk-moth (Deilephila elpenor) Not new in the sense of a new species but freshly hatched – at long last. The Elephant Hawk-moth caterpillar that went underground in August 2014 has emerged and can be seen resting on the leaf of a sweet rocket plant (Hesperis matronalis). The remains of some essential, biological liquid was still […]
Recent Moths
- Rise of the AI Naturalist
- Best Moths for a Haunted Abbey
- The Real and Fake Deaths of Moths
- The Colonizers of Yorkshire
- Glamour in the Dark: Two Newcomers Arrive at Shandy Hall
- 25 July 2023 – Collective Noun for Hawkmoths
- MOTH LIST to August 2023 with links
- 28 July 2023 – TRIPLE New Species Alert!
- 18 July 2023 – A Golden…Plusia!
- 13 July 2023 – Arts and Sciences
- 10 July 2023 – Rise of the Yellow Underwings
- 4 July 2023 – Cold-weather Catch
