Shandy Hall Moths
20 June 2015
20 June 2015 – Kudos to the Moth
Codling Moth (Cydia pomonella) Last night’s moth evening turned out better than expected. Only two species were visible in the trap but beneath the egg-boxes there were more and particularly bright examples. The Garden Carpet and Green Carpet looked as fresh and bright as they could be. But nothing new for the list. This morning […]
15 June 2015
15 June 2015 – Scissored Wings
Figure of Eighty (Tethea ocularis octogesimia) This post gate-crashed into the internet before I had time to realize I had pressed the wrong button but I hope all is now under control. Although neither species is new to the gardens both of these moths are worthy of comment. The Figure of Eighty (Tethea ocularis octogesimia) […]
13 June 2015
13 June 2015 – Unrecorded Firethorn
Firethorn Leaf Miner (Phyllonorycter leucographella) The Firethorn Leaf Miner (Pyllonorycter leucographella) was the first moth that Dave Chesmore spotted when he visited Shandy Hall for the first time approximately six years ago. A number of these moths were living in the Pyracantha growing against a wall and although I had noticed there were insects in […]
11 June 2015
11 June 2015 – Rejectamenta and other Excrementitious Matter
December Moth (caterpillar) Swirling mists and heavy dew this morning, following what is supposed to be the warmest night of the week. Very little moth activity – Poplar Hawk-moth, Clouded-bordered Brindle, Silver-ground Carpet, Pale Tussock, White Ermine and a cockchafer. In the absence of mature creatures, step forward the December Moth caterpillar for a […]
6 June 2015
6 June 2015 – Highflying in June
Moth identification evening Last night was a National Garden Scheme open evening at Shandy Hall, when viewing the gardens and identifying moths combined. The full moon and cloudless sky of the previous night conspired to keep moth numbers down but a good variety of species made it more than worthwhile. Poplar Hawk-moth, Buff Ermine, Pale […]
26 May 2015
26 May 2015 – Pale Shoulders, Brocade and Slippers
Pale-shouldered Brocade (Lacanobia thalassina) The Pale-shouldered Brocade (Lacanobia thalassina) has been seen once before at Shandy Hall when Jane Wu recorded it on the blog dated 14 June 2013. I don’t remember seeing it at the time so this beautifully marked moth came as a surprize to me this morning. I couldn’t work out its identity […]
24 May 2015
25 May 2015 – Longhorns and other Horns
Parornix sp. Another chilly night means very little is happening in the Shandy Hall garden. A couple of Sandy Carpets, a Pseudoswammerdamia combinella, and this little micro which looks as if it belongs to the Parornix family. There has only been one record of a Parornix (June 2013) and that one could only be identified […]
10 May 2015
10 May 2015 – Moon Hedge
Moon Hedge Moth-trapping is about to start in earnest at Shandy Hall. The delay has been partly to do with the exhibition which opens today in the gallery. The title of the show is Happy Spirits and the paintings, serigraphs and lino-prints are by Carry Akroyd. Carry has shown a number of times in the […]
23 April 2015
23 April 2015 – Biorythms
Larva and eggs of December Moth (Poecilocampa populi) My biorhythms must be attuned to those of the December Moth or I wouldn’t have searched out the egg-box (hen) with the eggs (moth) on its side this morning and wouldn’t have seen that one had hatched. That was at 7am this morning. By the time I […]
15 April 2015
16 April 2015 – Diversions and Digressions
The Streamer (Anticlea derivata) This moth is The Streamer (Anticlea derivata), not an unusual visitor to the gardens but one that hasn’t been given any special attention. First recorded at Shandy Hall in 2011, single specimens have turned up every year and my assumption was that the patterns on the moth’s wings reminded one of […]
9 March 2015
9 March 2015 – Stirrings Still
Shoulder Stripe (Earophila badiata) Last year (10 April 2014) the Shoulder Stripe was recorded as a new species for Shandy Hall. However the scientific name was different (Anticlea badiata) and its derivation was linked to Ulysses, war and grief. In this alternative version (Earophila badiata) a different identity is conjured up and one that is more appropriate to […]
27 February 2015
27 February 2015 – Moth Anthology
A page from A Moth Anthology The Moth Anthology took place at the University of York last week. Haiku by Billy Collins, Maura Dooley, Roger Keyes, Goldsmiths College students and other creative writers were included, all drawing their inspiration from the moth species recorded in Coxwold and in the Museum Gardens in York. The haiku were […]
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
