Sunday, June 30, 2013

TM2499 Shotesham, half-way point

Well, 30th June is here, and I'm amazed to find myself on a total of 904 species already. I also have 180 pots in the fridge, so I could almost certainly pass the 1000 without having to go out any more. But where would be the fun in that? Was a bit slow during the week, partly because I was away for a couple of days for work (although Alpine Chough, Alpine Swift, Golden Eagle, Black Kite etc were quite nice). However, family were away from Sat lunch to Sun pm, so I gave it a bit of weekend welly (literally at times). Tiring stuff though, especially in the unaccustomed heat today!

Sunday 23rd June
843 - Udea olivalis - trap (micro-moth)
844 - Autographa jota (Plain Golden Y) - trap
845 - Vespula vulgaris (Common Wasp) - trap - at last!
846 - Plutella porrectella - trap (micro-moth)

Monday 24th June
847 - Oligia latruncula (Tawny Marbled Minor) - trap - gen det.
848 - Apamea monoglypha (Dark Arches) - trap
849 - Mythimna impura (Smoky Wainscot) - trap

Tuesday 25th June
850 - Cheilosia illustrata - hoverfly on a hogweed flower
851 - Arge melanochroa - orange sawfly, keyed to this quite easily although from the little I can see it appears to be potentially a good record; held on to for advice

Wednesday 26th June (away in Switzerland)

Thursday 27th June
852 - Celypha striana - trap (micro-moth)
853 - Timandra comae (Blood-vein) - trap
854 - Agrotis clavis (Heart and Club) - trap
855 - Diarsia mendica (Ingrailed Clay) - trap
856 - Mythimna pudorina (Striped Wainscot) - trap
857 - Mythimna pallens (Common Wainscot) - trap

Friday 28th June
858 - Bupalus piniaria (Bordered White) - trap
859 - Habrosyne pyritoides (Buff Arches) - trap
860 - Tortrix viridana (Green Oak Tortrix) - trap
861 - Aphelia paleana (Timothy Tortrix) - trap

Saturday 29th June
862 - Platycheirus granditarsus - distinctive hoverflies with red abdomens netted on the common
863 - Cantharis nigra - two swept from common
864 - Omocestus viridulus (Common Green Grasshopper) - at least five heard today - not laid eyes on them yet admittedly
865 - Maniola jurtina (Meadow Brown) - on the wing at last
866 - Anax imperator (Emperor Dragonfly) - female on the common
867 - Prunella vulgaris (Selfheal) - on dry area of the common
868 - Trifolium campestre (Hop Trefoil) - on dry area of the common
869 - Eupithecia pygmaeta (Marsh Pug) - one netted on common in afternoon, delighted to relocate this after recording it here in 2009
870 - Ochlodes sylvanus (Large Skipper) - one on the common
871 - Apium nodiflorum (Fool's Water-cress) - flowering in the wet ditches now
872 - Carex otrubae (False Fox-sedge) - one fruiting head along the ditch
873 - Cionus scrophulariae - amazing little weevils on water figwort, look like bird droppings at a distance, but like crazy tiny elephants close up
874 - Juncus articulatus (Jointed Rush) - small amounts along the stream
875 - Cassida rubiginosa - one of the green tortoise beetles, seemed to key easily enough - on the common
876 - Samolus valerandi (Brookweed) - another local speciality, I found this on the common last year and pleased to relocate it.
877 - Phyllonorycter stettinensis - alder-feeding micro-moth, netted in flight on the common
878 - Libellula depressa (Broad-bodied Chaser) - female on the common, never numerous here so pleased to find
879 - Phleum pratense (Timothy) - grass on the common
880 - Grypocoris stysi - striking mirid bug on hogweed flowers
881 - Nemophora deegerella - long-horned micro-moth now on the wing along lanes
882 - Tripleurospermum inodorum (Scentless Mayweed) - arable margins
883 - Polygonum aviculare (Knotgrass) - arable margins
884 - Chenopodium album (Fat-hen) - arable margins
885 - Viola arvensis (Field Pansy) - arable margins
886 - Buddleja davidii (Butterfly-bush) - sapling in rough grass behind the house
887 - Halyzia sedecimguttata (Orange Ladybird) - trap
888 - Pterostoma palpina (Pale Prominent) - trap
889 - Eucosma cana - trap (micro-moth)
890 - Aphomia sociella (Bee Moth) - trap
891 - Eilema lurideola (Common Footman) - trap
892 - Catoptria falsella - trap (micro-moth)

Sunday 30th June
893 - Veronica catenata (Pink Water-speedwell) - around temporary pool on the common
894 - Lotus pedunculatus (Greater Bird's-foot-trefoil) - on the common, mostly not in flower yet
895 - Glyceria plicata (Plicate Sweet-grass) - finally succeeded in keying a Glyceria to my satisfaction; lots on the common and I suspect there are other species too
896 - Phyllonorycter maestingella - occupied leaf-mine in beech hedge
897 - Cyperus longus (Galingale) - an unusual sedge I found by the pub pond last year, not yet in flower but distinctive M-shaped cross-section to leaves
898 - Calopteryx splendens (Banded Demoiselle) - only a single female (common elsewhere in the county now)
899 - Olindia schumacherana - striking micro-moth on the common
900 - Carex riparia (Greater Pond-sedge) - after much self-debate, finally happy with the ID of this species (seems to be mostly Lesser Pond-sedge on the common though)
901 - Vanessa cardui (Painted Lady) - one whizzed past, a great number 900 (as numbered at the time of sighting)
902 - Sonchus arvensis (Perennial Sow-thistle) - just one along a roadside
903 - Tanacetum parthenium (Feverfew) - naturalised along path between two gardens; no space here to get more than 2 m away from garden, but clearly not deliberately planted here
904 - Rutpela maculata (Black-and-yellow Longhorn Beetle) - found on Russian Comfrey by the pond

Cionus scrophulariae - amazing little weevil on water figwort (please advise if wrong, don't have keys yet)

Jointed Rush and Brookweed
 
Marsh Pug - drab and small but exciting enough to me

Not new, but the moth-trap pulled in a second example of Pseucocistela ceramboides and this is a better pic than of the first one
 
Phyllonorycter stettinensis  - a fairly dark species for this genus, one of the alder feeders

Cassida rubiginosa - a new one for me, again please advise if I've got it wrong

Another one that's not new, but nice to see Mullein larvae out and about this weekend

Rutpela maculata - one of the few longhorn beetles I ever seem to find.

Thursday, June 27, 2013

SP5595ish - more moths

A few more from a couple of nights in the garden and a quick bike ride down the lane ....


Taxon Vernacular Date Added
729 Argyresthia pruniella Cherry Fruit Moth 27/06/2013
728 Hadena bicruris Lychnis 26/06/2013
727 Campaea margaritata Light Emerald 26/06/2013
726 Naenia typica Gothic 26/06/2013
725 Argyresthia cupressella (micromoth) 25/06/2013
724 Diachrysia chrysitis Burnished Brass 25/06/2013
723 Phalera bucephala Buff-tip 25/06/2013
722 Cabera exanthemata Common Wave 25/06/2013
721 Xestia triangulum Double Square-spot 25/06/2013
720 Myelois circumvoluta Thistle Ermine 25/06/2013
719 Paradrina clavipalpis Pale Mottled Willow 25/06/2013
718 Biston betularia Peppered Moth 25/06/2013
717 Spilosoma luteum Buff Ermine 25/06/2013
716 Mompha sturnipennella (micromoth) 25/06/2013
715 Digitalis purpurea Foxglove 25/06/2013
714 Lathyrus pratensis Meadow Vetchling 25/06/2013
713 Vicia cracca Tufted Vetch 25/06/2013

(Cryptic) Burnished Brass (stenochrysis)

Thistle Ermine

Gothic

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Sand Point going backwards.

Since my last posting I've been having some of my sightings verified in particular the diptera. As it turned out I did pretty well for a 6 week old dipterist but there were many errors so my score went backwards. Today I had a message from Roger Morris from the Hoverfly Recording Scheme and book "Britain's Hoverflies An Introduction to the hoverflies of Britain" offering to verify my hoverflies. Again I did pretty well but one or two didn't quite reach the grade.
Roger is keen to get any hoverfly records for the Hoverfly Recording Scheme even daily duplicate records as they all help paint a picture of population and timing trends so do get in touch with him.
The last couple of days have been sunny and quite warm in areas sheltered from the wind so I've managed to make up the numbers leaving me just 4 short of last weeks score at 626.
I'm off to dissect a Scythris so here are some of my finds from the last few days:


600 Chrysopilus cristatus - diptera 21/6/13 (unverified)
601 Beris morrisii - diptera 21/6/13 (second opinion from photos - verified)
602 Tephritis bardanae - diptera 21/6/13 (second opinion from photos - verified)
603 Scaeva pyrastri - diptera 21/6/13 (unverified)
604 Yarrow Plume Gillmeria pallidactyla - lepidoptera 21/6/13 (photographed - unverified)
Yarrow Plume

605 Eristalinus sepuchralis - hoverfly 24/6/13 (photographed, hairy part of lower eyes seen in photograph - verified)
606 Salticus scenicus - spider (female separated from cingulatus by examination of epigyne)
607 Beris vallata - diptera (photographed - verified)
608 Gooseberry Sawfly - larvae on Ribes uva-crispa 24/6/13 (photographed - unverified)
Gooseberry Sawfly larva

609 Gooseberry Ribes uva-crispa - 24/6/13 (photographed - unverified)
610 Helophilus trivittatus - hoverfly 24/6/13 (photographed - verified)
Helophilus trivittatus

611 Harlequin Ladybird - 24/6/13 (photographed - verified)
612 Broad-bodied Chaser - 24/6/13 (photographed - unverified)
613 Thistle Tortoise Beetle Cassida rubiginosa 24/6/13 (photographed - unverified)
614 Notostira elongata - Hemiptera 24/6/13 (photographed - unverified)
615 Common Green Shieldbug Palomena prasina - Hemiptera 24/6/13 (photographed - unverified)
616 Smooth Hawksbeard Crepis capillaris - plant 24/6/13 (photographed - unverified)
617 Common Centaury Centaurium erythraea - plant 24/6/13 (photographed - unverified)
618 Hedge Bindweed Calystegia sepium - plant 24/6/13 (photographed - unverified)
619 Cheddar Pink Dianthus gratianopolitanus - plant 24/6/13 (photographed - unverified)
Cheddar Pink

620 Pyramidal Orchid Anacamptis pyramidalis - plant 24/6/13 (photographed - unverified)
621 Chloromyia formosa - diptera 24/6/13 (photographed - unverified)
622 Cantharis nigra - beetle 24/6/13 (confirmed from photos)
623 Nemapogon cloacella - lepidoptera 26/6/13 (photographed - unverified)
624 Acrolepia autumnitella - lepidoptera 26/6/13 (larva on Solanum dulcamara (photographed - unverified))
625 Red-legged Shieldbug Pentatoma rufipes - hemiptera 26/6/13 (photographed - unverified)
626 Sun Spurge Euphorbia helioscopia - plant 26/6/13 (photographed - unverified)
An update from Leicestershire SP4993

Only a quick post to celebrate passing 800.  The moth trap has been the main source of new records recently (about time!) - but the highlight since my last post was a 3 mm spider Ero aphana. It's mainly a southern species and this was the first record for the county (VC55) so I had to get expert verification of the id.  Latest total 26/6/2013 is 803.

grahamc

Monday, June 24, 2013

Guernsey - two thirds of the way there

A decent week of additions despite it being rather windy. The first properly busy moth trap of the year brought 17 new additions, but I've not had it on since. It's so difficult to get it done on a school night with 3 kids to get ready in the morning, but tomorrow looks the best night of this week so I'll get up early.

620 - Bee Moth
621 - Light Emerald
622 - Smoky Wainscot
623 - Clancy's Rustic
624 - Borkhausenia minutella (a very rare moth nationally, and one of the specialities of my garden)
625 - Portland Ribbon Wave
626 - Clouded Silver
627 - White-spotted Pug
628 - Figure of Eighty
629 - Foxglove Pug
630 - Mottled Rustic
631 - Flame
632 - Silver-ground Carpet (a new species for the garden. After 9 years of trapping any new species, especially a macro, is notable. Only 5th Gue rec this century. Why this is so rare here is a mystery - it is quite common in the other Channel Islands.)


633 - Lackey (larva)
634 - Garden Pebble
635 - Crambus lathionellus (moth)
636 - Cochylis molliculana (moth)
637 - Crocidosema plebejana (moth)
638 - Epistrophe diaphana (hoverfly - appears to be a first for Guernsey)
639 - Helophilus trivittatus (hoverfly)
640 - Carrot
641 - Wasp Beetle
642 - Chirosia histricina (fly larva mining Bracken - maybe a Guernsey first also)
643 - Cydia nigricana (Pea Moth)
644 - Ten-spot Ladybird
645 - Coleophora seratella (larva in case on Elm)
646 - Athous haemorrhoidalis (click beetle)
647 - Common Froghopper
648 - Eupteryx urticae (leafhopper)
649 - Tetragnatha extensa (spider)
650 - Xysticus cristatus - (spider)
651 - Cunctochrysa albolineata (green lacewing - using my new key)
652 - Rhinoncus bruchoides - (weevil in the garden - appears to be a new species for Guernsey)
653 - Margarinotus purpurascens (beetle)
654 - Common Field Grasshopper
655 - Creeping Soft-grass
656 - English Stonecrop
657 - Celery Fly (Euleia heraclei)
658 - Chrysotoxum bicinctum (hoverfly)
659 - Cut-leaved Dead-nettle
660 - Great Willowherb
661 - Short-fruited Willowherb
662 - Trigonotylus ruficornis (plant bug)
663 - Pseudoswammerdamia combinella (moth)


664 - Greater Bird's-foot-trefoil
665 - Small White (finally!)
666 - Meadow Vetchling
667 - Clepsis consimilana
668 - Monochroa cytisella
669 - Timothy
670 - Phaedon cochleariae (Water-cress Beetle)


This evening, lots of these bad-ass flies with the strange "beaks" were patrolling one of the hedge banks. I watched them fly off carrying Straw Dot moths with them. Which kind of flies are these guys?

Sunday, June 23, 2013

TM2499 Shotesham - thank heavens for little galls?

Will have to be a quick blog post tonight, got to get up early for Breeding Bird Survey in the morning. Well, lots more hard work, including more time at the microscope than is probably healthy, but was more sensible than spending too much time outside in the feeble weather that the weekend had to offer. Moth-trap was good in the middle of the week, but it's gone a bit cool again now. Still, pleased with continuing progress, perhaps another three weeks might nail it.....?

Late updates

776 - Lucilia caesar - one from 31st May finally keyed, not easy these (to me anyway)
777 - Parasola plicatilis - a small ink-cap on 2nd June, apparently by far the commonest and most likely and apparently reasonable to count as such. Should really be done on spore characters to be 100% and maybe this might come off later in a fit of righteousness...
778 - Psylla alni - my "woolly aphids" on alder on 2nd June (and since) weren't aphids after all, thanks to Chris Shortall for pointing out the error of my ways - these were psyllids (photo a few weeks back)
779 - Eupteryx aurata - green/black leafhopper from nettles, from 14th June
780 - Tipula lunata - female from 14th June
781 - Leistus spinibarbis - metallic blue carabid beetle under stone at edge of arable field on 15th June
782 - Pale Oak Beauty; 783 - Burnished Brass; 784 - Eyed Hawkmoth; 785 - Bright-line Brown-eye - all trap on 16th June.

Mon 17th June

786 - Volucella bombylans - a few of these bee-mimic hoverflies appearing this week
787 - Pammene aurana - tortrix moth on hogweed flowers
788 - American Willowherb
789 - False Oat-grass
790 - Silver Y; 791 - Common Marbled Carpet; 792 - Turnip Moth; 793 - Grey Pine Carpet; 794 - Vine's Rustic - all moth-trap

Tue 18th June

795 - Phryganea grandis - large caddis, male ID on incurved claspers, in moth-trap
796 - Aphodius rufipes - scarab beetle in moth-trap
797 - Grey Dagger (gen det); 798 - Orange Footman; 799 - Sandy Carpet; 800 - Clouded Silver; 801 - Beautiful Golden Y; 802 - The Flame; 803 - Ringed China-mark; 804 - Nematopogon swammerdamella; 805 - Dark Brocade - all moth-trap

Wed 19th June

806 - Birch Shieldbug - moth-trap
807 - Curlew - flew over at night, heard whilst checking moth-trap!
808 - Willow Beauty; 809 - Crambus pascuella; 810 - Green Silver-lines; 811 - Double Square-spot; 812 - Chrysoteuchia culmella; 813 - The Uncertain; 814 - Treble Brown-spot - all moth-trap

Thu 20th June

815 - Small Dusty Wave; 816 - Small Magpie; 817 - Puss Moth; 818 - Figure of Eighty; 819 - Brown Silver-line; 820 - Pale Mottled Willow; 821 - Epiblema uddmanniana - all moth-trap
822 - Pseudocistela ceramboides - a distinctive beetle in the moth-trap that took some tracking down, and it now appears it may be a third for Norfolk - wow!
823 - Mystacides azurea - black caddisfly, female ID on shape of genital plates

Fri 21st June

824 - The Snout; 825 - Pandemis cerasana - both in trap
826 - Hawthorn Shieldbug in trap
827 - Mystacides longicornis - caddis in trap

Sat 22nd June

828 - Hairy Tare
829 - Bee Orchid - had to scope these in a field where grassy patches had been left unmown and I had a hunch this might be for some orchids - bingo!
830 - Smooth Hawksbeard
831 - Hemp Agrimony - not in flower yet
832 - Lesser Stitchwort
833 - Microchrysa flavicornis - no new moths in trap tonight, just this smart fly

Sun 23rd June

834 - Yellow Shell - netted by day
835 - Quaking Grass
836 - Psyllopsis fraxini - occupied gall in ash (although appears there might be a scarcer alternative, need to research if/how to separate)
837 - Dasineura fraxini - another occupied gall in ash
838 - Pontania proxima - occupied gall in white willow
839 - Panorpa communis - male identified on claspers
840 - Oxycera trilineata - a REALLY stunning green and black striped soldierfly on the common
841 - Triphragmium ulmariae - intense orange rust on Meadowsweet
842 - Dasineura ulmaria - pimple galls on Meadowsweet, now occupied by larvae

Just one photo this week (too tired to sort any others) - the local mega Pseudocistela ceramboides 



SP5595ish - nowt

A very quiet weekend from a listing perspective, thanks to poor weather and other stuff going on, so not really much to report on but it feels right to be up to date going into the last week of June and hopefully an upturn in the conditions. Next weekend I'll be away with like-minded souls down south so quite likely to be July before I can update again.


Taxon Vernacular Date Added
712 Entomobrya intermedia (springtail) 23/06/2013
711 Prunella vulgaris Selfheal 23/06/2013
710 Allolobophora chlorotica Green Worm 23/06/2013
709 Clepsis spectrana Cyclamen Tortrix 21/06/2013
708 Alcis repandata Mottled Beauty 21/06/2013


TG0224 the moths have it.

Well, it's been a while, through some pretty raw spring weather with some brief warm interludes. Shame the interludes never seem to come at weekends. So the month of June has nevertheless been very productive, with around 144 new species so far, and some real crackers, especially plucked out of the moth trap. Five species of hawkmoth, and some real showy species like varied coronet, scorched wing and bordered sallow. A couple of nights in the sweaty nights of last week pulled in 2-300 individual moths, giving me a real challenge in the morning. I've also been attempting to identify micros seriously for the first time this year, with the help of Parsons and Sterling, and find them to be every bit as variable as macro moths, the little blighters. All good fun though.

The green lane in the middle of the square has been very productive for flying inverts, but the ponds I have access to have so far proved a bit disappointing. However, I expect them to be a good source of invertebrate species in July and August. The species breakdown looks like this:

Amphibian 3
Aphid 4
Bird 77
Bristletail 1
Bryophyte 16
Bug 9
Centipede 1
Diptera 17
Fish 3
Fungi 4
Hymenoptera 17
Lacewing 1
Lepidoptera 160
Lichen 8
Mammal 10
Millipede 2
Earwig 1
Mite 1
Mollusc 16
Odonata 2
Orthoptera 1
Leech 1
Spider 15
Trichoptera 1
Vascular plant 261
Woodlouse 3
Worm 1

Likes - molluscs, spiders, beetles. Dislikes - aphids, millipedes, caddisflies. Bit concerned by the lack of flying insects, think I need to perfect my netting technique to get a few more of these, and also require some sunshine! But the good news is - I have been commissioned to do a protected species survey in the square, so will probably pick up quite a few new spp doing that.

Happy panning!

600+ Northern species

Still plodding on in the north, telling myself it's a marathon not a sprint. Despite the rain and wind last night 3 new moths in the trap got me over the 600 mark, just. Disappointed to confirm that my lack of finding Royal Fern, like my only small clump of Primroses earlier in the year was due to  it having been dug up. But on a brighter note, yesterday  I managed my first Comma of the year, having missed any overwintering ones that had survived and a very worn Painted Lady. Having only had ones and twos Four-spotted Chaser in my square before I was well  pleased with at least 20 bombing around during the week. Still awaiting Common Blue and my list of  Bees this year still does not include Honey Bee.

Four-spotted Chaser

Painted Lady



Birds   74 70
Vascular Plants   264 395
Mosses & Liverworts  41 50
Lichens   12 12
Fungi & Slime Moulds   11 20
Terrestrial Mammals   6 8
Butterflies   15 20
Moths   81 336
Dragonflies   3 9
Hoverflies   20 25
Other inverts   73 50
Amphibians & Reptiles   1 5
Aggregates & hybrids (not included) 15             
TOTAL 601 1000



NZ2549 Waldridge, VC66 .

600 + Lincolnshire

Just reached 616 species the other day a few moths now being recorded with Epiblema cirsiana being the best that I have just dissected potted up from Common Knapweed possibly a Lincolnshire first. I have calculated that all my species records are from only 1% of the square as the rest is arable farmland with little hedging and verges. 
The challenge has probably stopped my bird twitching habits as I stayed looking in the square rather that travel for the Dusky Thrush and Pacific Swift that has recently turned up.

SHOULDER-STRIPED WAINSCOT 6/6/13
PALE-SHOULDERED BROCADE 6/6/13
THREE-SPINED STICKLEBACK 7/6/13
RUDD 7/6/13
SILVER-GROUND CARPET 7/6/13
SOUTHERN MARSH ORCHID 7/6/13

DASYSYRPHUS VENUSTUS (HOVERFLY) 7/6/13
LARGE SKIPPER 7/6/13
COLEOPHORA BINDERELLA (LARVA) 7/6/13
CALOPTILIA ELONGELLA (MINE) 7/6/13
DEADLY NIGHTSHADE 7/6/13
LEPTOPTERNA DOLABRATA (PLANTBUG) 7/6/13
CANTHARIS RUFA (SOLDIER BEETLE) 7/6/13
TIPULA FASCIPENNIS (CRANE FLY) 7/6/13
NORELLISOMA SPINIMANUM (DUNG FLY) 7/6/13
EUPEODES COROLLAE (HOVERFLY) 8/6/13
ENDOTHENIA MARGINANA (MICRO-MOTH) 8/7/13
CYNIPS DIVISA (RED PEA GALL WASP) 9/6/13
ELEPHANT HAWKMOTH 9/6/13
ANASPIS HUMERALIS (BEETLE) 10/6/13
CRYPTOEEPHALUS PUSILLUS (LEAF BEETLE) 10/6/13
BYTURUS TOMENTOSUS (FRUITWORM BEETLE) 10/6/13
NEOCOENORRHINUS AEQUATUS (WEEVIL) 10/6/13
TURNIP MOTH 9/6/13
MAGPIE MOTH (CATERPILLAR) 10/6/13
SYNDEMIS MUSCULANA 10/6/13
TENTHREDO TEMULA (SAWFLY) 10/6/13
GHOST MOTH 10/6/13
SLENDER PUG 10/6/13
HEDYA PRUNIANA (PLUM TORTRIX) 10/6/13
MOTTLED RUSTIC 10/6/13
LYONETA CLERKELLA (MINE) 10/6/13
EUTERYX AURATA (POTATO LEAFHOPPER) 11/6/13
LARINIOIDES SCLOPETRIUS (SPIDER) 11/6/13
XYSTICUS ULMI (SPIDER) 11/6/13
MORDELLOCHROA ABDOMINA (TUMBLING FLOWER BEETLE) 11/6/13
GRAMMOPTERA RUFICORNIS (LONGHORN BEETLE) 11/6/13
ERIOCRANIA SPARRMANNELLA (LEAFMINE) 11/06/13
BROWN SILVER-LINE 11/6/13
LARGE YELLOW UNDERWING 11/6/13
SMALL ELEPHANT HAWKMOTH 11/6/13
WHITE CLOVER 15/6/13
CURLED DOCK 15/6/13
SILVER Y 15/6/13
PAMMENE AURANA 15/6/13
VOLOCELLA PELLUCENS (HOVERFLY) 15/6/13
HELOPHILUS HYBRIDUS (HOVERFLY) 15/6/13
EUMERUS FUNERALUS (HOVERFLY) 15/6/13
NEOCREPIDODERA TRANVERSA (LEAF BEETLE) 15/6/13
CHRYSOLINA POLITA (LEAF BEETLE) 15/6/13

HEDGE BINDWEED 15/6/13
PHYLLONORYCTER RAJELLA (LEAFMINE)15/6/13
YSTACIDES LONGICORNIS (CADDIS FLY) 15/6/13
PHYLLOPERTHA HORTICOLA (CHAFER BEETLE) 16/6/13
ERISTALIS PERTINAX (TAPERED DRONE FLY) 16/6/13
SPRUCE CARPET
CLOUDED BRINDLE
CRAMBUS LATHONIELLUS
EYED HAWKMOTH
BUFF ERMINE
BURNISHED BRASS
MARBLED MINOR
MIDDLE-BARRED MINOR
PLATYPTILIA GONODACTYLA
SMALL DUSTY WAVE
COMMON MARBLED CARPET
PEPPERED MOTH
FREYERS PUG
STRAW DOT
AGAPETA HAMANA 16/6/13
COMMON WHITE WAVE 16/6/13
DOUBLE SQUARE-SPOT
TREBLE LINES
ASPILAPTERYX TRINGIPENNELLA 17/6/13
CHRSOPA PERLA (LACEWING) 18/6/13
WHITE-SPOTTED PUG
ORANGE FOOTMAN
THISTLE ERMINE
GREY PINE CARPET
SMOKY WAINSCOT
BROAD-BARRED WHITE
CLOUDED-BORDERED BRINDLE
TAWNY PINION 18/6/13
CHLAENIUS VESTITUS (BEETLE) 18/6/18

EPSYRPHUS BALTEATUS (MARMALADE HOVERFLY) 18/6/13
DICHRORAMPHA ALPINANA 19/6/13

YELLOWSHELL 19/6/13
MICROPTERIX CATHELLA 19/6/13
FOUR-SPOT CHASER 19/6/13
ERISTALINUS SEPULCHRALIS (HOVERFLY) 19/6/13

BUFF-TIP
MILLER
BROWN HOUSE MOTH 19/6/13
RINGED CHINA-MARK 19/6/13
CHIMNEY SWEEP 20/6/13
COMMON FIGWORT 20/6/13
HEDGE WOUNDWORT 20/6/13
COMMON FROGHOPPER 20/6/13
SEIOPTERA VIBRANS (PICTURE-WINGED FLY) 20/67/13
ORANGE LADYBIRD 20/6/13

NOTOCELLA TRIMACULANA 20/6/13
PSEUDARGYROTOZA CONWAGANA 20/3/13
VOLOCELLA BOMBYLONS (HOVERFLY) 15/6/13

CHEILOSIA ILLUSTRATA (HOVERFLY) 19/6/13

CLYTUS ARIETIS (WASP BEETLE) 20/6/13

DICHRORAMPHA PLUMBANA 20/6/13
EPIBLEMA CIRSIANA 20/6/13
DARK DAGGER 20/6/13
COMMON FOOTMAN
UNCERTAIN
FIGURE OF EIGHTY 21/6/13
HOMOEOSOMA SINUELLA (21/6/13)
616 ERIOCRANIA SALOPIELLA (LEAFMINE) 22/6/13

Saturday, June 22, 2013

Charge of the light brocade. News from tf2000 in Peterborough

Still here and somewhat ashamed of my total of only 95 species.
In awe of the leaders totals.

Moth totals much poorer than expected, but enjoyed an eyed hawkmoth and a light brocade (a scarce species in Peterborough and part of a mini local peak (at least two other recorders on the same night I think)

Getting desperate here for new moths for the year. Last night a possible new micro landed on my wife's nose as she lay in bed. I didn't get to the collecting tube in time. Bless her she even held her breath for as long as she could.
Well, the mothtrap (a Skinner-type with actinic tubes, on account of residential location) arrived yesterday in TM0025. In spite of the forecast of rain in the early hours, I fired it up for a few hours to see what would happen (you can’t blame me, can you!). Having heard stories of hundreds of moths in traps in the last few days, I was pleased not to be overwhelmed on the first night. Here are the additions to the list:
299. Common white wave, Cabera pusaria
300. Green oak tortrix, Tortrix viridana
301. Barred fruit-tree tortrix, Pandemis cerasana
302. Bright-line brown-eye, Lacanobia oleracea
303. Rustic, Hoplodrina blanda (I was amazed that this incredibly plain moth revealed subtle but distinct feature when I turned it round - the mystery of moths!)
304. Snout, Hypena proboscidalis
305. White ermine, Spilosoma Lubricipeda
306. Peppered moth, Biston betularia
307. Heart and dart, Agrotis exclamationis
308. Caddisfly Mystacides longicornis (a distinctively marked fly, I have not been able to find images of other Mystacides caddisflies with similar markings, so I think that this ID is safe, unless anyone wishes to disabuse me!)
No photos this time; the quality of the pictures that I took is not brilliant, so that is something that I will have to work on.

One other thing. How do you persuade 100+ caddisflies to leave your trap when you have finished?

Friday, June 21, 2013

SP5595ish - 700+ and losing count

Can't believe almost two weeks have passed again since I last posted. Lots to update on, sorry for the photo overload but I need to get this lot out of my backlog before the next push. The 96 additions since my last post are mainly thanks to the garden light traps plus a couple of productive walks in the square. I'll break this up into chunks.

First up, five moths added from the garden traps on 9th and 13th including a garden-first Cydia ulicetana. I also added Red-barred Tortrix having reared through from larvae found on the garden lilac, plus four plants and a beetle on a quick evening walk on 13th. I also found a dead mole on this walk, plus managed to step in some dog muck. What is the problem with dog owners these days, why can't they all be considerate enough to bag it all up in non-degradeable plastic and throw it into the bushes for all to see ..........

Taxon Vernacular Date Added
612 Peribatodes rhomboidaria Willow Beauty 09/06/2013
613 Isotrias rectifasciana (micromoth) 09/06/2013
614 Monopis laevigella Skin Moth 09/06/2013
615 Ditula angustiorana Red-barred Tortrix 11/06/2013
616 Carduus crispus Welted Thistle 13/06/2013
617 Cantharis rufa (beetle) 13/06/2013
618 Conium maculatum Hemlock 13/06/2013
619 Leucanthemum vulgare Oxeye Daisy 13/06/2013
620 Artemisia vulgaris Mugwort 13/06/2013
621 Electrophaes corylata Broken-barred Carpet 13/06/2013
622 Cydia ulicetana (micromoth) 13/06/2013

Cydia ulicetana

Hemlock

A few quiet days before I managed to grab some time in the afternoon on Sunday 16th a walk around part of my square. A very productive couple of hours adding 19 species including some nice new-for-me flies and sawflies. I also trod in some rather sloppy dog stuff - seems to be a new pan-species listing hazard in my square.

Taxon Vernacular Date Added
623 Xanthorhoe montanata Silver-ground Carpet 16/06/2013
624 Pseudargyrotoza conwagana (micromoth) 16/06/2013
625 Graphomya maculata (fly) 16/06/2013
626 Dioctria rufipes Common Red-legged Robberfly 16/06/2013
627 Dioctria atricapilla Violet Black-legged Robberfly 16/06/2013
628 Volucella bombylans (hoverfly) 16/06/2013
629 Arge ochropus (sawfly) 16/06/2013
630 Eurogaster mesomelas (sawfly) 16/06/2013
631 Eriocampa ovata (sawfly) 16/06/2013
632 Temuledo temula (sawfly) 16/06/2013
633 Thaumatomyia notata (fly) 16/06/2013
634 Episyrphus balteatus (hoverfly) 16/06/2013
635 Dicyphus pallicornis (bug) 16/06/2013
636 Andrena minutula (bee) 16/06/2013
637 Pammene aurana (micromoth) 16/06/2013
638 Eupteryx aurata Potato Leafhopper 16/06/2013
639 Volucella pellucens (hoverfly) 16/06/2013
640 Potentilla reptans Creeping Cinquefoil 16/06/2013
641 Geranium dissectum Cut-leaved Crane's-bill 16/06/2013

Temuledo temula (=Tenthredo temula)

 Eurogaster mesomelas (=Tenthredo mesomela)

Common Red-legged Robberfly (male top, female bottom)

Violet Black-legged Robberfly

Dicyphus pallicornis

Graphomya maculata

Monday 17th and I unexpectedly found myself with some time in the evening which I filled with a walk down the main lane into my square. More swept bits, a couple more plants and a few galls collected and dissected. I also noticed a Honey Bee and racked my brains - had I overlooked them thinking I'd already ticked it? I came to the conclusion that this was, unbelievably, the first I'd seen this year. Happily my walking boots remained free of dog crap on this walk as I'm sure you will be pleased to know.

Taxon Vernacular Date Added
642 Aceria macrochelus (gall mite) 17/06/2013
643 Magdalis armigera (beetle) 17/06/2013
644 Pontania bridgmanii Willow Bean Sawfly [larval] 17/06/2013
645 Mordellochroa abdominalis (beetle) 17/06/2013
646 Anaspis regimbarti (beetle) 17/06/2013
647 Stachys sylvatica Hedge Woundwort 17/06/2013
648 Rhinoncus pericarpius (beetle) 17/06/2013
649 Dasineura ulmaria (gall midge) [larval] 17/06/2013
650 Tropidia scita (hoverfly) 17/06/2013
651 Apis mellifera Honey Bee 17/06/2013
652 Crambus lathoniellus (micromoth) 17/06/2013
653 Centaurea nigra Common Knapweed 17/06/2013
654 Chloromyia formosa Broad Centurian 17/06/2013
655 Limonia nubeculosa (fly) 17/06/2013

Anaspis regimbarti (one I learnt from a PSL meet-up last year)

Magdalis armigera - swept from elm

Mordellochroa abdominalis

Willow Bean Sawfly - larva in the gall

The garden moths traps went out on Monday night as well, the first of a run of good nights. As I went into the garden to set them up before dusk I found a Scorched Wing (traps not run since 13th).

Taxon Vernacular Date Added
656 Plagodis dolabraria Scorched Wing 17/06/2013
657 Hepialus lupulinus Common Swift 17/06/2013
658 Diarsia mendica Ingrailed Clay 17/06/2013
659 Eupithecia intricata arceuthata Freyer's Pug 17/06/2013
660 Pasiphila rectangulata Green Pug 17/06/2013
661 Caradrina morpheus Mottled Rustic 17/06/2013

Scorched Wing

Tuesday 18th and the traps were much busier at long last, including some interesting additional bits. Gave me a chance to make good use of my recently acquired Trichoptera RES Handbook. Emmetia marginea found in the garden before dusk, the other 18 species were all in the traps (1 x125W MV and 1 x 22W/18W Synergetic/CFL combo).

Taxon Vernacular Date Added
662 Emmetia marginea (micromoth) 18/06/2013
663 Clepsis consimilana (micromoth) 18/06/2013
664 Eupithecia centaureata Lime-speck Pug 18/06/2013
665 Rivula sericealis Straw Dot 18/06/2013
666 Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale Hawthorn Shieldbug 18/06/2013
667 Anthracus consputus (beetle) 18/06/2013
668 Aphodius fasciatus (beetle) 18/06/2013
669 Ilybius fuliginosus (beetle) 18/06/2013
670 Nephrotoma flavipalpis (fly) 18/06/2013
671 Mystacides longicornis (caddisfly) 18/06/2013
672 Parapoynx stratiotata Ringed China-mark 18/06/2013
673 Epiblema trimaculana (micromoth) 18/06/2013
674 Hypsopygia costalis Gold Triangle 18/06/2013
675 Ptycholoma lecheana (micromoth) 18/06/2013
676 Oligia strigilis Marbled Minor 18/06/2013
677 Udea olivalis (micromoth) 18/06/2013
678 Limnephilus affinis (caddisfly) 18/06/2013
679 Graphopsocus cruciatus (barkfly) 18/06/2013
680 Mystacides azurea (caddisfly) 18/06/2013

Stenolophus mixtus Anthracus consputus
Many thanks to Mark Telfer for correcting this one.

Also this Helophorus sp. pending ID

The garden traps came good again on Wednesday night. Really good, with 27 species added!


Taxon Vernacular Date Added
681 Tinea semifulvella (micromoth) 19/06/2013
682 Acronicta leporina Miller 19/06/2013
683 Epinotia bilunana (micromoth) 19/06/2013
684 Dipleurina lacustrata (micromoth) 19/06/2013
685 Smerinthus ocellata Eyed Hawk-moth 19/06/2013
686 Deilephila elpenor Elephant Hawk-moth 19/06/2013
687 Chrysoteuchia culmella Garden Grass-veneer 19/06/2013
688 Aplocera plagiata Treble-bar 19/06/2013
689 Cydia pomonella Codling Moth 19/06/2013
690 Hedya pruniana Plum Tortrix 19/06/2013
691 Blastodacna hellerella (micromoth) 19/06/2013
692 Celypha striana (micromoth) 19/06/2013
693 Acentria ephemerella Water Veneer 19/06/2013
694 Dorcus parallelipipedus Lesser Stag Beetle 19/06/2013
695 Ptinus sexpunctatus (beetle) 19/06/2013
696 Holocentropus dubius (caddisfly) 19/06/2013
697 Sigara dorsalis (bug) 19/06/2013
698 Agraylea multipunctata (caddisfly) 19/06/2013
699 Coleophora mayrella (micromoth) 19/06/2013
700 Idaea aversata Riband Wave 19/06/2013
701 Blastobasis lacticolella (micromoth) 19/06/2013
702 Oligia fasciuncula Middle-barred Minor 19/06/2013
703 Elachista argentella (micromoth) 19/06/2013
704 Adalia decempunctata 10-spot Ladybird 19/06/2013
705 Pandemis cerasana Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix 19/06/2013
706 Wesmaelius nervosus (lacewing) 19/06/2013
707 Bactra lancealana (micromoth) 19/06/2013

Ptinus sexpunctatus
Really pleased to see this one, just one of those species you sometimes see on the web or in a book and decide you want to see for yourself

Lesser Stag Beetle

(ex by the time I photographed it) Sigara dorsalis

No traps last night as it was torrential rain for most of the evening, but will put them out tonight though not expecting too much. It was only when I updated my spreadsheet properly this evening to start this post that I realised I'd corrupted the numbering. On 13th I'd started at 612 again for some reason so my total was actually four out and I'm actually now on 707 (with nothing added today).