Skev's BLOG : Pan-species Listing, Moths, Birds, Stuff: Cochylis hybridella

Showing posts with label Cochylis hybridella. Show all posts

Monday, 12 July 2021

Orange Moon

Yesterday was almost ridiculous. And I don't mean the match last night ....

When I set the moth trap on Saturday night, I also left out the LUN pheremone lure in the vain hope that it would attract one or two Tineid moths (as it has done for many others). Sunday morning, not quite at the crack of dawn, I emptied the moth trap and checked the lure - nothing. By the time I'd emptied the trap it was c06:30 and I intended to get back into bed for another couple of hours or so. I simply left the pheromone trap hanging. When I was back up and in the kitchen waiting for the kettle to boil, I looked out and thought I saw some movement inside the trap .... surely not .... but I went and checked ....

I couldn't quite believe it, x2 Lunar Hornet Moths in the garden. I'd never thought of putting the lure out in the garden to target this clearwing. There is a decent sized sallow in the adjacent garden, but I'm sure these came from a bit further afield (though clearly not too far). From using this lure last year, I reckon these don't fly too early in the morning, I had no success anywhere before c9am.

Buoyed by this inadvertent success, I decided to try another lure that has not hung in the garden before - mainly because I'd seen a couple of other reports from around the VC suggesting it might be worth a punt. So out went the VES lure whilst I nipped out with the LUN lure attempting (but failing) to add another dot to the VC map.

I got back after around one and a half hours, had a squint at the trap and could not believe it - more clearwings. The VES lure was initially intended for Yellow-legged Clearwing which is pretty much a specialist of mature oaks / oak woodland. But the lure also works for Orange-tailed Clearwing which, until this year, was thought to be rare in the VC and pretty much restricted to the east of Rutland. Orange-tailed mainly feeds on Wayfaring Tree which is itself pretty scarce in VC55. I suspect no-one bothered trying the lure in their gardens in years gone by as neither clearwing species seemed likely. But Orange-tailed also feeds on Guelder Rose, and perhaps it is also feeding on cultivated viburnums. Either way, there were three in my garden and again these can't have come too from too far away.

Orange-tailed Clearwing

I tried to make it a hat-trick but the FOR lure failed to bring in Red-tipped Clearwing although the afternoon was pretty dull and cloudy. Still I can't complain with two garden ticks in rapid succession.

Otherwise, the last couple of times the trap has been out I've lazily pointed the camera at Torts on the sheet and trap body ....

Aethes rubigana

Aethes beatricella

Cochylis hybridella

Epinotia signatana

Thursday, 24 August 2017

Ticks and Migrants

Okay, I've got behind! I've got a few bits to post about but I'll use this one to catch up on some garden moth news.

First up a completely knackered looking tortrix that isn't actually dead despite appearances! From what's left of it, and from experience of this species, I'm 100% sure that this is a garden tick Cochylis hybridella - one I've been expecting.

Cochylis hybridella

682nd garden moth, 364th micro, 107th tortrix

I thought this one was also a garden tick, but on checking I've had a couple before on 31/05/2008 and 19/06/2013.

Bactra lancealana

And this one, if confirmed, will be a full British tick! From an 80W trap left on the front of the house last night in full view of the neighbours plum tree.