More invert-ed stuff

Just one brief excursion today down the lane with the boys before the rain set in for the day. Josh had his eyes in for stuff today and managed to find a great longhorn beetle that I would have missed  ......

Stenocorus meridianus

Josh also spotted a hoverfly, which I netted and identified using Stubbs as White-footed Hoverfly [Platycheirus albimanus] but it refused to cooperate for a photo, and he also found this ladybird ...

22-Spot Ladybird

Amongst other small bits swept from umbelifers was this Tachyporus sp. - can't be identified without internal scrutiny I think.

Tachyporus sp.

I've also identified a spider that I swept from grass at Cosby yesterday ...

 

Metellina mengei

Look at the thighs on that ...

In between dodging showers, running errands and having to do some family stuff, I managed a quick walk down the disused railway line at Cosby with the boys looking for anything of interest. Not really ideal for photography whlist out but I potted a few bits up to try later - like these:

Swollen-thighed Beetle

Nedyus quadrimaculata - found on nettles

Arge ustulata

Pammene aurana

Castle, Hill

Yesterday we enjoyed a great family day out at nearby Warwick Castle; lots of stuff to keep the boys entertained with weapons, jousting and fight re-enactments plus the usual great bird display involving the Bald and White-tailed Eagles. The bird handler also had a superb five-month old Martial Eagle in training - a really smart bird though sadly no Stellar's Eagle this time. Whilst there I also found time to point the camera at a few bits and pick up some new species. The weather was pretty good and there were good numbers of Banded Demoiselles active plus plenty of mayflies which I've provisionally identified as:

Ephemera danica

Ephemera vulgata

Banded Demoiselle

 I also found these small beetles on Bittersweet:

Psylliodes affinis

click for huge

White Ramping-fumitory

Great Scented Liverwort - growing on a damp shady castle wall by the river

This morning we've been up to Croft Hill for some more fresh air and walking before the weather turns again. Very windy up there though and impossible to get any shots of the things I found, so I potted them up to try indoors along with one from yesterday which I'd potted to check:

Oedemera lurida

Crepidodera aurea

 Crepidopdera aurata from yesterday

 

Anaspis fasciata

A few Chimney Sweepers being blown about, and I also saw a fresh Pammene aurana which refused to settle for a shot or get in a pot.

I really should have tried to engineer a reason to drive north to see a smart blue bird. As I haven't, here an alternative one.

From The Garden Trap 01/06/2012

No trapping last night as the conditions were poor (and today is downright bloody miserable) but Friday night was okay ....

Total catch 45 of 26sp.
(125W MV 30 of 20sp., 22W/18W Synergetic/CFL 15 of 11sp.)

0017  Common Swift (Hepialus lupulinus)  8
0409a  Argyresthia trifasciata  1
0648  White-shouldered House Moth (Endrosis sarcitrella)  1
0822  Scrobipalpa acuminatella  1
0874  Blastobasis lacticolella  1
0892  Mompha subbistrigella  1
0936  Cochylimorpha straminea  1
0998  Light Brown Apple Moth (Epiphyas postvittana)  2
1082  Plum Tortrix (Hedya pruniana)  1
1174  Epiblema cynosbatella  1
1428  Bee Moth (Aphomia sociella)  1
1764  Common Marbled Carpet (Chloroclysta truncata)  1
1776  Green Carpet (Colostygia pectinataria)  4
1819  Mottled Pug (Eupithecia exiguata)  1
1827  Freyer's Pug (Eupithecia intricata arceuthata)  1
1834  Common Pug (Eupithecia vulgata)  5
1837  Grey Pug (Eupithecia subfuscata)  1 (NFY)
1906  Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata)  5
1920  Scalloped Hazel (Odontopera bidentata)  1
1937  Willow Beauty (Peribatodes rhomboidaria)  1
2061  Buff Ermine (Spilosoma luteum)  1 (NFY)
2089  Heart and Dart (Agrotis exclamationis)  1 (NFY)
2126  Setaceous Hebrew Character (Xestia c-nigrum)  1 (NFY)
2160  Bright-line Brown-eye (Lacanobia oleracea)  1
2334  Rustic Shoulder-knot (Apamea sordens)  1
2384  Vine's Rustic (Hoplodrina ambigua)  1

Freyer's Pug

The Life of a Snail

How long do Garden Snails live and how far do they travel? Not sure what the real answers are, but I do know that they must be something like '3yrs plus' and 'not very far'. I know this because today we found this on the garden fence:

Apart from it being a bit muddy, you'll also notice a painted orange spot. Some of you may well remember seeing this snail before on the blog - and like me you may not have realised just how long ago that was! This snail was painted with day-glo nail varnish in our garden way back on 14/06/2009, along with three others. I last posted about them in 2010 and don't recall seeing them at all last year.

So this snail was already a reasonable size when painted, and that was just a couple of weeks short of three years ago. Amazing that the nail varnish lasted so well - why do women have to keep slapping it on when a snail can keep it on for so long?

Overdue Mothing Update

About time I updated this blog with some mothing results, from the garden and beyond over the last week.

24/05/2012
Total catch 63 of 25sp.
(125W MV 34 of 17sp., 22W/18W Synergetic/CFL combo 29 of 18sp.)
0017  Common Swift (Hepialus lupulinus)  3
0125  Emmetia marginea  1 (NFY)
0247  Tinea trinotella  4
0409a  Argyresthia trifasciata  12
0544  Coleophora albicosta  1 (NFY)
0602  Elachista apicipunctella  1
0647  Brown House Moth (Hofmannophila pseudospretella)  2
0648  White-shouldered House Moth (Endrosis sarcitrella)  2
0822  Scrobipalpa acuminatella  1 (NFY)
0891  Mompha sturnipennella  1 (NFY)
0892  Mompha subbistrigella  1
0986  Syndemis musculana  2 (NFY)
0998  Light Brown Apple Moth (Epiphyas postvittana)  3
1288  Twenty-plume Moth (Alucita hexadactyla)  1
1428  Bee Moth (Aphomia sociella)  1 (NFY)
1497  Amblyptilia acanthadactyla  1
1724  Red Twin-spot Carpet (Xanthorhoe spadicearia)  1 (NFY)
1776  Green Carpet (Colostygia pectinataria)  9
1819  Mottled Pug (Eupithecia exiguata)  3
1834  Common Pug (Eupithecia vulgata)  2
1853  Oak-tree Pug (Eupithecia dodoneata)  1 (NFY)
1862  Double-striped Pug (Gymnoscelis rufifasciata)  1
1906  Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata)  3
1920  Scalloped Hazel (Odontopera bidentata)  4
2092  Shuttle-shaped Dart (Agrotis puta)  2

26/05/2012
Total catch 51 of 22sp.
(125W MV 27 of 15sp., 22W/18W Synergetic/CFL combo 24 of 13sp.)
0017  Common Swift (Hepialus lupulinus)  1
0125  Emmetia marginea  1
0247  Tinea trinotella  3
0366a  Cameraria ohridella  1 (NFY)
0409a  Argyresthia trifasciata  8
0648  White-shouldered House Moth (Endrosis sarcitrella)  2
0891  Mompha sturnipennella  1
0892  Mompha subbistrigella  1
0998  Light Brown Apple Moth (Epiphyas postvittana)  2
1082  Plum Tortrix (Hedya pruniana)  1 (NFY)
1174  Epiblema cynosbatella  1 (NFY)
1651  Chinese Character (Cilix glaucata)  1
1728  Garden Carpet (Xanthorhoe fluctuata)  2 (NFY)
1747  Streamer (Anticlea derivata)  1 (NFY)
1764  Common Marbled Carpet (Chloroclysta truncata)  1 (NFY)
1776  Green Carpet (Colostygia pectinataria)  7
1819  Mottled Pug (Eupithecia exiguata)  4
1834  Common Pug (Eupithecia vulgata)  8
1883  Yellow-barred Brindle (Acasis viretata)  1
1906  Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata)  2
1920  Scalloped Hazel (Odontopera bidentata)  1
2092  Shuttle-shaped Dart (Agrotis puta)  1

27/05/2012
Total catch 46 of 19sp.
(125W MV 26 of 13sp., 22W/18W Synergetic/CFL combo 20 of 11sp.)
0125  Emmetia marginea  1
0158  Antispila metallella  1 (NFY)
0409a  Argyresthia trifasciata  8
0647  Brown House Moth (Hofmannophila pseudospretella)  2
0648  White-shouldered House Moth (Endrosis sarcitrella)  3
0697  Agonopterix arenella  1
0892  Mompha subbistrigella  1
0986  Syndemis musculana  1
0998  Light Brown Apple Moth (Epiphyas postvittana)  6
1428  Bee Moth (Aphomia sociella)  1
1776  Green Carpet (Colostygia pectinataria)  8
1817  Foxglove Pug (Eupithecia pulchellata)  1
1819  Mottled Pug (Eupithecia exiguata)  3
1834  Common Pug (Eupithecia vulgata)  4
1906  Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata)  1
1981  Poplar Hawk-moth (Laothoe populi)  1 (NFY)
2154  Cabbage Moth (Mamestra brassicae)  1 (NFY)
2160  Bright-line Brown-eye (Lacanobia oleracea)  1 (NFY)
2384  Vine's Rustic (Hoplodrina ambigua)  1 (NFY)

Antispila metallella. As far as I know, only the second for VC55

- the first being in April 2002 in my garden!

Syndemis musculana

29/05/2012
Total catch 67 of 27sp.
(125W MV 39 of 20sp., 22W/18W Synergetic/CFL combo 28 of 17sp.)
0017  Common Swift (Hepialus lupulinus)  6

0216  Cork Moth (Nemapogon cloacella)  1 (NFY)

0288  Caloptilia stigmatella  1
0409a  Argyresthia trifasciata  4

0449  Ash Bud Moth (Prays fraxinella)  1 (NFY)

0647  Brown House Moth (Hofmannophila pseudospretella)  2
0648  White-shouldered House Moth (Endrosis sarcitrella)  1
0892  Mompha subbistrigella  2

0936  Cochylimorpha straminea  1 (NFY)

0998  Light Brown Apple Moth (Epiphyas postvittana)  6
1174  Epiblema cynosbatella  3
1428  Bee Moth (Aphomia sociella)  4
1651  Chinese Character (Cilix glaucata)  1
1728  Garden Carpet (Xanthorhoe fluctuata)  1
1776  Green Carpet (Colostygia pectinataria)  5

1778  May Highflyer (Hydriomena impluviata)  1 (NFY)

1808  Sandy Carpet (Perizoma flavofasciata)  1 (NFY)

1819  Mottled Pug (Eupithecia exiguata)  3
1834  Common Pug (Eupithecia vulgata)  9
1883  Yellow-barred Brindle (Acasis viretata)  1
1906  Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata)  5
1920  Scalloped Hazel (Odontopera bidentata)  1

1937  Willow Beauty (Peribatodes rhomboidaria)  1 (NFY)

2078  Least Black Arches (Nola confusalis)  1
2092  Shuttle-shaped Dart (Agrotis puta)  3
2160  Bright-line Brown-eye (Lacanobia oleracea)  1

2492  Small Fan-foot (Herminia grisealis)  1 (NFY)

May Highflyer

Cochylimorpha straminea

31/05/2012
Total catch 33 of 18sp.
(125W MV 16 of 10sp., 22W/18W Synergetic/CFL combo 17 of 14sp.)
0017  Common Swift (Hepialus lupulinus)  3
0647  Brown House Moth (Hofmannophila pseudospretella)  2

0874  Blastobasis lacticolella  1 (NFY)

1082  Plum Tortrix (Hedya pruniana)  1
1174  Epiblema cynosbatella  3
1428  Bee Moth (Aphomia sociella)  1
1724  Red Twin-spot Carpet (Xanthorhoe spadicearia)  1
1728  Garden Carpet (Xanthorhoe fluctuata)  2
1776  Green Carpet (Colostygia pectinataria)  5
1808  Sandy Carpet (Perizoma flavofasciata)  1
1819  Mottled Pug (Eupithecia exiguata)  3

1827  Freyer's Pug (Eupithecia intricata arceuthata)  1 (NFY)

1834  Common Pug (Eupithecia vulgata)  3
1906  Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata)  2
1920  Scalloped Hazel (Odontopera bidentata)  1

2069  Cinnabar (Tyria jacobaeae)  1 (NFY)

2334  Rustic Shoulder-knot (Apamea sordens)  1 (NFY)

2384  Vine's Rustic (Hoplodrina ambigua)  1

Sandy Carpet

Scalloped Hazel

And from the trip to West Sussex last weekend. The only disappointment was missing a macro tick at Parham Park when other recorders picked up two Rosy Marbled but neither was retained before I had a chance to see them. I did pick up a new micro though, and one other moth tick with a dayflyer at Heyshott Down.

25/05/2012 : Parham Park, West Sussex
Daytime observations
0150  Adela reaumurella
0175  Narycia duplicella
0185  Luffia ferchaultella (larval)
0186  Psyche casta  (larval)
0315  Phyllonorycter harrisella
0697  Agonopterix arenella
1722  Flame Carpet (Xanthorhoe designata)
1935  Mottled Umber (Erannis defoliaria) (larval)
2069  Cinnabar (Tyria jacobaeae)
2227  Sprawler (Asteroscopus sphinx) (larval)
2247  Merveille du Jour (Dichonia aprilina) (larval)
2271  Orange Sallow (Xanthia citrago) (larval)

Mottled Umber

25/05/2012 : Parham Park
1 x 125W MV over sheet, 2 x 125W MV traps & 1 x 22W/18W Synergetic/CFL combo trap
Operated 21:30 - 23:30, c16C, dry, light breeze
Total catch 83 of 39sp.
0017  Common Swift (Hepialus lupulinus)  3
0125  Emmetia marginea  2
0134  Lampronia flavimitrella  1
0227  Skin Moth (Monopis laevigella)  2
0246  Tinea semifulvella  3
0647  Brown House Moth (Hofmannophila pseudospretella)  1
0986  Syndemis musculana  1
1120  Ancylis mitterbacheriana  2
1398  Rush Veneer (Nomophila noctuella)  1
1428  Bee Moth (Aphomia sociella)  1
1645  Scalloped Hook-tip (Falcaria lacertinaria)  1
1648  Pebble Hook-tip (Drepana falcataria)  2
1680  Maiden's Blush (Cyclophora punctaria)  2
1681  Clay Triple-lines (Cyclophora linearia)  2
1727  Silver-ground Carpet (Xanthorhoe montanata)  3
1738  Common Carpet (Epirrhoe alternata)  4
1764  Common Marbled Carpet (Chloroclysta truncata)  4
1776  Green Carpet (Colostygia pectinataria)  6
1803  Small Rivulet (Perizoma alchemillata)  1
1808  Sandy Carpet (Perizoma flavofasciata)  1
1834  Common Pug (Eupithecia vulgata)  3
1853  Oak-tree Pug (Eupithecia dodoneata)  1
1893  Tawny-barred Angle (Macaria liturata)  1
1902  Brown Silver-line (Petrophora chlorosata)  8
1906  Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata)  4
1961  Light Emerald (Campaea margaritata)  2
1979  Lime Hawk-moth (Mimas tiliae)  1
1981  Poplar Hawk-moth (Laothoe populi)  1
1999  Lobster Moth (Stauropus fagi)  1
2009  Maple Prominent (Ptilodon cucullina)  3
2011  Pale Prominent (Pterostoma palpina)  1
2014  Marbled Brown (Drymonia dodonaea)  1
2028  Pale Tussock (Calliteara pudibunda)  3
2043  Orange Footman (Eilema sororcula)  1
2060  White Ermine (Spilosoma lubricipeda)  1
2078  Least Black Arches (Nola confusalis)  1
2102  Flame Shoulder (Ochropleura plecta)  5
2410  Marbled White Spot (Protodeltote pygarga)  1
2450  Spectacle (Abrostola tripartita)  1

Lampronia flavimitrella - a nice tick and one that's pretty scarce (pRDB3)

Lobster Moth

26/05/2012 : Heyshott Down

Daytime observation

1366  Pyrausta nigrata

Finally, from a late evening foray to Narborough Bog during the week:

Narborough Bog : 29/05/2012
Observed late evening
0016  Gold Swift (Hepialus hecta)
0017  Common Swift (Hepialus lupulinus)
0216  Cork Moth (Nemapogon cloacella)
1076  Celypha lacunana
1640  Drinker (Euthrix potatoria)
1776  Green Carpet (Colostygia pectinataria)

Gold Swift

Cork Moth