Mostly Moths 2019

Well here goes, for better or worse, another year of moths. The old thread is here https://community.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/f/all-creatures/196070/mostly-moths-2018/1221500#1221500

To start us off a couple of silly ones that came to greet the first trap of the year on the night of the 1st to 2nd january. It was around 6-7°C all night & frosts ever since so I gave it a go.

A Double-striped Pug

& same one closed

& White Speck

Nothing earth-shattering, but a start!

Best wishes

Hazel in Southwest France

  • I reckon you'll need a lorry load of brambles to feed that lot! Maybe you could contract them out as a team to help the local council with clearance works. I'm not sure if they'd be earning the minimum wage though, a bit young.

    Best wishes

    Hazel in Southwest France

  • WendyBartter said:
    Have moved on now to count the larvae!!!

    I trust you didn't arrive at a higher number than eggs!

    Will they grow up and pupate this year or overwinter?

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    Nige   Flickr

  • They will overwinter as pupae Nige! They are all currently living outside on bramble as they failed to thrive in container but many have dispersed already ... I wish them luck, it only needs a couple to survive really to carry on the breeding programme!

     

     2013 photos & vids here

    eff37 on Flickr

  • Overwintered this Buff-tip moth pupa which came from a caterpillar someone rescued at Local nature reserve on 21st September last year, pupated the same day before I even got a pic of larva!!  It eclosed sometime last night, discovered it at midnight!

    Incredible impression of a piece of broken twig

    Very beautiful with spread wings

    Scary face though

    Also had this tiny micro moth flying around til it landed on my tablet ... then into a pot! Lol

    About 6 or 7 mm

    Even more scary face

    Maybe H can tell me what variety it is??

     

     2013 photos & vids here

    eff37 on Flickr

  • The Buff-tips are amazing at camouflage - I don't think I've seen one wings open. The micro looks almost golden - I think I'll leave it for Hazel though :)

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    Nige   Flickr

  • Funnily enough I had one like it in the bathroom last night, I think it's a Tineidae familly & probably "Tinea pellionella"

    Here's mine

    Another one that lives on unmentionables!

    Best wishes

    Hazel in Southwest France

  • Ha ha Ha, thanks for ID!   Won't go hungry here then!  Did wonder why it tried to double-back inside when I put it out the front door! Lol

     

     2013 photos & vids here

    eff37 on Flickr

  • It's odd though isn't it that the only one I've ever seen & you get one the same day! Must be a good time for them. Mine disappeared which was a shame as it turns out I need a photo of it's hind wing for positive ID. I should have potted it up at the time, but going up the stepladder at bedtime to take the photos (it was on the ceiling) was quite enough excitement.

    Best wishes

    Hazel in Southwest France

  • Shame I evicted mine H ... could have posted it to you! 

     

     2013 photos & vids here

    eff37 on Flickr

  • Loads of these on the West Pennine Moors at the weekend. I was attracted by the metallic wings and huge antennae, but it was only when I got these home and could see the iridescent wings were scaly that I realised they were moths and not flies. I think they are Green Longhorns

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    Nige   Flickr