tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30639700859750448502024-03-19T04:44:48.052+00:00Paul's Back Garden SafariI cannot be described as an expert in anything let alone nature and wildlife. This blog has been inspired by reading of local bioblitzs'. However, this is more an account of a plodding marathon of the wildlife I encounter as I bumble about the UK.Paul Challinorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860120267566185229noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3063970085975044850.post-65097473508708329672019-10-22T18:44:00.000+01:002019-10-22T18:44:42.783+01:00Black Snail Beetle - Silpha atrata<br />
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Black Snail Beetle - Silpha atrata</b></span></h2>
<span style="font-kerning: none;">5th October </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Today was a lovely sunny day and so we went to the beach and had a little walk along Barry Island Beach. The place was packed, and everyone had a dog. Then we figured it out, this was the first weekend of October and so out of season and dogs were allowed once more to run and play on the sand. Heading back to the car we spotted Black Snail Beetle, <i>Silpha atrata</i> scuttling across the path to the safety of the grass. I didn’t have the camera with me and so a few quick snaps with the iPhone was all I could manage, so the photos here are not top drawer. I’ve never knowingly seen one before, but it’s been a great exercise to finding out about it’s rather gruesome eating habits. </span><br />
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">It’s not a large beetle varying in size between 10-15mm. Many black in colour, it can vary from entirely black to almost completely red. The head and mandibles seem to stick out from beyond the main body and this is an adaption to its method of predation. You wouldn’t be surprised to learn from its common name the main prey are snails. In order to feed the <i>S. atrata</i> climbs onto the shell of the snail and bites it behind the head. The snail then withdraws into the safety of it’s shell and secretes defensive mucus. However the snail is not safe as <i>S. atrata </i>has a strategy which involves then applying a salivary secretion which dissolves both the mucus and the snail tissue. When ready <i>S. atrata</i> then enters the shell and begins feeding on the snail. </span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="blob:https://www.blogger.com/438bf84e-b60e-4f1d-a398-b41bfbbabd67" /></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Although I’ve not noticed <i>S. atrata</i> it is common and found throughout the UK as far north as Orkney. But normally I leave beetles alone as they can be difficult to identify. However, I’l certainly look closer now I know what its looks like. Typical habitat includes deciduous woodland borders but also parkland, gardens, damp grassland, peat bogs and coastal dunes - almost everywhere it seems. The Black Snail Beetle is mainly nocturnal and probably the main reason I may not seen it before. It can live for a number of years.</span><br />
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">References</span><span style="font-kerning: none;">National Biodiversity Network. Silpha atrata. <a href="https://species.nbnatlas.org/species/NBNSYS0000023050"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">https://species.nbnatlas.org/species/NBNSYS0000023050</span></a>. Accessed 20.10.2019.</span><br />
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Paul Challinorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860120267566185229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3063970085975044850.post-15404195737291181452019-10-20T20:03:00.001+01:002019-10-21T22:28:04.928+01:00Green-Brindled Crescent - Allophyes oxyacanthae<h2>
Green-Brindled Crescent - <b style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 18px;">Allophyes oxyacanthae</b></h2>
18th October 2019<br />
<span style="font-kerning: none;">October this year has been pretty wet, but mild. So I wasn’t expecting much when I put the moth trap out on a wet but cool evening. But the next morning there were two individuals a Green-brindled Crescent - <i>Allophyes oxyacanthae</i>, and a Beaded Chestnut - <i>Agrochola lychnidis</i>. I am intrigued each time I look at moths - the cryptic markings and colours can be unusual to our human eye and perceptions of colour until you consider the camouflage they provide. Take the Green-brindled Crescent, the green flashes make it look like it has been "lichenised" when I took it out of the moth trap this morning. But then if it was resting on a tree trunk I am very much certain I wouldn't see it. I can't deny the Beaded Chestnut that kept it company is as interesting, but…… </span><br />
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Superficially it is a dull brown species, but the the right light typical form has patches of metallic green scales giving it an attractive sheen. There is a melanic form, ab. <i>capucina</i> is quite common in cities and suburban areas, which shows much less green. The difference can be seen in the two individuals I’ve found over the past couple of years.</span><br />
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">There is only one generation a year and the adult <i>A. oxyacanthae</i> is on the wing in the autumn, flying from September to November. Although widely distributed and still fairly common throughout much of Britain, however, it is one of the macro moths that has been a big decline in its numbers. The State of Britain’s Larger Moths 2013 published by Butterfly Conservation reports it has seen a decline by 81% over the previous 40 years.</span><br />
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">The adults lay the eggs near food plants and can be found in a wide variety of habitats, occupying woodland, hedgerows as well as suburban environments. <i>A. oxyacanthae</i> die off in the winter and the next generation<i> o</i>verwinters as an egg. The eggs are laid singly on twigs in the food plant, which include Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Crab Apple, Dog-rose, Plum, cotoneaster and Rowan. All of these trees can be found in or very near tour garden. The caterpillars hatch in spring and feed up until they are ready to create their cocoon underground ready for pupation. </span><br />
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">The scientific names derives from the following roots. Allophyes come from the Greek meaning changeable in nature. Related to the dimorphism of the Green-brindled Crescent. Oxyacanthae from the hawthorn, one of the food plants.</span><br />
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">References. </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Emmet,A.M. (1991) The Scientific Names of British Lepidoptera: Their History and Meaning. Harley Books: Colchester. </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Fox, Richard & Parsons, Mark & Chapman, Jason & Woiwod, Ian & Warren, Martin & Brooks, David. (2013). The State of Britain’s Larger Moths 2013. </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">National Biodiversity Network. Allophyes oxyacanthae. NBN. <a href="https://species.nbnatlas.org/species/NBNSYS0000006338"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">https://species.nbnatlas.org/species/NBNSYS0000006338</span></a>. Accessed 20.10.2019.</span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Waring,P. Townsend,M. And Lewington,R. (2011) Field Guide to the Moths of Great Britain and Ireland (2nd ed) British Wildlife Publishing. </span><span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span><br />
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Paul Challinorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860120267566185229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3063970085975044850.post-57668799282641181582019-10-11T20:42:00.003+01:002019-10-21T22:28:28.384+01:00Dotted Border - Agriopis marginaria<h2>
Dotted Border - Agriopis marginaria</h2>
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I've not done much with the moth trap so far this year. The one time I did put it out in January it remained empty in the morning. Though I have found a few winter moths around the place. So this past weekend I put the trap out on the back lawn more in hope than expectation. Even though the night had been cold with temperature approaching freezing my pessimism was misplaced as I had a clutch of Common Quakers - <em>Orthosia cerasi</em>, and a single Small Quaker - Orthosia cruda. But a new one to me was a single Dotted Border, <em>Agriopis marginaria. </em>I found another individual a few days later roosting (do moths roost?) in the porch at the front of the house. Though I can't exclude that it's the same individual having moved around the house.<br />
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<a href="https://paulsbackgardensafari.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/img_0548.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" class="size-medium wp-image-1349" height="320" src="https://paulsbackgardensafari.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/img_0548.jpg" width="215" /></a>This is an attractive member of the Geometridae family of moths. The forewing can be between 16-20mm across in males. But in the females it is very much different, as this is one of the species of moths where the females are flightless and you would be very hard pressed to link the two genders together if seen side by side (<a href="https://ukmoths.org.uk/species/agriopis-marginaria">here's a few photos of the female from the UK Moths website</a>).<br />
The moths can be seen mainly from February through to April, but can also be found from December onwards in mild periods. It's common and widespread through the UK. The list of plants that provide food for the larvae kids pretty extensive, showing that a polyphagous lifestyle can be a route to success. Plants plants include many broadleaved trees and shrubs - Oak, Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Birch, Hazel, Willow, Elms, Field Maple, Sycamore, Apple and Plum.<br />
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n Welsh the Dotted Border is called Rhisgl Ymyl Fraith referring to the dots along the edge of the wing. The binomial name <em>Agriopis </em>comes from <em>agrios </em>meaning wild and <em>"opos"</em> the face. This refers to the rough scales that can be found on the fronts. Unsurprisingly <em>marginaria</em> aludes to the spots on the border of the wings.<br />
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26 February 2019.<br />
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References:<br />
NBN. Agriopis marginiara. <a href="https://species.nbnatlas.org/species/NHMSYS0021144223#overview">https://species.nbnatlas.org/species/NHMSYS0021144223#overview</a>. Accessed 26.02.2019.<br />
Manley, C. (2015) British Moths: A Photographic Guide to the Moth of Great Britain and Ireland (2nd ed). Bloomsbury Natural History.<br />
Waring,P. Townsend,M. And Lewington,R. (2011) Field Guide to the Moths of Great Britain and Ireland (2nd ed) British Wildlife Publishing.<br />
Emmet,A.M. (1991) The Scientific Names of British Lepidoptera: Their History and Meaning. Harley Books: Colchester.</div>
Paul Challinorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860120267566185229noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3063970085975044850.post-14937745820850718672019-10-11T20:38:00.000+01:002019-10-21T22:28:53.183+01:00Eudasyphora cyanella<h2>
Eudasyphora cyanella</h2>
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The weather this week has been sunny, warm and very Spring like. It’s a shame that I've had to work throughout the week, whistfully looking out of the office window at the garden. Though I have allowed myself to have my coffee and lunch in sunshine. As it happens I’m not the only one taking advantage of the warm rays of sunshine. Sitting on the hedge basking in the sunshine are about 20 to 30 small greenish flies. Eudasyphora cyanella is certainly making the most of the warmth. It looks superficially very much like the green bottle flies that we are all so familiar with, the Lucillia, however they belong to a different family called Muscidae. The adults which are flying now are among the earliest of the flies that emerge after overwintering as adults. As the flight ages during spring its colour gradually changes from green to a bronze colour.<br />
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The female lays her eggs in cow dung before midday in the warm sunny weather. Cow dung is very much the preferred food for the growing larvae, but it is also thought that they use fresh horse and sheep dung as well. The female excavates a small cavity in the dung and lays between 25 to 30 eggs, which can hatch in as short period as a day. The larvae feed solely on the dung in which they are deposited and are ready to pupate between two and four weeks after hatching. There are usually two broods in the year, the first one in May and June from overwintered adults, and the second generation is from the current years progeny in July and August.<br />
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Eudasyphora cyanella doesn’t have an English name that I can find so we will have to continue to try and learn and remember its scientific name, even though it doesn’t exactly trip of the tongue easily. That said it is common throughout the UK and is often found something itself on walls or hedges. It has been known to overwinter in houses possibly among the other cluster flies which are common in loft and sheds over winter.<br />
28 March 2019.Paul Challinorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860120267566185229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3063970085975044850.post-68057819122781671292019-10-05T08:49:00.004+01:002019-10-21T22:29:52.576+01:00Buffish Mining Bee<br />
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Buffish Mining Bee</h2>
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11 April 2019.</div>
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Despite the sunny days the temperature in the garden is still not making it very comfortable to be outside without a coat. But this is not deterring the solitary bees. The Choisia was alive with them today, with over 6 male Red Mason Bees, Osmia bicomis, flying around busily. But then out of the corner of my eye I noticed a much bigger bee, originally thinking it was a larger female. I only had my iPhone with me but still a managed a reasonable photo. Looking through my books I decide it was a female Andrena nigroaenea, confirmed by my gurus on the BWARS Facebook page. The Common Name - Buffish Mining Bee seems to suggest that those naming it couldn’t really think of anything more suitable. “It looks a little Buffish, can’t see any thing else about it - so what shall we call it?”<br />
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The Buffish Mining Bee is also one of the largest Andrena species at around 14mm, and with a plumpish appearance. The abdomen is dark brown and the hind legs and thorax are covered with contrasting orange hairs.<br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3063970085975044850" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><img alt="Andrena nigroaenea - Buffish Mining Bee" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1370" height="360" src="https://paulsbackgardensafari.files.wordpress.com/2019/04/2b5b0f16-8f0c-40b1-bf6a-1805d538bfe8.jpeg" width="640" />Andrena nigroaenea - Buffish Mining Bee. Not mining but basking.[/caption]<br />
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A. nigroaenea is one of the first to emerge in spring and can be seen on the wing from March onwards. However, there have been reports of newly emerged individual in July. This may be an indication of a second generation, but the jury remains out on whether this is due to climate change and more prolonged summer temperatures (BWARS).<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://paulsbackgardensafari.files.wordpress.com/2019/04/d499e1a7-dd7f-45c3-b7b6-347e08232a85.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Andrena nigroaenea distribution map" border="0" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1372" height="320" src="https://paulsbackgardensafari.files.wordpress.com/2019/04/d499e1a7-dd7f-45c3-b7b6-347e08232a85.jpeg" width="242" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Andrena nigroaenea distribution map <br />from NBN</span></td></tr>
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However, climate change does seem to having an effect on another aspect of the the life cycle of A. nigroaenea. There is very close relationship between the Early-Spider Orchid, Ophrys sphegodes and our character here. Buffy (we’ll call him that for now) acts as an important pollinator of the Early-spider Orchid, which produces an pheromone or attractant similar to the female A. nigroaenea. This is a neat, but not unusual technique used by plants. However, recent climate changes with early warmer Springs has meant that the Early-spider Orchid is not quite living up to it’s name and is not flowering earlier in the Spring. But the male and female A.nigroaenea are emerging earlier in the season. The rising temperatures are having a larger effect on the bees than the orchids, and although the orchids are flowering earlier they are not keeping pace with the bees and they tow species are falling out of sync with each other. This is not necessarily a problem for Buffy, but because the orchid is flowering after the emergency of the females, there are fewer males around for the Early-Spider Orchid to attract to their flowers for pollination. However, I could argue that this a moot point here in the UK as the Early-Spider Orchid is very rare, and is certainly one that I am very unlikely to see.<br />
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Orchids not withstanding, A.nigroaenea is a common and widespread bee in the UK, and does not appear to be under threat. Like other Andrena, Buffy is a solitary bee and nests as a singly Nesting or large aggregations, often mixed with other Andrena species. The nest can be April-wpcm below ground with 2 or 3 cells in each nest. When the female is out foraging th nest is left open, but when foraging flights are finished or if it’s raining the Burrows are closed to protect the eggs. Like many bees, Buffy is a target of cleptoparasite, and there are two that have been recorded Nomada goodeniana and Nomada lathburiana. I was able to photograph N.goodeniana on Skomer Island a couple of years back.<br />
[caption id="attachment_1371" align="alignnone" width="800"]<img alt="Nomada goodeniana" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1371" height="360" src="https://paulsbackgardensafari.files.wordpress.com/2019/04/71dec237-406f-4e23-9a39-601f0729a543.jpeg" width="640" />Nomada goodeniana - on Skomer Island in 2016<br />
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Andrena nigroaenea. BWARS. <a href="http://www.bwars.com/bee/andrenidae/andrena-cineraria">http://www.bwars.com/bee/andrenidae/andrena-cineraria</a>. Accessed 25.04.2019<br />
Hutchings, M. J., Robbirt, K. M., Roberts, D. L., & Davy, A. J. (2018). Vulnerability of a specialized pollination mechanism to climate change revealed by a 356-year analysis. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/botlinnean/box086">https://doi.org/10.1093/botlinnean/box086</a><br />
11 April 2019Paul Challinorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860120267566185229noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3063970085975044850.post-51112956451198624992019-10-04T08:16:00.001+01:002019-10-04T08:16:59.145+01:00Black Oil Beetle - Meloe proscarabaeusDuring our walk in the summer along the Gower coast from Oxwich to Pitton Cross we came across 3 Black Oil Beetles, <em>Meloe proscarabaeus</em>. I often found them at this time of year along this stretch of the Welsh coast. The cliff top path is flanked by wide and unimproved grass verges dotted with gorse and wind structured blackthorn shrubs. Maybe the path itself allows easier overs action of these weird looking beetles, but once seen it’s difficult to ignore the large black lumbering insect going about it’s business of ensuring the survival of the next generation.<br />
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It’s common name of Black Oil Beetle is very apt, as they are black, but when the sun hits the body it can have a blue-violet sheen. Whilst this doesn’t make it a beauty, it does add it’s its charisma. <em>M. proscarabaeus</em> has a roughly square-shaped thorax, which has an almost square base with a very small rounded tooth at it’s base. It is these characteristics of the thorax that helps to differentiate it from the similar Violet Oil Beetle - <em>Meloe violaceus</em>. This can be easy to miss because the thorax appears to be small as your eyes are drawn to the hugely extended abdomen, which seems to be impossibly swollen. So swollen in fact that it waddles along the ground instead of walking.<br />
Not surprisingly this is a flightless Beetle, and the elytra are small and stubby in appearance. Males have kinked antennae., and the females have slightly-kinked antennae. It’s appearance is not the only unusual fact about the Black Oil Beetle. It’s life cycle as a whole is fascinating and unconventional to say the least. After mating the female searches out a suitable place to dig a burrow to lay her eggs. This maybe while I often see them near the path, as she is searching for a patch of bare ground to start the burrow. Once a suitable site has been found she lays around a 1000 eggs. When the eggs hatch the larvae, called <em>traungulia</em> leave the burrow and climb up only flowers heads, where they wait for a passing bee. The triungulia have a tactic to increase the chance of hits hint a ride by cooperating together and create pyramid forming living pyramids so as to enable them to hitch a lift on solitary bees visiting the flowers. It is this unsuspecting solitary bee that is the main target fo the triungulin, and is necessary for the next stage in it’s life cycle.<br />
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<img class="size-full wp-image-1359" height="480" src="https://paulsbackgardensafari.files.wordpress.com/2019/04/img_0646.jpg" width="640" /><br />
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Once a bee visits the flower the tiny triungulin attempts to hitch a ride, and if successful is transported to the bees nest. It they are lucky and have attached themselves to the right bee, because not all bees are ‘equal’ in the eyes of an oil beetle, it will detach itself from the host and secrete itself in the nest. Once in the next the triungulin will transform into a grub-like larvae and then eat the eggs of the host bee, along with the pollen stores. Once fully grown the larva then pupates and adult beetle overwinters within the solitary bee’s nest , ready to emerge the following spring to coincide with the breeding cycle of the host bees and start the parasitic process all over again.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://paulsbackgardensafari.files.wordpress.com/2019/04/img_0644.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" class="size-large wp-image-1360" height="320" src="https://paulsbackgardensafari.files.wordpress.com/2019/04/img_0644.jpg" width="216" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NBN Distribution Map.</td></tr>
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The numbers of oil Beetles has seen a significant reduction in numbers. This is linked to loss of habitat and also because of the reduction in the umber of solitary bees. It is this intimate and dependent relationship on solitary bees that can have a big impact on it’s breeding success. Any changes or loss of habitat means less foraging and flowers for bees, which in turn reduces the breeding success of bees. Fewer bees then mean fewer Oil Beetles. The maths is simple. The ideal habitat for Oil Beetles is grassland and heath rich in wild flowers. And often these care found around coastal areas, hence i suppose the frequency I come across whilst limboing along the coast paths in Wales. They can be found from February through to June. According to Bug Life the Welsh and Gower coasts offers the most likely areas to find the Black Oil Beetle. Because of this decline the Black Oil Beetle is on a number of Biodiversity Priority Lists including Natural England England (<u><a href="http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/file/6518755878240256">http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/file/6518755878240256</a></u>) , So if you do see one you can report it via <u><a href="http://buglife.com/">BugLife.com</a></u> or iReord. So go searchingPaul Challinorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860120267566185229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3063970085975044850.post-63341218401642332342019-10-01T20:17:00.000+01:002019-10-01T20:19:05.815+01:00Bloody-noses in the grass8th April 2019<br />
As we sat down to have our coffee the other morning while walking the coastal path on Gower i was visited by one of my favourite beetles. In fact it is one of only 4 beetles I can easily identify without long periods of time staring at field guides. Mind you I’m not including Ladybirds in this short list. I have a fighting chance with them. The curiously named Bloody-nosed Beetle (<em>Trimarcha tenebricosa) </em>gets it’s name from a defensive reaction when threatened. It releases red coloured hemoplymph from it’s nose area (if a beetle has a nose that is). This apparently tastes foul, though I’m certainly not going to test it myself, intended to prevent anything from eating it. At between 18-23mm longs, it’s among the largest of beetles tat are found in the UK.<br />
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<img class="size-full wp-image-1364" height="451" src="https://paulsbackgardensafari.files.wordpress.com/2019/04/img_0657.jpg" width="800" /><br />
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The coastal path is an ideal environment of it to thrive as it favours grassland, heathland and hedgerows where Ladies Bedstraw and Cleavers(Goosegrass) are readily found for the larvae to feed upon. The life-cycle is such that both eggs and adults overwinter, and so in spring, developing larvae are present at the same time as actively mating adults. But generally the adults can be found from April through to September, and we often come across it around the coast when we are out and about.<br />
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<img class="size-full wp-image-1365" height="600" src="https://paulsbackgardensafari.files.wordpress.com/2019/04/img_0658.jpg" width="800" /><br />
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They have a striking appearance, especially when the sun emphasises an iridescent blue-black sheen on the carapace. But look closer and you can see that’s the antennae look like a string on black pearls. The tarsi also have a globular appearance as well, and this seems to create a strange fascination as I watch them lumbering slowing over the grass. As each leg is swung outwards and then froward they look walk like a cartoon wind up beetle, with the legs on each side moving alternatively resting a swaying movement. It;s not smooth, it’s not fast, but it is intriguing.<br />
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<img class="size-full wp-image-1366" height="600" src="https://paulsbackgardensafari.files.wordpress.com/2019/04/img_0659.jpg" width="800" /><br />
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When viewed from above, it’s easy to see a line down the centre of its back that gives the appearance of wing casings, however the elytra as but i are fused together. Bloody-nosed beetles are flightless. This does present a challenge to it’s spread if there are threats to it’s immediate environment. Without flight, and with a slow lumbering walk dispersal is a slow business, and will be dependent on a continuous and accessible habitats allowing it to continue breeding and expand.Paul Challinorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860120267566185229noreply@blogger.com0Gower, United Kingdom51.5966706 -4.169878100000005451.2813631 -4.8153251000000052 51.911978100000006 -3.5244311000000055tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3063970085975044850.post-74387855010485452532019-10-01T20:14:00.005+01:002019-10-01T20:20:32.103+01:00Ruby-tailed WaspJust outside the patio doors leading to the back garden we have a small Bay tree in a pot. It’s being doing well there in its south east aspect, and receives full sun for half the day. Although the flowers are inconspicuous and only appear earlier in the year at this time in late summer it still attracts its fair share of visitors. Wasps and overflies seem to like it, searching for something that I can’t see. But the past two weeks I’ve noticed another visitor I’ve only seen occasionally, and then not in the garden. This is a solitary wasp and despite it’s diminutive size, only about 10mm, it ia a beauty. Being small and pretty active it was a challenge to get a decent photo, but I eventually managed to get a couple I’m happy with.<br />
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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img alt="" class="wp-image-1389" src="https://paulsbackgardensafari.files.wordpress.com/2019/08/ruby-tailed-wasp-chrysis.jpg?w=800" /><figcaption><br /></figcaption></figure>Now I’m going to disappoint you here and tell you straight away that I can’t give you an exact name other than it is a Ruby-Tailed Wasp, a member of the Chrysis genus. Why am I being difficult? The reason is easy, and one I come up against often when trying to identify mini beasts. There are over 15 species within the genus and they all look very similar. So much of a look alike are they that 3 things are needed: an expert, a microscope and dissection skills. I am not an expert, I don’t have a microscope, nor do I have the inclination to spend time to dissect tiny insects. That said, it might be Chrysis Ignita, but........<br />
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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img alt="" class="wp-image-1388" src="https://paulsbackgardensafari.files.wordpress.com/2019/08/ruby-tailed-wasp-chrysis-1.jpg?w=800" /><figcaption><br /></figcaption></figure>Ruby-tailed Wasps are solitary and are parasitic on other wasps and solitary bees. The eggs are laid in the feels of the hosts, hatching out to devour the host larva and emerge the next year to start the cycle over again. Entering a wasps nest to lay it’s egg can be a dangerous activity, and in order to protect itself from the wasp stinging and killing it, Ruby-tailed Wasps have evolved a highly slecrotized exoskeleton making in impenetrable to the host wasp. It also has another defensive action when discovered creeping around the host’s nest by rolling into a ball, making it even more difficult to attack.<br />
Between April and September you can find Ruby-Tailed Wasps running over walls, banks and tree trunks searching for the host nests. The wasps have two basic strategies in parasitizing hosts. The first involves cleptoparasitism where the newly emerged larva of the Ruby-tailed Wasp eats the host egg or the young host larva and then eats the food resources left by the host in the nest. The second strategy first eats the food store and then feeds on the host larva. The shining apparatus has evolved into a multi tool that allows the Ruby-tailed wasp to saw or penetrate through the cell wall of the host wasp, then the ovipositor is used to lay the egg into the host large a=or near it, depending upon the parasitic strategy used. It’s a jungle out there!Paul Challinorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860120267566185229noreply@blogger.com0Lisvane, Cardiff51.540996748981129 -3.172406367675762351.50149774898113 -3.2530873676757626 51.580495748981129 -3.0917253676757621tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3063970085975044850.post-76766807310554378172019-10-01T20:11:00.000+01:002019-10-01T20:11:47.529+01:00Do bees paint their faces?25 June 2019<br />
I’ve made a surprising and interesting discovery this year in the garden. Perhaps that statement may be a little hyperbole. It’s not a new discovery to science, just to me. When bimbling around the garden this late spring and early summer I’ve noticed a number of very small flying insects zipping around and occasionally landing on the yellow leaves of a Choisia. Up until a couple of weeks ago I dismissed them as some sort on midge, and way beyond my poor identification skills to even consider for a nanosecond to try and ID.<br />
<img class="size-full wp-image-1381" height="601" src="https://paulsbackgardensafari.files.wordpress.com/2019/06/img_0945.jpg" width="800" /><br />
One morning when there was nothing much around I attempted a photograph anyway. Why you may ask. Well, because I could! When I looked at the image on the iPad later that day I was pleasantly surprised to discover that it was a miniature bee. One which had very distinctive facial markings. “Ohhh.....I wonder what that is?” I mumbled to myself. I have to mumble to myself, everyone else in the house tolerates my fumbling forays into the the world of entomology, but are not interested in joining me. After only 5 minutes of leading through my ID books I came up with a provisional identification of <em>Hylaeus communis</em>, or Common Yellow-face Bee. Two hours later my guess, and yes it is always a guess, was confirmed by the gurus on the BWARs Facebook page. I love these specialist Facebook groups who help me, or rather correct me, so often when I find something new.<br />
<img class="size-full wp-image-1382" height="600" src="https://paulsbackgardensafari.files.wordpress.com/2019/06/p1010797_edited.jpg" width="800" /><br />
Let’s get something straight, H<em>.communis </em>is small. Really small. And the male is smaller than the female. Only about 4mm long, so most of the time it looks like a fly black speck of something. It’s only when you get the chance to see one of them magnified that you can see it properly in its miniature perfection. But how small can an insect get and still be able to pack in all the anatomical features to make it a viable organism. Brain, guts, muscles....amazing. The photos are not crystal clear, so I hope you forgive a slight fuzziness, but they were cropped severely to magnify the wee beasties.<br />
<em>H.communis</em> belongs to a genus that comprises more than 500 species worldwide, with 12 of them occurring in the UK. Unlike other bees <em>Hylaeus </em>do not have pollen baskets, but transport pollen in their crop from the flowers back to their nest. And <em>H.communis</em> is no exception. They are classed solitary bees, meaning that they nest as individuals, with each female tending only their own nest. The adults emerge mod-May onwards, and can be seen up until September. I can’t remember seeing them last year, but they may have been there and I just dismissed them as midges, managing to ignore what was under my nose.<br />
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The females make their nests in any suitable hole or crevice which may be hollow stems or twigs, holes in wood, walls or soil. They also use bee hotels, so maybe they moved into the hotels I put up last year. Each nest is lined by a waterproof cellulose substance that the female bee produces before laying single eggs in individual cells within the hole. Each cell is provisioned with pollen to feed the growing larva. You’d have thought that something this small would only be a risk be being eaten by something much larger, a wasp or a bird even. That may well be the case, but like almost every other living organism it is at risk of being parasitised. Not as an adult, but at the larval stage. The nests can be attacked by a parasitic wasp Sapyga quinquepuntata, which lays its eggs within the cells. Gasteruption wasps have also been reported as parasites. One intriguing evolutionary development is that in Hawaii some Hylaeus species themselves have become cleptoparasits of other Hylaeus species.<br />
If you want to go out and look for <em>H.communis </em>yourself there is a high chance you’d be successful it’s widely distributed in the south and centre of fo the UK, and is one of the most common Hylaeus to occur in gardens.<br />
References<br />
Falk, S. & Lewington, R. (2015) Field Guide to the Bees of Great Britain and Ireland. Bloomsbury.Paul Challinorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860120267566185229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3063970085975044850.post-82463576349632488602019-10-01T19:51:00.000+01:002019-10-01T20:12:15.845+01:00Early Tooth-stripedIt is always exciting to find a new moth I’ve never seen before whenever I open the moth trap in the morning. And this time was no exception. However, I was only able to take a record shot as it was clinging to the egg carton. It wasn’t interested in being manoeuvred onto my lichen covered twig for a more aesthetic shot and it escaped. So for now I’ll have to content myself with just the one photo.<br />
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<a href="https://paulsbackgardensafari.files.wordpress.com/2018/04/306a0184.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Early Tooth-striped" border="0" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1243" height="435" src="https://paulsbackgardensafari.files.wordpress.com/2018/04/306a0184.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The Early Tooth-Striped, <i>Trichopteryx carpinata,</i> is a small moth with a wingspan of only 30-34mm (1,2). The base colour is grey, but can be variable taking on a browny grey colouration (1). The broad and rounded forewing have a series of cross bands which can be faint (1,2) but there is a sub-species f.fasciata in which the cross bands are bolder and darker (1,2). It’s not difficult to see where the English name came from.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://paulsbackgardensafari.files.wordpress.com/2018/04/untitled.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Untitled" border="0" class=" wp-image-1245 alignleft" height="254" src="https://paulsbackgardensafari.files.wordpress.com/2018/04/untitled.jpeg" width="187" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Distribution Map from NBN</td></tr>
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There is only one generation, with the adults on the wing April and May (1,2). The larvae can be found on the food plants from May to July and then over winter as a pupa. The food plants include Alnus glutinosa (Alder), Salix caprea (Goat Willow), Lonicera periclymenum (Honeysuckle) and Betula pendula (Silver Birch) (1,4,5).<br />
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According the The State of Britain’s Larger Moths 2013 Report over the past 40 years the Early Tooth-Striped has increased by 220%. After reading about the continued decline in the populations of many species this is good to hear. It is common throughout the British Isles (6).<br />
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The latin name comes from <i>trikhous</i> meaning holding three, and <i>pterux</i> a wing. This alludes to a lobe on the hindwing of the male that looks like a third wing. <i>Carpinata </i>relates to the Hornbeam, <i>Carpinus</i>, however this is not one of the host plants for the larvae (7).<br />
<ol>
<li>Waring,P. Townsend,M. And Lewington,R. (2011) Field Guide to the Moths of Great Britain and Ireland (2nd ed). British Wildlife Publishing.</li>
<li>UK Moths. <a href="https://ukmoths.org.uk/species/trichopteryx-carpinata/">https://ukmoths.org.uk/species/trichopteryx-carpinata/</a>. Accessed 08.04.2018.</li>
<li>Fox, R., Parsons, M.S., Chapman, J.W., Woiwod, I.P., Warren, M.S. & Brooks, D.R. (2013) The State of Britain’s Larger Moths 2013. Butterfly Conservation and Rothamsted Research, Wareham, Dorset, UK. </li>
<li>HOSTS - a Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants. Natural History Museum. <a href="http://www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/data/hostplants/search/detail.dsml?PK_MainID=24807&PSpeciesqtype=starts+with&PGenus=Lonicera&PFamilyqtype=starts+with&sort=Family&Familyqtype=starts+with&Speciesqtype=starts+with&Genusqtype=starts+with&PGenusqtype=starts+with&Country=British+Isles&beginIndex=5&listPageURL=list.dsml%253FPSpeciesqtype%253Dstarts%252Bwith%2526PGenus%253DLonicera%2526PFamilyqtype%253Dstarts%252Bwith%2526sort%253DFamily%2526Familyqtype%253Dstarts%252Bwith%2526Speciesqtype%253Dstarts%252Bwith%2526Genusqtype%253Dsta">http://www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/data/hostplants/search/detail.dsml?PK_MainID=24807&PSpeciesqtype=starts+with&PGenus=Lonicera&PFamilyqtype=starts+with&sort=Family&Familyqtype=starts+with&Speciesqtype=starts+with&Genusqtype=starts+with&PGenusqtype=starts+with&Country=British+Isles&beginIndex=5&listPageURL=list.dsml%253FPSpeciesqtype%253Dstarts%252Bwith%2526PGenus%253DLonicera%2526PFamilyqtype%253Dstarts%252Bwith%2526sort%253DFamily%2526Familyqtype%253Dstarts%252Bwith%2526Speciesqtype%253Dstarts%252Bwith%2526Genusqtype%253Dsta</a>. Accessed 08.04.2018.</li>
<li>Database of Insects & Their Food. Biological Records Centre. <a href="http://www.brc.ac.uk/dbif/invertebratesresults.aspx?insectid=8447">http://www.brc.ac.uk/dbif/invertebratesresults.aspx?insectid=8447</a>. Accessed 08.04.2018.</li>
<li>NBN Gateway. Trichopteryx carpinata. https://species.nbnatlas.org/search/?q=Trichopteryx+carpinata. Accessed 09.04.2018.</li>
<li>Emmet,A.M. (1991) The Scientific Names of British Lepidoptera: Their History and Meaning. Harley Books: Colchester.</li>
</ol>
Paul Challinorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860120267566185229noreply@blogger.com0Lisvane, Cardiff51.545354499999988 -3.166474900000025651.535479499999987 -3.1866449000000254 51.555229499999989 -3.1463049000000258tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3063970085975044850.post-30742003560376579022017-06-16T13:08:00.001+01:002017-06-16T13:49:40.335+01:00Twin-spotted Quaker<div style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px; outline: transparent solid 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I've been a little quiet lately on this blog to say the least. But perhaps I'll start again. After a great weekend walking along the South Wales Coast last month I put a moth trap out in the garden hoping for a better catch than I had last time. This was a reasonable hope, there was no rain, it was warmer than it has been and the north-easterly wind settled little bit. So out it went, lighting up the back garden like a signal to any aliens that might be cruising overhead. Next morning however was a bit of a disappointment. I only found a solitary moth. And not the most exciting looking moth at that. I've been looking at the Facebook entries of the members catches over the last few weeks, and all I can say is that I now have moth trap envy. However, I shouldn't be too disappointed as this turned out to be a new moth for the garden.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="https://paulsbackgardensafari.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/img_5461.jpg" style="-webkit-touch-callout: none; outline: transparent solid 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-804" height="480" id="id_32a5_1ee2_706a_4e8c" src="https://paulsbackgardensafari.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/img_5461.jpg" style="clear: both; display: block; height: auto; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 100%; min-height: 30px; min-width: 30px; opacity: 1; outline: transparent solid 0px; width: 279px;" title="" width="360" /></a><br style="-webkit-touch-callout: none; outline: transparent solid 0px;" />Pictures slightly fuzzy, but it was an iPhone photo early morning before rushing off to work. Might you the whole moth is slightly fuzzy, and slightly worn. The usual kidney mark on the wings are not visible, but there are definitely 2 dark spots near each of the wing tips which are the diagnostics for this species. This makes it a Twin-spotted Quaker, Anorthoa munda. This species seems to have changed it name recently and in some Field-guides its known as Orthosia Munda. If your interested, it's Welsh name is Crwnwr Dau Smotyn - now that's one from the next Pub Quiz.</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">They don't have a long flight season, being on the wing in April and May, with only one generation a year. The caterpillars feed in early summer on various trees, including oak (Quercus), aspen (Populus tremulata) and sallow (Salix). Incidentally this is a great resource available on the internet and details host plants of a growing number of Lepidoptera species. The larvae feed during the night, hiding during the day among leaves or in bark crevices. It overwinters as a pupa in an underground cocoon, with the adult fully formed inside. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">A.munda is common in the in the Southern part of the UK, but becomes more local from the Midlands northwards. </span></div>
<label class="wp-temp" data-wp-temp="caption" style="-webkit-touch-callout: none; -webkit-user-select: none; outline: transparent solid 0px;"><span class="wp-caption" data-caption-align="alignnone" data-caption-id="attachment_805" data-caption-width="300" style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-style: italic; max-width: 100%; outline: transparent solid 0px; padding: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 300px;"><a href="https://paulsbackgardensafari.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/img_6055.png" style="-webkit-touch-callout: none; outline: transparent solid 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-805" height="408" id="id_a6f_ea0c_1de2_3c63" src="https://paulsbackgardensafari.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/img_6055.png" style="height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; min-height: 30px; min-width: 30px; opacity: 1; outline: transparent solid 0px; width: 300px;" title="" width="300" /></a> The NBN Distribution map for the Twin-spotted Quaker</span></label><br />
<div style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 0px; outline: transparent solid 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Robinson, GS et al. HOSTS - A Database of the World's Lepidoptera Hostplants. Natural History Museum, London. http://www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/data/hostplants/. Accessed 30.03.2017.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Waring,P. Townsend,M. And Lewington,R. (2011) Field Guide to the Moths of Great Britain and Ireland (2nd ed) British Wildlife Publishing.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Anorthoa munda. National Biodiversity Network. https://data.nbn.org.uk/Taxa/NHMSYS0021144798. Accessed 30.03.2017.</span></div>
Paul Challinorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860120267566185229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3063970085975044850.post-44330396744137215942014-09-10T12:01:00.001+01:002014-09-10T13:27:05.689+01:00Large Yellow Underwing - Noctua pronuba<div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">One of the most common visitors to the light trap I have put out in the garden over the past month has been the Large Yellow Under-wing. One morning I counted 25 hiding among the egg boxes, all clinging on determedly, and difficult to displace. </span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFqLrOBQLq9WOIinw32bNk95hwz7d7-ijQgGiyhFWBkgpUqasw6bjC5c5j_mGHSxwyWhOyV9dIxELruC_ZXiTIl7m0yLZXgf8MkPfEdhsRtcP9D0TT0dRIYGZFz75KFhkDk-txKakkuuk/s640/blogger-image-1624070514.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFqLrOBQLq9WOIinw32bNk95hwz7d7-ijQgGiyhFWBkgpUqasw6bjC5c5j_mGHSxwyWhOyV9dIxELruC_ZXiTIl7m0yLZXgf8MkPfEdhsRtcP9D0TT0dRIYGZFz75KFhkDk-txKakkuuk/s640/blogger-image-1624070514.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">According to the UK Butterfly Conservation in the report "The State of Britains Larger Moths 2013" the incidence of N. pronuba has increased by 186% during the period of 1968-2007 (1). The distribution map from the NBN gateway shows how widely distributed it is.</span><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIpTSLAqxPF7VGLsUX-25PAZs43uHOdRDDuSJp5nPxEzQMtgfLOSsUk7vICRHeheHCYMooJL7B-Fh9jPxH6AwgAgY0nc1BBbX-xYQwRSXEvJi9yBKIxc0jbxTe-0Wn6doMsu8emYdqI0k/s640/blogger-image--1354678047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIpTSLAqxPF7VGLsUX-25PAZs43uHOdRDDuSJp5nPxEzQMtgfLOSsUk7vICRHeheHCYMooJL7B-Fh9jPxH6AwgAgY0nc1BBbX-xYQwRSXEvJi9yBKIxc0jbxTe-0Wn6doMsu8emYdqI0k/s640/blogger-image--1354678047.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></span></font><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6039020472569449040" itemprop="description articleBody" style="width: 868px; position: relative;"><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">This is a fairly large moth with a wing span up to 60mm. At rest it's not the most spectacular of moths, with a base colour of brown, and few distinguishing markings besides the kidney spots on its wings. However when it flies there's a flash of colour as the forewings spread out and expose the bright orange/yellow colours of the rear wings. As soon as it comes to rest the rear wings are folded away and hidden once more. They rest during the day, but will flash their bright hindwings if disturbed. This display may be designed to surprise and scare-off predators by the sudden flash of colour.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtSN4_Gwmi3tdj8q2-O13nIXZu1qeLy4TSZAUXx4DCpzatX-NBucehrmfd6E-ZKyGzGw7QBs31gT87gcXHpJlzgD9WMMxOLMn1mpss0fFhVh9IcgBGIN4PVysboGhpuFNQ3RZjr0bpsp0/s640/blogger-image--1418811076.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtSN4_Gwmi3tdj8q2-O13nIXZu1qeLy4TSZAUXx4DCpzatX-NBucehrmfd6E-ZKyGzGw7QBs31gT87gcXHpJlzgD9WMMxOLMn1mpss0fFhVh9IcgBGIN4PVysboGhpuFNQ3RZjr0bpsp0/s640/blogger-image--1418811076.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Moth migration has thrown up a number of interesting questions relating to the navigation challenges that they face during different climactic conditions. It has long been proposed that moths navigate according to the position of he moon. However, what about periods when there is cloud cover and the moon is not visible, a situation not uncommon in the UK. Research has shown that moths are able to use the earths magnetic field as a navigation guide. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In one of the studies moths were placed into a cage on an overcast night, and reversed the earth's magnetic field (3). When this happened the moths realigned themselves according to the new position of the magnetic field. How insects and animals are able to determine magnetic variations amazes me - mainly because I just don't know </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">how it's done.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Another study by Chapman et al (4) showed that moths are able to select favourable high-altitude winds to help them travel the often long distances involved in moth migrations. The study used entomological radar (no idea what this is!) tans found that moths were able to increase the distance travelled by up to 40%. Not a bad trick some a small thing that livess for less than a year.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Ewzp6HGrt92USSPef77AL55DitoJ3TFZMsOio8ii6xWpInXy4fuHnwiLsJcfr5GQHjgHZQFY3eyNONVe0bNdX2jl7R22D4BSpeBnhkbsM3q3aIma05mkggsERjMi4cDaCPjHyFed9Jk/s640/blogger-image--1700220634.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Ewzp6HGrt92USSPef77AL55DitoJ3TFZMsOio8ii6xWpInXy4fuHnwiLsJcfr5GQHjgHZQFY3eyNONVe0bNdX2jl7R22D4BSpeBnhkbsM3q3aIma05mkggsERjMi4cDaCPjHyFed9Jk/s640/blogger-image--1700220634.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The larval stage of the Large Yellow Underwing Moth is one of the pests known as a cutworm. E.A. Bowles mentioned their destructive habits in My Garden in Spring, the first in his trilogy of books about his garden in Middlesex. He suggested hunting for them by lamplight to keep them from damaging "the tender, juicy buds" of his beloved early-flowering Irises. Accidental introduction of N. pronuba into the US may constitute a major pest threat to commercial crops (5). </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">The larvae develop between September and April above ground feeding on the stems and leaves of grasses and other plants, sometimes grazing them off at ground level. When disturbed the caterpillar adopts a 'c'-shape and this one was about 35mm in length, but they can be up to 50mm long.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ5zZXMcd2cnRS40pnlc79c5W-Xpwfneiu4dtSmQ5arDNui_riQQ5Bgz7kKf2PPURzjrqRlmukveg2K5wLUqUKs9CjoxWpbgfOrJDYL9sAIdF9sYjqSJFU2xVchdPvwpKm2x5Sf8J4Y0w/s640/blogger-image--79272086.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ5zZXMcd2cnRS40pnlc79c5W-Xpwfneiu4dtSmQ5arDNui_riQQ5Bgz7kKf2PPURzjrqRlmukveg2K5wLUqUKs9CjoxWpbgfOrJDYL9sAIdF9sYjqSJFU2xVchdPvwpKm2x5Sf8J4Y0w/s640/blogger-image--79272086.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-gYXztn6imZlPv2xq-kBFGb3SnE2x5C-PNR1vKRakt43Y1r37IRPYKXevngAxE9EO42KPUvgXlfP8_YsrxH4SoMzkAmJ0EipMMNcSphzyevTc5y6sVujnC5Nr6NkkhE0KiipykUWfIHQ/s640/blogger-image-2112080884.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-gYXztn6imZlPv2xq-kBFGb3SnE2x5C-PNR1vKRakt43Y1r37IRPYKXevngAxE9EO42KPUvgXlfP8_YsrxH4SoMzkAmJ0EipMMNcSphzyevTc5y6sVujnC5Nr6NkkhE0KiipykUWfIHQ/s640/blogger-image-2112080884.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">References:</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">1: Fox, R. et al. (2013) The State of Britain's Larger Moths 2013. Butterfly Conservation. </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">http://butterfly-conservation.org/files/1.state-of-britains-larger-moths-2013-report.pdf</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">2: NBN gateway. https://data.nbn.org.uk/Taxa/NBNSYS0000006193/Grid_Map. Accessed 2014-09-10.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">3: Baker, R.R. And Maher, J. G. (1982). Magnetic compass sense in the large yellow underwing moth, Noctua pronuba. Animal Behaviour. 30(2): 543-8. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">4: Chapman,J.W. Et al (2010) flight orientation behaviours promote optimal migration trajectories in high-flying insects. Science. 327(5966): 682-5</span></div><div><span style="font-style: inherit; text-align: inherit; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">5: Bechinski,E.J., Smith,L.J. And Merickel,F.W. (2009) Large Yellow Underwing: A new cutworm in Idaho. university of Idaho. </span><span style="font-style: inherit; text-align: inherit; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">http://www.cals.uidaho.edu/edcomm/pdf/CIS/CIS1172.pdf.</span></div><div>
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</div></div><div><br></div></div></div></div>Paul Challinorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860120267566185229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3063970085975044850.post-21563345176660525062014-09-07T21:35:00.001+01:002014-09-30T19:08:12.459+01:00Caddisfly - Halesus radiatus<div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Before owning a moth light trap I had not really considered caddis flies as being a frequent visitor to the garden. But over the last few months I found a number skulking among the egg boxes as I empty the light trap in the mornings. Now I struggle enough trying to identify the moths that I catch and release, but caddis flies are even more of a challenge, as they do not seem to attract the attention of the publishing world resulting in a dearth of accessible field guides. There are over 6000 species that have been described worldwide. Of which 199 have been recorded in Britain, but only 3 in Ireland (1). I think that this chap who I found in the light trap a couple of weekends ago is Halesus radiatus, but I'm open to corrections.</span></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjynHTAbv7zKfgG0zYx31NbozoIs-16PeYEP-4s7g37vOvoMc2JXz-JlCrqevv5npdWQakvkiEnJIjDgs-8IttrJmtOklkepHE07aP3xOZ970II-ziZlhV9y5uztZEZ7APUrG8uIe6BHbQ/s640/blogger-image--537360694.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjynHTAbv7zKfgG0zYx31NbozoIs-16PeYEP-4s7g37vOvoMc2JXz-JlCrqevv5npdWQakvkiEnJIjDgs-8IttrJmtOklkepHE07aP3xOZ970II-ziZlhV9y5uztZEZ7APUrG8uIe6BHbQ/s640/blogger-image--537360694.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div>Caddis Flies are superficially like a moth, and are a distant relative in the evolutionary sense, but instead of scales on the wings, Caddisflies have a fine coating of hairs. It is this coating of hairs that gives this group of invertebrates it's name Trichoptera, meaning hairy wings. I think I've said this in another post, but as I get older I forget these things, and it's always worth repeating yourself - unless your wife or daughter are in earshot. It seems that caddisfies dont develop a wide range of colours unless it's brown! </div></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifowRtESw999rb1akhdCeDiq41GQXXhybvPfiC6XsXhF4Q2__94hfJ7kDp056cBnbh0ZkfuF32BLk67GFJQckQm7Uxu72XfAiqtM3O0yezhKss0mO0KxpjNyukgZdo7T63fs7GfqnxneE/s640/blogger-image--1647945055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifowRtESw999rb1akhdCeDiq41GQXXhybvPfiC6XsXhF4Q2__94hfJ7kDp056cBnbh0ZkfuF32BLk67GFJQckQm7Uxu72XfAiqtM3O0yezhKss0mO0KxpjNyukgZdo7T63fs7GfqnxneE/s640/blogger-image--1647945055.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The larval stage provides the English name of Caddisfly. This is thought to derive from Elizabeth street hawkers called caddis men. The Middle English word caddice, means a woollen braid, ribbon, or tape. Caddice men used to displays these wares by pinning them on their coats. The aquatic larvae makes protective cases from materials picked up in the habitat, including leaves, tiny sticks, sand and gravel. But not all caddisfly larvae makes cases, but all have the ability to make silk threads. I've not looked for any caddisfly larvae, but there may be some in the small pond we have, and it may be an idea to have a look. There is an interesting and accessible description of the life cycle of the caddis fly on the Fresh Water and Recorders Scheme website (2).</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbrNGg5P6QyTl_dT2XCr2P8Cmy-MGcCcUvyimEOF-AG7e1LMrlYhU_tuHZnGJkED0AZfeHwAujs0ux2KjnjFuZgtiJ9OE-DjsETvV_SDF6WLs76eFwpIm8MIPU7JKSWNSqP9sjtP0hhs8/s640/blogger-image-1994299467.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbrNGg5P6QyTl_dT2XCr2P8Cmy-MGcCcUvyimEOF-AG7e1LMrlYhU_tuHZnGJkED0AZfeHwAujs0ux2KjnjFuZgtiJ9OE-DjsETvV_SDF6WLs76eFwpIm8MIPU7JKSWNSqP9sjtP0hhs8/s640/blogger-image-1994299467.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">1: Nature Spot. http://www.naturespot.org.uk/taxonomy/term/19486. (Accessed 2014-09-08).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">2: Fresh Water San Recorders Scheme. http://rasp.freshwaterlife.org/recorders/publications_resources/how_to/caddis/life-cycle.html. (Accessed 2014-09-08)</div></div><br></div></div></div>Paul Challinorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860120267566185229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3063970085975044850.post-29188032462962427342014-09-03T20:35:00.001+01:002014-09-04T14:27:57.631+01:00Rosy Rustic Moth - Hydraecia micaceaI was able to put the moth trap out again on Sunday evening, hampered previously by the awful weather and being away. Sunday evening was mild and dry, but there was a very light drizzle on Monday morning. So I wasn't setting much hope for a large or varied haul. But as. I started taking out the egg boxes I kept on turning up 21 Large Yellow Underwings, 4 Lesser Yeollow Underwings, a single Double Striped Pug (Gymnoscelis rufifasciata<font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">, a Setaceous Hebrew Charcter (</span></font><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: none; box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Xestia c-nigrum</span><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: none; box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">), and a rather non-descript, well at least to me, Rosy Rustic (Hydraecia micacea). More about the others another time, but I have to admit to being intrigued by the name of the Rosy Rustic.</span><div><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: none; box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: none; box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz8E2eaFvy2ixEq9upgeN-y3HnKZjrqZtNO1Ez9ZU9s_UJexO4FJJWJbj2HP0T9rD3YQeWrh2ZdfiFBX_03QLC6nYN4oHuEIMQMQLXAsRNe1e2xdpe3IDFUpdzvpBFqP3DBY6iXr8ulbE/s640/blogger-image-1616150499.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz8E2eaFvy2ixEq9upgeN-y3HnKZjrqZtNO1Ez9ZU9s_UJexO4FJJWJbj2HP0T9rD3YQeWrh2ZdfiFBX_03QLC6nYN4oHuEIMQMQLXAsRNe1e2xdpe3IDFUpdzvpBFqP3DBY6iXr8ulbE/s640/blogger-image-1616150499.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">As you can see it's not the most colourful of moths with a uniform brown base colour. Even the kidney marks on there wings don't stand out very much. This fairly bland marking and colouration meant it took me a while to identify it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It has a single generation and flies from August through to October. The eggs don't hatch but over winter as an egg. The larva start appearing from April to early August. Feeds at first in the stem of the foodplant and then later on the roots. When the larva is ready it pupates underground without a cocoon (1). It's a UK resident and the distribution map from the NBN Gateway shows that it can be found throughout the British Isles (2).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggf6vrMgntvn9Eu-obUxMDmcYE3GZ3SiEHBZ_NR6ggj-XPCI4rOxc6g_5AJ2dszRVh66Kwwtqe_OC0jX8xO1UI50Et774uvsHBLsbLjEhDYsoEtMklBGBaIvnQ1OOfz9Gi9EfUjTs_Neo/s640/blogger-image--312209240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggf6vrMgntvn9Eu-obUxMDmcYE3GZ3SiEHBZ_NR6ggj-XPCI4rOxc6g_5AJ2dszRVh66Kwwtqe_OC0jX8xO1UI50Et774uvsHBLsbLjEhDYsoEtMklBGBaIvnQ1OOfz9Gi9EfUjTs_Neo/s640/blogger-image--312209240.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Despite being a rather bland looking moth it has been identified as a potential economic pest for some crops (3,4). That said there isn't a great deal on the internet about it. But my garden is safe, no potatos and no hops, except for the ones that are already bottled.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></span></div><div><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: none; box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: none; box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">1: Waring, P. And Townsend, M. (2011) Field Guide to the Moths of Great Britain and Ireland. British Wildlife Publishing.</span></div><div><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: none; box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">2: NBN Gateway. https://data.nbn.org.uk/Taxa/NBNSYS0000006466/Grid_Map. Retrieved 2014-09-03.</span></div><div><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: none; box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">3: French et al (1973) </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Biology, Damage and Control of Rosy Rustic Moth, <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Hydraecia micacea</em> (Esp.), on Hop. </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Plant Pathology. 22(2): 58-64.</span></div><div id="issueDetails" style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><p class="articleDetails" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: none; box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">4: Rings, R.W. And Letzler, E.W. (1982) </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Two newly detected noctuids (Hydraecia immanis and Hydraecia micacea) of potential economic importance in Ohio. Ohio J. Of Science. 82(5): 299-302.</span></p></div>Paul Challinorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860120267566185229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3063970085975044850.post-6009977752014062532014-08-18T20:53:00.001+01:002014-08-19T18:55:54.438+01:00Cinnamon Sedge - Limnephilus lunatus.<div>The light trap came up with a number of new discoveries the other weekend. One of which stumped me for a while. I was convinced it was a micro moth, but the legs were very hairy and didn't quite fit. Neither did the wings. Well thanks to iSpot I was put straight. It's not a moth, but a Caddisfly. I'm not very good at this! But that said this chap, Limnephilus lunatus is quite attractive, also known as the Cinnamon Sedge. The 'lumatus' comes from the crescent shape on the edge of the wings. It is a well known species, especially among anglers. The larva doesn't use sand or other hard materials for building its case, it uses plant materials only. Most of the information I could find on L lunatus came from angling websites.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF36cQOaYo_2q3xnoaifIgbn-wFQ30ZCyAY2lgmNYAPizQ9Uqmu21y_glceRAJIj98BHsBkcyT_XimHbAqiiaEzy1sSVe4QzpEzrqxICIjLa4AdEDvWOuBlLsD7LmBh15AIdso1TgNGmw/s640/blogger-image--1612892307.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF36cQOaYo_2q3xnoaifIgbn-wFQ30ZCyAY2lgmNYAPizQ9Uqmu21y_glceRAJIj98BHsBkcyT_XimHbAqiiaEzy1sSVe4QzpEzrqxICIjLa4AdEDvWOuBlLsD7LmBh15AIdso1TgNGmw/s640/blogger-image--1612892307.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Caddis flies belong to the Trichoptera, and have been known to fishermen since the advent of fly-fishing and to the entomological for a longer time. Mouffet the author of the first English book on entomology (the 'Theatrum Insectorum') writes in 1658 of the great variety of 'cados worms' to be found in rivers and streams. The name possibly arises from the ancient name for a travelling cloth salesmen who pinned samples of their wares to their coat, they were known as 'cadice men' and it is possible the name 'Caddis fly' is a reference to the cases many Caddis-fly larvae build from bits of debris. The Latin name 'Trichoptera' comes from the Greek 'Trichos' = a hair and 'Pteron' = a wing, meaning hairy winged which is a good description of the adult or imago forms. In fact Caddis flies are closely related to Lepidotera, and so I don't feel so bad at getting it so wrong.</span></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaAQ8TT9BIaxx-t8s_ELYF4EhQ1D6lAyxVWrpSOim0KXwG7Wd8eVNB1GWxkRKZ0gYteyH912_f0qGnxZhkyknnfeUWK9GRZ6Zf-ct03pgzqi3hC4ue8lT2WyBDcwA7zYyENLJd2ZqYy6k/s640/blogger-image--1318252247.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaAQ8TT9BIaxx-t8s_ELYF4EhQ1D6lAyxVWrpSOim0KXwG7Wd8eVNB1GWxkRKZ0gYteyH912_f0qGnxZhkyknnfeUWK9GRZ6Zf-ct03pgzqi3hC4ue8lT2WyBDcwA7zYyENLJd2ZqYy6k/s640/blogger-image--1318252247.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>There are about 7 000 named species world wide of which over 400 occur in Europe and about 190 in Britain. Fossil Caddis flies have been found as far back as the Cretaceous , and possibly from the Jurassic. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcYBXBaqC605YJt_ViE1VtDThHfkg0Ie9l5c-VHjx8UJZpJEIsc8Bb6cd0YngTq7XPzrbUf-uQeWRqsPLPtzU77C5BK2_fD9VCZ7KeOqE0g75VAz6dnBVxkmdTqNyxp_uIL15j9jfwMtA/s640/blogger-image--111674186.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcYBXBaqC605YJt_ViE1VtDThHfkg0Ie9l5c-VHjx8UJZpJEIsc8Bb6cd0YngTq7XPzrbUf-uQeWRqsPLPtzU77C5BK2_fD9VCZ7KeOqE0g75VAz6dnBVxkmdTqNyxp_uIL15j9jfwMtA/s640/blogger-image--111674186.jpg"></a></div></div></div></div><div><br></div><div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Limnephilus lunatus is on of the few caddis flies which may be a pest. The numbers of larvae in Water Cress Beds may become enormous! That won't be a problem for the tiny pond we have in the garden, but water cress would be welcome. I wonder what's in the fridge?</div></div><div><br></div>Paul Challinorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860120267566185229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3063970085975044850.post-74918245752284926482014-07-20T20:55:00.003+01:002014-07-23T18:20:58.014+01:00Bee Moth - Aphomia sociella<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The other week I found a small moth in the light trap, and I had a little difficulty in finding an identification. It turns out I was being my usual stupid self, and had missed the obvious candidate. The temporary mystery moth turned out to be a Bee Moth, <i>Aphomia sociella.</i> It is also known as the Wax Moth, but this can cause confusion with another species, <i>Galleria mellonella</i>. So for now we'll just continue to call it the Bee Moth. Now this little chap has quite an interesting life cycle.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Bee moths are not very large. And the males and females are different. Females are 33 mm long, have olive-grey forewings with pinkish central area and a large and a small black spots. Males are 35 mm long, have more contrasting colours on their forewings, mainly whitish and brown, with a zigzagging line over the middle. I think from this description that my visitor on this occasion was a female.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpDFPUXKPY99gEAwfbmTFAYtrQR2QjNfMlPphUuWir57IWfSG9GxuvPAgfC6khwO3q1oz0-Uu4BOZchyphenhyphenonGUqRFPZDgaGuj860OfB7pHS3idyQpolR1GaM4my-i-RY1vnQqUMBCQL11rE/s1600/Bee+Moth+2014-07-12+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpDFPUXKPY99gEAwfbmTFAYtrQR2QjNfMlPphUuWir57IWfSG9GxuvPAgfC6khwO3q1oz0-Uu4BOZchyphenhyphenonGUqRFPZDgaGuj860OfB7pHS3idyQpolR1GaM4my-i-RY1vnQqUMBCQL11rE/s1600/Bee+Moth+2014-07-12+3.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The adult moths are nocturnal and can be attracted to light, and my light trap on this occasion proves this. Bee Moths fly from June to August. The after mating, the females</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">search suitable host nests and lay up to 100 eggs there. The hosts in this case include wasps and bumble bees. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Females </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">prefer to lay their eggs in aerial, exposed nests such as those of the Median Wasp Dolichovespula media , or in nests </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">made up on walls or in nest boxes by the Red-tailed Bumblebee Bombus lapidarius . The nests built close to or under the </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">ground such as those of the German Wasp Vespula germanica</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">or the Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">are less </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">sought-after.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX7KW2rzD2v1lwbaHZSWFlGiz5nq_zfA8wWe0YUG-P-yV9SfVyr1vluHUKyL12pICp9DjqQuN9Y00Ww0IBSYd2uiJ2fiSiEGOZ2v_JDp8r4-bQizQjL7Fdz8D9oTpGJ70AHGjYLhdGbrs/s1600/Bee+Moth+2014-07-12+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX7KW2rzD2v1lwbaHZSWFlGiz5nq_zfA8wWe0YUG-P-yV9SfVyr1vluHUKyL12pICp9DjqQuN9Y00Ww0IBSYd2uiJ2fiSiEGOZ2v_JDp8r4-bQizQjL7Fdz8D9oTpGJ70AHGjYLhdGbrs/s1600/Bee+Moth+2014-07-12+1.jpg" height="640" width="425" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The young larvae move quickly and protect</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">themselves by </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">spinning a strong silk. They grow eating nest materials, stored food, their host’s larvae dejections and other wastes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Older larvae also eat young bumblebee or was larvae. Caterpillars are very active digging tunnels in the combs and </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">spinning silken webs very dense and difficult to penetrate. The last stage caterpillars move out of the host’s nests and </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">spin long, tough cocoons in communal masses often between planks of wood or narrow gaps between two adjacent</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">surfaces. These are very difficult to remove and the webbing has the consistence of soft cloth. The Bee Moths</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">overwinter as larvae in these structures, then in the spring they pupate to emerge as adults at the beginning of summer.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyFsXpYuyGEMvdrAK-T844_KeDs2GAlAefCA4ftvnCn2T0tPcr2DrhgIBB-sgaKi-71s16bvfaDYhxuYsfFfGLtQmVo2gPNuZZDHE3uIaGWt1SpGVEJYyk-2g08Z3fDlKrsgPgzz7v5CQ/s1600/Bee+Moth+2014-07-12+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyFsXpYuyGEMvdrAK-T844_KeDs2GAlAefCA4ftvnCn2T0tPcr2DrhgIBB-sgaKi-71s16bvfaDYhxuYsfFfGLtQmVo2gPNuZZDHE3uIaGWt1SpGVEJYyk-2g08Z3fDlKrsgPgzz7v5CQ/s1600/Bee+Moth+2014-07-12+4.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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All of this from one little moth. The Nurturing Nature website provides an intriguing description of what happens when a bee nest is infested with Bee Moth larvae: http://nurturing-nature.co.uk/wildlife-garden-videos/bumblebees-and-wax-moths-the-silent-but-deadly-killers-must-see-video-2/.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_393QqF9Sdv-bDocNSyIOFf1JSNmEB85ef_T5inWyD7MEDkhhMUNeuVdC59-wpBIdgtQ0wZ-_bZU1yphsCZN11uzrZJA_orTpUS0T5esfApUngtODV-pGfTcbG3xIx1YMvLlGOy0EkZs/s1600/map.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_393QqF9Sdv-bDocNSyIOFf1JSNmEB85ef_T5inWyD7MEDkhhMUNeuVdC59-wpBIdgtQ0wZ-_bZU1yphsCZN11uzrZJA_orTpUS0T5esfApUngtODV-pGfTcbG3xIx1YMvLlGOy0EkZs/s1600/map.png" height="400" width="293" /></a></div>
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Although a common moth, the distribution recorded via the NBN Gateway seems to be rather sporadic. I can only assume that there may be some under recording.<br />
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Paul Challinorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860120267566185229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3063970085975044850.post-22801416289061649172014-07-20T18:07:00.000+01:002014-07-20T18:07:23.872+01:00Buff ArchesThe light trap popped up with a real cracker this weekend when I uncovered a Buff Arches (Habrosyne pyritoides) toward the bottom. The colours and markings are superb. I think is my new favourite.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGOm5sLYw7M5lQC0zGp_DWWUuLo8fOch8PxUMNAQTXIcGFmJSCLwW1ZZSSlvjn5PlQ4onSTa_3DGB3URHBjjq9pkaVCsLWHjrH4LVarmhCvyMQH4cSl4WPnqyEewlViPprxRKFGcHitgg/s1600/Buff+Arches+2014-07-20+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGOm5sLYw7M5lQC0zGp_DWWUuLo8fOch8PxUMNAQTXIcGFmJSCLwW1ZZSSlvjn5PlQ4onSTa_3DGB3URHBjjq9pkaVCsLWHjrH4LVarmhCvyMQH4cSl4WPnqyEewlViPprxRKFGcHitgg/s1600/Buff+Arches+2014-07-20+3.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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It has one generation with a flight season from Late June through to early August. The larva feed on Brambles, which we have some growing in the hedge, but it has also been reported to feed on raspberry in captivity. And we have raspberry and cultivated blackberry in the veg patch.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXIe344VDlKsxplTt-Q_ebq5Mx2WRCtkYnQ4rfhl_wNtPIkZ2qZwCl1bn2RumUj4ACPH_WO3-1BBkGD11uuvdJmUJwASivttpLePWASscn5NvjBKxwYPSE1_3MHdsTM5LlxKs9EsOYvtg/s1600/Buff+Arches+2014-07-20+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXIe344VDlKsxplTt-Q_ebq5Mx2WRCtkYnQ4rfhl_wNtPIkZ2qZwCl1bn2RumUj4ACPH_WO3-1BBkGD11uuvdJmUJwASivttpLePWASscn5NvjBKxwYPSE1_3MHdsTM5LlxKs9EsOYvtg/s1600/Buff+Arches+2014-07-20+4.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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The NBN (National Biodiversity Network) Gateway distribution map shows that Buff Arches is fairly common in the southern part of the UK (1).<br />
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1: https://data.nbn.org.uk/Taxa/NBNSYS0000005725/Grid_Map<br />
aPaul Challinorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860120267566185229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3063970085975044850.post-82903095945168926792014-06-27T22:38:00.001+01:002014-06-27T22:38:46.663+01:00Failed Blackbird NestI've been away for a few days and the boss has sent me a photo of an empty nest. Almost certainly the blackbird nest I blogged about a week ago is now abandoned, not from disturbance but more probably from predation as the nest is empty. Who the predator was is unknown. Unlikely to be a cat as the nest is difficult to get to and doesn't seem to be damaged. Possibly magpies or jackdaws, both of which are in the garden. Maybe even a squirrel, but I've not seen a grey squirrel for some time now.<div> <div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwwRM2lp3VWCc9vEIsNXF9BoNhur91JCybh2LfMDgQ0hokflNaQH2rNaoS1lPNZtw3MnXL_Uj9CF1or2hTyQE89yHe48fqyWcSzbrk_F1ONtJPL3YpzM7n0Iol0zFiUiTDfpRlfylnJK8/s640/blogger-image--1992585503.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwwRM2lp3VWCc9vEIsNXF9BoNhur91JCybh2LfMDgQ0hokflNaQH2rNaoS1lPNZtw3MnXL_Uj9CF1or2hTyQE89yHe48fqyWcSzbrk_F1ONtJPL3YpzM7n0Iol0zFiUiTDfpRlfylnJK8/s640/blogger-image--1992585503.jpg"></a></div><br></div></div>Paul Challinorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860120267566185229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3063970085975044850.post-5326706418240923472014-06-19T20:19:00.001+01:002014-06-19T20:19:26.231+01:00A new nest<div><br></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Over the past week or so we've noticed increased activity in the hedge right by the patio doors. We've seen blackbirds going into the hedge and making the branches bounce around. Not wanting to disturb any possible nest we've not investigated too closely. After the failed song thrush nest earlier in spring, and the disappointment of seeing the cold eggs left in the nest, we kept away.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div>However, this evening the boss saw the male and female leave the hedge very close to the doors, and then noticed the nest. This evening there are three eggs, I'm not sure if more will be laid. Though most of the reference guides say the clutch can be between 3 and 5. As it's now mid to late June I assume this would be the last nest of the season, though blackbirds can have up to 4 broods a season. Perhaps the mild spring and great summer so far have made it possible.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjrRDiPrLjhY1JhRaC2f9jeUwJDTM2ZEDH1jI4MTjtK5pm9vGEYAyKEC2DeUMuWYP-6q4JqmVLEuF6rZtjdORUSrg0I9AtrNtDBKmBxkFHCdN7fZFlu_cwtLFEq5K_eklCTcd3JjpNMME/s640/blogger-image--506713205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjrRDiPrLjhY1JhRaC2f9jeUwJDTM2ZEDH1jI4MTjtK5pm9vGEYAyKEC2DeUMuWYP-6q4JqmVLEuF6rZtjdORUSrg0I9AtrNtDBKmBxkFHCdN7fZFlu_cwtLFEq5K_eklCTcd3JjpNMME/s640/blogger-image--506713205.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>The position of the nest is right at the edge of the hedge where is almost comes to rest against the wall. In fact so close to the patio doors it's almost as if it's been positioned here so that the birds can watch the World Cup on the TV through the glass.</div><div><br></div><div>When there is a chance I'll set up the camera trap to see if we can get some photos of the activities. But in the meantime we'll have the go out of the back door for a while to get to the garden.</div><div><br></div><div>There was a nest in this section of the hedge a few years ago, and there were at least three successful young who left the nest.</div>Paul Challinorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860120267566185229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3063970085975044850.post-89537188636702671342014-06-12T21:17:00.001+01:002014-06-19T08:12:30.512+01:00Speckled Wood<div>
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It's great when the sun comes out. And along with comes the butterflies. We don't have a large variety visiting the garden, but one that does visit relatively regularly is the Speckled Wood, <em style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Pararge aegeria. </em><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Unusually for British butterflies it can over winter as both a larva and pupa (1).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">During the 19th century the Speckled Wood suffered quite a contraction in its range, but since the 1920's it ha made a recovery. This has continued since the 1980s and may be due to climate change allowing it to spread further north (1).</span></span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-align: justify;">The trend for the Speckled Wood shows a highly significant and generally steady increase, as can be seen from the graph below produced by the UK butterfly Monitoring Scheme (3). The butterfly has a divided distribution in Britain (it occurs throughout Ireland) and it has continued to colonise new areas in both parts of its range during the monitoring period (3).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">It has a flight season from April through to October, and is often found in woodland, but also anywhere that includes scrubland as well. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">The larval food plants include </span></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">False Brome (<em>Brachypodium sylvaticum</em>); Cock's-foot (<em>Dactylis glomerata</em>); Yorkshire-fog (<em>Holcus lanatus</em>); Common Couch (<em>Elytrigia repens</em>) (4).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Like any butterfly, male Speckled Woods can be pretty aggressive when defending their territory. These sparring sessions can last for up to 80 seconds (5), which must surely take a toll on the individuals.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">1: </span></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Lewington, R. (2003). Pocket Guide to the butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland. British Wildlife Publishing, United Kingdom.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">2: http://www.britishbutterflies.co.uk/species-info.asp?vernacular=Speckled%20Wood</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">3: UK Butterfly Monitoruping Scheme. http://www.ukbms.org/SpeciesFactsheets.aspx?speciesId=93</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">4: http://butterfly-conservation.org/679-746/speckled-wood.html</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">5: Wickman, P. and Wiklund, C. (1983) </span></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Territorial defence and its seasonal decline in the speckled wood butterfly (</span><em class="italic" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-variant: inherit; margin: 0px; max-height: 1000000px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Pararge aegeria</em><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">). Animal Behaviour. 31(4): 1206-16. </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S000334728380027X?via%3Dihub</span></span></div>
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Paul Challinorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860120267566185229noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3063970085975044850.post-2417308430201480912014-06-12T20:09:00.001+01:002014-06-12T20:09:57.301+01:00Solomon's Seal Sawfly<div><br></div>Each year our Solomon's Seal (<i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Polygonatum sp</i><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">) i</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">s decimated by small larvae that munch their way through the leaves, leaving only the main leaf rib behind. Last month I finally managed to see the culprit in it's adult form. The Solomon's Seal Sawfly, </span><em style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Phymatocera aterrima </em><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">is quite a dapper looking chap. Jet black, with rather crumpled looking wings, just a mite short of 1cm. The adults are active in May and June. I had another look tonight but there are no more hanging around anymore.</span><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVCWvkVdVvgQnlSwZmsreq71qs_7LkLI3_NQR9KZb6ubScjTk0ndIa7OB5xcT1j8WhH3fqAILxQs6KQoX_VRRfemXirZ1P_x3ebumja9eQFqQXjpFdLqLAnCZyh0QSyOt_vszD45jE1Qc/s640/blogger-image--2022698994.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVCWvkVdVvgQnlSwZmsreq71qs_7LkLI3_NQR9KZb6ubScjTk0ndIa7OB5xcT1j8WhH3fqAILxQs6KQoX_VRRfemXirZ1P_x3ebumja9eQFqQXjpFdLqLAnCZyh0QSyOt_vszD45jE1Qc/s640/blogger-image--2022698994.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The photos are not perfect as it was a windy day in May when I took these. The sawflies didn't hang around much either, and were quite active, settling only for a short period before flying off again, usually to the underside of here leaves. Thinking about it now, they may have been laying eggs, so that the next generation of larvae can decimate the plants again this year.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb7QWE7Urmkm7BRZ1xvzH7C4WhXe4Ok6UIRD8QqFwf2mUkaBKocFofmQBHvmLkiQS1dNBum3inGCMYsmZZQGqlOrcX3If36dURskEwb6oh-TiRnaWLAyn6OySyXC6saTmXD8b_rV4YUmQ/s640/blogger-image--761857201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb7QWE7Urmkm7BRZ1xvzH7C4WhXe4Ok6UIRD8QqFwf2mUkaBKocFofmQBHvmLkiQS1dNBum3inGCMYsmZZQGqlOrcX3If36dURskEwb6oh-TiRnaWLAyn6OySyXC6saTmXD8b_rV4YUmQ/s640/blogger-image--761857201.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It may a little early here in Wales to see the larvae yet, but the photos from last year </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">below clearly show what they look like.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLVxl9IiuOFhGHZxCcrIu3jTe7WiPAnTmtSetJKaU6iGvB8YeCV0wPXtpEzwAwl_KCMitRnvtQ8PEPl94NcyKazDsMT_fl-jG0INXQYJpyDRDC7GRdDT7jzjB1Prb8oUA0AqYuBYetudE/s640/blogger-image--932420762.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLVxl9IiuOFhGHZxCcrIu3jTe7WiPAnTmtSetJKaU6iGvB8YeCV0wPXtpEzwAwl_KCMitRnvtQ8PEPl94NcyKazDsMT_fl-jG0INXQYJpyDRDC7GRdDT7jzjB1Prb8oUA0AqYuBYetudE/s640/blogger-image--932420762.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">They are considered a pest by many gardens, and it is easy to understand why when you find your plants stripped down. But the main damage is done after flowering has finished, and they come back each year just as strong as before, so maybe the plants aren't weakened too much. The only year we didn't have a bad infestation was when there were blue tits nesting in the garden.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi96mPCu1Ko5v1JKqHDdxVvpl7ogPS_bDy2Al5n0TUXxhJXJ2e_vLdVZTd7v9cfHfJZqZTxhfzR8ED4dB6bpskprwYQvOgWqPcHfXkhN67LhbwegoanT1Ai3OO9c1NcsZVCIn1TSU3Z7ms/s640/blogger-image--1714574958.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi96mPCu1Ko5v1JKqHDdxVvpl7ogPS_bDy2Al5n0TUXxhJXJ2e_vLdVZTd7v9cfHfJZqZTxhfzR8ED4dB6bpskprwYQvOgWqPcHfXkhN67LhbwegoanT1Ai3OO9c1NcsZVCIn1TSU3Z7ms/s640/blogger-image--1714574958.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The distribution map from the NBH website (1) shows the distribution to be quite sparse. Though this may be due to lack of reporting, as opposed to lack of insects.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2F669rJAyKCkFIhFPdtQrqtxq9JjXuuFEavNAqamZneZGTnG-F9t4-9oUbhva3ElD6jrBF_Xe3GthsLkUp0oMKdxmylqfgPE6FTPe3iDvEp49y2_9TrO8gzz3eZyJrSnTs7K6y_7dIEo/s640/blogger-image--1255765757.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2F669rJAyKCkFIhFPdtQrqtxq9JjXuuFEavNAqamZneZGTnG-F9t4-9oUbhva3ElD6jrBF_Xe3GthsLkUp0oMKdxmylqfgPE6FTPe3iDvEp49y2_9TrO8gzz3eZyJrSnTs7K6y_7dIEo/s640/blogger-image--1255765757.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">1: https://data.nbn.org.uk/Taxa/NBNSYS0100004626/Grid_Map</span></font></div>Paul Challinorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860120267566185229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3063970085975044850.post-48262367132731501062014-06-09T18:42:00.001+01:002014-06-09T18:42:55.060+01:00More mothsI took the chance and put the moth trap out on Saturday night. The weather forecast predicted that it would be mild and dry, if cloudy. Well it was almost right. There were a few light showers, but nothing like the major thunderstorm and downpour Friday night. So I wasn't sure if there would be much in the trap when I switched it off in he the morning.<div><br><div>It turned out to be my best haul so far, with 8 different species - 2 of which escaped before I could take any photos to help with the ID. And it turned out those photos I did take weren't up to much either so I'll only put a couple up on this post.</div><div><br></div><div>The full list included, excluding the two that got away:</div><div>Buff Ermine: <i><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Spilarctia luteum</b></i></div><div>Large Yellow Underwing: <i style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Noctua pronuba</i></div><div>Heart and Dart: <i style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Agrotis exclamationis</i></div><div>Light Brown Apple Moth: <i style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Epiphyas postvittana</i></div><div>The Flame: <i style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Axylia putris</i></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Mottled Beauty: </span><b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><i>Alcis repandata</i></b></div><div><br></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">This brings the total of moths I've managed to identify in the garden to 19 so far. Not many by some standards, but I'm hoping for more.</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">My favourite moth of the day is the Buff Ermine. The colours are beautiful, and there is something about the furry ness of the thorax. It's almost says if the spots have been painted on with care.</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLqy1XMm7qvDov6vCk5Z2uEhtwGyZDply-yLzBZhVLID8MoXib-GnXX4JzWgZR_zAHDuxDMIIuf4gAo_ZfLafGHUDTlbjk2w7JC0Ib7f7_hUDg7S8_HxTW3Grk2K7k3S3MUoHgiiScadM/s640/blogger-image-2097903939.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLqy1XMm7qvDov6vCk5Z2uEhtwGyZDply-yLzBZhVLID8MoXib-GnXX4JzWgZR_zAHDuxDMIIuf4gAo_ZfLafGHUDTlbjk2w7JC0Ib7f7_hUDg7S8_HxTW3Grk2K7k3S3MUoHgiiScadM/s640/blogger-image-2097903939.jpg"></a></div><br></div>I think this one is a male because the antennae are so well defined.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN-M6r_7vgeTDI1jJdvlnfnmxK-SPMMBquWszew8vjDS9gQbD67Jy17F1cPOmTpmDj0eC16DENBHN89FaVo_ynUDo1TnLC20O_IQLbGSmUzoWfNqHr-_8cKazgVwXxF7d8WaDCqOgbJ7Q/s640/blogger-image-683847115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN-M6r_7vgeTDI1jJdvlnfnmxK-SPMMBquWszew8vjDS9gQbD67Jy17F1cPOmTpmDj0eC16DENBHN89FaVo_ynUDo1TnLC20O_IQLbGSmUzoWfNqHr-_8cKazgVwXxF7d8WaDCqOgbJ7Q/s640/blogger-image-683847115.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">But the one I was really pleased with was the Large Yellow Underwing. This one is so much bigger than the others in the trap at a lost 40mm in length, especially when compared against The Flame. It was very active and quite feisty, refusing to sit still for long, and making it very difficult to take the photos. An it spread it's wings there was a shock of orange/yellow colour - but never at the same time as I was taking a photo.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7NUcOER6gbgTErNMMXQi-GgNhvrq1HX2fhFDQ0MT7u6SDhcgOA4L1GC51GQgC_7GxABG13yj_S-xzNux26ewUtn7gCrwD0iJT-AdD9JDpWuzB7oWGrYquKmX8-VAhcvOpMuuSrTjnTys/s640/blogger-image-501969967.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7NUcOER6gbgTErNMMXQi-GgNhvrq1HX2fhFDQ0MT7u6SDhcgOA4L1GC51GQgC_7GxABG13yj_S-xzNux26ewUtn7gCrwD0iJT-AdD9JDpWuzB7oWGrYquKmX8-VAhcvOpMuuSrTjnTys/s640/blogger-image-501969967.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Many of the common names given to moth in here UK were given by creative Victorian and Edwardian naturalists, and often related to the markings on the moths's wings. In this case the Heart and Dart doesn't disappoint. There is clearly a heart on each wing, with a simple dart like line above.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuQWhbjXcRVfq-StJiJzu-nibbWQJj4J_v3flidoSwb6syoifbwBSoTWCTanp5FVmOclC1oTXzdEiHL5wnY-RjYVfws0oa2cg_qb1VNfer1Y7xwfKo8zGMNbvgp4JpIvMmutQdPeDf0gE/s640/blogger-image-1302052777.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuQWhbjXcRVfq-StJiJzu-nibbWQJj4J_v3flidoSwb6syoifbwBSoTWCTanp5FVmOclC1oTXzdEiHL5wnY-RjYVfws0oa2cg_qb1VNfer1Y7xwfKo8zGMNbvgp4JpIvMmutQdPeDf0gE/s640/blogger-image-1302052777.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The smallest of the moths caught is easily The Flame. This is was only 15mm in length. Smaller than a Pill Woodlouse. Sorry about the quality of the photo, but it clearly shows the way in which it folds it's wings tight against it's body, very different to any of the other moths I've managed to identify so far. This makes it look somewhat like a piece of twig.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8BSW8S_EQCz30chZHi_5Rg12PXo0ZWp2lAzPsGEZf9lIEXQwSChbA3zBVkEyDUzDqCHE0_D96ceqIO1CMp7XJzg46Zn6SbJ4fVgryrW8zAeL8Nw-x_Iw5YqijueDhhUxmuuCK4UMyUfU/s640/blogger-image-1880463334.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8BSW8S_EQCz30chZHi_5Rg12PXo0ZWp2lAzPsGEZf9lIEXQwSChbA3zBVkEyDUzDqCHE0_D96ceqIO1CMp7XJzg46Zn6SbJ4fVgryrW8zAeL8Nw-x_Iw5YqijueDhhUxmuuCK4UMyUfU/s640/blogger-image-1880463334.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></span></div></div>Paul Challinorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860120267566185229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3063970085975044850.post-31630249695171023692014-05-20T20:50:00.001+01:002014-05-20T20:58:35.927+01:00Flame Shoulders and Hook-TipsUsed the moth trap on Friday night. It was a warm still evening, and so it should have been perfect for moths. Saturday morning I took it carefully into the garage and had a quick peek. At the top of the egg boxes I could clearly see a Pebble Hook-tip (Drepana falcataria falcataria) resting and warning me to approach with care. But, being the clumsy oath I am, as I was carefully extracting the box I knocked my elbow on the bench and off he went.<br />
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Luckily for me it was only to the roof window, but it did mean I had to get the ladder out and balance to get the photograph. This does show the patterning on the wings clearly, as well as the dirt on the window.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9jyIm-W8pVFGRJmtC9WnIvn1yGxHivKeBEF9dyV5tmu9ESsZZiOKmkLtlCDwnF2tmsU355Czq9XsPfRcD0HdmJEkb3-RrzBTIynjlXdqP5dNGl2-FofYIuz8dC-XxpMtAlWSszdeZ3zY/s1600/%3Cuntitled%3E+2014-05-18+2+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9jyIm-W8pVFGRJmtC9WnIvn1yGxHivKeBEF9dyV5tmu9ESsZZiOKmkLtlCDwnF2tmsU355Czq9XsPfRcD0HdmJEkb3-RrzBTIynjlXdqP5dNGl2-FofYIuz8dC-XxpMtAlWSszdeZ3zY/s1600/%3Cuntitled%3E+2014-05-18+2+(1).jpg" height="400" width="640" /></a></div>
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Although this is a common resident in the UK it is new to me and I'm always excited with anything that the trap manages to, well trap.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUYAjOiUhswQypTVZMlFbH4hFoNfbuXhTWrXUh4_Td0zQAnd4ORRDKT9Cd9n0sSyQTt4CU3GCg-EgkGyTffoA6nxGLoqcR2_wo4YopolSzKt-PlZA_fTm1_LcHvD4mxYmCYwgvMe0srLk/s1600/Hook-tip+map.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUYAjOiUhswQypTVZMlFbH4hFoNfbuXhTWrXUh4_Td0zQAnd4ORRDKT9Cd9n0sSyQTt4CU3GCg-EgkGyTffoA6nxGLoqcR2_wo4YopolSzKt-PlZA_fTm1_LcHvD4mxYmCYwgvMe0srLk/s1600/Hook-tip+map.png" height="320" width="235" /></a></div>
The NBN Gateway (1) distribution map shows that the Pebble is widely distributed on the mainland. There are two generations in late April - June and July - September. The later generation overwinter before emerging in the spring. The larval food plants are Downey Birch and Silver Birch, of which there are a number in the near vicinity to the garden (2).<br />
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After a little manipulation with a clear plastic box and a piece of paper I was able to recapture the recalcitrant beast and present it for another photo before release.<br />
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The only other moth in the trap was a dark Flame Shoulder (Ochropleura plecta). Unlike the Hook-tip, this chap was very amenable to being moved and placed in position for a photograph.<br />
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It took me a little while to confirm it's id, but the distinctive light coloration to the wing edges was the guiding principle. Again this is common and widely distributed in the UK. It has two generations May/June and August/September. The larvae feed on aside range of herbaceous plants including Grounsel, Ribwort Plantain and bedstraws (2).<br />
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(1): https://data.nbn.org.uk/Taxa/NBNSYS0000005720/Grid_Map<br />
(2): Waring,P. & Townsend,M. (2011) Field Guide to the Moths of Great Britain and Ireland. BWP.Paul Challinorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860120267566185229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3063970085975044850.post-62526667284052142062014-04-13T21:29:00.000+01:002014-04-13T21:29:30.511+01:00Parasitic wasp - Ichneumon stramentorOn Friday night as I was clearing the kitchen getting ready to sit down and watch a film with the family I came across this fantastic ichneumon wasp. It seemed to be drinking water from the kitchen top and wasn't in any hurry to move off, nor was it disturbed at all by the camera and me fussing about around it.<br />
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After some detective work on the net, with my books and help from the fantastic experts on iSpot I'm able to confirm it as Ichneumon stramentor.<br />
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It's about 1.5cm long if I don't include the antennae, and 2cm including the length of the antennae. It has a l<span style="font-family: inherit;">ong tapered abdomen, the first half of which is yellow and the rear half black, with yellow spot at the tip (both on the top and beneath. Legs have black femora; tibiae are half yellow blending into brown that exceeds to the tarsi. Black thorax (with yellow spot) and black head. This specimen is a </span>female as the males have all black antennae.<br />
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It's flight time is from April through to July. Besides our kitchen, it is normally found in meadows, hedgerows and along the woodland edge.<br />
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I. stramentor is an endoparasitoid species laying its eggs in the caterpillars of <span style="font-family: inherit;">the Large Yellow Underwing and Setaceous Hebrew Character moth caterpillars (possibly others). This is where is get gruesome, with the I. stramentor larvae eating its way through the parasitised caterpillar until the host dies. By </span>which<span style="font-family: inherit;"> time the </span>I. stramentor larvae is ready to pupate.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">In the world of mediaeval myths and legends the ichneumon is the enemy of the </span><a href="http://bestiary.ca/beasts/beast262.htm" style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: inherit; text-decoration: none;">dragon.</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"> When it sees a dragon, the ichneuman covers itself with mud, and closing its nostrils with its tail, attacks and kills the dragon. Some say it is also the enemy of the </span><a href="http://bestiary.ca/beasts/beast146.htm" style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: inherit; text-decoration: none;">crocodile</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"> and the </span><a href="http://bestiary.ca/beasts/beast268.htm" style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: inherit; text-decoration: none;">asp</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">, and attacks them in the same way. This reflects the parasitoid action of </span>I. stramentor as it lays it eggs in the caterpillar targets.<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Greek word translated as "ichneumon" was the name used for the "pharoh's rat" or mongoose, which attacks snakes; it can also mean "otter".</span><br />
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Paul Challinorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860120267566185229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3063970085975044850.post-14030242023012302282014-04-12T20:19:00.001+01:002014-04-12T20:22:36.158+01:00Moth trappingLast weekend I finally got my moth trap out of the garage. This was only it's second outing since I bought it at the end of last year. The first use was almost immediately after unpacking it and assembling it in November. It will come as no surprise to those in the know, that this wasn't a successful trapping initiative. Well the weather was promising a mild and dry night, so I trundled out there with the trap, plugged it in and retreated back to the house - more in hope than expectation.<br />
Saturday morning revealed a damp morning, following some light rain earlier. This didn't inspire any confidence, but after an early breakfast I disappeared into the garage armed with the camera and a new copy of my Field Guide to Moths of UK and Ireland.<br />
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Turning over the first two egg trays revealed only a tiny mired bug, Scolopostethus decorates. It is only about 4mm long and I almost missed it in my expectation of finding hundreds of huge moths. It's normally associated with heather and heaths, being found throughout the UK.<br />
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The next discovery was an Early grey, Xylocampa areola. this was more like it. A moth in a moth trap! now I had found a moth, the main challenge was to get it off the egg carton. More difficult than I imagined it could be without damaging the little beast.<br />
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As it's name suggests this is one of the earliest moths, with a flight season between March and May. According to my guides it can be found in lightly wooded areas and gardens. The larvae feed on honeysuckle, which we have in the garden, so I'll have a hunt later on in the year to see if I can find anything.<br />
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Although it is commonest in the south, it can be found throughout the UK<br />
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Next discovery was a pair of Common quakers, Orthosia cerasi. Again this is a common and wide spread species. But I don't care, I've got moths in my moth trap.<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Common quaker h</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">as a wide range of lowland habitats, including woodland and gardens. The single generation</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> flies in March and April. T</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">he larvae feed on Oak, Willow and other deciduous trees.</span><br />
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Then right at the bottom of the trap, and firmly attached to the egg case was a rather bedraggled Oak beauty, Biston strataria. You can see the tips of the wings are slightly damaged. The flight period is from February through to April, so this chap may have been around for a while.<br />
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Despite it's name the Oak beauty is not restricted to oak trees, and the larvae have been found feeding on elm, alder and hazel. But it is easy to imagine how effective the coloration might be on the variable bark of the oak.<br />
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Close up the "feathering" of the moth becomes more evident. The more I look at this the more fascinated I'm becoming, and I think I'll have to try some more close-ups in the future.<br />
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<br />Paul Challinorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860120267566185229noreply@blogger.com0