A problem with comments & Tinea dubiella

hi, don't know whether it is me but I can't add comments (Firefox). It tells me I'm not logged in. I click on log in and as you can see I can post.

But when I return to the main page it shows me logged out so I can't reply.

I just wanted to thank Dave for his reply on the Beaded Chestnut. I'd like to thank Peter for the dissection of  Tinea dubiella (see below). Also thanks to everyone else who helped with IDs this year.

A happy New Year all.

Mark Griffiths, Garsington, Oxford

October Confirmations

I managed to get myself terribly confused over Lunar Underwings and Beaded Chestnuts from the forewing only pictures I had. Previous years I found Beaded Chestnut's unlike the Lunar Underwings were pretty much constant. This year I got completely plain ones to ones that were almost black.

I'd appreciate if someone could confirm these catches from October. I think all but the last ones are Beaded Chestnut, with the final one as Lunar Underwing.

Mark Griffiths, Garsington, Oxford

Next Year's Moths

I took a couple of MV Robinsons to one of my local ancient woodlands, Finemere Wood, last night.  The lights produced 370 moths of 8 species between them, either on/under the sheet or in/on the trap.  Well over 200 were Winter Moths while more than 120 were Mottled Umbers.  There actually seemed to be many more Winter Moths around just about every nearby oak trunk, especially at the start of the three-hour session when the males were very active and some newly-emerged females were seen scampering upwards.  On one particular trunk I noticed half a dozen mated pairs and a couple of solitary females. 

The other species seen comprised Acleris ferrugana/notana (3), Northern Winter Moth (at least 11), Satellite (3) and Chestnut (13), all of which were expected, while I suppose I shouldn't have been surprised at the early emergence of Pale Brindled Beauty (3) and Spring Usher (2) which are really next year's moths.

Pale Brindled Beauty, Finemere Wood 22nd December

Spring Usher, Finemere Wood 22nd December

Dave Wilton
Westcott, Bucks
  

A few moths of December

13 moths over last two nights here in Cowley, 8 of them Epiphyas postvittana but also a Double-striped Pug, Satellite, Mottled Umber and a late rather battered male Red-green Carpet.

 

Mottled umber

This Mottled umber came to light on the 20/21 December. It was actually on the curtain lining as I had the patio door open to pass the cable through.

I always close the curtains when I have the trap outside as the white linings form a large white sheet. I frequently find moths on the patio windows or inside as this one did.

Alan Diver
Tackley, Oxon.

Light brown apple moth

Despite frost on 17th December, this Light brown apple moth came to light.

Alan Diver
Tackley, Oxon

Chestnuts at Christmas

For the first time in well over a week, the garden stayed frost free last night, and the light trap attracted 3 moths. A Winter Moth sat on the outside of the trap, whilst amongst the egg boxes were 2 Chestnuts.

These are actually the first Chestnuts I have recorded in the garden this year, so it just goes to show it is never too late to get additions to your garden year list.
Finally, a very happy Xmas to all of you who contribute to this blog, and best wishes for 2018.

Steve Trigg, Cookham

Snow cats in the Chilterns

Wasn't really expecting to see moths today, but did find caterpillars in numbers! I never knew Large Yellow Underwing caterpillars had a fondness for snow-top excursions, but it seems to be a known behaviour, at least in America. See this blog post for further details.

A caterpillar curled up on the snow after I disturbed it

The dark speck in the middle of the lower part of this
photo is a Large Yellow Underwing caterpillar, honest!

See, amid the Winter snow

Last night and this morning in Thrupp.  Thank Goodness that December Moths are well wrapped-up! Martin Wainwright, Thrupp, Oxon

Red-line Quaker

My last Red-line Quaker sighting this year was on 2nd November so this specimen in the garden last night was rather unexpected, more than a month later.  I have had one other December record (7th December 2016, one day later) so it isn't entirely without precedent here, but noteworthy all the same.

Red-line Quaker, Westcott 6th December

Despite the relative warmth, ever-increasing wind overnight from Storm Caroline was probably the reason why December Moth (1) and Winter Moth (3) were the only other moths which came to the actinic light.  The forecast suggests that it is now time to go back into hibernation for at least a week or so! 

Dave Wilton
Westcott, Bucks

Tinea pellionella?

Tried running the trap within the garage and got a nice December moth and Light Brown Apple Moth so it seems to work for me.

Also found this inside the house - can it be ID'd as Tinea pellionella?

If it needs it's bits checked can someone tell me how I need to prepare it and and where to send it?

Mark Griffiths, Garsington, Oxford

Westcott, Bucks

I ran the actinic light in the conservatory here from dusk until 10.30pm last night, when the sky cleared to reveal that very bright moon, and in that time 16 moths had appeared at the windows:  December Moth (5, including two females), Winter Moth (7), Mottled Umber (2) & Dark Chestnut (1) along with what I thought in the dark was a faded Scarce Umber but on reflection in daylight now looks much more like a small, poorly marked and very early Dotted Border.  There is one other December record for Dotted Border in Bucks, from exactly the same date in 2004.  Unlike Mottled Umber which may go on until February, the flight period locally for Scarce Umber is usually only about four weeks long and almost all of my records are confined to November.  This year I had my first in the garden on 31st October so theoretically it should be over here by now anyway.

Westcott, 3rd December

Dave Wilton
Westcott, Bucks

When do you trap in winter?

Hope this is ok to post.

As per the title when do you trap in winter? What is the lowest temperature that it's worth putting the trap out for?

I've had a series of no show trappings - I didn't trap last week but I'm wondering if I'm attempting the impossible due to the temperature.

Mark Griffiths, Garsington, Oxford.