Early stages: Mompha epilobiella

Plenty of larval spinnings around on various Epilobium species at the moment.  The larva is much lighter than that of M. conturbatella which also forms spinnings in this way.  Most of the M. epilobiella larvae I've found recently have been in terminal shoots, so you need to check the larvae closely to separate these two species.

Larval spinning


Larval spinning with frass just visible


The larva eating its way down the shoot





Dave

Emergence-y, Emergence-y...

Apologies for dodgy title but every day seems to bring new emergence from the wealth of larvae, cases and pupae collected over the last few months, some of the latest include:

Acrobasis consociella: http://kentmicromoths.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/early-stages-acrobasis-consociella.html


Agonopterix assimilella: http://kentmicromoths.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/weekend-round-up-good-variety.html


Coleophora solitariella: http://kentmicromoths.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/fruitful-dusking-forays.html


Yponomeuta cagnagella

Early stages: Mompha raschkiella

A fairly widespread species, not surprising in this case given that the foodplant is Rosebay Willowherb. Found several of these in Covert Wood, East Kent at the weekend.



The mines are distinctive as they often lead to red discolouration around the mines. Not too tricky to rear through either, and a smart adult too:


http://kentmicromoths.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/bonsai-banzai-bonanza.html

Dave

A rare one emerges

In a follow up to the earlier post: http://kentmicromoths.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/early-stages-metzneria-aestivella.html an adult has now emerged.

Metzneria aestivella, reared ex pupa, Fowlmead Country Park, Kent. Emerged 14.vi.2012.

However, it is not actually one of the first 'batch', it is from a pupa found just this Sunday (10th June) at a different location, Fowlmead Country Park near Deal, East Kent.  The adult emerged 14th June.

Once again, the Carline Thistle seedhead gave away the presence of this moth as there was a slightly raised tuft of seeds above where this pupa was found.

Early stages: Acrolepia autumnitella

Plenty of these highly visible and readily identifiable mines around just now.  Just about every Bittersweet (Solanum dulcamara) plant around here has many of these on it.


And they are pretty easy to rear through and make such a beautiful, reticulate cocoon in the process
Dave

On the case again

Had a very productive trip to Fowlmead Country Park at the weekend with some great micro finds including more Metzneria aestivella, pupae this time.

Also plenty of Coleophora cases around including these three:

Coleophora conyzae on Common Fleabane

Coleophora pennella on Viper's Bugloss


Coleophora folicularis on Common Fleabane

Early stages: Acrobasis consociella

Acrobasis consociella

The feeding signs and spinning of the larvae of this member of the Pyralidae are strikingly obvious right now.


I found this one and dozens more on just a handful of young Oak trees at Fowlmead Country Park near Deal, East Kent, 10th June.

Mine, all mine

The leaf mining season is really starting to ramp up now, which is not a bad thing given that garden trapping remains decidedly well under par.

A few finds from recent days include Caloptilia rufipennella on Sycamore (early mines)  




 C. syringella on Privet


and Stigmella hybnerella on Hawthorn.



Dave

Early stages: Epermenia chaerophyllella

This one is pretty common and widespread and right now the gregarious larvae are very easy to find.

The windows and brown patches created by the feeding larvae are very obvious, most commonly found on Hogweed but also on other Umbellifers.  Look for these patches and turn over the leaf to reveal groups of larvae.

More net gains

Sweeping with the net continues to yield plenty of micros:

Hypochalcia ahenella


Agonopterix purpurea


Pseudargyrotoza conwagana


Epiblema cynosbatella


Clepsis consimilana