Friday 29 March 2013

Early stages: Argyresthia brockeella

This moth is one of the many whose larvae feed on the catkins of Birch, so has to be reared through for confirmation of ID.  But that said, it is definitely worth keeping a few pots of catkins to see what   emerges.

Whilst there may not be many visible external signs early on, if you keep these in pots you will soon see frass begin to accumulate as it is expelled from the catkin through a small hole.

Argyresthia brockeella feeding signs and frass on birch catkin

Cocoon in Birch catkin - Argyresthia sp?

This moth emerged a few days ago from catkins collected in early January at Fowlmead Country Park near Deal.

 Argyresthia brockeella

Thursday 21 March 2013

Early stages: Elachista apicipunctella

Well I didn't have long to wait to confirm the ID of the Elachista sp. larvae found mining Dactylis on the 2nd March.

Elachista apicipunctella mine on Dactylis
Mine on Dactylis - housed two larvae

Elachista apicupunctella larva - pre-pupation, ex mine on Dactylis
One of the larvae, pre-pupation

The larvae duly pupated a couple of days later and today, 21st March, the adults emerged...confirming the ID as E. apicupunctella.

Elachista apicupunctella reared ex mine on Dactylis

Dave

Thursday 7 March 2013

A Beautiful Plume indeed

This one was new for the year to the garden MV trap last night, Amblyptilia acanthadactyla,
otherwise known as the Beautiful Plume, which in this case is certainly apt.

Amblyptilia acanthadactyla Amblyptilia acanthadactyla - wing detail

Other micros from last couple of nights nothing to write home about: several Epiphyas postvittana, good numbers of Agonopterix heracliana and Emmelina monodactyla.

Dave