Monday 28 April 2014

A case of the Yp's: Part II

In a follow on from the previous post,   http://kentmicromoths.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/a-case-of-yps-part-i.html  here are the other two Yponomeuta species that I have found in the larval stage already this year: two of the Spindle feeders - Y. cagnagella and Y. plumbella. These both seem quite numerous this year.

Y. plumbella - larval feeding signs: wilted shoots
Yponomeuta plumbella larval feeding signs


Y. cagnagella - larval web

Yponomeuta cagnagella larval web

Friday 25 April 2014

A case of the Yp's - Part I

Already this year I have been lucky enough to find the early stages of four members of the Yponomeutid family, the first two of which are included here: Yponomeuta rorrella and Y. padella

Very pleased in particular with rorrella as this is the first time I've found this in the larval stage. This web was on Salix at Fowlmead CP near Deal, East Kent.

Y. rorrella larval web and larvae
Yponomeuta rorrella larval web
Yponomeuta rorrella larvae
Also Y. padella - found several webs on Hawthorn and Blackthorn Yponomeuta padella larval web
Two of the Spindle feeders to follow...

Wednesday 23 April 2014

Evening sweep

A very productive early evening walk with the net yesterday, the highlights were...
Micropterix tunbergella
Micropterix tunbergella

Gracillaria syringella
Gracillaria syringella
Incurvaria masculella Incurvaria masculella Also lots of larval webs of Yponomeuta cagnagella and feeding signs of Y. plumbella and various larval spinnings on a range of plants.

Tuesday 22 April 2014

Miner miscella-ny

Whilst this was one miner I had been searching chalk downland for for a while, it ended up being a totally accidental discovery...Mompha miscella on Common Rock-Rose (Helianthemum nummularium)


Mompha miscella
I had noticed various larval spinnings on Rock Rose and had potted some up, I decided to add a few extra leaves as food supply and lo and behold one of these was tenanted by the larva of Mompha miscella.  This appears to be pretty scarce in Kent (or perhaps more accurately, scarcely recorded or looked for).

There are also plenty of Eriocrania mines on Birch now including:


Eriocrania semipurpurella

Eriocrania sangii larva

Friday 4 April 2014

The longest wait...

Having collected mines of various Ericorania species last May and boxing them up more in hope than expectation, the first two E. chrysolepidella emerged yesterday after a wait of over 10 months, longer than the human gestation period.


Eriocrania chrysolepidella

 This was one of the mines: Paracrania (Eriocrania) chrysolepidella mine on Hazel Paracrania (Eriocrania) chrysolepidella mine on Hazel

Tuesday 1 April 2014

Mint provides new currency for the garden

Potted up this Acleris literana flitting about the trap a couple of nights ago, a new one for the garden.


Acleris literana

I love the colour; there aren't too many mint green moths.