Pammene aurita

I've done it before and again with this moth, just got poor records shots thinking I've seen this one before. Determining it revealed the real identity, a new moth for me and consequently new for the garden Pammene aurita. Trapped on the 24th July 2012.

Pammene aurita (Gen Det)

Depressaria daucella

After seeing 200+ of the larvae a few weeks ago it wasn't a surprise that the adults were going to start appearing sooner or later although I thought it was still a bit early for them yet. 2-3 were caught on Friday 26th in Sand Bay.

Depressaria daucella male genitalia plate

Depressaria daucella

Depressaria daucella larva

Syncopacma taeniolella

There were several new moths caught on Friday that I have never seen before and one of these was Syncopacma taeniolella. This moth is similar to others but can be distinguished by a white costal spot on the underside of the hindwing, a feature shared by no others.

Syncopacma taeniolella underside of hindwing

Syncopacma taeniolella male genitailia plate

Syncopacma taeniolella

Machaerium maritimae

One of the diptera that came to the moth traps on friday 26th July was Machaerium maritimae. The biggest clue I found to the identification of this species is the antennae.

Machaerium maritimae

Golden-rod Pug

On Friday 26th July we caught 4 Golden-rod Pugs in Sand Bay which roughly coincides with the date of last years worn specimen from Brean Down of 22nd July 2012.

Golden-rod Pug Eupithecia virgaureata

Golden-rod Pug Eupithecia virgaureata male genitalia

Pediasia contaminella

It's been established that there is a small population of Pediasia contaminella in Sand Bay a new species for the area. Last night I determined one for the first time.

Pediasia contaminella

Pediasia contaminella

Phycitodes binaevella

I determined a pyralid last night that came out as Phycitodes binaevella. I found that there were two main points from the male genitalia pointing to this species: The cornuti in the aedeagus and the shape of the valva. I also determined P.saxicola recently which is shown for comparison.

Phycitodes binaevella

Phycitodes binaevella male genitalia plate

Phycitodes saxicola

The Vestal Rhodometra sacraria

After last years poor turnout of migrants in my trap it was somewhat of a surprise to break the 18 month run of bad luck with a Vestal whilst walking the dog this afternoon.

The Vestal Rhodometra sacraria

Gasteruption jaculator

Sometimes you meet an impressive looking insect and hope you can put a name to it. This was so with this Gasteruption jaculator. Despite being a wasp I thought it was distinctive enough to be able to ID. The female uses Solitary Bee and Wasp larvae as the host.

Gasteruption jaculator

Haematopota crassicornis and pluvialis

I've had several cleg flies buzzing round me in Sand Bay recently so I've been netting them for my own safety and with a view to separating into H.crassicornis and H.pluvialis. Getting the information to separate these two isn't easy but I've found out that pluvialis has an anterior notch on the basal antennal segment which is not present in crassicornis. H.grandis can be told from the two by a long thin basal antennal segment.
I netted 9 flies; 8 where H.crassicornis and 1 was H.pluvialis. The photo below shows the difference in the antennae. This is correct to the best of my knowledge and will amend if any more information comes to light to the contrary.

Comparison of antennae of crassicornis and pluvialis

Garden Dart Euxoa nigricans

Here's a moth that has been giving people some ID problems. I caught one around the same time in 2011 and that was identified as "having some similarities to nigricans". I've never seen Garden Dart so this would be a new moth for me. Classed nationally as a common moth this species has seldom been recorded since 2000 in VC5 and VC6.

Presumed Garden Dart Euxoa nigricans

Eyed Hawk-moth larva

The first Eyed Hawk-moth of the year happened to be a female in the garden trap. She laid several eggs so I decided to rear a couple. At first they were eating a leaf every 3 days and now it 4 leaves a day.

Eyed Hawk-moth larva

Brown Scallop Philereme vetulata

A worn knackered geometrid dropped on the sheet last night whilst trapping, at first I couldn't figure it out. In the morning under daylight the moth I thought looked a bit like Brown Scallop but that I thought was because of the worn state. Determining it tonight proved that it was indeed this species.

Brown Scallop Philereme vetulata

Brown Scallop male genitalia

Nicrophorus vespillo

This beetle was attracted to my MV light last night. I saw this or a similar species at Berrow just over a week ago. One of the distinguishing features of Nicrophorus vespillo is the curved hind tibiae.
Edit: A little bit more information on this species. The red top to the antennae and yellow side hairs along with the curved hind tibiae are all features of Nicrophorus vespillo.

Nicrophorus vespillo

Biselachista scirpi

I swept this moth from the marsh on friday. It looks good for Biselachista scirpi. The moth is said to be found around Sea Club-rush which is present in the bay.

+

Biselachista scirpi

Biselachista scirpi male genitalia

Weston Woods moth trap results 18th July

For a change I trapped in Weston woods last night recording the following:

1. Peach Blossom
2. Buff Arches
3. Common Emerald
4. Clay Triple-lines
5. Riband Wave
6. Silver-ground Carpet
7. Common Marbled Carpet
8. July Highflyer
9. Small Fan-footed Wave
10. Pretty Chalk Carpet
11. Haworth's Pug
12. Blomer's Rivulet
13. Clouded Magpie
14. Swallow-tailed Moth
15. Peppered Moth
16. Willow Beauty
17. Mottled Beauty
18. Engrailed
19. Clouded Silver
20. Light Emerald
21. Lobster
22. Rosy Footman
23. Heart and Dart
24. Heart and Club
25. Dark Sword-grass
26. Flame Shoulder
27. Lesser Yellow Underwing
28. Dagger sp
29. Poplar Grey
30. Marbled Beauty
31. Dark Arches
32. Grey Arches
33. Purple Clay
34. Slender Brindle
35. Double Square-spot
36. Rustic
37. Green Silver-lines
38. Beautiful Hook-tip
39. Snout
40. Fan-foot
41. Teleiodes luculella
42. Gracillaria syringella
43. Green Oak Tortrix
44. Cryptoblabes bistriga
45. Eudonia lacustrata
46. Zeiraphera isertana
47. Pammene fasciana
48. Lathronympha strigana
49. Pseudargyrotoza conwagana

Coleophora adjunctella

A coleophora caught in Sand Bay on the 14th has been determined at the moment as a male C.adjunctella a feeder of Juncus geradii found in saltmarshes recorded as present in Sand Bay.

Coleophora adjunctella male genitalia

Coleophora adjunctella

Deraeocoris ruber

Yesterday I arrived on the patch and immediately found a mirid bug. Being quite a variable species it took a while to sort it out but came up with the ID of Deraeocoris ruber. I found and immature recently and not seen the adult so was pleased to have the set.

Deraeocoris ruber nymph

Deraeocoris ruber adult

Leucozona laternaria

I took a trip to Weston Woods this morning before going to Sand Point and bumped into a new hoverfly Leucozona laternaria. This one is a woodland species that is often found on umbellifers. I was hoping for White-letter Hairstreak but couldn't find any but this new hover made it worth the trip. Along the track to the water tower I could see Hedge Woundwort and Enchanter's Nightshade

Leucozona laternaria

Leucozona laternaria

Enchanter's Nightshade

Berrow LNR 12th July

I joined some fellow moth trappers for a night at Berrow LNR. Temperatures were pretty good with a light onshore wind. Here are some of my highlights from last night.

Shore Wainscot

Epiblema foenella

Eulamprotes wilkella - f.tarquiniella

Marasmarcha lunaedactyla

Moth larvae

I've been collecting willow leaves for the Eyed Hawkmoths I've been rearing and tonight I spotted a large larva amongst the willow leaves. Best match I can find is Pale Prominent. The other I'm rearing is Brimstone Moth. It initially came from a session with the beating tray and was too small to ID but now it clearly this species.

Brimstone Moth larva

Pale Prominent larva

Nemotelus pantherinus

Whilst walking back to the car I saw a couple of groups of flies over the saltmarsh so decided to investigate. One land on some grass allowing photos. I netted another to bring home in case the photos were inconclusive. I managed to track down to the Stratiomyidae family. Being a distinctive fly it didn't take too long to find out which one it was. Fortunately there aren't any identical flies that I can see so the one in the pot can go.

Nemotelus pantherinus

Early July moth trapping in Sand Bay

The recent warm spell has brought out plenty of moths and with the wind turning NE made it a little easier to trap on the patch. Here's a couple of shots of recent catches.

Scrobipalpa nitentella

Neosphaleroptera nubilana

Schoenobius gigantella

Red-necked Footman

Moth trap results from 7th July

Mixed results from last night with Sand Point average and Sand Bay much better. Here's some snaps from last nights catch, the highligts are on the 2013 list linked at the top of the page.

Round-winged Muslin

Anarsia spartiella

Spatalistis bifasciana

Silky Wainscot

Teleiodes sequax

I was agonising over this one for a while having photographed it thinking I knew what it was but then found it wasn't that species. It turned out to be Teleiodes sequax a species that I caught at Sand Point last year for the first time.

Teleiodes sequax

Chrysotoxum bicinctum

A new hoverfly found today on the patch this one rather striking and for a change not head scratching over minor anatomical details to separate from others. Unlike yesterdays new hoverfly yesterday the Eristalis intricarius it showed exceptionally well down to a few inches.

Chrysotoxum bicinctum

Chrysotoxum bicinctum