Friday 29 June 2012

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
Mompha epilobiella larval spinning

Larval spinning with frass just visible
Mompha epilobiella larval spinning and frass

The larva eating its way down the shoot
Mompha epilobiella larva (3)


Mompha epilobiella larva

Dave

Wednesday 27 June 2012

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
Acrobasis consociella - reared ex larva on Oak

Agonopterix assimilella: http://kentmicromoths.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/weekend-round-up-good-variety.html
Agonopterix assimilella - reared ex larva on Broom

Coleophora solitariella: http://kentmicromoths.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/fruitful-dusking-forays.html
Coleophora solitariella - reared ex larval case on Stellaria

Yponomeuta cagnagella
Yponomeuta cagnagella reared ex larva on Spindle

Monday 18 June 2012

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.

Mompha raschkiella - mine on Rosebay Willowherb Mompha raschkiella - mine on Rosebay Willowherb (4) Mompha raschkiella - mine on Rosebay Willowherb (2) Mompha raschkiella - mine on Rosebay Willowherb (3)

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

Friday 15 June 2012

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.
Metzneria aestivella reared ex pupa on Carline Thistle, emerged 14.vi.12.  Fowlmead CP, Deal, East Kent. Metzneria aestivella
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.

Thursday 14 June 2012

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.

Acrolepia autumnitella mine Acrolepia autumnitella tenanted mine Acrolepia autumnitella tenanted mine (2) Acrolepia autumnitella larva
And they are pretty easy to rear through and make such a beautiful, reticulate cocoon in the process Acrolepia autumnitella pupa and cocoon
Dave

Tuesday 12 June 2012

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 conyzae larval case on Fleabane

Coleophora pennella on Viper's Bugloss
Coleophora pennella larval case on Viper's Bugloss

Coleophora folicularis on Common Fleabane
Coleophora follicularis larval case on 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.
Acrobasis consociella feeding signs

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.
Acrobasis consociella larva

Monday 11 June 2012

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)  Caloptilia rufipennella early mine on Sycamore

Caloptilia rufipennella early mine on Sycamore


 C. syringella on Privet
Caloptilia syringella mine on Privet

and Stigmella hybnerella on Hawthorn.
Stigmella hybnerella mine on Hawthorn


Dave





Tuesday 5 June 2012

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.

Epermenia chaerophyllella larvae on Hogweed

Epermenia chaerophyllella larvae on Hogweed (2) Epermenia chaerophyllella - feeding signs on Hogweed

Friday 1 June 2012

More net gains

Sweeping with the net continues to yield plenty of micros:

Hypochalcia ahenella
Hypochalcia ahenella

Agonopterix purpurea
Agonopterix purpurea

Pseudargyrotoza conwagana
Pseudargyrotoza conwagan

Epiblema cynosbatella
Epiblema cynosbatella (2)

Clepsis consimilana
Clepsis consimilana