27 June 2012 - A Crowd of Moths and More

Last night we caught more moths than I’ve yet uncovered in a single night, including five (or six) new species. This would bring the total to 194 confirmed species or 195, depending on the outcome of the unknown. We were overwhelmed with trying to differentiate micromoths from the colorful beetles, flies, and gnats. Perhaps this is what I should expect from summer temperatures or it could just be a fluke.

The new species were:

Epermenia chaerophyllella

The Epermenia chaerophyllella (epermenia for the ermine-like markings on its forewings and chaerophyllella, 'rough chervil,' its larvae's food).

Chrysoteuchia culmella 

The Chrysoteuchia culmella (Chrysoteuchia means to make with gold, due to its golden forewings; culmella means 'a stalk,' appropriate for its habitat in pastures.) 

Crambus perlella

The Crambus perlella (crambus means 'dry' or 'parched' from the yellowish brown of some of the moths of this species; perlella (a pearl) describes its glossy white finish).

Celypha lacunana

The Celypha lacunana (celypha (husk or pod) might describe the shape of its wings; lacunana (hole or cleft) describes the interruption of dark coloring on its wings).

Agapeta hamana

 The Agapeta hamana (agapeta (beloved or desirable) is due to its attractive appearance while hamana, a hook, refers to the marking on its hindwings.)

Small Fan-foot (Herminia grisealis)

My favorite of the day happened to not be a new species: the Small Fan-foot (Herminia grisealis),  whose markings were so simple and distinct that they reminded me of engravings. Its Latin name is herminia (adorned with ermine), from the tufts of hair-scales on its legs that resemble ermine robes. Grisealis derives from either griseus (grey) for its ground-colored wings or nemoralis (a grove or glade), its habitat. There were three of this species in the trap so I wonder if they will begin to show up every night.

Willow Beauty (Peribatodes rhomboidaria)

Other findings were: a Common Footman, a Small Magpie, Willow Beauty, Brimstone Moth, Udea olivalis, The Flame, a Scorched Wing, Garden Pebble, Bright-line Brown-eyes, Poplar Hawk-moth, Pugs, Ermines, Common Swifts, Beautiful Golden Ys, and so many fluttering Carpets that I was hesitant to open the lid.

Smoky Wainscot or Shoulder-striped Wainscot*

The picture to the right is still yet to be determined. If it is a Shoulder-striped Wainscot, then it is a new species. If its is a Smoky Wainscot, then we have seen it before. As always, tweet us @LSterneTrust if you have any ideas!

Post by Helen Levins

*Shoulder-striped Wainscot (Mythimna comma) - Jane Wu

3 July 2014 - Little Slender

(Calybites phasianipennella)

Calybites phasianipennella is a very small moth; a very little, slender moth, which (if the scientific name is anything to go by) lives in a hut and looks like a pheasant.  The cone of silk the caterpillar spins for its protection refers to the 'hut' (like a yurt, perhaps?), but the pheasant connection is rather more difficult to understand.  Those outrageous roadside sentinels are blazing with purples and reds at the moment, but Calybites' colouring looks quite discreet. 
Little Slender (for that is its colloquial name), was one of three micro moths trapped in the gardens at the Yorkshire Museum last night and those members of the public who stopped, on their way to work, to look at the 'catch' found it difficult to believe that something so small, that could barely be seen, could indeed be a moth.  Here it is under a macro lens.  It is not glimpsed very often as it spends up to nine months hibernating or overwintering.  The antennae wave almost constantly, sensing and investigating the air.

(Crambus perlella) 

Another micro from the YO1 area last night was a Crambus perlella - the Yellow Satin Veneer - here shown in a collecting tube and looking every bit as terrifying as Hirst's shark.
The scientific name means 'dry' or 'withered pearl'.  The moth can be found on grassland, gardens and heathland and is quite common.  
We are still trying to identify the third micro and will post when we find out.  

27 July 2016 - A Moth Like Agate

(Ancylis achatana)

The moth above, Ancylis achatana discovered on 21 July, has been confirmed by Charlie Fletcher and is also new to the gardens at Shandy Hall. So many of our new species are found outside the trap, on the plastic guard that holds the light.  If not there then on the white sheet that the trap is placed upon. It means I have to be extra careful. 

This moth looked to be no more than a speck among the many bird droppings on the sheet. I would have paid no more attention to it if it weren’t for the reddish tint near the tip and the unusual shape of the midbody fascia which is joined up with the first pair of costal streaks via a diffused, angled band. This species used to be more concentrated in the South but is possibly expanding northwards. It feeds on hawthorn and blackthorn. 

The name ancylis, derived from ‘agkulis’ or angle, describes its hooked wings. Achates means a banded gemstone such as agate, which the markings resemble.

(Tinea trinotella)

Captured in our trap on 23 July, this minimalistic moth is identified as Tinea trinotella. Its hallmark feature is, as the name suggests, the three (tri-) dots (nota) on the forewing – although the third one seems to have gone missing in our picture. I like the shape of Tinea’s. Everything looks rounded off; even the tornal angle is eased into. You wouldn’t expect to find a yellow Mohican  on such a subdued body, but it is there, just visible in the photograph; also its strange appetite for wool, birds’ nests, and animal matters. ‘Wool, Birds’ Nests, and Animal Matters' - sounds like the name of an Indie album. 

The moth has appeared on our blog before as part of a two-trap venture at Barley Studio and Keith Barley’s garden in Warthill, but this is the first time it has been found in our own gardens.

(Agriphila straminella)

To conclude, a correction has been made: a post from 2011 had mistaken a Crambus perlella for an Agriphila straminella.  A real A. straminella is pictured above.

Post: Tung Chau (UPenn)