Shandy Hall Moths
7 June 2011
7 June 2011 – Egg Blog
How many? 85 seems to be about right. Laid with the precision of a machine-gun but on the outside of the moth cage not on the inside. I thought the White Ermine or the Green Silver-lines might have been responsible but they didn’t make contact with the outside of the mesh. The last clutch of […]
6 June 2011
3 June 2011 – Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth
Epiblema cynosbatella crept in, nearly unnoticed, on 20 May (photo on side panel) and was identified by Dave Chesmore as Shandy Hall’s newest species. 163 in total. Last night was the warmest for a while and the trap was out by 9pm which might explain why the dusk-flying Common Swift was seen this morning. Hepialus […]
31 May 2011
26 May 2011 – Buff-tip and Elephant Hawk-moth
The Buff-tip (Phalera bucephala, Greek phalaros – having a white patch ; bucephala – bull-headed). Alexander the Great had a horse called Bucephalus so if it had a white blaze on its head, this moth is named after it. At Shandy Hall the Buff-tip never quite makes it to the moth-trap. It is always found nearby […]
23 May 2011
20 May 2011 – Flame Shoulder
Cleaning the moth trap (dead midges and mosquitoes accumulate at the bottom of the trap and form a sort of crisp soup) and then putting it out in the dark last night meant I forgot to put the egg-boxes back in. As a result, this morning’s collection were all tucked beneath the rim that supports […]
19 May 2011
19 May 2011 – Newt emerges
At night the temperature is still chilly. A drive back to Shandy Hall in the evening gives a fair indication of possible moth activity and over the last week hardly any have been seen in the headlights. (I’m sure most moth-trappers travel more slowly at night to avoid collisions. A feathery clout on the windscreen […]
10 May 2011
10 May 2011 – Prominent Prominents
Menophra abruptaria is the Latin name for the Waved Umber. Menophra is derived from the Greek words for ‘moon’ and ‘eyebrow’ and abruptus means ‘broken off’. A collection of words that form another miniature poem. These creatures are so different when at rest in contrast to their flapping, agitated flight. The big lilac tree on the lawn […]
3 May 2011
3 May 2011 – 57 varieties of human being: 6 varieties of moth
The National Gardens Scheme evening attracted 57 varieties of human being but only half-a-dozen different moth species, two of which are photographed here. The White Ermine moth (Spilosoma lubricipeda) – such a beautiful creature – comes readily to light. If the example photographed looks a bit lifeless that is because the moth’s response to being handled […]
28 April 2011
28 April 2011 – App blossoms
The nights are still chilly and moth numbers are low but if the real creatures refuse to creep from their cryptic resting places we should (as of this afternoon) be able to provide a virtual alternative. When visitors come to the National Gardens Scheme evening opening tomorrow there will be a couple of i-pads with […]
26 April 2011
Cold last night – a contrast to the heat of the day – so no great expectations.
26 April 2011 The unmistakable Scorched Wing Plagodis dolabararia made an appearance and was a welcome addition to the disappointingly small gathering of Powdered Quakers and Hebrew Characters. Apparently the female Scorched Wing is hardly ever seen so we’ll have to be content with the male and its characteristic curl of the abdomen. It is […]
18 April 2011
18 April 2011-Shandy Hall moths on BBC Radio 4
Moths have not been plentiful over the last few nights – a bright, nearly full moon and low temperatures brought out just enough to satisfy the hunger of the first pipistrelle of the year – but moth enthusiasts were in plentiful supply. Martin Wainwright and Iain Chambers are putting together a radio programme with a […]
15 April 2011
29 April 2011 – National Gardens Scheme Evening Event
If you are interested in the mothy side of Shandy Hall then you are welcome to come to Coxwold as dusk falls on 29 April when the results of the previous night’s trap will be examined, photographed and recorded by Dave Chesmore of the University of York. Dave’s knowledge and experience is considerable and there […]
15 April 2011
Winged Skull
Moths have been part of the activities at Shandy Hall since a chance glimpse of the Allis Collection in the store at York Museum produced the idea of linking Laurence Sterne and Acherontia atropos – the Death’s-head Hawk-moth. This moth, which is not a native species, is the largest moth found in the UK and […]
Recent Moths
- 25 July 2023 – Collective Noun for Hawkmoths
- MOTH LIST to August 2023 with links
- 28 July 2023 – TRIPLE New Species Alert!
- 18 July 2023 – A Golden…Plusia!
- 13 July 2023 – Arts and Sciences
- 10 July 2023 – Rise of the Yellow Underwings
- 4 July 2023 – Cold-weather Catch
- 4 July 2023 – Mother of Pearl, an Inspiration to Science
- 28 June 2023 – Buff-tipped Marble
- 23 June 2023 – Moth or Butterfly?
- 20 June 2023 – Bee, Straw, Emerald and a Ghost
- 17 June 2023 – Old and New
