Ruth Newby
@ruthnewby
Officially moth-obsessed, also easily distracted by birds, butterflies, flies, wasps and spiders. Musically devoted to an (un)holy trinity of Bruce Springsteen, Nick Cave and Leonard Cohen.
A couple of NFY Stigmella trimacullela #leafmines from my garden Lombardy Poplar. @vc28nature.bsky.social @sj84turner.bsky.social
This just turned up at my Dusky Clearwing lure which has been out (speculatively) all week. I think I’ve hit the jackpot 🤯 #teammoth @bcwarwickshire.bsky.social @pmandrews1973.bsky.social
A very striking fly on the Golden Oregano in the garden this afternoon: Nowickia ferox, a Tachnid which parasitises the larvae of Dark Arches moths. @ecorecord.bsky.social @teamdiptera.bsky.social
Did the #BigButterflyCount and recorded 4 species: Gatekeeper, Holly Blue, Small White & Peacock. @savebutterflies.bsky.social @bcwarwickshire.bsky.social
Pammene aurita to the Salllow Clearwing lure in the garden yesterday. Listed as one of the bycatch species on the ALS website. There was also an Uncertain in there this morning which is not listed. #teammoth @pmandrews1973.bsky.social
And then there were 14! I can only assume early instars of Cinnabar caterpillars feed low down before moving to the upper parts of the plant. @rlewington2.bsky.social @bcwarwickshire.bsky.social
The grass in my garden isn’t in great shape but the Ragwort and Wild Carrot are doing just fine
That certainly looks like a good call to me, this is one I had earlier this year.
I was starting to get frustrated that the Ragwort in the garden had failed to attract any Cinnabar moths, but finally this evening I spotted a single caterpillar! #teammoth @pmandrews1973.bsky.social @bcwarwickshire.bsky.social
Another shot of the Ferrugineous Bee-grabbers this morning, taken with my Canon 100mm #macro lens plus extender.
A pair of mating Ferrugineous Bee-grabbers (Sicus ferrugineus) on Ragwort in the garden this morning. #diptera @uk-soldierflies.bsky.social
Am I right in thinking these are mines of Mompha langiella? On Enchanter’s Nightshade at Hill Hook LNR today. Would be new for SK19 if so. @vc28nature.bsky.social
Apologies for more cute pictures of Golden-tailed Melitta bees (Melitta haemorroidalis), but I managed to find two males roosting in the same flower which is really rather sweet.
Dark Arches rarely live up to their name, but this one from last night really did seem to have something of the Dark Lord about it! #teammoth
A few more from mid-Wales for @wildflowerhour.bsky.social Royal Fern, pink form of Hedge Bindweed and Bittersweet from RSPB Ynys Hir, Common Valerian from Cors Dyfi. @bsbibotany.bsky.social #wildflowerhour
Checked the Nettle-leaved Bellflower in my wild lawn this evening and was delighted to find 4 roosting Golden-haired Melittas (Melitta haemorrhoidalis). Previously seen them nectaring on geranium in the garden. #solitarybees @ecorecord.bsky.social
Early stage mines of Callisto denticulata from the garden. Since I first found their mines here last year, I’ve been hoping to catch a glimpse of the adult moth, but looks like I’ve missed them this year. #leafmines #teammoth @vc28nature.bsky.social
First Gatekeeper of the year in the garden. The butterfly that says ‘July’ to me. @bcwarwickshire.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social
A Waisted Bee-grabber (Physocephala rufipes), sitting motionless on a Knapweed flower in my garden. Though it looks a bit like a wasp, it’s actually a Conopid fly which parasitises bumblebees. #diptera @teamdiptera.bsky.social @ecorecord.bsky.social
Lozotainiodes formosana (Orange Pine Tortrix) wasn’t NFY, but when it was it didn’t get its photo posted & I feel it’s time to remedy that omission! No one could see it and still say that micros are boring. #teammoth
First trap at home in a week, 163:49 with 10 NFY, best being my 2nd garden record of Light Arches (1st was in 2023), also Early Thorn, BBYU, Pebble Hook-tip, Common Rustic agg., Mother of Pearl, Dingy Footman, Single-dotted Wave, Crassa unitella. #teammoth @pmandrews1973.bsky.social
I found these galls on a Willow in Wales earlier this week. Haven’t worked out what they are yet
Returned to RSPB Ynys Hir yesterday and was treated to fabulous views of a hunting Marsh Harrier and my first ever Purple Hairstreak, seen from a hide which conveniently overlooked to tops of some small Oaks. @rspb.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social
I rescued a spider from the sink at our holiday let this morning, turned out to be a male Steatoda grossa (aka the Cupboard Spider), a new species for me. Quite a few records from mid-Wales, especially near the coast. @britishspiders.bsky.social
Not sure if it was attracted by the moth trap light or not, but this Painted Lady was beautifully camouflaged against the door this morning. @savebutterflies.bsky.social
One of my favourite #hoverflies Sericomyia silentis at RSPB Ynys Hir today. @rspbcymru.bsky.social
Borth beach, looking towards the Llyn Peninsula. Saw my first ever Manx Shearwaters today, feeding just off the shore here, distant but a thrilling sight. 🪶
For @wildflowerhour.bsky.social , a few plants from the mid-Wales coast & further inland: Sea Campion, Kidney Vetch, Greater Bird’s-foot Trefoil and Smooth Hawk’s-beard. @bsbibotany.bsky.social #wildflowerhour
Made me go back and check the photos of a yellow caddis I had on my trap here in Wales. A blurry photo as it was still quite dark but appears to be the same species as yours according to ObsID.