Darren Underwood @dku1000.bsky.social · 5hStriped Shieldbug (Graphosoma italicum). A new shieldbug for me. Seen today at the Foxearth Meadows Nature Reserve in Essex (right in the north of the county). Definitely appears to be spreading now. #UKBugs 03911
Darren Underwood @dku1000.bsky.social · 5hAnother very good recording day yesterday with the Suffolk Moth Group. A total of 90 species found around Clare and Hundon in the west of the county. A few photos below - see ALT text. #mothsmatter 192
Darren Underwood @dku1000.bsky.social · 08/10/2026Two leaf mines on clover from yesterday in Long Melford, Suffolk. 1. The moth Parectopa ononidis (Clover Stilt). 2. The fly Agromyza nana. Lots of black frass in the latter. 093
Darren Underwood @dku1000.bsky.social · 05/10/2026The highlight of Saturday's daytime moth visit to Clare was the discovery of the leaf mines of Phyllonorycter medicaginella (Medick Leaf-miner), a recently established resident and a species new to Suffolk. Spotted on a Melilot species by our eagle-eyed CMR. #mothsmatter 0233
Darren Underwood @dku1000.bsky.social · 05/10/2026It's a very scarce moth in Suffolk. I'd only seen one before (on Blackthorn). The feeding windows caused by these ones was quite noticeable (as in the photo). Good luck Steve. 110
Darren Underwood @dku1000.bsky.social · 05/10/2026Coleophora potentillae (Potentilla Case-bearer). Larval cases and feeding windows. Approximately 10 cases seen around one short section of mixed bramble and Dewberry. Clare, Suffolk (03/10/26). #mothsmatter 1142
Darren Underwood @dku1000.bsky.social · 05/10/2026Coleophora peribenanderi (Thistle Case-bearer). Larval case and feeding windows. One thistle plant had extensive feeding damage on multiple leaves. Clare, Suffolk (03/10/26) #mothsmatter 092
Darren Underwood @dku1000.bsky.social · 04/10/2026An excellent educational visit (yesterday) to Clare with the Suffolk Moth Group resulted in records of just over 100 (mainly) micro moth species across two tetrads. Some really nice species seen and plenty of photos to go through. Here are a few to start with. 🙂 See ALT text. #mothsmatter 0194
Darren Underwood @dku1000.bsky.social · 03/10/2026Southern Green Shieldbug (Nezara viridula). At least 10 nymphs seen at Clare in West Suffolk (vc26) today. #UKBugs 05411
Darren Underwood @dku1000.bsky.social · 27/09/2026Might have been trying to get in to hibernate. Probably what mine was doing. 😀👍 120
Darren Underwood @dku1000.bsky.social · 27/09/2026Western Conifer Seed Bug (Leptoglossus occidentalis) - minus one back leg - Long Melford, Suffolk. The first for the garden (actually indoors). Originally native to North America, this is yet another accidentally introduced species to Europe (which has since spread to the UK). #UKBugs 1193
Darren Underwood @dku1000.bsky.social · 24/09/2026Some local leaf mines from over the last week: 1. Bucculatrix cidarella (Alder Tuft). On Alder 2. Bucculatrix ulmifoliae (Surrey Elm Tuft). On elm 3. Ectoedemia atricollis (Barred Fruit-tree Dot). On Pear 4. Stigmella malella (Apple Dot). On apple See ALT text #mothsmatter 0122
Darren Underwood @dku1000.bsky.social · 17/09/2026Two nice 'new for the year' autumn species found on blackberries last night at Long Melford in Suffolk: SALLOW and PINK-BARRED SALLOW. Also the first Brick for the year and Vestal and Small Mottled Willow to the moth trap. #mothsmatter 1379
Darren Underwood @dku1000.bsky.social · 02/09/2026CLIFDEN NONPAREIL. Everyone's favourite - along with lots of other favourites! This was one of the highlights of moth trapping in Long Melford (Suffolk) last night. Also Vestal, Waved Black, 3 Small Mottled Willow, Barred Hooktip, Rush Veneer and a Delplanqueia species. #mothsmatter 0352
Darren Underwood @dku1000.bsky.social · 24/08/2026A nice evening at Abberton Reservoir with Stuart Read produced highlights of female Ring-necked Duck, Pectoral Sandpiper, Osprey, 3 Whinchats, 27 Spoonbills, Sanderling and Wheatear. #essexbirding 0150
Darren Underwood @dku1000.bsky.social · 23/08/2026Larvae of Ethmia dodecea (Gromwell Ermine) found today on Common Gromwell plants at Long Melford in Suffolk. #mothsmatter 0161
Darren Underwood @dku1000.bsky.social · 23/08/2026As well as Stigmella minusculella, there were four mines of Stigmella pyri (Pear-tree Dot) on the Pear tree found last week. It is another rare species in Suffolk, although I guess the difficulty in finding suitable old pear trees in accessible situations may mean it is under-recorded. #mothsmatter 0111
Darren Underwood @dku1000.bsky.social · 22/08/2026Thank you Steve. I'm going to try and keep an eye on that tree to see if I can get a photograph of one with a larva still present. 👍 110
Darren Underwood @dku1000.bsky.social · 22/08/2026I suspected these two leaf mines (found on a large hedgerow Pear tree in Long Melford last week) were Stigmella minusculella (Little Pear-tree Dot), so it was great to have them confirmed as this species and as the first record for Suffolk. Thanks to all who helped with the ID. #mothsmatter 1153
Darren Underwood @dku1000.bsky.social · 17/08/2026Coleophora argentula (Yarrow Case-bearer). Larval cases on Yarrow today at Long Melford in Suffolk. I only found four and they all looked very fresh. #mothsmatter 0121
Darren Underwood @dku1000.bsky.social · 09/08/2026Pictures of four micro moth records from this morning in Sudbury (Suffolk). See ALT text. 1. Yponomeuta malinellus (Apple Ermine) 2. Leucoptera malifoliella (Pear Leaf Blister Moth) 3. Ectoedemia heringella (Speckled Holm Oak Dot) 4. Callisto denticulella (Apple Nymph) #mothsmatter 061
Darren Underwood @dku1000.bsky.social · 06/08/2026A few photos from recording moth leaf mines over the last week. See ALT text for details. 1. Phyllocnistis xenia (Kent Maze-miner) 2. Phyllonorycter rajella (Common Alder Leaf-miner) 3. Stigmella microtheriella (Nut-tree Dot) 4. Stigmella hybnerella (Shining Hawthorn Dot) #mothsmatter 0110
Darren Underwood @dku1000.bsky.social · 30/07/2026FIREBUG (Pyrrhocoris apterus). The first one I have seen in Long Melford (Suffolk). They certainly seem to be expanding their range around here - several have been reported locally this year. #UKBugs 0173
Darren Underwood @dku1000.bsky.social · 27/07/2026A few micro moth records from today's walk around Glemsford in Suffolk. 1. Stigmella viscerella (Plain Elm Dot) 2. Coleophora ibipennella (Oak Pistol Case-bearer) 3. Stigmella salicis (Sallow Dot) 4. Caloptilia fidella (Hop Stilt) #mothsmatter 0151
Darren Underwood @dku1000.bsky.social · 21/07/2026Final total of 33 Hummingbird Hawkmoth caterpillars found and moved before the field margins were mown yesterday. Well worth looking for on Lady's Bedstraw. 050
Darren Underwood @dku1000.bsky.social · 19/07/2026No, definitely not alone. I shall do another section of field margins tomorrow. 👍 010
Darren Underwood @dku1000.bsky.social · 19/07/2026HUMMINGBIRD HAWKMOTH larvae - final instar, early instar and 15 (of 17) found this morning in field margins that are due to be mown (and moved to a nearby 'safe haven' on the farm). Long Melford, Suffolk. #mothsmatter 3325
Darren Underwood @dku1000.bsky.social · 16/07/2026The highlight from Tuesday night's moth recording in Long Melford (Suffolk) was 2 FOUR-SPOTTED moths. Both were on the edge of an OP2 wild bird seed mixture field where there were two last year. Hopefully, they are colonising. #mothsmatter 0202
Darren Underwood @dku1000.bsky.social · 08/07/2026Psychoides filicivora (Common Fern Moth). Larva and silken spinnings of sporangia on garden fern. Long Melford, Suffolk. #mothsmatter 0120
Darren Underwood @dku1000.bsky.social · 06/07/2026Bucculatrix cristatella (Yarrow Tuft). Larval cocoons (one with empty pupal case) on Yarrow. Long Melford, Suffolk, 05/07/26. I'd looked for the cocoons previously and failed to find them so it was nice to locate these ones. #mothsmatter 0181
Darren Underwood @dku1000.bsky.social · 30/06/2026POPLAR GREY. A smallish larva (maybe 18mm long) found today at rest on Black Poplar on the Foxearth Meadows Nature Reserve in Essex. #mothsmatter 0100
Darren Underwood @dku1000.bsky.social · 27/06/2026TOADFLAX BROCADE larva on garden Purple Toadflax plants in Long Melford, Suffolk. One of about 15 present. #mothsmatter 0191
Darren Underwood @dku1000.bsky.social · 25/06/2026Two nice Tortrix moths from a total of 111 species trapped in Long Melford (Suffolk) last night. 1. Epiblema foenella (White-foot Moth) 2. Acleris holmiana (White-marked Tortrix) #mothsmatter 0202
Darren Underwood @dku1000.bsky.social · 23/06/2026PUSS MOTH larva - fifth (and final) instar. The growth of this caterpillar has been amazing. It emerged from its egg on 03/06/26 and was then only a few millimetres long. I'm going to release it back where I found it tomorrow. 🐛 #mothsmatter 1111
Darren Underwood @dku1000.bsky.social · 18/06/2026ORANGE-TAILED CLEARWING was a nice addition to my local farm list this afternoon. Attracted to VES lure at Long Melford in Suffolk. #mothsmatter 0313
Darren Underwood @dku1000.bsky.social · 17/06/2026Hello Dave. Light trap records here are non-existent, but I have been finding pretty good numbers of larvae and eggs on small sapling Goat Willows and poplars. 120
Darren Underwood @dku1000.bsky.social · 16/06/2026Definitely worth looking. These were on an established hedge that has not been flailed recently. 👍 120
Darren Underwood @dku1000.bsky.social · 16/06/2026One of the ones I had been hoping to see Steve, but I wasn't optimistic as there aren't many Suffolk records. 130
Darren Underwood @dku1000.bsky.social · 16/06/2026Two larval cases of Coleophora siccifolia (Keeled Case-bearer) found yesterday on Hawthorn at Long Melford, Suffolk (three found in total). A Nationally Scarce B species. I really should thank @andydnunn.bsky.social for his recent post as it reminded me to look for this species. 👍 #mothsmatter 1343
Darren Underwood @dku1000.bsky.social · 15/06/2026The impressive Rutpela maculata (Black-and-Yellow Longhorn Beetle) beaten from elm in Long Melford, Suffolk. 15/06/26. The larvae live in dead wood. 050
Darren Underwood @dku1000.bsky.social · 13/06/2026Three tortrix moths from last night in Long Melford (Suffolk). 1. Hedya salicella (White-backed Tortrix) 2. Aethes beatricella (Broad-barred Straw) 3. Archips crataegana (Brown Oak Tortrix) I think the first one must be my favourite tortrix species. #mothsmatter 1160
Darren Underwood @dku1000.bsky.social · 12/06/2026Hello Steve. If you haven't found it already, it's worth looking for Etainia sericopeza on Norway Maple as well. I was given the tip to look at the first keys that fall to the ground - it works. 110
Darren Underwood @dku1000.bsky.social · 10/06/2026Three moth larvae from today in Long Melford, Suffolk. 1. Chamomile Shark (mid-instar) on chamomile / mayweed species. 2. Yellow-tail on oak. 3. Vapourer on Goat Willow. It was good to find the first one as it took a lot of searching. 👀 #mothsmatter 0201
Darren Underwood @dku1000.bsky.social · 07/06/2026PUSS MOTH early development. 1. Eggs found on upperside of Goat Willow Leaf, Long Melford, Suffolk. 28/05/26. 2. 1st instar larva (hatched 03/06/26). 3. 2nd instar larva (shed skin 07/06/26). The larva ate its shed skin apart from the tails. #mothsmatter 0222
Darren Underwood @dku1000.bsky.social · 06/06/2026Yes, they are really nice to see. Seems strange when you spot the green light in the grass. 010
