iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Wharfedale Moths (Aidan Smith) @eggboxenvy.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

A warm night and lots of moths, 326 moths of 41 species. A Delicate was new for me - It's been a great year for filling macro gaps on the garden list #Otley #VC64 #teammoth

Image of a moth with the name Delicate. Straw coloured with an angular pattern to it's centre.

0280

Wharfedale Moths (Aidan Smith) @eggboxenvy.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

Ni Moth was a first for Wharfedale last night. Two Small Mottled Willow gave me another new species, too (late to the party on that one) #VC64 #Otley #teammoth

1241

Wharfedale Moths (Aidan Smith) @eggboxenvy.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

Golden Plusia was among the 350 moths of 86 species in the garden traps last night. Perhaps delphiniums being the plant of the year in 2026 will help improve its fortunes here in Yorkshire #VC64 #Otley #teammoth

0231

Wharfedale Moths (Aidan Smith) @eggboxenvy.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

Narycia duplicella (White-speckled Bagworm) has emerged from cases found by @calybites.bsky.social on a tree in Ilkley #VC64 #teammoth

1251

Wharfedale Moths (Aidan Smith) @eggboxenvy.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

Not on this occasion - it's gone back where I found it

020

Wharfedale Moths (Aidan Smith) @eggboxenvy.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

I found the acorn of the Oak (Northern) Eggar moth on Barden Moor today #VC64 #teammoth

1150

Wharfedale Moths (Aidan Smith) @eggboxenvy.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

I’ll take a look next time I’m in Ilkley

010

Wharfedale Moths (Aidan Smith) @eggboxenvy.bsky.social · 26/04/2026

And there I was trying to find them on the moor.

110

Wharfedale Moths (Aidan Smith) @eggboxenvy.bsky.social · 25/04/2026

Denton Moor this afternoon: Incurvaria pectinea (Pale Feathered Cutter) was new for me and the 3rd Wharfedale record. Netted among young birches #VC64 #teammoth

0250

Wharfedale Moths (Aidan Smith) @eggboxenvy.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

As others have said, check with the relavent CMR. Never use two methods as the CMR will need to spot and spend time removing any duplicates down the line.

010

Wharfedale Moths (Aidan Smith) @eggboxenvy.bsky.social · 01/03/2026

Psychoides verhuella found mining Hart's-tongue fern at Fewston Church this week. I spotted mined sporangia that looked neater than I'd expect with the more common Psychoides filicivora, larvae checked for the black head. Second Wharfedale record. #VC64 #teammoth

1210

Wharfedale Moths (Aidan Smith) @eggboxenvy.bsky.social · 21/02/2026

While out on the Chevin last night, I found a seldom seen wingless female March Moth emerging from the leaf litter. #Otley #VC64 #teammoth

0343

Wharfedale Moths (Aidan Smith) @eggboxenvy.bsky.social · 08/02/2026

Quite a few moths out this evening. I did a quick loop of the Chevin with a net and torch: Dotted Border x11, Tortricodes alternella x7, Pale Brindled Beauty, March Moth (pictured) and Engrailed. #VC64 #Otley #teammoth

0270

Wharfedale Moths (Aidan Smith) @eggboxenvy.bsky.social · 31/01/2026

Just been on the Chevin with a net and torch: 10 of 3 (missed a few too). Somewhat challenging conditions to photograph a female Dotted Border - it's been quite wet out at times this evening. Dotted Border x8 (NFY), Tortricodes alternella (NFY) and Chestnut. #VC64 #Otley #teammoth

A female Dotted Border moth with its stubby wings.

0222

Wharfedale Moths (Aidan Smith) @eggboxenvy.bsky.social · 15/01/2026

There’s only one season indoors - let’s hope it turns up again

110

Wharfedale Moths (Aidan Smith) @eggboxenvy.bsky.social · 11/01/2026

A quick loop of the Chevin this evening saw me Chestnut and Mottled Umber to start my mothing year #VC64 #Otley #teammoth

A Chestnut moth lit by torchlight on a tree trunk

0301

Wharfedale Moths (Aidan Smith) @eggboxenvy.bsky.social · 25/12/2025

Family Xmas day walk on The Chevin and I managed to sneak in a Lepidoptera fix. Seven Peacock butterflies and a Herald moth hibernating in this small cave. #VC64 #Otley #teammoth

0240

Wharfedale Moths (Aidan Smith) @eggboxenvy.bsky.social · 24/12/2025

It was certainly a good year to fill any gaps on the garden list.

040

Wharfedale Moths (Aidan Smith) @eggboxenvy.bsky.social · 22/12/2025

I did a 1hr loop on The Chevin this evening with a torch and net. Spring Usher NFY and the earliest Yorkshire record by 2 days. I’ve previously had one at the same location on 31st December. + Winter Moth x45 and Mottled Umber. #VC64 #Otley #teammoth

0210

Wharfedale Moths (Aidan Smith) @eggboxenvy.bsky.social · 10/12/2025

Headed to the garden centre for some Xmas shopping and spent more time looking at the spiders. Uloborus plumipes (the Garden Centre Spider) was numerous among the hanging plants on the pergola and in areas not easily reached for dusting. #spiders #Otley @ecology-digest.bsky.social

A female Garden Centre Spider hangs upside down on her web.

040

Wharfedale Moths (Aidan Smith) @eggboxenvy.bsky.social · 22/10/2025

No, probably just general leaf damage. I can't see any indication that the larva has made its way up and out of the midrib of the leaf.

100

Wharfedale Moths (Aidan Smith) @eggboxenvy.bsky.social · 21/10/2025

It was good to find Heliozela hammoniella, the Birch Cutter, while it was tipping down with rain. Not one you can guarantee each year in Yorkshire #VC64, The #Chevin, #teammoth

2140

Wharfedale Moths (Aidan Smith) @eggboxenvy.bsky.social · 30/09/2025

It felt like a proper autumnal trap this morning with Red-line Quaker (left), Yellow-line Quaker (right) and Merveille du Jour all new for the year. 31 of 12 in total #VC64 #Otley #teammoth

0220

Wharfedale Moths (Aidan Smith) @eggboxenvy.bsky.social · 28/09/2025

It was good to catch Pearly Underwing last night. A bit of a rarity here in Wharfedale with the last record being 19 years ago. Among the other 14 moths was a late Small Fan-footed Wave #VC64 #Otley #teammoth

1240

Wharfedale Moths (Aidan Smith) @eggboxenvy.bsky.social · 30/08/2025

Now that's how I like to see my eggboxes. Clifden Nonpareil was a new moth for me and a first for Wharfedale (there were two). Barred Chestnut on the same eggbox (centre bottom) was also new for me. 570 moths of 49 species #teammoth #VC64 #Otley

1421

Wharfedale Moths (Aidan Smith) @eggboxenvy.bsky.social · 17/07/2025

Circa 1,000 moths of 91 species in the garden traps last. Mother of Pearl most numerous with 200+. New for me and Wharfedale was Metalampra italica (Italian Bark Moth) #VC64 #Otley #teammoth

2260

Wharfedale Moths (Aidan Smith) @eggboxenvy.bsky.social · 14/07/2025

Mere Wainscot in the garden trap last night. New for the garden and Wharfedale. 20k from the nearest dot on the map. It'll be the most westerly record in Yorkshire. I don't think the habitat exists for it local to me so presumably a wanderer #VC64 #Otley #teammoth

1190

Wharfedale Moths (Aidan Smith) @eggboxenvy.bsky.social · 13/07/2025

Pammene aurana to SKI lure early evening in my garden. A first for Wharfedale and about as far west as records go in Yorkshire #VC64 #Otley #teammoth

0270

Wharfedale Moths (Aidan Smith) @eggboxenvy.bsky.social · 23/06/2025

You need to work out what # tags are being picked up by feeds you want to engage with and use them. I've got to admit, I'm guilty of not really looking beyond the UK Moths feed that picks all the # tags associated with moths in the UK.

000

Wharfedale Moths (Aidan Smith) @eggboxenvy.bsky.social · 23/06/2025

One from a busy weekend - Argyresthia pruniella (Cherry Fruit Moth) doing what it does best #VC64 #Otley #teammoth

0360

Wharfedale Moths (Aidan Smith) @eggboxenvy.bsky.social · 17/06/2025

It had the look and demeanour of a caddisfly - Homoeosoma sinuella (Twin-barred Knot-horn) was new for my garden and Wharfedale this morning #VC64 #Otley #teammoth

0190

Wharfedale Moths (Aidan Smith) @eggboxenvy.bsky.social · 15/06/2025

Busiest night of the year so far with 266 of 76. Highlights were Hedya salicella (White-backed Tortrix) new for me, Beautiful Carpet and the second Obscure Wainscot of the week. #VC64 #Otley #teammoth

0260

Wharfedale Moths (Aidan Smith) @eggboxenvy.bsky.social · 13/06/2025

With white external walls I often notice interesting bugs. This afternoon it's the turn of Eysarcoris venustissimus (Woundwort Shieldbug). Quite small for a shieldbug and at first glance I thought it was going to be the nymph of another species. Edge of its range W. Yorks #VC64 #Coleoptera #Beetle

090

Wharfedale Moths (Aidan Smith) @eggboxenvy.bsky.social · 13/06/2025

198 moths of 67 species in the garden traps last night. Obscure Wainscot was new for me. It's the second record for Wharfedale with the first being in 2012. Perhaps we'd get more local records if I ran a trap among its foodplant down Otley Wetlands #VC64 #Otley #teammoth

1220

Wharfedale Moths (Aidan Smith) @eggboxenvy.bsky.social · 12/06/2025

Good mothing conditions last night. Mompha raschkiella, the fireweed Mompha, was among the 167 moths of 66 species in the garden traps #VC64 #Otley #teammoth

1220

Wharfedale Moths (Aidan Smith) @eggboxenvy.bsky.social · 11/06/2025

I think I’ve spotted the route the moths will be taking to my garden

281

Wharfedale Moths (Aidan Smith) @eggboxenvy.bsky.social · 10/06/2025

I was pleased I made the decision to run the trap undercover last night as it chucked it down. Numbers down to 28 of 22, but good to see Green Silver-lines, Beautiful Snout and Willow Beauty as all new for the year.

0280

Wharfedale Moths (Aidan Smith) @eggboxenvy.bsky.social · 03/05/2025

Numbers well down on the previous few nights, but still a respectable 34 moths of 24 species in the garden traps. Streamer was a new moth for me and there were two of them. #VC64 #Otley #teammoth

1492

Wharfedale Moths (Aidan Smith) @eggboxenvy.bsky.social · 01/05/2025

It's certainly been an April to remember, 113 of 47 in the garden traps last night. New for the year were Lime Hawk-moth, Poplar Hawk-moth, Cinnabar Moth, May Highflyer, Spectacle, Pale-shouldered Brocade, Wormwood Pug, Bright-line Brown-eye and Yellow-barred Brindle #VC64 #Otley #teammoth

0360

Wharfedale Moths (Aidan Smith) @eggboxenvy.bsky.social · 27/04/2025

Things really picked up last night with 94 moths of 27 species in the garden traps. Puss Moth new for me, what a beast. Others NFY were Small Phoenix, Spruce Carpet, V-pug, Shuttle-shaped Dart and Bee Moth. 26 Brindled Pug was more than I caught in the entirety of last year #VC64 #Otley #teammoth

2420

Wharfedale Moths (Aidan Smith) @eggboxenvy.bsky.social · 22/04/2025

The highlight from this morning's moth trap was a mint Chocolate-tip moth, a new species for the garden #VC64 #Otley #teammoth

1581

Wharfedale Moths (Aidan Smith) @eggboxenvy.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

Phyllonorycter dubitella (Goat Willow Leaf-miner) bred from Grey Willow collected on 7th November at Ben Rhydding Gravel Pits is a new species for the Wharfedale list #VC64 #teammoth

1531

Wharfedale Moths (Aidan Smith) @eggboxenvy.bsky.social · 07/03/2025

I was expecting a few moths last night with the warmer weather, 23 moths of 8 species, but I wasn't expecting two moths new for the garden. Acleris ferrugana/notana and Acleris literana are both great looking moths #VC64 #Otley #teammoth

2341

Wharfedale Moths (Aidan Smith) @eggboxenvy.bsky.social · 15/02/2025

Moonlighting in Spain - these mines would be an adventive back home

020

Wharfedale Moths (Aidan Smith) @eggboxenvy.bsky.social · 03/02/2025

The decent spell didn’t even start in VC64

140