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Josh Boe @entomolojosh.bsky.social · 09/04/2025

On the Royal Albert Dock in Liverpool and there are biblical-level swarms of Meligethes pollen beetles. Anyone know why this could be? Also worried people might mistake them for flies and think I smell bad 😆😆

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Josh Boe @entomolojosh.bsky.social · 08/04/2025

To anyone who knows about #Neuroptera: I reared this #lacewing from a cocoon I found under a log. I've used Plant's key to get to #Wesmaelius and then saw it was a gen det job. Firstly, am I looking at the anal plates of the female, and if so is it W. subnebulosus? Thanks! #entomology #insects

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Josh Boe @entomolojosh.bsky.social · 06/04/2025

Yep, key it out under the microscope and it is indeed scutellaris

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Josh Boe @entomolojosh.bsky.social · 05/04/2025

Had a great walk around Macclesfield Forest today. Brought out the EMP lure & despite being incredibly windy, had 3 Emperor #Moths to it within 5 mins. NFY, & truly amazing species I'd happily see every day. A new favourite of my girlfriend, as well. #entomology #insects #mothsmatter #teammoth #vc58

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Josh Boe @entomolojosh.bsky.social · 04/04/2025

Yep, it took me a while to find all of them. Not sure if I even *did* find all of them!

Josh Boe @entomolojosh.bsky.social · 04/04/2025

Thank you!! Very happy that mothing season is finally upon us

Josh Boe @entomolojosh.bsky.social · 04/04/2025

Another nice #MothTrap in the woods last night; 23/8 with 1 NFY from Brindled Pugs, as well as my first ichneumonid of the year to light (Ophion ?luteus), and quite a few Engrailed which I'm growing fond of because of their amazing camouflage! #entomology #insects #moths #mothsmatter #teammoth #vc58

NFY:
Brindled Pug (Eupithecia abbreviata), typical form

NFY:
Brindled Pug (Eupithecia abbreivata), slightly melanic

Ophion ?luteus - specimen retained and to be examined

There are two Engrailed (Ectropis crepuscularia) in this image - see if you can spot them!

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Josh Boe @entomolojosh.bsky.social · 03/04/2025

This week has been great for #moths! Monday in the woods gave NFY Common Spring Jewels, a #MothTrap in the garden had 28/7 with NFY Early Thorn & NFR Early Oak Gall Moth. The small meadow at World Museum also had NFY Common Carpet the next day! #entomology #insects #moths #mothsmatter #teammoth

NFY:
Common Spring Jewel (Dyseriocrania subpurpurella), Spud Wood 31.03.2025

NFY:
Early Thorn (Selenia dentaria), Lymm 31.03.2025

NFR:
Early Oak Gall Moth (Pammene giganteana), Lymm 31.03.2025

NFY:
Common Carpet (Epirrhoe alternata alternata), World Museum Meadow 01.04.2025

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Josh Boe @entomolojosh.bsky.social · 09/03/2025

Thank you! All I need now is an Acleris literana and I'm set for this month 😉😉

Josh Boe @entomolojosh.bsky.social · 09/03/2025

Yep, took me a while to see it this morning 😆😆 best of luck with your trap!!

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Josh Boe @entomolojosh.bsky.social · 09/03/2025

Amazing #MothTrap last night! 12/8, 3 NFYs; Common Plume, Engrailed (great camouflage!), & Small Quaker + an absolutely beautiful NFR Oak Beauty (a wishlist species!). Weather looking good again tonight, so might as well put another one out! #entomology #insects #moths #mothsmatter #teammoth #vc58

NFY:
Common Plume (Emmelina monodactlya)
[I barely saw this in amongst all those tiny roots!]

NFY:
Engrailed (Ectropis crepuscularia)
[Spot the moth! The camouflage on this is amazing!]

NFR and wishlist species:
Oak Beauty (Biston strataria)
[I gasped very loudly when I saw this on an eggbox! Super happy to finally have one!]

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Josh Boe @entomolojosh.bsky.social · 08/03/2025

I've just discovered this Double-striped Pug, presumably from the trap, several hours later! Another NFY #entomology #insects #moths #mothsmatter #teammoth #vc58

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Josh Boe @entomolojosh.bsky.social · 08/03/2025

#Moth season is starting to commence - 9/4 in last night's #MothTrap with 2 NFYs; Clouded Drab and some Common Quakers. The weekend looks to be decent conditions, so I'll hopefully be seeing some more #moths! #entomology #insects #mothsmatter #teammoth #vc58

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Josh Boe @entomolojosh.bsky.social · 06/03/2025

Oak Beauty and Tufted Tortrix both wishlist species of mine! Nice going!

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If you're not already in, the Moths Dissection Facebook page has been useful for me!

Sounds hopeful for me then 😉😉 I've still got a backlog of other (smaller!) specimens to do such as some Coleophora and Phyllonorycter 😬😬

I ran another #MothTrap after this, and despite it being warmer and generally better conditions, only managed 4/2; one Dotted Border and three March Moths. Maybe this weekend will yield better results? #entomology #insects #moths #mothsmatter #teammoth #vc58

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I will do soon, but haven't managed to find the time for it yet. I'm hoping for both species as there's oak and birch nearby 🤞🤞

Josh Boe @entomolojosh.bsky.social · 02/03/2025

A decent #MothTrap catch given the sub-zero temperatures last night; 3 #moths of 3 #species - an NFY Satellite, NFY Grey Shoulder-knot, and another Tawny Oak/Birch Tortrix agg. Temps a bit warmer tonight so I'll have another go! #entomology #insects #mothsmatter #teammoth #vc58

NFY: Grey Shoulder-knot (Lithophane ornitopus)

Tawny Oak/Birch Tortrix agg. (Acleris ferrugana/notana agg.)

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Josh Boe @entomolojosh.bsky.social · 27/02/2025

Nice one! I *think* I've had a Dark Chestnut but not too sure 🤔🤔. Good to see you've delved into dissection too, it's a very satisfying process. And thanks for checking that out, it was great to be involved with it - and yes, an empty trap. A common theme for this year so far! 😆😆

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Josh Boe @entomolojosh.bsky.social · 27/02/2025

I've not been overly active on here - how's it going with everybody? Any good moths? I've only trapped a few times this year, and I'm on 15 species this year so far (most from larvae and/or feeding signs) #entomology #insects #moths #mothsmatter

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Josh Boe @entomolojosh.bsky.social · 14/02/2025

The premiere for Conservation: the Next Generation (@amykingwild.bsky.social @myabambrick.bsky.social) is open for booking for 22nd Feb 5-7pm! If you can't make it to that, there's also a premiere on YouTube at the same time: youtu.be/b0CPY7IZ4VA

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Josh Boe @entomolojosh.bsky.social · 07/02/2025

Realised I forgot to share the catch of this #MothTrap - 5 #moths of 3 or 4 species; March Moth, NFY Chesnut, and NFY Acleris notana/ferrugana agg., which I'll dissect soon. Hopefully I'll have one of each, as there is birch and oak nearby. #entomology #insects #moths #mothsmatter #vc58

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Josh Boe @entomolojosh.bsky.social · 06/02/2025

At the course, used fine forceps for macros (& I've glued some micro pins to tooth picks for micros). Microscope was 20x, but may need up to 40x for tiny micros, & had a microscope w central tube to attach DSLR for teaching. Heated 10% KOH @ 85°c for 30 mins, but less time needed for micros.

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Josh Boe @entomolojosh.bsky.social · 31/01/2025

Tonight I tried to run my 1st MV #MothTrap, but I was unsuccessful as I didn't know the inverter wouldn't handle the power surge to get the bulb going. Everything still works, just need a bigger inverter. Furthermore, I brought my actinic w/ me just in case and got this NFY March Moth straight away!

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Josh Boe @entomolojosh.bsky.social · 30/01/2025

There'll be a premiere in Cambridge later this month, and after that it'll be on YouTube for anyone to watch

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Josh Boe @entomolojosh.bsky.social · 29/01/2025

I am part of an upcoming documentary called Conservation: The Next Generation (made by @amykingwild.bsky.social and @myabambrick.bsky.social ), and the trailer for it will be launched this Friday, so look out for that! (And, that's my moth on the poster!)

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Just off the NHBS website. That was the best price at the time, but if you can find a 2nd-hand copy I'm sure that would be cheaper

Absolutely incredible - only had my copy since Xmas, but used a copy at work for IDing my specimens & as far as ichneumonid keys go it's relatively straightforward. The diagrams are amazing, and there's a ton of info on each subfamily. I'd highly recommend it if you're interested in Ichneumonids.

This is my moth bookshelf at the moment. There's more moth books down south, this is just a small selection while I'm living in Lymm for my work placement. I think I have one, maybe two bird books 😆😆

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Josh Boe @entomolojosh.bsky.social · 24/01/2025

Nice work on being self taught! I tried to teach myself by practicing on some Box-tree Moths that I didn't want to release back into the wild, but I wasn't sure what I was looking at. This workshop was definitely much better than what I did by myself 😆😆

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Not a problem! Hope your dissection journey goes well 😉😉