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Tim Blackburn @mothyblackburn.bsky.social · 7h

A message from a couple of the @uclcber.bsky.social @ucllifesciences.bsky.social Masters students: “Is this interesting?” and a photo. Five minutes later and I’m communing with a Convolvulus Hawk-moth caterpillar. On Blakeney Point. Amazing! #TeamMoth

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Tim Blackburn @mothyblackburn.bsky.social · 10h

A bit more like it from the Blakeney Point moth trap this morning, with 113:24. Two NFY - Brick and Beaded Chestnut. Two seconds in Kent Black Arches (previous Point record in 2009) and Scarce Bordered Straw (for my year). Also rans in Pine Carpet, Delicate, Clancy’s, and 8 SMW. #TeamMoth

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Tim Blackburn @mothyblackburn.bsky.social · 13h

Skies at Blakeney Point putting on a show last night for the first group of @ucllifesciences.bsky.social @uclcber.bsky.social biodiversity Masters students.

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Tim Blackburn @mothyblackburn.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Scarce bird for Blakeney Point. Have seen more Yellow-browed Warblers out here.

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Tim Blackburn @mothyblackburn.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Another slightly underwhelming moth trap on Blakeney Point, with just 47:15. Red-line Quaker was my 750th species of the year, but the show was stolen by the two pinkest Vestals I’ve ever seen. Unfortunately the second had fled the trap overnight so couldn’t be properly papped. #TeamMoth

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Tim Blackburn @mothyblackburn.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

A rather paltry 28:14 in the Blakeney Point moth trap this morning. Moon, wind, etc. Still, 3 more NFY in Large Wainscot, Sallow and Black Rustic. Others included 3 Small Mottled Willow, Dark Chestnut and Diamondback Moth. #TeamMoth

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Tim Blackburn @mothyblackburn.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

In Windsor Great Park for a @ucllifesciences.bsky.social REF retreat, so of course took the moth trap. Only 110:17, probably thanks to the clear skies and moon. Highlights were my 2nd to 6th Deep-brown Darts, Feathered Thorn, Orange Sallow, and 77 Lunar Underwings, all NFY. #TeamMoth

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Tim Blackburn @mothyblackburn.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Trapping in Windsor Great Park. So far, mainly hornets… 🙄 #TeamMoth

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Simon Evans @drsimevans.carbonbrief.org · 30/09/2026

Some people say UK should stop building clean energy and should extend its reliance on gas power instead Choosing my words carefully, I would say that it's an interesting time to be making that argument www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-win...

carbonbrief.org

Analysis: Wind and solar save UK from gas imports worth £5.9bn during Hormuz crisis - Carbon Brief

The UK has avoided gas imports worth £5.9bn since the start of the Hormuz crisis as a result of record electricity generation from wind and solar.

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Tim Blackburn @mothyblackburn.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Like me, many of you will have learned from Doug Boyes' deep knowledge of moths, which he was so generous in sharing. His tragic early death was a huge loss to our community. These awards are made annually in his memory. #TeamMoth butterfly-conservation.org/our-work/sci...

butterfly-conservation.org

Diarsia Awards

Diarsia Awards: small research grants for Masters and PhD students in memory of Douglas BoyesBackgroundThese grants will be awarded by Butterfly Conservation in memory of Dr Douglas Boyes, who died su...

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Brian J. Enquist @bjenquist.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Please pass along: I’m recruiting PhD students to join our Macroecology Lab. We study physical ecology, macroecology, and biodiversity — spanning scaling, trait-based ecology, theory, comparative biology & ecoinformatics. Several avenues for funding. Please reach out if interested 🧪🌐🌾

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Grant Museum of Zoology @uclgrantmuseum.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Welcome to @ucl.ac.uk! We are home to 100,000 specimens from every continent, every ocean, and every animal group. Visit us and find out more about our collection. www.ucl.ac.uk/museums-collections/u…

Interior of the Grant Museum of Zoology.

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Danai Kontou @danai-kontou.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Some exciting weekend reading for my fellow #aquatic #invasion #ecology enthusiasts 🐠🦠💧 Delighted and very proud to share not 1 but 2 papers published hours apart this week! 🎉🎉🎉

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Julie Lockwood @lockwoodlab.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Please share widely..... Canada Impact Emerging Leader faculty position at McGill University with a research focus on regulated plant pests (insects, nematodes, weeds, etc.) in agricultural ecosystems. Come join me! mcgill.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/McGill_Caree...

mcgill.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com

Assistant Professor in Regulated Plant Pests - Canada Impact+ Emerging Leaders

Please refer to the How to Apply for a Job (for External Candidates) job aid for instructions on how to apply. If you are an active McGill employee (ie: currently in an active contract or position at ...

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Julie Lockwood @lockwoodlab.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Merci de partager largement... Poste de professeur « Canada Impact Emerging Leader » à l'Université McGill, axé sur la recherche portant sur les organismes nuisibles aux plantes réglementés (insectes, nématodes, mauvaises herbes, etc.) dans les écosystèmes agricoles. Rejoignez-moi !

mcgill.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com

Professeur(e) adjoint(e) sur les organismes nuisibles réglementés s’attaquant aux végétaux - Leaders émergents Impact+ Canada

Veuillez référer au guide Comment postuler à un emploi (pour les candidats externes) pour obtenir des instructions sur la façon de postuler. Si vous êtes un employé actif de McGill (c.-à-d. actuelleme...

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Ruth Newby @ruthnewby.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

If I was going to convert my Skinner trap to run on an LED bulb, what would people recommend? What’s the closest equivalent to an 80W MV (what I have been using)? #teammoth

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Joanna Bagniewska @joannabagniewska.com · 23/09/2026

You've heard of Wordle and Squardle - but do you know Birdle? Six guesses to identify the bird of the day. Nine games per day based on the species' geography. 🧪 🪶 🐦 www.play-birdle.com/af/

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Tim Blackburn @mothyblackburn.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

A little disappointing 93:18 on the London roof terrace this morning, mainly Large YU, with only Barred Sallow NFY. Others included 4 Small Mottled Willow, 10 Turnip, a late Tree-lichen Beauty and Scarce Silver-lines. #TeamMoth

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Our World in Data @ourworldindata.org · 19/09/2026

Beef production has been the largest driver of deforestation this century. Over the last two decades, around 128 million hectares of forest have been cleared to make way for agriculture and forest plantations. That’s an area five times the size of the United Kingdom.

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RedScharlach @redscharlach.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

A very sad farewell to Stephanie Cole, queen of British comedy in every form. May an inexpensive charter jet fly her swiftly to her rest on gilded wings.

A cartoon version of Stephanie Cole as Carolyn in the BBC radio series Cabin Pressure

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Tim Blackburn @mothyblackburn.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Lovely evening talking moths to a group of interested and interesting people at Kentish Town City Farm yesterday. Definitely taking this feedback. Thank you to Susannah Hall for organising. #TeamMoth

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Tim Blackburn @mothyblackburn.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

A night of field trapping in Kentish Town yielded 109:32. A couple of biggies in Red Underwing (NFY) and Old Lady, a littl'un in Cosmopterix pulchrimella (NFY), and possibly the latest county record of Satin Wave. #TeamMoth

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Tim Blackburn @mothyblackburn.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

A slightly disappointing evening trapping on a Surrey heath yesterday with @photography-aj.bsky.social. Just 35 species (+1 to confirm) and low numbers. At least there were 3 NFY with Neglected Rustic, Brindled Green and Pine Carpet, plus my second Anomalous (easy when you know 🙄). #TeamMoth

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Tim Blackburn @mothyblackburn.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Spotted in the Olympic Park this lunchtime, west of the river - Mullein Wave. The website suggests not seen in Middlesex every year. #TeamMoth

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Tim Blackburn @mothyblackburn.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Banging my head against the wall trying to ID this moth from the Devon garden last week, even doing the genitalia without pinning it down. Then @barryhenwood.bsky.social steps in with the answer - Anomalous. Another lifer, another species not on the garden radar. Hooray for the CMR! #TeamMoth

The well-named Anomalous. Thought it was a melanic SMW when I potted it but the genitals didn't fit. Was of course looking in the wrong place.

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Tim Blackburn @mothyblackburn.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

A very productive afternoon in the lab, with gen det confirmation of three lifers (all male): Phyllonorycter esperella, Phyllonorycter maestingella and Athrips rancidella. This last was formally my 1,100th British moth species. Up to 735 for the year now. #TeamMoth

Phyllonorycter esperella from Kentish Town, a reasonably common (in the VC) leaf miner of Hornbeam

Phyllonorycter maestingella from Devon, a reasonably common (in the VC) leaf miner of Beech

Athrips rancidella, a fairly localised imported species mainly found in Kent and Surrey, this one caught in my late father's Guildford garden.

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Simon Evans @drsimevans.carbonbrief.org · 11/09/2026

"Jet-zero" latest…

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UCL Faculty of Life Sciences @ucllifesciences.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Today's the day! 🎓 We are so proud to be celebrating with you all. Congratulations to every single graduate! This is a huge milestone, and you should be really proud of yourselves. Wishing you all the best, in your careers and in life. Do keep in touch! #UCLGrad #ClassOf2026 #UCL200

Provost Michael Spence, Honorary Graduate Professor Anthony Smith, and Dean of Faculty, Professor Gail Taylor.

Some of the academics preparing to get in line for the ceremony.

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Tim Blackburn @mothyblackburn.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

A busy 184:29 on the Camden roof terrace overnight, with 75 Large and 17 Broad-bordered YU stirring up the trap. Two NFY in Cypress Pug and Scarce Silver-lines. Also Small Mottled Willow still appearing (x6), a couple of latish Tree-lichen Beauty, 3 Clancy's Rustic and 2 L-album Wainscot. #TeamMoth

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Tim Blackburn @mothyblackburn.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

I'm a sucker for anything Holmes so of course I'm going to enjoy the Sherlock & Co podcast (@docjwatsonmd.bsky.social), but it's an absolute joy. Just annoyed I'm so late to the party.

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Gemma Murray @gemmamurray.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

I’m hiring two postdocs to join my group at UCL, both funded for 3 years, to investigate how commensal bacteria contribute to the evolution and spread of antimicrobial resistance in pathogens. Please share! Links below 👇 www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DSU266/r... www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DSU268/r...

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Chloé Bentze @chloebentze.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Very excited to finally publish the outcome of this research! How birds can be affected by canopy dieback among other pressures in the long-term 👇🏻

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Our World in Data @ourworldindata.org · 31/08/2026

📝 New article on Our World in Data: Beef production in Brazil has been the largest driver of global deforestation in recent decades. The largest driver of deforestation globally is the expansion of agricultural land.

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Marburymoths @marburybirds.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Quietest trap for a while last night in Marbury 27/98 & no NFY’s. Still beautiful moths though & as I was photographing them it reminded me of @mothyblackburn.bsky.social ‘s metaphor for his book The Jewel Box. (Forgot to say that I read it and thought it was really good and thought-provoking too!)

Silver y, Small Mottled Willow, tiny Orange Swift and a Chinese Character

2 Silver Y’s , Burnished Brass, Frosted Orange, Orange Swift, Chinese Character

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Tim Blackburn @mothyblackburn.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

A reasonable 229:53 in Devon this morning, with Ancylosis oblitella (x2) NFG - no records from this area according to the county web site, despite plenty of salt marsh. A late Buff Arches was nice to see, while Pearly Underwing was the migrant highlight (others included Vestal & 8 SMW). #TeamMoth

One of two Ancylosis oblitella, the first records for the garden. Ironic that I catch this more often in London given that I can see Tamar salt marsh from here, but the Devon website shows all bar 2 records are in the eastern half of the county.

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Tim Blackburn @mothyblackburn.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Squeezed in a couple of hours with the trap in Devon ahead of the rain. Activity relatively low, probably down to the moon and breeze, but still a reasonable 83:33. One NFY in a large but tatty Old Lady. She flew while being posed, but I managed to track her down in the apple tree. #TeamMoth

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Tim Blackburn @mothyblackburn.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

A disappointing 35:16 in the London moth trap this morning, the moon presumably a strong competitor for their attention. Two NFY though, with only my second Fig-leaf Skeletoniser here, and the attractive micro Roeslerstammia erxlebella. Up to 727 for the year now. #TeamMoth

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Tim Blackburn @mothyblackburn.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

I know some #TeamMoth sent in parasitoid wasps for this study, so here are some results. You basically doubled the number of UK specimens known, & produced a near-complete national species inventory for the focal taxa, in just 5 months. Very cool! resjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....

resjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com

Moth traps shine a light on nocturnal parasitoid wasps: Snapshot assessment of UK diversity and distributions

Reader environment loaded

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Tim Blackburn @mothyblackburn.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Another night trapping in my mother's garden in the Waveney Valley (VC27) and another lifer, this time a rather worn Rhodophaea formosa. Another 2 NFY in Anania perlucidalis and Frosted Orange, amongst 230:60. #TeamMoth

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Tim Blackburn @mothyblackburn.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Trapping at my mother's place in the Waveney Valley overnight turned up 148:58. Nothing that special until a quick check around the trap turned up this Ethmia bipunctella on the house wall - lifer #78 and species #723 for the year. #TeamMoth

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Tim Blackburn @mothyblackburn.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

A decent night trapping away at my late father's in Guildford at the weekend, with 157:60 and 6 NFY. The latter included Ypsolopa scabrella, Nutmeg and Six-striped Rustic, three species I don't see every year, and Straw Underwing (which I do). One interesting micro retained... #TeamMoth

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Tim Blackburn @mothyblackburn.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

A couple of second records for me amongst 102:42 in the Kentish Town moth trap last night - Helcystogramma rufescens (NFY), and Ptocheuusa paupella (not many Middlesex records). Also Vestal and Clancy's Rustic, which would have been major highlights a couple of years ago. #TeamMoth

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Catherine Gulsvig @crgulsvig.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

First-ever Pearly Wood Nymph The diversity in moths is so hard to fathom when you've spent most of your life thinking the only ones worth bothering about are Cecropias, Lunas, and Prometheas Still blame @mothyblackburn.bsky.social for my new obsession 😉 #MothsMatter #TeamMoth #MothsAreAmazing

Close-up of a white moth sprawled out on a brick wall. His wings are edged with a scalloped pattern in deep brown and brick red, making his resting spot the perfect background. His front legs are adorned with matching leg-warmers.

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Tim Blackburn @mothyblackburn.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Back in the lab, and this Parornix from yesterday's London trap. I believe the hooked tip to the long juxta make it a male carpinella, which would be a lifer. Unless anyone better informed disagrees...? #TeamMoth

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Tim Blackburn @mothyblackburn.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Many thanks to @philmicromoth.bsky.social for his agreement on the identity of this pyralid from Weir Quay last week as Sciota rhenella. First for Devon! #TeamMoth

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