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Thoughts please #teammoth! Is this a large female Turnip or a Pearly Underwing? Dagger markings seem much reduced, and antennae unfeathered.

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Ruth Newby @ruthnewby.bsky.social · 16h

Despite rapidly sinking temperatures I managed 18:12, with Green-brindled Crescent (thanks to @marburybirds.bsky.social 😉 ), Blair’s Shoulder-knot & November Moth agg. (earliest garden record) NFY. Also a second Deep-brown Dart. #teammoth @pmandrews1973.bsky.social

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Ruth Newby @ruthnewby.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

For the first #mothfacefriday of October, I give you a Merveille du Jour (you can call him Merv for short) resplendent in green, white and black #teammoth

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Ruth Newby @ruthnewby.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Stigmella tiliae, found on a Lime tree in the Mulberry Walk car park in Mere Green today. #teammoth @vc28nature.bsky.social @pmandrews1973.bsky.social @ecorecord.bsky.social

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Ruth Newby @ruthnewby.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

I remember @vc28nature.bsky.social telling me earlier this year that Stigmella aceris is not found on Sycamore, so am puzzled as to ID of these mines on a small Sycamore sapling. P. geniculella also found on same tree. #teammoth

Leaf, showing characteristic shape and red stem of Sycamore (Acer pseudoplantanus)

Mine of Phyllonorycter geniculella on same Sycamore sapling.

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Ruth Newby @ruthnewby.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

A couple of mines of Gypsonoma oppressana in fallen leaves of my Lombardy Poplar. One leaf has a mine of Stigmella trimacullela as well. #teammoth

Mine of Gypsonoma oppressana on Lombardy Poplar leaf

Mine of Gypsonoma oppressana (left) and Stigmella trimacullela (right)

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Ruth Newby @ruthnewby.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Mild muggy conditions didn’t produce quite the bonanza I was hoping for (36:13) but Brindled Green and Barred Sallow were NFY, plus 2 Black Rustics, Merveille du Jour, Red-Green Carpet (1st of the autumn) and Wax Moth. #teammoth @pmandrews1973.bsky.social @bcwarwickshire.bsky.social

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Ruth Newby @ruthnewby.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

A very productive walk to the shops to buy milk: found mines of Phyllonorycter esperella NFY, as well as P. geniculella (new for SK10) & refound Stigmella speciosa (last recorded in SK10 in 2012). @pmandrews1973.bsky.social @vc28nature.bsky.social

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Ruth Newby @ruthnewby.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Last year I asked #teammoth for records of 2nd generations of normally single-brooded moth species. I compiled a spreadsheet from the data, and thought this might be a good time to post it, especially as after an even hotter & drier summer several species listed in my table have been seen recently.

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Ruth Newby @ruthnewby.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Expected cloud cover did not materialise overnight resulting in 6:5, but saved by this NFY Merveille du Jour, stunning as always. Not a single LYU (!), Rusty Dot Pearl also notable. #teammoth @pmandrews1973.bsky.social

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Ruth Newby @ruthnewby.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

More caterpillar conundrums: I found two of these large noctuid caterpillars (about 3cm long) when I removed a large mat of grass from a crack in our patio. Any ID suggestions gratefully received as I can’t find a match in my field guide. #teammoth @rlewington2.bsky.social

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Ruth Newby @ruthnewby.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

A Black Poplar leaf with a puzzling mine. Perhaps old Phyllocnistis unipunctella mine? @vc28nature.bsky.social

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

Finished this rather fun jigsaw of tropical butterflies and moths with my youngest last night.

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Ruth Newby @ruthnewby.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

A better night in the moth trap last night with Black Rustic and Deep-brown Dart both NFY (the latter only my 2nd garden record). Also Small Mottled Willow & Acleris sparsana. @pmandrews1973.bsky.social @bcwarwickshire.bsky.social #teammoth

Deep-brown Dart, discovered lurking on a seat.

One of two Black Rustics in the trap. One of my favourite moths (as befits someone who was a goth in her youth)

Small Mottled Willow. No end to them this year!

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Ruth Newby @ruthnewby.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

I noticed feeding signs on my perennial Geraniums & had a look for caterpillars. Found this: a shed skin or a parasitised individual? Can anyone suggest a species? #teammoth @rlewington2.bsky.social

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Ruth Newby @ruthnewby.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

I was wondering if the red leaves of my ornamental Cherry Plum would be less attractive to leaf-miners, but Stigmella plagicolella at least is not fussy. #teammoth @vc28nature.bsky.social

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Ruth Newby @ruthnewby.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Mine of what I think is Stigmella crataegella, found on my garden Hawthorn. I wonder if the larva has been parasitised, I’m sure I can see a small cocoon-shaped object next to it? @vc28nature.bsky.social #teammoth

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Ruth Newby @ruthnewby.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Better Ivy Bee shots today. This is a female. @ecorecord.bsky.social

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Ruth Newby @ruthnewby.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

The best thing about last night’s moth trap was this attractive colour form of Lunar Underwing. For a moment I thought it was something more exotic… #teammoth @pmandrews1973.bsky.social

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Ruth Newby @ruthnewby.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Pretty sure I spotted the first Ivy Bee of the year on my garden Ivy just now. Very camera shy unfortunately, this is the best shot I got. @ecorecord.bsky.social

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Ruth Newby @ruthnewby.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

I’ve had glimpses of the Cinnamon Bug (Corizus hyoscyami) the garden before, but this is the first time I’ve managed to get a photo. @ecorecord.bsky.social @britishbugs.bsky.social

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Ruth Newby @ruthnewby.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

A very fresh Red-barred Tortrix from the moth trap yesterday. Don’t think I’ve ever trapped one in September before. #teammoth

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Ruth Newby @ruthnewby.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

@vc28nature.bsky.social Could this be Bucculatrix bechsteinella on Hawthorn? Thanks in advance for your help!

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Ruth Newby @ruthnewby.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

A real stunner of an ichneumon in the moth trap this morning: Opheltes glaucopterus, a parasitoid of Cimbicid sawflies and a new species for my garden. @gavinbroad.bsky.social @jasboparai.bsky.social

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Ruth Newby @ruthnewby.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Probably just an Oak Hook-tip, but some features seem to point towards Spiny? What does #teammoth think? FW length 15mm

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Ruth Newby @ruthnewby.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Several mines of Stigmella hybnerella found at Hill Hook LNR this weekend, all vacated, which is slightly frustrating given that I have been keeping an eye out for mines over the past few weeks. Also Stigmella salicis on Goat Willow. #teammoth @pmandrews1973.bsky.social @vc28nature.bsky.social

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Ruth Newby @ruthnewby.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Also in Friday night’s trap, NFG Mompha epilobiella. Had the wait until the afternoon to get some decent pictures that would allow an ID. #teammoth @pmandrews1973.bsky.social

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Ruth Newby @ruthnewby.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

This Painted Lady landed on the pavement in front of me while I was walking home this afternoon. It’s been such an amazing year for these beautiful butterflies, I wonder if this is the last one I’ll see? @bcwarwickshire.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

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Ruth Newby @ruthnewby.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

A calm night produced dividends in the moth trap: my second garden record of Scarce Bordered Straw (1st was in 2024), as well as Pine Carpet and Small Mottled Willow, which I haven’t seen for a few weeks. #teammoth @pmandrews1973.bsky.social @bcwarwickshire.bsky.social

Pine Carpet, only my second for the garden.

Small Mottled Willow (15th this year but first since mid-August)

An attractive form of Common Marbled Carpet

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Ruth Newby @ruthnewby.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

A bit more diversity last night (55:19), with Lunar Underwing NFY, as well as Angle Shades, Pale Mottled Willow, Yellow Shell, Light Emerald, C-b Sallow & Riband Wave. 2 Scrobipapla occelatella the only micros of note. #teammoth @pmandrews1973.bsky.social @bcwarwickshire.bsky.social

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

Found an Ivy flower with feeding signs of a Holly Blue caterpillar: exit holes in shrivelled buds. One bud had a hole covered with silk: I assume the caterpillar is still inside. @bcwarwickshire.bsky.social

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Ruth Newby @ruthnewby.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

I think this looks good for Stigmella lemnisca on Elm, especially with the dispersed frass. There are two separate mines on a single leaf. Would you agree @vc28nature.bsky.social ?

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Ruth Newby @ruthnewby.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

Some #fruit for #wildflowerhour: Sloes, Roesehips, Rowan berries, Crab Apple. and White Bryony. All at Hill Hook LNR. @wildflowerhour.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social @hillhookfriends.bsky.social

Top row: crab apples, rose hips, Rowan berries. Bottom row: White Bryony, Sloes.

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Ruth Newby @ruthnewby.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

An interesting leafmine record from Hill Hook LNR today: the sawfly Metallus albipes on Raspberry (not a common plant. No VC38 records on iRecord & only one from Staffs (by @pertonmoths.bsky.social) @vc28nature.bsky.social @hillhookfriends.bsky.social

Mine of sawfly Metallus albipes showing the larva’s diagnostic two ventral spots

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Ruth Newby @ruthnewby.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

The joys of September mothing! Hoping for a trap full of colourful NFYs, getting a trap full of LYUs and assorted brown Rustic sp. At least it was a nice sunrise with a rainbow thrown in for good measure. 🙁😆 #teammoth @pmandrews1973.bsky.social

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Ruth Newby @ruthnewby.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Coleophora case on garden Hawthorn. Am I right in thinking it could be a number of species? #teammoth @vc28nature.bsky.social

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Ruth Newby @ruthnewby.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Saw a few moths flying around outside just after it got dark and decided to practice my net skills. Best was this Old Lady, only the 2nd I’ve seen in the garden this year. #teammoth @pmandrews1973.bsky.social

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Ruth Newby @ruthnewby.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

In Hotel du Vin in Poole (after taking eldest to Jersey) and there is a moth flying about in the restaurant. My husband has begged me not to embarrass him and chase after it… #teammoth

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Ruth Newby @ruthnewby.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Found in the bathroom of my Jersey hotel: the jumping spider Attalus pubescens. @britishspiders.bsky.social

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Ruth Newby @ruthnewby.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Double yellow lines don’t apply to dragonflies! Spotted this Common Darter sunning herself yesterday on a street in Poole. @britishdragonflies.bsky.social

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Ruth Newby @ruthnewby.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Leafmines galore in Poole, where I’ve spending the day before taking my eldest across to Jersey to start an internship at Jersey Zoo. IDs in alt text. #teammoth @vc28nature.bsky.social

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Ruth Newby @ruthnewby.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Mines of the sawfly Fenusa pumila on Birch. The larvae (with a row of spots) can be seen in leaf with the smaller blotches; they have already pupated in the other leaf. Found at Ladywalk NR (VC38) @vc28nature.bsky.social

Birch leaf held up to light to show mines of the sawfly Fenusa pumila. The larvae have a row of four spots along their bodies near the head.

Empty mines of the sawfly Fenusa pumila on Birch. The larva pupates outside the mine.

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Ruth Newby @ruthnewby.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

ObsID is telling me this is Teleiopsis diffinis, but I’m not sure my specimen looks much like the pictures I can see online. Any thoughts #teammoth? (the moth escaped when I was trying to pot it).

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Ruth Newby @ruthnewby.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Trapping last night paid off as wind dropped & cloud moved in. Worth it for my first Cypress Pug in 3 yrs, & incredibly Angle Shades was NFY, as was Scrobipalpa ocellata. Also Canary-shouldered Thorn, C-B Sallow & Cloaked Minor. #teammoth @pmandrews1973.bsky.social @bcwarwickshire.bsky.social

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Ruth Newby @ruthnewby.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Pleased to see the Black-necked Grebe at Ladywalk today. I also saw several Ruddy Darters, a species which seems to do well at this site, plus a Willow Emerald Damselfly & Migrant Hawker. @westmidbirdclub.bsky.social @britishdragonflies.bsky.social

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Ruth Newby @ruthnewby.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

These look like these might be mines of Phyllonorycter trifasciella on my garden Honeysuckle. If so NFG & also for SK10. @vc28nature.bsky.social @pmandrews1973.bsky.social

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Ruth Newby @ruthnewby.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

A couple of leafmine queries for @vc28nature.bsky.social I think I have Stigmella obliquella on hybrid Crack Willow and possibly Stigmella splendissima on Bramble (if this can be ID’d from mine alone). Thanks as always for your help!

Mine of Stigmella obliquella on hybrid Crack Willow or similar

Mine of Stigmella splendissima on Bramble?

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