Moths and Leaf Cutter Bees

The hot and humid nights continue to bring in some great moths to the trap.

Two Peppered Moths - one livelier than the other!

I was over the moon to trap Burnished Brass for the first time - a really beautiful little moth with the most incredible green metallic sheen - the photos don't do it justice.

Figure of Eighty was another new species for the garden

The Footmen have arrived. Common Footman (New for Year)

Scalloped Oak

I think this micro species is Dipleurina (now Eudonia) lacustrata? But please correct me if I am wrong.

Far more moths escaped than were potted and I have to admit to encouraging most of the micros to leave only counting the species I already recognise or potting any unusual looking ones.




Summary of Moths Trapped Sunday, 14th July

Minimum Temperature 11.1 degrees Centigrade

15w Actinic Skinner Trap

1713 Riband Wave (Idaea aversata) x 3

2050 Common Footman (Eilema lurideola) x 3 (New for Year)

2381 Uncertain (Hoplodrina elsines) x 14

2107 Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronumba) x 3

2089 Heart and Dart (Agrotis exclamationis) x 7

1937 Willow Beauty (Peribatodes rhomboidaria) x 2

1921 Scalloped Oak (Cocallis elinguaria) x 1

1931 Peppered Moth (Biston betularia) x 2

1906 Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata) x 1

1428 Bee Moth (Aphomia sociella) x 1

1294 Crambus pascuella x 5

1654 Figure of Eighty (Tethea ocularis) x 1 (New for Garden)

2434 Burnished Brass (Diachrysia chrysitis) x 1 (New for Garden)

2278 Poplar Grey (Acronicta megacephala) x 1 (New for Year)

1302 Crambus perlella (New for Garden)

1338 Dipleurina (Eudonia) lacustrata ?? (Would be New for Year)



Leaf Cutter Bees

I am really rather pleased that a species of Leaf Cutter Bee is using one of the Bee Houses. Every day it can be seen going in and out with small pieces of leaf. Today there were three around - apparently males can hang around egg-laying females.

Here's the bee house with pieces of leaf blocking entrances to tubes presumably when egg laying is completed.

And here's a picture of the bee itself.

Edit - I have just posted this photo on Twitter and have been told rather excitedly that this is not a photo of the actual leaf cutter bee that is taking in leaves but rather of the Cuckoo Bee (Coelyoxis) that parasitises the leaf cutter's eggs/larvae!!!!

Leaf Cutter Bees are solitary bees which nest in holes in plant stems, dead wood or walls. They "cut" discs out of leaves (apparently roses are their favourites - we don't have too many roses so am not quite sure what leaf the bee is taking in) and then glue them together with saliva to build tiny cells in which the larvae will live. The larvae pupate in autumn and then hibernate during the winter.

This species of bee is on the wing from April to August and feeds solely on pollen and nectar and is an important pollinator.



Finally, a photo of one of Brian's hanging baskets - this year's are the best he has grown! I think due to the fact that he bought a much larger type of hanging basket which you can stuff with a lot of plants.

Latest on Garden Moths

I put out the moth trap several times last week and here's a few photos of the species I trapped on 9th and 11th July. (I've dispensed with summaries etc., at the moment as I am just desperately trying to get the blog up to date!!)


Lime Hawk Moth (New for Year)

Hawkmoths, unlike many other species, always seem very docile so here it is posing on a shrub and the sundial.

Sycamore (New for Garden)

Double-striped Pug (New for Year)

Flame Shoulder (New for Year)

Quite a lot of Garden Grass-veneers in the trap and several Crambus pascuella - see below

Really must try and find the time tackle micro id as I "encouraged" dozens to leave without potting. There were dozens of one species with very long antennae and brown and black striped bodies. I've even got the new Micro "bible" so I really should make more effort.


I was thrilled to trap Buff Tip - a new species for the garden.

What an amazing moth with the most incredible cryptic colouration.

Buff Tip's brilliant camouflage mimics a snapped-off piece of dead twig with flaking bark and one jagged end.

Here you can see it against Silver Birch Bark - would have been better posing on a branch but the branches were too high to reach!

As always please let me know if any of the id's are incorrect.

Holiday - Cottage and Hound's Tor, Dartmoor - Friday, 5th July

Nearly at an end of holiday postings :)

This is the cottage where we stayed in Uplyme about a mile from Lyme Regis. I would certainly stay there again - the decor and furnishings were superb, it was very well equipped and very clean.

View from decking at the rear of the house - was hoping to see Barn Owl and/or badger at dusk but sadly no sightings.

Neighbour's hens

Secret Garden at the side of the cottage.

I thought this print in one of the bedrooms was superb. It shows the parish of Uplyme with details of interesting features and paintings of wildlife to be seen. Sadly, now out of print - otherwise I would have bought one!

David and I thought this was a Knight's Templar statue but the lady who owned it called it a "Gate Man". Have googled the term but can't find any references so if any one has information would love to hear it.

We took a detour to Dartmoor on the way home to visit Hound's Tor - an atmospheric weathered granite outcrop

This tor is said to have been the inspiration for Conan Doyle's story "The Hound of the Baskevilles" and one of the episodes of the BBC TV series with Bernard Cumberbatch as Sherlock was filmed here.

A two part story of Doctor Who called "Sontaran Experiment" was filmed here in 1995

About a quarter of a mile away there is a deserted medieval village which David and I wanted to visit but unfortunately we didn't have time.




A few photos of Dartmoor ponies around a nearby Visitor Centre - not easy taking pics as there were a lot of cars and people about!!

Finally, succeeded in getting one of the foal on its own.

It was a great holiday and we shall certainly return to the area as there is still a lot to see and do. I would also like to stay in East Dorset as there are a lot of places that side I would like to visit such as Durdle Dor and Lulworth Cove, Corfe Castle, Studland and Arne and Brownsea Island.