45: PLUME MOTHS, 62: PYRALIDS

62.001 Bee Moth female and larval cocoons on June 1st 2020. It was reared from a colony found in a bird nest box which was subsequently taken over by Tree Bumblebees. The larvae pupate in extremely tough, tightly packed, communal cocoons. There were several dozen moths that had already emerged so "rearing" them was straightforward.

The colony was located at a private school at Hanson Lane and donated to me by Steve Blacksmith who used to garden there.

62.001 Bee Moth, a close-up of the female above.

62.001 Bee Moth larval damage on a nest box lid at Hardcastle Crags near Gibson Mill on Dec. 14th 2023. The box may well have been used by Tree Bumblebees which in turn have attracted the Bee Moths. 

The larvae will probably have fed on the bumblebee combs and debris and have constructed their cocoons out of silk and chewed wood from the nest box lid, they were removed as part of the winter  maintenance programme ready for next year's nesting birds.

62.001 Bee Moth larval damage. A close-up of the box lid pictured above.

62.001 Bee Moth larva with a second just visible top right in a partially opened cocoon. The cocoons from the nest box pictured above were retrieved and taken back to rear through, many of which contained over wintering larvae.

62.001 Bee Moth male on my house wall at Skircoat Green, July 10th 06.

62.029 Oak Knot-horn (Phycita roborella) to MV light at Hollin Hall, Hardcastle Crags on July 27th 2022.

62.029 Oak Knot-horn (Phycita roborella) to actinic light near the visitor center at Cromwell Bottom on Aug. 3rd 2024.

62.035 Hawthorn Knot-horn (Acrobasis advenella) larva originally found on Blackthorn but refused to eat this in captivity and is now feeding on its stated foodplant Hawthorn. It was collected from Park Wood Crematorium, May 7th 2018.

62.035 Hawthorn Knot-horn (Acrobasis advenella) larva, details as above. A few days later and a better shot of a markedly different looking instar.

62.035 Hawthorn Knot-horn (Acrobasis advenella) one of three to MV light near the visitor centre at Cromwell Bottom, July 14th 2018.

62.042 Thistle Ermine to MV light at Cromwell Bottom, June 2nd 2018. More coarsely and sparsely spotted than other micro "ermines".

62.048 Ash-bark Knot-horn (Euzophera pinguis) to MV light in my garden in Luddenden foot on July 20th 2022.

62.058 Spotted Knot-horn (Phycitodes binaevella), a female to MV light at Clifton Fishing Ponds, Brighouse on July 25th 2024.

62.059  Lesser Clouded Knot-horn (Phycitodes saxicola), one of two females netted at dusk in my garden at Skircoat Green on July 24th and 26th 2019. With two specimens obtained I plucked up the courage to have a go at dissecting one of them, it turned out to be surprisingly successful and has since given me the confidence to take on any moths that need identifying in this way.

The slide preparation is pictured below.

62.059 Lesser Clouded Knot-horn (Phycitodes saxicola), slide preparation (details above).

62.062 Indian Meal Moth captured by day on my drive way at Skircoat Green on May 14th 08.

62.064 Cacao Moth female, netted after dusk in my garden at Skircoat Green, July 29th 2019. Another interesting Pyralid in the garden and another chance to practise my fledgling dissection skills (see below).

62.064 Cacao Moth dissection showing the minute spines along the anterior half of the Ductus Bursae which I think is the diagnostic feature for this species. It gives me tremendous satisfaction to gain an insight in to the usually unseen, inner workings of moths and also not having to rely on the dissection experts who I'm sure are already extremely busy at this time of year.

62.064 Cacao Moth - a close-up of the spines illustrated above.

62.065 Blushed Knot-horn (Ephestia woodiella) to MV light near the visitor centre at Cromwell Bottom, Aug. 3rd 2018. Gen. det. by Harry Beaumont and a first for VC63 and second for Yorkshire.

62.072 Meal Moth to MV light at Barkisland on July 18th 2024. The moth was very aggitated and refused to settle for photographs, I also noticed its proboscis was flexing, maybe it was thirsty, it was after all a hot day.

I mixed a week solution of hot water and about 20% sugar and soaked some kitchen towel in it. I placed it in with the moth and immediately it settled and began to feed.

A mutually beneficial and satisfying act that's worth trying on any moth that's too restless for photographing, assuming of course they are able to feed.

62.072 Meal Moth to MV light near the visitor centre at Cromwell Bottom, Aug. 3rd 2018.

62.076 Double-striped Tabby (Hypsopygia glaucinalis) to MV light at Clock Face quarry on Sept. 16th 2023. This wonderful site has an impressive diversity of plants, many of which have recently been planted since quarrying operations ceased. Is this the biodiversity heyday of the site before the trees become mature and crowd out the smaller shrubs and ground cover?

45.004 Triangle Plume pupa, May 13th 08. Reared from a larva found at Brookfoot Loop in the seedhead of Coltsfoot.

45.004 Triangle Plume, May 23rd 08. Reared from the pupa above.

45.004 Triangle Plume to MV light at Clock Face quarry, Krumlin on June 25th 2024.

45.008 Yarrow Plume, one of several at Hollas Lane nature reserve on July 23rd 2021. One or two came to light but most were seen dancing around in the herbage at dusk.

45.010 Beautiful Plume in my garden at Skircoat Green on Apr. 23rd 09. Captured by day. One or two were seen most years either in the garden or on the allotments.

45.013 Twin-spot Plume at a canal-side field at West Vale, July 19th 06. A field observation.

45.028 Wood Sage Plume to Anthony Arak's MV light at Manshead moor conifer plantation, Ripponden on June 19th 2023. 

45.030 White Plume at a bus shelter at Old Town, Hebden Bridge on July 23rd 2022. It was attracted by the overnight light along with other moths such as Poplar Hawkmoth, Flame Carpet, Single-dotted Wave and Small Phoenix.

45.030 White Plume to MV light near the visitor centre at Cromwell Bottom, June 26th 2021. It didn't enter the trap but was netted as it flew on by.

45.044 Common Plume nectaring on Ragwort at Tag meadow, Cromwell Bottom, July 25th 2017.

45.044 Common Plume, Skircoat Green allotments, June 23rd 07. A field observation. A lot less commonly seen since the eradication of most of the bindweed on the site.