A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF MOTH RECORDING IN THE CRAGS 2023

I recorded 198 species during my first year of recording here as a volunteer, most of these were at five trapping events at Hollin Hall and the nearby Rush Field. Four of these events were kindly organised by Anthony Arak with his 125 Watt Robinson and 6 Watt actinic. 

There were plenty of highlights, not least four species which I believe were first records for Calderdale: 

Orange Footman - five to light in May

Apple Pigmy - two mines at Hollin Hall orchard

Speckled Fanner - small numbers to light and at dusk

Hart's-tongue Smut - mines and cases

On a personal note a further eleven species were new to me, some of which no doubt were also new to the Crags: 

Brown Pine Ermine - two tenanted mines in Scots Pine needles

White-headed Dwarf - small numbers at dusk

Thistle Bell - one male to light

Water Carpet - one individual to light

Devon Carpet - just one individual to light (the only VC 63 record of the year)

Welsh Wave - one to light (the only VC 63 record of the year)

Dingy Shell - one disturbed by day

White-spotted Pug - two to light

Tawny-barred Angle - one found by day

Puss Moth - 6 larvae at Hollin Hall taken to rear

Shears - one to light

SUMMARY: Hardcastle Crags is one of Calderdale's premier mothing hotspots which regularly turns up exciting species. Many of this year's records will be forwarded to the YNU which will be a continuation of the Crags rich history of wildlife recording.

SOME OF THIS YEAR'S LEPIDOPTERA HIGHLIGHTS

Dusky Apple Pigmy - mining an apple leaf in July

Gold Swifts - mating at dusk in June

Yellow-barred Long-horn - male in June

Green Long-horn - female in May

Speckled Fanner - to light in May

Hart's-tongue Smut - case in May

Brown Pine Ermine - mine and larva in Apr.

White-headed Dwarf - at dusk in June

Rush Marble - by day in May

Thistle Bell - to light in May

Bee Moth - larval damage in December

Lunar Hornet Moth - to pheromone lure in July

Figure of Eighty  - to light in June

Fox Moths (and eggs) - to light in May

Eyed Hawk-moth - to light in June 

Poplar Hawk-moth - hatching in June

Dingy Shell - found by day in July

Tawny-barred Angle - flying by day in May

Devon Carpet - to light in June 

Welsh Wave - to light in June

Puss Moth - on Aspen in June 

Orange Footman - to light in May

Pale-shouldered Brocade - to light in May