Staffordshire Moths

Four new species for Dorset (and a belated one for Britain) are among the highlights of the Dorset Moths Annual Report 2024. Free PDF downland from dorsetmoths.co.uk

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Scarce Umber, last seen in 2022. Incidentally - for those of you not familiar with my methods and machinations - the anglepoise actinic is a reading lamp I've screwed a 20W actinic bulb into and which can then be angled such that the business end shines out into the garden.

I'd all but retired from mothing for the year. My traps were decomissioned. Then an hour ago I remembered that last night, on a whim, I'd flicked on the anglepoise actinic sometime after 1 a.m. And there, stickered on the outside of the glass above the still-lit lamp was this moth. #TeamMoth

One week on! Congratulations again to all the NBN winners and highly commended nominations!

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nbn.org.uk/news/nbn-awa...

Small Marbled was the second for VC39, beaten to the first by 48 hours! Two Four-spotted Footman arrived in June, the first of which was a joint-second for VC39. Ni Moth was the third for VC39, all three arriving within a week of each other. Oblique Carpet was new for SJ84. Bedstraw Hawk-moth speaks for itself 😁

It’s freezing cold & I’m bored. So here’s a selection of the 34 macro NFGs from this year’s efforts in the garden. A few details in ALT text.
Micros to follow in a separate post!

A total of 95 NFGs pushed the garden total up to 603. A pretty crazy year all round.

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Twin-spotted Wainscot & Privet Hawk-moth both new for SJ84. Juniper Pug was one of four NFG pug species this year, along Dwarf, Haworth’s and Cypress. 26 species of pug now recorded in the garden!

And a few more of the macro NFGs from the garden this year, here in North Staffordshire.
A few details in ALT text.

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Not as pretty as the macros, but some significant micro records from the garden this year.

Cadra figulilella (Raisin Moth) and Phycitodes saxicola (Lesser Clouded Knot-horn) both new for VC39, with at least four specimens of the latter recorded & confirmed by gen det.

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Sent old Tel packing; 4 species inc. 2 Decembers, Grey Shoulder-knot, Satellite and Acleris variegana. #TeamMoth

A nice but lonely Mottled Umber on the outside of the trap last night 😊

Howdi Rob

Sorry not the best photos or example, but thought this looked a reasonable shout for Phyllonorycter schreberella?
Definitely on Elm (asymmetric leaf base).
Upper and underside shots of the mine.

Thanks

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Hi Rob, I persevered and teased the remains of the larva out from its mine in the Alder. The head end still relatively intact and looks more like the pics of S.glutinosae I think. What do you reckon? In good enough condition to tell? Thanks @vc28nature.bsky.social #teammoth

This Stigmella larva on Oak had a bad time of it! It's got the "worm like" creature that's eating its way out of the head and looks like something else has come out of the side.
Do like a bit of parasitism, gruesome but fascinating 😁
Dark sclerites? so once possibly S.atricapitella ? #teammoth

Ectoedemia argyropeza mines on Aspen.

Stigmella assimilella mine on Aspen.

Stigmella assimilella mine on Aspen

Ectoedemia intimella on Sallow

Some leaf mine finds from today.
Ectoedemia argyropeza and Stigmella assimilella on Aspen.
Ectoedemia initimella on Sallow.
All new for SJ84 this autumn, and from several different sites now.
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Thought I might have used up all my mothing credits on leafminers but managed a late Mottled Rustic and a Turnip. Also found another Ectoedemia quinquella, five spot dot close to home 😊 #teammoth @vc39moths.bsky.social

Sorry Rob, just one more for you!

Is this any good for Ectoedemia intimella on a Sallow of some description, I think!?!

Thanks again.

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Went out this morning targeting Aspen, and pleased to find Ectoedemia argyropeza. Loads of them!
Very easy to spot at the moment.

New for SJ84 and another one I’ve clawed back on the prolific Mr @pertonmoths.bsky.social 😅😅

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Afternoon Rob

Do these look OK for Stigmella obliquella on (I think) White Willow?
Another new one for the SJ84 list if so 🙂
Cheers

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Today I found another site for Phyllonorycter pastorella - this time in the heart of Newcastle-under-Lyme town centre!
They were on a large White Willow (I think) at the back of the Aldi carpark 😆😅
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A white-point nfg was the highlight in my Stoke trap last night along with December moth, 6 lbam and 3 ruddy streak #teammoth

Steve, email them to vc39moths@outlook.com with the usual details and I'll get them up when I can. 👍

Just found a dozen of these on Grey Poplar. Ectoedemia turbidella!!!!!!! Might even be a first for West Midlands! #teammoth

I missed this was Aspen in amongst the Grey Poplar leaves I collected. So, I've found another Ectoedemia argyropeza as well 😊 #teammoth

Just 15:7 from last night, with 5 Ruddy Streak the most numerous species.
Mottled Umber NFY, Barred Sallow and Brick the best of the rest.
Try again tonight…😑
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5 species in VC39 but they included another White-point and a very late Vine’s Rustic #TeamMoth

No problem, Dave. I've had a couple recently in London which I'm putting down as immigrants.

Ectoedemia quinquella (Five-spot Dot) on Quercus robor (Oak), provisionally new to Staffordshire, 3 November 2025, Wolverhampton (Image: Darren Taylor). #MothsMatter

West Midlands Moths The Moths of the West Midlands.

The West Midlands Moths website is now updated to include records up to an including 2024.

West Midlands Moths covers: VC36 Herefordshire; VC37 Worcestershire; VC39 Staffordshire & VC40 Shropshire.

westmidlandsmoths.co.uk #MothsMatter