Northern Eggar, Mompha raschkiella and Beetles

The first of my Barden Moor, Northern Eggar caterpillars has produced this male imago. I photographed it this morning and it presumably took advantage of the afternoon sunshine to zoom off back towards the moorland.

My remaining caterpillar has yet to pupate.

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The second photograph shows a mine in the leaf of Rosebay Willowherb which I think was made by the larva of Mompha raschkiella.

The final picture shows five beetle larvae devouring a leaf of Rosebay Willowherb (Epilobium angustifolium).

It will be a challenge to work out which species of beetle this is!

Back to Barden

I spent 30 minutes on Barden Moor yesterday afternoon (National Moth Night) in sunny, but breezy, conditions.

A pair of Lapwings chased me along the path presumably warning me away from their chicks.

I didn't venture too far up the hill, this time, but spent some time looking in the heather for larvae and was rewarded with the find of another Northern Eggar caterpillar.

I then noticed a small micro-moth, low down amongst the heather, which I briefly potted to photograph. This is Argyrotaenia ljungiana which can be common on moorland and heaths in all five Yorkshire vice-counties.