See the light

A cool  night at Pilmoor, the old railtrack running through the birch woods east of Boroughbridge.  Still, it kept the biting midges at bay, but the most significant insect of the night was two glowing female Glow-worms among the long grass.  

female Glow-worm

These were the first I had seen for some years, and on checking the internet found the details of the Glow-worm recording site, and duly submitted my record.  I had a response this morning suggesting it was a significant record, the nearest  previous record being at Strensall Common in 2005.  The site can be found on www.glowworms.org.uk   

Glow-worm distribution from NBN 

Of course, the main purpose of the visit was to trap moths, and numbers were kept low by the cool temperatures but did include only my second Birch Mocha.

Birch Mocha

Also, trapped was the rather beautiful pied Apotomis turbidana, another of those bird-dropping type moths, but at least gave an opportunity to test out the Clifton and Wheeler guide.

Apotomis turbidana

0970  Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix (Pandemis cerasana)  4

1092  Apotomis turbidana  1

1334  Scoparia ambigualis  31

1392  Udea olivalis  1

1648  Pebble Hook-tip (Drepana falcataria)  1

1677  Birch Mocha (Cyclophora albipunctata)  1

1727  Silver-ground Carpet (Xanthorhoe montanata)  9
1764  Common Marbled Carpet (Chloroclysta truncata)  1

1776  Green Carpet (Colostygia pectinataria)  11

1887  Clouded Border (Lomaspilis marginata)  1

1906  Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata)  2

1947x  Engrailed/Small Engrailed (Ectropis bistortata/crepuscularia)  2

1961  Light Emerald (Campaea margaritata)  2

1994  Buff-tip (Phalera bucephala)  1

2006  Lesser Swallow Prominent (Pheosia gnoma)  2

2007  Swallow Prominent (Pheosia tremula)  1

2008  Coxcomb Prominent (Ptilodon capucina)  1

2011  Pale Prominent (Pterostoma palpina)  1

2040  Four-dotted Footman (Cybosia mesomella)  2

2060  White Ermine (Spilosoma lubricipeda)  1

2061  Buff Ermine (Spilosoma luteum)  6

2089  Heart and Dart (Agrotis exclamationis)  3

2102  Flame Shoulder (Ochropleura plecta)  3

2128  Double Square-spot (Xestia triangulum)  1

2199  Common Wainscot (Mythimna pallens)  1

2302  Brown Rustic (Rusina ferruginea)  4

2305  Small Angle Shades (Euplexia lucipara)  1

2326  Clouded-bordered Brindle (Apamea crenata)  1

2337x  Marbled Minor agg. (Oligia strigilis agg.)  1
2340  Middle-barred Minor (Oligia fasciuncula)  1

2450  Spectacle (Abrostola tripartita)  1