Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Mark Skevington🦋🦊🟢

@whetstoneskev.bsky.social

710 followers 190 following 640 posts

Amateur naturalist. Leics. & Rutland VC55 CMR. Moths; all taxa PSL; reformed twitcher; LCFC; known to dabble with synthesizers. All photos/videos I post are my own unless stated. https://skevsblog.blogspot.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@Skevdig

skevsblog.blogspot.com

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Mark Skevington🦋🦊🟢 @whetstoneskev.bsky.social · 2d

Ok, it's a rough cropped phone shot and but this Crimson Speckled was one of c15 on a cruise ship 08/10/2025 literally half way across the Med. between Palma de Mallorca and Cagliari Sardinia, along with an Old World Webworm and a couple of Humming-bird Hawk-moths. #teammoth

1 44

Mark Skevington🦋🦊🟢 @whetstoneskev.bsky.social · 9d

A few more leafmine species found in a short stroll around Lutterworth CP yesterday pm included what I feel sure must be vacated Stigmella oxyacanthella on some sort of cherry, and a mess of a vacated Stigmella assimilella mine on Aspen - a relatively scarce find in VC55. #vc55moths #teammoth

Stigmella oxyacanthella (and Lyonetia clerkella) on Prunus sp. (cherry). Lutterworth CP, Leics. (UK) 05/10/2025.

Stigmella assimilella on Aspen. Lutterworth CP, Leics. (UK) 05/10/2025.

A very early tenanted Ectoedemia argyropeza mine on Aspen. Lutterworth CP, Leics. (UK) 05/10/2025.

Parornix scoticella (and Phyllonorycter leucographella) on Rowan. Lutterworth CP, Leics. (UK) 05/10/2025.

Mark Skevington🦋🦊🟢 @whetstoneskev.bsky.social · 11d

Looks fine to me.

1 3

Mark Skevington🦋🦊🟢 @whetstoneskev.bsky.social · 14d

Here's a track I made using Behringer hardware synths sequenced from and recorded back into Fl Studio. If you're a fan of (or at least familiar with) the 1984 David Lynch version of Dune you'll recognise the sampled protagonist.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjYm...
#synth #electronica #dune #flstudio

Give Me Spice!

YouTube video by Skevdig

www.youtube.com

Mark Skevington🦋🦊🟢 @whetstoneskev.bsky.social · 24d

This one only needs gen detting if eg adults to light; absolutely fine to record from the leafmine on Field Maple and Norway Maple without having to rear (though finding tenanted mines with the larva present is best from a purist listing perspective).

1 3

Mark Skevington🦋🦊🟢 @whetstoneskev.bsky.social · 26d

Believe the number of instars will vary, presumably clinally, depending on whether one or two years overwintering as larvae. Trust you realise these will need to be overwintered, that'll be the trickier bit.

1 2

Mark Skevington🦋🦊🟢 @whetstoneskev.bsky.social · 27d

A couple from hawthorn today in Leics. with Stigmella regiella a new one for me (confirmed via @vc28wildlife.bsky.social) and Ectoedemia atricollis the first I've found this year. Both tenanted mines which is pretty key for several hawthorn miners. #vc55moths #teammoth

Stigmella regiella, larva with two marks behind head. Aston Firs, Leics. (UK) 18/09/2025.

Ectoedemia atricollis, larva with dark head. Burbage Common, Leics. (UK) 18/09/2025.

Mark Skevington🦋🦊🟢 @whetstoneskev.bsky.social · 28d

Whilst we were out at a local park yesterday with my young granddaughter, she saw me checking leaves and wanted to have a couple of different shapes/colours. I didn't notice until much later in the day that this dark purple Norway Maple variant had x4 Stigmella aceris mines. #vc55moths #teammoth

Stigmella aceris, x4 vacated mines on a dark purple Norway Maple variant. Whetstone, Leics. (UK) 16/09/2025. The mines are barely visible until back-lit.

3 24

Mark Skevington🦋🦊🟢 @whetstoneskev.bsky.social · 28d

In what sense?

Mark Skevington🦋🦊🟢 @whetstoneskev.bsky.social · 29d

Phyllonorycter leucographella was presumably given the vernacular Firethorn Leaf-miner when it turned up here on Pyracantha, but the name seems increasingly irrelevant when it is found on several hosts. I often find it on hawthorn here, and today on apple and Whitebeam. #vc55moths #teammoth

Firethorn Leaf-miner (Phyllonorycter leucographella) on Malus sp. (apple) left and Whitebeam right. Whetstone, Leics. (UK) 16/09/2025. Also found today on cultivated Firethorn (Pyracantha).

Mark Skevington🦋🦊🟢 @whetstoneskev.bsky.social · 29d

A few from oak today; tenanted mines of Ectoedemia albifasciella and Stigmella ruficapitella, and vacated mines of Stigmella basiguttella and Bucculatrix ulmella. I also collected a few Phyllonorycter mines that will need rearing/checking. #vc55moths #teammoth

Ectoedemia albifasciella, tenanted mines on oak. Narborough Bog, Leics. (UK) 16/09/2025.

Stigmella ruficapitella, tenanted mine on oak. Narborough Bog, Leics. (UK) 16/09/2025.

Stigmella basiguttella, vacated mine on oak. Narborough Bog, Leics. (UK) 16/09/2025.

Bucculatrix ulmella, vacated mines on oak. Narborough Bog, Leics. (UK) 16/09/2025.

2 2 37

Mark Skevington🦋🦊🟢 @whetstoneskev.bsky.social · 29d

I've not had my garden trap out for over a week thanks to weather/work, but I was intent on it going out last night regardless of the conditions. 33 of 11sp. was an unsurprisingly modest return, but included NFY Brindled Green and Lunar Underwing plus a Red (not blue) Underwing. #vc55moths #teammoth

Brindled Green (Dryobotodes eremita). Whetstone, Leics. (UK) 15/09/2025.

Lunar Underwing (Anchoscelis lunosa). Whetstone, Leics. (UK) 15/09/2025.

Mark Skevington🦋🦊🟢 @whetstoneskev.bsky.social · Sep 14

Here's a common miner on a less common host (at least here in VC55). This is Phyllocnistis unipunctella on a Populus hybrid (perhaps Balm-of-Gilead) from a local park where there are a few planted. These have big elongated spade-shaped leaves that are quite thick/tough. #vc55moths #teammoth

Phyllocnistis unipunctella on a Populus sp., perhaps Balm-of-Gilead, or some other sort of Balsam Poplar / cottonwood hybrid. Enderby, Leics. (UK) 13/09/2025.

Mark Skevington🦋🦊🟢 @whetstoneskev.bsky.social · Sep 13

Been on the increase in eg Beds and further east I believe so one on my distant radar but wasn't expecting one any time soon.

Mark Skevington🦋🦊🟢 @whetstoneskev.bsky.social · Sep 13

News from VC55: Plumed Fan-foot new to VC list, recorded by Anthony Plummer to light in Quorn last night. His photo attached. #teammoth #vc55moths

Plumed Fan-foot (Pechipogo plumigeralis) new to VC55. Quorn, Leics. (UK) 12/09/2025 - recorded and photographed by Anthony Plummer.

1 1 27

Mark Skevington🦋🦊🟢 @whetstoneskev.bsky.social · Sep 13

From a load of mixed Chenopodium sp. and Atriplex sp. along an arable margin this morning, pretty sure these are all off of Fat-hen despite the apparent differences in leaf shape/size. Lots of tenanted Chrysoesthia sexguttella, and a few vacated/failed Chrysoesthia drurella. #vc55moths #teammoth

Chrysoesthia sexguttella. Cosby, Leics. (UK) 13/09/2025.

Chrysoesthia drurella. Cosby, Leics. (UK) 13/09/2025.

Mark Skevington🦋🦊🟢 @whetstoneskev.bsky.social · Sep 12

Def. Convolvulus - hope not your first!

Mark Skevington🦋🦊🟢 @whetstoneskev.bsky.social · Sep 12

Hmmm ....
Think I'd be putting that down as hohenwartiana agg. and hoping it was female for gen det.

1 5

Mark Skevington🦋🦊🟢 @whetstoneskev.bsky.social · Sep 12

Yes, can be limiting! That was one of my barriers for a good while.

Mark Skevington🦋🦊🟢 @whetstoneskev.bsky.social · Sep 11

There are around 11spp. that can be found as leafmines on Alder, including x2 Stigmella spp. and x4 Phyllonorycter spp. (plus another on Grey Alder). I found an Alder a couple of days ago on which I failed to find any of these, and only found one mine - Heliozella resplendella. #vc55moths #teammoth

A presumed tenanted (or failed) mine of Heliozella resplendella. The larva mines along veins and down the mid-rib. A completed mine will have an oval cut out just off of the mid-rib in the next 'panel' below the mine. Meridian Balancing Lagoon, Leics. (UK) 08/09/2025.

Mark Skevington🦋🦊🟢 @whetstoneskev.bsky.social · Sep 11

Absolutely, and the more you look the more you notice smaller or less distinct mines. There is always a BUT ... as with adults to light, there are some that cannot be reliably named without checking the larva, pupa or rearing to dissect. But plenty to go at without any of that.

1 7

Mark Skevington🦋🦊🟢 @whetstoneskev.bsky.social · Sep 11

I am not a prolific recorder of moth leafmines, and I'm not very structured either, just checking greenery en route as I amble about. Very occasionally I'll be more focussed on a particular host or target species. There is plenty of time, but 61 spp. recorded so far this year. #vc55moths #teammoth

Leafmines recorded 2025 YTD, all from VC55 Leics. & Rutland. 61spp. plus Phyllocnistis saligna/asiatica (pending clarity on host plant separation), and Phyllonorycter dubitella (hoping to rear and det. to confirm).

3 1 29

Mark Skevington🦋🦊🟢 @whetstoneskev.bsky.social · Sep 9

A few more leafmines found over the last couple of days in Leics. [details in alt text as usual]. I've not found Antispila petryi and Caloptilia honoratella mines previously, and whilst I've found Stigmella plagicolella all over the place I've not found it on cherry before. #vc55moths #teammoth

Antispila petryi on Dogwood (larval excision is c4.5mm). Meridian Balancing Lagoon, Leics. (UK) 08/09/2025.

Caloptilia honoratella, early mine on Sycamore. Meridian Balancing Lagoon, Leics. (UK) 08/09/2025.

Stigmella plagicolella on Prunus sp. (cherry) - haven't found this on a cherry host previously. Watergate Lane, Leics. (UK) 08/09/2025.

Bucculatrix bechsteinella on hawthorn. Whetstone, Leics. (UK) 09/09/2025.

Mark Skevington🦋🦊🟢 @whetstoneskev.bsky.social · Sep 8

Loads of common stuff that exceeds the character limit 🤣

Mark Skevington🦋🦊🟢 @whetstoneskev.bsky.social · Sep 7

x4 to lure, x3 to MV (out of sight of lure but likely a factor).

1 3