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Ruth Newby

@ruthnewby.bsky.social

550 followers 270 following 3.8K posts

Officially moth-obsessed, also easily distracted by birds, butterflies, flies, wasps and spiders. Musically devoted to an (un)holy trinity of Bruce Springsteen, Nick Cave and Leonard Cohen.

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Ruth Newby @ruthnewby.bsky.social · 54m

Indeed, you have to be in it to win it, as they say!

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Ruth Newby @ruthnewby.bsky.social · 1h

😂

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Ruth Newby @ruthnewby.bsky.social · 1h

Common sense tells me to give it a miss but as I haven’t trapped for a week due to various commitments I’m still tempted.

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Ruth Newby @ruthnewby.bsky.social · 2h

I’ll have a go and see how I get on.

Ruth Newby @ruthnewby.bsky.social · 2h

Calling it out on social media worked! Look what was just on the ivy…

Ruth Newby @ruthnewby.bsky.social · 2h

Didn’t trap last night am regretting it now. Wondering whether it’s worth giving it a go tonight though rain is forecast after midnight…

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Ruth Newby @ruthnewby.bsky.social · 2h

Thanks for your help Rob, much appreciated as always. Might try and rear it and see what emerges, as there appears to be a larva in there. Do you think keeping the leaf in a ziploc bag in the garage over the winter would work?

Ruth Newby @ruthnewby.bsky.social · 3h

A Phyllonorycter mine in a very small Oak leaf that blew into the garden. The y-shaped fork in the crease seems to suggest P. lautella, though the overall size of the mine is a bit small, no more than 10mm in length. #teammoth @vc28nature.bsky.social

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Ruth Newby @ruthnewby.bsky.social · 4h

What a lovely photo!

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Ruth Newby @ruthnewby.bsky.social · 4h

Nice!

Ruth Newby @ruthnewby.bsky.social · 5h

I keep hoping a I’ll see a Red Admiral on the ivy, I usually get a few in October but this year I’ve seen nothing since the end of September.

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Ruth Newby @ruthnewby.bsky.social · 6h

👍 Last record I had of Waved Umber was from the end of August!

Ruth Newby @ruthnewby.bsky.social · 6h

Thanks for that Tim. Which VC are you in there?

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Ruth Newby @ruthnewby.bsky.social · 17h

Not at all common in the Warks/West Midlands where I am…

Ruth Newby @ruthnewby.bsky.social · 1d

Thanks Rob

Ruth Newby @ruthnewby.bsky.social · 1d

Very cute! A bit like a miniature Pangolin…

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Ruth Newby @ruthnewby.bsky.social · 1d

Been finding quite a few green island mines on Oak recently, Stimella robustella seems the most likely candidate for most, though ObsID is convinced that the first is Ectoedemia quinquella. Any thoughts #teammoth @vc28nature.bsky.social ?

Ectoedemia quinquella (egg is on underside next to a leaf rib)

Stigmella roborella? Larva not clearly visible, deceased?

Stigmella roborella. Larva is clearly visible, not sure if the dark dot is its head in which case it could be S. atricapitella.

S. roborella? A very short mine, so perhaps a failed mine?

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Ruth Newby @ruthnewby.bsky.social · 3d

I find the Cannon 100-400 is perfect for photographing insects in the field, where the close approach needed for macro photography would frighten the subject.

Ruth Newby @ruthnewby.bsky.social · 3d

😂

Ruth Newby @ruthnewby.bsky.social · 4d

Most frustrating to know that she was there right under your nose. As indeed a male must have been…

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Ruth Newby @ruthnewby.bsky.social · 4d

That time of the year now, sadly…

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Ruth Newby @ruthnewby.bsky.social · 4d

Agree with Parornix scoticella, which I found this year just over the border in theVC38 portion of SK10. Don’t have any experience of the other.

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Ruth Newby @ruthnewby.bsky.social · 5d

Buff Ermine duly noted Debbie. You should be able to distinguish Winter and Northern Winter Moth from the extent to which the hindwings are visible, do you have a photo?

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Ruth Newby @ruthnewby.bsky.social · 5d

More leaves came down from the garden Poplar last night & more mines of Gypsomoma oppressana and Stigmella trimaculella were among them #teammoth

Mines of Gypsomoma oppressana in a Lombardy Poplar leaf

Mines of Stigmella trimaculella in a Lombardy Poplar leaf.

Ruth Newby @ruthnewby.bsky.social · 5d

Well, I’d expect a classy moth like the Merv to go that extra mile 😆

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