Box Tree Moth - Darley Dale

 Simon caught this Box Tree Moth (Cydalima perspectalis) last night in Darley Dale, I have not heard of any previous records locally but it has been spreading north rapidly after the first UK record in 2007.

The moth is a native of SE Asia, but is now widely established in Europe where the caterpillar is considered a pest on the box Tree. 

The Royal Horticultural Society has been monitoring its spread in the UK.

Between 2015 and 2016 over 800 records of the moth were received, this jumped to over 3000 in 2017, over 6 000 in 2018 and approaching 12000 in 2019. The box tree moth is now considered to be a "common resident" being widely distributed across England, particularly the south-east. It is also present in Wales, Scotland, Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Box Tree Moth © Simon Roddis

Box Tree Moth - distribution © NBN

Breeding Tufted Ducks

I've seen my first Tufted Duck ducklings this week with a brood of three at Chatsworth and a single on Harthill Pond, Youlgrave.

They are late nesters, hatching several months later than the of the first Mallard. I've only seen them nesting on ponds/lakes so there is limited suitable habitat locally but I suspect they may also nest along the rivers where they will be harder to locate.

Tufted Duck with duckling

The Old Lady - Darley Dale

Not a reference to Pam, but to the Old Lady Moth. This was found dead at Darley Dale Primary School today. It's a widely distributed moth but it tends not to be attracted by UV light so it's not often taken at light. It's more likely to be found in a dark out building, cave or tunnel alongside other moths like the Herald and the Tissue. 

It's not been featured on the blog before although I'm aware of several local records.

Old Lady

Wheatear -first juvenile of the year on Beeley Moor

 Back after almost a month away in Spain and the south of France it looks like the temperature here is set to hit similar levels to those I've just left behind! 

Not entirely sure what I have missed whilst I was away but I did see a report of a White Stork for Darley Dale with other reports fairly close from Ashbourne and Brailsford which were intriguing. 

It was good to get back on to the moors and nice to catch up with my first juvenile Wheatear yesterday, coincidentally I had a juvenile in 2020 on the 18th July, perhaps indicating that these have been born close to the moors.

Northern Wheatear - juvenile

Dark Umber - Middleton-by-Youlgrave

 A lovely example of the Dark Umber moth caught by Doug Aston at Middleton-by-Youlgrave on 12th July. 

Very scarce in Derbyshire with historical records from the White Peak dales of Dovedale, Lathkill Dale, Monks Dale, Coombs Dale and the Via Gellia. 

Not a moth that I have managed to trap, but closely related to the Scallop Shell and Scarce Tissue which I do catch occasionally.

Dark Umber © Doug Aston