Calling all VC39ers (and mothomaniac VCers the region / country over) - a quick plug for @vc39moths.bsky.social run by the eminent lepidopterist-CMR-guitarist @lesevanshill.bsky.social. N.B. I didn't intend to platform the machinations of arch-rival @sj84turner.bsky.social whilst I was at it.

An intriguing late male Oegoconia quadripuncta (Four-spotted Yellowneck) overnight 6 Nov 2025, Putney Heath, SW London (VC17) - confirmed by dissection. #MothsMatter

A wander to the Co-op through Putney Heath delivered a few Feathered Thorn and November moths, and strangely nothing that made me wishing I had a net! However, ice cream safety was delivered to my wife and a red for me while we watch The Rookie on the Tellybox (apparently, it's a Welsh thing!)

Reasonably confident this is Ectoedemia minimella on Birch, 5 November 2025, Putney Heath, SW London (VC17). A contorted gallery, leading to blotch with dispersed frass. Happy to be corrected as always. @vc28nature.bsky.social #MothsMatter

Phyllonorycter pastorella (Royal Leaf-miner), ex. mine on Weeping Willow 14 October 2025, emerged 4 November 2025. Putney Heath, SW London (VC17). #MothsMatter

Possibly Stigmella perpygmaeella on Hawthorn in my Putney Heath garden (VC17). It fits the description at www.leafmines.co.uk/html/Lepidop.... What do you think, Rob? @vc28nature.bsky.social #MothsMatter

Ectoedemia quinquella (Five-spot Dot) on Quercus robor (Oak), provisionally new to Staffordshire, 3 November 2025, Wolverhampton (Image: Darren Taylor). #MothsMatter

The West Midlands Moths website is now updated to include records up to an including 2024. West Midlands Moths covers: VC36 Herefordshire; VC37 Worcestershire; VC39 Staffordshire & VC40 Shropshire. westmidlandsmoths.co.uk #MothsMatter

Currently looking for a proverbial 'needle in a haystack' that is Acalyptris platani on London Plane. Shedloads of the Phyllonorycter platani, however. Putney Heath, SW London (VC17). #MothsMatter

If anyone takes Watsonalla binaria/uncinula (Oak/Spiny Hook-tip) from now, please check with your County Recorder if they wish specimens to be retained for microscopic examination (at the discretion of the recorder) and confirmation. Image: Oak Hook-tip (above), Spiny Hook-tip (below). #MothsMatter

Yesterday, @britentsoc.bsky.social published the 4th edition of the popular Field Guide to the Smaller Moths of Great Britain and Ireland. Completely updated and free to download in 3 digital formats: PDF, spreadsheet, and an Android App! Further details at www.benhs.org.uk/publications... #TeamMoth

Are you joining us at our Exhibition this Saturday? A chance to meet other members and browse interesting displays! To find out more including contributing to the Exhibition visit our website

Today, the @britentsoc.bsky.social Annual Exhibition is being held at Conway Hall, Holborn, London. Always a great day with lots to see and friends to catch up with. Something special is also happening today - more on that later. #MothsMatter

Stigmella basiguttella (Shoulder-spot Dot) on Quercus robor (Oak), 30 Oct 2025, Putney Heath, SW London (VC17) - 2nd site record (1st record 2003). Inspired by Trevor Pendleton's YouTube channel www.youtube.com/watch?v=msE-.... #MothsMatter

A couple of more-than-welcome visitors overnight 28 Oct 2025, Putney Heath, SW London (VC17): A 2nd site record of Dryobota labecula (Oak Rustic) and a presumed partial 2nd generation Eilema griseola (Dingy Footman). #MothsMatter

Last one for today... on Beech. I'm not sure at all what I have here. Both upperside and vacated and possibly not Lepidoptera. Tittesworth Reservoir (VC39). @vc28nature.bsky.social #MothsMatter

Stigmella sp. on Quercus cerris, possibly roborella as the larva fits the description on the British Leafminers website. However, atricapitella, I believe, cannot be ruled out? Tittesworth Reservoir (VC39). @vc28nature.bsky.social #MothsMatter

Ectoedemia argyropeza (Aspen Dot) mines on Populus tremula, 25 Oct 2025, Tittesworth Reservoir (VC39). Only 3 VC records since 2000. #MothsMatter

Saved from a hat-trick of a #Wogan by this, nondescript Noctuid. There are not too many candidates, so who fancies a punt? Cheadle Towers (VC39), 24 October 2025. #MothsMatter

An unsurprising #Wogan at Cheadle Towers (VC39) overnight, 22 Oct 2025. #MothsMatter

Pechipogo plumigeralis (Plumed Fan-foot), female, 17 Oct 2025, Putney Heath, SW London (VC17). #MothsMatter

Stigmella lemniscella on Elm, found during a tree "walk & talk" led by my wife and I this morning. Wimbledon Common, SW London (VC17). #MothsMatter

Green-brindled Crescent - so fresh I’m guessing it’s probably from on of our garden Hawthorns Allophyes oxyacanthae Allophyes: changing in character (there are two colour morphs) oxyacanthae: from Hawthorn or ‘sharp thorn’ #mothsmatter #teammoth

59:24 overnight 17 Oct 2025, Putney Heath, SW London (VC17). Highlights include singletons of Povolnya leucapennella (Scarce Oak Stilt); Scrobipalpa ocellatella (Beet Moth) & Pechipogo plumigeralis (Plumed Fan-foot). #MothsMatter

Lamp and sheet for an hour or so with the stepfather-in-law, Putney Heath, SW London (VC17). #MothsMatter

@ruthnewby.bsky.social, I have a worn partial 2nd. gen Treble Brown Spot for your spreadsheet: 16 Oct 2025, Putney Heath, SW London (VC17).

I've collected a few Elm leaves with mines to check over. The leaf top-right looks interesting. Also a few potential Phyllonorycter pastorella mines on Weeping Willow. Putney Heath, SW London (VC17). #MothsMatter

50:25 overnight 13 Oct 2025, Putney Heath, SW London (VC17). Scobipalpa occellatella the highlight and (finally) new for me. Also of note, 13 Merveille du Jour. Also an Ephestia sp. and Agonopterix sp. to look at under the microscope. #MothsMatter

Ectoedemia quinquella on Oak, Putney Heath, SW London (VC17). #MothsMatter

Well, one loud bang and a blown out tyre on the M40 southbound. The tyre gunk didn't work, so we couldn't make it to the next junction, and at least an hour before recovery 😖

Any thoughts on this mine on Elm, Rob? Sadly, the larva had expired. Stigmella sp. @vc28wildlife.bsky.social #MothsMatter

I've just been asked if I'm a "Moth twitcher" by a member of the public asking about my leaf-mining activities. Needless to say, I denied the accusation 🙄😄

Mine update: The mine I collected on Friday has, overnight, formed a crease. Is it Phyllonorycter pastorella? Let's see how this progresses. Exciting! #MothsMatter

A plausible, vacated Phyllocnistis asiatica mine on Crack Willow, Cheadle, Staffs. I don't believe this can be confirmed without adult DNA, assuming the ID is correct. However, the mine fits the description in the British Leafminers Newsletter 43 (Nov. 2023). @vc28wildlife.bsky.social #MothsMatter

I went out looking for Phyllonorycter pastorella around Cheadle (VC39) today with no luck, apart from possibly on this leaf. There's no evidence of there being a mine on the upperside, just the beginnings of a tenanted blotch on the underside. I'm attempting to breed through. #MothsMatter

Smartphone shots of 2 of 5 Acleris schalleriana (Viburnum Tortrix), shaken from the Cheadle Towers (VC39) Viburnum this afternoon. #MothsMatter

Meanwhile, in a field near Cheadle Towers, Anthophila fabriciana (Nettle-tap) on the one-and-only nectar source available. #MothsMatter

Of recent Staffordshire (VC39) and wider West Midlands interest, a record of Aporophyla australis (Feathered Brindle). A predominantly coastal species of southern England and Wales, with no records of vagrants and dispersal further inland that I'm aware of. Quite remarkable. #MothsMatter

0:0 aka #Wogan overnight 9 Oct, Cheadle Towers (VC39). The trap wasn't switched on until 10.30 p.m., so I missed anything that may have been flying earlier. Still, another 2 nights to look forward to. #MothsMatter

A vacated mine on Grey Poplar of Stigmella assimilella or trimaculella? Assuming the genus is correct. I think the latter. What do people think? #MothsMatter

Found by my wife Angela, Notodonta ziczac (Pebble Prominent) on Populus x canescens (Grey Poplar), this afternoon 4 October 2025, Putney Heath, SW London (VC17). What a stunner! #MothsMatter #UKWildlife

A very smart-looking Conopid fly, Leopoldius calceatus graced my moth trap overnight 3 October, Putney Heath, SW London (VC17). #UKDiptera #UKWildlife

Smartphone shot of Antigastra catalaunalis overnight 3 October 2025, Putney Heath, SW London. One previous VC17 record from 2017 that I'm aware of. I seem to be on a run of presumed 2nd for VCs! #MothsMatter

Smartphone shot of Pungeleria capreolaria (Banded Pine Carpet) overnight 2 October 2025, Putney Heath, SW London (VC17). One previous record from 2020 that I'm aware of. #MothsMatter

Being a suckered for punishment! What looks like a Phyllocnistis mine on Aspen (I presume as it has a flattened leaf stem and is new growth after being chopped); however, it's just a likely to be non-Lepidoptera, I guess. Has any Phyllocnistis species been recorded on Aspen? #MothsMatter

An intriguing "green island" on Hornbeam, Putney Heath (VC17). Any thoughts out there? #MothsMatter

As a precursor to the next West Midlands Moths website update of all records to 2024, here's the associated number of accepted species per hectad for VC39 Staffordshire. westmidlandsmoths.co.uk #MothsMatter

Reposting from a year ago in case recorders have missed this important change to the British moth taxa. Unfortunately, changes such as this can take time to filter through to Field Guides and websites. #MothsMatter

Today for VC39 Staffordshire, we will pass 20,000 records in iRecord and 2,500 (research grade) records in iNaturalist for 2025 - the vast majority of which have already been verified and accepted. Many thanks! 👍 #MothsMatter

Firecrest are in fine voice all over @wpcc.bsky.social this morning. #UKBirding