Among the array of techniques employed by lepidopterists to find moths and their larvae is beating branches with a stick and catching what falls off on a tray. I went a-beating this morning for the first time this year, and with leaves well-on on most of the good moth foodplants, I was hopeful for a find or two in Clarendon Park and Glencairn Park. Using my net as a beating tray (and its detachable handle as a stick), I was able to find two larvae which I've taken home to rear. The likelihood is I'll only be able to find out exactly what they are if I can successfully get them to adulthood. Here goes!
Daytime Observation (Beating)
4 May 2013 | @ Clarendon Park & Glencairn Park HVC39 J3075
New Project 37A
Unidentified #266
In the woods of Clarendon Park, beside the Forth River, was this little grub on a hawthorn bush.
New Project 38A
Unidentified #267
A bigger fellow, knocked from hazel in Glencairn Park.
Both larvae are now feeding away at the leaves in their pot, hiding in spinnings in the typical Tortrix way.
Update on Project 31A
A few weeks ago, I'd given up hope on my Coxcomb Proninent pupa (which I collected as a larva from Murlough last summer) when I found green discoloration on it, and had left the pupa out in a planter. But after being washed in the rain it's actually still looking pretty healthy, so I put it in the jar of soil with the Brimstone Moth pupa.
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