Hibernating moths and rare insects November 2022

 On 30th November 2022 two friends and I visited several old German bunkers in Larvik municipality with the intention of registering how many moths were hibernating here this winter. We checked four of the most accessible ones and found a total of 60 Twenty-plume Moths (kaprifolfingermøll) Alucita hexadactyla, 3 Autumn Green Carpets (lys irrmåler) Chloroclysta miata, 7 Tissue Moths (kobbermåler) Triphosa dubitata, 2 Buttoned Snouts (humlenebbfly) Hypena rostralis and 4 Herald Moths (flikfly) Scoliopteryx libatrix in addition a Peacock butterfly (dagpåfugløye) Aglais io was also hibernating. The occupants of these bunkers also included many European Cave Spiders (kjelleredderkopp) Meta menardi that existed by catching various insects including Twenty-plume Moths and various species of woodlouse. However, for us the most exciting find was a rare diptera, Scoliocentra villosa and no less than 6 Diphyus quadripunctorius, a rare darwin wasp. Scoliocentra villosa has only been recorded twice earlier in Vestfold and is the 20th record for Norway. Diphyus quadripunctorius, has only been recorded seven times earlier in Vestfold and is the 61st record for Norway.   

Twenty-plume Moth (kaprifolfingermøll) Alucita hexadactyla

 

Autumn Green Carpet (lys irrmåler) Chloroclysta miata

Tissue Moth (kobbermåler) Triphosa dubitata

Tissue Moth (kobbermåler) Triphosa dubitata

Buttoned Snout (humlenebbfly) Hypena rostralis 

Buttoned Snout (humlenebbfly) Hypena rostralis 

Herald Moth (flikfly) Scoliopteryx libatrix

Herald Moth (flikfly) Scoliopteryx libatrix

Scoliocentra villosa

Scoliocentra villosa

Diphyus quadripunctorius

Diphyus quadripunctorius

European Stonechat at Borrevannet 10th November 2022

 An European Stonechat Saxicola rubicola had been reported from Borrevannet in Vestfold, Norway on 9th November and as this my local birding patch I decided to have a look for it next day. On arrival and not knowing exactly where it had been last seen I tried to contact the finder who unfortunately didn't answer his telephone. So, a rough guess was necessary, but it didn't take long before the stonechat was found low down in long grass, although at a very long distance and only a couple of documentation shots could be taken. The bird disappeared almost immediately but was found again while photographing Bohemian Waxwings in more suitable habitat almost an hour later - patience pays. A series of close images were secured before the bird suddenly flew off over the adjacent golf course and disappeared. The bird was obviously a male from its plumage colouration but from examination of the images it could be aged as a first-year bird.

European Stonechat Saxicola rubicola - Borrevannet, Vestfold, Norway 10/11-22

European Stonechat Saxicola rubicola - first year male, Vestfold, Norway 10/11-22

        

European Stonechat Saxicola rubicola - first year male, Borrevannet, Vestfold, Norway 10/11-22

European Stonechat Saxicola rubicola - first year male, Borrevannet, Vestfold, Norway 10/11-22

European Stonechat Saxicola rubicola - first year male, Borrevannet, Vestfold, Norway 10/11-22

European Stonechat Saxicola rubicola - first year male, Borrevannet, Vestfold, Norway 10/11-22

Oleander Hawkmoth in Vestfold, Norway 16th-17th October 2022

On 16th October 2022 a beautiful female Oleander Hawkmoth Daphnis nerii was found at Sandefjord, Vestfold in Norway. The observant finder found this rare hawkmoth in perfect condition in her garden and posted a photograph of it on the Norwegian Facebook group "Insekter" where it received enormous interest. The finder was contacted, and she agreed for several local very interested enthusiasts to see and photograph the hawkmoth on 17th October when these images were taken. Due to the rather cold weather at the time, it was clear that the hawkmoth would not survive in the outdoors and also at this late time of year, it couldn't be kept in captivity for any length of time. So, because of these factors and its rarity, it was agreed to donate it to the Oslo Natural History Museum collection.  The species has been recorded 4 times earlier in Norway although two records possibly relate to the same individual.

Earlier Norwegian records:

Homannsbyen, Oslo 15th September 1865 - Collected.

Oslo 26th August 2018 - Observation, photographically documented.

Lillestrøm, Viken 8th September 2019 - Observation, photographically documented.

Lillestrøm, Viken 8th September 2019 - Collected (possibly the same individual as the previous record).

Oleander Hawkmoth Daphnis nerii - Vestfold, Norway 17th October 2022

Oleander Hawkmoth Daphnis nerii - Vestfold, Norway 17th October 2022

Oleander Hawkmoth Daphnis nerii - Vestfold, Norway 17th October 2022

Oleander Hawkmoth Daphnis nerii - Vestfold, Norway 17th October 2022

Oleander Hawkmoth Daphnis nerii - Vestfold, Norway 17th October 2022

Oleander Hawkmoth Daphnis nerii - Vestfold, Norway 17th October 2022

Oleander Hawkmoth Daphnis nerii - Vestfold, Norway 17th October 2022

Butterflies & diurnal moths during May & June 2022

As it may be appreciated by the number of insect posts in 2021, bird photography had a lower priority than normal this year. In addition, it was also a very poor year locally for butterflies and several planned longer trips to look for rare species were cancelled due to non favourable weather. However some local butterflies and many moths were found and photographed and a selection of these are presented here. 

Six-spot Burnet Moth (Seksflekket bloddråpesvermer) Zygaena filipendulae - Horten, Vestfold 11th July 2022

Six-spot Burnet Moth (Seksflekket bloddråpesvermer) Zygaena filipendulae - Horten, Vestfold 14th July 2022

Broad-bordered Bee Hawkmoth (Bredkantet humlesvermer) Hemaris fuciformis - Falkensten, Horten, Vestfold 6th June 2022

Hummingbird Hawkmoth (Dagsvermer) Macroglossum stellatarum - Grønlia, Horten Vestfold 16th September 2022

Grizzled Skipper (Bakkesmyger) Pyrgus malvae - Skoger, Vestfold 12th May 2022

Grizzled Skipper (Bakkesmyger) Pyrgus malvae - Skoger, Vestfold 20th May 2022

Large Skipper (Engsmyger) Ochlodes sylvanus male - Falkensten, Horten, Vestfold 6th June 2022

Large Skipper (Engsmyger) Ochlodes sylvanus male - Falkensten, Horten, Vestfold 6th June 2022

Orange-tip (Aurorasommerfugl) Anthocharis cardamines male - Falkensten, Horten, Vestfold 3rd May 2022

Brimstone (Sitronsommerfugl) Gonepteryx rhamni male - Falkensten, Horten, Vestfold 12th August 2022

Small Blue (Dvergblåvinge) Cupido minimus pair - Bjørkeøye, Holmestrand, Vestfold 5th June 2022

Holly Blue (Vårblåvinge) Celastrina argiolus female - Horten, Vestfold 15th May 2022 

Holly Blue (Vårblåvinge) Celastrina argiolus male underside - Skoger, Vestfold 12th May 2022

Scarce Copper (Oransjegullvinge) Lycaena virgaureae female - Horten, Vestfold 12th August 2022

Scarce Copper (Oransjegullvinge) Lycaena virgaureae female underside - Horten, Vestfold 12 August 2022

Green Hairstreak (Grønnstjertvinge) Callophrys rubi - Horten, Vestfold 1st May 2022

White-letter Hairstreak (Almestjertvinge) Satyrium w-album - Horten, Vestfold 5th July 2022

Purple Hairstreak (Eikestjertvinge) Favonius quercus female - Horten, Vestfold 28th July 2022

Purple Hairstreak (Eikestjertvinge) Favonius quercus female - Borrevannet, Vestfold 9th July 2022

Queen of Spain Fritillary (Sølvkåpe) Issoria lathonia - Horten, Vestfold 6th September 2022

Queen of Spain Fritillary (Sølvkåpe) Issoria lathonia - Grønlia, Horten, Vestfold 1st August 2022

Cranberry Fritillary (Myrperlemorvinge) Boleria aquilonaris - Damtjernet, Vestfold 23rd June 2022 

Camberwell Beauty (Sørgekåpe) Nymphalis antiopa - Trollsvannet, Vestfold 2nd May 2022

Camberwell Beauty (Sørgekåpe) Nymphalis antiopa - Skoger, Vestfold 12th May 2022

False Heath (Mørk rutevinge) Melitaea diamina - Damtjernet, Vestfold 23rd June 2022

False Heath (Mørk rutevinge) Melitaea diamina - Damtjernet, Vestfold 23rd June 2022

Northern Wall Brown (Bergringvinge) Lasiommata petropolitana male - Skoger, Vestfold 20th May 2022

Northern Wall Brown (Bergringvinge) Lasiommata petropolitana male - Skoger, Vestfold 20th May 2022

Cinnabar Moth (Karminspinner) Tyria jacobaeae - Skoger, Vestfold 12th May 2022