Dave Wheatley
@wheatersdave.bsky.social
Moths, occasionally birds. Still a grumpy dad, still hoping to mellow with age
40/14 last night in misty then cloudy + mild conditions in SE Hants. Small Brindled Beauty was a hoped for NFG, largely absent in SE Hants. NFYs Hebrew Character, Red-green Carpet, Oak Nycteoline and 3x Acleris literana including a mini Merv variety. A dead A. notana/ferrugana will be 🔪 #teammoth
February 11, 2026 at 11:03 AM
40/14 last night in misty then cloudy + mild conditions in SE Hants. Small Brindled Beauty was a hoped for NFG, largely absent in SE Hants. NFYs Hebrew Character, Red-green Carpet, Oak Nycteoline and 3x Acleris literana including a mini Merv variety. A dead A. notana/ferrugana will be 🔪 #teammoth
I needn’t have worried, Oak Nycteoline and Red-Green Carpet NFY. Spring Usher, Common Quaker and Chestnut also present. Weather conditions are now cloudy with no mist. Hopefully a few more species in the morning 🤞🏻 #teammoth
February 10, 2026 at 10:33 PM
I needn’t have worried, Oak Nycteoline and Red-Green Carpet NFY. Spring Usher, Common Quaker and Chestnut also present. Weather conditions are now cloudy with no mist. Hopefully a few more species in the morning 🤞🏻 #teammoth
A rabbit hole to dive down, could be useful for moth trappers? #teammoth
If you live in Great Britain or are just visiting, type in the places you are going to, and find extraordinary trees to view
Searchable by species, location & age
ati.woodlandtrust.org.uk/tree-search/...
Searchable by species, location & age
ati.woodlandtrust.org.uk/tree-search/...
February 10, 2026 at 11:37 AM
A rabbit hole to dive down, could be useful for moth trappers? #teammoth
24/5 last night in SE Hants. Colder but less wet than forecast conditions probably cut moth numbers, as did heavy showers late afternoon/early evening. Nothing new but 6 Dotted Border was a garden record and double the previous best, for what is an uncommon moth for me #teammoth
February 9, 2026 at 8:29 AM
24/5 last night in SE Hants. Colder but less wet than forecast conditions probably cut moth numbers, as did heavy showers late afternoon/early evening. Nothing new but 6 Dotted Border was a garden record and double the previous best, for what is an uncommon moth for me #teammoth
Nice to get the trap out, only light rain last night. 42/8 was a decent return in SE Hants. 30 T. alternella was the most common, Dotted Border was NFY. 2 Common Quaker is the vanguard of the hordes to follow #teammoth
February 7, 2026 at 8:37 AM
Nice to get the trap out, only light rain last night. 42/8 was a decent return in SE Hants. 30 T. alternella was the most common, Dotted Border was NFY. 2 Common Quaker is the vanguard of the hordes to follow #teammoth
I know a lot of you do portable moth trapping and use sheets whilst you’re out and about. How do you hang the sheet, is it from a branch or do you have a frame that you use? If it’s a frame what one do you use? #teammoth
February 3, 2026 at 8:24 PM
I know a lot of you do portable moth trapping and use sheets whilst you’re out and about. How do you hang the sheet, is it from a branch or do you have a frame that you use? If it’s a frame what one do you use? #teammoth
The Mad Hatterpillar 🤣
Sounds daft, is actually true and there’s a good survival reason for them doing so #teammoth
www.livescience.com/animals/moth...
Sounds daft, is actually true and there’s a good survival reason for them doing so #teammoth
www.livescience.com/animals/moth...
Gum leaf skeletonizer: The venomous 'Mad Hatterpillar' that wears its old heads like a crown
Rather than throw its old head cases away, the gum leaf skeletonizer wears them like a hat to protect itself from predators.
www.livescience.com
February 3, 2026 at 11:56 AM
The Mad Hatterpillar 🤣
Sounds daft, is actually true and there’s a good survival reason for them doing so #teammoth
www.livescience.com/animals/moth...
Sounds daft, is actually true and there’s a good survival reason for them doing so #teammoth
www.livescience.com/animals/moth...
Last nights trap in SE Hants yielded 14/4. 8x T. alternella, 3x Chestnut, 2x Spring Usher and 1x NFY A. logiana. As that was the last trap this month, January moth challenge was 7 traps, 43 Moths, 13 species split 8/5 macros/micros #teammoth
January 31, 2026 at 6:48 PM
Last nights trap in SE Hants yielded 14/4. 8x T. alternella, 3x Chestnut, 2x Spring Usher and 1x NFY A. logiana. As that was the last trap this month, January moth challenge was 7 traps, 43 Moths, 13 species split 8/5 macros/micros #teammoth
Highland coo moth #mothfacefriday #teammoth
January 30, 2026 at 6:48 PM
Highland coo moth #mothfacefriday #teammoth
Reposted by Dave Wheatley
Tears of joy! SCOTLAND HAS JUST PASSED SWIFT BRICKS INTO LAW unanimously!
4 years of asking England & Scotland sorts it in a month led by ACE MARK RUSKELL MSP ♥️The RELIEF is unreal! Tell England to follow 🏴by emailing PlanningPolicyConsultation@communities.gov.uk now!WOOP!
4 years of asking England & Scotland sorts it in a month led by ACE MARK RUSKELL MSP ♥️The RELIEF is unreal! Tell England to follow 🏴by emailing PlanningPolicyConsultation@communities.gov.uk now!WOOP!
January 27, 2026 at 9:26 PM
Tears of joy! SCOTLAND HAS JUST PASSED SWIFT BRICKS INTO LAW unanimously!
4 years of asking England & Scotland sorts it in a month led by ACE MARK RUSKELL MSP ♥️The RELIEF is unreal! Tell England to follow 🏴by emailing PlanningPolicyConsultation@communities.gov.uk now!WOOP!
4 years of asking England & Scotland sorts it in a month led by ACE MARK RUSKELL MSP ♥️The RELIEF is unreal! Tell England to follow 🏴by emailing PlanningPolicyConsultation@communities.gov.uk now!WOOP!
That Killdeer is a little smasher and well worth the trip, though the light wasn’t that good especially when phonescoping through a zoom lens. That’s my yearly twitch done very early in 2026 #hantsbirds
January 26, 2026 at 2:26 PM
That Killdeer is a little smasher and well worth the trip, though the light wasn’t that good especially when phonescoping through a zoom lens. That’s my yearly twitch done very early in 2026 #hantsbirds
1/1 in SE Hants, T. alternella. Wogan avoided. Future weather forecasts do not look promising, trapping chances look few and far between #teammoth
January 24, 2026 at 9:42 AM
1/1 in SE Hants, T. alternella. Wogan avoided. Future weather forecasts do not look promising, trapping chances look few and far between #teammoth
0/0 nada, zip, zilch, zero, sweet FA. My annual dance with the ☘️ entertainer, unless there’s is a lurker in the garden. Also the end of the January moth challenge unless there’s a serious upturn in the weather conditions. #teammoth
January 22, 2026 at 8:00 AM
0/0 nada, zip, zilch, zero, sweet FA. My annual dance with the ☘️ entertainer, unless there’s is a lurker in the garden. Also the end of the January moth challenge unless there’s a serious upturn in the weather conditions. #teammoth
Trap is out, but I am less than hopeful of catching anything. The weather for the next week looks awful temperature wise, so maybe the last one in January ☹️ #teammoth
January 21, 2026 at 5:13 PM
Trap is out, but I am less than hopeful of catching anything. The weather for the next week looks awful temperature wise, so maybe the last one in January ☹️ #teammoth
Couldn’t resist this, and the wife thoroughly agrees with the wordage. Abitofbanter on Etsy if you want a similar one, other options I believe are available #teammoth
January 20, 2026 at 1:33 PM
Couldn’t resist this, and the wife thoroughly agrees with the wordage. Abitofbanter on Etsy if you want a similar one, other options I believe are available #teammoth
12/6 overnight in SE Hants, conditions were cool and cloudy. Mottled Umber, Common Quaker and A. notana/ferrugana were all NFY. Seven T. alternella was the most numerous moth in the trap. The Common Quaker isn’t uncommon in January, my earliest was 05/01/24 #teammoth
January 19, 2026 at 2:21 PM
12/6 overnight in SE Hants, conditions were cool and cloudy. Mottled Umber, Common Quaker and A. notana/ferrugana were all NFY. Seven T. alternella was the most numerous moth in the trap. The Common Quaker isn’t uncommon in January, my earliest was 05/01/24 #teammoth
Very surprised to get any moths this morning in SE Hants given the conditions. 6/3 with 4 Chestnut, 1 Ypsolopha ustella and an early Oak Beauty 🤩. All 3 species were NFY and the Oak Beauty was the earliest record by 15 days. Also a rather cranky female Minotaur Beetle #teammoth
January 17, 2026 at 8:27 AM
Very surprised to get any moths this morning in SE Hants given the conditions. 6/3 with 4 Chestnut, 1 Ypsolopha ustella and an early Oak Beauty 🤩. All 3 species were NFY and the Oak Beauty was the earliest record by 15 days. Also a rather cranky female Minotaur Beetle #teammoth
Not a garden tick but the best shot I’ve had of one. Vindicates the work and non chemical approach I’ve taken to the garden #hantsbirds
January 16, 2026 at 12:34 PM
Not a garden tick but the best shot I’ve had of one. Vindicates the work and non chemical approach I’ve taken to the garden #hantsbirds
Be honest, how many of you would’ve actually gone looking for the moth rather than obeying this sign? Found during a photo clear out. Also White-shouldered House-moth added to the year list, always watching….. #teammoth
January 14, 2026 at 3:09 PM
Be honest, how many of you would’ve actually gone looking for the moth rather than obeying this sign? Found during a photo clear out. Also White-shouldered House-moth added to the year list, always watching….. #teammoth
A quick check of the garden after the dog walk in the rain, gave final totals of 5/4 in SE Hants. Pale Brindled Beauty, Satellite, T. alternella and 2 Winter Moth. Happy with that lot, but short term the weather looks pants for trapping #teammoth
January 13, 2026 at 10:00 AM
A quick check of the garden after the dog walk in the rain, gave final totals of 5/4 in SE Hants. Pale Brindled Beauty, Satellite, T. alternella and 2 Winter Moth. Happy with that lot, but short term the weather looks pants for trapping #teammoth
Well the rain has finally stopped after 3 hours of the trap being out, it’s quite mild for mid January (I can’t see my breath), though there are zero moths. I hear the sound of an Irish voice in the distance #teammoth
January 11, 2026 at 8:09 PM
Well the rain has finally stopped after 3 hours of the trap being out, it’s quite mild for mid January (I can’t see my breath), though there are zero moths. I hear the sound of an Irish voice in the distance #teammoth