David Cousins
@dcousins85.bsky.social
Pan-lister based in West Essex and part of the Essex Lepidoptera ID Panel. Enthusiastic about any and all forms of natural history, but particularly micro-moths. Coleophoridae are the best of all Lepidoptera.
I gendetted the 2nd Jersey Mocha for Essex last year (caught by @jonnywhu.bsky.social), and such has been their increase this year in the county (I know of at least 5 others) I now have caught one myself last night in the garden (in fact, likely 2!). Also some fresh autumn favourites. #teammoth
September 20, 2025 at 12:05 PM
I gendetted the 2nd Jersey Mocha for Essex last year (caught by @jonnywhu.bsky.social), and such has been their increase this year in the county (I know of at least 5 others) I now have caught one myself last night in the garden (in fact, likely 2!). Also some fresh autumn favourites. #teammoth
A lifer for me in the garden the night before last with a very unexpected Heath Rustic. Must be a migrant of sorts because I am a fair distance from any heathland. #teammoth
September 19, 2025 at 7:44 AM
A lifer for me in the garden the night before last with a very unexpected Heath Rustic. Must be a migrant of sorts because I am a fair distance from any heathland. #teammoth
Sorry to reply to an old post but accidentally found this larva when looking at leafmines on Hawthorn. The closest match on Bladmineerders appears to be an Ash Whitefly larva, does that look right to you or are there other contenders? Thanks!
September 13, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Sorry to reply to an old post but accidentally found this larva when looking at leafmines on Hawthorn. The closest match on Bladmineerders appears to be an Ash Whitefly larva, does that look right to you or are there other contenders? Thanks!
One of the best things about moth trapping in your garden is the bycatch. Last night I had a real surprise when this small ladybird appeared. I didn’t recognise it but it’s seemingly Oenopia conglobata which has only been recorded a handful of times in Britain and not previously in Essex. 🐞
August 28, 2025 at 11:25 AM
One of the best things about moth trapping in your garden is the bycatch. Last night I had a real surprise when this small ladybird appeared. I didn’t recognise it but it’s seemingly Oenopia conglobata which has only been recorded a handful of times in Britain and not previously in Essex. 🐞
Back from my French holiday and delighted that the Cisticola (+family!) was still on site at Walberswick. Went over early this morning with my eldest and we both had good views (but too far for my photography skills). Also a nice selection of seaside plants - Sea Pea being a new one for me.
August 25, 2025 at 11:08 AM
Back from my French holiday and delighted that the Cisticola (+family!) was still on site at Walberswick. Went over early this morning with my eldest and we both had good views (but too far for my photography skills). Also a nice selection of seaside plants - Sea Pea being a new one for me.
Wax on, Wax off 🥋
(Closest I could get them to sit next to each other! Both caught in my garden earlier this week).
(Closest I could get them to sit next to each other! Both caught in my garden earlier this week).
August 9, 2025 at 10:39 PM
Wax on, Wax off 🥋
(Closest I could get them to sit next to each other! Both caught in my garden earlier this week).
(Closest I could get them to sit next to each other! Both caught in my garden earlier this week).
Some decent stuff to light too though! It really is a superb place for variety of moths and nature of all kinds! 2/2
July 18, 2025 at 6:01 AM
Some decent stuff to light too though! It really is a superb place for variety of moths and nature of all kinds! 2/2
Some excellent mothing in the New Forest over the weekend with @wjrpb.bsky.social . The scarcest micros were found while sweeping the boggy areas and all lifers for me. IDs in Alt text. 1/2
July 18, 2025 at 5:57 AM
Some excellent mothing in the New Forest over the weekend with @wjrpb.bsky.social . The scarcest micros were found while sweeping the boggy areas and all lifers for me. IDs in Alt text. 1/2
Some quality garden additions over the last few days taking me to 605 in 2 years and about 3 months. Both Ethmia dodecea and Eudemis porphyrana very scarce in Essex with less than 12 records of each. #teammoth
June 30, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Some quality garden additions over the last few days taking me to 605 in 2 years and about 3 months. Both Ethmia dodecea and Eudemis porphyrana very scarce in Essex with less than 12 records of each. #teammoth
Some cracking Coleophora from the Brecks last week with @wjrpb.bsky.social
Coleophora pennella, a Vipers Bugloss feeder and Coleophora albicosta, a gorse feeder. #teammoth
Coleophora pennella, a Vipers Bugloss feeder and Coleophora albicosta, a gorse feeder. #teammoth
June 4, 2025 at 8:21 AM
Some cracking Coleophora from the Brecks last week with @wjrpb.bsky.social
Coleophora pennella, a Vipers Bugloss feeder and Coleophora albicosta, a gorse feeder. #teammoth
Coleophora pennella, a Vipers Bugloss feeder and Coleophora albicosta, a gorse feeder. #teammoth
Snap! My wife brought in some leaves yesterday to feed some oak-feeding tortrixes we have been rearing and this was on one of them. Wacky indeed!
May 9, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Snap! My wife brought in some leaves yesterday to feed some oak-feeding tortrixes we have been rearing and this was on one of them. Wacky indeed!
A bug-filled day on Sunday in a sandy Breckland field with 12 species noted across about 50m of ground. Plenty new for me and lots associated with the plentiful Stork’s-bill on site. Pics of the more notable species with IDs in Alt text.With @wjrpb.bsky.social 1/2
May 6, 2025 at 8:00 AM
A bug-filled day on Sunday in a sandy Breckland field with 12 species noted across about 50m of ground. Plenty new for me and lots associated with the plentiful Stork’s-bill on site. Pics of the more notable species with IDs in Alt text.With @wjrpb.bsky.social 1/2
Some nice beetles from Saturday night’s moth trapping with @wjrpb.bsky.social at Bayfordbury Pinetum. A brilliant site that I’m looking forward to visiting again.
April 15, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Some nice beetles from Saturday night’s moth trapping with @wjrpb.bsky.social at Bayfordbury Pinetum. A brilliant site that I’m looking forward to visiting again.
Later we lit up for some brilliant Spring mothing, achieving our target of seeing both of the Tooth-striped pair. Also a micro that caused some head-scratching for a while - Amphisbatis incongruella (Obscure Concealer) #teammoth
March 23, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Later we lit up for some brilliant Spring mothing, achieving our target of seeing both of the Tooth-striped pair. Also a micro that caused some head-scratching for a while - Amphisbatis incongruella (Obscure Concealer) #teammoth
A superb afternoon and evening in the Brecks yesterday. Thanks to @wjrpb.bsky.social for helping me to locate 2 of the rare Veronica. Breckland Speedwell seen but not in flower but Fingered Speedwell a nice way to bring up 3000 for my panlist.
March 23, 2025 at 1:06 PM
A superb afternoon and evening in the Brecks yesterday. Thanks to @wjrpb.bsky.social for helping me to locate 2 of the rare Veronica. Breckland Speedwell seen but not in flower but Fingered Speedwell a nice way to bring up 3000 for my panlist.
Had a lovely walk yesterday afternoon with my boys and took our new pond-dipping kit to the chalk stream along the Flirch Way. Netted loads of Freshwater Shrimp which the boys were fascinated by (as was I!) Some nice fungi too - Scarlet Elfcups, Warlock’s Butter and Alder Goblet.
March 9, 2025 at 7:36 AM
Had a lovely walk yesterday afternoon with my boys and took our new pond-dipping kit to the chalk stream along the Flirch Way. Netted loads of Freshwater Shrimp which the boys were fascinated by (as was I!) Some nice fungi too - Scarlet Elfcups, Warlock’s Butter and Alder Goblet.
Finally some moths last night in VC19. 2 x Dotted Border, 3 x Pale Brindled Beauty, March Moth, 4 x T. alternella & A ferrugana/notana. #teammoth
February 21, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Finally some moths last night in VC19. 2 x Dotted Border, 3 x Pale Brindled Beauty, March Moth, 4 x T. alternella & A ferrugana/notana. #teammoth
Shieldbug year list up to 3 with both a Parent Bug and a Birch Shieldbug found while sieving leaf litter. Haven’t caught anything at all mothy for 2 weeks now but did find a larva mooching about the patio next to the trap. I think it’s a Straw Underwing (but I find caterpillars difficult!)
February 5, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Shieldbug year list up to 3 with both a Parent Bug and a Birch Shieldbug found while sieving leaf litter. Haven’t caught anything at all mothy for 2 weeks now but did find a larva mooching about the patio next to the trap. I think it’s a Straw Underwing (but I find caterpillars difficult!)
Popped out yesterday for a walk in the woods and added my first shieldbug of 2025 - a not green Green Shieldbug. Also a new spider for me - Drapetisca socialis sitting low down on a Hornbeam trunk. A sweep of Pendulous Sedge was pretty fruitless but I did coax a Cymus glandicolor into the net.
January 26, 2025 at 11:39 PM
Popped out yesterday for a walk in the woods and added my first shieldbug of 2025 - a not green Green Shieldbug. Also a new spider for me - Drapetisca socialis sitting low down on a Hornbeam trunk. A sweep of Pendulous Sedge was pretty fruitless but I did coax a Cymus glandicolor into the net.
Brilliant day in Cornwall today with @roncousins.bsky.social Both of us groaned when the report came through that it was up and flying about at 9, as we were still 1/2 hour away. As we got to Crowlas we saw a load of birders in the lay-by getting excited and we pulled in quick… What a bird.
January 18, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Brilliant day in Cornwall today with @roncousins.bsky.social Both of us groaned when the report came through that it was up and flying about at 9, as we were still 1/2 hour away. As we got to Crowlas we saw a load of birders in the lay-by getting excited and we pulled in quick… What a bird.
Garden year list up to 5 (all macros) thanks to a milder night on Tuesday here in Essex. I thought Mottled Umber may have to wait until the autumn but pleased to catch a late flyer. Pale Brindled Beauty normally a mid January moth for me and this year no exception. Subtly beautiful #teammoth
January 17, 2025 at 8:31 AM
Garden year list up to 5 (all macros) thanks to a milder night on Tuesday here in Essex. I thought Mottled Umber may have to wait until the autumn but pleased to catch a late flyer. Pale Brindled Beauty normally a mid January moth for me and this year no exception. Subtly beautiful #teammoth
I was very surprised to find this Grey Shoulder-knot flying around my kitchen yesterday morning! It must have come in on one of the warmer nights before this cold snap and had been hiding for a few days before we disturbed it. Moth year list up to 2 after a New Year’s Day Winter Moth. #teammoth
January 4, 2025 at 6:15 PM
I was very surprised to find this Grey Shoulder-knot flying around my kitchen yesterday morning! It must have come in on one of the warmer nights before this cold snap and had been hiding for a few days before we disturbed it. Moth year list up to 2 after a New Year’s Day Winter Moth. #teammoth
That covers the groups I’ve added most to this year. I have added across lots of other groups but I’ve found Arachnids and Hymenoptera more difficult, and Lichens and Bryophytes even more so! Lots to keep me interested though as we enter 2025. Happy New Year!
December 31, 2024 at 10:34 PM
That covers the groups I’ve added most to this year. I have added across lots of other groups but I’ve found Arachnids and Hymenoptera more difficult, and Lichens and Bryophytes even more so! Lots to keep me interested though as we enter 2025. Happy New Year!
But my new favourite group outside of Lepidoptera has to go to Hemiptera, up from 22 to 111. Aphids and psocids I haven’t properly got to grips with yet but Heteroptera are great and tend to be easy enough to target, and hoppers, though usually small, are great!
December 31, 2024 at 10:34 PM
But my new favourite group outside of Lepidoptera has to go to Hemiptera, up from 22 to 111. Aphids and psocids I haven’t properly got to grips with yet but Heteroptera are great and tend to be easy enough to target, and hoppers, though usually small, are great!