Josh Boe
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entomolojosh.bsky.social
Josh Boe
@entomolojosh.bsky.social
220 followers 60 following 73 posts
3rd Zoology with Entomology student at Harper Adams University.
Placement Student Assistant Curator of Entomology at Liverpool World Musuem.
Moth Enthusiast.
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entomolojosh.bsky.social
26th: NFY Cyclamen Tortrix, NFY Common Gorse Moth, NFY Yellow-tail, NFY Large Longhorn, NFY Angle Shades, NFR Dark-barred Tortrix, NFY Waved Umber
27th: NFR Caloptilia sp., NFR White-spot Mompha, NFY Pebble Prominent, NFY Pale Tussock, NFY Maiden's Blush, NFR Common Marbled Straw
#entomology #moths
NFY Large Longhorn (Nematopogon swammerdamella) netted, Lymm 26/04/2025 NFR Dark-barred Tortrix (Syndemis musculana) to light, Spud Wood 26/04/2025 NFY Maiden's Blush (Cyclophora punctaria) to light, Spud Wood 27/04/2025 NFR Common Marbled Straw (Aethes smeathmanniana) to light, Spud Wood 27/04/2025
April 28, 2025 at 8:54 AM
entomolojosh.bsky.social
#Moth hi'lights from past week:
22nd: NFY LBAM indoors, NFY Lime Hawk-moth on fence
23rd: NFY Water Carpet netted, NFR Garden Stilt swept from Lilac
25th: NFR Common Cloaked Tortrix larva, NFY Common Emerald larva, NFR Feathered Cutter indoors, NFR Oak-tree Pug to light, NFY Golden-rod Pug to light
NFY Lime Hawk-moth (Mimas tiliae) found on rest on fence post, Lymm 22/04/2025 NFR possible Common Cloaked Tortrix (Gypsonoma dealbana) larva found in folded leaf on Salix caprea, Spud Wood 25/04/2025 NFY possible Common Emerald larva (Hemithea aestivaria) found on garden Prunus, Lymm 25/04/2025 NFR Feathered Cutter (Incurvaria masculella) found indoors, Lymm 25/04/2025
April 28, 2025 at 8:54 AM
entomolojosh.bsky.social
Who needs a fun new woodland #moth when you have an NFY White-shouldered House Moth?
April 20, 2025 at 8:43 PM
entomolojosh.bsky.social
Past few days given some nice NFY #moths; on Formby Beach we found a Garden Tiger #caterpillar and a few Ruby Tiger adults, and a #MothTrap last night gave a Lunar Marbled Brown and a Muslin #Moth. Maybe tonight's trap in the woods will add to the list?
#entomology #insects #mothsmatter #teammoth
NFY Garden Tiger (Arctia caja) caterpillar on Formby Beach, 17/04 NFY Ruby Tiger (Phragmatobia fuliginosa) on Formby Beach, 17/04 NFY Lunar Marbled Brown (Drymonia ruficornis) in Lymm, 18/04 NFY Muslin Moth (Diaphoria mendica) in Lymm, 18/04
April 20, 2025 at 7:04 PM
entomolojosh.bsky.social
Nice to see my first Sulphur Bark #Moths of the year while in #vc13 for a couple days!
#entomology #insects #mothsmatter #teammoth
April 10, 2025 at 12:09 PM
entomolojosh.bsky.social
To anyone who knows about #Neuroptera: I reared this #lacewing from a cocoon I found under a log. I've used Plant's key to get to #Wesmaelius and then saw it was a gen det job. Firstly, am I looking at the anal plates of the female, and if so is it W. subnebulosus? Thanks!
#entomology #insects
Nearly emerged adult ? Female anal plates
April 8, 2025 at 5:34 PM
entomolojosh.bsky.social
Had a great walk around Macclesfield Forest today. Brought out the EMP lure & despite being incredibly windy, had 3 Emperor #Moths to it within 5 mins. NFY, & truly amazing species I'd happily see every day. A new favourite of my girlfriend, as well.
#entomology #insects #mothsmatter #teammoth #vc58
April 5, 2025 at 8:10 PM
entomolojosh.bsky.social
Another nice #MothTrap in the woods last night; 23/8 with 1 NFY from Brindled Pugs, as well as my first ichneumonid of the year to light (Ophion ?luteus), and quite a few Engrailed which I'm growing fond of because of their amazing camouflage!
#entomology #insects #moths #mothsmatter #teammoth #vc58
NFY: Brindled Pug (Eupithecia abbreviata), typical form NFY: Brindled Pug (Eupithecia abbreivata), slightly melanic Ophion ?luteus - specimen retained and to be examined There are two Engrailed (Ectropis crepuscularia) in this image - see if you can spot them!
April 4, 2025 at 8:27 AM
entomolojosh.bsky.social
This week has been great for #moths! Monday in the woods gave NFY Common Spring Jewels, a #MothTrap in the garden had 28/7 with NFY Early Thorn & NFR Early Oak Gall Moth. The small meadow at World Museum also had NFY Common Carpet the next day!
#entomology #insects #moths #mothsmatter #teammoth
NFY: Common Spring Jewel (Dyseriocrania subpurpurella), Spud Wood 31.03.2025 NFY: Early Thorn (Selenia dentaria), Lymm 31.03.2025 NFR: Early Oak Gall Moth (Pammene giganteana), Lymm 31.03.2025 NFY: Common Carpet (Epirrhoe alternata alternata), World Museum Meadow 01.04.2025
April 3, 2025 at 8:13 PM
entomolojosh.bsky.social
Amazing #MothTrap last night! 12/8, 3 NFYs; Common Plume, Engrailed (great camouflage!), & Small Quaker + an absolutely beautiful NFR Oak Beauty (a wishlist species!). Weather looking good again tonight, so might as well put another one out!
#entomology #insects #moths #mothsmatter #teammoth #vc58
NFY: Common Plume (Emmelina monodactlya) [I barely saw this in amongst all those tiny roots!] NFY: Engrailed (Ectropis crepuscularia) [Spot the moth! The camouflage on this is amazing!] NFY: Small Quaker (Orthosia cruda) NFR and wishlist species: Oak Beauty (Biston strataria) [I gasped very loudly when I saw this on an eggbox! Super happy to finally have one!]
March 9, 2025 at 4:39 PM
entomolojosh.bsky.social
I've just discovered this Double-striped Pug, presumably from the trap, several hours later! Another NFY
#entomology #insects #moths #mothsmatter #teammoth #vc58
March 8, 2025 at 12:33 PM
entomolojosh.bsky.social
#Moth season is starting to commence - 9/4 in last night's #MothTrap with 2 NFYs; Clouded Drab and some Common Quakers. The weekend looks to be decent conditions, so I'll hopefully be seeing some more #moths!
#entomology #insects #mothsmatter #teammoth #vc58
Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi) Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi) Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi) Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta)
March 8, 2025 at 8:52 AM
entomolojosh.bsky.social
A decent #MothTrap catch given the sub-zero temperatures last night; 3 #moths of 3 #species - an NFY Satellite, NFY Grey Shoulder-knot, and another Tawny Oak/Birch Tortrix agg.

Temps a bit warmer tonight so I'll have another go!
#entomology #insects #mothsmatter #teammoth #vc58
NFY: Satellite (Eupsilia transvera) NFY: Grey Shoulder-knot (Lithophane ornitopus) Tawny Oak/Birch Tortrix agg. (Acleris ferrugana/notana agg.)
March 2, 2025 at 5:46 PM
entomolojosh.bsky.social
The premiere for Conservation: the Next Generation (@amykingwild.bsky.social @myabambrick.bsky.social) is open for booking for 22nd Feb 5-7pm! If you can't make it to that, there's also a premiere on YouTube at the same time: youtu.be/b0CPY7IZ4VA
February 14, 2025 at 12:52 PM
entomolojosh.bsky.social
Tonight I tried to run my 1st MV #MothTrap, but I was unsuccessful as I didn't know the inverter wouldn't handle the power surge to get the bulb going. Everything still works, just need a bigger inverter. Furthermore, I brought my actinic w/ me just in case and got this NFY March Moth straight away!
January 31, 2025 at 8:18 PM
entomolojosh.bsky.social
I am part of an upcoming documentary called Conservation: The Next Generation (made by @amykingwild.bsky.social and @myabambrick.bsky.social ), and the trailer for it will be launched this Friday, so look out for that!
(And, that's my moth on the poster!)
January 29, 2025 at 6:49 PM
entomolojosh.bsky.social
This is my moth bookshelf at the moment. There's more moth books down south, this is just a small selection while I'm living in Lymm for my work placement. I think I have one, maybe two bird books 😆😆
January 25, 2025 at 4:08 PM
entomolojosh.bsky.social
Had an amazing workshop with John Girdley on #Moth dissection! Taught the whole process from specimen prep, dissection, and making slides! I even dissected and IDed my own specimen, which I now know to be a Saltern Ear. Had so much fun, and learned lots!
#entomology #insects #moths #mothsmatter
One of John's Mottled Willow (of some kind) specimens from Spain. I can't remember the exact species, but this is the female genitalia Another of John's Spanish specimens. This one is the male genitalia of Scarce Bordered Straw (Helicoverpa armigera) This is my own specimen - what I now know to be the male genitalia of a Saltern Ear (Amphipoea fucosa)
January 24, 2025 at 4:16 PM
entomolojosh.bsky.social
One of my New Year resolutions is to draw a random #moth from my collection each day. I'm doing this because I want to take time to appreciate the beauty of each #species, learn its ID characteristics & #ecology, & to connect with #nature just for 10 minutes a day. Not aiming for masterpieces.
Miller (Acronicta leporina) A common moth that is found widely across the UK in a variety of habitats. It flies from late-May to early-August, and feeds in Birches, Alder, Willow, Aspen, Poplar, and Oaks.
January 2, 2025 at 5:22 PM
entomolojosh.bsky.social
who have shared their own knowledge with me. Here's to 2025 being a lot better for everyone, and for nature.

Now please enjoy this #Mothsaic of (almost) every #moth I recorded in 2024.

(8/8)
Mothsaic (moth mosaic) of almost every moth I recorded over 2024.
December 29, 2024 at 2:32 PM
entomolojosh.bsky.social
Missed out: Light Crimson Underwing
Still trying to find: Clifden Nonpareil
Best overall: Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet

Overall, it's been an okay year in terms of numbers, but again I don't think that's because moths have had a good year There's so many relatively common species that I (6/8)
Missed out from 2023: Light Crimson Underwing (Catocala promissa) [Oving, 28/07/2023] Still trying to find: Clifden Nonpareil (Catocala fraxini) [Artist's rendition] Best overall moth of 2024: Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet (Zygaena lonicerae latomarginata) [Meadowbeck Shepherd's Hut, 15/07/2024]
December 29, 2024 at 2:32 PM
entomolojosh.bsky.social
Best new macro: Peach Blossom
Best new micro: White Plume Moth
Best surprise: Red-necked Footman
Best wishlist: Emperor Moth

(5/8)
Best new macro moth of 2024: Peach Blossom (Thyatira batis) [Lymm, 23/08/2024) Best new micro moth of 2024: White Plume Moth (Pterophorus pendactyla) [Newport, 01/05/2024] Best surprise (random pupa found in dirt!) of 2024: Red-necked Footman (Atolmis rubricolis) [Round Hill Woods, 02/05/2024] Best wishlist moth of 2024: Emperor Moth (Saturnia pavonia) [Fernilee Reservoir, 17/04/2024]
December 29, 2024 at 2:32 PM
entomolojosh.bsky.social
And now time for some actual moths!

1st moth (of 2024): 20-plume Moth
Last moth: White Birch Tortrix
Rarest macro: Maiden's Blush (131 VC58)
Rarest micro: Acleris logiana (10 VC58)

(4/8)
First moth of 2024: Twenty-plume Moth (Alucita hexadactyla) [Newport, 13/01/2024] Last moth of 2024: White Birch Tortrix (Acleris logiana) [Spud Wood, 13/12/2024] Rarest macro of 2024: Maiden's Blush (Cyclophora punctaria), 131 records in VC58.0 [Lymm, 23/08/2024] Rarest micro of 2024: White Birch Tortrix (Acleris logiana), 10 VC58 records. [Spud Wood, 10/12/2024]
December 29, 2024 at 2:32 PM
entomolojosh.bsky.social
families from 2023.

While the numbers are higher, I believe it is from trapping more regularly and in more locations, and also from more non-trap records such as leaf mines, and not a better year for moths. (Although no stat tests have been performed!) (2/8)
Number of Species in 2023 vs. 2024 (by actinic light) Number of Individuals in 2023 vs. 2024 (by actinic light) Number of Species vs. Individuals per Month in 2023 vs. 2024 (by actinic light) Number of Moth Traps in 2023 vs. 2024
December 29, 2024 at 2:32 PM
entomolojosh.bsky.social
An evening walk a few days ago revealed a nice surprise - two Acleris logiana adults resting on some birch trees. Not many other #vc58, and an NFY! Last I saw this was Nov 2023, when it was a first for #vc40.
#entomology #insects #moths #mothsmatter
December 12, 2024 at 1:22 PM