Dave Wheatley
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wheatersdave.bsky.social
Dave Wheatley
@wheatersdave.bsky.social
Moths, occasionally birds. Still a grumpy dad, still hoping to mellow with age
Probably the wrong bit of Scotland but maybe @laurasharp.bsky.social can advise?
November 11, 2025 at 4:09 PM
😆
November 11, 2025 at 3:28 PM
🤞🏻😏
November 11, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Or a November type thingy 🫣
You’re just tempting them upstairs. If you get a Crimson Speckled you’re permanently blocked. You cad. 😉
November 11, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Never say never, I mean I’ve added 2 new ones this year! But yer probably right, it’ll be a manky Sprawler instead 😆
November 11, 2025 at 1:48 PM
I’d be happy with that. And a Cosmopolitan. 😏
November 11, 2025 at 1:23 PM
🫣🤣
November 11, 2025 at 11:53 AM
I’m still not 100% convinced. Look on the bright side, at least you haven’t said a leading European lepidopterists drawings weren’t clear 🫣🤣
One day I might learn to keep my thoughts………
November 11, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Haha what’s your secret Steve? Maybe I need to up my game and start sacrificing larger mammals to the moth gods? Anyone seen any large cetaceans off the south coast
an illustration of a whale and a boat with stars in the background
ALT: an illustration of a whale and a boat with stars in the background
media.tenor.com
November 11, 2025 at 10:47 AM
You’re not that far away from the migrant moth superhighway in Staffs, so don’t rule it out! He’s bound to be lurking somewhere round here 👀
November 11, 2025 at 10:44 AM
They can collide sub atomic particles at near the speed of light in that, surely gen det of Epiritta females is a doddle in comparison? On reflection maybe not 🤯
Having attempted it, I can honestly say that it’s above my pay grade to do the identification afterwards. What’s your take on the ID?
November 11, 2025 at 10:43 AM
Two very beautiful autumn moths, have you converted anyone yet? That makes it sound like some sort of cult religion (it sort of is)!
November 11, 2025 at 10:38 AM
So did I, but more because ICBA, back on it for the next few days though. Could be interesting. Or not 🤷🏻‍♂️🙏🏻
November 11, 2025 at 10:36 AM
What’s the courier charges to get a fresh one to SE Hants? Probably the only way I’ll get one 🤣😭
November 11, 2025 at 10:34 AM
Have a look at charging optimisation, one of the websites will have some advice. I’ve read that some battery packs are adversely affected by continually discharging them to 0% then to 100% full charge
November 11, 2025 at 10:32 AM
Good luck if you do, it’s fascinating stuff, even if not always conclusive to my untrained eye. Most that I actually trap like yourself are males, the ones outside of trap are often females, like the one in this instance
November 11, 2025 at 10:29 AM
As always thanks for the chart work Steve, I’ll await unpacking the trap contents with baited breath 🙏🏻🤞🏻
November 11, 2025 at 10:26 AM
There’s ongoing work, preparations are on the moth dissection website. For me, it’s not clear cut and very subjective. Terms like shorter, longer, wider, intermediate, do not particularly help things! I did a male at the same time and it was dilutata, but we’re 2wks behind you at this time of year
November 11, 2025 at 9:02 AM
Can you daisy chain the battery packs giving you 10 hours? I wouldn’t try it until someone who knows what they’re doing confirms it is safe 😆
November 11, 2025 at 7:40 AM
So for SE Hants you’d recommend trapping from tomorrow night onwards, unless there is a change in the situation?
November 10, 2025 at 10:58 PM
I felt they had a good year here in SE Hants, so it may be a local issue rather than national
November 10, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Thank you Tim. I might have to post this on the moth dissection facebook page for confirmation. The male November Moth gen det was much easier to do 🙄
November 10, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Exactly the issues I was having! There might be a right curve on the lower sclerite, slightly obscured by the way I’ve pinned the sample with the cover slip.
November 10, 2025 at 5:38 PM