Alan Mould
@alanmould.bsky.social
Very amateur macro photographer fascinated by the insect world (esp. shieldbugs, dragonflies, ants, and a Moth-trapper in VC66. Old fart metalhead, into country walks, playing table tennis, darts and chess (though shite at them all). Love a right laugh.
A veritable 'purple patch' from our Highlands holiday. These four beauties were all found at the same time in a 2-3ft stretch of trackside vegetation (and fencepost). Scarce Silver Y, Spiked Sb final instar, Heather Sb adult and Hieroglyphic Ladybird. Only the Spiked bug nymph wasn't new to us.
August 29, 2026 at 3:45 PM
A veritable 'purple patch' from our Highlands holiday. These four beauties were all found at the same time in a 2-3ft stretch of trackside vegetation (and fencepost). Scarce Silver Y, Spiked Sb final instar, Heather Sb adult and Hieroglyphic Ladybird. Only the Spiked bug nymph wasn't new to us.
@mothiduk.bsky.social Hi, could these be Dark Marbled Carpet, not a species I'm familiar with but so different to the usual Common Marbled I get at home. Trapped near the Cairngorms in early August so unsure if its just a regional colour pattern. Thanks.
August 27, 2026 at 8:16 AM
@mothiduk.bsky.social Hi, could these be Dark Marbled Carpet, not a species I'm familiar with but so different to the usual Common Marbled I get at home. Trapped near the Cairngorms in early August so unsure if its just a regional colour pattern. Thanks.
Is it just me or does this bee-mimic Robber Fly seem to be sucking the life out of a tiny evil wizard?
August 15, 2026 at 6:09 PM
Is it just me or does this bee-mimic Robber Fly seem to be sucking the life out of a tiny evil wizard?
Our fortnight in the Cairngorms was somewhat restricted with the awful wildfires but we still found a lot of good insects, topped off for me with the elusive Heather Shieldbug (Rhacognathus punctatus) at last, on a walk not far from our holiday home.
August 15, 2026 at 10:06 AM
Our fortnight in the Cairngorms was somewhat restricted with the awful wildfires but we still found a lot of good insects, topped off for me with the elusive Heather Shieldbug (Rhacognathus punctatus) at last, on a walk not far from our holiday home.
A proper 'Goth Moth' this one, took me a while to realise it was a Straw Underwing, not come across one so dark before.
July 21, 2026 at 10:20 AM
A proper 'Goth Moth' this one, took me a while to realise it was a Straw Underwing, not come across one so dark before.
Always nice to get a County first in the trap. This unassuming little feller is Donacaula forficella (Pale Water-veneer) from 9th July, and a first ever record for County Durham V66. from our garden trap in the north of the county.
July 16, 2026 at 6:34 PM
Always nice to get a County first in the trap. This unassuming little feller is Donacaula forficella (Pale Water-veneer) from 9th July, and a first ever record for County Durham V66. from our garden trap in the north of the county.
We took this Old Lady caterpillar in from the outside wall of the house in early May, very lethargic and ready to pupate, which it did soon after. Now it's emerged and released into the wild, what a beauty.
July 4, 2026 at 6:22 PM
We took this Old Lady caterpillar in from the outside wall of the house in early May, very lethargic and ready to pupate, which it did soon after. Now it's emerged and released into the wild, what a beauty.
An unusually red 2nd instar Green Shieldbug (Palomena prasina) was with us for most of last week but now molted to a more normal green 3rd instar we think as not been seen for a couple of days and now lots of 3rds about in the wild patch.
July 4, 2026 at 1:19 PM
An unusually red 2nd instar Green Shieldbug (Palomena prasina) was with us for most of last week but now molted to a more normal green 3rd instar we think as not been seen for a couple of days and now lots of 3rds about in the wild patch.
Not the rarity they were ten years ago but always nice to randomly come across a Little Egret on your walks, this one on the tidal part of the Derwent earlier #Gateshead
July 3, 2026 at 3:08 PM
Not the rarity they were ten years ago but always nice to randomly come across a Little Egret on your walks, this one on the tidal part of the Derwent earlier #Gateshead
Found this Small Snakefly (Xanthostigma xanthostigma) near the moth trap early last month, fascinating insect which likes to walk backwards. Didn't realise how unusual it was 'til I put it on irecord as it could be the first official record for Co. Durham, with none on the NBN Gateway either.
July 3, 2026 at 10:25 AM
Found this Small Snakefly (Xanthostigma xanthostigma) near the moth trap early last month, fascinating insect which likes to walk backwards. Didn't realise how unusual it was 'til I put it on irecord as it could be the first official record for Co. Durham, with none on the NBN Gateway either.
Only took three minutes to attract a Lunar Hornet Moth to the garden this morning using a lure, and not only that he was quite happy to pose for photos. #DurhamVC66
June 27, 2026 at 7:19 PM
Only took three minutes to attract a Lunar Hornet Moth to the garden this morning using a lure, and not only that he was quite happy to pose for photos. #DurhamVC66
Back in May we travelled down to the North Yorks Moors to try and find the Duke of Burgundy (the butterfly not the pub), despite the gusty winds we got at least half a dozen territorial males, also a fall of Painted Ladies scattered around the hillside and a Humming-bird Hawk-moth was nice to see.
June 12, 2026 at 10:40 AM
Back in May we travelled down to the North Yorks Moors to try and find the Duke of Burgundy (the butterfly not the pub), despite the gusty winds we got at least half a dozen territorial males, also a fall of Painted Ladies scattered around the hillside and a Humming-bird Hawk-moth was nice to see.
From Bank Holiday Monday, a trip to the Durham Moors primarily looking for Dark Tussock caterpillars was successful, also a few Wood Tiger easy to spot in the short grass, a tiny Chevron larva (all species ticks) and on returning home found a huge Old Lady caterpillar on the wall of the house.
May 9, 2026 at 8:54 AM
From Bank Holiday Monday, a trip to the Durham Moors primarily looking for Dark Tussock caterpillars was successful, also a few Wood Tiger easy to spot in the short grass, a tiny Chevron larva (all species ticks) and on returning home found a huge Old Lady caterpillar on the wall of the house.
A new March record for the garden trap with 116 moths of 12 species last night. Highlights and new for year were a lovely Shoulder Stripe and fresh Twin-spot Quaker. Top scorers were Common Quack with 49, Hebrew Character 28 and Small Quack 19. #DurhamVC66
March 9, 2026 at 7:08 PM
A new March record for the garden trap with 116 moths of 12 species last night. Highlights and new for year were a lovely Shoulder Stripe and fresh Twin-spot Quaker. Top scorers were Common Quack with 49, Hebrew Character 28 and Small Quack 19. #DurhamVC66
Thought this an unusual Common Quaker with the asymmetrical wing pattern, half normal and half f. confluens. In six years of trapping we've never seen a confluens form so half is better than nothing I suppose 😂 #DurhamVC66
March 4, 2026 at 3:20 PM
Thought this an unusual Common Quaker with the asymmetrical wing pattern, half normal and half f. confluens. In six years of trapping we've never seen a confluens form so half is better than nothing I suppose 😂 #DurhamVC66
Went ahead with the trap last night despite 4C temps forecast in bleak Co Durham as we had calm overcast dry(ish) conditions for the first time in weeks. Four moths (more than expected) included the hoped for Spring Usher and Early Moth, both nfg, our first in 6 years of trapping. Result! #TeamMoth
January 29, 2026 at 11:32 AM
Went ahead with the trap last night despite 4C temps forecast in bleak Co Durham as we had calm overcast dry(ish) conditions for the first time in weeks. Four moths (more than expected) included the hoped for Spring Usher and Early Moth, both nfg, our first in 6 years of trapping. Result! #TeamMoth
First time I've ever trapped in December, only 6c so happy with 13 moths of 7 species. 6x December Moth, 2x Yellow-line Quaker, 1 each of Mottled Umber, Chestnut, Dark Chestnut, Winter Moth and Red-green Carpet. #Teammoth #DurhamVC66
December 7, 2025 at 5:08 PM
First time I've ever trapped in December, only 6c so happy with 13 moths of 7 species. 6x December Moth, 2x Yellow-line Quaker, 1 each of Mottled Umber, Chestnut, Dark Chestnut, Winter Moth and Red-green Carpet. #Teammoth #DurhamVC66
My eldest boy found this in a potted plant in the Material Science dept. at his college in Cambridge today, not a great photo but looks a contender for Rhaphigaster nebulosa to me, anyone confirm or otherwise as it's not a species I'm familiar with up north? Thanks.
December 2, 2025 at 10:50 PM
My eldest boy found this in a potted plant in the Material Science dept. at his college in Cambridge today, not a great photo but looks a contender for Rhaphigaster nebulosa to me, anyone confirm or otherwise as it's not a species I'm familiar with up north? Thanks.
Fantastic show by Lacuna Coil at Northumbria Uni last night, best gig I've been to in a long while. Superb!
November 27, 2025 at 9:19 PM
Fantastic show by Lacuna Coil at Northumbria Uni last night, best gig I've been to in a long while. Superb!
Always nice to have a Blackcap in the garden
November 16, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Always nice to have a Blackcap in the garden
Saxon still banging out mighty metal anthems 45 years after I first saw them live at Monsters of Rock Donington, Biff Byford at 74 (I kid you not) sounds as good as ever. Great night at City Hall Newcassel.
November 13, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Saxon still banging out mighty metal anthems 45 years after I first saw them live at Monsters of Rock Donington, Biff Byford at 74 (I kid you not) sounds as good as ever. Great night at City Hall Newcassel.
Traps poor this week but indoors we've had 40+ of these Vitula serratilineela (N. American Bee Moth) likely bred in an old Tree Bee nest in the attic and getting into the upstairs bathroom via gaps in ceiling fittings. A national rarity but NE England a bit of a stronghold. #DurhamVC66 #TeamMoth
November 7, 2025 at 10:21 AM
Traps poor this week but indoors we've had 40+ of these Vitula serratilineela (N. American Bee Moth) likely bred in an old Tree Bee nest in the attic and getting into the upstairs bathroom via gaps in ceiling fittings. A national rarity but NE England a bit of a stronghold. #DurhamVC66 #TeamMoth
Not a lot in last night's trap (11:7) but December Moth was our earliest record, a couple of Feathered Thorns, beautifully marked Mottled Umber and Acleris hyemana is a garden first, so not too shabby. Durham VC66 #TeamMoth
October 29, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Not a lot in last night's trap (11:7) but December Moth was our earliest record, a couple of Feathered Thorns, beautifully marked Mottled Umber and Acleris hyemana is a garden first, so not too shabby. Durham VC66 #TeamMoth
Not much doing moth-wise at the mo, so here's something for your amusement from a few years ago when I first got interested in trapping and realised many moth names were also good names for Heavy Metal bands, my other passion. 😀🤘 #TeamMoth
October 25, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Not much doing moth-wise at the mo, so here's something for your amusement from a few years ago when I first got interested in trapping and realised many moth names were also good names for Heavy Metal bands, my other passion. 😀🤘 #TeamMoth
Got this beaut of an Epirrita sp. moth at the weekend. Though shows outward signs of Autumnal, due to it likely being a female even dissection wouldn't reveal the true species (not that I would), so just like all the dull specimens we got it'll go down as an aggregate. What a shame. #TeamMoth #VC66
October 20, 2025 at 1:37 PM