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Tissue Moth

Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2020 4:00 pm
by mikew
Had a look in Queen's Parlour below the Sandstone Trail on Rawhead today

Found these two Tissue Moths & maybe 60 Heralds

Regards, Mike

Re: Tissue Moth

Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2020 5:52 pm
by CliveJ
Excellent - i'll have to have a delve around over there. I've often wondered how these moths find their hibernacula, given that the adults seem to spread out across the landscape and presumably aren't around to lead a return flight to the cave. Do the moths simply search for suitable places, do the caves emit some attractive odour, perhaps as a result of occupancy by bats???

Re: Tissue Moth

Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2020 6:05 pm
by mikew
Hi Clive

There are no bats in the cave

Regards, Mike

Re: Tissue Moth

Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2020 6:08 pm
by CliveJ
Bang goes that idea then!

Re: Tissue Moth

Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2020 3:40 pm
by CliveJ
Herald
Herald
Mike, thanks to your post I found the Queen's Parlour this morning - i've been up there on many occasions but didn't even know of its existence. I found tens of Heralds as you described, but couldn't find a Tissue, although my time was limited by other folk wanting to visit a location where social distancing is problematic! I shall return later in the winter. Have you explored Mad Allen's Hole too? Does it also act as a moth hibernaculum?

Cheers

Clive
Herald
Herald

Re: Tissue Moth

Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2020 6:34 pm
by Greg
Does Mad Allen know about his possible moth hibernaculum ? If not he's got a big problem. :o

Re: Tissue Moth

Posted: Wed Nov 18, 2020 3:53 pm
by mikew
Hi Julian

I believe Mad Allen's Hole is difficult to access. As you enter Queen's Parlour the Tissues were in the central part towards the rear on your right hand side below eye-level & near each other.

Regards, Mike

Re: Tissue Moth

Posted: Wed Nov 18, 2020 3:53 pm
by mikew
Apologies Hi CLIVE!

Re: Tissue Moth

Posted: Wed Nov 18, 2020 5:12 pm
by CliveJ
Thanks for directions to Tissues. I'll take precautions if I enter Mad Allen's Hole; will have to find it first!

Clive

Re: Tissue Moth

Posted: Thu Nov 19, 2020 7:37 pm
by CliveJ
I found my way to Mad Allen's Hole today. It was impossible for me to enter the lower of the two chambers as I was alone and did not want to risk slithering in but being unable to climb out via the knotty tree branch which seems to act as a ladder. Looking in from above with a decent light I saw no sign of moths and I suspect that too much light may enter to make it a suitable hibernaculum. Queen's Parlour below Raw Head appears a much more profitable location.

Re: Tissue Moth

Posted: Wed Jan 27, 2021 5:32 pm
by mikew
Found 3 Tissues in Queen's Parlour today

Regards, Mike

Re: Tissue Moth

Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2021 11:54 am
by CliveJ
Hi Mike
I don't know if you follow the Cheshire Moths Facebook group, but in case you don't, I eventually managed to find all three caves - Mad Allen's Hole (no moths I could see with limited access), 'Bloody Bones Cave' below the Raw Head trig point (plenty of Heralds, plus Cave Spider but no Tissues, and the actual Queen's Parlour (Heralds aplenty, plus a few Tissues). Thanks for your initial steer in this direction.(One Tissue image from Queen's Parlour was used on Winterwatch last week, about which I was indecently chuffed.) Prompted by cave fever, I also managed, pre lockdown, to visit Frodsham Cave, where I found a handful of Heralds, plus hibernating Peacocks and Small Tortoiseshell.
Thanks again
Clive