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The ramblings of an entomologist
Приєднався 11 лют 2021
An honest, unscripted collection of invertebrate related videos, by a nail varnish wearing bloke with enthusiasm and a camera phone, hoping to create awareness and appreciation of the smaller things in life.
A lot of effort for often little reward
Finally, after low numbers of Purple Emperors from the Sherwood Forest area this Summer, and with just a single egg recorded, I managed to find an early instar larva after weeks of looking for both eggs and larvae.
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Відео
Moth trapping - Lound Wood July 31st 2024
Переглядів 4687 годин тому
A very enjoyable trapping session in ideal conditions, which resulted in a number of new species for the Eakring area list.
A disappearing waste ground
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When I was younger, there were areas of waste ground all over the place and they were always good for butterflies. I recently visited such an area in the middle of Market Warsop, with the idea being to see just how many butterflies were visiting the many Buddleias on site. It was, as expected, a little disappointing, but no surprise.
Once more into the labyrinth
Переглядів 60512 годин тому
With their large, conspicuous sheet webs becoming an increasingly common sight across many Nottinghamshire sites, the Labyrinth Spider is a super fast relative of the UK House Spider.
Moth trapping - Gamston Wood July 23rd 2024
Переглядів 58414 годин тому
Returning back to a Retford woodland, where I'd not trapped moths for around a decade. But it proved to be a disappointing session, dogged by a nagging breeze and lowering temperatures. There will be better trapping sessions to come from this Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust reserve, I'm sure.
When an unexpected lady turns up at the very last minute
Переглядів 44416 годин тому
A quiet, contemplative walk along one of my favourite Sherwood Forest tracks. Nothing much to report, until perhaps a sign that someone is watching me from above after all?
Who's at home
Переглядів 49021 годину тому
An easy, tell-tale sign, to locate the caterpillar of one of the UK's most familiar butterflies.
Who's found in a pellet like this?
Переглядів 438День тому
A little woodland mystery, of a beetle-laden pellet found on a Sherwood Forest track.
Mega legs and a mega count too!
Переглядів 446День тому
A second visit of the year to Worksop Priory, specifically to count the impressively long-legged and still unknown Harvestman, present there since 2012. And it was a productive visit too, maybe as a result of a little devine intervention?
Comma
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Short videos of one of our most characteristic and easy to identify butterflies, which has somewhat bucked the trend by having a relatively good year in 2024.
Seeking a local Emperor
Переглядів 583День тому
A rare Summer-like day and a chance to look into the tree-tops locally, in a failed search for the Purple Emperor butterfly. Well, if you don't look, you don't find do you?
The wait for a wasp is over ..... a Wasp Spider that is!
Переглядів 655День тому
With previous Nottinghamshire records coming directly as a result of plant importation to two Nottinghamshire garden centres, the recent discovery of Wasp Spiders at Clumber Park, means this fantastic spider has officially made it onto the county list ...... at last.
How much time for Sherwood's Major Oak?
Переглядів 61314 днів тому
There's been much talk on social media locally, about the health of one of the world's most famous trees - the Major Oak in Sherwood Forest. And it's not good news for this wonderful, 1000 year old tree.
Moth trapping - Sherwood Forest July 19th 2024
Переглядів 59714 днів тому
A mid-July moth trapping session in the heart of Sherwood Forest, and with a welcome increase in the number of moths too. All in all, this was a very enjoyable session, providing me with some nice moths.
A different world, right beneath our feet
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A different world, right beneath our feet
When 'leather on willow' isn't the only sound of Cricket
Переглядів 49614 днів тому
When 'leather on willow' isn't the only sound of Cricket
Moth trapping - Lound Wood July 17th 2024
Переглядів 51521 день тому
Moth trapping - Lound Wood July 17th 2024
Moth trapping - Sherwood Forest July 16th 2024
Переглядів 74828 днів тому
Moth trapping - Sherwood Forest July 16th 2024
Moth trapping - Misson Carr July 13th 2024
Переглядів 670Місяць тому
Moth trapping - Misson Carr July 13th 2024
Moth trapping from home - June 29th 2024
Переглядів 543Місяць тому
Moth trapping from home - June 29th 2024
We noticed these on Maltby common about 4 years ago, a few and only along one side of the common, seen them every year since, and then a couple of years ago a lot more on a patch of Maltby pit tip thats been rewilding itself for 20 odd years
Brilliant. It's had a great year this year too, so hopefully more next year?
is it a bird? is it a plane? no! it's Super Entomologist!
If only 😂
Alright Trevor, love the channel, good commentary, fascinating topics - will admit I'm biased to p' E's because of BB - and a good quality of footage. But why the nail varnish... and why black...? Apologies if you've been through this before, but I'm intrigued and I'm not savvy enough to find an extant answer. Cheers.
Oh yes, been through it many times, some not always asking in the right manner and often presuming they know why I paint them. I've done my nails for years on and off, started doing two at first, purely as a unique way of mourning the two wives I've lost (21 and 5 years ago) and it gradually developed from there. Now some look to see what colour I'm wearing. I love black, it's always been my clothing colour of choice and as underneath my nails are usually always black, painting most of them black made sense. But basically, I enjoy wearing it, people notice, people talk, people comment and people presume I'm gay or trans (which I'm not). And as I said to someone enquiring the other day, if men can wear their hair up in a bun, have manicures, wear pink shirts, jumpers or trousers, carry a handbag, shave their bodies and no one bats an eyelid anymore, then I can wear nail varnish. I like to be different and be myself.
@@theramblingentomologist Fair enough, thanks for taking the time to reply. On a far more important subject... what do you think the prospects are for the Emperors to expand their range Westwards? I remember seeing one very occasionally in Herts as a boy, will they ever make it over here to Wales?
It's likely. They've just been found in Derbyshire, so I can't see why they shouldn't move north-west. The amount of rain might be a deterrent though.
Just brilliant Trevor, you need eyes like a hawk, but you know the tell tale signs to look for, what a truly amazing life cycle of this Butterfly overwintering exposed on a branch until the spring, great photographs, nature is truly wondefull, and thanks for putting the effort in to show this. I watched your video on the vandalism that was done by the flail hope this little Purple emperor maks it, all the best Terry.
Thanks Terry. Yes, they have it difficult. We lost all those larvae we knew of in one part of the forest this year. Even when full grown, they're still not safe.
Is it legal or indeed possible to take it home to rear
Yes, it is OK to do that for Purple Emperor Jenny and I wish we'd done that with all the larvae found last year. There would have been greater success then. Sometimes it's difficult deciding what's best to do, to either leave them, or take them and rear on growing foodplant at home, then release the adults. Rearing at home gives greater success rate, but we like yo leave alone as much as possible.
I've amended the spelling mistakes to my answer now Jenny. That'll teach me to try and comment on my mobile 😀
@@theramblingentomologist 😊. You could have discovered a new species 😊.
Truly grateful for your efforts to be able to watch your findings- to be given this glimpse is very special- thank you for sharing ☺️👌👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Thank you Glenda. Much appreciated 😊
This has quickly become one of my favourite channels on youtube. It's a bit like the places you visit, not a lot of traffic or noise, just quiet comfort. Greetings from India, never change your format.
Thank you for your very kind comments and trust me, I won't ever change the format. And so nice to have you enjoying the channel, over in India.
couldn't agree more.
Hello again Trevor. I spoke to you a couple of weeks ago about garden tigers down south(herts). It's about 9.15 and my front doors still open thanks to a lovely day. One just flew in, done a circle in my living room and shot out again! And that's not couting the one that came in last night and needed releasing this morning. I feel I must be at the epicentre of their breeding population this year....
Crikey. It certainly sounds like it Karl 😀
Here in the North West we have ragwort All over were we walk... I looked because I wanted the kids to identify the moth....but we did not see one. I believe they WILL be back. We keep observing. Have a great rest of your day and Thank You. ⚓❣️🐓
Thank you for commenting. Yes, they'll be back. In fact, since filming that, I have found a few larvae at a couple of locations. You have a great day too 🙂
What a great session Trevor, I can only hope I can get a tenth of your success when my trap arrives, our box hedge suffered from box moth, and I found lots of caterpillars and adults, a very pretty moth in both forms, wonderful video looking forward to your next upload, all the very best, Terry.
Thank you Terry, pleased you enjoyed it.
Amothing. I couldnt imothine a world without geometry and moth .
It would be a sad world indeed.
Red admiral overindulgde in sting nettle here in nz . I seen the crysalis wiggle wiggling like crazy!
😀
Some crackers there that are missing from my garden this year. Saying that, usually only get one or two of some of them if I'm lucky. As for Box Tree's , I've had loads this year. Must be over 30-35 now. Six in one night was my best. And yes I long for muggy still nights every year especially on a Saturday night with a few beers.
Back to the best videos on light trapping.
Thank you. Is that the best moth trapping videos on UA-cam, or just that you like moth trapping best? 😂
It's amazing how many different species of moth there are, so many beautiful looking moths.
There are indeed, so many beautiful moths out there and it's surprising how the average member of the public has the preconceived idea that moths are just brown and horrible. They can't be further from the truth.
@@theramblingentomologist true, I guess because when most people see moths, they just see a blur zooming around a lightbulb. I can't actually remember the last time I saw a moth to be honest.
I am glad you see the wasteland as a treasure trove. Dilys is there with you all the time Trevor. X
It would be nice to think so Celia x
I think you are too hard on yourself as I can't see anything antisocial about moth trapping, although it is a solitary pursuit maybe. Youre not harming anyone or anything. Plus you are sharing your expertise and images to educate and edify us amateurs, which can only be positive for moth conservation. Keep up the good work I say, (and down with all box moth haters!!!)
What a lovely way to spend a couple of hours or so on a nice summer evening. It must be quite an eye opener, to see just how many species of moths there are in the area.
It is enjoyable. The current total is 690 species of moth for the area. Maybe hit 700 next year 😀
I'm a simple man, I see Ramblings upload, I watch.
Very enjoyable, great video
Thanks Barry.
just got in from a hard day at work and what better way to relax than to watch this! splendid!
That's kind of you to say. Thank you 🙂
*What a phenomenal Sight- Loads of Moths and some again,I’ve not seen in years- brilliant Watching an absolute thrill 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🙌*
Pleased you enjoyed it Glenda. Thank you.
@@theramblingentomologist really happy to watch and pleasure to support you
I've always been attracted to these 'waste' grounds and the wonderful ecosystems that they hold and like you they were everywhere when I was growing up and now few remain.
Yes, they're hard to find now and I'm surprised we still have this one here in Market Warsop.
Unfortunately Trevor I think 2024 will be remembered as the year with very few butterflies
Oh, there's no doubt about that Paul.
@@theramblingentomologist With any luck 2025 might be a Painted Lady year to make up for 2024
Be nice if it is Paul, though I think it's about time we have another good Clouded Yellow year, or both species! 😀
@@theramblingentomologist I agree Trevor it's a very long time since I last saw a Clouded Yellow
I know what you mean about Box tree moths. I have trapped at least 50 in my garden this year
yes, and dark-barred twin-spot carpet. Always long ones to jot down! Everyone keeps telling me to abbreviate names but I just can't bring myself to do so! Another great video Trevor, I long for the day when black arches pays a visit to my garden trap.
I can't abbreviate either. Tried it and didn't like it 😂
Great night
It was. Clearly, the best session of the year.
Lovely! Thank you for showing us these beauties of the night.
You're welcome Nancy.
Really cool video, i tried to get some photos of Labyrinth spiders last year, here in Suffolk, they were too fast and elusive though.
To be honest, I've still to get a photo of one in the web. They're so flighty at the slightest disturbance.
That looks a nice area of waste ground. Looks like there are a few too many buddleias I think though, you could maybe pull out some of the newer ones I think to preserve some grassland for the future! The buddleias and ragwort are mostly bare of insects this year I agree. :( The Red Admirals and Large White butterflies will be the ones I think that will recover most in numbers next year as they are migratory. Its sad about the Wall Brown, the story's the same where I am in the UK. I am going abroad to Malaga at the end of August, specifically the botanic garden there where there should be nectar sources, so I might see the Wall Brown there, I don't expect to see many butterflies there though due to weather factors (heatwaves and droughts in previous years + the summers are probably too long, dry and hot there for many butterflies) :( maybe some geranium bronze near the cultivated pelargoniums though?
Well enjoy your holiday. I'm sure there'll be a few bit for you to find.
Exactly my experience in the central belt of Scotland.
I'm not surprised David, especially as you've had much more rain than we have here.
Just returned from week in Europe and was happy to see people actually growing rosebay willowherb in their gardens, would be pulled out here, just found your channel and subscribed, thankyou
Thank you for subscribing. Rosebay's actually a nice perennial when you look at it and many insects will visit it for nectar.
@@theramblingentomologist An adjacent garden to ours has a large, glorious patch of Rosebay, taller than the washing posts. The three summers we've been here it's been left to do it's thing. I know it's not just insects who must appreciate it as I've seen a cat staring into the stalks at ground level.
Obviously hides a range of beasties then Catherine 😀
I agree. I love brown field sites, when you have access to them. It's amazing how mother nature reclaims them so fast. There was one near by (By Bescot Railway) that went exactly the same. Full of Buddleias and Knap weed etc. It even had soil mounds that you could climb up. All been developed now. As for Butterflies and Moths, Bee's, Flies etc etc it's dire. Even my drive which has a mix of all colour Buddleias and lots of Valerian and Golden Rod. It's dead !
Stunning! It's always special seeing one. They were quite rare as I remember, it be nice to see more..... and more 😅👍
Yes, very rare at one time, but doing well this year locally Pat 😀
i live in a flat but there are fields in front of me so i've bought wildflower seed packets to do some guerilla sowing with. teeheehee!
'Guerilla sowing' I like that 😀😀
i'm so annoyed at the people pulling them out of the ground! ignorant vandals!
They are and they keep doing it.
Hi Trevor, I leave lots of nettles on the allotment and we have to very large buddlleia`s but very few Butterflies, I did film a wasp yesterday drinking from the bird bath in the garden for my face book page, but they have also been few and far between.
i love that you think about giving them time to feed. what a nice chap you are!
Well, I just think our insects are under enough pressure as it is, and we often run moth traps on the ideal nights for moths to feed and breed. I'm also happy to trap for a few hours, rather than all night.
You are on point as always, Trevor. A little urban oasis, beautiful and so vibrantly alive, yet regarded as worthless by so many people. Your experience was like mine. Next to my childhood home was an overgrown football-field-sized patch of ground that we referred to as the "allotments" - maybe it had been cultivated in the war - and where we spent so much time as children in fresh air and freedom, only being summoned in for lunch or tea! I particularly remember the grasshoppers that were abundant there, and I'm quite sure it was an influence in my lifelong love of Nature,
They were wonderful places to play on. I think many of us have similar memories Anthony. Memories which the developers can't take from us.
Developed no destroyed yes,, waste ground ? No ,rich diverse habitat yes,,,,,it all depends whos looking ,some see beauty and some see££££s we know who wins,,,,,😢😢😢
We certainly do Steven.
this channel is pure gold!
That's very kind of you and much appreciated.
So few people pay attention to insects and plants (weeds). You do a valuable service by keeping track on what is going on and reporting to us. May I suggest you start a more quantitative survey and keep records from year to year. Maybe you do already? Thanks!
Thank you. Yes I do keep records. To date, nearly 80,000 invertebrate records have been contributed to the National Biodiversity Network (NBN) Atlas, via our county records center. Something I'm very proud of and something to leave for those to follow. registry.nbnatlas.org/public/show/dr1790
I've decided to remove one particular person's comments on this thread, as I won't stand for personal attacks, especially from those who hide behind anonymity. This channel has generally been free of negative comments so far and I'm proud of that, and those that there have been, have usually come from someone producing no content at all. It's easy to criticise, more difficult to create.
So sorry to hear about the troll(s). What they get up to says nothing about you and EVERYTHING about them. I love your channel and content. Charlie in Dorset.
Cheers Charlie. He basically said I should 'get active' which is especially difficult when you have a life-shortening, degenerative lung condition 🙂
@@theramblingentomologist what an ****
Almost what I thought too 😂
Did they have a cricket up their bum!? Sorry you had to play Dung beetle...and clean up the shit!
*Simply Stunning 👌👌👌🙌💯* They love these flowers I’m definitely going to have more flowers next year….
I hope you do Glenda. It'll be well worth it.
@@theramblingentomologist watching this confirms to me.i was already thinking of honeysuckle,not only to enjoy the heady scent of an evening but the berries when it goes over…and some other butterfly bushes. I did enjoy looking at butterflies in my teens and spiders- the moths came later in early twenties,when I was on nights ,I worked in a very old infirmary initially and the lights attracted some outstanding moths on night shift
Yes, Honeysuckle is a good one and the scent on an evening, beautiful.
It's such a contrast to last year. The red admiral migration was impressive and there seemed to be butterflies everywhere. Plants are thriving in this wet weather though so fingers crossed that the caterpillars do well.
I noticed yesterday that there's huge amounts of mildew on some Oak trees, more than I've ever seen before, including whole trees now completely white with it.
@@theramblingentomologist something is certainly wrong, noticed serious lack of greenfly on sycamores, seen this residue like mildew on them to . Anyone capable of testing it ect to see exactly what and why .
Sycamores are indeed prone to mildew. I think it'll be a result of this years cumulative wet weather Stephen.
@@theramblingentomologist I've noticed good numbers of dragonflies, tho midge numbers are down all odd , same with birds , kestrels done really well as other vole eaters yet wet weather is always bad for vole numbers especially cold wet springs . Honestly I'm at a loss this year.
It is a year and a half, it really is. But for the wrong reasons.
I have a garden hedge with 5 buddlia trees .Until a fortnight ago nothing but now several species of butterfly and bee are visiting. You did mention a while ago about first and second broods . Do all butterflies do this. ? Incidentally my garden shed is a mecca for overwintering lace wings.
Hi Jenny. Not all butterflies have second broods, no. But many of those seen enjoying the nectar from your Buddleias will have a second brood. On the whole though, feeding up now, means that butterflies such as Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Red Admiral and Comma, will be able to successfully get through the Winter. Great for those butterflies and other insects, that you have Buddleia in your garden. Brilliant.
my buddleias this year...empty..used to have hundreds of butterflies wasps blue bottles and bees etc,,,great pollenaters.......they are building building everywhere...my fields i played in...the trees i climbed.....no one talks about the devastating effect immigration is having on our wildlife.....how can we build a city the size of newcastle every year.......politicians will fill us up until the niche that allows humans to exist is destroyed......i cry every day...my insects my fish my birds.....gone from the brecon beacons national park.....increasingly people i talk to are scared....we have no voice
I agree Andy. Nature really is in peril in this country, but not so much from climate change, but from development. It's the notion that we have to build on every vacant piece of land, if not there, then make land vacant. How much we have lost, never to get back. Such a shame.
@@theramblingentomologist i've been into the decline for 30yrs...the 2 big long term studies were done in germany..in a wood and a nature reserve...by capture weight,.....what i dont understand is that generally insects dont migrate except locally....i also live in a large protected area..my house is next to a SSSI......climate a bit, warmer, wetter winters causing rot....but......my own observation that i cannot cite..just me..is that the hockey stick graph for the rise in micro radiation, phones satellites etc..matches the hockey stick graph for the collapse in flying insects and as i preach to people i try to explain when bees approach flowers they see positive and negative charges to see where the nectar is best....not wearing fluffy bee overcoats and going back to their cute bee houses to watch bee netflix !!!!!""..........slight cheer, as i stood next to my buddleia going on about the total absence of butterflies to someone, a solitary hairstreak appeared.....new to me, almost a thankyou from nature for ranting on about the collapse for so long...........i do also write eco songs....no identity or fame wanted free for anyone to use.........green alarm..on ..soundcloud.........try.....anger....or...the fungi and the trees have a conversation.......beyond anything else you may find my words a huge relief from the terrible consumer/materialist music biz which also destroys our planet with huge concert travel and lifestyle example......much much much love to you and your wife......
The seeker and the Sage. Your not rambling! Bring Richard Vobes two please. Wright wordings matters and a compact idiot proof guide needed to be a time lord of green manners. Raising Hades Alligoryhmic Baphometatron. PS. Inspiraggio. Why Vatican trying to keep it secret. UN scientific research into sounds. I found a place.😮😂😅
Love patches of ground like that, they make me stop and look. They are a lot more interesting and pleasing than human structures... Interesting that the Viper's Bugloss never returned, as you say maybe couldnt compete with grass, does it return in your garden ??
No, it seems to struggle with low germination rates Kilian. I am trying again this year though.
@@theramblingentomologist Toying with the idea of planting a few seeds myself 🙂
A lovely place to walk. There are plenty of ex-collieries here, but I've not been to see if they're explorable. With regard to recording, what's the proper way to do it if the numbers are thriving? For example, a busy species like Porcellio scaber in a garden. Lift a pot and the colony goes from innumerable to nothing in seconds 🤔
For instances such as scaber, a quick, conservative, estimate will suffice Catherine. Chances are, your country recorder for isopods will probably just be after the grid square, rather than numbers. But you can just use '1' if you wish, or 10, 20, 100 etc, for the common species.
Brilliant footage Trevor, I must admit that spiders are not my favorite but I realise that they fulfil such an important part of the ecosystem, and the web of this spider is amazing, wonderful video 😊👍all the best Terry.
Thanks Terry. I know they're not to everyone's liking, but I like to vary topics on this channel, to suit as many as possible.
@@theramblingentomologistI would allways watch anyway Trevor, you have a brilliant channel and long may you continue 👍🕷🕷