David Cousins
@dcousins85.bsky.social
Pan-lister based in West Essex and part of the Essex Lepidoptera ID Panel. Enthusiastic about any and all forms of natural history, but particularly micro-moths. Coleophoridae are the best of all Lepidoptera.
Reposted by David Cousins
The Coleophora sp. larval cases I found on sea purselane by the Humber Estuary last October turned out to be C. salinella! Only recorded in Yorkshire for the first time in August last year (I suspect it's been there a while though). #TeamMoth #YorkshireMoths @doublekidney.bsky.social
October 20, 2025 at 11:39 PM
The Coleophora sp. larval cases I found on sea purselane by the Humber Estuary last October turned out to be C. salinella! Only recorded in Yorkshire for the first time in August last year (I suspect it's been there a while though). #TeamMoth #YorkshireMoths @doublekidney.bsky.social
I gendetted the 2nd Jersey Mocha for Essex last year (caught by @jonnywhu.bsky.social), and such has been their increase this year in the county (I know of at least 5 others) I now have caught one myself last night in the garden (in fact, likely 2!). Also some fresh autumn favourites. #teammoth
September 20, 2025 at 12:05 PM
I gendetted the 2nd Jersey Mocha for Essex last year (caught by @jonnywhu.bsky.social), and such has been their increase this year in the county (I know of at least 5 others) I now have caught one myself last night in the garden (in fact, likely 2!). Also some fresh autumn favourites. #teammoth
A lifer for me in the garden the night before last with a very unexpected Heath Rustic. Must be a migrant of sorts because I am a fair distance from any heathland. #teammoth
September 19, 2025 at 7:44 AM
A lifer for me in the garden the night before last with a very unexpected Heath Rustic. Must be a migrant of sorts because I am a fair distance from any heathland. #teammoth
One of the best things about moth trapping in your garden is the bycatch. Last night I had a real surprise when this small ladybird appeared. I didn’t recognise it but it’s seemingly Oenopia conglobata which has only been recorded a handful of times in Britain and not previously in Essex. 🐞
August 28, 2025 at 11:25 AM
One of the best things about moth trapping in your garden is the bycatch. Last night I had a real surprise when this small ladybird appeared. I didn’t recognise it but it’s seemingly Oenopia conglobata which has only been recorded a handful of times in Britain and not previously in Essex. 🐞
Back from my French holiday and delighted that the Cisticola (+family!) was still on site at Walberswick. Went over early this morning with my eldest and we both had good views (but too far for my photography skills). Also a nice selection of seaside plants - Sea Pea being a new one for me.
August 25, 2025 at 11:08 AM
Back from my French holiday and delighted that the Cisticola (+family!) was still on site at Walberswick. Went over early this morning with my eldest and we both had good views (but too far for my photography skills). Also a nice selection of seaside plants - Sea Pea being a new one for me.
Wax on, Wax off 🥋
(Closest I could get them to sit next to each other! Both caught in my garden earlier this week).
(Closest I could get them to sit next to each other! Both caught in my garden earlier this week).
August 9, 2025 at 10:39 PM
Wax on, Wax off 🥋
(Closest I could get them to sit next to each other! Both caught in my garden earlier this week).
(Closest I could get them to sit next to each other! Both caught in my garden earlier this week).
Reposted by David Cousins
If you’re interested in any of Nature, health, biodiversity, climate, philosophy, geology, sustainability, evolution…
…or even how an individual bird duets with itself…
…then you might enjoy Nature Within.
🦋 🐛 🍁 🐜 🦢 🍄 🌳 🐝 🐞
🦔 🦎 🌸 🦜 🦒 🪱 🦉 🐦⬛ 🌿
You can pre-order here: tinyurl.com/Nature-Within
…or even how an individual bird duets with itself…
…then you might enjoy Nature Within.
🦋 🐛 🍁 🐜 🦢 🍄 🌳 🐝 🐞
🦔 🦎 🌸 🦜 🦒 🪱 🦉 🐦⬛ 🌿
You can pre-order here: tinyurl.com/Nature-Within
August 3, 2025 at 8:35 AM
If you’re interested in any of Nature, health, biodiversity, climate, philosophy, geology, sustainability, evolution…
…or even how an individual bird duets with itself…
…then you might enjoy Nature Within.
🦋 🐛 🍁 🐜 🦢 🍄 🌳 🐝 🐞
🦔 🦎 🌸 🦜 🦒 🪱 🦉 🐦⬛ 🌿
You can pre-order here: tinyurl.com/Nature-Within
…or even how an individual bird duets with itself…
…then you might enjoy Nature Within.
🦋 🐛 🍁 🐜 🦢 🍄 🌳 🐝 🐞
🦔 🦎 🌸 🦜 🦒 🪱 🦉 🐦⬛ 🌿
You can pre-order here: tinyurl.com/Nature-Within
Some excellent mothing in the New Forest over the weekend with @wjrpb.bsky.social . The scarcest micros were found while sweeping the boggy areas and all lifers for me. IDs in Alt text. 1/2
July 18, 2025 at 5:57 AM
Some excellent mothing in the New Forest over the weekend with @wjrpb.bsky.social . The scarcest micros were found while sweeping the boggy areas and all lifers for me. IDs in Alt text. 1/2
Reposted by David Cousins
This cranefly arrived on the side of the trap last night. Ctenophora ornata. It had obviously been in wars as two legs are missing. Stunning looking creature all the same. New Forest garden moth trap. #diptera.
July 12, 2025 at 8:19 AM
This cranefly arrived on the side of the trap last night. Ctenophora ornata. It had obviously been in wars as two legs are missing. Stunning looking creature all the same. New Forest garden moth trap. #diptera.
Some quality garden additions over the last few days taking me to 605 in 2 years and about 3 months. Both Ethmia dodecea and Eudemis porphyrana very scarce in Essex with less than 12 records of each. #teammoth
June 30, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Some quality garden additions over the last few days taking me to 605 in 2 years and about 3 months. Both Ethmia dodecea and Eudemis porphyrana very scarce in Essex with less than 12 records of each. #teammoth
Reposted by David Cousins
Last night I went to Colchester with @dcousins85.bsky.social on the Essex Moth trip. We saw the Strawberry Moon rising over Colchester from the meadow. Highlights for me, the Sloe Pug and uncommon Eidophasia messingiella (Bitter-cress Smudge). #TeamMoth.
June 12, 2025 at 11:56 AM
Last night I went to Colchester with @dcousins85.bsky.social on the Essex Moth trip. We saw the Strawberry Moon rising over Colchester from the meadow. Highlights for me, the Sloe Pug and uncommon Eidophasia messingiella (Bitter-cress Smudge). #TeamMoth.
Some cracking Coleophora from the Brecks last week with @wjrpb.bsky.social
Coleophora pennella, a Vipers Bugloss feeder and Coleophora albicosta, a gorse feeder. #teammoth
Coleophora pennella, a Vipers Bugloss feeder and Coleophora albicosta, a gorse feeder. #teammoth
June 4, 2025 at 8:21 AM
Some cracking Coleophora from the Brecks last week with @wjrpb.bsky.social
Coleophora pennella, a Vipers Bugloss feeder and Coleophora albicosta, a gorse feeder. #teammoth
Coleophora pennella, a Vipers Bugloss feeder and Coleophora albicosta, a gorse feeder. #teammoth
Reposted by David Cousins
Festoon, Alder Kitten, Marbled Coronet and Wood Carpet from the Brecks on Thursday night... @wjrpb.bsky.social @dcousins85.bsky.social #TeamMoth
May 31, 2025 at 8:25 AM
Festoon, Alder Kitten, Marbled Coronet and Wood Carpet from the Brecks on Thursday night... @wjrpb.bsky.social @dcousins85.bsky.social #TeamMoth
Reposted by David Cousins
17/05. A field trip with Essex Field Club & @dcousins85.bsky.social. Turned into a Coleophora day. I think 9 types recorded, two as aggs. #TeamMoth.
May 19, 2025 at 7:27 PM
17/05. A field trip with Essex Field Club & @dcousins85.bsky.social. Turned into a Coleophora day. I think 9 types recorded, two as aggs. #TeamMoth.
A bug-filled day on Sunday in a sandy Breckland field with 12 species noted across about 50m of ground. Plenty new for me and lots associated with the plentiful Stork’s-bill on site. Pics of the more notable species with IDs in Alt text.With @wjrpb.bsky.social 1/2
May 6, 2025 at 8:00 AM
A bug-filled day on Sunday in a sandy Breckland field with 12 species noted across about 50m of ground. Plenty new for me and lots associated with the plentiful Stork’s-bill on site. Pics of the more notable species with IDs in Alt text.With @wjrpb.bsky.social 1/2
Reposted by David Cousins
A visit to a Kent wood with @dcousins85.bsky.social last night for Promfest. Several nice moths that we don’t see at all or infrequently in our gardens seen. #TeamMoth.
April 28, 2025 at 9:37 AM
A visit to a Kent wood with @dcousins85.bsky.social last night for Promfest. Several nice moths that we don’t see at all or infrequently in our gardens seen. #TeamMoth.
Reposted by David Cousins
Annual survey by Essex Moth Group for Sloe Carpet last night produced 7, the temperature dropped from 10pm and it got very chilly near the Blackwater. #TeamMoth.
April 18, 2025 at 9:23 AM
Annual survey by Essex Moth Group for Sloe Carpet last night produced 7, the temperature dropped from 10pm and it got very chilly near the Blackwater. #TeamMoth.
Some nice beetles from Saturday night’s moth trapping with @wjrpb.bsky.social at Bayfordbury Pinetum. A brilliant site that I’m looking forward to visiting again.
April 15, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Some nice beetles from Saturday night’s moth trapping with @wjrpb.bsky.social at Bayfordbury Pinetum. A brilliant site that I’m looking forward to visiting again.
Reposted by David Cousins
Trapping Hatfield Forest last night for NT. 4 people, 10 traps. Mostly the usual woodland moths. The larval signs and Pammene spotted by the eagle-eyed David. #TeamMoth
April 5, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Trapping Hatfield Forest last night for NT. 4 people, 10 traps. Mostly the usual woodland moths. The larval signs and Pammene spotted by the eagle-eyed David. #TeamMoth
Reposted by David Cousins
Found by dcosins85.bsky.social, this rather nice Coleophora argentula, Yarrow Case-bearer, on a dead Yarrow head near Icklingham , Suffolk yesterday afternoon. #TeamMoth.
March 23, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Found by dcosins85.bsky.social, this rather nice Coleophora argentula, Yarrow Case-bearer, on a dead Yarrow head near Icklingham , Suffolk yesterday afternoon. #TeamMoth.
Reposted by David Cousins
Dcousins85.bsky.social and davidnorgate.bsky.social have put on the best so here are a few also rans from last night’s excellent outing.
March 23, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Dcousins85.bsky.social and davidnorgate.bsky.social have put on the best so here are a few also rans from last night’s excellent outing.
A superb afternoon and evening in the Brecks yesterday. Thanks to @wjrpb.bsky.social for helping me to locate 2 of the rare Veronica. Breckland Speedwell seen but not in flower but Fingered Speedwell a nice way to bring up 3000 for my panlist.
March 23, 2025 at 1:06 PM
A superb afternoon and evening in the Brecks yesterday. Thanks to @wjrpb.bsky.social for helping me to locate 2 of the rare Veronica. Breckland Speedwell seen but not in flower but Fingered Speedwell a nice way to bring up 3000 for my panlist.
Had a lovely walk yesterday afternoon with my boys and took our new pond-dipping kit to the chalk stream along the Flirch Way. Netted loads of Freshwater Shrimp which the boys were fascinated by (as was I!) Some nice fungi too - Scarlet Elfcups, Warlock’s Butter and Alder Goblet.
March 9, 2025 at 7:36 AM
Had a lovely walk yesterday afternoon with my boys and took our new pond-dipping kit to the chalk stream along the Flirch Way. Netted loads of Freshwater Shrimp which the boys were fascinated by (as was I!) Some nice fungi too - Scarlet Elfcups, Warlock’s Butter and Alder Goblet.
Finally some moths last night in VC19. 2 x Dotted Border, 3 x Pale Brindled Beauty, March Moth, 4 x T. alternella & A ferrugana/notana. #teammoth
February 21, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Finally some moths last night in VC19. 2 x Dotted Border, 3 x Pale Brindled Beauty, March Moth, 4 x T. alternella & A ferrugana/notana. #teammoth