Aberporth Small Marbled

 

Surprised and pleased to find this well coloured Small Marbled on the clifftop at Aberporth. Lewington's illustration  doesn't do it justice!

Only had phone to hand hence the quick photo grab. 

Blomer's rivulet

A new species for me in Aberaeron last night. More recently 2-8 records per year in the county but historically 0-2 per year.

Pachyrhabda 0 - Psychoides 1

 Ian Morgan's recent post about Pachyrhabda steropodes prompted me to check the soft shield ferns and others in the garden here.

Alas, so far no sign of steropodes, but plenty of spore eating activity in evidence: some on soft shield fern, a little on male fern, and lots on the Japanese and Chinese fern, Dryopteris uniformis:

Dryopteris uniformis

Dissecting one of the little heaps revealed a larva, which I take to be Psychoides filicivora. I have yet to see an adult. 

Psychoides filicivora, larva

The few hartstongue ferns here are some way off from having mature sporangia. I shall keep checking these and other ferns here.

Third pretty chalk carpet

Last night I had another pretty chalk carpet, my third since 22 June. This one was quite battered and faded. 

Good night in Bontgoch

 Over 50 ssp. of macros last night including Shark, Ghost moth female, Double line, Green arches, 4 Swallowtails and Round-winged Muslin, Small Seraphim and Smoky Wave.

Out now in Carmarthenshire - what about Ceredigion?

 Another little reminder - please keep an eye out for larval workings of Pachyrhabda steropodes. Below is copied and pasted from the Carmarthenshire moth blog. I`m envious of your small marbleds and Welsh clearwing records, by the way!

Laura Moss recently (25/6) sent me an excellent photo of Pachyrhabda steropodes larvae spinnings. Note the two orangey elongated shapes in the photo and that the sporangia are missing = eaten, under soft shield-fern fronds (its food-plant ) at Llangynin (NW of St Clears). Something to look out for.

A second small marbled!

With only two previous records for the county, both on the same day in 2015, a small marbled 2 nights ago was a surprise but a second one last night was quite unexpected! This one has more pronounced markings that the first so posting here for the record. Aberaeron.