Coed Y Bont

Yes it was a warm, humid night so my best catch so far:  in the 8w* bucket 30 species including Scorched Wings, Peach Blossoms,Clouded Silver,White Spotted Pinion, Pebble and Coxcomb Proms, Purple Bar and numerous Common Marbled carpets, Scalloped Hazels,Small Phoenix and Nut Tree Tussocks.  Oh and my favourite a Chinese Character!
With the 10w Goodden  in a similar bucket 12 sp.
Apparently similar habitats and there was not more than 70m between them but the 8w is a new lamp so I wonder if its true that the efficacy of UV diminishes with age and long before the lamp itself gives out?
I'm so fed up with tiny catches I'm changing all my lamps and investing in new batteries as some are 8 years old and took a hammering in the near zero temps in Sweden last month.

A snippet from UK moths blog: EU directives about lamps are going to impact on supplies of MV lamps so stock up if you use them.

Pic below is my only micro: Eulia ministrana.  Just to cheer up Ina!

* 8w fixed vanes from Batty very easy to erect if not to carry and he says guaranteed to fire up every time, true enough so far.

Fox moth

It was such a promising forecast last night that we put two heath traps out on Cors Fochno last night, one in a very open position. There was a very strong wind blowing this morning and the said trap had 1 Broom moth in it and a Common wave sheltering outside. The less exposed trap produced our first Fox moths of the year, 2 females, an Eyed hawk-moth, Green carpet, Small square-spot, White ermine, Middle-barred minor, and Heart and dart. Again no micros.

Tony & Ina

Rhos Llawrcwrt - New Contributor

I started  moth trapping at Llawrcwrt back in 1988 and every few years the trap gets dusted off and put out again. With the improvement in the weather things seem to be perking up a bit and last night there were two moths that I haven't often seen. I therefore make my first foray onto the blog and am attempting to insert pictures of a Pebble prominent and Treble Lines below. Perhaps others don't see them often either.

Silver Hook

A quick wander around Ynyslas this afternoon on what must be the warmest day of the year so far.
Lots of butterflies about, Wall Browns, Common Blues,Large Skippers, Small Heaths and Painted Ladies.
Moths, Scoparia pyralella, Eudonia angustea, Crambus lathoniellus, Chrysoteuchia culmella.  I am sure though that you will be more interested in the larger moths, Silver Y, Yellow Shell... and an honorary little 'un... a Silver Hook.

We also found a few other things that we cannot name, but if anyone knows please feel free to comment.

Ina and Tony

Small Yellow Underwing

Despite last nights temperature falling to 4 C we managed 19 species of macro moth at the splendid upland farm of Moelgolomen. Included were the greenest of Green arches, our first Small elephant hawkmoth and Dark arches for the year. Daytime searching of the flower meadows produced many grass moths and 3 Small yellow underwing.

Green arches

Small yellow underwing

Tony & Ina

Hummer

A hummingbird hawkmoth on our tub flowers yesterday and today.

Also a painted lady on the sunny ride in Deri Lodge wood this morning.  I saw a couple in Holland recently and apparently there is another invasion on the way though nothing like the big one of a few years ago.

In the 60w actinic a couple of nights ago: Elephant hawkmoth, Heart and Dart, Lesser Swallow Prom,
White Ermine, 2 Brown Rustics looking battered and a smart Clouded Bordered Brindle.  Big moon, clear sky, low temp so low catch only to be expected.  At least it was better than the empty boxes I had  in Sweden during its coldest May for over 50 years!

The vanguard?

This little Argyresthia cupressella flew past the garden trap last night. So they've reached Aberystwyth.

Simon