Feathered Thorn

In spite of the minimum temperature of 0.7°C two traps produced 14 macro species last night.  The best of the new bunch was this Feathered Thorn.  Also included were a second generation Snout, Green-brindled Crescent, Satellite and some of our first Chestnuts for this season.

Carolyn & Evan

Feathered Thorn

Snout

Green-brindled Crescent

Satellite

Stigmella nylandriella ...

One or two leafmines from the last few days.

Stigmella nylandriella on Rowan, found up Cwm Clettwr. This is a county first but there must be more out there.

Stigmella nylandriella

Stigmella tityrella on Beech.  The mine starts with the egg laid near the midrib.

Stigmella tityrella

Stigmella hemargyrella.  Vacated mine on Beech, the egg is laid away from the midrib.

Stigmella hemargyrella

Other mines/larvae found - Parornix betulae, Phyllonorycter corylii, Phyllonorycter nicellii, Parornix devoniella on Hazel, Cameraria ohridella, and the ubiquitous Stigmella aurella on Bramble and Avens.

Autumnal Moths

Our usual three traps last night produced 12 macro species.  These included Yellow & Red-line Quakers, our first November Moth for this year, a 2nd generation Dark Arches and a very fresh 3rd generation Common Carpet.  The only micro was an attractive Rusty-dot Pearl.

Carolyn & Evan

Yellow & Red-line Quakers

November Moth

Common Carpet

Rusty-dot Pearl

Merveille-du-jour and Flounced chestnut

Two traps in woodland last night, where the temperature fell to only 8 C, gave us 23 macro and 3 micro species. It was exciting to get a Flounced chestnut, which is quite scarce in the county away from Aberporth. Our first Merveille-du-jour of the year (sorry couldn't resist including the photo they are so spectacular) and Dusky thorn. The full set of Pine, Grey pine, and Spruce carpet were present. Most numerous were Yellow line quaker and Red-green carpet. Amongst the others were Pink-barred sallow, Silver Y, Large wainscot, Pinion-streaked snout, Brindled green, Rush veneer, and Acleris rhombana.

Brindled green

Rush veneer & Flounced chestnut

Large wainscot

Merveille-du-jour

Tony & Ina

Autumnal Rustic

 

Unlike some others I am getting very little in the trap these days, so it is nice when something new turns up. I have not seen an Autumnal Rustic before. Apart from this I have recorded a couple of Green Carpets, a couple of Green-brindled crescents, an August Thorn and several as November Moth agg. It seems a shame that positive identification in these cases is terminal, or at least very uncomfortable for the moth.

Bulrush Wainscot

With the prospect of a warmer night than of late we put a couple of traps on Cors Fochno last night.
A small 6w actinic light produced the best catch 14 macro and 2 micro species, the other 15w trap had a further 3 species but only 6 species in total....I like that little bucket!!
Amongst the catch some late Chevrons (7) were a surprise, our first Brick of the year, Pink-barred Sallow (15) and Heath Rustic (10) some showing the pink hue of a lot of Cors Fochno moths, the pick of the catch was a female Bulrush Wainscot and what a big girl she was!
If anyone out there can tell me what the gorgeous crane fly is I would be grateful, it came a close second to the Wainscot.

Small Wainscot

Bulrush Waiscot

Pinion-streaked Snout

Heath Rustic

Brick

Ina and Tony.

Haworth's Minor

While doing water vole surveys in the Tywi Forest on wednesday we stumbled across this moth at approximately SN776606. I'm reliably informed that it's a Haworth's Minor, a new moth for me (thanks to Sam and Steve for id and to Steve for improving my rubbish photo!). We also had larvae of white ermine and light knot grass.