Ynys-hir on Sunday 11th Sept

Just a reminder that we will be opening traps at RSPB Ynys-hir on Sunday morning if anyone would like to come along you will be very welcome.
Normal admission charges apply for none members wanting to go onto the reserve.
This event had been missed off the RSPB web site so please pass the word around to anyone you may think will be interested to see what is flying at this time of year in a mainly woodland habitat.
Fingers cross for the good (mothing) weather to continue.

Ynyslas Dunes

Twenty three macro and seven micro plus two still to be determined on a warm night in the dunes.
The local population of Green Carpet is not in danger as we had 104 in the trap plus dozens that flew off before they could be counted when I fell down a hole while carrying the trap!
Eight Lime-speck Pugs were very nice to see, by far my favourite Pug...mainly because it never gives you a headache wondering what species it is!!
Feathered Gothic, Archer's Dart and Mullein Wave also featured.
We also had a wandering Marsh Oblique-barred, this dispersion technique is something they do on very warm nights as proved in the past by being found miles from any suitable habitat.  So, if anyone out there is wondering what that triangular shaped micro is that they have had recently... it may well be you are looking in the wrong book. ;-)

Mullein Wave

Sallow

Lime-speck Pug

Silver Y and Green Carpets

Tan-y-bwlch - sheet and light

Thanks to Chloe for organising the event last night with Penparcau Community Wildlife Group.

There were around a dozen people came to see the moths, but not many moths wanted to see us last night unfortunately.
Fifteen species as I remember but Chloe was keeping count so will put me right if I missed one  or two I'm sure.

Flounced Rustic, Small Square-spot, Square-spot Rustic, Common Carpet. Feathered Gothic, Orange Swift, Lesser Yellow Underwing, Flame Shoulder.

Captotriche marginae, Common Plume (Emmelina monodactyla), White-shouldered House Moth (Endrosis sarcitrella), LBAM (Epiphyas postvittana), Celypha lacunana, Celypha striana, Bactra lancealana.

Coptotriche marginea

Coptotriche marginea (Tony liked this pic)

Orange Swift - Library picture

Feathered Gothic - Library picture

Heath Rustic Distribution Map

Here is the distribution map for the Heath Rustic.

Evan

Heath rustic and friends

A Heath trap in the local woodland last night produced 22 macros and 3 Micros. Most numerous were Eudonia Mercurella, Spruce carpet, Common marbled carpet, Brimstone, Flounced rustic and Purple bar. Pick of the bunch were Heath rustic, Treble-bar, Tawny speckled pug, and Magpie moth. The guide books say that Heath rustic and some brightly marked examples of White-line dart are similar, so compare this one with the White-line dart posted a couple of days ago.

Heath rustic

Treble-bar

Tawny speckled pug

Magpie moth

Tony & Ina

Pen Dinas Moth Night

Just a reminder about the event Chloe has organised for tomorrow night.
Please see  Pen Dinas Moth Night post of the 7th Aug.

It's looking fine for Friday night, so come out and Meet our aMazing Moths!  We'll be gathering round the base of Pen Dinas, (Penparcau, Aberystwyth), right at the end of Felin-y-Mor Road (aka Tip Road), where the turning circle is, at 8.30pm.  We'll meet Tony and Ina, our local moth specialists, who will be ready with their moth trap to show us how beautiful and diverse our Night-time Citizens are.  Suitable for all 8+.  

Do remember to wrap up warmly and bring yourself a torch, as there are no street lamps at the end of the lane.  For those of you driving, it would be great if you could leave your cars a bit further up the lane, as there is very limited space at the turning circle, there should be on-street parking where the houses are.  Please remember not to look at the very bright light of the moth trap directly.

A Pug

Many of the pugs I catch are in pretty poor condition, but I find even the better ones still difficult to identify. This is a good example as it doesn't appear to be too badly worn. Golden Rod Pug has been suggested. I tried to print 5mm squares however on careful measurement they are nearer 6mm squares so it is 9mm maximum.  Is that a bit small? Comments please.