Lime Hawk-moth and Obscure Wainscot

 The end of May and beginning of June has seen moth numbers pick up, thank goodness.  There are quite a few species that I have missed out on this year but at 22:45 on 31st May I looked out of the window to check the trap before going to bed and got a surprise!

Not believing my eyes I had to unlock and go outside to get a better look.  My eyes were not deceiving me,  it was a Lime Hawk-moth the first in 75 years and only the second recorded in vc46.

My next treat was at Ynys-hir on the morning of the 3rd June.  Pot that up for later was all that went through my head as there were quite a few individuals surrounding and on the outside of the trap.  about an hour later...right, "What's this odd looking Wainscot" I ask myself.  I've seen one of these before but what the devil is it called?... Thinking cap firmly on and daylight dawned, eventually.  Not called Obscure Wainscot for nothing.

Ina Smith

 

 I notice from Tony's excellent Macro Moth document that this little moth has been a regular contributor from these parts. I set the trap in a neighbour's more sheltered and more floriferous garden adjacent to some splendid meadows and although the catch was small it did include this one.

Not quite as exciting as Ina's Lime jobby but nice in a delicate sort of way!

White-spotted Pug

 Modest result from trapping last night, the sky remained pretty clear and there was a nearly full moon, so not surprising, perhaps. Highlight was a single  White-spotted Pug, in company with Oak-tree and Brindled Pugs. Otherwise, two Shoulder Stripe, a Grey Birch and two Great Prominent. Total was just 12 moths of 10 species.

White-spotted Pug

Frosted Green

 A Frosted Green was a first for me last night in Cross Inn.

Tony Allenby

 You will be greatly saddened to hear that Tony Allenby died yesterday.   He had been our County Moth Recorder for almost 10 years and was instrumental in setting up this blog.    During this time he created the invaluable document 'the State of all Macro Moth Species in Ceredigion' which can be accessed on this site and which hopefully will continue to be updated.

He was a dedicated and much respected moth-er and he and Ina were a great team spending many happy hours in the field trapping in the county.    As County Recorders they were very approachable and willing to share their expertise with all and sundry.    Being a recorder in the manner they did it was more a way of life than just a voluntary occupation.

On a more personal level we have fond memories of shared weekly trapping sessions with him up our valley prior to Ina's arrival and attending a number of David Brown's moth courses together.

He will be greatly missed.

Carolyn & Evan.

Early Mottled Grey

 We had this very early Mottled Grey in our woodland trap last night.

Carolyn & Evan

Late or early?

Tempted by the migrants seen in Carms, I put the trap out a couple of times over the weekend. The only possible migrant was a Silver Y. I was more impressed with a Merveille du Jour, and surprised by a Heart and Dart - did it think it was spring already?

Merveille du jour

Heart and Dart