Summer's end surveys at Bwlch Corog, Glas Pwll. 30/08 & 01/09/2024

It was with an uncertain weather forecast that two all-night surveys were conducted in different areas of Bwlch Corog on the change of seasons.

On Friday, the survey was located in a previously unrecorded area below the access track to the main site, in a narrow, mixed wooded gorge.

Three Skinner's 15w synergetic and a Skinner's 125wMV were set up along a linear path running down to the stream at the bottom. Being a very chilly night, they were probably better placed here, the tree canopy providing some protection from the cold.

38 macro species were recorded. Typical to the time of year,  Autumnal Rustic and Sallow sp. were present, along with Satin Beauty and Dark Marbled Carpet.  Amongst the seven micro species recorded were Acleris varieagana and Epinotia ramella.

Autumnal Rustic (pink form). PMcG.

Dark Marbled Carpet. PMcG

Highlights of the night were Anomalous and a slightly faded Beech-green Carpet.

Anomalous. PMcG

Beech-green Carpet. PMcG

Saturday night, being much milder, was a re-visit to the degraded peat land at the top of Bwlch Corog. With the threat of rain later in the night, only the three Skinner's 15w synergetic were used.

51 Angle Shades were noted, calmly feeding around in the dark on Common Rush flowers.  Locally common Haworth's Minor, Pine Grey Carpet and Neglected rustic were recorded from the traps,

Haworth's Minor. PMcG

Pine Grey Carpet. PMcG

along with a selection of forest edge/grassland species. 32 macro and oddly, only one micro species, Eudonia lacustrata were recorded.

Buff Footman. PMcG

Chevron. PMcG

Total species so far recorded at Bwlch Corog since June 2023 is now 163 macro and 37 micro.

In the unlikely event of a surprise warm spell, this probably marks the end of moth surveys at Coetir Anian/Cambrian Wildwood (https://www.cambrianwildwood.org/) for this year. Next year will be focussed on niche habitats around the site and looking for daytime Clearwings.

Phil McGregor.

Three Sallows

I ran a trap for a few hours at Cors Ian over the weekend, trying to make the most of the warmer weather. Some of the highlights were Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, Gold Spot, Purple Bar, several Oblique Carpet, Tawny-speckled Pug, and Sallow, Centre-barred Sallow and Pink-barred Sallow.

Tawny Speckled Pug

Gold Spot

Oblique barred

Pink-barred Sallow

Among the micros, Epermania falciformis, Eudonia truncicolella, and what might be a very dark Acleris laterana:

Migrants

Several migrants to my Aberystwyth garden last night, including Silver Y, Rush Veneer, Dark Sword Grass and one of my favourites, Palpita vitrealis:

Second generation Small Square-spots and Flounced Rustic suggest that autumn is almost here. Vine's Rustics now appear well established.

Tiny micro

 This was reluctant to leave the trap this morning, I believe it is Bucculatrix nigricomella, we certainly have plenty of Ox-eye Daisy around.

Two surprises in Llangeitho

 My trap from last night was pretty full, with over 130 moths of 51 species. Two highlights were a male Four-spotted Footman and a Beautiful Hook-tip, both new to the garden.

Beautiful Hook-tip

Four-spotted Footman

Otherwise, 8 Elephant Hawk-moths managed to cram themselves into the trap, along with a Swallow-tailed moth.

Ypsolopha vittella

A stroll around Plas Crug cemetery yesterday evening was productive. Highlight was what I think is Ypsolopha vittella:

Also Small Dusty Wave and Oegoconia quadripuncta (probably). And 6-spot Burnets, where I have previously only found 5-spots.

Hungry Shark

The shark was back for a third time on the garden fence this morning. Highlights included Dingy Shears, Phoenix, Gold Triangle and Sallow Kitten, and FFY Rosy Footman, Grey Pine Carpet and True Lovers Knot. There were two Crescent Darts and an Elachista sp. still to identify.

At Cors Caron this afternoon there was no sunshine so it was all micros tapped from trees: several Argyresthia sp. including bonnetella, retinella, conjugella and brockeella, as well as Bucculatrix maryella, Paraswammerdamia nebulella, Rhopobota naevana and Pseudargyrotoza conwagana.  A Red Sword Grass caterpillar on Heather was nice.