A few more interesting moths in the garden trap last night, including my first Netted Pug here:
Other NFY were Puss Moth, Peppered Moth, Buff-tip, Treble Lines, Least Black Arches and a Marbled Beauty caterpillar. Both of the latter were high up on the wall of the house.
Pachyrhabda steropodes is out - see copies of emails from Sally Hall just S of the Teifi - what about north of the Teifi ie in Ceredigion? It was out today in some quantity near Llanelli (SE Carms). Worth vc46 recorders having a look perhaps? Remember that they are tiny and flit (`float`?) around the fern before re-settling. Pale yellowish white to the unaided eye.
27/4/26 Thanks Ian, I have
now found Pachyrhabda steropodes here (at our natural burial site/nature
reserve, Saron, Llandysul). I have been searching for this species and today
found well over 100 flying around a few soft shield ferns. It was confined to just
one area – with a lot of dog mercury – not sure if that is significant. I
didn’t have a camera but I did have my close focus binoculars so ID reliable.
21/4/26… this species must be spreading fast. Working in our woods over the last two days and 100s flying around the uncurling soft shield fern.
After two warm days Wednesday night seemed promising. Trapping on a garden/woodland boundary yielded about 70 moths, of 22 species. Several pristine Purple Thorns brightened the trap, but notable were Grey Birch, Frosted Green, Small Phoenix and Scalloped Hazel, all a little precocious.
Good to see three Square Spot, at least 13 Streamer, Lunar Marbled Brown, two Great Prominent and an Oak-tree Pug.
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| Grey Birch (phone photograph) |
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| Scalloped Hazel |
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| Frosted Green |
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| A very brown Engrailed |
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| Lunar Marbled Brown |
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| Oak-tree Pug |
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| Square Spot |
Things are looking up. 24 moths last night of 11 species. Early Thorn x2, Early Grey x 4, Early Tooth striped 1, Hebrew Character x6, March Moth x 3, Herald 1, Engrailed 1, Small Quaker 1, Clouded Drab x2, Brindled Beauty x2, Red Chestnut 1
It’s a long time since I put my trap out at Pontsaeson but I’ll try harder.
Last night saw 13 Hebrew Characters and 2 Clouded Drabs.
A very early, and very fresh, V-pug in the garden trap (Aberystwyth) this morning. In total 39 of 11 species.
Inspired by Peter's post, I put my garden trap out for a couple of hours yesterday evening. Just Chestnut and Common Quaker.
On my way to work this morning I passed Early Moth, Dotted Border, and a very surprising Rusty Dot Pearl. An immigrant already?
