Thursday, 23 April 2026

Time to look in Ceredigion?

 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.

Thursday, 9 April 2026

Early risers in Llangeitho

 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.


Grey Birch (phone photograph)

Scalloped Hazel

Frosted Green

A very brown Engrailed

Lunar Marbled Brown

Oak-tree Pug


Square Spot

Tuesday, 31 March 2026

Pontsaeson Cross Inn Llanon

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


Saturday, 21 March 2026

Cross Inn, Llanon

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.



Wednesday, 18 March 2026

V-pug

A very early, and very fresh, V-pug in the garden trap (Aberystwyth) this morning. In total 39 of 11 species.

V-pug


Tuesday, 10 February 2026

RDP already

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?


Sunday, 8 February 2026

Acleris cristana

 A forecast mild, damp night prompted me to dust off my trap, which yielded a dozen moths, with eight macros...

Chestnut, Dotted Border, Early Moth, Mottled Grey, Oak Beauty, Pale Brindled Beauty, Red Chestnut and Spring Usher.

...and one colourful micro which I believe to be Acleris cristana: