What's the caterpillar?

From Sarah:
I put my moth trap out last night and, although there were no moths in it this morning, there was this larva on the side. Could you help me with an ID please. I have Jim Porter's Caterpillars of the British Isles and I think the description of the Angle shades matches it. However I could be completely on the wrong track.

Posted by:Tony

Early Common quaker

In early January Joyce reported a very early Common quaker. Another has been taken this week at Aberporth by Sarah who was just trying out her new moth trap. She says "I am using a 15W mains actinic skinner trap in my garden and I made a note that when my trap was out for a few hours after dusk on Monday 18th Feb there was a clear sky and the temperature started at 5.7C and dropped to 2.5C. Since I had only received my trap that day I was only really testing it and I didn't expect to find anything in there so it was a nice surprise to find a moth - beginner's luck!"

 Here is the moth

 

Posted by: Tony

Fox moth caterpillar

We saw a Fox Moth larva today emerging early from its winter hibernation, probably fooled by the warm sunshine. We found it crossing our path on a moorland walk near Glas Pwll just over the border in Montgomershire.

Carolyn & Evan

Mothing at Glanyrafon

Our new season for 2013 has finally started! A trap in nearby mature oak woodland last night yielded 7 Spring ushers, 3 Pale Brindled Beauties one of which was the melanistic form monacharia, 1 Early Moth and 2 Tortrices of Tortricodes alternella.
 Attached are photos of the Early Moth and the melanistic Pale Brindled Beauty.

Carolyn & Evan

Spring moths

The garden trap on Thursday night produced no moths, but trapping in a mixed woodland on Friday night produced some species which you can expect to see in the Spring. A total of 27 moths of 6 species, 4 macros and 2 micros. The macros were ....


                                                                          Pale brindled beauty (3) ....

.... Dotted border (3) ....

.... Spring usher (1) and ....

..... Chestnut (10).








The micros were ....

                                             Tortricodes alternella

                                            Ypsolopha ustella

Posted by Tony

Butterfly walk

Whilst we await the arrival of some warmer weather and the prospect of seeing moths and butterflies again, here is another date for your diary. There will be a walk at Cwm Soden on 28th April looking for Pearl-bordered fritillary and Dingy skipper. See the events page for details.







There is always the possibility of seeing
dayflying moths like this Speckled yellow
which was seen at Cwm Soden last year.

This Dingy skipper was seen at Cwm Soden in May last year along with ....

... this Small pearl-bordered fritillary.







Posted by Tony.

Indian meal moth

I found this moth in my kitchen yesterday.

The Indian meal moth (Plodia interpunctella) is an adventive species which is considered to be a minor pest. Usually found in warehouses storing dry foodstuffs like grains, rice, flour, nuts etc.

The question remains as to what it had been eating in my kitchen.

Some highlights of 2012

This is the first post on this blog. As there is little to report for 2013 here are some interesting records from 2012.

Small purple-barred in a garden
 at Eglwys Fach on 28/05.

Grey scalloped bar in garden
at Talybont on 15/06.

Cloaked pug at Hafod on 26/06.

Double line at Hafod on 26/06.

Red necked footman in woodland
near Talybont on 28/06.

3 Welsh waves in woodland
near Talybont on 28/06.

Waved carpet in garden at
Llandygwydd on 05/07.

Scarce silver-lines in garden at
Talybont on 06/08.

Cloaked carpet  in garden at
Talybont on 06/08.

Lots of Clouded magpies at Llanerchaeron
on 06/08.

3 Anomalous moths near Monk's Cave on 06/09.

Pinion-streaked snout in garden at
Talybont on 23/10.