Old Lady hit by car

I picked this Old Lady up off the pavement in Aberystwyth, with one of its hindwings in front of the forewing. Presumably hit by a car. We performed a little surgery and released it, but it didn't seem to have much energy (or maybe just calmer now it has its wings in the right order).

Simon

Multiple Replies

Not a moth comment this, but seems to be an Android problem.
When I use my Android tablet to post a comment it has been doubling up...yesterday it posted in triplicate!
So if you see 'Comment removed' it is not because we are removing undesirable comments or that we have been hacked or attacked, just a tablet problem.
Stay calm and keep taking the tablets??
Ina

Another Pocket of Welsh Waves

Like Tony we have our own known pocket of Welsh Waves in our valley.  We caught three in all  in local woodlands last night, including this fresh specimen, amongst 34 macro species from four traps.  This is a selection of some of them.

Carolyn & Evan

Welsh Wave

Scallop Shell

Barred Red

Large Emerald

Wormwood Pug

Ypsolopha nemorella and others

Only 35 species last night, including 14 micros. My first Gold Triangle escaped before I could take a photo, but Ypsolopha nemorella almost made up for it:

Ypsolopha nemorella

Also Bryotropha domestica and affinis, Elachista argentella, Phycitodes binaevella, Crocidosema plebejana,and this Swammerdamia sp. (possibly caesiella?):

 Other recent micros include Thistle Ermine and this Tinea sp. which has me stumped:

FWL 6mm

Simon

Wood Tiger

Thanks to Arthur Chater for this record of a Wood tiger from heather moorland just E of summit of Drybedd near Ponterwyd. This is a rare moth in Ceredigion with only 26 records stretching back to 1897 on heather moorland and peat bogs. Since 1991 there have been 9 records all from Cors Fochno, the most recent being in 2007. It is difficult to know whether this day-flying moth is in decline or just under-recorded because of its habitat requirements. There is a thought that the grazing levels on the uplands may have caused a decline, thankfully the grazing pressure has been reduced in the  Pumlumon  area which may be good news for the Wood tiger. Anyone walking these upland areas in the next couple of weeks may be lucky enough to see one. I have been unable to get a clear picture of the state of this moth around the country but most counties think it is very local and possibly declining.

   Arthur also reported seeing a Thrift clearwing at a lighted window in his home in Aberystwyth. He has known of these moths in his garden for some time but this is the first he has recorded since 2009.

   Tony

Mottled Rustic

This Uncertain-like moth was caught last night in Aberystwyth (FW 15mm).  However, the oval and kidney marks were noted to be blurred without a crisp lighter edging  and there was a distinct dark outer fore-wing band.  The hind-wing was white.  We believe this to be a Mottled Rustic - a new one for us.

In the same trap was this rather attractive micro Lozotaeniodes formosana.

Carolyn & Evan

Six-spot Burnets

We found these two mating Six-spot Burnets on a sunny afternoon walk at Ynyslas this weekend.

Carolyn & Evan

Crescent Dart Map

My apologies for not sending maps for earlier interesting records but I have had long complicated problems trying to solve the Mapmate vs Windows conflict.  Having finally found a solution I can now produce the map for the Crescent Dart distribution which has been of recent interest.

If anyone wants a map for a particular moth please contact either Tony or myself.

Evan

Dark Marbled Carpet

I find the smaller Geometers rather fidgety moths and not always easy to photograph. By the time they have settled, they are often in poor shape and rather bashed about. It was pleasing to take this one before too much damage had been done.

Seasonal Moths

A warm night produced 53 macro species from three traps this morning.  These included our first July Highflyer, a rather early Rosy Rustic and a smaller 2nd generation Engrailed.

Carolyn & Evan

July Highflyer

Rosy Rustic

Engrailed

Cloaked Carpet

 

Coxcomb Prominent

Micros

 I wondered whether this micro could be a Holly Tortrix (FL 6.5mm) in view of its apical wing crease but would appreciate further expertise.  Also attached is a photo of one of the Oegoconia species as Simon caught recently.  I assume that identification to species level would require dissection and I still have the moth if Peter would like it.

Carolyn

Trapping at Mwnt

I trapped on Tues and Wed at the clifftop campsite next to Mwnt.  It was windy on Tues so I put the trap on the edge of a small field of barley by some corn marigolds but within reach of the heathy plants on the cliff top and had a good catch of 38 macro species in the 15w actinic amongst which was this Shark, plus Crescent Dart,Bordered Sallow and a Sharp Angled Peacock, all new to my eyes.
On Wed it was calm but chilly so again the trap was near to flowers but not on the exposed cliff heath and attracted 2 Marbled Coronet and a Shoulder Stripe Wainscot (the latter not common in the south of the County?) plus Antler and a lot of Heart and Darts.

The other one

Here's a photo of the other Small Marbled:

It was part of a bumper catch for my garden trap: over 100 moths of 48 species including 15 micros. Other highlights were Scarce Silver-lines, Argyresthia dilectella & albistria, and a probable White-line Dart:

Also a dark Lackey and FFY Short-cloaked moth (2), Small angle shades, Scarce (2), Common and Rosy footman, Oegoconia quadripuncta (4, presumed).

Simon

Another Migrant!

We found this Small Mottled Willow on our kitchen window this morning, of which we saw several on a moth course with David Brown on Exmoor a month ago.  It is clearly a good year for migrants.

Carolyn & Evan

Small Marbled

I was one of the lucky two to catch the immigrant Small Marbled on Tuesday night on Cors fochno. I don't think my individual is quite as colourful as the one Ina posted but it appeared quite fresh! I also had two Barred Chestnut in the trap which are new for the site.

Small Marbled

Barred Chestnut

Small Marbled and Ashworth's Rustic

A couple of rarities have been found over the last couple of days.
Two Small Marbled, a migrant and county first record, on the same night at different locations.
One local rarity and a nationally scarce moth Ashworth's Rustic at a previously known location.
If the two lucky people who found the Small Marbled would like to post a better photo, please do.

Small Marbled #1

Small Marbled #2

Ashworth's Rustic

Ina and Tony

Phycitodes binaevella

I found this Phycitodes binaevella (11mm) in our conservatory this morning.  This maybe quite common hereabouts Ina but as it is a first for me I thought I would put it on the blog.  There is plenty of Spear Thistle in the valley.

Carolyn

Sharp-angled peacock

Pete Skinner (no relation) caught this moth in his garden near New Quay. They are very similar to the Peacock moth but I think that the distinct cross-band running through the "paw-print" makes this one Sharp-angled peacock. All comments welcome.

Tony

Lilac Beauty

Another bumper night with 69 macro species, 15 common micros and two migrants from four traps placed in different habitats in our valley.  The star of the night was our first ever Lilac Beauty.  This was complemented by two beautiful Garden Tigers.  The migrants were the Silver Y and the Rush Veneer.

Carolyn & Evan

Lilac Beauty

Garden Tiger

Slender Brindle

Clouded-bordered Brindle

Two Buffs!

Rush Veneer

Caloptilia rufipennella ...

... appeared yesterday from a sycamore leaf collected two weeks ago:

Caloptilia rufipennella

 

 

I suspect that this much less impressive creature might be Eucosma obumbratana:

Simon

Burnished Brasses

Two Burnished Brass in the trap this morning. Usefully, one of each form. I picture them below in plan view and side elevation. (I have an engineering background)

                                                                             f. juncta

 

 

                                                                            
                                                                              f.aurea
 

 

 

 

Limnaecia phragmitella

This was bred through and emerged today from Bullrush heads collected in the winter. I am expecting more over the next few days.

Limnaecia phragmitella 

Ina

Talybont 8th July

Just a few photos of last night's FFYs for the garden.

Gothic

Phoenix

Agapeta hamana

Celypha striana

Green Pug

Swallow-tailed

Ina & Tony