Wednesday 11 November 2015

Climate change?

After several disappointing results from our garden trap, we set two traps in woodland at Ynys-hir last night. What a difference, over 100 moths with 22 macro species and 4 micros. The big surprise was a Dark arches, which is reported as having a partial second generation in the Autumn in the south. With this and the Small seraphim from a couple of weeks ago, could we be experiencing a warming climate? There were large numbers of "November" moths plus Red-green carpet, Grey pine carpet, Spruce carpet, Mottled umber, Green brindled crescent, 4 Merveille du jour (still hanging on), Feathered thorn, Chestnut, Northern winter moth, Silver Y, and a couple of December moths (for Ina). In the micros there was a Rusty-dot pearl, 3 Acleris ferrugana/notana, Crocidosema plebejana, and possibly Carpatolechia decorella which, if confirmed, will be a first for VC46.
Crocidosema plebejana

Dark arches
Tony & Ina

4 comments:

  1. Crikey, better get the trap up to Coed y Bont! What battery are you using? I'm slightly worried that my new lithium supposed to be 26amp equiv. may not be up to it.

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    1. We used a 125W MV Robinson and a 6W actinic Heath with a 35AH battery. I know such a big battery is way over what is needed in theory, but it does keep the light bright all night. Because the Heath can be carried into woodland, where there is less disturbance than around the centre, it actually caught more moths than the Robinson, 63 against 44.

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  2. What a great catch! Back from our travels and I note that we also had a second generation Dark Arches on 10th October. Carolyn.

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    1. There have been a few 'late' records of various species around the country, our Small Seraphim recently too. We would like to gather these records together for publication in Entomologist's Record. Please see new post.

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