Llangeitho moths

Trap in a more gardened area last night, among shrubs and Miscanthus, yielding 40 moths of 17 species. Notable for me were four Scorched Wing, two Flame Shoulder, two Brown Silver-line, a Pale-shouldered Brocade and a Scalloped Hazel.

Scalloped Hazel

Flame Shoulder

Pale-shouldered Brocade

Scorched Wing

Brown Silver-line

The last was extremely restive, even after an hour in the fridge; it escaped but was re-found and photographed on a window frame, as was the Scorched Wing.

Brindled or Oak Tree Pugs?

I’m persevering with identifying pugs and am trying to differentiate Brindled and Oak Tree pugs. I’m going to stick my neck out, an be prepared to be shot down, and say that both these are Brindled Pugs but I keep changing my mind!! The discal spot is quite small and the black dashes beyond the fiscal spot are quite prominent. But there is quite a pale area beyond the fiscal spot, so perhaps it is Oak Tree?
Amended 27/4/20
 See replies below which tell me that it is Oak-tree because of the pale area behind the fairly prominent discal spot and the rounded wings.

This is another one from a different angle as it isn’t cooperating.

Prominents

Finally, after countless Hebrew Characters and Quakers, I’ve had some more unusual moths.
Pebble and Iron Prominents. Brindled Beauty numbers remain good.

Male Emperor Moth

Our first warm night produced a total of 138 moths of 34 macro and four micro species.  To our great surprise we found the male day-flying Emperor Moth in our garden trap with no female in sight.  We had several firsts for the year, some of which are in the gallery below, including a rather early Coronet (dark form) and a new micro for us.

Carolyn & Evan

Emperor Moth

                     

Lesser Swallow Prominent

           

Lunar Thorn

             

Pale-shouldered Brocade

Grey Birch

Coronet

     

Esperia sulphurella

      

There must be oaks in Aberystwyth

Two oak-feeding species in the trap this morning were new to the garden: Pammene argyrana and Acleris literana. Also several oak-tree pug (among more than 30 pugs up the wall of the house, with one Puss moth failing to blend in). First for year Purple Thorn, Pine Beauty and Seraphim.
On my meanderings an early Marbled Coronet, and Micropterix tunbergella.

Nebo/ Cross Inn

Pine Beauty from this morning...

Puss Moth, Llawrcwrt

 

Puss Moth

My daughter found this legging it across the hallway this morning. I think I have seen one or two before, but not often.
I was pleased to have an Emperor in the trap this morning. I think I have noticed a couple on the blog this year, but I don't recall many in previous years. It's certainly a first for me.

Mullein moth Aberporth

Not a single moth outside the 60w actinic, none in sight in the Robinson yet hidden away were a nice little selection including this super big furry Mullein. It had gripped the cardboard so tightly that I couldn't move it for fear of a leg breaking off. I did however flip its wing to see a mainly whitish upper hindwing making it a male.

Carpet Corner

A busy night, or rather, morning, with about 90 moths in the trap, which was set by a scrubby area at one end of our garden. Nineteen species, but notable for several Carpets as below (hoping my ID is correct).

Water Carpet

Small Phoenix

Garden Carpet

Red/Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet

Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet

The second, fourth and fifth are all new to me.

Also yesterday, by a Cornus officinalis there was a small cloud of Adela reaumurella:

Adela reaumurella

Double-striped Pug

I get very few pugs but 2020 is the year I aim to identify those I do catch.
Hopefully I’ve correctly identified this one as a Double-Striped Pug.

Drinker caterpillars

After watching a drinker caterpillar shed its skin on oregano Silke found over a dozen on this stripey grass. Any port in a storm?  No native coarse grasses in our little garden though I am working on that...

Blossom Underwing

Although we cannot possibly compete with these recent heavy weight catches, amongst last night's haul of only 21 moths of 9 macro species we were delighted to find our second ever Blossom Underwing in our woodland trap.

Carolyn & Evan

Llanarth garden - 16/04/2020

A mild but windy night brought in 27 macro and 4 micro species
There were 5 new macro for the year, including a first for the garden Emperor Moth

Emperor Moth - female

Golden-rod Pug

Nut-tree Tussock

Square Spot

Red-green Carpet

Thanks to Tony and Ina for sorting the Pugs.

Llangeitho moths

As of last September, I am new to moth trapping, and to the blog, which I find very inspiring!

Living a mile out of Llangeitho, I am lucky enough (especially in present circumstances) to have about 3 acres of oak/ash woodland, rough grassland and bramble scrub - and a garden - to work in.

Last night was a dauntingly busy one, with about 175 moths of 27 species. I am at the stage where almost every trap brings me something new, though seldom uncommon. Highlights from last night include a Pebble Prominent, a Flame Carpet, 6 Great Prominent, a Square Spot, and 46 Brindled Beauty; there were also 5 Least Black Arches, 5 Lunar Marbled Brown, 2 Powdered Quaker, a Common Lutestring and an Oak Nycteoline. Tony tells me the Common Lutestring is the early county record by 8 days - and I am grateful for his ready help with ID!.

Common Lutestring

Pebble Prominent

Powdered Quaker

Flame Carpet

Square Spot

In case it's of interest, I use a homemade multi-LED light with a funnel and bucket trap, which runs off a "powerbank", so is very portable.

Talybont garden

The forecast warm night turned out to be a bit windy. The moth catch was a bit disappointing with 28 moths of 10 species, most of them Hebrew Characters. New for us this year were Great Prominent and Eudonia angustea.
Tony & Ina

Great Prominent

Clouded Drab

Streamer

Mottled Grey

Eudonia angustea

Nebo/ Cross Inn Moths

Had I known that the forecast last night was 'windy' I wouldn't have put the trap out so I wasn't too hopeful as I tidied up various plant pots, chairs and a garden frame (!) en route to check it...

The wasn't a massive catch - 12 Hebrew Character, 4 Common Quaker and 4 Small Quaker and this rather impressive Emperor (at least I was impressed as I've never seen one before) It's a female I believe.

Brindled Ochre

This rare moth in Ceredigion was recorded by Chris Bestall in Penbryn. This is only the 12th record for this species and just the 2nd Spring record. These moths fly in the Autumn, when mating occurs, but only the females overwinter to lay their eggs in the Spring. All our records are from the south west tip of the county.
Tony