More from the Blackcurrant bushes

Cloaked Carpet

No V-Moth yet, but this was lurking in the blackcurrants last night and is a moth that hasn't turned up here often. Judging from the reported food plant it had lost it's way.

Phoenix at Llawrcwrt

Being the time of year, I am putting the trap near the Blackcurrent bushes from time to time, in the hope of attracting a V-Moth. No luck so far but I did catch this shiny new Phoenix last night. I read that it is another Ribes feeder so things working as planned - more or less.

Three big micros

The warm night of 25 June yielded many moths, in my case with lots of tiny micros, but also three macro-sized ones:

Brown China Mark

Beautiful China Mark

Mother of Pearl

Borth Bog

We ran two small actinic traps on Wednesday night and recorded 154 moths of 47 species (38 macro and 9 micro). In the mix were Southern, Smoky, Common and Striped Wainscot, Round-winged Muslin, Pinion-streaked Snout and Minor Shoulder-knot.

Tony & Ina

Grey Scalloped Bar

Striped Wainscot

Minor Shoulder-knot

Double Dart

Barred Yellow

Chilo phragmitella (m)

Small Seraphim

Hedya salicella

July Belle

A really good haul from our neighbour's woodland last night included this July Belle and several Satin Beauty.

Carolyn & Evan

July Belle

Satin Beauty

Five-spot Burnet

I've tentatively ID'd this as a Five-spot Burnet - one of the confluent variety I believe.

I'm also wondering if it may be Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet? There doesn't seem to be any border at all at the front of the wing (and you don't much narrower than that!)

Any ideas anyone? I've looked at photos on line but they don't make it any clearer for me...

Talybont Garden again

Without going through the size of the catch - H&D, LgY/u and DA - I thought I should share a few of the more interesting garden moths.
Ina & Tony

Aphomia sociella - Bee Moth

Brussel's Lace

Clouded Border

Dark Sword-grass - an immigrant moth

Four-dotted Footman - don't often find them in the garden

Green Silver-lines

Single-dotted Wave - don't know what it is doing here,

 this garden is definitely not damp at the moment!

Triple-spotted Clay - This & Double Square-spot

often cause ID problems. Worth learning. 

The easily seen difference if in doubt

is to look at the hindwing.

Lunar Hornet Moths

This rather unusual moth had never been recorded in Ceredigion but two have been seen in the last week, one in Aberystwyth and the other very close to us in Talybont. 

Tony & Ina

Spatalistis bifasciana

Well I think new species must be like busses, you wait for ages then two come along at once!
To add to the wonderful Lunar Hornet Moth in Aberystwyth this week Carolyn has found this little moth, barely 6mm wing length, near Talybont.  This species is gradually working its way north, having been very local in the south it has become more widespread in recent years.
It inhabits open woodland feeding on many deciduous trees including Oak so should not have any difficulty finding the right habitat here in Ceredigion.  Keep your eyes peeled folks as it is very small and dark and could be hiding in the bottom of your trap.

A night at Nanteos

Before the rain returns tonight I ran the trap in the woods near Nanteos last night. Good to see Blomer's Rivulet (not just because Aberystwyth gets a mention in Waring and Townsend!), and first for year Grey Arches, Clouded Magpie (2), Peach Blossom, Barred Straw (3), July Highflyer, Muslin Footman, Green Silver Lines, Coxcomb prominent and Small Fan-footed Wave. Probably too cold for many micros, but Pammene regiana and Eudonia delunella (2) were new for me, first for year Agonopterix nervosa, and five Nemophora degeerella was a nice suprise.

Clouded Magpie

Grey Arches

Blomer's Rivulet

Pammene regiana

Eudonia delunella

Rainy day in Talybont

Well we are very grateful for the rain we have had. Also very glad it is not coming down all at once as it is in the south.  My heart goes out to all the people just recovered from the floods earlier only to be inundated again.
To last night's moths.
Nineteen species in total, 14 macro and 5 micro.
A Small Dotted Buff must have decided our garden had gone from an arid desert to wet grassland and moved in overnight.  Also our first for the garden this year Lobster, Small Rivulet, Double Square-spot and a Garden Tiger.
Micros (no photos) C.culmella, Celypha striana, Celypha lacuana, Anania hortulata and last and also least 2 Plutella xylostella, (I'll be keeping my eye on the cabbages!)
Ina and Tony

Double Square-spot

Garden Tiger

Lobster Moth

Small Dotted Buff (m)

Small Rivulet

Barred Red

A selection of moths from our neighbouring woodland including this Barred Red which is a conifer specialist.  This woodland comprises a variety of trees including a stand of Norway Spruce.

Carolyn & Evan

Barred Red

Grass Emerald

Map-winged Swift

Mottled Beauty f. conversaria

Muslin Footman

Rhos Glendenys - between Cross Inn,Llanon and Llanrhystud

Worth a visit if anyone is local.

Today I recorded Blood Vein, Five Spot Burnet - now double figures, Scarlet Tiger, and Silver Y.

Also loads of grashoppers/crickets, Emperor dragonfly, butterflies (mainly Meadow Brown & large skipper)

Still quite dry despite the recent rain so you only need wellies to cross the stream at the far end of the reserve, dependent of course on whether the promised monsoon arrives this afternoon...

Brussels Lace

Well pleased to have caught this Brussels Lace in the moth trap on Sunday 14th June.  Sarnau.

Moths on the coast.

a few photos from Wallog last night.  35 Macro and 10 Micro species, not counting the ones that got away!  We got a little wet but the moths did not seem to mind the rain.
Ina and Tony

Cochylis atricapitana (name is bigger than the moth - 6mm)

Crambus perlella

Crescent Dart - Coastal cliff specialist

Dark Spectacle

Dusky Brocade

Mottled Rustic - (rusty mark through kidney)

Rivulet

Scoparia pyralella

Spectacle

Shoulder-striped Wainscot

Yellow Shell