Monday 19 October 2020

Moths at last

 After some very disappointing results in our garden recently it was good to visit some good woodland habitat. The result was 120 moths of 22 species. Most numerous were Chestnut and November Moth Agg. followed by Merveille du Jour and Grey Pine Carpet. Most surprising was a Small Fan-footed Wave, which has recently been producing a small second generation.

Tony & Ina

Merveille du Jour

Grey Pine Carpet

Grey Pine Carpet

Small Fan-footed Wave

Red-line Quaker

Yellow-line Quaker



Mottled Umber

Mottled Umber


Thursday 15 October 2020

Cross Inn, Llanon

After a long lull, it was nice to find 10 moths of 6 species last night. The common Marbled Carpet decided to fly away before I could take its photo but here are the Spruce Carpet, Red Green Carpet, Satellite and Green Brindled Crescent.






Wednesday 14 October 2020

Pale Tussock Larva

 We encountered this Pale Tussock larva crossing a forestry track near Artists' Valley today presumably on its way to pupate.

Carolyn & Evan



Tuesday 13 October 2020

Acrolepia autumnitella

Last month (20th) I collected a caterpillar from a large "window" in a leaf (by the football club in Borth). At the time I thought that the plant was bindweed, but I now think it was bittersweet. (Ina won't believe any of my leaf mine records now!) Within a day it had crawled out of the leaf and we watched it spin a chrysalis, and then this morning it had hatched: Acrolepia autumnitella.



Monday 12 October 2020

Lunar Underwing

 I hope that I’ve identified this correctly.(My only moth last night!)

 It’s only my second in Cross Inn and I thought I’d post it as there seems to be so little activity at the moment.




Thursday 8 October 2020

Povolnya leucapennella

 I am posting this photograph of P. leucapennella mainly because it is the best picture of its distinguishing feature that I have taken, I should say it was easier as the moth was deceased!  

While you may be able to see the tufts through a hand lens it is another thing entirely taking a half decent photo of a live moth only 6mm in length.

There are other similar Gracillariidae but they do not have the tufts on segment 2 of the labial palps as shown.   Ina.




Monday 5 October 2020

Autumn has arrived

 Finally we caught some moths in our woodland trap last night - 11 moths of seven species including our first Mottled Umber, Green-brindled Crescent, Yellow-line Quaker and Chestnut for this year.

Carolyn & Evan

Mottled Umber

Green-brindled Crescent

Yellow-line Quaker

                                                                               Chestnut