Pale Prominent and others

 A slightly better night in the garden but still only 13 moths, amazingly 12 different species. Pale Prominent is documented to have two generations per year, May-June and July-Aug, but we have only had individuals from one or other brood (late in even years and early in odd years). The following were all new for us this year:

Tony & Ina

Pale Prominent

Small Elephant Hawk-moth

Treble Lines

Nut-tree Tussock

Garden Carpet

Common Pug

 

Privet Hawk Moth

 Excitement this morning - my first Privet Hawk Moth at Llawrcwrt. The last one I saw was when a small child in Cambridgeshire in the 1940's. They still seem enormous.

Eyed Hawk-moth

 Another small catch for the time of year but a few species we've not had previously this year.

Tony and Ina

Eyed Hawk-moth

Small Square-spot

Common Wave

Mullein Wave

Fox Moth

Lunar Thorn

 Our two woodland traps last night produced 20 macro species but, as like everyone else, very low in numbers.  First for this year included most of the below and a Pale-shouldered Brocade which eluded the camera.

Carolyn & Evan

Brown Rustic

Least Black Arches

Lunar Thorn

Marbled Brown

Scalloped Hazel

Tawny-barred Angle

Poplar Hawk-moth

 We are still getting very low numbers of moths in the garden, just 10 moths last night of 10 different species (7 macro 3 micro). First for the year were a Poplar Hawk-moth and a Lychnis, plus 1 of Ina's favourites a May bug!

Tony & Ina

Ynys-hir moths

 Just one trap at the reserve last night caught 18 moths: 10 macro species and 2 micros. Not great but this is often a quiet time of year. The following were firsts for us this year.

Tony & Ina

Pale Tussock

Scorched Wing

Lesser Swallow Prominent

Flame Shoulder

Great Prom

 

My 18w actinic is bringing in few moths but I was pleased to see this one amongst last night's catch.

Apologies for blurry pic, not only is my Lumix LF1 on the blink but I am bound to take them in situ, not wanting to remove any from the site nor wanting to hang around for better light!  Hopefully I will get another in better condition; many of the moths are showing signs of wear now rain has arrived.

Also in the box: White-pinion Spotted, Scalloped hazel and some fresh Green carpets.  Brindled beauties are still coming in and there are the ever reliable and smart Brimstones.

Wildlife Trust woodland near Cardigan 

Ruddy Highflyers.....

 are alive and well on Cors Fochno. We recorded 8 individuals in 1 small actinic trap.

Tony & Ina

Mottled Umber larva

 Spotted by Ina at Ynys-hir yesterday.

Emperor Moth

 This Emperor Moth was a lifer for me last night at Cross Inn.

Grey Bogworm?

A few years ago I inadvertently introduced Luffia lapidella f. ferchaultella onto the garage wall. They've spread across the house and done so well that this one has taken up residence in the bathroom:

Yesterday it patrolled the seals on the window, presumably removing all lichen. Certainly preferable to Case-bearing Clothes Moths, which are also starting to emerge. 

Desperate to see something lepidopterous, I checked my favourite fence in Aberystwyth cemetery this evening and counted at least 29 bagworms.

Llanarth garden

 Even though it was a mild night it only produced 8 species - 

two of which were new for year.

Spectacle

Grey Birch

Blossom Underwing

 Finally, a better night with minimum temperature of 7°C  yielded 75 moths of 15 macro species from three traps.  First for this year included Blossom Underwing, Square Spot, Yellow-barred Brindle, Barred Umber and Scalloped Oak and a second mass hatching of Brindled Pugs.  As well as Peter in the previous post, we had a few Great Prominent. 

Carolyn & Evan

Blossom Underwing

   

Barred Umber

Great Prominent

Square Spot

Yellow-barred Brindle

Poor catches continue!

 My LED trap was out last night until about 5a.m., with a disappointing yield of 20 moths, 7 species. First for the year for me were Lesser Swallow Prominent and Great Prominent.

Lesser Swallow Prominent

Great Prominent