Tuesday, 24 October 2023

Aberystwyth garden

The moths came in twos last night, presumably to get out of the rain. Black Rustic (2), Angle Shades (2), LBAM (2), Silver Y (2 in the trap, 2 hiding on the fence). The odd one out was Ypsolopha ustella, which came alone. Before I went to bed, and before it rained, single Merveille du Jour and Red Sword-grass, probably the most interesting of the lot.




Monday, 16 October 2023

Another Ceredigion first.

 Peter Major had a brilliant recording session on Constitution Hill on the 7th of October - not only did he record a Death's-head Hawk-moth, Convolvulus Hawk-moth x 3 and a Scarce Bordered Straw as mentioned in Mike Bailey's post - but also a Box-tree Moth (Cydalima perspectalis) which is another County first. It will be interesting to see how quickly it will spread or whether this is a one-off .



Box-tree Moth


Death's-head Hawk-moth


Convolvulus Hawk-moth


                                                               Scarce Bordered Straw


All photos - Peter Major.






                                                                                    

Friday, 13 October 2023

Spoladea recurvalis

 Having heard from Peter Major that he caught Scarce Bordered Straw, Death's Head and 3 Convolvus hawk-moths on Consti at the weekend, and having caught Vestal and Rusty-dot Pearl myself on Sunday night, I was encouraged to put the trap out again last night.

This produced my first Convolvulus hawk moth for Troedrhiw Seiri, plus a rare migrant from the tropics, Spoladea recurvalis, which has appeared for the first time in a number of English counties in recent days, and I guess could be a county record for Ceredigion?!


Wednesday, 11 October 2023

Llanarth garden.

 I recorded a Gem earlier this year - it is an immigrant and fairly uncommon in Ceredigion. Last night I recorded two more, which made me wonder if these were bred locally.



Gem - male


Gem - female

I also had both Chestnut and Dark Chestnut - Seeing them together makes it much easier to differentiate. The shape of each being a key pointer - especially the wing tips.


Chestnut


Dark Chestnut


Tuesday, 10 October 2023

Marbled White Spot- 2nd Generation

 Our catch last night included another exceptional 2nd generation moth- this time a Marbled White Spot and this Turnip Moth.

Carolyn & Evan

Marbled White Spot

Turnip Moth


Llanrhystud beach

A walk along the coast path at Llanrhystud on Sunday. Best moth was this Vestal on the shingle, which was happy to pose on my finger. Also two Rusty-dot Pearl and a Silver Y.



Monday, 2 October 2023

Slim Pickings

There's been little to get excited about in the garden trap recently. Square-spot Rustic appears to be having a good year here (Aberystwyth), but only four last night, equalled by E. angustea. Otherwise Black Rustic (3), Feathered Ranunculus (2), Spruce Carpet (2), Pale Mottled Willow, and a Silver Y. 

T. acroxantha appear to be trying to colonise the house. I think I understand where it gets its vernacular name.

Pale Mottled Willow

Feathered Ranunculus

Black Rustic

Eudonia angustea

Spruce Carpet