Blair's shoulder-knot

This moth was not recorded in Ceredigion before the 1980's according to Adrian Fowles. It was first discovered on the Isle of Wight in 1951 and has been moving north very quickly since then. Could the spread be related to abundance of Lawson's and Leyland Cypress, the larval food plants. We recorded good numbers in the garden last year, and we had our first for this year last night.

Pale Mottled Willow Distribution

Sarah,

That was a good night!  The map says it all!

Evan

Vernacular names for micro moths

We have added a short article to 'pages' regarding vernacular names of microlepidopter.
This was written by Steve Palmer (Lancs micro recorder), in answer to a question by a local moth-er in that county. 
As I thought it may be of interest to those (us included) struggling to get to grips with the scientific names I asked if we could use it on the Ceredigion Blog.
Hope you find it interesting.

Some Autumn Moths

Our garden trap last night produced 12 species including these four rather attractive autumn moths. As Sarah mentioned earlier we have also seen a lot of Silver Ys including three in our trap. Retrieving the trap was a painful experience due to a wasp resting under the handle!

Carolyn & Evan

Red-line & Yellow-line Quakers

Merveille du Jour

Brindled Green

Brown-spot Pinion Distribution

Sarah

Another good record!  It is interesting that Waring in his most recent book states "it was formerly one of the most numerous moths in English lowlands, including gardens.  However, numbers in the Rothamsted national light-trap network declined substantially between 1968 and 2002 and it does not appear to have recovered since."

Evan

Cors Fochno - Moths and Mines

Having spent two days learning about Microlepidoptera leaf mines in Lancashire & Cumbria from Dr. Mark Young and Steve Palmer, we decided to try to put our new found knowledge into practise this morning.
After emptying the moth traps we looked over the surrounding foliage and found the following.



Mompha raschkiella on Rosebay Willowherb

 

This is a link to UK Moths if you would like to see the adult.

http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=5995

 

Bucculatrix cidarella on Bog Myrtle

 

 

This little moth also feeds on alder and the mines can be found during August & September.

 

We also found Stigmella aurella, this is very common on bramble...look on any bramble patch and it will most likely be there.

 

Moths in the trap included... Canary Shouldered Thorn, Pink-barred Sallow, Small Wainscot, Pinion-streaked Snout, Chevron, Eudonia angustea and Brindled Green.

 

Brindled Green

 

Pink-barred Sallow on pink pencil!!

 

Orange Sallow Distribution

I thought this might be of interest Sarah.

Evan