Shoulder Stripe

At last a reasonable number of moths in spite of a minimum temperature of 1.7°C last night!  We had 17 macro species and one micro from our nearby oak woodland. One new entrant for this year was this attractive Shoulder Stripe.  The most numerous were the Chestnut (15) and March Moth (10).  We also had a Yellow Horned with an unusually shaped kidney mark.

Carolyn & Evan

Shoulder Stripe

Early Thorn

Yellow Horned

March Moths Galore and an uncommon treat for Llawrcwrt

 

I think it must have been about the first dry night for several weeks. Anyway the  6W actinic trap had no fewer than 39 March Moths in and on it. Also an Oak Beauty. I thought this was a species new to me. However a trawl through records suggests that I recorded one in 1991.
It was also the first night that I used a new battery, the subject of recent heavy investment. It is described as an 18 Hole Lithium Golf Trolly battery, 16aH and weighs only 2.2 kg. It is said to last for 2000 rounds of golf which must equate to a lot of moth trapping. After 14 hours use with the 6W lamp, it recharges in about 3 hours. It will certainly widen my field of operation, hitherto limited by how far I was prepared to push a tractor battery in a wheelbarrow.

Ynys-hir Sunday

Just a reminder about the Ynys-hir event this coming Sunday

8th April 2018.  Possibles - Red Chestnut, White-pinion Spotted, Early Tooth-stripe, Streamer, Peach Blossom, Lunar Marbled Brown.  (no promises though)
Maybe even Acleris literana.

Traps open 9am on the car park/picnic area.

All welcome

Cross Inn

Had I seen the weather forecast (windy) I wouldn't have put the trap out last night.

This morning when I checked it there were twenty moths (OK - not many but it's a good total for me!) - Oak Beauty, Clouded Drab, March Moth, Pale Brindled Beauty, and Hebrew Character (14). It makes me wonder if a windy night might not be such a bad thing. Recently most of the moths have been on the outside of the trap - perhaps the wind has encouraged them to seek shelter inside?

Photo is a March Moth - just in case any newbies have difficulty finding it it a guide like I did! And I find the patterning quite attractive..

Phyllonorycter maestingella and P.trifasciella

I  picked up a few leaves from Pant da last month and would normally have left them outside a little longer but brought them in away from the 'beast from the east' a couple of weeks ago.
As Phyllonorycter are easy to rear (usually) they have emerged a little earlier than they should.
Photos are not brilliant but moths are recognisable. P.maestingella from Beech (Fagus) and P.trifasciella from Honeysuckle (Lonicera).. The latter is under recorded here in Ceredigion, I really should get out there and find more.  If you have any Honeysuckle local to you please have a look for the blotch mine and cones and maybe we can fill a few more squares.

Photos here  of feeding signs etc.

P. maestingella

P. trifasciella

P. trifasciella

Red Chestnut

Despite a cold night and a full moon we managed to catch eight macro species in the shelter of our nearby oak woodland including this Red Chestnut.

Carolyn & Evan

Aberystwyth

Last night in town produced Common Quaker (2), Diurnea fagella, Early Grey, and my favourite of the fresh spring moths, an Oak Beauty. The Early Grey was showing off its gorgeous delicate pink flush.
Joe Parker

Early Grey

Diurnea fagella

Common Quaker

Early Grey