First Micro of 2020

Well it quite often is!  Tortricodes alternella.  Other species found last night; Spring Usher, Mottled Umber, Winter Moth, Chestnut.
Some absolutely terrible photos below... a combination of small compact camera, bad light and rubbish photographer, in other words me! 😂
Ina and Tony (Can't blame him for photos)

Chestnut

Mottled Umber

Spring Usher

Tortricodes alternella

Winter moths at Ynys-hir

We were tempted by a reasonable weather forecast and almost the longest night of the year to set a couple of actinic light traps in the woodland at the RSPB reserve. The result this morning was 186 moths of 6 species: Mottled Umber 107, Winter Moth 70, Scarce Umber 3, Pale Brindled Beauty 3 (the first of the season), Chestnut 2, December Moth 1.

Best wishes for Christmas and the New Year to all contributors and readers of the Blog.
   Tony and Ina

Mottled Umber

Just to show that you don’t even need a fancy moth trap to find something rather nice, here is a Mottled Umber which my wife found on the side window of her car this afternoon.

Winter Moth

3 Winter Moths were attracted to my light this evening.
In case you wonder about the photos, they were taken a) when it was still in a pot with a hedgehog place mat in the background and b) when it settled on this quarter’s copy of Broadleaf magazine.

Ynys-hir in November

We managed a couple of traps in the woodland last night, even though neither of us are firing on all cylinders at the moment.
Eleven species found and as usual at this time of year November Moth group were the most numerous with 66 counted.  Others; Scarce Umber 10, Feathered Thorn 34, Mottled Umber 12, Red-green Carpet 1, December Moth 17, Spruce Carpet 6, Chestnut 5, Winter Moth 5, Yellow-line Quaker 2 and Grey Pine Carpet 1.
It is easy at this time of year to miss the start of the Winter Moth, (especially if you are in a hurry) and count them in with Nov. agg. but size is a good indicator. The same with some plainer forms of Mottled Umber and Scarce Umber as the illustration in the field guide does give the impression S.U. is lighter in colour than it is here in Ceredigion.
Ina and Tony

December Moth

Spruce Carpet

Grey Pine Carpet

Scarce Umber

Scarce Umber

Winter Moth

Winter Moth

Llanarth Garden

A few new moths for this autumn including a well marked Chestnut. 26 moths of 11 species.

Chestnut

Black Rustic

Feathered Thorn

Mottled Umber

Red-line Quaker

Brick

December Moth

Ynys-hir in the rain

14 + species in the trap last night which was under cover due to the promise of heavy rain.
The + is for 4 carpet moths which are refusing to open their wings and the Nov aggs...but I am waiting patiently! The carpets are probably Spruce of Grey Pine but only time will tell.

Also, Acrolepia autumnitella a county first caught by a member of RSPB staff (Ellie) in the visitor centre yesterday, only tiny but very welcome!

Ina and Tony
November Moth agg. - which could be 3 species - 132, not counting the cloud that flew as I approached the trap.
Mottled Umber - 18
Feathered Thorn - 8
December Moth - 1
Merveille du Jour - 4
Spruce Carpet - 4
Yellow-line Quaker - 6
Chestnut - 4
Grey Pine Carpet - 2
Satellite - 1
Black Rustic - 3
Red-green Carpet - 1
Brick - 1

Chestnut

Feathered Thorn

Merveille du Jour

Mottled Umber

Mottled Umber

November Moth agg. female

Red-green Carpet

Saltellite