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Thursday, 19 July 2018
Humming
Hummingbird Hawkmoths were seen at Cwmllwyd, feeding on Buddleia, on both Wednesday 18th July and on Thursday. Meanwhile my brother who lives in SN62 also had one feeding on Buddleia on Wednesday and captured the photo shown below:
Elephant Hawks Still Around ...
... in more than one guise. My wife came face-to-face with this one whilst she was picking blueberries for breakfast this morning:
It seemed to be more or less fully-grown, what could it have been doing 1m or so from the ground in a blueberry bush? Meanwhile, an Elephant HM was amongst a handful of moths in my small actinic trap this morning. I can hardly remember a time when there hasn't been at least one, usually more, in a trap. There has certainly been an abundance of them this year.
There was very little else worthy of mention in the trap this morning, which didn't surprise me following a cold, clear night. Three FFYs though, Twin-spot Carpet, Magpie Moth and Ruby Tiger.
It seemed to be more or less fully-grown, what could it have been doing 1m or so from the ground in a blueberry bush? Meanwhile, an Elephant HM was amongst a handful of moths in my small actinic trap this morning. I can hardly remember a time when there hasn't been at least one, usually more, in a trap. There has certainly been an abundance of them this year.
There was very little else worthy of mention in the trap this morning, which didn't surprise me following a cold, clear night. Three FFYs though, Twin-spot Carpet, Magpie Moth and Ruby Tiger.
Tuesday, 17 July 2018
Bancyffordd 17/7
An actinic tube replaced my MV at the top of the garden last night. Fewer moths and fewer wasps. Everything was a bit wet suggesting low cloud/mist or light rain in the early hours. My second Purple Thorn and remarkably only my second Yellow Shell. Rosy Rustic was new for year along with what I think might be a Small Clouded Brindle, perhaps someone could confirm from the photos attached.
Underside showing hind wing discal spots
Upperside looking like a peculiar Common Rustic
Moths at Saron
I have had a good, diverse number of species here, mainly using the actinic light in the porch. A Twin-spot Carpet was a first for me last week, despite it being down as common in my ID books.
I am struggling to identify this tiny micro moth so any help much appreciated.
I am struggling to identify this tiny micro moth so any help much appreciated.
Monday, 16 July 2018
The last post...
I am possibly the last to post of the `regulars` who trapped last night (15/7), but it was worth trapping.
I had the two traps out here at my Pwll garden and there was a decent catch to inspect early this morning (I had arisen from bed extra early to avoid the predicted rain showers - which actually did n`t happen).
In contrast to the prevailing northerly winds of the recent prolonged hot spell, last night`s wind was southerly and it brought moths from a different direction and different habitats. From wetland habitat immediately south of the garden came 8 round-winged muslins and 6 small wainscots; from nearby sandy coastal grassland 5 scarce footmen arrived, but a true lover`s-knot must have been blown over from the north Gower heaths.
Of migrants there were only silver y`s and it now seems that the micro Argolamprotes micella is probably resident in and around my garden - I had another two last night.
A few tiny Gynnidomorpha sp. were in my traps this morning but which one, I do not know.
Above: last night`s true lover`s-knot.
Above: small china-mark - ringed china marks are more usual in my garden traps.
Well done to Adam, Andy, Chris and Steve for also trapping last night.
I had the two traps out here at my Pwll garden and there was a decent catch to inspect early this morning (I had arisen from bed extra early to avoid the predicted rain showers - which actually did n`t happen).
In contrast to the prevailing northerly winds of the recent prolonged hot spell, last night`s wind was southerly and it brought moths from a different direction and different habitats. From wetland habitat immediately south of the garden came 8 round-winged muslins and 6 small wainscots; from nearby sandy coastal grassland 5 scarce footmen arrived, but a true lover`s-knot must have been blown over from the north Gower heaths.
Of migrants there were only silver y`s and it now seems that the micro Argolamprotes micella is probably resident in and around my garden - I had another two last night.
A few tiny Gynnidomorpha sp. were in my traps this morning but which one, I do not know.
Well done to Adam, Andy, Chris and Steve for also trapping last night.
Causing a commotion.
If you think that a number of Large Yellow Underwings, or some Dark Arches, or Drinkers in your trap can create havoc, please let me assure you that that is as nothing compared to the madness and mayhem that can arise with six Oak Eggars sharing the space with 340 other moths! It tends to make a moth trapper's job quite difficult.
And that's how it was at Cwmllwyd this morning. I'm fairly sure that escapees fleeing from the carnage would have taken the total much closer to 400, had they not been so disturbed. There were 86 species recorded, with 21 FFY, including the Eggars. Others included Double-striped and Narrow-winged Pugs, Slender Brindle x9, Black Arches x2, Magpie x5, a single Figure of Eighty:
And several rather pretty micros:
And that's how it was at Cwmllwyd this morning. I'm fairly sure that escapees fleeing from the carnage would have taken the total much closer to 400, had they not been so disturbed. There were 86 species recorded, with 21 FFY, including the Eggars. Others included Double-striped and Narrow-winged Pugs, Slender Brindle x9, Black Arches x2, Magpie x5, a single Figure of Eighty:
And several rather pretty micros:
Willow Ermine Yponomeuta rorrella x4
Mompha propinquella
Mompha raschkiella
Acrobasis advenella
While taking a break for lunch, a Humming-bird Hawk-moth was seen feeding on Buddleia.
More new species for Gors Road
I spent a few minutes looking hard at the Lead and July Belle illustrations before I realised the subtle lines of colour and hooked forewing tips meant it was something else.
Shaded Broad Bar.
But a tiny pinkish moth looking like a Wainscot could only be a Small Rufous.
I also spent a lot of time staring at illustrations of Tortrixes before I looked elsewhere and managed to identify this handsomely marked micro.
Carcina quercana
But a tiny pinkish moth looking like a Wainscot could only be a Small Rufous.
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