Maenol 04-03-2021

 Actinic traps were used here last night and on Tuesday night with modest returns: small numbers of Early Moth and Dotted Border, singles of Hebrew Character and March Moth (FFYs), and this micro which I'm calling Tortricodes alternella unless anyone tells me otherwise:

It's reported to be a common species, but this is the first time that I've recorded it here in twelve years of trapping.  Never mind, better late than never, and it's nice to see something new so early in the season when there's not much around.

I'm including this image of HC because it's such a fine example!

Maenol 26-02-2021

 Not ideal conditions last night (clear and cold) but two traps went out and four moths were recorded, three Early Moths and what I presume from it's size (f/w 13mm) to be a Small Quaker, I can't think what else it might be at this time of year:

A trip to the shed....

 What`s a trip to the shed got to do with mothing? Actually nothing, but on the way back to the kitchen door I flushed a micro which then flitted around in a slightly whirling flight. I thought that I might as well see whether it could be caught if it settled. It did n`t settle but I went into the kitchen to get a tube kept `ready for action`, grabbing one with a diameter of less than an inch. The moth had gone, so I looked around the corner of the house and, luckily, I could see it still in flight. Trying to catch it, in flight, with a tube of limited diameter, was difficult but, after one catch after when it immediately escaped, I caught it on the second attempt.

I glanced at it, put it into the fridge and had my breakfast.

I believe that it is Bankesia conspurcatella. The species is described as flying in the early morning sunshine (mine was caught at 8.15 am) and the season is right. I`m not sure whether I`m more pleased that (a) I unexpectedly chanced upon it (b) I managed to catch it -in flight -with a specimen tube or (c) that it`s a rarity!

PS - I have added another photo, the 2nd one above,

Mild late Feb

Moth'ers have been anticipating this weekend's southerly airflows for the last couple of weeks, but the first two nights were disappointing. Friday 19th was apocalyptically wet and windy, causing widespread flooding of the Tywi and producing no moths at all, whilst Saturday 20th was a little calmer and drier but only yielded 7 moths of 4 species at the Cnwc-y-llwyn MV. Sunday 21st was the pick of the bunch, with 40 moths of 9 species split between the MV and porch light. Highlight was a stunning Agonopterix umbellana: only the 5th Carmarthenshire record following 2 at the Rhandirmwyn Rothamstead in the 80s, 1 at Maenol in 2016 and 1 at Graig in 2017. It's similar to the somewhat commoner A. nervosa, but with a streakier wing, more prominent dots in the terminal area, a less pointed wingtip, and a dark streak along the centre of the thorax.

Pontyberem 4th Feb 2021

The only moth to the mv was this Pale Brindled Beauty on the wall nearby.

Maenol 04-02-2021

 Two actinic traps shone here last night and attracted these three moths:

                                                                      Mottled Grey

                                                                           Chestnut

                                                                      Dotted Border

A start has been made!

 A couple from 26th January. Might try tonight too.

Mottled Umber

Early Moth