More new Micros in Burry Port

 There was a reasonable trapful when I got up this morning. Unfortunately more than 50% of it was Large Yellow Underwing! However I did find three new micromoth species. The first was quite a large individual, Chilo phragmitella, bigger than some of the smaller macros.

The next is about the same size of an uncooked grain of rice, maybe smaller, a colourful momphid, Mompha propinquella, my final identification arrived when I had a large photo to look at.

Similarly my next moth required a photo to clinch its identity. I realised it was Caloptilia, but which one?

Smaller than a grain of rice, the tops of its legs are black, not rufous, it's Caloptilia rufipennella.

 

A new micro for Burry Port

The only thing of note in a very small trap was a micro, which I believe is Ptocheuusa paupella.

It seems to have a range restricted to southern England and sliver of Wales and is a denizen of damp woods and salt marshes.

More Maenol Micros

Recent trapping sessions have produced few macros of interest amongst the hoards of Yellow Blunderwings, although Friday night did produce a FFY, Twin-spot Carpet.  A few micros are worthy of mention, even if they are mostly fairly common species:

                       Acleris hastiana

                     Tinia semifulvella

               Swammerdamia pyrella

          Parornix sp., probably anglicella

I haven't discovered how to align these images side-by-side under the new system.  Why do they have to change these things?  The old procedure seemed to work well.

 

 

Help with micros please

I've drawn a blank trying to identify these two from Thursday night. The second one the antennae were about the same length as the abdomen.  Could the second one be a Paromix spp? Suggestions please?

Meagre hauls in Burry Port

I trapped for two nights in a row, and despite favourable conditions, especially last night, numbers have been low. Three quarters of the trap have been Large Yellow Underwing or Small Chinamark, the latter seem to love the margins of my small pond.

Rosy Footman was the most striking macro, an FFY.

There were a couple of mystery micros, which I spent some time puzzling over. The identity of this Tortrix did not reveal itself until I looked at my photograph on the laptop.

Only at a large scale could I see the pink flush - Notocelia incarnatana I believe. A first for me.

I also added to my collection of unremarkable brown moths, again only clinching the id with a picture.

It's another Bryotropha - terrella I think. Yawn!

Finally there were some very small extras at the bottom of the trap.

Mea Culpa - Thorns

I haven't caught much lately and mostly Large Yellow Underwing at that. A friend of mine in Norfolk is catching lots and has sent me a few shots, including, like Dai, a nice Purple Thorn. I now realise that my Lunar Thorn of a few weeks ago was in fact Purple, and the more I look, the more obvious it is. Apologies to all.

My first Old Maid at Llansteffan!

Despite the clear sky and biggish moon a good nights trapping in Llansteffan. As well as the Old Maid other highlights were 3 Pale Prominents,  a Ruby Tiger lots of Common and Four Spotted Footmen,  a Scalloped Hazel and a Purple Thorn