Victorian naturalists

Rumour has it that back in the heyday of butterfly and moth collecting, Victorian gentlemen paid schoolchildren to bring them interesting insects.  I can see why - they have sharp little eyes!  During a walk on Mynydd Llanllwni this morning Bea spotted both the interesting Macros we saw:

Beautiful Yellow-underwing, chased and potted by Bea and then photographed by me.

 

Common Heath, which Bea caught 2 of and I found none.

I chipped in with 2 Elachista subalbidella, which has just two recent Carms records both found in quadrats during NVC work.  This is the 3rd known VC site for this upland species.

Neofaculta ericetella (poor photo as they are very active) was the most abundant species, with 30+ around heather bushes.

 

 Also present were 3 Crambus lathoniellus, 1 Bactra lancealana and 2 Bilberry Bumblebee (Bombus monticola) at SN515385.