Wednesday 29 June 2011

Llanymynech Rocks MMG Event

Dear All

A reminder that there is a MMG (Montgomeryshire Moth Group) event at Llanymynech Rocks, on Saturday 2nd July, Map reference: SJ267218.

This is a joint event with the Shropshire Wildlife Trust, so please come along to support us, we’re very hopeful of some excellent results from this site.

Target species at this event are; Pretty Chalk Carpet and Haworth’s Pug

Meet 9:00 pm. All are welcome; please contact me to check that the event is on (details in events area of the web site), please bring a torch.

Directions; Meet at reserve car park, signposted from main road (A483) between Llanymynech and Pant.

Peter.

Monday 27 June 2011

Fox moth?

I think I caught a fox moth last night...

Tuesday 21 June 2011

Carreg-y-big farm event report

The report and species list from Saturdays event at Carreg-y-big farm has now been posted to our website and can be found (along with the other 2011 event reports) here.

Thanks once again to the Davies family of Carreg-y-big farm for their splendid hospitality throughout the evening.

Wednesday 15 June 2011

Event 18/6 - reminder

Dear All

Just a reminder that there is a MMG (Montgomeryshire Moth Group) event at Carreg-y-big farm: hosted by Alison & Gareth Davies, this Saturday 18-06-11, from 9:00pm onwards, Map reference: SH993033.

This venue has an isolated, high altitude, ancient oak woodland, so the evening may well throw up some interesting species.

All are welcome: Full details and directions can be found in 'events' on the web site.

Peter.

Monday 13 June 2011

Warm nights at last!!

Well last night was rather a fine mothing night, stayed around 15c all night with only light rain.

Among the usual was a personal favorite, Peach Blossom and a different brown form of Agapeta zoegana which I've never seen before.

Sunday 12 June 2011

Ever optimistic!

I put my trap out on Friday night at our caravan at Morben Isaf; I knew it was going to be a cold clear night and that I probably wouldn't catch much, and I wasn't disappointed! Lowest temperature on the marsh was a balmy +0.4°C.

Just 3 victims - a Large Yellow Underwing, a Heart & Dart, and a very nice Oblique Carpet.

Peter

Saturday 11 June 2011

A very cold June night

Although I did trap last night, I didn't expect to catch very much, as by 10:00pm the temperature was already falling steeply and by 4:40am it had fallen to -.7c the coldest June night I have recorded in Commins Coch during the past eight years of recording the weather.

When I checked the trap this morning I did actually manage to catch five moths who I thought had all surrendered themselves and were holding white flags, but then I could see they were mainly all White Ermines.

Peter.

Wednesday 8 June 2011

Request for Horse-Chestnut Leaf-Miner records

I have been asked by Laura Gosset who is doing some research in Wales on the Horse-Chestnut Leaf-Miner if anyone would like to get involved with collecting data for her later this month. Her full request and details are below:-

Thanks, Peter.

-------------------------------------------------
Hello,

My name is Laura, I am an MSc student from the University of Glamorgan in South Wales and am conducting my research project on the invasive Horse-Chestnut Leaf-Miner (Camararia ohridella). The caterpillars of this moth live inside the leaves of the Horse-Chestnut tree.

LEAF-MINER HUNT - Saturday the 25th of June 2011

I need help in collecting data about the distribution of the Moth in the UK and wondered if you might be able to pass this message onto your local moth groups to see if they are interested in getting involved in leaf-miner hunting.

Everyone would need to find their nearest Horse-Chestnut tree on the 25th of June and have a look at the middle 'finger' (leaflet) of 10 different leaves from a single tree.
I need to know how many 'mines' there are in each of these leaflets (these are small brown circles or lines on the leaf, easiest to see when the leaf is held up to the light) and the location of the tree (post code, town etc.), even if there are no mines.

This information will then be put into a map to show the geographic distribution, this will help with my research project into the distribution of the moth and it's parasites.
More information can be found on My Blog http://leafminer.wordpress.com if anyone is interested. I will keep it updated as we approach the big day, with information on how to send your results.

There is now an online survey form that should make results sending quicker (http://edu.surveygizmo.com/s3/563890/The-Leaf-Miner-Hunt).

Thank you so much for your help,

Laura

Saturday 4 June 2011

Last week's mothing

Last week I went on a holiday in the South, I of course took the moth trap. I've embedded the report as a .PDF file below. It should let you scroll, zoom, etc.

Moths From Around the Country



While away my Small Eggars pupated, they made nice round cocoons:












Satin Wave

Did trap last night although I still have looked through it, I did however, trap the night before. It was nice and warm and I got Burnished Brass [NFY] and Satin Wave [NFM] among the usual lot.