Moth night at Severn Farm Pond, Welshpool 06/06/2025. In association with Butterfly Conservation.

Another moth recording session was held last Friday night at the reserve in conjunction with the Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust Wild Skills Wild Spaces (WSWS) group, headed by Nik Cain.

The diversity and infrastructure of the site is maintained and increased by the efforts of the WSWS members. It is a predominantly scrub wetland site edged mainly with broadleaf trees. There is also a "growing" area for pollinators.

View from the shelter into the reserve. P McGregor

Once again, the excellent, large shelter was used as "HQ". This was particularly useful as rain was forecast from around midnight onwards.

Reserve shelter. P McGregor

However, for the most part, the weather remained overcast, calm and mild, the most important requirements for moths to emerge!

By 9.30pm the traps were turned on and the group were soon bringing in moths to identify. Micro moths and a lot of them! There was soon a backlog on the table for me, with many variations of Pandemis cerasana and Epiphyas postvittana to look through, Tortrix viridana (an easy one), Clepsis spectrana, Archips xylosteana and Aphomia sociella providing relief!

Tortrix viridana. P McGregor

Aphomia sociella. P McGregor

As expected for a wetland site, geometrids were many with the first macro caught being a fresh Barred Yellow,

Barred Yellow. P McGregor.

followed by Silver-ground Carpet, Brimstone Moth and Willow Beauty.

Willow Beauty. P McGregor.

At one point the Macro and Micro list were evens at 15 species each but as the night drew on a steady stream of Macro's pulled ahead. Micro's seem to be having a good year.

Notable species of the night were Currant pug and a well marked Cnephasia asseclana.

Cnephasia asseclana. P McGregor.

By 2.15am, happily with a  delay to the arrival of rain, moth activity was quiet enough that it was decided to call it a night.

48 species were recorded. 30 Macro and 18 Micro. The full species list is available HERE .

Equipment:

1 x White sheet 125wMV

1 x Skinner's 125wMV

3 x Skinner's 15w Green Phosphor

Many thanks for the help and great enthusiasm of the WSWS group. To Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust for access to the reserve. To Butterfly Conservation for provision of insurance cover and to Peter Williams, County Recorder, for verifications.

The next moth group public event is at Rainbow Trails, Pen-Y- Ffordd in the Dyfnant forest. Saturday 14th June, 9pm onwards.  

Further details available here https://montgomeryshiremoths.blogspot.com/2025/05/upcoming-public-moth-night-at-dyfnant.html