The Montgomeryshire Moth Group Blog

Recent Trapping

2012-02-26T20:11:00.000Z

The table above shows the my recent traps (click to enlarge), certainly starting seeing some spring species, along with good numbers of the usually for this time of year. Fairly good numbers of micro for this time of year also.

The highlight of the week was caught last night: Acrolepia autumnitella; a very pretty micro moth which turned out to be a county first. I believe the moth is a leaf mine species and is fairly well distributed across the UK, it seems to fly most of the year round which is interesting.

Douglas.

Visit to the Natural History Museum

2012-02-20T17:19:00.000Z

Last week, during my half-term, I took a trip down to London. Among other things I visited the NHM with my parents. I had organised the visit so we were able to go 'backstage' and see the collection - which isn't on public display.

Biggest moth in the world!

It was an excellent experience and I learnt loads about how the whole collection works and the scale of it! It's split into two parts: British and International, where they are ordered taxonomically. The moths come from a huge range of sources, from ancient personal collections to specimens from recent expedition trips. This is why, especially in the British collection, there are vast numbers of individuals for each species.
It was amazing to see some species, although dead, that I would never see in the wild - certainly not in mid-Wales anyway!
Another exciting aspect was seeing some of the international collection, including some absolutely beautiful moths with amazing patterns and colours. It was useful to learn about some of the species present in France and Brazil - places I'll be doing some mothing later this year.
It was also fascinating to learn about the work being done in the museum. For example the weekly changes in taxonomic order and the discovery of new species, previously thought to be conspecific to another.
A thoroughly interesting day out!


Spot the butterfly(s)! - HINT: there are none!

2012 moth events programme

2012-02-16T20:50:00.004Z

The 2012 moth events programme has now been posted in the 'events area' of the web site. Make a note of the dates in your diary.

Peter.

2011 in Dernol

2012-02-06T17:25:00.002Z

I started the year full of enthusiasm, determined to set the trap more often than my feeble efforts in previous years - and sadly failed to achieve it! However, there were some interesting results along the way.

I added 19 new 'firsts' - 18 macros and 1 micro - for my garden, taking my grand total there to 128 - not so 'grand' by some people's standards, but quite satisfying to be going on with. I had 11 Double Darts one night in July, which is apparently an unusual number in one session, so I assume that they like it round here. After having little success over the last few years, I also managed to photograph a micro before it escaped from the range of my camera - an Udea ferrugalis (Rusty-dot Pearl); I have very little ability to identify micros, and also have difficulty in keeping them still enough to photograph so that Peter Williams can do his usual sterling service of identification. They don't seem to respond to a few hours in the fridge like their larger relations.

I'm pleased to say that my photography has improved quite considerably this year, and I've been putting the photographs to good use. I've lived where I do now for 24 years, and have been saddened at how much the local environment has been unwittingly damaged by farming practises, many of them of dubious value - hedgerows removed, trees cut down (one field had every tree, mostly silver / downy birch and rowan removed from its periphery and replaced with a wire fence and posts), fields 'improved' (a field that used to be full of orchids now has none), and every nettle plant on local verges and field edges sprayed with something that turns them brown and crisp within a day. The local farmers doing this, with one exception, are not deliberately doing harm, and have been quite interested in hearing about my interests in wildlife; the moth photos (particularly those of the more spectacular ones, such as hawk moths, thorns, Puss Moths and the like) have been useful as they have been quite amazed at what is out there that they don't know about, and at least nowadays they do actually leave my nearby nettle patches untouched - when I first asked one of them about not spraying them, and explained that it was because the butterfly caterpillars fed on them, he commented "You don't see so many of them these days"! It's no use people like me trying to lecture them on such matters, much better to engage their interest; a couple of them now regularly talk to me about such matters when our paths cross, a definite small step in the right direction.

On a similar theme, my partner Sue, an artist, was running a children's workshop at the Royal Welsh Show a few years ago, and had decided to use a theme of 'Butterflies' (nowadays she would do moths as well). In advance we made up and laminated some A4 printouts, each one featuring a species of butterfly that the children might have seen locally, along with illustrations of their caterpillars and food plants, which were hung on the wall of the marquee at the show. These proved popular with the children, and their parents too, and hopefully some, if they don't already do so, will think about the wild plants on their farms a little more. It's always good to take the opportunity of doing a little awareness raising at local events, and I recommend it to anyone who has the opportunity, time and inclination.

Sue has also used some of my moth photographs as inspiration for some new canvases and range of cards; only two so far, but with more to come. They are not meant to be accurate representations of the moths, but instead use them as a basis for an abstract design. If anyone wants to have a look they are on http://www.suepurcellart.co.uk/gal_moths.html

With Peter's encouragement, I extended my trapping season last year, having previously stopped in late September, and was very pleasantly surprised at the numbers of moths I caught on the one occasion in November when I set the trap. Although they are a common species, it was the first time I had seen a December Moth, and I had 25 of them. This has encouraged me to set the trap every month this year to see what else is out there, though unfortunately both times I did so in January produced a disappointing grand total of 0!

In March I spent a day on the Vyrnwy Estate accompanied by the head RSPB warden, as part of the Woodland Trust's 'Ancient Tree Hunt' project (I'm responsible for verifying trees recorded by the public in Powys). He drove us around areas of the estate that I would not have gone to on foot, and when I mentioned my interest in moths, he revealed that he was also a keen 'trappist', and took me to see a row of old Downy Birch trees in which there were many Welsh Clearwing larvae exit holes. I hadn't seen these before, but was pleased to find out what to look for. I had also heard that this species was resident on a Radnor Wildlife Trust reserve, Gilfach Farm, near to where I live (I'm right on the Montgomery / Radnor border), so on a visit there to show some RWT volunteers how to measure and record trees, I was very pleased to find the same evidence on that site. Now that I know where they are locally, I intend to attempt to lure some adults and photograph them this year. Any advice on this (including if there is a reliable alternative to using pheromones) would be welcome.

Looking forward in 2012 to increasing my total of species caught in my garden, through my determination to set the trap more frequently. Hopefully I won't be repeating the first sentence of this post in January 2013!

10 Macro species for January challenge 2011

2012-02-05T18:59:00.004Z

Click on chart to zoom in.

Here are the results for my '10 macro species in January' challenge. As the chart shows, seven moth-ers recorded between zero and twelve species they all trapped in varying amounts of nights during the month, so degrees of variation in counts are to be expected.

The chart is pretty self explanatory, with species and counts recorded in yellow; recorders names along the top and totals on the right and along the bottom, all in brown. The figures along the bottom in red show how each recorder actually fared in the challenge.

The target of ten was only attained by myself, but three others got really close and two got to nine species. In all 17 macro species were recorded by those who took part, so this shows that 10 species is very achievable. This 'challenge' has proved quite popular and I intend to make it an annual event, hopefully more will get involved next year. Many thanks to all those who did take part and in fact a couple of moth-ers who did trap, didn't record any moths, better luck to those, next year.

Peter.

10 macro species for January challenge

2012-02-01T11:22:00.002Z

Hello All,

Could you please now send me your results for my ‘10 macro species for January challenge’? It will very interesting to see how those who took part got on. I need just three bits of information:-

1) A full list of macro species recorded.
2) Total number of moths recorded for each species.
3) Days trapped during the month.

Please remember, it doesn’t matter how many species you recorded during the month, even if you caught just a single moth, please send me the details as it all goes towards building up the larger picture. Thanks.

Once I’ve gathered in all the data I will post the results on the blog.

Peter.

Another 'out of season' species

2012-01-08T14:46:00.003Z

As the mild winter continues, unusual early records are continuing to turn up.

I recorded this V Pug last night. This moth is totally out of season the previous earliest record for the whole of north Wales is 21st March.

We've already had quite a few 'out of season' species recorded this winter, these include Pale Brindled Beauty, Dark Arches, Clouded Drab and Spring Usher, I wonder what will turn up next?

It's always worth having a trap on mild winter nights, as the records above prove, go on, give it a try!!

Peter.

Mothing at Y Felin 2011

2012-01-01T22:34:00.005Z

Y Felin is a 7 acre smallholding that has little changed since the 1940's. Today, and since our arrival 20 years ago, it is managed as a conservation smallholding on which we seek to protect the rich diversity of the unimproved meadows and hedgerows whilst encouraging the further increase of biodiversity.
By virtue of their mainly nocturnal flight times moths had, until a few years ago, been an under recorded aspect of the ecology of Y Felin. However, as with creating a pond which attracted many new species, acquiring a moth trap has revealed a great many previously unrecorded but already resident species.
Collecting a nights catch is always an exciting moment......and somewhat daunting too in the summer months with so many specimens to be identified. A task that is made so much easier now we have the excellent Monty Moths web site and its listings of the monthly likelies. The catch is always viewed with wonder and excitement by both adults and children alike who may be staying in our caravan or camping in the meadow. And it affords a good opportunity to talk about wildlife in general and the need to protect the habitats that are so essential to its survival.
The highlights of this years mothing have been watching the emergence of an Elephant Hawk Moth from a chrysalis unearthed during the winter and similarly the emergence of a Ruby Tiger from a cocoon found under an old corrugated iron sheet. From the trap the most notable record was the catch, in mid December, of a Clouded Drab a whole 6 weeks earlier than the previous earliest record for the County. But despite all the beauties of the moth world my favourite moths of Y Felin are our colony of Chimney Sweepers; dainty little black moths that emerge every year to flutter, in the sunshine, amongst the grasses and flowers of the meadows.
Tom

Another good year at Commins Coch

2012-01-01T11:45:00.009Z

Hello All,

2011 has been another very good year at my home site of Commins Coch, in the west of the county. In all, I’ve recorded 321 species of macro moth and 155 species of micro moth. The macro number includes 4 new species for my site this year, taking my all time total to 393, that 400 mark is within striking distance now!

My first new species of the year was a Glaucous Shears in late April. This proved to be quite an interesting as it was recorded in no fewer than six sites from around the county during 2011; it was last recorded in the county in 1977. This was followed by a Little Emerald (Photo - right) in mid May; this species hadn’t been seen in the county since 1993. My next new species was a rather tatty Haworth’s Pug in late June, this was somewhat surprising as it is usually associated with limestone or chalk – there’s not much of that where I live! Finally, the last new species to turn up in August was also rather surprising; it was a much worn Ashworth’s Rustic ( photo – below) although recorded sparsely on the western side of the county this 'Nationally Scarce A' species was indeed quite a find.

As regards micro moths I recorded 9 new species for my site of which 4 were also new county records, Lesser Wax Moth Achroia grisella, Hymenia recurvalis, Prochoreutis myllerana and Lobesia reliquana. The Hymenia recurvalis was a particularly good record as it is a rare migrant to these shores; it was recorded during the autumn in an intense period of migrant activity.

Well, that about sums up, my mothing year and all in all it was a very good year indeed. The highlight of the year was probably not a moth, but the expectation of recording a good migrant species during the mild autumn weather and I wasn’t let down. Like the fantastic Small Marbled (pictured right) and I think it will be a long time before the four Vestals I recorded in a single night will be topped in my trap again, fond memories indeed.

I look to 2012 with much eagerness.

Happy New Year to you all.

Peter.

'10 Macro species for January' challenge

2011-12-28T14:43:00.003Z

Hello Everyone,

With another New Year looming I thought I would once again offer you all the Challenge of recording 10 macro species for January. It's not an easy challenge, but then, it wouldn't be much of a challenge if it was too easy, would it. See how you get on, I'll post the results at the end of the month. Good luck.

All the best,

Peter.

Morben Moth-ers - A Tale of 2½ Years

2011-12-24T14:04:00.025Z

Before Ann and I attended the Cors Dyfi moth evening in July 2009 we could barely tell a moth from a butterfly, let alone a Plume Moth from a Pebble Prominent! However, that evening sparked an increasing interest in moths, and with Peter’s help we identified 83 species that year at our holiday park next door at Morben Isaf.

For 2010 we acquired two traps – a Robinson for use at home in Wolverhampton, and a Skinner for use at Morben Isaf. That year, once again with Peter’s unceasing help, we recorded another 183 species, taking the site count to 266.

Our recording at Morben Isaf includes the Skinner trap and the walls of the campsite toilet block, which has lights on all night. Early this season we often found many moth wings on the floor by the loos, but unusually low numbers of live moths, and we couldn’t understand why – surely March and April was too early for bats? Then one morning we discovered an enterprising Chaffinch perching on a door handle then flying up to pick moths from the wall. Thief - pinching our moths before we could get to identify them!!

This year, despite the ravages of the Chaffinches, we accumulated over 2000 records at Morben Isaf (1800 macro and 200 micro) and identified another 58 new species, raising the site count to 324. These included first county records of Argyresthia pygmaella and Hedya ochroleucana, but this latter has unfortunately since been discounted after consultation with “higher authorities”.

As Alan reported in his blog, we did indeed catch an Acleris cristana in November. We also recorded an Anacampsis populella at Morben Isaf a couple of weeks after Maria’s new county record for the species. Other highlights included firsts (for us) of Common Lutestring, Oak Eggar, Oak Nycteoline, Yellow Horned and the stunning Scallop Shell; we finished the season off at the end of November with a handful of Scarce Umber, just to keep Peter W. happy!

Happy mothing to you all in 2012 - Peter.

Mothing at Derwenlas 2011- A Tale of Two Traps.

2011-12-20T11:05:00.002Z

As I sit in our cottage in Derwenlas writing this, wondering if the Winter Moth will visit the kitchen window again tonight, I thought I might give you a little background into my introduction to the world of "moffing". Two years ago, at this time of year I ventured into the attic to retrieve the Xmas decorations box and discovered what I later realised were hibernating Herald Moths. This was obviously an omen, as I received a Skinner Trap from my daughter that Christmas. And so began my introduction into the world of mothing and with copious amounts of encouragement and help from Peter I have just completed my second year here at Derwenlas. For me one of the significant events this year has been the purchase of a second trap which now means I no longer have to transport the kit 70 miles every time we go home to N.Wales. The contrast between the 2 traps is proving quite interesting. In N.Wales I trap in a small enclosed garden in a semi rural village. Here at Derwenlas we have no garden to the rear and the trap is set out on a small area of decking but this looks across the fields down to the R Dyfi and across the road is a hillside covered in mixed woodland. Montgomeryshire certainly produces larger and more varied catches but in N. Wales I have a few species I have yet to find at Derwenlas. Most notable are probably the Juniper Webber, Meal Moth and this year Cabbage Moth and this autumn Feathered Ranunculus.

Out of my 950 records this year, 608 are from Derwenlas and my "total species caught" has risen to 277. [Plenty more to go for then!] Among the more notable ones I have had to trouble Peter with are Incurvaria oehlmaniella, the second record for Montgomeryshire and the first since 1978, the Northern Rustic, and Acleris cristana. Interestingly it seems Peter [B] also caught A.cristana on the same night at Morben Isaf about 2 miles down the road from Derwenlas. Some of the more memorable moments include the Scallop Shell which had me chasing around the nettle field behind the cottage like a demented greyhound before finally surrendering its identity. {I definitely need a "Douglas" net.} And of course the Fox Moth which chose my specimen pot to lay her eggs. These duly hatched in about 3 weeks and then followed many trips for my "babies" to and from N.Wales with supplies of fresh bilberry, until I finally released them in a particularly tasty bilberry bush above Derwenlas to fend for themselves. I hope we might meet again in my trap in 2012.

Which just leaves me to wish all my fellow "Monty Mothers" a Merry Xmas and a successful 2012 season. And now for my letter to Santa- a copy of "Bird Dropping Moths" would be very welcome.

All the best

Alan

2011-12-16T06:07:00.006Z

A Year (or thereabouts) At Cors Dyfi

2011 proved to be an interesting year of moth recording at Cors Dyfi, a reserve owned and run by Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust, and which also incorporates the Dyfi Osprey Project.

This was also the first year of regular use of a proper moth trap on site – more on that later. Up until February the only records were from moths that actually landed on the building and stayed overnight, day-flying moths, or those from when Peter Williams brought his own traps over.

Due to lack of Trust funds, the occasional moth nights early in the year were quite innovative and involved the use of an aquarium light tube powered by a ‘powerpack’ type unit for a few hours. Whilst this attracted a few moths the numbers certainly weren’t into the hundreds and only occasionally reached double figures. I then purchased a trap myself and went for a rather unconventional one utilising a green coloured tube inside a netting frame, this proved to be fairly inadequate at attracting moths and the fish tube method reigned supreme until I managed to acquire a secondhand self-ballasted UV bulb which was much more successful and actually provided my first new county record for the site, cochylis nana – tiny but beautiful. A couple of months of make-do and of constant nagging to Emyr Evans, the Osprey Project Manager to get a proper moth trap and hey presto in late June a shiny new Robinson trap appeared on site (I had told Emyr we could obtain a good trap for less than £100 but when he goes for something he likes to go big so he opted for the Robinson).

It’s first use was just a few days after arrival and boy what a difference! Not only did it attract LOTS of moths but it also meant I could actually go and get a couple of hours sleep in the rather basic caravan before getting up early to view each catch!

The next new county record however had nothing to do with traps and was actually found on a willow leaf one morning – the rather beautiful epinotia cruciana, further new county records as can be seen on the Stop Press pages did appear in the trap though and not only new records but some absolute stunners too, moths that made me go ‘oooh’ and ‘ahh’ and ‘wow’.

The big news from this site this year though was of course the finding of the elusive Rosy Marsh moth, I’m still amazed I actually got one in the trap but it would have been nice to get a second or even find a larvae of this species – I guess for that I shall have to wait until 2012.

One of my most enjoyable times this year involved several nagging emails to Peter and eventual success in another new county record. In June I photographed a rather drab looking small black moth, it’s only interesting feature being the rather large and unusual antennae it possessed. After some investigation I decided this was psyche caste but Peter could not confirm this, the photos I had taken did not show enough detail in the antennae to give a positive ID despite several attempts to zoom in and despite about a dozen emails to Peter he could still not confirm the species. I did some more research and found that the female is flightless and lives in a larval case normally attached to a leaf and when I saw a photo of one on the web I came close to screaming – I had actually seen one of these just a few days prior to photographing the moth but did not realise what it was....however I did remember exactly where I’d seen it and within 24 hours I was back on site, carefully removing the leaf and case to monitor and photograph at home, it didn’t take much monitoring – 48 hours later the female had emerged, I’d got some good shots of her and Peter had confirmed the new county record of psyche caste at Cors Dyfi.The larval case was returned to site. All in all it was a valuable and extremely interesting time though I’m sure Peter’s inbox got clogged up several times with emails from me trying to establish this species. I’m nothing if not determined! Interestingly later in the year several of the larval cases appeared in a most unusual place – attached to a 3ft square plastic sign at the bottom of the car park!

The site now has several traps running on moth nights, the Robinson plus my own home made Skinner and a hanging bulb/sheet, I’ve even tried sugaring though I think my home-made concoction may need some refinement due to it attracting more arachnids than moths. I’m currently trying to convince the Trust, and Emyr, to get a battery powered trap which could be placed further down site onto the actual bog in the hope of attracting some more unusual species.

Over the past year I have become known as the ‘Moff Boff’ on site, with visitors and people on the Facebook site asking me to ID moths or caterpillars they’ve photographed. I do my best but I still have a lot to learn.

I’ve decided to include just one photo with this report, all of the new county records can be seen on the Stop Press pages and other photographs of unusual species are scattered throughout the site – it is by no means a rare species, nor is it a particularly good photo for use in identification, it is just my own personal favourite photo of the year , an extreme close-up of a Large Emerald.

A couple of new records were found from leaf mines on site, one of these found in common reed is proving quite interesting and further investigations will be taking place in 2012 to try and establish species....so watch this space!

Maria E. Wagland

Cors Dyfi 'Furballs' Officer

Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust

Mothing at Bridge Cottage: 2011

2011-12-14T17:55:00.002Z

As the year draws to a close and weather gets worse I've decided that I'll put the traps away, marking the end of fantastic year of mothing:

In 2011 alone I've recorded 15,287 individuals of 463 species (313 macro and 150 micro) and also had nine new county records.

That leaves my figures at 511 species (322 macro, 151 micro and 28 butterfly) Not bad after a few years trapping.

My highlights this year include 4 Nb. (national scarce B) species, all of which I caught for the first time this year:

Nemapogon wolffiella (also 1st county record)
Square-spotted Clay
Small Eggar (This was the first record for 60 years)
Devon Carpet

Other Highlights were:

Langmaid's Yellow Underwing
Gem
Vestal

Eyed-hawk Moth

The photos are also of some of my favourites.

But probably the best moth of the year was Antigastra catalaunalis, a rare migrant and my record was the second record for Wales.

Some have commented that this year has been a poor one mothing-wise. I haven't noticed this, in fact for me numbers are up on last year. I've also noticed it's been a great year for certain species, namely Large Wainscot and Dusky Lemon Sallow.

Big thank to Peter who has, as always, been very helpful throughout the year. And also to both Peter and Mike for their continued hard work with the moth group!

Douglas.

Common but not seen before..

2011-10-31T20:55:00.004Z

Last night had quite a good catch with it being so mild. Plenty of Feathered Thorns, Marveille du Jour, Red Line and Yellow Line Quaker and a few Mottled Umbers.

The best for me was a fairly common species in Montgomeryshire but one I'd not personally seen before, a Red Sword Grass. Truly remarkable camouflage and if I hadn't seen a photo in a book on a previous occasion I would have just taken this as a bit of wood blown into the trap by the high winds later on in the evening.

Hopefully the heavy rain will ease off and I'll get chance to go over again before the end of the week.

MariaW

Cors Dyfi "Furballs" Officer, Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust.

More warm winds from southern Europe

2011-10-31T10:19:00.002Z

More warm air is crossing the country at the moment giving us all, yet again, a chance to record good migrant species. I recorded my first Gem for five years last night, a delightful little species, so keep those traps in action, you never know when it might be your lucky night!

Peter.

Gem

2011-10-25T21:51:00.001+01:00

Last night I managed 22 species, however nothing of any interest. Among the usual lot was Streak and high numbers of Figure of 8 and Dark Chestnut.

The night before last I had 21 species, a new micro for me was Exapate congelatella. But the real highlight was a Gem, a uncommon migrant species to Montgomeryshire. It's pushed my macro total to 333.

Douglas.

Last night's catch

2011-10-14T16:48:00.000+01:00

Not bad for October, only migrant was Silver Y, however last night I had 3 Vestal. High numbers of Figure of 8 and Large Wainscot. Also had new for year Sprawler.

Sprawler - 2 NFY
Figure of 8 - 13
Large Wainscot - 5
Merveille Du Jour - 6
Barred Sallow - 1
Brindled Green - 1
Silver Y - 1
Satellite - 1
Green Brindled Crescent - 6
Shuttle Shaped Dart - 2
Red-line Quaker - 6
November Moth agg. - 14
Chestnut - 4
Dark Chestnut - 4
Beaded Chestnut - 3
Spruce Carpet - 1
Yellow-line Quaker - 6
Lunar Underwing - 2
Large YU - 2
S. Hebrew Character - 3
Flounced Chestnut - 1
Sallow - 1

Garden Rose Tortrix - 1

Douglas.

National Moth Recorders’ Meeting

2011-10-13T13:24:00.002+01:00

National Moth Recorders’ Meeting

The date for the second National Moth Recorders’Meeting is January 28th 2012 at the Birmingham and Midlands Institute, central Birmingham. All are welcome.

The programme for the day has been drawn up and the line up features both amateur moth recorders and academic researchers. We are really pleased to have Professor Gareth Jones from the ‘Batlab’ at Bristol University speaking about how bats and moths try to out-wit one another in their predator/prey relationship. The draft programme for the day can be found below. It will also be available on the Moths Count website (www.mothscount.org) in due course. This year there is a £5 (per person) registration fee for attendees. This includes morning and afternoon tea/coffee and a buffet lunch all subsidised from Butterfly Conservation budgets. It
has been necessary to impose a charge this year as we no longer have Heritage Lottery Funding to cover holding such an event. Advanced booking is essential, to book your place please contact info@butterfly-conservation.org or telephone 01929 400209.

DRAFT PROGRAMME: NATIONAL MOTH RECORDERS’ MEETING 2012.

Lyttelton Lecture Theatre, Birmingham and Midland Institute, Birmingham Saturday 28 January 2012.

10.00 am Arrival and coffee.
10.30 am Welcome Dr. Martin Warren, Chief Executive of Butterfly Conservation.
10.45 am National Moth Recording Scheme Update Richard Fox, Butterfly Conservation.
11.10 am Uncertain and Confused – automated validation of moth records Les Hill, Butterfly Conservation.
11.30 am A Snapshot of Ireland - recording in the Republic of Ireland Don Hodgers, Republic of Ireland Moth Recorder.
11.50 am What makes Sussex Moth Group tick? Graeme Lyons, Chairman Sussex Moth Group.
12:10 pm Discussion session.
12.30 pm Lunch.
2.00 pm Insect High Flyers: studying long-distance migration of moths Dr. Jane Hill, York University.
2.30 pm Warriors of the Deep and other Welsh Wonders Dave Slade, County Moth Recorder, Glamorgan.
2.50 pm A ‘big’ book of little moths Dr. Phil Sterling, County Micro-moth Recorder, Dorset.
3.10 pm What difference does a decade make? Mark Parsons, Butterfly Conservation.
3.40 pm Tea.
4.10 pm Sky Wars: Moths v Bats Professor Gareth Jones, University of Bristol.
4.45 pm Discussion session & closing remarks.
5.00 pm Close of meeting.

Peter.

Lake Vyrnwy event

2011-10-12T13:23:00.000+01:00

The final MMG Event of 2011 at Lake Vyrnwy on 8th October produced 32 species in total.

The full report/species list is now on the website and can be found (along with the other 2011 event reports) here.

Fund raising for MMG

2011-10-07T15:09:00.007+01:00

Hello all,

Montgomeryshire Moth Group has enjoyed it's most successful year ever with more events held and more attendees than ever before.

All the events and moth related information we provide (e.g the website) are free of charge for everyone to use and we'd like to keep it that way, but we do have running costs which I have fully covered up until now!

We'd also like to enhance our mothing activities and so we've set up a method through which everyone can raise funds for the Group (should you wish to do so - no obligation!)

Easyfundraising

You will see a link on the front of our website to Easyfundraising.
Through Easyfundraising, most retailers will make a direct donation to our moth group for your own personal internet shopping.

If you already shop online then you WILL be able to raise money for us!

All the big names support us including Amazon (2.5% donation) Ebay (1% donation), John Lewis (up to 2.5% - depends what you buy) etc. In fact there are thousands of retailers/services making donations through easyfundraising - many of whom also make special offers available to easyfundraising users.

To raise funds through your own personal shopping, just go to easyfundraising through our website, login with easyfundraising, and then select the retailers website you want to buy from (up to 15% from each purchase you make will be donated to Montgomeryshire Moth Group). You buy from the retailer you have always bought from but you raise money for us at the same time!

Easysearch

If you use Easysearch to do an internet search (e.g. instead of google) then Montgomeryshire Moth Group receives 0.5p every search. Give it a try!

If you've any questions then please let me know.

Good mothing and good shopping!

Peter

Last MMG event of the year at Lake Vyrnwy

2011-10-05T22:59:00.006+01:00

Dear All

A reminder that the last MMG (Montgomeryshire Moth Group) event of 2011 is this Saturday the 8th October at Lake Vyrnwy.
I have just noticed that on some of our literature the date for this event was down for the following weekend, please ignore this as it was a typo error.

Meet: 5:30 pm. at Map reference: SH 965241

Details: This is our last event of the year and hopefully the migrants which have been very active in the county during the last week or so will show up at Lake Vyrnwy, so please come along and have an enjoyable evening, as usual, everyone is welcome.

Directions: Follow the B4393 to the northern end of the lake where you will see the reserve car park on the side of road nearest to the lake (marked ‘P’ on OS map).

Peter.

Another notable migrant

2011-10-05T14:53:00.004+01:00

Not quite so prolific in the trap last night as far as migrants are concerned, but I did manage to catch a Scarce Bordered Straw, which was last recorded in the county in 2006.

Peter.

More good migrants flooding in

2011-10-04T19:33:00.006+01:00

I had another excellent trap last night with two migrant species worth a mention.

Firstly I recorded four, yes four, vestal, a scarce migrant to Montgomeryshire, normally just the odd moth is found, so four in a single night is exceptional.

The other species was the Small Marbled again a scarce migrant to the uk which has only ever been recorded once before in the county (at the same site) in 2008.

Peter.

My rare migrant

2011-10-04T16:51:00.001+01:00

Been getting rather envious of all these nice migrant being posted here but last night I caught my own.

Found it on the sheet late last night and immediately knew it was a migrant, not sure why, but I could tell. A quick look through the book and found Antigastra catalaunalis. Sure enough Peter later confirmed this tiny micro migrant, which had probably come from Southern Europe/Tropics.

It's described as "a very scarce migrant, occurring only in the southern counties". It's also a new county record.

Douglas.

Finally bagged a good migrant

2011-10-03T01:57:00.005+01:00

I was beginning to think that I was going to miss out on a good migrant species during this exceptional weather, but as I was checking around the trap last night before going to bed I saw a small moth fluttering around the light. I knew I'd got something good as I didn't recognise it at all, but it looked like a pyralid species, which pointed me in the right direction for making a positive id. It was a very distinctive species so fingering through book it didn't take long to track it down, it was Spoladea recurvalis , a rare migrant from the Mediterranean region of Europe.

It was first discovered in the UK in 1951 in Surrey and since then only about 12 specimens have been recorded in the country, most of these on the south coast of England, so it was an excellent find for it to turn up in Montgomeryshire - very exciting and definitely one of the best moths I've recorded in twenty years of moth recording.

Peter.

Great start to October

2011-10-01T14:51:00.001+01:00

Ran 2x 125w last night, turned out to be very worthwhile.

Trap 1:

Red-green Carpet - 2

Canary-shouldered Thorn - 3

Brown-spot Pinion - 6

LYU - 6
Beaded Chestnut - 21
Brindled Green - 4
Rosy Rustic - 3
Merveille Ju Jour - 7
Brimstone - 2
Green-brindled Crescent - 4
S. Hebrew Character - 5
Satellite - 3
November Moth agg. - 1 [NFY]
Frosted Orange - 3
Chestnut - 1
Square-spot Rustic - 6
Figure of 8 - 3
Mallow - 1 [NFM] - First county record for 49 years.
Lunar Underwing - 4
Hedge Rustic - 1
Large Wainscot - 2
Yellow-line Quaker - 4
Sallow - 1
Green Carpet - 2
Silver Y - 2
Pale Mottled Willow - 1
Flounced Chestnut - 3
Blair's Shoulder Knot - 1
Brick - 1
Common Marbled Carpet - 1
Pine Carpet - 1 [NFM]
Chequered FT Tortrix

Eudonia angustea - 1
Celypha lacunana - 1
Garden Rose Tortrix - 8

(35 species)

Trap 2:
Vestal - 1 [NFM]
Feathered Thorn - 1
Brindled Green - 7
Common MC - 1
Brown-spot Pinion - 9
LYU - 7
S. Hebrew Character - 9
Beaded Chestnut - 30
M. Ju Jour - 11
Dusky Lemon Sallow - 1
Green Carpet - 1
Satellite - 2
Snout - 1
BB Yellow Underwing - 1
Pink Barred Sallow - 2
CS Thorn - 3
Rosy Rustic - 4
Green Brindled Crescent - 5
Square-spot Rustic - 3
Centre-barred Sallow - 1
Sallow - 3
Silver Y - 1
Lunar Underwing - 1
Green Carpet - 2
Chestnut - 1
Yellow-line Quaker - 2

Agonopterix heracliana - 1
Agonopterix arenella - 1
Large Fruit-tree Tortrix - 1
Eudonia angustea - 1
Argyresthia goedartella - 1

(31 species)

The wind direction is starting to change and looks as if the temperatures will soon drop, so intend to trap again tonight and make the most of these conditions while they last.

Douglas.

We are the knights who say.....

2011-09-30T11:56:00.004+01:00

Ni!!!

(if you don't know Monty Python then you won't get the reference)

Wednesday 28th/Thursday 29th September - with very warm weather over the past couple of days and a nice warm wind coming up from the South I couldn't resist the opportunity to try and get something unusual in the trap at Cors Dyfi.
And I did!

The Ni moth is a rare migrant, apparently only around 50 records a year, and on first seeing this I knew it was unusual but just wasn't sure what species it was. When Peter confirmed this as the Ni I couldn't do anything except laugh but then took things a little more seriously (well, tried to) and realised what an excellent find this was for the county. Several photographs were soon on their way to Peter for inclusion on the website.

Other interesting species that night included Large Wainscott and Marveille du Jour, plus several young newts attracted by the number of small insects!

This was also the first time I'd tried "Sugaring" and spent the morning brewing up a concoction of red wine, sugar and honey, the whole house smelled like a brewery for hours afterwards and whilst the soaked cloth strips I put out did attract a small number of moths on the night, they seemed to attract more spiders which spent the rest of the night acting as though they only had 4 legs!

It proved to be an excellent night for other wildlife too with a new mammal species confirmed on site - Badger.

With the weather forecast still set for an Indian summer I will be returning on site within the next few days with my fingers crossed.

MariaW, Cors Dyfi "Furballs" Officer, Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust.

Last night's haul

2011-09-29T22:01:00.002+01:00

Well last night was rather productive I thought:

Merveille Du Jour		10
Large Yellow Underwing		27
Brimstone		5
Canary Shouldered Thorn		5
Setaceous Hebrew Character		19
Brown-spot Pinion		17
Rosy Rustic		5
Square Spot Rustic		5
Beaded Chestnut		43
Brindled Green		14
Lunar Underwing		20
Silver Y		4
Green Carpet		2
Common Wainscot		1
Figure of Eight		4
Blair's Shoulder Knot		1
Autumnal Rustic		3
Sallow		3
Dark Sword Grass [NFY]		1
Satellite		1
Black Rustic		3
Barred Sallow		6
Yellow-line Quaker [NFY]		1
Frosted Orange		2
Lesser Yellow Underwing		1
Dusky Lemon Sallow [NFY]		1
Red-green Carpet		1
Flounced Chestnut [NFM]		2

	Eudonia angustea	1
	Epinotia tenerana [NFM]	1
	Celypha lacunana	1
	Argyresthia goedartella	2
	Acleris variegana	2

A couple of migrants there also, hope to get some more over the coming nights and of course at the upcoming event next week at Lake Vyrnwy.

The two new ones for me have just pushed to a nice landmark 500 lepidopterous species in the garden, which breaks into 328 macro, 144 micro and 28 butterflies.

Douglas.

Migrant moths heading our way!

2011-09-27T23:48:00.003+01:00

With the wind in the south-east and temperatures rising, this coming week offers a very good opportunity for recording those migrant species. So fire those traps up and be prepared for species such as the Vestal, Dark Sword-grass, Pearly Underwing, Rush Veneer, Gem, Rusty-dot Pearl, Silver Y or even a Convolvulus Hawk-moth, any of which, as well as good numbers of our resident species could be drawn to our lights, good luck and please let me know if any scarce migrant turns up.

Peter.

Quiet nights

2011-09-18T00:19:00.000+01:00

Last night (16th) had a min temp of 12.5, I caught the following:

Flounced Rustic - 1
Frosted Orange - 2
SHC - 17
Rosy Rustic - 5
Brimstone - 2
Large YU - 21
Canary-shouldered Thorn - 2
Beaded Chestnut - 2 (NFY)
Sallow - 2
Silver Y - 1
Square-spot Rustic - 3
Brown-spot Pinion - 2
Copper Underwing agg. - 2
Centre-barred Sallow - 1
Green Carpet - 1
Snout - 1

And the highlight of the night was MASSIVE Large Wainscot - NFM. A declining species which is also rather uncommon here in Montgomeryshire.

The Bridge Cottage (Middletown) Event

2011-09-13T14:21:00.000+01:00

At Bridge Cottage, Middletown last Saturday evening, we recorded 38 species.

The full report/species list is now on the website and can be found (along with the other 2011 event reports) here.

Thanks once again to Clare for the marvellous hospitality (the chocolate brownies particularly noteworthy). And, Sue, keep bringing your cake - it's fantastic!!

MMG Mothing event at Bridge Cottage, Saturday 10th September

2011-09-08T14:00:00.001+01:00

Dear All

A reminder that there is an MMG (Montgomeryshire Moth Group) event at Bridge Cottage: hosted by the Boyes Family on Saturday 10th September.

Map reference: SJ305121

Details: An evening trapping in the garden and surrounding fields, hopefully this mild weather we’re having might push one or two early migrants in the direction of our traps.

Meet: 7:00 pm.

Directions: From Welshpool on the A458 take the first right in Middletown. Follow the road up a hill and round a right bend. The road will then start going downhill. Half way down this hill there is a left turn down a dead end road, marked with a farmer's gateway and a sign, warning of the low bridge. Then follow this road down for a few hundred metres you'll then go under a railway bridge and you're there!

Address: Bridge Cottage, Middletown, Welshpool, Powys - SY21 8DG.

Peter.

2 new for me

2011-09-01T16:56:00.000+01:00

Last night I got 2 NFMs, a macro and a micro.

Devon Carpet and Argyresthia pruniella.

Autumn moths at last!

2011-08-31T18:29:00.001+01:00

Been quiet here for the last few weeks apart from one micro, Nemapogon wolffiella - which turned out to be a new county record and an Nb. moth.

Last night I caught:

Feathered Gothic

Feathered Gothic [NFM] - 1
Centre-barred Sallow [NFY] - 14
Frosted Orange [NFY] - 1
Sallow [NFY] - 2
Pale Eggar - 1
Large Yellow Underwing - 23
Brimstone - 4
Magpie - 3
Copper Underwing - 3
Common Marbled Carpet - 1
S. Hebrew Character - 52
Lesser BB Yellow Underwing - 2
Rosy Rustic - 3
Square-spot Rustic - 4
Flame Shoulder - 14
Flounced Rustic - 16
Spectacle - 1
Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing - 1
Common Rustic agg. - 2
Dingy Footman - 1
Small Square Spot - 3
Canary-shouldered Thorn - 1
Small Phoenix - 1
Flame Carpet - 1
Green Carpet - 1
September Thorn - 1

Argyresthia brockeella [NFM] - 1

Mother of Pearl
Argyresthia goedartella - 1
Acleris laterana - 1
Celypha lacunana - 2
Trachycera advenella- 4

(also just seen a Red Underwing [NFY] on the side of the house)

Rosy Marsh

2011-08-26T10:42:00.004+01:00

Rosy Marsh moth found in Robinson trap after overnight session on 21st/22nd August at Cors Dyfi.
Peter Williams is of course delighted at this find but I have to admit to feeling some guilt that he didn't get this on one of his own evenings when it was him, who after an amazing 7 years of trying and never giving up, truly deserved it.

Now we know it's on site we can manage the Bog Myrtle and surrounding vegetation in a more favourable manner and of course searches will duly be carried out for any larvae. MariaW - Cors Dyfi "Furballs" Officer, Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust.

Gregynog Park Event

2011-08-19T14:06:00.000+01:00

At the Gregynog Park moth event last Saturday evening we recorded 33 species.

The full report/species list is now on the website and can be found (along with the other 2011 event reports) here.

MMG (Montgomeryshire Moth Group) event at Gregynog Park, Saturday 13th August

2011-08-10T11:59:00.004+01:00

Dear All

A reminder that there is a MMG (Montgomeryshire Moth Group) event at Gregynog Park on Saturday 13th August,

Map reference: SO085976.

Details: A rare chance to trap in this wonderful mature wooded site, so please come along and join us for another interesting and hopefully exciting evening’s mothing.

Meet: 8:00 pm. in overflow car park. This will be signposted once you enter the estate, so just follow the directions. Please contact me to check that the event is on, and for further directions if you need them (contact details in events area of web site). Please bring a torch.

Directions: Take the A489 from Newtown towards Welshpool, after about two and a half miles turn right onto the B4389 to Tregynon where you will find the main entrance to the Gregynog estate.

Address: Gregynog, Tregynon, Nr. Newtown, Powys SY16 3PW.

Peter.

Mass emergence during warm weather

2011-08-07T12:24:00.010+01:00

During the recent bout of warmer nights there has certainly been a mass emergence of two species of micro moth - Yponomeuta evonyella and Aphelia paleana. Both these species have been reported to me from various sites around the county in very large numbers. The photo above from Richard Becker in the south of the county at Llanidloes shows the bottom of his trap covered with A. paleana.

Peter.

Last few night's moths

2011-08-04T22:15:00.001+01:00

Over the last week or so it's been very warm here. Nights of 16c.

Over this week I've had the following NFMs:

Double Kidney
Square-spotted Clay, an Nb species (right)
Brown-line Bright-eye (below)
Crescent (bottom right)

Hoping to get a few more tonight, nice and warm.

Douglas.

Birthday Moths

2011-07-29T00:45:00.009+01:00

Ran two traps last night (27th), each trap presented me with a nice birthday moth.

The 125w awarded me a Small Rufous:

And the 400w a Scorched Carpet:

Last night's catch

2011-07-26T23:11:00.001+01:00

Here is what I caught last night. The minimum temperature was 12c. I trapped with two traps, a 125w with a clear MV bulb (lets out out more light) and a 400w trap (also MV).
You can see how big the 400w bulbs are, from the photo, also visible is the clear 125w.

Name	125w	400w

Magpie Moth	2
Common Footman	21	57
Dingy Footman	7	17
Clay	1	3
Dark Arches	3	29
Small Fan-footed Wave	2	6
Flame Carpet	2
Common Carpet	6	4
July Highflyer	2	5
Small Rivulet		3
Purple Thorn		4
Muslin Footman	7	27
Heart and Dart	12	5
Large Yellow Underwing	39	33
Smoky Wainscot	5	2
Common Rustic agg.	22	36
Small Dotted Buff	3	3
Light Emerald	1	2
Uncertain	13	7
Beautiful Hook-tip	1	5
Burnished Brass	2	2
Snout	1	2
Fan Foot	1
Herald		1
Riband Wave	7	8
Lesser Swallow Prominent		1
Chinese Character	1	3
August Thorn	1	1
Early Thorn	2	7
Poplar Hawk Moth	1	3
Brimstone		3
Marbled Minor agg.	1	5
Yellow-tail	3	7
Dark Spectacle		1
September Thorn	1	1
Shaded Broad Bar		1
Double Square Spot	8	8
Small Scallop		1
Plain Golden Y		1
Light Arches		6
Dun-bar	1	5
Buff Arches	4	1
Triple-spotted Clay	2	1
Rustic	2	1
Scalloped Oak	5	3
Pinion Streaked Snout		7
Beautiful Golden Y		2
Pebble Prominent	1	1
Clouded Border		1
Willow Beauty		1
Flame Shoulder		1
Broad Bordered Yellow Underwing		1
Scarce Footman		1
Straw Dot		1
Silver Y		1
Double-striped Pug	3	1
Dagger agg.	1
Blackneck	1
Lesser Broad Bordered Yellow Underwing	1	2
Elephant Hawk Moth	1
Coxcomb Prominent	1
Large Emerald	1
Oak Hook-tip	5
Swallow-tailed Moth	1
Bright-line Brown-eye	3
Shuttle-shaped Dart	1
Peppered Moth	1
Poplar Grey	1
Antler Moth	1
V-Pug	2
Double Lobed	1
Swallow Prominent	1
Iron Prominent	1
Drinker	1
True Lovers Knot	1
Plain Wave	1
Rivulet	1
Svensson's Copper Underwing		1
Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet		1
Scarce Silver Line	1
Antler Moth	1
Common Wainscot	1
Ling Pug	1

Agriphila straminella	20	84
Udea Prunalis	3	7
Mother of Pearl	2	7
Bird Cherry Ermine		1
Agapeta zoegana		1
Cochylis hybridella	1	3
Gold Triangle		2
Chrysoteuchia culmella	1
Garden Pebble	1
Agapeta hamana	1
Honeysuckle Moth		1
Agriphila inquinatella		2
Celypha striana		1
Hellinsia osteodactylus	1	1
Carcina quercana		3
Apple Ermine		1
Agriphila tristella	1	1
Trachycera advenella		2
Blastobasis adustella		1
Scoparia ambigualis	1	1
Eucosma cana	2
Dipleurina lacustrata	1
Aethes rubigana	1
Udea lutealis	1
Epiblema uddmanniana	1
Catoptria falsella	1
Ancylis achatana	1
Epiblema trimaculana	1
Mompha propinquella	1

Total Species in 125w:			81
Total Species in 400w:			74
Total Species:			112
Total Moths in 125w:			270
Total Moths in 400w:			462
Total Moths:			732

My highlight, Scarce Silver Line

I trapped with the 125w in by far the best moth-ing location I know, I trapped with the 400w just outside the house. If I had swapped trap positions, I'm sure the 400w would have had many more.

Among the list was one new macro for me, Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet, and many new micros. Also had plenty of NFYs, such as Scarce Silver Line, Double Lobed, Svensson's Copper Underwing, True Lovers Knot, and probably a few I've missed.

Douglas.

Footmen

2011-07-22T06:48:00.001+01:00

I've been studying the county list and have noticed that many footman species are very common, where as here in Middletown only two species are very common, that being Common Footman and Muslin Footman. In recent nights I've had 30-40 Common and around 10 Muslin, with no other footmen appearing.
I do get the odd Scarce, Dingy and Buff but at best only a few each night. Later in the year Dingy becomes a bit more common, sometimes getting into double figures each night.
Round-winged Muslin is one I've only recorded once.
(I haven't had Buff once this year, and only on one night, have I had Dingy. Scarce has popped up a few times)

In the county the picture seems quite different, with many of the other footmen species such as Dingy and Buff being nearly as common as Common Footman. I can't see any reason why there is such a difference, and, it might just be me, but I find this quite intriguing.

Douglas.

Cors Dyfi event report

2011-07-20T07:47:00.002+01:00

At Cors Dyfi on Saturday evening we recorded 77 species.

The full report/species list is now on the website and can be found (along with the other 2011 event reports) here.

3 Good micro records

2011-07-17T20:04:00.003+01:00

Last Friday night was very warm and I had a bumper catch, a new macro was V-Moth. Also has some nice micros:

Catoptria falsella

Catoptria falsella - first county record for over 30 years
Cochylis hybridella - Second county record (first at the recent Llanymynech Rocks event)
Hellinsia osteodactylus - Second county record (first at the recent Llanymynech Rocks event)

Cochylis hybridella

Hellinsia osteodactylus

Douglas.

Not much happening...

2011-07-14T20:06:00.002+01:00

Haven't written much here recently, may be because I have not been catching many interesting ones.

Although over the last few nights I've had two NFMs:
Small Mottled Willow and Round-winged Muslin

Both nice moths, wish I'd had time to photograph them properly.

Cors Dyfi event

2011-07-14T00:15:00.004+01:00

Dear All

A reminder that there is a MMG (Montgomeryshire Moth Group) event at Cors Dyfi Nature Reserve Saturday 16th July, Map reference: SN704984.

Meet 9:00 pm. At reserve car park. Please contact me to check that the event is on, and for further directions if you need them. Please bring a torch.

Directions: The reserve is found on the right-hand side about 4 miles south west of Machynlleth on the A487.

Please come along and support this annual event where we are once again our Target Species is the Rosy Marsh Moth.

Peter

Llanymynech Rocks (it most certainly does!)

2011-07-06T14:45:00.001+01:00

What a great night we had at Llanymynech on 2nd July!

A total 128 species were recorded including 5 new county records (pictured on the MMG website Stop Press).

The full report/species list is now on the website and can be found (along with the other 2011 event reports) here.

Llanymynech Rocks MMG Event

2011-06-29T17:49:00.002+01:00

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.

Fox moth?

2011-06-27T09:13:00.000+01:00

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

Carreg-y-big farm event report

2011-06-21T17:31:00.002+01:00

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.

Event 18/6 - reminder

2011-06-15T15:32:00.005+01:00

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.

Warm nights at last!!

2011-06-13T23:08:00.001+01:00

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.

Ever optimistic!

2011-06-12T16:55:00.004+01:00

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

A very cold June night

2011-06-11T12:36:00.002+01:00

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.

Request for Horse-Chestnut Leaf-Miner records

2011-06-08T17:31:00.007+01:00

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

Last week's mothing

2011-06-04T13:18:00.001+01:00

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.

MMG Event

2011-05-28T00:26:00.003+01:00

Last Saturday's event at Dolforwyn Woods Nature reserve was an excellent evening's trapping, we managed to record a new micro moth for the county, which was great, but due to the weather the event wasn't without its moments!

To read the full event report and to see the species list, please go to the web site and click on 'events'

Peter.

Small Eggar

2011-05-20T20:05:00.001+01:00

My first ever Nb. moth! Found it on my way home from school, makings it's way across the lane. I immediately thought Small Eggar as I've recently ID'd them for my Aunt, when she's been at her holiday home in Dorset, although I wasn't 100%. But Peter has just confirmed it (thank you!), making it the first record for many many years!

Hoping to keep it 'til it pupates and then hatches, but I've read that can take 7 years in captivity. But hopefully it'll hatch sooner though!

Douglas

Other night's moths

2011-05-19T21:42:00.002+01:00

Had a very exciting day, a group of bank robbers dumped their car at school and the police heilcopter was buzzing and forensics were everywhere. Anyway back to moths!

Didn't trap last night as it was quite cold, although I did the night before (17th), where it remained 14c most of the night. Whenever it's this warm I know I'll catch a lot and I did!
I trapped, with the generator, at our 'wild' garden, which a few hundred meters from the house. (pics)

Mottled Rustic

Macros:
[NFM] Mottled Rustic - 1
[NFM] Small Clouded Brindle - 1
[NFM] Oblique Carpet - 1
[NFM] Golden-rod Pug - 1
[NFY] Sallow Kitten - 1
[NFY] Poplar Grey - 2
[NFY] Shoulder Stripe Wainscot - 1
Green Silver Lines - 3
Seraphim - 6

Small Clouded Brindle

Shell - 1
Nut-tree Tussock - 1
Oak Hook-tip - 1
Clouded Bordered Brindle - 1
Green Carpet - 3
Silver-ground Carpet - 16
Brimstone - 3
Flame Carpet - 1
White-pinion Spotted - 2
Clouded Silver - 1
Figure of 80 - 1
Buff Ermine - 7
White Ermine - 23

Oblique Carpet

& Dart - 7
Scalloped Hazel - 2
Ingrailed Clay - 6
Flame - 7
Elephant Hawk - 1
Treble Lines - 6
Pebble Prominent - 1
Flame Shoulder - 13

Shoulder Stripe Wainscot

Swallow Prominent - 1
Straw Dot - 1
Pale Tussock - 5 (inc.1 nice female)
Small Phoenix - 2
Shuttle-shaped Dart - 1
Marbled Minor agg. - 1
Hebrew Character - 1 (no SHC, strangely)
Pale Prominent - 1
Common Swift - 1
Small Fan Foot - 2
Common Carpet - 2
Common Marbled Carpet - 3
Scorched Wing - 1

Beautifully marked Ingrailed Clay

Micros:
Epiblema cynosbatella - 2
Cydia succedana - 4
Syndemis musculana musculana - 1
Alucita hexadactyla (Twenty-plume Moth) - 1
Coleophora albicosta - 1
Nemapogon cloacella (Cork Moth) - 3
Nematopogon swammerdamella - 2
Ancylis badiana - 1
Celypha lacunana - 1

I'm looking forward to the moth event on Saturday, forecast still saying it'll rain. Hopefully it'll change it's mind though.

Douglas

MMG event at Dolforwyn Woods Nature Reserve

2011-05-18T16:22:00.003+01:00

Hello all,

Just a quick note to remind you that the moth group are holding an event at Dolforwyn Woods Nature Reserve this Saturday, 21-05-11.

Meet from 8:30pm onwards at the reserve. For more details please see the events page on the web site.

I hope that some of you will be able to get along for a good evenings mothing.

Peter.

Figure of Eighty

2011-05-16T19:44:00.002+01:00

Nothing of interest last night, even though the minimum temperature was 12c.

A nice NFY was Figure of Eighty and also not a common moth in the county.

Another NFY was Dingy Shell (although it seemed to be dead). Another scarce moth in the county.

Douglas.

A cold May night

2011-05-14T15:57:00.004+01:00

The temperature fell to 0.3c at Commins Coch (west of the county) last night, trapped, but very little doing, caught just eight of the usual species.

Peter.

Beautiful Moths [Trap 117]

2011-05-11T07:46:00.003+01:00

Had some cracking moths last night. Min temp: 11°C.

Macros:
[NFM] Puss Moth - 1 (a very tatty one, but clear enough to see it isn't one I've reared and marked)
[NFM] Lunar Thorn - 1

Lunar Thorn

[NFY] Beautiful Golden Y - 1
[NFY] Common Swift - 1
[NFY] Green Silver Line - 1
[NFY] Straw Dot - 1
[NFY] Spectacle - 1
[NFY] Buff Tip - 1
[NFY] Blood Vein - 1
[NFY] Silver Y
Chocolate Tip - 1
Poplar Hawk - 5
Lime Hawk - 2
Seraphim - 1
Sandy Carpet - 2

Green Silver Line

Flame Shoulder - 10
White Ermine - 18
Buff Ermine - 13
Scalloped Hazel - 3
Muslin Moth - 4
Alder Moth - 1
Least Black Arches - 1
Treble Lines - 3
Clouded Drab - 1
Broken Barred Carpet - 1
Clouded Silver - 1

Common Swift

Silver Ground Carpet - 1
Hebrew Character - 2
Setaceous Hebrew Character - 1
Pale Prominent - 1
Pebble Prominent - 1
Barred Umber - 1
Mottled Pug - 3
Cinnabar - 1
Common Pug - 1
Ingrailed Clay - 1


Buff Tip

Small Square Spot - 1
White-spotted Pug - 1
Pale Tussock - 1
Nut-tree Tussock - 2
Dagger agg. - 1
Small Phoenix - 1
Common Lutestring - 1
Common Carpet - 2
Red-green Carpet

Beautiful Golden Y

Micros:
[NFY] Aphomia sociella (Bee Moth) - 1
Pseudoswammerdamia combinella - 2
Alucita hexadactyla (Twenty-plume Moth) - 1
Coleophora trifolii - 1
Crambus lathoniellus - 1
Epiblema cynosbatella - 1
Adela reaumurella - 3
Coleophora albicosta - 1

Blood Vein

Douglas.

Last night's moths

2011-05-10T19:24:00.003+01:00

Chocolate Tip

Still quite cool at the moment, hoping tonight will be a bit warmer.

[NFY] Minor agg. - 1
[NFY] Heart and Dart - 1
Chocolate Tip - 1
Cinnabar - 1
Seraphim - 1
Treble Lines - 3
White Ermine - 11
Muslin Moth - 4
Pale Prominent - 1

Cinnabar

Flame Shoulder - 4
Buff Ermine
Small Square Spot - 3
Hebrew Character - 1
Green Carpet - 1
Nut-tree Tussock - 2
Brimstone - 1
Flame - 1
Flame Carpet - 1

[NFM] Epiblema scutulana - 1
[NFY] Coleophora albicosta - 1
Cydia succedana- 1
Adela reaumurella - 1

Douglas

A stranger in the trap

2011-05-09T13:28:00.009+01:00

A pretty poor moth catch last night, it was a bit too cool, however I did find this stunning Queen Hornet in the trap this morning, what a fabulous creature it is.

What's more it turns out (according to the NBN database) that this species has only been recorded in Montgomeryshire once before, at Welshpool in 1964.

Great weekend for moths

2011-05-08T20:51:00.004+01:00

Epinotia subocellana

Friday night:

Very warm night with heavy rain.

Highlights:

Seraphim (6) - a moth only I seem to catch in numbers
[NFY] Scorched Wing (1)
[NFY] Sandy Carpet (2)

[NFM] White-spotted Pug (1)

Coleophora trifolii

[NFY] Treble Lines (1)

[NFM] Epinotia subocellana [New county record]
[NFM] Coleophora trifolii [New county record]
[NFM] Diamond-back Moth (1)
[NFM] Epiblema cynosbatella (2)

Saturday:

During the day I found two Mother Shiptons [NFM]

Mother Shipton

Also a Ancylis badiana, another moth I only seem to get.

Again warm night with heavy rain.

Highlights:
[NFY] Small Ele Hawk (1)
[NFM] Crambus lathoniellus (1)

Thanks to Peter for spending so long on my micro ID.

Warmer (and wetter!) weather [Trap 112]

2011-05-05T20:40:00.003+01:00

As Peter hoped for it's got milder and wetter! Last night I got quite a few interesting moths:

The lowest temperature last night was around 9°C.

Macros:

Alder Kitten

[NFM] Alder Kitten - 1
[NFY] Clouded Silver -2
[NFY] Alder Moth - 2
[NFY] Small Square-spot - 2
[NFY] Poplar Hawk-moth - 1
[NFY] Cinnabar - 1
[NFY] Silver Ground Carpet - 1
[NFY] Mottled Pug- 1
Least Black Arches - 1
Oak-tree Pug - 2
Chinese Character - 1
Brindled Pug - 1
Brimstone - 2
Flame Shoulder - 11
Pebble Prominent - 1
Pale Tussock - 2
Clouded Drab - 5
Pale Prominent - 1
Small Quaker - 1
Muslin Moth - 4
Lime Hawk-moth - 1
Buff Ermine - 2

Plutella porrectella

Powdered Quaker - 1
Hebrew Character - 9
White Ermine - 9
Early Thorn - 2
Common Pug - 1
Flame Carpet - 1
Streamer - 1
Common Quaker - 1
Purple Thorn - 1
+ One that was hiding amongst the bulb, Chocolate Tip - 1

Cydia Succedana

Micros:

[NFM] Plutella porrectella - 1 [2nd county record]

[NFM] Cydia Succedana - 1

Agonopterix arenella - 1

Nematopogon swammerdamella - 1
Syndemis musculana musculana - 1

31(+4) species and 76 moths.

Douglas.

Arctic Chill

2011-05-04T10:39:00.004+01:00

This very cold, easterly chill persists - very little action in the trap last night at Commins Coch, the temperature fell to -1.1c, just eight species recorded and all the usual suspects - I'm looking forward to some milder, wetter (yes, I said wetter!!!) weather.

Last night's moths [Trap 111]

2011-05-02T19:47:00.010+01:00

Hello everyone,

Thought I'd help to get the blog rolling by putting my records up from last night.

It got down to 5.5°C last night but was around 9°C for the most part.

Macros:

Eyed Hawk: Resting Position

[NFM] Eyed Hawk Moth -1

[NFY] Coxcomb Prominent - 1
[NFY] Shuttle-shaped Dart - 2
[NFY] Buff Ermine - 2
Brimstone - 3
Clouded ~~Darb~~ Drab - 1
White Ermine - 2
White-pinion Spotted - 2
Streamer - 2

'Eyes' open

Hebrew Character - 11
Flame Shoulder - 6
Muslin Moth - 13
Flame Carpet - 1
Oak-tree Pug - 5
Common Quaker - 4
Powdered Quaker - 1
Brindled Pug - 1
Common Pug - 5
Lesser Swallow Prominent - 1
Common Lutestring - 1
Clouded Bordered Brindle - 1
Micros:
[NFM] Ash Bud Moth, Prays fraxinella f. rustica [2nd county record]
Syndemis musculana musculana - 2

21(+2) species and 69 moths.

Not too bad but could do with some warmer nights.

Douglas.

First Hawk-moths of the year

2011-04-24T12:19:00.002+01:00

The first Hawk-moths of the year have turned up.

I recorded a Poplar Hawk-moth last night and Douglas also recorded a Lime Hawk-moth.

Chamomile Shark - a new county record

2011-04-22T13:50:00.003+01:00

An excellent catch of moths last night at Llanfyllin (42 macro species in April is unprecedented for Montgomeryshire) got even better when I discovered a new county record resting on the edge of the trap.

At first I was unsure of the species - but knew it was something good so emailed Peter immediately to say 'unidentified shark species'. He was probably thinking I'd seen a Great White or something.

Once I'd taken the photo I could see that the fringe on the forewing trailing edge contained the tips of the black wing streaks. This identified the moth as Chamomile Shark Cucullia chamomillae rather than Shark Cucullia umbratica which has an unbroken wing-tip fringe.

2214 Chamomile Shark Cucullia chamomillae

Chamomile Shark - Wing-tip

The Chamomile Shark also has an earlier flight time than the Shark.

It was presumably attracted by the chamomile tea my wife occasionally drinks... or maybe not...

Welcome to our Blog

2011-04-12T11:51:00.000+01:00

Hello Everyone and Welcome to our latest feature on the web site - the Montgomeryshire Moth Group Blog.

If you have anything at all 'mothy' to say, please do so. This might be: listing a previous night's catch, telling us of a special record, posting a photo, selling or buying mothing equipment, a request for data, anything at all, it's up to you.

Please contact me to set up your contributor profile.
I hope you all use and enjoy this blog. If you have any questions, regarding this new feature, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Best wishes and good mothing to you all.

Peter.