'10 Macro species for January' challenge

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

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.

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

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

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..

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.....

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

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!

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

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

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

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

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


Devon Carpet and Argyresthia pruniella.

Autumn moths at last!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.