Coed Pendugwm public event

Another species for id

As we approached the weekend I could see that it was going to be a ‘toss of a coin’ as to what the very changeable weather would be. On the day, the skies cleared, the breeze subsided and the temperature dropped to below zero – not too favourable for a mothing event, but, as always, we mobilised ourselves and took up the challenge.

Julie, Gavin & Sue at the table

I arrived ‘on site’ about 6:30 pm which gave me plenty of time to get set up. Then it was just a case of waiting for others to turn up. It was a lovely sunny evening and, as I sat quietly having a sandwich, my time was shared with a rabbit which came to nibble on the grass, quite close by, enticing me into ‘Alice in wonderland’ mode. I wondered whether he had come for the event, but before I could go any deeper into these thoughts people began arrive bringing me back to reality and the rabbit ran off (no, I didn’t follow it!) – and that was that!

By about 8:15 the lights were switched on and, despite the cool conditions, it wasn’t too long before the first moth a Hebrew Character came to the white sheet. However, moths were generally thin on the ground and they came to the table very slowly throughout the evening. The intrepid species which did make a show were; Twin-spotted Quaker, Common Quaker, Small Quaker, Early Grey and March Moth.

Julie & Mark doing some id work

A potted Early Grey

On an aside, Sue had brought along a plume moth which she had recorded at her home site, but was having a bit of difficulty ‘nailing down’ its id, mainly because of the excessively long modified scales on the trailing edge of the forewing, so, we all got our heads together and did a ‘plume moth workshop’. After some deliberation the id was made, it was the common, but very variable, Emmelina monodactyla. The uneven length of the spurs nearest to the body on the hind leg was the diagnostic feature which gave away its id.

 

Checking the trap

A potted Twin-spotted Quaker

By 11:30 the eight of us who turned up were all suitably chilled so we decided to call it a night. As we were checking the traps for the last time we discovered a Clouded Drab, and finally, the best species of the night, the rather uncommon and local White-marked which was a new species for the site.

Paul - nailing that id

No migrant species were recorded at the event. To see the full species list please click here.

Many thanks to all those who came to the event, especially to Sue who brought along some rather scrummy, home made biscuits, which we devoured in quick time!

Peter.