Public mothing and bat recording event at Deri Woods - 29th April

Hello Moth-ers,

This Saturday the MMG (Montgomeryshire Moth Group) is holding a joint bat and mothing event with the MWT at Deri Woods Nature Reserve, west of Welshpool. This is the first time that the MMG has held an event at the excellent woodland site. The site itself is very under recorded, so you never know, an unusual species or two of bat or moth just might make an appearance! So please come along and join us for what promises to be a terrific evening’s mothing and bat detecting at this lovely woodland site alongside the river Banwy.

Full event details are:-

Venue: Deri Woods Nature Reserve

Event Date: Saturday 29th April

Target Species: Spring species

Event Time: 7:00 onwards, at the reserve car park.

Directions: At Llanfair Caereinion on the A458 cross over the river on Bridge Street, follow the high street along and round up to the right, staying on the B4385 through Llanfair, as you begin to leave Llanfair the road drops down, at the bottom of the hill the car park is on the right. In the car park there is a Llanfair Caereinion town road sign and a sign about the wood.

Grid Reference: SJ095067

Montgomeryshire Moth Group (MMG) is an independent voluntary group of people interested in moths. All ages are welcome to attend events whether experts or beginners.

This year all the events are light trapping events. We set up the light traps at dusk to attract moths and then release them after identification.

As with all our evening events, please bring a torch and wear suitable outdoor clothing.

You are welcome to join us for as much of the evening that suits you, we are likely to stay for several hours. However, in case of cancellation, due to poor weather or unforeseen circumstances, always ring or e-mail to check the event is on before joining us.

Peter.

Dolforwyn Woods Event

Setting up base camp

Checking the white sheet

The first event of the year took place at Dolforwyn Woods on Saturday 1^st April. In previous years these early events have produced some challenging weather conditions, and Saturday didn’t look too promising, a bit windy and heavy showers for most of the day. By early evening, however, the rain had cleared, and the wind had dropped, and as we set up the traps it was reasonably warm and very still, and a good catch was anticipated.

Purple Thorn on the white sheet

Lunar Marbled Brown

Checking the catch

Dark Sword-grass

Frosted Green

As dusk descended the traps were lit up and it wasn’t long before the first moths appeared, Engrailed followed by the first of many Brindled Pugs. Peter was then kept busy as the list of macros grew quite rapidly and included

Pale Pinion
Double-striped Pug

Lunar Marbled Brown, Dark Sword-grass and Dotted Border, all new species for the site, and Pale Brindled Beauty, which had only been recorded on one previous occasion. Micros were represented by two colour forms of Acleris literana and large numbers of Diurnea Fagella, both of which were new species for the site.

Acleris literana

additional species were brought back to base for identification in quick succession.

Water Carpet

At 11.30pm the temperature was still a reasonable 9C, but the rain commenced again, and we began to pack up. The traps yielded a Mottled Grey and Dyseriocrania subpurpurella as they were being emptied; both of these were new to the site. A total of 30 species 27 macro and 3 micro, were recorded, some of which were present in large numbers.To see the full species list please click here.

Thanks to those who brought along their traps, and to Sue who once again provided refreshments.

Paul Roughley.