Sunday 22 April 2018

Rhoslan Farm Event - 14th Apr 2018

The first moth event of the year took place at Rhoslan Farm near Llanfyllin on the 14th April and despite winter seemingly dragging on into April we were fortunate to have a nicely timed increase in temperature. With intermittent cloud cover all 6 traps and the white sheet were turned on by 20:30 with a light breeze blowing through the garden and fields. Four traps were set up in surrounding fields and 2 more immediately around the farm house.

The white sheet
Bulbs had barely warmed up when the first moth was potted and was the first sign that moths were perhaps emerging a little later than normal this year as it was a March Moth. One of the highlights of the night was surprisingly second to be found, a Dark Chestnut, which gave some of us a chance to scrutinise a species not often caught by most, if at all.

March Moth
There was then a trickle of the more typical early Spring species; Red Chestnut, Hebrew Character and a hat-trick of quakers; Twin-Spot, Common and Small. At about this time we were all invited in for light refreshments in the warm conservatory by our host, Simon Spencer, where we found quiche, sandwiches and a range of delicious cakes. It was therefore not surprising that the next moth took quite a while to be found!!

Tissue
Sometime later, with Early Grey and Early Tooth-striped potted, the star of the event showed up in the form of a Tissue, which was followed by a chorus of Bless You! It appeared to be in pristine condition with a great patterning and pink flush. Perhaps the smartest looking moth was the Red Sword-grass that Peter managed to predict before it appeared by the white sheet. A moth of great disguise that could have easily just been a broken twig among leaf litter, though not so useful on a white sheet.

Red Sword-grass
There were just a couple of micros found, Agonopterix heracliana and Diurnea fagella. The night was then finished with a smart quartet of a Herald, Yellow Horned, White Marked and an Oak Beauty making it a total of 23 macro species and the 2 micros. With a huge thanks to Simon for his hospitality and use of his farm we packed up and were off around 00:30.

The species list can be found here.

1 comment:

  1. Well done the new events team, you've done an excellent job between you, of organising and running our first event of the year.

    Peter.

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