Friday 30 June 2023

Seeking Clearwing pheromones

 Hi,

I am to be involved in a daytime Clearwing search near Machynlleth mid July. Looking for Welsh Clearwing in particular.

Unfortunately, it appears sourcing lures has been left a little late. Angleps are currently closed and according to their website are out of stock of all Clearwing lures with no knowing when they will have fresh supplies.

Is there anyone out there who knows of alternative suppliers or has sufficient stock of pheromones that they may be willing to share some please? Just enough for one day.

We are also hoping to try for Lunar Hornet and Yellow-legged.

Many thanks,

Phil.


3/7/23 Pheromone lures have been sourced, already! Many thanks to those who responded.

Monday 26 June 2023

Llyn Coed y Dinas, Saturday 17th June 2023.

This event was the seventh time MMG have recorded moth species at this site since 2014. The first event held in July of that year recorded 111 species in perfect weather conditions so it was to be a good challenge to achieve anywhere near that number!

It is only in the last couple of weeks that night time temperatures have started to hold up, enabling a steady increase in moth species numbers "on the wing".  

It was with promising cloudy skies and a very mild, dry start to the evening (notwithstanding a large, anvil shaped cloud noted lurking somewhere south of Newtown), four traps and a white sheet were enthusiastically erected and placed about the reserve in time for a 9.45pm switch on.

Scarlet Tiger. (Rob Stokes)

By this point, young and older visitors to the event and moths alike, were already putting in an appearance at the table. A rather worn Brussels Lace, a crisp Barred Yellow and crowd pleasing Scarlet Tiger started off the evening nice and easily as far as identification was concerned. It was not long however, before the Micro's were rapidly piling up on the table, with a lot of discussion, head scratching and page turning, this being balanced with a general regret of Peter's absence and missing terribly, his marvellous ID skills! 

Amongst many of the more common Hedya pruniana and Chrysoteuchia culmella,  the queueing Micro's included Hedya salicella, Anania coronata, a scarce and somewhat overlooked Scythropia crataegella, Ancilis achatana, Phycita roborella and a hopeful, if early Archips rosana

As well as being outside of its flight time, the potential Archips rosana, unfortunately, was not photographed, so verification was not possible and the record, quite correctly, not accepted.  The Scythropia Cragaetella, too, was not photographed. However, it was confirmed on site by Sue Southam, who has recorded this species before. There are less than 10 Montgomeryshire records of this micro species according to the MMG website.

 

        
Anania coronata. (Phil McGregor)
Hedya salicella. (Meurig Garbutt)

It was around 11pm that the first rumble of thunder was rapidly identified and confirmed, soon followed by pulses of heavy rain. Nonetheless, visitors and group members stoically continued with a steady stream of moths to the table. Figure of Eighty, Pebble Hook-tip, Freyer's Pug, Short-cloaked Moth and a fine Swallow-tailed Moth were amongst the larger moths recorded. Two macro highlights were a Marbled White Spot and a Bordered White, for the reason, neither being familiar to a good number of the attendees. The former appears to be more typical of upland environments (acid grassy heath, moorland and woodland's) and the latter, possibly due to it's normal habitat of conifers, in particular, Scot's Pine.

Marbled White Spot. (Rob Stokes)





Bordered White, wings in typical closed poise.
(Meurig Garbutt)

Despite the rain, a reasonable 44 moth species were recorded. The full species list is available to view here.

By 1am, a rather damp, handful of the group members, (some of us suffering from "Micro blindness"), decided that the flow of moths had slowed sufficiently to call it a night. Traps were switched off by 1.10am. 

Thank you to Julie Pearce for organising the event. Rob Stokes and Meurig Garbutt for contributing photographs, team members Paul Roughley and Julie Pearce for id/recording assistance.  Thanks also to all the group members and visitors that made for a very enjoyable and educational event!

Beautiful Hook-tip. (Phil McGregor)

The next event is on FRIDAY 7th July in Machynlleth, where MMG will be participating in the Gerddi Bro Dyfi 2023 Bioblitz weekend. 

For the Friday night, MMG  will be based, with the white sheet, up in the gardens, the same location as last year. 

However, a selection of the moths recorded will be available for viewing on the Saturday at the bioblitz "base camp",  a different location, next to Y Plas, not in the actual gardens.

Phil.






Friday 9 June 2023

Llanfyllin Workhouse Event 13 May 2023

 It seems a long time ago now, but we held the first night-time event of the season at Llanfyllin Workhouse.  This was a joint event with Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust, and it was well attended, with about 20 people there.  

We first of all watched Swifts flying over the fields around the workhouse and coming into roost (incredible to watch them fly straight up into their nests/roosts).  I didn't realise that swifts collect what they need to build their nests in flight, and then pack it all together using their own saliva! Then Lottie led a bat walk around the grounds.  Although they detected a few, there weren't many bats around, and this was a fairly good indication of how the moths would go too.  It was a distinctly chilly evening.

Anyhow, we did our best and managed to record 10 macros and 1 micro.  The list will be attached here. Unfortunately I completely forgot to take any photos as Mark & I were going on holiday the following day, and it was all a bit hectic, but luckily Lottie did take some.  Take my word for it, we had a lovely Lesser Swallow Prominent, a beautiful Aphomia sociella, and in the end what turned out to be a handsome Sallow Kitten, hiding behind the white sheet.  Many thanks to Phil again for lending us his white sheet.  And to Paul & Sandy for help with setting up.  And Simon for helping with identification.  

Sallow Kitten by Lottie Glover

And Llanfyllin Workhouse was a lovely venue.  They made us very welcome with hot drinks and biscuits.  Thanks to Lottie for arranging the event.  It would be well worth going again another time.  The next event is coming up: Saturday 17 June at Llyn Coed y Dinas.  Further details coming on Facebook soon.  Then in July we will be helping with the Gerddi Bro Dyfi Gardens bioblitz on Friday 7 July.  Again there will be more details on Facebook.  Hope to see some of you there.