Recording session summary for Pen Y Ffordd, Llangadfan, Saturday 25th May.

With the threat of midges, a wet, post-midnight weather forecast and my failing to notice it being a bank holiday weekend, it was pleasing that I had even just one volunteer attend the recording session - namely Simon Spencer.

Arriving on site around 8pm for a quick look around, It was good to see a number of carpet moths already drifting about. Promising stuff.

Two Skinner's 125w MV and three Skinner's 15w green synergetic traps were set up and switched on by 9.20pm. Simon kindly agreed to attend to identification whilst I was kept very busy with a near constant circulation of the traps (the ensuing threat of rain being my motivation to keep going!). 

Until around midnight it was mainly carpet moths that were caught and then Noctuids appearing just as the first spots of rain began to fall.

Highlights from the night:

A strangely pale Coxcomb Prominent. SS

A not-so-common Light Knot Grass. SS

Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet. PMG

Tawny-barred Angle f. nigrofulvata. PMG

Beautiful Snout. PMG

Also, two, unmistakeable Orange Footman. Alas no photograph was taken.

Switch-off time was 12.30am with intensifying rain.

52 species were recorded in total, five being micro's (Epinotia tedella being the most interesting).

Thanks to Simon Spencer for his help.

Phil.

Moth recording session at Pen Y FFordd car park, Llangadfan, Saturday May 25th 2024.

Hi all,

I am aiming to hold a series of supplementary, moth recording sessions this year as a part of MMG activities. The purpose being to help expand the list of species locations for the Montgomeryshire moth records. These sessions are not the moth group main events and as such, will not be advertised on the official "events programme" page. They will all be organised at relatively short notice in new and for some, out-of-the-way locations. However, people are welcome to attend if interested.

The first recording session is to be held at Pen Y Ffordd car park near Llangadfan.  It is part of the Dyfnant forest, being on its southern fringe. A mosaic of conifer, Birch/Alder scrub and carr and fairly recent clear fell re-generation. 

Unlike MMG main events, I will not be using a white sheet so a head/hand torch is essential.

Midges will be present so a repellant/protection of some kind is advised. 

Directions.

From Welshpool, take the A458 towards Dolgellau.

After 14½ miles, just after the village of Llangadfan, turn right, signposted B4395 to Llanfyllin.

After about 2 miles, the Pen y Ffordd car park is on the left.

what3words  yachting.couple.schools

OS Grid Ref SJ017135

Starting from 9.30pm.

If the session is cancelled, it will be notified via a post on the MMG blog page so please check this before setting out.

Phil

philmcg74@gmail.com

Semioscopis steinkelleriana?

Just checking if this micro (both photographs) is Semioscopis steinkelleriana? It was in the box Wednesday night.

It has the black, curved streak and the inverted "L". Whole moth is about 12mm length.

                                                                                                   Photo: Phil McGregor

                                                                                 Photo: Phil McGregor

If so, it is a first for me here at home. I wonder why it was attributed "stone cellar" for the second part of its name?

Phil.