Moth group recording session at Aberangell, Saturday July 20th 2024. In association with Butterfly Conservation.

A recording session is planned in an area of Montgomeryshire that has only four moth records. Two macro (Straw Dot (Aderyn) and Welsh Clearwing) and two micro (Glyphipterix thrasanella (Aderyn) and Small Magpie) species have been recorded. This circumstance would appear largely due to only a very thin slither of the county being present in this particular 1km OS quadrat. It is located in SH81 of the OS 10km quadrat species distribution map on the MMG website.

I believe we have a reasonable chance to improve on this species list.

The location is beside the Afon Angell, approximately 1 mile along the lane from Aberangell, which eventually leads to Corris,

OS ref SH 8316 1038. what3words crimson.acrobatic.manual 

From the A470 turn right after crossing the Afon Dyfi, following the windy lane up into Aberangell, take the left turn signposted Corris. After approximately 1 mile you come to a multi-direction junction. Follow the lane bearing slightly left and down, across a cattle grid then small river bridge. The parking area is ahead on the left.

The area for recording is in a narrow wooded valley with some mature Aspen, Beech and Alder mixed with native species. Some small fields create a mosaic effect which is always promising for species diversity. There is newly SSSI designated "temperate rainforest" to the north, just over the border in Gwynedd.

We will be setting up traps from 8.30pm onwards with an envisaged switch on time around 9.30pm.

Anyone interested is most welcome to attend. 

Appropriate footwear and a head/hand torch are essential. There are no facilities so self-sufficiency is recommended.

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

Phil.

Severn Farm Pond nature reserve, Welshpool . 21/06/2024

A moth survey was held last Friday night at the reserve by myself, in conjunction with the Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust Wild Skills Wild Spaces (WSWS) group, headed by Frances Louise and Nik Cain.

As far as I am aware, it is the first time a significant moth survey has been staged at this reserve.  

Common Emerald. PMcG

Probably more than twenty years ago, I first visited this MWT reserve and it was a sorry sight with an unpleasant industrial waste pipe draining into the site and lots of signs of anti-social behaviour. I had a spare moment last year, waiting for tyres to be fitted on my car so I took the chance to re-visit the site. I must say I was blown away by the transformation thanks to the persistent efforts of the mid-week group and latterly the WSWS group. A rich wetland mix with plenty of scrub, sallow, open water and a fabulous events shelter.

Severn Farm Pond nature reserve. Nationaltrails.co.uk

I quickly realised that a moth survey had to be done and it made complete sense to run it as an event with WSWS.

Being the middle of the year it was always going to be a late switch on. By the time I had set up and the inevitable rain was easing it was around 10pm. The group had arrived, some keen volunteers from Newtown and Welshpool areas. At least it was calm and overcast!

After an ad hoc briefing about moths and types of moth trap, the group set about collecting while Frances helped me with the listing of species as potted moths were brought to the table and identified.

Barred Yellow. PMcG

It was another of those steady trickle sort of nights with Udea olivalis to the table first. Then much excitement as a fresh Swallow-tailed Moth was brought in.  Much to their credit and perseverance it was after midnight when the WSWS group needed to depart. I stayed on until 2.45am, slowly winding down (drying) the traps.

Crowd pleasers included the Swallow-tailed Moth, Common Emerald and Barred Yellow while Epagoge grotiana and Clepsis spectrana added interest. Most abundant moth of the night by far was Archips xylosteana.

Epagoge grotiana. PMcG.

A total of 33 species were recorded. 23 Macro and 10 Micro's. Not a bad total as the temperature was at best only 10 Celsius.

Burnished Brass. PMcG.

It was a really enjoyable night and we hope to hold another survey in the autumn.

Thanks go to WSWS volunteers and staff for their time and help with the survey, to Montgomeryshire Moth Group for the loan of table top identification equipment and Peter Williams, Vice County Moth Recorder for help with id verifications.

Traps used:

1 x 125w MV white sheet.

1 x 125w MV Skinner's.

3 x 15w green synergetic Skinner's.

Phil.

Mothing event Llanymynech Golf Club

 

Oswestry and Borders Butterfly Group ran a Moth Trapping event at Llanymynech Golf Club on Saturday June 15th.  The weather was even worse than forecast with persistent rain lasting till after 1.00AM.  We were fortunate to have the use of the practice shed which is covered.  Phil McGregor, representing MMG, set up several moth traps on the Golf Course and he and Pippa Young braved the rain to go round them bringing in moths.  Sensibly most people gave it a miss.  The moths don’t seem to mind the rain and we had 27 macros and 8 micros including Small Elephant Hawk moth and Poplar Hawk.  A Heart & Club was the only rare species but the Mottled Beauty (photo) was not something I have seen that often.

I am posting the above event summary here on behalf of Simon Spencer, O&BBG.

Yes, the rain was very determined but not as much as we nor the moths were! 

A very enjoyable night. 

Phil.

Mothing event Llanymynech Golf Club Saturday June 15th

 Oswestry and Borders Butterfly Group is going to run a Moth Trapping event at Llanymynech Golf Club on Saturday June 15th.  We will meet in the back car park (SJ265220) and start setting up traps about 8.30pm for a 9.30pm switch-on or thereabouts, All welcome. This event will be covered by Butterfly Conservation’s West Midland branch for insurance purposes as there have been delays in organizing insurance for the Montgomeryshire Moth Group who would otherwise be running this event. We have done moth trapping at Llanymynech Golf Club before and the limestone grassland produces some interesting moths.  Phil McGregor, from MMG will be leading and I will assist.  Bring refreshments, Head torches & torches etc,  a chair etc.

I am posting this event notice here on behalf of Simon Spencer.

Phil.

philmcg74@gmail.com

Bioblitz at Dolydd Gobaith

 

BIS are hosting a bioblitz in Montgomeryshire and we’d like to invite you along is you are interested. Please see details below:

Date and time: Friday 12^th July (10:00 – 14:00)

Location: Dolydd Gobaith (SJ103230)

Site details: The site is a 32-acre community farm & nature reserve in Montgomeryshire and is run with the help of local volunteers. Habitats include wetlands, ponds, unimproved pasture, an orchard and hay meadow.

It will be a fantastic day to explore the habitats and record the wildlife we see. If you are available and interested in attending, please email me directly at katherine@bis.org.uk and I will forward you parking details and a map of the area. We hope to see you there!

Many thanks,

Katherine

Katherine Hawkins (Communications and Information Officer)

She/her

Biodiversity Information Service for Powys and BBNP

Local Environmental Records Centres Wales Ltd

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.

Where the wild things hide.

 Just where do moths go during daylight hours to be safe from danger?

Last year, I trapped an adult Green Arches during a survey near Machynlleth. Intrigued by the above thought, when it came to release it along with all the other moths, I wondered what was the ideal location where it might hide out during the day time?

As it is a very mossy, lichen coloured moth, I placed it on the trunk of a Crab Apple tree, just below a patch of moss and lichen. It immediately ascended the trunk until it encountered this area and almost disappeared as it blended in. I looked on, in awe of evolution. 

                                                  Well disguised Green Arches. Phil McGregor.

This year, at the same site, I tried this "experiment" with a lovely Great Prominent. Being a very mossy coloured moth indeed, I placed it on a bare buttress root of a smallish Oak tree, close to where it was trapped, which had a mossy area above. Sure enough, just like the Green Arches, it moved up the bare bark until it encountered the moss, (about 20cm above) and settled there for the rest of the day.

                                           A very well disguised Great Prominent. Phil McGregor.

Just these two moths has got me thinking about all the other moths I have caught and where they hide during the daylight hours. Emerging from a  cocoon, just how are they aware of their own colouration and the natural instinct to hide in a complimentary background? Utilising self-evolved camouflage as opposed to just hiding under a leaf seems far more specific. Is this related to population dynamics? Nearly all moths seem well camouflaged to me but do species with high population bursts, such as Brown Silver-line suffer greater losses at the expense of ability to hide? I don't know.

I think I will try releasing moths onto complimentary backgrounds more often and see how they react. I appreciate these two moths may be obvious examples, but what about a Rosy Footman, Ghost Moth or Garden Tiger? Do they hide in complimentary backgrounds too or just under a leaf/dense growth?

I was wondering if any one else has photographs of moths in their daytime hideouts they may like to share here or comment on moths and their respective day time survival techniques?

Phil.

Pendugwm Woods

On Saturday 21 October a few hardy members of the events team decided to brave the weather and set up a few traps at Pendugwm Woods (near Pontrobert).  Following the deluge of the day before, and reports that access wasn't that great, it wasn't opened up as a public event just in case.  Phil very kindly checked out the reserve at lunch time on the Saturday and cleared out the culvert, so we went ahead with 3 traps to see what was out there.

We didn't set up the gazebo or any tables, so base camp was Mark's truck, and whilst Mark and Phil went out to pot up what was appearing in traps, I worked through the pots on the dashboard. And we didn't do too badly at all.  First up was a Barred Sallow - a lovely sign of Autumn.  

Barred Sallow (all photos by Phil McGregor)

The most numerous moth was the November Moth, and we agonised over each and every one but put most of them down as November Moth Agg.  We did however find one female which we were able to confidently say was definitely November Moth. 

Female November Moth

As we were getting Winter Moth as well, I sent Mark & Phil to check the trunks of the trees to see if we could find any females.  They are wingless and can apparently be found walking up tree trunks after dark.  We didn't locate any, but well worth a try.

We also assiduously checked the Red-Green Carpets, just in case we could find an Autumn Green Carpet, which have been recorded at site.  But despite Phil's best efforts it was not to be.  He even took one on the chin, so to speak, as a Carpet rested there for a while!  In the end we recorded 8 species (list to be attached here), which seemed a good result for the last "event" of the year.  

Red-Green Carpet

Also a Red-Green Carpet

Spruce Carpet

Hope to have more luck with events next year.  Keep trapping everyone, and many thanks to all in the events team for their hard work and enthusiasm.