34.009 Cosmopterix pulchrimella

Ian very kindly brought me three of these tiny (4.5mm long) moths to photograph. They are quite lively but here's at least one reasonable image.

A profitable trapping session - or `the night of the white-points`

 The weather omens for Friday night (17/10) were favourable and out went my actinic (on its roof-top perch) and the MV (on the ground at the far end of the garden). The traps were checked just before first-light, though inspection the previous evening had shown that there was an ingress of moths and that it would be a worthwhile trap. Some 32 species or so (still one or two to check) were counted the next morning. Of particular note was the very large numbers of white-points and merveille du jour (11 and 10 respectively), most of whom were in the actinic, especially regarding the white-points.

I had to take `bulk photos` of these last-named species, utilising a lightweight wooden board placed on the lawn adjacent to thick herbaceous plantings, so that the moths could be placed somewhere safe after photography. The moths were cooled down in their individual plastic containers for about 3 hrs beforehand and then very gently placed on the board with the containers still above them (the lids, of course, were taken off beforehand). They were positioned close to each other to facilitate a group photo. My camera was ready and the containers were quickly - but carefully and gently - taken off. The white-points were done first, then the `mervs`. One of the white-points immediately flew off (it had been whirring its wings to warm up) and another ran off. I re-caught the latter, but it was so restless it might have ran into and dispersed my assembled group, so it was ignored. I took a good half dozen photos of the group. A similar procedure was carried out with the `mervs`, where only one escaped (another of the total was not included as it had been seriously injured - by a robin? - and was missing its abdomen).

                                               Above: 9 of the 11 white-points that were caught.

                                              Above: group photo of Merveille du jours.

                                  Above: scarce bordered straw - another welcome visitor.

                                                Above: feathered thorn, new for year.

                                                           Above: Blair`s shoulder-knot.

                                                     Above: Pyralis farinalis (`meal moth`)

Cosmopterix pulchimella new to Carmarthenshire

 Long overdue and already known from Glam (some dozen or so records) and Pembs and a moth that I`ve been on the look-out for for some years. Yesterday I chanced upon larval workings of this micro in an urban back-lane between Queen Victoria Road and Brynmor Road, Llanelli. Most were vacated but some were occupied by larvae and today, (16/10), several adult moths were spotted amongst some growths of pellitory-of-the-wall that I collected to search for more larvae. To be photographed later.

The larvae and adults were confined to a group of about four large plants growing at the interface of a sandstone wall and the lane - very robust plants c. 2ft x 1ft and not like the usual small plants seen on dry, sunny walls. The actual site  (SN50320 00022) with these plants was NW-facing and no larvae or adults were found on smaller plants elsewhere in the lane. A photo of the lane (with the plants to the bottom-left) is shown below.

White-point

 A white-point was among a small catch of moths last night (15/10), at W Llanelli. On the same night large numbers (eg one was 40+) were being reported as coming to traps in SW England.

An unexpected bounty...

 On Sunday night (12/10) I had put out my actinic and only 4 moths (albeit of 4 species) were in my trap on Monday morning.  Given that poor show, I had no intention of trapping last night. However, in the early evening (at c 7.00pm), I noticed that it was more overcast than forecast and, checking the weather predictions, it showed that the overcast skies were to continue well into the night and the temperatures were benign compared to Sunday (c 12C rather than 9-10C). Consequently, the actinic was placed on the flat roof.

I was surprised this morning at the variety (19 spp.) and increased numbers, though the maximum number (four of black rustic and red-line quaker was quite modest). A good selection of autumn moths - no migrants nor rarities - were in the trap (merveille du jour 3; red green carpet 2; common marbled carpet 3; large ranunculus; red-line quaker 4; black rustic 4; lunar underwing; November moth agg.; square-spot rustic; sallow; green brindled crescent; flounced chestnut, Blair`s shoulder-knot; pinion-streaked snout; red-green carpet 2; spruce carpet; double-striped pug; Eudonia anguistea; Blastobasis lacticolella; Tachystola acroxantha and Carcina quercana). Had I put out the MV then numbers might well have been boosted. It is worth trapping at this time of year to boost your yearly site list.

Blastobasis lacticolella is pretty regular in late summer/autumn with me - it`s an introduced species from Madeira, being first found in London in 1946 and, likewise, Tachystola acroxantha is also an introduction (thought to be from Australia), first noted in Devon in 1908; it is a leaf litter feeder. This moth is occasional in my traps, with the `Carms HQ` being at Adam Dare`s Burry Port garden, where he records it fairly regularly.

I had a bonus this morning in the form of a migrant, as the hummingbird hawk-moth returned to feed on my Salvia `Hot Lips` - some of these Salvias (various colour variants of S. microphylla) are quite popular in garden centres and the like and they are hardy in well-drained soils (mine grows in a mini raised bed on builders` rubble mixed with soil) and the `hummers` do seem to like them! They are easily grown from cuttings and flower from early summer well into the autumn.

                  Above:  top- Blastobasis lacticolella and, below: Tachystola acroxantha

                                Above: November moth agg and, below: Merveille du jour x3

A surprise visitor...

 I`d gone out to put something in the dustbin when I heard a buzzing noise and, almost simultaneously, saw a hummingbird hawk-moth feeding at Salvia `Hot Lips` nearby. This was at c 7.45am this morning. I was able to have fine and protracted good views as it flew from flower to flower but, although I soon fetched my camera and took some 25 photos, the `best` blurred photo that I achieved is offered below. I salute those who manage to photograph this restless moth! I was surprised to see this species after a rather cool night (I did n`t trap), but I note that the wind direction is easterly and it may have brought this moth to my garden.

 

Autumn moths....

 As the forecast was calm, cloudy and relatively warm last night I set up the actinic at its usual flat roof site (I did n`t bother with the MV this time). Only 11 species of moth, all typically `autumn jobs` with black rustic (x4) the most `numerous`(!). Even though no migrants were anticipated, a rusty-dot pearl was present. A 2nd brood yellow-tail was also noted.

Above: a selection of last night`s moths - (clockwise): large wainscot, merveille du jour (a boldly-marked individual), large ranunculus and sallow. Below: the rusty-dot pearl. (Left-click on pics to enlarge).