Moths at Saron, Llandsyul

 

Thursday night (mercury lamp) I had 67 macros and  21 micro species (including Gypsonoma dealbana new to me). Of note included Rusty Dot Pearl (migrant), Brussels Lace, Small Seraphim, Red-necked Footman, Privet Hawkmoth, Rosy Footman, Elephant Hawk-moth, Sandy Carpet, Grey Birch, Sharp-angled Carpet, female Ghost and Coronet. On the Friday night (actinic lamp in porch), I had 38 macros and 14 micro species (including Diamond-back). Of note were Brussels Lace, Red-necked footman, Beautiful Carpet and Waved Carpet.

In one of our fields, on dock, yesterday I found this caterpillar – which I think is Yellow Shell.

 

Llansteffan Moths

 I trapped at home last night and had a new moth for the garden and me. Four-dotted Footman.

Also two Argolamprotes micella.

49 species altogether on the night of 19th June 2025.

A new micro in Burry Port

118 individuals is a lot for my garden and 46 species is even better. In particular, micro numbers were good including some new moths. Annoyingly Blastodacna hellerella made a break for it whilst under the camera and was never seen again. However Pammene populana stayed still.

I also had my first Argolamprotes micella for the year - five of them. Only one stayed for the photoshoot.

Finally my old friend Paraswammerdamia nebulella made an appearance:

Also present were 5 Swallowtails, the first Black Arches for the year and a Dog's Tooth.

An interesting catch...

 Last night`s trap was - like the previous - not exactly full to the rim with moths but there was a good variety (>40 spp) and some moths of interest. The more noteworthy species included small blood-vein, cream-bordered green pea, lime hawk-moth, scarce silver-lines and common lutestring. Also a barred yellow, which I do n`t often catch and the number of Argolamprotes micella increased to six.

                                                              Above: small blood-vein

                                                            Above: common lutestring

                                                    Above: cream-bordered green pea

                                                           Above: lime hawk-moth  

                                          

                                                        Above: scarce silver-lines

                                                          Above: barred yellow

Argolamprotes micella

 I put the actinic trap out last night and a rather small batch of moths awaited me this morning, Four privet hawk-moths were certainly obvious inside the trap, with one flying off as soon as I opened it - something, in my experience, this normally placid moth has not done before.

In contrast, a single Argolamprotes micella (usually a rather energetic little moth) behaved itself, allowing capture and a subsequent photo. This species occurs in SW Britain and was first recorded in Carmarthenshire some years back by Mel Jones at Llansteffan. It is a raspberry/bramble feeder. The adult is attractive with a very dark purple-black sheen and silvery spots. Photo below (left click on pic to enlarge).

Reddish Light Arches in Burry Port

 A small trap of 51 individuals of 24 species included two Reddish Light Arches, which I have had before and I presume is blown to me across the Burry Inlet by kindly southern breezes.

I also had a first for the garden, which after a bit of research, I decided were Rivulet. I have had Small Rivulet before, but it's taken over ten years to attract its larger cousin.

These are two different moths, the lower being reluctant to pose on the slate.

Minor update

 The much-vaunted migrant influx seemingly did not materialise in Carms in contrast to SW & S England where an impressive variety of `moth goodies` turned up. We had to make do instead with fairly interesting records of locally-wandering or irregularly occurring moths in our traps. Perhaps the best in the first category was Jane Hand`s obscure wainscot at Rhandirmwyn - a species that is typical of the fens and marshes in SE Carms (as well as elsewhere along our coast eg around the Witchett Pool at MoD Pendine), but highly unexpected at upland - and the furthest inland area of the county - Upper Tywi Valley! Jane`s photo is shown below.

In the second category (infrequently trapped/thin-on-the-ground species) may be placed the shark, of which one turned up in my trap last Friday (13/6). The first photo shows its wing-tip, essential for i/d purposes.

An annual micro at my woodland edge garden is Lozotaeniodes formosana, a Scot`s pine feeder and with appropriate colouration to match that tree`s bark.

Get ready to groan....another spell of migrant activity is forecast for the late midweek period when temperatures will rise considerably and with appropriate winds. Whether it will bring migrants to Carms is at present unknown, but `if you don`t try, you don`t get`...