Furthermore, he does it AGAIN!

 `Magic Mothboy in the hills` (aka Arfon Williams) scored another new county record on 6th October (Sunday), catching a Radford`s flame shoulder, as well as some other migrants. 

The Radford`s is seen at the bottom right and it is a species that I`ve  been after recently, obviously without success. The other moths shown are (clockwise) Palpita vitrealis, rusty-dot pearl, and scarce bordered straw. Well done, once more, Arfon!

I had a scarce bordered straw on Friday 4th October but, apart from that, nothing of note. Also two (unwanted) sightings of more box-tree moths including one to kitchen light last night (both moths are shown below).

Yes, he does it again.

 More top-notch records from the Ffarmers hill-billy, Arfon Williams, were made on the night of 25th September. He had SEVEN Palpita vitrealis, a delicate, a small mottle willow and a Clifden nonpareil (likely resident in his local patch). Well done once more, Arfon! (My limited recent efforts have brought nothing).

Of interest is the fact that Arfon - noting potential `migrant southerlies` only trapped until c 11.00 pm (he had more than one trap), as heavy rain was forecast for later. This sensible approach certainly worked.

Unwelcome guest becomes unwanted garden resident

 I`ve noticed an increase of box-tree moth records in my Llanelli garden trap over the last couple of years, with any reduction in 2024 simply due to me trapping less. I have a short length (c 15ft+) of tall box, planted in c 1980, which performs a valuable privacy screen as well as a nesting site for birds. It is only very lightly pruned in the winter and is not tightly manicured. I had hoped that this exceptionally light regime, when the cursed box moths are n`t around, may save my boxes from their rapacious caterpillars. This summer, I noticed a low box bush in a private garden at Stradey, Llanelli that had been decimated by box moth caterpillars - the box looks whiteish in colour with webbing, the result of eating frenzies and the webs in which the caterpillars reside.

A few weeks later I discovered a couple of caterpillars by some diagnostic white leaves on my boxes. These caterpillars were removed and I hoped that was it (for now, at least). However, whilst up lopping some branches on an adjacent tree last week, I noticed several hitherto unnoticed ex-larval `nests`. I`m afraid that they have likely defeated my efforts and disproved my hope that minimal winter pruning may avoid their colonisation. We`ll wait and see to what extent they`ll damage my old box hedge in 2025.

                                           Above: one my August box moth caterpillars in situ.

Above: a graph prepared by George Tordoff showing this species` rapid increase in part of Cardiff.

Rusty-dot Pearl and Beaded Chestnut

 Once again a small trap on Monday night produced a few good moths, including three Large Ranunculus. Best was a lovely Beaded Chestnut as well as a hyperactive Rusty-dot Pearl.

Autumn moths

 A mediocre trap produced some attractive autumn species and a new moth for the garden.

My first Large Ranunculus for a few years.

First for the year, an attractively marked Green Brindled Crescent.

A lifer - Anomalous.

Palpita vitrealis

 As usual, the last moth to be found in the trap is the exciting one. 

Palpita vitrealis

What a stunning moth. So pleased to have caught one.

Moths at Saron

 Very little of interest here this year so I was pleased to get this Neglected Rustic (thanks for confirming Sam). This is a first for me. We have several acres of rhos pasture nwith heather so suitable habitat here.