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Thursday, 31 July 2025

Maenol Last Night (30-31st July)

It was wet!  But never mind, there was no wind and the temperature was favourable, so there were plenty of moths about - too many of certain species, namely Large Yellow Underwing and Flame Shoulder, well into double figures of both in the trap.  Still room for smaller creatures though, and I was pleased to see Caryocolum blandella, another species associated with Stitchwort, and one that I haven't seen for several years.  Other familiar species from past years were Blastobasis adustella, Ringed China-mark, Scalloped Hook-tip, and Small Rufous.

Caryocolum blandella

Ringed China-mark

Sunday, 27 July 2025

Moths at Saron

A good selection in the last couple of weeks and I have had four species I have not seen here before. I hope I have identified each correctly but please can someone correct me if I haven't. Thanks. 

Narrow-winged Pug


 

 Chequered Fruit-tree Tortrix


 Aspilapteryx tringipennella


 Acleris hastiana


 

Last night`s catch (26/7/25)

 I trapped on three consecutive nights (2th-26th inclusive) though there was nothing really to shout about in my actinic on the following mornings; the 25th & 26th were both better than the rather cold night of the 24th. Essentially, low numbers (many species in ones or twos only) and mediocre diversity, with migrants limited to silver y (several) and dark sword-grass, though painted ladies and red admirals have been prominent by day in the garden. While doing garden work on the 24th (Thursday) a buzzing noise caught my attention and, thinking that it was a hornet, I glanced sideways to have a pretty good view instead of a hummingbird hawk-moth which then (typically) flew off. Mel Jones tells me that she also had one on the same afternoon at her Llansteffan garden and there were reports of sightings in SW England on the same day.

This morning`s trap had four 4-spotted footmen (they are very regular here), with 2 males and 2 females - normally the males predominate, especially at the start of their flight period. The most interesting moth in last night`s trap was Euzophera pinguis, a rather dull-coloured pyralid associated with ash (upon which the larvae feed). Photos below.




Thursday, 24 July 2025

Llansteffan Moths

On the night of the 13th I trapped at home and had a small moth which I wasn't sure about. It's always worth double checking with Ian, which I did, and he confirmed it's a White-line Snout, the 6th county record. I sometimes get disappointed that my little garden doesn't attract many exciting moths, even though I garden for nature and it's like a jungle in parts, other people seem to have large numbers and rare Hawk-moths, but every now and again my little garden surprises me and coughs up something different.


















 

Friday, 18 July 2025

Llansteffan Moths

 I had a bit of a shock this morning when I saw a moth at the window of the house I work in. I did a double take and thought "it cant't be". To say I was in a panic was an understatement because I had no pots to hand. I ran to the car and kicked myself for cleaning it out and taking all the posts into the house as I don't often use a pot from the car. Anyway I raided the kitchen and borrowed a plastic container four times the size of what I needed. Anyway moth caught and potted up. Phew.....

Get on with it girl. The last time I caught this moth was the 30th May 2018. 

Ruddy Carpet. (Catarhoe rubidata).







Thursday, 17 July 2025

Double Kidney - new for the Garden

 A very warm and muggy night produced a deeply underwhelming haul - but I did find a single individual I did not immediately recognise. 

Double Kidney.

Pontyberem 17Jul25

Very mild, 17.5 dgrees at 05.30, breezy and damp. Not a big list but this Kent Black Arches was new for the garden, and the first I have seen in Wales. Luckily I took this 'in situ' on the egg tray as it disappeared seconds later!