Putting it to the test.

I've got my shiny, new generator and last night seemed an ideal opportunity to try it out. The location I selected was one I've tried before with the little actinic, without much success and I thought I might do rather better with the power of the Robinson MV trap. I set up the equipment in the rushy margin of a hay meadow at Cwmllwyd, tight up against our very wet woodland jungle that occurs alongside the Afon Meilwch.

I started proceedings at 22:00 and immediately and unsurprisingly, lots of Clouded Borders and Silver-ground Carpets came out of the meadow to investigate. Satisfied that the setup was functioning correctly, I took the dogs back home at 22:30, finally returning to the trap at 01:30 this morning (19 June). Rain was expected this morning and I did not want the water resistance of the generator to be tested.

82 moths of 29 species were captured in the three and a half hours that the trap was running - not exceptional, but very much better than previously achieved, so I'm quite happy with the result. There were 6 FFYs and the most interesting are shown below.

 Ghost Moth

 Map-winged Swifts

Four-dotted Footman

Unfortunately, I don't think that this old man will be able to lug all this equipment up to Carn Cennen; I am just hoping that the power of the MV will persuade some of the upland specials to come down to slightly lower slopes - we will have to wait and see.