Tuesday 30 April 2013

Lower Ochrwyth - 29 April

The temperature dropped quickly during the night so only ran the trap for a couple of hours - packed up @ 11.30 when it was 6c and still falling.   A total of just 8 moths of 5 species: NFY was Water Carpet; otherwise Early Grey, Small Quaker; Common Quaker (2); and, Early Thorn (3).

Wednesday 24 April 2013

Lower Ochrwyth - 23 April

After George's exciting find of a new species for the VC,  I'm afraid it's back to the more mundane species of my garden.  I ran the MV last night and trapped 30 moths of 13 species.  New for the year were Streamer, Double-striped Pug and Brindled Beauty x2. There was also Diurnea fagella (the 2nd for the year - previous on 19th).

Streamer

Sunday 21 April 2013

Philedonides lunana - new to VC35


George Tordoff, Conservation Officer, Butterfly Conservation Wales has kindly sent me details of his find of a female Philedonides lunana on the southern slopes of the Sugar Loaf last Friday - the first time that the species has been recorded in VC35.
Philedonides lunana (Photograph - George Tordoff)

Tuesday 16 April 2013

Lower Ochrwyth - 14 & 15 April

An Engrailed turned up at the outside light on 14th and then on the 15th the MV produced 32 moths of 8 species - NFY were Oak Beauty, Brindled Pug (x2), Agonopterix heracliana.


The Engrailed

Sunday 14 April 2013

Lower Ochrwyth 12 & 13 April

There were no new species for the year on the night of the 12th, which produced 14 moths of 5 species: Early Grey; Twin-spotted Quaker (2); Clouded Drab (2); Common Quaker (4); Hebrew Character (5).  The 13th, without the aid of the MV, produced three new species for the year with Early Thorn; Common Plume and Depressaria daucella.

Saturday 13 April 2013

Redhouse Barns 11th April

Ran the MV and recorded 18 moths of five species:
Clouded drab 12
Hebrew character 3
Common quaker 1
Early Thorn 1
Oak beauty 1

Oak Beauty

Also on the concrete barn wall were 2 marbled beauty larvae. These feed on lichen growing on walls and rocks. I assume they feed at night because I only ever see them early in the morning and as soon as the sun comes round onto the wall, they retreat into little holes in the concrete. I wonder if they make the holes themselves as the entrances are so round and they are only just big enough for the caterpillars to enter. You can see one of the holes just below this caterpillar. As the caterpillars grow they would have to make the holes bigger.

Marbled Beauty larva

Thursday 11 April 2013

Newport Wetlands 11th April

I found a drinker moth caterpillar today trying to bask in the 'brilliant' sunshine.
Trap on tonight at Redhouse Barns.

Drinker caterpillar

Wednesday 10 April 2013

Lower Ochrwyth - 9 April 2013

At last, some moths.  The temperature was much warmer last night at a balmy 6c and as a consequence the MV pulled in the best catch of the year so far: 30 moths of 8 species.

Common Quaker (15), Pale Brindled Beauty, Grey Shoulder-knot, Early Grey (2), Early Tooth-striped, Twin-spotted Quaker (5), Hebrew Character (4) and Clouded Drab.


Grey Shoulder-knot

Sunday 7 April 2013

Lower Ochrwyth - 7 April 2013

My neighbour handed me this, which he dug up when clearing flower borders - he just missed it with his trowel.  At just over 400mm long, this is an impressive chrysalis, which I believe to be that of Elephant Hawk-moth.
Chrysalis of Elephant Hawk-moth