Forgot to mention that last week I came across a dense population of the landhopper Arcitalitrus dorrieni at a site near Glais. This terrestrial amphipod (a relative of our sandhoppers) is of Australasian origin and can be found by brushing away piles of leaves on the woodland floor - where present you will see them hopping around in a similar manner to sandhoppers on the strandline. Please post any sightings of this species on this website.
Barry Stewart
Mon Oct 30 15:37:00 2006

It has been 9 days since we last run the trap in the garden so it was nice to find a Gem in there this morning. Other migrants included 4 Rush Veneer, 4 Silver Y and 4 Rusty-dot Pearl. Also our first Feathered Thorns of the season and still 4 Blair's Shoulder-knot.
Barry Stewart
Mon Oct 30 7:45:56 2006

Since Dave Slade showed me the mines of Ectoedemia septembrella on Rose-of-Sharon at Parc Slip I've now seen them near home in Gorseinon, at Newton (Swansea)and also today at Mumbles. These are quite distinctive in that the thin, wiggly gallery mine terminates in an obvious blotch. There are usually several mines in that same part of each affected bush.
Barry Stewart
Sun Oct 29 13:30:51 2006

only 2 moths overnight of 26th oct were blair's shoulder knot and a vestal. emma and mike cram
Fri Oct 27 22:06:50 2006 Rest Bay actinic: recent catches have included Angle Shades, Rush Veneer, Rusty-dot Pearl, Epiphyas postvittana, Turnip Moth and a single Brick (2nd site record).
SJM
Porthcawl, Fri Oct 27 9:17:37 2006

A reminder that the BENHS Regional Meeting takes place at the National Museum of Wales, Cardiff this Saturday, 28th October from 10.30 onwards. Contact Mike Wilson for more details mike.wilson@museumwales.ac.uk
Mike Powell <mike.powell2@coorsbrewers.com>
Mon Oct 23 11:31:50 2006

Rest Bay actinic: singles of Large Wainscot, Red-green Carpet, Vine's Rustic (late? migrant?), Blair's Shoulder-knot, Turnip Moth, Garden Carpet, Angle Shades, Lunar Underwing and Silver Y, and 2 Light Brown Apple moths.
SJM
Porthcawl, Mon Oct 23 10:27:23 2006

Large Wainscot & Vines Rustic

Rest Bay actinic: Delicate (the 2nd for the year), Pearly Underwing, Blair's Shoulder-knot (2), Turnip Moth (2) and Silver Y.
SJM
Porthcawl, Sat Oct 21 9:41:39 2006

Two common leaf mines that are obvious at the moment on Beech (Fagus). Stigmella hemargyrella with it's long sprawling mine, and Stigmella tityrella which is much more compact, and rarely strays across a vein in the leaf. Both take in Bute Park this afternoon.
Dave Slade
Fri Oct 20 14:14:24 2006

Stigmella hemargyrella & Stigmella tityrella leaf mines.

Popped over to Bute Park during my lunch break to photograph some common leaf mines, and found Phyllonorycter platani - new to south Wales! The mines are large, underside 'blister'-type mines on Plane trees (Platanus). Sadly these mine have split (so the larvae have probably died), but there are almost certainly more out there.
Dave Slade
Cardiff, Fri Oct 20 14:08:30 2006

Phyllonorycter platani leaf mines

Rest Bay actinic: a better catch with Pearly Underwing (2), Green-brindled Crescent, Silver Y, Red-line Quaker (2), Blair's Shoulder-knot, Common Marbled Carpet, Feathered Ranunculus, Angle Shades and Light Brown Apple Moth (3).
SJM
Porthcawl, Thu Oct 19 9:52:06 2006

Parc Cwm Darran: Grid Ref SO12 02 Emmelina monodactyla, 2 SilverY, 2 Anthophila fabriciana disturbed from foliage, also 3 Small Copper still on late flowering Ragwort. Among other insects the plant bug Pantilius tunicatus and the Ichneumon stramentarius.
Bill Jones
Wed Oct 18 22:02:39 2006

A Death's Head Hawk was found dead at the Cardiff Bay Wetlands Reserve on the 9th October. Dave Slade
Cardiff, Wed Oct 18 15:25:59 2006

Deaths Head Hawk Moth

Rest Bay actinic: just Silver Y, Shuttle-shaped Dart, Angle Shades, Rusty-dot Pearl and Emmelina monodactyla (2) as well as an unidentified plume (one for DS!)
SJM
Porthcawl, Wed Oct 18 12:09:12 2006

Delicate was our 650th species of lepidoptera for our Gorseinon garden last night (372 macros, 258 micros & 20 butteflies). There were 19 species in total in the trap including 1 Diamond-back Moth, 1 Scrobipalpa costella, 1 Rush Veneer, 1 Shuttle-shaped Dart, 1 Brick, 1 Large Wainscot and 3 Silver Y
Barry Stewart
Wed Oct 18 8:54:22 2006

Hummingbird Hawk Moth seen at 7:30am feeding on tobacco plants on Sunday Morning 15th October at SS953812
Graham Holmes <holmeg@bridgend.gov.uk>
Tue Oct 17 16:30:00 2006

Tue Oct 17 16:29:43 2006 The mild weather continues to surprise; in the garden trap this morning a small but pristine Garden Tiger (27 Aug previous latest record)! Other species of interest were Feathered Ranunculus (new for the garden), 3 Large Wainscots, 1 Scarce Bordered Straw (very fresh) and an Orange Ladybird.
Barry Stewart
Tue Oct 17 8:22:07 2006

Very cool & breezy overnight in Bridgend. Only 3 Angle Sdades, 1 Tony's Shoulder-knot and 3 Beaded Chestnut. A few Red Admiral still flying here and at Kenfig this morning. Mike & Emma Cram
Mon Oct 16 15:12:10 2006 Gorseinon Garden trap this am: 5 Angle Shades, 1 Carcina quercana, 2 Light Brown Apple Moth, 5 Rush Veneer, 4 Silver Y, 13 Blair's Shoulder-knot, 3 Black Rustic, 1 Red-green Carpet, 1 Scarce Bordered Straw, 1 Large Yellow Underwing, 1 Lunar Underwing, 1 Setaceous Hebrew Character, plus 2 caddis spp: Limnephilus auricula and L. lunatus.
Barry Stewart
Mon Oct 16 9:32:56 2006

Parc Penallta: Still several species of Hoverfly being seen around the Parc including Eristalis tenax (Drone Fly). Also the Caddis Fly - Limnephilus lunatus.
Bill Jones
Sun Oct 15 22:28:42 2006

Eristalis tenax & Limnephilus lunatus

Last night's MV hawl included two new species for the garden - Grey Shoulder Knot, and Crocidosema plebejana (2nd VC41 record?). Also singles of Udea ferrugalis, Diamond-back and Silver Y.
Dave Slade
Llanishen, Cardiff, Sun Oct 15 17:15:39 2006

Crocidosema plebejana & Grey Shoulder Knot

Bridgend MV last night: 1 Diamond-backed moth, 2 Light Brownm Apple moth, 2 Common Marbled Carpet, 6 Angle Shaes, 1 Pearly Underwing, 1 Lessey Y Underwing, 1 Beaded Chestnut, 2 Tony's Shoulder-knot, 1 Silver Y. At Kenfig NNR this morning 30+ Red Admiral generally heading south between 0930 and 1230.
Mike & Emma Cram
Sun Oct 15 15:54:32 2006

Rest Bay actinic: Blair's Shoulder-Knot, Lunar Underwing, Turnip Moth, Common Marbled Carpet, Red-line Quaker, Silver Y, Feathered Ranunculus, Angle Shades and Emmelina monodactyla
SJM
Porthcawl, Sun Oct 15 15:30:20 2006

Veronica's (Shenston) actinic trap at Cwm Ivy scored again last night, this time with a Brindled Ochre (last recorded in the county in 1917). Also in the trap there a Scarce Bordered Straw, and yesterday yet another Convolvulus Hawk-moth!
Barry Stewart
Sun Oct 15 13:38:46 2006

Brindled Ochre

Last night in the garden MV - Green Brindled Crescent, Feathered Thorn, Red-line Quaker, Blair's Shoulder Knot (4), Common Marbled Carpet (4), Lesser Yellow Underwing (2), Flame Shoulder, Acleris sprsana, Epiphyas postvittana (2), Diamond-back, & Emmelina monodactyla agg.
Dave Slade
Llanishen, Cardiff, Sat Oct 14 8:19:41 2006

Feathered Thorn & Green Brindled Crescent

A Rusty-dot Pearl was attracted to the kitchen window at Rest Bay last night.
Steve Moon
Porthcawl, Fri Oct 13 16:35:49 2006

An adult Rusty-dot Pearl emerged today - originally found as a larva on garden-grown Chrysanthemums, cut for Sandra's by her Uncle Harry. There was also a noctuid larva which we're rearing... In traps at Mewslade last night 9 Rush Veneer, 5 Rusty-dot Pearl, Vestal, Red-green Carpet, Gem, 2 Delicate, Pearly Underwing, 5 Feathered Ranunculus and 3 Large Wainscots.
Barry Stewart
Fri Oct 13 15:33:19 2006

Roath: 5 spp but one was a Green Pug, the 2nd latest date in vc41 for this species. VC41 stats: We have had 4 new species confirmed for Glamorgan in the past month. Antigastra catalaunalis [Sesame Leaf-roller] (new for Wales), Horse Chestnut Leaf Miner (2nd Welsh Record), Calybites phasianipennella & Cypress Carpet (very probably new to Wales - to be confirmed). It is well worth trapping into October and November, as many migrant species still move north and the resident species at this time of the year are some of our most colourful - The Sallows, Merveille du Jour et al. DRWG
Fri Oct 13 10:32:40 2006

I also feel blown out of the water by Barry's postings! : ), but for Rest Bay a moderate catch in the actinic including Lunar Underwing (5), Blair's Shoulder-knot (2), Black Rustic and Beaded Chestnut. SJM
Porthcawl, Thu Oct 12 12:23:16 2006

Following recorded on Ivy Blossom at Mewslade last night: Rhomboid Tortrix (1), Rusty-dot Pearl (12), Mecyna asinalis (1), Rush Veneer (3), Emmelina monodactyla (1), Tissue (1 - possibly flushed out of hibernation the previous evening), Swallow-tailed Moth (1 very late), Turnip Moth (16), Dark Sword-grass (2), Shuttle-shaped Dart (4), Large Yellow Underwing (1), Autumnal Rustic (1), Pearly Underwing (4), Square-spot Rustic (12), Delicate (1), Black Rustic (14), Green-brindled Crescent (2), Large Ranunculus (1), Chestnut (1), Dark Chestnut (3), Red-line Quaker (9), Yellow-line Quaker (1), Beaded Chestnut (1), Lunar Underwing (2), Angle Shades (22) & Silver Y (2). Also still glowing in the brambles at the top of the valley were 9 Glow-worms.
Veronica Shenston, Barry & Sandra Stewart
Thu Oct 12 10:05:15 2006

More humble offerings in our MV in Bridgend on night of 10th (31 moths, 16sp): the highlight being our first Autumnal Rustic for the site, plus our first 4 Red-line Quaker of the year, also 7 Tony's-Shoulder-knot, 1 Lunar Underwing, 1 Pearly Underwing, 1 Dark Swordgrass, 1 Beatiful Hook-tip and 2 Grey Pine Carpet
Mike & Emma Cram
Wed Oct 11 22:26:22 2006

I ran a Robinson 125 w on the 9th hoping to get a Mervielle du jour but was lucky to get 6 a record for my garden deep in the heart of Gower.
David Painter <david@nagus138.freeserve.co.uk>
Swansea, Wales Wed Oct 11 16:29:29 2006

Mervielle du jours

Only ran the actinic last night due to the stormy weather. Major highlight was a pristine Cypress Carpet (new for Glamorgan and possibly Wales?), also Convolvulus Hawk-moth, 2 Delicates, 3 Pearly Underwings, 1 Silver Y & 1 Turnip Moth. Barry came to photograph the carpet and whilst flicking through the images of moths that I'd photogarphed last month for him to identify he spotted a image of Antigastra catalunaulis (taken 13th Sept), which I am told is also new for Glamorgan and possibly Wales!
Veronica Shenston
Wed Oct 11 13:01:12 2006

Cypress Carpet

Despite the torrential rain the trap remained dry inside and was full of insects (mostly dung flies - I have never seen so many in a trap before!). My highlight was what looks to be a very attractive form of Calybites phasianipennella (potentially a new species for the county and possibly only the second Welsh record?). Otherwise Rusty-dot Pearl (2), Brindled Green (1), Green-brindled Crescent (2), Angle Shades (2), Silver Y (3), Pearly Underwing (1), Blair's Shoulder-knot (14), Light Brown Apple Moth (8), Common Marbled Carpet (5), Rush Veneer (2), Turnip Moth (2), Black Rustic (4), Lunar Underwing (1), Lesser Yellow Underwing (2), Shuttle-shaped Dart (2), Yellow-line Quaker (1), Red-line Quaker (5), Setaceous Hebrew Character (6), Eudonia angustea (2), Clepsis consimilana (1) and the large caddis Halesus radiatus (1).
Barry Stewart <moonmoths@ntlworld.com>
Wed Oct 11 9:25:59 2006

Calybites phasianipennella & Halesus radiatus

I had a nice surprise yesterday when Lindsey Leyland brought a convolvulus hawk-moth into the Reserve Centre at Kenfig (Windrush). He had found it the previous day (9/10)in the Corus works. David Carrington <carridg@bridgend.gov.uk>
Wed Oct 11 9:01:02 2006

Bargoed: Twenty-plume paid me a home visit today, but was rather coy about having it's photograph taken!!!
Bill Jones
Tue Oct 10 20:10:14 2006

Twenty-plume

Rest Bay actinic: similar assemblage of species as previous days, but also a Green-brindled Crescent, Rush Veneer and Lunar Underwing (3) this morning
SJM
Porthcawl, Tue Oct 10 10:09:41 2006

Rest Bay actinic: Silver Y (2), Feathered Ranunculus (2), Large Ranunculus (2), Turnip Moth (4), Common Marbled Carpet (1), Square-spot Rustic (4). Portobello parking area: a Clouded Yellow. SJM
Porthcawl, Mon Oct 9 16:21:13 2006

Gorseinon garden trap this morning: Angle Shades (1), Silver Y (3), Blair's Shoulder-knot (12), Epiphyas postvittana (1), Common Marbled Carpet (3), Rush Veneer (2), Turnip (2), Black Rustic (3), Lunar Underwing (1), Red-line Quaker (2), Y-l Quaker (1), Beaded Chestnut (1), Green Brindled Crescent (1), Scarce Bordered Straw (1) & Setaceous Hebrew Character (1). Barry Stewart
Mon Oct 9 11:30:51 2006 Bridgend garden MV trap overnight, quite a nice catch for the time of year: 1 Dark Swordgrass, 1 Grey Pine Carpet, 4 Blair's Shoulder-knot, 3 Black Rustic, 1 Rush Veneer, 1 Setaceous Hebrew Character, 4 Beaded Chestnut, 3 Turnip, 5 LB Apple moth, 1 Angle Shades and 2 Common Marbled Carpet.
Emma & Mike Cram
Sun Oct 8 12:01:47 2006

Rest Bay actinic: Blair's Shoulder-knot, Feathered Ranunculus (2), Shuttle-shaped Dart, Turnip Moth (2), Light Brown Apple Moth.
SJM
Porthcawl, Sun Oct 8 11:39:40 2006

Penygraig. Overnight actinic trap. Blair's Shoulder-knot (3), Spruce Carpet (1), Light Brown Apple Moth (4)
Wayne Morris
Sun Oct 8 8:48:54 2006

Parc Penallta: Seeing lots of interesting Diptera still about in the Parc, among them Mesembrina meridiana, this species is often encountered on man made structures such as fence posts and benches.
Bill Jones
Thu Oct 5 22:05:00 2006

Mesembrina meridiana

Moths seen at ivy blossom last night at Summerhouse Pt., Boverton & Lavernock Pt. Rhomboid Tortrix (3), Rusty-dot Pearl (9), Rush Veneer (11), E. monodactyla (5), Red-green Carpet (1), C.M. Carpet (1), Turnip Moth (90), Dark Sword-grass (12), Large Yellow U/w (2), Lesser Yellow U/w (2), Pearly U/w (25), Delicate* (4), Green-brindled Crescent (1), Feathered Ranunculus (1), Brick (2), Beaded Chestnut* (1), Lunar U/w (6), Barred Sallow (1), Angle Shades (16) & Silver Y (21). * = new SS96. (19 species in all)
DRWG & MCP
Thu Oct 5 10:02:52 2006

Turnip

Roath: Two species in the trap this am: Blair's Sh.-knot & Rusty-dot Pearl. Compare this to last nights search on ivy blossom in the lanes around Roath Park: E. monodactla (2), Rusty-dot Pearl (1), C.M. Carpet (1), Turnip Moth (2), Dark Sword-grass (3), Pearly U/w (4), Tawny Pinion (1), Blair's Sh.-knot (1), Green-brindled Crescent (1), Large Ranunculus (8), Lunar U/w (1) & Angle Shades (7). Its well worth checking all flowering ivy at this time, especially where there is little or no light pollution.
DRWG
Wed Oct 4 9:24:10 2006

Tawny Pinion

Gelligaer/Merthyr Common: Probably the last of the years Black Darters seen on the common's bog pools today. On arriving home a female Southern Hawker was photographed ovipositing into damp moss on the edge of my garden pond.
Bill Jones
Tue Oct 3 20:55:44 2006

Black Darter & Southern Hawker

Horse chestnut leaf miner - Cameraria ohridella - has arrived in Cardiff. Mike Powell & Louise James found a single leaf mine on 30th September in Sophia Gardens, Cardiff. The first of many I'm sure! Dave Slade
Cardiff, Tue Oct 3 13:57:17 2006

Horse Chestnut Leaf Miner, Cardiff

Migrant activity seems to be easing off for the time being: Only 11 spp in the garden (Gorseinon) trap - 2 Green-brindled Crescent, 3 Silver Y, 2 Light Brown Apple Moth, 3 Black Rustic, 3 Rush Veneer, 3 Blair's Shoulder-knot, 1 Common Marbled Carpet, 2 Lunar Underwing,1 Large Wainscot, 2 Square-spot Rustic and 2 Eudonia angustea.
Barry Stewart
Tue Oct 3 8:32:42 2006

Small Mottled Willow (1) at Tesco Pengam Green, Tremorfa, Cardiff. New ST27. Rusty-dot Pearl at Whitchurch Hosp.
DRWG
Mon Oct 2 15:44:19 2006