Blast from the past

I've just come across these images and thought they might provide a little mid-winter entertainment!

GMRG Pyralid workshop 08-04-2000

GMRG trapping session at Crymlyn Burrows 09-06-2000

GMRG Silky Wave count at Horton 08-07-2000

GMRG indoor meeting 09-12-2000

Horton & beyond

Given all the exciting migrants around, three traps left overnight at Horton returned rather disappointing totals as follows: Light Brown Apple Moth 1, Crocidosema plebejana 1, December Moth 9, Dark Chestnut 1, Angle Shades 1 & Small Mottled Willow 1.

Back in Gorseinon Chris Brewer informed me there were 2 Bordered Straw in his trap and at Cwm Ivy Veronica Shenston recorded December Moth 13, Winter Moth 3, Small Mottled Willow 3, Bordered Straw 2, Dark Sword-grass 1 & Rush Veneer 1.

The main prizes all seemed to have been in our neighbouring counties last night with Sam Bosanquet's Euchromius and Ian Morgan 2 Cornifrons, the latter new for Wales it seems!

Blastobasis lacticolella

With another mild night forecast, but dry for a change, I ran my 22w actinic garden trap all night. Although it proved to be a little on the breezy side, I was disappointed to find just a single moth inside, this morning. That said, the moth was Blastobasis lacticolella (decorella), which was only my third and the second for the garden. My previous records were for July and August, and looking on MapMate, there are records for as late as November, so I guess the prolonged spell of mild weather has encouraged them to extend the flight period.
Apologies for the poor photos.My macro lens is broken and the combination of a standard zoom lens with extension tube forces the front of the lens ridiculously close to the subject: too close for my ring flash to work properly.

The perils of December trapping

Buoyed by Ian Morgan's capture of Euchromius ocellea on Christmas day (see Carms moth blog), I set the trap this evening with renewed optimism ... that was until I looked out the window!

Oh well it's set now, so fingers crossed that in the morning the bulb's not blown...

17th December in Laleston

My daughter Holly found another moth on the wall of her school on Wednesday what looks like November moth agg and then after dropping her off, Emma found this Mottled Umber on the wall of a building in the village.

 

Gowerton

Nothing in the trap this morning despite a minimum of 10.2 overnight and dryish, though still too windy I guess.
This Caloptilia azaleella was on a potted azalea I'd brought indoors recently.

Caloptila azaleella

Parc Slip

My colleague ran the trap at Parc Slip on wednesday night but all there was was one winter moth and these two:

Poor photos but the first one at least is well-marked but despite that I'm struggling to pin them down to species - i blame the lack of any moths to look at for a couple of months (possibly a slight exaggeration). Any pointers would be appreciated.