Tuesday 10 June 2014

Clearwing lures

Jenny Colley had a brief sighting of what she was convinced was a Welsh Clearwing near Resolven and has drawn a blank trying to source pheremones. If anyone has some they could loan her or advise where she could buy some she'd be very interested to hear.

8 comments:

  1. I think that Anglian leps have them...but check first. I`m sure one firm stocks them, as they got in touch with me in my CCW days to discuss testing Welsh clearwing lures.
    It`s entirely plausible in a biogeographical sense that the species occurs in upland Glamorgan, as part of the Cambrian massif with similar habitats, land-use and old birches etc. I was somewhat surprised at the cursory dismissal of this species in the recent Moths of Glamorgan, without comment on the potential for this moth.

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  2. I would suggest too making a search for exuviae and emergence holes on mature birches in open situations whilst this good weather lasts. There`s an excellent article in Atropos, by Andy Graham on this rare moth - see Atropos Winter 2005-6, No 27, p3-8, plus photos.

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  4. Barry. I have one she could borrow for a week, but I'm not sure how we are going to meet up for her to collect it. Pass my email address on to Jenny and we'll see if we can come up with something. I believe ALS are out of these lures.

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  5. Barry, has Jenny ruled out Orange-tailed Clearwing, which looks similar, and does occur in VC41. Is there any wayfaring-tree in or near Resolven?
    As for dismissing Welsh Clearwing. We thought very seriously about all the species that only had historical references attached for VC41, Welsh Clearwing being just one. With just two old references, none backed-up by specimens in the NMW Cardiff or at Swansea museum and with no known records for this species south of the Brecon Beacons in Wales, it was removed to Appendix with a summary explaining why. As with any moth species, most have the potential to occur. With writing constraints and space, I think that Appendix I is a fair evaluation as far as the actual facts are concerned. I do remember suppling the author of the Atropos article with the 'references' for VC41. There are still a few species hiding out there waiting to be discovered as a Glamorgan insect, and Jenny may have Welsh Clearwing in VC41. I still like to believe that the Conformist is out there somewhere too - if anyone traps one please give me a ring.

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  6. It might still be a bit early in the year for Welsh Clearwing - the one I saw newly-emerged in the Black Mountains last year was on 23rd July.

    Ian - searches for exuviae are best done at the end of the flight season, in late July and August - before the wind and rain blows them away!

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  7. I have heard from Jenny that she now has managed to borrow the appropriate lure and she will let me know she gets on - thanks for the generous offers.

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  8. Thanks Dave....(and also George for practical comments).
    If anyone is interested, there are areas that I consider possible `runners` for this species in Carms. There`s the area around Allt Rhyd y Groes (Rhandirmwyn in extreme NE Carms) perhaps esp the long-standing birches above Gallt y Bere (SN77-46-) and there are old birches on the northern fringes of Mynydd Du esp in the Llanddeusant area (eg SN78-23- etc).
    I`d also suggest that -hopefully with good fortune in the Neath Valley- that you`d might consider other upland vc41 areas, where there`s been a continuum of old birch. You`ve got some fantastic unexplored areas in Glamorgan!

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