I failed to see my target species but there was plenty of moth activity with 23 species recorded, the highlight being two male European Corn-borer Ostrinia nubilalis.
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| Ostrinia nubilalis |
This migratory species is reported to be breeding in southern England in recent years, on waste ground with mugwort - just the habitat at Pengam. There are no reports of recent migratory examples on Atropos Flight Arrivals so I expect this species is now breeding in the area.
Other highlights were Yarrow Plume Gillmeria pallidactyla, White Plume Pterophorus pentadactyla, Broad-barred White, Sandy Carpet (common around White Campion), lekking Ghosts, Eudonia pallida, Agapeta zoegana and Eucosma campoliliana.
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| Gillmeria pallidactyla on Bladder Campion |
Interesting stuff, George. What time do you reckon was the most productive period? (eg `between 10.00 and 11.00 or whatever). That`s very good news regarding residency for the European Corn-borer too. I hope that Brexit voters won`t put it off!
ReplyDeleteIan, it was quite when I arrived just before 10pm, then got busy at about 10:15pm as it got darker. I stayed until 10:45pm and there was a lot of stuff flying and nectaring on bramble and campions.
ReplyDeleteThanks George. I was reading that `dusking for pugs` article in Atropos yesterday and - remembering that you previously had said you`d give it a go - was wondering if you`d got around to try it yourself, which obviously you had. It`s a profitable way of recording it seems. I meant to give some local bilberry pugs a `go` by this method (at a known site) but, lazily, did n`t get around to it. So, well done George.
ReplyDeleteThere are several records of European Corn-borer from the Newport area, including photos from Richard Clarke, so I think it has been resident in SE Wales for a while. I have never seen one :-(
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