Rhoose Point

Small Tortoiseshell flying in the sun this afternoon.  Also a couple of Oak Eggar caterpillars in the garden.  The first bee of the year too, which may be one of the Andrena species.  It looks like things are finally starting to wake up despite the still chilly temperatures!

White shouldered house moth.

First one of the year in my kitchen last night.

GMS weeks 1-4

After Friday night's inevitable empty trap, this has been my worst start to the Garden Moth Scheme since I started doing it in 2007:

Weeks 1-4 summary:
2007: 8 moths of 3 species, 1 empty trap
2008: (missed first two weeks)
2009: 6 moths of 2 species, 0 empty traps
2010: 8 moths of 4 species, 3 empty traps
2011: 24 moths of 6 species, 1 empty trap
2012: 27 moths of 7 species, 0 empty traps
2013: 1 moth of 1 species! 3 empty traps

Given last year produced the best resutls for this period, and was then followed by a dismal late spring and summer, perhaps I shouldn't be too concerned. Cold Marches are not that unusual after all, just frustrating!


George (Llandaff North, Cardiff)

Psychoides photos

Thought I'd upload photos of the two Psychoides:

P. filicivora reared from Harts-tongue

P. verhuella reared from Wall-rue

These photos make them look very different in appearance, but I don't think they're always so distinct. Certainly all the filicivora I've seen have been a deep purple with the pale tornal spot, whereas verhuella lacks the spot and is more purple-brown in colour, and broader winged.

I've reared both from Hartstongue, but only verhuella from Wall-rue.

George

Psychoides

Yesterday, I revisited the site, at which I found the Psychoides (see my previous post) and on examining a couple of larvae, I am now convinced that the species involved is filicivora, which is a new species for me. Today, I took a look at two larvae in my garden. One was on a Polystichum aculeatum variety and the other on Asplenium scolopendrium. Both seemed to be P. filicovora, which is a bit of a mystery because the only adult Psychoides I've seen in the garden were P. verhuella, which begs the question; do adults of P. filicifora always have the pale tornal spot or do I have both species in the garden? I certainly do not intend disturbing every larva I can find to answer this.

Whitchurch Hospital

March Moth [2], Hebrew Character [2] & Early Grey [1] all on the windows 17/03/13.

Cwmbach GMS Week 3

A wet and cold night, so the single Hebrew Character that graced my trap, this morning was as unexpected as it was welcome.