Brimstone

It was nice to see this male Brimstone on Sunday at Newport Wetlands. I saw another one on my drive home, in Nash. What impresses me is that they only have one generation per a year and are therefore our longest lived butterfly. 

Mid February to Mid March

Emerging Hibernators 

Over the past weeks traveling and trapping around a couple of woodlands a few overwintering micro's have emerged. Some were out of hibernation even before the unusual warm spell encountered towards the end of February.
I have seen them in low numbers admittedly but at least they are out there.
The best of the lot for me was this Red-letter Flat-body- Agonopterix ocellana which I've never seen before at central southern Wentwood. This may be a new site for it possibly, who knows.

Agonopterix heraclina

 Ypsolopha ustella

Agonopterix ocellana

With the Red-letter Flat-body- Agonopterix ocellana feeding on various Salix trees; Willows, I would have thought it would have been more commonly recorded especially around coastal areas and indeed inland, around water courses. 

Updated Maps and Lists

At the AGM, Martin Anthony made available CDs containing up-to-date Species Lists, Distribution Maps, Phenology (Flight Time) charts etc for Gwent lepidoptera.   These documents have now been uploaded to this blog and a link can be found on the RHS.  If anyone who could not make the meeting would like a copy of the CD, please contact Martin with your address and he will post one to you.

The latest Newsletter (No. 149 February 2019) has also be uploaded to the blog - again, see link on RHS.

Always early to emerge 

Totricodes alternella

One of the first of the micro world to emerge through the latter winter months is the Winter Shade (Totricodes alternella).

I frequently encounter it when travelling around some of the woods in Monmouthshire of a quieter evening from mid February when it seems unlikely much activity would occur at this time of year.
It tends to turn up in reasonable numbers if Oak trees are in the vicinity of your trap. I say Oak because it's other main foodplant is Hornbeam and I don't see this tree too frequently on or about the trap sites I've chosen so far. Other trees do include Hazel which is widespread but I mainly find it close to Oak.

It's quite variable in colour and design and every year when it turns up at the trap it makes me reach for my micro book just to make sure I am looking at this species for they can be quite vivid when freshly emerged leading to doubts in one's mind.
This season for this micro moth is coming to an end possibly, due to a warm end to February perhaps, although I did see one 2 days ago, so they could still be on the wing.

Hendre Woods work party

Just a quick note to let people know that the joint work party at Hendre Woods between MMBG & BC South Wales, scheduled for this Sunday (17th March), has been postponed.

We plan to go ahead with the work party on a week day -  depeneding on availability this will probably be the following week (18-22 March). If you'd like to come please get in touch and let me know which day(s) you are free. We'll be clearing scrub to improve habitat for the Drab Looper moth.

Thanks
George
07794 521017

Monmouthshire Moth & Butterfly Group Annual Meeting

You are cordially invited to our AGM and Members’ Evening: Tuesday 12th March 2019 Royal British Legion Club, Old Market Street, Usk, NP15 1AL 7.30pm - 9.30pm 

Our speaker will be Norman Lowe, the Brecknock Moth Recorder, who also runs the Wales Garden Moth Scheme. Members and non-members are welcome. Papers for the meeting are at the end of the January newsletter.

We look forward to seeing you there.