Monday 20 May 2019

Calm on the Mountain

 
I have stopped at Keeper's Pond on the Blorenge several times over the last few years to look for moorland moths, but each time it has been too windy to be productive. At long last I experienced perfect warm, calm conditions there on Sunday. The kids and I stopped on our way back from Ebbw Vale swimming pool, so I spent 15 minutes sweeping moths within sight of Johnny (fossicking for stones on the spoil tips) and Bea (listening to an audiobook in the car). Highlights were two strikingly patterned Micros: 3 of the Tortricid Argyrotaenia ljungiana are the first county record, although this is a common species known from 9 of the other Welsh counties, whilst 2 of the Gelechid Prolita sexpunctella, which is also known from 9 other Welsh counties, would have been new if a 1928 Llanthony specimen in the Hope collection hadn't been located last year by Stephen Palmer. A Beautiful Yellow Underwing flew past too.

 


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