Broom, Ear and Cedestis

 Look back at...July

25th July

Broad Meend, Trellech

Visited Broad Meend several times in the past but decided to try a a slightly different area of the site this evening, a more secluded section. It was not a bad night overall weather-wise with variable cloud amounts around. During my stay 108 moths of 44 species turned up with the 'footman' group paying a more prominent roll. Dingy, Buff, Common, Scarce and Rosy Footman's arrived keeping me on my toes. Other visitors included Satin Lutestring, Pale Prominent, Oak-Hook-tip, Black Arches plus a nice Broom-tip.

Broom-tip 

An expected Ear Moth turned up too, a first ever encounter for me whilst conducting a survey. I had seen the 'Ear species' before in Portskewett with Kevin Dupe and Richard Clark way back in 2013, so this was very pleasing. Although the 'Ear species' are extremely difficult to tell apart, location may suggest the inland moth I'd caught was an Ear Moth, which would fit the habitat here for this species, however we will never know exactly.

Ear Moth agg.

On the micro front, a new site encounter for me was an Lozotaeniodes formosana (Orange Pine Tortrix). Quite a vibrant outstanding micro with orange, reds and browns adorning the forewing which feeds on Pine.

Cedestis subfasciella (Brown Pine Ermine)

Yet new another encounter on the night was this delicate Cedestis subfasciella (Brown Pine Ermine). They are fairly well spread through the southern half of England and Wales but 'local' also feeding on Pine. The Larvae mine the Pine needles from the tip and work their way to the base. This occurs usually between the months of December to April.