A Night at the Farm - National Moth Night 19th May 2022

Caerphilly County Borough Council kindly gave permission for moth-trapping to take place at its farm in the Sirhowy Country Park and on the evening of the 19th we (Richard Clarke, Kevin Hewitt and Kevin Dupe) set two MV lamps at Ynys Hywel Farm to see what this relatively unrecorded part of the county might deliver - we were not disappointed.  The traps were run between dusk and 1.30am and overall, there were 219 moths of 66 species recorded.  There were a number of highlights including: two migrants (Rush Veneer and Silver Y); a significant catch of Orange Footman (20) and five of both Alder Moth and Scorched Wing; three species of Hook Tip (Pebble, Oak and Barred); and two Maiden's Blush.  

It was great to explore a new site and in addition to the moths we were bombarded with May Bugs (c.50), serenaded by both Tawny Owl and churring Nightjar and then escorted off the hillside by a badger.  A very enjoyable evening and a site that will be visited again when we hope to invite MMBG members.

 A full species list follows:

Syndemis musculana, Eulia ministrama, Scoparia ambigualis, Eudonia merrcurella, Nomophila noctuella (Rush Veneer), Anania hortulata (Small Magpie), Oak Hook-tip, Barred Hook-tip, Pebble Hook-tip, Peach Blossom, Maiden's Blush, Clay Triple-lines, Flame Carpet, Red Twin-spot Carpet, Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet, Common Carpet, May Highflyer, Spruce Carpet, Purple Bar, Small Phoenix, Red-green Carpet, Common Marbled Carpet, Water Carpet, Rivulet, V-pug, Foxglove Pug, Triple-spotted Pug, Common Pug, Mottled Pug, Treble-bar, Sharp-angled Peacock, Brown Silver-line, Barred Umber, Scorched Wing, Brimstone Moth, Scalloped Hazel, Peppered Moth, Mottled Beauty, Square Spot, Common White Wave, Common Wave, White-pinion Spotted, Clouded Silver, Alder Kitten, Lobster Moth, Iron Prominent, Pebble Prominent, Coxcomb Prominent, Straw Dot, Pale Tussock, Orange Footman, Spectacle, Silver Y, Marbled White Spot, Nut-tree Tussock, Alder Moth, Miller, Coronet, Treble Lines, Angle Shades, Clouded-bordered Brindle, Hebrew Character, Bright-line Brown-eye, Square-spot Dart, Flame Shoulder, Setaceous Hebrew Character.

Maiden's Blush - K Hewitt

Miller = K Hewitt

Treble-bar - K Hewitt

Water Carpet - K Hewitt