For me, one of the highlights of our bioblitz of the Cwm Saerbren Woodland last week was the night-time moth-trapping session. I say trapping though, in fact, there was no trap – a big white sheet was draped over a conveniently situated tall wire-mesh fence outside the hall we were using and two bright lights set blazing nearby. It rained steadily most of the evening, so the porch hall provided a convenient sheltering spot and, luckily, the moths weren’t put off.

It’s taken me a few days to identify, and get help with identifying, what we saw. Luckily one of my colleagues at SEWBReC, David Slade, is a moth expert, co-author of The Moths of Glamorgan, and Country recorder for moths – you couldn’t get much better help than that! Thanks, Dave.

Here then are some of our nocturnal visitors: Common carpet (Epirrhoe alternata) (2 photos at top), Common rustic (Mesapamea secalis agg.) (agg. because this species has now been separated into three sub-species which can only be identified through examination of the genitalia), Lesser broad-bordered yellow underwing (Noctua janthe), Small fan-footed wave (Idaea biselata), Square-spot rustic (Xestia xanthographa) (2 photos) and Yponomeuta cagnagella or malinellus or padella (these can’t be separated to exact species once they’ve reached adulthood). (Apologies for the poor photos – not easy conditions for photography.)