George Tordoff
@gmtord.bsky.social
Moth botherer and county bryophyte recorder for Glamorgan
Yeah olive certainly seems to like the Cardiff climate - this pic shows the same tree when we moved here in 2007, just a skinny youngster back then. Puts on a huge amount of growth every year, though nearly died in the cold winter of 2010. And yes this is the tree where I found larvae in September.
November 27, 2025 at 10:42 AM
Yeah olive certainly seems to like the Cardiff climate - this pic shows the same tree when we moved here in 2007, just a skinny youngster back then. Puts on a huge amount of growth every year, though nearly died in the cold winter of 2010. And yes this is the tree where I found larvae in September.
Yesterday morning, after an overnight low of -1.7C, a female Palpita vitrealis on our garden olive tree, spotted by my daughter. Not something I was expecting to see after the recent frosts! Perhaps they can survive the winter now, even in Wales?
@migrantmothuk.bsky.social
#TeamMoth #CardiffMoths
@migrantmothuk.bsky.social
#TeamMoth #CardiffMoths
November 27, 2025 at 8:31 AM
Yesterday morning, after an overnight low of -1.7C, a female Palpita vitrealis on our garden olive tree, spotted by my daughter. Not something I was expecting to see after the recent frosts! Perhaps they can survive the winter now, even in Wales?
@migrantmothuk.bsky.social
#TeamMoth #CardiffMoths
@migrantmothuk.bsky.social
#TeamMoth #CardiffMoths
One surprise among 7 species in the Cardiff garden trap last night - a Spiny Hook-tip (Watsonalla uncinula). Only 2nd garden record and rather late in the season.
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#TeamMoth
November 13, 2025 at 8:52 PM
One surprise among 7 species in the Cardiff garden trap last night - a Spiny Hook-tip (Watsonalla uncinula). Only 2nd garden record and rather late in the season.
#TeamMoth
#TeamMoth
White-point new for the Cardiff garden last night, the 25th new species this year. It's been the most productive year for new species since 2018 - the Law of Diminishing Returns doesn't always apply.
#TeamMoth
#TeamMoth
November 5, 2025 at 12:09 PM
White-point new for the Cardiff garden last night, the 25th new species this year. It's been the most productive year for new species since 2018 - the Law of Diminishing Returns doesn't always apply.
#TeamMoth
#TeamMoth
9 species in the Cardiff garden moth trap this morning after an incredibly mild night for the time of year - the temperature hovered around 14.5C all night. 7 of the 9 species were micros, including an Olive-tree Pearl (Palpita vitrealis) and a super late Mother of Pearl (Patania ruralis).
#TeamMoth
#TeamMoth
November 4, 2025 at 8:30 AM
9 species in the Cardiff garden moth trap this morning after an incredibly mild night for the time of year - the temperature hovered around 14.5C all night. 7 of the 9 species were micros, including an Olive-tree Pearl (Palpita vitrealis) and a super late Mother of Pearl (Patania ruralis).
#TeamMoth
#TeamMoth
Red-green Carpet (Chloroclista siterata) - a species on the up in my Cardiff garden moth trap. A rarity here before 2017, it is now a regular visitor in the autumn. This fits with the national trends (667% increase in distribution, 695% increase in abundance since 1970). #MothsMatter
November 1, 2025 at 10:38 AM
Red-green Carpet (Chloroclista siterata) - a species on the up in my Cardiff garden moth trap. A rarity here before 2017, it is now a regular visitor in the autumn. This fits with the national trends (667% increase in distribution, 695% increase in abundance since 1970). #MothsMatter
Some smart leaf-mines of Ectoedemia angulifasciella on wild rose in the Malvern Hills at the weekend.
#LeafMineMonday
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#LeafMineMonday
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October 27, 2025 at 8:06 AM
Some smart leaf-mines of Ectoedemia angulifasciella on wild rose in the Malvern Hills at the weekend.
#LeafMineMonday
#TeamMoth
#LeafMineMonday
#TeamMoth
Even the underside is quite nice
October 18, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Even the underside is quite nice
Earlier this year I reared two adult moths from Coleophora cases on Blackthorn on the Glamorgan coast. Both have recently been confirmed by dissection as C. prunifoliae. This moth is new for me, new for the county, and also my 1000th moth species recorded this year - so a nice hat-trick 🙂
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#TeamMoth
October 17, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Earlier this year I reared two adult moths from Coleophora cases on Blackthorn on the Glamorgan coast. Both have recently been confirmed by dissection as C. prunifoliae. This moth is new for me, new for the county, and also my 1000th moth species recorded this year - so a nice hat-trick 🙂
#TeamMoth
#TeamMoth
Found one mine in Splott today, on a street close to the first record (Railway Gardens)
October 3, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Found one mine in Splott today, on a street close to the first record (Railway Gardens)
Decent moth numbers on and around the Ivy blossom at Lavernock Point (Glamorgan coast) last night, including Pearly Underwing x4, Dark Sword-grass x11, Red-line Quaker x2, Angle Shades x5, Dark Chestnut & Acleris rhombana x2.
16 species recorded in total.
#TeamMoth
16 species recorded in total.
#TeamMoth
October 2, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Decent moth numbers on and around the Ivy blossom at Lavernock Point (Glamorgan coast) last night, including Pearly Underwing x4, Dark Sword-grass x11, Red-line Quaker x2, Angle Shades x5, Dark Chestnut & Acleris rhombana x2.
16 species recorded in total.
#TeamMoth
16 species recorded in total.
#TeamMoth
After one exciting Aporophyla species on Friday night (A. australis, Feathered Brindle), there was another last night with A. lueneburgensis, Deep-brown Dart, in the Cardiff garden trap. The first time I've seen this species since I moved to Wales in 2002! 9th Glamorgan record.
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#TeamMoth
September 28, 2025 at 7:56 PM
After one exciting Aporophyla species on Friday night (A. australis, Feathered Brindle), there was another last night with A. lueneburgensis, Deep-brown Dart, in the Cardiff garden trap. The first time I've seen this species since I moved to Wales in 2002! 9th Glamorgan record.
#TeamMoth
#TeamMoth
Feathered Brindle (Aporophyla australis) trapped in the Wye Valley last night. This coastal moth has no business turning up in an inland woodland - the nearest records are around 70 miles away on Gower and in southern Dorset. It will be new for VC35 Gwent too.
#TeamMoth
#TeamMoth
September 27, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Feathered Brindle (Aporophyla australis) trapped in the Wye Valley last night. This coastal moth has no business turning up in an inland woodland - the nearest records are around 70 miles away on Gower and in southern Dorset. It will be new for VC35 Gwent too.
#TeamMoth
#TeamMoth
Some excellent moths trapped while staying in a cottage near Welshpool (Montgomeryshire) at the weekend, including my first Dusky-lemon Sallow (Cirrhia gilvago) since 1998!
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#TeamMoth
September 22, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Some excellent moths trapped while staying in a cottage near Welshpool (Montgomeryshire) at the weekend, including my first Dusky-lemon Sallow (Cirrhia gilvago) since 1998!
#TeamMoth
#TeamMoth
A fun few hours with the traps on Caerphilly Mountain last night produced some quality moths. Heath Rustic, Autumnal Rustic, Spiny Hook-tip and Anomalous the best of the macro-moths. Also my third Clifden Nonpareil of the year. 1/2
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#TeamMoth
September 7, 2025 at 6:18 PM
A fun few hours with the traps on Caerphilly Mountain last night produced some quality moths. Heath Rustic, Autumnal Rustic, Spiny Hook-tip and Anomalous the best of the macro-moths. Also my third Clifden Nonpareil of the year. 1/2
#TeamMoth
#TeamMoth
One to look out for at the moment if you have olive, privet or jasmine growing in the garden - larvae of Palpita vitrealis feeding inside spun shoot tips. Found two on the olive tree in our Cardiff garden this week. @mikecram67.bsky.social recently reared it from privet in Bridgend too.
#TeamMoth
#TeamMoth
September 6, 2025 at 4:03 PM
One to look out for at the moment if you have olive, privet or jasmine growing in the garden - larvae of Palpita vitrealis feeding inside spun shoot tips. Found two on the olive tree in our Cardiff garden this week. @mikecram67.bsky.social recently reared it from privet in Bridgend too.
#TeamMoth
#TeamMoth
Trapping on the edge of upland conifer plantation near Pontypridd...Anomalous, Dark Marbled Carpet, Pempelia palumbella and an unexpected Clifden Nonpareil. It looked like some exotic bird when it swooped in, black and white underside flashing in the MV light, dwarfing all the other moths.
#TeamMoth
#TeamMoth
August 17, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Trapping on the edge of upland conifer plantation near Pontypridd...Anomalous, Dark Marbled Carpet, Pempelia palumbella and an unexpected Clifden Nonpareil. It looked like some exotic bird when it swooped in, black and white underside flashing in the MV light, dwarfing all the other moths.
#TeamMoth
#TeamMoth
After 18 years of waiting, finally got Chinese Character on the garden list! Also my first Palpita vitrealis of the year and a second gen Waved Umber.
#CardiffMoths #TeamMoth
#CardiffMoths #TeamMoth
August 17, 2025 at 3:44 PM
After 18 years of waiting, finally got Chinese Character on the garden list! Also my first Palpita vitrealis of the year and a second gen Waved Umber.
#CardiffMoths #TeamMoth
#CardiffMoths #TeamMoth
Trapping on the dunes at Kenfig NNR last night with @llynfian.bsky.social and warden Chris Jones. Migrants Diasemiopsis ramburialis & Small Mottled Willow (x3), also Acleris permutana (4), Agriphila latistria, lots of Archer's Darts and Notocelia incarnatana.
#TeamMoth
#TeamMoth
August 13, 2025 at 9:21 AM
Trapping on the dunes at Kenfig NNR last night with @llynfian.bsky.social and warden Chris Jones. Migrants Diasemiopsis ramburialis & Small Mottled Willow (x3), also Acleris permutana (4), Agriphila latistria, lots of Archer's Darts and Notocelia incarnatana.
#TeamMoth
#TeamMoth
Broad-barred White (Hecatera bicolorata) caterpillars on the Perennial Sowthistle my neighbour lets grow on his driveway. Second year running they've been present on this patch. I've only had the moth 3 times in 19 years in my garden trap across the road!
#TeamMoth
#TeamMoth
August 6, 2025 at 9:36 AM
Broad-barred White (Hecatera bicolorata) caterpillars on the Perennial Sowthistle my neighbour lets grow on his driveway. Second year running they've been present on this patch. I've only had the moth 3 times in 19 years in my garden trap across the road!
#TeamMoth
#TeamMoth
Micros including a couple of Stenoptilia zophodactylus at dusk and Celypha cespitana in a range of colour forms. Also plenty of Notocelia incarnatana (no pic). 2/2
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#TeamMoth
July 29, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Micros including a couple of Stenoptilia zophodactylus at dusk and Celypha cespitana in a range of colour forms. Also plenty of Notocelia incarnatana (no pic). 2/2
#TeamMoth
#TeamMoth
Light trapping at Pembrey Burrows (Carmarthenshire) on a night that was colder and clearer than had been forecast - only 60 ish species across three traps as a result, but some nice ones. Good numbers of Garden Tiger & Dog's Tooth, also Yellow Belle and Kent Black Arches. 1/2
#TeamMoth
#TeamMoth
July 29, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Light trapping at Pembrey Burrows (Carmarthenshire) on a night that was colder and clearer than had been forecast - only 60 ish species across three traps as a result, but some nice ones. Good numbers of Garden Tiger & Dog's Tooth, also Yellow Belle and Kent Black Arches. 1/2
#TeamMoth
#TeamMoth
Sitochroa palealis the stand out moth from a busy night at Gwent Wildlife Trust's Magor Marsh reserve, with over 100 species recorded. There are only a few Welsh records of S. palealis including a couple from Gwent.
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#TeamMoth
July 26, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Sitochroa palealis the stand out moth from a busy night at Gwent Wildlife Trust's Magor Marsh reserve, with over 100 species recorded. There are only a few Welsh records of S. palealis including a couple from Gwent.
#TeamMoth
#TeamMoth