First of all, we would like to thank Ian Langmead for making this Peening stool (pony) and donating it to the Trust. He whipped this one up from a plan which we found after attending a scything course. The blades need peening especially when they get dents in them and this will help staff keep the Scythe Blades sharp ready for our task days.
July Brecknock Reserves Update
Our Brecon Wildlife Trust Officer tells us what's been going on in her patch this month.
Ian Langmead with the Peening Pony. © Steph Coates.
This is a Small Pearl-Bordered Fritillary photographed at Vicarage Meadows by Jan Langmead. These small fritillaries are very similar to Marsh Fritillaries but have this wonderful pattern on the underside of the wing. They also only have orange and black on the upper wing, not the light and dark orange that distinguishes marsh fritillaries. Their larvae eat violets- Common Dog- and Marsh Violets in damper habitats like we have at Vicarage Meadows. Not to be confused with the rare Pearl-bordered Fritillary. (Which, as far as I know is only found in North of Powys where Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust are doing great work to conserve them.) A good picture of the underside is vital to identify these for sure.
Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary: © Jan Langmead.
Six-belted Clearwing at Allt Rhongyr. © Steph Coates.
And here is a Six-belted Clearwing photographed at Allt Rhongyr on 23rd June. Thanks to John Wilson for bringing his pheromone lure and catching one so the work party volunteers could see it. This rare Clearwing is described as a species of dry calcareous grassland where the larvae eat Bird’s-foot Trefoil and other vetches. Wales is at the northern edge of its range here but its is probably moving north as our climate gets hotter. Now that pheromone lures are more readily available some of these harder to detect moths are being recorded slightly more. though, the Six-belted is a tricky one as it never goes in the trap!