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CARMARTHENSHIRE MOTH GROUP NEWSLETTER ISSUE No. 14

Summer 2012

Editors: Jon Baker and Ian Morgan

INTRODUCTION

There has been some discussion lately amongst the small band of Carmarthenshire

moth enthusiasts, regarding the desirability of re-starting the Carmarthenshire Moth

Group Newsletter, the last one of which appeared as far back as late summer 2009.

Such a newsletter will help update and enthuse local moth-ers regarding recent

records, offer guidance on how to find certain species or proffer help with

identification issues. Additionally, there will be short articles on mothing in the

county and occasional reviews of certain moth groups. Originally, the group (which

was established by Jon Baker and others in early 2006) also covered butterfly

recording and we are sure that any butterfly records or news could also find a place in

the newsletter.

This newsletter will attempt to give a brief `catch-up` review of the perhaps relatively

limited amount of recording that took place in 2010 and 2011. The `torch` of moth

recording was very much carried by a few recorders in those years (most notably by

Sam Bosanquet and Mat Ridley, helped by newcomer to Carmarthenshire mothing,

Chris Handoll) and these recorders, aided by other faithful contributors, certainly

made some interesting records and these are summarised below. Please note,

however, that due to the need to get this newsletter out as soon as possible, this is not

an absolutely comprehensive summary of records as was the case with earlier

newsletters but we hope to return to the format of those past newsletters in subsequent

issues. Nevertheless, we hope that the re-appearance of this newsletter will help

encourage you all, just as we have been enthused by the appearance of a small number

of new recorders in the last year or so – for example, Chris Handoll, Alison Heath

and, brand new this year, the County Biodiversity Officer, Isabel Macho.

Aside from the review of records for 2010/11, a short general article on moth trapping

is included, as well as updated and slightly modified articles on moth trapping at

Carmel by Mat Ridley and another on day-flying moths by Ian Morgan; both of these

have appeared previously in the Llanelli Naturalists Newsletter and may not have

been seen by some local moth trappers. Some day-flying moths certainly require more

recording, for example, the chimney sweeper, clouded buff and forester are just three

that come to mind.

We hope to have follow-up newsletters later this year, particularly if good records are

generated (and if the awful wet and cold weather -of April, May and, now, June-

improves!).

Jon Baker of course, remains the County Recorder for moths and he is willing to help

with identification problems. For rare or difficult-to-identify species (as well as

obviously those new to Carmarthenshire), there is a working list of species that Jon

will require proof of identification in the form of a specimen or – preferably - a good

photograph. Please contact Jon if you require an electronic copy of this list or back

issues of the Newsletter.

We hope that you will continue to record moths in 2012, as Carmarthenshire has such

a diverse range of habitats and remains still quite unexplored in moth terms. There are

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plenty of opportunities for interesting records and perhaps some of you may be also

tempted to trap away from your home station or instead perhaps at friends` homes,

where they abut good habitat (please see article `Gone Mothing` later in this

newsletter).

MOTHNIGHT 2012 – Thursday 21 June to Saturday 23 June

The focus this year is on brownfield sites, of which we certainly have some good

examples in the Llanelli area and south-east Carmarthenshire generally. Such sites are

often rich in wildlife and they will include the classic urban brownfield sites, quarries,

old coal mining sites and the like. Note that this year, the `Mothnight` extends over

three days/nights, allowing you to choose the best date in terms of convenience or

weather (or to trap on all three nights!). See www.mothnight.info for more details.

We hope to get all active moth-ers involved this year in Carmarthenshire. Please note

that if you cannot trap at a brownfield site, then the `home trap` will suffice. We

intend to send out an email to local recorders before this event.

Highlights of 2010

(Note that grid references are only given at the first mention of a locality and,

likewise, observers are denoted by use of their initials after the first use of their

names. This principle is followed on into the 2011 summary and similarly, the

scientific names are only cited at the first mention of that species).

The season started on 15/3/10 with a failure, when a search was made in a small (and

very tight) cave on the narrow Carboniferous Limestone outcrop near Garn Farm,

Drefach SN510145 for Tissue moths Triphosa dubitata. This species hibernates as an

adult before emerging in the spring, and prompted by Mat Ridley`s records at nearby

Carmel, it was thought that an investigation of this cave might be worthwhile. Alas,

only three compensatory over-wintering Herald moths Scoliopteryx libatrix were

found by the searcher, (Ian Morgan, IKM) The Tissue is most certainly a very scarce

and localised moth in the county with its caterpillars feeding on two very localised

shrubs buckthorn Rhamnus cartharticus (as at Carmel) and alder buckthorn Frangula

alnus; it will also need caves or old buildings etc for hibernation. The same observer

had an Orange Underwing Archieris parthenias flying over birches in spring

sunshine at Mynydd Mawr Woodland Park, Tumble SN542125, an already known

and regular site.

National Moth Night 2010 (15/5/10) yielded few good records, but a Great

Prominent Peridea anceps at Glanrhyd, Brechfa SN 503302 for Dave and Jan

Bannister (D&JB) was a nice find. Sam Bosanquet (SDSB) regularly gets this species

at Cnwc y Llwyn SN515311 in the same general area and this species probably occurs

in most of the better, ancient oak woodland sites of the county north of the Tywi, but

it has yet to be recorded in the south-east. This moth is rare in Glamorgan, with only

four records and with the last in 1956 (per Barry Stewart), though this may be due to

insufficient trapping in the northern oakwoods of that county. D&JB also had Alder

Kittens Furcula bicuspis twice (22/5 and 5/6/10) at Glanrhyd, and up to 7 White-

marked Cerastis leucographa moths were recorded by SDSB at Cnwc y Llwyn on

18/4/10. Later in the month (28/4/10), Sam had a Grey Shoulder-knot at the same

site.

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Mat Ridley (MR) continues to trap regularly at Bryn Llinos SN589164, at the edge of

Carmel Woods NNR, and amongst his catch on 25/5/10 a Yellow-barred Brindle

Acasis viretata and Common Lutestrings Ochropacha duplaris were noteworthy,

both rather local moths in the county; he also caught the latter species on a couple of

dates in June. Another late May prize (on 28/5/10) for him was a Blomer`s Rivulet

Discoloxia blomeri, a local moth of woodland whose caterpillars feed on wych elm

Ulmus glabra. A Lead Belle Scotopteryx mucronata on 11/6/10 may have been a

wanderer from the heath and bog habitat on the parallel Millstone Grit ridge that lies

immediately adjacent to the limestone on which Carmel Woods is situated. Again it is

a very local species in our county. Mat also trapped within the adjacent Carmel

Woods and here records of interest included a Satellite Eupsilia transversa on 5/3/10

and an Annulet Charissa obscurata on 29/6/10.

Still in June, Jon Baker (JSB) had a Satin Wave Idea subsericeata at Pembrey

Country Park SS401999 (- on 5/6/10) and 2 Seraphim Lobophora halterata at the

adjacent Pembrey Forest SN399024 on the same day; its larvae feed on aspen or

poplar, small stands of which occur in the forest. Elsewhere on the coast, thrift

clearwings were noted, typically abroad in daytime, at cliff-side thrift plants at two

locations at Ragwen Point, west of Pendine (at SN223074 and SN217073, IKM). The

distinctive and colourful larvae of the Chamomile Shark Cucullia chamomillae were

spotted on scentless mayweed Tripleurospermum maritimum at two coastal sites –

east of Burry Port SN456003 14/6/10 and near the sewage works at Llangennech

SN566009 16/6/10 (IKM).

Chris Handoll (CH) provided some good records in 2010, the first of which was the

Double Dart Graphiphora augur at Maenol SN449382 (north of Pencader) on

21/6/10 (and twice subsequently in early July) and a Cloaked Carpet Euphyia

biangulata on 27/6/10. The latter is but rarely recorded in the county and its larvae

feed on stitchworts. At Tyrwaun, Pwll (Llanelli) SN469013 a Nutmeg Dicestra

trifolii accompanied a Double Line Mythimna turca was in IKM`s `home trap` on

29/6/10. The nutmeg feeds on chenopods (goosefoots and oraches), plants that thrive

initially on disturbed ground that is not too acidic. Initially, large numbers of nutmegs

thrive on the early successional stage of plant colonisation, declining thereafter as the

goosefoots and oraches themselves diminish. Two Pretty Chalk Carpets Melanthia

procellata were beaten from an expanse of Clematis at Dolwen Point, Pendine

SN234078 on 30/6/10, but the single Scarlet Tiger Callimorpha dominula, flying

along the cliff-top path, must have been a wanderer from the fens at MoD Pendine or

elsewhere (IKM).

July brought another two noteworthy records for CH at Maenol– a Gold Spangle

Autographa bractea on 2/7/10 and a Lesser Cream Wave Scopula floslactata on

17/7/10. A male Four-spotted Footman Lithosia quadra at Tyrwaun, Pwll on

11/7/10 (and subsequently, 2 on 14/7; 1 on 25/7 and 2 on 2/8/10) points to an

established population on the coast (IKM). Chris Manley ventured into

Carmarthenshire on 17/7/10, when he trapped at the National Botanic Garden of

Wales SN52-18- and he was rewarded by a Double Lobed Apamea ophiogramma

and a Scarce Burnished Brass Diachrysia chryson. SDSB trapped a Bleached Pug

Eupithecia expallidata at Cnwc y Llwyn on 28/7/10; the larvae of this moth feed on

goldenrod. A Large Ear Amphipoea lucens (confirmed by dissection by JSB)

recorded at Maenol by CH on 4/9/10 and a Brown-spot Pinion Agrochloa litura,

caught on 30/9/10 (and another date) at Llangeler SN364397 by Alan Sibley and

confirmed from photographs by JSB, were both good records from the under-worked

north of the county. The Cypress Pug Eupithecia phoeniceata at Tyrwaun, Pwll on

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12/3/10 was a second county record, (IKM, the species having been recorded

previously in 2008 by Huw John at Pembrey post office).

Another species that is also now thought to be resident on the south-eastern coast of

the county is the L-album Wainscot Mythimna l-album, one of which was trapped at

Tyrwaun, Pwll on 8/10/10 (IKM). The same date yielded the sole noteworthy migrant

record of the year when Andrew Lucas had aVestal Rhodometra sacraria near

Ammanford SN637128. CH had a very good record the next day when he caught a

Feathered Ranunculus Polymixis lichenea lichenea inland at Maenol and he also

noted a brindled green on 15/10/10 and had a Grey Shoulder-knot Lithophane

ornitopus in the same period.

Highlights of 2011

The local Yellow Horned Achlya flavicornis, at Bryn Llinos, Carmel was perhaps the

first interesting record of the spring recording season for MR on 11/3/11 and an

Orange Underwing at Mynydd Mawr Woodland Park, noted by IKM flying typically

high over birches on 22/3/11, though as with the previous year, no special effort was

made to visit other known sites in the south-east of the county. Interestingly, Clive

Jones also saw one actually resting on the ground (on a path near some birches) at the

Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust `Millennium Wetland` at Penclacwydd, Llanelli SS53-

98- on 22/3/11. A few days later (27/3/11) at Cnwc y Llwyn, Brechfa SN515311,

SDSB had a White-marked, a rather scarce and local moth of woodland, and D&JB

additionally had one at Glanrhyd, Brechfa and MR at Bryn Llinos in the same mid-

late March period. A Scorched Carpet Ligdia adustata- a spindle feeder- (again at

Bryn Llinos on 22/4/11, MR) and an adult Chamomile Shark, trapped at Tyrwaun,

Pwll on 29/4/11 (IKM), were records of localised species. The latter was nice to see

as this markedly coastal species is much more frequently encountered as a caterpillar

rather than as an adult moth.

The first of a scattering of Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum

records in 2011 was the one seen on 3/5/11 at Pwll SN473011 by Bernie Beck. As

befits a migrant, they are quite sporadic in their occurrence in terms of where they

turn up in the county. An interesting bit of behaviour was noted (IKM) with this

species in late June at a tiny and very urban garden at Nevill Street, Llanelli

SS505996, which had been deliberately planted with nectar-rich plants to attract

lepidoptera and bees. A Hummingbird Hawk-moth was seen nectaring at lavender at

exactly the same time (3pm) on several days (and not at other times), as if it had a `set

round` of visits to make. Of course this may have been coincidental, but at least the

garden provided a feeding station for this endearing migrant moth.

Huw John, trapping at Pembrey post office SN427013, captured a Double Lobed on

21/7/11 and a Crescent Celaena leucostigma lecostigma four days later. He also had

an Oblique-striped Phibalapteryx virgata at Pembrey Burrows SS41-99- (a long-

known site for this species). At the wetland reserve at Ffrwd, Pembrey SN418029, he

had another Double Lobed (27/7/11) and a Southern Wainscot Mythimna straminea

(on 30/7/11); Huw also recorded a Dark Spinach Pelurga comitata at Pembrey

Burrows on 1/8/11. Other interesting records noted by MR at Bryn Llinos, Carmel in

this general period were Blomer`s Rivulet on 29/7/11; Slender Brindle Apamea

scolopacia (29/7, 2/8 & 6/8) and Gold Spangle Autographa bractea (2/7, 21/7 &

29/7).

On 3/8/11, SDSB noted Beautiful Yellow Underwings Anarta myrtilli at Cors Goch

Llanllwch SN363188, a marvellous raised bog just south-west of Carmarthen, whilst

on 17/8/11, on a return visit to the county, Martin Lovell recorded a Bleached Pug at

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Cwm Du, Esgairwen SN623296. A wandering Anomalous Stilbia anomala

(presumably from nearby moorland) at Cnwc y Llwyn on 3/9/11; a Brindled Green

Dryobotodes eremita on 27/9/11 (and 7 on 1/10/11); a Pine Carpet Thera firmata on

29/9/11 and a Bulrush Wainscot Nonagria typhae on the same date were all notable

records for SDSB. He also noted a Large Wainscot Rhizedra lutosa and a Vestal on

three dates in this early autumn period, whilst a Satellite on 15/10/11 added to the

species tally for this site. Mat Ridley also earlier had a post-hibernation adult of the

latter species at Carmel on 5/3/11 as well as a Vestal on 1/10/11. At the coast in the

same general early autumn period, five L-album Wainscots and a Red Underwing

Catocala nupta provided interest for IKM at Tyrwaun, Pwll on 11/9/11.

Sam Bosanquet - NEW FOR COUNTY micros in 2010

23/04/2010 Epinotia

pygmaeana Tortricid Cnwc y Llwyn SN515311

24/07/2010 Spilonota laricana Tortricid Cnwc y Llwyn SN515311

12/07/2010 Biselachista

albidella Micro Cors Blaenduad SN3832

09/10/2010 Phyllonorycter

quinnata Micro

National Botanic

Garden of Wales SN521183

Sam Bosanquet- NEW FOR COUNTY micros in 2011

02/05/2011 Eriocrania

subpurpurella Micro Allt y Rhiwau SN475283

03/05/2011 Stigmella

suberivora Micro

Carmarthen

Registry Office SN413205

03/08/2011 Aristotelia ericinella Gelechid Cors Goch,

Llanllwch SN364188

12/11/2011 Tebenna micalis Micro Pembrey Country

Park

We thank all the following recorders for their records (listed alphabetically): Jon

Baker; Dave and Jan Bannister; Sam Bosanquet; Chris Handoll; Alison Heath; Huw

John; Clive Jones; Simeon Jones; Martin Lovell; Andrew Lucas; Tony Lewis: Chris

Manley; Ian Morgan; Barry Stewart; Alan Sibley; Keith Williams.

`Gone Mothing` - Ian Morgan

All of us have slightly different ways in which we record moths. Obviously for the

day-flying moths (see the article elsewhere in this newsletter) these would either be

species chanced upon, or deliberately searched for, during daylight hours. But the

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predominantly night-flying species will require lures such as treacle or wine-soaked

ropes* or various forms of moth traps, be they actinic or MV light.

I have five traps - an MV that I always run at home (or rarely from friends` houses),

as it normally requires a mains supply. I bought a generator, but as I`m `not the

brightest moth trap on the street (!)`, as far as technology is concerned, it still

languishes, unused, in the shed!

I have three small actinics (`12V Portable 6W Heath traps`, purchased from Watkins

and Doncaster), one of which is fickle and only used with a mains connection,

normally again at home and, what I call my crucial two `mobile traps` (again portable

Heath traps), both of which I run from motorbike batteries (Aino Micro AM12-12 (12

Volt 12Ah…the latter bought at Maplin`s in Llanelli`s Pemberton Park near Trostre).

I also have another two stronger actinics of the Skinner trap type, which again I run

from willing friends or relatives` houses (though I have in the past also asked

landowners if they are willing to allow me to trap, and given the low voltage usage,

some have been willing). The latter traps can also be run from the battery of one`s car,

though I have n`t tried this method myself.

In this note, I shall focus on the `mobiles`, as it these traps that allows me to target

particular species after I have read about their habitat requirements, flight season or,

indeed, any other hints as how best to capture them! Websites will also give up-to-

date information as to whether a species is out on the wing in a particular year or

season, and perusal of newsletters or other written sources (such as the adjacent

Glamorgan Moth Group newsletter) can give many hints as to local requirements.

These mobile traps will allow you to target habitats far from home. At home, and

dependent on your `habitat catchment`, you will normally get only either those moths

found in that area, wide-ranging common moths, migrants or rare wanderers from

other habitats. This type of trapping is, of course, still exciting, especially during

periods of intense migrant activity, as well as being crucial for the novice to learn his

or her moths.

With remote woodland or upland sites there are usually few or no people around and I

try to get the traps out as late as is reasonably possible, depending on the season and

then collect them as early as possible the next morning. This is hardest in mid-

summer when days are long and nights short. At collection early in the morning, I am

armed with an abundance of tubes, as well as a notebook to jot down the names of

those that are easy to recognise. The tubes are for the unrecognised moths or those

you simply can `t remember the names of (it’s amazing how much duller you are, first

thing in the morning!).

At some sites one has to be careful as to locating the traps, as you want the traps to be

as visible as possible to moths and not visible to humans. Inevitably, you find

sometimes that someone has seen your trap – an early morning dog walker perhaps,

but often you can engage in conversation with people and they become interested

when you tell them what you are doing. I always place a boldly-typed, waterproofed

A4 sheet of paper marked:

`Moth Trap –please do not disturb

Survey of Moths in Carmarthenshire

Moths are released unharmed after identification`

Only twice (out of very many occasions) have I returned to damaged or vandalised

traps. A fallow deer must have once tangled with one of my traps at Gelli Aur, but I

quickly found the missing wiring nearby and on the other occasion, a trap was

vandalised (kicked over), and the battery stolen, at a brownfield site at Morfa,

Llanelli. Aware of the vandal potential at this urban site I had always put the trap out

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particularly late and out of sight of houses and streets, but I obviously `lost out` on

that occasion. Fortunately, the damage was repaired within a day or two and a new

battery purchased, so it was soon `back in action` (the weather was great for trapping

that week!). In order to minimize the `vandal potential`, I would never place both my

mobile traps in the same site or visible from each other. That way, you have at least

one trap to use if the other is lost.

The furthest afield that I’ve left the traps is at the cliffs in the Marros- Ragwen Point

area west of Pendine; on Mynydd Du and, on a couple of occasions in the 1990s, at

the imposing corrie cliffs at Llyn y Fan Fach. All these require long journeys to set up

and collect, which may lead some to use the alternative method of going out and

staying with your trap for a few hours of darkness and then packing up and going

home. This will have the advantages of lower fuel costs and `peace of mind` with

regard to trap safety, as you are actually there with the trap/s. Another advantage of

staying with your trap for the first part only of a particular night –something which

has recently struck me in the terrible weather we are having this year- is that one can

take advantage of a good `early night weather slot` where conditions may be good

pre, say, 2.00am., enabling trapping, when torrential rain and wind later in the night

may render further trapping or morning collection difficult. If you do leave the traps

out overnight, bear in mind they will need some 10-12 hours to recharge, so I always

give great importance to starting the recharging process immediately upon returning

home, as I often want to take advantage of a good spell of mothing weather and go out

on the following night (it can be very addictive!). Usually the weather breaks after a

few days – or you become exhausted yourself!

The longer or mid-distance overnight trapping that I undertake (ie the `leaving out of

the trap method`) tends to be confined to perfect mothing weather (warm, humid and

overcast nights), but results from these expeditions can be really exciting in terms of

rarely or uncommonly recorded species or, indeed, new county records. Numbers can

be spectacularly high too, such as the 48 confuseds I had one thundery night at

Mynydd Llangyndeyrne. I returned early the next morning expecting to find the trap

exploded by a lightning bolt, but it wasn’t! Mostly, though, I employ such `mobile

trapping` within about 5mls of my home in the Llanelli or immediate area, as there is

a great variety of habitats such as saltmarshes, reedbeds, fens, sand dunes, flower-rich

brownfield sites, native and planted woodland and cultivated land, all within 15

minutes drive of my home. Like any normal person (if us moth-ers are normal!) it is

nice to stay in bed at dawn, but once you are up, the feeling of anticipation is

great…just what will be in that trap, today?

I hope that some of you will consider some `mobile trapping`, whether you

accompany your trap for some time, or leave them out overnight….it will certainly

broaden your moth knowledge.

* I recommend the book `Enjoying Moths` by Roy Leverton (Poyser Natural History

Series, 2001 –ISBN 0-85661-124-7). A copy is held with Carmarthenshire County

Council Library Service – it was in Llanelli Public Library, so it ought to be

obtainable. As well as discussing trapping techniques such as treacle and wine, the

book is a `good read`.

Day-flying Moths in Carmarthenshire. The article below first appeared in the

Llanelli Naturalists Newsletter (No.74: 10-15) in July 2008. As most Carmarthenshire

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Moth Group members will have not seen it previously, it is reproduced here but

please note that the comments with regard to the orange clearwing are now out of date

in that this species has since been found quite frequently over young birches at many

sites in south-east Carmarthenshire. The current status has been updated in my earlier

article `Notes on the Orange Underwing in Carmarthenshire- and how to find it`, in

the Bulletin of the Llanelli Naturalists 8:34-35 (November 2010). In this day-flying

moths article, I also inadvertently left out Small Purple-barred Phytometra viridaria,

which occurs on the coast as well as on high ground south-west of Brechfa and in

rides in the Crychan Forest…..and there are also a few other species that could

conceivably be added to the day-flying list! Some of these day-flying moths rather

urgently need targeted recording to ascertain their current status in the county.

DAY-FLYING MOTHS IN CARMARTHENSHIRE

Ian Morgan

Most of us (correctly) think of moths as night-flying insects, but there are also species

that can be seen by day. The following brief account offers summaries of a selection

of the species that are diurnal, followed by a photographic section that will help

readers identify what they have seen. The photos have been supplied by the County

Moth Recorder, Jon Baker and others, and all will agree that they are of the highest

quality. Records should be passed to Jon, either directly or via me. We are lacking

recent records of many of the species discussed below and whilst many species have

declined due to habitat loss, others remain unrecorded (or simply unreported), so

please look out this season and pass on records. Jon also produces an interesting

regular e-mail newsletter in the spring-autumn.

Photos : JSB unless noted otherwise.

Forester Adscita statices – a dark Sherwood-green species found on rough acidic

pastures, where the larvae feed on common and sheep’s sorrel. May-July.

Burnet moths Zygaena spp – the six-spot Z. filipendulae stephensi (below left) and

the five-spot Z. trifolii palustrella (below right) fly in July-Aug on flower-rich

grassland where they feed on bird`s-foot trefoils; the five-spot tends to occur on

damper grassland.

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Lunar Hornet Moth Sesia bembeciformis – one of the `clearwings` and associated

with stands of willows. Rarely seen as an adult, but willows with borings suspected to

be of this species at WWT Penclacwydd and nearby areas of Llwynhendy were noted

in 2007. July –August.

Photo: Kirsten Dick

Clearwings Sesidae – see Dyfed Invertebrate Group Newsletter 37:48-49 (Autumn

2001) for a summary of Carmarthenshire records.

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Currant (top-left), Thrift (top-right) and Six-belted Clearwings

Emperor Saturnia pavonia – usually found in upland areas where heather grows, but

can wander (one was found resting on my car at Pwll one morning last spring!). April-

May.

Orange Underwing Archiearis parthenias – Recorded in the Rhandirmwyn area of

NE Carms., at a site in west Carms. and, this spring, at Pembrey Forest, Cencoed-

uchaf and on a peat bog (with peripheral birch woodland) SE of Pont Abraham. It

may be more widespread. Flies on sunny days in March-April, over birch trees and

thickets

Photo: Paul Harris

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Chimney Sweeper Odezia atrata - a little blackish species that occurs on neutral-

calcareous grassland (now a rare habitat in the county). Feeds on pignut Conopodium,

June-July. It would be worth looking for on the limestone ridge, but it is by no means

confined to this rock outcrop.

Yellow Belle Semiaspilates ochrearia – a moth of dry coastal rough ground eg at

Machynys and North Dock, Llanelli. June-Sept.

Speckled Yellow Pseudopanthera macularia – surprisingly scarce, as the larval

foodplant (wood sage), is frequent. I`ve only seen it twice – at Abergorlech and Capel

Dyddgen near Crwbin. May and June.

Wood Tiger Parasemia plantaginis plantaginis –yet another species that I have failed

to see. It is a moth of moorland and wood edge, last seen by Julian Friese at Mynydd

Cynrhos near Talley in 1993. May-July.

Garden Tiger Arctia caja – an unmistakable, but much-declined species. July-

August.

Clouded Buff Diacrisia sannio– again a little-seen upland species. Orange and

yellow in colour and last recorded by myself at Nant y Rhaeadr on the edge of

Mynydd Mallaen (near Cilycwm) in late June 1986. June-July. This, and Wood Tiger,

need to be targeted, as recent records are lacking.

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Scarlet Tiger Callimorpha dominula– a colourful cream, black and red moth

associated with wetlands where the caterpillars feed on comfreys or hemp agrimony.

Not infrequent in the coastal parts of the Llanelli area – one even wandered to my

previous, (very urban) garden at Coronation Road, Llanelli in 1999! June-July.

Wood Tiger : Graham Catley, Clouded Buff : Andy Musgrove

Cinnabar Tyria jacobaeae (below left)– a well-known black and crimson day-flier

with the even better known orange and black-striped caterpillars that feed on ragwort.

May-July.

Beautiful Yellow Underwing Anarta cordigera (above right)– occurs on heathland

or bogs where it feeds on heather eg Cors Goch Llanllwch. April-August.

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Small Yellow Underwing Panemeria tenebrata – a local May-June flying moth, with

caterpillars that depend on mouse-ears Cerastium spp.

Mother Shipton Callistege mi (below left)– thus called because of the wing markings

that resemble the face of a celebrated `Yorkshire hag`! Feeds on legumes such as

clovers and is on the wing in May-June.

Burnet Companion Euclidia glyphica (above right) – another legume-feeder flying

in May and June.

Other Notes: be aware that some of the night-flying moths may be found or flushed

in daytime and some, such as the Silver Y, regularly flying in daytime when they visit

nectar sources. One may come across other species too that tend to be easier to flush,

such as some of the carpet moths, the (very common) Brown Silver-line, the Magpie,

the Latticed and Common Heaths, Treble Bar, Oak Egger and many micro-moths

such as the plume moths or Pyralids. And, of course, there may be that delightful

Hummingbird Hawk-moth on your garden butterfly bush or other flowers. Some

caterpillars are also distinctive and obviously abroad in the day….but that`s another

story!

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PLUME MOTHS IN CARMARTHENSHIRE Jon Baker

With the very recent appearance of the new Field Guide to the Micro Moths of Great

Britain and Ireland by Phil Sterling and Mark Parsons, which includes superb

illustrations by Richard Lewington, it was thought that a list of those species that have

been recorded in the county might be useful for local recorders.

No. Scientific Name No of

Records 10km squares

1495 Marasmarcha lunaedactyla 44 SN30, SN31, SN40, SN52, SN74, SS49, SS59

1497 Amblyptilia acanthydactyla 31 SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN53, SN74, SN83, SS49,SS59

1498 Amblyptilia punctidactyla 16 SN30, SN31, SN32, SN41, SN51, SN62, SN74

1500 Platyptilia calodactyla 1 SN40

1501 Platyptilia gonodactyla 8 SN40, SN61, SS59

1502 Platyptilia isodactylus 3 SN40, SN51, SS49

1504 Platyptilia pallidactyla 17 SN31, SN51, SN52, SN53, SN61, SN74

1507 Stenoptilia zophodactylus 10 SN30, SS49

1508 Stenoptilia bipunctidactyla 2 SN51

1509 Stenoptilia pterodactyla 24 SN30, SN40, SN41, SN51, SN52, SS49

1513 Pterophorus pentadactyla 49 Widespread.

1517 Adaina microdactyla 28 SN10, SN30, SN40, SN50, SS49, SS59

1522 Leioptilus tephradactyla 1 SN51

1523 Oidaematophorus

lithodactyla 18 SN30, SN40, SN50, SN51, SS59

1524 Emmelina monodactyla 118 Widespread.

Mothing at Carmel Mat Ridley

I originally wrote this article for the Llanelli Naturalists Newsletter in 2009 and the first

part remains largely unaltered from then. I have now added a short update at the end.

I started recording moths at my home, Bryn Llinos near Carmel (SN589164), in the

spring of 2007, having been inspired by tales of a bumper year for moths in 2006 and a

friend who set up his moth trap in my garden in May. The existence of a relatively cheap,

really excellent, moth book (Waring, Townsend and Lewington, (2003) - Field Guide to

the Moths of Great Britain and Ireland) was an added spur. Finally, there came a growing

realisation, following the purchase of my first pair of spectacles, that if I didn’t start

pretty soon, some of the finer detail of a moth’s plumage might soon begin to escape me!

The book arrived a couple of weeks before the package containing my first moth trap, so I

spent several evenings in mid-June watching the kitchen window or the porch light, ready

to pounce on an unsuspecting specimen and bear it triumphantly indoors to be identified.

I added the first half a dozen species to a fledgling ‘garden list’ in this way. I realise now

that I should also have been out there searching any flowers I could find with a torch and

perhaps even trying a little `sugaring`. The trap (a Skinner-type with mercury vapour

[MV] bulb) duly arrived and, after a rather poor start on 21st June (six species), it `came

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up trumps` three days later with 30 species. This proved to be the most species-rich catch

in a year when things soon started to go downhill fast as the weather deteriorated. By the

end of the year I’d caught 110 species, the highlight being a Fern Horisme tersata, a moth

with only a handful of records for Carmarthenshire. The larval food plant is wild clematis

and this individual had perhaps drifted across from the mass of this plant some half a mile

away in one of the old limestone quarries in Carmel Woods. Although the caterpillars are

thought to feed on cultivated clematis too, the scarcity of records might suggest that this

isn’t a very common occurrence.

Unrealistically confident that 2008 couldn’t possibly be as poor a year for moths as 2007,

I started trapping at Bryn Llinos in March. Trapping with my MV trap is restricted to

places within the 50m range of a mains extension cable but by borrowing a Heath trap,

along with its rechargeable battery, I ventured further afield, particularly over the fence at

the bottom of the garden and into the adjacent Carmel National Nature Reserve (NNR).

Without any planned programme, I simply put a trap out once or twice a week at Bryn

Llinos or in the NNR whenever I had the time to check the catch in the morning and the

weather looked promising for moths.

At Bryn Llinos, 2008 was a significantly better year for scarce moths. Pretty Chalk Carpet

Melanthia procellata, another moth whose larvae feeds only on clematis, turned up a

couple of times. The Tissue is extremely scarce in Carmarthenshire – almost certainly the

one I caught had spent its early life munching on one of the buckthorn bushes in Carmel

Woods. Another moth whose food plant has a restricted range is the Scorched Carpet

Ligdia adustata – again it seems likely that the three I caught had made their way across

from the spindle bushes in Carmel Woods. Scarce Umber Agriopis aurantiaria, Bordered

White Bupalus piniaria and White-marked Cerastis leucographa are all far more catholic

in their choice of food plant, but all are scarce in the county.

Across in Carmel NNR, I trapped at four sites in the Garn area of the Reserve, an area of

ancient woodland with sheltered fields and glades, plenty of woodland edge and several

disused limestone quarries. Three of the trapping sites were either just inside the

woodland or on the edges of glades. The fourth was in the centre of one of the large

disused limestone quarries, now with a good range of grassland species after 100 years

without quarrying. It was this trap site that turned up the two NNR highlights of 2008:

another Tissue and an Annulet Charissa obscurata, along with a Gold Spangle

Autographa bractea. Having caught Scorched Carpet at home I wasn’t surprised to catch

several closer to their food plant in the NNR. Blomer’s Rivulet Discoloxia blomeri is

nationally scarce but may be increasing now that wych elm, its food plant, is making a

comeback in Carmel Woods and elsewhere: two were caught. Scarce Umber was caught

here too, as was a Grey Shoulder-knot Lithophane ornithopus.

It’s interesting to make some further comparisons between the two years at Bryn Llinos;

and between Bryn Llinos and the NNR.

At Bryn Llinos I caught 110 species of macro moth in 2007, between June and

November, and 186 in 2008, between March and November. Looking only at the June to

November period in each year gives a better comparison of moth activity: the figure for

2008 falls to 128 species. Trapping effort was similar over the June to November period

in both years: the MV trap was used 33 times in 2007; in 2008 the MV was used 23 times,

the Heath trap 8 times. Heath traps, which use an actinic light tube, generally attract

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significantly fewer moths but are recognised to be better than the more powerful MV

lights at attracting some species. At least as good an indication of the health of moth

populations is found by looking at the actual number of moths caught. For the June to

November period this was 652 in 2007 and 892 in 2008. I make no claims for the rigorous

application of ecological monitoring procedures but suggest that, considering species

numbers too, 2008 was the better of these two poor years.

You might imagine that an ancient woodland NNR would easily out-perform my own

hectare of secondary woodland, scrub, patches of wild flower meadow and garden, albeit

one that I manage with a view to maximising structural and species diversity. The centres

of my two trapping areas are only some 250m apart but there are several major

differences. The NNR is on Carboniferous limestone, whilst Bryn Llinos is on Old Red

Sandstone (the boundary runs roughly through the middle of our garden). Differences in

vegetation are, as you would expect, marked. Ash and hazel dominate the NNR, with

calcicole shrubs and limestone grassland species including thyme. Bryn Llinos has a

greater range of tree species (native and non-native) including several conifers, wet areas

and even a few patches of bilberry and heather.

Comparing numbers of individuals and species caught at Bryn Llinos and the NNR in

2008 is difficult: the period of trapping was a month longer at Bryn Llinos, the trapping

effort at Bryn Llinos was greater than it was in the NNR and different traps were used.

However it’s worth mentioning that 997 individuals were caught in the NNR (mostly in

the Heath trap) and, with exactly twice the number of trapping sessions, roughly twice the

number of moths, 2191, were caught at Bryn Llinos (mostly in the MV trap). This

suggests either that the Heath trap was performing better than might be expected

alongside the MV, or that there were more moths to be caught in the NNR. The number

of species recorded were: 186 at Bryn Llinos and 137 in the NNR. One thing does stand

out however: the top 5 most numerous species are all different for the two sites. At Bryn

Llinos the two years combined give a total of 206 species with the top five commonest

being Hebrew Character (325 individuals), Brimstone Moth (138), Clouded Drab (116),

Common Quaker (106) and Common Marbled Carpet (97). In the NNR in 2008 it was

Brindled Beauty (63), Small Phoenix (62), Large Yellow Underwing (52), Ingrailed Clay

(42), Mottled Beauty (40). Some of this variation could be due to the different trap type

but most seems likely to be down to the difference in habitat.

Clearly it’s far too early to make any meaningful comparisons between the two sites but I

hope over the next few years to build up far more data, monitor in particular the scarcer

resident species and perhaps begin to see what effect management of both sites has on

moth populations.

2012 update

Well, that last comment was rather optimistic…. I’ve continued to trap weekly between

March and November at Bryn Llinos and I`ve started recording for the national Garden

Moth Scheme which records between those months. I continued with fairly regular

recording in the NNR into 2009 but this tailed-off through 2010, with not much at all in

2011. It is rather time-consuming and I was also getting through a few batteries! One

thing I have done, though, is to venture into the woods with torch and ladder each winter.

In 2009 I discovered that the above-mentioned Tissue moths were hibernating, along with

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Heralds Scoliopteryx libatrix, in one of the limestone caves in the Garn part of the NNR.

In the winter of 2008/09 there were 6 Tissues and 17 Heralds. The following winters gave

counts for Tissue and Herald of: 5 & 45; 7 & 24; and 6 & 9. The Heralds fluctuate, but

Tissue numbers remained remarkably constant. Almost certainly (well, hopefully!) this

does not represent the entire local Tissue population and there are no doubt others

hibernating in parts of caves I cannot reach (I have searched another nearby cave with no

success) or indeed on caves elsewhere on the limestone outcrop at Drefach and Crwbin.

What is interesting (and perhaps rather worrying - given that cavers do occasionally visit

the cave), is that the Tissues in particular are always on the same part of the cave wall.

My Bryn Llinos total now stands at 285 species, including 25 or so micros (which should

increase with the new micro book). None of the recent years have been particularly good

for moths, but a few of the more obvious population trends are worth mentioning to see if

others have found the same. These are generally species that have decreased, or increased,

year-on-year.

Decreases include: Riband Wave Idaea aversata down from a dozen or so to just one last

year. All of the Xanthorhoe Carpet species have shown some decline. Clouded Border

Lomaspilis marginata, down from 50 to 5. Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata

down from 60 or so to 13. Mottled Beauty Alcis repandata, which was 30-odd and now

down to 7. Light Emerald Campaea margaritata 30-odd down to 4. With Clouded Silver

Lomographa temerata it is a similar story and Dark Arches Apamea monoglypha

decreased from 20-odd down to 2. There are others that show a less obvious decline.

Given our run of poor summers, these decreases are generally not surprising. A few

species have gone against this trend: Purple Thorn Selenia tetralunaria, Ruby Tiger

Phragmatobia fuliginosa and Garden Tiger Arctia caja, all with only small sample sizes

but increasing from zero or 1 to 7-8 last year. Likewise, Setaceous Hebrew Character

Xestia c-nigrum went up from 3 or so to 32 and Antler Moth Cerapteryx graminis, of

which 17 were recorded last year when only two were noted in all previous years. Double

Line Mythimna turca none in 2007, but now in the 20s, Burnished Brass Diachrysia

chrysitis from 2-3 up to 14 and Beautiful Golden Y Autographa pulchrina with just one

in 2007 to 33 last year.

The Garden Moth Scheme does some far more complex analysis than these basic

observations, and with a far larger sample size. If you are not involved in the scheme,

check out their website. You are allowed to miss the odd week when you go on holiday!

Thanks to The Grasslands Trust for permission to trap in the area of Carmel NNR which

they manage, to Jon Baker, County Moth Recorder, for checking some of the rarities from

my rather poor digital photos and to Ian Morgan for much encouragement.

Contact details for Jon Baker, County Moth Recorder:

Mothboy@btinternet.com

Telephone : 01267 221681

Address: 14 Job’s Well Rd, Carmarthen SA31 3HG