CARMARTHENSHIRE & BUTTERFLY GROUP NEWSLETTER ISSUE No.6 OCTOBER 2006

Editor: Jon Baker (County Moth Recorder for VC44 Carms)

INTRODUCTION

This is the 6th newsletter of the VC44 Moth & Butterfly Group. In this edition you will find the moth highlights from October 2006 as well as a number of articles which I hope are informative and interesting. October can often be a disappointing month, with the weather turning inclement and few species to be seen. But October 2006 remained notably mild, with many nights being ideal for late season trapping. Consequently some important records were made of rare and interesting species. Ian Morgan has again written a piece for the newsletter, this time on the Brimstone Gonepteryx rhamni and how to plant for . Anyone who has been lucky enough to visit Ian’s garden at Pwll will appreciate how well he knows this subject. I know that butterflies seem to be mentioned less in these bulletins, but I hope to rectify that next year. I’ll be discussing with Martin the possibilities of running some field meetings and coordinating some recording. We will also be planning monthly moth meetings to run throughout April to September 2007, hopefully to some new and under-recorded areas of VC44. There may not be a November issue of this bulletin, as I don’t foresee enough data being created to make it worthwhile. December’s bulletin will be a full annual report, so please, do try and get all 2006 data that is outstanding to me by mid-December, so that it can be included.

JON BAKER

Green-brindled Crescent Allophyes oxyacanthae BRIMSTONES, BEE-FLIES AND BUMBLEBEES: TALES FROM A NECTAR GARDEN By Ian Morgan

When I was a teenage naturalist, I was perplexed by sightings, usually in March and April, of swift-flying brimstone butterflies (mostly of singletons) around Llanelli. Knowing that the food plants were purging buckthorn Rhamnus cartharticus or alder buckthorn Frangula alnus, I would search for these plants – but to no avail. The only SE Carmarthenshire alder buckthorn shrubs I subsequently found were in hedgerows at Llwyn-teg near Llannon and the nearest purging buckthorn grows on the Carboniferous limestone ridge at Drefach and Carmel. Yet, over the years, many sightings of brimstones were made in the south-east of the county, indicating a resident – if numerically small - population. I was determined to try to help this species by planting its food plants and, in 1986, whilst on a Nature Conservancy Council course in Oxfordshire, I obtained some berries of purging buckthorn which then were grown on by separating the seeds from the berries and planting shallowly in pots. But remember to wash your hands afterwards, as the plant is a powerful purgative! One of the resultant shrublets was planted close to Tir Morfa farm near Penclacwydd, Llwynhendy; others were planted in the grounds of the nearby wildfowl centre and a few were planted at Llandyfeisant Church in Dinefwr Castle Woods, Llandeilo. All are now sizeable shrubs. Soon afterwards, I took delivery of a bigger batch of alder buckthorns that were mostly planted at the Ffrwd Fen nature reserve, Pembrey and at WWT, Penclacwydd. At the latter site, I was helped by Barry Stewart, who was then working there and he also made the critical observation that the local brimstones were ignoring the purging buckthorn but were egg-laying only on alder buckthorn. From these original plants it was easy to grow new additional plants, using seed in their berries and the plants are quite fast-growing. They were used for planting elsewhere locally and simultaneously, (as I was then working for CCW), I would recommend the inclusion of alder buckthorn in the planting schemes of local redevelopments such as the extensive Llanelli Millennium Coastal Park. The result is that brimstones have increased locally and are now a regular and welcome springtime feature – typically still just offering a brief and rapid fly-past, but these days they can also be seen ovipositing on local alder buckthorns and, later, the green and delicately silver-spotted caterpillars can be found. This year for example, at my home at Tyrwaun, Pwll, Llanelli, brimstones (both males and females) regularly visited a group of planted shrubs in front of my house but ignored these for egg-laying (though they have been used previously). Rather strangely, a small shrub of the unusual narrow-leaved horticultural variety Frangula alnus `asplenifolia` in semi- shade at the bottom of my garden, held 11 big caterpillars in mid-June! If any reader wants some young plants (<6”) of alder buckthorn to grow on in their garden, or spare plants of some of those mentioned in the following account, then please contact me asap at [email protected] to arrange collection.

As it is likely that lepidoptera or other invertebrates are your interest, then you can plant a range of plants to make your garden a convenient-to-record haven in an increasingly bland landscape. As well as the afore-mentioned alder buckthorns to attract brimstones, a variety of other plants can be utilised to attract visitors throughout the warmer months. An extensive literature exists regarding butterfly gardening and lists occur on line (eg see links from www.ccw.gov.uk ), but essentially one needs to avoid the `overbred` or double flowers. The composites, with their daisy-shaped flowers, the labiates (eg bugle, mints, sages etc) and many umbellifers (eg fennel) all provide nectar for butterflies and , bumblebees and other . In early spring, the clump-forming white or pink- flowering `winter heath` Erica carnea is beloved of bumblebees, the hive bee-mimic hoverfly Eristalis pertinax and emergent small tortoiseshells. This heather is commonly available from garden centres and will also be appreciated by the buff- tailed bumblebees Bombus terrestris, the white-tailed bumblebees B. lucorum and the all buff-coloured B. pascuorum that regularly occur in gardens. About the same time, you may glimpse the endearing bee-fly Bombylius major, hovering in front of flowers of bugle Ajuga reptans or ground-ivy Glechoma hederacea; commas may partake of this feast too. Throughout the spring, summer and into autumn, a restaurant of nectiferous flowers can be provided: Achillea (milfoils), Symphytum (various borages), Verbascum (mulleins), Echinacea (cone-flowers), Salvia (sages), Mentha and Origanum (mints and marjoram), red valerian Centranthus ruber, teasel Dipsacus fullonum, lavender Lavandula sp. and others. Small tortoiseshells especially, seem to adore the flowers of pennyroyal Mentha pulegium. If you have the room, and if luckily like me you live in a relatively frost-free sheltered coastal site, then you can try the magnificent and imposing biennial `Atlantic Islands Echiums` These huge viper`s buglosses such as Echium pinniana grow to 4 metres and offer towers of sustenance for butterflies and bees. The not quite-so-tall goldenrods eg Canadian goldenrod Solidago canadensis perform a similar function in September. Not to be forgotten are the familiar butterfly bushes (Buddleja sp. – remember to prune back hard after flowering), and the familiar Michaelmas daisies (select the Aster novae-angliae group to avoid rampant spreaders). With the butterfly bushes, Buddleja x weyeriana (a hybrid) is particularly attractive to comma butterflies and I have been told that the long tassle-flowered Southern Hemisphere shrub Itea illicifolia is irresistible to noctuids – my plant is still too young to validate this. However, I can verify the attractiveness of Eupatorium ligustrinum to late summer/autumn lepidoptera; it is a shrubby privet-leaved relative of our hemp agrimony with white umbels of flowers. The `fish-bone cotoneaster` Cotoneaster horizontalis is a magnet in flower for hive bees, as are its shrubby relatives, and who knows, you may get a wintertime waxwing on its abundant berries! Raspberries in flower are an attractant for wasps and, this year, I had the rapidly-colonising Dolichovespula media (a big, dark species) on mine. In the past, I have noted too, the longhorn beetle Judolia cerambyciformis swarming on a feral raspberry clump in inland Carmarthenshire. Good late summer/autumn foods for visiting lepidoptera are provided by Verbena bonariensis, a spindly but attractive mauve 2ft biennial and the perennial tall (to 5ft) Helianthus `Lemon Queen` and `Joe Pie Weed` Eupatorium purpureum, a native of E North America. I have memories of these latter plants being bedecked by literally scores of evening-time silver y`s, whilst painted ladies and red admirals came by day. Another Eupatorium that is equally attractive to butterflies and moths is our paler- flowered British E. cannabinum. I grow a clump in front of a wall that is covered with native ivy Hedera helix, which sumptuously flowers in October – providing nectar for red admirals (I counted 15 on my 10 x 10ft ivy patch this October) and lending itself to the fantasies of the torchlight moth-searcher hoping for a rare migrant! The ivy also, of course, performs as an alternate food plant (with holly) for the holly blues that grace the garden. A discussion of garden moths cannot omit the ever-popular hummingbird hawk-moth, which comes to a variety of flowers. I watched one this autumn feeding at the flowers of Fuschia magellanica for over half-an-hour and a party trick of mine is to catch one and release it in my kitchen to feed at a freshly picked posy of flowers, before giving it its freedom after a few minutes of close range enjoyment of its flying prowess. A familiar hawk-moth in the Llanelli area is the hefty privet-hawk moth – whose larvae feed on overgrown garden privet Ligustrum ovalifolium as well as the native privet on coastal dunes. Surprisingly, a lime hawk-moth once turned up outside my moth trap in spite of the absence of lime trees nearby. Not only butterflies and moths will come – the list is long – but permit me to mention just a few other, such as the attractive little bully that is the solitary bee Anthidium manicatum which chases away bumblebees from its favourite plants such as the woolly-leaved Stachys byzantina or the many species of dragonflies or damselfly that occur in my sheltered and sunny garden, including regular keeled skimmers Orthetrum coerulescens, normally a species of upland flushes that is not usually regarded as a garden dragonfly! My individuals have doubtless come from the adjacent semi-calcareous fen of Pwll Lagoon SSSI, as do wandering scarlet tiger moths. I have had some failures too! One year I planted some tobacco plants Nicotiana, hoping to tempt a convolvulus hawk-moth to my garden – but none arrived. The next year my neighbour called me in to show me one nectaring in front of his tobacco plants! Nor has a golden plusia made an appearance in spite of my deliberate planting of delphiniums, the food plant of its caterpillars. Likewise, no luck with the currant clearwing (though commoner currant feeders have been recorded) or red-belted clearwing, in spite of the proximity of currant bushes and apple trees – and the use of pheromone lures! A Lawson`s cypress Chamaecyparis lawsoniana has been saved from my saw (so far!) as it is a confirmed breeding site for Blair`s shoulder-knot and who can boast of (hopefully) breeding wormwood moths on a plant of wormwood Artemisia absinthium in their garden? Remember too, that garden cypresses may even one day provide records for you of cypress carpet, cypress pug or Freyer`s pug. By the way, Monterey cypress Cupressus macrocarpa is reputed to be the best cypress in moth terms. Finally, whilst I presently have a large garden in a favoured position, a few years back I had only a tiny garden in a very urbanised location. Even so, my small plot, with its nectar-providing flowers once managed to attract a presumably lost scarlet tiger, common vanessids and a few other scarce invertebrates. I even had a tiny resident speckled wood population amongst the shrubs (I think I may have accidentally introduced this butterfly via some leaf litter I had brought from a local woods). Perhaps now too, you may wish to make your garden an invertebrate nature reserve? Later on, you can also share your proven plants with neighbours and friends to optimise the benefits for insect biodiversity.

References: Gerritsen, H. & Oudolf, P. (1999) - Dream Plants for the Natural Garden. ISBN 0711217378. Morgan, I.K. (1995) – Notes on the status of the brimstone butterfly in Carmarthenshire, Llanelli Naturalists Newsletter 59 (Summer 1995): 7-8.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE MONTH: MICROMOTHS All records are mine (JSB) unless noted otherwise.

38 Ectoedemia subbimaculella Leaf-mines found at Brechfa (SN5231) on oak, on 28th October by Norman Lowe. The first county record.

285 Caloptilia azaleella The 2nd county record (first was earlier this year) was attracted to MV in Carmarthen (SN3919) on 14th October. Photographed. Would seem proof that it is breeding locally – the garden adjacent to mine having many azaleas and rhododendrons.

Caloptilia azaleella

363 Phyllonorycter platanoides A new species for the county. Mines found on Norway maple Acer platanoides by Ian Morgan at two sites on 29th October (SS5399 and SN5100).

1395 RUSTY-DOT PEARL Udea ferrugalis 13 records of 47 moths is a notable improvement on last month. Highest count was of 20 at Llansteffan castle on 29th, attracted to the floodlights. Recorded in SN20, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40 and SN53.

1398 RUSH VENEER Nomophila noctuella 18 records of 44 moths is down on last month’s big numbers. Continued to be seen till the end of the month, with records from SN20, SN31, SN40 and SN53.

1408 Palpita vitrealis With the first two county records last month, a third this month was less pleasing, being a corpse caught in the spiders’ webs within the grilled boxes that house the Llansteffan castle floodlights (along with hundreds of other victims). Seen on 29th October, it hadn’t been present a week earlier, so had obviously only recently arrived. HIGHLIGHTS OF THE MONTH: MACROMOTHS

1716 VESTAL Rhodometra sacraria 47 previous records. 02/10/2006 1 Rhydcymerau SN5739 Martin Lovell 12/10/2006 1 Rhydcymerau SN5739 Julian Wormald 13/10/2006 1 Tyrwaun, Pwll SN4601 Ian Morgan 14/10/2006 1 Tyrwaun, Pwll SN4601 Ian Morgan 16/10/2006 1 Rhydcymerau SN5739 Martin Lovell 18/10/2006 1 Morfa Bychan SN2208 Jon Baker 28/10/2006 1 14 Job's Well Rd, Johnstown SN3919 Jon Baker 29/10/2006 2 Llansteffan Headland SN3510 Jon Baker 29/10/2006 2 Tyrwaun, Pwll SN4601 Ian Morgan

Vestal Rhodometra sacraria

1720 GEM Orthonama obstipata The third of the year and the 22nd county record. 29/10/2006 1 Llansteffan Castle SN3510 Jon Baker

1767 PINE CARPET Thera firmata Four more records, suggesting this species is becoming commoner. 04/10/2006 1 Rhydcymerau SN5739 Julian Wormald 07/10/2006 4 Pembrey Forest, fen SN4001 Jon Baker 12/10/2006 1 Rhydcymerau SN5739 Julian Wormald 29/10/2006 1 Llansteffan Headland SN3510 Jon Baker

1972 CONVOLVULUS HAWK-MOTH Agrius convolvuli The 15th and 16th county records, and once again Julian has the monopoly. Planting nicotiana seems to be the way to attract them. 01/10/2006 1 Rhydcymerau SN5739 Julian Wormald 04/10/2006 1 Rhydcymerau SN5739 Julian Wormald

2087 TURNIP MOTH Agrotis segetum Eighteen records of 49 moths, presumably migrant. Recorded mainly on the coast, but also inland in small numbers.

Turnip Moth Agrotis segetum

2091 DARK SWORD-GRASS Agrotis ipsilon Eight records of just 10 moths in a big decline from last month’s numbers. Mainly coastal, but 3 inland at Carmarthen and Rhydcymerau.

2119 PEARLY UNDERWING Peridroma saucia Thirty previous records, 13 of which are from earlier in 2006. 07/10/2006 15 Wharley Point SN3409 Jon Baker 12/10/2006 1 Llansteffan Headland SN3510 Jon Baker 14/10/2006 7 Llansteffan Headland SN3510 Jon Baker 17/10/2006 1 14 Job's Well Rd, Johnstown SN3919 Jon Baker 20/10/2006 1 14 Job's Well Rd, Johnstown SN3919 Jon Baker 29/10/2006 1 Llansteffan Castle SN3510 Jon Baker 29/10/2006 1 Rhydcymerau SN5739 Julian Wormald

2195 DELICATE Mythimna vitellina The 9th county record, a rather worn individual attracted to the floodlights. 29/10/2006 1 Llansteffan Castle SN3510 Jon Baker

2202 L-ALBUM WAINSCOT Mythimna l-album Following on from the three records at the end of September, another was found at ivy at Scot’s bay, just yards from where I found two on 24th September, strongly suggesting a local population. Hopefully more sightings will follow in coming years. 05/10/2006 1 Scot's Bay, Llansteffan SN3409 Jon Baker

L-album Wainscot Mythimna l-album

2208 COSMOPOLITAN Mythimna loreyi Yet another new wainscot for the county. Highly anticipated – it had been my number one priority all autumn. Finally found one at Llansteffan castle floodlights, though in a somewhat poor state. Photographed and released. 29/10/2006 1 Llansteffan Castle SN3510 Jon Baker

2237 GREY SHOULDER-KNOT Lithophane ornitopus A notably scarce species in the county. Just three previous non-Rothamsted records. 01/10/2006 1 Rhydcymerau SN5739 Julian Wormald

2240 BLAIR’S SHOULDER-KNOT Lithophane leautieri With just eleven previous records, the numbers seen this October represent a population explosion. Although still local, it is turning up at new locations and would seem to now be a common moth in suburban Carmarthenshire. 02/10/2006 3 Denham Ave, Llanelli SN4901 Ian Morgan 02/10/2006 3 Denham Ave, Llanelli SN4901 Ian Morgan 04/10/2006 1 Gelli Isaf, Rhydcymerau SN5739 Martin Lovell 05/10/2006 1 14 Job's Well Rd, Johnstown SN3919 Jon Baker 09/10/2006 1 Tyrwaun, Pwll SN4601 Ian Morgan 10/10/2006 1 14 Job's Well Rd, Johnstown SN3919 Jon Baker 11/10/2006 2 14 Job's Well Rd, Johnstown SN3919 Jon Baker 13/10/2006 3 14 Job's Well Rd, Johnstown SN3919 Jon Baker 13/10/2006 2 Cefn Eithin SN5513 Tony Lewis 13/10/2006 1 Coedcae Road, Llanelli SN5200 Aron Williams 13/10/2006 1 Tyrwaun, Pwll SN4601 Ian Morgan 14/10/2006 1 14 Job's Well Rd, Johnstown SN3919 Jon Baker 14/10/2006 2 Cefn Eithin SN5513 Tony Lewis 14/10/2006 6 Coedcae Road, Llanelli SN5200 Aron Williams 14/10/2006 4 Tyrwaun, Pwll SN4601 Ian Morgan 15/10/2006 3 14 Job's Well Rd, Johnstown SN3919 Jon Baker 16/10/2006 1 14 Job's Well Rd, Johnstown SN3919 Jon Baker 16/10/2006 6 Tyrwaun, Pwll SN4601 Ian Morgan 17/10/2006 1 14 Job's Well Rd, Johnstown SN3919 Jon Baker 18/10/2006 1 14 Job's Well Rd, Johnstown SN3919 Jon Baker 19/10/2006 1 14 Job's Well Rd, Johnstown SN3919 Jon Baker 20/10/2006 3 14 Job's Well Rd, Johnstown SN3919 Jon Baker 22/10/2006 1 14 Job's Well Rd, Johnstown SN3919 Jon Baker 25/10/2006 1 14 Job's Well Rd, Johnstown SN3919 Jon Baker 27/10/2006 1 14 Job's Well Rd, Johnstown SN3919 Jon Baker 29/10/2006 1 Johnstown SN4019 Jon Baker

Blair’s Shoulder-knot Lithophane leautieri 2255 FEATHERED RANUNCULUS lichenea There was only a single poorly documented record of this species on file, from the early 1990s at Llansteffan. As a result it has lingered on the pended list since I overhauled the county database in 2000. However, with these new records, it finds its way back to the accepted list in style. It seems the toilet block at Llansteffan beach car park is the place to find it! 14/10/2006 1 Llansteffan Car Park Toilets SN3510 Jon Baker 17/10/2006 2 Llansteffan Car Park Toilets SN3510 Jon Baker 18/10/2006 1 Morfa Bychan SN2208 Jon Baker

Feathered Ranunculus Polymixis lichenea

2256 SATELLITE Eupsilia transversa Another scarce moth in the county, and almost never seen in Autumn for some reason. 17/10/2006 1 Scot's Bay, Llansteffan SN3409 Jon Baker

Satellite Eupsilia transversa 2259 DARK CHESTNUT Conistra ligula Was moderately common at Llansteffan, on ivy around the coastal path and also seen at the castle floodlights. 05/10/2006 2 Llansteffan Headland SN3510 Jon Baker 07/10/2006 1 Llansteffan Headland SN3510 Jon Baker 12/10/2006 4 Llansteffan Headland SN3510 Jon Baker 14/10/2006 4 Llansteffan Headland SN3510 Jon Baker 17/10/2006 2 Llansteffan Headland SN3510 Jon Baker 22/10/2006 1 Scot's Bay, Llansteffan SN3409 Jon Baker 29/10/2006 2 Llansteffan Castle SN3510 Jon Baker

Dark Chestnut Conistra ligula

2385 SMALL MOTTLED WILLOW Spodoptera exigua A single record of this scarce migrant. 16th County Record and the 7th this year. 14/10/2006 1 Tyrwaun, Pwll SN4601 Ian Morgan

2400 SCARCE BORDERED STRAW Helicoverpa armigera Two more records in this record-breaking year. The 22nd and 23rd records this year. 14/10/2006 1 14 Job's Well Rd, Johnstown SN3919 Jon Baker 28/10/2006 1 14 Job's Well Rd, Johnstown SN3919 Jon Baker

THE YEAR SO FAR IN VC44: FIRST DATES

8 new species were added to the county macro year list in October. This takes the 2006 total up to 429 species. The following additional species, with first dates, have been recorded: 2264 Agrochola macilenta Yellow-line Quaker 03/10/2006 2259 Conistra ligula Dark Chestnut 05/10/2006 1795 Epirrita dilutata November Moth 07/10/2006 1923 Colotois pennaria Feathered Thorn 12/10/2006 1796 Epirrita christyi Pale November Moth 14/10/2006 2255 Polymixis lichenea Feathered Ranunculus 14/10/2006 1797 Epirrita autumnata Autumnal Moth 16/10/2006 2208 Mythimna loreyi Cosmopolitan 29/10/2006

LATE DATES AND UNUSUAL 2nd BROODS

2006 was a notable year not just for the amazing migration that occurred but also for the bizarre and unusual sightings in Autumn of species which are usually only seen in the summer months. Some of these are likely to be late-emerging individuals, but it is clear that many are of unusual extra broods. The following records represent sightings of imagos well outside their expected flight times. 14/10/2006 Carcina quercana 1 14 Job's Well Rd, Johnstown SN3919 Jon Baker 17/10/2006 Carcina quercana 1 14 Job's Well Rd, Johnstown SN3919 Jon Baker 04/09/2006 Phlyctaenia coronata 1 14 Job's Well Rd, Johnstown SN3919 Jon Baker 14/10/2006 Mother of Pearl 1 Gelli Isaf, Rydcymerau SN5739 Martin Lovell 13/09/2006 Gold Triangle 1 14 Job's Well Rd, Johnstown SN3919 Jon Baker 23/09/2006 Gold Triangle 1 Denham Ave, Llanelli SN4901 Ian Morgan 23/09/2006 Gold Triangle 1 Nantgwyn SN3623 Jon Baker 04/09/2006 Small Blood-vein 2 Pembrey Burrows SS4199 Jon Baker 10/09/2006 Small Blood-vein 2 Pembrey Burrows SS4199 Jon Baker 17/09/2006 Small Blood-vein 2 Pembrey Forest, North SN3704 Jon Baker 23/09/2006 Small Fan-footed Wave 1 Llansteffan Castle SN3510 Jon Baker 23/09/2006 Small Fan-footed Wave 1 Nantgwyn SN3623 Jon Baker 07/10/2006 Small Fan-footed Wave 1 Pembrey Forest, fen SN4001 Jon Baker 10/09/2006 Single-dotted Wave 1 14 Job's Well Rd, Johnstown SN3919 Jon Baker 17/09/2006 Riband Wave 1 Pembrey Forest, North SN3704 Jon Baker 23/09/2006 July Highflyer 1 Gelli Isaf, Rydcymerau SN5739 Martin Lovell 13/10/2006 Swallow-tailed Moth 1 14 Job's Well Rd, Johnstown SN3919 Jon Baker 22/09/2006 Light Emerald 1 Pembrey Forest, fen SN4001 Jon Baker 24/09/2006 Light Emerald 1 14 Job's Well Rd, Johnstown SN3919 Jon Baker 07/10/2006 Yellow-tail 1 Pembrey Forest, fen SN4001 Jon Baker 04/09/2006 White Ermine 1 Pembrey Burrows SS4199 Jon Baker 27/10/2006 Flame Shoulder 1 Rhydcymerau SN5739 J Wormald 05/09/2006 Small Angle Shades 1 Llansteffan Castle SN3510 Jon Baker 23/09/2006 Marbled White Spot 1 Keepers, Brechfa SN5231 Martin Lovell 11/09/2006 Beautiful Snout 1 Pembrey Forest SN3803 Jon Baker 18/10/2006 Small Fan-foot 1 Morfa Bychan SN2208 Jon Baker

WINTER: THE UNDISCOVERED SEASON

Between November and February mothing can often be a real struggle. There are relatively few nights when running a trap can reap any sort of reward and consequently most moth-ers don’t seem to bother. Which is a great pity as there are some really exciting undiscovered species that are in desperate need of recording. December Moth Poecilocampa populi is common in woodlands across the county, though there are few records to prove this. An attractive moth it can be caught relatively easily in places where it occurs, in November and December. Autumn Green Carpet Chloroclysta miata is tentatively on the county list, though a live one would certainly promote it out of the realms of doubt. Northern Winter Moth Operophtera fagata is desperately under-recorded, though a difficult one to separate from the ubiquitous Winter Moth O. brumata. I’m afraid any claims will have to be supported, and that might involve dissection – there are good photos available online if you want to try your hand! Small Brindled Beauty Apocheima hispidaria is a major rarity in VC44, with all the records being from SN74 Rothamsted traps. It must surely occur elsewhere, and it would be very exciting indeed to find other populations. It flies in February and March, and the females are wingless. Therefore populations are very local and fragile. Pale Brindled Beauty Phigalia pilosaria can occur from December, though is more likely in February. Likely to be moderately common, it is very under-recorded. As are Spring Usher Agriopis leucophaearia (flying in January and February), Scarce Umber Agriopis aurantiaria (flying from October to December) and Early Moth Theria primaria (flying January to March). There are a few noctuids that might be encountered in the cold months. Top prize would be a Sprawler Asteroscopus sphinx, for which there are very few records, and almost all being dead ones in Rothamsted traps. Though common in English woodland, it is surprisingly rare in south Wales. And lastly, there is always the totally improbable to hope for. Plumed Prominent Ptilophora plumigera has recently been found further west in England than previously thought. Flying in November and December, and relying on mature field maple Acer campestris, it responds more readily to actinic light than to MV. So, if the night looks not too cold….. please do try and run a trap and help record some of these overlooked gems.

Thank you: Thanks to all contributors to this bulletin – Aron Williams, Tony Lewis, Martin Lovell, Julian Wormald, Norman Lowe and especially Ian Morgan.

JON BAKER Moth Recorder for VC44 Carms 14 Job’s Well Rd CARMARTHEN SA31 3HG

01267 221681 [email protected]