Carmarthenshire Moth & Butterfly Group
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CARMARTHENSHIRE MOTH & BUTTERFLY GROUP NEWSLETTER ISSUE No.2 JUNE 2006 Editor: Jon Baker (County Moth Recorder for VC44 Carms) INTRODUCTION Welcome to the 2 nd newsletter of the VC44 Moth & Butterfly Group. I received a positive reaction to the 1 st one, so I have decided to continue this experiment, and expand on it. In this edition I have included a couple of articles, as well as looking at some of the recent records in more detail. June has been a notably hot month. Sitting here in sweltering heat at the start of July, I look back on what has been a cracking month for mothing. A good range of our native species has been recorded so far this year, but it has also been an exceptionally good month for migration. Although the south coast of England has fared much better than us, a few things have made it here. A summary of migrant moths can be found below. I’ve decided not to continue including full lists of micro moths recorded, as this is really not of widespread interest, and time and space can be better used elsewhere. If anyone does wish to discuss micros with me, feel free to ask anything. Similarly, as I do not actually receive records of Butterflies, I cannot really do a formal write up of those in these bulletins – although I will continue to mention any personal highlights of those of others that I am aware of. At the end of this edition are a couple of informal articles. One looking at the status of Mouse Moth in the county, the other an identification workshop on the tricky group of “white waves”. I hope these are of some help to somebody, and if appreciated, I will try and continue with similar ideas in future editions of this bulletin. A really pretty Bee Moth Aphomia sociella HIGHLIGHTS Micromoths: With just two previous county records of leaf mines, several adult Ectoedemia albifasciella on 8 th June at Nantgwyn (SN3623) was a good record. [JSB]. The 2 nd county record of Opostega salaciella , was on 24 th June at Pembrey Saltings (SS4299), flying at dusk over their foodplant – sheep’s sorrel Rumex acetosella . The previous county record was from Pembrey Forest. [JSB/SDSB]. Opostega salaciella Tischeria ekebladella on 8 th June at Nantgwyn (SN3623) was only the 3 rd county site for this species, which has almost certainly been overlooked. Sure to be found far more widely in the coming years. [JSB]. Tischeria ekebladella The 4 th county record of Lampronia luzella was caught at Coed Gwempa (SN6421) on 23 rd June [JSB]. A really strong colony of the tiny longhorn moth Adela fibulella was found at Garn- fach (SN5210) on 6 th June. This lovely little moth lives on germander speedwell Veronica chamaedrys and was only found for the first time in the county last year [JSB]. Adela fibulella The bagworm Psyche casta was found for the first time in the county in 2005 in the north of Pembrey Forest. So a male netted at dusk on 24 th June at Pembrey Saltings (SS4299) was a good record – probably indicating that this sedentary species (the females are flightless) is likely to be widespread across the Pembrey peninsula. [SDSB/JSB]. On 8 th June a Bucculatrix bechsteinella came to MV light at Nantgwyn (SN3623). This is the first record of this species in the county. It feeds on hawthorn and other plants. [JSB]. Coleophora caespititiella is also a new addition to the county list this month from 3 locations. This is due to the fact that I am now dissecting coleophorids. This is a relatively common species nationally – and it would seem, locally too. [JSB] The 2 nd County record of Elachista humilis was also achieved through dissection, having been netted at Coed Gwempa (SN6421) on 23 rd June [JSB]. Monochroa lucidella , a quite striking gelechid was found for the first time in VC44 in 2005, three times! It has now been seen twice in 2006, so it seems likely it is expanding its range. [JSB] Anarsia spartiella was new for Pembrey on 24 th June and only the 2 nd county record. [JSB/SDSB]. Anarsia spartiella The pretty tortricid Olindia schumacherana was netted at Coed Gwempa (SN6421) on 23 rd June. It feeds on lesser celandine Ranunculus ficaria [JSB]. The 2 nd and 3 rd county records of the beautiful Lobesia reliquana were at Pembrey (SN3803) on 3 rd June and Nantgwyn (SN3623) on 8 th June. [JSB]. Lobesia reliquana Several Ancylis unguicella were netted at Mynydd Llanllwni (SN5038) on 27 th June. These are only the 2 nd county record. [JSB]. Ancylis unguicella The 2 nd county record of Pammene germmana was from Pembrey (SN3803) on 22 nd June. [JSB]. The rare pyralid Phlyctaenia stachydalis was recorded at two locations - Nantgwyn (SN3623), where it has regularly been recorded, but also in Johnstown, Carmarthen on 25 th June [JSB]. Phlyctaenia stachydalis Butterflies: Small Pearl-bordered Fritillaries seem to be having a good year on theWelsh coast, as I have seen them in several locations during June including two sites in Carmarthenshire – Pembrey Forest (SN3802) and Wharley Point (SN3409). A green hairstreak in minty condition came to MV light in Pembrey Burrows (SS4299) on 1 st July. Marsh Fritillaries at Pembrey are having an appalling year, it would seem, with just a tiny number seen on 2 nd June in good conditions. Numbers seem to be at c.5% of last year at this site. Though this species is known to have major population fluctuations, this does seem notably bad. The site was far wetter than it was last year and this might have been a contributory factor. My first Graylings of the year were seen on 1 st July. Other new species I have had in June include: Small Skipper from 22 nd , Large Skipper from 7 th , Brown Argus on 2 nd June ( at Pembrey MOD – caught by Martin White), Dark-green Frits from 22 nd , Marbled White from 22 nd (doing very well this year it seems), and Meadow Brown and Ringlet, both from 22 nd . Macro Moths: Figure of 80 Tethea occularis seems to be increasing in VC44. Once a rarity, it is now turning up quite regularly across the county. There were four seen at 3 locations during June: 08/06/2006 2 Nantgwyn SN3623 Jon Baker 17/06/2006 1 14 Job's Well Rd, Johnstown SN3919 Jon Baker 17/06/2006 1 Rhydcymerau SN5739 Martin Lovell Figure of 80 Poplar Lutestring Tethea or is also expanding its range it would seem. The first county records were at Pembrey in 2004, where it was also seen in 2005. This record represents a new site: 23/06/2006 1 Nantgwyn SN3623 Jon Baker The Fern Horisme tersata is a species that lives on wild clematis, and is scarce in the county (4 previous singles seen). This record at Pembrey Saltings is a new species for the Pembrey list: Pembrey 24/06/2006 1 Burrows SS4299 Jon Baker and Sam Bosanquet The Fern Valerian Pug Eupithecia valerianata has for the last few years only been recorded from Pembrey, though there a couple of older records from Rhandirmwyn. This record is a good inland record: 10/06/2006 1 Gellywen SN2723 Jon Baker and Lee Walker Blomer’s Rivulet Discoloxia blomeri is a scarce species in VC44. There are five previous records in the county from SN51 and SN61. This is new for the 10km square: 17/06/2006 1 Aberglasney Gardens SN5822 Julian Wormald Blomer’s Rivulet There are eight previous records of Grass Wave Perconia strigillaria all from Pembrey Forest, and mostly in the last 3 years. Hopefully this species will soon be found at other sites. 02/06/2006 1 Pembrey MOD SN3604 Jon Baker and B. Con. 03/06/2006 1 Pembrey Forest SN3803 Jon Baker and Lee Walker Grass Wave Following on from the discovery of a population of Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk- moths Hemaris tityus at Pembrey MOD in 2005, two were seen this year: 02/06/2006 2 Pembrey MOD SN3604 Jon Baker Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk-moth Sallow Kitten Furcula furcula seems to be undergoing a slump. In the last few years it had become moderately common – on 3 different nights at Pembrey in 2003 I had over 20 at a trap. But so far there has been only one seen in the county this year. If you know differently, please let me know. Orange Footman Eilema sororcula was first seen in the county in 2005, in Pembrey Forest (two). A return to the same trap site this year, hoping to prove an ongoing population proved successful: 03/06/2006 2 Pembrey Forest SN3803 Jon Baker and Lee Walker Orange Footman White Colon Sideridis albicolon is restricted to the Southeast coast of VC44. This is the 6 th record and the 4 th year in a row it has been recorded. 24/06/200 6 2 Pembrey Burrows SS4299 Jon Baker and Sam Bosanquet There are few records of Dark Brocade Blepharita adusta away from SN74, and this represents the first for SN53: 13/06/2006 1 Mynydd Llanllwni SN5038 Julian Wormald and Martin Lovell Alder Moth Acronicta alni seems to be having a spectacular year. Many records from across the county, with an amazing 50+ to MV on 8 th June at Nantgwyn. Light Knot Grass Acronicta menyanthidis has long been on my “pended” list, with three records via Rothamsted from SN74, and a couple of unsupported claims elsewhere. Super news therefore that it was caught twice in June, with photographic support to properly place this upland species on the VC44 list: 13/06/2006 1 Mynydd Llanllwni SN5038 Martin Lovell 29/06/2006 1 Mynydd Pencarreg SN5842 Martin Lovell MIGRANT NEWS: As mentioned above, June has been a great month for migrants.