MOTH & BUTTERFLY GROUP

NEWSLETTER No 82 April 2012.

A monthly newsletter covering and Monmouthshire Vice County 35

Editor: Martin Anthoney

Silurian Moth Update In July 2011 a second colony of the Silurian moth (Eriopygodes imbecilla) was discovered when running light traps on Hatterrall Ridge either side of Offa’s Dyke path and the /England border (see newsletter no 77, July 2011). This April, larval searches have confirmed the presence of a breeding colony on the Ridge, in both countries. On 18th April, an evening search of Coity Mountain, above Blaentillery Farm, the original Silurian site, produced a total of 8 larvae, much lower than the corresponding search in 2010. All the larvae were fully grown, so it is possible many had already pupated after a warm winter and spring. Russel Hobson and George Tordoff (Butterfly Conservation Wales) were assisted by Judy Burroughs (BC), Chris Manley and Rhiannon Bevan. The following evening (19th April) Russel and George visited Hatterrall Ridge, and found 33 Silurian larvae in just an hour of searching, with larvae found at four of the five sites sampled in the central region of the ten-mile long Ridge. At two of these sites larval densities were very high, including the site on the ridge top where adults were trapped last year. Obviously, there is a strong breeding colony of the Silurian in this area. One potential threat is that sections of the bilberry had died back, possibly due to a Phytophthora outbreak. Further visits to Hatterrall Ridge were made by Dave Grundy. On 22nd April, Dave found 6 Silurian larvae in a similar area to Russel and George’s search, but extending the range slightly. However, in a previous visit Dave failed to find any Silurian caterpillars when searching the northern and southern sections of the Ridge. Further searches are obviously required to determine how far the moth extends along the ridge or whether it is confined to the central portion. Dave Grundy commented “What appeared to be the best habitat to search was in sparse bilberry with hardly any leaves (in one case a completely bare stem) and only up to about 6 inches height. They were always with a deep lawn of moss underneath the bilberry and in one case the bilberry was well mixed with crowberry, though the larva was on the bilberry.” This fits in well with observations from larval searches in previous years.

Thanks must go to the hardy souls who clambered about mountains at night in freezing April cold to help understand the distribution and habitat requirements of this rare British moth.

Silurian caterpillar feeding on bilberry

(Dave Grundy)

Martin Anthoney

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An Increase In Recording The following two graphs show how the interest in moth-recording in the county is booming. Starting with 1960 as a base, when zero records were in the Gwent database, the first graph shows how the number of macro-moth records received each year has rocketed to a record 7454 received for the year 2011.

The second graph shows the number of different macro-moth species for which records were received in each year. Last year has again produced a record, with 436 species recorded in the county during 2011. Whilst very welcome, the increase in recording makes it very difficult to detect decreases in the moth population of the county, trends which would be masked by the upward trend in numbers of records.

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Reasons for the increase in recording are probably many and varied: I am sure there is a genuine increase in people’s awareness and admiration for the beauty of moths, whilst the internet has provided a cheap and ready source of identification guides and facilities for getting digital photographs identified. My hunch is that the most important factor has been the increasing ease of keeping and submitting records electronically. Collating a year’s records for submission took weeks in the paper age, whereas today it can be done on a computer in minutes. Martin Anthoney

Downloads Available The latest edition of the Lepidoptera Conservation Bulletin (number 12) is now available to download from the Butterfly Conservation website: www.butterfly-conservation.org/lepidopteraconservationbulletin. The Bulletin summarises the work carried out by Butterfly Conservation and its partner organisations over the course of 2011. Tony Davis has completed a comprehensive review of the status of all species of microlepidoptera in Britain. The review can be found on the reports page of the Butterfly Conservation website, at http://www.butterfly-conservation.org/text/46/reports.html. The latest e-moth newsletter and other useful information can be found at the Moths Count website www.mothscount.org.

Death’s Head Hawk Moth On Sept 25th last year, Michelle Burgess found a dead moth at Kymin View Primary School, Wyesham, near , where she works. She was able to photograph the moth, and when she took the photo to a Bat and Moth event in April it was confirmed as a Death’s Head Hawk moth.

Death’s Head Hawk Moth (Acherontia atropos)

(Michelle Burgess)

Death’s Head Hawk is a well known, but very uncommon, immigrant, usually recorded in Britain in small numbers in the autumn. The larva feeds on potato and related plants, but is unable to survive British winters. In Gwent, this is only the eighth county record, and the first for eleven years.

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Recent Highlights After the Lord Mayor’s Show……..April was a bitter disappointment after the record-setting first three months of the year. Days which were cool with heavy showers or longer periods of rain, frequently clearing to cold, clear nights, were poor for both butterflies and moths. It reflects the weather accurately that no new butterfly species were added to the 2012 list during April.

2nd April Muslin moth to light at Redhouse Farm, Newport Wetlands (Kevin Dupé)

6th April Red Sword-grass to light at Rassau, and another the following night 7th Apr. (Rodney Morris)

7th April Pale Prominent and Swallow Prominent to light at Melbourne Way, Newport. (Roger James)

8th April Emperor moth on the Blorenge (George Tordoff)

Streamer to light at Haisboro Ave. Newport. (Sheila Dupé)

18th April Silurian larvae at Cwmtillery. See article above.

19th April Silurian larvae on Hatterrall Ridge. See article.

20th April Lesser Swallow Prominent and Iron Prominent to light at Melbourne Way, Newport. (Roger James)

22nd April Silurian, Oak Eggar and Ingrailed Clay larvae on Hatterrall Ridge. See article.

23rd April Brimstone Moth at Haisboro Avenue, Newport (Sheila Dupé)

Newport Report Moths – first records for April This has been the worst April for new records in a year since I began collating Newport information in 1999. Some years have produced over 70 species, this year a mere 9 species. It is to be hoped that many moths are champing at the bit to appear in May.

2nd Apr Goldcliff Muslin

7th Apr. Melbourne Way Early Tooth-striped, Pale Prominent, Swallow Prominent

8th Apr. Haisboro Ave. Streamer

20th Apr. Melbourne Way Lesser Swallow Prominent, Iron Prominent

23rd Apr Haisboro Ave Brimstone Moth Melbourne Way V-Pug

My thanks as always to the recorders: Haisboro Avenue Sheila Dupé Melbourne Way Roger James Goldcliff Kevin Dupé Roger James

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Dates for your Diary 2011/2012

Saturday 16th June Go Wild show, this year in Blaenau Gwent at Bryn Bach Park, Tredegar.

Thurs. 21st to Sat. 23rd June National Moth Night. After a year’s absence, a new incarnation of National Moth Night to cover three days and nights! Events include:

(i)Friday 22nd June 9pm - 11.30pm CCW and MMBG. Newport Wetlands Reserve, Uskmouth. Take part in Britain’s largest annual moth survey, trapping and identifying moths near the Visitor Centre after dusk. We will also be using detectors to identify bats. Please bring a torch and warm clothes. Leader: Kevin Dupé, Reserve Manager Meet: Reserve car park, Uskmouth

(ii) Saturday 23rd June. Start 10am. Free day-time event (joint BC, CCW and MMBG). A morning of talks and live moths at the Newport Wetlands NNR Visitor Centre, ST334834. This year's theme for National Moth Night is Moths of Brownfield Sites of which Uskmouth is an excellent example. The indoor session will finish at noon and will be followed by a walk to search for day-flying moths. Program: 10-10.30am Display of moths from the night before Kevin Dupé, Reserve Manager, Newport Wetlands. 10.30-11am Talk - Brownfield Moths and Butterflies Martin Anthoney, County Lepidoptera Recorder 11-11.30am Talk - George Tordoff (BC Wales) 11.30-12am Refreshments (provided) 12 - ca. 2pm Optional guided walk / individual recording around the reserve. Catch the 9am, No 63 bus from Newport Bus Station.

Wednesday 27th June Bat and Moth Walk at GWT Silent Valley Nature Reserve, near Ebbw Vale. 9pm onwards, leader Tom Eyles. An evening walk around the nature reserve. There will be an opportunity to see any moths caught that evening and to learn how to use bat detectors. BOOKING ESSENTIAL Contact: ERC, 01495 307525. Cost: £3 GWT members, £6 non members.

Saturday 14th July Trapping and Identifying Moths GWT Course Tutor: Val Jackson, 9.30am – 12.30pm Tidenham Chase, near Chepstow Have you wanted to learn more about moths but are not sure how to start? BOOKING ESSENTIAL Contact: GWT, 01600 740600 Cost: £4 members, £7 non members.

Wednesday 25th July 9.45am to 12noon Mon Moth & Butterfly Group and CCW. Moths in the morning. Come to the Newport Wetlands Reserve Visitor Centre and see the moths that came to a moth trap put out the previous night. Then go on a leisurely walk to see day-flying moths. Leader: Kevin Dupé, Reserve Manager Newport Wetlands Catch the 9am, No 63 bus from Newport Bus Station.

Saturday 20th October Butterfly Conservation (S.Wales branch) Members Day and AGM Kenfig Visitors’ Centre, 10am to 4pm.

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MMBG – Contact Names and Addresses.

Secretary: Kevin Dupé Chairman: Roger James 44 Gaer Park Lane 44 Melbourne Way Newport Newport NP20 3NE NP20 3RF

Phone 01633 216599 Phone 01633 263374 e-mail [email protected] e-mail [email protected] or in case of problems [email protected]

Treasurer: Sheila Dupé 18 Haisbro Avenue Newport NP19 7HY Phone 01633 256475

Newsletter Editor & Recorder for Recorder for Micro Moths Butterflies & Macro Moths Martin Anthoney Sam Bosanquet 23 Malvern Close Dingestow Court Risca Monmouth Newport Monmouthshire NP11 6QY NP25 4DY Phone 01633 612272 e-mail [email protected] e-mail [email protected]

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