The Butterflies and Moths of Glamorgan

THE MOTHS OF GLAMORGAN By David Gilmore, David Slade and Barry Stewart

Producing an account of the moths occurring within Glamorgan

David Slade Glamorgan Recorders Forum 16th February 2013 Brief History of the GMRG

• Formed in 1995 – to promote moths and their habitats in VC41 • 1999 – First Provisional Atlas for macro- moths • 2000 – Book Proposed – MapMate adopted

Merveille du Jour (D. Painter) MapMate Distribution Maps

2247 Dichonia aprilina (Merveille du Jour)

SN SO

7 David Painter

36SS 4 5 6 7 8 9 ST 1 2 Distribution Maps - MapMate

2449 Abrostola triplasia (Dark Spectacle)

SN SO

8 Records max of 18 in week 30

36JanSS Feb Mar4Apr May Jun5 Jly Aug 6Sep Oct Nov7Dec 8 9 ST 1 2 Distribution Maps - MapMate

1976 Sphinx ligustri (Privet Hawk-moth)

SN SO

8 Records max of 53 in week 25

7 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jly Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

SS 4 5 6 7 8 9 ST 1 2 Brief History of the GMRG

• Formed in 1995 – to promote moths and their habitats in VC41 • 1999 – First Provisional Atlas for macro- moths • 2000 – MapMate adopted – Book Proposed • 2003 – Updated provisional county list • 2006 – 300,000 records – Book ‘nearing completion’

Esperia sulphurella (D. Slade) Preparing for the Book

• Two parts: – Researching the County List – Recording Effort

Micropterix calthella (B. Stewart) Preparing for the Book – Compiling the County List

• Literature searches – H.M. Hallett (1917) – MBGBI – Journals • Organisations – NMW Collections – Biological Records Centre Lunar Yellow Underwing (D. Green) – Rothamsted Insect Survey

Common Fan-foot (D. Green) Preparing for the Book – Recording Effort • Square Bashing

Double-line (B. Stewart) Number of Records per Year

Total Records 400,000 40,000

350,000 35,000

300,000 30,000

250,000 25,000

200,000 20,000 Annual Records Total Records

150,000 15,000

100,000 10,000

50,000 5,000

0 0 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Preparing for the Book – Recording Effort • Square Bashing • Drawing the Line – The Cut-off Date – The top 100

Bankesia conspurcatella (D. Slade)

Preparing for the Book – Recording Effort

• Top 100 anomalies – Rusty-dot Pearl (Udea ferrugalis)

1395 Udea ferrugalis (Rusty-dot Pearl)

SN SO Udea ferrugalis (W. Jones) 9

SS 4 5 6 7 8 9 ST 1 2 10km Squares = 28 Preparing for the Book – Recording Effort

• Top 100 anomalies – Burnet Companion (Euclidia glyphica)

2463 Euclidia glyphica (Burnet Companion)

SN SO Burnet Companion (P. Parsons)

SS 4 5 6 7 8 9 ST 1 2 10km Squares = 29 Preparing for the Book – Recording Effort

• Top 100 anomalies – Common Rustic (Mesapamea secalis)

2343 Mesapamea secalis (Common Rustic)

SN SO Common Rustic agg. (T. Williams)

SS 4 5 6 7 8 9 ST 1 2

The Main Text

• Forward • History of Recording in VC41 • Geology of Glamorgan

• Species Text Chinese Character (D. Slade) • Welsh Names • Distribution Maps Species Summary

Flame Shoulder • Status comment Fflamysgwydd 2102 Ochropleura plecta (Linnaeus, 1761) • Some Statistics A common, widespread resident (1857 - 2009, 4974 records, Maximum count = 141, 10km squares = 39) • Description Frequent at most sites throughout the county, peaking during May /June and again in August. Portland Moth Dart Llwydwyrdd 2099 Actebia praecox (Linnaeus, 1758) A scarce, restricted resident (1832 - 2002, 28 records, Maximum count = 3, 10km squares = 11) Formerly a more frequently recorded species on the larger dune systems of the county, requiring damp slacks with Creeping Willow, yet despite regular trapping at Kenfig it has not been recorded there since 1994.

The Book Progresses • 2009 – Text completed & sent to publishers • 2010 – Major revision began • 2011 – 2nd Edition finished & given to publishers

Esperia sulphurella (D. Slade)

Where are we now?

• With the Publisher (Atropos) • Professional proof read • Published soon! Incurvaria pectinea (D. Slade)

Large Red-belted & Six Belted Clearwing (B. Stewart) Where are we now? For more details:

Glamorgan Moth Recording Group Book Committee: D. Gilmore, S. Moon, D. Slade, R. Smith, B. Stewart & M. White