Butterfly Conservation South Wales Newsletter
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Butterfly News The newsletter of the South Wales Branch of Butterfly Conservation Spring 2006 Major new report issued by Butterfly Conservation Where have Wales' moths gone? The moth population of Wales is in serious decline, causing concern for the future of many species of birds, bats and invertebrates that feed on them. The decline is revealed in a new report entitled “The State of Britain's Larger Moths”. The precise reasons for decline remain to be determined, though habitat loss and climate change are highly implicated. Sir David Attenborough, in a foreword to the report, describes its conclusions "significant and worrying". Sir David, who recently fascinated the nation with his BBC series Life in the Undergrowth, says: "Moths are valuable indicators of what is happening in our countryside. Other insects too are almost certainly in decline." The report's key conclusions are: Dusky Thorn moth - one of the moths showing a severe * The number of larger moths in Britain has decreased by 32 decline. Photo: R. Elliott per cent since 1968 * Southern Britain - including Wales - has seen a decrease in larger moth numbers of 44 per cent since 1968 * Twice as many moth species have declined as have increased * Sixty-two moth species are believed to have become extinct in Britain during the twentieth century Subsequent analysis shows that the losses in urban areas have been in the region of 50 per cent. Decreasing populations of some moths in the north have been counterbalanced by increases in others, particularly of those found more ON OTHER PAGES commonly in the south. This pattern indicates a response to climate change. 2 E-mail Newsletters The report, funded by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, has NPMG Report, 2005 been compiled by the UK charity Butterfly Conservation. It 3 Local Record Centre update includes data collected by scientific institute Rothamsted In Memoriam Donations 4 Branches Liaison Meeting Research from a nationwide network of moth light-traps Aberrant Wall butterfly established in 1968. The traps, run by volunteers, have 5 Back from the Brink? been located in all sorts of habitats from the coast to upland 6 Reserves Seminar 18/19th moor, from woodland to private garden. Dr Martin Warren, March 7 In Brief: more brown hairstreak Chief Executive of Butterfly Conservation, says: "This long- distribution detail from this winter running data is unique and has highlighted a very serious How one woman’s gift will ecological issue - the decline of common insects." make a world of difference Butterfly Conservation is now seeking funding for a major 8 Useful Information new UK Moth Recording Scheme in order to be able to target conservation and reverse the declines. Autumn 2005 Page 1 North Pembrokeshire Moth Group E-mail Newsletters Micro moth recording in 2005 At its last meeting, the S. Wales Branch committee decided to encourage as many members as possible 2005 proved to be another interesting season for the to receive their branch newsletter via e-mail rather North Pembs Moth Group. We continued our than the present postal system. The advantages to individual and joint macro recording activities and this are more accurate distribution patterns are now a saving in the use of paper beginning to emerge for many species in the north of a cost saving on postage the County. the ability to incorporate colour pictures in the For the first time we turned our attention to the newsletter micros. C.G. Barrett set the standard in the 1870's the time to produce and distribute the while living in Pembrokeshire but little else was newsletter is greatly reduced, freeing time for achieved until Norman Lowe's (NL) work in the some of our most active volunteers. 1970's and 1980's. There were 'holiday' visits by Colour printing is too expensive to consider, and the several micro experts (Langmaid, Pelham-Clinton, more money we can save on paper and postage the Agassiz and Emmet) in the 1980's while Sam more money we can devote to conservation projects. Bosanquet made an important contribution at the Obviously, some members do not have facilities to turn of the century. However, much more needed to receive e-mail: these members can continue to be done, so armed with essential micro literature receive their newsletter as at present. Other people (expensive!) we decided to make a start. may feel that their computer may get clogged up Liz and Philip Rapley (EPR) in Felindre Farchog with lengthy files: the .pdf (Acrobat) format greatly did well with two new VC45 records - Yponomeuta reduces file size and this should not present rorrella (Willow Ermine) (pRDB3 status) and problems, but if any member trying e-mail Platytes alpinella (another pRDB3 status moth). This distribution feels it causes problems they can freely very local pyralid is associated with coastal sand- revert to postal distribution. dunes in southern and eastern England and the Isle of I would ask all members willing to change to e-mail Man. It is possibly a first record for Wales. for their newsletter to contact Ron Elliott, Newsletter Peter Byles at Pencastell trapped Platyphilia Editor, as follows: pallidactyla (x6) in mid-June, a species previously e-mail address: [email protected] recorded only once by NL. postal address: Ron Elliott, 10 Flemish Court, Janet Atkinson (JA), also at Felindre Farchog, Lamphey, Pembrokeshire, SA71 5PA recorded two unusual synanthropic pyralids, both Please give Ron your name, the e-mail address to firsts for VC45 - Plodia interpunctella (the Indian which the newsletter should be sent and your postal Meal Moth) and Ephestia kuehniella (the address or BC membership number. Mediterranean Flour Moth). Their source was Please contact Ron as soon as possible. probably a stock of imported wild bird food. She also recorded Stenolechia gemmella which was another DO IT NOW – BEFORE YOU FORGET! new County record. Roly Gill, from Penybryn, near Cilgerran, also Thank you in advance for your cooperation. recorded a first for Pembrokeshire -Helcystogramma Martin Anthoney, Branch Chairman. rufescens (x2). Tony Lewis (Newport, Pembs.). My new County records were Yponomeuta sedella (a Nb species) and "The State of Britain's Larger Moths report, Epinotia ramella. I also recorded 2 further examples published by Butterfly Conservation and of Rhigognostis incarnatella (a pRDB1 status Rothamsted Research in February, presents the species) to add to my first VC45 records in 2004. detailed results of the ground-breaking study of In the Spring JA had given me several Dame's-violet trends in common moth populations, as well as (Hesperis matronalis) plants , R. incarnatella's food reporting on moth colonisations and extinctions plant, from her garden. When inspecting these plants during the twentieth century and progress towards in June I was pleased to observe an adult Plutella the conservation of UK Biodiversity Action Plan porrectella sitting on a leaf. This species also feeds priority moths. on Dame's-violet and was only the 4th Pembs record. Both EPR and JA recorded the pRDBK pyralid The full-colour report (which runs to 33 pages and Phlyctaenia stachydalis in June/July. includes over 50 photographs of moths) is Our thanks to Mark Parsons, John Langmaid and available from Butterfly Conservation (0870 Tony Davis for determining the 'difficult' species. 7744309 or www.butterfly-conservation.org) for Tony Lewis £5.00 plus £1.50 postage and packing." Autumn 2005 Page 2 West Wales Biodiversity In Memoriam Information Centre - an update Donations The West Wales Local Records Centre development A donation to Butterfly Conservation is a plan was finalised last wonderful lasting tribute to anyone who gained September after consultations pleasure from Butterflies and Moths during their and interviews with a range of data providers life time. Every donation in memory of a loved and data users. It has been given the name one will help save the butterflies and moths West Wales Biodiversity Information Centre. from which they derived so much enjoyment. This involved a series of presentations to Local Here are just a few examples of what can be Planning Authorities one of which, the achieved from donations in memory: PCNPA, has granted a funding commitment A donation of £100 will provide one days’ for our establishment phase. We are still vital habitat management on one of our waiting to hear back from the three county reserves. councils with their decisions but gaining their A donation of £300 will buy a moth trap, so commitment is now a top priority. volunteers can carry out on going survey work. We have had further funding commitments A donation of £500 will enable us to run a from WTB, WDA and EAW. Part of the grant training event for landowners and farmer from EAW is directed specifically at sorting on better land management for butterflies out the Water-vole database for Wales - this and moths. will be an important job for the LRC during There are many ways to give in memory. For the first year of populating databases. example: Presentations have also been delivered to the you could make a donation to Butterfly Recording communities in the three counties. Conservation instead of buying flowers for Representatives of the Recording community a funeral from each of the three counties are to be you can make a one-off donation at any elected to the board of WWBIC. Various time, or topics emerged from these meetings which you can donate on a regular basis, for need fuller consideration over the year ahead, instance to commemorate a loved ones they are: accurate geo-referencing of records, birthday or an anniversary. use of LRC data for tourism, digital If you would like to make a donation in memory photography, marine recording, geological of a loved one, then their name will be written recording.