CARMARTHENSHIRE & BUTTERFLY GROUP NEWSLETTER ISSUE No.10 September 2007

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

INTRODUCTION

Welcome to the 10 th Newsletter. Another disappointing month of weather, and yet some great continue to be found in the county. Towards the end of the month there were minimal signs of a bit of migration from Europe, though the winds were north easterly. A fall of Great Brocades Eurois occulta to parts of England, reached us, with a worn individual deciding to come to light in Llanelli. Just shows that even in the worst of years, there is always hope.

In this issue, in addition to the regular highlights of the month there are two major articles – the 3rd part of my look at Pyralid moths in the county, and the write-up of all our combined efforts on National Moth Night 2007. I hope these are of interest to someone.

To look out for in the coming month: if you are feeling adventurous and can trap up a mountain somewhere we could still do with photographed records of Grey Chi chi , Small Autumnal Moth Epirrita filigrammaria or even a Golden-rod Brindle Lithomoia solidaginis . I will continue my long and seemingly pointless quest for scoring Portland Moth Actebia praecox at Pembrey. A far more likely addition to the county list which could turn up anywhere would be Brown-spot Pinion Agrochola litura – though please get a photo for proof. I’m sure September will turn something of note up, so good luck to all.

Northern Rustic Standfussiana lucernea HIGHLIGHTS OF THE MONTH All records are mine (JSB) if not noted otherwise.

GREAT BROCADE Eurois occulta Photo: Chris Manley

285 Caloptilia azaleella The third county record was of two attracted to MV light on 11 th August in my Carmarthen garden (SN3919). The previous county records were also in my garden, during 2006.

1425 WAX MOTH Galleria mellonella The third county record, on 11 th August at Pwll (SN4601, Ian Morgan). The previous records were also in the Llanelli area, once in 2005 and once in 2006. Has a habit of only appearing on National Moth Night.

1647 BARRED HOOK-TIP Watsonalla cultraria The first record in the county since 1971 – and the first record to be fully documented and accepted through the county recorder. Came to actinic light on NMN, 11 th August at Byrgwm (SN5532, David Groom et al.). Photo appears in the NMN write up, below. Lives on beech Fagus sylvatica .

1753 STRIPED TWIN-SPOT CARPET Nebula salicata Six to light at Palycwrt on Mynydd Du on 2 nd August (SN6718, Ian Morgan). An upland species that is rarely recorded in the county simply due to lack of trapping at the correct altitude. Lives on bedstraws Galium sp .

1964 ANNULET Charissa obscurata Four to light at Palycwrt on Mynydd Du on 2 nd August (SN6718, Ian Morgan). A very local species of coast, heath and upland, there have been just six previous records. Various foodplants.

2 2051 FOUR-SPOTTED FOOTMAN Lithosia quadra Four records of singles, showing an increasing spread of this species to new parts of the county. Singles at Gellywen (SN2723) on 10 th and 11 th August (Lee Walker), and further singles on 11 th August at Pembrey Forest (SN3803, JSB and Lee Walker) and Troserch (SN5503, Colin Jones). The last with an undeveloped wing proving it unlikely to be a migrant. Lives on lichens.

2104 NORTHERN RUSTIC Standfussiana lucernea With just one previous record from 1985, this species was recorded twice this month. The first was a single netted at dusk on the coast at Telpyn Point (SN1807) on 1 st August (JSB, photographed). This only just pipped Ian Morgan to it, as the very next night he got nine to light at Palycwrt, Mynydd Du (SN6718). Also photographed by JSB. Lives on various grasses on rocky coasts and mountains.

2137 GREAT BROCADE Eurois occulta The first county record, caught at Llanelli North Dock (SS4999) on 25 th August by Chris Manley and photographed. Occurred at a time when many were being seen in England, presumably migrants from northern Europe. Photo above.

2300 OLD LADY Mormo maura There had been just 9 previous county record of this lumbering beast that is notorious for not being readily attracted to light. So, four in a month is a very good show. The first was at Gellywen(SN2723) on 9 th August (Lee Walker), then in my Carmarthen garden (SN3919) on 11 th and a third was caught at Gwernogle (SN5234) by David Groom and Faye Sharpley on 25 th . A fourth individual was found dead in a car at Gwernogle on 26 th , but as with all corpses in cars, the record is sadly not worth recording, as origin cannot be proven.

2329 CONFUSED Apamea furva britannica A very tricky little beast to identify, so records need to be properly backed up with photographs. There had been one previous record from 1984 (Rhandirmwyn, SN74, Bernard Skinner). Ian Morgan scored a mint individual at Palycwrt, Mynydd Du (SN6718) on 2 nd August, which I was more than happy to photograph and confirm.

CONFUSED Apamea furva britannica

3 2372 WEBB’S WAINSCOT Archanara sparganii Ian Morgan caught one on 11 th August at Bynea (SS5998). He then caught another, on 22 nd at Erw-las, Llwynhendy (SS5399). These are the 10 th and 11 th county records, all from the southeast corner of the county.

2437 GOLDEN PLUSIA Polychrysia moneta This moth has not been seen in the county since 1995. There were just five records, mostly in the early nineties, and with the decline of this species nationally it was feared that it might not be seen again here. But Ian Morgan got rewarded for planting delphiniums in his garden at Pwll (SN4601) with one turning up in his trap on 22 nd August. Photographed by JSB next day.

GOLDEN PLUSIA Polychrysia moneta

NOTE : re Anania funebris , which I reported about in the 8 th Bulletin (June 2007). Ian Morgan has pointed out that the two sites at which this species has been found are not actually on what I referred to as “the limestone ridge”, but actually on the Millstone grit ridge that runs parallel to it. He comments that goldenrod Solidago virgaurea is most commonly found on both the grit ridge and dry coalfield sites in the county, so it is there that potential colonies of the moth are likely to be discovered.

4 NATIONAL MOTH NIGHT 2007 – RESULTS

National Moth Night for 2007 was held on 11 th August. This was the exact same date that it was held back in 2001, which would have made for some interesting comparisons had it not be the case that in 2001 absolutely no recording was made in Carmarthenshire due to driving rain and high winds! Ah well. This year however was a different story, and quite amazingly, given the appalling summer weather, we managed a night with only occasional rain and moderate temperatures. Thanks to a little chivvying and publicity, we managed to get by far the best level of involvement this year, with around 20 people trapping and submitting results.

ANALYSIS:

Results came from 21 sites, from 20 different 1km squares and from 13 different 10km squares. This is an excellent and wide-ranging set of records. The following people participated in the event:

# Micro Macro Total # of 10km sq Traps sp sp sp Macro Observers SN12 1 7 34 41 147 Mel Collier SN22 1 2 47 49 116 Lee Walker SN30 1 25 46 71 105 Jon Baker, Lee Walker SN31 1 21 29 50 78 Jon Baker SN32 1 22 46 68 248 Jon Baker SN40 1 11 30 41 104 Ian Morgan SN50 3* 5 41 46 181 Ian Morgan, Colin Jones SN51 3 13 47 60 252 Russel Hobson & Butterfly Con., Mat Ridley SN53 10 15 90 105 609 Julian Wormald, D&J Bannister, M Lovell & CMG** SN63 1 1 13 14 41 Elizabeth Goodyear SN73 1 0 15 15 36 Elizabeth Goodyear SS49 2 24 42 66 159 Jon Baker, Lee Walker, Chris Manley SS59 3 7 42 49 109 Ian Morgan

* Colin Jones also tried sugaring in SN50, attracting a good number of Copper Underwings.

** CMG (Carmarthenshire Moth Group) on this night was: Martin Lovell Faye Sharpley David Groom Arnold Johnson Clare Williams

TOTAL NUMBER OF MICRO SPECIES TOTAL NUMBER OF MACRO SPECIES TOTAL NUMBER OF ALL SPECIES 89 164 253

5 The Most Numerous Macros: This table shows the highest totals when all site counts are added together. The exceptional count of Buff Footman in Brechfa Forest helped place them in 2 nd position.

# SPECIES: TOTAL: 1 2107 Large Yellow Underwing 258 2 2049 Buff Footman 235 3 2102 Flame Shoulder 139 4 1759 Small Phoenix 112 5 2343.5 Common Rustic. agg 84 6= 1906 Brimstone Moth 57 6= 2033 Black Arches 57 8 2111 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow U’wing 56 9 1777 July Highflyer 46 10 2198 Smoky Wainscot 39 11 1738 Common Carpet 38 12 2297 Copper Underwing 36 13 2044 Dingy Footman 35 14= 1890 Sharp-angled Peacock 33 14= 2008 Coxcomb Prominent 33 14= 2118 True Lover's Knot 33

The Most Widespread Macros: This table shows the most widely reported species, and the number of 10km squares from which records were received.

# Species 10km sqs 1 2107 Large Yellow Underwing 13 2 2111 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow U’wing 12 3= 2102 Flame Shoulder 11 3= 2343.5 Common Rustic. agg 11 3= 1906 Brimstone Moth 11 6= 1759 Small Phoenix 9 6= 2198 Smoky Wainscot 9 6= 2008 Coxcomb Prominent 9 6= 1405 Mother of Pearl 9 10= 1738 Common Carpet 8 10= 2044 Dingy Footman 8 10= 2321 Dark Arches 8 10= 2003 Pebble Prominent 8 10= 1702 Small Fan-footed Wave 8 10= 2289 Knot Grass 8 16= 2049 Buff Footman 7 16= 2297 Copper Underwing 7 16= 1648 Pebble Hook-tip 7 16= 2064 Ruby Tiger 7 16= 1722 Flame Carpet 7 16= 2361 Rosy Rustic 7

6 HIGHLIGHTS:

Photo: Martin Lovell

Star moth of the night has to be the Barred Hook-tip Watsonalla cultraria that came to David Groom’s actinic trap at Byrgwm in Brechfa Forest (SN5532). The only previous records I can find on file are Rothamsted records from 1971 in SN74, so this is the first record of the species to be properly verified and accepted through the county recorder process. This is yet another great find in the under-explored Brechfa area, and I can only hope that such other mythical county rarities as Oak Lutestring Cymatophorima diluta , Sprawler Asteroscopus sphinx and Small Brindled Beauty Apocheima hispidaria will be found by the pioneering recording done by Martin Lovell and the group. Amongst the great list of species the group scored on National Moth Night were many quality moths, including Bleached Pugs Eupithecia expallidata and Welsh Wave Venusia cambrica .

Other highlights included three records of the NMN target species Four-spotted Footman Lithosia quadra , with single males seen at Pembrey Forest (SN3803, JSB and Lee Walker), at Gellywen (SN2723, Lee Walker) and Troserch (SN5503, Colin Jones). Twenty-five Grass Eggars Lasiocampa trifolii came to MV at Pembrey Burrows (SS4199, JSB and Lee Walker). At the same site we also netted three Oblique Striped Phibalapteryx virgata at dusk, and caught scarce species such as Southern Wainscot Mythimna straminea , Archer’s Dart Agrotis vestigialis and the micros Bryotropha desertella , Agonopterix nanatella and Agonopterix yeatiana . A Small Argent & Sable Epirrhoe tristata at Brechfa (SN5030, Dave and Jan Bannister) is a good record of a scarce species. Melanie Collier had some great moths out at Penrhiw (SN1924) including Sharp-angled Carpets Euphyia unangulata and September Thorn Ennomos erosaria . My Carmarthen garden (SN3919) had an atypically good night, even though the trap was only run for a few hours, with Old Lady Mormo maura ,

7 Marbled Green Cryphia muralis and Caloptilia azaleella the highlights. Ian Morgan went to incredible lengths to record as many squares as he could, with an array of traps in the Llanelli area. This paid dividends with many species recorded that no one else got, including both Bulrush Wainscots Nonagria typhae and Webb’s Wainscot Archanara sparganii in SS59 at Bynea (SS5598).

Four-spotted Footman Lithosia quadra Photo: Colin Jones

Many thanks to all of you for your sterling efforts and for making this the best National Moth Night so far, in terms of participation and organization (if not actually in number of species).

The full table of results appears at the end of this bulletin.

8 PYRALID MOTHS OF CARMARTHENSHIRE PART 3 (of 4) A Review – by Jon Baker

Continuing my review of the Pyralidae of Carmarthenshire, in this section I will be looking at the Pyraustids. Many of these are commonly encountered and are very easily identified, if you know what to look for. Many rest in the typical triangular shape.

PYRAUSTINAE Britain: 57 species. Carmarthenshire: 25 species.

A large family with many distinctive species. Many of the species in this group are easily identifiable, and common.

1361 Pyrausta aurata National Status: Moderately widespread across Britain, except for the far north. Foodplant: Labiates, especially mint Mentha spp., marjoram Origanum vulgare , calamint Calamintha spp. and clary Salvia spp. Habitat: Calcareous grasslands, or anywhere mint or marjoram grows. Main Flight Period: May to August in two broods. County Status: Scarce, it would seem. VC44 Records prior to 2007: 11 10km squares prior to 2007: SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN61, SN74, SS59

Identification: Wingspan 15-18mm. All the “purple” Pyrausta sp. can be very variable, and upper-wing characteristics are not always enough to identify them. The hind-wing of P. aurata is dark with an orangey-yellow, broadening bar centrally but with no further paler marks basally. This is the more likely species to turn up in gardens, if mint is being grown.

Pyrausta aurata Pyrausta purpuralis

1362 Pyrausta purpuralis National Status: Throughout Britain and locally common. Foodplant: Corn mint Mentha arvensis and thyme Thymus spp. Habitat: Prefers grassland on chalk or limestone, but also in other habitats. Main Flight Period: May to August in two broods. County Status: Moderately widespread and common. VC44 Records prior to 2007: 45 10km squares prior to 2007: SN20, SN21, SN30, SN32, SN40, SN41, SN51, SN52, SN53, SN61, SN74, SS49, SS59

Identification: Wingspan 15-22mm. Very difficult to separate from P. ostrinalis , which flies at the same time in the same habitats. The patterning of the undersides of both wings is diagnostic, especially the hind-wing. In P. purpuralis this has a single pale bar subterminally, with paler markings basally, whereas in P. ostrinalis there is a second paler bar, narrower and running along the fringe of the underside of the hind-wing. See Text figure 6 (p.67) in British Pyralid Moths (B. Goater) q.v.

9 1363 Pyrausta ostrinalis National Status: Throughout Britain and locally common. Foodplant: Corn mint Mentha arvensis and thyme Thymus spp. Habitat: Prefers grassland on chalk or limestone, but also in other habitats. Main Flight Period: May to August in two broods. County Status: Due to similarities with P.purpuralis , perhaps an unclear picture. Few records. VC44 Records prior to 2007: 10 10km squares prior to 2007: SN30, SN51, SN54, SS49

Identification: Wingspan 15-21mm. See P. purpuralis above for differences from that species.

Pyrausta ostrinalis Pyrauta despicata

1365 Pyrausta despicata National Status: Moderately widespread throughout Britain. Foodplant: Plantains spp. Habitat: Heaths, sandhills, cliffs and downland. Main Flight Period: May to August in two broods. County Status: Local, but can be very common where it occurs. VC44 Records prior to 2007: 53 (but virtually all from Pembrey) 10km squares prior to 2007: SN30, SN32, SN40, SN41, SS49, SS59

Identification: Wingspan 14-19mm. A small, rather non-descript, triangular moth, with a brown hind-wing transversed by two paler bands. The pale marks sub-apically on the otherwise mottled forewing, which are often a complete subterminal line are what should catch your eye. Once seen a few times this is a very memorable little moth, though it is quite local in the county.

1367 Pyrausta cingulata National Status: Local across much of Britain. Foodplant: Wild thyme Thymus polytrichus . Habitat: Chalk and limestone hills, sandhills and other coastal habitats where thyme grows. Main Flight Period: May to August in two broods. County Status: Rare and very local. VC44 Records prior to 2007: 5 10km squares prior to 2007: SN33, SS49

Identification: Wingspan 14-17mm. Very dark brown with sharp thin lines through all 4 wings. Only the as yet unrecorded P. nigrata (whose bands are more sinuous) could be confused with it. Very local to extensive areas of wild thyme.

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Pyrausta cingulata Sitochroa palealis

1370 Sitochroa palealis National Status: Very local in southern England. Rarely elsewhere. Foodplant: Wild carrot Daucus carota . Habitat: Rough fields and light soils where the foodplant grows. Main Flight Period: June and July County Status: Rare. VC44 Records prior to 2007: 1 (28 th July 2004, SS4199, Pembrey Burrows, JSB) 10km squares prior to 2007: SS49

Identification: Wingspan 29-34mm. A large pale, powdery yellow colouration to the forewing, with dusky veins and pure white hindwings make this a distinctive moth. Even so, a photo (preferred) or specimen will be required for acceptance of the record.

1371 Sitochroa verticalis National Status: Local in southern England, rare in Wales. Foodplant: Various. Habitat: Fields and pastures. Main Flight Period: June and July County Status: Rare. VC44 Records prior to 2007: 1 (1 st September 1990, SN5399, Techon Marsh, Llwynhendy, IK Morgan) 10km squares prior to 2007: SS59

Identification: Wingspan 30-34mm. One of several very similar species. Due to its rarity in the county, any claim would have to be supported by a good quality photograph or specimen. Refer to text figure 7 in Goater to see the distinctive underside markings.

Sitochroa verticalis Photo courtesy of Neil Sherman

11 1373 BORDERED PEARL Paratalanta pandalis National Status: Southern England and Wales. Locally common. Foodplant: Wood sage Teucrium scorodonia , goldenrod Solidago virgaurea and marjoram Origanum vulgare . Habitat: Open woodland. Main Flight Period: June. County Status: Rare. VC44 Records prior to 2007: 1 (22 nd May 1990, SN6016, Carmel Woods, IK Morgan) 10km squares prior to 2007:SN61

Identification: Wingspan 25-29mm. One of the species that is very similar to S. verticalis , along with Ostrinia nubialis (yet to be recorded in Carms) and to a lesser degree with several other “straw coloured” pyralids. Wasn’t able to get a photo of this one. Well, not yet. Any claim would obviously need to be fully supported, as with the previous species or O. nubialis .

1376 SMALL MAGPIE Eurrhypara hortulata National Status: Common in southern England and Wales. Less common further north. Foodplant: Common nettle and occasionally other labiates. Habitat: All. Main Flight Period: June and July County Status: Very common. VC44 Records prior to 2007: 180 10km squares prior to 2007: SN22, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN33, SN40, SN41, SN44, SN50, SN51, SN52, SN53, SN54, SN61, SN62, SN63, SN64, SN74, SS49, SS59

Identification: Wingspan 33-35mm. Unmistakeable.

SMALL MAGPIE Eurrhypara hortulata

1377 Perinephela lancealis National Status: Southern England and Wales. Locally common. Foodplant: Hemp agrimony Eupatorium cannabinum and other . Habitat: Damp woodland and rough ground. Main Flight Period: June and July. County Status: Moderately widespread and frequent. VC44 Records prior to 2007: 65 10km squares prior to 2007: SN10, SN20, SN22, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN41, SN51, SN53, SN61, SN74, SS49, SS59

Identification: Wingspan 30-34mm. Long abdomen, with jagged cross-lines on pale grey and patchy long wings. Once seen this species is readily identifiable and memorable.

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Perinephela lancealis Photo courtesy of Chris Manley

1378 Phlyctaenia coronata National Status: Southern England and Wales. Locally common. Foodplant: Elder Sambucus nigra. Habitat: Scrubland, hedgerows and woodland edge. Main Flight Period: June and July County Status: Local and not common. VC44 Records prior to 2007: 20 10km squares prior to 2007: SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN53, SN74, SN49, SS59

Identification: Wingspan 23-26mm. Together with P. stachydalis forms a species pair, which is quite tricky for beginners to separate. The differences are very subtle. P. coronata is proportionately longer winged, P. stachydalis is more compact. The patterning along the edge of the hind-wing is a good place to start, but personally I always find the best place to look is the innermost paler windows of the forewing – or rather that dark area that separates the small white dot from the more square patch. In coronata it makes for quite a broad dark splodge, but in stachydalis it’s but a dot.

Phlyctaenia coronata Phlyctaenia stachydalis

1384 Phlyctaenia stachydalis National Status: Southern England and Wales. Probably not as scarce as was once thought. Foodplant: Woundwort Stachys spp. Habitat: Woodland edges, lanes and ditches. Main Flight Period: June to August. County Status: Local in central Carms. VC44 Records prior to 2007: 26 10km squares prior to 2007: SN31, SN32, SN33 (recorded in SN53 during 2007)

Identification: Wingspan 23-25mm. See above for differences from P. coronata.

13 1381 Anania funebris National Status: Local, with scattered records from across Britain. Foodplant: Goldenrod Solidago virgaurea. Habitat: Rough hillsides and cliffs, especially on limestone, also woodland margins. The millstone grit ridge here in Carms. Main Flight Period: June and July County Status: Very local. Only recently discovered at two sites in the county. VC44 Records prior to 2007: 1 (also several seen at a new site in 2007, see Bulletin No.8) 10km squares prior to 2007: SN61 (Betws, SN6412, June 2005, Barry Stewart).

Identification: Wingspan 20-23mm. Totally unmistakeable. Though if recorded from a new area, a photo for the files would be preferred.

Anania funebris

1385 Ebulia crocealis National Status: Locally common in southern England and Wales. Very local further north. Foodplant: Common fleabane Pulicaria dysenterica and ploughman’s-spikenard Inula conyza . Habitat: Marshes and damp woodland. Main Flight Period: June to August. County Status: Local. VC44 Records prior to 2007: 35 10km squares prior to 2007: SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN53, SN61, SN74, SS59

Identification: Wingspan 22-25mm. The strong wiggly cross-lines and dark fringe line are distinctive.

Ebulia crocealis

14 1386 Opsibotys fuscalis National Status: Fairly widespread throughout Britain, though local. Foodplant: Yellow rattle Rhinanthus minor and common cow-wheat Melampyrum pratense . Habitat: Meadows and woodland rides, and on northern moors. Main Flight Period: June. County Status: Very local, but common where it occurs. VC44 Records prior to 2007: 54 10km squares prior to 2007: SN30, SN40, SN74, SS49, SS59

Identification: Wingspan 20-26mm. Memorable, funnily enough, by its lack of any great character. A soft chestnut colouration with indistinct dentate cross-lines. Unlikely to be found anywhere but where the foodplant is common, but in places like Pembrey Forest it is abundant along rides, and readily disturbed by day.

Opsibotys fuscalis Udea lutealis 1388 Udea lutealis National Status: Throughout Britain and common. Foodplant: Various. Habitat: Wasteground. Main Flight Period: July and August. County Status: Moderately common. VC44 Records prior to 2007: 66 10km squares prior to 2007: SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN43, SN51, SN52, SN54, SN61, SN64, SN74, SS59

Identification: Wingspan 23-26mm. A rather pretty pale straw colouration with golden cross-lines and an elliptical stigma mark.

1390 Udea prunalis National Status: Common to Abundant throughout Britain. Foodplant: Various. Habitat: Woodland edge and hedgerows. Main Flight Period: June and July County Status: Common. VC44 Records prior to 2007: 118 10km squares prior to 2007: SN12, SN20, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN51, SN52, SN53, SN61, SN62, SN64, SN74, SS49, SS59

Identification: Wingspan 23-26mm. A rather indistinct Udea sp. but with the darker stigma marks and a subterminal line. Very common in most parts of the county.

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Udea prunalis (photo:N. Sherman) Udea olivalis

1392 Udea olivalis National Status: Common throughout Britain. Foodplant: Various. Habitat: Woodland edge and hedgerows. Main Flight Period: June and July County Status: Common. VC44 Records prior to 2007: 120 10km squares prior to 2007: SN22, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN33, SN40, SN41, SN43, SN51, SN52, SN53, SN61, SN62, SN64, SN72, SN74, SS49, SS59

Identification: Wingspan 24-27mm. The typical Udea size and shape, with a square white window and other scattered white markings. Fairly unmistakeable.

1395 RUSTY-DOT PEARL Udea ferrugalis National Status: Migrant. Arrives in varying numbers from scarce to very abundant. Foodplant: Various. Habitat: Anywhere as a migrant. Main Flight Period: Early summer to late Autumn. County Status: Migrant, common in some years, scarce in others. VC44 Records prior to 2007: 170 10km squares prior to 2007: SN10, SN20, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN51, SN53, SN61, SN62, SN64, SN74, SS49, SS59

Identification: Wingspan 20-24mm. By comparison to the other Udea species, this is smaller and slimmer winged. Once seen a few times it becomes fairly straightforward to identify. Colour ranges from rich ginger to a paler yellow-brown.

RUSTY-DOT PEARL Udea ferrugalis

16 1397 Mecyna asinalis National Status: Local along south-western coasts of England and Wales.. Foodplant: Wild madder Rubia peregrina. Habitat: Coastal grassland and cliffs. Main Flight Period: May to October in two broods. County Status: Scarce and very local. VC44 Records prior to 2007: 4 10km squares prior to 2007: SN10, SN20, SN40

Identification: Wingspan 27-34mm. Large, longish wings and a grey-brown colouration. The patterning can be much bolder than the example shown in the specimen below. Unlikely to be found away from the coast. Photo or specimen required for acceptance.

Mecyna asinalis

1398 RUSH VENEER Nomophila noctuella National Status: Migrant. Often common to abundant. Foodplant: Clover Trifolium spp., knotgrass Polygonum aviculare and grasses. Habitat: Anywhere as a migrant. Breeds in grasslands and open habitats. Main Flight Period: Can occur anytime between March and November. County Status: Common migrant, though scarce in some years. Early arrivals have bred here. VC44 Records prior to 2007: 267 10km squares prior to 2007: SN20, SN21, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN42, SN43, SN50, SN51, SN52, SN53, SN54, SN61, SN62, SN64, SN74, SS49, SS59

Identification: Wingspan 25-34mm. A very distinctive moth. Though the markings come in a wide range of intensity and colouration, the distinctive shape of the moth means it cannot readily be confused.

RUSH VENEER Nomophila noctuella

17 1402 reticularis National Status: A scarce migrant. Foodplant: Oxtongue spp. Habitat: Anywhere as a migrant. Main Flight Period: May to September. County Status: Very rare migrant. VC44 Records prior to 2007: 1 10km squares prior to 2007: The only county record is “Laugharne 1870”. Possibly SN31, but as Laugharne is at the confluence of 4 different 10km squares, it is impossible to say.

Identification: Wingspan 18-22mm. I have no photo to show. It is generally very similar to D. ramburialis (below) and given the rarity of both, a clear photo or specimen is definitely required for acceptance of records.

1403 Diasemiopsis ramburialis National Status: A scarce migrant. Foodplant: Unknown. Habitat: Anywhere as a migrant. Main Flight Period: June to October. County Status: Very rare migrant. VC44 Records prior to 2007: 2 10km squares prior to 2007: Both records were in Pembrey Forest (SN30) in 2003, on 17 th June (A. Graham) and on 18 th August (JSB, photoed).

Identification: Wingspan 17-22mm. A quite striking little moth. Apologies for the poor quality of the picture, but back in 2003 when I caught it, I didn’t have a very good camera….

Diasemiopsis ramburialis MOTHER OF PEARL Pleuroptya ruralis

1405 MOTHER OF PEARL Pleuroptya ruralis National Status: Abundant throughout Britain. Foodplant: Common nettle Urtica dioica. Habitat: Widespread. Main Flight Period: July and August. County Status: Common. VC44 Records prior to 2007: 259 10km squares prior to 2007: SN10, SN21, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN33, SN40, SN41, SN50, SN51, SN52, SN53, SN54, SN61, SN62, SN63, SN64, SN74, SS49, SS59

Identification: Wingspan 33-37mm. Once known, it is a very obvious moth, even in flight.

1408 Palpita vitrealis National Status: Scarce migrant, chiefly to coastal southern Britain. Foodplant: Jasmine Jasminum officinale, and olives Olea europaea Habitat: Anywhere as a migrant. Main Flight Period: Can occur in any of the summer months, though more likely in Autumn. County Status: Very rare migrant. VC44 Records prior to 2007: 3 (all in 2006) 10km squares prior to 2007: SN31, SN53

Identification: Wingspan 27-31mm. Straightforward. Though all records should ideally be supported by a photo.

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Palpita vitrealis

So that’s Pyraustinae. I’ll try to finish the Pyralids in the next bulletin, but I’ll have to see if I have the required photos to hand. Otherwise I’ll do a different group and come back to the last lot of Pyralids next year.

The main reference for this article has been the excellent and invaluable:

B. Goater. BRITISH PYRALID MOTHS. A GUIDE TO THEIR IDENTIFICATION . Harley Books (1986). ISBN 0 946589 08 9

Thank you: Thanks to all contributors to this bulletin – Lee Walker, Martin Lovell, Chris Manley, Julian Wormald, Mat Ridley, Elizabeth Goodyear, Melanie Collier, Sam Bosanquet, Dave and Jan Bannister, Clare Williams, David Groom, Faye Sharpley, Mike Harrington, Stuart Blackmore, Simeon Jones, Russel Hobson, Martin White, Deborah Sazer, Tony Lewis, Colin Jones, Martin Warren, Keith Williams and Ian Morgan.

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

01267 221681 [email protected]

19 No. English Name SN12 SN22 SN30 SN31 SN32 SN40 SN50 SN51 SN53 SN63 SN73 SS49 SS59 #SQ SUM 15 Orange Swift 1 1 1 18 Map-winged Swift 2 1 2 68 Stigmella salicis 1 1 1 200 Psychoides filicivora 1 1 1 228 Monopis weaverella 1 1 1 240 Tinea pellionella 1 1 1 263 Lyonetia clerkella 2 1 2 285 Caloptilia azaleella 2 1 2 294 Aspilapteryx tringipennella 1 1 2 2 304 Parornix devoniella 1 1 1 341 Phyllonorycter maestingella 1 1 1 410 Argyresthia brockeella 1 1 1 411 Argyresthia goedartella 5 1 5 412 Argyresthia pygmaeella 1 1 1 438 Swammerdamia pyrella 1 1 1 453 Ypsolopha dentella 1 1 1 3 3 455 Ypsolopha scabrella 2 1 2 3 460 Ypsolopha parenthesella 1 1 2 2 464 Diamond-backed Moth 2 1 2 595 Elachista biatomella 2 1 2 607 Elachista canapennella 1 1 1 631 Cosmiotes freyerella 1 1 1 647 Brown House-moth 1 1 1 658 Carcina quercana 2 1 2 672 Depressaria pastinacella 1 1 1 694 Agonopterix nanatella 2 1 2 697 Agonopterix arenella 1 1 1 714 Agonopterix yeatiana 1 1 1 786 Bryotropha desertella 1 1 1 787 Bryotropha terrella 1 1 1 789 Bryotropha domestica 1 1 1 792 Mirificarma mulinella 1 1 1

20 No. English Name SN12 SN22 SN30 SN31 SN32 SN40 SN50 SN51 SN53 SN63 SN73 SS49 SS59 #SQ SUM 812 Scrobipalpa instabilella 10 1 10 819 Scrobipalpa costella 1 1 1 843 Aproaerema anthylidella 1 1 1 873 Blastobasis lignea 5 20 1 2 10 5 38 937 Agapeta hamana 1 1 1 938 Agapeta zoegana 1 1 1 964 Cochylis dubitana 2 1 2 966 Cochylis atricapitana 3 1 3 969 Pandemis corylana 1 1 1 3 3 972 Pandemis heparana 1 1 1 2 4 5 998 Epiphyas postvittana 10 1 1 2 4 14 1010 Ditula angustiorana 1 1 1 1031 Eana penziana 1 1 1 1038 Acleris laterana 1 1 1 3 3 1062 Acleris emargana 1 1 2 2 1089 Apotomis semifasciana 1 1 2 2 1092 Apotomis turbidana 1 1 1 1093 Apotomis betuletana 2 1 2 1111 Bactra lancealana 1 1 1 1126 Ancylis badiana 1 1 1 1134 Epinotia ramella 3 1 3 1138 Epinotia nisella 1 10 1 3 12 1151 Epinotia trigonella 3 1 3 1155 Epinotia brunnichana 1 1 1 1165 Zeiraphera isertana 2 1 2 3 1175 Epiblema uddmanniana 1 1 1 1178 Epiblema roborana 2 1 2 1179 Epiblema incarnatana 1 1 1 1205 Spilonota ocellana 1 1 1 1233 Pammene aurita 1 1 1 1260 Cydia splendana 1 2 1 2 4 6 1261 Cydia pomonella 1 1 1

21 No. English Name SN12 SN22 SN30 SN31 SN32 SN40 SN50 SN51 SN53 SN63 SN73 SS49 SS59 #SQ SUM 1288 Twenty-plume Moth 1 1 2 2 1302 Crambus perlella 1 1 1 1303 Agriphila selasella 1 4 2 5 1304 Agriphila straminella 10 5 2 2 10 30 6 59 1305 Agriphila tristella 4 1 7 1 4 13 1313 Catoptria pinella 1 1 1 3 3 1331 Water Veneer 1 1 1 1334 Scoparia ambigualis 1 5 2 6 1338 Dipleurina lacustrata 3 3 2 6 1340 Eudonia truncicolella 3 10 2 13 1344 Eudonia mercurella 2 3 300 7 1 1 6 314 1345 Brown China-mark 4 1 5 3 10 1348 Ringed China-mark 1 1 1 1365 Pyrausta despicata 1 1 1 1388 Udea lutealis 2 1 2 1405 Mother of Pearl 2 5 4 1 1 1 4 1 2 9 21 1413 Gold Triangle 1 1 1 2 4 5 1425 Wax Moth 1 1 1 1428 Bee Moth 4 1 4 1439 Trachycera advenella 1 10 2 3 13 1481 Homoeosoma sinuella 1 1 1 1497 Amblyptilia acanthydactyla 1 1 1 1509 Stenoptilia pterodactyla 1 1 1 1523 Oidaematophorus lithodactyla 1 1 1 1524 Emmelina monodactyla 1 2 2 3 1634 Lackey 1 1 1 1636 Grass Eggar 25 1 25 1637 Oak Eggar 2 5 2 7 1640 Drinker 2 1 2 10 7 3 6 25 1645 Scalloped Hook-tip 2 8 2 10 1646 Oak Hook-tip 1 3 2 4 1647 Barred Hook-tip 1 1 1

22 No. English Name SN12 SN22 SN30 SN31 SN32 SN40 SN50 SN51 SN53 SN63 SN73 SS49 SS59 #SQ SUM 1648 Pebble Hook-tip 2 3 2 4 6 1 1 7 19 1651 Chinese Character 1 3 2 4 1652 Peach Blossom 1 1 7 1 3 1 6 14 1665 Grass Emerald 1 1 1 1666 Large Emerald 4 1 4 1682 Blood-vein 1 1 2 2 4 6 1702 Small Fan-footed Wave 1 2 2 1 1 2 6 1 8 16 1708 Single-dotted Wave 1 1 1 1713 Riband Wave 2 3 1 4 9 1 6 20 1718 Oblique Striped 3 1 3 1722 Flame Carpet 2 1 4 1 2 7 1 7 18 1724 Red Twin-spot Carpet 6 3 2 5 2 5 18 1725 Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet 3 1 1 9 4 14 1728 Garden Carpet 3 3 2 6 1732 Shaded Broad-bar 1 2 2 3 1737 Small Argent and Sable 1 1 1 1738 Common Carpet 3 5 1 8 5 5 4 7 8 38 1742 Yellow Shell 10 1 2 11 1751 Devon Carpet 3 1 3 1752 Purple Bar 1 1 2 2 4 6 1754 Phoenix 1 4 4 2 4 11 1755 Chevron 1 2 1 3 4 1756 Northern Spinach 3 1 3 1759 Small Phoenix 2 6 1 1 40 1 16 44 1 9 112 1762 Dark Marbled Carpet 1 2 6 3 9 1764 Common Marbled Carpet 1 1 1 3 3 1765 Barred Yellow 1 1 1 1769 Spruce Carpet 1 1 1 1777 July Highflyer 2 3 2 3 3 33 6 46 1789 Scallop Shell 2 1 2 1794 Sharp-angled Carpet 2 1 2 1802 Rivulet 1 1 2 2

23 No. English Name SN12 SN22 SN30 SN31 SN32 SN40 SN50 SN51 SN53 SN63 SN73 SS49 SS59 #SQ SUM 1803 Small Rivulet 1 1 1 2 1 5 6 1809 Twin-spot Carpet 4 1 4 1817 Foxglove Pug 1 1 1 1825 Lime-speck Pug 2 2 2 4 1830 Wormwood Pug 1 1 1 1833 Bleached Pug 3 1 3 1835 White-spotted Pug 1 16 2 17 1837 Grey Pug 2 1 2 1838 Tawny Speckled Pug 1 1 1 1851 Golden-rod Pug 2 1 2 1862 Double-striped Pug 1 1 1 1867 Treble-bar 7 1 7 1873 Welsh Wave 1 1 1 1874 Dingy Shell 1 1 1 1875 Small White Wave 2 1 2 3 1876 Small Yellow Wave 1 1 1 1882 Small Seraphim 1 1 2 2 1883 Yellow-barred Brindle 2 2 2 4 1884 Magpie 5 1 1 1 4 8 1887 Clouded Border 1 1 4 3 6 1890 Sharp-angled Peacock 3 9 2 5 6 8 6 33 1893 Tawny-barred Angle 2 1 2 1894 Latticed Heath 1 1 1 1906 Brimstone Moth 3 1 4 3 18 8 4 5 2 1 8 11 57 1907 Bordered Beauty 1 2 2 3 1913 Canary-shouldered Thorn 1 2 2 2 4 7 1915 September Thorn 1 1 1 1917 Early Thorn 2 1 3 1 4 6 6 17 1919 Purple Thorn 3 1 2 4 1921 Scalloped Oak 1 1 2 2 1931 Peppered Moth 1 2 1 2 4 6 1937 Beauty 2 5 3 3 1 6 6 20

24 No. English Name SN12 SN22 SN30 SN31 SN32 SN40 SN50 SN51 SN53 SN63 SN73 SS49 SS59 #SQ SUM 1940 Satin Beauty 6 1 6 1947 Engrailed 1 1 2 2 1955 Common White Wave 4 1 4 1956 Common Wave 1 1 4 3 4 9 1968 Yellow Belle 13 1 13 1981 Poplar Hawk-moth 1 1 2 1 4 5 1984 Humming-bird Hawk-moth 1 1 1 1991 Elephant Hawk-moth 1 1 1 3 3 1994 Buff-tip 5 6 5 3 16 1997 Sallow Kitten 1 1 1 1 1 3 6 8 2000 Iron Prominent 3 2 1 6 4 2 6 18 2003 Pebble Prominent 1 1 5 3 3 5 1 1 8 20 2006 Lesser Swallow Prominent 3 1 5 1 4 10 2007 Swallow Prominent 1 3 2 3 6 2008 Coxcomb Prominent 1 4 2 5 5 3 11 1 1 9 33 2011 Pale Prominent 1 2 1 6 9 1 6 20 2030 Yellow-tail 8 14 3 3 25 2033 Black Arches 8 1 15 2 10 21 6 57 2037 Rosy Footman 3 4 3 2 2 5 14 2044 Dingy Footman 1 3 10 5 1 5 9 1 8 35 2047 Scarce Footman 1 1 2 2 2049 Buff Footman 3 1 20 1 1 208 1 7 235 2050 Common Footman 1 3 1 3 5 2051 Four-spotted Footman 1 1 1 3 3 2061 Buff Ermine 2 1 2 2064 Ruby Tiger 3 1 2 2 1 8 2 7 19 2081 White-line Dart 12 1 12 2085 Archer's Dart 4 1 4 2089 Heart & Dart 1 1 1 3 3 2092 Shuttle-shaped Dart 1 1 2 2 2102 Flame Shoulder 54 8 4 10 4 32 9 2 7 7 2 11 139 2107 Large Yellow Underwing 35 12 3 20 50 15 38 21 12 25 14 5 8 13 258

25 No. English Name SN12 SN22 SN30 SN31 SN32 SN40 SN50 SN51 SN53 SN63 SN73 SS49 SS59 #SQ SUM 2109 Lesser Yellow Underwing 1 1 1 1 4 3 6 11 2111 Lsr Bd-bd Yellow Uwing 6 6 4 3 10 9 7 4 1 1 2 3 12 56 2112 Least Yellow Underwing 1 3 1 3 5 2118 True Lover's Knot 1 30 2 3 33 2122 Purple Clay 1 1 1 2123 Small Square-spot 1 1 1 3 3 2126 Setaceous Hebrew Character 1 1 1 3 3 2127 Triple-spotted Clay 1 1 1 2130 Dotted Clay 1 1 2 3 4 2133 Six-striped Rustic 1 2 2 3 2134 Square-spot Rustic 1 1 1 3 3 2159 Dog's Tooth 1 1 1 2160 Bright-line Brown-eye 1 2 1 3 4 2173 Lychnis 1 1 1 2176 Antler Moth 1 1 7 1 1 5 11 2177 Hedge Rustic 2 1 2 2192 Brown-line Bright-eye 1 1 1 2193 Clay 1 2 2 1 4 6 2197 Southern Wainscot 3 1 3 2198 Smoky Wainscot 1 1 1 1 20 5 1 6 3 9 39 2225 Minor Shoulder-knot 1 1 1 2289 Knot Grass 1 1 1 1 2 3 1 1 8 11 2291 Coronet 1 1 1 2293 Marbled Beauty 5 1 5 2295 Marbled Green 1 1 1 2297 Copper Underwing 2 1 2 3 26 1 1 7 36 2298 Svensson's C. Underwing 1 1 1 2300 Old Lady 1 1 1 2305 Small Angle Shades 2 1 2 3 2306 Angle Shades 1 1 2 2 2311 Double Kidney 1 5 1 3 7 2318 Dun-bar 1 8 2 6 5 1 6 23

26 No. English Name SN12 SN22 SN30 SN31 SN32 SN40 SN50 SN51 SN53 SN63 SN73 SS49 SS59 #SQ SUM 2321 Dark Arches 2 2 1 1 9 10 2 2 8 29 2335 Slender Brindle 2 1 2 3 2341 Cloaked Minor 1 2 2 3 2342 Rosy Minor 1 3 2 4 2343.5 Common Rustic. agg 7 6 5 10 10 15 6 6 2 4 13 11 84 2345 Small Dotted Buff 1 1 1 2350 Small Wainscot 1 1 2 2 2353 Flounced Rustic 2 1 2 3 2360 Ear Moth 2 1 2 2361 Rosy Rustic 1 1 2 1 2 1 2 7 10 2368 Crescent 2 1 2 2369 Bulrush Wainscot 8 1 8 2373 Webb's Wainscot 1 1 1 2379 Small Rufous 1 1 1 1 1 5 5 2382 Rustic 1 1 1 3 3 2421 Scarce Silver Lines 2 1 2 2425 Nut-tree Tussock 2 1 4 3 7 2434 Burnished Brass 2 1 2 2439 Gold Spot 1 1 1 2441 Silver Y 1 2 2 1 4 6 2443 Plain Golden Y 1 1 1 2449 Dark Spectacle 1 1 1 2450 Spectacle 2 1 2 3 2469 Herald 1 1 1 2474 Straw Dot 1 1 1 2 1 5 6 2477 Snout 1 1 2 2 2484 Pinion-streaked Snout 1 1 1 3 3 2485 Marsh Oblique-barred 10 1 10 2489 Fan-foot 1 1 1 1 4 4

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