ANNUAL REPORT FOR VC44 Carmarthenshire 2006

By JON BAKER

CONTENTS

3 2006 Overview: a summary and analysis of the data.

5 Categories of the Macro-moth List

8 Macro-moth Species Accounts

136 Table of Micro-moth recording during 2006

142 Article: The Rothamsted Effect

Author:

Jon Baker County Recorder () for VC44 Carmarthenshire 14 Job’s Well Rd Carmarthen SA31 3HG

01267 221681 [email protected]

2 2006 OVERVIEW A SUMMARY AND ANALYSIS OF THE DATA

In the period 1996 to 2005 (the preceding decade, which seems to yield the most relevant comparisons) there was an average of approximately 2500 records of macros moths made each year. With 2006 creating almost exactly 7000 records of macro moths, it was indeed a most productive year for data, with a lot of effort put in across the county. The increase in observer numbers and the renewed interest in moths created by the formation of the Carmarthenshire Moth Group have had a large part to do with this.

Recording was done in the following 10km squares during 2006, with the number of records from those squares:

SN10: 15 SN41: 10 SN63: 80 SN12: 389 SN42: 12 SN64: 50 SN20: 70 SN50: 4 SN71: 1 SN21: 4 SN51: 174 SN73: 20 SN22: 411 SN52: 208 SN74: 213 SN30: 775 SN53: 896 SS49: 852 SN31: 1594 SN54: 249 SS59: 5 SN32: 483 SN61: 82 SN40: 365 SN62: 37

Map of VC44, showing recording effort during 2006 courtesy of Sam Bosanquet

3 During 2006, there were good records of 808 species of moth in the county – 384 micro moths and 424 macro moths (there are 9 species of micro-moth treated as “honorary macros” in the species accounts). This makes it the most diverse year on record, due to the great increase in recording that occurred.

Twenty-six new species were added to the county list, 19 micro-moths and 7 macro-moths.

38 Ectoedemia subbimaculella Micro 203 Infurcitinea argentimaculella Micro 275 Bucculatrix bechsteinella Micro 285 Caloptilia azaleella Micro 296 Calybites phasianipennella Micro 363 Phyllonorycter platanoidella Micro 423 Argyresthia semitestacella Micro 426 Yponomeuta malinellus Ermine Moth 568 Coleophora versurella Micro 587 Coleophora caespititiella Micro 641 Batia lambdella Micro 671 Depressaria ultimella Oecophorid 678 Depressaria sordidatella Oecophorid 786 Bryotropha desertella Gelechid 814 Scrobipalpa ocellatella Gelechid 1231 Pammene spiniana Tortricid 1408 Palpita vitrealis Pyralid 1454.5 Dioryctria sylvestrella Pyralid 1467 Ancylosis oblitella Pyralid 1828 satyrata satyrata Satyr Pug 1859 chloerata Sloe Pug 2184 Orthosia opima Northern Drab 2202 Mythimna l-album L-album Wainscot 2208 Mythimna loreyi Cosmopolitan 2230 Aporophyla australis pascuea Feathered Brindle 2408 Eublemma parva Small Marbled

There were also significant records of many other species that had previously been seen on only a handful of occasions in the county, as well as good records of species whose previous claims to be on the county list had been less than satisfactory. Highlights included: Lunar Hornet Moth (2nd), Poplar Lutestring (4th), Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk-moth (5th), Orange Footman (2nd), Hoary Footman (4th), Feathered Ranunculus (2nd, 3rd and 4th), Orange Sallow (2nd), Light Knot Grass (c.3rd) and Beautiful Hook-tip (2nd).

The record-breaking numbers of migrant moths recorded in Britain during 2006 will most certainly be what the year is remembered for, and although we only got a tiny fraction of what better placed counties recorded, it was an unprecedented invasion that livened up many nights through the summer. Details can be found throughout the species account, or in the monthly bulletins of 2006.

Thank you to all those who have contributed records to this report: Sam Bosanquet, Lee Walker, Julian Wormald, Martin Lovell, Melanie Collier, Barry Stewart, Ian Morgan, Bronwen and Ivy Berkshire, Hilton Marlton, Anthony Lewis, Aron Williams, Anna Hobbs, Arnold Johnson, Dave Slade, David Groom, Fay Sharpley, Elizabeth Goodyear, G Lyons, Isabel Macho, John Langmaid, Martin White and Simeon Jones. Hope I didn’t forget anyone UNCREDITED SPECIES RECORDS ARE THOSE OF THE AUTHOR.

4 CATEGORIES OF THE MACRO-MOTH LIST

The VC44 macro-moth list is divided into several categories, and these are explained here. Category A1 (Green) The majority of species fall into this group. These are species where there is absolutely no doubt it has occurred in the county in the last 50 years, as there is either photographic proof, a specimen, or the record has been properly authenticated by the county recorder. Nearly all species in this category have now been photographed (specimens caught in VC44) and are kept in a library of images.

Category A2 (Green) These are species which are currently accepted on the county list, despite the fact that the county recorder has not seen photographic proof or a specimen. Most of these species are from Rothamsted traps. If anyone catches any of these, I do urge them to take the necessary photo, or failing that, a specimen, so that the species can be moved into Category A1. The following species fall into this category:

1647 Drepana cultraria Barred Hook-tip 1658 Cymatophorima diluta Oak Lutestring 1689 Scopula marginepunctata Mullein Wave 1694 Scopula ternata Smoky Wave 1745 Larentia clavaria Mallow 1774 Colostygia olivata Beech-green Carpet 1790 Triphosa dubitata Tissue 1798 filigrammaria Small 1815 Eupithecia abietaria Cloaked Pug 1823 Eupithecia venosata Netted Pug 1843 Eupithecia distinctaria Thyme Pug 1864 Chesias legatella Streak 1870 Odezia atrata Chimney Sweeper 1897 Macaria wauaria V-Moth 1925 Apocheima hispidaria Small Brindled Beauty 2056 Parasemia plantaginis Wood Tiger 2059 Diacrisia sannio Clouded Buff 2104 Standfussiana lucernea Northern Rustic 2135 Xestia agathina Heath Rustic 2157 Lacanobia w-latinum Light Brocade 2171 Hadena confusa Marbled Coronet 2227 Asteroscopus sphinx Sprawler 2233 Lithomoia solidaginis Golden-rod Brindle 2254 Antitype chi Grey Chi 2303 Thalpophila matura Straw Underwing 2329 Apamea furva Confused 2437 Polychrysia moneta Golden Plusia 2447 Syngrapha interrogationis Scarce Silver Y

5 CATEGORY B (Amber) The records of these species are pended, awaiting confirmation through photographic or specimen proof. When that is forthcoming, these pended records will be reassessed, and could be retrospectively accepted.

381 Synanthedon culiciformis Large Red-belted Clearwing 1715 Idaea straminata Plain Wave 1757 Eulithis mellinata Spinach 1761 miata Autumn Green Carpet 1793 Euphyia biangulata Cloaked Carpet 1806 blandiata Pretty Pinion 1854 Eupithecia pusillata Juniper Pug 1855 Eupithecia phoeniciata Cypress Pug 1905 Pachycnemia hippocastanaria Horse Chestnut 2167 Hadena perplexa Tawny Shears 2185 Orthosia populeti Lead-coloured Drab 2325 Apamea oblonga Crescent Striped 2480 Hypena rostralis Buttoned Snout

CATEGORY C (Red) This is a list of species claimed in VC44 in the last 50 years, but the records are not considered acceptable without any proof. Future records of these species need full verification, but it is unlikely that these earlier records will then be reinstated as genuine and reliable records.

1642 Gastropacha quercifolia Lappet 1673 Hemiostola chrysoprasaria Small Emerald 1677 Cyclophora albipuncta Mocha 1680 Cyclophora punctaria Maiden's Blush 1688 Scopula rubiginata Tawny Wave 1698 Idaea muricata Purple-bordered Gold 1701 Idaea sylvestraria Dotted Border Wave 1705 Idaea fuscovenosa Dwarf Cream Wave 1707 Idaea seriata Small Dusty Wave 1711 Idaea trigeminata Treble Brown Spot 1723 Xanthorhoe decoloraria Red Carpet 1735 Catarhoe rubidata Ruddy Carpet 1771 Thera juniperata Juniper Carpet 1786 Spargania luctuata White-banded Carpet 1787 Rheumaptera hastiata Argent and Sable 1792 Philereme transversata Dark Umber 1801 Perizoma taeniata Barred Carpet 1836 Eupithecia denotata Campanula Pug 1868 Aplocera efformata Lesser Treble-bar 1878 Minoa murinata Drab Looper 1880 Trichopteryx polycommata Barred Tooth-striped 1889 Macaria notata Peacock Moth 1901 advenaria Little Thorn 1943 Hypomecis roboraria Great Oak Beauty 1983 Hemaris fuciformis Broad-bordered Bee Hawk 1998 Furcula bifida Poplar Kitten 2080 Euxoa obelisca grisea Square-spot Dart

6 2082 Euxoa nigricans Garden Dart 2108 Noctua orbona Lunar Yellow Underwing 2121 Diarsia dahlii Barred Chestnut 2124 Diarsia florida Fen Square-spot 2131 Xestia rhomboidea Square-spotted Clay 2148 Polia nebulosa Pale Shining Brown 2153 Heliophobus reticulata Bordered Gothic 2156 Lacanobia contigua Beautiful Brocade 2183 Orthosia miniosa Blossom Underwing 2231 Aporophyla lutulenta Deep-brown Dart 2235 Lithophane semibrunnea Tawny Pinion 2266 Agrochola litura Brown-spot Pinion 2268 Parastichtis suspecta Suspected 2272 Xanthia aurago Barred Sallow 2275 Xanthia gilvago Dusky-lemon Sallow 2279 Acronicta aceris Sycamore 2316 Cosmia affinis Lesser-spotted Pinion 2319 Cosmia pyralina Lunar-spotted Pinion 2358 Amphipoea fucosa Saltern Ear 2359 Amphipoea crinanensis Crinan Ear 2374 Archanara algae Rush Wainscot 2411 Deltote deceptoria Pretty Marbled

CATEGORY D (Black) These are species which are on the county database solely as a result of a record over 50 years ago. Any modern record of these would be considered as an honorary “first”.

162 Cossus cossus Goat Moth 2206 Mythimna putrescens Devonshire Wainscot 2242 Xylena obsoleta Sword-grass

7 MACRO-MOTHS

14 GHOST MOTH Hepialus humuli National status: Widespread and generally common, flying in June and July. County status: Widespread and fairly common in suitable areas of unimproved grassland. Records prior to 2006: 80 Records ’96 to ’05: 50 Earliest date: 3rd June (2000) 10km squares prior to 2006: 21

Number of records: 11 Earliest: 5th June Latest: 21st July 10km squares: SN12, SN22, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN52, SN54, SN63, SN64, SS49 NOTES: A wide scattering of records, mostly of single moths attracted to light. The highest count was just 4, seen at dusk in paddock adjacent to Nantgwyn (SN3623) on 8th June.

15 ORANGE SWIFT Hepialus sylvina National status: Widespread and generally common, flying from July to September. County status: Local and scarce, with most records from only a very few places. Records prior to 2006: 68 Records ’96 to ’05: 18 Earliest date: 21st July (1993) 10km squares prior to 2006: 14

Number of records: 2 Earliest: 25th August Latest: 2nd September 10km squares: SN31, SN53 Notes: Abernant, Brechfa (SN5837) on 2nd September (JW). Two attracted to the floodlights of Llansteffan Castle (SN3510) on 25th August.

16 GOLD SWIFT Hepialus hecta National status: Widespread but local, flying in June and July. County status: Local and moderately uncommon. Records prior to 2006: 27 Records ’96 to ’05: 17 Earliest date: 30th May (1995) 10km squares prior to 2006: 13

Number of records: 6 Earliest: 24th June Latest: 31st July 10km squares: SN30, SN53 Notes: Three records each from Brechfa Forest and Pembrey Forest. Highest count was of 10 at SN5232 on 6th July.

17 COMMON SWIFT Hepialus lupulinus National status: Widespread and common in England and Wales, local in Scotland. Flying from May to July. County status: Sparsely recorded across the county. Records prior to 2006: 49 Records ’96 to ’05: 39 Earliest date: 26th May (2004) 10km squares prior to 2006: 14

Number of records: 13 Earliest: 6th June Latest: 3rd July 10km squares: SN22, SN30, SN32, SN40, SN52, SN62, SS49 Notes: A good number of records of this species, which is far from “common” in VC44. One swept by day at Coed Gwempa (SN6421), one at Nantgwyn (SN3623), one at Aberglasney (SN5822) (JW) and three records from SN22, with all other records coming from the south-east corner of the county.

8 18 MAP-WINGED SWIFT Hepialus fusconebulosa National status: Mainly northern and western areas of Britain. Not uncommon. Flying from May to July. County status: Sparsely recorded across the county, with most records from only a couple of upland sites. Records prior to 2006: 91 Records ’96 to ’05: 27 Earliest date: 6th June (1993) 10km squares prior to 2006: 16

Number of records: 11 Earliest: 10th June Latest: 12th July 10km squares: SN22, SN53, SN54, SN74 Notes: A record of two to MV at Gellywen (SN2723) on 10th June (JSB, Lee Walker) is a new area for this species. The other records were from the more traditional sites of Brechfa and the uplands of the north-east.

161 LEOPARD MOTH Zeuzera pyrina National Status: Widespread in southern and central England and the eastern part of Wales. Flying from June to early August. County Status: Rare, though possibly increasing. Records prior to 2006: 5 Records ’96 to ’05: 4 Earliest date: 29th June (1992) 10km squares prior to 2006: 5

Number of records: 3 Earliest: 1st July Latest: 9th July 10km squares: SN30, SN51, SN53 Notes: Three records of singles of a species which was far less than annual in the county. Gelli, Rhydcymerau (SN5739) on 1st July (Martin Lovell), Gelli Aur CP (SN5919) on 5th July (JSB and the Carms Moth Group) and Pembrey Forest (SN3803) on 9th July (JSB).

163 FORESTER Adscita statices National Status: Local throughout Britain, mainly in the south. Flying from May to July. County Status: Rare, very local. Records prior to 2006: 13 Records ’96 to ’05: 5 Earliest date: 28th May (1990) 10km squares prior to 2006: 6

Number of records: NOT RECORDED Earliest: - Latest: - 10km squares: - Notes: Last recorded in July 2005.

169 SIX-SPOT BURNET Zygaena filipendulae National Status: Relatively common throughout. Day-flying from June to August. County Status: Fairly widespread and common in suitable habitat. Records prior to 2006: 66 Records ’96 to ’05: 48 Earliest date: 14th June (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 14

Number of records: 13 Earliest: 30th June Latest: 5th August 10km squares: SN30, SN31, SN64, SS49 Notes: A common species that was not well recorded. Being day-flying, less attention is paid to it and fewer records get submitted.

9 170 FIVE-SPOT BURNET Zygaena trifolii decreta National Status: A predominantly south-western distribution. Day-flying from June to August. County Status: Widespread and common in suitable habitat. Records prior to 2006: 72 Records ’96 to ’05: 45 Earliest date: 10th June (1990) 10km squares prior to 2006: 22

Number of records: 3 Earliest: 22nd June Latest: 3rd July 10km squares: SN30, SN64 Notes: Very under-recorded this year. Should not be taken as indicative of a population decline.

371 LUNAR HORNET MOTH Sesia bembeciformis National Status: Widespread, allegedly common, but as with all clearwings, seldom encountered. July and August. County Status: Very Rare and under-recorded. Records prior to 2006: 1, possibly two. Records ’96 to ’05: 1 Earliest date: 18th July (2000) 10km squares prior to 2006: 2

Number of records: 1 (plus 1 probable) Earliest: 19th July Latest: (22nd July) 10km squares: SN22 Notes: One seen and photographed by Simeon Jones at SN2124 is the first well-documented record of this species for the VC. A further record was received of one trapped in the shop window in Brechfa village on 22nd July, seen by David Groom and others. Sadly not photographed, but it seems likely that the record was correct.

373 CURRANT CLEARWING Synanthedon tipuliformis National Status: Nationally Scarce B. Local throughout. Flying in June and July. County Status: Only one site found so far. Records prior to 2006: 5 Records ’96 to ’05: 5 Earliest date: 9th June (2004) 10km squares prior to 2006: 2

Number of records: NOT RECORDED Earliest: - Latest: - 10km squares: - Notes: Last recorded in June 2005.

374 YELLOW-LEGGED CLEARWING Synanthedon vespiformis National Status: Nationally Scarce B. Local in southern Britain. Flying from late May to August. County Status: Extremely rare. Records prior to 2006: 3 (all from June 1992 at Stradey Woods) Records ’96 to ’05: 0 Earliest date: 8th June (1992) 10km squares prior to 2006: 1

Number of records: NOT RECORDED Earliest: - Latest: - 10km squares: - Notes: Last recorded in June 1992.

10 375 WHITE-BARRED CLEARWING Synanthedon spheciformis National Status: Nationally Scarce B. Local in southern Britain. Flying from May to July. County Status: Extremely rare. Records prior to 2006: 1 Records ’96 to ’05: 0 Earliest date: 4th July (1977) 10km squares prior to 2006: 1 (SN84)

Number of records: NOT RECORDED Earliest: - Latest: - 10km squares: - Notes: Last recorded in July 1977.

380 RED-TIPPED CLEARWING Synanthedon formicaeformis National Status: Nationally Scarce B. Local, especially in the west. Flying from May to August. County Status: Extremely rare. Records prior to 2006: 1 Records ’96 to ’05: 0 Earliest date: 12th June (1990) 10km squares prior to 2006: 1 (SN41)

Number of records: NOT RECORDED Earliest: - Latest: - 10km squares: - Notes: Last recorded in June 1990.

381 LARGE RED-BELTED CLEARWING Synanthedon culiciformis National Status: Nationally Scarce B. Local, especially in the west. Flying in May and June. County Status: Two records pended. No photo or specimen has ever been taken in Wales, to my knowledge. Category B (pended). Records prior to 2006: 2, though both currently pended. Records ’96 to ’05: 2 Earliest date: 23rd May (2001) 10km squares prior to 2006: 2

Number of records: NOT RECORDED Earliest: - Latest: - 10km squares: - Notes: Last recorded in June 2004.

382 SIX-BELTED CLEARWING Bembecia ichneumoniformis National Status: Nationally Scarce B. Local across southern Britain. Flying from June to August. County Status: Local. Records prior to 2006: 12 Records ’96 to ’05: 8 Earliest date: 13th June (2004) 10km squares prior to 2006: 5

Number of records: NOT RECORDED Earliest: - Latest: - 10km squares: - Notes: Last recorded in June 2004.

11 383 THRIFT CLEARWING Synansphecia muscaeformis National Status: Nationally Scarce B. Restricted to western and northern coasts. Flying in June and July. County Status: Rare. Records prior to 2006: 3 Records ’96 to ’05: 1 Earliest date: 15th June (1994) 10km squares prior to 2006: 3

Number of records: NOT RECORDED Earliest: - Latest: - 10km squares: - Notes: Last recorded in June 2005.

1631 DECEMBER MOTH Poecilocampa populi National Status: Common and fairly widespread. Flying from October to January. County Status: Very under-recorded, due to flight season. The vast majority of county records are from Rothamsted traps. Records prior to 2006: 91 Records ’96 to ’05: 15 Earliest date: 2nd November (1972) 10km squares prior to 2006: 10

Number of records: 6 Earliest: 8th November Latest: 17th December 10km squares: SN53 Notes: All records from Julian Wormald and Martin Lovell in and around SN53. No trapping was done at other sites at this time of year, which explains the lack of records from elsewhere.

1632 PALE EGGAR Trichiura crataegi National Status: Widespread and common, though scarce in the west. Flying in August and Spetember. County Status: Rare. Records prior to 2006: 7, though 5 of these are Rothamsted records. Records ’96 to ’05: 3 Earliest date: 20th August (1997) 10km squares prior to 2006: 4 (SN21, SN23, SN32, SN33)

Number of records: NOT RECORDED Earliest: - Latest: - 10km squares: - Notes: Last recorded in September 2003

1634 LACKEY Malacosoma neustria National Status: Widespread and moderately common resident species, flying in July and August. County Status: Patchily distributed. Locally very common. Records prior to 2006: 173 Records ’96 to ’05: 91 Earliest date: 14th June (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 15

Number of records: 13 Earliest: 1st July Latest: 26th July 10km squares: SN12, SN30, SN31, SS49 Notes: As with several other lasiocampidae, seemed to have a poor year in some areas, possibly as a result of parasitism. Nearly all records were from Pembrey where it was scarce in the Forest, but still abundant in the Burrows – with 50 on 23rd July and 60 on 26th July coming to MV light.

12 1636 GRASS EGGAR Lasiocampa trifolii National Status: Nationally Scarce A. A very local species of sand-dunes, found in few localities, but not uncommon where it does occur. Flies in August and September. County Status: Recorded only from coastal sites. Records prior to 2006: 20 Records ’96 to ’05: 17 Earliest date: 28th July (2001) 10km squares prior to 2006: 5

Number of records: 5 Earliest: 5th August Latest: 4th September 10km squares: SS49 Notes: A final instar was found wandering near my moth trap in SS49 on 24th June. Numbers at Pembrey Burrows were good, with 12 counted at light on two dates in late August. No records this year from other sites.

1637 OAK EGGAR Lasiocampa quercus National Status: A locally widespread species of woodlands, sea-cliffs and other habitats, flying in July and August. County Status: Few records away from the south-east coast. Records prior to 2006: 46 Records ’96 to ’05: 39 Earliest date: 7th July (2005) 10km squares prior to 2006: 10

Number of records: 4 Earliest: 20th July Latest: 7th August 10km squares: SN30, SN54, SS49 Notes: Four singles is indicative of a crash in the population, as with others in this group, probably due to cyclical parasitation. See Fox Moth below.

1638 FOX MOTH Macrothylacia rubi National Status: A widespread and locally common moth of heaths, coasts, commons and downs, flying in May and June. County Status: Recorded mainly from coastal sites and uplands. Records prior to 2006: 105 Records ’96 to ’05: 61 Earliest date: 5th May (2005) 10km squares prior to 2006: 19

Number of records: 11 Earliest: 1st June Latest: 24th June 10km squares: SN53, SN54, SN64, SS49 Notes: Over the past few years this species had become very common in Pembrey Forest. It seemed during 2006 to have suffered a population crash. At the same time, the parasitic fly Tachina grossa, which preys on lasiocampidae was exceptionally common this year. It may be that Fox Moth numbers at Pembrey have been affected and it will be interesting to see how long it is before the population booms again.

1640 DRINKER Euthrix potatoria National Status: Widespread and common across Britain, flying in July and August. County Status: Widespread and common. Records prior to 2006: 351 Records ’96 to ’05: 174 Earliest date: 14th June (2006) 10km squares prior to 2006: 24

Number of records: 37 Earliest: 14th June Latest: 17th September 10km squares: SN12, SN30, SN32, SN40, SN51, SN53, SN54, SN61, SN63, SN64, SN74, SS49 Notes: A typical spread of records of this common and widespread species.

13 1643 EMPEROR MOTH Saturnia pavonia National Status: Locally common species of heaths, moors and commons, flying in April and May. County Status: Records mainly from the uplands, wetter areas and coast. Records prior to 2006: 33 Records ’96 to ’05: 10 Earliest date: 12th April (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 16

Number of records: 3 Earliest: 21st April Latest: 16th May 10km squares: SN20, SN53 Notes: Only two records from Rhydcymerau of adults (ML, JW), and a larval record at Pendine (SDSB). Perhaps going through the same cycle of decline as the eggars.

1645 SCALLOPED HOOK-TIP Falcaria lacertinaria National Status: Widespread and fairly common species of birch woodlands and heaths. Double brooded, flying from April to June and again in July and August. County Status: Relatively rare or under-recorded. Records prior to 2006: 46 Records ’96 to ’05: 12 Earliest date: 28th May (1970) 10km squares prior to 2006: 8

Number of records: 3 Earliest: 5th June Latest: 17th June 10km squares: SN53, SN54 Notes: Two records from Rhydcymerau (ML, JW), and another from south of Llanybydder (ML). Never a common species in the county, it seems to be very local.

1646 OAK HOOK-TIP Watsonalla binaria National Status: Widespread and common in England, less common in Wales, and recently moving into southern Scotland. Flies from May to June and again from late July through to September. County Status: Moderately scarce, though seems to be increasing. Records prior to 2006: 68 Records ’96 to ’05: 46 Earliest date: 20th May (1995) 10km squares prior to 2006: 12

Number of records: 9 Earliest: 4th June Latest: 11th September 10km squares: SN22, SN31, SN32, SN52, SN61 Notes: Ones and twos seen at 5 sites. Mainly Carmarthen and Nantgwyn. A dead one in the floodlight housing at Llansteffan could have been present for a while. Also seen at Aberglasney (JW).

1647 BARRED HOOK-TIP Watsonalla cultraria National Status: Local, mainly in southern England, but scattered elsewhere. Two generations between May and September. County Status: Rare. Category A2. Records prior to 2006: 4 Records ’96 to ’05: None. Earliest date: 14th June (1971) 10km squares prior to 2006: 1 (SN74)

Number of records: NOT RECORDED Earliest: - Latest: - 10km squares: - Notes: Last recorded in August 1971

14 1648 PEBBLE HOOK-TIP Drepana falcataria National Status: Widespread and fairly common species of woods and heaths. Double brooded, flying in May, June and August. County Status: Recorded regularly in small numbers at all trapping sites in the county. Records prior to 2006: 176 Records ’96 to ’05: 85 Earliest date: 14th April (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 20

Number of records: 22 Earliest: 8th May Latest: 26th August 10km squares: SN22, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN52, SN53, SN54, SN61, SN64, SN74, SS49 Notes: Recorded in small numbers at a wide variety of sites, with a typical high count of just three.

1651 CHINESE CHARACTER Cilix glaucata National Status: Widespread and fairly common. Flying from April to June and again from July to early September. County Status: Records from a variety of sites. Never very numerous. Records prior to 2006: 162 Records ’96 to ’05: 79 Earliest date: 14th April (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 21

Number of records: 12 Earliest: 10th May Latest: 25th August 10km squares: SN12, SN22, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN53 Notes: Ones and twos from regular sites. No anomalous high counts. Always a pleasure to see this species.

1652 PEACH BLOSSOM Thyatira batis National Status: A common woodland species, flying from May to August. County Status: Widespread and fairly common across the county. Records prior to 2006: 274 Records ’96 to ’05: 171 Earliest date: 4th May (2006) 10km squares prior to 2006: 22

Number of records: 44 Earliest: 4th May Latest: 2nd September 10km squares: SN12, SN22, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN51, SN52, SN53, SN64, SN74, SN49 Notes: Three counts made it to double figures, but the rest were in the more typical range of one to six. A new earliest date in a year that saw few records in that field.

1653 BUFF ARCHES Habrosyne pyritoides National Status: A fairly common and widespread species in woods and other habitats. Flying from June to August. County Status: Widespread and common. Records prior to 2006: 296 Records ’96 to ’05: 162 Earliest date: 19th May (1990) 10km squares prior to 2006: 22

Number of records: 33 Earliest: 17th June Latest: 26th July 10km squares: SN12, SN30, SN31, SN51, SN52, SN53, SN61, SN63, SS49 Notes: Highest count was of 30 on 3rd July in Pembrey Forest. There were a couple of other large counts, but more typically this occurs in small numbers.

15 1654 FIGURE OF EIGHTY Tethea ocularis octogesimea National Status: Fairly common and widespread in southern England, but scarcer in Wales and northern England. Flying from May to July. County Status: Scarce, though increasing. Records prior to 2006: 19 Records ’96 to ’05: 11 Earliest date: 29th May (2005) 10km squares prior to 2006: 7

Number of records: 4 Earliest: 8th June Latest: 3rd July 10km squares: SN30, SN31, SN32, SN53 Notes: Recorded at Nantgwyn (SN3623, two), Carmarthen (SN3919), Rhydcymerau (SN5739, ML) and Pembrey Forest (SN3803). Perhaps evidence of an increase. Still not a common sight by any means.

1655 POPLAR LUTESTRING Tethea or National Status: Local in southern England and scarce in Wales and Scotland. Flies from May to August. County Status: Rare. Records prior to 2006: 3 Records ’96 to ’05: 3 Earliest date: 18th June (2005) 10km squares prior to 2006: 2

Number of records: 1 Earliest: 23rd June Latest: - 10km squares: SN32 Notes: One to light at Nantgwyn (SN3623) on 23rd June is well away from the only other known site in the county, Pembrey Forest, where it was not recorded during 2006. Hopefully it will start appearing elsewhere.

1657 COMMON LUTESTRING Ochropacha duplaris National Status: Widespread and fairly common. Flying between May and August. County Status: Local. Records prior to 2006: 117 Records ’96 to ’05: 70 Earliest date: 9th May (2000) 10km squares prior to 2006: 15

Number of records: 17 Earliest: 14th May Latest: 9th July 10km squares: SN12, SN22, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN52, SN53, SN63, SN74 Notes: Not especially common, and may be going through a slight dip in fortunes. I remember seeing this species far more commonly and numerously a few years back. Hopefully a temporary downturn.

1658 OAK LUTESTRING Cymatophorima diluta hartwiegi National Status: Local and patchily distributed, though commoner is southern England. Flies in August and September. County Status: Many reported, but from just two sites in one area - both Rothamsted traps. Concern about data quality. Category A2. Records prior to 2006: 42 Records ’96 to ’05: 1 Earliest date: 22nd August (1971) 10km squares prior to 2006: 1 (SN74)

Number of records: NOT RECORDED Earliest: - Latest: - 10km squares: - Notes: Last recorded 1996 (no date). Rothamsted record, as with all records of this species.

16 1659 YELLOW HORNED Achlya flavicornis National Status: Relatively common and widespread in woods and on heaths. Flying from March to April. County Status: Local to areas with extensive birch. Records prior to 2006: 56 Records ’96 to ’05: 14 Earliest date: 10th March (1997) 10km squares prior to 2006: 10

Number of records: 2 Earliest: 28th March Latest: 1st April 10km squares: SN53 Notes: Both records from Rhydcymerau (ML, JW). This species has a very short flight period and if that coincided with poor weather it can often pass undetected.

1660 FROSTED GREEN Polyploca ridens National Status: Local in the southern half of Britain. Flying in April and May. County Status: Local. Records prior to 2006: 71 Records ’96 to ’05: 35 Earliest date: 1st April (2000) 10km squares prior to 2006: 9

Number of records: 11 Earliest: 24th April Latest: 16th May 10km squares: SN12, SN32, SN52, SN53, SN74 Notes: One to ten seen on a scattering of dates within the expected flight period.

1661 ORANGE UNDERWING Archiearis parthenias National Status: Widespread but local. Flying by day in March and April. County Status: Extremely rare. Records prior to 2006: 2 Records ’96 to ’05: 1 Earliest date: 16th April (2002) 10km squares prior to 2006: 2

Number of records: NOT RECORDED. Was looked for in suitable habitat. Earliest: - Latest: - 10km squares: - Notes: Last record April 2002.

1663 MARCH MOTH Alsophila aescularia National Status: Widespread and common, flying in March and April. County Status: Common. Records prior to 2006: 132 Records ’96 to ’05: 58 Earliest date: 25th February (1971) 10km squares prior to 2006: 16

Number of records: 9 Earliest: 14th March Latest: 28th April 10km squares: SN12, SN32, SN52, SN53 Notes: Though four records did not have counts, the other five were just of single moths. This species is rarely abundant in traps, but perhaps there is evidence it did not have a good year. Always difficult to assess the true fortunes of any of these early season species, given that few traps operate consistently at this time of year.

17 1665 GRASS EMERALD Pseudoterpna pruinata National Status: Widespread and locally common on heaths and open woodland. Flying from mid-June to August. County Status: Relatively uncommon and local. Records prior to 2006: 39 Records ’96 to ’05: 13 Earliest date: 14th June (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 14

Number of records: 9 Earliest: 24th June Latest: 24th July 10km squares: SN30, SN53, SN54, SS49 Notes: With a 1.3 records per year average over the last decade, this was a very good showing for this species. Though the six records with counts attached were all of singles, this is typical of a species which is never abundant to light.

1666 LARGE EMERALD Geometra papilionaria National Status: Widespread and moderately common throughout. Flying from late June to August. County Status: Local. Records prior to 2006: 122 Records ’96 to ’05: 42 Earliest date: 18th June (2002) 10km squares prior to 2006: 17

Number of records: 9 Earliest: 3rd July Latest: 31st July 10km squares: SN12, SN30, SN31, SN51, SN53, SN61 Notes: Finally appeared, and in numbers at my traps in Pembrey Forest, having never done so before. I saw it more commonly than I normally do at other sites too, so from a personal perspective it seems to have had a really good year. Long may it be so, as this is always a wonderful species to find.

1669 COMMON EMERALD Hemithea aestivaria National Status: Widespread and Common in a variety of habitats. Flying from late June to early August. County Status: Relatively common, though seemingly absent in some areas. Records prior to 2006: 119 Records ’96 to ’05: 84 Earliest date: 16th June (2004) 10km squares prior to 2006: 16

Number of records: 23 Earliest: 17th June Latest: 24th July 10km squares: SN12, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN51, SN52, SN53, SS49 Notes: Two double figures counts, with a maximum of 20 seen in Pembrey Forest on 3rd July. More typically singles or small numbers at a wide range of sites during the expected season.

1674 LITTLE EMERALD Jodis lactearia National Status: Fairly common and widespread, although less so in Scotland. Flying in May and June. County Status: Relatively uncommon and local. Records prior to 2006: 58 Records ’96 to ’05: 35 Earliest date: 16th May (1988) 10km squares prior to 2006: 15

Number of records: 9 Earliest: 2nd June Latest: 3rd July 10km squares: SN22, SN30, SN32, SN53 Notes: Five of the nine records were of singles, with the others not attached to a count, so presumed singles also. So continuing its relative scarcity in the county for now.

18 1681 CLAY TRIPLE-LINES Cyclophora linearia National Status: Locally common in Beech woods in southern Britain. Flying from late May to early July, although a partial second generation is sometimes seen in late Summer. County Status: Once scarce but seems to be increasing, though still very local. Records prior to 2006: 18 Records ’96 to ’05: 13 Earliest date: 6th May (2002) 10km squares prior to 2006: 7

Number of records: 4 Earliest: 3rd July Latest: 25th July 10km squares: SN31, SN53, SN61 Notes: The status of this species has been steadily improving over the last few years, so it was a pity that just four records were made – twice in Carmarthen (SN3919), once in Brechfa (SN5232) and once at Glynhir Mansion (SN6315, BS). All were of singles.

1682 BLOOD-VEIN Timandra comae National Status: Common in a variety of habitats throughout southern Britain. Flying in two broods from May to September. County Status: Common. Records prior to 2006: 198 Records ’96 to ’05: 93 Earliest date: 19th May (1990) 10km squares prior to 2006: 20

Number of records: 33 Earliest: 10th June Latest: 26th August 10km squares: SN12, SN22, SN30, SN31, SN40, SN51, SN52, SN53, SN62, SN64, SN74, SS49 Notes: Seventeen of the records were from my garden in Carmarthen (SN3919) where it was far more frequent than in previous years. Elsewhere a typical scatter of singles and twos from a wide range of sites and habitats.

1689 MULLEIN WAVE Scopula marginepunctata National Status: Local and mainly coastal. Flying in two broods from June to September. County Status: Only recorded once. Category A2. Records prior to 2006: 1 Records ’96 to ’05: None. Earliest date: 21st August (1991) 10km squares prior to 2006: 1

Number of records: NOT RECORDED Earliest: - Latest: - 10km squares: - Notes: Last recorded, indeed the only record was in August 1991.

1690 SMALL BLOOD-VEIN Scopula imitaria National Status: Has a southerly distribution but relatively widespread in open ground and sand-hills. Flying in July and August. County Status: Scarce and local. Records prior to 2006: 30 Records ’96 to ’05: 24 Earliest date: 13th June (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 8

Number of records: 10 Earliest: 17th June Latest: 17th September 10km squares: SN30, SS49 Notes: One to three on ten dates, all from the Pembrey area, which is the best known site for this species. Three records were in September, a good month after the summer brood had finished, and were highly likely to be individuals of a second brood.

19 1691 ROSY WAVE Scopula emutaria National Status: Nationally Scarce B. Local and almost exclusively coastal in southern Britain. Flying in June and July. County Status: Rare and confined to coastal areas in south-eastern Carmarthenshire. Records prior to 2006: 13 Records ’96 to ’05: 6 Earliest date: 6th June (2004) 10km squares prior to 2006: 2

Number of records: 1 Earliest: 24th June Latest: - 10km squares: SS49 Notes: A single netted at Pembrey Saltings (SS4299, SDSB, JSB) on 24th June. This is a very scarce and local species in the county, and any records away from the south–eastern coast need full verification for acceptance.

1692 LESSER CREAM WAVE Scopula immutata National Status: Widespread but local. Flying from late June to early August. County Status: Uncommon and local. Records prior to 2006: 44 Records ’96 to ’05: 31 Earliest date: 27th June (1970) 10km squares prior to 2006: 12

Number of records: 6 Earliest: 3rd July Latest: 28th July 10km squares: SN30, SN32, SN51, SN53 Notes: Three at Gelli Aur CP (SN5919) on the inaugural field outing of the moth group was the only count above singles. Other records were from a scattering of sites.

1693 CREAM WAVE Scopula floslactata National Status: Widespread and common. Flying in May and June. County Status: Common. Records prior to 2006: 91 Records ’96 to ’05: 53 Earliest date: 16th April (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 16

Number of records: 10 Earliest: 3rd May Latest: 10th June 10km squares: SN22, SN30, SN32, SN51, SN73 Notes: Noticeably scarcer than usual. Six at Pembrey Forest on 3rd June, but otherwise just ones and twos scattered about.

1694 SMOKY WAVE Scopula ternata National Status: Local in northern and western Britain. Flying in June and July. County Status: Scarce and restricted to the north-eastern uplands. Category A2. Records prior to 2006: 8 Records ’96 to ’05: None. Earliest date: 14th June (1992) 10km squares prior to 2006: 2

Number of records: 1 Earliest: 30th June Latest: - 10km squares: SN74 Notes: Recorded at Rhydygroes (SN7747), though no details or photo supplied (GL). Due to the difficulty of this group and the scarcity of this species, I would please ask for photographic proof on all records submitted.

20 1702 SMALL FAN-FOOTED WAVE Idaea biselata National Status: Common and widespread in all habitats. Flying from late June to mid-August. County Status: Common. Records prior to 2006: 246 Records ’96 to ’05: 139 Earliest date: 27th June (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 25

Number of records: 31 Earliest: 6th July Latest: 7th October 10km squares: SN12, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN52, SN53, SN61, SS49 Notes: Highest count was 25 at Pembrey Forest on 7th August. Seemed moderately common as usual. Two records in late September and one in October would indicate a partial and unusual second brood.

1708 SINGLE-DOTTED WAVE Idaea dimidiata National Status: Common and widespread, though less so in Scotland. Flying from late June to early August. County Status: Common. Records prior to 2006: 114 Records ’96 to ’05: 74 Earliest date: 10th June (1990) 10km squares prior to 2006: 16

Number of records: 12 Earliest: 3rd July Latest: 10th September 10km squares: SN30, SN31, SN40, SN51, SN52, SS49 Notes: A maximum of five at Pembrey on 15th July. This species is never as numerous as I. biselata. The individual on 10th September in my garden trap in Carmarthen seemed likely to be an unusual 2nd brood.

1709 SATIN WAVE Idaea subsericeata National Status: Rather local especially in Wales. Double-brooded and flying between June and early September. County Status: Rare Records prior to 2006: 8 confirmed (all Pembrey), plus 5 “Rothamsted” records under review. Records ’96 to ’05: 9 Earliest date: 24th May (2004) 10km squares prior to 2006: 2

Number of records: NOT RECORDED Earliest: - Latest: - 10km squares: - Notes: Last recorded in June 2005. Strangely absent from Pembrey this year, given that it was quite numerous there last year.

1713 RIBAND WAVE Idaea aversata National Status: Common and widespread. Mainly single-brooded between June and August, but sometimes a second brood in September. County Status: Very common. Records prior to 2006: 400 Records ’96 to ’05: 228 Earliest date: 30th May (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 24

Number of records: 37 Earliest: 22nd June Latest: 17th September 10km squares: SN12, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN51, SN52, SN53, SN54, SN61, SN63, SS49 Notes: All counts fell in the range one to ten. With the penultimate sighting being in mid-July, the final one on 17th September in Pembrey Forest, is likely to have been a 2nd brood individual. 37 records is somewhat disappointing.

21 1716 VESTAL Rhodometra sacraria National Status: A migrant from in varying numbers, mainly to coastal Southern Britain. County Status: A moderately scarce migrant. Records prior to 2006: 28 Records ’96 to ’05: 11 Earliest date: 4th August (1994) 10km squares prior to 2006: 10

Number of records: 23 Earliest: 23rd July Latest: 29th October 10km squares: SN20 (1), SN31 (6), SN32 (1), SN40 (7), SN53 (4), SN64 (1), SS49 (3) Notes: Rewriting the record books in its best year so far. Full dates are available in the monthly bulletins. Highest count was the five at Llansteffan Castle on 5th September.

1718 OBLIQUE STRIPED Phibalapteryx virgata National Status: Nationally Scarce B. Local in southern Britain. Flying from May to June and again in August. County Status: Rare, and only recorded at Pembrey Burrows. Records prior to 2006: 8 Records ’96 to ’05: 6 Earliest date: 20th May (1987) 10km squares prior to 2006: 2

Number of records: 7 Earliest: 1st July Latest: 5th September 10km squares: SS49 Notes: All records from the established sole colony in VC44 at Pembrey Burrows (SS4199/SS4299). It can be easily found at dusk there.

1719 OBLIQUE CARPET Orthonama vittata National Status: A local but widespread species throughout Britain. Flies in May and June, then again in August and September. County Status: Widespread though somewhat uncommon across the county. Records prior to 2006: 76 Records ’96 to ’05: 30 Earliest date: 20th May (1995) 10km squares prior to 2006: 19

Number of records: 7 Earliest: 10th June Latest: 25th August 10km squares: SN22, SN31, SN53, SS59 Notes: Ones and twos seen at a scattering of sites, often associated with damp meadows.

1720 GEM Orthonama obstipata National Status: Migrant, predominantly to southern Britain. Has been seen from April to November. County Status: A scarce migrant. Records prior to 2006: 19 Records ’96 to ’05: 12 Earliest date: 18th April (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 9

Number of records: 3 Earliest: 25th July Latest: 29th October 10km squares: SN31 (2), SN61 (1) Notes: Singles at Glynhir Mansion (SN3615, BS), Carmarthen (SN3919) and Llansteffan (SN3510). Not as spectacular a series of records as other migrants, but still a good showing of what is a rare species for us.

22 1722 FLAME CARPET Xanthorhoe designata National Status: Widespread and common across Britain. Flying in May and June and again in August. County Status: Common. Records prior to 2006: 275 Records ’96 to ’05: 169 Earliest date: 21st April (2002) 10km squares prior to 2006: 23

Number of records: 32 Earliest: 7th May Latest: 6th September 10km squares: SN12, SN22, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN51, SN52, SN53, SN61, SN62, SS49 Notes: High count was four, but more typically just singles seen at all sites as expected.

1724 RED TWIN-SPOT CARPET Xanthorhoe spadicearia National Status: Generally common throughout Britain, flying in two broods between May and August. County Status: Common. Records prior to 2006: 189 Records ’96 to ’05: 123 Earliest date: 14th April (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 19

Number of records: 28 Earliest: 4th May Latest: 6th September 10km squares: SN12, SN22, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN52, SN53, SN54, SS49 Notes: Mainly single figure counts with the bulk of the records coming from Pembrey, as is typical. Small numbers reported from a variety of habitats elsewhere.

1725 DARK-BARRED TWIN-SPOT CARPET Xanthorhoe ferrugata National Status: Relatively common and widespread, flying in two broods between May and August. County Status: Slightly unclear, as identification errors have been made with X. spadicearia. Probably less common than records indicate, but still relatively widespread especially coastally and in uplands. Records prior to 2006: 150 Records ’96 to ’05: 85 Earliest date: 20th April (2002) 10km squares prior to 2006: 18

Number of records: 18 Earliest: 3rd May Latest: 7th August 10km squares: SN30, SN31, SN51, SN52, SN53, SN61, SN63, SS49, SS59 Notes: Half the records came from Pembrey, where it was less common than spadicearia.

1727 SILVER-GROUND CARPET Xanthorhoe montanata National Status: Very common and widespread. Flying from May to July. County Status: Common across the county. Records prior to 2006: 373 Records ’96 to ’05: 192 Earliest date: 2nd May (2002) 10km squares prior to 2006: 28

Number of records: 28 Earliest: 2nd June Latest: 7th July 10km squares: SN12, SN22, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN52, SN53, SN54, SN74, SS49 Notes: A comparatively poor number of records of what can often be a ubiquitous species in the right habitat. This may be an anomaly thrown up by observer coverage rather than indicative of a decline.

23 1728 GARDEN CARPET Xanthorhoe fluctuata National Status: Common throughout. Up to three overlapping broods between April and October. County Status: Common. Records prior to 2006: 298 Records ’96 to ’05: 158 Earliest date: 27th April (1999) 10km squares prior to 2006: 20

Number of records: 38 Earliest: 9th May Latest: 17th October 10km squares: SN22, SN31, SN32, SN51, SN53, SN64, SS49 Notes: One record of four, but otherwise all of ones and twos. A couple of late individuals showing a probable third brood.

1732 SHADED BROAD-BAR Scotopteryx chenopodiata National Status: Widespread and fairly common in grassy areas. Flying in July and August. County Status: Local, but moderately common. Records prior to 2006: 104 Records ’96 to ’05: 63 Earliest date: 21st June (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 15

Number of records: 14 Earliest: 24th June Latest: 26th August 10km squares: SN30, SN31, SS49 Notes: Ten records were from Pembrey, and three more from other coastal sites. An inland record was of one at Green Castle Woods south of Carmarthen (SN3916) on 23rd July.

1733 LEAD BELLE Scotopteryx mucronata National Status: Local with a northern and western distribution. Flying in May and June. County Status: Scarce and local. Records prior to 2006: 30 (only 2 of which are not Rothamsted records) Records ’96 to ’05: 3 (only 1 of which was not Rothamsted) Earliest date: 25th May (2004) 10km squares prior to 2006: 3

Number of records: 1 Earliest: 13th June Latest: - 10km squares: SN53 Notes: With just three records in the previous ten years, this species is indeed a rare sight, and may be in trouble. There are bound to be undiscovered colonies, and hopefully we can find a couple in the near future. This year’s single record came from Mynydd Llanllwni (SN507389) on 13th June (ML, JW). Two were seen in 2004 at Mynydd Moelfre (SN3334), so that may be a site worth visiting again.

1734 JULY BELLE Scotopteryx luridata National Status: Locally common throughout Britain. Flying from June to August. County Status: Moderately scarce and local. Records prior to 2006: 46 (of which only 8 are not Rothamsted) Records ’96 to ’05: 8 (of which 4 are not Rothamsted) Earliest date: 17th June (2004) 10km squares prior to 2006: 5

Number of records: 2 (though one not supported) Earliest: 13th June (provisional) Latest: 1st July 10km squares: SN53, SN74 Notes: No details attached to the June 13th Record from Centeneray, north of Nant-y-Bai (SN7645, G Lyons) and therefore it must remain provisional. One at Rhydcymerau (SN5739, ML) on 1st July. Not quite as scarce as Lead Belle, but not far off it.

24 1737 SMALL ARGENT & SABLE Epirrhoe tristata National Status: Locally common in upland areas in the north and west of Britain. Flies from May to July. County Status: Very local, and under-recorded. Common where it is found. Records prior to 2006: 20 Records ’96 to ’05: 9 Earliest date: 19th June (2005) 10km squares prior to 2006: 5

Number of records: 2 Earliest: 27th June Latest: 3rd July 10km squares: SN31, SN53 Notes: Found very commonly by day on roadside verges around Mynydd Llanybydder (eg SN5439) on 27th June, wherever the foodplant (heath bedstraw Galium saxatile) occurs. A more atypical record on 3rd July when one turned up in my garden trap in Carmarthen (SN3919) on a strange night, along with other upland species – on a north easterly breeze.

1738 COMMON CARPET Epirrhoe alternata National Status: Widespread and Common. Flies in May and June and then again in August and September. County Status: Abundant and widespread. Records prior to 2006: 432 Records ’96 to ’05: 265 Earliest date: 15th April (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 28

Number of records: 54 Earliest: 10th May Latest: 4th September 10km squares: SN12, SN21, SN22, SN30, SN31, SN40, SN51, SN52, SN53, SN54, SN61, SN62, SN64, SS49 Notes: A typical scattering of records. Never more than five seen.

1739 WOOD CARPET Epirrhoe rivata National Status: Widespread but local in Southern Britain. Very local further north. Flying from mid-June to early August. County Status: Extremely scarce, possibly under-recorded. Records prior to 2006: 16 Records ’96 to ’05: 11 Earliest date: 6th June (2004) 10km squares prior to 2006: 5

Number of records: 6 Earliest: 19th June Latest: 23rd August 10km squares: SN30, SS49 Notes: Ones and twos seen at Pembrey Burrows and Forest on 6 dates. All records from elsewhere require a clear photo for acceptance.

1740 GALIUM CARPET Epirrhoe galiata National Status: Local, with a coastal and upland distribution. Flies in two generations from May to August. County Status: Scarce and under-recorded, with 39 of the 46 records coming from SN74 Rothamsted traps. Records prior to 2006: 46 Records ’96 to ’05: 11 Earliest date: 9th June (1970) 10km squares prior to 2006: 4

Number of records: 5 Earliest: 6th July Latest: 18th August 10km squares: SN53, SN54 Notes: Ones and twos seen on higher ground in central Carms. This species is bound to be more numerous in upland grassland, but at present it remains a rarely seen species.

25 1742 YELLOW SHELL Camptogramma bilineata National Status: Common and widespread throughout Britain. Flying between June and August. County Status: Relatively abundant. Records prior to 2006: 187 Records ’96 to ’05: 124 Earliest date: 29th May (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 21

Number of records: 33 Earliest: 1st June Latest: 11th September 10km squares: SN12, SN22, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN53, SN62, SS49 Notes: This is a species which in relative terms only comes to light in small numbers – highlighted on 24th June at Pembrey Burrows where only a couple came to the lights, while it was estimated a minimum 300 could be seen feeding at nearby nectar sources. Several counts in three figures were made away from traps at Pembrey. Small numbers carried on into September – a very late date.

1744 GREY MOUNTAIN CARPET Entephria caesiata National Status: Mainly northern Britain, though more scattered in upland western areas. Flying from June to August in the south. Later in Scotland. County Status: Local, and only found in extreme uplands. Probably becoming increasingly rare due to habitat erosion in upland crags from overgrazing. Records prior to 2006: 5 Records ’96 to ’05: 2 Earliest date: 3rd July (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 2

Number of records: NOT RECORDED Earliest: - Latest: - 10km squares: - Notes: Last recorded in July 2003 at Llyn y Fan Fach.

1745 MALLOW Larentia clavaria National Status: Common in England but local elsewhere. Flies from September to November. County Status: Extremely rare. Neither record well documented and there must remain some doubt. Category A2. Records prior to 2006: 2 Records ’96 to ’05: 1 Earliest date: both records on file are undated except by year. 10km squares prior to 2006: 2

Number of records: NOT RECORDED Earliest: - Latest: - 10km squares: - Notes: Last reported in 2002. Any future records of this species require full photographic proof and details.

1746 SHOULDER STRIPE Anticlea badiata National Status: Common and Widespread in England and Wales, less so in Scotland. Flying in March and April. County Status: Common and widespread. Records prior to 2006: 148 Records ’96 to ’05: 69 Earliest date: 5th February (1992) 10km squares prior to 2006: 18

Number of records: 11 Earliest: 2nd April Latest: 5th June 10km squares: SN12, SN30, SN40, SN52, SN53, SN54, SN74 Notes: A typical showing of singles, with a late one on June 5th (SN5343, ML) being slightly unusual.

26 1747 STREAMER Anticlea derivata National Status: Widespread and Common throughout Britain, flying in April and May. County Status: Moderately common and widespread. Records prior to 2006: 126 Records ’96 to ’05: 58 Earliest date: 25th March (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 16

Number of records: 7 Earliest: 19th April Latest: 4th May 10km squares: SN12, SN32, SN40, SN52, SN53, SN74 Notes: The high count was five at Nantgwyn (SN3623) on 26th April. Otherwise, numbers seemed a little lower than I would expect.

1748 BEAUTIFUL CARPET Mesoleuca albicillata National Status: A local and uncommon species found throughout Southern Britain. Flying in June and July. County Status: Locally frequent in a few favoured woodlands. Records prior to 2006: 88 Records ’96 to ’05: 43 Earliest date: 16th May (1988) 10km squares prior to 2006: 15

Number of records: 7 Earliest: 17th June Latest: 24th July 10km squares: SN30, SN32, SN53, SN64 Notes: Records were of singles except for four at Nantgwyn (SN3623) on 23rd June. Less records than expected.

1749 DARK SPINACH Pelurga comitata National Status: Widespread and locally common, on waste-ground and other open habitats. Flying in July and August. County Status: Very scarce, with all records from the SE coastal area. Records prior to 2006: 4 Records ’96 to ’05: 2 Earliest date: 20th July (1993) 10km squares prior to 2006: 2

Number of records: NOT RECORDED. Earliest: - Latest: - 10km squares: - Notes: Last recorded in July 2002.

1750 WATER CARPET Lampropteryx suffumata National Status: Widespread and common throughout Britain. Flying from late March to May. County Status: Widespread and common across the county. Records prior to 2006: 180 Records ’96 to ’05: 113 Earliest date: 13th March (1993) 10km squares prior to 2006: 22

Number of records: 26 Earliest: 24th April Latest: 13th June 10km squares: SN12, SN22, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN52, SN53, SN63, SN74 Notes: A notably late start to its season and no big counts. May be going through a dip in fortunes.

27 1751 DEVON CARPET Lampropteryx otregiata National Status: Nationally Scarce B. A local species of damp woodlands mainly confined to south-west Britain. Double-brooded, flying in May and June and again in August. County Status: Locally common in suitable woodland. Records prior to 2006: 123 Records ’96 to ’05: 78 Earliest date: 21st April (2002) 10km squares prior to 2006: 17

Number of records: 11 Earliest: 14th May Latest: 23rd September 10km squares: SN21, SN22, SN32, SN52, SN53, SN54 Notes: Seems to be considerably scarcer than it was a few years ago, but still occurring at a range of sites across the county. A late individual at Rhydcymerau (SN5739, ML) on 23rd September was unexpected.

1752 PURPLE BAR Cosmorhoe ocellata National Status: Common in a wide range of habitats throughout Britain. Double-brooded in the south, flying from May to early July and again in late August. County Status: Common. Records prior to 2006: 231 Records ’96 to ’05: 77 Earliest date: 10th May (2006) 10km squares prior to 2006: 19

Number of records: 39 Earliest: 10th May Latest: 23rd September 10km squares: SN12, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN53, SN54, SN74, SS49 Notes: There were some relatively large counts at Pembrey Burrows (a maximum of 18), but more typically single figures at most regular traps across the county. Ten records from September are indicative of a protracted late season.

1753 STRIPED TWIN-SPOT CARPET Nebula salicata National Status: Common in the north, less so in western uplands. Flying from May to July, occasionally again later. County Status: Extremely local and under-recorded. Just 2 of the 164 records are not from the SN74 Rothamsted traps, and 138 of the SN74 records come from the period 1970 to 1975. Records prior to 2006: 164 Records ’96 to ’05: 7 Earliest date: 4th May (1972) 10km squares prior to 2006: 3 (SN71, SN74, SN82)

Number of records: NOT RECORDED. Earliest: - Latest: - 10km squares: - Notes: Last recorded in May 2004.

1754 PHOENIX Eulithis prunata National Status: Widespread but local and not abundant, across most of Britain. Flying in July and August. County Status: Recorded at most sites in small numbers. Records prior to 2006: 110 Records ’96 to ’05: 63 Earliest date: 28th June (2004) 10km squares prior to 2006: 15

Number of records: 10 Earliest: 5th July Latest: 8th August 10km squares: SN12, SN31, SN32, SN51, SN53 Notes: Five of the records were from my garden in Carmarthen (SN3919). Nine of the records were, as is typical of this species, of singles, the exception being 10 to MV at Nantgwyn (SN3623) on 28th July.

28 1755 CHEVRON Eulithis testata National Status: Generally distributed and moderately common in more open habitats across Britain. Flying in July and August. County Status: Recorded from across the county, although commoner in the uplands. Records prior to 2006: 121 Records ’96 to ’05: 38 Earliest date: 6th July (1995) 10km squares prior to 2006: 17

Number of records: 7 Earliest: 22nd July Latest: 23rd September 10km squares: SN30, SN53, SN54 Notes: Small numbers seen at Pembrey and Brechfa areas, but not from elsewhere. A scarce species and local.

1756 NORTHERN SPINACH Eulithis populata National Status: Has a northern and western distribution and is fairly common in suitable habitats where bilberry grows. Flies from late June to August. County Status: Local, but very common where it does occur. Records prior to 2006: 137 Records ’96 to ’05: 51 Earliest date: 29th May (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 13

Number of records: 10 Earliest: 28th June Latest: 25th July 10km squares: SN51, SN53, SN54, SN61, SN74 Notes: The moderately few records is partly a reflection of the fact that little trapping was done at a broad range of sites where this species occurs. It is actually very common still in the right habitat, as shown by the 88 caught by ML on 7th July at Llwyndrissi Forest (SN5641).

1757 SPINACH Eulithis mellinata National Status: Moderately widespread and common, though decreasing. Flies from June to August. County Status: All records pended and under review. Photos or specimens required for future acceptance. Category B (pended). Records prior to 2006: 17. All currently pended. Records ’96 to ’05: 3 Earliest date: 14th June (1997) Record pended. 10km squares prior to 2006: 8, though all pended.

Number of records: NOT RECORDED Earliest: - Latest: - 10km squares: - Notes: Last reported in June 2004, but as with all records, pended.

1758 BARRED STRAW Eulithis pyraliata National Status: Widespread and moderately common. Flying from mid-June to early August. County Status: Relatively common. Records prior to 2006: 193 Records ’96 to ’05: 67 Earliest date: 14th June (1997) 10km squares prior to 2006: 23

Number of records: 18 Earliest: 17th June Latest: 21st July 10km squares: SN12, SN22, SN30, SN31, SN51, SN52, SN54, SN63, SN64, SS49 Notes: Single figure counts from a wide range of sites and habitats is typical of this species.

29 1759 SMALL PHOENIX Eclipotera silaceata National Status: Common and widespread across England and Wales. Less so in Scotland. Double-brooded, flying in May and June and again in late July and August. County Status: Common across the county. Records prior to 2006: 503 Records ’96 to ’05: 313 Earliest date: 14th April (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 28

Number of records: 55 Earliest: 26th April Latest: 2nd September 10km squares: SN12, SN22, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN51, SN52, SN53, SN54, SN61, SN62, SN63, SN74, SS49 Notes: One of our commonest geometers, though seemingly going through a slightly rough patch. A few years ago I was catching dozens of these a night, but there were no counts above 15 this year. Still, no cause for concern.

1760 RED-GREEN CARPET National Status: A local species of woodland across Britain. Flying in September and October before hibernating and re-appearing in April and May. County Status: Recorded from only a small number of sites, but probably under-recorded. Records prior to 2006: 68 Records ’96 to ’05: 36 Earliest date: 16th September (2000) 10km squares prior to 2006: 7

Number of records: 22 Earliest in Spring: 22nd April. In Autumn: 23rd September. Latest: 12th November 10km squares: SN20, SN31, SN32, SN42, SN52, SN53, SN73, SN74 Notes: Twenty-two records compares very well to thirty-six priors in the last decade, so this species does seem to be currently going through a sharp increase. No big numbers, but diverse habitats. Latest in Spring was 8th June, which was notably late, and still in mint condition.

1761 AUTUMN GREEN CARPET Chloroclysta miata National Status: Widespread, but more common in the north. Flying from September and hibernating through the winter, re-emerging from March to May. County Status: All records pended and under-review. Category B (pended). Records prior to 2006: 32 claimed records from various Rothamsted traps – some known to be highly suspect data sets, yet none seen alive anywhere, and none validated by a county recorder. Records ’96 to ’05: 4 Earliest date: All records are dated only to year. 10km squares prior to 2006: 3

Number of records: NOT RECORDED Earliest: - Latest: - 10km squares: - Notes: No reliable records yet on the county database.

1762 DARK MARBLED CARPET Chloroclysta citrata National Status: Locally widespread across Britain. Single-brooded, flying in July and August. County Status: Widespread but infrequent. Perhaps under-recorded. Records prior to 2006: 99 Records ’96 to ’05: 57 Earliest date: 6th July (2000) 10km squares prior to 2006: 11

Number of records: 10 Earliest: 21st July Latest: 7th September 10km squares: SN31, SN32, SN40, SN53, SN54 Notes: Apart from 15 at Nantgwyn (SN3623) on 28th July, all records were of very small numbers or singles.

30 1764 COMMON MARBLED CARPET Chloroclysta truncata National Status: Very common in all habitats across Britain. Double-brooded, flying in May and June and then again from August to early November. County Status: Abundant in woodlands across the county. Records prior to 2006: 481 Records ’96 to ’05: 301 Earliest date: 4th May (2002) 10km squares prior to 2006: 23

Number of records: 121 Earliest: 23rd May Latest: 29th October 10km squares: SN10, SN12, SN20, SN22, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN42, SN51, SN52, SN53, SN54, SN62, SN74, SS49 Notes: As per usual, very common and very widespread. Often recorded in big numbers.

1765 BARRED YELLOW Cidaria fulvata National Status: Locally widespread across Britain. Flying in June and July. County Status: Relatively uncommon. Records prior to 2006: 98 Records ’96 to ’05: 33 Earliest date: 9th June (1993) 10km squares prior to 2006: 16

Number of records: 9 Earliest: 24th June Latest: 15th July 10km squares: SN30, SN31, SN51, SS49 Notes: An amazing 30 came to MV at Pembrey Forest (SN3803) on 3rd July. Otherwise all records were more typical, in the 1 to 5 range.

1766 BLUE-BORDERED CARPET Plemyria rubiginata National Status: Widespread and locally common across Britain. Flying from late June to early August. County Status: On the whole scarce and never abundant. Records prior to 2006: 55 Records ’96 to ’05: 19 Earliest date: 9th July (1992) 10km squares prior to 2006: 14

Number of records: 1 Earliest: 25th July Latest: 25th July 10km squares: SN61 Notes: The only record was of a single to MV at Glynhir Mansion (BS). Never commonly found, this is still a bit disappointing.

1767 PINE CARPET Thera firmata National Status: Common and widespread across Britain. Single-brooded flying from August to November. County Status: Very local, though seems to be increasing. Records prior to 2006: 8 Records ’96 to ’05: 5 Earliest date: 30th September (1995) 10km squares prior to 2006: 3

Number of records: 8 Earliest: 22nd September Latest: 29th October 10km squares: SN31, SN40, SN53 Notes: By far its best year on record, and now seems to be spreading across the county. Recorded from Pembrey (as in previous years) but now also at Llansteffan and Rhydcymerau. Highest count was 10 at SN4001 Pembrey Forest on 25th September.

31 1768 GREY PINE CARPET Thera obeliscata National Status: Common and widespread across Britain. Double-brooded flying from late May to mid-July and then again in September and October. County Status: Assumedly relatively common in areas with extensive coniferous woodland. But under-recorded. Records prior to 2006: 90 Records ’96 to ’05: 37 Earliest date: 6th May (2002) 10km squares prior to 2006: 13

Number of records: 10 Earliest: 25th May Latest: 9th October 10km squares: SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN51, SN53 Notes: Not many records of what seems to be either a very under-recorded or maybe “not as common as thought” species. No more than 5 seen, and most records were from Pembrey. Can be a difficult species for non-experts to differentiate from Spruce Carpet, which is commoner.

1769 SPRUCE CARPET Thera britannica National Status: Widespread and locally common in Conifer plantations across Britain. Double-brooded, flying from May to early July and again in September and October. County Status: Relatively common across the county. Records prior to 2006: 124 Records ’96 to ’05: 85 Earliest date: 12th April (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 21

Number of records: 44 Earliest: 6th May Latest: 12th November 10km squares: SN12, SN22, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN42, SN51, SN53, SN54, SN61, SN62, SN74, SS49 Notes: Single figure counts from a very wide range of sites across the county.

1773 BROKEN-BARRED CARPET Electrophaes corylata National Status: Widespread and moderately common through Britain. Flying in May and June. County Status: Relatively common at a wide range of sites. Records prior to 2006: 133 Records ’96 to ’05: 69 Earliest date: 15th April (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 18

Number of records: 14 Earliest: 10th May Latest: 3rd July 10km squares: SN12, SN22, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN52, SN53, SN54 Notes: Most records were of singles, but a couple of fives were recorded. Never abundant at light.

1774 BEECH-GREEN CARPET Colostygia olivata National Status: Local, and most frequent in northern Britain. Flying in July and August. County Status: Extremely rare. Twice recorded in SN74. Once to MV and one Rothamsted record. Category A2. Records prior to 2006: 2 Records ’96 to ’05: 1 Earliest date: 30th July (1984) 10km squares prior to 2006: 1

Number of records: NOT RECORDED Earliest: - Latest: - 10km squares: - Notes: Last reported in 2000 from SN74 via Rothamsted (unverified record).

32 1775 MOTTLED GREY Colostygia multistrigaria National Status: Widespread and locally common throughout Britain. Flying in March and April. County Status: Local. Records prior to 2006: 106 Records ’96 to ’05: 16 Earliest date: 11th March (1971) 10km squares prior to 2006: 10

Number of records: 7 Earliest: 28th March Latest: 3rd May 10km squares: SN53, SN74 Notes: Only recorded at a couple of upland sites. Highest count was 5 at Dinas RSPB reserve on 25th April (GL).

1776 GREEN CARPET Colostygia pectinataria National Status: Widespread and common throughout Britain. Flying from late May to early July and again in late Summer. County Status: Abundant and widespread. Records prior to 2006: 384 Records ’96 to ’05: 191 Earliest date: 20th April (2002) 10km squares prior to 2006: 27

Number of records: 65 Earliest: 10th May Latest: 7th October 10km squares: SN10, SN12, SN20, SN22, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN41, SN51, SN52, SN53, SN54, SN62, SN63, SN74, SS49 Notes: One of our commonest moths and found at all sites, but perhaps some slight indication that numbers were down this year as there were no “big” counts submitted. Highest count was 30 on 3rd June in Pembrey Forest. Such fluctuations are likely in the populations of even our commonest species.

1777 JULY HIGHFLYER furcata National Status: Widespread and very common throughout Britain. Flying from June to August. County Status: Abundant and widespread. Records prior to 2006: 449 Records ’96 to ’05: 214 Earliest date: 13th June (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 25

Number of records: 27 Earliest: 28th June Latest: 23rd September 10km squares: SN12, SN20, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN51, SN52, SN53, SN54, SN74, SS49 Notes: Given that this is a contender for commonest geometer in the county, there were a very low number of records in comparison to other species – and though there were a couple of large counts, this species too might be undergoing a temporary dip in numbers.

1778 MAY HIGHFLYER Hydriomena impluviata National Status: Widespread but local throughout Britain. Flying from late May to early July. County Status: Local. Recorded from a relatively small number of sites. Records prior to 2006: 97 Records ’96 to ’05: 40 Earliest date: 7th May (1995) 10km squares prior to 2006: 16

Number of records: 14 Earliest: 14th May Latest: 13th June 10km squares: SN12, SN22, SN31, SN32, SN52, SN53, SN54, SN63, SN74 Notes: With a running average of 4 records annually in the last decade, these 14 records are a healthy improvement – especially given that they came from such a broad range of sites.

33 1779 RUDDY HIGHFLYER National Status: Locally widespread in the north, scarce in South Wales and southwest England. Flying in May and June. County Status: Extremely scarce, with only a few substantiated records. Records prior to 2006: 10 Records ’96 to ’05: 9 Earliest date: 24th April (2005) 10km squares prior to 2006: 3 plus 3 Rothamsted.

Number of records: 1 Earliest: 16th May Latest: 16th May 10km squares: SN53 Notes: A rare species in the county and very local. So, good to have a photographically confirmed record this year from Rhydcymerau (SN5739) with four on 16th May (ML). All future records from new sites will also require photographic proof for acceptance.

1781 SMALL WAVED UMBER Horisme vitalbata National Status: Local to habitat where the foodplant grows in southern Britain. Double-brooded, flying in May and June and again in August. County Status: Scarce, due to restricted range of wild clematis. Records prior to 2006: 6 Records ’96 to ’05: 2 Earliest date: 21st May (1991) 10km squares prior to 2006: 5

Number of records: 1 Earliest: 23rd July Latest: 23rd July 10km squares: SS49 Notes: The tiny area of clematis in the dunes at Pembrey Burrows finally turned up a single of this species, attracted to light nearby. This species is very scarce in the county, as the foodplant is so restricted, although there is perhaps evidence that railways may actually harbour previously un-noticed populations.

1782 FERN Horisme tersata National Status: Local to habitat where the foodplant grows in southern Britain. Flying from June to August. County Status: Scarce, due to restricted range of wild clematis. Records prior to 2006: 6 Records ’96 to ’05: 3 Earliest date: 2nd June (1974) 10km squares prior to 2006: 5

Number of records: 1 Earliest: 24th June Latest: 24th June 10km squares: SS49 Notes: As with its close relative above, this species is very localized in the county, but the same little patch of clematis turned one up on 24th June – a new species for the Pembrey list. Netted at dusk. . 1784 PRETTY CHALK CARPET Melanthia procellata National Status: Relatively common throughout southern Britain, where the foodplant grows. Flying from late June to early August. County Status: Scarce, due to restricted range of wild clematis. Records prior to 2006: 8 Records ’96 to ’05: 3 Earliest date: 7th June (2004) 10km squares prior to 2006: 6

Number of records: NOT RECORDED Earliest: - Latest: - 10km squares: - Notes: Last recorded in June 2004

34 1789 SCALLOP SHELL Rheumaptera undulata National Status: Locally widespread as far north as southern Scotland. Flying in June and July. County Status: Fairly local but not too uncommon where it occurs. Records prior to 2006: 74 Records ’96 to ’05: 44 Earliest date: 24th June (2006) 10km squares prior to 2006: 13

Number of records: 4 Earliest: 24th June Latest: 24th July 10km squares: SN30, SN31, SN53 Notes: A very poor showing, below the annual average even with the massively increased recording this year. Disappointing.

1790 TISSUE Triphosa dubitata National Status: Local, mainly in southern Britain. Flies from August to October before hibernating and reappearing in April and May. County Status: Extremely scarce and under-recorded. Just one record that isn’t from SN74 Rothamsted. Category A2. Records prior to 2006: 18 Records ’96 to ’05: 1 Earliest date: 2nd August (1970 and 1973) 10km squares prior to 2006: 2

Number of records: NOT RECORDED Earliest: - Latest: - 10km squares: - Notes: The only non-Rothamsted record was in August 1995.

1794 SHARP-ANGLED CARPET Euphyia unangulata National Status: Local in southern Britain, becoming scarce further north. Flies from June to August. County Status: Very local, mainly in upland wooded areas. Records prior to 2006: 41 Records ’96 to ’05: 28 Earliest date: 5th June (2000) 10km squares prior to 2006: 7

Number of records: 2 Earliest: 7th July Latest: 9th July 10km squares: SN12, SN31 Notes: Another species which was very noticeably scarce this year, well below the expected numbers. It is however very local, and the lack of records may in part be due to a lack of recording in the right place at the right time. Singles at Penrhiw (SN1924) on 7th July (Melanie Collier) and Carmarthen (SN3919) on 9th July.

1795a agg. Epirrita sp The four species that make up this group are a complex problem, with examination of genitalia often the only way to prove to species level. Historically there is no evidence that observers have carried out this verification process, so most of the records on the database must be considered with caution. The table below shows the number of records on the county database, how many of those are from Rothamsted, how many from other sources and finally, how many are known to have been confirmed through genitalia determination.

No. Scientific Name: English Name: Records: R'sted Non-R Gen D 1795 Epirrita dilutata November Moth 86 68 18 5 1796 Epirrita christyi 53 44 9 2 1797 Epirrita autumnata Autumnal Moth 41 38 3 1 1798 Epirrita filigrammaria Small Autumnal Moth 3 3 0 0 179- Epirrita sp, unspecifiied November Moth agg. 52 40 12 n/a

35 1795 NOVEMBER MOTH Epirrita dilutata National Status: Widespread and common. Flying in October and November. County Status: Common Records prior to 2006: 86 (plus 52 November Moth agg.) Records ’96 to ’05: 21 (plus 16) Earliest date: 20th September (1971) 10km squares prior to 2006: 13

Number of records: 7 (+18 Epirrita sp.) Earliest: 7th October (gen det) Latest: - 10km squares: SN20, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN52 (+ SN40, SN41, SN51, SN53) Notes: Several confirmed by dissection, with others being clearly marked individuals.

1796 PALE NOVEMBER MOTH Epirrita christyi National Status: Widespread and common. Flying from September to November. County Status: Seemingly quite uncommon. Records prior to 2006: 53 (plus 52 November Moth agg.) Records ’96 to ’05: 11 (plus 16) Earliest date: 14th October (1995) 10km squares prior to 2006: 8

Number of records: 2 Earliest: 14th October (gen det) Latest: 18th October (gen det) 10km squares: SN20, SN31 Notes: I confirmed two specimens through dissection from Morfa Bychan and Llansteffan headland.

1797 AUTUMNAL MOTH Epirrita autumnata National Status: Widespread and locally common. Flying in September and October. County Status: Seemingly scarce. Records prior to 2006: 41 (plus 52 November Moth agg.) Records ’96 to ’05: 6 (plus 16) Earliest date: 16th October (1993) 10km squares prior to 2006: 4

Number of records: 2 Earliest: 16th October Latest: 12th November 10km squares: SN53 Notes: There were two claims of this species from Rhydcymerau (ML and JW), although neither were confirmed with dissection.

1798 SMALL AUTUMNAL MOTH Epirrita filigrammaria National Status: Widespread and common. Flying in October and November. County Status: Rare. All records unverified and without detail. From Rothamsted trap at Rhandirmwyn. Category A2. Records prior to 2006: 3 Records ’96 to ’05: 1 Earliest date: No date attached to any of the records. 10km squares prior to 2006: 1 (SN74)

Number of records: NOT RECORDED. Earliest: - Latest: - 10km squares: - Notes: Last reported in 1996 from SN74 via Rothamsted (unverified record).

36 1799 WINTER MOTH Operophtera brumata National Status: Widespread and very common. Flying from October to January. County Status: Widespread and common. Records prior to 2006: 157 Records ’96 to ’05: 53 Earliest date: 3rd November (1972) 10km squares prior to 2006: 18

Number of records: 9 Earliest in year: 2nd January In Autumn: 29th November Latest: 5th February 10km squares: SN12, SN32, SN53 Notes: Very few records, due to lack of recording at the time of year.

1800 NORTHERN WINTER MOTH Operophtera fagata National Status: Widespread and moderately common. Flying from October to December. County Status: Scarce and very under-recorded. Records prior to 2006: 28, of which 26 are Rothamsted and unverified. Records ’96 to ’05: 7 Earliest date: 23rd October (2000) 10km squares prior to 2006: 1, plus two Rothamsted.

Number of records: NOT RECORDED Earliest: - Latest: - 10km squares: - Notes: Larval record in 2001. Last/only non-Rothamsted adult record was October 2000.

1802 RIVULET Perizoma affinitata National Status: Widespread across Britain in open woodland and roadsides. Flying from late May to early July and then occasionally again in August. County Status: Common and widespread throughout the county. Records prior to 2006: 205 Records ’96 to ’05: 123 Earliest date: 5th May (1999) 10km squares prior to 2006: 18

Number of records: 15 Earliest: 4th June Latest: 14th August 10km squares: SN22, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN51, SN53 Notes: A comparatively poor year, with all records being of single figure counts. Eight being the highest.

1803 SMALL RIVULET Perizoma alchemillata National Status: Widespread and relatively common throughout Britain. Flying in June and July. County Status: Less common than the previous species, being fairly local in most areas of the county. Records prior to 2006: 109 Records ’96 to ’05: 66 Earliest date: 1st June (1998) 10km squares prior to 2006: 18

Number of records: 10 Earliest: 30th June Latest: 28th July 10km squares: SN12, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN51, SN53 Notes: Just ones and twos seen. Again, seemingly scarcer than normal.

37 1804 BARRED RIVULET Perizoma bifasciata National Status: Patchily distributed but locally common in the south. Flying in July and August. County Status: Half a dozen unsubstantiated records. The only confirmed records so far being from the Pembrey peninsula. Records prior to 2006: 6 confirmed and 7 unconfirmed Rothamsted records. Records ’96 to ’05: 9 Earliest date: 22nd July (2002) 10km squares prior to 2006: 3 plus 3 Rothamsted.

Number of records: NOT RECORDED Earliest: - Latest: - 10km squares: - Notes: Last recorded in August 2005.

1807 GRASS RIVULET National Status: Widespread and locally common throughout Britain. Flying from late May to early July. County Status: Fairly local and uncommon, although seemingly abundant where good areas of the foodplant occur. Records prior to 2006: 80 Records ’96 to ’05: 60 Earliest date: 12th May (2002) 10km squares prior to 2006: 8

Number of records: 14 Earliest: 25th May Latest: 26th July 10km squares: SN30, SS49 Notes: All records were from Pembrey, where it was perhaps slightly less common than it usually is. Still, relatively abundant on warm evenings in areas where yellow rattle is common.

1808 SANDY CARPET Perizoma flavofasciata National Status: Fairly common throughout much of Britain. Flying in June and July. County Status: Recorded from most studied sites in the county. Records prior to 2006: 121 Records ’96 to ’05: 63 Earliest date: 21st May (2001) 10km squares prior to 2006: 19

Number of records: 11 Earliest: 7th June Latest: 14th July 10km squares: SN12, SN22, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN51, SN52, SS49 Notes: Typical singles and twos from a wide range of sites.

1809 TWIN-SPOT CARPET Perizoma didymata National Status: Fairly common throughout much of Britain, though more local in southern and eastern England.. Flying from June and August. County Status: Local, though often common where it does occur. Records prior to 2006: 73 Records ’96 to ’05: 33 Earliest date: 5th June (1993) 10km squares prior to 2006: 10

Number of records: 2 Earliest: 7th July Latest: 28th July 10km squares: SN12, SN32 Notes: This species is very local in the county and can be missed if no recording is done at those sites where it does occur. The two records of singles are a poor showing indeed, but not cause for concern – yet.

38 1811 SLENDER PUG Eupithecia tenuiata National Status: Widespread and locally common in damp woodland. Flying in June and July. County Status: Records from half a dozen sites in small numbers. Records prior to 2006: 25 Records ’96 to ’05: 16 Earliest date: 8th July (2002) 10km squares prior to 2006: 8

Number of records: 3 Earliest: 24th July Latest: 13th August 10km squares: SN31, SN54 Notes: Three singles. Twice seen in my garden trap in Carmarthen.

1813 HAWORTH’S PUG National Status: Locally widespread in England and Wales, where the foodplant occurs. Flying in June and July. County Status: Only known from three areas, one of them being Pembrey. Records prior to 2006: 8 Records ’96 to ’05: 4 Earliest date: 1st July (2006) 10km squares prior to 2006: 5

Number of records: 2 Earliest: 1st July Latest: 4th July 10km squares: SN31, SS49 Notes: Two at Pembrey Burrows where there is wild clematis is expected, but the single in my garden in Carmarthen is further evidence that this species may be living on garden varieties of clematis.

1815 CLOAKED PUG Eupithecia abietaria National Status: Red Data Book and migrant. Flying in June and July. County Status: There is a single record. However it is a Rothamsted record, unverified by county recorder, and no specimen or photo has been seen. Therefore it is a Category A2 species. Records prior to 2006: 1 Records ’96 to ’05: None. Earliest date: 1st August (1986) 10km squares prior to 2006: 1 (SN74)

Number of records: NOT RECORDED Earliest: - Latest: - 10km squares: - Notes: -

1816 TOADFLAX PUG Eupithecia linariata National Status: Fairly common throughout Britain. Flying in July and August. County Status: Records under review. Currently, only confirmed from three locations in the county. Records prior to 2006: 18 plus 13 pended Rothamsted records. Records ’96 to ’05: 18 Earliest date: 17th June (2005) 10km squares prior to 2006: 7

Number of records: 6 Earliest: 19th June Latest: 5th August 10km squares: SN32, SS49 Notes: Very common (up to ten) at Pembrey Burrows, where there is a large amount of the foodplant. One inland at Nantgwyn.

39 1817 FOXGLOVE PUG Eupithecia pulchellata National Status: Common throughout Britain. Flying from May to July, and rarely again in August. County Status: Common. Records prior to 2006: 142 Records ’96 to ’05: 94 Earliest date: 28th April (1993) 10km squares prior to 2006: 17

Number of records: 18 Earliest: 4th June Latest: 7th July 10km squares: SN12, SN22, SN31, SN32, SN51, SN52, SN53, SN54, SN74, SS49 Notes: Moderately common, with single figure counts from most regularly trapped sites.

1819 MOTTLED PUG Eupithecia exiguata National Status: Common throughout Britain. Flying in May and June. County Status: Common. Records prior to 2006: 72 Records ’96 to ’05: 55 Earliest date: 10th May (2006) 10km squares prior to 2006: 14

Number of records: 10 Earliest: 10th May Latest: 13th June 10km squares: SN12, SN22, SN32, SN52, SN53, SN74 Notes: Highest count was seven at Nantgwyn.

1821 VALERIAN PUG Eupithecia valerianata National Status: Nationally Scarce B. Widespread but fairly local across Britain. Flying in June and July. County Status: Scarce. Records prior to 2006: 12, though a couple are unsupported Rothamsted records. Records ’96 to ’05: 7 Earliest date: 21st May (2005) 10km squares prior to 2006: 5

Number of records: 1 Earliest: 10th June Latest: 10th June 10km squares: SN22 Notes: A Single in damp water-meadows at Gellywen (SN2723) on 10th June is a new site for this scarce species(JSB with Lee Walker).

1822 MARSH PUG National Status: Nationally Scarce B. Very local across Britain. Flying in May and June. County Status: Very rare. Records prior to 2006: 3 Records ’96 to ’05: 1 Earliest date: 25th May (1994) 10km squares prior to 2006: 3

Number of records: NOT RECORDED Earliest: - Latest: - 10km squares: - Notes: Last recorded in June 2003.

40 1823 NETTED PUG Eupithecia venosata National Status: Local across Britain. Flying in May and June. County Status: Extremely rare. All records between 1983 and 1986 at Rhandirmwyn. Category A2. Records prior to 2006: 3 Records ’96 to ’05: None. Earliest date: No precise dates on any of the 3 records. 10km squares prior to 2006: 1 (SN74)

Number of records: NOT RECORDED Earliest: - Latest: - 10km squares: - Notes: -

1825 LIME-SPECK PUG Eupithecia centauriata National Status: A Fairly common and widespread species across much of Britain. Double-brooded and flying in all months between the end of May and September. County Status: Local. Records prior to 2006: 68 Records ’96 to ’05: 45 Earliest date: 23rd May (1996) 10km squares prior to 2006: 7

Number of records: 14 Earliest: 1st June Latest: 5th September 10km squares: SN52, SS49 Notes: One record from SN52, but the other 13 were from the Pembrey Burrows area in SS49.

1826 TRIPLE-SPOTTED PUG Eupithecia trisignaria National Status: Local throughout Britain. Flying in June and July. County Status: Scarce, but probably under-recorded. Records prior to 2006: 9 Records ’96 to ’05: 5 Earliest date: 15th June (2000) 10km squares prior to 2006: 4

Number of records: 2 Earliest: 3rd July Latest: 24th July 10km squares: SN30 Notes: Two records from Pembrey Forest.

1827 FREYER’S PUG Eupithecia intricata National Status: Moderately common throughout Britain, with three distinct subspecies. Flying in May and June. County Status: Local. Records prior to 2006: 22 Records ’96 to ’05: 15 Earliest date: 31st May (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 3

Number of records: 4 Earliest: 6th June Latest: 25th June 10km squares: SN31 Notes: Four singles from my garden in Carmarthen.

41 1828 SATYR PUG Eupithecia satyrata National Status: The nominate form is extremely local in southern Britain. Flying in May and June. County Status: Recorded for the first time in 2006. Records prior to 2006: None. Records ’96 to ’05: None. Earliest date: 3rd July (2006) 10km squares prior to 2006: None.

Number of records: 1 Earliest: 3rd July Latest: - 10km squares: SN64 Notes: An excellent new species for the county found by Barry Stewart and C Hipkin at Cae Blaen Dyffryn (SN604442). Photographed. This species is extremely local and hard to find.

1830 Eupithecia absinthiata National Status: Widespread and generally common. Flying in June and July. County Status: Moderately common. Records prior to 2006: 60 plus 7 Ling Pug subspecies goossensiata Records ’96 to ’05: 35 plus 4 Ling Pug subspecies goossensiata Earliest date: 26th May (2001) 10km squares prior to 2006: 15

Number of records: 9, of which one was considered Ling Pug. Earliest: 3rd July Latest: 26th August 10km squares: SN30, SN31, SN40, SN51, SN53, SN62 Notes: A typical set of records. Just ones and twos. One photographed by Julian Wormald at Rhydcymerau was likely a Ling Pug.

1832 CURRANT PUG Eupithecia assimilata National Status: Widespread and fairly common. Flying in May and June, and again in August. County Status: Moderately scarce or under-recorded. Records prior to 2006: 20 Records ’96 to ’05: 12 Earliest date: 9th May (2002) 10km squares prior to 2006: 8

Number of records: 7 Earliest: 5th May Latest: 9th August 10km squares: SN22, SN31, SN32, SN52, SN53, SN61 Notes: A scattering of singles. A very good number of records of what is a scarce species here.

1833 BLEACHED PUG Eupithecia expallidata National Status: Nationally Scarce B. Local throughout southern Britain. Flying from June to August. County Status: A very local moth in the county. Records prior to 2006: 20 Records ’96 to ’05: 19 Earliest date: 8th July (1999) 10km squares prior to 2006: 5

Number of records: 2 Earliest: 14th August Latest: 21st August 10km squares: SN40, SS49 Notes: Two singles from Pembrey, where it is annual.

42 1834 COMMON PUG Eupithecia vulgata National Status: Widespread and common throughout England and Wales. Double-brooded, flying in May and June and again in August. County Status: Relatively common. Most often recorded but not the commonest Pug species. Records prior to 2006: 141 Records ’96 to ’05: 106 Earliest date: 16th April (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 19

Number of records: 23 Earliest: 8th May Latest: 15th July 10km squares: SN22, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN51, SN52, SN53, SN54, SS49 Notes: An uneventful set of records.

1835 WHITE-SPOTTED PUG Eupithecia tripunctaria National Status: Widespread and locally common in much of Britain. Flying between May and September. County Status: Local. Records prior to 2006: 52 Records ’96 to ’05: 37 Earliest date: 20th April (2002) 10km squares prior to 2006: 8

Number of records: 11 Earliest: 14th May Latest: 21st August 10km squares: SN22, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN52, SN53, SN54 Notes: A good showing of mainly singles.

1837 GREY PUG Eupithecia subfuscata National Status: Widespread and often common, especially in the west. Double-brooded, flying in May and June and again in August. County Status: Probably the commonest Pug in the county. Records prior to 2006: 188 Records ’96 to ’05: 134 Earliest date: 29th April (2006) 10km squares prior to 2006: 18

Number of records: 34 Earliest: 29th April Latest: 14th August 10km squares: SN22, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN51, SN52, SN53, SN54, SS49 Notes: A very early one from Rhydcymerau on 29th April, broke the earliest date record by some days (ML).

1838 TAWNY-SPECKLED PUG Eupithecia icterata National Status: Widespread and common. Flying in July and August. County Status: Local and moderately scarce. One of the easiest pugs to identify, so probably not as under- recorded as other species in the family. Records prior to 2006: 51 Records ’96 to ’05: 19 Earliest date: 30th July (1984) 10km squares prior to 2006: 8

Number of records: 4 Earliest: 12th July Latest: 4th September 10km squares: SN53, SS49 Notes: Three of the records (one was of five) were from the expected area of Pembrey Burrows. One was also seen by ML at Rhydcymerau (SN5739) on 12th July.

43 1839 BORDERED PUG Eupithecia succenturiata National Status: Commoner in England, but local in Wales and Scotland. Flying in July and August. County Status: Rare. Records prior to 2006: 12 Records ’96 to ’05: 5 Earliest date: 10th June (1973) 10km squares prior to 2006: 5

Number of records: NOT RECORDED Earliest: - Latest: - 10km squares: - Notes: Last recorded in August 2005.

1840 SHADED PUG Eupithecia subumbrata National Status: Widespread but local in Britain, especially in the West. Flying in June and July. County Status: Restricted to the south-east coastal region. Records prior to 2006: 14 Records ’96 to ’05: 13 Earliest date: 24th May (2001) 10km squares prior to 2006: 3

Number of records: 7 Earliest: 25th May Latest: 1st July 10km squares: SS49 Notes: A typical series of records from Pembrey Burrows, where it is easy to find. Highest count was 25.

1842 PLAIN PUG Eupithecia simpliciata National Status: Locally common in England but very local in Wales. Flying from June to August. County Status: Restricted to the south-east coastal region. Records prior to 2006: 5 Records ’96 to ’05: 5 Earliest date: 2nd July (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 2

Number of records: NOT RECORDED Earliest: - Latest: - 10km squares: - Notes: Last recorded in July 2005.

1843 THYME PUG Eupithecia distinctaria National Status: Nationally Scarce B. Local along western coastal areas of Britain. Flying in June and July. County Status: Extremely rare, with just one old record. Category A2. Records prior to 2006: 1 Records ’96 to ’05: None. Earliest date: 8th July (1975) 10km squares prior to 2006: 1 (SN51)

Number of records: NOT RECORDED Earliest: - Latest: - 10km squares: - Notes: Only ever recorded in July 1975.

44 1844 OCHREOUS PUG Eupithecia indigata National Status: Locally widespread over much of Britain. Flying in April and May. County Status: Local and seemingly scarce. Records prior to 2006: 10 Records ’96 to ’05: 7 Earliest date: 6th May (2002) 10km squares prior to 2006: 4

Number of records: 2 Earliest: 26th May Latest: 3rd June 10km squares: SN30 Notes: Two singles in Pembrey Forest. A hard to find species.

1846 NARROW-WINGED PUG Eupithecia nanata National Status: Common on heaths and moors throughout Britain. Flying from April to June and then again occasionally in August. County Status: Common in the uplands where heather grows, but very scarce elsewhere. Records prior to 2006: 43 Records ’96 to ’05: 9 Earliest date: 18th April (1992) 10km squares prior to 2006: 8

Number of records: 7 Earliest: 27th June Latest: 24th July 10km squares: SN31, SN53, SN54 Notes: Most were from higher ground, where there I had over 40 to 1MV at Mynydd Llanllwni (SN508389) on 12th July. More unexpected was a single in my Carmarthen garden (SN3919) on 3rd July, on a night when many strange species occurred – blown in on a north-easterly.

1848 ASH PUG National Status: A local species with two races, one feeding on ash, the other sea-buckthorn. Flying in May and June and again in August. County Status: Coastal race is common in suitable habitat. Inland it is local and scarce. Records prior to 2006: 38 Records ’96 to ’05: 25 Earliest date: 24th May (2001) 10km squares prior to 2006: 8

Number of records: 9 Earliest: 1st June Latest: 4th September 10km squares: SN32, SS49 Notes: Two singles recorded inland at Nantgwyn, probably of the ash feeding race. All others were from Pembrey, though numbers were down on previous years.

1851 GOLDEN-ROD PUG Eupithecia virgaureata National Status: Local throughout Britain, mainly in the south and west. Flying in May and June, and then again in August. County Status: Records under review, but very local and possibly under-recorded. Records prior to 2006: 33 Records ’96 to ’05: 20 Earliest date: 24th April (2005) 10km squares prior to 2006: 7

Number of records: 1 Earliest: 5th July Latest: 5th July 10km squares: SN51 Notes: A single was seen at Gelli Aur CP (SN595197) on the CMG field trip.

45 1852 BRINDLED PUG Eupithecia abbreviata National Status: Common across most of Britain. Flying in April and May. County Status: Widespread and abundant in Spring. Records prior to 2006: 133 Records ’96 to ’05: 91 Earliest date: 16th March (2002) 10km squares prior to 2006: 14

Number of records: 18 Earliest: 18th April Latest: 27th May 10km squares: SN22, SN30, SN32, SN52, SN53, SN74 Notes: As common as per usual, with several counts in double figures.

1853 OAK-TREE PUG Eupithecia dodoneata National Status: Widespread but local. Flying in May and June. County Status: Local, but possibly over-looked. Records prior to 2006: 45 Records ’96 to ’05: 40 Earliest date: 19th April (2002) 10km squares prior to 2006: 9

Number of records: 9 Earliest: 27th April Latest: 14th May 10km squares: SN22, SN30, SN32, SN52, SN53 Notes: Typical small numbers. A larval record from Wharley Point in June.

1854 JUNIPER PUG Eupithecia pusilata National Status: Widespread, commoner in the east, scarce in Wales. Flying from July to September. County Status: All 11 records are from a single Rothamsted trap in SN74 (1983 to 2000). Unverified and currently pended. Category B (pended). Records prior to 2006: 11 Records ’96 to ’05: 2 Earliest date: No precise date attached to any record. 10km squares prior to 2006: 1

Number of records: NOT RECORDED Earliest: - Latest: - 10km squares: - Notes: Only Rothamsted records.

1856 LARCH PUG Eupithecia lariciata National Status: Widespread and moderately common. Flying from May to July. County Status: Local, under-recorded. Records prior to 2006: 35 Records ’96 to ’05: 16 Earliest date: 15th April (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 5

Number of records: 3 Earliest: 6th July Latest: 31st July 10km squares: SN53, SN54 Notes: Just three records, all from the Brechfa area.

46 1857 DWARF PUG Eupithecia tantillaria National Status: Widespread but local. Flying in May and June. County Status: Local. Records prior to 2006: 31 Records ’96 to ’05: 18 Earliest date: 6th May (2002) 10km squares prior to 2006: 5

Number of records: 4 Earliest: 10th May Latest: 26th May 10km squares: SN30, SN32, SN53 Notes: Recorded from Pembrey and Nantgwyn (JSB) and Rhycymerau (ML).

1858 V-PUG Chloroclystis v-ata National Status: Relatively widespread and common in southern Britain. Flying in two broods from late April to August. County Status: Common and widespread. Records prior to 2006: 199 Records ’96 to ’05: 143 Earliest date: 6th April (1995) 10km squares prior to 2006: 22

Number of records: 33 Earliest: 10th May Latest: 5th August 10km squares: SN12, SN22, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN51, SN52, SN53, SN54, SN61, SS49 Notes: A high count of 20 seen at the CMG field trip to Gelli Aur CP.

1859 SLOE PUG Pasiphila chloerata National Status: Common in southern England, spreading west. Flying from May to July County Status: Recorded for the first time in 2006. Records prior to 2006: None. Records ’96 to ’05: None. Earliest date: 17th June (2006) 10km squares prior to 2006: None.

Number of records: 1 Earliest: 17th June Latest: 17th June 10km squares: SN40 Notes: An excellent new species, again found by Barry Stewart, this time at Pwll. This species has a very restricted range in south Wales, but was a likely and expected addition to the county list. Photographed.

1860 Pasiphila rectangulata National Status: Common in all but northern Scotland. Flying from June to August. County Status: Common. Records prior to 2006: 120 Records ’96 to ’05: 74 Earliest date: 11th June (2001) 10km squares prior to 2006: 18

Number of records: 11 Earliest: 24th June Latest: 15th July 10km squares: SN30, SN31, SN51, SN52, SN53, SS49 Notes: Typical small numbers to light.

47 1861 BILBERRY PUG Pasiphila debiliata National Status: Nationally Scarce B. Local in southern and western Britain. Flying in June and July. County Status: Very local, but common where it does occur. Records prior to 2006: 34 Records ’96 to ’05: 33 Earliest date: 13th June (1999) 10km squares prior to 2006: 6

Number of records: 1 Earliest: 6th July Latest: 6th July 10km squares: SN53 Notes: 10 in Brechfa Forest (SN521320) on 6th July (JSB) was the only record. No trapping done at Nantgwyn at the correct time, where it is common.

1862 DOUBLE-STRIPED PUG Gymnoscelis rufifasciata National Status: Common across Britain. Flying in April and May and again in July and August. County Status: Common and widespread. Records prior to 2006: 174 Records ’96 to ’05: 131 Earliest date: 10th April (2004) 10km squares prior to 2006: 24

Number of records: 55 Earliest: 24th April Latest: 13th October 10km squares: SN22, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN51, SN52, SN53, SN54, SN61, SS49 Notes: Very common.

1864 STREAK Chesias legatella National Status: Widespread and relatively common, though local in the west. Flying from September to November. County Status: Exceptionally scarce, and local, with records only from the SN74 Rothamsted traps. Unverified, but date of the only specifically dated record would suggest that at least that is genuine. Category A2. Records prior to 2006: 9 Records ’96 to ’05: None. Earliest date: 19th October (1970) The only dated record on file. 10km squares prior to 2006: 1 (SN74)

Number of records: NOT RECORDED Earliest: - Latest: - 10km squares: - Notes: Last reported from Rhandirmwyn Rothamsted in 1995.

1867 TREBLE-BAR Aplocera plagiata National Status: Widespread and relatively common. Double-brooded, flying in May and June and again in August and September. County Status: Widespread, though never numerous. Records prior to 2006: 79 Records ’96 to ’05: 25 Earliest date: 14th May (1990) 10km squares prior to 2006: 14

Number of records: 9 Earliest: 25th May Latest: 14th September 10km squares: SN31, SN40, SS49 Notes: Five records from Pembrey Saltings etc, one from Llanelli North Dock and three from my garden. A very good year of records for this rarely encountered species, which averaged only 2.5 records a year in the previous decade.

48 1870 CHIMNEY SWEEPER Odezia atrata National Status: Widespread and common in northern Britain, but local and moderately scarce in the south. Flies by day in June and July. County Status: Very rare, probably declined and possibly extinct. Suitable habitats searched in recent years without success. Category A2. Records prior to 2006: 11 Records ’96 to ’05: 2 Earliest date: 12th June 1997 10km squares prior to 2006: 5

Number of records: NOT RECORDED Earliest: - Latest: - 10km squares: - Notes: Last recorded in July 1997 (SN74).

1872 BLOMER’S RIVULET Discoloxia blomeri National Status: Nationally Scarce B. Local, mostly in southern Britain. Flies from May to July. County Status: Rare. Records prior to 2006: 5 Records ’96 to ’05: 2 Earliest date: 2nd June (1974) 10km squares prior to 2006: 2 (SN51, SN61)

Number of records: 1 Earliest: 17th June Latest: - 10km squares: SN52 Notes: One caught at Aberglasney garden (SN5822) on 17th June by Julian Wormald is only the 6th county record of this very scarce species. Photographed.

1873 WELSH WAVE Venusia cambrica National Status: Local in northern and western Britain. Flies from June to August. County Status: Scarce and local. Records prior to 2006: 16 Records ’96 to ’05: 10 Earliest date: 9th June (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 4

Number of records: 4 Earliest: 24th June Latest: 16th July 10km squares: SN53, SN54 Notes: All records were from the Brechfa Forest area, with three on 6th July at SN521320 (JSB) being the only count above one. A good set of records of a very scarce species.

1874 DINGY SHELL Euchoeca nebulata National Status: Locally widespread in damp woodland. Flying in June and July. County Status: Local and uncommon. Records prior to 2006: 41 Records ’96 to ’05: 29 Earliest date: 22nd May (2004) 10km squares prior to 2006: 14

Number of records: 7 Earliest: 5th June Latest: 5th July 10km squares: SN30, SN31, SN32, SN51, SN52, SN53, SN74 Notes: A scatter of records of between one and four from typical locations across the county.

49 1875 SMALL WHITE WAVE Asthena albulata National Status: Common and widespread though local in Scotland. Flying from May to July and occasionally a 2nd brood in August and September. County Status: Local, but often abundant where it occurs. Records prior to 2006: 57 Records ’96 to ’05: 48 Earliest date: 2nd May (1999) 10km squares prior to 2006: 14

Number of records: 9 Earliest: 13th May Latest: 28th July 10km squares: SN22, SN30, SN32, SN52, SN53 Notes: Small numbers seen at a number of locations, though very common at Wharley Point (SN3409) with 30 seen there by day (mostly beaten from bushes) on 7th June.

1876 SMALL YELLOW WAVE flammeolaria National Status: Locally fairly common. Flying from May to July County Status: Moderately scarce. Records prior to 2006: 31 Records ’96 to ’05: 20 Earliest date: 4th June (2004) 10km squares prior to 2006: 10

Number of records: 7 Earliest: 10th June Latest: 9th July 10km squares: SN22, SN30, SN31, SN51, SN74 Notes: Most commonly seen at Pembrey Forest, though a few records of mainly singles from elsewhere.

1877 WAVED CARPET Hydrelia sylvata National Status: Nationally Scarce B. Uncommon and local, with a mainly southern and western distribution. Flying in June and July. County Status: Fairly widespread in suitable woodland across Carmarthenshire. Records prior to 2006: 75 Records ’96 to ’05: 64 Earliest date: 30th May (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 15

Number of records: 14 Earliest: 5th June Latest: 28th July 10km squares: SN22, SN30, SN32, SN52, SN53 Notes: Highest counts were from Pembrey Forest (c20), though it was found at a number of traditional and new sites across the county.

1879 SERAPHIM Lobophora halterata National Status: Fairly widespread but local. Flying in May and June. County Status: Rare. Records prior to 2006: 7, of which 5 are from Rhandirmwyn Rothamsted trap in SN74. Records ’96 to ’05: 3 Earliest date: 16th May (1988) 10km squares prior to 2006: 3

Number of records: 2 Earliest: 14th May Latest: 20th June 10km squares: SN53, SN74 Notes: Two records of singles of this very scarce species. Rhydcymerau (SN5739) on 14th May (Martin Lovell and Julian Wormald, photographed) and Gwenffrwd (SN7447) on 20th June (G Lyons).

50 1881 EARLY TOOTH-STRIPED Trichopteryx carpinata National Status: Fairly widespread and common. Flying in April and May. County Status: Relatively common throughout, and probably under-recorded. Records prior to 2006: 117 Records ’96 to ’05: 56 Earliest date: 16th March (1990) 10km squares prior to 2006: 15

Number of records: 11 Earliest: 11th April Latest: 4th May 10km squares: SN32, SN40, SN53, SN74 Notes: Surprisingly few seen, compared to the last couple of years, although this can often be the case with early season species whose emergence coincides with a gap in recording or unfavourable weather.

1882 SMALL SERAPHIM Pterapherapteryx sexalata National Status: Local and relatively uncommon in southern Britain. Flying in May and June and occasionally again in July and August. County Status: Somewhat local, with records from only a few sites, mainly in the southeast. Records prior to 2006: 65 Records ’96 to ’05: 44 Earliest date: 25th May (1994) 10km squares prior to 2006: 12

Number of records: 17 Earliest: 7th June Latest: 24th July 10km squares: SN12, SN22, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN51, SN52, SN53, SS49 Notes: Becoming increasingly common in recent years. The largest numbers were at Pembrey where the highest count was 30. Seen at many other sites across the county.

1883 YELLOW-BARRED BRINDLE Acasis viretata National Status: Widespread but rarely common, mainly in southern Britain. Flying in May and June and again from July to September. County Status: Local but fairly abundant where it does occur. Records prior to 2006: 85 Records ’96 to ’05: 72 Earliest date: 19th April (2002) 10km squares prior to 2006: 12

Number of records: 15 Earliest: 10th May Latest: 2nd September 10km squares: SN12, SN22, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN52, SN53, SN73 Notes: Ones and twos seen at most regularly trapped sites.

1884 MAGPIE Abraxas grossulariata National Status: Widespread and common. Flying in July and August. County Status: Widespread and common in suitable habitat, though population has crashed in many areas. Records prior to 2006: 186 Records ’96 to ’05: 113 Earliest date: 21st June (1992) 10km squares prior to 2006: 22

Number of records: 7 Earliest: 15th July Latest: 14th August 10km squares: SN12, SN30, SN31, SN40, SN53, SN64 Notes: Vying for the title of most dramatically declining species, this once common moth seems to have just crashed out across the whole county.

51 1885 CLOUDED MAGPIE Abraxas sylvata National Status: Local in southern Britain. Flying from May to July. County Status: Scarce and local. Records prior to 2006: 23 Records ’96 to ’05: 5 Earliest date: 2nd June (1974) 10km squares prior to 2006: 9

Number of records: 5 Earliest: 8th June Latest: 25th July 10km squares: SN31, SN51, SN53, SN61 Notes: More of this species were seen than of its “common” relative!!! Thirty seen at Glynhir Mansion by Barry Stewart on 25th July (SN639151). Recorded twice at Gelli Aur CP (SN5919) by Ian Morgan and the CMG field trip, at Brechfa Forest (SN5834) by Martin Lovell and Anna Hobbs, and in my garden here in Carmarthen (SN3919). For a once rare species, these constitute a great set of records.

1887 CLOUDED BORDER Lomaspilis marginata National Status: Widespread and common. Flying from May to July. County Status: Very common and widespread across the county. Records prior to 2006: 485 Records ’96 to ’05: 272 Earliest date: 5th May (2005) 10km squares prior to 2006: 27

Number of records: 59 Earliest: 9th May Latest: 20th August 10km squares: SN12, SN22, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN51, SN52, SN53, SN54, SN61, SN62, SN63, SN64, SN74, SS49 Notes: Still common and widespread. One of our commonest moths.

1888 SCORCHED CARPET Ligdia adustata National Status: Local but moderately widespread in the south of Britain. Flying in two generations between April and August. County Status: Very local to only half a dozen sites where the foodplant (spindle) occurs. Records prior to 2006: 52 Records ’96 to ’05: 44 Earliest date: 16th April (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 6

Number of records: 6 Earliest: 3rd May Latest: 3rd July 10km squares: SN30, SN52 Notes: Recorded from Pembrey and Wharley Point as normal, but also seen at Aberglasney Gardens (SN5822) by Julian Wormald.

1890 SHARP-ANGLED PEACOCK Macaria alternata National Status: Locally widespread in southern Britain. Double-brooded, flying in May and June and again in August. County Status: Relatively common and widespread in woodlands across the county and in coastal scrub. Records prior to 2006: 175 Records ’96 to ’05: 132 Earliest date: 6th May (2002) 10km squares prior to 2006: 21

Number of records: 42 Earliest: 25th May Latest: 26th August 10km squares: SN12, SN22, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN51, SN52, SN53, SN54, SS49 Notes: Over 250 individuals recorded right across the county. The days of misidentification are fading into the history books at last. Seems to be expanding its range and becoming more common.

52 1893 TAWNY-BARRED ANGLE Macaria liturata National Status: Locally common in conifer plantations across Britain. In the south it flies from May to June and again in August. County Status: Relatively common, especially in coniferous areas. Records prior to 2006: 90 Records ’96 to ’05: 50 Earliest date: 11th May (2006) 10km squares prior to 2006: 16

Number of records: 18 Earliest: 11th May Latest: 28th September 10km squares: SN12, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN51, SN53, SN54, SN61 Notes: A high count of 25 in Brechfa Forest (SN521320) on 6th July (JSB). Small numbers seen at most other expected sites.

1894 LATTICED HEATH Chiasmia clathrata National Status: Widespread and locally common across all but northern Scotland. Double-brooded, flying in all months from May to September. County Status: Records from a wide variety of sites, but seems fairly scarce at most. Being a mostly day-flying species may account for the relatively few number of records. Records prior to 2006: 90 Records ’96 to ’05: 59 Earliest date: 4th May (1990) 10km squares prior to 2006: 13

Number of records: 7 Earliest: 26th May Latest: 23rd August 10km squares: SN30, SS49 Notes: A very poor year, with records only coming from Pembrey.

1897 V-MOTH Macaria wauaria National Status: Local throughout Britain, though much declined. Flying in July and August. County Status: Rare. Records prior to 2006: 14, of which 11 are from Rhandirmwyn Rothamsted in SN74. Category A2. Records ’96 to ’05: 3 Earliest date: 16th July (1995) 10km squares prior to 2006: 2 (SN61, SN74)

Number of records: NOT RECORDED Earliest: - Latest: - 10km squares: - Notes: Last recorded in July 2005 (SN61)

1902 BROWN SILVER-LINE Petrophora chlorosata National Status: Generally common throughout Britain. Flying in May and June. County Status: Abundant in any area with Bracken. Records prior to 2006: 339 Records ’96 to ’05: 142 Earliest date: 12th April (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 27

Number of records: 25 Earliest: 10th May Latest: 3rd July 10km squares: SN12, SN21, SN22, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN52, SN53, SN63, SN64, SN73, SN74 Notes: Commonly encountered but perhaps fewer records than one might expect. Even the commonest species have to go through population dips from time to time.

53 1903 BARRED UMBER Plagodis pulveraria National Status: Widespread but local. Flies from May to June. County Status: Moderately common. Records prior to 2006: 126 Records ’96 to ’05: 65 Earliest date: 30th April (1999) 10km squares prior to 2006: 18

Number of records: 10 Earliest: 10th May Latest: 10th June 10km squares: SN22, SN32, SN53 Notes: Recorded repeatedly from a small number of sites – Gelliwen, Brechfa, Rhydcymerau and Nantgwyn. Highest count was just three.

1904 SCORCHED WING Plagodis dolabraria National Status: Widespread as far as southern Scotland, but local. Flies from May to June. County Status: Moderately common. Can be abundant at some sites. Records prior to 2006: 167 Records ’96 to ’05: 100 Earliest date: 7th May (2004) 10km squares prior to 2006: 19

Number of records: 17 Earliest: 14th May Latest: 30th June 10km squares: SN12, SN22, SN32, SN52, SN53, SN74 Notes: Double-figure counts on a couple of dates from Nantgwyn (SN3623), but otherwise just small numbers encountered quite widely across the county.

1906 BRIMSTONE MOTH Opisthograptis luteolata National Status: Common across Britain. Overlapping broods flying from April to October. County Status: Exceptionally common throughout. Ease of identification may well have led to such an abundance of records. Records prior to 2006: 693 Records ’96 to ’05: 454 Earliest date: 14th April 2003 10km squares prior to 2006: 28

Number of records: 116 Earliest: 4th May Latest: 26th September 10km squares: SN12, SN22, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN51, SN52, SN53, SN54, SN61, SN62, SN63, SN64, SS49 Notes: Highest count was 30 at Pembrey Forest. Common.

1907 BORDERED BEAUTY Epione repandaria National Status: Relatively widespread and common, although scarcer in Scotland. Flies from July to September. County Status: Small numbers recorded at most sites. Rarely common at light. Records prior to 2006: 101 Records ’96 to ’05: 46 Earliest date: 13th July (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 16

Number of records: 11 Earliest: 13th July Latest: 14th August 10km squares: SN12, SN30, SN40, SN53, SN54, SN61, SN64, SS49 Notes: A fairly typical scatter of records from several sites. Commonest at Pembrey where it was more foten found by torchlight than at a trap.

54 1909 SPECKLED YELLOW Pseudopanthera macularia National Status: Relatively widespread and common, although scarcer in Scotland. Flies by day, in May and June. County Status: Local and scarce. Records prior to 2006: 21 Records ’96 to ’05: 8 Earliest date: 18th April (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 13

Number of records: 3 Earliest: 7th May Latest: 25th May 10km squares: SN30, SN63 Notes: Seen at Wharley Point (SN3409) where it is regular, and also at Felindre (SN6830) by Anna Hobbs on two occasions. It is surprising that this species is so scarce here given that its foodplant is common enough and it is an obvious day-flying species that ought to be seen regularly by people.

1910 LILAC BEAUTY Apeira syringaria National Status: Local as far north as southern Scotland. Flies in June and July and occasionally again in September. County Status: Local. Records prior to 2006: 45 Records ’96 to ’05: 18 Earliest date: 23rd June (2002) 10km squares prior to 2006: 12

Number of records: 2 Earliest: 3rd July Latest: 3rd July 10km squares: SN12, SN30 Notes: Just two singles seen – Penrhiw (SN1924, Melanie Collier) and Pembrey Forest (SN3803, JSB).

1912 AUGUST THORN Ennomos quercinaria National Status: Local and mainly southern. Flies in August and September. County Status: Scarce and very local. Records prior to 2006: 19 Records ’96 to ’05: 10 Earliest date: 9th August (1994) 10km squares prior to 2006: 7

Number of records: 1 Earliest: 17th September Latest: 17th September 10km squares: SN32 Notes: Just one seen at Nantgwyn (SN3623). A scarce species in the county, perhaps getting scarcer.

1913 CANARY-SHOULDERED THORN Ennomos alniaria National Status: Relatively common across all of Britain. Flies from the end of July to October. County Status: Seems relatively common. Records prior to 2006: 198 Records ’96 to ’05: 86 Earliest date: 20th July (1989) 10km squares prior to 2006: 23

Number of records: 13 Earliest: 5th August Latest: 26th September 10km squares: SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN53, SN62, SN74 Notes: Half the records were from Pembrey, but small numbers seen elsewhere.

55 1914 DUSKY THORN Ennomos fuscantaria National Status: Fairly common in southern Britain. Flies from the end of July to October. County Status: Moderately common. Records prior to 2006: 63 Records ’96 to ’05: 28 Earliest date: 5th August (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 13

Number of records: 25 Earliest: 8th August Latest: 1st October 10km squares: SN31, SN32, SN40, SN52, SN53, SN62 Notes: Fifteen of the records came from my garden where this is the commonest of the yellow thorns. Small numbers seen from several other sites.

1915 SEPTEMBER THORN Ennomos erosaria National Status: Fairly common in southern Britain. Flies from the end of July to October. County Status: Local. Records prior to 2006: 80 Records ’96 to ’05: 21 Earliest date: 29th July (1973) 10km squares prior to 2006: 9

Number of records: 1 Earliest: 23rd September Latest: 23rd September 10km squares: SN53 Notes: Just one was reported, from Brechfa on National Moth Night (SN5231, ML and JW). Like August Thorn this species seems to be becoming even rarer.

1917 EARLY THORN Selenia dentaria National Status: Widespread and common in much of Britain, though scarcer in the north. Double-brooded, flying in April and May and then again in August and September. County Status: Abundant and common throughout the county. Records prior to 2006: 340 Records ’96 to ’05: 188 Earliest date: 8th March (1999) 10km squares prior to 2006: 25

Number of records: 48 Earliest: 2nd April Latest: 2nd September 10km squares: SN12, SN22, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN51, SN52, SN53, SN54, SN61, SN63, SN74, SS49 Notes: Very common.

1918 LUNAR THORN Selenia lunularia National Status: Local throughout Britain. Flying in May and June, rarely again in August. County Status: Very local and moderately scarce. Records prior to 2006: 76, though 62 of those are from just two areas. Records ’96 to ’05: 24 Earliest date: 7th May (2002) 10km squares prior to 2006: 9

Number of records: 2 Earliest: 10th May Latest: 6th June 10km squares: SN22, SN32 Notes: Just two singles seen – one from Nantgwyn, a known and regular site, but also seen at Gellywen by Lee Walker, a new site in a 10km square that is being explored for the first time.

56 1919 PURPLE THORN Selenia tetralunaria National Status: Locally common throughout England and Wales. Scarcer in Scotland. Double-brooded, flying in April and May and again in July and August. County Status: Never as common as dentaria, but similarly widespread. Records prior to 2006: 144 Records ’96 to ’05: 66 Earliest date: 3rd April (1999) 10km squares prior to 2006: 17

Number of records: 15 Earliest: 24th April Latest: 6th August 10km squares: SN22, SN32, SN52, SN53, SN74 Notes: Small numbers seen at a broad range of sites, away from the coast.

1920 SCALLOPED HAZEL Odontopera bidentata National Status: Widespread and generally common, flying in May and June. County Status: Relatively common and widespread. Records prior to 2006: 223 Records ’96 to ’05: 128 Earliest date: 8th April (2000) 10km squares prior to 2006: 25

Number of records: 26 Earliest: 10th May Latest: 13th June 10km squares: SN12, SN22, SN30, SN32, SN52, SN53, SN63, SN74, SS49 Notes: Highest count was 10 at Nantgwyn (SN3623). Common.

1921 SCALLOPED OAK Crocallis elinguaria National Status: Widespread and generally common, flying in July and August. County Status: Relatively common and widespread. Records prior to 2006: 215 Records ’96 to ’05: 109 Earliest date: 21st June (1992) 10km squares prior to 2006: 22

Number of records: 20 Earliest: 20th July Latest: 27th August 10km squares: SN30, SN31, SN32, SN53, SN54, SN61, SN63, SN64, SN74, SS49 Notes: One to four seen at a wide range of sites.

1922 SWALLOW-TAILED MOTH Ourapteryx sambucaria National Status: Widespread and common in all but northern Scotland. Flying in June and July. County Status: Records from all across the county, though rarely seen in numbers. Records prior to 2006: 179 Records ’96 to ’05: 105 Earliest date: 11th June (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 23

Number of records: 24 Earliest: 24th June Latest: 16th October 10km squares: SN30, SN31, SN40, SN51, SN53, SN61, SS49 Notes: Unusually recorded on three occasions in the middle of October – once in my garden and twice by Ian Morgan in his garden at Pwll (SN4601). These would indicate an unusual and partial 2nd brood.

57 1923 FEATHERED THORN Colotois pennaria National Status: Widespread and common in the south, more local in the north. Flying from September to November. County Status: Like all late season moths, very under-recorded. Common and probably abundant across the county. Records prior to 2006: 112 Records ’96 to ’05: 30 Earliest date: 30th September (1971) 10km squares prior to 2006: 17

Number of records: 14 Earliest: 12th October Latest: 29th November 10km squares: SN31, SN40, SN52, SN53 Notes: Fairly commonly recorded by those who continued looking late in the season.

1925 SMALL BRINDLED BEAUTY Apocheima hispidaria National Status: Local in southern England, scarce elsewhere. Flies in February and March. County Status: Extremely local and rare. Possibly under-recorded. Category A2. Records prior to 2006: 37, all from Rothamsted traps in SN74. Records ’96 to ’05: 2 Earliest date: 19th February (1971) 10km squares prior to 2006: 1 (SN74)

Number of records: NOT RECORDED Earliest: - Latest: - 10km squares: - Notes: Most recent Rothamsted record is from 1997.

1926 PALE BRINDLED BEAUTY Apocheima pilosaria National Status: Widespread and common. Flying from January to March. Occasionally earlier. County Status: Under-recorded. Probably moderately common across the county. Records prior to 2006: 58, the vast majority from Rothamsted traps. Records ’96 to ’05: 13 Earliest date: 4th November (1994) – possibly erroneous. 10km squares prior to 2006: 10

Number of records: 7 Earliest: 18th January Latest: 14th March 10km squares: SN53 Notes: All records were made in the Brechfa/Rhydcymerau area by Martin Lovell and Julian Wormald – simply because they were the only people trapping this early in the year! The rewards of enthusiasm.

1927 BRINDLED BEAUTY Lycia hirtaria National Status: Locally common in southern Britain, scarcer in the north. Flying from March to May. County Status: Probably under-recorded. Widespread in woodland across the county. Records prior to 2006: 134 Records ’96 to ’05: 89 Earliest date: 3rd April (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 18

Number of records: 17 Earliest: 14th April Latest: 5th May 10km squares: SN12, SN32, SN40, SN53, SN74 Notes: Highest count was of 30 to light at Nantgwyn (SN3623) on 26th April.

58 1930 OAK BEAUTY Biston strataria National Status: Relatively common in England and Wales, scarcer in Scotland. Flying in March and April. County Status: Well recorded considering its early season flight. Seemingly widespread and common in woodland. Records prior to 2006: 151 Records ’96 to ’05: 49 Earliest date: 25th February (1971) 10km squares prior to 2006: 16

Number of records: 5 Earliest: 19th March Latest: 22nd April 10km squares: SN53 Notes: Again, Julian and Martin were the only people trapping early enough in the season for this.

1931 PEPPERED MOTH Biston betularia National Status: Common and widespread in England and Wales, more local in Scotland. Flying from May to August. County Status: Common and widespread. Records prior to 2006: 423 Records ’96 to ’05: 280 Earliest date: 2nd May (1999) 10km squares prior to 2006: 27

Number of records: 61 Earliest: 14th May Latest: 14th August 10km squares: SN12, SN22, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN51, SN52, SN53, SN61, SN63, SN73, SN74, SS49 Notes: Very common. Highest count was of 20 to light at Nantgwyn (SN3623) on 8th June.

1932 SPRING USHER Agriopis leucophaearia National Status: Common and widespread though under-recorded due to flight season. Flying from January to March. County Status: Extremely under-recorded. Nearly all records are from Rothamsted traps. Records prior to 2006: 36 Records ’96 to ’05: 8 Earliest date: 2nd February (1973) 10km squares prior to 2006: 7

Number of records: 4 Earliest: 19th February Latest: 14th March 10km squares: SN40, SN53 Notes: Recorded at Pwll by Ian Morgan and by Julian and Martin at Rhydcymerau and Abernant, Brechfa. A very under-recorded species, due to its early flight season.

1933 SCARCE UMBER Agriopis aurantiaria National Status: Common and widespread in England and Wales, more local in Scotland. Flying in October and November. County Status: Very under-recorded. Virtually all of the records come from the Rothamsted traps in the north of the county, which run all year. The few records from the south of the county are nearly all of larvae. Records prior to 2006: 57 Records ’96 to ’05: 12 Earliest date: 8th November (1970) 10km squares prior to 2006: 10

Number of records: 1 Earliest: 29th November Latest: - 10km squares: SN53 Notes: The only record was of 14 seen by Julian Wormald at Abernant, Brechfa (SN5837) on 29th November.

59 1934 DOTTED BORDER Agriopis marginaria National Status: Widespread and common throughout Britain. Flying from February to April. County Status: Under-recorded still, and probably relatively common or even abundant throughout the county. Records prior to 2006: 114 Records ’96 to ’05: 52 Earliest date: 5th February (1992) 10km squares prior to 2006: 17

Number of records: 12 Earliest: 6th March Latest: 28th April 10km squares: SN32, SN40, SN52, SN53 Notes: Small numbers recorded early in the season.

1935 MOTTLED UMBER Erannis defoliaria National Status: Widespread and common throughout Britain. Flying from October to December. County Status: As with Scarce Umber, dramatically under-recorded as an adult due to its late flight season. Few records from the south of the county and again those are nearly all larval records. Records prior to 2006: 107 Records ’96 to ’05: 25 Earliest date: 11th October (1970) 10km squares prior to 2006: 15

Number of records: 15 Earliest: (2nd January) 29th October in Autumn. Latest: 12th December 10km squares: SN12, SN31, SN32, SN53 Notes: Moderately common at sites still being trapped late in the season.

1936 WAVED UMBER Menophra abruptaria National Status: Widespread and fairly common in Wales and southern England, Scarcer in northern England. Flying from April to June. County Status: Fairly scarce and local. Records prior to 2006: 47 Records ’96 to ’05: 25 Earliest date: 16th April (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 12

Number of records: 4 Earliest: 5th May Latest: 16th May 10km squares: SN22, SN32, SN52 Notes: Recorded at Aberglasney (SN5822, Julian Wormald), Nantgwyn (SN3623, JSB) and Gellywen (SN2723, Lee Walker).

1937 BEAUTY Peribatodes rhomboidaria National Status: Widespread and common in all but northern Scotland. Flying from June to August and occasionally again in September. County Status: Widespread and common throughout. Records prior to 2006: 267 Records ’96 to ’05: 189 Earliest date: 28th May (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 22

Number of records: 64 Earliest: 7th June Latest: 25th September 10km squares: SN12, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN51, SN52, SN53, SN63, SS49 Notes: A typical lot of records, nearly all in single figures.

60 1940 SATIN BEAUTY Deileptenia ribeata National Status: Somewhat local, but widespread. Flying from June to August. County Status: Local. Records prior to 2006: 60 Records ’96 to ’05: 47 Earliest date: 14th June (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 8

Number of records: 10 Earliest: 28th June Latest: 31st July 10km squares: SN12, SN30, SN53, SN54 Notes: One to three seen on ten occasions, showing a continuing increase in this species.

1941 MOTTLED BEAUTY Alcis repandata National Status: Widespread and common throughout Britain. Flying in June and July. County Status: Widespread and common. Records prior to 2006: 295 Records ’96 to ’05: 155 Earliest date: 19th May (1999) 10km squares prior to 2006: 24

Number of records: 32 Earliest: 3rd June Latest: 20th July 10km squares: SN12, SN22, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN51, SN52, SN53, SN54, SN74, SS49 Notes: A very commonly encountered species, with a high count of 39 by Martin Lovell at SN5641 on 7th July.

1942 DOTTED CARPET Alcis jubata National Status: Local, with a western and northern distribution. Flying in June and July. County Status: Rare, and local. Records prior to 2006: 12, of which 9 are from Rothamsted traps. Records ’96 to ’05: 3 Earliest date: 7th July (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 2 (SN53, SN74)

Number of records: 1 Earliest: 31st July Latest: - 10km squares: SN53 Notes: One came to my trap on our CMG field trip to Abergorlech, Brechfa (SN5834). Unfortunately missing part of one wing, so not suitable for a portrait! Remains a very rare beast, with Brechfa being its stronghold.

1945 BRUSSELS LACE Cleorodes lichenaria National Status: Mainly restricted to the southwest and Wales, scarce elsewhere. Flying from June to August. County Status: Not uncommon, with records from a good number of sites, both woodland and sub-urban. Records prior to 2006: 81 Records ’96 to ’05: 60 Earliest date: 3rd June (1997) 10km squares prior to 2006: 18

Number of records: 23 Earliest: 18th June Latest: 28th July 10km squares: SN12, SN22, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN51, SN52, SN53, SS49 Notes: Between one and six seen on 23 occasions. Notably increased in recent years.

61 1947 ENGRAILED Ectropis bistortata National Status: Widespread and common, although less so in Scotland. Flying between March and August. County Status: Records of this and Small Engrailed E. crepuscularia are currently being treated as conspecific. Common and widespread across the county. Records prior to 2006: 317 Records ’96 to ’05: 200 Earliest date: 28th February (1999) 10km squares prior to 2006: 22

Number of records: 27 Earliest: 28th March Latest: 20th September 10km squares: SN12, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN51, SN53, SN54, SN61, SN74, SS49 Notes: Not very common this year. Only 27 records is a poor showing.

1949 SQUARE SPOT Paradarisa consonaria National Status: Local in the southern half of Britain. Flying from April to June. County Status: Perhaps overlooked, but it would seem to be fairly local at present. Records prior to 2006: 56 Records ’96 to ’05: 47 Earliest date: 12th April (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 7

Number of records: 12 Earliest: 26th April Latest: 3rd June 10km squares: , SN30, SN31, SN32, SN53, SN74 Notes: One to four seen at a range of woodland sites.

1951 GREY BIRCH Aethalura punctulata National Status: Relatively widespread and locally common in much of Britain, although scarce in Scotland. Flying in May and June. County Status: Local and fairly scarce. Records prior to 2006: 42 Records ’96 to ’05: 15 Earliest date: 24th April (2006) 10km squares prior to 2006: 12

Number of records: 3 Earliest: 24th April Latest: 3rd June 10km squares: SN30, SN53 Notes: Two singles in the Brechfa area (Julian Wormald and Martin Lovell). Three in Pembrey.

1952 COMMON HEATH Ematurga atomaria National Status: Common across Britain in suitably open habitats. Flying in May and June and occasionally again in August. County Status: Seemingly very local and scarce. Records prior to 2006: 45 Records ’96 to ’05: 33 Earliest date: 19th April (2002) 10km squares prior to 2006: 11

Number of records: 5 Earliest: 25th May Latest: 22nd June 10km squares: SN30, SN53, SS49 Notes: Only reported from Brechfa and Pembrey, with Pembrey MOD being the best site.

62 1954 BORDERED WHITE Bupalus piniaria National Status: Locally common in coniferous plantations across Britain. Flying from May to July. County Status: Seemingly scarce and local. Records prior to 2006: 65 Records ’96 to ’05: 39 Earliest date: 27th April (1993) 10km squares prior to 2006: 12

Number of records: 5 Earliest: 24th June Latest: 16th July 10km squares: SN30, SN53, SN54 Notes: Again, only Brechfa and Pembrey, with very poor numbers seen.

1955 COMMON WHITE WAVE Cabera pusaria National Status: Widespread and common. Double-brooded, flying in all months from May to August. County Status: Widespread and common. Records prior to 2006: 351 Records ’96 to ’05: 201 Earliest date: 5th May (2005) 10km squares prior to 2006: 27

Number of records: 41 Earliest: 9th May Latest: 7th August 10km squares: SN12, SN22, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN51, SN52, SN53, SN54, SN63, SN64, SN74, SS49 Notes: Common.

1956 COMMON WAVE Cabera exanthemata National Status: Widespread and common. Flying from May to July, and occasionally again in August. County Status: Widespread and common. Records prior to 2006: 303 Records ’96 to ’05: 187 Earliest date: 5th May (2005) 10km squares prior to 2006: 26

Number of records: 44 Earliest: 10th May Latest: 23rd August 10km squares: SN12, SN22, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN52, SN53, SN54, SN61, SN62, SN73, SN74, SS49 Notes: Also common.

1957 WHITE-PINION SPOTTED Lomographa bimaculata National Status: Mainly restricted to southern England and South Wales, where it is not uncommon. Flying in May and June. County Status: Local but common where it does occur. Records prior to 2006: 115 Records ’96 to ’05: 80 Earliest date: 5th May (2002) 10km squares prior to 2006: 18

Number of records: 13 Earliest: 10th May Latest: 29th June 10km squares: SN12, SN22, SN30, SN32, SN52, SN53, SN54 Notes: Moderately common. Six was the highest count.

63 1958 CLOUDED SILVER Lomographa temerata National Status: Common across southern Britain, but scarcer in the north. Flying in May and June. Occasionally again in autumn. County Status: Widespread and common. Records prior to 2006: 274 Records ’96 to ’05: 182 Earliest date: 19th April (2002) 10km squares prior to 2006: 24

Number of records: 31 Earliest: 10th May Latest: 24th July 10km squares: SN12, SN22, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN51, SN52, SN53 Notes: Common. Twenty-five at Nantgwyn was the highest count.

1960 EARLY MOTH Theria primaria National Status: Widespread but local in the south, rarer in the north. Flying in January and February. County Status: Very under-recorded due to its early flight, but seems to be widespread. Records prior to 2006: 58, of which 37 are Rothamsted records. Records ’96 to ’05: 18 Earliest date: 13th January (1992) 10km squares prior to 2006: 13

Number of records: 6 Earliest: 10th February Latest: 29th March 10km squares: SN12, SN53 Notes: Recorded at Penrhiw by Melanie Collier and at Rhydcymerau by Julian Wormald and Martin Lovell. A good number of records of a very under-recorded species.

1961 LIGHT EMERALD Campaea margaritata National Status: Common and widespread. Double-brooded and flying from June to July and sometimes again in September. County Status: Widespread and common. Records prior to 2006: 238 Records ’96 to ’05: 127 Earliest date: 2nd June (1998) 10km squares prior to 2006: 24

Number of records: 27 Earliest: 10th June Latest: 25th September 10km squares: SN12, SN22, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN51, SN52, SN53, SN54, SN61, SN74 Notes: Highest count was 20 in Pembrey Forest (SN3803) on 3rd July. Common. Three late September records indicative of the unusual and partial second brood.

1962 BARRED RED Hyalea fasciaria National Status: Widespread and common in coniferous areas. Flying from June to August. County Status: Local but moderately common where it does occur. Records prior to 2006: 52 Records ’96 to ’05: 21 Earliest date: 26th May (1997) 10km squares prior to 2006: 9

Number of records: 5 Earliest: 22nd June Latest: 12th July 10km squares: SN30, SN31, SN53, SN54 Notes: Typical records from Pembrey, Mynydd Llanllwni and Brechfa, but also seen in my garden in Carmarthen on 3rd July.

64 1964 ANNULET Charissa obscurata National Status: Widespread but local. Flying in July and August. County Status: Rare. Records prior to 2006: 7 Records ’96 to ’05: 3 Earliest date: 8th July (1975) 10km squares prior to 2006: 4

Number of records: NOT RECORDED. Earliest: - Latest: - 10km squares: - Notes: Last recorded in August 2005.

1968 YELLOW BELLE Aspitates ochrearia National Status: Locally common in coastal areas of southern England and Wales, and a few inland localities in England. Double-brooded, flying in May and June and again in August and September. County Status: All records prior to 2006 had come from along the coast from Pembrey to Penclacwydd. Records prior to 2006: 42 Records ’96 to ’05: 26 Earliest date: 23rd April (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 3

Number of records: 16 Earliest: 25th May Latest: 10th September 10km squares: SN30, SN31, SN40, SS49 Notes: Fifteen of the records were from the Pembrey area as expected, but it was also seen at Llansteffan on the foreshore (SN3510) on 25th August. Highest count was 30 in Pembrey Burrows (SS4199) on 1st June.

1970 GRASS WAVE Perconia strigillaria National Status: Scarce apart from in a few counties in central southern England. Flies in June and July. County Status: Rare and local. Records prior to 2006: 8, all from Pembrey Forest. Records ’96 to ’05: 7 Earliest date: 24th May (2004) 10km squares prior to 2006: 1 (SN30)

Number of records: 2 Earliest: 2nd June Latest: 3rd June 10km squares: SN30 Notes: Twice seen at Pembrey, the only known site in the county.

65 1972 CONVOLVULUS HAWK-MOTH Agrius convolvuli National Status: Regular but scarce migrant. County Status: Rarely encountered. Records prior to 2006: 10 Records ’96 to ’05: 8 Earliest date: 12th August (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 6

Number of records: 6 Earliest: 18th September Latest: 4th October 10km squares: SN51, SN53 Notes: The following records were received. 18/09/2006 1 Rhydcymerau SN5739 Julian Wormald 22/09/2006 2 Rhydcymerau SN5739 Julian Wormald 28/09/2006 1 Rhydcymerau SN5739 Julian Wormald 29/09/2006 1 Gelli Aur CP, weather station SN5919 J K Williams, per IKM 01/10/2006 1 Rhydcymerau SN5739 Julian Wormald 04/10/2006 1 Rhydcymerau SN5739 Julian Wormald

1973 DEATH’S-HEAD HAWK-MOTH Acherontia atropos National Status: Rare migrant. County Status: Extremely rare migrant. Records prior to 2006: 2 Records ’96 to ’05: 2 Earliest date: 9th May (1998) 10km squares prior to 2006: 2

Number of records: NOT RECORDED. Earliest: - Latest: - 10km squares: - Notes: Last record was larval in August of 2003.

1976 PRIVET HAWK-MOTH Sphinx ligustri National Status: Widespread but rarely common in southern Britain. Flying in June and July. County Status: Seemingly local and mainly in the south of the county. Records prior to 2006: 71 Records ’96 to ’05: 45 Earliest date: 21st May (2001) 10km squares prior to 2006: 13

Number of records: 11 Earliest: 6th June Latest: 9th July 10km squares: SN12, SN21, SN22, SN30, SN31, SN62, SS49 Notes: Highest count was six in Pembrey Forest (SN3803) on 3rd July.

1979 LIME HAWK-MOTH Mimas tiliae National Status: Widespread in southern Britain, though scarcer in the west. Flying from May to July. County Status: A single record in 2005 is hopefully the start of colonization. Records prior to 2006: 1 Records ’96 to ’05: 1 Earliest date: 21st June (2005) 10km squares prior to 2006: 1 (SN40)

Number of records: NOT RECORDED. Earliest: - Latest: - 10km squares: - Notes: The only county record was in June 2005.

66 1980 EYED HAWK-MOTH Smerinthus ocellata National Status: Relatively widespread and common in England and Wales. Flying from May to July. County Status: Relatively local. Records prior to 2006: 78 Records ’96 to ’05: 55 Earliest date: 4th May (1995) 10km squares prior to 2006: 12

Number of records: 7 Earliest: 3rd June Latest: 15th July 10km squares: SN30, SS49 Notes: All records were from Pembrey Forest and Burrows. It remains very scarce inland.

1981 POPLAR HAWK-MOTH Laothoe populi National Status: Widespread and common throughout Britain. Flying from May until September. County Status: Common and widespread. Records prior to 2006: 391 Records ’96 to ’05: 231 Earliest date: 4th May (1995) 10km squares prior to 2006: 24

Number of records: 43 Earliest: 10th May Latest: 26th August 10km squares: SN12, SN22, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN52, SN53, SN54, SN63, SN64, SN74, SS49 Notes: Commonly encountered at all regular trap sites.

1982 NARROW-BORDERED BEE HAWK-MOTH Hemaris tityus National Status: Nationally Scarce B. Much decreased with extremely local populations throughout. County Status: Recently discovered at RAF Pembrey (SN30). Records prior to 2006: 4 Records ’96 to ’05: 4 Earliest date: 20th May (2005) 10km squares prior to 2006: 1

Number of records: 1 Earliest: 2nd June Latest: - 10km squares: SN30 Notes: I saw two and managed to net one on the MOD land at Pembrey (SN3604) on 2nd June. The moth was then shown to members of Butterfly Conservation who were present, but it did not pose very obligingly for the camera.

1984 HUMMING-BIRD HAWK-MOTH Macroglossum stellatarum National Status: A regular migrant, numbers varying due to season. Has over-wintered and bred. County Status: A regular migrant, in some years not too uncommon. Records prior to 2006: 50 Records ’96 to ’05: 38 Earliest date: 10th April (1997) 10km squares prior to 2006: 18

Number of records: 17 Earliest: 10th June Latest: 30th September 10km squares: SN12, SN20, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN42, SN51, SN52, SN53, SN61, SN64, SN74 Notes: Many, many records made by the public did not reach me, but enough did that it was clearly its best year on record.

67 1990 STRIPED HAWK-MOTH Hyles livornica National Status: A very rare migrant, with occasional years of relative abundance. County Status: Rare migrant. Records prior to 2006: 3 Records ’96 to ’05: 3 Earliest date: 21st June (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 3

Number of records: 1 Earliest: 27th May Latest: - 10km squares: SN42 Notes: One record received belatedly was the 4th modern county record. Caught at Cwmdwyfran (SN409249) on 27th May by Richard Hart, a visitor from Lancashire. The moth was photographed and this was sent with the record via Martin Anthony the VC35 Moth Recorder.

1991 ELEPHANT HAWK-MOTH Deilephila elpenor National Status: Widespread and common in all but northern Scotland. Flying from May to July, and occasionally again in late summer. County Status: Common and widespread. Records prior to 2006: 352 Records ’96 to ’05: 257 Earliest date: 17th May (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 28

Number of records: 44 Earliest: 26th May Latest: 31st July 10km squares: SN12, SN22, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN51, SN52, SN53, SN54, SN63, SN64, SS49 Notes: Double-figure counts were made on a couple of occasions at Pembrey. Otherwise smaller numbers at all sites across the county.

1992 SMALL ELEPHANT HAWK-MOTH Deilephila porcellus National Status: Local and not often common across much of Britain. Flying from May to July. County Status: Local. Records prior to 2006: 70 Records ’96 to ’05: 49 Earliest date: 19th May (2004) 10km squares prior to 2006: 16

Number of records: 14 Earliest: 3rd June Latest: 15th July 10km squares: SN30, SN31, SN52, SN53, SS49 Notes: Most records came from Pembrey, where there were up to 40 some nights at the trap. Also recorded from less usual sites such as Rhydcymerau, Mynydd Llanllwni, Brechfa, my garden at Carmarthen and Aberglasney.

1994 BUFF-TIP Phalera bucephala National Status: A common species across much of Britain. Flying in June and July. County Status: Common and widespread. Records prior to 2006: 394 Records ’96 to ’05: 202 Earliest date: 2nd May (1997) 10km squares prior to 2006: 24

Number of records: 43 Earliest: 27th May Latest: 26th July 10km squares: SN12, SN22, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN52, SN53, SN54, SN61, SN63, SN64, SN73, SN74, SS49 Notes: A typical scatter of records, usually recorded in single figures at light.

68 1995 PUSS MOTH Cerura vinula National Status: Relatively common across Britain. Flying from May to July. County Status: Local, mostly in the south of the county. Records prior to 2006: 43 Records ’96 to ’05: 25 Earliest date: 12th April (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 11

Number of records: 7 Earliest: 3rd May Latest: 3rd July 10km squares: SN12, SN22, SN30, SN53, SN74, SS49 Notes: Recorded at Pembrey (SN3902, SS4199, SN3803), Gellywen (SN2723, Lee Walker), Centeneray, north of Nant-y-Bai (SN7546, G Lyons), Penrhiw (SN1924, Melanie Collier) and Rhydcymerau (SN5739, Martin Lovell).

1996 KITTEN Furcula bicuspis National Status: Local in southern Britain. Flying from May to July. County Status: Rare. Records prior to 2006: 9 Records ’96 to ’05: 7 Earliest date: 7th May (1995) 10km squares prior to 2006: 3

Number of records: 1 Earliest: 20th May Latest: - 10km squares: SN53 Notes: A superb individual seen and photographed by Julian Wormald at Rhydcymerau (SN5739). A scarce and very local species in the county.

1997 SALLOW KITTEN Furcula furcula National Status: Widespread and relatively common across Britain. Flying from May to August in two broods. County Status: Rarely numerous. Records from a spread of sites, mainly in the south. Records prior to 2006: 70 Records ’96 to ’05: 50 Earliest date: 16th April (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 17

Number of records: 12 Earliest: 24th June Latest: 21st August 10km squares: SN30, SN31, SN40, SN53, SN61, SS49 Notes: Slow to appear early in the season, records eventually picked up, though only small numbers were seen. Singles at a number of sites and one to four seen at Pembrey on six dates.

1999 LOBSTER MOTH Stauropus fagi National Status: Locally common in southern England and Wales. Flying from May to July. County Status: Somewhat local. Records prior to 2006: 126 Records ’96 to ’05: 86 Earliest date: 24th April (2004) 10km squares prior to 2006: 18

Number of records: 16 Earliest: 5th June Latest: 5th July 10km squares: SN12, SN22, SN30, SN32, SN51, SN52, SN53, SN74 Notes: High count was 15 at Nantgwyn on 8th June. A typical and expected set of records.

69 2000 IRON PROMINENT Notodonta dromedarius National Status: Widespread and Common. Flying in May and June, and again in August. County Status: Widespread and relatively common. Records prior to 2006: 179 Records ’96 to ’05: 107 Earliest date: 27th April (1999) 10km squares prior to 2006: 19

Number of records: 25 Earliest: 16th May Latest: 27th August 10km squares: SN12, SN22, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN52, SN53, SN61, SN74 Notes: One to three seen at regular and expected sites.

2003 PEBBLE PROMINENT Notodonta ziczac National Status: Widespread and Common. Flying in May and June, and again in August. County Status: Common and at some sites abundant. Records prior to 2006: 293 Records ’96 to ’05: 184 Earliest date: 12th April (2004) 10km squares prior to 2006: 27

Number of records: 36 Earliest: 27th April Latest: 5th August 10km squares: SN12, SN22, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN51, SN52, SN53, SN54, SN61, SN63, SN64, SN74, SS49 Notes: Numbers seemed notably down, especially at Pembrey where it has been increasingly numerous in recent years.

2005 GREAT PROMINENT Peridea anceps National Status: Local with a mainly southern distribution. Flying from April to June. County Status: Local, though common where it does occur. Records prior to 2006: 120 Records ’96 to ’05: 50 Earliest date: 8th April (2000) 10km squares prior to 2006: 8

Number of records: 14 Earliest: 26th April Latest: 13th June 10km squares: SN32, SN52, SN53, SN74 Notes: Highest count was just six at Nantgwyn on 4th May.

2006 LESSER SWALLOW PROMINENT Pheosia gnoma National Status: Widespread and Common. Flying in May and June, and again in August. County Status: Local. Records prior to 2006: 125 Records ’96 to ’05: 46 Earliest date: 4th April (2002) 10km squares prior to 2006: 18

Number of records: 13 Earliest: 4th May Latest: 26th August 10km squares: SN30, SN32, SN53, SN73, SN74 Notes: Ones and twos, mainly from Rhydcymerau and Pembrey.

70 2007 SWALLOW PROMINENT Pheosia tremula National Status: Widespread and Common. Flying in May and June, and again in August. County Status: Seems to be becoming commoner than gnoma. Records prior to 2006: 84 Records ’96 to ’05: 60 Earliest date: 5th May (2005) 10km squares prior to 2006: 18

Number of records: 11 Earliest: 12th May Latest: 25th August 10km squares: SN12, SN22, SN30, SN31, SN53, SN74, SS49 Notes: Ones and twos from a few sites, notably Gellywen and Pembrey.

2008 COXCOMB PROMINENT Ptilodon capucina National Status: Widespread and Common. Flying in May and June, and again in August and September. County Status: Widespread and common. Records prior to 2006: 302 Records ’96 to ’05: 181 Earliest date: 9th April (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 24

Number of records: 33 Earliest: 10th May Latest: 26th August 10km squares: SN12, SN22, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN51, SN52, SN53, SN54, SN61, SN64, SN74 Notes: Widespread, though numbers were small, with a high count of just four at Pembrey.

2011 PALE PROMINENT Pterostoma palpina National Status: Widespread and Common. Flying in May and June, and again in August. County Status: Widespread and common. Records prior to 2006: 271 Records ’96 to ’05: 160 Earliest date: 14th April (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 29

Number of records: 33 Earliest: 10th May Latest: 20th August 10km squares: SN22, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN52, SN53, SN61, SN62, SN64, SN74, SS49 Notes: Small numbers at sites across the county. Nothing unusual noted.

2014 MARBLED BROWN Drymonia dodonaea National Status: Locally common in much of Britain. Flying in May and June. County Status: Local, but common where it does occur. Records prior to 2006: 115 Records ’96 to ’05: 62 Earliest date: 7th May (2004) 10km squares prior to 2006: 12

Number of records: 19 Earliest: 10th May Latest: 29th June 10km squares: SN22, SN30, SN32, SN52, SN53, SN63, SN74, SS49 Notes: A high count of 8 at Nantgwyn on 16th May. A good set of records generally.

71 2015 LUNAR MARBLED BROWN Drymonia ruficornis National Status: Relatively common in southern Britain, scarcer in the north. Flying in April and May. County Status: Locally common. Records prior to 2006: 114 Records ’96 to ’05: 69 Earliest date: 3rd April (1999) 10km squares prior to 2006: 15

Number of records: 13 Earliest: 24th April Latest: 10th May 10km squares: SN32, SN52, SN53, SN74 Notes: A high count of 35 at Nantgwyn on 24th April. Numbers as expected.

2017 SMALL CHOCOLATE-TIP Clostera pigra National Status: Nationally Scarce B. Local across Britain. In the south it flies in May and August. County Status: Very local. Records prior to 2006: 13 Records ’96 to ’05: 12 Earliest date: 10th May (2002) 10km squares prior to 2006: 4

Number of records: NOT RECORDED. Earliest: - Latest: - 10km squares: - Notes: Last recorded in August 2005.

2026 VAPOURER Orgyia antiqua National Status: Moderately common and widespread. Flying from July to October. County Status: Extremely rare. A single larva found in 2005 at RAF Pembrey is the only record. Records prior to 2006: 1 Records ’96 to ’05: 1 Earliest date: no adult seen. Larva on 24th July (2005). 10km squares prior to 2006: 1 (SN30)

Number of records: NOT RECORDED. Earliest: - Latest: - 10km squares: - Notes: The only county record was larval in July 2005.

2028 PALE TUSSOCK Calliteara pudibunda National Status: Widespread and common in England and Wales. Flying from April to June. County Status: Common throughout and often abundant in woodlands. Records prior to 2006: 237 Records ’96 to ’05: 157 Earliest date: 15th April (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 23

Number of records: 33 Earliest: 9th May Latest: 24th June 10km squares: SN12, SN22, SN30, SN32, SN40, SN52, SN53, SN54, SN63, SN64, SN74, SS49 Notes: A high count of 20 at Nantgwyn on 8th June. As with others in this group, populations seem stable.

72 2030 YELLOW-TAIL Euproctis similis National Status: Common in England and Wales, less so in Scotland. Flying in July and August. County Status: Local and not particularly common with half of the records coming from Pembrey. Records prior to 2006: 121 Records ’96 to ’05: 77 Earliest date: 28th June (1993) 10km squares prior to 2006: 10

Number of records: 17 Earliest: 9th July Latest: 7th October 10km squares: SN30, SN31, SN40, SS49 Notes: All records were coastal and apart from one at Pwll (IKM) and a dead one at Llansteffan Castle, all records came from Pembrey, where it is clearly getting commoner. The highest count was of 50 to light in the Forest (SN3803) on 24th July.

2031 WHITE SATIN MOTH Leucoma salicis National Status: Local and commonest in the south-east. Flying in July and August. County Status: Rare. Records prior to 2006: 3 Records ’96 to ’05: 2 Earliest date: 19th July (1989) 10km squares prior to 2006: 2 (SN30, SS59)

Number of records: NOT RECORDED. Earliest: - Latest: - 10km squares: - Notes: Last recorded in July 2005.

2033 BLACK ARCHES Lymantria monacha National Status: Local in the southern half of Britain. Flying in July and August. County Status: Uncommon, but increasing and spreading very rapidly it would seem. Records prior to 2006: 25 Records ’96 to ’05: 23 Earliest date: 9th July (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 10

Number of records: 6 Earliest: 25th July Latest: 20th August 10km squares: SN30, SN32, SN40, SN52, SN53, SN61 Notes: Continuing its rapid expansion in the county, there were two large counts – on 31st July at Abergorlech (SN5834) on the CMG field meeting when 20 were seen and 12 at Nantgwyn on 28th July.

2035 ROUND-WINGED MUSLIN Thumatha senex National Status: Local but widespread in England and Wales. Very local in Scotland. Flying in July and August. County Status: Local. Records prior to 2006: 44 Records ’96 to ’05: 32 Earliest date: 16th June (1989) 10km squares prior to 2006: 9

Number of records: 6 Earliest: 19th June Latest: 26th July 10km squares: SN30, SS49 Notes: All records were from Pembrey. One in the Forest, but many seen in the Saltings, with counts of up to 50.

73 2037 ROSY FOOTMAN Miltochrista miniata National Status: Locally common in southern Britain. Flying from June to August. County Status: Locally common. Records prior to 2006: 160 Records ’96 to ’05: 123 Earliest date: 24th June (2006) 10km squares prior to 2006: 16

Number of records: 20 Earliest: 24th June Latest: 7th August 10km squares: SN12, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN51, SN52, SN53, SN61, SS49 Notes: Moderately widespread and common with a high count of 20 seen in Pembrey Forest.

2038 MUSLIN FOOTMAN Nudaria mundana National Status: Locally common. Flying from June to August. County Status: Rare and local. Records prior to 2006: 2 Records ’96 to ’05: 1 Earliest date: 1st July (2006) 10km squares prior to 2006: 2 (SN51, SN74)

Number of records: 3 Earliest: 1st July Latest: 5th July 10km squares: SN51 Notes: I have to admit I had some doubts about the veracity of the couple of records of this species that were on the county database from before 2000, so it was great news that Ian Morgan found this at Gelli Aur (SN5919) in July – a site where it had been reported in 1997. We also saw several on our field trip to Gelli Aur a few days later. I have retrospectively accepted the earlier record from the site, as well as one from Rothamsted at Rhandirmwyn.

2039 RED-NECKED FOOTMAN Atolmis rubricollis National Status: Local and sometimes abundant. Flies in June and July. County Status: Uncommon and local, though increasing. Records prior to 2006: 43 Records ’96 to ’05: 25 Earliest date: 12th May (2005) 10km squares prior to 2006: 11

Number of records: 9 Earliest: 29th May Latest: 5th July 10km squares: SN30, SN31, SN32, SN50, SN51, SN53, SN74, SS49 Notes: This species has increased notably in the last decade, as have many other footmen. The highest count this year was of six at my Nantgwyn trap (SN3623) on 8th June.

2040 FOUR-DOTTED FOOTMAN Cybosia mesomella National Status: Local throughout Britain. Flies from June to August. County Status: Uncommon and local. Records prior to 2006: 86 Records ’96 to ’05: 23 Earliest date: 8th June (1970) 10km squares prior to 2006: 14

Number of records: 5 Earliest: 14th June Latest: 16th July 10km squares: SN53, SN54 Notes: This species is far more local than other footmen, and absent from much of the county. All records this year came from the Brechfa and Rhydcymerau area (Martin Lovell and Julian Wormald).

74 2043 ORANGE FOOTMAN Eilema sororcula National Status: Local in the south, recently spreading north and west. Flies in May and June. County Status: First discovered in 2005 at Pembrey (SN30). Records prior to 2006: 1 Records ’96 to ’05: 1 Earliest date: 25th May (2005) 10km squares prior to 2006: 1 (SN30)

Number of records: 1 Earliest: 3rd June Latest: - 10km squares: SN30 Notes: I returned on 3rd June to the exact spot where I had caught two of these in 2005 (adding them to the county list), with LeeWalker, hoping to see if I could find them for a second year. As hoped another two appeared on cue. It is therefore “proven” that a small population is now established at Pembrey.

2044 DINGY FOOTMAN Eilema griseola National Status: Locally common in southern Britain. Flying in July and August. County Status: Widespread and relatively common throughout. Records prior to 2006: 183 Records ’96 to ’05: 125 Earliest date: 25th June (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 21

Number of records: 38 Earliest: 28th June Latest: 26th August 10km squares: SN12, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN51, SN52, SN53, SN54, SN61, SN63, SN74, SS49 Notes: Highest count was 150 or so at Pembrey Forest (SN3803) on 24th July. Probably the commonest footman species in the county.

2045 HOARY FOOTMAN Eilema caniola National Status: Nationally Scarce B. Local and found on rocky coasts in Western Britain. Flying from July to September. County Status: Very local. Records prior to 2006: 3 Records ’96 to ’05: 3 Earliest date: 21st August (1997) 10km squares prior to 2006: 2

Number of records: 1 Earliest: 23rd August Latest: - 10km squares: SS49 Notes: A new species for Pembrey, I caught one in the Burrows (SN4199) on 23rd August, during our CMG field trip. Previously only seen along the south-west cliffs at Telpyn Point, and a wanderer inland at Nantgwyn.

2047 SCARCE FOOTMAN Eilema complana National Status: Widespread and fairly common in England and Wales. Flying in July and August. County Status: Local. Records prior to 2006: 50 Records ’96 to ’05: 40 Earliest date: 17th June (2005) 10km squares prior to 2006: 8

Number of records: 10 Earliest: 28th June Latest: 7th August 10km squares: SN30, SS49 Notes: All records were from the Pembrey area, where up to 50 were seen on a number of nights.

75 2049 BUFF FOOTMAN Eilema deplana National Status: Common in southern England and parts of Wales. Flying in July and August. County Status: Local but increasing. Records prior to 2006: 70 Records ’96 to ’05: 66 Earliest date: 29th June (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 11

Number of records: 14 Earliest: 3rd July Latest: 14th August 10km squares: SN12, SN30, SN32, SN40, SN51, SN53, SN54, SN61, SS49 Notes: Has increased dramatically in the last decade. Several sites reported counts in double figures. Can still cause identification problems in separating from the commoner Dingy, which has similar colour variation.

2050 COMMON FOOTMAN Eilema lurideola National Status: Common in England and Wales, but local in Scotland. Flying in July and August. County Status: Common and widespread. Records prior to 2006: 331 Records ’96 to ’05: 123 Earliest date: 26th June (2005) 10km squares prior to 2006: 23

Number of records: 22 Earliest: 29th June Latest: 31st July 10km squares: SN12, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN52, SN53, SN54, SN63, SN64, SN74, SS49 Notes: Not living up to its name at many sites, where numbers seemed very poor and rarely reached double figures. Has this species suffered as other Eilema have increased?

2051 FOUR-SPOTTED FOOTMAN Lithosia quadra National Status: Nationally Scarce A. Very local in the south-west, but also a scarce migrant. Flies from July to September. County Status: Rare and very local. Records prior to 2006: 10 Records ’96 to ’05: 9 Earliest date: 9th July (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 3

Number of records: 3 Earliest: 9th July Latest: 14th August 10km squares: SN30, SN31, SN40 Notes: Five seen at Pembrey across two nights, proving the ongoing population there. One to my garden trap in Carmarthen was much less expected, and probably a migrant.

2056 WOOD TIGER Parasemia plantaginis National Status: Once widespread, much decreased. Mainly northern. Flying from May to July. County Status: Extremely rare, if not extinct. Category A2. Records prior to 2006: 2 Records ’96 to ’05: None. Earliest date: 13th July (1977) 10km squares prior to 2006: 2 (SN33, SN53)

Number of records: NOT RECORDED. Earliest: - Latest: - 10km squares: - Notes: Last recorded in June 1993.

76 2057 GARDEN TIGER Arctia caja National Status: Once common but noticeably in decline nationally. Flying in July and August. County Status: Patchily distributed. Records prior to 2006: 162 Records ’96 to ’05: 64 Earliest date: 21st June (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 21

Number of records: 13 Earliest: 28th June Latest: 26th July 10km squares: SN12, SN30, SN53, SN54, SN63, SN64, SS49 Notes: Highest count was just eight in Pembrey Burrows (SS4199), and this species remains at a low population level by comparison to a decade or so ago.

2059 CLOUDED BUFF Diacrisia sannio National Status: Local, mainly to upland areas of Britain. Flying in June and July. County Status: Extremely local. Only recorded in SN74. Category A2. Records prior to 2006: 38 Records ’96 to ’05: 1 Earliest date: 11th June (1971) 10km squares prior to 2006: 1 (SN74)

Number of records: 1 Earliest: 29th June Latest: - 10km squares: SN74 Notes: A single seen at Dinas (SN7846) by visiting moth-er G Lyons was the first record for many years, and only the third non-Rothamsted record. It would be great to get a few more records of this species from other parts of the county.

2060 WHITE ERMINE Spilosoma lubricipeda National Status: Widespread and common. Flying from May to July and occasionally again in autumn. County Status: Common. Records prior to 2006: 517 Records ’96 to ’05: 211 Earliest date: 30th April (1990) 10km squares prior to 2006: 25

Number of records: 50 Earliest: 11th May Latest: 4th September 10km squares: SN12, SN22, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN51, SN52, SN53, SN54, SN63, SN64, SN73, SN74, SS49 Notes: Widespread and common. One seen in Pembrey Burrows (SN4199) on 4th September was the only evidence of a second brood.

2061 BUFF ERMINE Spilosoma luteum National Status: Widespread and common. Flying from May to July. County Status: Common. Records prior to 2006: 434 Records ’96 to ’05: 207 Earliest date: 8th May (1993) 10km squares prior to 2006: 24

Number of records: 50 Earliest: 5th May Latest: 21st July 10km squares: SN12, SN22, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN51, SN52, SN53, SN54, SN63, SN64, SN73, SN74, SS49 Notes: Also widespread and common.

77 2063 MUSLIN MOTH Diaphora mendica National Status: Widespread and common. Flying from late April to June. County Status: Moderately uncommon. Records prior to 2006: 80 Records ’96 to ’05: 39 Earliest date: 9th April (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 16

Number of records: 2 Earliest: 6th May Latest: 11th May 10km squares: SN22, SN31 Notes: Well below an average showing, with just the two records. A little worrying?

2064 RUBY TIGER Phragmatobia fuliginosa National Status: Widespread and common. Flying from April to June and sometimes again in Autumn. County Status: Common. Records prior to 2006: 165 Records ’96 to ’05: 108 Earliest date: 14th April (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 22

Number of records: 14 Earliest: 10th May Latest: 23rd August 10km squares: SN30, SN31, SN52, SN53, SN61, SN63, SS49 Notes: Over half the records were from Pembrey, with small numbers seen elsewhere. A below average showing and could be indicative of a population dip.

2068 SCARLET TIGER Callimorpha dominula National Status: Almost totally confined to the southwest, but not uncommon where it occurs. Flying in June and July. County Status: Fairly widespread and common. Records prior to 2006: 82 Records ’96 to ’05: 42 Earliest date: 15th June (1990) 10km squares prior to 2006: 20

Number of records: 4 Earliest: 24th June Latest: 9th July 10km squares: SN30, SN64, SS49 Notes: Very poor set of records, with just three singles at Pembrey and also seen at Harford (SN6242, Bronwen Berkshire). Is this species in trouble at the moment? A few years ago it was a regular sight in many places.

2069 CINNABAR Tyria jacobaeae National Status: Widespread and common in England and Wales, local in Scotland. Flying from May to July. County Status: Common. Records prior to 2006: 220 Records ’96 to ’05: 149 Earliest date: 9th April (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 19

Number of records: 29 Earliest: 25th May Latest: 1st July 10km squares: SN22, SN30, SN31, SN40, SN51, SN64, SS49 Notes: Nearly all the records came from Pembrey, where it remained very common.

78 2077 SHORT-CLOAKED MOTH Nola cucullatella National Status: Fairly common in England and Wales. Flying in June and July. County Status: Local and seemingly restricted to the southeast of the county. Records prior to 2006: 36 Records ’96 to ’05: 15 Earliest date: 1st June (1992) 10km squares prior to 2006: 6

Number of records: 3 Earliest: 28th June Latest: 9th July 10km squares: SN30 Notes: Five individuals trapped in Pembrey Forest, which seems to be the county stronghold of this scarce species.

2078 LEAST BLACK ARCHES Nola confusalis National Status: Widespread but local. Flying in May and June. County Status: Local but numerous in some areas. Records prior to 2006: 102 Records ’96 to ’05: 72 Earliest date: 19th April (2002) 10km squares prior to 2006: 14

Number of records: 23 Earliest: 4th May Latest: 10th June 10km squares: SN12, SN22, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN52, SN53, SN74 Notes: Only one count was in double figures, and although there were more records than perhaps might be expected, I did feel that numbers might be a little down on recent years.

2081 WHITE-LINE DART Euxoa tritici National Status: Widespread but local to sand hills and heaths. Flying from July to August. County Status: Local. Records prior to 2006: 31 Records ’96 to ’05: 21 Earliest date: 10th June (1990) – may be erroneous 10km squares prior to 2006: 6

Number of records: 5 Earliest: 15th July Latest: 14th August 10km squares: SN40, SS49 Notes: 30 individuals were caught at Pembrey, only one of which was in the forest, with the rest being, as expected in the Burrows (SN4199, SN4299).

2085 ARCHER’S DART Agrotis vestigialis National Status: Widespread around coasts, rare inland. Flying from July to September. County Status: Very local. Records prior to 2006: 21 Records ’96 to ’05: 16 Earliest date: 27th July (1995) 10km squares prior to 2006: 4

Number of records: 5 Earliest: 21st August Latest: 23rd September 10km squares: SS49 Notes: 16 individuals seen over 5 nights in Pembrey Burrows.

79 2087 TURNIP MOTH Agrotis segetum National Status: Widespread and relatively common, and also a common migrant. Double-brooded between May and September. County Status: Rare and local as a native, occasional migrant. Records prior to 2006: 104 Records ’96 to ’05: 34 Earliest date: 14th May (1997) 10km squares prior to 2006: 14

Number of records: 47 Earliest: 27th May Latest: 8th November 10km squares: SN20, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN42, SN51, SN53, SN54, SN73, SS49 Notes: I remain unconvinced that this species is indeed resident in the county. Certainly the vast majority of this bumper year of records was clearly of migrants. Over 150 individuals were seen, with a count of over 50 on 24th September, along the coast at Llansteffan and Wharley Point. Found its way inland to virtually every site that was being regularly trapped.

2088 HEART AND CLUB Agrotis clavis National Status: Widespread but local. Flying in June and July. County Status: Rare, local. Records prior to 2006: 23 Records ’96 to ’05: 14 Earliest date: 7th June (2005) 10km squares prior to 2006: 5

Number of records: 4 Earliest: 16th June Latest: 24th June 10km squares: SN40, SS49 Notes: The high count was four to MV in Pembrey Borrows (SS4299) on the 24th June, with three other records from the SE coastal areas. This species is very scarce in Carmarthenshire and any claims away from the Llanelli to Pembrey area really need to be verified with a photograph.

2089 HEART AND DART Agrotis exclamationis National Status: Widespread and very common. Flying from May to July. County Status: Very common and sometimes abundant. Records prior to 2006: 605 Records ’96 to ’05: 321 Earliest date: 6th May 2003 10km squares prior to 2006: 24

Number of records: 79 Earliest: 26th May Latest: 24th September 10km squares: SN12, SN22, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN51, SN52, SN53, SN54, SN63, SN74, SS49 Notes: A typical spread and number of records of this common species.

2090 CRESCENT DART Agrotis trux National Status: Coastal and local in south and west Britain. Flying in July and August. County Status: Very local. Records prior to 2006: 8 Records ’96 to ’05: 3 Earliest date: 7th July 2005 10km squares prior to 2006: 2 (SN10, SS59)

Number of records: NOT RECORDED. Earliest: - Latest: - 10km squares: - Notes: Last recorded in July 2005.

80 2091 DARK SWORD GRASS Agrotis ipsilon National Status: Common Migrant. Has been recorded from March to November. County Status: Regular migrant. Records prior to 2006: 187 Records ’96 to ’05: 135 Earliest date: 23rd March (1990) 10km squares prior to 2006: 16

Number of records: 34 Earliest: 9th July Latest: 18th October 10km squares: SN10, SN12, SN20, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN53, SS49 Notes: An exceptionally good year with 86 individuals seen. The highest number was 24 along the Llansteffan and Wharley Point coast path on 24th September, mostly on ivy.

2092 SHUTTLE-SHAPED DART Agrotis puta National Status: Widespread and common in the south. Two or three broods from April to October. County Status: Fairly uncommon. Records prior to 2006: 103 Records ’96 to ’05: 55 Earliest date: 25th April (1997) 10km squares prior to 2006: 13

Number of records: 8 Earliest: 21st July Latest: 3rd October 10km squares: SN31, SN40, SN51, SS49 Notes: Just ones and two from very few sites. This species is much rarer in the county than I expected.

2093 SAND DART Agrotis ripae National Status: Nationally Scarce B. Sporadically distributed and local along coasts. Flying in June and July. County Status: Very local. Records prior to 2006: 23 Records ’96 to ’05: 18 Earliest date: 28th May (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 4

Number of records: 7 Earliest: 17th June Latest: 26th July 10km squares: SN30, SS49 Notes: Seven records, all from Pembrey coast, comprising 17 adults and a larva – the later seen by day crawling across the sand at SN377026 on 6th August.

2098 FLAME Axylia putris National Status: Widespread and common except in Scotland where it is local. Flying from June to July and again in September. County Status: Common. Records prior to 2006: 481 Records ’96 to ’05: 249 Earliest date: 23rd May (1998) 10km squares prior to 2006: 25

Number of records: 46 Earliest: 4th June Latest: 13th September 10km squares: SN12, SN22, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN51, SN52, SN53, SN61, SN63, SN74, SS49 Notes: High counts of 30 at Pembrey Burrows (SS4299, JSB & SDSB) on 24th June and 33 at Penrhiw (SN1924, Melanie Collier) on 30th June.

81 2102 FLAME SHOULDER Ochropleura plecta National Status: Widespread and common. Flying from April to June and again in August and September. County Status: Abundant in all habitats. Records prior to 2006: 822 Records ’96 to ’05: 477 Earliest date: 9th April (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 28

Number of records: 127 Earliest: 5th May Latest: 27th October 10km squares: SN12, SN22, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN51, SN52, SN53, SN54, SN61, SN62, SN63, SN73, SN74, SS49 Notes: High count of 30 at Carmarthen (SN3919) on 7th August. Common and widespread as usual.

2104 NORTHERN RUSTIC Standfussiana lucernea National Status: Local, inhabiting coasts and rocky uplands in southern and western Britain, and Scotland. Flying from June to September. County Status: Rare. No well documented records. Category A2. Records prior to 2006: 6 Records ’96 to ’05: None. Earliest date: 11Th July (1986) 10km squares prior to 2006: 2 (SN61, SN74)

Number of records: NOT RECORDED. Earliest: - Latest: - 10km squares: - Notes: The only non-Rothamsted record was in August 1985 and is suspect.

2107 LARGE YELLOW UNDERWING Noctua pronuba National Status: Widespread and common. Flying from July to October. County Status: Very common throughout. Records prior to 2006: 699 Records ’96 to ’05: 418 Earliest date: 20th May (2006) 10km squares prior to 2006: 27

Number of records: 110 Earliest: 20th May Latest: 13th October 10km squares: SN10, SN12, SN22, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN51, SN52, SN53, SN54, SN61, SN62, SN63, SN74, SS49 Notes: A very early individual at Rhydcymerau (Julian Wormald). Otherwise, common, widespread and fairly numerous.

2109 LESSER YELLOW UNDERWING Noctua comes National Status: Widespread and common. Flying from July to September. County Status: Common and widespread. Records prior to 2006: 279 Records ’96 to ’05: 160 Earliest date: 29th June (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 22

Number of records: 51 Earliest: 1st July Latest: 7th November 10km squares: SN20, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN51, SN52, SN53, SN54, SN61, SN63, SS49 Notes: Three counts in double figures, but otherwise moderately common as usual. A very late individual caught at Pwll (SN4601, IKM) on 7th November.

82 2110 BROAD-BORDERED YELLOW UNDERWING Noctua fimbriata National Status: Widespread and relatively common. Flying from July to September. County Status: Uncommon and somewhat local. Records prior to 2006: 56 Records ’96 to ’05: 34 Earliest date: 25th June (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 15

Number of records: 8 Earliest: 15th July Latest: 17th September 10km squares: SN30, SN31, SN54, SS49 Notes: Three in Pembrey Burrows on 15th July (SS4299, JSB with Lee Walker), and all other records were of singles. Never a common species.

2111 LESSER BROAD-BORDERED YELLOW UNDERWING Noctua janthe National Status: Widespread and common. Flying from July to September. County Status: Very common. Records prior to 2006: 232 Records ’96 to ’05: 136 Earliest date: 12th July (1999) 10km squares prior to 2006: 22

Number of records: 33 Earliest: 20th July Latest: 5th September 10km squares: SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN51, SN52, SN53, SN54, SN61, SN62, SS49 Notes: A typical set of records. High count of 15 on a couple of dates.

2112 LEAST YELLOW UNDERWING Noctua interjecta National Status: Widespread but local. Flying in July and August. County Status: Fairly common, though rarely seen in numbers. Records prior to 2006: 83 Records ’96 to ’05: 41 Earliest date: 24th June (2006) 10km squares prior to 2006: 16

Number of records: 10 Earliest: 24th June Latest: 8th August 10km squares: SN30, SN31, SN53, SN54, SN61, SS49 Notes: The highest count was of 6 at Glynhir Mansion (SN6315, Barry Stewart).

2114 DOUBLE DART Graphiphora augur National Status: Moderately common throughout Britain. Flying in July and August. County Status: Local and not common. Records prior to 2006: 41 Records ’96 to ’05: 23 Earliest date: 12th June (1989) 10km squares prior to 2006: 6

Number of records: 1 Earliest: 16th June Latest: - 10km squares: SN53 Notes: Only recorded at Rhydcymerau by Martin Lovell. A rare species these days and very local.

83 2117 AUTUMNAL RUSTIC Eugnorisma glareosa National Status: Widespread and common. Flying in August and September. County Status: Common. Records prior to 2006: 97 Records ’96 to ’05: 35 Earliest date: 30th July (1973) 10km squares prior to 2006: 17

Number of records: 24 Earliest: 1st September Latest: 26th September 10km squares: SN12, SN20, SN30, SN31, SN40, SN53, SN54, SS49 Notes: Very common at Pembrey with 50 seen on 23rd September.

2118 TRUE LOVER’S KNOT Lycophotia porphyrea National Status: Widespread and common. Flying from June to August. County Status: Widespread. Abundant on heaths, wandering elsewhere. Records prior to 2006: 179 Records ’96 to ’05: 55 Earliest date: 30th May (1995) 10km squares prior to 2006: 20

Number of records: 7 Earliest: 29th June Latest: 20th July 10km squares: SN53, SN54, SN74 Notes: All records came from the more upland areas of the county, as expected. Very common at Mynydd Llanybydder and Mynydd Llanllwni.

2119 PEARLY UNDERWING Peridroma saucia National Status: Uncommon migrant. County Status: Moderately rare. Records prior to 2006: 17 Records ’96 to ’05: 13 Earliest date: 18th June (2000) 10km squares prior to 2006: 7

Number of records: 21 Earliest: 23rd June Latest: 29th October 10km squares: SN20, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN53, SS49 Notes: 68 individuals seen with 23 around the Llansteffan/Wharley Point headland on 7th October being the highest number. A phenomenal showing of what had previously been a rare moth in the county.

2120 INGRAILED CLAY Diarsia mendica National Status: Widespread and common. Flying from June to August. County Status: Very common. Records prior to 2006: 316 Records ’96 to ’05: 156 Earliest date: 15th May (1995), may be error 10km squares prior to 2006: 25

Number of records: 24 Earliest: 27th May Latest: 24th July 10km squares: SN12, SN22, SN30, SN32, SN40, SN51, SN53, SN54, SN73, SN74, SS49 Notes: Nearly all records were of very small numbers, although it was very common at Mynydd Llanybydder and Mynydd Llanllwni, with counts of 50 or so at both sites.

84 2122 PURPLE CLAY Diarsia brunnea National Status: Widespread and common. Flying from June to August. County Status: Common. Records prior to 2006: 180 Records ’96 to ’05: 99 Earliest date: 23rd May (1995), may be error 10km squares prior to 2006: 19

Number of records: 20 Earliest: 17th June Latest: 21st July 10km squares: SN12, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN51, SN52, SN53, SN54 Notes: Highest count was of 18 at Mynydd Llanybydder (SN5340, Martin Lovell) on 20th July.

2123 SMALL SQUARE-SPOT Diarsia rubi National Status: Widespread and common. Flying in May and June, and again in August and September. County Status: Common. Records prior to 2006: 327 Records ’96 to ’05: 173 Earliest date: 13th May (2000) 10km squares prior to 2006: 21

Number of records: 50 Earliest: 25th May Latest: 26th September 10km squares: SN12, SN22, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN51, SN52, SN53, SN54, SN62, SN63, SS49 Notes: All records were of single figure counts. Widespread.

2126 SETACEOUS HEBREW CHARACTER Xestia c-nigrum National Status: Widespread and common. Double-brooded between May and October. County Status: Common. Records prior to 2006: 256 Records ’96 to ’05: 158 Earliest date: 21st May (1995) 10km squares prior to 2006: 20

Number of records: 76 Earliest: 26th May Latest: 15th October 10km squares: SN12, SN20, SN22, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN52, SN62, SS49 Notes: Very common, although double-figure counts only made from late August on.

2127 TRIPLE-SPOTTED CLAY Xestia ditrapezium National Status: Widespread but local. Flying from June to August. County Status: Fairly common and widespread. Records prior to 2006: 193 Records ’96 to ’05: 50 Earliest date: 15th June (1999) 10km squares prior to 2006: 18

Number of records: 16 Earliest: 17th June Latest: 25th July 10km squares: SN12, SN30, SN31, SN51, SN52, SN53, SN61, SN74 Notes: All records were of one to four individuals.

85 2128 DOUBLE SQUARE-SPOT Xestia triangulum National Status: Widespread and common. Flying in June and July. County Status: Common. Records prior to 2006: 256 Records ’96 to ’05: 152 Earliest date: 1st June (1992) 10km squares prior to 2006: 25

Number of records: 24 Earliest: 10th June Latest: 28th July 10km squares: SN12, SN22, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN51, SN53, SN54, SN61, SN63 Notes: All records were of one to five individuals. Slightly more common than the above species.

2130 DOTTED CLAY Xestia baja National Status: Widespread and common. Flying in July and August. County Status: Common. Records prior to 2006: 197 Records ’96 to ’05: 67 Earliest date: 1st July (1989) 10km squares prior to 2006: 19

Number of records: 11 Earliest: 12th July Latest: 7th August 10km squares: SN12, SN30, SN51, SN53, SN54, SN61, SN74, SS49 Notes: All records were of one to five individuals. Slightly less common than the above two species.

2132 NEGLECTED RUSTIC Xestia castanea National Status: Locally common. Flying in August and September. County Status: Local. Records prior to 2006: 17 Records ’96 to ’05: 6 Earliest date: 19th August (1991) 10km squares prior to 2006: 7

Number of records: 2 Earliest: 21st August Latest: 22nd August 10km squares: SN53, SN54 Notes: Fifteen seen at Llwyndrissi Forest (SN5641) by Martin Lovell on 21st August and three on Mynydd Llanybydder (SN5439) by Julian Wormald on 22nd August. A very local species.

2133 SIX-STRIPED RUSTIC Xestia sexstrigata National Status: Widespread and common. Flying in July and August. County Status: Moderately common. Records prior to 2006: 131 Records ’96 to ’05: 39 Earliest date: 16th July (1970) 10km squares prior to 2006: 17

Number of records: 6 Earliest: 15th July Latest: 4th September 10km squares: SN31, SN40, SN53, SS49 Notes: Very few seen, and nearly all at Pembrey. Seems to be going through a scarce period.

86 2134 SQUARE-SPOT RUSTIC Xestia xanthographa National Status: Widespread and common. Flying from July to September. County Status: Common. Records prior to 2006: 242 Records ’96 to ’05: 124 Earliest date: 23rd July (1971) 10km squares prior to 2006: 20

Number of records: 74 Earliest: 18th August Latest: 19th October 10km squares: SN10, SN20, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN51, SN52, SN54, SN62, SS49 Notes: Many records in double figures. Very common.

2135 HEATH RUSTIC Xestia agathina National Status: Local, mainly in upland areas. Flying in August and September. County Status: Very rare. Category A2. Records prior to 2006: 3 Records ’96 to ’05: None. Earliest date: 21st August (1990) 10km squares prior to 2006: 2

Number of records: NOT RECORDED. Earliest: - Latest: - 10km squares: - Notes: Last recorded in August 1990

2136 GOTHIC Naenia typica National Status: Local in lowland Britain.. Flying from July to September. County Status: Scarce and local. Records prior to 2006: 25 Records ’96 to ’05: 13 Earliest date: 24th June (2001) 10km squares prior to 2006: 9

Number of records: 4 Earliest: 4th July Latest: 15th July 10km squares: SN31, SN53 Notes: Four singles – twice recorded in my garden in Carmarthen and twice by Martin Lovell at Rhydcymerau. A difficult to find species.

2138 GREEN ARCHES Anaplectoides prasina National Status: Common. Flying in June and July. County Status: Fairly common. Records prior to 2006: 151 Records ’96 to ’05: 82 Earliest date: 25th May (2001) 10km squares prior to 2006: 14

Number of records: 12 Earliest: 8th June Latest: 21st July 10km squares: SN12, SN22, SN30, SN32, SN51, SN53, SN54, SN74 Notes: High count of 20 at Nantgwyn on 23rd June.

87 2139 RED CHESTNUT Cerastis rubricosa National Status: Widespread and generally common. Flying in March and April. County Status: Moderately common. Records prior to 2006: 136 Records ’96 to ’05: 50 Earliest date: 13th February (1993) 10km squares prior to 2006: 19

Number of records: 15 Earliest: 6th April Latest: 16th May 10km squares: SN12, SN53, SN74 Notes: Few records, though the time of year always plays a big part in that.

2140 WHITE-MARKED Cerastis leucographa National Status: Local in southern Britain. Flying in March and April. County Status: Few well documented records. Seemingly local and scarce. Records prior to 2006: 21, of which 19 are Rothamsted records and unverified. Records ’96 to ’05: 6 Earliest date: 3rd April (2005) 10km squares prior to 2006: 3

Number of records: 2 Earliest: 22nd April Latest: 29th April 10km squares: SN12, SN53 Notes: Caught at Penrhiw (SN1924) by Melanie Collier and also at Rhydcymerau (SN5739) by Martin Lovell, where it seems to be annual.

2142 BEAUTIFUL YELLOW UNDERWING Anarta myrtilli National Status: Common in heathland habitats across Britain. Flying by day in two broods from April to August. County Status: Scarce, though under-recorded. Records prior to 2006: 7 Records ’96 to ’05: 4 Earliest date: 29th May (1984) 10km squares prior to 2006: 3

Number of records: NOT RECORDED. Earliest: - Latest: - 10km squares: - Notes: Last records were larvae in 2005.

2145 NUTMEG Discestra trifolii National Status: Mainly southerly in distribution and commoner in the east. Flying in two broods from May to September. County Status: Rare. It may be that all records are of migrants and it is not a resident species. Records prior to 2006: 8 Records ’96 to ’05: 7 Earliest date: 9th July (2005) 10km squares prior to 2006: 3

Number of records: NOT RECORDED. Earliest: - Latest: - 10km squares: - Notes: Last recorded in August 2005.

88 2147 SHEARS Hada plebeja National Status: Widespread and common. Flying from May to July and occasionally again in August. County Status: Local. Not uncommon. Records prior to 2006: 70 Records ’96 to ’05: 28 Earliest date: 4th May (1995) 10km squares prior to 2006: 15

Number of records: 6 Earliest: 1st June Latest: 29th June 10km squares: SN31, SN74, SS49 Notes: 29 seen over three dates at Pembrey Burrows (SS4199, SS4299). Also seen in ones and twos in my garden in Carmarthen (SN3919) and by G Lyons visiting the Rhandirmwyn area (SN7645, SN7846).

2150 GREY ARCHES Polia nebulosa National Status: Widespread and relatively common. Flying in June and July. County Status: Local. Records prior to 2006: 138 Records ’96 to ’05: 81 Earliest date: 4th June (2004) 10km squares prior to 2006: 15

Number of records: 12 Earliest: 10th June Latest: 6th July 10km squares: SN22, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN51, SN52, SN53, SN74, SS49 Notes: Highest count was 15 at both Nantgwyn and Gelli Aur. Not as good a set of records as I would have hoped for.

2152 WHITE COLON Sideridis albicolon National Status: Nationally Scarce B. Coastal and mainly southern. Flying in May and June, occasionally again later. County Status: Local and rare. Records prior to 2006: 5 Records ’96 to ’05: 4 Earliest date: 6th June (2004) 10km squares prior to 2006: 2

Number of records: 2 Earliest: 24th June Latest: 15th July 10km squares: SS49 Notes: Three seen at the now regular site of Pembrey Burrows (JSB with Sam Bosanquet and with Lee Walker).

2154 CABBAGE MOTH Mamestra brassicae National Status: Widespread and relatively common. Flying from May to October in two or three generations. County Status: Local and not common. Records prior to 2006: 75 Records ’96 to ’05: 29 Earliest date: 23rd April (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 13

Number of records: 5 Earliest: 27th June Latest: 23rd July 10km squares: SN12, SN31 Notes: Six caught in my garden in Carmarthen (SN3919). The only other seen was a single caught by Melanie Collier at Penrhiw (SN1924). Amazingly scarce in this part of the world. Very strange.

89 2155 DOT MOTH Melanchra persicariae National Status: Widespread and Common. Flying in July and August. County Status: Common. Records prior to 2006: 285 Records ’96 to ’05: 120 Earliest date: 27th May (1999) 10km squares prior to 2006: 22

Number of records: 22 Earliest: 10th June Latest: 25th July 10km squares: SN12, SN22, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN51, SN53, SS49 Notes: All records were of counts in single figures. Nothing of note to report. A common species.

2157 LIGHT BROCADE Lacanobia w-latinum National Status: Local throughout Britain, commoner in southern England. Flying from May to July. County Status: Rare. Neither record well documented. Category A2. Records prior to 2006: 2 Records ’96 to ’05: 1 Earliest date: 10th June (1993) 10km squares prior to 2006: 2 (SN61, SN64)

Number of records: NOT RECORDED. Earliest: - Latest: - 10km squares: - Notes: Last recorded in June 1996.

2158 PALE-SHOULDERED BROCADE Lacanobia thalassina National Status: Widespread and fairly common. Flying from May to July, and occasionally again in late Summer. County Status: Moderately common. Records prior to 2006: 151 Records ’96 to ’05: 75 Earliest date: 7th May (2002) 10km squares prior to 2006: 18

Number of records: 15 Earliest: 11th May Latest: 30th June 10km squares: SN12, SN22, SN30, SN32, SN52, SN53, SN74, SS49 Notes: All records were of one to three moths, which is fairly typical.

2159 DOG’S TOOTH Lacanobia suasa National Status: Locally common in more open habitat. Flying in two broods from May to September. County Status: Local. Records prior to 2006: 53 Records ’96 to ’05: 24 Earliest date: 21st May (2001) 10km squares prior to 2006: 8

Number of records: 4 Earliest: 26th May Latest: 26th July 10km squares: SN30, SS49 Notes: 16 seen over 4 dates at Pembrey were the only records.

90 2160 BRIGHT-LINE BROWN-EYE Lacanobia oleracea National Status: Relatively common and widespread. Flying from May to July, and occasionally again in Autumn. County Status: Common and widespread. Records prior to 2006: 394 Records ’96 to ’05: 223 Earliest date: 1st May (2001) 10km squares prior to 2006: 24

Number of records: 55 Earliest: 2nd June Latest: 26th July 10km squares: SN12, SN22, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN51, SN52, SN53, SN54, SN61, SN63, SN74, SS49 Notes: All single figure counts. Although very common and widespread, it did seem slightly less common than usual.

2162 GLAUCOUS SHEARS Papestra biren National Status: Local in the north and west in upland habitat. Flying from May to July. County Status: Rare and under-recorded. Records prior to 2006: 19, of which 15 are Rothamsted data. Records ’96 to ’05: 5 Earliest date: 1st May (1997) 10km squares prior to 2006: 5

Number of records: NOT RECORDED. Earliest: - Latest: - 10km squares: - Notes: Last recorded in May 2004.

2163 BROOM MOTH Melanchra pisi National Status: Widespread and fairly common. Flying from May to July. County Status: Moderately common. Records prior to 2006: 248 Records ’96 to ’05: 61 Earliest date: 21st May (1995) 10km squares prior to 2006: 22

Number of records: 15 Earliest: 4th June Latest: 25th July 10km squares: SN12, SN30, SN40, SN53, SN54, SN61, SN74, SS49 Notes: Highest count was five at Mynydd Llanllwni (SN5038) on 12th July.

2164 BROAD-BARRED WHITE Hecatera bicolorata National Status: Widespread in England and Wales and not uncommon. Local in Scotland. Flying from June to August. County Status: Scarce. Records prior to 2006: 22 Records ’96 to ’05: 15 Earliest date: 28th May (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 8

Number of records: 5 Earliest: 19th June Latest: 9th July 10km squares: SN31, SS49 Notes: Four to my garden trap in Carmarthen (SN3919) and two in Pembrey Burrows (SS4299) were the only records. A scarce species.

91 2166 CAMPION Hadena rivula National Status: Fairly common and widespread. Flying in May and June, and again in August and September. County Status: Some records under review. Moderately common. Records prior to 2006: 78 Records ’96 to ’05: 36 Earliest date: 11th May (1995) 10km squares prior to 2006: 16

Number of records: 9 Earliest: 2nd June Latest: 3rd July 10km squares: SN12, SN22, SN31, SN52, SN54, SN63, SS49 Notes: All counts received were of singles.

2171 MARBLED CORONET Hadena confusa National Status: Local throughout Britain. Flying from May to July, occasionally again in August. County Status: Rare Category A2. Records prior to 2006: 5, three of which are not Rothamsted but are not well documented. Records ’96 to ’05: None. Earliest date: 31st May (1991) 10km squares prior to 2006: 3

Number of records: NOT RECORDED. Earliest: - Latest: - 10km squares: - Notes: Last reported in May 1991, but no record has been well documented.

2173 LYCHNIS Hadena bicruris National Status: Widespread and common. Flying from May to July and occasionally again in late Summer. County Status: Fairly common. Records prior to 2006: 101 Records ’96 to ’05: 49 Earliest date: 30th April (1990) 10km squares prior to 2006: 14

Number of records: 20 Earliest: 11th May Latest: 22nd September 10km squares: SN12, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN52, SS49 Notes: All records were of ones and twos at a wide range of sites. Commoner than Campion in most places.

2176 ANTLER MOTH Cerapteryx graminis National Status: Locally common and abundant in open habitat. Flying from July to September. County Status: Local, and very seriously declined. Once common. Records prior to 2006: 240 Records ’96 to ’05: 28 Earliest date: 14th June (1973) 10km squares prior to 2006: 21

Number of records: 4 Earliest: 12th July Latest: 21st August 10km squares: SN53, SN54 Notes: This species is in a bad way it seems. All records were from the area north of Brechfa. Please do submit any future records with full counts attached.

92 2177 HEDGE RUSTIC Tholera cespitis National Status: Widespread and locally common. Flying in August and September. County Status: Uncommon. Records prior to 2006: 87 Records ’96 to ’05: 19 Earliest date: 11th August (2000) 10km squares prior to 2006: 12

Number of records: 5 Earliest: 21st August Latest: 5th September 10km squares: SN53, SS49 Notes: 23 on four dates at Pembrey Burrows, with just one other record being from Rhydcymerau. Perhaps becoming more local and threatened.

2178 FEATHERED GOTHIC Tholera decimalis National Status: Widespread and locally common. Flying in August and September. County Status: Moderately common. Records prior to 2006: 104 Records ’96 to ’05: 35 Earliest date: 19th August (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 18

Number of records: 6 Earliest: 20th August Latest: 12th September 10km squares: SN31, SN32, SN62, SS49 Notes: A poor set of records, with most being from Pembrey Burrows where it is still very common at light.

2179 PINE BEAUTY Panolis flammea National Status: Widespread and common where Pine occurs. Flying from March to May. County Status: Local. Uncommon, but perhaps increasing. Records prior to 2006: 28 Records ’96 to ’05: 22 Earliest date: 25th March (2005) 10km squares prior to 2006: 5

Number of records: 4 Earliest: 24th April Latest: 12th May 10km squares: SN30, SN53 Notes: Typical records from Brechfa/Rhydcymerau and Pembrey. A local species.

2182 SMALL QUAKER Orthosia cruda National Status: Widespread and common. Flying in March and April. County Status: Common. Records prior to 2006: 169 Records ’96 to ’05: 62 Earliest date: 8th March (1999) 10km squares prior to 2006: 17

Number of records: 14 Earliest: 2nd April Latest: 29th April 10km squares: SN12, SN32, SN40, SN52, SN53, SN74 Notes: Only very small numbers, and usually in single figures. Contrasts with my days back in southern England when dozens in a Spring trap were often the norm.

93 2184 NORTHERN DRAB Orthosia opima National Status: Widespread but local. Flying in April and May. County Status: Very rare. Records prior to 2006: None. Records ’96 to ’05: None acceptable. Earliest date: see below 10km squares prior to 2006: None.

Number of records: 1 Earliest: 23rd April Latest: 23rd April 10km squares: SN53 Notes: The first truly solid records of this species, backed up by great photos were made at Llanybydder (SN535391) by Julian Wormald. An excellent find. Hopefully more to come.

2185 LEAD-COLOURED DRAB Orthosia populeti National Status: Local. Flying in March and April. County Status: All records pended. Claims of this species require full authentication. Category B (pended). Records prior to 2006: a few, but all currently pended. Records ’96 to ’05: all pended. Earliest date: [4th May (1989)] 10km squares prior to 2006: all pended.

Number of records: NOT RECORDED. Earliest: - Latest: - 10km squares: - Notes: All records of this species in the county are pended until such a time as definitive proof via photograph or specimen is received by the county recorder. The variability of Clouded Drab and the scarcity of the preferred foodplant being two factors in this decision. Always check the antennae of males.

2186 POWDERED QUAKER Orthosia gracilis National Status: Widespread and fairly common. Flying from March to May. County Status: Uncommon. Records prior to 2006: 86 Records ’96 to ’05: 38 Earliest date: 31st March (1990) 10km squares prior to 2006: 13

Number of records: 3 Earliest: 22nd April Latest: 5th May 10km squares: SN12, SN53 Notes: A very poor showing, possibly due to lack of trapping at the right time. Never very common, but this was a notably poor set of records.

2187 COMMON QUAKER Orthosia cerasi National Status: Widespread and Common. Flying from March to May. County Status: Common. Records prior to 2006: 330 Records ’96 to ’05: 171 Earliest date: 4th March (1989) 10km squares prior to 2006: 21

Number of records: 26 Earliest: 2nd April Latest: 16th May 10km squares: SN12, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN52, SN53, SN74 Notes: The standard moth of April traps, the number of records was less than expected, as were the counts. Perhaps the weather played a part.

94 2188 CLOUDED DRAB Orthosia incerta National Status: Widespread and Common. Flying from March to May. County Status: Common. Records prior to 2006: 276 Records ’96 to ’05: 149 Earliest date: 2nd March (1997) 10km squares prior to 2006: 20

Number of records: 26 Earliest: 29th March Latest: 3rd June 10km squares: SN12, SN22, SN32, SN40, SN52, SN53, SN74 Notes: As with the above species, although common enough, more records could have been expected.

2189 TWIN-SPOTTED QUAKER Orthosia munda National Status: Widespread and locally common in England and Wales, but local in Scotland. Flying from March to May. County Status: Common. Records prior to 2006: 154 Records ’96 to ’05: 74 Earliest date: 4th March (1993) 10km squares prior to 2006: 17

Number of records: 19 Earliest: 13th April Latest: 12th May 10km squares: SN12, SN22, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN52, SN53, SN73, SN74 Notes: A common species.

2190 HEBREW CHARACTER Orthosia gothica National Status: Widespread and Common. Flying from March to May. County Status: Common. Records prior to 2006: 432 Records ’96 to ’05: 214 Earliest date: 3rd February (1999) 10km squares prior to 2006: 25

Number of records: 37 Earliest: 14th March Latest: 7th June 10km squares: SN12, SN22, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN52, SN53, SN73, SN74 Notes: A similar story to the other common Orthosias.

2191 DOUBLE LINE Mythimna turca National Status: Nationally Scarce B. Has a mainly south-western population. Flying from June to August. County Status: Carmarthenshire has one of the strongest populations in Britain. Records prior to 2006: 135 Records ’96 to ’05: 69 Earliest date: 1st June (1992) 10km squares prior to 2006: 13

Number of records: 10 Earliest: 10th June Latest: 25th July 10km squares: SN30, SN51, SN53, SN54, SN61, SN74, SS49 Notes: A now-typical set of records with the highest count being 7 seen at our Gelli Aur field meeting on 5th July.

95 2192 BROWN-LINE BRIGHT-EYE Mythimna conigera National Status: Widespread and not uncommon. Flying from June to August. County Status: Scarce and local. Records prior to 2006: 19 Records ’96 to ’05: 14 Earliest date: 30th May (1995) 10km squares prior to 2006: 2

Number of records: 6 Earliest: 1st July Latest: 5th August 10km squares: SN30, SS49 Notes: Ninety-five seen over six dates at Pembrey, but no records from elsewhere. This is a very local species restricted to the Pembrey area. Records from elsewhere in the county need to be fully supported with a photo, given the easy transcription error that might occur.

2193 CLAY Mythimna ferrago National Status: Widespread and common. Flying in July and August. County Status: Common. Records prior to 2006: 248 Records ’96 to ’05: 129 Earliest date: 12th June (1995) 10km squares prior to 2006: 25

Number of records: 23 Earliest: 17th June Latest: 28th July 10km squares: SN12, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN53, SN54, SN61, SS49 Notes: Up to 30 on some dates at Pembrey Burrows which accounted for most of the records.

2195 DELICATE Mythimna vitellina National Status: Scarce Migrant. Encountered between April and November. County Status: Rare. Only recorded for the first time in 2005. Records prior to 2006: 2 Records ’96 to ’05: 2 Earliest date: 2nd September (2006) 10km squares prior to 2006: 2

Number of records: 7 Earliest: 2nd September Latest: 29th October 10km squares: SN31(1), SN40(3), SN53(2), SS49(1) Notes: The first county records of this species were only in 2005. These are the records for this year: 02/09/2006 1 Rhydcymerau SN5739 Julian Wormald 05/09/2006 1 Pembrey Burrows SS4199 Jon Baker 11/09/2006 1 Tyrwaun, Pwll SN469013 Ian Morgan 20/09/2006 1 Rhydcymerau SN5739 Martin Lovell 23/09/2006 1 Pembrey Forest, fen SN4001 Jon Baker 26/09/2006 1 Tyrwaun, Pwll SN469013 Ian Morgan 29/10/2006 1 Llansteffan Headland SN3510 Jon Baker

96 2196 STRIPED WAINSCOT Mythimna pudorina National Status: Widespread and locally common in southern Britain. Flying in June and July. County Status: Local. Records prior to 2006: 46 Records ’96 to ’05: 20 Earliest date: 10th June (1989) 10km squares prior to 2006: 14

Number of records: 3 Earliest: 1st July Latest: 15th July 10km squares: SN51, SS49 Notes: One was seen at Gelli Aur CP on the CMG field meeting. Three others caught in Pembrey Burrows. Not a good showing, but this is a scarce and local species.

2197 SOUTHERN WAINSCOT Mythimna straminea National Status: Local in southern Britain. Flying in July and August. County Status: Local and rare. Records prior to 2006: 26 Records ’96 to ’05: 15 Earliest date: 24th June (2006) 10km squares prior to 2006: 5

Number of records: 8 Earliest: 24th June Latest: 5th August 10km squares: SN30, SN32, SS49 Notes: An excellent number of records of this scarce species, with 22 seen at Pembrey including 10 on 23rd July at SS4299. Also one seen at Nantgwyn (SN3623).

2198 SMOKY WAINSCOT Mythimna impura National Status: Widespread and common. Flying from June to September. County Status: Common. Records prior to 2006: 353 Records ’96 to ’05: 180 Earliest date: 1st June (1992) 10km squares prior to 2006: 22

Number of records: 38 Earliest: 19th June Latest: 26th September 10km squares: SN12, SN20, SN30, SN31, SN51, SN52, SN53, SN54, SN61, SN63, SN74, SS49 Notes: A common species, moderately well recorded this year.

2199 COMMON WAINSCOT Mythimna pallens National Status: Widespread and common. Flying from June to October. County Status: Scarce. Records under review. Records prior to 2006: 52 Records ’96 to ’05: 28 Earliest date: 4th June (2000) 10km squares prior to 2006: 14

Number of records: 15 Earliest: 14th June Latest: 23rd September 10km squares: SN30, SN31, SN40, SN53, SS49 Notes: Hopefully all the identifications were correct. If so, then a very good year indeed of a traditionally scarce species. No count above three however, so not yet a common sight.

97 2201 SHORE WAINSCOT Mythimna litoralis National Status: Nationally Scarce B. Coastal and locally common. Flying from June to August. County Status: Rare. Pembrey is the only modern site. Records prior to 2006: 15 Records ’96 to ’05: 10 Earliest date: 6th June (2004) 10km squares prior to 2006: 2

Number of records: 4 Earliest: 24th June Latest: 23rd September 10km squares: SN40, SS49 Notes: Just five individuals were seen, four in the traditional area of Pembrey Burrows. One at Pwll may have wandered (SN4601, Ian Morgan).

2202 L-ALBUM WAINSCOT Mythimna l-album National Status: Nationally Scarce B. Local, but spreading in coastal areas of southern Britain, as well as a migrant. Flying in July and again in September and October. County Status: Not recorded prior to 2006. Records prior to 2006: None. Records ’96 to ’05: None. Earliest date: 23rd September (2006) 10km squares prior to 2006: None.

Number of records: 4 Earliest: 23rd September Latest: 5th October 10km squares: SN10, SN20, SN30 Notes: A really exciting find on National Moth Night by Sam Bosanquet – with two individuals seen on 23rd September at Telpyn Point (SN1807). Only the second records for south Wales I know of, following one seen in Glamorgan in recent years. The possibility of a breeding colony on our coast was investigated, and Sam and I found four more over the next week at other sites along the coast, as far as Scot’s Bay, Llansteffan (SN3409). Hopefully more will be seen there this coming year.

2203 WHITE-SPECK Mythimna unipunta National Status: Migrant in variable numbers. Recorded from July to November. County Status: A rare migrant. Records prior to 2006: 18 Records ’96 to ’05: 18 Earliest date: 24th July (1997) 10km squares prior to 2006: 6

Number of records: 1 Earliest: 5th September Latest: - 10km squares: SN31 Notes: In a year when migrant numbers were exceptional this species bucked the trend. Usually one of the commoner of migrants, only one was seen, at Llansteffan Castle floodlights (SN3510) on 5th September.

2204 OBSCURE WAINSCOT Mythimna obsoleta National Status: Very local in southern England and Wales. Flying from May to July. County Status: Rare and local. Records prior to 2006: 19 Records ’96 to ’05: 8 Earliest date: 31st May (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 3

Number of records: 1 Earliest: 24th June Latest: - 10km squares: SS49 Notes: Just one single was trapped of this scarce species, in Pembrey Burrows on 24th June (SS4299).

98 2205 SHOULDER-STRIPED WAINSCOT Mythimna comma National Status: Widespread and fairly common. Flying in June and July. County Status: Uncommon. Local. Records prior to 2006: 82 Records ’96 to ’05: 43 Earliest date: 23rd May (1998) 10km squares prior to 2006: 10

Number of records: 7 Earliest: 1st June Latest: 1st July 10km squares: SN74, SS49 Notes: 27 seen in Pembrey Burrows (SS4199 and SS4299) on six dates, with the only other record being from G Lyons (uncounted, SN7645).

2208 COSMOPOLITAN Mythimna loreyi National Status: Scarce migrant County Status: Not recorded in VC44 prior to 2006. Records prior to 2006: None. Records ’96 to ’05: None. Earliest date: 29th October (2006) 10km squares prior to 2006: None.

Number of records: 1 Earliest: 29th October Latest: - 10km squares: SN31 Notes: I had hoped to find this species all Autumn, given the massive influx of migrants. My efforts finally paid off, just as the season was starting to fade, when I finally found one at the floodlights of Llansteffan Castle (SN3510) on 29th October. Photographed and released. A new species for the county.

2211 WORMWOOD Cucullia absinthii National Status: Nationally Scarce B. Very local. Flying in July and August. County Status: Very rare. A discreet population discovered in 2005 at one site. Records prior to 2006: 3 Records ’96 to ’05: 3 Earliest date: no wild adults yet recorded. 10km squares prior to 2006: 1

Number of records: ONLY LARVAE RECORDED. Earliest: (5th July) Latest: (17th August) 10km squares: - Notes: I reared several through from the 2005 larvae collected and the adults were then released at Pwll, where Ian Morgan also recorded larvae, having introduced adults to his plants in 2005. The transposition of the wormwood plants to the Millennium Coastal Park area has unfortunately failed it seems, so for now, the population in Ian’s garden seems to be all we have left. If we are to save this moth from extinction in the county, we urgently need to come up with another strategy in 2007. I also have a couple of plants in pots in my garden still, so maybe we can save this one from the brink.

2214 CHAMOMILE SHARK Cucullia chamomillae National Status: Local and mainly southern. Flying in April and May. County Status: Rare, though under-recorded. Records prior to 2006: 6, five of which are of larvae. Records ’96 to ’05: 5 Earliest date: 5th May (1989) 10km squares prior to 2006: 3

Number of records: NOT RECORDED. Earliest: - Latest: - 10km squares: - Notes: Several larval records in 2005 were the last, the only adult record being back in 1989.

99 2216 SHARK Cucullia umbratica National Status: Moderately common. Flying from June to August. County Status: Local and uncommon. Records prior to 2006: 31 Records ’96 to ’05: 17 Earliest date: 28th May (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 10

Number of records: 3 Earliest: 19th June Latest: 24th June 10km squares: SN32, SS49 Notes: Two at Pembrey Burrows and one at Nantgwyn were the only records of this local and rarely caught species.

2217 STAR-WORT Cucullia asteris National Status: Nationally Scarce B. Very local. Flying from June to August. County Status: Rare. Records prior to 2006: 7 Records ’96 to ’05: 5 Earliest date: 17th June (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 4

Number of records: 1 Earliest: larval record only on 30th August. Latest: - 10km squares: SN51 Notes: IKM found a larva of this species at SN583157, SE of Garnbig, Carmel on 30th August. This remains a very rare species in the county, although Pembrey probably has a moderate population.

2221 MULLEIN Shargacucullia verbasci National Status: Moderately common in southern Britain. Flying in April and May. County Status: Very under-recorded. Probably not too rare. Records prior to 2006: 21 Records ’96 to ’05: 15 Earliest date: 23rd April (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 11

Number of records: 3 Earliest: 11th May Latest: - 10km squares: SN31, SS49 Notes: One adult to my garden (SN3919) in May, with larval records at Pembrey Burrows (SS4299) being the first records of this species from there.

2225 MINOR SHOULDER-KNOT Brachylomia viminalis National Status: Widespread and not uncommon. Flying in July and August. County Status: Relatively local. Records prior to 2006: 172 Records ’96 to ’05: 37 Earliest date: 23rd June (1994) 10km squares prior to 2006: 19

Number of records: 7 Earliest: 3rd July Latest: 25th July 10km squares: SN30, SN52, SN53, SN61 Notes: Thirty-three seen over three nights at Pembrey (SN3803). Also recorded from Rhydcymerau (SN5739, Martin Lovell and Julian Wormald), Aberglasney (SN5822, Julian Wormald) and Glynhir Mansion (SN6315, Barry Stewart).

100 2227 SPRAWLER Asteroscopus sphinx National Status: Widespread and moderately common in southern Britain. Flying from October to December. County Status: Seemingly extremely rare. Category A2. Records prior to 2006: 36, of which 35 are Rothamsted and 34 are from SN74. Records ’96 to ’05: 5 Earliest date: 5th November (1972) 10km squares prior to 2006: 3

Number of records: NOT RECORDED. Earliest: - Latest: - 10km squares: - Notes: The only non-Rothamsted record was in November 1999 (SN6629).

2230 FEATHERED BRINDLE Aporophyla australis National Status: Nationally Scarce B. Very local and mainly coastal in southern Britain. Flying from August to October. County Status: Not recorded prior to 2006. Records prior to 2006: None. Records ’96 to ’05: None. Earliest date: 23rd September (2006) 10km squares prior to 2006: None.

Number of records: 1 Earliest: 23rd September Latest: - 10km squares: SS49 Notes: A new species for the county found on National Moth Night. It came to actinic light in the dunes at Pembrey Burrows (SS4199). It seems possible that there is a small population present, given that the habitat is suitable, but it is strange that no previous specimen has been seen, given that I have been trapping there regularly for the last few years. Perhaps it is in the process of colonising from Gower.

2232 BLACK RUSTIC Aporophyla nigra National Status: Widespread and common. Flying in September and October. County Status: Moderately common. Records prior to 2006: 99 Records ’96 to ’05: 37 Earliest date: 8th September (1992) 10km squares prior to 2006: 16

Number of records: 36 Earliest: 14th September Latest: 18th October 10km squares: SN10, SN20, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN51, SN62, SS49 Notes: No more than six seen on any one date. However, given that it has averaged just 3.7 records a year over the last decade, this is a very good showing.

2233 GOLDEN-ROD BRINDLE Lithomoia solidaginis National Status: Local in upland areas of the north and west.. Flying in August and September. County Status: Extremely rare. Category A2. Records prior to 2006: 1, a Rothamsted record. Records ’96 to ’05: None. Earliest date: 10th August (1982) 10km squares prior to 2006: 1 (SN74)

Number of records: NOT RECORDED. Earliest: - Latest: - 10km squares: - Notes: The only county record is a Rothamsted record from August 1982.

101 2236 PALE PINION Lithophane hepatica National Status: Local, with a south and west distribution. Flying from September, hibernating and then on the wing again in the Spring. County Status: Uncommon. Scarce. Records prior to 2006: 44 Records ’96 to ’05: 24 Earliest date: 23rd September (2006) After hibernation: 19th March (2005) 10km squares prior to 2006: 11

Number of records: 11 Earliest: 22nd April (Spring), 23rd September (Autumn) Latest: 16th May (Spring), 15th October (Autumn) 10km squares: SN10, SN12, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN51, SN53, SN74 Notes: Six records in Spring, a larval record (2) in Summer and four Autumnal records. All of ones and twos.

2237 GREY SHOULDER-KNOT Lithophane ornitopus National Status: Moderately common in southern Britain. Flying from September, hibernating and then on the wing again in the Spring. County Status: Rare. Records prior to 2006: 23, of which 21 are from SN74 Rothamsted traps. Records ’96 to ’05: 6 Earliest date: 1st October (2006) After hibernation: 18th March (2005) 10km squares prior to 2006: 3

Number of records: 3 Earliest: 2nd April (Spring), 1st October (Autumn) Latest: 26th April (Spring), 1st October (Autumn) 10km squares: SN53, SN74 Notes: Two records from Rhydcymerau (SN5739, Martin Lovell, Julian Wormald) at either end of the year. Also seen at Centeneray, north of Nant-y-Bai (SN7645) by G Lyons.

2240 BLAIR’S SHOULDER-KNOT Lithophane leautieri National Status: Has spread west and north through southern Britain since first colonising in 1951. Flying from September to November. County Status: Once rare, now increasing. Records prior to 2006: 9 Records ’96 to ’05: 8 Earliest date: 23rd September (2006) 10km squares prior to 2006: 5

Number of records: 29 Earliest: 23rd September Latest: 29th October 10km squares: SN31, SN40, SN41, SN50, SN51, SN53 Notes: A population explosion. Fifty-three individuals seen. Most records were from my garden in Carmarthen, but it turned up widely across the county. Firmly established now as a resident species and likely to become even commoner over coming years.

2241 RED SWORD-GRASS Xylena vetusta National Status: Widespread but local. Flying from September, hibernating and then on the wing again in the Spring. County Status: Uncommon. Records prior to 2006: 44 Records ’96 to ’05: 21 Earliest date: 6th October (2005) After hibernation: 20th March (2005) 10km squares prior to 2006: 12

Number of records: 6 Earliest: 28th March (Spring), 14th October (Autumn) Latest: 23rd April (Spring), 8th November (Autumn) 10km squares: SN31, SN53 Notes: All records were of singles and all but one were seen by Martin and Julian at Rhydcymerau and Llanybydder. The other record was mine at Llansteffan.

102 2243 EARLY GREY Xylocampa aereola National Status: Widespread and fairly common. Flying from March to May. County Status: Moderately common. Records prior to 2006: 142 Records ’96 to ’05: 76 Earliest date: 2nd March (1993) 10km squares prior to 2006: 18

Number of records: 12 Earliest: 2nd April Latest: 10th May 10km squares: SN12, SN30, SN32, SN40, SN53, SN74 Notes: Very small numbers seen at a wide range of sites. Not a good showing, as with so many of the Spring species.

2245 GREEN-BRINDLED CRESCENT Allophyes oxyacanthae National Status: Widespread and fairly common. Flying from September to November. County Status: Moderately common. Records prior to 2006: 113 Records ’96 to ’05: 39 Earliest date: 16th September (2000) 10km squares prior to 2006: 18

Number of records: 29 Earliest: 17th September Latest: 29th October 10km squares: SN20, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN42, SN53 Notes: An excellent set of records of this very attractive moth. Only single figures seen, but widespread and fairly common.

2247 MERVEILLE DU JOUR Dichonia aprilina National Status: Widespread and fairly common. Flying in September and October. County Status: Local. Records prior to 2006: 47, Most being Rothamsted records. Records ’96 to ’05: 14 Earliest date: 23rd September (2000 and 2006) 10km squares prior to 2006: 11

Number of records: 16 Earliest: 23rd September Latest: 29th October 10km squares: SN31, SN32, SN40, SN42, SN51, SN52, SN53, SN62 Notes: With only 14 records in the previous ten years, these 16 records are very good news. Though they are only of ones and two, the fact that this beautiful species is now being seen right across the county is fantastic.

2248 BRINDLED GREEN Dryobotodes eremita National Status: Widespread and fairly common. Flying from August to October. County Status: Scarce. Records prior to 2006: 36 Records ’96 to ’05: 16 Earliest date: 11th September (2000) 10km squares prior to 2006: 8

Number of records: 2 Earliest: 12th September Latest: 26th September 10km squares: SN31, SN62 Notes: Just two singles of this scarce species. At Llansteffan Castle floodlights (SN3510) on 12th September and Taliaris (SN6629) on 26th September (Martin Lovell).

103 2250 DARK BROCADE Blepharita adusta National Status: Widespread and fairly common – especially in uplands. Flying from May to August.. County Status: Local and moderately rare. Records prior to 2006: 25, of which 20 are from SN74 Rothamsted. Records ’96 to ’05: 3 Earliest date: 19th May (2004) 10km squares prior to 2006: 5

Number of records: 1 Earliest: 13th June Latest: - 10km squares: SN53 Notes: Recorded at Mynydd Llanllwni (SN5038) by Martin Lovell and Julian Wormald on 13th June. A very good record of a scarce species.

2252 LARGE RANUNCULUS Polymixis flavicincta National Status: Local in southern Britain. Flying in September and October. County Status: Rare. Records prior to 2006: 7 Records ’96 to ’05: 3 Earliest date: 20th September (2006) 10km squares prior to 2006: 2 (SN40, SS59)

Number of records: 7 Earliest: 20th September Latest: 26th September 10km squares: SN31, SN40, SS49 Notes: A superb set of records, equalling all previous records ever made in the county. 12 individuals seen at Pwll, Llanelli, Pembrey Burrows, Llansteffan and Laugharne (JSB, IKM, SDSB).

2254 GREY CHI Antitype chi National Status: Widespread and fairly common, especially in northern and western Britain. Flying in August and September. County Status: Rare. Category A2. Records prior to 2006: 10, of which 9 are Rothamsted trap records. Records ’96 to ’05: 4 Earliest date: 16th September (1996) 10km squares prior to 2006: 3

Number of records: NOT RECORDED. Earliest: - Latest: - 10km squares: - Notes: The only non-Rothamsted record was in 1996.

2255 FEATHERED RANUNCULUS Polymixis lichenea National Status: Local and coastal in southern Britain. Flying from August to October.. County Status: Extremely rare. Records prior to 2006: 1, but with no documentation. Records ’96 to ’05: None. Earliest date: 17th September (1992) 10km squares prior to 2006: 1 (SN31)

Number of records: 3 Earliest: 14th October Latest: 18th October 10km squares: SN20, SN31 Notes: The 1992 record of this species had not been well documented, so it has long been a hope of mine to get some follow up records of this species, to prove its presence once and for all. This finally happened this year, with three being found (and photographed) attracted to the lights on the Llansteffan Beach Car Park toilet block (SN3510), as well as one coming to MV at Morfa Bychan beach (SN2208, also photographed).

104 2256 SATELLITE Eupsilia transversa National Status: Widespread and fairly common. Flying from September, hibernating and appearing again in Spring.. County Status: Scarce. Records prior to 2006: 47, of which 35 are Rothamsted records. Records ’96 to ’05: 13 Earliest date: 17th October (2006) 10km squares prior to 2006: 11

Number of records: 2 Earliest: 14th March (Spring), 17th October (Autumn) Latest: - 10km squares: SN30, SN53 Notes: Two singles seen, in the Spring at Rhydcymerau (SN5739, Julian Wormald) and in the Autumn at Llansteffan headland (SN3409). A very elusive species in the county.

2258 CHESTNUT Conistra vaccinii National Status: Common throughout Britain. Flying from September to May. County Status: Common. Under-recorded. Records prior to 2006: 172 Records ’96 to ’05: 60 Earliest date: 17th September (2006) 10km squares prior to 2006: 15

Number of records: 38 Earliest: 18th January (“Spring”), 17th September (Autumn) Latest: 4th May (Spring), 12th November (Autumn) 10km squares: SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN42, SN51, SN52, SN53, SN74 Notes: From one to ten seen at many locations across the county. Remains under-recorded due to its flight season, but a very good set of records this year.

2259 DARK CHESTNUT Conistra ligula National Status: Moderately common throughout southern Britain, scarcer in Scotland. Flying from October to February. County Status: Many records unsupported. Scarce. Future records need validation. Records prior to 2006: Most records pended. Only 5 currently acceptable. Records ’96 to ’05: 4 Earliest date: 5th October (2006) 10km squares prior to 2006: 4

Number of records: 7 Earliest: 5th October Latest: 29th October 10km squares: SN30, SN31 Notes: I had a total of 16 individuals around the Llansteffan/Wharley Point headland in October. This remains a scarce species in the county, and all records from new sites need to be backed up with indisputable evidence.

2262 BRICK Agrochola circellaris National Status: Widespread and common in England and Wales, local in Scotland. Flying from September to December. County Status: Uncommon. Records prior to 2006: 64 Records ’96 to ’05: 29 Earliest date: 25th August (2001) 10km squares prior to 2006: 12

Number of records: 19 Earliest: 13th September Latest: 29th October 10km squares: SN20, SN30, SN31 , SN40, SN42, SN53 Notes: Though there were 19 records, all were of between one and three moths, so it is certainly not a common and abundant species here – I remember easily being able to find over 100 a night back in Oxfordshire, by using a torch to search blackberries. So many of our early and late species are desperately under-recorded, but at the same time, few are as numerous it seems as they are further east.

105 2263 RED-LINE QUAKER Agrochola lota National Status: Widespread and common in England and Wales, local in Scotland. Flying in September and October. County Status: Common. Records prior to 2006: 103 Records ’96 to ’05: 36 Earliest date: 20th August (1997) 10km squares prior to 2006: 18

Number of records: 37 Earliest: 17th September Latest: 7th November 10km squares: SN20, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN42, SN50, SN51, SN52, SN53, SS49 Notes: More records in one year than the last ten combined. But all of single figure counts. Still, a very good showing.

2264 YELLOW-LINE QUAKER Agrochola macilenta National Status: Widespread and common in England and Wales, local in Scotland. Flying from September to November. County Status: Moderately common. Records prior to 2006: 93 Records ’96 to ’05: 24 Earliest date: 21st September (1971) 10km squares prior to 2006: 15

Number of records: 19 Earliest: 3rd October Latest: 21st November 10km squares: SN31, SN32, SN41, SN42, SN52, SN53 Notes: Ten on Llansteffan headland on 29th October was the highest count. This species flies a little later than others in the group, and is therefore even more prone to under-recording. Nineteen records is a very good result of efforts.

2265 FLOUNCED CHESTNUT Agrochola helvola National Status: Common and widespread. Flying in September and October. County Status: Local. Records prior to 2006: 54, of which 38 are Rothamsted. Records ’96 to ’05: 19 Earliest date: 15th September (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 12

Number of records: 19 Earliest: 17th September Latest: 12th October 10km squares: SN10, SN20, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN53 Notes: Also a very good set of records, equalling the combined records of the last decade. However all records refer to very small counts, and numbers at Pembrey, in my opinion, seemed down from previous years.

2267 BEADED CHESTNUT Agrochola lychnidis National Status: Common and widespread in England and Wales. Flying from September to November. County Status: Local. Records prior to 2006: 38 Records ’96 to ’05: 14 Earliest date: 15th September (2006) 10km squares prior to 2006: 8

Number of records: 29 Earliest: 15th September Latest: 29th October 10km squares: SN10, SN12, SN20, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN41, SS49 Notes: More than doubling the combined records of the last decade is a phenomenal result, due to the increased efforts being put in last year. Glad to see so much enthusiasm carrying through into the Autumn. All records were of single figure counts, but a very good spread of records across the south of the county. Not recorded in more upland and northern parts.

106 2269 CENTRE-BARRED SALLOW Atethmia centrago National Status: Common and widespread in England and Wales, local in Scotland. Flying in August and September. County Status: Local. Records prior to 2006: 66 Records ’96 to ’05: 24 Earliest date: 19th August (1995) 10km squares prior to 2006: 17

Number of records: 5 Earliest: 20th August Latest: 6th September 10km squares: SN31, SN32, SN52, SN62 Notes: A very poor set of records in comparison to the last few species. It flies earlier, so a lot of trapping was being done at the correct time. But it does seem very local in the county.

2270 LUNAR UNDERWING Omphaloscelis lunosa National Status: Common and widespread in England and Wales, local in Scotland. Flying from August to October. County Status: Local. Records prior to 2006: 67 Records ’96 to ’05: 23 Earliest date: 11th September (1992) 10km squares prior to 2006: 12

Number of records: 16 Earliest: 22nd September Latest: 15th October 10km squares: SN20, SN31, SN32, SN40 Notes: All records referred to just ones and twos. This is a super-abundant species (three figures) in many traps in England during the Autumn, but here it is very scarce it would seem. Probably due to habitat.

2271 ORANGE SALLOW Xanthia citrago National Status: Locally common and widespread. Flying in August and September. County Status: Rare. Records prior to 2006: 1 (larval, bred through to confirm) Records ’96 to ’05: 1 Earliest date: Larval records only. No imagos yet recorded. 10km squares prior to 2006: 1 (SN31)

Number of records: 1 Earliest: larval record only. Latest: - 10km squares: SN31 Notes: Larva found on 14th May (SN395167) in the same lime tree where the first county record was found in 2004. I didn’t remove and rear this one through, given that the population there may be fragile.

2273 PINK-BARRED SALLOW Xanthia togata National Status: Widespread and common. Flying in September and October. County Status: Moderately common. Records prior to 2006: 109 Records ’96 to ’05: 45 Earliest date: 24th August (1989) 10km squares prior to 2006: 20

Number of records: 26 Earliest: 3rd September Latest: 15th October 10km squares: SN10, SN12, SN20, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN41, SN52, SN53, SN62, SS49 Notes: One of the few Autumn “blackberry-feeders” that is actually common here. Many counts were in double- figures and especially when searches are done in wetter habitats with a torch, it can be very numerous.

107 2274 SALLOW Xanthia icteritia National Status: Widespread and common. Flying in September and October. County Status: Somewhat uncommon or under-recorded. Records prior to 2006: 79 Records ’96 to ’05: 30 Earliest date: 22nd August (1990) 10km squares prior to 2006: 13

Number of records: 22 Earliest: 11th September Latest: 16th October 10km squares: SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN53 Notes: More local than togata, but where it occurs it is plentiful, especially if a torch is used to search blackberries. Up to 50 seen in the damper parts of Pembrey Forest on some nights. Amazing to think that the previous decade saw just an average of 3 records a year, which was simply down to lack of effort.

2278 POPLAR GREY Acronicta megacephala National Status: Widespread and fairly common. Flying from May to August. County Status: Scarce. Records prior to 2006: 33 Records ’96 to ’05: 28 Earliest date: 27th May (2005) 10km squares prior to 2006: 10

Number of records: 8 Earliest: 7th June Latest: 21st July 10km squares: SN12, SN30, SN31, SN53, SN63 Notes: One to three seen at a very varied and scattered number of sites.

2280 MILLER Acronicta leporina National Status: Moderately common in England and Wales but local in Scotland. Flying from May to August. County Status: Moderately uncommon. Records prior to 2006: 31 Records ’96 to ’05: 17 Earliest date: 30th May (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 13

Number of records: 4 Earliest: 5th June Latest: 5th July 10km squares: SN22, SN30, SN51, SN52 Notes: Only four singles seen all year. A poor showing. Hopefully this attractive species will turn up a little more commonly in 2007. Recorded at Gellywen (SN2723, Lee Walker), Pant-y-Ffynnon (SN5829, JSB with Hilton Marlton), Pembrey Forest (SN3803) and Gelli Aur (SN5919).

2281 ALDER MOTH Acronicta alni National Status: Local in England, Wales and southern Scotland. Flying in May and June. County Status: Uncommon. Records prior to 2006: 55 Records ’96 to ’05: 38 Earliest date: 24th May (2004) 10km squares prior to 2006: 15

Number of records: 16 Earliest: 4th June Latest: 11th September 10km squares: SN12, SN22, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN51, SN52, SN53, SN74 Notes: Usually this beautiful species is only recorded in low single figures, but at Nantgwyn (SN3623) this year there was a population explosion, highlighted by a quite unprecedented 50+ coming to light on 8th June. Was also having a good year elsewhere with 6 seen at Penrhiw (SN1924, Melanie Collier) on 7th June.

108 2283 DARK DAGGER Acronicta tridens National Status: Common in the south, local in the north. Flying from May to July, occasionally again later. County Status: Confusion with psi may mask the true status of this species in the county. Records prior to 2006: 36 (plus 52 Acronicta sp.) Records ’96 to ’05: 28 (plus 16 Acronicta sp.) Earliest date: 30th May (2004) 10km squares prior to 2006: 11

Number of records: 12 (+3) Earliest: 8th June Latest: 28th July 10km squares: SN22, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN51, SN53 Notes: One to three seen at regularly trapped sites. I am happy to do dissection on any that people need confirmation on.

2284 GREY DAGGER Acronicta psi National Status: Widespread and common though less so in Scotland. Flying from June to August. County Status: Confusion with tridens masks the true status of this species in the county. Records prior to 2006: 78 (plus 52 Acronicta sp.) Records ’96 to ’05: 36 (plus 16 Acronicta sp.) Earliest date: 27th May (2005) 10km squares prior to 2006: 16

Number of records: 11 (+3) Earliest: 2nd June Latest: 12th July 10km squares: SN30, SN31, SN32, SN52, SN54, SS49 Notes: Highest count was 5 at Nantgwyn (SN3623) on 8th June.

2286 LIGHT KNOT GRASS Acronicta menyanthidis National Status: Local and mainly northern in distribution. Flying from May to July. County Status: Rare. Records prior to 2006: 4, of which 3 are Rothamsted records. Records ’96 to ’05: 1 Earliest date: 19th May (2004) 10km squares prior to 2006: 2 (SN53, SN74)

Number of records: 2 Earliest: 13th June Latest: 29th June 10km squares: SN53, SN54 Notes: One of the highlights of the year. This species status in the county has been questionable for some time and I was keen that someone proved beyond doubt that it does occur here. Martin Lovell achieved this twice, with photographs at Mynydd Llanllwni (SN5038) and Mynydd Pencarreg (SN5842). I still ask that future claims from any new sites be backed up by photographic proof.

2289 KNOT GRASS Acronicta rumicis National Status: Widespread and common though less so in Scotland. Flying from May to July and again in August and September in the South. County Status: Fairly common. Records prior to 2006: 205 Records ’96 to ’05: 116 Earliest date: 14th April (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 20

Number of records: 21 Earliest: 12th May Latest: 3rd September 10km squares: SN22, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN51, SN53, SN54, SN61, SN74, SS49 Notes: Numbers seemed down in my experience, of this common species. Highest count was just four. Still, moderately well recorded and widespread.

109 2291 CORONET Craniophora ligustri National Status: Local, commoner in southwest England and Wales. Flying in June and July. County Status: Fairly common in suitable habitat. Records prior to 2006: 117 Records ’96 to ’05: 88 Earliest date: 7th May (1995) 10km squares prior to 2006: 18

Number of records: 32 Earliest: 14th May Latest: 28th July 10km squares: SN12, SN22, SN31, SN32, SN51, SN52, SN53, SN61, SN74 Notes: Highest count was 30 at Nantgwyn (SN3623), though there were also double figures seen at Gelli Aur CP on our field meeting. A common (and variable) species.

2293 MARBLED BEAUTY Cryphia domestica National Status: Widespread and common in all but northern Scotland. Flying in July and August. County Status: Local, but not scarce. Records prior to 2006: 97 Records ’96 to ’05: 58 Earliest date: 27th June (2005) 10km squares prior to 2006: 13

Number of records: 23 Earliest: 30th June Latest: 5th September 10km squares: SN12, SN31, SN51, SN52, SN61 Notes: Nineteen of the 23 records came from my garden(!) which skews the data somewhat. Otherwise it was very poorly represented, and may be going through a bad patch.

2295 MARBLED GREEN Cryphia muralis National Status: A southerly distribution and mainly coastal. Flying in July and August. County Status: Scarce. Records prior to 2006: 24 Records ’96 to ’05: 18 Earliest date: 20th July (1995) 10km squares prior to 2006: 7

Number of records: 1 Earliest: 21st July Latest: - 10km squares: SS49 Notes: The only report I had was from Simeon Jones who ran a trap at Llanelli North Dock (SN4999) and recorded this species. As with the above species, it seems to be having a tough time at the moment.

2297 COPPER UNDERWING Amphipyra pyramidea National Status: Widespread and common in southern Britain. Flying from August to October. County Status: Uncommon, or under-recorded. Records prior to 2006: 111 (plus 2 Amphipyra sp.) Records ’96 to ’05: 65 (plus 2 Amphipyra sp.) Earliest date: 21st July (1990) 10km squares prior to 2006: 17

Number of records: 17 Earliest: 13th August Latest: 25th September 10km squares: SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN52, SN53 Notes: A typical spread of records. One to four seen at regular sites.

110 2298 SVENSSON’S COPPER UNDERWING Amphipyra berbera svenssoni National Status: Widespread and moderately common in southern Britain. Flying from July to September. County Status: Seems less common than pyrimidaea. Records prior to 2006: 22 (plus 2 Amphipyra sp.) Records ’96 to ’05: 7 (plus 2 Amphipyra sp.) Earliest date: 25th July (2006) 10km squares prior to 2006: 5

Number of records: 2 Earliest: 25th July Latest: 25th July 10km squares: SN61, SS49 Notes: Singles seen at Glynhir Mansion (SN6315, Barry Stewart) and Pembrey Burrows (SS4299). Always check the palps if you think you have this species. Often the easiest way to tell them apart from pyramidea.

2299 MOUSE MOTH Amphipyra tragopoginis National Status: Widespread and common, flying from July to September. County Status: Always uncommon and local, now seemingly very rare indeed. Records prior to 2006: 32 Records ’96 to ’05: 5 Earliest date: 20th July (1995) 10km squares prior to 2006: 9

Number of records: NOT RECORDED. Earliest: - Latest: - 10km squares: - Notes: The most recent non-Rothamsted record in from August 2001. This once-common species seems to have suffered a catastrophic decline in the county over the last decade.

2300 OLD LADY Mormo maura National Status: Widespread and not uncommon in all but northern Scotland. Flying in July and August. County Status: Rare, but difficult to record. Records prior to 2006: 10 Records ’96 to ’05: 3 Earliest date: 1st August (1985) 10km squares prior to 2006: 8

Number of records: NOT RECORDED. Earliest: - Latest: - 10km squares: - Notes: Last recorded in August 2003.

2302 BROWN RUSTIC Rusina ferruginea National Status: Widespread and relatively common. Flying in June and July. County Status: Moderately common. Records prior to 2006: 223, but c.170 of those are Rothamsted records. Records ’96 to ’05: 51 Earliest date: 22nd May (2004) 10km squares prior to 2006: 18

Number of records: 14 Earliest: 1st June Latest: 9th July 10km squares: SN22, SN30, SN53, SN54, SN74, SS49 Notes: Most common at Pembrey, where the high count was 8 in the Burrows (SS4199) on 1st June.

111 2303 STRAW UNDERWING Thalpophyla matura National Status: Common in southern England, scarcer elsewhere. Flying in July and August. County Status: Very rare. Category A2. Records prior to 2006: 3 Records ’96 to ’05: 1 Earliest date: 23rd June (1993) 10km squares prior to 2006: 3

Number of records: NOT RECORDED. Earliest: - Latest: - 10km squares: - Notes: Last record was July 2002 (SN550258).

2305 SMALL ANGLE SHADES Euplexia lucipara National Status: Widespread and common. Flying in June and July and on rare occasions again in September. County Status: Common. Records prior to 2006: 331 Records ’96 to ’05: 165 Earliest date: 9th May (2000) 10km squares prior to 2006: 25

Number of records: 29 Earliest: 2nd June Latest: 5th September 10km squares: SN12, SN22, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN51, SN52, SN53, SS49 Notes: The only double-figure count was of 15 at Nantgwyn (SN3623) on 8th June. Numbers possibly slightly down generally. One at Llansteffan castle on 5th September was the latest this species has ever occurred here.

2306 ANGLE SHADES Phlogophora meticulosa National Status: Widespread and common in England and Wales, local in Scotland. Has been recorded in all months, but mainly on the wing from May to October. County Status: Common. Records prior to 2006: 339 Records ’96 to ’05: 206 Earliest date: 12th February (2006) 10km squares prior to 2006: 23

Number of records: 94 Earliest: 12th February Latest: 29th October 10km squares: SN10, SN20, SN22, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN41, SN51, SN52, SN53, SN54, SN62, SN63, SN64, SS49 Notes: A very good year for a common moth, with a 20.6 yearly average record, given the recording done in 2006 in the county, c40 records would have been expected, so 94 would indicate it is doing well.

2311 DOUBLE KIDNEY Ipimorpha retusa National Status: Widespread but local in southern Britain. Flying from July to September. County Status: Scarce. Records prior to 2006: 47 Records ’96 to ’05: 22 Earliest date: 3rd July (2006) 10km squares prior to 2006: 10

Number of records: 4 Earliest: 3rd July Latest: 13th September 10km squares: SN30, SN40, SN53 Notes: Ten (over three nights) in Pembrey Forest is not unusual, but also a single was caught at Rhydcymerau (SN5739) by Martin Lovell on 13th September.

112 2312 OLIVE Ipimorpha subtusa National Status: Local. Flying from July to September. County Status: Rare. Records prior to 2006: 17 Records ’96 to ’05: 10 Earliest date: 26th July (1995) 10km squares prior to 2006: 6

Number of records: NOT RECORDED. Earliest: - Latest: - 10km squares: - Notes: Last recorded in September 2004 at Pembrey. Virtually all records are from the SE coastal area.

2314 DINGY SHEARS Parastichtis ypsillon National Status: Local and mainly southern. Flying from June to August. County Status: Rare. Records prior to 2006: 8 Records ’96 to ’05: 4 Earliest date: 29th June (1995) 10km squares prior to 2006: 1 (SS59)

Number of records: 1 Earliest: 4th July Latest: 4th July 10km squares: SN31 Notes: With records far less than annual and all from the Llanelli district, prior to 2006, this single record of one in my moth trap in Carmarthen (SN3919) was very welcome. Photographed and released.

2318 DUN-BAR Cosmia trapezina National Status: Common. Flying from July to September. County Status: Moderately common. Records prior to 2006: 165 Records ’96 to ’05: 79 Earliest date: 4th July (1989) 10km squares prior to 2006: 18

Number of records: 15 Earliest: 14th July Latest: 18th August 10km squares: SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN52, SN53, SN54, SN61, SS49 Notes: Did not seem especially common. High count of just seven at Nantgwyn (SN3623) on 28th July.

2321 DARK ARCHES Apamea monoglypha National Status: Widespread and very common. Flying from June to August and occasionally later. County Status: Common. Records prior to 2006: 563 Records ’96 to ’05: 323 Earliest date: 1st June (1992) 10km squares prior to 2006: 26

Number of records: 58 Earliest: 2nd June Latest: 23rd August 10km squares: SN12, SN22, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN51, SN52, SN53, SN54, SN61, SN63, SS49 Notes: One of our commonest species, perhaps not giving as good a showing as might have been expected.

113 2322 LIGHT ARCHES Apamea lithoxyaea National Status: Widespread and common. Flying from June to August. County Status: Uncommon. Records prior to 2006: 94 Records ’96 to ’05: 46 Earliest date: 12th June (1989) 10km squares prior to 2006: 15

Number of records: 11 Earliest: 17th June Latest: 23rd July 10km squares: SN30, SN31, SN51, SS49 Notes: An expected number of records of this species, which is never abundantly encountered.

[2325] CRESCENT STRIPED Apamea oblonga National Status: Widespread but local in southern England with few records from elsewhere. Flying from June to August. County Status: Somewhat dubious. The sole record (1969) has no documentation, and the grid reference and location do not match. It is probably safer to ignore, and wait for a confirmed record in the county. Category B (pended). Records prior to 2006: 1, but there is doubt about the validity of this record. Records ’96 to ’05: None. Earliest date: none specified. 10km squares prior to 2006: see above.

Number of records: NOT RECORDED. Earliest: - Latest: - 10km squares: - Notes: Doubtfully ever recorded in the county. Recorded on Gower in 2006 so there is still hope.

2326 CLOUDED-BORDERED BRINDLE Apamea crenata National Status: Widespread and common. Flying from May to July. County Status: Common. Records prior to 2006: 271 Records ’96 to ’05: 142 Earliest date: 6th May (2002) 10km squares prior to 2006: 24

Number of records: 28 Earliest: 26th May Latest: 25th July 10km squares: SN12, SN22, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN54, SN61, SS49 Notes: A typical and unexceptional set of records.

2327 CLOUDED BRINDLE Apamea epomidion National Status: Moderately common. Flying in June and July. County Status: Rare. Records prior to 2006: 4 Records ’96 to ’05: 4 Earliest date: 16th June (2006) 10km squares prior to 2006: 2

Number of records: 2 Earliest: 16th June Latest: 12th July 10km squares: SN40, SN53 Notes: Singles seen at Pwll (SN4709, Barry Stewart) and on Mynydd Llanllwni (SN5038). A scarce species, though perhaps overlooked.

114 2329 CONFUSED Apamea furva britannica National Status: Mainly northern and western in distribution. Less common in the south. Flying in July and August. County Status: Rare and unconfirmed. Only Rothamsted records. Category A2. Records prior to 2006: 3 Records ’96 to ’05: None. Earliest date: 30th July (1984) 10km squares prior to 2006: 1 (SN74)

Number of records: NOT RECORDED. Earliest: - Latest: - 10km squares: - Notes: No records have been confirmed and none of the three Rothamsted records was in the last 20 years.

2330 DUSKY BROCADE Apamea remissa National Status: Widespread and common. Flying from May to July. County Status: Uncommon. Records prior to 2006: 112 Records ’96 to ’05: 43 Earliest date: 23rd May (1996) 10km squares prior to 2006: 18

Number of records: 12 Earliest: 16th June Latest: 20th July 10km squares: SN31, SN40, SN53, SN54, SS49 Notes: No count was above five. A typical set of records.

2331 SMALL CLOUDED BRINDLE Apamea unanimis National Status: Local in much of Britain. Flying from May to July. County Status: Scarce. Records prior to 2006: 12 Records ’96 to ’05: 8 Earliest date: 7th June (2005) 10km squares prior to 2006: 5

Number of records: NOT RECORDED. Earliest: - Latest: - 10km squares: - Notes: Always a very scarce species in the county, so perhaps not unsurprising that there were no records during the year. Last recorded in June 2005.

2334 RUSTIC SHOULDER-KNOT Apamea sordens National Status: Widespread and common. Flying in May and June. County Status: Local. Records prior to 2006: 74 Records ’96 to ’05: 31 Earliest date: 6th May (2002) 10km squares prior to 2006: 9

Number of records: 3 Earliest: 1st June Latest: 16th June 10km squares: SN40, SS49 Notes: A very poor show, though with such a local species this can often be the case if visits are not made at the right time. Four seen at Pembrey Burrows (SN4199) and two at Pwll (SN4709, Barry Stewart). Hopefully not indicative of a decline.

115 2335 SLENDER BRINDLE Apamea scolopacina National Status: Local in England and Wales. Flying from June to August. County Status: Local. Records prior to 2006: 98 Records ’96 to ’05: 47 Earliest date: 6th July (1999) 10km squares prior to 2006: 12

Number of records: 6 Earliest: 14th July Latest: 31st July 10km squares: SN12, SN32, SN52, SN53, SN54, SN61 Notes: One to three seen at various inland sites.

2336 DOUBLE LOBED Apamea ophiogramma National Status: Local in all but the far north. Flying from June to August. County Status: Moderately rare. Records prior to 2006: 10 Records ’96 to ’05: 3 Earliest date: 28th June (1993) 10km squares prior to 2006: 5

Number of records: 1 Earliest: 3rd July Latest: - 10km squares: SN30 Notes: A new species for the Pembrey list, with one coming to light (SN3803) on 3rd July. Photographed. A very local species in the county that is rarely seen.

2337 MARBLED MINOR Oligia strigilis National Status: Widespread and common in England and Wales, less so in Scotland. Flying from May to July. County Status: Status unclear due to identification problems. Records prior to 2006: 106 (plus 189 Oligia sp.) Records ’96 to ’05: 46 (plus 132 Oligia sp.) Earliest date: 21st May (2001) 10km squares prior to 2006: 18

Number of records: 10 (+34 Oligia sp records) Earliest: 1st June Latest: 13th July 10km squares: SN12, SN22, SN31, SN32, SS49 Notes: This trio are so difficult to separate that often dissection is required. I confirmed records at my traditional trap sites of Pembrey, Carmarthen and Nantgwyn.

2338 RUFOUS MINOR Oligia versicolor National Status: Local, but possibly under-recorded. Flying in June and July. County Status: Status unclear due to identification problems. Perhaps the commonest of the three. Records prior to 2006: 147 (plus 189 Oligia sp.) Records ’96 to ’05: 63 (plus 132 Oligia sp.) Earliest date: 5th June (2004) 10km squares prior to 2006: 16

Number of records: 11 (+34 Oligia sp records) Earliest: 6th June Latest: 5th July 10km squares: SN12, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN51, SN52, SN53, SS49 Notes: Can sometimes be more obvious that the other two. I accepted records from a wider number of sites.

116 2338 TAWNY MARBLED MINOR Oligia latruncula National Status: Common. Flying from May to July. County Status: Status unclear due to identification problems. Seems the least common of the three. Records prior to 2006: 62 (plus 189 Oligia sp.) Records ’96 to ’05: 24 (plus 132 Oligia sp.) Earliest date: 25th May (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 13

Number of records: 6 (+34 Oligia sp records) Earliest: 2nd June Latest: 3rd July 10km squares: SN30, SN31 Notes: Confirmed records from Pembrey and Carmarthen.

2340 MIDDLE-BARRED MINOR Oligia fasciuncula National Status: Widespread and common. Flying in June and July. County Status: Moderately common. Records prior to 2006: 176 Records ’96 to ’05: 86 Earliest date: 23rd May (1995) 10km squares prior to 2006: 20

Number of records: 19 Earliest: 1st June Latest: 29th June 10km squares: SN12, SN22, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN52, SN53, SN54, SS49 Notes: Highest count was of 30 at Pembrey. Numbers seemed a little down, but a good spread of sites recorded this species.

2341 CLOAKED MINOR Mesoligia furncula National Status: Widespread and common, preferring coastal habitats. Flying from July to September. County Status: Local. Records prior to 2006: 48 Records ’96 to ’05: 31 Earliest date: 24th June (2001) 10km squares prior to 2006: 13

Number of records: 13 Earliest: 3rd July Latest: 10th September 10km squares: SN31, SS49 Notes: All records were either at Pembrey Burrows or in my garden in Carmarthen.

2342 ROSY MINOR Mesoligia literosa National Status: Widespread and relatively common, especially in coastal areas. Flying in July and August. County Status: Local. Coastally distributed, with few inland records. Records prior to 2006: 46 Records ’96 to ’05: 27 Earliest date: 2nd July (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 12

Number of records: 9 Earliest: 15th July Latest: 7th August 10km squares: SN30, SN51, SN61, SS49 Notes: Most of the records came from Pembrey, but there were no double figure counts anywhere. Also seen at Cefn Eithin (SN5513, A Lewis), Glynhir Mansion (SN6315, Barry Stewart) and Llanelli north Dock (SS4999, Simeon Jones).

117 2343 COMMON RUSTIC Mesapamea secalis 2343a LESSER COMMON RUSTIC Mesapamea didyma National Status: Both widespread and very common. Flying in July and August. County Status: All Mesapamea records prior to 2006 were not confirmed to species level, which requires dissection. It is likely both species are common. Records prior to 2006: 396 aggregated records. Records ’96 to ’05: 215 Earliest date: As agg. 1st June (1993). See below. 10km squares prior to 2006: 26

Number of records: 45 combined records. See below. Earliest: Confirmed secalis: 15th July, Confirmed didyma: 9th July, as Agg: 27th June Latest: Confirmed secalis: 15th July, Confirmed didyma: 19th September, as Agg: 19th September 10km squares: SN12, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN51, SN52, SN53, SN54, SN61, SS49 Notes: I did dissect a small number to confirm, and indeed found both. Without doing a larger selection I can’t conclusive say which is commoner or what features are best looked for, but the Lessers that were confirmed were usually small and dark individuals.

2345 SMALL DOTTED BUFF Photedes minima National Status: Common. Flying from June to August. County Status: Locally common. Records prior to 2006: 89 Records ’96 to ’05: 34 Earliest date: 7th June (1998) 10km squares prior to 2006: 17

Number of records: 10 Earliest: 21st June Latest: 21st July 10km squares: SN12, SN51, SN52, SN53, SN54, SN74 Notes: One to three at a small number of sites. A local species that isn’t always easy to find.

2350 SMALL WAINSCOT Photedes pygmina National Status: Widespread and relatively common. Flying in August and September. County Status: Fairly common. Records prior to 2006: 169 Records ’96 to ’05: 52 Earliest date: 27th July (1995) 10km squares prior to 2006: 17

Number of records: 6 Earliest: 7th August Latest: 15th September 10km squares: SN30, SN31, SN52, SN53, SN54 Notes: A very poor showing. No count was received above “one”, though Martin Lovell recorded it around Brechfa with “not counted”. Still, it was very scarce this year in my personal experience.

2353 FLOUNCED RUSTIC Luperina testacea National Status: Widespread and common, although less so in Scotland. Flying in August and September. County Status: Fairly common. Records prior to 2006: 152 Records ’96 to ’05: 69 Earliest date: 6th August (1996) 10km squares prior to 2006: 21

Number of records: 23 Earliest: 9th August Latest: 23rd September 10km squares: SN10, SN31, SN51, SN53, SN54, SS49 Notes: All records were of no more than six, and nearly all the records were actually from just two sites – my garden and Llansteffan, so the data was not as good as the 23 records suggests.

118 2357 LARGE EAR Amphipoea lucens National Status: Widespread but local. Flying in August and September. County Status: Seemingly rare, but under-recorded. Records prior to 2006: 3 (plus 31 Amphipoea sp.) Records ’96 to ’05: 3 (plus 12 Amphipoea sp.) Earliest date: 4th August (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 3

Number of records: NOT RECORDED. Earliest: - Latest: - 10km squares: - Notes: Last confirmed record was in August 2004. A reminder that all Ear species need confirmation through dissection, which I am happy to do for people.

2360 EAR MOTH Amphipoea oculea National Status: Widespread and not uncommon. Flying from July to September. County Status: Local. It is likely that most of the Amphipoea sp. records relate to this species. Records prior to 2006: 12 (plus 31 Amphipoea sp.) Records ’96 to ’05: 12 (plus 12 Amphipoea sp.) Earliest date: 15th July (2006) 10km squares prior to 2006: 2

Number of records: 5 Earliest: 15th July Latest: 5th August 10km squares: SN31, SS49 Notes: Scarcer in Pembrey Burrows than it was been in recent years, with a high count of just 15. The only other record was one in my garden in Carmarthen, which was confirmed by dissection.

2361 ROSY RUSTIC Hydraecia micacea National Status: Widespread and common. Flying from August to October. County Status: Common. Records prior to 2006: 229 Records ’96 to ’05: 73 Earliest date: 17th July (1995) 10km squares prior to 2006: 21

Number of records: 14 Earliest: 25th July Latest: 23rd September 10km squares: SN31, SN40, SN51, SN53, SN61, SS49 Notes: Over half the records were from here in Carmarthen, and it was not especially numerous or widespread this year. The high count was just three on a couple of dates.

2364 FROSTED ORANGE Gortyna flavago National Status: Widespread and relatively common in England and Wales, local in Scotland. Flying from August to October. County Status: Moderately common. Records prior to 2006: 94 Records ’96 to ’05: 31 Earliest date: 24th August (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 18

Number of records: 10 Earliest: 1st September Latest: 26th September 10km squares: SN31, SN40, SN53, SN62, SS49 Notes: Just ones and two seen. Never an abundant species.

119 2368 CRESCENT Celaena leucostigma National Status: Local. Flying from July to September. County Status: Widespread but scarce. Records prior to 2006: 25 Records ’96 to ’05: 12 Earliest date: 7th July (1989) 10km squares prior to 2006: 12

Number of records: 12 Earliest: 25th July Latest: 25th August 10km squares: SN31 Notes: All 12 records were from my garden in Carmarthen (SN3919), where I had 1 to 4 on most nights during the flight season. Sadly not reported from elsewhere, but this is a very local species.

2369 BULRUSH WAINSCOT Nonagria typhae National Status: Local. Flying from July to September. County Status: Moderately rare, and local. Records prior to 2006: 19 Records ’96 to ’05: 9 Earliest date: 8th July (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 6

Number of records: 1 Earliest: 4th September Latest: - 10km squares: SS49 Notes: A single caught at Pembrey Burrows (SS4199) finally got added to my photo library. Never common, but this was a poor showing.

2370 TWIN-SPOTTED WAINSCOT Archanara geminipuncta National Status: Local in southern Britain. Flying in August and September. County Status: Local and scarce. Records prior to 2006: 16 Records ’96 to ’05: 12 Earliest date: 23rd July (2006) 10km squares prior to 2006: 5

Number of records: 4 Earliest: 23rd July Latest: 7th August 10km squares: SN30, SS49 Notes: Ten seen at Pembrey over four nights.

2371 BROWN-VEINED WAINSCOT Archanara dissoluta National Status: Local and mainly recorded from southeast England, with scattered records in the southwest, midlands and south Wales. Flying from July to September. County Status: Local and scarce. Records prior to 2006: 15 Records ’96 to ’05: 5 Earliest date: 17th June (1989) 10km squares prior to 2006: 4

Number of records: 4 Earliest: 15th July Latest: 5th August 10km squares: SS49 Notes: Twenty-two seen at Pembrey over four nights.

120 2373 WEBB’S WAINSCOT Archanara sparganii National Status: Nationally Scarce B. Local in southern Britain. Flying from August to October. County Status: Rare. Records prior to 2006: 7 Records ’96 to ’05: 3 Earliest date: 4th August (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 3 (SN30, SN40, SS59)

Number of records: NOT RECORDED. Earliest: - Latest: - 10km squares: - Notes: Last recorded in July 2004. All records so far are from the south-east coastal area.

2375 LARGE WAINSCOT Rhizedra lutosa National Status: Widespread and locally common. Flying from August to October. County Status: Scarce. Records prior to 2006: 24 Records ’96 to ’05: 8 Earliest date: 4th September (1991) 10km squares prior to 2006: 9

Number of records: 13 Earliest: 14th September Latest: 29th October 10km squares: SN31, SN40, SS49 Notes: Apart from one in my garden, all were seen at coastal sites between Llanelli and Llansteffan. Highest count was four at Pwll (SN4601, Ian Morgan) on 14th October. With only 8 records in the previous decade, this is a very good series.

2379 SMALL RUFOUS Coenobia rufa National Status: Local, not uncommon in suitable habitat. Flying in July and August. County Status: Local. Records prior to 2006: 62 Records ’96 to ’05: 45 Earliest date: 29th June (2005) 10km squares prior to 2006: 12

Number of records: 15 Earliest: 14th July Latest: 27th August 10km squares: SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN51, SN52, SN53, SN54, SN61, SS49 Notes: Highest count was of 9 at Glynhir Mansion (SN6315, Barry Stewart). Otherwise there were small numbers seen here and there, as is typical of this species.

2380 TREBLE LINES Charanyca trigrammica National Status: Widespread and common in England and Wales. Flying from May to July. County Status: Common. Records prior to 2006: 165 Records ’96 to ’05: 86 Earliest date: 14th May (1990) 10km squares prior to 2006: 19

Number of records: 18 Earliest: 26th May Latest: 29th June 10km squares: SN22, SN30, SN32, SN40, SN52, SN53, SN63, SN74, SS49 Notes: An atypical 15 were seen at Pembrey Burrows (SS4199) on 1st June. The more usual ones and twos were more widely reported at regular sites.

121 2381 UNCERTAIN Hoplodrina alsines National Status: Widespread and common in England and Wales, local in Scotland. Flying from June to August and occasionally again later. County Status: Common. Records prior to 2006: 230 Records ’96 to ’05: 124 Earliest date: 28th May (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 21

Number of records: 40 (+3 Hoplodrina sp) Earliest: 16th June Latest: 28th July 10km squares: SN12, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN51, SN52, SN53, SN54, SN63, SS49 Notes: This and blanda can be very tricky to tell apart. Uncertain is always earlier and commoner. Widely reported, with double figure counts in my Carmarthen garden on many days.

2382 RUSTIC Hoplodrina blanda National Status: Widespread and common in England and Wales, local in Scotland. Flying from June to August and occasionally again later. County Status: Moderately common, though less so than H. alsines. Records prior to 2006: 172 – some records are questionable. Records ’96 to ’05: 78 Earliest date: 19th June (2000) 10km squares prior to 2006: 19

Number of records: 11(+3 Hoplodrina sp) Earliest: 28th June Latest: 26th July 10km squares: SN12, SN31, SN53, SN54, SN61, SS49 Notes: Scarcer than alsines and the counts were more in the range of one to four. As a rule of thumb “if you think it’s Rustic, it isn’t….”. They are usually really obvious when seen and those “Is it…?” ones are almost always Uncertains, that hope is trying to turn into a Rustic!

2384 VINE’S RUSTIC Hoplodrina ambigua National Status: Mainly restricted to southern England with occasional records elsewhere possibly attributable to migrants. Flying from May to October in two broods. County Status: Recently colonised and increasing. Records prior to 2006: 20 Records ’96 to ’05: 20 Earliest date: 26th May (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 5

Number of records: 11 Earliest: 16th June Latest: 17th September 10km squares: SN30 (2), SN31 (2), SN40 (1), SS49 (6) Notes: Continuing its recent colonising of the county. Seen eight times at Pembrey, once at Pwll and twice in Carmarthen. All records were of one or two.

122 2385 SMALL MOTTLED WILLOW Spodoptera exigua National Status: A migrant, usually moderately scarce but abundant in some years. County Status: Scarce migrant. Records prior to 2006: 9 Records ’96 to ’05: 9 Earliest date: 7th June (1996) 10km squares prior to 2006: 6

Number of records: 7 Earliest: 17th June Latest: 14th October 10km squares: SN12, SN31, SN40, SN52, SN53, SS49 Notes: These were the records in a bumper year: 17/06/2006 1 Penrhiw SN1924 Melanie Collier 17/06/2006 1 14 Job's Well Rd, Johnstown SN398198 Jon Baker 17/06/2006 1 Aberglasney Gardens SN5822 Julian Wormald 18/06/2006 1 14 Job's Well Rd, Johnstown SN398198 Jon Baker 06/08/2006 2 Rhydcymerau SN5739 Julian Wormald 23/08/2006 1 Pembrey Burrows SS4199 Jon Baker et al 14/10/2006 1 Tyrwaun, Pwll SN469013 Ian Morgan

2387 MOTTLED RUSTIC Caradrina morpheus National Status: Widespread and common in England and Wales, local in Scotland. Flying from June to August and occasionally again later. County Status: Local. Records prior to 2006: 104 Records ’96 to ’05: 75 Earliest date: 24th May (2004) 10km squares prior to 2006: 16

Number of records: 9 Earliest: 16th June Latest: 9th July 10km squares: SN31, SN40, SS49 Notes: A very poor showing for what should have been a regular species at traps across the county.

2389 PALE MOTTLED WILLOW Paradrina clavipalpis National Status: Widespread and common. Flying from February to November, but mainly from July to September. County Status: Uncommon. Local. Records prior to 2006: 84 Records ’96 to ’05: 33 Earliest date: 23rd May (1998) 10km squares prior to 2006: 13

Number of records: 14 Earliest: 24th June Latest: 18th October 10km squares: SN10, SN31, SN32, SN51, SN53, SS49 Notes: Eight of the records were from my Carmarthen garden, so that makes it seem a better year than it actually was. In truth this is a surprisingly scarce species. Like Cabbage Moth and Lunar Underwing, which is far, far commoner with most people in Britain. A high count of four.

123 2391 SILKY WAINSCOT Chilodes maritimus National Status: Local in southern England and Wales. Flying from June to August. County Status: Scarce. Records prior to 2006: 17 Records ’96 to ’05: 12 Earliest date: 30th May (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 5

Number of records: 2 Earliest: 24th June Latest: 21st July 10km squares: SS49 Notes: Two in Pembrey Burrows (SS4299) and one at Llanelli North Dock (SS4999, Simeon Jones). A poor showing, though with these rare and very local species it can be hit and miss.

2394 ANOMALOUS Stilbia anomala National Status: Has a fairly northern and western distribution, although is local elsewhere. Flying in August and September. County Status: Local, and moderately scarce. Records prior to 2006: 71 records, but 65 of those are Rothamsted records. Records ’96 to ’05: 8 Earliest date: 5th August (1970) 10km squares prior to 2006: 7

Number of records: 3 Earliest: 21st August Latest: 23rd September 10km squares: SN31, SN53, SN54 Notes: Our experience away from Rothamsted is that this is a rare beast, so three records is actually quite a good result! Ten seen at Llwyndrissi Forest (SN5641, Martin Lovell) suggests a good population in that area, backed up by two more at Mynydd Llanybydder (SN5439, Julian Wormald). The one I found at Llansteffan Castle floodlights is less usual, but there are occasional coastal records (Pembrey for example), suggesting a low level population here.

2397 SMALL YELLOW UNDERWING Panemeria tenebrata National Status: Locally widespread. Day-flying, in May and June. County Status: Local and scarce. Records prior to 2006: 15 Records ’96 to ’05: 6 Earliest date: 21st May (1985) 10km squares prior to 2006: 7

Number of records: 3 Earliest: 25th May Latest: 2nd June 10km squares: SN30 Notes: Nine seen in Pembrey Forest on three dates. Would be nice to find some other sites for this species.

2399 BORDERED SALLOW Pyrrhia umbra National Status: Local and mainly coastal. Flying in June and July. County Status: Very local and rare. Records prior to 2006: 20 Records ’96 to ’05: 5 Earliest date: 6th June (2004) 10km squares prior to 2006: 4

Number of records: 8 Earliest: 7th June Latest: 23rd July 10km squares: SS49 Notes: 16 seen in its traditional habitat at Pembrey Burrows on 7 nights, though also caught at Llanelli North Dock (SS4999, Simeon Jones).

124 2400 SCARCE BORDERED STRAW Helicoverpa armigera National Status: Scarce migrant, becoming commoner in recent years. County Status: Until 2006, a rare migrant. Records prior to 2006: 3 Records ’96 to ’05: 2 Earliest date: 25th August (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 3

Number of records: 24 Earliest: 26th July Latest: 28th October 10km squares: SN30 (2), SN31 (12), SN40 (5), SN53 (2), SS49 (3) Notes: Three previous county records somewhat eclipsed. 26/07/2006 1 Pembrey Burrows SS4299 Jon Baker 21/08/2006 1 Pembrey Burrows SS4299 Jon Baker 23/08/2006 1 Pembrey Burrows SS4199 Jon Baker et al 25/08/2006 1 14 Job's Well Rd, Johnstown SN398198 Jon Baker 04/09/2006 1 14 Job's Well Rd, Johnstown SN398198 Jon Baker 05/09/2006 1 Llansteffan Castle SN351102 Jon Baker 11/09/2006 1 Pembrey Forest SN386031 Jon Baker 11/09/2006 3 Llansteffan Castle SN351102 Jon Baker 11/09/2006 1 14 Job's Well Rd, Johnstown SN398198 Jon Baker 13/09/2006 2 Rhydcymerau SN5739 Martin Lovell 17/09/2006 3 Pembrey Forest, North SN373044 Jon Baker 18/09/2006 1 14 Job's Well Rd, Johnstown SN398198 Jon Baker 19/09/2006 1 Llansteffan Castle SN351102 Jon Baker 20/09/2006 1 Tyrwaun, Pwll SN469013 Ian Morgan 22/09/2006 1 14 Job's Well Rd, Johnstown SN398198 Jon Baker 22/09/2006 1 Pembrey Forest, fen SN4001 Jon Baker 23/09/2006 1 Llansteffan Castle SN351102 Jon Baker 23/09/2006 1 Pembrey Forest, fen SN4001 Jon Baker 23/09/2006 1 Tyrwaun, Pwll SN469013 Ian Morgan 24/09/2006 2 Llansteffan Castle SN351102 Jon Baker 25/09/2006 1 Mynydd Llanllwni SN507389 Julian Wormald 26/09/2006 1 Tyrwaun, Pwll SN469013 Ian Morgan 14/10/2006 1 14 Job's Well Rd, Johnstown SN398198 Jon Baker 28/10/2006 1 14 Job's Well Rd, Johnstown SN398198 Jon Baker

2403 BORDERED STRAW Heliothis peltigera National Status: Scarce migrant. County Status: Until 2006, a scarce migrant. Records prior to 2006: 7 Records ’96 to ’05: 5 Earliest date: 27th Nay (2006) 10km squares prior to 2006: 7

Number of records: 10 Earliest: 27th May Latest: 10th September 10km squares: SN22 (1), SN30 (1), SN31 (1), SS49 (7) Notes: A less spectacular perhaps, but still amazing showing of this species also. The counts in Pembrey Burrows in June were made at dusk with a net, and were suggestive that many dozens (if not more) were present there on those nights. Almost certainly bred there as a result. 27/05/2006 1 Gellywen SN2723 Lee Walker 17/06/2006 8 Pembrey Burrows SS4199 Jon Baker 18/06/2006 2 14 Job's Well Rd, Johnstown SN398198 Jon Baker

125 19/06/2006 3 Pembrey Burrows SS4299 Jon Baker 24/06/2006 10 Pembrey Burrows SS4299 Jon Baker and Sam Bosanquet 01/07/2006 1 Pembrey Burrows SS4299 Jon Baker 26/07/2006 1 Pembrey Burrows SS4299 Jon Baker 05/08/2006 2 Pembrey Burrows SS4299 Jon Baker 21/08/2006 1 Pembrey Burrows SS4299 Jon Baker 10/09/2006 1 Pembrey Forest, beach SN382019 Jon Baker

2408 SMALL MARBLED Eublemma parva National Status: Rare migrant. Mainly recorded in June and July. County Status: No records prior to 2006. Records prior to 2006: None. Records ’96 to ’05: None. Earliest date: 17th June (2006) 10km squares prior to 2006: None.

Number of records: 1 Earliest: 17th June Latest: - 10km squares: SN31 Notes: One came to MV in Carmarthen (SN3919) on 17th June. Photographed and released. First County Record.

2410 MARBLED WHITE SPOT Protodeltote pygarga National Status: Local in southern Britain. Flying from May to July. County Status: Locally common. Records prior to 2006: 136 Records ’96 to ’05: 112 Earliest date: 14th May (2000) 10km squares prior to 2006: 19

Number of records: 29 Earliest: 3rd June Latest: 23rd September 10km squares: SN12, SN22, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN51, SN52, SN53, SN54, SN74, SS49 Notes: Double-figure counts from Pembrey, Nantgwyn and Brechfa Forest, though widely reported in smaller numbers. An exceptionally late one on National Moth Night on 23rd September (SN5231, M Lovell et al).

2412 SILVER HOOK Deltote uncula National Status: Local in boggy habitats in all but northern Scotland. Flying from May to July and possibly sometimes in August. County Status: Scarce and very local. Records prior to 2006: 32 Records ’96 to ’05: 7 Earliest date: 31st May (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 6

Number of records: 1 Earliest: 3rd June Latest: - 10km squares: SN30 Notes: A single to light in Pembrey Forest (SN3803) on 3rd June was the only record. Recorded less than annually.

126 2421 SCARCE SILVER-LINES Bena bicolorana National Status: Locally widespread in England and Wales. Flying from June to August. County Status: Scarce and local. Records prior to 2006: 36 Records ’96 to ’05: 28 Earliest date: 1st July (1995) 10km squares prior to 2006: 10

Number of records: 6 Earliest: 3rd July Latest: 25th July 10km squares: SN30, SN31, SN53, SN61, SN63 Notes: Only 8 were seen, though from 6 different sites.

2422 GREEN SILVER-LINES Pseudoips prasinana National Status: Relatively common in much of England and Wales, local in southern Scotland. Flying in June and July, and occasionally again in Autumn. County Status: Uncommon. Records prior to 2006: 90 Records ’96 to ’05: 60 Earliest date: 12th May (2000) 10km squares prior to 2006: 13

Number of records: 12 Earliest: 4th June Latest: 6th July 10km squares: SN22, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN51, SN52, SN53 Notes: Fourteen at light at Nantgwyn (SN3623) on 8th June was exceptional. All other counts being of ones and twos, as is usual.

2423 OAK NYCTEOLINE Nycteola revayana National Status: Local. Over-winters as an adult and recorded in all months from April to October, probably in two generations. County Status: Scarce. Records prior to 2006: 36 Records ’96 to ’05: 23 Earliest date: Occurs throughout the year, so first date isn’t really appropriate. 10km squares prior to 2006: 8

Number of records: 5 Earliest: 4th May Latest: 5th October 10km squares: SN22, SN30, SN74 Notes: Not an especially great year with four single adults seen and a larva. A scarce species in the county, and seemingly quite local.

2425 NUT-TREE TUSSOCK Colocasia coryli National Status: Widespread, common in the south, local in the north. Flying in two broods between April and September. County Status: Moderately common. Records prior to 2006: 215 Records ’96 to ’05: 99 Earliest date: 21st March (1971) 10km squares prior to 2006: 20

Number of records: 19 Earliest: 26th April Latest: 24th July 10km squares: SN22, SN30, SN32, SN52, SN53, SN73, SN74 Notes: Only one record after 13th June, so it seemed very scarce during its “2nd flight period”.

127 2432 NI MOTH Trichoplusia ni National Status: A rare migrant. Flying at most times of the year, though most records are May to October. County Status: A rare migrant. Records prior to 2006: 3 Records ’96 to ’05: 3 Earliest date: 24th June (2006) 10km squares prior to 2006: 2

Number of records: 1 Earliest: 24th June Latest: 24th June 10km squares: SS49 Notes: One attracted to MV at Pembrey Burrows on 24th June (SS4299). Photographed and released (SDSB, JSB). The 4th County Record.

2434 BURNISHED BRASS Diachrysia chrysitis National Status: Widespread and common. Flying in two broods from June to September. County Status: Common. Records prior to 2006: 255 Records ’96 to ’05: 116 Earliest date: 9th June (1993) 10km squares prior to 2006: 21

Number of records: 35 Earliest: 17th June Latest: 2nd October 10km squares: SN12, SN22, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN52, SN53, SN63, SN64, SN74, SS49 Notes: An unexceptional set of records of typically one to four moths, from regular traps.

2435 SCARCE BURNISHED BRASS Diachrysia chryson National Status: Nationally Scarce A. Very local and currently restricted to central southern England and southwest Wales. Flying in July and August. County Status: Rare and local. Records prior to 2006: 22 Records ’96 to ’05: 14 Earliest date: 21st June (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 4

Number of records: 3 Earliest: 9th July Latest: 26th July 10km squares: SN30, SN31 Notes: Four seen in Pembrey Forest (SN3803) over two nights were expected. One in my garden in Carmarthen (SN3919) was hoped for, but far from likely, it seemed.

2437 GOLDEN PLUSIA Polychrysia moneta National Status: Locally widespread though far scarcer in the last 20 years. Double brooded between June and September. County Status: Rare. Category A2. Records prior to 2006: 7 Records ’96 to ’05: 1 Earliest date: 10th July (1975) 10km squares prior to 2006: 4

Number of records: NOT RECORDED Earliest: - Latest: - 10km squares: - Notes: Last recorded in 1997 (no specific date) at Rhandirmwyn, Rothamsted trap.

128 2439 GOLD SPOT Plusia festucae National Status: Widespread and locally not uncommon in marshy habitats. Double brooded between June and September. County Status: Moderately common. Records prior to 2006: 209 Records ’96 to ’05: 106 Earliest date: 23rd May (1995) 10km squares prior to 2006: 23

Number of records: 20 Earliest: 7th June Latest: 13th September 10km squares: SN30, SN31, SN40, SN52, SN53, SN54, SN61, SS49 Notes: Seemed somewhat scarce, with mainly singles seen.

2441 SILVER Y Autographa gamma National Status: Common immigrant from Europe. Usually appears from April to October. County Status: A very common migrant. Records prior to 2006: 567 Records ’96 to ’05: 372 Earliest date: 1st February (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 28

Number of records: 160 Earliest: 8th May Latest: 29th October 10km squares: SN12, SN20, SN22, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN41, SN51, SN52, SN53, SN54, SN61, SN63, SN64, SN74, SS49 Notes: Naturally, in a year where there were so many rare migrants, this was everywhere. Some huge counts as it arrived in waves. Some evenings at Pembrey there were literally hundreds along every ride.

2442 BEAUTIFUL GOLDEN Y Autographa pulchrina National Status: Widespread and relatively common. Flying in June and July. County Status: Moderately common. Records prior to 2006: 176 Records ’96 to ’05: 96 Earliest date: 27th May (1993) 10km squares prior to 2006: 23

Number of records: 22 Earliest: 6th June Latest: 24th July 10km squares: SN12, SN22, SN30, SN31, SN51, SN52, SN53, SN54, SS49 Notes: An exceptional 12 at Penrhiw (SN1924, Melanie Collier) on 19th June. Elsewhere there were the more typical ones and two in traps.

2443 PLAIN GOLDEN Y Autographa jota National Status: Widespread and relatively common. Flying from June to August. County Status: Moderately common. Records prior to 2006: 143 Records ’96 to ’05: 79 Earliest date: 16th May (1988) 10km squares prior to 2006: 24

Number of records: 17 Earliest: 23rd June Latest: 26th July 10km squares: SN12, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN52, SN53, SN61, SS49 Notes: As with the above a big count was had an Penrhiw (SN1924, Melanie Collier), with 14 on 14th July. No other double-figure counts. Always slightly scarcer than pulchrina.

129 2444 GOLD SPANGLE Autographa bractea National Status: Widespread and not uncommon. Flying in July and August. County Status: Local and moderately scarce. Records prior to 2006: 47 Records ’96 to ’05: 11 Earliest date: 18th June (1999) 10km squares prior to 2006: 13

Number of records: 4 Earliest: 1st July Latest: 22nd July 10km squares: SN53 Notes: Four records of singles from Rhydcymerau (SN5739, Julian Wormald and Martin Lovell).

2447 SCARCE SILVER Y Syngrapha interrogationis National Status: An upland species of the north and west. Flies in two generations between June and August. County Status: Extremely local, rare. Category A2. Records prior to 2006: 20, all but one from Rothamsted in SN74, and all of very small numbers. Records ’96 to ’05: 3 Earliest date: 2nd July (1970) 10km squares prior to 2006: 1 (SN74)

Number of records: NOT RECORDED. Earliest: - Latest: - 10km squares: - Notes: The only non-Rothamsted record was in July 1984.

2449 DARK SPECTACLE Abrostola triplasia National Status: Common in the southwest but local elsewhere. Flies in two generations between June and September. County Status: Uncommon, local. Records prior to 2006: 50 Records ’96 to ’05: 33 Earliest date: 16th May (2006) 10km squares prior to 2006: 14

Number of records: 12 Earliest: 16th May Latest: 6th August 10km squares: SN30, SN31, SN32, SN53, SN61, SN63, SN74 Notes: A very early individual at Nantgwyn, followed by ones and two at a number of other sites. A good year, for an uncommon species.

2450 SPECTACLE Abrostola tripartita National Status: Widespread and common. Flying in two broods from May to September. County Status: Common. Records prior to 2006: 291 Records ’96 to ’05: 193 Earliest date: 2nd May (2001) 10km squares prior to 2006: 24

Number of records: 47 Earliest: 11th May Latest: 4th September 10km squares: SN12, SN22, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN51, SN52, SN53, SN61, SS49 Notes: Nothing notable – just the regular occurrences of small numbers in every trap.

130 2452 RED UNDERWING Catocala nupta National Status: Widespread in southern Britain, though scarce in the west. Flying in August and September. County Status: Rare, first recorded in 2005. Records prior to 2006: 1 Records ’96 to ’05: 1 Earliest date: 1st August (2006) 10km squares prior to 2006: 1 (SS59)

Number of records: 2 Earliest: 1st August (though the other record was “last week of July”) Latest: 1st August 10km squares: SS59 Notes: One found by day by Ian Morgan at Machynys (SS5197) was photographed later by myself. Ian had heard reports through Wendell Thomas of this species also being seen at Penclacwydd at the end of July, but no direct record received. An excellent record, backing up the evidence that it is slowly colonising our south-eastern coastline.

2462 MOTHER SHIPTON Callistege mi National Status: Widespread and locally common in England and Wales. Flying in May and June. County Status: Scarce and local. Records prior to 2006: 26 Records ’96 to ’05: 10 Earliest date: 11th May (1990) 10km squares prior to 2006: 9

Number of records: 2 Earliest: 25th May Latest: 2nd June 10km squares: SN30, SS49 Notes: Two seen in the south Burrows and one seen on the MOD area at Pembrey.

2463 BURNET COMPANION Euclidia glyphica National Status: Widespread and locally common in England, scarce in Wales. Flying in May and June. County Status: Scarce and local. Records prior to 2006: 21 Records ’96 to ’05: 13 Earliest date: 21st May (1995) 10km squares prior to 2006: 7

Number of records: 1 Earliest: 6th June Latest: - 10km squares: SN51 Notes: Five at Garn-fach (SN5210) by day on 6th June was the only record , though I think Julian Wormald also recorded this somewhere – not received. A very local species.

2466 BLACKNECK Lygephila pastinum National Status: Locally common in southern Britain. Flying in June and July. County Status: Local. Uncommon. Records prior to 2006: 51 Records ’96 to ’05: 27 Earliest date: 1st June (1992) 10km squares prior to 2006: 10

Number of records: 5 Earliest: 28th June Latest: 24th July 10km squares: SN30, SS49 Notes: All but one of the records were from Pembrey, where numbers seemed down – though ten seen on 3rd July at SN3803. The other record was at Llanelli North Dock (SS4999, Simeon Jones).

131 2469 HERALD Scoliopteryx libatrix National Status: Widespread and moderately common in England and Wales, local in Scotland. Flying from July, hibernating, and then re-emerging from March to June. County Status: Common. Records prior to 2006: 119 Records ’96 to ’05: 69 Earliest date: post hibernation 25th March (2005) 10km squares prior to 2006: 18

Number of records: 19 Earliest: 24th April (post hibernation) Latest: 16th October 10km squares: SN30, SN40, SN53, SN63, SN64, SN71 Notes: Small numbers noted at a range of sites.

2470 SMALL PURPLE-BARRED Phytometra viridaria National Status: Widespread but local. Commoner in the south. Flying from May to July. County Status: Rare and very local. Records prior to 2006: 13 Records ’96 to ’05: 7 Earliest date: 18th May (1993) 10km squares prior to 2006: 5

Number of records: 5 Earliest: 25th May Latest: 26th July 10km squares: SN30, SS49 Notes: Eight seen over 5 days at Pembrey Forest. A very good number of records and it seems widespread at the site, being seen in the south dunes, the Forest and on the MOD land to the north.

2473 BEAUTIFUL HOOK-TIP Laspeyria flexula National Status: Local in southern Britain. Flying from June to August. County Status: Very rare. Records prior to 2006: 1 (plus another that is dubious), both Rothamsted records. Records ’96 to ’05: None. Earliest date: 12th July (1983) 10km squares prior to 2006: 1

Number of records: 1 Earliest: 25th July Latest: 25th July 10km squares: SN61 Notes: Another of the year’s highlights was the 2nd county record of this species, caught at Glynhir Mansion (SN6315) by Barry Stewart on 25th July. The last record being 23 years earlier. With more records coming from west Glamorgan recently, perhaps this will start turning up a little bit more frequently.

2474 STRAW DOT Rivula sericealis National Status: Common in southern Britain, local in the north. Flying from June to July and occasionally again. County Status: Common. Records prior to 2006: 353 Records ’96 to ’05: 171 Earliest date: 27th May (2005) 10km squares prior to 2006: 23

Number of records: 48 Earliest: 10th June Latest: 26th September 10km squares: SN12, SN22, SN30, SN31, SN40, SN51, SN52, SN53, SN61, SN64, SS49 Notes: Several double-figure counts. Ten September records were unusual, and highly suggested a good second brood.

132 2475 WAVED BLACK Parascotia fuliginaria National Status: Local in southern Britain. Flying in June and July. County Status: Extremely rare. One caught in 2005 is the only record. Records prior to 2006: 1 Records ’96 to ’05: 1 Earliest date: 10th August (2005) 10km squares prior to 2006: 1 (SS49)

Number of records: NOT RECORDED. Earliest: - Latest: - 10km squares: - Notes: Last recorded in August 2005.

2476 BEAUTIFUL SNOUT Hypena crassalis National Status: Local in southern Britain. Flying in June and July County Status: Local. Records prior to 2006: 67 Records ’96 to ’05: 44 Earliest date: 26th May (2004) 10km squares prior to 2006: 9

Number of records: 9 Earliest: 8th June Latest: 11th September 10km squares: SN30, SN31, SN32, SN51, SN53, SN61, SN74 Notes: Typical records from the expected habitat, with a very strange record of one on 11th September to light in Pembrey Forest – a new species for the site, with no bilberry, and well outside the likely flight time. Perhaps this was a continental migrant or 2nd brood individual.

2477 SNOUT Hypena proboscidalis National Status: Common. Flying in two broods from June to October. County Status: Common. Records prior to 2006: 385 Records ’96 to ’05: 244 Earliest date: 26th May (2001) 10km squares prior to 2006: 22

Number of records: 89 Earliest: 17th June Latest: 17th October 10km squares: SN12, SN20, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN41, SN51, SN52, SN53, SN61, SN62, SN63, SS49 Notes: A high count of 20 to light on 25th September in Pembrey Forest.

2480 BUTTONED SNOUT Hypena rostralis National Status: Nationally Scarce B. Mainly restricted to southern England. Few Welsh records. Flying from August to October, hibernating and appearing again in Spring. County Status: Dubiously recorded. Larval records only, not verified. Category B (pended). Records prior to 2006: 2, both larval, both unproven. Records ’96 to ’05: 2, both unproven. Earliest date: not seen as an adult. 10km squares prior to 2006: 2, though both unproven.

Number of records: NOT RECORDED. Earliest: - Latest: - 10km squares: - Notes: NO PROVEN COUNTY RECORDS AS YET.

133 2482 WHITE-LINE SNOUT Schrankia costaestrigalis National Status: Nationally Scarce B. Local in southern Britain. Flying in July and August and occasionally again in late Autumn. County Status: Rare. Records prior to 2006: 3 Records ’96 to ’05: 1 Earliest date: 28th July (1990) 10km squares prior to 2006: 3

Number of records: NOT RECORDED. Earliest: - Latest: - 10km squares: - Notes: Last recorded in October 2004 at Llansteffan (SN3510). Previous records being at Cwm Clydach (SN4407) and St. Ishmaels (SN3608), both in July 1990.

2484 PINION-STREAKED SNOUT Schrankia costaestrigalis National Status: Widespread but local to damp places. Flying from June to October in two broods. County Status: Scarce and local. Records prior to 2006: 66 Records ’96 to ’05: 49 Earliest date: 25th May (2005) 10km squares prior to 2006: 16

Number of records: 10 Earliest: 16th July Latest: 23rd September 10km squares: SN10, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN53, SN54 Notes: Ones and twos from a scattering of sites. Missing for the early part of the season.

2485 MARSH OBLIQUE-BARRED Hypenodes humidalis National Status: Nationally Scarce B. Easily overlooked. Local, with a predominantly western distribution. Flying from June to August, occasionally again in September. County Status: Rare and local, though probably overlooked. Records prior to 2006: 15 Records ’96 to ’05: 13 Earliest date: 7th July (1975) 10km squares prior to 2006: 8

Number of records: 3 Earliest: 14th July Latest: 31st July 10km squares: SN31, SN53 Notes: Three at Abergorlech (SN5834) on our field meeting on 31st July. Singles in my Carmarthen garden (SN3919) and at Rhydcymerau (SN5739, Martin Lovell).

2489 FAN-FOOT Zanclognatha tarsipennalis National Status: Widespread. Common in the south, local in the north. Flying in June and July. County Status: Moderately common. Records prior to 2006: 165 Records ’96 to ’05: 92 Earliest date: 14th June (1999) 10km squares prior to 2006: 21

Number of records: 25 Earliest: 17th June Latest: 21st July 10km squares: SN12, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN40, SN51, SN52, SN53, SN63, SS49 Notes: Half the records were from my garden. It was actually quite poorly recorded, with no notable counts.

134 2492 SMALL FAN-FOOT Herminia grisealis National Status: Widespread and common in England and Wales. Local in Scotland. Flying from June to August. County Status: Common. Records prior to 2006: 188 Records ’96 to ’05: 124 Earliest date: 29th May (2003) 10km squares prior to 2006: 19

Number of records: 29 Earliest: 6th June Latest: 18th October 10km squares: SN12, SN20, SN22, SN30, SN31, SN32, SN51, SN52, SN53, SS49 Notes: The main flight period ended at the end of July, but there was a notably late individual at Morfa Bychan (SN226080) on 18th October, that was quite possibly indicative of an unusual 2nd brood.

135 MICRO-MOTHS

There were 375 species of micro moth recorded in the county during the year. I am not going to go into detail within this report, and the highlights have already been covered in the monthly bulletins throughout 2006. The table below summarises which species were recorded, how many records were made and notes which were new species for the county list.

No. Scientific Name English Name Records Note 1 Micropterix tunbergella Micro 5 3 Micropterix aureatella Micro 6 4 Micropterix aruncella Micro 4 5 Micropterix calthella Micro 5 6 Eriocrania subpurpurella Micro 5 13 Eriocrania semipurpurella Micro 1 29 Ectoedemia atricollis Micro 1 37 Ectoedemia albifasciella Micro 2 38 Ectoedemia subbimaculella Micro 1 new 50 Stigmella aurella Micro 1 63 Stigmella lemniscella Micro 1 67 Stigmella plagicolella Micro 1 68 Stigmella salicis Micro 2 75 Stigmella floslactella Micro 2 77 Stigmella tityrella Micro 1 83 Stigmella atricapitella Micro 1 84 Stigmella ruficapitella Micro 1 99 Stigmella hybnerella Micro 1 103 Stigmella nylandriella Micro 1 111 Stigmella microtheriella Micro 3 119 Opostega salaciella Micro 1 123 Tischeria ekebladella Micro 2 125 Emmetia marginea Micro 15 128 Phylloporia bistrigella Micro 4 130 Incurvaria masculella Longhorn 4 131 Incurvaria oehlmanniella Longhorn 3 135 Lampronia luzella Longhorn 1 140 Nematopogon swammerdamella Longhorn 1 141 Nematopogon schwarziellus Longhorn 2 143 Nematopogon metaxella Longhorn 2 148 Nemophora degeerella Longhorn 6 150 Adela reaumurella Longhorn 6 153 Adela fibulella Longhorn 1 156 Heliozela resplendella Micro 2 157 Heliozela hammoniella Micro 2 186 Psyche casta Micro 2 200 Psychoides filicivora Micro 5 203 Infurcitinea argentimaculella Micro 1 new 216 Nemapogon cloacella Micro 6 228 Monopis weaverella Micro 5 240 Tinea pellionella Micro 2 246 Tinea semifulvella Micro 2 247 Tinea trinotella Micro 5 263 Lyonetia clerkella Micro 11 267 Bucculatrix maritima Micro 2 275 Bucculatrix bechsteinella Micro 1 new 282 Caloptilia elongella Micro 1 283 Caloptilia betulicola Micro 1 285 Caloptilia azaleella Micro 2 new 286 Caloptilia alchimiella Micro 1 287 Caloptilia robustella Micro 2 288 Caloptilia stigmatella Micro 12 293 Caloptilia syringella Micro 3 294 Aspilapteryx tringipennella Micro 3 296 Calybites phasianipennella Micro 1 new

136 301 Parornix betulae Micro 1 303 Parornix anglicella Micro 3 304 Parornix devoniella Micro 2 315 Phyllonorycter harrisella Micro 1 320 Phyllonorycter quercifoliella Micro 1 321 Phyllonorycter messaniella Micro 1 323 Phyllonorycter oxyacanthae Micro 2 324 Phyllonorycter sorbi Micro 1 326 Phyllonorycter blancardella Micro 1 337 Phyllonorycter hilarella Micro 1 338 Phyllonorycter cavella Micro 1 341 Phyllonorycter maestingella Micro 1 342 Phyllonorycter coryli Micro 3 345 Phyllonorycter rajella Micro 1 353 Phyllonorycter ulmifoliella Micro 1 359 Phyllonorycter nicellii Micro 1 360 Phyllonorycter kleemannella Micro 1 361 Phyllonorycter trifasciella Micro 1 363 Phyllonorycter platanoidella Micro 2 new 385 Anthophila fabriciana Nettle-tap Moth 5 391 Glyphipterix simpliciella Micro 8 396 Glyphipterix fuscoviridella Micro 11 397 Glyphipterix thrasonella Micro 5 410 Argyresthia brockeella Micro 5 411 Argyresthia goedartella Micro 8 412 Argyresthia pygmaeella Micro 5 415 Argyresthia retinella Micro 4 417 Argyresthia spinosella Micro 2 421 Argyresthia bonnetella Micro 2 422 Argyresthia albistria Micro 2 423 Argyresthia semitestacella Micro 1 new 424 Yponomeuta evonymella Ermine Moth 1 425 Yponomeuta padella Ermine Moth 4 426 Yponomeuta malinellus Ermine Moth 2 new 427 Yponomeuta cagnagella Ermine Moth 1 428 Yponomeuta rorrella Ermine Moth 2 436 Pseudoswammerdamia combinella Micro 3 438 Swammerdamia pyrella Micro 2 441 Paraswammerdamia lutarea Micro 2 445 Ocnersotoma friesei Micro 1 449 Prays fraxinella Micro 7 453 Ypsolopha dentella Micro 1 455 Ypsolopha scabrella Micro 2 460 Ypsolopha parenthesella Micro 24 464 Plutella xylostella Diamond-backed Moth 46 465 Plutella porrectella Micro 1 472 Digitivalva pulicariae Micro 4 481 Epermenia falciformis Micro 1 483 Epermenia chaerophyllella Micro 1 485 Schreckensteinia festaliella Micro 4 492 Coleophora flavipennella Micro 2 493 Coleophora serratella Micro 5 516 Coleophora trifolii Micro 1 517 Coleophora alcyonipennella agg. Micro 1 519 Coleophora deauratella Micro 3 530 Coleophora lixella Micro 3 536 Coleophora betulella Micro 2 544 Coleophora albicosta Micro 3 547 Coleophora discordella Micro 2 553 Coleophora striatipennella Micro 1 560 Coleophora paripennella Micro 3 563 Coleophora argentula Micro 1 568 Coleophora versurella Micro 1 new 578 Coleophora otidipennella Micro 1

137 582 Coleophora glaucicolella Micro 2 584 Coleophora alticolella Micro 2 586 Coleophora adjunctella Micro 2 587 Coleophora caespititiella Micro 4 new 595 Elachista biatomella Micro 5 606 Elachista humilis Micro 1 607 Elachista canapennella Micro 1 608 Elachista rufocinerea Micro 3 610 Elachista argentella Micro 10 631 Cosmiotes freyerella Micro 1 641 Batia lambdella Micro 1 new 647 Hofmannophila pseudospretella Brown House-moth 11 648 Endrosis sarcitrella White-shouldered House-moth 3 649 Esperia sulphurella Oecophorid 2 658 Carcina quercana Oecophorid 7 663 Diurnea fagella Oecophorid 5 667 Semioscopis steinkellneriana Oecophorid 2 671 Depressaria ultimella Oecophorid 1 new 672 Depressaria pastinacella Oecophorid 2 676 Depressaria pulcherrimella Oecophorid 1 678 Depressaria sordidatella Oecophorid 1 new 688 Agonopterix heracliana Oecophorid 11 694 Agonopterix nanatella Oecophorid 3 697 Agonopterix arenella Oecophorid 4 701 Agonopterix ocellana Oecophorid 7 706 Agonopterix nervosa Oecophorid 4 713 Agonopterix angelicella Oecophorid 1 714 Agonopterix yeatiana Oecophorid 2 726 Metzneria metzneriella Gelechid 3 727.5 Metzneria aprilella Gelechid 1 730 Apodia bifractella Gelechid 1 731 Eulamprotes atrella Gelechid 2 736 Monochroa lucidella Gelechid 3 760 Exoteleia dodecella Gelechid 2 765 Teleiodes vulgella Gelechid 2 774 Teleoides lucelella Gelechid 1 778 Bryotropha umbrosella Gelechid 4 779 Bryotropha affinis Gelechid 2 782 Bryotropha senectella Gelechid 1 786 Bryotropha desertella Gelechid 1 new 787 Bryotropha terrella Gelechid 10 789 Bryotropha domestica Gelechid 13 792 Mirificarma mulinella Gelechid 4 797 Neofaculta ericetella Gelechid 3 802.5 Gelechia sororculella Gelechid 1 812 Scrobipalpa instabilella Gelechid 9 814 Scrobipalpa ocellatella Gelechid 1 new 819 Scrobipalpa costella Gelechid 8 827 Caryocolum alsinella Gelechid 2 835 Caryocolum blandulella Gelechid 1 843 Aproaerema anthylidella Gelechid 3 847 Syncopachma taeniolella Gelechid 2 853 Anacampsis populella Gelechid 2 854 Anacampsis blattariella Gelechid 1 856 Anarsia spartiella Gelechid 5 858 Hypatima rhomboidella Gelechid 1 866 Brachmia blandella Gelechid 1 868 Helcystogramma rufescens Gelechid 2 873 Blastobasis lignea Micro 27 877.5 Calicotis crucifera Micro 1 (new) 878 Batrachedra praeangusta Micro 3 882 Mompha locupletella Momphid 1 883 Mompha raschkiella Momphid 9 886 Mompha ochraceella Momphid 3

138 887 Mompha lacteella Momphid 2 893 Mompha epilobiella Momphid 1 905 Blastodacna hellerella Micro 1 921 Phtheochroa inopiana Cochylid 1 932 Phalonidia affinitana Cochylid 1 936 Cochylimorpha straminea Cochylid 1 937 Agapeta hamana Cochylid 14 938 Agapeta zoegana Cochylid 6 945 Aethes cnicana Cochylid 5 946 Aethes rubigana Cochylid 1 949 Aethes dilucidana Cochylid 4 954 Eupoecilia angustana Cochylid 14 959 Cochylidia rupicola Cochylid 1 964 Cochylis dubitana Cochylid 12 968 Cochylis nana Cochylid 3 969 Pandemis corylana Tortricid 8 970 Pandemis cerasana Tortricid 9 971 Pandemis cinnamomeana Tortricid 8 972 Pandemis heparana Tortricid 31 977 Archips podana Tortricid 13 980 Archips xylosteana Tortricid 2 986 Syndemis musculana Tortricid 4 988 Aphelia viburnana Tortricid 2 989 Aphelia paleana Tortricid 6 994 Clepsis consimilana Tortricid 1 998 Epiphyas postvittana Tortricid 69 1000 Ptycholoma lecheana Tortricid 1 1001 Lozotaeniodes formosanus Tortricid 3 1002 Lozotaenia forsterana Tortricid 3 1006 Epagoge grotiana Tortricid 1 1007 Capua vulgana Tortricid 10 1010 Ditula angustiorana Tortricid 3 1011 Pseudargyrotoza conwagana Tortricid 2 1013 Olindia schumacherana Tortricid 1 1015 Eulia ministrana Tortricid 1 1016 Cnephasia longana Tortricid 3 1020 Cnephasia stephensiana Tortricid 7 1021 Cnephasia asseclana Tortricid 3 1024 Cnephasia incertana Tortricid 6 1029 Eana osseana Tortricid 1 1031 Eana penziana colquhounana Tortricid 11 1032 Aleimma loeflingiana Tortricid 1 1033 Tortrix viridana Tortricid 2 1035 Acleris bergmanniana Tortricid 4 1038 Acleris laterana Tortricid 2 1039 Acleris comariana Tortricid 9 1042 Acleris rhombana Tortricid 8 1043 Acleris aspersana Tortricid 2 1044 Acleris ferrugana Tortricid 1 1045 Acleris notana Tortricid 2 1048 Acleris variegana Tortricid 7 1053 Acleris hastiana Tortricid 6 1054 Acleris cristana Tortricid 2 1062 Acleris emargana Tortricid 16 1063 Celypha striana Tortricid 11 1067 Celypha cespitana Tortricid 1 1068 Celypha rivulana Tortricid 2 1076 Celypha lacunana Tortricid 40 1082 Hedya pruniana Tortricid 7 1083 Hedya nubiferana Tortricid 7 1084 Hedya ochroleucana Tortricid 3 1087 Orthotaenia undulana Tortricid 6 1089 Apotomis semifasciana Tortricid 5 1092 Apotomis turbidana Tortricid 3

139 1093 Apotomis betuletana Tortricid 9 1099 Endothenia marginana Tortricid 2 1106 Lobesia reliquana Tortricid 2 1108 Lobesia abscisana Tortricid 1 1111 Bactra lancealana Tortricid 18 1112 Bactra robustana Tortricid 1 1117 Ancylis unguicella Tortricid 1 1119 Ancylis geminana Tortricid 1 1120 Ancylis mitterbacheriana Tortricid 3 1126 Ancylis badiana Tortricid 2 1133 Epinotia bilunana Tortricid 6 1134 Epinotia ramella Tortricid 6 1136 Epinotia immundana Tortricid 1 1138 Epinotia nisella Tortricid 4 1139 Epinotia tenerana Tortricid 3 1142 Epinotia tedella Tortricid 3 1144 Epinotia signatana Tortricid 3 1147 Epinotia cruciana Tortricid 6 1151 Epinotia trigonella Tortricid 6 1155 Epinotia brunnichana Tortricid 1 1159 Rhopobota naevana Tortricid 2 1168 Gypsonoma sociana Tortricid 1 1169 Gypsonoma dealbana Tortricid 5 1174 Epiblema cynosbatella Tortricid 12 1175 Epiblema uddmanniana Tortricid 21 1177 Epiblema rosaecolana Tortricid 4 1178 Epiblema roborana Tortricid 2 1179 Epiblema incarnatana Tortricid 6 1184 Epiblema scutulana Tortricid 2 1184.5 Epiblema cirsiana Tortricid 2 1197 Eucosma campoliliana Tortricid 4 1200 Eucosma hohenwartiana Tortricid 8 1201 Eucosma cana Tortricid 12 1202 Eucosma obumbratana Tortricid 1 1205 Spilonota ocellana Tortricid 2 1207 Clavigesta purdeyi Tortricid 1 1212 Rhyacionia pinivorana Tortricid 1 1219 Lathronympha strigana Tortricid 1 1231 Pammene spiniana Tortricid 1 new 1233 Pammene aurita Tortricid 2 1234 Pammene regiana Tortricid 2 1237 Pammene germmana Tortricid 1 1241 Grapholita compositella Tortricid 5 1251 Grapholita jungiella Tortricid 3 1255 Cydia succedana Tortricid 5 1257 Cydia nigricana Tortricid 2 1259 Cydia fagiglandana Tortricid 4 1260 Cydia splendana Tortricid 6 1261 Cydia pomonella Tortricid 4 1272 Pammene aurana Tortricid 1 1274 Dichrorampha alpinana Tortricid 1 1285 Dichrorampha plumbana Tortricid 1 1288 Alucita hexadactyla Twenty-plume Moth 10 1290 Chilo phragmitella Pyralid 1 1293 Chrysoteuchia culmella Pyralid 35 1294 Crambus pascuella Pyralid 13 1301 Crambus lathoniellus Pyralid 20 1302 Crambus perlella Pyralid 8 1303 Agriphila selasella Pyralid 6 1304 Agriphila straminella Pyralid 30 1305 Agriphila tristella Pyralid 21 1307 Agriphila latistria Pyralid 3 1309 Agriphila geniculea Pyralid 3 1313 Catoptria pinella Pyralid 8

140 1314 Catoptria margaritella Pyralid 2 1316 Catoptria falsella Pyralid 3 1329 Donacaula forficella Pyralid 2 1331 Acentria ephemerella Water Veneer 11 1332 Scoparia subfusca Pyralid 1 1333 Scoparia pyralella Pyralid 10 1334 Scoparia ambigualis Pyralid 18 1338 Dipleurina lacustrata Pyralid 17 1342 Eudonia angustea Pyralid 11 1343 Eudonia delunella Pyralid 6 1344 Eudonia mercurella Pyralid 19 1345 Elophila nymphaeata Brown China-mark 7 1348 Parapoynx stratiotata Ringed China-mark 12 1354 Cataclysta lemnata Small China-mark 6 1356 Evergestis forficalis Garden Pebble 6 1362 Pyrausta purpuralis Pyralid 2 1365 Pyrausta despicata Pyralid 7 1367 Pyrausta cingulata Pyralid 1 1376 Eurrhypara hortulata Small Magpie 37 1377 Perinephela lancealis Pyralid 10 1378 Phlyctaenia coronata Pyralid 6 1384 Phlyctaenia stachydalis Pyralid 5 1385 Ebulea crocealis Pyralid 2 1386 Opsibotys fuscalis Pyralid 14 1388 Udea lutealis Pyralid 4 1390 Udea prunalis Pyralid 19 1392 Udea olivalis Pyralid 19 1395 Udea ferrugalis Rusty-dot Pearl 45 1397 Mecyna asinalis Pyralid 2 1398 Nomophila noctuella Rush Veneer 94 1405 Pleuroptya ruralis Mother of Pearl 35 1408 Palpita vitrealis Pyralid 3 new 1413 Hypsopygia costalis Gold Triangle 9 1424 Endotricha flammealis Pyralid 5 1425 Galleria mellonella Wax Moth 1 1426 Achroia grisella Lesser Wax Moth 2 1428 Aphomia sociella Bee Moth 11 1432 Anerastia lotella Pyralid 4 1433 Cryptoblabes bistriga Pyralid 6 1439 Trachycera advenella Pyralid 11 1440 Trachycera marmorea Pyralid 3 1451 Pyla fusca Pyralid 1 1452 Phycita roborella Pyralid 1 1454 Dioryctria abietella Pyralid 4 1454.5 Dioryctria sylvestrella Pyralid 1 new 1455 Diorycita simplicella Pyralid 4 1458 Myelois circumvoluta Thistle Ermine 5 1462 Pempeliella dilutella Pyralid 7 1467 Ancylosis oblitella Pyralid 1 new 1481 Homoeosoma sinuella Pyralid 13 1483 Phycitodes binaevella Pyralid 10 1485 Phycitodes maritima Pyralid 3 1495 Marasmarcha lunaedactyla Plume Moth 10 1497 Amblyptilia acanthydactyla Plume Moth 5 1498 Amblyptilia punctidactyla Plume Moth 4 1501 Platyptilia gonodactyla Plume Moth 1 1504 Platyptilia pallidactyla Plume Moth 4 1507 Stenoptilia zophodactylus Plume Moth 5 1509 Stenoptilia pterodactyla Plume Moth 2 1509 Stenoptilia pterodactyla Plume Moth 3 1513 Pterophorus pentadactyla Plume Moth 6 1517 Adaina microdactyla Plume Moth 4 1523 Oidaematophorus lithodactyla Plume Moth 3 1524 Emmelina monodactyla Plume Moth 38

141 THE ROTHAMSTED EFFECT

Of the 64,000 or so records on the VC44 database to the end of 2005, over 16,000 of them (c.25%) are sourced from Rothamsted traps. For those of you unfamiliar with the Rothamsted project, these are lethal traps that run every night throughout the year in set locations. The caught are then either identified on site or sent off to head-office to be determined. It does not pass through the county recorder or any local verification process. Rothamsted traps have been running in Carmarthenshire since the late 1960s, with two in SN74 at Rhandirmwyn and Gwenffrwd contributing a great deal of data. The trap at Rhandirmwyn has run from 1976, and is still in operation – though I do not have all of the data from there. It alone accounts for over 7000 records. The data from nearby Gwenffrwd ran from 1969 to 1975 and it too accounts for about 7000 records. The effect of this is that, in having such a preponderance of records from one area and from one habitat (upland) the data becomes skewed. There are many species which are solely or almost wholly represented on the county database by records from this source. Where this is important, I have noted such in the species accounts. But there is a more serious problem that this data causes, and it is a real headache for me as county recorder. The Rothamsted dataset is unreliable. When I went through it in 2000 I found hundreds of errors and problems. Some were clearly the result of poor identification, while some were clearly data input or transcription errors. The result of this is that the entire dataset is tainted. As none of it has been properly assessed through a county recorder process and none of it is open to reference or verify, it becomes a nightmare problem. From datasets where there are clear incompetent identification errors at a simple level, why should any record of a difficult species from that be accepted as trustworthy? An extreme solution would be to ignore the whole of Rothamsted’s input into the database, but that would be a poor solution. Thirty-five years of effort, time, expense and the killing of millions of moths would have achieved nothing. Although I have tried repeatedly to present my concerns to Rothamsted since 2000, they have never responded.

I have to admit that I am somewhat sceptical of the whole Rothamsted project, which is often used as the scientific benchmark for assessing population dynamics in moths. I believe their data to be so flawed in some cases, that it is wholly unreliable. Clearly a high percentage of the data they produce is likely to be accurate. But a lot of it is not. The only way I can see to deal with it is to accept it for what it is. Species which have only been recorded in VC44 at Rothamsted traps must be viewed with caution, but not discounted. As years go by there are fewer and fewer of these, and as the uplands of Carmarthenshire are more thoroughly explored by recorders who are properly documenting their findings - with moths being verified through photographs and specimens – the problems surrounding the SN74 Rothamsted data and others will diminish. These are my own personal concerns, and I am aware that some people do see great value in Rothamsted and what it has achieved. But a responsible county recorder must always put data accuracy first.

142 A SOLUTION

After much thought and discussion with others I have decided that the only reasonable solution to this problem is to divide the county database into Rothamsted and non- Rothamsted records. As I have no control over the Rothamsted dataset, and its quality, validity and consistency are so different from the records which are filtered through the proper county recorder process, they really cannot be viewed as an amalgamated dataset, and must be split. Consequently I will be far more able to do understandable data analysis of the county database. Throughout this report there are figures given for the number of records on the county database. Although these currently include the Rothamsted data, where it is important and relevant I have tried to note it. For future reports I will be splitting the figure and presenting it as such.

JON BAKER, April 2007

REFERENCES

J.D. Bradley. CHECKLIST OF RECORDED FROM THE BRITISH ISLES, Second Edition (Revised) 2000. ISBN 0 9532508 2 2

M. Townsend, P. Waring & R. Lewington. FIELD GUIDE TO THE MOTHS OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND. British Wildlife Publishing (2003). ISBN 0 9531399 1 3

Various. THE MOTHS AND BUTTERFLIES OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND. Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4 (1), 4 (2). Harley Books (1983 to 2002). ISBN 0 946589 03 8 et al.

B. Skinner. COLOUR IDENTIFICATION GUIDE TO MOTHS OF THE BRITSH ISLES. Viking (1984). ISBN 0 670 80354 5

Bradley, Tremewan & Smith. BRITISH TORTRICOID MOTHS. Volumes 1 & 2. The Ray Society (1973, 1979). ISBN 0 903874 01 6

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

A. Riley & G. Prior. BRITISH AND IRISH PUG MOTHS. Harley Books (2003). ISBN 0 946 58951 8

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