Llanelli Naturalists Newsletter - September 1984

In hot, sunny weather about a dozen members assembled for the main: purpose of entomological recording; several sites: were visited.

1. Ditches to the North of Brooklands Farm, near the entrance to Pembrey Airfield (SN409038). Five species of dragonfly seen - Libulella depressa (Bread-bodied Chaser), Anax imperator (Emperor Dragonfly), Ischnura elegans –(Blue-tailed Damselfly), Coenagrion puella (Azure Damselfly) and Sympetrum striolatum (Common Darter). Two scarce plants in the ditch were Zannichellia palustris and a type of primitive stonewort, Chara vulgaris.
2. Tywyn Burrows (RAF Bombing Range), SN3704. Three species of grasshopper seen - Chorthippus parallelus on the damper ground, Chorthippus brunneus and Myrmeleotettix maculatus on the drier, sandy areas. Some of the more interesting plants seen were Blue-eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium bermudiana), Fragrant Orchid (Gymnadenia conopsea) and Marsh Helleborines (Epipactis palustris). Six-spot Burnet Moths, Marbled Whites, Sulphur Beetles (Cteniopus sulphurous) and the red and black Squashbug (Corizus hoscyami) were also noted.
3. Large ride in Pembrey Forest (SN392028). The Woodland Grasshopper (Omocestus rufipes) recorded (perhaps incorrectly?) here sometime before 1960 was searched for, but none were found. As compensation though, David Poulter, like an entomological magician, managed to produce a specimen of the Speckled Bush Cricket (Leptophyes punctatissima), never recorded before in Carmarthenshire. Amongst the more interesting plants found were Salad Burnet (Poterium sanguisorba), a naturalized Vine (Vitus sp.) Asparagus officinalis and Hare's Foot Clover (Trifolium arvense). Several Brown Argus Butterflies were seen.
4. Swan Pool Drain (NE) SN4201. A Clouded Yellow butterfly was seen, also 4 species of dragonfly including Libulella quadrimaculata (the Four Spotted Chaser). The scarce Sparganium emersum (Unbranched Bur-reed was growing along with its commoner relative Sparganium erectum), Potomogeton berchtoldii (abundant) and Potomogeton crispus (a little) were two species of pondweed in the ditches.
5. Ffrwd Fen Nature Reserve (SN4202). Several specimens of the Short-winged Conehead (Conocephalus dorsalis), at type of cricket – were caught, examined and released. The three botanical specialities of the reserve – Scirpus fluitans, Lathyrus palustris and Hydrocharis morsus-ranae – were all found, but only the last named, the Frogbit, was at its best. The water level was about 2 ft below normal.