Llanelli Naturalists Newsletter - March 1985
Ian Morgan

A regular visitor to spring primroses and polyanthus in gardens is the Bee Fly (Bombylius major) an attractive insect, round and hairy like a bumble bee but with a very long proboscis which is used to sip nectar as the Bee Fly hovers in front of a flower; many were seen in my garden during the spring. Several members commented on the presence of mining bees which produce neat burrows in rockeries etc. for their eggs; larvae are fed on pollen. The hot spring seemed to suit these mining bees which belong to the genera Halictus and Andrena, one Andrena arnata (because of its habit of nesting in dry short grass is called the “Lawn Bee”.

A more rapacious creature is the bright-green Tiger Beetle (Cicindela campestris) noted at Cencoed-uchaf, Cwm Pedol and Cwm Twrch; G. Harper reports it from Ffordd-y-Wagen, Pwll, from where it has long been known.    The duneland    a Cicindela maritima has been recorded in the past from Tywyn Burrows. Pill Bugs (Armadillidium vulgare) at Laugharne and Pembrey Burrows and Machynys were recorded, whilst Pill Millipedes (Glomeris marginata), very similar in appearance were found under rotten wood in Stradey Woods.

The harmless Scorpion Fly (so called because of the ‘tail-end’ male genitilia that look like a scorpion’s sting, was noted at Stradey, Ffrwd Fen and Machynys. There are only three British species, and apart from the Panorpa communis already recorded it is hoped that the remaining two species will be seen in 1985. (I have illustrated diagrams of all 3 species - for these who are interested). The Scorpion-flies and the Lacewings (Green and Brown - c. 43 species in Britain) will be collected next season as part of a survey of these insects being organized by Mrs. M.J Morgan of Bangor University. The gaudy red and black squashbug Corizus hyoscyami was recorded at Stradey, Pembrey and Tywyn Burrow’s and Llansteffan (also at Machynys in 1976); it is a ‘southern’ species in Britain. The all-yellow Sulphur Beetle (Cteniopus sulphurous) was noted at Pembrey, Cefn Sidan, Tywyn Point, Ferryside and Llansteffan, is another insect that was, in the past thought to be limited to South and South-east England.

Mr. Adrian Hughes supplied the only 1984, record (at Felinfoel) of a Hummingbird Hawk Moth (it hovers like a hummingbird in front of flowers); in previous years I have seen it at Buddleia and Lavender at Stradey. At Machynys on 3rd July was seen the caterpillar of a Poplar Hawk Moth, whilst a related species seen by M.H. Williams was an Elephant Hawk Moth. Another interesting moth was the little black Chimney Sweeper Moth North-west of Allt Rhyd-y-Groes, flying in numbers by day over a herb rich pasture; whilst finally on moths, the years first migrant Silver-Y moth was at the Ffrwd Fen on 18th June, and Green Longhorn moths (Adela viridella) were performing their dancing aerial courtship displays in the oak-clothed cwm behind Amroth, when the Llanelli Naturalists held a field meeting there in June.

One hot sultry night in May, the street lamps in Bynea were surrounded by scores of Cockchafers (Melontha melontha) which were also noted in lesser numbers at Stradey; at Machynys the smaller Garden Chafer (Phyllopertha horticula) was noted. The Thick-kneed Flower Beetle (Oedemera nobilis) a shining bottle-green - was recorded at Tywyn Burrows and Sir John’s Hill, Laugharne, it is another ‘southern’ species A brilliantly coloured wasp at St .Ishmaels church in August was tentatively identified as Chrysis ignite.

Some exceptional records have been received recently from Messrs. Eric Roderick and Ian Tew. Eric has submitted some 1979 and 1980 records for the rare Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly (Ischnura pumillo) at a pond within Tumble open-cast site, near Goetre Wen and a third pond on another old open-cast site at Waun-lwyd (near Cwmllynfell). This national rarity is confined to a few sites in the New Forest and South-west Wales, and it is said to be variable in terms of numbers appearing from year to year; we must look out for this delectable damselfly elsewhere on the marshy areas of the coal measures here in South-east Carmarthenshire. It is listed in the insect ‘Red Data Book’ because of its rarity,

Ian Tew reports the presence of the Lesser Marsh Grasshopper (Chorthippus albormarginatus) in 1984 amongst high-tide mark rushes etc between Llanrhidian and Landimore in North Gower; recently another observer’s records of this species at the same localities reached me also. We should endeavour to find this species at, for example, on the Machynys coast and the Gwendraeth Estuary, here in Carmarthenshire. Mr. Tew also reports the cockroach Ectobius pallidus at LLangennith (Gower) and Platycleis denticulata on the South Gower cliffs this season. We look forward to more records from both observers!

An interesting old record is that supplied by S.B. Evans (and per S. Coker) of a larval case of the Club-tailed Dragonfly Gomphus vulgatissimus found in 1941 at a site on the Tywi near Dryslwyn.

Appendix

Grid references of sites mentioned in text, all SN(22) unless otherwise noted.

• Cencoed-uchaf (480033)
• Cwm Pedol (6915)
• Cwn Twrch (7614)
• Ffordd-y-Wagon (4601)
• Tywyn Burrows (3695)
• Laugharne Burrows (2608)
• Pembrey Burrows (428004)
• Machynys (SS215198)
• Stradey Woods (493015)
• Stradey (495014)
• Ffrwd Fen (421025)
• Cefn Sidan (3702)
• Ferryside (3610)
• Llansteffan (353103)
• North-west of Allt Rhyd-y--Groes 7648)
• Amroth (1707)
• Bynea SS215499
• Sir John’s Hill (3009)
• St. Ishmaels Church (3608)
• Tumble open-cast (539125)
• near Goetre-Wen (548049)
• Waun-lwyd (768123)
• Between Llanrhidian & Landimore (SS214693 to SS214992)
• Llangennith SS214291

N.B. Grid references refer to where records made, rather than exact location of place-name.