Report for 1996

Details
Category: Miscellaneous
Hits: 734

Llanelli Naturalists Newsletter - September 1998 - No 3
S Lucas

The start of the 1996 moth recording season was delayed by the prolonged winter. At the author’s main recording station at Betws, a planned programme of long term trapping was brought to dramatic halt shortly after earnest trapping began when the Robinson Moth Trap inexplicably burst into flames one evening at the beginning of June. Despite some head scratching from the insurance company the claim was eventually settled.

Nonetheless, a host of other recorders were busy at various locations around the county. Barry and Sandra Stewart (BSS) continued to trap at Llwynhendy and at several other sites, until they moved to Gorseinon in Glamorgan. Their move brings to an end continued recording at Llwynhendy that has gone on for several years. In September, an article written by a long standing Wildlife Trust: West Wales member, on the larva of the elephant hawk moth Deilephila elpenor appeared in two local newspapers.

The response from the readers was quite amazing, with over twenty telephone calls reporting sightings of larvae from all over the county as well as other species of lepidoptera including a single humming-bird hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum at Myddfai in September. As a result, a number of new recorders came forward and it is now hoped to start a moth and butterfly recording group in the county. Grid references for sites are given at the end of this summary.

Microlepidoptera

Again, a number offirst records were added to the county list.

1 Niditinea piercella, at Llwynhendy, (BSS) 15/6

2 Phalonidia affinitana, at Pembrey Burrows, (BSS) 23/6

3 Acleris cristana, at Llwynhendy, (BSS) 16/5

4 Pammene aurantiana, at Llwynhendy, (BSS) 26/7

Niditinea piercella, in common with many others in the same family, is a species whose larvae feed on a wide variety of matter including that of animal origin. In this case, the association is with bird nests as with its close relative, the brown-dotted clothes moth N. fuscella. Phalonidia affiniata, of which some 400 were noted in mid June, is associated with sea aster Aster tripolium where the larvae feed on the whole of the plant including the roots. The tortricoid Acleris cristana is morphologically variable as are many of the genus Acleris. The adults are to be found where there are dense stands of blackthorn Prunus spinosa and hawthorn Crataegus monogyna from which they can be beaten. Pammene aurantiana is another tortricoid, it is diurnal and tends to fly high up in the canopy of sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus but will come to light.

Macrolepidoptera

Of the 263 macrolepidoptera moths recorded during 1996, 29 of these were of ‘Local’ status. The very attractive day flying five and six-spot burnets were reported widely from unimproved grassland habitats throughout the county, including reclaimed land at the former Cynheidre Colliery on 5 and 8 August (SL).

The oak hook-tip Drepana binaria, whose larva feed on oak, is a species which should be encountered more often but was only recorded from just two sites - Llwynhendy 20/6 (BSS) and at Betws 17/8 (SL).

Other species of local status recorded were:

  1. Cream wave Scopula floslactata; Llwynhendy (BSS) 15/6
  2. Oblique carpet Orthonama vittata; Llwynhendy (BSS) 15/6 17/6, Betws (SL) 19/6 & 10/9 (AC) 31/8
  3. Wood carpet Epirrhoe rivata; Llwynhendy (BSS) 20/7
  4. Small seraphim Pterapherapteryx sexalata; Llwynhendy (BSS) 20/6 & 16/7
  5. Yellow-barred brindle Acasis viretata; Llwynhendy (BSS) 15/6
  6. Sharp-angled peacock Semiothisa alternaria; Llwynhendy (BSS) 20/6-18/7, Rhos Cefn Bryn Nature Reserve (SL) 18/6
  7. August thorn Ennomos quercinaria; Betws (SL) 10/9-25/9
  8. Brussel’s lace Cleorodes lichenaria; Pumpsaint (AW) 24/6, 6/7 & 22/7
  9. Square spot Paradarisa consonaria; Betws (SL), 7/4
  10. Scarlet tiger moth Callimorpha dominula Llwynhendy (BSS) 30/6, Garreglefain 22/721367 (Julian Friese), Llangynog (SWD) 11/7, Pembrey Forest (SL) 19/7; Llanddarog (GM) 10/7, Blaenbydernyn-uchaf, (GM & JB) 4/7
  11. Lunar marbled brown Drymonia ruficornis; Llwynhendy (BSS) 7/5 & 9/5
  12. Rosy footman Miltochrista miniata; Llwynhendy (BSS) 20/7, Betws (SL) 18/8
  13. Short-cloaked moth Nola cucullatella; Llwynhendy (BSS) 16/7-20/7
  14. Least black arches Nola confusialis; Llwynhendy (BSS) 4/6
  15. Triple spotted clay Xestia ditrapexium; 18/7
  16. Dog’s tooth Lacanobia suasa; Llwynhendy (BSS) 7/6-27/6 & 18/7
  17. Southern wainscot Mythimna straminea; Penclacwydd (BSS) 28/7, Llwynhendy (BSS) 18/7 & 24/7
  18. Obscure wainscot Mythimna obsoleta; Llwynhendy (BSS) 20/6 & 13/7-24/7
  19. Red sword-grass Xylena vetusta; Penclacwydd 21/3 & 23/3, Llwynhendy 15/5
  20. Alder moth Acronicta alni; Pumpsaint (AW) 21/6 & 26/6
  21. The coronet Craniophora ligustrim; Llwynhendy (BSS) 27/6
  22. Marbled green Cryphia muralis; Llwynhendy (BSS) 26/7
  23. Double kidney Ipimorpha retusa; Penclacwydd (BSS) 28/7
  24. The olive Ipimorpha subtusa; Llwynhendy (BSS) 26/7
  25. Dingy shears Parastichis ypsillon: Llwynhendy (BSS) 18/7-26/7
  26. Rufous minor Oligia versicolor; Llwynhendy (BSS) 12/6 - 24/7, Gelli Aur Country Park 20/7
  27. Oak nycteoline Nycteola revayana; Llwynhendy (BSS) 20/4, Betws (SL) 20/4
  28. The blackneck Lygephila pastinum; Llwynhendy (BSS) 13/7-20/7
  29. Pinion-streaked snout Schrankia costaestrigalis; Llwynhendy (BSS) 16/7

Notable A Species

  1. Lunar yellow underwing Noctua orbona, Betws, (SL) 21/9
  2. Scarce burnished brass Diachrysia chryson, Llwynhendy, (BSS) 24/7 & 26/7

Notable B Species

  1. Forester Adscita statices, Rhos Cefn Nature Reserve, Llwyn-teg, (SL), 21/6
  2. Devon carpet Lampropteryx otregiata, Taliaris, (AC) 4/9
  3. Broad-bordered Bee Hawk-moth Hemaris fuciformis, Nant Gwyn, Trawsmawr, (Mrs M J Baker) 6/6
  4. Crescent dart Agrotis trux, Llwynhendy, (BSS) 20/7
  5. Double lines Mythimna turca, Gelli Aur, (SL) 20/7 and Llwynhendy, (BSS) 24/7
  6. Red-necked footman Atolmis rubricollis, Llwynhendy (BSS) 16/7
  7. Silky wainscot Chilodes maritimus, Llwynhendy (BSS) 20/6

The crescent dart was first noted as a Carmarthenshire species by E Kay at Laugharne in 1871. Since then there have been only 6 records, all from coastal stations at Wharley Point, Llwynhendy and Penclacwydd. Another very early record, also by E Kay was the white colon Sideris albicolon. Since then however, this moth has not been recorded in the county until it was re-discovered at Llwynhendy on 18/7 (BSS). This is predominantly a coastal species whose larvae feed on a variety of plants including sea bindweed Calystegia soldanella and sea rocket Cakile maritima. The bulrush wainscot is a species not noted for usually being attracted to light and its presence is best detected by searching for pupa on stems of common reedmace Typha latifolia, however a singleton was taken at light at Betws on 2/9 (SL). The broad-bordered bee hawk-moth was closely observed feeding at garden Aubrieta, at Trawsmawr. Here, the garden abuts woodland with abundant honeysuckle, the larval foodplant of this much declined species. This is apparently only the second county record. The only other record appears in the relevant distribution map in volume 9 of The Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland.

Migrants

Migrant moths featured regularly throughout the year. Perhaps the best record was a new county record - the ni moth Trichoplusia ni found at Penclacwydd 3/9 (BSS). However, for numbers the record must go to the silver y Autographa gamma when some two thousand were recorded at Llanelli on 18/6 (BSS) although not to be outdone, the same recorder also took over 230 Rush Veneers Nomophila noctuella during a period of 10 days in June. This pyralid is a well known migrant which is most often found in open country particularly near the coast. Other migrants to be recorded are:

  1. Diamond-back moth Plutella xylostella; Llwynhendy 7/6-24/7, Pumpsaint 23/7 (AW)
  2. Udea ferrugalis; Llwynhendy 11/6-18/7 (BSS), Betws 17/8-25/9 (SL), Taliaris 31/8 (AC), Pumpsaint 20/6-23/8 (AW)
  3. The gem Orthonoma obstipata: Llwynhendy 17/6-26/7 (BSS), Pumpsaint 15/8 (AW), Betws 18/8 (SL)
  4. Humming-bird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum: Cefn Sidan 25/5, one flying in from sea in evening (I K Morgan); Llangynog 30/5 (SWD); Mandinam -/7 (M Lampard); Johnstown 15/9 (JT) and Llandeilo 16/9 (GM)
  5. Pearl underwing Peridroma saucia; Llwynhendy 27/6 (BSS)
  6. Small mottled willow Spodoptera exigua; Llwynhendy 7/6 & 11/6 (BSS), Pumpsaint (AW) 9/8 & 19/8
  7. Bordered straw Heliothis peltigra, Llwynhendy 20/6 (BSS), Pumpsaint 16/6 (AW)
  8. Dark sword grass Agrotis ipsilon; Penclacwydd (BSS) 23/4 Pumpsaint (AW) Betws (SL)
  9. Rush Veneer Nomophila noctuella; Pumpsaint (AW) 12/6-23/8

Grid references

Ammanford 22/635128

Betws 22/642121

Blaen-bydernyn-uchaf 22/560440

Cefn Sidan 22/376025

Cynheidre 22/496080

Garreglefain 22/721367

Gelli Aur Country Park 22/59-19-

Johnstown 22/399187

Pembrey Burrows 21/41-99-

Pembrey Forest 22/40-01-

Pumpsaint 22/660404

Llandeilo 22/629224

Llangynog 22/342179

Llwynhendy 21/537993

Mandinam 22/736282

Myddfai 21/77-30-

Penclacwydd 21/53-98-

Rhos Cefn Bryn Nature Reserve 22/555072

Taliaris 22/663296

Nant Gwyn, Trawsmawr 22/365238

Erratum

In last year’s report, the scarce tissue Rheumpter cervinalis was reported as being a new county record.

Following further examination of the voucher specimen by Dr P Waring, National Scarce Moth Recorder, it was decided that this individual was misidentified and should have been identified as the more common tissue Triphosa dubitata. This is perhaps a salutary tale and highlights the importance of retaining a voucher specimen or photographs, especially where new county records are concerned.

My thanks are extended to all those who contributed their lepidoptera records during 1996 including Barry and Sandra Stewart (BSS), Graham Motley (GM) and Jamie Bevan (JB), Alan Clark (AC), John Treherne (JT), S Wynn-Davies (SWD), Arfon Williams (AW) and Mrs M J Baker.