May 2008
Kenfig today - Clouded border 1,Burnet companion 1 and Treble bar 1.
Paul Parsons <paulparsons99 at btinternet dot com>
Sat May 31 17:46:36 2008
Treble bar
Parc Taf Bargoed 2 High Brown Fritillaries this afternoon (31st).
Martin Bell
Sat May 31 15:28:41 2008
An overnight session on Thu night May 29 produced - Flame Carpet, Garden Carpet, Common
Carpet(2), Purple Bar(2), Small Phoenix(2), Common Marbled Carpet(5), Brimstone(3), Common
Wave, Swallow Prominent, Pale Tussock(3), Turnip, Heart and Dart, Knot Grass, Clouded-bordered
Brindle(5) and Rustic Shoulder-knot. A total of 54 macro species were recorded in the garden
during May.
Tony Williams
S, Sat May 31 14:36:38 2008
Rustic Shoulder-knot
Overnight 40W garden actinic resulted in Pale Tussock (2m); Clouded-bordered Brindle (1 pale
form); Heart and Dart (1), Brindled Pug (1 f. hirschkei) and Light Brown Apple Moth (1).
Wayne Morris
Penygraig, Sat May 31 10:21:18 2008
Pale Tussock
Kenfig,yesterday - Grass rivulet 25, Common carpet 4, Brown silver lines 4,Silver hook 3,Straw dot
2,Drinker 3 larva,Lackey larva,Yellow tail larva,Crambus lathionellus 11,Celypha lacunana
2,Cochylis dubitana 1.
Paul Parsons <paulparsons99 at btinternet dot com>
Fri May 30 20:04:15 2008
Silver Hook, Crambus lathionellus, Lacky & Yellow-tail
Darren woods,Maesteg,yesterday - Glyphipterix thrasonella 6,Bactra lancealana 5,Caloptilia
syringella 1 and Syndemis musculana 1.
Paul Parsons <paulparsons99 at btinternet dot com>
Fri May 30 19:59:08 2008
Glyphipterix thrasonella, Bactra lancealana, & Syndemis musculana
Olethreutes lacunana, Pale Tussock, Heart and Dart, Flame Shoulder and Angle Shades were the
five species in, on or near my garden actinic trap, this morning. This evening, I saw a Twenty
Plumed, on the Honeysuckle at the top of my garden. I think it may have been a female egg laying,
but I didn't have my glasses to hand.
Mark Evans
c, Thu May 29 20:23:33 2008
Nantyffyllon,Maesteg,today - 2 Psychiodes verhuella on my door,the first to emerge this year from
the Wall rue on my flat.
Paul Parsons <paulparsons99 at btinternet dot com>
Wed May 28 19:20:43 2008
Psychiodes verhuella
CCW is hoping to organise some moth trapping sessions at Laugharne Pendine Burrows, South
West Carmarthenshire, during the summer. For those of you who don't know it, imagine a site like
Kenfig - extensive dunes, a pool, areas of dune woodland and fen - except that virtually no one goes
there. The whole site is a military establishment, and very few people get access. From a moth
recording point of view, it's the equivalent of a large blank part of the map, marked, 'Here be
dragons'!! We'd appreciate help from anyone who's interested, particularly if you can bring a trap,
and especially if you can bring a generator. However, it's not really an evening for complete
novices. If you're reading this site, chances are you aren't a novice! Numbers would be limited to
about 6 to 10 maximum. The security requirements mean I will need names well in advance. You
will also need to comply with all the security instructions(which will include being photographed
and watching a safety and security video!). In particular, no cameras are allowed on site. I can't
emphasise enough how important it is to comply with all the security requirements. I've worked
hard to get access to the site, so it's essential that everyone follows the rules, so we don't jeopardise
goodwill. If you're interested, can I ask that you contact me direct by email.
Andrew Lucas <a.lucas@ccw.gov.uk>
Swansea, Wed May 28 13:43:44 2008
Kenfig Pool, 27th May, 1 Drinker larva; Butterfies: Small Blue, Common Blue, Small Copper,
Speckled Wood, Small Heath, Green-veined White & Wall Brown
Kelly Thomas
Tue May 27 12:35:17 2008
Drinker
Larvae swept from a heather/bilberry moor on the Gwrhyd (SN727086) on 14th May have grown
and include Northern Spinach and Engrailed as-well-as Twin-spot Carpet. A Heather feeding micro
has also pupated.
Barry Stewart
Gwrhyd, Tue May 27 8:06:48 2008
Engrailed, Northern Spinach, & Twin-spot Carpet
A visit to a plant nursery, in Cefnpennar, today, resulted in an unexpected record of a Small Yellow
Underwing, lurking among the compost bags.
Mark Evans
Cwmbach, Sun May 25 19:16:16 2008
In my actinic garden trap, this morning: Hofmannophila pseudospretella (1), Brown Silver-line (1),
Scorched Wing (1) and Clouded-bordered Brindle (1).
Mark Evans
Cwmbach, Sat May 24 18:51:18 2008
Nantyffyllon,Maesteg today - Mother shipton 1, Thistle ermine 1, Ruby tiger 1, Burnet companion
2,Elachista argentella 1, Epiblemma scutulana 1 and Grapholita compositella 20.
Paul Parsons <paulparsons99 at btinternet dot com>
Fri May 23 20:55:38 2008
Mother Shipton, Grapholita compositella, Thistle Ermine & Epiblema scutulana
If anyone happens to be driving on the A4226 near Cardiff Airport it's worth looking out for the
defoliated Spindle bushes in the hedgerows - the work of the Spindle Ermine (Yponomeuta
cagnagella). There are a lot of spindles in the hedges around the roundabout at ST080679 - every
one has been stripped, with the few remaining leaves at the end of the branches being rapidly
devoured...
George Tordoff
Fri May 23 18:00:10 2008
Spindle Ermine
2 Lackey larval webs on Blackthorn, Locks Lane, Porthcawl, 1st recorded 20th May
Kelly Thomas
Fri May 23 17:45:32 2008
Lackey larvae
Fifteen species last night including my first Common Marbled Carpet(3)and Purple Bar of the year.
Also of note - Iron Prominent, Pale Tussock, Pale Mottled Willow and a rather worn Angle Shades.
Tony Williams
Senghenydd, Fri May 23 17:13:49 2008
Iron Prominent, Pale Tussock, Scalloped Hazel, and Purple-bar
A reasonable hawl last night included Scalloped Hazel, Caloptilia azaleella, Yellow Barred Brindle,
and the third county record for Orange Footman.
Dave Slade
Llanishen, Cardiff, Fri May 23 9:11:29 2008
Orange Footman
Kenfig pool this morning - Small heath,Dingy skipper and Small blues.Grass rivulet 6, Bactra
lancealana 3,Glyphipterix fuscoviridella 1 and Ptycholoma lecheana 1.
Paul Parsons <paulparsons99 at btinternet dot com>
Thu May 22 18:29:49 2008
Ptycholoma lecheana & Small Blue
Several Psychoides filicivora flyng around the house yesterday & today. Several larvae swept from
a heather/bilberry moor on the Gwrhyd (SN727086) have grown, some of which now closely
resemble Twin-spot Carpet. Also seen at the time of sweeping (14th May) were adults of Green
Hairstreak (6), Common Heath (1) & Mother Shipton (3).
Barry Stewart
Gorseinon, Thu May 22 9:18:46 2008
Psychoides filicivora
Last night I had the trap out from 10.00pm until 1.30am, during which time the temp dropped from
10C to a chilly 4C resulting in just 8 moths of 6 species - Small Phoenix, Brimstone, Scalloped
Hazel(2), Flame Shoulder(2), Nut-tree Tussock and my first Pale Tussock.
Tony Williams
Senghenydd, Wed May 21 18:28:32 2008
Five Phyllonorycter leucographella, including a coupled pair, on a Pyracantha in Cwmbach, today.
Mark Evans
Cwmbach, Tue May 20 21:57:34 2008
Phyllonorycter leucographella
A few leaf mines and larval cases of Coleophora lineolea on Black Horehound near St Athan today.
George Tordoff
Tue May 20 18:05:58 2008
My first ever Eyed Hawkmoth, just outside Pontprennau Wood (south end), Llanedeyrn. Just sitting
on vegetation. Typically didn't have a camera with me.
Laura <LPalmer@cardiff.gov.uk>
Cardiff, Tue May 20 16:19:57 2008
Rest Bay actinic: a cold night produced just two moths - a Hebrew Character and a Heart and Dart.
Steve Moon
Porthcawl, Mon May 19 11:18:26 2008
Nantyffyllon,Maesteg today - Neofaculta ericetella 4, Glyphipteryx fuscoviridella 1, Glyphipteryx
simpliciella 20+ feeding on buttercups and Endothenia marginana 1.
Paul Parsons <paulparsons99 at btinternet dot com>
Sun May 18 23:39:50 2008
Neofaculta ericetella, Glyphipteryx simpliciella & Endothenia marginana
Parc Penallta, Near Ystrad Mynach: A few hours mooching around the Parc this afternoon saw
Latticed Heath, Burnet Companion (3no), loads of Cydia succedana, sadly a dead White Ermine full
of eggs was being eaten by Ants (Lasius niger). The butterflies included reasonable numbers of
Common Blue, Small Copper, Orange-tip, Speckled Wood, Green-veined and Large Whites.
Odonata production took a bashing in last years dismal weather but I found three Exuviae of Keeled
Skimmer, and saw several Large Red Damselfly, Azure Damselfly and also my first Blue-tailed
Damselfly of the year put in an appearance.
Bill Jones
Sun May 18 23:02:36 2008
Orange-tip
A Foxglove Pug on the garden wall and a Burnet Companion close to my garden this morning.
Tony Williams
Senghenydd, Sun May 18 21:09:04 2008
Foxglove Pug
A miserably small catch, with just three individuals of two species on the garden trap, none in it.
Two Pebble Hook-tip and one Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet.
Mark Evans
Cwmbach, Sat May 17 19:15:03 2008
Nantyffyllon,Maesteg,today - Common heath 2, Pyrausta despicata 5, Pyrausta aurata 1, neofaculta
ericetella 4 and Apomyelios bistriatella 1. Cydia succedana are now on virtually every gorse bush.
Paul Parsons <paulparsons99 at btinternet dot com>
Sat May 17 19:13:27 2008
Apomyelios bistriatella
Rest Bay actinic: Yellow-barred Brindle, Treble Lines (4), Cabbage Moth (2) were new for the year.
Steve Moon
Porthcawl, Fri May 16 10:36:45 2008
Nantyffyllon,Maesteg,Actinic last night - Devon carpet 2, Brown silver lines 5, Coxcomb
prominent 1, Scorched wing 1, Dark barred twin spot carpet 3, Scalloped hazel 1, Marbled brown
1,Neofaculta ericetella 6, Caloptilia syringella 1, Parornix betulae 1, Epiblema sticticanum 1,
Aproaerema anthyllidella 1.
Paul Parsons <paulparsons99 at btinternet dot com>
Thu May 15 11:54:06 2008
Scorched wing, Marbled Brown, & Caloptilia syringella
A nice variety of new year ticks at long last ; red twin-spot carpet, treble lines, knot grass, flame
shoulder, shuttle shaped dart, garden carpet, Dipleurina lacustrata, and a Dark Sword-grass.
Emma and Mike Cram
Bridgend, Wed May 14 21:54:25 2008
Llangynwyd,Maesteg,this evening - Common wave 2, Grey birch 1, Common carpet 2. Silver
ground carpet 1 and glyphipterix thrasonella 1.
Paul Parsons <paulparsons99 at btinternet dot com>
Wed May 14 20:38:27 2008
Grey birch
Just eight species in the garden trap, this morning, but these included my first Setaceous Hebrew
Character and Coronet of the year.
Mark Evans
Cwmbach, Wed May 14 6:47:20 2008
Far fewer moths in the trap this morning compared with recent overnight sessions - no doubt due to
the cooler windier conditions. I still managed two new species - Scalloped Hazel and Buff-tip. Also
- Spruce Carpet, Pebble Prominent, Shuttle-shaped Dart(3), Flame Shoulder(3) and Spectacle(2).
Tony Williams
Senghenydd, Tue May 13 18:44:15 2008
Buff-tip
Rest Bay actinic: still numbers of early season moths such as Hebrew Chracter and early Grey, also
Powdered and Common Quaker, Brindled and Double-striped Pug. Least Black Arches on two
occasions in past week, and Brimstone Moth, Knot Grass, Small Phoenix and Shuttle-shaped Dart
now showing,
Steve Moon
Porthcawl, Tue May 13 15:35:33 2008
12 species to garden trap last night including Alder moth and Least Black Arches.
Mike Hogan
Merthyr, Mon May 12 19:33:02 2008
2 new species for the garden last night: Orange Footman and Spotted Shoot Moth (Rhyacionia
pinivorana), the former being only the second county record! A total of 27 species recorded,
including Scorched Wing, Waved Umber, Small Clouded Brindle and our first Heart and Dart of the
year.
Barry & Sandra Stewart <moonmoths@sky.com>
Gorseinon, Mon May 12 13:31:28 2008
Orange Footman, Rhyacionia pinivorana & Small Clouded Brindle
Twelve species came to my 22 watt Actinic garden trap, overnight; the highlights being: Small
Phoenix (1), Red-green Carpet (1), Autumn Green Carpet (2), Clouded Silver (1), Lime Hawk-moth
(1), which is a bit of a rarity in my garden, Eyed Hawk-moth (10), Pale Tussock (2: M&F) and
Rustic Shoulder-knot.
Mark Evans
c, Mon May 12 7:24:51 2008
A late decision to run the trap from 11.00 pm until 2.00am rewarded me with several new moths
including Pale Prominent, Square Spot, Chocolate-tip, Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet(2) and a very
nice Beautiful Snout. Also in the trap were five Cockchafer and one burying beetle Nicrophorous
humator. I have found as many as three of the latter in the trap after an overnight session - the total
for the year must be well into double figures.
Tony Williams
Senghenydd, Sun May 11 22:27:40 2008
Beautiful Snout, Chocolate-tip, Pale Prominent, & Square-spot
Nantyffyllon,Maesteg,Dawn today - Esperia sulphurella 1, Leucoptera laburnella 2, Cydia
succedana 20+ and Adela reaumerella 3 Flying around oak leaves in the morning sunshine.Also a
male Epiphyas postvittana emerged from a pupa i found wrapped in a Plantain leaf a few weeks ago
and Colin Gittins saw a Small purple barred on the summit of Foel-y-dyffryn,Maesteg,yesterday.
Paul Parsons <paulparsons99 at btinternet dot com>
Sun May 11 22:06:18 2008
Adela reaumerella
Found 3 Metriotes lutarea flying around their foodplant, Greater Stitchwort, in the lanes north of
Cardiff yesterday - not recorded in the county since 1938. It's been on my hit-list for many years,
since there was no reason for it not to still be in the county.
Dave Slade
Cardiff, Sun May 11 12:07:01 2008
Metriotes lutarea
An overnight session last night resulted in 18 moths of 15 species including a nice selection of
Carpets - Flame Carpet, Red Twin-spot Carpet, Garden Carpet, Common Carpet, Water Carpet,
Grey Pine Carpet and a May Highflyer. Also Common Wave, Coxcomb Prominent, Flame
Shoulder, Bright-line Brown-eye, Powdered Quaker(2), Common Quaker(3), Hebrew Character and
Knot Grass.
Tony Williams <Senghenydd>
Sat May 10 21:40:48 2008
May Highflyer, Common Wave
Belated report for Monday night May 5. Pebble Hook-tip, Common Carpet, Small Phoenix,
Brimstone, Golden-rod Pug, Brindled Pug, Early Thorn, Lesser Swallow Prominent, Swallow
Prominent, Coxcomb Prominent, Common Quaker(2), Clouded Drab, Hebrew Character and Nuttree Tussock
Tony Williams
Senghenydd, Sat May 10 20:45:38 2008
Coxcomb Prominent, Lesser Swallow Prominent
Nantyffyllon,Maesteg,Dusking with net yesterday evening - Esperia sulphurella 1, Ancylis badiana
1, Epiphyas postvittana 3, Diamond back moth 1, Grapholita compositella 1, Cydia nigricana 3,
Aspilapterix tringipenella 1 and Coleophera albicosta 1.
Paul Parsons <paulparsons99 at btinternet dot com>
Sat May 10 13:54:20 2008
Esperia sulphurella
40W garden actinic. A short session before the downpour at 10:30pm was enough to attract a lightbrown apple moth and a superb lime hawk-moth.
Wayne Morris
Penygraig, Sat May 10 9:21:03 2008
Lime hawk-moth
have just caught a Cream spot Tiger, Can you Advise if this is the earliest this year?
huw adams <huwadams@supanet.com>
Barry Island, Vale of Glamorgan Fri May 9 22:22:09 2008
I've not noticed any other reports yet for this year - DJS
Late report for wednesday night May 7. Running the garden 40 watt actinic overnight resulted in 23
moths of 12 species. - Common Carpet (2), Small Phoenix (2), V-Pug, Early Tooth-striped, Shuttleshaped Dart, Flame Shoulder (2), Red Chestnut, Powdered Quaker, Common Quaker (5), Hebrew
Character (4), Knot Grass (2) and Small Magpie.
Tony Williams
Senghenydd, Fri May 9 12:51:00 2008
Llangynwyd,Maesteg,today - Small phoenix,Micropterix calthella.Also Holly blue,Orange tip and 9
Beefly.
Paul Parsons <paulparsons99 at btinternet dot com>
Thu May 8 13:11:16 2008
Micropterix calthella
Belated news for Sat night May 3. A catch of 19 moths included a second Broom-tip which was a
different specimen to the one on my May 2 entry. Other highlights were my first Brimstone and
second Herald of the year.
Tony Williams
Senghenydd, Wed May 7 12:44:51 2008
Nantyffyllon,Maesteg,actinic,last night - Brimstine 1, Flame shoulder 2, Hebrew character 2,
D.S.pug 3, Brown silver lines 1, Yellow barred brindle 1, Knot grass 1, Shuttle shaped dart 1,
Common quaker 4, Engrailed 1, Small phoenix 2, V-pug 2,Diamond back moth 1 and Eriocrania
subpurpurella 1.
Paul Parsons <paulparsons99 at btinternet dot com>
Wed May 7 11:28:06 2008
Yellow barred brindle, Flame shoulder & Knot grass
10 species in the garden trap this morning, with marbled brown new for the site.
Andrew Lucas
Clydach, Wed May 7 9:39:04 2008
Nantyfyllon,Maesteg today - Grapholita compositella 1, Cydia succedana 50+, Pyrausta despicata 1
and Esperia sulphurella 10+(in caerau).
Paul Parsons <paulparsons99 at btinternet dot com>
Tue May 6 15:07:59 2008
Cydia succedana, Pyrausta despicata, & Esperia sulphurella
A female Emperor in the garden trap this morning was only our second here in over 10 years of
trapping, the first being on 17 May 2006, and never fails to impress.
Barry Stewart
Gorseinon, Tue May 6 9:17:42 2008
Emperor
Rest Bay garden: single Holly Blues seen these last 2 days.
Steve Moon
Porthcawl, Mon May 5 18:09:18 2008
Kenfig pool,today - Common carpet 2,Grass rivulet 1 and Anthophilia fabricana 1.
Paul Parsons <paulparsons99 at btinternet dot com>
Sun May 4 20:59:40 2008
Grass rivulet
Lat night, Skinner trap run at Blaencanaid quarry (200m NW of Mike Hogan), 21:05-01:20. Nine
species were recorded: Water Carpet (1), Early Thorn (1), Lesser Swallow prominent (2), Red
Chestnut (6), Small Quaker (1), Common Quaker (6), Clouded Drab (10) and Hebrew Character
(22). I also ran my 22w actinic in the garden, the results being just six species: Early Tooth-striped
(1), Brindled Pug (1), Common Quaker (2), Clouded Drab (2), Hebrew Character (3) and Early
Grey (1). I also had two of the burying beetle Nicrophorus humator.
Mark Evans
Cwmbach, Sat May 3 20:38:09 2008
Hendre Fawr SO 030043, 125w Skinner, part night, (200m SE of ME):diamond-back[1], water
carpet[2], early thorn[3], lesser swallow prominent[1], red chestnut[5], common quaker[6], clouded
drab[4], hebrew character[3].
Mike Hogan
Merthyr Tydfil, Sat May 3 11:10:19 2008
Mynydd bach,Maesteg,at least 4 male Emperors.
Paul Parsons <paulparsons99 at btinternet dot com>
Fri May 2 23:01:44 2008
Emperor
Kenfig castle dunes,yesterday - Oblique striped 1 male,Cinnabar 1,Common heath 4,Pyrausta
despicata 8. Also 3 Common blues.
Paul Parsons <paulparsons99 at btinternet dot com>
Fri May 2 22:59:34 2008
Oblique striped
A Broom-tip in the trap this morning. This is the sixth record for VC41.
Tony Williams
Senghenydd, Fri May 2 22:40:08 2008
Broom-tip
A fresh Dingy Skipper at Llanilid this morning.
George Tordoff
Fri May 2 15:49:18 2008
On my Bute Park butterfly transect today I came across Salix stumps that appear to have old larval
workings of Lunar Hornet Clearwing, a species not recorded in Cardiff since 1906.
Dave Slade
Thu May 1 14:16:08 2008
possible Lunar Hornet Clearwing workings