Welcome to the recording blog for the Carmarthenshire Moth and Butterfly Group. Could members please add any moth or butterfly records or any general items of interest by making a new post. Although everyone can comment on a post you will have to be a member to add a new post.
A moth that I`ve certainly been waiting for (it still is the case) is the tree-lichen beauty. Jane Hand at Rhandirmwyn had one in her trap last night (6/9) and it was new to Carmarthenshire. It`s a variable species but one we all should be on the look out for. Well done, Jane!
Potted up and placed in the fridge this morning and determined only about 30 mins ago was this Lobesia littoralis, a moth new to me. This coastal species was possibly blown over from Gower or somewhere on the Carmarthenshire coast.
I ran the 15 watt actinic on the lawn last night instead of the mv.
In spite of soggy egg boxes, and rain at inspection time, there were 43 species, total 159 moths including a very surprising 65 Large Yellow Underwings!
There were a few regular migrants, nothing unusual, but who can resist a Frosted Orange?!
Also a fresh Maiden's Blush, but only a record shot of that.
My West Llanelli garden trap was not exactly full of variety last night (5/9) but at least two migrants provided interest though one - the larger individual - was not in the trap, but resting on an adjacent wall. The smaller moth was dapper and unworn whereas the same could not be said of the other which, nevertheless, cheered me up as it was the first time I`ve had this species at my present location (I had previously caught it on more than one occasion at my Pwll garden).
Above: vestal and convolvulus hawk-moth
Tim Reynolds recently posted a photo of a Clifden Nonpareil that he found at Pencoed-isaf, Bynea (E of Llanelli). I`d love to stumble across a pristine CNP like this (especially as it comes with a bonus £1!).
I was pleased to flush this yellow belle at a brownfield site to the immediate NW of the North Dock, Llanelli; it is typically a species of coastal dune grassland in southern Britain. Indeed the former industrial premises were built on sand dune habitat. This particular area also held Essex skippers in July and, today, a clouded yellow flew quickly by - hopefully a good omen for my garden moth trap which will be lit up tonight.
Nothing special about this, just a test post as I had been having trouble entering stuff!
After poking around a bit it seems fine now.
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| Dun-bar 11 July 2026 |
