At Morfa Berwig LNR, Bynea, Llanelli at c 12.15 pm today (29.6.22). I have previously found larval borings in cut willow trunks at this site (and at nearby Llwynhendy, just to the west). Larval borings have also been noted at WWT Penclacwydd, where adults have also been seen. Note the borings in the sawn piece of willow trunk on which the adult is resting in the photo below. Finally, I have also found borings in willow thickets on the north side of the millstone grit ridge SW of Carmel where, nearby, I saw a dead adult (a presumed road kill) in 2000. However, today`s individual was my first live adult and it is most certainly a handsome moth and an effective hornet mimic. It was attracted to a pheromone lure.
This moth is probably reasonably widespread in Carms, albeit largely unseen. In addition to Jane`s capture near Rhandirmwyn earlier this week, Arfon also caught one at Ffarmers, again in N Carms. There is an old 1983 record from the RSPB Gwenffrwd-Dinas reserve.
Great capture Ian, very envious
ReplyDeleteBetter pictures than me! Glad you got one.
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