Saturday 24 February 2024

Monmouthshire Moth & Butterfly Group

Annual General Meeting

Wednesday 27th March
7.30pm

Usk Royal British Legion

Old Market St, Usk NP15 1AL

Speaker: Rob Parry, Chief Executive Officer - Initiative for Nature Conservation Cymru (INCC):

"Marsh Fritillary Population Reinforcement".



Thursday 21 December 2023

Hebrew Character brings Seasons Greetings on Winter Solstice

I ran the trap at Redhouse Barns and Sheila ran the trap at St Julian's. This morning, there were 6 December moths at St Julian's, a mottled Umber, 5 Epi post and 2 silver-Y's. All but one of the moths were on the wall behind, not in the trap. At Redhouse there was nothing in the trap, but 3 December moths on the barn wall, 3m behind. I was putting away the trap when a moth caught my eye on the electrics box - a Hebrew character - a species not normally seen until March.





Monday 13 November 2023

 Got it! Streak--googled by my nephew. The posture depicted in Waring and Townsend caught me out. I should have taken more care in searching in Chris Manley's book.

Friday 27 October 2023

 Does anyone know what this is? I can't find it in any of my books. In my trap in Llantarnam Abbey wood on the night of 26/10/2023.


Tuesday 10 October 2023

 Dear Kevin--please let me have your email address or , better, a phone number. I want to ask for some advice. Best wishes--Bob Roome (01633 865744 or 07512787621 or rroome710@btinternet.com)

Monday 9 October 2023

Bulwark Chepstow

 Good Afternoon everyone,


This is my first addition to the findings as I am a complete novice having gained interest through helping a friend of mine when he was visiting his daughter.


As of yet, I have only had one successful trapping.

The date of this was October 2nd, the evening was damp and misty.

Two Large Yellow Underwings

Eight Box

Two Epiphyas Postvittana

One Acleris Sparsana,


I apologise for any scientific spelling erros as I am just learning.

Saturday 30 September 2023

Lyonetia prunifoliella - a new leaf miner to look out for.

Lyonetia prunifoliella has been spreading rapidly across England, having recolonised the country a few years ago following a period of around 100 years with no records. It was first recorded in Wales as a leaf-mine on Anglesey last year, and soon after I found a mine at Kenfig (Glamorgan). I couldn't find any mines in Cardiff last year, but this year they have been present on Blackthorn suckers in two of my local parks.

After a trip to the Lamby Way recycling site yesterday I called in at Lamby Lake to look for leaf-mines. Lyonetia prunifoliella mines were frequent on Blackthorn suckers in several places, the larvae mostly having recently finished feeding and busy spinning their elaborate hammock cocoons (similar to those of L. clerkella) on the underside of leaves.

It could be anywhere in the county already, so well worth looking out for. It seems especially fond of suckering Blackthorn between 2 and 5 feet tall.