CARDIFF BUTTERFLY & MOTH REPORT 2008
Following on from 2007, 2008 was again another poor year for all lepidoptera species with bad weather to blame again. Cool wet periods during spring and summer culminated in much reduced numbers and overall counts for many species, making 2008 the worst year for lepidoptera since the GMRG was formed in 1995. Migrant species were at an all time low with only 6 species being recorded throughout the year. The total count of lepidoptera species recorded was 293, (361 for 2007) of which 17 were for butterflies.
Butterflies
The most disturbing news was from the Cardiff foreshore where the only known colony of Small Blue was completely destroyed by earth being moved onto the site, completely covering the area where the food plant, kidney fetch, grew. A protest by the various local groups was given to the parties concerned, however nothing seems to have been done. Any future monitoring of the site has also been stopped as an 10ft fence with barbed wire has been erected. On a personal note, I feel very angry about this, as this colony was only discovered in August 2002 by Barry Stewart and myself. I had originally found this species on the old Cardiff Heliport in July and August 1989, but that site has also been destroyed by development. Both sites were designated as SINC’s basically Sites of Nature Conservation within the Cardiff Unitary Authority, but it seems that whatever designations sites are given in Cardiff, it’s the developers that have cards to trump them! That apart, the 17 species of butterfly that were data recorded: Small Skipper, Brimstone, Small White, Large White, Green-veined White, Orange-tip, Holly Blue, Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Comma, Silver-washed Fritillary, Speckled Wood, Grayling, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Small Heath. There were no records for Large Skipper, Common Blue & Painted Lady although they maybe some records for these three species, however at the time of writing, none were entered onto the database.
UK National Notable species
Psychoides filicivora (Regular in Cardiff UA since first record in 1989)
Phyllonorycter platanoidella (Almost regular in Cardiff since first record in 1997)
Acrolepiopsis assectella (Leek Moth), (1st Record VC41, discovered in April, six further records)
Coleophora silenella (Very rare in VC41, only known from one site in Cardiff)
Tachystola acroxantha (Rare in Vc41, but regular in north Cardiff)
Chalk Carpet (LBAP species, 6th record for Cardiff UA)
Small Ranunculus (Only 1 record in 2008, well down on 2007. First discovered in Cardiff in 2004)
Migrants
Only six migrant species were recorded in 2008 making it the worst year since 1999, when again only six species were recorded. Compared with 2007, which was also a wet year, when 11 species were recorded. The best ever year for migrant lepidoptera in Cardiff UA was 2006 when 18 species were recorded in the capital and 23 in Glamorgan as a whole.
2008 species:
Diamond-back Moth (micro-moth & regular migrant to VC41)
Euchromius ocellea (Necklace Grass-veneer), ‘1st post 1980 record VC41’ and the first in VC41 since March 1861. (micro-moth & extremely rare migrant to VC41)
Red Admiral (Butterfly, annual migrant and transitory resident to VC41)
Dark Sword-grass (macro-moth & regular migrant to VC41)
Pearly Underwing (macro-moth & regular migrant to VC41)
Silver Y (macro-moth & regular migrant to VC41)
Other species of significance for Cardiff UA in 2008 (macro-moths)
Orange Underwing (First record since 1998), Small Waved Umber (2nd rec., last recorded in 1899, Spring Usher, Orange Footman (1st Cardiff UA record), Alder Moth & Double Kidney (2nd rec. first in 1997).
You can submit your lepidoptera records online to SEWBReC at http://www.sewbrec.org.uk/
David Gilmore