(reproduced with permission from Llanelli Naturalists)

Most of us (correctly) think of moths as night-flying insects, but there are also species that can be seen by day. The following brief account offers summaries of a selection of the species that are diurnal (active during the day rather than at night), followed by a photographic section that will help readers identify what they have seen. The photos have been supplied by the County Moth Recorder, Jon Baker and others. Records should be passed to Jon (email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ). We are lacking recent records of many of the species discussed below and whilst many species have declined due to habitat loss, others remain unrecorded (or simply unreported), so please look out this summer and pass on records. Jon also produces an interesting regular e-mail newsletter in the spring and autumn.

Be aware that some of the night-flying moths may be found or flushed in daytime and some, such as the Silver Y, regularly flying in daytime when they visit nectar sources. One may come across other species too that tend to be easier to flush, such as some of the carpet moths, the (very common) Brown Silver-line, the Magpie, the Latticed and Common Heaths, Treble Bar, Oak Egger and many micro-moths such as the plume moths or Pyralids. And, of course, there may be that delightful Hummingbird Hawk-moth on your garden butterfly bush or other flowers. Some caterpillars are also distinctive and obviously abroad in the day…but that`s another story!

Forester Adscita statices – a dark Sherwood-green species found on rough, acidic pastures, where the larvae feed on common and sheep`s sorrel. May–July.
Burnet moths Zygaena spp. – the six-spot Z. filipendulae stephensi and the five-spot Z. trifolii palustrella fly in July–Aug on flower-rich grassland where they feed on bird`s-foot trefoils; the five-spot tends to occur on damper grassland.
Chimney Sweeper Odezia atrata – a little blackish species that occurs on neutral-calcareous grassland (now a rare habitat in the county). It feeds on pignut in June–July. It would be worth looking for on the limestone ridge that runs through the county from Carreg Cennen, via Carmel and Mynydd Llangyderyn, but it is by no means confined to this rock outcrop.
Yellow Belle Semiaspilates ochrearia – a moth of dry coastal rough ground, e.g. at Machynys and North Dock, Llanelli. June–Sept.
Speckled Yellow Pseudopanthera macularia – surprisingly scarce, as the larval foodplant (wood sage), is frequent. May and June.
Wood Tiger Parasemia plantaginis plantaginis. This is a moth of moorland and wood edge, last seen in the county in 1993. May–July.
Garden Tiger Arctia caja – an unmistakable, but much-declined species. July-August.
Clouded Buff Diacrisia sannio – again a little-seen upland species. Orange and yellow in colour and last recorded at Nant y Rhaeadr on the edge of Mynydd Mallaen (near Cilycwm) in late June 1986. June–July.
Scarlet Tiger Callimorpha dominula – a colourful cream, black and red moth associated with wetlands where the caterpillars feed on comfreys or hemp agrimony. Not infrequent in the coastal parts of the Llanelli. June–July.
Cinnabar Tyria jacobaeae – a well-known black and crimson day-flier with the even better known orange and black-striped caterpillars that feed on ragwort. May–July.
Beautiful Yellow Underwing Anarta cordigera – occurs on heathland or bogs where it feeds on heather, e.g. Cors Goch Llanllwch. April–August.
Small Yellow Underwing Panemeria tenebrata – a local May-June flying moth, with caterpillars that depend on mouse-ears Cerastium spp.
Mother Shipton Callistege mi – thus called because of the wing markings that resemble the face of a celebrated `Yorkshire hag`! Feeds on legumes such as clovers and is on the wing in May–June.
Burnet Companion Euclidia glyphica – another legume-feeder flying in May and June.