George Tordoff, Senior Conservation Officer for Butterfly Conservation Wales, said: "We think this resurgence is down to a combination of the warm summer in 2018 resulting in a good breeding season, followed by a good spring this year, which has created favourable conditions for the narrowbordered bee
hawk-moth. "This moth was once widely recorded in the UK, but has undergone a substantial decline over recent decades, so it's heartening to see it having such a good year in Wales." The narrow-bordered bee
hawk-moth has also been discovered this year at several new locations in the south west of England and in Scotland.
"Think of the hummingbird
hawk-moth you might see hovering around lavender in summer.
"Think of the humming-bird
hawk-moth you might see hovering around lavender in summer.
Diolch i gyhoeddiad diweddaraf Cymdeithas Edward Llwyd, sef Enwau Gwyfynod, Gl|ynnod Byw a Gweision Neidr, mi fedra i ddweud mai ei enw Cymraeg ydi gwalch-wyfyn helyglys (Deilephila elpenor; elephant
hawk-moth).
These include buttoned snout, marbled carpet, lesser swallow prominent, plumed fan-foot, old lady and death'shead
hawk-moth.
The flowers have a lovely scent; the fragrance is particularly released in the evening when it attracts evening pollinators like the silver Y moth and the hummingbird
hawk-moth. During the day the flowers attract insects including bumblebees and honeybees, so it's a real benefit for nature in the garden and the surrounding area.
Unusual moths from Europe including the scarce silver-striped
hawk-moth and Radford's flame shoulder have been seen in recent days, along with immigrant species such as the convolvulus hawkmoth and the humming-bird hawkmoth.
Wildlife fans are also urged to look out for the pink and olive green elephant
hawk-moth, whose name comes from the trunk-like snout on the caterpillar.
The convolvulus
hawk-moth has a 4.7in wingspan and uses its 3in tube-like mouth to drink nectar from tubular tobacco plant flowers.
Gallasai hwn fod y gwalch-wyfyn gwenynaidd ymyl lydan (Broad-bordered Bee
Hawk-moth), ond heb ei weld, faswn i ddim yn fodlon rhoi mhen i'w dorri.
The Death''''s-head
Hawk-moth could not be more sinister if it tried.
The Death''s-head
Hawk-moth could not be more sinister if it tried.
Roedd Mrs Williams yn disgrifio'r creadur a elwir yn "humming-bird
hawk-moth", - gwalchwyfyn hofran.
They have already logged species including Red Underwing, Oak Tree Pug and the Death's Head
Hawk-Moth.
These range from the colourful British crab spider nestling in flower blooms to the busy Hummingbird
hawk-moth swooping across the lawn at dusk.
