moths an introductionAbout 2,500 species of moths have been found in Britain and Ireland, compared with around 70 species of butterflies.

What are moths?Moths and butterflies together form the order of insects known as Lepidoptera, from the Greek lepis, meaning scale, and pteron, meaning wing. The colours and patterns on their wings are made up of thousands of tiny scales, overlapping like tiles on a roof. There are about 2,500 species of moths found in Britain and Ireland, but only around 70 butterfly species. For convenience moths are split into two groups, the larger (or macro-) moths and the smaller (micro-) moths, although some of the latter group are larger than some of the former. Around 900 species of larger moth have been found in this country.

How you can helpButterfly Conservation works to conserve moths, butterflies and their habitats in the UK. Interest in moths is growing rapidly and there are many opportunities for volunteers and members of the public to help through recording and monitoring, habitat management, raising awareness and training new moth recorders. In addition to co-ordinating urgent action on the most threatened species listed in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan, Butterfly Conservation has established the Moths Count project in partnership with other organisations and individuals. This project has developed a National Moth Recording Scheme to monitor all the larger moths in the UK and provide training and support for new and existing moth recorders. To find out more about the Moths Count project, including a range of free events about moths and moth recording that you can attend, please visit www.mothscount.org or contact Butterfly Conservation (www.butterfly-conservation.org).

Humming-bird Hawk-moth

Lunar Hornet Moth - a clearwing moth

Scalloped Hook-tip

Habitats for mothsMoths are found everywhere from shore to mountain top, wherever there are plants for caterpillars to eat. Some are limited in distribution by their food-plants, for example the caterpillar of the Chestnut-coloured Carpet only eats Juniper, a scarce plant in Wales. Others are restricted by habitat, such as the Ground Lackey which eats a range of plants only found in saltmarshes. Some moths have widespread foodplants, but require particular conditions. The Welsh Clearwing caterpillar lives inside Birch, but needs old Birches with trunks exposed to light, where it spends up to three years munching on the wood. All species require particular conditions for their survival and even subtle changes in habitat can result in the loss of a species.

Mother Shipton

Moth namesMoth names can be just as fascinating as the moths themselves. All the larger moths have English and Welsh colloquial names as well as their scientific names. In many cases the colloquial name was coined first and may be very old, or a corruption of an older name.

Some moths are named after the people who discovered them, for example the Ashworth’s Rustic was named after Joseph Ashworth, with ‘rustic’ referring to its drab appearance, though in Welsh it is called ‘gwladwr Cymreig’ because it is only found in Wales in the UK. The group of moths known as ‘wainscots’ were thought to resemble that type of wood-panelling; the Mother Shipton appears to have the profile of the legendary witch on its wings; and the Lackey Moth caterpillar has coloured stripes resembling the livery worn by servants or lackeys.

The scientific names are also frequently derived from characteristics of moths, such as their colour or resemblance to other objects, where they were discovered or their food-plants.

The Death’s-head Hawk-moth has a striking yellow pattern on its thorax which resembles a skull and its scientific name, Acherontia atropos, is after Acheron, the river of pain in the underworld, and Atropos, one of the three Fates who cuts the thread of life.

The scientific name of the Red Underwing is Catocala nupta. The first part refers to its bright red underwings, and comes from katõ meaning below and kalos meaning beautiful; the second part, nupta, meaning a bride. Linnaeus apparently gave it this name because, in his native Sweden, brides traditionally wore gaudy underwear!

Being prey to so many predators has led moths and their caterpillars to evolve a wide range of defences, especially camouflage, through both colour and shape. The Buff-tip moth at rest is both the colour and shape of a broken birch twig. Other moths use bright colours to put predators off, either by warning of their bitter taste, as in the tiger moths, or by startling them, as in the Eyed Hawk-moth. Moths also have important impacts on plants. Adult moths feed on the nectar of flowers and so act as pollinators, while many caterpillars eat foliage and have influenced the plants’ evolution of physical and chemical defences against them.

Moths Count is a partnership of many organisations, individuals and businesses, led by Butterfly Conservation. Principal funders include the Heritage Lottery Fund, Butterfly Conservation, British Entomological and Natural History Society, City Bridge Trust, Countryside Council for Wales, Environment Agency, Environment and Heritage Service, Natural England, Royal Entomological Society, RSPB and Scottish Natural Heritage. Many other organisations are involved, providing support and helping to host events.

Manor Yard East LulworthWareham Dorset BH20 5QP

Phone 01929 406009 nmrs@butterfly-conservation.org

www.mothscount.orgButterfly ConservationCompany limited by guarantee, registered in England (2206468)Registered Office: Manor Yard, East Lulworth, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 5QPCharity registered in England & Wales (254937) and in Scotland (SCO39268)

Moth mythsThere are many myths about the differences between moths and butterflies:

Moths vary greatly in appearance, and some species may not at first be recognised as moths. For example, the clearwing moths mimic wasps, bees or flies so effectively that they are easily mistaken for them. There are also longhorn moths, which have extremely long antennae; plume moths, whose wings are feather-like; and many moths, such as the hook-tips, whose wings look just like dry leaves. The range of appearances includes brightly-coloured tiger moths; large, narrow-winged and fast-flying hawk-moths; and the intricately patterned carpets.

Moths lay numerous eggs that hatch into caterpillars, which eventually pupate and turn into adult moths. Most adult moths are short-lived, some for only a few days, but others survive for longer and some live for many months and even hibernate over the winter. A few species spend three or four years as caterpillars before becoming moths. Most moths are only found in their adult form at certain times of the year, but this varies with the species and moths are seen in every month in Britain and Ireland, even during mid-winter.

• Moths are not as beautiful as butterflies: This is just not true! Some moths, such as the tiger moths, are very colourful. Others are less bright, but have subtle colours and beautiful patterns that have evolved to aid camouflage.

• Moths only fly by night: Although most do fly at night, many species, like the red and black Cinnabar, fly during the day (and probably get mistaken for butterflies). Some butterflies, such as the Red Admiral, are known to fly at night.

• Only butterflies have clubbed antennae: Some moths have club-like antennae, for example the day-flying burnets.

• Only butterflies rest with their wings closed upright over their backs: A few moths rest with their wings in this position, for example the Bordered White and the Dingy Shell, and a few butterflies do not, for example some skippers.

• Moths are furrier and hairier than butterflies: Some moth species are less hairy than others, and some butterflies have very furry bodies.

The most consistent difference is that nearly all moths have a tiny hook-like structure joining the hind wing to the forewing, but butterflies do not. However, this is very small and difficult to see.

Another widespread myth is that moths eat clothing. In fact, only a very few species do, and they only eat fabrics derived from animal sources, such as wool, not synthetics or cotton; they normally attack items left in dark, undisturbed places; and they prefer dirty clothes to clean ones. Moths are often wrongly blamed for damage caused by the more common carpet beetle larvae (which look like small furry caterpillars) and many holes found in clothes are not made by insects at all but by chemicals or accidental damage.

Traditional farmland suits a range of moths, including some rare species, but intensively farmed areas do not support many moths (or other wildlife). Urban areas can also support a wide diversity of species: over 500 species of larger moth are found in the Cardiff area. Many moths live in urban parks and gardens, especially where there is a variety of plants, shrubs and trees, rather than concrete, gravel and decking. Even ‘waste ground’ or ‘brown-field’ sites can be hotspots for moths.

Some moths are visitors to Britain. Humming-bird Hawk-moths fly here from the Mediterranean or North Africa (although with climate change this species may now be living here year-round). Other species have been accidentally imported on fruit or plants. Some of these visitors have become established with non-native plants. For example the Blair’s Shoulder-knot, which feeds on cypresses, was first recorded in 1951 on the south coast of England and is now found in Bangor.

Moths and thewider ecosystemMoths are a major part of our biodiversity and play important roles in the ecosystem. Moths and their caterpillars are eaten by insects, spiders, amphibians, lizards, birds, bats and other small mammals. Many birds rely on caterpillars for food, especially for feeding their young. Caterpillars are also host to the grubs of parasitic wasps and flies, which feed inside their bodies, and there are even parasites feeding on those parasites within caterpillars!

Moths in jeopardyMany moths are widespread in Britain, while others are more restricted in distribution, some to just one or two sites. A large number of species are declining, including many familiar moths of our countryside and gardens, and their survival is being threatened. Over 60 species became extinct in Britain during the 20th century, and The State of Britain’s Larger Moths report in 2006 found that the total abundance of moths had declined by a third since 1968. For example, the once commonly seen Garden Tiger, with its brown hairy ‘woolly bear’ or ‘siani flewog’ (furry Jenny) caterpillar, has declined by almost 90%. In addition to concern about the future of moths themselves, there is also worry about the impact of their decline on the other wildlife that depend on them. As moths are so widespread across the country, found in such a wide variety of habitats and sensitive to change, they are also very important indicators of the health of our own environment.

There is likely to be more than one reason for the decline in moth numbers, with variation between species, but causes probably include the continuing fragmentation of habitat; urbanisation and industrial development; changes in agriculture and forestry practices; drainage; pesticides, herbicides and other pollution; and unsympathetic management of gardens and amenity areas. In addition, climate change is clearly affecting certain moths, some positively but others negatively.

All these threats mean that even more action is needed to conserve moths, but the good news is that they can respond quickly to improvements in their environment brought about by conservation efforts.

Discovering more about mothsIf you would like to learn more about moths, there is plenty of help on the Moths Count website, www.mothscount.org, which also has links to other good sources of information. Alternatively, these books are good starting points:

Concise Guide to the Moths of Great Britain and Ireland. Townsend, M., Waring, P. & Lewington, R. 2007. (British Wildlife Publishing)An easy-to-use format with all resident and immigrant larger moths described and illustrated in their natural resting positions.

Enjoying Moths. Leverton, R. 2001. (Poyser Natural History)Not an identification guide, but lots of interesting information about moths and how to study them.

Field Guide to the Moths of Great Britain and Ireland. Waring, P., Townsend, M. & Lewington, R. 2003. (British Wildlife Publishing)The original and larger version of the Concise Guide (left), with more detailed text.

The Colour Identification Guide to Moths of the British Isles. Skinner, B. 1998. (Viking, 2nd edition)A thorough identification guide to the larger moths, all illustrated with their wings spread out.

The Colour Identification Guide to Caterpillars of the British Isles. Porter, J. 1997. (Viking)The companion volume to Skinner’s Guide to Moths, above.

The Natural History of Moths. Young, M. 1997. (Poyser Natural History)Comprehensive information about moths and their biology and ecology.

The State of Britain’s Larger Moths. Fox, R., Conrad, K., Parsons, M., Warren, M. & Woiwod, I. 2006. (Butterfly Conservation & Rothamsted Research) An up-to-date report on the changing fortunes of our moths.

Butterfly Conservation would like to acknowledge the support of the following Moths Count Business Friends, some of whom are suppliers of moth recording equipment and books.

Anglian Lepidopterist Supplieswww.angleps.com

Apollo Books www.apollobooks.com

B and S Entomological Services www.entomology.org.uk

Bioquip www.bioquip.net

British Wildlife Publishing www.britishwildlife.com

Cellcreative www.cellcreative.com

MapMate www.mapmate.co.uk

Watkins & Doncaster www.watdon.com

Text by Susan Anders, Mark Parsons, Richard Fox and Russel Hobson Photographs by Dave Green, Mark Parsons, Richard Revels and Robert Thompson

Lackey caterpillar

Buff-tip

Garden Tiger

Eyed Hawk-moth

White Plume Moth

Red UnderwingSpotted Flycatcherwith Swallow-tailed Moth

Scarlet Tiger

mc4

40 mlynedd o achub glöynnod byw, gwyfynod a’u cynefinoedd

Gwarchod Glöynnod Byw

40 mlynedd o achub glöynnod byw, gwyfynod a’u cynefinoedd

Gwarchod Glöynnod Byw

Gwyfynod CyflwyniadCanfuwyd tua 2,500 o rywogaethau o wyfynod ym Mhrydain o’u cymharu ag oddeutu 70 o rywogaethau o löynnod byw.

Beth yw gwyfynod?Gyda’i gilydd, mae gwyfynod a glöynnod byw yn ffurfio is-ddosbarth y pryfed a adwaenir fel Lepidoptera, o’r gair Groeg lepis, sy’n golygu cen a pteron, sy’n golygu adain. Mae’r lliwiau a phatrymau ar eu hadenydd wedi eu gwneud o filoedd o gennau bychain, yn gorgyffwrdd fel teils ar y to. Mae tua 2,500 o rywogaethau o wyfynod i’w cael ym Mhrydain ond dim ond tua 70 o rywogaethau o löynnod byw. Mae’n gyfleus rhannu gwyfynod yn ddau gr p, y gwyfynod mwy (neu facro) a’r gwyfynod llai (neu ficro), er bod rhai yn y grŵp olaf yn fwy na rhai yn y gr p cyntaf. Daethpwyd o hyd i oddeutu 900 o rywogaethau o wyfynod mwy yn y wlad hon.

Sut gallwch chi helpuMae Gwarchod Glöynnod Byw yn gweithio i warchod gwyfynod, glöynnod byw a’u cynefinoedd yn y DU. Mae diddordeb mewn gwyfynod yn tyfu’n aruthrol ac mae llawer o gyfleoedd i wirfoddolwyr ac aelodau o’r cyhoedd helpu trwy gofnodi a monitro, rheoli cynefin, codi ymwybyddiaeth a hyfforddi cofnodwyr gwyfynod newydd. Yn ogystal â chydlynu gweithredu brys ar y rhywogaethau sydd fwyaf dan fygythiad a restrir yng Nghynllun Gweithredu Bioamrywiaeth y DU, mae Gwarchod Glöynnod Byw wedi sefydlu prosiect Cyfrif Gwyfynod mewn partneriaeth â sefydliadau ac unigolion eraill. Mae’r prosiect hwn wedi datblygu Cynllun Cofnodi Gwyfynod Cenedlaethol i fonitro holl wyfynod mwy y DU a rhoi hyfforddiant a chymorth i gofnodwyr gwyfynod newydd a chyfredol. I ddarganfod mwy am brosiect Cyfrif Gwyfynod, gan gynnwys amrywiaeth o ddigwyddiadau am wyfynod a chofnodi gwyfynod y gallwch eu mynychu am ddim, ewch i www.mothscount.org neu cysylltwch â Gwarchod Glöynnod Byw (www.butterfly-conservation.org).

gwalchwyfyn hofran

ffug-bicwnen dorchog

bachadain fylchog

Cynefinoedd i wyfynodMae gwyfynod i’w cael ym mhob man o lan y môr i ben y mynydd, ble bynnag y mae bwyd i lindys ei fwyta. Mae rhai yn gyfyngedig eu dosbarthiad oherwydd eu planhigion bwyd, er enghraifft mae lindys y Brychan Cochddu ond yn bwyta Merywen, planhigyn prin yng Nghymru. Cyfyngir ar eraill gan eu cynefin, fel Gwaswyfyn y Morfa sy’n bwyta amrywiaeth o blanhigion sydd ond i’w cael mewn morfa heli. Mae gan rai gwyfynod blanhigion bwyd cyffredin ond bod iddynt amodau penodol. Mae lindysyn y Gliradain Gymreig yn byw y tu mewn i goed Bedw ond mae angen hen goed Bedw arni gyda boncyffion sy’n agored i’r golau lle mae’n treulio hyd at dair blynedd yn cnoi ar y pren. Mae angen amodau arbennig ar bob rhywogaeth er mwyn goroesi a gall hyd yn oed newidiadau bach cynnil yn eu cynefin esgor ar golli rhywogaeth.

hen wrach

Enwau gwyfynodGall enwau gwyfynod fod yr un mor hudol â’r gwyfynod eu hunain. Mae gan bob un o’r gwyfynod mwy enwau llafar yn y Gymraeg a’r Saesneg yn ogystal â’u henwau gwyddonol. Mewn llawer o achosion, bathwyd yr enw llafar yn gyntaf ac fe all fod yn hen iawn neu’n llygriad o enw h n.

Enwir rhai gwyfynod ar ôl y bobl a’u darganfu, er enghraifft cafwyd yr enw Saesneg ‘Ashworth’s Rustic’ ar ôl Joseph Ashworth gyda’r ‘rustic’ yn cyfeirio at ei olwg salw er mai’r enw Cymraeg arno yw’r ‘gwladwr Cymreig’ achos Cymru yw’r unig ran o’r DU lle mae i’w gael. Credir bod y gr p o wyfynod a adwaenir fel y ‘gwensgodau’ yn edrych fel y math yna o banelwaith pren; ymddengys fod gan yr Hen Wrach (‘Mother Shipton’ yn Saesneg) broffil y wrach chwedlonol ar ei hadenydd; ac mae gan lindysyn y Gwaswyfyn stribedi lliw sy’n ymdebygu i’r lifrai a wisgid gan weision.

Yn aml, mae’r enwau gwyddonol yn deillio o nodweddion gwyfynod fel eu lliw neu’r tebygrwydd rhyngddynt â gwrthrychau eraill, lle cawson nhw eu darganfod neu eu planhigion bwyd.

Mae gan Walchwyfyn y Benglog batrwm melyn trawiadol ar ei thoracs sy’n edrych fel penglog a chafodd ei enw gwyddonol, Acherontia atropos, ar ôl Acheron, afon poen yr isfyd, ac Atropos, un o’r tair Tynged sy’n torri edau bywyd.

Enw gwyddonol yr Ôl-Adain Goch yw Catocala nupta. Mae’r rhan gyntaf yn cyfeirio at ei hadenydd ôl coch llachar ac yn dod o katõ sy’n golygu isod a kalos sy’n golygu hardd; ystyr yr ail ran, nupta, yw priodferch. Mae’n debyg fod Linnaeus wedi rhoi’r enw yma iddi gan fod priodferched yn ei wlad enedigol, Sweden, yn gwisgo dillad isaf gorliwgar yn draddodiadol!

Mae bod yn ysglyfaeth i gymaint o ysglyfaethwyr wedi gorfodi gwyfynod a’u lindys i ddatblygu amrywiaeth eang o ddulliau i’w hamddiffyn eu hunain, yn enwedig cuddliwio, trwy liw a siâp. Pan fydd yn gorffwys, mae’r Blaen Brigyn yr un lliw a siâp â brigyn bedw wedi torri. Mae gwyfynod eraill yn defnyddio lliwiau llachar i godi ofn ar ysglyfaethwyr naill ai trwy rybuddio am eu blas chwerw, fel gwyfynod teigr neu drwy eu brawychu, fel y Gwalchwyfyn Llygeidiog. Hefyd, mae gwyfynod yn cael effaith bwysig ar blanhigion. Mae gwyfynod yn eu llawn dwf yn bwyta neithdar blodau a thrwy hynny yn eu peillio, tra bo llawer o lindys yn bwyta deiliant ac wedi dylanwadu ar esblygiad amddiffynfeydd ffisegol a chemegol planhigion yn eu herbyn.

Mae Cyfrif Gwyfynod yn bartneriaeth o lawer o sefydliadau, unigolion a busnesau dan arweiniad Gwarchod Glöynnod Byw. Ymhlith y prif gyllidwyr ceir Cronfa Dreftadaeth y Loteri, Gwarchod Glöynnod Byw, Cymdeithas Entomolegol a Byd Natur Prydain, Ymddiriedolaeth City Bridge, Cyngor Cefn Gwlad Cymru, Asiantaeth yr Amgylchedd, Gwasanaeth yr Amgylchedd a Threftadaeth, Natural England, y Gymdeithas Entomolegol Frenhinol, RSPB a Scottish Natural Heritage. Mae llawer o sefydliadau eraill yn cymryd rhan gan roi cymorth a helpu i gynnal digwyddiadau.

Cyfrif GwyfynodManor Yard East LulworthWareham Dorset BH20 5QP

Ffôn 01929 406009 nmrs@butterfly-conservation.org

www.mothscount.orgGwarchod Glöynnod Byw / Butterfly ConservationCwmni cyfyngedig gan warant, wedi’i gofrestru yn Lloegr (2206468)Swyddfa Gofrestredig: Manor Yard, East Lulworth, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 5QPElusen gofrestredig yng Nghymru a Lloegr (254937) ac yn yr Alban (SCO39268)

Mythau am wyfynodCeir llawer o fythau am y gwahaniaethau rhwng gwyfynod a glöynnod byw:

Mae gwyfynod yn amrywio’n fawr o ran eu golwg ac mae’n bosibl nad adwaenir rhai rhywogaethau fel gwyfynod ar yr olwg gyntaf. Er enghraifft, mae gwyfynod y cliradain yn dynwared cacwn, gwenyn neu glêr (pryf) mor effeithiol fel ei bod yn hawdd eu camgymryd amdanyn nhw. Hefyd, mae yna wyfynod corniog sydd â theimlyddion hir dros ben; gwyfynod pluog sydd ag adenydd tebyg i blu; a llawer o wyfynod, fel y bachadenydd, y mae eu hadenydd yn edrych yn union fel dail sych. Mae’r amrywiaeth o ran golwg yn cynnwys gwyfynod teigr lliwgar, gloyw; gwalchwyfynod mawr ag adenydd cul sy’n hedfan yn gyflym; a’r brychanau â’u patrymau cymhleth.

Mae gwyfynod yn dodwy nifer o wyau sy’n deor lindys, fydd ymhen hir a hwyr yn chwilera ac yn troi’n wyfynod llawn dwf. Mae’r rhan fwyaf o wyfynod llawn dwf yn byw bywyd byr, rhai ond ychydig o ddyddiau ond mae eraill yn goroesi’n hwy a rhai’n byw am lawer o fisoedd a hyd yn oed yn gaeafgysgu. Mae rhai rhywogaethau yn treulio tair neu bedair blynedd fel lindys cyn newid yn wyfynod. Dim ond ar rai adegau o’r flwyddyn y ceir y rhan fwyaf o’r gwyfynod ar eu ffurf lawn dwf ond mae hyn yn amrywio yn ôl y rhywogaeth a gwelir gwyfynod ym mhob mis, hyd yn oed yng nghanol y gaeaf.

• Dydy gwyfynod ddim mor hardd â glöynnod byw: Dydy hyn ddim yn wir! Mae rhai gwyfynod, fel y gwyfynod teigr, yn lliwgar iawn. Mae eraill yn llai llachar ond mae ganddyn nhw liwiau ysgafn a phatrymau prydferth sydd wedi esblygu i helpu cuddliwio.

• Liw nos yn unig mae gwyfynod yn hedfan: Er bod y rhan fwyaf yn hedfan liw nos, mae llawer o rywogaethau, fel y Gwyfyn Claergoch coch a du, yn hedfan yn ystod y dydd (a si r o fod yn cael eu camgymryd am löynnod byw). Rydyn ni’n gwybod bod rhai glöynnod byw, fel y Fantell Goch, yn hedfan liw nos.

• Dim ond glöynnod byw sydd â theimlyddion clybiog: Mae gan rai gwyfynod deimlyddion fel clybiau, er enghraifft gwyfynod y bwrned sy’n hedfan liw dydd.

• Dim ond glöynnod byw sy’n gorffwys gyda’u hadenydd ar gau yn unionsyth dros eu cefnau: Mae rhai gwyfynod yn gorffwys gyda’u hadenydd yn y safle hwn, er enghraifft y Gwyn Godreog a’r Crych Llwydfelyn ac mae rhai glöynnod byw nad ydynt yn gwneud hynny, er enghraifft, rhai o’r gwibwyr.

• Mae gwyfynod yn fwy blewog na glöynnod byw: Mae rhai rhywogaethau o wyfynod yn llai blewog nag eraill ac mae gan rai glöynnod byw gyrff blewog iawn.

Y gwahaniaeth mwyaf cyson yw bod gan bron pob gwyfyn ffurfiant bychan fel bachyn sy’n cysylltu’r adain ôl â’r adain flaen. Dydy hwn ddim gan löynnod byw. Er hynny, mae’n fach iawn ac yn anodd ei weld.

Myth cyffredin arall yw bod gwyfynod yn bwyta dillad. Mewn gwirionedd, ychydig iawn o rywogaethau sy’n gwneud ac maen nhw ond yn bwyta ffabrigau sy’n deillio o anifeiliaid fel gwlân, nid synthetigion neu gotwm; fel arfer maen nhw’n ymosod ar eitemau sy’n cael eu gadael mewn lleoedd tywyll, tawel; ac mae’n well ganddyn nhw ddillad brwnt na dillad glân. Yn aml, mae gwyfynod yn cael y bai ar gam am niwed a achosir gan larfae mwy cyffredin y chwilen garpedi (sy’n edrych fel lindys bach blewog) ac mae llawer o’r tyllau a geir mewn dillad wedi eu gwneud gan gemegau neu niwed damweiniol ac nid gan bryfed o gwbl.

Mae tir amaeth traddodiadol yn gweddu i amrywiaeth o wyfynod, gan gynnwys rhai rhywogaethau prin ond dydy ardaloedd sy’n cael eu ffermio’n helaeth ddim yn cynnal llawer o wyfynod (na bywyd gwyllt arall). Hefyd, gall ardaloedd dinesig gynnal amrywiaeth eang o rywogaethau: mae dros 500 o rywogaethau o wyfynod mwy i’w cael yn ardal Caerdydd. Mae llawer o wyfynod yn byw mewn parciau a gerddi dinesig, yn enwedig lle mae amrywiaeth o blanhigion, llwyni a choed yn hytrach na choncrit, graean a decin. Gall hyd yn oed ‘tir gwastraff’ neu safleoedd ‘tir llwyd’ fod yn ardaloedd posibl i wyfynod.

Mae rhai gwyfynod yn ymwelwyr â Phrydain. Mae Gwalchwyfynod Hofran yn hedfan yma o’r Canoldir neu Ogledd Affrica (er gyda’r newid yn yr hinsawdd, mae’n bosibl fod y rhywogaeth hon yn byw yma trwy gydol y flwyddyn erbyn hyn). Mae rhywogaethau eraill wedi cael eu mewnforio yma yn ddamweiniol ar ffrwythau neu blanhigion. Mae rhai o’r ymwelwyr hyn wedi ymsefydlu gyda phlanhigion anfrodorol. Er enghraifft, cofnodwyd Gwargwlwm y Cypreswydd, sy’n bwyta cypreswydd, am y tro cyntaf yn 1951 ar arfordir deheuol Lloegr ac mae bellach i’w gael ym Mangor.

Gwyfynod a’r ecosystem ehangachMae gwyfynod yn rhan fawr o’n bioamrywiaeth ac maen nhw’n chwarae rhannau pwysig yn yr ecosystem. Mae gwyfynod a’u lindys yn cael eu bwyta gan bryfed, corynnod, amffibiaid, madfallod, adar, ystlumod a mamolion bach eraill. Mae llawer o adar yn dibynnu ar lindys am eu bwyd, yn enwedig i fwydo eu cywion. Ar ben hynny, mae lindys yn cynnal cynrhon cacwn a chlêr parasitig sy’n bwydo y tu mewn i’w cyrff ac mae hyd yn oed barasitiaid sy’n bwydo ar y parasitiaid hynny oddi mewn i’r lindys!

Gwyfynod mewn peryglMae dosbarthiad llawer o wyfynod ym Mhrydain yn gyffredin tra bo eraill yn fwy cyfyngedig, rhai ohonynt i un neu ddau safle yn unig. Mae nifer fawr o rywogaethau yn dirywio, gan gynnwys llawer o wyfynod cyfarwydd cefn gwlad a’n gerddi ac mae bygythiad i’w parhad. Diflannodd dros 60 o rywogaethau ym Mhrydain yn ystod yr 20fed ganrif a chanfu adroddiad ‘The State of Britain’s Larger Moths’ yn 2006 fod cyfanswm helaethrwydd gwyfynod wedi dirywio traean ers 1968. Er enghraifft, mae Teigr yr Ardd, fu unwaith yn gyffredin iawn gyda’i lindysyn brown blewog neu ‘siani flewog’, wedi dirywio o tua 90%. Yn ogystal â phryder am ddyfodol gwyfynod eu hunain, mae gofid hefyd am effaith eu dirywiad ar y bywyd gwyllt arall sy’n dibynnu arnyn nhw. Gan fod gwyfynod mor gyffredin dros y wlad ac i’w cael mewn amrywiaeth mor eang o gynefinoedd ac yn sensitif i newid, maen nhw hefyd yn ddangosyddion pwysig o ran iechyd ein hamgylchedd ein hunain.

Mae’n debyg fod mwy nag un rheswm am y dirywiad yn niferoedd y gwyfynod, gydag amrywiad rhwng rhywogaethau, ond mae’n debygol fod yr achosion yn cynnwys darnio parhaus eu cynefin; trefoli a datblygu diwydiannol; newidiadau o ran arferion amaeth a choedwigaeth; draeniad; plaleiddiaid, chwynladdwyr a llygreddau eraill; a rheoli gerddi ac ardaloedd mwynderau mewn ffordd nad yw’n gydymdeimladol. Ar ben hynny, mae’n glir fod y newid yn yr hinsawdd yn effeithio ar rai gwyfynod, rhai’n gadarnhaol ond eraill yn negyddol.

Mae’r holl fygythiadau hyn yn golygu bod angen mwy byth o weithredu i warchod gwyfynod ond y newyddion da yw eu bod yn gallu ymateb yn gyflym i welliannau yn eu hamgylchedd a ddaw yn sgil ymdrechion cadwraeth.

Darganfod mwy am wyfynodOs hoffech chi ddysgu mwy am wyfynod, mae digon o help ar gael ar wefan Cyfrif Gwyfynod, www.mothscount.org, sydd hefyd â chysylltiadau da â ffynonellau gwybodaeth eraill. Fel arall, mae’r llyfrau hyn yn fan cychwyn da:

Concise Guide to the Moths of Great Britain and Ireland. Townsend, M., Waring, P. & Lewington, R. 2007. (British Wildlife Publishing)Fformat hawdd ei ddefnyddio gyda disgrifiadau a darluniau o bob gwyfyn mwy sy’n frodorol ac yn fewnfudol yn eu hystumiau gorffwys naturiol.

Enjoying Moths. Leverton, R. 2001. (Poyser Natural History)Ddim yn arweinlyfr adnabod gwyfynod ond yn cynnwys llawer o wybodaeth ddiddorol amdanynt a sut i’w hastudio nhw.

Field Guide to the Moths of Great Britain and Ireland. Waring, P., Townsend, M. & Lewington, R. 2003. (British Wildlife Publishing)Fersiwn gwreiddiol a mwy y ‘Concise Guide’ (chwith), gyda thestun mwy manwl.

The Colour Identification Guide to Moths of the British Isles. Skinner, B. 1998. (Viking, 2nd edition)Arweinlyfr adnabod trylwyr ar gyfer gwyfynod mwy a phob un wedi’i ddarlunio gyda’r adenydd ar led.

The Colour Identification Guide to Caterpillars of the British Isles. Porter, J. 1997. (Viking)Cyfrol gydymaith i ‘Skinner’s Guide to Moths’, uchod.

The Natural History of Moths. Young, M. 1997. (Poyser Natural History)Gwybodaeth gynhwysfawr am wyfynod a’u bioleg ac ecoleg.

The State of Britain’s Larger Moths. Fox, R., Conrad, K., Parsons, M., Warren, M. & Woiwod, I. 2006. (Butterfly Conservation & Rothamsted Research) Adroddiad cyfoes ar hynt a helynt ein gwyfynod.

Hoffai Gwarchod Glöynnod Byw gydnabod cefnogaeth Cyfeillion Busnes canlynol Cyfrif Gwyfynod, y mae rhai ohonynt yn cyflenwi cyfarpar a llyfrau cofnodi gwyfynod.

Anglian Lepidopterist Supplieswww.angleps.com

Apollo Books www.apollobooks.com

B and S Entomological Services www.entomology.org.uk

Bioquip www.bioquip.net

British Wildlife Publishing www.britishwildlife.com

Cellcreative www.cellcreative.com

MapMate www.mapmate.co.uk

Watkins & Doncaster www.watdon.com

Testun gan Susan Anders, Mark Parsons, Richard Fox a Russel Hobson Lluniau gan Dave Green, Mark Parsons, Richard Revels a Robert Thompson

gwaswyfyn

blaen brigyn

teigr yr ardd

gwalchwyfyn llygeidiog

White Plume Moth

ôl-adain gochgwybedog mannog &gwyfyn cynffon gwennol

teigr ôl-adain goch