Missing in Action

This is more like 'Not Seeing the Changes. Locally (Crymlyn Burrows; Loughor and WWT Llanelli), it's been a dreadful year for Lepidoptera. Although generally recorded in these areas, I've not yet seen a single Small tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae); Small copper (Lycaena phlaeas); Peacock (Inachis io); Painted lady (Cynthia cardui); Marbled white (Melanargia galathea); Greyling (Hipparchia semele); Comma (Polygonia c-album) and Clouded yellow (Colias croceus). Cinnabar (Tyria jacobaea); Elephant hawk (Deilephila elpenor) and Six-spot burnet (Zygaena filipendulae) moths, have also failed to put in appearances yet. Even species actually seen, seem evident in tiny numbers. Vast swathes of Nettle; Ragwort and Rosebay willowherb have gone unnibbled.