A five-year-old is to have his name recorded next to those of scientists and naturalists after spotting a rare moth on a school field trip. Blaine Smith, five, of Tir-y-berth primary in Hengoed, found a lunar hornet moth (pictured, below) while on a trip to Bargoed Woodland Park, on the site of a reclaimed coal tip. Pupils from Tir-y-berth were shown a play about the adventures of an ant who had lost her friend, Andy the aphid. The drama aimed to spark their interest in the natural world.
Blaine’s find was made during a follow-up visit to Bargoed when pupils were encouraged to look for their own minibeasts. Andy Wilkinson, a senior environmental education ranger, says: “His school came out to look for invertebrates. He had a sweetener, which is like a pond net, but larger. He found he had caught a yellow and black creature that resembled a hornet.
“The moth hadn’t ever been recorded in Caerphilly, so for us it is a brilliant find.
“Usually the first recorder is a scientist or naturalist. This record will now be held by the Glamorgan moth group and will be presented in their annual report. Blaine’s name will go down for ever as the first record of the lunar hornet moth and will eventually be held by the Glamorgan Records Office.”
It is only the 13th recorded sighting of the moth in south Wales.
