A new species has been found in Wales thousands of miles from home

Two clearwing moths found in a home in Port Talbot have been confirmed as a new species to science that travelled 4,500 miles from South America

A previously-undiscovered species of moth has been found in Port Talbot, believed to have travelled thousands of miles from its original home. The clearwing moths are thought to have travelled over 4,500 miles from the rainforests of Guyana to Wales, potentially hitching a ride as larvae inside a travel bag belonging to an unsuspecting photographer.

The unusual find was made by 22 year old ecologist Daisy Cadet and her mother Ashleigh a professional photographer who were astonished to spot the insects on their windowsill three months later during a chilly February afternoon. Described as an "improbable event" by scientists and one that "defies rational explanation", it left experts baffled at the moths' accidental journey.

Mark Sterling, a scientific associate at the Natural History Museum, said: "The improbability of this event defies rational explanation. While in Guyana, Ashleigh was told that if she left an offering of tobacco to the jungle spirits she would be shown something beautiful from the jungle, so that is what she did. We conclude in the paper that it must have been very good tobacco."

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At first, Ms Cadet had no idea her discovery was so unusual. But her post on Instagram about her discovery caught the attention of a follower who pointed out that the moths didn't resemble any species familiar in the UK. The photographs went viral among enthusiasts and soon caught the eyes of Natural History Museum moth specialists Mark Sterling and David Lees.

Ms Cadet said: "From there, it was a few months of email chains and wild-goose or moth chasing to work out what the moth was, and how it got to Wales."

Through DNA analysis, the scientists confirmed that the moths were not only a non-UK species, but also previously unknown to science. This led Ms Cadet to inspect her mother's boot bag, which Ashleigh had taken with her on her photography trip to Guyana.

Inside, they discovered two delicate cocoon remains protective coverings that insects create during their pupal stage of development still intact and buried in the mud from the boots she had worn on the trip. The specimen, measuring about 18mm in length, has been christened Carmenta brachyclados.

The wings of C. brachyclados are transparent, featuring black veins and tips, while the upper side of its body boasts iridescent blue stripes edged with yellow ones, and the underside is a bright sulphurous yellow, according to the researchers.

A small piece of woody vegetation, appearing to have holes made by the moths when they were caterpillars, was also found inside the bag.

Scientists speculate that this plant fragment may have been a seed pod from a large tree species known as Mora excelsa, which thrives in the jungles of Central and South America. It's believed that this seed pod would have shielded the larvae from predators or damage during travel.

The experts suggested that the humidity and warmer temperature in the boot bag may have aided the tropical larvae in surviving and maturing into moths during the harsh winter.

Mark Sterling, a scientific associate at the Natural History Museum, remarked: "Clearwing moths are notoriously difficult to find, even by professional entomologists. They are even more difficult to rear from larvae or pupae, which usually dry out or go mouldy within a few days of collection."

He described the emergence of two clearwing moths from the tropical jungles of South America in south Wales as extraordinary" especially considering it happened over three months after their arrival during the cold Welsh winter.

Ms Cadet shared her mixed emotions about the discovery of a new moth species, feeling "incredibly lucky" but also burdened with "a lot of sadness and worry" about the species being lost due to climate change.

She urged: "We are privileged to be able to make discoveries like this, but I hope that this story pushes for real action on the state of our planet and the biodiversity crisis."

"Awareness is no longer enough, and we need urgent, meaningful action to protect what remains."

The findings have been documented in the journal Nota Lepidopterologic.