One of UK's largest insects found at 'alien' Anglesey site
Mynydd Parys on Anglesey is renowned for its colourful, otherworldly landscapes, a legacy of centuries of copper mining.
Its mineral-rich rocks and spoil tips have created unique habitats for specialist plants that thrive in an environment too toxic for others.
This stony landscape may appear barren but it supports birds such as skylark, meadow pipit and chough. And as a dog walker discovered this week, one of the UK's largest insects can be found here too.
During a morning stroll, Cathi Jones, from nearby Porth Amlwch, chanced upon the magnificent sight of an Emperor moth. The fluffy grey-brown moth stands out for having big peacock-like eyespots on all four wings and – matching the local landscape - pinky-red markings on its wingtips.
As its name suggests, Emperor moths are big. Cathi's find was a female, which are larger than males with wingspans of up to 10cm.
As the UK's only silk moth, its caterpillars spin silk cocoons for over-wintering. Although relatively widespread, the Wildlife Trusts says sightings are "never very common".
Netflix's popular Black Mirror series recently capitalised on the mountain's alien-like landscape to film segments for a surreal sci-fi storyline. Get the best island stories from our Anglesey newsletter - sent every Friday
Amlwch Industrial Heritage Trust (AIHT) is hoping to relocate its collection of copper mining artefacts to a new museum on Mynydd Parys. Backers for the plan include TV presenter Sian Lloyd, whose great-great grandfather worked at the mine.
The presence of an Emperor moth at the old copper mine confirms the mountain as a special place where nothing is quite what it seems.
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