Notes on Lepidoptera in Suffolk for 1962

190

SUFFOLK LEPIDOPTERA

(Eilema complana, Linn.), and a very late Buff Ermine (Spilosoma lutea, Hufn.), which species is usually out in May and June.

Earlier the same day I had seen a half-grown larva of the same moth.

Pale-lemon Sallow Moths (Cirrhia ocellaris, Borkh.), began emerging on lOth September from larvae obtained from fallen Black Poplar catkins collected at Mildenhall on 27th April.

Generally butterflies and moths have been in much smaller numbers than usual, largely no doubt owing to unfavourable weather conditions. It is therefore pleasing to record that several of the " Vanessas " have been rather more plentiful than usual. Although Small Tortoiseshells (Aglais urticae, Linn.), were rather scarce, Peacocks (Nymphalis io, Linn.), Red Admirals (Vanessa atalanta, Linn.), and Painted Ladies (Vanessa cardui, Linn.), were much more in evidence than for some years on the Buddleia blossoms during August and September. Considerable numbers of Large Garden White butterflies and Silver-Y moths (Plusia gamma, Linn.), which appeared in early September were doubtless due largely to immigration. Our member Mr. Michael Cant reported the presence of quite a number of Clouded Yellow Butterflies (Colias croceus, Fourc.), at Minsmere in mid-September.

We can only hope that, given a reasonable Summer, some of our dwindling butterflies will have a chance to increase their numbers, and that even the Large Tortoiseshell will once again become a common sight in our Suffolk woodlands.

NOTES

ON

LEPIDOPTERA by

IN

SUFFOLK

FOR

1962

BARON DE WORMS

MY own collecting experiences in the County during 1962 have been very limited, in fact to only three days. This took place during early September when I revisited Prof. Dacie who was once more staying at Walberswick.

T h e chief feature was the good night we had on the lOth of that month when we placed our mercury-vapour light on the edge of the marsh when for about two hours insects came in some numbers until the rain set in. By far the most numerous was the Brown-veined Wainscot (Nonagria dissoluta, Treits.), of which

LEPIDOPTERA IN SUFFOLK

191

several of the melanic form were among the couple of dozen noted.

The Ruby Tiger (Phragmatobia fuliginosa, Linn.), and the Drinker (Philudoria potatoria, Linn.), were both much in evidence and we saw each of the Crescent (Celaena leucostigma, Hübn.), Fenn's Wainscot (Arenostola brevilinea, Fenn.), and the White-point Wainscot (Leucania albipuncta, Fabr.), of which Prof. Dacie had already taken several and which seemed unusually plentiful this season in the region. Heavy rain and a strong wind precluded any collecting the second night, while the day of the 1 Ith was spent in the vicinity of Barton Broad.

As further evidence of the lateness of the season Mr. Robin Mere reports that when he visited the Southwold area on 25th August with Mr. E. W. Classey the Coast Dart (Euxoa cursoria, Hufn.) was just starting to appear in numbers on the local sandhills.

Their normal time of emergence is usually about a month earlier than this date.

Mr. C. W. Pierce once more reports his observations on various species in the Needham Market district during the year. Among the more interesting he has noted have been the Lime Hawk (Mimas tiliae, Linn.), the Iron Prominent (Notodonta dromedarius, Linn.), the Chocolate-tip (Clostera curtula, Linn.), the Peach Blossom (Thyatira batis, Linn.), the Pearly Underwing (Agrotis porphyrea, Schiff.), the Small Yellow Underwing (Triphaena interjecta, Hübn.), the Autumnal Rustic (Amathes glareosa, Esp.), the Feathered Gothic (Tholera popularis, Fabr.), the Dusky Sallow (Eremobia ochroleuca, Esp.), the Large Ranunculus (Antitype flavicincta, Fabr.), Vine's Rustic (Caradrina ambigua, Fabr.), the Dark Chestnut (Orrhodia ligula, Esp.), the Piain Golden-Y (Plusia iota, Linn.), the Maple Mocha (Cosymbia annulata, Schulze.), the Clay Triple-lines (Cosymbia linearia, Hübn.), the Fern (Horisme tersata, Hübn.), the Small Waved Umber (Horisme vitalbata, Hübn.), the Goat (Cossus cossus, Linn.), and from Belstead in April the very local insect the Sloe Carpet (Bapta distinctata, H.-S.).

He also reports the following species from Belstead in midOctober the Large Wainscot (Rhizedra lutosa, Hübn.), the Figure of Eight (Enisema caeruleocephala, Linn.), the Streak (Chesias legatella, Schiff.) and Christy's Autumnal (üporinia christyi, Prout).

Mr. T . J. G. Homer of Henley-on-Thames who paid a visit to the Southwold area from 15th to 22nd June, reports that in spite of poor weather he saw a number of interesting species among which were the following from Dunwich Forest. The Pine Hawk Hyloicus pinastri, Linn.) and the Small Elephant Hawk (Deilephila porcellus, Linn.) on the 2Ist, while the 15th was a profitable cccasion with some twenty of the Large Nutmeg (Apamea anceps, Hübn.),

LEPIDOPTERA IN SUFFOLK

a similar number of the Pine Beauty (Panolis flammea, Schiff.), the White Colon (Heliophobus albicolon, Hübn.) the Orange Footman (Eilema sororculs, Hufn.), the Maiden's Blush (Cosymbia punctaria, Linn.), the Water Carpet (Lamprotteryx suffumata, Schiff.), the Grey Pug (Eupithecia castigata, Hübn.), the Mottled Pug (E. exiguata, Hübn.), and the Narrow-winged Pug (E. nanata, Hübn.), while the Grey Pine Carpet (Thera obeliscata. Hübn.) and the Bordered White (Bupalus piniaria, Linn.) were locally abundant. The only capture of note at Southwold was the Lime Hawk (Mimas tiliae, Linn.) on 21st June.

SOME FURTHER OBSERVATIONS ON THE HABITS OF THE FIELD DIGGER WASP ( M E L L I N U S ARVEN SIS, LINN.) bv

HENRY J.

BOREHAM

HABITAT F O U R females of this solitary species were observed on 27th August, 1961, working in a bank by the footpath which forms the boundary between two gardens at Cornfield Road, Bury St. Edmunds. The habitat, facing north, is sheltered from the moisture-bearing air which usually comes from the west-southwest ; it receives füll sunlight for most of the day. The soil is a mixture of earth and chalk ; it is bare of Vegetation and is frequently trodden and wheeled upon : in consequence it remains hard and solid throughout the year.

THE

PREY

Each wasp upon arrival at its respective nest hole was occasionally robbed of its prey ; this varied considerably, as will be seen by the following list of the species of flies together with the numbers taken.

Pollenia rudis, Fab. 4 Calliphora vomitoria, Linn.

2 Lucilia caesar, Linn.

1 Dexiosoma caninum, Fab. 1 Lonchaea chorea, Fab. 2 Lonchaea flavidipennis, Zett.

1 Metasyrphus luniger, Meigen 1