Suffolk Lepidoptera, 1963 (I)

SUFFOLK LEPIDOPTERA,

1963

(I) BARON DE W O R M S D Ü R I N G 1963, as in many previous years, a good many collectors have visited Suffolk for the purpose of sampling its rieh and varied lepidopterous fauna. Nearly all make the point of the indifferent weather throughout the main part of the collecting season. Nevertheless quite a number of interesting captures have been recorded Düring the end of July, Mr. M. W. Tweedie and Mr. T. Homer made a joint expedition to the Southwold and Dunwich areas whence they obtained a good harvest from several good nights with light. Dunwich Forest itself yielded a number of the Pine Hawk (.Hyloicus pinastri, Linn), also the Buff Footman (Eilema deplana, Esp.), the Brown-tail (Euproctis chrysorrhaea, Hübn.), the Scarce Silver-lines (Pseudoips bicolorana, Fuessl.), the Beautiful Hook-tip (Laspeyria flexula, Schiff.), the Bird's Wing (.Dypterygia scabrinscula, Linn.), the Clouded Magpie (Abraxas sylvata, Scop.). A most interesting capture in this locality was the very local Pyrale the Orange-rayed Pearl (Nascia cilialis, Hubn.). From the Southwold salt-marshes and sandhills came the Coast Dart (Euxoa cursoria, Hufn.), the White-line Dart (Euxoa tritici, Linn.), the Lyme-grass Wainscot (Arenostola elymi, Treits.), the Crescent-striped (Apamea oblonga, Haworth), the Fen Wainscot (Arenostola phragmitidis, Hübn.) and the Rosy Minor (Procus literosa, Haworth). From the marshes at Walberswick they recorded the Silky Wainscot (Chilodes maritima, Tausch.), the Archer's Dart (Agrotis vestigialis, Rott.) with ten of the White Colon (Mamestra albicolon, Hübn.) between 22nd July and Ist August and several of the Dotted Fanfoot (Zanclognatha cnbrumalis, Hübn.) in that area during the last week in July, also four of the White-collared Wainscot (Nonagria neurica, Hübn.) on 31st July. The White Satin (Leucoma salicis, Linn.) and the Broom tip (Chesias rufata, Fab.) were other noteworthy captures from this region.

Mr. T. Harman also visited this part of Suffolk from 27th July to lOth August, making a long series of interesting captures and records, among which was that of twenty Nonagria neurica, Hübn., on one night, a large number of this insect to be observed on a Single occasion. By dint of a great deal of searching he also found a few pupae of this elusive little moth and duly bred them out.

Besides most of the species already enumerated above, he also noted from the Walberswick area, the Shore Wainscot (Leucania littoralis, Curtis), Fenn's Wainscot (Arenostola brevilinea, Fenn), the Dusky Sallow (.Eremobia ochroleuca, Esp.), the Scarce Footman (Eilema complana, Linn.), the Dingy Footman (Eilema griseola, Hübn.), the Antler (Cerapteryx graminis, Linn.), the Rosy Wave (Scopula

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emutaria, Hübn.), the Dog's Tooth (Hadena suasa, Schiff.), the Marsh Ear (Hydraecia paludis, Tutt.), the Olive Kidney (Zenobia subtusa, Fab.), the Triple-Spotted Clay (Amathes ditrapezium, Borkh.) and the Suspected (Parastichtis suspecta, Hübn.), also females of the Oak Eggar (Lasiocampa quercus, Linn.), the Läppet (Gastropacha quercifolia, Linn.) and the Drinker (Philudoria potatoria, Linn). Only one example of the Varied Coronet {Hadena compta, Fab.) was noted, on 29th July. Larvae of the Starwort Shark (Cucullia asteris, Schiff.) were abundant on sea aster. Among the microlepidoptera and Pyrales the more interesting records included females of the Gigantic WaterVeneer (Schoenobius gigantellus, Schiff.), the Agate Knot-horn (Nyctegretis achatinella, Hübn.) and the Silver-edged Knot-horn (Phycita boisduvaliella, Guen.) which feeds in the pods of the sea pea.

Mr. C. W. Pierce who has recently gone to live at Needham Market has been collecting regularly throughout the season with a blended light at his home there. He reports many species among which the following are of note to record. Both the Swallow Prominents, the Large (Pheosia tremula, Clerck) and the Lesser P. gnoma, Fab.), also the local Maple Prominent (Lophopteryx cucullina, Schiff.) and the Iron Prominent (Notodotita dromedarius, Linn.), the Peach Blossom (Thyatira batis, Linn.), the Figure of Eighty (Tethea ocularis, Linn.), the Läppet (Gastropacha quercifolia, Linn.), the Black Arches (Lymantria monacha, Linn.), the Ärcher's Dart (Agrotis vestigialis, Rott.), the Double Dart (Graphiphora augur, Fab.), the True Lover's Knot (Lycophotia varia, Vill.), the Stout Dart (Spaelotis ravida, Hübn.), the Pale Shining Brown (Polia nitens, Haworth), the Large Nutmeg (Apamea anceps, Hübn.), the Varied Coronet (Hadena compta, Fab.), now widespread in the Eastern Counties, the Tawny Shears (Hadena lepida, Esp.), the Bordered Gothic (Heliophobus saponariae, Esp.), the Small Clouded Brindle (Apamea unanimis, Hübn.), the Large Ranunculus (Antitype flavicincta, Fab.), the Autumnal Rustic (.Amathes glareosa, Esp.), the Dusky Sallow (Eremobia ochroleuca, Esp.), the Double Lobed (Apamea ophiogramma, Esp.), the Whitepoint Wainscot (Leucania albipuncta, Fab.), the Olive (Zenobia subtusa, Fab.), the Dingy Shears (Apamea ypsilon, Borkh.), the Centre-barred Sallow (Atethmia xerampelina, Hübn.), the GoldSpot (Plusia festucae, Linn.), the Beautiful Golden-Y (Plusia pulchrina, Haworth), the Blackneck (Lygephila pastinum, Treits.), the Beautiful Hooktip (Laspeyria flexula, Schiff.), the Small Scallop (Sterrha emarginata, Linn.), the Mocha (Cosyrnbia annulata, Schulze), the Barred Straw (Lygris pyraliata, Linn.), the Small Rivulet (Perizoma alchemillata, Linn.), the Scorchwing (Plagodis dolabraria, Linn.) and the Orange Moth (Ängerona primaria, Linn.).

368 Transactions of the Suffolk Naturalists',

Vol. 12, Part 5

Mr. R. Mere and Mr. J. L. Messenger who also visited the buttolk coast on the last three days of July reported the Varied Coronet (Hadena compta, Fab.), the Shore Wainscot (Leucania littoralis, Curtis), the Crescent Striped (Apamea oblonga, Haworth) the Smoky-barred Marbled (Polychrosis fuligana, Schiff) the Long-legged Tabby (Synaphe angustalis, Schiff.) and the Yellow batm Grass Veneer (Crambus perlellus, Scop.).

Dr. B. MacNulty who paid a visit to the western fringe of Suffolk late in 1962 reports breeding out in 1963 a fine series of the Wormwood Shark (Cucullia absinthn, Linn.), from larvae beaten from Artemisia absinthium growing on the edge of the Breckland area near Mildenhall. This insect has been spreading rapidly ot recent years eastwards across England and now appears to be quite common in the eastern regions. In 1963, he has also bred a number of the Viper's Bugloss (Anepia irregularis, Hufn.) obtained from larvae feeding on Silene otites in a similar area to the last-mentioned species. This very local foodplant seems to have been on the increase of late as well as this very lovelv moth that feeds on it.

My own exploits in Suffolk during 1963 were also confined to lts westernmost points in the Mildenhall and Barton Mills districts.

On 15th June, I flushed several of that pretty Geometer, the Royal Mantle (Euphyia cuculata, Hufn.) from its foodplant, the Yellow Bedstraw and later in the day in Company with Mr. R. F. Bretherton and Mr. J. L. Messenger I came upon a small rough field where the Grey Carpet (Lithostege griseata, Schiff.) was abounding. We also put up several of the Marbled Clover (Heliothis dipsacea, Linn.), the Diamond-spot Pearl (Loxostege sticticalis, Linn.) and a few of the Tawny Wave (Scopula rubiginata, Hufn.), always a very local little moth. Larvae were also found of the Great Brown Twist (Cacoecia podana, Scop.), a Tortrix feeding in curled leaves of various low-growing plants.

A night with mercury vapour light on 16th June in the vicinity of Tuddenham Heath produced several interesting species lncluding a fine aberration of the Cream-spot Tiger (Arctia vilhca, Linn.), having the costal spots on the forewings joined to form long bars, referable to ab. ursula, also a female of the OrangeMoth (Angerona primaria, Linn.), one example of the Maple Prominent (Lophopteryx cucullina, Schiff.) and a good many of the Bordered Gothic (Heliophobus saponariae, Esp.), together with several Marbled Browns (Drymonia trimacula, Esp.). But the chief feature, in fact quite a phenomenon, was the remarkable innux just after dusk of the Small Elephant Hawk (Deilephila porcellus, Linn.). Within an hour I counted just on fiftv specimens on the sheet.

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LEPIDOPTERA

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FinallyMr. C. W. Pierce sent me some notes of captures he made right at the end of the season at his home at Needham Market.

On the night of 9th November under very mild conditions he took in his garden at a blended light two interesting migrant species, the Dark Swordgrass (Agrotis ipsilon, Rott.) and the little Geometer moth, the Gern (Nyctosia obstipata, Fab.), while another always welcome visitor at this late period was the Plumed Prominent (.Ptilophora plumigera, Esp.). But the most unexpected capture was a Barred Red (Ellopia fasciaria, Linn.), possibly even a third brood for this very late date.

Mr. Pierce also reported the comparative abundance during the autumn of the Merveille du Jour (Agriopis aprilina, Linn.), also of the December Moth (Poecilocampa populi, Linn.) ; the Figure of Eight (Episema caeriilocephala, Linn.) ; the Grey Shoulder-knot (Graptolitha ornitopus, Hufn.) and the Brindled Green (Dryobotodes protea, Schiff.).