SUFFOLK LEPIDOPTERA
375
(III) ALASDAIR ASTON
August, climatic conditions were not ideal for collecting Lepidoptera and yet some two hundred species were observed at Harmony Hall, near Beccles between 8th and 29th August. For the most part, night collecting was made difficult by continual showers and stiff breezes, but when this was not the case some surprisingly good results were obtained. For example, in good conditions on 1 Ith August, by 2 a.m. I had seen 120 species of macro and microlepidoptera. On 13th August, 114 species were recorded in spite of cool conditions and showers, but most frequently flight was curtailed by a late afternoon downpour that offset any improvement during the day. Nevertheless, some good observations were made, particularly among the microlepidoptera and luckily the terrain collected over was not ruined by insecticides and other practices detrimental to the balance of insect populations. THIS
During the day we imitated the Rhopalocera and left our shelter only when the sun shone. Very few species of butterfly were noted but this is possibly attributable to the bad Aying weather rather than to any falling off in numbers. The whites Vieris brassicae, Linn, and P. rapae, Linn., were abundant on a field of clover behind the house and P. napi, Linn., flitted down the lanes. Late Aphantopus hyperanthus, Linn., mixed with Maniola jurtina, Linn, and Pararge megera, Linn. Aglais urticae, Linn, and Nymphalis io, Linn., were also present with but a solitary migrant, Vanessa cardui, Linn., on Field Scabious. Latterly, Polyommatus icarus, Rott., began to emerge but Lycaena phlaeas, Linn., was scarce and almost over, as was Thymelicus sylvestris, Poda. There was a noticeable absence of Sphingids, but it seems that they have been common enough elsewhere and so must have overwintered satisfactorily in spite of the frost. The Notodontidae could almost be described as prevalent with Cerura furcula, Linn., Pheosia tremula, Clerck., Notodonta ziczac, Linn., Lophopteryx capucina, Linn., Pterostoma palpina, Linn., Phalera bucephala, Linn, and, regardless of the local dearth of birch, a single Notodonta dromedarius, Linn. Several Habrosyne derasa, Linn., many Euproctis similis, Fuessl. and Malacosoma neustria, Linn., one Philudoria potatoria, Linn., several Drepana binaria, Hufn. and Cilix glaucata, Scop., put in appearances, with the Arctiids Eilema lurideola, Zinck. and E. griseola, HĂźbn., Arctia caja, Linn, and frequent Phragmatobia fuliginosa, Linn. Of the noctuids Apatele rumicis, Linn, and Cryphia perla, Fab., were a shade lighter than those seen recently in South London. There was the expected run of the usual species :