Some Further Records of Suffolk Lepidoptera for 1964

SOME FURTHER RECORDS OF SUFFOLK LEPIDOPTERA FOR 1964 B A R O N DE

WORMS

THE year 1964 has indeed been an outstanding one for the capture of rare species in the County. For besides the record of five specimens of the little Scarce Black Arches (Celama tuberculana, Bosc) in July at Thorpeness of which there was only a previous Suffolk specimen taken in 1904, the capture of three examples of the Angle-striped Sallow moth (Enargia paleacea, Esp ) near Beccles together with the Great Brocade (Eurois occulta Linn ) was quite noteworthy, since the former species was new to County hst, while the latter is included in the 1937 Memoir with very few records up to that date. Both these insects would appear to have taken part in a big immigration from the Continent at the end of August, since there were several other records of their presence in the southern half of Britain which is outside their normal habitat. For they are both chiefly denizens of bcotland and the Northern counties of England. These three species are the subject of special notices elsewhere in the 1 ransactions.

Possibly the remarkable spell of fine weather during the summer months from July to October may have accounted for the presence ot some of these rarities as well as of a host of other interesting butterflies and moths of which several collectors visiting the County have kindly sent in their records. Among these have been Mr W akel y a n d Mr. M. Chalmers Hunt who were fortunate enough u to obtain the Scarce Black Arches, three on 14th July and one on the 15th and another on the 16th by Dr. Banner. They also took a very fine assortment of other species also at or in the immediate vicinity of Thorpeness, mainly at mercury-vapour light Ihey include the Sallow Kitten {Harpyia furcula, Clerck) the Dark lussock (Dasychira fascelina, Linn.), and the Clouded Buff [Uiacrista sannio, Linn.), both always scarce in Suffolk, the Kent Black Arches {Mola albula, Schiff.), another uncommon insect m the County, the Water Ermine (Spilosoma urticae, Esp.) the Lyme-grass (Arenostola elymi, Treits.), the Brown-veined Wainscot (Nonagna dissoluta, Treits.), the Silky Wainscot (Chilodes maritima Tausch.) in numbers, the Crescent-striped (Apamea obLonga, Haworth) on 15th July, the Miller (Apatele leporina, xj n n u!' , Wormwood Shark (Cucullia absinthĂź, Linn.), the Marbled Clover (Heliothis viriplaca, Hufn.) on 14th July, also the Ăśordered Straw {Heliothis peltigera, Schiff.) on 5th July and three ot the Vaned Coronet (Hadena compta, Schiff.). Among the ueometers the most interesting species were the Ochraceous Wave \zterrha ochrata, Scop.) which was very numerous throughout the

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period from 4th to 18th July. The Broom-tip (Chesias ruf ata, Fab.) was another plentiful species as also was the Small Seraphim (Mysticoptera sexalata, Retz.). The Royal Mantle (Euphyia cuculata, Hufn.) was a welcome visitor, since it is mainly found in the western regions of the County. The Pyrales were chiefly represented by the Gigantic Water-veneer (Schoenobius gigantellus, Schiff.) with its outsize females and several worn examples of the Orange-rayed Pearl (Nascia cilialis, Hübn.), a very local fen species.

Two Crambids of especial interest were the Banded-grass Veneer {Pedasia fascelinellus, Hübn.) and the Saltmarsh Grass-veneer (Pedasia aridellus, Thunb.), while the Pale-shouldered Knothorn (Nephopteryx hostilis, Stephens), taken at Walberswick, was new to Suffolk list. Some less common Tineids included the Strand Groundling (Chionodes fumatella, Dougl.), the Sea Flat-body (Agonopterix cnicella, Treits.) and the Fenland Obscure (Brachmia inornatella, Dougl.), also new to the County. Larvae of the Lesser Wainscot Flat-body (Depressaria chaerophylli, Zell.) were plentiful as also were those of Phycitid, the Silver-edged Knothorn (Epischnia boisduvaliella, Guen.) in pods of the sea pea (Lathyrus maritima), producing a second brood.

As before, Mr. C. W. Pierce has sent in many valuable records of macrolepidoptera for the season, all emanating from Needham Market. He mentions that he has noted nearly all the species he observed in 1963 with the addition of the following ones which are new to his local list. These include the Sallow Kitten (Harpyia furcula, Clerck), of which he saw a dozen of the second brood, also the Frosted Green (Polyploca ridens, Fab.), the Oak Eggar (Lasiocampa quercus, Linn.), the Twin-spotted Wainscot (Nonagria geminipuncta, Haworth), the Lead-coloured Drab (Orthosia populeti, Treits.), the Chamomile Shark (Cucullia chamomillae, Schiff.), the Bordered Sallow (Pyrrhia umbra, Hufn.), the Small Fanfoot Wave (Sterrha biselata, Hufn.), the Blue-bordered Carpet (Plemyria bicolorata, Hufn.), the May Highflyer (Hydriomena coerulata, Fab.), the August Thorn (Ennomos quercinaria, Hufn.), the Leopard (Zeuzera pyrina, Linn.), and the Yellow Belle (Aspitates ochrearia, Rossler), and two of the Large Thorn (Ennomos autumnaria, Wemb.). Some insects were especially abundant and among these were the Maple Prominent (Lophopteryx cucullina, Schiff.), the Drinker (Philudoria potatoria, Linn.), the Dark Swordgrass (Agrotis ypsilon, Rott.), the Buff Arches (Habrosyne derasa, Linn.), the Tawny Shears (Hadena lepida, Esp.), no less than twenty-four of the Varied Coronet (Hadena compta, Schiff.) | which seems to have spread all over the Eastern Counties. Other species which were exceptionally common included the Dusky Sallow (Eremobia ochroleuca, Esp.), the Centre-barred Sallow (Atethmia xerampelina, Hübn.), the Brown-spot Pinion (Anchoscelis litura, Linn.), the Beaded Chestnut (Agrochola lychnidis, Schiff.), t

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and the Spectacle (Abrostola tripartita, Hufn.). Captures of scarce species comprised the Stout Dart (Spaelotis ravida, Hübn.), and the White Point (Leucania albipuncta, Fab.), both ahvays noteworthy visitors to the County. The Gold-spot (Plusia festucae, Linn.) also reappeared.

Mr. Pierce notes that on 27th June he had no less than twentyfour examples of the Bordered White (Bupalus piniaria, Linn.) to his light trap, all females. Pine trees on which the larvae feed were Over a mile away. It would seem to have been a migration from an area over-populated by this insect. He also mentions that at Belstead Wood he took the Brown-tail (Eaproctis chrysorrhaea, Hübn.) which is seldom seen far from its customary coastal haunts.

Mr. Michael Tweedie was again in Suffolk this year from 18th to 25th June in Company with Mr. T. Homer. Their chief centres of collecting were Southwold, Walberswick and Dunwich Forest.

From these localities they managed to accumulate a long list of species among which were many of the Elephant Hawk (.Beilephila elpenor, Linn.) and the Small Elephant (D. porcellus, Linn.), while the sandhils produced the Sand Dart (Agrotis ripae, Hübn.), the Archer's Dart (A. vestigialis, Rott.), the Shore Wainscot (Leucania littoralis, Curtis), the White Colon (Heliopliobus albicolon, Hübn.), and the Lyme-grass (Arenostola elymi, Treits.) as early as 18th June. On the marshes the Silky Wainscot was numerous with the Pyrales the Great Water Veneer and the Wainscot Grass Veneer (Chilo phragmitellus, Hübn.). The Southern Wainscot (Leucania straminea, Treits.) was also just out in late June. Dunwich Forest was as usual very productive with many interesting insects, such as the Maple Prominent, the Striped Wainscot (Leucania pudorina, Schiff.) and larvae of the Pine Beauty (Panolisflammea,Schiff.). Other special records during the period included the Figure of Eighty (Tethea ocularis, Linn.), the Dotted Fanfoot (Zanclognatha cribrumalis, Hübn.), the Pinion-streaked Snout (Schrankia costaestrigalis, Stephens), the Coast Knothorn (Anerastis lotella, Hübn.), and the Twinbarred Knothorn (Homoeosoma sinuella, Fab.).

Mr. Homer also revisited East Suffolk between 26th July and 7th August in Company with Mr. B. R. Baker and Mr. A. Harman.

Weather conditions were for the most part ideal, especialy at night with warm and cloudy skies so that a large harvest was obtained with no less than 160 species recorded in all by working three moth-traps along the Ferry road area of Southwold together with several visits to the nearby marshes and also to those at Walberswick. The more interesting species noted at Southwold included the Privet Hawk (Sphinx ligustri, Linn.), the Maple Prominent, the White Satin (Leucoma salicis, Linn.), the Oak Eggar (Lasiocampa quercus, Linn.) many of the Coast Dart (Euxoa

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cursoria, Hufn.), a single example of the Stout Dart (Spaelotis ravida, Hübn.), and of the Square-spotted Clay (Amathes stigmatica, Hübn.), and of the Varied Coronet (Hadena compta, Schiff.), also of the Bulrush Wainscot (Nonagria typhae, Thunb.). Among the geometers observed only in the vicinity of Southwold were the Dwarf Cream Wave (Sterrha fuscovenosa, Goeze), the Barred Rivulet (Perizoma bifaciata, Haworth), the Piain Pug (Eupithecia subnotata, Hübn.), the Maple Pug (Eupithecia inturbata, Hübn.), the Bordered White (Bupalus piniaria, Linn.), together with the Pyrales the Small China-mark (Cataclysta lemnata, Linn.), the Agate Knothorn (Nyctagretis achatinella, Hübn.) and the Pale Plume (Platyptilia pallidactyla, Haworth).

The Walberswick marshes as usual produced a large number and variety of insects foremost among which was the White mantled Wainscot (Nonagria neurica, Hübn.) which was unusually abundant no less than a hundred being noted during the period. Both the Lackey (Malacosoma neustria, Linn.) and the Garden Tiger (Arctia caja, Linn.) were very common. Other species of note seen mainly in this area were both the Swallow Prominents (Pheosia tremula, Clerck and P. gnoma, Fab.), the Oak Hook-tip (Drepana binaria, Hufn.), one only, the Ruby Tiger (Phragmatobia fuliginosa, Linn.), the Round-winged Muslin (Coffiac/a senex, Hübn. the Scarce Footman (Eilema complana, Linn.), the Miller (Apatele leporina, Linn.), the Powdered Wainscot (Simyra albovenosa, Goeze), about twenty, also the Archer's Dart (Agrotis vestigialis, Rott.), the Triple-spotted Clay (Amathes ditrapezium, Borkh.), the Tawny Shears (Hadena lepida), the White Colon (Heliophobus albicolon, Hübn.), one only, with a dozen of the Dusky Sallow (Eremobia ochroleuca, Esp.). Both the Rosy Minor (Procus literosa, Haworth) and the Crescent-striped (Apamea oblonga, Haworth) were well to the fore. Among the more coastal and marshland species observed in this area were the Marsh Ear (Hydraecia paludis, Tutt), the Small Rufous Wainscot (Coenobia rufa, Haworth), the Brown-veined Wainscot (Nonagria dissoluta, Treits.), the Silky Wainscot (Chilodes maritima, Tausch.) which was relatively common with several of its special forms, the Southern Wainscot (Leucania straminea, Treits)., the Shore Wainscot (Leucania littoralis, Curtis), the Fen Wainscot (Arenostola phragmitidis, Hübn.) and five examples of Fenn's Wainscot (Arenostola brevilinea, Fenn). Of the many other species recorded those of particular note included the Double-lobed (Apamea ophiogramma, Esp.), the White Crescent (Celaena leucostigma, Hübn.), the Gothic (Phalaena typica, Linn.), the Olive Kidney (Zenobia subtusa, Fab.), the Suspected (Parastichtis suspecta, Hübn.), many of the Starwort Shark (Cucullia asteris, Schiff.), the Marbled Clover (Heliothis viriplaca, Hufn.), larvae of the Bordered Straw (Heliothis peltigera,

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Schiff.), three of the Gold-spot (Plusia festucae, Linn.), the Dotted Fanfoot (Zanclognatha cribrumalis, H端bn.), and the little Marsh-oblique Barred (Thomoliges turfosalis, Wocke).

Some of the more interesting Geometers comprised the Rosy Wave (Scopula emutaria, H端bn.), the Small Scallop Wave (Sterrha emarginata, Linn.), the Broom-tip (Chesias rufata, Fab.), the Dark Spinach (Pelurga comitata, Linn.), the Sharp-angled Carpet (.Euphryia unangulata, Haw.), the Foxglove Pug (Eupithecia pulchellata, Steph.), the Bordered Pug (Eupithecia succenturiata, Linn.) the Barred Red (Ellopia fasciaria, Linn.), the September Thorn (.Deuteronomos erosaria, Borkh.), the Barred Straw (Lygris pyraliata, Schiff.), and the Lesser Engrailed (Ectropis crepuscularia, H端bn.).

D端ring the last week of July Mr. R. Mere and Mr. J. L. Messenger visited Southwold for a day and after dark obtained a fine series of the Coast Dart (Euxoa cursoria, Hufn.) in Company with Mr. Homer and his friends, working the local sandhills.