MOTHS
OF
REDGRAVE
AND
LOPHAM
FENS
C . W . PLERCE
report Covers the survey of Moths (Macrolepidoptera), carried out under the auspices of the Redgrave Fen Advisory Committee, up to the end of the 1967 Season. Part of the Committee's duties is to organise regulär plant and animal surveys so that a wealth of scientific information will be available when future management is planned. THIS
No attempt has been made here to describe the history, ecology, and geographical features of the Fens. These have been well described by Bellamy and Rose (1960) and Duffey (1961), to which reference should be made. As part of the Lepidoptera survey, the committee endeavoured to obtain records from those who had carried out work on the Fens in the past. Unfortunately only one such person could be found, Rev. Guy Ford, who kindly sent notes on his captures at various dates in 1946, 1949, and 1950. Most of the moths taken by him have been noted during this season. Those which have not are given in the list of species at the end of this report. Until the generator became available this season day time visits only were made. On 21st July, 1965, the most noteworthy species were Purple Bordered Gold (Sterrha muricata) and July Belle (Ortholitha plumbaria). On 7th June, 1966, the July Belle was again present Aying over the heather on Lopham Little Fen in Company with the Common Heath (Ematurga atomaria). Other species noted included the Small Purple Barred (Phytometra viridaria) and Marbled White Spot (Lithocodia fasciana). The next day visit on 8th July, 1966, produced a total of twentyfour species. The Purple Bordered Gold and the July Belle were again present. Beating the scrub and heather produced, among others, Lesser Cream Wave (Scopula immutata), Sharp Angled Carpet (Euphyia unangulata), Small Scallop (Sterrha emarginata), Small Fanfooted Ware (5. biselata), Single Dotted Ware (S. dimidiata), Treble Brown Spot (5. trigeminata), July Highflyer {Hydriomena furcata), and Grass Emerald (Psendoterpna pruinata). Small numbers of Five Spot and Six Spot Burnets (Zygaena trifolii and Z. filipendula) were Aying. The first attempt at night work on 7th June, 1967, was rendered abortive by the generator refusing to Start. Mr. H. E. Chipperfield, who was my companion on that occasion, agreed that the equipment should be overhauled by a local mechanic. A defective