A Review of Lepidoptera in Britain during 1967

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A REVIEW OF LEPIDOPTERA I N BRITAIN DÜRING 1967 BARON DE W O R M S

THE early weeks of 1967 were for the most part very mild with very little sign of winter. Most of the new year's species of moths were out well before their normal date. But it was in the opening days of February that there took place some most spectacular captures to open the new season. No less than three examples of the Eastern Blackneck (Tathorrhyncus exsiccata, Lederer) were taken at light near Winchester in exceptionally warm conditions for the time of year. There had been only four previous records of this migrant to British shores during the 1950's. These unexpected visitors were accompanied by a specimen of yet another extremely rare pyrale, the Necklace Grass Veneer (Euchromius ocellea, Haworth) as well as by several of the common migrant pyrale, the Rush Pearl (Nomophila noctuella, Schiff.). Evidently there had been a very substantial immigration from the Continent, but it was curious that no other examples of these scarce vagrants were recorded at this very early period. T h e mild spell continued throughout March which was a very congenial month with the sallows in füll bloom in its first half and some of the first spring butterflies appearing by the end of it. T h e Notodonts began emerging by the second week in April, notably the Scarce Prominent (Odontosia carmelita, Esp.), while hibernated examples of the Dotted Chestnut (Dasycampa rubiginea, Fab.) were more numerous than usual in their heathy habitats. But after this very promising and precocious Start the season experienced a big set-back during May when a very cold and bleak spell prevailed for nearly the whole month, at the end of which most species were well behind schedule. T h e smaller Fritillaries only began appearing during the second half of May when the Larger Pearl-bordered (Clossiana euphrosyne, Linn.) proved to be fairly common in the south-east of England. But virtually no migrants of note were recorded during this late spring. However, June boded better with much warmer weather throughout the month. In fact towards the middle of June the thermometer reached the upper 70's almost daily for a week which brought on the tardier insects at füll speed. It was a good year for our smallest butterfly, the Small Blue (Cupido mimimus, Fuessl.) which was about in unusual numbers, especially in the Chilterns. Fine conditions prevailed almost for the whole of June. In fact it was the prelude to a really remarkable summer. For the warmth continued into July which was one of the finest on record with a real heat wave during its second week. It was during this period that the Olive Crescent (Trisiteles emortualis, Treits.) which had been virtually absent in 1966, suddenly appeared in amazing abundance in its very restricted Chiltern haunts. No less than seventy imagines were seen at light and at rest in the beech woods during


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