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Transactions of the Suffolk Naturalists',
Vol. 14, Part 2
sunny days ushered in September which also brought out a large emergence of the small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae, Linn.), especially on some of the Dorset downs which also produced a very good showing of the second brood of the Adonis Blue (Lysandra bellargus, Rott.). There was quite a number of records of the Death's Head Hawkmoth (Acherontia atropos, Linn.) during this month, while the Convolvulus Hawk (Herse convolvuli, Linn.) was extremely scarce. As usual at this time of the year a certain number of other migrants reached our shores, including a fair number of the Delicate Wainscot (Leucania vitellina, H端bn.) and of the Small Mottled Willow (Laphygma exigua, H端bn.) together with a few of the Vestal (Rhodometra sacraria, Linn.). But there was a marked absence of the Painted Lady (Pyrameis cardui, Linn.) and of the Red Admiral (P. atalanta, Linn.) often so plentiful at this time of year as in 1966. It was a good season for some of the later noctuid moths such as the Heath Rustic (Amathes agathina, Dup.) and for the Small Square-spot (Diarsia rubi, View.) which was in vast numbers for its summer emergence. T h e Blackstreaked Pug (Eupithecia phoeniceata, Ramb.), first recorded in Britain in 1959, was especially plentiful in South Devon and other regions in that vicinity. But a most unexpected visitor, apparently new to the British list, appeared in a moth trap near the north of London, at Totteridge, in the form of a rather dark-looking noctuid which has been identified as Caradrina flavirena, H端bn., a Mediterranean insect which has similarities to the Pale Mottled Willow (Caradrina clavipalpis, Scop.) with which it may have been confused, though this apparent arrival from foreign parts is most likely to have been a genuine migrant. Another rare visitor in the autumn was the fifth British record of the Tunbridge Wells Gern (Plusia acuta, Walker), taken in the West Country. This species of African origin has apparently not yet been caught on the mainland of Europe. Quite a sensation was caused when the eminent Swedish entomologist, Dr. Svensson, announced that our common Copper Underwing (Amphipyra pyramidea, Linn.) did in fact embrace another species readily separable on genitalia structure and other superficial features rather on the analogy of the two Gold-spots (Plusia festucae, Linn, and P. gracilis, Lempke). The newly-separated insect, named Amphipyra berbera, Rungs, seems almost as prevalent as A. pyramidea. Its general appearance is somewhat more drab and there is a less lustrous sheen on the wings than in the original Copper Underwing, while the central mark on the forewings is always oval whereas it is usually smaller and quite circular in A. pyramidea. As usual at the latter part of the year there were some pyralids of immigrant origin. Of these there were several records of the Scarce Olive-tree Pearl (Palpita unionalis, H端bn.), at least two of the Yellow-underwinged Pearl (Uresiphita polygotialis, Schiff.),