MOTHS OF REDGRAVE AND LOPHAM FENS Second Report C. W .
PLERCE
FOR various reasons no working visits were paid to the Fens until the end of May, when during daytime beating of the scrub on Little Fen, larvae of the following moths feil on the tray—Sprawler (Brachionycha sphinx), Copper Underwing {Amphipyra pyramidea), Brick (Agrochola circellaris), Chestnut (Conistra vaccinii), Winter Moth (Operophtera brumata), and the November Moth (Oporinia dilutata). Species emerging this spring from pupae developed from larvae beaten during the latter part of 1967 include the Common Quaker (Orthosia stabilis), March Moth (Alsophila aescularia), Scorched Wing (Plagodis dolabraria), Pale Brindled Beauty (Phigalia pilosaria), Scalloped Hazel (Gonodontis bidentata), and the Engrailed (Ectropis biundulatä). Five evening visits only were made this year as against eight last season. In spite of this and the less favourable weather, roughly 150 of last year's species turned up again, many commonly, as well as forty-nine not recorded previously. In addition, two appeared which had not been noted since Rev. Guy Ford recorded them in 1946. On 8th June, Messrs. H. E. Chipperfield and G. Baker found the Fox Moth (Macrothylacia rubi) on Little Fen and the Common Pug (Eupithecia vulgata) near the hut on Middle Fen, but it was a cool evening and little eise was recorded. Messrs. G. Burton and R. LufT accompanied me on 29th June, when conditions were almost ideal. Eight-six species were recorded, among them being some found the previous year including the Powdered Wainscot (Simyra venosa), New Gold Spot (Plusia gracilis), Striped Wainscot (Leucania pudorina), and the Southern Wainscot (L. straminea), the latter two in fair numbers. Species noted for the first time included the Gold Swift (Hepialus heda), Clouded-bordered Brindle (Apamea crenata), and Scallop Shell (Rheumaptera undulata). The most valuable recording for this evening was not recognised as such until some time later. Several Brown Rustics (Rusina ferruginea) came to the sheet and one moth, apparently of this species was boxed because it was much smaller than the remainder. On being removed from the setting board a few weeks later, it was discovered that we had taken a female Marsh Moth (Hydrillula palustris). T h e Open Day, held by the Suffolk Trust for Nature O b servation on 13th July, enabled us to record another species when Mrs. N. H. Jones found two larvae of the Chamomile Shark