The Clifden Nonpareil and other interesting Lepidoptera in Suffolk during 1969

THE CLIFDEN NONPAREIL ( C A T O C A L A FRAXINI L.) AND OTHER INTERESTING LEPIDOPTERA IN SUFFOLK DĂœRING 1969 B A R O N DE W O R M S

THE remarkably dry and fine summer and early autumn of 1969 has provided a number of most interesting records among the lepidoptera for SufFolk, particularly among the recognised migrant species. Doubtless the most outstanding among these has been the capture at Norton, near Bury St. Edmunds, of the Clifden Nonpareil (Catocala fraxini L.) by the Rev. Guy Ford. C. Morley in his Memoir on the Lepidoptera of the County (1937) records some dozen of the grand insect, the largest of our noctuid moths, up to about 1905 taken at intervals in most parts of Suffolk. So that its reappearance in the County is a most notable event, though at one time just before the last War it was obtained fairly regularly on the Broads of Norfolk and for about eight years from 1948 some numbers were seen each year in East Kent, usually about mid-September. Mr. Ford has had several specimens of the Gern (Nycterosea obstipata F.) of which large numbers have been reported from Southern England. It is recorded too by Mr. Chipperfield, from Stowmarket, with the Vestal (Rhodometra sacraria L.) which has also been quite prevalent in the southern counties, mainly in the autumn months.

A notable capture by Mr. W. Storey at Great Bealings, in midAugust, was a Convolvulus Hawk Moth (Herse convolvuli L.) together with the Small Mottled Willow (Laphygma exigua HĂźbn.) which likewise has had a good year as a migrant to this country.

Both the Alder Moth (Apatele alni L.) and the Maple Prominent (Lophopteryx cucullina Schiff.) have revisited his mercury-vapour trap there with over forty of the Dusky Sallow (Eremobia ockroleuca Schiff.). The late summer has produced for him several Pale Oak Eggars (Trichiura crataegi L.) and the Stout Dart (Spaelotis ravida Schiff.). The autumn visitors to the trap included the Barred Sallow (Tiliacea aurago Schiff.) in plenty as well as the Merveille du Jour (Griposia aprilina L.), the Autumnal Rustic (Amathes glareosa Esp.) and the Grey Shouder-Knot (Lithophane ornithopus Hufn.), while there was an influx of nearly 300 Angle Shades (Phlogophora meticulosa L.) on the night of 5th October. The first Sprawler (Brachionycha sphinx L.) appeared during the last week of that month.

As usual Mr. C. W. Pierce has many interesting records for the year from the neighbourhood of Needham Market, which are embodied in a separate paper. He too has been revisited by the Maple Prominent and many Large Thorns (Ennomos autumnaria

CLIFDEN NONPAREIL

139

Thunb.) in September, but no migrants of note seem to have come his way.

Mr. R. G. Barnard has sent in a list of 110 species of moths he has noted during the year at Boxted near Bury St. Edmunds.

Among the noctuids he has seen the Double Dart (Graphiphora augur F.), the Hedge Rustic (Tholera cespitis Schiff.), the Clouded Brindle (Apamea epomidion Haworth), the Dusky Sallow (Eremobia ochroleuca Schiff.), the Frosted Orange (Gortyna flavago Schiff.), the Bordered Sallow (Pyrrhia umbra Hufn.), the Large Wainscot (.Rhizedra lutosa HĂźbn.), the Twin-spotted Wainscot (Nonagria geminipuncta Haworth.), the Red Underwing (Catocala nupta L.), the Dark Spectacle (Unca triplasia L.), and the Beautiful Golden Y (Plusia pulchrina HĂźbn.). Some of the geometers noted are even more interesting. Among these were the Large Twin-spot Carpet (.Xanthorhoe quadrifasciaria Clerck), the Ruddy Carpet (Euphyia rubidata Schiff.), the Pretty Chalk Carpet (Melanthia procellata Linn.), the Water Carpet (Lampropteryx suffumata Schiff.), the Barred Straw (Lygris pyraliata Schiff.), the Dark Umber (Philereme transversata Hufn.), the Scorched Carpet (Ligdia adustata Schiff.), the Dusky Thorn (Deuteronomos fuscantaria Stephens), the Satin Beauty (Deilepteria ribeata Clerck) and the Ghost Swift (Hepialus humuli Linn.).

Baron de Worms, M.A.,

F.R.E.S., Three Oaks, Shores Road, Woking, Surrey.