Moths of Redgrave and Lopham Fens, Fourth Report

MOTHS OF REDGRAVE AND LOPHAM FENS Fourth Report C . W . PLERCE

IN spite of three visits only being paid during the season, eighteen species of the Macro-lepidoptera have been added to the list, bringing the total to 304.

The first visit took place during the evening of 3rd July, when I was accompanied by Messrs. H. E. Chipperfield and R. Luff.

Conditions were by no means ideal, but we were able to record a total of forty-nine species. Recorded for the first time were the Rustic Shoulder-knot (Apamea sordens), Pale Mottled Willow (Caradrina clavipalpis), V Pug (Chloroclystis debiliata), and the Fern (Horisme tersata). Other interesting species included the Elephant Hawk (Deilephila elpenor), ButT Arches (Habrosyne pyritoides), White Satin (Leucoma salicis), Round-winged Muslin (Thumatha senex), Dotted Fanfoot (Zanclognotha cribrumalis), Southern Wainscot (Leucania straminea), the New Gold-spot (.Plusia gracilis), and the Gold Swift (Hepialus hect채).

The Fens were visited in daytime on 22nd July, when beating the scrub produced the Treble-bar (Anaiiis plagiata), Brownsilver Line (Lithina chlorosata) and the Small Emerald (Hemistola immaculata). A Caterpillar of the Muslin Moth (Cycnia mendica) was found crawling near the Hut. Mr. R. Luff and I met Mr. H. E. Chipperfield and Mr. G. Baker on the Fens just before dusk on 7th August, when eighty-nine species were recorded, including seven for the first time. These were the Chocolate-tip (Clostera curtula), Dotted Clay (Amathes baja), Straw Underwing (Thalpophila matura), Yellow-barred Brindle (Acasis viretata), Tissue (Triphosa dubitata), and Dark Umber (Philereme transversata). Confirmation of the Rev. G. Ford's record of the Minor Shoulder-knot in 1950 was obtained when three specimens appeared on the sheet.

Haworth's Minor (Celaena haworthii) was present in small numbers as were the Fen Wainscot (Arenostola phragmitidis), Small Rufus (Coenobia ruf채), Double-lobed (Apamea ophiogramma), Powdered Wainscot (Simyra venosa), Twin-spot Wainscot (Nonagria geminipuncta), and Silver Hook (Eustrotia uncul채). Single specimens of Dog's Tooth (Hadena suas채), Rosy Minor (Procus literosa). Stout Dart (Spaelotis ravida), Crescent (Celaena leucostigma), Sallow Kitten (Harpyia furcula), and Dusky Sallow (Eremobia ochroleuca) turned up.

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Suffolk Natural History, Vol. 15, Part 4

Finally, four species, taken as larvae last year, but not identified positively until emergence this year, can be added to the list, namely Dotted Border (Erannis marginariä), Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta), Twin-spotted Quaker (O. mundo), and Beautiful Carpet (Mesoleuca albicillata).

List of Species Recorded (Nomenclature as M o t h s of the British Isles, Richard South—1961 Edition) NOTODONTIDAE

Chocolate-tip

Clostera curtula Linn.

ARCTIINAE

Muslin

Cycnia mendica Clerck.

NOCTUINAE

Dotted Clay

Amathes baja, Schiff.

CUCCULIINAE

Minor Shoulder-knot

Bomycia viminalis Fab.

HADENINAE

Clouded D r a b Twin-spotted Quaker

Orthosia incerta H u f n .

O. munda Schiff.

AMPHIPYRINAE

Straw Underwing Rustic Shoulder-knot Pale Mottled Willow

Thalpophila matura H u f n .

Apamea sordens H u f n .

Caradrina clavipalpis H ü b n .

GEOMETRINAE

Small Emerald

Hemistola Immaculata

Thunb.

LARENTIINAE

Treble-bar Yellow-barred Brindle Dark U m b e r Tissue Beautiful Carpet VPug Fern

Anaitis plagiata Linn.

Acasis viretata H ü b n .

Philereme trnsversata H ü b n .

Triphosa dubitata Linn.

Mesoleuca albicillata Linn.

Chloroclystis debiliata H ü b n .

Horisme tersata Schiff.

ENNOMINAE

Brown Silver-line Lithina chlorosata Scop.

Dotted Border Erannis marginaria Fabr.

(Total species recorded to date, including those recorded in 1967. 1968, and 1969—304)

Reference Pierce, C. W . (1969). Moths of Redgrave and L o p h a m Fens, T h i r d Report. Suffolk Natural History 15, 142.