Insects increasing in the County

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SOME INSECTS THAT SEEM TO BE INCREASING IN THE COUNTY. I take four that have especially come under my notice :— Hadena ochroleuca Esp. Morley wrote in his " M e m o i r " published in 1937 : " This superb noctua is certainly becoming quite scarce." A few sitting on Breck flowers in 1928 at Freckenham, was the only record since 1890, when Bloomfield considered it " somewhat scarce." In the last decade, records have been fairly frequent, and in the Stowmarket district it has been noted as quite common. Morley saw his first specimen at Monks Soham in 1950 after forty years, and I have seen my first specimen here after fifty years—though our member Mr. Pease was the first to note it, in this district. This year it has come freely to my grandson's moth trap and a specimen flew into my own room. A chalk district insect, one wonders whether the ploughing up the heathlands and the heavy liming of the same has created conditions in some way favourable for it. Dactylis is the ordinary pabulum common everywhere ; perhaps it finds it more palatable, when growing in a chalky soil! Aletia albipuncta Fabr. In the " Memoir," only one specimen is recorded, taken by me in 1902. There have been many records in the last few years, from Felixstowe to Kessingland. August and September are the usual months for the occurrence of this insect, but to my surprise, my grandson, Alfred Waller, brought me two beautiful specimens taken in his light trap on May 27th. A very early date.* Last year it was plentiful. This year it has really been in xemarkable abundance. Aporophyla lutulenta Borkh. Taken in Suffolk first by Col. Hawley on sugar in Staverton Thicks, 1932. More recently recorded from Aldeburgh and Needham and occurred here last year. This year, as I am writing, my grandson has just been in with three fine specimens. The insect appears to be establishing itself in the county. Caradrina pyralina View. In the " Memoir " we read " continues to be local and uncommon." No recent records tili 1935, when Mr. P. J. Burton found it at Henham. Bloomfield considered it rare. Now we have many records from widely distant localities. I had never noted it in this district before last year, when jny grandson took a few specimens in his light trap. This year it has been commoner than C. affini which is ahvays with us. Sept., 1953.

A.

P.

WALLER,

Waldringfield. *(The first brood—ED.).


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