British Macro-Lepidoptera for 1953

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TRANSACTIONS A REVIEW OF BRITISH MACRO-LEPIDOPTERA FOR 1953 By

BARON DE W O R M S , M . A . ,

PH.D.,

F.L.S.,

F.R.E.S.

THE season did not open in such a spectacular manner as did lts predecessor. Most of the early spring species of moths appeared at their normal times and in average numbers. T h e White-marked (Gypsitea leucographa) was a notable visitor to sallow bloom in Surrey during April. T h e Orange-tip (Anthocharis cardamines) and the common Whites were well out by the middle of the month when a warm spell set in bringing with it the emergence of the Scarce Prominent (Odontosia carmelita) of which a good many were taken in the south, the Lake District and a few in Scotland. Hardly any migrants were reported at this period. May proved to be extremely fine. T h e two Pearlbordered Fritillaries (Clossiana euphrosyne and C. selene) were both very numerous by the middle of the month and it was during a heat wave during the last week over the Whitsun holiday that the most notable occurrence of the year took place. Between 30 and 40 examples were recorded of the minute noctuid moth, the Small Marbled (Eublemma parva), more than hadever appeared before in this country. They were obtained along the south coast from Kent to Devon and as far inland as Gloucester and Chertsey, quite an unprecedented invasion. In August, a few more of this little moth were taken, one in the London suburbs, doubtless the offspring of the earlier brood. T h e first half of June was one of the coldest for that period in recent times, but the month was not unfruitful. No less than seven specimens of the Spotted Clover (Heliothis scutosa) were recorded, all from the Eastern Counties and mainly from Norfolk. There is much speculation whether this insect may not be breeding in the restricted areas where its foodplant (Artemisia campestris) flourishes. Recently it has established itself in Denmark. A very important addition to the lepidoptera of Suffolk was the finding by Mr. A. Aston of a specimen of the Varied Coronet (Hadena compta), probably an offshoot of the colony which was discovered in Dover in 1948. During the first half of the month a good many Alder Kittens (Cerura bicuspis)


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