Hadena compta and other Captures on Suffolk Coast in 1954

COCCINELLIAE—LADYBIRDS

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(2) Elytra black with six angular pink spots. Two specimens taken from the foliage of Potatoes. Not common. (3) Elytra orange-red with two notched black lines across and one black sutural spot. One specimen taken from the foliage of the Spotted Deadnettle, Lamium maculatum. Rare.

It is shown in the frequency that I have given how rare in these parts are these beautiful and beneficial little insects. There is no doubt that they will become much rarer, if not absolutely exterminated by man and his infernal sprays. And when the pattern of insect life has been destroyed by him—what then ?

HENRY

J.

BOREHAM,

April, 1954.

Hadena compta Schiff., Cucullia absinthii L., AND OTHER INTERESTING CAPTURES ON THE SUFFOLK COAST IN 1954 I REACHED the Southwold area on July 29th and made it my headquarters for the following eight days. I was fortunate enough to be able to work a moth-trap with a mercury vapour light each night from the farm at which I was staying. It was a great surprise for me to find in it, on July 30th and August 2nd, two examples of the Varied Coronet (Hadena compta Schiff.), of which the first Suffolk specimen was taken in 1953, by Mr. A. E. Aston.

This evidently shows that this newcomer is becoming well established in the county. Another unexpected capture was the Wormwood Shark (Cucullia absinthii L.). This insect seems to be spreading steadily eastwards, though there are a few Suffolk records of the imago and larvae in 1900 at Aldeburgh and in 1903 at Orford. I was also most interested to take three specimens of Fenn's Wainscot (Arenostola brevilinea Fenn), first recorded from this district by Dr. C. de Worms in 1952. Other captures of note in this spot included a large number of the Starwort Shark (Cucullia asteris Schiff.), a number of the Crescent Striped (Apamea abjecta Hübn.), several Dusky Sallow (Eremobia ochroleuca Schiff.) and Marsh Ear (Hydraecia paludis Tutt), one Triple-spot Clay (Amathes ditrapezium Borkh.) and many of the Bordered Pug (Eupithecia succenturiata L.).

On four nights during my visit I worked the marshes near Walberswick using my portable mercury vapour light.

Collecting here was equally productive. My chief objective

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INTERESTING CAPTURES ON THE SUFFOLK COAST

was the Sussex Wainscot (Nonagria neurica Hubn.) which owing to the lateness of the season I was lucky enough to find very numerous and in good condition, evidently none the worse for the recent floods. It was first discovered in this area in 1924 by the late Sir John Fryer. I also took a single specimen in another marsh some miles away. The Silky Wainscot (Chilodes maritima Tausch.) was still much in evidence and I obtained one example of / . wismariensis. Among other reed-loving species I took a good many of the Powdered Wainscot (Simyra albovenosa Goeze) and the Brown-veined Wainscot (Nonagria dissoluta Treits.) as well as one Marbled Clover (Heliothis dtpsacea L.) and two specimens of the Water Ermine (Spilosoma urticae Esp.) from one of which I obtained a batch of ova. I was also surprised to find the local form of the Tawny Shears (Hadena lepida Esp.) was white in ground colour like those in south-east Kent, though with a slight yellow tinge. The Triple-spot Clay (Amathes ditrapezium Borkh.) also reappeared in this locality.

Another good collecting site was the sandhills just south of Southwold. Here the Lyme-grass Wainscot (Arenostola elymi Treits.) was still plentiful and in good order, together with the Shore Wainscot (Leucania littoralis Curt.). The Coast Dart (Euxoa cursoria Hufn.) was just starting to appear in quantity, while the Crescent Striped (Apamea abjecta Hübn.) and the Dog's Tooth (Hadena suasa Schiff.) were equally numerous.

Other marsh-loving species which appeared in quantity in one or more of the above-mentioned spots were the Fen Wainscot (Calamia phragmitidis Hubn.), the Southern Wainscot (Leucania straminea Treits.), the Crescent (Celaena leucostigma Hübn.), the Lesser Cream Wave (Acidalia immutata L.), and the Dark Spinach (Pelurga comitata L.).

By day the Silver-studded Blue (Plebeius argus L.) was about on most of the local heaths and I was also pleased to find the Essex Skipper (Thymelicus lineola Ochs.) in this area. On a visit to Havergate Island to see the Avocets I found many more of these Aying together with the Small Skipper (T. sylvestris Poda). I also found several specimens of the Crescent Striped (Apamea abjecta Hübn.) hiding in the bird-watching huts, and half a dozen belated larvae of the Ground Lackey (Malacosoma castrensis Linn.).

Althogether I had a most successful and enjoyable week's collecting, the weather being kind throughout my stay.

AUSTIN RICHARDSON,

F.R.E.S.,

Beaudesert Park, Minchinhampton, Glos.