Suffolk Argus 19, Feb 2000 by Suffolk Naturalists' Society

Suffolk Branch Contacts

Chairman (Acting) Richard Stewart, 'Valezina', 112 Westerfield Road, Ipswich, Suffolk !PI 2XW (01473 216518) Membership Secretary Paul Gilson, 18 Cheltenham Avenue, Ipswich, Suffolk IP! 4LN (01473 253276) Newsletter Editors (temporary) Paul Gilson, 18 Cheltenham Avenue, Ipswich, Suffolk IP! 4LN (01473 253276) Richard Stewart, 'Valezina', 112 Westerfield Road, Ipswich, Suffolk !PI 2XW (01473 216518) Programme Secretary Alan Johnson, 28 Medway Road, Ipswich, Suffolk IP3 0QH (01473 715701)

Volunteers Needed

County Recorder (Butterflies) Richard Stewart, 'Valezina', 112 Westerfield Road, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4 2XW (01473 216518)

If you feel you could help out now and then with the growing work of the Branch, please

Conservation Officer (Butterflies) Richard Stewart, 'Valezina', 112 Westerfield Road, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4 2XW (01473 216518)

contact PaulGilson on 01473 253276.

Conservation Officer (Moths) Tony Prichard, 3 Powling Road, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP3 9JR (01473 270047)

County Recorders (Moths) Jon Nicholls, 18 Berners Road, Felixstowe, Suffolk IP II 7LF (01394 271500) Tony Prichard (address as below) Secretary Tony Prichard, 3 Powling Road, Ipswich, Suffolk IP3 9JR (01473 270047) Treasurer Graham B11ll,Willow Cortage, I The Street, Raydon, Suffolk IP7 5LP (01473 310371)

Publishedby the SuffolkBranchof ButterflyConservation(The British ButterflyConservationSociety Ltd.) R,g. No. 2206468 R.g. Chui,y No. 2S4937 Hnd Office: P.O. Box 222. Dcdh,m, Es,cxOl7 6EY. Td. (01206) 322342 Edited by Paul Gibon d- RirharrlSrrwart

Logo(Silver-studded Blue) Dou: Hammmlry Designed and produced by Strphrn Ion ~

2000 all rights rcscr..,:d

Publicity Officer (Vacant) President Howard Mend,!, clo The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD (0171 938 8782) Committee Member Richard Champion, 7a St. John's Street, Beck Row, Bury St. Edmunds, IP28 BAA (01638 714768)

February2000 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Green~veined White BerylJohnson

The Newsletter of the Suffolk Branch of Butterfly Conservation BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION

Volume19

February 2000

The Suffolk Argus

Contents

.. . . .. . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .. . . . .. Editorial/The 2000 A.O. Programme ................................. 3

Newsletter Details

1999 Field Trips ..............................................................

Eggars, Lackeys and Emperors ....................................... 9-1 2 A good day in the garden .............................................

l 2-13

The late Sam Beaufoy ........................ :............................... 14 My local patch ...................................................................

June

Occober

5-9

Twenty species in two hours! ....................................... 16-17 Follow-up/back issues of the Suffolk Argus ....................... 1 8 Newsletter Details & General Information ....................... 1 9 Suffolk Branch Contacts ........................................ Back Cover

Contributions for our newsletter should reach the Editor (address on back page) no later than:

Februaiy

Annual General Meeting ........................... :.......................... 4 Buddleja varieties .................................................................

Copy Dates

To Advertise in

Christmas Eve April Fools Day August Bank Holiday

Any piece of writing chat is considered to be of i~terest will be published together with line drawings/prints/photographs. The Suffolk Argus is your magazine, so please let us hear from you.

ThSuffolk

Argus Please contact:

PaulGilson (01473 253276)

Butterfly HOTELS

ButterflyLine 0891 884505

,. Regular Updates & Latest News All profits are used for the conservation of butterflies and their habitats. Calls charged at 60p per minute at all times

.,;A purpou built Hotel with all the facilitiesthat today'stravellersrequire yet in a rustictraditionalmvironmmt that is welcomingand comfortable. Butterfly Hotel, Al4 Bury East Exit. Moreton Hall, Bury St. Edmunds

01284 760884 19

February 2000

The Suffolk Argus

Follow-up by Richard Stewart Two items in the last Argus have now been updated.

First, the site meeting at Bixley produced an agreed management plan to hopefully preserve the White-letter Hairstreak colony. A leaflet about the butterfly, and the importance of having nectar sources in the new gardens, is currently being produced, for distribution to new residents. We still hope to have some nectar sources inside the present AWA compound. Thanks to Steve Goddard for also attending - he was very surprised about how amicable it was! The Everards, living just over the border in Manningtree, have updated Rob Parker's sighting of a Marbled white near Sudbury. Although there are no colonies nearby, the species is slowly working its way up towards the Suffolk border. It has recently been seen in Friday Wood, near Colchester. Could a couple of good breeding seasons bring it into Suffolk?

Back issues of the

Suffolk For our newer members we have available back issuesof the Suffolk Argus from volumn 1 to 18. If any members would like to make up the complete set they arc available at a cost of 25p each plus postage. The following second class postage rates apply:Up to 2 copies -

19p

30p

Up to 6 copies - 40p Up to 7 copies

51p

Up to 9 copies - 60p Up to 11 copies - 70p Up to 13 copies - 80p Up to 15 copies - 92p

Articles for the Suffolk Argus

If any members have articles for future editions of the Suffolk Argus could they please send them to Paul Gilson at 18, Cheltenham Avenue, Ipswich IP1 4LN. Myself and Richard Stewart will be overseeing the production of the newsletter until a new Editor is found.

. .. . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . .

by Richard Stewart The 2000 programme of events should be with this Argus.

Argus

Up to 4 copies

Editorial

Please make your cheques payable to Butterfly Conservation and send your orders to:Paul Gilson !8 Cheltenham Avenue Ipswich Suffolk !PI 4LN Please do not send any cash through the post!

First, our extended AGM, starting at 2.30 p.m. on Saturday, March 25'h, at the Butterfly Hotel, Bury St. Edmunds (see adverts for directions). We are experimenting with a longer session, on the very successfulmodels created by Branches such as Hampshire and Upper Thames. Following our AGM we will have a talk by David Bridges, Butterfly Conservation's new National Chief Executive. This will cover moths and butterflies plus the challenges for Butterfly Conservation in the next century. After refreshments there will be a talk by one of the recently appointed National Moth Conservation Officers, either Mark Parsons or Dave Green. It will focus on Action Plan species, particularly those relevant to Suffolk. This will be followed by members' slides and the session should finish about 6-6.30 p.m. The event can be extended with dinner at the hotel. We are hoping our two guest_speakers can stay - the price, approximately, is £13-50 for two courses, £ 17 for three, plus wine extra, but an A La Carte menu is also available. If you wish to stay, please contact Richard Stewart (0 1473 216518) by the end of February. We hope this will prove popular and our two speakers, both of whom will be travelling some distarice, get a good audience. Bring along friends as well, even if not BC members - and that welcome is of course extended to the Suffolk Moth Group.

The 2000 AD Programme The 2000A.O Programmeisendosed-we

hope

youwillfinditinterestingandpanicula,lyhopeto seesome new f.ices at one or more meetings.

The firsttwo meetin~, at Nactonand Purdis,allowa rareopportunityto explore nonnallyprivateland.We hope to ser many membersat theSuffolkShow,wherewewillagain besharinga tent withthe Thornham Estate-plusa visitinAugust.Ifyou'veneverbeenthere,it'sa wonderfullargeoasisofwildlifeinwhatisgenerally an uninspiringpan ofSuffolkforwildlife.The DingySkippersurveywillhopefullycomplete roverageoftheKing'sForest,dependingon numberspresent.Don'tworryifyoucan'tidentify it-you'll bewithsomeonewho can!TheJohnsons areagainorganisingtwo extendedtrips,plusa returnto the North Downsway,whichwas raimxl olflastyear.Thislastmeeting,givengoodweather, rould produc.ewdlover20 species,including Silver-spotted Skippers.OtalkhillandAdonis Blues.Swallowtails at Strumpshawshouldadd anotherrarespecies,possibleviewsof dusive OtineseWaterDeer,dragonfliesgaloreand probablythebestwildflowermeadowin East Anglia.Rememberto bringyourRSPBmembers' cardand non-memberswiUneedto pay.'The GippingwalkwiUexplorea stillundervaluedpanof SuffolkandournewvenuesatAspalCloseand MildenhallWoodswillintroduc.eoneofthebelt Butterflysitesin that pan of Suffolkand thearea that lastyearproducedour earliesteverWhite Admirals.The nextdaywhynot hdp out Phil Smithandhisgroupwiththe annualSilverstuddedBluerount - verynoisyandgreatfun! Finally,a returnto the roastat theend ofthe Summer,thistimeKentonHillsand Sii.ewell, wherethereisalwaysthe chanc.eof raremigrants.I calculatethat ifyouattendedeverything-given goodweather-you wouldrecordwdl over40 Britishspecies! P.S.-1 haverememberedthe moths-rontaa Tony Prichardforderailsof the manyextraevents organisedbytheSuffulkMoth Group.

February 2000

The Suffolk Argus

Annual General Meeting The Annual General Meeting will take place at the Butterfly Hotel, Bury St Edmunds at 2.30 p.m. on Saturday, 25th March 2000.

Buddleja Varieties

The programme is:• 2. I 5 p.m. Doors open. 2.30 p.m. Annual General Meeting.

Agenda I. Apologies. 2. Chairman's opening address and report. 3. 1. Treasurer's report. ii. Butterfly Conservation Officer's report. 111. Moth Conservation Officer's report. iv. Newsletter Editor's report. v. Membership Secretary's report. vi. Programme Secretary's report. 4. Election of Committee. 5. A.O.B. only items handed to the Chairman in writing prior to the start of the meeting will be accepted. 3.15 p.m. (approx.) A talk by David Bridges, Butterfly Conservation's new National Chief Executive. 4.15 p.m. (approx.) Refreshments - at a small charge. 4.30 p.m. (approx.) A talk by Mark Parsons or Dave Green, Butterfly Conservation's National Moth Conservation Officers. 5. I 5 p.m. (approx.) Members slides. 6. 00 - 6.30 p.m. Evening meal (optional). Note: Committee nominations will be taken on the day or in advance to the Chairman, all we need is a nominator, a seconder and the willingness of the member to stand.

Please try to attend and make this another successful event for the Suffolk Branch.

by RichardChampion Late last August I stood in the garden bemoaning the early demise of virtually all my Buddleja davidii flowers, particularly as the number of butterflies visiting had just picked up dramatically. Fate played a hand the next day when an article appeared in the Daily Telegraph extolling the virtues of a number of different Buddleja species, most of which I had never heard of previously. I have a couple of B. globosa, as recommended in "Gardening for Butterflies", which flowered for the first time this year, but I did not see a single butterfly on the orange-ball flowers. Can anyone vouch for the butterfly-attracting properties of this species? What really got my attention in the D.T. article was the description of B. crispa which is supposed to flower from August right through to the first frosts. Can anyone confirm that this sweet scented, lilac-coloured variety attracts butterflies in the same way as the familiar B. davidii? If so I pledge a crisp, crunchy tenner to Branch funds if anyone can supply me with a couple of rooted cuttings.

Painted Lady on Buddleia

by BerylJohnson

Luck was with me because it did not take too long to add it to my list. The total was now 17 species. Surely I must see Small White and maybe Holly Blue, which had been seen on previous days. I wandered on down the path scrutinising every blade of grass and bramble flower. Incidentally, I have to say _that whilst mulling over the thought of more species I had enjoyed another Whiteletter Hairstreak and two Grayling again on bramble. All were in superb photographic range but you've guessed it, I had no camera! Adding more numbers as I walked I reached yet another huge bramble just in sight of the first houses which had encroached upon the site only a couple of years before. There I was delighted to see my third White-letter Hairstreak of the day and, a butterfly I had forgotten I might see, a Ringlet. A well worn specimen which I would now like to think was hanging on just for me. I was now up to 18 species but I was well on my way back to my car. It seemed that 20 species was just a little out of reach. I followed the bramble round the corner and met with another Comma, a further Green-veined White and amazingly, another Purple Hairstreak. Whether I saw 20 species or not it had been a brilliant morning. I lingered for a while (you never really want to depart from these rarer moments) before making my way back across the common via the football pitch to the main footpath. Normally, half way along, I take a path to the right and on to the estate road to where I park my car but this time I thought I would walk on down to the main footpath en_tranceand then back to increase my chances of making the

White-letter Hairstreak

by DouglasHammersley 20! Would you believe I had only gone a few yards when to my surprise and absolute delight I disturbed two Holly Blues which had been perched on an elm leaf. One quickly returned to prove the species beyond doubt. I was on 19 species and that really looked like the end of it until on my return I reached the walkway and there fluttering around some thistles was a Small White. It even perched so that I may be sure it wasn't a 'Green-veined'. How lucky can you be! A total of 20 species in just two hours including 3 White-letter Hairstreaks and 2 Purple Hairstreaks most obligingly at eye-level.A most memorable morning. As a footnote, I first wrote about this site in our second newsletter in 1994 under the heading of'Favourite Spots'. At this time we had formally recorded 21 species. Since then this figure has increased to 27 species (if you include the Cambetwell Beauty which nectared on plums in a mature 'Linksfield' garden in 1995). There can't be many places in our county where you might see 20 species in one short morning. What a special place this is.

The Suffolk Argus

Twenty Species in Two Hours!

. . . ......... .......

by Steve Goddard Twenty species at one site in one day. I'm sure many of us have enjoyed this experience but I guess you will agree that it does not happen too often. le last happened for me on 28th, July 1999 at Bixley Common (Sandlings Public Open Space), near Ipswich. I had travelled there again to help with the White-letter Hairstreak survey. It was another warm day (up to 20c) but rather windy (NE4). I have to say that my expectations were rather low at the main survey site due to the wind and unfortunately my thoughts were confirmed. The tree canopy was impossible to survey with the leaves in constant motion and the favoured bramble was also exposed to the moderate breeze but there were plenty of grassland species about and the summer sunshine was again exceedingly pleasant. The first buuerflies I saw in this area were Meadow Brown and Gatekeeper followed by several male Common Blues, singles of Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell and small numbers of Large White and Small Copper. A single Wall was a welcome sight, not a regular by any means. All were untroubled by the wind as they flew just above ground level and in and out of sheltered nooks. Alter about half an hour, I retraced my steps towards the common where I knew the wind would be much less of a problem. Sure enough as I turned right

February 2000

along the main path the first bramble I r~ached was well sheltered and turned up singles of Comma, Grayling and Red Admiral and yet more Meadow Browns and Gatekeepers. Then further on as I crossed the common I came across more Common Blues and Skippers darting to and fro. My target was a well-loved and well-watched bramble (the one where we saw our one and only White-letter Hairstreak on our first field trip there in 1994) and it certainly did nor let me down. It simply bristled with butterflies and bees. Meadow Browns and Gatekeepers were in the greatest numbers with twos and threes of Peacock, Comma, Large White and Small Copper and would you believe, rather unusually nectaring on ragwort which stood amongst the bramble, a Purple Hairstreak. I could have reached out and touched it. A wonderful and certainly not a common sight but this was not all. As I was grilling the Purple Hairstreak I became aware of movement close by and there atop a bramble flower was that other elusive Hairstreak, the White-letter. My monocular was working over-time. Two insects which spend most of their lives in the tree canopy were performing just in front of me. Simply marvellous! Reluccantiy I knew I must leave chem and walked on through the 'elm tunnel'. On reaching the next sunny spot I chanced upon singles of Green-veined White and Large Skipper. I remember thinking al this point 1ha1 I must have seen over 15 species and I checked my notes on the spor. I had in fact seen 16 in total and quickly ran through the species I could yet see. Surprisingly I had not seen Small White and I had not confirmed Essex Skipper having been content on this occasion not to spend time bending down to examine the antennae! I now felt compelled to do this and began to check each one I came across.

1999 Field Trips

.. .............. 19th June 1999

Joint Meeting with the BENHS at Cavenham & Tuddenham Heaths

by TonyPrichard This meeting included a daytime survey of T uddenham Heath with a later moth recording session covering both heaths. Several members from both societies turned up for the event. Malcolm Wright, the English Nature warden showed us around the site during the afternoon, covering the areas oflichen heath, birch scrub and fen areas. During the afternoon session there were two things of note; the large amounts of the tiny pyralid Platytes cerusella (a gms moth) which were present in their hundreds and the number of deer ticks that had become auached 10 people's clothing and people during the walk around the site. The weather for the evening session was not very promising; being cold and windy but over 10 lights were run in the more sheltered parts of the heaths. Ticks were still active and looking for suitable hosts which led to a general paranoia amongst some of us with frcquem checking of trouser legs for the little hcasties. Of those species recorded those associated with heathland and the Brecks were of particular interest. These included; Small Elephant Hawk-moth, Cream-spot Tiger, Pempclia palumbclla (a pyralid),

Lunar Yellow Underwing, True Lover's Knot, Ancylis mitterhacheriana, Bird's Wing, fox Moth, Clouded Buff The pyralid Pcmpdia palumbclla seems to have had a hit of a humper year heing recorded at most ht'athland sites that we visited during rhe year. The Eyed Hawkmorh also recorded on rhe nighr seems 10 have a good year in 1999 turning up more frequemly and in slighrly better numbers than usual. The full species lisr for the night was; Crambus larhoniellus, Shoulder-striped Wainscor, Aphomia sociclla, fox Moth, Barred Ycllow, Cclypha lacunana, Scoparia amhigualis, Marbled White-spor, Riband Wave, Hrimsronc Moth, Small Elephant Hawk-morh, C:ream-spor Tiger, Tawny Marbled Minor, Snout, Satin Wave, Common Foorman, Pempclia palumbclla, Iron Promincnr, Scallop Shell, Light Emerald, Mottled Beauty, Platytcs ccrusclla, Double Square-spm, flame, Brown Rustic, True Lover's Knot, Peach Blossom, Purple Bar, Chrysonuchella culmdla, Epinotia hilunana, Tortrix viridana, Heart and Dart, Lunar Yellow Undcrwing, Pandcmis cerasana, Plain Wave, Rosy footman, Blotched Emerald, Small Dusty Wave, Udea olivalis, Harne Shoulder, Scoparia pyralella, Miller, Srriped Wainscor, Common White Wave, Peppered, Pebble Hook-tip, Common Wainscot, Buff Ermine, Large Ycllow Underwing, Ancylis mitterhachcriana, Small Yellow Wave, Rhyacionia pinivorana, Clouded Huff, Pinc Carpet, Swallow Prominent, Poplar Grey, DarkArches, Grey Dagger, Rusric, Suspected, Bcauriful Carpet, Eyed Hawk, Shark, figure of Eighty, Garden Carper, Pale Prominent, Nutmeg, Lobster, Burnished Brass, llird's Wing, Dor, Turnip, Archer's Darr, Argyresrhia rcrinclla.

The Suffolk Argus

17th July 1999 Joint Meeting with the BENHS at Martlesharn Heath

by TonyPrichard This joint meeting with the British Entomological and NaturaJ History Society took place on the first ever National Moth Night, organised through the Atropos magazine. A few counties (including Essex) have previously run county moth nights where all moth recorders in the county are requested to run their trap on a particular night of the year. With the national moth night mothers around the country were all requested to run their trap and send them into Brian Goodey (tl1e Essex Macrolepidoptera Recorder) for collating.

This site was chosen as it is under some development pressure from the nearby housing estates and has not previously been all chat well recorded, at least from a mothing viewpoint. We positioned our craps roughly in the middle of the heath in accempt to cover as many of the habitats as possible; grassland, heathland and birch and oak scrub. David Young and Martin Albertini from the BENHS sec up four traps on the areas of the heath containing predominantly heather. We were also joined by members of the local SWf branch curious to see what moths were present on their patch. Despite the not so good weather conditions we did manage to record 128 species - a respectable number. Of these it was not surprising that heathland species were well represented in the species recorded and included; True Lover's Knot, Feathered Gochie, Batia lambdella, Pempelia palumbella, White-line Dare, Broom Moch, Narrow-winged Pug, Brown Silver-line and Suspected.

February 2000

David and Marcin managed to attract in a couple of Festoons (notable species Notable/Nb) which was quite interesting as this species is generally associated with ancient woodland and not heathland. The species does seem to have a good year with the Suffolk Moth Group recording good numbers at Cutlers Wood earlier on in the year and with a similar picture being reported by recorders from around the country. The caterpillar is quite strange co look at, looking like a green woodlouse, and feeding on oak. If it is resident on the site then presumably it muse be feeding on the scrub oak present on the heathland. Another notable species Synaphe punctalis (a pyralid) was also recorded· in good numbers. Although notable this species seems to be recorded widely and in good numbers across the Sandlings and Suffolk coastal area. The full species list for the night was as follows: Leopard Moch, Six-spot Burnet, Festoon, Lyonecia clerkella, Argyreschia brockeella, Yponomeuca evonymella, Bacia lambdella, Carcina quercana, Agapeca hamana, Pandemis cerasana, Argyrotaenia ljungiana, Tonrix viridana, Celypha lacunana, Apotomis curbidana, Apotomis beculecana, Gypsonoma dealbana, Epiblema uddmanniana, Epiblema foenella, Epiblema coscipunctana, Eucosma hohenwarciana, Eucosma cana, Thiodia citrana, Cydia splendana, Dichrorampha petiverella, Dichrorampha gueneeana, Chrysoteuchia culmella, Agriphila straminella, Agriphila inquinatella, Catoptria pinella, Acencria ephemerella, Evergestis forficalis, Pleuroptya ruralis, Hypsopygia costalis, Synaphe punctalis, Endotricha flammealis, Conobathra repandana, Pempelia palumbella, Phycita roborella,

My Local Patch by RichardChampion My local patch here in wild west Suffolk is a 48 acre remnant of medieval wood pasture called Aspal Close which is located on the outskirts of Beck Row village, but almost completely surrounded by housing. In 1983 it was purchased by the local authority thanks largely to the vision and foresight of one late, and much lamented councillor, thereby halting further development. However the long-term viability of the site is still seriously threatened, both by vandalism and poor management practices adopted by the local authority, particularly in the last two years. Apart from 180 ancient oak pollards the oldest estimated at 586 years young there is a rich variety of plant and animal life to be studied and enjoyed, not least che 26 species of buccerfly that have been recorded here since 1996. During the 1996 "Painted Lady" year, the mixed grassland areas were graced by a couple of Clouded Yellows in addition to the normal residents which include Large, Smalf and Essex Skippers, Meadow Brown, Small Heath, Small Copper and Brown Argus. Common Blues adorn the clumps of Bird's-foot Trefoil, while Devils-bit Scabious, Knapweed and Bramble attract a wider variety of buccerflies. At the heart of the site is an area known to locals as the Dell, which is an absolute magnet co buccerflies, due more to its topography than anything else. It is shaped like an elongated_,sunken

amphitheatre, some 80 metres long by 20 metres wide. The surrounding banks are no more than 3 metres high, but the slopes and top are cloaked in a mass of Bramble, gorse, hawthorn, oak saplings and even a few ancient oak pollards. The net effect is a very sheltered environment within within which 24 of our 26 species have been recorded. The Dell also provides most of the "first of the year" records for the Close. On the first warm day of early Spring, Comma and Peacock will be found on the Salix, while Small Tortoiseshell seems to favour Ground Ivy and dandelion as early nectar sources. The first Ringlets invariably appear at the south end of the Dell in late June, with Gatekeepers appearing a week or so later at the north end. During 1999 four new species of buccerflywere recorded on the Close, three of which were first recorded in the Dell. Green Hairstreak was initially found in the warmest, most sheltered corner, and Speckled Wood under the dappled shade: cast by one of the ancient oak pollards. Some weeks lacer a Putple Hairscreak was seen fluttering around the canopy of this same veteran pollard. A female Grayling flying around the gravel car park in early September was a very pleasant surprise. "lbe absence of the Wall from this apparently ideal site is a real enigma, as it occurs in three adjacent tetrads with only marginally suitable habitat, and this is generally but thinly distributed throughout the remainder of north-west Suffolk. We hope this article by Richard will encourage other members co write about their local patch. Please send yours to the editors for inclusion in a future Argus.

The Suffolk Argus

The late Salll Beaufoy by Richard Stewart Members were alerted to the death of our Honorary member, the late Sam Beaufoy, in the last edition. He was a man whose long life embraced a list of considerable achievements: Bachelor of Science (ENG.), Chartered electrical engineer, Fellow of the Institute of Electrical Engineers, Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society, erstwhile Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society, Rivis Vice-President of the Suffolk Naturalists' Society, former County Butterfly Recorder and awarded an MBE for his work in further education. Other awards also came his way but in the world of lepidoptera he stands tall in the twentieth century memory for his pioneering life-cycle studies of virtually all our native butterfly species, at a time when the excellence of work he achieved was extremely difficult. Many of our modern photographic aids had not been invented yet his pioneering, innovative work, both in colour and black and white, made him world famous. In my study I have his work in the book published from the national collection of nature photographs and Ford's famous New Naturalist 'Butterflies', and he also took photos for the later 'Moths' in the same series. These were all completed at a time when he also had a very demanding full-time job. These photos give little idea of the man himself, other than the insistence on high quality, but in 'Butterfly Lives' he created a very personal

February 2000

book, combining life cycles in black and white phocos with intimate descriptions and accounts of butterfly trips into what was then an area of rich butterfly species quite close to Ipswich. The 'White Admiral' chapter is especially memorable and this is a book still found in second-hand shops. I was fortunate to know him while he was still active, giving talks to local photographic and conservation groups. His last years were in Ipswich at his Tuddenham Road home, looked after by his daughter Anne, herself a very successful artist. It was my great ddight to report, in 1998, that Anne and Sam had the opportunity of a very close inspection of a Swallowtail at Woodbridge an July. Sam's long life spanned virtually all of the twentieth century - we hope to maintain links with Anne into the twenty first century and welcome her to any future meetings. My thanks to Colin Hawes, 'White Admiral' editor, for allowing me to use information from Eric Parson's 'profile' study in the winter 1991 edition.

Green Hairstreak

by DouglasHammersley

Homoeosoma sinuella, Platyptilia pallidactyla, Oak Eggar, Pebble Hook-tip, Buff Arches, Common Lutestring, Grass Emerald, Small Blood-vein, Small Fanfooted Wave, Dwarf Cream Wave, Singledotted Wave, Small Scallop, Riband Wave, Plain Wave, Red Twin-spot Carpet, Common Carpet, Yellow Shell, Chevron, Small Phoenix, Sharp-angled Carpet, Limespeck Pug, Bordered Pug, Narrow-winged Pug, Brown Silver-line, Brimsrone Moth, Early Thorn, Scalloped Oak, Swallow-tailed Moth, Peppered Moth, Willow Beauty, Mottled Beauty, Common White Wave, Clouded Silver, Pine Hawk-moth, Poplar Hawk-moth, Elephant Hawk-moth, Bufftip, Swallow Prominent, Coxcomb Prominent, Maple Prominent, Brown-tail, Yellow-tail, Round-winged Muslin, Rosy Footman, Dingy Footman, Scarce Footman, Common Footman, Buff Ermine, Ruby Tiger, Cinnabar, White-line Dart, Heart and Dare, Flame Shoulder, Large Yellow Underwing, Lesser Yellow Underwing, Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, True Lover's Knot, Double Square-spot, Green Arches, Nutmeg, Dot Moch, Bright-line Brown-eye, Broom Moth, Broad-barred White, Feathered Gothic, Brown-line Bright Eye, Clay, Smoky Wainscot, Common Wainscot, Minor Shoulder-knot, Suspected, Poplar Grey, Sycamore, Knot Grass, Straw Underwing, Dun-bar, Dark Arches, Slender Brindle, Cloaked Minor, Common Rustic, Dusky Sallow, Ear Moch, Uncertain, Rustic, Vine's Rustic, Oak Nycteoline, Burnished Brass, Plain Golden Y, Herald, Fan-foot.

4th September 1999 Joint Meeting with the BENHS at Minsmere RSPB Reserve

by TonyPrichard This joint meeting with the British Entomological and Natural History Society was particularly aimed at looking for the Marshmallow Moth, not previously recorded from the county but as Minsmere has good stands of the foodplant it was thought worthwhile looking for the moth there. One of the recommended ways to look for the moth is to search for it at dusk as the adults climb up the Marshmallow plants. We duly spent the period around dusk inspecting the Marshmallow plants under torch and tilley light but with no success. Following this disappointment we returned to our moth lights leaving an actinic and MV light in the area of the foodplant in case the moths decided to turn up at light lacer on. The moth is said to be a bit of slow flier and is reputed to turn up more readily to traps using actinic lights, this behaviour is commonly reported for slow flying moths - they seem to be put off entering the traps with more powerful MV lights. At this time of year most of the rarer Wainscot moths that have been recorded at Minsmere in the past have largely had their flight-period, however we did record a few species of the group that Minsmere is wellknown for including; Common Wainscot, Shore Wainscot (Notable/Nb), Bulrush Wainscot, Webb's Wainscot (Notable/Nb) and Large Wainscot. Other species of note included; Kent Black Arches (Notable/Nb), Lunar Yellow Underwing (Na) and Platytes alpinella (pRDB3). The Kent Black Arches now

February 2000

The Suffolk Argus

seems to be regularly recorded along the Suffolk coast between Aldeburgh and Walberswick. The Lunar Yellow Underwing seems to have had another reasonable year in 1999 turning up at a few sites in the county outside its usual stronghold in the Brccks, reports from around the country also hint a recent upsurge in its fortunes. The pyralid, Plaryces alpinella, has also had a couple of good years and Tony Davis {National Pyralid Recorder) has suggested that this species be downgraded from its pRDB3 status to Notable, although it will be interesting to see if this species continues to do well over the coming years as it may be just having a temporary upturn in its fortunes. The night's moching finished on an up note when we were pleasantly surprised co record a fresh Bedstraw Hawk-moth from one of the traps positioned in the dunes. The number of records for this species coming from Minsmere recently is starting to make some of us wonder if there is a resident population on or near the reserve, especially as some of the records are for larvae following periods when there has not been much migrant activity. The full species list recorded for the night was as follows: T eleiopsis diffinis, Clepsis spectrana, Celypha lacunana, Epiblema uddmanniana, Chilo phragmitella, Agriphila tristella, Agriphila inquinacella, Agriphila latistria, Agriphila geniculea, Plaryces alpinella, Elophila nymphaeata, Parapoynx stratiocata, Cataclysta lemnata, Blood-vein, Singledotted Wave, Red Twin-spot Carpet, Darkbarred Twin-spot Carpet, Common Carpet, Lime-speck Pug, Tawny-speckled Pug, Latticed Heath, Bedstraw Hawk-moth, Ruby Tiger, Kent Black Arches, White-line Dart, Archer's Dart, Flame, Flame Shoulder,

Large Yellow Underwing, Lunar Yellow Underwing, Lesser Yellow Underwing, Lesser Broad Bordered Yellow Underwing, Small Square-spot, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Square-spot Rustic, Dog's Tooth, Bright-line Brown-eye, Hedge Rustic, White-point, Common Wainscot, Shore Wainscot, Grey Dagger, Straw Underwing, Angle Shades, Dark Arches, Cloaked Minor, Flounced Rustic, Rosy Rustic, Frosted Orange, Crescent, Bulrush Wainscot, Webb's Wainscot, Large Wainscot, Vine's Rustic, Burnished Brass, Gold Spot, Silver Y, Snout. 58 species in all - a respectable number for this time of year.

5th September, 1999 Tinker's Marshes Area, Walberswick

byAlan Johnson This event, the last on our 1999 Programme, was a joint meeting with the Ipswich and District Natural History Society, a total of 14 members of both organisations meeting at the Hoist Covert car park, Walberswick. A fine, very warm day was in prospect for us, one during a period of hot weather which occurred at the end of August, continuing into early September. The start of our walk took us along the edge of Hoist Covert, the first butterfly sighting being chat of a Speckled Wood. Crossing East Sheep Walk, an area of rough grassland, the following species were seen Grayling, Small Heath, Small Copper, Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell and Large and Small White. Also noted were Southern Hawker and Common Darter Dragonflies. We then continued across Walberswick Common, following the route of the old Halesworth to Souchwold railway

Verbena bonariensis. I think the decision to stay at home was confirmed when we had counted 9 species before lunch. Even whilst enjoying a sandwich I had to quickly put aside my tray and rush out of my seat as rarely for our garden, a 'little' skipper had flown on to the lavender. Annoyingly it disappeared as fast as it came and certainly too soon for me to identify the species. Fortunately, we have recorded both Small and Essex Skipper otherwise I would have been a bit miffed! Early afternoon brought a lull in butterfly traffic but the Peacocks, Tortoiseshell and the Whites stayed around much to our enjoyment then laceafternoon I was out of my seat again. I had spotted a small brown butterfly on the lavender and darted over to check it out. On close inspection I was able to confirm chat it was a "Brown" female Common Blue. This was most pleasing since it was my first Common Blue of the second emergence anywhere as well as it being the less conspicuous female. A good find. The number of species was now up co I 0, only 2 less than on my trip to T angham two days before. With this in mind I began to wonder whether I might equal this figure. On the previous and other days we had seen both Large Skipper and Comma so it was possible. Unfortunately however, the Large Skipper did not come although it had been around intermittently since July 9th but the Comma did not let us down. True to form, it graced us with its presence at around 6pm bringing the total up to 11. Noe bad at all for a suburban Ipswich garden. It just shows what the right choice of nectar plants can bring although of course situation is of paramoun_t importance and the close proximity of the Ipswich to

Felixstowe railway and che general maturity of the area is without doubt a major reason for my success. So, I chink we made the right decision to stay at home on this day - just look what we might have missed and we may not have seen as many on a country walk! As a footnote, to date I have recorded 24 species of butterfly in the 9 years I have lived here. I have also identified 240 species of moth. My garden pond, as well as supporting a population of frogs and newts has amacted 11 species of dragonfly in just 3 years since it was dug. In fact on this day I saw 2 Common Darters around the pond and 2 Migrant Hawkers overhead whilst a Common Blue damselfly unexpectedly alighted on the patio. It's just wonderful what can be attracted to your garden to beenjoyed only a few yards from your favourite chair.

LargeSkipper by DouglasHammersley

February 2000

The Suffolk Argus

Later they segregate and in their final stage must be one of our most handsome insects adorned with whitish, yellow or mauve tubercles on black bands around bright green bodies. If handled, they leave foul smelling droplets on the fingers which may protect them from most birds. But when small and black, the vast majority of them get eaten. I once counted a 'nest' of young caterpillars on a bramble hedge between Brocl<leyGreen and Hartest and gave up alter reaching 150. Under very close observation each day numbers dwindled until only five appeared to survive into the final instar. Of these only two were seen fully grown.

Emperor larva

In captivity they are ridiculously easy to rear when found early on, and some may argue that to release the consequential large numbers of adults would be in the interests of conservation. However, unless one is prepared to liberate over a very large area, quite the reverse is true. Males can locate females up to five kilometres downwind. So strong is the urge to mate that in confinement pairing and in-breeding occurs very soon alter emergence and if this happened in the wild it would be to the severe detriment of the species. So the best advice is that if one is not prepared to take only a very few for observation and separate the sexes at tht! pupal stage, then leavewell alone. It is hoped that the foregoing may encourage some to search for these truly fascinating insects with a greater degree of success and thereby discover for themselves that in terms of our moth population, Suffolk is really doing quite well.

A good day

in the garden by Steve Goddard Sunday July 25th, 1999 - another very warm day with only a light air and a temperature which was again forecast to be in the upper 20's. Should we go out butterfly-watching today or stay at home? We decided to stay at home. I had a feeling that it might be a good decision by the number of Peacocks which were around so early in the day. Their numbers had been steadily increasing over the last few days and by 9.00 I had counted 8 feeding avidly on the buddlejas. By mid-afternoon this number had increased to 15 together with a lone Red Admiral (not so many of these so far this year) which were a delight indeed. As were the two Large Whites which were also enjoying this outstanding plant whilst also visiting the beautiful Verbena bonariensis. Our large Hebe salicifolia was host to both Small White and Green-veined White as was the Lavendula angustifolia whilst a Gatekeeper fluttered around the garden sampling different plants but seeming to prefer the marjoram. A Meadow Brown was also quite active occasionally alighting on the buddleja before moving on. Things were looking good. A Small Tortoiseshell, seemingly low in numbers this year, was also present on and off with the Peacocks but interrupted this group nectaring by occasional trips to our patio pot of Agastache as well as the

line. Here in the old cutting, and abundance of Heather and Gorse on the banks, provided a brilliant splash of colour. Additional species to those already seen were Common Blue, Peacock and greenveined White. On reaching the bridge which crosses the River Blyth, we turned to follow the river wall around Tinker's Marshes. Small Tortoiseshell, Small Copper and "Whites" were noted on the Sea Aster which was growing prolifically in the brackish water of the ditches on the landward side of the wall. Brown Hawker and Emperor dragonflies were also seen, both species looked very impressive. Whilst eating our lunch the normal peace and tranquillity of the river was shattered by the noise from power boats and attendant water skiers, their antics provoking adverse comments from all of us having to watch! On reaching the remote Tinker's House our path turned inland, to Tinker's barn, where the previous year, Richard and Marie Stewart had seen the blue-spotted aberrant form of rhe Small Copper. Unfortunately none were found on this visit, or at the second site Walberswick Common, which we re-crossed before returning to the car park. Those of you who know Tinker's House will be saddened to learn that it was destroyed by fire, which broke out in the early hours, a month alter our walk. The recluse who lived there was taken to hospital with serious burns alter battling alone for three hours to save his remote home.

Eggars, Lackeys and Em.perors.

Emperor Moth

I was prompted to write this anicle following a conversation with a gentleman and his wife from Surrey at the end of the afternoon trip to Cavenham heath. They both were lamenting the fact that for many years they had not seen any of the rather handsome caterpillars of species which comprise the above groups of moths. Eggars and Lackeys belong to the family "Lasiocampidae", which is still quite well represented in our county. This may be due to the fact that several species which are considered to be heathland dwellers seem well able to adapt to life in those intensely farmed areas where hedgerows remain. In the Mildenhall area most species are quite in evidence at various stages of their existence, and a few hints on how to be more likely to see them might be helpful. Moths in this group have stout, furry. bodies and are usually some shade of buff or brown, but it is often the caterpillars that are quite striking and photogenic. Indeed the Lappet moth produces the largest caterpillar of any resident species in the U.K. If one is inclined to rear them in capcivity all species are notorious for the

February 2000

The Suffolk Argus

way in which many males "assemble" to a freshly emerged female, especially those that are day-flying. The year starts as early as February with the emergence of the Small Eggar, which although found in Suffolk, is now quite rare. Not so many years ago one could cycle through our lanes and by-roads and see a few of the larval webs of this moth adorning mixed thorn hedgerows. These webs, although super-ficially similar to those of the common Lackey and Browntail moths, are inhabited lacer in the year, sometimes until the beginning of August. I once had a Small Eggar in my mochtrap, most unusually a female. My homemade trap is a truncated perspex cone which sits inverted in the top of a large plywood tea-chest and a patch of grey mould had appeared on its inside. This proved to be an egg cluster covered with hairs from the tip of the female's abdomen. A very sharp wide chisel was used to carefully separate this 'prize' from the plywood co a sleeve on a still bare hawthorn bush. As soon as buds begin co open on thorn hedgerows, it is a good time to try beating for young larvae and amongst many tiny Yellow-t.ailsthose of the Pale Eggar, Oak Eggar and Lappet could well be found. The first species will just have hatched from over-wintered eggs, but the other two will have hibernated at about one inch long. When beating, the upturned umbrella needs to be very carefully placed under overhanging twigs as the slightest vibration causes these caterpillars to curl into a ring and drop to the ground. One hopes that this can save them later, when those rotary hedge cutters are used which mash everything in their path to a pulp. If collected before winter, one has the hassle of crying to create natural conditions for them whilst in captivity, and the mortality rate is usually high.

At this early stage, Lappet caterpillars are just miniature versions of the full-grown ones, complete with the fleshy 'lappets' over their true legs, and two orange bars behind their heads in place of the later beautiful metallic blue ones. They can be difficult to find when mature, in spite of their large size, as their camouflage relies on chem flattening themselves against a stout branch rather than a twig. Here, well hidden, they look just like a swelling of the branch, but in order to feed, they crawl to a different part of the hedge or shrub each night, and therefore do not often betray their presence by completely defoliated twigs. In 1991, I found seven fully grown larvae on a sapling damson tree on the river meadow walk in Sudbury. It was by then becoming totally bare, so I transferred some of chem to another tree nearby, and there were unmistakable signs of chem feeding next day. To think that some old gardening books refer to them as serious orchard pests!

The Drinker Moth The Drinker Moth flies at the same time of the year as the Lappet and Oak Eggar, and the chestnut brown males visit lights fairly regularly. The paler females will only visit very powerful lights such as the pinkish 450W Thorn industrial units. They simply drop their eggs into grassy ditches and roadsides whilst in flight. As the caterpillars grow after hibernation, they can be found low down amongst coarse grasses, but they are really much more conspicuous by torch light. If one's hearing is good, and the night is dead quiet, it is possible to hear these caterpillars munching - a sound like wasps

scraping dry wood to build their nests. As with all hairy caterpillars, it is unwise to handle them as hairs transfer to skin very easily and can cause severe and painful rashes. With a row of white tufts low down on each side, it is easy to mistake them at dusk for a large plantain seed head. Numbers of these caterpillars also must •perish where local councils trim the grass verges in early June.

Drinker larva

Oak Eggar larvae can be found up to mid June but I have discovered chat chose seen scurrying across roads, or along bare pathways, are nearly always parasitized. Those that make their oval egg shaped cocoons on the host hedge or shrub are healthy, and can emerge in as few as ten days from pupation. All books on the subject give a list of food plants which include hawthorn, bramble, ling, heather, and ivy, but I have found that they will eat almost anything green. In complete contrast to the previous species, only females come regularly to light, as the males fly by day, sometimes giving rise co erroneous reports of Dark Green Fritillaries at Dunwich heat~. The same is true of the Fox Moch, which flies earlier in the year, mid May co mid June. Curiously, their large deep brown larvae become fully fed in the Autumn, but although common are difficult to find. In early Spring they are easier to see, sunning themselves on bare patches of soil, but they do not feed any. more. I noted two or three on College Heath, Mildenhall. Walking past the same spot later in the day, I noticed that none of them had budged an inch!

Younger caterpillars have pronounced orange or yellow rings around each segment, rather like a hairier version of the Cinnabar and I have known an experienced observer mistake them for grown larvae of the Pale Eggar - but at this stage they are fully six months apart. The Lackey produces rather gaudy blue and orange striped caterpillars which live in groups on many kinds of trees in the Spring. The neat 'bracelet' of empty eggshells around a twig can be often spotted nearby. At the end of the year the chinlyscaled, sooty coloured males of the December Moth will sometimes fly into lighted rooms if hardy souls leave windows ajar in November and December. I have only found its rather nondescript caterpillar once, but they must be quite numerous judging by the number of moths that can visit a light, even on a frosty night. We shall not find the Northern Eggar or the very rare Small Lappet in our county, whilst Dungeness is the nearest locality for the Grass Eggar. The Ground Lackey inhabits coastal salt marshes but I have never yet been fortunate enough co find one. Finally, the Emperor Moth is common over all of Suffolk. le is our only representative of the family Saturnidae, members of which, in the tropics, are the largest moths in the world. Males fly in the Spring sunshine and their rapid co and fro flight as they search for females, can cause them to be mistaken, at a distance, for early migrant Painted Lady butterflies. Females rarely come co light traps, but are sometimes seen in the gloomy surroundings of such, as they 'ghost' in and out of garden shrubberies. At such times I have easily caught chem in my hand! Young larvae arc quite easy co find in large groups at such places as the Devil's Dyke, Lakenhcath Warren, and parts of the lcknicld way.

February 2000

The Suffolk Argus

Drinker larva

February 2000

The Suffolk Argus

Emperor larva

A good day

Eggars, Lackeys and Em.perors.

Emperor Moth

February 2000

The Suffolk Argus

5th September, 1999 Tinker's Marshes Area, Walberswick

LargeSkipper by DouglasHammersley

The Suffolk Argus

February 2000

Green Hairstreak

by DouglasHammersley

4th September 1999 Joint Meeting with the BENHS at Minsmere RSPB Reserve

The Suffolk Argus

17th July 1999 Joint Meeting with the BENHS at Martlesharn Heath

February 2000

The Suffolk Argus

Twenty Species in Two Hours!

. . . ......... .......

February 2000

1999 Field Trips

.. .............. 19th June 1999

Joint Meeting with the BENHS at Cavenham & Tuddenham Heaths

February 2000

The Suffolk Argus

Annual General Meeting The Annual General Meeting will take place at the Butterfly Hotel, Bury St Edmunds at 2.30 p.m. on Saturday, 25th March 2000.

Buddleja Varieties

The programme is:• 2. I 5 p.m. Doors open. 2.30 p.m. Annual General Meeting.

Please try to attend and make this another successful event for the Suffolk Branch.

Painted Lady on Buddleia

by BerylJohnson

White-letter Hairstreak

February 2000

The Suffolk Argus

Follow-up by Richard Stewart Two items in the last Argus have now been updated.

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. .. . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . .

by Richard Stewart The 2000 programme of events should be with this Argus.

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Editorial

Please make your cheques payable to Butterfly Conservation and send your orders to:Paul Gilson !8 Cheltenham Avenue Ipswich Suffolk !PI 4LN Please do not send any cash through the post!

The 2000 AD Programme The 2000A.O Programmeisendosed-we

hope

youwillfinditinterestingandpanicula,lyhopeto seesome new f.ices at one or more meetings.

February 2000

The Suffolk Argus

Contents

.. . . .. . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .. . . . .. Editorial/The 2000 A.O. Programme ................................. 3

Newsletter Details

1999 Field Trips ..............................................................

Eggars, Lackeys and Emperors ....................................... 9-1 2 A good day in the garden .............................................

l 2-13

The late Sam Beaufoy ........................ :............................... 14 My local patch ...................................................................

June

Occober

5-9

Contributions for our newsletter should reach the Editor (address on back page) no later than:

Februaiy

Annual General Meeting ........................... :.......................... 4 Buddleja varieties .................................................................

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Suffolk Branch Contacts

Volunteers Needed

County Recorder (Butterflies) Richard Stewart, 'Valezina', 112 Westerfield Road, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4 2XW (01473 216518)

If you feel you could help out now and then with the growing work of the Branch, please

Conservation Officer (Butterflies) Richard Stewart, 'Valezina', 112 Westerfield Road, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4 2XW (01473 216518)

contact PaulGilson on 01473 253276.

Conservation Officer (Moths) Tony Prichard, 3 Powling Road, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP3 9JR (01473 270047)

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February2000 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Green~veined White BerylJohnson

The Newsletter of the Suffolk Branch of Butterfly Conservation BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION

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