SUFFOLK GARDEN BUTTERFLY SURVEY 1994 Enclosedwith this issue of the SUFFOLKARGUS is a double-sided questionnairerelating to garden butterfliesin Suffolk. This is an area of recordingwithin the county that has not received separate, specific considerationand I have been given a Bursaryby the Suffolk Naturalists' Society (SNS)to conduct this survey during 1994. Obviously,I am hoping for as many returns as possible so that a meaningful report can be prepared. It is also importantto cover all areas of Suffoik and different locations,types and sizes of gardens. Can I emphasise that returns from town centre and suburban locations are particularlywelcome; our own suburbangarden in Ipswich has, as an example,so far been visited by 18 different species,which is nearly one third of the national total. it is hoped that all of the questionnairescan be completed but part returns will also be welcome. Of particularinterestwill be sightings of SpeckledWood and White-letter Hairstreak. The survey should also prove interestingto note 1994 numbers of Holly Blue and Painted Lady. There is a section devoted to butterfly-attracting plants and another to predators,plus an opportunityto make a comparison with previousseasons. The questionnairewill be distributedto membersof SNS and the Ipswich and District Natural History Society as well as Suffolk Branch of Butterfly Conservation. This will provide a potentialreturn of 900 forms. For any of you who may be wonderingabout the Butterfly Conservation national garden survey, I would like to make it clear that this survey will not conflict with its aims. The prime objective of my survey is to record, during one year, the butterfliesvisiting Suffolk gardens,whereas the aim of the national garden survey is to discover the 'perfect butterfly garden' through countrywideobservationsover a longer period. For this year only, existing and new participantswiil be asked to recordtheir garden observations on two forms; one for Margaret Vickery and one for me. I hope the questionnaire is self-explanatorybut please contact me if further clarification is needed. Richard Stewart
Suffolk Branch strongly supports this local initiative as an extension to the national survey. Jt is interesting to see that Richard has extended the return deadline to allow for late sightings, in view of his article on late butterflies in the.first issue! One thing's/or sure, we can't get enough information about Suffolk's butterflies so please do all that you can to help ensure the success of Richard's survey. Ed. 3
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MV lamp and about to retire early, since half an hours watching had only produced two Angle Shades and a few of the inevitable late Silver Y's and Yellow Underwings, when a large moth landed on the shoulder of my white Tee-shirt with quite a thump. I literally pinched myself to see if I was dreaming, because it was a perfect example of a Silver-striped Hawk - a very rare visitor indeed. It seemed quite mesmerised by the light and tamely settled down in a large cardboard box until I could photograph it next morning. In the evening it almost seemed reluctant to leave! I hope the foregoing may indicate that our Hawk Moths have fared quite well in Suffolk over the years. Certainly the
Privet, Poplar and Eyed Hawks are often abundant at the caterpillar stage this in spite of the comment from one livestock price list that these are 'seldom found in the wild now'. I hope one day to see the Spurge and the Striped Hawk Moths in this country but the beautiful Oleander Hawk might come my way during a Mediterranean holiday. However, I am trying to record the life - cycle of these fascinating insects on video tape, to watch during the long winter evenings. This year, 1994, I hpoe to carry out a similar survey of the Lasiocampidae the Lackeys, Lappets, Drinker and Eggars etc. and would be pleased to hear from other readers concerning both groups of moths. Mervyn Crawford
Jl_{tfiou/Jfi. I am a tlirougliand tliroug!iCum6rian,I liavea specia( fondnessfor Sujfo(l 'My Coveof 6utterjfusfirst suifacetftliereand two of my cliiUrenwere6om in <Bury St. <Etfmurufs. I first remem6er tliepfacefrom way 6aci.)ntlie 1960'swlienI went to see my nativeCarfisfep(aya Cup- tie at <Portman <I(oatf an.aI we((remem6er tliinfjng tfiat <East )1.ngfiawas a worufaway. £ittfe aufI f._,now tlien tliat my fwme for 13yearswouU 6ein Cfure,West Sujfo(l Jl_nyway,6ac{to 6utterjftesandwliereit aff 6egan.I was watcfiinlJa qreen 'Wooapecfisr in a Suffo({ woocffandand infact was waitingfor it to reappearwlien two 6utte,fftescaU[Jfit my eyein a sliaft of sunf1f}fit in a cCeari.ng. I watclied'tliem spira(up and aownfor severa(minutesa6so(ute{y fascinatetf 6y tliem. Pinaffy,tliey settfeaaruf6eganto d'owliat natureintended'.<[fieWooapecfisrwas soonforgotten and tlie/off.owingd'ayI 6oU[Jfit a 6utte,j[yidentificationguufe. rrfieywere 6utteif[tesI liad'neverseen6efore;mindyou a([6utterjftest<> a fuymansucfias I was.,wereaff Ca66age'Wfiitesor <Rja Jl_amiraCs. I quiclijyiaentifad'tliemas 7HE SUfFOLK ARGUS Vo/ 2
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