Suffolk Argus 24 Autumn 2001 by Suffolk Naturalists' Society

Suffolk Branch Contacts

Chairman Rob Parker,

66 Cornfield Road, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk IP33 3BN (01284 705476) Membership Secretary Beryl Johnson, 28 Medway Road,

Ipswich, Suffolk IP3 0QH (01473 715701) Newsletter Editors Jim Foster, Lugano, The Street, Sronham Aspal,

Stowmarket, Suffolk (01449 711484) Richard Stewart, 'Valezina',

112 Westerfield Road, Ipswich, Suffolk IP4 2XW (01473 216518)

Volunteers Needed If you feel you could help out now and then with the growing work of the Branch, please contact Beryl Johnson on 01473 715701.

Publicity Officer {Vacant)

Programme Secretary Alan Johnson, 28 Medway Road, Ipswich,

Suffolk IP3 0QH (01473 715701) County Recorder (Butterflies) Richard Stewart, (address as above) Conservation Officers (Butterflies) Richard Stewart, East Suffolk (address as above) Rob Parker, Central/West Suffolk

(addressas above) Conservation Officer (Moths) Tony Prichard, 3 Powling Road, Ipswich,

Suffolk, IP3 9JR (01473 270047) County Recorder (Moths) Tony Prichard (address as above) Secretary Tony Prichard, (address as above)

Published by the Suffolk Branch of Butterfly Conservation (The British Butterfly Conservation Society Ltd.) © 2000 all rights reserved Reg. No. 2206468 Reg. Charity No. 254937 Head Office: Manor Yard, Easr Lulworth, Wareham, Dorset BH20 SQB T cl. (0929) 400209 Edited by Jim Fosterd- Richard Stt'wart Logo (Silver-studded Blue) Doug Hammmlq Designed and produced by Stephen Ion, Cat r!rMouse &sign

Treasurer Graham Bull, Willow Cottage, 1 The Street,

Autumn 2001 • • • • • • • • • • • • Large Tortoiseshell by Beryl Johnson

Raydon, Suffolk IP? 5LP (0 1473 31037 I) Committee

Member

The Newsletter of the Suffolk Branch of Butterfly Conservation

Stella Wolfe President Howard Mendel, clo The Natural History

Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW? 5BD (0171 938 8782)

BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION

Volume24

The Suffolk Argus

Autumn 2001

Contents Editorial ...............................................................................

Newsletter Details

4-1 0

Poetry page .........................................................................

The Heather Beatie and its possible effect on the Silver-studded Blue .................................................

Holywell/Kissing gate meadow ..........................................

Moths in recent literature ..................................................

Review of jewels in the air ............................................

14-1 5

16-1 7 Large T ortoishells and Small Eggars ............................ 17-18

Anne's Jardin Sauvage ..................................................

Annual General Meeting 2001 ..........................................

Accounts .............................................................................

Rhodes and its Butterflies ............................................ 21-22

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

More illustrations wanted ..................... :.............................. 3 Field Meetings 2001 ......................................................

Copy Dates

To Advertisein

Christmas Eve April Fools Day August Bank Holiday

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

Th.Suffolk Argus Please contact:

Jim Foster (01449 711484)

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Newsletter details and general information ....................... 23 Suffolk Branch Contacts ........................................ Back Cover

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01284 760884 23

The Suffolk Argus

Autumn 2001

good view of an "ordinary" Swallowtail (Papilio machaon), which had found a clump offennel on which to lay. It left 4 eggs whilst being photographed. Red Admirals (Vanessa atalanta) kept making bold appearances, but were never present in any numbers. Hummingbird Hawk moths (Macroglossum stellatarum) added variety, as did the less common Crimson Speckled Footman (Utetheisa pulchella). Putting the patio light on at night brought in another hawkmoth,

Meadow Brown (Maniola telmessia) everywhere, but in the first few days they were all males. The much larger and more orange females were in evidence by the end of my stay, by which time telmessia had taken over as the most abundant butterfly in most places. The other Browns were not much in evidence - one Wall (Lassiommata megera) caught inside the hotel, and one Large Wall Brown (Lassiommata maera) at the base of the enormous concrete cross at Filimeros. It was

which I recognised as Deilephila alecto - a "Mediterranean Elephant Hawk".

too early for the Graylings.

We travelled quite widely by hire car, but did not add many species because the strong winds were inhibiting flight. By 9May, I found another skipper at Stegna; the Mallow Skipper (Carcharodus alceae), and later the same day in another sheltered coastal spot near Haraki, I was pleased ro see a fresh Philotes vicrama - shall we call it the Eastern Baton Blue? This is a species that has evaded me for years. It is found in Cyprus, and flies around thyme, generally in places that I am not visiting. On this occasion I was able to get a

I failed to find any White-banded Graylings (P. anthelea), which was a disappointment, especially as I now see that a colleague has had them on the wing since 5 May in Cyprus. I was at the right locality, below Mt Attavyros, in very suitable habitat at 350m, and saw Large Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis polychloros) and Black-veined White (Aporia crataegi) there as a consolation prize. This was on 14 May, as I delayed this search until the end of my stay. By this time, the crataegi were in very worn condition (I saw 6), though the

good look as it sheltered in the lee of a rock. After

polychloros (4) were bright and flying strongly. At sea level, there had been plenry of

that one sighting, it was back to normal- every other blue was a Common Blue.

beetles, grasshoppers, locusts, shield bugs, bush cricke_tsand a single praying mantis, but up Mt

We vis_itedRhodes' famous ''Butteifly Valley" - Petaloudes (the word means butterflies

Attavyaros I found a species of cricket that I had not seen before. It was boldly marked, with a

"butteiflies", which are Jersey Tiger moths

''chequerboard"effect from a series of spots on its broad back, and seemed to have been liberally

(Euplagia quadripunctaria), would not be taking up summer residence there until mid June. The

dispersed, with 6 to each shrub. With scenery, antiquiry and tranquilliry,

valley has year-round water, and the Liquidamber tree, a variety of plane, which

Rhodes has a lot to offer as a holiday spot. I found

attracts the moths to assemble on its trunk,

satisfying result for two weeks in May. On the

presumably to feed from some sort of sap. A small museum has just opened there, with some good displays on the ecology of quadripunctaria,

morning we left, I was treated to a flying display by a group of Bee-eaters, swooping off their perches and down into the insects over the meadow.

in Greek), just to see it, knowing full well that the

50% of its 48 butterfly species, which is a

a case oflepidoptera and coleoptera of Rhodes, incomplete and unlabelled, and a display of

butterflies of Greece. These were named, mostly with the right labels! Although we did not see

Reference: Olivier A., 1993, "The Butteif/ies of the Greek

any living Jersey Tigers, we did find one Cream Spot Tiger (Arctia villica) back at the hotel. There were plenty of the local variety of the

Phenology". Antwerpen. Vlaamse Vereniging voor

island of Rodas: Taxonomy, Faunistics, Ecology and

Entomologie.

Editorial by Richard Stewart First, there are Committee changes to announce. Paul Gilson has now left the Committee, where he has been both Membership Secretary and joint Newsletter Editor.

His name first appeared on the Committee in Argus 4, dated January 1995. I can recollect his attending a meeting at Bixley and then joining a few of us who went on to nearby Purdis Heath to see the Silver-studded Blues. He was obviously 'hooked' and during his years on the Committee has displayed a tremendous amount of energy, enthusiasm and commitment. Many members have had the opportunity to see the butterflies and other wildlife on his land at Baylham, including one BC meeting, and for several years he grew most of the plants, which sold so well at the Suffolk Show. He was the driver when all the Ipswich committee travelled in one vehicle to distant meetings and as Membership Secretary he efficiencly monitored a considerable increase in numbers. Although he and I joincly edited the 'Argus', Paul's was the greatest contribution and he thankfully compensated for my total lack of computer skills. Thank you, Paul, for strengthening our Branch during its fledgling years. Fortunately we have replacements. Beryl Johnson, already a Committee member, will cake over as Membership Secretary. She was formerly Newsletter Editor and a Committee member ofipswich and District Natural History Society; her illustrative skills are abundancly evident in

the 'Argus' and she was a Main Recorder in the Millennium Survey. Jim Foster takes over as joint Newsletter Editor. His longtime love of Suffolk wildlife has included a spell on the Council of the Suffolk Wildlife Trust and he has been a former President of the Ipswich and District Natural History Sociery and a current Committee member. He contributed one photo to 'The Butterflies of Suffolk' and has two in the forthcoming 'Millennium Adas of Suffolk Butterflies'. That takes me neatly onto the book, which by the time you read this should be published. It covers not just the Survey but has additional records up to Spring 2001. It's an all-colour illustrated hardback being sold at a bargain price. The Suffolk Naturalises Society (SNS) has made a great act of faith by funding the book and I hope all SBBC members will buy at least one copy; and its an ideal Christmas Present.

Wanted - more illustrations We are fortunate to have several excellent artists who submit illustrations for the 'Argus' but always welcome new contributions. We would particularly like to see any for: Small White, Purple Hairstreak, Brown Argus, Small Copper, Holly Blue, Camberwell Beauty, Speckled Wood, Adonis Blue, Marbled White, Meadow Brown, Silver-washed Fritillary and Small Heath.

The Suffolk Argus

2001 Field Meetings Pleasenote that thefallowing werecancelled: Suffolk Show and Alton Water. The accountof the Silver-studdedBlue meetingat Martlesham will be included in afature reporton the Silver-studdedBlue countsacrossSuffolk.

Launch of the Churchyard Survey at Stradbroke Cemetery Saturday 21st April

by Richard Stewart This was well attended, with representatives from Butterfly Conservation, the Suffolk Wildlife Trust, Suffolk Naturalists' Society, the Ipswich and District Natural History Society and the younger generation represented by the local Redgrave and Lopham Fen Watch Club. Talks and interviews were given by myself, Dorothy Casey of the SWT, our Chairman Rob Parker and the Rev. David Streeter, whose Parish includes the Cemetery. Those present were able to tour the site, which is good for butterflies and particularly rich in flora. Despite the weather one Peacock was eventually located. There were two separate features about the survey in the EADT and interviews recorded on the day by Clare Phillips were broadcast on two consecutive Sundays on the Radio Suffolk Countryside programme.

Autumn

Moth Night at Wolves Wood Saturday 5th May

by Tony Prichard Weather conditions were far from ideal at this moth night organised jointly with the RSPB at their Wolves Wood reserve, where we were joined by Ian Rose and Peter Smith from the Essex Moth Group. A cold wet day meant that temperatures were low to start with and conditions worsened when another belt of rain arrived shortly after we had started recording. Species recorded included; Eriocrania subpurpurella, Brindled Pug and Coxcomb Prominent. T any Prichard

Visit to Stoke by Clare, for early butterflies

Rhodes and its Butterflies On the wing in May 2001

2001

were still present in good numbers on 14 Maynectaring and chasing, but not migrating. Almost as abundant, was another migrant species - the Large White (Pieris brassicae). In contrast, these were all in very fresh condition, and full of joie de vivre. Flurries of 6 or 7 were chasing one another, in aerobatic manoeuvres along the cliffs.Almost all of them were impressively large, and boldly marked. There were small numbers of Bath Whites (Pontia edusa), and in one spot I found 2 Dappled Whites (Euchloe ausonia). Small Whites (Pieris rapae) were quite scarce, I

by RobParker This note summarises the butterflies (and other beasties) seen on holiday in Rhodes from 2-16 May 2001. There were some interesting butterfly observations, but most of the period was blighted by strong winds. In all, I saw 24 confirmed species; not bad for May. I had done my research conscientiously from Alain Olivier's authoritative and comprehensive 1993 work on the butterflies of Rhodes, so I knew what I was looking for.

Sunday 13th May

by Stella Wolfe

We arrived to find very hot, calm weather, with butterflies everywhere. On 3/4 May, there were

This previously cancelled meeting was reconvened at very short notice with the lifting ofFMD restrictions some 48 hours beforehand! May is a favourable month for this attractive five-mile circular walk published by the Dedham Vale and Srour Valley Project. As hoped for, a variety of early butterflies were seen, brought out by a long awaited spell of warm spring weather. Highlights of the walk were the sighting of a kingfisher where the route passes through the grounds of Stoke College, the magnificent elms coming into leaf at Stonard' s Farm, the cowslip-rich banks and hedgerows and the sighting at close quarters of a male Orange Tip selecting daisies for nectaring at the conservation area at Mac's Pond.

large numbers of Painted Ladies (Vanessa cardui) nectaring at sea level. The thistles were abundant, shoulder-high, and in flower, but attracted less attention than garden plants such as choysia, lantana, and the wild scabious, which were all loaded with cardui - though in dozens, rather than thousands. All of them were very well worn, some almost colourless, others very damaged. A high proportion were small specimens, including some of the smallest dwarf-forms I have ever seen. Their presence was consistent with them being the remnants of the 22 Mar migration through Cyprus, but there was no sign of any further wandering intent. The storms that flooded south Turkey gave us gales, afi:erwhich the cardui numbers at sea level reduced dramatically (2 specific site counts reduced from I 00 to 4, and from 48 to 2). In the high hills, however, they

doubt I saw more than 6 in the whole stay. On the first morning, just outside the hotel, I saw a couple of "brimstones", and was pleased that one settled helpfully, so that I could confirm that it was a male Powdered Brimstone (Gonepteryx farinosa) - a new species for me. I did not see Rhodes' other brimstone - the Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra) until I visited the high ground on 14 May. Clouded Yellows (Colias crocea) were common throughout, with about 6 of the pale female form, f - helice seen. Our hotel at Kalithea was nicely placed on the east coast, just south of Rhodes town, and with direct access to some herb rich clifftops. My favourite spot was a wind-free glade where I found more Lycaenids and Hesperids than anywhere else. I was looking for Chapman's Blue (Polyommatus thersites), but all the blues I managed to catch here were the Common Blue (P. icarus). One male Lesser Fiery Copper (Lycaena thersamon) stood out from the Small Coppers (L. phlaeas). The most abundant skipper was the Lulworth Skipper (Thymelicus acteon), and I spent a lot of time looking at them to see ifT. hyrax was there (it has only been recorded once from the island). I was left to conclude that acteon is quite variable, and the 2 species are extremely difficult to separate in the field. The Pigmy Skipper (Gegenes pumilio) was still around, but worn, whilst the Orbed Red-underwing Skipper (Spialia orbifer) seemed to be fresh, and I did not find it elsewhere. Scarce Swallowtails (Iphiclides podalirius) floated around the same glade, and later I got a

The Suffolk Argus

Autumn 2001

Butterfly Conservation Suffolk Branch Income and Expenditure Account for the Year Ended 30th June 2001

1.00 125.00 174.22 1,410.22

Income 2000/01 Membership Subscriptions ................................................ 1,113.00 Grants . Donations: General Fundraising ............................................ 75.00 Butterfly Plants Sale of Merchandise .............................................................. 172.80 1,360.80

95.00 1,315.22

Cost of Sales ...........................................................................36.75 1,324.05

20.00 129.00 0.00 606.95 181.69 35.31 0.00 50.96 29.50 33.98 1,087.39

Expenditure Donation ..............................................................................20.00 Suffolk Show ..............................................................................0.00 Subscriptions ...........................................................................15.00 Newsletters /Programme ......................................................300.81 Butterfly Action Plan ..................................................................0.00 Member's Night/ AGM .......................................................... 166.25 Special Conservation Projects ................................................ 96.60 Office Expenses ........,........................................................... 123.30 Conference Expenses ............................................................65.50 Depreciation .............................................................................25.19 812.65

1999/00 1,110.00

Surplus on Current Year

511.40

Balance Sheet as at 3oth June 2001

CONSOLIDATED FUND Balance 1.7.2000 1,833.78 Add surplus on year 511.40

Represented by: Girobank pie Alliance & Leicester Cash in hand

2,345.18

ASSETS as at 30.06.2001 Generator 150.00 Projector Table 29.99 Exhibition Tent 100.00 Software 85.00

Write down value @ 20% 100.84 17.69 60.64 Write down 3yrs 85.00 100.83 Debtors 198.00 Stock - Merchandise 414.00 Liabilities (80.60) Net Worth

960.60 750.00 2.35 1,712.95

2,345.18

Several specimens of the following species were recorded: Green Veined White Holly Blue Orange Tip (M and F) Small Tortoiseshell Peacock Brimstone - a single male seen ranging over fields north of Stonard's Farm. Sadly, no Speckled Woods were seen in the vicinity of Crabtree Plantation, a location at which a number had been recorded on previous visits. Thanks are due to the Headmaster of Stoke College for permission to use the car park in the college grounds.

Bonsai Bank, N r. Ashford, Kent. Wednesday 23rd May

by BerylJohnson. Arriving at Denge Wood it was good to exchange the heat of the car journey and the noise of the traffic for shady trees and the peace of a woodland track leading to Bonsai Bank. The Bluebells were past their best bur Campion brightened the borders of the path with rhe occasional Speckled Wood, "Whites" and a Holly Blue fluttering by, also a Peacock resting in a warm parch of sunshine. J use by the entrance gate to Bonsai Bank, perching on a tuft of grass, growing close to a clump of Wood spurge, was a Duke of Burgundy: a small and pretty butterfly, irs dark wings spotted with orange. This was the first of numerous sightings throughout our visit of the butterfly which we had all come to see. When the Forestry Commission planted conifers, on this chalk bank, in the early part of the 20th. Century they could

nor have envisaged what a delightful sire would be created and enjoyed by so many butterfly enthusiasts, the poor soil conditions stunting the growth of rhe trees and thus giving the bank its name of Bonsai. Inside the reserve such words as "before the Bugle but after the Salad burnet" or "to the left of the Barren strawberry"were heard giving the locations of both the Dingy and the Grizzled Skipper. The Grizzled Skipper was basking in the sunshine with its wings spread out flat to show its brown and white markings - a more attractive butterfly than the Dingy Skipper. Lady Orchids growing abundantly here seemed to attract the Green Hairsrreak, one butterfly visiting three separate flower heads in succession. While some of the group were watching the Green Hairsrreak, Paul discovered the eggs of the Duke of Burgundy on the underside of some Primrose leaves, the Primroses growing in a shelrered corner of the reserve. The translucent eggs are laid in small clusters with only the most lush leaves being selected by the female. Walking along a path, closer to the woodland margin and nearing the end of our visit, a male Brimstone flew-past. Lying close to this path was a Long-tailed Tit's nest, possibly pulled to the ground by a Magpie. While admiring this intricately woven nest Steve announced char according to his "Pager" a Camberwell Beauty had just arrived in Suffolk at the R.S.P.B. Reserve Minsmere and here we all were in Kent! Due to the foot and mouth restrictions, still in place in some areas, we were unable to visit the nearby downland sires, for Adonis Blue. Nevertheless ten members enjoyed a warm sunny day at Bonsai Bank seeing much ofinteresr, not only butterflies bur Common Lizards, Glow Worms and five species of Orchid. Many thanks to the leaders Paul and Alan Johnson.

Autumn 2001

The Suffolk Argus

Annual General Meeting

Moth Night at Dunwich Heath Saturday 26th May

by TonyPrichard This event was run in conjunction with the National Trust, with Alan Miller of the Suffolk Bat Group providing a bat watch prior to the main event of the eveningthe moths. The evening was quite well attended with 15 members of the public turning up for the various events. Having led a moth night at Wesdeton Heath the night before when conditions were poor and not many moths were recorded I was not very optimistic for the success of this evening's event. It was a pleasant surprise when, in contrast to the previous evening, temperatures stayed up and this turned out to be the first moth night of the year when there were plenty of moths in the traps. Alan Miller may not have been as happy as no bats were recorded during the bat watch. The larger fluffier more colourful moths not surprisingly attract the most interest from the public and on this occasion they were not disappointed when quite a few came to light including; Lime Hawk-moth, Pine Hawk-moth, Elephant Hawk-moth, female Emperor Moth and a Fox Moth. Other species of interest included; Monopis monachella,a small micro-moth which seems to be mainly restricted to this area of the Suffolk coastline; Orange Footman, which seems to be doing well and spreading within the county based on recent record and Hedya atropunctana,another micro-moth which is not on the current moth county checklist.

Emperor Moth

by Mervyn Crawford

8th September 2001 . . . . . . . ... . . .... .

Full list of species recorded: Eriocrania subpurpurella,Monopisweaverella,Monopis monachella,Swammerdamiacaesiella, Agonopterixumbellana, Teleiopsisdijfinis, Bfastobasisdecolorella,Cochylisatricapitana, Syndemismusculana,Celyphalacunana, Hedya nubiferana,Hedyaatropunctana,Bactra lancealana,Ancy/ismitterbacheriana,Ancy/is upupana,Epinotia immundana, Cydia succedana,Parapoynxstratiotata,Cataclysta lemnata,Evergestisfarficalis,Fox Moth, Emperor, Pebble Hook-tip, Birch Mocha, Red Twin-spot Carpet, Dark-barred Twinspot Carpet, Common Carpet, Small Phoenix, Grey Pine Carpet, Green Carpet, Narrow-winged Pug, Early Tooth-striped, Brown Silver-line, Brimstone Moth, Scalloped Hazel, Grey Birch, Common White Wave, Common Wave, Yellow Belle, Pine Hawk-moth, Lime Hawk-moth, Elephant Hawk-moth, Buff-tip, Iron Prominent, Pebble Prominent, Lesser Swallow Prominent, Marbled Brown, Pale Tussock, Orange Footman, White Ermine, Cinnabar, Least Black Arches, Shuttleshaped Dart, Flame, Flame Shoulder, Small Square-spot, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Nutmeg, Light Brocade, Hebrew Character, Common Wainscot, Poplar Grey, Rustic Shoulder-knot, Treble Lines, Mottled Rustic, Straw Dot, Angle Shades.

This was held at Thornham Field Centre following the enjoyable field meeting at Howard Nurseries, Wortham. Our Chairman Rob Parker presented his report, giving a parricularly warm welcome to Douglas Hammersley who provides some of the excellent line drawings featured in the Argus. The butterfly season, like the weather, was a stop-go sequence, good for some butterflies, poor for others. Richard Stewart and Tony Prichard have put in another year of dedicated recording effort. Alan Johnson organised another excellent programme of field visits, the Joint Editors of our Newsletter produced 3 more first-rate issues of the Suffolk Argus, and Graham Bull kept our accounts in good order. Beyond the routine, Butterfly Conservation has had a busy year at National level, moving to new HQ in Dorset, coping with Foot & Mouth Disease restrictions, and publishing the Millennium Butterfly Adas, which is certainly an achievement that the Society can be proud of. Meanwhile, our Branch has been involved with 3 sorts of activity. Firstly, we have been assisting the Suffolk County Council by drafting elements of the Biodiversity Action Plan. Secondly the Species Action Plan for the Dingy Skipper has been done, and awaits publication. In it,

we are charged with monitoring the colonies, and liaising with the landowners to ensure that they incorporate the butterfly's needs into their Management Plans. In practice, this has meant giving advice to the Ministry of Defence, Forest Enterprise and Center Pares, as the colonies are located on their estates. Thirdly, we have involved ourselves in the Planning process. There have been 4 planning applications this year with an unwanted impact on wildlife, and we have sought to make helpful observations on each of these during the consultation stage. Ironically, one of these has already led us into troubled waters, as the proposal for a Thetford Southern Link Road routes it right across the Dingy Skipper colony at RAF Barnham! Our submission drew attention to this conflict, but it does not appear to have deflected Norfolk County Council from selecting that route as their favoured option There then followed reports by each Officer and these included the presentation and acceptance of the Annual Financial Statement (reproduced overleaf). The Chairman offered thanks to all for their valued, and continuing contributions. He went on to thank Paul Gilson for his outstanding work as Joint Editor of the Suffolk Argus, as Membership Secretary, and as a member who had set a fine example as a landowner, by creating butterfly habitat on his own meadow. Paul had given sufficient warning of his decision to stand down to allow us to find replacements. The Committee, as listed on the back cover, was then elected. After refreshments there followed an illustrated talk on 'the Butterfliesof North Warren & Aldringham Walks'. The day concluded with a Moth night on the Thornham estate lead by Tony Prichard.

The Suffolk Argus

chest height in a mixed hedge of hawthorn with elm, but was lodged in elm, and a delicate tracery of silk led clearly co a defoliated area of elm 3 feet away. Being familiar with the habits of the Pine processionary moth, I at once thought of the family Lasiocampidae, and rook another look at my book. There amongst the hawthorn feeders, was a possible - the Small Eggar, and a close examination of its markings showed a good march. The Small Eggar, Eriogasrer lanesrris, feeds on blackthorn, hawthorn, birch, sallow, and on "other deciduous trees and shrubs", or to put ir in Rafe Eley's words "it will eat almost anything". I had been driving home with 2 of chem, when I realized that a visit to Rafe would be easy, and I was lucky enough to catch him in his garden. After quizzing me on the appearance of the web, he rook a look at the larvae, and confirmed that they were indeed Small Eggars. His own description of the web was "like a parachute in the bush" - nor so different from a dead fish! He gets one or two every year, in his trap, but ir is nor a common species in Suffolk, and it is nice to know that they are still breeding locally. "Of course, "said Rafe,

well before Durch elm disease of course, and now the Small Tortoiseshell had suddenly become quire scarce. For years, Rafe had had an arrangement with rhe adjacent estate, where he used co work, char when the nerrle parch was due for its annual cur, he would set our markers close to any larval nests char he wanted co remain unharmed. Bur last year, when he did his walk round inspection of this very large nerrle parch, there were no Small Tortoiseshell larvae to be found - the first rime ever! We shall have co wait for future seasons to see what nature has in store for what we have always regarded as one of our commonest burrerflies. And, of course, remaining in the pupal stage for a variable number of years is one of nature's survival strategies. Rather than keep the Small Eggars for a long wait, I decided to return the cocoons co Wickhambrook, where they can pass their winters under the hedge they hatched in. What will be their chances of a reunion with the females of their own brood?

"You've got to be a young man to breed 'em. " -

this being a reference to their unusual habit of spending more than one winter in the pupal stage - and 4 years wait would certainly be a trial of one's patience! He went on to cell me char the cocoons would look like a hard white bean, and char is exacrly what appeared at rhe borrom of the cage on 22 July, four weeks after they were found, half grown. Siering in rhe sun reminiscing about Tortoiseshells, Rafe cold me char he used to have a great elm with Large Tortoiseshells in the field behind him, and char he could remember one day seeing 3 sunning themselves on the end wall of his house! The Large Tortoiseshells all disappeared

Autumn

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Joint IDNHS/BC visit to Wheatfen Broad Saturday 9th June

by Richard Stewart There was a good turnout of 24 for this joint meeting and Phyllis Ellis was as usual most welcoming, with refreshments on the lawn evoking memories of earlier visits when Ted Ellis and Francis Simpson would renew their long friendship. The windy, cloudy conditions produced just a few whites, Orange Tip and Peacock during sunny spells in sheltered areas and the Swallowtail area also was unproductive. A small group went back to the meadow in the afternoon bur again without success, though we had good views of a departing Kingfisher and a distant Marsh Harrier. David Nobbs not only rook us round in the morning, explaining the history, biodiversity and management of the reserve, but also extended his time by taking us around rhe wood area in the early afternoon. There were some raised eyebrows at the speed at which a boat from Brundall was travelling, and the reason given was chat it had speed exemption as it was undergoing trials for sea travel. In char case, ~hy didn't it go out co sea rather than erode rhe banks with its wash?

2001

Flowers seen included the rare Broad-leaved Ragwort, Common Sparred Orchid, Water Forget-me-not, Milk Parsley, Yellow Flag, Ragged Robin and Grear Water Dock. Birds included Reed Bunting, Sedge and Reed Warbler, Blackcap, several Herons, Great Crested Grebe, Jay and the strident Cerri's Warbler. Chinese Water Deer droppings and a Drinker Moth caterpillar were also noted and, of several damselflies and dragonflies, the Fosters sighting of a Red-eyed Damselfly, an important indicator of pure water, was significant. Donations were given co the Ted Ellis Trust from both groups and an indoor meeting has now been arranged on Saturday 9th March 2002 at the Oddfellows Hall, Ipswich, 7.30 pm. This is close co the museum and Charles St. car park is near-by. The meeting is part of the Ipswich and District Natural History Society programme of meetings and BC members are very welcome (admission is 50p). SBBC will be making a donation co rhe costs. David Nobbs will be giving an illustrated talk about Wheatfen and the work of Ted Ellis.

Orange Tip by DouglasHammersley

The Suffolk Argus

Salcey Forest Sunday 24th June

by Paul Johnson With the sun approaching its zenith in a cloudless sky, thirteen Suffolk Branch members converged upon Salcey Forest in Northamptonshire. Historically, Salceywas one of a number of royal hunting forests, which shaped the landscape of this area of the East Midlands. Today however, it would be Wood White, not deer, pursued along the rides, Black Hairstreak rather than pheasant flushed from the stands of blackthorn. Moving away from the activity of the car park and into the stillness of the woodland, we paused to observe Speckled Woods and a solitary Red Admiral before picking up a track running northeasterly to the forest boundary. To each side of the path luxuriant growths of vetches, at some points forming tracts of vegetation some 23m wide, bore testament to Forest Enterprise's endeavours in managing this corridor specifically for the Wood White. The efficacy of this policy was illustrated when a white butterfly fluttered down the ride, occasionally dipping down into the vegetation but never settling. Its size, weakness of flight, and wing profile were so characteristic of Wood White that the butterfly's identity was established without the need for close inspection. A male Orange Tip was encountered at a ride junction, although our attention was drawn to a delicate Wood White flying ponderously above the sward. The latter presently settled on a yellow meadow vetchling plant and, following a period of apparently intense deliberation, curved her abdomen to deposit a glossy egg onto the underside of a leaf. Whilst recovering herself

Autumn 2001

on nearby vegetation, she was apprehended by a male Wood White previously concealed in the canopy of a blackthorn. The male proceeded to demonstrate the initial stages of Wood White courtship, unfurling his proboscis and signalling to his prospective mate through movement of the antennae. The male eventually departed, his advances unreciprocated. We moved on, noting the dark outlines of Ringlets active amongst the denser foliage and the stout profiles of male Large Skippers perched on prominent vegetation. Wood Whites, seemingly embarked upon ceaseless patrols of the ride, were observed frequently now. Opportunities for close viewing presented themselves however, as the butterflies would periodically pause to nectar from vetch flowers and, in one instance, to egg lay. Immediately prior to our exploration of Salcey, Andy Patmore (a Forest Enterprise Wildlife and Recreation Ranger) had provided us with an insight into the distribution of butterflies within the forest. Acting on this information, we settled to eat by a group of rather decrepit blackthorn bushes, which supported one of the forest's fourteen Black Hairstreak colonies. Although Wood Whites continued to pass by and a female Brimstone flew at speed, there was no butterfly activity above the blackthorn. Perhaps our county recorder had been fortified by a particularly fine lunch, for, in an attempt to rouse any indolent hairstreaks, he was observed entering the blackthorn thicket to subject the bushes to a vigorous shaking. There was a suspicion that something had flown, but no confirmation. The diversity of habitats within Salcey was illustrated as we made our way back along shadier rides, the numbers of Wood Whites falling accordingly. We would pause occasionally to scrutinise sunny stands of

exercise the right to buy and charged us 361 Francs 80 Centimes for the privilege. 19th May was the day arranged to visit the Notaires Office to sign up and to hand over our money. Having been told the horror stories of notaires labouring through every word of every paragraph of the agreement we set aside the whole morning. At 10 am we arrived at the notaires office and met M Roca, who was representing the sellers, he introduced us to the notaire and the procedures started. At 10-15 it was all over and we were the proud owners of Anne's Jardin Sauvage. We have spent many happy hours working on walls, steps, tree cutting and relaxing including staying there for a couple of nights. It was wonderful to get away from the all night summer traffic through the town and to enjoy the tranquillity of the hills. Anne is in charge of the plants; she is cutting out the dead mimosa trees and clearing areas in which to spread wild flower seed and in the summer she will start to catalogue the existing plants. I am in charge of building, I am humping stones, making steps and paths and planning to reinstate a bit of the terracing. In between this I sneak off to watch and photograph butterflies. To date I have seen up to about 40 species notably including Cleopatra, Swallowtail, Scarce Swallowtail, Baton Blue, Chequered Blue (rare even here) Purple, Green and Ilex Hairstreaks, Wood White, Dingy and Grizzled Skipper, Marbled White, Great Banded Grayling and Clouded Yellow. No Two-tailed Pasha yet but as I have seen them at the Ermitage from May until October they may one day fly from that hill to ours. Our caravans can't offer running water, drainage or electricity but they can offer solitude and beauty and we will certainly spend many hours working there to improve it for the wildlife and our relaxation.

Large Tortoiseshells

and Sinall Eggars by RobParker Just a few days afi:erthe "Landguard"Large Tortoiseshell, I was called to investigate a report of what was thought to be a nest of Large Tortoiseshell larvae on elm in Wickhambrook. Naturally, I responded promptly, but not before giving some thought to what else might look similar. My Field Guide to Caterpillars (Carter & Hargreaves, 1986) listed 16 species feeding principally on elm, and illustrated 9 of these, including my quarry, Nymphalis polychloros. None of the others were remotely similar in appearance, so I set off with perhaps a 1% hope that this might be for real. A couple of the larvae had been transferred to a shoebox the previous evening, and these were shown to me on arrival. About one and a quarter inches long, they did bear a similarity to the Large Tortoiseshell, and to be fair to anyone consulting a book illustrating the larvae of butterflies only, they would represent the closest match. However, instead of the spines of the Nymphalidae, they sported the fine hairs that identified them as caterpillars destined to turn into moths. But which species? From a distance, the web looked like "a dead fish sitting in the hedge", to use the finder's description. The web sat at

The Suffolk Argus

Anne's Jardin Sauvage (wild garden) byJamesMann During one of our early holidays in this area in 1996 we visited the old town of Arlessur-T ech. Looking in an Estate Agents window we saw advertised a piece of land with two caravans for 45,000 Francs.

On our many visits to St Ferreal Ermitage (see page 19th June 2000 Argus) we often talked of how great it would be to own a bit of land in that area. In October 1999 when visiting Arles-sur-Tech for a Vide Grenier we saw the caravan land still advertised for sale. We talked about it over Christmas and decided that although we could not afford it we would like to see it so we arranged a visit with M. Roca the Estate Agent and on 13th January he took us up into the hills across from Ceret and eventually along a track to Correch de Puig Redon, a hill on which the land is situated. Imagine our surprise when seeing, less than a kilometre away across the valley, yes the St Ferreal Ermitage. The land, an area of 41 acres 18 centiares (about an acre) slopes down from the track at the top to a ravine at the bottom at an average angle of 30 degrees. It consists of a tiny flat area at the top, on which the two caravans are sited, then about one third a Mimosa forest, a beautiful display of yellow flowers in January/February. The next third wild flowering plants of over 20 varieties, a great area for butterflies all spring and summer,

Autumn

and then the bottom third a more shaded area of Green and Cork Oaks, the shade being very welcome as the slope faces due south. We asked M. Roca where the exact boundaries were; he gave a Gallic shrug and a wave of the arms to possible boundaries and indicated that the French did not consider this very important. He explained that it was classed as agricultural land as it had originally been a vineyard. On careful inspection we could see that it had at one time been terraced by aid of dry stone walls long fallen into decay. We suspect that the last wine was produced here at about the time Napoleon was regretting leaving that sunny island off the coast of Italy to meet that chap Wellington at Waterloo and it gave the appearance of having been deserted and neglected since the phylloxera vine disease ravaged the vineyards at the end of the 19th century. Nevertheless we were informed chat it was subject to the rights of SAFER (Sociere d'Amenagement Foncier et d'Establissement Rural). This is a section of The Ministry of Agriculture who have the right, when a small piece of agricultural land comes up for sale and an offer has been made, to buy it at that offer price. The idea of this is to overcome the French problem ofland being split up into smaller and smaller plots by Division among the children on the parents' death. SAFER buys up land and when it owns a number of adjoining plots it reregisters them as one and are able to sell them to a person as a viable plot for production. We were so pleased with the plot, particularly its location, char we smashed all our piggy banks, organised a loan and on 18thJanuary we offered 30,000 Francs and on 3rd February agreed to the price of 32500 Francs. According to the rules it was duly offered to SAFER. They came back on 27th April to say they did not wish to

blackthorn, Speckled Woods causing momentary excitement as they flew up from perches on the canopy. Back at the car park and refreshed by ices, it was decided that the remainder of the afternoon would be spent searching for Black Hairsrreak at its Knighton's Copse and Organ's Hill colonies in the sourheasterly quarter of the Salcey complex. We moved off down an open ride, an area of regenerating clear fell to one side, mature woodland to the other. Our attention was initially drawn to a number of Common Blues enlivening the rather arid terrain of the clear fell and to male Wood Whites engaged in their relencless search for mates. However, as blackthorn began to dominate the flora of the woodland edge, the pace slowed as necks were craned skywards and eyes were trained upon the tops of the scrub. Following another ride towards Organ's Hill, the group lingered around a particularly sheltered and sunlit blackthorn stand backed by oak and ash. Although rhe canopy seemed to shimmer slightly under the intensity of the mid afternoon sun, its oucline was not to be broken by the characteristic flight of a hairstreak. Returning to our vehicles, we reflected with satisfaction upon a final count of forty plus Wood Whites. Somewhat paradoxically, numbers of this delicate rarity had far exceeded those of the normally ubiquitous browns and other whites recorded over the course of the day. Thanks are due to Alan Johnson for organising the field trip, and to Andy Patmore of Forest Enterprise for describing the natural history and management of Salcey Forest. Species List; Large Skipper, Orange Tip, Brimstone, Wood White, Large White, Common Blue, Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown, Ringler and Red Admiral.

2001

Wood white

by BerylJohnson

~~'\ '

\ //

fp Brimstone (egg-laying on Purging Buckthorn)

by DouglasHammersley

Autumn 2001

The Suffolk Argus

S.W.T. Reserve at Carlton Marshes. Near Carlton Colville, Lowestoft Saturday 14th July by Bery/Johnson ':4 unique and fragile wetland -A home for a magical diversity of wildlife-A place to be treasured". A quotation from the S.W.T. leaflet for Carlton Marshes, which I am sure, the nine members ofB.C. who attended this meeting would endorse. We were warmly greeted, at the centre, by Nick Sanderson, Education Officer for the reserve who in his introductory talk described the varied habitats found within Carlton Marshes and its management for wildlife. Lying one metre below sea level, in the ancient valley of the River Waveney, this area, in excess of one hundred acres, has been managed since 1975 and a reserve since 1980. Within its boundary can be found stretches of open water, reedbeds, fen and grazing marshes intersected by dykes. At present these marshes are under threat from the rush becoming too dominant due to under grazing.

As we set off with the warden, to study, at closer range, some of the habitats found on "The Level"we were accompanied by the distant flashesoflighming and rumbles of thunder from the dark clouds rolling in from the north. We followed the footpath through the grazing marsh towards the fen noting Common Valerian, Hemp Agrimony, Milk Parsley and Purple-Loosestrife which were coming into bloom. In the dykes WaterSoldier and Frogbit were growing happily in the pure water. Southern Marsh Orchid, Knapweed and Greater Spearwort brightened the ''Managed Fen", where regular cutting takes place. It soon became apparent that in order to provide and preserve the right conditions for all the different species, which inhabit Carlton Marshes, ''Management"is a fine balancing act. In spite of the rapid fall in • temperature, since our arrival, we were still able to record Meadow Brown, Greenveined White and Small Tortoiseshell but we were not to escape the storm, which we had hoped would pass us by. Although we sheltered under some Willow trees we were soon all drenched by the torrential rain. When the rain eased we headed back to the visitor centre where Nick kindly made us hot drinks and where we could eat our lunch in the shelter of the "Ted Ellis Room".

The plan for the day had been to have a guided walk in the morning and explore, on our own, after lunch but due to the continuing rain the meeting was drawn to a premature close. .~ However, we all felt it

Green-veined White by Douglas Hammersley

Carlton Marshes in the programme for 2002, maybe towards the end of July.

by a full account of all the species, the photography being mainly of the adult butterfly. There are also comments about behaviour, current status, distribution and conservation. The use of both common and lacin names for many species is a bonus and I found the commentary very accurate. My only reservations were stating that the Green Hairstreak 'never opens its wings in nature' and suggesting that the Large Copper still has a large colony extant. Both are rectified in the book text. The book itself has a fine pedigree photos from Ken Willmott and the text reviewed by Martin Warren - but I found myself uneasy as to its purpose. If it was simply to complement the video, and much of the book text matches the video commentary, that is fine and it works well, especially as the book sequence of species is the same as in the video. The photos are mainly good, though some of the Skippers would not enable field identification. They are very small; in fact the book is just 7 x 4 inches. As such it would fit the pocket on field trips but is not durable, comprehensive or such good value for money as the Observer book or the excellent 'Butterflies of the British Isles' by Jeremy Thomas. The text was largely accurate though the page on Heath Fritillary needed to mention the Essex reintroductions and I would question statements such as the Purple Hairstreak 'virtually never comes to flowers' and the Painted Lady 'definitely does not survive the British winters'. Recent research and changing climate are tending to suggest otherwise. The video is divided into species by habitat, which works well, except for some odd juxtapositions in the final series of habitats eg. Swallowtail next to Mountain Ringlet. Again I found the

music off-putting, but not intrusive. I still wonder ifit is needed at all. My main criticism is chat the qualiry of the film does vary, from excellent extended footage to some chat is slightly out of focus (part of the Wood White sequence) or doesn't fully reflect the superb colours (some of the Blues). I assume this is the result of transference from 8 mm cine film or the fact chat some was filmed many years ago. There is also the need to underline commentary about close identification points, such as the Brown Argus and Silver-studded Blues, with much closer footage. This is nevertheless a unique package and for a beginner would be a very helpful introduction and grounding before field trips. Certainly the video commentary is the best of the three reviewed. I consider the book, at £11.49 separately, to be very expensive, though the complete package, of video and book at £22.99, reduces its cost. The video separately is a better proposition, and at £14.99 is comparable to the others reviewed. All quoted prices include postage and packing plus VAT. They can be obtained from:- RK Productions, Kemp's Farm, Chapel Road, Ford, Aylesbury, Bucks. HP17 8XG

Green hairstreak by Douglas Hammersley

The Suffolk Argus

Moths in recent Literature byRob Parker A book's title does not always disclose its content, and 2 recent novels with moth titles are essentially non-entomological, but may anyway catch the eye of the literate lepidopterist.

"LobsterMoth"by Niall Duthie. Fourth Estate. 1999. This book has been lying at my bedside for a long while. The author describes it as a pillow book, to be read in 10 minute slices at bedtime, and that is how I am tackling it. It tells the story of a Scottish lepidopterist in a convalescent home, recovering from injuries that made him almost a hero in the First World War. The technical endpapers and the quote from W. J. Kirby set up an entomological flavour, though this is but one of many interwoven strands in a potpourri of recollections. We meet Stauropus fagi as a larva in Chapter 3, and learn a few snippets, for example, that although this insect is named after a crustacean, the Lobster crustacean (locusta) is surprisingly named after an insect - the edible locust (locusta)! Equally intriguing aspects of Japanese culture, mythology, insomnia, childhood and war tumble out of the pages, partly through an extra dimension created through an actor, who goes to great lengths to properly portray our Scottish hero in a film version of his biography.

Autumn

"ThePepperedMoth"by Margaret Drabble. Viking. 2000. Here is a story, which starts in post-industrial Yorkshire, and as the tide suggests, it is about natural selection, although it focuses on the mitochondrial DNA of a particular family, and on the mother-daughter relationships through several generations. The tale is well told, and insightful, but readers waiting for the bit about Biston betularia will have to be patient until page 268! In the text, reference is made to a Georgette Heyer novel called "The Black Moth" - this one I have not read. Both front covers bear charming illustrations of their chosen moth, and with the Lobster moth we also get a nice Puss moth larva. Neither book deserves a place on the entomologist's reference bookshelf, but both have merit as literature, and are worth getting from the library if you are ready to spend a few evenings away from the MVlamp.

Review of Jewels in the Air by Richard Stewart Suffolk Butterfly Recorder Since reviewing the two butterfly videos (Argus 21) I have had the opportuniry to look at the third, Jewelsin the Air'. This is created by Roger Kemp, The Butterfly Recorder for Bucks. I was aware of it at the last BC AGM but didn't get one simply because there was no indication of running time anywhere. It lasted about an hour, making it comparable to the other two and I find this omission inexplicable. It is a package of book and video, though each can be purchased separately. Recommended by BC, it gives a very comprehensive survey of our butterflies, and includes both Large Copper and Large Blue. A brief summary of butterfly history and literature is followed

2001

Poetry Page Butterfly Morning

The Duke of Denge Wood (£1CautionaryTale!)

Woke up to one of thosemornings With the sun,flowing like honey, Almost sweepingyou out of bed, Throughthe variousfonctional rooms To breakfastin the garden And buddleiasalreadyclustered With Peacocks,Commasand SpeckledWoods. Then a sweetsiren voice Tellsyou to leavethe washingup, Keepthepostfar anothertime And take a ride on a bus, One of thoselongdistancebuses That actuallywelcomesyou aboard, With air conditioningand recliningseats. So let'sgofar it now. I know a cheaplittle caft, Hugging the beach, Wherewe can look out For Painted Ladies, Clouded Yellows, Drifting in on a sky As blue asAdonis wings ..... .

A group of determined naturalists Set outfar Bonsai Bank Intent on meetingthe Burgundy Duke And othersof lesserrank. The day was warm and beautiful The orchidsa delight The Duke and his lady were duly acclaimed As wereotherson the site. The Burgundy Babes were soughtand found Likepearlsin their Primrosenest Theywerefated, photographed,then left alone Cradledwithin theforest. But all was not as it should have been In this wonderful woodland dell As a seekerwasattacked by who knows what? And later becameunwell. With swollenarm all stripy and red Medicalhelp, latersought Antibioticsnow, the doctorsaid, And worseif it comesto nought.

And then thephone rings. Richard Stewart

It would seemthat the causeof the trouble Wasprobably, Wood Spurgedisguised By cut stemswhich mingled with others Their dangernot realised. Treatall in the wild with careand respect For it may sting, bite or tearyou But euphorbiasap, and maybedry stems, With helpftom the sun will burn you! Rosalind Foster (The victim!)

Autumn

The Suffolk Argus

The heather beetle and its possible effect on the Silver Studded Blue butterfly by Neil Sherman. Conservation officer Ipswich Golf Club Ouring the past 2 years, Ipswich Golf Club, a heathland site to the east of the town, has suffered from an outbreak of the Heather beetle, that has had an adverse effect on the heath habitats. The beetle occurs on all Heathland

flowers of Heather are produced mainly on the one-year growth, which, if the beetles kill off the shoots produce less flowers and hence less nectar sources for the adult butterflies. On Heathlands this is quite important, as there are few other flowers present to provide nectar source. Another way the beetles could cause a problem could be of more importance. The larvaefeed on young Heather growth, which if the plants are badly affected in the previous year, may not be as vigorous or are not present at all if the Heather is dead! Thankfully, young Heather seems to recover reasonably well from attacks. The more degenerate stands are usually more severelyaffected, but at the golf course some young Heather was killed, coincidentally in the area where the Silverscudded Blues could be found. Only time will tell if this is che only site affected, although discussions with Richard Stewart revealed that there were

2001

Holywells/Kissing Gate Lane Meadow, Ipswich. Grid ref: TM173433 byJulian Dowding

Speckled Wood

by Angie Steel This hidden meadow, in the southwestern corner of Holywells Park, has recently come back into Parks jurisdiction from I.B.C. Property Services. le slopes gently ease- west and measures approximately 100m x 30m. It has good access. I became interested in the site when I chanced upon a colony of Orange rips on the Lady's Smock growing there. Because of the invertebrate interest, particularly butterflies, Sam Pollard from Ranger's Services would welcome some input from Butterfly Conservation regarding its future management. Historically, it was probably used as a paddock on the Cobbold Estate. With loss of use, the meadow became rank with vegetation. When the Rangers took on the area in 1985, they saw its potential as a living museum to threatened planes and also as part of the green corridor along the River Orwell into Ipswich. To achieve a maturity of wildflower and grass sward in a short space of time, the meadow was seeded and a small amount of wildflower planting was undertaken. In addition, a once - yearly cutting regime began. More recently, sycamores have been removed from a boundary hedge and replanted with native broadleaf hedgerow trees and shrubs. A derelict orchard on the southern side has been left as a non-intervention area.

Ac present the meadow is looking reasonable, but Hogweed (paradoxically a good nectar species) is crowding out some of the more interesting plant species. Lady's smock in particular seems to have suffered badly from the competition and certainly this year there were fewer Orange Tips present. Eventually, all would be lose under a sea of frothy white heads. This summer, a group of volunteers have helped by removing Hogweed flowering stems and seeding heads. The work finished towards the end of July. Future proposals are to continue removing the Hogweed, possibly including a bit of hand digging and to monitor the site and hedges for new and existing species. It has also been suggested that a part of the site be harrowed, in order to help some of the wildflowers on site. Butterfly species seen co date are:Large Skipper, Small Skipper, Essex Skipper, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Speckled Wood, Orange Tip, Green-veined White, Large White, Small White, Clouded Yellow, Holly Blue, Common Blue,"'Comma, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock and Red Admiral. There are also Six-spot Burnet moths breeding on site.

Autumn

The Suffolk Argus

2001

Holywells/Kissing Gate Lane Meadow, Ipswich. Grid ref: TM173433 byJulian Dowding

Speckled Wood

The Suffolk Argus

Autumn

2001

Poetry Page Butterfly Morning

The Duke of Denge Wood (£1CautionaryTale!)

And then thephone rings. Richard Stewart

Autumn 2001

The Suffolk Argus

Green-veined White by Douglas Hammersley

Carlton Marshes in the programme for 2002, maybe towards the end of July.

Green hairstreak by Douglas Hammersley

The Suffolk Argus

Autumn

2001

Wood white

by BerylJohnson

~~'\ '

\ //

fp Brimstone (egg-laying on Purging Buckthorn)

by DouglasHammersley

The Suffolk Argus

Salcey Forest Sunday 24th June

Autumn 2001

Large Tortoiseshells

The Suffolk Argus

"You've got to be a young man to breed 'em. " -

Autumn

2\ \ \"

~ \

l --

,' )_j __l"-..\

',,,

_\____

"'---'

\ ~.,-

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\ \ \ l' \

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. .. . . . . . ... ... . Large Tortoiseshell by BerylJohnson

Joint IDNHS/BC visit to Wheatfen Broad Saturday 9th June

2001

Orange Tip by DouglasHammersley

Autumn 2001

The Suffolk Argus

Annual General Meeting

Moth Night at Dunwich Heath Saturday 26th May

Emperor Moth

by Mervyn Crawford

8th September 2001 . . . . . . . ... . . .... .

The Suffolk Argus

Autumn 2001

Butterfly Conservation Suffolk Branch Income and Expenditure Account for the Year Ended 30th June 2001

1.00 125.00 174.22 1,410.22

95.00 1,315.22

Cost of Sales ...........................................................................36.75 1,324.05

20.00 129.00 0.00 606.95 181.69 35.31 0.00 50.96 29.50 33.98 1,087.39

1999/00 1,110.00

Surplus on Current Year

511.40

Balance Sheet as at 3oth June 2001

CONSOLIDATED FUND Balance 1.7.2000 1,833.78 Add surplus on year 511.40

Represented by: Girobank pie Alliance & Leicester Cash in hand

2,345.18

ASSETS as at 30.06.2001 Generator 150.00 Projector Table 29.99 Exhibition Tent 100.00 Software 85.00

Write down value @ 20% 100.84 17.69 60.64 Write down 3yrs 85.00 100.83 Debtors 198.00 Stock - Merchandise 414.00 Liabilities (80.60) Net Worth

960.60 750.00 2.35 1,712.95

2,345.18

Bonsai Bank, N r. Ashford, Kent. Wednesday 23rd May

The Suffolk Argus

Launch of the Churchyard Survey at Stradbroke Cemetery Saturday 21st April

Autumn

Moth Night at Wolves Wood Saturday 5th May

Visit to Stoke by Clare, for early butterflies

Rhodes and its Butterflies On the wing in May 2001

2001

Sunday 13th May

by Stella Wolfe

We arrived to find very hot, calm weather, with butterflies everywhere. On 3/4 May, there were

The Suffolk Argus

Autumn 2001

which I recognised as Deilephila alecto - a "Mediterranean Elephant Hawk".

too early for the Graylings.

good look as it sheltered in the lee of a rock. After

polychloros (4) were bright and flying strongly. At sea level, there had been plenry of

that one sighting, it was back to normal- every other blue was a Common Blue.

beetles, grasshoppers, locusts, shield bugs, bush cricke_tsand a single praying mantis, but up Mt

We vis_itedRhodes' famous ''Butteifly Valley" - Petaloudes (the word means butterflies

Attavyaros I found a species of cricket that I had not seen before. It was boldly marked, with a

"butteiflies", which are Jersey Tiger moths

''chequerboard"effect from a series of spots on its broad back, and seemed to have been liberally

(Euplagia quadripunctaria), would not be taking up summer residence there until mid June. The

dispersed, with 6 to each shrub. With scenery, antiquiry and tranquilliry,

valley has year-round water, and the Liquidamber tree, a variety of plane, which

Rhodes has a lot to offer as a holiday spot. I found

attracts the moths to assemble on its trunk,

satisfying result for two weeks in May. On the

presumably to feed from some sort of sap. A small museum has just opened there, with some good displays on the ecology of quadripunctaria,

morning we left, I was treated to a flying display by a group of Bee-eaters, swooping off their perches and down into the insects over the meadow.

in Greek), just to see it, knowing full well that the

50% of its 48 butterfly species, which is a

a case oflepidoptera and coleoptera of Rhodes, incomplete and unlabelled, and a display of

butterflies of Greece. These were named, mostly with the right labels! Although we did not see

Reference: Olivier A., 1993, "The Butteif/ies of the Greek

any living Jersey Tigers, we did find one Cream Spot Tiger (Arctia villica) back at the hotel. There were plenty of the local variety of the

Phenology". Antwerpen. Vlaamse Vereniging voor

island of Rodas: Taxonomy, Faunistics, Ecology and

Entomologie.

Editorial by Richard Stewart First, there are Committee changes to announce. Paul Gilson has now left the Committee, where he has been both Membership Secretary and joint Newsletter Editor.

The Suffolk Argus

Autumn 2001

Contents Editorial ...............................................................................

Newsletter Details

4-1 0

Poetry page .........................................................................

The Heather Beatie and its possible effect on the Silver-studded Blue .................................................

Holywell/Kissing gate meadow ..........................................

Moths in recent literature ..................................................

Review of jewels in the air ............................................

14-1 5

16-1 7 Large T ortoishells and Small Eggars ............................ 17-18

Anne's Jardin Sauvage ..................................................

Annual General Meeting 2001 ..........................................

Accounts .............................................................................

Rhodes and its Butterflies ............................................ 21-22

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

More illustrations wanted ..................... :.............................. 3 Field Meetings 2001 ......................................................

Copy Dates

To Advertisein

Christmas Eve April Fools Day August Bank Holiday

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

Th.Suffolk Argus Please contact:

Jim Foster (01449 711484)

Butterfly HOTELS

Newsletter details and general information ....................... 23 Suffolk Branch Contacts ........................................ Back Cover

Butterfl:_1;)~ Wl~~t.;.~

HOTELS

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A purposebuilt Hotel with all thefacilities that today'.r travellersrequireyet in a 1 _d-3 e:::n:!n:ti::a: is welcomingand comfortable.

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Butterfl~ Hotel, Al 4 Bury East Exit. Moreton Hall, Bury St. Edmunds

01284 760884

Butterfly Line 09068 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

01284 760884 23

Suffolk Branch Contacts

Chairman Rob Parker,

66 Cornfield Road, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk IP33 3BN (01284 705476) Membership Secretary Beryl Johnson, 28 Medway Road,

Ipswich, Suffolk IP3 0QH (01473 715701) Newsletter Editors Jim Foster, Lugano, The Street, Sronham Aspal,

Stowmarket, Suffolk (01449 711484) Richard Stewart, 'Valezina',

112 Westerfield Road, Ipswich, Suffolk IP4 2XW (01473 216518)

Volunteers Needed If you feel you could help out now and then with the growing work of the Branch, please contact Beryl Johnson on 01473 715701.

Publicity Officer {Vacant)

Programme Secretary Alan Johnson, 28 Medway Road, Ipswich,

(addressas above) Conservation Officer (Moths) Tony Prichard, 3 Powling Road, Ipswich,

Suffolk, IP3 9JR (01473 270047) County Recorder (Moths) Tony Prichard (address as above) Secretary Tony Prichard, (address as above)

Treasurer Graham Bull, Willow Cottage, 1 The Street,

Autumn 2001 • • • • • • • • • • • • Large Tortoiseshell by Beryl Johnson

Raydon, Suffolk IP? 5LP (0 1473 31037 I) Committee

Member

The Newsletter of the Suffolk Branch of Butterfly Conservation

Stella Wolfe President Howard Mendel, clo The Natural History

Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW? 5BD (0171 938 8782)

BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION

Volume24

Suffolk Argus 24 Autumn 2001

Articles inside

Poetry page

Anne's Jardin Sauvage .................................................. 16-1 Large T ortoishells and Small Eggars ............................ 1 7-18

Rhodes and its Butterflies

Newsletter details and general information Suffolk Branch Contacts ........................................ Back Cover

Annual General Meeting 2001 .......................................... 1

Moths in recent literature

The Heather Beatie and its possible effect on the Silver-studded Blue