Some Interesting Lepidoptera Captured in Suffolk during 1960

SOME INTERESTING LEPIDOPTERA CAPTURED IN SUFFOLK DURING 1960. by

BARON DE WORMS.

UNLIKEthe phenomenal dryness of its predecessor, the summer of 1960 was very much the reverse with few fine periods. However, it did not detract from the number of lepidoptera prevalent nor from the quality of species taken, certainly so far as Suffolk was concerned.

My first acquaintance with the County for this season was when I visited the Breck and Fens area in company with Mr. J. L. Messenger, on June 18th. Conditions were very close when we worked some of the sloping ground on the rise above Tuddenham.

Late that afternoon we found the Marbled Clover (J-Ieliot/iis dispaceaLinn.) flying freely and in plenty round a large patch of Viper's Bugloss in full bloom, but as always most difficult to catch.

On the same ground we also flushed several Diamond Spot Pearl (Lo.tostegesticticalis Linn.). We revisited this spot at dusk that evening following a heavy thunderstorm and as soon as we started our mercury vapour lamp insects began to pour in. Among the earliest arrivals were three Maple Prominents (Lophoptery.\' cucul/i11aSchiff.). These were quickly followed by the Marbled Clover (H. dipsaceaLinn.) and a run of the Small Elephant Hawk (Deilephilaporcellus Lynn.) and of the Cream-spot Tiger (Arctia villica Linn.). We were kept busy till 2 a.m. with the host of visitors which totalled by that hour 73 species of the Macros.

Of these the insects of note included a Pine Hawk (J-lyloicus pinastri Linn.), a number of the Archer's Dart (Agrotis vestigialis Rott.) and of the Bordered Sallow (Py"liia umbra Hufn.), also the White Colon (J-leliphobusalbicolonHUbn.), the Bordered Gothic (J-leliop/,obussaponariae Esp.), the Pale Shining Brown (Polio 11ite,,sHaworth), the Dark Brocade (Eumicl,tis adusta Esp.), the Coronel (J-lade,1a co,,spersaEsp.), the Golden Y (Pillsiaiota Linn.), the Miller (Apatele Iepqri11aLinn.) and a most surprising latecomer was a Flame Wainscot (Me/iana fiammea Curtis), no doubt flying up from the nearby river marshes, but seldom recorded for West Suffolk. Of the Geometers we saw the Brown Scallop (Pl,i/eremevetualta Schiff.) the Foxglove Pug (Eupitl,eciapulcl,el/ata Steph.) and the Pine Beauty (Bupalus piniaria Linn.).

Although there was a fine growth of Sile11eotites a notable absentee at its bloom was the Viper's Bugloss (Anepia t'rregularis, Hufn.).

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I paid another visit to East Suffolk on July 25th in company with lVIr.E. J. Hare, and for three nights we operated our m.v. light towards the Old Mill and at the northern end of the Walberswick Marshes where I was joined by Prof. J. V. Dacie who was staying in the vicinity. Our second night, the 25th, was the best with 78 species at light and the most interesting noted during the whole visit were the Pine Hawk (HyloicuspinastriLinn.)/emales of the Oak Eggar (Lasi.ocampaquerc,,s Linn.), the Lappet (Gastropacha quercifolia Linn.), the Scarce Footman (Eilema compla11a Linn.), the Miller (Apatele leopri11aLinn.), the Archer's Dart (Agrotis vestigialis Rott.), the Dusky Sallow (Eremobia oc/1role11ca Esp.), the Triple-spotted Clay (Amathes ditrapezium Borkh.), only two of the Sussex VVainscot (Nonagria 11eurica Hiibn), the Striped Wainscot (Leucaniapudorina Schiff.), the Fen Wainscot (Aemostola phragmitidis Hiibn.), the Large Emerald (Geometrapapilionaria Linn.), the Blackneck (Lygephilapastim,m Treits.), many of the Sharp-angled Carpet (Euphyia augulata Haworth), the Pine Carpet (Therafirmata HUbn.), and the V-Plug (Choroclystiscoro11ataHUbn.).

On the afternoon of July 26th, Mr. Hare and I went to the sandhills at Thorpeness and, in spite of a fairly high wind, were pleased to take several specimens of the tiny Bright Wave (Sterrha ochrata Scop.) which had not apparently been caught in that area for many years. Prof. Dacie also took this species a few days later, and in the early part of August he obtained in this locality a number of the Tawny Wave (Scoplllarnhigi11ataScop.) which had last been taken there before the War. During his three weeks at Walberswick Prof. Dacie obtained an example of the Orangerayed Pearl (Nascia cilia/is Hiibb.) of which there are only some eight records to date for Suffolk. The Coast Knothorn (Anerastia HUbn.) was plentiful in most of the sandhill areas. Prof. Dacie also recorded in his trap at Walberswick the Maple Prominent (Lophopteryx cucullina Schiff.), the Lyme-grass Wainscot (Areostola elymi Treirs.), the Shore Wainscot (Leucauialittoralis Curtis) and two Crescent-striped (Apamea ob/onga Haworth.).

Mr. F. R. Bretherton and Mr. J. L. Messenger visited the Southwold area from July 30th to August 1st with also fairly successful results, On the edge of Easton Broad on the 30th they took the Powdered Wainscot (Simyra a/bovenosaGocze), Fenn's \Vainscot (Arenostola brevilinea Fenn), the Brown-tail (EuproctischrysorrhaeaHUbn.), the Ground Lackey (Ma/acosoma ca,strensisLinn.), which has not been seen in this area for many years, also a specimen of the Stout Dart (Spaelotis ravida HUbn.), quite a rarityin Suffolk. Another capture of note was the Gigantic Water Veneer (Sclmoenobiusgigantie/11,sSchiff.). Along the sandhills at Southwold that night they took many of the Lymegrass Wainscot (Arenostolaelymi Triets.), and a few of the Coast

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: LEPIDOPTF.RA IN .SUFFOLK

Dart (Euxoa cursoriaHufn.). On the 31st on th~ Walberswi~k .marshes their captures included the Round-wmged Mus~m (Comada se11exHtibn), the Dotted Faruoot (Zanclog~athf!cnbrumalis Hiibn.), the Brown-vemed Wamscot (No,zagria dzssolata Treits.) and the Broom-tip (Chesias rufata Fabr.). (Vide Ent. County Ree., (1960), 72: 197).

Mr. Alfred Waller reports the taking of several of the Convolvulus Hawk (HerseconvolvuliLinn.) and a few of the Large Thorn (E1momosautmmzariaWernb.) in the early autumn at Waldringfield. :Mr.C. W. Pierce who has done some extensive collecting in the reports the following for 1960.

From Belstead Woods near Ipswich, the Pine Hawk (Hyloicus pinastri Linn.), larva of the Large Prominent (Notodonta anceps Goeze), the Black Arches (Lymantria 11w11acha Linn.), the Ruby Tiger (P/t,-agatobia fuligi11osaLinn.), the Oak Hook-tip (Drepa11a vinaria Hufn.), the Scarce Silver-lines as larva (Pseudoi'psbicoloraua Fuess!.}, the Large Ranunculus (Polia flavici11ctaFabr.), the . Flounced Chestnut (Anclwscelislzelvola Linn.). the Barred Sallow (TiliaceaauragoFabr.), the Light Orange Underwing(Brephos notha Htibn.)theLarge Twin-spot Carpet(Coremiaquadrifasciai·iaClerck}, the Wood Carpet (Epirrhoerivata Htibn.), the Slqe Carpet (Bapta duti11ctataH.S.), the Scorched Carpet (Ligdia adustata Schiff.), and the Purple Thorn (Selenia tetrahmaria Hufn.).

From Havergate and Aldeburgh areas, the Ground Lackey (Malacosoma castrensis Linn.), the Dark Brocade (Eumiclztis admta Esp.), the Crescent Striped (Apamea oblonga Haworth), Mathew's Wainscot (Leucaniafavicolor Barrett), the Starwort (CuculliaasterisSchiff.), the Rosy Wave (Scop,,/a emutaria Htibn). , From Minsmere in 1959, the Maple Prominent (Lophopteryx cucul!i1Za Schiff.), the Small Clouded Brindle (Apamea 1manimis (Hiibn.), the Flame Wainscot (Meliana flammea Curt.), Vine's Rustic (Caradrina ambigna Fabr.), the Beautiful Yellow Underw_ing (Anorta myrtilli Li_nn.), the Marbled Clover (Heliothis d,psaceaLmn.), the Beautiful Snout (Bomolochafo11tu, Thunb.), the Barred Yellow (Cidaria fulvata Forst.), the Large Rivulet (Pertzomaaffimtata Steph.), and the White Pinion-spotted (Bapta bimaculata Fabr.).