THE ANGLE-STRIPED SALLOW MOTH AND OTHER LEPIDOPTERA IN SUFFOLK DÜRING 1964 ALASDAIR E .
ASTON
As this year's weather was so much warmer, we immediately noted two of laat year's absentee butterflies, the Large Skipper (Ochlodes venata, Br. and Grey), and the Gatekeeper (Maniola tithonus, Linn.), when we arrived at Harmony Hall, Weston. On 4th August, Red Admirals (Pyrameis atalanta, Linn.), were plentiful on teazle and two interesting moths, the Dusky Sallow (Eremobia ochroleuca, Schiff.) and the Lunar-spotted Pinion (Cosmia pyralina, Schiff.), were in good numbers at light from the 5th onwards. On 6th August, we were visited by Wilfrid George. On our tour of the farm we made two memorable observations, those of the White Letter Hairstreak (Strymonidia w-album, Knoch.), and the Diamond Spot Pearl (Loxostege sticticalis, Linn.), formerly associated with Breckland, but now more generally distributed mainly in the Eastern Counties. As the evening continued warm and turned slightly overcast, there was an extraordinary run of moths to light and by 1.45 a.m. I had managed to count 148 species, of which the notabilities were Fenn's Wainscot (Arenostola brevilinea, Fenn.), also ab. flava, Haw. of the Dingy Footman (Lithosia griseola, Hübn.), normally found in marshland, the Piain Golden Y (Plusia iota, Linn.), the Purple Thorn (Selenia tetralunaria, Hufn.), the Barred Rivulet (Perizoma bifaciata, Haw.), the Small Phoenix (Ecliptoptera silaceata, Schiff.) and two specimens of a micro, Phalonia matmiana, F.R., that had occurred in Suffolk only twice before. The next night was cooler, but light in the same position added the Kent Black Arches (Nola albula, Schiff.), the Scarce Silver Lines (Pseudoips bicolorana, Fuessly), and the Small Wainscot (Arenostola pygmina, Haw.), On the 8th which was rainy, the Suffolk Naturalists' Society gathered at the house when the White Letter Hairstreak was noted again together with* the Diamond-backed moth (Plutella maculipennis, Curt.) a sign of further migrants, which included Painted Ladies (Pyrameis cardui, Linn.) on the 1 Ith, when I discovered an interesting little plant, the Arrow-Leaved Fluellen, Kickxia elatine, Linn., in the parish of Weston. From the 13th, when we found the Goat Moth (Cossus cossus, Linn.) caterpillars wandering to pupate, the weather improved. That fine insect, the Great Brocade (Eurois occulta, Linn.), probably a migrant came to light on the 14th, accompanied by two respectable micros in the Tabby Knot-horn (Euzophera pinguis, Haw.), and the Chequered Straw (.Evergestis stramentalis, Hübn.), with eighty-three other species. The next night, the 15th, proved to be the climax of the holiday's collecting, as, among the 103 species, were two Angle-striped
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Transacliotis of the Suffolk Naturalists',
Vol. 13, Part 1
Sallows (Enargia paleacea, Esp.) of the Continental form, an addition to the Suffolk list, two more Great Brocades, a Lesser Swallow Prominent (Pheosia gnoma, Fab.), and two Hedge Rustics (Tholera cespiiis, Schiff.). Our native populations of both the Ängle-striped Sallow and the Great Brocade are chiefly confined to the northern parts of Britain. The strong southerly wind proved troublesome on the 16th and so on the 17th I moved the lamp to the sheltered northern side of the house, where I took another Hedge Rustic, another Fenn's Wainscot, a Rosy Minor (Procus literosa, Haw.), a micro, the White Foot Bell (Eucosma foenella, Linn.), and the best insect of the holiday an unnamed barred form of the male of the Early Thorn (Selenia bilunaria, Esp.). Soon captures diminished, as the füll moon made its brilliant power feit, but the 18th August, yielded the fourth and last Great Brocade, a Star-wort (Cucullia asteris, Schiff.), a truant six miles from its normal coastal haunts, and the first of many August Thorns (Ennomos quercinaria, Hufn.), the first I had seen of this infrequent species. On the 20th I took the third Suffolk Ypsolophus scabrellus, Linn., and a moth of uncertain status, the Pearly Underwing (Peridroma porphyrea, Schiff.), with the Small Waved Umber (Horisme vitalbata, Schiff.) and the Toadflax Pug (Eupithecia linariata, Schiff.). The 27th provided a minor alarm with the second brood of that marshland insect the Oblique Carpet (Orthonama lignata, Hübn.), which for a moment had me wondering whether I had captured the extinct species Euphyia polygrammata, Borkh. The month ended fairly typically with some pale Large Wainscots (Rhizedra lutosa, Hübn.), on the 28th, a single Pale Oak Eggar (Trichiura crataegi, Linn.), on the 3 Ist and a Frosted Orange (•Gortyna flavago, Schiff.) on 2nd September. I was pleased to see a fine Comma Butterfly in my parents' garden at Bury St. Edmund's on 4th September.