THE WHITE-BANDED CARPET ( E U P H Y I A S C H I F F . ) I N WEST SUFFOLK
LUCTUATA
B A R O N DE W O R M S
M R . D. F E N N of Thetford, teils me he found this striking geometer the White-Banded Carpet quite commonly during the summer of 1971 in an area just south of Brandon bordering Lakenheath Aerodrome where it was Aying among rosebay willowherb, its usual larval foodplant. I am not aware of its record previously in the County, though apparently M r . Fenn has known it for several years north of Brandon in Norfolk.
This insect, which can usually be flushed readily in daytime, was first placed on the British list from a single record from north Kent in June, 1924, but there was only one other specimen noted, from Essex, prior to 1950 when several moths were taken in a wood in Sussex. Shortly after that it was discovered in east Kent and f r o m 1952 it has steadily become widespread in parts of Kent and Sussex where the rosebay willowherb has flourished. But it would appear it is only fairly recently that it has spread north of the T h a m e s to the Eastern Counties and its arrival and present distribution seems to be somewhat parallel to that of the Varied Coronet (Hadena compta Schiff.) which also appeared in Kent about 1948 and has spread northwards only as far as Norfolk and only westwards to the border of Buckinghamshire, though I have not heard of the White-Banded Carpet as far west as that region yet. Baron de Worms, M.A.,
F.R.E.S., Three Ăźaks, Shores Woking, Surrey.
Road,