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F - oor ew wt ree LSNI a a es Ti eat eh ae ee nj ny i 4 7, Entomologist’s Record AND JOURNAL OF VARIATION SS EDITED BY J. M. CHALMERS HUNT, F.R.ESS. at I fs ff oi), A ba) iii CONTENTS 1979 Acherontia atropos L. (Death’s Head Hawk) in Surrey J. Porter, 24 Acronicta alni L. in September J. A. C. Greenwood 329 Aglais urticae L. Heat Aberration of C. G. Lipscomb, 326 Agonopteryx bipunctosa (Cuttis): Larval Foodplant R. J. Heck- ford, 283 Adela croesella (Scop.) (Lep.: Incur- variidae) in Argyllshire J. Cooter, 26 Agonopteryx scopariella Heinemann: Some Notes. of Differences between it and Allied Species in Britain J. R. Langmid, 51 Alpes de Haute Provence, France. A Ban on Collecting Lepidoptera in the Department of the J. McLeod, 37 Amathes agathina Dup. and Rhyacia simulans Hufn. Immigrant © Species? Are B. R. Baker, 136 Andorra, 1978. Entomology in J. iM Chalmers-Hunt and C. Luckens, 45 Andorra, July 1978. A Holiday col- lecting Butterflies in M. J. Symes, 205 Andraca bipuncta (Walter) (Lepidop- tera: Bombycidae). Density- Related Devedlopment in Bar- under Banerjee, 97 (Anthocharis cardamines L.) in East Lothian VC 82. The Orange-Tip A. G. Long, 246 Apamea oblonga Haw. and Slender Brindle (A. scolopacina Esp.) in Sussex. The Crescent-Striped M. Parsons, 293 Apatura iris L. Two Close Encounters with J. F. Green, 195 Apion semivittatum Gyll. (Col.: Apionidae )in S.E. London A. A. Allen, 328 Apomyelois bistratella neophanes Durr. in Shropshire D. J. Agassiz, 174 Aporia crataegi L. (Black-veined White) in Bournemouth, an Early Record S. C. S. Brown, 246 Aporophila nigra Haworth in Kent. one Black Rustic P. A. Sokoloff, 1 Ashurst, Hampshire in 1978. Notable wot Species at J. C. A. Craik, 135 Asiracine delphacidae (Homoptera: Fulgoridea). Tribal Classification of R. G. Fennah, 116 Athetis hospes Freyer (Lep.: Noctui- dae), First Record for Britain J. Porter, 22 Aurelian. Memoirs of an N. Wykes, 225, 261 Autumn Migrants, 1979 J. B. Fisher, 305 Bagpipes and Cider A. Archer-Lock, 211 (Bapta temerata Hiibn.) in October. The Clouded Silver J. A. C. Greenwood, 12 Blastobasis decolorella Wollaston (Lep.: Blastobasidae) at Sham- brook, Bradford D. V. Manning, qi Book Talk Two J. M. Chalmers- Hunt, 280 Bradycellus csikii Lazlo (Col.: Cara- bidae) discovered in Suffolk D. R. Nash, 279 British Lepidoptera Collecting in 1978 C. G. M. de Worms, 162, 185 Buddleia davidii. Caterpillars feeding on D. G. Sevastopulo, 108 Buenoa (Hemiptera Notonectidae) from Peru. New Records of F. G. Zalam and J. M. Smilanik, 204 Cairngorms National Nature Reserve. The Lepidoptera of the E. A. M. MacAlpine, 1, 65, 213, 242 Calothysanis amata (The Blood-vein). Late Record of M. Parsons, 149 Carabus monilis F. & C. nemoralis Mull. in Suffolk, N.E. Essex and Wilts. Observations on D. R. Nash, 138 Carterocephalus palaemon L. Sexual cuuoephism in W. C. Tolman, 18 Cassida murraea (Col.: Chrysomeli- dae) Abundant in Wiltshire D. R. Nash, 284 Cercopis vulnerata 1::. (Hemiptera Heteroptera: Cicadoidea). A rare form of A. V. Measday, 285 Charaxes jahlusa Trimen from South- ern Africa. Description of a New oe of D. G. Sevastopulo, i Charaxes, with the Description and Life History of Charaxes vansoni van Sommeren (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae). History of some eco nnY Described S. F. Henning, ea, Cheilosia bergenstammi Becker (Dip- tera: Syrphidae) with a summary of the known biology of the genus in Europe. The Larva and Pupation of K. G. Smith, 190 Chrysodeixis chalcites (Esp.) in South- ern Glamorgan D. R. Stephen- son, 269 iV Chrysodeixis chalcites (Esper) in Essex. The Golden Twin-spot A. J. Dewick, 269 Chrysilina menthrastri (Suffrian) (Col.: Chrysomelidae). An _ unusual Colour Variety of D. R. Nash, 140 Clap Net and the High Net. The R. S. Wilkinson, 78 Clostera anachoreta D. & S. in Essex. The Scarce Chocolate-tip A. J. Dewick, 284 Coleophora machiniella Bradley in Sussex A. M. Emmet, 137 Colephoridae. Notes on the J. New- ton, 234 Coleoptera in flood refuse in East Kent Coast Floods J. A. Parry, 113 Colias croceus Geoff. at Portland in 1979. The Clouded Yellow J. Platts, 283 Colias croceus Geoff. in Shropshire H. Heath, 283 Colombo, Sri Lanka. MHazards of Butterfly Collecting in T. B. Larssen, 221 Cols of the Cervennes, Butterflies of the J. Feltweill, 237 Comma Butterfly. Late emergence of the A. Archer-Lock, 310 Conservation of Wild Creatures and Wild Plants (Amendment) Bill (H.L.) E. H. Wild, 167 Continental Journeys during 1978. Two C. G. M. de Worms, 126 Correction: C. G. M. de Worms, 126 Correction: Tyria jacobaeae L. Ed. 259 Coscinia cribraria L. ssp. arenaurea Lempke. in Kent. Speckled Foot- man W. D. Bowden, 149 Cosmiotes consortella (Stainton, 1857) (exiguella Frey 1885) (Lep.: Elachistidae). The History and Status in Britain of A. M. Emmet, 13 Cosmorhoe ocellata L. Pupation Date of G. M. Hagget, 184 Curculionidae (Col.) taken in Cum- berland (V.C. 70). Records of R. W. J. Read, 27 Cyclophora puppillaria Hbn. in Hamp- shire J. R. Langmaid, 76 Danaus chrysippus L. in Malta G. Bonett, 142 Danaus plexippus L. in 1978 P. Hold- away, 27 Decorative Art in Butterflies D. G. Sevastopulo, 133 Deilephila elpenor (L.) in Inverness- shire E. A. M. MacAlpine, 125 Deilephila elpenor L. on Menyanthes trifoliata L. B. N. K. Davis, 27 Digitivalva perlepidella (Stainton) in East Kent J. Roche, 269 Diptera taken in 1976. Notes on I. F. G. McLean, 71 Donaciini (Col.: Chrysomelidae) with a list of recent East Kentish Localities known to the Author. Notes on the J. A. Parry, 323 Drepanepteryx phalaenoides L. (Neu- roptera: Hemerobiidae) in Surrey E. H. Wild, 285 Drymonia dodonaea D. & S. (trima- cula Esp.). A striking form of C. G. M. de Worms, 260 Early British ‘“‘Description’”’ by James Petiver of an American Eupty- chia (Lepidoptera: Satyridae) R. §. Wilkinson, 171 Eastbourne Area. Some Important Bae Records for the M. Hadley, Ectoedemia quinquella (Bedell) in ine London A. M. Emmet, 5) Eilema pygmaeola pygmaeola (The Pygmy Footman). The Larva of L. D. M. Packer, 9 Elachiptera uniseta (Dipt.: Chloro- pidae) A correction and further records A. A. Allen, 108 Emus hirtus Linnaeus (Col.: Staphy- linidae) at Canterbury in 1950 J. Parry, 102 Ennomos alniaria L. Prolonged Hatch- ing of G. M. Haggett, 241 Evrenolcgicy Cabinets R. L. E. Ford, Epiblema cnicolana Zell. in Hamp- shire J. R. Langmaid, 125 Epiphyas postvittana Walker in Hamp- shire D. H. Sterling, 9 Euchromius ocellea Haworth (Lep.: Crambinae) in Monmouthshire G. A. Neil-Horton, 26 Euphydryas aurinia Rott. present in Cumbria J. H. Vine-Hall, 24 Eupithecia abietaria Goeze in Bed- fordshire. The Cloaked Pug V. W. Arnold, 322 (Eupithecia abietaria Goeze) (pini Retzius: togata Hbn.) in West- morland (V.C. 69) in 1978. The Cloaked Pug J. Briggs, 220 Eupithecia millefoliata Rossl. in S.E. London A. A. Allen, 257 Eupithecia phoeneciata Rambur in East Kent A. P. Foster, 305 (Euproctis chrysorrhoea 1.) at Wok- ing, Surrey. The Brown Tail Cc. G. M. de Worms, 288 (Euproctis chrysorrhoea L.) in_ the Eastbourne District. Some Obser- vations on the habits of the Larvae of the Brown-tail M. Hadley, 210 Euproctis chrysorrhoea Hibn. (Lep.: Lymantriidae) Larvae in N.W. Kent J. F. Burton, 138 } (Eurois occulta L.) A strange habit of the larvae in captivity. The Great Brocade J. Platts, 44 Eusomus ovulum Ill. (Col.: Curcu- lionidae). The probable Identity of the Reputed British A. A. Allen, 287 Family-Group Names of Butterflies. The C. F. Cowan, 61, 146 Formica lugubris (Hym. Formicidae) in Ireland. Flights of the Wood Ant J. Breen, 10 Gegenes pumilo (Lep.: Hesperiidae); A Record for Crete D. C. Hocken, 194 (Geometra papilionaria L.) in Scot- land. The Large Emerald D. C. Hocken, 257 Glyphipteryx lathamella Fletcher in Kent N. F. Heal, 269 Gonepteryx rhamni L. Some Obser- vations on B. W. Moore, 134 Gorham and some 19th Century Records. The Rev. H. S. J. Cooter, 18, 150, 197 Greece: June-July 1978. Butterflies in Northern J. V. Dacie, M. K. V. Dacie, P. Grammaticos, L. G. Higgins, 311 Harpalus (ophonus) rufibarbis (Fab- ricius 1792) Col.: Carabidae. Antennal deformity in an example of D. R. Nash, 137 Heliophorus tuberculatus Gyll. (Col.: Hydrophilidae) near Bristol J. A. Parry, 22 (Hepialus humuli L.) in 1978. A Late Ghost Swift D. Dey, 77 Hippotion celerio L. in Hampshire. The Silver-striped Hawk R. W. Watson, 76 Holly Blue. Raspberry as a Natural Pabulum of the J. V. Banner, 310 Hydrillula palustris and Wicken Fen R. P. Demuth, 54 Hyles dahlii Geyer (Lep.: Sphingidae) —a Local Species of Mediter- ranean Hawk Moth found in Sardinia (June 1976) N. F. Gosling, 296 Hypera venusta F. (Col.: Curculini- dae) found in Mid-winter A. A. Allen, 77 Idea vulpinaria atrosignaria Lempke (Least Carpet) found in Streatham G. Hancock, 257 Immigrant Lepidoptera in Dorset and Suffolk in 1978 H. E. Chipper- field, 24 Immigration of Lepidoptera to the British Isles in 1978 R. F. Bretherton and J. M. Chalmers- Hunt, 81 Inverness-shire — Newtonmore Dis- trict, Supplement 10. The Macro- lepidoptera of E. A. M. Mac- Alpine, 157 Judolia cerambyciformis Schk. (Col.: Cerambycidae). The First Kent Record of A. A. Allen, 316 Kyboasca bipunctata (Oshanin) (Homoptera: Auchenorrhynca, Typhlocybinae), a Species New to Britain M. R. Wilson, 194 La Palma, Canary Islands in 1976. Flies, Bees and Butterflies on P. J. Chandler, 103, 117 Lampronia praelatella D. & S. in Aberdeenshire D. C. Hockin, 285 Leiodes oblonga Er. Col.: Leiodidae) in S.E. London A. A. Allen, 153 Leopoldius signatus Weidemann (Dip- tera: Conopidae) in North East Hampshire S. R. Miles, 172 Lepidoptera in Britain during 1978. A Review of C. G. M. de Worms, 58 Lepidoptera of the Cairngorms National Nature Reserve. The E. A. M. MacAlpine, 1, 65 Lepidopterology in Belgium. R. Leest- mans, 189 Letters to the Editor: A. Kennard, 74 H. E. Chipperfield, 75 R. L. Harvey, 75 Licinus depressus Paykull (Col.: pee) in Suffolk D. R. Nash, 70 Limenitis camilla Linn. at Friston, near Eastbourne, East Sussex M. Parsons, 44 Lita virgella Thunberg (Lep.: Gele- chiidae) A Species New to Ireland D. N. Dowling, 73 (Lithophane leautieri Boisd.) Blair’s Shoulder-knot P. J. Gent, 291 Lithophane leautieri Boisd (Blair’s Shoulder-knot) in North West Kent P. A. Sokoloff, 302 Lithophane leautieri Boisd. in Wales. Blair’s Shoulder-knot D. R. Stephenson, 322 Lithophane leautieri Boisd. in War- wickshire D. C. G. Brown, 29 vi Lithophane ornitopus Hufnagel at Hampstead. The Grey Shoulder- knot A. A. Softly, 305 Lithophane semibrunnea Haworth in North-West Kent. The Tawny Pinion J. M. Chalmers-Hunt, 285 Lozotaeniodes formosanus (Geyer) (Lep.: Tortricidae) in Glamorgan D. R. Stephenson, 302 Lyonetia clerkella L. (Lep.: Lyone- tidae) in large numbers S. N. A. Jacobs, 295 Macroglossum stellatarum L. in S. Devon, 1979 H. L. O’Heffernan, 293 Maniola jurtina L. and other curiosi- ties . An Albino J. M. Chalmers- Hunt, 219 Maruca testulalis (Geyer) (Lep.: Pyralidae) in the London Area C. G. M. de Worms, 286 Megaselia rondani (Diptera: Phori- dae) from Northamptonshire. A New Species of R. H. L. Disney, 317 Melitaea cinxia L. Unusual food- plant of A. Watson, 233 Macrolepidoptera in August. New Irish Records of K. G. M. Bond, 27 Microlepidoptera in Scotland 1978. A. M. Emmet, 92, 122 Migrants at M.V. Light on the 6th October 1979 at Studland, Dorset A. F. J. Gardner, 327 Migrants in Cumbria in 1978 at M.V. Light. Late J. Briggs, 78 Mormo maura (L.). A Late Date for the Old Lady D. Dey, 316 Mythimna unipuncta Haw. ‘The November Migration of J. R. Langmaid, 77 New Butterflies from South Africa. Six Further C. G. C. Dickson, 300 (Notodonta torva Hiibner) in East- bourne, Sussex and the first recorded instance of the capture of the imago in Britain. The Large Dark Prominent M. Hadley, 145 (Nycterosea obstipata F.) and an unidentified Catocala in Dorset. The Gem M. Parsons, 24 (Nymphalis antiopa (L.)) in Kent. Saba Beauty. E. G. Philp, 7 Nymphalis antiopa L. on the same date. Camberwell Beauties M. R. Britton, 316 Ochropleura plecta (L.) in November. The Flame Shoulder ZW. G. Parker, 29 Ochropleura praecox (L.) in Notting- hamshire. The Portland Moth J. Baker, 109 (Odontosia carmelita Esp.) at Epsom Downs. Scarce Pmominent M. J. Symes, 156 (Odontosia carmelita Esp.): Second only record for the Eastbourne District. The Scarce Prominent M. Parsons, 184 Oligia versicolor (Borkh.) in Co. Dublin K. G. M. Bond, 278 Orange-tip in Midlands. The A. G. Long, 219 Orange-tip. The Return of the A. G. Long, 16, 42, 158 Orgyia thyellina Butler ,and Orgyia antiqua (L.). Some Observations on C. Clarke, 315 Orgyia thyellina Butler. The Japanese Oregyia B. Kettlewell, 26 Painted Lady in December 1978. The T. G. Howarth, 9 Panagaeus _bipustulatus _ Fabricius (Col.: Carabidae) in Suffolk D. R. Nash, 222 Panaxia dominula LL. f. bimacula Cockayne, An Artificial Colony of the Scarlet Tiger H. B. D. Kettlewell, 221 Panaxia dominula L. Notes on the Deal Colony of R. W. Watson, 244 Pancalia latreillella Curtis 1830 (Lep.: Cosmopterygidae) in Britain. The Early History of S. C. S. Brown, 274 Pelosia obtusa H.-S. in Britain. A Third Specimen of the Small Dotted Footman T. N. D. Peet, 1 Phasmida II: Copulation with a Spermatophore in Baculum impi- gra Brunner von Wattenwyl. Contribution to the Knowledge of U. Carlberg, 306 Philereme transversata Hufn. and P. vetulata D. & S. Some Remarks on Larval Foodplants with special Reference to S. M. Jack- son, 139 Phoridae (Diptera) from Sandfly Cocoons (Hym.: Symphyta) A. D. Liston, 303 Phragmatobia fuliginosa L. Pheno- menal Swarm of the Ruby Tiger B. Wheeler-Holoran, 281 Phyllonorycta roboris (Zeller). The Voltinism of A. M. Emmet, 174 Phyllonorycta trifasciella Haworth. Foodplants of P. A.Sokoloff, 130 Pieris Butterflies. Exceptional Number of D. O. Elias, 282 (Pieris rapae L.). Sighting of a Yellow Form of the Small White. J. Payne, 57 Provencal Butterflies in April 1978 C. J. Luckens, 7 Psamathocrita argentella P. & M. (Lep.: Gelechiidae) in Hamp- shire D. J. Dickson, 286 Pseudophylotes vicrama_ schiffermul- leri Hering. The Foodplant of J. G. Coutsis, 25 Psylliodes weberi Lohse. Col.: Chry- somelidae) in Wiltshire D. R. Nash, 288 Purple Emperors at Play C. G. Lipscomb, 241 Rhodometra sacraria L. at East- bourne. The Vestal M. Parsons, 285 (Rhodometra sacraria L.) in Inter- ness-shire. The Vestal TJ. C. Dunn, 29 Rhyacia simulans Hufnagel (Dotted Rustic) in Essex A. J. Dewick, 302 Rhyacia simulans Hufnagel. Dotted Rustic in Huntingdonshire R. E. Scott, 260 Rhyacia simulans (Hufnagel) in Kent in 1979. The Dotted Rustic A. G. J. Butcher, 316 Saperda populnea L. (Col.: Ceram- bycidae) and its Tachinid Para- site in Wiltshire D. R. Nash, 286 Saturnia pavonia L. A Gynandro- morph of V. W. Arnold, 219 Scale Transfer: L. G. O. Wood- house’s Method of R. S. Wilkin- son, 299 Scale Transfers of Lepidoptera R. S. Wilkinson, 133 Schiffermulleria subaquilea (Stainton) on Cairngorm P. D. Hulme, 56 Scythropia crataegella L. in SE. London A. A. Allen, 305 Selatosomus bipustulatus (Linnaeus) “al; Elateridae) in Wiltshire and Suffolk D. R. Nash, 135 Sending Mature Insects Alive by Post T. W. Jefferson, 236 Sicily in the Spring of 1977 and 1978. Collecting in A. Valletta, 247 Sicily. October in G. Summers, 23 Small Tortoiseshell. Curious behaviour of H. R. Jessop, 328 Solenobia lichenella (Lep.: Psychidae) Dispersal by wind? K. P. Bland, 327 “Stared and Grinned at by the Vulgar.”” On Being R. S. Wilkin- son, 289 Vii Sterrha vulpinaria H.-S. (Lep.: Sterr- hidae) in South Devon A. Kennard, 56 (Strymonidia w-album Knoch), Alter- native Foodplant of the White Letter Hairstreak J. McFeelly, 191 Tenerife and Gomera, July 1978 N. J. Derry and A. C. Derry, 275 Teleiopsis diffinis (Haw.) (Lep.: Gele- chiidae). The voltinism of P. A. Sololoff, 329 Thassos, Greece. About two recent Butterfly Records from the Island of J. G. Coutsis, 57 (Thecla betulae L.). Rearing The Brown Hairstreak R. Revels, 281 Thecla betulae L. The Brown Hair- streak T. W. C. Tolman, 33, 154 Thera juniperata L. (Juniper carpet) in Warwickshire R. G. Warren, 142 Thetidia smaragdaria (Fabricius). Legal Protection for the Essex Emerald Moth A. Stubbs and J. Rudge, 258 Thomas Martyn’s The English Ento- mologist (1792). A Note on S. C. S. Brown, 64 (Thymelicus lineola Ochs.) at Bleack- heath and Elsewhere in South East London. The Essex Skipper J. F. Burton, 294 Tortoiseshell. An Unusual Abberra- tion of the Small J. R. Miller, 60 Trapping and Treachling J. Feltweil, 14 Triaenodes reuteri McLachlan in Kent (Trichoptera Leptoceridae) S. E. Whitebread, 156 Triphosa dubitata Linn. hiberating in Limestone Caves B. J. Tatlor, 173 Trosley Country Park (Trottiscliffe) near Maidstone, Kent N. F. Heal, 12 Tyria jacobaeae L. ab. pallidula forma nov. R. W. Watson, 153 Unusual Dates in the Summer and Autumn of 1978 C. G. M. de Worms, 121 Unusual Pupation Site. An S. N. A. Jacobs, 23 Utetheisa Hiibner (Lep.: Arctiidae) in the Western and Central Pacific with the Description of a New Species from Niue Island. Further Observations on _ the Species of G. S. Robinson and H. §. Robinson, 270, 319 (Vanessa atalanta) surviving Hard Winter. Red Admiral A. Archer- Lock, 157 Vill (Vespa crabro L.) in Warwickshire. The Hornet J. F. Burton, 161 Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Migrants D. C. G. Brown, 17 Westwood in the Smithsonian Institu- tion Archives. The Papers of John Obediah R. S. Wilkinson, 245 (Zeuzera pyrina L.) in the Eastbourne Area. A Brief Note on the His- tory of the Leopard Moth M. Hadley, 273 CURRENT LITERATURE: 31, 79, 144, 176, 223, 332 OBITUARY NOTICES: Busbridge, William Edward, 15 Haxby, Cecil Ralph, 212 Kettlewell, Henry Bernard Davis (1907-1979), 253, 255 Lawson, Sir Henry, 175 Warren, Brisbane Charles Somer- ville, 111 Woollatt, George (1908-1978), 175 PRACTICAL HINTS: March-April, 29 July, 131 August, 168 September, 216 October-November, 252 December, 330 Agassiz, D. J., 174 Allen, Av A., 77, 108) 153, 257, 287, 305, 316, 328 Archer-Lock, A., 219, 322 Arnold, V. W., 219, 322 Baker, B. R., 136 Baker, J., 109 Banner, J. V., 310 Barunder Banerjee, 97 Bland, K. P., 327 Bond, K. G. M., 27, 278 Bonett, G., 142 Bowden, W.D., 149 Breen, J., 10 Bretherton, R. F., 81 Briggs, J., 78, 220 Britton, M. R., 316 Brown, D. C. G., 17, 29, 328 Brown, S. C. S., 64, 246, 274 Burton, J. F., 138, 161, 294 Carlberg, U., 306 Carter, W. A. C., 252 Chandler, P. J., 103, 117 Chipperfield, H. E., 24, 75 Chalmer-Hunt, J. M., 45, 81, 169, 219, 280, 295 Chatelain, R. G., 169, 216, 217 Ciarke, Sir C., 253, 315 Cooter, J., 18, 26, 150, 197 Coutsis, J. G., 25, 57 Cowan, C. F., 61, 146 Craik, J. C. A., 135 Craske, R. M., 168 Dacie, M. K., 311 Dacie, Sir J. V., 311 Davis, B. N. K., 27 Demuth, R. P., 54, 168, 255 Derry, A. C., 275 Derry, N. J., 275 Dewick, A. J., 269, 284, 302 Dey, D., 77, 316 Dickson, C. G. C., 300 Dickson, D. J., 286 Disney, R. H. L., 317 Dowling, D. N., 73 Dunn, T. C., 29 Elias, D. O., 282 Emmet, A. M., 13, 56, 92, 122, 137, 174 Feltwell, J., 143, 237 Fennah, R. G., 116 Fisher, J. B., 305 Ford, R. L. E., 308 Foster, A. P., 305 Gardner, A. F. J., 327 Gent, P. J., 219 Goater, B., 252 Gossling, N. F., 296 Grammaticos, P., 311 Green, J. F., 195 Greenwood, J. A. C., 327 Hadley, M., 145, 210, 273, 288 Haggeit, G. M., 169, 184, 269 Hancock, G., 257 Harvey, R. L., 75 Heal, N. F., 12, 269 Heath, J., 283 Heckford, R. J., 283 Henning, S. F., 177 Hockin, D. C., 194, 257, 285 Holdaway, P., 27 Horton, G. A. N., 26 Howarth, T. G., 9 Huggins, L. G., 169, 311 Hulme, P. D., 56 Jacobs, S. N. A., 23, 217, 218, 293 Jefferson, T. W., 236 Jessop, H. R., 328 Kennard, A., 56, 74 Kettlewell, B., 26, 221 Langmaid, J. R., 51, 76, 77, 125 Larsen, T. B., 221 Leestmans, R., 189 Lipscomb, C. G., 327 Liston, A. D., 303 Long, A. D., 16, 42, 158, 219, 246 Luckens, C. ie MacAlpine, E. A. M., 1, 68, 125, 157, 213, 242 Manning, D. V., 77 McFeely, J., 141 McLean, I. F. G., 71 McLeod, L., 37 Measday, A. V., 285 Miles, S. R., 172 Miller, J. R., 60 Moore, B. W., 134 Nash, D. R., 135, 137, 138, 140, 170, 222, 279, 284, 286, 288 Newton, J., 234 O’Heffernan, H. L., 293 Packer, L. D. M., 9 Parker, H. G., 29 Parry, J. A., 22, 102, 113, 323 Parsons, M., 24, 44, 149, 184, 285, 293 Payne, J., 57 Peet, T. N. D., 281 Philp, E. G., 76 Platts, J., 44, 283 Pooles, J., 169 Porter, J., 22, 24 Read, R. W. J., 27 Revels, R., 281 Richardson, A., 169, 217, 252 Robinson, G. S., 270, 319 1x Robinson, H. S., 270 Roche, J., 269 Rudge, J., 258 Scott, R. E., 260 Sevastopulo, D. G., 76, 108, 133 Smilanek, J. M., 204 Smith, K. G. V., 190 Softly, A. A., 305 Sokoloff, P. A., 130, 302, 318, 329 Stephenson, D. R., 269, 302, 322 Sterling, D. H., 9 Stubbs, A., 258 Summers, G., 23 Symes, M. J., 156, 205 Taylor, B. J., 173 Tolman, T. W. C., 33, 154, 218 Valletta, A., 247 Vine-Hall, J. H., 24 Warren, R. G., 142 Watkinson, I. A. R., 169, 217, 218 Watson, A., 233 Watson, R. W., 76, 153, 212, 244 Wheeler-Holohan, B., 281 Whitebread, S. E., 156 Wild, E. H., 167, 176, 285 Wilkinson, R. S., 78, 133, 171, 245, 252, 289, 299 Wilson, M. R., 194 Worms, C. S. M. de, 58, 121, 126, 162, 175, 185, 260, 269, 286, 288 Wykes, N DO5) 261 Youden, G. H., 15 Zalom, F. G., 204 ory iE fia iret; Atta irre Al y rie thoes Sy hy avr fe x spine BY ay LY 4, iss Ai ag - ee Nw te 6 ee ee ele SAR SA es Ne ee es eee ; 91, No. 1 January, 1979 ISSN 0013-8916 AAG OS AA A AS SS A 595, 7059 Ent THE ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD AND JOURNAL OF VARIATION Edited by J. M. CHALMERS-HUNT, F.R.E.S. with the assistance of A. A. ALLEN, B.SC., A.R.C.S. P. J. CHANDLER, B.SC., F.R.E.S. NEVILLE BIRKETT, M.A., M.B. C. A. COLLINGWOOD, B.SC., F.R.E.S. S. N. A. Jacoss, F.R.E.S. (Registrar) J.HEATH, F.R.E.S., F.L.S. Lieut. Col. A. M. EMMET, M.B.E., T.D., F.R.E.S. H. B. D. KeTTLEWELL, M.A., M.B., B.CHIR., D.SC., L.R.C.P., F.R.E.S. ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION FOR THIS VOLUME No. 91 £7.50 for overseas subscribers. £6.50 for all U.K. subscribers. Hon. Teasurer: P. J. RENSHAW, 53 Links Road, West Wickham, Kent, BR4 0QN ; ‘uBR RRRRURRRBRRLLRERRERRRE JBLISHED MONTHLY Ye Vea Wa Va ie Wis an a Vaan ea Van Yr Mee Yen Yak Yar Ys 5 ee Ye Vn Wk a a Sn VS Va a Va Vk a Va Ve Vis Ve Ven Nez Ya Vaz PRICE 60p THE LIVING SEASHORE By Joan M. Clayton The seashore provides a very distinctive environ- ment, supporting a greater number of living things than any other habitat. This book deals with the rich variety of flora and fauna associated with the sea- shore. 32 pages of plates in colour and black and white with numerous line drawings and diagrams within the text. £6.00 net. FRESHWATER LIFE By John Clegg This is the fourth edition of the popular volume on the plant and animal life in Britain’s ponds, lakes, streams and rivers. The life dealt with oul ranges from the unicellular ql organisms through vertebrates S and flowering plants. 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Price 25p, plus 9p postage The Editor of the Naturalist University of Bradford, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD7 1DP er } | M Co Mh a ; ‘ HL i sere ent MW ae NA nb ye we f : NA A 4 ay i |b a - 4 ye Ad KEY ae, b+ A 4 : or 4 a4 Glen iors Forest ‘ Gikcndens hace CRAIGELLACHIE WI Z \7 (OE NNR SY rage Gt AMIE RE eh AA A # (Forestry Commission) Sa ® Car Park alsa ‘ herr eee ae V Youth Hostel Ne )\Coglumbridgg pak hd ce ne if SSG A Mountain Refuge Ne /; a ~—s Os YH AL # Loch an Eilein jj 3/ & Visitor Centre ry it K k gege ES sennee Nature Trail “at i eat SM 4 Mente) - pit 4, © Reserve Sign 7 VE —— Footpath, Pri er MEY LYE LG: 3 EstaleRoad ~=<@ UG I yp ANG 4G 4M Ee : \ My yy Uy Vp Y Lid, Wy a 4 A Camping Site AR Se Wea Myf 4, 4, AG G, Eso, ar hy Peapomues by S 4, 4476 xy VELA AA A d CARN \\, Vil, Ch “yD CAG VSD Ye (eine bc velceaes Bie ‘ T Uy, j Ids Gey Vea Shielifg “ Board . YOO j ‘ iy) Gey Ne! oui i \ M,N Yi 6 E) BROT 1 \ y “hs 1 Rothie(murchus (4 °* 2447 » 4 J Creag \ & x Mhigeach Qs N x U) \ -¥ A > loch Mhé Me 4 Ghille-thaai S, \ f Loeh Coire \A | : anigetan, (Se ye ° r 3 ! SGORAN DUBH New x Dee elvah \ | MOR i [Och EINICH BRAERIACH } \ Emith CAIRNS t SGOR ~ An Garbh \ g GAOITH a a 4 EX Choire ae SOME a 2 : CARN BAN £0, Sgwnondail 7" w ¢6 Lochan Achlean waeNat © MOR Tass g Sou CAIRN | be Nie 4 Jas TOUL CAIRNGORMS NNR.) & I Corrour | Moine Bothy & I Mhor eg, i{4 Baie 4 Ne, nee A ace orblac ie _ Rai Glenteshie) 4 e ve 4 Lodge [eA Glenfeshie t a oc al Ny. A & /17 Coire ig p ea 7 \ & \ k Bia ¢ 2 ‘o ‘ G 4A \ wor’ ad \ & DK bal - ‘ \ lec haa > ‘ < \ nan an \ Bo s « if a \ ‘ : Ni ‘ Linn of Dee's \ \ om eZ Sy. <2 NR oF GREG Rives Fook ey e) | 2miles \ (r} = “t N.B. Representation of a road, as Nile He © track or footpath is no ° 3kms Bim Sper oS aie he Bom 5 ! Bridge evidence of the existence i we of aright of way KEY © Warden's House (3) Car Park Vv Youth Hostel &. Mountain Refuge Hut * Loch an Eilein Visitor Centre one Nature Trail © Reserve Sign _— Footpath, Private Evenenecd KK Camping Site 4, Land owned by $47, Highlands and Ye @ ak anes Develop inn of eS epresentation of a road, ack or footpath is no vidence of the existence of aright of way ae The Lepidoptera of the Cairngorms National Nature Reserve Euan A. M. MACALPINE * Introduction The Aviemore district must be one of the most popular collecting areas in Scotland yet the lepidoptera of the Cairn- gorms NNR (hereafter referred to as the Reserve or the NNR) have remained relatively unknown. The reasons are not hard to find: most visitors stay only a few days in the valley and so do not have time to survey a significant part of the Reserve; Craigellachie NNR, Granish Moor and the Bogach at Alvie are all more accessable and, possibly more critically, contain known interesting species; and finally, by contrast, the Reserve is remote, exposed and very hard work to cover adequately. In 1976 I was offered a sabbatical term by Winchester College and from late March until early September of that year I was employed by the Nature Conservancy Council to undertake as full a survey of the NNR as possible. In 1977 I returned for five weeks, the last week of July and the whole of August, and in 1978 I was in the area for three weeks, the last two weeks of August and the first week of September. On all these occasions the NCC kindly supplied me with transport and office facilities. A full report of the survey is at present being prepared for the NCC and I am grateful to them for allowing me to publish this article first. Anyone seeing this article who is able to add species to the list for the NNR, or can give additional localities, is kindly asked to contact the author, if possible enclosing two copies of his records. All letters will be acknowledged and one copy of the records forwarded to the NCC. Brief Description of the Reserve The Reserve, established in July 1954, now consists of 26,000 ha. and its main importance is that it contains the largest mass of really high land in Britain. Viewed from the north, the area appears as two high plateaux bisected by the Lairig Ghru, which runs from Coylumbridge, rises to a height of 835 m. and then decends to Deeside. The eastern plateau contains the summits of Cairn Gorm and Ben Macdui and the western plateau the summits of Braeriach and Cairn Toul. All four are over 1,240 m., the highest being Ben Macdui at * Hawkins’, St. Cross Road, Winchester, Hants. $023 9HX. MAP Reproduced by courtesy of the NCC. The letters a to g indicate the positions of the main trap sites within the Reserve; the letter rf indicates the positions of casual trap sites; and the letter k indicates the main trap site at Kincraig, outside the Reserve. Note: (i) St. Valery Hut and Curran Bothy no longer exist; (ii) the nature trail at Achlean is closed. 2 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD, VOL. 91 1/1/79 1,309 m. The high land is the most truely ‘arctic’ in Britain. Associated with these tops are a series of spectacular corries, high-level lochs and streams. On the western plateau, south of Gleann Einich and above Glen Feshie, there is the largest area of high blanket bog in the country, most of the land being above 900 m. This is known at the Moire Mhor or “The Great Moss’. Between the high land and the lush margins of the Spey valley there is a succession of different habitats. At Rothie- murchus there is an extensive remnant of the old Caledonian pine forest, with its rich under-storey of bilberry-crowberry heath; at Craig Fhiaclach the pines reach their highest natural level in Britain at some 640 m.; heather dominates above this level, slowly becoming more wind-flattened with increasing altitude until it fades out at around 1,000 m. Patches of bear- berry and, at higher altitude, crowberry can become quite extensive in this heath-land. Above 1,000 m. Rhacomitrium heath dominates. Anyone wanting much fuller details of the vegetation in particular or the area in general should see Nethersole- Thompson & Watson, 1974. Previous Work on Lepidoptera in the NNR In 1952 Comm. G. W. Harper went to live in Newton- more and from then until the late 60s collected and recorded over a large area. He wrote up his findings in a series of papers, Harper (1954-1968), and these papers give the only self-contained account of the macrolepidoptera of the region — roughly a circle of 20-mile radius centred on Newtonmore. At the request of the NCC he recorded as much as he could within the boundary of the Reserve but he limited his range to the area around Loch an Eilein, only occasionally going further affield. E. C. Pelham-Clinton and R. M. Mere visited the Reserve soon after it was declared an NNR, and recorded particularly in Gleann Einich and on Braeriach plateau — and ran a trap on the summit! Pelham-Clinton also visited Glen Derry and Glen Luibeg in 1970 and Glen Derry again in 1971. Sufficient to say that by 1976 there were approximately 115 species recorded on the NCC files, the majority of the macro records coming from Harper and the majority of the micro records from Pelham-Clinton. There was an entomological survey sponsored by Shell but no records from this have seen the light of day — at least no records of moths or butterflies have appeared. It is perhaps interesting to note that the provisional Atlas of the Insects of the British Isles, Part 2, Lepidoptera, had no records at all for the grid square: NJO0O Gairn Gorm Summit, Coire Raibert, Loch Avon, Loch Etchachan; NN89 Carn Ban Mor, Coire Garbhlach; NN99__— Loch Einich, Moine Mhor; NN88_ Upper Glen Feshie. THE LEPIDOPTERA OF THE CAIRNGORMS NNR 3 This Survey In view of the rather fragmentary nature of the previous records, I decided to approach the area as if nothing were known. I therefore selected seven trapping sites around the north and north-western edge of the Reserve, trying to choose them to give maximum coverage of the area and maximum diversity of vegetation type. I chose an eighth site, Inshriach, which I used whenever the NCC landrover was out of action, since this was the only locality that I could get my car to in the Reserve. In 1977, I dropped the sites at Loch Einich and Achlean and in 1978 I dropped Achnagoichan as well. A glance at the map will show that I got reasonable coverage of the lower area of the Reserve but, in view of the fact that I only trapped at each site once a week, I am sure that I have failed to get a complete picture at any of the sites. During the day I covered as much of the Reserve as I could and I suppose I spent on average about six or seven hours a day in the hills — only just an adequate amount of time given the remoteness of so much of the NNR. Traps and Trap Sites To save space in the systematic list, I use the following letters to repressent the trap sites: A. Loch an Eilein NN/899072. 290 m. B. Cairgorm Club Footbridge NH/928078. 300m. C. Loch Gamhna NH/894073. 260 m. D. Loch Einich NN/921999. 510m. E. Inshriach Bothy NH/885056. 285 m. F. Allt Ruadh NH/864010. 380 m. G. Achlean NN/852985. 340 m. H. Achnagoichan NH/912083. 310m. Apart from the restrictions mentioned above, these sites were all trapped once a week for the time I was in the area. In 1976 I used two 6-watt actinic Heath traps, and in 1977 and °78 I used a 125-watt Robinson trap. Other trap-sites used were: Gleann Eninich — NH/925046 — 430 m. — July 10th, 15th, 24th, 29th, all 1976 — one Heath trap; Gleann Einich — NH/928066 — 350m. — 29.vii.76 — one Heath trap; Coire Garbhlach — NN/872947 — 510 m. 24.vii.76; Coire Garbhlach — NN/881939 — 900 m.— 11.viii.77 — one Heath trap; Moine Mhor — NN/895926 — 980 m. — one Heath trap; Moine Mhor — NN/904927 — 974 m. — 11.viii.77 — one Robinson trap. Site outside Reserve K. ‘Kincraig’ NH/8506. 220m. Apart from the first three weeks in 1976, I lived at the above site and in 1976 and ’78 I ran a Robinson trap there every night. In 1977 I ran the Robinson trap in the Reserve and did no recording at all at Kincraig. Over all three seasons I did no day-time or dusk work there since I was always in the NNR. I have included these result in the systematic list so that they can be compared and contrasted with the results from the NNR and in the hope that all the results taken 4 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD, VOL. 91 1/1/79 together will eventually form the basis of a micro list for the whole area, and not just for the NNR. Weather The weather during 1976 has been commented on many times in this journal and it is clear that I could not have picked a better year to ‘work’ the Cairngorms. Indeed, after reading Harper’s comments on the weather over the years, it is obvious that the weather in the Cairngorms was relatively even better than over the country as a whole. A few brief figures will confirm this. Weather records kept at Achnagoichan for the period 1955 to 1964 gave the following: Average warmest month: July, 16.2°C. Average Minimum Monthly Rainfall: 40 mm. in April — with March and May similar. Average August Rainfall (the wetest month): 98 mm. Compare 1976: the average temperatures in June, July, August were 20.6, 22.2, 21.2°C; the maximum monthly rain- fall was in May, 47 mm., all other months under 24 mm. and August had only 16 mm.! Although 1977 and 1978 were not nearly so good as 1976, they were still better than average. In short, it is hard to imagine that any moth survey has been blessed with such good weather over such a long period of time in an area that is renowned for it’s bad weather! Day-time Records During the day I covered as much of the Reserve as I could and I list below the major areas of the NNR that I visited that were away from the trap sites. The numbers opposite each area indicate the number of visits specifically to these areas, as opposed to merely walking through the area on the way to somewhere else. The three sets of figures give the visits for each of the three seasons J was there. (1) Cairn Gorm & Coire Railbert: 7-0-1. (2) Loch Avon & Loch Etchachan: 3-1-0. (3) Cairn Grom to Ben Macdui: 3-1-0. (4) Lairig to Sinclair Hut: 5-1-2. (5) Gleann Einich to the Loch: 5-0-0. (6). Creag Fhiaclach, Coire Follais, & Argyll Stone area: 4-0-1. (7) Geal-charn & Coire Follais: 1-0-0. (8) Achlean & Coire Garbhlach: 5-0-1. (9) Moine Mhor & Carn Ban Mor: 3-1-0. (10) Upper Glen Feshie: 0-1-1. (11) Loch Einich to Braeriach: 3-0-0. (12) Cairn Toul: 1-0-0. (13) Lairig to Linn of Dee: 0-0-1. A brief glance at the map will show that I failed to cover adequately the areas drained by the Geusachan Burn, the lower River Eidart and the upper Feshie and Glen Derry and Glen Luibeg. The Systematic List In the list that follows I have tried to convey as much information as space allows. After each species I give the trap sites it was recorded from, using the letter abbreviations, then the day-flying records and any larvae or pupae found. The only exception to this is for the records from Kincraig: I have grouped all these under the trap site and have not given THE LEPIDOPTERA OF THE CAIRNGORMS NNR 5 further details about day-flying, larvae, etc., since this report is mainly concerned with the NNR. To save space I use the following conventions: A means at trap site A; Loch an Eilein means ‘in the area of Loch an Eilein but not actually at trap-site A’, similarly Loch Gamha, etc; Achlean/Coire Garbhlach means the area between these two places; above Loch an Eilein and above Loch Gamhna means the areas to the south of these places, where the land starts to rise. This list contains all the records for the NNR that I have been able to find and unless otherwise stated all records are those of the author. In the case of records already on the files, I have only given these if I have failed to up-date them myself. In the event, additional records have come from Pelham- Clinton, abbreviated to E.C.P-C., Harper and two records from Charles Godfray and Mark Sterling, who visited the area in the summer of 1977. The only species for which records are incomplete are those for the ‘ear’ moths: I killed only a few and, having identified all three species from the NNR, I then stopped recording them. In general I have given full details of occurence, but numbers for only a few species, and I am grateful to the Editor for advice on which species might be of interest to his readers. Vice Counties. All records in this list are from V.c.96, East Invernesshire, except for the following places: V.c.94 Banffshire. Fords of Avon, Loch Avon, Cairn Gorm, Coire Raibert, Coire Domhain, Shetler Stone, Lochan Buidhe. V.c.92 South Aberdeenshire. Loch Etchanchan, Coire Spuntan Dearg, Glen Derry, Glen Luibeg, Cairn Toul, Pools of Dee. V.c.92/V.c.96. Braeriach & Einich Cairn lie on the boundary between these Vice Counties. Brief Summary of Results The systematic list gives 387 species for the Reserve. I failed to record eleven species that were on the NCC files. The total number of different species at each of the trap sites were as follows: A — 225; B — 130; C — 160; D — 32: E — 141; F — 123; G — 102; H — 122; (K — 322). These figures give a good indication of the relative richness of the sites though two things need to be taken into account: I never ran a 125-watt trap at G; and I recorded more from A, Loch an Eilein, than any Other site since it is the main entrance to the Reserve and without doubt the easiest place to see nearly all the butterflies. The figures for B, Cairgorm Club Footbridge, are slightly lower than I expected but this may be due to the fact that there is no really good birch in the area and the ants seemed particularly active there —the trap always had a lot of ants in it and I assume the toll on larvae is very great. Iam informed that the best ant-free area is between the two rivers that meet at Cairngorm Club Footbridge but I never went there. Perhaps one day? 6 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD, VOL. 91 1/1/79 The records away from the trap sites, i. day-flying records only, give: Lairig to Sinclair Hut — 56; Gleann Einich — 54; Achlean/Coire Garhlach — 64; Upper Glen Feshie, from Ruigh-aiteachain bothy south — 27, this after only two visits, both in August when the main season was over. My guess is that Glen Feshie, from the bothy, would turn out to be the richest of these sites if only it could be adequately surveyed. Acknowledgments I wish to express my sincere thanks to Winchester College for granting me a sabbatical term and the Mathematics depart- ment for covering for me while I was away; to the Nature Conservancy Council and all the staff at Aviemore for the help they gave me; to Teddy Pelham-Clinton and the late Denzil Ffennell for the enormous amount of work they did on my behalf indentifying a lot of the micros; to Lord Dulverton and John Grant The Younger for granting me free access to all their land; and to all the entomologists who gave me help before, during and after my trips to the Cairngorms. These were: Bob Palmer, who gave me all the records he had for the south side of the NNR; Geoffrey Pyman, who sent me records of Venusia cambrica (Curtis) and Eupithecia goosensiata (Mabille) —I failed to find these in ’76 but recorded both in °77; Charles Godray and Mark Sterling, who kindly sent me a copy of their records for ’77; Col. A. M. Emmet, who indenti- fied all larval mines; and David Carter of the British Museum (Nat. Hist.), who identified a large number of larvae I sent him, both as live specimens and as colour slides. To all these gentlemen thank you! My thanks to the Edinburgh family who answered adver- tisement in The Times and offered the most marvellous acom- modation for all these seasons. The house was in an ideal position to enable me to cover a large area of the NNR, situated as it was in Inshriach, and, as shown in the systematic list, it turned out to be an ideal locality for moths in its own right. Finally, my thanks to my wife and children for putting up with moths for about 17 hours a day for the whole period. They also contributed a good many records, my four-year-old daughter being particularly good at finding larvae at head- height, her head-height that is! A Few Useless Statistics In the course of this survey I travelled over 7,000 miles by landrover, did over 130,000 vertical feet of hill-walking and open and shut gates while driving over 2,752 times. References Harper, Cmdr. G. W., 1954-1968. The Macrolepidoptera of Inverness- shire, Newtonmore District. Ent. Rec. J. Var, Vols: 66, 67, 68, 69, 71, 72, 73, 74, 77, 80. Three main parts, in Vol: 66, and nine supplements. Nethersole-Thompson, D. and Watson, A. 1974. The Cairngorms. Collins, London. (to be continued) Provencal Butterflies in April 1978 By Dr. C. J. LUCKENS * The snow and sleet which greeted us soon after we drove off the ferry at Le Havre and the bitter east wind which per- sisted right through to Provence did not make an encouraging start to our late April family holiday. Added to that was the increasing malaise of our motorcaravan which developed more and more ailments during our marathon 17-hour journey south. The warm, aromatic Mediterranean breeze was a wonderful tonic, however, as we drove in the darkness through the fringe of the Massif des Maures, and we finally arrived at our rented gite a few kilometres outside Ste. Maxime, in the early hours of the morning. A few hours sleep, a late breakfast on the sun-filled balcony, and the sight of a large Iphiclides podalirius L. flapp- ing across the yard below, quickly restored morale, and [I lost no time in taking the three boys for a walk along the narrow roads behind Guerrevieille. The dominant butterflies were Euchloe crameri Butler and Pieris napi L., but there were also a few Anthocaris cardamines L. and Gonepteryx cleopatra L. In a small hollow beside the road I netted a female Pararge aegeria aegeria L., but not all subsequent captures were of the typical orange form of this butterfly, and pale specimens very similar to aegerides also turned up from time to time. Beside the house Celestrina argiolus L. flitted around the flowering prunus trees. The next day was spent mainly arranging for repairs to our car and hiring a replacement, but I did have a short time to explore the lower Couloubrier valley north of Ste. Maxime. E. crameri was again widespread and the only new species were Erynnis tages L. and Callophrys rubi L. Two hopelessly wet days followed, but April 19th pro- mised fair and we took the narrow hill road beyond Grimaud to Collobriéres. As we neared Collobriéres the first Anthocaris belia euphenoides Staud. appeared, fluttering over the yellow biscutella flowers beside the road. We eventually found a place to stop beside an orchard, and among some rough ground nearby single specimens of Heodes tityrus Poda and Clossiana dia L. turned up. A Nymphalis polychloros L. was seen feed- ing high up on a flowering cherry but flew off before I could net it. Just before leaving I caught a fresh female Colias croceus Geoff. which, over the next few days obliged with a number of ova. We left by the winding road over the Col de Babaou, stopping half way up to intercept a large female Papilio machaon L. which was fluttering oyer pink cistus, and which also produced a large batch of ova before her release three days later. Thundery showers prevailed for two days, but the 22nd was hot and sunny and my second son came with me to explore the eastern edge of the Forét de Dom beyond Cogolin. In *52 Thorold Road, Bitterne Park. Southampton SO2 4JG. 8 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD, VOL. 91 1/1/79 rough ground by a stream Colin spotted a worn female Zerynthia polyxena D. & S., a butterfly I particularly wanted to find. This prompted a more extensive search and after crossing the stream we eventually found ourselves in a lush meadow where this attractive butterfly was flying in numbers. The rich herbage harboured clumps of Aristolochia rotunda the main foodplant of polyxena and also several examples of the lovely yellow Southern tulip. On the far side of the meadow the fringe of the forét domaniale clothed a gently rising slope, and in the centre was an overgrown vineyard wtth several flowering fruit trees. The blossom was attracting podalirius and a few Nymphalids such as Polygonia c-album L., Nymphalis io L. and another wary polychloros. Just before leaving I casually searched one of the clumps of Aristolochia and almost immediately found two polyxena ova. April 23rd was the warmest day of our holiday. In the morning Colin and I went to the terraces east of Draguignan where Mr. R. F. Bretherton had done some profitable collect- ing in 1962. Times had changed however, and there was a plethora of notices alongside the road stating “Proprieté Privée. Défense d’Entrer’ or more simply and perhaps more tellingly ‘Attention. Chien Méchant’?! We found one fairly good area however where several A. belia euphenoides were fluttering about like lemon-yellow flower petals, and Colin captured a single male Philotes baton Berg. in perfect condition. We also saw C. dia, G. cleopatra, Leptidea sinapis L. and Pyrgus malvae L. I was pleased to net a female Libthea celtis Laich., but to my chagrin failed to find any Celtis australis to sleeve her on. In the afternoon we all went to the meadow west of Cogolin where polyxena, crameri, croceus and several more podalirius were flying. New species seen were Spialia sertorius Hoffmann. and Aricia agestis D. & S. Searching clumps of plantain, I found two Melitaea larvae which, bred out in May, produced large fine specimens of Melitaea didyma Esp. Collecting was impossible for the next three days but on April 27th, our last full day at Guerrevieille the sun shone once more and my two older sons came with me to the disused railway line which runs along the coast east of Le Rayol. The track was bordered by Arbutus bushes in several places, but we searched in vain for larvae of Charaxes jasius L. The bright, orange-dappled form of P. aegeria was fairly common and I was also pleased to find Pieris mannii Mayer. The following day we started north for home without a starter motor, which had broken with a horrifying noise the evening before. A veil must be drawn over the next two days, but suffice it to say we did not stall at any really inconvenient times and when we were finally pushed off the ferry at Ports- mouth, a satisfying harvest of specimens and livestock made all the tribulations of the journey seem worthwhile. References Bretherton, R. F., 1962. April Butterflies in Provence, 1962. Ent. Rec., 74: pp. 144-147. PROVENCAL BUTTERFLIES IN APRIL 1978 9 Greenwood, J. A. C., 1967. June in the South of France. Ent. Rec., 79: Higgins, L. G. and Riley, N. D., 1970. A Field Guide to the Butterflies of Britain and Europe — Collins. ; p Polunin, O., 1974. The Concise Flowers of Europe — Oxford University Press. Worms, de C. G. M., 1966. Easter on the French Rivera, April 1966. Ent. Rec., 78: pp. 192-197. THE LarvA OF EILEMA PYGMAEOLA PYGMAEOLA (THE Picmy Footman). — During a field meeting of the Canterbury branch of the Kent Trust for Nature Conservation at Sand- wich Bay on the 11th June 1978, I found by a footpath on the Royal St. George’s Golf Course, a large concrete bollard which I turned over in the hope of finding some beetles. On the side of this lichen-encrusted piece of concrete I found two Arctiid larvae. One of these furry brown caterpillars was evidently parasitised and unfortunately both host and para- site died. However, the other larva soon spun a cocoon from which there emerged a perfect specimen of Eilema pygmaeola pygmaeola Doubleday. This specimen was shown at the Annual Exhibition of the British Entomological and Natural History Society, where Mr. Chalmers-Hunt informed me that little or nothing appears to be known of the immature stages of this insect, at least in this country. Being unaware of the significance of my capture at the time, I made no description of the full grown larva and its cocoon. However, as it seems likely that the two larvae were feeding on the lichen on the concrete bollard it should be possible to find more in 1979.— L. D. M. Packer, | Mary Green Walk, Canterbury, Kent. [This is the first time to my knowledge that the larva of this species has been found in Britain, despite the fact that the moth has been known as an inhabitant of this country for more than 130 years, and is not uncommon where it occurs.— J.M.C-H.]. THE PAINTED LADY IN DECEMBER 1978.— I was interested to see a Cynthia cardui L. here in our garden on 4th Decem- ber, a beautiful calm sunny day after a cold spell. It settled on Chrysanthemum and Senecio.— T. G. Howartu, Highview, 4 Clinton Road, Beer, Seaton, Devon. EPIPHYAS POSTVITTANA WALKER IN HAMPSHIRE. — I recorded the second and third appearance of this species in Hampshire last year (in Ent. Rec., 90: 82). This year’s records strengthen the likelyhood that it is now breeding in the Win- chester area of Hampshire. I took two specimens in my Win- chester (V.c.11) m.v.t rap on nights 25th/26th October and Ist/2nd November 1978. In addition Rev. S. C. Pittis brought me a further specimen that had come to a 15 watt actinic trap in his garden on nights 27th/28th October. This also in V.c.11 about a mile away from mine towards the centre of Win- chester (V.c.11) m.v. trap on nights 25th/26th October and Lane, Winchester, Hants., SO22 5LF. 10 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD, VOL. 91 1/1/79 Flights of the Wood Ant Formica lugubris (Hym., Formicidae) in Ireland By JOHN BREEN* Most of the studies of the flight activities of Formica have been made on the North American species (Scherba, 1958; Talbot, 1959-1972; Kannowski, 1959, 1963; Clark & Comanor, 1972). These studies suggest a pattern of short morning flights on successive days with only small numbers of alatae taking flight each day. In contrast, there are few detailed studies of the flight activities of European Formica. Donisthorpe (1927: 297) observed a mating swarm of one of the F. rufa-group species at Aviemore, ‘‘in the middle of the afternoon”? of 15.vi.1911. Marikovsky (1961) recorded mass flights of alatae from wood ant nests and swarms of alatae congregating on mountain tops. There is also an old record of F. aquilonia Yarrow swarming on top of Ben Nevis in 1896 (Brice, in Collingwood, 1958). The purpose of this note is to report observations of flights made during a recent study of F. lugubris Zett. Further details of the localities mentioned can be found in Breen (1977). Production of Alatae Alatae occurred in most medium (diameter ca. 0.7m) to large-sized active nests and were first observed in the nests on 12.v.1973, 11.v.1974 and 23.iv.1975. Males seemed to appear first. Most nests produced both sexes, a few produced males only and none were seen with females only. Alatae (males) were last seen in the nests in late September during 1973. Alatae occurred in nests at all the known Irish localities (c.f. Breen, 1977). There were considerable differences in the time of appear- ance of alatae in different nests in the South Tipperary planta- tion woods. During 1973, alatae were first observed in Moore’s Wood on 12 May and were present in all the active nests during the next few weeks. However, in some nests — gener- ally large, non-active and shaded, sexual larvae and pupae, but no alatae were observed as late as the 20 June, and callow males and many sexual pupae were present in one such nest (MW 284a) on 6 July. I do not know if these late emerging alatae ever flew from the nests. Similar observations have been made on the American species F. ulkei Emery: ‘“‘The mound that is shaded or has only a northern exposure to the sun lags in activities such as the development of brood and the initiation of activity in the spring” (Scherba, 1958). Flights Flights were first observed in 1975. However flight dates before this can be reasonably inferred from the appearance of dealate females on the ground: 26.v.1973, 13.vi.1974. During 1975, flights were observed from five nests in Kilcoran Wood on six days from 6-20 June (table 1) and the first and last flights at each nest may not have been witnessed. * Department of Zoology, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland. FLIGHTS OF THE WOOD ANT FORMICA LUGUBRIS 11 TasLe 1. Flight activities at five nests in Kilcoran Wood during June 1975. All times are in Irish summer time. Key: — no alatae on mound; + flights; ? alatae on mound but no flight; * no observation made. Date Nest 6 q 9 10 11 20 Take-off direction 440a + ae ? — — — ESE 440f ar + ar ? 3F af NNW 440g ar — — — — — SSE 437b ar — 2 — — WSW 7d “2 ae al =r NNW 43 lay Ma Starting 08.00 08.30 08.30 10.40 10.40 09.35 time Males and females flew from the vegetation on or near the nest, and females also climbed nearby trees (up to 5m high) and flew from their highest points. Such differences between males and females were reported in F. ulkei (Talbot, 1959) and F. opaciventris Emery (Scherba, 1961). Flights of males only and of females only occurred from the same nest (KC-437d) on different days. All the flights lasted 30-45 minutes and although 20-30 alatae per minute was the highest number seen taking flight, the usual number was 5-10 per minute. Flights took place in the morning and the actual time of flight varied according to the temperature; each flight started after the first direct sun-rays hit the nest, air tempera- ture 17.5-18.0°C. Alatae about to fly flapped their wings beforehand (cf. Kannowski, 1963). One flight started at 16.2°C but the small number of alatae which took flight all landed on nearby trees. These observations are very similar to the observations made on the North American Formica (refer- ences above). Observations made on 20.v.1977 in Kilcoran Wood (nest 440g) provide further evidence of the dependence of flights on air temperature. The observations began at 03.30. At 06.50 alatae (1 2, 4 o') appeared on the nest surface. However, cloud cover was 100%, air temperature 11.5°C and it was misting. At 10.30 it cleared (air temp. 13.6°C). At 10.45 ca. 200 alatae appeared on the nest. Clouds reappeared but this was followed by another clearance at 11.30 (air temp. 13.9°C).At 11.50 four males and one female took flight. At 12.00 a 5-minute count gave 17 males and 4 females taking flight (air temp. 19.4°C). Only a few more alatae took flight and it ceased by 12.30 (air temp. 20.6°C). This flight was the latest in the day I have seen and it appears to have been delayed by the repeated appear- ance of clouds. The direction of take-off flight was quite constant at each of the five nests (cf. table 1). However the directions appeared to bear no obvious relationship either to each other, or to uphill/downhill direction, and may have been dictated by the tree positions at each site. Alatae were rarely seen on the surface of the nest at other times, and this may be due to a circadian rhythm of alate emergence from the nest such as that demonstrated by McCluskey (1965) in alatae of five ant species, including the formicine Campanotus clarithorax Emery. 12 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD, VOL. 91 1/1/79 Acknowledgements Most of these observations were made while I was a postgraduate student at the Department of Zoology, Univer- sity College, Cork, under the supervision of Professor F. J. O’Rourke. I was in receipt of a U.C.C. College Scholarship and a Department of Education maintenance award. References Breen J. 1977. The distribution of Formica lugubris Zetterstedt (Hymen- optera, Formicidae) in Ireland, with a discussion of its possible introduction. Ir. Nat. J. 19: 123-127. ; Clark, W. H. & Comanor, P. L. 1972. Flights of the western thatching ant, Formica obscuripes Forel, in Nevada (Hymenoptera, Formi- cidae). Gt Basin Nat. 32: 202-207. Collingwood, C. A. 1958. Summit ant swarms. Entomologist’s Rec. J. Var. 70: 65-67. Donisthorpe, H. St. J. K. 1927. British Ants. 436 pp. London. Kannowski P. B. 1959. The flight activities and colony behavior of bog ants in southeastern Michigan. Insectes soc. 6: 115-162. Kannowski, P. B. 1963. The flight activities of formicine ants. Symp. genet. 12: 74-102. Marikovsky, P. I. 1961. Material on sexual biology of the ant Formica rufa L. Insectes soc. 8: 23-30. McCluskey, E. S. 1965. Circadian rhythms in male ants of five diverse species. Science, N.Y. 150: 1037-1039. Scherba, G. 1958. Reproduction, nest orientation and population struc- ture of an aggregation of mound nests of Formica ulkei Emery (‘“‘Formicidae’’). Insectes soc. 5: 201-213. Scherba, G. 1961. Nest structure and reproduction in the mound- building ant Formica opaciventris Emery in Wyoming. JI N.Y. ent. Soc. 69: 71-87. Talbot, M. 1959. Flight activities of two species of ants of the genus Formica. Am. Midl. Nat. 61: 124-132. Talbot, M. 1964. Nest structure and flights of the ant Formica obscuriventris Mayr. Anim. Behav. 12: 154-158. Talbot, M. 1971. Flights of the ant Formica dakotensis Emery. Psyche. Camb. 78: 169-179. Talbot, M. 1972. Flights and swarms of the ant Formica obscuripes Forel. J. Kans. ent. Soc. 45: 254-258. TROSLEY COUNTRY PARK (TROTTISCLIFFE) NEAR WROTHAM, KeEnT.— Entomologists may be interested to know that the 160 acres of woodland and downs south of Vigo Village has been a County Council Country Park since 1976. As an area of national importance biologically (Nature Conservancy S.S.S.I. Grade 1) the Council is keen to receive past records and observations which may be of use in formulating a man- agement plan that will help to conserve the natural history interest of the Park. If you can help, please write to the County Estates Officer and Valuer, Springfield, Maidstone. If you wish to collect specimens or are organising a group visit, would you please first contact the above address.—N. F. HEAL, Fosters, Detling Hill, near Maidstone, Kent. THE CLOUDED SILVER (BAPTA TEMERATA HUBN.) IN OctToBER.— A fresh specimen of B. temerata Hubn. came to the m.v. light in my garden on 24th October 1978. Presumably this must be the result of our unusual weather this year. Today, 27th November, I have a group of purple and white spring crocus and a Narcissus bulbocodium conspicuus in full bloom. — J. A. C. GREENwoop, Hambledon House, Rogate, West Sussex. 13 The History and Status in Britain of Cosmiotes consortella (Stainton, 1851) (exiguella Frey, 1885) (Lep.: Elachistidae) By A. M. EMMEt * Elachista consortella was named by Stainton from several specimens captured by Logan in March, 1850 near King Arthur’s Seat, Edinburgh (V.c.82). Morris (1872) added Head- ley Lane, Surrey (V.c.17) as a locality and June-July as addi- tional months for its occurrence; Headley Lane, Stainton’s “sanctum sanctorum” of entomologists, lies in the ten- kilometre square which today holds records of more lepidop- tera than any other in the British Isles. Meyrick (1895) added Westmorland and east Ireland to the distribution pattern, but in his revised edition (1928), he degraded E. consortella to synonymy with E. nigrella (Hiibn.). Thereafter the species disappeared from our literature, though Waters (1928) recorded the capture in April, 1927 at Ventnor, Isle of Wight of E. nigrella, “mostly of the form described as E. consortella in the first edition of Mr. Meyrick’s Handbook”’. Bradley (1952) introduced Elachista exiguella Frey as a species new to the British list on the evidence of a specimen taken between the 3rd and 8th of June, 1951 in the Burren, Co. Clare (V.c.H.9). The second British record under the name E. exiguella was captured at Tresco, Isles of Scilly (V.c.1) between the 29th of June and the 6th of July, 1957 (Richard- son & Mere, 1958). The third, again from Ireland, was taken at Glenmore, Co. Kilkenny (V.c.H.11) on the 27th of April, 1965 (Mere & Pelham-Clinton, 1966). Bradley (1966) found Elachista consortella and E. exiguella to be synonymous and, in compliance with the Rule of Prority, sank exiguella as a junior synonym of consortella. Bradley & Pelham-Clinton (1967) recorded the capture in the Burren of “‘a few” further specimens of Cosmiotes con- sortella, using a combination not previously found in our literature. Chalmers-Hunt (1970) recorded a ? taken on the 21st of July 1967, at Port Erin, Isle of Man (V.c.71). Emmet (1972) recorded a specimen taken in 1969 at Ballyconneely, Co. Galway (V.c.H.16). As far as is known, there is no sub- sequent reference in our journals. _ The British collection in the British Museum (Natural History) contains only three specimens recognised as C. con- sortella, the first Burren example (see above), and two taken by Mr. W. G. Tremewan on the 24th of April, 1955 at Gwithian, Cornwall (V.c.1). Mr. E. C. Pelham-Clinton (in litt.) reports that he has additional specimens from West Lothian (V.c.83) and South Kerry (V.c.H.1). Mr. J. M. Chalmers-Hunt has a @ taken on the 2nd June 1957 at Halling, Kent (V.c.16) (gen. det. E. C. Pelham-Clinton). } The history of the species in Britain gives the impression that it has a predominantly northern and western distribution, but this is not necessarily the case. Suspecting that I had taken *Labrey Cottage. Victoria Gardens. Saffron Walden, Essex. 14 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD, VOL. 91 1/1/79 specimens in Essex both of C. consortella and C. freyerella (Hiibner) (nigrella (Hiibner) nec (Fabricius)), I submitted some of them to Mr. E. C. Pelham-Clinton, who pronounced three to be C. consortella; these bear the following data: Tiptree Heath, 3.vii.77, Great Sampford, 19.v.78 and Hadstock, 29.v.78 (all V.c.19). To these I add three (possibly four specimens taken at Benfleet (V.c.18) on 28.iv.66. Though this material is statistically insufficient, the indications are that the two Cosmiotes species are equally common in the county. If other microlepidopterists were to examine their series of “‘Elachista nigrella’, they well might find that they possess both species. Should this be the case, the records should be published to give a clearer picture of the distribution pattern. The differences between the species are described by Traugott-Olsen & Schmidt Neilsen (1977). Compared with C. freyerella, C. consortella is generally smaller, has the forewing lighter grey and the median fascia more obscure; the frons is shining pale beige as opposed to sordid white and the neck- tufts are mottled with darker-tipped scales as opposed to being uniform brownish grey. The most obvious difference in the male genitalia lies in a spine at the distal end of the sacculus; in C. freyerella it is free and distinct, whereas in C. consortella it is appressed to the sacculus. If the scales are brushed from the tip of the abdomen, this character can usually be seen under high magnification without the dissection of the specimen. The life history of C. consortella is unknown. Dates of capture (March-May, June-July, September) show that it its double- or triple-brooded. The habitat is open grassland, often on calcareous ground. C. freyerella feeds mainly on Poa spp. and C. consortella may do so likewise. I have a fortuitously bred specimen in my collection acquired in the following circumstances. In a series of collecting notes contributed to the AES Bulletin, I stated that elachistid larvae did not spin cocoons but pupated under a girdle like many species of butterfly (Emmet, 1970). Mr. J. L. Gregory of St. Austell, Cornwall (V.c.2) rightly took me to task for overgeneralisation, since he had bred elachistids from cocoons. On the Ist of April 1971 he wrote to me as follows (slightly adapted): ‘“‘The enclosed moth has just emerged (yesterday)—another cocoon- making Elachista! The cocoon was on the lid of a jar which was being used by my six-year-old daughter to rear some grass- feeding noctuids. The foodplant was probably Poa but might have been Holcus. I could not find the mine.” The moth arrived alive and in perfect condition. At the time, following Meyrick, I misidentified it as Elachista nigrella. February is likely to be the best month to look for the first generation of larvae, which should not be too difficult to find. Abroad, C. consortella has been recorded from Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, South Spain and South Italy. I am grateful to Mr. E. C. Pelham-Clinton for the indenti- fication of specimens and advice. I have drawn information freely from Traugott-Olsen & Schmidt Neilsen (loc. cit.). THE HISTORY IN BRITAIN OF COSMIOTES CONSORTELLA 15 References Bradley, J. D., 1952. Microlepidoptera collected in the Burren, Co. Clare in 1951, including two species new to the British list. Entomologist’s Gaz. 3: 185-192, 1 pl. , 1966. Changes in the Nomenclature of British Lepidop- tera, Part 4, Microlepidoptera. Ibid. 17: 213-235. Bradley, J. D. & Pelham-Clinton, E. C., 1967. Lepidoptera of the Burren, Co. Clare, W. Ireland. Ibid. 18: 115-153. Chalmers-Hunt, J. M., 1970. The butterflies and moths of the Isle of Man. Trans. Soc. Br. Ent. 19: 1-171. Emmet, A. M., 1970. Collecting Notes—the Smaller Moths. Bull. amat. ent. Soc. 29 (286): 1-5. , 1972. More Lepidoptera in West Galway. Entomolgist’s Gaz. 22: 3-18. Mere, R. M. & Pelham-Clinton, E. C., 1966. Lepidoptera in Ireland, 1963, 1964 and 1965. Ibid. 17: 163-182. Meyrick, E., 1895.4 Handbook of British Lepidoptera, vi., 843 pp., London. ., 1928. A revised Handbook of British Lepidoptera, vi., 914 pp., London. Morris, F. O., 1872. A Natural History of British Moths, 4: viii, 304 pp., index, 36 pls., London. Richardson, A. & Mere, R. M., 1958. Some preliminary observations on the Lepidoptera of the Isles of Scilly with particular reference to Tresco. Entomologist’s Gaz. 9: 115-147, 2 pls. Stainton, H. T., 1851. A supplementary Catalogue of the British Tineidae and Pterophoridae, 28 pp., London. Traugott-Olsen, E. & Schmidt Neilsen, E., 1977. The Elachistidae (Lepidoptera) of Fennoscandia and Denmark, 299 pp., figs. and pls. Klampenborg. Waters, E. G. R., 1928. Early Micro-Lepidoptera in the Isle of Wight. Entomologist’s mon. Mag. 64: 140-141. OBITUARY WILLIAM EDWARD BUSBRIDGE William Edward Busbridge (known to many as Buzz) was born in London on 27th July 1904, and died suddenly from a heart attack on 30th September 1978. He was the son of William Reginald Busbridge who became Station Master at Dover Marine in 1918, and as such was the holder of many foreign decorations given by crowned heads as they passed through the port. After attending school in Dover he, like his father, joined the Railway and was a clerical officer in London throughout his career, except for the 1939-1945 War, in which he served in the army. Busbridge was a keen collector of lepidoptera and observer of bird life. He spent most of his leave in the country and much of his collecting was done around Dover in the 1920’s and 1930’s, and later at Sevenoaks where he lived after the war. Probably the best insect he ever took was at Atchester Wood, Stelling near Elham on 6th June 1930. This was the very rare ab. fuscaria Prout of the Orange Moth (Angerona prunaria L.), which specimen is now in the RCK collection in the BMNH. Latterly he lived alone in an hotel — he was never married —and became interested in chess, becoming Hon. Secretary of the Hastings and St. Leonards Chess Club. He had no near relatives but will be sadly missed by his many friends.— G. H. YOUDEN. 16 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD, VOL. 91 1/1/79 The Return of the Orange Tip By ALBERT G. LONG* (i) In Berwickshire VC 81 The Orange Tip, Anthocharis cardamines L., was a fairly well-known butterfly in the Eastern Scottish Borders about the time of the founding of the Berwickshire Naturalists’ Club in 1831. Thus, in 1832, the founder Dr. George Johnston described it as a local species, rare near Berwick but occurring on the road between Paxton and Swinton and also between Swinton Mill and Coldstream (H.B.N.C. 1, 8). In 1850 it was seen at Coldingham Moor on June 19 (H.B.N.C. 3, 5), and in 1880 one was taken by Dr. Stuart at Broomdykes (H.B.N.C. 9, 295), while others were noted at Humebyres and Gordon Moss by Robert Renton (H.B.N.C. 9, 295). About this time it was also known in Lauderdale, as recorded by Andrew Kelly in the book Lauderdale and Lauderdale by A. Thomson (1902), though apparently it was becoming scarce, as in 1897 William Shaw wrote “Once common at Gordon Moss but never seen now” (H.B.N.C. 16, 231). George Bolam, writing in 1925, said that it occurred in the Eyemouth district many years prior to 1887 and also in Duns district, but he had no records for the twentieth century (H.B.N.C. 25, 522). The last recorded year of occurrence in Berwickshire therefore seems to have been 1880. During the period 1945-1966, when I lived in Berwick- shire, I never saw or heard of a single specimen in the County and I thus regarded it as probably extinct. In my County List (1957), I wrote “Is it too much to hope for its rediscovery or is it extinct in the County?” (H.B.N.C. 34, nis2) The first known recent occurrence of Orange Tips in Berwickshire, was on the North bank of Tweed below Leader- foot Bridge on 18.5.1975,, when about 10 specimens were seen by D. G. Long (4.B.N.C. 40, 104); and the following year, a male was seen on Aubretia in a garden at Earlston by Henry Polson (A. J. Smith, J. Edinb. nat. Hist. Soc. 1976, 12). In 1978, one was seen at Abbey St. Bathans on 24.5.78, and another at Stichcill on the same date (A. G. Buckham). One was observed at Eccles on 24.5.78 by P. Summers, and on the North bank of Tweed below Lennel Churchyard I saw two males and two ova on Alliaria petiolata on 27.5.78. One female was also seen at the same site on 11.6.78. The above constitute all the records for VC 81 known to me. (ii) In East Lothian VC 82 In East Lothian (VC 82) less seems to be known of the Orange Tip than in Berwickshire. W. Evans could only record two at Tynefield in May 1860 and 1861 (Ann. Scot. Nat. Hist. 1897, p.91). It would therefore be of interest if any reader has knowledge of records this century. * Hancock Museum, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. THE RETURN OF THE ORANGE TIP lif (iii) In North Northumberland VC 68 The decline of the Orange Tip in Berwickshire towards the end of last century was matched by a similar decline in north Northumberland (VC 68). Thus, in 1839, P. J. Selby recorded it on his estate at Twizell near Belford (Ann. of Nat. Hist. 3, 372); in 1843, Dr. Johnston observed it on May 3rd on the south bank of Tweed between Horncliffe and Norham (H.B.N.C. 2, 44); and in 1857, George Wailes noted it near Callaly on 4th June and added “Generally distributed over the two counties (i.e. Durham and Northumberland) (7.7.N.F.C. 3, 195). In 1867 the butterfly was recorded at Lilburn Tower on 28.3.1867 (a very early date), and again on 10.6.1869 at the same place by R. F. Wheeler (7.N.H.S. 3, 28 and 478); and in 1872 it was stated to be scarce at Rothbury by R. F. Wheeler and R. E. Hooppell (7.N.H.S. 5, 99). George Bolam, writing in 1925, recorded it for Hetton Hall near Belford. He wrote: “In W. B. Boyd’s collection, in 1883, I saw a considerable series all taken at Hetton Hall, where as he informed me it used to be common” (H.B.N.C. 255 522)! In the Phenological Report of the Royal Meteorological Society for 1929 the Orange Tip was recorded for Thornton (nr. Shoreswood), Berwick and for Lemmington nr. Alnwick. It is interesting to note that it was seen at Gargunnock, near Stirling (VC 85), on the early date of 27.3.1929. Since the above we have no further records for VC 68 until 12.6.1976, when two males were seen by P. Summers on the old railway track. It is thus obvious that in north North- umberland, as in Berwickshire, the Orange Tip suffered a long period of eclipse. (to be continued) WARWICKSHIRE AND NORTHAMPTONSHIRE MIGRANTS.— There was a great deal of migrant activity in Warwickshire during October as the following m.v. light trap records show. 10th October: two Rhodometra sacraria L. at Charlecote, a og and 9. 13th October: Cosymbia puppillaria Hbn., at Alves- ton Village (New County Record). 14th October: Leucania vitellina Hbn., one each at Charlecote and Hampton Lucy; R. sacraria, two at Hampton Lucy, one at Thelsford (A. Gardner) and one at Charlecote; Nycterosea obstipata F., two at Charlecote. 25th October: Leucania unipuncta Haw. at Marton (R. Allen) (New County Record). 9th November: L. unipuncta 2 at Charlecote (A. Gardner). 11th November: L. unipuncta @ at Charlecote. On the night of 12th October 1978, two Peridroma por- phyrea D. & S. and a good specimen of Leucania unipuncta Haw. were visitors to an m.v. trap situated in the grounds of the Primary School in Deanshanger Village. This appears to be the first Northamptonshire record for unipuncta.— D. C. G. BBOWN, Jacksons Farmhouse, 25 Charlecote, near War- wick. 18 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD, VOL. 91 1/1/79 Rev. H. S. Gorham and Some 19th Century Records By J. COOTER * (Continued from Volume 90, page 286) THE DIARY, SELECTED ENTRIES The entries given below I have chosen as being represen- tative but perhaps somewhat biased towards rarity and by personal opinion. Many captures would appear to be un- recorded, and others when quoted by other authors differ in point of fact or detail. I have also tried to put across something of the “flavour” of the journal, and atmosphere of the Vic- torian entomological world, a time when transport as we known it today and take it for granted was not available. Entry Date No. 1869 April 12 From E. C. Rye, one Acylophorous glabricollis captured on Barnes Common, April. 13 From E. W. Janson, three Bitoma cre- nata, one Helophorus intermedius. 14° Wimbledon Common, Paederus cali- gatus, Tachyporus transversalis, one Stenol. dorsalis. May 13th 19 Bagot Park,— out of old oak, one Bat. venustus, one Cis fuscatus, one Omal. pusillum. In garden, Oc. brunnipes. June 29th 29 Found one Leptinus testaceus’ in Bees’ nest in the Church yard, note its activity. 30th a Found one more, and saw another which retired into the nest. July 2nd 31 Nimrod caught one Leptinus in the Bees’ nest and saw two others. 3rd 5 Got two Leptinus about half past eight in the same Bees’ nest. They hide in the loose [?] litter near the mouth of nest. 4th 32 Nimrod brought two Leptinus and two black T. flavilabris from Hoarcross. Sth Dug out Bees’ nest, Bombus pratorum, found many Leptinus testaceus (about 50)’, two Antherophagus pallens, Cryp- tophagus, two setutosus, one saginatus, one Epurea aestiva’. July 20th 37 Bournemouth, 16 Serica brunnea drowned in sea among detritus. August 46 From Llewellyn, four Trichius fasciatus, North, South Wales’. 1870 March 8th 8 Examined rubbish from Bees’ nest 32.69, found two Leptinus, three Epurea melina. March 31st 12 Beyond Crystal Palace on sallows Dor. , Ls [? Dorytomus]. Cutting up rushes, one 3 Quedius maurorufus, Brad. distinctus. 4. See Fowler 1888, 2: 323, Gorham found three further specimens at Wimbledon April 15th, 1870. Stenol.=Stenoloph 7 dorsalis (Fab.). nolophus, i.e. Acupalpus See Fowler 1889, 3:93. Epuraea aestiva, see Fowler 1889, 3:228 See Fowler 1890, 4:61. nau * 20 Burdon Drive, Bartestree, Hereford. PLATE I V Cegattvcel cess GE Pov Y Jb Viva ph. Filet Uf juslle. ut Fae — / Mate ae ¢fivtawe | C2tuuwts. cella (Ticslong chu trnise, Ci. tty (agen SVL Ghee $A pepe F eden oe (Mead £0/cL, tlcsqridies , Jr04. tOminch bore fiw Crete A Bryn hi jw us Fico nevis CH prrecetns! Sen, 2 a Cle corry eng Keech. - O Hreceretlea gue Juppaunties mf Cl got tut Iu Fin. (ae acl le Ford, al DF >. ly. Lal Ji tin. Ane. te «het, Tl natn a bein atone, 3 (8 pole valour bee ok oe wit miadvws -Dodes, | Pf. why von caypltiuae & EXTRACTS FROM GORHAM’S DIARY REV. H. S. GORHAM AND SOME 19TH CENTURY RECORDS 19 In hayrick rubbish, Sunius angustatus abundant, neglectus also abundant. April Ist Pr Atomaria sericoderus, Crypt. pilosus ?, Dromius obscuroguttatus abundant, Mic- raspis 12 punctata, profusion, Corticaria. 6th 14 Hampstead, four Aphodius testudinarius, two Hetaerius sesquicornis*, one Ate- meles, one Myr. limbata. May 3rd 20 Lewisham Loam Pit, two Bem. 5- striatum. 28 Pool near Stonehams Farm, one Bem. sturmii’, Stenus incrassatus, plancus, Playts. cornutus. 30th 31 Went to pool near Stonehams Farm, Bembidion quadripustulatum”’, new to Britain. On the way, Pachyta collaris, Ceuthor. inaffectatus. June Ist 5 Went to pool near Stonehams Farm, one Saprinus virescens, Stenus incrassatus, Bembidion bistriatum, Stenus picipennis, on Cochleria Phaedon armoriciae. In wood Polydrusus flavipes. 7th 36 Pool near Stoneham’s, wind north, some- what cloudy, on the way, Dasytes flavipes, Pachyta collaris common, Tel. oralis (three), Rh. fuscicornis. At pool, Deleas- ter dichrous (one), Bem. quadripustula- tum, Stenus incrassatus. Stream below pool, Grap. consobrina, Cionus blattariae common and hortanulus. On the hills, one Orchestes pratensis, Th. anchusae. 11th Went to Stoneham’s pool, five Bemb. 4pustulatum. 13th Went to Stoneham’s pool, ? Bem. 4pustulatum, Donacia sagittariae. On the way, P. collaris, Grapt. consobrina, one Mordella fasciata. July 9th 5] Banks of stream near Otham on Spiraea 60 [crossed through] 74 Cercus pedi- cularis [crossed through], bipustulatus pale specimens. 20th 38 Sweeping 7 o’clock to 8.30, damp copse near road, Anisotoma calcarata (small 2), one calcarata, Col. dentipes, one Catops. 8. See Janson in Entomologist’s Annual for 1857, p. 77. “Found by myself at Hampstead, in stones on a loamy hed again in 1856, where I uring the intervening years, but without success.” On page 92, in his “Oservations on th “And if after a long day’s search, weary and perhaps disappointed at not having found H hly destroy the homes of the LE ance of future success — the morrow may prove more propitious; this I can assure him, the simple plan just described is one I have invariably pursued, vainly day after day for seven years it is true, but at length successfully.” 9. Previous entry dated May 24th. See Fowler, 1887, 1: 107, and Allen, 1965. Gorham has thus captured Bembidion octomaculatum in three localities, Stoneham’s Farm, near Bearstead, May 1870; near Love Groves, May 24th, 1872; and Hookl 10. See Fowler, 1887, 1: 114. Se ee eee 20 August 10th 23rd 26th Next entry, number August 26th November 2nd 7th 1871 May 30th June 6th 17th October 16th 17th 26th 27th November 4th 16th 21st December 29th 30th 1872 January 1 2nd 11. The River Len flows throu ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD, VOL. 91 66 71 72 73 84 86 43 50 85 86 87 1/1/79 In Gore Court, one Laemophloeus bima- culatus on stump of felled tree (Wych Elm?), one Euplectus. Near sand pit, Ware Street, three Apion meliloti, two Crep. modeeri. : At Hastings, two Harp. rubripes green vars. Sit. puncticollis. Sweeping in damp copse, one Anis. cal- carata. Dried stream near Snorkhurst [Snark- hurst], 13 Agabus frontalis, two Hydro- porus memnonius. number 73, is dated August 27th, thus the Agabus were captured on August 26th. In moss, one Phloiophilus edwardsi, one Bythinus bulbifer. Sand Pits Hd. Searched in vain for Phloiophilus, under bark of oak bough, one D. 4signatus, in fungi Bol. exoletus. With Power, Banks of Len., one Ampho- tis (in nest), three Bembidion, 4pus- tulatum™, Bem. bruxellense. Before breakfast sought for 4pus- tulatum without success. Fungi on old stumps. Bolitochara lucida” in great numbers, took 50, Triplax rus- sica, Mycetoph. multipunctatum, Epurae limbata, Engis and Ips 4pustulatus were in profusion. Sent box to Scott. From R. Lawson, one Bol. lunulata, one Oc. latipennis, one T. saliciti. From E. A. Waterhouse —one H. ser- vus, four Ag. nigripenne, five Hetero- thops praevius. From Power, six Sphindus, five Tychius pygmaeus, three Rhin. bruchoides, two L. dissimilis, four Lypus cylindrus, four Monanthia. From J. R. Hardy, two C. viduatus, four C. distingueneum. From C. O. Waterhouse, two Cincindella sylvatica. From D. Sharp, one Dendrophagus cre- natus. From Fred Smith, two Meloe rugosus, four Ceuth. resedae, one Ceuth. melano- stictus, six Tychius lineatus. From G. C. Champion, nine Apion Limonii, three Sybynes arenariae Tom- ovia biguttata, two Hydaticus hybneri. Sir. H. Meux’s one broken Elater bal- teatus. Clayhill, Cossuss infested elm, a young tree. One Cryptarcha imperialis, two C. strigata, one Rhyn. concinus. Clayhill, Enfiield, Cossuss tree, three Crytarcha strigata, three C. imperialis, two Litargus bifasciatus, one Baris lepidii, several Hypodphloeus bicolor. One imperialis, two strigata. gh Bearstead. 12. See Fowler, 1888, 2: 168 (Sandwich). 13. See Fowler, 1891, 5: 98. 14. LS), 16. 17. 18. 19. REV. H. S. GORHAM AND SOME 19TH CENTURY RECORDS 21 3rd or) 6th 22 4 17th 7 20th 8 February 17th 9 March 30th 14 April 1st 14 16 April 24th 19 May 24th 26 June 14th 36 See Fowler, 1889, 3: 268. Two imperialis, one strigata, one Cory- phium, two Om. lucidium, Hypophloeus, four litargus. Hypophloeus, four litargus. __ : From Janson for Crotch, six Apion astralagi. : From Sidebotham, four Dorcat. bovistae (Barmouth), four Nemosoma_ eclonga- tum”, four Pach. comari, four Lim. disi- milus (Llandudno). From Lennon, Dumfries — 16 Ph. con- cinnum, five Erirh. bimaculatus, four Omosita depressa, two Apion cerdo, four Cryto. maritimus. From Canon Hey, York, two Hydrop. nitidulus, eight Hyd. scalesianus, H. tristis. From Rev. H. Gore, two Licinus dep- ressus, one Necrophorus vespillio, one interuptus, two Toxotus, one Leptura nigra, one Lucanus cervus @, one Chrys. goettingensis. Clay Hill, Enfield, Sir H. Meux’s with Power, two Ptinus subpillosus 2, one Scaphidema, Homalota aequata, two Apion vorax, Cerylon. Prittlewell. Looked for Plagiodera in damp willow copse near Priory, found two dead. One Mymedonia Haworthi® in cut wet stuff, four Qu. maurorufus, Stenus plancus. Prittlewell Priory, worked for Haworthi got one and then lost my bottle! Qu. maurorufus common, Qu. scintillans, Qu. peltatus. Rusper in pond in garden, Hal. fulvus, Hal. flavicollis, Hyd. pictus, H. palustris, H. erythrocephalus, Heloch. lividus, Lac- cobius nigriceps, L. minutus — right. Two Corixa Geoffroyi, Hel aeneipennis. See photograph, plate I. Pond near Love Groves, two Bembidion quadripustulatum, Bem. lampros (velox var.), One Bem. sturmii®, Lath. termina- tum., one Stenus morio. Boxhill to Headley Lane — 31 Cryto- cephalus nitidulus*, one C. coryli, C. labiatus, 26 Crepidodera atropae”, Apion rufirostre and malvae in profusion. Thy- amis anchusae, two", seven Th. bal- lotae”?, Ceuth. floralis on fumitory. C. C. curx, Malth. one Clytus myticus, one Asphidophorus, one Nec. violacea, one D. lardarius. See Fowler, 1888, 2: 56. Donisthorpe (1927, p. 63) states that these specimens found were found in a nest of Lasius fuliginosus. See Fowler, 1890, 4: 292. See Fowler, 1890, 4: 385. See Fowler, 1890, 4: 339. See Fowler, 1890, 4: 348. D2 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD, VOL. 91 1/1/79 August 21st 57 Gathered pods of Lathyrus with Apion larvae. Gathered pods of Vetch (V. sepium) with A. punctigerum ?. Swept near Lyne for Anisotomae, got only two Colenis, one Hydnobius strigosus, one Om. striatum. do. near Axsmith. 22nd 57 Four Apion subulatum” came out of Lathyrus pods! Collected yesterday. 23rd 59 Five more Apion subulatum came out and on till end of the month. Towards Altons. Ten Sitona suturalis on [???]. 26th 60 Went to Portsmouth, visited H. Mon- creaff”. He gave me — two Tychius hae- matocephalus, seven Apion confluens, five A. anmune, five C. thaspi, one Lesteva sharpi (from Sh.), eleven Sitones Water- housei, five Poly. chrysomela, two Mea- tropis rufescens. 61 Collected with him along shore. One Phil. fumigatum, one ebininum. 20. See Fowler, 1891, 5: 139. 21. See Fowler, 1891, 5: 267. (to be continued) Notes and Observations ATHETIS HOSPES FREYER (LEP.: NOCTUIDAE).: FIRST REcoRD For BritTaIn.— On the night of 26th/27th August 1978, I was fortunate to take a female Athetis hospes Freyer at m.v.l. in Kynance Cove, Lizard, Cornwall. This species is similar in size and colour to Photedes pygmina (Haw.) (Small Wainscot), but unlike pygmina sits with its wings flat on its back. It was because of this that I noticed it among the numbers of pygmina present. Other interesting species that Paul Stirling and I recorded there that night, were Euxoa obelisca D. & S., Mythimna putrescens Hbn., Polymixis xanthomista Hbn., Lithosia quadra L. and Eilema caniola Hbn.; and of the migrants, Cynthia cardui L. (1), Vanessa atalanta L. (1) and Autographa gamma L. in great abundance. The specimen of hospes was kindly determined genitali- cally by Mr. M. R. Honey of the British Museum (Nat. Hist.), and I would like to thank Bernard Skinner for arranging for the identification. — J. Porter, 16 Firdene, Tolworth, Sur- biton, Surrey. HELOPHORUS TUBERCULATUS GYLL. (COL.: HYDROPHILIDAE) NEAR BRISTOL.— Whilst looking over boxes of beetles taken long ago and never sorted, I discovered a specimen of Helo- phorus tuberculatus, labelled 11.5.1950, and taken with num- bers of other species such as Grammoptera ruficornis F. and Orsodacne cerasi L. (which is abundant there) on the flowers of Mountain Ash, in Leigh Woods on the outskirts of Bristol. This specimen gave me much food for thought, but un- fortunately casts no light at all upon the beetle’s habits, which appear not to have been properly revealed. There are so few NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS 23 records of this species that the occurrence is worth noting, but that is all there is to be said about it— JouHn A. Parry, 38 Heather Drive, St. Michaels, Tenterden, Kent. [This interesting and distinctive black Helophorus is scarce throughout its Holarctic range and has only once been found in any numbers in Britain — on a peaty moor near Coatbridge, Lanark, mostly in 1911-12. The other records (a mere hand- ful) are of single specimens in diverse situations, suggesting stragglers from undected colonies or, as some think, casual immigrants. Mr. Parry’s capture should be a notable addition to the fauna of Somerset and is the first Helophorus I know of to have been beaten off flowers. — A.A.A.]. AN UNusuaL PupaTION Sire.—I have read with interest Lt. Col. Emmet’s note (antea 244) on his having hatched 16 specimens of Ectoedemia argentipedella (Zeller) from the con- tents of a nest box cleared out for the coming season. No mention is made of the bird which occupied the box, but I take it that the occupants were either blue tits or great tits. Would it not be a more likely explanation of the presence of argentipedella to consider the possibility of their having been introduced to the box dangling from the side of a paren- tal beak and dropped wide of the half a dozen or more com- peting gaping beaks of its young? These small larvae must be exceedingly difficult for the parent to retain in the beak when adding others to its collection, and to carry them home to their families. Looking at almost any nepticulid larva, one sees that its claspers are hardly developed, and while they have a bad habit of slithering up the side of a glass tube and spinning up against the glass and the cork, one can hardly credit them with the ability to transport their bodies over what must be ex- ceedingly rough and uneven surfaces leading down from a leaf nee in a tree into the entrance hole of an occupied nesting OX. On the other hand, it is a fairly general habit of nepticulid larvae when kept in a breeding recepticle for the cocoons to be spun in a fairly close colony, but when a comparison is made between the distances separating the individuals in say a three inch diameter tin box, and in the full area of a birch tree from mine to nest box, one can hardly think that the gather- ing instinct could extend so far.—S. N. A. Jacoss, 54 Hayes Lane, Bromley, Kent, BR2 9EE. 23.xii.1978. OcToBER IN SciLLy.—I visited the Isles of Scilly from 4th to 18th October 1978. Based on St. Mary’s I made day trips to St. Agnes, St. Martin’s and Tresco. The weather was excellent and most days were warm and sunny enough to tempt butterflies on the wing. _I recorded the following species: Pararge aegeria L., easily the commonest species and seen on all islands visited. Maniola jurtina L., two late specimens on St. Martin’s on 11th October. Vanessa atalanta L., seen on all islands visited in small numbers and on St. Mary’s imbibing at ivy flowers. Polyommatus icarus Rott., a fleeting view of a blue on St. 24 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD, VOL. 91 1/1/79 Mary’s was probably of this species. Celastrina argiolus L., two on St. Mary’s and one in the Abbey Gardens on Tresco. Lycaena phlaeas L., seen on all the islands except Tresco; most in one day was four on St. Mary’s on 5th October. Pieris brassicae L. and P. rapae L., a few on all suitable days. Colias croceus Geoffroy, not seen personally but reliable reports of odd specimens on St. Mary’s and St. Agnes. I also saw two species of moth — Macroglossum stellatarum L., one seen on St. Mary’s on 13th October and two more reported from the same island; and Autographa gamma L., two seen on each of St. Mary’s and St. Martin’s—G. Summers, 23 West Close, Stafford. ACHERONTIA ATROPOS L. (DEATH’S HEAD Hawk) IN SuRREY.— I wish to record the capture of a male of this species at m.y.l. in my garden at Tolworth. It arrived at approximately 2 a.m. on the 30th June 1978.— J. Porter, 16 Firdene, Tol- worth, Surrey. IMMIGRANT LEPIDOPTERA IN DORSET AND SUFFOLK IN 1978.— There have been so many reports of rare migrant lepidoptera this autumn that I would not have reported any except for the fact that some have found their way to this extreme eastern part of the British Isles. Whilst on holiday in Somerset in early October I ran an actinic light at Charmouth, Dorset on the night of 10th and noted one specimen each of Mythimna vitellina Hiibn. and Palpita unionalis Hubn. On my return to Suffolk I took a specimen of Udea fer- rugalis Hubn. on the night of 7th November and a Mythimna unipuncta Haw. on 10th. The only previous record of this species of which I am aware is of a specimen taken at Leiston in August, 1878 according to the Memoirs of the Suffolk Naturalists’ Society published in 1937. On 16th October 1977 I took what I thought was a rather unusual Agrochola circellaris Hufn., but on closer examina- tion this has proved to be Mythimna vitellina. As far as I am aware the only other specimen reported from Suffolk was one at sugar at Gorleston on Ist October, 1922. Gorleston was at that time in Suffolk.— H. E. Chipperfield, The Shieling, Wal- berswick, Southwold, Suffolk. THE GEM (NYCTEROSEA OBSTIPATA F.) AND AN UNIDENTIFIED CATOCALA IN Dorset.— On the cold and foggy evening of November 10th 1978, a battered female Nycterosea obstipata Fab. was taken at a hotel light in Swanage. Also, in Swanage, on the morning of November 12th a large Catocala sp. was seen sitting on a wall, unfortunately this was not secured. Could this have been Catocala fraxini Linn? —M. PARSONS, 43 Kings Avenue, Eastbourne. EUPHYDRYAS AURINEA ROTT. PRESENT IN CUMBRIA. — The Note on the disappearance of this species from Monmouthshire contributed by Dr. G. A. Neil Horton (Vol. 90, No. 9, pp. 246- 7) makes sad reading, which one fears could be parallelled NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS DS from other areas. The situation in Cumbria is rather more reassuring, though it needs constant vigilance. The previous County of Cumberland is alone of concern as the species is absent from what were formerly Westmorland and Furness. 1. The famous field near Great Orton which Dr. Ford deals with (Butterflies, New Naturalist, Vol. 1, 1945) was ploughed up nearly 25 years ago, notwithstanding S.S.S.I. status. The butterfly hangs on — only just — in a nearby field owned by the Cumbria Naturalists’ Trust. As long as it hangs on there is hope that it might increase. 2. A very fine site nearly 1,000ft. above sea level near Lamonby, was also more recently ploughed up, despite appeals by Conservationist Bodies to the local farmer. S.S.S.I. status again proved to be of no avail, as the development was purely agricultural. However, the butterfly occurs not far away in a small area of Greystoke Forest left unplanted with conifers by Lord Lonsdale because of its Natural History importance. We are grateful to Lord Lonsdale for this gesture, but we wonder what will happen when the conifers, at present about 5-8ft high, have become large trees enclosing the small unplanted site. 3. The species occurs in a rough marshy field not far from Ivegill. It is possible that the Cumbria Naturalists’ Trust, which is interested in it, may eventually gain at least some control over it. Meanwhile there seems to be no serious threat. 4. There is a strong colony far to the West in Ennerdale on Open ground with a road running through. The terrain concerned is rough and marshy. One hopes that no interfer- ence will take place. It is apparently Common Land, so effective control is very difficult. There seems to be no immediate threat. 5. A colony at Finglandrigg, which produced large brick- red specimens differing markedly from those from any other Cumberland colony, became extinct about 1953. At least, sub- sequent attempts to find specimens there have proved negative, in spite of the fact that up to the present there has been no interference with the site, which was in any case small, with the result that the number of specimens was always small too. 6. There are reports that the species is turning up again in the Salta Moss area inland from Dubmill Point. It seemed to have become extinct there at about the same time as the Finglandrigg colony. So, provided there is no gross interference with a site, it is unwise to take apparent extinction as the final word, as the species seems to be able to hold on at a very low density indeed. — THE REVEREND J. H. Vine-HALt, 3 The Green, Melmerby, Penrith, Cumbria, CA10 1HG. THE FOODPLANT OF PSEUDOPHILOTES VICRAMA SCHIFFER- MUELLERI HEMMING. — During a short visit to Spetsai Island, Greece, a number of female P. v. schiffermuelleri were observed laying eggs on the upper side of young leaves of Satureia thymbra L. (Labiatae). The eggs were pearly white, echinoid and strongly reticulated with ridges and hollows in 26 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD, VOL. 91 1/1/79 the form of rosettes. — Joun G. Coursis, 4 Glykonos Street, Athens 139, Greece. ADELA CROESELLA (ScCop.) (LEP.: INCURVARIIDAE) IN ARGYLLSHIRE (VC98).— Two specimens of this pretty little moth were taken on an unidentified umbellifer on the roadside verge at Elleric, Glen Creran (grid ref. NN(27) 03.48) on 15th June, 1978. This would appear to be only the second record of the species in Scotland, and the first for Argyll (see MBGBI, 1: 298). Although privet is given as the normal foodplant, none was noted in the vicinity of capture, and it is thought that ash, common in Glen Creran, would possibly act as a suitable alternative. One specimen was given to Rev. David Agassiz, the other to Dr. John Langmaid who were collecting at Glasdrum about two miles down the Glen, and it is to these gentlemen that I owe the above information. The captures were made during the course of a Nature Conservancy Council inverte- brate survey of certain sites in the County. — J. Coorer, Art Gallery and Museum, Kelvingrove, Glasgow, G3 8AG. 26th September, 1978. EUCHROMIUS OCELLEA HAWORTH (LEP.: CRAMBINAE) IN MONMOUTHSHIRE. — On the night of 14th-15th October, 1978 a male specimen of the rare migrant Pyralid Euchromius (Eromene) ocellea Haw. in perfect condition appeared in my garden m.v. trap at Usk. This species, I believe, has not been previously recorded from Monmouthshire and I am told that probably the last British occurrence was in 1968. For more than a week the weather here had been warm and sunny with mild humid nights and south-westerly breezes and two nights earlier (12th-13th October) a male Mythimna unipuncta Haw. had come to my trap. This moth too was in perfect condition and is also a species new to Monmouthshire. — Dr. G. A. Nem Horton, Plas Newydd, Usk, Gwent. THE JAPANESE ORGYIA: ORGYIA THYELLINA BUTLER. — Many of us for a long time have been interested in the female dimorphism of this species which was known to occur in Japan. This year Sir Cyril Clarke obtained stock and was good enough to send me pupae, which in due course hatched and contained both winged and semi-winged females. I was unable to satisfy myself that the so-called “‘winged” specimens were capable of flight. The young larvae were sleeved on Salix in my garden, and on my return from Scotland imagines were hatching, and it was interesting to observe a very large number of our indigenous Orgyia antiqua (L.) assembling around the sleeve from mid-day onwards. On 3rd October I obtained a cross between a thyellina ? (winged) and a ¢ antiqua and eggs were subsequently laid, though I fear these may be infertile. It was interesting to see that the speed of metamorphosis varied greatly; there were imagines and half-grown larvae at the same time which were siblings. Further details of this interesting species will be published later. — BERNARD KETTLE- WELL, Genetics Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford. NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS 2H DEILEPHILA ELPENOR L. ON MENYANTHES TRIFOLIATA L. —- Eight nearly full grown larvae of Deilephila elpenor were seen feeding on bog-bean Menyanthes trifoliata at the Royal Horticultural Society’s Garden at Wisley on 29th August, 1978. They were seen from the path so probably several more could have been found with a little effort. Mr. A. J. Halstead tells me that the insect is fairly common at Wisley but has not previously been noted on Menyanthes. It normally feeds on members of the Onagraceae — Epilobium spp. Chamaenerion angustifolium, Circaea lutetiana and Fuchsia magellanica — but also on Galium spp. and Impatiens spp. and has been recorded on Lysimachia sp., Vitis vinifera and Malus sp. These belong to seven different orders of flowering plants, the Geraniales, Rhamnales, Rosales, Myrtales, Primulales, Con- tortae and Rubiales which is an exceptional degree of polyphagy for British Sphingidae. —B. N. K. Davis, Institute of Ter- restial Ecology, Monks Wood Experimental Station, Abbots Ripton, Huntingdon, Cambs. Tue Monarcu, DANAUS PLEXIPPUS L. IN 1978. — A speci- men of this butterfly was observed by Mrs. Y. Stevens in her garden at Epsom, Surrey on the afternoon of the 11th Septem- ber, 1978. Mrs. Stevens gave a good description of the insect, including its mode of flight and positively identified it as a male when shown these in my collection. Williams (1958, Insect Migration) states that most examples of the species observed in this country are seen in the autumn with a peak in the second half of September, but I am concerned about the possibility that releases or accidental escapes from captivity may sometimes give rise to inaccurate reports of implied migration. If anybody reading this has allowed specimens of the species to escape this year, I strongly feel that this should be reported in the interests of scientific accuracy. — P. Hotpaway, 41 Willow Crescent, Durrington, Worthing, Sussex. New IrISH RECORDS OF MICROLEPIDOPTERA IN AUGUST. —On 3.viii.78, I took a specimen of the Pyralid Platytes alpinella (Hb.) on sandhills at Inchydoney, near Clonakilty, Co. Cork (VC H3). The identification of this specimen was confirmed by Mr. E. C. Pelham-Clinton of the Royal Scottish Museum, Edinburgh. Another species determined by Mr. Pelham-Clinton and which appears new to Ireland is Cochylis flaviciliana (Westw.). I caught this specimen at The Hollow 6 km N.W. of Roscom- mon (VC H25) on 9.viii.78. — K. G. M. Bonn, Luetzowstr. 4, 32 Hildesheim, West Germany. RECORDS OF CURCULIONIDAE (COL.) TAKEN IN CUMBERLAND (VC70). — The following three species of Curculionidae are here recorded from West Cumbria and are new records for Cumberland (VC70). Barypeithes sulcifrons (Boheman), one dead specimen was found on sand below a stunted gorse bush Ulex europaeus Linnaeus on top of a coastal sand hill on 15th April near Summer Hill, Silecroft, SD11/82. This species is regarded as scarce in this country and Joy (1932, Practical 28 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD, VOL. 91 1/1/79 Handbook of British Beetles, 1:183), states “‘very local England, Scotland and Ireland’. In personal communication from Dr. M. G. Morris, the weevil has been recorded from 14 vice counties in England and Wales, five from Scotland and 13 from Ireland. It has a scattered distribution and most records are from coastal localities. E. B. Britten recorded the species from the Isle of Man (1945, North Western Naturalist, 20:195), and remarks “‘occasional at roots of heather and by sweeping’ and he gives the months of capture from April to July. Crowson, R. A. (1971, Entomologist’s mon. Mag., 107: 49) records the species from Castle Hill Point, Rockcliffe Kircudbridgeshire and Duddingstone, Edinburgh. The weevil being taken from calciphilous vegetation with Helianthemum chamaecistus. Dorytomus salicinus (Gyllenhal), two specimens were beaten from the bare branches of common sallow, Salix atrocinerea Brot. growing in a hedgerow by the side of a cart track near Monk Moors, Eskmeals, SD08/91 on the 8th April. Due to the cold weather in early spring catkins were still present in large numbers on these trees. The specimens collected are in good condition and well marked. A further four specimens were taken near the above site by beating sallow at Stub Place, Eskmeals, SD08/90 on the 13th May. These specimens are also in good condition with a good clothing of scales and are quite dark in colour. The weevil is very rare in Britain and is extremely localised and has only been recorded from five vice counties in England and one in Scotland. These are East Norfolk, (27), West Norfolk, (28), Cambridgeshire, (29), Huntingdonshire, (31), South West Yorkshire, (63) and Dumfrieshire, (72). M. G. Morris (1968, Entomologist’s Gaz., 19(4):219) gives a summary of the records for D. salicinus in Britain; and Welch, R. C. (1973, in Steele, R. C. and Welch, R. C. (edit.) ““Monks Wood, a nature reserve’, 230) a distribution map for the species based on the 10 kilometer grid. The species occurs in France where the foodplants are Salix aurita L. and S. capraea L. (Zetterstedt), as stated by Hoffmann, A. (1958, Faune Fr., 62 Coléoptéres Curculionides, 3: 1456). Ceutorhynchus rapae Gyllenhal, one specimen was tapped from its foodplant Sisymbrium officinale (Linnaeus) growing on waste ground at Haverigg near Millom, SD16/78 on the 29th July and two more specimens were taken at the same site on the 5th of August, again on S. officinale. This species is stated as being rare in this country by Joy (l.c.: 199) who gives the distribution as Southern England. A list of host plants of C. rapae is given by Dickmann, L. (1972, Beitr. Ent., 22(1-2):75) together with notes on the biology; and Scherf, H. (1964, Abh. senckenb naturforsch. Ges., 506: 205- 206 describes the early stages. According to Hoffmann (l.c., 1954, 2: 992) it is found on various species of Brassica, especi- ally parsnips in France and that the female oviposits in the flowers and the larvae pupate in the soil. I wish to thank Dr. M. G. Morris for kindly confirming the identity of the species and for supplying the vice county records. —R. W. J. Reap, 43 Holly Terrace, Hensingham, Whitehaven, Cumbria CA28 8RF. NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS 29 THE FLAME SHOULDER: OCHROPLEURA PLECTA (L.) IN NoveEMBER.— A specimen of this noctuid in good condition was attracted to my m.v. trap at Pont-a-dulas near Builth Wells, Breconshire, on the night of Ist November 1978, an extraordinarily late date— Dr. H. G. Parker, 2 Oaks Road, Kenilworth, Warwickshire. LITHOPHANE LEAUTIERI BOISD. IN WARWICKSHIRE.— This rapidly spreading species made its first appearance in Warwick- shire when a specimen was found in my garden m.v. trap on the morning of 9th October 1978.— D. C. G. Brown, Jacksons Farmhouse, 25 Charlcote, near Warwick. THE VESTAL (RHODOMETRA SACRARIA L.) IN INVERNESS- SHIRE.— When sorting and listing the Rothamsted Insect Trap catches from the Forestry Commission Research Station, Fort Augustus, I found a specimen of the Vestal in the box for 10th October 1978. I do not know whether or not the moth has been recorded from so far north before, but in any case it must be sufficiently rare from such a high latitude as to be worth noting. It is a male and exceptionally large, 27 mm. wingspan.— T. C. Dunn, The Poplars, Chester-le-Street, Co. Durham. Practical Hints—March & April The Orange Underwings — Archiearis parthenias L. and A. notha Hbn.— are usually the quarries of the first active daytime collecting of the season. A warm, sunny morning at the end of March is often good for both species, but notha is usually a week later than parthenias, with the two overlapping and notha continuing into the first week of April. Choose the edge of, or rides in, a fairly mature birch wood for the former, and a wood containing plenty of tallish aspen for the latter, and start operations about 10 a.m. In sunny conditions, the moths sit on bare patches of ground or dead leaves, but get up sharply on one’s approach, and have a very erratic flight, making them difficult to net. One rarely gets a second chance before they are out of reach and fly up to the tree tops. If the presence of the species is not known in the locality proposed to be worked, carry out a preliminary reconnaissance on a sunny afternoon, when the moths (if any) will easily be seen flying round the tops of the trees. Both species are partial to sallow catkins, but a net on a stick is usually necessary to reach them, and one strike will scare off any others on the bush. During dull weather the moths may sometimes be shaken from smallish trees. Up till about 1 p.m. the moths are usually within reach, but later they fly high round the tree tops in a most tantalising manner (POOLES). In April examine any stumps found in marshy areas where Salix viminalis occurs. A flat-topped two year old stump is an ideal oviposition site for Conopia formicaeformis Esp. Carefully peel back the bark and if a whitish larva is found 30 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD, VOL. 91 1/1/79 near the top of the stump, tape back the bark and cut off the entire top to a depth of from 6-8 ins. Place in damp sand; moths emerge over a long period, late May until late July. Failing to find text-book stumps look for any brown stains near trunk scars or twisted branches, examine as above and remove the appropriate section (B. R. BAKER). As soon as the blackthorn is in bloom is the time to beat for larvae of the Sloe Pug (Chloroclystis chloerata Mab.). The larger bushes are best. The larva is stumpy, of a dull whitish or whitish-green ground with varying amounts of pinkish- brown marking. If the larvae beaten are very small, keep the blossom that falls in the tray as this will often yield further larvae if kept for a week or so. They feed up very quickly, and spin amongst their food. They should be left therein and not disturbed. The moths emerge about the last week in May (POOLES). When working marshy localities in early spring remove any loose bark at the base of willows —larvae of Apamea unanimis Hbn. seem to favour these hiding places. Also in early spring place pieces of sacking or polythene sheeting (weighted down with a brick) up in the flat crowns of pollarded willows. Examine every three to four days. Larvae of Graphiphora augur F. have been taken from below these coverings (B. R. BAKER). The larvae of Elachista cinereopunctella Haw. may be found during the first week of March mining the leaves of Carex glauca; and in mid March those of Agonopterix assimilella Tr., spinning together the twigs of broom. Larvae of Tischeria marginea Haw. mine the leaves of Rubus, are long-lived and feed during the winter, and the collection of the mines should be left until March (HEAL). Late April or early May is a good time to search plants of cowberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea) growing on northern moors for larvae and pupae of micro-lepidoptera. The blackish larva of Olethreutes mygindiana D. & S. spins several leaves together in the form of an inverted tent and pupates within the tent. Other Tortricoid larvae which spin leaves together are Aphelia viburnana D. & S. and the abundant Rhopobota unipunctana Haw. but along with the latter may be R. ustomaculana Curt. which has recently been found in Derby- shire and Staffordshire. Small brown spots on the upper surface of a leaf may reveal the presence beneath of the black pistol-shaped case of Coleophora vitisella Gregs. It has a two-year cycle; only the larger cases will produce moths the same year. The mines of Phyllonorycter junoniella Zell. occupy the whole of the underside of a leaf, causing it to pucker, while Fomoria weaveri Staint. causes a blistered appearance on the upperside (R. G. WARREN). 31 Current Literature Pennington’s Butterflies of Southern Africa, edited by C. G. C. Dickson with the collaboration of Dr. D. M. Kroon. 674 pp. including frontispiece portrait of the author and 198 coloured plates, folding map. Thick 4to. (280 mm. high, 210 mm. wide). Ad. Donker, Johannesburg, 1978. Price £45. : This magnificent reference book is the first definitive work ever published, to be devoted solely to Southern African but- terflies. It covers all the species that have been described to-date from the subregion concerned, that is, the area extend- ing from the Cape to the Kunene River on the western side of Africa and the main portion of the Zambezi River on the eastern side. K. M. Pennington had been working on the ms. of the book for some 25 years before his death, but the script of his final version was far from complete when he died, unexpectedly, in 1974. Shortly after this sad event, the Pennington family asked C. G. C. Dickson if he would take over the ms., and complete it fully, which he agreed to do. This entailed over three years’ concentrated work in order to make the essential portion of the book as representative as possible, while at the same time endeavouring to retain to a large extent Penning- ton’s attractive style and approach to the subject. In time, others became involved in the project as regards several sub- sidiary, or complimentary portions of the work, chief among these being Dr. D. M. Kroon. Almost from the start of the undertaking, Dr. Elliot Pinhey (National Museum, Bulawayo, Rhodesia) assisted the editor on countless matters of a technical nature, as well as on the relative status of many of the more northern South African butterflies, for information concerning Botswana and Rhodesian taxa (very poorly repre- sented in the original script), and from this standpoint as well as regards essential data in certain other directions, he was by far the most important source. The first 31 pages include a Foreward (3 pp.) by the author’s son, R. Pennington, and Acknowledgment (4 pp.) and an Introduction (13 pp.), both by C. G. C. Dickson. The main text which is in double column, then follows. In this are treated the different species (781 in all) and various races. The name of the author of each species and race is cited together with the original reference and date. Description and relative differences are given, as are distribution, localities, historical particulars, food-plants in nature (when known), references to life histories if recorded, and times of appearance often with mention of the names of recorders. Throughout the text one is impressed by the lucid and informal yet concise style of the author, as well as by his immense knowledge of the subject gained over a period of sixty years of field experience. 32 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD, VOL. 91 1/1/79 Plates 1-38 depict over 1,000 minutely detailed coloured figures, from hand paintings by the late Gowan C. Clark, of the life histories of 37 species of Hesperiid butterflies. These illustrations are among the most remarkable features of this book, and the meticulousness with which they have been executed is marvellous. They are based on material obtained in the field by the artist and C. G. C. Dickson, and with but two exceptions are published here for the first time. Descrip- tive notes are given in the legends facing each plate, thus allowing ease of reference. About half of these life histories appear to have been previously unknown. Plates 39-198 consist of 3,422 reproductions of coloured photographs of the perfect insects, of which 2,471 are shown natural size and the rest slightly smaller. We should have preferred that all these figures had been reproduced natural size, but one realises that to have done so would have further increased the bulk as well as added to the cost of the volume. However, the editor has wisely indicated precisely the degree of reduction in size in nearly every case where this has been done. Again, in order to facilitate reference, the particulars of each specimen figured appear opposite the plates. Moreover, we rejoice to see that every example is fully authenticated by, in addition to a note of the name of the species, subspecies or form, its sex, locality, date of capture, name of captor (when known) and a statement of whether the specimen is a holotype, paratype, allotype, metallotype or lectotype. These illustrations of the perfect insects are among the finest we have seen and do great credit to everyone in- volved in their production. Pages 604-643 follow, with ““Recorded South African but- terfly foodplants and foodsources’’, compiled by D. M. Kroon. This is a most useful and interesting source of information pre- sented in three columns with the genus and species of plant or other foodstuff arranged alphabetically in the first column, the name of the plant family in the second column, and in the third column the relevant butterfly species or subspecies. A bibliography of some 350 titles (pp. 646-650), and a splendid index of scientific names in which all taxa are listed alphabeti- cally (pp. 651-669) complete the work. Paper and printing are of good quality, and the book is strongly bound in dark blue boards in an edition of 2,650 copies. Two other editions were issued: a ‘‘Subscriber’s Edition” of 300 copies bound in quarter leather (price about £233); and, a “‘Collector’s Edition”’ in half leather limited to 50 copies. However, both these editions had been sold in advance before publication. Mr. C. G. C. Dickson and his collaborators are to be con- gratulated on their efforts at bringing to completion this out- standing work, though it is sad that K. M. Pennington did not live to see the consummation of an undertaking that owed its existence to him in the first place.— J.M.C-H. == NOOO O00 es THE PROFESSOR HERING MEMORIAL RESEARCH FUND The British Entomoligical and Natural History Society announces that awards may be made from this Fund for the promotion of entomological research with particulars emphasis on: (a) Leaf miners, (b) Diptera, particularly Trypetidae and Agromyzidae, (c) Lepidoptera, particularly Microlepidoptera, (d) General entomology, in the above order of preference, having regard to the suitability of candidates and the plan of work proposed. Awards may be made to assist travelling and other expenses necessary to field work, for the study of collections, for the attendance at conferences, or, exceptionally, for the costs of publication of finished work. In total they are not likely to exceed £300 in 1979/1980. Applicants should send a statement, if possible in sextuplicate, of their qualifications, of their plan of work, and of the precise objects and amount for which an award is sought, to A. M. Emmet, M.B.E., T.D., M.A., F.L.S., F.R.E.S., Hon. Secretary, Labrey Cottage, Victoria Gardens, Saffron Walden, Essex, CB11 3AF, as soon as possible, and in any case not later than 30th September, 1979. DATA LABELS Printed to your requirements in any quantity of labels/lines. Choose from a variety of paper surfaces and typefaces. Full details and sample labels on request. P. D. J. HUGO 38 Cotswold Crescent, Chipping Norton, Oxon. OX7 5DT Please mention this journal when replying THE MICROLEPIDOPTERA OF ESSEX. — I am currently engaged on compiling a list of the microlepidoptera of the county on behalf of the Essex Naturalists’ Trust and the Essex Field Club; it is proposed to publish the list in 1979. I should therefore be grateful if collectors who have not already done so will send me their records. Localities even for the common species help to complete distribution patterns. Entomologists who are planning their season’s collecting shoud bear in mind that Essex is rich in microlepidoptera (over 1,000 species of “micro” are already in the list) but almost devoid of microlepidopterists and hence seriously underrecorded. They could profitably make 1978 their “Essex year’. — A. M. Emmet, Labrey Cottage, Victoria Gardens, Saffron Walden, Essex, CB11 3AF, 30.iv.1978. EXCHANGES AND WANTS Wanted — The Entomologists Record, Vol. 71 1959, entire. Bound or unbound. — Offers to Paul Stirling. Tel. 01-660 4766. Help Wanted — with records of British Gelechiidae for publication in Vol. 4 of “Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland”. Vice-County records only wanted at this stage. A complete check-list will be supplied to those willing to help. If you have any records for this group, please write to: Paul Sokoloff, 4 Steep Close, Orpington, Kent BR6 6DS. Wanted — Records of daily totals in traps of Agrotis segetum for as many past years as available. — Rosemary Kay, Ent. Section, National Vegetable Research Station, Wellsbourne, Warwick. For Sale —a run of the Entomologist’s Record from Vol. 76-89 inclusive (1964-1977). In wrappers. Issues 6, 11, 12 of Vol. 78 are missing, otherwise complete. A bargain at £55.—P. A. Sokoloff, 4 Steep Close, Orpington, Kent BR6 6DS. Wanted — 20, 30 or 40 (preferably) drawer cabinet by Brady, Gurney or Crocket. — Col. W. A. C. Carter, Briarfields, Sandels Way, Beaconsfield, Bucks. Telephone 04946-3828 atfer 6.15 p.m. or weekends. For Sale —40 drawer mahogany cabinet, overall size 42” x 37” x 19”. Drawers 164” x 163” x 2”. Framed glass lids, hidden bearer runners, camphor cells. In very good condition. Best offer over £700 secures. — T. W. Harman, Little Oaks, Church Lane, Westbere, Canterbury, Kent. Tel. Canterbury 710282. Wanted — lam presently engaged in the evaluation of two insects which New Zealand authorities intend to introduce to combat gorse, which is a serious weed there. The species are Agonopterix ulicitella Stnt. (Lep. Oecophoridae) and Apion scutellare Kirby (Col. Curculionidae). I will require large numbers of these insects to carry out experiments to show that they are specific to gorse before they are introduced into New Zealand. I would be grateful if readers could suggest localities where, in Southern England, I might collect several hundred of each species this summer. I would be interested to hear of records from further North, and of any host plants recorded other than gorse. — Richard Hill, Imperial College Field Station, Silwood Park, Ascot, Berks. SL5 7PY. THE ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD AND JOURNAL OF VARIATION (Founded by J. W. TUTT on 15th April, 1890) The following gentlemen act as Honorary Consultants to the magazine: Orthoptera: D. K. Mc E. Kevan, Ph.D., B.Sc., F.R.E.S.; Coleoptera: A. A. ALLEN, B.Sc.; Diptera: E. C. M. d’Assis-FoNSECA, F.R.E.S. TO OUR CONTRIBUTORS All material for the TEXT of the magazine as well as books for review must be sent to the EDITOR at St. Teresa, 1 Hardcourts Close, West Wickham, Kent. ADVERTISEMENTS, EXCHANGES and WANTS to: E. H. WILD, L.Inst.Biol., 112 Foxearth Road, Selsdon, Croydon, Surrey, CR2 8EF. Specimen copies supplied by Mr. Wild on payment of 60p or sterling equivalent which will be taken into account if the person in question becomes a full subscriber, plus 10p postage. Changes of address, and enquiries regarding back numbers, Volumes and Sets to: P. A. SOKOLOFF, 4 Steep Close, Orpington, Kent BR6 6DS. Subscriptions should be sent to the Treasurer, P. J. RENSHAW, 53 Links Road, West Wickham, Kent BR4 0QN, England. REPRINTS: 25 copies, taken straight from the magazine are sent gratis to contributors of articles; these may contain extraneous matter. More formal reprints from re-set type may still be had at cost price, and orders for these should be given, at the latest, with the return to the Editor of the corrected proof. ILLUSTRATIONS are inserted on condition that the AUTHOR DEFRAYS THE COST. Contributors are requested not to send us Notes or Articles which they are sending to other magazines. All reasonable care is taken of MSS, photographs, drawings, maps, etc., but the Editor and his staff cannot hold themselves responsible for any loss or damage. SPECIAL NOTICE The Editor would be willing to consider the purchase of a limited number of certain back issues. CONTENTS The Lepidoptera of the Cairngorms National Nature Reserve. E. A. M. MacALPINE oe Provencal Butterflies in April 1978, Dr. C. J. “LUCKENS . Flights of the Wood Ant Formica lugubris (Hym., Formicidae) in Ireland. Dr. J. BREEN MY The History and Status in Britain of Cosmiotes ‘consortella Stainton, 1851) (exiguella Frey, 1885). Lt. Col. A. M. EMMET . aM The Return of the Orange Tip. Dr. A. G. LONG _... Rey. H. S. Gorham and Some 19th Century Records. J. COOTER . Practical Hints — March and April bee Notes and Observations: The Larva of Eilema pygmaeola pygmaeola Poubleday Cs Pigmy Footman). L. D. M. PACKER ue The Painted Lady in December 1978. T. G. HOWARTH A Epiphyas_ postvittana Walker in Hampshire. Col. D. H. STERLING tee Trosley Country Park ‘(Trottiscliffe) near “Wrotham, Kent. N. F. HEAL . ANE The Clouded Silver (Bapta temerata Hbn.) in October. ThwAS Cc. GREENWOOD f oe en Warwickshire and a en Migrants. DD: GG BROWN _.... sae suet Athetis hospes Freyer “(Lep.: Noctuidae): First Record for Britain. J. PORTER Hi Bee ate sae Helophorus tuberculatus Gyll. (Col: dropmilaie near Bristol. diy ANG TRANG 5) é An Unusual Pupation Site. S. N. iN JACOBS . October in Scilly. G. SUMMERS . NA Acherontia atropos L. (Death’s isla) in Buncen| J. PORTER Immigrant Lepidoptera in Dorset and Suffolk in 1978. H. E. CHIPPERFIELD The Gem (Nycterosea obstipata F.) and an “Unidentified Catocala in Dorset. M. PARSONS as Euphydras aurinia Rott. present in Cumbria. Rev. J. H. VINE- HALL The Foodplant. “of Pseudophilotes ‘vicrama D. & Si Beh G COUTSIS tis unt Adela croesella Scop. in Argyllshire (VC98). I “COOTER ae Euchromius ocellea Haw. in Monmouthshire. Dr. G. A. N. HORTON . A bast ve te ae LB The Japanese Oregyia: “Oreyia thyellina Butler. Dr. H. B. D. KETTLEWELL ... Deilephila elpenor L. on Menyanthes trifoliata iS B. N. K. DAVIS New Irish Records of Microlepidoptera in August. K. LG M. BOND Records of Curculionidae (Coleoptera) taken in Cumberland (VC70). R. W. Jj. READ The Flame Shoulder (Ochropleura plecta be in November. Dr. H. G. PARKER 4h ay ue ue aan Lithophane leautieri Boisd. in Warwickshire. D. C. G. BROWN The Vestal (Rhodometira sacraria L.) in Inverness-shire. T. C. DUNN Obituary: W. E. Busbridge Current Literature ... 31 LV LE I LETS SE LE SPE PS SE SS SS Printed by Charles Phipps Ltd., 225 Philip Lane, Tottenham, N15 4HL | 'OL. 91, Nos. 2/3 FEBRUARY/MARCH, 1979 ISSN 0013-8916 CEE AI I, 545, 2059 } B Ent THE ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD AND JOURNAL OF VARIATION Edited by J. M. CHALMERS-HUNT, F.Rk.£.S. with the assistance of A. A. ALLEN, B.SC., A.R.C.S. P. J. CHANDLER, B.SC., F.R.E.S. NEVILLE BIRKETT, M.A., M.B. C. A. COLLINGWOOD, B.SC., F.R.E.S. S. N. A. JACOBS, F.R.E.S. J.HEATH, F.R.E.S., F.L.S. Lieut. Col. A. M. EMMET, M.B.E., T.D., F.R.E.S. P. A. SOKOLOFF, M.SC., M.I.BIOL., F.R.E.S. H. B. D. KETTLEWELL, M.A., M.B., B.CHIR., D.SC., L.R.C.P., F.R.E.S. NOTICE Owing to printing difficulties we much regret delay in publication of the magazine. ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION FOR THIS VOLUME No. 91 £7.50 for overseas subscribers. £6.50 for all U.K. subscribers. Hon. Teasurer: P. J. RENSHAW, 53 Links Road, West Wickham, Kent, BR4 0QN CVV Ta Ta We Wc Wa Ut Vt a ee i We GI SEIS Ve Te TDS *UBLISHED MONTHLY PRICE 80p VaR VA VAIE IER SAA IE IR VA VEEN VIROL ELE E VIER LR EE IRIEL NESS IB I INN Va Uo THE LIVING SEASHORE By Joan M. Clayton The seashore provides a very distinctive environ- ment, supporting a greater number of living things than any other habitat. This book deals with the rich variety of flora and fauna associated with the sea- shore. 32 pages of plates in colour and black and white with numerous line <4 drawings and diagrams * within the text. £6.00 net. FRESHWATER LIFE By John Clegg This is the fourth edition of the popular volume on the plant and animal life in Britain’s @& ponds, lakes, streams and = rivers. The life dealt with ae as ranges from the unicellular qs organisms through vertebrates and flowering plants. Illus- i trated with 64 plates + wi Mute wff_S es in colour and black = FG SS and white, plus line drawings within the text. £6.00 net. 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Its official organ, Country-Side (published three time a year), is the oldest-established British magazine devoted to general natural history Membership subscription £2.50 per annum Full details and application form (s.a.e.) obtainable from: B.N.A., 23 Oak Hill Close, Woodford Green, Essex THE NATURALIST (founded 1875) A Quarterly Illustrated Journal of Natural History Edited by M. R. SEAWARD, M.Sc., Ph.D. Annual subscription: £4.00 (post free) Single numbers £1.00 Separates of the collected instalments of the:— LEPIDOPTERA OF YORKSHIRE (Macrolepidoptera) which appeared serially in The Naturalist (1967-1970) are also available on application. Price 50p plus postage Also MACROLEPIDOPTERA OF SPURN HEAD, E. YORKSHIRE (The Naturalist 1974). Price 25p, plus 9p postage The Editor of the Naturalist University of Bradford, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD7 1DP The Brown Hairstreak: Thecla betulae L. I: Searching for Ova By T. W. C. Toiman, Ph.D., F.R.E.S.* The traditional method of collecting the Brown Hair- streak butterfly is to beat the blackthorn bushes in May and June. This recommendation has been perpetuated, if not actually endorsed, by the entomological fraternity over a con- siderable period, and appears in nearly every textbook dealing with British butterflies. Writing in 1934, in ““The Complete Book of British Butterflies”, F. W. Frohawk observes . . “Nearly all specimens in collections have been bred from larvae obtained by beating blackthorn bushes, the larval food- plant for this species”. Over 40 years later, in “Aberrations of British Butterflies’, my good friend Donald Russwurm com- ments... “The larvae, however, can be beaten from the bushes in a blackthorn thicket and most collectors obtain their short series in this way’’. These two statements are, I am Sure, accurate in regard to the method as well as the propor- tion of collectors who employ it. The acquisition, or indeed, the detection of T. betulae can be effected by this means but perhaps because the advice is so often given, it is assumed to be the best available. When considering the relative merits of two methods of securing the same object, it rarely happens that one has so little in its favour that the other becomes the automatic choice. It is, however, my firm contention that ova searching, as an alternative means of locating betulae, has so many advantages that, if given a fair try, would soon relegate the business of beating to obscurity — at least, as far as betulae is concerned. Only once have I attempted to beat for larvae. I was neither enamoured of the process nor pleased with the result. The first difficulty I encountered was that of laying out the bed sheet I had chosen as a collecting surface. The frequency with which blackthorn thickets are surrounded by tussocks of strong grasses, brambles and, predictably, blackthorn seedI- ings, is pronounced, and I found this seemingly simple task quite tedious. More often than not, the sheet duplicated the contours of some miniature mountain range — hardly a sur- face conducive to retaining those numerous species of larvae which instinctively roll themselves into mobile little balls when rudely disturbed. Ironically, this habit, adopted in the course of evolution as a protective device serves only to enhance the probability of their premature demise, for it seems likely that a proportion of the larvae finding themselves in the grass some distance from their preferred habitat, do not regain the security of the blackthorn twigs. When asked what happens to the larvae which fall to the ground, the proponents of the beating technique almost invariably reply, ‘““Oh, they crawl back up’. Well, I must admit, I hardly expect to be told that a number don’t make it, having fallen prey to whatever. As far * 1 Clanfield Drive, Chandler’s Ford, Hants., SO5 2HJ. 34 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD 1/II-I11/79 as I know, the reality of this aspect of beating is one of ignorance and in the absence of concrete evidence substantiat- ing what appears to be little more than wishful thinking, I am inclined to the view that one should afford the inhabitants of blackthorn thickets, amongst which may be counted numerous creatures other than lepidoptera, rather more consideration. Apart from this, minor irritations arising from inadver- tently disarranging the sheet in an effort to get at the black- thorn of interest, manoeuvering the same into a suitable position without becoming impaled on the thorns and finding enough room to wield the beating stick, added to my grow- ing reservations. When I discovered how much detritus was dislodged along with scores of insects — everything it seemed except betulae—my disillusionment was complete. However, one is advised to count one’s blessings and in deference to this pearl of wisdom I am obliged torecord that my singular experience of wrestling with blackthorns, bed sheets and beating sticks, was unattended by strong winds or rain. The thought of inclement weather obtruding upon my adventure, conjures up a vivid picture of a sodden white sheet marooned high in some oak like a stricken kite! The problem of working in confined spaces may be over- come to some extent, by substituting the ground sheet for a hand held tray. However, the limitation in the size of the collecting surface is a detraction and it would also seem that the efficient use of the device requires three hands — one for the tray, one for the blackthorn and one for the beating stick. The one situation for which, I believe, any variation on the beating theme is totally impracticable, relates to the machine-trimmed hedgerows, now a familiar sight in the British countryside. In Devonshire and Wales particularly, the hedge- rows comprise the most important, and in some areas, the sole retreat of betulae. The short, dense convoluted growth is the most characteristic feature of these hedges. The blackthorn is often entwined with other shrubs such as dogrose, bramble and hawthorn which demand respect in their handling, but it is the strength and resilience of close-cropped hedges, conferred by repeated clipping, which render them quite unsuited to beating. The frequent association of ditches with roadside hedgerows is an additional deterrent. Of 141 new betulae sites I’ve located in the past three years by ova searching, all but three have occurred in hedgerow habitat which is either incoveniently sited or subject to periodic clipping, so that the self-imposed restriction suffered by the beater in his choice of collecting ground is considerable. Despite the aforementioned difficulties, some of which may relate simply to my own inexperience, beating for larvae has, over the years, proved an efficacious means of obtaining betulae. That is a fact I would not question. However, efficiency, in terms of time as well as energy expenditure, is altogether a different consideration and it is on this basis that ova search- ing, in my opinion,offers its greatest advantage. To my own satisfaction at least, I have demonstrated that the examination THE BROWN HAIRSTREAK: THECLA BETULAE L 35 of a blackthorn stand, divested of its foliage in winter, takes somewhat less than a fifth of the time required for beating. Moreover, in considering the rate at which ova or larvae are found — the real measure of efficiency —it is clear that ova searching has a greater potential than would be indicated by a mere comparison of searching time. This is, of course, due to the higher incidence of ova than, say, half-grown larvae in a given locality and arises from natural depletion which accumu- lates in progressing through the metamorphic stages. Whilst it is true that not all ova will be seen, it is, presumably, equally true that not all beaten larvae will be detected and, indeed, some may even reside in scrub inaccessable to the beater but not to the ova seeker. I do not know what the average ratio of ova to half-grown larvae is, but I would be surprised if it was less than 5:1. Whatever it might be, the ratio of ova to larvae will be relevant to the maintenance of betulae colonies which receive attention from collectors, for propor- tionately less damage will be incurred by the removal of ova. Assuming, for the sake of argument, the quoted ratio is correct, it is evident that the consquence of removing five ova is equivalent to the removal of one half-grown larva. More- over, if on average, 20 ova give rise to one pupa, the damage inflicted by the inadvertent elimination of a pupa whilst beat- ing for caterpillars would be four times greater than that of removing a single half-grown larva. It would seem therefore the beater needs to exercise care in choosing his time for beating. If he goes too early he may overlook the smaller larvae and if he goes too late, some may have pupated and of those that have, some may be damaged. I have no experience of betulae larvae in the wild, but in the absence of uniformity in the rate of larval development, the risk to the species, as well as the practical implication of detecting beaten larvae, is ever present. In contrast, ova may be sought in a much more leisurely fashion at any time from the beginning of winter to the onset of spring and with relatively much less regard to weather con- ditions. I well remember finding my first ovum during a light fall of snow. For anyone who has never seen a wild betulae ovum, it may be difficult to appreciate how easy it is to spot the large, brilliant white egg against its sombre background. It is entirely due to this marked contrast which enables the blackthorn to be inspected so quickly. It is not necessary to examine every twig individually, one simply scans rapidly but systematically and if ova are present they will catch the eye. My wife once discovered a new Welsh site for betulae by spotting an ovum in a roadside hedge through the window of our slowly moving car. Subsequently, we found another 56 ova deposited on the residue of hedge clippings, strewn about the verges and the road. More recently I discovered a new locality for betulae in Devonshire by locating several ova at night with the aid of a torch. The fact that, in the light of the following day, I found 36 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD 1/II-II1/79 ova on just about every twig of every bush in the area perhaps lends credibility to a remarkable example of serendipity! Proficiency at any task improves with practice — I suppose even I could learn to beat for larvae were I so motivated — and one soon recognises that particular types of twigs on particular types of bushes are shown more favour than others as sites for Ovipositing. I believe that the greatest dissuasion confronting the novice in the interesting and even exciting diversion of ova searching is, paradoxically, the easiest to overcome and that is the important psychological step of finding one’s first ovum. As a very good friend —a former, confirmed beater — once remarked, “It’s only a matter of getting your eye in”’. It is worth mentioning that by rearing betulae from ova, a bonus awaits the collector whose predilection is for large insects. I have measured the fore-wing length of the 28 male and 25 female betulae of the R. W. Watson collection, and the mean values are 20.0 (standard deviation, 1.08) and 21.2 mm. (S.D., 0.73) respectively. All 43 insects originated from beaten larvae. The corresponding means of 57 males and 52 females — all from wild ova—in my own collection are 21.8 mm. (S.D., 0.55) and 22.2 mm. (S.D., 0.57) respectively. The differences are statistically highly significant. It will be appreciated that the comparison of a linear dimension does not adequately convey the subjective impression of the overall size difference. A similar size disparity, associated with the same two methods of collecting, is also apparent in Quercusia quercus L. and Strymonidae w-album Knoch. Regarding the cause of the difference, I favour the hypothesis presented to me by Dr. Christopher Luckens, that beaten larvae undergo a trauma, as a result of their violent eviction, which induces premature pupation. Although the association is admittedly rather tenuous, it is interesting to consider this hypothesis in relation to the rather large difference in the standard deviations of the mean sizes of insects originating from beaten larvae and wild ova. If, as I suspect, the variation about the mean rate of development of wild larvae differs significantly from that of larvae captively reared from ova, it follows that a random sample of wild larvae will have a greater size variation than a corresponding sample of captive caterpillars. Now, if the full extent of the subsequent development of the wild larvae is related to their size at the time of their removal from the wild, it is clear that this will reflect on the variations in the size of the adult insects. The definitive test of the hypothesis is, of course, a comparison of adults reared from wild ova and those from larvae which have been carefully removed, rather than beaten, from their natural environment. Acknowledgment I wish to express my thanks to Mr. Robert Watson for allowing me access to his collection. ST A Ban on Collecting Lepidoptera in the Department of the Alpes de Haute-Provence, France L. McLeop, B.Sc., M.Phil., F.R.E.S.* | As early as the end of last century Digne was a noted venue for lepidopterists because of localised species and rare aberrations to be found there (e.g. Jones 1890, 1894, Brown 1900). During the last fifty years many lepidopterists including French as well as other nationalities, have descended on the town each year. The attraction of the area is reflected in the number of papers published over the years concerning the lepidoptera of Digne and its neighbourhood. More recently, because of the higher level of living and easier travel facilities, the annual invasion of lepidopterists has sometimes reached very high levels. This has been to the benefit of local commerce and tourism, but apparently to the detriment of certain of the rarer butterflies and moths, the target species of many of the visitors. In order to protect these species the departmental authorities prohibited the collecting of lepidop- tera in the area of Digne on the 18th April 1973. In the years following 1973, the influx of lepidopterists into the department continued and some of our colleagues upset the local authorities by “overcollecting”. Thousands of specimens of certain of the rarer species (both butterflies and moths) have been taken for commercial purposes. Resulting from this regrettable behaviour of a small minority, we have seen a gradual strengthening of the legislation against the collecting of lepidoptera. Decrees were published in 1976 and 1977 concerning the protection of wild life. In 1978, following advice from the departmental biological adviser, the Chamber of Agriculture, and the Departmental Commission on Sites, Panorama and Countryside, the capture of butterflies and moths in the entire territory of the department of the Alpes de Haute-Provence was prohibited as from 22nd June. I have not yet seen or heard of anything in the entomo- logical press concerning this action on the part of depart- mental authorities, which I think is unique in being the first of its kind in Europe. The entomological revues ‘‘Alexanor”’ and “‘Entomops” have not mentioned the subject despite the latter being a review of the entomologists of the Alpes Maritimes and Corsica, “‘almost on the doorstep” as it were. One must remember that the area in question is not a National Park or Nature Reserve but a department, i.e. similar to a county in Britain. The Alpes de Haute-Provence covers an area of 692,522 hectares. Perhaps many lepidopterists have already experienced being told to pack their nets and go! The first I have heard of (I would have placed bets on it being an Englishman) was Mr. Russel Bretherton, who, accompanied by friends were collecting on the Montagne du Lure during July. A local forester soon appeared on the scene and informed them in no * Quartier des Ecoles, St. Pierre de Vassols, 84330, France. 38 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD 1 /TI-I11/79 uncertain terms of the new legislation. Having travelled such a long way specifically to collect on that mountain, how un- fortunate to have one’s holiday marred in such a fashion. It is worthy therefore to reproduce herea translation of the bye- law so that other British entomologists know of the new restrictions. Prefecture des Alpes de Haute-Provence, Service de la Coordination et de l’Action Economique, Bureau de |’Environ- ment, du Tourisme, et de l’Amenagement due Territoire. ARRETE No. 78 — 2536 Prohibition of capture of butterflies and moths in all the territory comprising the department of the Alpes de Haute- Provenc. Article 1 Capture of moths carried out at night using artificial light sources and all other methods, also that of their cater- pillars, is prohibited in all the territory of the Alpes de Haute- Provence. Article 2 The capture of butterflies and day-flying moths is prohibited in all the territory of the Alpes de Haute-Provence for a period of ten years following publication of this bye-law in the collection of administrative records of the Prefecture. Article 3 Capture or destruction of eggs, chrysalids and caterpillars of butterflies and moths is prohibited except those which are agricultural, horticultural or forestry pests. Article 4 Exception from article 2 is made for children under twelve years of age who catch butterflies with pocket nets of a diameter not exceeding 20 c. Article5 Capture for scientific purposes of butterflies and moths as well as their eggs, chrysalids, and caterpillars is possible under exceptional authorization from the depart- mental Director of Agriculture, on the express condition that the request is made to him not less than one month in advance, the validity of such authorization not exceeding two months. Article6 The Secretary General ofthe Alpes de Haute- Provence, the Sub-Prefects, the mayors, the Colonel com- manding the police of the Alpes de Haute-Provence, the Departmental Director of Agriculture and the employees of the National Forestry Offic and municipal guards are en- trusted, each and every one, with the carrying out of this present bye-law. Digne 22ndJune 1978 Signed: Paul Rouaze It would appear form article 5 that collecting permits can be obtained under certain conditions. Perhaps being a member of an entomological society might be sufficient evidence of scientific intent? However, I doubt it because some commercial dealers are also members of entomological societies. In time, no doubt, the situation will became clearer. In several European countries, laws are in force which protect certain species of lepidoptera. In Germany Parnassius species are protected in all their stages. Likewise Zerinthia species have been protected in Czechoslovakia since 1965. I A BAN ON COLLECTING LEPIDOPTERA 39 belive that there are similar laws in Austria and Switzerland but I have no information concerning which species are pro- tected. Perhaps other readers can supply more information on this subject? The present collecting controversy and focus on conservation stimulated me to expand this paper more than I originally intended with the objective of making further information available to those interested. In Britain we have seen many papers during the past few years concerning the misuse of light traps (e.g. Smith & Smith 1978) also ther have been one or two papers specifically on insect/butterfly conservation (Owen 1974, Gardiner 1976). I echo the views of Smith & Smith in confirming that it is nearly always members of national organisations who run light traps which kill everything which enters them (i.e. Rot- hamstead traps). Although I have little knowledge of what goes on in the Alpes de Haute-Provence, I can present here some information concerning the Vaucluse. During ten years of collecting experience in the Vaucluse, the only light traps I have encountered which kill all the insects which enter, are those run by employees of the Institute Nationale de la Recherche Agronomique (I.N.R.A.). Both the Montfavet Agricultural Research Station and the Laboratoire d’Ecologie de Mont Ventoux both run severalsuch traps. I am informed that those positioned on Mont Ventoux and which are con- cerned mainly with the monitoring of populations of [haume- topoea pityocampa Schiff., the Processionary Caterpillar of the Pine, frequently require emptying three or four times per night in mid-summer. The thousands of dead moths are later examined and identified (when possible) by students who act as temporary employees during summer months. All the light traps used by visiting amateur lepidopterists have been without exception of the “Robinson” or ‘Heath’ design, and made use of a sheet or egg packing trays. These traps alow the lepidopterist to select the desired specimens and to release the remainder, usually the vast majority, unharmed. In the case of the light traps used by Montfavet Agricul- tural Research Station, they are used to monitor the arrival of migrations and population fluctuations of twenty or more pest species of Noctuidae. The light traps are positioned in agricultural areas around Avignon. This type of use is perhaps acceptable to most lepidopterists. In the case of the light traps used by the Laboratoire d’Ecologie du Mont Ventoux, Malaucene, I would query the necessity for using light traps to monitor the population of T. pityocampa. Having had some professional experience during 1963 involving a serious outbreak of the Pine Looper, Bupalus piniarius L. (the Bordered White) in Cannock Chase, I feel that 1 can discuss the matter with some authority. Although there will undoubtedly be correlation betweeen numbers of moths killed in the traps and actual populations, for one reason or another the figures obtained are not very accurate and can only be used as an indication of fluctuations. The same indica- 40 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD 1/ I-III /79 tion may be obtained by other methods involving larvae. The ease with which one can count the web nests of larvae in the springtime also makes possible the counting of nests by aerial photography either using daylight or infra red film. Surely it is not necessary to kill thousands if not millions of moths in order to know when the adult moths are emerging and laying eggs. A further disadvantage of such semi-permanent light traps is that large numbers of moths are eaten by bats which soon learn that light traps are a good source of food. The numbers of bats involved can be large and fluctuations in the bat popula- tions will be reflected in the numbers of moths taken in the traps. My friend Mr. Gerard Luquet, the editor of ‘““Alexanor’’, who is employed as a lepidopterist in the Museum Nationale d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris and sometimes at the Laboratoire d’Ecologie due Mont Ventoux, on being questioned about the effect of the “complete mortality” light trap, informed me that the statistics taken by his colleagues over a number of years indicate that there are no adverse effects on populations from the use of such traps. Personally I feel that this is an incorrect conclusion based on inadequate data. Perhaps it is correct for certain common species with wide distribution but I would suggest incorrect for uncommon species with restricted distribution. Populations normally fluctuate from generation to generation depending on parasitism, predation, food supply and weather. Should large numbers of an uncommon species be taken when a population is extremely low, long term damage can be inflicted on the population and it may take several years to regain its normal density. Thus we find conflicting evidence: that of personnel of I.N.R-A. on the one hand and _ that of the advisers to the Prefecture of the Alpes de Haute- Provence on the other. It appears obvious to me that the latter are ‘correct. I have already pointed out that it is not the effect of light traps upon common species with wide distribution which worries the conservationist. It is their effect upon uncommon species with restricted distribution. In the Alpes de Haute- Provence I presume that one of the major subjects for con- servation is the Saturniid Graellsia isabellae Graells., un- doubtedly one of the species most concerned with the present ban on collecting. There has been for some years, publicity concerning the rarity of this and other insect species in France, where it is restricted to two or three departments in the south. Despite this ““warning”’, large numbers have been collected annually by both French and German commercia! dealers. I fear that Mr. Gardiner’s supposition (Gardiner 1977) that Al specimens are more easily obtained by breeding is just not true. Soon after emergence most wild specimens are perfect. Unscruplous dealers will kill and sell even damaged specimens. Mr. Gardiner also states, ““There is no known proved instance of any butterfly or moth ever having been exterminated by over-collecting’’. This is, of course, very A BAN ON COLLECTING LEPIDOPTERA 41 difficult to prove, but a recent example of disgraceful behaviour on the part of a South African dealer/lepidopterist comes to mind. A recently discovered species of Lycaenid, Oxychaeta dicksoni (Gabriel) with a very restricted distribution was, as far as is known, collected to the point of extinction within one season so that the individual concerned could charge high prices for his “rarities”. Mr. C. G. C. Dickson, after whom the species was named, informed me that it has not been seen since. Following on from this there is now a list of butterfly species protected by law in South Africa, with heavy fines or imprisonment for anyone transgressing the law. Laws such as this are very hard to implement especially in wild, mountainous areas, forests, etc. Far better is to prohibit the sale, as well as the collection, of the insects concerned. In the case of the Alpes de Haute-Provence, protection of certain uncommon species would likewise be hard to imple- ment (as it is in Britain). Those personnel required to assist in the carrying out of such a law are not likely themselves to be able to tell one species from another. Undoubtedly in cases such as this, it is better to establish a nature reserve or put a total ban on collecting. While completing this paper, the October issue of “The Record”’ was delivered and with great interest I read various ‘Letters to the Editor’ from Messrs. Jacobs, Hyde and Will- mott (Ent. Rec. 90: 272-274). Undoubtedly permanent destruc- tion of habitat is the major cause of the disappearance of insect species, with other factors such as over-collecting, temporary destruction of habitats by fires, droughts, etc., and interference in the natural balance of an ecosystem uch ho Min. Nise TeEmPs 0 OATE 20 CAPTURE, /o i Oo Z ; 2s gor 4 9 EOS, Uae SDE NV 1.00 shows a definite density effect. The effect was significant, though varying, at all density levels and on all developmental stages. At all density levels the effect was most marked on fourth larval instar and least on first larval instars, i.e. the ratio increased. 150 @ - 250 00 oO w200 2:00 we @————_-@ w rail og IV INSTAR w 150 e us e ails & 150 @ ll INSTAR we 10 20 30 40 50 = ul 100 ! ! @ 1 50 > > (°) 20 30 40 +200 phere at a 8 w ieee 4 Es G w 250 us woe Oo ,. z "SO Vv INSTAR w @ ea a. i aa 200 e Y [oo 10 20 30 40 50 e DENSITY LEVEL 50 tll INSTAR Fig. 1. foo To) 20 30 40 50 DENSITY LEVEL Fig. 1. Effect of larval density levels on the duration of larval stages of Andraca bipunctata Walker. Density effect is computed as the ratio of means duration of grouped larvae to mean of single larva. Density levels did not however have any specific effect on larval mortality: the mounting sucesses in the succeeding larval instars were almost identical at all density levels (Table 3). There was an overall decline in moulting as development progressed but the trend was identical at various density levels. 4. Pupal weight, eclosion and sex ratio Density levels of fifth larval instars affected the weight of the pupae that emerged in the groups. The ratio of mean group 100 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD 1/1V/79 Table 3. Effect of density on the percentage of moulting by larval instars of Andraca bipunctata Walker. Figures shown are the percentage of successful moulting from one larval instar to the next and are not continuous series. Instar Larval 10 20 30 40 50 density Instar 1 95 96 80 83 75 Instar 2 85 87 15) 1S 70 Instar 3 90 95 80 75 68 Instar 4 80 82 77 75 70 Instar 5 75 70 70 65 57 weight, i.e. weight of pupae reared at various density levels of fifth instars to individual weight decreased linearly with larval density, and at 50 density level the average weight of the pupae was nearly half of that at 10 density level (Figure 2). The correlation between density and weight was highly significant (7 = —0.98; P<0.01). o DENSITY EFFECT ° oO fe) 050 10 20 30 40 50 DENSITY LEVEL Fig. 2. Effect of densities of fifth larval instars of Andraca bipunctata Walker on pupal weight. Density effect is measured as the ratio of mean pupal weight to weight of single pupa. Weight of single pupa is about 240 mg. ; 3 Pupae kept at various density levels were followed to the emergence of moths. By and large, the percentage of eclosion was nearly the same at various density levels of the pupae and the sex ratio of the emerged moths did not vary significantly from an expected 1:1 sex ratio (Table 4). DISCUSSION Mutual interference resulting from high populations in restricted space affects growth, fecundity and pupal weight of lepidopteras (Ullyett 1950: Harrison 1964; Gruys 1970). In Andraca bipunctata rising larval densities prolonged duration of the larval stages, and reduced pupal weight, without caus- ing a significant density related mortality at any stage. How- RELATED DEVELOPMENT IN ANDRACA BIPUNCTATA 101 Table 4. Effect of pupal densities on percentage of eclosion and sex ratio in Andraca bipunctata Walker. Percentage Pupal density of moth Average numbers of emergence Male Female 10 94 4 5 20 93 9 9 30 95 15 13 40 92 18 18 50 92 22 24 ever, in some insects population level above a threshold caused a density related mortality (Stenhaus 1958; Doane 1960), but in A. bipunctata this did not become functional possibly because of three reasons. First, in all experiments food supply was adequate for the larvae thus eliminating a source of mortality; second, the containers were regularly cleaned to avoid any bacterial or other contamination that normally causes mortality; third, the level of population was possibly not high enough to induce competition which ultimately causes mortality. A reduction in fecundity and longevity with increase in density, on the other hand, suggests chances of adult survival and reproduction decreases with density. Therefore density above a level will not have any selective advantage for the population. A differential response to increasing density levels is thus shown by the developing stages of Andraca bipunctata. Being inactive the pupae do not react in any way to density levels. In all cases density beyond a threshold has a negative effect on the developmental rates of larval instars and adult fecundity of Andraca bipunctata. If the effect is genetic, it could form a basis for selection (Gruys 1970), so that to avoid possible consequence like depletion of resources and consequent density related mortality, field populations of Andraca bipunctata will not become dense enough at any site for competition to become functional. This does not however preclude possibilities of a density related mortality from natural enemies which may have a regulatory effect on the populations of Andraca bipunc- tata (Banerjee 1979). ABSTRACT Oviposition and longevity of Andraca bipunctata Walker decrease with increase in moth density. Duration of each larval instar increases but pupal weight proportionally decreases with the increase in larval density. Eclosion rate and sex ratio of moths are not affected at different pupal densities. Differential responses of the developing stages of the insect to varying density levels suggest density above a threshold has no selec- tive advantage for the species. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I thank Director, Tocklai Experimental Station for his 102 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD 1/1V/79 interest, and Tea Research Association for permission to publish this report. References Banerjee, B., 1970. Aggregating behaviour of the caterpillars of Andraca bipunctata Wlk. (Bombycidae: Lepidoptera). Sci. & Cult., 36: 236-238. Banerjee, B., 1971. Eclosion and oviposition rhythms of Andraca bipunc- tata Walker with a model for determining theoretical moth densities from eclosion rate. Ind. J. Ent., 33: 411-418. Banerjee, B., 1979. A key-factor analysis of of population fluctuations in Andraca bipunctata Walker (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae. Bull. ent. Res., 69 (in press). Beaver, R. A., 1973. The effect of larval competition on puparial size in Sarcophagus spp. J. Ent. (A), 48: 1-9. Chitty, D., 1957. Self-regulation of numbers through changes in viability. Cold Spring Harbour Symposia on Quantitative Biology, 22: 277-280. Doane, C. C., 1960. Bacterial pathogens of Scolytus multistratus Mar- sham as related to crowding. J. Insect. Pathol., 2: 24-29 Gruys, P., 1970. Mutual interference in Bupalus piniarius (Lepidoptera: Geometridae). Proc. Adv. Study Inst. Dynamics Numbers Popul. (Oosterbeck 1970): 199-207. Harrison, J. O., 1964. Factors affecting the abundance of lepidoptera in banana plantations. Ecology, 45: 508-519. Henneberry, T. J., and Kishaba, A. N., 1966. Pupal size and mortality, longevity and reproductions of cabbage loopers reared at several densities. J. Econ. Ent., 59: 1490-1493. Klomp, H., 1966. The dynamics of a field population of the pine looper, Bupalus piniarius L. (Lep., Geom.). Adv. ecol. Res., 3: 207-305. Steinhaus, E. A., 1958. Crowding as a possible stress factor in insect disease. Ecology, 39: 503-514. Ullyett, G. C., 1950. Competition for food and allied phenomena in sheep blowfly populations. Trans. Royal. Soc. Lond., B: 234: 77-174. EMUS HIRTUS LINNAEUS (COL.: STAPHYLINIDAE) AT CANTER- BURY IN 1950.—JIn a collection of Coleoptera taken in the Old Park at Canterbury in May 1950, there is a specimen of the very rare Emus hirtus L. which was caught in a jar of meat bait set for Necrophorus and other carrion species. This impressive rove beetle is usually taken on or in fresh cow- dung, but it is well known that predators are attracted to that medium not so much for the soup as for the maggots it contains, and so its occurrence in carrion is not surprising. This species has been recorded so rarely that this instance should perhaps not go unnoted, particularly in view of the different habitat. — JoHN Parry, 38 Heather Drive, St. Michaels, Tenterden. Kent. NOTICE As we go to press, we hear of the sad news of the death on 10th May, of Dr. H. B. D. Kettlewell. An obituary notice will appear in due course. 103 Flies, Bees and Butterflies on La Palma, Canary Islands in 1976 By PETER J. CHANDLER * In late May and early June 1976, I stayed ten nights on La Palma, the most westerly of the Canary Islands when my intention was to compare the dipterous fauna with that on Tenerife, which I had visited in early April 1973. As the total diversity of the Canarian Diptera is relatively low, however, some attention was also given to other insects especially aculeate Hymenoptera and butterflies. La Palma is a small island of 730 square kilometres, but is extremely rugged, rapidly rising from coastal cliffs to inland mountain ranges and in the broader north there is a large central crater —9 kilometres in diameter, La Caldera de Taburiente, which is a national park. The highest point of the island (2,413 metres is on the northern rim of the Caldera. The broad leaved evergreen forest type (‘‘laurisilva’’), which formerly dominated the more humid northern slopes of the western Canary Islands, was best developed on La Palma but now only a few pockets of high laurel forest remain, dominated by the trees Ocotea foetens (Aiton) Benth., and Laurus azorica (Seub.) Franco with about 15 other species of evergreen trees and shrubs. Much of it has been replaced with a secondary growth (‘‘fayal-brezal’’?) dominated by the evergreen shrub Myrica faya Aiton and tree heather Erica arborea L. The more common woodland type is dominated by Pinus canarien- sis Chr. Sm., which forms open woods clothing much of the Caldera and the higher slopes of the mountain ranges even quite close to the southern extremity of the island, which lacks the semi-desert south of the other western islands although xerophytic scrub is present on large areas especially on the western slopes. The lower slopes are more or less inten- sively cultivated and the laurisilva particularly has suffered by clearance for agriculture. The landscape is cut by many deep ravines (barrancos), which radiate from the Caldera and the ranges of Cumbre Nueva and Cumbre Vieja further south; many of these were once torrents but the water from them has been canalised and all are now dry. The microclimate of the surviving remnants of laurel forest has, however, preserved many of the moisture loving insects. The faunal diversity of the generally more open pine forest is usually lower. Machado (1977) carried out extensive field work on La Palma in 1975 and was unable to refute the apparent poverty of the carabid beetle fauna compared with the other western islands; he deduced that this was due to the geological youth of most of La Palma, which has several recently active volcanos. This factor appears to have had less effect on other more mobile insects where there are in any case fewer endemic species confined to single islands. The total dipterous fauna of the Canary Islands (Frey, 1936, 1958) is upwards of 800 species; probably at least half occur on La Palma but it is * Weston Research Laboratories, 644 Bath Road, Taplow, Maidenhead, Berks. SL6 OPA. 104 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD 1/1V/79 difficult to be precise because much revision is necessary of the work of Dr. Elias Santos Abreu, who published consider- able descriptive works on several groups of Diptera from 1918 to 1930 (his work on Muscidae, Fanniidae and Anthomyiidae was published posthumously as recently as 1976). Dr. Santos lived at Santa Cruz de la Palma and much of the material he studied originated in this island. Baez (1977) has revised the Syrphidae and reduced the Canarian list to 26 species, to which few additions now seem likely; 23 occur on La Palma and I found 16 during my visit. Theowald (1977) thoroughly revised the Tipulidae of the Canaries, Madeira and the Azores; he recognised 28 Canarian species, of which 17 occurred on La Palma and I found seven of these there. Another recent con- tribution on Canarian Diptera was by Papp (1977) on the Sphaeroceridae, bringing the Canarian list to 34. At least 260 of the Canarian Diptera are currently con- sidered endemic to these islands or to the Canaries, Madeira and the Azores (Macaronesia), although this figure is continu- ally undergoing revision. Better knowledge of faunas of adjacent areas is essential before endemicity can be certain in the less worked groups. Half of the 28 Tipulidae are endemic, a higher proportion than in most families. In the Syrphidae, eight of the 26 species are endemic (five of them closely related Eumerus species) and there are distinct local forms of two other species. Francois (1970) has shown the endemicity of two bombyliids previously thought conspecific with widespread forms. The only well attested case of speciation having occurred within the Canary Islands is in Promachus, a genus of large (24-34 mm.) robust asilids where there are five species each inhabiting a different island; they fly in late June to August and I have not met with them. I collected about 190 species of Diptera on my visit to La Palma, of which Muscidae and Mycetophilidae with 18 Species each were the richest families; the latter group were connfined to very circumscribed refuges and were hard to find in most localities, although being particularly sought because of my projected revision of the Canarian fungus gnats. The Muscidae are the best represented dipterous family in the Canaries with about 70 species (at least 60 in La Palma, but more than a third are the riparian Limnophorinae which have evidently now declined). The aculeate Hymenoptera are poorly represented on La Palma compared with the drier parts of the other islands. Ten species of bees and seven of wasps were observed during my visit. Lieftinck (1958) listed 70 species (55 precisely deter- mined) of Canarian bees, of which 14 were recorded from La Palma. Peters (1975) added two species to the Canarian list and one to La Palma. Warncke (1968) increased the Canarian Andrena from five to 19, recording four from La Palma, but this genus did not occur during my visit. De Beaumont (1968) increased the Canarian list of Sphecidae to a probable 52 (44 precisely determined), based largely on Guichard’s material but only four were recorded from La Palma. Soika (1974) FLIES, BEES AND BUTTERFLIES ON CANARY ISLANDS 105 recorded 16 species of Eumenidae, three of which he con- sidered recent introductions, but only one (A. fortunatus) from La Palma. Other groups of wasps have been neglected but records of six species in other families are given by Bis- choff (1936), who records Vespula germanica (L.), a scoliid and a chrysid from La Palma. Guichard (1976) tabulated the butterflies known from the Canaries, recognising 26 species and two subspecies of which 20 were listed from La Palma; of these 15 were observed dur- ing my visit. The five not recorded were the two Danaus spp., Vanessa atalanta (L.), V. cardui (L.) and Zizeeria knysna (Trimen). Since Guichard’s summary, the large white and brimstone have been recognised to be endemic Canarian species; according to Kudrna (1975) the Gonepteryx on La Palma is a distinct species (G. palmae Stamm) from that on Tenerife and Gomera (G. cleobule (Hiibner)). Kudrna (1973) also followed other recent authors in accepting Pieris cheiranthi (Hiibner) as a distinct species, supported by larval coloration and biology differing from P. brassicae (L). Manley & Allcard (1970) also recognised the skipper Thymelicus christi Rebel & Rogenhofer as an endemic species although Schmidt-Koehl (1971) considered it conspecific with T. acteon (Rott.) in his comprehensive account of the butterflies of Tenerife. There are thus 27 species of butterflies on the Canary Islands of which seven are endemic as are the Canarian subspecies of three others. I stayed in the main town, Santa Cruz de la Palma. situated centrally in a wedge of low ground on the east coast with hills rising steeply behind and with the aid of a hired car it was possible to reach most parts of the island. On my arrival it was cloudy as it was to be for most of my stay, but there was little rain and the clouds often cleared to provide sunny spells, the weather on higher ground being especially changeable. On the first morning, I followed the tortuous road to the north of the capital, initially investigating a dry ravine at the foot of a scrub covered hillside south of the La Galga tunnel. The butterflies Pieris rapae (L.), Maniola jurtina hispulla (Esper) and Pararge xiphioides Staud. were frequent and a few Thymelicus christi and Cyclirius webbianus (Brullé) were seen. The bees Lasioglossum viride unicolor (Brullé) and L. laetum (Brullé) were here at flowers and Bombus terrestris canariensis Pérez were common; these three species were found in most relatively open localities visited. B. t. canarien- sis is a very distinct race—mainly black with a white tail and is the only Bombus known in the Canary Islands. Among the Diptera, Thereva occulta Beck. was alighting on rocks when the sun broke through; the Orthoptera parasite Stomorhina lunata (F.) was numerous here and in similar localities. Flowers attracted the common European hoverflies Episyrphus balteatus (Deg.), Sphaerophoria scripta (L.), Meliscaeva auricollis (Mg.) and Eristalis tenax (L.) and the endemic Melanostoma incompletum Beck. The small dolichopodid Chrysotimus varicoloris Beck. was numerous running over foilage of bushes. In shady spots some flies characteristic of 106 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD 1/1V/79 the laurisilva occurred, e.g. Euleia separata (Beck.), Hebecnema rufitibia Stein, H. fumosa (Mg.) and Sapromyza_ insularis Beck. (the three latter were frequent in such places through- out La Palma). In the afternoon I proceeded to the laurel woods at Los Tilos but the weather deteriorated and rain began at 4.0 p.m. Insects were sparse, although some typical species were col- lected including a few Tipulidae and Mycetophilidae, Asteia amoena Mg., Drosophila pallida Zett., Hylemya latevittata Stein, Helina obscurisquama (Stein) and Fannia pubescens Stein. A female Sylvicola (Anisopodidae — family first re- corded from the Canaries on S. fenestralis (Scop.) by Baez (1977)) was found. On the following day, 26th May, I went south and made a foray on the south-west slopes of the Montana del Fuego Las Indias. Overgrown fields containing much Opuntia graded into pine scrub and a large variety of flowers were present. Pieris rapae was seen and the lycaenids Lampides boeticus (L.) and Aricia cramera (Eschscholtz) were numerous. The small bombyliids Cyrtosia canariensis Engel and Geron hesperidum Frey and the syrphids M. auricollis, Scaeva pyrastri (L.) and Syritta pipiens (L.) occurred at flowers; Sphaerophoria scripta was abundant. The silver haired Thereva frontata Beck. was settling on volcanic ash and several of a slender brown Thereva like a small occulta were taken. The many small acalypterates included several tephritids (among them an Ensina, probably decisa Woll. only hitherto known from Madeira) and Pherbellia argyrotarsis (Beck.). Musca vitri- pennis Mg. and Helina duplicata (Mg.) were common and a few H. clara (Mg.) were caught; Dilophus minor Beck. was abundant here and in many other scrubby places in and near pine forest —it was the only bibionid seen in La Palma while my visit to Tenerife, being earlier, also produced the other two Canarian bibionids. Then returning via Fuencaliente, I stopped briefly on open windswept ground near the Volcan de San Antonio. M. j. hispulla and Eristalis tenax were flying and seven species of Tephritidae (including Sphenella marginata (Fall.) not seen elsewhere) were swept but little else was about. The east slopes of the Montana del Fuego north of Fuencaliente support open pine woods interspersed with culti- vation, where a short stop produced little of note. Metasyrphus corollae (F.) and the tephritid Oedosphenella canariensis (Macq.) were first found. Where low pine foliage touched the ground, it provided a moist spot harbouring a few of the mycetophilid Macrocrea incompleta Beck. On 27th May, I took the northern route again, continu- ing past Barlovento until the Garafia road became a dirt track, where rather degraded mixed forest was sampled in slight rain. Sweeping heather produced several species of mycetophilids and two females of Callomyia dives Zett. (Platypezidae) pre- viously known from Tenerife under the name fortunata Lw. The syrphids M. incompletum, M. auricollis and M. corollae FLIES, BEES AND BUTTERFLIES ON CANARY ISLANDS 107 were seen; most other Diptera were in common with Los Tilos but a single example of the beautiful tephritid Orotava caudata (Beck.) was swept up. As no woods worth investigating remained in the entire stretch from Barlovento through Los Sauces, I returned to Los Tilos where I concentrated on the Barranco del Agua, a narrow deep gorge adjacent to the laurel forest, which contained some stagnant pools. Several Tipula rufina Mg. were flying, chironomids and psychodids were numerous, a few dolichopodids (Sympycnus, Hercostomus spp.) and mycetophilids occurred as did Thaumalea subafricana Beck. and Dicranomyia spp. but in general the catch was disappointing. In late afternoon, I stopped at the village of La Galga and took the route prescribed by Bramwell & Bramwell (1974), i.e. the steep track alongside the water conduit, following the base of a cliff and eventually reaching the mature laurel forest of Cubo de la Galga which fills the floor of a narrow valley hemmed in by hills on three sides. It was too late in the day to produce much of interest but Suillia oceana (Beck.) and Euleia separata (of the shining black form —all others seen were brown variety “flavicollis’) were taken. Aulacigaster leu- copeza (Mg.), which Baez (1977) added to the Canarian list, was frequent and it was decided to return to this locality on a more propitious day. On the fourth day I travelled on the southern route through Fuencaliente and took the road north on the west side of the Cumbre Vieja, where it traversed rugged country lightly wooded with pine. The first stop was made near El Charco, where a dry flowery gulley crossed the road adjacent to pine forest. The flowers here attracted the orange bodied syrphid Chrysotoxum triarcuatum Macq. and the robust Tachina canariensis Macq., which resembles our T. fera (L.) in coloration (except for a narrower median stripe on the abdomen) but is of the build of Nowickia ferox (Panzer.). S. pyrastri, E. balteatus, M. auricollis and E. tenax occurred and the butterflies C. webbianus and Vanessa indica vulcania (Latreille & Godart) were seen. The black larvae of a Cionus verea were conspicuous on foliage of Scrophularia glabrata iton. Proceeding northwards via Los Llanos de Aridane, I followed the tortuous route through the banana plantations of the Barranco de las Angustias where many Anax dragonflies were on the wing and made another stop in an arid partly cultivated area 2 km. north of the viewpoint of El Time. Butterflies were numerous here along a dry ravine with shrubby vegetation, especially P. rapae, A. cramera and M. j. hispulla; several Colias crocea (Geoff. in Fourcr.) and a single Pontia daplidice (L.) were seen. Only ten species of Diptera were collected but these included seven Syrphidae, EF. baltea- tus, S. scripta, S. pipiens, Myathropa florea (L.) var. nigro- femorata Santos, Ischiodon aegyptium (Wied.) and two of the endemic Eumerus species (latitarsis Macq. and purpureus Macq.) which settled on stems of the prolific Opuntia. (To be continued) 108 | ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD 1/1V/79 Notes and Observations CATERPILLARS FEEDING ON BUDDLEJA DAVIDII. —I refer to the latter part of B. J. Lempke’s note (1978, Ent. Rec., 90: 252) under the above heading. In this he records the laying by Celastrina argiolus L. on the flower buds of this plant, but only one pupa resulted from the six ova laid. Usually, in these misplaced layings, no larva reaches the second instar. I am quite certain that this is a phenomenon that occurs far more frequently than is generally realised. After all, when searching for ova, it is the recognised foodplants that are examined, so that the chances of finding misplaced ova are minimal. In Kenya I know of two Charaxes species which frequently lay on plants on which the hatchling larvae feed but fail to thrive, dying without moulting — C. lasti Gr. Sm. on Afzelia quan- zensis (Caesalpiniaceae) and C. brutus Cr. on Melia azedarach (Meliaceae) — both plants closely allied to the normal food- plants of the species. Strangely enough, half grown larvae of brutus transferred to azedarach complete their development successfully. Is some trace element, vital to the hatchling larvae, absent from the substitute foodplant, or is something lethal present? — D. G. SEVASTOPULO, F.R.E.S. ELACHIPTERA UNISETA COLL. (DIPT.: CHLOROPIDAE): A CORRECTION, AND FURTHER RECORDS. —In my note on this until recently very little-known fly (antea: 210), I unfortunately overlooked a paper by Dr. J. W. Ismay (1975, Ent. mon. Mag., 111: 102-103) wherein he redefines the characters of the species (which prove in part different from those originally given), and cites records from Germany and Hungary, and in Britain from Orford, Suffolk (3 exx. in coll. B.M.N.H.). He also discovered colonies in two Surrey localities, Virginia Water and Frensham Little Pond, the latter one being very populous; and confirms its association with waterside vegetation — usu- ally Phragmites. My sole excuse for passing over this work is the fact that the annual index to the journal in question has not been issued since 1961, making the search for possible references highly laborious and time-consuming. To set the record straight, and despite the reservations expressed in my note (all too necessary as it turns out) I feel obliged in fairness to Dr. Ismay — who is doing excellent and much-needed work on the Chloropidae —to call attention to his valuable paper. As for the present species, its status in our fauna has been completely transformed in the space of a few years by his researches. Dr. Ismay has four records of E. uniseta that have accrued meanwhile (all of single specimens) which he kindly invites me to publish, as follows: Old Slade Reserve, Bucks., 2, 19.vii.70, open ground by gravel pits, and Leckford Reserve, Hants., 3, 18.11.73, in sedge tufts, both by P. J. Chandler; Cringleford, Norfolk, o, 9.xi.75, J. W. Ismay; Walberswick N.NR., Suffolk, 6 5 151-76; In crass’ tussock, A” Govlewine—— A. Ac sArren NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS 109 THE PorRTLAND MOTH: OCHROPLEURA PRAECOX (L.) IN NOTTINGHAMSHIRE. — During a recent visit to the Sheffield Museum I noticed a few lepidoptera in the “‘new acquisitions” cabinet. Among those shown was a specimen of the Portland Moth with a data label — ‘“‘Clumber 14.8.78, Fred Harrison’’. Whilst there have been previous Derbyshire records I believe this may be the first from Nottinghamshire. The specimen exhibited was significantly smaller and paler with more intense markings, than those I have seen on the Dorset coast. — P. J. Baker, Mount Vale, The Drive, Sandhills Lane, Virginia Water, Surrey. Practical Hints — June Overwintering the eggs of the High Brown Fritillary (Argynnis adippe L.) can present problems, but I have found the most successful way is to keep them in a refrigerator. Most of mine were laid on the flowers of red valerian (Kentranthus ruber), which had been put into the laying cage for the female to feed from. The petals bearing eggs were plucked out each evening, and trimmed off close to the egg with a sharp knife and left to dry. After about a month, when the small larva had matured inside the egg, the eggs were sealed in a small plastic box and placed in a fridge. They were then left there till early the following March, when it was noticed that several larvae had hatched, though the tempera- ture had been kept at about 38°F. However, nearly all the larvae hatched about a week after removal of the eggs from the fridge. Some petals with eggs attached were not trimmed, and though left in the fridge, mould developed and none of these eggs hatched (REVELS). The last week in June is the best time to collect larvae of the Butterbur (Hydraecia petasitis Doubleday). Make a small tear in the leaf to separate the top of the main petiole. If there is a brown stain inside, a larva will be present in the root, which should be dug up and buried in wet peat. Collect the pupa from the peat at the end of July (WILD). Agrotis ripae Hbn. is one of the most beautiful agrotids, though unfortunately the lovely delicate speckling on its wings fades after a time. The ground colour and speckling match the sand on which it rests, where I assume it sits flat and shuffles its wings so that some grains trickle onto them and obscure its outline. The red sands at Dawlish where it feeds on sea convolvulus produce the most striking form; the white sands of West Wittering produce the palest insects I know; and the white and black speckles of the sand in Cornish coves has a lovely form to match. The latter form is repeated in the Scilly Isles (but mine only from Bryer) and at Roslare Strand in Ireland, but I have not found it on the west coasts of Ireland or Scotland though it is common on the east coast both north and south of Montrose.I can tell at once if ripae is likely to be present as it requires special conditions — ordinary sand- dunes are not sufficient — what it needs are its special food- 110 | ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD 1/1V/79 plants, such as sea rocket, growing clear of the marram and in pure sand and preferably between the dunes and the high water mark. Ripae comes freely to light. Pick out a hollow in the dunes where there is shelter from the wind and do not use a sheet. They will sit quieter on the bare sand. It also comes to sugared marram heads (DEMUTH). The Rosy Marbled (Elaphria venustula Hbn.) flies freely from dusk till an hour after dark above its foodplant Potentilla where this grows along the verges of short turfed rides. It also comes to light on a sheet. Tilgate and Limpsfield are good localities (WILD). The larvae of several species of plume moth may be found early in June. Those of Pterophorous galactodactyla D. & S. feed on the underside of the lower leaves of burdock. The feeding site is usually easily seen as many larvae often occur together, each eating small holes in the leaf such that the plant takes on the appearance of having been peppered with a shot-gun. I have more frequently found the larvae on plants growing in more open situations. The larvae of Capperia brittaniodactyla Greg. feed singly, but also betray their presence by their feeding habits since they prefer their leaves to be slightly wilted. This they achieve by eating small holes in the stems of the wood sage plants on which they feed; this causes the whole tip of the shoot to wilt and droop over. The larvae rest among these wilted leaves where they are well camouflaged. I have found the larvae in reasonable numbers among the clumps of sage growing on the shingle at Dunge- ness. Searching for them is hard work, but once ‘ones eye is in’, the plants bearing wilted shoots are easily spotted even in woods or on the downs where the plants are often surrounded by herbage. A third plume species, the very common Steno- ptilia pterodactyla L. is not often seen as a larva because it does not betray itself by its feeding habits. Its hostplant speedwell, Veronica chamaedrys is common in lanes, the edges of fields and on the downs where at the end of May the very well camouflaged larvae feed on the flowers. I have found that a simpie method to collect these is to use the plastic lid of a sandwich box as a small beating tray. After selecting a suitable clump of the foodplant, bunches of the flowers may be carefully bent over the lid and combed with the fingers to dislodge the larvae which fall into the lid (WaATKIN- SON). Several nepticulid larvae are early feeders and their mines should be collected in June, at any rate in the south of England. The following species are univoltine; they should be reared in flower-pots containing earth or peat covered with damp sphagnum and left out of doors until April: Stigmella paradoxa (Frey) on hawthorn; S. sorbi (Stt.) on rowan; S. lapponica (Wocke) on birch; and Ectoedemia pulverosella (Stt.) on apple. Bivoltine species which should be collected early include Stigmella hemargyella (Kollar) and S. tityrella (Stt.) on beech; S. hybnerella (Hbn.) on hawthorn and Johans- sonia acetosae (Stt.) on sorrel. The timing of leaf-miners is pe SS LIPS OO rw << <7 dies er SOP LOL 6 7 Sy sa = < S) Ay September 1953 . C. S. WARREN B NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS 111 controlled by temperature and they are rapid feeders. If the season is advanced, many other species will be missed unless looked for in good time (EMMET). In late June, beat hedgerow spindle bushes for larvae of the local Ypsolopha mucronella Scop. This species is by far the largest of the genus Ypsolopha, but its larvae in common with others in the genus, will wriggle violently if disturbed on the beating tray, and will quickly disappear over the edge if not tubed. The best way to betray their presence on the tray is to blow on the plant debris whilst at the same time keeping a sharp eye out for any movement. The larvae are best caught by positioning an empty tube in their path as they wriggle, and they will enter this without the need for any further manipulation. Larvae of the Scorched Carpet (Ligdia adustata D. & S.), will probably be beaten out at the same time (WATKINSON). OBITUARY Brisbane Charles Somerville Warren (1887-1979) With the passing of B. C. S. Warren on the 22nd January 1979 at the great age of 91, the world of entomology and in par- ticular that of lepidopterists, has lost one of its most eminent personalities who, though one of the older generation was a real savant in every sense. His name will always be linked with that large genus of mountain-loving butterflies, the Erebias. Born at Fermoy in Ireland on the 29th March 1887, he left that country for England in 1894 soon after the death of his father, the Dean of Cork. He was educated at St. Paul’s School, and in 1901 at the age of 14, visited Freiburg. He tells how his love of opera brought him into contact with one of its leading baritones, a Herr Junior who was a keen butterfly collector and used to take him on trips into the Black Forest. It was there that the first sparks were kindled for his lifelong interest in, and study of, these insects. During the first twelve years of this century, he divided his time between England and Germany, and in 1912 went to live in Switzerland, returning to this country in 1919. After his marriage in 1922, Warren went to reside at Lausanne where he remained till 1934 when he returned to live permanently at Folkestone, except for five years during the second world war. It was during his residence in the Swiss Alps, that he built up a very extensive collection covering a wide field both in Europe and Asia, though he him- self did not cast his net outside Europe. He travelled almost annually till the late 1950s to some rewarding locality, chiefly in his beloved Alps, but Corsica and the Pyrenees were also among his favourite haunts. This fine accumulation of speci- mens, all meticulously labelled, has now been housed as part of the National Collection at South Kensington, a most valu- able and generous addition under his will. He became a fellow of the (then) Entomological Society of London as far back as 1908 and may well have been its father at the time of his death, and it was to the Transactions Bw ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD 1/1V/79 of that society that he contributed some of his most important papers. In Nota Lepidopterologica for 1978, is published a complete list of 112 notes and larger contributions, starting in 1910 with a paper in The Entomologist’s Record entitled “Some Butterflies of the Black Forest and Rhine Plain’. He also wrote in foreign journals, but it is probable that he published more in The Record than in any other journal. It was in 1926 that his first major work appeared in the Transactions of the Entomological Society of London. This was a Monograph on the Hesperidae (Skippers), mainly the Palaearctic series, and was inspired by an article by Reverdin in 1912 on the same group of insects. It consisted of 160 pages with many fine photographs of the perfect insects, but also of their genitalia which was then quite a novel approach. The excellence of this large paper at once won Warren international repute. But it was ten years later, in 1936, that appeared the large book comprising over 400 pages, The Monograph on the genus Erebia, which he compiled while living in Lausanne and was sponsored by the British Museum (Nat. Hist.). In this, he tells how indebted he was for much valuable help and advice from Prof. Reverdin of Geneva, and from Dr. Stracey of Diemtigen. Again the text and superb photography were carried out in the same meticulous and scholarly manner which characterised all his research. Though much more has been learnt about the Erebias in the last forty years, this great work is still a classic and brought him further renown as well as a lasting memorial to his name as one of the great entomolo- gists of this century. In 1944, he turned his attention to the smaller fritillaries with another most erudite treatise on the genus Boloria, again in the Transactions of the Royal Entomological Society, with a second part on some of the Asiatic representatives which appeared in 1955. During the subsequent 15 years he was mainly engaged on the study of the androconial scales, chiefly among the Pierids. In 1961, he published in a Norwegian journal, a paper on Pieris napi in Scandinavia when he erected a new species Pieris adalwinda. Some of his conclusions in this field were somewhat controversial and possibly not generally accepted, but nevertheless he laid the foundations for much more reasearch. He never fell in with or took kindly to some modern methods of separating species, such as on their respec- tive chromosome numbers. In spite of failing health and a partial amputation of his left leg in the 1960’s, he carried on his research indefatigably and with the same attention to detail, especially in his photographic work, and only gave this up in 1971 with a final note on Pieris pseudorapa Verity. Handsome, tall, of upstanding stature and of distinguished appearance, Warren was of most genial and kindly disposition always ready to receive and help those equally keen on the lepidoptera of Europe and the British Isles. A very fine figure has been taken from us and he will indeed be missed. All sympathy goes out to his widow and daughter.—C. G. M. DE W. DATA LABELS Printed to your requirements in any quantity of labels/lines. Choose from a variety of paper surfaces and typefaces. Full details and sample labels on request. P. D. J. HUGO 38 Cotswold Crescent, Chipping Norton, Oxon. OX7 5DT Please mention this journal when replying THE MICROLEPIDOPTERA OF ESSEX. — I am currently engaged on compiling a list of the microlepidoptera of the county on behalf of the Essex Naturalists’ Trust and the Essex Field Club; it is proposed to publish the list in 1979. I should therefore be grateful if collectors who have not already done so will send me their records. Localities even for the common species help to complete distribution patterns. Entomologists who are planning their season’s collecting shoud bear in mind that Essex is rich in microlepidoptera (over 1,000 species of ‘‘micro”’ are already in the list) but almost devoid of microlepidopterists and hence seriously underrecorded. They could profitably make 1978 their ‘‘Essex year’. — A. M. EMmer, Labrey Cottage, Victoria Gardens, Saffron Walden, Essex, CB11 3AF, 30.iv.1978. EXOTIC INSECT SPECIALIST SUPPLIERS Lepidoptera livestock, Phasmids, many Exotic Insects, Foodplants, Equip- ment, Black Lights, Frames and Displays, Popular and Rare Specimens, Praying Mantis, etc. Indonesian/New Guinea specimen specialists. Trade supplied as well as retail. Exporters to Europe and America. Importers from over 30 Countries. FREE Mailing List—Regular Catalogues, etc. S.A.E. for latest Catalogue. TRANSWORLD ENTOMOLOGICAL COMPANY (ER) P.O. BOX 14, REIGATE, RH2 9PW, UK WEALDEN AREA — Records wanted of all groups of insects, especially Lepidoptera, Colepoptera, Hymenoptera and Orthoptera from East Sussex and Kent, for inclusion in the publications of the Wealden Entomology Group. All records duly acknowledged and information supplied on request. — Mark HADLEY, 7 Beverington Close, Eastbourne, East Sussex BN21 2SB. EXCHANGES AND WANTS Wanted. — Pierce & Metcalfe; The Genitalia of the Tineidae. — Dr. F. H. N. Smith, Turnstones, Perrancoombe, Perranporth, Cornwall, TR6 OHX. For Sale. —Honda £200 generator, as new, used for part of last season only. Price £160. Robinson trap complete with 125 w. choke, etc. £20. — D. O’Keefe, 55 Camden Road, Bexley, Kent. Crayford 523594. Wanted. — 1 am preparing a one-volume edition of the entomological works of Vladimir Nabokov, and would greatly appreciate information about papers, notes, or other works by Nabokov, with any entomological content, which were published in Great Britain or Europe. His papers in The Entomologist 53(1920): 29-33; 64(1931): 255-257, 268-271; and 81(1948): 273-280 have already been recorded. For the introduction, I should be grateful for correspondence with persons (other than the family) who were acquainted with Nabokov in this aspect of his work. Help Wanted — with records of British Gelechiidae for publication in Vol. 4 of “Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland”. Vice-County records only wanted at this stage. A complete check-list will be supplied to those willing to help. If you have any records for this group, please write to: Paul Sokoloff, 4 Steep Close, Orpington, Kent BR6 6DS. Wanted — Records of daily totals in traps of Agrotis segetum for as many past years as available. — Rosemary Kay, Ent. Section, National Vegetable Research Station, Wellsbourne, Warwick. Wanted — Records of Blair’s Shoulder-knt, Lithophane leautieri. Please give dates, localities, numbers, and any details of larval foodplants. This species seems to be rapidly colonising Britain and it is planned to document the colonisation in as much detail as possible. — Dr. D. F. Owen, 66 Scraptoft Lane, Leicester LE5 1HU. THE ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD AND JOURNAL OF VARIATION (Founded by J. W. TUTT on 15th April, 1890) The following gentlemen act as Honorary Consultants to the magazine: Orthoptera: D. K. Mc E. Kevan, Ph.D., B.Sc., F.R.E.S.; Coleoptera: A. A. ALLEN, B.Sc.; Diptera: E. C. M. d’Assis-FoNSECA, F.R.E.S. TO OUR CONTRIBUTORS All material for the TEXT of the magazine as well as books for review must be sent to the EDITOR at St. Teresa, 1 Hardcourts Close, West Wickham, Kent. ADVERTISEMENTS, EXCHANGES and WANTS to: E. H. WILD, L.Inst.Biol., 112 Foxearth Road, Selsdon, Croydon, Surrey, CR2 8EF. Specimen copies supplied by Mr. Wild on payment of 60p or sterling equivalent which will be taken into account if the person in question becomes a full subscriber, plus 10p postage. Changes of address, and enquiries regarding back numbers, Volumes and Sets to: P. A. SOKOLOFF, 4 Steep Close, Orpington, Kent BR6 6DS. Subscriptions should be sent to the Treasurer, P. J. RENSHAW, 53 Links Road, West Wickham, Kent BR4 0QN, England. REPRINTS: 25 copies, taken straight from the magazine are sent gratis to contributors of articles; these may contain extraneous matter. More formal reprints from re-set type may still be had at cost price, and orders for these should be given, at the latest, with the return tc the Editor of the corrected proof. ILLUSTRATIONS are inserted on condition that the AUTHOR DEFRAYS THE COST. Contributors are requested not to send us Notes or Articles which they are sending to other magazines. All reasonable care is taken of MSS, photographs, drawings, maps, etc., but the Editor and his staff cannot hold themselves responsible for any loss or damage. SPECIAL NOTICE The Editor would be willing to consider the purchase of a limited number of certain back issues. CONTENTS The Immigration of Lepidoptera to the British Isles in 1978. R. F. BRETHERTON and J. M. CHALMERS-HUNT .... Microlepidoptera in Scotland, 1978. Lt.-Col. A. M. EMMET ... Density Related Development in Andraca bipunctata (Walker) (Lepidoptera, Bombycidae). B. BANERJEE Flies, Bees and Butterflies on La Palma, Canary Islands in 1976. P. J. CHANDLER Practical Hints — June Notes and Observations: Emus hirtus L. (Col.: Staphylinidae) at Canterbury in 1950. J. PARRY Caterpillars feeding on Buddleja davidii. D. G. SEVASTOPULO Elachiptera uniseta Coll. (Dipt.: Chloropidae): a Correction and Further Records. A. A. ALLEN The Portland Moth: Ochropleura praecox (L.) in Nottingham- shire. P. J. BAKER Obituary: Brisbane Charles Somerville Warren 81 92 97 103 109 102 108 108 109 111 Printed by Charles Phipps Ltd., 225 Philip Lane, Tottenham, N15 4HL OL. 91, No. 5 MAY, 1979 ISSN 0013-8916 Go os SS Ser as Sas Sar er a a Se te Sh Ste Ste Sth Se Se Stee he Sie ae ae ae Ti Cah, ae ee eh, UU, UU UT, UU, ss, SID FOS 7 E nt. THE. ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD AND JOURNAL OF VARIATION Edited by J. M. CHALMERS-HUNT, F.R.E.s. with the assistance of A. A. ALLEN, B.SC., A.R.C.S. P. J. CHANDLER, B.SC., F.R.E.S. NEVILLE BIRKETT, M.A., M.B. C. A. COLLINGWOOD, B.SC., F.R.E.S. S. N. A. JACOBS, F.R.E.S. J.HEATH, F.R.E.S., F.L.S. Lieut. Col. A. M. 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BRITISH NATURALISTS’ ASSOCIATION has twenty active branches in Britain and a world-wide membership. Its official organ, Country-Side (published three time a year), is the oldest-established British magazine devoted to general natural history Membership subscription £2.50 per annum Full details and application form (s.a.e.) obtainable from: B.N.A., 23 Oak Hill Close, Woodford Green, Essex THE NATURALIST (founded 1875) A Quarterly Illustrated Journal of Natural History Edited by M. R. SEAWARD, M.Sc., Ph.D. Annual subscription: £4.00 (post free) Single numbers £1.00 Separates of the collected instalments of the:— LEPIDOPTERA OF YORKSHIRE (Macrolepidoptera) which appeared serially in The Naturalist (1967-1970) are also available on application. Price 50p plus postage The Editor of the Naturalist University of Bradford, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD7 1DP Coleoptera in Flood Refuse in East Kent Coastal Floods By JoHNn A. Parry, M.P.S.* During the extraordinarily high tide of 11th January, 1978 ,the shingle wall protecting the Cinque Ports Golf Course at Deal was overtopped and in places severely reduced. The land was inundated with sea-water for some days, and small lakes persisted for a month. The course was visited by myself on 15th January and again in the next week by myself and Mr. Peter Hodge of Lewes, with a view to investigating the beetle content of the flood refuse thrown up on the greens and tees. It was thought that this opportunity to observe total-population samples of coastal sandhills and shingle beds would be very nearly unique, and should not be missed. The Cinque Ports course is accessible from the north via the toll-gate serving the Sandwich Bay residential estate, or from the south at Sandown Castle, Deal. The refuse examined at these two approaches was broadly similar in content, but there were exceptions. Some species were extremely localized in small areas of refuse, and it was evident that the flooding did not mix up the populations as much as one would expect. In most samples the dominant single species was Metab- letus truncatellus L., even outnumbering Tachyporus hypno- rum F.; it was run a close second by Kissister minimus Aube in some places and by Dyschirius globosus Hbst, in others. With sundry small Aleocharinae and Tachyporus species these constituted about two-thirds of the beetles present. The remaining third consisted chiefly of Carabidae and Staphy- linidae; apart from some numbers of Helophorus, Phyto- nomus,' Chaetocnema and some Coccinellidae, other families _were poorly represented. The Carabidae were made up as follows: Notiophilus sub- striatus Wat. (many); N. aquaticus L. (few);N. germinyi Fauv. (few, south end); Leistus ferrugineus L. (two, north end); Nebria brevicollis F. (few); Dyschirius salinus Schaum (one, south end); D. globosus Hbst. (many, mostly south end); tPanagaeus bipustulatus F. (3, south end); Badister bipustu- latus F. (few); Stenolophus mixtus Hbst. (few); Acupalpus dubius Schil. (few, south end); A. dorsalis F. (two south end); Bradycellus verbasci Duft. (few); +B. distinctus Dej. (two, south end); B. harpalinus Serv. (few, south end); Trichocellus placidus Gyll. (few); Harpalus aeneus F. (few); H. rubripes Duft. (few); H. tardus Panz. (few); H. latus L. (one, north end); H. anxius Duft. (few); H. attenuatus Steph. (few); tH. serripes Quens. (few)?; +Platyderus ruficollis Marsh. (2, north end); Pterostichus versicolor Stm. (2, south end); P. vernalis Panz. (many, south end); P. strenuus Panz. (many); Amara plebeia Gyll. (few); A. familiaris Duft. (abundant);A. aenea Deg. (abundant); +A spreta Dej. (few); +A curta Dej. (about 12, towards north end); tA. lucida Duft. (about 12, north * 38 Heather Drive, St. Michaels, Tenterden, Kent. 114 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD I/V/79 end)?; A. ovata F. (few); A. anthobia Villa (about 30, south end); tA communis Panz. (few)*; A. tibialis Payk. (abundant); A. apricaria Payk. (one, south end); Calathus fuscipes Goeze (few); C. erratus Sahlb. (few); C. mollis Marsh. (few); C. melanocephalus L. (many); Agonum albipes F.; +Agonum nigrum Dej. (one, south end); Bembidion harpaloides Serv. (few); TB. nigropiceum Marsh. (one, north end); B. biguttatum F. (few); B. clarki Daws. (many); B. assimile Gyll. few); 7B. gilvipes Stm. (many, south end)®; B. /Jampros Hbst. (few); B. normannum Dej. (few); B. properans Steph. (few); +Trechus fulvus Dej. (abundant, north end); T. obtusus Er. (several); T. quadristriatus Schk. (several); Asaphidion flavipes L. (few); +Masoreus wetterhalli Gyll. (about 20); Demetrias monostigma Sam. (about 15); D. atricapillus L. (many); Dromius linearis Ol. (many); D. melanocephalus Dej. (many); Microlestes maurus Stm. (few); + Metabletus truncatellus L. (abundant)’; M. foveatus Geoff. (many). A dagger sign indicates the more notable or interesting species. I was most pleased to see Bradycellus distinctus, of which I have taken two specimens at Camber also this year, and of which records are few. It has been previously recorded from Deal. Amara curta I have not seen before, nor A. anthobia’, which however is so similar to A. familaris that it might be overlooked amongst that very common species. Bembidion nigropiceum and Trechus fulvus* both appear to be adapted to a shingle habitat, and I suspect this is why they are so seldom met with. Shingle is a difficult medium to dig, search in, or flood with water, the three most common methods of discovering Carabidae, and I have always found pitfall traps unsuccessful in stones except for larger species such as Cala- thus. Trechus fulvus was swarming under the first handful of refuse I lifted, but only one B. nigropiceum appeared. Several interesting Staphylinidae were found. Gabrius vernalis Grav., a rarity first noticed by Peter Hodge, later turned up in quantity at Sandown Castle. I found two speci- mens of Philonthus lepidus Grav. (a very local species res- tricted to sandy places). There were a few of the uncommon Philonthus nitidicollis Bsd. & Lac. (=bimaculatus Grav.). Of the weevils, Apion sedi Germ. appeared as might have been expected, since this has been for many years a well- known locality for it. The whole length of the shingle wall has now been bulldozed and rebuilt, and it may well be that this species will have a lean time until the foodplant (Sedum) is replenished. Other Apions included A. dissimile Germ., A. affine Kby., A. laevicolle Kby., A. ononis Kby., A. ononicola Bach, and A. malvae F. Several species of Phytonomus were present in numbers, namely P. punctatus F., P. murinus F., P. variabilis Hbst., P. trilineatus Marsh. and P. nigrirostris F. However, P. fasciculatus Hbst. was absent although I have taken it there in the past and fully expected to see it in the refuse. A number of Tychius flavicollis Steph. and T. tibialis Boh. were found, and Peter Hodge tells me that amongst the COLEOPTERA IN FLOOD REFUSE IN EAST KENT 115 common Sitona species he found S. waterhousei Walt. Aphodius species were almost absent, which was rather odd, since a large area beside the Marina at the Sandwich end is used for grazing. A foetidus Hbst. (=scybalarius auct. nec F.) and the coastal A. plagiatus L. were noted, but I was very pleased to find also three specimens of A. distinctus Mill.—a species which does not seem to belong there. Perhaps they came from very much further up the east coast and were swept down by the severe currents generated at that time. Of the Chrysomelidae, Chrysomela haemoptera L. and Timarcha goettingensis L. (=coriaria Laich.) were common; and the Tortoise beetle Cassida nobilis L. (about a dozen specimens), one C. prasina Ill. (=sanguinolenta auct. Brit. nec Miull.), C. rubiginosa Mull., a few Chrysomela staphylea L. and an abundance of Psylliodes chrysocephala L. (including the form anglica F. with yellow elytra) made up most of the Phytophaga present. In the Clavicornia, numbers of the very smelly Silpha tristis Ill. appeared at Deal, and also at this end were several Hister purpurascens Hbst. and HA. duodecimstriatus Schk. together with many hundreds of Kissister minimus Aubé. There were a few Saprinus aeneus F. and a single S. immun- dus Gyll., but surprisingly S. metallicus Hbst. was absent. There were quite a few Euconnus fimetarius Chaud. and about equal numbers of Agathidium laevigatum Er. and A. marginatum Stm. Hyperaspis pseudopustulata Muls. (=rep- pensis auct. nec Hbst.) was the best Coccinellid. Except for the Carabidae this is not, of course, a complete list, and I have still to identify many Atomaria etc. It contains one or two surprises but also several unhappy absences, such as Lixus vilis Rossi (=bicolor Ol.) which should be there if anywhere, and Phytonomus fasciculatus Hbst. However, great upheavals are often followed by population explosions of unexpected beetles, and it remains to be seen what will turn up there in a year or two. Further notes on certain species Bradycellus distinctus Dej. A. A. Allen (1959, Ent. mon. Mag., 95:123) records the presence of this species on the Deal sandhills. Mr. Eric Philp tells me that he took one in the sand- pit at Aylesford, Kent, 13.vi.1963 (specimen confirmed by Peter Hammond) and this is here recorded. Philonthus lepidus Grav. This is first recorded in the Victoria County History list as far back as 1907 as occurring at Sandwich®, and Mr. Philp and Mr. Hodge have taken it here since, although I understand it to prefer the estuary of the Stour further to the north. Apion sedi Germ. There is only one other recorded locality in Kent for this species that I can trace, and that is at Dungeness, where Dr. M. G. Morris took it on an arranged expedition (1959, Proc. S. Lond. ent. nat. Hist. Soc.:85). It has persisted at Deal and Sandwich for very many years. I found it there in June 1977 after much searching, on desiccated and almost unrecognizable stonecrop (Sedum acre) by sifting soil 116 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD I/V/79 from around the roots in a fine sieve. Whether it will survive there after this will remain to be seen. [*The older name Hypera has now come back into use. 2The absence of H. servus Duft. and cordatus Duft., typical Deal species, is curious. *This mainly coastal species seems to be quite scarce nowadays. ‘Though usually regarded as common I am convinced that it is not so at least in the S.E., the closely-allied but more frequent A. convexior Steph. often doing duty for it. “Also generally scarce at the present time though apparently rather common formerly. °By no means a common species as a rule, but it seems to be presently under- going a large increase in some areas. ‘Widespread and locally plentiful at times; much commoner than e.g. lucida or com- munis. 8 have taken both these species on shores of sand or fine shingle where the special feature was the proximity of a small stream or trickle of fresh water. °My copy of the V.C.H. list for Kent is dated 1908 and P. lepidus is there recorded only from Deal, whence however there are much earlier records by Walker and Power, as given in Fowler (1888). I have taken it there singly twice. — A. A. A.] TRIBAL CLASSIFICATION OF ASIRACINE DELPHACIDAE (HOMOPTERA: FULGOROIDEA). — Delphacidae that possess an awl-shaped post-tibial spur from the subfamily Asiracinae. This has never been subdivided, although its genera fall into two distinct groups. These are here defined and proposed as new tribes. Asiracini, trib. nov. Genae with an oblique carina from below base of antenna to frontoclypeal suture near its junction with lateral margin of frons. Rostrum not attaining post- trochanters. Macropterous form with subapical cell reaching to apical quarter or apical fifth of tegmen; apex of clavus narrowly acute, and only rarely followed by a transverse flexure line. The nominal genera of this tribe include: Asiraca, Elaphodelphax, Manchookonia, Copicerus, Pentagramma, Bergias, Idiosemus and Idiosystatus. Ugyopini, trib. nov. Genae without an oblique carina between antennal socket and frontoclypeal suture near its junction with lateral margin of frons. Rostrum attaining or surpassing post-trochanters. Macropterous form with subapical cell reaching to about apical third of tegmen; apex of clavus subtruncate or thickened, and usually followed by a trans- verse flexure line. The nominal genera of this tribe include: Ugyops, Epibidis, Canyra, Eucanyra, Ostama, Ugyopana, Consualia, Melcnesia, Punana, Platysystatus, Perimececera, Livatiella, Melanugyops, Notuchus, Paranda and Tetrasteira.—R. G. FENNAH, c/o Commonwealth Institute of Entomology, British Museum, Natural History, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD. Wah Flies, Bees and Butterflies on La Palma, Canary Islands in 1976 By PeTer J. CHANDLER * (Concluded from page 107) Returning via Los Llanos I diverged onto the El Paso road and crossed the plateau towards the Cumbre Nueva range above Santa Cruz; the road from El Paso to Brefia Alta, which passes by a long tunnel through the Cumbre Nueva is the best on the island, having been recently constructed to shorten the journey between Santa Cruz and Los Llanos. While crossing the plateau, the slopes of the Cumbre Nueva appear well forested but this is deceptive because most trees had been felled leaving the fayal-brezal community of the type which covers much formerly forested ground in Tenerife. I stopped below this hillside shortly before reaching the tunnel and in- vestigated some dry ravines in an area of partly cultivated lower slopes grading into steep pine forest. Bees were numerous on flowers here and included Anthophora a. alluaudi Pérez and Lasioglossum chalcodes (Brullé) in addition to the com- moner Lasioglossum spp. Tachina canariensis and Scaeva albomaculata (Macq.) were also visiting them. The few butter- flies, the large fritillary Pandoriana pandora (Denis & Schiffer- miller) and a bright orange form of Lycaena phlaeas (L.), were new sightings. On the next day, I returned by the same route and sampled two sites on the eastern slopes of the Cumbre Nueva above Brefia Alta, where there are extensive plantations of chestnut (Castanea sativa L.). These sheltered many of the shade loving species also found in the laurisilva, including several tipulids, mycetophilids, Hylemya latevittata and the rather local syrphid Heringia adpropinquans (Beck.) which I had previously found at Las Mercedes and Agua Garcia in Tenerife. In open places, Oedosphenella canariensis and Thereva occulta occurred and the same selection of bees were found at flowers as on the west side of this range. Upon regaining the plateau, I took the side road which winds up the slopes of La Caldera de Taburiente to the view- point of La Cumbrecita. The road soon entered mature pine forest, which is relatively open with plenty of the shrub Cistus symphytifolius Lam. with large pink flowers, which attracted E. tenax and the bees A. a. alluaudi and Eucera algira Lep. V. i. vulcania, P. rapae and C. croceus were flying. Several of the large bombyliid Villa nigriceps (Macq.) were settling on bare stony ground, while an Epitriptus species (Asilidae) was frequent on boulders. Other insects included Scaeva alboma- culata, Cyrtosia canariensis and the pompilid wasp Arachno- spila carbonaria Scop. Suillia setitarsis Cz.), very similar to S. oceana but with bare mesopleura, was taken here: it appeared to be more associated with pine forest than oceana, which is common in the laurisilva. On ascending to La Cumbrecita, a * Weston Research Laboratories, 644 Bath Road, Taplow, Maidenhead, Berks SL6 OPA. 118 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD I/V/79 good view was initially obtained of the extensively pine clad slopes of the crater but mist soon descended and slight precipi- tation began; the only insect seen at this altitude (1,833 metres) was B. t. canariensis at the Cistus flowers. A short stop was made on the descent where sweeping heather produced a few mycetophilids and Cyrtosia; Scathophaga stercoraria (L.) occured in an open grassy area. On 30th May I once again ascended to the plateau, quickly passing Los Llanos and El Time to the road north to Puntagorda, reaching the end of the surfaced road by 11.45 a.m. Most of this route was through cultivated areas but partly pine clad hills were usually in view. In fields near the junction of the Las Tricias and Garafia roads, few insects were about other than the syrphids M. auricollis and M. corollae and various small acalypterates. I soon returned via Puntagorda and stopped near the beginning of the mountain track to Montafia del Arco. A dry ravine with a wide variety of flowers produced L. v. unicolor, B. t. canariensis, Tachina canariensis and Chrysotoxum triarcuatum. M. j. hispulla was abundant; C. croceus, P. rapae and C. webbianus were also on the wing. Scattered pines were present nearby but here they had upright branches rather than the spreading crowns at higher altitudes and a dense ground cover of Cistus proliferated beneath them. Shaded spots produced Suillia setitarsis and Euthycera guan- chica Frey (the less frequent of the two Canarian Sciomyzidae) among other smaller Diptera. A few brief stops were made on the plateau while return- ing towards the Cumbre Nueva; here the landscape was open, with grassy fields and some bare areas covered with volcanic ash. Along one gulley, Oedosphenella and Pherbellia were swept; Lycaena phlaeas was noted at the purple flowered Senecio papyraceus DC. The Western slopes of the Cumbre Nueva were again sampled as the sun was now shining and on this occasion the cleared forest area dominated by “‘fava’’ and tree heather with occasional pines was investigated. Clearings with much Senecio papyraceus produced L. phlaeas and P. pandora again; Metasyrphus corollae, Melecta curvispina Lieftinck, and a red-tailed Sphecodes bee were also visiting the flowers. Further along the forest road C. croceus was flying and the only example of /ssoria lathonia (L.) seen during the visit was observed. Villa nigriceps was again settling on the ground. Suillia oceana, Pherbellia argyrotarsis and Oecedos- phenella occurred and the shade of a large Myrica produced several mycetophilids. On 31st May I returned to the area south of Santa Cruz as collecting was confined to the very overcast afternoon. Four localities were briefly sampled but none were very productive. Cyrtosia and Geron were swept in numbers from rough grass- land near Tiguerorte. Geron was also abundant in sparse scrub on volcanic ash below Hoyo de Mazo and the few other insects included the syrphids Eumerus latitarsis and Paragus tibialis (Fall.) form meridionalis Beck.: the tephritid Oxyaciura tibialis (R.-D.) was also caught. On the rocky shore at Punta FLIES, BEES AND BUTTERFLIES ON CANARY ISLANDS 119 de las Palomas only the tephritid Myopites nigrescens Beck. could be found when rain was beginning; this had already been taken at several scrubby localities inland. The weather improved for the last two days and although a single area was visited on each day, a large variety of species was obtained. On Ist June, the course of the Barranco de las Nieves, which reaches the coast at Santa Cruz, was followed from the Las Nieves road until it becomes a narrow gorge. The upper reaches are flanked by forested cliffs but there is no closed canopy woodland. Sweeping rock overhangs on the more open lower reaches, where the valley is cultivated, pro- duced a female Sylvicola and very many of the aberrant psychodid Nemopalpus flavus Macq. (resembling a tipulid of the genus Molophilus), while the damper rock faces at a higher level produced instead a small Psychoda and mycetophilids were found sparsely. The acalypterates included Euleia sepa- rata, Suillia oceana and Drosophila pallida. Melanostoma in- completum was numerous and Helina obscurisquama was frequent. The sky was at first overcast but bright spells followed; the cloud cleared by 3.30 p.m. and the hot sunshine brought out the butterflies, bees and wasps. M. j. hispulla, P. rapae and C. croceus were abundant: C. webbianus, V. i. vulcania, T. christi, P. xiphioides and Pieris cheiranthi were also noted. A Chrysis of the ignita group was running rapidly over a wall and the active sand wasp Podalonia tydei (Le Guillou) was settling on bare ground; Prosopis pictipes atra Saunders and an Osmia (probably submicans Morawitz) were at flowers. A small yellow umbel attracted the wasp Ancistrocerus fortunatus Bl. and a black evaniid; Euthycera guanchica was also at rest on this plant. A white flowered plant produced a smaller eumenid (Leptocheilus sp.) and the conopid fly Physocephala biguttata v.R6d., which I had collected at Guimar in Tenerife. This fly is superficially like our P. rufipes (F.) but its legs are darker and the waisted part of the abdomen bears a black band; it also lacks the clear spot near the tip of the brown wing band. The tachinid Alophora (Hyalomya) pusilla (Mg.), not pre- viously recorded from the Canaries, was swept from coarse vegetation. Under a hedge in the cultivated area, the striking xylomyiid Solva nigritibialis (Macq). was swept; I had collected a pair near a rotten log at Las Mercedes in Tenerife. Enderlein (1929) recorded rearing S. cabrerae (Beck.) (probably a synonym of nigritibialis) from a rot hole in the large succulent shrub Euphorbia canariensis L. but Frey (1973) mentioned nigritibialis flying around a tree stump. Both habitats may be utilised by this species and Machado’s (1977) suggestion that it is more typical of the lower xerophytic zone but may invade the laurisilva, may not be entirely correct. The final excursion on 2nd June was the planned return visit to Cubo de la Galga, the most accessible laurel forest, the approach this time being made by the forest road from near the La Galga tunnel. It was a hot sunny afternoon and many butterflies were flying along the open track and in the clear- 120 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD I1/V/79 ings. P. pandora, V. i. vulcania, L. phlaeas, P. rapae, M. j. hispulla, P. xiphioides, C. croceus and P. cheiranthi were flying, the last only in small forest glades where several examples of Gonepteryx palmae were also conspicuous. Much of the ground in the close canopy forest was covered with large boulders with clumps of Crambe and Geranium canariense Reut. growing between. Sweeping here produced few species although Aulacigaster was again abundant; Droso- phila pallida, Hylemya latevittata, Fannia pubescens and F. monilis Hal., Hebecnema vespertina (Fall.), H. rufitibia, Suillia oceana, Coenosia bivittata Stein and Oedosphenella were also collected. Myathropa florea var. nigrofemorata was sunning itself in glades; there is another variety in the Canary Islands, varifemorata Santos, with paler legs, which I did not find. The Canarian race of M. florea differs from the typical form in the pilosity being denser and more golden; also the pile on the frons is golden while in European examples the frons is black with black hairs. Melanostoma incompletum was common. A sunlit puddle on the track was attracting the muscids Lispe tentaculata (Deg.), L. thoracica Santos and Limnophora obsignata Rond., the dolichopodid Argyra canariensis Beck., Eristalis tenax and the wasp Trypoxylon attenuatum Sm. A muddy patch elsewhere produced Scatella and Parydra (Ephydridae) and Gonomyia copulata Beck. (Tipulidae). A good catch of mycetophilids was made from overhangs on damp rock faces, which also sheltered countless Pesychoda. Shortly before my departure, I located Senor Santos Pinto, the grandson of Santos Abreu, who lives at Santa Cruz; I found that much of his grandfather’s collection is now at the museum in Tenerife but he was able to show me a good range of local Diptera including many specimens collected by his father (Santos Rodriguez). These included the asilid Pro- machus palmensis Frey and a good series of the platypezid Callomyia dives, also a wider range of moisture loving flies such as tipulids and dolichopodids than I had been able to find. Acknowledgments My thanks are due to Mr. W. Parker for assistance with identification of the butterflies and to Mr. G. R. Else for his efforts in obtaining identifications of the aculeate Hymenop- tera, to which Mr. K. M. Guichard, Mr M. Day, Dr. A. W. es Dr. M. A. Lieftinck and Dr. K. Warncke have con- tributed. References Baez Fumero, M., 1977a. Los Sirfidos de las Islas Canarias (Diptera, Syrphidae). 143 pp. La Laguna de Tenerife. ———., 1977b. Dipteros de Canarias III: Anisopodidae v Aulacigasteridae, dos nuevas familias para la fauna de las islas. Vieraea, 6 (1976): 253-258. Beaumont, J. de., 1968. Sphecidae des Iles Canaries. Bull. Brit. Mus., 21 (5): 247-278. Bischoff, H., 1936. Hymenoptera aculeata (excl. Formicidae und Halic- A ee den Kanarischen Inseln. Soc. Sci. Fenn., Comm. Biol., 6 (10): 1-3. FLIES, BEES AND BUTTERFLIES ON CANARY ISLANDS 121 Bramwell, D. & Bramwell, Z., 1974. Wild flowers of the Canary Islands. 261 pp. London. . Enderlein, G., 1929. Entomologia Canaria. IV. Wien. ent. Zeit., 46: 95-109. Francois, F., 1970. Bombyliidae (Diptera) meconnus. IV. Remarques sur quelques espéces endémiques des iles Canaries. Bull. Ann. Soc. R. ent. Belg., 106: 68-76. , ; Frey, R., 1936. Die Dipterenfauna der Kanarischen Inseln und ihre Probleme. Soc. Sci. Fenn., Comm. Biol., 6. 234 pp. , 1968. Kanarische Diptera Brachycera p. p., von Hakan Lindberg gesammelt. Soc. Sci. Fenn., Comm. Biol., 15: 63 pp. Guichard, K. M., 1967. Butterflies of the Canary Islands. Entomologist, 100: 293-299. Kudrna, O., 1973. On the status of Pieris cheiranthi Hiibner. Ent. Gaz., 24: 299-304. Kudrna, O., 1975. A revision of the genus Gonepteryx Leach (Lep., Pieridae). Ent. Gaz., 26: 3-37. Lieftinck, M. A., 1958. A preliminary account of the Bees of the Canary Islands. Soc. Sci. Fenn., Comm. Biol., 18 (5S): 1-34. Machado, A., 1976. Introduction to a faunal study of the Canary Islands laurisilva, with special reference to the Ground-beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae), pp. 347-411 in Kunkel, G. (Ed.). Biogeography and Ecology in the Canary Islands. 511 pp. Dr. W. Junk, the Hague, Manley, Lt. Col. W. B. L. & Allcard, H. G., 1970. A Field Guide to the Butterflies and Burnets of Spain, (pp. 128-132, 161-163; Plates 38-40). Papp, L., 1977. Sphaeroceridae (Diptera) from the Canary Islands. Folia Ent. Hung., 31: 123-127. Peters, D. S., 1975. Uber kanarische Osmiinae (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Megachilidae). Senckenbergiana biol., 56: 47-56. Santos Abreu, E., 1976 (posthumous). Monografia de los Anthomyiidos de las Islas Canarias, 175 pp., 3 pl. Santa Cruz de la Palma. Schmidt-Koehl, W., 1971. Zur Rhopalocerenfauna der Kanareninsel Teneriffa. Mitt. Ent. Ges. Basel, 21: 29-91. Soika, A. Giordai, 1974. Biogeografia e sistematica degli Eumenidi delle Isole Canarie. Eos., 1972: 477-494. Theowald, B., 1977. Die Tipuliden von Makaronesien (Insecta, Diptera, Tipulidae). Ein systematischer und zoogeographischer Beitrag zur Kenntnis von Inselfaunen. Beaufortia, 26 (335): 153-204. Warncke, K., 1968. Zur Kenntnis der Bienengattung Andrena F. auf den Kanarischen Inseln. Notul. Ent., 48: 63-80. SOME UNUSUAL DATES IN THE SUMMER AND AUTUMN OF 1978. — The latter half of 1978 was indeed anomalous in its production of species at most unusual and unexpected dates, some of which as enumerated below are distinctly precocious, while others are very much on the late side and probably designate of prolonged emergence or second broods. The dates refer to records in my m.v. trap run continuously in the garden here. August 17th, Deuteronomos fuscantaria Steph.; August 18th, Hyloicus pinastri L.; August 20th, Parascotia fuliginaria L.; September 9th, Cosymbia albipunctata Hufn.; September 10th, Euphyia bilineata L.; September 16th, Cosmia trapezina L.; September 19th, Cosymbia punctaria L.; September 21st, Cleora rhomboidaria D. & S.; September 23rd, Amathes xanthographa D. & S.; September 21st, Mamestra brassicae L., Hypena proboscidalis L., Sterrha aversata L.; October 11th, Xanthorhoe fluctuata L.; October 28th, Cirrhia icteritia Hufn. —C. G. M. DE Worms, Three Oaks, Horsell, Woking. 122 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD 1/V/79 Microlepidoptera in Scotland, 1978 By A. M. EMMET * (Concluded from page 96) GRACILLARIIDAE: GRACILLARIINAE Caloptilia rufipennella (Hiibner). New to Scotland. On the 19th of July we parked the car in Yair Hill Forest, Selkirk- shire (VC 79) and, in accordance with our frequent practice, my wife and I walked in opposite directions to extend the range of our search. A few minutes later we rejoined forces with smug expressions on our faces and sycamore leaves with their lobes spun into cones in our polythene bags. On the principle of ‘‘ladies first”, I give my wife the credit for finding the first feeding. A few of the cones were still tenanted and we bred five adults. Subsequently we found larval cones in VCs 68, 72, 78 and 81, showing it to be widespread in that region. In the unpublished Victoria County History for West- morland (proofs in the general library of BMNH), it is stated Stainton recorded “rufipennella’’ at Ambleside in 1846; later Stainton himself and subsequent authors discounted the record but in the light of our discovery one wonders now whether it may not have been correct. In England, C. rufipennella has been recorded only from East Anglia and the adjacent coun- ties, viz. VCs 19, 25, 26, 28, 29 and 54. All these are Emmet records: is it not time that more lepidopterists switched off their light-traps and made records in the field? C. falconipennella (Hiibner). On the 7th of August we stopped at a lay-by facing Loch Lomond just south of the junction of the A82 and A83 (MR NN 3203). On some young alders we found feeding, both mines and leaf-folds, which I am virtually certain were made by this species. The larvae had gone but we saw no cocoons or adults. C. falconipennella has not been found in Scotland and its most northerly English locality is the Lake District. I am well acquainted with its feeding since I have already made a detailed description of the early stages from Surrey material; however, I do not feel justified in making a positive record and urge other entomolo- gists to try to visit the spot and look for larvae. Calybites auroguttella (Stephens). A record made near Unapool on the west coast of West Sutherland (VC 108) is the most northerly for this species. Parornix loganella (Stainton) and P. betulae (Stainton). No records were made since I cannot distinguish the mines, larval folds or larvae. I would be grateful for any information enabling the early stages to be separated. P. devoniella (Stainton). Apparently new to Scotland. Our two records are odd since we found it only right in the south near Newcastleton, Roxburghshire (VC 80) and in the far north at Drumbeg on the west coast of West Sutherland (VC 108). We looked for it unsuccessfuly in all intervening localities where there was hazel. * Labrey Cottage, Victoria Gardens, Saffron Walden, Essex CB11 3AF MICROLEPIDOPTERA IN SCOTLAND, 1978 123 P. scoticella (Stainton). Though bivoltine in the south of England, it is apparently univoltine in Scotland, not feeding until August. We found it only in West Perthshire (VC 87) on the 7th of August. P. alpicola (Wocke) and P. leucostola Pelham-Clinton. A main objective was to make descriptions of the early stages. Accordingly, ECP-C took us to Invernaver Nature Reserve and Eribol (West Sutherland, VC 108), where he had dis- covered them. Since the early stages of the two appear to be indistinguishable, one description will have to serve for both; this will appear in MBGBI and, in a shorter form, in the forthcoming A Field Guide to the Smaller British Lepidoptera. An interesting feature is that what appears to be a leaf spun into a pod is in fact a mine which causes the leaf to fold downwards and the white lower epidermis to project, giving an illusion of white silk. The cocoon is spun on the underside of a leaf which curls downwards to conceal it, and it, there- fore, is in a kind of pod. Other Gracillariinae which were recorded were Caloptilia populetorum (Zeller),C. elongella (Linnaeus), C. betulicola (Hering), C. alchimiella (Scopoli), C. stigmatella (Fabricius)— only in Selkirkshire (VC 79) for it evidently feeds later in Scotland, C. syringella (Fabricius), Aspilapterix tringipennella (Zeller), Parornix anglicella (Stainton) and P. torquillelia (Zeller). Callisto denticulella (Thunberg), which we recorded in Dumfriesshire (VC 72) in 1975, appears not to extend further north. GRACILLARIIDAE: LITHOCOLLETINAE Records were made only of species which could be deter- mined with certainty from their mines or were reared. A list was sent to Dr. I. A. Watkinson who reported that it gave 52 new vice-county records. Recorded species were as follows: Phyllonorycter oxyacanthae (Frey), P. sorbi (Frey), P. pomo- nella (Zeller), P. corylifoliella f. betulae (Zeller), P. scopariella (Zeller), P. maestingella (Miller), P. coryli (Nicelli), P. rajella (Linnaeus) (alnifoliella (Hiibner)), P. ulmifoliella (Hiibner) and P. geniculella (Ragonot). CHOREUTIDAE Eutromula diana (Hubner). A major aim was to search for the early stages. Our search was concentrated on Glen Affric (VC 96) where ECP-C had previously taken the moth. We devoted the whole of the 29th of July to this purpose, even returning after dinner and continuing the quest until dark. Something like 32 man hours of intensive searching resulted in only two cocoons, both found by JMC-H. He kindly gave me one of these and we both reared our moth. We believe this is the first occasion on which this rare species has been reared in Britain. The cocoons were spun on the underside of leaves of birch, the foodplant. A few weeks later I studied cocoons of FE. pariana (Clerck) found at Saffron Walden and was struck by the close similarity; the only difference was in situation, for they were spun on the upperside of the leaves of apple, their foodplant. Why did we find so few? Perhaps the 124 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD I/V/79 usual pupation site is different, for example in leaf-litter; or possibly the leaves on which the larvae have fed and pupated drop to the ground. COLEOPHORIDAE This family was little observed. Cases which we found on birch at Glen Affric were subsequently determined by Mr. R. W. J. Uffen as Colephora binderella (Kollar), and a record I passed to him of C. violacea (Strom) (hornigi Toll) from Dumbartonshire (VC 99) was, I believe, new to the county. We saw mines of C. arctostaphyli Meder not uncommonly while we were searching the bearberry at Tulloch Moor. ELACHISTIDAE I took specimens of Biselachista eleochariella (Stainton) beside Lock Thom, Renfrewshire (VC 76) and, directed by ECP-C, of B. serricornis (Stainton) near Alvie (VC 96). We found Elachista kilmunella (Stainton) beside Lock Thom, in Strathspey and at Glen Affric, where the form was unusual. The only feeding elachistid larvae we encountered were of FE. cerusella (Hubner) near Newcastleton, Roxburghshire (VC 80). OECOPHORIDAE Schiffermuelleria similella (Hubner). A fresh specimen taken on the lower slopes of Cairngorm (VC 96) on the 24th of July has prompted me to change the time of appearance of the imago from “6” to “6-7” in the Field Guide. Depressaria olerella Zeller and D. silesiaca Heineman. Feeding larvae of both these species were found on Achillea millefolium near Kincraig (VC 96) and adults were reared. The larvae and feeding patterns were described, in the case of D. silesiaca, it is believed, for the first time in Britain. The information has been used in the Field Guide and will be available to the authors of MBGBI, if they want it. 3 GELECHIIDAE The family was rarely encountered. The only record of note was of Bryotropha boreella (Douglas) captured beside Loch Thom (VC 76). I am grateful to Mr. E. S. Bradford for dissecting and determining this moth. MOMPHIDAE Mompha raschkiella (Zeller). Mines were plentiful on Epilobium angustifolium as far north as Ullapool, Wester Ross (VC 95); the majority of the 15 vice-county records which we made were new. TORTRICIDAE Pandemis cinnamomeana (Treitschke). A specimen taken resting on a leaf on the 19th of July at Newcastleton, Rox- burghshire (VC 80) constitutes, I believe, the first record for Scotland (see Bradley, Tremewan & Smith, 1973:96). Acleris logiana (Clerck). I was pleased to rear a specimen from a larva found on birch at Glen Affric during our search for Eutromula diana (Hubner). A. hyemana (Haworth). reared a specimen from a larval spinning on Dryas octopetala found at Invernaver (VC 108). This foodplant seems not to have been recorded previously. MICROLEPIDOPTERA IN SCOTLAND, 1978 125 PYRALIDAE Few species of interest were seen. Crambus ericella (Hiibner) was found only at Inchnadamph (VC 108), perhaps because the day of our visit there was the only one on which the sun shone brightly. We made a special expedition, follow- ing directions given us by Mr. B. Goater, to Craigie, Aberdeen- shire (VC 92) to look for Catoptria permutatella (Herrich- Schaffer). We took only two specimens, one worn and the other in mint condition. On our return to our base at Newton- more, we found that the good one was missing; I had evidently dropped the pill-box when I was transferring it to our cold box which carries our lunch on the outward journey and our specimens on the way home. If I catch you laughing, [ll wallop you hard. The expedition would not have been possible without a grant from the Professor Hering Memorial Research Fund. We were generously given more than we applied for. We are most grateful to the Fund and hope that the entomological results have justified the award. References Adamcezewski, S., 1947. Notes on the Lepidoptera of Poland. Entomolo- gist 80:102-106. Borkowski, A., 1975. Studien an Nepticuliden (Lepidoptera), Tiel VI. we Verbreitung de Nepticuliden in Polen. Polski Pismo ent. 45:487- Bradley, J. D., Tremewan, W. G. and Smith, A., 1973. British Tortricoid Moths. Cochylidae and Tortricidae. viii, 251 pp., 47 pls. London. Brown, S. C. S., 1967. Is Stigmella tengstrémi Nolck (Lep. Nepticulidae) a British species? Entomologist’s Rec. J. Var. 79: 183-185. Emmet, A. M., 1970. Stigmella (Nepticula) paradoxa Frey (nitidella) ee (Lep. Nepticulidae)—a Species new to Britain. [bid. Heath, J. et al., 1976. The Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Moths. Cochylidae and Tortricidae. viii, 251 pp., 47 pls. London. Tutt, J. W., 1899. A Natural History of the British Lepidoptera, Volume 7. 560 pp. London. EPIBLEMA CNICICOLANA ZELL. IN HAMPSHIRE. — On 20th June 1976 I took a single male specimen of this scarce moth in Botley Wood. The wing pattern is quite distinct from other members of its genus, and superficially it looks much more like Epinotia demarniana F.v.R., being of a similar size though with a straighter costa, and the ocellus not so chalky white. Examination of the genitalia confirms the identification. The only previous record from the Hampshire mainland was by the late Mr. Ffennell who reported it from one area in the Itchen Valley in VC 12, and he was later rather doubtful that he had made a correct identification. — Dr. J. R. LANGMAID, 38 Cumberland Court, Festing Road, Southsea, Hants., PO4 ONH. DEILEPHILA ELPENOR (L.) IN INVERNESS-SHIRE. — While working for the Nature Conservancy Council in the Cairn- gorms, I recorded a specimen of D. elpenor (L.) from Kincraig on 30.vi.76. Russell Leavett, the R.S.P.B. warden at Insh Marshes, has since recorded single specimens on 2.vii.77 and 8.vil.78 at Insh.— Evan A. M. MacAtpine, Hawkins’, St. Cross Road, Winchester, SO23 9HX. 126 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD I1/V/79 Two Continental Journeys During 1978 By C. G. M. DE Worms, Ph.D.) F.R.E:S: * (1) Central and Northern Greece in June Greece is always a great source of attraction from every angle, not least its flora and lepidoptera. Though I had already paid three visits to this wonderful part of Europe (vide this journal, 75: 233, 84: 33 and 87: 77), I was encouraged to go there yet again when I saw that Peregrine Holidays based on Oxford were arranging a botanical tour of central and northern Greece during the middle of June. When I made my first enquiries it was fully booked, but in the spring a vacancy materialised so that I was able to be included in the party which left England on June 7th. There were 25 naturalists, all dedicated botanists led by Mr. Hugh Singe of Kew. Though I felt rather “the odd man out’’, I derived some comfort to learn that on an almost similar itinerary in 1977 at this period of the year, the tour was accompanied by Dr. Jeremy Holloway, a very noted entomologist and field collector mainly in the Far East. On this earlier occasion, he had recorded no less than almost 200 species of butterflies, so that I hoped to emulate him. In spite of ideal conditions during our fortnight with daily temperatures in the 80s, the season was very different from that of 1977. We reached Athens airport on the afternoon of June 7th, and our party at once left in a small motor coach on the road to Delphi. Our venue that evening was Arachova, a small town a few miles east of the famous ancient resort. We all put up at an excellent Xenia, and the next morning early we left for Delphi which I had visited in 1963 and again in 1971. I at once made for the rocky piece of ground overlook- _ ing the Temple of Athene, just past the Castalia spring. This area had proved very fruitful on the two previous occasions, but as soon as I reached it, I at once realised the lateness and leanness of the season. Melanargia larissa Geyer was very Sparse as also was Maniola jurtina L., and it was only when I came to several clumps of valerian that there was any quantity of insects. These included only a single Papilio alexanor Esper —and a few males of Goneperyx farinosa Zeller. There were also singles of Polygonia egea Cramer and of Hipparchia aristaeus senthes Fruhstorfer. The next morning of June 9th, we set out early again to make the ascent of Mt. Parnassus by the road that was com- pleted in the early 1970’s. Little was flying on the plateau beneath the mountain, and when we reached the hut at about 6,000 ft., it was obvious the high level species were not out. There were large matts of the prickly astragalus, the food- plant of Colias libanetica heldreichi Staudinger of which Dr. Hollaway took several examples at this date in 1977, but a thorough survey in brilliant sunshine failed to reveal any. The * Three Oaks, Shores Road, Horsell, Woking, Surrey. TWO CONTINENTAL JOURNEYS DURING 1978 127 only insects flying at this altitude were many Aglais urticae L. and singles of Iphiclides podalirius L. Pyramets cardui L. at slightly lower levels. Yet another early start on the 10th, took our party via Itea along the gulf of Corinth westwards to Naupaktos, the site of the naval battle of Lepanto in 1571, then to Missolonghi where Byron died in 1824, and finally to the large town of Joannina only a few miles from the Albanian border. Again a spacious Xenia was our haven. This picturesque town has on its immediate outskirts a large lake with a sizeable island at its centre. Most of us spent the Sunday, the 11th, surveying its monasteries and other locations of interest, notably the marshes bordering the islands. These harboured several Great Reed Warblers, which vied with each other with their raucous call. The flora was especially fine on the circular path, but it produced very few butterflies, only a few Pierids including Euchloé ausonia Hbn. The afternoon was spent at the famous ancient shrine of Dodona with its large amphitheatre, around which were flying many Aporia crataegi L., with numerous Blues mainly Polyommatus icarus Rott., and a few Plebicula amanda Schneider. The morning of June 12th saw us at the small town of Aresti, high up on the edge of the Pindos range and even closer to Albania. A track skirted the mountainside with plenty of rich vegetation, but in spite of a brilliant day the paucity of insects was remarkable. Along the path were flying an occasional Melitaea didyma Esp. and M. phoebe D. & S. Gegenes pumilio Hffmsg. was skimming over the ground in One spot and there was a single Pyrameis atalanta. On June 13th, our venue was another small Pindos locality, that of Monodendri. We halted at a high area with large rocks where we saw one of the rarest of European plants, Ramonda serbica akin to the African violet. In some adjoining meadows were flying numerous species including many Pieris rapae L. On a dry path I disturbed a couple of congregations of Blues which turned out to be mainly Cyaniris semiargus Rott., with Plebicula thersites Cantener and a single Cupido osiris Meigen. Also there was Pyrgus malvoides Elwes and Edwards, while among the rocks was flying Lasiommata petropolitana Fab. Later that morning we visited a local monastery in the great heat, and on the way there noted Pieris mannii Mayer flying with Leptidea sinapis L. That afternoon we went on by a very tortuous and picturesque route through the Pindos range for nearly 100 miles to the small town of Metsevon, almost in the centre of Greece, where we put up at a very pleasant alpine type of hotel. The next morning, June 14th, our coach took us up to the high level meadows at some 4,000 ft. where we spent a brilliantly sunny and warm day among a galaxy of choice flora including a large purple patch of the magnifi- cent Salvia grandiflora, but most astonishingly the lepidoptera were sadly lacking except for a few of the common Pierids as A. crataegi, an occasional Iphiclides podalirius L. and Colias croceus Fourc. It was very disappointing not to see 128 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD 1/V/79 more on the wing in this very luscious environment. The morning of the 15th we once more set out at a very early hour to cover the big distance to the Aegean coast. Our first stop was at the Katara Pass at over 5,000 ft. but nothing of note was flying at this altitude. Our next halt was at the town of Meteora with its famous monasteries perched high up on pinnacles of rock. Two of these were visited. At one, two huge, full-fed larvae of Saturnia pyri L. were located on a small bush, and as we were leaving the other, a P. alexanor gave a good display on thistles in front of the whole party. We then proceeded right across the edge of the Plain of Thessaly in the centre of Greece, via Larissa to the seaside resort of Platamon, putting up at a large hotel on the main Athens to Salonika highway. Our venue for the 16th was Mount Olympos, which was reached by a very winding mountain road that ended at the small location of Prioni, which was surrounded by massive woods mainly of beech at about 3,000 ft. Here was quite a congregation of butterflies in the glades on these lower slopes of this highest and famous Greek summit. By far the most numerous was Issoria lathonia L., with a good many Clossiana euphrosyne L. G. farinosa was also in some numbers and there were mainly singles of L. petropolitana, Celastrina argiolus L., Aricia agestis D. & S., Callophrys rubi L. and Ochlodes venatus faunus Turati. Some of the party who had scaled the higher levels said they had seen several Nymphalis antiopa L. and a number of the remarkable endemic plants of the mountain. The following day, June 17th, we moved south to another delightful resort on the borders of the Aegean at Isangarada to a very attractive hotel hidden among the wooded western slopes of Mt. Pelion. - Two days were spent at this very pleasant locality which in spite of the heat and sun produced very little of note except for a few more N. antiopa and Limenitis reducta Staud. Refreshing bathes were had each day by most of the partici- pants. Early on June 20th we set our course still further south- ward. We reached the big port of Volos by a very tortuous mountain road and then soon hit the big north-south-highway along which we made a short halt at the site of the famous battle of Thermopylae which is very suitably commemorated with a fine statue. We sped down the wide route and were soon in Athens which was in intense heat. That evening I was kindly entertained by Mr. John Coutsis, the eminent authority on Greek butterflies who showed me his splendid collection of them. During this period, Salonika was struck by a violent earthquake which fortunately was not felt in Athens some 300 miles away. After a very sultry morning spent in the city at one of its new large hotels, we took plane back to Heathrow on the 21st after what had proved a most enjoyable couple of weeks spent among the flora and fauna of this glorious country. TWO CONTINENTAL JOURNEYS DURING 1978 129 (2) Morocco in July Morocco is another most attractive and productive country for lepidoptera which I had already visited three times in 1965, 1969 and 1972, but in the spring of these years (vide this Journal 77: 77, 81: 287 and 85: 241). I thought I would try to sample its fauna in the late summer. The opportunity arose in July when my niece invited me to come and stay at Rabat where her husband was Chargé d’Affaires at the British Embassy. As all flights to Gibraltar were fully booked, I flew direct to Tangier on the afternoon of the 18th. It was late when we arrived so that I had to put up for the night, and was fortunate in finding accommodation at the well-known Hotel Minzah. The following morning of the 19th, I picked up a small Renault and was soon speeding along the coastal route to the south which I knew so well, but in spite of the intense heat little seemed to be on the wing at my various halts. I only saw Euchloé ausonia Hbn. flying near Larache. The 175-mile journey was completed by early evening, and J was met in Rabat by my niece, who conducted me to their spacious house on the outskirts of the city. It had a small garden rich with many flowering plants which boded well. The next day by early morning, Pieris rapae L. was in quantity around the bushes together with a number of Pararge aegeria L. with very orange markings. Later that day, we visited the residence of the British Ambassador which was being renovated for a new occupant. In the garden were flying I[phiclides feisthameli Dup., some huge examples with very long tails, appreciably different from J. podalirius L. On July 20th the temperature exceeded 100°F in the shade when I went to the fine Zoo, situated in a large park some five miles from the centre of Rabat. Here several Colias croceus Fourc. were careering about the enclosures. Later that day my relatives’ garden was quite productive of this species and also of many Lycaenids, in particular several Syntarus pirithous L., while Lampides boeticus L. was flitting around some aromatic plants. The buddleia was also very attractive to Vanessids such as Nymphalis atalanta L., Polyommatus icarus Rott. also put in appearance. Newcomers to the garden on the 22nd were Heodes phloeas L., Zizeeria knysna Trimen and Cupido lorquinii H.-S. I. feisthameli used to arrive almost daily on the big buddleia about midday. The morning of July 24th I set out for the Middle Atlas which had been my venue both in 1969 and 1972. I followed the excellent highroad towards Meknes and then turned south, steadily ascending till I reached the Forét de Jaba just north of Ifrane which was once more to be my haven. Here in the forest at over 5,000 fe., the heat was still intense with quite a number of insects flying by the roadside, though in nothing like the numbers of my two spring visits. Maniola jurtina L. was well to the fore with a few Pontia daplidice L., and near the river below Ifrane, P. rapae was in great plenty. Further up in the vicinity of Ifrane were several Hipyarchia alcyone caroli Rothsch., a distinct sub-species of this widespread 130 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD I/V/79 species. They mostly disported themselves on the edges of the cedar forest which was my venue the next morning of the 25th, but it was soon evident the profusion of insects which pervaded this area in the spring, was already passed. There was no sign of the two large fritillaries Argynnis lyauteyi Oberthur and A. auresiana Fruhstorfer. However, a fine female A. pandora D. & S. did put in appearance, a late emergence. I did a short tour under ideal conditions revisiting my former haunts round Misschliffen and the forest above Azrou, all of which yielded very little. There was an occasional P. aegeria, C. croceus and I. feisthameli. The next day with a blazing sun, I went again to the ground bordering the cedars, where a particular low-growing plant with pink flowers was attracting a good many Lycaenids. These included mainly Plebicula thersites Cantener, P. icarus, Aricia cramera Eschscholtz and a late Callophrys rubi L.; also, a very worn Melanargia lucasi Rambur together with Vanessa cardui L. Later that day, it did not take me long to cover the 145 miles back to Rabat. I was glad to have been once more in the fine country of the Middle Atlas, though the showing of insects was disappointing. Most of the species already mentioned were flying in my relatives’ garden on my last full day with them, July 27th, which was again exceptionally hot. On the 28th, I went on an excellent express train direct to Tangier putting up once more at the El Minzah. The following morning I went to the airport to find the flight to Madrid heavily delayed. We eventually reached the Spanish capital in the early afternoon to find there was yet another lengthy hold-up owing to the strike of the French air controllers. Eventually we took off about midnight, reaching Heathrow in the early hours of the 30th after what had been a most pleasant if not an over- rewarding visit to this most attractive part of North Africa. FOODPLANTS OF PHYLLONORYCTER TRIFASCIELLA HAWORTH. — The campus of the Technical College at Bromley, Kent contains an ornamental planting of Leycesteria formosa Wall (Flowering Nutmeg). These shrubs have for some years supported a small colony of Phyllonorycter emberizaepenella Bouche. A few mined leaves were collected in early October 1978, but for various reasons were not immediately tranferred to their winter quarters in the garden. On 22nd October, a single specimen of P. trifasciella was seen resting on the leaves, and subsequent inspection revealed a small underside mine in the apex of a leaf, with the pupal case of trifasciella protrud- ing. The mine was inconspicuous when compared to the large, disfiguring workings of emberizaepenella. The only other record of trifasciella feeding on L. formosa 1 can locate is for a single, atypical, upperside mine from Cornwall (Gregory, Ent. Rec., 84: 78). P. trifasciella occurs throughout the Brom- ley area on its normal foodplant, Honeysuckle, although I bred a single third brood specimen from Snowberry (Symphoricar pos sp.) during. 1976 from a wood near Orpington, where Honey- suckle and Snowberry occur together. —P. A. SOKOLOFF, 4 Steep Close, Orpington, Kent. 13] Editorial We offer our heartfelt thanks to Mr. S. N. A. Jacobs who has for more than 20 years been Registrar, and who feels it is now time a younger man takes on this duty. We therefore have pleasure in welcoming Mr. Paul Sokoloff who has kindly agreed to act as the new Registrar, to whom all changes of address, and enquiries regarding back numbers, Volumes and Sets should be addressed as indicated on the inner back cover of the magazine. Practical Hints — July To breed the Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia L.) from the egg, I put a captured female in a large wooden box, the top covered with netting, and containing two or three jam jars with water and flowers of red valerian (Kentranthus ruber). The insect imbibes from the flowers and lays her eggs readily upon them. White valerian should not be used as the eggs are then so much more difficult to see. When the young larvae hatch in August, gently brush them into a small plastic box containing pieces of bark and netting. Leave them there for about two weeks at room temperature to settle down. Then put them into a refridgerator (about 38°F) where they are left undisturbed until March, when I empty them out onto potted violets or pansies and netted over. I have tried this method for two winters with about 90% of the larvae surviving each time. (REVELS). Larvae of Hadena caesia mananii Gregson (The Grey) leave the seed pods fairly soon and begin to disperse. In July it is profitable to gather large bunches of Silene from which many H. conspersa D. & S. (Marbled Coronet) will appear along with a few H. caesia. Most of my collecting has had to be done in August when they are very hard to find, rarely under or among their foodplant, but in chinks of rocks, or under other herbage, though they may be found on the Silene at night. Pupae are widely dispersed and almost impossible. The moth needs to be bred as it wears quickly. I have taken it in Cos. Clare, Kerry, Cork, also in Skye, Canna, Mull, Islay and the Isle of Man. I was the first to find it in Clare, Skye and Mull. I failed to find it in Northern Ireland, where it must be. (A. RICHARDSON). Early July is a good time to try for the Olive Crescent (Trisateles emortualis D. & S.) in its few known haunts in the Chilterns. The moth comes to light and an eye should also be kept open for the Rufous Minor (Oligia versicolor Borkh.). This can only be determined by the genitalia but in the Chil- 132 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD I/V/79 terns at least the presence of a rust-coloured thoracic tuft is a good indication that one has not boxed the commoner O. strigilis L. Other visitors at the same time may well include the Green Arches (Anaplectoides prasina D. & S.) and the Large Twin-spot Carpet (Xanthorrhoe quadrifasiata Clerck). Females of both species should be kept for eggs. The former may be persuaded to produce a second brood the same year but larvae of the Carpet need to be hibernated. This may be done by resting them on woodwool either in a W. & D. breeding cylinder or in a roomy plastic box. Occasional gentle spraying throughout the winter is advisable to prevent dessica- tion, although in the case of larvae kept in a plastic container, it might be preferable to insert the occasional dock leaf to maintain humidity (CHATELAIN). During July and August I beat about 60 larvae of Eupithecia dodoneata Guenée (Oak-tree Pug) from hawthorn over a wide area of central Lincolnshire, but most were para- sitized. The wasps emerged within days of spinning their tiny white cocoons and appeared to be the same insect that attacks E. insigniata Hbn. (Pinion-spotted Pug) (HAGGETT). Fullfed larvae of Colobochyla salicalis D. & S. (Lesser Belle) seem to need small angle-branches of aspen, on which to make their cocoons (A. RICHARDSON). During the third week of July we took numbers of the distinctive Tortricoid Eucosma maritima H. & W. flying at dusk round clumps of Artemisia maritima at the edges of salterns at Camber, Sussex, and later that night swept it from the same plants. It also occurs in similar situations in Kent and Essex, and is recorded from Norfolk and Suffolk (CHALMERS-HUNT). A visit in late July to a stretch of river bank or waste ground on which tansy is growing may produce Platyptilia ochrodactyla D. & S., which sometimes sits on the flowers, and Dichrorampha flavidorsana Knaggs which is readily dis- turbed from the plants. D simpliciana Haw. may similarly be put up from mugwort and can be distinguished from other species of the genus by its broader wing shape (R. G. WARREN). Late June and early July is the time for the full-grown larva of the local Agonopterix putridella D. & S. which occurs in spun leaves of Peucedanum officinale in its restricted localities in Kent and Essex. Towards the end of July you may readily obtain the moth by using a bee-smoker, but it needs two—one to operate the smoker and the other to net. The insect hides in thick grass and other vegetation among the foodplant. (CHALMERS-HUNT). The Common Spike-rush (Eleocharis palustris) frequents ditches and the margins of ponds, is generally distributed and common in the British Isles, and should be swept by day for the moths of Bactra furfurana Haworth and the more local Monochroa lucidella Stephens, both of which sometimes occur together in numbers (CHALMERS-HwnrT). 133 Notes and Observations DECORATIVE ART IN BUTTERFLIES. — With reference to B. O. C. Gardiner’s note under this heading (1978, Ent. Rec., 90: 249-250), a good many years ago, I think it was in a book on the butterflies of Ceylon but cannot now trace the refer- ence, this single, or direct, transfer method was described but it was noted that when colours were due to structure the results were not satisfactory, because, for want of a better term, the scales were then back to front. A double transfer method was described. This consisted, briefly, of making the initial transfer onto a wax-covered, not gummed, paper. This was then gummed to a second paper, and then, after drying completely under pressure, the two papers were transferred to a bath of suitable wax solvent, and the original waxed paper was peeled off, leaving the scales, now in their proper order, attached to the second paper. This, at least, was the theory. — D. G. SEVASTOPULO, F.R.E.S. SCALE TRANSFERS OF LEPIDOPTERA. — Mr. B. O. C. Gardiner’s recent note (90: 249-50) contrasted the current com- mercial practice of severing the wings of Lepidoptera and using them in various forms of so-called ‘decorative art’ (a traffic which has, in fact, been frequent since the Victorian era) with the methods of actual scale transfer with gum arabic explained by George Edwards in his Essays upon natural history, and other miscellaneous subjects (London, 1770). I share Mr. Gardiner’s enthusiasm, for I first became interested in various methods of scale transfer (part of the larger and very complex history of ‘nature printing’, which has been chiefly botanical) upon reading the reprint of Edwards’ same account, included in Patrick Matthews’ delightful antho- logy The pursuit of moths and butterflies (London, 1957), and by purchase in the following year of a copy of the classic example of lepidopterous scale transfer, Sherman Foote Den- ton’s Moths and butterflies of the United States east of the Rocky Mountains (Boston, [1897-] 1900). Denton’s work, published in eight fascicles, was illustrated by black and white figures and embellished by many plates of actual scale transfers from specimens. (I have only recently initiated a full biblio- graphical study of this curious book, and an example in the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C., apparently Denton’s personal copy according to the stamp on the spine, is ‘extra- illustrated’ by very numerous tipped-in plates of additional scale transfers with manuscript identifications). Denton explained in his book that he was required to make over 50,000 scale transfers to provide suitable plates for the edition of 500 copies, and the difficulty of the method leaves little doubt that his estimate, incredible as it seems, was probably correct. The bodies were printed from engravings and then hand-coloured. Denton’s book is one of the most remarkable examples of ‘nature printing’ and, of course, it 134 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD I/V/79 commands a very high price in the antiquarian book market. Denton’s biographical data are sparse. He was born in Dayton, Ohio, U.S.A. on the 24th September 1857. His father, William Denton (1823-1883) was a _ controversial non- conformist Methodist lecturer and author. Sherman Denton was educated in Massachusetts, and visited the far West on an extended collecting trip as a young man. His subsequent expedition to Australasia was described in Incidents of a col- lector’s rambles in Australia, New Zealand, and New Guinea (Boston, 1889). These years were followed by work on his American book. In later life, Denton mounted biological speci- mens for a number of museums, including the Smithsonian. He died on the 17th June 1937, and the exact method of his scale transfer is not known. Of course, other efforts of varying merit have been attemped. I am especially interested in those of Lionel G. O. Woodhouse, co-author with G. M. R. Henry of the well-known The butterfly fauna of Ceylon (Colombo, 1942), and author of the abridged edition of this important work (Colombo, 1950), because some years ago my friend E. W. Classey gave me a number of unpublished transfers on paper of Attacus atlas (L.) made by Woodhouse in 1933-34. He ‘painted in’ his bodies, and the scale retention and appearance of his wing transfers are remarkable. I should like to know if any older entomolo- gists recall Woodhouse’s method and any details of his work in this medium. This aspect of Woodhouse’s work deserves to be recorded. — Dr. R. S. WILKINSON, 228 Ninth Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20002, U.S.A. SOME OBSERVATIONS ON GONEPTERYX RHAMI L. IN 1978. — Following a slight frost, March 3rd 1978 was a brilliant warm day, and during the morning whilst in my garden at Batheaston, Bath, I was delighted to see a male Brimstone Butterfly creep from the ivy which topped a dry stone wall. The wall faced due south and was in full sunshine. The insect sunned itself on a leaf for five or six minutes and then flew off strongly in a northerly direction. During the following thirty minutes or so a butterfly (or the butterfly) flew back to the ivy on eight different occasions, always settling on the same leaf and making as if to re-enter the ivy but never doing so. Eventually it flew off not to return. The ivy was carefully examined in the evening and on the following day but without sign of the Brimstone. September 12th was a perfect autumn day which brought out the Vanessids to feed on the garden Buddleia, and I was fascinated to see a rhamni (male) fly over the garden wall and show great interest in a Clematis montana which was trained along its southern face. The insect flew up and down for about twelve minutes, sometimes settling on leaves and sometimes completely leaving the area, but always returning to the same place in the Clematis. Finally it settled on a leaf from which it crawled into the creeper and settled itself in a wings-down position firmly clinging to a leaf stalk. The colour of the under- NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS 135 side of the wing so merged with the leaves as to make the butterfly almost invisible. Here the insect remained, motionless on the hot days, but as the wind moved the leaves of the Clematis on the cold windy days it also moved the wings of the butterfly in unison with the leaves, thus completing the camouflage. I was beginning to wonder what would happen when the leaves of the Clematis were shed, but on 20th September, a very hot day, I was fortunate enough to be in the garden and observe the Brimstone crawl out into the sunshine, bask on a leaf for a few minutes and then fly off to the north. The butterfly returned to its basking position several times before flying off completely. — Bryan W. Moore, Church Cottage, Batheaston, Bath, Somerset. SELATOSOMUS BIPUSTULATUS (LINNAEUS) (COL., ELATERIDAE) IN WILTSHIRE AND SUFFOLK. — This handsome Elaterid appears to be rarely encountered and then usually as single specimens. The only Wiltsire record of which I am aware is for the northern vice-county and precise details are not provided (1938, Marlborough College Nat. Hist. Soc. Report No. 87 — Hand- list of the Col. of the Marlborough District — 10 miles radius). The collectors who supplied the majority of records for this list were E. Meyrick and A. G. Jebb. Some records were pro- vided by Janson but he did not take this species. I took a single example from under the back of a dead, fallen hawthorn branch in the middle of Langley Wood near Redlynch (SU 2220) on April 4th 1974. A specimen of the Anthribid Chora- gus sheppardi Kirby emerged a short while later from a piece of the branch which had been retained. Claude Morley, 1899 (Col. of Suffolk, p.69) recorded S. bipustulatus from Bungay (Garneys) and from Battisford (in coll. Baker). I know of no other Suffolk specimens. I swept a single example in Shrubland Park, Barham (TM 1252) from long grass growing under mature pines, and oaks with dead lower branches. The latter were almost certainly the breeding site of the beetle. I thank Mr. N. Anderson and Lord de Saumarez for allowing me to collect on their respective estates at Redlynch and Barham. —D. R. Nasu, 266 Colchester Road, Lawford, Essex, CO11 2BU. Notas_e Motu SPECIES AT ASHURST, HAMPSHIRE, IN 1978. — The following species of Macrolepidoptera were recorded by M.V. trap in my garden at Ashurst, Hampshire (map ref: SU 344115) in 1978, not having been recorded in 1976 or 1977. Numbers of individuals are in brackets. Macrothylacia rubi L. (2), Scopula floslactata Haw. (2), Rhodometra sacraria L. (2), Orthonama vittata Borkh. (1), Eulithis prunata L. (2), Hydriomena ruberata Freyer (2), Eupithecia linariata D. & S. (1), E. succenturiata L. (1), E. simpliciata Haw. (2), E. fraxinata Crewe (1), Lobophora halterata Hufn. (5), Acasis viretata Hubn. (4), Selidosema brunnearia Vill. (3), Cleora cinctaria D. & S. (4), Boarmia roboraria D. & S. (5), Lomo- 136 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD I/V/79 grapha bimaculata Fab. (2), Clostera pigra Hufn. (1), Dasychira fascelina L. (2), Leucoma salicis L. (2), Eilema sororcula Hufn. (1),Diacrisia sannio L. (1), Mythimna unipuncta Haw. (6),M. obsoleta Hubn. (2), Xanthia gilvago D. & S. (1), Ipimorpha subtusa D. & S. (1), Apamea unanimis Hubn. (1), Arenostola phragmitidis Hubn. (1), Chilodes maritima Taus. (1), Nycteola revayana Scop. (3), Autographa pulchrina Haw. (3),Parascotia fuliginaria L. (3). The following were among the less common species found at this site in 1978, although they were also found here in 1976 and/or 1977. Trichiura crataegi L. (3), Drepana cultraria Fab. (4), Idaea sylvestraria Hubn. (1), I. emarginata L. (1), I. stra- minata Borkh. (3), Orthonama obstipata Fab. (3), Epirrhoe rivata Hubn. (1), Euphyia unangulata Haw. (3), Eupithecia intricata Zett. (20), E. phoeniceata Rambur (1), Ennomos quercinaria Hufn. (2), Apocheima hispidaria D. & S. (26), Odontosia carmelita Esp. (4), Thumata senex Hubn. (1), Eilema deplana Esp. (1), Mythimna pudorina D. & S. (1), M. straminea Tretits. (4), Cucullia asteris D. & S. (), Aprorophyla lutulenta D. & S. (20), Lithophane semibrunnea Haw. (2), L. socia Hufn. (2), L. ornitopus Hufn. (22), L. leautieri Bois. (109), Conistra rubiginea D. & S. (1), Xanthia citrago L. (1), Cosmia pyralina D. & S. (14), Apamea scolo- pacina Esp. (10), Stilbia anomala Haw. (1). Thanks are due to Col. D. H. Sterling and Mr. A. H. Dobson for confirming the identities of the rarer species — Dr. J. C. A. Craik, 48 Whartons Lane, Ashurst, Hampshire. ARE AMATHES AGATHINA Dup. AND RHYACIA SIMULANS Hurn. IMMIGRANT SPECIES? —With reference to Dr. de Worms note (1978, Ent. Rec., 90: 337) on Amathes agathina Dup. at Woking, Surrey, I was also agreeably surprised to find a single specimen in the trap at Caversham, Reading on the morning of - 8th September 1978. The nearest extensive heathland is at Burghfield, 10 miles south of Caversham, where R. D. Sitwell took the species at heather bloom in 1906 and 1907. These specimens are in his collection at Reading Museum and are the only Berkshire records known to me excepting one at Aldermaston in 1977 and one from a heath north of Newbury in 1978. The Caversham specimen is greyer than those I have taken in Hampshire and Dorset and one is tempted to suggest that it, and Dr. de Worms’ specimen are immigrants. It is conceivable that other agathina arriving over this period could have been overlooked by making landfall in areas of southern England where the species is not considered uncommon. If not immigrants there must have been a widespread movement of resident populations taking place, but it is interesting to note that at this same time the first confirmed Kentish record for Rhyacia simulans Hufn. occurred and other specimens were recorded in Essex as our Editor has indicated. I discussed these records of agathina and simulans with Peter Davey of the Met. Office at Bracknell who kindly looked through all the weather maps for the period 17th July to 30th NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS 137 September 1978 and says (in lit.) that he can find only three periods when conditions were favourable for a Continental source of migration: — (a) 29th July (06 hrs.) to 2nd August (12 hrs.); (b) 18th August (00 hrs.) to 20th August (06 hrs.); (c) 5th September (06 hrs.) to 7th September (12 hrs.). He has also suggested the following sources for immigrants over these periods: — (a) S. Holland or Belgium (possibly N.E. France); (b) N.E. France or Belgium; (c) Central or N. France (possibly N.E. France or Belgium at first). Seitz gives the distribution of agathina as Britain, France, Belgium and Spain and for simulans says “Occurs in most of the countries of N. Europe .. .”. — B. R. Baker, Reading Museum & Art Gallery, Reading, Berkshire. COLEOPHORA MACHINELLA BRADLEY IN SUSSEX. — On the 28th of July 1977 I paid a very brief visit to Ditchling Common —so brief that my wife never left the car. The purpose was to study the habits of Dichrorampha sylvicolana Heinemann flying amongst its foodplant, sneezewort (Achillea ptarmica), as a preliminary to what was to prove a successful search for that species in Epping Forest, where it had not been taken since 1898. I also netted two coleophorids flying amongst the sneezewort; these have since been determined by Mr. R. W. J. Uffen as C. machinella. This species was discovered on the south Essex salt- marshes by W. Machin and named by him Coleophora mariti- mella in 1884. This name was preoccupied by Coleophora maritimella Newman, 1873 (obtusella Stainton, 1874), so Dr. Bradley renamed it in honour of its first captor. H. J. Turner exhibited cases with living larvae feeding on sea-wormwood (Artemisia maritima) at a meeting of the South London Entomological & Natural History Society in 1903 and some of the resultant adults are in the Jacobs collection, now in the British Museum (Natural History).As far as I know, the species was not recorded subsequently until Dr. J. Langmaid found the larvae feeding on sneezewort in south Hampshire in 1977. — A. M. Emmet, Labrey Cottage, Victoria Gardens, Saffron Walden, Essex, CBI] 3AF. 27.1.1979. ANTENNAL DEFORMITY IN AN EXAMPLE OF HARPALUS (OPHONUS) RUFIBARBIS (Fabricius, 1792) (Col.: Carabidae. — Whilst collecting Carabidae from under stones on waste ground at Parkeston, Harwich, Essex (TM 2332) on May 28th 1976, I took several specimens of Harpalus rufibarbis (F.). Amongst these was a male with a most curious deformity of its left antenna and since I am only aware of a few published references to teratology in Coleoptera, I feel a brief description may be of interest. The antenna has all the joints except the third correctly formed. The latter, however, consists of two normally pro- portioned joints fused about a third from their common base, these lying at about 45° to each other. The outermost of these joints is attached to correctly formed joints 4-11. The inner- most has attached to it an obovate joint somewhat shorter than 138 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD I/V/79 the normal 4th joint and this is followed by a large, grotesque, apically clavate joint somewhat longer than the typical joints 5 and 6 taken together. The latter bears marks indicating a fusion of two abnormal, enlarged joints. It is surmounted by a very short patella-like joint and fused to this are two further obovate joints each of approximately the same size as the deformed 4th joint, these last joints springing at a 45° angle from the exterior corner of the enlarged clavate joint, resulting in their lying parallel to the normally formed 6th and 7th joints of the set specimen. — D. R. Nasu, 266 Colchester Road, Lawford, Manningtree, Essex, CO11 2BU. EUPROCTIS CHRYSORRHOEA Husn. (LEP.: LYMANTRIIDAE) LARVAE IN N.W. Kent. — While perusing Volume 83 of this Journal for the year 1971 in search of other data, I came upon B. K. West’s note (pages 216-217) concerning his discovery on 18th May 1971 of “a considerable, but localised colony” of larvae of the above-named species on hawthorn and other trees and bushes along a road on the chalk hills between Dartford and Darenth Wood. Although they are not necessarily connected, I feel I should place on record that on 19th April 1952 I liberated, per- haps reprehensibly, between 250 and 300 chrysorrhoea larvae, collected earlier that month at Dungeness, on hawthorns not far from the Long Reach Isolation Hospital on the Dartford Marshes. As I have rarely been able to visit these marshes since that year, I do not know whether or not the species became established there. I think it is unlikely, as during the following winter the marshes were inundated by the notorious high tides of 1953 which breached the Thames river-wall in several places and flooded the marshes to a depth of several feet. — J. F. Burton, 11 Rockside Drive, Henleaze, Bristol, BSI 4NW. OBSERVATIONS UPON THE OCURRENCE OF CARABUS MONILIS F. AND C. NEMORALIS MULL. IN SUFFOLK, N.E. ESSEX, AND WILTS. —TI must begin by stating that I cannot recall any published notes specifically commenting on the relative uncommoness or otherwise of these two Carabus species in recent times. Lindroth, however, in his recnt work on the British Carabidae (R.E.S Hbks. for the Ident. of Brit. Ins.. IV part 2, 1974) indicates that the status in this country of both species has altered over the last century. In this context, therefore, it seems worthwhile to place on record my limited experience of casual captures of these species over the last decade. Obviously, intensive all-year-round pitfull trapping is required to efficiently estimate the density of any active Carabus popula- tion — nemoralis has, in fact, been shown to aestivate during the summer months. Lindroth (op. cit. p.23) states that Cara- bus monilis Fabricius seems to have become less common everywhere. My few captures over the last ten years or so would seem to confirm that present comparative scarcity of this beetle. I have only met with monilis in N.E. Essex. My records are as follows: Lawford (TM 0931): 7.vi.68, 2 exx. NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS 139 under street lamps at night; 15.v.71, 1 ex. dead in my garden. Dovercourt (TM 2430): 24.v.72, 2 exx. under rubbish on waste ground; 27.vi-77, 1 ex. in school classroom. Harwich/Dover- court (TM 23): 13.v.70, 1 ex. in road. Eighty years ago, Claude Morley (Col. of Suffolk, 1899 p. 1) regarded it as uncommon in the Ipswich area. Despite collecting a great deal in East Suffolk I have never found or been given for identification any examples of monilis, and my friend Mr. C. Barham has only taken one example in the last 28 years — Ipswich (TM 1845): 12.viii.51, in garden. Moore (1957) in his County Distribution of the British Carabidae (Ent. Gaz. 8, p.171-180) does not record the beetle from Wiltshire although it was reported from the Marlborough area around the turn of the century by both E. Meyrick and A. G. Jebb (Marlborough College Nat. Hist. Soc., Report No. 87, 1938, p.2). Lindroth (loc. cit.) also notes that Carabus nemoralis Miller has become more abundant in some places whilst be- coming rarer in others, notably in comparison with C. viola- ceus Linnaeus. Morley (op. cit.) also regarded this species (nemoralis) as uncommon in Suffolk eighty years ago. I have not found the beetle in Suffolk and Mr. Barham has only a single example which he took in Ipswich (TM 14) in 1948. My records for N.E. Essex are as follows: Lawford (TM 0931): 10.viii-68, 1 ex. carrying dried worm vertically in its jaws at night under street lamp; 10.iv.69, 2 exx. at street lamps; 21.vii.71, 1 ex. in my garden. Parkeston (TM 2331): 22.x.7]1, 1 ex. under stone. Parkeston (TM 2332): 28.v.76, 1 ex. under stone on waste ground. My records for Wilts. are as fllows: Gariner Forest (SU 0321): 1.ix.71, 1 ex. dead in pit. Grovely Wood (SU 0633): 30.v.74, 1 ex. under stone on wood edge. Great Ridge (ST 9436): 1 ex. under log on woodland edge. Hamptworth (SU 2218) 8.iv.77: 1 ex. in moss by flush in wood- land. I hope that these remarks and records will prompt other Coleopterists to comment upon their experience of these two Carabus species. —D. R. Nasu, 266 Colchester Road, Law- ford, near Manningtree, Essex, CO11 2BU. SOME REMARKS ON LARVAL FOODPLANTS WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO PHILEREME TRANSVERSATA HUEN. AND P. VETU- LATA D. & S.—TI cannot agree with the inclusion of some of the foodplants mentioned in P. B. M. Allan’s Larval Food- plants (1949). For the Cinnabar (Tyria jacobaeae L.) he seems far too generous in listing ten foodplants, including those such as Coltsfoot, Hop and Great Mullein (Verbascum thrapsus). In nearly 50 years experience I have seen larvae on only two plants — Ragwort (Senecio jacobaea) the chief foodplant, and Groundsel (S. vulgaris). I suggest the larvae of C. jacobaeae would not feed up successfully on any plants other than Rag- wort and Groundsel, and that the larvae have only crawled on to the other plants mentioned after having eaten up all their regular foodplant (as often happens). Nine foodplants are listed for the Sprawler (Brachionycha sphinx Hufn.) in addition to Sallows, Poplars and Apple. These 140 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD I/V/79 are probably correct, though the chief foodplants upon which I have found the larva, are blackthorn and oak (as at Monks Wood), lime, and in Yorkshire and the north, usually elm. However, around 1954, while beating in Skellingthorpe Woods near Lincoln, I beat two sphinx larvae from honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum), a foodplant I have never seen mentioned for this species in any book. I have beaten larvae of the Orange Moth (Angerona prunaria L-.) in Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Lincolnshire and at Monks Wood, but never on anything but honeysuckle. Yet, Allan (op. cit.) makes the ridiculous statement, which I am sure is wrong, that prunaria larvae have been found on almost every species of deciduous tree and shrub, in addition to Broom, Clematis and Mint. The species I particularly wish to refer to in this Note are Philereme transversata (Dark Umber) and P. vetulata (Brown Scallop). For these, Allan (op. cit.) is less generous than usual in only listing one foodplant for both species — Rhamnus catharticus (Purging Buckthorn). Stokoe and South in their book on larvae list only R. catharticus against these two species, but at the end of the book also include Rhamnus frangula (Alder Buckthorn) for them. P. transversata and P. vetulata occur very locally in a few places in Yorkshire, with vetulata the more local of the two and seemingly confined to three or four localities. I took both species in a small copse near Selby until this was felled in 1950 (and the site later ploughed) —I never found larvae there, but as far as I know only R. frangula grew at that locality. Over 50 years ago, transversata and vetulata were recorded from Askham Bog, but again as far as I am aware it is only R. frangula that grows there and no R. catharticus. —S.M. Jackson, 22 Armoury Road, Selby, North Yorkshire. [It would be interesting to hear from any reader who knows of the finding of the larva on Alder Buckthorn of either P. transversata or P. vetulata — Editor]. AN UNusuAL COLOUR VARIETY OF CHRYSOLINA MENTHASTRI (SUFFRIAN) (COL.: CHRYSOMELIDAE). — Whilst sweeping bank- side vegetation including Mentha aquatica beside the River Avon at Great Durnford near Salisbury, Wilts. (SU 131373) on August 18th 1972, I took an unusually-coloured Chrysolina of the same size and shape as Chrysolina menthastri (Suffrian), a species which occurs quite commonly in this locality. The head and thorax of the beetle were black, the entire base of the predominately green elytra — especially in the sutural area — was of a distinct coppery colouration, and the legs and first three antennal joints, although having a greenish reflection, were considerably darker than in typical menthastri. In addi- tion, the punctures of the pronotum had coalesced in many places, so that it appeared transversley strigose on its disc and longitudinally strigose at its base. I submitted the insect to Mr. A. A. Allen who kindly determined it as C. menthastri and not C. graminis (L.) as I NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS 141 had suspected it to be from its elytral colouration. Mr. Allen (in litt.) stated that he had not previously seen a similarly coloured individual of this species. It is perhaps worth drawing attention to the fact that Mohr in “‘Die Kafer Mitteleuropas” (1966, vol. 9: 164) con- siders menthastri as merely an entirely green large variety of Chrysolina herbacea Duftschmid, the latter insect being des- cribed as green, copper coloured, blue-violet, or black with a blue shine. —D. R. Nasu, 266 Colchester Road, Lawford, Manningtree, Essex. [Mr. Nash’s specimen is certainly highly unusual for Britain; on the Continent the members of this genus tend to be very much more variable in colour. The insect under notice would appear further to be something of a sculptural abnor- mality, and presumably the two aspects are due to the same cause or are linked in some way. It is worth noting that though Mohr (/.c.) gives the same length for C. graminis and C. menthastri (or herbacea v. men- thastri), the British races differ in this respect, graminis being obviously the larger on average with the males more elongate. I find also a character additional to those given in the literature to separate these species, viz., that in graminis the hind tibiae are distinctly sinuate towards apex on their outer margin, where they bend slightly outwards, whereas in menthastri they are practically straight in the apical half or eeven curve a little inwards. — A.A.A.]. AN ALTERNATIVE LARVAL FOODPLANT OF THE WHITE LETTER HAIRSTREAK (STRYMONIDIA W-ALBUM KNocH. — In early March 1978, a single S. w-album ovum was found on blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) while searching for S. pruni ova in Oxfordshire. This ovum was laid on a terminal twig about three metres above ground level, the bush being at the edge of an extensive blackthorn thicket. The resulting larva fed on blackthorn blossoms thereafter and almost completely ignored the leaves which were also avail- able. It duly pupated and produced a typical female some weeks later. Several days passed after I had noticed the empty ovum before the minute larva was located. In the first instar and for part of the second, the larva concealed itself within the blossoms when feeding. During this period, the only time I saw the larva was when it left the blossom buds to complete the first ecdysis. The larva spun a pad of silk on a nearby twig and remained there until the moult was completed. As the larva grew in size, the feeding method was changed. Only the head and first few segments were able to enter the blossoms, the larva resting on the twigs between feeding sessions. This patttern of feeding was similar to that used by some w-album larvae I had reared on wych elm in the past. These larvae also entered the blossoms immediately after hatching, transferring to the leaves when half grown. This interesting observation may provide a clue for those who, like myself, have considered the fate of w-album now 142 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD I/V/79 that the usual foodplant has disappeared from much of the countryside. It is possible that w-album uses blackthorn occasionally as an alternative to elm. This may explain the sightings of unidentified hairstreaks seen flying around black- thorn in areas well outside the normal distribution of S. pruni (cf. Symes, Ent. Rec., 80: 40). One thing which could under- mine this theory is that blackthorn is one of the most frequently beaten shrubs by those collectors who use this method to obtain larvae. With this in mind, I have made enquiries but have not been able to find a single instance of w-album larvae being beaten from blackthorn. If anyone does know of an instance, then I shall be glad to hear from them. On the other hand, the use of blackthorn could simply be a more recent trend result- ing from the disappearance of the usual foodplant. In Gloucestershire, w-album had a population explosion in the fine summers of 1975 and 1976. The butterfly was more widespread and numerous than I have ever seen it anywhere before. Ova were very easy to locate on those elms which were still disease free. In 1977, several fully fed larvae were observed seeking pupation sites and I looked forward to see- ing imagines around their favourite trees later. This was not to be, as in contrast to the two previous summers, only two were seen. 1978 was even worse, I saw one pupa and no imagines on the few remaining elms. A gloomy picture and observers in other parts of the country have made similar reports. Time will show if w-album can continue to be a member of our countryside by using alternative foodplants. — JoHN MCFEELY, 90 Stonechat Avenue, Heron Park, Gloucester. THERA JUNIPERATA L. (JUNIPER CARPET) IN WARWICK- SHIRE.— Among some moths sent to me for identification was an example of Thera juniperata L. taken by Mr. Alan Garner at a lighted window near Nuneaton on 8th October 1978. Another was seen two days later. There is no juniper in the area, so either this was a dispersal flight — the wind was southerly at the time — or possibly this species is beginning to establish itself locally on garden conifers, as Eupithecia pusillata (D. & S.) does so readily. It is perhaps worthy of note that on 11th October 1963 I found a Juniper Carpet on a tree trunk in the town of Rugby; I assumed it had bred on Cupressus growing in a nearby ceme- tery. Both this and the Nuneaton example are of the southern form, not as dark as specimens I have bred from North Lan- cashire.— R. G. WarREN, Wood Ridings, 32 Whitmore Road, Trentham, Stoke-on-Trent. DANAUS CHRYSIPPUS L. IN MaLta.— During a bird ringing session of the Ornithological Society, at Xemxija, St. Paul’s Bay on the 14th October 1978, at approximatly 8.30 a.m. a friend called out saying he had just seen a strange butterfly flying amongst the vegetation. I was soon on the spot and to my surpise I saw a very rare species of butterfly for the Maltese Islands, the Danaus chrysippus L. I had no net with me, and all I could do was to throw a light jacket onto it, and luckily NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS 143 soon had it secured in a cigarette box. As usual I hurried home and soon contacted Mr. Anthony Valletta, who after a few minutes was at my place. The specimen turned out to be a male. The only two previous documented records for this species had been Danaus chrysippus L. var. alcippus Cram. The first record was taken on the 4th June of 1923, by Col. Harford in Hastings Gardens at Valletta, and the 2nd in 1952, 29 years later, by Mr. Anthony Valletta, two males taken on the 10th April from Wield is-Sewda, Attard. In the same month of the same year (1952) two more were observed at Villa Gomerino — limits of Rabat. It is of interest to note that like Mr. Anthony Valletta observed when he collected his two specimens back in 1952, we had a very large influx of Painted Ladies (V. cardui) and Small Whites (P. rapae) during the same week this specimen was taken. Although this butterfly has a wide distribution, from Africa across Asia into the Indo-Australian region, the vagrants we get in Malta must be coming from Africa (North and West). The var. alcippus Cram. is found only in Africa. The fact that the species is recorded as a vagrant on our Islands shows that they are to be considered as accidentals, and not a normal migratory species to this part of the world.— References: 1969, Williams, J. G., Butterflies of Africa. Collins. 1971, Valletta A. The Butterflies of the Maltese Islands. Progress Press Co. Ltd. — Guipo Bonett, 76 Valley Road, B’Kara, Malta. TRAPPING AND TREACLING.— Trapping in the Cévennes during August 1978, using a conventional mercury vapour moth trap, yielded some interesting and unusual records from at least six orders of insect. There were always a few female Oak Eggers (Lasiocampa quercus (Linnaeus)) attracted to the light but on one occasion a male made its appearance. Another surprise was a specimen of the Tree Grayling (Hipparchia statilinus Hufnagel). Winged ants invaded the light on another occasion, carpeting the ground and making observation and indentification of other insects almost impossible; and on another evening two honeybees were recorded. Other interest- ing records for the latter half of August included a siphonurid ephemeropteran, a mantispid neuropteran, and a red damsel- fly (Ceriagrion sp.). Treacling with a mixture made up from Pastis, black rum, Martini, beer, local red wine, honey and concentrated orange juice, which was liberally daubed over gnarled olive stumps, proved immediately effective from the first night of application. Even on nights when there was a full moon and no cloud cover moths were plentiful at the reacle but on occasions entirely absent at the light. The species most readily attracted to the treacle were the Red Underwings (Catocala spp.), but they had to compete with hordes of ants for food. It was noticed that during the day that various Satyrid butterflies fed off the sweet mixture.— Dr. JOHN FELTWELL, 35 Fishers Road, Staplehurst, Kent, TN12 ODD. 144 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD I/V/79 Current Literature Twelve Little Housemates by Karl von Frische. Revised edition translated by A. T. Sugar. 115 pp. 78 illus. Pergamon Press, 1978. £2.50 (limp); £5.00 (boards). This volume, intended for the ‘popular’ market, covers the general biology of twelve groups of invertebrates that have colonised either man, or his dwellings, and could be loosely described as pests. Coverage includes house-flies, aphids, gnats, ants, fleas, silver-fish, bed-bugs, spiders, lice, ticks and cloths- moths. There is no particular pattern to the coverage of each group tackled, but the Author strives (with a considerable measure of success) to fill the text with interesting and infor- mative matter. From a general entomologists point of view the book suffers from two main distadvantages: firstly the style of presentation, although no doubt suitable for the layman, proved a major source of irritation to the reviewer as it ranged from the serious to the patronising, with an occasional stop at the infantile. This is the first book in which the reviewer has seen the causative organisms of Typhoid and Tuberculosis referred to as “‘scallywags’’. The second criticism arises in the transla- tion from the original German. Most of the material reads as if originally written in English, but a number of terms obviously confuse the translator — for example ““Schmetterling” appears to have been liberally translated. Phrases such as “... the clothes-moth, then, is a small butterfly. Most of its nearest relations, called moths is the narrower sense by Zoologists...” provide amusement at first, but eventually detract from the enjoyment of reading the book. — PauL SOKOLOFF. Imms’ Outlines of Entomology. 6th edition. O. W. Richards and R. G. Davies. 254 pp. 95 illustrations. 8vo. London: Chapman and Hall, 1978. Paper £3.95; Boards £7.50. This volume is essentially a condensed version of Imms’ General Textbook of Entomology (Reviewed in Ent. Rec. 90: 281). The title correctly describes the scope of the work, and it should not be interpreted as an introduction to entomology, as the reader will need to be familiar with the general style of zoological textbooks in order to benefit from reading this book. The first half is devoted to the various aspects of Anatomy and Physiology whilst the second half covers the nomenclature, classification and biology of the 29 Orders of insect recognised by the authors. The presentation of a zoological text on insects in 254 pages is a daunting task, and each aspect is dealt with in a highly compressed manner. The diagrams are clear, but many are unecessarily complex, and some of the material has been taken directly from the ‘parent’ book. The absence of a glossary is peculiar in a work so obviously designed as a guide to entomology for zoologists specialising in other fields, The bibliography is likewise compressed, and many of the important texts are omitted from the literature references. The price of the paperback version is, however, very reasonable. — PauL SOKOLOFF. DATA LABELS Printed to your requirements in any quantity of labels/lines. Choose from a variety of paper surfaces and typefaces. Full details and sample labels on request. P. D. J. HUGO 38 Cotswold Crescent, Chipping Norton, Oxon. OX7 5DT Please mention this journal when replying THE MICROLEPIDOPTERA OF ESSEX. — I am currently engaged on compiling a list of the microlepidoptera of the county on behalf of the Essex Naturalists’ Trust and the Essex Field Club; it is proposed to publish the list in 1979. I should therefore be grateful if collectors who have not already done so will send me their records. Localities even for the common species help to complete distribution patterns. Entomologists who are planning their season’s collecting shoud bear in mind that Essex is rich in microlepidoptera (over 1,000 species of ‘“‘micro”’ are already in the list) but almost devoid of microlepidopterists and hence seriously underrecorded. They could profitably make 1978 their “Essex year”. — A. M. Emmet, Labrey Cottage, Victoria Gardens, Saffron Walden, Essex, CB11 3AF, 30.iv.1978. EXOTIC INSECT SPECIALIST SUPPLIERS Lepidoptera livestock, Phasmids, many Exotic Insects, Foodplants, Equip- ment, Black Lights, Frames and Displays, Popular and Rare Specimens, Praying Mantis, etc. Indonesian/New Guinea specimen specialists. Trade supplied as well as retail. Exporters to Europe and America. Importers from over 30 Countries. FREE Mailing List—Regular Catalogues, etc. S.A.E. for latest Catalogue. TRANSWORLD ENTOMOLOGICAL COMPANY (ER) P.O. BOX 14, REIGATE, RH2 9PW, UK WEALDEN AREA — Records wanted of all groups of insects, especially Lepidoptera, Colepoptera, Hymenoptera and Orthoptera from East Sussex and Kent, for inclusion in the publications of the Wealden Entomology Group. All records duly acknowledged and information supplied on request. — Mark HAapDL_Ley, 7 Beverington Close, Eastbourne, East Sussex BN21 2SB. EXCHANGES AND WANTS Wanted. — Pierce & Metcalfe; The Genitalia of the Tineidae. — Dr. F. H. N. Smith, Turnstones, Perrancoombe, Perranporth, Cornwall, TR6 OHX. For Sale. —Wonda £200 generator, as new, used for part of last season only. Price £160. Robinson trap complete with 125 w. choke, etc. £20. — D. O’Keefe, 55 Camden Road, Bexley, Kent. Crayford 523594. Wanted. —1 am preparing a one-volume edition of the entomological works of Vladimir Nabokov, and would greatly appreciate information about papers, notes, or other works by Nabokov, with any entomological content, which were published in Great Britain or Europe. His papers in The Entomologist 53(1920): 29-33; 64(1931): 255-257, 268-271; and 81(1948): 273-280 have already been recorded. For the introduction, I should be grateful for correspondence with persons (other than the family) who were acquainted with Nabokov in this aspect of his work. Help Wanted — with records of British Gelechiidae for publication in Vol. 4 of “Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland’. Vice-County records only wanted at this stage. A complete check-list will be supplied to those willing to help. If you have any records for this group, please write to: Paul Sokoloff, 4 Steep Close, Orpington, Kent BR6 6DS. Wanted — Records of daily totals in traps of Agrotis segetum for as many past years as available. — Rosemary Kay, Ent. Section, National Vegetable Research Station, Wellsbourne, Warwick. Wanted — Records of Blair’s Shoulder-knt, Lithophane leautieri. Please give dates, localities, numbers, and any details of larval foodplants. This species seems to be rapidly colonising Britain and it is planned to document the colonisation in as much detail as possible. — Dr. D. F. Owen, 66 Scraptoft Lane, Leicester LES 1HU. Wanted — Foreign correspondents interested in exchanging notes on, and living and papered specimens of Hawkmoths. — Write to D. C. Wareham, 27 Bright Street, Radcliffe, Manchester M26 9XxX. THE ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD AND JOURNAL OF VARIATION (Founded by J. W. TUTT on 15th April, 1890) The following gentlemen act as Honorary Consultants to the magazine: Orthoptera: D. K. Mc E. Kevan, Ph.D., B.Sc., F.R.E.S.; Coleoptera: A. A. ALLEN, B.Sc.; Diptera: E. C. M. d’Assis-FonsEca, F.R.E.S. TO OUR CONTRIBUTORS All material for the TEXT of the magazine as well as books for review must be sent to the EDITOR at St. Teresa, 1 Hardcourts Close, West Wickham, Kent. ADVERTISEMENTS, EXCHANGES and WANTS to: E. H. WILD, L.Inst.Biol., 112 Foxearth Road, Selsdon, Croydon, Surrey, CR2 8EF. Specimen copies supplied by Mr. Wild on payment of 60p or sterling equivalent which will be taken into account if the person in question becomes a full subscriber, plus 10p postage. Changes of address, and enquiries regarding back numbers, Volumes and Sets to: P. A. SOKOLOFF, 4 Steep Close, Orpington, Kent BR6 6DS. Subscriptions should be sent to the Treasurer, P. J. RENSHAW, 53 Links Road, West Wickham, Kent BR4 0QN, England. REPRINTS: 25 copies, taken straight from the magazine are sent gratis to contributors of articles; these may contain extraneous matter. More formal reprints from re-set type may still be had at cost price, and orders for these should be given, at the latest, with the return tc the Editor of the corrected proof. ILLUSTRATIONS are inserted on condition that the AUTHOR DEFRAYS THE COST. Contributors are requested not to send us Notes or Articles which they are sending to other magazines. All reasonable care is taken of MSS, photographs, drawings, maps, etc., but the Editor and his staff cannot hold themselves responsible for any loss or damage. SPECIAL NOTICE The Editor would be willing to consider the purchase of a limited number of certain back issues. CONTENTS Coleoptera in Flood Refuse in East Kent Coastal Floods. J. A. PARRY ans Flies, Bees and Butterflies on Le Palma, Canary Inde in 1976, P. J. CHANDLER ... : Microlepidoptera in Scotland, 1978. Lt. Con a EMMET . Two Continental Journeys during 1978. Baron C. G. M. de WORMS Editorial Practical Hints — Tay, Notes and Observations: Tribal Classification of asiracine Pelpnacidae Clomontie. Fulgoroidea). R. G. FENNAH Some Unusual Dates in the Summer and yaaa of 1978. Baron C. G. M. de WORMS : Epiblema cnicicolana Z. in Hampshire. Dr. J. R. “LANGMAID Deilephila elpenor L. in Inverness-shire. E. A. M. MacAlpine Foodplants of Deas pers Haworth. P. A. SOKOLOFF at zat Decorative Art in Be ttenttice D. G. SEVASTOPULO Scale Transfers of Lepidoptera. Dr. R. S. WILKINSON Some Observations on Genera. rhamni L. in 1978. B. W. MOORE aie A Selatosomus bipustulatus L. (Col, Blateridae) in 1 Wiltshire BA Suffolk. D. R. NASH . Notable Moth Spe rIes at Acnieen Hants, 1978. De i C. is CRAIK ... Are Amathes es con a Rhyacia Bape rink Immigrant Species. B. R. BAKER . : Coleophora machinella Praeey in Siesed! Lt. Cal WA M. EMMET an Antennal Deformity in an eeeoie of aa (Ophonus) rufibarbis F. (Col., Carabidae). D. R. NASH Euproctis chrysorrhoea Hbn. larvae in N.W. ene J. F. BURTON Observations upon the Ones: of Carabis OMe Fr. and C. nemoralis Mill. in Suffolk, N.E. Essex and Wilts. D. R. NASH nos Some Remarks on Larval Readable with Special Reference to Philereme transversata Hufn. and P. vetulata D. & S. S. M. JACKSON An Unusual Colour Variety of Chi walinn ene Suffrian (Col., Chrysomelidae). D. R. NASH Bbe An Alternative Larval Foodplant of the White-letter Haitian (Strymonidia w-album Knoch). J. McFEELY . Thera juniperata artes Caen) in Warwickshire. R. G. WARREN be 4 Danaus chrysippus L. in Malta, G. BONETT . Trapping and Treacling. Dr. J. FELTWELL ... Current Literature Printed by Charles Phipps Ltd., 225 Philip Lane, Tottenham, N15 4HL 113 117 122 126 131 131 116 121 125 125 130 133 133 135 135 135 136 137 137 138 138 139 140 142 142 143 143 144 VOL. 91, No. 6 June, 1979 ISSN 0013-8916 SS So Sr eS aes aa IS SS So SS So SS SSS Os SS SS SS ei ys 64 By 7: THE ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD AND JOURNAL OF VARIATION Edited by J. M. CHALMERS-HUNT, F.R.£.s. with the assistance of A. A. ALLEN, B.SC., A.R.C.S. P. J. CHANDLER, B.SC., F.R.E.S. NEVILLE BIRKETT, M.A., M.B. C. A. COLLINGWOOD, B.SC., F.R.E.S. S. N. A. JACOBS, F.R.E.S. J.HEATH, F.R.E.S., F.L.S. Lieut. Col. A. M. EMMET, M.B.E., T.D., F.R.E.S. P. A. SOKOLOFF, M.SC., M.I.BIOL., F.R.E.S. (Registrar) NOTICE Owing to printing difficulties we much regret delay in publication of the magazine. ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION FOR THIS VOLUME No. 91 £7.50 for overseas subscribers. £6.50 for all U.K. subscribers. Hon. Teasurer: P. J. RENSHAW, 53 Links Road, West Wickham, Kent, BR4 0QN WaT Va ava VaR Ve UV Uk Ven Sia Vi ik Un SEs a Vin Va Vz Vs Ve Va Va VS PUBLISHED MONTHLY PRICE 60p THE LIVING SEASHORE By Joan M. Clayton ~— The seashore provides a very distinctive environ- ment, supporting a greater number of living things than any other habitat. This book deals with the rich variety of flora and fauna associated with the sea- shore. 32 pages of plates in colour and black and white with numerous line drawings and diagrams within the text. £6.00 net. FRESHWATER LIFE By John Clegg This is the fourth edition of the popular volume on the plant and animal life in Britain’s eve ponds, lakes, streams and “