eee 2 rire , ‘ eT Te an the : en cmecra at whe hee f item’ eae eee i fore ee ted tieded sents ats Cee pap tatat a ai fi : : antes ; ere sinew Ae. et im anaricte é pre ee a : etna. Care ee us es Qacataste nes ate ern ie0e apt a eat inert ath! fe rep cnet: oats’ a thd creat ae seaae Fn seroe ries ns * are : 2 = Sa ; : tf SHEE ; - ~ OTT ae te f ree ieee et rene races As ean easel we ema Pigs ee i, Gl” Aes (i ees | a tute tte i one . PR Sy 5. a ae r He on ron or vd ta \ i 7 iy 7 i‘ ¥] its ti Mi 1 | caw . iY { j { ) 4 Pi 7 1 ‘ J 4 ae Lt D a Noh & \ : i ‘ | : : i uf : > any mw § Ay x ¥ ; 7 a isi i 7 j / ms fl ) i if: boyd oP Pal ; on j : i A Vv} . ‘ | | | - } a ' | . . | 4 | | ee ie | ' . ‘ ON r “ MC 00 : y. and Natural eA ih at Veiigine 3 - Bin Ry a oe fu ay j ve / rm - Mea i bel : ere ve we ; Sar y val Oe 3 3. Male: fore tarsus with long curled hairs on posterior surface, the longest 1.5 times the width Of the tarsus’... eR ok Bead. wee cutee M. staegerii (Rondani) Hosts unknown. Fairly widespread but local, England: Devon, Suffolk, Norfolk, Oxon; Scotland: Forfar, Moray. — Male: fore tarsus without long hairs on posterior surface ...............sceeseeeeees SE ee er ces See Te oe Cos ae ae M. argyrocephala (Meigen) Recorded from nests of Vespidae, Sphecidae and Apidae. England, Wales, Scotland (to Moray Firth), generally distributed. M. argyrocephala and M. campestris remain the two most frequently encountered British species, with a wide distribution encompassing both inland and coastal areas. These two Metopia species are cleptoparasites of various aculeates; Pape (1987) cites that both M. argyrocephala and M. campestris are recorded from a variety of ground- nesting aculeate species, especially sphecids, but also a few vespids, apids and pompilids. There are no published biological data available yet for M. staegerii or M. grandii, but it is likely that their biology is similar, but perhaps with differences in the range of host species, or in the preferred location of the host nest. METOPIA STAEGERII RONDANI, 1859 This species is predominantly recorded from coastal dunes, but it has also been taken at inland sites with sandy soil in Oxfordshire and Suffolk. At Winterton Dunes in east Norfolk males were observed to be especially common basking on birch shrubs on mid dune while others were on hind dune areas together with M. argyrocephala, and at Elvedon Holiday Village in the west Suffolk Breck a solitary male was collected with a series of M. argyrocephala on chalk heath with scrub and conifer plantations. Females of M; staegerii cannot be separated from those of M. argyrocephala. All current British records are based on males. Material examined and other records (BMNH: The Natural History Museum, London; OUM: Hope Entomological Collections, Oxford University Museum). S. Devon: Dawlish Warren (SX9676), two males, 29.vi.1957 and 26.vii.1962, G. M. Spooner (BMNH). N. Devon: Maiden Down (ST0716), two males, 9-16.vii.1949, E. C. M. d’Assis Fonseca; 9.vii.1949, J. Cowley (BMNH); Braunton Burrows (SS4534), 21.vi. 1987, S. J. Falk. Oxon: Shotover (SP5606), 6.viii.1903, A. H. Hamm (OUM). W. Suffolk: Elvedon Holiday Village (TL8080), one male, 23.vii.1994, S. J. Falk. E. Norfolk: Winterton Dunes (TG4920), 7.vii.1993, S. J. Falk. England: one male, no locality or date, A. Piffard (BMNH). Forfar: Monifieth (NO4932), 6.vi.1915, 24.vi.1917, A. E. J. Carter (QUM). Moray: Culbin Sands (NH9862), 14.vi.1984, J. H. Cole (pers. comm.). Also occurs widely elsewhere in the western Palaearctic east to the Altai Mountains. METOPIA GRANDII VENTURI, 1952 This species has been recorded mainly from inland sites. At Sot’s hole in Staffordshire a male was found resting on oak foliage beside a sandy bank, whereas another male collected at Woodbastwick Fen in East Norfolk was found on bramble foliage in an area of damp woodland and fen with little light soil in the vicinity. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 35 Material examined and other records. S. Devon: River Tamar, one male, 10.vii.1949, E. C. M. d’Assis Fonseca (BMNH). Somerset: Dunster (SS9943), one male, 24.v.1953, E. C. M. d’Assis Fonseca (BMNH). W. Kent: Woolwich Wood, one male, 30.vii.1953, E. C. M. d’Assis Fonseca (BMNH). E. Norfolk: Woodbastwick Fen (TG3316), 5.vii.1993, S. J. Falk. Herefordshire: Stoke Wood (SOS53), one male, 24.vii.1902, J. H. Wood (BMNH). Worcestershire: Wyre Forest, one male, 3.vi.1934, C. J. Wainwright (BMNH). Staffordshire: Sot’s Hole, West Bromwich (SP0192), one male, 8.viii. 1986, M. Bloxham. S. Glamorgan: Kenfig Hill, one male, 5.vi.1903 (SS7981), Col. J. W. Yerbury (BMNH). Also occurs widely elsewhere in the Palaearctic region, from western Europe to Japan. The authors recommend that all British records of Metopia species are reappraised. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Thanks are due to John Ismay and Jonathan Cole for providing extra records of M. staegerii, and to Mike Bloxham for the extra record of M. grandii. REFERENCES Emden, F. I. van, 1954. Diptera Cyclorrhapha Calyptrata (1), section (a): Tachinidae and Calliphoridae. Handbk. Ident. Br. Insects 10(4a): pp. 133 Kloet, G. S. & Hincks, W. D. 1976. A checklist of British insects (second edition), part 5: Diptera and Siphonaptera. Handbk Ident. Br. Insects 11: pp. 139. Pape, T. 1987. The Sarcophagidae (Diptera) of Fennoscandia and Denmark. Fauna Ent. Scand. 19: pp. 203. Rognes, K. 1986. The systematic position of the genus Helicobosca Bezzi with a discussion of the monophyly of the calyptrate families Calliphoridae, Rhinophoridae, Sarcophagidae and Tachinidae (Diptera). Ent. Scand. 17: 75-92. Verves, Y. G. 1986. Family Sarcophagidae. In: Soos, A. & Papp, L. (Eds). Catalogue of Palaearctic Diptera, Volume 12, Sarcophagidae-Calliphoridae, pp. 58-193. Wyatt, N. P. 1991. Notes on Sarcophagidae (Dipt.), including one species new to Ireland, one new to science from England and Malta and a change in the British list. Entomologist’s Mon. Mag. 127: 1-6. Wyatt, N. P. & Sterling, P. H. 1988. Parasites of the brown-tail moth Euproctis chrysorrhoea (L.) (Lep., Lymantriidae), including two Diptera (Tachinidae, Sarcophagidae) new to Britain. Entomologist’s Mon. Mag. 124: 207-214. BOOK REVIEW Die Schmetterlinge Osterreichs (Lepidoptera). Systematisches Verzeichnis mit Verbreitungsangaben fir die einzelnen Bundeslander, by P. Huemer & G. Tarmann. Tiroler Landesmuseum Ferdinandeum, Innsbruck, 1993, 224 pages, Price OSch 200, (about £12).—Although Austria is some distance across Europe from Britain, this nicely-produced list of the Lepidoptera of that country will be of great interest to British lepidopterists, for several reasons. Following some introductory remarks, a list of superfamilies, families and subfamilies is given, with the number of Austrian representatives in each category: this makes a useful and readily accessible comparison with our own fauna. For example, the list gives 207 Austrian Coleophoridae, 45 Sesiidae, 310 Pyraloidea, 25 Hesperioidea, 187 Papilionoidea, 463 Geometridae and 582 Noctuidae in a total lepidopterous fauna of nearly 4000 species. The sequence of superfamilies, which 36 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 reflects the result of recent research, may come as a surprise to some of us: for instance, Cossoidea, Sesioidea, Zygaenoidea and Choreutoidea are placed just before the Tortricoidea; Urodoidea, Schreckensteinioidea, Epermenioidea, Alucitoidea, Pterophoroidea and Copromorphoidea are placed between Tortricoidea and Pyraloidea; and the Lasiocampoidea and Bombycoidea (which includes Sphingidae) come before the butterflies. The main list is attractively presented and easy to read, but all taxonomic categories are in italics. Reference back to the introductory list, in which Roman characters are usefully employed, suggests this may have been inadvertent. The species are numbered, giving a total of 3963 species, and a table to the right of the species list indicates records of each species in the 10 Austrian provinces (Ldnder)—an extremely interesting bonus. The sequence of species in some families may be unfamiliar and, although in line with some recent studies, is still controversial and unlikely to be the last word. There appears to be general agreement at present that the most satisfactory arrangement of Noctuidae commences with Herminiinae and concludes with Agrotis, and Huemer and Tarmann adhere to the sequence proposed by Fibiger & Hacker (1990). Another change which is adopted here is in the pyrales, in which a sound overview remains a problem. The Pyraloidea are composed of two taxa accorded full family ranking: Pyralidae comprising Galleriinae, Pyralinae and Phycitinae, and Crambidae in which Crambinae, Nymphulinae, Schoenobiinae, Scopariinae, Heliothelinae, Evergestinae, Odontiinae, Glaphyriinae and Pyraustinae are included. A consequence of intensive research into some taxonomic groups has resulted in a proliferation of genera which this reviewer considers unfortunate. Other workers have made sensible use of the subgenus to indicate differences between groups of species, for example in Zygaenidae and Noctuidae. No subgenera are indicated in the presently reviewed work, but full play is made with novel genera, particularly those proposed by Beck and by Berio for Noctuidae, and a number of them refer to British species. Thus in Sesiidae, we now have Pyropteron chrysidiformis and Synansphecia muscaeformis, and in Noctuidae Pyramidcampa pyramidea and P. berbera, Loscopia scolopacina, Leucapamea ophiogramma, Eremobina pabulatricula, Melanarta melanopa, Coranarta cordigera, Aneda rivularis (=cucubali), Colonsideridis albicolon, Putagrotis puta and more. Apart from devaluing the rank of genus, cross-reference to other recently published lists is made more difficult, especially when no generic synonymy is given. A further plethora of irritating changes results from the concept that the species name is adjectival to, and not in apposition to, the generic name, affecting particularly certain Geometridae, in genera such as Perizoma. Subspecific rankings are used sparingly; it would have been helpful to include the nominotypical combination, with author and date, in square brackets, where this does not occur in Austria, e.g. with 3900 Standfussiana lucernea and 3912 Xestia alpicola. There is a useful list of species which have been incorrectly reported from Austria in the past, an extensive table of annotations concerning unconfirmed records, a very full bibliography and separate indices for species and for higher taxa. Misprints are annoying in any work, but an abomination in a definitive check list. They are very difficult to eliminate altogether, and even this carefully-produced work has its share, such, aptly, as 2866 hulimiata for humiliata! This is the first list of the Lepidoptera of Austria to have been written, and is a valuable addition to the published faunas of the European countries. B. GOATER BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 37 THE LIFE CYCLE, DISTRIBUTION AND HABITS OF HYPENA OBSITALIS (HUBN.) (LEPIDOPTERA: NOCTUIDAE) IN DEVONSHIRE ANTHONY H. DOBSON 282 Britten Road, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG22 4HR. This is an account of further studies into the life cycle, distribution and habits of Hypena obsitalis (Hiibn.) (the Bloxworth snout) since the discovery of a colony by the author on the Torbay coast (Dobson, 1991). The same field work techniques that were used during the 1990 to 1994 investigations were also used in the same area during 1947 to 1959 when the author’s home was in Torquay, suggesting very strongly that the species did not then occur in the Torbay area. Alas now living in Hampshire, it has not been possible to carry out a weekly survey throughout the year, but the data provided should illustrate the moth’s life cycle and habits in Devonshire. Following the discovery of the colony on 2 and 3.viii.1990, Dr Barry Henwood obtained a female obsitalis on 8.viii at the same location (Henwood, 1991). Of the four larvae received in the post from him, two were fed with Parietaria judaica L. and the others with Urtica dioica L.; the former two were reared successfully and resulting imagines emerged on 15.ix.1990, but the latter two struggled and died before pupating. As the imagines had been set for exhibiting, the cycle through to the following year could not be studied. In the Channel Islands the imago has been recorded in every month of the year except February during 1960 and 1963 and on 8.ii.1972 over 200 were counted overwintering in an old German bunker (Emmett & Heath, 1983). It has also been found in garden sheds, garages and other buildings (Skinner, 1984). To find possible overwintering sites, the location was visited on 19.i.1991. Using a beating tray and a stick, an attempt was made to find or dislodge specimens from possible hiding places: low hedges, tangled undergrowth, scrub on upper cliff slopes, rabbit holes and deep crevices in the cliff just above the beach, but without success. From the August 1991 breeding of ova and larvae sent through the post by Barry Henwood and Bernard Skinner, seven specimens were retained for overwintering. From 12 to 17.ix the imagines were put into a clear plastic box, dimensions 279 x 159 x 102 mm with Parietaria judaica L., tissue and a small cotton wool ball soaked in red wine steeped in sugar to give the moths sustenance. The plastic box was placed on the raised carpeted floor of a wooden shed in Basingstoke. However on 21.ix, the maximum day temperature in the shade outside the shed was 23.5 °C and because the imagines were so lively, the container was kept for a week during daylight hours in a cool bedroom and at night in the shed. At dusk on 29.ix five were lively when disturbed, one was crippled and one dead. At dawn on 5.x, when the temperature was 6 °C and the imagines in a state of torpor, the five healthy imagines were transferred to another container with similar contents. It was then discovered that two ova had been laid on a piece of tissue. The imagines then remained in a state of torpor. After a hard frost outside, minimum temperature of — 3.5 °C, during the night of 6/7.xii, they were examined next morning and found still alive, though in torpor. With even severer frosts forecast, newspaper was wrapped around the container, which was placed on boxes about a metre off the floor. During the night of 10/11.xii the minimum temperature outside was — 8.5°C, and the next day three imagines were dead and the ova collapsed. A bag of potatoes covered with newspapers in the shed was also frosted. The following night there was another severe frost, minimum temperature —8 °C, during which the remaining two succumbed. 38 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 From observations of the imagines in the shed, at 15 °C or higher outside temperature, the moths were very alert and any movement in the shed would result in them flying, particularly at dusk. From 14°C down to 7 °C they were quiet and would not fly unless the container was tapped and below 7 °C outside temperature, they were in a state of torpor. In the protection of the shed they survived an outside temperature of —3.5 °C, but in their habitat it is feared they would not survive a temperature lower than —5°C in their overwintering site. It has been found since that the shed temperature is 1 °C warmer on a cold night than the outside temperature. The probable overwintering sites would be in a deep cover of scrub, ivy and vegetation, because of a lack of suitable buildings in most locations. The species can survive the winter in south Devonshire with its milder climate and close proximity to the sea. However, if the south Devonshire coast were to experience a severe winter, the species would die out. The next step was to find when overwintering imagines would awaken. A careful watch was kept on the weather forecasts and in recording temperature, making an allowance for the south Devonshire coast. The temperature at dusk first reached 16 °C on 14.v.1992. On 24.v with a dusk temperature of 16 °C the location was visited from dusk onwards. No imagines were in flight. Parietaria and Urtica were swept vigorously to check if there were any larvae. One female was swept out from a thick growth of Parietaria deep within the hedge and close to the thick vegetation on the other side. The following night also with optimum weather conditions for most other species with many moths again in flight, not one obsitalis was seen, probably due to the temperature being only 13 °C. Then a return to Hampshire had to be made. Bob Heckford (pers. comm.) informed me later that on 12.vi. he saw two worn imagines at two locations. On 20.vi another evening visit was made, but no imagines were seen. The Parietaria that had not been cut by the council workmen was searched randomly for ova and then tapped with a stick over a beating tray but no ova or larvae were found. So it appeared that overwintering specimens were reappearing during late May to early June and the ova probably overlooked. With a long illness in 1993, the author was unable to visit Devonshire, but with improved health in 1994, was determined to find first brood larvae, the second brood larvae having been found on 22.viii.1992 in another location (Pickles, 1993). An estimation had to be made for suitable dates for finding the larvae. Breeding the second brood in captivity took 5 days for the ovum, 16 days for the larva, 16 days for the pupa, resulting in a total of 37 days (Henwood, 1991). Calculating forward from imagines seen on 12.vi, larvae should be found from 17.vi to 3.vii. Calculating back from imagines on 2.viii (Dobson, 1991) and 11.viii (Henwood & Skinner, pers. comm.), larvae should be found from 2 to 17.vii and from 10 to 27.vii respectively. A holiday to south Devonshire was booked for the week 16 to 23.vii. Unbeknown to the author, Roy McCormick made visits to three of the locations and David Wedd made one to the second location during 1994. Their records have been added to the 1994 results. To protect the species, locality and local feature designations and map references have been omitted. All locations listed are within the Torbay Borough Constituency Boundary and are on or near an imaginary north-north-west to south-south-east line spanning 10.5 km. Height and distance measurements are either based as accurately as possible on Ordnance Survey map data or estimated. First location: hedgerow with good growth of Parietaria judaica L. up to 1.25m in height amongst Urtica dioica L. and other herbage beneath a canopy of shrubs and trees; aspect—east and shaded, 105 m above sea level and 220 m from the sea; known history—female, early viii.1991 (B. P. Henwood, pers. comm.), imagines 1992 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 39 (Clarke, 1993), 9.vi.1994 none (R. F. McC.), 17.vii.1994 Parietaria and Urtica searched and beaten, foliage disturbed, none, though probably in pupal stage, if there (A. H. D). Second location: horizontal cleft in cliff, third of way up from beach between scree and scattered herbage below and overhanging rock above with restricted Parietaria growth with nearby dense herbage and foliage against cliff, also adjacent footpaths with Parietaria growth along sides and with empty and inhabited buildings nearby; aspect—cliff, north-north-east and shaded, paths, various and sunny or shaded, 30 to 10m above sea level, 15 to 40 m from the sea; known history—22.viii.1992, larvae from which imagines were bred from 16.ix.1992 (Pickles, 1993), 7.vi.1994 none, 17.vii.1994 cliff site, tapping some Parietaria onto beating tray produced one larva in third and three in fourth instars, edge of path beneath fencing, one fifth instar larva on Parietaria (A. H. D.) (third instar larva died in the next instar, parasitized, the cocoon posted to Dr A. A. Allen, who bred on 5.viii.1994, a female Metorus colon (Hal.) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a species attacking a wide range of lepidoptera larvae and which does not seem attached to a particular habitat or larval strategy), the fourth and fifth instar larvae produced imagines on 2 and 3.vili.1994), 3.viii.1994 imago and larvae, 13 and 22.viii.1994 larvae (R. F. McC.), 25.viii. 1994 larvae in last instar, which produced imagines which laid third brood ova in September, and worn imagines (D. J. W.). Third location: rocks and sparse herbage near path at base of cliffs; aspect—east and sunny until mid-afternoon, seen 7m above sea level, 12m from sea; known history—12.vi.1992, worn imago (R. J. H.), 19.vii.1994 whole area searched above and below cliffs, which are now too dangerous to climb, no Parietaria in sight, deep clefts in upper cliffs for overwintering imagines. Nearest Parietaria found on wall of car park 400 m away as the crow flies, full grown larvae of Autographa gamma (L.) beaten out and a larva in its second instar which looked like obsitalis, but proved to be gamma in the third instar. Fourth location: coastal path with mostly low compact hedges with lush growth of Parietaria in places, but many plants next to path were cut down by council workmen during the first half of June, 1994; a derelict garden shed found nearby, but most of roof missing so little protection for overwintering imagines; low thick scrub down to cliffs, danger of cliff fall to part of path; aspect—south-west to south-east, sunny except for one continuously shaded patch of Parietaria, 20 to 35 m above sea level, five to 50 m from the sea; known history—2 and 3.vili.1990, 12 imagines (Dobson, 1991), 8.viii.1990, female (Henwood, 1991), 29.vii.1991, male (A. H. D.), 11.viii.1991 two females (B. P. Henwood & B. F. Skinner), 6.ix.1991, imago (Heckford, 1992), 24.v.1992, female (A. H. D.), 12.vi.1992, one worn imago, (R. J. H.), 10.vi.1994 none (R. F. McC.) (temperature not high enough for flight), morning 19.vii.1994 using beating tray under Parietaria produced larvae of Vanessa atalanta (L.) and Autographa gamma (L.), but no obsitalis. Towards end of beating session a male flew out of a bush. Parietaria growing in the shady area was collected to feed larvae back at the cottage, later when checking the foodplant before putting it into larvae containers, three scattered ova under one leaf later produced gamma larvae and two singleton ova under other leaves produced obsitalis larvae; night 20/21 .vii.1994 pre-dusk to 22.00 hours, seven imagines, one female ovipositing on Parietaria near where ova had been found, at 00.05 hours, one imago and at 00.45 hours, two imagines in flight (A. H. D.); 3.viii.1994 none, 26.viii.1994 larvae (R. F. McC.). Fifth location: cliff top site, short grass with Parietaria growing at base of walls; aspect—various and sunny, except in shade cast by walls, 52 m above sea level, 120 m from the sea; known history—28.vii.1989, one female at M. V. light (Henwood, 1991) and believed to have been a migrant, the first confirmed county record, 22.vii.1994 40 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 a brief visit at 22.30 hours, two females, one ovipositing on Parietaria, and a male seen (A. H. D.). From a few ova, ex female secured on 20.vii.1994, secondebrood imagines were bred on 21 and 22.viii.1994. The two kept for overwintering have been going into and out of torpor with the range of temperature experienced. They are still alive today (9.x.1994) but now in torpor with the overnight temperature in the shed having dropped to 2 °C. To facilitate recharging the contents of the plastic box when the temperatures were higher, the box was kept in the refrigerator overnight so that at 5 °C next morning the imagines were in a state of torpor. Regarding flight habits, the original statements (Dobson, 1991) still remain true, though the moth will fly after midnight. The species usually ignores light; only two of the 1994 imagines flew towards torch light. The species was attracted neither to Barry Henwood’s bulb over a sheet nor to Dobson’s actinic (Heath) trap, 1.5 and 2m respectively from the imagines’ flight paths. Abroad, Urtica dioica is a recorded foodplant and the Iford, Dorset specimen was seen amongst nettles (Emmett & Heath, 1983). In south Devon, the only foodplant appears to be Parietaria judaica; however, the few Urtica plants seen could have been worked at the wrong time or overlooked in preference to Parietaria with which the author was having success. It is still advisable for others to work both plants. In captivity the species has been reared successfully on Soleira soleirolii (Dandy) (Riley, 1992). The ovum and larva in the early instars could be confused with Autographa gamma (L.). The ovum of gamma in its development turns to a shade of pale green similar to obsitalis. Its larva in the first two instars is like obsitalis in its stance at rest, colour and markings but it has three pairs of prolegs compared to the four pairs of obsitalis. The larva does seem to prefer shady places (Seitz, 1914). The pupa of obsitalis has not yet been found in the wild on mainland Britain; in captivity the larva spins a flimsy cocoon amongst leaves of Parietaria out of which the pupa can fall, when the leaves are moved. The life cycle in Torbay will now be compared with statements in literature. It was believed that obsitalis was ‘single-brooded, flying from August to October and after hibernation in May and June’ (Skinner, 1984). From the data, there appears to be a staggered awakening from the overwintering state from late May to mid-June. This could be the result of weather and variation between the aspects and micro-climates of the locations. The earliest first brood cycle commenced with ova laid in early June resulting in imagines about 17.vii as witnessed in locations four and five. The latest first brood cycle with ova laid at the end of June resulted in imagines emerging in early August and with larvae on 17.vii as witnessed in location two. The second brood imagines emerge from late August to mid-September with a flight period until mid- October, earlier or later according to the temperature. All these cycles can be affected by the weather; in 1990, June was the dullest, coolest and wettest for many years resulting in the first brood imagines flying in early August in location four. Could there be a third brood? Dobson and Wedd have experienced ova of a third brood being laid in captivity, but there is no evidence yet of it taking place in nature in the British Isles. In Continental literature there is some confusion over the broods, probably the result of an extended ovipositing period and overlapping broods; in May and June and in August and September. Observed in May and December in Portugal, the larva lives in April and May and in the late summer (Spuler, 1908); south of France, southern Europe, north Africa and Asia Minor, moth from April to September, sometimes later according to terrain, larva in Spring (Culot, 1914-17); localities chiefly in southern France, June, July to October (Lhomme, 1923-35); in Alsace, Valais and southern Alps to 1000 m, mostly common in two to three not clearly separated generations from early June, overwintering to mid-May, the moth comes into houses BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 41 to overwinter, larvae from May and in the autumn (Forster & Wohlfahrt, 1971); throughout the whole year, often captured in caves and dark places (Calle, 1983); Greece, flight period March to December, two or three generations, adults of autumn generation overwinter in caves, holes and buildings (Hacker, 1989). The flight periods do vary according to terrain and latitude, hence June to October in France and March to December in Greece. Could Spuler’s statement imply that ova overwintered or did he overlook a March flight? The earlier authors appear to have been unaware of overwintering. A number of sites for overwintering on the Continent and the Channel Islands have been mentioned but as yet none has been found in Devon and it is hoped that further work will be carried out by others to resolve this. However the Rye, Sussex specimen of 6.i11.1983 being disturbed in a garage, flew and resettled on a beam (Tweedie, 1983) (the previous September being good for migrant moths, followed by a very mild winter, strongly suggest that the specimen overwintered). It has been suggested that obsitalis occurred in south Devon, in the late 19th century, but the only statement that has been found is the late Captain Stidston’s: ‘In my own collection there are eight specimens rather old and worn. I recognise my setting of early collecting days and therefore may have been taken in the South Hams district but, of course, the record cannot stand’ (Stidston, 1952). The species is now established in Torbay and further to the south Roy McCormick (pers. comm.) has found larvae on 16.viii.1994 in a location by the mouth of the River Dart. David Wedd (pers. comm.) has found larvae common on Parietaria in an open site on the north Cornwall coast, but it is very doubtful if this colony was established by the 1943 migrant specimen at Boscastle, for the extremely low temperatures of the 1947 severe winter would have wiped out any colonies in the south-west. If such weather does not recur, the future prospects for this species on mainland Britain are good. Parasitism is low at present and the colonies, being on or close to cliffs, should be safe from development. It should be found in more localities, where its foodplant occurs, from Land’s End to the Isle of Purbeck. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I should like to thank Dr A. A. Allen for his help with identifying the parasite, B. Goater and A. J. Pickles for loosely translating and providing Continental references, and Dr J. H. Clarke, R. J. Heckford, Dr B. P. Henwood, R. F. McCormick, A. J. Pickles, B. F. Skinner, Miss M. A. Turner and D. J. Wedd for their help in supplying records and/or information. REFERENCES Calle, J. A. 1983. Noctuidos Espanoles. Madrid, Vol. 1, p. 171. Clarke, J. H. 1993. [Examples of summer and autumn broods of Hypena obsitalis (Hiibn.). Exhibit at BENHS Annual Exhibition, 1992.] Br. J. Ent. Nat. Hist. 6: 54. Culot, J. 1914-17. Noctuelles et géométres d’Europe. Geneva, Vol. 2, Noctuelles, pp. 225-226. Dobson, A. H. 1991. Hypena obsitalis (Hiibn.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) temporarily established in Devonshire. Br. J. Ent. Nat. Hist. 4: 64. Emmet, A. M. & Heath, J. (Eds). 1983. The moths and butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland. Harley Books, Colchester, Vol. 10, p. 387. Forster, W. & Wohlfahrt, T. A. 1971. Die Schmetterlinge Mitteleuropas: Eulen (noctuidae). Stuttgart, Vol. 1, p. 310. Hacker, H. 1989. Herbipoliana. Mark Tleuthen, Germany, Vol. 2, die noctuidae Griechenlands, p. 408. Heckford, R. J. 1992. [Hypena obsitalis (Hiibn.) from Torbay. Exhibit at BENHS Annual Exhibition, 1991.] Br. J. Ent. Nat. Hist. 5: 56. 42 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 Henwood, B. P. 1991 Hypena obsitalis (Hiibn.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) bred in Devon; Entomologist’s Gaz. 42: 81-83. Lhomme, L. 1923-35. Catalogue des lépidoptéres de France et de Belgique. Le Carriol, Vol. leepsoane Pickles, A. J. 1993. Larvae of Bloxworth snout Hypena obsitalis (Lep: Hypeninae) in Devon. Entomologist’s Rec. J. Var. 105: 37. Riley, A. M. 1992. A new larval foodplant for captive rearing of Hypena obsitalis Hubner, the Bloxworth snout. Entomologist’s Rec. J. Var. 104: 82. Seitz, A. 1914. Macrolepidoptera of the world. Stuttgart, Vol. 3, Palaearctic Noctuidae, pp. 435-436. Skinner, B. 1984. Colour identification guide to moths of the British Isles. Viking, London, p. 156. Spuler, A. 1908. Die Schmetterlinge Europas, Stuttgart, Vol. 1, p. 330. Stidston, S. T. 1952. A list of the Lepidoptera of Devon. Devonshire Association Entomological Section, Torquay, part 1 and introduction, p. 49. Tweedie, M. W. F. 1983. The Bloxworth snout: Hypena obsitalis Hbn in 1983. Entomologist’s Rec. J. Var. 95: 126. ANNOUNCEMENT Microlepidoptera of Middlesex: an appeal for records.—Following on from the success of the recent publication of Larger moths of the London area the London Natural History Society now proposes to work towards publication of a checklist of the microlepidoptera of Middlesex. It is expected that this exercise may take about 5 years to complete. The term Middlesex involves the entire vice-county 21 and thus includes all the London boroughs north of the River Thames with the exception of the five lying east of the River Lea; these five are in South Essex. Middlesex also incorporates some areas which lie in the current administrative county of Hertfordshire, notably the Potters Bar area. Records are actively sought from appropriate persons for all those families generally regarded as ‘‘micros’’—thus including the Psychidae which were formerly referred to as ‘‘macros’’, as well as those which are sometimes referred to as ‘‘mesolepidoptera’’ (Tortricidae, Alucitidae, Pyralidae and Pterophoridae). Records should include the species name, the Bradley and Fletcher code number (to avoid nomenclatural confusion) the date where possible and the locality. Records will be assumed to relate to imagines unless ‘‘mine’’, ‘‘larva’’ or other qualifying statements are given alongside. Localities will ideally involve a place name and a four figure grid reference. Place names should be those appearing on the Ordnance Survey maps; precise localities, such as the names of nature areas or ecology parks in London are desirable, but if these do not appear on OS maps the nearest locality should always be given. Where a grid reference can not be obtained, a precise address as it appears in one of the various published books of street maps of London should be used. Site lists will ideally be presented in log book order to facilitate data entry. Overnight trap dates should be given according to the example 23/24 August or 23 August, and not as 24 August. Approximate counts and sexes are desirable for immigrants. Confidentiality of selected records may be requested. Records are required from all time, not just the present period. Records should be addressed to C. W. Plant, 14 West Road, Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire CM23 3QP, who will happily provide more detailed information. All communications will be acknowledged and records fromoutside Middlesex contained in mixed lists will always be forwarded to appropriate recorders unless directions are given to the contrary. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 43 THE DISTRIBUTION AND HABITS OF THE BEE HYLAEUS PECTORALIS FORSTER, 1871, (HYMENOPTERA: APIDAE) IN BRITAIN GEORGE R. ELSE Department of Entomology, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 SBD. R. C. L. Perkins (1900) described Prosopis palustris as a species new to science, which had been collected at Wicken Fen, Cambridgeshire, and in similar localities in Suffolk. Both this name and Prosopis kriechbaumeri Forster, 1871, are now regarded as junior synonyms of Hylaeus pectoralis Forster, 1871. For many years following its discovery in Britain, this small bee was found only in a number of wetland sites in East Anglia (particularly at Wicken Fen). There is also an unconfirmed record from Matley, New Forest, Hampshire, in August 1901 (Morley, 1903). On 26.vii.1972 I collected both sexes of a Hy/aeus in fenland adjacent to the River Alver at Browndown, near Lee-on-Solent, Hampshire, which I assumed were large individuals of H. communis Nylander. However, it soon became apparent that these were H. pectoralis. Further visits to the site in 1972, and in later years, demonstrated that it was well established in this locality. In subsequent years I also reared numerous specimens of the bee from nests, built in the galls of the chloropid fly Lipara lucens Meigen, collected in the same area. From 1973 onwards I searched for the species in other, similar wetland localities in the county and found a further 17 sites. Most of these localities are on the coast, but some are also inland (including Matley, corroborating Morley’s old record). Searches by me in suitable localities in other counties produced records from Dorset, Essex, the Isle of Wight, Suffolk, and West Sussex. Further recent records by others are from Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Surrey and West Sussex. In addition, there are pre-1970 records from Northamptonshire, Suffolk and north Norfolk. All records (for most of which there are voucher specimens in The Natural History Museum, London) are shown on the distribution map (Fig. 1). H. pectoralis is a good example of an ‘‘Anglo-Dutch”’ or ‘‘Doggerland’’ species. Before Britain became separated from mainland Europe (c. 6000 years ago) it was joined to the Continent by a largely swampy land bridge, through which the Rhine flowed northwards. Some species of insects which occurred on the banks of the river are, in Britain, still mainly confined to south-east England. These ‘‘Doggerland’’ species also include the bee Colletes halophilus (Verhoeff) and the sphecid wasp Mimumesa spooneri (Richards) [sometimes cited as Psen spooneri] (Richards, 1964). HABITAT, NESTING HABITS AND PARASITOIDS H. pectoralis is associated with stands of the common reed, Phragmites australis (Cav.). Perkins (1900) described the bee as ‘‘burrowing in the dry stems of reeds’’. More recently J. P. Field (pers. comm.) reared a specimen from a bundle of cut, dead Phragmites stems suspended as ‘‘trap nests’ from a pole within a reed bed. However, the majority of nests have been found in the vacated, spindle-shaped galls of Lipara lucens. These galls are located on the apices of the flower stems of the Phragmites, their development inhibiting flowering (Fig. 2). In a gall containing a larva of L. /ucens the ensheathing leaves are tightly pressed together (forming a sharp apical point) and are green in colour. L. /ucens overwinters within a puparium in the cavity which it created as a result of its larval feeding activity within the basal half of the gall (Fig. 3). By this time the gall has generally assumed a brown coloration, following the death of the leaf sheaths. The adult fly emerges in the early summer 44 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 © Before 1970 @ 1970 Onwards Fig. 1. British distribution of H. pectoralis. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 45 Fig. 2. Old gall of Lipara lucens Meig. on Phragmites australis (Cav.) stem. Browndown, Hampshire (G. R. Else). and it is only then that the gall becomes available for use as a nest site by the bee. Old galls, which may contain nests of this bee, can further be recognized by their frayed tips. The female H. pectoralis apparently always removes the fly’s empty puparium from the gall chamber, as this has never been found in one containing a nest (those without such a nest contain the eclosed puparium, unless the L. /ucens larva was parasitized or eaten by a bird). The female bee builds its nest within the gall chamber, the cells sometimes extending into the apical leaf sheathing. The nest entrance is between the leaves which form the apex of the gall, and is generally not clearly visible. The galls of L. lucens vary considerably in size, and this dictates the number of cells each can contain, the usual range being from two to eight, as the cells are constructed as a linear series (Fig. 4). Those cells destined to contain female progeny are generally the first to be built (i.e. the cells furthest from the nest entrance), whereas males are found in those built nearest the nest entrance. In common with those of other British Hy/aeus, cell linings are formed from a secretion of the female’s salivary glands, the viscous liquid being spread on to the inner walls of the gall with the bee’s short, bilobed glossa; 46 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 Fig. 3. Opened gall chamber of L. /ucens gall with puparium of this species in situ (G. Dickson). Fig. 4. Occupied cells of Hy/laeus pectoralis Forster in gall of L. lucens. (G. Dickson). BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 47 the cell partitions are constructed in similar fashion. On drying, the secretion produces a thin, transparent, cellophane-like membrane which is impermeable to water (it also ensures the cells retain the semi-liquid pollen/nectar provision). British pollen sources are not known, but the species is probably polylectic (as in Germany (Westrich, 1989)). In Britain individual bees have been observed visiting bramble (Rubus fruticosus L., sensu lato), angelica (Angelica species), hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium L.), wild carrot (Daucus carota L.), hawkbit (Leontodon species) and field milk-thistle (Sonchus arvensis L.) flowers. A provisioned nest is sealed with a substantial plug of compacted, finely shredded reed leaf fragments which often extends up into the leaf sheath of the gall. This plug immediately betrays the presence of a nest when a gall is opened by carefully tearing away the outer leaf sheathing. H. pectoralis overwinters as a prepupa within its cell; the larva does not spin a cocoon. A photograph of an opened nest also appears in Imms (1971). I have reared both the evanioid wasps Gasteruption assectator (L.) and G. jaculator (L.) from nests of this bee. No other parasitoids seem to have been recorded. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am most grateful to M. Edwards and S. Falk for their records of this species, and to S. P. M. Roberts for preparing the distribution map of Hylaeus pectoralis (drawn on DMAP). G. Dickson kindly permitted the use of his photographs (Figs 3 and 4) to illustrate this paper. REFERENCES Imms, A. D. 1971. Insect natural history. Collins New Naturalist, London. Perkins, R. C. L. 1900. Prosopis palustris, sp., nov., an addition to the British Hymenoptera. Entomologist’s Mon. Mag. 36: 49-50. Morley, C. 1903. Insects, especially parasitic Hymenoptera, noticed in the New Forest in August, 1901. Entomologist’s Mon. Mag. 39: 25-29. Richards, O. W. 1964. The entomological fauna of southern England with special reference to the country around London. Trans. Soc. Br. Ent. 16: 1-48. Westrich, P. 1989. Die Wildbienen Baden-Wiirttembergs. Eugen Ulmer GmbH & Co, Stuttgart. BOOK REVIEWS The butterflies’ fly-past by Clive Simson. Leeds, Peregrine Books, 27 Hunger Hills Avenue, Horsforth, Leeds LS18 SJS, 1994, xviii + 127 pages, £19 (post free), hardback. —‘This book is in no way a textbook’. So begins, and ends, the author’s first sentence, and for this much we should be forever thankful. Were it otherwise, what gems from many an entomological encounter, what field-notes from past years and what other pleasures we should have missed. These, together with carefully detailed observations from the wider field of natural history, liberally populate this unusual book—and all is achieved without the aid of a single dot-distribution map. But I have jumped the gun, for the stage is set by a foreword written in forthright style by Wilson Stephens, Editor of The Field from 1951 to 1977. Here, one or two sacred cows are, of necessity, put to slaughter, but in a well reasoned, open and totally honest fashion, a manner which is matched by each page of the ensuing fly-past. The author admits to having chosen unusual chapter headings. What, I wonder, will the reader make of ‘Big Fritz and little Fritz’, ‘Purple is for Caesar’, ‘A brown study’, ‘Putting on the Ritz’, ‘Birth of the blues’, ‘Streaking’, ‘Buddleia bugs’, ‘All white’ and ‘Skip for joy’?. All these, in the author’s inimitable style, relate to groupings of the 48 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 fifty-five species of our native butterflies, a ‘native’ being interpreted as one which must regularly be present in some form throughout the year. In writing of these fifty-five species, many accurate observations are made of the various life stages and inevitably details are given of successful captures with the net. What is so refreshing is to find these captures chronicled in such an honest way—no pussy-footing here—specimens have not just been recorded, they have actually been taken. I have no intention of opening a contentious can of worms generously sprinkled with hot potatoes, for many people ‘have a thing’ about butterflies. Far better, let the author’s wise words speak for themselves: ‘Of course, moderation is the key word. I do not believe that butterfly collecting in moderation, can seriously affect butterfly populations. There is no need for a long series of a species, all looking the same, so prevalent in Edwardian times. What is essential is the conservation of habitat and the careful control of chemicals.’ There is more, but to know how much more you should read the book. On a point of detail we read ‘I have released every female iris I have bred’. How fortunate this was for the brood of binocular-carrying enthusiasts, assembled under the watchful eye of the ever present warden, in that wood near Oxford. In the following few seconds they learned more from a man who knows his craft than from many an hour spent in scanning the oak tops. Books written in this style have been absent for far too long. In the 30s I treasured J. H. Bell’s Days with a butterfly net, then came the first of the P. B. M. Allan classics to be followed later by his others, and now, Clive Simson offers us a new one to savour. Butterfly illustrations have not been lacking in recent years. Some are fine, clinically executed examples of set specimens, others are best termed fanciful and leave much to be desired. The eight delightful colour plates by Mandy Shepherd which grace this book are truly alive and match the spirit of the words upon the pages. This spirit (‘butterflies are beautiful; they are fun’) pervades the book and has full rein when novel methods are required to assist the lepidopterist in reaching new ground. Over the years I too have tried a few innovations, yet surely only Clive Simson could have thought of seeking the aid of an ex-RAF inflatable dinghy! Happy paddling to you Sir, albeit these days with the paddle of memory. Your invitation to review this delightful book has been accepted with great pleasure. BRIAN R. BAKER Colour guide to hoverfly larvae (Diptera: Syrphidae), by G. E. Rotheray, Dipterists’ Digest number 9, Derek Whiteley, Sheffield, 1994, 156 pages (including 16 colour plates), £11.95, paperback.—After an introduction discussing how to recognize hoverfly larvae and how to find them, short illustrated keys lead variously to species or genus. Generic accounts give a brief description of overall appearance, offer some confirming characters and give notes on the varying biologies of these curious and fascinating creatures. There is an extensive reference list. However, the main reason people will buy this book is for the colour plates which show the larvae of 76 species. Most of these are photographed in life, although a few are of preserved specimens. Opposite these are further explanatory notes and diagrammatic sketches. There are also a few colour photographs of habitats and larval damage. ~ I found the layout somewhat underdesigned and the headings are not as clear as they could have been. Since the generic accounts are sadly in alphabetic rather than taxonomic order the index to genera is redundant and an index to species would have been much more useful. On the whole though a neatly produced and useful book and excellent value. R. A. JONES BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 49 THE ACULEATE WASPS AND BEES OF CROW WOOD, FINNINGLEY IN WATSONIAN YORKSHIRE, WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF A NEW NATIONAL QUALITY SCORING SYSTEM MICHAEL E. ARCHER University College of Ripon & York St John, York YO3 7EX AND JOHN T. BURN I Sycamore Avenue, Armthorpe, Doncaster, South Yorkshire DN3 3HO. Crow Wood has been found to be an excellent locality for aculeate wasps and bees, having 135 recorded species, nine species of national importance, and 15 species of regional significance. Crow Wood, an area of about 152 ha, is situated immediately to the south of Finningley (VC63, SK6697). The region has sandy acid soils of remnant heathland. At present, Crow Wood consists of old sand and gravel pits gradually being filled with waste materials, coniferous afforestation, regenerating woodland with flowery areas, open sandy surfaces, some of which are used as motor-cycle and go-kart tracks, grassland, and arable farming. The dry open areas with ditches and mounds of sand and gravel provide nesting areas for many aculeate wasps and bees. About 50 visits have been made to Crow Wood, mainly during May, June, July, and August, with a few during March, April, and September. Most visits were made by J.T. Burn (1971-1991: in excess of 36 visits to a sample area of about 18 ha) and M.E. Archer (1986-1989: 10 visits to a sample area of about 55 ha). Collecting was by visual observation, but J.T. Burn also collected by sweeping low mixed vegetation. A smaller number of visits were made by J.H. Flint (1965) and P. Skidmore (1973). Biological names are according to Kloet & Hincks (1978), except for the Dryinidae which are according to Olmi (1984, 1989). This paper was written by M. E. Archer (M.E.A.). The contributions of J.T. Burn were the many records from his large number of visits, and all information relating to the Bethylidae and Dryinidae. RESULTS—SPECIES PRESENT AT CROW Woop A full list of recorded species is given in the Appendix. The taxonomic distribution is given in Table 1, at the family level. The 135 species represent about 46% of the aculeate wasp and bee species (including the bethylids and dryinids) of Watsonian Yorkshire. In addition the following ant species (Formicidae) have been recorded: Myrmica ruginodis Nylander, Formica fusca L., Lasius niger (L.). The accumulated records from any locality can be analysed to understand the ecological relationships of the recorded species and the conservation value of the locality in a regional or national context. This paper assesses ecological relationships with the concepts of cleptoparasitic load and aerial nester frequency and conservation value with the aid of regional and national quality scores and species quality scores. QUALITY ASSESSMENT OF SOLITARY SPECIES Two species are nationally rare or ‘red data book species’ (Falk, 1991). Both of these, Psen bicolor (RDB2) and Nomada fulvicornis (RDB3), reach the northern boundary of their British distribution in Watsonian Yorkshire. 50 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 Table 1. The number of species of aculeate wasps and bees recorded from Crow Wood. Family No. species Solitary wasps Dryinidae 14 Bethylidae 2 Chrysididae fi Mutillidae 1 Pompilidae 12 Eumenidae 4 Sphecidae 36 Total solitary wasps 716 Solitary bees Colletidae 3 Andrenidae 17 Halictidae 13 Megachilidae 2 Anthophoridae 10 Total solitary bees 45 Total solitary wasps & bees 121 Social wasps and bees Vespidae 5 Apidae 9 Total social wasps & bees 14 Seven species are nationally scarce or notable species (Falk, 1991). Andrena tibialis, which is a category A scarce species, reaches the northern boundary of its British distribution in Watsonian Yorkshire. The other six species, which are category B species, are either at the northern boundary of their distribution (Cleptes semiauratus, Priocnemis schioedtei, Nysson trimaculatus, Andrena humilis, Nomada flavopicta), or are more widespread in Britain (Crossocerus palmipes). Fifteen species are rare in the context of Watsonian Yorkshire (Archer, 1993a); these are indicated in the Appendix. There are 27 species of solitary wasps and bees, which although not rare in Watsonian Yorkshire, have a local distribution being more or less restricted to sandy habitats (Archer, 1994a). Seventeen of these local species (indicated in the Appendix) are found at Crow Wood. The 105 species of solitary wasps and bees can be considered to have a common, frequent, occasional or rare status in Watsonian Yorkshire (Archer, 1993a) (Table 2). The dryinid and bethylid species cannot be given a status as insufficient information Table 2. The regional coding of the 105 species of solitary wasps and bees recorded from Crow Wood (Dryinids and Bethylids excluded). Status No. species Common 39 Frequent 31 Occasional 20 Rare 15 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 51 exists on their distributions. By giving each species a value depending on the above statuses, including a higher value for the nationally scarce and rare species, a regional quality score of 416 can be calculated by the addition of the status scores (Table 3). Dividing this quality score by the 105 species gives a regional species quality score of 4. Table 3. The regional status scheme of the 105 species of solitary wasps and bees recorded at Crow Wood. Status Status value No. species Status score (A) (B) (A x B) Common 1 38 38 Frequent 2 31 62 Occasional 4 19 76 Rare 8 8 64 Nationally scarce 16 7 112 Nationally rare 32 2 64 105 416 Summation of status value times number of species gives a final regional quality score of 416. Dividing this by the number of species (105) gives a regional species quality score of 3.96, approximately 4. Ball (1992) proposed a methodology for scoring the value of invertebrates at sites in a national context. Archer (in press) has adopted this methodology for use in Watsonian Yorkshire. Using the Ball methodology on the 105 Crow Wood species, a national quality score of 274 and a national species quality score (274 + 105) of 2.6 can be calculated (Table 4). Table 4. The Ball (1992) national status evaluation of the 105 species of solitary wasps and bees recorded at Crow Wood. Status Status value No. species Status score (A) (B) (A x B) Common 1 62 62 Local 2 26 52 Regional notable 4 8 Sy Scarce B 8 6 48 Scarce A 16 1 16 Rare 32 2 64 105 274 Two objections can be raised against the Ball methodology. First, many regions of England and Wales lack a list of regionally notable species making it sometimes impossible to apply Ball’s methodology. Secondly, a national scheme should logically give a species status based upon that species’ importance in a national and larger geographical setting but not in a smaller or regional distribution. To overcome the above two objections M.E.A. suggests the following scheme in which the statuses of ‘common’, ‘local’ and ‘regionally notable’ of Ball are replaced by: ‘universal’, ‘widespread’ and ‘restricted’. At present there is no objective way of assigning a ‘universal’, ‘widespread’ or ‘restricted’ status to the species of the British aculeate Hymenoptera. From personal experience M.E.A. has therefore assigned 52 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 British aculeate Hymenoptera one of these three statuses based upon abundance and distribution within England and Wales. Ireland, the Channel Islands and Scotland have not been included: little information is available on Irish distributions of aculeate Hymenoptera; fauna of the Channel Islands relates more to France than the British Isles; and Scotland’s cooler climate greatly reduces diversity. A ‘universal species’ would therefore refer to a common species found throughout England and Wales, usually with some extension into Scotland. A ‘widespread species’ would be one found in about three-quarters of England and Wales, usually either with a distribution in Wales, southern and midland England or in northern and western England and Wales. A ‘widespread species’ would also be found throughout England and Wales but either with a local distribution or a less-than-common abundance. A ‘restricted species’ would be one mainly found in about one-half of England and Wales, and usually confined to southern England and East Anglia. The status of a species may not be fixed and can change as its range or abundance changes. As such the statuses of species need to be kept under constant review. Using this new methodology for the 105 Crow Wood species a national quality score of 266 and a national species quality score (266 + 105) of 2.5 can be calculated (Table 5). Table 5. The Archer national status scheme of the 105 species of solitary wasps and bees recorded at Crow Wood. Status Status value No. species Status score (A) (B) (A XB) Universal 1 56 56 Widespread 2 39 78 Restricted 4 1 4 Scarce B 8 6 48 Scarce A 16 1 16 Rare 32 2 64 105 266 CLEPTOPARASITIC LOAD The cleptoparasitic load (CL) is the percentage of aculeate species that are cleptoparasites (or parasitoids) on other host aculeates (Table 6). A more-or-less complete list of species in a locality should be made before the CL is calculated to avoid possible bias of either host or cleptoparasitic species. Cleptes semiauratus, dryinids and bethylids are not considered as they are parasitoids on non-aculeate hosts. C. semiauratus is a parasitoid on the cocoons of sawflies, e.g. Nematus ribesii (Scop.). The two bethylid species are parasitoids on lepidopterous larvae. B. cephalotes has been recorded using hollowed-out plant stems to shelter its larvae while feeding on its paralysed host. Dryinids are predators and parasitoids of Homoptera Auchenorrhyncha. Table 6. The relative frequency of the cleptoparasitic species among the solitary wasps and bees from Crow Wood. No. No. Cleptoparasitic hosts cleptoparasites load (H) (C) CL = 100 x C/((H + C) Solitary wasps 49 10 16.9 Solitary bees 32 13 28.9 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 53 The CL for the species of solitary bees is higher than the CL for the species of solitary wasps. AERIAL NESTER FREQUENCY The aerial nester frequency (AF) is the percentage of host aculeate species that have aerial nest sites. Again a more-or-less complete list of species in a locality should be made before the AF is calculated to avoid possible bias of either aerial or subterranean nesters. Aerial nests are often in old beetle burrows in dead wood, or the central cavities of stems such as those of bramble. Subterranean nesters nest in the soil, usually in burrows dug by themselves, but sometimes in crevices or pre-formed burrows. The AF for the species of solitary wasps is higher than the AF for the species of solitary bees (Table 7). Table 7. The nesting habits of the host solitary wasp and bee species from Crow Wood. No. aerial No. subterranean Aerial nester nesters nesters frequency (A) (S) AF=100x A/(A+S) Solitary wasps 10 39 20.4 Solitary bees 3 29 9.4 DISCUSSION. QUALITY ASSESSMENT The regional and national status schemes of Ball and Archer respectively can be applied to other sandy habitats in Watsonian Yorkshire (Archer, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1992b, in press), Lincolnshire (Risby Warren, Archer, 1994b), Nottinghamshire (Sherwood Forest, Archer, in press) and Leicestershire (Charnwood Forest, Archer, 1992a). These sites are compared in Table 8. These sandy habitats vary greatly in size from the sand pit at Swincarr Plantation to the eroded Precambrian mountain range of Charnwood Forest. The number of species of aculeate wasps and bees varies from 35 species at Swincarr Plantation to 147 species at Charnwood Forest. The records are from recent times except for the records from pre-coniferized Allerthorpe Common which date from the 1920s until the 1950s and Charnwood Forest which date from the beginning of the twentieth century until the present. Since species status depends upon the current distribution and abundance of species, species only recorded in earlier times could be assigned the wrong status if the distribution or abundance of a species has changed. The national quality and species quality scores derived from the Ball and Archer status schemes respectively, for each locality, are of a very similar or even of the same value (Table 8). Crow Wood on its species quality score is ranked fourth on the Ball scheme and equal fourth with Strensall Common on the Archer scheme, out of the eleven data sets. Both schemes would seem suitable as a national status scheme, but the Archer scheme is preferred for the reasons given earlier. In the context of Watsonian Yorkshire, and considering the number of species, regional quality score, regional species quality score, and the number of national scarce and rare species (Table 8), Crow Wood is ranked second in importance behind pre- coniferized Allerthorpe Common. Since pre-coniferized Allerthorpe Common is no longer in existence, Crow Wood must now be considered the most important sandy locality for aculeate Hymenoptera in Watsonian Yorkshire. 1995 i) et 2 jac} & $ i: (80661) JayoIY uO paseg satoads ajqejoU [eUOIsIY +,» a “QIIYSYIOX uULTUOSIe A UO pase saloeds a[qeujoU [eUOTSAY, 4 pe Ee TSS Se ee eS a eS ee a | zg 81 91 ST 61 ore org SZ 4 [he 67 Oe asoos Aten “dg 2 79 601 vag 707 SII SLI SCZ 997 ZOP 6LE 967 a100s AyTENd SUIIYOS jeuoneu §,Joyo1y oT a 61 61 Cie (CG €7 97 LG Oe 67 a1oos Ayyenb “ds LS Sol +611 607 raul LOI €I7Z vLT +«COP I8€ +067 loos Aqend suayos yeuoinjeu S 1ea Lac Cie = es Lac 87 GE Or = Or — 100s Aqjenb “dg bl 6r1 = Iv€ 9€I TIZ 687 9IP = vis = a10os AyTENd dUIDYOS [eUOISIY I (é € 9 € € 9 6 ZI Ol 6 satoads are pue 90IB9S [euoreu “ON is 69 €9 601 IS SL 16 SOI Ll 671 001 saioads “ON 60'0 TIE OLI OSI Lay O£07 069 TSI OS9IT 0£07 06€ (ey) ealy ie ee 2 ae ee ee Sn es ee uOWUWO0D uOWUWIOD uolejUue[d uoOWWOD Use UOUIWOD adioyyel[y wourUloD poom 1so1O4 adioywol[Vv 1s010J IIGOUIMS wads Aqsry uoyXxXel_g yesodwiog paziiajiuoD [esusss MOI) poomureYyD peZiejtu0d pooMmssyg -d1g ee eT Ee aa eee ‘(papnpoxe sprjAyieq puke sprulAsp) sseq pue sdsem Areyjos Jo saroeds ay} uo paseq pue[suq Ul d19YMas|o PUL IITYSYIOA UPIUOS]e A UT s}eIQeYy Apurs Jo vase pue Ajlies ‘ASIOAIP JO BLI9ILIO ay] JO UOSTIRAWIOD YW °g PGP 54 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 sh) For the eight Yorkshire localities the regional species quality score and Archer national species quality score from each locality show a significant linear positive relationship (correlation coefficient, =0.84, p<0.01). Similarly, the regional quality score and Archer national quality score from each locality show a highly significant linear positive relationship (r=0.98, p<0.001). These relationships, in non- mathematical terms, indicate that the ranking—the order of the eight localities (best, 2nd, 3rd. . . 8th)—based on the regional scores are similar to the rank order based on the Archer national scores. At present these relationships cannot be explored outside Watsonian Yorkshire as regional statuses for other parts of England are not yet available. The regional species quality score and regional quality score are higher for each locality than the Archer national species quality score and Archer national quality score (Table 8) because there are four, rather than three, statuses before the national scarce species (Tables 3 and 5). The three most popular criteria for the evaluation of wildlife importance are diversity, rarity, and area (Usher, 1986). The current investigation measures diversity, rarity, and area (Usher, 1986). The current investigation measures diversity by species richness, or the number of species; rarity by the species quality scores, and the number of national scarce and rare species; and area by the area of each locality in hectares (Table 8). Quality scores combine diversity and rarity in one measurement. There are some measurement problems in these criteria. It is difficult to know if the species list for a locality is complete. Rarity status is not a static parameter as the distributions and abundances of species change with time, sometimes in cycles. The area of a locality is not always easy to measure, particularly when its boundaries are not clear because the surrounding habitats are similar to those on the locality, e.g. aS at Blaxton Common, and Risby Warren. For each of the 11 locations in Table 8 the number of species shows a highly significant linear correlation with both the number of nationally scarce and rare species (r=0.94, p<0.001) and the Archer national quality scores (r= 0.95, p< 0.001). Thus, the larger the diversity the increased chance there is of finding nationally scarce and rare species. These relationships are probably a reflection of a species—area relationship when the number of species increases as area increases. A plot of number of species as a natural logarithm (In) versus area in hectares as a natural logarithm (In) gives a highly significant linear relationship (r= 0.86, p<0.001). Removing the data for coniferized Allerthorpe Common, which is a damaged habitat (Archer, 1989), increases the significance of the species—area relationship (r=0.90, p< 0.001), (Fig. 1) and gives the species—area regression equation. InS = 3.87+0.11 xInA, where S= number of species and A =area in hectares. Thus the larger the area of the locality the more species are present. The positive relationship between diversity and rarity on sandy heathland habitats is probably related to the thermophilic requirements of aculeate wasps and bees. Dry sandy habitats, particularly with sheltered banked open areas facing southwards, are able to warm up quickly in sunlight, and provide excellent nesting and foraging resources. With an increase in area of such sandy habitats, environmental heterogeneity will tend to increase so that more species will be able to find their specific resources which are more likely to persist from year to year. Disturbance of sandy habitats by rabbit burrowing, public pressure within limits or the digging of sand pits increases the habitat’s suitability for aculeate wasps and bees. Ball (1992) showed a negative relationship between diversity and rarity for lowland peat bog habitat. Peat bogs have low species richness but many of the species are restricted to peat bogs. Since peat bogs are a rare habitat the bog specialities are rare 56 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 Allerthorpe m Common Blaxton Common gg — Sherwood Crow Wood & ee | Strensall Common m Skipworth Common w Risby Warren Ln no. species Pompocali Swincarr Plantation -4 2 0 2 4 6 8 10 Ln Area (ha) Fig. 1. The number of species as a natural logarithm (In) versus area (ha) as a natural logarithm (In) of the species of solitary wasps and bees recorded from sandy habitats in Watsonian Yorkshire and elsewhere in England. The regression line is given by In S=3.87+0.11xInA, where S=number of species and A =area in hectares. species. Disturbance of a peat bog by peat cutting or increasing drainage increases diversity, but the rare species tend to be lost. Thus the relationship between diversity and rarity may be positive or negative. This observation has implications for the conservation of wildlife. The aim of increasing diversity within a particular habitat may or may not be suitable, depending on the type of habitat and group of organisms to be conserved. CLEPTOPARASITIC LOAD Weislo (1987) showed that the amount of parasitic behaviour among aculeate Hymenoptera correlated with geographical latitude, being higher in the temperate compared with the tropical regions. If this is the case, since England and Wales occupy less than 6° of latitude then the CLs for localities in England and Wales should have similar values. Table 9 shows the CLs for the 11 data sets of sandy habitats. The CLs of the solitary wasps all have a similar value (range 13.2—20.0) as do the solitary bees (range 25.0-36.6). The higher CL for the solitary bees versus the solitary wasps is a function of the British fauna and is probably a consequence of food-chain relationships. Host solitary wasp species are the less numerous secondary consumers and thus less likely to support cleptoparasitic species, while the host solitary bee species are the more numerous primary consumers and thus more likely to support cleptoparasitic species. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 57 Table 9. A comparison of the cleptoparasitic loads and nesting habits of the species of solitary wasps and bees of sandy habitats in Watsonian Yorkshire and elsewhere in England. Cleptoparasitic loads Aerial nester frequency Wasps Bees Wasps Bees Sherwood Forest 17.6 25.0 47.6 19.4 Pre-coniferized Allerthorpe Common 16.9 32.8 45.3 16.3 Charnwood Forest 18.1 27.0 TAA Spe) Crow Wood 16.9 28.9 20.4 9.4 Strensall Common 18.0 35.0 41.5 19.2 Coniferized Allerthorpe Common 329) 35:9) 20.0 8.0 Pompocali 20.0 36.6 12.5 0.0 Blaxton Common 15.0 26.5 43.1 13.9 Risby Warren 17.2 29.4 12.5 8.3 Skipwith Common Nah? 3)5}55) 42.4 30.0 Swincarr Plantation 16.7 34.8 0.0 6.7 British Isles 17.8 26.0 44.9 19.0 AERIAL NESTER FREQUENCY The AFs of the species of solitary wasps (range 0.0-71.2) and solitary bees (0.0-30.0) from the 11 data sets are rather variable (Table 9). Much of the variation of AFs is dependent on the availability of aerial nesting sites (Archer, 1993b), but the higher solitary wasp aerial nester frequency of Charnwood Forest could be related to its higher altitude, where average temperatures and amounts of sunshine would be reduced. Under such weather conditions, aerial nesting sites are likely to warm up quicker and be warmer for a longer time than subterranean sites. Lomholdt (1975) showed that aerial nester frequency increased with increasing latitude for Sphecidae (28% in France and 79% in northern Norway) along a decreasing warmth gradient. It is unlikely that much of the variation of AFs is dependent on the availability of subterranean nesting sites because all localities under study are sandy habitats and personal investigation has shown that such habitats are very favourable to subterranean nesters. The higher AFs for solitary wasps compared with solitary bees are a function of the British fauna and are probably a consequence of the cooler English climate. It is known that the activities of solitary wasps are more affected by weather conditions than those of solitary bees in England (Archer, 1990b) so that as explained by the altitude effect, solitary wasp species are more likely to be successful as aerial nesters. REFERENCES Archer, M.E. 1984. The solitary bees and wasps (Hymenoptera: Aculeata) of a sand-pit at Swincarr Plantation, near York. Naturalist 109: 23-25. Archer, M.E. 1985. The wasps and bees (Hymenoptera: Aculeata) of Pompocali near Leeds: the first 27 visits. Naturalist 110: 49-51. Archer, M.E. 1988. The aculeate wasps and bees (Hymenoptera: Aculeata) of my local patch: Strensall Common, the first 70 visits. Naturalist 113: 25-30. Archer, M.E. 1989. The wasps and bees (Hymenoptera: Aculeata) of Allerthorpe Common before and after coniferization. Naturalist 114: 129-136. Archer, M.E. 1990a. The aculeate solitary wasps and bees (Hymenoptera: Aculeata) of Leicestershire. Trans. Leicester Lit. Phil. Soc. 84: 9-25. 58 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 Archer, M.E. 1990b. The solitary aculeate wasps and bees (Hymenoptera: Aculeata) of an English suburban garden. Entomologist’s Gaz. 41: 129-142. Archer, M.E. 1992a. A comparison of the solitary wasps and bees (Hym., Aculeata) of Charnwood Forest, Leicestershire and Lydford Moorland, Devon. Entomologist’s Mon. Mag. 128: 51-57. Archer, M.E. 1992b. Aculeate wasps and bees (Hymenoptera: Aculeata) of Skipwith Common and a comparison of Skipwith Common with Allerthorpe and Strensall Commons. Naturalist 117: 19-25. Archer, M.E. 1993a. Recorder’s fourth report on the Aculeate Hymenoptera in Watsonian Yorkshire and the development of a quality scoring system. Naturalist 118: 13-15. Archer, M.E. 1993b. The aculeate wasps and bees (Hymenoptera: Aculeata) of Duncombe Park in Watsonian Yorkshire. Naturalist 118: 37-44. Archer, M.E. 1994a. Recorder’s fifth report on the Aculeate Hymenoptera in Watsonian Yorkshire. Naturalist 119: 73-77. Archer, M.E. 1994b. The aculeate wasps and bees (Hymenoptera: Aculeata) of Risby Warren in Watsonian Lincolnshire. Trans. Lincolnshire Naturalists Union, 23: 123-131. Ball, S. 1992. The importance of the invertebrate fauna of Thorne and Hatfield Moors: an exercise in site evaluation. Thorne & Hatfield Moors Papers 3: 34-65. Falk, S. 1991. A review of the scarce and threatened bees, wasps and ants of Great Britain. Nature Conservancy Council, Peterborough. Kloet, G.S. & Hincks, W.D. 1978. A Check List of British Insects. Part 4: Hymenoptera, revised by M.G. Fitton et al. Handbks Ident. Br. Insects 11(4): 126-140. Lomholdt, O. 1975. The Sphecidae (Hymenoptera) of Fennoscandia and Denmark. Fauna Ent. Scand. 4: 1-224. Olmi, M. 1984. Revision of the Dryinidae (Hymenoptera). Mem. Am. Ent. Inst. 37: 1-946, 947-1913. Olmi, M. 1989. Supplement to the revision of the world Dryinidae (Hymenoptera, Chrysidoidea). Frustula Ent. (N.S.) 12: 109-395. Usher, M.B. 1986. Wildlife conservation evaluation. Chapman and Hall, London. Weislo, W.T. 1987. The role of seasonality, host synchrony, and behaviour in the evaluations and distributions of nest parasites in Hymenoptera (Insecta), with special reference to bees (Apoidea). Biol. Rev. 62: 515-543. APPENDIX. ACULEATE WASP AND BEE SPECIES RECORDED FROM CROW WOOD * Yorkshire rare species. ** Yorkshire local species. Dryinidae. Aphelopus melaleucus (Dalman), A. serratus Richards, Anteon arcuatum (Kieffer), A. brachycerum (Dalman), A. ephippiger (Dalman), A. flavicorne (Dalman), A. fulviventre (Haliday), A. gaulei (Kieffer), A. jurineanum Lat., A. pubicorne (Dalman), A. tripartitum Kieffer, Lonchodryinus ruficornis (Dalman), Gonatopus sepsoides Westw., Pseudogonatopus distinctus (Kieffer). Bethylidae. Bethylus cephalotes Forster, B. fuscicornis (Jurine). Chrysididae. Omalus auratus (L.), Chrysis angustula Schenck, C. ruddii Shuck.**, C. impressa Schenk, Chrysis cyanea (L.), Hedychridium ardens (Lat.)**, Cleptes semiauratus (L.)*. Mutillidae. Myrmosa atra Panz. Pompilidae. Priocnemis exaltata (F.), P. perturbator (Harris), P. parvula Dahlbom, P. schioedtei Haupt, Pompilus cinereus (F.)**, Arachnospila anceps (Wesm.), A. trivalis (Dahlbom), A. spissa (Schigdte), Anoplius concinnus (Dahlbom), A. viaticus (L.)**, A. infuscatus (V.d.Lind.)*, Evagetes crassicornis (Shuck.). Eumenidae. Ancistrocerus parietinus (L.), A. oviventris (Wesm.), A‘ scoticus (Curt.), Symmorphus mutinensis (Baldini). Vespidae. Dolichovespula sylvestris (Scop.), Vespula austriaca (Panz.), V. rufa (L.), Paravespula germanica (F.), P. vulgaris (L.). Sphecidae. Astata pinguis (Dahlbom), Tachysphex pompiliformis (Panz.)**, T. unicolor (Panz.)*, Trypoxylon attenuatum Smith, F., T. figulus (L.), Crabro cribrarius (L.)**, C. peltarius (Schreb.)**, Crossocerus elongatulus (V.d.Lind.), C. ovalis Lepel. & Brullé, C. palmipes (L.)*, BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 59 C. tarsatus (Shuck.), C. varus Lepel. & Brullé, C. wesmaeli (V.d.Lind.), C. nigritus (Lepel & Brullé), C. quadrimaculatus (F.), Lindenius albilabris (F.), Entomognathus brevis (V.d.Lind.), Rhopalum coarctatum (Scop.), Oxybelus uniglumis (L.)**, Psen dahlbomi (Wesm.), P. bicolor Jurine*, P. equestris (F.)**, P. lutarius (F.)*, Pemphredon inornatus Say, Diodontus luperus Shuck.*, D. minutus (F.)**, D. tristis (V.d.Lind.)**, Passaloecus singularis Dahlbom, Ammophila sabulosa (L.)**, Mellinus arvensis (L.)**, Nysson spinosus (Forster), N. trimaculatus (Rossius)*, Gorytes quadrifasciatus (F.), G. tumidus (Panz.), Argogorytes mystaceus (L.), Cerceris arenaria (L.)*. Colletidae. Colletes fodiens (Geoff.), Hylaeus communis Nylander, H. brevicornis Nylander*. Andrenidae. Andrena clarkella (Kirby)**, A. fulva (Miiller), A. jacobi Perkins, A. bicolor F., A. angustior (Kirby), A. nigroaenea (Kirby), A. haemorrhoa (F.), A. tibialis (Kirby)*, A. barbilabris (Kirby)**, A. chrysosceles (Kirby), A. humilis Imhoff, A. minutula (Kirby), A. saundersella Perkins, A. subopaca Nylander, A. ovatula (Kirby)*, A. wilkella (Kirby), Panurgus banksianus (Kirby)*. Halictidae. Halictus rubicundus (Christ), H. tumulorum (L.), Lasioglossum leucozonium (Schr.), L. calceatum (Scop.), L. nitidiusculum (Kirby), L. punctatissimum (Schenck), L. rufitarse (Zett.), L. villosulum (Kirby), L. leucopum (Kirby), Sphecodes fasciatus von Hagens, S. gibbus (L.), S. monilicornis (Kirby), S. pellucidus Smith**. Megachilidae. Osmia leaiana (Kirby), Megachile versicolor Smith. Anthophoridae. Nomada fabriciana (L.), N. flavopicta (Kirby)*, N.fulvicornis (F.)*, N. goodeniana (Kirby), N. leucophthalma (Kirby)**, N. marshamella (Kirby), N. panzeri Lepel., N. striata F., Epeolus variegatus (L.), Anthophora furcata (Panz.). Apidae. Bombus lucorum (L.), B. terrestris (L.), B. lapidarius (L.), B. pratorum (L.), B. hortorum (L.), B. pascuorum (Scop.), Psithyrus bohemicus (Seidl), P. vestalis (Geoff.), Apis mellifera L. BOOK REVIEWS The insects: an outline of entomology by P. J. Gullan and P. S. Cranston. Chapman & Hall, London, 1994, xiv+491 pages, £24.99, paperback.—The history of entomology has been one of increasing fragmentation and specialization. General texts, like this one, serve primarily to inform students; but also they provide a means by which specialists can update themselves by access to a modern framework for insect science. The writers have succeeded in compiling a well-integrated book, attractively presented and very reasonably priced. The volume is divided into 15 chapters. After an introduction on the importance and diversity of insects, which incorporates a table with brief characterizations of the 29 orders recognized, there follow seven chapters dealing, broadly speaking, with structure, function and development. External anatomy is reviewed briefly in chapter 2, followed (chapter 3) by a treatment of internal anatomy and related physiological function. Sensory systems and the main components of insect behaviour are described in chapter 4. Reproduction is the subject of a chapter (5) to itself and incorporates the relevant aspects of behaviour, morphology, physiology and the diversity of modes of reproduction (e.g., parthenogenesis, neoteny, polyembryony). It is followed, logically enough, by insect development and life histories (chapter 6), which considers not only the expected topics such as ontogeny, voltinism and polymorphism, but also examines how an understanding of certain environmental factors affecting development can be applied to model predictively insect abundance and distribution. Chapter 7, on insect systematics, phylogeny and evolution, is followed by eight chapters, shifting the course of the book to somewhat broader entomological themes. The first two of these chapters (8 and 9) deal with aspects of insect biology in particular habitats—the soil (including also litter, carrion and dung) and water. Chapter 10 is 60 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 about insects and plants, 11 addresses insect societies, 12 concerns predation and parasitism, and 13 examines insect defence. In the final chapters, the writers turn their attention to insects of medical and veterinary importance (14) and to pest management (15). Two underlying aspects of this book are particularly attractive. One is the way in which the writers bring to the fore the dynamics of insect biology. Wherever possible technical detail, which is abundant, is portrayed in the light of the ‘problems’ that insects face and the ‘solutions’ to those problems. The other is the very evident enthusiasm Gullan and Cranston have for communication, a quality apparent in the thoughtful planning of the structure of the book, the care that has gone into selecting the illustrations (drawn by Karina Hansen McInnes), the use of boxes for special topics, and the clarity of the prose. The writers, rightly, have no inhibition about making extensive use of Latin and Greek-based terminology; rather they demonstrate, by the use of pithy definitions in the text supported by an effective glossary, just how succinct and elegant technical language can be—giving the lie to that trite generalization that scientists cannot write. Although both writers are systematists, they deliberately avoid treating the insects order by order. Their taxonomic background has, however, been used to great effect in structuring whole-organism entomology into a lucid text and in illustrating the biological concepts with which they deal by a wide variety of insectan examples. Potential buyers may wonder, not unreasonably, how this book compares with another volume from Australia-based entomologists Systematic and applied entomology (1994, edited by I. D. Naumann), which is an abridged version of the second edition of Insects of Australia. They may be reassured. Although, inevitably, there is some overlap, the works differ significantly in content, balance and approach. The greater part of The insects is theme-based, and the style more analytical than descriptive. Systematic and applied entomology is a multiauthor work that takes a more taxon-based line and will probably have a more specialized readership. MALCOLM J. SCOBLE Insects: life cycles and the seasons by John Brackenbury. Blandford, 1994, 192 pages, £19.99, hardback.—The five chapters of this book cover various aspects of the lives and behaviour of insects. Each chapter has a short introductory section but most of the text is in the form of descriptive captions to the 215 colour illustrations. Three of the pictures are incorrectly identified. No. 22 primrose, Primula farinosa, is cowslip, P. veris L., No. 171 a click beetle is the wasp nest beetle, Metoecus paradoxus (L.), and No. 26 shows the larvae of a bibionid fly rather than a crane fly. The text contains some personal observations on insect behaviour made by the author but this is a book primarily for enjoying the photographs rather than for reading. Apart from a few habitat photographs, the illustrations are close-up views of a wide range of insects and a few spiders. They are shown feeding, mating, overwintering and in motion. Those showing insects leaping or in flight are particularly impressive. Ladybirds and other shiny insects have, however, caused the author some problems by showing a reflection of the ring flash used to illustrate the subject. A. J. HALSTEAD BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 61 THE MOTHS AT CARLYON BAY, CORNWALL RECORDED 1989-1993 ADRIAN SPALDING Tremayne Farm Cottage, Tremayne, Praze, Camborne, Cornwall TR14 9PH. INTRODUCTION Carlyon Bay is the name given to a complex of beaches south-east of St Austell, Cornwall. There are three beaches called (from west to east) Crinnis, Shorthorn and Polgaver beach. Crinnis Beach is heavily used by holidaymakers, attracted to the site by the presence of Cornwall Colliseum, a leisure park with facilities for adults and children. Fewer people use Shorthorn Beach, which is further from car parking facilities. The long walk required to reach Polgaver Beach means that the site is only sparsely used (it is now a designated nudist beach). In past years, a small train took passengers across Shorthorn Beach to the western edge of Polgaver beach, but this train stopped running in 1992 following major storm damage to the track. Crinnis Beach consists of a narrow strip of sand backed by a large car park, behind which rise tall cliffs which contain interesting plant communities. Shorthorn Beach is a wilder place. At the western end is a wide flat area above the beach with many kinds of grasses and low-growing plants such as Potentilla reptans L., P. anserina L. and Senecio jacobaea L. Just above the beach to the east of this area there is a small area of dune dominated by Ammophila arenaria (L.) Link, backed by a narrow belt of trees (mainly Salix cinerea L. and Betula pubescens Ehrh.) with abundant Rubus sp. and Crocosmia x crocosmiflora (Lemoine ex Burb & Dean). A small adit flanked by Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertner runs to the sea. The tracks of the railway enscribe a large circle round a hollow with Salix cinerea growing in places in standing water. Between this woodland and the faulted shales of the cliff lies a small heathy area with some Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull, Erica cinerea L., Ulex europaeus L. and Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn. Polgaver Beach is similar in many ways to Shorthorn Beach, although the dunes are higher with more Ammophila arenaria. The garden introduction Rosa rugosa Thunb. ex Murray is abundant here (first recorded here in 1922). On the inland edge of the dunes grow Salix cinerea and some Alnus glutinosa, leading down into a dune slack with wetland plants such as Jris pseudacorus L. Behind a large seasonal pond (often dry in summer) is more willow growing on grassy ground rising up to the high cliffs here. These coastal habitats are rare on the south-east coast of Cornwall. THE HISTORY OF CARLYON BAY BEACH The St Austell area is well known for its associations with the china clay industry. North of the town lies the lunar landscape of the china clay tips, white conical hills composed of the waste quartz-sand and undecayed granite, left over after the extraction of kaolin (china clay). 100 years after the foundation of the china clay industry, china clay operations were established on four sites north of Carlyon Bay around 1865. For the next 80 years or so the fine sand and mica residue was carried away from the open mine areas by a system of leats and natural streams, all flowing eventually into a single stream crossing what is now the golf course and then into an adit which discharged this residue onto Shorthorn Beach (Grigg, pers. comm.). In the late 1950s, some of the mine residue was contained on site, but discharges continued from some sites until the mid-1970s. Today, the stream still has a milky appearance. The 62 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 deposition of this residue has built up the beach, which is largely composed of coarse grains of quartz. The sand is too coarse for Ammophila arenaria, which just sits on top in the areas of finer sand. The areas behind these dunes have been built up by the deposition of china clay waste dredged up from the sea bed near Par Harbour (Lees, pers. comm.). These areas retain moisture even in the driest summer. Although these beaches are of recent industrial origin, they have become rich in wildlife. There has been much recent interest in the colonization by nature of industrial sites (see Box, 1993, 1994). In Cornwall ECC International Ltd are running an on- going land reclamation programme (Wardell Armstrong, 1993). The importance of the site for wildlife was recognized by South West Water who in 1992 constructed a new sewage pipe across Polgaver Beach into the sea. Although much of the habitat was destroyed during the construction work, restoration work has now taken place to reinstate the dunes and the willow carr. Unfortunately, no account was taken of the moths of the site during this work. METHODS The collecting and recording was done by several people (particularly Bill Kittle and Phil Boggis) over a 4-year period, especially in 1992 and 1993. Records were also contributed by Abigail and Simon Boggis, Clarence Brind, David Evans, John Gregory, Paul Siddons, Lee Slaughter and myself. Bill Kittle has had a long association with the site and it was he who first drew my attention to its excellence for moths. Surveying was mainly carried out by lamping and torchlight searching for larvae. Some larvae were bred through by Bill for later identification. Critical species were examined by Paul Siddons and myself. RESULTS A detailed list of the species recorded at Carlyon Bay 1989-1993 is given in the Appendix; 331 species were recorded. Seventeen nationally notable species (see Ball, 1986, updated by Waring, 1993) were recorded, comprising three notable A species, 13 notable B species and one notable Table 1. Nationally important species found at Shorthorn and Polgaver Beach 1989-1993. Name Classification Habitat Agrotis ripae Hibn. Notable B sand-dune Agrotis trux Hibn. Notable B cliff Bembecia muscaeformis Esp. Notable B rocks/cliff Catarhoe rubidata D.&S. Notable B cliff Conistra rubiginea D.&S. Notable B woodland Earias clorana L. Notable B damp woods Eilema caniola Hibn. Notable B cliffs Eupithecia distinctaria H.-S. Notable B coastal areas Hadena luteago barrettii Doubl. Notable A cliffs Mecyna asinalis Hibn. Notable B cliffs Meganola albula D.&S. Notable B coastal areas Mythimna litoralis Cutt. Notable B sand-dunes Mythimna I-album L. Notable B coastal areas Mythimna putrescens Hibn. Notable A cliffs Polymixis xanthomista Hiibn. Notable A cliffs Phycitodes maritima Tengst. Notable cliffs/beach Schrankia taenialis Hibn. Notable B damp woodland BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 63 Table 2. All species recorded at Carlyon Bay classified according to habitat (excluding migrant species). Habitat Species numbers Dry woodland 40 Sand-dune 32 Cliff 30 Scrub 24 Wet woodland 22, Wetland 10 Conifer woodland 7 Generalist species i153} Total 318 Table 3. Migrant species found at Shorthorn and Polgaver Beach 1989-1993. Agrotis ipsilon Hufn. dark sword-grass Autographa gamma L. silver Y Earias clorana L. cream-bordered green pea Heliothis armigera Hubn. scarce bordered straw Mythimna albipuncta D.&S. white-point Mythimna I-album L. L-album wainscot Mythimna loreyi Dup. the cosmopolitan Mythimna vitellina Hibn. the delicate Nomophila noctuella D.&S. rush veneer Orthonama obstipata F. the gem Peridroma saucia Hibn. pearly underwing Rhodometra sacraria L. the vestal Udea ferrugalis Hiibn. species (Table 1). The mix of notable species comprises an interesting collection of cliff (nine species), sand-dune (two species) and woodland (three species) species. In fact, out of the total 331 species recorded, I have calculated that 30 were cliff species, 32 were sand-dune species, 62 were woodland species (including 22 wet woodland species), 24 were scrubland species and 10 were wetland species (Table 2). The status of Phycitodes maritima has recently been revised by Parsons (1993) and is now provisionally classed as notable (a downward revision from notable status B), i.e. its distribution is insufficiently known for detailed classification. Bill Kittle found signs of larvae of Sesia bembeciformis Hiibn. feeding in willow on Polgaver Beach, but there was heavy predation by green woodpeckers and this moth may no longer be present here. The beach has proved to be of exceptional value for migrants during this period, when 13 migrant species were recorded (Table 3). DISCUSSION Migrants We did well for migrants at the site. Although moths may arrive at the site at random, they are likely to stay at Carlyon Bay where there are nectar sources and hiding places, thus increasing the chance of encounters by visiting entomologists. They can only leave the site by flying out to sea or upwards over the steep cliff. Some 64 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 migrants may breed here. For example, Mythimna |-album is probably a temporary resident here; although most specimens were recorded in September and October, the single found here on 19.vi.1992 may well have been a first-brood specimen. A single specimen of Farias clorana was caught by Bill Kittle at mercury vapour light at Shorthorn Beach on 13.vi.92. It was an unusually marked form, subsequently determined by Barry Goater as ab flavimargo de Joannis. FE. clorana is unknown from Cornwall and generally rare in the south-west. (A single clorana caught near Exeter by A.H. Dobson on 26.vi.92 was thought to be a migrant). It was therefore at first thought that this specimen was Earias insulana (Boisd.) (the Egyptian bollworm), the third British (and first Cornish) record of this rare migrant. It was exhibited as this species (Skinner, 1993), at the 1992 B.E.N.H.S. Annual Exhibition. Work by Roy McCormick has shown that EF. clorana occurs commonly on at least one coastal site in Devon. It is therefore possible that this species is breeding at Carlyon Bay, where the damp willow woodland provides a suitable habitat. However, Goater (1994) writes that the British populations of E. clorana are apparently invariable apart from size, and Martin Honey (pers. comm.) suggests that ab flavimargo has not apparently been recorded in Britain within breeding populations. Examples of ab flavimargo such as that taken on 25.vi.1992 by S.A. Knill-Jones on the Isle of Wight (and exhibited at the 1994 B.E.N.H.S. Annual Exhibition (Knill-Jones, 1995) are certainly migrants. Ab flavimargo has been recorded from Brittany and it is therefore likely that the singleton recorded at Carlyon Bay was a migrant from France. Habitats and national importance Table 2 classifies moths according to habitats which can be found at Carlyon Bay. All the species recorded at Carlyon Bay can fly and therefore may have come from neighbouring areas, but I consider this site to be largely a closed community (apart from migrants) surrounded as it is by cliffs on one side and the sea on the other. Carlyon Bay is of some importance in national terms (Tables 1 and 4), but no red Data Book species were recorded there. Emmet (1991) allocated species to the principal habitats in which they are commonly found. He divided maritime habitats into five subsections (salt-marsh, sand-dune, cliff and undercliff, shingle beach and ‘other maritime situations’). I have calculated from this list that there are a total of 358 maritime species (excluding all butterflies and migrant species) found in Britain and Ireland, not counting those generalist species that can be found anywhere. Several of these species can be found in more than one of these habitats, so that adding up the number of species in each of these habitats gives a total of 451 species. A small proportion (average 13%) of these have been recorded at Carlyon Bay (Table 4). It Table 4. Numbers of moth species found in maritime habitats. Habitat type Britain Carlyon Bay % of total & Ireland for Britain & nos* nos Ireland Salt-marsh 57 4 7 Sand-dune 133 23 17 Cliff and undercliff 119 23 19 Shingle beach 50 5 10 Other maritime situations 92 10 11 Totals 451 64 average 13 *According to Emmet & Heath (1991) habitat classification. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 65 would be useful to compare the proportion of maritime species here with those at other coastal sites. This would allow us to build up a picture of the relative importance in national terms of coastal sites for moths. Some of the moths recorded here (e.g. Cucullia chamomillae and Malacosoma neustria) have no close association with maritime habitats according to Emmet & Heath (1991), although all can be found regularly in coastal situations in Cornwall. This shows how regional variations in habitat preference can modify the overall picture (and also explains why the species totals in Table 2 differ from those in Table 4). Local importance The interest of the site lies mainly in the juxtaposition of widely different habitats and the moths that live there. I estimate that there are 32 resident macro-moths found in Cornwall which are restricted to coastal areas (Table 5). Of these 18 (56%) have been recorded at Carlyon Bay, making it a very important coastal site for Lepidoptera in local terms. Table 5. Resident Macro-moths in Cornwall with a distribution largely restricted to the coast. Recorded at Carlyon Bay? Species name (Y =yes N=no) Agrotis ripae Hubn. Agrotis trux Hiibn. Agrotis vestigialis Hufn. Aporophyla australis Boisd. Aspitates ochrearia Rossi Bembecia muscaeformis Esp. Catarhoe rubidata D.&S. Cucullia chamomillae D.&S. Dasypolia templi Thunb. Eilema complana L Eilema caniola Hibn. Epirrhoe galiata D.&S. Eupithecia denotata jasioneata Crewe Eupithecia distinctaria H.-S. Eupithecia simpliciata Haw. Euxoa nigricans L. Euxoa obelisca D.&S. Euxoa tritici L. Gnophos obscurata D.&S. Hadena luteago barrettii Doubl. Hadena perplexa D.&S. Ayloicus pinastri L. Leucochlaena oditis Hiibn. Luperina nickerlii leechi Goater Lygephila craccae D.&S. Meganola albula D.&S. Mythimna I|-album L. Mythimna litoralis Curt. Mythimna putrescens Hiibn. Nudaria mundana L. Polymixis xanthomista Hiibn. Standfussiana lucernea L. ZSZK6KKKZAZZAZRKRK ARK AZAZK KAZAKH ZZ KKK ZZ KKK 66 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 Meganola albula D.&S. (Kent black arches) Paul Siddons and I found two specimens (one male and one female) of Meganola albula at mercury vapour light at Shorthorn beach on 10.vii.92. This is the only site so far in Cornwall for this species. I had been hoping for some time to find this nationally scarce species on the Cornish coast as it has been recorded both sides of Cornwall on the Isles of Scilly and in Devon (Heath & Emmet, 1979). In fact, the records for Scilly are all pre-1980 (Waring, 1992). The only records I can find for Scilly were in 1956, 1957 and 1959 from Tresco, Bryher and St Agnes (per the Cornish Biological Records Unit). Nevertheless, the discovery (although accidental) of M. albula here shows that distribution maps can be used to provide clues to where species may be found. In Britain, Meganola albula is a southern species largely confined to the coast but occasionally found inland in woodland clearings. The open woodland habitat here looks ideal. The main foodplant in Britain is considered to be Rubus caesius L. (Skinner, 1984), but I could find no trace of this plant here (although Lousley (1971) states that there are several records for the Isles of Scilly). The moth is also known to feed on Potentilla and Fragaria, but Bill Kittle and I found no sign of larvae on these plants during spring 1993. In fact, we saw no adults in 1993 despite extensive trapping on the site. Unfortunately, a large part of the site had been bulldozed to make a road for construction vehicles and it may be that M. a/bula no longer occurs here (Spalding, in press). Foodplants The list of larval foodplants associated with the species recorded at Carlyon Bay. (Table 6) shows the plant species that are likely to occur here. New (1991) suggests Table 6. Number of moth species (excluding migrants) associated with particular foodplants at Carlyon Bay. Pulicaria dysenterica (L.) Bernh. Lonicera periclymenum L. Oenanthe crocata L. Typha spp. Betula spp. Thymus polytrichus A. Kerner ex Borbas (= 7. praecox) Phragmites Tripleurospermum maritimum (L.) Koch Armeria maritima (Miller) Willd. Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull Silene uniflora Roth (=S. maritima) Atriplex/Chenopodium Lichen spp. Conifer spp. Quercus spp. Salix spp. 21 Gramineae 33 General polyphagous species 20 Polyphagous on herbaceous plants 48 Polyphagous on trees and shrubs 48 Others 98 [Hymenoptera nests 1] Total 318 ONIYIARRRWNNNNE ERE BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 67 that there may be a complicated relationship between butterflies and hostplant diversity and this is likely to be true of moths. Plant diversity is high at Carlyon Bay because of the number of different habitats and their associated plants, the early successional stage of the dune vegetation which is constantly changing and the recent disturbance of the area which has led to colonization by so-called ‘weed’ species. However, some moths have occurred at Carlyon Bay despite the apparent absence of their foodplant. I could find no sign of Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steudel in Carlyon Bay, although two moths (Archanara geminipuncta and Rhizedra lutosa) associated with this foodplant were recorded there. It is well known that Rhizedra lutosa can be found at some distance from its foodpant (Skinner, 1984), but Archanara geminipuncta is generally considered to be less mobile. In fact, Phragmites probably occurred here in previous years near the adit (D. Gibbon, pers. comm.). The abundance of a foodplant at a site has no apparent bearing on the number of moth species that feed on it. Armeria maritima (Miller) Willd. is abundant here but only three moth species feed on it. Conifer trees are scarce, yet seven moth species with conifer-feeding larvae were present on the site, including Bupalus piniaria which is particularly rare in east Cornwall. The community of sand-dune moths at Carlyon Bay I have calculated from foodplant associations and other factors that there are 32 species associated with the sand-dunes at Carlyon Bay (Table 7), excluding generalist species found in a wide variety of situations. (The figure of 32 differs from Emmet’s 23 out of 133 (Table 4) because it is based on local knowledge). These species form a maritime community of moths, apparently a random assemblage of species but probably linked together by a variety of factors such as the structural diversity, historical continuity and maritime aspect of the site, as well as the presence of shared food resources. (e.g. seven species feed on grasses). No attempt was made to assess the abundance of species on this site. The ecology of most (perhaps all) of the species found here is so poorly understood that we cannot say with certainty which (if any) factors are common to all or most of the species. Several of these species form guilds sharing a common foodplant (e.g. three species feed on Atriplex and two on Taraxacum), but may utilize different parts of the foodplant at different times of year. The foodplant resource at this site is probably sufficient for the guilds of moths here so that interspecific competition for food is unlikely. (Porter et al (1992) says that there is no clear-cut case of competitive exclusion among British butterflies, but it is possible that competitive exclusion is more common among British moths because there are so many more species on a site such as this.) The moths are here partly because their larval foodplants are present. Their national distributions may be linked to the distribution of the foodplants, but there are other limiting factors such as the prevalence of parasites etc. Moths such as Mythimna l-album are probably confined as breeding populations to the frost-free areas on the warm southern cliffs. In Cornwall, Cucullia chamomillae is largely confined to the coast, despite the fact that its foodplant (Tripleurospermum maritimum) is widespread throughout the county. For these species, the restricted coastal distribution implies that factors other than the availability of foodplant limit their distribution. Numbers of species The total of 331 species represents the results of several nights trapping; 83 Geometridae and 118 Noctuidae were recorded. However, some families such as the 68 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 Table 7. Sand-dune moths at Carlyon Bay. Moth Foodplant er: Cee ear) Ee + Close coastal Close coastal Species name association? Species association? Agriphila geniculea Haw. grasses Agrotis clavis Hutn. herb. plants Agrotis ripae Hiibn. dune plants Agrotis vestigialis Hufn. grasses etc Amphipoea oculea L. grasses Caradrina clavipalpis Scop. grasses Celypha striana D.&S, Taraxacum Cucullia chamomillae D.&S. Tripleurospermum Discestra trifolii Hutn. Atriplex etc. Endotricha flammealis D.&S. polyphagous Epirrhoe galiata D.&S. Galium Eumichtis lichenea Hiibn. polyphagous Eupithecia absinthiata Cl. polyphagous Eupithecia simpliciata Haw, Atriplex etc. Eupithecia virgaureata Doubl, Senecio etc. Euxoa tritici L. polyphagous Taraxacum Silene uniflora Atriplex etc. Idaea subsericeata Haw. Hadena luteago barrettii Doubl. Lacanobia oleracea 1. Luperina testacea D.&S. grasses Meganola albula D.&S, Rubus etc, Mesoligia furuncula D.&S. grasses Mythimna lalbum 1. grasses Mythimna litoralis Curt. Ammophila Paradiarsia glareosa Esp. polyphagous Perizoma alchemillata L. Galeopsis Perizoma flavofasciata Thunb. Silene spp. Achillea etc. Anthemis etc. Vicia etc. Salix etc. Rumex acetosella Phycitodes maritima Tengst. Phycitodes saxicola Vaugh. Scotopteryx chenopodiata 1. Semiothisa alternaria Hiibn. Teleiopsis diffinis Haw. ZZ<<<P>0.8. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 99 DISCUSSION Taken together, the two experiments suggest that obsoleta and radiata are distinct from one another. In their heterozygous state, both are incomplete recessives and are referable to partimauroradiata but still differ (Plate I, Figures 1 and 7), so this name can represent two different mutations. The 1989 experiment gave an almost exact 1 : 1 ratio for obsoleta to ‘with bands’ (partimauroradiata+ wild-type) suggesting that the expression of obsoleta in the heterozygote is variable, and that the P, female was heterozygous for obsoleta and had mated in the wild with a homozygous male obsoleta. The P, cross would be represented by: Oo x 00 The F, would then be 50% Oo and 50% oo, conforming to the result obtained. An alternative explanation for the F, in the 1989 experiment is that not one but two gene complexes were involved, with obsoleta dominant to radiata and both recessive to the wild-type. The cross to lead to the F, would be: RrOo x RRoo The F, would have the following genetic make-up: RROo RROo RrOo RrOo RRoo RRoo Rroo Rroo The gene combinations shown in the upper line would give wild-type and partimauroradiata, and those of the lower line obsoleta (0 being dominant over r), again a 1: 1 ratio as obtained in the experiment. As neither obsoleta nor radiata are common, their occurrence together is not particularly likely, and the single-gene mechanism is perhaps the more probable one. The 1991 experiment resembles that of Ford (1945) in some respects, except that it involves pallidula and radiata rather than the more extreme alba and obsoleta which Ford discussed. To get the results obtained, the cross to give the F, must have been: RrPp x RRPP or RrPP x RRpp. The following genetic make-ups, for example, could be present in the F;: RrPP RrPp RRPp RRPP In whatever combinations of R and P, the result would still produce all wild-type (apart perhaps for some partimauroradiata) and to get the result obtained in the F, generation the F, cross would be: RrPp x RrPp. It was fortunate that with only seven butterflies in the F, this mating must have taken place. The complete genetic make-up of the F, would be as follows: RERPP} RrPP 9 RrPPiomPP RRPp RrPp RrPp rrPp RRPp RrPp RrPp_ rrPp RRpp Rrpp Rrpp_ rrpp Examination of this make-up reveals a 9:3:3:1 ratio for wild-type: pallidula : radiata : pallidula+ radiata. It has been shown that both obsoleta and radiata are incomplete recessives, and that even in the heterozygous condition remain distinct. The brassy coloured pallidula is a complete recessive and is probably not the heterozygote of the silvery alba. The double recessive of radiata with pallidula indicates that these are non-linked genetically. 100 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 The forms auronitens and subradiata, present rather weakly in the P, of the 1991 experiment, did not appear in the F, or F,, and either are not controlled in a simple Mendelian fashion, or, more probably, were lost when only one mating was obtained from the very small F, reared. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The valuable comments on the manuscript made by M. J. Simmons were greatly appreciated, as was the photography by D. E. Wilson, without which it would have been difficult to convey the results of this study. REFERENCES Ford, E. B. 1945. Butterflies. The New Naturalist. Collins, London, pp. 177-185, P1. 29. Robertson, T. S. 1990. [Lycaena phlaeas L., ab. obsoleta Tutt. Exhibit at BENHS Annual Exhibition 1989.] Br. J. Ent. Nat. Hist. 3: 65. Robertson, T. S. 1992. [Lycaena phlaeas L., abs. Exhibit at BENHS Annual Exhibition 1991.] Br. J. Ent. Nat. Hist. 5: 53. REVIEW Entomological bygones or historical entomological collecting equipment and associated memorabilia by J. M. Chalmers-Hunt. Arch. Nat. Hist. 1994; 21: 357-378—Being asked to review for this journal a paper appearing in another journal, particularly one which was essentially a catalogue of items, has presented quite a reasonable challenge. Nevertheless, the equipment and other memorabilia associated with field entomology is a much neglected subject and, were it not for the genuine passions of gentlemen such as my friend Michael Chalmers-Hunt, important historical material such as this may well be lost for ever, save within the pages of ancient, dusty entomological books. One wonders how many of today’s entomol- ogists have actually heard of a forceps net, let alone know what one looks like or how to use it. And who today could afford, or would even wish to use, a hand-crafted mahogany and brass killing bottle? The paper catalogues some 200 items of entomological memorabilia in the Chalmers-Hunt collection. They range from nets and beating trays to pooters, collecting boxes, setting boards and even curious light sources for attracting moths on dark nights. Who in his right mind would, today, wander around the local woods with a “bull’s-eye oil-burning lantern” and seriously hope for a large “‘bag”’ of moths? Ah .. . those were the days (so they tell me!). Chalmers-Hunt is one of a diminishing breed of true collectors. Not only does he amass the objects of his desire, but also books, journals, manuscript catalogues, diaries and notebooks, equipment and, indeed, absolutely anything else that is in any way associated with his chosen entomological subject. In the Chalmers-Hunt collection, now housed at the British Museum (Natural History) [which name I shall continue to use until it is formally altered by Act of Parliament] we have, probably, the most comprehensive collection of entomological equipment. Chalmers-Hunt is to be congratulated not only for accumulating the material that goes to form his collection, but also for cataloguing it and having the good sense to ensure its survival by gifting it to a national, rather than a local, museum. C. W. PLANT he . ] PL ATF i @ amen =e ene 7 ee 6° he ee ee ¢ ie i eo a PLATE | A BREEDING EXPERIMENT WITH THE SMALL COPPER BUTTERFLY, LYCAENA PHLAEAS (L) (LEPI- DOPTERA: LYCAENIDAE). T.S. ROBERTSON Figs 1—4 Lycaena phlaeas, Berks. , 1989. Figs 5-12 Lycaena phlaeas, Berks., 1991. 1 2 3 4 F, female F, female obsoleta F,male obsoleta F, female obsoleta partimauroradiata 5 6 7 8 P, female F, female wild type F, male F, female radiata partimauroradiata partimauroradiata +auronitens 9 10 11 F, female pallidula F, female pallidula F, male F, male pallidula+radiata pallidula+radiata 12 UNDERSTANDING SIZE AND PATTERN VARIATION IN MAINLAND BRITAIN PARARGE AEGERIA L. (LEPI- DOPTERA: SAT YRIDAE). L.WINOKUR Figs 13-17 Pararge aegeria tircis. Figs 18—21 Pararge aegeria oblita. 13 16 19 Low-altitude F, female High-altitude F, male F, female ex-diapause pupa mesoventro-s2/s5 biocellata cockaynei 14°C and 16 hdaylength 14 17 20 High-altitude F, male Low-altitude F, female F, female ex-direct mesoventro-s2/s5 biocellata cockaynei developing pupa 14°C and 16 hdaylength 14°C and 16 hdaylength 15 18 21 High-altitude F, female F,male cockaynei F, female showing pattern mesoventro-s2/s5 biocellata modification +cockaynei, room temp. 20°C and 16 hdaylength and winter daylength 102 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 UNDERSTANDING SIZE AND PATTERN VARIATION IN MAINLAND BRITAIN PARARGE AEGERIA L. (LEPIDOPTERA: SATYRIDAE) « LEONARD WINOKUR School of Animal and Microbial Sciences, Reading University, PO Box 228, Reading RG6 2AJ. The Speckled Wood butterfly, Pararge aegeria L., is represented in England, Wales and N.E. Scotland by subspecies tircis Butler, and in N.W. Scotland by subspecies oblita Harrison (Thomson, 1980). Adult P. a. oblita are larger than P. a. tircis (Thomson, 1980; Brakefield & Shreeve, 1992), but latitudinal size variation within mainland Britain has not been extensively examined. Thompson (1952) reported an altitudinal cline in Snowdonia, culminating at high altitude in large, prominently marked specimens and designated form drumensis, but no further investigation into the form has been conducted. The present paper examines latitudinal and altitudinal size variation in the species within mainland Britain, comparing cohorts from S. England, low and high altitude in N. Wales, and N.W. Scotland, at 14°, 17° and 20°C under 16 hours (16 h) daylength. The environmental and hereditary factors underlying the clines, and the adaptive significance of the size variation, are considered. A new eyespot aberrant from N. Wales is characterized and the gene frequency at each altitude is estimated. The occurrence of ab. cockaynei Goodson (Russwurm, 1978) and. ‘spring brood’ forms (Robertson, 1980a) among N. Wales P. a. tircis and P. a. oblita undergoing pupal diapause at 14°C is discussed, and an explanation of form drumensis is proposed. The present findings represent a more extensive account of P. aegeria specimens presented at the 1993 BENHS Annual Exhibition, and complement a study into clinal variation in life history traits (Sibly et al, in prep.). MATERIALS AND METHODS Adult P. aegeria were collected from the Isle of Appin, Scotland (56° 32’ N, 5° 24’ W) on 14.viii.1992, at 50-60 m above mean sea level (amsl) (Gorswen, 53° 13’ N, 3° 51’ W) and 200-220 m ams! (Hafod-y-cae, 53° 13’ N, 3° 54’ W), from the S.E. face of Tal-y-fan mountain, N. Wales, between 17—21.viii.1992, and from the west of Salisbury Plain, S. England (51° 13’ N, 1° 39’ W) on 4.ix.1992. They were transferred to the laboratory 9 days after capture (Scotland), 2-6 days (Wales) or 1 day after capture (England). Pairs were maintained in 22" diameter card tubs lined with untreated tissue and covered with fine-mesh netting secured with elastic. Adults were fed 5% vol/vol unmodified honey solution from cotton pads placed on the netting. Pads were replaced daily. When females started ovipositing on the netting and tissue, the males were killed. Oviposition was continued in the laboratory at 20°C. Ova from each female were collected daily and divided between 14°, 17° and 20°C constant temperature regimes under 16 hours light : 8 hours dark photoperiod provided by fluorescent lighting of spectral composition approximating daylight. Egg samples from a given female were held in 3" x 2" x 1" transparent perspex boxes until hatched. Ten larvae per female per temperature (30 per female) were segregated (i.e. one larva per box) to similar boxes containing excess cultivated cock’s-foot grass, Dactylis glomerata L. The 30 larvae per female were randomly collected to ensure that they reflected the genetic make-up of the total egg batch; the excess larvae were BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 103 dispersed elsewhere. Boxes containing pupating larvae were cleared of food and oriented so that the prepupae hung vertically. Representative adults were killed and preserved. LATITUDINAL VARIATION At all three temperatures, adults of P. a. oblita were the largest and S. England P. a. tircis the smallest, indicating a progressive increase in size with distance north. Within each stock, adults were noticeably larger at 17° than 20°C, following the general tendency of ectotherms to attain greater mature weights at lower temperatures, and probably related to slower growth under cold (Atkinson, 1994). However, adults were slightly smaller at 14° than 17°C, especially in S. England tircis but this difference became less marked with latitude. In P. aegeria, the photoperiodic cue governing developmental strategy comprises the interval sunrise to sunset, and possibly also morning and evening twilights, during the first and final larval instars (Nylin et al, in press). At the latitudes compared here, daylengths of 16 h or more prevail through May to July, when the collected animals would have been larvae (Goddard, 1962). Mean daily temperature in 1992 declined by ~1°C per degree increment in latitude (Table 1). Given the temperature gradient alone, field-collected adults would be expected to be larger at the more northerly sampling sites, as found by Brakefield & Shreeve (1992). However, the persistence at each culture temperature of a latitudinal size cline in the adult form predicted on the basis of a latitudinal gradient in field temperature, suggests that developmental strategies originally governed by temperature alone have become genetically determined. This suggests that selection could act on individuals whose size is ‘adaptive’ in the respective environment, to build up a genetic pattern in which individuals attain similar sizes even when ‘transplanted’ to alternative environments, a process Waddington (1961) termed ‘genetic assimilation’ and defined as ‘an increase in the importance of heredity in the extent to which a character is determined by heredity and by the environment’. The speckled wood basks in sunshine to raise body temperature to levels enabling flight (Shreeve, 1986). In N.W. Scotland where air temperatures are cooler (Table 1) and cloud cover is more prevalent (Thomson, 1980), large specimens would retain Table 1. Periods in 1992 comprising daylengths (sunrise to sunset, and including morning and evening civil twilights) or 16 h or more at the three sampling sites, and mean (+SD) daily temperatures (°C) at proximal weather stations over the corresponding periods. S. England N. Wales N.W. Scotland Salisbury Plain Tal-y-fan Mountain Isle of Appin > 16h day: 24.v—-18.vii 18.v—25.vii 9.v-3.vili > 16h day + twilights: 30.iv—12. viii 26.iv—16.vili 20.iv—22. viii Middle Wallop Colwyn Bay Greenock MRCC SIN 3a. Wa LIN. 3 43) We dD, OS UN ab: 90 m amsl 36 m amsl 5 m amsl Temperature (°C) April: — 10.0+ 3.4 9.142.9 May: 14.0+6.8' SSeS) 12.6+5.3 June: 15.9+6.5 14.6+4.2 15.2+4.1 July: 17.0+4.6 NS /ss3\7/ 14.9+3.9 August: 1SaeeSal IS16=E32 14.343.1 "Includes data for 30.iv.1992. 104 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 body heat for longer thereby maximizing oviposition and mate locating activity; larger males may also be better at defending territories (Davies, 1978). The smaller size of Hampshire specimens may result from their faster larval growth (Sibly et al, in prep.), not only facilitated by warmer summer temperatures, but possibly adaptive in minimizing their period of exposure to predation, parasitism and disease (Smith et al, 1987), and in enabling rapid population recovery following losses through drought (Thomas & Webb, 1984); P. aegeria is at least bivoltine throughout its British range (Goddard, 1962; Thomson, 1980). The smaller sizes of adult P. aegeria attained at 14° than 17°C, especially in the case of S. England P. a. tircis, would appear to violate the expected increase in size with cooling temperature (Atkinson, 1994). A tentative explanation is that larvae are less efficient at utilizing food at 14°C than 17°C. In S. England, as the season progresses, daylengths of 16 h or more prevail and air temperatures rise (Table 1), and incident sunlight enables the larvae to utilize metabolic resources efficiently. In N.W. Scotland, where temperatures are cooler and cloud cover is more prevalent, larval physiology in P. a. oblita may be adjusted to utilize metabolic resources more efficiently at cooler temperatures. In the present study where daylight was simulated by acold light source, the metabolic efficiency of P. a. tircis at 14°C (compared to that at 17°C) may have been considerably more compromised in the absence of supplementary radiant heat. Indeed the smaller size attained by P. a. tircis at 14° than at 17°C despite larval growth being the more protracted at 14°C (Sibly er al, in prep.), would concur with this hypothesis. Nylin & Svard (1991), in a study of museum specimens, found that P. a. tircis in Sweden, showed a decrease in size with distance north; they also found a decrease in size northwards from central Europe. Although contradicting the findings of Brakefield & Shreeve (1992), Nylin & Svard (1991) argue that at more southerly latitudes, specimens should be larger because of the greater prevalence over the year of air temperatures above a critical temperature for larval growth, and hence a longer growing season. However, one might expect growth to be faster under the higher temperatures, resulting in smaller adults but more annual generations. Moreover, under hot regimes (and especially in central Europe where a more ‘continental’ climate prevails than further west), larvae may aestivate to survive food stress during drought, with protracted larval durations but less time spent growing. Since a number of low altitude N. Wales male P. a. tircis at 20°C showed larval periods of 9-10 weeks (compared to the norm of 4-5 weeks) yet if anything emerged lighter in weight (Sibly et al, in prep.), their protracted development may represent such a strategy. Although corresponding larval durations were undergone at 20°C by a number of female P. a. oblita, such ‘slow’ individuals emerged heavier than the faster growing ones (Sibly et al, in prep.) indicating a different strategy and suggesting that even under hot summers P. a. oblita would continue to emerge larger than English P. a. tircis. Latitudinal size trends in P. aegeria are further complicated by shifts in voltinism (Nylin & Svard, 1991), and where the species is multivoltine, by seasonal differences in climate (Robertson, 1980a). The author proposes that rather than the butterfly showing a simple latitudinal cline, the smallest adults result wher€ conditions are most extreme. Accordingly one would expect smaller adults under Continental and ‘Arctic’ than oceanic conditions. By way of example N.W. Scotland P. a. oblita enjoy an ‘oceanic’ climate with cool summers and largely frost-free winters (Thomson, 1980). In N. Sweden P. a. tircis suffers more extreme conditions. It experiences cooler summers and winter temperatures that rarely rise to levels allowing larval growth BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 105 (Nylin & Svard, 1991). Here, the species is univoltine, the larvae aestivating when summer temperatures are cool (rather than the adult emerging the same season) and pupating in the autumn (Wiklund ef al, 1983). Swedish univoltine populations lie at the northern limit of the species range (Brakefield & Shreeve, 1992), where aestivation may help the larva cope with less efficient nutrient utilization, and the early autumn pupation may enable the animal to withstand winter frosts. Under the Continental conditions of central Europe where there are extremes of heat, and especially where associated with drought, aestivation may enable larvae to survive food shortages. With more oceanic regimes such as in N.W. Scotland, hot summers may be less prone to drought, and hence larval diapause less critical to survival. Indeed, the protracted development and heavier weight of ‘slow’ P. a. oblita at 20°C (compared to ‘fast’ P. a. tircis) (Sibly et al, in prep.), accords with this hypothesis. Detailed examination of the temperature ranges over which temperature, larval period and adult size show direct correlation (in the present study between 17° and 20°C), of individual instar durations and dimensions, and of larval growth curves, would further clarify the factors determining latitudinal size trends in non-migratory species such as P. aegeria. ALTITUDINAL COMPARISONS There was no obvious difference in adult size between low and high altitude N. Wales P. a. tircis at any of the study temperatures. Sibly et al (in prep.) similarly found no significant differences in body weight (nor in other components of life history), suggesting that the larger size (and more extensive pale markings) of the high altitude ‘drumensis’ forms described by Thompson (1952), may have been simply a consequence of their having developed under cooler temperatures than their low altitude counterparts (Geiger, 1965; Table 1). Some features of the present N. Wales samples are now considered to determine further the nature of any altitudinal effects. Spot-pattern aberration Two of the 21 wild high-altitude females and one of the 21 wild low-altitude females originally taken between 17 and 21.viii.1992 displayed an eyespot or ocellus element (Schwanwitsch, 1935) in ventral forewing space 2 additional to that in space 5. The phenotype does not appear to have been previously documented. Since the forewings correspond to the mesothoracic segment (Sibatani, 1980), it is suggested that the phenotype be designated mesoventro-s2/s5 biocellata ab. nov. (Plate I, Figs. 13-15). The phenotype appeared at all three temperatures among the F, of both stocks and in both sexes, indicating that the allele is autosomal (i.e. not carried on the sex chromosomes), and since the low-altitude ab. mesoventro-s2/s5 biocellata female #9 yielded all wild-type F, (12 in all), also recessive; a dominant allele would predict at least 50% biocellata phenotypes among the F, (Falconer, 1981). GENOTYPE FREQUENCIES, LOW ALTITUDE. Calling the wild-type allele ‘W and the recessive biocellata allele ‘b’, low-altitude female #9 was probably bb and the male most likely WW. Low-altitude wild-type female #5, however, yielded 9 out of the 30 F, of which 3 (33%) were aberrant; low altitude female #5 was probably Wb, and the male most likely Wb (a bb male would predict a 1 : 1 ratio of aberrant to wild-type). Of the 19 remaining low-altitude females, only 9 yielded an F, generation. These were wild-type and yielded all wild-type offspring. If these females were Wb they would necessarily have paired with WW males, while if WW they could have 106 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 paired with WW, Wb or bb males. Minimum and maximum estimates of biocellata allele frequency within the low-altitude parent sample can be estimated using the F, results of these 11 females. Based on the assumption of 9 WW x,WW pairings (lower estimate) and 9 WW x bb (upper estimate) and taking into account females #5 (Wb x Wb) and #9 (bb x WW), the following can be expected. Lower estimate. The lower estimate assumes 9 WWx WW, 1 Wbx Wb and 1 bb x WW pairings, involving (1 x bb) + (2 x Wb) + (19 x WW) genotypes comprising 4 ‘b’ and 40 ‘W’ alleles, and hence a biocellata gene frequency of 4/44 (9.1%) with 3/22 (13.6%) of individuals carrying the gene. Upper estimate. The upper estimate assumes 9 WWxbb, 1 Wbx Wb and 1 bb x Wb pairings, involving (10 x bb) +(2 x Wb)+(10 x WW) genotypes comprising 22 ‘b’ and 22 ‘W alleles, and hence a biocellata gene frequency of 22/44 (50%) with 12/22 (54.5%) of individuals carrying the gene. GENOTYPE FREQUENCIES, HIGH ALTITUDE. High altitude mesoventro-s2/ s5 biocellata females #1 and #5 were most likely bb. Both yielded aberrant F, (3 out of 15 individuals (20%) and 11 out of 26 (42%) respectively), the male parents therefore having been most likely Wb (bb would predict an all aberrant F; and WW an all wild-type F,). The lower than expected frequency of biocellata phenotypes predicted from a bbx Wb cross may indicate a greater mortality among bb genotypes. The 13 remaining females to yield F, were wild-type and yielded all wild- type offspring. Lower estimate. The lower estimate of biocellata gene frequency in the high- altitude population assumes 13 WWx WW and 2 bbx Wb pairings, involving (2 x bb) + (2 x Wh) +(26 x WW) genotypes comprising 6 ‘b’ and 54 ‘W alleles, and hence a biocellata gene frequency of 6/60 (10%) with 4/30 (13.3%) of individuals carrying the gene. Upper estimate. The upper estimate of biocellata gene frequency in the high altitude population assumes 13 WWxbb and 2 bbx Wb pairings, involving (15 x bb) +(2 x Wb)+(13 x WW) genotypes comprising 32 ‘b’ and 28 ‘W alleles, ie. a biocellata gene frequency of 32/60 (53.3%) with 17/30 (56.7%) of individuals carrying the gene. Population structure and gene flow Since the field collected males from both altitudes displayed wild-type pattern when the biocellata gene is autosomal (i.e. not sex-linked), the actual gene and genotype frequencies in the wild populations probably lie nearer the lower estimates. However, the occurrence in samples from both altitudes of similar lower and upper estimates, suggests that individuals along the altitudinal gradient function as a single population. Although the sampling sites represented separate woodlands, each woodland was contiguous between 30 and 200 m amsl. Furthermore, maximum separation between these woodlands was ~400 m, yet female P. aegeria can disperse up to 600m and traverse open terrain (Davies, 1978). Thus, while genetic assimilation has been implicated in the evolution of high-altitude forms elsewhere (Shapiro, 1976), gene flow between low- and high-altitude P. a. tircis in N. Wales may limit such altitudinal differentiation here. Pupal diapause Among the high altitude stock at 14°C, 6 of 87 F, individuals (7%) underwent pupal durations greater than 28 days indicative of diapause (Lees & Tilley, 1980). Of these 6 high-altitude diapause pupae, 3 males and 1 female (67%) emerged as ab. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 107 cockaynei Goodson, in which the dark underside wing areas tend to merge and appear more uniform, contrasting vividly with the remaining pale markings and eyespot pupils (Russwurm, 1978: Plate 32) (Plate I, Figs 16-17). Diapause pupae appeared in the low altitude stock however, only after two generations at 14°C (2 diapause pupae, total of direct developing pupae not ascertained). An earlier study using S. England P. a. tircis under 16 h daylength (Winokur, 1992), had found that the offspring of individuals reared at 18°C yielded only direct developing pupae at both 14° and 18°C, but that if the parents were briefly chilled as pupae to —2°C, then some of the offspring reared at 14° (but not 18°C) underwent diapause to emerge as ab. cockaynei. Since British P. a. tircis typically form diapause pupae only under daylengths of 11 h or less irrespective of temperature (Lees & Tilley, 1980), it was concluded that pupal diapause and pattern modification at 14°C with 16 h daylength depended on the parents having experienced pupal frost, thereby implicating some parental effect. Considering again the N. Wales low altitude P. a. tircis, it is proposed that diapause in the F, at 14°C with 16 h could similarly have been conditioned by the parents too having developed at 14°C. While Colwyn Bay meteorological station (36 m amsl) recorded a July mean of 15.7°C (Table 1), higher altitudes would be expected to be cooler (Geiger, 1965), hence a number of the high- altitude parental sample (collected at 200-220 m amsl) might have developed at 14°C (or cooler). Higher altitudes would also be expected to suffer more prevalent winter frosts (Geiger, 1965), and while this would be of more direct consequence to individuals of generation 1, sporadic summer frosts at high altitude cannot be ruled out. P. a. tircis mesoventro-s2/s5 biocellata. F, from a high altitude F, mesoventro-s2/s5 biocellata female reared at 20°C (female #1.4), were cultured indoors from 11.x.1992 in 5" diameter translucent perspex tubs, under natural daylength but away from direct sunlight, and replenished with cut foodplant at two-day intervals. Room temperature was not recorded but might be expected to be warmer than in the field. Only three pupae diapaused, yielding two ‘early spring’ form males (Plate I, Fig. 14); and a cockaynei female (Plate I, Fig. 15) which may have been ‘forced’ by indoor temperature. Diapause comparisons with subspecies oblita Of the P. a. oblita F, at 14°C, 36 of 52 pupae (70%) diapaused, but of 24 diapause adults preserved only 3 males and 1 female (17%) were ab. cockaynei (Plate I, Fig. 18); the remainder were typical ‘early spring’ forms (Plate I, Fig. 19). Direct developing P. a. oblita were of the late spring/summer form that typify the 2nd brood (Plate I, Fig. 20; Robertson, 1980a), suggesting that ‘early spring’ phenotype in P. aegeria is linked to pupal diapause; linking of vernal phenotype to diapause is known in other species (Shapiro, 1976). Aberrant pattern in North Wales (and S. England) P. a. tircis, may have resulted from the 16h daylength being atypical of times in their season when prevailing temperature is 14°C or less (Table 1). Hence the atypically long photoperiod may have ‘forced’ pupae that at 14°C or less would normally have been diapausing under shorter associated daylengths. At the latitude occupied by P. a. oblita on the other hand, daylengths of 16 h or more persist later into the season, when concomitant temperatures would be cooler than further south (Table 1) thereby leaving less time for the animals to complete the life cycle before winter. Hence in P. a. oblita, one might expect the critical photoperiod for pupal diapause to be shifted to longer daylengths than for more southern P. a. tircis (cf. Nylin et al, in press); with 16 h daylength therefore being 108 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 closer to the normal photoperiodic cue for diapause in P. a. oblita and so less likely to result in aberrant wing pattern. UNDERSTANDING AB. COCKAYNEI AND ‘DRUMENSIS’ FORMS The incidence of ab. cockaynei among the respective cohorts points against chance genetic mutation, and suggests that development of the phenotype does not depend on a particular genotype per se, but rather is a structured response of the wing developmental physiology to a variety of atypical cytogenetic-environmental interactions. Several examples of cockaynei are known e.g. Rothschild-Cockayne- Kettlewell collection, British Museum (Natural History), and it may represent a ‘recurrent’ aberration (cf. Shapiro, 1975). P. aegeria larvae often pupate in exposed locations and show little inclination to seek shelter (Cole, 1962), and cockaynei individuals may represent the progeny of animals subjected to frost as young pupae. The parental frost exposure might result in the progeny larva undergoing protracted growth, but nevertheless reaching the final instar under daylengths of 16 h or more. While 16 h daylength would normally cue direct pupal development, the parental history could result in the individual undergoing atypical diapause, the adult possibly emerging in late autumn if temperatures permit but otherwise perishing as a pupa; the specimen figured by Russwurm (1978) was taken in November. Should the progeny larva not reach the final instar until later in the autumn, the shorter daylength itself would cue pupal diapause and associated ‘early spring’ phenotype. The parental history may further protract the diapause, so that the ‘early spring’ form thus emerges later than the usual April-May of generation 1 part i (Goddard, 1962) as with ‘drumensis’ which Thompson (1952) reported as flying above the tree line in June. In the present study, diapause individuals from high altitude P. a. tircis and Scottish P. a. oblita, also grew more slowly as larvae and produced heavier adults (Sibly et al, in prep.). Thus protracted larval development in putative ‘drumensis’ (P. a. tircis) individuals could account for their larger size. Indeed, Thompson’s specimens may have resembled vernal P. a. oblita (Plate I, Fig. 19), for N. Wales P. a. tircis and P. a. oblita diapause animals showed similar pupal durations and male weights (Sibly ef al, in prep.). Alternatively, drumensis may simply have constituted an unusually late generation 1 part ii, which flies in late May/June (Goddard, 1962) and typically comprises the largest adults of all the broods (Robertson, 1980a). Such drumensis may have resembled somewhat ‘late spring’ P. a. oblita specimens (Plate I, Fig. 20), though without Thompson’s specimens for comparison further field work is required to reliably characterize the form. Reasons for the absence of subsequent reports include the failure to conduct any further planned studies, and it is therefore important not to discount a priori the natural occurrence of ‘drumensis’. Second, since its occurrence would appear to depend on prevailing climate, fluctuations in the prevailing weather between years (Shreeve, 1986) may result some years in the form being absent. Third, being described from atypical habitat (open grassland/moor, pers. obs.) where recorders are unlikely to be monitoring the species, it is liable to be overlooked. Finally, its June flight period means that collectors in search of fresh voucher specimens, and breeders in search of gravid females, would likely have completed their activities. Whether an individual undergoes a ‘cockaynei’ or ‘drumensis’-type life cycle, may also depend on the emergence (part i or ii) from which it derived and hence the time BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 109 available to complete larval development, and on underlying genetic differences in growth rate (Robertson, 1980b). Similar considerations would apply to the offspring of second generation individuals developing under cool summers. EVOLUTIONARY CONSIDERATIONS P. aegeria probably reached Britain from Europe when the ice retreated after the Loch Lomond readvance of c. 10 000 B.P. (Dennis, 1977), though the history of subspecies oblita is not firmly established since the species can undergo dramatic changes in distribution over much briefer time scales, as within the present century (Barbour, 1986). However, while winter frost is rare in N.W. Scotland (Thomson, 1980), populations colonizing the region from the south would experience cooler and shorter summers and correspondingly longer daylengths, possibly resulting in a proportion of the progeny undergoing ‘cockaynei and ‘drumensis’ life cycles. Individuals undergoing the normal strategy would be likely to emerge too late in the season to breed, but those undergoing the ‘drumensis’ strategy could yield progeny the following spring that in turn develop under a cool summer. Under such recurrent seasons, a strategy initially conditioned by parental effect might come to be intrinsically determined, and under the prevailing seasonal daylengths, show a concomitant shift in the critical photoperiod for pupal diapause to longer daylengths; although the precise mechanism by which such shifts in the ‘norm of reaction’ come about is a matter for investigation. In Scotland, P. a. tircis appears to be extending its range down the Great Glen from deciduous forest in the north-east to cooler pine forests more south-west. An examination of responses along the cline to particular climatic regimes could help us understand whether there is a rapid adaptation in the species to minor climatic shifts (Barbour, 1986). One of Waddington’s (1961) experiments selected for ‘bithorax’ flies (where the metathorax develops wings in place of halteres) produced by exposing the eggs to ether, but Ho et a/ (1983) obtained similar increases in the incidence of bithorax using highly inbred lines of negligible genetic variability and without applying selection; moreover, despite reduced fecundity and survival in bithorax. These findings appear to involve progressive changes in maternally imposed organization of the egg surface cytoplasm, which may further condition changes in nuclear gene expression (Ho et al, 1983). Since a study on pupal chilling in P. aegeria had shown more extreme development of ‘cockaynei’ features among the F, at 14°C than in the cold-treated parents (Winokur & White, in prep.), comparable cytoplasmic effects could be involved in mediating lepidopteran evolution; although induced changes in sperm chromosomal DNA could represent a possible mechanism (cf. Vuillaume & Berkaloff, 1974). Vuillaume & Berkaloff, working with the large white butterfly, Pieris brassicae L., had found that larvae administered LSD failed to undergo the usual pupal diapause under daylengths of 9h or less, but that their progeny were resistant to corresponding doses of the drug. They suggested that LSD activates a detoxifying mechanism in the parent butterfly that is passed on to its offspring. Moreover, since the resistance of the progeny to LSD proved greater when just the male parent had been treated than when the female alone had been treated, Vuillaume & Berkaloff suggested that inheritance of the detoxification mechanism is mediated via induced changes in sperm chromosome structure. Alternatively, adaptation might involve the process of gene amplification, in which multiple copies of appropriate DNA sequences are generated and incorporated within the genome (see Pollard, 1988). Gene amplification, for instance, is known to 110 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 be involved in the rapid acquisition by insect populations of insecticide resistance, and appears to be part of the physiological repertoire of all cells (Ho, 1988). Moreover, the environmental stimulus may actually stabilize those cells in which the appropriate genes are being amplified, in which respect the environment, rather than selecting for a pre-existing genetic variant, is selecting for a cytogenetic response (Ho, 1988). For example, it was above suggested that in P. a. oblita, adult size was compromised to a lesser degree by rearing at 14° versus 17°C than in P. a. tircis, because the former had become metabolically adjusted to enable more efficient growth at lower temperatures. Should this have involved the amplification of genes appropriate for efficient nutrient assimilation and metabolism, and also present in P. a. tircis but in a lesser complement (as opposed to selection for a gene just improving metabolism at 14°C), then this would explain P. a. oblita continuing to attain the greater size at 17° and 20°C. However, when egg yields and fertility were compared, performance was severely compromised at 14°C compared to 17°C in P. a. oblita (Sibly et al, in prep.), the reverse of what might be expected should P. a. oblita be carrying the greater metabolic gene complement. An alternative explanation therefore, is that in S. England, where the hotter summers and more intense solar radiation force high metabolic rates with a concomitant risk of tissue damage, P. a. tircis has responded by amplifying genes appropriate for coping with rapid metabolic turnover. Not only would this protect such individuals from heat stress, but the amplified complement of metabolic genes may enhance the allocation of metabolic resources to other functions such as reproduction. Should this have involved genes also present in P. a. oblita only in lesser complement (as opposed to a gene enhancing performance specifically at 20°C), then this would explain P. a. tircis continuing to grow faster (and accordingly to produce smaller adults) yet remaining more fecund than P. a. oblita at also 17° and 14°C. The initial adjustment to warmer conditions however, would likely have required a shift in the allocation of metabolic resources from growth (and reproduction) to cytogenetic restructuring, leading to an initial loss of condition, as occurs with flax plants transplanted between culture media (Cullis, 1983). Indeed, it is noteworthy that among P. a. oblita undergoing larval aestivation at 20°C (warmer than normally experienced in the field, Table 1), a number of individuals showed varying degrees of wing pattern abnormality (Plate I Fig. 21), indicative of developmental stress. Furthermore, a shift in resource allocation to cytogenetic restructuring could explain why rearing at 20°C did not bring fecundity up to the level exhibited by P. a. tircis. However, cytogenetic and molecular studies will be required before firm conclusions are drawn. Such considerations, as well as those pertaining to the spatial and temporal heterogeneity of ancestral environments (Sibly & Atkinson, 1994), are particularly critical if the success of introduction attempts necessitating stock of disparate origin, the capacity of species to expand their ranges, and the impact of rapid climatic shifts as with global warming, are to be accurately predicted. Reciprocal crosses between stocks (e.g. oblita female x tircis male, tircis female x oblita male) with pure crosses as controls, and between cohorts reared under different culture regimes (e.g. 14°C female x 20°C male, 20°C female x 14°C male) could identify more specifically the roles of maternal (cytoplasmic) effect, genotype, and environment, in determining life history strategy and consequently adult size and pattern. A high incidence of pattern abnormalities in such crosses might disclose nuclear/cytoplasmic incompatibilities, important in predicting the effects of mixing between locally adapted populations, as could occur between P. a. tircis and P. a. oblita south-west of the Great Glen. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 111 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The present study was funded under Natural Environment Research Council (UK) small grant GR9/706, awarded to Professors Robert H. Smith and Richard M. Sibly. I also thank Dr Roger L. H. 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Zool. 225: 357-368. Lees, E. & Tilley, R. J. D. 1980. Influence of photoperiod and temperature on larval development in Pararge aegeria (L.) (Lepidoptera: Satyridae). Entomologist’s Gaz. 31: 3-6. Nylin, S., Gotthard, K., Wickman, P.-O. & Wiklund, C. (in press). Life cycle regulation and life history plasticity in the speckled wood butterfly: are reaction norms predictable? Biol. J. Linn. Soc. Nylin, S. & Svard, L. 1991. Latitudinal patterns in the size of European butterflies. Holarctic Ecol. 14: 192-202. Pollard, J. W. 1988. New genetic mechanisms and their implication for the formation of new species. In Ho, M.-W. & Fox, S. W. (Eds). Evolutionary processes and metaphors. John Wiley and Sons, Chichester, pp. 63-84. Robertson, T. S. 1980a. Seasonal variation in the Pararge aegeria (Linnaeus) (Lepidoptera: Satyridae): a biometrical study. Entomologist’s Gaz. 31: 151-156. Robertson, T. S. 1980b. Observations on Pararge aegeria (Linnaeus) (Lepidoptera: Satyridae) in 1979. Entomologist’s Gaz. 31: 211-213. Russwurm, A. D. A. 1978. Aberrations of British butterflies. Classey, Farringdon. Schwanwitsch, B. N. 1935. Evolution of the wing-pattern in palaearctic Satyridae III. genus Pararge and five others. Acta Zool. 16: 145-281. Shapiro, A. M. 1975. Natural and laboratory occurrences of “elymi’ phenotypes in Cynthia cardui (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae). J. Res. Lepid. 13: 57-62. Shapiro, A. M. 1976. Seasonal polyphenism. Evol. Biol. 9: 259-333. 112 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 Shreeve, T. G. 1986. The effect of weather on the life cycle of the speckled wood butterfly Pararge aegeria. Ecol. Ent. 11: 325—332. Sibatani, A. 1980. Wing homoeosis in Lepidoptera: a survey. Dev. Biol, 79: 1-18. Sibly, R. M. & Atkinson, D. 1994. How rearing temperature affects optimal adult size in ectotherms. Functional Ecol., 8: 486-493. Sibly, R. M., Winokur, L. & Smith, R. H. (in prep.). Interpopulation variation in phenotypic plasticity in the speckled wood butterfly (Parage aegeria L.). Smith, R. H., Sibly, R. M. & Moller, H. 1987. Control of size and fecundity in Pieris rapae: towards a theory of butterfly life cycles. J. Anim. Ecol. 56: 341-350. Thomas, J. A. & Webb, N. 1984. The butterflies of Dorset. Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society. Thompson, J. A. 1952. Butterflies in the coastal region of North Wales. Entomologist’s Rec. J. Var. 64: 161—166. Thomson, G. 1980. The butterflies of Scotland—a natural history. Croom Helm Ltd, London. Vuillaume, M. & Berkaloff, A. 1974. LSD treatment of Pieris brassicae and consequences on the progeny. Nature 251: 314-315. Waddington, C. H. 1961. Genetic assimilation. Adv. Genet. 10: 257-294. Wiklund, C., Persson, A. & Wickman, P.-O. 1983. Larval aestivation and direct development as alternative strategies in the speckled wood butterfly, Pararge aegeria, in Sweden. Ecol. Ent. 8: 233-238. Winokur, L. 1992. Stable changes in voltinism strategy and their implications. Nota Lep. Suppl. 4: 36-56. Winokur, L. & White, R. J. (in prep.). Wing pattern variation in Pararge aegeria L. (Lepidoptera: Satyridae): natural selection or constructive reciprocity? SHORT COMMUNICATION Swammerdammia compunctella H.-S. (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutidae), in Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorgan, S. Wales.—Whilst curating G. Fleming’s collection of Lepidoptera (accession number NMW.1927.644) in the National Museum of Wales, Cardiff, I came across a series of Swammerdammia that he had named as S. caesiella (Hiibn.). The series was collected from the area of Merthyr Tydfil between 1920 and 1926, in the months of June and July. Of the twenty specimens, 18 were re-determined by myself as S. albicapitella (Scharf), and the remaining two as S. compunctella (H.-S.). My determinations were confirmed by David Agassiz at the 1994 BENHS exhibition. It would appear that S. compunctella has not previously been recorded in Glamorgan (VC41), and possibly not even from Wales (Agassiz, 1987). It would therefore be useful to search for the larvae in the spring on young Rowan trees. It is also worth noting that the G. Fleming collection contains a great number of micro-Lepidoptera, mostly from South Wales, the records of which have probably never been published. The full data from the two specimens are: Merthyr Tydfil, 22.vi.1925, and Merthyr Tydfil 25.vi.1926.—D. J. SLADE. c/o National Museum of Walesj»Cathays Park, Cardiff CF1 3NP. REFERENCE Agassiz, D. J. L. 1987. The British Argyresthiinae and Yponomeutinae. Proc. Trans. Br. Ent. Nat. Hist. Soc. 20: 1—26. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 113 TWO NEW SPECIES OF MEGASELIA (DIPTERA: PHORIDAE) FROM EUROPE R. H. L. DISNEY Field Studies Council Research Fellow, University Museum of Zoology, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EJ. The genus Megaselia Rondani is the largest in the family Phoridae, probably including more than half the species of the present-day phorid fauna. Not only the boundaries of the genus but also the recognition of the species is still far from satisfactory. The problems and the identification literature for the world are reviewed elsewhere (Disney, 1994). The present priority is to characterize clearly the males and to provide illustrations of the male hypopygia. The most recent treatment of European species is a key to the males of species recorded from the British Isles (Disney, 1989). This paper describes two new species, which were collected in Germany and were sent to me by Dr Sabine Prescher and Dr Gisela Weber. In addition the male hypopygia of two poorly known species are illustrated. The specimens have been mounted on slides in the standard manner recommended for male phorids (Disney, 1983, 1994). The type material has been deposited in the Cambridge University Zoology Museum. DESCRIPTIONS OF SPECIES Megaselia haraldlundi sp. nov. Type locality, Germany, near Adenau. Type material, holotype male, Germany, Eifel mountains, Nordrhein-Westfalen, near Adenau, 20.v.—3.vi.1990, in emergence trap in spruce forest. Leg. Mechthild Engel, deposited in Cambridge University Museum of Zoology; 1 male paratype with holotype. Etymology. The species is named after Harald Lund. Diagnosis. Lower supra-antennal bristles strong, but a little shorter than upper pair, frons dull, labella with only sparse spines below, palps largely pale yellow, two notopleural bristles, scutellum with two hairs and two bristles, mesopleuron bare, epandrium with more than 20 hairs on left side, anal tube a little shorter than epandrium and brownish yellow, hairs of proctiger slightly more robust than those on cerci, hypandrial lobes with short hairs, legs mainly pale yellowish brown with darker apex to hind femur, hairs below basal half of latter longer than those of anteroventral row of outer half, hind tibia without differentiated anterodorsals, costal index about 0.47, costal section 1 longer than sections 2 +3, costal cilia long, vein Sc free, haltere knob essentially yellow. Description (male only) Frons brown, with bristles positioned as Fig. 3. The lower supra-antennals are robust but a little shorter and more slender than the upper pair. Four bristles on cheek and four stronger ones on jowl. Frons with dense microtrichia (i.e. dull) and 50-60 hairs. Palps pale yellow very lightly tinged brown and with seven bristles, the longest being at most 0.09 mm long. The brown, subglobose, third antennal segment somewhat large (greatest diameter 0.16mm). Arista brown, the basal segments about 2.5 x as long as broad, the first being fractionally longer, and swollen basal section of 114 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 third segment being just over 3 x as long as broad. Pubescence of third segment short. Proboscis pale dusky yellow, including labrum, whose greatest breadth is about 0.1mm. Labella a little expanded, but with only a few scattered pale spines below apart from dense patch apicolaterally. Thorax brown, being darkest on top and more chestnut on sides. Each side of scutum with a humeral, two notopleurals, an intra- alar, a postalar and a prescutellar dorsocentral bristle. Scutellum with an anterior pair of hairs, at most as strong as those at rear of scutum, and a posterior pair of bristles. Mesopleuron bare. Abdomen with brown tergites with scattered short hairs, which are a little longer posterolaterally on 1—5, especially on 2. Posterior row of tergite 6 much stronger and longer (Fig. 1). Internally with four rectal papillae. Venter Figs. 1-2. Megaselia, left faces of male hypopygia: (1) M. haraldlundi; (2) M. intercostata. Scale bars=0.1 mm. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 115 pale greyish yellow, but with darker transverse bands on flanks below sides of tergites. Ventrally with scattered hairs on segments 3-6, the longest being at rear of 6 in the middle. Hypopygium with brown epandrium, paler hypandrial lobes, a pale brownish yellow anal tube, and as Fig. 1. Legs pale yellowish brown, with darker brown at apex of hind femur and along dorsal face of hind tibia. All five fore tarsal segments with a well-developed posterodorsal hair palisade. Front metatarsus more than 5 x as long as broad. Dorsal hair palisade of middle tibia extends three-quarters of its length. At least six of the hairs below basal two-thirds of hind femur are longer than those of anteroventral row in distal half. Hind tibia with about a dozen differentiated posterodorsal hairs, of which the seven lowest are more spine-like. The dorsal hair palisade is deflected onto anterior face just before last posterodorsal spine. Spines of apical comb of posterior face all simple. Wing 1.8—1.9mm long. Costal index 0.47. Costal ratios 3.17—3.35: 1.84— 1.85: 1. Costal cilia 0.13-0.14mm long. Veins yellowish to brownish grey. Membrane lightly tinged brownish grey. Vein Sc clearly ending before reaching R,. A small hair at base of vein 3. Axillary ridge with four bristles, the outermost being as long as costal cilia of section 3. Vein 4 originates just beyond fork of vein 3. Haltere with brown stem and pale yellow knob, which may be lightly tinged grey. Similar species In the keys to British Megaselia (Disney, 1989) this species readily runs to couplet 225 and then by a return loop to couplet 159 and to M. septentrionalis (Schmitz). This species and M. haraldlundi are evidently sibling species. The latter tends to be a little smaller and with much paler legs and palps. The size difference is best indicated by the length of the hind femur, which is less than 0.85mm in M. haraldlundi, but more than this in M. septentrionalis. The hypopygia are similar (cf Fig. 1 with fig. 398 in Disney, 1989), but differ in small details. For example the hairs of the posterolateral extremity of the left side of the epandrium below the anal tube of M. haraldlundi are the shortest hairs, but in M. septentrionalis the hairs in this position are among the longer hairs on the side of the epandrium. The anterior scutellars are stronger in M. septentrionalis. Megaselia septentrionalis was originally described from a single female (Schmitz, 1919). A male was included in the keys of Schmitz & Delage (1981), but the description is cut off in mid sentence, after the characterization of the antenna; this work having remained unfinished ever since. The inclusion in the key to British species, therefore, provides the best available published characterization of the male of this species. Megaselia intercostata (Lundbeck, 1921) Material examined, 1 male, Germany, Thiiringen, Apfelstadter Ried nature reserve, 1—15.vi.1985. Leg. Jorg Weipert. Lundbeck (1922) provides a description, with a figure of the wing, of this species. The male hypopygium is depicted in Fig. 2, a suitable specimen for illustration having not been available when writing the key to British Megaselia (Disney, 1989). Megaselia jameslamonti sp. nov Type locality, Germany, Thiiringen. Type material, holotype male, Germany, Thiiringen, Apfelstadter Ried nature reserve, 12—26.1x.1985, moist meadow with Cirsium oleraceum (L.) Scop., Salix and 116 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 Populus, in yellow bowl-trap. Leg. Jérg Weipert, in University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge, England. Etymology. The species is named after James Lamont. : Diagnosis. Lower supra-antennal bristles subequal to upper pair, frons dull, palps brown, three notopleural bristles, scutellum with two hairs and two bristles, epandrium with less than a dozen hairs on left side plus one longer bristle-like hair, anal tube pale brown and clearly longer than epandrium, hairs of proctiger little if any stronger than hairs of cerci, left lobe of hypandrium very short, it and right lobe with short hairs, legs mainly brown, hairs below base of hind femur longer than those of anteroventral row in distal half, hind tibia without differentiated anterodorsal hairs, costal index 0.48-0.49, costal section 1 longer than sections 2+ 3, costal cilia short, vein Sc free, haltere knob brown. Figs. 3-6. Megaselia males. (3) M. haraldlundi frons, with bristles represented by basal sockets only; (4) M. jameslamonti frons; (5) M. teneripes, posterior face of hind femur and tibia; (6) M. teneripes frons. Scale bars=0.1 mm. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 117 Description (male only) Frons brown, with bristles positioned as Fig. 4. The lower supra-antennal bristles subequal to upper pair. Three bristles on cheek and two stronger ones on jowl. Frons with dense microtrichia (i.e. dull) and 54-60 hairs. Palps brown, with a very short vestigial basal segment. Distal segment a little inflated in basal half and with 8-9 differentiated bristles, the longest being 0.11mm in length. The brown, subglobose, third antennal segment large (greatest diameter 0.16mm). Arista brown and short-haired. Labrum pale brown, its greatest breadth about half diameter of third antennal segment. Labella relatively narrow, pale whitish yellow but tinged pale brown above, with only a few scattered pale spines below. Thorax brown to almost black on top. Each side of scutum with a humeral, three notopleurals, an intra-alar, a postalar and a prescutellar dorsocentral bristle. Scutellum with an anterior pair of fine hairs (shorter and finer than those at rear of scutum) and a posterior pair of bristles. Mesopleuron with 11—12 hairs and a bristle at hind margin that is longer than anterior notopleural bristle. Abdominal tergites brown with scattered short hairs, which are a little longer at hind margins. Venter brownish grey with scattered hairs below on segments 3-6. Hypopygium with brown epandrium and hypandrium apart from paler posterior lobe of right side, with a paler brown anal tube, and as Fig. 7. Legs brown, but tarsi and front tibia paler, being pale yellow lightly tinged brown. All five fore-tarsal segments with a well developed postero-dorsal hair palisade. Front metatarsus a little thickened, being about 4.5 x as long as greatest breadth, and ventrally with a single longitudinal row of differentiated truncated hairs. Dorsal hair palisade of middle tibia extends only about 0.6 of its length. Five or six hairs below basal half of hind femur are longer than those of anteroventral row in distal half. Hind tibia with about 14 differentiated posterodorsal hairs, the six or seven in middle being the most robust. The dorsal hair palisade is deflected a little onto anterior face from position of penultimate posterodorsal hair. Spines of apical comb of posterior face all simple. Wing 1.59 mm long. Costal index 0.48-0.49. Costal ratios 4.10:2.05:1. Costal cilia 0.08-0.09mm long. Veins grey to yellowish grey. Membrane only lightly tinged grey. Vein Sc fades away before reaching R,. No hair at base of vein 3. Axillary ridge with two, well spaced, bristles, the outermost being longer than costal cilia of section 3. Vein 4 originates at or just beyond fork of vein 3, but its base is obscure. Both stem and knob of haltere brown. Similar species In the keys to British species (Disney, 1989) M. jameslamonti runs to couplet 48. Neither lead applies, although lead 2 is to be preferred. If one proceeds it runs to couplet 58 and then by a return loop to couplet 47; neither lead applies, because of the details of the hypopygium. A note at couplet 48 directs one to couplet 60, if neither lead of 48 applies. It will then run readily to couplet 126,but neither lead applies because of its long anal tube. In the keys of Schmitz (1957a) M. jameslamonti will run to couplets 19-22 on page 432. The species covered by these couplets are also included in my keys to British species except for M. intonsa Schmitz. The latter resembles M. jameslamonti but it has a shorter costal index, different costal ratios, longer costal cilia, and differences of detail in the hypopygium. 118 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 8 Figs. 7-8. Megaselia, left faces of male hypopygia. (7) M. jameslamonti; (8) M. teneripes. Scale bars=0.1 mm. Megaselia teneripes Schmitz, 1957b Material examined, 1 male in Museum Koenig, Bonn, labelled ““Dolomiten grasteilenpaB. S. Hang+2540m, 3/7/56 Klebelsberg’” (or perhaps “‘Klobolsberg’’) “Meg. teneripes’’. Schmitz (1957b) described a single female from the Spanish Sierra Nevada. The hitherto undescribed male has been remounted on a slide and is characterized below. The male closely resembles the female in its overall brown coloration and slender femora and tibiae (e.g. Fig. 5). The frontal bristles are*disposed as in Fig. 6. The brown labrum much narrower than greatest diameter of third antennal segment (0.09 and 0.17 mm respectively). The brown labella relatively short and narrow, with only BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 119 a few pale spines below. The hypopygium as Fig. 8. As in the female, there are only two notopleural bristles. There is no notopleural cleft. Anterior scutellars reduced to small hairs, at most as long as hairs at rear of scutum. Apical comb on posterior face of hind tibia with all spines simple (Fig. 5). Wing similar to female (fig. 8 in Schmitz, 1957b), with strong vein Sc reaching and fusing with R,. A minute hair at base of vein 3. Six well developed bristles on axillary ridge. Similar species In my keys (Disney, 1989) the male of M. teneripes runs to couplets 273 and 274. The details of the hypopygium and slender hind femora will readily distinguish it from the species of these couplets. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Iam grateful to Dr H. Ulrich (Zoologisches Forschungsinstitut und Museum K oenig, Bonn) for the loan of the specimen in his care and for his hospitality during a visit to Bonn. My work on Phoridae is currently funded by a grant from the Leverhulme Trust (London), made to Dr W. A. Foster for a Research Associate, and a grant from the Isaac Newton Trust (Trinity College, Cambridge). The new species are named after Harald Lund and James Lamont, who responded to an appeal for funds made by our local church REFERENCES Disney, R. H. L. 1983. Scuttle flies Diptera Phoridae (except Megaselia). Handbk Ident. Brit. Insects 10(6): 1-81. Disney, R. H. L. 1989. Scuttle flies Diptera Phoridae genus Megaselia. Handbk Ident. Brit. Insects 10(8): 1-155. Disney, R. H. L. 1994. Scuttle flies: The Phoridae. Chapman & Hall, London. xii +467 pp. Lundbeck, W. 1921. New species of Phoridae from Denmark, together with remarks on Aphiochaeta groenlandica Lundb. Vidensk. Meddr. Dansk. Naturh. Foren. 72: 129-143. Lundbeck, W. 1922. Hypocera, Phoridae. Diptera Danica 6: 69-455. Schmitz, H. 1919. Uber einige Phoriden der Oldenbergschen Sammlung. Ent. Ber. Ned. Ent. Ver. 5: 185-196. Schmitz, H. 1957a. Phoridae. In: Lindner, E. (Ed.). Die Fliegen der palaearktischen Region 4(33) (Lieferung 196): 417-464. Schmitz, H. 1957b. Zoologisch-systematische Ergebnisse der Studienreise von H. Janetschek und W. Steiner in die spanische Sierra Nevada 1954. IV. Phoridae (Diptera). Sber. Ost. Akad. Wiss. 166(5 + 6): 231-247. Schmitz, H. & Delage, A. 1981. Phoridae. In: Lindner, E. (Ed.). Die Fliegen der palaearktischen Region 4(33) (Lieferung 325): 665-712. LETTER TO THE EDITOR Capital letters for English names.—Both of us were wondering about the Journal’s policy regarding the use of capital letters. We know that you are keen to avoid moving towards the German position, where every noun is capitalized, and we both heartily agree with this policy. Where we are unsure concerns the titles of articles which we are quoting. If an author used capitals in a paper or book title and we are quoting such a publication, we feel that we should use capitals exactly as he did. Similarly, in our paper (Br. J. Ent. Nat. Hist. 7: 59-65), we quote Sladen who referred 120 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 to Bombus ruderatus as the ‘Large Garden Humble-bee’ we would like to think that Sladen’s original usage might have been allowed to stand (as indeed it has). Regarding the English names of wild flowers: originally when,we wrote the paper, we used capital letters in both parts of the English binomial, e.g. “Deadly Nightshade”, ‘‘Long-stalked Orache’’, “Lesser Water-plantain’” and ‘‘Narrow- leaved Everlasting-pea”. This system is recommended in the English names of wild flowers, by J.G. Dony, S.L. Jury and F. Perring (2nd edn, B.S.B.I., 1986). This system is used to distinguish between a specific identification, e.g. “Spear Thistle’, Cirsium vulgare, and the general name “thistle” which could refer to various members of several genera. We hope you will not think us presumptuous in writing on this matter, but wonder whether the current policy might be in need of a rethink STUART ROBERTS, 22 Belle Vue Road, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP1 3YG and GEORGE ELSE, Department of Entomology, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD. Reply from the Editor —Capital letters are overused and often misused, and I must admit that I have come down rather hard on them. In most cases, however, capital letters serve no purpose and often interrupt the flow of thought when one is reading a sentence. But to take the points in order. Capital letters can be used to good stylistic effect on the cover and title page of a book—take for example the Society's own book on hoverflies. However, when quoting this publication in text or in a reference list, a decision must be made which words to capitalize. Examination of the original book is useless, since all the letters of the book’s title are capitals. It would be daft to list the book as it appears on its own title page with six words totalling 49 capital letters. Similarly, the title of the article by Else and Roberts is composed entirely of upper case letters in the original, but in quoting it in a reference list, this would not be followed. It may be seen as ironic that the reference style of the Journal, occasionally reproduced on the inside back covers, suggests that article and book titles should carry only initial captial letters for the first word while journal titles have all words capitalized. This is especially ironic since the “World List” suggests journal titles should have lower case for adjectives and hence “Br. J. Ent. nat. Hist.” However, the current practice (Br. J. Ent. Nat. Hist.) is regarded as “more modern” by scientific publishers. Whether or not other authors have used capital letters is no guide to how we should use them now. At certain periods, and in certain popular books, capital letters are used with abandon for all and sundry. However, I am intrigued to discover that botanists have adopted an “official” system. What should entomologists do? Faced with names such as small white and large white, it might be suggested that they deserve capital letters whereas the general term “‘white”’ does not. But then what of the peacock butterfly? The birds peahen, peacock and peafowl do not ordinarily take capital letters, so why should the butterfly? At present, I have adopted a style in which capital letters are zealously guarded against unless truly a “proper”? noun. Thus New Forest burnet, Portland ribbon wave and Roesel’s bush-cricket. However I recently came unstuck on the cousin german moth, initially capitalizing it as a cousin from Germany, until it was pointed out to me that it was a corruption of the French cousin germain, meaning simply a first cousin. Having said all this, I would be interested to hear the opinions of readers.— RICHARD A. JONES, 13 Bellwood Road, Nunhead, London SE15 3DE. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 121 THE DIPTERISTS’ FORUM: A MODEL FOR OTHERS TO FOLLOW? ALAN E. STUBBS 181 Broadway, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire PE] 4DS. One of the features of recent decades has been the proliferation of invertebrate recording schemes. Some of these are very active, providing the support that is needed in terms of assistance with identification, new keys, field meetings and other events that bring people together, and in particular, newsletters that maintain enthusiasm for a common purpose. Directly or indirectly, various new societies have been generated. The Balfour Brown Club (water beetles) is a prime example. The British Dragonfly Society grew, in large part, out of the success of the dragonfly recording scheme. Apart from insects, one only has to look at the BRC atlas on terrestrial and freshwater molluscs to appreciate what a dynamo recording has been in the Conchological Society, and the British Arachnological Society was begun by enthusiasts for recording in the field. A further element in this growth has been the increasing range of identification keys and books that have opened up taxonomic groups that were previously fraught. With groups such as butterflies, dragonflies and grasshoppers, which are suitable for the general naturalist (including ornithologists suffering from boredom in the mid- season lull in birds), the relationship between good books and adherents is obvious. One only has to look to moths to see this effect. A decline in popularity followed a decline in plate quality in the last edition of the book by South, and the marked rise in popularity followed publication of better illustrated books. On the back of this enthusiasm for insects, conservation has become a growing concern. Butterfly Conservation has gained a large membership, taking the lead with the butterfly recording scheme, whilst the British Dragonfly Society, with its recording base, is developing its own conservation role. So where does this leave a long-standing traditional society such as the BENHS? In my own experience, from virtual isolation as an entomologist, it was a revelation to attend a ‘South London’ meeting in 1966 and find such activity going on, unbeknown to me, only half a mile from my office. Since that date, lures for allegiance from recording schemes and new societies have arisen, yet, apart from Lepidoptera, the Society is becoming less and less central to the action. The Society has taken no lead in recording, or for that matter conservation, which are the two main growth points in entomological activity. The chances are that the isolated entomologist of today will discover recording schemes, or conservation orientated societies, and not the BENHS. The move to Dinton Pastures was from the outset seen as providing new opportunities, such as the workshop meetings and open days at the weekend for access to the collections and library. Many of us hope that other opportunities can be found that will increase the relevance of the Society to entomologists. As regards Diptera, the Society already has about 80 members who are solely dipterists or include flies in wider entomological interests. The Society has published British hoverflies, which has been a success in stimulating study of these insects and focused attention on the Society, including drawing in more dipterists as members. The BENHS journal has published papers on Diptera and some dipterists have played a prominent role in the society, not least Peter Chandler as Curator. However, the main action, centred on recording schemes, has been outside the Society. 122 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 Hence at a time when the dipterists find it necessary to set up their own ‘society’, the concept of affiliation to BENHS as the Dipterists’ Forum has emerged as an option with considerable merits. THE DIPTERISTS’ FORUM Origin of concept After 21 years, the Diptera recording schemes have reached the point where a formal organization has become essential. To the present we have managed to get all our circulars and newsletters produced free but at long last we have had to face up to collecting subscriptions, and there are other previously free services to be covered. Hence we have to set up an administration and also spread the tasks more equitably. Thus we may as well go the full hog and form a society. This was discussed at the recording schemes annual meeting in November 1993. Whilst there was support for starting a society there was also considerable concern at this further step in fragmenting entomology into isolated disciplines. Quite a few dipterists have wider entomological interests. Hence it was put to the meeting that we should consider affiliation with a parent national society, with BENHS as the most compatible option. Since various other recording groups watch for how the dipterists operate, it was possible that this could start a momentum towards bringing entomology together again. A small working party was set up which produced a consultation document for scheme organizers, outlining the implications and options. With unanimous support, the relevant parts of the consultation document were sent to BENHS Council to seek affiliation. A meeting was held at Dinton Pastures in April 1994 to discuss the implications with representatives of Council, and having clarified various points, Council agreed to affiliation at its July meeting. The Forum held its inaugural AGM in November 1994 and is now functioning as intended. Objectives (a) To foster the study of Diptera, linking with other disciplines where there is a relationship with other animals and plants. (b) To promote recording of all aspects of the natural history of flies, including the advancement of distribution mapping. (c) To encourage and support amateurs, in harmony with professionals in museums, institutes and universities. (d) To promote conservation of flies. (d) To organize indoor meetings, workshops, field meetings and other relevant events. (f) To disseminate news and information via newsletters and publications. (g) To focus on the flies of the British Isles, whilst maintaining an interest in Europe and elsewhere. Our journal, Dipterists Digest, has an increasing list of foreign subscribers and there is a great deal of interest abroad in how British dipterists organize themselves. Background history The Forum has evolved out of the launch of the Cranefly Recording Scheme in 1973. Even the first indoor meeting had people coming from as far as Scotland and BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 123 the first week-long field meeting in 1974 had 14 people. Newsletters were produced. Soon there were 80 people registered, with a quarter of that number attending week- long field meetings. A need was clearly being met, but it was soon apparent that the popularity was not so much craneflies as bringing together people with a wider interest in Diptera. The demand was for a hoverfly recording scheme. In 1976 such a scheme, together with recording schemes for a few other groups of flies, was launched. All the meetings and events were run under the auspices of the Central Panel of Diptera Recording Scheme organizers, with a coordinator who produced a Bulletin of the Diptera recording schemes. Most of the schemes produced newsletters, some quite vigorously, and indeed there are newsletters for various study groups which are not running recording schemes as such. In the last 2 years we have run residential workshops based at Preston Montford Field Centre in Shropshire, with over 30 people attending for the two themes so far, hoverflies and pictured-wing flies. We encourage the study of flies well beyond the recording schemes, and indeed on field meetings it can be amazing the range of insect groups which are being recorded in response to requests for material. The recording schemes, inevitably, are in various states of advancement. Provisional BRC atlases have been published for two groups of craneflies (long-palped craneflies and Ptychopteridae), for Sepsidae and with selected maps for larger Brachycera (robber flies etc.). Sets of maps have also been produced for snail-killing flies, meniscus midges and selected mosquitoes and various other flies. Increasingly we are looking to our own resources to computerize data for atlas production. The Hoverfly Recording Scheme now has well over 200000 records processed on computer, with many more records in hand. It is important to emphasize two things. Firstly, we are concerned with all aspects of improving knowledge on the identification, life history, behaviour and ecology of flies; distribution maps are but one output of our combined recording effort. Secondly, the existence of the national schemes has been a stimulus to various county or district recording schemes and some of these have already produced excellent atlases. At present there are 12 recording schemes and study groups: craneflies (Tipulidae sl, Trichoceridae, Ptychopteridae and Anisopodidae), meniscus midges (Dixidae), mosquitoes, fungus gnats, chironomid midges, hoverflies, larger Brachycera (robber flies, soldier flies, horseflies etc.), Dolichopodidae & Empidae, Pipunculidae, Conopidae, snail-killing flies, Tephritidae (pictured-wing flies), and Sepsidae. The annual meeting in the autumn, held at the Natural History Museum in London, attracts about 80 (it used to be over 100 until costs of travel became so high), with people still coming from as far afield as Scotland, plus one or two from Europe, especially for the event. We have a morning series of lectures and in the afternoon exhibits, demonstrations and discussion topics. A separately run Dipterists’ Dinner is held in the evening, a buffet with 40 to 50 attending. In the last 21 years we have held a week-long field meeting over a wide geographic area; sometimes there have been twin-centred fortnights. In a week we expect to cover anything up to 100 sites within up to 30 10-km squares. We also hold long-weekend autumn field meetings and various one-day meetings. Over the years we have dramatically increased knowledge of ecology and distribution of flies by blitzing under-recorded areas, including the addition of about 50 species to the British list. 124 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 The enthusiasm for the recording schemes gave confidence for the launch of a refereed journal, Dipterists Digest, run as a separate venture but now being brought into Forum publications. The advantages of affiliation to BENHS The Forum will in any event have to set up its own structure and administration which will to all intents and purposes amount to a society. Affiliation is an elastic term for the present since it will take time to sort out with the Charities Commissioners whether an affiliated Forum is within BENHS charitable status. Hence, it will be a loose affiliation for an initial period of 3 years. It would be an undue imposition to require all recording scheme dipterists to join BENHS, though 80 are already members, and the hope is that more will join. Hence the affiliation is with the Forum, not individual members, but we are looking to something much more meaningful than a token label. So what is the advantage? It cuts both ways, since there is advantage to both BENHS and the Forum. The Forum brings to the Society an active group of field-orientated entomologists, with considerable experience in running events and producing information which has been a successful catalyst in helping people find their feet in entomology and in generating enthusiasm for common objectives. Not least it brings to the Society a major locus in national recording schemes. It is not a case of dipterists trying to take over, but it means that the Society gains a broader image than catering largely for Lepidoptera. It also further enhances its image as a national society (the South London connection still within memory). The hope is that the Society will gain more affiliations and be stimulated into meeting the needs of members of all disciplines. Field meetings should become more viable as greater numbers of entomologists are invited and there is increased expertise to call on for running workshops at Dinton Pastures. The collection and library are more likely to be strengthened as Forum members recognize the value of Dinton Pastures. The long-term prospects for the Society to be offered key works for publication is enhanced. The advantage of affiliation to the Forum is the wish of many of its members to be part of a multi-disciplinary entomological society rather becoming yet another isolated part of entomology. The BENHS has a membership of kindred spirits and is the only national society with a collection, library and day workshop facilities, notably available at weekends. There has already been the successful relationship in publishing British hoverflies. With the Forum setting out without a cushion of money in the kitty, it is reassuring to find that the Society can provide limited bridging loans if the need arises (we expect to balance the books each year). There is also the benefit of the advice of entomologists used to running the Society, and potential advantages of an umbrella society such as the charitable status that these days is difficult and expensive to obtain by new groups such as the dipterists. Conclusion The affiliation, in the first instance, is for 3 years. We think it will*work well and hopefully everyone will find that the Forum concept will prove a stimulus within and outside the Society. Martin Drake has joined BENHS Council to represent the Dipterists’ Forum and Peter Chandler is BENHS Council’s representative on the Dipterists’ Forum committee. Alan Stubbs is the Dipterists’ Forum Secretary. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 125 SHORT COMMUNICATION Some records of root-aphids (Aphidoidea: Pemphigidae) feeding on spruce (Picea spp.) in Britain ——Over the past few years there has been some interest in the root- aphid fauna of Sitka (Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr.) and Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karsten) two of Britain’s most important forestry trees. Aspects of their taxonomy (Stroyan, 1975, 1991; Carter & Danielsson, 1991), complicated life- cycles (Carter & Danielsson, 1993) and interactions with air pollutants have been studied (Salt & Whittaker, 1995). However, little is known of their distribution in Britain. The following records are based on identifications of adult apterous virginoparae collected from roots just below the surface of the needle litter. We are grateful to R. Danielsson and C. Carter for help with identifications of some of this material. Pachypappa tremulae (L.): 2.xi.89 SD68, Old Park, Cumbria, P. abies & P. sitchensis; 17.x.90. SU854298, Iron Hill, W. Sussex, P. abies; 14.v.91 NS68, Carron Valley Forest, Strathclyde, P. abies; 15.v.91 NY67, Spadeadam Forest, Cumbria, P. abies. Pachypappa vesicalis Koch: 14.viii.90 SD68, Old Park, Cumbria, P. sitchensis; 17.x.90. SU864298, Iron Hill, W. Sussex. P. abies; 13.v.91 SE88, Dalby Forest, N. Yorks, P. sitchensis; 13.v.91 NX78, Barr Hill, Dumfries & Galloway, P. sitchensis; 13.v.91 NX66, Laurieston Forest, Dumfries & Galloway, P. abies; 13.v.91 NX36, Bennan Plantation, Dumfries & Galloway, P. sitchensis; 14.v.91 NT20, Craik Forest, Borders, P. abies & P. sitchensis; 14.v.91 NS68, Carron Valley Forest, Strathclyde, P. sitchensis; 14.v.91 NS49, Loch Ard Forest, Central, P. sitchensis; 15.v.91 NY67, Spadeadam Forest, Cumbria, P. abies & P. sitchensis. Pachypappella lactea (Tullgren): 7.x.89 SD45, Bailrigg, Lancs, P.sitchensis; 2.xi.89 NY61, Bank Moor, Cumbria, P. sitchenis; 2.xi.89 SD68, Old Park, Cumbria, P. sitchensis, 22.11.90 SD38, Astley’s Plantation, Cumbria, P. sitchensis; 8.ix.90 SE20, Langsett S. Yorks, P. sitchensis; 13.v.91 SE88, Dalby Forest, N. Yorks, P. abies. Prociphilus (Stagona) xylostei (De Geer): 25.x.91 SU82, Iron Hill, W. Sussex, P. abies; 2.xi.91 SD68, Old Park, Cumbria, P. sitchensis; 14.v.91 NT20, Craik Forest, Borders, Picea abies; 15.v.91 NY67, Spadeadam Forest, Cumbria, P. abies.—D. T. SALT, Division of Biological Sciences, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA] 4YQ & E. MAJoR, Forestry Authority, Alice Holt Research Station, Wrecclesham, Farnham, Surrey GU14 4AH. REFERENCES Carter, C. I. & Danielsson, R. 1991 Two spruce root aphids Pachypappa vesicalis and Pachypappella lactea new to Britain with keys to the morphs from Picea roots. Entomologist 110: 66-74. Carter, C. I. & Danielsson, R. 1993 New and additional records of gall-forming aphids of the family Pemphiginae in Britain. Entomologist 112: 99-104. Salt, D. T. & Whittaker, J. B. 1995. Populations of root-feeding aphids in the Liphook forest fumigation experiment. Plant Cell Environ. 18: 321-325. Stroyan, H. L. G. 1975 The life cycle and generic position of Aphis tremulae L. (Aphidoidea: Pemphiginae), with a description of the viviparous morphs and a discussion of spruce root aphids in the British Isles. Biol. J. Linn. Soc. 7: 45-72. Stroyan, H. L. G. 1991 Some loose ends in the British aphid fauna (Homoptera: Aphidoidea). Entomologist 110: 24-28. 126 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 THE 1993 PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS—PART 1 REPORT DAVID LONSDALE Forestry Authority Research Station, Alice Holt Lodge, Wrecclesham, Farnham, Surrey GU10 4LH During my year as President I have been very much aware of the lengthy service that many of my predecessors rendered to the Society before their presidencies. I can claim no such deserving record, and so feel all the more honoured for having been nominated for this post. The President has to do a certain amount of work behind the scenes, as well as simply being there to chair meetings. However, the really hard work of routine management and of coping with the past year’s particular exigencies has been done by the Society’s officers, some of whom have given their reports this evening. My thanks are due to all of them, and indeed to all members of Council. Special thanks are due to the retiring Assistant Treasurer, Geoff Burton, who concludes ten years’ service early in 1994. The awkward cases that crop up in the handling of members’ subscriptions have added considerably to Geoff's workload, and he is to be congratulated for tackling these problems with efficiency and perseverance. It has been my sad duty to announce the deaths of ten members during the year. I regret that I was not able to find out very much about the interests and achievements of some of these deceased members. Lt. Col. Gordon Eastwick-Field, who died on 29 April 1993, joined the Society in 1978. He set up a Lepidoptera study group at Aldermaston, and recorded species there over many years. He was also involved in the establishment of a national moth recording network, and designed a refrigerated moth trap for use in surveys. Mr W. G. Vosper died in the Spring of 1993, having been a member since 1969. His main interest was in the Lepidoptera. Mr P. W. Brown died on 25 May 1993. He had joined in 1988, with interests in Lepidoptera and general entomology. Mr Michael F. W. Tweedie died in the Summer of 1993, having been a member since 1953. He was a well known naturalist who will be remembered for his work as a photographer and radio broadcaster. Until several years ago he had enjoyed a fairly regular attendance of the Society’s meetings, at which he was a speaker on a number of occasions. He also contributed regularly to the Annual Exhibition, especially in the field of macro-moths, and was on the Society’s editorial panel until 1991. Mr C. S. H. Blathwayt, whose death was notified to us in June 1993, was a lepidopterist and had been a member since 1949. Mr A. Crowhurst, who died in the late summer of 1993, having joined the Society in 1988, was a coleopterist. Mr F. Wright, whose death was notified to us in September 1993, joined the Society in 1987. Mr Peter W. Cribb died on 30 October, having been a member since 1970. He was an all-round naturalist whose special interest and considerable expertise was in European butterflies, which he studied throughout southern Europe® He organized many collecting trips which were attended by various members of the Society. He was also a regular contributor to the Annual Exhibition and was a speaker at indoor meetings. He will be particularly remembered for his pioneering work for insect conservation, conducted partly under the auspices of the Amateur Entomologists’ Society, to which he gave outstanding service. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 127 Mrs Katie Emmet died on 23 December 1993. Long before joining the Society in 1984, she began to attend its meetings and exhibitions regularly with her husband, Lt. Col. A. M. Emmet, a past President and honorary member. She was a good field naturalist, who contributed to Maitland Emmet’s outstanding work on the micro- lepidoptera and elucidated the life cycles of a number of species. Mr C. B. Ashby died early in January 1994. Brad Ashby had been a member of the Society since 1965, providing considerable service which culminated in his becoming a Trustee in 1987. In this role he did more than was required of him, especially by regularly attending Council meetings over the last few years of major change in the Society’s affairs, on many occasions providing valuable guidance. During the storage of the Society’s library, he arranged for our members to have access to the library of the London Natural History Society, one of several other organizations that he served. He also secured for us the donation of a notable collection of Lepidoptera by the Swedish entomologist Stig Torstenius. As well as serving the Society in these special ways, Brad contributed very much as an active naturalist, regularly attending meetings, and providing exhibits. The Society was represented at his funeral by Mr Eric Groves who was a long-standing friend. We have already stood in memory of these members at previous meetings, and so I will not ask you to do so now. I have mentioned that Council has been concerned not only with routine management, but also with special tasks. One such area of activity has been created by the need to comply with the new charity law, as you have heard in the Hon. Treasurer’s report. This has involved re-drafting the Society’s byelaws, as well as re- investing part of its assets. Special thanks are due to Tony Pickles for all the hard work that he has done to ensure the successful implementation of these changes. We have this evening heard about our new Headquarters, the Pelham-Clinton Building at Dinton Pastures Country Park in Berkshire. On 27 June 1993, following completion of the building in the previous August, I had the pleasure of welcoming Professor Sir Richard Southwood who carried out the formal opening ceremony. It was an opportunity to thank all the individuals and organizations who contributed to the success of our move to Berkshire. Their various roles have been documented in our Journal, but I would like once again to give especial mention to Peter Chandler, who has overseen every stage of the commissioning, construction and equipping of the building. I am aware that he is, to this day, still coping with what we hope are teething troubles with the air conditioning system. Council has recognized his contribution by nominating him for honorary membership. This honour is also accorded to Stephen Miles, who has worked very hard and with great care to re-house our library and to update its indexing system. The opening ceremony at Dinton Pastures was itself a great success, with everything going according to plan under glorious sunshine. I must thank all the Council members who worked so efficiently to ensure the smooth running of the event, especially Dr Ian McLean who master-minded the operation. Another special occasion at Dinton Pastures was the visit in May of a group of French entomologists who had welcomed a party of the Society’s members to France in 1992. They greatly enjoyed their visit, and their comments made us very much aware of the exceptional heritage that is enjoyed by natural history societies in Britain, not least our own Society. With the acquisition of the Pelham-Clinton Building, the range of our activities has widened. In particular, we have begun a series of workshop meetings, which have been well attended and very well received. Also, members’ access to our Library and Collections has been restored and improved, with the twice-monthly system of 128 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 opening that is now in operation. Finally, the value of the Dinton Pastures site for wildlife is reflected in our involvement in the recording of species there, and in providing advice on conservation management. The need for invertebrate conservation is receiving much wider attention than was the case several years ago, and there are increasing calls on the expertise of our individual members to supply information that is of great value in identifying sites and species that require special attention. Apart from the work of individual members, our Society as a whole is represented on the Joint Committee for the Conservation of British Invertebrates (JCCBI), and thus on Wildlife and Country- side Link. We are indebted to Stephen Miles and Frances Murphy for giving up their time to represent us, and it must be hoped that the JCCBI, which is now in dire need of resources, can continue. I should add that the Society also makes occasional donations to conservation bodies, most recently in the case of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, which received £250 towards the purchase of a reserve at Cantley Marshes. Although our Society is represented on outside conservation committees, there is no stated BENHS policy on conservation which could guide our representatives when they are asked to respond to initiatives from other organizations. The only options are as follows: to take up Council’s time with detailed discussion of these issues, to let individual Council members represent our conservation interests at their purely personal discretion, or to do nothing. I feel that our Society now needs to consider whether it wishes to play more of a corporate role alongside other non- governmental bodies. The wish of some of these bodies to be involved in invertebrate conservation is not always matched by their ability to receive advice from naturalists who have relevant knowledge and ideas. The Council will welcome the views of members on this matter, particularly with regard to the question posed by Stephen Miles as to whether we should form a conservation group or committee. This matter will be discussed during 1994, and may have been resolved by the time that this address is published. In one area, the Society already has a conservation policy; I refer here to our definition of what is acceptable for display at our Annual Exhibition. Apart from upholding the law concerning scheduled species, we discourage the display of long series of others that are endangered. However, the wording of our guidelines has not been precise enough to ensure that exhibitors will be beyond reproach regarding the collection and display of such species. It is, in any case, hard to define the term “long series”. Even for the many species for which collecting cannot intelligently be seen as a threat, we should not encourage their collection on a scale that shows no respect for them as living things. To these ends, Council is reviewing the guidelines that have been in existence for some years, and which were slightly strengthened before the 1993 Exhibition. It is hoped that the new guidelines will reflect the responsible attitude that most field entomologists already adopt, while in no way detracting from the need to collect specimens where appropriate. I feel privileged to have been President at a time when the Society has been emerging with renewed vigour from a period of change. We have been able to continue our traditional activities, and have now embarked on a range of new ones that can only add to the strength of the Society. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 129 THE 1993 PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS—PART 2 SOME OBSERVATIONS ON THE PROS AND CONS OF BEING A BARK-FEEDING INSECT DAVID LONSDALE Forestry Authority Research Station, Alice Holt Lodge, Wrecclesham, Farnham, Surrey GUI1O 4LH. The bark of woody plants offers special advantages for insects that use it as a food source. Under its outer corky layer (periderm), it contains relatively succulent tissues (phloem and in some cases cortex) which are a much better source of carbohydrates and amino-acids than the underlying wood. It can therefore be compared nutritionally with leaves and young shoots, but it provides a resource that is not available to insects that feed on the green tissues of deciduous trees; that is, a habitat in which survival and even development can take place throughout the year, given a sufficiently mild winter climate. Although bark is one of the few year-round food sources available to phytophagous insects in woodlands, it is a strongly defended tissue in many woody plant species. The need for defences against bark-feeding insects becomes clear when we consider how important bark is for a tree’s survival. The evolutionary success of trees and shrubs has depended on their ability to form and maintain a long-lived woody cylinder, which in turn depends on the presence of a largely intact covering of bark. The bark overlies the vascular cambium which lays down annual rings of both bark and wood, and its own inner layers include the phloem which is essential for the translocation of sugars and other assimilates. The outer bark (periderm), provides a vital protection for all the perennial parts of the plant, preventing excessive moisture loss and the entry of pathogenic micro-organisms. If an area of bark is killed or removed, it can usually be replaced only through the rather slow process of occlusion, which involves the inward growth of new tissues from around the edge of the damaged area. As I have mentioned, the protection of the woody cylinder by bark needs to be long-term. Since some tree species can live for several or even many centuries, the need for good defences against attack by bark-feeding insects and micro-organisms is paramount. Defences in bark can be broadly divided into chemical and structural types. Chemical defences make bark tissues unpalatable or toxic, while structural defences take the form mainly of physical barriers. There is some overlap between these two categories, as I shall explain later. As with all forms of defence, including human armaments, there is a price to be paid in the diversion of resources which might otherwise fuel faster growth. In the case of trees, fast growth has advantages for competition for space within the forest canopy. To some extent, trees can minimize their defence expenditure by producing certain kinds of defence only after damage begins to occur. These reponsive defences contrast with pre-formed ones, which are an unavoidable cost to the plant. As I shall show, using some specific examples, the dual system of “strategic” and “tactical” defence can involve both chemical and structural mechanisms. The effectiveness of defence mechanisms in bark is demonstrated by the fact that a largely intact covering of bark is the norm, even on old trees. However, bark is too good a source of nutrients for its defences to have gone unchallenged. Thus, bark- feeding insects have evolved strategies by which the defences of bark can to some extent be overcome or evaded. The resulting interactions between bark-feeding 130 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 insects and their hosts are fascinating, and I hope that this will be apparent from the examples that I will mention. The role of both pre-formed and responsive defences is illustrated by the first of my examples, which is the colonization of the bark of beech, Fagus spp. by the beech scale insect, Cryptococcus fagisuga Lind. As a sucking insect, C. fagisuga removes materials in solution from individual cells of the cortex without ingesting structural components of the cells, which might be toxic or unpalatable to a biting insect such as a bark beetle. However, most sucking insects can feed on bark only if the outer corky layer is thin enough to allow insertion of their mouthparts into the cortex or phloem. For C. fagisuga on beech bark (Fig. 1), the penetrative depth of 1-2 mm is sufficient to allow feeding over most of the bark surface. Additionally, this insect’s food source becomes enhanced by the stimulation of a gall-like growth of the cortical cells that surround the tip of its mouthparts (Hartig, 1878). In some cases, infestation is so heavy and continuous over the bark surface that the stem takes on a whitewashed appearance owing to the presence of the insect’s white, woolly wax secretion (Fig. 2). In such cases, the growth of the tree is impaired, and the wood of the stem grows abnormally (Fig. 3) (Lonsdale, 1983). Heavy infestations also predispose the tree to a potentially lethal attack (“‘beech bark disease’’) by the fungus Nectria coccinea (Pers. ex. Fr.), which is otherwise usually incapable of causing much damage to beech trees (Lonsdale & Wainhouse, 1987). The vulnerability of thin-barked trees like beech to attack by sucking insects may explain why other tree species normally develop a thick, rough bark as a pre-formed defence. Also, since a thick corky layer is a good thermal insulator and shock absorber, it helps to protect trees against injury from extremes of temperature (e.g. through sunscorch or forest fire) and from mechanical damage. Nevertheless, there Fig. 1. Longitudinal section through bark of beech, Fagus sylvatica, showing penetration of mouthparts (stylets) of the beech scale insect, Cryptococcus fagisuga. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 131 ny < Pellet . * Fig. 2. A heavy infestation of a beech stem by the bark-sucking insect Cryptococcus fagisuga, Queen Elizabeth Forest, Hampshire. The white woolly wax secreted by the insects is conspicuous. are advantages in having a thin bark. As, I have already mentioned, there is a place for economy in defence expenditure, and such an economy is achieved by minimizing the thickness of the outer corky bark. A thin corky layer also allows light to penetrate to the living cells beneath, so that the bark can contribute to photosynthesis. In the case of beech, chlorophyll can indeed be seen in the bark even of large old stems. Of course things are not so simple that we can divide trees and shrubs simply into thick-barked and thin-barked species. Even in thick-barked species, at least the young twigs have a thin smooth bark. Like those of thin-barked species, they are at this stage enveloped by a simple primary periderm which expands to accommodate their increasing diameter. This smooth expansion ends sooner or later when the characteristic thick bark (rhytidome) starts to form through the development of 132 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 Fig. 3. Abnormal wood anatomy, with local reduction in annual ring width and parenchyma- like xylem cells, seen in a transverse section in the region of a colony of Cryptococcus fagisuga. The bark is at the right of the picture. overlapping secondary periderms which arise in the outer phloem. In species where this ‘“‘mature’” bark forms only after many years, sucking insects have the opportunity to colonize the surface of stems of semi-mature trees. Even after this stage, there may still be localized sites in natural fissures where such insects can persist, and I shall mention an example of this later. Although some tree species such as beech can retain a thin primary periderm throughout their lives, they also retain the ability to form a thickened bark (“pathological rhytidome”’) in response to injury. Thus, they can benefit from the advantages of reducing expenditure on cork production and from retaining photosynthetic capacity in the bark, while also being able to switch on a defensive response if necessary. A pathological rhytidome can often be seen in beech after several years’ attack by C. fagisuga (Kunkel, 1968; Lonsdale, 1983; Ostrofsky & Blanchard, 1983). The resulting thickened, furrowed bark is more reminiscent of an elm or an ash than a beech. When a beech stem forms a pathological rhytidome in response to prolonged feeding by C. fagisuga, the insect’s feeding sites become restricted to the bases of fissures which form between the corky ridges of the rhytidome*(Kunkel, 1968; Lonsdale, 1983). Even before this stage is reached, however, the initial feeding sites become unavailable due to the necrotic breakdown of the gall-like zones which previously served as enhanced food sources. It is this necrotic reaction which seems to trigger the development of ‘“‘wound periderms”’ which eventually give rise to the pathological rhytidome. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 133 Li ~*~ TO wee CGB DBencsoQ= Co 02 ZZ TNQ2zT, ieee Fig. 4. Drawings of transverse sections of bark from beech trees whose resistance to attack by C. fagisuga was apparently high (above) or low (below); from Lonsdale (1983), [J suberized tissue, Z lignified tissue, L] ‘soft’ tissue. Although the primary periderm of beech is too thin to deter feeding by C. fagisuga, this does not mean that the bark as a whole lacks pre-formed defences. Within the living tissues beneath the periderm, there are heavily lignified cells (stone-cells) which provide a partial barrier to the penetration of the sucking mouthparts (Ehrlich, 1934). Lignin is a major structural constituent of wood, but its occurrence in other plant tissues is often associated with defence. Since colonization of beech by C. fagisuga can become very heavy despite the presence of lignified cells, the defensive role of lignin in beech did not at first attract much interest following the work of Ehrlich (1934). In the 1970s, David Wainhouse, one of my colleagues at Alice Holt Research Station, began to investigate genetic variation in resistance to C. fagisuga. He identified a number of beech clones of either high or low genetic resistance (Wainhouse & Howell, 1983), and I examined these to see whether they showed any obvious differences in bark anatomy. I found that most of the relatively resistant trees identified by David Wainhouse had either a fairly unbroken sheet of stone-cells just beneath the corky periderm (Fig. 4), or a generally high content of such cells (Lonsdale, 1983). The resistant and susceptible clones could in most cases be distinguished anatomically by reference to an index, calculated from the relative thicknesses of the “‘soft’’ (parenchymatous) and “hard” layers of bark, and from the overall density of lignified cells (Fig. 5). Even 134 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 MH ‘resistant’ [_] ‘susceptible’ ‘Parenchyma accessibility index’ =) SNe Glee) ON oy ec oe) oO Individual trees, ranked Fig. 5. Index values of the depth and accessibility of outer parenchyma (feeding zone) in beech trees with apparently high and low resistance to C. fagisuga attack; adapted from Lonsdale (1983). eae 100 (P1 + P2)? Bark bility index = 2 __—_—__—_____ re ae eer Sno Pie Pe em P1, P2, L1 = depths in pm of the corresponding layers in Fig. 4 brlighe ss { %L1, %L2 = percentage lignin content of layers L1 and L2 relatively susceptible trees showed some ability to use lignin defensively, by laying down new lignin in the cell walls of tissues attacked by the insect. Since, in a few cases, David Wainhouse found beech trees with an anatomically “susceptible” bark type which were quite resistant to attack by C. fagisuga, it was clear that other factors (probably chemical ones) were also contributing to resistance. The chemical explanation is borne out to some extent by another of his findings; that individual clonal lines of this parthenogenetic insect become adapted to their particular host trees (Wainhouse & Howell, 1983), a phenomenon known as ‘host- tracking’ (Edmunds & Alstad, 1978). In North America, where C. fagisuga has the status of an introduced pest on the American beech, Fagus grandifolia (Ehrh.), this relative of the European beech also supports other bark-sucking insects. These include the beech blight aphid, Prociphilus imbricator Fitch, which can occur on main stems (Baker 1972), but BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 135 Fig. 6. The beech blight aphid, Prociphilus imbricator, Tunxis Forest Massachusetts. often seems to prefer thin-barked twigs and even leaves (Fig. 6). Dense colonies of this woolly aphid are quite spectacular, since their members respond to disturbance by waving their abdomens, which bear long tufts of the insects’ waxy secretion. The feeding preferences of P. imbricator show that the age and thickness of bark, even on a thin-barked species like beech, affects food quality. If we look at tree species which normally develop a rhytidome, we tend to find bark-sucking insects largely confined to their twigs and small branches. Well known examples of such insects include the pine woolly aphid, Pineus pini (L.), and the large willow aphid, Tuberolachnus salignus (Gmelin) (Bevan, 1987). In the case of spruces, the periderm of the main stem tends to remain fairly thin until the tree has reached a considerable size, and thus allows feeding by the great black spruce bark aphid, Cinara piceae (Panz.). Among those sucking insects that can occur even on thick-barked stems, though only in fissures, is the oak scale or “pox’’, Kermes quercus (L.). The oak scale, whose waxy capsules are visible as small shiny spheres, is associated with a dieback of oak in some parts of Britain. The prevalence of this disorder in the Forest of Wyre in Worcestershire has given it the name “Wyre pox’’. Another well known scale insect that is seen on thick-barked trees is the horse chestnut scale, Pulvinaria regalis Canrard. Its hosts include several genera of broadleaved trees apart from Aesculus, these including Acer, and Tilia. The adult females of this insect are found on the main stem and large branches of the host, but this is merely their final resting place where they lay their eggs under a conspicuous waxy secretion. The immature stages feed in the crown of the tree, where there are soft shoots and thin-barked twigs and branches. 136 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 As I have mentioned, the solid constituents of bark tissues often include substances which deter feeding by biting insects, even on tree species that are susceptible to attack by bark-sucking insects. However, there is a major group of biting insects that are common in the bark of tree species belonging to many plant families. I refer to the bark beetles, which belong principally to the family Scolytidae. Many such beetles only attack environmentally stressed or moribund individuals, which are probably less able to manufacture anti-feeding materials as a defensive response. One of the most notorious bark beetles is the greater elm bark beetle, Scolytus scolytus (F.), which is one of the main vectors of the fungi which cause Dutch elm disease, Ophiostoma (Buism.) Nannf. and O. novo-ulmi Brasier. The transmission of these fungi occurs when beetles which have bred in the bark of moribund victims of the disease emerge and migrate to twig crotches of healthy trees, where they eat the young bark in their “maturation feeding”’ phase. It is interesting that the lignin story crops up in relation to bark beetle attack, as well as in the case of the sucking insect, C. fagisuga, which I have already mentioned. Following my work on the stone-cells of beech bark, my colleague, David Wainhouse found that stone-cells in the bark of spruce, Picea spp., confer some resistance to the great spruce bark beetle, Dendroctonus micans Kug. This Eurasian beetle is not native to Britain, but was apparently imported here in the early 1970s on logs from the Continent (King & Fielding, 1989). It is rather unusual among bark beetles in that it can attack perfectly healthy trees. It does so by feeding communally, and also by virtue of its large size, both being attributes which help to overcome induced host resistance in the form of resin secretion. David Wainhouse has shown that the stone-cells in the bark of relatively resistant individuals of spruce confer partial protection by occurring in a layer which confines the larvae to a relatively narrow zone of soft tissue either above or below this layer. This confinement, perhaps together with the ingestion of some of the nutritionally poor stone-cells themselves, reduces the growth potential and survival of the larvae (Wainhouse et al., 1990). In many other relationships between trees and bark beetles, the size of larval galleries is probably determined by the thickness of the phloem layer that is available for feeding: either the total thickness of the soft zone of the phloem, or the thickness of a layer delimited by stone-cell barriers. This may account for the small size of bark beetle species which are able to feed in tree species with prominent stone-cell layers, such as Ernoporus fagi (F.) in beech. These examples are just some of those for which research—led by an economic need—has revealed something of the fascination of the relations between bark- feeding insects and their hosts. I am sure that there must be many others for which field observations suggest the existence of equally interesting interactions. REFERENCES Baker, W. L. 1972. Eastern forest insects. U.S. Dept. of Agric. Miscellaneous Publication. No. 1175., Washington, D.C. Bevan, D. 1987. Forest insects. Forestry Commission Handbook No. 1. HMSO, London. Edmunds, G. F. & Alstad, D. N. 1978. Coevolution in insect herbivores and conifers. Science 199: 941-945. Ehrlich, J. 1934. The beech bark disease: a Nectria disease of Fagus, following Cryptococcus fagi Baer. Can. J. Res. 10: 593-692. Hartig, R. 1878. Die krebsartigen Krankheiten der Rothbuche. Z. Forst-und Jadgwesen 9: 377-383. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 137 King, C. J. & Fielding, N. J. 1989. Dendroctonus micans in Britain—its biology and control. Forestry Commission Bulletin 85, HMSO, London. Kunkel 1968. Untersuchungen iiber die Buchenwollschildlaus Cryptococcus fagi Bar. (Insect, Coccina), einen Vertreter der Parenchymsauger. Z. Ang. Ent. 61: 373-380. Lonsdale, D. 1983. Wood and bark anatomy of young beech in relation to Cryptococcus attack. Proc. Conf. I.U.F.R.O. Beech Bark Disease Working Party, Hamden, Conn., USA, 1982. USDA Forest Service General Technical Report WO-37: 43-49. Lonsdale, D. & Wainhouse, D. 1987. Beech bark disease. Forestry Commission Bulletin 69, HMSO, London. Ostrofsky, W. & Blanchard, R. O. 1983. Characteristics and development of necrophylactic periderms in mature bark of American beech. Proc. Conf. I.U.F.R.O. Beech Bark Disease Working Party, Hamden, Conn., USA, 1982. USDA Forest Service General Technical Report WO-37: 69-80 Wainhouse, D., Cross, D. J. & Howell, R. S. 1992. The role of lignin as a defence against the spruce bark beetle Dendroctonus micans: effect on larvae and adults. Oecologia 85: 257-265. Wainhouse, D. & Howell, R. S. 1983. Intraspecific variation in beech scale populations and in susceptibility of their host Fagus sylvatica. Ecol. Ent. 8: 351-359. SHORT COMMUNICATION Dorcatoma dresdensis Herbst (Coleoptera: Anobiidae) new to Gloucestershire —On 28.x1.1993, I collected a large piece of the bracket fungus Ganoderma adspersum (Schulz.) Donk. which had fallen from an ancient beech along the southern parish boundary of Rendcomb (SP 022089), E. Glos. The beech is one of a series along this boundary and which extend up the slope from Conigree Wood, an ancient woodland which has been much modified by Victorian plantings. The fungus was kept in a plastic box in a cool room and re-examined the following summer. Some 14 specimens of Dorcatoma dresdensis were found to have emerged, together with a few Cis and a parasitic wasp. This is the first time that this Dorcatoma has been reported from the county, although it is known from the adjoining counties of Oxfordshire (Cornbury Park in 1986, P. Hyman, pers. comm.) and Worcestershire (Whitehead, 1992), in both cases also on the Cotswold Limestone country. The Rendcomb locality is within 1km of one of the county’s best sites for saproxylic beetles, Rendcomb Park. The species is otherwise only known from a thin scattering of ancient pasture- woodland sites in southern and eastern England. It was given red data book category 1 (endangered) status in Welch (1987) but this has since been revised to ‘notable A’ in Hyman & Parsons (1992), i.e. is believed to be confined in Britain to 30 or fewer 10 km squares. The reasons for the extent of the down-grading are not clear as I am only aware of records from about 10 other localities this century, with Windsor, Burnham Beeches and the New Forest being the only other records since 1980. RDB category 3 (Rare) seems to be more appropriate—K. N. A. ALEXANDER, National Trust, 33 Sheep Street, Cirencester, Gloucestershire GL7 1QW. REFERENCES Hyman, P. S. & Parsons, M. S. 1992. A review of the scarce and threatened Coleoptera of Great Britain. Part 1. UK Nature Conservation, No. 3. Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough. Welch, R. C. 1987. Dorcatoma dresdensis. In: Ed. D. B. Shirt. British red data books: 2. Insects. Nature Conservancy Council, Peterborough, pp. 197-198. Whitehead, P. F., 1992. The Coleoptera fauna from Broadway, Worcestershire. Entomologist’s. Mon. Mag. 128: 47-50. 138 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 BENHS INDOOR MEETINGS 13 December 1994 The President, Dr P. WARING, announced the deaths of Mr R. G. T. St Leger and Mr W. E. Minnion. Dr Waring showed colour photographs of the silky wave moth, Jdaea dilutaria (Hiibn.) and the dwarf cream wave, I. fuscovenosa (Goeze). The former is a scarce species, being known from Durdham Common, near Bristol, and at Great Orme, Caernarvonshire. They can be confused, especially at sites such as Great Orme where both occur together. Dr Waring noted that the silky wave appeared to be a more active species and flew more readily than the dwarf cream wave. Mr R. A. JONES showed three beetles from Powdermill Reservoir, near Brede, East Sussex, taken on 23.vili.1994. These were the ground beetle Bembidion octomacu- latum (Goeze), the weevil Rhinoncus albicinctus Gyll. and the leaf beetle Galerucella sagittariae (Gyll.). On a previous visit to the reservoir, on 23.vi.1992, Mr Jones discovered the Bembidion, the first British specimens for 105 years. These were exhibited at the BENHS indoor meeting of 8 September 1992. Several other coleopterists have since visited the site and confirmed a strong colony. Judging from previous records, this is the first time a colony of the beetle has been recorded in Britain, other occurrences being only singletons. Subsequently a Norfolk specimen was found in 1993 and a 1926 Wicken Fen record unearthed. A recent trip to the lake revealed that water levels had dropped many feet and much of what was once open water was now an exposed and sun-baked mudflat. Mr Jones showed slides of the half-drained lake, now a waist-high jungle of amphibious bistort, Persicaria amphibia (L.) Gray. Despite this change to the habitat the beetle was still present on the wet mud around the feeder stream which was reduced to a trickle after the long hot summer. Feeding on the Persicaria were Rhinoncus albicinctus, first discovered in this, its second, British locality by Mr P. J. Hodge in 1992 and countless millions of Galerucella sagittariae. Mr Jones showed slides of the gregarious larvae of the Galerucella and of two semi-aquatic plants exposed by the falling water levels: the six-stamened waterwort, Elatine hexandre (Lapierre) DC. and the New Zealand pigmyweed, Crassula helmsii (Kirk) Cockayne. On hearing the minutes of the 7 November meeting read Mr C. W. PLANT noted that he had shown, at an earlier indoor meeting, a similar exhibit on the difficulty of separating chrysodeixis acuta (Walker) and C. chalcites (Esp.) to that shown by Dr Waring on 7th November. He believed that these species can only be separated reliably on male genitalia characters. Examination of specimens in collections indicate that all male specimens of acuta taken in Britain in recent years are, in fact, chalcites, and it is doubtful whether acuta should be on the British list. Dr Helen Marcan-Hill, Mr Kent Hing Kun Li, Ms Jacklyn Louise Ryrie, Mr Roger Clive Kendrick, Mr Stephen H. Hind, Dr Keith Murray Harris and Mr Peter Verdon have been elected as members. Mr C. W. PLANT announced that he was going to produce a list of the micro- lepidoptera of Middlesex. Apart from a brief list produced by Cockerill in 1891 there is no publication that covers this topic. He anticipated the project would take about five years to complete and he would be pleased to receive both old and recent records for Middlesex. Dr ANDREW PULLEN spoke on the prospects for the conservation and restoration of the large copper, Lycaena dispar (Haw.), in north-west Europe. The British strain BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 139 of this butterfly became extinct in about 1850 and the Dutch strain ssp. batavus (Ob.) has been introduced at Wood Walton Fen since 1927. The large copper is widespread in Europe but is in decline due to drainage schemes and loss of habitat, especially in north-west Europe. In Holland it has declined to just one stronghold at Weeribben National Park. Dr Pullen has been investigating means of conserving the remaining populations in Holland, with the longer-term aim of restoring viable populations to suitable sites in Holland and Britain. This has involved studies into the butterfly’s biology. In northern Europe the large copper has one generation a year, unlike the two or three generations achieved in warmer areas. Eggs are laid singly or in small groups, usually near the mid-rib on the upper side of water dock leaves, in July and August. The newly hatched larvae crawl to the underside of the leaves where they graze the lower epidermis and create distinctive slot shaped “windows” in the foliage. The young larvae overwinter in curled dry leaves between September and March, but not necessarily at the base of the plant as widely reported in the literature. Feeding commences again during April and May, with pupation in June and adult emergence in July. Earlier studies at Wood Walton Fen have shown that overwintering mortality can be as high as 95%. Experiments to identify the causes of larval mortality at various times of year have been conducted over a three-year period. This involved caging some host plants with netting to exclude birds and mammals, some plants with smaller mesh netting to also exclude invertebrate predators and parasites, with other plants fully exposed as controls. Comparisons were also made between water docks growing in reed beds with those in more exposed positions in waterside situations, and between larval mortality at Wood Walton and Weeribben. The studies showed that invertebrate predation is a significant factor for young larvae and that unseasonal flooding during the larvae’s active periods can be catastrophic. About 50% of the mortality at Wood Walton is unexplained by predation. Laboratory studies suggest there can be a high mortality of larvae between hatching and starting to feed. This may be an indication of in-breeding and consequent lack of vigour in the Wood Walton stock. Studies of larval mortality in the dispausing period show that predation is not important, although significant losses do occur over winter. Winter survival is significantly higher at the Dutch site, where over 70% survived during the study period, whereas at Wood Walton the best achieved was 38%. Future experiments will involve taking Wood Walton stock to Weeribben and vice versa to see whether this difference is maintained. If it is, it would support the view that Wood Walton stock has become weakened by in-breeding. Flooding has been more frequent at Wood Walton in recent years and this may be an important factor in the different mortality rates at the two sites. Vertebrate predators take significant numbers of post diapause larvae and a few were killed by the tachinid fly, Phryxe vulgaris (Fallén). No significant differences were detected between waterside and reed bed plants. It is possible that the Wood Walton site is too small and isolated to sustain a viable population of the large copper. Its numbers fall to very low levels without supplementary captive rearing and release. The possibility of releasing the butterfly into the Norfolk Broads, where the Bure, Ant and Yare river system provides a potentially large linked habitat, is being investigated. A study of the Weeribben site has been undertaken to identify important habitat features and management techniques. At Weeribben the males choose large open fen meadow areas when establishing their territories. These meadows have few nectar plants which are thinly distributed amongst sparse Phragmites. Flowering spikes of purple loosestrife are 140 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 always used by the males as resting posts in the centres of their territories. Similar habitats occur in the Norfolk Broads, e.g. at Upton Broad, but these are smaller areas than at Weeribben. The highest numbers of eggs were laid on waterside dock plants in warm sunny positions, although plants in other situations are also used. If an attempt to introduce the large copper into the Broads is made, eggs will be taken from Weeribben water dock plants in fens that are due to be mown in order to avoid depleting the population. Dr Pullen summarized the management requirements for the large copper as: (1) having food plants in sunny open positions; (2) having active plant growth at egg laying time to provide good quality food for the young larvae; (3) lowest-lying sites will be prone to fatal floodings; (4) large open summer-cut marshes are required for mating territories, and (5) a network of sites is desirable to allow dispersal to new sites at the right stage for colonization. 10 January 1995 The President, Dr P. WARING showed two colour transparencies to indicate the difference between the copper underwing moths, amphipyra pyramidea (L.) and A. berbera Rungs (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). The first slide showed a berbera larva together with the female moth from which it had been reared. The second slide showed a final instar larva of both species together and Dr Waring indicated the diagnostic features. The most obvious feature is the red-tipped caudal horn in berbera, which is yellowish-green in pyramidea. Dr Waring noted that when beating for larvae it was always pyramidea larvae that he found. He suggested that pyramidea larvae feed in the shrub layer, especially on hawthorn, hazel, honeysuckle and blackthorn, while berbera may be feeding higher in the tree canopy. Dr Waring also showed a slide of a pyralid moth Salebriopsis albicilla (H.-S.) attracted to an MV light at the BENHS field meeting at Westbury Wood, Glos. Both sexes of the scarce moth were recorded. The specimen photographed was a male and Dr Waring noted that as it rested on the trap it waved its white-based antennae alternately. Mr K. MERRIFIELD showed a glass-topped display case containing an arrange- ment of dry seeds and flowers. On examining this closely Mr Merrifield had noticed that there were some as yet unidentified lepidopterous larvae busy devouring the Helichrysum flower heads. Referring to the minutes of the meeting of 13 December 1994, Dr Waring asked Rev D. Agassiz to comment on whether the noctuid moth Chrysodexis acuta Walker had ever been taken in Britain. Rev Agassiz thought that one had been taken in the 1950s but not in recent years. He noted that Chrysodeixis chalcites Esper was a glasshouse pest species in Europe and was therefore more likely to reach Britain than acuta, which is North African. The specimen photographed as acuta in Barnard Skinner’s book Moths of the British Isles, is now known to be chalcites. Mr S. MILES said that the Joint Committee for the Conservation of British Invertebrates was preparing consultation papers for the quinquennial review of the Wildlife and Countryside Act. Butterfly Conservation had submitted a paper proposing that all British butterflies with Red Data Book or notable status should be put under Schedule 9. This would mean that bred specimens could not be released into the wild except under licence. The President noted that this was an attempt to regulate rather than prevent the release of the scarcer’ species. Comments were invited. Mr R. Softly said he had no objections to this provided everyone was made aware of the regulations and that licences were not difficult to obtain. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 141 Mr CLIVE CARTER spoke on the subject of gall-forming aphids and adelgids on trees, rather than his original title of the importance for wildlife of canopy gaps in forests. A gall is defined as a growth abnormality induced in the plant by the influence of an animal or pathogenic organism. Gall formation involves the production of tissues different from those found in a normal leaf or stem, and so abnormalities such as simple leaf rolls, leaf mines and spun leaves are excluded from this definition. Aphids and adelgids have sucking mouthparts, and, as they feed, they secrete saliva into the plants. Some species secrete growth hormone mimic compounds that induce the growth of gall tissues. Insects of the Adelgidae family are all associated with conifers and a number of the species found in Britain have come originally from overseas and are found on exotic conifers. Like aphids, many adelgids alternate between two host plants. The primary host on which they overwinter is a spruce, Picea sp., and they migrate to other conifers such as larch Larix sp., silver fir Abies sp., douglas fir Pseudotsuga sp. or pines Pinus sp. The gall forming generation occurs on spruce during the spring. The gall is initiated by a female feeding near a dormant bud during the late winter. She lays a batch of eggs covered by fluffy white waxy wool and these hatch at bud burst. The bases of the developing leaves are swollen and the newly hatched nymphs crawl into them. Shoot extension is halted by the adelgids’ feeding activities and a globular gall develops with nymphs feeding inside in a series of hollow chambers. The gall dries up and cracks open in late summer to release the winged adults. In some adelgids occurring in Britain the gall forming generation is scarce and the insect is found throughout the year in its non-gall forming state on its alternative conifer host plant. Dr Carter showed slides of various adelgid galls and described the life cycles of the causal insects. Amongst the tree aphids it is those of the Pemphigidae family which are mostly responsible for galls on trees. The Pemphigus genus has poplars as its primary host and migrates to herbaceous plants in the summer. They induce galls on the petioles or leaf veins of poplar leaves in the spring. They secrete waxy filaments from their abdomens and this forms a coating around the honeydew excreted by the aphids within the galls. This enables the aphids to keep dry and avoid drowning in their excrement. Aphids in the Prociphilus genus have a variety of trees as their primary host and these include Populus, Fraxinus, Lonicera and Crataegus spp. During the summer these aphids migrate to the roots of conifers. In 1986 the speaker had investigated poor growth in a sitka spruce plantation in south Wales. The roots were found to be heavily infested with a north American species which was likely to be overwintering on poplars. Such trees are scarce in the locality of the plantation. Grey poplar trees, Populus canescens, with galled leaves were found later many miles to the north of the plantation. Conifers for commercial plantations are raised in nurseries, often long distances from their ultimate planting site. If seedlings become infested with root aphids in the nursery they will be carried to the plantation site and this may explain infestations in areas where the alternative host plant is absent. Dr Carter closed his talk by showing some slides of aphid galls on apple and elm. 28 February 1995 The President Dr P. WARING passed round some empty lepidopterous pupal cases found on a birch trunk and asked if anyone could recognize what sort of moth had 142 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 emerged. No one could name the moth but it was confirmed that they were not clearwing pupal cases. Mr A. J. HALSTEAD showed some live specimens of the firebug, Pyrrhocoris apterus (L.) (Hemiptera: Pyrrhocoridae). These had been sent in for identification at RHS Garden, Wisley from a private garden at Ripley, Surrey on 11.11.95. Four live and two dead specimens had been found on a yew tree purchased from a garden centre at Lyne, near Chertsey, Surrey. P. apterus is a common plant bug in the warmer parts of Europe and it lives gregariously on a wide range of plants. It had presumably been imported with nursery stock since, although it has previously been recorded in Britain, it seems unable to sustain itself under our climate. Mr R. A. JONES showed specimens of the two British Arhopalus species (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae). These were A. rusticus (L.) from Tunstall Forest, East Suffolk, 25.vii.93 and A. tristis (F.) from Harbridge, South Hampshire, 25.vii.77. The two British species of this genus were added to the British list at the beginning of the century and were both regarded as rare natives, found in the relic heartlands of Scotland (A. rusticus) and the New Forest (A. tristis). However, in the ensuing 90 years both species have spread widely. A. tristis occurs in much of England, but is less common than A. rusticus which, after a slow start in the West Country, has recently spread to almost the entire south-east. On the Continent, A rusticus is distributed further north into Scandinavia than A. tristis which appears to be quite sporadic in occurrence. Although the two species closely resemble each other and both vary tremendously in size, there are distinct and obvious differences in the tarsi and eyes. Mr JONES also showed 13 species from seven diverse beetle families showing remarkable similarity in their colour schemes—reddish fore-parts but metallic blue elytra. Hardly any of these species occur together, so he wondered how mimicry could possibly have evolved. These were: Carabidae: Lebia chlorocephala (Hoff- mannsegg), Brachinus crepitans (L.); Staphylinidae: Paederus litoralis Grav.; Erotylidae: Triplax aenea (Schaller); Tetratomidae: Tetratoma fungorum F.; Cleridae: Tillus elongatus (L.); Salpingidae: Rhinosimus ruficollis (L.): Chrysomelidae: Zeugophora subspinosa (F.), oulema melanopa (L.), Gastrophysa polygoni (L.), Sermylassa halensis (L.), Derocrepis rufipes (L.), Podagrica fuscipes (F.). Mr B. SKINNER showed a unicolorous form of Dumeril’s rustic, Luperina dumerilii Dup. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) taken at the Lizard, Cornwall on 7.ix.83. The specimen lacked the pale whitish stigma and subterminal shading found in most specimens and was initially identified as an aberrant form of the flounced rustic. Luperina testacea (D. & S.). Rev D. AGASSIZ showed some specimens of the white-line dart, Euxoa tritici L. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). This is believed to be a complex of three species in Europe and it is likely that all three taxa are resident and widespread in Britain. These are E. tritici (L.), the majority of specimens, usually with the “white line’; E. eruta (Hibn.), forms with the ground colour largely speckled; E. crypta (Mann), generally smaller, dark brown forms, occurring late in the season. There are differences in the genitalia; in males chiefly in the everted vesica, but also in the ratio of the length of the sacculus extension to other processes; in the females in the shape of the bursae and the ovipositors. Examples determined by Michael Fibiger were shown but these were not confirmed and the status of the names used still requires confirmation. All three taxa can be found in the same locality. Members were encouraged to examine their series and make careful observations and descriptions of the larvae. Leslie Alan Wiles, Michael George Sexton, Jonathon Stewart Brock and Maxwell V. L. Barclay have been elected as ordinary members, and Robert Graham as a junior member. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 143 MrS. MILES made available for inspection a booklet produced by the Biodiversity Challenge Group. This is made up of various NGOs and the document provides an alternative agenda to the government’s programme on biodiversity. The Ordinary Meeting then closed and was followed by the Annual General Meeting and the President’s Address. Minutes of the Annual General Meeting of the Society held at the Royal Entomological Society of London’s rooms at 6.30 pm on 28 February 1995 Chairman: The President, Dr P. WARING. Present: 32 members. Minutes of the last Annual General Meeting were read and signed. The Secretary read the Council’s report, followed by the Treasurer who read his report. The Treasurer then invited questions on his report but there were none. The Editor, Librarian and Curator then read their reports and Dr M. Scoble read the report of the Hering Memorial Fund. The President proposed the adoption of the reports, this was seconded by Mr D. Young and passed unopposed. The President then read the names of the Officers and Members of Council recommended by the Council for 1995/96 and, as no other names had been submitted, he declared the following duly elected: President M. J. Scoble, Vice- presidents P. Waring and C. Hart, Treasurer A. J. Pickles, Secretary R. F. McCormick, Editor R. A. Jones, Curator P. J. Chandler, Librarian I. R. Sims, Lanternist M. J. Simmons, Building Manager P. J. Baker, Ordinary Members of the Council J. Muggleton, D. Lonsdale, I. F. G. McLean, G. Collins, C. M. Drake, D. Young, R. K. Merrifield, M. Parsons, A. Jenkins and J. Firmin. The Secretary then read bye-law 26(d) and invited motions or questions. There was none. The President then read his report and gave his address. The President then installed the new President, Dr M. J. Scoble. The President proposed a vote of thanks to the retiring President, and this was seconded by Mr Stubbs. The President asked for permission to publish the Presidential address, and this was given. Mr B. SKINNER gave a vote of thanks to the retiring Officers and Council. The President proposed the election of Mr R. A. Bell and Mr D. O’Keeffe as auditors for the coming year, with Council being empowered to appoint registered auditors under the Charities Act if necessary. This was seconded by Mr Jones and passed unopposed. The Meeting closed at 9.30 pm. The new President, Dr M. J. SCOBLE, invited comments on the exhibits. Mr E. Bradford recalled that he had found another red and black plant bug, Eurydema dominulus (Scop). earlier last year and he had made drawings of their distinctive banded eggs which are laid in rows of six. Mr A. Stubbs suggested that the red and metallic blue colour of the diverse beetles shown by Mr Jones might be warning colouration to indicate they are distasteful to would-be predators. He suggested that Mr Jones might experiment by eating a few. Without showing much enthusiasm for this proposal, Mr Jones pointed out that some of the beetles spend much of their time under bark or in other concealed places where the risks of predation are reduced. 144 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 14 March 1995 Mr A. J. HALSTEAD showed an unusual colour form of a burying beetle, Necrodes littoralis L. On 27.vii.93 a brown example of this normally all black beetle was taken in a Rothamsted light trap at RHS Garden, Wisley, Surrey. Despite the killing fluid used in this type of trap, the beetle survived for several days and showed no signs of developing its usual colour. A typical example, also taken in a Rothamsted trap at Santon Downham, Suffolk on 21.ix.87, was shown for comparison. Neil Arthur Robinson, Ronald H. Carpenter, Simon Curson, Ronald H. Harvey, Colin Nichols and David Colin Neville have been elected as ordinary members. The President Dr M. J. SCOBLE, drew attention to a meeting being held on 4th May at the Natural History Museum by the UK Systematics Research Forum. The purpose of the meeting is to set priorities for the study of systematics and training. Anyone interested in attending should contact Prof Stephen Blackmore; also any systematicists not yet registered with the UK Forum should get in touch so that their database can be made more complete. KEVIN PAGE spoke on the subject of ammonites. This large group of marine animals became extinct at about the same time as the dinosaurs but has left behind a rich fossil record. Ammonites show some similarities to the modern animal, Nautilus; both have (or had) air-filled chambered shells which the animals can regulate to allow them to rise or sink in the water. Ammonite fossils can be found in suitable rock strata in various situations such as coastal cliffs, land slips, quarries and cuttings created by road works. The species assemblages of ammonite fossils can be used to date and classify rock deposits. Ammonites often occur in large and small forms, and it is likely, that like modern squids, ammonites were sexually dimorphic with the larger forms being females. Dr Page showed some slides of a number of notable ammonite sites in Britain, France and Spain. Also shown were some of the wild flowers and insects found at these sites. BOOK REVIEW Systematic and applied entomology: an introduction, edited by I. D. Naumann, Melbourne University Press (UK: UCL Press, London), 1994, viii + 484 pp, softback, Aus$ 44.95, £24.95—Although an Australian publication, the coverage is interna- tional and represents a highly attractive and well-produced summary of current entomological theory and knowledge. The book begins with general chapters on insect structure, biology, phylogeny and applied study. Then follow 32 chapters on the 32 orders of insects recognized by the authors. The editor candidly admits that these chapters are abridged from the huge (and hugely expensive) The insects of Australia (Melbourne University Press, 2nd edn, 1991), but they maintain a thoroughly general stance, offering biological details wholly relevant to study anywhere in the world, including the United Kingdom. The only concession to an antipodean audience is a brief paragraph in each chapter outlining a few special features of the Australian fauna. Of special interest is each order’s world-wide classification, offering a modern listing of all known suborders, superfamilies and families irrespective of which part of the world they might occur in. Eight superb colour plates offer a taste of what the Australian fauna has to offer and the text is copiously illustrated throughout with line drawings and half-tones. Apart from the fact that all the page numbers in the first page of the contents list are wrong, this is an excellent introductory text for the general entomologist, A-level student or undergraduate. R.A. JONES BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 145 OFFICERS’ REPORTS FOR 1994 COUNCIL’S REPORT The Society’s membership stood at 729 at the end of the year, a small increase on the numbers for the previous year; 44 new members were elected during the year, 12 were struck off for non-payment and 1 member resigned. Six deaths were reported to the Society during 1994. The Council met 7 times during 1994 and, on average, 15 members attended each meeting. Less of the Council’s time was taken up discussing Dinton Pastures, (the Pelham-Clinton Building), but there are still ongoing problems with the air conditioning and alarm systems. The two Council members who have taken the brunt of attending for engineers’ visits have been our Curator, Mr Peter Chandler, and our Building Manager Mr Peter Baker. Our thanks go to these hard working members of Council, and to any other members who have helped with this work. Because of the death of Mr C. B. Ashby, a replacement Trustee had to be found. A special meeting was arranged on the 10 May 1994 and Rev D. Agassis was elected by vote at this meeting and by postal ballot; the ballot also covered the increase in the number of Honorary Members to 12 and this matter was passed by a majority in the postal ballot and unanimously at this special meeting. Other topics that have taken up a lot of Council time have been the formation of a Dipterist’s Forum affiliated to the BENHS; there will be an article about this affiliation published in the Journal. The formation of a conservation group within the BENHS has been initiated. Two meetings have taken place and further information will be distributed with the Journal; we have also discussed ongoing environmental issues. There were 11 indoor meetings held at the rooms of the Royal Entomological Society which included the joint meeting with the London Natural History Society. In general, attendances at indoor meetings were improved with around 25 or more people coming to each meeting; this was probably because of the hard work put in by our Indoor Meeting Secretary, Dr McLean, in arranging speakers for these events. Six workshops were arranged at the Pelham-Clinton Building, and these proved to be very popular; along with these, three moth trapping evenings at Dinton Pastures were carried out in order to increase our knowledge of the Lepidoptera of the area. The Pelham-Clinton Building was opened on a Sunday every second week during the months of January to April and October to November and every 2nd Sunday of the month from May to September and December; in the main these were poorly attended and the Council will be reviewing the open day frequency at a future Council meeting. The poor attendance on open days shows a marked contrast to the interest of the membership in the other organized events; this interest makes it rewarding for the hard-working Council Members involved and our new premises a moderate success. A full programme of meetings and events is being prepared for 1995/96. The Society continued to represent members’ interests in the field of conservation and Mrs F. M. Murphy and Mr S. R. Miles take an active part as the Society’s representatives on the Joint Committee for Conservation of British Invertebrates. The Society also paid an annual subscription of £60 to Wildlife and Countryside Link as part of the joint payment contributed by all the major entomological groups to this countryside policy forum and conservation promotion organization. Eighteen field meetings were held in wide-ranging areas of the countryside, including the moth trapping events at Dinton Pastures Country Park. Attendance at these varied widely. We would like to thank Mr Roger Morris our outgoing Field Meetings Secretary, for all his hard work in arranging these meetings; Mr Morris has 146 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 had to retire due to other commitments and his position will be taken over by Dr Paul Waring. A full list of field meetings for 1995, arranged by Dr Paul Waring, has been distributed. " A successful Annual Exhibition was organized by Mr Michael Simmons and was attended by 200 members and 103 visitors, around the same numbers of members who attended the previous year with an increase in the number of visitors. There were around 175 exhibits with the usual slant on the Lepidoptera but with a welcome increase in the other orders. The Council reinforced its guidelines to stop controversial exhibits from being shown at our Exhibition. The aim is to stop long series of any species from one locality from being shown, unless for a special reason. Mr Michael Simmons organized the Annual Dinner for the first time and made a great success of a job that was suddenly thrust upon him; an increase in the numbers of members and companions sat down to a meal that was enjoyed by all. Roy McCorMICK TREASURER’S REPORT 1994 has been the first full year of normal occupation of Dinton Pastures and it is now possible to see how the actual costs compare with our estimates. Our budget for running the Society was £14000 and at first sight the actual cost of £18555 seems excessive. However there were two exceptional items, firstly the expenditure of £2300 on equipment, a water softener and a new computer, principally for the library, but having implications for other activities of the Society. Secondly, the financial implications of the water leak we suffered. The leak was in the length of mains leading to the building but for which we are responsible. As a result we had to pay the water authorities £1700 and some £500 for repair costs. The bankruptcy of our builders has not made it possible to claim successfully. Taking away these items our expenditure has not been vastly higher than anticipated, but the worrying feature which remains is the cost of controlling the humidity and temperature of our premises. There have been continuing problems in this area most of which have cost money, either for increased electricity costs, for repair, or for the water softener, which we are advised may relieve problems but costs £984 in the short term. This year the cost of producing the magazine was reduced to £5700 due to a hold over to next year, and because some costs of the supplement were included last year. Once again a grant of £1000 towards the cost of colour plates has been made from the Bequest Fund. Turning to income we see a sharp increase in subscriptions resulting from the increase in rates and the effects of covenanting which has provided a further £600 reclaimed from the exchequer. Investment income is slightly down but in assessing this the nature of our new investments has to be considered. The theory is that income for the most part is accumulated within the bonds until we require it. Unfortunately the value of our investments has fallen during the year in common with the stock exchange, although there have been encouraging signs of recovery towards the end of the year. Fortunately we consider these investments to be long term, and the current value is not a problem to us. The value of our investments overall still exceeded their cost by some £30000 at the balance sheet date. I am pleased to report that the Society is in a strong financial position with a balance sheet value of £348 000 and a value taking into account the unrealized profits of investment of nearly £380 000. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 Income and expenditure account year to 3lst December 1994 General account Subscriptions Interest and dividends Redemption surplus Donations and bequests Surplus on Christmas cards Surplus on cabinets and collections Total income Headquarters services Insurance Headquarters security and maintenance Council rooms and expenses Equipment Members meetings and exhibitions Administration Library Donation to RSPB Subscriptions and donations to other societies Honorariums Cost of dinner Cost of running society Publications account (free to members) Sales Bequest fund grant for plates Production of journal Distribution costs Net cost of journal Deficit (surplus) on membership Special publications (for sale) Sales Opening stock Publication costs Distribution and general costs Closing stock Surplus on sale of special publications Transferred to Hering fund Transferred to bequest fund Transferred to general fund Transferred to special publications fund 1994 10,249 10,181 1,339 130 23 (21,922) 4811 935 1,807 1,981 2,328 2,345 2,534 960 173 181 18,055 (3,867) (1,267) (1,000) 6,402 1,572 5,707 1,840 (6,128) 9,088 128 871 (5,021) (1,062) 778 643 8,170 (11,242) 1,651 (778) (1,344) (1,000) 6,775 1,844 (1,786) 147 1993 (21,674) 12,751 (8,923) 6,275 (2,648) (980) (3,628) 3,628 148 Balance sheet as at 31st December 1994 Employment of capital Leasehold property Additions Opening amortization Amortization Quoted investments General fund Hering fund Investment bonds Current assets Special publications Christmas cards Sundry debtors and payments in advance Bank capital reserve account Business reserve deposit Bank societies reserve account Bank current account Current liabilities Sundry creditors and accrued expenses Net current assets Capital employed General fund Opening balance Transfer from bequest fund Transfer from income and expenditure account Housing fund Contributions from other funds Amortization Special publications fund Opening balance Surplus from sales 1994 154,736 (2,210) (2,210) 150,316 28,036 3,540 139,000 5,021 50 3,149 14,200 4,468 2,424 29,312 2,048 (2,048) 27,264 348,156 39,590 11,242 (11,242) 39,590 152,526 (2,210) 150,316 29,495 1,651 31,146 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 1993 144,432 10,304 (2,210) 152,526 28,036 3,540 139,000 9,088 289 3,591 11,327 8,070 32,365 2,724 (2,724) 29,641 352,743 39,589 5,367 (5,367) 39,589 144,432 10,304 (2,210) 152,526 28,515 980 29,495 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 149 Bequest fund Opening balance 126,191 136,411 Income 8,170 7,451 Grants & expenditure (12,242) (17,671) 122,119 126,191 Hering memorial fund Opening balance 4,942 4,878 Income 643 564 Expenditure (600) (500) 4,985 4,942 348,156 352,743 (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) Accounting policies The accounts are prepared under the historical cost convention. The costs of building and equipping leasehold premises at Dinton Pastures Park have been capitalized. The total cost of these premises which were completed during the year to 31st December 1993 are being amortized over the term of the lease. The first amortization charge was made in 1993. The value of the library, collections, ties, back numbers of Proceedings and Journals and the computer system is not included in these accounts. Current expenditure on such items is written off to the income and expenditure account. Donations and legacies are brought into account when they are received by the Society. Surplusses (or deficits) arising on the special publications fund which accounts for publications primarily for sale are transferred to that fund to finance future publications. Investments Book value at cost Market value General & bequest Hering memorial 1230 Shell T&T 25p Ord. 477.79 771.83 8561 750 Unilever Sp Ord. 248.45 8685 6272 M&G Charifund Units 19091.17 1147.24 51556 2450.90 Treas. 9 1/2% 1999 UN OD 1621.21 2523 3863.71 Treas. 8 3/4% 1997 36876.94 3890 3882.90 Treas. 9% 1994 3759.57 3883 28036.14 3540.28 79098 Investment bonds Total Hendersons 58000.00 49253 Sun Life 56000.00 49599 Barings 25000.00 21293 139000.00 120145 150 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 Fund movements Amortization on the leasehold premises at Dinton Pastures has been charged to the Housing Fund. A grant has been made from the bequest fund towards the cost of coloured plates published in the Journal and towards the general running expenses of the Society. Make up of funds The funds are represented by the following assets: Housing fund Bequest fund Leasehold premises 150,316 Hendersons bond 48,000 Special publications Sun Life bond 56,000 Stock 5,021 Barings bond 18,119 Cash deposits 12,125 Cash deposits = Hendersons bond 10,000 Barings bond 4,000 122,119 General fund Sue Barings bond 2,881 Hering fund Investments 28,036 Investments 3,540 Current assets 8,673 Cash deposits 1,445 39,589 4,985 The audit of these accounts marks the end of an era as it is the first time for over 15 years that Col. Dougie Sterling has not been associated with the preparation of the accounts either as treasurer or auditor. We have been fortunate in obtaining the services of Dennis O’Keeffe who has performed the audit together with our long serving joint auditor Reg Bell and I extend my thanks to these gentlemen. Mark Telfer took on the onerous task of Assistant Treasurer at the beginning of 1994 and has done splendid work in re-organizing the computer system and carrying out a smooth transfer and I would also like to extend my thanks to him. A. J. PICKLES Report of the auditors to the members We have examined the financial statements attached which have been prepared in accordance with the recomendations of SORP 2. We have audited the financial statements annexed in accordance with approved Auditing Standards. In our opinion the financial statements which have been prepared under the historical cost convention give a true and fair view of the state of the Society’s affairs at 31st December 1994 and of its income and expenditure for the year then ended. D. O’KEEFFE R. A. BELL PROFESSOR HERING MEMORIAL RESEARCH FUND The committee agreed to support two applications ‘to the Fund for 1995. Mr Roland Johansson (Vaxj6, Sweden) was awarded the sum of £300 to help with the cost of a visit to the Natural History Museum, London, to study and illustrate types BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 151 of Australian Nepticulidae. Mr Johansson is well known for his studies and excellent colour illustrations of microlepidoptera. His work on the Australian Nepticulidae forms part of a collaborative study with colleagues from Canberra and Leiden. Dr Sergej Sinev (Russian Academy of Sciences, St Petersburg) was awarded £300 to further his work on Russian microlepidoptera. The funds will be used to support fieldwork in the far east of Russia, particularly for the collection of immature stages, to enable Dr Sinev to make his work on keys to Russian Microlepidoptera more complete. Reports have been received on the results of work of the two projects funded last year. Michael Bonsall, Imperial College, London, who is working on the parasitoid complexes of Tephritidae on thistles, has reared and identified several species of parasitoids from various tephritid flies. The data will be used to compare the host— parasitoid associations on the various hostplants. The study of Dr Alan Gange (Royal Holloway College) involving the tephritid fly Urophora cardui, which forms galls on the thistle Cirsium arvense, has shown that significantly larger galls and greater numbers of live larvae were found on thistles treated with fungicide to reduce mycorrhizal infection. Application of fertilizer, to increase nitrogen levels, seems to counteract the effect of the fungicide. This work is the first report of the protective effect of a mycorrhiza against insect herbivory. Chemical studies are currently in progress to examine whether mycorrhizal infection is altering the nitrogen-carbon balance in the plant. MALCOLM J. SCOBLE LIBRARIAN’S REPORT The major occupation in the Library this year has been to specify and purchase a personal computer. This, it is hoped, will not only benefit the running of the library but assist the Society in many other ventures. With the help of a small committee a proposed specification was produced. I then set myself the task of examining possible equipment, not only obtaining brochures but also visiting demonstration sites. This culminated in the purchase of an Elonex PC-450 model in mid-December 1994. With the help of Graham Collins’ expertise, the library program database disks were converted in January 1995 from 5.25 inch format to 3.5 inch format and transferred to the new computer. The computer was finally installed at Dinton Pastures on the 12th February. As the result of a kind offer by Frances Murphy and her husband a single sheet photocopier has also been installed at the Society’s rooms. A further tranche of book purchases, originally recommended by the library committee in 1993, with subjects ranging from European Noctuidae to field keys for Neuroptera, was completed this year. Thanks are due to Andrew Halstead for arranging these purchases. One exchange journal arrangement was agreed during the year, this was with Sociedad Entomologica Aragonesa for their journal Zapateri. Moves are being suggested to dispose of some of the older items in our library to lighten the insurance load. Depending on the extent of disposal to be contemplated I believe this to be a retrograde step. Potentially it could diminish the interest in the library from those who would not normally get the opportunity to see these types of items, let alone borrow them by special permission, which is still feasible. I am still concerned with those members who don’t return books they have borrowed, due perhaps to an unwillingness to make the effort to visit Dinton Pastures a second time. It is the responsibility of all members to make arrangements 152 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 to return books they have on loan, once they have received a request from the librarian to do so. During the year I placed an advertisement in the Society’s journal for a replacement librarian following the announcement of my resignation in last year’s report. I am glad to say that Mr Ian Sims, a resident of the Reading area, has volunteered to take on these responsibilities from today. I shall be still concerned with the library for a little time yet in order to ensure that the transition runs smoothly, particularly the aspect of the use of the computer for library work. I wish Ian success and hope that the members, the library committee and Council will support him in this endeavour. Special thanks are due this year to Graham Collins, Ken Merrifield, Stuart Ball, Ian McLean and Peter Verdon for giving me advice leading to the specification of the Society’s computer requirement. Thanks are due, for books donated to the library during the past year, to Brian Baker and also to the Biodiversity Challenge Group. Finally I would like to thank all those who have helped me over the past twelve years in the library, particularly the understanding shown during the traumatic period of reported losses when the books were in store and for the help received at the installation of the books to Dinton Pastures. S. R. MILES CURATOR’S REPORT In the reports for the past two years I have referred to the ongoing rearrangement of the beetles, involving uniting the Massee and Henderson collections into a single entity. Progress on this has continued as time allowed and the layout according to John Owen’s revised check list has now been completed in 86 drawers. It will now be easier to assess the gaps in this collection and determine how they can best be filled. Notes provided by Peter Hodge on recent splits and synonymy in the Coleoptera, as well as likely areas of confusion, are invaluable in indicating where revision is essential, and assistance of specialists will be sought to resolve the identity of such material. Some help has already been given by Keith Alexander on the Cantharidae and David Moore on the Elateridae. This has now freed the two cabinets (40 and 20 drawer respectively), formerly housing the Massee collection for the arrangement of the European butterflies to begin in due course. It has also freed two Hill units, which after repapering will be used to begin the projected new layout of the British moths. Preliminary work on the moths has continued with selection of suitable material from the Mackworth-Praed collection, begun by Peter Baker and being continued by David Moore, who has offered to make a start on the moth arrangement later in 1995. During 1994, the Society was offered Michael Tweedie’s collection of Lepidoptera, excluding the cabinets. Due to lack of space for rehousing them at the time it was initially agreed that we would take specimens of value to our collection, which included most of his micro moths (an area in which we are still weak) and a smaller number of the macros. This initial selection was made by Bernard Skinner and I am most grateful to him for this valuable contribution. A cabinet of Geometridae passed to Barry Goater and it is understood that Barry has selected a representative collection to pass to Guy Sircoulomb, a member of the Société Entomologique d’Evreux, who specializes in Geometridae, in continuation of the links already established between our two Societies. The residue was then obtained for us by Peter BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 153 Baker but most of necessity became duplicates and the greater part were immediately donated to the Northamptonshire Natural History Society to assist in building their Lepidoptera collection. Some further donations of sawflies have been made by Andrew Halstead, and due to the additions made by him our collection now includes 200 species of this group. It is expected, with the changes in organization of the Lepidoptera collections, that a number of the older cabinets will become available for sale over the next few years as they are cleared. It is then hoped to replace them with additional ten-drawer units for the eventual rehousing of the Diptera, Hymenoptera and those smaller orders still awaiting arrangement. Use has been made of the collections during four of the workshop meetings held during 1994, and microscopes and table space have been fully utilized on these occasions. On the other hand attendance at the open days has been very variable and it may be necessary to reduce their number unless there is fuller use of the library and collections on each occasion. Anyone who has not already visited the building would be welcome to attend any of the open days or workshops. It is hoped that the associations with Dipterists’ Forum and BWARS will increase use of the collections of those orders and it is also hoped that coleopterists will be encouraged to attend now that the beetle collection has been updated. There have been some further occasional upsets over the air conditioning system, despite some modifications to the design carried out during the year as well as the addition of a water softening facility in an effort to reduce the impact of lime scale on the rehumidifying component of the system. This was initially successful but due to a neglect in routine maintenance there has been renewed malfunctioning in recent months and the hardness of the water has proved too great for water softening to fully solve the problem. The required parameters have nevertheless been consistent for most of the time and regular maintenance visits by the contractor have now been resumed. Consideration is still being given to the longer term operation of the air conditioning, but it is as yet unclear whether beneficial changes to its mode of operation can be achieved. Our initial inability to accept the Tweedie collection in its entirety under the arrangement described above, led some members to express concern that we should have a formalized Collections Policy. Any member with views on this subject should let me know. I am grateful to all those already mentioned for their assistance and encouragement during the year. PETER CHANDLER EDITOR’S REPORT I hope it will come as no surprise when I say that the Journal continued on its merry way in 1994, as per usual. There were, however, two small detours from its normal annual path. Although four colour plates were printed, only three were actually published in 1994; the fourth is being held over to accompany two papers on butterfly genetics which will appear in 1995. And the Journal published a supplement, its first in a more or less continuous publishing history of 110 years. This was actually quite a departure from standard procedure since the contents of this special supplement were actually the proceedings of a completely different society—the National Federation for Biological Recording, the NFBR. There is no formal link between that group and the BENHS, so how did our Journal become involved in issuing their notes? 154 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 As it turned out, the subject of the NFBR annual meeting in question was ‘invertebrate recording’ and how such recording could be used in site evaluation and monitoring, quite a vogue topic and one which the BENHS Council thought worthwhile supporting. Many of the delegates to that NFBR meeting and some of the speakers were also members of the BENHS and all of the papers presented were of potential interest to BENHS members, many of whom are already involved with local and national recording schemes and surveys. The cost of producing the supplement was to some extent defrayed by the fact that the guest editor, Paul Harding from the Biological Records Centre, was able to take all of the authors’ papers, and generate the camera-ready copy from his own department. The printing costs were also partly met by a special grant from the NFBR. In this way the supplement was produced with only a minimal cost to the BENHS, but, I hope, with great benefit. The supplement was circulated to many organizations and it further raised the Society’s profile among a wide variety of bodies involved with invertebrate recording. It also offered readers a deeper insight into just how important is the work of the field entomologist. The supplement aside, the Journal continues relentlessly. There is always a steady supply of papers to publish, though I am always happy to receive more of the shorter communications which will usually enjoy very rapid publication indeed. I'll close with a thank you to the 14 listed members of the Editorial Committee who referee, revise or proof-read all the material, and without whose help I would find the job of Editor a burden instead of a joy. RICHARD A. JONES BOOK REVIEW Ground beetles in the Yorkshire Museum, by Michael Denton, Yorkshire Museum, 1993, 84 pages, paperback, and Flies in the Yorkshire Museum, by Andrew Grayson, Yorkshire Museum, 1994, 160 pages, paperback.—Both of these small books were published and issued free to anyone sending a stamped and addressed envelope, and have been produced with local backing to promote the Museum and its collections. The ground beetles were primarily collected by Herbert Willoughby Ellis (1869— 1943) and represent a portion of his collection of 80000 beetle specimens. For each species, a brief entry records the number of specimens in the collection and comments on the contemporary and present status as well as local and national distribution. A short biography describes how Ellis corresponded with all the eminent coleopterists of the day and the comprehensiveness of this current reference collection reflects this. The flies were collected mainly by Percy Hall Grimshaw (1869-1939) a former keeper of natural history of the Royal Scottish Museum where his main collection is housed. The systematic list gives full data for the collection’s 801 specimens. The books are rather generously laid out and could probably have been adequately printed with two-thirds or half their actual number of pages. Nevertheless they are attractive and useful publications and succeed in their aim of raising awareness of the Museum’s collections. RICHARD A. JONES BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 155 LETTER TO THE EDITOR Habitat preference in the Lepidoptera and patterns of distribution in light-traps.— I was most interested to read the results of Majerus et al. (1994) concerning light- trapping comparisons in woodland and grassland. As they report, I also found significant and persistent differences in the abundance of particular species when comparing two or more habitats within woodland, and readers will not be surprised to read of greater differences between woodland and open grassland where there are likely to be differences relating to shelter and wind speed as well as habitat type. In fact, interesting comparisons between catches in grassland and woodland were reported by Hosny (1953, 1955, 1959) way back in the infancy of mercury vapour light traps. As Majerus et al. discuss, reasons for these patterns of distribution can be expected to relate to various factors. Amongst these are the relatively weak flight of many geometrids and the dependence of a large proportion on woody perennials for food as larvae. No British geometrid moths feed as larvae on grasses, unlike the larvae of many of the noctuids, and low herbaceous plants of open conditions are also exploited widely by noctuids, many of which are strong fliers, able to fly higher and in windier conditions than most geometers. Just as with butterflies, presence of the larval foodplant is not enough to guarantee the presence of the moth. Very often the situation in which the plant is growing proves to be important, with some species of larvae occurring more frequently in sunny situations, others in shade, and with differences between abundance or density on mature trees and shrubs and on regrowth. Some results illustrating these differences are given in Waring (1990). A particularly interesting example in the British context is provided by Shaw (1991) who found larvae of the magpie moth, Abraxas grossulariata, and the V moth, Semiothisa wauaria, only on gooseberry bushes growing in sunny locations, while those of the phoenix, Eulithis prunata, were found only on more or less fully shaded gooseberry bushes in woodland understorey. My Ph.D. thesis (Waring, 1990) includes many other examples, some of which clearly relate to local differences in the availability of particular species of plants and even to the proximity of a single tree or bush. However, as Bowden (1982) suggests, and I found, some apparent patterns of distribution can be artifacts of the trapping technique, such as differences in the visibility of individual traps or the degree of shading and contrast between the light-trap and its background. In Waring (1990) I explored several different methods of evening out and correcting for such factors using species expected to have uniform distribution. By looking at the ratio in which moths actually occur in traps and comparing the distributions of other species against this empirical ratio, it was hoped that it might be possible to correct for the resultant combination of all the factors which might be biasing trap results, such as one site being slightly warmer, windier or more shaded than another. Needless to say, the results depended on which species I selected as my bio-indicator: the large yellow underwing, Noctua pronuba, riband wave Idaea aversata and the small fan-footed wave J. biselata. In practice I found that in the real world each of these species let me down sooner or later, appearing to favour one habitat in preference to another. For many species the pattern of distribution between habitats was the same no matter what method of analysis I chose, the latter affecting only the degree of difference in the comparisons. I repeat the advice I gave in Waring (1989) to all moth recorders interested in using light-traps for looking at differences between habitats and management regimes—make things easy for yourself—try and ensure that all traps which you wish to compare with each other are operated under an open sky, or 156 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 all under tree canopy, and that they are visible for about the same distance. This makes the comparisons much simpler and the results much more easy to interpret. For other tips on the practicalities of light-trapping, readers may find Waring (1994) and the references listed there of interest. Lastly, I am sure readers will look forward to reading the results of Dearnaley et al. (referred to as “in prep.” in Majerus et al. 1994 p129 para. 4) when this study is published. There is already a large body of literature reporting that the effectiveness of light-traps is influenced by trap design, bulb height and the height of the trap above ground. It is also known that the performance of bulbs deteriorates with age and use. Just for the record, all the traps in the experiments reported by Waring (1989, 1990) were operated on the ground. All the tubes and bulbs for the traps were purchased new at the start of the experiments and the tubes in the actinic light traps were replaced at the start of each year. In all comparisons the traps were operated all night in order to sample as large a range of moths and their possible times of flight as possible. These and other experimental details, including dates and sites, are given in full in Waring (1990).—PAUL WARING, Windmill View, 1366 Lincoln Road, Werrington, Peterborough PE4 6LS. REFERENCES Bowden, J. 1982. An analysis of factors affecting catches of insects in light traps. Bull. Ent. Res. 72: 535-556. Hosny, M.M. 1953. Studies on the activity and abundance of macrolepidoptera in relation to environment. Ph.D thesis (unpublished). University of London. Hosny, M.M. 1955. Notes on the effect of some secondary environmental conditions on the activity of nocturnal Macrolepidoptera. Bull. Soc. Ent. d’Egypte 39: 297-314. Hosny, M.M. 1959. A review of results and a complete list of Macrolepidoptera caught in two ultra-violet light traps during 24 months, at Rothamsted, Hertfordshire. Entomologists’ Mon. Mag. 95: 226-236. Majerus, M., Grigg, A., Jones, C., Salmon, F., Strathdee. A. and Dearnaley N. 1994. Factors affecting habitat preferences in the Lepidoptera. Br. J. Ent. Nat. Hist. 7: 129-137. Shaw, M. R. 1991. Magpie moth, Abraxas grossulariata (L.), (Lep., Geometridae) and other caterpillars on Gooseberry, Ribes uva-crispa, in south Cumbria. Entomologists’ Rec. J. Var. 103: 272-273. Waring, P. 1989. Comparison of light-trap catches in deciduous and coniferous woodland habitats. Entomologists’ Rec. J. Var. 101: 1-10. Waring, P. 1990. Abundance and diversity of moths in woodland habitats. Ph.D. thesis (unpublished). Oxford Polytechnic (now Oxford Brookes University). Waring, P. 1994. Moth traps and their use. Br. Wildlife 5: 137-148. SHORT COMMUNICATIONS Deadwood Coleoptera from two important Denbighshire parklands, including five species new to Wales.—Two National Trust owned historic parks, Chirk and Erddig, have received very little attention from entomologists in the past, but have now proved to be of considerable interest for their deadwood fauna. Both were visited in 1993 as part of the Trust’s national programme of biological survey. The park at Chirk originated as a 14th century hunting park, while the early history of Erddig is not yet known. Erddig Park (SJ326482) straddles the Black Brook immediately above its confluence with the Clywedog River and therefore encompasses ancient river-cliff woodland within its present bounds. Amongst the more interesting finds are a BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 157 Tetratoma desmaresti Lat. found beneath bark of a dead lower branch on an old oak, 23.vi, a Prionocyphon serricornis (Miller, P. W. J.) swept at the base of a wooded river-cliff section in Big Wood, 24.vi, and a dead Prionychus ater (F.) beneath loose bark on the trunk of a mature ash, and a Quedius ventralis (Aragona) under loose bark with congealed sap on a horse chestnut trunk, both 28.vi.1993. Other species of lesser note include Ctesias serra (F.), Bitoma crenata (F.), and Xestobium rufovillosum (Deg.). A subsequent visit, on 26.iv.1994, added an elytron of Jschnomera ? cyanea (F.) found beneath loose bark on an oak, and A. P. Fowles took a Ernoporus fagi (F.) from beech bark. Chirk Castle Park (SJ269381) was visited on 19.vii. 1993. The old deer park includes a large concentration of ancient oaks, partly within a matrix of secondary birch, oak, beech and sycamore, partly in conifer plantation and including a large area of open bracken with some hawthorns. The most important find here was Dorcatoma serra Panz., which was tapped from a bracket of Inonotus dryadeus on an oak. Ctesias serra was found on another old oak. The neighbouring Baddy’s Park is a large area of sheep pasture studded with overmature oak and hawthorn, plus a few field maple. The most interesting find here was Abdera quadrifasciata (Curt.) which was tapped from a dead lower branch of an old spreading oak. Eledona agricola (Herbst) was typically found in Laetiporus sulphureus bracket on an oak, and other species noted include Cryptarcha strigata (F.), Prionychus ater, Pediacus dermestoides (F.) and Xestobium rufovillosum. A dead tree in the Home Park was riddled with borings of a Xyloterus sp., most probably X. domesticus (L.). This is clearly an important old Border parkland and would merit further investigation. Of these beetles, Abdera quadrifasciata, Dorcatoma serra, Ernoporus fagi, Quedius ventralis, and Tetratoma desmaresti are new to Wales, and Cryptarcha strigata, Eledona agricola, and Prionychus ater new to North Wales. These findings bring both sites into the top league of Welsh parklands. The “‘Alexander index”’ for both parks currently stands at 13, a total surpassed in Wales only by Dinefwr Park (Alexander & Pavett, 1992) and Powis Castle Park, with indices of 25 and 17 respectively. Old Cilgwyn, Ceredigion also has 13, while Gregynog Great Wood stands close at 12. Welsh parks are however currently the subject of a major survey by the Countryside Council for Wales. My thanks go to Adrian Fowles of the Countryside Council for Wales for his comments on an earlier draft of this note—K. N. A. ALEXANDER, National Trust, 33 Sheep Street, Cirencester, Gloucestershire GL7 1QW. REFERENCE Alexander, K. N. A. & Pavett, P. M. 1992. The beetles of Dinefor Castle Estate. Dyfed Inv. Group Newsl. 25: 1-9. Myopites eximia Seguy (Diptera: Tephritidae) new to Devon.—While in S. Devon on holiday, I collected some dead flowerheads of golden samphire, /nula crithmoides L., growing from rock crevices low down on the rocky coast on the south side of Bolt Tail (SX 669394), 14.xi.1993. In due course, a single specimen of this red data book (Shirt, 1987) species emerged (called M. frauenfeldi Schiner in that publication). M. eximia is only known from western and south-western Europe (White, 1988), and in Britain has only so far been reported from south-eastern England, as far west as Dorset (Falk, 1991). The foodplant is much more widespread than this, occurring from the Mull of Galloway southwards along the Atlantic coats of Europe and across the Mediterranean (Clapham et al., 1989). Falk (1991) associated the species 158 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 with saltmarsh and coastal shingle banks. While the foodplant is perhaps most frequent in these habitats in the south-east, it is very characteristic of the splash zone of rocky cliffs in the south-west and it is perhaps no surprise that it has now been found at a rocky south-western site—K. N. A. ALEXANDER, 14 Partridge Way, Cirencester, Gloucestershire GL7 1BQ. REFERENCES Clapham, A. R., Tutin, T. G., & Moore, D. M. 1989. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press. Falk, S. 1991. A review of the scarce and threatened flies of Great Britain. Research and survey in nature conservation No. 39. Nature Conservancy Council, Peterborough. Shirt, D. B. (Ed.) 1987. British red data books: 2. Insects. Nature Conservancy Council Peterborough. White, I. M. 1988. Tephritid Flies. Diptera: Tephritidae. Hanbk Ident. Br. Insects 10(5a). Royal Entomological Society, London. > Dirhagus pygmaeus (F.) (Eucnemidae) and Hallomenus binotatus (Quen.) (Melan- dryidae): two beetles new to Wales.—These two deadwood beetles were discovered new to Wales in the course of National Trust Biological Survey fieldwork during 1994. A dead Hallomenus binotatus was found within a bracket of the fungus Laetiporus sulphureus (Bull.) growing on oak in Graigllech Woods (SN848119), Brecon., 26.vii.1994. Although reasonably widespread across much of England and Scotland, it does appear to be much rarer in the south-west, being unknown in Devon and Cornwall for instance. A male and a female Dirhagus pygmaeus were swept within the extensive woodlands of the Bishopston Valley (SS568878), Gower, Glam., 22.vi.1994. The distribution of this species in Britain is rather curious, but it occurs right across the southern counties, in the West Midlands and the north, and its discovery in Wales is therefore no real surprise. Brackeny oakwoods are a very typical habitat and there is no shortage of such in Wales——K. N. A. ALEXANDER, National Trust, 33 Sheep Street, Cirencester, Gloucestershire GL7 1QW. A winter emergence of Pahyllonorycter strigulatella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae)—A large number of Phyllonorycter mines, situated on the underside of the leaves of grey alder (Alnus incana L.), were collected from a supermarket car park in the eastern suburbs of Cardiff, in early November. They were taken indoors with the intention of placing them into individual storage for the winter, but began to hatch within a few days. After one week, forty adults and one parasitoid (Pteromalidae) had emerged. The moths were later identified as P. strigulatella (Zeller, 1846), by the authors. This would appear to be a new record for Glamorgan (VC41), and is possibly new for Wales. P. strigulatella is described as being bivoltine (Heath & Emmet, 1985), with the adults on the wing in early May, or late July and August. The autumn larval stage is thought to be completed in October, leaving the pupae to survive the winter. It seems unusual for the moths to have emerged so quickly upon being brought indoors, especially since the autumn was reasonably mild prior to collection =D. J. SLADE & M. R. WILSON, National Museum of Wales, Cathays Park, Cardiff CF1 3NP. REFERENCE Heath, J. & Emmet, A. M. 1985. The moths and butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland 2: 294-368. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 159 BOOK REVIEWS Invertebrates of Wales: a review of important sites and species, by Adrian Fowles. JNCC and Countryside Council for Wales, 1994, 157 pages plus 16 colour plates, £24.50, hardback.—Britain has the best known invertebrate fauna in the world, the result of over 150 years’ accumulation of the records of field collecting. We are now in a position to use this knowledge, however incomplete it may sometimes seem, to evaluate the rich variety of natural sites in Britain for conservation purposes. Invertebrates of Wales, by the invertebrate ecologist for the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW), Adrian Fowles, is an attempt to present an overview of the range of habitats in Wales, to describe their conservation status and highlight some of the key invertebrates. The bulk of the book is divided into three sections, corresponding to the three regions formerly administered by the Nature Conservancy Council; North Wales, Dyfed—Powys and South Wales. Within these sections the habitats represented, e.g. woodlands and coastland are described drawing upon examples of both the fauna present and also particular localities. These localities are drawn together into an appendix of notable sites for conservation of invertebrates in Wales. Here 93 sites are listed for which current information indicates the localities are of notable significance. Some of these sites are SSSIs and other national nature reserves. I would have greatly valued a complete list and brief account of the SSSIs and NNRs in Wales. Naturally many of these would not have been originally designated for their invertebrate fauna. In his position in CCW Adrian Fowles would be able to produce such a site inventory. This would, however, have produced an entirely different sort of book. Also, valuable as such an inventory would be, I suspect, however, the author may feel that such a list would polarize and concentrate recording to these sites at the expense of work at other potentially important sites. This is an important issue—should we concentrate recording and collecting at protected sites or those that might benefit from formal designation? I felt that the emphasis in this book on the conservation aspects of habitats overlaps to some extent with Peter Kirby’s Habitat management for invertebrates: a practical handbook (JNCC & RSPB, 1992) (which strangely is not listed in the bibliography). Both describe habitats and the invertebrates that may be present, although obviously Kirby’s book has a different purpose and coverage and Invertebrates of Wales concentrates on one large area and its habitats. It is possible to make comparisons in the way information is given. The style of presentation in the two books is considerably different and I find Kirby’s book much easier to browse because it is broken up with many sub-headings and spaces between paragraphs, notably lacking from Fowles’s. That aside I find myself asking when would I use Invertebrates of Wales and which audience was it written for? There is much useful information but it is not easily accessible. The introductory material is not especially helpful to someone wanting rapid information on the status of sites and recording coverage in Wales. Just how well recorded are the Lepidoptera, Odonata or Orthoptera in Wales? Fowles does not really tell us. I couldn’t find a statement as to the number of SSSIs or NNRs in Wales or a proportion of the total land under such protection (or in a National Park) compared with other parts of the British Isles. The Invertebrate Site Register could have been more thoroughly introduced for the uninitiated. The photographs, especially those of habitats, are excellent and will certainly encourage interest in recording in Wales. The book is completed by a selected bibliography of around 150 references, which serve to highlight papers containing information on Welsh Invertebrates. This may be too selective since it does not include any general works or list any of the excellent series of JBCC guides “Reviews of the scarce and threatened .. .” 160 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 Over 30 of the references given are relatively recent articles in newsletters or unpublished reports (or reports produced in low numbers). This serves to emphasize the increasing importance of newsletters for publication of such information as long as they are widely available. (But are all journals easily available?) I am more concerned about the general availability of information in “‘unpublished” reports but that is another matter! Kirby’s book includes an appendix listing recording schemes and record centres, societies, further reading, invertebrate identification guides and works on invertebrate conservation and habitat management. I would have thought a similar appendix could have been usefully included in Invertebrates in Wales. Only a list of organizations associated with the conservation of invertebrates in Wales is given by Fowles. This book should certainly be widely available, used and consulted, although as mentioned above the lack of sub-headings does not make it easy browsing. It should certainly raise the profile of invertebrate conservation in Wales. Unfortunately the price, at £24.50 for an A4 hardback, may make many amateurs think twice about a personal purchase even with the excellent photographs M. R. WILSON BOOK REVIEW Agricultural entomology, by D. S. Hill, Timber Press, Portland, Oregon, USA and Cambridge, UK, 1994, 636 pp, hardback, $89.95 (about £60).—Although there are many books in the field of agricultural entomology, there are few that claim to take a global view of this agricultural scene. Plenty concentrate on particular crops, particular pests or particular regions, but the author has set his sights high to try and cover the subject across international borders. A short introduction considers some of the current problems with agriculture, especially those of poverty, emphasis on cash crops, the need for land reform, erosion and over-population. It is these underlying causes which aggravate the developing world and make straightforward entomological problems into devastating and life-threatening plagues. Illustrated by examples from Africa and elsewhere, the theories behind our ideas of insect distribution, ecology and population dynamics are put into a farming perspective. The majority of the book is given over to order-by-order accounts of major pest species, from the minor nuisance of the firebrat eking out a living on bakery floors to migratory locusts ravaging the African plains. All important groups and major species are listed with details of their geographic range and pest status. Along with pests of farming, forestry, livestock and humans, beneficial insects receive welcome coverage since it is often the balance with natural enemies which causes insect outbreaks. We are rather sheltered in the United Kingdom, and we get upset by a few lily beetles making holes in our prize blooms, but looking through the book it is sobering to consider just how many of the creatures we like to study do great damage to the world’s crops. Despite the rather bland quality of the paper, most of the large number of illustrations are crisp and clear and only a few rather sketchy figures leave something to be desired. For a book which lists specific insect pests it is strange that authors’ names are not given for the specific names. Entomologists concerned with agriculture will find the book a useful reference and summary and perhaps also a teaching aid, but although the book is large, and hence very good value, its moderately high price will put it beyond the reach of many of the neediest workers in Third World countries where a book like this will be the greatest benefit. R. A. JONES INSTRUCTIONS TO AUTHORS General. Contributions must be typed double-spaced on one side only on A4 paper with 3-cm margins either side to facilitate marking up. Layout should follow that of the Journal, but apart from underlining scientific names, no marks should be made to define typeface. Two copies of typescripts and figures are required, the second copy can be a photocopy. Authors who have prepared their article on word processor are invited to supply a disk also. Nomenclature. Use the most up-to-date nomenclature available. After first use of a specific Latin name give the author’s name; use parentheses only if required according to the rules of nomenclature. This should apply not only to insect names, but also to the names of plants, non- insect invertebrates and other animals. Figures and tables. Line figures and half-tones are accepted. Size of lettering, thickness of lines and density of shading, stippling and hatching must take into account likely reduction in size to fit appropriately into the journal page size. Illustrations must be of good quality, however lettering can be typeset if necessary; indicate requirements on a duplicate figure. Colour illustrations may be available, please contact the Editor. Tables should be prepared on separate sheets; avoid vertical rules, use horizontal rules sparingly. References. In the text, references should give author and year, (e.g. Allan, 1947); multiple references (e.g. Kendall, 1982; Smith, 1989; Baker, 1994) should be listed in date order. But references should be listed in alphabetical order at the end of the article. Book titles take only an initial capital letter. Journal titles are abbreviated in the style of the World List, but with each word taking an initial capital. Examples: Allan, P. B. M. 1947. A moth-hunter’s gossip. 2nd edn, Watkins and Doncaster, London, p. 149. Baker, P. 1994. The modified status of Strymonidia w-album (Knoch) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) in north west Surrey. Br. J. Ent. Nat. Hist. 7: 25-26. Jones, R. A. 1994. [Bilobed inflorescences of Plantago lanceolata L. Exhibit at BEHNS Annual Exhibition 1993.] Br. J. Ent. Nat. Hist. 7: 179. Kendall, P. 1982. Bromius obscurus (L.) in Britain (Col., Chrysomelidae). Entomologist’s Mon. Mag. 117 (1981): 233-234. Pratt, C. R. & Emmet, A. M. 1989. Polygonia. In: Emmet, A. M. & Heath, J. (Eds). The moths and butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland. Harley Books, Colchester, Vol. 7, Part 1, pp. 212-215. Smith, K. G. V. 1989. An introduction to the immature stages of British flies: Diptera larvae, with notes on eggs, puparia and pupae. Handbk Ident. Br. Insects 10(14): 1-280. Stubbs, A. E. 1987. Oxycera dives. In: Shirt, D. B. (Ed.). British red data books: 2. Insects. Nature Conservancy Council, Peterborough, pp. 304-305. Stubbs, A. E. & Falk, S. J. 1983. British hoverflies: an illustrated identification guide. BEHNS, London, pp. 191-192. West, B. K. 1994. The time of appearance of Lancanobia oleracea L. (Lep.:Noctuidae) in the British Isles. Entomologist’s Rec. J. Var. 106: 81-84. Offprints. Authors of main articles qualify for 25 free offprints taken directly from the Journal. These may contain extraneous matter such as short communications or book reviews used as ‘fillers’. Extra copies must be ordered when proofs are returned. ANNOUNCEMENT Public liability insurance.—It has come to the notice of the Society that some organizations issuing permits to enter their land to study insects are now asking that all those issued with such a permit should have public liability insurance, typically for two million pounds cover. This may at first sight seem a somewhat daunting requirement. The Society has consulted its insurance brokers and it emerges that many members who have household insurance may already have public liability insurance included. It is suggested that ifin doubt the policy document should be consulted. We discovered however that for a nominal sum the Society could extend its own public liability insurance to cover members of the Society while engaged on entomological pursuits. We have taken this option and are pleased to inform all members that they now have public liability cover of two million pounds while engaged on their own field work, research and entomological study in addition to such activities arranged by the Society. Typically this would give cover against claims by third parties for injury caused in the course of such pursuits. A copy of the schedule to the policy is available for inspection at Dinton Pastures.—A. J. PICKLES, Hon. Treasurer, 2a Park Avenue, Lymington, Hampshire SO41 9GX. BRITISH JOURNAL OF ENTOMOLOGY AND NATURAL HISTORY VOLUME 8, PART 3, SEPTEMBER 1995 ARTICLES A breeding experiment with the small copper butterfly, Lycaena phlaeas (L.) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae). T. S. ROBERTSON Understanding size and pattern variation in mainland Britain Pararge aegeria L. (Lepidoptera: Satyridae). L. WINOKUR Two new species of Megaselia (Diptera: Phoridae) from Europe. R. H. L. DISNEY The Dipterists’ Forum: a model for others to follow? A. E. STUBBS SHORT COMMUNICATIONS Swammerdammia compunctella H.-S. (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutidae) in Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorgan, S. Wales. D. J. SLADE Some records of root-aphids (Aphidoidea: Pemphigidae) feeding on spruce (Picea spp.) in Britain. D. T. SALT AND E. MAJOR Dorcatoma dresdensis Herbst (Coleoptera: Anobiidae) new to Gloucestershire. K. N. A. ALEXANDER Deadwood Coleoptera from two important Denbighshire parklands, including five species new to Wales. K. N. A. ALEXANDER Myopites eximia Seguy (Diptera: Tephritidae) new to Devon. K. N. A. ALEXANDER Dirhagus pygmaeus (F.) (Eucnemidae) and Hallomenus binotatus (Quen.) (Melandryidae): two beetles new to Wales. K. N. A. ALEXANDER A winter emergence of Phyllonorycter strigulatella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae). D. J. SLADE AND M. R. WILSON PROCEEDINGS AND TRANSACTIONS The 1993 Presidential address—Part 1. Report. D. LONSDALE The 1993 Presidential address—Part 2. Some observations on the pros and cons of being a bark-feeding aphid. D. LONSDALE BEHNS indoor meetings, 13 December 1994 to 14 March 1995. Officers’ reports for 1994 145 Council’s report 151 Librarian’s report 146 Treasurer’s report 152 Curator’s report 150 Prof. Hering fund report 153 Editor’s report LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Capital letters for English names. S. ROBERTS AND G. ELSE Habitat preference in the Lepidoptera and patterns of distribution in light traps. P. WARING BOOK REVIEWS Entomological bygones or historical entomological collecting equipment and associated materials, by J. M. Chalmers-Hunt. C. W. PLANT Systematic and applied entomology: an introduction, edited by I. D. Naumann. R. A. JONES Ground beetles in the Yorkshire Museum by M. Denton and Flies in the°Yorkshire Museum by A. Grayson. R. A. JONES Invertebrates of Wales: a review of important sites and species by A. Fowles. M. R. WILSON Agricultural entomology by D. S. Hill. R. A. JoNEs OCTOBER 1995 ISSN 0952-7583 Vol. 8, Part 4 2 oe BRITISH JOURNAL OF ENTOMOLOGY AND NATURAL HISTORY Published by the British Entomological and Natural History Society and incorporating its Proceedings and Transactions Price: £6.00 BRITISH JOURNAL OF ENTOMOLOGY AND NATURAL HISTORY SMITHSONTay, .L.S. MAR 6 1996 Editor: Richard A. Jones, B.Sc., F.R.E.S 13 Bellwood Road Nunhead London SE15 3DE (Tel: 0171 732 2440) (Fax: 0171 277 8725) LIBRARIES Editorial Committee: Rev. D. J. L. Agassiz, M.A., Ph.D. T. G. Howarth, B.E.M., F.R.E.S. R. D. G. Barrington, B.Sc. I. F. G. McLean, Ph.D., F.R.E.S P. J. Chandler, B.Sc., F.R.E.S. M. J. Simmons, M.Sc. B. Goater, B.Sc., M.I.Biol. T. R. E. Southwood, K. B., D.Sc., F.R.E.S. A. J. Halstead, M.Sc. R. W. J. Uffen, M.Sc., F.R.E.S. R. D. Hawkins, M.A. B. K. West, B.Ed. P. J. Hodge British Journal of Entomology and Natural History is published by the British Entomological and Natural History Society, Dinton Pastures Country Park, Davis Street, Hurst, Reading, Berkshire RG1O0 OTH, UK. Tel: 01734-321402. The Journal is distributed free to BENHS members. © 1995 British Entomological and Natural History Society. Typeset by Dobbie Typesetting Limited, Tavistock, Devon. Printed in England by Henry Ling Ltd, Dorchester, Dorset. BRITISH ENTOMOLOGICAL AND NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY Registered charity number: 213149 Meetings of the Society are held regularly in London, at the rooms of the Royal Entomological Society, 41 Queen’s Gate, London SW7 and the well-known ANNUAL EXHIBITION is planned for Saturday 28 October 1995 at Imperial College, London SW7. Frequent Field Meetings are held at weekends in the summer. Visitors are welcome at all meetings. The current Programme Card can be had on application to the Secretary, R. F. McCormick, at the address given below. The Society maintains a library, and collections at its headquarters in Dinton Pastures, which are open to members on various advertised days each month, telephone 01734- 321402 for the latest meeting news. Applications for membership to the Membership Secretary: A. Godfrey, 10 Moorlea Drive, Baildon, Shipley, West Yorkshire BD17 6QL. Subscriptions and changes of address to the Assistant Treasurer: M. G. Telfer, 12 Jasmine Close, Norwich, Norfolk NR4 7NE. Non-arrival of the Journal, faulty copies or other problems arising from distribution of the Journal or notices to the Distribution Secretary: D. Young, 9 Marten Place, Tilehurst, Reading, Berkshire RG3 6FB. Orders for books and back numbers of the Journal and Proceedings to the Sales Secretary: R. D. Hawkins, 30d Meadowcroft Close, Horley, Surrey RH6 9EL. General Enquiries to the Secretary: R. F. McCormick, 36 Paradise Road, Teignmouth, Devon TQ14 8NR. Tel: 01626-779543. Cover illustration: Globular water beetle, Hyphydrus ovatus (L.). Photo: Robin Williams. NOTE: The Editor invites submission of photographs for black and white reproduction on the front covers of the journal. The subject matter is open, with an emphasis on aesthetic value rather than scientific novelty. Submissions can be in the form of colour or black and white prints or colour transparencies. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 161 PANOQUINA PANOQUINOIDES EUGEON SKINNER (LEPIDOPTERA: HESPERIDAE) FROM THE WINDWARD ISLANDS, LESSER ANTILLES DAVID CORKE Department of Environmental Sciences, University of East London, Romford Road, London E15 4LZ*. Panoquina panoquinoides panoquinoides Skinner (1891) is widespread in the southern part of the USA and the northern West Indies but is usually restricted to coastal habitats (Spencer Smith et al., 1994). The subspecies P.p.eugeon (Godman & Salvin, 1896) seems to be unique to the Windward Islands but it is not known to which subspecies the population that inhabits Trinidad (Riley, 1975) belongs. It is presumably the nominate form, as on the mainland of South America. Barcant (1970), in a monograph of Trinidad butterflies, does not list the species at all and nor is Trinidad listed as a locality by Spencer Smith et al. (1994). DISTRIBUTION RECORDS P.p.eugeon was described from specimens collected on Union Island, Grenadines and Granville & St George’s parishes in Grenada (Godman & Salvin, 1896). Spencer Smith et al. (1994) give records from the following Grenadine Islands: Bequia, Caille, Mayreau and Palm. My own investigations on St Lucia (April 1983, June/July 1986, May/June 1989) and St Vincent (May 1989) were incidental to a survey of reptile populations and the preparation of conservation management plans for endangered reptile species (Corke, 1987, 1992). St Lucia has an excellent guide book to its butterflies (Hunt & Mitchell, 1979) and with one exception I saw no species in St Lucia that were not included in that guide and in the habitat types already associated with the species. The sole exception was a small brown hesperid which was quite common on the halophytic grassland just above the beach on Maria Major island at the extreme southern tip of St Lucia (see fig. 1). I could not identify these specimens beyond the level of genus using Riley (1975) [P.p.eugeon is not figured]. The find was announced as a new species for St Lucia (but not identified) in Geoghegan & Renard (1985). Specimens were seen on the Maria Islands on each of my three visits in the 1980s. The same species was found in very similar conditions at Milligan Cay off the extreme south of St Vincent in May 1989. My work on reptiles tended to pay especial attention to small islets, so there is no reason to suppose that P.p.eugeon will not be found on the coastal mainland of St Lucia & St Vincent. With the publication of Spencer Smith et al. (1994) the identification problem was resolved. The specimen from Maria Major (April, 1983) in Fig. 2 is quite clearly P.p.eugeon. Figure 3 summarizes the known distribution of the two subspecies of P.panoquinoides in the Lesser Antilles. It is likely that the species will be discovered on most of the islands north of St Lucia but where the transition from P.p.eugeon to P.p.panoquinoides will occur is pure conjecture. LARVAL FOODPLANTS The larva of P.p.eugeon is unknown and thus its likely foodplants can only be guessed at by what is known for other subspecies. P.p.panoquinoides on Jamaica were *Email:CORKE@uel.ac.uk Fax:0181-849-3641. 162 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 Fig. 1. Maria Major Island, St Lucia, seen from the north. The coastal grassland on the leeward side of the island is the only habitat for P.p.eugeon. [photo: David Corke] . i tf i ae | Fig. 2. The first specimen of P.p.eugeon collected (in 1983) from the Maria Islands, St Lucia. Scale lines 1 mm intervals. [Photo: David Corke] BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 163 SOMBREROg ANGUILLA St. Martin ST.CROIX P St. Barts SABA®S Poarbuda St. Eustatius ST KITTS Pp Nevis 6 ANTIGUA REDONDA @) MONTSERRAT Grande Terre Désirade @ @MARIE GALANTE GUADELOUPE SAINTES AVES 9 DOMINICA MARTI on ST Mugs P5ARBsADOS e e Grenadines e 400km GRENADA e Fig. 3. Map of the Lesser Antilles showing islands and island banks (from Lazell, 1972) and the known distribution of Panoquina panoquinoides panoquinoides (p) in the Leeward Islands and of Panoquina panoquinoides eugeon (e) in the Windward Islands. reared on Cynodon dactylon although the eggs were found on Mimosa pudica (Brown & Heineman, 1972). P.p.errans from California feeds also on C. dactylon and also on Sporobolus virginicus (Comstock, 1930). On the Maria Islands, which have been thoroughly surveyed botanically (Fournet, 1982), Sporobolous virginicus and S. cf.jacquemontii occur as does a species of Mimosa (cf. camporum) but Cynodon is absent. FLIGHT TIMES The type specimens of the species were captured in October (Godman & Salvin, 1896). I saw adults flying in all months from April to July. As with many tropical species, P.p.eugeon may fly throughout the year. 164 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 Is P.P.EUGEON A GOOD SPECIES? The taxon was originally named as a full species (Prenes eugeon Godman & Salvin, 1896). Riley (1975) says “It could well be a distinct species”. Spencer Smith et al. (1994) consider that description of the larva is necessary before assessing this suggestion. Certainly the adults are quite distinct in terms of wing pattern. Entomologists holidaying in the islands of the Lesser Antilles could help greatly with further distribution records and studies of egg-laying and larval morphology. Only then will the question of specific status be resolved. SUMMARY The skipper butterfly Panoquina panoquinoides eugeon (Godman & Salvin, 1896) is reported, for the first time, from St Lucia and St Vincent. In both cases the species was inhabiting a tiny island close inshore to the main island. The known distribution of the subspecies in the Windward Islands, to which the taxon is probably unique, is mapped. The possibility that the taxon merits specific status is discussed. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am extremely grateful to the staff of the St Lucia National Trust (Robert Devaux) and of CANARI (Yves Renard) for helping my work on St Lucia in many practical ways. On St Vincent Brian Johnson and his staff at the St Vincent & Grenadines Division of Forestry were exceptionally helpful. Financial assistance was provided by WWSF (USA), the Herpetological Conservation Trust (UK), the Vincent Wildlife Trust (UK) and British Airways. REFERENCES Barcant, M. 1970. Butterflies of Trinidad and Tobago. Collins. Brown, F. M. & Heineman, B. 1972. Jamaica and its butterflies. Classey. Comstock, J. A. 1930. Studies in Pacific coast Lepidoptera (continued). Bull. S. Calif. Acad. Sci. 29: 135-142. Corke, D. 1987. Reptile conservation on the Maria Islands (St Lucia, West Indies). Biol. Conserv. 40: 263—279. Corke, D. 1992. The status and conservation needs of the terrestrial herpetofauna of the Windward Islands (West Indies). Biol. Conserv. 62: 47-58. Fournet, J. 1982. Compte-rendu de la mission a Sainte-Lucie. Ministére de lAgriculture, République Frangaise. Geoghegan, T. & Renard, Y. 1985. Maria Islands Nature Reserve: interpretive guide. St Lucia National Trust. Godman, F.D. & Salvin, O. 1896. On the butterflies of St. Vincent, Grenada, and the adjoining islands of the West Indies. Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. 513-520. Hunt, D. & Mitchell, G. 1979. A recognition guide to the insects of St Lucia 1: butterflies. St Lucia Naturalists’ Society. Lazell, J. D. 1972. The anoles (Sauria, Iguandiae) of the Lesser Antilles. Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard 143: 1-115. Riley, N. D. 1975. A field guide to the butterflies of the West Indies. Collins. Skinner, H. 1891. A new species of Pamphila. Ent. News 2: 175. Spencer Smith D., Miller, L. D. & Miller, J. Y. 1994. The butterflies of the West Indies and Southern Florida. Oxford University Press. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 165 THE EFFECTS OF CATTLE POACHING ON INSECTS LIVING AT THE MARGIN OF THE RIVER ITCHEN, HAMPSHIRE C. MARTIN DRAKE English Nature, Northminster House, Peterborough PEI 1UA. An important factor affecting the entomological interest of stream and river margins is the amount of disturbance to the banks. Streams with a natural flow regime are subjected to annual disturbance by high flows, resulting in regularly regraded shores and eroding banks. This disturbance has been much reduced as a result of bank reinforcement and flood alleviation work. One mechanism that can partially replace the natural process is trampling (poaching) by cattle. Trampling promotes a diverse fauna at the margins of ponds and ditches on soft substrates (Biggs et al., 1994; Dolman, 1993; Drake, in press). However, it is also known that trampling harms the specialized beetle fauna of the shoals of stony rivers and the bare shores of rivers draining catchments on rocky substrates (Lott, 1992). Between these two extremes of still waters on soft sediments and rivers on hard rocks, there is presumably a change in best management practice for insects of the margins. For instance, it is uncertain what the best recommendation is for chalk streams. A brief survey was undertaken to see whether there was an obvious answer to this problem. The reasons for looking at chalk streams is that fishing syndicates blame cattle trampling for damaging salmonid fishing (Summers, 1994), but it is likely that low flows of the recent droughts are more culpable than a change in the response of the rivers to disturbance by cattle. Several chalk streams, including the River Itchen, are currently being notified as Sites of Special Scientific Interest so the information will be useful when advising on conservation management. SITES AND METHODS Six sites along the River Itchen were selected to include banks with and without cattle access. They were visited on 8 and 9 July 1994. Full details of the sites are given in Drake (1995). Briefly, they were four stations at the Itchen County Park (grid reference 41/4617), four stations at Twyford Moors near Colden Common (41/4722), two stations at Winnall Moors SSSI (41/4830 and 41/4930), one station at each of Itchen Stoke (41/5432) and Ovington Mill (41/5631), and three stations on the Candover Stream, a tributary of the Itchen near Abbotstone (41/5634). Insects were sampled at the water margin using a sweep net, supplemented by direct capture using a pooter. Although a wide range of taxa was taken, only flies, caddis and dragonflies were identified in all samples. Occasional beetles, bugs, crickets and stoneflies were identified. Species were allocated to simple habitat groups based on their known biology. The categories were streams, ponds, water margins, fen and other wet places but not necessarily the water edge, grassland and woodland. The habitat of some species was unknown and others were “tourists” in the river margin context, although they may have been specific to other habitats such as heathlands. RESULTS Two hundred and forty species were identified, dominated by 210 flies. Craneflies (Tipuloidea) were not kept in their separate stations and were later identified by Alan Stubbs. A full species list is given in Drake (1995). Four red data book (RDB) species and 12 nationally scarce species were recorded (Table 1). One of these, the 166 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 scathophagid fly Cosmetopus dentimanus, was the second British record (Drake & Ball, in press). Nine of the nationally rare or scarce species are associated with water margins. These species were found most often on unfenced water margins although a few were also found along fenced sections. Another three species are found in fenland or wet grassland and one in grassland, and these were found mainly along fenced sections of stream-bank. None of the rare or scarce species was found with any great frequency. The southern damselfly Coenagrion mercuriale was present at three of the four sampling stations at Itchen County Park where it has a thriving colony (Mayo & Welstead, 1983, and subsequent observations) and the empid Hilara woodi was found at two stations at Twyford Moors and at the Candover Stream. Two craneflies normally found in carr woodland, Limonia lucida and Pilaria fuscipennis, may have strayed from their more typical habitat. Some nationally uncommon species were frequently recorded. The sepsid Themira superba (Hal.), whose larvae probably feed in dung-enriched wet mud, was particularly common at most trampled sites but absent from fenced margins. Parydra aquila (Fallén), an ephydrid whose larvae probably live in shallow water or saturated margins, was also found mainly at trampled stations. Two dolichopodids had contrasting preferences, Dolichopus campestris Meig. being found only at fenced stations, whereas Syntormon denticulatus (Zett.), in common with most other dolichopodids, was present mainly at trampled sites. Several other frequently recorded species were probably no more frequent at trampled sites than at fenced ones: the hoverfly Neoascia tenur (Harris), the empids Platypalpus pallidicornis (Collin) and Hilara obscura Meig., the dolichopodid Teuchophorus spinigerellus (Zett.) and the scathophagid Cleigastra apicalis (Meig.). The location of capture of craneflies was not known so their association with fenced or unfenced margins could not be assessed. However, Helius flavus (Walk.), a species associated with emergent Table 1. Nationally scarce (notable) and rare (red data book, RBD) species recorded from several sites along the Itchen valley. National statuses are defined in Ball (1994) and were obtained from Recorder (Ball, 1992); the prefix “‘p” indicates a provisional status. |CP—Itchen Country Park; TM—Twyford Moors; WM—Winnall Moors; IS—Itchen Stoke; OM— Ovington Mill; CS—Candover Stream. Status ICP TM WM IS OM CS ODONATA Coenagiidae Coenagrion mercuriale (Charp.) RDB3 ss DIPTERA Tipulidae Limonia lucida (de Meijere) Notable - Pilaria fuscipennis (Meig.) Notable oa Cheilotrichia imbuta (Meig.) Notable - Stratiomyidae Beris fuscipes Meig. Notable id Oxycera morrissii Curt. Notable * Vanoyia tenuicornis (Macq.) Notable * Hybotidae Platypalpus infectus (Collin) pRDB3 “3 Syneches muscarius (F.) pRDB2 “a Empididae Hilara woodi Collin Notable i a Dolichopodidae Hercostomus plagiatus (Loew) Notable . Campsicnemus pectinulatus Loew Notable * * Syrphidae Neoascia geniculata (Meig.) Notable z 4 Lauxanidae Sapromyza opaca Becker Notable a Chloropidae Elachiptera pubescens (Thalh.) Notable * Scathophagidae Cosmetopus dentimanus (Zett.) RDB1 ss BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 167 Table 2. The mean percentage (+95% confidence limits) of species in four habitat groups at fenced and unfenced margins. n=number of stations. Number of species Unfenced (n=10) Fenced (n=4) Water edge species 80 Sl3} 327/58) 36.84+9.9 Fen species 33 14.8+3.9 WES Ey: Grassland species 36 20.0+3.7 24.348.3 Tourists Pap) 9.5+5.0 12.5+6.7 plants, was widespread, showing that its habitat was not eliminated by grazing, for example at the Candover stream which had a broad fringe dominated by yellow iris Tris pseudacorus L. and reed canary grass Phalaris arundinacea L. There were differences in the frequency of occurrence of some common species between fenced and unfenced stretches. Water-margin species that were most often found on trampled margins were the saldid bug Saldula saltatoria (L.), a predatory species that hunts over bare mud, the empid Clinocera stagnalis (Hal.) whose larvae probably develop on saturated margins or in shallow water and whose adults sit about on muddy margins, the dolichopodid Syntormon pallipes (F.), the ephydrid Scatella paludum (Meig.) whose larvae develop in saturated mud and whose adults abound on its surface, the muscid Lispe tentaculata (Deg.) whose adults hunt on bare mud, the sepsid Themira minor (Hal.) and the scathophagid Norellisoma spinimanum (Fallen). The only species in this water-margin group that was obviously more frequent at fenced sites was Anthomyza collini Andersson, which is an anthomyzid inquiline of galls of other Diptera in tall emergent plants such as common reed Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin., so it is not surprising that this species was not favoured by grazing. The craneflies Erioptera fusculenta Edw., E. fuscipennis Meig. and E. trivialis Meig. are usually abundant at sites with bare mud (A. Stubbs, pers. comm.) and were numerous at trampled sites including Candover Stream and Itchen Country Park. They were absent from Itchen Stoke where there was limited bare mud, but instead bare chalk where the bank was grazed. Among the grassland species that showed clear differences in occurrence between fenced and unfenced sites were the sepsids Sepsis cynipsea (L.) and S. orthocnemis Frey, and the scathophagid Scathophaga stercoraria (L.), which all develop in cattle dung, and the soldierfly Chloromyia formosa (Scop.) whose larva is a detritivore in grassland; all were more frequent where stock had access. Species that were more abundant at fenced sites were the opomyzid Opomyza petrei Mesnil and perhaps also the chloropid Cetema neglecta Tonnoir, both of which have grass-mining larvae. In general, most of the common species were not obviously distributed differently between fenced and unfenced sites, even though their biology suggests that they might prefer one type to the other. However, casual observations made while collecting the samples suggested that some grassland species were more numerous in the taller vegetation by fenced margins, and that some water-margin species were particularly abundant at trampled sites, even though a few individuals were also found at fenced sites. Because sampling effort was uneven, the numbers of species in each of the habitat groups was expressed as a percentage of the total recorded, and these were compared between fenced and unfenced margins. Most groups were represented by too few species to show any real differences, but species of water edge, fen and grassland, and tourists were numerous (Table 2). The sample from Ovington Mill was excluded because the site was atypical, being next to scrubby, ungrazed fen. Although none of the mean values were significantly different, there was a notably larger percentage of 168 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 water-edge species along unfenced margins than along fenced margins. There was a similarly large, although non-significant, difference in the percentage of uncommon and scarce water-edge species alone between unfenced and fenced margins (17.4+7.6% and 11.0+12.1%, respectively). The percentages of fenland and grassland species were much the same for both groups of sites. DISCUSSION The survey showed that the river-edge fauna contained some nationally rare or scarce species. Most of these were found on unfenced margins where cattle had trampled the edges and partially grazed the taller vegetation. Unfenced margins also supported a slightly greater proportion of water-margin species, both common and uncommon, than did unfenced edges. Few species of note seemed to be more frequent at fenced sites and none was apparently confined to these. Mild trampling helps to restore some of physical diversity lost through flood defence work and other modifications made to improve conditions for salmonid fishing. If the river was allowed to develop a natural pool and riffle structure, there would be plenty of areas of bare silt left by normal deposition processes, and perhaps areas of sparse vegetation suppressed by annual inundation. These features would be interspersed with margins dominated by tall vegetation, forming a linear matrix where each species would be able to find its niche. Fast-flowing water and a clean, silt-free bottom, suitable for fish and aquatic invertebrates that require these conditions, would also be present. In the absence of a natural flow regime, allowing stock access to parts of the banks replaces this natural variation, at least in the structure of the bank where much of the invertebrate interest of these rivers lies. It is not suggested that the whole length of the river should be subjected to trampling or that it should be heavy and damaging, as undoubtedly it is along some stretches of this river. Only one station in this survey had been damaged by trampling (at Itchen Country Park) and all the others had a more diverse physical structure as a result of the cattle’s activity. Low- intensity grazing along, say, half of the river’s length would achieve the desired result. The tentative conclusion that lightly cattle-trampled margins are superior habitat to fenced margins for river-edge species needs to be tested more rigorously using a wider selection of lowland rivers and invertebrate groups. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I thank Dr Jon Cox for instigating this survey and arranging access. REFERENCES Ball, S. G. 1992. Recorder: an environmental recording package for Local Record Centres. Peterborough: English Nature. Ball, S. G. 1994. The Invertebrate Site Register—objectives and achievements. Br. J. Ent. Nat. Hist. 7(Suppl. 1): 2-14. Biggs, J., Corfield, A., Walker, D., Whitfield, M. & Williams, P. 1994. New approaches to the management of ponds. Br. Wildlife, 5: 273-287. Dolman, P. 1993. Trampling of pond margins. Br. Wildlife 4: 243-244. Drake, C. M. 1995. A brief survey of the insects of river banks with or without grazing along the River Itchen. English Nature Research Reports No 135. Peterborough: English Nature. Drake, C. M. in press. Factors influencing the species richness of aquatic invertebrates in grazing marsh ditches. In: J. Harpley (ed.) Nature conservation and the management of drainage system habitat. International Centre of Landscape Ecology, Loughborough University. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 169 Drake C. M. & Ball, S. G. in press. The second record of Cosmetopus dentimanus (Zetterstedt) (Diptera: Scathophagidae). Dipterist’s Digest. Lott, D. 1992. A survey report on the terrestrial beetles of riparian habitats along the River Soar near Loughborough, Leicestershire, March—October, 1991. Unpublished report, Leicestershire Museums Service, Leicester. Mayo, M. C. A. & Welstead, A. R. 1983. Coenagrion mercuriale (Charpentier) on the flood plain of the River Itchen and River Test in Hampshire. J. Br. Dragonfly Soc. 1: 20-21. Summers, D. 1994. Livestock and stream banks. Enact 2: 21-23. LETTER TO THE EDITOR County names.—I was interested to read the editorial on county names (Br. J. Ent. Nat. Hist. 1995; 8: 27-32). For over 30 years I have kept all my records of insects on 5"x 3" filing cards (over 50000 of them by now!) and have always filed them in drawers under the vice-county names. I take no notice of the modern administrative county names as they cover too big an area. It is almost useless to have a record simply listed as “Gwynedd” when this county stretches for 100 miles from N. Anglesey to S. Merioneth. Referring to Gwynedd, which includes Anglesey, Caernarfonshire and Merioneth, I am puzzled by the omission of this name from the list when Clwyd, which covers Denbighshire and Flintshire in North Wales (not “several” former counties) is included. Also baffling is the reference to Caernarfonshire as the mainland part of VC 49; this vice-county is only mainland, apart from Bardsey Island at the tip of the Lleyn Peninsula, and one or two tiny little islets. The reference at this point to Anglesey is confusing; while it is now included in Gwynedd, it was never part of Caernarfonshire. One of the name problems I have found, especially in the older journals, is the use of “Caernarfon” (or “Caernarvon’’), ‘“‘Flint” and “Denbigh” where it is not at all clear from the context whether the reference is to the town of Flint or the county of Flintshire. To avoid this confusion I always abbreviate the counties as Caerns., Flints. and Denbs., which makes it quite clear that one is not referring to the county towns. The terminal s is used in this way in, for example, the abbreviation of Bedfordshire so as not to confuse it with the town of Bedford. Of course this confusion would not arise if grid references and more details were added, but they are not always provided.—JOAN MORGAN, School of Biological Sciences, University of Wales, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2UW. Reply by the Editor—My thanks to Joan Morgan for her astute observations. Of course, Gwynedd should have been in the list of names, but luckily is short enough not to warrant any abbreviation. Hopefully references to Denbigh and Caernarfon (or Caernarvon) will always signify the towns, while Denb. and Caer. the vice- counties. However, the possible confusion over Flintshire would be solved by accepting Flints. as the vice-county abbreviation. Buck’s original list was only of “suggested abbreviations” and this is all I can claim for my revision. Although I hope the list can form a basis for conserving space in the journal, it must to some extent remain up to individual authors to try and avoid needless confusion between similar sounding place names.—RICHARD A. JONES, 13 Bellwood Road, Nunhead, London SE15 3DE. 170 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 BENHS WORKSHOP 8 April 1995, The National Network for Recording Britain’s Moths: the way forward The accompanying photograph shows some of those who attended the penultimate workshop of the BENHS 1994/5 season at Dinton Pastures. On this occasion the subject was the National Network for Recording Britain’s Moths. The workshop consisted of an introductory session explaining how the network was set up and operates, the importance of county recorders, other sources of information and some of the products of the network to date, including a draft atlas of Britain’s rarer macros. A range of nationally scarce species were discussed for which members, together with local branches of Butterfly Conservation and other moth groups, could help develop our knowledge of their distribution and habits. Techniques for finding these moths were demonstrated. In the afternoon there were several sessions demonstrating computer databases and their advantages in sorting data and plotting maps. This included a problem-solving session for more experienced users. In parallel there were informal presentations and discussion groups by several county moth recorders and Butterfly Conservation officers dealing with their work and ways of developing moth recording in the future. Council would like to thank all leaders of this year’s workshops, all members who attended and Ian McLean, Indoor Meetings Secretary, for putting together such an interesting and wide-ranging programme and ensuring that the workshops have run smoothly on the day. “niece BENHS workshop, 8 April 1995. Left to right, standing: G. Collins, G. Revill, J. Clarke, D. Coleman, I. Rutherford, S. Jeffcoate, P. Winter, R. Barnett, M. New, M. Albertini, —, —, R. Soutar, S. Lucas, P. Fleming; front: G. Jeffcoate, S. Carson, R. Kendrick, A. Pym, I. Sims, P. Waring. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 171 A CORRECTION TO BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION’S CLAIMED ATTITUDES IN INVERTEBRATE CONSERVATION ALAN E. STUBBS 181 Broadway, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire PEI 4DS. On 12 May 1992 BENHS held a discussion meeting to consider invertebrate conservation in the United Kingdom (Miles, 1995). The meeting covered a lot of ground and was clearly a valuable occasion for views to be expressed. In the published report there are a number of statements about the attitudes of Butterfly Conservation which misrepresent its position, most certainly in today’s context. As one who has been closely involved with both societies, particularly so with the issues raised, the National Conservation Officer has asked me to reply. BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION AS A SOCIETY Under its former public name of British Butterfly Conservation Society, it began over 25 years ago in a small way, reflecting the attitudes of those who founded the society. The constitutional motives were laudable but there was an image problem in some quarters. Nonetheless, worthwhile advance was made and the Society grew, attracting in some of the entomologists with good expertise who were keen to see the society adapt to the challenges ahead. Few outside Butterfly Conservation will be fully aware of just how profound a change has taken place. A Director was appointed with office support and a membership drive trebled the membership to 10 000 in three years. That post has not been refilled; instead emphasis has been focused on building up a team of professional conservation staff. Thus in very recent years, there has been the appointment of a National Conservation Officer, Martin Warren (a leading butterfly conservation researcher), an Assistant Conservation Officer, Paul Kirkland (with much experience in site management and formerly with Cumbria Wildlife Trust) and a Projects Officer, Linda Barnett (a moth specialist who is drawing up action plans for 25 butterflies and national and regional action plans for butterflies as a whole). These three are based in the Society’s Dorset office. In addition, Paul Waring is working half-time on the national review of scarce macro moths, via a contract with the society from the Joint Nature Conservation Committee. There is a great deal of other expertise that the society can draw on, including professional researchers and some quite remarkable amateur research specialists. There are now 26 branches of the society in the UK effecting local action, some with considerable expertise, others still developing. Until the national action plan is in place in about three years time there will be some variation in priorities. It would take many pages to spell out all that the society is doing, such as being the lead society for a new butterfly atlas in the closing years of the century, called the Millennium Project. The society has an executive committee that attends to the business end of things. There are other committees for the advancement of various functions. These include the conservation committee to whom the scientific staff are directly responsible. All policies concerned with entomological conservation are the province of this committee, with a membership of wide expertise. I am on that committee and see my role as ensuring that the wider context of policies is evaluated. It is important to add two points. Firstly, the constitution of Butterfly Conservation embraces ‘Lepidoptera’, and the direct promotion of moth conservation is now 172 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 being advanced vigorously at both national and branch levels. The conservation of fauna and flora as a whole is allowed for but the emphasis is on the Lepidoptera. Secondly, the society is now accepted as belonging to the ranks of leading conservation agencies, for instance being a full partner in the authorship of Biodiversity challenge, a review document setting out targets for conservation, and largely accepted by government within the framework for conservation over the next ten years (the other partners were FoE, PlantLife, RSPB, Wildlife Trusts and WWE). Thus Butterfly Conservation has gone well beyond its original butterfly role. In the case of Biodiversity challenge, the opportunity to ensure the needs of all invertebrates were taken into account was covered by deploying a member with wide invertebrate conservation experience, in this case, myself. BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION’S ATTITUDE TO COLLECTING A society whose purpose is conservation either picks up the image that it is against all collecting or it is accused of hypocrisy if its members are collecting. With 10 000 members, most of whom joined because they like to see butterflies alive, those who collect are in the minority. In the paper published by BENHS, both the opening address and the discussion sessions expressed concern about the anti-collecting attitude of Butterfly Conserva- tion. That is understandable, indeed it would be far more worrying if the accusation was one of the hypocrisy of unnecessary collecting. Everyone knows collecting is a fraught issue and that it is impossible to please all the people all the time. Butterfly Conservation has been addressing this issue to determine where, within its membership, the boundaries should come. The conservation committee has devised a policy, which should be published shortly, and if it is seen as closely resembling the stance that you know I have been favouring over the years, then I admit to being the person who drafted the text. The Butterfly Conservation guidelines closely follow the JCCBI code on collecting, which all leading entomological societies have endorsed. That code asks for restraint with regard to scarce species, and advises there should be no collecting at all with regard to the most vulnerable species. The justification for taking moths for identification and vouchers is upheld, as indeed are such purposes within invertebrates as a whole. The society is somewhat tougher in that it cannot endorse the collecting of butterflies for collecting’s sake and effectively has a hands off policy with all the rare and scarce species, including scarce races etc. The guidelines do, however, allow for some flexibility with common species, in particular the finding and keeping of a few caterpillars to learn about their life history. There is room for openness for those with special needs. The membership will be asked to accept these guidelines. The predominant anti- collecting members have to see the justification for taking and killing insects. Those in favour of some flexibility have to know that their reasonable needs, which are necessary to support the conservation efforts via survey and study, are understood and accepted within the society. Hopefully other entomological societies will feel comfortable with a fellow society adopting the needs and purpose of these guidelines. The one point that Butterfly Conservation has to be tougher on is butterfly collecting, which is anathema these days in so many conservation circles. I led a BENHS discussion meeting on this topic (Stubbs, 1982) which concluded that there was no general justification that would hold the respect of the conservation movement. Anyone with particular needs ought to discuss these openly with local conservation bodies and site owners. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 173 WOULD BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION PROMOTE THE CONSERVATION OF A SITE CONTAINING NO INTERESTING BUTTERFLIES? This was question 11 of the opening address by Stephen Miles. It will be evident from the above account that about 2400 species of moths come directly within the society’s ambit, and macro-moths are already getting serious treatment. When deciding on the case for making a Butterfly Conservation reserve, or in the management or defence of a site, all invertebrates are taken into account, indeed the society welcomes collaboration with other specialists. However, the constitution and resources of the society require it to concentrate on the Lepidoptera. Most sites have some potential for Lepidoptera, and it is always helpful to have real bullets to fire. More generally, the society sees its remit as including support of the wider efforts to ensure a future for habitats of importance for plants and animals. This was the case with Biodiversity challenge and will no doubt increasingly be the case on many site- related issues. BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION AND ITS WIDER ROLE As expressed in Stephen Miles’s report, ‘a major concern of the meeting was that Butterfly Conservation could take over as the main conservation organization for invertebrates, as it is keen to take on a wider role’. Part of that concern was that ‘it might set the agenda for the issue of butterfly collecting’. The commentary continued ‘Butterfly Conservation is viewed as a large society of non-specialists, as is the RSPB, however, that organization is very successful’. Well, it is for others to take their view based on what they see and hear of Butterfly Conservation. The points not already covered need to be put in perspective. We all want entomologists to be better understood and the needs of entomologists, and the future of invertebrates, to be taken seriously in all the quarters that matter. There are two ways in which this can be accomplished. There is personal responsibility, to get involved with the conservation bodies and to utilize one’s expertise to good effect. There is also corporate responsibility through the entomological societies to which we belong, including our influence on non- entomological societies and the official arms of local and central government, including the wildlife agencies (these issues were addressed in Stubbs, 1982). What is the track record over the last 25 years? The three leading national entomological societies have made little headway on the ground in influencing conservation until recently. All credit to the Amateur Entomologists’ Society for at least having a conservation group and for publishing its well-received book on insect conservation (Fry & Lonsdale, 1991). BENHS has only just begun a conservation group. The Royal Entomological Society has tended to duck potentially controversial conservation issues. As a member of all three, and as such part of that blame could rest on me, the memberships have not shown a strong desire to roll up their shirt sleeves and take action for conservation. The Joint Committee for the Conservation of British Invertebrates (JCCBI), of which I was a founder member and one-time representative of BENHS, has hardly been a driving force for joint action by the societies, except with regard to codes, and it is now trying to re-vamp itself after a near-death experience. The Nature Conservancy Council did much behind the scenes to get entomology onto a serious footing, and over 2000 people have submitted information to the Invertebrate Site Register which has had an immense impact on site evaluation, management and defence. The ISR continues to run and after a lot of pressure, all four subsequent agencies have entomological 174 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 specialists, but they have not got the capacity to get involved on the ground in all the local issues that concern, or should concern us. When entomologists want action, they must take action. ° If Butterfly Conservation emerges as the largest voluntary entomological organization, with a conservation constitution and professional entomological staff, and a national network of branches to co-ordinate and effect local action, is one to applaud or say how dreadful this day has become? In the real world, Butterfly Conservation is in the strongest position to take forward a coherent national action plan for Lepidoptera, indeed is already doing so, but this can only be fully effective if lepidopterists as a whole give their support to this venture. It is not a question of Butterfly Conservation taking over, for there has been little that other societies have done to take over. For instance at Wildlife Link in the last year or so, it is Butterfly Conservation representatives (as full members) that have been covering for invertebrates in the absence of a JCCBI representative for other societies. If Butterfly Conservation is invited into partnership with other leading conservation societies, as with Biodiversity challenge, this can only be to the wider good of increasing the profile and acceptability of the entomological cause; indeed all societies were invited to be part of the action through their names being up front as endorsing the document. Hopefully other societies will be encouraged that it is possible to generate a large membership, and resources to take action, when conservation is given a high profile. Butterfly Conservation is not trying to take over but it is, for the present, finding itself in a position of opportunity to provide some cover whilst other societies develop their conservation groups. Butterfly Conservation has no current intention of becoming an all-invertebrates society, the Lepidoptera needing plenty of attention. In the longer term who can say, but all societies should even now be working more closely together in order to draw upon their strengths and cover for each other over any weakness, since the conservation battle does not wait for ideal structures. REFERENCES Fry, R. & Lonsdale, D. (Eds.) 1991. Habitat conservation for insects—a neglected green issue. The Amateur Entomologist 15. Amateur Entomologists’ Society. Miles, S. R. 1995. Report of the discussion meeting held on 12 May 1992 to consider invertebrate conservation in the United Kingdom. Br. J. Ent. Nat. Hist. 8: 19-26. Stubbs, A. E. 1982. Conservation and the future for the field entomologist. Proc. Trans. Br. Ent. Nat. Hist. Soc. 15: 55-67. ANNOUNCEMENT A National Pyralid Recording Scheme has recently been launched. The first newsletter, which contains full details of how to contribute to the scheme, is available from Tony Davis, The Rangers House, Cricket Hill Lane, Yateley, Camberley, Surrey, GU17 7BB. An SAE would be appreciated. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 175 OBITUARY BASIL JOSEPH MACNULTY Ph.D., B.Sc., F.R.I.C., F.R.E.S. Basil MacNulty died suddenly on 12th April 1994 at his home in Rhossili, on the Gower Peninsula. He was born on 14th June 1915 and spent his early childhood in Leighton Buzzard. When he was ten the family moved to Wimbledon where he later attended Wimbledon College before going on to London University. Basil read chemistry and remained there until 1939 taking his Ph.D. and teaching. Shortly before the outbreak of war he joined the War Office, working in research and development of explosives, initially at Woolwich and later in South Wales when the establishment was evacuated from London. It was while involved in this war work that Basil met and married his wife Dodo as well as developing his abiding love for the Gower Peninsula. After the war his career with the Ministry caused him to be posted at different times to The Woolwich Arsenal, Runcorn in Cheshire and Waltham Abbey where the family lived for 19 years, but perhaps the posting of most interest to him, certainly entomologically, was to Nigeria between 1952 and 1958. Here he worked in the Tropical Testing Establishment and was able to make an extensive collection of West African insects, especially Lepidoptera and Coleoptera. He was later to publish much material based on this period. Basil’s interest in insects had begun, as for so many of us, at a very early age, with the pursuit of butterflies, and there are family stories of his early collecting from the age of six. During the period that he lived in Waltham Abbey he had started collecting beetles as well as Lepidoptera and this added interest was to flourish. During the time he spent in London he worked the Home Counties extensively with, the then revolutionary, M.V. light and was rewarded on 13th June 1952 at Worth Forest with one of the very few Lithacodia deceptoria Scop. ever taken. Basil, who was an honorary member of our Society, first joined in 1931 and was prominent in our affairs for many years. He was a long-serving member of Council ce : 2s Basil MacNulty, 1915-1994. 176 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 acting as Secretary between 1961 and 1968 and then as President in 1970. He will be especially well known to the majority of our members for his work over many years in organizing the annual dinner, and to those stalwarts who regularly attend for the introduction, after a long campaign, of the toast to “the founding fathers’. This annual toast won against the prevailing tradition of no speeches will surely continue as an affectionate tribute to Basil. Over the years that Basil stood up to propose this toast it developed its own traditions with a feigned reluctance to rise, and the annual retelling of the story of the search for knotgrass by two of our founders. Basil, was also a long-standing fellow of the Royal Entomological Society which he joined in 1957, and a keen supporter of the Amateur Entomologists’ Society. Basil had two retirements, from his Ministry of Defence career in the mid-seventies when he moved on to research at Leeds University, and finally in 1983. Basil was able to join his wife in the house at Rhossili which they had bought in 1974 and assist her with running her guest-house. He worked here on a list of the moths of the Gower as well as devoting much time to the, as yet unpublished, volume of The moths and butterflies of Britain and Ireland on geometers, drafting sections on Sterrhinae and Ennominae. Basil was keenly interested in the structure of pupae of Lepidoptera and encouraged his friends to let him have the exuviae of species they were breeding. Again his work on this area remained unpublished at his death. His presidential address to our Society was on the little-studied association of mites with insects. Amongst the numerous articles and notes which he contributed to the entomological press over the years may be mentioned in particular the series “Outline life histories of some West African Lepidoptera” which was published between 1966 and 1970 in our “Proceedings and Transactions” as then was, and a series published in the Bulletin of the Amateur Entomologist’s Society entitled ‘““So you want to study beetles”’. All his notes and unfinished entomological research were passed to the National Museum of Wales together with the British part of his collection which numbered some twenty thousand specimens of Lepidoptera and beetles. The West African collections went to the Natural History Museum at South Kensington and contained 6000 specimens and much biological information. Basil was a gregarious man with a love of good food and wine as well as company and could usually be found at the annual social gatherings of our society and its sisters deep in conversation. I well remember an occasion when my wife and I had been collecting with him on the Gower, a memorable night when we had watched phosphorescence on the sea, and carried generators nearly a mile over soft sand, returning to his home for him to open a bottle of Chateau Yquem at two in the morning! Despite living so far from London, Basil kept involved with Society affairs to the end, always attending the Annual Exhibition and that of the AES as well as paying frequent visits to the Natural History Museum in connection with his research. He attended a Council Meeting to discuss dinner arrangements as recently as 1993. He did however feel somewhat cut off from other collectors and was always keen to go out collecting with those who visited him in Gower, confessing on the last such occasion I visited him that it was the first time that year that he had been out with the ‘engine’. Basil enjoyed a wide range of interests and was an accomplished actor and keen member of amateur dramatic societies in his younger days, on one occasion touring Ireland with a theatrical company. He wrote poetry and several plays for relaxation, one of which was produced in Croydon. Basil was such a well known member of the entomological fraternity that he will long be remembered both for the work he performed and for his good fellowship and humour. We extend our sympathy to his family in their loss. A. J. PICKLES TAY ORATi Vista. ow bia a am » : 4 >) . e a | or nS f 7 i Law wel) ae tion al ; % ia ays th pi ite ‘i 9 - - . oo) fr ee i;, Os ’ ~ ' : = me ma - a: mi ; ¥ ; y ay ats : e often i pets,’ : | es j i = : i id a 7 } mint : 4 . Ps ' ) all : a) i La a R bt é x sl i #\ ‘ , rary fi ‘, : fae ( / oa . ay | » ore te Bs | { oe roe ‘ av Le I oes . fain, a 7 + Se, OY OR i, 4 ; a Wo ple @ rani ( : wns twee 7 Sage pte 5 . , Sol i vig SEE a oe ola Pia BPs ac =e iin eran 1a.% wun, seems 7 4s were q — Apa IEEE SWNIN, Cale + Plate Il. ANNUAL EXHIBITION 1994 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 177 1994 ANNUAL EXHIBITION Imperial College, London SW7—22 October 1994 The following account of exhibits has been compiled by R. D. G. Barrington (British butterflies), B. Elliot (British Macrolepidoptera), J. M. Chalmers-Hunt (British Microlepidoptera), B. Goater (Foreign Lepidoptera), P. J. Chandler (Diptera), P. J. Hodge (Coleoptera), R. A. Jones (Hemiptera), A. J. Halstead (Hymenoptera and other orders), and R. Dyke (illustrations). The photographs for the two colour plates were taken by D. E. Wilson and the cost of printing these plates was met by a grant from the Hammond Memorial Fund. BRITISH BUTTERFLIES BAILEY, K. E. J.—A bred series of what may prove to be a new aberration of Eurodryas aurinia Rott. in which the fulvous markings are darkened to deep red and the normally pale markings reduced to a grey colour. These characteristics are apparent on both surfaces. This form was first noticed in the pupal stage because those pupae that were to produce aberrations were ‘black and white’, lacking any orange markings at all. This makes it one of the very few recorded aberrations in Butterflies in which the gene/s involved affect the coloration of more than one stage in the life cycle (others have been found in Pieris brassicae L. and the American species Colias philodoce Godt.). The exhibitor is maintaining the stock to investigate the genetics. Mr Bailey’s experiments with temperature shocks on the pupae of butterflies has extended successfully now from the nymphalids to the smaller fritillaries. Included from the current year’s work were a marvellous, almost entirely black, Boloria selene L. ab. zeta Mots. (Plate II, Fig. 7) and an extreme B. euphrosyne L. ab. edna Lobb with long silver streaks on the underside of the hindwings. These were produced by cold-shocking both late larvae and the new pupae. A series of E. aurinia ab. sebaldus Schultz were produced by cold-shock to the pupae only. Extreme, temperature- induced, forms of Vanessa atalanta L. ab. klemsiewiczi Schille and Ladoga camilla L. ab. nigrina Weymer were also shown. A series of variations of Pararge aegeria L. ab. cockaynei Goodson including several of a curious form having the third spot in the hindwing band enlarged and the rest absent or nearly so (in cockaynei, all the spots usually tend towards obsolescence). PLATE Il. ANNUAL EXHIBITION 1994 1: Colias croceus, male, ab. nov. bred Sawley, Hants, 9.x.1994, A. S. Harmer. 2: Lycaena dispar ab. radiata, bred 2nd brood, 1994, P. A. Standing. 3: Pyronia tithonus ab. obsoletissima, bred F3, 1994, R. C. Dennis. 4: Cynthia cardui melanic, Uffington, Oxon, 7.viii1994, E. W. Classey. 5: Argynnis paphia ab. ocellata, Hampshire, 1994, A. M. Jones. 6: Ochlodes venata ab. fuscus, Dorset, 15.vi1994, P. Tebbutt. 7: Boloria selene ab. zeta, cold shock, bred 1994, K.E. J. Bailey. 8: Eurodryas aurinia ab. virgata, bred 1994, A.M. Jones. 9: Polyommatus icarus melanic, Isle of Skye, 27.vi.1993, W. G. Tremewan. 10: Bittacomorpha clavipes, Ontario, Canada, 8.viii.1994, A. E. Stubbs. 11: Melanargia galathea, Mt Venteux, Provence, France, 12. vii.1994, H. J. Elston. 12: Pterostichus kugelanni, Bicton Common, Woodbury, S. Devon, D. |. B. Hoare. 178 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 BARRINGTON, R. D. G—Two forms of Pararge aegeria L. showing variation in the eye-spot size. A captured male ab. parviocellata Lempke had the hindwings spots almost entirely absent and a bred female ab. schmidti Dioz had them considerably enlarged. The latter was bred in the F, brood from an extreme female captured in Wiltshire in September 1993. Apart from the exhibited specimen only typical examples and minor forms were bred in both F, and F, broods. This would seem to be a multifactorial form. Aberrations of Lysandra coridon Poda including males ab. parallela B. & L. and ab. postdiscoelongata B. & L. and females ab. inaequalis Cockayne, ab. discreta B. & L. and ab. caeca B. & L. A male E. aurinia ab. virgata Tutt and a bred aberration of Aglais urticae L. having the hindwing red band almost eliminated by dark scaling and with large blue lunules on all wings. This was the only aberration to emerge from a large brood reared under natural conditions. BRITTON, M. R.—Polyommatus icarus Rott. and forms of Aricia agestis L. from Yorkshire. CALLOW, M.—A female aberration of Pararge aegeria with enlarged areas of pale markings on the forewings (the same form as that illustrated on the Annual Exhibition plate for 1989 which has been shown to be controlled by a recessive gene). This specimen emerged in an F, generation of 81 insects from type stock. It was the only aberration in the brood. Two male Anthocharis cardamines L. showing homoeosis, with thin streaks of underside hindwing coloration on the underside of one forewing. This is the most frequently recorded form of homoeosis in the species. Five specimens emerged from 300 pupae. Although homoeosis has been shown to be an inherited form in some other animals this has not yet been proved in butterflies. Attempts have been made to breed from homoeotic forms in both Lycaena phlaeas L. (up to the F, brood) and Pieris brassicae L. (up to the F,), but no further aberrations were bred. It may yet be shown to have a heritable basis or it may occur due to a genetic imbalance between the parents. A bred Strymonidia pruni L. with a streak of orange on the underside of the right forewing. This had the appearance of a homoeotic form but was more likely to be an instance of uneven development of the pattern. A captured Argynnis paphia L. ab. confluens Spuler. CLASSEY, E. W.—An aberration of Cynthia cardui L. taken at Uffington, 7.viii.1994 in which the outer third of the forewings was predominantly black (Plate II, Fig. 4). DENNIS, R. C.—Specimens from an F; generation of Pyronia tithonus L. ab. caeca Tutt. Details of the first two broods were given in the report of exhibits for the 1993 Annual Exhibition. The parents for the F; lacked the double white pupils of the apical spots and had the hindwing spots obsolete. The F; included a male of the very rare obsoletissima Leeds with the forewing eyespot absent on one side and represented by just a pin-prick on the other. There are very few recorded examples of this form (Plate II, Fig. 3). Some bred aberrations of Anthocharis cardamines L. from the collection of the late Reg Griffiths. This included two fine gynandrous examples, one a mainly female insect with a streak of male apical orange on each forewing, the other almost halved but with some female coloration in the apical area of the male side. FENSOME, B.—Two male Polyommatus icarus Rott ab. livida Gillmer with grey uppersides but typical undersides bred from ab. radiata Courv. stock, and a selection of bred ab. radiata forms. A wild captured male showing radiata on the hindwings and a good male radiata on all wings from S. Lincs. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 179 A captured male Lysandra coridon Poda ab. striata B. & L., a pale male Lycaena phlaeas L. ab. cuprinus Peyer taken in May 1994 and a curious Pararge aegeria L. with all markings darkened and indistinct, captured in Bedfordshire, March 1994. HARMER, A. S.—A female Thymelicus acteon L. ab. alba Bolton taken in Dorset, August 1994 which was used for breeding, and a male ab. virescens Tutt from the same locality. Three remarkable male examples of Colias croceus Geoff. showing a complete absence of yellow and pink pigmentation (Plate II, Fig. 1). The result is that the ground-colour of the uppersides is creamy white on the forewings and yellow-grey (similar to f. helice Hiibn.) on the hindwings. The black borders are normal. On the underside forewings the ground-colour is again creamy-white and the border area yellow-grey. On the hindwings the normal greenish-yellow coloration is replaced by yellow-grey giving a blueish appearance. The hindwing discoidal spot is white on both surfaces. Yellow pigment is similarly lacking in the marginal hair, body hair, legs and antennae. These were bred from a typical female captured at Sawley, Hants on 4.vili.1994 by Arran Harmer. A crippled female of the same form emerged from this brood and other examples of the aberration coloured up but failed to emerge. F. helice is a sex-linked form restricted to the female and the present insects represent a quite separate aberration. It bears a significant resemblance to an aberration of Colias alfacariensis Berger shown at the 1991 Annual Exhibition by D. Wedd, and photographed for the exhibition plate. There are also similarities with the well known ab. coerulea Gardiner of Pieris brassicae L. (a recessive). A form equivalent to f. helice occurs in many species of Colias in different parts of the world, always restricted to the female. Very rare white male forms have been found in a few species in USA and Asia. When bred these have proved to be controlled by a recessive gene which affects both sexes equally and is unrelated to helice. If this form has been recorded before in C. croceus then it is certainly extremely rare. There do not appear to be any references to such an insect in the literature and it is likely to be a new aberration in this species. HOUGHTON, D. W.—A male Pieris brassicae L. ab. flava Kane taken on the Thames Embankment near the power station at Dartford, Kent in August 1949. Colias croceus Geoff. and Colias hyale L. were common in the area and this very rare aberration was thought to be just another croceus f. helice Hiibn. until it was in the net. JONES, A. M.—A bred series of Eurodryas aurinia Rott ab. virgata Tutt (Plate II, Fig. 8) probably bred from a pair of virgata parents, although the strain was mixed in with type stock. Pairings between aberrations have been achieved and the stock carefully segregated. An extreme female ab. sebaldus Schultz from the same stock. K. E. J. Bailey has shown this to be a temperature-induced form, and as this specimen was reared in a greenhouse it is likely that it experienced unnatural temperatures. A bred gynandromorph of Quercusia quercus L. being predominantly female but with half of the left forewing male and some male scaling in the borders of both right-hand wings. A female ab. caerulescens Lempke with an orange patch at the anal angle of the hindwing upper surface. A good captured male Argynnis paphia L. ab. ocellata Frings (Plate II, Fig. 5) with very dark hindwings and a halved gynandromorph. The latter was spotted in the field when it was noticed that the visible upperside was of a different sex to the displayed underside. A credit to sharp observation. A male Aricia agestis L. ab. 180 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 pallidior Ober with cream lunules and an unusual male having the black centres to the lunules absent from the underside and so resembling Lysandra coridon ab. fowleri South. . KEMP, R.—Lycaena phlaeas L. ab. radiata Tutt having the hindwing orange band replaced with thin streaks. Taken near Aylesbury, Bucks in September 1994. This is a recessive form. KNILL-JONES, S. A.—A female Plebejus argus L. ab. nigrescens Tutt from Hampshire, July 1994 and second brood examples of Colias croceus Geoff. from Compton Down, I.o.W., October 1994. PAYNE, J. H.—The results of temperature experiments, including a good Argynnis paphia L. ab. ocellata Frings, Aglais urticae L. semiichneusoides Pronin and Inachis io L. ab. belisaria Ober. PORTER, J.—Examples of Pyronia tithonus L. ab. excessa Leeds from S. Devon and a female ab. postobscura Leeds. Obsolete forms of Aphantopus hyperantus L. and a large female Coenonympha pamphilus L. with the outer part of the forewings distinctly pale. Erebia aethiops L. ab. flavescens Tutt with the orange bands paler than type and a male ab. purpurea Sibille having the hindwings spotting obsolete (Aviemore). Lysandra bellargus Rott. abs parvipuncta Tutt and krodeli Gillmer. REVELS, R. C.—A captured female Melanargia galathea L. with extra black scaling, appearing to be transitional to ab. nigricans Culot; 40 ova were obtained. A good male Polyommatus icarus Rott. ab. radiata Courv.—one of several of this type seen in one locality in July and August 1994. A female Maniola jurtina L. ab. pallidula Leeds. Further breeding from an aberration of Pyronia tithonus L. having broad borders to the forewings and the hindwing orange absent or nearly so. The F, and F, broods were exhibited in 1993 and the form was shown to be dominant. Further examples were shown, being the result of crossing female aberrations with wild males showing extra spotting. Two batches were reared. One produced a brood of 91 insects of which 60 were aberrations (11 showing extra spotting) and the other a brood of 72 insects comprising 34 type (two with some extra spotting) and 38 aberrations. Pairings have been obtained between some of the more extreme aberrations. ROUSE, T.—A bred Lysandra coridon Poda ab. i-nigrum B. & L., from a type parent. A male L. bellargus Rott. bred in the F,; generation from Folkstone, Kent with two streaked spots on underside of the left hindwing and a female ab. striata B. & L., both from type stock. Aglais urticae L. ab. semiichneusoides Pronin captured flying around a Budleia bush with about 50 typical specimens at Densole, Kent on 10.x.1994. STANDING, P. A.—Three ab. wittei Geest of Melitaea cinxia L. and a form with reduced black markings in the centre of the forewings. A fine female Lycaena dispar batavus Ober ab. radiata B. & L. (Plate II, Fig. 2) bred in the second brood, August 1994. This developed under natural conditions. The spotting was streaked outwards on all wings on the underside and on the upperside forewings. This strain has shown tendencies towards this form over the years. Also shown was another transitional female. A captured female Hipparchia semele L. from Dorset, July 1994 being ab. holonops Brouwer on one side and monocellata Lempke on the other. TEBBUT, P.—An outstanding melanic aberration of Ochlodes venata Br. & Grey (Plate II, Fig. 6). This was an extreme ab. fuscus Frohawk which was virtually black but with the patterning still visible. Captured in Dorset, June 1994. A male Thymelicus lineola Ochs ab. antiordens Lempke, with all darker markings replaced BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 181 with pale brown. This may be an albinistic form. Two Ladoga camilla L. ab. obliterae Robson & Gardner and one ab. nigrina Weymer. A most unusual Aricia agestis L. ab. glomerata B. & L. very similar to the example of Lysandra coridon Poda illustrated on the exhibition plate for 1991. This is very possibly a unique aberration in agestis. Hamaearis lucina L. ab. semibrunnea Osthelder and a gynandromorph of Pieris rapae L. being a mainly female insect but with male streaks on the left side. A good Coenonympha tullia L. ab. cockaynei Hopkins and ab. impupillata Lempke, lacking the pupils to the spots. A female Colias croceus Geoff. lacking the yellow spots in the black border and having the hindwing discal lunule pear-shaped. A female Plebejus argus L. with the hindwings and base of forewings blue and no lunules. TREMEWAN, W. G.—A further showing of the remarkable melanic variety of Polyommatus icarus Rott that was exhibited at the 1993 exhibition and figured on the exhibition plate. This form, which is equally aberrant on the underside (Plate II, Fig. 9), was taken on the Isle of Skye on 27.vi.1993. TusbBs, R. S——A drawer showing Mr Tubbs’s researches into the genetics of Hipparchia semele L. abs monocellata Lempke/ holonops Brouwer. This is a recessive form also associated with a rayed effect in the orange markings. Three strains were shown. The first was representative of an F, from an original holonops female captured by R. C. Revels in Dorset in 1975. This included a full male holonops and others with reduced spotting. The other two strains were from parents with the spotting much reduced, both parents taken by R. S. Tubbs in Dorset in 1979. The offspring included monocellata males and ‘rayed’ females. BRITISH MACROLEPIDOPTERA BRADFORD, E. S.—Some moths taken from Penn Hill, Whitstable, Kent: Archanara geminipuncta Haw., 13.viii.94, Mythimna albipuncta D. & S., 12.viii.94; Parascotia fuliginaria L., 27.11.94; Rhodometra sacraria L., 24.viii.94; Apoda limacodes Hufn., 28.vi.94. Deltote bankiana F., 14.vii.94; Amphipoea fucosa Freyer ssp. paludis Tutt, 29.vii.94. Also a further specimen of R. sacraria from Child’s Forstal Wood, East Blean, Kent, 29.viii.94. BRITTON, M. R.—A selection of characteristic Lepidoptera of Yorkshire limestone including both sexes of Adscita geryon Hiibn. Photedes captiuncula expolita Staint., Apamea furva britannica Cockayne, Epirrhoe galiata D. & S., and Eupithecia distinctaria H.-S. BROTHERIDGE, D. J.—An extreme melanic example of Discestra trifolii Hufn. from Wroughton, Wilts. on 9.viii.1992 (Plate III, Fig. 3). BUTCHER, A. G. J.—A series of specimens comparing varieties and aberrations with typical examples. Included were, Lasiocampa trifolii flava Chalmers-Hunt ab. obsoleta, Calliteara pudibunda L., intermediate form, Ochropleura plecta L. ab. rubricosta., Euproctis similis Fuessl. with suffused forewings, Diarsia mendica F. resembling ssp. thulei Stoud., a pale form of Melanchra persicariae L., a gynandromorph Noctua pronuba L., dark Brachionycha sphinx Hufn., a possible melanic Mythimna conigera D. & S. (Plate III, Fig. 11), Xanthia icteritia Hufn. ab. flavescens, Acronicta alni L. ab. suffusa, an example of Aporophyla lutulenta D. & S. resembling ssp. /unebergensis Freyer, forms of Acronicta rumicis L., Charanyca trigrammica Hufn., a yellow form of Cryphia domestica Hufn., and Odontopera bidentata Clerk. 182 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 Amongst Geometridae shown were a var. of Idaea dimidiata Hufn., Melanthia procellata D. & S. with suffused forewings, four temperature-affected Rhodometra sacraria L., melanic forms of Odontopera bidentata Cl., Apocheima pilosaria D. & S. and Alcis repandata L. were shown. Two selected bred varieties of Ennomos autumnaria Wermeb. were also shown. CLANCY, S. P.—Migrants taken in the Dungeness area in 1994. These comprised Scopula rubiginata Hufn., 4.viii.94 (Lydd), Scotopteryx peribolata Hiibn., 6.1x.94 (Greatstone), Peribatodes manuelaria H.-S., 4.viii.94 (New Romney), Lymantria dispar L., 4.viii.94, Polia bombycina Hufn., 25.vi.94 (Greatstone), Chrysodeixis chalcites Esp., 29.ix.94. In addition, five specimens of Amphipoea lucens Freyer were exhibited from the Dungeness area in 1992/1993. A number of aberrations were also exhibited and included: Malacosoma castrensis L., lacking cross-lines; an aberrant Xanthorhoe fluctuata L., an Arctia caja L. with reduced dark scaling, a Meganola albula D. & S. with reduced markings (Plate III, Fig. 5), an obsolete example of Agrotis exclamationis L., a dark specimen of Lacanobia oleracea L., a melanic Cerastis leucographa D. & S., a striking semi- melanic aberration of Acronicta rumicis L., and a specimen of Protodeltote pygarga Hufn. with reduced scaling in the distal part of the forewing. CLARKE, J.—A selection of Lepidoptera taken or bred in 1994 including: Apamea furva britannica Cockayne from Sychnant Pass North Wales; Dyscia fagaria Thunb.; Chloroclysta concinnata. Steph from Arran, 27.vi.94; Paradiarsia sobrina Dup. from Carrbridge, Inverness-shire; Xestia ashworthii Doubl. at light, from Sychnant Pass, North Wales; Agrotis cinerea D. & S., a mixed gynandromorph from Swanage, Dorset (Plate III, Fig. 9); Drymonia ruficornis Hufn., a melanic example from Lingfield Surrey; Orthosia cerasi F., taken at Lingfield, Surrey on 3.xi.93; a variety of Diarsia mendica P. from Lingfield Surrey; from Norfolk, Phragmataecia castaneae Hiibn. and Pelosia obtusa H.-S.; Idaea dilutaria Hibn. from Great Orme, North Wales; Agrochola haematidea Dup. bred from Sussex and an example of Crocallis elinguuria ab. unicolor Prout from Carrbridge, Inverness-shire. Also exhibited was a case of Sesiidae bred in 1994 complete with larval workings. Species included were: Synanthedon formicaeformis Esp., S. flaviventris Staud., from southern Surrey and Ashdown Forest; Bembecia muscaeformis Esp. from Devon and S. scoliaeformis Borkh. from Rannoch Scotland. In a separate exhibit, was the second adult British record of Cucullia scrophulariae D. & S. This was captured on 18.vi.94 in Dorset (Plate III, Fig. 12). For comparison, it was displayed alongside C. lychnitis Namb. and C. verbasci L. Cook, R. R.—An exhibit of species taken or bred in 1994: Chloroclysta concinnata Steph. from Monamore Glen, Arran; Synanthedon spheciformis D. & S., bred from Bastley Heath, Hants, vi.94; Idaea dilutaria Hiibn. from Great Orme, North Wales; Luperina nickerlii gueneei Doubl. from Prestatyn, North Wales, viti.94; Noctua orbona Hufn., bred from larvae found at Icklingham, Suffolk; Xestia ashworthii Doubl., from Sychnant Pass, North Wales, vi.94; Hadena perplexa D. & S., bred from larvae, Hurst Castle, Hants, Apamea furva britannica Cockayne, from Sychnant Pass, North Wales; Orthosia gothica L., ab. gothicina H.-S., bred from larvae, Kincraig Inverness, 111.94. a Also exhibited were Agrochola haematidea Dup. from Sussex with photographs of larvae taken by P. Davey. CorLEY, M. F. V.—A dull brown specimen of Amphipyra berbera Rungs with the hindwing lacking the normal copper coloration from Blandon Heath, Oxon on 22.vi.1993 (Plate III, Fig. 2). BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 183 CRAMP, P. J—An example of Mythimna pudorina D. & S., from Godshill I.o.W. 12.vii.94, new to the island. Dosson, A. H.—Examples of Cucullia asteris D. & S., bred from larvae found at Calshot 17.viii.93; a melanic Orthosia cerasi F., from Penn Wood 28.iii.94; Xanthorhoe biriviata Borkh. from River Itchen; Spodoptera exigua Hiibn., at m.v. light Greywell Moors, 16.viii.94; Agrotis exclamationis L., with black suffusion in the median area of the right forewing, from Yorkshire; Photedes captiuncula expolita Staint., from Grassington, Yorkshire; Heliothis peltigera D. & S., from Starcross, Devon; also several Hypena obsitalis Hiibn., from Torbay including two live second brood females. EMMET, A. M.—An example of Scopula marginepunctata Goeze from Saffron Walden Essex, taken at m.v. light, 20.viii.94. Also Heliothis viriplaca Hufn. from Saffron Walden Essex, taken at m.v. light 6.vili.94, probably a wanderer from Breckland. Also, exhibited was a possible example of Plusia putnami gracilis Lempke from Ahakista, Co. Cork, taken at m.v. light, 16.vi.94. FosTER, A. P.—A specimen of Eupithecia abietaria Goeze, taken at m.v. light in a conifer plantation at Pontneddfechan, Breconshire, 18.vii.94. GILL, N.—The following moths: Odontognophos dumetata hibernica Forder, Hadena caesia manani Gregson, H. perplexa capsophila Dup., Zygaena purpuralis sabulosa Trem., Tethea or hibernica Turner, and Thera cognata Thunb., were taken in, or bred from, Ireland in 1994. Also, from Shetland, were Hadena confusa Hufn. and Eupithecia venosata fumosae Gregson, bred from larvae taken in 1992. GOATER, B.—An exhibit of cases of Luperina nickerlii Freyer from Britain and Europe (Plate III, Figs. 15-18) with a varied series of Luperina testacea D. & S. This exhibit is to be the subject of a paper in the Br. J. Ent. Nat. Hist. that will demonstrate that the saltern race of Essex and Kent is a good sub-species. Also exhibited were western European species of Earias to show that specimens of E. insulana Boisd. taken in southern England in 1992 were in fact EF. clorana L. f. flavimargo de Joannis. HALL, N.—Bred Deileptinia ribeata Cl. from Bernwood Oxon, 31.vii.94, the night of a B.E.N.HLS. field meeting. An aberrant Agrotis exclamationis L., from Earley Reading 24.vii.94. Normal and dark forms of Thalpophila matura Hufn. from Birmingham, 22.vii.94. Also two Synanthedon culiciformis L., exhibited plus their emergence stump from Dinton Pastures, collected 23.iv.94. HARMAN, T. W.—Example of Heliothis armigera Hibn., Westbere, Kent, 2.x.94; H. peltigera D. & S., Turville Heath, Bucks. Also exhibited on behalf of F. Solly: Chrysodeixis chalcites Esp., Kingsgate, Kent, 14.x.94; Euxoa cursoria Hufn., Kingsgate, Kent, 13.viii.94 and Pelosia muscerda Hufn., Kingsgate, Kent, 31.vii.94, also one specimen of Deltote bankiana F., Dover, Kent 13.vii.94. Hart, C.—A noctuid larva found 7.x.94 in a packet of mange-tout purchased in a Supermarket in Horsham, West Sussex. Its origin was Zambia. The larva was probably of Heliothis armigera Hibn. HAYwoop, B.—Some immigrant Lepidoptera taken in 1994: Spodoptera exigua Hiibn., from Abbotskerswell, Devon, 10.vii.94 and Lyme Regis, Dorset, 2.vii.94; Orthonama obstipata F., Abbotskerswell, Devon, 25.1x.94. HAYWOOD, R.—A selection of Lepidoptera taken or bred in Slough mainly during 1994. These consisted of: Rhodometra sacraria L., to m.v. light, Slough, 6.viii.94; Thera obeliscata Hiibn., a dark form of the first brood at m.v. light, 26.vi.94; Colotois pennaria L., with large white ‘eyes’ on the forewing and a pale right hindwing; Mimas 184 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 tiliae L., with two distinct shades of green in the central band; six Lacanobia suasa D. & S., bred from Slough parent of ab. dissimilis Knoch, April 1994; four specimens of Cryphia domestica Hufn. taken between 30.vii and 6.viii.94, demonstrating the wide variety of forms in Slough; two Cosmia affinis L., a welcome visitor to the garden trap this year; finally an example of Heliothis armigera Hiibn. bred from a larva which probably emanated from a bunch of chrysanthemums in the house. HowTONn, D. H.—Paradarisa consonaria Hibn f. nigra Bankes, an example found on Ranmore Common, Surrey on a beech trunk, 10.v.86; an unknown sphingid found in a crate of grapes in August 1992, Hinckley Leicestershire; Orthosia cruda D. & S., ab. haggarti Tutt, taken 16.iii.91 on Geddington Chase, Northants, this was amongst 120 ‘normal’ specimens. JENKINS, A.—Zygaena exulans subochracea White, a series taken at Braemar. One specimen had yellow legs, yellow spots on thorax and yellow colouring to main vein in the upper wings. Zygaena loti scotica Rowl.-Br., a series from the Isle of Mull with one specimen having middle and inner spots united. A series of Xestia alpicola alpina Humph. & Westw., from Grampian, taken at m.v. light on two nights, none flying before 1 a.m. Bred Archanara algae Esp from Sussex, from pupae found. Pelosia obtusa H.-S., taken at m.v. light in Norfolk. Photedes brevilinea from Norfolk also at m.v. light. Also the following bred species: Alcis repandata L., of the conversaria form from South Wales; Agrochola haematidea Dup. from Sussex, and Eriogaster lanestris L. from Norfolk. KNILL-JONES, S. A.—An exhibit largely of moths from Freshwater, Isle of Wight, consisting of Eupithecia tripunctaria H.-S., 3.vii and 4.viii.94; Euchoeca nebulata Scop., 2.vii.94, Conistra vaccinii L., a grey aberration, 10.11.94; Diarsia rubi View., an aberration taken 17.viii.94; Rhodometra sacraria L., 1.viii and 12.x.94; Apamea scolopacina Esp., 31.vii.94; Rhyacia simulans Hufn., 18.vii.94; new to the Isle of Wight; Trichoplusia ni Hiibn., new to the Isle of Wight; Scopula nigropunctata Hufn., 5.viii.94, new to Hampshire and the Isle of Wight; Xestia agathina Dup., 15.1x.94; Ipomorpha retusa L., 20.viii.94; Autographa gamma L., two aberrations taken 11.viii and 1.ix.94; a dwarf Deilephila elpenor L., with a wingspan of only 46 mm taken 30.vi.94; Nonagria typhae Thunb. ab. fraterna 15.viii.94; Archanara dissoluta Treits., typical and melanic, 25.vii and 6.viii.94; three Agrotis exclamationis L., aberrations; Abraxas grossulariata L., ab. dohrnii, 11.viii.94; Heliothis armigera Hibn., 14.x.94; Mythimna straminea Treits., 16.vi.94; a bred series of Lasciocampa quercus L., showing variation 1993-94. From other parts of the Isle of Wight, the following moths were shown: a series of Eupithecia subumbrata D. & S., Compton Down, vi.94; Perizoma flavofasciata Thunb., Redcliff Bay, 23.vi.94; Scopula floslactata Haw., Cranmore, 6.vi.94; Idaea biselata Hufn. ab. fimbriolata Steph., Afton Reserve, 8.vii.94; Erannis defoliaria Cl., Cranmore; Scotopteryx luridata plumbaria F., Cranmore, 9.vi.94; Mythimna vitellina Hiibn., a dark form, Cranmore, 4.xi.93; Colotois pennaria L., a pale form, Cranmore, 5.xi.93. Also from further afield: Xylena vetusta Hiibn., and Entephria flavicinctata Hibn from Bunessan, Isle of Mull, 20— 23.1x.94. KoLaJs, A.—A sample of moths bred from larvae beaten from various plants in and around Aviemore including: Entephria flavicinctata ruficinctata Guen., Thera cognata Thunb., Hydiomena furcata Thunb., Entephria caesiata D. & S., Eupithecia pusillata D. & S., and an unusual form of Eulithis populata L. A sample of moths taken during a very hot week in the Norfolk Broads including: Eustrotia uncula Cl., Pelosia muscerda Hufn., P. obtusaH.-S., Archanara dissoluta Treits., Simyra albovenosa Goeze, Photedes brevilinea Fenn., Plusia putnami gracilis Lempke and Phragmataecia castaneae Hiibn. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 185 In addition, also exhibited were: Macroglossum stellatarum L. and Heliothis peltigera D. & S. from Warwickshire; Hydraecia osseola Stdgr.; Colocasia coryli L., including melanic forms from Bucks.; Thera cupressata Geyer, from Dorset and Agrotis clavis Hufn., from Suffolk. MACKENZIE REID, IA series of Agrotis exclamationis L. demonstrating its variability from Claverdon and Bearley, Warwickshire. A specimen of Ennomos alniaria L. from Warburg N. R., Bucks. Also a specimen of Aplocera efformata Guen., taken 18.viii.90 from Bearley, Warwickshire. MANNING, D. V.—A specimen of Rhodometra sacraria L., without forewing streak taken 18.viii.94, Ampthill Park, Bedfordshire. McCorMIck, R.—The following species bred or captured during 1993/94: Synanthedon scoliaeformis Borkh., from Rannoch; Bembecia muscaeformis Esp., from Start Point; Colostygia olivata D. & S., from Babbacombe; Coenocalpe lapidata Hibn., from Trinafour, Tayside where it was found commonly; Eupithecia expallidata Doubl., at light, Holne Chase and Dawlish Warren, Devon; Alcis jubata Thunb., Holne Chase; Photedes morrisii Dale, from Charmouth Dorset; Hypena obsitalis Hiibn., several specimens from Dartmouth to Watcombe, Devon. The following species considered to be unusual for Devon or near its borders were captured: Hydriomena ruberata Freyer from Teignmouth (and was also seen at Dawlish Warren); Horisme vitalbata D. & S., several seen Dawlish Warren; Eilema sororcula Hufn., from Teignmouth, Devon; Meganola albula D. & S., seen commonly at Dawlish Warren; Mythimna obsoleta Hibn. from Exminster Marshes, Devon; Photedes pygmina Haw., a striated specimen from Holne Chase; Eremobia ochroleuca D. & S., from Dawlish Warren; Arenostola phragmitidis Hiibn., a pair from several seen at Dawlish Warren; Chilodes maritimus Tausch., from Dawlish Warren and Exminster Marshes including ab. nigristriata Stdgr., and ab. bipunctata, Haw.; Calocula nupta L., one specimen from Dawlish Warren; Earias clorana L. found commonly at Dawlish Warren. The following migrants appeared in the garden trap at Teignmouth: Rhodometra sacraria L., Spodoptera exigua Hiibn., Heliothis peltigera D. & S., and Autographa gamma L. ab. gammina Stdgr. The following species were bred this year from various localities: Chloroclysta truncata Hufn., bred from larvae swept at Feshiebridge, Inv. Hydriomena furcata Thunb., bred from larvae swept at Feshiebridge; Crocallis elinguaria L., an ab. unicolor Prout bred from a larva also swept at Feshiebridge; Xestia castanea Esp., a pair of dark red specimens swept at Mooremore, Aviemore; Egira conspicillaris L., part of a series of typical specimens bred from a female caught at Kynaston, Hereford. Finally, a series of Agrotis puta Hiibn., and A. clavis Hufn., showing the variety of forms occurring in South Devon. MIDDLETON, H. G. F. & SCANES, J. J—During a visit to Scotland 11—15.vii.1994, the following species were taken in the Isle of Skye: Zygaena purpuralis caledonensis Neiss, Zygaena lonicerae jocelynae Trem. and Camptogramma bilineata bilineata L. From Perthshire, the following species were taken: Entephria caesiata D. & S.., Gnophos obfuscatus D. & S., Entephria flavicinctata Hiibn., Xanthorhoe munitata munitata Hiibn., Perizoma blandiata blandiata D. & S., Hydriomena ruberata Freyer, Eurois occula L., Hyppa rectilinea Esp. and Apamea zeta assimilis Doubl. OwEN, D. F.—An exhibit to confirm the prediction of Owen and Clarke (Oikos 67: 393-402) that the medionigra phenotype of Callimorpha dominula L., was temperature-controlled. The studies were made in 1993 at the famous Cothill, 186 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 Oxfordshire colony and a similar result obtained at the nearby locality of North Hinksey. Another exhibit highlighted the interesting parallel decline in frequency of melanism in Biston betularia L. in England and the U.S.A. where the North American subspecies Biston betularia cognataria occurs. OwEN, J.—A specimen of Acontia lucida Hufn. taken at m.v. light at Dymchurch, Kent on 6.viii.94. PARSONS, M.—The following specimens were exhibited: Parascotia fuliginaria L., Great Bookham Common, Surrey. 21.vii.94; Minoa murinata Scop., Sapperton, E. Glos., 3.vii.94. Xanthorhoé fluctuata L., Rayner Park, Surrey, 31.vili.94, a variety with reduced and suffused markings; Paradarisa extersaria Freyer, a dark example from Richmond Park, Surrey, 4.vi.94; two pale examples of Gnophos obscuratus D. & S. from Cow Gap, 29.vii.94; four examples of Cryphia domestica Hufn., showing the range in variation in this species in the capital. PORTER, J.—A male Thera cupressata Geyer from Dorset, 15.x.94; a dark example of Noctua comes Hibn. and three forms of Celaena leucostigma Hibn. ssp. scotica Coch., from Argyllshire, 14.vii.94; two pairs of Antitype chi L. from Kinross-shire on 9 and 16.viii.94; a dark female Eumichtis lichenea lichenea Hiibn. from the Essex coast, 1.x.94, and Caradrina clavipalpis Scop. with dark marginal areas from Surrey 22.x.94. PHILLIPS, J. W.—A selection of Macrolepidoptera captured or bred during 1994 mainly as a result of a trip to North and South Wales. They comprised: Abraxas sylvata Scop., Tintern; Discoloxia blomeri Curt:, Tintern; Eriopygodes imbecilla F., from South Wales, Jdaea dilutaria Hiibn., Great Ormes Head; Apamea furva britannica Coch., Great Ormes Head; Apeira syringaria L., bred from Tintern; Entephria caesiata D. & S., from North Wales. From other areas: Heliothis peltigera D. & S., bred ex. larvae, Pagham, W. Sussex and Zygaena trifolii decreta Ver. from Arne, Dorset. PLANT, C.—Eleven examples of Cryphia domestica Hufn. showing a variation from typical to melanic. Six slightly differing examples were shown, three from Bishop’s Stortford, Herts., 12.vili.88 and 18.vi.89, two from East Ham, S. Essex, 6.vii.82, and 4.vii.85 and one from Romford, S. Essex, 1982. Four differing examples approximating to ab. suffusa Tutt all from East Ham. Finally, a melanic form, the name of which has not been traced, in which the entire forewings are darkened except for a pale sub-basal fascia not reaching the dorsum and a pale pre-tonal patch taken at Enfield, Middx on 21.vii.1994 by Ms Anna Hughes. Also exhibited were Perizoma affinitata Steph., a suffused dark form in which forewings are a suffused brown all over apart from the white part-median line and the upper sides of the hind wings are entirely grey with the whitish fascia barely discernible. This was captured in Rushey Mead Nature Reserve near Bishop’s Stortford, 2.vi.94. Also from the same reserve, Heliothis viriplaca Hufn., a typical Breckland Moth, on 6.viii.94. PRATT, C.—An aberration of Dryobotodes eremita F. from the Arundel area, in appearance being somewhat similar to a small Lacanobia contigua D. & S. RousE, T.—The following species taken at Densole and Dungeness, Kent: Peridroma saucia Hiibn., Mythimna vitellina Hibn., Agrotis ipsilon Hufn., Heliothis armigera Hiibn., H. peltigera D. & S., Autographa gamma L., Mythimna albipuncta D. & S., Agrius convolvuli L. The following species were bred during 1934-94: Adscita statices L., bred from a female taken at Odiham, Hants; Adscita globulariae Hiibn., bred from a female taken at Whinless Down, Kent; Diacrisia sannio L., bred from a female taken at Whinless BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 187 Down, Kent; Deltote bankiana F., bred from a female taken at Whinless Down, Kent; Rhodometra sacraria L., bred from a female taken at the Warren Kent, lastly an example of Trachea atriplicis L., taken at Densole, Kent, being the first record for the British Isles since 1986. SCANES, J. T.—A selection of macro moths from the summer of 1994; Photedes morrisii morrisii Dale from Charmouth Dorset; Epirrhoe rivata Hiibn. and Catarhoe rubidata D. & S., from Seatown, Dorset; Spodoptera exigua Hiibn. and Mythimna favicolor Burr. from Keyhaven, Hants; Agrotis ripae Hibn., from West Wittering; Agrotis cinerea D. & S., from Kings Somborne, Hants; Spodoptera exigua Hiibn., from Tolworth, Surrey and an aberrant Drymonia dodonaea D. & S., from Ashtead Surrey, taken at m.v. light, 26.vi.94 (Plate II, Fig. 10). Two moth aberrations were exhibited on behalf of Mr A. D. A. Russwurm. They were: Diarsia mendica mendica F. at m.v. light, 22.vi.94 and Notodonta dromedarius L. at m.v. light, 9.vii.94, both at Brockenhurst. SIMMONS, M.—An exhibit of migrant moths taken in E. Sussex during 1994: Heliothis armigera Hibn., H. peltigera D. & S., (which was recorded three times on 15.vi, 7.vii and 7.viii.94), Agrotis ipsilon Hufn., Peridroma saucia Hibn., Rhodometra sacraria L., all taken at light in Crowborough. Another species, Spodoptera exigua Hiibn. was taken at light in Normans Bay. SIMPSON, A. N. B.—An example of Mythimna obsoleta Hibn., to m.v. light at Upton Warren, Worcestershire on 1.vii.94, the first VC37 record. Sims, I.—A varied exhibit of Synanthedon tipuliformis Cl., bred from Ribes nigrum emerging on 27.iv.90; Ptilophora plumigera D. & S., to m.v. light, Pheasant Wood, Hambledon, Bucks., 26.xi.91; Setina irrorella L., an imago from Inishmore, Galway, Eire, 1.vi.91; Cucullia lychnitis Namb., bred from larvae from Medmenham, Marlow, Bucks., these emerged on 9.vi.93 after having been fed on Buddleia in 1992 in captivity. Craniophora ligustri D. & S., to m.v. light Medmenham, Marlow, Bucks., 16.vi.93; Ipimorpha subtusa D. & S., to m.v. light. Ashley Hill Forest, Knowl Hill, Reading, Berks., 21.vii.94. SKINNER, B. F.—Pelosia obtusa H.-S., two males and two females from Catfield, Norfolk, July 1994; Hoplodrina alsines Brahm, an albino male from Dungeness, Kent, 8.vii.94 (Plate III, Fig. 13); Nola aerugula Hiibn., a male from Greatstone, Kent, 12.vii.94, being the fifteenth Kentish record this century; Agrotis crassa Hiibn., from Portland Bird Observatory, Dorset, 4.vili.94 being the sixth English record this century. STERLING, M. J. & P. H—An exhibit of Zygaena lonicerae Schev., from Cume Down, near Weymouth, Dorset, VC9, 6.vii.94, to demonstrate occurrence which is widespread in the County despite report in M.B.G.B.I. vol. 2. TEBBUT, P.—An example of Arctia caja L. ab. fumosa Horhammer. WARD, J. W.—An aberrant Diarsia mendica F. from Geddington Chase, Northants on 20.vi.1988 (Plate III, Fig. 1), a melanic specimen of Orthosia cerasi F. bred ex pupa, 1.iv.1976 from Warkton, Northants. WARNE, B. J.—An aberration of Selenia lunularia Hiibn., taken at Binstead, L.o.W., 2.vii.94. WEDD, D.—An exhibit of species bred or captured 1993-4. From Henley-on- Thames, Oxon: Heliothis peltigera D. & S., two from a series bred from a female captured in May; Apoda limacodes Hufn., to actinic light in Henley; Crocallis elinguaria L., varied colour forms including a buttered ab. restricta, from Bude, Cornwall, normal and also several round-winged specimens which emerged from F, generation from Prawle Point, Devon, from a female captured by Brian Baker. 188 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 From Ireland, the following captured at Dromore Park, Co. Clare: Amphipyra berbera svenssoni Fletcher, Ipimorpha retusa L., Apamea ophiogramma Esp. and Spilosoma lubricipeda L. From Inch, County Kerry: Hyles lineata livornica Esp. from Duncormick, Co. Wexford: Odonoptera bidentata Cl., F, specimens, Agrotis ripae Hiibn., examples of the S. E. Irish form. From Scotland: Eupithecia pusillata D. & S. a varied series from Feshiebridge; Polyphaenis maillardi assimilis Doubl., two specimens from Achlean, Inv. and a dark female from Kilmahoy, near Cullander, Inv.; Noctua comes Hiibn., from Findhorn, Morayshire—a range of colour forms. From South Devon and North Cornwall, a series of Hypena obsitalis Hibn. Finally, an exhibit of Calamia tridens occidentalis Cochayne, varying from wild- caught specimens from Aglish, Burren, Co. Clare to results of breeding the moth at different temperatures. WOOLDRIDGE, D. B.—An example of Thera cupressata Geyer, taken Freshwater, Lo.W., 13.vii.94. YOUNG, D.—From the New Forest, a Lymantria dispar L., captured 5.viti.94 along with other common migrant species; Drymonia ruficornis Hufn., an aberrant specimen with area between ante- and post-median lines whitish yellow, taken 25.iv.94. From Reading, Sesia apiformis Cl. boxed from a poplar trunk at Reading from 7.15-7.30 a.m. 27.vi to 1.vii.94. Hydraecia osseola hucherardi Mab., from Kent, 7.1x.94. Catocala promissa D. & S. from the New Forest. Agrotis ripae Hiibn., a short-series bred from larvae from Wittering, W. Sussex. Gortyna borelii lunata Freyer, found to be reasonably common this year in Essex. BRITISH MICROLEPIDOPTERA BLAND, K. P.—Stigmella continuella Staint., vacated leafmines in birch, found 10.ix.1994 at Camghouran (NN5455), Rannoch, new to Perths. (VC88) and only third Scottish vice-county. Kessleria saxifragae Staint., Invernaver NNR (NC6960), Suther., 8.vili.1994, new to VC108. Coleophora discordella Zell., Bettyhill (NC7062), Suther., to light, 9/10.viii.1994, new to VC108. Elachista orstadii Palm,333,19, Williamshope, Glen Kinnon, Selk., taken 29.v.1994, new to VC79, the female appears to be the first British example taken. Exaeretia ciniflonella L. & Z., Camghouran (NN5455), Rannoch, Perths. (VC88), a rare species which is rarely captured; this specimen was on the wing in quite heavy autumn rain, 10.ix.1994. Gelechia sororculella Hiibn., Apigill Wood (NC7157), Suther., taken by Tony Simpson, 11.viii.1994, new to VC108. Epinotia maculana F., near Persie House (NO1455), Perths., taken 24.ix.1994, new to VC89. BRADFORD, E. S.—Monopis weaverella Scott, Childs Forstal Wood, East Blean, Kent, at light, 23.viii.1994. Phyllonorycter leucographella Zell., Pean Hill, Whitstable, Kent, specimens bred from Pyracantha coccinea, 20—25.iv.1994. The following all taken at light, Seasalter Marshes, Whitstable, Kent, 10.vii.1994: Orthotelia sparganella Thunb., Schoenobius gigantella D. & S., S. forficella Thunb. The following 16 species all taken at light at Pean Hill, Whitstable, Kent: Aspilapteryx tringipennella Zell., 23.vii.94; Parectopa ononidis Zell., 24.vii.94; Bedellia somnulen- tella Zell., 29.viii.94; Coleophora versurella Zell., 27.vii.94; C. lineolea Haw., 20.vii.94; Cnephasia pasiuana Hiibn., 22.vii.94; Synaphe punctalis F., 11.vii.94; Dioryctria abietella D. & S., 19.vii.94; Sitochroa palealis D. & S., 25.vii.94; Amblyptilia acanthadactyla Hiibn., 4.ix.94; Catoptria falsella D. & S., 23.vili.94; Oncocera BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 189 formosa Haw., 15.vii.94; Platytes alpinella Hiibn., 11.vii.94; Bisigna procerella D. & S., 12.vii.94; Monochroa palustrella Dougl., 4.vii.94; Psoricoptera gibbosella Zell., 31.vii.94. From Ellenden Wood, Whitstable, Kent, Ancylis mitterbacheriana D. & S., specimens bred from Quercus petraea L., 12—24.iv.94. BRITTON, M. R.—Species from Yorkshire limestone. Teleiodes sequax Haw., Kilnsey, Grassington, Wharfedale, Yorks., bred ex spinnings in rock-rose, 13.vi.94, emerged 10.vii.94 onwards. Pterophorus tridactyla L., top of Dib Scar, Bastow Wood, Grassington, Wharfedale, Yorks., 4.vii.94. Pyrausta cingulata L., Dib Scar, Bastow Wood, Grassington, Yorks., 16.vii.94. CLANCY, S. P.—The following taken in the Dungeness area: Pediasia fascelinella Hiibn., 30.vii.1994; Margaritia sticticalis L., 31.vii.1994 (Greatstone); Mussidia nigrivenella Rag., 12.viii.1994 (Plate III, Fig. 7), and Agriphila inquinatella D. & S.., 27.vii.1994 (Plate III, Fig. 8). COLENUTT, S.—Evergestis limbata L., Chale Green, I.o.W., 23 and 30.vii.1994, new to Britain (Plate III, Fig. 4). CORLEY, M. F. V.—Monochroa lucidella Steph., Pucketty Farm, Faringdon, Oxon., 13.vii.94, new to VC22. Brachmia lutatella H.-S., Lulworth, Dorset, 1994, netted in the evening; this was Waters’ 1926 locality. Aristotella brizella Treits., Portland Bill, Dorset, 22.vii.1994, disturbed from Armeria maritima (Miller) Willd. Caryocolum proximum Haw., Pucketty Farm, Faringdon, Oxon., bred from Stellaria media (L.) Vill, 7.vii.1994, the first VC22 record since an undated Reading record in the Victoria County History (1906); this foodplant has been recorded on the Continent, but not previously in Britain, Spinnings are inconspicuous—only one was found; Phalonidia luridana Gregs., Portland, Dorset, 22.vii.1994, netted at dusk flying over a trackside with abundant Odontites. CRAMP, P. J.—Evergestis pallidata Hufn., Godshill, I.o.W., 24.viii.1994. E. extimalis Scop, Godshill, I.o.W., 10.viii.1994. Dosson, A. H.—Homoeosoma sinuella F., Torquay, 20.vii.94, an aberration with blackish median band (Plate III, Fig. 6). Ephiphyas postvittans Walk., Torquay, bred from larva swept from Parietaria judaica L. on 19.vii.94. Blastobasis decolorella Woll., Basingstoke, Hants (VC12), disturbed from vegetable refuse. Sitochroa palealis D. &S., Starcross, S. Devon, 5—7.viii.94. Salebriopsis albicillaH.-S., Welshbury Hill, Glos., at m.v. trap under Tilia cordata Miller during field meeting of 25.vi.94. EMMET, A. M.—Lampronia fuscatella Tengst., two reared from galls in twigs of birch from Mildenhall, W. Suff. (VC26), 18—20.iv.1994, the first specimens from Suffolk. Galls were found at the same locality in 1988, but no moth emerged. Caloptilia azaleella Brants, Saffron Walden, Essex, at m.v. light, 18.vili.1994, new to N. Essex (VC19). Parectopa ononidis Zell., Saffron Walden, Essex, at m.v. light, 5.viii.1994, the second record from north-west Essex. Kessleria saxifragae Staint., Baureenagh Mountain, Co. Kerry, reared 2—12.vii.1994. The locality, 1000 feet above sea-level, was discovered in the 1960s by the late R. M. Mere and E. C. Pelham-Clinton. Epiphyas postvittana Walker, Saffron Walden, Essex, at m.v. light, 22.ix.1994, new to north-west Essex. Where it becomes established, this Australian species tends to become a pest. Apotomis semifasciana Haw., Monreith, Wig., at m.v. light, 15.vii.1994, the second record from Scotland. Hypsopygia costalis F., a typical specimen and two varieties, one from Wicken Fen, Cambs., 5.viii.1970, in which the yellow costal spots are greatly enlarged and another from Saffron Walden, Essex, at m.v. light, 8.vii.1994, in which the yellow costal spots are amalgamated. FOSTER, A. P.—Prochoreutis sehestedeana F., Tretio Common, Pemb., 13.vii.94, sweeping wet heath with Scutellaria minor Hudson; first county record. Pyralis lienigialis Zell., Cricklade, Wiltshire, 24.vi.94, at m.v. light in garden. 190 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST,, 8; 1995 HARPER, M. W.—Teleiodes alburnella Zell (Plate II, Fig. 23), Kincraig, Inv., a short series of specimens caught by day on 17.vii.1994, showing a very well-marked form and unlike the less well-marked form from England; distribution appears to be disjunctive with no records from midland and southern Scotland. Caryocolum junctella Doug)., specimens bred from mines in leaves of Stellaria graminia L., and a single tenanted mine in a species of Cerastium; larvae were also found in May/June with Dr A. N. Simpson in a meadow in Worcestershire, having first captured two post-hibernated moths in April 1994, which were flying by day in the same locality. Biselachista utonella Frey new to Scotland (gen. det. confirmed by Dr K. P. Bland), in June 1994 several tenanted mines found in Carex vesicaria L. in a small marsh near Kincraig, Inv., from which a short series of bred moths is shown, together with examples of the mines and a pupa. HECKFORD, R. J.-Epermenia insecurella Staint., Portland, Dorset (VC9) bred from Thesium humifusum DC., 4.vii.1994 (locality courtesy of Dr P. H. Sterling). Coleophora lassella Staud., Slepe Heath, Dorset (VC9) bred from Juncus bufonius L., 7-27.v.1994; Hartland Moor, Dorset bred from same 15 & 22.v.1994 (both localities with Drs J. R. Langmaid and P. H. Sterling), Wytch Heath, Dorset 17.vi.1994. Argolamprotes micella D. & §., Lyme Regis, Dorset (VC9) 8.vii.1994, one at light. Phthorimaea operculella Zell., Plympton, Plymouth, new to Devon (VC3) (exhibitor’s garden), 11.vii.1994, one at light. Mompha bradleyi Riedl, Stratford-upon-Avon (VC38) bred from galls on Epilobium hirsutum L., 4-22.ix.1993. Piercea luridana Gregs., Portland, Dorset (VC9), 30.vii.1994, Portland, bred from seeds of Odontites verna (Bellardi), 2-4.ix.1994, previously unrecorded foodplant. Cochylis molliculana Zell., Portland, Dorset 24.vi.1991, earliest known British specimen; Portland 24.vi.1994; Portland, bred from Picris echioides L. 11 & 12.viii.1994, foodplant previously unknown (see also exhibit of Dr J. R. Langmaid). Ac/eris umbrana Hibn., Heybrook Bay, Devon (VC3) bred from Prunus spinosa L. 17-27.x.1993. Cydia prunivorana Rag., Plympton, Plymouth, Devon (VC3) (exhibitor’s garden) 1.vii.1994, three at light. HOARE, R. J. B.-Stigmella pyri Glitz, one bred from a mine on Pyrus pyraster Burgsd. collected 8.ix.93 at Exeter University Campus, new to Devon VC3. A few vacated mines were found on the same tree later in the month, but they appeared to be confined to a single branch. Choreutis diana Hiibn., one on Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop. flower in afternoon sun at its only known British locality, Glen Affric, Inv., 17.viii.94. Dasystoma salicella Hiibn., two females bred from larvae on Prunus spinosa L., collected at Branscombe, new to Devon VC3 on 18.ix.93, the moths emerging on 24.i11.94. Teleiodes scriptella Hibn., two shown of five bred from larvae on Acer campestre L., found at Lillesdon near Taunton, Somerset VCS5 on 5.ix.93. Caryocolum blandelloides Karsholt (Plate I, Fig. 22), three flying at dusk on sand dunes at Loch Fleet NR, East Sutherland VC107, 23.viii.94; determined on genitalia, new to Britain. Epiblema incarnatana Hibn., one flying at dusk, Stockbridge Down, Hants, VC12, 30.vii.94, the third Hampshire specimen, and the second from this locality, where the foodplant is presumably Rosa canina L. Mecyna flavalis D. & S., Stockbridge Down, one at dusk, 30.vii.94, an infrequent species on the mainland of Hampshire. HowrTon, D. H.—First county records for Northamptonshiré and Soke of Peterborough VC32. Species shown: Athrips mouffatella L., Teleiodes alburnella Zell., Dichomeris marginella ¥., Trachysmia inopiana Haw., Cacoecimorpha pronubana Hibn., Cnephasia longana Haw., Lobesia littoralis Humphr. & Westw. For the most recent list of Microlepidoptera of VC32, it is necessary to go back to the records of Eustace Wallis published in the J Northampton Nat. Hist Soc. 1908 to BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 191 1912. David Manning is currently compiling a list, and some examples of new records for the county are shown. The exhibitors hope that anyone who is not already providing records for David Manning will do so. KNILL-JONES, S. A.—AIl the following specimens were taken at m.v. light at Freshwater, I.o.W. unless stated otherwise. Scoparia subfusca Haw., uniform grey ab., 7.viii.94. Udea fulvalis Hiibn., 17.viii.94. Acleris sparsana D. & S., 30.1x.94. Pseudoswammerdamia combinella Hiibn., 13.vi.94. Aphelia viburnana D. & S., 3 & 5.vii.93, new VC record. A. paleana Hiibn., 9.vii.94, new VC record. Pempelia palumbella D. & S., 4.vii.94. Endothenia quadrimaculana Haw., 6.viii.94. Rhyacionia pinivorana L. & Z., 24.vi.85. Adela croesella Scop., Tennyson Down, I.o.W., 15 and 21.vi.85, 19.vi.89. Ancylis achatana D. & S., 9.vii.93. Acleris hastiana L., 21.1.94. A. notana Don. Blastesthia turionella L., 25.v.91, new VC record. Cryptophlebia leucotreta Meyrick, found indoors, 29.1x.89, new VC _ record. Dioryctria schuetzeella Fuchs, 16.vii.85, new county record. Lathronympha strigana F., 23.vi.92, new VC record. Dichomeris marginella F., 8.vii.89, new VC record. Semioscopis steinkellneriana D. & S., 12.iv.90. Amblyptilia acanthadactyla Hibn., found indoors, 9.x.94. Gymnancyla canella D. & S., St Helens, I.o.W., 26.vii.94. Platytes alpinella WHiibn., 12.vii.94. Oncocera_ genistella Dup., Cranmore, I.o.W., 13.vii.94. Pleuroptya ruralis Scop. ab., Cranmore, I.o.W., 14.vii.94. Sitochroa palealis D. & S., Compton Down, I.0.W., 21.vii.94. Pediasea contaminella Hiibn., three including one ab. sticheli Constant, St Helens, I.o.W., 26.vii.94. Phycitodes maritima Tengst., St Helens, I.o.W., 26.vii.94. Parapoynx stratiotata L., 4.vili.94. LANGMAID, J. R.—Coleophora lassella Staud., a series of four bred from Juncus bufonius L. together with larval cases, Hartland Moor, Dorset; cases appeared from foodplant randomly gathered 26.vii.93, moths emerged 17.v—4.vi.94 and another on 23.vii.94, the first time the species has been bred in this country (see also exhibits by R. J. Heckford and P. H. Sterling). Tachystola acroxantha Meyrick, a specimen taken in an m.v. trap belonging to M. T. M. Roberts at Portsmouth, 1.vii.94; new to Hampshire. Ethmia bipunctella F., Southsea, one taken at m.v. light, 31.vii.94; fourth Hampshire record. Blastobasis decolorella Woll., Portsmouth, one of several specimens taken at light, 8.vii.94; new to Hampshire. Cochylis molliculana Zell. (Plate III, Fig. 21) a series of four bred from Picris echioides at Portsmouth in 1994; larvae and pupae were found in the seedheads of the foodplant on 1.viii and moths emerged 4~27.viii; a specimen which was not exhibited was taken at m.v. light at Southsea, Hampshire, 21.viii.93, and found, on dissection of the genitalia to be this Mediterranean species, new to Britain. PARSONS, M.—E. Sussex: Agonopterix bipunctosa Curt., Milton Hide, larvae 27.v.1994; Pammene germmana Hiibn., Milton Hide, 27.v.1994; Oxyptilia distans Zell., Camber Sands, 25.v.1994. E. Kent: Aristotelia brizella Treits., Nagden Marshes, 22.viii.1994; Acleris permutana Dup., singletons from Hythe Ranges, 6.vii.1993 and Dungeness 8.vii.1993. Surrey: Bucculatrix thoracella Thunb., Richmond Park, 29.iv.1994; Nemaxera betulinella F., Great Bookham Common, 21.vii.1994; Caloptilia populetorum Zell., Richmond Park, 6.viti.1994; Athrips rancidella H.-S., Raynes Park, 15.vii.1994 and Richmond Park, 15.vii.1994; Gelechia senticetella Stgr. Raynes Park, 13.vii.1994, 3.viii.1994; Glyphipteryx linneela Clerk, Raynes Park, 22.vi.1994; Pediasia contaminella Hiibn., Richmond Park, 6.viii.1994; Sitochroa palealis D. & S., Richmond Park, 21.vii.1994; Aphomia sociella L. and Ephestia elutella Hibn., bred from larvae found feeding on the remains of dead insects from the base of an “‘insect-o-cutor’’, Richmond Park, viii.1994. E. Glos.: Bryotropha basaltinella Zell., Hilcot End, 2.vii.1994. 192 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 PoRTER, J.—Evergestis extimalis Scop., 24.ix.1994; Anania verbascalis D. & S.., 18.vii.1994; Palpita unionalis Hiibn., 24.ix.1994 all from the Kent coast, and another P. unionalis from Dorset on 5.x.1990. : RosBINS, J.—An album containing specimens of the leaf mines of the families Eriocraniidae, Nepticulidae, Tischeriidae, Incurvariidae, Heliozelidae, Bucculatrici- dae, Lyonetiidae, Gracillariidae, Coleophoridae and Momphidae. The mined leaves were collected between 1988 and the current year exclusively from within the boundaries of the Exmoor National Park. A total of 138 species were represented and an index was included in a pocket within the back cover of the album. SIMMONS, M.—Pyralid moths from E. Sussex, 1994. From Norman’s Bay: Schoenobius gigantella D. & S., Evergestis extimalis Scop., Pyrausta cespitalis D. & S., Numonia marmorea Haw. From Crowborough: Agriphila inquinatella D. & S., Catoptria falsella D. & S. SIMPSON, A. N. B.—Eudonia delunella Staint., Tregroes, near Llandysul, Ceredigion, Dyfed, 29.vii.94, at light. Capperia britanniodactyla Gregs., Hartlebury Common, Worcs. VC37, bred from larvae collected 30.v.94. Leioptilus lienigianus Zell., Upton Warren, new to Worcs., VC37, 1.vii.94. Cydia molesta Busck, bred from nectarine purchased in Worcester ix.94. Epinotia signatana Dougl., Mill Meadow, Drakes Broughton, new to Worcs., VC37, 14.vi.94. Caryocolum junctella Dougl., Wyre Forest NNR, female caught flying in evening 27.iv.94; three bred from Stellaria graminea L. v. 94 from same site; first WC record. Coleophora cratipennella Clemens, bred from cases collected from Juncus articulatus L., River Cole, Sparkhill, Birmingham on 10.ix.93; first record for VC37. Sims, I.—Adela fibulella D. & S., River Lodden, Lower Earley, Reading, Berks., adults 30.v.94. Diplodoma herminata Geoff., Hainault Forest, Chigwell Row, Essex, adult and case, oak trunk, 11.iv.93, hatched 30.iv.93; case, hornbeam trunk, 13.11.93. Narycia monilifera Geoff., Medmenham, Marlow, Bucks., adults and cases, fence post, 18.iii.92, hatched 3.v.92; Lower Earley, Reading, Berks., 14.iv.90, oak trunk adults hatched 10.v.90. Luffia ferchaultella Steph., Lower Earley, Reading, Berks., adults end cases on oak trunk 12.iv.90, hatched 16.vi.90. Morophaga choragella D. & S., Burnham Beeches, Slough, Berks., mining in the fungus Ganoderma adspersum (Schulz) Donk, growing on beech trunk, 14.x.90, hatched (forced) 31.xii.90; Hainault Forest, Chigwell Row, Essex, mining in the fungus Polyporus squamosus (Huds.) Fr. (dryad’s saddle) on ash trunk, 3.xi.92, hatched 6.1.93 (forced); Medmenham, Marlow, Bucks., mining in the fungus Pseudotrametes gibbosa on dead wood, 9.ix.94, hatched 12.xi.94. Psychoides filicivora Meyrick, Woody Bay, Martinhoe, Devon, on Dryopteris filix-mas (L.) Schott, 15.viii.93, hatched 20.viii.93; Great Torrington, Devon, 20.ix.90, hatched 12.xi.90 (forced). Nemapogon personella P. & M., Burnham Beeches, Slough, Bucks., mining in the fungus Piptoporus betulinus (Bull) Karsten, 14.x.90, hatched 29.xii.90 (forced). N. cloacella Haw., Ashley Hill Forest, Knowl Hill, Reading, Berks., mining in the fungus Piptoporus betulinus 27.11.94, hatched 17.vi.94; Hainault Forest, Chigwell Row, Essex, in dead wood and the fungus Tyromyces stipticus, 6.xi.92, hatched 12.iii.93 (forced). N. ruricolla Staint., Hainault Forest, Lambourne End, Essex, mining in the fungus Coriolus versicolor (L.) Quél., 30.xii.93, hatched 25.ii.94 (forced); Hainault Forest, Chigwell Row, Essex, in fungus Coriolus versicolor, 28.xii.93 hatched 20.ii.94 (forced). Nemaxera betulinella Fabr., Hainault Forest, Chigwell Row, Essex, 28.xii.93, hatched 20.ii.94 (forced). Triaxomera parasitella Hiibn., Ashleyhill Forest, Knowl Hill, Reading, Berks., mining in the fungus Piptoporus betulinus, 27.iii.94, hatched 19.iv.94; Hainault Forest, Chigwell Row, Essex, mining in the fungus Bjerkandera adjusta, 28.xii.93, hatched 16.ii.94 (forced). Monopis weaverella Scott., Savernake Forest, Wiltshire, at BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 193 m.v., 20.v.91. Bucculatrix nigricomella Zell., Lower Earley, Reading, Berks., cocoons 26.iv.94 on Leucanthemum vulgare Lam., hatched 13.vii.94, heavily parasitized with 50 larvae producing 12 moths and 30 Hymenoptera. Caloptilia cuculipennella Hibn., Medmenham, Marlow, Bucks., mine on Ligustrum vulgare L., 7.ix.94, hatched 15.ix.94. C. rufipennella Hiibn., Medmenham, Marlow, Bucks, on Acer pseudopla- tanus L. 18.viii.94, hatched 7.1x.94. C. azaleella Brants, Rosemoor RHS Gardens, Great Torrington, Devon, mines on Azalea (Rhododendron simsii), 20.ix.90, hatched 20.x.90. C. falconipennella Hiibn., Medmenham, Marlow, Bucks., mines 10.x.94, hatched 14.x.94. This appears to be a new record for VC24. Field-work and subsequent rearing has also shown it to be present in VC22 (Berks., at Twyford and Lower Earley), VC12 (N. Hants., at Eversley) and VC23 (Oxon., at Henley-on- Thames). All appear to be new county records, and located in the valleys of the River Thames and its tributaries. Perhaps it is extending its range, or maybe it has always been present here and has had a good year. It would be a good one to look out for at Dinton Pastures, the Lower Earley site is within 2 miles. C. semifascia Haw., Pheasant Wood, Hambleden, Marlow, Bucks., on Acer campestre L., 10.vii.94, hatched 22.vii1.94. Aspilapteryx tringipennella Zell., Lower Earley, Reading, Berks., on Plantago lanceolata L., 23.vii.94, hatched 30.vii.94; very heavily parasitized with 200 mines producing two moths and 185 Hymenoptera. Parornix fagivora Frey, Pheasant Wood, Hambleden, Marlow, Bucks., on Fagus sylvatica L. 19.x.91 and 9.x.93, hatched 14.11.92 and 12.ii.94 (both forced). Acrocercops brongniardella F., River Lodden, Lower Earley, Reading, Berks., on Quercus sp. 17.viii.91, hatched 3.ix.91 (still present here, and in Essex in 1994). Phyllonorycter leucographella Zell., Wickford, Essex, mines on Pyracantha coccinea Roemer, 26.iii.89 and 25.ii.90, hatched 23.iv.89 and 11.iv.90 (heavily parasitized in this area, with 100 mines producing four moths and 70 Hymenoptera; as a result far less common here in 1994). P. salicolella Sirc., Ashley Hill Forest, Knowl Hill, Reading, Berks., on Salix caprea L., 2.xi1.90, hatched 21.iii.91 (forced); Burnham Beeches, Slough, Bucks., 14.x.90, hatched 22.i11.91 (forced). P. dubitella H.-S., Medmenham, Marlow, Bucks., on Salix caprea, 26.x.92, hatched 16.ii.93 (forced); Pheasant Wood, Hambleden, Marlow, Bucks., on Salix, 31.x.92, hatched 8.11.93 (forced). P. hilarella Zett. Ashley Hill Forest, Knowl Hill, Reading, Berks., on Salix caprea, 2.xii.90, hatched 15.iv.91; Burnham Beeches, Slough, Bucks., on Salix, 14.x.90, hatched 16.iv.91. P. quinqueguttella Staint., Braunton Burrows, Devon, on Salix repens L., 29.ix.90, hatched 15.iv.91. P. emberizaepenella Bouche, Wangles Copps, Woodly, Reading, Berks., on Lonicera periclymenham L., 23.ix.89, hatched 3.iv.90; Chigwell Row, Essex, cocoon, 3.x.88. Phyllocnistis saligna Zell., Medmenham, Marlow, Bucks., on Salix fragilis L., 17.vii.92 and 4.viii.94, hatched 1.viii.92 and 8.viii.94; mine on S. fragilis 11.x.89 (unusual in being on upper-side). Choreutis pariana Cl., on Crataegus monogyna Jacq., River Lodden, Lower Earley, Reading, Berks., 30.v.94, hatched 19.vi.94. SKINNER, B.—Udea fulvalis Hiibn., Highcliffe, Hampshire, three bred specimens ex female vii.1993 together with photographs illustrating life history. Salebriopsis albicilla H.-S., Welshbury Hill, Glos., caught males, vi.1994, together with photographs illustrating life history. Melissoblaptes zelleri Joannis, male with discal spots united, Greatstone, Kent, 14.vii.94. Homoeosoma sinuella F.., male with banded forewing, Stoke Saltings, Kent, 24.vii.94 Acrobasis repandana F., melanistic male, Ham Street, Kent, 13.vii.94. Sciota adelphella F.v.R., short series bred from southeast Kent. Schoenobius gigantella D. & S., melanistic male, Stoke Saltings, 24.vii.94. Perinephele lancealis D. & S., albino male, Ham Street, 13.vii.94. 194 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 STERLING, M. J. & P. H—Nemapogon ruricolella Staint., Charborough Park, new to Dorset VC9, bred from larvae feeding in Stereum hirsutum on oak bark, collected 28.iv.94, emerged from 26.v.94. Ypsolopha lucella F., Stoke Common, Bucks., VC24, one bred from larva on oak collected 30.v.94, and one adult (of many) beaten from oak 16.vii.94. Coleophora lassella Stdgr., Arne, Dorset, VC9, bred from cases made from Juncus bufonius L., collected 26.vii.93, emerged v.94. C. clypeiferella Hofm., Weymouth, new to Dorset VC9, at light 3/4.viii.94. Ethmia bipunctella F., Weymouth, at light, 3/4.viii.94. Bryotropha mundella Dougl., Fanore, Co. Clare VC H9, smoked out 13.vi.94. Dichomeris juniperella L. (Plate III, Fig. 20), Achlean, Cairngorms, vi.77,det.K.Sattler. Brachmia inornatella Dougl., Wicken Fen, Cambs., at light 17.vi.94. Mompha bradleyi Reidl, Stapleford, Herts. (collected 21.viii.93) and Woodwalton Fen, Hunts. (collected 3.ix.93), bred from flower stem galls on Epilobium hirsutum L. Acleris permutana Dup., Leagh South, Co. Galway, VC H15, 18 & 21.viii.94, at light. Epiblema cnicicolana Zell., Charmouth, Dorset, VC9, 7.vii.94, two of many at rest on fleabane. FOREIGN LEPIDOPTERA THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM—(1) Two drawers of Noctuidae recently received by the Museum, one containing material from Argentina, the other with material from Mongolia, Turkey, Turkmenia and parts of the former USSR, all in very fine condition. (2) Three drawers from the Inoue Collection of South-East Asian Lepidoptera, presented to the Museum in 1992. (3) Two drawers of Alcis repandata L. and two drawers of Callimorpha dominula L. from the National Collection of British Lepidoptera (R.C.K.). These species are currently the subject of research projects funded by the Cockayne Fellowship. The Entomology Department of the Natural History Museum receives approximately 25 000 specimens annually. Since January 1994, the start of the Museum’s electronic registration system, the Lepidoptera collections have received over 4000 pinned specimens. The majority of these have been collected by staff of the Museum’s research divisions for particular projects. Two drawers of specimens shown at this Exhibition were a representative sample of some of the material obtained by staff of the Collections Management Division, either by exchange or for assistance with research projects for colleagues abroad. Part of the Museum’s vital role is the enhancement of collections by obtaining well documented, legally collected material from areas that are inaccessible to Western collectors, too distant to be economically viable, or regions in which the Museum has no current research priorities. The material from Argentina was presented in return for colour transparencies of some type material which was needed for identification purposes. The other drawer consisted of part of a larger collection of specimens presented by fellow noctuid workers at the Hungarian Natural History Museum, Budapest, in return for assistance given on their last visit to the Natural History Museum. Corey, M. F. V.—(1) Tineidae from Portugal. Eighteen species of Tineidae collected in Algarve, Portugal in recent years: Morophaga morellus Dup., Ateliotum insulare Rebel, Peristomastix agenjoi Petersen, Myrmecozela ataxella Chrét., Novotinea muricolella Fuchs, Infurcitinea marcunella Rebel, I. atrifasciella Stdgr, Stenoptinea cyaneimarmorella Mill., Nemapogon nevadellus Caradja, Neurothaumasia ankerella Mann, N. ragusaella Wocke, Monopis nigricantella Mill., M. imella Hibn., Trichophaga bipartitella Rag., Proterospastis merdella Zell., Niditinea fuscella L., Tinea translucens Meyr., T. basifasciella Rag. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 195 Most of these were taken at mercury vapour light, but Tinea translucens (a southern species only recently recorded in the Iberian Peninsula from near Seville) and Niditinea fuscella were taken indoors. Novotinea muricolella was flying in late afternoon in March on a rocky hilltop. Stenoptinea cyanaemarmorella is a poorly known species. MBGBI mentions only four British specimens and illustrates it badly. This is the first record for the Iberian Peninsula. In life, the recorder did not at first recognize it as a tineid: although the head is tineid-like, the scale-tufts and resting position, with wings held flat and only partly overlapping, are not. Besides the last species and T. translucens, several other species were new records for Portugal: A. insulare, M. ataxella, I. marcunella, N. ankerella, N. ragusaella, M. nigricantella and P. merdella. At present, only seven other species of Tineidae have been recorded from Algarve, namely Reisserita zernyi Petersen, R. chrysopterella H.-S., Tenaga nigripunctella Haw., Nemapogon granella L., N. cloacella Haw., N. agenjoi Petersen and Tinea murariella Stdgr. Records of Trichophage tapetzella L. probably all refer to T. bipartitella. (2) Oecophoridae from Portugal. Twenty-four species of Oecophoridae sens. Jat. taken in Algarve: Denisia augustella Hiibn., Batia lunaris Haw., Epicallima formosella D. & S., Esperia sulphurella F., Carcina quercana F., Pleurota ericella Dup., P. amaniella Mann, Pseudatamelia xanthosoma Rebel, P. amparoella Vives, Agonopterix thapsiella Zell., A. c.f. adspersella Koll., A. nanatella Staint., A. scopariella Hein., A. purpurea Haw., A. subpropinquella Staint., A. rotundella Dougl., Exaeretia lutosella H.-S., Depressaria marcella Rebel, D. badiella Hiibn., D. douglasella Staint., D. adustatella Turati, D. erinaceella Stdgr, Kasyniana xenias Meyr. and Odites kollarella Costa. In Vives Moreno’s 1991 catalogue of Iberian Microlepidoptera these species are assigned to Oecophoridae, Xylorictidae and Depressariidae. The exhibitor does not argue the rights and wrongs of this arrangement, but points out that Vives Moreno includes only one species (Odites kollarella) in Xylorictidae, although three other Iberian species belong to this family: two are placed by him in a new genus Kasyniana in Oecophoridae sens. str., and one is left in Brachmia in Gelechiidae! It has not yet proved possible to name all the Agonopterix species. Of the species exhibited, Esperia sulphurella is day-flying. One of the Pseudatemelia amparoella specimens was also taken by day. P. xanthosoma comes to light readily, but also has a flight at sunrise. The remainder were taken at light or reared from larvae or pupae. There is an old unlocalized record of Pleurota amaniella from Portugal. Vives Moreno rejected this and omitted the species from his list. Agonopterix nanatella is given only for the Balearic Islands in his list. Both species of Pseudatamelia, Agonopterix thapsiella, A. adspersella (if correct), A. purpurea, A. rotundella, Depressaria douglasella, D. adustatella and D. erinaceella are new records for Portugal. There are records from Algarve of 12 other species: Epicallima mercedella Stdgr, Alabonia herculeella Wals., Pleurota bicostella Clerck, P. protasella Stdgr, P. honorella Hiibn., P. hebetella Rag., P. planella Stdgr, Pseudatemelia detrimentella Stdgr, Agonopterix rutana F., A. nervosa Haw., Depressaria pulcherrimella Staint. and ‘Brachmia’ ternatella Stdgr. ELSTON, H. J.—A selection of Lepidoptera taken in July 1994 in the Alpes Maritimes and Luberon areas of Provence in Southern France including a dark Melanargia galathea L. (Plate II, Fig. 11). HACKETT, D.—A drawer illustrating problems in identification on external features of African species of Helicoverpa Hardwick closely related to H. armigera Hiibn. 196 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 HALL, N.—Heterocera from France and Spain, selected for exhibition because of their taxonomic interest or because they are on the British List. (1) Dicycla oo L. bred from a female obtained at St. Laurent du Pape, Ardéche. On two occasions French oo had been kept for eggs, and each time a mere 4 were laid after keeping the moths in darkness in a pill-box, offering them diluted honey solution every 24h for 2-3 days. The eggs were laid on the sides of the boxes, not in the corners, and were easy to see. They were kept through the winter out of doors, in their boxes, in a meat safe. The first batch was lost through predation by other insect larvae, but the second lot, kept in a tighter fitting box, survived, and hatched on 26-27.iv.1994. All four were kept separate. They were provided with opening oak buds, into which they bored, and three were lost because they literally disappeared, and could not be found even by dissecting the buds under a binocular microscope. After a while, both buds and the larvae within succumb to mould fungus. In retrospect, it would have been better to search for precociously opened oak foliage on which to feed the larvae. The surviving larva took to such foliage, and promptly made a spinning in one of the leaves, while still in its first instar. Thence it was easy to re-find and transfer to fresh food, and was reared without trouble. (2) Two other specimens of D. 00, from Arlanzon. Prov. Burgos, Spain, one of the plain yellow form sulphurago Stdgr and the other yellow with very faint markings. (3) Very dark specimens of Thalpophila matura Hufn. f. provincialis Culot from Osse-en-Aspe, Pyr. Atl., France, 4.viii.1994. Other specimens from Britain, including dark ones, were shown for comparison. (4) Four specimens of Acosmetia caliginosa Hibn. from sea cliffs near Llanes, Prov. Asturias, Spain, between 9 & 13.vili.1987, and two others from Osse-en-Aspe, an inland site at c. 800m altitude on 4.vili.1994. It was suggested that the species is probably double-brooded in Spain and Southern France. (5) Two specimens of Mythimna c.f. ferrago F. from Beniarrés, Prov. Alicante, Spain, 10.viii.1994 and Simat, Prov. Valencia, on 16.viii.1994. Two British specimens of M. ferrago and two others from Southern France and Northern Spain, of the pale f. argyristis Ramb. usual in southern Europe were shown for comparison. The specimens from Southern Spain looked like neither, but it is difficult to see what else they can be. (6) Five species of Euchromius Guen.: E. ocellea Haw., St Martin de Londres, Hérault, France, 26.vi.1994; E. vinculellus Zell., Beniarrés, 10.viii.1994; E. gozmanyi Blesz., La Albufera, Prov. Valencia, Spain, 28.vi.1994; E. cambridgei Zell., La Albufera, 28.vi.1994, and E. ramburiellus Dup., St Martin de Londres, 26.vi.1994. (7) Four Scopariinae: Anarpia incertalis Dup., Sierra Nevada, Prov. Granada, Spain, 2700 m, 3.vii.1994; Eudonia mercurella L., Pradena, Prov. Segovia, Spain, 5.vii.1994; E. delunella Staint., St Laurent du Pape, Ardéche, France, 25.vi.1994, and an unidentified species from Sierra de Baza, Prov. Almeria, Spain, 2000 m, 1.vii.1994. (8) Lepidogma tamaricalis Mann, from Ontifiena, Prov. Huesca, Spain, 5.vii.1991, apparently not previously recorded from Spain. (9) Actenia vulpecalis Rag. from Pto de la Mora, Prov. Granada, Spain, 12.vii.1991, det. M. Shaffer. These were exhibited for reference when considering other similar or related specimens from both France and Spain that were exhibited for the purpose of discussion. Two of these were identified with certainty as Orthopygia rubidalis D. & S. and O. incarnatalis Zell., the others probably A. vulpecalis and A. honestalis Treits., with some narrow-winged feniales presenting particular problems. It was pointed out that A. honestalis was not in Leraut’s Checklist (1980) for France, and that A. vulpecalis appears in neither the French nor Spanish checklists, but should be in the latter as there are specimens from Spain in the B.M. (N.H.). (M. Shaffer, pers. comm.). (10) A selection of other species from localities in France and Spain. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 197 HARMAN, T. W.—A selection of exhibits of Lepidoptera from around the World. (1) Australia. Syntherata janetta White (Saturniidae), a series to show variation within the species; bred from cocoons found on small shrubs growing on the beach at Holloways Beach, Cairns, Queensland, April 1993. (2) Nepal. Some interesting moths, including the following. Zygaenidae: Chalcosia auxo albata Moore, Eterusia tricolor Hope, Soritia pulchella Koll.; Geometridae: Jotaphora iridicolor Butl., Xandrames albofasciata Moore, Arichanna flavinigra Hamps., Pachyodes varicolor- aria Moore, Psyra annulifera Walk., Problepsis crassinotata Prout, Plutodes lamisca Swin., P. subcaudata Butl.; Sphingidae: Cephonodes hylas L., Marumba decoratus Moore (the second record for Nepal and the most westerly record of this species); Notodontidae: Ginshachia gemmifera Moore; Lymantriidae: Numenes siletti Walk. Arctiidae: Asota tortuosa Moore, Aglaemorpha plagiata Walk., Nyctemera lacticinia Cram., Miltochrista linga Moore, Alphaea imbuta Walk.; Noctuidae: Baorisa hieroglyphica Moore, Grammodes geometrica F., Parallelia maturata Walk., P. praetermissa Warr., P. analis Guen. and Gaurena florescens albomaculata Werny. (3) A specimen of Baorisa hieroglyphica (Plate III, Fig. 19) ‘twinned’ with a copy in sugar-icing by Anne Finch! KING, G.—Over 30 specimens of F, and F, generations of the Indian arctiid, Estigmene perotteti Guerin. The original female was found in Bombay, Western India, in June 1994. Several ova were laid, and the subsequent larvae fed on a wide range of plant species. The original specimen was identified by the B.M. (N.H.) as E. nigricans Moore, but as a result of breeding out three different forms in the F, generation, an examination of the male genitalia was deemed necessary. In September, 1994, an additional form was observed: the cream-striped form is the most frequent, but these specimens were black and grey, the usual pink areas being replaced by grey. Only four examples were bred, and unfortunately no pairings were obtained. A female was exhibited. In the most recent emergence, October 1994, specimens have appeared with irregularly shaped or broken stripes. In addition to set examples, 3rd instar larvae were shown, feeding on hawkweed (F;), and two live imagines were also exhibited. MIDDLETON, A. P.—A selection of butterflies obtained during visits to Portugal (Sintra region) in 1993 and Poland (Bydgoszcz region) in 1994. TREMBATH, D. A.—Five drawers of butterflies collected in the south-eastern and western Andean region of Venezuela during June, 1993, illustrating the wonderful diversity and colour of the butterflies of the Neotropical region. Relatively little serious work has been done on the fauna of Venezuela, and some of the species shown were of unusual interest. Drawer 1 contained 29 species of ithomids, many of which can be collected in dull weather along paths in the forest. Sometimes they occur in great abundance, with several species occurring together: the exhibitor found 11 species within a few minutes in one area at Rio Frio in the Andean region. Drawer 2 was devoted to heliconids, including some rare and local forms; there is still controversy over the status of some forms and subspecies. Drawer 3 contained Acraea and nymphalids, showing the tremendous range of shape and colour among these butterflies; included were Baeotus amazonicus Riley, male and female, a very rare subspecies of Agrias amydon Hewitson female, Callicore maronesis Oberthiir and the brilliantly coloured Doxocopa lavinia Butler—a very rare un-named subspecies. Drawer 4 showed 29 species of pierid, a fascinating group of great interest to collectors, especially many of the little-known high-altitude species. Unfortunately, bad weather hindered collecting during the exhibitor’s stay in the high-altitude region of San Cristobel. One notable species taken there was Hesperocharis nera Fruhstorfer, thought to be a rarity in Venezuela. Drawer 5 contained Papilionidae 198 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 and Morpho, the latter particularly magnificent. The large Morpho species fly at canopy height across the valleys until they meet wide paths or roads which they then invariably follow, flying at a height of between 7 and 10 metres. Very considerable skill and fitness are then required to capture them, aided by the use of shiny blue lures. The sight of them is unforgettable. WARING, P.—({1) A reference collection of moths found in the Pyrenees and southern Spain during October. In the south, there are numerous semi-desert species which fly in late autumn, avoiding the intense heat of the summer, such as Lasiocampa serrula Guen., Powellinia lasserrei Oberthiir and Saragossa seeboldi Stdgr. (2) Some interesting moths from the Palava Protected Landscape area in the Czech Republic, 4-9.ix.1994, during the biennial SEL Congress which was held at Lednice, near Brno, including the Geometridae Rhodostrophia vibicaria Clerck, widespread in Europe but absent from the British Isles; Cataclysme riguata Hiibn., a southern and central European species associated with xerothermic habitats where the larvae feed on species of Rubiaceae (bedstraws); Therapis flavicaria D. & S., a south-east European species which resembles Pseudopanthera macularia L. The larva feeds on Lamium album L. The one specimen seen came to m.v. light on the edge of riverine woodland just north of Lednice on 9.ix.; Artiora evonymaria D. & S. is an eastern European relative of the ‘thorns’, which extends into Austria and Germany but not further west. It was common locally on the Palava hills; the moths could be found at night fluttering round spindle (Euonymus) bushes, or settled upon them, more rarely at light. Noctuidae were represented by Chersotis margaritacea Vill., one of a rather large and diverse genus without a single representative in Britain which was fairly common at light in the Palava hills; Agrochola nitida D. & S., widely distributed in central Europe. The individual shown came to a wine rope hung on a riverside willow (Salix sp.) just north of Lednice on 5.ix.; Emmelia trabealis Scop., formerly resident in the Breckland of East Anglia, but no evidence of breeding since 1960. Widespread in warm, dry habitats in Europe and abundant in the Palava hills. the one shown came to light there on 4.ix. A map was displayed alongside the exhibit,, indicating the location of sites worked. DIPTERA Among the wide range of species exhibited, it was evident that the tephritids Achanthiophilus helianthi (Rossi) (4 exhibitors) and Orellia falcata (Scop.) (3 exhibitors) must have been on the increase in 1994; both are usually rarely seen but are Closely tied to their food plants, Centaurea nigra L. and Tragopogon respectively. A third British record of Pseudopomyza atrimana Meig. (Pseudopomyzidae) from a new locality was particularly encouraging. The platypezid Agathomyia wankowiczii (Schnabl) appears to be a recent introduction; the galls exhibited confirm that it has become established at one Kentish site but British examples of the insect itself have yet to be seen. ALEXANDER, K. N. A. & FOSTER, A. P.—Flies found in 1994 by the National Trust’s Biological Survey: Ctenophora flaveolata (F.) (Tipulidae), open beech pasture woodland, Ebworth Farm, Glos., 9.v; Oxycera pardalina Meig. (Stratiomyidae), tufa spring, Dinefwr Deer Park, Carms., 18.vii; Dioctria oelandica (L.) (Asilidae), Colby Lodge, Pembs., woodland glade, 13.vi; Scenopinus niger (Deg.) (Scenopinidae), dead standing oak, Dinefwr Park, Carms., 27.vi; Brachyopa*pilosa Collin (Syrphidae), fallen beeches, Aldbury Common and commonly at Frithensden Beeches, Herts., 1l.vi; B. scutellaris R.-D., woodland ride, Woodchester Park, Glos., 6.vi; Eumerus BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 199 sabulonum (Fall.) (Syrphidae), St David’s Head, Pembs., 22/23.vi and Nicholaston Burrows, Gower, 19.vii; Brachypalpus laphriformis (Fall.) (Syrphidae), Aldbury Common, Herts., 11.vi; Myopa extricata Collin (Conopidae), Ebworth Farm, Glos., 6.v; Ochthera mantis (Deg.) (Ephydridae), wet heath, Mynachdy’r-Graig, Cards., 28.vi. BoyD, G.—A selection of Syrphidae, Stratiomyidae and Conopidae collected in 1994, among them the following Syrphidae: Xylota xanthocnema Collin, Aldbury Common. Herts., 11.vi; Pyrophaena rosarum (F.), Dinton Pastures, Berks., 4.vi; Chrysotoxum verralli Coll, Cambridge, in garden, 30.vii; C. cautum (Harris), 30.v. CHANDLER, P. J.—(1) Agathomyia wankowiczii (Schnabl) (Platypezidae), male, female from Denmark (previously exhibited at 1992 Annual Exhibition) and brackets of the perennial fungus Ganoderma applanatum (Pers.) Pat. galled by its larvae, from Beechen Wood, Lullingstone, Kent, 19.vi.1994; it had been found there in 1993 by Joyce Pitt who had recorded fungi there for 20 years and had not seen it there before; one bracket had 3 years of galled layers, but it is probably a recent introduction—the first and only other British record was from Bouldermere, Wisley, Surrey, 23.ix.1990 (Spooner, B. M., 1991, Cecidology 6(2): 80-81). (2) Diptera newly recorded from Dinton Pastures in 1994: Acrocera orbicula (F.) (Acroceridae), Mortimer’s Meadows, 3.vii; Teuchophorus calcaratus (Macq.) (Dolichopodidae), Sandford Copse, 19.vii, abundant by muddy creek; Agathomyia elegantula (Fall.) (Platypezidae), Sandford Copse, 30.vii; Spiniphora maculata (Meig.) (Phoridae), Mungell’s Pond, 9.iii and Sandford Copse, 27.iii; Cheilosia grossa (Fall.) (Syrphidae), Mungell’s Pond, 19.111 (collected by Roger Morris); Anasimyia contracta Torp & Claussen (Syrphidae), Mungell’s Pond, 25.vi; Achanthiophilus helianthi (Rossi) (Tephritidae), Mortimer’s Meadows, 30.vii; Orellia falcata (Scop.) (Tephritidae), Mortimer’s Meadows, 25.vi; Typhamyza bifasciata (Wood) (Anthomyzidae), on Typha stems at Mungell’s Pond, 24.vii; Ornithomyia avicularia (L.) (Hippoboscidae), hedge south of Black Swan Lake, 9.vii; Phytoliriomyza melampyga (Loew) (Agromyzidae), Sandford Copse, 10.vii, its leaf mines on /mpatiens glandulifera Royle are common in the Park. (3) Nematoproctus distendens (Mg.) (Dolichopodidae), the first male found in Sandford Copse, 16.vii.1994; only 2 females were found in 1993 but in 1994 many females were found around the shady creek in the wood (Fig. 5 in Chandler, P. J., 1994, Br. J. Ent. Nat. Hist. 7: 118-126). COLLINS, G. A.—Three Syrphidae found in 1994: Doros profuges (Harris), Mickleham, Surrey, 12.vi; Microdon devius (L.), Chipstead Valley, Surrey, 12.vi; Brachypalpus laphriformis (Fall.), Underlaid Wood, Westm., 28.v. GODFREY, A.—Diptera found in 1994: Tanyptera atrata (L.) (Tipulidae), Brown Moss, Chesh., 23.v and Boveney Brook/Sturt Common, Wyre Forest, Worcs., 22.v; Dictenidia bimaculata (L.) (Tipulidae), male, female reared ex rotten oak debris, Ashtead Common, Surrey, collected 19.iv, emerged in v and vi; Mycetobia pallipes Meig. (Anisopodidae), male reared from pupa in sap runs on horse chestnut, Hognaby, Spilsby, Lincs., collected 2.vi, emerged 21.vi; Oxycera pardalina Meig. (Stratiomyidae), female swept from turfaceous seepage, Moccas Park, Heref., 1.vii; Systenus scholtzii (Loew) (Dolichopodidae), 2 males, 2 females reared ex rot hole in cleft of twin trunked sycamore, Pot Riding Wood SSSI, W. Yorks., collected iii, emerged iv—v; Mallota cimbiciformis (Fall.) (Syrphidae), female reared 15.vi from rot hole in alder, Shrawardine Pool, Salop; Arctophila superbiens (Miller) (Syrphidae), male on Centaurea flowers, former railway line, Smytham, Great Torrington, Devon, 4.vii; Dichetophora finlandica Verbeke (Sciomyzidae), apparently first rearing from outside laboratory, ex puparia found in empty shell of Cernuella species, collected iv 200 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 from fore dunes, Gibraltar Point, Lincs., male, female emerged 7.vi; Colobaea distincta (Meig.) (Sciomyzidae), Stanley Bank Nature Reserve, St Helens, Mersey- side, 29.ix; Aulacigaster leucopeza (Meig.) (Aulacigastridae), v—vii at horse chestnut sap, Chatsworth Park, Derbys., Moccas Park, Heref. and Powis Castle Park, Wales; Odinia xanthocera Collin (Odiniidae), Devil’s Spittleful, Kidderminster, Worcs., female, 26.v.; O. boletina (Zett.), Bretton Park, W. Yorks., 25.vi; Cnemacantha muscaria (Fall.) (Lauxaniidae), grassland, Roundton Hill Nature Reserve, Wales, 25.v; Sarcotachinella sinuata (Meig.) (Sarcophagidae), male, Stowford Moor, Great Torrington, Devon, 4.viii; Phaonia cincta (Zett.) (Muscidae), 2 males reared from rot hole in alder, Shrawardine Pool, Salop, emerged 24.vi; Thricops aculeipes (Zett.) (Muscidae), 2 males on Trollius flowers, Arncliffe, N. Yorks., 11.vi. HACKETT, D.—A selection of Syrphidae and other flies, mainly associated with dead wood, including: Ctenophora pectinicornis (L.) (Tipulidae), reared from under poplar bark, Trent Park, Middx, collected 15.x.93, emerged 23.xii.93; Dictenidia bimaculata (L.) (Tipulidae), reared ex rotten beech stump in vi.94; Epiphragma ocellare (L.) (Limoniidae), reared 26.11.94 ex rotten birch trunk, Queen’s Woods, N. London; Mallota cimbiciformis (Fall.) (Syrphidae), at Rubus, Totteridge Fields, Barnet, 18.vi; Brachyopa pilosa Collin (Syrphidae), on beech log, Frithstone Beeches, Herts., 11.vi; Thereva nobilitata (F.) (Therevidae), reared 24.vi, from larva under loose bark of standing dead oak, Hampstead Heath, N. London, collected 1.vi.94. HALSTEAD, A. J.—Ten species of Diptera found in 1994: Leptogaster guttiventris Zett. (Asilidae), Zealand Cross, Salisbury Plain, Wilts., 22.vii; Nyctia halterata (Panz.) (Sarcophagidae), Mungell’s Pond, Dinton Pastures, Berks., 25.vi; Ulidia erythrophthalma Meig. (Otitidae), Cheverell Down, Salisbury Plain, Wilts., 19.vii; seven species of Tephritidae from Salisbury Plain, Wilts.: Achanthiophilus helianthi (Rossi), 1 female, Netherhaven Down, 18.vii; Chaetorellia loricata (Rond.), Haxton Down, 19.vii; Orellia falcata (Scop.), Haxton Down, 19.vii; Terellia longicauda (Meig.), on flowers of Cirsium eriophorum (L.) Scop., its food plant, Alton Down, 18.vii; T. vectensis (Collin), Netherhaven Down, 18.vii and Orcheston Down, 21.vii; Urophora spoliata (Hal.), Netherhaven Down, 18.vii (two latter on their food plant Serratula),; U. cuspidata (Meig.), Robin’s Hood Ball, 18.vii. HARMAN, T. W.—Callicera aurata (Rossi) (Syrphidae), in office of Canterbury Environmental Education Centre, Kent, 21.1x.1994. HARVEY, P. R.—Insects from sites in south Essex, threatened by housing development: (1) from Mill Wood Pit, Thurrock: Eutolmus rufibarbis (Meig.) (Asilidae) and Stratiomys longicornis (Scop.) (Stratiomyidae); (2) from Ferry Fields, near Tilbury: Asilus crabroniformis L. (Asilidae) (other recent Essex records of the latter were mentioned, from the nearby horse-grazed Broom Hill and Ferry Fields). HAWKINS, R. D.—Ferdinandea ruficornis (F.) (Syrphidae), in a green lane alongside woodland, Driver’s Green, near Outwood, Surrey, 21.iv.1994; the commoner species F. cuprea (Scop.) was exhibited for comparison. HopGE, P. J.—Achanthiophilus helianthi (Rossi) (Tephritidae), Crade Hill, Alfriston, E. Sussex, 23.vii.1994, on Centaurea nigra L. at margin of arable field. PERRY, I.—Diptera found in 1994: Anthalia beatricella Chandler (Hybotidae), at Crataegus flowers, Denny Wood, New Forest, 23.v; Empis woodi Collin (Empididae), Wandlebury, Cambs., 12.v; Hilara morata Collin (Empididae), shaded ditch on Cavenham Heath, Suff., 18.vi; Sciapus laetus (Meig.) (Dolichopodidae), Pennard Hill, Glam., freshwater seepages flowing onto saltmarsh, 8.vii; Brachyopa bicolor (Fall.) (Syrphidae), male hovering by sap flow on birch, Cavenham Heath, Suff., 14.v; Orellia falcata (Scop.) (Tephritidae), around the food plant Tragopogon, Kenfig Burrows, Glam., 30.vi; Achanthiophilus helianthi (Rossi) (Tephritidae), Rhossili, BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 201 Glam., 2.vii; Pseudopomyza atrimana Meig. (Pseudopomyzidae), Denny Wood, New Forest, 22.v, third British record; Sapromyza basalis Zett. (Lauxaniidae), Millwoods, Glam., 5.vii; Parallelomma vittatum (Meig.) (Scathophagidae), Cwm Ivy Woods, Glam., 29.vi; Fannia ringdahlana Collin (Fanniidae), first English records from the New Forest: Denny Wood, 22.v and Millyford Bridge, 23.v; Coenosia albatella (Zett.) (Muscidae), Whiteford Burrows, Glam., 29.vi and Oxwich, 5.vii, swept from bare sand on dunes. PLANT, C. W.—Twelve species of Syrphidae from Malta, iv.1994, including a possibly new species of Eumerus; 3 other species of Eumerus and 3 species of Paragus were included in the exhibit, with 1 species each of Scaeva, Chrysotoxum, Eristalinus and Platynochaetus—P. rufus Macq., noted for its “incredibly long arista’’. ROBBINS, J.—An album containing specimens of leaf mines caused by larvae of Diptera, collected from 1989 to 1994 in Exmoor National Park, mostly identified (in some cases provisionally) from their mines: 101 species of Agromyzidae, 6 species of Anthomyiidae, 2 species each of Tephritidae and Drosophilidae, and 1 species of Cecidomyiidae. SIMMONDS, M. J.—Six species of Conopidae from E. Sussex and Kent. STUBBS, A. E.—Bittacomorpha clavipes (Ptychopteridae) (Plate II, Fig. 10), a “phantom crane-fly” from Canada, collected in viii.1994; this has white banded tarsi which detract attention from the dark body while the insect is flying along shaded woodland streams. The British Dolichopeza albipes (Str6m) (Tipulidae), which occurs in the same habitat and which uses a similar ploy, was exhibited for comparison. COLEOPTERA ALEXANDER, K. N. A. & FOSTER, A. P.—A selection of the more interesting beetles found during the work of the National Trust’s Biological Survey in 1994. Cicindela maritima Lat. & Dej. (Carabidae), Nicholaston Burrows, Gower, W. Glam., 19.vii.1994; Georissus crenulatus (Rossi) (Hydrophilidae), St David’s Head, Pemb., 16.vi.1994, cliff seepage; Helophorus dorsalis (Marsh.) (Hydrophilidae), Woodchester Park, Glos., 7.vi.1994, woodland rut puddle; Plegaderus dissectus Er. (Histeridae), Hardwick Hall, Derbys., 8.viii.1994, moist oak bark; Deleaster dichrous (Grav.) (Staphylinidae), Cwm Hoffnant, Card., 30.vi.1994, streamside stones; Amphimallon ochraceus (Knoch) (Scarabaeidae), Paviland Cliff, Gower, W. Glam., 22.vii.1994, limestone grassland; Dirhagus pygmaeus (F.) (Eucnemidae), Bishopston Valley, Gower, W. Glam., 22.vii.1994, male and female swept, new to Wales; Tillus elongatus (L.) (Cleridae), Aldbury Common, Herts., 11.vi.1994, on dead standing beech trunk; Coccinella quinquepunctata L. (Coccinellidae), Dinefwr, Carm., 18.vii.1994, river shingle; Mycetophagus piceus (F.) (Mycetophagidae), Williams Clough, Kinder Estate, Derbys., 11.viii.1994, red-rotten oak; Hallomenus binotatus (Quen.) (Melandryidae), Peter Nook Wood, Kinder Estate, Derbys., 10.viii.1994, and Graigllech Woods, Brecons., 26.vi.1994, new to Wales, in both cases from bracket fungus Laetiporus sulphureus (Bull.) Bond & Singer on oak; Phyllobrotica quadrimaculata (L.) (Chrysomelidae), Tretio Common, Pemb., 13.vii.1994, lesser skullcap on wet heath; Apteropeda globosa (Ill.) (Chrysome- lidae), Bishopston Valley, Gower, W. Glam., 22.vii.1994, swept and Woodchester Park, Glos., 22.vii.1994, swept in shady ride; Trachyphloeus aristatus (Gyll.) (Curculionidae), Pwll Caerog, Pemb., 12.vii.1994, at roots of sea plantain; Microplontus triangulum (Boh.) (Curculionidae), Woodchester Park, Glos., 31.v.1994 swept from limestone grassland; Miarus micros (Germ.) (Curculionidae), 202 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 Letcha Cliff, Cornwall, 16.v.1994, on sheep’s-bit; Ernoporus fagi (F.) (Scolytidae), Aldbury Common, Herts., 11.vi.1994, beech bark. ALLEN, A. W. J.—Nine species of Coleoptera collected in Dorset between 1992 and 1994. Plegaderus vulneratus (Panz.) (Histeridae), Chetterwood near Manswood, ST 90, x.1992 one under bark of dead conifer; Heterothops niger Kraatz (Staphylinidae), Cranbourne, SU 01, it1.1994, one in a mole’s nest; Trachys scrobiculatus Kiesenwetter (Buprestidae), in a wood near Ashmore, ST 91, vi.1993, one swept from a grassy clearing, first post-1969 record for Dorset; Dirhagus pygmaeus (F.) (Eucnemidae), Chetterwood near Manswood, ST 90, vi.1993, one swept in a clearing, new to Dorset; Colydium elongatum (F.) (Colydiidae), near Alderholt, SU 01, vi.1992, under bark of dead beech; Lissodema quadripustulata (Marsh.) (Salpingidae), Chetterwood near Manswood, ST 90, vi.1992, one swept; Tomoxia bucephala Costa (Mordellidae), near Alderholt, SU 01, vi.1992, on a dead oak; Psylliodes luteola (Miller, O. F.) (Chrysomelidae), Tadden near Wimbourne, ST 90, viii.1993, one swept from vegetation beside grassy field, and near Wimbourne, SU 00, viii.1993, plentiful at the edge of a wheat field, and ix.1994, in the hedge beside the same field, the first post-1969 record for Dorset; Cassida nebulosa L. (Chrysomelidae), Crichel, SU 00, vi.1992, one swept. COPESTAKE, D. R.—Eleven species of British Coleoptera collected between 1992 and 1994. Calathus cinctus Mots. (Carabidae), Hitchcopse Pit, Oxon., 5.x.1994; Harpalus honestus (Dufts.) (Carabidae), St Bee’s Head, Cumbria, 22.v.1994; Drypta dentata (Rossi) (Carabidae), Eypesmouth, Dorset, 31.viii.1994; Amauronyx maerkeli (Aubé) (Pselaphidae), Wisely Common, Surrey, 17.11.1994, in grass tufts by pond; Gnorimus variabilis (L.) (Scarabaeidae), Windsor, Berks., emerged vi.1994, bred from larva; Agrilus sinuatus (Ol.) (Buprestidae), Bushy Park, Middlesex, 21.vii.1994; Dasytes niger (L.) (Melyridae), Brinken Wood, New Forest, South Hampshire, 9.vi.1994; Oxylaemus variolosus (Duf.) (Colydiidae), Windsor, Berks., 18.vi.1994; Lissodema quadripustulata (Marsh.) (Salpingidae), Windsor, Berks., 18.vi.1994; Bagous brevis Gyll. (Curculionidae), Brockenhurst, S. Hants, 9.vi.1993; Rhynchaenus avellanae (Don.) (Curculionidae), Windsor, Berks., 9.vi.1992, a specimen with black tarsi and antannae. EVERSHAM, B. C. & TELFER, M. G.—Coleoptera recorded from a Breckland road verge near Lakenheath Warren during 1993 and 1994. (1) Seed-eating Carabidae of the genera Amara and Harpalus. A. anthobia Villa; A. apricaria (Payk.); A. bifrons (Gyll.); A. consularis (Dufts.); A. equestris (Dufts.); A. eurynota (Panz.); A. fulva (Miller, O. F.); A. fusca Dej.; A. lucida (Dufts.); H. affinis (Schr.); H. anxius (Dufts.); H. attenuatus Steph.; H. froelichi Sturm; H. puncticeps (Steph.); H. rufibarbis (F.); H. rubripes (Dufts.); H. rufitarsis (Dufts.); H. smaragdinus (Dufts.); H. vernalis (Dufts.). (2) Other notable Coleoptera. Calathus ambiguus (Payk.) (Carabidae); Laemos- tenus terricola (Herbst) (Carabidae); Licinus depressus (Payk.) (Carabidae); Panagaeus bipustulatus (F.) (Carabidae); Masoreus wetterhali (Gyll.) (Carabidae); Metabletus truncatellus (L.) (Carabidae); Silpha laevigata F. (Silphidae); Ocypus ophthalmicus (Scop.) (Staphylinidae); Aphodius distinctus (Miiller, O. F.) (Scar- abaeidae); Amphimallon solstitialis (L.) (Scarabaeidae); Euchlora dubia (Scop.) (Scarabaeidae); Cardiophorus asellus Er. (Elateridae); Melanimon tibialis (F.) (Tenebrionidae); Crypticus quisquilius (L.) (Tenebrionidae); Cteniopus sulphureus (L.) (Tenebrionidae); Notoxus monocerus (L.) (Anthicidae); Phytoecia cylindrica (L.) (Cerambycidae); Chrysolina sanguinolenta (L.) (Chrysomelidae); Galeruca tanaceti (L.) (Chrysomelidae); Psylliodes sophiae Heikertinger (Chrysomelidae); Cassida nebulosa L. (Chrysomelidae); Cleonus piger (Scop.) (Curculionidae). BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 203 HACKETT, D.—Thirteen species of Coleoptera found during 1994. Broscus cephalotes (L.) (Carabidae), Southgate, Gower, W. Glam., 17.vii.1994, under stone, Typhaeus typhoeus (L.) (Geotrupidae), Hampstead Heath, Middlx, 18.x.1994, female in sandy soil under rabbit midden; Aphodius contaminatus (Herbst) (Scarabaeidae), Hampstead Heath, Middx, 24.1x.1994, in soil; Agrilus laticornis (Ill.) (Buprestidae), Queen’s Wood, Middx, 29.vii.1994, in light trap; Stenagostus villosus (Fourc.) (Elateridae), Coldfall Wood, Middx, emerged 24.iv.1994, bred from larva found under oak bark; Athous campyloides Newm. (Elateridae), Railway Fields Nature Park, Harringay, Middx, 6.vii.1993; in light trap; Aplocnemus pini Redt. (Melyridae), Queen’s Wood, Middx, 22.11.1994, under oak bark; Helops caeruleus (L.) (Tenebrionidae), Lesnes Abbey Wood, W. Kent, iii.1994, under bark; Pyrochroa serraticornis (Scop.) (Pyrochroidae), Astonbury Wood, Herts., 5.vi.1994; Oedemera nobilis (Scop.) (Oedemeridae), near Park Mill, Dinton Pastures C. P., Berks., 25.vi.1994, on hogweed; Arhopalus rusticus (L.) (Cerambycidae), Graffham, W. Sussex, emerged 24.iv.1994, bred from pine log; Phloeophagus lignarius (Marsh.) (Curculionidae), Hanger Lane Hill, Middx, viii.1994, from beech heart rot; Platypus cylindrus (F.) (Platypodidae), Hampstead Heath, Middx, 19.v.1994, from oak. HALSTEAD, A.—Some local Coleoptera taken in 1994. Paralister purpurascens (Herbst) (Histeridae), RHS Garden, Wisley, Surrey, 29.iv.1994, in water trap; Conopalpus testaceus (Ol.) (Melandryidae), Richmond Park, Surrey, 6.viii.1994, at m.v. light; Metoecus paradoxus (L.) (Rhipiphoridae), Richmond Park, Surrey, 6.viil.1994, at m.v. light; Molorchus umbellatarum (v. Schreb.) (Cerambycidae), Mortimer’s meadow, Dinton Pastures C. P., Berks., 22.v.1994, swept; Anaglyptus mysticus (L.) (Cerambycidae), Mortimer’s meadow, Dinton Pastures C. P., Berks., 22.v.1994, swept; Agapanthia villosoviridescens (Deg.) (Cerambycidae), Therfield Heath, Royston, Herts., 31.v.1994, swept; Orsodacne cerasi (L.) (Chrysomelidae), Therfield Heath, Royston, Herts., 31.v.1994, swept; Cryptocephalus biguttatus (Scop.) (Chrysomelidae), Wisley Common, Surrey, 23.vi.1994, swept; C. moraei (L.), White Downs, Surrey, 26.vi.1994, swept; Chrysolina americana (L.) (Chrysomelidae), RHS Garden, Wisley, Surrey, one of three adults found singly on Rosmarinus officinalis L. between 12.v and 1.vi.1994; Polydrusus sericeus (Schall.) (Curculionidae), RHS Garden, Wisley, Surrey, 2.vi.1994, male and female swept. HENDERSON, M.—(1) Thirteen species of beetles from Wimbledon Common, Surrey. Cychrus caraboides (L.) (Carabidae), west of site of Brickfields Cottage, 18.11.1994, one over-wintering in rotten wood; Helochares punctatus Sharp (Hydrophilidae), Seven Posts Pond, 2.vi.1991; Dorcus parallelipipedus (L.) (Lucani- dae), woodland just north of the windmill, 16.vii.1994, at lepidopterist’s sugar; Onthophagus coenobita (Herbst) (Scarabaeidae), Farm Bog, 23.iv.1989, in carrion in pit-gall trap; Agrilus laticornis (Ill.) (Buprestidae), north of windmill, 1.viii.1992, beating oak; Leptura livida F. (Cerambycidae), near Brook Cottage, 29.vi.1991, on umbelliferae; Clytus arietis (L.) (Cerambycidae) 2.vii.1987, on umbelliferae; Tetrops praeusta (L.) (Cerambycidae), near windmill, 19.v.1991, beating willow; Chrysolina orichalcea (Miller, O. F. ) (Chrysomelidae), in neighbouring Cannizaro Park, 25.vi.1992, on Heracleum sphondylium L., Chrysomela populi L. (Chrysomelidae), near King’s Mere, 9.vii.1994, feeding on willow; Attelabus nitens (Scopoli) (Attelabidae), near Seven Posts Pond, 2.vi.1991, beating oak; Magdalis cerasi (L.) (Curculionidae), near Seven Posts Pond, 2.vi.1991, beating oak; Curculio villosus F. (Curculionidae), north of windmill, 1.v.1991, swept. (2) A selection of beetles collected by Dr A. S. Henderson in Provence, France, in 1992 or on a joint collecting trip to Nanteuil-en-Vallee, near Poitiers, and the Central 204 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 Massif, France, in July 1993. Carabus auratus L. (Carabidae), Le Mont Dore, Central Massif, 14.vii.1993; Cicindela campestris L. (Carabidae), Pueche der Dardailla, Provence, 28.iv.1992, a specimen with unusual bronzed colour from heathland; Silpha carinata Herbst (Silphidae), Col de la Croix St Robert, Central Massif, 14.vii.1993, at altitude of 1451 m; Typhaeus typhoeus (L.) (Geotrupidae), Provence, iv.1992; Copris lunaris (L.) (Scarabaeidae), Verdun sur Gorrone, Goronne Valley, 2.v.1992; Gnorimus nobilis (L.) (Scarabaeidae), La Folatiere, Nanteuil-en- Vallee, 12.vii.1993, on dwarf elder flower; Trichius zonatus Germ. (Scarabaeidae), La Folatiere, Nanteuil-en-Vallee, 16.vii.1993, on dwarf elder flower; Oncomera femorata (F.) (Oedemeridae), near Fontevraud |l’Abbeye, 10.vii.1993, male and female; Strangalia aurulenta (F.) (Cerambycidae), La Folatiere, Nanteuil-en-Vallee, 16.vii.1993. HOARE, D. I. B—A selection of scarce ground beetles (Carabidae) taken during 1994. Elaphrus uliginosus F., Lower Test Marshes, S. Hants, 2.iv. 1994, under log; Bembidion bipunctatum (L.), Loch-na-Chait, Inv., 27.v.1994, under stone; B. pallidipenne (Ill.), Constantine Bay, W. Corn., 6.vii.1994, on sand; Pterostichus kugelanni (Panz.) (Plate II, Fig. 12), Bicton Common, S. Devon, 28.iv.1994, under stone; Platyderus ruficollis (Marsh.), Fleet, N. Hants, 5.iii.1994, under log; Agonum ericeti (Panz.), Rothiemurchus, Inv., 23.v.1994 on track; Stenolophus teutonus (Schr.), Milford-on-Sea, S. Hants, 15.vii.1994, under stone near cliff trickle; Oodes helopioides (F.), Emer Bog, S. Hants, 19.11.1994, hibernating in rotten wood. HopGE, P. J—A selection of notable Coleoptera taken during 1994 including two species new to Somerset and one species new to Sussex (*). Agonum sexpunctatum (L.) (Carabidae). Chailey Common, E. Sussex, TQ 3720, 1.vi.1994; Panagaeus cruxmajor (L.) (Carabidae), Lough Mask, Co. Galway, M 0966, 20.v.1994, under stone; Helophorus longitarsis Wolls. (Hydrophilidae), Lewes, E. Sussex, TQ 4211, 6.x.1994, abundant in clay-bottomed dew-pond; Ochthebius pusillus Steph. (Hydraenidae), Lewes, E. Sussex, TQ 4211, 15.x.1994, in clay-bottomed dew-pond; Hydnobius punctatus (Sturm) (Leiodidae), The Coombe, Lewes, E. Sussex, TQ 4310, 15.x.1994, several swept from chalk grassland; Rugilus subtilis (Er.) (Staphylinidae), The Coombe, Lewes, E. Sussex, TQ 4210, 30.iv.1994, one swept from chalk grassland; Philonthus rubripennis Steph. (Staphylinidae), River Barle near Dulverton, S. Som., SS 8730, 16.vi.1994, on shingle bank; *Gyrophaena angustata (Steph.) (Staphylinidae), Barle Valley near Dulverton, S. Som., SS 8730, 16.vi.1994, in fungus on old ash stump; *Bolitochara mulsanti Sharp (Staphylinidae), Barle Valley near Dulverton, S. Som., SS 8730, 16.vi.1994, in fungus on old ash stump; Selatosomus bipustulatus (L.) (Elateridae), Barle Valley near Dulverton, S. Som., SS 8730, 15.vi.1994, one beaten from blackthorn; *Meligethes viduatus (Heer) (Nitidulidae), Pulborough Brooks RSPB Reserve, W. Sussex, TQ 0516, 20.vii.1994, plentiful on flowers of Galeopsis tetrahit L.; Lilioceris lilii (Scop.) (Chrysomelidae), Ringmer, E. Sussex, TQ 4412, 3.vii.1994, on Lilium pyrenaicum Gouan; Chrysolina fastuosa (Scop.) (Chrysomelidae), Pulborough Brooks RSPB Reserve, W. Sussex, TQ 0516, 20.v11.1994, plentiful on Galeopsis tetrahit, Choragus sheppardi Kirby (Anthribidae), The Coombe, Lewes, E. Sussex, TQ 4210, 16.vii.1994, one swept from chalk grassland; Apion genistae Kirby (Apionidae), Chailey Common, E. Sussex, TQ 3720, 1.vi.1994; several swept off Genista anglica L.; Tropiphorus terricola (Newm.) (Curculionidae), yateley Common, N. Hants, SU 8159, one swept from long grass; Hypera meles (F.) (Curculionidae), Bramshill Park, N. Hants, SU 7660, 21.vi.1994, one swept off heathy grassland; Liparus germanus (L.) (Curculionidae), Hinxhill, E. Kent, TR 0543, 21.vii.1994, at roots of Heracleum sphondylium L. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 205 KNILL-JONES, S. A.—A specimen of Dytiscus marginalis L. (Dytiscidae), taken in a m.v. light trap at Freshwater, I.o.W. on 25.vii.1994. Lott, D. A.—Some beetles from mountain areas in Europe. (1) Massif Central, France. Bembidion ascendens Daniel (Carabidae), Neobisnius procerulus (Grav.) (Staphylinidae), River Sioule, Chouvigny, Puy de Dome, 11.vii.1986; Bembidion azurescens Wagner (Carabidae), Tachys sexstriatus (Dufts.) (Carabidae), Lionychus quadrillum (Dufts.) (Carabidae), Carpelimus nitidus Baudi (Staphylinidae), C. obesus (Kiesenw.), C. pusillus (Kiesenw.), Paederus balcanicus Korge (Staphylinidae), Philonthus rufimanus Er. (Staphylinidae), River Allier, Maringues, Puy de Dome, 13.vii.1986; | Lesteva monticola Kiesenw. (Staphylinidae), Psephidonus (= Goedromicus) kunzei (Heer) (Staphylinidae), Stnus fossulatus R. (Staphylinidae), Quedius dubius (Heer) (Staphylinidae), La Grande Cascade, Mont Dore, Puy de Dome, 29.vi.1992. (2) Savoy Alps, France. Nebria jockischi Sturm (Carabidae), N. castanea Bon., Membidion bipunctatum (L.) (Carabidae), recorded at 2630 m, Pterostichus multi- punctatus (Dej.) (Carabidae), Trichotichnus laevipennis (Dufts.) (Carabidae), Cymindis humeralis (Fourc.) (Carabidae), Deliphrum tectum (Payk.) (Staphylinidae), Psephidonus (=Geodromicus) kunzei (Heer) (Staphylinidae), Omalium ferrugineum Kraatz (Staphylinidae), Ochthephilus longipennis (Fairm.) (Staphylinidae), Philonthus montivagus Heer (Staphylinidae), Ocypus chevrolati Baudi (Staphylinidae), O. picipennis (Er.), Quedius punctatellus (Heer) (Staphylinidae), Q. dubius (Heer), Q. obscuripennis Bernh., Liogluta nitidiuscula (Sharp) (Staphylinidae), Val d’Isere, Savoie, 29.vili.1993 to 3.ix.1993; Olophrum alpinum Er. (Staphylinidae), Anthophagus alpinus (F.) (Staphylinidae), Hygrogeus aemulus (Rosen.) (Staphylinidae), Bonneval sur Arc, Savoie, 2530 m, 30.viii.1993. (3) Cantabrian Mountains, Spain. Lathrobium angustatum Boisd. & Lac. (Staphylinidae), Peurto de Piedrasluengas, Palencia, 8.vi.1990; Philonthus coerules- cens (Boisd. & Lac.) (Staphylinidae), Ischnopoda (= Tachyusa) balteata (Er.), Rio Torio, Felmin, Leon, 9.vi.1990; Gabrius nigrituloides Coif., Valporquero, Leon, 9.vi.1990; Philonthus confinis Strand, A. (Staphylinidae), Puerto de Palombero, Cantabnia, 11.vi.1990. (4) Sierra de Albarracin, Spain. Chaetarthria similis Woll. (Hydrophilidae), Gabrius tirolensis (Luze) (Staphylinidae), Euryalea ?decumana (Er.) (Staphylinidae), Rio Guadalavair, Albarracin, Teruel, 19.v.1994. (5) Pyrenees, Spain. Actidium aterrimum (Mots.) (Ptilidae), Boreaphilus velox (Heer) (Staphylinidae), Neobisnius prolixus (Er.) (Staphylinidae), Philonthus coerulescens (Boisd. & Lac.) (Staphylinidae), Torrent Capistol, Martinet, Lerida, 15.v.1994. (6) Peurtos de Beceite, Spain. Carpelimus obesus (Kiesenw.) (Staphylinidae), C. pusillus (Grav.), Lathrobium angustatum Boisd. & Lac. (Staphylinidae), Medon ripicola (Kraatz) (Staphylinidae), Scopaeus gracilis (Sperk) (Staphylinidae), S. laevigatus (Gyll.), Erichsonius signaticornis (Muls. & Rey) (Staphylinidae), Gabrius pisciformis Fauv. (Staphylinidae), Barranco de feu, Castellon, 17.v.1994; Stenus canescens Rosen. (Staphylinidae), Philonthus palustris Bris. (Staphylinidae), rrimus (Herbst) (Staphylinidae), Herbes, Teruel, 18.v.1994. (7) Black Forest, Germany. Pterostichus pumilio (Dej.) (Carabidae), Micropeplus marietti Duval (Staphylinidae), Otiorhynchus scaber (L.) (Curculionidae), Dachsberg, 21—25.vii.1988; Gabrius astutus (Er.) (Staphylinidae), Gaurotes virginea (L.), (Staphylinidae), Ibach, 27.vii.1988. (8) Karkonosze, Poland. Quedius punctatellus (Heer) (Staphylinidae), Gnypeta caerulea Sahl. (Staphylinidae), Szrenica, 13.viii.1994. 206 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 Morris, M. G.—(1) The British species of Cathormiocerus Schoen. (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Entiminae), mostly recent captures. The genus has a very restricted range, western Europe only. Cathormiocerus attaphilus Bris., Stoke Point, S. Devon, 26.vii.1993 and 1.viii.1994, RDB1, known only from here and The Lizard, Com., in the British Isles, C. britannicus Blair, Rinsey, Corn., 25.vii.1993 and Furzebrook, Dorset, 13.v.1994, RDB1, the Dorset captures represent a considerable extension of known range for this species, which is endemic to the British Isles, C. maritimus Rye, Lizard, Corn., 19.v.1993, RDB3, although more widely distributed than most of the other species, it seems to be less common; C. myrmecophilus (Seidlitz), Cathole, S. Devon, 17.x.1987, and Stoke Point, S. Devon, 23 & 26.vii.1993, RDB3; C. socius Boh., near Ventnor, I.o.W., 13.iv.1977, and near Sandown, I.o.W., 15.v.1968, RDB2, confined to the Isle of Wight in the British Isles. (2) Cathormiocerus maritimus and C. myrmecophilus from Pointe du Raz, Finistere, Britanny, France, 21.iv.1994, found on maritime cliffs in situations very similar to those in Cornwall and S. Devon. (3) A selection of interesting weevils from the Canary Islands, where about 75% of the species are endemic; Tenerife, March 1993 (T), and Gran Canaria, March 1994 (GC); Auletobius convexifrons (Woll.) (Attelabidae), (T), quite common by beating, especially Rubus; A. cylindricollis (Woll.), (T), fairly common; Perapion neofallax Warner (Apionidae), (T) and (GC), particularly on Emex spinosa, closely related to the European P. violaceum Kirby; Rhissotrichum tubuliferum (Woll.) (Apionidae), (GC) (and not found on (T), despite searching), a miniature version of the common Mediterranean P. tubiferum, on Cistus monspeliensis; Kalcapion fortunatum (Roudier) (Apionidae), (T) and (GC), on Mercurialis annua, L. generally common; Taeniapion atlanticum (Uyttenboogaart) (Apionidae), (T), on Urtica spp.; T. delicatulum (Woll.), (T), on Parietaria spp.; Lapidapion canariense (Wagner) (Apionidae), (T), abundant on shrubby legumes, particularly Lygos monosperma; Holotrichapion wollastoni (Chev.) (=rotundipenne Woll.) (Apionidae), (T) and (GC), by sweeping Vicia spp.; Laparocerus excavatus Woll. and L. ellipticus Woll. (Curculionidae), two representative species of this species-rich genus, which is confined to the Canaries and Madeira; Sitona latipennis Gyll. (Curculionidae), (T) and (GC), very common and widely distributed, on various shrubby legumes; Cionus variegatus (Brulle) (Curculionidae), (T), on Scrophularia spp., a species little known to wingelmueller, the monographer of the genus (1937), pairs from two populations contrasting in the degree of black coloration were shown; Stenopelmus rufinasus Gyll. (Curculionidae), (GC), beaten from Pinus canariensis. The exhibitor could find no previous record of this North American, Azolla-feeding species in the Canaries; Smicronyx pauperculus Woll. (Curculionidae), (T), on Cuscuta sp.; Hesperorhynchus hesperus (Woll.) (Curculionidae), (T), associated with Crassulaceae, a particularly interesting genus endemic to the Canaries and Madeira, with five flightless species, of which this is the commonest; Mogulones biondii Colonnelli (Curculionidae), (GC), known on few specimens, described in 1990 as a subspecies of M. pseudopollinarius (Harald Lindberg) and raised to specific rank by Colonnelli (1992); M. pseudopollinarius (Harald Lindberg), (T), associated with Echium ssp., also known from La Palma; Parethelcus nesicola Colonnelli (Curculionidae), (T), allied to our P. pollinarius (Forst.) and like that species, feeding on Urtica spp.; Sirocalodes nigroterminatus (Woll.) (Curculionidae), (T) and (GC), the Canarian equivalent of our S. mixtus (Muls. & Rey), and, like it, feeding on Fumaria ssp.; Macrobrachonyx gounellei Pic (Curculionidae), (T), associated with Pinus canariensis, Canarian endemic anthonomine, generally scarce and occurring as isolated individuals; Tychius colonnellii Caldara (Curculionidae), (T), associated with Lotus glaucus, BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 207 described in 1991, specimens were from the type locality where the species is quite common. PORTER, D. A.—Twelve species of Coleoptera collected between 1992 and 1994. Bembidion quadripustulatum Serv. (Carabidae), Powdermill Reservoir, E. Sussex, 28.vi.1992; Haliphus obliguus (F.) (Haliplidae), Heron Lake, Staines, Middx, 13.vii.1994; H. variegatus Sturm, East Guldeford, E. Sussex, 20.x.1993; Xantholinus longiventris Heer (Staphylinidae), Rye Harbour, E. Sussex, 10.v.1992; Trichophya pilicornis (Gyll.), Drawsteignton, S. Devon, 21.iv.1992; Zyras humeralis (Grav.) (Staphylinidae), Drawsteignton, S. Devon, 21.iv.1992; Metoecus paradoxus (L.) (Rhipiphoridae), East Runton, E. Norfolk, 18.viii.1994; Grammoptera variegata (Germ.) (Cerambycidae), Lyndhurst, S. Hants, 2.vi.1994; Mesosa nebulosa (F.) (Cerambycidae), Brockenhurst, S. Hants, 28.v.1992; Altica brevicollis Foud. (Chrysomelidae), Troytown, Dorset, 3.ix.1993; Apion stolidum Germ. (Apionidae), Crewkerne, S. Som., 19.iv.1992; Mecinus collaris Germ. (Curculionidae), Grange- over-Sands, Westmor., 10.vili.1992. HEMIPTERA ALEXANDER, K. N. A. & FOSTER, A. P.—A selection of the more interesting bugs found during the work of the National Trust’s Biological Survey in 1994: Liorhyssus hyalinus (F.), coastal heath, St David’s Head, Pemb., 16.vi.1994; Pionosomus varius (Wolff, J. F.), Nicholaston & Penmaen Burrows, Gower, W. Glam., 19.vii.1994; Trapezonotus ullrichi (Fieber), second Welsh record, St David’s, Pemb., 23.vi.1994; Lasiacantha capucina Germ., under thyme on seacliff, Holestrow, Kynance, Corn., v.1994. EVERSHAM, B. C. & TELFER, M. G.—Some interesting bugs from Breckland road verges: Thyreocoris scarabaeoides (L.), Podops inuncta (F.), Chorosoma schillingi (Schummel), Syromastus rhombeus (L.), Alydus calcaratus (L.), Neides tipularius (L.), Coranus woodroffei. HopGE, P. J—Two species of bugs: Physatocheila smreczynskii China (Tingidae), New Forest, S. Hants, SU 1908, 18.ix.1994, on old crab apple tree (Malus sylvestris Miller); Microvelia pygmaea (Dufour) (Veliidae), Chailey Common, E. Sussex, TQ 3821, 24.ix.1994, in shaded pond. HYMENOPTERA ALEXANDER, K. N. A. & FOSTER, A. P—Two uncommon ants found in 1994 during the National Trust’s biological survey. Leptothorax tuberum (F.), 22 and 29.vii on limestone sea cliffs at Paviland and Pennard Cliffs, Gower, Glam.; Myrmecina graminicola (Lat.), 29.vi at Good Hope Farm, Strumble Head, Pemb. BoyD, G.—A selection of spider wasps and solitary wasps taken in 1994. Cerceris rybyensis (L.) and Ectemnius continuus (F.), both 20.vii at Cambridge; Argogorytes mystaceus (L.), flying over raspberry flowers 11.vi, Frithsden Beeches, Ashridge, Herts.; Ectemnius cavifrons (Thom.) and Dipogon subintermedius (Magretti), on rotten oak, 2.vii at Croxton Park, Leics.; Cerceris arenaria (L.), male and female in cop on flower of Reseda lutea L., 9.vii; Ammophila sabulosa (L.), 6.viii; Episyron rufipes (L.), on a loose sandy bank, 1.vii; Ectemnius continuus (F.), 27.viii, the last four species taken in relic areas of Breckland heath, 1-3 miles south of Brandon, W. Suff. 208 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 BOWDREY, J. P.—A cynipid gall wasp new to Britain. Examples of galls found on prickly sowthistle, Sonchus asper (L.) at Fingringhoe, near Colchester, Essex, on 19.viii.93. Adults emerged in July 1994 and were subsequently identified by Dr J. L. Nieves-Aldrey of Madrid as Aulacidea follioti Barbotin. BROocK, J. P—A display of ichneumonid parasites in the subfamilies Pimplinae and Xoridinae from Ashtead Common, Surrey and other sites around London. The species displayed were associated with both dead and live trees, and have as host insects various cerambycid beetle larvae, wood-nesting aculeate Hymenoptera and some wood-boring lepidopterous larvae. Malaise trapping has shown that some species thought to be rare are fairly common in some localities, where they may serve as indicators of good quality ancient woodland. COLLINS, G. A.—The bee wolf, Philanthus triangulum (F.) taken 30.vii.94 at Frensham Heights, Surrey. This formerly scarce sphecid wasp has recently become widespread in southern England. HALSTEAD, A. J—Some local sawflies taken in 1994 except where stated otherwise. Female Janus femoratus (Curt.), male Dolerus bimaculatus (Geoff.) and female Eutomostethus gagathinus (Klug), all swept from a boggy area of Chobham Common NNR, Surrey, 5.vi; female Rhogogaster genista (Benson), numerous on broom, 5.vi, Chobham Common NNR, Surrey; female Cimbex femoratus (L.) bred 25.iv from a larva found on birch 20.vi.93, Chobham Common NNR, Surrey; female Heterarthrus nemoratus (Fall.), swept from birch, 15.vi, Chobham Common NNR, Surrey; female Athalia cornubiae Benson, col. C. W. Plant in a malaise trap in a garden, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts., vi.93; male and female Rhogogaster chambersi Benson, swept from chalk grassland and female Pareophora pruni (L.) on blackthorn flowers, both 15.v at the Sheepleas, near West Horsley, Surrey; male Hoplocampa testudinea (Klug), on apple blossom, RHS Garden, Wisley, Surrey, 29.iv; female Nematus capreae (L.) netted by R. A. Jones and male Macrophya rufipes (L.), swept from long grass 9.vii at Nunhead Cemetery, SE15. HARVEY, P. R.—Some interesting records from Mill Wood Pit, part of the Chafford Hundred and Lakeside development area at Thurrock, S. Essex. The PLATE Ill. ANNUAL EXHIBITION 1994 1: Diarsia mendica, Geddington Chase, Northants, 20.vi1988, J. W. Ward. 2: Amphipyra berbera, Blandon Heath, Oxon, 22.vii1993, M. F. V. Corley. 3: Discestra trifolii, Wroughton, Wilts., 9.viii1992, D. J. Brotheridge. 4: Evergestis limbata, Chale Green, |l.oW., 23.vii1994, S. Colenutt (S. A. Knill-Jones). 5: Meganola albula, Dungeness, Kent, 15.vii1994, S. P. Clancy. 6: Homoeosoma sinuella, Torquay, Devon, 20.vii1994, A. H. Dobson. 7: Mussidia nigrivenella, Dungeness, 12.viii1994, S. P. Clancy. 8: Agriphila inquinatella, Dungeness, Kent, 27.vii1994, S. P. Clancy. 9: Agrotis cinerea, mixed gynandromorph, Swanage, Dorset, J. Clarke. 10: Drymonia dodonaea, Ashtead, Surrey, 26.vi.1994, J. T. Scanes. 11: Mythimna conigera, Inverness-shire, 21.vii1990, A. G. J. Butcher. 12: Cucullia scrophulariae, Swanage, Dorset, 18.v1994, J. Clarke. 13: Hoplodrina alsines, albino male, Dungeness, Kent, 8.vii1994, B. Skinner. 14: Odontoptera bidentata, Hampstead, 12.v1994, A. G. J. Butcher. 15—18: Luperina nickerlii, male (15) and female (16) nominotypical form, Prague, Czechoslovakia, and male (17) and female (18) undescribed subspecies, Essex, B. Goater. 19: Baorisa hieroglyphica, Nepal,.T. W. Harman. 20: Dichomeris juniperella, Achlean Cairngorms, vi.1977, M. J. & P. H. Sterling. 21: Cochylis molliculana, Portsmouth, Hants, bred, 20. viii1994, J. R. Langmaid. 22: Caryocolum blandelloides, Loch Fleet, Sutherland, 23.vii1994, R. J. B. Hoare. 23: Teliodes alburnella, Kincraig, Inv.,17.vii1994, M. W. Harper. Photo: D.E. Wilson. Plate Il. ANNUAL EXHIBITION 1994 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 209 exhibitor has surveyed this site, part of which has planning permission for housing, since September 1993. Over 40 nationally scarce, rare or vulnerable species have been recorded including the blue carpenter bee, Ceratina cyanea (Kirby) and Stelis ornatula (Klug). Both appear to be the only Essex records for many years. Other species exhibited included the chrysid wasp Hedychrum niemelai Linsenmaier and its host Cerceris quinquefasciata (Rossius), the bee wolf, Philanthus triangulum (F.); the solitary bees Andrena florea F., A. proxima (Kirby) and Nomada fulvicornis F. HopcE, P. J—Three uncommon solitary bees taken in 1994. Male Andrena proxima (Kirby), 20.v on flowers of alexanders, Smyrnium olusatrum L., at Ranscombe Lane, Glynde, E. Sussex; female Stelis ornatula (Klug) taken on the wing, 20.vii, at Yateley Common, N. Hants; female Stelis punctulatissima (Kirby) on flowers of ragwort, Senecio jacobaea L., 22.viii, at Chailey Common, E. Sussex. Howton, D. H.—Workers of the social wasp Dolichovespula media (Retz.) taken at Weston Favell, Northants, 21.v.93. This is a first county record for a wasp that has now colonized much of England, including several counties further north, such as Cambs., Warks. and Leics. in 1991-92. PORTER, D. A.—A specimen of the melittid bee, Macropis europaea Warncke, taken on Lysimachia vulgaris L. flowers at Sheffield Park, E. Sussex, 6.vii.94. This may be a new vice-county record. ROBBINS, J.—A herbarium of mined leaves of various plants, some of which had been mined by the larvae of sawflies. ROBERTS, S. P. M.—Some scarce aculeate Hymenoptera taken in south east Dorset in 1991-94. Chrysididae: Elampus panzeri (F.), 10.vii.94, Great Ovens Heath; Hedychridium ardens (Latr. in Coquebert), 13.vii.94, Sandford; H. roseum (Rossius), 10.vii.94, Great Ovens Heath. Tiphiidae: Myrmosa atra Panz., male, 13.vii.94, Sandford and female 29.vii.94, Holton Heath (Defence Research Agency). Mutillidae: Mutilla europaea L., male and female, 13.vii.94, Sandford and on 6.viii.94 at Holton Heath NNR; Smicromyrme rufipes (F.), male and female, 13.vii.94, Sandford. Eumenidae: Pseudepipona herrichii (Saussure), male and female, 14.vii.91, Godlingston Heath NNR (possibly its only remaining British locality); Symmorphus crassicornis (Panz.), female, 13.vii.94, Sandford (first Dorset record since 1945). Sphecidae: Astata boops (Schr.), female with prey and male, Mimesa bruxellensis (Bond.), male and female, and Diodontus minutus Spooner, male and female, all 25.vii.94 at Kingsbridge Lakes; Nysson dimidiatus Jurine, female, 13.vii.94, Sandford; Philanthus triangulum (F.), two females, one with Apis mellifera L. prey and a male, 6.viii.94 Holton Heath NNR (not previously recorded in Dorset since 1829); Passaloecus eremita Kohl, female, 10.vii.94, Gore Heath (new to Dorset, nests found by M. Edwards, G. R. Else and the exhibitor). Apidae-Andreninae: Andrena denticulata (Kirby), male, 30.vi.94, Corfe Bluff and female, 25.vii.94, Northport. Apidae-Halictinae: Sphecodes ephippius (L.), male; S. geoffrellus (Kirby), male, S. puncticeps Thomson, two males, one melanic, S. reticulatus Thomson, all 3.vili.94 on flowers of creeping thistle, Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop. at Sandford. Apidae-Melittinae: Macropis europaea Warnke, male, 25.vii.94, Kingsbridge Lakes, female, 14.vii.92, Uddens, female, 4.viii.92, Tadnoll Lane, all on flowers of Lysimachia vulgaris L.; Dasypoda altercator (Harris), male, 29.vii.94, Wareham meadows, female 3.viii.94, Sandford. Apidae-Megachilinae: Stelis ornatula (Klug), female, 13.vii.94, Sandford, female, 29.vii.94, Holton Heath NNR; Megachile leachella Curt., male and female, 30.vi.94, Newton Gulley. A nest of the social wasp, Dolichovespula media (Retz.) from a maple tree in a garden in West Moors, Dorset, in 1991. This was the first nest of this species a) Hi J, BINT, NAT, HIST, & 1995 recorded in Dorset, Included with the exhibit was 4 series of distribution maps drawn on DMAP showing how this wasp has colonized Dorset during 1991-94, Urvin, &. W. J.-Some solitary bees and wasps new or jocally rare in Herts., Hieds,, Hucks, and Hesex taken in 1994 except where stated otherwise, Ammophila sabulosa (L,,), seen Ovi and Lix, Colney Heath sand pit, Herts; Philanthus triangulum (V.) viievili at Colney Heath sand pit and at Amwell Quarry in dumped sand, Hoddeston sand pit; Gorytes bicinetus (Mossius), |.viii, Colney Heath sand pit; Nysson trimaculatus (ossius), 9.viil, Colney Heath sand pit; Cerceris arenaria (L,), 22.vi, Vanshanger Park, Hertlord; Mnatomognathus brevis (Vander Linden) on Heracleum flowers, 24.vii, Panshanger Park and #.vii, Progmore Lakes, St Albans, Herts,, Crossocerus distinguendus (Morawitz), 16.vii, High Down House, Pirton, Herts, and 7.vii, Daneshury, Welwyn, Herts.; Pen bruxellensis (Hon,), 5,viii,94, Old Parkbury Vit, Park Street; Tachysphex pompiliformis (Panz,), 10,vi, Colney Heath sand pit, 29.vi, Patmore Heath, also seen at Panshanger Park in July; Hpisyron rufipes (L,) nesting in dumped sand and attracted to Daucus flowers, 16,vill, Amwell gravel quarry, Passaloecus eremita Zou 24.vi, Hatlield Porest, Ussex, nesting in beetle holes in dead Sambucus, Melitta haemorrhoidalis (V.), 25.vii, females in SW corner of Church Hill, Therfield Heath, Herts, and males, 14,viii at Deacon Hill, Pegsdon, Heds., on flowers of harebell and other Campanula spp.; M. tricineta (Kirby), 40.vii, in field margin below Aldbury Nowers SSSI, Tring, Herts., on Odontites flowers; Hylaeus cormutus Curt, Wvi on Heracleum flowers by footpath at Colney Heath sandpit; Lasioglossum malachurus (Kirby), male 21.vin, Colney Heath and Aix, Colney Heath sand pit Coelioxys elongata Lep., 40.vi at colony of Megachile willughbiella (Kirby) in plant nursery in Hishops Stortford, Ussex; Steliy punetula- lissima (Kirby) on Inula hirta flower in garden, #.vii, Welwyn; Colletes similis Sehenck, 19.vii, Colney Heath sand pit} C. daviesanus Smith, 40.vi, on Achillea filipendulina lowers in nursery, Hishops Stortford; C. succinetus (L,) and Andrena Juscipes (Kirby), both females, 2.14, Hlack Park, Langley, Hucks.; Sphecodes longulus von Hag., 10.vii, Colney Heath sand pit; Andrena bucephala Steph, 4.v, Whippendell Wood, Watlord, Herts Watson, C.--A male Philanthus triangulum (V.) taken at Mushey Mead Nature teserve, near Hishop's Stortford, N. Ussex (no date), This spheeid wasp, which stocks its Hest with honey bees, has expanded its range in recent years and is seattered along the Thames estuary in Pasex ODONATA Poriint, J.-A specimen of the highland darter, Sympetrum nigrescens Lucas, 15.viii.94, at Glen Lonan, Argyll ORTHOPTERA AND DERMAPTERA HvinksiAM, H.C. & Tatrnk, M, Ga survey of inseets folind in roadside grassland during March October 1994 and 94 near Lakenheath Warren, Suffolk, ‘These included the stripe-winged grasshopper, Stenobothrus lineatus (Panz,) and the short-winged conehead, Conocephalus dorsalis (Lat.), The lesser earwig, Labia minor (L.) appears to be associated with rabbit droppings and dead vegetation at the atudy aile, BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 211 NEUROPTERA AND MECOPTERA CoLLINns, G. A.—Some local species taken in Surrey. Neuroptera: Psectra diptera (Burmeister) 4.viii.90, S. Croydon; Hemerobius atrifrons McLach., 14.iv.90, Netley Heath; Micromus angulatus (Steph.), 6.x1i.93, Banstead. Mecoptera: Panorpa cognata Ramb., 25.vii.94, Westcott. The last two species were collected by R. D. Hawkins. PLANT, C. W.—An ant-lion, Euroleon nostras (Fourc.) (Neuroptera: Myrmeleon- tidae): a species and family of insects possibly overlooked in Britain. Until this year this ant-lion was unknown in the British Isles apart from Jersey, although it is widespread elsewhere in Europe. During 1994 three adults were captured in a locality in E. Suff. (Mendel in press). The exhibitor showed two examples taken in Hungary, together with some British insects which might be confused with ant-lions. The giant lacewing, Osmylus fulvicephalus (Scop.) has similarly blotched wings but is mainly found near fast-moving streams and it has longer, simple filamentous antennae. FE. nostras is likely to be found in areas where there is warm, loose dry sand, and it has shorter, stouter clubbed antennae. Some ant-lions do not have spotted wings. An example is Myrmeleon formicarius L. which was allegedly recorded at Gorleston, E. Suff., in 1931. It is possible that such ant-lions could be confused with certain teneral dragonflies and damselflies. These may fly in a similar manner to ant-lions. The antennae of dragonflies and damselflies are very short and thin, and easily distinguished from the stouter, club-tipped antennae of antlions. Examples of a damselfly, Coenagrion puella (L.) and a dragonfly, Sympetrum striolatum (Charp.) were displayed to show this difference. Larval pits are more likely to be encountered than adult ant-lions. They are constructed in soft dry sand, often at the edge of fields, but also at the side of sandy tracks and other areas that are subjected to trampling. Pits should be sampled by quickly penetrating the sand to a depth of about two inches with a one inch wide glass tube, used as a core sampler. The sand can be gently poured out until the larva is seen. Pupation occurs in the sand, in a circular silk cocoon to which sand grains adhere. An example of a cocoon with the translucent white pupal exuvium of F. nostras protruding was exhibited. SIPHONAPTERA GEORGE, R. S.—Some charts showing the distribution of fleas in Scotland, Yorkshire and Lancashire + Cheshire. The Scottish chart indicated all the species, sub-species and hybrids on the British list (except the doubtfully British Monopsyllus anisus Roth.) and the numbers of forms recorded in each of the old counties of Scotland. Only the rabbit flea, Spilopsyllus cuniculi (Dale) has been found in every county. The chart showed a record of the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis felis Bouche in the Orkneys. This is a new, unpublished record and is the most northerly in the British Isles. The other two charts for Yorkshire and Lancashire + Cheshire showed which 10-km squares have had fleas recorded and the numbers of flea forms in these squares. They indicated the paucity of recording and the need for more specimens to be submitted to the exhibitor for identification. Some species cards relating to Yorkshire were shown, indicating in which 10-km squares each species has been found. The exhibitor made available some information sheets on flea collection methods. This was illustrated with a display of flea collecting from birds’ nests, which is mainly done in winter when nests are not in use. A tube of 5081 fleas in alcohol was shown that had been collected from a house martin’s nest from Stogursey, Som. the dominant species in the nest was Ceratophyllus hirundinis (Curt.), with C. farreni 212 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 farreni Roth. and C. rusticus Wagner also present in substantial but smaller numbers; farreni and rusticus vary considerably in their relative proportions of the nest populations. In the past rusticus was considered quite rare but now it is more frequent than farreni. ARACHNIDA HACKETT, D.—A female specimen of the spider Segestria florentina (Rossi) (Araneae: Segestriidae) found 17.x.94 at Thames Road, London W4. This large Mediterranean segestrid spider occurs at a few sea ports around Britain and was known by W. S. Bristowe to occur in the old walls of Westminster School, London, in the 1930s. This year Edward Milner, spider recorder in the LNHS, discovered it at Charterhouse, Cripplegate, the City. The specimen exhibited came from the Kew area, West London, so its true distribution in London is yet to be clarified. The web is funnel shaped, with cartwheel-like spokes radiating across the substrate (tree crack or wall crevice), this web type being characteristic of segestrids. This spider’s clearest identifying feature is the metallic bottle-green fangs. In the field the spider can usually be tempted out to get a glimpse of the fangs by tickling the outer part of the web with a twig or other slender object. PLANT, C. W.—A specimen of the scorpion, Euscorpius carpathicus (L.) ssp candiota Birula (Chactidae) collected on the Mediterranean island of Gozo, April 1994. This small scorpion is frequent on Gozo and was found in groups of four or five individuals under boulders where the soil was damp. They seemed reluctant to move when uncovered and remained tightly pressed into soil crevices. ILLUSTRATIONS CLARKE, J. H.—Bembecia chrysidiformis (Es.), captive breeding from ovum to imago in one year. Last year the exhibitor showed a poster illustrating the mating of this species in captivity with photographs of the calling female, a pair in copula, the female ovipositing and the one newly hatched larva that was observed. Further photographs illustrated his recent results. Most of the ova did hatch (as evidenced by their empty egg shells) but larvae were not seen. Presumably they hatched at night and made their way straight down to the rootstock. The project was expected to take two years but the exhibitor was able to report back in just one year. Initially the plants showed no outward signs of infestation. They were put in a shady corner of the garden and essentially ignored for the winter. During March inspection showed the docks in a very poor state indeed. On pulling off the crown of dead leaves from the most moribund plant (which showed no signs of life whatsoever) the exhibitor was amazed to see a fully grown sesiid larva staring up from the top of the rootstock. Dissection of this rootstock produced no less than 15 fully grown larvae some of which were making their cocoons or silken emergence tubes; the root was totally replaced with tight packed grass and no viable portions remained. Other roots also contained larvae but not as many. Larvae were relocated into other docks and in due course emerged as adults. These were taken back to their original locality and released. One larva remained and as yet showed no signs of forming its emergence tube or cocoon; it would probably emerge in 1995. It seems that given sufficient food the species will preferentially keep to a one-year lifecycle but a small proportion will take two years. In the wild more may keep to a two-year cycle especially if feeding on a small shrivelled sorrel rather than a large lush great water dock. Having a lifecycle of variable length is an advantage in BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 213 providing a buffer against adverse environmental factors which could seriously affect the reproductive success of a population in one season. HACKETT, D.—Photographs of the spider Segestria florentina (Rossi), to accompany a dead specimen. HARLEY, B. H.—Colour photocopies of the colour plates (1-9) of Yponomeu- tidae, Epermeniidae, Schreckensteiniidae, Coleophoridae and Elachistidae for volume 3 of the moths and butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland from drawings by Richard Lewington, with some monochrome drawings of coleophorid cases by the same artist. The work is to be published in 1995. HENWOOD, B. P.—Photographs of the larvae of Eupithecia virgaureata Doubl., a wild first brood larva found feeding on the leaves of grey willow (Salix cinerea L.) near Newton Abbot, Devon, and a wild second brood larva feeding on flowers of golden rod (Solidago virgaurea L.) at St Agnes Cornwall. The first brood larva is virtually unknown in the wild. PICKLES, A. J——Photographs of Microlepidoptera. Larva of Udea decreptialis (H. & S.) photographed in mid-August feeding under a slight web on the underside of a frond of lemon-scented fern Oreopteris limbosperma (All.) Larvae were found sparingly, on this species of fern only, at a locality which was close to a loch in central Scotland. The larva would not accept Dryopteris or other Oreopteris species in captivity. Larva, pupa and adult of Cnaemidophorus rhododactyla (D. & S.). The larva, which was just visible inside the characteristic slight spinning it had constructed around a flower bud, was feeding on Rosa canina (L.) and was photographed on 18.vi.1994 at an Essex locality. Larvae and pupae were found at about head height on all sides of the bushes. A pupa found at the same time was concealed in a similar spinning. SOKOLOFF, P.—A photograph of an unusual aberration of the red admiral, Vanessa atlanta L. The butterfly was characterized by bright orange suffusion from the fore- and hind-wing bands, covering the basal areas of all wings, and extending to the thorax and abdomen. The coloration resembled that of ab eos Fritsch, but was much more extensive. The marginal white spots on the fore and hind wings were also much enlarged. The insect was photographed at Hinksey Hill Top, Oxfordshire on 27.viii.1994. WARING, P.—A display of photographs illustrating some of the field meetings of the Society during 1994 and the notable moths recorded. Ranging from Abernethy Forest, Inverness-shire, south to Whiteparish Common, Wiltshire, from the Mawddach Valley woodlands, Merionethshire, and Welshbury Hill, Gloucestershire in the west to Cantley Marshes and Catfield Fen in Norfolk, and including the home of the Society’s building and collections, Dinton Pastures, Berkshire. CORRIGENDUM TO 1992 ANNUAL EXHIBITION Since it would have constituted the first Irish record, Dr M. C. D. Speight has rightly queried the ‘Orthonevra brevicornis Loew’ from Co. Fermanagh, that was exhibited at the 1992 BENHS Annual Exhibiton (Br. J. Ent. Nat. Hist. 1993; 6: 70). Dr Speight, to whom I am grateful, has subsequently examined the specimen and shown it to be Portvenia maculata (Fallen).—A. P. Foster, The National Trust, 33 Sheep Street, Cirencester, Glos. GL7 1QW. 214 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 BENHS FIELD MEETINGS Powerstock Common, Dorset, 11 June 1994 Leader: Mick Parker. Seven members arrived for the daytime meeting to be met with warm and sunny conditions. An area near to the car park was the first to receive attention; part of this area, a birch and sallow copse had recently been cleared and the resulting logs had been left in piles. These logs showed extensive workings of the lunar hornet clearwing Sesia bembeciformis Hiibner and it is obvious that this species although rarely seen is common here. The group moved south into the wooded part of the reserve and through various clearings and rides and here amongst fourteen species of butterfly occurred four local species the marsh fritillary Eurodryas aurinia Rottemberg, the Duke of Burgundy fritillary, Hamearis lucina L., the small pearl-bordered fritillary, Boloria selene D. & S., and the wood white, Leptidea sinapis L. Two day-flying moths were also noted, the burnet companion, Euclidia glyphica L. and the small purple-barred, Phytometra viridaria Clerck. All these species were to be encountered in greater numbers along the disused railway embankment which borders the reserve. The group then made their way along the southern edge of this embankment which becomes increasingly wooded and turned east and then north through damp oak woodland and continued through mixed woodland back to the car park. Over ninety species of Diptera were recorded, although most were common species the best record being the conopid Thecophora atra F. Twenty-eight species of Hymenoptera were also noted of which most were sawflies. Small numbers of Hemiptera, Coleoptera, Odonata, Neuroptera and Mecoptera were also added to the days list which now totalled one hundred and fifty one species, before the day ended several roe deer were seen and a stoat made an appearance. The moth trapping session began with a group of ten. Most of the group considered the embankment area the best option, and six of the eight traps were situated here. Unfortunately a clear sky and a falling temperature ensured the moth catch was low. All the species recorded were common and did little to excite although the privet hawk Sphinx ligustri L. made a spectacular entrance, despite the falling temperature. I was determined to stay to the bitter end, and bitter was the word; nevertheless the moth list reached sixty one species to make a grand total of two hundred and twelve insect species listed, thanks are due to the Dorset Wildlife Trust for permission to hold the field meeting and to the recorders who made it such a successful meeting. A full list has been forwarded to the D.W.T. and other interested groups. Catfield Fen Butterfly Conservation Reserve, Norfolk, 16 July 1994 Leader: Paul Waring. This joint BENHS/Butterfly Conservation meeting at the Butterfly Conservation reserve at Catfield Fen, Norfolk, on 16 July, set out to see if the small dotted footman Pelosia obtusa could be found in the more accessible parts of the fen which are currently being cleared of scrub and are now largely open reed and sedge-beds, some of which had been cut before the field meeting. This meeting was particularly well attended, with 35 people, including a contingent from the Norfolk Moth Group. 23 light traps were operated on the fen and moths seen included the reed leopard Phragmataecia castanea (only by Ken Saul’s group), dotted footman Pelosia muscerda, dentated pug Anticollix sparsata (a worn singleton near BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 215 the Hubbard’s Marsh ligger), dotted fanfoot Macrochilo cribrumalis, cream-bordered green pea Earias clorana and a host of wainscots including the striped Mythimna pudorina, southern M. straminea, fen Arenostola phragmitidis, mere Photedes fluxa, Fenn’s P. brevilinea and brown-veined Archanara dissoluta. Other moths of intereest included the oak eggar Lasiocampa quercus (a female), lesser cream wave Scopula immutata, blue-bordered carpet Plemyria rubiginata, dingy shell Euchoeca nebulata, privet hawk-moth Sphinx ligustri, round-winged muslin Thumatha senex, suspected Parastichtis suspecta, Haworth’s minor Celaena haworthii, crescent Celaena leucostigma, small rufous Coenobia rufa, silver hook Eustrotia uncula, Lempke’s gold spot Plusia putnami and the pyralids Chilo phragmitella, Schoenobius gigantella, Dioryctria abietella (det. J. Clarke) and several of the common china-mark moth species. Several fully grown larvae of the emperor moth Pavonia pavonia were found feeding on the leaves of alder buckthorn Frangula alnus. No small dotted footman were seen, even though 13 males and 2 females were seen at a nearby site on 15 July (Brian Elliot) and 10 males at the same site on 17 July. The small dotted footman were in an uncut reedbed, with thick reed litter lying like straw. Fenn’s wainscot was the commonest moth here with about ten per trap on the latter night when the weather was indifferent and the temperature was 9° C (B. Skinner). Only one or two Fenn’s wainscot were seen per trap at Catfield Fen BC reserve, suggesting that the habitat is much less suitable for both moths. However, there are other parts of the BC reserve, currently accessible only by boat, which still need investigation. The small dotted footman was also found in a thick reedbed with much standing litter on the nearby Catfield Fen National Nature Reserve on 21 July 1994 by Julian Clarke, when five adults were seen. During the daytime part of the meeting we were shown some small larvae of the swallowtail butterfly Papilio machaon by Vic Stares who is studying them on the fen as part of her research project at the University of East Anglia. One of the larvae was still at the stage where it resembled a bird-dropping; another had reached 3 cm in length. Other butterflies seen included adults of the large skipper Ochlodes venata, green-veined white Pieris napi, gate-keeper Pyronia tithonus, meadow brown Maniola Jurtina, ringlet Aphantopus hyperanthus, a full-grown larva of the peacock butterfly Inachis io, and, at 07.00 hrs the following morning, while those of us who had slept in our cars had breakfast on site, a painted lady Cynthia cardui basked in the sun on the edge of the car-park. Other observations during the day-time part of the meeting included the royal fern Osmunda regalis and cowbane Cicuta virosa along dyke edges on the eastern boundary of the reserve and the plume moth Adaina microdactyla which is dependent on hemp agrimony Eupatorium cannabinum. A larval case of the common bag-worm Psyche casta was noted on a common reed Phragmites australis. A few of the common darter dragonfly Sympetrum striolatum and the blue-tailed damselfly ischnura elegans were on the wing. A marsh harrier Circus aeruginosus flew overhead at one point and a male grasshopper warbler Locustella naevia was singing busily in Hubbard’s Marsh. Four species of flies were identified, by Gavin Boyd, including the syrphids Pyrophaena rosarum, Episyrphus balteatus and Xylota segnis and the stratiomyid Chloromyia formosa, all of which would be expected from the habitats present on the reserve. Records of over 130 species of moths were collected for this reserve as a result of this field meeting and the good coverage with light traps helped to give an indication of the distribution of species on the reserve. A copy of the full species list for all groups has been sent to Roland Rogers, organizer for the Norfolk Branch of Butterfly Conservation, who manage the reserve, and attention has been drawn to 216 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 the requirements of the small dotted footman and the general wildlife value of derelict reedbeds thick with reed-litter so that examples of this habitat can be conserved on this interesting and diverse fen. The data have also been entered in full into the national data-base for the rarer British macro-moths and the Invertebrate Site Register (supported by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee). I would like to thank Roland Rogers and the Norfolk Branch of Butterfly Conservation for their help and interest during the organisation of this field meeting and all the entomologists who attended and helped to make it such an enjoyable event. BOOK REVIEW New life for old woods, the Land Rover woodlands campaign information pack run by Butterfly Conservation, Colchester Branch, £3.95.—The information pack is a glossy A4 folder with a poster guide of butterflies showing 16 species, a seven-page woodland management booklet relating to butterflies, a four-page woodland management leaflet relating to moths and 15 cards describing a mixture of common and scarce butterflies. The publication starts with a foreword on the inside cover which describes how our butterfly fauna has been disappearing over only a few decades and gives percentage figures of decline for 10 species. It goes into how numerous insects have been decimated by changing woodland management especially coppicing, which has virtually stopped in the 20th century, and how most butterflies have disappeared because they cannot tolerate heavy shade. It concludes by saying that the priority is to restore open areas by re-coppicing and to encourage an uneven age structure within our woodlands. The poster guide gives brief details of how to recognize the various families of butterflies; there are line drawings of the seven main groups with the names of the various species within each group and brief details of what each family looks like. The inside pages have sixteen photographs of butterflies which look as though they have been taken in the field; in the main, these are of excellent quality. The booklet, on woodland management for butterflies, describes how various butterflies need different types of habitat and emphasizes the fact that an uneven structure would be best for all the species that live in our woods. It considers ‘why manage for butterflies’, and examines the historical link with coppicing, before contemplating various managements for coppices, high forest and woodland rides. In all it is quite an informative part of the package and is interspersed with further photographs. The four page leaflet on woodland management for moths is less colourful but nevertheless it has similar objectives concerning the management of the woodland environment for moths. The fifteen cards describing the butterflies are in the last section. Each has a distribution map which compares historic and present day locations together with foodplant and species information, what habitats are required and how to recognize and to conserve the insects with line drawings of butterflies and foodplants. This informative package should be recommended reading for anyone interested in woodland management and its natural history. The hope is that the recommenda- tions are actively taken. Roy McCorMIck BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 217 THE 1994 PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS—PART 1 REPORT PAUL WARING Windmill View, 1366 Lincoln Road, Werrington, Peterborough PE4 6LS. Ladies and gentlemen, it has been a great pleasure to be President of this Society during its 122nd year. The Society’s Pelham-Clinton Building at Dinton Pastures is now very much up and running and much less of Council’s time this year has needed to be spent on issues related to its construction and management. Although there are still jobs carrying over from the move, and there has been a continuing saga of minor problems with the air conditioning system which has never completely settled down to smooth running, the Building is largely fulfilling our hopes for it and is very much an asset rather than seeming a liability. In a large measure this is due to the efficient way that Peter Baker, as Buildings Manager, and Peter Chandler, as Curator, have dealt with the matters of running and maintenance as they have arisen. I would very much like to thank these two gentlemen for their efforts on behalf of the Society. They are just two examples of the devoted and conscientious work put in by the officers and members of Council to ensure the smooth running of the Society’s affairs. Our Society is fortunate in having a very strong team on Council, with each person working hard so that the Society can continue to provide and develop the services offered to the membership and to facilitate activities and projects which members wish to advance. You have heard the Officers’ reports and I would like to thank each and every one for their efforts on behalf of the Society. Their work has made my job as President feel like driving a well maintained luxury car rather than the humbler vehicle in which I arrive at field meetings! My year as President has very much involved working with a responsive Council and I have been able to see a number of my contributions encouraged and developed. The chairing of the Council meetings at Baden-Powell House and the Society’s indoor meetings at the Royal Entomological Society has been a stimulating and enjoyable experience and it has been an honour to write and sign letters and papers on behalf of the Society and to address the Society at the Annual Exhibition and Dinner at Imperial College, London. Our officers have reported some of the high-lights and features of the 1994/5 term in their reports. I was pleased to see the results of the Society’s growing body of fieldwork at Dinton Pastures reviewed to the end of 1993 by Peter Chandler and published in our Journal during 1994 (7: 118-126). The paper contains a detailed map of the site to aid future recording work. The Society’s role in invertebrate conservation has been actively discussed throughout the year and continues to develop. A review by Stephen Miles of the outcome of a special meeting on the subject in 1992 was published in our Journal in January 1995 (8: 19-26) and Council is resolved to assist in the advancement of conservation objectives throughout the various activities of the Society. The Society’s position on collecting and exhibition of threatened and scarce species was discussed and re-emphasized in the Journal (7: 141-144), and an up-dated list of “Red data book” macro-moths was included. Inter-relations with other entomological societies have been developed during the year, including a number of joint field meetings with Butterfly Conservation, about which more later, and the Society’s activities have been promoted in more general, as well as entomological, publications. During the year the Diptera Recording Schemes set up a Dipterists’ Forum to provide a new administrative structure for production of news-sheets, bulletins and the Dipterists’ Digest and to continue to promote the study of flies and the mapping of 218 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 their distributions throughout the British Isles. The group approached our society with a view to affiliation and to obtain financial help in getting started, mainly for small loans to make advance payments that would be recouped from, sales and membership subscriptions. The affiliation has proceeded and similar arrangements are likely to be considered to assist and develop other special interest groups within entomology. Investment of the Society in a computer this year opens the way for improved indexing of the Library and Collections and much greater use of the data we hold, as well as enabling new activities. The purchase of the Recorder data-base will enable full species lists from field meetings and other work to be annotated and produced by and for members for recording schemes, land-owners and personal use, so don’t miss the demonstration of this program at the workshop meeting on 8 April. At the end of 1994 I proposed to Council the idea of mounting a BENHS Expedition, which, if well-received, might become a regular event and an addition to the Society’s activities. The idea is to visit British and former British dependent territories with a strong invertebrate conservation aim in mind and I shall expand on this in Part 2 of this Address. Council have approved this idea in principle and a notice to members will appear in the next issue of the Journal. I have also suggested the development of a BENHS “logo” to be attached to certain products of the Society for greater recognition of the Society’s activities. Our member Rob Dyke is currently working on some designs to be put before Council. I hope the logo will take its place among those of other organisations and may be seen on the covers of the Surrey Invertebrate Atlases and similar projects which the Society is supporting. I trust this will not be seen by any members as an undesirable concession to the late 20th century but rather as part of a noble tradition extending back to heraldic crests and coats of arms, if you would prefer! Two problems with wide-reaching implications for field entomologists were reported by members during my term of office and I have responded to each on behalf of the Society. The first concerns a member who was recording moths at a light trap in good faith in a province of Spain, having a permit for a neighbouring province but having been previously informed that none was necessary for the area in which he was then working. This year he was charged for having contravened recent Spanish legislation which is said to prohibit capture of insects, even in live traps from which they are released after recording. A large fine was threatened. The gentleman in question has no connections with any trade in insects and has done a large amount of moth recording both in Britain and in Continental Europe which has been of direct benefit to nature conservation, including valuable surveys of nature reserves. Furthermore he does not take long series of any species from a site. He is well-known to me and I had no hesitation in providing a character reference. On behalf of this Society I wrote a very full letter to the Spanish authorities, which was kindly translated by a Spanish member of Societas europaea Lepidopterologica, explaining the valuable contribution that is being made by volunteer moth recorders including this man. I have also requested details of the legislation in question and addresses of the offices to which one must apply for any necessary permission so that we can advise our members of the correct procedure and facilitate their recording activity. I am pleased to report that all charges against the individual in question have been dropped. However, at the time of writing I have not received details of the contact points for permits. I hope this issue will be resolved shortly. The second worrying development occurred when another well-respected member of this Society applied to renew his natural history permit for 1995 for Forestry Commission sites in the South Downs District of Forest Enterprise, where he has already done agreat deal of recording work, the results of which he has written up BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 219 and supplied freely to the district office. He was informed that from 1 January 1995 an administrative charge would be levied by this Forest Enterprise District to deal with such permits and he was asked to pay £10, which, under protest, he duly did, at the same time reporting this matter to our Society and to his MP. Gravely concerned, I immediately contacted several members of the Forestry Commission and have established that this move is not a national ruling and is peculiar to South Downs District who originated the idea. My FC contacts were as concerned as I and were largely unaware of this insensitive development. It seemed quite ridiculous when at the same time other parts of the organization are offering grants to cover the travel costs of naturalists to encourage biological recording on FC holdings. Charging for natural history permits would severely undermine the credibility of the pro- conservation stance the FC has been endeavouring to develop and promote in recent years. At the time of writing, I have received an assurance from a senior officer (Mr R. Leslie, Regional Environmental Manager for Forest Enterprise South and West, Avon Fields House, Somerdale, Keysham, Bristol, BS18 2BD) within the FC that this matter will be cleared up and that it will not be necessary to pay for permits for genuine natural history recording. He has promised to see that our member receives a refund and a £50 grant for 1995. If any other members find themselves being asked to pay for such permissions, (please contact the regional environmental manager). I will be pleased to provide details of this FC contact so that he can investigate. During the year seven of our members have passed away, including several particularly well-known figures within this Society. Gaston Prior died on 1 April, after a protracted illness. He was a past President of this Society (1978), held posts on Council and was a frequent attender of indoor meetings and the Annual Exhibition. Gaston’s great love was the larvae of pug moths Eupithecia spp. and he was engaged in a joint work on this group with Adrian Riley until Gaston’s illness made further contribution impossible. Many members will recall his London days but it was on his retirement to Woodstock in Oxfordshire, that I first got to know Gaston. Following the move he immediately became involved with the Oxford University Entomological Society, Woodstock Museum and the Hope Collections, engaging in many days of voluntary curation work at the latter. During the late 1970s and mid 1980s I went beating larvae with Gaston on a number of occasions. He would always turn up with one of his proud possessions, an old beating tray that had once belonged to the late Baron Charles de Worms, for whom he held a great respect. Many times I would give him lifts back from Oxford to Woodstock and he would sit cursing, in his inimitable way, the local bus company for not operating a late service to get him back from evening meetings. Gaston would often refer to entomological work done in the forties and it was some time before I realized that he was talking about the 1840s! I would like to thank you Gaston, above all, for imparting to me a proper sense of historical perspective! Basil MacNulty died suddenly on 12 April, aged seventy nine, at his home in Rhossili, on the Gower Peninsula. Basil was an honorary member of the BENHS, a long-standing member of Council, Secretary between 1961 and 1968 and President in 1970. He was perhaps best known to many current members as organizer of the Annual Dinner and proposer of the toast to ““The Founding Fathers’’. Basil worked for many years as a research chemist in various parts of Britain, and, between 1952 and 1958, in Nigeria, which enabled him to form a large collection of West African insects, especially Lepidoptera and Coleoptera. He later published many of the entomological results of his time in Africa. At the time of his death he was working on the larvae of African lasiocampid moths to complement his earlier work on African lymantriids and I often used to meet him at the Natural History Museum 220 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 amongst cabinets of furry caterpillars. He also had a substantial involvement with the forthcoming volumes on geometrid moths for the series Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland (Heath and Emmet, 1976 onwards), Ian (R.I.) Lorimer died suddenly on 31 May, aged seventy four, at his home in Orkney. Ian was perhaps best known to many as the author of The Lepidoptera of the Orkney Islands, published in 1983. He also wrote many of the sections on noctuid moths in volumes 9 and 10 of the Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland. Ian started his involvement with Orkney long before he moved there permanently from London. He is fondly remembered for being tremendously helpful to other lepidopterists and welcomed visitors to Orkney. He wrote many detailed and helpful letters and sent lists of records to myself and others and did a great deal to promote the study of Lepidoptera in the northern Isles. Jack Newton died on 6 July, aged eighty-seven, after extended illness. Jack was probably best known to members as the author, with Guy Meredith, of the Macrolepidoptera of Gloucestershire, published in 1984 by the Cotteswold Naturalists’ Field Club. The following year his supplement to Clutterbuck and Bainbridge-Fletcher’s Microlepidoptera of Gloucestershire was published by the same Society. Jack was equally adept with both macro- and micro-moths and was the county moth recorder for Gloucestershire. He regularly attended our Annual Exhibitions, at which he presented some notable exhibits. I came to know Jack late in his life but enjoyed several long telephone conversations with him on various subjects and it was as a result of Jack’s work that I discovered the colony of barberry carpet moths Pareulype berberata in Gloucestershire (Ent. Rec. 103: 287— 292). Jack leaves behind an extensive body of data from many years of industrious recording in the county. His fine collection has been left to the Reading Museum and Art Gallery. Ian Guy Farwell died on 26 August aged seventy-four. He joined this Society in 1947 and was a devotee of the Annual Exhibition. He was for many years a stalwart of the Lymington Natural History Society, leading many field trips to the local marshes, the Isle of Wight and his beloved New Forest and Communicating his enthusiasm to others. Ian was a general naturalist with a particular interest in butterflies and the larger moths, and he collected a number of striking aberrations including two halved gynandromorph silver-washed Fritillaries Argynnis paphia taken in the New Forest in 1939. Bill (W. E.) Minnion died in early September after an unsuccessful heart by-pass operation. Bill was a good friend of the late Bernard Goodban and together they were perhaps best known for the discovery of the balsam carpet moth Xanthorhoe biriviata in Britain. I first came across Bill as the author of a note he wrote in 1952 on the discoveries being made with the new mercury light traps (Ent. Rec. 64: 182). Bill was active in the Ruislip Natural History Society and gathered an impressive list of macro- and micro-lepidoptera for the area. Robert St Leger OBE died at the end of the year, aged sixty-eight. He had a long career in the Colonial Service where he gained a reputation as incorruptible and unflappable. He was a passionate lepidopterist and his postings enabled him to collect widely in the tropics. He amassed a huge collection of butterflies and moths— one of the largest in private hands in Britain—and this has been left to the Natural History Museum, London. His specialism was the butterflies of West Africa and the Caribbean and he discovered several new species and subspecies. Charaxes legeri was named after him and Liptena priscilla after his wife. The Society is always sad to lose members, for whatever reason, and some of the above were leading lights. We have already stood in memory of these people at BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 221 previous meetings so I shall not ask you to do so now. At the same time it is encouraging that a steady stream of new members are coming into the Society and we hope that they will enjoy long membership and be able to make valuable contributions. BOOK REVIEW The butterflies and moths of Berkshire by B. R. Baker. Hedera Press, 1994, xxxi + 368 pp, 3 monochrome plates, 2 maps, A5, hardback, £25.—It would be hard to find another entomologist with credentials as impressive as those of Brian Baker to compile a new county list for the Lepidoptera of Berkshire (Watsonian vice- county 22), a venture originally inspired by the author’s curatorial work on Reading Museum’s Lepidoptera collections. A native of the county, he has served as Deputy Director of Reading Museum, President of the Reading and District Natural History Society, President of the British Entomological and Natural History Society as well as being involved in the founding of the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Naturalists’ Trust. The book’s cover profile of the author states that “‘the field, laboratory and library studies resulting in his writing of The butterflies and moths of Berkshire have been the culmination of a life-time’s work and dedication.” There can be little argument with that nor with the superb quality of the end product. The foundation document for this new list is The Victoria county history of Berkshire published in 1906, which credited Berkshire with 1261 species of Lepidoptera. The subsequent addition of just over 400 species, bringing the total to a figure which represents almost two-thirds of the species-total for the British Isles, illustrates the entomological significance of the county. Deliberately intended as a companion volume to Barry Goater’s The butterflies and moths of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight (1974), the format follows that of the earlier work. A welcome addition is the use of Bradley and Fletcher log-book numbers in the list of records and in the indexes, facilitating easy reference to species. The brief introductory chapters include notes on the geology and habitat-range of the county, comments on the assessment and presentation of the records and a bibliography. Especially enjoyable in this section are the cameos of early Berkshire lepidopterists. We see the remarkable dedication and expertise of these early collectors, who worked without the aid of high-tech equipment and ease of transport available to the modern entomologist. Some local lists are rather like telephone directories to use—name, location, number—and are about as interesting to read. Here however we have a wealth of data, exhaustively researched and meticulously presented, giving us a summary of both the historical and the current status and distribution. Presentation of data is locality-based (so much more interesting than dots in squares!) and an index of place names giving four-figure grid references is provided. As well as localities, dates recorded and recorders’ names are listed. Occasional annotations to the records give comments on doubtful records, reasons for a species’ decline or anticipation of possible wider distribution of a species in VC22. The author’s own superb colour photographs of Apatura iris (L.), which adorn the book’s covers, set the seal on a wonderfully impressive work of reference. Unquestionably the standard by which all other local lists should be judged. STEPHEN PITTIS 222 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 DISTRIBUTION OF THE SOCIETY’S JOURNAL DAvID YOUNG, Distribution Secretary 9 Marten Place, Tilehurst, Reading, Berkshire RG3 6FB Copies of this journal are distributed on publication to all members whose subscriptions are not in arrears. Approximately every 2 years the Society publishes a membership list which shows the names and addresses of all members resident in the United Kingdom and throughout the world, the list also giving brief details of their principal areas of interest or study. What the membership list does not show are the considerable numbers of universities, libraries, entomological and other organizations which also receive copies of the Journal. Taken together it can be seen that original papers published in the Journal are received by most of the principal scientific and academic institutions in the United Kingdom, Western Europe and North America in addition to some in the Far East, Australia and New Zealand. Under the Copyright Act 1911 publishers have an obligation to deposit one copy of each publication with the Legal Deposit Office of The British Library. Five other libraries: Bodleian Library, Oxford; Cambridge University Library; National Library of Scotland; Trinity College, Dublin, and National Library of Wales are also entitled to receive copies of publications under the terms of the same Copyright Act. For reasons which elude me this society deals directly with the National Library of Wales but uses the good services of the Copyright Libraries Agency (Mr A. T. Smail) for depositing copies with the other libraries mentioned. In a small number of cases the Society has exchange agreements with other natural history societies under which publications are exchanged without payment of annual subscriptions or cover charges. Such agreements are approved by Council and reviewed periodically by our Hon. Librarian. Copies of publications received are deposited in our Library at the Pelham-Clinton Building at Dinton Pastures. In other cases organizations pay for their copies of the Journal and are invoiced directly, or via their subscription agent, by our Hon. Sales Secretary. As none of the names of these organizations are listed in the biennial membership list, it may be of interest to members and authors to list them here. UNIVERSITIES Humboldt Universitat zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany. Leicester University, Leicester, England. Memorial University of Newfoundland, Newfoundland, Canada. Michigan State University, Michigan, USA. Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, USA. North Carolina State University, Raleigh, USA. Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA. Trinity College, Dublin, Eire. Universita Cattolica, Piacenza, Italy. Universita di Bari, Bari, Italy. Universita di Bologna, Bologna, Italy. Universita degli Studi Di Roma, Roma, Italy. Universitats und Stadtbibliothek Koln, Germany. Universitetets Zoologisk Museum, Copenhagen, Denmark. Universiti Pertanian Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia. University of California, Berkeley, California, USA. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 University of Cambridge, Cambridge, England. University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA. University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA. 223 University of Oxford, Oxford, England. University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA. LIBRARIES Albert R. Mann Library, Ithaca, New York, USA. British Library, Legal Deposit Office, W. Yorks. National Library of Scotland, Edinburgh, Scotland. National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth, Wales. Senckenbergische Bibliothek, Frankfurt, Germany. USDA National Agriculture Library, Beltsville, USA. MUSEUMS American Museum of Natural History, New York, USA. British Museum (Natural History), London, England. City Museum & Art Gallery, Bristol, England. Colchester & Essex Museum Resource Centre, Colchester, Essex, England. Dundee Museum, Dundee, Scotland. Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, USA. Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, Coventry, England. Hope Department of Entomology, University Museum, Oxford, England. Horniman Museum, Forest Hill, London, England. Museo Civico di Storia Natural, Genoa, Italy. Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Madrid, Spain. National Museum of Ireland, Dublin, Eire. National Museums of Scotland, Edinburgh, Scotland. National Museum of Wales, Cardiff, Wales. Naturhistorisch Museum, Wien, Austria. Naturhistorisk Museum, Aarhus, Denmark. North Herts Museums Service, Hitchin, Herts., England. Royal Albert Museum, Exeter, Devon, England. Staatliches Museum fiir Naturkunde, Stuttgart, Germany. Staatliches Museum fiir Tierkunde, Dresden, Germany. United States National Museum, Washington D.C. USA. ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETIES Alexanor, Saint-Cyr-la-Riviére, France. Amateur Entomologists Society, Orpington, Kent, England. American Entomological Society, Philadelphia, USA. Associone Romana di Entomologia, Roma, Italy. Balfour-Browne Club, Ayr, Scotland. Butterfly Conservation, Wareham, Dorset, England Derbyshire Entomological Society, Newhall, Burton-upon-Trent, Staffordshire, England. Entomological Society of Ontario, Ontario, Canada. Entomologische Gesellschaft, Miinchen, Germany. Entomologische Verein Apollo, Kelkheim, Germany. 224 Lancashire & Cheshire Entomological Society, Liverpool, England. Lepidopterists’ Society, Los Angeles, USA. Linneana Belgica, Vilvoorde, Belgium. Nederlandische Entomologische Vereinigung, Amsterdam, Holland. Royal Entomological Society of London, London, England. Sociedad Entomologia Aragonesa, BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 Zaragoza, Spain. Societas Entomologica Fennica, Helsinki, Finland. Société Entomologique de France, Paris, France. Tauschstelle Entomofauna, Miinchen, Germany. Vlaamse Vereniging voor Entomologie, Antwerpen, Belgium. NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETIES Birmingham Natural History Society, Birmingham, England. Croydon Natural History Society, South Croydon, Surrey, England. Dorset Natural History Society, Dorchester, Dorset, England. Essex Field Club, Chelmsford, Essex, England. Hastings & East Sussex Natural History Society, Hastings, England. Leicester Literary & Philosophical Society, Leicester, England. London Natural History Society, London, England. Norfolk & Norwich Naturalists’ Society, Norwich, Norfolk, England. Société Jersiaise, St Helier, Jersey, Channel Isles. Societe Linneenne de Lyon, Lyon, France. Suffolk Naturalists’ Society, Ipswich, Suffolk, England. OTHER ORGANIZATIONS Agriculture Canada, Ottawa, Canada. Biosis UK, York, England. C.A.B. International, Ascot, Berkshire, England. Countryside Council for Wales, Bangor, Wales. C.S.I.R.O., Canberra, Australia. Departimento di Entomologia e Zoologia Agraria, Portici, Italy. English Nature, Peterborough, England. Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, Gainesville, Florida, USA. IB Norgaard, Lyngby, Denmark. Institut fiir Pflanzenschutzforschung, Berlin, Germany. Institut Royal des Sciences Naturelles de Belgique, Bruxelles, Belgium. Institute of Terrestrial Ecology, Monks Wood, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, England. Landessammlungen fiir Naturkunde, Karlsruhe, Germany. M.A.F.F., Harpenden, Hertfordshire, England. Mount Albert Research Centre, Auckland, New Zealand. Royal Irish Academy, Dublin, Eire. Swets Subscription Service, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, England. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington D.C. USA. Zoological Society of London, London, England. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I am grateful for the help and assistance given by Roger Hawkins, Hon. Sales Secretary, in the preparation of this short article. INSTRUCTIONS TO AUTHORS General. Contributions must be typed double-spaced on one side only on A4 paper with 3-cm margins either side to facilitate marking up. Layout should follow that of the Journal, but apart from underlining scientific names, no marks should be made to define typeface. Two copies of typescripts and figures are required, the second copy can be a photocopy. Authors who have prepared their article on word processor are invited to supply a disk also. Nomenclature. Use the most up-to-date nomenclature available. After first use of a specific Latin name give the author’s name; use parentheses only if required according to the rules of nomenclature. This should apply not only to insect names, but also to the names of plants, non- insect invertebrates and other animals. Figures and tables. Line figures and half-tones are accepted. Size of lettering, thickness of lines and density of shading, stippling and hatching must take into account likely reduction in size to fit appropriately into the journal page size. Illustrations must be of good quality, however lettering can be typeset if necessary; indicate requirements on a duplicate figure. Colour illustrations may be available, please contact the Editor. Tables should be prepared on separate sheets; avoid vertical rules, use horizontal rules sparingly. References. In the text, references should give author and year, (e.g. Allan, 1947); multiple references (e.g. Kendall, 1982; Smith, 1989; Baker, 1994) should be listed in date order. But references should be listed in alphabetical order at the end of the article. Book titles take only an initial capital letter. Journal titles are abbreviated in the style of the World List, but with each word taking an initial capital. Examples: Allan, P. B. M. 1947. A moth-hunter’s gossip. 2nd edn, Watkins and Doncaster, London, p. 149. Baker, P. 1994. The modified status of Strymonidia w-album (Knoch) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) in north west Surrey. Br. J. Ent. Nat. Hist. 7: 25-26. Jones, R. A. 1994. [Bilobed inflorescences of Plantago lanceolata L. Exhibit at BEHNS Annual Exhibition 1993.] Br. J. Ent. Nat. Hist. 7: 179. Kendall, P. 1982. Bromius obscurus (L.) in Britain (Col., Chrysomelidae). Entomologist’s Mon. Mag. 117 (1981): 233-234. Pratt, C. R. & Emmet, A. M. 1989. Polygonia. In: Emmet, A. M. & Heath, J. (Eds). The moths and butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland. Harley Books, Colchester, Vol.7, Part 1, pp.212-215. Smith, K. G. V. 1989. An introduction to the immature stages of British flies: Diptera larvae, with notes on eggs, puparia and pupae. Handbk Ident. Br. Insects 10(14): 1—280. Stubbs, A. E. 1987. Oxycera dives. In: Shirt, D. B. (Ed.). British red data books: 2. Insects. Nature Conservancy Council, Peterborough, pp. 304-305. Stubbs, A. E. & Falk, S. J. 1983. British hoverflies: an illustrated identification guide. BEHNS, London, pp. 191-192. West, B. K. 1994. The time of appearance of Lancanobia oleracea L. (Lep.:Noctuidae) in the British Isles. Entomologist’s Rec. J. Var. 106: 81-84. Offprints. Authors of main articles qualify for 25 free offprints taken directly from the Journal. These may contain extraneous matter such as short communications or book reviews used as ‘fillers’. Extra copies must be ordered when proofs are returned. NEW PUBLICATIONS FROM THE AMATEUR ENTOMOLOGISTS’ SOCIETY A COLEOPTERIST’S HANDBOOK (3rd Edition—1991) A completely new publication to which leading British coleopterists have contributed chapters. Part I deals with the practical aspects of collecting, curating and studying beetles. Part II consists of chapters on each of the beetle families prepared by experts in each group. Part III considers beetle associations—with plants, ants and stored foodstuffs. Beetle larvae are dealt with in Part IV which describes and illustrates the morphology of family types, their habitats and methods of rearing. Part V gives advice on recording methods and on the conservation of Coleoptera. There is a detailed glossary and an index of genera referred to in the text. Each chapter has details of appropriate books and papers of reference. Hardback, 294 pp. Price £14 including postage and packing. To order please send cheque or postal order made payable to “AES Publications” at The Hawthorns, Frating Road, Great Bromley, COLCHESTER CO7 7JN. Tel 0206 251600. BRITISH JOURNAL OF ENTOMOLOGY AND NATURAL HISTORY VOLUME 8, PART 4, OCTOBER 1995 ARTICLES Panoquina panoquinoides eugeon Skinner (Lepidoptera: Hespiridae) from the Windward Islands, Lesser Antilles. D. CORKE The effects of cattle poaching on insects living at the margin of the River Itchen, Hampshire. C. M. DRAKE A correction to Butterfly Conservation’s claimed attitudes in invertebrate conservation. A. E. STUBBS Distribution of the Society’s journal. D. YOUNG PROCEEDINGS AND TRANSACTIONS BENHS workshop Obituary of Basil Joseph MacNulty. A. J. PICKLES 1994 Annual Exhibition, Imperial College, London SW7—22 October 1994 British butterflies Odonata British Macrolepidoptera Dermaptera British Microlepidoptera Neuroptera Foreign Lepidoptera Mecoptera Diptera Siphonaptera Coleoptera Arachnida Hemiptera Illustrations Hymenoptera Corrigendum to 1992 Annual Exhibition report BENHS field meetings The 1994 Presidential Address—Part 1. Report. P. WARING LETTER TO THE EDITOR County names. J. MORGAN BOOK REVIEWS New life for old woods, by Butterfly Conservation. R. F. MCCORMICK The butterflies and moths of Berkshire by B. R. Baker. S. PitTIs ANNOUNCEMENT A national pyralid recording scheme Vol. 9, Part 1 ISSN 0952-7583 BRITISH JOURNAL OF ENTOMOLOGY AND NATURAL HISTORY BRITISH JOURNAL OF ENTOMOLOGY AND NATURAL HISTORY Published by the British Entomological and Natural History Society and incorporating its Proceedings and Transactions Editor: . Richard A. Jones, B.Sc., F.R.E.S., F.L.S. 13 Bellwood Road Nunhead London SE15 3DE (Tel: 0171 732 2440) (Fax: 0171 277 8725) Editorial Committee: Rev. D. J. L. Agassiz, M.A., Ph.D. T. G. Howarth, B.E.M., F.R.E.S. R. D. G. Barrington, B.Sc. I. F. G. McLean, Ph.D: F-R-ES P. J. Chandler, B.Sc., F.R.E.S. M. J. Simmons, M.Sc. B. Goater, B.Sc., M.1.Biol. T. R. E. Southwood, K. B., D.Sc., F.R.E.S. A. J. Halstead, M.Sc. R. W. J. Uffen, M.Sc., F. R. ELS: R. D. Hawkins, M.A. B. K. West, B.Ed P. J. Hodge British Journal of Entomology and Natural History is published by the British Entomological and Natural History Society, Dinton Pastures Country Park, Davis Street, Hurst, Reading, Berkshire RG10 OTH, UK. Tel: 01734-321402. The Journal is distributed free to BENHS members. © 1996 British Entomological and Natural History Society. Typeset by Dobbie Typesetting Limited, Tavistock, Devon. Printed in England by Henry Ling Ltd, Dorchester, Dorset. BRITISH ENTOMOLOGICAL AND NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY Registered charity number: 213149 Meetings of the Society are held regularly in London, at the rooms of the Royal Entomological Society, 41 Queen’s Gate, London SW7 and the well-known ANNUAL EXHIBITION is planned for a Saturday in October 1996 at Imperial College, London SW7. Frequent Field Meetings are held at weekends in the summer. Visitors are welcome at all meetings. The current Programme Card can be had on application to the Secretary, R. F. McCormick, at the address given below. The Society maintains a library, and collections at its headquarters in Dinton Pastures, which are open to members on various advertised days each month, telephone 01734-321402 for the latest meeting news. Applications for membership to the Membership Secretary: A. Godfrey, 10 Moorlea Drive, Baildon, Shipley, West Yorkshire BD17 6QL. Subscriptions and changes of address to the Assistant Treasurer: M. G. Telfer, 12 Jasmine Close, Norwich, Norfolk NR4 7NE. Non-arrival of the Journal, faulty copies or other problems arising from distribution of the Journal or notices to the Distribution Secretary: D. Young, 9 Marten Place, Tilehurst, Reading, Berkshire RG3 6FB. Orders for books and back numbers of the Journal and Proceedings to the Sales Secretary: R. D. Hawkins, 30d Meadowcroft Close, Horley, Surrey RH6 9EL. General Enquiries to the Secretary: R. F. McCormick, 36 Paradise Road, Teignmouth, Devon TQ14 8NR. Tel: 01626-779543. Cover illustration: The forest bug, Pentatoma rufipes (L.), on an oak leaf. Photo: R. A. Jones. NOTE: The Editor invites submission of photographs for black and white reproduction on the front covers of the journal. The subject matter is open, with an emphasis on aesthetic value rather than scientific novelty. Submissions can be in the form of colour or black and white prints or colour transparencies. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 l EMIT HSONTZE E SOCIETY’S ‘NEW’ LOGO RICHARD A. JONES Bellf~ood Road, Nunhead, London SE15 3DE. FEB 21 19% 13 It will not be long before members begin to notice a strange device adorning BENHS letterheads, notices, books, and yes, even the front cover of the Society’s journal. At first sight it may appear vaguely familiar, but at the same time it will seem different and new. A few words of explanation are perhaps in order, for current members and hopefully, those in the future reading through their back issues trying to get a flavour of the history of the Society as it was towards the end of the twentieth century. At a recent Council meeting, it was suggested that the Society ought to have a readily recognized logo* which could appear on its letterheads, on official documents, on promotional material, on its publications or those from other organizations which it supported, on its journal, or even, and this was quite a radical suggestion, on tee-shirts, sweatshirts or other ephemera. Other entomological and natural history societies have their own emblems so why not the BENHS? There were various suggestions, but it was immediately pointed out that the Society already had a logo of sorts—the peculiar beast woven into the Society’s official tie. However, this design lacked the name of the Society. After much debate and discussion on how to proceed it was decided to incorporate the insect in question with a typographic representation of the Society’s name in some compact form. Having come to the Society’s aid previously for designs of Christmas cards, cover illustrations for the journal and the like, Rob Dyke volunteered to draw up some design suggestions. In the mean time, I tried to do some research on a question that had long been at the back of my mind—what animal is it anyway? At first glance, the long-tailed moth-like insect is obviously a member of the exotic neuropteran family, Nemopteridae. These relatives of lacewings and ant-lions are characterized by broad forewings, long narrow hindwings and a lazy flapping flight. None occurs in Britain, so how could such a curious creature have been adopted by a ‘British’ society? The exact answer is still lost in time, but a few details quickly emerged even though they were contradictory. The BENHS ties first appeared in the early 1960s when the Society was still the old ‘South London’. Barry Goater was a Council member at the time and remembers Arthur Smith being asked to come up with a design for the tie. The design was done, the ties made and we still have them today. According to Barry the question of the beast’s identity was regularly asked at the time and Smith would earnestly reply that it was merely a stylized insect and was not meant to represent any particular species, from overseas, from Britain or even from South London. *The word logo is an abbreviation of logotype. In the days of hand typesetting, when each metal letter was laboriously selected from trays of type and laid out to form words, sentences and ultimately pages, only a limited number of typefaces was available. If a publisher wished to have a specially designed typeface for a particular trademark or colophon it was separately cast in metal as a complete word; this small, often decorative, word-block was called a logotype, from the Greek /ogos meaning word and typos meaning impression. 2 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 However, John Bradley, who knew Smith well, could not imagine him drawing anything other than the precise anatomically perfect pictures for which he was well known, and is certain that it must have been a painstaking study of an individual taxon. At first, it was supposed that the insect in question Was the Iberian species Nemoptera bipennis which appears in European field guides. But that species has a significantly different wing shape as do others in the family. Smith is no longer with us and any original sketches or drawings are gone. In order to create a new logo a new drawing must be made, but the mystery surrounding the exact nature of the insect still remains; a compromise must be made. The result, a new stylized version drawn by Rob Dyke, is an echo of Arthur Smith’s original design, as it appears on the Society’s ties, and also from a menu of the 1972 annual dinner—the Society’s centenary. The logo will start to appear on documents, publications and wherever the Society has an input and by its very nature it will increase awareness of the Society in this visual age. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The thanks of the Society are due to Rob Dyke who drew the design and Shirley Wheeler a typographer and graphic artist who set the lettering. My thanks are due to Barry Goater and John Bradley for their help in trying to track down the memory of Arthur Smith. SHORT COMMUNICATION A second record of Ctenophora flaveolata (F.) (Diptera: Tipulidae) in Gloucester- shire.—On the morning of 9.v.1994 a single male of this species was swept from the edge of pasture woodland at Overtown, near Cranham Common in the Cotswolds, East Gloucestershire (VC33), grid reference SO900122. This represents the second record for this rare species in the county following its discovery at Cirencester Park Woods on 6.v.1990, also in VC33 but located approximately 10 km to the south-east of Overtown (Alexander, 1991). Godfrey (1994) has also reported the recent occurrence of this species from the neighbouring county of Oxfordshire. C. flaveolata appears to be associated with large over-mature trees, especially beech (Stubbs, 1987). Although the woodland at Overtown was dominated by a growth of fairly young sycamore with very little dead timber, apart from a few small branches, a few mature beech and ash trees were present together with some old moss covered stumps located in partial shade. It seems likely that these old rotten stumps will have provided suitable habitat for the larval development of C. flaveolata—A. P. FOSTER, The National Trust, 33 Sheep Street, Cirencester, Glos. GL7 1QW. REFERENCES Alexander, K. N. A. 1991. Ctenophora flaveolata (F.) (Diptera: Tipulidae) new to Gloucestershire. Br. J. Ent. Nat. Hist. 4: 64. Godfrey, A. 1994. Ctenophora flaveolata (F.) (Diptera: Tipulidae) from the Warburg Reserve, Oxon. Br. J. Ent. Nat. Hist. 7: 26. Stubbs, A. E. 1987. In: Shirt, D. B. (Ed.) British red data books: 2. Insects. Nature Conservancy Council, Peterborough, p. 296. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 3 HETEROPTERA RECORDING IN WALES DURING 1993 AND 1994 KEITH N. A. ALEXANDER AND ANDREW P. FOSTER The National Trust, 33 Sheep Street, Cirencester, Gloucestershire GL7 10W. The work of the National Trust’s Biological Survey Team took us to a wide variety of properties scattered across Wales for much of the 1993 and 1994 field seasons. During this time we found a good selection of the local specialities as well as some surprises. The following lists give details of the localities, and, where appropriate, additional comments on the distribution and habitat associations. Three species, Trapezonotus ullrichi (Fieb.), Pachybrachius luridus (Hahn) and Pionosomus varius (Wolff, J. F.), are of British Red Data Book status (Kirby, 1992a). SOUTH-WESTERN SPECIALITIES Enoplops scapha (F.) (Coreidae). An adult plus numerous nymphs were found on a clump of sea mayweed growing on the face of head cliffs at Porthysgo on Lly¥n, Caernarvonshire (SH208264), 15.vii.1993. We are aware of no published records for this species from North Wales. However, there are two specimens from the region in the collections at Leicester Museum: Porth Ceiriad, Llyn (SH307248), 19.viii.1985, J. H. Matthias, and ‘cliffs opposite S. Stack’, Anglesey, 21.ix.1980, P. Lucas. It was also seen in S. Wales during 1994 where it is well known. Dicranocephalus agilis (Scop.) (Stenocephalidae). Adults found on the very small area of sand dune behind Traeth Penbryn, Cardiganshire (SN293524), 30.vi.1994—it is not listed for the county in Kirby & Lambert (1990). Nymphs were also found on Euphorbia paralias L. growing on head cliff at Deep Slade, Pwlldhu Head, Gower, Glamorganshire (SS562869), 25.vii.1994. it is best known in Cornwall and Devon, but with a good scatter of records from West Wales, especially the dunes of the Castlemartin Peninsula, Pembrokeshire (Kirby, 1992b), Carmarthenshire and Caernarvonshire (Kirby, 1991). Trapezonotus ullrichi (Fieb.) (Lygaeidae). This species was discovered new to Wales by P. Kirby & S. Lambert on 25.vi.1990 along the south coast of the St David’s Peninsula at Caerfai, Pembrokeshire, SM760253 (Kirby, 1992b). Kirby (pers. comm.) has subsequently found it on Pendine Cliffs, Carmarthenshire (SN233078), a single male on an ox-eye daisy flower beside cliff path, 15.vi.1993. A single adult was found by K.N.A.A. also on an ox-eye daisy flower in an area of notably flowery maritime grassland on Porthlysgi Cliffs at SM735235, 23.vi.1994. The association with ox-eye daisy appears to be characteristic (Alexander & Grove, 1991). COASTAL AND HEATHLAND SPECIALITIES Corizus hyoscyami (L.) (Rhopalidae). Well known from sand dunes in Pembroke- shire, but a small colony was found on dry seacliff grassland ae the Trapezonotus at Porthlysgi Cliffs. These were similarly found on ox-eye daisy 'flowerheads. Liorhyssus hyalinus (F.) (Rhopalidae). One taken on coastal heath, St David’s Head (SM733280), 16.vi.1994; found in Pembrokeshire only once before, by S. Judd in 1985/86 (in Kirby, 1992b). 4 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 Pionosomus varius (Wolff, J. F.) (Lygaeidae). A speciality of the coastal sandhills of Kent, Pembrokeshire and Gower. Previous Gower records relate to Pennard, Llangennith and Whiteford Burrows (Kirby, 1992a) and Three Cliffs Bay (Kirby, 1993, in Fowles, 1995). The last locality is rather imprecise, ‘but the grid reference given, SS538877, indicates the Pennard Burrows side of the bay. We can now add Nicholaston and Penmaen Burrows (SS523879 and 535881, respectively) on the western side of the bay, leaving very few of Gower’s dune systems where it has not been recorded. Plinthisus brevipennis (Latr.) (Lygaeidae). A single adult was found in open western gorse and bell heather heathland at Mynydd y Graig, Llyn, Caernarvonshire (SH225265), 16.vii.1993. Although a common and widespread species of dry sandy heaths across the southern half of England, this appears to be scarce in Wales. The only other modern record in the north also comes from Llyn: Mynydd Cilan, 1992, A. P. Fowles; otherwise there are only a few very old records from Anglesey and Denbighshire (M. J. Morgan, pers. comm.). Even in Pembrokeshire there is only one record (Kirby, 1992b). WETLAND SPECIALITIES Pachybrachius luridus (Hahn) (Lygaeidae). A single specimen of this Red Data Book (Kirby, 1992a) bug was taken by sweep-netting in an area of grazed mire at Bryn-y-Bont, Nantmor, Caernarvonshire (SH598461), 29.vi.1993. This area is at the uppermost end of the Glaslyn Marshes and is underlain by shallow peats and estuarine silts, formerly part of the estuary, but long-since drained and brought into agricultural use. Good quality acid mires persist here however, and are rich in both characteristic mire plants and invertebrates. P. /uridus is mainly a New Forest species in Britain but has been found at a handful of other sites, including one other Welsh locality, Ynys-hir, Ceredigion. The Ynys-hir record was first published by Kirby (1992a) but without the details. It was actually found by A. E. Stubbs as long ago as September 1972 close to the RSPB Reserve Warden’s house (SN678961). The two localities appear to be very similar in character, being mires on estuarine silts, Ynys- hir being on the Dovey Estuary. Capsodes gothicus (L.) (Miridae). This bug was discovered in Pembrokeshire only as recently as 1988, at Cwm Dewi, Dinas (Alexander & Hawkins, 1993). We found it at two further sites along the north coast: Gernos (SN122484) and Treseissyllt (SM886363) Cliffs. It was also taken in Ceredigion at Mynachdy’r-Graig (SN554742), on Lotus uliginosus Schkuhr on clifftop, 28.vi.1994. PASTURE-WOODLANDS Xylocoris cursitans (Fallén) (Anthocoridae). Adults were found beneath bark on the stump of a recently felled ash, within pasture-woodland, Berth-lwyd Farm, Breconshire, (SN915134), 27.vii.1994; also seen at Dolmelynllyn, Merioneth (SH7222) and Erddig Park, Denbighshire (SJ326482). It has a thinly scattered and localized distribution throughout Wales, and is a good indicator of long-established pasture-woodland sites and ancient woodlands. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Our thanks to: Pete Kirby for his help in compiling this article and for permission to publish his record for Trapezonotus ullrichi; to Adrian Fowles and Joan Morgan BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 5 for additional information on North Wales records, and Derek Lott for information on the Enoplops species held at Leicester Museum. REFERENCES Alexander, K. N. A. & Grove, S. J. 1991. Heteroptera recording in Cornwall and Devon during 1989 and 1990. Br. J. Ent. Nat. Hist. 4: 119-121. Alexander, K. N. A. & Hawkins, R. D. 1993. Additions to the list of Pembrokeshire Heteroptera. Dyfed Invertebrate Group Newsletter No. 27: 5—6. Fowles, A. P. 1995. Records of Red Data Book invertebrates in Wales—1993. In: Welsh Invertebrate Review—1993. Countryside Council for Wales, Bangor. Kirby, P. 1991. A provisional list of the Heteroptera of Carmarthenshire (VC44). Dyfed Invertebrate Group Newsletter No. 23: 6-17. Kirby, P. 1992a. A review of the scarce and threatened Hemiptera of Great Britain. UK Nature Conservation No. 2, JNCC, Peterborough. Kirby, P. 1992b. A provisional list of the Heteroptera of Pembrokeshire (VC 45). Dyfed Invertebrate Group Newsletter No. 25: 20-33. Kirby, P. & Lambert, S. J. 1990. A provisional list of the Heteroptera of Ceredigion (VC 46). Dyfed Invertebrate Group Newsletter No. 17: 1-9. BOOK REVIEW The Dryinidae and Embolemidae (Hymenoptera: Chrysidoidea) of Fennoscandia and Denmark, by M. Olmi. Fauna Entomologica Scandinavica 30, Leiden, E. J. Brill, 1994, 100 pp (including 38 colour plates), hardback, NLG 100, about £42.—This book deals with one species of Embolemidae, which has never been reared, and 34 species of Dryinidae in four subfamilies, all parasitoids of Homoptera: Auchenor- rhyncha (various groups of Cicadomorpha and Fulgoromorpha). Professor Massimo Olmi’s work has transformed the classification and species-level taxonomy of these two families over the past 15—20 years and he is widely respected as the world authority. As is usual for the Fauna Entomologica Scandinavica series, the work focuses strongly on the fauna of Fennoscandia and Denmark, but there is a large overlap with the British fauna, and it is plainly indicated in the section on distributional records that all but six of the treated species are recorded from the British Isles. Unfortunately it is not possible to tell that only five British species (Anteon pseudohilare Burn, Anteon reticulatum Kieffer, Anteon scapulare (Haliday), Mystrophorus formicaeformis Ruthe and the more doubtful Dryinus collaris (L.)) are not included: a shame, perhaps for all users, that this faunal summary, so clearly showing which Fennoscandian or Danish species occur in Germany and the British Isles, does not extend to indicating which species known in those neighbouring countries have yet to be found in the area of focus. Following a short history of work on the two families in north-west Europe, there is a brief section on the classification of Chrysidoidea, and a more thorough treatment of morphology (well illustrated by line drawings and SEMs) and comparative biology that culminates in an interesting section suggesting the evolutionary ecology behind the extreme morphological specializations in the front legs of female Dryinidae (except Aphelopus) in relation to host capture. Then come the keys and species level treatments, in which line drawings of female chelae (except, of course, Aphelopus in which the structure is absent) and male genitalia are given for each species and whole insect drawings are supplied of several. A separate listing of host-parasitoid records is unfortunately presented bald, with no indication of origin, 6 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 repetition of occurrence, or any level of verification that may (or not) have been applied, leaving the reliability and significance of the recorded associations poorly guaranteed. Thirty-eight very space-consumptive colour plates comprising six good photos depicting life history and 30 whole (plus a few paft) insect drawings of pleasing quality, a summary chart of distribution records for each included species by province within the four countries with records also indicated for Germany and Great Britain, and a bibliography of 150 references complete the work. Despite considerable earlier input from British workers into knowledge of their biology and systematics, these insects have not been winning the hearts and minds of most aculeate hymenopterists in Britain in recent years. Of course, they are small and inconspicuous, but there have been other reasons: except for Aphelopinae and notwithstanding Olmi’s comprehensive but relatively scarce work on the world fauna published in 1984 and 1989 (from which progress can in fact be made), our 1978 checklist and the previously existing British identification literature (e.g. Perkins, 1976, Handbk Ident. Br. Insects 6 (3a), which is not easy to use with confidence) contain some pretty bad muddles, in Anteoninae especially. Olmi is a lumper rather than a splitter, and his classification sinks a number of generic names (in Dryininae and Gonatopodinae) based on differences appreciable only in the female sex, and the British list has also been affected by the sinking of several species-level nominal taxa, as well as unexplained new records of Aphelopus querceus Olmi and Anteon exiguum (Haupt) from Britain in the present work (see Burn, 1995, Entomologist’s Mon. Mag. 131: 139-140). To the British worker especially, a check-list of species in which the full synonymy was reconciled at a glance would have been a very helpful addition, though to be fair perhaps the Fennoscandians and Danes don’t need the unscrambling so badly. The keys seem reliable and this mostly excellent and authoritative book should surely provide a good basis for hauling this interesting and bizarre group of parasitoids back into strong focus for British hymenopterists. MARK R. SHAW BOOK REVIEW Scuttle flies, the Phoridae, by R. H. I. Disney. London, Chapman & Hall, 1994, xii +468 pp, hardback, £67.50—Regular readers of this journal will have noticed several papers over the years by Henry Disney, on a group of small, easily overlooked, hunchbacked flies, the phorids. With the same author’s two Royal Ent. Soc. handbooks on the family already published, it might be wondered what more this prodigious entomologist could find to say about these diminutive creatures. The answer is “quite a lot”. In contrast to Spartan descriptive keys, his new book offers an in-depth biological study to “‘a family of flies whose diversity of larval lifestyles is apparently without rival among insect families’. There are parasites, parasitoids, predators and saprophage scavengers; some are potential biological control agents, others are pests; they are aquatic, terrestrial and there is at least one intertidal species. After an extensive analysis of different lifestyles, habits and general biology, there are two huge keys and identification notes to 229 world genera. More than half of these genera are still known from only one sex, so many will turn out to be the “missing” sex of a previously described genus. The book concludes with a short methods chapter on collecting and preserving and 50 pages of references. This is a book for the specialist rather than the general entomologist, but such a detailed treatment will mean that if you ever want to know anything about phorids, you will know where to go in the library. R. A. JONES BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 7 ON A COLLECTION OF BOMBUS AND PSITHYRUS PRINCIPALLY FROM SUTHERLAND, WITH NOTES ON THE NOMENCLATURE OR STATUS OF THREE SPECIES (HYMENOPTERA, APOIDEA) D. B. BAKER Hope Entomological Collections, University Museum, Oxford OX1 3PW. INTRODUCTION A small collection of Bombus and Psithyrus was made by the present author and Mrs M. W. Baker at Inchnadamph, Sutherland, between 29 September and 2 October 1964. The majority of the specimens were collected from Centaurea on meadowland near the SE corner of Loch Assynt (grid ref. NC 253218) [abbreviated below to Inchnadamph A] and along the path following the stream, Allt Poll an Droighinn, running down from Beinn Uidhe, at an altitude of c.500-1250ft [Inchnadamph B]. A few specimens were collected in the Inchnadamph National Nature Reserve (where it had been intended to collect, but where few plants were still in flower), in Gleann Dubh, c. 750 ft (NC 276205) [Inchnadamph C]. For specimens collected elsewhere, full data are given. Despite the late date, 79 specimens representing seven species were taken. It was noted that workers of several species of Bombus remained active until well after sunset in spite of the cold: Freuchen & Salomonsen (1959: 193) record that in the Arctic, in June, Bombus species, which here fly even in rain and fog, ‘fly the twenty-four hours of the day, although about midnight the number diminishes for a few hours’ (see for more detailed observations on arctic Bombus, and further references, Friese, 1908). The opportunity has been taken of recording also the Bombus and Psithyrus taken by the late C.H. Jowett, Esq., and Miss P.H. Jowett on Mull and Iona in 1962 and 1963. These records are enclosed in square brackets. SPECIES TREATMENTS Bombus (Megabombus) hortorum (L., 1761) Material: Sutherland, Inchnadamph (A), 30.ix.1964, 1¢; 1.x.1964, 1¢. [Mull, Ross of Mull: Uisken, 2.ix.1962, at mallow, 3¢; Uisken, 2 miles S. of Bunessan, 14.1x.1962, 1¢ (all C.H. & P.H. Jowett); Uisken, 10.ix.1963, 3g 19 (C.H. Jowett); Ardfenaig, 2 miles W. of Bunessan, 10.ix.1962, 2g (C.H. & P.H. Jowett); Ardfenaig, 5.ix.1963, 2g (C.H. Jowett). Iona, 5.ix.1963, at Centaurea nigra L., 13 (C.H. Jowett).] Bombus (Thoracobombus) pascuorum septentrionalis Vogt, 1909 Apis pascuorum Scop. 1763; 306; Carniolia [for the locality see Baker, 1994: 289, note (1) under Scopoli]. Apis agrorum F., 1787: 301; [2]; in Europae. Junior primary homonym of Apis agrorum Schrank, 1781. Bombus agrorum f. septentrionalis Vogt, 1909: 64, 75; Nordwest schottland. No type designated: proposed for a form of unspecified status (‘In der Farbung steht dieser Gruppe [‘frey-gessneriformen’ of agrorum] nahe: septentrionalis m. Wie valesianus .. .’). Bombus agrorum [Rasse] septentrionalis Kriiger, 1958: 338. 8 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 Material: Sutherland, Inchnadamph (A), 29.ix.1964, 1g 2); 30.ix.1964, 1¢ 49; 1.x.1964, 2g 2; 2.x.1964, 2. [Mull: Ross of Mull, Uisken, 2.ix.1962, at mallow, 4¢ 19; Uisken, 2 miles S. of Bunessan, 14.ix.1962, 1g (all C.H. & P.H. Jowett); Uisken, 10.ix.1963, 1g 39 (C.H. Jowett); Kintra, 1.5 miles N.W. of Fionnphort, 10.ix.1962, 1g (C.H. & P.H. Jowett); Kintra, 6.ix.1963, on Centaurea nigra L., 23 19 (C.H. Jowett); Ardfenaig, 2 miles W. of Bunessan, 10.ix.1962, 22 (C.H. & P.H. Jowett).]. Bombus (Thoracobombus) ruderarius ruderarius (Miller, 1776) Material: (Mull, Ross of Mull, Uisken, 10.ix.1963, 12 (C.H. Jowett). Iona, 5.1x.1963, at Centaurea nigra L., 11g (C.H. Jowett).] Bombus (Thoracobombus) laevis sladeni (Vogt, 1911) Bombus muscorum auctt. nec (L.) [The lectotype of Apis muscorum L., designated by Day (1979: 68), belongs to the species variously known under such names as cognatus Steph. (Saunders, 1884), venustus Smith (Saunders, 1896), solstitialis Panz. (Richards, 1927), variabilis Schmiedeknecht (1930), humilis Ill. (Bischoff & Hedicke, 1931), or helferanus Seidl (Pittioni, 1939). It is regrettable that Loken (1973: 146), although 19th century Scandinavian authors had correctly identified Linnaeus’s species, elected to follow the misapplication of Linnaeus’s name.] Bombus muscorum f. laevis Vogt, 1909: 63; Kleinasien. Bombus smithianus ‘var., or race,’ pallidus Evans, 1901: 47; 3; [Scotland:] ‘taken by myself near Kingussie (Inverness-shire), Aberfoyle (S. W. Perthshire), and Elvanfoot (Lanarkshire), and also specimens from the Perth district, Dumbartonshire and Kirkcudbrightshire, kindly sent me by Messrs. Rodger, Malloch, and Service’. Invalid junior homonym of Bombus pallidus Cresson, 1863 [=Bombus (Fervidobombus) pennsylvanicus (Degeer, 1773)]. Lectotype, by present designation, g, labelled ‘Elvanfoot/18.9.00’ (endorsed ‘“Bombus/smithianus 3°, the ‘smithianus’ overwritten on ‘venustus’) and “‘W. Evans RSM/1971.5S’ [print], in Department of Natural History, National Museums of Scotland. Paralectotypes, in same collection: 11 ¢d, Scotland: Lanarkshire, Elvanfoot, 5.ix.1900 (3), 11.ix.1900 (1), 12.1x.1900 (2), 18.ix.1900 (1), ix.1900 (3) (all W. Evans); Dumbartonshire, Bonhill, 15.ix.1900 (J. R. Malloch); Kirkcudbright- shire, Southerness, viii.1895 (R. Service). Agrobombus muscorum .. . var. geogr. nov. sladeni Vogt, 1911:52; sex?; Stideng- land. Bombus muscorum celticus Yarrow, 1978: 15; nom.noy. for ‘Bombus muscorum pallidus Evans (Bombus smithianus var. pallidus Evans, 1901)’. Yarrow failed to designate a lectotype for Evans’s taxon. Since ce/ticus was proposed as a replacement name, it has no independent type. Nomenclature: The name laevis was proposed by Vogt for a form of unspecified status! from Anatolia: ‘An Muscorumformen finden wir in Kleinasien einen ganz kurzhaarigen Vertreter /aevis m.: wie muscorum gefarbt = typicus, die Orangefarbe des Thorax auf einen runden Fleck beschrankt—ab. /aesoides m.’. The taxon was later recognized by Richards (1935a: 79) as a subspecies of what he also knew as muscorum. That the nominotypical subspecies is not identical with the presumed Stammform is perhaps unfortunate, but by no means an uncommon accident of nomenclature. Bombus laevis exists in two groups of colour-forms, of erratic distribution, treated as species by some authors. Dark forms have been referred to ‘smithianus’ [smithianus BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 9 auctt. nec White]’, pale to ‘muscorum’ [muscorum auctt. nec (L.)]. There are, however, no significant structural differences between the two groups, and no apparent ecological or biological differences. Both groups are represented in the British Isles, each by several forms now treated as subspecies of /aevis. The names allenellus, scyllonius and liepetterseni (the last a misapplication)? have been applied to dark forms occurring on islands off the British and Irish coasts, the names (pallidus =) celticus, sladeni and orcadensis to pale forms inhabiting the British and Irish mainlands and (orcadensis) the Orkneys. The name pallidus was proposed by Evans for ‘the variety having the hairs on the underside of the body, and on the legs, pale yellow instead of black’. Evans’s description must be taken as referring exclusively to the male because, although he had material of both sexes, he was unable to distinguish the queens and workers from his ‘venustus’ (pale forms of muscorum and ? pascuorum): “Besides these males I have females and workers from the same and other localities, which I cannot but regard as belonging to the same form, though the absence of any known structural differences between 2 and @ of Smithianus and those of venustus precludes . . . absolute certainty of identification’. Dr M. R. Shaw sent for examination the series from Evans’s collection standing as pallidus in the National Museums of Scotland. The series comprises 14 males, of which two are without data and are not accepted as syntypes, 8 queens and 6 workers. A lectotype has been selected as noted above and 11 other males labelled as paralectotypes: since Evans did not identify any queens or workers as definitely belonging to pallidus, it would seem illogical to recognize any queen or worker pallidus in his series as syntypes. The name s/adeni was proposed by Vogt for a variety with the ‘Behaarung deutlich struppiger als die des typicus, weniger struppig als die von pallidus. Farbung die des typicus, aber Thoraxdorsum vorne und hinten ausgesprochen hellgelb behaart (Annaherung an die Farbung fulvofasciatus Friese meines muscorum laevis)’. Richards (1935a: 77) noted that pallidus (celticus) was doubtfully distinct from sladeni, and celticus and sladeni appear in fact to represent a north-south cline in coat and colour characters: the British mainland and Irish mainland /aevis should be known as sladeni. The occurrence of Bombus laevis sladeni has been linked with marshy and similar habitats, but this is by no means always so: at Seaford, Sussex, for example, sladeni occurs on chalk downland in association with, among others, the deceptively similar muscorum anglicus [Bombus humilis anglicus Yarrow, 1978}. A summary of the British and Irish forms of /aevis is given at Appendix 1. Material: Sutherland: Inchnadamph (A), 29.ix.1964, 12 19; 30.ix.1964, 23 2; 1.x.1964, 2. [Mull, Ross of Mull, Uisken, 2.ix.1962, at mallow, 2¢ 19; Uisken, 2 miles S. of Bunessan, 14.ix.1962, 19 (all C.H. & P.H. Jowett).] Bombus (Kallobombus) cardui cardui (Miller, 1776) Apis cardui Miller, 1776: 165; no locality specified [Denmark or Norway]. Apis soroeensis F., [1777]: 246; Habitat in Daniae nemoribus. Lectotype 9, Denmark: Sjaelland, designated by Loken (1966: 200). Nomenclature: Apis cardui was described by Miller in the following terms: ‘1929. Ap. Cardui hirsuta nigra, ano albo. * +’ (signature a4: ‘. . . signo+a me, detectae indicantur’). Von Dalla Torre (1896: 549) gave cardui as a junior synonym of soroeensis, but Miiller’s work (title page dated 1776, preface dated 31 March 1776, addenda 10 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 dated 18 June 1776) appeared before Fabricius’s (title page not dated, preface dated 26 December 1776). The Scottish and Fennoscandian cardui belong to the nominotypical, white-tailed, form of the species. To be more exact, both Miiller’s (‘hirsuta nigra, ano albo’) and Fabricius’s (‘Apis hirsuta atra, aho albo . . . tota atra, solo ano nigro’: lectotype designated by Loken, 1966) descriptions chanced to be based on the same melanic, white-tailed variant, although the ranges of both the N. W. European white-tailed* and the more widely distributed red-tailed (proteus Gerstacker, 1869) subspecies of cardui overlap in Denmark with the presence of all grades of intermediates as well as melanic forms (Loken, 1973: 32). Material: Sutherland, Inchnadamph: (A), 30.ix.1964, 2g; 1.x.1964, 19; (B), 1.x.1964, 19. (Mull, Ross of Mull: Uisken, 2.ix.1962, at mallow, 1g; Uisken, 2 miles S. of Bunessan, 14.ix.1962, 19 (both C.H. & P.H. Jowett); Uisken, 10.ix.1963, 3; Kintra, 6.ix.1963, at Centaurea nigra L., 2$ (all C.H. Jowett); Kintra, 1.5 miles N.W. Fionnphort, 10.ix.1962, 2? (C.H. & P.H. Jowett).] Bombus (Bombus) magnus (Vogt, 1911) Terrestribombus lucorum f. magnus Vogt, 1911: 56; 92 Nordschottland und... Orkneyinseln. Nomenclature: Saunders (1884; 244; 1896: 378) recognized, under the name terrestris L., but a single species of Bombus s. str. in Britain, and treated ‘/ucorum Smith’ as a colour variety. Subsequently, two species of Bombus s. str. were generally recognized in Britain, B. audax Harris, 1780 [=terrestris auctt.], represented by its nominotypical form®, and B. terrestris (L., 1758, nec auctt.) (=B.lucorum (L., 1761)), also represented by its nominotypical form. More recently a third form, B. magnus Vogt, 1911, described from Britain, has been recognized as of specific rank by various authors, e.g., Kriiger (1951-58, passim, but especially 1954: 264) and Loken (1973: 46), and this ranking is accepted here. B. magnus appears to be, in N. W. Europe, a relict form existing in populations peripheral to those of the more or less ubiquitous ‘errestris, and although a majority of recent British records, especially those from southern Britain, based on unreliable coat-colour characters, are suspect, the identity of the present series is unambiguous. B. magnus was ‘described’ by Vogt in the following terms: ‘Das 9 des Tb. [Terrestribombus] lucorum ist in Nordschottland und auf den Orkneyinseln so gross wie das von Tb. terrestris [i.e., audax] (forma nova magnus)’. To this meagre description subsequent authors have added various details, but the distinctions alleged have not been wholly convincing (Elfving, 1960: 31, was unable to separate Finnish magnus from (/ucorum=) terrestris in the presence of material determined by Kruseman) and even those made by Loken (1973: 14, key, couplet 11 and fig. 13A 14) are not entirely satisfactory’. However, in N. W. Scotland, where audax does not occur, magnus is distinguishable from terrestris by its larger size, by, in the queen, the colour pattern and especially the pinkish-yellow colour of the tail, and, in the male, by the genitalia. While the character may not be a practical one for routine determinations, differences in the endophalli of magnus, terrestris and audax confirm specific ranking of magnus (C. O’Toole: personal communication). BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 11 Material: Sutherland, Inchnadamph: (A), 29.ix.1964, 43; 30.1x.1964, 2¢ 19; 1.x.1964, 3¢ 29; (B), 1.x.1964, 1g 29 19; Inchnadamph, without exact locality, 29.ix— 2.x.1964, 63 39 (not now held). The genitalia of 12 of the males were extracted and the lengths of the gonocoxites measured, taking the reference points indicated by Richards (1927: fig. 61). To ensure that the results would be strictly comparable with those published by Richards (1927: 249), control measurements of series of audax and terrestris from southern England were made. The results indicated a population intermediate between the audax and terrestris populations sampled by Richards (Fig. 1). It is noteworthy that, as the figure indicates, in the series examined and in the series recorded by Richards there was no overlap between large examples of terrestris and small examples of audax, that the difference between the means for terrestris and audax was substantial; and that the mean value for the admittedly small sample of magnus (n= 12) fell approximately midway between the mean values for the other species and between the upper limit for terrestris and the lower limit for audax. The data on which Fig. 1 is based are given in Table 1. It may be noted that, for the samples measured in connection with the present paper, SD and CV for widely separated populations of audax (Iran, N.W. Europe) were quasi-identical, SD 0.0408, 0.0424, CV 1.9, 1.96; for terrestris (all populations) were 0.0489, 2.49; and for magnus were 0.0941, 4.6, indicating a higher degree of variability in that species—or in that population. A larger sample of the Inchnadamph population would be desirable, but no alien component appears to be present in the present one, which, apart from some variation in the colour of the clypeal hairs, appears homogeneous. Mayr (1969: 170) notes that zones of secondary intergradation between subspecies are often characterized by a greatly increased CV; and, of course, the boundaries, or areas of overlap, between a relict species surviving in populations peripheral to those of an invasive or usurping species (here the nearly ubiquitous terrestris), are likely to be shifting ones. Among the characters that have conventionally been used to separate males of audax and terrestris is the colour of the hairs of the clypeus, vertex, mesosomal episterna and pseudosternum, and first metasomal tergum. In audax these hairs are usually black, in terrestris yellow. In the present series, of five specimens with gonocoxites falling within the range of variation of terrestris, three have the coloration of audax while the other two are nearer audax than terrestris; and, of six falling within the range of variation of audax, the two largest, nearest the mean for audax, are those most resembling terrestris (hairs of the indicated areas predominantly pale, although still darker than in that species). This reversal suggests that coat pattern in the terrestris complex is an unreliable distinguishing character. As to any correlation between size and coat pattern of colour, the present small sample is inconclusive. Taking gonocoxite length as a measure of size, and the colour of the clypeal hairs as an index of the extent of pale coloration, no strong correlation is evident, although there is an apparent tendency for smaller specimens to be darker: Gonocoxite length (mm) OB eS) e939) EOS 2202 Olle 22205 8 2:09 R 13 pe else 2s Se Colour of clypeal hair (b: black, pb: predominantly black, m: mixed, pp: predominantly pale) b m b b m m m m pb m pp pp Of the 3 queens, two have the tail pinkish-buff and the thoracic collar extending well onto the mesepisterna, characters generally regarded as characteristic of magnus. The third has the white tail of southern British terrestris and the yellow thoracic 12 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 AD) owt) oO) oF g magnus h i AGY SSIES PCAN j ae eS terrestris k | 1.8 Pe 2.0 aol Pisoige Px 3\ 2.4 millimetres Fig. 1. Length of gonocoxite in Bombus (Bombus) species. a: audax dalmatinus D.T., Iran (Mazandaran) [includes one ex. det. Yarrow as magnus but which is normal audax] [n= 14). b: audax virginalis (Geoffr.), Channel Is. (n=6). c: audax audax (Harris), New Zealand [Nelson (Philpott): introduced] (n= 2). d: audax audax (Harris), England (Surrey, Hindhead: atypical, hairs of face pale) (n= 2). e: audax (Harris), England (south; Richards 1927: 249, as terrestris) (n=49). f: audax (Harris), all populations (n=73). g: magnus Vogt, Scotland (Sutherland, Inchnadamph) (n=12). h: terrestris (L.), Austria (Nieder6sterreich, Steiermark, Karnten) (n=11). i: terrestris (L.), England (Norfolk, Mundford) (n=3). j: terrestris (L.), Iran (Mazandaran) [det. Yarrow as magnus (3) or lucorum (1)] (n=4). k: terrestris (L.), England (south; Richards 1927: 249, as /ucorum) (n= 40). |: terrestris (L.), all populations (n= 57). collar extending less far onto the mesepisterna. The collar in all three examples is paler than in terrestris. Bombus (Pyrobombus) jonellus jonellus (Kirby 1802) Apis jonella Kirby, 1802: 338; 3; prope Londinum. Holotype ¢ BMNH designated by Yarrow (1968: 11). Material: Sutherland, Inchnadamph: (A), 30.ix.1964, 2g; 1.x.1964, 23; (B) 1.x.1964, 1g; (C), 30.ix.1964, 3¢. [Mull, Ross of Mull, Uisken, 10.ix.1963, 19 (C.H. Jowett).] These examples are referable to f. atrocorbiculosus Vogt, 1911. Psithyrus (Ashtonipsithyrus) campestris (Panz., 1800) Apis campestris Panz., 1800, 7 (74): pl.11; [9]; in regione sylvarum sabulosa [Germany]. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 13 Psithyrus campestris (Panz.) var. swynnertoni Richards, 1936. 110; 2; Cara Island. Type University Museum, Oxford. Material: (Mull, Ross of Mull, Kintra, 1.5 miles N.W. of Fionnphort, 10.ix.1962, 23 (C.H. & P.H. Jowett.] These males are referable to the pale form (paralleling the pale form, Bombus pascuorum septentrionalis Vogt, of its host) described by Richards from Cara, off the Argyll coast, as swynnertoni. Table 1. Length of gonocoxite in Bombus (Bombus) species. audax dalmatinus D.T. magnus Vogt Iran Inchnadamph no. length d d2 3 12938 0.11 0.0121 4 2.01 0.03 0.0009 1 PIA 0.06 0.0036 5 7B 0.09 0.0081 2 2.13 0.02 0.0004 6 DDN 0.17 0.0289 3 2.09 0.06 0.0036 8 2.01 0.03 0.0009 5 2.13 0.02 0.0004 10 2u13 0.09 0.0081 6 2.09 0.06 0.0036 11 2.09 0.05 0.0025 7 2.13 0.02 0.0004 12 2.05 0.01 0.0001 8 2.09 0.06 0.0036 13 2.13 0.09 0.0081 10 2.17 0.02 0.0004 14 1.93 0.11 0.0121 11 2) 0.02 0.0004 15 1.98 0.06 0.0036 12 2.17 0.02 0.0004 16 1.93 0.11 0.0121 13 2.17 0.02 0.0004 = Ee 14 PET) 0.02 0.0004 mean 2.04 sum 0.0975 18 PR 0.02 0.0004 =+(n—1) 0.0089 19 2.2) 0.06 0.0036 SD 0.0941 sta! CV 4.6 mean nS sum 0.0216 +(n—1) 0.0017 SD 0.0408 CV 1.9 terrestris (lucorum) Austria audax, other poplns 1 1.97 0.01 0.0001 Channel Is. 2 1.97 0.01 0.0001 1 2.23 0.07 0.0049 3 1.94 0.02 0.0004 2 2.19 0.03 0.0009 - 2.00 0.04 0.0016 3 Dalls 0.01 0.0001 5 1.96 0.00 0.0000 4 PING 0.01 0.0001 6 1.95 0.01 0.0001 5 2.17 0.01 0.0001 7 1.99 0.03 0.0009 6 NG) 0.01 0.0001 8 1.96 0.00 0.0000 New Zealand 9 1:92 0.04 0.0016 7 SY 0.01 0.0001 10 2.02 0.06 0.0036 8 2al'S 0.01 0.0001 11 2.02 0.06 0.0036 Surrey Norfolk 9 2.09 0.07 0.0049 12 1.83 0.13 0.0169 10 2.09 0.07 0.0049 13 1.99 0.03 0.0009 LY 14 1.96 0.00 0.0000 mean .16 sum 0.0162 Iran +(n—1) 0.0018 15 2.01 0.05 0.0025 SD 0.0424 16 1.87 0.09 0.0081 CV 1.96 17 1.95 0.01 0.0001 18 1.97 0.01 0.0001 audax all populations cats mean 215, sum 0.0384 mean 1.96 sum 0.0406 + (n—1) 0.0017 + (n—1) 0.0023 SD 0.0409 SD 0.0489 CV es) CV 2.49 14 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 Psithyrus (Allopsithyrus) barbutellus (Kirby, 1802) Apis barbutella Kirby, 1802: 343; 23; Barhamiz. Material: [Mull, Ross of Mull, Uisken, 2.ix.1962, at mallow, 2g (C.H. & P.H. Jowett). ] Psithyrus (Fernaldaepsithyrus) sylvestris Lepeletier, 1833 Psithyrus quadricolor ‘sous-var. B.’ sylvestris Lepeletier, 1833: 377; 3; Les Pyrenées et les environs de Paris... de la collection de M. Latreille, actuellement en la possession de M. le général Dejean. Apathus silvestris Thomson, 1872. Material: Sutherland, Inchnadamph: 3, white-tailed: (A), 1.x.1964, 1g; 2.x.1964, 33; (B), 1.x.1964, 13 (somatic mosaic); Allt nan Uamh (NC 254178), 2.x.1964, 1 (f. carelicus Richards); $3, yellow-tailed: (A) 29.1x.1964, 23; 30.1x.1964, 13 (f. confinis Franklin); 1.x.1964, 34; 2.x.1964, 23; 99 (A), 30.1x.1964, 19; 2.x.1964, 29; Inchnadamph, nf. del: A mixed population: the females are typical sylvestris as defined by Richards (1929: 353), the males a varied series of typical (white-tailed and citrinus (Psithyrus quadricolor var. citrinus Schmiedeknecht, 1883) (yellow-tailed) forms. The series varies also in the relative proportions of the basal flagellar segments, in the form and degree of development of the subapical callus of S7, and in the form of the squama. The callus of S7 varies from being broad, weak and regular to being narrow and more or less impressed medially, i.e. sub-bituberculate (regarded as the typical condition by, e.g., Popov, 1931, Richards, 1929). It was suspected initially that two species might be represented, sy/vestris and flavidus (Eversmann, 1852) but there is no correlation between the observed variations. Some examples would, however, be difficult to separate from flavidus, a probable but insufficiently confirmed parasite of B. jonellus. In the palest male, A3 <4; the hairs of the vertex are yellow and black mixed, of T1 yellow with a few black medially, of T2 and T3 medially black, of T3—5 yellow, of T6 (a few black medially) and T7 orange, and the callus of S7 is broad and regular: this comes very close to flavidus Eversmann. The host of the Inchnadamph series is presumably B. jonellus. Psithyrus (Fernaldaepsithyrus) meridionalis Richards, 1929 This species does not occur in Britain but the opportunity is taken of correcting errors in respect of the type locality. Richards (1929: 351) gave the type locality as ‘Styria, Tragop Oberort’, a misreading of Trag68 (Tragéss) Oberort (Austria, Steiermark, N.W. of Bruck an der Mur, at the foot of the Hochschwabgruppe). Loken, designating a lectotype (1984: 23), for some inexplicable reason transfers Styria to Yugoslavia. SUMMARY Species of Bombus and Psithyrus collected in Sutherland and on Mull and Iona are recorded. Notes on the nomenclature of the British forms of Bombus laevis Vogt, 1909, on the nomenclature of the species commonly known as B. soroeensis (F., [1777]), and on the status of B. magnus Vogt, 1911, are given. The name agricolae is proposed for the Hebridean and Shetland form of Bombus laevis Vogt, hitherto known mistakenly as smithianus White or liepetterseni Loken. Lectotypes are BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 15 designated for Bombus ‘Smithianus var., or race, pallidus’ Evans, 1901 [=B. muscorum celticus Yarrow, 1978, = B. laevis celticus Yarrow] and Bombus smithianus allenellus Stelfox, 1933. Misstatements concerning the type locality of Psithyrus meridionalis Richards, 1929, are corrected. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS For permission to collect on the Inchnadamph NNR in 1964 the author is indebted to English Nature (formerly the Nature Conservancy Council); for access to libraries, to the Librarian, Linnean Society of London (Miss G.L. Douglas), the Hope Librarian, University Museum, Oxford (Mrs. S. Newton) and the Librarians of the main and departmental libraries of the Natural History Museum, London (especially Mrs J. Harvey and Miss L. Mitchell); for the loan of, or access to, type material, to the Department of Natural History, National Museums of Scotland (Dr M.R. Shaw) and the Department of Entomology, the Natural History Museum, London (Mr T. Huddleston); and for information on Stelfox’s type material, to the Natural History Division, National Museum of Ireland (Dr J. P. O'Connor). NOTES 'Vogt (1909:11) recognized four infrasubspecific categories: (a) var. geographica, equivalent to the modern concept of a subspecies: (b) Rasse, for forms of infrasubspecific rank (c.f. 1911: where the term is used for the colour-forms occurring within a single nest-colony); and (c) and (d), aberratio and aberratio extrema, for individual variations. In addition, he used forma, in an entirely modern sense, for forms of uncertain status (1911: 50, footnote 1). As the names /aevis (1909: 63) and magnus (1911: 56) were proposed for formae, these names, as well as sladeni (proposed for a forma geographica, 1911: 52), are valid for subspecies attributed to Vogt. ?The use of the name smithianus for a Shetland insect represents a persistent misidentification. White (1852a: 158) proposed smithianus as a nom. nov. for arcticus Dahlbom, 1832, nec arcticus Kirby, 1821, as a result of Smith’s having misidentified [immediately recognized’] as arcticus Dahlbom specimens taken by White in various Shetland localities. Dahlbom’s arcticus is a pascuorum subspecies of Arctic Fennoscandia: [B. arcticus Dahlbom, 1832, =B. agrorum erlandssoni Kruseman, 1950, =]B. pascuorum smithianus White, 1852. Loken (1973: 114) treated Apis arctica Quen. in Acerbi, 1802, as a newly described species and as a senior synonym of Bombus (Alpinobombus) hyperboreus Sch6én. 1809, the latter name being retained and arctica considered a nomen oblitum. Apis arctica, however, appears not to have been intended as a new species: Acerbi (p. 250) stated ‘The following are to be found in the work of Fabricius’ and included in his listing (p.252) the three species Apis alpina, A. arctica, and A. lapponica. Apis arctica, described by Quenzel on p. 253 and illustrated at fig. 7 on pl.I, should, therefore be some Fabrician insect, but whether of O. Fabricius or of J.C. Fabricius is unclear. While Apis alpina [Apis alpina L., 1758] does appear in the former’s Fauna Grénlandica (1780) and Apis lapponica was described by the latter in the Ent. Syst. (1793), no Apis arctica appears to have been described in any work of either author published prior to 1802. It might be surmised therefore that one or the other Fabricius was in communication with either Acerbi or Quenzel and that arctica was a manuscript name given by him but not subsequently published (no arctica appears in J.C. Fabricius’s 16 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 Syst. Piez. (1804)). Apis arctica appears, therefore, to have been published by accident rather than by design, but is nevertheless a validly proposed name. 3Bombus laevis liepetterseni [Bombus muscorum liepetterseni Loken, 1973] is erroneously included in the Aculeata section of the revised Check List (Fitton et al., 1978: 140): B. 1. liepetterseni is confined to Norway, where it ocurs in coastal localities from 60° northwards. Presumably, the subspecies referred to was the hitherto innominate, pale, form of /aevis from the Hebrides and Shetland, i.e., agricolae. 4Not the only white-tailed form; cf. cardui radoszkowskyi Dalla Torre, 1890 (Bombus perplexus Radoszkowsky, 1884, nec Cresson, 1863). This subspecies was found to be one of the most abundant montane humble-bees in various localities in the Central Alborz (Iran), a single male taken at 1370m on 17.ix.1966, but all other specimens taken at between 2150 and 2450m, males from 24.viii to 7.x, females from 5.vii to 24.viii, workers from 27.vii to 7.x, many at Salvia amasiaca (Freyn & Bornm.) Bornm. 5Bombus audax audax is principally distinguished from other subspecies by having, in the female, a buff rather than a white tail, but buff-tailed examples do occur sporadically in continental audax [virginalis (Geoffroy, 1785)] (cf. Vogt, 1911: 39; H. Miiller, 1944: 104) and the Sardinian audax sassaricus Tournier, 1890, is predominantly buff-tailed. Richards (1978: 417, as terrestris terrestris) notes that one Channel Is. (Alderney) female approaches the mainland British form. It is perhaps significant that in analysing geographical variation in ‘Terrestri- bombus’ species, Kriiger (1958: 294-303) did not attempt to differentiate between the males of /ucorum (terrestris), magnus and burjaeticus (burjaeticus Kriiger, 1951: 143, 1954: 277; from Transbaikal) in his tabulations. The recognition of numerous subspecies in terrestris, audax and magnus in the absence of fully adequate criteria for species recognition, and the recognition of supposed new species in the terrestris group, have been carried to extremes in some recent work. 7Caius Julius Agricola, whose fleet (first century A.D.) explored the north-east coast of Britain as far as the Orkneys. REFERENCES Acerbi, J. 1802. Travels through Sweden, Finland and Lapland, to the North Cape, in the years 1798 and 1799, 2. Pp.{iJ-viii, [1}:380, pll. London: J. Mawman [vide pl. facing p. 107. Loken erroneously gives Gillet as the publisher: Gillet was the printer]. 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HIST., 9: 1996 Richards, O.W. 1927. The specific characters of the British humblebees (Hymenoptera). Trans. R. Ent. Soc. London 75: 233-268, pl. XXII-XXV. Richards, O.W. 1929. A revision of the European bees allied to Psithyrus quadricolor, Lepeletier (Hymenoptera, Bombidae). Trans. R. Ent. Soc. London 76: 345-365, pl. XI. Richards, O.W. 1935a. Bombus muscorum (Linnaeus) and B. smithianus White (Hym.). Trans., Soc. Br. Ent. 2: 73-85. Richards, O.W. 1935b. Notes on the nomenclature of the Aculeate Hymenoptera, with special reference to British genera and species. Trans. R. Ent. Soc. London 83: 143-176. Richards, O.W. 1936. On a collection of humble-bees (Bombus and Psithyrus) from Cara Island, Argyllshire. Entomologist’s Mon. Mag. 72: 109-111. Richards, O.W. 1978. The Hymenoptera Aculeata of the Channel Islands. Rep. Trans. Soc. Guern. 1978: 389-424. Saunders, E. 1884. Synopsis of British Hymenoptera. Anthophila; part Il, Apide. Trans. Ent. Soc. London 1884: 159-250, pl. V—VIII. Saunders, E. 1896. The Hymenoptera Aculeata of the British Islands. A descriptive account of the families, genera, and species indigenous to Great Britain and Ireland, with notes as to habits, localities, habitats, etc. Pp. [i]-xii, [1]}-391, pl.1, 1a, 1b, 2-52. London, L. Reeve & Co. Schmiedeknecht, O. 1930. Die Hymenopteren Nord- und Mitteleuropas mit Einschluss von England, Stidschweiz, Stidtirol und Ungarn nach ihren Gattungen und zum grossen Teil auch nach ihren Arten analytisch bearbeitet. 2nded. Pp. [i]-x, [1]-1062, frontisp., 127 fig. Jena, Gustav Fischer. Scopoli, J.A. 1763. Entomologia Carniolica exhibens Insecta Carnioliae indigina et distributa in Ordines, Genera, Species, Varietates, Methodo Linnaeana. Pp.[xxxvi], 1-420, [421: Notanda, Errata; 423: Monitum auctoris], 43 pl. Vindobonae, Trattner. Stelfox, A.W. 1933. On the occurrence of a peculiar race of the humble bee, Bombus smithianus White, on the Aran Islands, in Western Ireland. Jrish Nat. J. 4: 235-238. Stelfox, A.W. 1934. Bombus smithianus allenellus: a correction. Irish Nat. J. 5: 42. Vogt, O. 1909. Studien tber das Artproblem. Uber das Variieren der Hummeln. I. Sitzungsberichte der Gesellschaft Naturforschender Freunde zu Berlin, Jahrgang 1909: 28-84. Vogt, O. 1911. Studien iiber das Artproblem. Uber das Variieren der Hummeln. I. Sitzungsberichte der Gesellschaft Naturforschender Freunde zu Berlin, Jahrgang 1911: 31-74. White, A. 1852 (April). Note on the Natural History of Shetland. Proc. Linn. Soc. London 2(47): 157-158. [This note was reprinted, under the same title, setting unchanged, in October, 1852—Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (2) 10(58): 294.] Yarrow, I.H.H. 1968. Kirby’s species of British bees: designation of holotypes and selection of lectotypes. Part 1. Introduction and the species of Apis Linnaeus now included in the genera Bombus Latreille and Psithyrus Lepeletier. Proc. R. Eng. Soc. London, Series B 37: 9-15. Yarrow, I.H.H. 1978. Notes on British bumblebees. Entomologist’s Mon. Mag. 113: 15-16. APPENDIX 1. British and Irish forms of Bombus laevis Vogt 1. Pale, ‘muscorum’, forms [= muscorum Richards, 1935a, 1935b] sladeni (Vogt, 1911): 52 [Ab. [Agrobombus] muscorum var. geogr.]; sex?; Siideng- land’. pallidus Evans, 1901: 47 [‘B. Smithianus, var., or race, pallidus]; 3; Scotland: ‘taken by myself near Kingussie (Inverness-shire), Aberfoyle (S.W. Perthshire), and Elvanfoot (Lanarkshire), and also . . . from the Perth district, Dumbartonshire and Kirkcudbrightshire’. Invalid junior homonym of Bombus pallidus Cresson, 1863 [= Bombus (Fervidobombus) pennsylvanicus (Degeer, 1773)]. No type designated by Evans: for lectotype designation see p. 8. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 19 celticus Yarrow, 1978: 15 [Bombus muscorum celticus]; nom. nov. for ‘Bombus muscorum pallidus Evans (Bombus smithianus var. pallidus Evans, 1901)’. Yarrow failed to designate a lectotype for pallidus. Distribution: Mainland Britain and Ireland; Mull; Skye. orcadensis Richards, 1935a: 78 [Bombus muscorum orcadensis]; 9, “The male and worker are not distinguishable from pallidus’; Orkney Is: Holotype 2 (examined), labelled ‘Orkney Is. [print], Mainland, Stennes. 15.vi.12 [MS], E.G.B. Meade-Waldo. 1912-259. [print]’ and ‘B. muscorum orcadensis Rich. Type’ [pencil, Richards], in BMNH [not registered]. Distribution: Orkney Is. 2. Dark, ‘smithianus’, forms [=smithianus Richards, 1935a] agricolae’ subsp. nov. [smithianus auctt., nec White, 1852; misidentification.] [smithianus smithianus Richards, 1935a; misidentification.] [liepetterseni Fitton et al. (1978) nec Loken, 1973; misidentification.] muscorum zetlandicus Yarrow, MS, in BMNH. Description; see Richards, 1935a: 79 [as smithianus smithianus]; 923; Shetlands, Lewis, Tiree, Coll. Holotype: ? labelled ‘*!,,’ [the entry 1851-91 in the British Museum’s accessions register, referring to this one specimen, reads ‘Bombus arcticus ... Lerwick... Presented by A. White Esq™ . . . the common Bombus of the Mainland of Shetland’], ‘var. smithianus White. [print], and ‘B. muscorum zetlandicus ssp. n. det. I.H.H. Yarrow HOLOTYPE 9’, B.M. Type Hym. 17 b 1276. Distribution: Inner and Outer Hebrides; Shetland; ? Ross [the Ross specimen recorded by Richards may simply have been a dark example in a s/adeni population]. Yarrow’s manuscript name is not adopted since the species has a wider distribution than the name implies. It is however given here since it may be encountered in other collections. allenellus Stelfox, 1933: 235 [Bombus smithianus allenellus]; $92; Ireland: Aran Is., Inishmore. Stelfox, 1934: 42. Stelfox’s type series comprised 50 specimens, all bearing the National Museum of Ireland’s printed label ‘Inishmore/Aran Islands/Co. Galway./C. W. Allen. July 1932./62—1932.’, standing over his manuscript label’ ‘Bombus Smithianus White, race allenellus Stelfox. 50 typical series arranged by A.W.S. 17.2. 1934. Described in I.N.J. Nov. 1933. A. W. Stelfox.’. Stelfox did not designate a type but labelled one 2 as ‘type’, one ¢ and one 9 as ‘cotypes’ (Dr J. P. O'Connor, personal communication). Stelfox’s 2 ‘type’ is now designated as lectotype of allenellus, his other syntypes as paralectotypes. Distribution: Aran Is. scyllonius Richards, 1935a: 81 [smithianus scyllonius]; holotype 9 Scilly Is.: St. Mary’s, 10.1x.1904 ([Col. J.W.] Yerbury), B.M. Type Hym. 17 b 1214. smithianus subsp. innom., Richards, 1935a: 81 (Channel Is.: Alderney). Distribution: Scilly Is.: Channel Is. (Richards, 1978: 419—Channel Is. form no longer regarded as subspecifically distinct from Scillies form). 20 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 SHORT COMMUNICATION Rhynchaenus testaceus (Miller) and Anthonomus rufus Gyll. (Coleoptera: Curculio- nidae) in Cornwall.—On recently sorting through some Coleoptera captured in Cornwall during the 1970s I discovered a specimen of R. testaceus that had been beaten from a young alder alongside the River Fal on 12.viii.1978 near Ruan Lanihorne, East Cornwall (VC2), grid ref. SW887422. I have been unable to trace any previous records for the county, indeed there appear to have been very few recent (post-1970) records for the whole of Great Britain: Collier (1989) reports its discovery in an alder plantation alongside the Little Ouse River, Norfolk in 1987 and informs me (in Jitt.) that he has subsequently recorded it in the Ministry of Defence, Stanford Training Area, Norfolk, where it was not uncommon in another small alder plantation during 1988; Morris (1993) provides a recent record from Holme Fen, Huntingdonshire, and Hyman & Parsons (1992), who assign R. testaceus to Red Data Book (vulnerable) status, also list the recent Norfolk and Huntingdonshire records. Five small, widely spaced alders were present on the flood plain of the River Fal when I revisited the Cornish site on 15.iv.1995—much as I recall the site from 1978. All were beaten for R. testaceus without success, although it may have been too early in the year for the adult weevil since most of the trees were still in bud and only a few leaves were just beginning to open on each tree. Small numbers of adult Galerucella lineola (F.) were, however, present. Further south and east along the roadside towards Ruan Lanihorne village, more alders, both large and small, were beaten without finding R. testaceus, though again adults of G. lineola were present on all the trees. K. N. A. Alexander visited the area in early May 1995 but also failed to locate R. testaceus. During my return visit on 15.iv.1995 to search for R. testaceus another scarce weevil, Anthonomus rufus, was discovered when more than a dozen examples were beaten from blackthorn bushes adjacent to the bridge at grid ref. SW887421. Although A. rufus has previously been recorded in West Cornwall (VC1), where it does appear to be very localized; this may represent the first record of this species for East Cornwall (VC2). Among previous records for West Cornwall are: Porthcurno near Penzance, and Grochall on the Lizard in 1974 (Morris, 1976), on both occasions by beating blackthorn prior to flowering, and near Chyvarloe, grid ref. SW647237 on 3.iv.1983 when I captured two examples, also from blackthorn bushes in bud. It may be significant that the Ruan Lanihorne examples were also beaten from blackthorn mainly in bud—adjacent bushes in full bloom failed to yield any specimens. I thank M. Collier for allowing me to quote his unpublished observation of R. testaceus and for a specimen of this species which confirmed the identity of the Cornish example, and Prof. M. G. Morris for alerting me to relevant literature.— A. P. FOSTER, 61 Pittsfield, Cricklade, Swindon, Wiltshire SN6 6AW. REFERENCES Collier, M. 1989. Rhynchaenus testaceus Miiller (Col., Curculionidae) in Norfolk. Entomolo- gist’s Mon. Mag. 125: 167. Hyman, P. S. & Parson, M. S. 1992. A review of the scarce and threatened Coleoptera of Great Britain. Part 1. U.K. Nature Conservation No. 3. Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough. Morris, M. G. 1976. The British species of Anthonomus Germar (Col., Curculionidae). Entomologist’s Mon. Mag. 112: 19-40. Morris, M. G. 1993. A review of the British species of Rhynchaeninae (Col., Curculionidae). Entomologist’s Mon. Mag. 129: 177-195. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 21 THE 1994 PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS—PART 2 FIELD MEETINGS—A CELEBRATION OF SOME PAST GLORIES AND THE PRESENT ROLE OF FIELD MEETINGS AS AN INCREASINGLY VALUABLE PART OF OUR ACTIVITIES PAUL WARING Windmill View, 1366 Lincoln Road, Werrington, Peterborough PE4 6LS. INTRODUCTION In preparing this Presidential Address I first looked back over those of the past Presidents I have known. We have enjoyed a great variety of topics and approaches in recent years. Some Presidents, like Colin Plant and Paul Sokoloff, delivered fine papers on a particular taxonomic group on which they were working. Peter Baker and John Owen focused on the insects of a particular site which they had surveyed in detail. Two years ago John Muggleton chose a subject dear to my heart (e.g. Waring, 1989a, 1990a, 1994a) when he shared with us his experiences of light-trapping for moths. Alan Stubbs and Ian McLean dealt with insect conservation issues. One topic I considered for my Address was the conservation work on some of Britain’s endangered moths, but I have already spoken to the Society on this subject. Those who would have liked an update may care to refer to Waring (1990b & 1994b) for reviews of this subject and rest assured that I will continue to report the latest developments through the bi-monthly reports in British Wildlife magazine. Another topic which I know is of interest to many members, and with which many are actively involved, is the National Recording Network for the Rarer British Macro-moths (Waring, 1991a, 1992a) and the production of an atlas for the nationally scarce and threatened species (Waring, 1992a, b & in prep.). However, this is the topic for our special workshop meeting at Dinton Pastures on 8 April. I have chosen instead to speak here about the field meetings of our Society and to use this opportunity, as the Society’s new Field Meetings Secretary, to celebrate some past meetings and promote this area of the Society’s activities for the future. One of the attractions of this topic is that it involves everybody here and the whole of the membership, so I trust it will be of wide interest. My aim is to examine some field meetings I have attended, the results they produced and ways in which future meetings can be developed and promoted, both as a service to our members and to land-owners, managers and the general public. At the same time I hope to provide the opportunity for us to recall and re-live fond memories of pleasant days and nights in the field and to report on meetings which some may have missed. I have always considered the British Entomological and Natural History Society as the premier society for field entomology in Britain. The majority of the publications of this Society promote and assist the fieldwork of individuals and organizations in some way. Our journal is received by every member and for many it is the face of the Society and their main contact. Most issues carry one or more reports of field meetings. Our Annual Exhibition, the largest event in the Society’s calendar, consists largely of exhibits of specimens, photographs and other results of recent fieldwork by members on an individual or combined basis. Both the Exhibition and the Dinner provide the opportunity to exchange results of fieldwork, initiate future plans and commiserate with each other on the appalling weather during a key part of the season and the insects and other wildlife we failed to find! Our meetings provide the chance for the lone moth trapper to tell of the night he was » BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 inundated with unbelievable numbers of rare immigrants on the coast. Another replies with his nocturnal encounter with the poacher or the courting couple or tells of the day his coleopterist friend found a species of beetle new to Britain in the bride’s wedding bouquet! This is what our society is all about in my view, the combination of serious scientific research and recreational entomology. Above all, the Society provides opportunities to meet with other active field-workers and snare skills. The field meeting is an especially characteristic feature of this Society which is worth cherishing. THE FIRST FIELD MEETING Do you recall your first field meeting with the Society? I trust it left a favourable impression and that the leader made you feel welcome. I think the first field meeting I attended was one led by the late Gaston Prior, in Wychwood Forest, Oxfordshire. This was back on 28 July 1984. I remember the excitement of getting the meetings card and seeing that there was a meeting arranged in my area and therefore not too difficult to get to, so out came the diary. The other exciting part about this particular meeting was that it was not a site that one could easily visit as a private individual. At the time there was great debate about the footpaths and access in the area or lack of them. As a youth I had often cycled past this splendid forest. I had ventured in twice. The first time I met no-one, but on the second occasion I had just reached the fish- ponds in the centre and was watching a Buzzard Buteo buteo at close quarters when a green Mini-moke appeared from over a rise and two large gentlemen with shot-guns politely asked me to leave and escorted me back to the entrance. Gaston’s meeting was excellent. There was a good turn-out, about a dozen people or more, with these entomologists obviously making the most of this rare opportunity to see the Forest. The weather was favourable. By this stage I had purchased my first old banger and I remember loading it up with every conceivable bit of entomological and overnight kit, far too much to actually carry, but to equip me for every eventuality. As we gathered at the entrance I recognized John Campbell, whom I already knew as Oxfordshire county biological recorder at Woodstock Museum, and one or two other familiar local faces, but I got to know several more as a result of the meeting. I remember studying the way Charlie Gibson had managed to pack his generator and light-trap into a back-pack so that he could get straight onto site with all his kit in one go. I recall Gaston pointing out the diagnostic features of certain pug-moth larvae (Eupithecia spp.) I had swept. I remember John Campbell showing us the coppicing plot he was working on. At night we ran light-traps and I recall the excitement when Charlie found a four-spotted footman Lithosia quadra had entered his trap. This was the first any of us had seen in the Oxford area and the first I had ever seen. We spent the rest of the session speculating as to whether we had discovered an unknown colony, but we later found out from the Entomologists’ Record that there had been other records from scattered places during this period, suggesting an influx of immigrants. Lastly, I recall sleeping in my car and discovering that it was parked in something of a frost hollow. The car wouldn’t start in the morning and I remember Patrick Boston giving me a hand to push-start it, and the relief when it eventually fired on all cylinders. I was fortunate to start off with such a good field meeting, but each one has added some useful or pleasant aspect to my experience. DISTANT FIELD MEETINGS The Wychwood example was local to me but our field meetings programme provides the opportunity to visit distant sites, in the knowledge that someone else has BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 23 made the necessary arrangements at the other end. These long-haul trips can be more daunting for some members because of traffic and unfamiliar roads but I hope more people will be tempted. In this way the Society will be encouraged to hold a proportion of meetings in more remote places, which are less well recorded than the places where entomologists are thicker on the ground. A memorable long-haul field meeting for me was Dungeness, Kent, on 5 September 1987. This provided an opportunity to meet Bernard Skinner for the first time, as he was leading the meeting (Skinner, 1988). I saw the handsome caterpillars of the toadflax brocade Calophasia iunula for the first time, one of the local specialities of this area and a Red Data Book species. I collected one to photograph and rear but was also impressed by the restraint on the part of the members who were more experienced on this site. I remember someone, I think it was Rob Dyke, explaining to us that this was a localized insect, not uncommon on Dungeness but scarce on the surrounding coast. As a result we all thought very carefully about collecting any. I confined myself to one and I think hardly any others were removed. I remember distinctly us all gathering in a group to look at them and then walking away leaving the majority on the plants to continue feeding. I remember Bernard being very friendly and approachable and meeting a number of the members from the south-east for the first time. It was in fact a cold night and moths were few, migrants fewer, so there was plenty of time to get to know each other as we walked round the traps. It was also a full moon and I remarked that I thought it odd to have such a meeting at this phase of the moon and was this significant for movements of migrants, aware that the light traps would be less effective at catching them on moonlit nights than on dark ones. Bernard wryly remarked that he liked a bit of competition from the elements, but then explained that this was the only date offered to him when the programme was being organized. The other memory that stands out from this trip was departing from the site about 02.00 hrs to drive all the way back to Peterborough because my colleague had no sleeping gear and had arranged something for the following day. We were on the road at least three hours, perhaps more. I was virtually nodding off at the wheel for the last few miles. Fortunately, there was very little on the roads at this time but I resoived never to drive such a long way so late at night again. As a result of my first Dungeness experience, I decided that on any field meetings involving night work that I would lead, I would make arrangements for members to be able to sleep in their cars, off road, and where this could be arranged, make it clear in advance, so no one would feel the need to drive long distances when they were tired. This also means they can leave their traps and generators running all night and stay nearby, adding to the amount of data collected, with advantages all round. Staying ina local hotel or bed and breakfast is always an option for those able and willing to make the necessary arrangements in advance or to arrive on spec, but it is not as convenient for all-night trapping. I am also mindful of the fact that some members, particularly the younger ones and those that are out of work, may not be able to afford the costs of overnight accommodation. Besides, it can be a precious part of the experience to awake on site and inspect the traps at first light, with the chance of seeing a fox Vulpes vulpes or other wild creature and to enjoy birdsong and the first rays of the sun. Incidentally, field meetings at Dungeness have become something of a tradition in the Society of late, and you will be pleased to note that there are two in the 1995 programme. Both are led this year by Sean Clancy, who lives on Dungeness. When I contacted him to arrange one he said fine, but please not another one in September, what about all the other months! He got his wish, there is a meeting in July this year, but, because the September meeting is popular we have retained it as well. Contact Sean for overnighting details. 24 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 Now I'll move on to some of the field meetings I have led, partly because I have a good overview of what happened on site and, equally importantly, know what happened to the results. I can also be critical of any short-comings, knowing that I share the responsibility. I shall be illustrating the following aecounts mainly with moth examples, because this is my speciality, but please do not take away the impression that field meetings are dominated by any particular order; we cover all groups of animals and plants and are keen to see all interest groups represented on meetings, hence the “natural history” part of the Society’s title. FENS AND BRECKLAND IN 1988 The first BENHS field meetings I led were in 1988 when I organized two. These were at Chippenham Fen, Cambridgeshire, on 2 July and Cranwich Plantation, Norfolk, on 23 July. The chances to visit Fens and Breckland proved popular and both meetings were very well attended. Ian McLean led the day-time session at Chippenham Fen and was joined by ten members. Many interesting species of flies were noted and we flushed two silver-barred moths Deltote bankiana, a speciality of this reserve. Twenty members gathered for the night session and, as they did so, there was a heavy rain shower just before dusk which I knew would not help the light-trapping. Here was I, leading my first meeting, responsible for all these people driving out to this fairly remote site and perhaps they weren’t going to see many moths. I expect every leader feels this way on his first and even subsequent meetings. On this occasion, I knew the site well from working on it throughout the previous year, and I had encountered many interesting species of moths. What I wanted to find out from this field meeting was how widely distributed they were on the Fen. The meeting offered the chance to disperse lots of light-traps and their operators across the Fen and get an overview in one night which would take me many nights to build up working on my own and would cover parts of the site I had not sampled before. Well, the weather literally put a damper on the night and catches in individual traps were well down. I did not get the results I had hoped for, with species I knew to be widespread and common turning up only in small numbers and sporadically due to the small sizes of the samples in the traps. However, twenty-nine lights were operated that night and, owing to this large fire power, we ended up accumulating an impressive list of species, and most of the specialities were seen at least once. A full account was provided for the journal (McLean & Waring, 1989). The meeting seemed to be enjoyed by all and was a successful social occasion (Fig. 1) One group had come down from Derbyshire and were very pleased to see several wetland species and to experience the Fen, so much so that they requested details of the necessary contacts so that they could return on future occasions and continue to extend and up-date the moth list for the site. Subsequently, a full list of the species we recorded was supplied to the site manager and local Nature Conservancy Council (NCC) office as it then was, the data were entered onto the Invertebrate Site Register and the results were a substantial contribition to an unpublished report by a new member of this Society (Howton, 1991), who offered to compile all the records on file for me as a result of his interest in the site. The Chippenham Fen experience evidently did not deter people from attending field meetings led by Waring because several of the same faces turned up again just a couple of weeks later at Cranwich Plantation. For this meeting I had asked Gerry Haggett if he would join us. Many members will know that Gerry produced the book on the larvae of British Lepidoptera not figured by Buckler, which this Society published in 1981 but which is no longer available (Haggett, 1981). It is in fact a BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 25 Fig. 1. One of the lights operated at Chippenham Fen, 2 July 1988. Left to right are: Alison, Meral and Allon Jenkins, Andrew Halstead and David Young. compilation of eleven illustrated papers published over a number of years in the Society’s journal, the result of a life-time’s work on larvae, some of it with the guidance of the late A. J. Wightman, who also worked extensively on this subject. Gerry and I had got to know each other a year or more previously due to a shared interest in the larvae of wainscot moths and were then engaged in what turned out to be an unsuccessful search for the viper’s bugloss moth Hadena irregularis in Breckland in 1988 and 1989, covering all the known sites for the larval food-plant (Waring, 1989b, 1990b). I felt that the chance to search for moth larvae with Gerry would be a considerable draw to the day-time part of the meeting for members. I was disappointed therefore when only three members turned up for this part of the meeting. True, the weather forecast had been dodgy for the day but, as it turned out conditions were good and those of us present had a most enjoyable and productive time examining larvae with Gerry. I realized how fast he beats compared to me, which helps to explain why he ended up with a longer list of species. Seeing him at work was an insight I would not have got from any book. I remember him putting me on the spot when we came across the larva of the least black arches Nola confusalis, which I was having trouble identifying, and then him explaining the diagnostic features. The evening session at Cranwich Plantation was much better attended, rising to nine members in addition to the leaders and it was then that I realized how much our membership is orientated to light-trapping moths rather than day-time work on larvae or on other orders of insects. In discussing the higher attendances at this and other light-trapping sessions compared with day-time meetings, I have come to realize that other practical considerations are involved as well. For some there are family commitments to take into account, Saturday shopping or ferrying youngsters 26 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 around. There is also the matter of time spent travelling to the venue and understandable difficulties in making an early start after a hard week at work and the time taken to load the vehicle etc. With this in mind, you will see that some of the 1995 meetings start after lunch, to give people the chance of a cémfortable drive and to reduce the length of the day when light-trapping is involved. Other meetings start in the morning because this time is best for encountering some Diptera and other insect orders. I have also come to realize, through field meetings, how little nocturnal work is undertaken by students of orders other than the Lepidoptera and that there can be a sort of day and night shift amongst members, with some turning up only for one or the other. Those that attended the night-time session at Cranwich enjoyed what many said was the best night of 1988. It was a truly incredible night. The moths were so numerous and varied that almost everyone had over a hundred species of macro-moths at each light-trap. New species continued to be added steadily throughout the warm dry night and virtually everyone stayed on, manning the traps until dawn, even if they had not intended to stay so long. A total list of 168 species of macro-moths alone was recorded for the night. Apart from manning my light, I spent a large part of the night visiting the other members and sweeping larvae with Gerry on the way, learning to recognize some of the numerous geometrid larvae on bedstraws Galium spp. in the process. The whole meeting was one of the most successful and productive I have witnessed and a great source of satisfaction for me. I prepared an account for the journal (Haggett & Waring, 1989) and sent the full list to the Forestry Commission as an addition to their records for this site and as a testimony of the level of interest in what some may regard as a very specialized part of the wildlife value of their holdings in Breckland. Gerry had prepared a set of management guidelines for these plantations which were established on Breckland heaths, and he emphasizes the values of the rides and open spaces as well as the trees and shrubs. I would like to feel that the results of our field meeting add to the weight of that case and provide a tangible demonstration of it. WOODWALTON FEN IN 1989 Encouraged by the good attendance of my two field meetings in 1988 and the results at Cranwich in particular, I arranged two more in 1989. Both of these were at Woodwalton Fen, Cambridgeshire (old Huntingdonshire, VC 31). Both had the principal aim of locating the marsh moth Athetis pallustris which was a major speciality of the Fen in the 1930s through to the 1950s (e.g. Edelsten et al., 1944ab) but which has not been recorded from this site since the 1960s, in spite of several searches. When I moved to Peterborough in 1987, Woodwalton Fen had been one of the local sites I had most wanted to study. I had been there once before but had never had a chance to look for moths there. During 1987 I managed to run light-traps there during each month from early May to September in spite of a badly fractured arm resulting from when a car knocked me from my bike on the way to work, on the second week of my new job with the Nature Conservancy Council. I well remember carrying and starting generators with my left hand, due to the pain from the metalwork I carried around in my right arm until this was taken out in 1988. I failed to find the marsh moth at Woodwalton in 1987 and 1988.in spite of using all the techniques described by Edelsten and others, including the litter-pile method for the larvae, which I have used with success for this moth in Lincolnshire. At Woodwalton Fen I searched existing large piles (Fig. 2) of cut litter on the fen and arranged small piles at intervals along the droves which I later searched, all to no avail. As at Chippenham Fen, a field meeting offered the chance of getting numerous BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 27 Fig. 2. Bernard Skinner and others lifting litter piles for marsh moth larvae in Lincolnshire, 29 September 1990. The same method was unsuccessful at Woodwalton Fen in 1987 and 1988. light traps out over the Fen and having people walking around with Tilley lamps searching for the moth. Now experienced in the ways of the Fen and how it is apt to turn very cold and unproductive at night in June, I picked two dates which would suit the moth, based on previous records, as an insurance against unfavourable weather. Of course Woodwalton Fen has many other attractions and it remains one of my favourite local sites for walks at all times of the year. Both the field meetings at Woodwalton Fen were well attended; for example we had 27 people and 31 lights, including five actinics, on 3 June. Many interesting insects were recorded and the meetings provided the opportunity to fill the Rothschild Bungalow (Fig. 3) in the centre of the Fen with entomologists regaling each other with stories, as in former days during the history of this famous Fen. The Bungalow was and is a great place to pass round specimens in pill-boxes and examine them without fear of losing them. Some of us spent the night in the Bungalow and others in cars at the entrance. Back in the 1980s the Bungalow used to be left open and was a welcome retreat from the rain or mosquitoes. There was a visitors’ book into which I added the names of the more interesting moths I saw on each visit and I think some of us signed it on these field meetings, for posterity. Sadly, the Bungalow is now kept locked, following an incident of vandalism. Fortunately, the damage was minor and this fine thatched building remains available, by arrangement, for future entomological meetings and I hope it will continue to be so used. We did not succeed in finding the marsh moth and it has not been reported subsequently. I believe this moth is one feature of this Fen which has been lost, possibly as a consequence in some way of flooding in the 1960s or the increased wetness and possible over-nutrification of the Fen, from water-borne agricultural fertilizers and consequent changes in the 28 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 Fig. 3. The Rothschild Bungalow at Woodwalton Fen. vegetation. Comments were collected from those who attended the meeting and had known the fen in the past. The field meeting enabled us to make comparisons that would be difficult to make on paper and without visiting the site together. It seems that places on the Fen where the marsh moth occurred, which had a sparse, dry field- margin quality when the Fen was drying out and becoming encroached with scrub in the 1950s, are now high luxuriant reed growth Phragmites australis. Other species of moth, like some of the reed-dependent wainscot moths, are doing very well as a result of present management. The continuing task is to find ways of maintaining all the species somewhere on the Fen, so that marsh carpet moths Perizoma sagittata and other specialities and their foodplants are not swamped, literally, by wainscot habitat. A memorable and welcome feature of these two meetings was the use of an Argo- cat, a balloon-tyred semi-amphibious vehicle that I was trained to drive for the meetings. We used the Argo-cat to transport generators and other heavy equipment to remote parts of the Fen and to collect up tired moth-trappers at the end of the session. This greatly improved our coverage of the Fen. We made sure, in particular, that the best stands of meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria were light-trapped because this was a plant with which the marsh moth had been associated in the past. What we did discover as a result of the field meetings at Woodwalton was that the distribution of the concolorous moth Photedes extrema varies considerably on the Fen. At one time it was common along many of the droves but this was not our experience, though it remains widely distributed in small numbers. However, at the south-east corner of the reserve there is a field in which the larval foodplant Calamagrostis canescens remains abundant. On 17 June twenty-three concolorous moths were recorded here at one m.v. light mounted five feet (cl.5m) above ground when the moth was only reported in ones and twos elsewhere on the Fen. The BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 29 concolorous started to arrive as soon as it was dark and continued to come until 23.50 hrs, while the light was operated until 00.50 hrs (Peter Waite, pers. comm). This result, along with a full species list, was sent to the site manager of the reserve and attention was drawn to its importance so that it could be taken into account during habitat management work. The day-time part of the first of the two meetings was covered in our journal (Kirby, 1990). I presented an exhibit of photographs and results at our Annual Exhibition and reported the main results of the night work in Waring (1989b). I intended to do something more ambitious with the light-trap results and write a larger account for this Journal but more pressing matters and other work prevented this. I then passed the results to Barry Dickerson, the county lepidoptera recorder for vice-county Huntingdonshire, who spent some hours sifting them and now has a copy of the data for his own use. Like many other of the field meetings of our Society, an account has not yet appeared in the Journal. I take this opportunity of reporting the Woodwalton meetings here, belatedly. Being the guilty party, perhaps I might be allowed to offer the following advice to other leaders in a similar position. No matter what grand plans you may have for the data collected, and even if hardly anything was recorded and it rained all day and night, do put a few lines together for the journal at the earliest opportunity and mention if further material was collected and more results are likely to appear. There is always the temptation to wait for the specialist to provide the very last identification, which has to be done over the winter when fieldwork is less demanding. I have been waiting just over ten years for one hymenopterist to identify a small number of specimens! The greater the time that elapses between the field meeting and writing the report, the less likely it is to come to fruition. A preliminary report is better than nothing at all and gives a lead that can always be followed up in the future if necessary. HOLME FEN IN 1992 Interest in having further field meetings in the Fens resulted in the Holme Fen meetings in 1992. This Fen is more a birchwood now, but it still has some wetland areas and some interesting dykes. At this stage I had become interested in the status of the oak eggar moth Lasiocampa quercus in the Peterborough area because I was intrigued to find it occurred in my back garden in Werrington, just north of Peterborough (Waring, 1994d). There are old records from Holme Fen but the county recorder had not seen the moth there in the many years he had been operating and considered it very rare in the county. During the meeting, which was well attended and a most enjoyable social occasion, we attempted to assemble males to a virgin female brought along for the purpose. We failed, I suspect because we did not get the female set up early enough in the afternoon. The moth was given to one of the party to try her at Woodwalton Fen, where she succeeded in attracting a mate, producing an important record for the county, if not on the field meeting. The best laid plans . . . The meeting was reported in full in Waring (1992c). BERNWOOD FOREST IN 1993 On the 1993 field meeting at Bernwood Forest, on the border of Oxfordshire with Buckinghamshire, I returned to an old stamping ground in which I used to record butterflies during the 1970s and in which I light-trapped extensively during the 1980s while conducting the studies for my Ph.D. (Waring, 1990a). The main aim of the meeting was to check on the continued presence of as many species of moth as possible to get 1990s records and maintain recording activity. The past records for 30 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 this site date back to the early years of this century and the list and the changes in the moth fauna were reviewed by Waring (1988, 1990a, c). The support for the meeting was superb and enthusiastic but the weather left a lot to be desired. Nevertheless, two new species were added to the historical list as a result of the meeting. One of these, the pine hawk-moth Hyloicus pinastri is almost certainly a new arrival to the wood since the 1980s. Two came to light in Waterperry Wood, in an area in which I frequently trapped during the 1980s. In addition to general coverage of the rest of the wood by myself and others at that time, the conifer-dependent species were the subject of special study (Hatcher, 1989) but the pine hawk was never found. The moth has been recorded in other places in Oxfordshire, in some of which it is resident, and now it may have colonized Bernwood at last. The other addition to the historical list was the hornet clearwing Sesia apiformis which is now common in some of the planted poplars but may have been overlooked for some years. In addition to the results given in the field meeting report (Waring, 1993) and submitted to English Nature and the Forestry Commission, Peter and Di Sharpe have since found more trees tenanted by the hornet clearwing in the wood. This last snippet of information was gained in conversation on another field meeting somewhere else! SEVEN FIELD MEETINGS IN 1994 Up to 1993 I had led one or two field meetings a year, much like many other leaders. As part of my contribution during my Presidential year I decided to try out various other ideas relating to field meetings and ended up leading seven during 1994. One statement I had often heard was that you will get good turn-outs if you go to famous localities but you won’t be able to get people out to investigate unknown sites. Now, of course, lack of records does not mean a poor site and sites without records are just the sort that need our attention. I was also interested to use field meetings to collect data from sites which are threatened in some way, where invertebrate data might help to defend a site against damage but where little information is to hand. These were some of the motives behind the meetings at Welshbury Wood, Gloucestershire, and Whiteparish Common, Wiltshire. WELSHBURY WOOD IN 1994 Welshbury Hill is nothing if not off the beaten track. There appear to be no moth records whatsoever for this wood prior to the field meeting and it is virtually unknown entomologically. My wife and I visited this site once, in September 1990, on a holiday in Gloucestershire, on the recommendation of Keith Kirby of English Nature’s Woodlands section. The woodland on the top of the hill is full of small-leaved lime Tilia cordata and there is also an iron-age fort among the trees. No doubt the woodland has an interesting history. It is known to have been in existence since before 1600 and therefore qualifies as ancient. Recent work suggests that even some of the living stools of coppiced lime are much older than this! After our walk round I decided that one day I would return to this wood to search for the scarce hook-tip moth Sabra harpagula. This moth is currently unknown outside the Wye Valley on the nearby border of Gloucestershire and Monmouthshire and is dependent on small-leaved lime. In the winter of 1993/94 I wrote to the Forestry Commission who manage the site, sent an off-print of the successful field meeting on FC property at Bernwood in 1993 and obtained permission for the meeting and a set of keys. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 31 Iam delighted to report that this meeting was very well attended indeed. Twenty-two people turned up and at least 19 lights were operated. We had a wonderful time mothing among the limes on this eerie site, to the accompaniment of a long-eared owl chick Asio otus calling like a squeaky gate and with the occasional sighting of badgers Meles meles. Preliminary reports have appeared in several places already (Brock, 1994; Waring 1994e, 1995a) and the meeting and results were featured at our Annual Exhibition. The big news is that we discovered a colony of the small-leaved lime-dependent pyralid moth Salebriopsis albicilla which was not known to be resident outside the Wye Valley. Bernard Skinner had tipped us off to look out for this moth and in fact joined us for the night, even though he had suffered a stroke only weeks before. The discovery of this moth bodes well for the scarce hook-tip. However, we did not find the latter on this occasion, or in adjacent Flaxey Wood on the same night, or on return visits which Bernard and I made independently in the subsequent days, even though we had established that it was flying in the Wye Valley on the night before the field meeting. Unbeknown to me when planning the meeting, management of the limes was under discussion and debate by various concerned parties, including the Forestry Commission. I have since been able to help with advice on the best options for the moths, based on the work done and data collected on this field meeting. WHITEPARISH COMMON IN 1994 Whiteparish Common was threatened by a road-building proposal when I submitted it for inclusion in the 1994 field meetings programme. I knew of the site from a summer spent in south Wiltshire in 1983 when I was surveying nearby Bentley Wood and was aware of Roy Pitman’s work in the area in the 1930s and 1940s from meeting him and from his records in the Wiltshire county list of Lepidoptera (de Worms, 1962). When I checked the Invertebrate Site Register and other files for information on the site, I found that there was nothing on the moths of the site since the 1950s. During my survey of Bentley Wood (Waring, 1984), I discovered all sorts of species that had not been reported from there for years and I felt sure that Whiteparish Common would perform likewise, particularly since Norman Hutch- inson of Fordingbridge had just succeeded in finding the triangle Heterogenea asella there. Norman kindly obtained permission from the private owner for us to hold the field meeting, which took place on 2 July. This date was hand-picked for certain nationally scarce species which were possibilities given the type of habitat and given records from comparable sites in the region. Members of this Society joined members of Butterfly Conservation and several local contacts for a day-time walk round the site and for light-trapping. Among other important species, we discovered the scarce merveille du jour Moma alpium at several places on the site. The presence of this Red Data Book species alone greatly strengthens the conservation case for preventing damage to these woodlands. A full list of the species we found was supplied to the owner and to a local site defence group and the results were quickly published (Waring, 1994e, 1995a), and will soon appear in this journal. Fortunately, the road proposals which threatened this site have since been dropped, though for reasons other than the moths I must admit. Nevertheless we have demonstrated the continuing presence of nationally scarce and threatened species at this site and this will have to be taken into account if any other proposals arise which threaten this site. MEETINGS THROUGHOUT BRITAIN Another statement I had heard was that meetings would flop if they were not held within easy striking distance of London and the south-east. After all, the Society has 32 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 only recently grown out of being the old ““South London” Society (back in 1968!). Well, if we are truly to be BRITISH, meetings should be held throughout Britain. I am sure that we could attract many more members to the Society from northern Britain if we were seen to be more active in these areas. Few people would disagree that Inverness-shire is hardly within a morning’s drive of London, but this is where I arranged one of the field meetings. Actually, I wanted to hold it further north still, in East Ross, in some Caledonian pine forest which had never been worked for moths before. However, the owner was wary of allowing more than a couple of hand-picked and trusted people onto the site so it was clearly not appropriate for a field meeting. I arranged to light-trap this site with one other person and not to publish the results, so I visited it in advance of the field meeting, which I arranged for Abernethy Forest, courtesy of the RSPB. Our Society made a £1000 donation to the RSPB from the Hammond fund in 1988 to help them buy the Abernethy Estate, which includes Caledonian pine forest, with capercaillies Tetrao urogallus and ospreys Pandion haliaetus, and heather moorland. This was the site about which John Owen gave his Presidential Address (Owen, 1989). My field meeting provided the opportunity for members to inspect the site and see what a worthwhile cause our donation has supported. But who would come? Well, several people as it happened. Mr and Mrs Rich Austin came all the way from the Channel Islands, but they also happened to have relatives in the area. Mike Britton, from Yorkshire, had arranged a holiday at Nethy Bridge and came along. Robert Hoare and Gordon Ramel came up from the south (Winchester and Exeter respectively). Meanwhile, I took the precaution of inviting the Highland Biological Recording Group to add some local support and they fielded three members. I had picked the date to coincide with the end of the Scottish Entomologists’ week at the Bettyhill Field Station on the north coast of Sutherland, part of which I attended, and I hoped that some attenders might have joined us on their journey south. However, they were possibly exhausted after some days of fieldwork in Caithness and Sutherland and did not swell our numbers on this occasion. One of this group remarked that he was surprised to hear that the BENHS was holding a meeting here and had not thought to consult his events card! Lest anyone feel that this is in any way a criticism of a Scot and not politically correct in some way, I would add that, like most of the group I met at Bettyhill, the gent in question was an Englishman, up from Hampshire no less! The Abernethy meeting was also advertised as part of Butterfly Conservation’s Woodland campaign of 1994. We had a productive daytime session in which invertebrates of a range of orders were recorded and I was particularly pleased to see larvae of the light knotgrass moth Acronicta menyanthidis. We did not see a capercaillie, though we encountered an egg-shell of this large game bird. In between the afternoon and evening sessions we watched the ospreys around the nest at Loch Garten. One species we particularly hoped to see at night was the cousin german moth Paradiarsia sobrina. At the request of the RSPB we visited a part of the Estate which has been little recorded entomologically and, although it was a cold night, it was a delight to see four cousin german moths among the other species at light. A full list and account of our results was sent to the RSPB and to the Highland Biological Records Centre for their data-bases, to the local Lepidoptera recorder and to the Bug Club for their magazine. The meeting was also featured in Butterfly Conservations’s Annual Review for 1994 (Waring, 1995a), British Wildlife (Waring, 1994e) and a full account can be found in our Journal (Waring, 1995c). As I left the RSPB’s lodge on the fine morning of 14 August, the reserve warden, Stewart Taylor, said that our Society was very welcome to return to Abernethy and BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 33 to use the Lodge for overnight accomodation. I would strongly recommend that we take up this offer. We could even book for more than one night to give members more time on the site. Abernethy is a real Highland experience, fine habitats to explore and the Lodge, which is the largest all-timber building in Scotland, has a special character of its own and excellent facilities for small parties of entomologists to work and dine in (Fig. 4). JOINT FIELD MEETINGS Regarding joint meetings, some eyebrows were raised when I suggested I would like to hold several joint meetings with Butterfly Conservation. I am pleased to report that these went well and there will be more in 1995. Many members of Butterfly Conservation are keen on other aspects of natural history apart from butterflies and the interest and profile of moths within this society is growing and being developed all the time (e.g. Waring, 1991b, c, 1992e, 1994c). There was a very good response to an appeal in Butterfly Conservation News for records of certain of the less common day- flying moths (Waring, 1991c, 1992f) and I have had a number of letters of support, interest and feed-back from each of the other articles. A considerable number of people are long-time members both of BENHS and BC, myself included. There is a lot to be said for joint meetings with local societies and I am sure there is a lot of future potential here. In many ways it should be a courtesy to involve local societies if possible, when working in their area. From a purely practical view this is also likely to bolster numbers attending in areas where our membership is thin and make meetings in such places more viable. The field meetings in the Mawddach Valley Woodlands, Abergwynant, Merionethshire (Waring, 1994e), and at Cantley Marshes, Norfolk, were good demonstrations of this. Fig. 4. The RSPB lodge at Abernethy. 34 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 At one of my first Council meetings as junior Vice-President of our Society, I drew attention to the RSPB’s appeal for the purchase of Cantley Marshes. I had visited other sites elsewhere in the Yare Valley and knew them to be excellent for wetland insects. I asked Council to consider a donation to this appeal, 6n the understanding that our Society would be able to explore the invertebrates of the site. I was delighted when the Council voted to back this idea and a donation was made. I then set about arranging a field meeting for members to inspect the site that they had helped to buy. There was a good turn-out from members, as I had hoped. The members of the Norfolk Moth Survey were also invited and turned up in droves! We ended up with over thirty people attending and we were able to cover the adjacent Buckenham and Strumpshaw Fens as well. Many nationally scarce and local species were recorded. A good reason for joint meetings is that it enables both societies to develop closer links and learn about each other’s activities. Allies can be useful and I would like to think that the membership of many local or regional societies might be interested in joining our national society and enjoying the services it can offer. The only problem with leading seven field meetings in 1994 is that I ended up with the job of Field Meetings Secretary as a result! FIELD MEETINGS IN THE FUTURE I am sure that the value of field meetings will continue to increase. It sometimes seems that in Britain so many people seem to be adopting a passive, stay at home, spectator and consumer approach to life, and an increasingly insular one with fewer social contacts. Field meetings provide an opportunity to break out of that, to get out, meet new people with similar interests and do something that is not man-made, charged by the hour and over-prescribed. Also, in a countryside where quality habitats are diminishing and permits and paperwork are necessary to visit many of the remnants, field meetings are a big help for the member who wishes to explore good sites without becoming personally involved in the bureaucracy. The need for the data we collect on field meetings has never been greater. The ability of this Society to hold successful field meetings which produce useful results counts very much in its favour. Such field meetings are one of the activities and products of the Society which other organizations and the general public can appreciate as being of worth. So the more we promote our work, the greater the advantages to the Society and its members. I would like to see some field meetings each year developed in various ways. We plan to have a proportion of future meetings devoted to sites which are threatened in some way or where data are needed to help with habitat management issues. I have incorporated these ideas in compiling the 1995 programme. The problem with threatened sites is that it can be difficult to obtain permission for the meeting. Four sites had to be excluded from the calendar in 1995 because permission could not be obtained. The Society needs to consider our course of action when we are concerned about a threatened site but cannot obtain permission to explore it. One option may be to publish details of the sites where permission has been requested and denied. This will at least promote the fact that we are concerned about the wildlife which may be at risk. Our informal conservation group, co-ordinated by,Stephen Miles, will select some sites for attention each year and any members of the Society are most welcome to draw our attention to any others. In addition, I wonder if it may be possible to collect quantitative as well as qualitative information on some of our meetings. For example, it is sometimes useful to compare the numbers of individuals of particular species seen in different habitats. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 35 There can be very marked differences in numbers (Waring, 1989a; Majerus ef al., 1994) even though the total species list for both may be similar and this can shed light on the effects of different management histories and other factors. Such comparisons depend on adopting standard methodology but this can be arranged on site during the field meeting. Waring (1989a & in press) provides some suggestions for light-trappers for example, and a standard method for beating larvae is discussed and developed in Waring (1990a). The accompanying diagram (Fig. 5) shows the results I obtained when I ran four identical actinic light traps all night over the same period in four types of managed habitat at Woodwalton Fen in 1987. I also replicated the experiment at Chippenham Fen at the same time. Both sites produced the same pattern of results. All four of the reed-dependent species shown were most abundant in the “tall fen” 80 Pyralid C. phragmitella 70 80 Fen Wainscot A. phragmitidis 70 S SS = Sis Number of individuals trapped s S Se = x SNS = ass x wae ee Carr Tallfen Cut Grazed Carr‘ Tallfen Cut Grazed | | Woodwalton Fen Obscure Wainscot Silky Wainscot M. obsoleta 18 C. maritima || Chippenham Fen on Number of individuals trapped S Carr Tallfen Cut Grazed Carr‘ Tallfen Cut Grazed Fig. 5. Comparative catches of four fenland moth species at Woodwalton and Chippenham Fens in moth traps operated in different habitats. 36 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 sites and uncommon or absent in the grazed areas, which conforms to expectations based on our knowledge of their ecology. Some species appear to be less tolerant of invading carr woodland or reed-cutting than others. The differences between catches can be very marked and each habitat is likely to have species which are most common there. Field meetings with numbers of people on site simultaneously provide an opportunity to collect good data about the habitat associations of our invertebrates by comparing different parts of the site and this opportunity should be exploited. A FEW TIPS FOR ORGANIZING YOUR FIELD MEETING (1) Permission.—If you have a site but do not know who to approach for permission to hold a field meeting, the owner or manager of the site can usually be established by contacting the local office of the appropriate government conservation agency (CCW, EN, SNH) or county wildlife trust, each of whom are in the telephone directory. In case of difficulty, the Head Office numbers are CCW: 01248 370444; EN: 01733 340345; SNH: 0131 4474784. (2) Site maps and other background information.—Most sites of obvious wildlife interest have some background information available on them which is not difficult to obtain. If the site has been notified as a site of special scientific interest (SSSI), you are home and dry. Vast amounts of work have been done in recent years, at tax-payers’ expense, to compile site descriptions and site maps for SSSIs. The SSSI citation for the site, which includes a summary of these data, is a public document. The country government agencies given in (1) should be able to supply a few photocopies of this and the SSSI map. The map will be useful to members to find their way around the site. Marking up the map is much the best way to record where invertebrates and other wildlife were found. The meeting point and any “‘no-go”’ areas can also be marked. The wildlife trusts are often the best bet for information where non-SSSIs are involved. (3) Objectives for the meeting —All the meetings I have organized have had specific objectives which provided some of the reasons why I organized the meetings in the first place. Having one or two specific objectives may help encourage people along. Having said that, simply recording as many species as possible is a perfectly valid objective, but do at least let people know in advance what habitats to expect. (4) Advertising the meeting.—This starts by compiling details for inclusion in the field programme. Follow the format in the 1995 programme and you cannot go wrong. Post it to the Field Meetings Secretary at any time before the middle of January of the year in which the meeting is to take place. We are going to aim to get the programme approved at the February council meeting and issued shortly afterwards, before people have a chance to book up their diaries with other events! In 1995 we are also advertising the meetings to the Amateur Entomologists’ Society, who do not have a field meetings programme of their own, and some of the meetings will be advertised to Butterfly Conservation. Try and get your meeting advertised to local naturalists’ groups but be aware that some issue their meetings calendars earlier than ours, so make preliminary contact in the autumn if you can. In some cases you might be able to get a local expert out on site to say a few words of background information and point out some features of the site at the start of the meeting. (5) Safety —Field meetings must be undertaken in a responsible fashion and all reasonable precautions taken to ensure they proceed safely. Members and guests are responsible for their personal safety and equipment. In addition our Society has insurance cover*. All fieldworkers would be sensible to have a basic first aid kit in the car or with their field equipment, to bandage any cuts etc: These kits can be obtained * See announcement in Br. J. Ent. Nat. Hist. 1995; 8(3): inside back cover. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 37 inexpensively from chemists. It is a good idea for the leader to have one to ensure that at least one kit is on site. (6) Recording and promotion of the results of the meeting——The main report of the meeting is for the Journal. This provides a historical record of the more significant results and we have records of these going back to the earliest days of the Society. I have often thumbed through old reports for information and with computer indexing a real option now at Dinton Pastures, it will become much easier to find out if and when the Society has visited the site before and what was found. The reports have varied in format over the years and depending on the author. Some are no more than a paragraph, others include full species lists and occasionally one or more photographs. In general, I think the more information is included the better and the inclusion of photographs of the site, people and equipment greatly increases the value of the account, particularly when you look back on meetings after a few years or decades have elapsed. Off-prints of these reports are most useful for distributing to land-owners etc, and can be supplied to leaders. (7) Additional promotion of the results —A lot can be done to benefit the Society if a short report of the meeting can be prepared the day after the meeting. A brief note of the most interesting records of the animals and plants that can be identified reliably in the field can be included in the various wildlife reports which appear in the bi-monthly British Wildlife (BW) magazine and can reach a wide but discerning audience numbering several thousand within eight weeks. Several of our members contribute to the reports in BW and may be able to include appropriate records if these are sent promptly, while they are topical. I have regularly featured moth records from field meetings in the reports I write for BW. Other magazines and papers may respond to a short report, which could lead to something more substantial on the activities of the society. I have found that coverage in the popular press can result in a very poor quality of reporting, and can generate a lot of follow- up correspondence which can be time-consuming for little apparent gain to entomology, conservation or the Society. However, it does serve to raise and keep issues in the public profile. Before embarking on any promotion, it is imperative that the person who gave permission for the meeting is consulted. Their views on publicity should be sought and appropriate arrangements made when applying for access permission if possible. Any publicity about the Society should be cleared in advance with Council, and as Field Meetings Secretary I am happy to act as an intermediary to Council, with a copy or call to our Secretary in case I am unavailable. (8) General responsibilities of the leader—Once a field meeting has been arranged and advertised, the leader or a deputy MUST turn up at the appointed time, even if it is sheeting down with rain and no one has contacted them to say they are coming! There will always be people who come to field meetings at the last minute or who do not advise the leader in advance, and the weather may have been fine when they set off. Hardy souls are not put off by the weather or are prepared to gamble on an improvement later in the day. With modern traffic and delays on the road it can be difficult to arrive exactly at the appointed meeting time, particularly if coming from any distance. Cautious people will frequently arrive early because they have allowed for this, others may be detained, so I generally do not move far from the meeting point in the first half hour. The other main job for the leader is to keep a note of who attends and to compile the report for the Journal. If you get a list of names rather than count heads, you can chase people up for their records if they are tardy in sending them! The leader is not expected to be an expert on the site or an expert entomologist. Also, while he or she oversees the meeting, the leader is not a policeman. It is the responsibility of every person attending to ensure that property is 38 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 not damaged, that any protected species are not removed or disturbed and that the JCCBI codes for collecting and establishment, which the Society endorses, are not contravened. It will become difficult for the Society to obtain permission for field meetings if large numbers of uncommon species are removed s a result. FIELD MEETINGS AND EXPEDITIONS IN OTHER COUNTRIES Members of this Society have demonstrated their concern for insects and other wildlife in places outside Britian, via exhibits, presentations at our indoor meetings and in publications in our Journal. Many past and present members have had the opportunity to pursue entomology abroad, particularly in Continental Europe, and others would like to have the opportunity in the future. Collectively, members of our Society must gather a great deal of potentially useful data from Continental Europe but I must admit I have never been clear where to publish mine to make it available to others. Rightly or wrongly, I have not considered our Journal to be the right place. I have followed a policy of offering reports of my European trips to the Bulletin of the Amateur Entomologists’ Society (AES), which has developed this type of report into a major feature of the journal. This feature of the AES Bulletin is in a large part due to the many examples provided over the years by Peter Cribb and that is where you will find mine (e.g. Waring & Thomas 1989, 1990, 1994). As a lepidopterist, I am also fortunate in the existence of Societas Europaea Lepidopterologica (SEL), which aims to promote the study of Lepidoptera throughout Europe. I have just been elected to the Council of SEL and I hope to use this opportunity to bring the BENHS closer together with SEL so that we are more aware of each other’s activities and concerns. Certainly the Continental lepidopterists I have met are very keen to receive results of our trips and many are remarkably interested in what is happening in Britain. In addition, a European Society of Entomologists has recently been formed to improve communications between entomologists in general and this covers all orders of insects and branches of entomology. Lepidopterists and other entomologists in North America are also well organized into societies so that they can act collectively. What about insects in the tropics and further south? Everyone must now have some idea of the damage to tropical habitats and the pressures on those that remain and on the wildlife that they support. But what to do about it? An option open to all of us is to support organizations such as the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) and I trust that all of you are members of WWF. An Association for Tropical Lepidoptera has recently been formed, based in the USA and it produces the journal Tropical Lepidoptera, which provides reading material and an outlet in which to publish results, though authors are charged for each page they publish, which must discourage many. What if you wish to take things further, to develop your first-hand experience of tropical insects and get involved personally? It strikes me that now that the conservation of tropical habitats has become such a pressing concern, and now that transport around the world has become so much easier, it is time for our Society to offer what help it can. Britain has long had holdings in the tropics and subtropics and some of our members, such as the late Robert St Leger, have collected insects in these places in the past. British museums, such as the Natural History Museum, contain some of the finest collections of specimens, which our members and others have left to the nation as reference collections for use in identifying insects and for other studies. In examining reports of surveys of threatened habitats in the tropics, I am frequently surprised at the failure to include invertebrates in the survey, or the failure to identify properly to species any material that was collected. Often this is due to lack of time or expertise, or because it is felt that the invertebrates would BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 39 contribute little extra to the conservation case because so little is known about their distribution and habits. We are losing species of invertebrates even before they have been described, and more needs to be done. In this context our Society surely has something very special if not unique to offer. Our membership includes some of the most active field entomologists in Britain. Others who may be less able to get out in the field, due to family commitments or advancing years, have skills such as sorting and mounting insects, preparation of genitalia dissections and experience in using identification guides which they could offer. These are just the sorts of skills and capabilities which are often so lacking in the tropical countries and which are so costly or time-consuming to develop. I know that I am not the only one who feels it almost a duty to extend my personal involvement and skills to help in the tropics. Through our Society we may be able to accomplish more together than working as individuals. Isn’t that one reason why the Society exists in the first place? I would like to see this Society assist members to get involved in tropical work in the ways outlined. I would like to see more than just a one-off collecting visit by a few lucky individuals. If possible, long-term links with particular places should be developed so that the Society can contribute cumulatively and see the developing results of its involvement. This is easier to achieve as a Society than as an individual. One of my last contributions in my presidential year has been to sow the idea of mounting expeditions by the Society to current and former British dependent territories. As Richard Jones, Editor of our Journal, remarked at a recent Council Meeting, it seems rather appropriate that the Field Meetings Secretary should be planning an expedition. After all, is it not simply a field meeting in another country? I have selected Belize, formerly British Honduras, in Central America, as the destination for the Society’s first expedition, and the provisional dates are to be two weeks in January—February 1996. Advantages in favour of Belize include political stability, a continuing close link with Britain, an economy which depends heavily on the success of “green” i.e. eco-friendly tourism, and a will to develop this by taking a strong pro- conservation line on development issues. Sadly, these are not features of many destinations where our help is needed. The Natural History Museum, London, has taken similar issues into consideration and is just completing a field station in Belize to facilitate fieldwork and the study of tropical rainforest in the country. It may be possible to incorporate this centre as a destination for the present and future expeditions by the BENHS to Belize, but the current expedition is not dependent on this facility. Dr Malcolm Scoble, our new President for 1995/96, works for the Natural History Museum and I know that one of his wishes during his time in post is to bring our Society and the Museum into a closer working relationship, because we have so much to offer each other. Consequently, I am hopeful not just that the proposed expedition will take place but that together we can develop possibilities for the future. Malcolm and I are both fortunate in that we have been able to gain some experience of pursuing entomology in the tropics and sub-tropics already. I thought I would conclude with a few brief illustrations from my own endeavours, to give you a flavour of the sort of experiences other members of the society may be able to share if my proposals come to fruition, and to rekindle the memories of members who have already been to such places. SUDAN From January 1981 to March 1983 I lived and worked in southern Sudan on ecological impact studies of the construction of the Jonglei Canal. Details of the 40 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 work and the implications of the canal for the people, domestic stock and wildlife which inhabit this area can be found in Howell et a/. (1988). While in the Sudan I was able to carry out standard butterfly transect walks in the vicinity of our base camp in savannah and seasonally flooded grassland every week for over two years, in Jonglei Province. This enabled me to record seasonal variations in the species of butterflies and their numbers, as well as to collect wet and dry season forms. I also ran a Robinson-pattern mercury vapour light-trap every week and recorded moths and other insects. Much of this habitat would have changed, for better or worse, had the canal been completed. Shortly after we finished our project the civil war broke out and it has not been possible to conduct such studies since, not least because some of the areas I worked are littered with land-mines. A recent eye-witness tells me that the people ate all livestock and much of the wildlife in the area before starving and migrating as a consequence of the war. No doubt the vegetation will be changing as a result, possibly even improving, at least temporarily, for Lepidoptera, if larval hostplants are not being grazed as heavily as before. My standard counts provide a base-line and a repetition of them now would enable accurate assessment of any changes. I spent a few tranquil days motoring around the adjacent swamps in a house- boat while I was in Jonglei Province. I used to operate a Robinson trap on the roof of the boat while we were moored for the night. Perhaps I am the first to run a light-trap in these swamps? I was there to study fish breeding grounds, which were likely to be altered when the Canal extracted water from the system. Who knows how the moth fauna might have been affected by the canal? My work, taken in conjunction with predicted changes in the vegetation zones, might hold some clues. While in southern Sudan I made trips to the forests of Bangangai, on the border of Sudan with Zaire, and the Imatong Mountains, on the border of Sudan with Uganda. I reported my experiences of the butterflies and moths of Bangangai in Waring (1992d). The opportunity to see trees with huge buttress roots and watch large numbers of butterflies feeding at damp mud on the banks of streams in the forest was unforgettable. During the civil war from 1956 to 1973 and again during the current one, many people have retreated into the forests in this area for refuge, others to trade for arms at the border, and the large mammals in the area have been extensively hunted for food. Much of the true rainforest has been opened up by felling and shifting agriculture, such that species of the drier savannah woodland are invading and species dependent on rainforest are threatened. The British Overseas Development Administration has supported and operated a timber mill in the Imatong Mountains which has contributed to the felling of the forests there. The forests are full of exciting butterflies, moths and other insects, many of which have not been surveyed. Some special conservation areas were being discussed while I was there and I would love to find out what the current situation is and to have the opportunity to return and examine the Lepidoptera in more detail and contribute to their conservation. At least one species of butterfly I found, Pseudacraea acholica, is confined to the Imatongs I believe. On the peaks of the highest of the Imatongs, at over 10000 feet, are areas of what can only be described as moorland, with giant heathers. Here I saw numbers of the butterfly Issoria hanningtoni imatonga, a sub-species of fritillary endemic to the Imatongs. This butterfly has other sub-species confined to mountain tops elsewhere in East Africa. I also encountered a large lasiocampid larva which I know pleased the late Basil MacNulty. He was trying to identify it from my photographs at the time of his death. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 41 HONG KONG A brief visit to Hong Kong in April 1993 provided the opportunity for me to get to grips with some of the wildlife that occurs in China and south-east Asia. All the large mammals and some species of birds have been lost from Hong Kong, but a great deal of invertebrate interest remains and it is on these grounds that conservation cases can be justifiably made. It was fantastic to run a light-trap in the forests of Tai Po Kau and to experience the arrival at the trap of Atlas moths Attacus atlas, Moon moths Actias selene and a host of other large moths, most of which I could not identify at that time. As each minute went by I had no idea what was going to arrive next; each arrival was of great interest, some were breath-taking in their appearance; it was a tremendous thrill. My wife and I were only in Hong Kong for three weeks and did not operate the light-trap every night. Nevertheless, it has taken me two years to identify all the species we recorded, working in my spare time. It would have taken a lot longer if I had not had help from various quarters nor access to the collections in the Natural History Museum. A paper on the hawk-moths (Sphingidae) we found was published in this Journal (Waring et al., 1994) and the results of this trip and visits to other countries have been the basis of a number of exhibits at our Annual Exhibition. We discovered a hawk-moth new to Hong Kong during our visit and this was illustrated in the Exhibition Report (Br. J. Ent. Nat. Hist. 7: 145 & Plate 1). A second paper reporting all the other moths we saw is in preparation. In 1997 the British are due to return Hong Kong to China. What will happen to the habitats which have been conserved as national parks and other special areas during our lease of the Territory? The vast programme of building construction, the bulldozing and the destruction of native habitats now underway across the border in China, and the continuing development in parts of Hong Kong, lead to concern. Will I be able to go back to the woodlands of Tai Po Kau in a few years time and find the moth fauna intact? Will the woodlands still be there or will they have been consumed by the concrete and tarmac of the expanding city of Tai Po? I trust the new administration will take an enlightened view and value such places and the wildlife they support. I am ready to help in their conservation if I can be of any assistance. CONCLUDING REMARKS I hope this address has revived a few fond memories and that you are all fired with enthusiasm to participate in the field meetings programme for 1995. I have put together a full and varied programme for this year, twisted the arms of various people, gently, into leading meetings on particular sites where information on the invertebrates is needed and where it will be used immediately it is gathered. I trust that all meetings will be well attended, enjoyable and productive. There are meetings on virtually every weekend from May to September so even our old adversary, the weather, cannot be bad on them all, can it? Finally, if you have any suggestions for sites where you would like to see a field meeting held, or would like to lead one, or have any suggestions of ways in which these meetings could be improved, do let me know. I am part way through compiling the 1996 programme but there are still some weekends available. I wish everyone a successful field season in 1995. REFERENCES Baker, P. J. 1986. Presidential address. Part 2. Changes in the status of the Lepidoptera of a north-west Surrey locality. Proc. Trans. Br. Ent. Nat. Hist. Soc. 19: 33-42. 42 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 Brock, J. 1994. The very scarce hooktip moth. The first report by our new Moths Officer. Antennae—the Newsletter of the Gloucestershire Branch of Butterfly Conservation 11: 10-11. Chandler, P. 1994. Fieldwork at Dinton Pastures to the end of 1993. Br. J. Ent. Nat. Hist. 7: 118-126. . Edelsten, H. M., Fryer, J.C. F. & Robinson, A. 1944a. Hydrillula palustris Huebner in England. Entomologist 77: 49-50. Edelsten, N. M., Fryer, J. C. F. & Robinson, A. 1944b. Hydrillula palustris Huebner in England. Entomologist 77: 65-72. Haggett, G. M. 1981. Larvae of British Lepidoptera not figured by Buckler. British Entomological and Natural History Society, London. Haggett, G. & Waring, P. 1989. Field meeting. Cranwich Heath Plantation near Mundford, Norfolk, 23 July 1988. Br. J. Ent. Nat. Hist. 2: 157-158. Hatcher, P. E. 1989. Host plants and nutrition in conifer-feeding Lepidoptera. PhD thesis, unpublished. Oxford Polytechnic. Oxford. Howell, P., Lock, M. & Cobb, S. (eds.) 1988. The Jonglei Canel—impact and opportunity. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. Howton, D. H. 1991. Chippenham Fen National Nature Reserve. Provisional list of Lepidoptera. Unpublished report to Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Kirby, P. 1990. Field meeting report. Woodwalton Fen. Cambs., 3 June 1989. Br. J. Ent. Nat. Hist. 3: 126-127. Majerus, M., Grigg, A., Jones, C., Salmon, F., Strathdee. A. & Dearnaley N. 1994. Factors affecting habitat preferences in the Lepidoptera. Br. J. Ent. Nat. Hist. 7: 129-137. McLean, I. F. G. 1990. The 1988 Presidential Address. Part 2. What future for our entomological heritage? Br. J. Ent. Nat. Hist. 3: 35—54. McLean, I. F. G. & Waring, P. 1989. Field meeting. Chippenham Fen National Nature Reserve. Cambridgeshire, 2 Juiy 1988. Br. J. Ent. Nat. Hist. 2: 156-157. Miles, S. R. 1995. Report of the discussion meeting held on 12 May 1992 to consider invertebrate conservation in the United Kingdom. Br. J. Ent. Nat. Hist. 8: 19-26. Owen, J. A. 1989. The 1987 Presidential Address—Part 2. A preliminary account of the beetles of the RSPB Loch Garten Reserve. Br. J. Ent. Nat. Hist. 2: 17-28. Plant, C. W. 1991. The 1990 Presidential Address. Part 2. An introduction to the British wax- flies (Neuroptera: Coniopterygidae) with a revised key to British species. Br. J. Ent. Nat. Hist. 4: 99-117. Skinner, B. F. 1988. Field Meeting report. Dungeness, Kent, 5 September 1987. Br. J. Ent. Nat. Hist. 1: 58. Sokoloff, P. A. 1985. Presidential Address. Part 2. An introduction to the Gelechiidae. Proc. Trans. Br. Ent. Nat. Hist. Soc. 18: 99-106. Stubbs, A. E. 1982. Presidential Address. Part 2. Conservation and the future for the field entomologist. Proc. Trans. Br. Ent. Nat. Hist. Soc. 15: 55-66. Waring, P. 1984. A survey of the butterflies and moths of Bentley Wood, Wiltshire. Unpublished report. Nature Conservancy Council. Newbury. 276pp. Waring, P. 1985. News from Bentley Wood, Wilts, 1984. Note for files. Nature Conservancy Council. Newbury. Waring, P. 1986. Records of butterflies and moths from Bentley Wood, Wilts, 1985. Note for file. Nature Conservancy Council. Newbury. Subsequent moth records have appeared in Bentley Wood Nature Records 1986, 1987, 1988 and 1989, a report produced by the Bentley Wood Trust. Waring, P. 1988. Hell Coppice/Shabbington Wood complex. Bernwood Forest, Buckingham- shire including Bernwood Meadows. Provisional annotated list of macromoths including all known historical records. Unpublished NCC report. Copies available from author. Waring, P. 1989a. Comparison of light trap catches in deciduous and coniferous woodland habitats. Entomologist’s Rec. J. Var. 101: 1-10. ; Waring, P., 1989b. Wildlife reports: moths. Br. Wildlife 1: 47-48. Waring, P. 1990a. Abundance and diversity of moths in woodland habitats. Ph.D. thesis. Oxford Polytechnic. Waring, P. 1990b. Conserving Britain’s rarest moths. Br. Wildlife 1(5): 266-284. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 4B Waring, P. 1990c. The status in Bernwood Forest of moth species which are recognised as nationally uncommon. Entomologist’s Rec. J. Var. 102: 233-238. Waring, P. 1991a. National review of the recording and conservation of the rarer British macro- moths. Entomologist’s Record J. Var. 103: 193-196. Waring, P. 1991b. Some thoughts on moths and the BBCS. Br. Butterfly Cons. Soc. News 47: 19-22. Waring, P. 1991c. Watch out for the rarer dayflying moths. Br. Butterfly Cons. Soc. News 48: 52-54. Waring, P. 1992a. The spread of the dotted rustic Rhyacia simulans Hufnagel (Lep: Noctuidae) in Britain, as reported by the National Network for Recording the Rarer British Macro- moths. Entomologist’s Rec. J. Var. 104: 311-314. Waring, P. 1992b. Progress on atlas of red data book and nationally scarce macro-moths. Antenna 16(4): 136. Waring, P. 1992c. Field Meeting report. Holme Fen National Nature Reserve, Cambridgeshire, 25 July 1992. Br. J. Ent. Nat. Hist. 5: 178-181. Waring, P. 1992d. A butterfly and moth safari to Bangangai Game Reserve on the Sudan/Zaire border. Bull. Amat. Ent. Soc. 51: 264-283. Waring, P. 1992e. The butterflies and moths of Werrington, Peterborough. Extended and revised version. Butterfly Cons. News 51: 59-62, 52: 48-56, 54: 52-61. Waring, P. 1992f. Rarer day-flying moths—a thank you note to all recorders. Butterfly Cons. News 52: 34-35. Waring, P. 1993. Field Meeting report. Bernwood Forest, 31 July 1993. Br. J. Ent. Nat. Hist. 6: 183-188. Waring, P. 1994a. Moth traps and their use. Br. Wildlife 5(3): 137-148. Waring, P. 1994b. Conserving Britain’s rarest moths. Proceedings of the VIII Congress of European Lepidopterology. Helsinki 19-23 April 1992. Nota Lepidopterologica Supplement 5: 51-64. Waring, P. 1994c. Moth projects—some priorities. Butterfly Cons. News 56: 51-60. Waring, P. 1994d. Some interesting moth records from the Peterborough area in 1992 and 1993. Entomologist’s Rec. J. Var. 106: 91-100. Waring, P. 1994e. Wildlife reports: moths. Br. Wildlife 5: 392-393, 6: 53, 120-122. Waring, P. 1995a. The National Moth Conservation Project. Butterfly Cons. Ann. Rev. 1994: 10-11. Waring, P. 1995b. Field meeting report—Dinton Pastures Country Park, Berkshire, 23 April 1994. Br. J. Ent. Nat. Hist. 8: 90-91. Waring, P. 1995c. Field meeting report—Abernethy Forest RSPB reserve, Inverness-shire, 13 August 1994. Br. J. Ent. Nat. Hist. 8: 94-96. Waring, P. 1995. Field meeting report—Catfield Fen Butterfly Conservation Reserve, Norfolk, 16 July 1994. Br. J. Ent. Nat. Hist. 8: 214-216. Waring, P. 1995. Habitat preference in the Lepidoptera and patterns of distribution in tight traps. Br. J. Ent. Nat. Hist. 8: 155-156. Waring, P. in press. Strategic moth recording for conservation purposes. Proceedings of the International Congress of Societas Europaea Lepidopterologica. Lednice 4-9 September 1994. Waring, P. in prep. Atlas of the nationally scarce and threatened macro-moths of Great Britain. Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Peterborough. Waring, P. & Thomas, R. 1989. Butterflies of the Yugoslavian island of Mljet. 19 August—2 September 1988. Bull. Amat. Ent. Soc. 48: 147-149. Waring, P. & Thomas, R. 1990. Butterflies and moths of Northern Spain. August 23—September 5 1989. Bull. Amat. Ent. Soc. 49: 203-210. Waring, P. & Thomas, R. C. 1994. Butterflies and moths of south-east Majorca, 5-11 April 1991. Bull. Amat. Ent. Soc. 53: 121-125. Waring, P., Thomas, R. C. & Li, K. H. K., 1994. Hawk-moths in Hong Kong, April 1993, with ecological notes. Br. J. Ent. Nat. Hist. 7: 181-191. Waring, P. & Thomas, R. C. 1995. Moth recording in the Czech and Slovak Republics, 4-11 September 1994. Bull. Amat. Ent. Soc. 54: 66-76. 44 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 BOOK REVIEW The type-material of Diptera (Insecta) described by G. H. Verrall and J. E. Collin by Adrian C. Pont. Oxford University Museum Publication 3, Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1995. £65, 223 pp, hardback.—As stated in the preface to this book, George Verrall and his nephew James Collin dominated the study of British Diptera for more than a century (from the 1860s to the 1960s). This work was begun to bring order to the joint Verrall—Collin collection at Oxford University Museum, and to identify all surviving syntypes of the species described by these authors. Few species described by them had holotypes designated and there have been few subsequent lectotype designations. The main part of the text deals in detail with all the specific names they proposed, 77 by Verrall and 825 by Collin. These are dealt with in alphabetical order of specific name under each author, precluding the need for an index, and a full list of names is also given in systematic order. More than 10000 specimens are dealt with in the species accounts. Adrian Pont has listed as syntypic all material established as extant which conforms to the distribution stated in the original descriptions, which was sometimes vague, necessitating inclusion of all specimens likely to have been examined by the author prior to the likely date of submission of the manuscript (rather than the publication date). The introductory chapters include biographical details of Verrall and Collin, which are invaluable in bringing together much information not previously available to dipterists. Verrall married into a Newmarket family, later setting up home there. Collin was the son of his wife’s sister and became his secretary in the 1890s, at this time evidently becoming infected by his uncle’s enthusiasm for the Diptera. Both had ample leisure to pursue their studies and Collin’s greater longevity extended the influence of this family over British dipterology through the first two-thirds of the present century. The small selection of photographs are well chosen to illustrate this section, although the family photographs are unfortunately undated. The latest photograph of Collin with C. N. Colyer, L. Parmenter and C. O. Hammond, three of the best known dipterists of his latter years, was taken at Chippenham Fen in the early 1950s (Cyril Hammond visited this site only on 1.viii.51 and 2.vi.52 according to his diaries held by the Society). These collectors are not otherwise mentioned in the text as they did not contribute to the type material discussed. Appendix B does, however, include brief biographies of nineteen other dipterists who collaborated with Verrall or Collin, with details of the present location of their collections where known. The localities of British syntypes are listed in Appendix C, with their vice-counties and four-figure grid references. Curiously, Logie (a locality where many species were collected by Francis Jenkinson) is misplaced in Fife despite its regular designation of ‘Logie in Elgin’ at least in the works of F. W. Edwards who referred to much Jenkinson material. As confirmed by the many central Highland species recorded there, Jenkinson’s Logie is by the River Findhorn (grid ref. NH9646). This work was evidently meticulously researched and few errors or discrepancies have been noted. The synonymy and current nomenclature stated is based chiefly on the Palaearctic catalogue, so the latest accepted name is not always used. For example Suillia dumicola Collin is placed in synonymy with S. mikii Pokorny, following the catalogue despite Phil Withers’ work (Proc. Trans. Br. Ent. Nat. Hist. Soc. 1987; 20: 91-104) establishing dumicola to be a good species. Some craneflies and other species are now placed in different genera from the catalogue. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 45 Inevitably in such a detailed work there were some loose ends. Two of these can be resolved here. Attention is drawn to inaccurate citations of some type localities in the Palaearctic catalogue, largely due to the vague statements made in some of Collin’s descriptions. However, under Xylota xanthocnema Collin, different localities were cited in the catalogue by Peck, said by Pont to be due to ‘some kind of error’. Actually the data given by Peck was taken from Coe’s description of the female (Entomologist’s Mon. Mag. 1939; 75: 224). Under Pipunculus incognitus Verrall, reference is made to erroneous records of this species from Britain. The source of these records was actually due to Verrall himself (Entomologist’s Mon. Mag. 1912; 48: 190-197) recording incognitus from Britain on the basis of specimens of Dorylomorpha beckeri Aczeéel, the correction being made in one of Collin’s publications. The inclusion of manuscript names overlooked in British check lists adds to the completeness of this work and some other previously overlooked names are cited such as Psila uniseta Smith, a synonym of Chamaepsila limbatella (Zetterstedt). Some longstanding errors are corrected, such as the supposed Irish site for Discocerina nectens Collin proving to be Welsh. The immense detail of this work ensures that it will remain a valuable source work for all future researchers of the Diptera. PETER CHANDLER Insects and flowers—a biological partnership, by John Brackenbury. Blandford, 1995, 160 pages, £20, hardback.—Many of the higher plants rely on insects for pollination and this is a relationship that has shaped the evolution of both insects and plants. In six chapters this largely photographic book explores the way in which insects and flowers exploit each other. The majority of the photographs, which are all in colour and of superb quality, feature bees and other hymenoptera but flies, beetles, lepidoptera, mantids and spiders are also featured. Each chapter begins with a short introductory text, followed by the pictures which have descriptive captions. The topics covered include flowers as a food source, the competition for pollen, flower types and pollination mechanisms, the structure of insect eyes and the way in which they see flowers and colours. In the final chapter the author goes further afield to consider adaptations of plants and insects to life in desert and semi-arid areas. With around 80 per cent of the book taken up with photographs it could fall into the ‘coffee table’ category but the text is well written and explains the many interactions between insects and flowers. A. J. HALSTEAD SHORT COMMUNICATION A courtship phase of Lindenius albilabris (F.) (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae).—A pair of Lindenius albilabris solitary wasps courted on a buttercup flower on Mardley Heath, Hertfordshire on the cold, windy morning of 8.vi.1995. The male sat on the female, flicking its overlapped wings like a tephritid fly. The male’s front legs rested on the female’s eyes, whilst the middle and hind legs gripped the sides of her thorax. The behaviour continued on the flower in a glass tube, but the female did not respond.— R. W. J. UFFEN, 4 Mardley Avenue, Welwyn, Herts. AL6 OUD. 46 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 OBITUARY PAUL NEVILLE SIDDONS, 1914-1994 Paul Siddons died of inoperable cancer at his home in#Perranporth on 30th November, 1994. He was well aware of this diagnosis and bore his illness with great courage. He was born at Bath, Somerset on Ist August, 1914. Soon afterwards, the family moved to Newquay and his interest in natural history began at an early age. After education at the then Newquay Boys’ School, he was employed as a clerk to the local gas company until 1941. Having volunteered for aircrew at the outbreak of war, his call-up into the Royal Air Force was delayed due to lack of training places. With posting to 44 Squadron, of Lancaster bombers, he flew 29 sorties over Germany and Italy between November, 1942 and April, 1943. On several occasions his skill as a navigator under extremely hostile conditions had undoubtedly brought aircraft and crew safely home. Following a period of instructing navigators and training glider pilots he took part in operations which included those on D-day and at Arnhem. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal in 1944, and later that year attained the rank of Flying Officer. After demobilization in 1946, he and his wife, Joan, came to live in Perranporth. As a Wayleave Officer with SW Electricity, the work not infrequently took him into otherwise not easily accessible parts of the county. He retired in 1979, and sadly, Joan died after a distressing illness in 1981. Paul was a most modest, sometimes almost diffident person, as reluctant ever to believe that his entomological achievements would be thought worth publishing as he was to speak of his wartime experiences. His interests included painting in oils, the cultivation of cacti and succulents, and several of the ‘‘other orders”’ of insects; but he was at his happiest when netting Microlepidoptera, for which he had the keenest eye, preferring this to their rearing. However, the necessary rearing of, for example, the Coleophoridae was a challenge he also enjoyed—and certainly overcame. His prime interest was in Cornwall, where his particularly thorough investigation of certain favourite localities revealed the presence of numerous species not previously—and in some cases, not since—recorded in the county. Examples are: at Ladock woods, Tischeria dodonaea Staint., Elachista humilis Zell., Teleiodes paripunctella (Thunb.), Epinotia fraternana (Haw)., Strophedra nitidana (F.) and Pammene germmana (Hiibn.); also Ochropleura leucogaster (Freyer), Radford’s flame shoulder, on the same date as one recorded at Swanage, a shared 2nd British record; at the Gannel, Newquay, the first mainland example of Nothris congressariella (Bru.); at Goss Moor, Biselachista serricornis (Staint.) and Donacaula mucronellus (D. & S.); a single Spilosoma urticae (Esp.), the water ermine, taken in 1971, gave credence to a likewise solitary specimen reported there in 1936. At Cligga Head on 2nd July, 1986, within a few hundred yards of his home, he took a pair of Oxyptilus laetus (Zell.), with which, as with the /eucogaster, he did allow himself to be exceedingly pleased! In 1945 he took 3 bath whites at Newquay while on a few days’ leave, which luckily coincided with the ‘“‘great invasion’’. In the early 1950s he bred two perfectly halved gyandromorphs of Pavonia pavonia (L.), the emperor moth, and, even more striking, a specimen in which the forewings are female and the hindwings male. The collection will remain in the county, and access to it can be arranged by contacting the Cornish Biological Records Unit at the Institute of Cornish Studies in Pool, Redruth. Paul’s kindliness, dry sense of humour, knowledge and perhaps most of all, his companionship will be very greatly missed by all his friends; and to his daughter, Margaret and grandson, Robert, we extend our sincere’sympathy. F. H. N. SMITH BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 47 BENHS INDOOR MEETINGS 11 April 1995 The Vice-President, Dr P. WARING showed an exhibit on rearing the oak beauty moth, Biston strataria (Hufn.) and the slender-striped rufous, Coenocalpe lapidata (Hiiban.) (both Geometridae). A freshly emerged female B. strataria was found at 15.10 hrs on 26.iii.95 at the base of an oak trunk, clinging to the bark in sun just above the grass around the roots, in Windsor Forest and Great Park SSSI, Berks. It was placed in a mating cage in his garden at Werrington, Cambs., but no males were attracted. On 1.iv she was placed with two males from Bagley Wood and copulation was taking place by 23.00hrs, which continued until the following afternoon. They separated at about 17.00hrs and the female was placed in a plastic box with newspaper and twigs of hawthorn, oak, birch and sallow. At 9.00 hrs on 4.iv the female was seen placing turquoise eggs in crevices in the bark on the birch twig. Although no other twig was seen to be used for egg laying, when the female died on 8.iv and the box was emptied, over 100 eggs were found in parallel rows in a long strip between the newspaper and the side of the box. Two males and females of C. /apidata were found at rest on Juncus on 30.ix.94 at Lairg, Sutherland, by searching after dark. Yellow eggs were iaid by both females. Those from female A were kept over winter out of doors in an air-tight container. Hatched larvae were found when the pot was inspected on 12.11.95. They were given buttercup and cultivated clematis leaves and brought indoors. Feeding holes were seen in the clematis leaves. Eggs from female B were kept over winter in a jar with moss and other vegetation from the Lairg site in case the eggs needed humid conditions. Many eggs disappeared, suggesting that the plant material concealed a predator, but hatched larvae were seen in mid-March after some buttercup leaves had been placed in the container. The larvae fed up rapidly and by 10.iv the largest were 25mm long. Although young larvae seem to prefer clematis leaves, the older stages fed equally on clematis and meadow buttercup. Feeding takes place after dark. Dr Waring showed some slides of the Juncus flush habitat where the adult moths were found in Scotland. He also showed some slides of the four-spotted moth Tyta fluctuosa (D. & S.), the small eggar Eriogaster lanestris L. and the drab looper Minoa murinata (Scop). Dr Waring’s final exhibit was a desiccated larva he had found in arid grassland in Sudan. It was about 35mm long and 10 mm wide, and densely covered by dark hairs on its upper surface. It appeared to be a beetle larva but no one present at the meeting was able to state with confidence what family it might belong to. Mr R. A. JONES showed specimens of two wood-boring weevils found in a garden in Peckham, south-east London (VC17, Surrey) on 30.iii.95. Euophryum confine (Broun) is a native of New Zealand and was first recorded in Britain in 1948. For several years before that it had been confused with the other species exhibited, Pentarthrum huttoni Woll., which was then a very rare species. E. confine has spread rapidly and is now widespread throughout England. In London it is one of the most common and economically important woodworm beetles, although it only attacks wood that is damp and affected by fungal decay. P. huttoni was probably also an introduced species; 100 years ago it was only known from a few west-country ports where it was associated with wooden casks. It too has spread but not as vigorously as E. confine. It remains very local, although its provisional status of ‘notable A’ has not been confirmed. Mr Jones also showed some colour transparencies taken a few weeks previously in Florida, USA. They showed tree bark with many horizontal lines of puncture marks 48 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 which were oozing sap. They had been made by a type of woodpecker, the yellow- bellied sapsucker, which feeds on the sap. Mr A. J. HALSTEAD showed some colour transparencies of an unidentified moth bred from caterpillars boring in the growing corms of Cyclamen coum. Damaged corms had been sent to the exhibitor in October 1994 from a nursery near Caistor, Lincs. The small pinkish-white larvae were sent to the Natural History Museum, where they were tentatively identified as gelechiid larvae. Adults emerged in March 1995 and these were confirmed as Gelechiidae by Dr K. Sattler but further identification has not yet been possible. It is possibly a species orginating from Turkey/Greece which had been brought to Britain in imported corms. The photographs were provided by the Museum’s photographer. Dr P. WARING said that he had not had a formal reply from the Forestry Commission over their policy of charging for collecting permits. He understood from a contact that two members had had their fees refunded and one had been given a small bursary towards travelling costs in connection with recording work. Dr I. F. G. MCLEAN reported that on 2 April he had seen brimstone butterflies in abundance at Chippenham Fen, Cambs. Dr Waring said it was also numerous at Woodwalton Fen. He said that the recent Dinton Pastures workshop on moth recording schemes had been attended by about 30 people. MIKE EDWARDS spoke on English Nature’s recovery programme for the field cricket Gryllus campestris L. This has always been a scarce insect known from scattered sites in England but it had declined until it was down to one or two sites in Sussex. Before attempts could be made to increase its numbers and make introductions to suitably managed sites, it was necessary to investigate its biology. This showed that much of the published literature on the cricket’s biology in Britain was erroneous. Some of the earlier records of the field cricket’s occurrence and the associated biological data may have, in fact, referred to outdoor colonies of the house cricket Acheta domesticus (L). The speaker’s studies of the field cricket were based on a site in a piece of storm- damaged woodland. He found that multiple matings take place and that females are often held in the males’ tunnels. The male blocks the entrance with his body and males are sometimes found with their abdomens badly chewed where the female had tried to escape. Males do not always make burrows in the soil but will sometimes make pseudo-tunnels in the base of grass tussocks. Males can be located by tracing the sound of their stridulations but this is more difficult if they are not in a soil tunnel. The females lay large eggs in the soil surface. The young nymphs are gregarious in areas of bare soil and do not move into more vegetated areas until the 4—Sth instar. The young nymphs are generally free-living on the surface but they can make burrows, and may use burrows while they are moulting. The overwintering stage is usually the tenth instar nymph which does not diapause but needs cold winters to keep its fat reserves up. Poor wintering causes deformed adults with females having bent ovipositors and they are generally infertile. Successfully overwintered nymphs moult twice more in the spring before becoming adults in April and May. The field cricket is not, as is often stated, a meadow inhabitant but is an early colonist of disturbed ground. Approximately 50% bare ground seems to be ideal and cricket numbers decline when the ground becomes fully vegetated. Marking experiments show that the field cricket is not territorial and will change burrows frequently. A visit to Holland to compare field cricket sites there showed it occupied a wider range of habitats, such as grassy dunes, Deschampsia grassland and heather heathland. All of these sites have areas of bare soil. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 49 Breeding colonies of field crickets were established at London Zoo from overwintered nymphs. They are being fed on a diet of fish food and bran. Keeping the nymphs successfully over the winter is difficult but the success rate is improving. In addition to the breeding tanks, an outdoor colony has been set up in an old marmot enclosure. Releases of nymphs have been made at some of the cricket’s former sites, including Frensham Ponds, Iping Common and Arundel cricket ground. The last mentioned is a chalk site whereas most other localities have sandy soils. Sand warms up more quickly in the spring and this allows earlier development of the adult crickets. At Arundel, steps have been taken to rake out the thatch from the grassy slopes around the pitch in order to improve warming of the soil in the spring. Active management of cricket release sites is likely to be necessary in order to maintain the open ground habitat. This may involve controlled burning, scraping the soil or ploughing strips, or removing vegetation with the aid of a forage harvester. 9 May 1995 The President, Dr M. SCOBLE showed a pinned specimen of a bizarre wingless female moth taken in a pit-fall trap in March in the Kwazulu province of South Africa. The large moth is of an unknown family and its body is covered in spiny hairs. [See update in report of 13 June meeting.] Mr A. J. HALSTEAD showed a specimen of the seven-spot ladybird, Coccinella 7- punctata L. found in his garden at Knaphill, Surrey. It had been killed by the braconid parasite Perilitus coccinellae (Schr.) which spins its silk cocoon between the legs of its host insect. He also exhibited two live insects taken at The Sheepleas SSSI, near West Horsley, Surrey. These were a notable B dead-wood-boring beetle, Ptinomorphus imperialis (L.) (Anobiidae) and a widespread sawfly, Macrophya alboannulata (Costa) (Tenthredinidae); the latter has larvae that feed on the leaves of elder Sambucus nigra L. The following persons have been elected as members: Gordon J. L. Ramel, Bernard S. Nau, Angela Bruce, ‘Ditch’ Townsend, Michael Saynor, Joseph A. Ashley, Malcolm W. Storey and Malcolm J. Taylor. The Pamber Forest Manage- ment Committee has become a corporate member. Dr D. AGAssiz said that he hoped there would be further contact with French entomologists with a field meeting taking place in northern France in late May or June. Mr A. J. HALSTEAD reported that on 13.iv.95 at 8 p.m. at the end of a warm sunny day he had seen a humming-bird hawkmoth in his garden at Knaphill, Surrey. It had flown several times along the west-facing wall of the house, showing an interest in the hanging tiles on the wall before flying off over the roof. Mr R. D. HAWKINS said that he had recently heard crickets stridulating in a garden in Horley, Surrey, and thought they might be house crickets Acheta domesticus (L). Dr I. F. G. MCLEAN said that a brimstone butterfly had been seen laying eggs on alder buckthorn at Chippenham Fen, Cambs on 30.iv.95. Dr BRIAN FERRY described the geography and flora of Dungeness, while its insect fauna was covered by ROGER Morris. Dungeness is by far the largest shingle beach in Britain and is about 2000 ha in area. It consists of a series of shingle ridges which have been laid down by the sea over thousands of years. Gravel from the southern edge of the beach is washed away by the sea and is deposited on the east coast. The ridges are formed when pebbles are piled up by wave action during storms. There is a succession of plants which develop on the ridges over a period of time. The first ridge closest to the sea on the east coast has a few ephemeral plants of the Chenopodiaceae 40 BR, J, ENT, NAT, HIST., 9 1996 family that grow in the strand line. The next two ridges further inland are colonized by sea kale Crambe maritima L. and curled dock Rumex crispus L. These plants grow in pebbles with no soil and are fully exposed to salt spray. Further inland the ridges are dominated by false oat grass Arrhenatherum elatius (L.) Béauy. and sea campion Silene vulgaris (Moench) Garcke, About 14-15 ridges inland the ridges are taken over by broom Sarothamnus scoparius (L.) Wimmer. This is an important plant as it provides a wider range of habitats for insects, and when the short-lived shrubs die they break down and provide an organic soil. Broom-covered ridges can support about 50 species of plants, including bryophytes, compared with 6 species on the preceding ridges, Shepherd’s cress Teesdalia nudicaulis (L.) R. Br. is an annual that grows in bare patches where broom has died and collapsed. Further inland broom disappears and the climax vegetation of shingle heath, characterized by grasses, mosses and lichens, develops, The principal grass is fine-leaved sheep’s fescue Festuca tenuifolia Sibth, and amongst the interesting flowering plants to be found there are large stands of sheepsbit Jasione montana L., English stonecrop Sedum anglicum Hudson and Nottingham catchfly Silene nutans L. The soil on these old ridges is very acid with a pH level of less than 4, a full 5 units lower than the ridges closest to the sea, On the eroding southern coast the predominant grass is red fescue Festuca rubra L, There are also areas of prostrate blackthorn Prunus spinosa L., with its branches almost entirely obscured by epiphytic lichens. There are some natural wetlands at Dungeness but there are also pits created by gravel extraction, The disturbance of the ground mixes sand with the shingle and allows a greater diversity of plants, Ruderal plants such as yellow-horned poppy Glaucium flavum Crantz, biting stonecrop Sedum acre L., red valerian Centranthus ruber (L.) DC., viper’s bugloss Echium vulgare L. and wild carrot Daucus carota L. are frequent in such areas, Roger Morris described Dungeness’s resident insects based on experience gained during a two-year invertebrate survey he had helped to carry out there. As might be expected the insect fauna is closely linked to the vegetation and the coastal ridges are species-poor, The beetle Malachius marginellus (Ol.) is frequent on Crambe flowers, as are bibionid flies, Many centipedes and spiders were caught in pit-fall traps set in the shingle. There is a species of jumping spider that frequents whelk shells and is only found at Dungeness in Britain. The grassy ridges support many ant nests and several Hadena species of moths are found on sea campion. Broom is the first woody plant of any size on the ridges and provides a structure that creates a wider range of micro-habitats for insects, There are some dead-wood insects associated with the dying plants, which also provide nest sites for solitary wasps. Nottingham catchfly is the host plant for the white spot moth Hadena albimacula Borkh, and the case- bearing caterpillars of Coleophora otitae Zell. In the disturbed areas, viper’s bugloss supports five nationally notable or RDB insects and wild carrot is the host plant of the Sussex emerald Thalera fimbrialis Scop. The wetland areas support sallows which are important nectar and pollen sources in the spring, Thirteen species of bumble-bees have been recorded at Dungeness and the sandy areas are important sites for fossorial bees and wasps. Fine sand washed out by gravel extractions has reated some areas with dune-like characteristics, The water/sand interface at gravel pits 1s an interesting area where several scarce bectles and flies have.been recorded, 13 June 1995 The President, Dr M, SCOBLE, announced the death of Stanley Hanson who had been a member since 1949, BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 51 The President reported that the bizarre wingless female moth he had shown at the previous meeting had been identified by Martin Kruger of the Transvaal Museum as Cyrtojana trilineata Auriv. (Eupterotidae). Dr I. F. G. MCLEAN showed some empid flies, Dryodromia testacea Rondani, found at Ivinghoe Common, Bucks., on the evening of 1.iv.95. Both sexes were taken by sweeping flowering hawthorn, with more than 20 individuals being seen in about half an hour. This species belongs to the sub-family Hemerodromiinae and is unusual in this group by being yellow in colour and occurring in dry habitats, often with ancient trees. Most members of this group are dark in colour and are associated with fresh water. Mr A. J. HALSTEAD showed an adult vine weevil, Otiorhynchus sulcatus (F.). This is a widespread and destructive garden pest which has root-feeding larvae. The specimen shown was heavily encrusted with phoretic mites, something that is frequently seen on dung or carrion beetles but not generally on weevils. The vine weevil had been sent to the exhibitor by an organic gardener and it had presumably gained its mite passengers from farmyard manure used in the garden. The President announced that the Society had taken out a public liability policy that gives members cover for claims of up to £2m for losses or injuries sustained by third parties while members are engaged in field work. This is necessary as some land owners are asking for such cover before giving permission for entomologists to collect on their land. A copy of the insurance schedule is on display at the Pelham- Clinton building at Dinton Pastures and a note on the insurance will appear in the journal. Mr R. UFFEN, referring to insurance cover for fieldwork, said that he had been asked to sign a piece of paper by the owners of a gravel pit that would have made him liable for unlimited damages. He had refused to sign. The President also reported that the Charity Commissioners were ready to register the Dipterists’ Forum as a subsidiary charity of the BENHS. Mr B. DICKERSON, who is Lepidoptera recorder for Huntingdonshire, said that one of his recorders had reported to him that a heart and dart moth Agrotis exclamationis L. and a spectacle Abrostola triplasia L. taken in a light trap were mating. They were found on the previous Saturday and were still together at 9.30 p.m. on Monday 12.vi.95. Dr D. AGAssiIz said that he had found larvae of the gelechiid moth, Neofriseria singula (Staud.) at the base of sheeps sorrel, Rumex acetosella L. All of the plants with larvae were growing on active ant hills and he suggested that there may be some relationship between the moth larvae and ants. Dr E. JARZEMBOWSKI spoke on the fossil evidence for the rise and fall of insects. Insects are today an extremely successful class of animal; just over half of all described animals are insects and when undescribed species are taken into account the proportion may be much higher. The fossil record has more insect families than any other type of animals or plants. There are over 1200 fossil insect families of which about two-thirds are extant. Most fossil insects are found as fragments rather than whole insects and they can be overlooked, as fossilized wings can be mistaken for leaves. The earliest fossil hexapods occurred in the Devonian period and were apterous Collembola-type animals. The development of insects from earlier types of arthropods, such as the myriapods, is not shown by the fossil record but some people believe that a group of animals known as enthycarcinoids may be a link. Similarly the fossil record does not show insects in the process of evolving wings, but winged fossil insects are found as early as the Carboniferous period. The first winged insects included 52 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 dragonflies, mayflies, crickets, grasshoppers and cockroaches. The next group developed in the Permian period and had more specialized wing structures. These included bugs, psocids and thrips. Also developing during the Permian period were the more advanced insects which included the Diptera, Coleoptera, Lepidoptera and Hymenoptera. These insects undergo complete metamorphosis and this allows a division of feeding strategies between the adult and larval stages. All of the major groups of insects known today were in existence before the end of the Palaeozoic era. The number of insect orders increased sharply at the beginning of the Carboniferous period, reached a peak in the Permian and then fell at the start of the Tertiary period. They then steadily increased again. Various theories have been put forward to explain the rapid radiation during the Carboniferous period. These include an increase in oxygen in the atmosphere and an increase in food sources to exploit due to the evolution of new plants. The number of insect families over the same period show a similar trend as the number of orders, although the line on a graph shows more pronounced fluctuations. There were marked extinctions of some families during the Carboniferous, Permian, Triassic and Cretaceous periods. The rate of extinctions has declined in more recent times. Angiosperm plants began to develop rapidly during the Cretaceous period. Many insects declined in diversity at the beginning of this period, possibly because their food-plants were being displaced by the new flowering plants. Insect numbers later increased with bugs and Lepidoptera developing strongly in the Tertiary period, well after the angiosperms had become established. The first social insects, the termites, developed in the early Cretaceous, with ants appearing towards the end of this period. Bees are first found in the Tertiary period. The Tertiary is also an interesting time for changes in the geographical ranges of insects. The fossil distribution is often very different from the modern locations of extant species. Dr Jarzembowski closed his talk with an appeal for entomologists to take more interest in the fossil side of their subject. There is a need for people with knowledge of insects and insect structures to search for and identify fossil material. 11 July 1995 The President, Dr M. SCOBLE announced the death of a member Mr Maurice Jackson, who had been Yorkshire Macrolepidoptera recorder for many years. Dr I. F. G. MCLEAN exhibited a live adult shore fly, Clanoneurum cimiciforme Haliday (Ephydridae), which resembles a plant bug, due to the wings being closely adpressed to the abdomen. The insect also progresses via sudden darting, skipping or jumping movements, atypical of most two-winged flies. This example was found at Holme Dunes NNR, a Norfolk Wildlife Trust reserve on the North Norfolk coast, on 10.vii.95. It was swept from a sand bank at the rear of saltmarsh. Mr G. BoyD exhibited a micro-moth tentatively identified as Ypsolopha ?parenthesella (L.) (Yponomeutidae). This was beaten from vegetation at dusk in Southrey Wood near Bardney, Lincolnshire on 8.vii.95. The specimen does not fully conform to the illustrations for this species published by the BENHS some years ago, and was brought along to the meeting with the hope that an experienced microlepidopterist could confirm the provisional identification. The following were announced as new ordinary members: Mr Tony Francis Marshall, Mr Adrian Thorne, Mr Ronald Gash, Mike Fox, Mr David G. Green, Ms Diane Susan Barker and Mr Stanley Dumican. Preliminary reports were received from field meetings held on 17.vi at Dinton Pastures and 24.vi at Dawlish Warren. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 53 Due to the sudden illness of the invited speaker, Mr ROB DRISCOLL of Norwich Castle Museum, the President kindly stepped in and prepared an illustrated talk at very short notice. Dr M. SCOBLE spoke on the work of the Geometridae Research Group at the Natural History Museum. Dr Scoble began by introducing the work of the Geometridae Research Group which he leads at the Natural History Museum. Taxonomists are increasingly working in collaborative groups to tackle projects which require a mixture of skills and which would take many years for one specialist to complete. The Geometridae Research Group is an example of this approach, which includes taxonomic revisions, biological studies and database development within its scope. The characters shared by Geometridae were outlined, including the reduction of prolegs (resulting in the typical ‘looping’ mode of progression), with the appearance of different subfamilies being illustrated with excellent colour slides of living individuals and set specimens. Many adult geometrids are drab moths, but there are some striking and colourful exceptions from tropical regions and elsewhere. It was emphasized that more work is required to resolve the higher classification of the Geometridae; it is interesting to note that similar colour patterns are repeated in different subfamilies defined by morphological and other characters. Adult geometrids possess hearing organs at the base of the abdomen, close to the point of attachment to the thorax. These are consistent in structure throughout the family, except in some wingless females. The emerald moths are well-known because of their striking green coloration which gives them their English name. The pigment responsible for this green colour has been extracted, and has been called geoverdin. It is a substance degraded by light and may be derived from chlorophyll. Sophisticated biochemical techniques are increasingly used by taxonomists to generate additional characters for resolving the higher classification of many groups. Work on Geometridae in Costa Rica was illustrated by slides of the habitats, species and field facilities which visiting entomologists use to explore this diverse and fascinating fauna. Parataxonomists, who are trained in field and basic laboratory techniques, make a great contribution in obtaining material for study, and this approach has much potential for improving knowledge of the fauna of countries other than Costa Rica where there are shortages of trained entomologists and an urgent need for more knowledge of the resident insects. In conclusion, the Darwin initiative was introduced. This was established by the UK Government following the Earth Summit at Rio in 1992. It has been very successful in supporting international collaboration between British and overseas workers on biodiversity, and a Darwin fellow is currently investigating the Geometridae of Costa Rica. The lecture was followed by questions and discussion stimulated by a wide-ranging and stimulating talk. 13 September 1995 Joint meeting with the London Natural History Society Mr R. SOFTLY, an honorary Vice-President of the London Natural History Society, took the chair for the joint meeting held at the Linnean Society’s rooms. Mr Softly announced that Mr Plant’s talk would be the first Brad Ashby Memorial Lecture. The deaths were announced of Frances Murphy, a former BENHS President and Secretary, Eric Bradford, an honorary member and former curator of the BENHS insect collection, and Hugh Michaelis, a microlepidopterist, who had been a member since 1951. 54 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 Mr C. W PLANT showed a selection of the large number of solitary bees and wasps with red data book or nationally scarce status that has been recorded at various sites along the eastern Thames corridor in Essex and Kent. The significance of this area along the River Thames to the east of London for the Hymenoptera—Aculeata has only just been realized. The area is blessed with a number of former chalk quarries— long neglected and now with ecologically significant floras—and in many places these chalk exposures underlie Thanet sand deposits. Additionally there are a number of sand and gravel pits present, whilst elsewhere, Quaternary sands and gravels are present. Many of the pits on the Kent side of the river, including the famous Charlton Sand Pit, are now gone, either partially or totally, but on the Essex side many still remain, though almost all are under threat of development. A great many rare, vulnerable, endangered and nationally notable species have been discovered to breed here making it one of the most important areas of Britain for aculeates. One Essex site in particular—Mill House Wood Pit at Grays—has proved to have a nationally significant assemblage of bees and wasps, as well as the last remaining colony of grayling butterflies Hipparchia semele (L.) in the south-east of England (if one ignores the coastal colonies in Suffolk) and a large number of red data book Diptera. One hundred and sixty-eight Aculeata are so far recorded here including 38 red data book or nationally notable species, due largely to the efforts of Peter Harvey, the Essex recorder for aculeates. The site is currently being built upon and will be obliterated in the next couple of years. It appears that English Nature is either unable or unwilling to intervene. Another site, Dolphin Quarry at Purfleet, Essex, has been extensively surveyed by the exhibitor and also has many nationally significant species. It too is to be developed, though in this case the proposals as they stand are compatible with nature conservation. The insects shown, mostly taken in 1995, were: Aporus unicolor Spin. (Pompilidae), Hedychrum niemelai Linsenmaier (Chrysididae), Sphecodes reticulatus Thom. (Halictidae) and Melitta tricincta (Kirby) (Melittidae) from Mill House Wood Pit, Grays, Essex; Cerceris quinquefasciata (Rossius) (Sphecidae), Philanthus triangulum (F.) (Sphecidae) and Sphecodes niger Sichel (Halictidae) from Dolphin Quarry, Purfleet, Essex; Lasioglossum malachurus (Kirby) (Halictidae) from Cuxton Chalk Pit, Rochester, Kent; Lasioglossum pauperatum (Brullé) (Halictidae) from Rainham Marsh, Essex; Nomada fucata Panz. (Anthophoridae) from Richborough, Kent; Hylaeus signatus (Panz.) (Colletidae) from Ebbsfleet, Kent. Mr Plant also showed a specimen of Nineta inpunctata (Reuter) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae), a lacewing new to Britain. The example shown was a female taken at m.v. light on 26.vi.89 at Eastend Wood, Elsenham, North Essex. This species is confined to the Western Palaearctic and is only known from 15 sites. All records are from light traps and it may be associated with scrub woodland, particularly with small oaks. A paper adding Nineta inpunctata to the British list is in press (Entomologist’s Gazette) and it is included in the exhibitor’s forthcoming AIDGAP key to lacewings, which is currently at the testing stage. Mr D. HACKETT showed specimens of the hoverflies XYanthogramma pedissequum (Harris) and X. citrofasciatum (Degeer). He had seen the former at three sites in the London area—Hampstead Heath, the Gunnersbury Triangle and Crouch End— during the summer. The scarcer X. citrofasciatum had been seen twice at one location in Tottenham. On one occasion a female was seen investigating an ant hill. B. K. WEST showed a series of the marbled carpet, Chloroclysta truncata (Hufn.) (Geometridae) illustrating the range of colour forms taken in his garden at m.v. light during 1994 and 1995. The forms were nigerrimata Schaw, perfuscata Haw., rufescens Strom., mixta Prout and saturata Steph. He also showed an example of f. russata BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 55 Hiibn., which is common in East Kent and may reappear in the London area as melanism declines. Mr R. D. HAWKINS showed a live adult specimen of the eared leafhopper, Ledra aurita (L.) (Cicadellidae) found at Farthing Downs, Coulsdon, Surrey on 11.ix.95. The specimen had been beaten from the new growth of coppiced hawthorn scrub. Mr F. ROCKWOOD showed a colour transparency of a moth that had been bred from some small caterpillars found on bottlebrush flowers (Callistemon sp.) brought into Britain as cut flowers from Western Australia. It appeared to be a Eupithecia sp. (Geometridae). The following persons have been approved by Council as ordinary members: Michael Tickner, James Stollery and Matthew G. Sullivan. Mr S. MILEs said that the Wildlife and Countryside Act was undergoing its third quinquennial review and comments are required by 30 September. Butterfly Conservation wants to increase the protection given to the marsh fritillary, giving it full protection instead of restrictions on its sale. Dr M. SCOBLE gave details of a course on the biology and taxonomy of parasitic Hymenoptera run by the Natural History Museum and Imperial College. It takes place at Silwood Park, Berks on 13-20 April 1996. Mr D. HACKETT announced that he had recently become recorder for stag beetles in the London area and would be pleased to receive records. Mr C. W. PLANT spoke on the subject of a red data list of Lepidoptera and other invertebrates in the London area. He outlined the history of publications listing scarce invertebrates. In 1983 the IUCN produced the first red data book which had just eight UK species, with the large blue butterfly being the only insect listed. The British red data books: 2. Insects and 3. Other invertebrates were published in 1987 and 1991. These introduced the categories of endangered (RDB1), vulnerable (RDB2), nationally rare (RDB3), out of danger and endemic, with an appendix of extinct species. Additional categories of nationally notable A and B have been added for species which may be widespread but are known from small numbers of 10-km squares. Seven hundred and fifteen macrolepidoptera have been recorded in the London area. Three are RDB1, five are RDB2, 18 are RDB3, 45 are Notable A and 88 Notable B, with 10 extinct. Almost 25% of London’s moths come into some sort of category. National lists may not serve local needs. Some insects which are nationally uncommon may not be under threat in the London area. An example is Roesel’s bush-cricket Metrioptera roeselii (Hag.), which nationally has notable B status, but is widespread throughout much of London. Some moths are either local or very local resident species in London. One hundred and four species are recorded in less than 10 of London’s 815 tetrads but 81% of these are not RDB or notable category species in Britain as a whole. Some insect populations have shown considerable fluctuations over the years. The royal mantle moth, Catarhoe cuculata (Hufn.) is restricted to chalk areas and is currently known from seven tetrads in southern London. In the nineteenth century it occurred in four tetrads but during the 1930s it underwent a rapid expansion before declining again. The bee wolf, Philanthus triangulum (F.) was once an RDB2 species but during the last 10 years has become widespread in southern England. Roesel’s bush-cricket is another species currently expanding its range. Should these surges or declines in abundance, which may be only temporary, be counted as significant when considering distributions? Some moths do seem to be genuinely scarce and absent from some apparently suitable habitats. The southern wainscot Mythimna straminea (Treit.) is found in the 56 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 east Thames corridor and Lea Valley but not in reed beds elsewhere in the London area. The pinion-streaked snout Schrankia costaestrigalis (Steph.) is currently known from seven widely scattered tetrads. The chimney sweeper Odezia atrata (L.) was formerly found across London but is now confined to meadow land in NW London. There is a need to highlight species and habitats under threat and to establish management regimes for these sites. Species assemblages can also be used to identify locally important sites. The speaker proposed some additional categories for a London RDB list. These are locally notable A—species threatened in the London area, having declined in recent years and likely to become extinct unless the reasons for the decline are remedied; locally notable B—found in less than 10 tetrads after surveys of suitable habitats; locally notable C—found in more than 10 but less than 30 tetrads after surveys of suitable habitats. The surveys should look for evidence of breeding colonies rather than the simple occurrence of adult moths. The lecture was followed by a discussion on the desirability and practicalities of compiling a local RDB list for the London area. BENHS FIELD MEETINGS Blackhill Mire, Helensburgh, Dumbartonshire, 20 May 1995 Leader: Keith Bland. This was a joint field meeting with Butterfly Conservation to a fine raised peat-moss on the outskirts of Helensburgh. The moss is under threat from the pending extension of the neighbouring golf-course. In spite of the unpromising weather forecast five people attended. However the rain held off and the sun came out allowing several thriving colonies of Callophrys rubi L. to be located. Among the smaller moths Glyphipterix haworthana Steph. and Clepsis senecionana Hiibn. were active on the more open areas while Micropterix aureatella Scop., Ancylis myrtillana Treit. and A. uncella D. & S. preferred more shelter. Larger species were also evident; among the many Ematurga atomaria L. and Neofaculta ericetella Geyer that readily took to flight was the occasional Xanthorhoe designata Hufn. and X. spadicearia D. & S. Two magnificent male Saturnia pavonia L. were seen and a freshly emerged Acronicta menyanthidis scotica Tutt was discovered hardening off. Other imagines recorded were Syndemis musculana Hibn., Epinotia tetraquetrana Haw., Pieris napi L., Aglais urticae L., Eupithecia nanata Hibn., Lomaspilis marginata L. and a single vacated cocoon of Phragmatobia fuliginosa L. Larvae of Lampronia rubiella Bjerk., Hydriomena furcata Thunb. and Operophtera fagata Scharf. were also noted. A drop in temperature at dusk caused a poor response to light with only Lampropteryx suffumata D. & S., Selenia dentaria F. and Cerastis rubricosa D. & S. revealing themselves. Altogether some 25 species of Lepidoptera were recorded. New Forest, Hampshire, 12 August 1995 Leader: Paul Waring. This was a joint field meeting with Butterfly Conservation and was assisted by Hampshire County Council. A total of 63 people attended the meeting, including a BBC film crew of eight and the resulting film was broadcast in the Nature Detective series on 3 September 1995. Eighteen members and friends came for the whole day and the rest turned up for the night work. The main objectives were to record whatever species of animals could be found in Frame Wood and on the surrounding heathland during the day-time and then in the evening to BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 57 divide into small teams for wine-roping, sugaring and light-trapping at a number of pre-selected places dispersed throughout the Forest, with the primary aim of surveying the light and dark crimson underwings Catocala promissa (D. & S.) and C. sponsa (L.). During the day a number of species of interest were seen on the heathland between Frame Wood and Hatchet Pond, including several silver-studded blues Plebejus argus (L.) and grayling butterflies Hipparchia semele (L.), several female and some worn male bordered grey moths Selidosema brunnearia (Vill.), the beautiful yellow underwing Anarta myrtilli (L.), a grass emerald Pseudoterpna pruinata (Hufn.) and a larva of the small chocolate-tip Clostera pigra (Hufn.). This larva was about 5mm in length when found between two leaves of creeping willow Salix repens L. which it had spun together. A few days later the pupa of a parasitoid formed within the larva, whose dead skin dried and tightened around it, and on 29 August a single reddish adult wasp was found to have emerged and was flying within the plastic box in which the larva had been kept alone. The wasp is now with Dr Mark Shaw, at the Royal Museums of Scotland, Edinburgh, for identification. A water rail Rallus aquaticus L. was seen walking over boggy ground by Hatchet Pond while the party was looking for Hampshire purslane Ludwigia palustris (L.), which was found. Dragonflies included the emperor Anax imperator Leach, the common darter Sympetrum striolatum (Charp.) and the common blue damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum (Charp.). Several common lizards Lacerta vivipara Jacq. and three fledgling nightjars Caprimulgus europaeus L. were seen together on the heathland. By day in Frame Wood, a large caterpillar of the buff-tip Phalera bucephala (L.) was found wandering across a path, a range of larvae was beaten from the oaks Quercus robur L., including grey dagger Acronicta psi (L.), light emerald Campaea margaritata (L.), scalloped hazel Odontopera bidentata (Clerck) and peppered moth Biston betularia (L.) and we were serenaded by the wood crickets Nemobius sylvestris (Bosc.) which were moving about amongst the leaf litter. Long-winged conehead bush-crickets Conocephalus discolor (Thunb.) were reported by one of the paths. In the evening session, teams were sent out to six areas of mature oak woodland selected and visited the previous day by John Chainey and Paul Waring, each team equipped with light and sugar or wine-ropes, and accompanied by, or to be visited by, a radio operator from Hampshire County Council. In this way, stands of mature oak in the inclosures of Hursthill (H), Whitley Wood (W), Park Hill (P), Ladycross (L), New Copse (N) and Frame Wood (F), spread over a distance of some 12 by 4km, were covered simultaneously. The idea was to have all groups in communication by radio and mobile phone and to exchange news as it happened, but in the event the radios and phones, which only became available that evening, were not powerful enough for everyone to keep in touch, because of the tree cover. Only groups close together were able to speak directly to each other. Nevertheless this equipment was of some use. All groups were in place and sugar and wine-ropes set out before dusk. The BBC stayed with the largest group, in Frame Wood, and here a system of infra-red illumination coils and a special video camera and monitor were set up by Martin Harvey and Mike Bull of the Nature Conservation Bureau to demonstrate the use of infra-red radiation in observing moths unawares after dark on the wine-ropes. The system is the same as is used by night surveillance firms for security and was very successsful in viewing the copper underwings Amphipyra pyramidea (L.) and A. berbera Rungs which began to arrive at the bait, as many as a dozen per rope. It was 58 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 a warm night, 18.5°C at midnight falling to a minimum of 15.5°C, with a very light shower of rain just about dusk. The light crimson underwing was seen at all sites, the highest total being ten at one site (L), and the dark crimson underwing turned up at all but One site (N), as one or two individuals at each. This is a very encouraging result because lepidopterists had become concerned that the dark crimson underwing in particular had become restricted to a single small part of the Forest. The larvae of both species feed on oak leaves high in the canopy of big trees and seem to need large stands to support viable populations. They have disappeared from woods which have been extensively felled and replanted. Both species highlight the value and importance of conserving stands and belts of mature oaks, which are needed throughout the Forest if the moths are to remain widespread, and the Forestry Commission and English Nature have been reminded of this. The third of the three Catocala species resident in Britain, the red underwing C. nupta (L.) also turned up at sugar during the meeting, at Ladycross and Frame Wood. A waved black moth Parascotia fuliginaria (L.) came to sugar among the old trees in Frame Wood and an old lady Mormo maura (L.) at New Copse. Other noteworthy records included the peacock moth Semiothisa notata (L.) (L,P,F), August thorn Ennomos quercinaria (Hufn.) (P,W), oak nycteoline Nycteola revayana (Scop.) (L), dotted border wave Jdaea sylvestraria (Hubn.) (L), mocha Cyclophora annulata (Schulze) (L), bird’s wing Dypterygia scabriuscula (L.) (F), bordered beauty Epione repandaria (Hufn.) (L,P), buff footman Eilema deplana (Esp.) (F) and pine hawk-moth Hyloicus pinastri (L.) (F). Several species of moth associated with oak were well in evidence at most sites, including the black arches Lymantria monacha (L.), maiden’s blush Cyclophora Fig. 1. Light crimson underwing Catocala promissa (D. & S.) visiting wine-rope. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 59 punctaria (L.) and oak hook-tip Drepana binaria (Hufn.) and we found narrow- winged pugs Eupithecia nanata (Hubn.) from the heathers came to several of the lights. Numbers of moth species and individuals were not high however, the lull in numbers which is a feature of mid-August, before the autumn emergences begin, being particularly marked in this hot dry summer. An active paper nest of the social wasp Dolichovespula media (DeGeer) was found about 1.5m above ground in a small bush of common hawthorn Crataegus monogyna Jacq. on the edge of the wood at Clayhill Heath and hornets Vespa crabro L. were noted in some of the light traps. The above results can be compared with a previous meeting held by our Society at Frame Heath, New Copse and Ladycross on 10 August 1985 (Proc. Trans. Br. Ent. Nat. Hist. Soc. 19: 65). That meeting followed several days of wet weather and it was cool but dry during the meeting. Three lights were set up and some oak trees were sugared. Two pristine light crimson underwings were seen at sugar and a third, a perfect male, was found at rest about 30cm above ground on an unsugared trunk. No dark crimson underwings were seen and other insects were few. Only 12 other species of macro-moths were found. Evidently the season in 1995 was more advanced than in 1985 because some of our light crimson underwings were showing signs of wear and the later emerging dark crimson underwings were well out. Moths in general were undoubtedly a little earlier in emerging in the summer of 1995 than on average and readers may recall that the summer of 1985 was characterized by a lot of cool wet weather. I would like to thank everyone for supporting this field meeting and enabling the simultaneous survey of multiple sites in the central and eastern parts of the Forest. I would particularly like to thank John Chainey, Tony Dobson and Rob Dyke for leading groups on the day, John, his parents and Jenny Spence for their hospitality to me, Rachel Thomas and Beth Waring during the reconnaissance and planning the day before the meeting, when they accommodated our tents on their lawn, and Peter Potts and his colleagues from Hampshire County Council for arranging the television and subsequent press coverage and for providing and operating the portable radios. I thank English Nature and the Forestry Commission for permission to hold this meeting, for providing keys to locked gates, and would like to thank Martin Noble and Jonathan Cook from the Forestry Commission for coming along to the start of the meeting. Copies of this report and the full list of species are being supplied to English Nature, the Forestry Commission and Barry Goater, the Hampshire moth recorder. Wandsworth Common, Surrey (London), 26 August 1995 Leader: Colin W. Plant. The prolonged hot and very dry weather contributed little to the leader’s expectations of a good ‘tally’ of insects from this particular field trip; the realization that the Wandsworth Common authorities had invited the general public to attend the meeting did not substantially improve his hopes! Around thirty people, including a few entomologists, gathered in the afternoon in the small flower garden outside the visitor centre, where Roger Hawkins proceeded to find a number of hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae) including Chrysotoxum festivum (L.) to start the ball rolling. Insects were decidedly scarce as we scoured the common in desperation before finally resorting to leaf-mines and plant galls as the only hope of raising the afternoon list into double figures. A number of common species were found on Salix, Betula, Crataegus monogyna and Quercus robur. Graham Collins managed to beat a number of Lepidoptera larvae from various trees, including those of Hemithea aestivaria (Hibn.), Cyclophora albipunctata (Hufn.) and Cabera pusaria (L.) from 60 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 Betula pendula, of Lomaspilis marginata (L.} and Laothoe populi (L.) from Populus tremula, and of Cyclophora punctaria (L.) from a deciduous Quercus—probably Q. robur. The leader beat the lacewings Hemerobius humulinus L., Hemerobius micans Olivier and Chrysoperla carnea (Steph.)—all from oak foliagé, whilst Dan Hackett found a number of beetles (Coleoptera) for people to look at, including the lesser stag beetle Dorcus parallelipipedus (L.), Cylindrinotus laevioctostriatus (Goeze) and Platypus cylindrus (F.) beaten from a Locust tree Robinia pseudoacacia, seven different species of ladybird (Coccinellidae), including the orange ladybird Halyzia 16-guttata (L.) which is locally common in the London area and associated with mature sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus trees and several common ground beetles (Carabidae). The remains of a Carabus violaceus L. were also found in an ow! pellet and the characteristic tunnelings of the elm bark beetle Scolytus scolytus (F.) were also examined. The highlight of the day as far as the Coleoptera were concerned was the discovery by Dan of the front leg of a stag beetle Lucanus cervus (L.) under a poplar tree. Several local people present reported having seen adults flying in the area earlier in the year. After a lengthy break for food, the party re-assembled on the common for light- trapping. Five m.v. lights were set up by the leader and Graham Collins and the party waited anxiously for the first moth to appear. Wandsworth Common is not the most floristically diverse site in London, and the combination of this plus the prevailing drought conditions led us to think that we were not in for the most spectacular of evenings. Our expectations were realized, though we did have a list of some 28 macros and 17 micros by the time we had finished, the best of which was perhaps the orange sallow Xanthia citrago (L.). A number of other insects also entered the traps, including the beetles Heterocerus fenestratus (Thunb.) and Anotylus (Oxytelus) rugosus (F.), and the lacewings Hemerobius humulinus L. and Chrysoperla carnea (Steph.). Though this was certainly not the most thrilling of field meetings the Society has organized, it nevertheless was of great interest to the several non-entomologist ‘guests’ present, and it is earnestly hoped that some of the younger people present, at least, will have gained something from the experience. Macrolepidoptera dissection workshop held in the Department of Entomology, The Natural History Museum, London Saturday 16 September 1995 Leaders: Malcolm Scoble, Martin Honey, David Agassiz, Mark Parsons. Eleven members and one non-member made this workshop fully subscribed. The purpose of the day was to demonstrate techniques for the dissection and slide-mounting of macrolepidopteran genitalia, and to allow participants to put the methods into practice. Proceedings commenced with a video demonstration by Martin Honey of techniques involved in the dissection of male and female moths. Participants were then assigned bench space, allocated microscopes and other equipment, and allowed to practise techniques for the rest of the day with guidance from the leaders. The techniques taught, if put into practice, will result in the production of genitalia preparations of high quality and of lasting value to entomological collections. A real sense of achievement was evidence by the end of the workshop. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 61 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Capital letters for English names.—Following the publication of the letter to the editor by Roberts & Else (Br. J. Ent. Nat. Hist. 1995; 8: 119-120) and editor’s reply, several correspondents have written to add their views to the debate. There are two camps—those who would use capitals and those who would not. The following are extracts from some of these letters, edited to avoid duplication. The editor would like to thank everyone for their comments. I was much interested by the letter from S. Roberts and G. Else on this topic and by the ‘Reply from the Editor’. I am writing mainly to point out that the former misrepresent Dony, Jury & Perring (English names of wild flowers, Edn 2, 1986) by omission. These authors recommend that capitals should be used for ‘labels, captions to illustrations, notes on individual plants and lists of plants arranged in columns’, but go on to write ‘in the text of articles, nature trail guides and lists of plants in running order we recommend that, with obvious exceptions, the capital letter should be dispensed with’. They then give a sentence containing plant names repeating it twice, first using the lower case except for St John’s-wort, and then the upper case, stating that the former is better. On comparing the two versions, most naturalists would agree. The policy recommended by Dony, Jury & Perring is followed by The moths and butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland and also by the National Trust in its publications. I find myself in full agreement with the editor’s reply, though I hesitated for a moment over his use of a capital letter for ‘Editor’. Incidentally, how does one cite the authorship of the first edition (1974) of English names of wild flowers? On the cover one sees ‘Dony, Rob & Perring’ but on the title page “Dony, Perring & Rob’. I use alphabetical sequence. However, alphabetical priority also creates a problem. Dr J. R. Langmaid and I have just returned from an eight-day touring holiday in Ireland, including the northern counties. Together we recorded six, I think, species new to Ireland and made just over 300 new county records of microlepidoptera, as well as 27 in South Wales and England on our outward and return journeys. In a forthcoming paper recounting our achievements, I will feature as the senior author since E precedes L, but John, who, though retired, is about a quarter of a century younger than I am, has sharper eyes and nimbler feet and in consequence more of the records were of his making —A. M. EMMET, Editor, The moths and butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland, Labrey Cottage, Victoria Gardens, Saffron Walden, Essex CB11 3AF. Capital letters should be used only where demanded by custom or common-sense. That invaluable publication, Hart’s rules for compositors and readers at the University Press, Oxford, sets out very clearly (pp. 55-57) where capital letters or lower-case initials should be used, and may be regarded as authoritative. It does not specifically deal with the English names of animals and plants, but by exception from the list of cases where capital letters should be used implies that these should be spelled with lower-case initials. Incidentally, and particularly since this is the BRITISH Journal of Entomology and natural History and not the Journal of BRITISH Entomology and natural History (presumably the title was given by design and not by accident), and therefore deliberately addressed to a wider and not necessarily anglophone readership, surely the use in print of English names for insects (except those names in everyday use and 62 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 included in standard dictionaries) should be actively discouraged. Who, in conversation, ever refers to a ‘setaceous Hebrew character’ or ‘large garden humble-bee’, or indeed uses any of the spurious ‘English’ names that have been concocted for species never likely to impinge on public consciousness? As to plant names, the position is quite different. Most English plants have genuine and long-established English names, and many of these names are in part descriptive: ‘round-leaved’, ‘bristly’, ‘barren’. Not to use capitals here would invite misunderstanding.—D. B. BAKER, Hope Entomological Collections, University Museum, Oxford OX1 3PW. Having been writing and to a much lesser extent editing for over 50 years the problem of capital letters for common names has been a perennial one. The rule has always been to avoid beginning words with capitals as much as possible. Any serious editor will I think agree with that. One must admit at once to having been very inconsistent and often influenced by the type of publication for which one is writing. My own preference has been to avoid capitals even for very precise common names—TI would therefore write ‘the lesser spotted mud-streak’. I asked our own editor here at Kew to read the letters at my morning coffee session and give his views. He thought that genuine common names such as cat, dog, cheetah, lion, elephant, bear, albatross, oak, fig should never begin with a capital save of course when they begin a sentence or stand alone in lists etc, but that a name such as ‘grizzled skipper’ should be spelt with capitals since it was a contrived name. ‘What about grizzly bear’ I asked but that he thought he would not capitalize, but doubt had crept in. Cat can be used as a generic or even family term so occasionally we shall need a precise term ‘the domestic cat’ but nothing is going to make me use capitals for that although it is as precise as ‘the alternate-leaved golden saxifrage’ or ‘large garden humble-bee’ (incidentally I have never heard an ordinary person use the name humble-bee—always bumble-bee). Yet someone as erudite as Humphrey Gilbert Carter could write ‘the Paper Mulberry’ in text but in books where one has common names after the Latin ones and also lists it may be tempting to use the same rule for the running text as well. In lists one might see ‘Ficus carica L. Common Fig’ but in the text I would certainly write ‘common fig’. I do not think even the most ardent capitalizer will put ‘Fig’ in his text. I really feel one must stick to one rule and not adjust it according to how ‘common’ the names are. It should I think be emphasized that this is a problem in English language and there must be a good deal written about it in language literature. This is where one misses such people as the Rev. Prof. L. W. Grensted. It will of course rest with editors to strive for uniformity. BERNARD VERDCOURT, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3AB. I was interested to read the letter concerning the use of capital letters. My feeling is that authors should follow the rules of English grammar, and little can then go wrong: a capital letter to begin each sentence, and initial capitals for proper names. Since I consider the English names of butterflies, for instance, to constitute proper names, I prefer to use initial capitals for these. Thus, the ‘Speckled Wood’ or ‘Speckled Wood butterfly’ to distinguish it from the speckled wood that a furniture maker might use to construct a table top of spotty finish, and from the ornamental butterfly a jeweller might shape from similar material—a speckled wood butterfly. Where authors wish to style text, for effect, perhaps giving the text as a quotation followed by [sic] would be acceptable, for example ‘A breeding experiment with the BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 63 Small Copper . . . [sic])—LEN WINOKUR, 55 Palmer Park Avenue, Reading, Berkshire RG6 1DP. We have moved a long way back to the use of English names in our attempt to interest people in the study of insects who were previously put off by the use of Latin names. It seems essential therefore to make our meanings as clear as possible and if capitals help they should be used. I cannot accept the suggestion that they interrupt the flow of thought! A report from a mainly botanical friend that she had seen several small blue butterflies on a flowery bank would have a completely different significance to a report of Small Blues by anyone with a knowledge of butterflies. I keep the macro-moth records for Cheshire and some of the older ones are difficult to confirm. For instance there are two oldish records for ‘Small Emerald’ from people no longer with us. We have no wild clematis and my theory is that Little Emeralds became little emeralds which then became small emeralds and then completed the metamorphosis by becoming Small Emeralds, but of course we can never prove this!—C. I. RUTHERFORD, ‘Longridge’, Macclesfield Road, Alderley Edge, Cheshire SK9 7BL. In response to the letter by Messrs Roberts & Else and the editor’s reply, I consulted some twenty books and journal volumes in my library with the result that there is no consistency whatsoever in the use of capitals for English names of flora and fauna. On the whole entomologists in particular use capitals for all the English names of insects, but lower case only for plants and birds, although there are exceptions. In recent publications I see, for instance, green-veined white, Green- veined white, Green-veined White and (rather over the top!) Green-Veined White. Capitalization, or otherwise, is generated and controlled by various sources: (1) the author; (2) his/her typist/keyboarder who may well have different ideas; (3) an editor; (4) the publisher. Publishers may have a house style which they are strict on or they may leave it to the discretion of the editor. The editor may have his own idiosyncratic usage and at least be consistent, or he may just not be bothered and accept whatever the author, or his typist, has submitted. A 5th possibility is now creeping in and that is the use of computers where whether a capital is used or not will depend on the initial input onto disc or memory for use in wordchecking or to call up whenever they are needed. For instance I have all the English names of species mentioned by Tutt in his Practical hints for the field lepidopterist on disc, all in lower case (except proper nouns) and there is no way I am going to change it! Now from experience I know that manuscripts come in using all sorts of different formats and it is up to an editor to standardize usage. This is not always as simple as it may seem for how is an editor to know what capitalization was used in a quoted article and obscure journal published years ago? Unless he has access to a university or the British Library, and is prepared to spend the necessary time going down and searching, then he must take on trust the authors’ quote. I believe almost all editors of scientific journals do the job on an unpaid voluntary basis and are busy in their own right. Just consider the time it may take to be constantly tracking down and verifying references. Far better to make up one’s mind and stick to a regular system, such as only capitalizing the initial word, or using lower case only (except for proper nouns) in an article—BRIAN O. C. GARDINER, 2 Highfield Avenue, Cambridge CB4 2AL. 64 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 8: 1995 CURRENT BENHS PUBLICATIONS New British beetles: species not in Joy’s practical handbook, by P. J. Hodge and R. A. Jones, 1995, 192pp, paperback £18 (£12 to members), +P&P £2 (UK and overseas), hardback £24 (£16 to members), + P&P £2 (UK and overseas). There are over 650 British beetles not included in Norman Joy’s A practical handbook of British beetles. Some of these are new arrivals from the Continent or further afield. Others have been confused or overlooked. Many groups have undergone revision and species have been ‘split’. In order to make his handbook practical, Joy omitted many rare and doubtfully indigenous species. Several formerly rare species have recently increased and some doubtful species have been confirmed as occurring, or having once occurred in Britain. Many that were regarded as mere varieties or synonyms were also omitted by Joy, only to be reinstated later as good species. Many more modern keys have been published since Joy’s book, but these are often scattered through sometimes obscure journals. New British beetles puts these changes into perspective, and offers the British coleopterist a new look at Joy’s book, a reference to the current British fauna and the changes that have taken place in the last 63 years. For each family, Joy’s book is assessed, the most up-to-date and useful keyworks are listed. For each ‘new’ beetle species, a short description and comparison with other species is followed by a list of journal and book references where the identification can be made and confirmed. A modern taxonomic order of families is followed and the most up-to-date names available have been used. A full and comprehensive index allows complete cross-referencing to all specific, generic and family names used, including the many synonyms used by Joy and other workers. A field guide to the smaller British Lepidoptera, ed. by A. M. Emmet, 2nd edn, revised and enlarged, 1988, 288pp, paperback £18 (£/2 to members), +P&P £1.50 (overseas £2.80), hardback £22.50 (£15 to members), +P&P £1.80 (overseas £2.80). This book is packed with information, much of it previously unpublished. It contains life histories of almost all of the 1500 ‘micro’ species recorded from the British Isles. There is also an index of foodplants which refers the reader to all species known to feed on each plant; this makes it possible quickly to identify larvae found or to narrow the choice to a small number of species. The second edition follows closely the format of its predecessor. The nomenclature has been brought up to date. Over 35 species added to the list since the first edition (1979) are included. Much more information about the life histories is incorporated. British hoverflies: an illustrated identification guide, by Alan Stubbs, with colour plates by Steven Falk, reprinted 1993, 270pp, 12 colour plates, hardback £26 (£18 to members) +P&P £2.80 (overseas £3.50). This is the most comprehensive book to be published on British hoverflies; 256 species are described and their identification is made easy by the extensive keys, which incorporate over 540 line drawings. The 12 superb colour plates show 263 specimens depicting 190 different species. Also contains a 16-page supplement which is also available separately at £1.50 (£1 to members) +P&P £0.30 (overseas £0.40). The new aurelians: a centenary history of the British Entomological and Natural History Society, by M. J. James, 1973, 80pp, 4 black and white plates, paperback £1.50 (£1.00 to members) + P&P £0.30 (overseas £0.40). This comprehensive history documents the formation of the then South London Entomological and Natural History Society in 1872, and the expansion and changes during the next 100 years. Natural History of Buckingham Palace Garden, by D. McClintock et al., 1963, Proc. Trans. S. Lond. Ent. Nat. Hist. Soc. 1963, part 2, 144 pp, 8 b/w plates. Results of a survey of the plants and animals of the gardens, 1960-1963, including all orders of insects, and Monochroa hornigi discovered there new to Britain. Invertebrates in the landscape: invertebrate recording in site evaluation and countryside monitoring, ed. P. T. Harding, 1994, Br. J. Ent. Nat. Hist. 7 (Suppl. 1), 64pp, paperback £6 (£4 to members) + P&P £0.30 (overseas £0.80). This special supplement to the journal contains 7 articles on invertebrate recording, site evaluation, monitoring countryside changes and invertebrate recording schemes. Past Presidents 1872-4 J. R. WELLMAN (dec.) 1942 S. WaKELy (dec.) 1875-6 A. B. Farn, FES. (dec.) 1943 R. J. Burton, L.Ds., R.CS.ENG. (dec.) 1877 J. P. BarreTT, FES. (dec.) 1944 STANLEY N. A. JAcoss, F.R-ES. (dec.) 1878 J. T. Witiiams (dec) 1945-6 Capt. R. A. JACKSON, R.N., FR-ES. (dec.) 1879 R. STANDEN FES. (dec.) 1947 L. T. Forp, B.a. (dec.) 1880 A. Fick in (dec.) 1948 Col. P. A. Carpew (dec.) 1881 V.R. Perkins, FES. (dec.) 1949 J. O. T. Howarp, mA. (dec.) 1882 T. R. Bittups, F.Es. (dec.) 1950 Air-Marshal Sir Rosert SAUNDBY, 1883 J. R. WELLMAN (dec.) KBE, CB,MC, DFC, AFC, FRES. (dec.) 1884 W. West, Lops. (dec.) 1951 T. G. Howarth, MBE, FRES., F.ZS 1885 R. Soutn, FES. (dec.) 1952 E. W. CLAsseY, F.R.ES 1886-7 R. Apkin, F-Es. (dec.) 1953 F. STaNLEY-SmrTH, F.R.ES. (dec.) 1888-9 T.R. BivLups, Fes. (dec.) 1954 STANLEY N. A. JAcoss, s.BSTJ., FR.ES. (dec.) 1890 J. T. CarRINGTON, F.LS. (dec.) 1955 F. D. Buck, AMLPTG.M., F.R-ES. (dec.) 1891 W. H. TuGwe t, pH. (dec.) 1956 Lt-Col. W. B. L. MANLEY, F.R.ES. (dec.) 1892 C. G. Barrett, F-Es. (dec.) 1957 B. P. Moore, BSC., D-PHIL., F.R.ES 1893 J. J. Weir, F.LS., etc. (dec.) 1958 N. E. Hickin, PH.D, BSC., FR.ES (dec.) 1894 E. Step, F.Ls. (dec.) 1959 F. T. VALLINS, A.C.LL, F.R.ES (dec.) 1895 T. W. HALL, FEs. (dec.) 1960 R. M. Mere, F RES. (dec.) 1896 R. South, F.ES. (dec.) 1961 A.M. MASsEE, O.BE., DSC. F.R.ES. (dec.) 1897 R. Apkm, FES. (dec.) 1962 ALE: GARDNER, FRES (dec.) 1898 J. W. Tutt, Fs. (dec.) 1963 JOE. MESSENGER, BA., FR.ES. (dec.) 1899 A. Harrison, F.Ls. (dec.) 1964 C. G. Rocue, F.ca., FRES 1900 W. J. Lucas, B.A, FES. (dec.) 1965 R. W. J. UFFEN, F.RES 1901 H. S. FREMLIN, M.RCS., LR.CP., FES. (dec.) 1966 JoA eG GREENWOOD, OBE, FRES (dec.) 1902 F. Noap Ctark (dec.) 1967 R. F. BRETHERTON, CB. M A F.RES. (dec.) 1903 E. Step, Fs. (dec.) 1968 B. GoaTER, BSC, F.R.ES 1904 A. Sicu, FES. (dec.) 1969 Capt. J. ELLERTON, DS.C., RN. (dec.) 1905 H. Mam, sBsc., FES. (dec.) 1970 B. J. MACNULTY, BSC. PH.D, FRILCS., FR.ES. (dec.) 1906-7 R. Apxkm, FEs. (dec.) 1971 Col. A. M. Emmet, MBE, TD, M.A. 1908-9 A. Sicu, Fes. (dec.) 1972 Prof. H. E. Hinton, PHD, BSC., 1910-1 W.J. Kaye, Fes. (dec.) F.RS., FRES. (dec.) 1912-3. A. E. Tone, FEs. (dec.) 1973 J. M. CHALMERS-HUunrtT, FRES 1914-5 B. H. Smrtn, BA, FES. (dec.) 1974 C. MACKECHNIE JARVIS, F.L.S., F.R-ES 1916-7 Hy. J. Turner, Fes. (dec.) 1975 M. G. Morris, M.A, PH.D., F.R.ES 1918-9 SraNLtey Epwarps, FLS., ETc. (dec.) 1976 W. G. TREMEWAN, M_LBIOL. 1920-1 K.G. Brarr, Bsc, FES. (dec.) 1977 R. Tusss, 0.BE., FRIBA, FRES 1922 E. J. Bunnett, M.A. (dec.) 1978 G. Prior, F.LS., FR.ES (dec.) 1923-4 _N. D. Rutey, Fzs, FES. (dec.) 1979 Rev. D. J. L. AGassiz, M.A 1925-6 T.H.L. Grosvenor, FES. (dec.) 1980 R. FairRCLOUGH, F.R.ES 1927-8 E. A. CockAyYNng, DM., F.R.CP., FES. (dec.) 1981 A. E. Stusss, BSC, F.R-ES 1929 H. W. Anprews, FES. (dec.) 1982 J. HEATH, F.R.ES. (dec.) 1930 F. B. Carr (dec.) 1983 B. R. BAKER, BSC, AMA, FRES 1930 C. N. Hawkins, F.Es. (dec.) 1984 P. A. SOKOLOFF, MSC., MIBIOL., FR.ES 1931 K. G. Brair, Bsc, FZS. FES. (dec.) 1985 P. J. BAKER, CENG., FR.HS 1932 3 bbe GRrosvENor, F.ES. (dec.) 1986 J. M. CHALMERS-HUunT, F.R-ES 1933 C. G. M. De Worms, MA., PH.D, 1987 Prof. J. A. OWEN, M.D, PH.D, FRES ALC. FRES., MB.OU. (dec.) 1988 I. F. G. MCLEAN, PH.D, F.R.ES. 1934 T. R. Eac ies (dec.) 1989 Mrs F. M. Murpny, ssc. (dec.) 1935 E. E. Syms, F RES. (dec.) 1990 C. W. PLANT, BSC, F.RES 1936 M. Nistett (dec.) 1991 A. J. HALSTEAD, MSC 1937 F. J. Coutson (dec.) 1992 J. MUGGLETON, MSC. PH.D. ML. BIOL., F.R.ES 1938 F. STANLEY-SMITH, F.R.ES. (dec.) 1993 D. LonsDALE, PH.D, BSC 1939 H. B. WILLIAMs, LL.D, FR.ES. (dec.) 1994 P. M. WarING, M.A, PH.D. F.R-ES. 1940 E. A. Cockayne, DM, FRCP, FRES. (dec.) 1995 M. J. ScosLe, BSC, MPHIL. PH.D, F.RES 1941 F. D. Coote, FRES (dec.) ANNOUNCEMENT Public liability insurance.—It has come to the notice of the Society that some organizations issuing permits to enter their land to study insects are now asking that all those issued with such a permit should have public liability insurance, typically for two million pounds cover. This may at first sight seem a somewhat daunting requirement. The Society has consulted its insurance brokers and it emerges that many members who have household insurance may already have public liability insurance included. It is suggested that if in doubt the policy document should be consulted. We discovered however that for a nominal sum the Society could extend its own public liability insurance to cover members of the Society while engaged on entomological pursuits. We have taken this option and are pleased to inform all members that they now have public liability cover of two million pounds while engaged on their own field work, research and entomological study in addition to such activities arranged by the Society. Typically this would give cover against claims by third parties for injury caused in the course of such pursuits. A copy of the schedule to the policy is available for inspection at Dinton Pastures.—A. J. Pickles, Hon. Treasurer, 2a Park Avenue, Lymington, Hampshire SO41 9GX. BRITISH JOURNAL OF ENTOMOLOGY AND NATURAL HISTORY VOLUME 9, PART 1, JANUARY 1996 ~~ ARTICLES The Society’s ‘new’ logo. R. A. JONES Heteroptera recording in Wales during 1993 and 1994. K. N. A. ALEXANDER AND A. P. FOSTER On a collection of Bombus and Psithyrus principally from Sutherland, with notes on the nomenclature or status of three species (Hymenoptera: Apoidea). D. B. BAKER SHORT COMMUNICATIONS A second record of Ctenophora flaveolata (F.) (Diptera: Tipulidae) in Gloucestershire. A. P. FOSTER Rhynchaenus testaceus Miller and Anthonomus rufus Gyll. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Cornwall. A. P. FOSTER ‘A courtship phase of Lindenius albilabris (F.) (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae). R. W. J. UFFEN PROCEEDINGS AND TRANSACTIONS The 1994 Presidential address—Part 2. Field meetings—a celebration of some past glories and the present role of field meetings as an increasingly valuable part of our activities. P. WARING Obituary of Paul Neville Siddons, 1914-1994. F. H. N. SMITH BENHS indoor meetings, 11 April to 13 September 1995 BENHS field meetings Microlepidoptera dissection workshop Current BENHS publications LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Capital letters for English names. A. M. EMMET, D. B. BAKER, B. VERDCOURT, L. WINOKUR, C. I. RUTHERFORD, B. O. C. GARDINER BOOK REVIEWS The Dryinidae and Embolemidae (Hymenoptera: Chrysidoidea) of Fennoscandia and Denmark by M. Olmi. M. R. SHAW Scuttle flies, the Phoridae by R. H. I. Disney. R. A. JONEs The type material of Diptera (Insecta) described by G. H. Verrall and J. E. Collin by Adrian C. Pont. P. CHANDLER Insects and flowers—a biological partnership by J. Brackenbury. A. J. HALSTEAD APRIL 1996 ISSN 0952-7583 Vol. 9, Part 2 BRITISH JOURNAL OF ENTOMOLOGY AND NATURAL HISTORY BRITISH JOURNAL OF ENTOMOLOGY AND NATURAL HISTORY Published by the British Entomological and Natural History Society and incorporating its Proceedings and Transactions Editor: : Richard A. Jones, B.Sc., F.R.E.S., F.L.S. 13 Bellwood Road Nunhead London SE15 3DE (Tel: 0171 732 2440) (Fax: 0171 277 8725) Editorial Committee: D. J. L. Agassiz, M.A., Ph.D., F.R.E.S. T. G. Howarth, B.E.M., F.R.E.S. R. D. G. Barrington, B.Sc. LF. G. Mckean, PhD: FREES P. J. Chandler; B:Sc., F-R-E:S. M. J. Simmons, M.Sc. B. Goater, B.Sc., M.I.Biol. P. A. Sokoloff, M.Sc., C.Biol., M.I.Biol., F.R.E.S. A. J. Halstead, M.Sc., F.R.E.S. T. R. E. Southwood, K. B., D.Sc., F.R.E.S. R. D. Hawkins, M.A. R. W. J. Uffen, M.Sc., F.R.E.S. P. J. Hodge B. K. West, B.Ed. British Journal of Entomology and Natural History is published by the British Entomological and Natural History Society, Dinton Pastures Country Park, Davis Street, Hurst, Reading, Berkshire RG10 OTH, UK. Tel: 01734-321402. The Journal is distributed free to BENHS members. © 1996 British Entomological and Natural History Society. Typeset by Dobbie Typesetting Limited, Tavistock, Devon. Printed in England by Henry Ling Ltd, Dorchester, Dorset. BRITISH ENTOMOLOGICAL AND NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY Registered charity number: 213149 Meetings of the Society are held regularly in London, at the rooms of the Royal Entomological Society, 41 Queen’s Gate, London SW7 and the well-known ANNUAL EXHIBITION is planned for Saturday 2 November 1996 at Imperial College, London SW7. Frequent Field Meetings are held at weekends in the summer. Visitors are welcome at all meetings. The current Programme Card can be had on application to the Secretary, R. F. McCormick, at the address given below. The Society maintains a library, and collections at its headquarters in Dinton Pastures, which are open to members on various advertised days each month, telephone 01734-321402 for the latest meeting news. Applications for membership to the Membership Secretary: A. Godfrey, 10 Moorlea Drive, Baildon, Shipley, West Yorkshire BD17 6QL. Subscriptions and changes of address to the Membership Secretary: R. D. Hawkins, 30d Meadowcroft Close, Horley, Surrey RH6 9EL. Non-arrival of the Journal, faulty copies or other problems arising from distribution of the Journal or notices to the Distribution Secretary: D. Young, 9 Marten Place, Tilehurst, Reading, Berkshire RG3 6FB. Orders for books and back numbers of the Journal and Proceedings to the Sales Secretary: G. Boyd, 17 Gainsborough Close, Cambridge CB4 ISY. General Enquiries to the Secretary: R. F. McCormick, 36 Paradise Road, Teignmouth, Devon TQ14 8NR. Tel: 01626-779543. Cover illustration: Pupa of the long-tailed blue, Lampides boeticus (L.) in teased wisteria flower; southern France. Photo: J. Feltwell. NOTE: The Editor invites submission of photographs for black and white reproduction on the front covers of the journal. The subject matter is open, with an emphasis on aesthetic value rather than scientific novelty. Submissions can be in the form of colour or black and white prints or colour transparencies. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 65 LADYBIRD POPULATION EXPLOSIONS MICHAEL E. N. MAJERUS AND TAMSIN M. O. MAJERUS Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EH. This paper has been prompted by two recurring features of the last ten years, during which time we have co-ordinated a nation-wide survey of ladybirds in Britain. One involves the phone calls we receive from members of the media, almost every year in late July, or early August, asking us to comment on ‘plagues of ladybirds’ that have hit such-and-such a place. The second involves the commonest ladybird reminiscence of members of the public whom we have met while travelling around Britain either looking for, or talking about ladybirds: ‘“‘the year that ladybirds went mad”. Almost all are remembering the last ‘great ladybird year’—1976; although a few also recall the preceding one, in 1959. Much has been written in the press, both local and national, about plagues of ladybirds, their causes and effects. A considerable proportion of these column inches is ill-informed. The impression we often get when talking to journalists is that their aim is to write something that is worth printing, even if it means making a proverbial mountain out of a molehill. In our opinion this is something of a shame, as regular and often exaggerated reports of natural phenomena, which are a little out of the ordinary, undoubtedly devalue reports of truly extraordinary natural phenomena. Ladybird ‘plagues’ provide an excellent example, for major ladybird population explosions are truly amazing events. Ladybird plagues, whether widespread or local, are well-known natural phenomena. Records of swarms are scattered widely through the literature over the past century. In this paper we give an account of some of the reminiscences of the most recent major ladybird population explosion in Britain, that of 1976, put on record some of the sightings of ladybird swarms between 1984 and 1995, and comment on the causes and consequences of ladybird swarms. THE ‘GREAT LADYBIRD YEAR’—1976 The population explosion of ladybirds in 1976 was truly astounding. It extended across more or less the whole of England and Wales, and into some parts of southern Scotland. Exceptional numbers of ladybirds were also recorded in many parts of north-west Europe. The huge numbers of ladybirds were widely reported in newspapers, and on television and radio. In Appendix | are listed a small sample of the many reports and reminiscences of the plagues of ladybirds that year. Rapid increases in the size of ladybird populations are due to a combination of factors rather than a single one. Principal among these are food availability, sunshine during the early summer, temperature during the middle of the summer, and the mildness of the preceding winter. Other factors, such as the abundance of parasitoids of ladybirds, also play a role. The way some of these factors fit together may be understood by considering the prevailing conditions prior to the population explosion in 1976. The summers of both 1975 and 1976 were unusually warm and sunny. Because the extent of any change in the size of a population of organismal e extent e-mail: menm@mole.bio.cam.ac.uk | MAY 1 0 1996 \ \ \ LipparicS 66 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 on the base number of individuals, it is pertinent to start in the summer of 1975. This was a long warm summer, not exceptionally dry or hot, but with warmer temperatures than average and no significant long periods of bad weather. Both aphids, and the ladybirds that fed on them, did well. At least some species of ladybird such as the 2-spot Adalia bipunctata (L.), 7-spot Coccinella septempunctata L. and 10-spot Adalia decempunctata (L.) produced a partial second generation. Consequently, by the autumn of 1975, the populations of aphidophagous ladybirds that retired to their overwintering refuges were already larger than usual. The ensuing winter was remarkably mild, with a result that the winter mortality rate of ladybirds, which is usually in excess of 50%, was much lower than this figure, thereby increasing the number of ladybirds in the spring of 1976 still further, relative to the norm. The spring of 1976 was not exceptional. If anything it was wetter and warmer than average. Aphid populations did well, reproducing rapidly on the lush plant growth, so that when ladybirds began to venture out in search of food, they found plentiful supplies. Cloudy weather in April and early May prevented most species from indulging in much mating early on, but when the sunny weather began in the middle of May, conditions were ideal. The ladybirds began to mate and oviposit at a very rapid rate. Larvae found plentiful supplies of aphids and, as temperatures rose to record levels, they fed up and completed their development in an abnormally short time for Britain. The hot sunny weather continued day after day through the rest of May and throughout June. By the end of June, the extent of the increase in ladybird numbers, in England, Wales and southern parts of Scotland, was already evident. They were everywhere. The species that showed the greatest increases were the aphidophagous generalists, such as the 7-spot, 2-spot and 14-spot Propylea quattuordecimpunctata (L.), but most other species did better than usual and 10- spot, ll-spot Coccinella undecimpunctata L. and cream-spot ladybird Calvia quattuordecimguttata (L.) were more abundant than we have seen them since. This increase in the number of adult ladybirds, combined with the huge densities of ladybird larvae among aphid colonies (and high densities of other aphid predators and parasitoids) led to a dramatic crash in aphid numbers. Bluntly, the aphids were massacred. Even with their phenomenal reproductive rate, the aphids could not keep up with the losses due to predation. Worse still, the plants that the aphids were feeding upon were deteriorating rapidly under the scorching heat of that long hot summer. By the middle of July, the aphids on the ladybirds’ normal host plants had, more or less, been eaten out. The ladybirds then began to search for food elsewhere. They took to the air in huge numbers, billions upon billions of them. Some found food on unusual host plants, but the aphid populations there were soon decimated as well by the sheer weight of numbers of hungry ladybirds. Day after day, in the second half of July and on into August, the great swarms of ladybirds took to the air as the temperatures rose in the mornings. They flew hither and thither, partly being carried on the prevailing winds, until they came to the coast. Here they stopped, being brought to earth by the air currents at the coast and possibly by a reticence to cross wide expanses of water. Vast numbers were reported along all the coasts of England and Wales, with the south and east coasts being most affected. The numbers of ladybirds were so legion by the end of July, that they drove holiday makers from the sea-side resorts. There were many reports of them ‘stinging’ or biting humans, although, in truth, all the starving beetles were doing was trying to find food. In their desperation, they tested the edibility of anything that might have been nutritious to them. They did not find humans palatable, but their attempts to BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 67 test whether we were edible left many people with little bite bumps as our own chemical defences reacted to the minute droplets of pre-digestive enzyme that ladybirds inject into their prey when they bite. Untold millions fell into the sea, or were washed off the coastal sands, muds and rocks as the tide rose and fell. Many were washed back onto the coast by ensuing tides, so that the tide-line appeared to comprise little but the corpses of ladybirds. We once calculated the approximate number of ladybirds that would have been in the tide-lines along the southern and eastern coasts of Britain on a single day in late July 1976. Assuming all to have been one of our larger species, the 7-spot (which they were not), a conservative estimate gives a figure of some 23 654400000 ladybirds (estimated by counting the number of 7-spots in 15 200mm sections of tideline and multiplied up by the amount of suitable coastline between Land’s End and the east coast border between England and Scotland). This figure is difficult to comprehend, but it is about four times the current human population of the Earth and, of course, this was just the ladybirds in the tide-lines on a single day. It does not include any of those that stayed on land, or those that were washed out to sea, or those that were eaten by other starving ladybirds or other predators, or those that were killed on the roads or elsewhere by the devices of man. Not surprisingly, a crash in ladybird populations followed. From this description, it may be seen that a whole sequence of conditions are involved in the run up to one of the great ladybird explosions: favourable conditions the previous year, a mild winter, plenty of food in the spring, a single and synchronized start to the reproductive season brought on by a sharp improvement in sunshine hours, and hot and sunny weather in the summer to promote mating, egg laying and rapid larval development. It is not often that all these conditions fall together, with the result that widespread ladybird explosions are rare in Britain, occurring, on average, about once every 15 years. We seem to be overdue for one now. RECORDS OF LADYBIRD ‘PLAGUES’ IN BRITAIN: 1984-1994 During the Cambridge Ladybird Survey, we have received many reports of abnormal numbers of ladybirds being seen together. A few samples of these records are given in Appendix 2, together with notes on the observations culled from the reports sent in by recorders. The records come from two main periods of the year: the early spring, and what might be termed high summer, covering the last two weeks of July and the first two weeks of August. The reasons that large numbers of ladybirds tend to be observed together in these two periods are different. Many species of ladybird aggregate together to pass the winter. Large numbers of individuals may find the same sheltered area out of the worst of the winter weather. When these first venture out from their overwintering sites they will often do so en masse. On bright spring days, ladybirds will often sun themselves to warm up. This means that large numbers will be seen in exposed positions sunning themselves before moving off to forage for food. Most of these spring records involve the 7-spot ladybird which tends to overwinter close to the ground, or occasionally underground, often in large aggregations. On leaving its overwintering sites, this species will first climb low spring vegetation to sun itself, to drink dew or rain drops to replenish its fluid reserves, and to look for whatever food it can find. Here, on low-growing green leaves, it is very obvious and easily seen. It is in high summer that the largest numbers of ladybirds come together and sometimes form what may realistically be called swarms. At this time of year, the 68 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 adult population usually reaches its maximum. The new generation of adults has not yet begun to diminish because of the perils of life: lack of food, predators, parasites, disease, adverse climate or pure accident. The main activity for these young adults is to feed up for the winter. In many years, aphid populations"decline dramatically in high summer, partly as a result of predation pressure and partly because their host plants are deteriorating. The consequence is that in areas where food has become scarce, ladybirds will often take to the air on hot summer days, to seek food elsewhere. The direction of ladybird flight is not entirely active. While ladybirds can fly in a direct way, when they take to the air on hot days their flight is aided by thermals. These thermals may take the ladybirds up hundreds, even thousands, of metres into the sky. At high altitude, they are then blown by the prevailing winds, often for many miles. Due to the nature of thermals in some places, and particularly along the coast, large numbers of these high-flying ladybirds may be brought back to earth in the same place, producing very high population concentrations. The prevailing south-westerly winds are thus responsible for the fact that swarms are more often recorded from the east coast of England than any other region. THE NECESSITY FOR SYNCHRONIZED REPRODUCTION Most of the factors that appear to be prerequisites for ladybird population explosions are easily understood. Good climatic conditions and high food availability the previous year lead to an increase in the number of ladybirds that feed up well prior to overwintering. The high fat reserves of these ladybirds, and/or a mild winter, will result in reduced mortality during this critical period. Conditions under which aphids flourish in the spring will lead to good supplies of food for the ladybirds when they leave their overwinter sites and begin feeding and reproducing. Warm sunny weather in late spring and early summer will induce high mating frequencies and rapid oviposition. The high aphid density and warm weather will allow rapid larval development and reduce the level of larval cannibalism. All this is intuitively sensible. However, the reason why a single and synchronized start to the ladybird reproductive season is crucial, is not so obvious. It is not easy to see why a somewhat staggered start to the reproductive season would not produce even greater numbers if the start of the season were extended earlier. Surely, one might expect that a staggered start would produce greater numbers because, at least in the early part of the season when aphid numbers are just building up, survival of larvae would not be reduced too much by competition between them. Three factors appear to be important in reducing the benefit of an early and staggered start to the ladybird reproductive season. First, any significant predation early in the spring may greatly reduce the eventual numbers of aphids produced later in the year. Because aphids have such a phenomenal reproductive potential within a single year, the death of a single female in April may reduce the July population by many millions. Second, as female ladybirds are reluctant to oviposit on plants which are already inhabited by ladybird larvae (Hemptinne ef al., 1992), stretching the reproductive season will reduce the number of suitable oviposition sites for females later in the season. Third, and perhaps most crucially, parasitoids of ladybirds may benefit from the presence of immature stages.over a protracted period. Monitoring of population demography in 1990 showed the influence that predators and parasitoids may have in years when the reproductive period for ladybirds is staggered. Records in late 1989 indicated that numbers of several of the generalist species of ladybird were at their highest levels since 1976. The winter of 1989/90 was BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 69 exceptionally mild, and winter mortality was low. In East Anglia the 7-spot ladybird was about 20 times more common in the spring of 1990 than it had been in the spring of 1989. Similar reports of unusually large numbers of ladybirds came in from most parts of the country. In May, reports of exceptionally large numbers of aphids were published in the national press. Conditions appeared ripe for a major ladybird population explosion. However, it never materialized on a wide scale. The winter of 1989/1990 was not only mild, it ended early, producing an abnormally early spring (for the second year running). Ladybirds of many species, including the aphidophagous generalists, began mating and ovipositing more than a month earlier than average. The first 7-spot matings were recorded on 26th February in 1990, compared to an earliest of 21 April during the years 1985 to 1988 inclusive. The progeny of this early bout of reproduction hatched, and because of the mildness of the winter, they found aphid food as the aphids had also begun to reproduce earlier than usual. Larval development was slower than usual because of the lower average temperatures during March and April 1990, compared to May and June in most years when larvae would normally be feeding up. However, the first pupae were recorded in the last week of April 1990, and the first newly eclosed adult appeared on 8th May. By this time, eggs and young larvae were very plentiful, and conditions for their development appeared ideal as aphid population densities were high. So why did these good early signs not result in the expected population explosion? There were several contributory factors. Some sharp late frosts may have caused some mortality: ladybirds are known to be particularly susceptible to hard early and late frosts. The dullest June, according to records at Heathrow Airport Meteorological Station, since records began there in 1957, must also have slowed down the reproductive rate of many ladybirds. But neither of these climatic factors could account for the decline in numbers of ladybirds that occurred in late June. Surveys at a number of sites in southern England in May and June showed egg and larval densities to be very high and aphids to be plentiful still. The density of ladybird pupae on nettle-beds at Box Hill, Surrey, in late June, was the highest we have ever seen, with almost every nettle leaf having at least one pupa on it. One leaf had 13, and one single nettle stem had some 126 final instar larvae, pre-pupae, pupae and newly emerged adults upon it. One 550 square metre nettle-bed, in the grounds of Juniper Hall, near Dorking, Surrey supported a population of close on one hundred thousand 7-spots, 2-spots, 10-spots and 14-spots. By this time there were already indications of some cannibalism among the ladybirds as aphid populations began to decline under the burden of predation. But the main reason for the fact that excessive numbers of adult ladybirds never materialized is that the vast majority of pupae never hatched. They were hit by one main predator and two species of parasitoid. The predator was the bug Deraeocoris ruber (L.). Both the nymphs and adults of this bug are predatory, usually feeding on a variety of types of prey. However, in June 1990 they appeared to be specializing on ladybird pupae, probably as a result of the abundance of the pupae and their relative defencelessness against this predator. While it is impossible to give an accurate estimate of the mortality level of ladybird pupae due to attacks by this bug, because of the difficulty of detecting attack marks, the level in June 1990 was certainly over 10% and may have been much higher. The two parasitoids were the phorid flies Phalacrotophora fasciata (Fall.) and P. berolinensis Schmitz. These flies attack and kill ladybird pre-pupae and pupae. In 1990, about 60% of 2-spots and 75% of 7-spots were attacked (Disney et al., 1994). These are the highest parasitoid rates of ladybird pupae by phorids that have been 70 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 recorded anywhere. The reason that the rate was so high in 1990 appears to be that the progeny of the ladybirds that bred early (in February, March and April) provided the phorids with hosts early in the year, so that they were able to produce an extra generation. The phorids that developed inside ladybird pupae in June/July in such large numbers were the grand-children of those that had overwintered. A staggered reproductive period thus may allow parasitoids of ladybirds to increase their numbers by increasing the number of generations, to the eventual detriment of their hosts. Other predators, including later-developing ladybird larvae and lacewing larvae that were running short of aphid food, undoubtedly accounted for still more pupae. In the end, given its early promise, 1990 ended up as a very disappointing year for ladybirds. To our list of conditions for ladybird population explosions, we must then add that predators and parasitoids of ladybirds must not be abnormally common. WHICH SPECIES OF LADYBIRDS ARE PRONE TO POPULATION EXPLOSIONS? The ladybird that is most often recorded in swarms or plagues in Britain is the 7- spot ladybird. This is partly because it is a large and obvious species, and so large increases in its numbers are very noticeable. The 7-spot is also the most abundant British species of ladybird, and so starts from a higher population density base when it does increase in number rapidly. However, the 7-spot is not the only British ladybird that exhibits very rapid population increases. All the aphidophagous species of ladybird that do not exhibit strong host-plant preferences may increase in number spectacularly over a single reproductive season. These species include the 7-spot, 2- spot, 10-spot, 1l-spot and 14-spot ladybirds, the cream-spot and Adonis’ ladybird Adonia variegata (Goeze). All these species exhibit great fluctuations in numbers, although the increases in numbers of Adonis’ ladybird and the cream-spot ladybird are rarely noticed as their usual densities are relatively low. All seven of these species lay eggs in clutches on a wide variety of host plants, as long as suitable aphid prey is available. This means that these species can respond to rapid increases in aphid numbers. Furthermore, they can also respond to declines in aphid colonies, which are notoriously ephemeral, by flying to other plant species to seek alternative aphids. It is pertinent not only to say which species do show large-scale changes in population size, but also to explain why other species do not. In the case of the four species of British ladybird that are not predatory, the explanation of their relative stability in population size is simply a consequence of a relatively consistent food supply. These species, the mildew-feeding 16-spot Tytthaspis sedecimpunctata (L.), 22-spot Thea vigintiduopunctata (L.) and orange Halyzia sedecimguttata (L.) ladybirds and the leaf-eating 24-spot ladybird Subcoccinella vigintiquattuorpunctata (L.), are much less subject to the vagaries of the weather than the predatory species. For example, we have monitored orange ladybirds at Box Hill each year since 1987. The timing of the first reported mating of the year has only varied by eight days (9-16 June) over nine summers (1987—1995). Furthermore, the rate of larval development in these species is somewhat slower than that of the aphid-eating species, presumably because mildews and leaves are less nutritious than aphids. The three British coccid-feeding ladybirds, the heather ladybird Chilocorus bipustulatus (L.), the kidney-spot ladybird Chilocorus renipustulatus (Scriba), and the pine ladybird Exochomus quadripustulatus (L.), do not produce massive BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 71 population explosions. This is probably a consequence of three factors. First, their preferred prey, coccids (scale insects) do not increase their numbers as fast as do many species of aphid. Second, there are less species of coccid than aphid, so that should one species of coccid-feeding ladybird increase in number so substantially that it ate out one species of coccid, it would have less in the way of potential alternative types of principal prey (prey that promotes oviposition and allows full larval development, Hodek, 1973). Third, and perhaps most significantly, these three species of ladybird all lay their eggs in batches of just one to three eggs underneath coccids, or adelgids in the case of the pine ladybird, or occasionally in bark crevices close to them. Ovipositing in this way, these species do not have the scope for reacting to particularly favourable conditions as fast as some of the aphid-feeders which may lay batches of several dozen, or in the case of the 7-spot, over a hundred eggs in a single clutch if conditions are right. Aphidophagous host-plant-specialist ladybirds also rarely produce massive population explosions on a wide scale. Here the reason is again probably related to a lack of a range of different principal foods that would allow these species to maintain a high reproductive output once one prey species began to decline as a result of increased ladybird numbers. In addition, several of the host-plant specialists seem to show obligate univoltinism. For example, in Britain, both the eyed Anatis ocellata (L.) and striped Mysia oblongoguttata (L.) ladybirds apparently have a requirement of passing through a dormant period during the winter before they will begin to reproduce. Having said that species other than the aphidophagous generalists do not produce population explosions on a wide scale, we have had records of local explosions for several of these species. These records include abnormally high numbers of larch ladybirds Aphidecta obliterata (L.) in conifer plantations in Suffolk and Perthshire during 1986 and 1989 respectively; very large numbers of pine ladybirds on Scots pines, at Lakenheath Warren and the King’s Forest, Suffolk, in both 1985 and 1989; and exceptional numbers of hieroglyphic ladybirds Coccinella hieroglyphica L. at Chobham Common in 1985 and 1989. In each case the increase in numbers was probably a consequence of abnormally high local prey densities. In the cases of the increases in larch ladybirds and pine ladybirds, we know this to be the case, high numbers of adelgids being reported on conifers in each instance. In the case of the increases in hieroglyphic ladybirds, we assume that the heather leaf-beetle Lochmaea suturalis (Thomson, C. G.), whose larvae appear to be the main food of the hieroglyphic ladybird, must have been having bumper years, although, as we had not at that time recognized the association between these two beetles, we were not monitoring heather leaf-beetle numbers in 1985 or 1989. CONCLUSION Dramatic increases in ladybird population numbers are essentially the product of the interaction of three groups of organism: aphids, ladybirds, and the predators, parasitoids and parasites of ladybirds. These interactions are in turn dependent on climatic factors. Relatively minor fluctuations in climate, or in the interactions between these groups at one time of year, can have a greatly amplified effect later in the season. This means that predicting ladybird population explosions is very uncertain, as we found in 1990. However, the past history of reported explosions suggests that, although unpredictable, these events do occur with surprising regularity. For example, if 1996 does not produce a population explosion, the period 1977-1996 will be the longest period without an explosion this century. 72 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We wish to acknowledge all the recorders of the Cambridge Ladybird Survey, and members of the local and national media who sent in records of ladybird swarms, or brought such incidences to our attention in other ways. REFERENCES Disney, R. H. L., Majerus, M. E. N. & Walpole, M. 1994. Parasitic behaviour of Phalacrotophora fasciata and P. berolinensis (Diptera: Phoridae) on coccinellids. Entomologist 113: 28-42. Hemptinne, J.-L., Dixon, A. F. G. & Coffin, J. 1992. Attack strategy of ladybird beetles (Coccinellidae): factors shaping their numerical response. Oecologia 90: 238-245. Hodek, I. 1973. Biology of Coccinellidae. Junk, The Hague/Academia, Prague. APPENDIX 1. ANECDOTAL ACCOUNTS DURING THE LADYBIRD POPULATION EXPLOSION OF 1976 “In 1976, on a hot summer’s day, I had occasion to visit an area between Elvedon and Barnham, about one mile south of Thetford, the exact spot being known as the Gorse Trading Estate. I must have been exceptionally lucky, or unlucky, as one of these ‘swarms’ had landed on the road passing through the estate, along which I had to travel. I can remember very clearly seeing the whole road covered in thousands of red ladybirds and the area involved must have been at least 18ft x 20ft. Unfortunately, I had to pass over them.” (Jack Easter) “In the summer of 1976, my two daughters, who were then 15 and 12 respectively, had to curtail one of their usual summer activities, swimming at Ruislip Lido (Middlesex), because of ladybirds. They did not like going into the water because the surface was covered with millions and millions of ladybirds. The Lido has an artificial beach for the bathers, and the sand was often also thick with ladybirds. I do not know what type of ladybirds they were. Although my daughters are both grown up now, and both have children of their own, I know they still remember 1976, as I have heard them tell their children the story of when ‘ladybirds stopped play’!”’ (Sally Wheatley) “In 1976 we had a plague of ladybirds here in Leeds. They were all over the place, on every pavement, and at times it was impossible to take a step without treading on them.” (Frank Haiste) “During the plague of 1976, while on holiday at Minster, in Sheppey, everywhere one put one’s foot, it was thick with ladybirds. The posts along the sea-front holding up the chains were completely smothered.” (Brenda Madgwick) “TI remember the ladybirds of 1976 well. I then lived on the Norfolk coast, and used to take my dog for a walk along the sand each day. In 1976, for what must have been about six weeks, we daily had the company of millions and millions of ladybirds along the beach. The numbers appeared to fluctuate from day to day, but I guess the zenith was about the end of July, or perhaps early August. The numbers on the beach were quite extraordinary, and once the day got hot, many thousands were airborne. Eventually, we began taking our walk early in the morning so as to avoid the ladybirds when they were in flight. Remarkably, after this had been going on for many weeks, one day the whole lot just disappeared. I have no idea why, because, as far as I could see, the weather had not changed to any appreciable extent. One other BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 73 thing may be of interest. For most of the period when the ladybirds were about, the tide-line was solid with the corpses of dead ladybirds. I presume that these unfortunates had just drowned and been washed up.” (John Trent) “Beating trees and shrubs for moth larvae became a futile occupation in the latter part of the summer in 1976. After just one or two taps, the beating tray contained nothing but a seething mass of ladybirds. In Surrey, they were on almost every type of tree, with birch, oak, and sallow perhaps being the worst. Several species were present. Coccinella septempunctata was by far the most abundant, but several other species were also very common. These included Adalia bipunctata, Adalia decem- punctata, Propylea quattuordecimpunctata, Coccinella undecimpunctata and Calvia quattuordecimguttata which was particularly common on the birches. In over 25 years of moth collecting I cannot remember anything else like it. For several weeks, I have entered in my notebook for 1976, ‘Ladybirds stopped work!’.” (Stephen Moore) “In the summer of 1976, on a humid and very hot night, I was on duty in the boiler house of the Maelor Hospital, Wrexham. The air was heavy with greenfly. A light breeze brought them in their millions causing them to sway one way, then the other. Huge numbers were drawn into the one boiler that was on stream. With a long brush I swept and shovelled them away throughout the night, until a dawn breeze wafted them away. The next night, or the one following, the same conditions applied, but this time it was the ladybirds that came, again in their millions, covering everything.” (anon.) “T have just heard you on the radio talking about ladybirds biting people when they are starving hungry. I was most interested to hear what you had to say, because I can confirm every word from personal experience. It was one year, back in the seventies, and from what you say, it sounds like 1976, in the school holidays. I had three young boys to amuse for six weeks, and because it was such a nice summer, every day seemed to be sunny, I promised the boys that I would take them to the sea- side. I guess the first attempt was about the middle of July. We went off to Brighton, getting to the beach about 11 o’clock. By ten minutes later we were back in the car. Both Robert, my youngest, and I had several little bumps on our arms and legs from bites from ladybirds. They were absolutely everywhere, and thousands were in the air. They landed on us all the time, and when we got back into the car, we had to spend quite a while taking them off each other and out of our hair. It was quite possible to feel when one bit us. It was a slight sort of pricking sensation, not much more than a light tickle, but after a minute or two, it began to sting and itch, so that it was quite unpleasant. We tried to do a few things around Brighton, away from the sea-front, which was pretty unpopulated because of the ladybird hordes, and ended up going to the pictures in the afternoon. Really a rather abortive day, but I do not think I have ever seen so many of one kind of animal together as I did that day. In the next week, still trying to keep my promise to the boys, we tried again twice, once going to a spot near Hastings, and then trying the east coast at Frinton, but it was more or less the same story each time. In the end we gave up. I still like ladybirds as much as ever, but had long resented the fact that these objects of my affections had turned on me that year. Now that I know from your broadcast that they were starving to death, I can forgive those that took a bite out of me, and indeed, I feel rather sorry for them. It’s a shame that they did not get anything nutritious out of me.” (Angela Snow) 74 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 “The ladybird swarms of 1976 were not confined to the land. On occasion, my daughter and her husband reported sailing through seas that were completely covered in ladybirds.” (Bridget Chadwick) “On 11 July 1976, I was piloting a light aircraft about 20 miles south of Manchester at 1500 ft when I flew into a large swarm of ladybirds. It was like flying into bird shot. I put down at East Midlands airport to clean the canopy and check the air intakes. There were hundreds of the little creatures, alive, crawling all over the plane.” (Signature illegible) APPENDIX 2. SOME OBSERVATIONS OF SWARMS OR EXCEPTIONAL NUMBERS OF LADYBIRDS RECORDED DURING THE CAMBRIDGE LADYBIRD SURVEY 11 June 1984. “‘Very large numbers of many species of ladybird on trees and shrubs near Santon Downham. Most were on broom, maple and Scots pine. Species included: Anatis ocellata, Exochomus quadripustulatus, Adalia bipunctata, Coccinella septempunctata, Adalia decempunctata, Calvia quattuordecimguttata and Harmonia quadripunctata, in descending order of abundance. Aphids were very abundant on the trees and many of the ladybirds were mating.” (Peter Kearns and Simon Albrecht) February 1985. ‘““On Lakenheath Warren, exceptional numbers of pine ladybirds Exochomus quadripustulatus sunning themselves on pine trees. The majority were sitting still on pine cones in the sun. Some pine cones had as many as 30 ladybirds on them. Everywhere we looked, the pine trees had these ladybirds. As we walked for several miles through pine woods, the number of pine ladybirds must have run into many millions.” (Heather Ireland) May 1987. “Along the banks of the River Aire, West Yorkshire, thousands and thousands of ladybirds on the undergrowth and particularly on nettles.” (Hazel Dunning) Mid-May 1989. ‘“‘A large drift of ladybirds appeared on a beach at Bude, Cornwall.” (lan Cobbledich) June 1989. “On the ferry from Harwich to Esjberg, Denmark, the boat was covered in thousands of ladybirds. Many of them were dead.” (Mrs G. Stoller) 4 August 1989. “Between 15.30 and 16.15 hrs a mass migration of Coccinella septempunctata took place, flying from east to west at altitudes from ground level up to 50-60ft at Little Stambridge Hall, near Rochford, Essex (TQ887919). Estimated to have involved many hundreds.’ (Observer—L. Watts, reported by Roger Payne) An extract from the 1989 Annual report of the Norfolk Ornithologists Association, communication by Alan Paine read as follows. ““Ladybird: swarms on 20 July, flying east from 11 a.m. to | p.m. and again later in the afternoon”’. Three years later I received a pair of linked reports from the same source. The 1992 Norfolk Ornithologists Association Report, again sent in by Alan Paine, described events that took place at Holme, Norfolk. “One of the largest swarms of hoverflies that I have ever seen started to arrive on 31 July and continued the next day until 1.30p.m., in ever-increasing numbers, all flying non-stop down a south-westerly wind. Together with ladybirds, the mixed hordes meant a retreat to the HBO Centre BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 75 with door and windows firmly shut! ‘Hundreds’ even reached North Sea oil-rigs on 16 August and again 12 September.” And later, “Large swarms of 7-spot ladybird downwind (with hoverflies) on 31 July reaching a peak next day between 2 and 4.30p.m., when flower spikes of marram grass were festooned. A few continued to arrive on 2 August and there were swarms everywhere. Some were so hungry they were eating hoverflies and their dead companions’’. “The summer of 1989 was spectacular for ladybirds at Bettystown, near the mouth of the river Boyne, on the east coast of Ireland. There were literally thousands to be seen each day on the local golf course, and nobody locally could remember a more prolific year. In the memories of my children, 1989 will always be referred to as the ladybird summer.” (Hugh Leech) In the spring of 1990, we received reports of exceptional numbers of ladybirds from many parts of Britain. To give just a few examples: F. M. Unsworth reported from Hexham, Northumberland, “large numbers of ladybirds on open peat of previously burned moorland”; H. Bremner, from Biggin Hill, Kent, “thousands of ladybirds in my garden”; L. Owen, from Kirriemuir, Angus, noted “‘a great many ladybirds, all 7-spots, on our lawn’’; C. Hurcombe, from Caversham, Berks., “I have a plague of ladybirds in my garden”; from Stamford Bridge, H. Goodwin reported “large numbers in garden, rose stems encrusted with the beetles, clusters of ladybirds hidden just underneath the topsoil throughout the front and back gardens”; and from Catherine Brown in Wigan, “last weekend thousands of ladybirds were basking in the sunshine of our south facing garden”’. 17 March 1990. ‘““While on a walk on the North York Moors, I came across a swarm of ladybirds. They were in dense clusters all over the ground between low stunted heather bushes (Calluna vulgaris) no more than 4ins in height.” (J. Salter) 17 April 1990. “Astounding numbers of ladybirds all over the garden and surrounding area (alt. 750 feet) this spring. Location: Far-Ben, Dunsmore, Wendover, Bucks.” (V. Piery) Late July 1990. “A large plague of ladybirds, mainly 7-spots, at Weston- Super-Mare.” (P. Lenin). This swarm was noteworthy enough to be mentioned in the Daily Mail. Summer 1991. “Noticed 1000+ 7-spot ladybirds gathering on a concrete wall adjacent to the River Thames at Cliffe Marshes, Kent. Many were mating. A kestrel was sitting on the wall, possibly eating ladybirds.” (Dr L. Love) 8.00p.m., 7 August 1991. ““Rushen Gout, North of Aust (ST582906): many thousands of 7-spots on the nationally scarce grass Alopecurus bulbosus on grazed saltmarsh beside the River Severn.” (M. Kitchen) 21 April 1992. At Leigh (TQ5646): “Literally hundreds of 2-spot ladybirds in every crack and crevice on a telegraph pole, in the middle of a field. They appeared from about one foot off the ground, to a height as far as I could observe. One week later they had all disappeared.”’ (Vic Measday) Several recorders sent me the same cutting from the Eastern Daily Press of 28 July 1994. Under the headline “Basher barnee bee army breezes in. Holidaymakers took to their heels yesterday as a red army blew into town. The Norfolk seaside town of Wells was so over-run by an invasion of ladybirds that tourists and locals were driven inside to escape. In places the town looked prepared for a royal visit—with an 76 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 unblemished carpet of red bishee barnee bees (as ladybirds are called locally) covering the roads and pavements. Barry Franklin, from Derby, said: ‘I’ve never seen anything like it. They’re all over the place, you just can’t escape them. I don’t usually mind ladybirds, but this is just making me uncomfortable’. And Jane Hood, from Clacton, said: ‘My two young children are sitting in the car because they’re SM dy | frightened, and we’re about to get away from Wells’. Late July-early August 1994. ‘‘2—3 mile stretch on the coast between Heacham and Hunstanton. Thousands flying everywhere. On a 16-metre long section of sea wall, 13000, mainly 7-spots, were counted.” (Richard Rockcliffe) 5 August 1994. At Hunstanton: “I parked my car near the Old Lighthouse. On the ground were very many stationary 7-spot ladybirds (20-40 per square foot of turf or tarmac). Later, walking back towards town, I found ladybirds as thick as chipping on a newly dressed road. There could have been a million.” (H. Shelton) From The Bristol Evening Post, 9 August 1994. “A village near Bristol has been invaded by a swarm of ladybirds. The streets of Severn Beach are running red with tens of thousands of the insects. Villagers said it is the largest invasion since the drought year in 1976.” Alan Paine reported reading, on the board of sightings at the Landguard Nature Reserve/Bird Observatory for 14 August 1994: “Huge arrival of ladybirds”. No indication of numbers or species was given. In addition we received these reports of events before the Survey. “TI remember visiting our small coastal town of Southwold when I was five years old (1964), and the car, us, and all in this one spot by the sea were covered with ladybirds.” (Carmela Robinson). May/June 1982. “While on holiday in France, at Sables d’Or, Brittany, we saw at the edge of the sea, coming in on the tide and walking up the beach, rows and rows of ladybirds. They were on the water being washed in, and many had managed to walk quite a distance up the beach (opposite to the lemming syndrome).” (Gillian Siddy) SHORT COMMUNICATION Leiophora (Arrhinomyia) innoxia (Meigen) (Diptera: Tachinidae) parasitizing the ground-hopper Tetrix undulata (Sowerby) (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae).—I collected an adult female Tetrix undulata (Sowerby) and a larva on Arbrook Common, Esher, Surrey on 6.v.1992 and retained them isolated in individual containers with a view to photography. The female died c. 10.v and a dipterous puparium was noted in the container shortly afterwards. A male Leiophora innoxia Meigen emerged 25.v.1992. No exit hole was visible; the neck membrane was intact. Presumably the parasite emerged from under the pronotal extension above the abdomen. The similarity of this structure to a beetle’s elytra may have some bearing on why a parasitoid previously recorded from the flea beetles Halticus should attack a ground-hopper.— R. W. J. UFFEN, 4 Mardley Avenue, Welwyn, Hertfordshire AL6 OUD. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 77 KRENOPSECTRA NOHEDENSIS N. SP. AND THE PUPAL EXUVIAE OF MICROPSECTRA AUVERGNENSIS REISS (DIPTERA: CHIRONOMIDAE) FROM THE EASTERN PYRENEES JOEL MOUBAYED Les Miriers Bt A, 3 Imp. Enclos de L’Herbette, 34000 Montpellier, France. AND PETER H. LANGTON 3 St Felix Road, Ramsey Forty Foot, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE17 1YH, UK. A hydrobiological programme is being undertaken in the natural reserve of Nohedes, eastern French Pyrenees: ecosystem analysis and biological quality assessment are the main aims. An extensive collection of invertebrates from the upper stream of the Nohedes valley has provided two interesting Tanytarsini, one a new Krenopsectra, and the other, the unknown pupa of an uncommon montane Micropsectra. Both species have been collected in other nearby tributary streams of the Tet River. Terminology follows that of Seether (1980), except that the flattened setae on the pupa are referred to as taeniae (Langton & Armitage, 1995). Abbreviations used: AR antennal ratio (ratio of length of apical flagellomere divided by the combined length of the more basal flagellomeres); LR leg ratio (ratio of metatarsus length to tibial length); BR bristle ratio (ratio of longest seta of tarsal segment 1 divided by the minimum width of tarsal segment 1), and VR venarum ratio (ratio of length of Cu to length of M). Krenopsectra nohedensis n. sp. Material: Holotype 1 pharate adult male, 6.vi.1993, upper stream of Nohedes valley, eastern French Pyrenees, 1600 m asl. Paratypes 14 males, 12 pharate adult males, 6 females, 5 pharate adult females, same data as holotype. Holotype deposited in Zoologische Staatssammlung, Munich; paratypes in the authors’ collection. Adult male (1 =7), length from anterior margin of thorax to apex of gonocoxites 3.0-3.25mm. Yellowish, head and scutum slightly greenish, thorax brownish, abdominal segments VII and VIII darkened. Scutellum very prominent. Head. Antenna 870-885 um long; penultimate and ultimate flagellomeres as in Fig. 1; ultimate flagellomere 163-170 um long, with a wide groove extending to its base, bearing at apex sensilla chaetica and 2 setae 54-59 ym long; AR 0.42-0.48. Coronal and frontal setae replaced by numerous microtrichia; inner verticals 12-14; outer verticals 2-3; postoculars 2—3. Clypeus with 16—18 setae arranged generally in 4 rows. Lengths of palp segments: 43, 46, 133, 123, 132 um; sensilla clavata absent. Thorax. Halteres transparent, densely covered with microtrichia and bearing 5-6 short uniserial setae. Scutellum pubescent with 8-10 setae in a single row. Antepronotals absent; acrostichals 19-20 (biserial); dorsocentrals 14-15; prealars and supraalars 0. Wing length 1.95-2.05 mm; membrane with dense macrotrichia 35— 37 um long; numerous setae on veins except M which is bare; anal lobe and squama absent; 2 sensilla campaniformia; VR = 1.30—1.32. Foreleg LR 1.34-1.38, BR 2.8-3.0. Hypopygium as in Fig. 2. Tergite [IX with 1—2 central setae and 12-16 basal setae, all subequal in size (18-22 um long). Anal point laterally as in Fig. 3; 32-34 um long, 78 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 Figs 1-4. Krenopsectra nohedensis n.sp. male imago. 1, penultimate and ultimate flagellomeres; 2, hypopygium in dorsal view; 3, anal point in lateral view; 4, superior volsella. Scale= 0.05 mm. 31-34 um wide at base; broad and rounded apically and reaching the apex of the superior volsella. Superior volsella (Fig. 4), with 4-6 short setae dorsally and 2, rarely 1, stout setae apically; inner basal margin with | very stout seta 36-40 um long. Median volsella 93—98 um long; slightly curved and reaching tip of inferior volsella; inner margin with fine setae increasing distally into a brush containing 6—9 inwardly directed lamellae. Inferior volsella 94-98 um long, 17-19 um wide; gradually curved distally. Gonocoxite with 3-4 setae laterobasally; medially slightly swollen and BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 79 Figs 5-8. Krenopsectra nohedensis n.sp. female imago. 5, three last flagellomeres; 6, tergite [X in dorsal view; 7, genitalia in ventral view; 8, cercus in lateral view. Scales in mm. bearing 2-3 (usually 2) setae on inner margin. Gonostylus 144-150 um long; moderately narrowed toward tip; internally over apical half with 2 rows of 6—7 projecting setae. Gonocoxite 0.60—0.65 length of gonostylus. HV (ratio of body length measured as above to gonostylus length x 10)=2.05—2.15. Adult female (7 = 5). Length 2.9-3.1 mm. Coloration and morphology of thorax as in male. Head. Inner verticals 14—15; outer verticals 3; postoculars 3; coronals and frontals 0. Lengths of palp segments: 45, 29, 91, 96, 120 um; sensilla clavata 0. Antenna 348— 354 um long; AR =0.42—0.44; last 3 flagellomeres as in Fig. 5; ultimate flagellomere 103-106 um long, with sensilla chaetica and | apical seta 60-63 um long. Clypeus with 20-21 setae arranged in general in 5 rows (7, 5, 4, 2, 2). Thorax. Antepronotals 0; acrostichals 20-21; dorsocentrals 22—23; prealars 3; scutellars 10 in a single row. Halteres transparent, 290-310 um long, with 5 short setae. Wing 2.15—2.25mm long; membrane with dense macrotrichia 51—54 um long; anal lobe and squama absent; numerous setae on veins except on M;; sensilla campaniformia 2; VR = 1.30—1.32. Foreleg LR 1.23—1.28, BR 3.10—3.20. 80 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 oats ay 1" 0 iat \ Ta at Figs 9 & 10. Krenopsectra nohedensis n.sp. female imago. 9, genitalia in lateral view; 10, lobes of gonapophysis VIII, dorsomesal and ventrolateral lobes. Scales in mm. Fig. 11. Micropsectra auvergnensis Reiss male imago: anal point in lateral view. Genitalia (Figs 6, 7 & 9). Tergite [IX as in Fig. 6; semicircular, undivided, and with two lateral expansions 7-9 um long; with 31—34 setae. Gonocoxite 56-64 um long, with 6—7 setae. Seminal capsule 73—78 um long, 23—25 um wide, pear-shaped. Sternite VIII (Fig. 7) with 23—28 setae. Notum 88—96 um long; ramus 29-31 um long; notum ratio (length of notum divided by length of ramus) = 1.35—1.7 (m= 1.51, n=5). Lobes of gonapophysis VIII as in Fig. 10, clearly divided from each other; dorsomesal lobe flat ventrally, hook-like laterally; without differentiated setae at base; ventrolateral lobe densely covered with short setae which are longer towards the median margin. Cercus in lateral view as in Fig. 8; 53-60 um long, 70—73 um wide. Pupa Material: 26 pupal exuviae, 6.vi.93, a stream in upper Nohedes valley, 1600 m asl (J.M.); 1 pupal exuviae, 12.viii.94, Caranga Torrent, 940 m asl, Prépyréneées (P.H.L.). Total length 3.64.1 mm (m=3.89mm, n=27). Cephalothorax*smudged brown, wingsheaths margined with brown; abdomen colourless with segments II and VIII lightly browned, lateral apodemes golden and anterior median stronger points of IV and V highlighted with golden brown; comb brown; IX golden brown. Cephalothorax. Frontal setae 141—-240um long (m=194.5, n=17). Frontal apotome with incipient granulation. Cephalic tubercles (Fig. 14) broad-based BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 81 Figs 12-15. Krenopsectra nohedensis n.sp. male pupa. 12, dorsal view of segments II—-V; 13, dorsal view of segments VI-IX; 14, appearance of cephalic tubercles on flattened and folded frontal apotome; 15, thoracic horn and precorneal setae. Scale =0.1 mm. elongate cones 64-130 um high (m=77.1, n= 11). Thoracic horn (Fig. 15) set at right angles to basal bulb, 384-576 um long (m= 474.9, n= 24), 3.3-7.0 times as long as broad (m= 4.9, n=21), with a broad band of long setae about 7 setae wide from base to apex, towards apex the band widening to encompass the horn, longest setae 304— 450 um long (m= 406.1, n= 24), 0.7—1.2 times horn length (m= 0.83, n= 24). Nose of wingsheaths small; pearl row absent. All setae of cephalothorax hair-like, not flattened. Lengths of lateral antepronotal setae 70-173 um (104.4, n= 16), median antepronotal setae 141—225um (m=196.5, n=15), precorneal setae 1—3 186-272; 150-208; 112—160 pm (m= 222.9; 184.9; 149.9, n= 15), dorsocentral setae 14 93-154; 77-173; 102-163; 96-141 um (m=128; 114.3; 138.8; 123.7, n=20), occasionally forked. 82 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 Abdomen (Figs 12, 13). Segment I unarmed. Tergite II nearly covered with small points that are a little larger posteriorly; the posterior median longitudinal smooth space only weakly closed anteriorly, the lateral bands diverging to produce a V- shaped median bare patch; hook row 0.31—0.44 segment breadth, of 73-96 hooks (n= 10); pedes spurii B well developed. Tergite HI similar to II but lateral point patches rectangular with a narrow bare longitudinal band medially; antero-median points larger and somewhat darkened. Tergites IV and V as III but antero-median larger points more extensive. Tergite VI as V but points sparser laterally and no differentiated points anteriorly. Tergite VII with or without a pair of small antero- median point patches. Tergite VIII with antero-lateral corners armed with very small points. Comb of segment VIII with 4-7 elongate marginal teeth. Sternites, paratergites and parasternites unarmed. Tergite IX unarmed; anal lobes truncate behind, 0.87—1.19 as long as broad, fringe starting about half-way back. Chaetotaxy: (S = taeniae) I II II IV Vv VI VII VIII Ix dorsal 2 D 5 5 5 5 5 l is lateral 0 3 3 3 3 3 lateral S 4(3) 4 8-13 ventral 2 3 4 4 4 4 4 l Larva unknown. Taxonomic remarks Two species of Krenopsectra Reiss have been described previously: acuta (Goetghebuer, 1934) and fallax Reiss (1969b, 1974). Only fallax hitherto has been recorded from rivers in the Alps and Pyrenees (Reiss, 1969b; Serra-Tosio & Laville, 1991). The adult male of nohedensis can be separated from the other two species by the combination of the following characters: anal point uniformly broadened; superior volsella large, not so narrowed towards the tip as in both acuta and fallax; median volsella bearing 6-9 broad lamellae at tip; basal inner margin of gonocoxite swollen medially. Key to adult male Krenopsectra 1 Anal point broadly rounded and swollen medially, with nipple-like apex...... SRE L BIT) A ies. 4 ean EY a K. acuta (Goetghebuer) — Anal point uniformly broadened to base, not swollen medially ........... 2 2 Superior volsella gradually narrowed to tip. Median volsella with less than 10 apicalelamellate setae s!!! 22uqsiOON> 0) BIH ROME AUT ae K. nohedensis n.sp. — Superior volsella strongly contracted before tip, the apical part nearly parallel- sided. Median volsella with more than 12 apical lamellate setae............ The adult female of nohedensis is characterized especially by its low notum ratio, the shape of tergite [IX (undivided and bearing lateral expansions), the morphology of gonopophysis VIII and particularly by the flattened dorsomesal lobe. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 83 The pupal exuviae of nohedensis run to Krenopsectra fallax at couplet 125 of the key to Tanytarsini in Langton (1991). The pupa of acuta has also been described (Reiss, 1969b) and was overlooked in the construction of the West Palaearctic key. The three species may be incorporated as follows: 125 Fringe of anal lobes restricted to the posterior half of the lobes, of 15 taeniae or Pee Burg eae A) dotted one & SRR Rie ake Secetalel ty amemene: atts Marlies ie a 125a — Fringe of anal lobes complete, usually of many more taeniae......... 126 125a Thoracic horn extending from the basal bulb, not strongly bent at base .... > actrees Rome hetet eerste ae rena, Sepdae ac eee Han Fane Krenopsectra acuta Reiss Thoracic horn bent at right angles at attachment to basal bulb....... 125b 125b Tergites IIJ-V, apart from the smooth median longitudinal band, nearly covered with points. Only one dorsal taenia on the anal lobes ........... Hence Ay og peweds | 20k ace tes 28 1, eye eae ae ares Krenopsectra nohedensis sp. nov. Tergites III-V with the point patches on either side of the smooth midline truncated triangular, narrow anteriorly and spreading towards the lateral ierimrortne terete Posteriad! 70... ool he. Krenopsectra fallax Reiss Micropsectra auvergnensis Reiss When M. auvergnensis was described by Reiss (1969a) from the Massif Central, the pupa was unknown. A partly eclosed adult male establishes as auvergnensis a new pupal form from a stream in the upper Nohedes valley, type locality of Krenopsectra nohedensis, and a stream a few kilometres to the west. The lateral view of the male anal point (Fig. 11) was not figured in the original description. Material: 1 partly eclosed adult male and two damaged pupal exuviae, 6.vi.93, stream in upper Nohedes valley, 1600m asl (J.M.); 1 pupal exuviae, 31.v.94 Aude stream, 950m asl, Prépyrénées (P.H.L.). Description of pupa Total length 3.7, 4.2mm. Colourless to faint golden brown anteriorly and posteriorly, in addition golden brown smudging of cephalothorax and of tergites where the stronger armament is situated; comb golden-brown. Cephalothorax. Frontal setae 220-240 um long. Cephalic tubercles very weak. Antennal sheath base with weak rounded-conical projection. Thoracic horn (Fig. 18) 304-384 um long, 38-54 um broad, 5.6—-10 times as long as broad; longest horn setae 208-230 pm long, 0.68—0.71 times as long as horn. Nose of wingsheaths small; pearl row absent. All setae of cephalothorax hair-like, not flattened. Lengths of lateral antepronotal setae 90-130 um, median antepronotal setae 150-170 um, precorneal setae 1-3 166-192; 90-128; 90-109 um, dorsocentral setae 1-4 80; 64; 96; 77 um. Posterior thoracic mound moderately swollen. Abdomen (Figs 16 & 17). Segment I unarmed. Tergite II almost covered with points; hook row 0.38—0.45 breadth of segment II, of 72-88 hooks. Tergite III with the point patch deeply emarginate postero-medially, the points on each side of the emargination replaced by spines 51-64 um long. Tergites IV and V with an anterior pair of slightly oblique bands of strong points, narrowly separated medially, from the lateral ends of which extends a point band which widens posteriad. Tergites VI and VII similar to tergites IV and V but the anterior bands progressively weaker, hardly recognizable on VII; VII also with the lateral bands ceasing at about level seta DS. 84 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 TE Nts Figs 16-18. Micropsectra auvergnensis Reiss male pupa. 16, dorsal view of segments II-V; 17, dorsal view of segments VI-IX; 18, thoracic horn and precorneal setae. Scale=0.1 mm. Tergite VIII with a small patch of minute points antero-laterally. Sternites unarmed. Paratergites II-VII armed with small points. Comb of segment VIII with 4 or 5 marginal teeth. Anal lobes rounded, 1.1—1.2 times as long as broad. Pedes spurii B of segment II conspicuous. Chaetotaxy (S = taeniae): I II Ill IV Vv VI VIL om VIII Ix dorsal 2 3 5) 5 5 5 5 1 1S lateral 0 3 3 1 lateral S 2 3 4° 4 5 29-34 ventral 0 2 3 4 4 4 4 1 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 85 Taxonomic remarks The pupa of M. auvergnensis founders at couplet 126 of the key to Tanytarsini in Langton (1991). It has in common with other members of the attenuata group the armed paratergites (inaccurately referred to as ‘pleura’ in the key); however, the conspicuous anterior point patches of tergites [IV and V would direct the user to a point later in the key. M. auvergnensis may be included in the key as follows: 126 Tergites IV and V nearly covered with strong points, the points of the anterior transverse point patches similar in size but more dense than elsewhere on these segments and may be rendered conspicuous by a golden or brown colouring of the cuticle around them. (Paratergites of mid abdominal segments extensively amen With isiallpomtss) Sos Pee, es Pee as 127 — If tergites IV and V with extensive armament, then the points of the anterior point patches much stronger than those behind. ......ss2525. 000. 127a 127 (unchanged) i274 Parater sites TI-ViLarmed with small points be spee eS + lie AGE No Si iE ae eR, Mi a a ee SoA ae a Micropsectra auvergnensis Reiss — Paratergites II-VII unarmed, or rarely with a restricted area of small points . ET Reese NEN es fee er Sea, Sat ate eel Se tee 128 Ecology Reiss (1969a) for species of the Micropsectra attenuata group states ‘Although larvae are not available, the rearing and collecting conditions of adults give rise to the impression that the larvae are cold stenothermic, oxybiontic inhabitants of lenitic [sic] areas in springs and upper stream courses’. The fast-flowing montane streams that have yielded both Krenopsectra nohedensis and Micropsectra auvergnensis in the Pyrenees, fall within this general classification. Their larval habitats within the streams are being investigated. M. auvergnensis has been previously recorded for the Auvergne in France and Westfalen in Germany (Reiss, 1969a). It is unlikely that K. nohedensis is restricted to the eastern Pyrenees. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We wish to thank members and workers of the natural reserve of Nohedes, and especially the Director, A. Mangeot, for hospitality and helpful assistance during our investigations. REFERENCES Goetghebuer, M. 1934. Ceratopogonidae et Chironomidae récoltés par M. le Prof. Thienemann dans les environs de Garmisch-Partenkirchen (Haute-Baviére) et par M. Geijskes prés de Bale, dans le Réserenbach. Bull. Annis Soc. R. Ent. Belg. 74: 334-350. Langton, P. H. 1991. A key to pupal exuviae of West Palaearctic Chironomidae. 386 pp. Privately published. Langton, P. H. & Armitage, P. D. 1995. Rheotanytarsus rioensis (Diptera, Chironomidae), a new species of the pentapoda-group from the Canary Islands. Br. J. Ent. Nat. Hist. 8: 11-17. 86 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 Reiss, F. 1969a. Revision der Gattung Micropsectra Kieff., 1909 (Diptera, Chironomidae). 1. Die attenuata-gruppe der Gattung Micropsectra. Beschreibung 5 neuer Arten aus Mitteleuropa und Nordafrica. Deutsch Ent. Z. 16: 431-449. Reiss, F. 1969b. Krenopsectra fallax gen.n. sp.n. (Diptera, Chironomidae) aus den Alpen und Pyrenden. Ann. Zool. Fenn. 6: 435-442. Reiss, F. 1974. Revision des Typen-Materials einiger Tanytarsini-Arten (Chironomidae, Diptera) aus dem Museum Briissel. Ent. Tidskr. 95: 203-211. Sether, O. A. 1980. Glossary of chironomid morphology terminology (Diptera: Chironomidae). Ent. Scand. Suppl. 14: 1—S1. Serra-Tosio, B. & Laville, H. 1991. Liste annotée des Dipteres Chironomidés de France continentale et de Corse. Ann/s Limnol. 27(1): 37-74. SHORT COMMUNICATION The occurrence of seaweed flies (Diptera: Coelopidae) on the Isle of Islay—The two British species of seaweed fly, Coelopa frigida (F.) and C. pilipes Hal., breed on beds of decomposing wrack formed by seaweed deposited on the shore during high tides or during storms. An early map describing the distribution of the genus in Britain was concerned primarily with mainland shores and therefore largely ignored the islands lying off the west coast of Scotland (Dobson, 1974). A more recent map (Phillips et al., 1995; primarily from data collected by T. H. Day at the University of Nottingham), concerning the wider European distribution of the genus, does signify the presence of C. frigida on Uist in the Outer Hebrides but gives no information for any of the other Hebridean islands. To augment the knowledge of the distribution of the genus in this area, I recently (5.xi.95 to 8.xi.95) sampled four sites on the Isle of Islay in the Inner Hebrides. The sites covered the extreme east and west of the island and the shores along Loch Indaal in the centre of the island. To sample, I disturbed wrack material on the shore and gathered any flies which emerged by ‘aspirating’ using a portable car vacuum cleaner (Black & Decker Ltd, Spennymoor, Co. Durham). Each sample consisted of the flies collected in a 15-minute period. The flies collected are summarized below. Machair Bay (NR207630)—C. frigida; males 8, females 17. C. pilipes; 0. Bowmore (NR310600)—C. frigida; males 24, females 44. C. pilipes; 0. Black Rock (NR305630)—C. frigida; 0. C. pilipes; 0. Port Askaig (NR432693)—C. frigida; 0. C. pilipes; 0. Although there is some inconsistency, the results confirm the occurrence of Coelopa frigida on Islay and provide no evidence of the presence of C. pilipes. This data supports Phillips et a/. (1995) who suggested that C. pilipes is relatively scarce in the north-west of the British Isles, possibly reaching the edge of its geographic range. I wish to thank the Percivals (S. M., T., B. D. & S. D.) for their encouragement with this project—S. HODGE, Ecology Centre, University of Sunderland SR1 3SD. REFERENCES Dobson, T. 1974. Studies on the biology of the kelp-fly Coe/opa in Great Britain. J. Nat. Hist. 8: 155-177. Phillips, D. S., Leggett, M., Wilcockson, R., Day, T. H. & Arthur, W. 1995. Coexistence of competing species of seaweed flies: the role of temperature. Ecol. Ent. 20: 65—74. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 87 THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DROSOPHILA OCCURRENCE AND MOULD ABUNDANCE ON ROTTING FRUIT SIMON HODGE Ecology Centre, University of Sunderland, Sunderland, Tyne & Wear SRI 3SD. Some species of Drosophila belong to a functional guild of species which are detritivores of rotting fruit. This guild includes mammals and birds, a variety of invertebrates and a number of species of micro-organisms. Therefore, Drosophila may have to compete with a number of other species, from a wide range of taxa, for access to their resource. These potential competitors include species of mould which grow on the surface of the decomposing fruit. Janzen (1977) suggested that some characteristic qualities of rotten fruit are a ‘deliberate’ strategy of fungi to make the resource unattractive to higher animals, a form of interspecific interference effect. Moulds are often a pest of Drosophila cultures in the laboratory and the use of fungicides or the maintenance of high larval density are often needed to restrain fungal growth (Demerec, 1950; Ashburner & Thompson, 1978). On more natural resources the performance of D. immigrans and D. melanogaster has been shown to be reduced by the presence of Penicillium on citrus fruits (Atkinson, 1981). The aim of this paper is to examine the occurrence of Drosophila and the extent of mould growth on pieces of fruit left out in the field. It is hoped that this may give some further insight into whether mould/Drosophila interactions are of general significance to the structure of the communities in which these taxa occur. METHODS Association between mould and Drosophila on pieces of fruit Experiments were carried out at two field sites. The first site, Hendon (NZ403559), an urban district of Sunderland in north east England, consisted of an urban garden containing a few herbaceous plants. Populations of Drosophila had been observed in the garden in a previous year’s pilot study, centred mainly around a small compost heap. The local area consists mainly of urban terraced housing with some nearby parkland. The second site used was at West Learmouth (NT386638), near to Cornhill-on- Tweed on the English-Scottish border. The site consisted of a small patch of woodland adjacent to a road verge. The woodland had once been part of a cottage garden and contained apple, cherry and elder trees. Thus there were a number of naturally occurring breeding resources for Drosophila. To examine the distribution of moulds and Drosophila, pieces of banana (~ 20 g) were placed in plastic cups (open end 60mm diameter) with screw-on plastic lids. Nine holes (4mm) were drilled through the lids to allow entry of flies. The baits were left exposed in the field for six days and then returned to the laboratory. The plastic cups were then fitted with lids with air-holes covered with fine nylon gauze. The pieces of fruit, along with any Drosophila eggs or larvae, were maintained at 25°C in an insect room, with relative humidity at 45-55% and a 16/8 hour light/dark cycle. The fruit was retained for 21 days and a note was made of whether the growth of mould on the fruit covered the entire exposed surface (100% cover). A record was also made of which pieces of bait gave rise to emergent adult Drosophila. Eighty 88 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 pieces of bait were left exposed in the field on each of three occasions: twice at West Learmouth (July & August 1993) and once at Hendon (September 1993). Effects of the presence of Drosophila larvae upon fungal growth In an intensive study of the biogeography of Catalonian Drosophila, Monclus (1964) suggested that the coastal basin near to Barcelona is one of the most diverse in terms of number of species. Therefore, a more detailed examination of the effects of Drosophila larvae on the growth of moulds was performed in Calella del Mar on the northern Mediterranean coast of Spain (2° 40’ longitude, 41° 36’ latitude) in May/June 1994. Trapping of Drosophila was carried out in a pine woodland, consisting mainly of aleppo pines, stone pines and cork oaks, near to the El Faro lighthouse. Strawberries which had first been topped were placed into plastic-cup traps (described above) and were left exposed in the field for up to 3 weeks. In total 45 traps were used, distributed at random throughout a patch of woodland approximately 20 by 20m. The traps were examined each day at around 4.00 p.m. and the percentage cover of moulds on the surface of the fruit was estimated. The presence or absence of Drosophila larvae on each piece of fruit was recorded. Larval identification was carried out by comparison with specimens of known taxa and, for further assurance, some larvae were allowed to complete their development and the adults identified on emergence (from work on adult Drosophila in the same area the most common species were D. subobscura Collin, D. immigrans Sturtevant and D. simulans Sturtevant). RESULTS Association between mould and Drosophila The collecting period for this experiment was poor in terms of numbers of Drosophila, with Drosophila adults emerging from less than 15% of fruit baits (mainly D. subobscura Collin). There were generally more than one species of mould present on the fruit, such as Penicillium, Aspergillus and Mucor species. However, for the purposes of this investigation moulds were not separated into distinct taxa. The classification of fruit pieces was analysed using a chi-square (x7) procedure to examine for association (Table 1). The data were validated as suitable for pooling and then analysed using Cochrane’s method for calculating y? suitable for data which gives rise to some low expected values (Zar, 1984, Table 1d). Overall, there was a highly significant negative association between Drosophila emergence and complete fungal cover (y.2=217.2, for 1 d.f., P<0.001). When there was complete fungal cover of the surface of the fruit there were very few cases of Drosophila emergence. Conversely, when the fungal cover was less than 100% Drosophila adults emerged in every case. It appeared, therefore, that there was a complementary distribution of complete fungal cover of the fruit surface and the emergence of Drosophila. Effects of the presence of Drosophila larvae upon fungal growth The development of fungal growth on the surface of the strawberries is illustrated in Figure 1. Again, there was a mixture of fungal species present which were pooled BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 89 Table 1. Contingency tables for association between Drosophila emergence and complete fungal cover of fruit. (a) July 1993— Complete fungus (b) August 1993— Complete fungus West Learmouth cover West Learmouth cover Yes No Yes No Drosophila Present 0 8 Drosophila Present 0 16 Absent 72 0 Absent 64 0 x7 =79.2, P<0.001. x7 =79.8, P<0.001. (c) September 1993— Complete fungus (d) Pooled data Complete fungus Hendon, Sunderland cover cover Yes No Yes No Drosophila Present > 11 Drosophila Present 2 35 Absent 67 0 Absent 203 0 x° = 64.9, P<0.001. %2= 217.2, P<0.001. 100 wie BO BS ® 60 > ° re) o 40 = — = ra —e—no larvae 5 oO —o- larvae oO re Oe ee 1 3 5 7 Qe SFA OS Sees ti 7ee Op as Figure 1. The pattern of fungal growth on strawberries with and without Drosophila larvae (mean+ SE). and treated as a single taxon. The data on percentage fungal cover of the fruit pieces were analysed using the generalized linear interactive modelling system (GLIM; Baker & Nelder, 1978), defining the fungal cover as binomial (i.e. a proportion of 100%). The ‘repeated measures’ nature of the data was compensated for to some extent by including ‘time’ as a factor in the analyses. A significant statistical interaction was found to occur between the age of the fruit and the presence of Drosophila larvae in their effects on fungal growth (Fy 3g9 = 2.43, P<0.01). 90 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 Fungal cover rapidly increased on all pieces of fruit for the first 4 days. By the fifth day the trends for fungal growth on pieces of fruit which contained Drosophila larvae and those which were unoccupied began to diverge, the fungal growth on the surface of pieces of fruit which contained Drosophila larvae being reduced. At the end of the investigation pieces of fruit which had contained Drosophila larvae tended to have no fungal cover on the surface whereas fruits which were assumed to have contained no larvae had virtually complete cover. DISCUSSION The complementary distributions of complete fungus cover and Drosophila emergence may be taken as evidence for negative interspecific effects; complete fungus cover debarring Drosophila development and/or the presence of Drosophila larvae in the resource preventing absolute cover by mould. There are potential mechanisms which could give rise to these effects. Some fungi produce mycotoxins which have a deleterious affect on insect performance (e.g. Keller & Zimmermann, 1989) and D. melanogaster has been shown to be negatively affected by at least one of these mycotoxins (aflatoxin) produced by the fungus Aspergillus flavus (Matsumura & Knight, 1967). In laboratory cultures mould infection can cause serious reductions in Drosophila population size (Demerec, 1950; Ashburner & Thompson, 1978). Conversely, some insects are known to feed on the hyphae of fungi growing on the shared resource and thus reduce the fungal standing crop (e.g. Wicklow & Yocom, 1982; Lussenhop & Wicklow, 1985). However, there is a danger in using distributional data to infer competitive mechanisms (Connell, 1975; Schoener & Adler, 1991; Stone & Roberts, 1992) especially when the distributions are biased to certain classes (Wright & Biehl, 1983). Differences in qualitative aspects of the habitat may produce complementary distributions, regardless of any interactions which may occur. For example, fruit suitable for Drosophila emergence may be unsuitable for rapid fungal growth and conversely fruit which promotes fungal growth may be unsuitable for Drosophila development. Even if negative effects are inferred there is no indication of any causal mechanisms. However, the data from Calella gives some indication that there is at least one negative effect occurring between the two taxa. The growth of mould on the surface of the strawberries is reduced if Drosophila larvae are present. There was no suggestion that the larvae were feeding on the mould, thus reducing its standing crop by trophic means. The mechanism of the fungal reduction appeared to be one of physical interference. Larvae were observed feeding on, or just under, the surface of the fruit and the movement of the larvae had a mixing effect on the fruit substance. This behaviour tended to undermine and churn up the fungal mat so causing a decrease in fungal cover. A similar effect has been observed in dung systems where fungus-gnat larvae have been observed to have a mixing effect on the substrate and decrease the density of fungal hyphae (Lussenhop er al., 1980; Lussenhop & Wicklow, 1985). As nearly all pieces of rotting fruit will have some mould Srowth then the likelihood of Drosophila ever encountering mould-free fruit will be extremely scarce. Mould contamination is known to reduce Drosophila populations size in the laboratory and the results presented here suggest that mteractions between moulds and Drosophila may also be important in determining the local community structure of a resource patch in the field. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 91 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I thank Nina Wilson and Sarah Young for assisting with the Spanish fieldwork and Steve Percival for reading through an earlier draft. This work was funded partly by a NERC studentship (GT4/91/TLS/70). REFERENCES Ashburner, M. & Thompson, J. N. 1978. The laboratory culture of Drosophila. In: Ashburner, M. & Wright, T. R. F. (Eds) The genetics and biology of Drosophila Vol. 2a. Academic Press, London. Atkinson, W. D. 1981. An ecological interaction between citrus fruit, Penicillium moulds and Drosophila immigrans Sturtevant (Diptera: Drosophilidae). Ecol. Ent. 6: 339-344. Baker, R. J. & Nelder, J. A. 1978. The GLIM system. Release 3.77. Royal Statistical Society, Oxford. Connell, J. H. 1975. Some mechanisms producing structure in natural communities. In: Cody, M. L. & Diamond, J. M. (Eds) Ecology and evolution of communities. Harvard University Press, London. Demerec, M. 1950. Biology of Drosophila. Wiley, Chapman & Hall, New York. Janzen, D. H. 1977. Why fruits rot, seeds mold and meat spoils. Am. Nat. 111: 691-713. Keller, S. & Zimmerman, G 1989. Mycopathogens of soil insects. In: Wilding, N., Collins, N. M., Hammond, P. M. & Webber, J. F. (Eds) Insect fungus interactions. Academic Press, London. Lussenhop, J., Kumar, R., Wicklow, D. T. & Lloyd, J. E. 1980. Insect effects on bacteria and fungi in cattle dung. Oikos 34: 54-58. Lussenhop, J. & Wicklow, D. T. 1985. Interaction of competing fungi with fly larvae. Microbial Ecol. 11: 175-182. Matsumura, F. & Knight, S. G. 1967. Toxicity and chemosterilizing activity of aflatoxin against insects. J. Econ. Ent. 60: 871-872. Monclus, M. 1964. Distribucion y ecologia de drosofilidos en Espana. Génetica Ibérica 16: 143-165. Schoener, T. W. & Adler, G. H. 1991. Greater resolution of distributional complementarities by controlling for habitat affinities: a study with Bahamian lizards and birds. Am. Nat. 137: 669-692. Stone, L. & Roberts, A. 1992. Competitive exclusion, or species aggregation? Oecologia 91: 419-424. Wicklow, D. T. & Yocum, D. H. 1982. Effect of larval grazing by Lycoriella mal (Diptera: Sciaridae) on species abundance of coprophilous fungi. Trans. Br. Mycol. Soc. 78: 29-32 Wright, S. J. & Biehl, C. C. 1983. Empty sites and the analysis of presence—absence data. Am. Nat. 122: 833-834. Zar, J. H. (1984) Biostatistical analysis. Prentice-Hall, London. SHORT COMMUNICATIONS Cicones undata Gueér.-Meén. (Coleoptera: Colydiidae) still common under sycamore bark in south-east London.—Since I first found this pretty beetle under sycamore bark in Nunhead Cemetery in October 1991 (Jones, 1992, 1993), I have frequently examined dead sycamores killed by the sooty bark disease, an ascomycete fungus Cryptostroma corticale Ell. & Ev., and I am happy to report that the beetle continues to thrive in the area. Nunhead Cemetery (TQ3575; VC17, Surrey) has a large number of dead standing sycamore trees and the Cicones is without doubt the commonest beetle under their bark. It is often possible to find 10 to 20 specimens within a few minutes of searching on each tree. Specimens have been found on several BENHS field meetings to the cemetery, and on many other occasions during the last 5 years. 92 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 The neighbouring Honor Oak Park (One-Tree Hill; TQ3574), also has a considerable growth of young sycamores and Cicones undata was plentiful under the bark of cut sycamore logs on 25.viii.95 and 4.xi.95, in company with many thousands of Enicmus brevicornis (Mannerh.) (Lathridiidae) crawling about the soot-like fungus. Another colydiid beetle attached to sycamore, Synchita separanda (Reitt.), is much less common than the Cicones, but I found several in the park under bark of sycamore logs on 25.viii.95. This beetle seemed less associated with the sooty bark and occurred in areas infected with the coral spot fungus Nectria cinnabarina (Tode ex Fr.) Fr. Examination of photographs of this beetle when it was first found in London (Jones, 1987) show that the sooty sycamore log on which it was found also had coral spot, so it may be associated with either of these fungal diseases. Several specimens of Diplocoelus fagi Guér.-Men. (Biphyllidae) were also present on the sycamore logs in the park on 25.vii.95 and 4.i1x.95. The West Kent/Surrey vice- county border passes over Honor Oak Park, but most of the sycamores are on the Surrey side. Of the beetles mentioned above, only Diplocoelus fagi occurred in the West Kent part of the park. Further into West Kent (VC 16), Cicones undata also occurred sparingly under bark of dead sycamores in Beckenham Place Park (TQ3870) on 20.ix.95 (in company with a few Enicmus brevicornis) and on Blackheath Hill (TQ383766) on 3.x.95. It is obviously still a common and widespread species throughout the area—RICHARD JONES, 13 Bellwood Road, Nunhead, London SE15 3DE. REFERENCES Jones, R. A. 1987. Synchita separanda Reitter—a third British locality. Entomologist’s Rec. J. Var. 99: 43-44. Jones, R. A. 1992. [Exhibit at BENHS meeting, 22nd October 1991.] Br. J. Ent. Nat. Hist. 5: 29. Jones, R. A. 1993. Sycamore: an underrated pabulum for insects and some beetles associated with it. Entomologist’s Rec. J. Var. 105: 1-10. Large tortoiseshell in East Sussex.—I would like to report the presence of the large tortoiseshell, Nymphalis polychloros (L.), in East Sussex in late July 1995. It was seen basking on open ground in the parish of Catsfield by Mr D. Goldsmith, a woodsman with an excellent working knowledge of butterflies in the field. The last reported sighting in the parish, and perhaps in the neighbourhood, was in April 1981 when a post-hibernating specimen was photographed basking on an apple tree in my garden (Feltwell, 1981). The current locality is about one mile distant from the former site. The general area is a rich pattern of semi-natural ancient woodland, improved pastures, hedgerows and a few houses. It is incidentally on private land well away from public access, and its reported presence ‘in the parish of Catsfield’ is deliberate to protect the privacy of the owner and habitat. This current sighting, and those for Essex mentioned in Butterfly Conservation’s Conservation News (1995; 60: 16), should be set in the context of the large tortoiseshell being ‘thought extinct’ in Britain by about 1980 (Wynne et al., 1995)—JOHN FELTWELL, Marlham, Henley’s Down, Battle, East Sussex TN33 9BN. REFERENCES Feltwell, J. 1981. The large tortoiseshell in East Sussex. Entomologist’s Rec. J. Var. 94: 237. Wynne, G., Avery, M., Campbell, L., Gubbay, S., Hawkswell, S., Juniper, T., King, M., Newbery, P., Smart, J., Steel, C., Stones, T., Stubbs, A., Taylor, J., Tydeman, C. & Wynde, R. 1995. Biodiversity challenge: an agenda for conservation in the UK. (second edition) RSPB, Sandy. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 93 THE BUTTERFLIES OF STARA PLANINA (SERBIA) WITH EMPHASIS ON M. JURTINA LINNAEUS R. PARKER 263 Washington Street, Beck Row, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP28 SEX, UK. AND P. JAKSIC Dardania SU-7/7A, 8, 3800 Pristina, Yugoslavia. A total of 243 species of butterfly are to be found on the territory of the former Yugoslavia (Jaksic, 1988). Early in my stay in Yugoslavia I met Predrag Jaksic, and he laughingly said ‘In Britain you only have 66 species. I can take you to Stara Planina and you will catch that many in one day!’ In July 1992 I was able to take him up on the offer, and I was not disappointed. Stara Planina means literally the old mountain, and is the name of a massif running across Bulgaria and into south Serbia, with the summit of Midzor at 2169 m, close to the border. The whole flora and fauna of the area is rich (Misic et al., 1978; Mesaros et al., 1984), as it includes an important relict area focused on the village and valley of Topli Do (lit. warm valley). Here a delightful abundance of butterflies is to be found in a remote and unspoiled setting. What follows includes an account of the species we took together that weekend, but is really the result of a much wider exploration by Jaksic during the month of July in 1991 and 1992, when he visited localities that span a broader range of biotopes than the deciduous foothill and montane woodlands of Topli Do. It incorporates observations on the population of M. jurtina L. in that isolated locality. BIOMES AND LOCALITIES All the collecting localities fell within 3 adjacent UTM grid squares, but the area embraced 3 separate biomes between 550 and 1750m: (a) submediterranean oak woodlands (oak); (b) southern European; mostly deciduous foothill and montane woodlands (S. Eur.), and (c) rocky ground; pasture and woodland on Mediterranean mountains (rocky). Ten localities were investigated, as shown in Table 1. Table 1. Details of localities 1-10. Serial Biome Locality Elevn UTM Grid Ne S. Eur Temska 550m FN 29 2. S. Eur Zavoj 650m FN 39 3h Oak Beside River Temscica 750m FN 29-FN 39 4. S. Eur Topli Do 750-800 m FN 39-FP 30 of S. Eur Beside River Toplodolska 800-1000 m FP 30 6. Oak Kucnicko Krajiste 900-1000 m FN 39 the Rocky Beside River Rakitska 1350m FP 30 8. Rocky Beside River Ilijina 1400 m FP 30 Sh. Rocky Babin Zub 1500 m FP 30 10. Rocky Zarkova Cuka 1750m FP 30 94 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 Table 2. Results. Localities: Species 2 3 4 5 6 aI 8 9 10 HESPERIIDAE Pyrgus malvae L. ; “ : : ‘ : is * ; * Pyrgus alveus Hiibn. Pyrgus sidae Esp. : ‘ Spialia orbifer Hiibn. : ‘i Carcharodus lavatherae Esp. Carcharodus flocciferus Zell. : Erynnis tages L. * 3 Thymelicus flavus Brunnich ; ‘ Thymelicus acteon Rott. s ¥ ‘ ha f : , , Ochlodes venatus B. & G. ‘ ; . . . , i x PAPILIONIDAE Iphiclides podalirius L. ; ; H ¢ 3 , * * Parnassius apollo L. : , : if 2 PIERIDAE Aporia crataegi L. Pieris brassicae L. : : : Pieris napi L. ii * ‘ Pieris rapae L. Pieris mannii Mayer ; ‘ : Anthocharis cardamines L. ; ; e Colias alfacariensis Berger " Colias crocea Geoff. ; Gonepteryx rhamni L. m Leptidea sinapsis L. a LYCAENIDAE Lycaena phlaeas L. : : ‘ ; A Lycaena candens H. & S. ; ; ‘ ; 5 ; : * Heodes virgaureae L. ‘ : . ; : Heodes alciphron Rott. : ; : ‘i ss : 53 Heodes tityrus Poda ; ‘ ? sa ; Quercusia quercus L. P : i ; 4 Nordmannia acaciae F. Nordmannia pruni L. ‘ Cupido minimus Fuessly - : ‘ ' : Cupido argiades Pallas : ; : * 3 : : Celastrina argiolus L. : : : : f . = Scolitantides orion Pallas Glauchopsyche alexis Poda Maculinea arion L. Maculinea alcon D. & S. ; : Plebejus argus L. : z Plebejus idas L. Plebejus sephirus Friv. : ‘ . : : ‘ ‘ Aricia allous Geyer : a4 F : My 2 : i Aricia eumedon Esp. . : : : ; ; iE Aricia agestis D. & S. ; 5 ; ; : : ; f Cyaniris semiargus Rott. ‘ . : ; E 2 - rs . Polyommatus ripartii Frey. * Polyommatus admetus Esp. . + & % &° +t © S BB E* REE 8b ihe * te & &# & HB * pt. * 7 ae Ge We aes * e Reh BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 Table 2 (continued). Results. Species Polyommatus amandus Schneider Meleageria daphnis D. & S. Polyommatus icarus Rott. Polyommatus thersites Cant. Polyommatus eroides Friv. SATYRIDAE Kanetesia circe F. Hipparchia fagi Scop. Hipparchia volgensis M.-P. Erebia ligea L. Erebia euryale Esp. Erebia orientalis Elwes Erebia aethiops Esp. Erebia medusa D. & S. Erebia alberganus phorcys Frey. Erebia ottomana HS. Erebia oeme Hiibn. Melanargia galathea L. Maniola jurtina L. Hyponephele lycaon Kuhn Aphantopus hyperantus L. Coenonympha pamphilus L. Coenonympha rhodopensis Elwes Coenonympha leander Esp. Coenonympha arcania L. Coenonympha glycerion Bork. Pararge aegeria L. Lasiommata maera L. NYMPHALIDAE Araschnia levana L. TInachis io L. Vanessa atalanta L. Vanessa cardui L. Aglais urticae L. Nymphalis polychloros L. Polygonia c-album L. Argynnis paphia L. Argynnis aglaja L. Argynnis niobe L. Argynnis adippe D. & S. Issoria lathonia L. Brenthis hecate D. & S. Brenthis daphne D. & S. Melitaea didyma Esp. Melitaea cinxia L. Melitaea athalia Rott. Apatura ilia D. & S. Apatura iris L. Limenitis reducta Staud. Neptis rivularis Scop. Localities: 1 2 3 Lee H * ee Sie eX 4 & ME i ee OE OK OE KH * & He #° CS: SEM ie. 2 * %& & & 95 10 96 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 RESULTS AND OBSERVATIONS A number of specifically central European species were found. In relation to the fauna of the Carpathian, Dinaric and Sar-Pindus mountain systems, they are expressly isolated, and their closest connections are with the ancient Bulgarian Rhodopi massif. Species: Aricia eumedon Esp., Hipparchia volgensis M.P., Erebia orientalis orientalis Elwes, Erebia alberganus phorcys Frey., Coenonympha leander Esp. The full results are shown in Table 2 and they make a worthwhile contribution to the established faunistic knowledge of this part of Serbia. Many of them are new records for these particular UTM squares. A number of species are at the edge of their recorded range. Plebejus sephirus Frivaldsky is at the northern limit of its range in Yugoslavia. Aricia eumedon Esp. is at the most easterly edge of its range in Yugoslavia. Polyommatus ripartii Frey. is at the northeastern limit of its range in Yugoslavia. Hipparchia volgensis M.P. is at the northern limit of its range in Yugoslavia. Coenonympha rhodopensis Elwes is at the northwest limit of its known range. Two new records for Yugoslavia have been published separately (Jaksic, 1995)— Erebia alberganus phorcys Frey. and Erebia orientalis Elwes. Maniola jurtina Particular attention was paid to the population structure of Maniola jurtina L. Early work by Thomson and others focused on the male genitalia and the number of Figure 1. Diagrammatic representation of the two main jurtina valve types, showing terms used by Thomson (1987) and measurement parameters. Maniolini male genitalia (Maniola jurtina ‘western’ above, ‘eastern’ below). Anatomy and taxonomy of the armature and measurement parameters used: 1 tegumen, 2 uncus, 3 gnathos, 4 aedeagus, 5 dorsal process, 6 distal process, 7 vinculum, 8 valve, 9 saccus, a=dorsal process width, b=dorsal process length. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 97 ocelli on the hind wings of the males. Thomson (1973) identified two distinct types of valve in the male genitalia, which he called the eastern and western types. These are illustrated in Fig. 1 for reference, although intermediate or transitional forms also occur. Thomson went on to correlate valve type with geographic distribution, and his map (Fig. 2 Thomson, 1987) shows that Stara Planina lies in an area where the eastern valve type is to be expected. The valve types found at Topli Do are illustrated at Fig. 3 with examples from the wider area of the Balkans shown at Fig. 4. It comes as no surprise to note that they are of the eastern type, nonetheless, they are published to assist future research. Brakefield’s extensive work (1984) on hindwing eyespot development is summarized in Kudrna (1990) and Fig. 5 shows the standard notation used in this connection. In the sample of 90 males collected in the vicinity of Topli Do, 72 (80%) have two spots in the splay configuration (S2 type). This correlates well with a sample of 124 males collected in the vicinity of Pristina, Jaksic’s home town, amongst which 74 (60%) were found to be of the S2 type. There was no correlation between the valve type and the eyespot pattern in either population. It was judged that the two populations are morphologically indistinguishable. CONCLUSION The ancient relict area of Stara Planina holds an impressive diversity of flora and fauna. On this expedition we took a total of 94 species, including no less Stara Planina (Serbia/Bulgaria border) Figure 2. The distribution of valve types in Maniola jurtina, showing distribution of ‘eastern’ (A), ‘western’ (@) and ‘transitional’ (©) male genitalia forms. 98 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 Fig. 3. Male genitalia (valva) of Maniola jurtina L. Serbia, Stara Planina: Topli Do, 800m, 11— 14.vu1.92, all Jaksic leg. 1 prep. no. 1855. 2 prep. no. 1856. 3 prep. no. 1857. 4 prep. no. 1858. 5 prep. no. 1860. 6 prep. no 1859. 7 prep. no. 1862. 8 prep. no. 1861. 9 prep. no. 1864. 10 prep. no 1863. than 72 at and above Topli Do (localities 4 and 5 in Table 1). These records include some species isolated from adjacent mountain systems, and a number of more widespread species which are at the edge of their range, as well as two that are new for Yugoslavia. The study of Maniola jurtina L. (spotting and genitalia) accords well with Thomson (1975, 1987) and suggests that the population on Stara Planina is no different to that from the vicinity of Pristina. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 99 Fig. 4. Male genitalia (valva) of Maniola jurtina L. 1 Montenegro, Durmitor: Dobrilovina, 800 m, 23.vii.91, prep. no. 1791, Jaksic leg. 2 Slovenia, Nanos, 1000 m, 13.viii.87, prep. no. 1797, Sukic M. leg. 3 Vojvodina, Sonta, 80m, 11.vi.84, prep. no. 1789, Siladjev S. leg. 4 Serbia Kopaonik: Baciste, 1600 m, 3.vili.86, prep. no. 1369, Jaksic leg. 5 Montenegro, Durmitor: Tara- Vrelo, 600m, 30.vii.84, prep. no. 1792, Jaksic leg. 6 Montenegro, Durmitor: Tara-Vrelo, 600 m, 30.vui.84, prep. no. 1368, Jaksic leg. 7 Serbia, Stara Planina: Kaludjerske bare, 1000 m, 9.vii.85, prep. no. 1787, Jaksic leg. 8 Serbia, Pristina: Grmiya, 700 m, 4.vii.74, prep. no. 3066, Jaksic leg. 9 Macedonia, Pletvar, 900m, 20.vii.83, prep. no 1793, Jaksic leg. 10 Greece, Olimp: Litochoron, 100m, 19.vi.84, prep. no. 1796, Jaksic leg. Aside from the scientific observations, memories of Topli Do include Apollos floating around open glades, eight silver-washed fritillaries sunning themselves on the side of a barn, hundreds of Idas blues assembled drinking at moist patches on the path and orange-tips flying inexplicably late in the season. 100 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 C2 M3 Fig. 5. Maniola jurtina hindwing eyespot development (after Kudrna 1990, with minor alterations). Diagram of variation in the spot pattern on the ventral surface of the wings of Maniola jurtina. Top row: variation in the forewing eyespot (unshaded area is of brighter fulvous coloration); left: small black eyespot with single white pupil (characteristic of males); middle: larger spot with single pupil (characteristic of females); right: a more extreme female phenotype showing a very large eyespot with two pupils (f. bioculata) and with two additional spots (f. addenda). Bottom three rows: illustrate nine of the thirteen commonly occurring hindwing spot phenotypes: 0 nought spot, C1 costal 1, Al anal 1, C2 costal 2, S2 splay 2, C3 costal 3, M3 median 3, S4 splay 4 and all 5 spots (not shown: A2, A3, C4 and A4). The nought spot specimen illustrates the position of the lighter band within which the spots lie. The reference numbers of the spots are indicated. Different sized hindwing spots present an idea of changes in relative (not absolute) spot size. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The authors are indebted to George Thomson for his assistance in putting the findings on Maniola jurtina into context and particularly for his authority to reproduce Figs | & 2 from his PhD thesis (Thomson, 1987). Otakar Kudrna’s consent to reproduce Fig. 5 (after Kudrna, 1990, with minor alterations) is similarly appreciated. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 101 REFERENCES Brakefield, P. M. 1984. The ecological genetics of quantitative characters of Maniola jurtina and other butterflies. In: Vane-Wright, R. I. & Ackery, P. R. (Eds) The biology of butterflies, Symposium of the Royal Entomological Society number 11, Academic Press, London. Jaksic, P. 1988. Provisional distribution maps of the butterflies of Yugoslavia. Jugoslovensko entomolosko drustvo ed., Zagreb, pp. 1-215. Jaksic, P. 1995. The distribution of certain Erebia species in Serbia. Univerzitetska Misao, Pristina. Vol. 2. Kudrna, O. 1990. Butterflies of Europe. Vol. 2: Introduction to Lepidopterology. Aula Verlag, Wiesbaden, pp. 311-312. Mesaros, G. et al. 1984. Fauna Stare Planine: I. Analiza diverziteta. Savez drustava ekologa Jugoslavije, Drustvo ekologa Bosne 1 Hercegovine. Bilten. God. II, sv. 2, serija b, p. 331— 340 Sarajevo. Misic, V. et al. 1978. (Plant communities and habitats of the Stara Planina mountains.) The Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, pp. 1-389. (Serbocroat with English summary.) Thomson, G. 1973. Geographical Variation of Maniola jurtina (L.). Tijdschrift voor Entomologie 116-12: 185—227. Thomson, G. 1975. Les races de Maniola jurtina L. en France et pays voisins. Alexanor 9: 23-32 and 53-66. Thomson, G. 1987. Enzyme variation at morphological boundaries in Maniola and related genera (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Satyridae). PhD Thesis, University of Stirling, Stirling. SHORT COMMUNICATION Some observations on Agrilus sinuatus (Ol.) and A. pannonicus (Pill. & Mitt.) in south-east London.—Previously both regarded as extremely rare insects and accorded Red Data Book status 2 “vulnerable” by Levey (1987), these jewel beetles have more recently been shown to be quite widespread. Exit holes and larval workings allow fairly confident diagnosis of the species, and although their presence does not necessarily mean that there is a thriving colony, it is usually fairly obvious how old these signs are. Both species have now been “down-graded” to Notable A status (Hyman & Parsons, 1992). Both of these species have been found widely in north London (Foster, 1987; Hackett, 1994), so I was pleased to find them recently in south-east London. On 6.vi.95, I found A. sinuatus borings under the bark of a dead hawthorn on the eastern edge of Beckenham Place Park, between Lewisham and Bromley (TQ 378710; VC 16, West Kent). And on 19.vi.95 I discovered exit holes in another dead hawthorn near the western boundary of the park (TQ386706). On 4.1x.95 and 10.x.95, I found exit holes in several old hawthorn trees just outside the entrance to St Augustine’s Church, Honor Oak (TQ358745; also VC16, West Kent). On the occasion of 4.xi.95, I also found extensive exit holes of A. pannonicus in the stump of a large tree, probably oak, in the grounds of St Augustine’s Church. This stump also produced Platypus cylindrus (F.) (Platypodidae), Bitoma crenata (F.) (Colydiidae) and a large dead female stag beetle Lucanus cervus (L.) (Lucanidae). The twisted tunnels of A. sinuatus have previously been illustrated (Alexander, 1990), but those that I found in Beckenham Place Park showed a more regular sinuous character (Fig. la), which I took to be the initial borings of earlier larval instars. The characteristic D-shaped exit holes of the two species are slightly different in shape; those of A. sinuatus are broader and flatter and more nearly semi-circular (Fig. 1b), while those of A. pannonicus are generally rounder and more highly arched (Fig. 2a). It is probably as a consequence of the relative sizes of the respective tree species which are burrowed, that whereas exit holes of A. sinuatus occur sparingly in 102 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 Fig. la ( 6.vi.95. The hawthorn branch is about 125 mm (5 inches) in diameter. Fig. 1b (right). D-shaped exit hole of Agrilus sinuatus in a hawthorn branch, Honor Oak 4.ix.95. The hole is about 3.0— 3.5mm across. BR sear Fig. 2a (left). D-shaped exit hole of Agrilus pannonicus in an oak stump, Honor Oak, 4.xi.95. The hole is about 3.0-3.5mm across. Fig. 2b (right). Seven closely grouped exit holes of Agrilus pannonicus in an oak stump, Honor Oak, 4.ix.95. The large stump, 1.3 metre (4 feet) across and 1 metre (3 feet) high had about 50 exit holes in its sides. any one hawthorn branch, the exits of A. pannonicus often occur together in numbers (Fig.2b).—RICHARD A. JONES, 13 Bellwood Road, Nunhead, London SE15 3DE. REFERENCES Alexander, K. N. A. 1990. Agrilus sinuatus (Olivier) (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) widespread in Gloucestershire, and at a Herefordshire locality. Br. J. Ent. Nat. Hist. 3: 31—32. Foster, A. P. 1987. Agrilus pannonicus (Piller & Mitterpacher, 1783) (Col.: Buprestidae) and other noteworthy insects recorded from Hampstead Heath in 1984. Entomologist’s Rec. J. Var. 99: 153-155. Hackett, D. 1994 [Exhibit of Agrilus pannonicus and A. sinuatus from various London localities at BENHS annual Exhibition, 30 October 1993.] Br. J. Ent. Nat. Hist. 7: 169. Hyman, P. S. & Parsons, M. S. 1992. A review of the scarce and threatened Coleoptera of Great Britain. Part 1. UK Nature Conservation no 3. Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough, p. 89. Levey, B. 1987. Agrilus pannonicus and Agrilus sinuatus. In: Shirt, D. B. (ed.). British red data books: 2. Insects. Nature Conservancy Council, Peterborough, pp. 183-184. NOTE ADDED IN PROOF Various London records, including several in south London, have recently been published in Hackett, D. S. 1995. The jewel beetle Agrilus pannonicus in the London area. London Naturalist 74: 161-164. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 103 A HAZARD TO MOTHS ON THE LOZERE MASSIF JOHN FELTWELL Marlham, Henley’s Down, Battle, East Sussex TN33 9BN. I would like to report the presence of a gigantic moth trap in the Massif Central in France which is presumably having a deleterious effect on moth populations. It is in fact a new tourist attraction at a newly constructed ‘aire’, or motorway service station—the Aire de Lozére at St Chely d’Apcher, north-west of Mende in the department of Lozére. This is on the new A75 autoroute which links Clermont Ferrand with (eventually—when more habitat is cleared) Millau, Lodéve and thus to Spain. The site has hundreds of lights glaring into the night sky. You don’t have to stop to see this spectacle; it’s visible as you pass on the autoroute. And this is in addition to the usual lights of any normal service station. Moths which are attracted to lights find it irresistible. The autoroute authorities obviously thought fit to construct an aire where picnickers would get a taste of the historic countryside through which they are travelling, and decided to erect 100 granite pillars (each about 3 m tall), geometrically laid out in a perfect square—covering about 0.8 ha. The local countryside does have plenty of similar-looking prehistoric menhirs, but not in such concentration. Figure 1 gives an overview of the site. Each pillar is illuminated at night by two 70-W tungsten high-energy lamps which are sunk in the ground and which point nearly vertically against the pillars. Thus Fig. 1. Aire de Lozere granite ‘menhirs’ and lamps. 104 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 there are 200 lights each pointing upwards into the night sky. The locality is thinly forested and is at about 1000m. Moths are clearly drawn to this site every night. I was alerted to the presence of huge numbers of moths (hawk-moths were described) by frierids who happened to stop in mid-August. In early September I stopped there to assess the situation. The moth carnage was all too apparent and appalling. Scores of moths and moth remains littered the ground. Hawkmoths rested on most of the pillars. They were to be found in the grass around each pillar, and were squashed on the drive-in areas. Wings of many other moths littered the ground where the local birds had soon learnt that easy pickings were to be had every morning. The pillars were pretty unsavoury places to picnic around, since each pillar had been used by dogs in lieu of trees, and there was a general lack of refuse bins etc. The carnage of moths was not very pleasant either, and knowing the disgust that many people have of ‘bugs’, these were pretty unsavoury places for tourists. A calamity has obviously befallen the resident and itinerant moths of the area. The situation of these glaring lights on top of a plateau over which migrants have to pass must surely have its effect on luring species which otherwise might have enjoyed a few hundred more miles to fly. The sight of so many sphingids being drawn to their destruction was distressing. And it clearly is happening every night of the year. Moths which arrive during the night remain inactive in the day, if they survive predators, man and car, and remain around the lights at dusk when the lights come on again. The environmental impact of these bright lights has possibly been very severe in this first year that the aire was opened (1995). This is because moths will have been drawn exhaustively from the local pool of species, apart from drawing on the Fig. 2. The Clifden nonpareil, Catocala fraxini. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 105 migratory stream of moths which pass overhead. In such an interesting part of the rural countryside I imagine that the impact on moths will continue, especially on migrants. I am not aware of any study on the impact of lights on insects (but would be pleased to learn of any); however I did draw attention to powerful arc lights at Orly airport and their impact on beetle movement (Feltwell, 1967). The main species found on the pillars were the convolulus hawkmoth Agrius convolyuli (L.) and the pine hawk-moth Hy/oicus pinastri (L.), copper underwings Amphipyra pyramidea (L.) or A. berbera Rungs (specimens were not collected), broad-bordered yellow underwings Noctua fimbriata (Schreb.), angle shades Phlogophora meticulosa (L.), as well as various prominents, thorns and footmen. Perhaps the most interesting moths found during my very short stay were three specimens of the Clifden nonpareil Catocala fraxini (L.) which is an increasingly rare and localized moth in Europe (Figure 2); it is a scarce immigrant to Britain, several having been recorded in 1995. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank Jane and Michael Evans for alerting me to this site, and Dr Jacques Lhonoreé (Le Mans University) and Dr Paul Waring for their comments. REFERENCE Feltwell, J. 1967. Bats, beetles and bees. Amat. Entomologist’s Soc. Bull. 26: 13—14. SHORT COMMUNICATIONS Helops caeruleus (L.) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) in south-east London.—I was surprised to come across a single specimen of this local beetle on a wooded bank behind some derelict factories on Blackheath Hill (TQ383766; VC 16, West Kent) on 3.x.95. It was sheltering under the loose bark of a small sycamore branch, less than 25mm in diameter, about 1.5 metres from the trunk. Although known from some urban areas, this beetle is predominantly coastal (Hyman & Parsons, 1992). The precipitously steep slope on Blackheath Hill is in danger of collapse and several of the sycamore trees lean precariously. A few large logs showed signs of beetle larvae boring within them, but whether these trunks were fallen trees or had been dumped, together with much other rubbish and spoil, is difficult to determine. It is possible that the beetle was introduced to the site if the timber had been tipped there. I have previously found this Notable-B beetle in sodden drift-wood washed up on the Chichester Harbour saltmarsh at West Itchenor, West Sussex (SZ7899), on 11.11.78 and in a pile of old railway sleepers near the gravel pits at Rye Harbour, East Sussex (TQ9419), on 26.vili.81—RuicHarD A. Jones, 13 Bellwood Road, Nunhead, London SE15 3DE. REFERENCE Hyman, P. S. & Parsons, M. S. 1992. A review of the scarce and threatened Coleoptera of Great Britain. Part 1. UK Nature Conservation no 3. Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough. p. 415. 106 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 Acupalpus exiguus Dejean (Coleoptera: Carabidae) “swarming’”’.—My father, Mr A. W. Jones, recently sent me numerous specimens of a small ground beetle which he had found on the roof of his car while it was parked at Greatham Bridge, over the River Arun, Coldwaltham, West Sussex, on 13.ix.95. They all proved to be Acupalpus exiguus. This species is accorded Notable B status by Hyman & Parsons (1992). Apparently the roof of the car was dotted with many dozens of the beetles, mostly dead. They may have been encouraged to take to the air following a brief shower which quickly filled up the dykes which run through the river valley. The descent of beetles onto car roofs is an often observed phenomenon and usually involves water or dung beetles which presumably imagine the shiny surface to be a pond or pat. Being a stream-side mud-inhabiting species, the Acupalpus seemingly made the same mistake.—RICHARD A. JONES, 13 Bellwood Road, Nunhead, London SE15 3DE. REFERENCE Hyman, P. S. & Parsons, M. S. 1992. A review of the scarce and threatened Coleoptera of Great Britain. Part 1. UK Nature Conservation no 3. Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough. p. 100. BOOK REVIEW Integrated pest management by D. Dent. Chapman & Hall, 1995, 356 pp, hardback £45—In the brave new world of the 1950s and 60s a wide range of highly effective insecticides, fungicides and herbicides became available which revolutionized farming practices. The yield and quality of crops improved as intractable pests, diseases and weeds became a thing of the past. This allowed increasingly intensive crop production, but before long problems began to appear. Pesticide-resistant strains have developed, new pests have been created when their natural enemies were wiped out by insecticides, allowing formerly minor pests to breed unchecked, and there is growing awareness of the consequences of allowing chemicals to pollute the soil and waterways. This has led crop-protection scientists to develop integrated pest management (IPM) programmes for some crops with the aim of reducing reliance on chemicals. This book covers the principles of IPM and the theoretical side of the development of infestations and their control, before moving on to the factors to be considered in devising an IPM programme. This involves keeping pests below the population levels that cause economic damage by using a variety of methods. These include resistant or pest-tolerant crop varieties, cultivation techniques that discourage pests, reducing chemical use by more accurate application, monitoring of the pest population to determine the most effective time for treatment, the use of more selective pesticides, and the introduction of natural enemies. Those requiring further reading will find that each chapter is supported by several pages of references. The final chapters describe some IPM programmes that have been used on olives, wheat, cotton and glasshouse crops. These examples are biased towards pest management rather than disease or weed control, since that is where IPM programmes have had most success. The main readership for this book will be people who are engaged in crop protection but anyone who is interested in ‘“‘greener” forms of crop production, and the difficulties associated with this, will find something of interest here. A. J. HALSTEAD BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 107 POSSIBLE BREEDING BY THE ROSEMARY BEETLE, CHRYSOLINA AMERICANA L. IN BRITAIN A. J. HALSTEAD RHS Garden, Wisley, Woking, Surrey GU23 6QB. During May and June 1994 specimens of Chrysolina americana L. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) were found at the RHS Garden, Wisley, Surrey. Despite its specific name, this leaf beetle is normally found mainly in the Mediterranean region of Europe, north Africa and the Middle East. Its principal food plant is rosemary, Rosmarinus officinalis L., but it will also feed on lavender, Lavandula spp. Adult beetles emerge in the spring and feed on foliage at the shoot tips. During mid- summer they enter a period of aestivation, becoming active again and laying eggs in late summer. The brown eggs are deposited singly or in small groups on the underside of leaves. The larvae, which are grey in colour, are present during the autumn. They feed on the foliage, reducing the leaves to the central vein, and may continue feeding into the winter. When fully fed they go down into the soil to pupate (Balachowsky, 1963). Chrysolina americana has been recorded once before in Britain. On 1.xii.63, six adults were found in a house at Disley, Cheshire (Johnson, 1963). The origin of these beetles is uncertain. Lavender was growing in the garden of the house just outside the room where they were found, although a search for further specimens on the plant and in the soil beneath it was unsuccessful. During August 1963 the occupants of the house had gone on holiday to Portugal and had brought back four pine cones which had been placed in a cupboard in the room where the beetles were subsequently seen. It is possible that these cones contained aestivating adults which later emerged in December. However the cones were removed from a large conifer and cork oak forest and the collectors could not recollect seeing any rosemary or lavender in the area. Chrysolina americana is superficially similar to the very scarce British beetle C. cerealis (L.); Johnson indicates the distinguishing features in his paper. The first beetle to be found at Wisley Garden was discovered by a student gardener, Sarah Walton, on 12.v.94. The students are required to make a collection of 25 pests during their year at Wisley and so are on the look-out for suitable insects. It was spotted on a pot-grown plant of Rosmarinus officinalis in a nursery area outside a glasshouse in the propagation department. There were 11 similar plants together in the nursery bed and they were carefully examined in the following weeks. Two other adults were found singly on 20.v. and 1.vi.94. All were found at the shoot tips where they were causing a small amount of feeding damage. The three beetles were kept in a container on a rosemary plant. They became dormant in mid-summer and settled in close proximity to each other on the stems. Despite their bright iridescent colours and 6-7mm length they nestled in the leaf axils and could be overlooked without careful searching. In late summer the beetles began moving around but they died within a period of 5 days in early September without laying any eggs. The plants on which the beetles had been found were grown from cuttings taken from a plant at Wisley in October 1992. The rooted cuttings over-wintered in a glasshouse and were stood outside during 1993. The fact that C. americana had been found in Britain on only one previous occasion suggests that it is unlikely to be an insect capable of migrating to Britain by its own efforts. The discovery of three adults appearing over a 3-week period on a small group of pot-grown plants is 108 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 strongly indicative of adults emerging from overwintering sites, having developed as larvae the previous year. It is not known how the beetle may have arrived at Wisley in the first place. No plants from countries where the rosemary beetle occurs had been received by the propagation department during the period when the beetles were found, or in the preceding months. The Garden is close to the M25 and A3 roads and it is possible that a beetle may have hopped off a passing lorry. More likely perhaps is that the beetle may have arrived amongst plants obtained from elsewhere in Europe for the Garden or for its plant sales centre. During the summer of 1994 plants of rosemary and lavender growing at Wisley Garden were examined for signs of feeding, and beaten to try and dislodge aestivating adults, but none was found. It would appear that if C. americana did manage to breed at Wisley it had very limited success. The three specimens of C. americana now reside in the collections of the Natural History Museum, London, the BENHS at Dinton Pastures Country Park, Berks, and the RHS at Wisley Garden. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank Sharon Shute of the Department of Entomology, Natural History Museum for confirming the identity of the beetle and directing me to references about its biology and previous occurrence in Britain. REFERENCES Balachowsky, A. S. 1963. Entomologie appliquée a l’agriculture Tome | Coléoptéres, second volume. Masson & Co, Paris, pp. 638-639. Johnson, C. 1963. Chrysolina americana L. (Col., Chrysomelidae) in Britain. Entomologist's Mon. Mag. 99: 228-229. SHORT COMMUNICATIONS Rhopalum coarctatum (Scop.) (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae) nesting in a case of Taleporia tubulosa Retz. (Lepidoptera: Psychidae).—A solitary wasp labelled as having been reared 23.vi.1972 from a psychid moth case taken at Pirbright, Surrey, was amongst aculeates in the collection of the late E. S. Bradford, now being added to the BENHS collections. Eric Bradford was a microlepidopterist. The data label queries whether the unexpected emergence betokened unwanted parasitism. The psychid case was not retained, so it is not possible to exonerate the wasp, which more usually stores its aphid prey in plant stems.—R. W. J. UFFEN, 4 Mardley Avenue, Welwyn, Hertfordshire AL6 OUD. Early hibernation of a queen wasp?—On 27.vii.95, I unearthed a hibernating queen of the social wasp Dolichovespula media (Retz.) from beneath a rotten log in the woods of Beckenham Place Park, south-east London (TQ385706; VC 16, West Kent). Although this species is known to finish its season early (M. E. Archer, personal communication), the end of July seems a particularly early date to find a queen ready to ‘“‘overwinter”. Elsewhere in the park, subterranean nests of the “common” wasp, Vespula vulgaris (L.) were active well into October 1995.—RIcHARD A. Jones, 13 Bellwood Road, Nunhead, London SE1I5 3DE. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 109 SOME OBSERVATIONS ON THE BEHAVIOUR OF PHILANTHUS TRIANGULUM (F.) (HYMENOPTERA: SPHECIDAE) MICHAEL RUINET 63 Petersfield Road, Midhurst, West Sussex GU29 9JH. The following observations were made as part of an A-level biology course, to examine ways in which a selection of variables affects the behaviour of a chosen organism, a species of solitary wasp, Philanthus triangulum. P. triangulum is indigenous to hot heathland slopes and sandy banks. It is found mainly in central Europe and was, until recently, considered to be a rare species in Britain (Falk, 1991), although its numbers have increased dramatically in the past 10 years and it is now recorded from around one hundred 10-km squares. Its activity can be observed from mid to late summer. This wasp appears to prey only on the common honeybee, Apis mellifera L., and is sometimes known by the common name of bee wolf. A local entomologist reported seeing a colony on Ambersham Common, near Midhurst, West Sussex. There was no guarantee that they would be present and, as I had only seen evidence of a nest hole once before, I was not entirely sure that I would be able to find the colony. All I had to go on was a map reference. The land there was a very loose sandy soil containing a great deal of flint deposits. The surrounding area is open, dry heathland with bracken and heather. The woods that surround the area contain a mixture of pine, birch and a small number of oak saplings. The heath is criss-crossed with bridle-paths and access routes for electricity pylons. It was along one such bridle-path that I found a long south-facing sandy slope which is typical of that used by P. triangulum. Nest tunnels were clearly visible because of the huge fans of excavated material dug out by the wasps. These lay directly below each nest entrance. The nest holes had large D-shaped openings. Around most entrances lay the remains of honeybees. I noted that there were two holes to each nest, the second one being to the right of the D-shaped one. This smaller hole was the one most used by the wasp and, in some cases, the only hole being used. I studied the wasps on two consecutive days, on 9 and 10.viii.1995, which were the two hottest days and likely to bring results as both bees and wasps would be active. Each day I made close observation of the site, temperature, weather conditions and detailed behaviour of the wasps for 7 hours. I took temperature readings and made notes on the wasps’ movements. I started my observations at 8 a.m. each day. Small flies and other insects were already active, but I had to wait until 10.30a.m. before P. triangulum first emerged. The number of wasps flying in and out of nests increased with the temperature and reached its maximum level at 2p.m. when the temperature was around 32°C. At higher temperatures the activity of flying wasps declined dramatically to only a few departures and arrivals per hour. The first behavioural pattern of P. triangulum that I observed was when it first appeared at the nest entrance. The wasp did not exit for about 20 to 30 seconds, but would sit half emerged from the nest entrance and appear to warm itself. Excavation of the burrow then took place as the wasp cleared out material from inside the entrance with its hind legs. The debris was cast below the hole in a large fan-shaped heap of spoil. Excavation took the wasp 2 or 3 minutes to complete. The wasp then sealed up the nest entrance with some of the discarded material, by walking backwards to shovel sand over the hole in use. It seems likely that the 110 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 entrance was concealed as a precaution against intrusion from predatory wasps or other insects. This was noted by another researcher who was studying the behaviour of P. triangulum on the same days. I could always tell when a wasp was out hunting because the hole was concealed so that only a slight depression was visible. When the wasp was inside its burrow, the hole was left open. After the nest was sealed, the wasp began to fly in a slow circling motion around the nest site, as if to acquaint itself with the immediate nest area before flying off in search of prey. Often, before a long flight, the wasp would feed on heather, taking nectar to provide it with enough energy for its journey across the heathland. I observed that when the sun was at less than 195° from magnetic north (before 2 p.m.) the wasps flew to and from the south. When the sun was at a greater angle, the wasp flew out to the north. Because the nesting bank faced almost due south, when a wasp flew out from its nest it would always keep the sun to its left side if it flew south in the morning and north in the afternoon. I believe it may do this for navigational purposes as well as using its polar orientation. This may help prevent over-exploitation of a particular hunting area, so the wasp would be able to feed in new parts of the heathland without exhausting others. However, this flight behaviour may also be brought about by the fact that bees might be feeding in different areas of the heathland if nectar flow in the flowers ceased by mid-day because of the heat and lack of moisture. I next recorded details of the hunting behaviour of P. triangulum. A bee would sit on a sprig of heather, collecting its nectar and pollen. P. triangulum would approach from down-wind, as if to pin-point the scent. When totally sure of its prey’s position, the wasp would pounce on the bee and appeared to sting under the bee’s head to immobilize it. The bee was then slung beneath the wasp. This slowed the wasp’s flight considerably and made it much easier to spot. On returning to its nest site with prey, the wasp would undergo a sweeping flight similar to when it left, but this time it swept down to the nest area. It would find the burrow, dig through the sealed entrance and drag its prey into the hole. On the second day I decided to see how the wasp would react upon returning to its nest to find a change in the local landscape. I placed a fist-sized rock just to the right of the sealed hole while the wasp was away. When it returned the wasp approached the area as expected, but appeared confused and disturbed at the change in surroundings since its departure. It began a frantic flight around the area. This continued for about 45 seconds but then the wasp flew high over the nest site and began a second, more detailed, descent and this time was able to find its nest hole. Without this change to its surroundings the wasp would usually take around 10 seconds to complete this task. When it left again, it took a good reconnaissance flight over most of the area as if to ensure that it could record every landmark. My conclusions from this study are that the wasps not only have a large hole to the nest, but also have a smaller one in constant use to the side of it. They prey entirely on honeybees. They use the angle of the sun from magnetic north for navigational purposes. On leaving the nest they seal the hole as a precaution against intruders and take careful note of the surrounding area so that they can find the nest hole again. Wasp activity increases with a rise in temperature, but has its greatest level at around 32°C. REFERENCE Falk, S. 1991 A review of the scarce and threatened bees, wasps and ants of Great Britain. Research and Survey in Nature Conservation No.35. Nature Conservancy Council, Peterborough. pp. 138-139. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 111 THE INSECTS ON A SMALL, ISOLATED, DERELICT METALLIFEROUS MINE SITE IN CORNWALL E. C.. MM. AEs 6 Hatch’s Hill, Angarrack, Hayle, Cornwall TR27 SHY. AND A. SPALDING Cornish Biological Records Unit, Institute of Cornish Studies, University of Exeter, Trevenson Road, Pool, Redruth, Cornwall. Wheal Johnny is an old mine site at Kehelland in west Cornwall near Camborne, about 2 kilometres from the sea at an altitude of 80 metres. It was a small-scale copper, silver and lead mine, well-capitalized between 1878 and 1887, and has been abandoned for 108 years (Buckley, pers. comm.). It was part of a larger complex of mines, to which it would have been connected by tracks or tramways. The mine shaft was 60 fathoms, with a pumping engine in site. Wheal Johnny is now an ecological island (about 0.7 hectares) in an agricultural landscape, being surrounded by fields; access is by a lane from the nearby road. The nearest similar habitat is about 200 metres across a field. The old mine has left a hummocky terrain around an old shaft. The site has been colonised by Ulex europaeus L. scrub, with some Salix cinerea L. and Rubus fruticosus L. agg. in the lower areas. Around the shaft there is a considerable amount of bare ground, which has been compacted by industrial activity; there is some loose clinker on the surface, remnants of slag from smelting. Contamination of the ground in places is shown by surface discoloration. Parts of this area have been colonized by Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull, and form relict heathland. Nectar sources for insects are chiefly provided by Ulex europaeus and Calluna vulgaris, but there was also Sedum anglicum Hudson, Lotus corniculatus L., Hypochaeris radicata L., Digitalis purpurea L., Gladiolus byzantinus (Miller) A. P. Hamilton (a garden escape) and some Crataegus monogyna Jacquemont. These mine sites have been shown to be nationally important for wildlife (e.g. Bradshaw & Chadwick, 1980; Box, 1992; D.O.E., 1994), especially in Wales (Johnson, Putwain & Holliday, 1978) and in Cornwall (Spalding, 1995). Most survey work on derelict land sites has been done on higher and lower plants, mammals and birds, although some work has been done on invertebrates (e.g. Coldwell, 1993 and Fowles, 1994). The bryophytes of Wheal Johnny have been surveyed (Holyoak, 1995) although nothing of great importance was discovered. Despite the small area of the site, it was found to be of considerable interest for insects during a special survey in 1994-5. METHODS This survey formed part of a larger survey of metalliferous mine sites in west Cornwall. Wheal Johnny was visited by day on 11 and 23.viii.1994, 24.iv.1995, 4.v.1995, 6.vi.1995 and 10.viii.1995; no more than | hour was spent on the site at any one time. Recording was by observation, sweeping and netting of flying insects. There was no trapping by mercury vapour lamp. Difficult species were collected for examination at home. Mining bees were identified by Mike Edwards and E.C.M.H. Total population counts were made of the grasshopper Myrmeleotettix maculatus (Thunb.) on 23.viii.1994 and 10.viii.1995; this was done by collecting all specimens seen which were then released unharmed at the end of the count. 112 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 RESULTS Species of insect recorded included 32 Lepidoptera, four Orthoptera, two Neuroptera, one Dermaptera, 10 Hemiptera, 16 Hymenoptera, 16 Diptera and four Coleoptera. They are listed in the Appendix. Of these, six were heathland species and five were bare-ground specialists; some of these are sedentary insects almost certainly resident here (Table 1). There were large populations of the moth Cydia succedana D.& S. on the gorse bushes, and the moth Agonopterix nervosa Haw. was also recorded here. Heathland insects included the moth Eupithecia nanata Hibn, the Heteropteran bug Alydus calcaratus (L.) and the grasshopper Myrmeleotettix maculatus. The population of Myrmeleotettix macula- tus, according to counts in 1994 and 1995, was apparently stable but very small (Table 2). Six Tettigonia viridissima L. were found in 1995, although none were seen in 1994. DISCUSSION The insects recorded here can be divided into two classes: resident, sedentary species and mobile, adventive species. The presence of resident, sedentary species (Table 1) indicates long-term historical continuity. Species such as Myrmeleotettix maculatus indicate that the site is of possible high quality for invertebrates and should be investigated further (Spalding & Haes, 1995). Myrmeleotettix maculatus although winged is not a mobile species. Its presence here indicates that there was extensive heathland present when mining activity started here and that a small area of heathland has survived here ever since. The same is probably true for A/ydus calcaratus. It is one of the fastest flying of all the British Heteroptera (Southwood & Leston, 1959), but has a close association with dry heathland. It may also occur on the nearby mine site which lies about 200 metres east of Wheal Johnny, but it is otherwise now isolated in this vicinity. The same may be true for the two moth species in Table 1. An interesting find was the nationally rare green variety of the grasshopper Chorthippus brunneus (Thunb.). This form has been recorded regularly on the Table 1. Resident, sedentary species recorded at Wheal Johnny. Alydus calcaratus (Hemiptera, Heteroptera) Ematurga atomaria (Lepidoptera) Eupithecia nanata (Lepidoptera) Myrmeleotettix maculatus (Orthoptera) Ulopa reticulata (Hemiptera, Homoptera) Table 2. Population of Myrmeleotettix maculatus at Wheal Johnny 1994-5. Date of count 23.vili.94 10.vii.95 Females 6 Th Males i i Total 13 14 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 113 calcareous dunes along the nearby coast, but this is the first Cornish inland, non- dune record for this distinctive variety. It would be significant if found at other metalliferous mine sites, as it could be linked with the presence of normally maritime/boreal relict plants such as Armeria maritima (Miller) Willd. and Plantago maritima L., which are widespread on larger mine sites in Cornwall (although not on this site). The large bush-cricket Tettigonia viridissima has a minimum 2-winter dormancy in the egg stage. It is likely that a small population here produces adults only in odd years, which explains why none were seen in 1994. However, as the species is widespread on wasteland and in larger gardens and Cornish hedges in the district, the specimens seen in 1995 could be the progeny of an itinerant gravid female in 1993. This site certainly appears to provide suitable habitat for Tettigonia viridissima, which needs scrub as an adult but bare ground for laying and coarse herbage for nymphs. Bare compacted ground is typical of the contaminated slag heaps at mine sites and can be relatively extensive, even around a small isolated site such as Wheal Johnny. It can be a significant habitat for invertebrates in its own right. It provides two key requirements: warm basking sites, especially for the Orthoptera, diurnal Lepidoptera and Hymenoptera, and nesting sites particularly for solitary Hymenoptera and in consequence a hunting ground for their invertebrate predators (Kirby, 1992; Fry & Lonsdale, 1991). During the survey at Wheal Johnny insects observed using bare sun-warmed slag for basking included Lasiommata megera L., a species noted for perching on bare ground (Thomas, 1991), and a transient Macroglossum stellatarum L. Hymenoptera clearly associated with this habitat at the site were the ant Lasius niger (L.) and the solitary bees Andrena haemorrhoa (F.), Lasioglossum smeathmanellum (Kirby) and Panurgus banksianus (Kirby) (a locally frequent species around the Cornish coast). A cuckoo bee Nomada fabriciana (L.) was probably attracted to the nest burrows of some or all of these bees. A widespread solitary wasp Mellinus arvensis (L.) was seen nectaring on flowers in the vicinity, although no nest burrows were located; it is also a bare-ground nesting species, stocking its nests with hoverflies, some of which were numerous here. One insect readily using the bare ground for basking was Myrmeleotettix maculatus. Although this distinctive grasshopper can be very numerous on extensive dune, heath or large mine-tip sites, it is also able to persist in tiny populations, so long as the habitat remains suitably open and exposed to the sun (Marshall & Haes, 1988). Wheal Johnny supported what was clearly just such a small population. The opportunity was therefore taken to estimate the population size of this relatively easily studied insect, partly to demonstrate one facet of the natural history of this site which could be useful for educational purposes. The remarkable closeness in the counts in two successive years (Table 2) indicates a very stable population. Future counts of this grasshopper would prove invaluable for indicating the general stability of the bare ground and associated heathland at this isolated but accessible site. Heathland is an important but declining wildlife habitat in Cornwall, as elsewhere in north-west Europe. Even a small area, as at Wheal Johnny, justifies careful investigation. At this site the dominant plant of the heathland area is Calluna vulgaris. This plant is tolerant of metal contamination and grows well on toxic compacted ground where other plants cannot survive. Calluna vulgaris is an important nectar source in the second half of the summer for a wide variety of insects (hence the siting of bee-hives at Wheal Johnny). Six species of bumble-bee, 114 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 several solitary Hymenoptera and Lepidoptera, and six kinds of hoverfly were recorded nectaring on the blossom. Insects recorded here, which depend on Calluna vulgaris as a foodplant, include the flightless leafhopper Ulopa reticulata (F.), the leaf beetle Lochmaea suturalis (C. G. Thomson) afid the larvae of the moths Ematurga atomaria L. and Eupithecia nanata. Myrmeleotettix maculatus feeds on the adjacent stunted grasses and A/ydus calcaratus is an active predator in this habitat. Unfortunately, part of this small area of heath was landscaped by grading and grassing when the mine shafts were capped during winter of 1994/5, despite the fact that the importance of the bare ground/heathland area for wildlife was emphasized to the district council. No Myrmeleotettix maculatus were seen on the “improved” area in 1995. It is still unfortunately true that bare ground is considered by many to be inimical to nature conservation. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The authors wish to thank Allan Buckley for providing information about the history of the mine and Mike Edwards for identifying the Nomada species. REFERENCES Box, J. 1992. Conservation or greening? The challenges of post-industrial landscapes. Br. Wildlife 4: 273-279. Bradshaw, A. D. & Chadwick, M. J. 1980. The restoration of land: the ecology and reclamation of derelict and degraded land. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford. Coldwell, J. D. 1993. Some uncommon insects from two waste ground sites in South Yorkshire. Br. J. Ent. Nat. Hist. 6: 11. D.O.E. (Minerals Division). 1994. The reclamation and management of metalliferous mining sites HMSO, London. Fowles, A. 1994. Invertebrates of Wales. JNCC, Peterborough. Fry, R. & Lonsdale, D. 1991. Habitat conservation for insects—a neglected green issue. AES, Middlesex. Johnson, M. S., Putwain, P. D. & Holliday, R. J. 1978. Wildlife conservation value of derelict metalliferous mine workings in Wales. Biol. Consery. 14: 131-148. Holyoak, D. T. 1995. Botanical survey of bryophytes on Cornish metalliferous sites. Unpublished report for English Nature. Cornish Biological Records Unit, Pool. Kirby, P. 1992. Habitat management for invertebrates: a practical handbook. RSPB, Sandy. Marshall, J. A. & Haes, E. C. M. 1988. Grasshoppers and allied insects of Great Britain and Ireland. Harley Books, Colchester. Southwood, T. R. E. & Leston, D. 1959. Land and water bugs of the British Isles. Warne, London. Spalding, A. 1995. The importance of metalliferous mining sites in Cornwall for wildlife (with special reference to insects). Cornish Studies (Second Series) 3: 161-175. Spalding, A. & Haes, E. C. M. 1995. Contaminated land—a resource for wildlife: a review and survey of insects on metalliferous mine sites in Cornwall. Land Contamination and Reclamation 3: 24-29. Thomas, J. A. 1991. The butterflies of Britain and Ireland. Dorling Kindersley, London. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 APPENDIX. LIST OF INSECTS RECORDED AT WHEAL JOHNNY 1994/1995 Orthoptera Tettigonia viridissima L. Chorthippus brunneus (Thunb.) Chorthippus parallelus (Zett.) Myrmeleotettix maculatus (Thunb.) Dermaptera Forficula auricularia L. Hemiptera Heteroptera Piezodorus lituratus (F.) Palomena prasina (L.) Dolycoris baccarum (L.) Alydus calcaratus (L.) Nysius thymi (Wolff) Nabis rugosus (L.) Anthocoris nemorum (L.) Hemiptera Homoptera Ulopa reticulata (F.) Eupteryx sp. Philaenus spumarius (L.) Neuroptera Chrysoperla carnea (Steph.) Mecoptera Panorpa communis (L.) Lepidoptera a) Butterflies Thymelicus sylvestris (Poda) Ochlodes venata (Bremer & Grey) Pieris brassicae (L.) Pieris rapae (L.) Pieris napi (L.) Lycaena phlaeas (L.) Polyommatus icarus (Rott.) Vanessa atalanta (L.) Cynthia cardui (L.) Aglais urticae (L.) TInachis io (L.) Pararge aegeria (L.) Lasiommata megera (L.) Pyronia tithonus (L.) Maniola jurtina (L.) Coenonympha pamphilus (L.) b) moths Zygaena filipendulae (L.) Agonopterix nervosa (Haw.) Eupoecilia angustana (Hibn.) Epiphyas postvittana (Walk.) Cydia succedana (D.&S.) Macrothylacia rubi (L.) Euthrix potatoria (L.) Eupithecia nanata (Hiibn.) Pseudopanthera macularia (L.) Ematurga atomaria (L.) Macroglossum stellatarum (L.) Arctia caja (L.) Phragmatobia fuliginosa (L.) Tyria jacobaeae (L.) Diarsia rubi (Vieweg.) Autographa gamma (L.) Diptera Tipula oleracea L. Bibio marci (L.) Dilophus febrilis (L.) Chloromyia formosa (Scop.) Syrphus ribesii (L.) Leucozona lucorum (L.) Rhingia campestris Meig. Episyrphus balteatus (Deg.) Merodon equestris F. Eristalis tenax (L.) Eristalis pertinax (Scop.) Eristalis arbustorum (L.) Urophora cardui (L.) Tachina fera (L.) Scathophaga sp. Sarcophaga sp. Hymenoptera Lasius niger (L.) Lasius flavus (F.) Mellinus arvensis (L.) Vespula vulgaris (L.) Vespula rufa (L.) Andrena haemorrhoa (F.) Lasioglossum smeathmanellum (Kirby) Panurgus banksianus (Kirby) Nomada fabriciana (L.) Apis mellifera L. Bombus terrestris (L.) Bombus lucorum (L.) Bombus hortorum (L.) Bombus lapidarius (L.) Bombus pascuorum (Scop.) Bombus pratorum (L.) Coleoptera Coccinella 7-punctata L. Oedemera nobilis (Scop.) Lochmaea suturalis (C. G. Thomson) Apion ulicis (Forst.) 115 116 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 BENHS INDOOR MEETINGS 10 October 1995 The President, Dr M. SCOBLE, announced the death of Mr H. W. Mackworth- Praed who had been a member since 1960. His collection and books have been left to the Society. Mr A. J. HALSTEAD showed some larvae of the lesser stag beetle, Dorcus parallelipipedus (L.) (Coleoptera: Lucanidae). These were causing damage to some logs which had been set into the soil as stepping stones in a garden in Epsom, Surrey. Mr S. L. MEREDITH showed a twig of sloe, Prunus spinosa L., on which there were two eggs of the brown hairstreak. It was one of several that the exhibitor had rescued after the sloe bushes had been trimmed by a hedge cutter. He reported that on 14.vili.95 between 3.30 and 4.30 p.m. at Noar Hill, near Alton, Hants, he had seen at least 50 adult brown hairstreaks feeding on hemp agrimony flowers. It was announced that Mr Rex Johnson, Dr Chris Tyler-Smith and Mr Vic Williams have been approved by Council as ordinary members. Mr S. L. MEREDITH said that while on Noar Hill he had found a strange animal feeding by grazing the surface of a hawthorn leaf. It had a black slimy appearance and he had sent it to the mollusc department at the Natural History Museum. They had passed it on to the entomology section where it was identified as the larva of the pear and cherry sawfly, Caliroa cerasi (L.) (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae)! This species feeds on a wide range of trees and shrubs in the Rosaceae family and is sometimes a pest. Mr R. J. Kemp said he had seen a male pale or Berger’s clouded yellow butterfly at Magdalen Hill Down, Winchester, Hants on 17.vii.95. A Camberwell beauty was seen at Grendon Underwood near Aylesbury, Bucks., on 5.vili.95. He also noted that in 1994 and 95 in mid-Bucks., the brown argus appears to be spreading. Its usual foodplant is absent from that area and so it is possibly using a new food plant. Mr KEN WILLMOTT spoke on “British hairstreaks and their conservation”. His talk was based mainly on observations he had made between 1970 and the mid-80s, and many of his photographs had been taken in the field. Hairstreak butterflies belong to the Theclinae subfamily and there are over 2000, most of which are New World species. Britain has just five species. The most widespread is the green hairstreak and in this species there is considerable variation in the extent of the hairstreak marking on the hind wings. This may be reduced to a few spots or may be completely lost. It has several hostplants, including bird’s foot trefoil, rock-rose and gorse. Eggs are often placed on flower buds or leaves at the shoot tips. The first- instar larvae are brownish-red but later instars are green with paler stripes. The pupal stage is possibly associated with ants. The pupae are able to make a squeaking noise and this may be a means of communicating with ants. The green hairstreak is an adaptable species that can colonize new sites. The speaker described a meadow near Leatherhead, Surrey, where tipping had raised the soil level by several feet. The green hairstreak was absent originally but appeared in the meadow once suitable food plants became established. The brown hairstreak shows variation in the extent of the red patches on the female’s forewings. The butterfly is active in mid- to late summer and these red patches may give the female some camouflage when sitting on shrubs with red berries, such as hawthorn and rose. White eggs are laid on blackthorn twigs, often in BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 117 the axils of stems. This species seems to suffer from less parasitism of the egg stage than other British hairstreaks. The pale green larvae feed initially by grazing the underside of leaves but later eat whole portions of leaves. Pupation occurs in the hedge bottom. Males hold territories around the tops of trees, especially ash. They have been seen with their mouthparts inserted into lenticels in ash bark from which they may be able to suck up a sugary sap. The main conservation threats to this species are from hedge grubbing and the loss of eggs from blackthorn, when farmers and local authorities trim hedges in late summer. The purple hairstreak rarely visits flowers but will come down from the tree tops in early morning to drink dew. Eggs are laid on the dormant buds of oak, including turkey oak. The body markings on the larvae give them good camouflage against the remaining bud scales attached to the base of new stems. The mature larvae often pupate in ant nests. The white-letter hairstreak is associated with elms and it became very uncommon after most elm trees were killed by Dutch elm disease in the 1970s. It has made a comeback as sucker growth in hedgerows has developed into small trees. Dutch elm disease is now again widespread and may send the butterfly back into decline. It lays its eggs on English elm stems, especially at the junction of the current year’s growth with that of the previous year. The mature larvae turn into hairy pupae which are attached to the foliage or twigs. The black hairstreak is the most local British species. In 1978 a thriving introduced colony was discovered in Surrey by the speaker. Eggs are laid on blackthorn and they hatch into larvae that resemble the foodplant’s bud scales. The older larvae are pale green and they feed at the shoot tips. The pupae resemble bird droppings and they are found on the foliage and twigs. The Surrey colony began to decline and, despite management at the site to encourage new blackthorn growth, it has now died out. This is probably due to changes in land use outside the site, which included the felling of surrounding woodland that provided shelter and other needs of the adult butterflies. 14 November 1995 Dr D. J. L. AGASsIz showed a specimen, provisionally identified as Metzneria torosulella Rebel, taken at light in his garden at Gravesend, Kent, 18.viii.1995, which had at first been misidentified as Sitotroga cerealella (Ol.). This cannot confidently be counted as British, since seedheads of thistle were collected in Tenerife in April 1995, from which a Metzneria species was bred. In the late summer, date not recorded, these seedheads were put on the garden compost heap and it is conceivable this was the source of the specimen. Mr R. K. MERRIFIELD showed a fossil from Praa Sands, Cornwall, probably the cast of a marine tube worm, impregnated with iron ore. It was found at the base of a cliff in a dark stratum which was probably estuarine mud, iron ore being in the cliff strata above. Mr N. A. CALLOW reported that at Smitham Hill, East Harptree, Mendip on 21.x.95 at 2.30 p.m. over 500 Chloropid flies Chlorops hypostigma Meigen were seen in a 12ft vertical column on the sunny side of a telegraph pole. Their activities included courtship and attempted mating. Mr R. D. HAWKINS announced the publication of the Society’s latest book: New British Beetles which was available in paperback at £12 and hardback at £18 to members. 118 BR, J, ENT, NAT, HIST,, 9: 1996 There then followed a discussion on the Annual Exhibition. The President began by thanking and congratulating Mr M. J. Simmons on the organization of a successful Exhibition. Mr Simmons reported that both attendance by members, and the number of exhibits had remained steady.*There had been fewer exhibits of Diptera and Coleoptera than in recent years, but an increase in the number of Lepidoptera exhibits. The discussion was then followed by members’ slides. Mr R. K. MERRIFIELD showed slides of the natural history of the Scilly Isles and Cornwall; Mr N. L. SAWYER, of insects in Turkey; and Mr N. A. CALLOw, of insects etc. in Greece and the UK. The President thanked members for their contributions. BENHS FIELD MEETINGS Dawlish Warren, Devon 24 June 1995 Leader: R. McCormick. The night was reasonably overcast with a very light breeze which abated as the night wore on. Thirteen people attended of whom nine were from the BENHS and two were members of The Devonshire Association. Two were part of the ever-increasing group of people with whom the leader had made contact in Devon, and two were wardens from the site. After introductions, the leader instructed the members present on the rules of the Dawlish Warren Nature Reserve regarding the parking of vehicles and the taking of specimens. The assembled entomologists then made their way on to the site to set up their equipment. There were about 12 lights in operation. The leader and several of the group went on the rounds to see as many of the lights as possible, and a sizeable list soon built up. The temperature stayed around the 20°C mark all the time the meeting was in progress. Because it was such a good night the meeting did not pack up until around 03,00 hours or later, and the general feeling was that of an enjoyable field meeting. There were recorders of three orders of insects on site, two coleopterists, one hymenopterist and five lepidopterists, with lists of species seen from most of the visitors. The lists of Lepidoptera have been amalgamated into a list of 159 species; a lot of the Microlepidoptera were identified by Bob Heckford but there are still some that have yet to be named. A list of Hymenoptera was also produced and provided by A. A. Allen. Interesting species that were seen include Pediasia contaminella Hiibn., which is relatively new to the Devon list; Anerastia lotella Hibn., this species is restricted to sandy localities; Epirrhoe galiata D.& S., galium carpet, a nationally scarce species that is found in many localities throughout Devon; Callimorpha dominula L., scarlet tiger, which is thought to be restricted but in actual fact is widespread throughout Devon; Meganola albula D.& S., Kent black arches, this species is found commonly on the Warren and on some other sites; Agrotis ripae Hiibn., sand dart, a species that is also restricted to sandy localities which are very few in Devon; Earias clorana L., cream-bordered green pea, this species was only found as isolated records until it was discovered to be breeding on the Warren. There were five species of parasitic Hymenoptera identified, the most important of which seems to be Macrocentrus collaris (Spinola), female, a gregarious parasite on noctuid larvae, not seen on the Warren before. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 119 Maidscross Hill, Lakenheath, Suffolk, 15 July 1995 Leader: David Young. The weather conditions for the field meeting to this well known site were not as good as we might have wished, and no doubt partially explained the low number of members who turned up for the meeting. On the other hand, weather conditions were not as bad as is usually the case when I volunteer to lead a field trip. Whilst the morning was pleasantly sunny, a heavy storm in the afternoon, combined with a brisk wind throughout the day, effectively reduced insect activity during the daylight hours. Undaunted by the conditions, searching the site, especially in the more sheltered places, gave a promising start to the day’s recording efforts. Thirteen species of butterflies were recorded including both Thymelicus sylvestris (Poda) and T. lineola (Ochs.), a few Polygonia c-album (L.), fresh males of Hipparchia semele (L.) and plenty of Maniola jurtina (L.), the females of which seemed to be more brightly marked on the underside than normal. The larva of Tyria jacobaeae (L.) were common and many of the campion seed heads contained larvae of Hadena bicruris (Hufn.). A large and unidentified ichneumon was seen hunting for these larvae, probing her ovipositor deep into the seed heads. Sweeping the low herbage, at least until the storm brought an abrupt end to the daytime proceedings, produced a variety of larvae, many of which turned out to be Heliothis viriplaca (Hufn.), a species later recorded at m.v. light. Only a few records of orders other than the Lepidoptera were made. A female Sympetrum sanguineum (Miller) (Odonata) was seen. Other records included Chloromyia formosa (Scop.) (Diptera), and Crabro cribrarius (L.) and Cerceris arenaria (L.) (Hymenoptera). Weather conditions improved considerably as dusk approached. The wind dropped, cloud cover increased and the temperature, along with our spirits, rose steadily. Several m.v. traps were run in sheltered positions with one trap placed well out into the exposed part of the site and surrounded by viper’s bugloss. Tony Dobson kindly festooned a conveniently situated wire fence with wine ropes which duly produced a good number of moths including a few species which were not recorded at the m.v. traps. The date chosen for this field meeting was too late for such Breckland specialities as Lithostege griseata (D. & S.), and was between broods of Scopula rubiginata (Hufn.) with only one fresh example being noted. There was no sign of Heliophobus reticulata marginosa (Haw.), a species which now seems to be difficult to find, and there were no Noctua orbona (Hufn.) amongst a steady trickle of N. comes (Hiibn.). However there was much of interest amongst a large number of moths recorded. Amongst the Pyralidae were several specimens of Evergestis extimalis (Scop.), and Sitochroa palealis (D.& S.) was common. 120 BR, J, ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 OBITUARY FRANCES MARY MURPHY 1926-1995 Frances was born on 29 April 1926, Her parents were both ipterested in birds and, so Frances recalled, probably also in flowers and gardens, and she soon developed a keen interest in natural history, Following the death of her mother when she was seven, Frances and her younger brother Edward continued to live with their father in the Yorkshire countryside, When she returned from boarding school during the school holidays she spent much of her time wandering in the surrounding fields. Later she recalled that even at this early age she seemed to have long known all the common flowers and birds of the area. Frances was taken to the Natural History Museum whenever she visited her London relatives and was fascinated by the giant skeletons of the giant prehistoric saurians, Having read the second chapter of Wells’s History of the world, which concerned dinosaurs, she then read the first chapter which gave an outline of astronomy. This led to a fascination with the stars which endured throughout her life. She once commented that in the early 1940s cosmologists believed the universe to be 10 million years old, while geologists put the Earth at about 100 million years old, The teenage Frances had considered this “‘an unsatisfactory arrangement”. In 1943 Frances went to Bedford College, London University, to read mathematics, It was an old-fashioned course, but she enjoyed the freedom of life for a year in Cambridge and then in London, In 1945 she became ill with very high blood pressure through kidney disease. Frances thought she “had had it’, but luckily the trouble only affected the left kidney and after it was removed she recovered. Because of her illness, Frances lost a year’s education and finally took her degree in 1948. She later considered it “not a very good degree’, but it had taken her some lime to get over the operation, With hindsight she thought that she should perhaps have taken a year off, but in typical positive fashion she wanted to get on with things. After graduating Frances went to work at Fairey Aviation in the guided missile section, where her mathematical training was put to use calculating stability and flight paths, She found the work interesting and progressed well, ultimately having a small section to assist her, It was at Fairey’s that she met John Murphy, and they were married in December 1949, The accompanying portrait of Frances at 40 was painted by Ted Watson, another colleague at the company, In the late 1950s and early 1960s Frances suffered from a sort of general blood poisoning which left her very tired. It was at this time that Fairey’s was taken over by Vickers another aviation company which Frances dryly described as “the merchants of death”, She did not get on with the new company and stayed only a year, It was at this time that her interest in spiders developed. She joined the forerunner of the British Arachnological Society and went on a Field Studies course on spiders at Flatford Mill. One of the inspirations for her interest was W. S. Bristowe’s The world of spiders. At first she wanted to photograph them because she could not draw “for toffee’, and in order to do this she kept many in captivity, rearing them to maturity, In this she became quite expert and wrote several small books based on her experience, Frances was quickly drawn in to the study of spiders and was a member of many arachnological groups, She was a founder member of both the British and American Arachnological Societies and also belonged to the British Tarantula Society, the Spider Club of Southern Africa, the Australasian Arachnological Society, the Centre International de Documentation Arachnologique and the Société Européen d’Arachnologie. Her wide interest in general natural history enabled her to BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 121 Frances at 40, painted by Ted Watson, a colleague at Fairey Aviation. contribute to the London Wildlife Trust, the Wildlife Society and the London Natural History Society. Her childhood fascination with dinosaur bones was repaid when she became a founder and committee member of the Friends of the Natural History Museum. In 1962 Frances joined the BENHS, which was then the “South London’, and during her membership she contributed greatly to the Society. During the 1980s Frances was Secretary of the Society and in 1989 became President—the first and (so far) only woman to be appointed to the position. Later she was one of the BENHS representatives on the Joint Committee for the Conservation of British Insects (later Invertebrates). It was during her presidency that the Society received news that it would have to quit its long-held rooms at the Alpine Club in Mayfair’s South Audley Street, and Frances spent much time and effort finding new premises for the Society. 122 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 Frances at the 1989 AES exhibition. With a resurgence of her previous kidney problems a few years ago, Frances prepared a resumé of her life and sent it to Canon David Agassiz with the request that, whenever it might come, he should officiate at her funeral. I have drawn heavily on that résumé (and David’s funeral oration) in preparing this notice, and reading through it I can still hear Frances’ voice speaking to me. Frances died on 20 July 1995 and her funeral on the 28th of July was so well attended by family, friends and colleagues from the many societies to which she belonged, that there was standing room only for many of us. Frances will be sadly missed by us all, but in particular by her husband John to whom our deepest sympathy is offered. A PERSONAL APPRECIATION Anyone who met Frances was immediately struck by the strength of her character. Some, who knew her less, mistook her outspokenness and hearing her acerbic wit failed to appreciate her dry sense of humour—their loss. In 1980 when I first attended BENHS indoor meetings in the crusty rooms of the Alpine Club, I was immediately aware that the Society still had something of an archaic (but charming) atmosphere; at the time I likened it to a Victorian gentlemen’s club. And yet here in the middle of the enthusiastic bustling males was a woman, and not a woman entomologist but an arachnologist to boot. Despite these ironies, Frances was not out of place; she cut a swathe through the Society, held her own on all occasions and commanded the respect of others on equal terms. Even in the pub after evening meetings, Frances would join us other reprobates for a beer before home. When her renal problems reappeared, she was obliged to give up her usual half of Guinness, so took to ordering a small brandy instead. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 123 One of the first things which struck me about Frances was that she and John were always zooming off on exotic holidays to strange parts of the globe. On several occasions she gave lectures to the Society detailing her adventures and showing spectacular slides. These were not at all wholly of spiders and you could always be certain that whenever she spoke, Frances would colour her narratives with bizarre anecdotes and amusing asides. Frances once gave an account of her travels in New Zealand and I tempted my partner, Catrina, along to hear it since this was the land of her father. My glowing accounts of Frances’ skills as a speaker were rewarded when Catrina later compared the measured but enthusiastic delivery to that of Joyce Grenfell. As ever, it was a delightful evening. It was through her world travel that Frances was an inspiration to me. A few years ago Catrina and I had, as usual, left our holiday planning until the very last minute and were at a loss wondering where to go. The destinations we selected were impossible to reach, for this was the time of failing travel companies and consolidation of many flights meant that package deals and cheap flights were full or cancelled. Costa Rica in Central America came into our minds and I remembered that Frances had been there a few years before. I telephoned her to ask what she thought of the place and her immediate response was to invite us over to her house for a private slide show. Here we were entertained with as professional a travelogue as we could wish to hear anywhere. And afterwards Frances showed us some of her pets, including one she just happened to have from Costa Rica—a large amblypygid tailless whip- scorpion sitting almost motionless in its case. It was now that Frances admitted she had a cunning trick to get through US customs quickly and easily whenever she travelled that way. She would inform officials that she was transporting live spiders in her baggage. This was not against regulations, but it meant she was ushered through a different customs route, one which was inevitably less congested. Our holiday in Costa Rica was a spectacular success and one of the most exciting moments was peeling back a bit of bark to reveal an amblypygid—just like the one Frances had. On BENHS field meetings Frances was sometimes ribbed by the discovery that an interesting web was made, not by a moth caterpillar, but by a spider—a “‘“Murphy’’—and now I cannot see a spider without thinking fondly of her. RICHARD A. JONES BIBLIOGRAPHY 1966 Dictyna viridissima (Walck.) and Tegenaria agrestis (Walck.) in Middlesex. BSSG Bulletin 30: 9. 1966 Spider course at Monks Wood, Huntingdon, in 1966. BSSG Bulletin 34: 7. 1967 Field meeting at Box Hill. BSSG Bulletin 36: 7. 1968 Notes on interesting spider species. BSSG Bulletin 37: 4. 1971 Callilepis nocturna (Linneaus) (Araneae, Gnaphosidae) newly found in Britain. Entomologist’s Gaz. 22: 269. 1973 The spiders of Chobham Common. Surrey Naturalist Report for 1973. 1974 Occurrence of Tm 4 on Erigone longipalpis. Br. Arachnol. Soc. Newsl. 9: 9. 1974 Two field meetings at Hackhurst Downs, April & November 1972. Br. Arachnol. Soc. Newsl. 9: 9. 1976 (Murphy, J. A. & —) Spider hunting in the United States of America. Br. Arachnol. Soc. Newsl. 16: 6. 1978 (Murphy, J. A. & —) The male of Lycosoides crassipalpis (Denis) (Araneae, Agelenidae). Bull. Br. Arachnol. Soc. 4(6). 124 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 1979 (P. Tongiorgi & —) Arctosa villica (Lucas, 1848): drawings and observations. Bull. Br. Arachnol. Soc. 4(9). 1980 A spider hunting trip to Malaya and Borneo. Br. Arachnol. Soc. Newsl. 28/9. 1980 Keeping spiders, insects and other land invertebrates in captivity. Jahn Bartholomew & Son Ltd. 1981 Council’s report for 1980. Proc. Trans. Br. Ent. Nat. Hist. Soc. 14: 63-64. 1982 BAS meeting at Mas Forge Field Centre in France Sth—12th June 1982. Br. Arachnol. Soc. Newsl. 35: 1. 1982 Council’s report for 1981. Proc. Trans. Br. Ent. Nat. Hist. Soc. 15: 48. 1983 (Murphy, J. A. & —) More about Portia (Araneae, Salticidae). Bull. Br. Arachnol. Soc. 6(1). 1983 (Murphy, J. A. & —) The orb weaver Acusilas (Araneae, Araneidae). Bull. Br. Arachnol. Soc. 6(3). 1983 Council’s report for 1982. Proc. Trans. Br. Ent. Nat. Hist. Soc. 16: 121. 1984 (Murphy, J. A. & —) An English collection of Tyrolean spiders (Arachnida, Aranei). Ber. Nat. Med. Ver. Innsbruck 71. 1984 Biology of spiders by Foelix. Book review. Proc. Trans. Br. Ent. Nat. Hist. Soc. 17: 86. 1984 Council’s report for 1983. Proc. Trans. Br. Ent. Nat. Hist. Soc. 17: 95-96. 1984 [Photograph of Frances “attracting the unanticipated interest of the residents (a herd of cows) of Magor Marsh in her spider photography”’.| Proc. Trans. Br. Ent. Nat. Hist. Soc. 17: 109. 1988 How to begin the study of spiders by Cloudsley-Thompson. Book review. Br. Arachnol. Soc. Newsl. 52: 6. 1988 The British Tarantula Society. Br. Arachnol. Soc. Newsl. Suppl. 52: 11. 1988 Orb web spiders: two interesting observations in the literature. Br. Arachnol. Soc. Suppl. 53: iv. 1989 Pseudoscorpions by Legg & Jones. Book review. Br. J. Ent. Nat. Hist. 2: 64. 1989 [Photograph of Enoplognatha ovata on web built inside trumpet of Sarracenia alata.] Br. J. Ent. Nat. Hist. 2: 88. 1990 Sex determination of immature theraphosid spiders from their cast skins by Hancock & Hancock. Book review. Br. Arachnol. Soc. News]. 59: 8. 1991 How to begin the study of spiders by D. W. Mackie. Book review. Br Arachnol. Soc. News. 60: 8. 1991 Baboon spiders, tarantulas of Africa and the Middle East by A. Smith. Book review. Br. Arachnol. Soc. Newsl. 62: 1. 1991 The 1989 Presidential Address—Part 1. Report. Br. J. Ent. Nat. Hist. 4: 67-68. 1991 The 1989 Presidential Address—Part 2. Some interesting European spiders. Br. J. Ent. Nat. Hist. 4: 69-82, Plate III. 1992 British Red Data Books; 3. Invertebrates other than insects edited by Bratton. Book review. Br. Arachnol. Soc. Newsl. 63: 7. 1992 (Miles, S. & —) The Joint Commitee for the Conservation of British Insects. Br. J. Ent. Nat. Hist. 5: 24. 1992 [Photograph of Harpactocrates ravastellus showing peculiar bulbs on the animal’s palps.] Br. J. Ent. Nat. Hist. 5: 26. 1992 Staffhurst Wood, Surrey, 19 May 1991. BENHS Field Meeting. Br. J. Ent. Nat. Hist. 5: 40. 1992 Stick insects of Britain, Europe and the Mediterranean by Brock. Book review. Br. J. Ent. Nat. Hist. 5: 91-92. 1992 Move from the Alpine Club. Br. J. Ent. Nat. Hist. 5: 129-132. 1992 The care of spiders in captivity. Chiron Publishers, Keighley. 1992 Keeping spiders in captivity. Br. Arachnol. Soc. Members’ Handbook. 1993 Martin Lister’s English spiders (1678) edited by Parker & Harley. Book review. Br. J. Ent. Nat. Hist. 6: 47. 1993 Points of view. Br. Arachnol. Soc. Newsl. 66: 3. 1994 [Photographs of BENHS members at Dinton Pastures.] Br. J. Ent. Nat. Hist. 7: 94-95. 1995 More about Aussie rules. Br. Arachnol. Soc. Newsl. 72: 16. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 125 OBITUARY CHARLES BRADWIN ASHBY 1920-1994 Charles Bradwin Ashby (known as ‘Brad’ for short) who died on 9 January 1994 joined the BENHS in 1965, known then as the South London Entomological and Natural History Society. Over the years he attended many of the indoor meetings and those in the field, when by that time his main interest lay in the Lepidoptera. He was born on 13 June 1920 and lived his early years with his parents in West London. His father had an electrical business in the King’s Road, Chelsea. At the age of ten the family moved to Carshalton, Surrey, and the following year young Brad entered the nearby Sutton Grammar School. The author of this obituary was at the same school and, though in a form lower, remembers Brad, not as a member of the school natural history society, but as a participant of the art group where a fellow artist drew the accompanying cartoon. nb t BSN GINPE WING Cartoon of Brad Ashby by Snoaden, Art Group, Sutton Grammar School, 1936. 126 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 On leaving that school in 1937 Brad joined his father’s business, attending night- school to obtain the Diploma of the Institute of Electrical Engineers. He took his final exams just at the outbreak of World War II. When it was time for him to be called for military service, his electrical qualification and experience were considered of sufficient consequence for him to be drafted into the services of the Ministry of Aircraft Production. At first Brad was based at their headquarters at Millbank on the Thames, but for most of the next five years he was sent up and down the country examining crashed aircraft. This, at times, became a very harrowing experience for him. He had, in each case, to assess what electrical faults, if any, might have contributed to the crash. Soon after the end of the War in 1945, Brad was released by the Ministry and then rejoined his father’s business which was still in the King’s Road. When Ashby senior died, Brad took over, first as manager and then later as director of the firm. In 1985 he had been considering retirement at the end of that year, but decided to stay on until 1988 in order to celebrate the firm’s one hundredth year of establishment. Brad Ashby first became interested in natural history during World War II and his earliest leanings lay towards ornithology. In this connection he joined the London Natural History Society, becoming involved on its Ornithology Committee and serving on that of the London Bird Report, remaining with it until 1960. After the publication in 1957 of that Society’s first edition of The birds of the London area since 1900, Brad turned his attention towards microscopy, ecology and entomology. To satisfy the first mentioned he joined the Quekett Microscopical Club, becoming particularly interested in the smaller denizens of pond life. For ecology and entomology he transferred his attentions in the LNHS from birds to the section that catered for these topics, at the same time seeking membership of the BENHS as has already been mentioned. In our Society he became increasingly absorbed in the Lepidoptera. With a friend he operated a mercury vapour moth lamp on Bookham Common, Surrey intermittently between the years 1965 and 1968. From this study he contributed a number of new moth records to Colin Plant’s Larger moths of the London area (1993), on the cover of which appears Brad’s colour photograph of the elephant hawk-moth. Each year Brad and his wife Hilda took their annual holiday in Sweden, partly to visit their younger married daughter living there, and then to continue by motoring to distant parts of that country, watching birds and butterflies whenever possible. It was during one such yearly visit that Brad had the good fortune to be introduced to one of Sweden’s leading lepidopterists, Stig Torstenius (also a member of our Society). This first meeting blossomed into a real friendship which brought about the presentation by Torstenius to the BENHS of a representative of each of Sweden’s Lepidoptera from his own collection. At the end of each year’s holiday Brad would bring back to England several store boxes of mounted specimens and Stig, when he came over here, would bring a similar amount. During the ensuing twelve months Brad would find the time to change, where necessary, the staging-pin size (and add further specimens mounted from Stig’s papered reserve collection to fill any gaps), so that the whole could be re-arranged in Hill cabinet drawers set aside for this purpose by our Society’s Council. Anomalies and difficulties in the nomenclature from earlier Continental lists were ironed out by Ashby, so that there is now a catalogue prepared by him for members subsequently using the collection. One cannot fail to appreciate the vast amount of work he put into getting the collection into working order, especially when one considers that it involved somewhere between three and four thousand specimens. It is an effort for which our Society can be forever grateful. The BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 127 C. B. Ashby 1920-1994. story of this Torstenius collection was fortunately written up and published by Ashby in our Journal just before he died (Br. J. Ent. Nat. Hist. 7: 37-46, 1994). Not only did he work hard on the Torstenius Lepidoptera collection, as has just been described, but he also gave considerable attention, when the time came, to detailing the arrangements for moving the Society’s collections to Dinton Pastures. At our annual exhibition meetings he also gave much unsung assistance in ensuring that such functions ran smoothly. It was not unusual for him to turn up early for these meetings to help in setting up the tables for the exhibits, and he made certain that the slide equipment was in the right place at the right time. Furthermore, in his capacity as a member of both our Society and the LNHS, he made certain that arrangements for the annual joint meeting between the two organizations were satisfactory each year, presiding over several of these events on the appointed evening. When Stanley Jacobs died in 1989, Ashby’s name was put forward at a BENHS council meeting as a successor trustee, to which post he was duly elected. While not carrying any additional work load, a trustee’s rdle has an important obligation in the event of a society becoming insolvent. Brad always had a particular bent for new gadgetry. The writer of this note recalls a delightful piece of Ashby ‘Heath-Robinson’ equipment, consisting of a veterinarian’s hypodermic syringe taped to the end of a walking stick with a pull- string attached to the head of the plunger! This simple, though effective, piece of apparatus allowed samples of pond water to be taken at various depths. He retained this same inventive frame of mind to the end, for on 14 December 1993 he exhibited a ‘home-made’ but highly professional slide-viewer, constructed only a few weeks 128 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 before he died. With his death the Society has lost a respected member who did much on the side-lines of the BENHS—a difficult rdle to refill. The writer of this obituary notice misses a valued friend and a worthy field companion. ERIC W. GROVES EDITORIAL MORE ABOUT LOGOS Since the appearance of the last issue of the journal, and in particular my pontifications on the possible origins of the Society’s logo, I have received various communications pointing out alternative identities for this mysterious creature. It was a postcard from Tony Irwin, which first alerted me to the possibility that the insect was a long-tailed zygaenid moth, possibly Himantopterus fuscinervis Westw. This species is depicted (plate 46b) in The dictionary of butterflies and moths in colour by Allan Watson and Paul Whalley (1975, Michael Joseph Ltd; reprinted 1983, Peerage books) and it certainly looks very like the logo illustration. Himantopterus 1s a small genus of Indian and South-East Asian moths, all with very long hind wings; H. fuscinervis is recorded from Java and Sumatra. The larvae are reputed to live with termites, but otherwise very little is known of this or others in the group. A few days later, Mark Parsons thrust a small glass-topped box under my nose. In it was another long-tailed zygaenid, a Doratopteryz species, this time from Africa. The close resemblance of this moth to the Society logo was noted by Martin Honey and, like many great entomological advances, was the result of a conversation during a staff coffee break at the Natural History Museum. However, further evidence has emerged that the device is indeed Nemoptera. In the Council’s report for 1967 (Proc. Trans. Br. Ent. Nat. Hist. Soc. 1968; 1: 16), when its availability was first announced, the tie is described as having “a simple motif, a neuropteron”’. No matter what the insect is, the question still remains—why should Arthur Smith have chosen such an obscure insect to decorate the Society’s tie? Perhaps someone out there has an idea. It might be worth reporting here that the Society’s council spent some time and energy in debating the exact form of the logo. At the time, everyone on council was firmly of the opinion that the insect on the tie was a species of Nemoptera, a mainly Mediterranean group related to lace-wings. In particular, it was thought to be Nemoptera bipennis, the species shown (page 107) in Michael Chinery’s Jnsects of Britain and western Europe (1986, Collins). In asking Rob Dyke to redraw, it was suggested that the logo should be more life-like, so Rob carefully penned a more detailed figure accordingly. However, it was only then noticed that Nemoptera had much broader and blunter wings than Smith’s tie logo—a completely different design had resulted. What should the Society do? There were two alternatives: use Rob’s new ‘more accurate’ depiction of Nemoptera or return to a version based on Smith’s ties. The debate was finally resolved at the 1995 annual exhibition where a vote to use Smith’s slim-winged insect was narrowly passed by the assembled council members. Given the mystery surrounding its origins, and argument on the animal’s identity, it is perhaps just as well that we have retained Smith’s design more or less unaltered. RicHARD A. JONES BRITISH ENTOMOLOGICAL AND NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY Officers and Council for 1996 President: C. Hart, B.Sc. Vice-Presidents: M. J. Scoble, B.Sc., M.Phil., Ph.D., F.R.E.S. D. J. L. Agassiz, M.A., Ph.D., F.R.E.S. Treasurer: Secretary: A. J. Pickles, F.C.A., F.R.E.S. R. F. McCormick, F.R.E.S. Curator: Librarian: P. J. Chandler, B.Sc., F.R.E.S. I. R. Sims, B.Sc., C.Biol., M.I.Biol. Lanternist: Editor: I. F. G. McLean, B.Sc., Ph.D., F.R.E.S. R. A. Jones, B.Sc., F.R.E.S., F.L.S. Building Manager: P. J. Baker, C.Eng., F.R.H.S Ordinary Members of Council: M. Barclay A. Jenkins G. Boyd D. Lonsdale J. Firmin M. S. Parsons N. M. Hall S. Pittis R. D. Hawkins P. M. Waring A NEW REPRINT FROM THE AMATEUR ENTOMOLOGISTS’ SOCIETY PRACTICAL HINTS FOR THE FIELD LEPIDOPTERIST by J. W. Tutt Written in three parts at the turn of the century, this book has been reprinted because it still represents the most comprehensive field guide covering both macro- and micro- lepidoptera. Parts I to III all give a month by month guide to which species and stages to look for and how to find them. Part III also contains an extensive biological account of the early stages and how to keep, rear and describe them. A separate supplement has been prepared which cross-references old to current scientific names and the English names of the species covered. ISBN: 09000-54-59-X 422 pages, hardback, reprinted 1994, £21 Post is free to UK addresses; outside the UK please add £2.10 for postage by surface mail, £6.30 for air mail outside Europe. Please make cheque/postal order payable to ‘““AES Publications” and send to: AES Publications, The Hawthorns, Frating Road, Great Bromley, Colchester CO7 7JN, UK (Telephone 01206-251600). BRITISH JOURNAL OF ENTOMOLOGY AND NATURAL HISTORY VOLUME 9, PART 2, APRIL 1996 ARTICLES 65 Ladybird population explosions. M. E. N. MAJERUS AND T. M. O. MAJERUS 77 Krenopsectra nohedensis n. sp. and the pupal exuviae of Micropsectra auvergnensis Reiss (Diptera: Chironomidae) from the eastern Pyrenees. J. MOUBAYED AND P. H. LANGTON 87 The relationship between Drosophila occurrence and mould abundance on rotting fruit. S. HODGE 93 The butterflies of Stara Planina (Serbia) with emphasis on M. jurtina Linnaeus. R. PARKER AND P. JAKSIC 103 A hazard to moths on the Lozere Massif. J. FELTWELL 107 Possible breeding by the rosemary bettle Chrysolina americana L. in Britain. A. J. HALSTEAD 109 Some observations on the behaviour of Philanthus triangulum (F.) (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae). M. RUINET 111 The insects on a small, isolated, derelict metalliferous mine site in Cornwall. E. C. M. HAEs AND A. SPALDING SHORT COMMUNICATIONS 76 Leiophora (Arrhinomyia) innoxia (Meigen) (Diptera: Tachnidae) parasitizing the ground- hopper Tetrix undulata (Sowerby) (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae). R. W. J. UFFEN 86 The occurrence of seaweed flies (Diptera: Coelopidae) on the Isle of Islay. S. HODGE 91 Cicones undata Guér.-Mén. (Coleoptera: Colydiidae) still common under sycamore bark in south-east London. R. A. JONES 92 Large tortoiseshell in East Sussex. J. FELTWELL 101 Some observations on Agrilus sinuatus (Ol.) and A. pannonicus (Pill. & Mitt.) in south-east London, R. A. JONES 105 Helops caeruleus (L.) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) in south-east London. R. A. JONES 106 Acupalpus exiguus Dejean (Coleoptera: Carabidae) “swarming”. R. A. JONES 108 Rhopalum coarctatum (Scop.) (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae) nesting in a case of Taleporia tubulosa Retz. (Lepidoptera: Psychidae). R. W. J. UFFEN 108 Early hibernation of a queen wasp? R. A. JONES PROCEEDINGS AND TRANSACTIONS 116 BENHS Indoor Meetings, 10 October and 14 November 1995 118 BENHS Field Meetings 120 Obituary of Frances Mary Murphy 1926-1995. R. A. JONES 125 Obituary of Charles Bradwin Ashby 1920-1994. E. W. GROVES 128 Editorial. More about logos. R. A. JONES BOOK REVIEW Integrated pest management by D. Dent. A. J. HALSTEAD ae OCTOBER 1996 ISSN 0952-7583 VOL: 9, Part 3 BS5SAQ a ie BRITISH JOURNAL OF ENTOMOLOGY AND NATURAL HISTORY BRITISH JOURNAL OF ENTOMOLOGY AND NATURAL HISTORY Published by the British Entomological and Natural History Society and incorporating its Proceedings and Transactions Editor: Richard A. Jones, B.Sc., F.R.E.S., F.L.S. 13 Bellwood Road Nunhead London SE15 3DE (Tel: 0171 732 2440) (Fax: 0171 277 8725) Editorial Committee: D. J. L. Agassiz, M.A», Ph.D., F.R.E.S. T.G. Howarth, B.E.M., F.R.E.S. FRLE:S R. D. G. Barrington, B.Sc. IF. G, Meckean, Pr Db). FoR P. J. Chandler, B.Sc., F.R.E.S. M. J. Simmons, M.Sc. B. Goater, B.Sc., M.1.Biol. P. A. Sokoloff, M.Sc., C.Biol., M.I.Biol., F.R.E.S. A. J. Halstead, M.Sc., F.R.E.S. T. R. E. Southwood, K. B., D.Sc., F.R.E.S. R. D. Hawkins, M.A. R. W. J. Uffen, M.Sc., F.R.E.S. P. J. Hodge B. K. West, B.Ed. British Journal of Entomology and Natural History is published by the British Entomological and Natural History Society, Dinton Pastures Country Park, Davis Street, Hurst, Reading, Berkshire RGI1O OTH, UK. Tel: 01734-321402. The Journal is distributed free to BENHS members. ©) 1996 British Entomological and Natural History Society. Typeset by Dobbie Typesetting Limited, Tavistock, Devon. Printed in England by Henry Ling Ltd, Dorchester, Dorset. BRITISH ENTOMOLOGICAL AND NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY Registered charity number: 213149 Meetings of the Society are held regularly in London, at the rooms of the Royal Entomological Society, 41 Queen’s Gate, London SW7 and the well-known ANNUAL EXHIBITION is planned for Saturday 2 November 1996 at Imperial College, London SW7. Frequent Field Meetings are held at weekends in the summer. Visitors are welcome at all meetings. The current Programme Card can be had on application to the Secretary, R. F. McCormick, at the address given below. The Society maintains a library, and collections at its headquarters in Dinton Pastures, which are open to members on various advertised days each month, telephone 01734-321402 for the latest meeting news. Applications for membership to the Membership Secretary: A. Godfrey, 10 Moorlea Drive, Baildon, Shipley, West Yorkshire BD17 6QL. Subscriptions and changes of address to the Membership Secretary: R. D. Hawkins, 30d Meadowcroft Close, Horley, Surrey RH6 9EL. Non-arrival of the Journal, faulty copies or other problems arising from distribution of the Journal or notices to the Distribution Secretary: D. Young, 9 Marten Place, Tilehurst, Reading, Berkshire RG31 6FB. Orders for books and back numbers of the Journal and Proceedings to the Sales Secretary: G. Boyd, 17 Gainsborough Close, Cambridge CB4 ISY. General Enquiries to the Secretary: R. F. McCormick, 36 Paradise Road, Teignmouth, Devon TQ14 8NR. Tel: 01626-779543, Cover illustration: Purple emperor, Apatura iris (L.) feeding. Canon Al camera, 100 mm macro lens. Photo: R. Revels. NOTE: The Editor invites submission of photographs for black and white reproduction on the front covers of the journal. The subject matter is open, with an emphasis on aesthetic value rather than scientific novelty. Submissions can be in the form of colour or black and white prints or colour transparencies. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 129 A. E. WRIGHT’S RECORDS OF HYMENOPTERA ACULEATA FOR GRANGE AND NEIGHBOURHOOD, INCLUDING A NOTE ABOUT HIS FRIEND J. D. WARD NEIL A. ROBINSON 3 Abbey Drive, Natland, Kendal, Cumbria LAY 7QN Albert Edward Wright was a dedicated entomologist who lived at Brunleigh, Kents Bank Road, Grange-over-Sands after his retirement in the early 1920s until his death at the age of 76 in 1950. During this time he collected, studied and recorded in detail the butterflies, moths, hoverflies, bees, wasps, ants and other Hymenoptera of the Grange area. He was an active member of the Lancashire and Cheshire Entomological Society and Manchester Entomological Society, and was a fellow of the Royal Entomological Society of London. His large collection, which was almost complete for British moths, has been divided and is lodged in various museums. Of his aculeates, 2200 are in the Natural History Museum, London (accession register entry: B.M. 1950-558. 2200 British Aculeata. Purchased from Watkins and Doncaster. 2.xi. 1950 Coll. by A. E. Wright), and some are at Liverpool Museum. His ledger of records and entomological diaries are in the possession of Dr Neville L. Birkett, who first visited Wright on 19.viii.1940, but was not living in Grange at that time. He kindly made the ledger and diaries available for me to extract the records of Hymenoptera. The object was to obtain a picture of the range of species in the only intensive collection of aculeates which has been made in South Lakeland, and in particular to identify the locations and habitats in which they were collected. It was also to provide information for Tullie House Museum, Carlisle, where Steven Hewitt, Keeper of Natural History, is compiling records for Cumbria, and for the interest of other entomologists because, although the A. E. Wright Collection is famous, as far as I am aware there is no published list of his Hymenoptera. His obituary in the Annual Report and Proceedings of the Lancashire and Cheshire Entomological Society (Mansbridge, 1949/50) states that he contributed a list of the Syrphidae and aculeate Hymenoptera to the North Western Naturalist in 1940, but in fact this paper only lists Syrphidae (Wright, 1940). As it turned out, the list which I compiled, although of interest to the people for whom it was intended, proved to be too problematical to be suitable for publication due to subsequent changes in nomenclature, revisions of taxa and uncertainties or errors of identification. However in the course of this work I discovered a great deal which is of interest about Wright himself. Although he was well known as a lepidopterist and dipterist, much less seems to have been known about his interest in Hymenoptera. WRIGHT’S RECORDS The ledger contains his records of butterflies, moths, hoverflies and ants, wasps and bees of Grange-over-Sands and surrounding district. To this Neville Birkett has added a list of Chironomidae of Kendal District (including parts of Lakeland) but these are not his complete records. I have only examined the section on Hymenoptera Aculeata. The ledger is oblong in horizontal format with the pages ruled into three columns. The first contains a complete list of British aculeates, the second contains records from other sources and the third contains his own records. In the second column L and C followed by a year simply indicate records for Lancashire and Cheshire in the Fauna Committee Report and bear no specific 130 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 relation to Grange (which was in Lancashire at that time) but it also contains records from the 1920s by his friend and close neighbour J. D. Ward. The ledger entries usually contain only minimal information about locations, e.g. ‘““Grange-over- Sands” or ““Witherslack”’. Although there are some earlier dates in the ledger, the majority of the records are for the period 1940 to 1943. The fact that there are no entries after 1943, and the discovery of additional species in later diaries, led to the slightly disappointing realization that the ledger is not a complete list of Wright’s collection. This seems to have been the original purpose of the ledger for all the groups which he studied, but evidently he did not keep it up after 1943. Therefore it was necessary to search through the post-1943 diaries for additional species. The diaries are a single hard-backed exercise book covering 1939 to 1946 and then a series of annual large-format ‘Boots scribbling diaries’ for 1947-1950. They contain detailed day-to-day accounts of his insect collecting, visitors and correspondence. It is evident that he took advantage of every fine day to collect insects in his garden, on walks around Grange, or on short excursions further afield. When it rained he resorted to picking flies off the windows of his house and even the shelters on the Promenade (“Went twice to the Bandstand—a splendid flytrap’’), but he must have spent a great deal of time mounting and identifying his specimens—and writing up his diaries. He also collected flower heads, buds and blotched or mined leaves to breed out the larvae or pupae which they contained. He did not use a light trap, but opened his curtains to see what came to his window. Moths are recorded by their specific epithets only. Bees and wasps are recorded by genera, frequently with bracketed spaces left for the specific names to be added later. These however were rarely filled in. In 1941 he was sending aculeates to H. (Harry) Britten at Manchester Museum for identification. By 1942 more of the bees were identified directly and by 1943 more of the wasps, but there continued to be a great many gaps. If these specimens were identified their names are presumably only to be found on the data labels. Some of the later entries are corrections by Britten of earlier identifications by Wright, which do not seem always to have been altered in the ledger, raising further problems about this as a list. In 1946 he was sending specimens for identification to, and exchanging specimens with, Dr O. W. Richards at the Imperial College of Science, London. He also exchanged specimens and species lists with W. D. Cowin at Douglas Museum, Isle of Man. The diary entries always record the weather, but there are few observations on what the aculeates were doing. There are some exceptions: on 25.v.1945 he records watching a Chrysis ignita (L.) enter a hole in a post in his garden provisioned by Osmia caerulescens (L.), and on 18.vi.1945 an attempted mating between an O. caerulescens and another which might have been the other sex or another species, but such instances are few. Generally he only reports what he saw or collected and where. Apart from his visitors and occasional excursions with his family, there is in fact very little anecdotal information. The outbreak of war against Germany is noted at 11.00 a.m. on Sunday 3.ix.1939, and later that he could not use a light because of the blackout. The all-night air-raid of 4.v.1941 (when according to Lord Haw-Haw the “Grange harbour works’’ were bombed—Neville Birkett, pers. comm.), which did great damage all over the district including blowing in his front windows, is reported in between what he had taken in the garden in the morning and what he bred out later, and is not mentioned again. On a lighter note, on 26.vii.1940 he records falling into a dyke at Witherslack and losing his kite net. He maintained his diaries until the day before he died suddenly on 26 April 1950. His obituary in The Entomologist was written by Neville Birkett (Birkett, 1950). Obituariés were also published by the Lancashire and Cheshire Entomological Society (Mansbridge, 1949/50), the Raven BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 131 Entomological and Natural History Society (Anon., 1950) and the Royal Entomological Society (Wigglesworth, 1951). LOCATIONS AND HABITATS Grange is situated on the carboniferous limestone on the north side of Morecambe Bay and its sheltered south-facing situation gives it a very mild climate. Wright was a keen gardener. He frequently recorded spending the whole day in the garden, which evidently attracted a great number of insects. It had a south-facing limestone rockery where he took many bees, and a vegetable garden where he had drilled holes of a variety of sizes into the raspberry posts (Neville Birkett, pers. comm.) at which he collected twelve species of solitary wasps and six of solitary bees. The overall range of bees and wasps (and other insects) which he recorded is quite astounding, particularly as this was no ‘country garden’. It was simply the garden of a large stone-built house, one of a row in a street in the centre of Grange-over-Sands. However Dr R. C. Lowther who also lived nearby in the centre of Grange recorded nearly 400 species of Macrolepidoptera in his garden, and Wright caught about two- thirds of the then known species of syrphids in or near Grange (Wright, 1940), which demonstrates how rich the Grange area is (or was). Around Grange his favourite walk was by way of “the Lane and Bee path” to Eggerslack, an area of lanes, paths, limestone walls, small fields and woods, and then to the open limestone grassland of Hampsfell. He also often walked along the road between the golf course and the railway to the embankment of Holme Island (SD 423784), from which he worked the seaward side of the railway embankment and the saltmarsh. The embankment seems to have been a very good location where he took many sphecids, Andrena and Halictus/Lasioglossum, especially on Daucus carota L. It was here that he took Melitta haemorrhoidalis (F.) in July 1945 and 1947, new to the north of England. Sometimes he went to Eggerslack in the morning and the embankment in the afternoon. Unfortunately the embankment and saltmarsh are much more heavily grazed now and the rich flora of Wright’s day is no longer present (Neville Birkett, pers. comm.). Another place on the outskirts of Grange which he sometimes visited, particularly to look for ants, was Yewbarrow (SD 404783), a wooded knoll directly above Grange. These places are usually referred to in the ledger as ““Grange’’. It was in fields near Yewbarrow that J. D. Ward collected Osmia xanthomelana (Kirby) in 1920 and 1924 (Robinson, 1996). Wright did not collect this species, but his collection in the Natural History Museum, London, was found to contain three males of another nationally rare mason bee: O. parietina Curtis, though he had not identified them as such (George Else, pers. comm.). His most regular short excursion was by bus to Witherslack, where his favourite haunt was “Black Tom’s Lane’’. This is the track between Nichols Moss (SD 430825) and the adjacent limestone ridge to the east, giving a nice juxtaposition of mossland and limestone habitats. Nichols Moss is an SSSI which at that time would be largely devoid of trees; in 1947 he reports thirty or forty men cutting peat (but fortunately this only affected a small area). Like most small Cumbrian mosslands it has become invaded by pine and birch since the Second World War, but English Nature is negotiating with the owners for the removal of the trees and has begun clearing the south end. The lane is now much over-shadowed by trees and not the open habitat which Wright knew. He also went to the SPNR reserve at Meathop Moss, for which he was chairman of the management committee. Fifty years later the Cumbria Wildlife Trust is still succeeding in keeping the central area free of pine and birch, by constant effort. 132 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 More often it seems that he went to what he refers to as Witherslack or Whitbarrow Moss. The latter seems most likely to be what is marked on Ordnance Survey maps as Bellart How Moss (SD 455835), which is continuous with the much more extensive Foulshaw Moss (SD 460825), both of which have since been planted with conifers by the Forestry Commission. Witherslack Moss may have been the same area, approached from the Witherslack end. These coastal raised bogs, which provided heather and other mossland habitats within easy reach of Grange, are collectively referred to as ““Witherslack”’ in the ledger. Further afield he occasionally went west to Cark or east to Arnside which, although on the other side of the Kent estuary, is the next stop on the train from Grange, but most of his collecting was done at Grange or Witherslack. It seems that he collected his insects from flowers, in flight, or by sweeping; he did not seek out breeding colonies of aculeates. His only references to nesting sites are the posts in his garden and the “bee path” which evidently had good populations of fossorial bees and wasps. NATIONAL GRID SQUARES, COUNTY AND VICE-COUNTY Grange is in SD47 (and so is Arnside). The summit of Hampsfell is actually in SD37, but as Wright’s notes seem to refer to the lower slopes which are in SD47, it can be assumed that all the records for Grange are in SD47. Witherslack is in SD48. Cark and Holker are in SD37. In Wright’s day Grange was in the detached unit of North Lancashire, separated from the rest of Lancashire by the southern extremity of Westmorland. In 1974 with local government reorganization it was absorbed with Westmorland and Cumberland into Cumbria. The position about vice-counties is simpler: Grange and all the other locations mentioned are, and always have been, in vice-county 69, Westmorland with North Lancashire, which demonstrates the benefits of the Watsonian system. J. D. WARD Although not the main subject of this memoir, James Davis Ward deserves mention as the only person, as far as I am aware, who studied Hymenoptera in Grange before Wright. Of particular interest are his records of Osmia xanthomelana (Kirby), the first and last in north-west England since 1835. Two of his specimens dated 5.vi.1920 and 14.vi.1924 are in his collection of 680 Hymenoptera which is in the Natural History Museum, London (Accession: B.M. 1935-530. 680 British Hymenoptera (all named). Britain: Lancashire. Pres. by F. Mette Esq. 24.xi.35 J. D. Ward Collection). This species is now apparently confined to a single coastal location on the Isle of Wight (see distribution maps and species account in Falk, 1991) where its habitat is an unstable clay cliff, which bears no resemblance to the situation in which Ward found it (Robinson, 1996). In 1922 he published a list of records of Diptera and Hymenoptera from North Lancashire (Ward, 1922) which however only includes 17 Hymenoptera and does not mention O. xanthomelana—evidently it was identified later. This list is clearly very incomplete—unfortunately he never up-dated it. He was a patient observer with a Fabre-like affection for his subjects and recorded his observations in great detail in his diaries, which also are held by Neville Birkett. Typical examples are: on 24.v.1924 a bite-by-bite account of a Crossocerus species (which he named as Crabro leucostomus) emerging from its cocoon, accompanied by a charming illustration, and on 2.vii.1928 a lengthy account of a territorial male Anthidium manicatum (L.) attacking and disabling honey bees. He examined eight of BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 133 its victims and found that in each case the costal nervule of one forewing was broken through. Ward lived in Grange all his life and died at the age of 59 on 13 February 1935. From his obituary by Wright in the Lancashire and Cheshire Naturalist (Wright, 1935), it is clear that he was remembered with great affection. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am indebted to Neville Birkett of Grange-over-Sands for allowing me to study the diaries of Wright and Ward and for providing much additional information. I am also grateful to George Else, Department of Entomology, Natural History Museum, London, for commenting on the original draft and providing helpful suggestions and information. REFERENCES Anon. 1950. Obituary: Albert E. Wright, F.R.E.S. Rep. Raven Ent. Nat. Hist. Soc. 1950: 43. Birkett, N. L. 1950. Albert Edward Wright, obituary. Entomologist 83: 167. Falk, S. 1991. A review of the scarce and threatened bees, wasps and ants of Great Britain. Research and Survey in Nature Conservation No. 35. Nature Conservancy Council, Peterborough. Fitton, M. G. et al. 1978. Hymenoptera. In: A check list of British insects, 2nd Edition. Handbooks for the Indentification of British Insects 11(4). Mansbridge, W. 1949/50. Obituary: Albert Edward Wright, F.R.E.S. Ann. Rep. Proc. Lanc. Chesh. Ent. Soc. 1949/50: 41-42. Robinson, N. A. 1996. J. D. Ward’s records of Osmia xanthomelana (Kirby, 1802) (Hym., Megachilidae) at Grange-over-Sands (V.C.69) in 1920 and 1924. Entomologist’s Mon. Mag. 1322722" Ward, J. D. 1922. Diptera and Hymenoptera: Records of Diptera and Hymenoptera from North Lancashire. Lanc. Chesh. Nat. 14: 52-54. Wright, A. E. 1935. James Davis Ward (1876-1935). North Western Naturalist 10: 51—S2. Wright A. E. 1940. List of Syrphidae of North Lancashire and South Westmorland. North Western Naturalist 15: 242-247. Wigglesworth, V. B. 1951. Proc. R. Ent. Soc. Lond. (C) 15: 76. ANNOUNCEMENT BENHS Honorary Secretary sought.—After several years in the post, Roy McCormick wishes to resign as BENHS Honorary Secretary at the 1997 AGM. A volunteer is therefore sought to take on this important position. To give an idea of the duties involved, Roy has drawn up the following ‘job description’. Anyone interested in becoming Honorary Secretary should contact the President, Colin Hart, or another member of Council. HONORARY SECRETARY—JOB DESCRIPTION Attend Council Meetings (the first Thursdays of February, March, May, July, September, October and December). Take minutes, circulate minutes to Council members (3 weeks after the meeting if possible). Read out the names of prospective members for approval by Council. Keep the minute book, draw up agenda for 134 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 Council Meetings. Book room for Council Meetings; present accommodation is at Baden Powell House, Queen’s Gate, SW7. Attend Indoor Meetings and read out the names of new members (these being approved at Council Meetings). Announce the names of those Signing the obligations book. (This is a job that I found difficult/impossible to do so the job was carried out by the President or another designated person.) Prepare Council’s report for the Annual Meeting. This involves looking through the year’s minutes, picking out the important events that have happened and writing a short report about each subject. Attend the Annual Meeting, take minutes of the Annual Meeting (somebody else takes the minutes for the Ordinary Meeting). Read out the Council’s report that you have prepared. Draw-up, print, and deliver to the Distribution Secretary, notices for circulation to Members. Annual Meeting notice to be produced 6 weeks before the meeting; around early January (Annual Meeting held around the end of February). Annual Exhibition and Dinner notice to be produced 6 weeks before the event; around mid- September (Annual Exhibition held around the end of October). Try to get these notices to the Distribution Secretary in time for a distribution of the journal. The programme card and field meetings notices are produced by the members of Council responsible for these, i.e. Field Meetings Secretary and Indoor Meetings Secretary; the Hon. Secretary has to make sure these are on time. Deal with the Society correspondence; mail sent to Dinton Pastures will be given to you at Council meetings by a member of Council who visits the Pelham-Clinton Building on a regular basis; usually Peter Chandler the Hon. Curator. Bring to the attention of Council any items that need a decision/ruling. ‘Supervise’ the activities of the Assistant Secretaries; most of this section will be self-supervisory and will need little effort from the Hon. Secretary. Check each year if the co-opted members of Council wish to carry on. These are: Distribution Secretary, Membership Secretary, Exhibition Secretary, Sales Secretary (at the moment a full member of Council), Conservation representative, Dipterists’ Forum representative and Assistant Treasurer (at the moment a full member of Council). Arrange Special Meetings as directed by Council or requested by the membership. Bring to the attention of the Council, at the December meeting, those members who will be eligible for election to special life membership on Ist January of the following year. Maintain stocks of the Society’s stationery. The President of the year has his own headed notepaper with his address printed on the standard A4 paper (200). The Indoor Meetings Secretary has his own address printed on Standard A4 (as and when required). The Assistant Treasurer and Hon. Editor get their own stocks; envelopes are supplied by the Hon. Secretary. Letters to our printer are in the file. Advise the Assistant Treasurer about deaths or resignations of members that have come to your attention. Notices are copied commercially from copy supplied and posted or given to the Distribution Secretary; around 700 copies will be needed. If a word processor is used notices need only minimal alteration each year. At a rough estimate it will taken 3-4 evenings a month (I did.most of my work during the day) to compile and produce the minutes, the most time-intensive part of the job. The unquantifiable element is dealing with correspondence; a lot of this can be passed on to other officers of Council to deal with but some will have to be dealt with by the Hon. Secretary. A word processor is a valuable asset for this job. Roy McCorMICK 9th May 1996 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 135 LASIUS BRUNNEUS (LATREILLE) (HYMENOPTERA: FORMICIDAE) NEW TO KENT? RICHARD A. JONES 13 Bellwood Road, Nunhead, London SE15 3DE. On 27.vii.1995, whilst carrying out a biological survey of Beckenham Place Park in south-east London between Lewisham and Bromley, I collected a few ants from wood mould in a rotten hollow at the base of a large oak tree (TQ382707). They proved to be Lasius brunneus (Lat.). The Park is in vice-county 16 ‘““West Kent”, and it was not until several months later that I discovered this to be a supposed new county record. In fact Lasius brunneus has been found in the vice-county before. Mr A. A. Allen informs me that he found several specimens of this ant at the base of a mature, externally sound sallow tree in Maryon-Wilson Park, Charlton (TQ4178), some ten years ago, but did not publish the record. Lasius brunneus is described as having a “‘curious distribution” (Brian, 1977) in the south Midlands. Its stronghold is in the Thames Valley, at the concurrence of vice-counties Surrey, North Hampshire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Middlesex (Fig. 1), and its absence from suitable habitat in the New Forest and certain southern counties is often commented upon (Falk, 1991). Its occurrence in Kent may seem to extend the known distribution of this species greatly, but Beckenham Place Park is only a few miles inside the West Kent border and about 15 miles from the ant’s closest Surrey locality in Esher (Gardner, 1972). Charlton is about 4 miles further north-east. Beckenham Place Park is now a mixture of woodlands, some moderately ancient and some more modern plantations, together with playing fields and a public golf course. The golf course is studded with large trees and pollards and, apart from the Fig. 1. Provisional distribution of Lasius brunneus to July 1979, reproduced from Barrett (1979) with permission. O pre-1961 records, @ records 1961 to 1979, * present Kent records from Beckenham (left) and Charlton (right). 136 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 closely mown fairways and greens, still retains some of its previous parkland character. It was in one of these large oaks that Lasius brunneus was found by reaching into a small hollow at the base of the tree, between the roots, and scooping out handfuls of wood mould and grass. The ants were very plentiful, but none of the many recorded myrmecophilous beetles or other insects were found among them. Interestingly, there is an old record of Lasius brunneus from Kent, by Smith (1858) who reported a single specimen from amongst a number of ants collected at Deal. Donisthorpe (1927, p. 249) dismisses this record as almost certainly a misidentifica- tion, but then alludes (p. 251) to the possible occurrence of the ant in a small remnant of forest at West Wickham, Kent, about 3 miles due south of Beckenham Place Park. His reason for this was the discovery there of the false scorpion Allochernes wideri (Koch, C.L.), which in Donisthorpe’s experience was unlike other tree species in that it always occurred between bark and wood in a space choked with characteristic red powdery debris. In Donisthorpe’s opinion this debris suggested the work of ants, and in particular Lasius brunneus since he had found the false scorpion associated with this ant in its Berkshire sites. In fact, the distribution of Allochernes wideri extends beyond that of Lasius brunneus (Legg & Jones, 1988), with scattered localities as far north as Wakefield in Yorkshire and south and west into the New Forest where Lasius brunneus is, as reported above, curiously absent. This suggests that the false scorpion is not such an obligate myrmecophile as Donisthorpe supposed. Nevertheless, there is one especially tantalizing aspect of the false scorpion’s distribution in that there is a record for the same Deal area where Lasius brunneus is reputed to have occurred. NOTE ON LASIUS BRUNNEUS RECORDS Lasius brunneus is one of the species being targetted by the Bees, Wasps and Ants Recording Scheme for mapping in an atlas to be published in 1997/8. Records of this species should be sent to: Simon Hoy (PSD), c/o Pest Identification Service, MAFF Harpenden Laboratories, Hatching Green, Harpenden, Hertfordshire ALS 2BD. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The map showing the distribution of Lasius brunneus is reproduced from Barrett (1979), with the permission of the Biological Records Centre, Institute of Terrestrial Ecology. REFERENCES Barrett, K. E. J. (Ed.) 1979. Provisional atlas of the insects of the British Isles. Part 5. Hymenoptera: Formicidae. Ants. Biological Records Centre, Huntingdon. Brian, M. V. 1977. Ants. The New Naturalist. Collins, London, p. 43. Donisthorpe, H. St J. K. 1927. British ants: their life-history and classification. George Routledge and Sons, London, pp. 247-254 (Acanthomyops brunneus). Falk, S. 1991. A review of the scarce and threatened bees, wasps and ants of Great Britain. Research and Survey in Nature Conservation No.35. Nature Conservancy Council, Peterborough, pp. 34-35. Gardner, A. E. 1972. [Report of Lasius brunneus infesting a house in Esher, communication at BENHS meeting 14 October 1971.] Proc. Trans. Br. Ent. Nat. Hist. Soc. 4: 131. Legg, G. & Jones, R. E. 1988. Pseudoscorpions (Arthropoda: Arachnida). Synopses of the British Fauna (New Series) No. 40. Linnean Society, London, pp. 111-113. Smith, F. 1858. Hymenoptera. Notes on aculeate Hymenoptera, with some observations on their economy. Entomologist’s Annual 1858: 34—46 (Formica brunnea, p. 39). BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 137 NOTES ON THE NATURAL HISTORY, DISTRIBUTION AND IDENTIFICATION OF BRITISH REED BEETLES IAN S. MENZIES Villiers Lodge, 1 Cranes Park, Surbiton, Surrey KTS 8AB AND MICHAEL L. Cox International Institute of Entomology (an institute of CAB International), 56 Queen’s Gate, London SW7 5JR The twenty-one British species contained in the sub-family Donaciinae of the Chrysomelidae, often referred to as the ‘reed-beetles’, are distributed within three genera: Donacia (15 species), Plateumaris (four species) and Macroplea (two species). Most are conspicuous, medium-sized beetles that are to be found resting, often in large numbers, on the foliage of water plants at the margins of lakes and rivers during the summer months. They attract attention on account of their brilliant metallic colours. Unfortunately the similarity between some of the species has created problems with identification that discourage and confuse. Existing keys frequently use characters that are variable and therefore unreliable. Fowler (1890; iv: 266-279) gave keys to all species of British Donaciinae, but the characters were not illustrated: Plateumaris and Donacia species were dealt with collectively under Donacia, and many specific names then employed are not now in current usage. Joy (1932) provided a key to all British Donaciinae in the correct genera and with currently accepted nomenclature, but his key is very poorly illustrated. An account of the habits and distribution of donaciine beetles is presented, derived from observations and material collected over many years and deposited with the Department of Entomology at the Natural History Museum, South Kensington (by a large number of field workers). This is combined with a new key supported by colour prints and line drawings, intended to reduce the problems of identification. It is regretted that insufficient space was available to detail the large number of individual records obtained, but a list of the contributors has been included. DESCRIPTION OF INDIVIDUAL SPECIES, THEIR HABITS AND DISTRIBUTION Genus DONACIA 13. Donacia thalassina Germar 1. Donacia cinerea Herbst 14. Donacia simplex Fabricius 2. Donacia dentata Hoppe 15. Donacia sparganii Ahrens 3. Donacia versicolorea (Brahm) 4. Donacia crassipes Fabricius Genus PLATEUMARIS 5. Donacia clavipes Fabricius 16. Plateumaris affinis (Kunze) 6. Donacia vulgaris Zschach 17. Plateumaris braccata (Scopoh) 7. Donacia aquatica (Linnaeus) 18. Plateumaris discolor (Panzer) 8. Donacia marginata Hoppe 19. Plateumaris sericea (Linnaeus) 9. Donacia bicolora Zschach 10. Donacia obscura Gyllenhal Genus MACROPLEA 11. Donacia semicuprea Panzer 20. Macroplea appendiculata (Panzer) 12. Donacia impressa Paykull 21. Macroplea mutica (Fabricius) 138 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 Vice-county maps, with pre- and post-1970 record distributions are given for each species. Vice-county numbers (after Watson) and regions (NCC 1985) are interpreted on maps given in the appendix. Underlined numbers indicate those vice-counties in which a species has been recorded both before and after 1970. Status categories assigned are as given in Hyman & Parsons (1992). GENUS DONACIA (Greek: Donaz, a reed: referring to affinity for aquatic vegetation) 1. Donacia cinerea Herbst, 1784 (=hydrochaeridis Fabricius, 1801) Status: Notable B (Latin: cinerarius, a slave who heated in hot ashes the irons for the hairdresser, referring to the ashy-grey dorsal surface pubescence). L=7.5—11.0mm; Plate I, Figure 1. This species is unique among the group in having a uniform covering of short white pubescence which tones the underlying bronze surfaces to an attractively glistening silver-grey or pale fawn colour. It has a localized distribution, though usually quite plentiful where it occurs. The adults are to be found mainly in May, June and early July, usually sitting on the leaves of reedmace (both Typha latifolia L. and angustifolia L.) growing in still water at the margin of lakes, ponds and canals rather than the running water of rivers and streams. D. cinerea feeds on the leaves of Typha, excoriating the upper epidermis, and may be found in company with D. vulgaris, as at Bolder Mere, Wisley, Surrey, where the two species share the same foodplant. Formerly more widespread with pre-1970 records from 20 vice-counties. Post-1970 records are confined to North East, North West, South, South East England and East Midlands, the species appears to have retracted from South Wales, South West England and East Anglia. 1. Donacia cinerea Herbst ff Y VICE-COUNTY DISTRIBUTION. PRE 1970 (= 20): 4; 11; 13; 14; 15; 17; 18; 19; 22; 23; 25; 27; 28; 31; 38; 41; 58; 61; 63; 64. 1970 onwards (= 12): 12; 13; 14; 15; 17; 18; 22; 29; 30; 38; 62; 63. PRE 1970 1970 ONWARDS 2. Donacia dentata Hoppe, 1795 Status: Notable A (Latin: dentatus toothed; probably referring to the large metafemoral teeth). L=7.0—10.0 mm; Plate I, Figure 2. Known now from relatively few localities, this donaciine is usually associated with arrowhead (Sagittaria sagittifolia L.). Like D. crassipes and D. versicolorea, it has disproportionately long bandy hind legs sporting conspicuous femoral teeth but, unlike them, the thorax and elytra in this species are of a brilliant metallic copper- rose or copper-green colour with, especially when viewed in sunlight, a sparkling frost-like quality due to reflection of light from the strial punctures. Further points of BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 139 distinction from D. versicolorea are the pale red apical halves of the femora (entirely dark in versicolorea), and the hind femoral teeth. In D. dentata, one of the two teeth on the ventral surface of the hind femora is smaller and situated slightly anterior to the other whereas the male D. versicolorea has two teeth of almost equal length set side by side. The female of D. versicolorea has only one very small obtuse femoral tooth that is sometimes missing. The adults of D. dentata, like those of D. versicolorea and D. sparganii, become active during the latter part of the summer, appearing at the end of June and becoming most numerous during late July and August. Binoculars are convenient for observing the beetles which sun themselves on the leaves of their foodplant, often out of reach in the middle of the dykes they inhabit: they are very alert, flying readily to avoid capture. The species can be locally plentiful, and characteristic ‘snailtrack’ excoriations produced when feeding on the upper surface of arrowhead leaves offer a clue to their presence. A rare donaciine with recent distribution confined to England. Post-1970 records are from East Midlands, East Anglia, and all regions of Southern England. 2. Donacia dentata Hoppe : a VICE-COUNTY DISTRIBUTION. PRE 1970 (= 22): 5; 6; 8; 13; 14; 15; 17; 18; 19; 20; 21; 22; 23; 25; 27; 28; 29; 33; 38; 41; 61; 70. 1970 onwards (= 8): 5; 6; 11; 13; 14; 15; 25; 55. PRE 1970 1970 ONWARDS 3. Donacia versicolorea (Brahm, 1791) (=bidens Olivier, 1791) (Latin: versicolor, changing in colour, of various colours). L=5.5—9.0 mm; Plate I, Figure 3. Often a plentiful species inhabiting dykes, ponds, canals, fens, heathland pools and moorland rivers colonized by various species of Potamogeton. In common with D. crassipes and D. sparganii this species is often found at rest on the floating leaves of its foodplant. Like D. crassipes, with which it may be confused, it has rather flattened dark-coloured elytra, pin-point reflections of light marking the position of the strial punctures; however, it is a smaller species and appears later in the season (July/ August) than crassipes (May/June/July). The more local D. dentata may also be found during July and August in similar localities but has more elongate less flattened elytra, and a brilliant metallic coloration. As with other Donaciinae, D. versicolorea is often found on leaves other than those of its true larval foodplant, Potamogeton, for example Glyceria, Sagittaria, Sparganium and Nymphaea. A local but widespread species with recent records for N.W., S.W. and S.E. Scotland, North East England, West and East Midlands and all regions of Southern England and Wales. 140 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 VICE-COUNTY DISTRIBUTION. PRE 1970 (= 34): 18; 19; 20; 22; 23; 25; 26; 27; 29; 32; 33; 34; 38; 41; 46; 48; 55; 59; 62; 66; 70; 72; 91; 92; 94; 110. 1970 ONWARDS (= 29): 22; 23; 27; 31; 32; 34; 38; 41; 44; 45; 46; 52; 53; 54; 64; 75; 80; 98; 104; 108; 110. PRE 1970 1970 ONWARDS 4. Donacia crassipes Fabricius, 1775 Status: Notable B (Latin: crassus, thick, gross; pes, a foot, probably referring to the enlarged hind legs). L=9.0—11.0 mm; Plate I, Figure 4. One of the larger British Donaciinae, this local species is associated with waterlilies (both Nymphaea alba L. and Nuphar lutea (L.) Sm.) growing 1n lakes, ponds, rivers and canals. The adults, which appear at the end of May, are found mainly during June and July basking in the sun on the upper surface of floating lily leaves upon which they feed. They are best located with the aid of binoculars since they often choose sites well out on the water, and are difficult, at that distance, to distinguish from flies, bees and other insects that frequent the same sites. They are very alert and not easily approached. The beetle has exceptionally long curved hind legs and, like D. versicolorea, the elytra have a dark shiny surface with a slight purple or copper reflection. Close examination shows the surface of the elytra to be covered with pin- points of light reflected from the strial punctures, giving a ‘starry night’ effect, a feature also shared with D. versicolorea. D. crassipes may be distinguished from D. dentata and D. versicolorea, which also have disproportionately large hind legs, in not having the pronotum strongly rugose but microsculptured throughout with fine grooves and reticulations with only sparse shallow punctures on the disc. In addition, the hind femora have one obtuse tooth or, if two, these are separated by at least twice the length of the anterior tooth. A moderately widespread but local species recorded from Scotland, Wales and England. Most post-1970 records are from N.W., S.E., S., and S.W. England, Dyfed- Powys and North Wales, and N.W. Scotland. VICE-COUNTY DISTRIBUTION. PRE 1970 (= 31): 5; 9; 11; 13; 14; 15; 16; 17; 19; 20; 21; 22; 23; 27; 29; 38; 43; 49; 55; 58; 61; 62; 64; 67; 68; 69; 70; 76; 96; 98; 105. 1970 ONWARDS (= 10): PRE 1970 1970 ONWARDS BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 141 5. Donacia clavipes Fabricius, 1792 (=menyanthis Fabricius, 1801; & menyanthidis Gyllenhal, 1813) Status: Notable B (Latin: clava, a club, or possibly clave, cloven; pes, a foot; in reference to the conspicuously bilobed third tarsal joint). L=7.5-12.0mm; Plate I, Figure 5. A large donaciine associated with reed-beds (Phragmites australis (Car.)) growing in the water of lakes, ponds, canals and fens. The rather elongated parallel-sided elytra of this species are brilliant shining metallic brassy-green or copper, while the legs and antennae are of a distinctive orange-red colour. It has a wide distribution, often abundant where it is found. D. clavipes should be sought in the reed-beds during May, June and July and can be detected by knocking the reeds over a beating tray or by searching. The beetles are particularly fond of hiding in the basal part of a leaf where it folds around the reed stem. As many as eight individuals have been found in a single leaf-fold (Burton Mill-pond, W. Sussex, 22.v.95, I.M.). When feeding, the insect penetrates the young leaf shoots which later unfold to reveal a transverse series of somewhat irregularly elongated holes. Plateumaris braccata, also associated with Phragmites, eats into the young shoots in a similar fashion but, in this case, the series of holes produced are usually round, not elongated. A very widespread locally common species, with post-1970 records for N.W., N.E. and S.W. Scotland, N.E. England, East and West Midlands, East Anglia, S.E.and S. England, Dyfed-Powys, N. and S. Wales. VICE-COUNTY DISTRIBUTION. PRE 1970 (=23): 11; 14; 15; 17; 18; 19; 20; 21; 22; 23; 27; 29; 30; 41; 55; 58; 61; 62; 63; 64; 69; 70; 85. 1970 ONWARDS (=23): 12; 13; 14; 15; 17; 23; 27; 29; 31; 32; 37; 41; 43; 52; 54; 58; 72; 73; 75; 89; 92; 96; 103. PRE 1970 1970 ONWARDS 6. Donacia vulgaris Zschach, 1788 (=typhae Ahrens, 1810) (Latin: vulgaris, common, ordinary—being one of the most widespread and commonly occurring species). L=5.5—10.0mm; Plate I, Figure 6. One of the smaller Donaciinae, this species has a wide distribution and is often locally abundant. It is associated with bur-reed (Sparganium) and reedmace (Typha) growing in rivers, ponds, dykes, canals and fens. The adult beetle is active during May, June, July and August, most records being for June. D. vulgaris is very similar in shape and size to D. thalassina and simplex but, unlike them, has multicoloured elytra, usually with a longitudinal band of metallic blue and/or reddish coloration between stria 1 and 5, which contrasts with the pale copper background. Occasionally this band is missing, in which case the absence of a femoral tooth and the partly reddish antennae and legs will distinguish it from D. thalassina. Separation of unicolorous D. vulgaris from D. simplex is more difficult. 142 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 The posterior extremities of the elytra are truncated in both species, usually being square and simple in simplex but concave and emarginate in vulgaris. Examination of genital morphology may sometimes be necessary (see Fig. K41). A common, widespread species with post-1970 records for N.W. Scotland, and all regions of Wales and England except the North East. VICE-COUNTY DISTRIBUTION. PRE 1970 (= 26): 6; 10; 11; 13; 14; 15; 17; 18; Ui 19; 20; 21; 22; 23; 26; 27; 62; 28; 29; 33; 34; 41; 52; 61; 62; 64; 83; 84. 1970 ONWARDS (= 36): 3; 4; 5; 6; 8; 9; 11; 12; 13; 14; 27; 28:29; 31; 32; 33; 38; 39; 41; 44;51; 52; 53; 55; 64; 70; 104; 110. PRE 1970 1970 ONWARDS 7. Donacia aquatica (Linnaeus, 1758) (=dentipes Fabricius, 1792) Status: RDB 3 (Latin: aquatica, of water). L=6.8—9.6 mm; Plate I, Figure 7. Uncommon in the UK, this species is found, usually in small numbers, by sweeping areas of aquatic vegetation dominated by sedges such as Carex acutiformis Ehrh. at the margins of open water (lakes and fens) during May and June. Unlike D. thalassina and D. impressa, it does not appear to be attracted to the flowers of sedge. Now one of our rarest, this small donaciine is also one of our most beautiful species. The undersurface, legs and thorax are of shining gold, while the elytra are adorned with a broad reddish-purple longitudinal band of rainbow brilliance, commencing light blue between the sutural borders and first stria, then green (interstice 2), purple (interstices 3—5), red (interstices 6-7), pale gold (interstice 8), green (interstice 9) and finally a pale green-blue up to the lateral elytral borders. A widespread but local species with records for N.W., N.E., and S.W. Scotland, N. and S. Wales, and most regions of England. Post-1970 records show a considerable decline and are from N.W., N.E. and S.E. Scotland, N.W. and S.E. England. VICE-COUNTY DISTRIBUTION. PRE 1970 (= 30): 3; 4; 8; 9; 11; 13; 14; 17; 18; 25; 26; 27; 29; 30; 37; 41; 48; 54; 57; 58; 61; 62; 63; 64; 67; 68; 70; 72; 96; 98. 1970 ONWARDS (= 5): 13; 69; 70; 80; 96. PRE 1970 1970 ONWARDS BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 143 8. Donacia marginata Hoppe, 1795 (=limbata Panzer, 1796; lemnae Fabricius, 1801). (Latin: marginata, provided with a border, probably referring to the elytra which usually have a reddish-purple lateral border). L=7.5—11.0mm; Plate I, Figure 8. This handsome beetle is of a golden-bronze colour with reddish-purple disc- patches and lateral borders to the elytra. It is often found in large numbers, resting on and eating the upper epidermis from the leaves of the branched bur-reed (Sparganium erectum L.) growing at the margins of lakes, ponds, canals and dykes, generally with a preference for still water. The adults of this species enjoy a long season, first appearing about the middle of May but recorded most frequently in June, July and August. Although of very similar size and shape to D. bicolora and D. obscura, D. marginata can in most cases be differentiated on the basis of coloration. D. bicolora is usually of a uniform brilliant golden-green colour; like D. marginata it is associated with Sparganium erectum, but prefers plants growing along the margin of running water (rivers). D. obscura is of a uniform dull bronze colour, and is associated with Carex rather than Sparganium. The coloured dorsal elytral markings of D. marginata may occasionally be entirely missing, in which case the strong dorso-lateral and lateral pronotal rugosities can be used to separate it from other species such as D. bicolora and D. obscura. A widespread, locally common species with post-1970 records for S.W. Scotland, Dyfed-Powys and S. Wales, E. Midlands and all regions of Southern England. 8. Donacia marginata Hoppe VICE-COUNTY DISTRIBUTION. mm PRE 1970 (= 26): 1; 22; 2 1; 52; 5 PRE 1970 1970 ONWARDS 9. Donacia bicolora Zschach, 1788. (=sagittariae Fabricius, 1792) Status: RDB 2 (Latin: bicolor, of two colours, possibly referring to the brassy-green upper body surface and silvery lower surface [but see also J. Denton’s observations below)). L=8.0—-11.6mm; Plate II, Figure 9. This beetle is noted for its magnificent sparkling greenish-gold coloration (unfortunately not fully conveyed by Figure 9). It is a local species with restricted distribution but may be quite plentiful in favoured localities, for instance the River Wey in Surrey and Stour in Hampshire, where it may be found, in company with D. simplex, on the leaves of bur-reed (Sparganium erectum) during May, June and July. Sometimes the margins of ponds, lakes and canals are chosen though proximity to flowing water seems to be preferred. Dr J. Denton, studying this species at Elstead, Surrey (May—August 1995), observed that a proportion of the beetles, which are of a constant bright gold or greenish-gold colour during May and June, become 144 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 greenish-blue or even a deep purplish-blue colour at the end of their adult season in late July and early August. Formerly found in N. and S. Wales, East and West Midlands, N.E., N.W., S., S.E. S.W. England and East Anglia, this species 1s now restricted to three vice-counties, one in each of S., S.E. and S.W. England. 9. Donacia bicolora Zschach iS Z $s VICE-COUNTY DISTRIBUTION. mm PRE 1970 (= 28): 3; 6; 9; 10; 11; 12; 14; 15; 16; 17; 18; 21; 23; 25; 26; 27; 29; 37; 38; 39; 41; 52; 55; 58; 59; 64; 67; 68. 1970 ONWARDS (= 3): 9; 14; 17. PRE 1970 1970 ONWARDS 10. Donacia obscura Gyllenhal, 1813 Status: Notable A (Latin: obscura, dark, obscure; referring to the deep bronze dorsal colour of this species). L=8.0—10.5 mm; Plate II, Figure 10. A uniformly dull chocolate-bronze coloured donaciine with well-marked hind- femoral teeth. The elytral impressions are less emphasized than those of D. marginata and D. bicolora to which D. obscura is morphologically similar. The adult beetles may be found by searching or sweeping vegetation dominated by club-rushes and sedges, especially Carex rostrata Stokes, growing in boggy areas alongside lochs, lakes and streams from April to July, most records being for June. Distributed mainly in the north and west of the British Isles, in recent years this species has largely disappeared from the southern counties and East Anglia, remaining widespread although local in Wales and Scotland. VICE-COUNTY DISTRIBUTION. PRE 1970 (= 18): 9; 13; 22; 25; 27; 34; 41; 49; 58; 70; 72; 73; 77; 95; 96; 98; 103; 105. 1970 ONWARDS (= 12): 17; 38; 43; 44; 49; 69; 70; 73; 92; 96; 98; 102. PRE 1970 1970 ONWARDS 11. Donacia semicuprea Panzer, 1796 (Latin: semicupreus, half coppery, pertaining to the elytra which are coppery with greenish lateral margins). L=5.5—8.2 mm; Plate II, Figure 11. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 145 A small, rather convex, donaciine which has an elytral shape approaching that of the genus Plateumaris. It is found, often in large numbers, feeding on the leaves of its foodplant, the reed meadow-grass Glyceria maxima (Hartm.), during May, June, July and early August. Lakes, ponds, canals and dykes supporting an abundant growth of Glyceria are favoured. The dorsal surface is of a shiny copper colour, often with a greenish reflection on the lateral aspects of the elytra, while the head, legs, antennae and underparts, being covered with short white pubescence, appear light grey in colour. The presence of a deep midline pit or sulcus on the dorsal surface of the posterior pronotum is an important point in identification, unique to this donaciine. A locally common species with post-1970 records for N.E. and N.W. England, E. and W. Midlands, East Anglia and all parts of Southern England, but it is apparently unknown in Scotland. VICE-COUNTY DISTRIBUTION. oO 6; 17 2 38 bo Gp les WARDS (= 31): PRE 1970 1970 ONWARDS 12. Donacia impressa Paykull, 1799 Status: Notable A (Latin: impressio, distinct impression; probably referring to two deep elytral impressions). L=6.5—9.0 mm; Plate II, Figure 12. One of the smaller donaciines, this species is very local but may be seen in large numbers, especially when feeding on the flowers of the tussock sedge Carex paniculata L. and lesser pond sedge Carex acutiformis Ehrh. during May and June, and also the flowers of bulrush Scirpus lacustris L. in August and September. The adult beetles have been recorded from April until November. D. impressa shows many similarities to D. simplex and D. thalassina with which some confusion is liable to arise. The impressions on the elytra are usually more distinct, and the metallic copper colour more constant in D. impressa than the other two species. D. simplex is easily distinguished by having parts of the antennae and legs reddish and hind femora without a tooth, and is usually associated with Sparganium rather than Carex. Distinction of D. thalassina from D. impressa, which have similar ecological requirements, is more difficult. Both have dark antennae and legs devoid of reddish coloration, and teeth on the hind femora, though these are usually better developed in thalassina, being reduced to a small tooth or knob in impressa. The elytra of D. impressa are broader and more rounded posteriorly than D. thalassina (and D. simplex) in which the elytra are quite sharply truncated with well-defined posterolateral angles. Also, unlike most examples of thalassina, the sutural borders of the elytra in impressa are usually raised to form a keel at their 146 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 posterior extremities. The elytral surface is more shining in D. impressa, being dull or ‘frosted’ in D. thalassina and simplex due to greater emphasis of strial punctation and reticulation. A widespread locally common species with post-1970 records for N.W. and S.W. Scotland, N.W. England, North Wales and Dyfed-Powys, East and West Midlands, East Anglia, and South East England. 12. Donacia impressa Paykull ete iff VICE-COUNTY DISTRIBUTION. mm PRE 1970 (= 27): 5; 9; 11; 13; 14; 15; 17; 18; 22; 23; 25; 27; 29; 31; 34; 37; 38; 39; 45; 48; 49; 57; 61; 63; 69; 70; 75. 1970 ONWARDS (= 16): 13; 14; 23; 24; 28; 30; 32; 37; 38; 43; 49; 53; 63; 69; 75; 104. PRE 1970 1970 ONWARDS 13. Donacia thalassina Germar, 1811 Status: Notable B (Latin: thalassina, sea green, probably referring to the dorsal coloration of the species which may be greenish or brassy-bronze). L=6.5—9.0 mm; Plate II, Figure 13. Like D. impressa this is a very local species, also found mainly during May, June and early July. During May it is attracted in numbers to the flowers of the lesser pond and bottle sedges, Carex acutiformis and rostrata respectively, probably in order to feed upon the pollen. After the sedge flowering period is over (for instance 1.vi.95) the beetles have been observed to eat the leaves of Carex, and later (8.vii.95) may vacate Carex for other water plants such as Typha (observations at Bolder Mere, Wisley, Surrey; IM). Superficially this species is very similar to the ubiquitous D. simplex and, like it, is uniformly shining bronze, usually with a distinctly copper tint, but sometimes grey or greenish, on the elytral and pronotal surfaces. Absence of red coloration on the antennae and legs and the usual presence of a metafemoral tooth serves to VICE-COUNTY DISTRIBUTION. PRE 1970 (= 25): 11; 12; 13; 14; 15; 17; 18; 20; 21; 22; 23; 24; 27; 33; 34; 41; 46; 49; 52; 53; 69; 70; 73; 104; 110. 1970 ONWARDS (= 21): 1; 6),43; 14; 17; 18; 23; 24; ; 36; 38; 46; 47; 52; 53; PRE 1970 1970 ONWARDS BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 147 distinguish this species from D. simplex, but separation from D. impressa (to which refer for details) is more difficult. In view of the ecological similarity of their habitats, it is suprising that D. thalassina and D. impressa are so seldom found together: possibly a degree of mutual exclusion may exist. A local, but widespread species with post-1970 records for N.W. and S.W. Scotland, N.W. England, E. and W. Midlands, East Anglia, S.E. and S.W. England, Dyfed-Powys and N. Wales. 14. Donacia simplex Fabricius, 1775; (= linearis Hoppe, 1795). (Latin: simplex, probably referring to the simple, untoothed hind femora of this species). L=7.0—11.0 mm; Plate II, Figure 14. Usually considered to be the most prevalent British donaciine, it is widely distributed and found, usually in large numbers, on the leaves of various species of bur-reed (Sparganium) growing in a wide variety of habitats, especially at the margins of ponds, canals and rivers, from about the middle of May to the beginning of August. The adult is usually a frosted metallic copper colour dorsally with a silvery undersurface, but the elytra and pronotum may have a uniform reddish, greyish or even a greenish tint. The legs and antennae are in part reddish-orange, and the hind femora untoothed. A common widespread species with post-1970 records for North West and South East Scotland, and all regions of Wales and England. 14. Donacia simplex Fabricius Lg § VICE-COUNTY DISTRIBUTION. Pre 1970 (= 46): mm or N Vd > a GP GS «ko _ —_ A; le IZ Selsls [eee ae > | S| > Mico eS = [J bard Ey co mt Bry | > IN ~ Seal Co) ) BiB | PRE 1970 1970 ONWARDS 15. Donacia sparganii Ahrens, 1810 Status: Notable A (Latin: sparganium, relating to an affinity for the bur-reed plant). L=6.3—-9.1 mm; Plate II, Figure 15. A medium-sized species of a uniform metallic copper colour with two teeth, one of which is very small, on each hind femora. The elytra have a characteristic ‘oily’ shining appearance, with a pinkish or greenish reflection in the sunlight. Absence of punctures on the dorsum of the pronotum, which is transversely strigose, is an important point of identification. This donaciine is known from few sites only, generally in association with species of bur-reed (Sparganium). D. sparganii is regarded as one of the rarer British species though it may be quite frequent where it is established. Though occasionally found on bank vegetation it is much more likely to be seen (with the aid of binoculars) resting, out of reach, on the floating leaves of Sparganium trailing in the current of 148 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 streams and rivers. The adult beetles appear during July and August after the Sparganium leaves have grown sufficiently to reach the surface of the deeper water. Formerly recorded from many counties in the north, south and east of England, D. sparganii has now become a rare species restricted to only a féw localities in Wales, the Midlands and Southern England. VICE-COUNTY DISTRIBUTION. PRE 1970 (= 27): 3; 9; 11; 14; 15; 16; 17; 18; 19; 20; 21; 22; 23; 25; 26; 27; 29; 33; 34; 39; 54; 58; 59; 60; 61; 63; 64. 1970 ONWARDS (= 8): 2; 14; 29; 31; 32; 34; 44; 49. PRE 1970 1970 ONWARDS GENUS PLATEUMARIS. Very similar to Donacia, but legs stouter and elytra more rounded, ‘vaulted’ dorsally, and mandibles protruding. (Greek: platys, broad or flat; eumaris, a thick-soled Asiatic slipper. Askevold (1991) considered this to refer to the ovipositor of females in this genus. Alternatively Schenkling (1922) interprets eumares to mean easily moveable, but is uncertain to what this refers). 16. Plateumaris affinis (Kunze, 1818) Status: Notable B (Latin: affinis; neighbouring). L=5.0—-8.0 (male), 7.7—-9.0 (female); Plate I, Figure 16. P. affinis is associated with various species of Carex growing at lake margins, sharing the same ecological requirements as P. discolor, Donacia impressa, thalassina and aquatica, all of which may be found together during May and June as, for instance, in vegetation dominated by various species of Carex bordering Burton Mill Pond, near Fittleworth, West Sussex. P.affinis, like D. aquatica, 1s not attracted to the flowers of Carex as are D. impressa and thalassina, and is usually detected by sweeping or searching the leaves and stems of the sedges. VICE-COUNTY DISTRIBUTION. PRE 1970 (= 16): 14; 12; 13; 15; 16; 17; 18; 20; 21; 23; 27; 28; 34; 38; 41; 70. 1970 ONWARDS (= 16): 8; 14912; 13; 14; 17; 22; 23; 24; 32; 38; 42; 43; 55; 62; 64. PRE 1970 1970 ONWARDS BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 149 In P. affinis the two sexes are distinct in both colour and size, the pronotum and elytra of the male being black with a faint purple or violet reflection, but of a pale copper colour in the somewhat larger female. The legs are reddish yellow in both sexes, with the teeth on the hind femora considerably larger in the male. A widespread, locally common species with recent records for Dyfed-Powys, North East England, East and West Midlands, South and South Eastern England. 17. Plateumaris braccata (Scopoli, 1772) (=nigra Fabricius, 1792) Status: Notable A (Latin: braccata; wearing breeches, possibly referring to the conspicuously orange- red legs and ventral abdomen which contrasts with the dark thoracic and elytral surfaces). L=8.5—-12.0 mm. Both sexes of this large donaciine have black pronotum and elytra with a green or violet reflection, and reddish-orange abdomen, antennae and legs. Though this species is similar in these respects to the male P. affinis, direct comparison leaves little doubt about the identification of P. braccata which is considerably larger and has a more obvious blue or greenish metallic reflection. The adult beetles are usually found, during May and June, in beds of the reed Phragmites australis growing in water at the margins of lakes, canals and in fens. It is a local species, well established in the fenlands of East Anglia but also found sparingly in Sussex, Kent, and some other southern counties. Like D. clavipes it can be found concealed in the Phragmites leaf-folds. When feeding, the beetle penetrates the young leaf shoots which later unfold to present a characteristic transverse series of round holes. A very local species restricted in distribution to Wales (all regions), East and West Midlands, East Anglia, and a few scattered sites in Southern England. VICE-COUNTY DISTRIBUTION. PRE 1970 (= 20): 6; 13; 14; 15; 16; 17; 18; 19; 5; 26; 27; 28; 29; 30; 34; 4; 55; 61. 23; 2 41; 5 1970 ONWARDS (= 12): §; 13; 15; 22; 23; 27; 28; 31; 37; 41; 44; 48. PRE 1970 1970 ONWARDS 18. Plateumaris discolor (Panzer, 1795) (Latin: discolor; of different colours, probably referring to the many different colour forms of this species). L=6.5—9.0 mm. P. discolor and P. sericea are closely similar in appearance and manifest an astonishing variety of spectacular jewel-like colour forms which include shades of gold, copper, green, blue, violet, purple, magenta, and sometimes black. The elytra, head and thorax are uniformly coloured and the hind femora strongly toothed. P. discolor is on average smaller than sericea and, in contrast to P. sericea, the thoracic disk is strongly punctured centrally and surrounded by marked strigosity. Though P. 150 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 discolor usually has shorter antennae than P. sericea, reliance cannot be placed on differences in the relative lengths of antennal segments 2, 3 and 4 often quoted (but length/width ratios of antennal segment 4 may be more reliable, see Key). The proximal portion of the antennal segments, tarsi and tibiae are usually reddish in P. discolor but generally dark in sericea. P. discolor is widely distributed and, though adults have been recorded from March to November, are seen most frequently during June, often in large numbers, on vegetation in boggy moorland areas and around ponds, rivers and canals. This species is usually associated with Carex. It may sometimes be found on the flowers of various plants including Sparganium and Caltha palustris and favours a more acidic environment than P. sericea. A very widespread, common species with numerous post-1970 records for all regions of Scotland, Wales, and England. VICE-COUNTY DISTRIBUTION. PRE 1970 (=24) 49; 61; 62; 70; 73; 92; 96. 1970 ONWARDS (= 56): 1; 2; 3; 4; 6; 8; 9; 11; 12; 13; 31; 33; 36; 38; 40; 41; 42; 43; 44; 45; 46; 47; 48; 49; 50; 52; 54; 57; 62; 64; 65; 66; 70; 72; 73; 79; 80; 81; 83; 87; 88; 95; 96; 97; 102; 106; 109; 110. PRE 1970 1970 ONWARDS 19. Plateumaris sericea (Linnaeus, 1758) (Latin: sericatus; clothed in silken garments, probably referring to the silky-like appearance of the pronotum). L=6.5—10.0 mm. In most respects similar in appearance and habits to P. discolor. The main points of distinction from the latter concern the antennae, which are usually longer and narrower, especially in males; although differences in length between antennal segments are claimed, 4 being more than twice the length of 2 in P. sericea, this distinction may not be reliable (but see Key for length/width ratios of antennal 19. Plateumaris sericea (Linnaeus) SS oF VICE-COUNTY DISTRIBUTION. PRE 1970 (= 22): 11; 13; 14; 15; 17; 18; 20; 22; 23; 27; 29; 30; 31; 33; 34; 38; 41; 46; 52; 62; 70; 92. 1970 ONWARDS (= 50): 3; 4; 5; 6; 8; 9; 11; 12; 13; 14; 33; 34; 36; 37; 38; 40; 41; 43; 44; 46; 47; 49; 50; 52; 53; 55; 57; 58; 62; 63; 64; 67; 73; 80; 81; 95; 96; 97; 98; 101; 106. 107. PRE 1970 1970 ONWARDS BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 151 segment 4). The thoracic disk in P. sericea is more finely punctured than P. discolor, without surrounding strigosity. The adult beetles have been recorded for every month of the year but are most frequently seen during June, usually at rest on aquatic vegetation growing in neutral or basic habitats. This species is usually found in association with Sparganium species, especially S. erectum, but has also been recorded from the flowerheads of Jris, yellow flag. A very widespread, common species with numerous post-1970 records from all regions of Scotland, Wales and England. Note. Askevold (1991) synonymized P. discolor (Panzer) with P. sericea (Linnaeus). He considered that the ratio of the antennal segments 2 and 3, and the coarseness of pronotal rugosity, variable among donaciines and ‘in many series of specimens a complete range of pronotal structure from uniformly alutaceous to coarsely rugose on the disc, can be found’. In addition he found no appreciable genitalic differences between specimens from geographically divergent areas such as Poland, Italy and Japan. However it can be contended that it is not the difference in the relative lengths of antennal segments 2 and 3 which is important, but that between 3 and 4 in comparison with 2. There is a significant difference in pronotal rugosity between the two species with little intraspecific variation, and differences between the endophallus of the two species are apparent in his photographs. Ecologically the two species occupy different niches, P. discolor in acidic conditions and P. sericea in neutral or basic water. GENUS MACROPLEA. (Greek; macro, large, and pleon, ‘swimming’). 20. Macroplea appendiculata (Panzer, 1794) Status: RDB 3 (Latin: appendicula, a little addition, probably referring to the elytral spine). bam 75 mim The two British Macroplea differ from Donacia and Plateumaris in being smaller and of a dull yellowish coloration with head and elytral striae black. Though fully winged, the adult beetles are usually found submerged on the foliage of their foodplant in the water of canals, rivers, lakes and dykes from June to September. M. appendiculata was found, for instance, on submerged plants of the alternate-flowered water milfoil Myriophyllum alterniflorum DC. growing near the margin of Talkin Tarn, Brampton, Cumbs. on 6.vi.92, hidden amongst the comb-like leaves. The beetles, although quite numerous, were very inconspicuous; whereas about 8 were 20. Macroplea appendiculata (Panzer). & gf VICE-COUNTY DISTRIBUTION. PRE 1970 (= 18): 41; 15; 22; 23; 24; 29; 39; 56; 61; 62; 64; 65; 70; 76; 85; 89; 97; 98. 1970 ONWARDS (= 5): 1; 53; 64; 70; 102. PRE 1970 1970 ONWARDS 152 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 initially found with difficulty, 16 more eventually emerged from the vegetation as the stems and leaves dried out. Prof. J. A. Owen has found larvae and cocoons of M. appendiculata at the roots of Myriophyllum alterniflorum growing in Talkin Tarn during the autumn; one adult beetle, observed in captivity, shed its pupal case in the autumn and could be seen overwintering within the translucent cocoon, from which it eventually emerged in February. Adults have also been found in numbers on Potamogeton pectinatus L. at Kidlington, in a tributary of the River Cherwell, during June and August. A widely distributed though local species. Post-1970 records are from South West Scotland, N.E. and N.W. England, E. Midlands and S.W. England. 21. Macroplea mutica (Fabricius, 1792) [= curtisi (Lacordaire, 1845)] Status: Notable A (Latin: muticus, spineless, referring to the shorter elytral spines). L=5.0—7.0 mm. Very similar to the preceding species, this beetle is also found on the leaves of submerged water plants, especially Potamogeton pectinatus and Zostera marina, usually in brackish clay pits and dykes near the coast. The main points of difference from M. appendiculata are the shorter posterolateral elytral spine, and absence of pigmented apices to the femora and tibiae and tarsal joints, though the latter is considered an unreliable character. There are some morphological differences in the male aedeagus. Apparently not so widespread as M. appendiculata. Recent records are from North West England, E. and W. Midlands, East Anglia, S.W. and S.E. England, but have been chiefly in the east. 21. Macroplea mutica (Fabricius) : oF VICE-COUNTY DISTRIBUTION. mm PRE 1970 (= 11): 14; 15; 16; 19; 25; 27; 28; 61; 62; 63; 66. 1970 ONWARDS (= 8): 6; 14; 15; 16; 27; 54; 63; 64. PRE 1970 1970 ONWARDS GENERAL COMMENTS Alterations in distribution Examination of the pre- and post-1970 distribution reveals that some interesting changes have taken place. Percentage changes given below are calculated from the number of vice-counties in which a species has been recorded before and after 1970. Although such records are as much determined by the availability of entomological expertise as they are by the incidence of species, the observed increase in distribution of D. simplex, D. vulgaris, P. discolor and P. sericea suggests that the marked decrease in recorded distribution of at least half of our British donaciine species is a BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 153 genuine problem which calls for an explanation, and not just the result of a reduction in entomological fieldwork. A. Post-1970 increase. B. No change ($10%) C. Decrease in post-1970 distribution Species % Diff. Name % Diff. Name % Diff. Name % Diff. P. discolor +57% D clavipes +4.4% D. versicolorea —\5% _ D. impressa —41% P. sericea +55% P. affinis 0.0% D. thalassina —16% D. dentata — 64% D. vulgaris +28% D.semicuprea —3.1% M. mutica —27% D2. crassipes —68% D. simplex +15% D. obscura —33% D. sparganii —70% D. marginata’ —39% M. appendiculata—81% D. cinerea —40% D. aquatica —83% P. braccata —40% D. bicolora —89% Host plants The British Donaciinae are associated with the Nymphaeaceae and Haloragaceae of the Dicotyledones and with seven families of the Monocotyledones: Alismataceae, Typhaceae, Sparganiaceae, Potamogetonaceae, Zosteraceae, Cyperaceae and Gra- mineae. To a large extent the host plant on which the adult feeds is the same as that on which cocoons have been taken and upon which the larvae feed. Donaciine species can be grouped according to their host plant associations. Donacia crassipes and Macroplea appendiculata are the only species associated with Dicotyledones, the former with yellow and white water lilies (Nuphar and Nymphaea of the Nymphaeaceae), and the latter with water milfoil (Myriophyllum of the Halor- agaceae). Of the Monocotyledones Sagittaria sagittifolia (Alismataceae) is host to Donacia dentata and Potamogeton (Potamogetonaceae) to D. versicolora. Sparga- nium of the Typhaceae is the host of D. bicolora, D. simplex, D. sparganii, Plateumaris sericea and possibly D. vulgaris, and Typha is host to D. cinerea and also D. vulgaris, the first three sometimes occurring in the same locality on Sparganium erectum. Of the Cyperaceae Scirpus is a host to D. impressa whilst various species of Carex support D. aquatica, D. obscura, D. impressa, D. thalassina, Plateumaris affinis and P. discolor, while of the Gramineae G/yceria species are eaten by D. semicuprea and Phragmites communis 1s host to D. clavipes and P. braccata. Early stages Oviposition differs in the British genera, the eggs of Platewmaris being laid on foliage above water while those of Donacia are laid, usually in clusters or rows, in gelatinous envelopes on the undersides of floating leaves or submerged foliage and stems. The life cycle of donaciines appears to be related to the growth habit of their host plants and they can be divided on the basis of observed dates of occurrence. The first group includes D. thalassina, obscura, clavipes, vulgaris and cinerea, active as adults during the spring and early summer, in which the larvae reach maturity and pupate by the autumn of the year in which oviposition took place. These soon emerge but remain as adults and overwinter within cocoons which apparently maintain a connection with intracellular air spaces within the host plant, attached to roots and stems in the mud of lakes and streams. The second group includes D. dentata, sparganii and versicolorea, which are active as adults during the second part of summer and in the autumn. These overwinter as larvae which complete their growth and pupate during the first half of the year following oviposition, finally emerging around midsummer. Adults of the latter 154 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 group do not, therefore, overwinter but may sometimes be found around midsummer, awaiting emergence fully developed within their cocoons. In contrast to foodplants of the first group (Carex, Phragmites, Typha and Sparganium erectum), the foliage of plants upon which adult beetles of the second group feed (Sagittaria, Potamogeton spp. and Sparganium emersum) does not reach full development until after midsummer. Collecting techniques The simplest and most informative method of detecting and collecting the adult beetles is by direct searching of the leaves and flowers of their host plants, especially in warm sunshine, during their months of occurrence. Under certain circumstances alternative methods may be useful. The use of a sweep-net is useful when the beetles are infrequent and hidden in dense foliage such as stands of reeds and sedges; this method is especially effective for species such as Donacia aquatica, impressa, thalassina, Plateumaris sericea and affinis (pers. observ.). Alternatively plants growing together in a dense stand can be tapped with a stick over a beating tray. Stainforth (1944) collected D. impressa and clavipes by tapping bulrush (Scirpus lacustris) and reeds (Phragmites australis), respectively, watching for the fallen insects on the surface of the water. Species like D. crassipes, dentata, versicolorea and sparganii that rest on the floating leaves of their foodplants (Nuphar, Sagittaria, Potamogeton and Sparganium) may be caught by quickly submerging the leaf with the beetle on it. They cannot then take flight, but float to the surface and can then be picked off. The use of an extendable ‘clap net’ (see figure) can also be very effective, and may be necessary when negotiating an inaccessible environment with deep water and mud. Collection of Macroplea species which inhabit submerged water plants calls for the use of a water net or rake. Extendable clap net. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 155 According to Stainforth (1944) a further useful method is to search for cocoons from late August until the following May or June. September is probably the best month since the weather is still warm, the water in ponds and canals at a low level, and sufficient time will have elapsed to allow the adults to emerge from the pupae and become fully hardened. Apparently some species may remain in such a condition within the cocoons for as long as 8 months! Unfortunately this method leads to habitat destruction since the foodplants must be pulled up with their roots and rhizomes intact, washed free of mud and then carefully searched. It is often difficult to pull up aquatic plants by the roots especially if they are matted together as is the case with Carex and Scirpus. Stainforth found the cocoons of D. versicolorea difficult to collect because the host plant Potamogeton natans grows in deep water and does not come up by the roots very readily, and he found that the cocoons of D. clavipes were usually buried at a depth of six to eight inches amongst the roots of Phragmites growing in water. KEYS FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF DONACIINE BEETLES BY M. L. Cox Subfamily DONACIINAE: key to genera 1 Dorsally not metallic, usually yellowish with dark brown or black. Tarsi slender, subcylindrical, almost glabrous ventrally, segment 3 small, unlobed, segment 5 longer than 1 to 4* combined (Figs K1,2). Elytra with double rows of punctures and with black or dark brown stripes; truncate, unidentate apically (Fig. K4). ismalby under water On hostplants.e..00/2.qosterc-osteusecsscteeocscoesonusvanedee Macroplea — Dorsally metallic. Tarsi broad, flattened with dense pilosity ventrally, segment 3 bilobed, segment 5* at most twice as long as 3 (Fig. K3). Elytra metallic, apices without tooth (Figs K7,8). Usually on water plants........0...000cccccecceeceeeseeeeees 2 2 Elytra somewhat flat dorsally (Fig. K5), suture normal, not inverted apically (Fig. K7). Mandibles short, not protruding (Figs K37,38). Males sometimes with small tooth interoapically on metatibiae. Abdominal ventrite 1 longer than toler Combined (BIg .K.10),.....0c...2c20acecspuver| a ’ iy) “i an i 4 ; ie ot | ol Maw, VL icibh ay Atal WW, ANNUAL EXHIBITION 1995 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 1: 1996 209 However in 1995 50 adults were seen on 14.viii (all but one on hemp agrimony and all but 4 or 5 were male). On average, from 7.viii to 21.ix, up to 30 adults could be seen per day. The reason for the high numbers of adults of this normally secretive species being seen feeding at flowers might be because the honeydew high up on oak and ash trees dried up in the heat of this exceptional summer, or perhaps because aphid numbers were low due to heavy wasp predation. PAYNE, J. H.—A photograph of a strong example of Coenonympha pamphilus ab. excessa Leeds (Northants, 1960) and an extreme form of Cynthia cardui L. ab. rogeri Meilhan, with very dark hindwings (Plate III, Fig. 8). This striking aberration emerged from a temperature-shocked pupa. PORTER, J.—Selected specimens of races of Pieris napi L. from southern England, north Wales, central Scotland and western Ireland. One female from the single- brooded Scottish form was quite yellow and two female specimens of the Spring brood from western Ireland were very dusky. The English and Irish races of Leptidea sinapis L. were compared. The Irish race (ssp. juvernica Williams) is strongly coloured on the underside of the hindwings. An extreme Pyrgus malvae L. ab. taras Bergstr. from East Sussex, 21.v.1995. A fine Coenonympha pamphilus L. ab. caeca Oberthur from Fanore, Co. Clare, 5.vi.1995 and a female Argynnis aglaja L. bred from a Fanore larva which showed the dusky markings of ssp. scotica Watkins. A male Anthocharis cardamines L. ab. parvipuncta Turci, having the discal spot almost absent, from Downside, Surrey, 2.v.1995. REVELS, R. C.—(1) Three bred generations from a wild female Po/yommatus icarus Rott. taken in viii.1994. This showed ab. discoelongata B. & L. on the forewings but had typical hindwing spotting. The F, of about 50 insects contained 10 examples of discoleongata, mainly affecting the forewings. Several of these were paired together. An F, of about 250 adults emerged in vii.1995. 15 were good ab. radiata Coury. and 40 were of the transitional form, ab. discoelongata. The remainder were typical. Ab. radiata adults were paired together. The F; of 243 adults emerged in vili/ix.1995. This contained about 100 radiata, some being fine examples with streaked spotting on all wings. Most of the remainder were discoelongata with only 14 typical insects. Four of the radiata adults were also ab. costaextrema, one male was ab. antialba B. & L. and several combined radiata with ab. confluens B. & L. (Plate III, Fig. 2). Discoelongata/radiata is a multifactorial form. PLATE III. ANNUAL EXHIBITION 1995 1: Polyommatus icarus ab. radiata, and ab. basielongata, bred, 1995, L. D. Young. 2: Polyommatus icarus, ab. confluens and ab. radiata, bred, 1995, R. C. Revels. 3: Aricia agestis ab. glomerata, North- ants, viil.1995, P. Tebbutt. 4: Pyronia tithonus ab. lugens, bred, 1995, R. C. Revels. 5: Pyronia tithonus gynandromorph, bred, 1995, A. M. Jones. 6: Pyronia tithonus ab. multiocellata, Devon, vill.1995, R. D. G. Barrington. 7: Aphantopus hyperantus ab. lanceolata, Sussex, 13—14.vii.1995, A. S. Harmer. 8: Cynthia cardui ab. rogeri, bred, 1995, temperature shock, J. H. Payne. 9: Apatura iris ab. lugenda, Northants, 14.vii.1995, D. Stokes. 10: Chrysopilus erythrophthalmus, Lanark, 15.vii.1995, P. J. Chandler. 11: Eristalis cryptarum, male, Dartmoor, 13.vili.1995, M. J. Parker. 12: Eristalis cryptarum, female, Dartmoor, 20.vili.1995, M. J. Parker. 210 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 1: 1996 (2) A brood of Pyronia tithonus L. ab. lugens Oberthur from a strain that has been maintained for several years. It has been shown to be a fully dominant form. Some of these were extreme examples of this very rare aberration including a male with the forewing dark borders extending across the apical spot (which lacked the pupil). The remaining fulvous of the forewings was suffused and the upperside hindwings lacked fulvous coloration altogether (Plate III, Fig 4). SOFTLY, R. A.—The hairstreak Deudorix anatalus Hopffer reared from ““Kenyan beans” purchased from a Hampstead corner shop on 15.viii.1995. Larva fed on packeted frozen runner beans, pupated 26.vii and emerged 8.1x. STANDING, P. A.—Aberrant examples of Melitaea cinxia L. bred in 1995 from stock that has been inbred for 4 years. These included ab. wittei Geest and others lacking some markings from the underside of the hindwings. STOKES, D.—A beautiful male example of Apatura iris L. ab. lugenda Cabeau, captured in Northants on 14.vii.1995 (Plate III, Fig. 9). This rare insect had the white bands of the forewings almost entirely absent and was in perfect condition. An accompanying photograph showed the equally extreme underside. TEBBUTT, P.—An Aphantopus hyperantus L. underside with the yellow rings replaced by red. Other markings were normal. A male Polygonia c-album L. ab. suffusa Frohawk and a female Limenitis camilla L. ab. obliterae Robson & Gardner (these two were taken within 30 yards of each other). An interesting series of Aricia agestis D. & S. ab. glomerata Tutt. (Plate III, Fig. 3). One example was captured at this locality in 1994. A population of 150-200 adults in vili.1995 produced 15 aberrations. Two weeks later, in a population of 50 adults, a further 5 aberrations were seen. Most examples seen were male. In some of these aberrations some of the spots were missing—a character which appears to be part of the expression of glomerata. This is a very rare aberration in this species. Two bred gynandromorphs of Pieris rapae L. From 50 pupae one emerged in a late third brood (1x.1994). This had a few small areas of male scaling on the left side of an otherwise female insect. A bilateral gynandromorph emerged from the same stock in the spring of 1995. Various nymphalid aberrations reared from temperature-shocked pupae, including Vanessa atalanta L. ab. klymene Fischer (the only aberration from over 70 treated pupae), Cynthia cardui L. abs. varini Meilhan and emielymi Verity, Aglais urticae L. ab. lucia Derenne, Polygonia c-album L. ab. obscura Closs and Inachis io L. ab. semi- ocellata Frohawk and belisaria Oberthur. Tusss, R. S.—The results of breeding from Melanargia galathea L. ab. craskei Tubbs, 1974-1978. In this aberration the central black costal blotch of the forewings is extended outwards to join the sub-apical bar. The original live females were given to the exhibitor by R. M. Craske, for whom the form was named. The aberration occurred in the F, generation in approximately equal numbers to type, suggesting that it is a dominant form. More extreme examples occurred in the F, generation which were probably homozygotes. WINOKUR, L.—A female Pararge aegeria L. ssp. oblita Harrison showing homoeosis. This emerged on 2.x.1995 from females taken at Glen Lonan, east of Oban, Argyll (18—25.viii.1993). This shows an area of patterning from the underside of the left hindwing (in spaces 2 and 3) reproduced on the underside of the left.forewing. YOUNG, L. D.—The results of crossing the exhibitor’s well-known strain of Polyommatus icarus Rott. abs. basielongata B. & L. + discoelongata B. & L. with the ab. radiata Coury. strain bred by R. C. Revels. Amongst the progeny were some fine specimens combining radiata on all wings with basie/ongata (Plate III, Fig. 1). An unusual male showed ab. anticaeca B. & L. and postradiata Courv. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 1: 1996 211 BRITISH MACROLEPIDOPTERA BRITTON, M. R.—A specimen of Eulithis testata (L.) taken 17.vii.1995 at Skipwith Common showing a complete absence of hindwings. BROTHERIDGE, D. J.—An exhibit of a dark almost unicolorous Charanyca trigrammica (Hufn.). A dark broad-winged form of Lacanobia oleracea (L.), a yellow form of Miltochrista miniata (Forst.) and an Agrius convolvuli (L.) from near Swindon, Wilts. BROWN, D. C. G.—From Malham Tarn, Yorks., four specimens of the Continental form of Eurois occulta (L.) taken 5.vili.1995. Four bred specimens of Xylena exsoleta (L.) from a Scottish female taken iv.1995. Also a selection of migrants caught on the Lizard, Cornwall. 8-18.x.1995, consisting of: Chrysodeixis acuta (Walker) (Plate IV, Fig. 8), Spodoptera cilium (Gueneé) (Plate IV, Fig. 1), Spodoptera exigua (Hibn.), Utetheisa pulchella (L.), Trichoplusia ni (Hibn.), Eublemma parva (Hiibn.) and ostrina (Hiibn.), Rhodometra sacraria (L.) and Orthonama obstipata (F.). CLANCY, S. P—An exhibit consisting of interesting migrant species and unusual aberrations from the Dungeness area of Kent. The migrants were: Acherontia atropos (L.) 10.x.1995, Nola aerugula (Hiibn.) 12.vu.1995, Coscinia cribraria arenaria (Lempke) 26.vii.1995, Eublemma parva (Hibn.) 28.vi.1995 and the first British record of Herminia plumigeralis ({[D. & S.]), Greatstone, Kent, 12.x.1995 (Plate IV, Fig. 6). The aberrations consisted of /daea biselata (Hufn.) a suffused example from Ham Street, Kent, Mimas tiliae ab. brunnea Tutt from Folkestone, Kent, Spilosoma lutea (Hufn.), 11.vii.1995, Hadena albimacula (Borkh.) with reduced white scaling (Plate IV, Fig. 7), Eupithecia phoeneciata (Ramb.) a banded specimen from Greatstone, Kent, and an Orthosia gothica (L.) with asymmetrical scaling (Plate IV, Fig. 3). Also a separate exhibit showed an example of Trichoplusia vittata (Wall.) taken at Rye Harbour, E. Sussex by D. Funnell on 31.vii.1995 (Plate IV, Fig, 11) along with a specimen for comparison from the Natural History Museum, Kensington (Plate IV, Fig.) 12): CLANCY, S. P., HONEY, M. R. AND SKINNER, B. F.—For comparison, with T. vittata (Wall.), mentioned above, specimens of Trichoplusia albostriata (Br. & Grey) from Asia and T. oxygramma (Geyer) from America, its close relatives. Also to accompany Sean Clancy’s exhibit of Herminea plumigeralis, four other European hermiinid species. Also a drawer of historic Eublemma parva (Hiibn.) and its close allies from the national collection. Finally in this series of exhibits, a drawer of European Cucullia also from the national collection along with a specimen taken at Portland, Dorset by Bernard Skinner recently and tentatively identified as a possible Cucullia umbratica (L.). CLARKE, DR J.—An exhibit of larvae of Anarta cordigera (Thunb.) The following migrants: Nola aerugula (Hiibn.) (2) from Winterton Dunes, Norfolk 11.vui.1995; Cyclophora puppillaria (Hiibn.), 16.x.1995, to m.v., East Grinstead, West Sussex; Clostera anachoreta ({D. & S.]) 5.vii.1995, Folkestone, and Utetheisa pulchella (L.), 19.x.1995, Prawle Point, South Devon. The rest of the exhibit consisted of: Sabra harpagula (Esp.) Tintern; Rheumaptera hastata (L.) Shaftesbury, Dorset; Coenocalpe lapidata (Hiibn.); Semiothisa carbonaria (Clerck), Newtonmore, flying in good numbers 28.v.1995; Phragmatobia fuliginosa (L.), an abnormally pale example from Holme next the Sea, Norfolk; Electrophaes corylata (Thunb.) ab. albocrenata Curtis, from Newtonmore; Xy/ena vetusta (Htibn.) and exsoleta (L.) both species at sugar, Rannoch; Autographa jota (L.) ab. percontationis Ochs.; Apamea lithoxylea ({D. & 212 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 1: 1996 S.]), a dwarf example; Agrotis exclamationis (L.) an asymmetrical example from East Grinstead and an ab. p/aga Tutt from Lingfield, Surrey; Agrotis puta (Hiibn.), a mixed gynandromorph; Spilosoma lubricipeda (L.) from Tintern, Wye Valley; one specimen of Chilodes maritimus (Tausch.), with conjoined stigmata from Holme next the sea, along with Cosmia trapezina (L.) from the same locality; two pale examples plus typical ones of Agrotis vestigialis (Hufn.) were shown from Winterton Dunes plus a similar exhibit of unicolorous Euxoa tritici (L.). Finally, a small series of Horisme vitalbata ({D. & S.]) demonstrated a possible autosomal recessive trait. COLLINS, G. A.—An exhibit consisting of Lepidoptera from Co. Clare, Eire, during a visit in vi.1995: Odontognophos dumetata hibernica Forder, Semiothisa clathrata hugginsi (Baynes), Hadena caesia mananii (Gregs.) Hadena_ perplexa capsophila (Dup.) Photedes captiuncula tincta (Kane) and Zygaena_ purpuralis sabulosa Trem. COLENUTT, S.—An exhibit of Euplagia quadripunctaria (Poda) ab. lutescens (Stdgr), 11.vii.1995 and Sti/bia anomala (Haw.) 19.ix.1994, both from Chale Green, Isle of White. Cook, R. R.—An exhibit of moths from several visits to Scotland: Coenocalpe lapidata (Hiibn.) from Trinafour, and Xy/ena vetusta (Hiibn.) and exsoleta (Linn.), Rannoch, Perthshire; from Inverness-shire, specimens of Enargia paleacea (Esp.), Aporophila lueneburgensis (Frey.), Celaena leucostigma scotica Cock. and haworthii (Curtis), Eugnorisma depuncta (L.), Stilbia anomala (Haw.), Chloroclysta citrata (L.) and Euxoa nigricans (L.). From other localities: Eupithecia egenaria (H.-S.), from Tintern, Wye Valley; Euphia biangulata (Haw.), from Bere Forest, Dorset; Tyta luctuosa ({D. & S.]) from Portland, Dorset, 5.viii.1995. Finally, jointly with P. R. Cook, Archearias notha (Htibn.) from Merrytown Heath, Dorset, iv.1995. CORLEY, M. F. V.—Some unusual second broods of the following species: Eupithecia pygmaeata (Hiibn.), Gozzards Ford, Abingdon, 31.vi1.1995; Lobophora halterata (Hufn.) Gozzards Ford, 31.vii.1995 and Laspeyria flexula ({D. & S.]), Pucketty Farm, Faringdon, 31.viii.1995. CRONIN, A. R.—A specimen of Eupithecia phoeneciata (Rambur), to light, 16.vili.1995, Portslade, Sussex. Also, two imagines of Panaxia dominula (L.) ab. bimacula Cockayne which were bred in 1995. DAVEY, P. AND STERLING, P.—Migrant or vagrant Lepidoptera taken in Dorset in 1995: Cyclophora puppillaria (Hibn.), Parkstone, 12.x, A. Bromby; Scopula nigropunctata (Goeze), Arne, 26.vii, B. Pickess; Hy/es gallii (Rott.), Chalbury, 20.vin, S. Amos; Pelosia muscerda (Hufn.), Woolgarston, 12.vii, D. Birt; Cryphia algae (F.), Weymouth, 10.viii, P. Sterling; Trachea atriplicis (L.), Christchurch, 31.vii, M. Jeffes; Spodoptera cilium (Guen.), West Bexington, 14.x, R. Eden; Heliothis viriplaca (Hufn.), Ashmore, 9.vii, P. Davey; Chrysodeixis chalcites (Esp.), West Bexington, 10.x, R. Eden, and Hypena obsitalis (Hiibn.), Christchurch, 2.v, M. Jeffes. DICKERSON, B.—An unusual exhibit of a male Agrotis exclamationis (L.) in copula with a female Abrostola triplasia (L.), found in a moth trap at Old Fletton, Peterborough, 10.vi.1995. It was not possible to separate them without injuring them. Dosson, A. E.—An exhibit of Acasis viretata (Hiibn.), from Health End Farnham, Surrey, 31.vii.1995. A dark imago of Agrotis ripae (Htibn.)efrom Dawlish Warren, Devon. A Heliothis viriplaca (Hufn.), Maidscross Hill, Suffolk and a female specimen with increased black clouding on the hindwing bred from larvae obtained from a variety of plants in that area. Finally a single example of Parascotia fuliginaria (L.) in a Rothamstead light trap at Starcross, S. Devon, 14—-17.vii.1995, a first county record. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 1: 1996 213 ELLIOTT, B.—An imago of Chrysodeixis chalcites (Esp.), bred from a larva in a bunch of flowers, 1.1994, Mansfield, Notts.; Spodoptera littoralis (Biosd.), bred from a number of larvae found in a consignment of plants from Israel in a heated greenhouse in Spalding, Lincs., xi.1994; Agrotis crassa (Htibn.), to m.v., St Mary’s, Isles of Scilly, 24.viii.1995; Eurois occulta (L.), to m.v., Allerthorpe Common, Yorks., one of two seen in this locality within days of each other; also, a bred series of Idaea sylvestraria (Hiibn.) from Strensall Common, Yorks. EMMET, A. M.—An aberrant example of Xanthorhoe fluctuata (L.) to m.v., Yealand Conyers, North Lanes., 26.v.1995. A Eupithecia species provisionally identified as insigniata (Hiibn.), taken at m.v., in the same place on 22.v.1995S. If it proves to be that species, then this will be an extension of its range in north-west England. Also a Pelosia muscerda (Hufn.), taken at m.v., at Saffron Walden, Essex on 1|1.viii.1995. This is assumed to be a migrant from the Continent and a first record for North Essex [VC 19]. EZARD, A. S.—The following migrants at Rudston East Yorks.: Catocala fraxini (L.) and Agrius convolvuli (L.), both to m.v. on 19.1x.1995; Heliothis peltigera ({D. & S.]), m.v., 13.x.1995; Eurois occulta (L.), m.v., 2 on 6.vili.1995, 1 on 12.viii.1995. Other records from E. Yorks.: at Rudston, Lithophane leautieri hesperica Bours.; at Bridlington, Eupithecia intricata arceuthata (Freyer) on 20.vi.1995 and 21.vi.1995 (K. Barrow); Lomographa bimaculata (F.) to m.v., Northcliffe Wood, 16.vi.1995; also in the same wood, Dypterygia scabriuscula (L.) on 13.vi.1995. The following moths were taken on 1.vii.1995 on Crowle Moor: /daea muricata (Hufn.), Mythimna pudorina ({D. & S.]), Cybosia mesomella (L.), Dypterygia scabriuscula (L.) and Lygephila pastinum (Treits.). FOSTER, A. P.—Two examples of Photodes captiuncula ssp. expolita (Staint.) from Cowside, between Malham and Arncliffe, Mid-West Yorks. Also single examples of three immigrant noctuids from the Dorset coast: Mythimna vitellina (Hiibn.), to m.v., 11.x.1995, Abbotsbury; Trigonophora flammea (Esp.), to m.v., 14.x.1995, Portland; Heliothis armigera (Hiibn.), to m.v., 14.x.1995, Portland. GARDNER, A.—Six bred examples of Trigonophora flammea (Esp.). Also, from the Burren, Co’s Clare and Galway: Zygaena purpuralis sabulosa Trem. (4), Semiothisa clathrata hugginsi (Baynes) (2), Photodes captiuncula tincta (Kane) (2), Setina irrorella (L.) (4), Odontognophos dumetata hibernica Forder. HALL, N.—A bred series of Conistra rubiginea ({D. & S.]) from Reading, Berks.; Eublemma parva (Hiibn.) and Spodoptera exigua (Hitibn.) from Portland, Dorset taken 15—16.x.1995. Also a dark specimen of Lithophane socia (Hufn.) from Sandford, Wareham, Dorset 22.ix.1995. HART, C.—An almost immaculate form of Spilosoma lutea (Hufn.) to light, Dawlish Warren, Devon, vi.1995. Also exhibited were an adult and a pupa of Agrius convolvuli (L.); the former came to m.y., at Buckland, Surrey and the latter was found as a larva at Bass Point, Lizard, Cornwall, 18.ix.1995. HAYWARD, R.—Some interesting species from the m.v. trap or bred from the garden, Slough, Bucks.: Aplocera efformata (Guen.), to m.v., 24.v.1995, with obsolete markings; Noctua fimbriata (Schreber), a possible ab. nigrescens Busse, with a typical specimen for comparison; Archanara sparganii (Esp.), to m.v., 29.vii.1995. HENWOOD, DR. B. P.—Two migrant species from Abbotskerswell, South Devon: Heliothis armigera (Hiibn.), 13.x.1995 and Cyclophora pupillaria (Hibn.), 19.x.1995. HiGccs, G. E.—Aberration of Abraxas grossulariata (L.) which was taken at light by M. Killeby, Stony Stratford, North Bucks., 12.vi.1995. JENKINS, A. E.—Eurois occulta (L.), taken at light Rannoch, Perthshire; Heterogenea asella ({D. & S.]) taken at Ham Street, Kent; Biston betularia (L.), an 214 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 1: 1996 ab. taken at Loch Rannoch; Cosmorhoe ocellata (L.), an ab. taken at Chardstock, Devon (Plate IV, Fig. 16); Tetheella fluctuosa (Hiibn.), an ab. taken at Chiddingfold, West Sussex; Psodos coracina (Esp.), taken at Coire Chuirn, Inverness-shire. KENDRICK, R. C.—An interesting exhibit of Thaumetopoea*processionea (L.). This appears to be one of three records from the Landguard Bird Observatory, Felixstowe, Suffolk. The specimen exhibited was taken by Mr M. Marsh on 4. viii.1995. Also exhibited was an example of Scopula rubiginata (Hufn.), to m.v., 19.vii.1995, Woodbridge, Suffolk; an example of Eurois occulta (L.) at light, 22.viii.1995, Minsmere Suffolk; an example of Euphyia biangulata (Haw.), to m.v., 27.vi.1995, Ryton Wood, War. This specimen was taken by the Ryton Wood Moth Recording Group. KNILL-JONES, S. A.—An extensive exhibit of macrolepidoptera largely from Freshwater, Isle of Wight (unless otherwise stated). Dryobotodes eremita (F.), a dark black form, 11.x.1995, Cranmore; Archearias parthenias (L.), 8.1v.1995, Whitefield Woods, Ryde; Idaea biselata (Hufn.), 4.viii.1995; Schrankia taenialis (Htbn.), 25.vii and 3.viii.1995; Epirrhoe rivata (Hiibn.), 11.vii.1995; Hoplodrina ambigua ((D. & S.]) ab. taken 22.viii.1995; Ourapteryx sambucaria (L.), a late date 2.xi.1994, wingspan only 32mm; Colotois pennaria (L.), one light and one dark form; Mythimna pallens (L.), dwarf example, wingspan ony 23 mm; Opisthograptis luteolata (L.), an ab. with a white head: Tholera cespitis ([D. & S.]); Thera cupressata (Geyer), 20.x.1994 and 13.x.1995: Stauropus fagi f. obscura (Rebel); a bred series of Rhodometra sacraria (L.), bred ix.1995; Euplagia quadripunctaria (Poda), 16 and 30.viii.1995; Heliothis armigera (Hiibn.), bred from a larva in imported tomatoes, 1.i1.1995; Hadena lepida (Esp.), a very pale form 8.v.1995; Trigonophora flammea (Esp.), 18.x.1995; Drepana cultraria (F.), Shalcombe Down, I.0.W.; Chilodes maritimus (Tausch.) ab. bipunctata (Haw.), 1.ix.1995; Mythimna unipuncta (Haw.), 27.xi.1994; Scoliopteryx libatrix (L.), 5.iv.1995; Agrotis exclamationis (L.), unnamed ab., 2.vii.1995; Agrotis ipsilon (Hufn.), 2 unnamed abs, 24.xi and 13.xii.1995; Mythimna vitellina (Hiibn.), 6 and 7.x.1995: Spilosoma lubricipeda (L.), 29.xi.1994; Hada nana (Hufn.), ab., 30.v.1995; Zygaena lonicerae (Schev.) ssp. latomarginata Tutt, from Malvern, Worcs., vii.1995; Orthosia opima (Hiibn.), 9.v.1995 and at Cranmore, I.o.W., 8.iv.1995; Ennomos fuscantaria (Haw.), a bred series emerged vii.1995; Conistra rubiginea ({D. & S.]), three bred from Cranmore, I.o.W., 1x.1995. Koay, A—An exhibit of moths from Co. Clare, v.1995: Odontognophos dumetata hibernica Forder, bred from larvae and Hadena caesia manani (Gregs.) with Eupithecia venosata plumbea Huggins from Doolin. Also, Thaumetopoea processionea (L.) and Eurois occulta (L.) from Sea Palling, Norfolk, 12.viii.1995; Archanara algae (Esp.) and sparganii (Esp.), bred from Ansty, East Sussex, 6.viii.1995; Cabera exanthemata (Scop.), ab. and a type specimen shown for comparison. Finally, Adscita globulariae (Hiibn.), to m.v., Tilshead, Wilts, 1.vii.1995. LANGMAID, Dr. J.—Eupithecia ultimaria (Boisd.) (Plate IV, Fig. 17), two taken at m.v. light; larvae found on 30.vii.1995 and two bred from Tamarix gallica, larvae found 4.viii.1995 and emerged late ix/early x.1995. Opisthographtis luteolata (L.) f. albescens Cockerell, taken at m.v., Thornton, Northumbs., 14.vi.1995; Cryphia algae (F.), a specimen to m.v., Southsea, Hants., 26.vii.1995 (Plate IV, Fig. 10). OweEN, D. F.—An exhibit demonstrating the rise and fall of melanism in Biston betularia (L.) to stimulate interest in this phenomenon and an appeal for recording information in 1996. McCormick, R.—Malacosoma castrensis (L.), examples from Axmouth, S. Devon where it was caught commonly at light on 31.vii.1995. Kent examples were shown for comparison. Lampropteryx suffumata ({D. & S.]), two extreme variations BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 1: 1996 215 of this species from Feshiebridge Inverness-shire, late v.1995. Lampropteryx otregiata Metc., a bred specimen, Holne, Chase, Dartmoor, Devon. Thera obeliscata (Hiibn.), m.v., garden, Exmouth, South Devon, 31.vili.1995. Hydriomena ruberata (Freyer), bred specimens shown from larvae found at Trinafour, Perthshire, ix.1994. Eupithecia abietaria (Goeze), after specimens noted in a local collection captured in the mid-eighties, a follow-up resulted in a worn specimen from Bellever Forest on Dartmoor, 18.vii.1995. Hydrelia sylvata ({D. & S.]), examples from Dartmoor, 1995. Trichopteryx carpinata (Borkh.), bred from Feshiebridge, Inverness-shire, 1994. Semiothisa carbonaria (Clerck.), examples captured on Granish Moor, near Aviemore, 28.v.1995. Hyles galli (Rott.), taken at Prawle Point, South Devon, 12.vili.1995. Agrotis ripae (Hiibn.), a well-marked specimen taken, unusually at Hartland Point, North Devon, 1.vii.1995. Anarta melanopa (Thunb.), seen commonly at Lecht, Aberdeenshire. Hadena confusa (Hufn.), two dark specimens, reminiscent of the Shetlands ab. obliterae Robson. Enargia paleacea (Esp.), examples from Budby Heath, Notts., taken at light, 19-22.vii.1995. Macdunnoughia confusa (Steph.), a specimen which laid infertile ova, from a light trap in Plymouth, 10.vii.1995. Also an oversized Agrotis segetum ({D. & S.]) from Teignmouth, Devon, taken 8.x.1994, measuring 46mm across the wings, and in contrast a diminutive Agrotis ipsilon (Hufn.) from Prawle Point measuring only 34mm across the wings, taken 29.1x.1995. PHILLIPS, J. W.—Heliothis viriplaca (Hufn.), bred female from Maidscross Hill, Suffolk, 1995. Arctia villica ab. flavo-abdominalis Cock., bred from a larva found on Sinah Common, Hayling Island, Hants., 1993. Egira conspicillaris (L.), bred female from Kynaston Common, Herefordshire, 1994. Mythimna turca (L.), Richmond Park, Surrey, 1995. Cyclophora linearia (Hiibn.), bred female, Tintern, Mon., 1994. Elaphria venustula (Hiibn.), from Tugley Wood, Chiddingfold, Surrey, 1995. Senta flammea (Curtis), from Wicken Fen N.N.R., Cambs. Lithomoia solidaginis (Hiibn.), from Drumguish, Inverness-shire, 1995. Aporophyla lutulenta lunebergensis (Freyer), also from Drumguish, 1995. PICKLES, A. J. AND C.—Hadena caesia ssp. mananii (Gregs.), two specimens bred from the Isle of Skye. Also a long series of Hadena confusa (Hufn.) from a range of localities including Kent, Surrey, South and North Cornwall, North Devon, West Argyll, Skye and Unst (Shetland). It showed darker and more obscure forms to predominate in Shetland and North Devon. PLANT, C. —An exhibit of scarce immigrants recorded in the Bishop’s Stortford area in 1995: Eurois occulta (Linn.), from Parndon Wood Nature Reserve, 19.vili.1995, a much later date than others recorded and having the facies of a freshly emerged specimen; Trachea atriplicis (L.) 10.vili.1995, this is an extinct British breeding species, last recorded as having bred here in 1915, it is a common species in Europe; Macdunnoughia confusa (Steph.), 30.viii.1995, a westward spreading Palaearctic species which has started appearing in Britain since 1951. REID, J. W.—The following migrants were exhibited: Thaumetopoea processionea (L.), one male to light, Meldreth, Cambs., 13.viii.1995; Agrotis crassa, (Hiibn.), Chesterford Park, Saffron Walden, Essex, 13.viii.1995, a single female which laid a few ova from which a dozen or so larvae were feeding; Rhodometra sacraria (L.), one, 13.x.1995, a buff coloured specimen possibly indicating that it had bred here. REVELL, R. J.—The following macrolepidoptera were exhibited, all from Cambridge, unless stated otherwise: Xanthorhoe fluctuata (L.), lacking a median fascia; Colostygia olivata ({D. & S.]) from Porlock, Som.; Apamea scolopacina (Esp.), 26.vili.1995, (first county record); Protoschinia scutosa ({[D. & S.]), 2.viii.1995; Heliothis viriplaca (Hufn.), 2.viti.1995. 216 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 1: 1996 SHARPE, S.—The following moths taken or found as larvae at Carrbridge, Inverness-shire, 1—6.iv.1995: Xylena vetusta (Hiibn.) and exsoleta (L.), Brachionycha nubeculosa (Hufn.), Dasypolia templi (Thunb.), Cryphia domestica (Hufn.), Phragmatobia fuliginosa ssp. borealis (Stdgr), Achlya flavicornis ssp. scotica Tutt, Ellopia fasciaria (L.) and Xanthorhoe fluctuata (L.). Sims, I.—An exhibit of the following moths taken at Medmenham, Bucks., unless otherwise stated: Catarhoe cuculata (Hufn.), m.v., Warberg, Bix, Oxon., 21.vii.1995; Discoloxia blomeri (Curt.), Homefield Wood, 10.vi.1995; Abraxas sylvata (Scop.), m.v., Homefield Wood, 7.vii.1995; Semiothisa liturata (Clerck), Bernwood Forest, Oxon., 23.v.1995: Deileptenia ribeata (Clerck), m.v., Homefield Wood, 7.vii.1995; Cucullia lychnitis (Rambur), larvae, vii.1994 and verbasci (L.), larvae, on Scrophularia sp., vi.1994; Xanthia aurago ({D. & S.]), to m.v., 25.1x.1994; Apamea sublustris (Esp.), to m.v., Homefield Wood, 10.vi.1995; Colocasia coryli (Hufn.), adults from Hambleden, larvae bred on Fagus, emerged 21.11.1992, also bred from Henley-Hill Wood, em. 8.iii.1989; Polychrysia moneta (F.), Rothamstead light trap, Chigwell Row, Essex, 25~-27.vi.1982; Lygephila pastinum (Treits.), m.v., Homefield Wood, 10.vi.1995; Hypena rostralis (L.), m.v., Knowl Hill, Berks, 1.v.1994. SKINNER, B. F.—A male Luperina dumerilii (Dup.), from the Lizard, Cornwall, 7.1x.1983 (Plate IV, Fig. 2). Also the following aberrant examples of macro- lepidoptera taken or bred in 1995: Tetheella fluctuosa (Hiibn.) f. albilinea Cockayne, Loch Arkaig, Argyllshire, 26.vi.1995; melanistic Eilema deplana (Esp.), Windsor Forest, Berks., 28.vii.1995 (Plate IV, Fig. 4); a heavily banded form of Semiothisa liturata (Clerck), Windsor Forest, 28.vii.1995 (Plate IV, Fig. 13); a weakly marked Eupithecia pulchellata (Steph.), Loch Arkaig, 26.vi.1995; a pale Peribatodes rhomboidaria ({[D. & S.]), Sandwich, Kent, 12.vili.1995. Specimens of Entephria flavicinctata (Hiibn.), bred from larvae collected in Co. Antrim, N. Ireland, v.1995, together with examples of the paler ssp. flavicinctata (Hiibn.), from Yorks. and the darker ssp. ruficinctata (Guenée). On behalf of Lynn Hirst, a male Thaumetopoea processionea (L.), a male taken in her garden light trap at Sholden, Kent, 10.viii.1995. SKINNER, B. F. AND CLANCY, S.—A joint exhibit of Peribatodes manuelaria (H.-S.), from a female taken at Lydd, Kent, on 4.viii.1994 by K. Redshaw. They emerged both in 1994 and 1995. The display also included photographs of the larvae in different instars, the pupa and the living adult. SMITH, E. G. AND M. H.—An exhibit of some interesting macrolepidoptera from Wilts.: Meganola strigula ([D. & S.]), one to m.v., Great Wood, 12.vii.1994, rare in Wilts.; Meganola albula ({[D. & S.]), one to m.v., Bullen Hill Farm, VC 8, 26.vii.1995, new Wilts. record. WARING, P.—News from some projects on British moths in 1995 in conjunction with JNCC, CCW, EN, SNH, Butterfly Conservation and BENHS. Eriopygodes imbecilla (F.), was investigated in its haunts in Wales, a project commissioned by the Countryside Council for Wales. It was found to be more widespread than previously thought. Coenocalpe lapidata (Hiibn.) was studied in its rushy haunts by a Scottish National Heritage project and an account given of its rearing in captivity. It was not thought to be much more widespread than previous records suggested. Siona lineata (Scop.): English Nature’s Species Recovery Programme worked upon athird locality for this moth which was found in 1995. Acosmetia caliginosa (Hiibn.) was also a subject of the recovery programme and flew again on mainland Britain in 1995 for the first time since the early 60s. As part of his exhibit, the following were also shown: Dyscia fagaria (Thunb.), recorded at two sites in Monmouthshire in 1995, first records for the county BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 1: 1996 217 (G. A. N. Horton, pers. comm.); a variant Agrotis exclamationis (L.), an unusual specimen taken at m.v., Helpston, Northants, 19.vii.1995 by Malcolm Hillier; Thaumetopoea processionea (L.), taken at m.v., Helpston, Northants, by M. Hillier. WARD, J.—An ab. of Camptogramma bilineata (L.), bred from Newton, Northants. WARNE, B. J.—An exhibit of moths taken in the recorder’s garden at Ryde, Isle of Wight, unless otherwise stated: Meganola strigula ({D. & S.]), to m.v., first in 6 years, 5.v.1995: Cyclophora punctaria (L.), a black and grey streaked ab., 18.viii.1995; Agrotis vestigialis (Hufn.), 21.vi.1995; Hypena crassalis (F.), to m.v., first in 6 years, 9.vii.1995; Rheumaptera undulata (L.), 29.vi.1995, only the second record for the garden; Hypena rostralis (L.), taken at Ryde by Mr D. Peach, first autumn record; Cosmia affinis (L.), to m.v., 4.vili.1995, first record for garden; Agrotis clavis (Hufn.), to m.v., a very dark form, 5.vii.1995; Spodoptera exigua (Hiibn.), to m.v. on 6.vill and 9.ix.1995; Archiearis parthenias (L.), netted by day, Whitefield Woods, Ryde, 20.iii.1995: Chloroclysta truncata (Hufn.), ab., 11.x.1995; Heliothis armigera (Hibn.), seven specimens in all between 12 and 27.x.1995; Rhodometra sacraria (L.), a normal and a pink specimen, 11 and 21.x.1995. WEDD, D.—Macrolepidoptera captured or bred in 1995: Agrotis ripae (Hiibn.), contrasting forms from Devon, Essex and S. E. Ireland; Agrotis vestigialis (Hufn.), a strongly marked form from Findhorn, Morayshire; Paradiarsia glareosa (Esp.), from Melvich, Sutherland, with a specimen approaching form edda (Staint.); Zygaena purpuralis ssp. sabulosa Trem. from Co. Clare, showing the typical coastal form and a small inland ‘“‘montane” form from Aglish; Chrysodeixis chalcites (Esp.), bred from female taken West Wittering, Sussex, 11.viti.1995; Spodoptera exigua (Hiibn.),? new to Henley-on-Thames, Oxon; Thera britannica (Turn.), extreme ab. from Melvich, Sutherland, taken on 2.vili.1995 (Plate IV, Fig. 15), on sand dunes, an improbable place and date; Agrochola haematidea (Dup.), bred from Sussex ova, emerged 29.v.1995; Luperina nickerlii demuthii Goater & Skinner, from Essex showing heavily suffused hindwings (the majority of specimens seen were like this and may have been due to the hot summer); Hadena caesia ssp. mananii (Gregs.), from the Flaggy Shore, Co. Clare, a new locality; Hypena obsitalis (Htibn.), a short series from a new locality in Dorset; Gortina borellii lunata (Freyer), bred on celeriac, from an Essex locality; Gnophos group was illustrated with obfuscatus ({D. & S.]), from Scottish and Irish localities to show distinct differences and also Odontognophos dumetata hibernica Forder from Co. Clare bred 1995; Lymantria monacha (L.), a range of specimens bred over three years, originally from Bockmer End, Marlow, these demonstrated the rapidity of change in a species; Noctua comes (Hiibn.), a colour range of specimens taken or bred in 1994—5, from Findhorn, Morayshire (e.g. Plate IV, Fig. 5). YOUNG, D.—The following specimens were exhibited: Synanthedon myopaeformis (Borkh.), larvae of all sizes were collected from ornamental cherry trees from a suburban road in West London, showing a preference for those with dark red flowers, larvae collected iv.1995 and emerged 6.v—24.vi.1995; a series of Chloroclysta citrata (Linn.) from Inverness-shire showing an incredible amount of variation and markings; Eugnorisma depuncta (L.), fairly common at sugar and m.yv., 12-18.viii.1995, in the Aviemore and Kingussie areas; Paradiarsia sobrina (Dup.), not uncommon in the Aviemore and Kingussie areas in vill.1995; Apamea oblonga (Haw.), two specimens from Keyhaven, Hants., to m.v., 8.vi.1995; Aplocera plagiata scotica Rich., two specimens taken at m.v., Drumguish, near Kingussie, vili.1995; Scopula ornata (Scop.), three specimens from the North Downs, Surrey, 23.v.1993 and 25.vii.1995; Archanara neurica (Hiibn.), Walberswick, Suffolk, 27.vii.1995; fairly common at m.v., Aporophyla lutulenta luenebergensis (Freyer), 218 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 1: 1996 specimens from Drumguish, Inverness-shire, vili.1995; Antitype chi (L.), also a series from Drumguish, vili.1995. BRITISH MICROLEPIDOPTERA AGASSIZ, D.—Monopis monachella Hiibn., Sandwich, Kent, 12.viti.1995, new county record; Cydia medicaginis Kuznetsov, Gravesend, Kent, 27.vi.1995, new county record; Eccopisa effractella Zeller (Pyralidae), Buckingham Palace Gardens, 13.vii.1995, new to Britain (Plate IV, Fig. 20). BEAUMONT, H. E.—Calybites phasianipennella Htibn., West Melton, Rotherham, S. Yorks., VC63, 28.vii.1995, there are only two previous Yorkshire localities, both in VC63; Depressaria weirella Staint., West Melton, Rotherham, S. Yorks., VC63, several vii.1995, Blastobasis decolorella Woll., West Melton, Rotherham, S. Yorks., VC63, 25.vi.1995; B. lignea Wals., West Melton, Rotherham, S. Yorks., VC63, 3.vill.1995; Stenolechia gemmella L., West Melton, Rotherham, S. Yorks., VC63, 23.vili.1995, apparently the first Yorkshire record for 50 years; Mompha subbistrigella Haw., West Melton, Rotherham, S. Yorks., VC63, 15.vi.1995; Piercea vectisana H. & W., Conheath, Glencaple, Dumfries, VC72, several on R. Nith banks, first Scottish record?; P. alismana Rag., Rushy Moor, Askern, S. Yorks., VC63, pupae in stems of water plantain, 23.iv.1995, moths reared in May, first Yorkshire record; Epinotia demarniana F. v R., Treeton Dyke, Rotherham, VC63, 4.vi.1995, Crowle, Moors, Lines., VC63, 1|.vii.1995; Margaritia sticticalis L., Hooton Roberts, Rotherham, S. Yorks., VC63, 18.viii.1995; Leioptilus lienigianus Zell., West Melton, Rotherham, S. Yorks, VC63, 31.viii.1995. BLAND, K. P.—Caloptilia leucapennella Steph., Mailermore Wood, Glen Artney, Perths., VC88, 5.viti.1995, NN7518, Laggan Wood, Comrie, Perths., VC88, 16.ix.1995, NN7623, Campsie Hill Wood, Perths., VC89, 31.viii.1995; Eutromula diana Hiibn., still present in Glen Affric, E. Inverness-shire, VC96, several seen there 16.vii.1995; Elachista bedellella Sirc., reared from mines in Helictotrichon grass collected Linkim Bay, Berwickshire, NT9265, VC81 on 15.vi.1995, imago emerged 9.vii.1995; E. regificella Sirc., a very scarce species in S. E. Scotland with only four known localities; this specimen reared from mines in Luzula sylvatica collected in Dura Den, Fifeshire, NO4115, VC85, 10.vi.1995, imago emerged 16.vii.1995; Schiffermuelleria similella Hiibn., Glendoll, Lodge, Angus, NO2776, VC90, 9.vii.1995; S. subaquilea Staint., Craigmead, Lomond Hills, Fife, VC85, 10.vi.1995, NO2205, Craig Melton, Glen Doll, Augus, VC90, 9.vii.1995; Reuttia subocellea Steph., Linkim Bay, Berwickshire, NT9265, VC81, many imagines flying around wild thyme, 15.vi.1995, larval cases feeding on thyme at same site 22.vili.1995, this appears to be a new food plant for the species in Britain; Ancylis tineana Hiibn., larval workings in Betula pubescens now discovered, heavily grazed dwarf birches are chosen, the larva makes rough spinnings of leaves and lives in a frass-coated silk tube within the spinning, see Ent. Gaz. (in press) for details, larva collected at Struan Wood, Perthshire, NN7965, VC88, on 4.ix.1994, imago emerged 15.v.1995. BRITTON, M. R.—A year for Yorkshire ancylids: Ancylis geminana Don., Bridestones Moor, N. Yorks. Moors, larva 30.viii.1994, adult 23.v.1995, Jugger Howe Bec, Scarborough, 23.v.1995; A. uncella D. & S., Jugger Howe Beck, Scarborough, 23.v.1995; A. upupana Treits., Skipwith Common, Selby, beaten from birch 31.v.1995, apparently new to Yorkshire. BROTHERIDGE, D. J.—The following from Wiltshire: Oegoconia deauratella H.-S., Wroughton, 21.vii.1994, 13.vii.1995, 30.vii.1995, 12.viti.1995; Blastobasis decolorella BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 1: 1996 219 Woll., Swindon, 10.vii.1995; Epiphyas postvittana Walk., Wroughton, 30.viii.1995; Eucosma_ conterminana H.-S., Wroughton, 20.vii.1993, 4.vii.1994, 11 .vii.1995, L.viii.1995; Alucita hexadactyla L., Wroughton, 22.vu.1995, Swindon, 9.viii.1994; Pyrausta cespitalis D. & S., a small brightly marked form, Beckhampton, 18.viii.1990; Margaritia sticticalis L., Wroughton, 10.viii.1995, 22.viti.1995. Brown, D. C. G.—A selection of migrants caught on the Lizard, Cornwall: Hymenia recurvalis F., 17.x.1995; Hellula undalis F., 9.x.1995; Euchromius ocellea Haw., 14.x.1995; Uresiphita polygonalis D. & S., 17.x.1995. CARTER, D.—Moths from Buckingham Palace Gardens in the National Collection: a drawer showing some of the pyralid moths collected over a period of more than 30 years. In 1995 a further 10 species were added to the already impressive list of 600 species of Lepidoptera from the gardens. Amongst this year’s new additions is the pyralid moth Eccopisa effractella Zell., a species new to the British list (see D. Agassiz, above). CLANCY, S. P.—A few species of Pyralidae including three migrant species and two scarce resident species. The migrants comprised specimens of Antigastra catalaunalis Dup. from Dungeness, 12.x.1995; Euchromius ocellea Haw. from Dungeness, 27.vii.1995; and Hellula undalis F., from Lydd, Kent on 14.1x.1995. The residents included examples of Microstega pandalis Hiibn. from Kent and Homoeosoma nebulella D. & S., from Suffolk. COLENUTT, S.—Evergestis limbata L., Chale Green, Isle of Wight, 14.vii.1995; Margaritia sticticalis L., Chale Green, Isle of Wight, 11.vii.1995; Homoeosoma sinuella F. ab. from St Catherines, Isle of Wight, 19.vii1.1995. CoRLEY, M. F. V.—Pediasia aridella Thunb., Redlynch Common, Wilts., VC8, 7.vu.1995, normally a coastal species. Species refound in VC22: Aethes francillana F., Pucketty Farm, Faringdon, 17.vui.1995, previous VC records 1899 and 1901; Cochylis hybridella Hibn., Gozzards Ford, Abingdon, last recorded 1913; Ectoedemia atrifrontella Staint., Bagley Wood, 2.vili.1995, last recorded 1920; Biselachista utonella Frey, Gozzards Ford, Abingdon, 31.vu.1995, last recorded before 1929; Cydia gallicana Guenée, Pucketty Farm, Faringdon, 27.vii.1995, also seen in 1994, previous record before 1929. Uncommon VC22 species: Aethes dilucidana Steph., Pucketty Farm, Faringdon, 31.viii.1995; Calamotropha paludella Hiibn., Gozzards Ford, Abingdon, 31.vii.1995; Caryocolum proximum Haw., Pucketty Farm, Faringdon, bred 3.vu.1995 from Stellaria media; Pammene aurantiana Staud., Pucketty Farm, 2.vili.1995. CRAMP, P. J.—Stenoptilia lunaedactyla L., |.vii.1995, Blackgang, Isle of Wight; Ypsolopha_ sequella Clerck, 19.viii.1995, Parkhurst, Isle of Wight; Eurrhypara perlucidalis Hiibn., 27.vu.1995, Godshill, Isle of Wight, new VC record; Ephestia figulilella Greg., x.1991, Godshill, Isle of Wight, new VC record. CRONIN, A. R.—Evergestis limbata L., Portslade, Sussex, 11.1x.1995, one at light in garden. DICKERSON, B.—Ectoedemia amani Svensson, discovered in Waresley Wood, Hunts. (VC31) on 12.vii.1994. A photograph of the genitalia dissection of the first F. amani found in Britain was shown, along with a reduced copy of the plate from Johansson et al., Fauna Ent. Scand. 23. Also shown were three examples of E. amani taken in Waresley Wood on 10.vii.1995. Dosson, A. H.—Blastobasis decolorella Woll., North Baddesley, Hants, 9.vi.1995, one at m.v. light, third county record of this rapidly spreading species; Epiphyas postvittana Walker, Basingstoke, 8.x.1995, at m.v. light, the furthest inland Hants record; Pseudargyrotoza conwagana F., a dark form, Bartley Heath Reserve, Hants; Pediasia contaminella Hiibn., Dawlish Warren, Devon, 25.vii..1960 and P. aridella 220 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 1: 1996 Thunb., Dawlish Warren, 24.vii.1968, the first Devon 20th century specimens of both species; Evergestis extimalis Scop. and Sitochroa palealis D. & S., both species at Maidscross Hill, Suffolk field meeting, 15.vii.1995; Margaritia sticticalis L., Starcross, Devon, 4-6 and 8.vili.1995, two specimens of this migrant at Rothamsted light trap; Phlyctaenia perlucidalis Hibn., Abbotsworthy, Hants, 5.vi.1995, disturbed in a water meadow, a new locality. ELLIoTT, B.—Caloptilia leucapennella Steph., bred from leaf cones on Quercus ilex, Tresco, Isles of Scilly, x.1994; Crocidosema plebejana Zell., bred from stems of Lavatera arborea St Mary’s, Isles of Scilly, x.1994; Nothris congressariella Bruand, bred from spun leaves of Scrophularia nodosa, Tresco, Isles of Scilly, x.1995; Margaritia sticticalis Boisd., Allerthorpe Common, Yorks., 3.viti.1995, four others seen at same locality a few days earlier by N. Gill. Subsequently, further imagines were seen at Portland and Winchester a week later; the Portland specimen laid and the progeny were hibernating as full grown larvea. Leioptilus chrysocomae Rag., Blean Woods, Kent, bred Solidago stems vili.1995; Piercea alismana Rag., Hilton, Derbyshire, bred stems of Alisma plantago aquatica, 6.viil.1995; Aethes beatricella Wals., Sawley Derbys., bred from old Conium stems vii.1995; Lampronia rubiella Bjerk., Linacre, Derbyshire, vi.1995; Exapate congelatella Cl., Beeley Moor, Derbys., very common, 3.x1.1995. EMMET, A. M.—Coleophora salicorniae Wocke, taken at m.v. light at Saffron Walden, Essex on 26.vii.1995, about 40 miles from its salt-marsh breeding ground; Apotomis lineana D. & S., Saffron Walden, Essex, taken at m.v., 11.viti.1995, a rare species in Essex. Foster, A. P.—Ochsenheimeria vacculella (F. v. R.), Great Coxwell, Berks., VC22, 7.viil.1995, adults found congregating in rot holes of ash and oak trees: Crocidosema plebejana Zell., Church Ope Cove, Portland, Dorset, VC9, 14.x.1995; Sitochroa palealis D. & S., Cricklade, N. Wilts., VC7, at m.v., 27.vi1.1995; Callamotropha paludella Htbn.., Cricklade, N. Wilts., VC7, at m.v., 6.vili.1995, possibly the first county record. HALL, N.—Numonia suavella Zinck., Earley, Reading, Berks., bred 1995 from Cotoneaster; apparently a new food plant. HART, C.—Platyptilia tesseradactyla L., a short series mostly reared from two sites in the Burren, County Clare: the exhibitor went at the end of May for the adults but found the season so late most individuals were still in pupa. The larva feeds on the rootstock and developing leaves of Antennaria dioica and the pupa is hidden in the cavity formed by a newly opening leaf as it grows away from the main rosette. The larva secures the leaf in place with silk to prevent the leaf opening further and the pupa being exposed. Agdistis bennetii Curtis, a single example which came to a garden trap at Buckland near Reigate, Surrey on 20.viii.1995. This coastal plume which feeds on sea lavender, is well known as a wanderer on warm nights and can turn up at light many miles from the sea. Members may recall a specimen exhibited by G. Higgs in 1994, which was caught at Willen near Milton Keynes. HARVEY, M.—Choreutis pariana Clerck, Homefield Wood, BBONT Reserve, Bucks., 25.ix.1994; Argyresthia semifusca Haw., Upper Basildon, Berks., 27.vii.1995; Ypsolopha alpella D. & S., 3.viii.1995, Upper Basildon, Berks.; Depressaria badiella Hiibn., Thatcham Reedbeds, Berks., 28.vii.1995; Pancalia leuwenhoekella L., Hurley Chalk Pit, BBONT Reserve, Berks., 2.v.1994, Homefield Wood, BBONT Reserve, Bucks., 15.v.1994; Margaritia sticticalis L., Upper Basildon, Berks.)3.viii.1995, at m.v., one of two seen; Phlyctaenia perlucidalis Htibn., Parsonage Moor, BBONT Reserve, Berks., 10.vi.1995; Mecyna flavalis flaviculalis Caradja, Hartslock Nature Reserve, BBONT, Oxon, 10.vii.1995. HENWOOD, B. P.—Photograph of Phyllonorycter mines on Trifolium repens; they appear to be those of P. nigrescentella Log., which has not been previously recorded BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 1: 1996 221 on Trifolium in this country. They were found in a garden at Abbotskerswell, Devon. KENDRICK, R. C.—Opostega crepusculella Zell., Ryton Wood, War., second county record; Blastobasis decolorella Woll., Cheylesmore, Coventry, War., this species is now common in Coventry, occurring in some abundance for several years; B. lignea Wals., Coventry, War., 1994, 1995; Epagoge grotiana F., Ryton Wood, War., third county record; Eudemis profundana D. & S., Cheylesmore, Coventry, War., 18.viii.1993, Ryton Wood, War.; Pseudosciaphila branderiana L., Ryton Wood, War., 8.vii.1993 at m.v.; Ancylis upupupana Treits., Ryton Wood, War., at m.v., 8.vil.1993, second county record; Agriphila latistria Haw., Ryton Wood, War., at m.v., 29.vi1.1993; Agriphila selasella Hiibn., Ryton Wood, War., 21.vii.1993, at m.v.; Margaritia sticticalis L., Minsmere NR, Westleton, East Suffolk, 2.viti.1995, at light; Phycitodes saxicola Vaughan, Cheylesmore, Coventry, War., 15.vi.1995, at m.v., second county record (det. B. Skinner). The high number of unusual records in one night at Ryton Wood, Warwickshire shows the degree of under-recording of smaller moths. This wood was considered to be well recorded, but only a small amount of the area had been regularly worked, thus on 8.vii.1993, when a previously unworked part of the reserve was monitored, that so many ‘unusual’ records occurred should not be a surprise. KNILL-JONES, S. A.—AIll the following recorded from the Isle of Wight: Tortricodes alternella D. & S., Binstead, 7.11.1995; Acleris cristana D. & S., Whitefield Woods, 28.1v.1995; Ptychloma lecheana L., The Causeway, Freshwater, 30.v.1995; Dichomeris marginella F., Freshwater, 12.vui.1995; Anacampsis blattariella Hiibn., Ryde, 28.1v.1995; Depressaria pastinacella Dup., Shalcombe Down, 9.vili.1995; Ypsolopha parenthesella L., Shalcombe Down, 9.viti.1995; Udea fulvalis Hibn., Freshwater, 11 and 17.vui.1995; Plodia interpunctella Hibn., Freshwater, 22.v.1995; Scoparia pyralella D. & S., ab., Tennyson Down, 4.vi.1995; Hellinsia (Leioptilus) carphodactyla Hiibn., High Down, Freshwater, 25.vii.1995; Heterographis oblitella Zell., Freshwater, 21 and 22.vil.1995; Acleris emargana F., Fort Victoria, three; Epinotia solandriana L., Freshwater, 2.vii.1995; Pyrausta cingulata L., High Down, Freshwater, 25 and 31.vu.1995; Epiblema foenella L., Cranmore, 2.vii.1995; Hedya salicella L., Freshwater, 26.vii.1995; Crocidosema plebejana Zell., Freshwater, 23.x.1995. LANGMAID, J. R.—Coleophora currucipennella Zell., Ham Street, Kent, 14.vii.1995, two at m.v.; Bisigna procerella D. & S., Ham Street, Kent, 14.vu.1995; Sitotroga cerealella Ol., Southsea, Hants, one taken at m.v., 28.vi1.1995, new to Hampshire; Neofriseria singula Staud., a series of four bred from Rumex acetosella, Enfield, Middx, larvae found 8.vi.1995, emerged 2—22.vi1.1995; Caryocolum proximum Haw., two bred from Stellaria media, Petts Wood, Kent, larvae found 18.v.1995, emerged 24.vi.1995; Cochylis molliculana Zell., Thorney Island, Sussex, one bred from Picris echioides, larva found 11.ix.1994, emerged 18.vi.1995, new to Sussex; Acleris logiana Clerck, Botley Wood, Hants, one bred from Betula pubescens, larva found 17.1x.1994, emerged 15.x.1994; Apotomis semifasciana Haw., Botley Wood, Hants, two bred from Salix cinerea, larvae found 19.v.1995, emerged 29-30.vi.1995; Epinotia fraternana Haw., a particularly boldly marked specimen beaten from Abies grandis at Charterhall Wood, Berwickshire, 13.vi.1995; Eucosma tripoliana Barr., Farlington Marshes, Portsmouth, Hants; a unicolorous specimen, 10.vili.1995 (Plate IV, Fig, 18) Cryptophlebia leucotreta (Meyr.), Southsea, Hant, 11.viti.1995, a perfect male specimen taken at m.v.; Acrobasis tumidana D. & S., a single specimen taken at m.v. at Southsea, Hants, 30.vi1.1995, second authenticated VC11 record. McCormick, R.—Agapeta zoegana L. f. ferrugana Haw., Great Haldon, Devon, 10.vui.1995; Aphelia viburnana D. & S., Hartland Point, Devon and Hurley near 222 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 1: 1996 Fernworthy Reservoir, Dartmoor, all in 1995; A. paleana Hiibn., Hartland Point, Devon and Hurley, Dartmoor, all in 1995. A. unitana Hiibn., Hartland Point, at light, 1995, det. subject to confirmation; Eudonia alpina Curtis, Grannish Moor, Aviemore, several 28.v.1995; Eurrhypara terrealis Treits., abundant at light, Hartland Point and Shipload Bay, North Devon, 1.vii.1995; Udea decrepitalis H.-S., in several locations along the coast of Loch Arkaig, 30 and 31.v.1995; Platyptilia calodactyla D. & S., larvae at one location in North Devon, moths at light at another also in North Devon; Hellinsia (Leioptilus) tephradactyla Hibn., larvae at one location in North Devon, moths at light at another location again in North Devon, all in 1995. O’KEEFFE, D.—From Kent: Caryocolum proximum Haw., Petts Wood, bred from Stellaria media, vii.1995; Gelechia senticetella Staud., Petts Wood at m.v., now established in the area; Monochroa niphognatha Gozm., Stodmarsh, at m.v., 20.vi.1995; M. elongella Hein., Stodmarsh, at m.v., 20.vi.1995; Coleophora currucipennella Zell., usually a scarce species, but common at Ham Street, at m.v., 11.vu.1995; Cosmopterix zieglerella Hibn., from a new colony at Swanley 3.vu.1995; Phalonidia curvistrigana Staint., ex Solidago, Ham Street, vu.1994; Eucosma aemulana Schlag., ex Solidago, Ham Street and Thornden Wood, vii.1995; Hellinsia (Leioptilus) chrysocomae Rag., ex Solidago, Thornden Wood, vii.1995. From Scotland: Aethes rutilana Hiibn., bred ex Juniperus communis nana, Beinn Eighe, Wester Ross, vi.1995; Swammerdamia compunctella H.-S., bred ex Sorbus aucuparia, Beinn Eighe, Wester Ross, vi.1995; Archinemapogon yildizae Kogak, bred ex Piptoporus, Forres Inshriac and Alvie, Inverness, 5.viii.1995. From Kent: Caloptilia falconipennella Hiibn., typical form bred x.1993 and at m.v. iv.1995, with f. oneratella taken at m.v. vii/vili.1993-95, first records of the summer generation f. oneratella in Britain, all from Petts Wood. From Hampshire: Psammotis pulveralis Hiibn., Matley Bog, female, taken by day 1995. PARSONS, M. S.—A selection of species recorded in 1994-1995 including: Margaritia sticticalis L., Richmond Park, Surrey, 11.vi.1995; Pammene inquilina Fletch., Richmond Park, 17.iv—l.v.1995; Tinea columbariella Wocke, bred from larvae feeding on dead insects killed by an Insect-o-Cutor, Richmond Park, viii.1994, and Raynes Park, Surrey, 29.vii.1995; Monopis fenestratella Heyd., Richmond Park, 20.vi.1995 (Plate IV, Fig. 19); Niditinea piercella Bentinck, Richmond Park, 18.vi.1995; Aroga velocella Zeller, Richmond Park, 22.vii—26.vii.1995; Apomyelois bistriatella neophanes Durr., Raynes Park, 14.viii.1995; Euzophera cinerosella Zell., Raynes Park, 3.vii.1995; Platyedra subcinerea Haw., Richmond Park, 6.v.1995; Gelechia senticetella Staud., Raynes Park, 31.viu—16.viu.1995; Caloptilia populetorum Zell., Raynes Park, 20.vii.1995; Ancylosis oblitella Zell., Sandwich Bay, Kent, 12.viii.1995; Scoparia ambigualis Treits, dark almost unicolorous form, Malham Tarn, Yorks., 29.vi.1995; Olethreutes palustrana L. & Z., Malham Tarn, 29.vi.1995; Sitochroa palealis D. & S., Thorney Island, Sussex, larvae 11.1x.1994; Scoparia pyralella f. alba Tutt, Holywell, Sussex, 11.vi.1995; Eudonia lineola Curt., Cow Gap, Sussex, 26.vil.1995; Acleris logiana Clerck, Havant Thicket, Hants. 2.1v.1995; Cydia succedana f. asseclana, Glen More, Easterness, 26.vi..1995; Eudarcia richardsoni Wals., Church Ope Cove, Portland, Dorset, larvae 28.11.1995; Telephila schmidtiellus Heyd., Rodborough Common, W. Glos., larvae 20.v.1995 and Eastbourne, larva v.1995; Elachista subocellea Steph., Barnsley Warren, Glos., 20.v.1995 and Eastbourne, E. Sussex, 27.v.1995. Sims, I.—Eriocrania haworthi Bradley, Medmenham, Marlow, Bucks., 7.1v.1995; E. sangii Wood, Bear Wood, Wokingham, Berks, 2.iv.1995; E. semipurpurella Steph., Bramshill Plantation, Bramshill, Hants, 14.1v.1995; Ectoedemia argyropeza BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 1: 1996 223 Zell., Hainault Forest, Chigwell Row, Essex, in aspen, 6.xi.1992, bred 4.v.1993; E. atricollis Staint., adults and cocoons in crab apple, Medmenham, Marlow, Bucks, 19.x.1994, bred 12.v.1995; E. occultella L., Burnham Beeches, adults and cocoons in birch, 31.x.1994, bred 5.v.1995; E. subbimaculella Haw., adults and cocoons, in oak (Quercus robor), Medmenham, Marlow, Bucks., 31.x.1994, bred 21.iv.1995; E. heringi Toll, Lower Earley, Reading, Berks., 23.x.1994, bred 2.v.1995; Stigmella floslactella Haw., Medmenham, Marlow, Bucks., in hazel, 6.x.1994, bred 1.iv.1995; S. basiguttella Haw., Winnersh Triangle, Reading, Berks., 24.x.1994, adults and cocoons in oak, bred 22.iv.1995; S. malella Staint., Medmenham, Marlow, Bucks., in apple cultivar (Malus sp.), 26.x.1994, bred 27.iv.1995; S. regiella H.-S., Medmenham, Marlow, Bucks., adults and cocoons, 8.x.1994, bred 1.v.1995; S. microtheriella Staint., Pheasant Wood, Hambleden, Marlow, Bucks., mine in oak, 19.x.1994, bred 9.v.1995; S. alnetella Staint., Medmenham, Marlow, Bucks., adults and cocoons in alder (Alnus glutinosa), 10.x.1994, bred 19.v.1995; Tischeria ekebladella Bjerk., Medmenham, Marlow, Bucks., adults and mine with pupal exuvae, in oak 3.x1.1994, bred 28.iv.1995; 7. angusticolella Dup., Hainault Forest, Chigwell Row, Essex, adults and mine with pupal exuvae, in dog-rose 6.xi.1992, bred 12.11.1993; Incurvaria pectinea Haw., Bramshill Plantation, Bramshill, Hants., 14.iv.1995; Nemophora metallica Poda, Homefield Wood, Medmenham, Marlow, Bucks., 26.vii.1995; Warburg Wood, Bix, Oxon, 21.vii.1995 and Hambleden, Marlow, Bucks., 30.vii.1995, all netted at flowers of Knautia arvensis; N. rufimitrella Scop., Lower Earley, Reading, Berks., 20.v.1994; Taleporia tubulosa Retz., Bear Wood, Wokingham, Berks., 2.iv.1995, bred 27.iv.1995 and Winnersh Triangle, Reading, Berks., 5.v.1990, bred 19.v.1990; Luffia lapidella Goeze, male and female cases from its Cornish locality, already emerged 15.viii.1995; Bacotia sepium Spey.. Bramshill, Plantation, Bramshill, Hants., 14.iv.1995, parasite and case, hatched 22.iv.1995, host larva alive when found; Jnfurcitinea argentimaculella Staint., Medmenham, Marlow, Bucks., old wall, adults and larval tube, 31.iii.1995, hatched 7.v.1995; Nemapogon clematella F., Medmenham, Marlow, Bucks., adults and larval working mining in the fungus Diatrype disciformis and dead hazel from old coppice, 2.v.1995, hatched 15.v, 22.v, 23.v and 15.vii.1995; Tinea semifulvella Haw., Warburg Wood, Bix, Oxon, 21.vii.1995, in m.v. trap; Leucoptera laburnella Staint., Hambleden, Marlow, Bucks., on Laburnum anagyroides, 22.vi.1995, hatched 3.vii.1995; L. spartifoliella Hiibn., Lower Earley, Berks., on Sarothamnus scoparius, cocoons, bred 28.v.1995; Calybites auroguttella Steph., Lower Earley, Reading, larval folds and cocoons on Hypericum perforatum, 16.ix.1992, bred 1.xii.1992; Phyllonorycter platani Stdgr, South Kensington, London, adults and mine in plane (Platanus acerifolia), 22.x.1994, hatched 22.11.1995; P. lantanella Schr., Homefield Wood, Medmenham, Marlow, Bucks., in Vibernum lantana, mines in stunted bushes, low down amongst grasses, 17.ix.1995, hatched 21.x.1995. C. falconipennella Hiibn., summer adults: alder, Medmenham, Marlow, Bucks., 21.vi.1995, hatched 10.vii.1995 and Lower Earley, Reading, Berks., 26.vi.1994, hatched 4.vii.1994. Folds and cocoon: Medmenham, Marlow, 21.vi.1995. Autumn adult: Medmenham, Marlow, 23.x.1995, hatched 25.x.1995, intermediate form between oneratella and typical autumn form. Field work and rearing experiments have shown this species has two generations in southern England, as is the situation in Europe. The summer generation is quite unlike the autumn generation (this is also true of the first generation in Europe) and is referable to oneratella. Denis O’Keeffe and David Agassiz have examined specimens of both generations microscopically and found no structural differences between them. The apparent sudden extention of this species’ range in the UK (four new county records last year, VCs 12, 22, 23 and 224 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 1: 1996 24) and now this oddity make it worthy of further study. Perhaps this is more evidence of a warming of climate. Argyresthia brockeella Hibn., Burnham Beeches, Slough, Bucks., larvae descend- ing from birch 12.11.1995, hatched 19.iv.1995. ’ SKINNER, B.—Malham Tarn, Yorks., Scoparia ambigualis Treits., 29.vi.1995, specimens of the dark form; Dioryctria mutatella Fuchs, Windsor Forest, two melanic examples, 21.vii.1995; Phlyctaenia stachydalis Germ., bred specimens from larvae collected in Devon together with photographs of half grown and full grown larvae. SMITH, E. G. AND M. R.—Some interesting Wiltshire Lepidoptera: Telephila schmidtiellus Heyd., series bred from Origanum vulgare, collected, Ford (VC7), 8.vi.1995, moths emerged 7.vii.1995, new for Wilts., Coleophora onosmella Brahm, series bred from cases collected Echium vulgare, Shrewton Folly (VC7), 5.v.1995, first time the cases have been found in Wilts.; Monochroa hornigi Staud., Savernake (VC7), one taken m.v., 29.vi.1994, gen. det., new for Wilts.; Reuttia subocellea Steph., Ford (VC7), larvae on Origanum vulgare, 31.x.1994, bred 17.vii.1995; Coleophora virgaureae Staint., Bentley Wood (VC8), cases on Solidago virgaurea, moths bred; Depressaria chaerophylli Zell., Ashton Common, series bred from Chaerophyllum temulentum collected 20.vi.1994, moths emerged 5.viii.1994, new for Wilts.; Aplota palpella Haw., Redlynch (VC8), at m.v., 16.vii.1994; Coleophora therinella Tengst., Savernake (VC7), one at m.v., 29.vi.1994, gen. det., new for Wilts.; Hellinsia (Leioptilus) carphodactyla Hiibn., Ford (VC7), 21.vi.1994, new VC record; Pterophorus baliodactylus Zell., Ford (VC7), 17.vii.1994, new VC record; Coleophora limosipennella Dup., Ashton Common (VC8), moths emerged second half of June 1994; showing the early stages of larval case and example of final case, new for Wilts. STERLING, P. H. AND M. J.—Stigmella acetosae Staint., Portland, bred from mines on Rumex acetosa collected 7.vi.1995 by MJS; Lampronia fuscatella Tengst., Higher Hyde Nature Reserve, Dorset, at m.v., 15.vi.1995 by PHS; Pachythelia villosella Ochs., a male from one of many cases found in 1994 and 1995 at Haymoor Bottom, Poole, VC9, by PHS. In the past few years cases have been found on other VC9 heaths including Arne, Creech, Gore, Holt, Studland and Turners Puddle, as well as Merritown Heath and Town Common, both in VC11. The species continues to occur throughout the Dorset heaths, occasionally in local abundance. Eudarcia richardsoni Wals., Punfield Cove, Swanage, Dorset, VC9; one case of several found in 11.1995 by PHS, M. Parsons et al. It was last seen at this site in the 1890s; elsewhere it is only known from Portland (British endemic). Nemapogon variatella Clem., Stoke Common, Bucks., VC24, bred from Piptoporus betulinus collected in winter 1994 by MJS; Epermenia insecurella Staint., Portland, Dorset, VC9, bred from larvae on Thesium humifusum, collected 9.vi.1995 by MJS; Biselachista serricornis Staint., Studland National Reserve, Dorset, VC9, collected by day 24.v.1995 by PHS; Monochroa suffusella Doug., Studland National Nature Reserve, Dorset, VC9, by day on 24.v.1995 by PHS, new VC record; Cosmopterix lienigiella L. & Z., Holton Heath National Nature Reserve, Dorset, VC9, bred from mines on Phragmites collected 14.x.1994 by PHS; Piercea luridana Greg., Portland, bred from larva on Bartsia odontites collected 12.viii.1994 by PHS; Cydia prunivorana Rag., Weymouth, Dorset, VC9, at m.v., 10.vii.1995 by PHS, new VC record; C. cosmophorana Treits., Warmwell Heath, Dorset, by day on 30.v1995 by PHS; Homoeosoma nebulella D. & S., Frome St Quintin, Dorset, at m.v. on 20.vili.1995 by PHS. STERLING, P. AND DAvey, P.—Potential Immigrant Lepidoptera to Dorset caught by Dorset Moth Project contributors during 1995: Hellula undalis F., Gaunts Common, 11.x.1995 (P. Davey); Margaritia sticticalis L., Gaunts Common, BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 1: 1996 225 5.vili.1995 (P. Davey); Psammotis pulveralis Hiibn., Sixpenny Handley, 28.vii.1995 (P. Davey); Antigastria catalaunalis Dup., Gaunts Common, 11.x.1995 (P. Davey); Hymenia recurvalis F., Portland, 11.x.1995 (M. Cade); Etiella zinckenella (Sodoffsky), Christchurch, 11.vi1.1995 (M. Jeffs); Ancylosis oblitella Zell., Hartland Moor, 6.viii.1995 (P. Davey). WARNE, B. J.—Sitochroa palealis L., netted by day at Newtown rifle ranges, Isle of Wight, 20.vu.1995, nectaring on a saw-wort flower; Ostrinia nubilalis Hibn., Binstead, Ryde, Isle of Wight, at m.v., 23.vi.1995(2), 25.viti.1995(1); Margaritia sticticalis L., at m.v., Binstead, Ryde, Isle of Wight, 7.viii.1995, 21.vili.1995; Ancylosis oblitella Zell., Binstead, Ryde, Isle of Wight, at m.v., 15.vili.1995. WebDD, D.—Ancylosis oblitella Zell., Henley-on-Thames, Oxon, 21.viii.1995; Sclerocona acutellus Evers., 20.vi.1995, Henley-on-Thames, Oxon. WOOLDRIDGE, D. B.—Schoenobius gigantella D. & S., The Causeway, Freshwater, Isle of Wight, 1.viii.1995. FOREIGN LEPIDOPTERA CorRLEY, M. F. V.—(1) Pterophoridae from Portugal, 22 out of a total of 35 species recorded for Portugal: Agdistis tamaricis Zell., A. satanas Mill., A meridionalis Zell., A. frankeniae Zell., A. heydeni Zell., A bifurcata Agenjo, Crombrugghia laeta Zell., C. distans Zell., Stangeia siceliota Zell., Marasmarcha lunaedactyla Haw., Amblyptilia punctidactyla Haw., Stenoptilodes taprobanes Felder & Rogenhofer, Stenoptilia zophodactyla Dup., Tabulaephorus punctinervis Const., Calyciphora adamas Const., Merrifieldia leucodactyla Hibn., M. malacodactyla Zell., Gypsochares baptodactylus Zell., Pterphorus olbiadactylus Mill., Emmelina monodactyla Linn., Hellinsia inulae Zell. and H. osteodactyla Zell. (2) Geometridae, Ennominae from Portugal, 45 out of the 111 species recorded in the country. These were all collected in the southern half of Portugal, mostly in the Algarve, but a few in Alentejo. The northern half of the country has a greater number of species in this subfamily, because the majority of them occur in woodland, particularly deciduous woodland. In the southern half of Portugal, nearly all the woodland is evergreen. Here, a number of species are associated with shrubs such as Cistus, Erica and Juniperus; others feed on lichens and a few on herbaceous plants. The species exhibited were Stegania trimaculata Vill. in two strikingly different forms, /tame vincularia Hiibn., Tephrina inconspicuaria Hiibn., Enconista miniosaria Dup., Gnopharmia stevenaria Boisd., Rhoptria asperaria Hiibn., Meno- phra abruptaria Thunb., M. japygiaria Costa, a very variable species, Afriberina terraria Bang-Haas, Calamodes occitanaria Dup., Peribatodes abstersaria Boisd., P. rhomboidaria D. & S., P. manuelaria H.-S., another variable species, Selidosemia brunnearia subsp. olivierata Mab., possibly an endemic Portuguese subspecies, S. taeniolaria Hiibn., Ekboarmia atlanticaria Stdgr, Hypomecis punctinalis Scop., Adactylotis gesticularia Hiibn., Tephronia cineraria D. & S., Lycia hirtaria Cl., Aleucis distinctata H.-S., Campaea honoraria D. & S., C. margaritata Linn., Petrophora chlorosata Scop., P. narbonea Linn., P. convergata Vill., Pachycnemia hippocastanaria Hiibn., Sthanalia tibiaria Ramb., Opisthograptis luteolata Linn., Pseudopanthera macularia Linn., Toulgoetia cauteriata Stdgr, Selenia lunularia Hiibn., Ennomos fuscantaria Steph., Crocallis elinguaria Linn., C. dardoinaria Donzel, Gnophos perspersatus Treits., G. mucidarius Hiibn., G. variegatus Dup., G. predotae Schawerda, G. obscuratus D. & S., Aspitates ochrearia Rossi, Iberafrina penulataria Hiibn., Dyscia distinctaria Bang-Hass, Onychora agaritharia Dardoin and Compsoptera opacaria Hiibn.. 226 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 1: 1996 Dosson, A. H.—(1) Rhopalocera from the coast of Corfu between Nissaki Beach Hotel and Agni, 16—22.1x.1995: Gegenes pumilio Hoffmsg, Muschampia proto Ochs., Gonepteryx cleopatra L., Artogeia krueperi Stdgr, Melitaea didyma Esp., Hipparchia aristaeus senthes Fruh., and H. syriaca Stdgr, which was the commonest species in flight at the time, unusually late, probably because of inclement weather that had prevailed during August. (2) Heterocera: a sample of species occurring at the Nissaki Beach Hotel lights during the same period, with indication of their relative frequency. Pyralidae: Duponchelia fovealis Zell. (c.), Hydriris ornatalis Dup. (f.c.), Antigastra catalaunalis Dup. (sc.), Endotricha flammealis D. & S. (f.c.), Herculia incarnatalis Zell. (sc.), Lamoria anella D. & S. (c). Geometridae: Xenochlorodes beryllaria Warr. (sc.), Idaea filicata Hibn. (f.c.), Scopula minorata ochroleucaria H.-S. (c.), Menophra japygiaria Costa (sc.), Nychiodes dalmatina Wagner (sc.), Gnophos sartatus Treits. (c.), Aspitates ochrearia Rossi (sc). Thaumetopoeidae: Thaumetopoea solitaria Freyer (f.c.). Ctenuchidae: Dysauxes famula Frey. (v.c.). Arctiidae: Cymbalophora pudica Esp. (sc.), Eilema caniola Hiibn. (v.c.). Noctuidae: Agrotis crassa Hiibn. (sc.), Mythimna prominens Walk. (sc.), M. putrescens Hiibn. (sc.), M. loreyi Dup. (sc.), Mniotype solieri Boisd. (sc.), Dysgonia algira L. (sc.), Orectis proboscidata H.-S. (sc.), Pechipogo plumigeralis Hibn. (sc.). (3) Heterocera from Cyprus, 8—14.xi1.1994. A sample from Paphos streetlights. Pyralidae: Evergestis isatidalis Dup. (f.c.). Geometridae: Larentia clavaria Haw. (c.), Dasycephala modesta Stdgr (sc.). Arctiidae: Ocnogyna loewii Zell. (c.). Noctuidae: Cucullia chamomillae D. & S., genit. det. (c.), Mniotype leuconota H.-S. (f.c.), Aporophyla australis ingenua Freyer (sc.), A. canescens Dup. (f.c.), A. nigra Haw. (v.c.), Xylena exsoleta L. (sc.), Platysenta viscosa Freyer, (sc.). From Agios Neophytes Monastery. Pyralidae: Hellula undalis F., Antigastra catalaunalis Dup. Noctuidae: Spodoptera cilium Guen. From Kykkou Monastery. Noctuidae: Polymixis flavicincta D. & S. From Polis. Pyralidae: Duponchelia fovealis Zell. EDWARDS, DR. P. J.—A collection of moths, and one butterfly, from Prov. Gerona, Spain, caught 11—23.ix.1995. The butterfly was an extreme aberration of Syntarucus pirithous L., plain buff-brown without any markings; a typical male was shown for comparison. All the moths were taken in an m.v. trap; they included Cucullia argentea Hufn., two of which had been caught in the same area in September 1986, and which has been shown only recently to be very local in this restricted part of Spain; Parascotia nisseni Turati, a rare south-European species which resembles a small P. fuliginaria L.; Hydraecia osseola hucherardi Mab., very local in S. W. Europe, its distribution being dependent, as in Britain, on the presence of the food plant, marsh mallow (A/thaea); Ochropleura leucogaster Freyer, a very rare immigrant to Britain which bears a strong resemblance to the common O. plecta L., and others such as Eublemma ostrina Hiibn. and Protoschinia scutosa D. & S. GOATER, B.—A selection of Heterocera taken in Bulgaria 12—26.1x.1995. (1) Melnik, S. W. Bulgaria. Noctuidae: Eugnorisma pontica Stdgr, common at sugar and light; Xestia cohaesa H.-S., also seen commonly in the East Rhodopi mountains; Autophila ligaminosa Evers., three specimens found in a cave. (2) Kresna Gorge, S. W. Bulgaria. This famous locality produced a wealth of species unknown in western Europe. Geometridae: Nychiodes dalmatina Wagner. Aretiidae Eilema morosina, H.-S. Noctuidae: Divaena haywardi Tams, Polyphaenis subsericata H.-S. and Praestilbia armeniaca Stdgr, as well as the more widespread Atethmia ambusta D. & S., Cryphaea ochsi Boursin, C. rectilinea Warren and Abrostola agnorista Dufay. (3) East Rhodopi Mountains, S.E. Bulgaria. Pyralidae: Agriphila dalmatinella Hamps., Pediasia matricella Treits., Evergestis serratalis Stdgr, all common. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 1: 1996 227 Lemoniidae: Lemonia balcanica H.-S., males only, at light. Thaumetopoeidae: Thaumetopoea solitaria Freyer, males common at light. Geometridae: Scopula ochraceata Stdgr, Eupithecia ericeata Rambur, the beautiful south-east European “thorn” Eumera regina Stdgr, Nychiodes waltheri Wagner, Peribatodes correptaria Zell., Gnophos sartatus Treits. Noctuidae: two specimens of the rare Leucania herrichi H.-S., Episema tersa D. & S., E. lederi Christ., E. korsakovi Christ., Aporophyla canescens Dup., Polymixis serpentina Treits., Agrochola osthelderi Boursin, Cryphaea seladona Christ. subsp. burgeffi Draudt, C. amasina Draudt, strongly-marked Luperina dumerilii Dup., Acontia urania Friv., Euchalcia consona F. and Orectis proboscidata H.-S. (4) Black Sea coast, including the famous ‘‘Silberkiiste’’ near Balchik. Pyralidae: Euchromius ocellea Haw., Spermatophthora hornigi Led. Geometridae: Eupithecia variostrigata Alph., Dyscia sicanaria Zell. Noctuidae: Mycteroplus puniceago Boisd., found rather commonly inside a hotel and a super- market, whence specimens had been attracted to light, and dark specimens of Luperina rubella Dup. HALL, N.—(1) Cucullia reisseri Boursin, C. verbasci L. and C. lychnitis Ramb., bred from larvae found feeding together on hoary mullein (Verbascum pulverulentum), Arlanzon, Prov. Burgos, Spain. The species could be separated easily as larvae, though two of the C. reisseri were very different from the others, and it was hoped that they would produce a fourth species, C. thapsiphaga Treits. Each species was displayed in two columns separated on the basis of hindwing colour, females having darker hindwings than males. One underside of each species was also shown. The cocoons were overwintered outdoors in a meat safe (never getting wet). When brought indoors in May, all the pupae were cut out of their cocoons, even though this is considered inadvisable, not least because Cucullia pupae often lie over for two or more winters. However, 30 out of 32 emerged, none of the adults was deformed and no parasites were obtained. The two remaining pupae had died. (2) Bred Macrothylacia digramma Meade-Waldo, from eggs obtained in Portugal by a friend. Gomez Bustillo & Fernandez-Rubio, Mariposas de la Peninsula Iherica, treat M. digramma as a subspecies of M. rubi L., and state that the larva feeds again in March and April, after hibernation. De Freina & Witt, Bombyces und Sphingides der Westpalaearktis, give M. digramma as a separate species, with subspecies alfacaria Ribbe occurring in Portugal, but give no information at all about the larvae. The exhibitor was therefore uncertain how the larvae would behave when they approached full growth. Three larvae were put into separate boxes in the refrigerator after they had finished feeding in the autumn. In January they were removed and offered evergreen oak (Quercus ilex) and subjected to an 18-hour per day light cycle. After a week they had not eaten anything or pupated, so they were returned to the refrigerator for a further two weeks. On removal, they spun up immediately without feeding, producing the three moths displayed. An attempt was made to overwinter the rest of the larvae in a large tray of peat with evergreen oak, replaced regularly, laid on top. Half the tray was exposed to the weather. Larvae were observed wandering about a month or two, but more and more mouldy larvae were found until it was supposed that all had died. However, further investigation revealed that eight larvae had buried themselves in the peat and that six of them had not yet turned mouldy. Eventually, three survived the winter buried in the peat. Of these, one spun up and died as a pupa, one pupated without spinning up and then died, and one emerged properly. (3) Bred Clostera anastomosis L. A female of this species was caught at light in the Marais de Chautagne, Savoie, Central France, on 20.vi.1995, and obliged with eggs. The larvae fed communally on poplar, with a near 100% survival rate, spun up in the 228 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 1: 1996 poplar leaves, and produced a second generation of moths in late July and August. Specimens of the other three European Clostera species, C. curtula L., C. anachoreta D. & S. and C. pigra Hufn. were shown for comparison. (4) An unidentified hadenid aberration from Ile d’Olonne, Vendée, France. (5) Idaea saleri Dominguez & Baixeras compared with J. carvalhoi Herbulot. Specimens of the recently described J. saleri (1992, Nota Lepid. 15 (2): 102-105) were exhibited from Cullera, Prov. Valencia, Spain, June and August 1994 and El Fangar, Ebro Delta, Prov. Tarragona, Spain, 7.1x.1995, and of J. carvalhoi from Caniles, Prov. Granada, Spain, June 1994. Both species are very dark, blackish, in colour, with unusually elongated wings, but those of J. carvalhoi are distinctly longer and the bases of the antennae and frons are shining white, whereas in /. sa/eri these parts are concolorous with the rest of the insect. Dominguez & Baixeras state that /. saleri is known from a single locality, El Saler, south of Valencia. The Cullera locality is only about 15km south of El Saler, but the Ebro Delta is some 200 km further north. (6) Moths from Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, December 1944. All were collected from lights around the hotel in Jandia 17—31.x1.1994. The lights were all fitted with “low energy” bulbs which seem quite attractive to moths. The following were exhibited. Pyralidae: Ancylosis convexella Led., Cornifrons ulceratalis Led., Pseudarenipses insularum Speidel & Schmitz. Noctuidae: Tathorhynchus exsiccata Led., Earias insulana Boisd., Agrotis herzogi Rebel. (7) Moths from France and Switzerland incorporated into exhibits of species which may be of interest to British collectors, as follows. France, June 1995: (i) Bois de Merles, Meuse, 15—16.vi: Herminia tarsipennalis Treits., Pechipogo strigilata L.., Photedes extrema Hiibn., Leucodonta bicoloria D. & S., Salebriopsis albicilla H.-S., Sciota hostilis Steph. (11) Marais de Cormoranche, Ain, 17, 18 and 21.vi: Siona lineata Scop., Pechipogo strigilata L., Hypena rostralis L., Lygephila viciae Htbn., Lithacodia deceptoria Scop., Paradiarsia punicea Hiibn. (111) Marais de Chautagne, Savoie, 19 and 22.vi: Trisateles emortualis D. & S., Paracolax tristalis F., Macrochilo cribrumalis Hiibn., Eucarta amethystina Hiibn. (iv) Chapelle des Bois, Doubs, 25.vi: Plagodis pulveraria Linn., Fagivorina arenaria Hufn., Hyppa rectilinea Esp. (v) Boujailles, Doubs, 26 and 27.vi: Thera stragulata Hiibn., Ecliptopera capitata H.-S., Hypena crassalis F., Catephia alchymista D. & S., Acronicta strigosa D. & S., Cucullia lactucae D. & S., Xestia collina Boisd. France, July/August 1995: (1) Col de la Lébe, Ain, 27.vii: Peribatodes secundaria Esp., Phlogophora scita Hiibn. (ii) Marais de Chautagne, 29 and 31.vii: Drepana curvatula Borkh., Polypogon gryphalis H.-S., Herminia tarsicrinalis Knoch, H. tenuialis Rebel, Deltotes candidula D. & S. (iii) Montclergeon, Haute-Savoie, 30.vii: Schrankia taenialis Htibn., Amphipyra perflua F. (iv) Forét de Tavel, Gard, 2 and 4.viil: Dysauxes famula Freyer, Eublemma suava Hibn. (v) Boujailles, 13.vii: Ephesia fulminea Scop. Switzerland, August 1995: (i) Pfynwald, Valais, 7 and 9.vii: Dysauxes ancilla L., Pelosia muscerda Hufn., f. umbrata Urbahn, Herminia lunalis Scop., H. tarsipennalis Treits., Athetis gluteosa Treits., Hypena rostralis L., Calamia tridens Hufn. (i1) Zeneggen, Valais, 8.viii: Lymantria monacha L., Hypena obesalis Treits., Xestia speciosa Htibn. Mr Hall also presented an annotated display illustrating problems of identification of European Eilema species and of Cyclophorinae, and in differentiating Semiothisa notata L. from S. alternaria Hiibn. KENDRICK, R. C.—A presentation of Lepidoptera collected in Hong Kong between 22.vii and 6.ix.1994, being part of an undergraduate project on habitat preference of moth species. About 150 species were shown, including about 21 which BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 1: 1996 229 were thought to be undescribed and a number new to Hong Kong. Most collecting was done at night, but during the daytime, many photographs were taken of habitats, butterflies and of moth species being encountered at night. The folder containing the report was placed nearby, and visitors to the Exhibition were invited to peruse it. A graceful acknowledgement to those who had helped him was included. PARKER, R.—An exhibit of butterflies (Rhopalocera) encountered during a single weekend in Serbia, from the ancient relict area of Topli Do, a warm valley, and the Stara Planina massif on the border between Serbia and Bulgaria, altitude between 750 and 1000m. Seventy species were seen; a voucher specimen of every species encountered was retained, and the exhibit comprised 47 of these. Some of the others were on loan, others had been retained by a colleague, Pedrag Jaksic, who had conducted the exhibitor to the localities, and a few common species were not shown. A joint paper covering a wider range of localities in the same area is planned for the near future. WAITE, P.—An extreme and beautiful male underside aberration of Plebicula dorylas Higgins taken on 6.vii.1986 on Mont Sirac, Valgaudemar, Hautes Alpes, France, compared with a normal underside, 19.vii.1987, from Biescas, Prov. Huesca, Spain. WARING, P.—Some photographs of moths seen on a recording expedition to Poland, including a larva of Hadena irregularis Hufn. on Silene otites from sandy fringes of the Biebrza Marshes, and a specimen of Catocala pacta Linn. feeding at a wine rope set out in the Marshes. Photographs of the habitat were also shown. WINTER, P. Q.—A selection of macrolepidoptera taken 13—19.v.1995 in a locality near Nevers, France, including second generation specimens of Melitaea cinxia L., bred from ova laid in Yorkshire, which had emerged in late August. Also Erynnis tages L., Quercusia quercus L. bred from a larva beaten from oak, Scopula floslactata Haw., Paradarisa similaria Hufn. (=extersaria Hiibn.), a large form of Ematurga atomaria Hiibn., Hemaris fuciformis L., Peridea anceps Goeze and Craniophora ligustri D. & S., all of which are widespread in Britain. The hawkmoth, Proserpinus proserpina Pall., of which there is a single British record. Several species which are local, rare migrants, or extinct in Britain: Drepana curvatula Borkh., Sabra harpagula Esp., Lithosia quadra L. from a larva beaten from oak, Actinotia polyodon Cl., Egira conspicillaris L., Moma alpium Osbeck, Acronicta auricoma D. & S. and Trachea atriplicis L. Species hitherto unrecorded from Britain were Boloria dia L., Cerura erminea Esp. and Ochrostigma melagona Borkh. DIPTERA This year Myopites inulaedyssentericae Blot took over as the most frequently exhibited tephritid. As usual a good range of Syrphidae and ‘“‘larger Brachycera” were exhibited and Conopidae appear to have had a good year (13 species by 5 exhibitors). While some sun-loving species had evidently benefited from the weather conditions in 1995 it was a rather poor year for the more moisture-oriented groups of flies. Four species new to the British list were exhibited, three of them by Peter Hodge; all had been found in earlier years but only recently identified. ALEXANDER, K. N. A. AND FOSTER, A. P.—Flies found in 1995 by the National Trust’s Biological Survey: Dictenidia bimaculata (L.) (Tipulidae), Fallowlees Burn, Northumberland, 20.vii; Oxycera dives Loew (Stratiomyidae), same site, 21.vii; O. morrisii Curt., Thoragill Beck, Yorkshire Dales, 13.vi1; O. pardalina (Meig.), Pipers Grove, Glos., 29.vi; Stratiomys potamida (Meig.) (Stratiomyidae), Cambo Quarry, Northumberland, 19.vii; Symphoromyia crassicornis (Panz.) (Rhagionidae), Cowside 230 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 1: 1996 Beck, Yorkshire Dales, 13.vii; Acrocera orbicula (F.) (Acroceridae), Fallowlees Burn, Northumberland, 21.vii; Brachyopa scutellaris R.-D. (Syrphidae), Alder Bed, Golden Cap, Dorset, 18.v. CHANDLER, P. J.—(1) Chrysopilus erythrophthalmus Loew (Rhagionidae) (Plate III, Fig. 10), second Scottish and fifth British record: cattle-grazed field by River Mouse Water near Lanark, 15.vii.1995, a female like all other British records; a female of the common species C. cristatus (F.) was also exhibited for comparison. (2) Nanna multisetosa Hackman (Scathophagidae), male from Woodwalton Fen, Cambs., 24.v.1980. New to Britain; recently recorded from Ireland (Speight, M. C. D., 1995, Ir. Nat’s J., 25: 113-115). This has been confused with N. flavipes (Fall.), exhibited for comparison, which is frequent in the south of England, but all Irish records have proved to be N. multisetosa, which may have a more northerly distribution in Britain. (3) A selection of flies collected in North America in 1994: the three eastern Nearctic species of Keroplatus (Keroplatidae)—K. carbonarius Bosc, Coote’s Paradise, Ontario, 20.viii (collected by A. E. Stubbs); K. militaris Joh., Hunter’s Point, Michigan, 2.1x; K. clausus Coq., Catfish Creek, Ontario, 10.ix and Coote’s Paradise, Ontario, 20.vi; Palloptera superba (Loew) (Pallopteridae), Elora Gorge, Ontario, 22.viii; Chymomyza amoena (Loew) (Drosophilidae), Spencer’s Gorge, Ontario, 20.vili, on rotten apples (this species has been introduced into central Europe, where it develops in chestnuts as well as apples); Sphyracephala brevicornis (Say) (Diopsidae), Coote’s Paradise, Ontariio, 20.vii and near Arkell, Ontario, 23.viii (the only North American stalk-eyed fly, which has rather short broad stalks); Lepidophora species (Bombyliidae), Algonquin Park, Ontario, 29.viii; Bombyliopsis (= Hystricia) abrupta (Wied.) (Tachinidae), Stonington, Michigan, 2.viii and Catfish Creek, Ontario, 10.ix; Spilomyia species (Syrphidae), showing mimicry of a Dolichovespula species (Vespidae), also exhibited, both at Solidago flowers, Algonquin Park, Ontario, 29.viii (both have the abdomen black on more than the basal half with narrow yellow markings on the remainder). (4) Calotarsa pallipes (Loew) (Platypezidae), male from Old Nairn road, Ontario, 31.viii and females from Algonquin Park, Ontario, 28.vili on the honey fungus Armillaria mellea, the food plant; with drawings of the male hind-tarsal structure of this and the other four species of the genus (all North American); the male of each species has specific silver and black flag-like structures on the hind tarsi, which are used in aerial courtship displays. HACKETT, D.—Syrphidae collected in 1995: Xanthogramma citrofasciatum (De Geer) at anthill, Tottenham Triangle railway land, London, 22.v; Sphaerophoria rueppellii (Wied.), Alexandra Park, Haringey, London, 13.vi; Parhelophilus versicolor (F.) on Typha at Gunnersbury Triangle, N.R., Middx.; Mallota cimbiciformis (Fall.) at Viburnum flowers, same site, 21.vi; Criorhina floccosa (Meig.) at sap run on Fagus, Sandy Heath, Hampstead, Middx.; Sericomyia silentis (Harris) at Hedera flowers, Grafham, West Sussex, 3.ix. HALSTEAD, A. H.—Some local flies collected in 1995: Limnophila pulchella (Meig.) (Limoniidae), north end of Mortimer’s Meadows, Dinton Pastures, Berks., 8.iv; Eutolmus rufibarbis (Meig.) (Asilidae), reared from larva in soil, Brookwood, Surrey, emerged 7.vi; Nephrocerus flavicornis Zett. (Pipunculidae), near Raver Loddon, Dinton Pastures, Berks.; Microdon analis Macq. (=eggeri Mik) (Syrphidae), swept from heather, Whitmoor Common, Surrey, |1.vi; Xy/ota tarda (Meig.) (Syrphidae), Loch Libo, Renfrewshire, 8.vii; Myopa fasciata (Meig.) (Conopidae), wet grassland at Worts Gutter, New Forest, Hants, 12.viii; M. tessellatipennis Mots. (Conopidae), north end of Mortimer’s Meadows, Dinton Pastures, Berks., 8.1v; Euphranta BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 1: 1996 231 toxoneura (Loew) (Tephritidae), on Salix near Baders Way, Dinton Pastures, 20.v; Myopites inulaedyssentericae Blot (Tephritidae), on Pulicaria dysenterica, Chobham Common, Surrey, 22.viii; Micropeza lateralis (Meig.) (Micropezidae), Silchester Common, Hants, 19.viti; Braula coeca Nitzsch (Braulidae), on queen honeybee Apis mellifera L., RHS Garden, Wisley, Surrey, 15.ix. HAWKINS, R. D.—A selection of the Syrphidae and all species of Conopidae found in 1995 on W. Kent (Spring Park and West Wickham) and Surrey (other 4 sites) commons owned and managed by the Corporation of London: Rhingia rostrata (L.), West Wickham Common, 2.viil; Pipiza austriaca (Meig.), Spring Park, 6.v1; Helophilus trivittatus (F.), Farthing Downs, 8 and 10.vili; Volucella inanis (L.), Riddlesdown, 17.vu; Epistrophe diaphana (Zett.), Riddlesdown, 9.vili; Thecophora atra (F.), Riddlesdown, 16.vi and West Wickham Common, 5.ix; Physocephala rufipes (F.), Farthing Downs, 3l.vii and Kenley Common, 3.viii; Sicus ferrugineus (L.), Spring Park, 28.vi and Kenley Common, 3.viii; Conops ceriaeformis (Meig.), West Wickham Common, 2.vii and Spring Park, 18.viii; C. quadrifasciatus De Geer, West Wickham Common, 2.vii, Spring Park, 18.viii, Kenley Common, 25.vii and Coulsdon Common, 21.viti; Conops flavipes L., Spring Park, 1|.viii. HopcE, P. J.—Eight species of Diptera including three representing the first British records: Stratiomys longicornis (Scop.) (Stratiomyidae), Oxey Marsh, Lymington, Hants, 29.vi.1995 and Cooling Marsh, Kent, 16.vii.1995; Haematopota subcylindrica Pand. (Tabanidae), new to Britain, one female swept from dyke near Camber Castle, Rye, E. Sussex, 28.vi.1995 (another female had been swept from lake margin on Pett Level, E. Sussex, 6.vii.1987); Hercostomus verbekei Pollet (Dolichopodidae), sandy shore on bank of River Lark, Barton Mills, W. Suffolk, 17.vii.1987 (this species was first recognized by Marc Pollet, 1993, Zoologica Scripta 22: 101—109 and closely resembles H. plagiatus (Loew), with which it may previously have been confused); Syntormon silvianus Parvu (Dolichopodidae), new to Britain from Petworth Park, W. Sussex, 8.vi.1988 and Martins Wood, Ightham Mote, W. Kent, 13.vi.1990 (this resembles S. monilis (Hal.) and is mixed with it in British collections); Myolepta luteola (Gmelin) (Syrphidae), Hythe End, Bucks., 29.vii.1995; Brachypalpus laphriformis (Fall.) (Syrphidae), on old oak stump, Buxted Park, E. Sussex, 20.vi.1995; Conops vesicularis L. (Conopidae), on disused railway embank- ment at Lewes, E. Sussex, 10.v.1995; Myopites inulaedyssentericae Blot (Tephritidae), Hythe End, Bucks., 28.vii.1995. MCLEAN, I. F. G—Flies from Cromer Cliffs, Norfolk in August 1995 (the cliffs are characterized by seepages and active erosion, and include both herb-rich grassland and dense scrub, surrounding wet glades dominated by horsetails): Oxycera morrissii Curt. (Stratiomyidae) on seepages; Chrysotus suavis (Loew) (Dolichopodidae); Trichopsomyia flavitarsis (Meig.) (Syrphidae); Myopites inulaedyssentericae Blot (Tephritidae); Helicophagella melanura (Meig.) (Sarcophagidae). PARKER, M.—A selection of flies collected in recent years, including the following: Phthiria pulicaria (Mikan) (Bombyliidae), swept from fixed sand at Stokeford Heath, Dorset, 25.vi.1995; Thereva valida (Loew) (Therevidae), Speybridge, Morayshire, 3.vu; 7. inornata Verrall (Therevidae), Culbin Forest, Nairns, 4.vii.1994; Asilus crabroniformis L. (Asilidae), female caught in flight at Keysworth Farm, Wareham, Dorset, 6.viii.1994; Pamponerus germanicus (L.) (Asilidae), at umbels, Shewalton sands, Irvine, Ayrshire, 7.vii.1995; Cheilosia species B of Stubbs & Falk (Syrphidae), second British record from Dollarbeg, Clackmannan, 14.vi.1992; C. uviformis (Becker), first Scottish record from Dundonnell, Wester Ross, 18.vii.1991; C. mutabilis (Fall.), Culbin Forest, Nairns, on Conopodium majus flower, 26.vii.1995; Eristalis cryptarum (F.) (Syrphidae), male (Plate III, Fig. 11) hovering above 232 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 1: 1996 Sphagnum moss, Pizwell Farm, Dartmoor, Devon, 13.viii.1995 and female (Plate III, Fig. 12) flying over riverside vegetation, Pudsham Down, Dartmoor, Devon, 20.vili.1995; Didea erratica (L.) (Syrphidae), male on low-growing composites at Rothiemurchus Forest, Easter Ness, 25.vii.1995; Eupeodes nitens (Zett.) (Syrphidae), male at Allium ursinum flowers, Delcombe Wood, Dorset, 2.v.1995 and female at Euphorbia amygdaloides flowers, Cranbourne Chase, Dorset, 1.v.1995; Xylota tarda (Meig.) (Syrphidae) on bracken at Speybridge, Morayshire, 6.vu1.1994; Anasimyia lunulata (Meig.) (Syrphidae), Pizwell Farm, Devon, 13.viii.1995; Microdon mutabilis (L.) (Syrphidae), Oakers Wood, Dorset, 17.vi.1995 (new to Oakers Wood, syrphid list now at 115 species); Myopa extricata Collin (Conopidae), male at A//ium ursinum, Powerstock village, Dorset, 11.iv.1995; Physocephala nigra (De Geer) (Conopidae), male hovering close to thistle at Stinchar Bridge, Carrick Forest, Ayrshire, 8.vii.1995; Icterica westermanni (Meig.) (Tephritidae), on Senecio jacobaea on coastal wetland at Hythe, Hants, 22.vii.1995; Psacadina vittigera (Schiner) (Sciomyzidae), same site at Hythe, Hants, 30.vii.1995. PERRY, I.—A selection of uncommon flies found in 1995: Tabanus glaucopis (Meig.) (Tabanidae), Farley Mount Country Park, Hants, 19.vii (several females attracted to the collector in a short spell of hot sultry weather); Dioctria cothurnata (Meig.) (Asilidae), Mark Ash, New Forest, 18.vii, a female resting on Juncus in a woodland bog; Ogcodes pallipes Latreille (Acroceridae), Martin Down, Hants, swept from an isolated birch tree along with several Acrocera orbicula F.; Platypalpus leucothrix (Strobl) (Hybotidae), in chalk grassland at Farley Mount Country Park, 19.vii; Rhamphomyia physoprocta Frey (Empididae), Foulden Common, Norfolk, 4.vii and Holmsley Bog, New Forest, Hants, 15.vii; Dolichopus agilis (Meig.) (Dolichopodidae), in chalk grassland beneath pines at The Devil’s Ditch, Cambs., 2.vill; D. plumitarsis Fall., Pashford Fen, Suffolk, 4.vii; Hercostomus fulvicaudis (Hal.) (Dolichopodidae), same site, 29.vi1; Callicera aurata (Rossi) (Syrphidae), Farley Mount Country Park, Hants, 19.vii, several females on Rubus flowers; Acrometopia wahlbergi (Zett.) (Chamaemyiidae), Holmsley Bog, New Forest, 15.vu; Gasterophilus nasalis (L.) (Gasterophilidae), same site and date, two males flying back and forth about a metre from ground; Phasia hemiptera (F.) (Tachinidae), Wandlebury, Cambs., 14.ix, male at Hedera flowers, unusually late record and probably first for the county. PLANT, A.—Meligramma triangulifera (Zett.) (Syrphidae), third Dorset record from a Malaise trap, Arne RSPB Reserve, 9—24.v.1995. SIMMONS, M. J.—A collection of hoverflies (Syrphidae) from Crowborough, East Sussex, including examples of more than 90 species (not fully determined) found either in the exhibitor’s garden or in an area of mixed woodland and grassland directly opposite his house; the latter area (of which photographs were shown) has been scheduled for housing development after an unsuccessful campaign to save it lasting seven years: the species shown were mostly common but included Didea fasciata Macq., Brachypalpoides lentus (Meig.) and Chalcosyrphus nemorum (F.). It was stated that about 50 species of sawfly and 22 species of butterfly had been recorded, while 420 species of macromoth had been recorded in the garden. Wass, S.—Odontomyia angulata (Pz.) (Stratiomyidae), pingos at Upton Fen, Norfolk, 5.vii.1993; Atylotus latistriatus Brauer (Tabanidae), Titehwell, Marsh, Norfolk, 7.vii.1993; Bombylius minor L. (Bombyliidae), hovering above heather, Stokeford Heath, Dorset, 19.vii.1995; Meligramma guttata (Fall.) (Syrphidae), at umbels, Shewalton sandpits, Irvine, Ayrshire, 7.vii.1995; Pelecocera tricincta (Meig.) (Syrphidae), Stokeford Heath, Dorset, 15.vii.1995; Eumerus sabulonum Fall. (Syrphidae), flying low over fixed sand, Shewalton sandpits, 3.vii.1995; Myolepta BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 1: 1996 233 luteola (Gmelin) (Syrphidae), third Dorset record, on umbels, Langton Matravers, 12.vi.1993; Zodion notatum (Meig.) (Conopidae), swept from Senecio jacobaea, Tadnoll Heath, Dorset, 30.vii.1995; Leopoldius brevirostris (Germ.) (Conopidae), West Bexington, Dorset, 19.vii.1993, new county record. COLEOPTERA ALEXANDER, K. N. A. AND FOSTER, A. P.—A selection of noteworthy species found during the National Trust’s Biological Survey in 1995: Agonum ericeti (Panz.) (Carabidae), Greenleighton bog, Wallington, Northumberland, pitfall trap, 18—20.vii.1995; Harpalus ardosiacus Luts. (Carabidae), near West Bexington, Dorset, (not NT property), m.v. light, 18.vii.1995; Harpalus dimidiatus (Rossi) (Carabidae), Spyway Farm, Dorset, 16.v.1995; Harpalus azureus (F.) (Carabidae), Spyway Farm, Dorset, 16.v.1995; Tachys bistriatus (Duft.) (Carabidae), Cogden, Dorset, 23.v.1995; Stictotarsus multilineatus Falkenstro6m (= Potamonectes griseostriatus (Deg.)) (Dytiscidae), Fountains Fell Tarn, 13.vii.1995; Onthophagus vacca (L.) (Scarabaei- dae), Spyway Farm, Dorset, 16.v.1995; Agrilus sinuatus (Ol.) (Buprestidae), Coleshill Estate, Oxon, 8.viti.1995; Selatosomus bipustulatus (L.) (Elateridae), Cloutsham Ball, Somerset, 6.vi.1995; Globicornis nigriceps (F.) (Dermestidae), Worcs., 12.vi.1995; Thymalus limbatus (F.) (Peltidae), Stourhead Park, Wilts, 4.vu.1995; Tillus elongatus (L.) (Cleridae), Pipers Grove, Glos, 29.vi.1995; Pseudocistela ceramboides (L.) (Tenebrionidae), Pipers Grove, Glos, 29.vi.1995; Abdera flexuosa (Payk.) (Melan- dryidae), Newlands Batch, Dorset, 25.v.1995; Anisoxya fuscula (Ill.) (Melandryidae), Buscot and Coleshill Estate, Oxon, 8.vili.1995; Conopalpus testaceus (Ol.) (Melan- dryidae), Stourhead Park, Wilts, 4.vii.1995 and Rainbow Wood Farm, Somerset, 3.vii.1995; Mordellistena variegata (F.) (Mordellidae), Buscot and Coleshill Estate, Oxon, vili.1995 and Rainbow Wood Farm, Somerset, 3.vii.1995; Calomicrus circumfuscus (Marsh.) (Chrysomelidae), Crook Peak, Somerset, 7.vi.1995; Batophila rubi (Payk.) (Chrysomelidae), Wavering Down, Somerset, 9.vi.1995; Mantura matthewsi (Curt.) (Chrysomelidae), Wavering Down, Somerset, 9.vi.1995; Rhynchaenus testaceus (Miller, O. F.) (Curculionidae), Ruan Lanihorne, Cornwall, 12.vii.1978, off alder, (not NT property). HACKETT, D.—Laemostenus terricola (Herbst) (Carabidae), Hampstead Heath, Middx, 1.vi.1994, under log; Platyderus ruficollis (Marsh.) (Carabidae), milk depot, Parkland Walk, Haringey, Middx, TQ 293878, 14.111.1994, Highgate Wood, Middx, 28.iv.1995, Hanger Hill, Ealing, Middx, TQ 187820, 14.vi.1995, and Hampstead Heath, Middx, 16.vi.1995; Agonum assimile (Payk.) (Carabidae), Hampstead Heath, Middx, 19.11.1995, in fallen branch; Amara convexiuscula (Marsh.) (Carabidae), The Paddock, Tottenham, Middx, TQ 349895, 19.vii.1995, under spoils; Dendrophilus punctatus (Herbst) (Histeridae), Grove Lodge, Alexandra Park, Middx, 13.vii.1995, in old elm; Stenus fulvicornis Steph. (Staphylinidae), The Grove, Alexandra Park, Middx, 24.vii.1995, on bracket fungus; Sinodendron cylindricum (L.) (Lucanidae), Graffham, W. Sussex, 3.1x.1995, in birch log and beside R. Kent below Kendal, Westmorland, 22.x.1995, elytron in elm; Elodes marginata (F.) (Scirtidae), near Kenwood Ponds outflow, Hampstead Heath, Middx, 26.v.1995; Trixagus dermestoides (L.) (Throscidae), near Kenwood Ponds outflow, Hampstead Heath, Middx, 26.v.1995; Ampedus cardinalis (Schiddte), Kensington Gardens, Middx, 12.vii.1995, in detritus under Sweet Chestnut; Athous campyloides Newman, Alexandra Park, Middx, TQ 303903, 30.vii.1994, in web, and Grove Park, Middx, TQ 200772, 14.vii.1995, under stone in churchyard; Malthinus flaveolus (Herbst) (Cantharidae), Queens Wood, Middx, 4.vii.1993; Malthinus seriepunctatus Kiesenw. 234 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 1: 1996 (Cantharidae), Queens Wood, Middx, 4.vii.1993; Ochina_ ptinoides (Marsh.) (Anobtidae), Gunnersbury Triangle NR, Middx, TQ 202787, 21.vi.1995, on dead ivy; Hemicoelus fulvicornis (Sturm) (Anobtidae), Alexandra Park, Middx, 27.vi.1995, on dead ivy; Dorcatoma chrysomelina Sturm (Anobiidae), Priory Park, Haringey, Middx, TQ 300890, on Robinia trunk; Lymexylon navale (L.) (Lymexylidae), Richmond Park, Surrey, 22.vii.1995, on newly cut oak log (coll. G. Collins); Soronia grisea (L.) (Nitidulidae), Alexandra Park, Middx, 14.vii.1995, at sugar on oak; Cryptarcha strigata (F.) (Nitidulidae), Highgate Wood, Middx, 28.iv.1995, in oak log; Antherophagus nigricornis (F.) (Cryptophagidae), Gunnersbury Triangle NR, Middx, 21.vi.1995, swept off grass; Enicmus brevicornis (Mannerh.) (Lathridiidae), Queens Wood, Middx, 4.vii.1995; Tomoxia bucephala Costa (Mordellidae), Wimbledon Common, Surrey, 5.vii.1995, on fallen beech; Synchita separanda (Reitt.) (Colydiidae), The Decoy, Hendon, Middx, TQ 240888, 18.vii.1995, under dead sycamore bark; Cicones undatus Gue.-Men. (Colydiidae), Nunhead Cemetery, Surrey, 10.vi.1995, under dead sycamore bark, Wooded Walk, Queens Wood, Haringey, Middx, TQ 291884, 4.vii.1995, on ivy- covered stump and The Decoy, Hendon, Middx, 18.vii.1995, under dead sycamore bark; Lagria hirta (L.) (Tenebrionidae), Tottenham Green Churchyard, Middx, TQ 337894, 8.vii.1995, on nettle; Prionychus ater (F.) (Tenebrionidae), by A406 Hanger Lane, Acton, Middx, TQ 194788, 23.vi.1995, in heart rot on Robinia trunk; [somira murina (L.) (Tenebrionidae), Alexandra Park, Middx, 13.vi.1995, beaten off elder: Nacerdes melanura (L.) (Oedemeridae), New Kings Road, London, Middx, 12.vi.1995, dead on pavement (coll. M. Barclay); /schnomera sanguinicollis (F.) (Oedemeridae), Oxwich Point Woods, Glamorgan, 21.v.1995, on herbage. HALSTEAD, A. J.—Some local Coleoptera taken in 1995: Agonum muelleri (Herbst) (Carabidae), Afton Water, S. of New Cumnock, Ayrshire, 4.vi.1995, on river shingle; Agonum sexpunctatum (L.) (Carabidae), Whitmoor Common, Surrey, 21.v.1995, under burnt log; Opilo mollis (L.) (Cleridae), Queen Elizabeth Plantation, Richmond Park SSSI, Surrey, 22.vii.1995, on oak trunk; Malthodes guttifer Kiessenw. (Cantharidae), W. of Catrine, Ayrshire, 3.vi.1995, swept; Megatoma undata (L.) (Dermestidae), Three Counties Show Ground, near Malvern Wells, Worcs., 7.v.1995, on trunk of old crack willow Salix fragilis (L.); Ctesias serra (F.) (Dermestidae), Three Counties Show Ground, near Malvern Wells, Worcs., emerged 7.v.1995, bred from larva found under loose bark of old crack willow Salix fragilis (L.); Ptinomorphus imperialis (L.) (Anobiidae), The Sheepleas SSSI, near West Horsley, Surrey, 9.v.1995, swept; Lymexylon navale (L.) (Lymexylidae), Sidmouth Wood, Richmond Park SSSI, Surrey, 22.vii.1995, ovipositing in cracks in cut end of fallen oak trunk; Phloiotrya vaudoueri Muls. (Melandryidae), Queen Elizabeth Plantation, Richmond Park SSSI, Surrey, 22.vi.1995, on dead tree stump; Hydrothassa glabra (Herbst) (Chrysomelidae), W. of Catrine, Ayrshire, 13.vii.1995, swept; Coeliodes erythroleucus (Gmel.) (Curculionidae), Three Counties Show Ground, near Malvern Wells, Worcs., 7.v.1995, swept. Lott, D. A.—Leicestershire Red Data Book of Beetles published in 1995 containing 342 species of recognized conservation interest which have been recorded in Leicestershire and Rutland since 1970. Some of the species included were exhibited in groups associated with habitats of particular conservation value in Leicestershire. (1) Dead wood. Abraeus granulum Er. (Histeridae), Barkby Holt, 12.11.1995; Microscydmus minimus (Chaud.) (Scydmaenidae), Donington Park, 4.x.1991; Euplectus bonvouloiri Raff. (Pselaphidae), Burley Wood, 6.v.1990; Plectophloeus nitidus Fairm. (Pselaphidae), Bradgate Park, 30.vi.1989; Batrisodes venustus Reichenb. (Pselaphidae), Shacklewell Hollow, 26.ix.1990; Notolaemus unifasciatus (Latr.) (Cucujidae), Bradgate Park, 1.v.1990; Corticaria alleni Johnson (Lathridiidae), BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 1: 1996 235 Croxton Park, 17.1x.1994; Ischnomera cinerascens Pand. (Oedemeridae), Burley Wood, 6.v.1990; Dryocoetinus alni (Georg) (Scolytidae), Swithland Wood, 30.11.1993; Ernoporus caucasicus Lind. (Scolytidae), Buddon Wood, 29.v.1995. (2) Disturbed sites. Harpalus obscurus (F.) (Carabidae), Geeston Quarry, 26.vi.1995, in pitfall trap (coll. I. Philips); Haliplus mucronatus Steph. (Haliplidae), disused railway line, Thorpe Satchville, 19.vii.1989; Lamprinodes saginatus (Grav.) (Staphylinidae), High Sharpley, v.1992, pitfall trap; A/aobia scapularis (Sahl.) (Staphylinidae), Geeston Quarry, 20.v.1987; Ocyusa nitidiventris (Fag.) (Staphylinidae), Rawdykes Power Station, Leicester, v.1992, pitfall trap; Oxypoda lurida Woll. (Staphylinidae), Rawdykes Power Station, Leicester, v.1992, pitfall trap; Chrysolina sanguinolenta (L.) (Chryso- melidae), Essendine Railway Sidings, 30.v.1987; Squamapion cineraceum Wencker (Brentidae), North Luffenham Quarry, vili.1992, pitfall trap; Caenopsis fissirostris (Walton) (Curculionidae), High Sharpley, vi.1992, pitfall trap; Tychius lineatulus Steph. (Curculionidae), King Luds Entrenchments, v.1992, pitfall trap. (3) Undisturbed wetlands (fen and carr). Badister dilatatus Chaud. (Carabidae), Gravel Hole Spinney, 10.vi.1994; Oxytelus fulvipes Er. (Staphylinidae), Narborough Bog, 24.iv.1993; Aloconota languida (Er.) (Staphylinidae), Pond Spinney, Aston Flamville, 29.1v.1993; Atheta difficilis (Bris.) (Staphylinidae), Saddington Reservoir, 10.vi.1993; Calodera nigrita Mannerh. (Staphylinidae), R. Eye, Ham Bridge, 21.xi.1986; Calodera riparia Er. (Staphylinidae), Newtown Burgoland Marsh, 4.v.1993; Calodera uliginosa Er. (Staphylinidae), Loughborough Big Meadow, 9.iv.1991; Oxypoda nigrocincta Muls. & Rey (Staphylinidae), Narborough Bog, 28.iv.1993; Selatosomus nigricornis (Panz.) (Elateridae), Loughborough Big Meadow, 16.vi.1991; Donacia impressa Payk. (Chrysomelidae), R. Eye, Melton, 7.iv.1989. (4) Rivers and streams. Bembidion fluviatile (Dej.) (Carabidae), R. Trent, Sawley, 24.v.1992; Ptenidium brenskei Flach (Ptiliidae), R. Lin, Bradgate Park, 4.v.1990; Lesteva hanseni Lohse (Staphylinidae), Grace Dieu Brook, Whitwick, 29.v.1994; Carpelimus lindrothi Palm (Staphylinidae), R. Soar, Lockington, 19.v.1992; Carpelimus obesus (Kiesenw.) (Staphylinidae), R. Soar, Lockington, 13.v.1990; Carpelimus subtilis (Er.) (Staphylinidae), Cribbs Meadow, 6.vili.1994; Lathrobium pallidum von Nord (Staphylinidae), R. Soar, Loughborough, vii.1994, pitfall trap; Atheta nanion Joy (Staphylinidae), R. Soar, Lockington, 12.1.1986; Atheta obfuscata (Grav.) (Staphy- linidae), R. Soar, Loughborough, 13.v.1990; Baris lepidii Germ. (Curculionidae), R. Eye, Melton, 10.11.1990. (5) Undisturbed grassland. Trachys scrobiculatus Kiesenw. (Buprestidae), King Luds Entrenchments, v.1992, pitfall trap; Fleutiauxellus quadripustulatus (F.) (Elateridae), Stonesby Quarry, vii.1994, pitfall trap; Chrysolina violacea (Miiller, O. F.) (Chrysomelidae), The Drift, viti.1992, pitfall trap; Aphthona nigriceps (Redt.) (Chrysomelidae), Misterton, 1.1x.1984; Omiamima mollina (Boh.) (Staphylinidae), Harby Hills, v.1992, pitfall trap. (6) Underground fungi. Hydnobius punctatus Sturm (Leiodidae), North Luffenham Quarry, ix.1992, pitfall trap; Leiodes macropus (Rye) (Leiodidae), North Luffenham Quarry, vili.1992, pitfall trap; Leiodes rugosa Steph. (Leiodidae), North Luffenham Quarry, ix.1992, pitfall trap. (7) Mammal nests. Catops longulus Kellner (Leiodidae), Bradgate Park, 11.ix.1989; Phyllodrepa puberula Bernh. (Staphylinidae), Ashby de la Zouche, 22.x.1987, badger sett; Anotylus saulcyi (Pand.) (Staphylinidae), Ketton Quarry, 10.xi.1988, badger sett; Liogluta pagana (Er.) (Staphylinidae), Lount Meadow, ix.1992, pitfall trap; Oxypoda spectabilis Mark. (Staphylinidae), Newfield Colliery, v.1992, pitfall trap. PARSONS, M. S.—A small selection of Coleoptera recorded at light traps operated in Richmond Park, Surrey during 1994-5; Bembidion varium (Ol.) (Carabidae), 236 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 1: 1996 Copelatus haemorrhoidalis (F.) (Dytiscidae), I/ybius ater (Deg.) (Dytiscidae), Trox scaber (L.) (Trogidae), Aphodius zenkeri Germ. (Scarabaeidae), Amphimallon solstitialis (L.) (Scarabaeidae), Heterocerus fenestratus (Thunb.) (Heteroceridae), Stenagostus villosus (Fourc.) (Elateridae), Dermestes peruvianus Laporte de Castelnau (Dermestidae), Necrobia violacea (L.) (Cleridae), Myzia oblongoguttata (L.) (Coccinellidae), Tenebrio molitor (L.) (Tenebrionidae), Prionychus ater (F.) (Tenebrionidae), Curculio glandium Marsh. (Curculionidae), Scolytus intricatus (Ratz.) (Scolytidae). HEMIPTERA PARSONS, M. S.—Hemiptera recorded at light traps operated in Richmond Park, Surrey during 1994-5: Reduvius personatus (L.) (Reduviidae). HYMENOPTERA ALEXANDER, K.N.A. AND FOSTER, A. P.—Two noteworthy species found during the National Trust’s biological survey in 1995: Formicoxena nitidulus (Nylander) (Formicidae) at Staward Gorge, Northumberland, 19.vii.95, from a Formica lugubris Zett. nest and possibly the first record for the county; Eucera longicornis (L.) (Apidae: Eucerinae), at St Gabriel’s, Golden Cap Estate, Dorset, 25.v.1995, a single male visiting Vicia sp. flowers. ARCHER, M. E.—Some uncommon bees and wasps taken in recent years, including a number of new county records. Vespidae: Dolichovespula media (Retz.), queens at Nicholas St, York, 12.vii.1995; Thixendale, Wolds, 18.viii.1995; Horse Dale, Wolds, 31.11.1995; worker at Sherburn, Malton, 1995. This species was first recorded in Yorkshire in 1994. Sphecidae: male Cerceris quinquefasciata (Rossius), Roydon Common, Norf. 12.viii.1995; female C. arenaria (L.), Rossington Bridge, S. Yorks., 19.vu.1994 (new to Yorks in 1993); female Argogorytes fargeii (Shuck.), Stutton, Yorks., 23.vii.1994; female Oxybelus argentatus Curt., Hartlebury Common, Worcs., 5.vii.1994 and at Devil’s Spittleful Nature Reserve, Worcs., 12.vii.1994; female Philanthus triangulum (F.), Hartlebury Common, Worcs., 10.vil.1995—this record greatly extends the range of this species from south-east England. Apidae: Andreninae; female Andrena alfkenella Perkins, Sark, Chan. Is., 3.vii.1994, a new species for the Channel Islands; male and female A. ocreata (Christ), Gundale, N. Yorks., 5.vi.1994; male A. synadelpha Perkins, Gibraltar Point, Lincs., 1.v.1994, new to Lincolnshire. Apidae: Halictinae; male Sphecodes niger Sichel, Herm, Chan. Is., 25.vii.1994, new to Channel Islands; female Lasioglossum brevicorne (Schenck), Thetford Warren Lodge, Norf., 24.v.1992 and at Hartlebury Common, Worcs., 27.v.1991. Apidae: Colletinae; male and female Colletes floralis Evers., Sandscale Haws, Cumbria, 18.vii.1994, new to England. Apidae: Nomadinae; female Nomada pleurostricta H.-S., Hartlebury Common, Worcs., 20.vi.1994. HALSTEAD, A. J.—Some local sawflies taken in 1995. Cimbicidae: female Trichiosoma sorbi Hartig, swept south-east of Brown Carrick Hill, Ayr., 6.vii.1995; female Cimbex femoratus (L.), swept Wood of Cree RSPB reserve, near Newton Stewart, Kirk., 7.vii.1995. Tenthredinidae: male Strongylogaster lineata (Christ), swept from bracken, Sidmouth Wood, Richmond Park, Surrey, 22.vii.1995—males are very scarce in this common species; female Apethymus braccata (Gmel.), swept from oak, near Furzey Lodge, New Forest, Hants, 12.yiii.1995; male and female Tenthredo moniliata Klug, swept from bog bean, Little Loch, S.E. of Newton Mearns, Renf., 8.vii.1995; a dark colour form of female Tenthredo olivacea Klug, BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 1: 1996 237 Wood of Cree RSPB reserve, near Newton Stewart, Kirk., 7.vii.1995; female Amauronematus sagmarius Konow, swept from sallows, N. end of Mortimer’s Meadow, Dinton Pastures County Park, Winnersh, Berks., 8.iv.1995; female Nematinus acuminatus (Thomson), swept, Failford Wood, Failford, Ayr., 3.vii.1995; female Nematus fahraei Thomson, swept High Wood, Woodley, Berks., 171995: HARMAN, T. W.—A hornet, Vespa crabro L. taken 13.ix.1995, feeding on ripe apples at Turville Heath Farm, Bucks. This is believed to be the first record for this locality. HopcE, P. J.— Twenty-five species of aculeate bees and wasps taken in 1995, anda parasitic wasp. Ichneumonidae: Metopius dentatus (F.), det. Dr M. R. Shaw, bred from a pupa of Lasiocampa callunae Palm (Lep.: Lasiocampidae), reared by Rosalind Hodge from larvae collected at Rannoch, mid Perth. in July 1994 by Rev. A. H. H. Harbottle. Pompilidae: Anoplius concinnus (Dahlbom), near the exposed root plate of a fallen lime tree, Buxted Park, E. Sussex, 20.vi1.1995; Eumenidae: Eumenes coarctatus (L.), a female at Pulicaria dysenterica flower in a marshy meadow near a marina at Hermitage, W. Sussex, 12.vili.1995; female Odynerus melanocephalus (Gmel.), flying over sparsely vegetated sand, Midhurst Common sandpit, 12.vi.1995. Vespidae: female Vespula austriaca (Panz.) at Vaccinium myrtillus flower on moorland near Aughavannagh, Co. Wick., Ireland, 16.v.1995. Sphecidae: male Crossocerus distinguendus (Morawitz), swept Tilbury, S. Essex, 19.vi.1995, and a male on exposed lime tree root plate at Buxted Park, E. Sussex, 20.vii.1995; male C. vagabundus (Panz.), swept at Mottisfont, S. Hants, 16.vi.1995; male C. walkeri (Shuck.), beaten from oak, Dunbridge, S. Hants, 14.vi.1995; female Mimumesa unicolor (Vander Linden) and Psenulus schencki (Tourn.) on Heracleum sphondylium flower, Cooling Marsh, W. Kent, 19.vii.1995; female Gorytes bicinctus (Rossius) and Passaloecus clypealis Faester, swept, the latter from Phragmites in dyke at Horsham Marsh, E. Kent, 23.vu.1995. Apidae: Andreninae; Andrena bucephala Steph., basking on sycamore leaves, Arundel Park, W. Sussex, 1.v.1995; female A. congruens Schmiedeknecht on Heracleum sphondylium flowers, Basing Fen, N. Hants, 13.vu.1995; female A. nigriceps (Kirby), entering burrow on south-facing sandy bank, Pennington Marsh, S. Hants., 30.vi.1995; female A. varians (Rossius), on bramble leaf, south margin of wood, Lewes, E. Sussex, 10.v.1995. Apidae: Halictinae; male Halictus confusus Smith, swept Lakenheath Airfield, W. Suff., 8.vill.1995; Lasioglossum pauxillum Schenck at Dunbridge, S. Hants, 14.vi.1995 and The Salterns, Lymington, S. Hants, 30.vi.1995; male Sphecodes reticulatus Thomson, near cliff top at Short Cliff, Cuckmere Haven, E. Sussex, 26.v.1995. Apidae: Nomadinae; female Nomada hirtipes Perez, basking on sycamore leaves, Arundel Park, W. Sussex, 1.v.1995; N. sheppardana (Kirby) numerous on exposed root plates of fallen lime trees, Buxted Park, E. Sussex, 5.v.1995. Apidae: Eucerinae; Eucera longicornis (L.), a colony nesting in a steep south-facing bank, bank of River Bewl, E. Sussex, 21.vi.1995. Apidae: Anthophorinae; female Anthophora quadrimaculata (Panz.) visiting Nepeta flowers in a garden at Harvard Road, Ringmer, E. Sussex, 20.vu1.1995. Apidae: Ceratininae; Ceratina cyanea (Kirby), numerous females visiting bramble flowers and evidently nesting in nearby cut Buddleja stems, Lewes, E. Sussex, 27.v.1995 (new to E. Sussex). Apidae: Bombinae; queen Bombus monticola Smith, at Vaccinium myrtillus flowers on moorland at Aughavannagh, Co. Wick., Ireland, 16.v.1995. ILEY, M.—An exhibit showing two generations of the sphecid wasp Ectemnius cavifrons (Thomson) bred in a garden at Great Missenden, Bucks. in 1994 and 1995. Also reared from the same nest were a single female of E. sexcinctus (F.). 238 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 1: 1996 MANN, D. J., PAVETT, M. AND SLADE, D. J.—A selection of insects recorded by the Welsh Insect Survey. This included the sawfly Sterictiphora angelicae (Panz.), syn. furcata, swept at Newbridge-on-Wye, Breck., 1.vii.1995, a new record for Wales. MCLEAN, I. F. G—The bee wolf, Philanthus triangulum (F.) (Sphecidae), 4.vili.1995, from the cliffs at the east end of Cromer, Norf. This formerly scarce species is continuing to spread through East Anglia and elsewhere. PLANT, C. W.—A bilateral gynandromorph of an undetermined Sphecodes sp. (Apidae: Halictinae) taken at Sawbridgeworth Marsh Nature Reserve, Herts on 11.viii.1995. The specimen showed variation in the density and form of the silvery hairs on the left and right halves of the face. The left antenna was shorter than the right but had longer basal segments. The genitalia consisted of both a sting and modified male structures. There were also other smaller differences which terminated abruptly at the mid-body line. ROBERTS, S. P. M.—A selection of aculeate hymenoptera which are target species for the first provisional atlas. Mutillidae: Mutilla europaea L. male and female from Sandford, Dorset 13.vii.1994 and male and female from Holton Heath NNR, Dorset, 6.viii.1994. Pompilidae: Cryptocheilus notatus (Rossius) female Great Ovens Heath, Dorset, 10.vii.1994. Vespidae: Vespa crabro L. queen, Dean’s Grove House, Wimborne, Dorset, 20.v.1992, worker at ivy flowers Denny Wood, New Forest, Hants, 24.x.1989; Dolichovespula media (Retz.) queen, Felbridge near East Grinstead, Sussex, 26.viii.1990, worker, Furzebrook, Dorset, July 1994, male Deeves Hall, Ridge, Herts, July 1994. Eumenidae: Symmorphus crassicornis (Panz.) female Sandford, Dorset, 13.vii.1994; S. gracilis (Brulle) male Holt Heath NNR, Dorset, 24.vi.1990 and female Dean’s Grove House, Wimborne, Dorset, 3.viii.1990. Sphecidae: Crabro cribarius (L.) male and female Sandford, Dorset, 3.viii.1994; C. scutellatus (Scheven) female Crock Hill, New Forest, Hants, 4.vii.1991; Ectemnius cavifrons (Thomson) female White Barrow, Tilshead, Wilts, 26.viii.1991; Oxybelus argentatus Curtis male and female Sinah Common, Hayling Island, Hants, 12.vii.1994; O. uniglumis (L.) male and female Sandford, Dorset, 13.vii.1994, female Kingsbridge Lakes, Dorset, 6.viii.1994; Ammophila sabulosa (L.) male Sandford, Dorset, 13.vii.1994 and female Godlingston Heath NNR, Dorset, 14.vii.1991; A. pubescens Curt. male and female Morden Bog NNR, Dorset, 14.vii.1994; Podalonia hirsuta (Scop.) male Studland Heath NNR, 20.vii.1989 and female Godlingston Heath NNR, Dorset, 14.vii.1991; Cerceris arenaria (L.) male Sandy Point, Hayling Island, Hants 24.vii.1991 and female Sandford, Dorset 3.viii.1994; C. ruficornis (F.) male Godlingston Heath NNR, Dorset, 14.vii.1991 and female Sandy Point, Hayling Island, Hants, 24.viii.1991; C. rybyensis (L.) male Durlston Head, Dorset, 14.vii.1991 and female Sandford, Dorset 3.viii.1994; Philanthus triangulum (F.) male and two females, one with Apis mellifera worker prey, Holton Heath NNR, Dorset, 6.viii.1994. Apidae, Xylocopinae: Ceratina cyanea (L.) male and female Oxenbourne Down, Hants, 11.x.1987. Apidae, Megachilinae: Anthidium manicatum (L.) male Wareham Meadows, Dorset, 29.vii.1994 and female Dibden Marshes, Hants, 22.vii.1995. UFFEN, R. W. J.—Some new or locally rare species of bees and wasps recorded in Hertfordshire in 1995, with three others recorded elsewhere. Hertfordshire records: Andrena cineraria (L.) (Apidae: Andreninae) and Nomada lathburiana (Kirby) (Apidae: Nomadinae) from the Ashridge area. The Andrena nests in sand bunker walls on Ashridge golf course and on turfed knolls of powdery clay soil on Berkhamsted golf course. Male A. cineraria were flying round oaks on Gustard Wood Common golf course, 23.v.1995. N. lathburiana was first taken on Berkhamsted Common by David Marshall on flowers of American bramble, Rubus pergratus; Nomada fucata Panz. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 1: 1996 239 found at the only locality in the county for its host bee, Andrena flavipes Panz. at Tyttenhanger sandpits, Colney Heath, spring brood female 12.iv.1995 and summer brood male 19.vii.1995; Andrena helvola (L.) female at Bricket Wood, 29.v.1995 and Frogmore Lakes, St. Albans, 1.v.1995; two female Nomada panzeri (Lepeletier) at Marshall’s Heath, Wheathampstead, 22.v.1995—this is the first record amongst many N. flava Panz. examined in Herts.; Hoplitis spinulosa (Kirby) (Apidae: Megachilinae), a male at Pitstone Quarry, 16.vili.1995 and a female at Therfield Heath, Royston, 10.viii.1995. These records are at opposite ends of the Chilterns in Herts; Ectemnius rubicola (Dufour & Perris) (Sphecidae), on Torilis japonica flowers, Mardley Heath, 31.vii.1995; E. sexcinctus (F.) male on Heracleum flowers, River Lee at Wormley, 5.viil.1995; female Gortyes tumidus (Panz.), by a farm track at Tewin, 30.vi.1995; Episyron rufipes (L.) (Pompilidae), female at Tyttenhanger sandpits, 19.vii.1995; Caliadurgus fasciatellus (Spin.), female fluttering its wings erect as it moved in hedgerow at Tyttenhanger sandpits, 21.v.1995; Ageniodeus cinctellus (Spin.), females entering bee burrows, one collecting soil pellets and fragments of grass of similar length to the spider wasp for packing the burrow, in hedgerows at Tyttenhanger sandpits, 27.vi.1995; male Arachnospila spissa (Schiodte) at Marshall’s Heath, Wheathampstead, 25.v.1995; female Chrysogona gracillima (Forster) (Chrysididae), on fence post in hedgerow at Tyttenhanger sandpits, Colney Heath, 19.vii.1995. Other counties: Sphecodes niger Sichel (Apidae: Halictinae) and Gorytes bicinctus (Rossius) (Sphecidae), both males, at Dinton Pastures Country Park, Winnersh, Berks, 29.vii.1995; female Heriades truncorum (L.) (Apidae: Megachilinae) on ragwort flower, Fulmer, Bucks., 3.viii.1995. ODONATA PORTER, J.—Two migratory dragonfly species taken in 1995. A pair of the yellow- winged darter, Sympetrum flaveolum (L.) and a single vagrant darter, S. vulgatum (L.), both at Dungeness, Kent, 9.vili.1995. MANTODEA BROTHERIDGE, D. J.—Four unidentified mantids from Tenerife, Majorca and Grete: NEUROPTERA HARMAN, T. W.—A specimen of the local lacewing Drepanepteryx phalaenoides (L.) taken at m.v. light in a beech wood, Turville Heath Farm, Bucks, 30.vii.1995. ORTHOPTERA MANN, D. J. , PAVETT, M. AND SLADE, D. J.—Grey bush cricket Platycleis albopunctata (Goeze) (Tettigoniidae), recorded at Oxwich Burrows, Glam. during the 1995 Welsh Insect Survey. MISCELLANEOUS HALSTEAD, A. J.—A Scots pine log cut from a four-foot-high trunk after the tree had been hacked down by vandals earlier in the summer. The stump had produced copious quantities of resin from under the damaged bark and in the subsequent weeks this had trapped a variety of invertebrates, including beetles, aphids, ants, 240 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 1: 1996 flies, a parasitic wasp, mites and spiders. The specimen was collected in September from Whitmoor Common, near Guildford, Surrey. ILLUSTRATIONS HAWKINS, R. D. AND Scott, A. N.—A photograph of Dascillus cervinus (L.) (Dascillidae) pollinating the common spotted orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii (Druce), taken at Kenley Common, Surrey, in June 1994. The beetle inserted its head into each flower and was apparently feeding. It climbed to the top of the flower spike and was photographed, showing three orchid pollinia attached to its face. HENDERSON, M.—A small selection of stamps featuring insects and other arthropods. Also a copy of the catalogue Collect butterflies and other insects on stamps by A. Coles and T. Phipps, published in 1991 by Stanley Gibbons and available at their shop on the Strand at a reduced price. Thematic collecting of insects on stamps could be considered as an adjunct to collecting, or to familiarize oneself with a popular major group, perhaps because one’s opportunities for collecting actual specimens is limited. Many families of insects are now represented on stamps, but there is a heavy bias towards large colourful insects, thus the Lepidoptera and Coleoptera are more usual subjects than the Diptera or even the Hymenoptera. HENWOOD, DR B. P.—Photograph of a larva of Eupithecia abietaria (Goeze). Hopkins, G. W.—A display showing the range and abundance of birch aphids. Fourteen species of aphid feed on birch in Britain, the greatest number of any deciduous tree. Photographs of nine of the eleven species were shown including the rare Monaphis artennata, Callipterinella minutissima and C. tuberculata. PAYNE, JA photograph of Coenonympha pamphilus (L.) ab. antiexessa Leeds. An accompanying letter from Mr David Carter verified this extremely scarce form taken in Northants in 1960. PLATE IV. ANNUAL EXHIBITION 1995 1: Spodoptera cilium, Lizard, Cornwall, 8.x.1995, D. C. G. Brown. 2: Luperina dumerilii, Lizard, Cornwall, 7.ix.1983, B. F. Skinner. 3: Orthosia gothica, Dungeness, Kent, 24.iii.1995, S. P. Clancy. 4: Eilema deplana, Windsor Forest, Berks., 28.vii.1995, B. F. Skinner. 5: Noctua comes, bred, 1994, D. Wedd. 6: Herminia plumigeralis, Greatstone, Kent, 12.x.1995, S. P. Clancy. 7: Hadena albimacula, Dungeness, Kent, 5.vi.1995, S. P. Clancy. 8: Chrysodeixis acuta, Lizard, Cornwall, 14.x.1995, D. C. G. Brown. 9: Chrysodeixis chalcites, Norfolk, bred 1992. 10: Cryphia algae, Southsea, Hants, 26.vii.1995, J. Langmaid. 11: Trichoplusia vittata, Rye Harbour, Sussex, 31.vii.1995, D. Funnell (S. P. Clancy). 12: Trichoplusia vittata, Tanzania, Pringle coll., BM(NH) (S. P. Clancy). 13: Semiothisa liturata, Windsor Forest, Berks., 28.vii.1995, B. Skinner. 14: Peribatodes manuelaria, bred, New Romney, Kent, 1994, B. F. Skinner and S. P. Clancy. 15: Thera britannica, Melvich, Sutherland, 2.viii.1995, D. Wedd. 16: Cosmorhoe ocellata, Chardstock, Devon, 24.viii.1995, A. E. Jenkins. 17: Eupithecia ultimaria, Hants, 30.vii.1995, J. Langmaid. 18: Eucosma tripoliana, Portsmouth, Hants, 10.viii.1995, J. Langmaid. 19: Monopis fenestratella, Richmond Park, Surrey, 20.vi.1995, M. S. Parsons. 20: Eccopisa effractella, Buckingham Palace, London, 13.vii.1995, D. Agassiz. 21: Eccopisa effractella, Continental specimen. ANNUAL EXHIBITION 1995 . y = “ 4 ' i , } « $ * a A ‘ » @ a *) ‘ * wrt: ine 7 ae @ (at hee tee ROE at Tule a telat) it, say ae ee ce sale 5 ‘oe a a ’ ne . «4 a] Ni Ns . ‘ ‘ * ‘ , 4 * by b i ; r . eit < . ie 4 La cMiAA } BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 1: 1996 241 REVELS, R.—Photographs of 24 species of British ladybird, including life cycles and parasites of some species. Also shown were birds, butterflies, dragonflies, hoverflies, spiders, wasps and other subjects from his extensive photo library of natural history subjects. ROBERTS, S. P. M.—Maps of aculeate Hymenoptera for inclusion in the first provisional atlas. These were up-to-date drafts of the 55 distribution maps that are to be included in the BRC/BWARS provisional atlas due for publication early in 1996. The maps have been drawn using the DMAP mapping package. THOMAS, R. C.—Entitled “Entomology and English Heritage”, the display consisted of a map showing locations of English Heritage properties, some photo- graphs of selected sites, and an account of the work which English Heritage is doing to collate entomological information about its sites. They are keen for entomologists to visit and collect records on their sites. Please contact Dr R. C. Thomas, Senior Ecologist, English Heritage, 429 Oxford Street, London WIR 2HD to arrange visits. WARING, P.—A photograph showing larvae of Chloroclystis chloerata (Mabille), feeding on Blackthorn blossom. This is one of the species dropped from the atlas of the rarer macro-moths because it is now known from more than 100 of the 10-km squares in Britain. The distribution map is the first to be prepared for this species and will be published in the entomological press, along with those of other species demoted from the atlas, so that the information is readily available. Crimson underwing survey. A survey of the light and dark crimson underwings, Catocala promissa (D. & 8.) and C. sponsa (L.) took place on 12.viii.1995 in the New Forest, Hampshire, as part of a joint field meeting between the British Entomological and Natural History Society and Butterfly Conservation. The exhibitor was delighted to find both species at five different places in the central and eastern parts of the Forest, and the light crimson underwing at a sixth. Previously there had been concerns that the dark crimson underwing in particular had become much more localized within the Forest. The meeting was filmed by a crew from the BBC and shown on 3 September as part of the ‘Nature Detectives” series. Atlas of the scarce and threatened macro-moths of Great Britain. This project was started in the winter of 1992-93, following formation of a national recording network for the rarer moths in 1991. The first draft of maps was issued to all county recorders and record centres in 1992, since when many further records and much new information has been added. The text and maps are continually being updated on computer and accounts of individual species are frequently being sent to lepidopterists and conservation organizations. Editing for publication is due to take place during the winter of 1995/6 with publication by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) in 1996. The recording network will continue to be serviced and the computer data-base kept up to date as part of a joint project between BC and JNCC. Up-to-date national distribution maps of 14 species which have been demoted from the atlas because, fortunately, they have been found to be too widespread and common to qualify, are being submitted for publication in a paper for the Entomologists’ Record. For some of these species, such as the sloe pug Chloroclystis chloerata (Mabille), there are no previous published maps. For others it is interesting to compare the results with previous versions. While recording has improved in some areas, it is clear that there have also been real changes in moth distribution in the last two decades, with increases as well as declines. 242 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 THE 1995 PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS—PART 1 REPORT MALCOLM J. SCOBLE Department of Entomology, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD. The British are well known both for their enthusiasm for natural history and their love of societies. It has been my great privilege for the last year to have been President of this long-established organization—one occupying a special niche in British natural history. Founded in 1872, as the South London Entomological and Natural History Society, the British Entomological and Natural History Society seems to be thriving by combining its great strength—an emphasis on practical entomology, field studies in particular—with a growing determination to use its collective knowledge in matters relating to invertebrate conservation. I shall have more to say about this latter issue in a moment. I am a relative newcomer to Council, although I have been a member of the Society for 22 years. But from sitting around the Council table over the last two years, I have been struck greatly by the enormous level of experience that exists and that is put towards running the BENHS. The purpose of our Society is stated in the bye-laws to be the ‘promotion and advancement of research in biology, especially entomology, and its diffusion. ..’. But to achieve that purpose involves organization: holding Council meetings; taking minutes; arranging and leading field meetings, lecture meetings, workshops and open days; curating the collections; managing the finances; dealing with the membership; handling sales of various goods produced by the Society; editing the journal; distributing the journal and other information about the Society; arranging the annual exhibition and dinner; and managing the Society’s headquarters—the Pelham—Clinton Building at Dinton Pastures. It is the officers and ordinary members of Council on whom these tasks fall chiefly. You have just heard about some of their activities over the past 12 months from the reports. Previous Presidents have noted that while the incumbent of the office is required to chair meetings and act as a facilitator, most of the hard labour is shouldered by the officers and ordinary members of Council. I agree with that observation. So I am delighted to take this opportunity to thank formally all these people—they have made my presidential year interesting, and provided great support based on their extensive, collective experience. Let me mention three of them. Our Sales Secretary, Roger Hawkins, retired from the position at the end of last year, as did the Assistant Treasurer, Mark Telfer, from his post. May I thank them, on behalf of Council and the membership, for their service to the Society in these important jobs. A long-standing member retiring from Council this year is John Muggleton. I make special mention of him, not just for his many years service to the Society, but also because of his invaluable ability to interpret proposals that arise in Council in the light of the bye-laws. I feel sure that the Society will benefit from his advice again in a formal capacity soon. During the course of the year it has been my sorry duty to announce the deaths of 11 members, several who had been prominent in the Society. Mr Stanley Maurice Hanson, from West Sussex, died on 18 March 1995. He had been a member of the Society since 1949 and was interested in Lepidoptera. Dr Patrick J. L. Roche died in March 1995. He was a special life member having joined the Society in 1942. His special interest was in Hemiptera, in particular Pentatomidae. Patrick Roche was a medical doctor and pathologist whose career took him to Pentonville Prison, West Africa, Sabah, and the Seychelles. He retired to BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 243 Andorra where he was involved in preparing a list of Andorran insects. He made a representative collection of Andorran insects and a trust for the study of Andorran natural history was formed at his behest. He was a knight of St Sebastian. Mr Horace Last died on 4 April aged 87. He was elected a special life member of the Society in 1991 having joined in 1941. By profession, he was a tea taster. His entomological interest was in the Coleoptera, particularly Staphylinidae. Horace Last published papers on British and Channel Island Staphylinidae, and also on tropical myrmecophilous staphylinids, particularly those of Africa. Mr S. Maurice Jackson died in late May 1995. He had been a member since 1989 and was Yorkshire Macrolepidoptera Recorder for many years. Mr Bruce Burns, who died on | June 1995, joined the Society in 1944, but was no longer a member at the time of his death. His main interest was in the Macrolepidoptera, particularly of Hampshire. Before his work took him to the North, he regularly exhibited specimens at the Annual Exhibition of the Society. Mr Hugh N. Michaelis died on 29 July 1995. He joined the Society in 1951 and was interested in Lepidoptera, particularly Microlepidoptera, and also sawflies. Much of his work was carried out in Lancashire; he was a prominent member of the Lancashire and Cheshire Entomological Society. In later years he worked extensively on Microlepidoptera of north Wales and did much to encourage many collectors. Mrs Frances Mary Murphy died on 20 July 1995. She joined the Society in 1962 and became an active member. She served as Secretary during the 1980s and became President in 1989—the first and, so far, only woman to occupy the position. She specialized in spiders and was known for her work on the group internationally. She travelled widely, collected specimens from many countries, and was a capable and enthusiastic photographer of these animals. Several of her many publications were printed in the Society’s journal. Mr Eric Bradford died, in a road accident, on 12 August 1995. He had been a member since 1960 and, in recognition of his work for the Society, was elected an honorary member in 1985. He served the Society in many ways behind the scenes, frequently using his professional graphics skills to produce signs and displays. That he was a talented illustrator is well known to all those familiar with his paintings of Microlepidoptera published in our journal. He was the Society’s curator for 10 years. Although his special interests were in Microlepidoptera, he was involved in natural history broadly, even to the extent of buying two pieces of land on which he created nature reserves. His collections have been bequeathed to the Society. Mr Howard G. Phelps died in the summer of 1995 while on holiday in Spain. He lived in Wiltshire and joined the Society in 1976 although he was no longer a member at the time of his death. He was respected as a good all round naturalist and had developed a special interest in Spanish butterflies, of which he had a collection. Mr Humphrey W. Mackworth-Praed died on 13 September 1995. He had been a member since 1960 and had a special interest in Lepidoptera—particularly European butterflies—and was a general natural historian of note. His autobiography, entitled Conservation pieces, was published in 1991. He was an active member of the National Trust and the Surrey Wildlife Trust. His considerable collection, chiefly of butterflies and natural history books, was bequeathed to the Society. Mr Leonard Francis Ferguson died on 19 November 1995. He had been a member since 1936 and would have become an Honorary Life Member this year. He was born in 1910 and developed an interest in natural history in childhood. He qualified as a dental surgeon, served in the Royal Dental Corps during the war and, subsequently, practised in Teddington, Middlesex. During his active retirement in Devon he was a keen observer of wildlife and an enthusiastic gardener. 244 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 We have stood already in memory of these members at previous meetings. Over recent years, Council has been considering the future of the BENHS. This year there has been further discussion on developing the activities of the Society. In 1994, a paper was put before Council expressing some concern that the BENHS might to some extent lose its role and value if members were increasingly to see their interests being served principally by specialist groups outside the Society. The writers of this paper had in mind, particularly, special interest groups involving Diptera, Hymenoptera and Coleoptera. By the spring of 1994, Council had agreed unanimously the affiliation with the BENHS of the Dipterists’ Forum, a group founded in 1994. The mechanics of this process enabled the affiliation to take place in 1995. Discussions over affiliation of the Bees, Wasps and Ants Recording Scheme (BWARS) are still in progress. The idea of the BENHS acting as an umbrella organization to which such organizations are affiliated is surely a good one, although not without organizational implications. Further development has occurred on the Society’s role in invertebrate conservation. The idea of the BENHS having a greater impact in this field was suggested in 1993, and proposals were put in place later that year and in 1994. The aim of the initiative was to promote invertebrate conservation and to encourage members of the Society to apply their expertise to this end. Among the seven objectives of the proposal was one on promoting ‘the validity of invertebrate collecting as a legitimate means of gaining knowledge for science and conservation’. Members of the Society will be aware of a growing hostility towards collecting in certain quarters, much of it poorly considered. The BENHS is a Society that supports responsible collecting, and disassociates itself from irresponsible collecting. Plainly, what constitutes responsible and irresponsible collecting is a matter of judgement. But that the Society is open to discussion of collecting issues can be seen from the publication of recent articles on the subject in its journal (Miles, 1995; Stubbs, 1995). The matter was also considered in the 1988 Presidential Address (McLean, 1990). Debate about collecting insects is essential if prejudices and entrenched positions about the subject are to be avoided. What unquestionably is true, is that a great swathe of knowledge about natural history has resulted from collecting and the study of collections. Also, it is the case that collections have an enormous role yet to play in the study of natural history. The amount of revisionary taxonomy still needed on invertebrates, an undertaking based substantially on collections, is immense. And good revisions form, in my view, a critical basis for conservation biology, rich, as the good ones are, in compilation and interpretation. I can vouch for the value of collections with some confidence after spending my entire research career to date working in three different natural history museums almost entirely on preserved material. Moreover, significant parts of these collections were built up by people who collected for a hobby; those who argue that collecting can be justified only for specific scientific or conservation purposes should consider this point carefully. As with nearly all issues in a complex social setting, the answer lies in compromise and will be achieved best by careful thought. What increasingly is of concern is the effect of inadequately drafted legislation intended for environmental or species protection that threatens to restrict or ban collecting. Paradoxically,"such an action may have the effect of restricting research of environmental value if sampling of organisms is required to achieve results. The BENHS, as an important society for fieldwork in Britain, has much that it can do to help encourage a balanced approach to collecting, particularly in the context of the complex relationship that exists between collecting and conservation. Although a BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 245 natural history society exists primarily, and rightly, for the benefit of its members, the activities of our Society are likely to be scrutinized when activities have an effect within the public domain. The pressures on collecting are almost certain to increase and this Society, and other societies or institutions, can expect to have to deal increasingly with objections on moral and legal grounds. If some kind of co- ordinated effort is not made fairly soon by societies like the BENHS to address this issue, insect collecting may start to become viewed with the same general distaste as exists for birds’ eggs collecting. The impact of amendments to the Lacey Act in the United States on collecting has been considerable. Collecting insects in certain countries of the European Union is becoming increasingly difficult. How long will it be before European Community legislation incorporates measures similar to those in the USA? Although fieldwork by the BENHS is essentially British, I am delighted here to mention the recent expedition involving three members of the Society to Belize. Context in natural history studies adds a further dimension to interpretation, so it is surely a healthy sign for the Society to look beyond British shores. Paul Waring, who led the expedition, and his colleagues, should be congratulated for their initiative. With the threat to biodiversity in the tropics, collecting expertise can be put to use in such areas contributing to the pool of specimens on which taxonomic research can be undertaken. Besides this particular expedition by the Society, members have ever more connection with their Continental European colleagues. I sincerely hope that these associations will increase; it can only benefit entomology if we work together and so increase our effectiveness in the field of natural history. Finally in this report, let me turn to the way in which I see the more general role of the BENHS. At times in which we are all exhorted to have mission statements, roles, aims and objectives, perhaps the first purpose of the BENHS is simply to have fun to enjoy natural history. Enjoyment and enthusiasm for something are qualities prerequisite for real achievement. That being said, perhaps the most important broader role of the BENHS is to contribute to knowledge of the natural history of invertebrates, particularly insects, of Britain in a Continental European context. By way of field meetings, indoor meetings and workshops in particular, experience is passed between members of different ages and different interests. This Society has a special role to play in acting as a conduit for the common stream of knowledge of insect natural history in Britain. This may not sound very dynamic; yet the effect of such a flow of information is enormous. But while a sense of continuity is the background against which the lives and work of most of us are lived, evolution is also a part of any society. So in the late 20th century, what should be the orientation of the BENHS? I have no definite answers, but put forward three main areas on which members of the Society may care to reflect. Whatever the answers are, I think that at a time of considerable change, institutions that thrive are likely to be those with a keen sense of identity. The first lies in the role of the Society in the field of invertebrate biodiversity. The word biodiversity is one that has become very much a part of the language of environmental politics. Members of the BENHS may feel, reasonably enough, that the study of biodiversity is precisely that in which the Society has been engaged since its very foundation. But although it is sometimes tempting to shrink from concepts that have become fashionable, the threat to biodiversity is also a threat to the purpose of any society involved in its study. Therefore, it can be no bad thing if we can have a role in its preservation. What kind of role might the BENHS play in this area? Some societies are mainly pressure groups; some adopt a more fact-based, advisory role; others lie somewhere 246 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 between. The BENHS is quintessentially a factual/knowledge-based society, so the advisory end of the spectrum is, in my view, where it is likely to be most effective. The second point is related to the one I made earlier about helping to maintain the common stream of natural history knowledge. It is important that we should be fully aware of this role, which, broadly speaking, is educational, and build on it. Field meetings, workshops, open days, indoor meetings and publications are the main practical ways in which this important role is fulfilled. The programme of activities over the last year is something of which the Society can be justly proud. The third and final point concerns the relationship between the Society and other organizations, and the relationship between amateurs and professionals. The fact that so many members of the BENHS belong to other natural history or biological societies demonstrates that extensive contacts do exist. The seamless professional/ amateur interaction that occurs within our Society is a great strength, for the knowledge of amateurs and professionals within the BENHS is of a highly complementary nature. Given the evident need for keys and guides to the British invertebrate fauna, there is much more that could be done if efforts were to be combined to specific ends. The Department of Entomology at The Natural History Museum is in the process of expanding its role in work on the British insect fauna, particularly in the fields of taxonomy, nomenclature and putting taxa in a broader geographical perspective—particularly Palaearctic. There are great opportunities for collaborative work between members of the BENHS and the Museum relating to this initiative. The Society will gain a further opportunity in its broadly educational role through interested members becoming increasingly involved in collaboration to produce yet more publications on the British invertebrate fauna. REFERENCES McLean, I. F. G. 1990. The 1988 Presidential Address—Part 2. What future for our entomological heritage? Br. J. Ent. Nat. Hist. 3: 35—54. Miles, S. 1995. Report of the discussion meeting held on 12 May 1992 to consider invertebrate conservation in the United Kingdom. Br. J. Ent. Nat. Hist. 8: 19-26. Stubbs, A. E. 1995. A correction to Butterfly Conservation’s claimed attitudes in invertebrate conservation. Br. J. Ent. Nat. Hist. 8: 171-174. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 247 THE 1995 PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS—PART 2 NATURAL HISTORY: SOCIETIES AND MUSEUMS MALCOLM J. SCOBLE Department of Entomology, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 SBD. In Part 2 of this address I intend to expand on the relationship between natural history societies (especially the British Entomological and Natural History Society) and natural history museums, using illustrations from work on the Lepidoptera. In my President’s Report, emphasis was placed on the relevance of the Society’s traditional type of knowledge and skills to natural history studies in the modern world. The setting is ideal for these words given that the society I address (the BENHS), the society in the rooms of which this meeting is being held (the Royal Entomological Society), and the Natural History Museum, from which I have just come, were all established through Victorian energy and vision and are bound by the concept of natural history. Yet, despite their similarities, each of these organizations has a different character. Go to their meetings, and while one will find overlap among them, one will also experience somewhat different flavours. This observation underlines the point that natural history is many sided—a pluralistic concept finding its way, to a greater or lesser extent, into many organizations. There are natural history museums, national natural history societies (here and abroad), local natural history societies, and even government departments with some element of natural history as part of their brief (for example, the Department of the Environment and its Darwin Initiative). This pluralism makes natural history difficult to define. Perhaps the enduring characteristic of the very best natural history is that it involves using detail and information from particular disciplines to tell bigger stories. Probably, natural history is better described by examining the temperaments or types of people associated with the subject. I have identified three or four key types or temperaments involved in natural history. These categories are by no means mutually exclusive: they may be visualized as a series of overlapping sets (Fig. 1), for there exist many examples of people who fall into more than one of these categories. There are various ways of arranging the circles in the figure. The first category is the naturalist—exemplified by Charles Darwin and Alfred Russell Wallace. Naturalists exhibit the capacity to make a wide variety of detailed observations. Admittedly, some, notably Darwin and Wallace, have had the ability to make quite exceptional connections between their observations and to perceive process behind pattern with an impact probably never equalled by other naturalists—at least in terms of social and scientific effects. But this spirit of observation and recording is typical of members of natural history societies now and in the past. The second type is the natural philosopher/synthesizer—the scientist interested in broad phylogenetic patterns, groundplans and the like. Typically, such individuals observe more at the museum or laboratory bench by dissecting specimens from the collections and looking down the microscope than from tramping the field. A classic British example of the synthesizer is T. H. Huxley. (There have been more from continental Europe—Ernst Haekel and Karl Ernst von Baer, for example.) While natural historians are often naturalists and synthesizers, there is a tendency for individuals to exhibit the temperament of one more than the other. The examples I have chosen to illustrate the naturalist and the synthesizer throw the categories into 248 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 PROCESS ANALYST NATURAL (e.g. ecologist, ethologist, NATURALIST PHILOSOPHER! population geneticist) interested in detail SYNTHESIZER observer and/or (pattern) seeks broad historical experimentalist pattern (and process) ENVIRONMENTALIST politically driven Fig. 1. A concept of natural history defined by different kinds of contributors to the subject. sharp perspective. The differences in approach between Darwin and Huxley are brilliantly portrayed in two recent biographies of the two men (Desmond & Moore, 1991: Desmond, 1994). But Huxley’s own words, written in 1889 for his autobiography, sum up the position of the synthesizer perfectly: .. .. am afraid there is very little of the genuine naturalist in me . . . species work was always a burden to me; what I cared for was the architecture and engineering part of the business, the working out of the wonderful unity of plan in the thousands and thousands of diverse living constructions, and the modifications of similar apparatuses to serve diverse ends. (Huxley in de Beer, 1983) While museum systematists are, of course, very often concerned with species work, it is in museums that the natural history synthesizers tend to be found. They occur also in research institutes and universities, but there are many fewer involved with species taxonomy or higher classification in the universities now than in the past (at least in Britain). My third type of natural historian, the process analyst, who is involved more with studying natural process than pattern, is usually found in a university or applied research institute. The discipline involved primarily is ecology, but behaviour and population genetics fall into this grouping. Ecologists have a profound influence in the way we view processes in the natural world. Like many other fields of research there is considerable subdivision within the subject and much overlap with other subdisciplines of biology. Experimental approaches to ecology, and mathematical modelling of interactions between natural processes, are in the ascendant today. Rather less evident, although still very important, is field-based, observational ecology. Within natural history, experimentalists have had considerable impact in the fields of population genetics, embryology and speciation mechanisms. Molecular techniques are becoming BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 249 increasingly important in all these fields. Experimentation facilitates manipulation of the environment so that the role of particular natural processes can be understood better. I am doubtful that environmentalists should be included in natural history as a fourth type. They are often more part of politics, so perhaps it is best to say that the results of work in the arena of natural history should find their way into environmentalism rather than the other way around. This scheme is a broad one; but the method of perceiving the subject of natural history in such a way seems preferable to my attempting a strict definition. Natural history attracts such a variety of temperaments and working styles—naturalists, scholars, scientists of various disciplines, archaeologists, historians interested in man and the natural world, and, these days, economists (who are trying to value the environment) and lawyers (who write and interpret legislation as it affects nature). The purpose of this preamble is to make the point that societies such as the BENHS are likely to flourish by being conscious of their identity but, at the same time, sensitive to the complex situation in which they exist in the general biological arena of today. For the entomological substance of this address I will illustrate the sort of work that has been carried out typically in natural history museums—mainly because it lends itself to facilities uniquely available in these institutions: namely collections of specimens, libraries (collections of literature), and facilities for studying anatomy. I hasten to add that this is not the only research undertaken at museums; much else is done. But it is the kind of work that provides a platform for discussing the second of the types of natural historian—the synthesizer. Professional taxonomists spend some of their research time investigating the systematic relationships of particular taxa. These days, for taxonomic papers to be acceptable to most journals, providing taxonomic context is very important—and rightly so. Over several years, I have worked on certain species of Lepidoptera, or groups of species, that affect our understanding of phylogenetic relationships within particular areas of the lepidopteran phylogenetic tree. The species in question are not British; but because so many families of this order of insects are distributed globally, or across more than one zoogeographical region, the implications for our understanding of the groups in question apply to higher taxa found in Britain. The general point I hope to illustrate is that the study of a relatively few species can alter our perceptions about areas of higher classification. The preliminary stage of such a research process is actually finding the species that provide this kind of added value. The Lepidoptera fall into a number of broad groupings—not necessarily monophyletic. These are: primitive Lepidoptera; lower Ditrysia; and higher Ditrysia (mainly macrolepidopterans). The most striking anatomical variation in adult Lepidoptera occurs within just 1% of all species (e.g. Kristensen, 1984). For example, within the primitive Lepidoptera there occurs a change from moths with chewing mandibles to those with a sucking proboscis formed from the galeae of the maxillae. The earliest proboscis is moved by extrinsic muscles and lacks intrinsic musculature—that is, musculature within the lumen of the proboscis. But even among this primitive 1% of the order, intrinsic musculature, which occurs throughout the rest of the order, has developed. The larvae of Micropterigidae, arguably the most primitive family of Lepidoptera, are free-living and the cuticle is highly modified. They differ markedly from the larvae of the next most primitive family, Heterobathmiidae, from tropical South America, which are leaf-miners and lack the modified cuticle. 250 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 NEPTICULIDAE: PYGMY MOTHS Among the primitive Lepidoptera belongs a family of very small moths (with a wing-span sometimes under 6 mm) belonging to the family Nepticulidae—pygmy moths. The larvae of most species are leaf-miners; some tunnel in thin bark, others in the petioles and midribs of leaves, and a few in the seed capsule or wings of winged seeds of Acer. Nepticulids are predominantly temperate, but many subtropical and tropical species exist. There are about 600 described species and many still to be described. For example, only a few of the many Australian species already collected have been named. Some years ago, I worked on the Nepticulidae in South Africa. Given the widespread distribution of the family, it was necessary to examine examples from as wide a geographical range as possible (globally in this case) to examine critically the higher classification of the family (that is, from the genus upwards). Material was borrowed, virtually all of it unstudied, from the Australian National Insect Collection in Canberra. The male genitalia of all Nepticulidae examined to that time had a valva of the kind illustrated in Fig. 2. Although there is some variation in shape, most nepticulid valvae are approximately triangular. Modifications exist in some species, but this shape is widespread. By contrast, in Opostegidae (see Davis, 1989), the family considered to be the closest relatives of Nepticulidae, a more strongly modified valva occurs (e.g. as in Fig. 5). In particular, opostegids have on the valva a series of peg- like sensilla termed a ‘pectinifer’. The opostegid pectinifer occurs on a stalk. Among the Australian nepticulid material were many species with peg-like sensilla on their valvae (Scoble, 1982), as in Figs 3 and 4. Although not borne on a stalk, these sensilla occur in the usual comb-like arrangement. In species with a rounded apex to the valva (e.g. Fig. 3), they are positioned around the apex. Pectinifers are found in other monotrysian Lepidoptera. Indeed, Janse coined the term pectinifer for the comb-teeth in certain Incurvarioidea and restricted its use to the situation where it was borne on a stalk. The structure of these sensilla is similar under the light microscope. The presence of comb-teeth in Opostegidae and Incurvarioidea led Kristensen and Nielsen (1980) to suggest that, although there was evidence that Nepticulidae and Opostegidae were sister-groups (closest relatives to each other) because of the presence of ‘eye-caps’ (expanded antennal scapes), that observation should be weighed against the possible sister-group relationship between Opostegidae and Incurvarioidea as a result of their sharing the presence of pectinifers. The discovery of these unusual pectinifers in Nepticulidae removes the argument for treating Opostegidae as the closest relatives of Incurvarioidea. Indeed, given the similarities between the two families, one wonders if there is anything useful to be served by treating Nepticulidae and Opostegidae as separate families rather than as subfamilies Nepticulinae and Oposteginae of the family Nepticulidae. BUCCULATRIX (LEUCOEDEMIA) INGENS My second example (Scoble & Scholtz, 1984) falls within the lower Ditrysia. (The Ditrysia are those Lepidoptera in which the female has two reproductive pores—one for egg laying and the other for mating. They contrast with those monotrysian species, relatively few in number, in which there is a single pore. This division is a fundamental one in lepidopteran classification and was adopted by Borner in 1925.) BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 251 3 Figs 2-S. Valvae of male genitalia of Nepticuloidea. 2, Stigmella (Nepticulidae); 3,4, Pectinivalva (Nepticulidae); 5, Notiopostega (Opostegidae) (after Davis, 1989). pr, pectinifer. The genera Bucculatrix and Leucoptera will be known to all British lepidopterists, especially those interested in leaf-miners. Until fairly recently, both genera were placed in the Lyonetiidae but in separate subfamilies—Bucculatricinae and Cemiostominae respectively. Externally, the wing colour and pattern of these small moths look very different. From galls on the stems of Ozoroa paniculosa (Anacardiaceae) from South Africa emerged a series of moths that looked like a large species of Leucoptera (Plate V, Fig. 1). The wings are glossy white with darker markings near and at their tips. Moreover, the scape of the antenna is expanded into an ‘eye-cap’, and the scales are appressed to the head (smooth-scaled condition). Certainly the moth hardly resembles typical Bucculatrix species with their rather drab wings. The habit of living in galls is not typical either of Bucculatrix or of Leucoptera species. What was peculiar was the appearance of the cocoon, which was ribbed and 252 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 strong, resembling the typical Bucculatrix cocoon rather than the delicate, white fusiform cocoon spun by larvae of Leucoptera. A study of the literature revealed that there is a group of species in North America with their larvae living in stem galls or simply stems of Compositae (Braun, 1963). So stem/gall feeding in Bucculatrix does exist. Also, examination of the larvae showed that setae LI and L2 on abdominal segments 1—8 were well separated, unlike the situation in Cemiostominae. Although scales are frequently appressed to the head in Cemiostominae, this is by no means always the case. An expanded scape is perhaps more visible in the Cemiostominae, but it occurs also in Bucculatrix. Even the glossy white of the wings is not universal in Cemiostominae. The apparent similarities between ingens and Cemiostominae are not demonstrably shared specializations. The suggestion that ingens should be assigned to Bucculatrix rather than Cemiostominae was the presence of its ribbed cocoon and of a pupa with appendages free from, not fused to, the body. In the Cemiostominae, the appendages of the pupa are firmly fixed to the body. This latter pupal condition is almost certainly the specialized state, so while its absence in ingens does not indicate a relationship with Bucculatrix, it is a reason for excluding the species from Cemiostominae. The discovery of ingens adds another dimension to the genus Bucculatrix, for it now includes a species of moth with glossy white wings and prominent ‘eye-caps’. An important point to note is that without a study of the immature stages, ingens would probably have been assigned to the Cemiostominae. Differences obviously exist between most species of Bucculatrix and ingens. For this reason, a new subgenus was created for ingens. The South African species was deliberately kept within Bucculatrix to emphasize the similarities rather than the differences. The phylogenetic distinction between Lyonetiidae and Bucculatricidae is, it would appear, far greater than expected for it was argued by Kyrki (1984) that the groups actually belong to separate superfamilies. BUTTERFLIES What talk on Lepidoptera could possibly fail to mention the butterflies—the honorary birds of the insect world. Fortunately I have an illustration in connection with butterfly taxonomy for my third example. The eminent Japanese lepidopterist Professor Hiroshi Inoue was once asked by the late Emperor of Japan, who was greatly interested in natural history, a question that probably everyone in this room has been confronted with at one time or another. That is: what is the difference between butterflies and moths? Professor Inoue answered that the difference exists only in our minds. Among the Geometridae (the moths with ‘looper’ caterpillars), in the subfamily Oenochrominae, were placed a series of rather delicate-winged, slender-bodied species from tropical America (Plate V, Figs 2-4) (Scoble, 1986; Scoble & Aiello, 1990). The oldest available generic name was Macrosoma. At first glance, these insects do indeed look like Geometridae. However, they lack abdominal tympanal Plate V. 1, Bucculatrix (Leucoedemia ) ingens Scoble & Scholtz (Bucculatricidae); 2-4, Macrosoma species (Hedylidae)—2, M. semiermis (Prout); 3, M. subornata (Warren); 4, M. lucivittata (Walker); 5-6, Hypsidia (Drepanidae)—5, H. erythropsalis Rothschild; 6, H. niphosema (Lower). (1,5,6 prepared by Phil Hurst of The Natural History Museum Photographic Unit.) 1995 PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. M.J. SCOBLE 1. Bucculatrix (Leucoedemia) ingens 2. Macrosoma semiermis 3. Macrosoma subornata 4. Macrosoma lucivittata TTT 5. Hypsidia erythropsalis 6. Hypsidia niphosema Susy « hiaciiedine oer Ele isi - ao Wee 4 ee a ee ae ae im——Ce-e iy hs eae \ in C =a = . : ’ ° mG = 7 a 4 ei £ 1 £5 - wf * BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 253 organs. Apart from females of wingless or wing-reduced Geometridae, all geometrids have tympanal hearing organs located at the base of the abdomen. Although just a small proportion of lepidopteran families have tympanal organs (although not always located in the base of the abdomen), those families that do have these structures include those with very high numbers of species—Pyralidae, Geometridae, Noctuidae (and all the other noctuoid families). This means that most species of Lepidoptera do have tympanal organs. The structure of lepidopteran tympanal organs varies in structure and position. In the Geometridae their anatomy is unique. In particular, there is a sclerite that curves over the tympanum and it is from this sclerite that the receptor is attached to the tympanic membrane. This sclerite is called the ansa, or tympanic handle. Macrosoma and its relatives lack any sign of an abdominal tympanal organ. Nor were some other features of Macrosoma adults typical of Geometridae. The wing venation is unlike that in Geometridae: the veins in the forewing are not fused in Macrosoma, but appear more simple than in Geometridae. Another peculiarity was the reduction (by fusion) in the number of the tarsomeres in the foreleg of males from five to two. The overall length of the foretarsi is not reduced—in fact the forelegs are sometimes very long. In addition, the pretarsus is reduced. A further character not shared by Macrosoma and Geometridae is the pouched condition in Macrosoma of the first abdominal tergum. While examining the accessions, I came across a specimen with pupal exuviae attached to the pin. This remarkable specimen showed the presence of a silken girdle across the base of the abdomen (the first abdominal segment). It was after examining adult material, and the pupal shell just mentioned, that a last instar larva was received from Mr Roy Kendall, who had collected specimens feeding on Byttneria aculiata (Steruliaceae) in Mexico (Kendall, 1976). A prominent feature in the larva of all of the few species of Macrosoma for which material is available, is the presence of a full set of prolegs. In Geometridae, typically, the larval prolegs are reduced in number to a pair on abdominal segment 6 and a pair on segment 10. In Macrosoma, as in macrolepidopterans generally, there is a pair on each of abdominal segments 3-6 and a pair on segment 10. In some geometers, additional prolegs are present in, for example, Archiearinae, some true Oenochrominae and some Ennominae. But usually these are reduced in number or in size. Prominent among the other features of the larva is the pair of cephalic processes (“horns”) and the extension of the anal plate into a pair of furcae. After receiving larval material, eggs of the same species were supplied by Dr Annette Aiello, from the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute on Barro Colorado Island in Panama. These eggs resemble in general shape and, to a lesser extent, ribbing, those found in the butterfly family Pieridae and certain Nymphalidae. Since the study of these eggs, those of the type species of Macrosoma (M. tipulata) have been examined. Although not as elongated, they are of the same general shape and also are ribbed in the same way. To which group of Lepidoptera is Macrosoma related? For the reasons discussed it is not a geometrid. Neither does it belong to any of the other families of macrolepidopterans with abdominal tympanal organs: Pyraloidea, Uraniidae, Drepanidae, Thyatiridae. The genus lacks thoracic tympanal organs, structures that delimit the Noctuoidea (e.g. Noctuidae, Lymantriidae, Arctiidae). Although Macrosoma looks moth-like in general appearance (filiform or even bipectinate antennae; drab wings; typically with a frenulum/retinaculum wing- coupling apparatus; and collected mainly at night at light), some features are 254 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 extremely similar to those found within butterflies. Some are fairly easily visible: the girdled pupa; the ‘pouched’ condition of the base of the abdomen in the adult insect; the downcurved state of the abdomen, particularly in males; the upright, fusiform egg; the fusion of most of the tarsomeres and the reduced pretarsus. Other features include: the close resemblance of the male genitalia to those of some Pieridae; the absence of fusion of the R veins in the forewing; the presence of small chambers, almost certainly tympanal organs, at the base of the forewing, and the appearance of the horned larva, which resembles those of apaturine nymphalid butterflies. L. B. Prout noted the similarity of certain species of Hedylidae (what he called ‘Hedylicae’) with some butterflies. But he considered the butterfly-like characters as convergent and never really questioned that these Lepidoptera belonged to the Geometridae. The problem with accepting many of these butterfly-like characters as evidence for a close relationship between Macrosoma and butterflies, is that some of them occur only in particular subgroups of butterflies. There is no acceptable reason to assume that some of the characters in question (e.g. the alar tympanal organs, horned condition of the larva, reduced forelegs) are shared by Macrosoma and the most primitive butterflies. We simply do not know if there existed an ancestor of Macrosoma and the butterflies that shared these characters. There is, however, one character that possibly is shared uniquely between Macrosoma and the butterflies in general. This is the pouching of the first abdominal tergum. A girdled pupa is a feature shared by Macrosoma and true butterflies, but not skipper butterflies. The first suggestion of the butterfly affinity of Macrosoma made in 1986 (Scoble, 1986) resulted in considerable interest. The eggs of Macrosoma were studied later (Scoble & Aiello, 1990). Recently, two papers dealing with, amongst other issues, the relationship between Macrosoma and butterflies have been written. One of these involved the cladistic analysis of a large dataset of morphological characters (de Jong et al., 1996). The other (Weller & Pashley, 1995), although making use of morphological characters, has been innovative by applying molecular techniques in the search for butterfly origins. The methods of both studies will doubtless be examined critically. But the results of the studies, with regard to the relationships of Macrosoma, leave us little closer to determining the exact relationship of Macrosoma to the butterflies. The study using morphological data suggested that Macrosoma and Urania (Uraniidae) vie for being the closest relatives of the butterflies. The study involving a combination of morphological and molecular data lent added support to the close association of Macrosoma with Hesperioidea and Papilionoidea. One message I gain from this interesting episode, as it relates to natural history, is that often high levels of taxonomic resolution can be achieved with a good collection, a microscope and carefully planned fieldwork. My impression is that substantially greater resolution is by no means certain in analyses with large morphological datasets or with molecular data. This comment should not be taken as a general attack on these procedures, for they are useful in refining classifications or providing confirmation. Rather, my aim is to emphasize the value of what can be achieved using well tried techniques. DREPANIDAE The final example involves three superfamilies: Pyraloidea, Noctuoidea and Drepanoidea but just six species of moths. All the species are from Australia, but, again, all three superfamilies are represented in Britain. BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 255 The study was carried out in collaboration with Mr Ted Edwards at the Australian National Insect Collection in Canberra (Scoble & Edwards, 1988). The genus Hypsidia was originally described for a single species as a pyralid by Lord Rothschild (Rothschild, 1896). More recently, another species was described. Both species are brightly coloured moths (Plate V, Figs 5 & 6) that live in the rainforest of northeastern Australia. In a review of pyralid classification, Dr Eugene Munroe had noted (Munroe, 1972) that Hypsidia lacked a scaled base to the proboscis. In fact, the true relationship of the species is clear if the tympanal organs are studied. Hypsidia, like many other moths, has abdominal tympanal organs. But, as I mentioned before, the anatomy of abdominal tympanal organs differs between different families. In Hypsidia, the tympanal organs are typical of those of the families Drepanidae (the hooktips) and Thyatiridae (in Britain represented by the peach-blossom moth, Thyatira batis). The characteristics of the drepanid/thyatirid tympanal organs were first described in detail by Kennel & Eggers (1933). These structures include components from both sternal and pleural regions. Each tympanal organ is composed of two interconnect- ing chambers—a small one and a large one. The tympanic membrane is unique in being situated within the sternal component of the organ between the small and large chambers. The pleural element includes a distinctive three-armed sclerite. This story has another element of interest. The male and female genitalia of these species are distinctive. In the male a pair of comb-bearing arms arise from the gnathos region, and in the female the ductus bursae takes the form of a spiral—in some species with a sclerite running through it. The Australian lepidopterist A. J. Turner described a genus Baryphanes for a greyish species of moth from southwestern Australia and placed it in the Noctuidae. Although it was later realized that Baryphanes was not a noctuid (Common, 1969), no other family was found for it. Actually, as a result of a study of its tympanal organs, the German entomologist Sick (1938) had already placed a related species in the drepanid complex (as Cymatophorinae), but under a different generic name. During the course of his work on checklisting the Australian Lepidoptera, Ted Edwards came across four other species with genitalia similar to those structures in this group. All were collected from the sclerophyll forests of southwestern Australia. The typical comb-bearing arms in the male and the spiral ductus in the female show that these moths are closely related to the two brightly coloured species from the rain forest in northeastern Australia. Because the species all shared these characters, we included them in Hypsidia. The first point to arise from this study is that the English-speaking world did not seem to be aware of the implications of the anatomical work on tympanal organs by the German morphologists. The relationships of Hypsidia, and indeed the delimitation of several families of Lepidoptera, are revealed by the structure of these organs. Second, and as with Hedylidae, structural study reveals relationship much better than more superficial examination. CONCLUDING THOUGHTS The studies described above were selected to illustrate a synthetic approach to systematics. There are many other examples that could have been selected. The first point to emphasize in the context of this address is that the studies in question, and any general results derived from them, depended particularly on access to carefully curated collections. The second is that in two of the four studies explored, crucial material and information was received from the amateur community. 256 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 9: 1996 My final thought is that most systematists today would consider that their work should make some contribution towards the great biodiversity debate. Much of this effort is put into studying species richness. Our understanding of biological diversity is enhanced, however, by appreciating the breadth of structural diversity that exists, and the phylogenetic context into which it fits. REFERENCES Borner, C. 1925. Lepidoptera, Schmetterlinge. In: Brohmer, P. (Ed.) Fauna aus Deutschland, pp. 358-387. Braun, A. F. 1963. The genus Bucculatrix in America north of Mexico (Microlepidoptera). Mem. Am. Ent. Soc. 13: 110 pp.+ 26 pls. Common, I. F. B. 1969. A wing-locking or stridulatory device in Lepidoptera. J. Aust. Ent. Soc. 8: 121-125. Davis, D. R. 1989. Generic revision of the Opostegidae with a synoptic catalog of the world’s species (Lepidoptera: Nepticuloidea). Smithson. Contr. Zool. 478: 97 pp. de Beer, G. 1983. Charles Darwin and T. H. Huxley: Autobiographies. Oxford University Press, xxvi+ 123 pp. de Jong, R., Vane-Wright, R. I. & Ackery, P. R. 1996. The higher classification of the butterflies (Lepidoptera): problems and prospects. Ent. Scand. 27: 1-37. Desmond, A. 1994. Huxley: the devil’s disciple. Michael Joseph, London, xvii + 475 pp. Desmond, A. & Moore, J. 1991. Darwin. Michael Joseph, Oxford, xxi+ 808 pp. Kendall, R. O. 1976. Larval foodplants and life history notes for eight moths from Texas and Mexico. J. Lepid. Soc. 30: 264-271. Kennel, J. & Eggers, F. 1933. Die abdominalen Tympanalorgane der Lepidopteren. Zool. Jb. (Anat.) 57: 1-104+6 pls. Kristensen, N. P. & Nielsen, E. S. 1980. The ventral diaphragm of primitive (non-ditrysian) Lepidoptera. A morphological and phylogenetic study. Z. Zool. Syst. Evol. Forschung 18: 123-146. Kristensen, N. P. 1984. Studies on the morphology and systematics of primitive Lepidoptera (Insecta). Steenstrupia 10: 141-191. Kyrki, J. 1984. The Yponomeutoidea: a reassessment of the superfamily and its suprageneric groups (Lepidoptera). Ent. Scand. 15: 71-84. Munroe, E. 1972-{4]. Pyraloidea: Pyralidae (in part). In: Dominick, R. B., et al. (Eds) The moths of America north of Mexico. E. W. Classey and the Wedge Entomological Research Foundation, London, 13(1): xvii+78 pp.+ 12 pls. Rothschild, W. 1896. Descriptions of some new species of Lepidoptera, with remarks on some previously described forms. Novit. Zool. 3: 602-603. Scoble, M. J. 1982. A pectinifer in the Nepticulidae (Lepidoptera) and its phylogenetic implications. Ann. Transv. Mus. 33: 123-129. Scoble, M. J. 1986. The structure and affinities of the Hedyloidea: a new concept of the butterflies. Bull. Br. Mus. (Nat. Hist.) (Ent.). Scoble, M. J. & Aiello, A. 1990. Moth-like butterflies (Hedylidae: Lepidoptera): a summary, with comments on the egg. J. Nat. Hist. 24: 159-164. Scoble, M. J. & Edwards, E. D. 1988. Hypsidia Rothschild: a review and a reassessment (Lepidoptera: Drepanoidea, Drepanidae). Ent. Scand. 18: 333-353. Scoble, M. J. & Scholtz, C. H. 1984. A new gall-feeding moth (Lyonetiidae: Bucculatricinae) from South Africa with comments on larval habits and phylogenetic relationships. Syst. Ent. 9: 83-94. Sick, H. 1938. Zwei neue Lepidopteren-Gattungen von Australien. Senckenbergiana 20: 231-236. Weller, S. J. & Pashley, D. P. 1995. In search of butterfly origins. Molec. Phyl. Evol. 4: 235-246. EDITORIAL NEW EDITOR SOUGHT Having edited this journal for 10 years, I am now seeking to hand over the post of Honorary Editor to someone else. I give the position its full title because it has been an honour to do the work, continuing a publishing tradition which the Society has carried on for more than a century. I have learned a great deal of entomology and of entomologists during those years and have enjoyed every minute of it. What then are the qualifications for a successor? A certain level of entomological knowledge is an advantage, but with the help of an editorial board, one does not need to be a specialist in every (or indeed in any) particular insect group. Any knowledge of typesetting or printing is useful, but the journal more or less runs itself when it comes to the technicalities of applying ink to paper. More important is the enthusiasm and orderliness to co-ordinate the various routines of acknowledging receipt of papers, getting them refereed, sending them for typesetting and then for proof-reading and finally constructing an issue and getting it off to the printers. This does take a bit of time, but the rewards are worth it. The satisfaction of seeing an issue, individually crafted and moulded, produced four times a year, offers a real sense of creativity and achievement. I do not want to drop a new-comer straight into the middle of what might be seen by some as a daunting office, and I will be available to assist with a smooth transition and on hand to advise for as long as is necessary for the take-over to be complete. If anyone out there thinks that they could offer the Society the time and energy to take its journal into the twenty-first century, please contact me and I will be happy to fill in the details of exactly what is entailed. RICHARD A. JONES NEW from the Amateur Entomologists’ Society A guide to moth traps and their use by Reg Fry and Paul Waring, 60 pages, card covers, ISBN 0-900054-61-1, £5. Contents: A brief history of light trapping; Measurement and properties of light; Types of lamp available; Different trap designs (including useful circuit and cut-away diagrams); Operating light traps (tips on weather, site selection and relative performances of different traps); Other lures (wine ropes and bait traps); References, Lists of suppliers; Component lists. Other recent publications include: Practical hints for the field Lepidopterist, by J. W. Tutt, (reprinted 1994) 422 pp, hardback, £21. Written in three parts at the turn of the century, this book still represents the most comprehensive field guide covering both macros and micros. A month-by-month guide to which species and stages to look out for and how to find them. There are also extensive notes on early stages and how to keep and rear them. A special supplement cross-references old to current names, both English and Latin. A coleopterist’s handbook, edited by J. Cooter et al., (3rd edn, revised, 1991), 300 pp, hardback, illustrated, £15.50. Part I: practical aspects of collecting, curating and studying beetles. Part II: chapters on each beetle family prepared by experts in the groups. Part III: beetle associations—with plants, ants and stored products. Part IV: beetle larvae—their morphology, habits and rearing methods. Part V: recording methods and conservation. A supplement on Host plants of British beetles available separately, 24 pp, card covers, £2. For all these titles, UK post is included. Overseas add 10% for surface and 30% for air mail. Send cheque made out to ‘AES Publications’ with your order to AES Publications, The Hawthorns, Frating Road, Great Bromley, Colchester CO7 7JN. (Tel: 01206-251600). BRITISH JOURNAL OF ENTOMOLOGY AND NATURAL HISTORY VOLUME 9, PART 4, DECEMBER 1996 ARTICLE Wing homoeosis in Pararge aegeria L. (Lepidoptera: Satyridae). L. WINOKUR PROCEEDINGS AND TRANSACTIONS The BENHS expedition to Belize, January-February 1996. P. WARING, G. COLLINS AND A. SPALDING 1995 Annual Exhibition, Imperial College, London SW7—28 October 1995 207 British butterflies Hymenoptera 211 British Macrolepidoptera Odonata 218 British Microlepidoptera Mantodea 225 Foreign Lepidoptera Neuroptera 229 Diptera Orthoptera 233 Coleoptera Miscellaneous 236 Hemiptera Illustrations The 1995 presidential address—Part 1. Report. M. J. SCOBLE The 1995 presidential address—Part 2. Natural history: societies and museums. M. J. SCOBLE BOOK REVIEWS Collins field guide. Spiders of Britain and northern Europe by M. J. Roberts. R. A. JONES The butterflies of Wiltshire by M. Fuller. A. J. PICKLES Alien empire by C. O. Toole. A. HALSTEAD Hyménopteéres Sphecidae d’Europe Occidentale. Volume |. Genéralites—Crabroninae by J. Bitsch and J. Leclerq. G. ELSE ANNOUNCEMENT Fourth International Congress of Dipterology 1998. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Butterfly conservation post-1925. J. FELTWELL A response to the letter by John Feltwell. A. E. STuBBs ON i , 1 > une i ) AL Cis Whi y* ali vi ) i! 7 be ut i uy LN ui * ~ } Ml ae tou vA i noo wy) af t ea t A Dh Pe A EN at hi sven, me ‘ity Hi ison nine ne AY een q nt . er Nan wiaied i a Hts ie Ms ¥ a) i" j Pave tO a 3 peer’ ete Seek ysenge LAGS apes OMY Reet Tear errer Se Wt 3 mae Y oer . SS raenerw marvEN MY PS ene ; parecer ate pS NYA Te hie 4 Pe ae ee et Spee ney - were