Ry yo one BoE piVeone Tbe IAON fats Danco shed SANs ne? ELAR Bee 4 v REE he i tT ene had 6 SRE RTENY sa ene bot 5 Z ch TEE aie LAR ON fete $ Caras feds ed aviyn Cena Po ERM Settee pepe HT Lat,, a STA sw ty Me twee litt? tet FES aS chia Me an! Beeeeces tf n ‘a AND Edited by C.W. PLANT, B.sc., ER.ES. CONTENTS AND —SNITESON EH CLAL INDEX Ne Wy Y XLisraries Vol. 112 Dp mm fy 2000 a ISSN 0013-8916 ENTOMOLOGIST S RECORD JOURNAL OF VARIATION THE ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD AND JOURNAL OF VARIATION World List abbreviation: Entomologist’s Rec. J. Var. Editor C.W. PLANT, B.Sc., FR.E.S. 14 West Road, Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire CM23 3QP. Telephone: 01279 507697 E-mail: Colinwplant@compuserve.com Assistant Editors R.A. JONES, B.Sc., ER.E.S., EL.S. & A. SPALDING, M.A., ER.ES. Editorial Panel A.A. Allen, B.Sc., A.R.C.S. A.M. Emmet, M.B.E., T.D., ER.ES. N. L. Birkett, J.P., M.A., M.B., ER.E.S. J.A. Owen, M.D., Ph.D., ER.E.S. J.D. Bradley, Ph.D., FR.E.S. C.J. Luckens, M.B., Ch.B., D.R.C.O.G. J.M. Chalmers-Hunt, FR.E.S. B. Skinner P.J. Chandler, B.Sc., ER.E.S. P.A. Sokoloff, M.Sc., C.Biol., M.LBiol., ER.E.S. C.A. Collingwood, B.Sc., RR.E.S. Registrar R.F. McCormick, ER.E.S. 36 Paradise Road, Teignmouth, Devon TQ14 8NR Hon. Treasurer Official Photographer Cre: Penney, FR.E.S. 109 Waveney Drive, David Wilson, 9 Lode Lane, Wicken, Springfield, Chelmsford, Essex CM1 7QA Cambridgeshire CB7 5XP WHERE TO WRITE Papers, notes, books for review, notices, adverts etc — Editor Changes of address — Registrar New subscriptions, renewals, donations, non-arrival of Journal — Treasurer Back issues — Paul Sokoloff, 4 Steep Close, Green Street Green, Orpington, Kent BR6 6DS ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION RATES Individual subscriber £28 Institutional subscriber £40 Readers are respectfully advised that the publication of material in this journal does not imply that the views and opinions expressed therein are shared by the Editor, the Editorial Panel or any party other than the named author or authors. Guidelines for contributors This journal publishes original papers and notes from both amateurs and professionals. It is not necessary for contributors to be subscribers. The emphasis of the journal is on British and European Lepidoptera but contributions on other aspects of British and European entomology are considered, particularly concerning species in Europe which may eventually reach Britain. The preferred method of submission is by e-mail or on floppy disk — even for very short articles. Please visit our website at http://members.netscapeonline.co.uk/colinwplant/entrechome.html for detailed information on preferred formats. However, we acknowledge that these facilities are not available to everyone and, therefore, we also accept typed or hand-written manuscripts. Refer to this volume as a guide, particularly with regard to the format of dates, lists of references and lists of species. Names of British Lepidoptera should follow Bradley, J.D. (2000. A checklist of Lepidoptera recorded from the British Isles second edition) and authors of species names should be given at the first mention. A printed list of instructions may be obtained by sending a stamped addressed envelope marked “Ent. Rec. Guidelines” to the Editor. There are normally no page charges to authors. We welcome colour photographs. All papers are subjected to peer review and may be returned to authors for corrections before acceptance. Galley proofs of papers and book reviews are sent to authors for correction. Proofs of other contributions are checked by the editorial panel. Authors of papers receive 25 free reprints and may pay for additional copies; the order form will be sent with the galley proofs. Proofs of notes can be provided at cost and must be requested when submitting the manuscript. CONTENTS 1: REFEREED PAPERS A A century and a half of Peppered Moths. L. M. Cook, 77 - 82 A study of Gortyna borelii lunata Freyer (Lep.: Noctuidae): results from the first season of behavioural observation sessions. Zoé Ringwood, Julian Hill & Chris Gibson, 93 - 99 Acronicta rumicis L. (Lep.: Noctuidae): The development and decline of melanism in north-west Kent. B. K. West, 205 - 206 Albinism in a male of Coenonympha leander leander (Esper, [1784]) (Lep.: Nymphalidae: Satyrinae). Stanislav Abadjiev, 162 Anthocharis gruneri Herrich-Schaffer (Lep.: Pieridae) new for the Greek Islands. Stanislav Abadjiev, 131 - 132 An unusual aberrant male of Erebia rhodopensis Nichol (Lep.: Nymphalidae: Satyrinae). Stanislav Abadjiev, 122 Argyresthia trifasciata Stdgr., 1871 (Lep.: Yponomeutidae) new to Hertfordshire (VC 20) and South Essex (VC 18) with further records from London (VCs 17 and 21) and with a summary of its British distribution and status. Colin W. Plant, Martin R. Honey and Geoff Martin, 257 - 262 C Corticaria fagi (Wollaston) (Col.: Latridiidae) in Suffolk and Sussex. David R. Nash, 13 - 14 D Dryocoetes autographus (Ratzeburg) (Col.: Scolytidae) in Surrey, apparently new to south-east England, with a taxonomic note. A. A. Allen & J. A. Owen, 121 F Further host records of some West Palaearctic Tachinidae (Diptera). 7. H. Ford, M. R. Shaw & D. M. Robertson, 25 - 36 G Genetics of dorsal hair-tufts on the caterpillar of Orgyia antiqua (L.) (Lep.: Lymantriidae). J. B. Jobe & A. Chan, 85 - 86 H Hoverflies (Dip.: Syrphidae) with a drinking habit. Martin C. D. Speight, 107 - 113 L Liposthenus latreillei (Kieffer) (Hym.: Cynipidae) and Torymus cingulatus Nees (Hym.: Torymidae): insects new to Ireland, J. P. O’ Connor, 87 - 88 Lithostygnus (Metophthalmus) serripennis Broun (Col.: Latridiidae) from a living bat. J. A. Owen, A. C. Lane & R. S. George, 125 - 126 Little known records of Cornish Coleoptera. A. A. Allen, 211 - 213 ili M Melanagromyza dettmeri Hering (Dip.: Agromyzidae) new to Ireland and a second Irish record of its parasitoids Diglyphosema conjugens Kieffer (Hym.: Eucoilidae). J. P. O’ Connor, 105 - 106 Microlepidoptera review of 1999. J. R. Langmaid & M. R. Young, 189 - 203 N Notes on the behaviour of Adela cuprella ({D. & S.]) (Lep.: Incurvariidae). Ian Sims, 171 - 173 R Phytomyza hellebori Kaltenbach (Dip.: Agromyzidae), a recent addition to the British fauna: further records in east Northamptonshire, Huntingdonshire and Cambridgeshire. R. Colin Welch, 163 - 166 Possible evidence of global warming from the early emergence of butterflies in the Isle of Wight. S.A. Knill-Jones, 7 - 9 R Records of the Comma Polygonia c-album L. (Lep.: Nymphalidae) in north-east England from 1995 to 1999. Hewett T. Ellis & Ian J. Waller, 221 - 223 Rhagoletis meigenii (Loew, 1844) (Dip.: Tephritidae) rediscovered in Britain. Richard A. Jones, 293-256 Rediscovery of the Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk-moth Hemaris tityus (L.) (Lep.: Sphingidae) in Breckland. Andrew J. Musgrove & Michael Armitage, 75 - 76 S Stictopleurus punctatonervosus (Goeze, 1778) (Hem.: Rhopalidae) breeding in Middlesex. Richard A. Jones, 267 - 268 Survival of ladybird hosts infected with phorid parasitoids. Michael E. N. Majerus, Elizabeth H. Bayne, Hazel Betts & Penelope R. Haddrill, 123 - 124 T Tables showing the number of microlepidoptera recorded from the British Isles, May 2000. A. M. Emmet, 155 - 159 Tachystola acroxantha (Meyrick) (Lep.: Oecophoridae) around Manchester: history and current status. Stephen H. Hind, 127 - 128 Tephritis matricariae (Loew, 1844) (Dip.: Tephritidae) new to Britain and breeding in East Kent. Laurence Clemons, 225 - 230 The Action for Threatened Moths project. M. Parsons, D. Green & P. Waring, 15 - 20 The conservation of Gortyna borelii lunata Freyer (Lep.: Noctuidae). Chris Gibson, 1 - 5 The distribution of the Toadflax Brocade Calophasia lunula (Hufn.) (Lep.: Noctuidae) in Britain. Mark Parsons, 115 - 120 The immigration of Lepidoptera to the British Isles in 1997. Bernard Skinner & Mark Parsons, 49 - 73 The immigration of Lepidoptera to the British Isles in 1998. Bernard Skinner & Graham A. Collins, 233 - 251 The larger moths (macrolepidoptera) of culm grassland, North Devon. Robert J. Wolton, 141-153 The Wall Brown Lasiommata megera L. (Lep.: Nymphalidae) in central England, 1997 - 1999. Chris Tyler-Smith, 207 - 208 2: NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS A A concentration of the Wall Brown Lasiommata megera L. (Lep.: Nymphalidae) in Cambridgeshire, August 2000. Chris Tyler-Smith, 269 A curious colour-variety of Quedius curtipennis Bernh. (Col.: Staphylinidae). A. A. Allen, 133 A January Spruce Carpet Thera Britannica (Turner) (Lep.: Geometridae). Michael Hammerson, 104 A large second brood of Heath Fritillary Mellitaea athalia (Rott.) (Lep.: Nymphalidae) in Essex. Don Down, 74 A winter weekend in Epsom for a Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta (L.) (Lep.: Nymphalidae). J. A. Owen, 214 Abraxas sylvata (Scop.) (Lep.: Geometridae) in the London Area. B. K. West, 42 - 43 American Painted Lady Vanessa virginiensis (Drury) (Lep.: Nymphalidae) on La Gomera, Canary Islands. D. Hall & P. J.C. Russell, 210 An observation on Acherontia atropos L.. D. Hall & P. J.C. Russell, 170 An unusual spring brood of the Willow Beauty Peribatodes rhomboidaria (D.& S.) (Lep.: Geometridae)? A. A. Allen, 10 Another record of the bee-wolf Philanthus triangulum (Fabr.) (Hym.: Sphecidae) in urban central London. Richard A. Jones, 181 Another unusual food plant record. Colin W. Plant, 41 Another Welsh record of Calamotropha paludella (Hb.) (Lep.: Pyralidae). Martin J. White, 176 A memorable night for Orange Moths Angeronia prunaria (L.) (Lep.: Geometridae). Joe Firmin, 23 Apeira syringaria (L.) (Lep.: Geometridae): a second generation specimen at Dartford, Kent in 1999. B. K. West, 83 Apion brunnipes Boh. (Col.: Apionidae) in Dorset. A. A. Allen, 133 Apion semivittatum Gyllenhal (Col.: Brentidae) in South Wiltshire. David R. Nash, 133 Argyresthia cupressella Wals. and A. trifasciata Stdgr. (Lep.: Yponomeutidae) in Essex. Brian Goodey, 169 B Biphyllus lunatus (Fabr.) (Col.: Biphyllidae) and Annomatus duodecimstriatus (Miiller, P. W. J.) (Col.: Bothrideridae) both feeding on sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus bark. Richard A. Jones, WT = 1s Bledius talpa Gyll. (Col.: Staphylinidae) — a former British species? A. A. Allen, 270 Bruchela rufipes (Olivier) (Col.: Urodontidae) in West Suffolk. David R. Nash, 223 Bruchidius varius (Ol.) (Col.: Bruchidae) in south-east London. A. A. Allen, 268 Butterfly rape. Torben B. Larsen, 182 C Chrysoteuchia culmella (L.) (Lep.: Pyralidae) captured in September. Colin W. Plant, 272 Clitostethus arcuatus (Rossi) (Col.: Coccinellidae) in central London. S. Alex Williams, 174 Crescent dart Agrotis trux ssp. lunigera Steph. (Lep.: Noctuidae) in Staffordshire. David Emley, 252 Cypress Carpet Thera cupressata Geyer (Lep.: Geometridae) new to Devon. Roy McCormick, 106 v D Death-watch beetles Xestobium rufovillosum (Degeer) (Col.: Anobiidae) in the wild. K. N. A. Alexander, 89 Delayed emergence of Puss Moth Cerura vinula (L.) (Lep.: Notodontidae). Henry R. Arnold, 216 Dewick’s Plusia Macdunnoughia confusa (Steph.) (Lep.: Noctuidae) in the “London Area”. Graham A. Collins, 43 Diasema reticularis L. (Lep.: Pyralidae) in Devon. Roy McCormick, 160 - 161 Dienerella argus Reitter (Col.: Latridiidae) on Lundy. John Owen, 174 - 175 Dioryctria schuetzeella Fuchs (Lep.: Pyralidae) new to Hertfordshire and a modern county record of Piniphila bifasciana (Haw.) (Lep.: Tortricidae). Colin W. Plant, 215 - 216 Dioryctria schuetzeella Fuchs (Lep.: Pyralidae) new to North Hampshire. Alasdair Aston, 215 E Early emergence of Anthophora plumipes (Pallas) (Hym.: Anthophoridae). Roger K. A. Morris, 179 - 180 Early Red Admiral. R. L. H. Dennis, 130 Ennomos autumnaria (Wern.) (Lep.: Geometridae) in north-west Kent. B. K. West, 43 Epiphyas postvittana (Walker) (Lep.: Tortricidae) assembling on a cool night in May. D. G. Down, 272 Ethmia funerella (Fabr.) (Lep.: Oecophoridae) re-found in Somerset. Paul Fletcher, 215 Eublemma ostrina (Hb.) (Lep.: Noctuidae) in North Hampshire. Alasdair Aston, 170 Euzophera bigella Zell. (Lep.: Pyralidae) new to Devon. Roy McCormick, 114 Extreme size variation in the hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus (Degeer) (Dip.: Syrphidae). Richard A. Jones, 224 F First millennium butterflies? Roger Bristow, 130 Flight time of the Scotch Argus Erebia aethiops (Esper) (Lep.: Nymphalidae) in Scotland. P. K. Kinnear, 10 - 11 Fourth update of early emergences of moths at Selborne. Alasdair Aston, 183 - 185 H Harpalus griseus Panzer (Col.: Carabidae) in Britain — a postscript. J. A. Owen, 175 Hazards of butterfly collecting — Anybody there? — Botswana 1991. Torben B. Larsen, 21 - 22 Hazards of butterfly collecting. Chasing Papilio parsimon — London 1999. Torben B. Larsen, 167 - 168 Hazards of butterfly collecting — Juche in Burkina Faso, February 1988. Torben B. Larsen, 217 - 218 Hazards of butterfly collecting — late 1999. What is Brephidium exilis doing in the Emirates? Torben B. Larsen, 273 - 274 Hazards of butterfly collecting. The non-turbulent priest - Ghana 1994. Torben B. Larsen, 89 - 91 Hazards of butterfly collecting: visiting the Flemings — Malaysia, 1975. Torben B. Larsen, 135 - 137 Hypomedon debilicornis (Wollaston, 1857) (Col.: Staphylinidae) breeding in Surrey. J. Owen & A. J. W. Allen, 154 Hazards of moth collecting: taking the hiss in Hampshire. Colin W. Plant, 168 - 169 Hazards of moth collecting — Uganda. David Agassiz, 218 - 219 vi Hemicoelus nitidus (Herbst) (Col.: Anobiidae) in a second Suffolk locality. David R. Nash, 177 Hill-topping by Red Admirals Vanessa atalanta (L.) (Lep.: Nymphalidae). Peter B. Hardy & Philip M. Kinder, 22 - 23 Hockeria bifasciata Walker (Hym.: Chalcididae), an accidental import into Britain. David G. Notton, 134 I Is the Large Ear Amphipoea lucens (Freyer) (Lep.: Noctuidae) resident in south-east England? Brian Goodey, 106 Is this the return of the Wall Brown Lasiommata megera L. (Lep.: Nymphalidae)? D. G. Down, 269 J Judolia cerambyciformis (Schrank) (Col.: Cerambycidae): The first Kent record. A. A. Allen, 273 L Lacanobia w-latinum (Hufn.) (Lep.: Noctuidae) at Charlton, south-east London. A. A. Allen, 273 Lasius brunneus (Latr.) (Hym.: Formicidae) in Hertfordshire ands its occurrence on Norway spruce Picea abies. C. M. Everett, 84 Lepidoptera observed in Lanzarote during February 2000. A. P. Foster, 271 Leptura fulva (Degeer) (Col.: Cerambycidae) in South Wiltshire. David R. Nash, 161 Leptura melanura L. (Col.: Cerambycidae) in Middlesex. D. A. Prance, 161 Lilac Beauty Apeira syringaria (L.) (Lep.: Geometridae): a second generation specimen at Charlecote, Warwick. David Brown, 170 Lilac Beauty Apeira syringaria (L.) (Lep.: Geometridae): Second generation examples at Selborne, North Hampshire. Alasdair Aston, 219 M Millennium butterflies. Sarah Patton, 170 Millennial moths. P. D. M. Costen, 130 More on unusual micro-moths in Somerset. Ray Barnett, 128 - 129 More “smaller” Lepidoptera on the Great Orme. Mark Yeates, 275 N Nemophora cupriacella (Hb.) (Lep.: Incurvariidae) new to Warwickshire. John Robbins, 12 New vice-county records of microlepidoptera. A. M. Emmet, 114 New Vice-county records of Lepidoptera for the Isle of Wight during 1999. S. A. Knill-Jones, 74 Not really a record of Slender Burnished Brass breeding in Britain. Richard A. Jones, 220 Notes on breeding the Small Ranunculus Hecatera dysodea (D.& S.) and the Flame Brocade Trigonophora flammea (Esp.) (Lep.: Noctuidae). $. A. Knill-Jones, 256 O Observations regarding Cydia illutana (H.- S.) (Lep.: Tortricidae) in Essex. Brian Goodey, 160 Odontomyia tigrina (Fabr.) (Dip.: Stratiomyidae) in urban London. Richard A. Jones, 182 - 183 Orange Upperwing Jodia croceago (D.& S.) (Lep.: Noctuidae) in Devon. Roy McCormick, 134 Vil Ovendenia lienigianus (Zell.) (Lep.: Pterophoridae) recorded in Bedfordshire. Colin W. Plant, 38 - 39 Over-wintering aggregations of the Orange Ladybird Halyzia sedecimguttata (L.) (Col.: Coccinellidae) on trees in the garden of Buckingham Palace. Mark Lane & Colin W. Plant, 103 - 104 P Perizoma affinitata (Steph.) (Lep.: Geometridae) in north-west Kent. B. K. West, 24 Prionocyphon serricornis (Miller) (Col.: Scirtidae) in Wiltshire and Suffolk. David R. Nash, 183 Privet Hawk-moths galore! A. M. Emmet, 209 Pseudopostega crepusculella (Zell.) (Lep.: Opostegidae) new to Glamorgan. Martin J. White, 176 - 177 Psilota anthracina Mg. (Dip.: Syrphidae) and Melanochaeta capreolus (Haliday) (Dip.: Chloropidae) — two enigmatic species found together at a site in East Kent. Laurence Clemons, 180 - 181 R Reminder: the Orange Upperwing Jodia croceago (D.& S.) survey. Adrian Spalding, 76 Records of Argyresthia conjugella Zell. (Lep.: Yponomeutidae) from Glamorgan. Martin J. White, 176 Rediscovery of Hoary Footman Eilema caniola (Hb.) (Lep.: Arctiidae) on Anglesey. Adrian wander, 251 Red-necked Footman Atolmis rubricollis L. (Lep.: Arctiidae) in Essex. Joe Firmin, 270 S Sarcophaga subulata Pandellé (Dip.: Sarcophagidae): Probable first records for West Kent and the London area. A. A. Allen, 256 Small Ranunculus Hecatera dysodea (D.& S.) (Lep.: Noctuidae) in Monmouthshire. Martin J. White, 37 Smaller Heath on the Great Orme. R. J. R. Levett, 214 Southward migration of the Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta (L.) (Lep.: Nymphalidae). Roy Leverton, 6 Some autumn and winter observations of Halyzia sedecimguttata (L.) (Col.: Coccinellidae) with notes on a concentration of wintering ladybirds. C. M. Everett, 101 - 102 Some moths new to Monmouthshire. Martin J. White, 41 - 42 Sympherobius klapaleki Zeleny (Neur.: Hemerobiidae): a second British record - from South Essex. Dan Hackett, 129 - 130 T Tawny Pinion Lithophane semibrunnea Haw. (Lep.: Noctuidae) in north Yorkshire. W. R. Meek, 173 The Geranium Bronze Cacyreus marshalli (Butler) (Lep.: Lycaenidae) in Granada. Martin J. White, 179 The Juniper Mirid Dichrooscytus gustavi Josifov (Hem.: Miridae) found on cypress. Richard A. Jones, 133 - 134 The ladybird as a twinkle in the eye of an angel. Richard A. Jones, 102 - 103 The larval habitat and biology of Anoplodera livida (F.) (Col.: Cerambycidae). A. A. Allen, 264 Vili The Light Knot Grass Acronicta menyanthidis (Esp.) (Lep.: Noctuidae) in Norfolk. Jon Clifton, 262 - 263. The Nine-spotted Amata phegea (L.) (Lep.: Ctenuchidae) in Essex. Brian Goodey, 263 - 264 The occurrence of Oedemera species in Surrey (Col.: Oedemeridae). Roger K. A. Morris, 265 - 266 [a correction to Map 2 in this paper appears with Volume 113] The October occurrence of Orthopygia glaucinalis (L.) (Lep.: Pyralidae) and Pseudargyrotoza conwagana (Fabr.) (Lep.: Tortricidae) in Yorkshire. H. E. Beaumont, 12 The proboscis: the “Achilles heel” of hawk-moths in southern Africa. B. K. West, 88 - 89 The recent occurrence of Anthocoris minki Dohrn (Hem.: Cimicidae) in London. Richard A. Jones, 185 - 186 The return of Aricia agestis (D.& S.) (Lep.: Lycaenidae) to suburban north-west Kent and a comment on the other blue butterflies. B. K. West, 39 - 40 The return of Aricia agestis (D.& S.) (Lep.: Lycaenidae) to suburban north-west Kent and a comment on the other blue butterflies [Editorial comment on] . Colin W. Plant, 40 The Small Ranunculus Hecatera dysodea (D.& S.) (Lep.: Noctuidae): A new moth for Middlesex Vice-county and a new larval foodplant. Colin W. Plant, 204 The snakefly Xanthostigma xanthostigma (Schummel, 1832) (Raphidioptera: Raphidiidae) reared. Graham A. Collins, 24 The Willow Ermine Yponomeuta rorrella (Hb.) (Lep.: Yponomeutidae) at Old Hall Marsh, Essex. David Warner, 43 - 44 The Yellow-legged Clearwing Synanthedon vespiformis (L.) (Lep.: Sesiidae) in Greenwich Park. A.A. Allen, 83 - 84 Triaxomasia caprimulgella (Stt.) and Haplotinea insectella (Fabr.) (Lep.: Tineidae) in Lincolnshire. H. E. Beaumont, 38 Trinodes hirtus (Fabr.) (Col.: Dermestidae) — a further Suffolk locality. David R. Nash, 178 - 179 Two species of Nepticulidae (Lepidoptera) new to Somerset and one new to North Somerset. Martin Ellis, 135 Two uncommon immigrants to Westmoreland (VC 69). Neville L. Birkett, 252 U Unusual food plant for Epiphyas postvittana (Walker) (Lep.: Tortricidae). Tony Pickles, 41 Unusual occurrences of the Orange Ladybird Halyzia sedecimguttata (L.) (Col.: Coccinellidae) in the London Area, 1998 - 2000. Paul R. Mabbott, 100 - 101 Ww Winter Red Admirals Vanessa atalanta (L.) (Lep.: Nymphalidae). A. A. Allen, 187 3: SUBSCRIBER NOTICES Fisher’s Estuarine Moth Gortyna borelii lunata Freyer. Zoé Ringwood, 252 Middlesex microlepidoptera records. Colin W. Plant, 14 ix 4: EDITORIAL NOTES, ANNOUNCEMENTS Corrigenda, 279 From the Editor’s chair..., 279 - 280 Index of entomology Web sites. Colin W. Plant, 219 Most widespread micro-moth. Editor, 159 5: INMEMORIAM Brian Baker, 126 Steve Church , 84 6: BOOK REVIEWS A catalogue of the Irish Braconidae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonoidea) by J. P. O’Connor, R. Nash & C van Achterberg, 44 - 45 A checklist of the butterflies and larger moths of Cumbria by Bill Kydd & Stephen Hewitt, 231 A fly for the prosecution: How insect evidence helps solve crimes by M. Lee Goff, 230- 231 A provisional atlas of the Pyralidae of Somerset by Martin Ellis, 188 Barevy atlas housenek Stiedni Evropy: Nocni motyli (The colour guide to caterpillars of central Europe: moths) by Jan Macek, & Vaclav Cervenka, 46 - 47 Die Larven der Europdischen Noctuidae. Revision der Systematik der Noctuidae by Herbert Beck, 277-278 Food webs and container habitats: The natural history of the Phylotelmata by R. L. Kitching, 232 Grasshoppers and crickets of Surrey by David Baldock, 91 - 92 Ground beetles by Trevor Forsythe, 276 - 277 Handbook of Palaearctic macrolepidoptera. Volume 1: Sestidae - clearwing moths by Karel Spatenka, Oleg Gorbunov, Zdének LaStfivka, Ivo ToSevski & Tutaka Arita, 47 - 48 Identifying British insects and arachnids: an annotated bibliography of key works by Peter C. Barnard (Ed.), 45 - 46. Insect predator-prey dynamics: Ladybird beetles and biological control by A. F. G. Dixon, 232 Insects on cherry trees by Simon R. Leather and Keith P. Bland, 187 - 188 Log Book of British Lepidoptera by J. D. Bradley, 188 Millions of Monarchs, bunches of beetles: How bugs find strength in numbers by Gilber Waldbauer, 231 Milton Keynes: More than just concrete cows by the Milton Keynes natural History Society, 232 Provisional atlas of the longhorn beetles (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae) of Britain by \P. F. G. Twinn and P. T. Harding, 92 The birder’s bug book by Gilbert Waldbauer, 231 The genus Rhipicephalus (Acari, Ixodidae): a guide to the brown ticks of the world by J. B. Walker, J. E. Kierans & I. G. Horak, 137 - 138 The ground beetles of Northern Ireland (Coleoptera — Carabidae) by Roy Anderson, Damian McFerran and Alastair Cameron, 275 - 276 The pioneers of the research on the insects of Dalmatia by Guido Nonveiller, 231 World catalogue of insects. Volume 2. Hydrophiloidea (Coleoptera) by Michael Hansen, 138 - 140 Xl CONTRIBUTORS Page number entries in bold type refer to peer-reviewed papers; entries in ordinary type refer to notes and communications refereed internally by the Editorial Panel. Where an author is not the first named of multiple authors, the page number entry is printed in italic type. Abadjiev, S., 122, 131, 162 Agassiz, D., 218 Alexander, K. N. A., 89 Allen, A. A., 10, 84, 133, 754, 187, 211, 256, 264, 268, 270, 273 Allen, A. A. & Owen, J. A., 121 Armitage, M., 75 Arnold, H. R., 216 Aston, A., 170, 183, 215, 219 Barnett, R., 128 Bayne, E. H., 123 Beaumont, H. E., 12, 38 Betts, H., 123 Birkett, N. L., 252 Bristow, R., 130 Brown, D., 170 Chan, A., 5 Clemons, L., 180, 225 Clifton, J., 262 Collins, G. A., 24, 43, 49, 233 Cook, L. M., 77 Costen, P. D. M., 130 Dennis, R. L. H., 130 Down, D., 74, 269, 272 Ellis, M., 135 Ellis, H. T. & Waller, I. J., 221 Emley, D., 252 Emmet, A. M., 114, 155, 209 Everett, C. M., 84, 101 Firmin, J., 23, 270 Fletcher, P., 215 Ford, T. H., Shaw, M. R. & Robertson, D. M., 25 Foster, A. P., 271 George, R. S., 125 Gibson, C., 1, 93 Goodey, B., 106, 160, 169, 263 Green, D., /5 Hackett, D., 129 Haddrill, P. R., 123 Hall, D. & Russell, P. J. C., 170, 210 Hammerson, M., 104 Hardy, P. B. & Kinder, P. M., 22 Hill, J., 93 Hind, S. J., 127 Honey, M. R., 257 Jobe, J. B. & Chan, A., 85 Jones, R. A., 102, 133, 177, 181, 182, 185, 220, 224, 267 Kinder, P. M., 22 Kinnear, P. K., 10 Knill-Jones, S. A., 7, 74, 256 xii Lane, A. C., 125 Lane, M. & Plant, C. W., 103 Langmaid, J. R. & Young, M. R., 189 Larsen, T./B.;.21,,89, 135, 167, 182. 247.273 Leverton, R., 6 Levett, R. J. R., 214 Mabbott, P. R., 100 Majerus, M. E. N., Bayne, E. H., Betts, H. & Haddrill, P. R., 123 Martin, G., 257 McCormick, R., 106, 114, 134, 160 Meek, W. R., 173 Morris, R. K. A., 179, 265 Musgrove, A. L. & Armitage, M., 75 Nash; D.. R.,. 13,, 133, 1615 177, 17825835223 Notton, D. G., 134 O’Connor, J. P., 87, 105 Owen, J.A., 121, 174, 175, 214 Owen, J. A. & Allen, A. A., 154 Owen, J. A., Lane, A. C. & George, R. S., 125 Parsons, M., 115 Parsons, M., Green, D. & Waring, P., 15 Patton, S., 170 Pickles, T., 41 Plant, C. W., 14, 38, 40, 41, 103, 168, 204, 215, 2195272 Plant, C. W., Honey, M. R. & Martin, G., 257 Prance, D. A., 161 Ringwood, Z., 252 Ringwood, Z., Hill, J. & Gibson, C., 93 Robbins, J., 12 Robertson, D. M., 25 Russell, P. J. C., 170, 210 Shaw, M. R., 25 Sims, I., 171 Skinner, B. & Collins, G. A., 49, 233 Spalding, A., 76 Speight, M. C. D., 107 Tyler-Smith, C., 207, 269 Waller, I. J., 22/ Wander, A., 251 Waring, P., /5 Warner, D., 43 Welch, R. C., 163 West, B. K., 24, 39, 42, 43, 83, 88, 205 White, M. J., 37, 41, 176, 179 Williams, S. A., 174 Wolton, R. J., 141 Yeates. M., 275 Young, M.R., 189 SPECIAL INDEX Compiled by David Wilson Newly described taxa are indexed in bold type. Taxa new to Britain or newly recognised as British are denoted by an asterisk. LEPIDOPTERA Page abbreviania Epinotia <.....2.ccte..iesacdcssdesseesteeseseceee 200 abbreviata Eupithecia........:..00..cocciesGesdeatecees 151 ADICTAM AA CIOTIS 0,2. cents. tavese.ce3el cla et duave cose does 200 abietella Dioryctria ...............:.ss«csnseree 53, 236 abseisanad LODeS1ai.0.2:5.5 ces ccssnastgfircssessoeres 13 fee 200 acerifoliella Phyllonorycter ...........:cescceeeseeeeees 194 PCP ACIINAG occa) sosl chee cestes varxtnsettastasisese vans Fesectvee 182 acroxantha Tachystola.............:00 127, 128, 197 acteom: Lhyimelicus «2:.c.sesscte.seessecccseccee-terese: 30, 32 acuminatana Dichrorampha................06 185, 201 acuminatella Scrobipalpa............csceeeseeeeeeeeeees 198 adelphella Sciota 22.2... .26trcsenccvotaces deca otuenenee seats 236 adjunctella-Coleophota.....:.c5..sci2es.--cecseeaea eves 196 adspersella Coleophora............seeseeseeeeeeseeees 195 AC Sella, PArar se. 5. ccssecc.ctesyneeoevcssassusrerectcat oounjeurect 30 aeneana Commophila......:.....0::...ccissecessscneteene 199 aeriferanus Ptycholomoides.............::ccseeeeeeees 199 aerucula NOlainis ction aie 242 aescularia Alsophila ...........ccccsesesseeeeeeeeees 32, 150 aestivania Hemithea issaccsesssescvetsiaeegseuesohacecss 150 AlsIMIS By OMOpl ass, sss..sxssaiesusesnsatcesgeentisteoseons 197, affinitana Phalonidia...............c.eeeeeeeeeeeeees 190, 199 ALMAtata PeTIZOMA.. .245...0deescecsasatssecatosseecsaseteses 184 APESHS ATIC ais. .itrcte tees toc ae ree en teresa 39, 275 aglaja Mesoacid alia eicsiietactatetestoueuca sted ae nee Sil EX STIODIS SD vasccacaecesseeerertssncst assed cans ects oad te tens 34 anenella Hy pochaleia. ........cfeqssdts.snveuinesnonssseee’ 185 albicapitella Paraswammerdamia ..................5 194 albicilla Sale DriOPSiS os. .sscjscceascteseetsiealeecesstuarucs 203 albierlata MESOleuCaxcays-ceecacssssst-avasnavenavcree es 150 albidella Biselachistac..;...,.2 3.02.08: ccic. ants eae eae 263 culmeila Chrysoteuchia ............::cceeeeeeee 202, 272 cultraria Drepana .:..2..2.... s21.b 5.4 secececcsoaeeseceetse 27, 39, 179, 237 Ive lmicis: Marocholay 216 22..<124-sse-ccesasescbscpuasess 26 Pychinitis: Crucullia tt. c.5 e225. cen.seateevecccseta rea senves ies 27 Boysen hat ae ros 201 6.02) 2 ack cceeeacn ese 28, 61, 84, 242 PEVOMCUIG ae Fo ssiooh atsdscoce-tucdedieasevasqevecsecctssbsouersss 195 machaon: PAapiNO s,s 6 425..4stccchsstccsteevessnee 28, 53, 236 maculicerusella Elachista............scceseeeeseeees 196 margaritata Campaea ............csceeeeseeeeeeees 83, 151 Margaritella Catoptria «:...........-c.0cceecessseeees 50, 202 Mareinata LOMASPUIS.....-.c.ccecdeacsddecvndaccerentesoe 151 Maritima Bucculatrix ...2....cccccssssvsancsansccesenesaee 193 WMarieiMa PHY CIOGES ai.icccssscecessevscesuceeencesscoresse 203 marshalli CacyreuS............cesseeeeees 179, 271, 274 maura MOrmo 10... ..cececcccecccccseeeeeeesseesseeeeees 145, 153 mayreila COlCOPhOLa sess. .cs1acssdscevexecccitiestnortass 15 megacephala Acromnicta..........eceeeeeeeseees 153, 185 IMEGETA LASiOMMALA ...r..2cc001s.0ccdsersoneestenes 207, 269 MenGiCa DiapHOr ass .csecc.<.sssctsas-sesenctexsndovess 28; 152 MIEMCICA IDIATSIA ; 2..543.20c002-<3eeseedaasecatedtoeessaeueniae 152 mendica mendica Diarsiay ...jsceican.deeesteeceseses es 185 mmemestheus Papilio s....<.:5:0.secccesesseescceseessenvecdeans 88 menyanthidis Acronicta .........:.ccscceseceeeseeeeeeeees 262 menyanthidis suffusa, Acronicta............ eee 262 mercurella, BUdOMIA:.........00..ccscsscseseneesesesetecoess 202 merperiella/Plachista .s... 20, Aasssstedscdsasrconcssvccs 196 meticulosa Phlogophora..............::csceeeeees 30, 153 ITC AMIS LE OG aceite eyesore alent eas ate emt: q miata: CHIOTOClYSta vi. cs..sissecateesagersneceusnsdoeecteeeps 239 micacea, Hydraccia............:s.siesesseisessecssceess 97, 153 micalis Tebenna ..........ccc cc ceeeeeeeeeeee 50, 233, 234 microdactyla Adaina ............c:ccesceeeteeeereees 33, 203 MMCHOPleTi SIAC: iiss. 1..c.scoudeacasesevaeteadveueattdeccwses 190 muicrotheriella Stiomella. .:....2:.:cecstiectecsssenevss1eh- 191 Tuma, Photedes.....:....2...¢--:éssegessseecsdeeeesesnteesence 153, MMUMLOSAs OTHOSLAs :...assascssiansceenasesadendelsslateacscadedes 32 Minutata GyPSONOMA.......050....s.sseeorsesseodeastassostecs 33 misippus Hypolimmas ...............2:.00naerseeieees? 210 WhomiphiGae’.si.J:diacssispcscaecseseateneeevenatatersttattends 198 monacha Lymamtria ...:.......d..cisiccissesesveess 145, 152 monachella MOnOpIS.....:.:.0ii0dcd0ccade.cesstececnsawdes 50 monodactyla Emmelina ...........eseeeceeeeeeeeeeeeeees 27 monoglypha Apamea ...:.......:c0eb:sasbnaibeeen tes 153 montana Xanthorhoe.............:ceseecesseeeseeeeeeeeees 150 morpheus: Caradrina......:::..c2c0esctessecsnsssdaeheteos 184 mucronata SCOLOPLETYX ........eceeeeeeeseeeeseeesteeees 150 mucronella Ypsolopha ............:cseeesseeeeeeeeeeeeeee 194 mucronellus Donacaula .............::ccseceesteeeeeeeees 202 munida Orthostasis.cccccszesecesscesaecdesueesssvevsoassoebes 152 muscerda Pelosia-2i2.icahis ee ctiien Savini 61 XVil mauscosella Gelechia ase eee 201 remissa Apamea. ...:..5..c..c.:1s SRR 153 repandana Conobathra .............:cssceseeesessseseeeees 203 repandaria Epione........:.:.::i¢s/Seeneees ean 151 repandata AICIS........:.06s05:1. 113, 224 Eristalinus taeniops...,..........decsecisiidedecbediecaboess 113 Eristalis arbustorum)...\.:......csdsceassdimteseteslitieds 113 ristalis Interrupt sscscccs. sects, crs cere sone asd ert tetemeneeiee 267 Rhopalus Subrutus ..............c0ccstssceondsecssacseneates 267 Stictopleurus abutilon:. <......:.00.00ilececssteledontassees 267 Stictopleurus punctatonervosus ............::eceee 267 Xxiil HEMIPTERA: HOMOPTERA Pemphigus spirothecae \.....c.cs0c6.estecciseeeeanseuned 186 HYMENOPTERA: ACULEATA AMhOpn Gta 2..ccrnercisstestaiodaladiat.teuttertiaseateces 213 Anthophoraplumipes :...c.ccocissetescasvesevexdeatedvose 179 AMMbOPHOTGae wsccatexisenaus icehartereaasrerateahs 179 NPIS neat terete Se adressen eee eee 110 BL aCOMIGAG i225. seceecvoncsauscaoestuspanascutcccueeieet eee 21 Diglyphus. minQeuS .::.-2:ccccatesccteeeediteessttadcaezes 164 | Coy 5 10 Ue) C0 F: | aera ae bear armen rst eee ene ete 84 GOLY LES! DICINCEUS = -csticce. Cap ashe Ronee hs as HS Sears, ee Nemophora cupriacella (Hb.) (Lep.: Incurvariidae) new to Warwickshire. John Robbins Hazards of butterfly collecting — Anybody there? — Botswana 1991. Torben B. Larsen . . Hill-topping by Red Admirals Vanessa atalanta (L.) (Lep.: Nymphalidae). Peter B. Hardy & Philip:M, Kinder «cece. ferns onus ta as oe 2 oe oe A memorable night for Orange Moths Angeronia prunaria (L.) (Lep.: Geometridae). FOC PF IMIN eo to 8 ia ods ond Be eae BG aha kG Ke oe ee ee Perizoma affinitata (Steph.) (Lep.: Geometridae) in north-west Kent. B. K.West ...... The snakefly Xanthostigma xanthostigma (Schummel, 1832) (Raphidioptera: Raphidiidae) rearedGraham A-Collins? >.) a) 235.522 2 ee eee Small Ranunculus Hecatera dysodea (D.& S.) (Lep.: Noctuidae) in Monmouthshire. Martine d WH ns Seee fod. i= auth ate Gah teucs One ees pale east Sth GN eee er Triaxomasia caprimulgella (Stt.) and Haplotinea insectella (Fabr.) (Lep.: Tineidae) in Lincolnshire. iE OBeaumont, aces oe. se diet oo oe es PL QIL: sks Lt BE ee os OO ee UA Oe The return of Aricia agestis (D.& S.) (Lep.: Lycaenidae) to suburban north-west Kent and a comment on:the other blue buttertlies. Bo Kk. West 72.4... 26 eee Editorial comment on The return of Aricia agestis (D.& S.) (Lep.: Lycaenidae) to suburban north-west Kent and a comment on the other blue butterflies. Colin W. Plant Unusual food plant for Epiphyas postvittana (Walker) (Lep.: Tortricidae). Tony Pickles . Another unusual food plant record: ColimW “Plant, 2). 32 ic) aye eee eee Continued on inside back cover SPECIAL NOTICE. We would be willing to consider the purchase of a limited number of back issues. Printed in England by 21-22 22-23 23 24 24 37 38 38-39 39-40 40 41 41 Cravitz Printing Company Limited, 1 Tower Hill, Brentwood, Essex CM14 4TA. Tel: 01277 224610 THE ENTOMOLOGIST S RECORD AND JOURNAL OF VARIATION Edited by C.W. PLANT, B.sc., F.R.E.S. Assistant Editors F.R.E.S. & A. SPALDING, F.R.E.S. hang) ~ ISSN 0013-8916 THE ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD AND JOURNAL OF VARIATION World List abbreviation: Entomologist’s Rec. J. Var. Editor C.W. PLANT, B.Sc., F.R.E.S. 14 West Road, Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire CM23 3QP. Telephone: 01279 507697 E-mail: Colinwplant@compuserve.com Assistant Editors R.A. JONES, B.Sc., F.R-E.S., F.L.S. & A. SPALDING, M.A., F.R.ES. Editorial Panel A.A. Allen, B.Sc., A.R.C.S. A.M. Emmet, M.B.E., T.D., F.R.ES. N. L. Birkett, J.P., M.A., M.B., F.R.E.S. J.A. Owen, M.D., Ph.D., F.R.E.S. J.D. Bradley, Ph.D., F.R.E.S. C.J. Luckens, M.B., Ch.B., D.R.C.O.G. J.M. Chalmers-Hunt, F.R.E.S. B. Skinner P.J. Chandler, B.Sc., F.R.E.S. P.A. Sokoloff, M.Sc., C.Biol., M.LBiol., F.R.E.S. C.A. Collingwood, B.Sc., F.R.ES. Registrar R.F. McCormick, F.R.E.S. 36 Paradise Road, Teignmouth, Devon TO14 8NR Hon. Treasurer Official Photographer C.C. Penney, F.R.E.S. /09 Waveney Drive, David Wilson, 9 Lode Lane, Wicken, Springfield, Chelmsford, Essex CM1 7QA Cambridgeshire CB7 5XP. WHERE TO WRITE Papers, notes, books for review, notices, adverts etc — Editor Changes of address — Registrar New subscriptions, renewals, donations, non-arrival of Journal — Treasurer Back issues — Paul Sokoloff, 4 Steep Close, Green Street Green, Orpington, Kent BR6 6DS ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION RATES Individual subscriber £28 Institutional subscriber £40 Readers are respectfully advised that the publication of material in this journal does not imply that the views and opinions expressed therein are shared by the Editor, the Editorial Panel or any party other than the named author or authors. Guidelines for contributors This journal publishes original papers and notes from both amateurs and professionals. It is not necessary for contributors to be subscribers. The emphasis of the journal is on British and European Lepidoptera but papers on other aspects of British and European entomology are considered, particularly concerning species in Europe which may eventually reach Britain. The preferred method of submission is by e-mail or on floppy disk — even for very short articles. However, we acknowledge that these facilities are not available to everyone and we also accept typed or hand-written manuscripts. E-mailed contributions are best sent as binary attachments so that formatting is preserved. Disks must be PC compatible and the file format must be readable by Word 2000. A single paper copy should accompany disks. In both cases contributions should employ correct use of capital letters, bold and italic type etc and should be single spaced. Leave a single line of space between paragraphs and do not indent the first line. Pay particular attention to the style and punctuation in lists of references. 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Published March, July and November (4 months per issue) Annual subscription UK and Europe £33 ($72), USA and Rest of World £36 ($79). Entomologist’s Gazette An illustrated quarterly, devoted to Palaearctic entomology. It contains articles and notes on the biology, ecology, distribution, taxonomy and systematics of all orders of insects, with a bias towards Lepidoptera. Caters for both the professional and amateur entomologist. Published January, April, July and October. Annual subscription UK and Europe £29 ($64), USA and Rest of World £33 ($72). The Moths and Butterflies of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly by F.H.N. Smith (County Species Recorder) The systematic list gives details of localities, dates and provenance for over 1500 species, also noting the status currently assigned by English Nature to the nationally uncommon or endangered species which occur in Cornwall. Listed are species gained since the Victoria County History, 1906, and those not since recorded. 480 pages including 152 colour illustrations. Hardback £44 + P&P £3. Handbook of Palaearctic Macrolepidoptera VOLUME 1 Sesiidae — Clearwing Moths by K. Spatenka, O. Gorbunov, Z. LaStfivka, I. ToSevski and Y. Arita Synonymic lists, descriptions section, full data on male and female genitalia, bionomics and habitat and distribution maps. Most species illustrated by superb watercolour paintings by Stary, Holzinger and Gregor. Published October 1999. Price £120 + P&P: UK £5, Overseas £10. Payments by cheque or Giro Transfer to account no. 467 6912. GEM PUBLISHING COMPANY Brightwood, Brightwell, Wallingford, Oxon OX10 0QD For further details please write to: NATIONAL MOTH NIGHT SATURDAY 23 SEPTEMBER 2000 The Entomologist’s Record is pleased to lend its support to this new national event which is organised by Insect Line and Atropos. |n fixing the date for the 2000 night well in advance, the organisers hope to encourage greater participation from nature reserves, country parks, moth groups and the like. The event is not solely about moth recording - though this is an important part. The main aim is to introduce moths to people who do not yet appreciate how fascinating and attractive these insects are, thus increasing awareness and concern for the group. Organised events provide an ideal forum to do this. The late date selected for the event during 2000 has been specifically chosen to be ideal for such organised events. Darkness arrives much earlier and so younger members of the community are better able to participate. Some attractive autumn moths are likely to be on the wing and, of course, there is always the possibility of immigrants turning up. Readers of this journal are invited to participate either by organising an event, or by providing equipment and/or expert advice at an event organised by a local group. To publicise any event open to the public, there is a National Moth Night information line which will be operational from April 2000. The number is 09068 446862 and calls cost 60 pence per minute. The proceeds from this service will be donated to various moth conservation projects and applications for funds are welcomed by the organisers. To get your event listed on the information line leave details on the Insect Hotline on 01565 722928 or send an e-mail to Phill@allostock.u-net.com. A number of prizes will be awarded under the following categories: Most notable record of a resident macro-moth (record must be formally accepted by the appropriate county Recorder); Rarest migrant species recorded (record must be formally accepted by the appropriate county Recorder); Most unusual location trapped at (photographic evidence required). Further details are available from the organisers at National Moth Night, 36 Tinker Lane, Meltham, Huddersfield HD7 3EX. IMMIGRANT LEPIDOPTERA IN 1997 49 THE IMMIGRATION OF LEPIDOPTERA TO THE BRITISH ISLES IN 1997 BERNARD SKINNER! AND MARK PARSONS? ' 5 Rawlins Close, South Croydon, Surrey CR2 8JS. ? Butterfly Conservation, UK Conservation Office, Box 444, Wareham, Dorset BH20 SYA. THE INCREASE OF immigrant records experienced in 1995 and 1996 was dramatically halted in 1997 with many of the regular species including Painted Lady Vanessa cardui (Linnaeus), Silver Y Autographa gamma (Linnaeus) and Nomophila noctuella ({Denis & Schiffermiiller]) appearing to be quite scarce. Even the congenial weather of the latter half of the year failed to encourage those immigrants which did arrive to proliferate. Still, every cloud has a silver lining and notable records in 1997 included the second British record of the twentieth century of the Black Collar Ochropleura flammatra ({Denis & Schiffermiiller]), from Shetland in June, and the only recent example of the pyralid Chrysocrambus linetella (Fabricius), taken in West Sussex in June. There are only two other probable British specimens of this latter species and these are housed in the collections of the Natural History Museum. Both are labelled Deal, Kent, 1879. Other rarities were the sixth and seventh British records of Radford’s Flame Shoulder Ochropleura leucogaster (Freyer), from the Isles of Scilly in the autumn, and one of the few immigrant examples of the Lunar Double-stripe Minucia lunaris ({Denis & Schiffermiiller]) since the demise of the species as a resident in 1958. Finally, the small cluster of records in late September and October of the Pale- lemon Sallow Xanthia ocellaris (Borkhausen) in localities where it is not known to be resident is especially interesting. This distinctly local species is mainly resident along parts of the Thames Estuary and also in scattered localities in East Anglia. Until now it has not been considered to be an immigrant or vagrant species, but these latest sightings, which were mainly from sites near or on the coast, strongly suggest immigration from abroad. It is worth mentioning that it is unlikely such an hypothesis would have been reached on the evidence of just one or two sightings and so the importance of receiving records from the widest range of sites is emphasised. In the hope of aiding the compilation of the immigration reports for future years and enabling a quicker publication it is requested that records should be stated clearly with as full details as possible and ideally the Watsonian vice-county should be given. If it is not possible to give the vice-county, a six figure grid-reference would aid the placing of the record within a vice-county at the compilation stage. The dates given for the records should be the day of the sighting, or if from a light trap it should be the date of the evening that the trap was operated. If the date given with the records is for the following morning, this should be stated clearly so that the records could be suitably amended to ensure a consistent approach. The species listed in the annexes are laid out following Bradley (1998). Several records were supplied by more than one contributor and it is possible that some duplication of records has occurred, although every effort was made to eliminate this. Little attempt has been made to interpret locality data and it is possible that the 50 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.111.2000 same site is occasionally treated by different names. Records placed in square brackets either require confirmation or are known to be releases. The abbreviations listed below are used in Annex 1. Abbreviations E Exotic introduction/escape I Primary immigrants In Introduction R Resident R(t) Temporary resident Vv Vagrant/wanderer ANNEX 1: RECORDS OF “SCARCER” SPECIES TINEIDAE Monopis monachella (Hubner) [I?] EAST SUFFOLK (25): Minsmere, 30.7 (Anderson & Wilson 1998); SOUTH-EAST YORKSHIRE (61): Spurn Bird Observatory, 14.8 (Spence 1998). CHOREUTIDAE Tebenna micalis (Mann) [1/R(t)] SOUTH DEVON (3): Abbotskerswell, 16.9 - pupa (Henwood 1998); Ernesettle, 17.8 - 3 larvae on Pulicaria dysenterica (RJH); Marsh Mills, 30.8 (RJH); Wembury, 23.8 - 4 larvae on Pulicaria dysenterica (RJH); WEST SUSSEX (13): Atherington, 22.8 (MSP & JEC). OECOPHORIDAE Ethmia bipunctella (Fabricius) [I?/V?] NORTH ESSEX (19): Stour Wood, 1.8 (M. Shardlow per BG). TORTRICIDAE Adoxophyes orana (Fischer von Roslerstamm) [I?] SOUTH-EAST YORKSHIRE (61): Spurn Bird Observatory, 19.8 (Spence 1998). Epiblema grandaevana (Lienig & Zeller) [I?] SOUTH-EAST YORKSHIRE (61): Spurn Bird Observatory, 9.6 (Spence 1998). PYRALIDAE Euchromius ocellea (Haworth) [I] ISLE OF WIGHT (10): Freshwater, 7.3 (Knill-Jones 1998b) (as 11.3 in Goater (1998)); SOUTH HAMPSHIRE (11): Christchurch, 8.3 (Goater 1998). Catoptria margaritella (([Denis & Schiffermiuller]) [I?] DORSET (9): Portland Bird Observatory, 26.7 (Cade 1998). Chrysocrambus linetella (Fabricius) [I] EAST SUSSEX (14): Littlehampton, 8.6 (REP per CRP, conf. MSP). Thisanotia chrysonuchella (Scopoli) [1?] SOUTH-EAST YORKSHIRE (61): Spurn Bird Observatory, 7.6 (Spence 1998). IMMIGRANT LEPIDOPTERA IN 1997 51 Pediasia fascelinella (Hubner) [I?] EAST KENT (15): Dungeness, 5.6 (SPC). Platytes alpinella (Hiibner) [I?] DORSET (9): Portland Bird Observatory, 6.8 to 20.8 - 4 (Cade 1998); NORTH ESSEX (19): Saffron Walden, 7.8 (Emmet 1998); SOUTH-WEST YORKSHIRE (63): Rossington, 2.8 to 8.8 - 4 (Heppenstall 1998). Platytes cerussella ({Denis & Schiffermiller]) [I?] SOUTH-EAST YORKSHIRE (61): Spurn Bird Observatory, 9.6 - 4 (Spence 1998). Ancylolomia tentaculella (Hubner) [I] CHANNEL ISLANDS (113): La Broderie, 12.8 (PC per Austin (1998a)). Evergestis limbata (Linnaeus) [I/R(t)] DORSET (9): Swanage, 22.7 (R. Cox per Anon (1998a)); ISLE OF WIGHT (10): B onchurch, 16.6 (J. Halsey per Knill-Jones (1998b)); WEST SUSSEX (13): Portslade, 29.6 - 1 female (A. Cronin, BFS, CRP & MSP). Evergestis extimalis (Scopoli) [I?] Note: Possible immigrant examples only. WEST CORNWALL (1): St Agnes, Isles of Scilly, 11.6 (MEH); DORSET (9): Portland Bird Observatory, 27.8 (Cade 1998). Loxostege sticticalis (Linnaeus) [I] WEST CORNWALL (1): St Agnes, Isles of Scilly, 17.9; 21.9 (MEH); SOUTH SOMERSET (5): Staplegrove, Taunton, 17.8 (J. McGill); WEST SUSSEX (13): Petworth, 8.8 (JTR per CRP); Walberton, 9.8; 10.8 (JTR per CRP); EAST SUSSEX (14): Cow Gap, Eastbourne, 13.9 (Dr M.W. Harper & MSP); Rye Harbour, 6.8 (PP per CRP); 12.8 (DJF per CRP); Rye, 8.8 - 2 (per DJF per CRP); EAST KENT (15): Dungeness, 8.8 (Clancy & Walker 1998); Dymchurch, 5.6; 9.7 (JO); SURREY (17): Lingfield, 8.8 (JHC); SOUTH ESSEX (18): Bradwell-on-Sea, 6.8 to 10.8 - 5 (inc 7.8 - 2) (Dewick 1998); Maldon, 10.8 (S.D. Wood per BG); NORTH ESSEX (19): Saffron Walden, 15.8 (Emmet 1998); EAST NORFOLK (27): Hainford, 9.8 (Hipperson 1997); WEST NORFOLK (28): Docking, 1.9 (R. Skeen per Hipperson (1998)); Morston, 16.8 (J. Clifton per Hipperson (1997)); CAMBRIDGESHIRE (29): Devil’s Dyke, 15.7 (Dawson 1998); WEST GLOUCESTERSHIRE (34): Rodborough Common, 10.8 (D. Gibbs per RG); NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE (54): Gibraltar Point, 12.8 (Wilson, K. 1998); Glentham, 12.8 (C. Smith per RJ); Roughton Moor, 15.8 (JJ per RJ); ELGIN (95); The Shieling, Aviemore, 11.8 (GAC); EASTERNESS (96): Feshiebridge, 11.8 to 12.8 - 3 (McCormick 1998); SHETLAND ISLANDS (112): Baltasound, 14.7 (Penington 1998); Burrafirth, 15.7 (Penington 1998). Summary: (1): 27 (5); 1; (13): 3; (14): 5; (15): 3; 17): 1; 18): 6; (19): 1; (27): 1; (28): 2; 29): 1; (34): 1; (54); 3; (95): 1; (96): 3; (112): 2. Sitochroa palealis ({Denis & Schiffermiiller]) [I?/R?/R(t)?] Note: Possible immigrant examples only. WEST CORNWALL (1): St Agnes, Isles of Scilly, 15.7 (MEH); SOUTH DEVON (3): Chardstock, late 8 (A. Jenkins per McCormick (1998)); Slapton, 4.7 (RJH & BPH); NORTH SOMERSET (6): Goblin Combe, 22.7 (JPM); DORSET (9): Portland Bird Observatory, 12.7 to 27.7 - 8 (Cade 1998); ISLE OF WIGHT (10): no locality given, 29.6 (Knill-Jones 1998c); Tennyson Down, 29.7 - netted by day (SAKJ); NORTH HAMPSHIRE (12): Farnborough, 19.8 (RWP); EAST KENT (15): Dungeness, 7.7; 28.7 (DW per SPC); Littlestone, 23.7 (KR per SPC); Lydd, 7.8 (KR per SPC); New Romney, 2.8 (KR per SPC); SOUTH ESSEX (18): Foulness Island, 2.8 (DGD per BG); NORTH ESSEX (19): Dovercourt, 14.7 (CG per BG); 52 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.11.2000 East Mersea, 15.7 (JF per BG); Kirby-le-Soken, 31.7 (PB per BG); WEST NORFOLK (27): Holkham NNR, 2.8 (MT per Hipperson (1997)); CHANNEL ISLANDS (113): Chouet, Guernsey, 16.7 (Austin 1998b). Summary: (1): 1; G): 2; (6): 1; @):8; (10): 2; (12): 1; (5S): 5; 18): 1: CS): 32°27) ess Ostrinia nubilalis (Hiibner) [I1?/R?/R(t)?] Note: Records outside Thames estuary only. NORTH SOMERSET (6): Bridgewater, 12.10 - several larvae in stem of Artemisia vulgaris (RJH); DORSET (9): Portland Bird Observatory, 9.7; 10.7 (Cade 1998); Studland Heath, 7.9 (Cook 1998); ISLE OF WIGHT (10): Binstead, 3.7; 5.7 - 3; 6.7 (BJW); Freshwater, 10.6; 18.9 (SAKJ); SOUTH HAMPSHIRE (11): Brockenhurst, 2.9 (Goater 1998); EAST SUSSEX (14): Peacehaven, 6.6; 23.6; 7.7 - 2; 18.8; 19.8; 20.8 - 2; 30.8; 18.9; 24.9 (CRP); EAST KENT (15): Sandwich Bay, 6 - 5; 7 - 7; 8 - 1 (Game & Lycett 1998); SURREY (17): Lingfield, 4.9 (JHC); SOUTH ESSEX (18): North Chingford, 8 (B. Pateman per BG); Theydon Bois, 11.8 (J.G. Green per BG); Thundersley, undated (DGD per BG); NORTH ESSEX (19): Beaumont-cum- Moze, 14.7 (J.B. Fisher per BG); Dovercourt, 8 (CG per BG); Jaywick, undated (JY per BG); Kirby-le-Soken, undated (PB per BG); EAST NORFOLK (27): Eccles, 27.7; 1.8 (NB per Hipperson (1997)); EAST GLOUCESTERSHIRE (33):Hempstead, 4.10 (G.R. Avery per RG); SOUTH-EAST YORKSHIRE (61): Spurn Bird Observatory, 28.6 (Spence 1998); CHANNEL ISLANDS (113): L’Ancresse, Guernsey, 30.8 (Austin 1998b); La Broderie, Guernsey, 5.12 (PC per Austin (1998a)). Summary: (11): 1; (14): 11;°15): 13; 7)2 1s (18): 32 19) 45 27)? 2: GE (Gh iiray2: Maruca vitrata (Fabricius) ( = testulalis (Geyer)) [I?/E?] BUCKINGHAMSHIRE (24): Burnham, 30.8 (Anon 1998b). Diasemiopsis ramburialis (Duponchel) [I] WEST CORNWALL (1): St. Agnes, Isles of Scilly, 18.9 (Hale & Hicks 1998); SOUTH DEVON (3): Plympton, 7.8 (RJH). Duponchelia fovealis Zeller [1?] NORTH ESSEX (19): Kirby-le-Soken, 9 (PB per Goodey (1998)). Palpita unionalis (Hibner) [T] WEST CORNWALL (1): Church Cove, 27.9; 15.10 (MT); Coverack, 19.10 - 2 (MT); St. Agnes, Isles of Scilly, 9.6 (Hale & Hicks 1998); 19.10 - 3; 22.10 - 3; 29.10; 30.10 - 2 (Hicks & Hale 1998) (no record given for 29.10 by MEH); Kynance Cove, The Lizard, 18.10 - 28 (Tunmore (1998c), includes a singleton nearby coll. by C.J. Wormwell per MT)); 19.10 - 3 (MT); The Lizard, 1.12 (Tunmore 1998e); Porthloo, St. Mary’s, Isles of Scilly, 19.10; 22.10 - 5; 23.10 - 3 (JPM); SOUTH DEVON (3): Abbotskerswell, 17.8 (Henwood 1998); Exeter, 11.9 (P. Butter per McCormick (1998)); Tuckermarsh, Bere Alston, 28.9 (Bogue 1998); DORSET (9): Durlston Head, Swanage, 1.10 (JHC); Portland Bird Observatory, 17.8; 19.10 - 2 (Cade 1998); ISLE OF WIGHT (10): Freshwater, 11.6; 3.9; 4.9 - 2; 5.9 - 2; 6.9; 7.9; 15.9; 20.10; 25.11 (SAKJ); SOUTH HAMPSHIRE (11): Christchurch, 5.9 (Goater 1998); WEST SUSSEX (13): Walberton, 19.10 - 2; 15.11; 26.11 (JTR per CRP); EAST KENT (15): Densole, 3.9 (Rouse 1998); Dungeness, 17.10 - 2 (Rouse 1998); Greatstone, 24.8 (BB per SPC); Littlestone, 4.7; 20.8 (KR per SPC); Lydd, 22.8 (KR per SPC); Lydd-on-Sea, 17.10 (SPC); New Romney, 26.8 (KR per SPC); WEST KENT (16): Dartford, 14.11 (BKW); SOUTH ESSEX (18): Bradwell-on- Sea, 26.5; 29.9 (Dewick 1998) (the latter record given as 30.9 by BG); NORTH ESSEX (19): Dovercourt, 2.7 (CG per BG); MIDDLESEX (21): Hampstead, 24.9 (R.A. Softly); NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE (54): Gibraltar Point, 26.9 (Wilson, K. 1998); ISLE OF MAN (71): Dhoon Maughold, 31.10 - 2 (LK per GDC); CHANNEL ISLANDS (113): Le Chene, Guernsey, 17.8 (TNDP per Austin (1998a)); Le Gouffre, Guernsey, 28.9 (JB per Austin (1998a)). Summary: (1): 55; (3): 3; (9): 4; (10): 11; (11): 1; (13): 45 (15); 9; (16); 1; (18); 2; (19); 1; (21): 13:64): GY) 24Ch13)2: IMMIGRANT LEPIDOPTERA IN 1997 53 Conobathra tumidana ({(Denis & Schiffermiller]) [I?] WEST SUSSEX (13): Walberton, 31.7; 26.8 (JTR per CRP); EAST KENT (15): Dungeness, 1.8 (Clancy & Walker 1998). Dioryctria abietella ((Denis & Schiffermuller]) [I?] Note: Possible immigrant examples only. DORSET (9): Portland Bird Observatory, 20.7 to 25.7 - 6 (Cade 1998) (inc. 23.7 - 4 (MC)); EAST SUSSEX (14): Rye Harbour, 19.7 to 12.8 - 11 (Funnell 1998); EAST KENT (15): Isle of Thanet, 19.7 to 14.8 - 12 (Solly 1998); SOUTH ESSEX (18): Ingatestone, 8.8 (GS per BG); NORTH ESSEX (19): Coggleshall, 2.8 (BG); Dovercourt, 8 (CG per BG); Earls Colne, 9.8 (D. Warner per BG); Jaywick, 10.8 - 25 (SY per BG); Langenhoe, 3.6 (H. Owen per BG); Mistley, 7.8 (1.C. Rose per BG); Saffron Walden, 8.8 (A.M. Emmet per BG); St Osyth, 11.8 - 16 (RWA per BG); SOUTH-EAST YORKSHIRE (61): Spurn Bird Observatory, 23.7 (Spence 1998); ISLE OF MAN (71): Calf of Man Bird Observatory, 10.8 (TB); CHANNEL ISLANDS (113): L’ Ancresse, Guernsey, 18.7 (RA per Austin (1998a)). Summary: (9): 6; (14): 11; (15): 12; (18): 1; (19): 49; (61): 1; (71): 1; (113): 1. Nephopterix angustella (Hiibner) [I?/V?] SOUTH DEVON (3): Plympton, 21.8 (RJH); DORSET (9): Portland Bird Observatory, 20.8 (Cade 1998). Ancylosis oblitella (Zeller) [1?/R(t)?/R?] DORSET (9): Portland Bird Observatory, 17.8 to 10.9 - 5 (Cade 1998); WEST SUSSEX (13): Atherington, 15.8 (JEC, MSP & J. Radford); EAST SUSSEX (14): The Crumbles, Eastbourne, 25.8 - 2 (MSP); EAST KENT (15): Sandwich Bay, 11.9 (Game & Lycett 1998). Vitula edmandsii (Packard) [I] SOUTH-EAST YORKSHIRE (61): Spurn, 8.8 (BRS & Beaumont (1998)). Vitula biviella (Zeller) [1?] EAST KENT (15): Lydd, 13.7 - 1 male (KR per SPC, see also Parsons & Clancy (1999)). PTEROPHORIDAE [Oxyptilus laetus (Zeller) [I] DORSET (9): Portland Bird Observatory, 12.8 (Cade 1998) (specimen not secured, per MC).] PAPILIONIDAE [The Swallowtail Papilio machaon Linnaeus [In/I?] Note: Subspecies was not stated for the following records. WEST SUSSEX (13): Church Norton, 24.6 (T. Wilson per CRP); [OXFORDSHIRE (23): Enstone, 7.6 (Hill 1997) (possible escape)]; CHANNEL ISLANDS (113): Candie Gardens, Guernsey, 19.5 (B. Russell per Austin (1998b)); La Pomare, Guernsey, 28.7; 23.8 (Mrs M. Burridge per Austin (1998b)); Le Neuf Chemin, Guernsey, 9.8 (T. Banks per Austin (1998b)); nr. Richmond Vazon, Guernsey, 21.7 (V. Cockett per Austin (1998b)); 5.8 (Mrs Smith per Austin (1998b)); Reservoir, Guernsey, 6.8 (J. Hooper per Austin (1998b)); 9.8 (D. Moore per Austin (1998b)); Rue des Madelaines, Guernsey, 7.8 (M. Leech per Austin (1998b)) (Some of the records from the Channel Islands could be the result of escapes from a butterfly farm). Summary: (13): 1; ((23): 1]; (113): 9. PIERIDAE Clouded Yellow Colias croceus (Geoffroy) [I] WEST CORNWALL (1): Isles of Scilly, 18.10; 26.10; 27.10 (Hill 1998); Land’s End, 25.10 (Hill 1998); Marazion, 13.8 (DGD); Peninnis Head, Isles of Scilly, 19.10 (JPM); The Lizard, 54 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.111.2000 25.10 (Hill, 1998); EAST CORNWALL (2): Par Beach, 16-17.8 (Hill 1998); CORNWALL: no locality given, 27.7 (Bowles 1997b); SOUTH DEVON (3): Berry Head, 5.9 (Hill 1998); Clearbrook, 25.8 (RJH); DORSET (9): no locality given, 8.3 (Bowles 1997a); no locality given, 11 - 15 (Bowles 1998); Durlston Coutnry Park, 10.9 (Hill 1998); Portland, 3.10 (Hill 1998); Portland Bird Observatory, 6 to 9 - 7 (Cade 1998); Southbourne Undercliff, 9 to 12.9; 1.11 - 15; 20.11 (Hill 1998); HAMPSHIRE/ISLE OF WIGHT: 100 to 170 sightings; estimated 3rd brood of approx. 200 (Barker 1998); ISLE OF WIGHT: no locality given, undated total = 18 (Barker 1998); no locality given, 18.10 (Hill 1998); SOUTH HAMPSHIRE (11): Dibden, 24.5 (GRE); Dibden Bay, 14.8; 26.9 to 4.10 - 10+; 1.10 - 26; 10.10 to 25.10 - 5 to 10; 26.10 to 1.11 - 1 to 2 (Barker 1998); Hengistbury Head, 17.9; 1.11 - 15; 3.11; 20.11 (Barker 1998); Romsey, 1.8 (Barker 1998); NORTH HAMPSHIRE (12): Ashford Hangers, 24.5 (Barker 1998); Wonston, 10.6 (Barker 1998); Overton Hill, 23.9 (Barker 1998); WEST SUSSEX (13): Adversane, late 7 (M. Smith per CRP); Arundel Park, 16.8 (JF* per CRP); Chantry Lane (Storrington), 1.6 (G. Stevens pers CRP); 24.8 (P. Whitcomb per CRP); Cissbury Ring, 12.8 (N. Hulme per CRP); Climping, 10.10 (S. Patton per CRP); Five Oaks (Billingshurst), 15.8 (S. Hamilton per CRP); Henfield, 17.10 (P. Rowland per CRP); Levin Down (Chichester), 1.8 (P. Brown per CRP); Littlehampton, 12.10 - 3 (per P. Hill per CRP); Pagham, 25.10 (T. Wilson per CRP); Portslade, 30.10 (JTR per CRP): Shoreham, 3.8 (per G. Hart per CRP); 12.10 (JF’ per CRP); Steyning, 18.10 (P. Rowland per CRP); Thorney Island, 9.8; 12.8 (B. Collins per CRP); 27.10 (S. Hamilton per CRP); Verdley Wood (Fernhurst), 12.8 (A. Greenwood per CRP); West Hove golf course, 6.9 (T. Wilson per CRP); EAST SUSSEX (14): Beachy Head, 2.10 (per D. Dey per CRP); 27.9; 28.9; 6.10 (RC per CRP); 19.10 (J. Havers per CRP); 23.10 - 2 (G. Champion per CRP); 22.10; 25.10 - 6; 26.10 - 2; 29.10; 30.10 - 2; 31.10 - 2; 1.11; 2.11 (P. Wilson per CRP); Bevendean, 19.10 (G. Stevens per CRP); Castle Hill (Woodingdean), 21.8; 26.8 - 4 (A. Holden per CRP); Exceat, 12.10 - 2 (D. Rushen per CRP); 25.10 - 2 (T. Wilson per CRP); Hadlow Down, 7.8 (R. Penticost per CRP); Rye, 27.6 (DJF per CRP); Rye Harbour, 2.8; 8.8 (per DJF per CRP); Saltdean, 16.6 (JF’ per CRP); Seaford Head, 21.9 (MSP); Willingdon, 1.9 (C. Clarkson-Webb per CRP); EAST KENT (15): Appledore, 9.8 (P. Burness per JM); Backsand & New Downs, Sandwich, 12.8 (D.M. Batchelor per JM); Dungeness, 20.7 (possibly the same as 21.7 given in Hill (1998)); 29.9; 18.10 (DW per JM); Kingston, Canterbury, 17.5 (K. Elks per JM); Lydden Down, 10.8 (K. Elks per JM); Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory, 24.5 (D.M. Batchelor per JM); 12.6 (Game & Lycett 1998); Sugarloaf Hill, 2.5 (P. Green per JM); WEST KENT (16): Bough Beech Causeway, Winkhurst Green, 9.9 (D.P. Goodban per JM); Cliffe, 21.8 (M.T. Jennings per JM); Horticultural Research International Farm, 25.9 (M. Easterbrook per JM); River Wall, 2.10 (A. Fray per JM); TQ7644, 2.8 (K. Derrett per JM); White Hill, Shoreham, 20.7 (P. Kirby & T. Steele per JM); SURREY (17): Great Bookham, 1.8 (DGD); SOUTH ESSEX (18): Dengie, 2.8 - 2 (GS per BG); Little Baddow, 9 - 3 (G.A. Pyman per BG); NORTH ESSEX (19): Colchester, 14.8 (N.M. Raynor per BG); Mistley, 16.8 - 3 (I.C. Rose per BG); EAST SUFFOLK (25): Languard Bird Observatory, 4.10 (Odin 1998); WEST SUFFOLK (26): Lakenheath, 13.6 (DGD); WEST NORFOLK (28): Holme, 3.8 (Hill 1998); NORFOLK: Sutton High Fen, 15.8 (Hill 1998); PEMBROKESHIRE (45): Skomer Island, 4.7 (NL); DERBYSHIRE (57): Friargate Station, 13.6 (KJO); Hilton NR, 12.8; 15.8 (W. Furse per KJO); Longendale Trail, 3.8 (D.P. Mallon per KO); Shirebrook, 9.6 (R.A. Frost per KJO); ISLE OF MAN (71): Dhoon Maughold, 5.9 - 2 (LK per GDC); CHANNEL ISLANDS (113): Fort Hommet, Guernsey, 18.5 (C. David per Austin (1998b)); Les Tielles, Guernsey, 2.6 (M. Austin per Austin (1998b)); Mont Herault, Guernsey, 24.9 (L. Thompson per Austin (1998b)). Summary: (1): 7; (2): 1; Cornwall: 1; (3): 2; (9): 42; Hampshire/Isle of Wight: 200+; (10): 18+; (11): 63+; (12): 3; (13): 22; (14): 40; (17): 1; (18); 5; (19): 4; (25); 1; (26): 1; (28): 1; Norfolk: 145): WGODESTO1)22: 13)33! IMMIGRANT LEPIDOPTERA IN 1997 55 NYMPHALIDAE Large Tortoiseshell Nymphalis polychloros (Linnaeus) [I] EAST SUSSEX (14): St Leonard’s, 9.3 - hibernating in a shed (E. Bruce per CRP); WEST KENT (16): Marshleyharbour Wood, Pembury, 1.4 (I.C. Beavis per JM). Camberwell Beauty Nymphalis antiopa (Linnaeus) [I] WEST CORNWALL (1): Looe Bar, 3 to 6.8 (R. Howard per Tunmore (1998e)); SOUTH DEVON (3): Kingskerswell, last week of 8 (P. Glenn per RFM); DORSET (9): no locality given, 4 (Bowles 1997a); Lodmoor, 21.9 (Hill 1998); ISLE OF WIGHT (10): no locality given, 30.9 (Bowles 1997c); Seaview, 19 to 27.9 (Taverner 1998a); SOUTH HAMPSHIRE (11): Hillier’s Braishfield Arboretum, 16.4 (Taverner 1998a); NORTH HAMPSHIRE (12): Old Alresford, 9.8 (Taverner 1998a); SUSSEX: no locality given, 3 (Bowles 1997a); EAST KENT (15): Blean Woods, 10.3 (per S. Davis per JM); 4 (Hill 1997); Clowes Wood, Blean, 31.3 (S. Tilley per JM); Purr Wood, Crundale, 16.3 (per S. Davis per JM); SURREY (17): no locality giv n, 3 - 3 (Bowles 1997a), these record include: Waldringham, 11.3 (Hill 1997); 15km from Woidingham, 17.3 (Hill 1997); HERTFORDSHIRE (20): no locality given, 3 (Bowles 1997a); OXFORDSHIRE (23): no locality given, 3 (Bowles 1997a); EAST SUFFOLK (25): Trimley St. Mary, 17.3 (Iley 1997); WEST SUFFOLK (26): Grotton Wood (probably refers to Groton Wood), 15.3 (Hill 1997) (poss. same as previous record); SUFFOLK: no locality given, 4 (Bowles 1997a); NORFOLK: 3 seen in early 4 (Hill 1997) (includes following 2 records); WEST NORFOLK (28): Holkham, 6.4 (Hill 1997); Titchwell, 8.4 (Hill 1997); STAFFORDSHIRE (39): no locality given, 12.8 (Bowles 1997b); NOTTINGHAMSHIRE (56): Carlton, 11.3 (Hill 1997); DERBYSHIRE (57): no locality given, 4 (Bowles 1997a); SOUTH-WEST YORKSHIRE (63): Blackburn Meadows, nr. Rotherham, 10.3 (Hill 1997); NORTHUMBERLAND: no locality given, 8.3 (Bowles 1997a); CO. ANTRIM (H39): Belfast, 12.8 (Bowles 1997b). Summary: (1): 1; (3): 1; (9): 2; (10): 2; (11): 1; (12): 1; Sussex: 1; (15): 4; (17): 3; (20): 1; (23): 1; (25): 1; (26): 1; Suffolk: 1; Norfolk: 3, including (28): 2; (39): 1; (56): 1; (57): 1; (63); 1, Northumberland: 1; .(H39): 1. Queen of Spain Fritillary Issoria lathonia (Linnaeus) [I/R(t)?] DORSET (9): Sandbanks, 29.7 (Wilson, R. 1998); SOUTH HAMPSHIRE (10): Martin Down, 2.8 (Taverner 1998b); KENT: Woodbridge, 6.8 (Wilson, R. 1998); EAST KENT (15): Lydden Down 9.8 (Wilson, R. 1998); North Foreland, Broadstairs, 30.7 (R. Hope per JM) (a record for this date is given as unconfirmed by Wilson, R. (1998)); NORTH ESSEX (19): Little Quay, 18.10 (G. Slater per BG); EAST SUFFOLK (25): Aldringham Walks/Thorpeness, undated - 12 (Wilson, R. 1998); Butley Creek, Orford, undated - 3 (Wilson 1998); Minsmere, 28.6 (Wilson, R. 1998); 4.7 - 2; 7.7; 19.7 - 2; 13.8; 18.10 (Anderson & Wilson 1998); Sizewell, 13.9; 22.9 (Hill 1998); Thorpeness, undated - a mating pair (Wilson, R. 1998); near Wangford, 17.9 - 2 (Anderson & Wilson 1998); no locality given, 4.8 (and for several days) (Bowles 1997b); no locality given, late 4; 7; 9; 10 (Bowles 1997c) (some or all may refer to previous records); CHANNEL ISLANDS (113): Sous L’Eglise, Guernsey, 31.4 (B. Kendall per Austin (1998b)). Summary: (9): 1; (10): 1; Kent: 1; (15): 1(2?); (19): 1; (25): approx. 30; (113): 1. The Monarch Danaus plexippus (Linnaeus) [T] WEST CORNWALL (1): Borough Farm, Tresco 17.10 (G. Fellows) (probably the same as Tresco, 17.10 (Hill 1998)); Great Pool, Tresco, 10.10 (Hill 1998); SOUTH DEVON (3): Plym estuary, 1.10 (Hill 1998) (possibly the same as no locality given, 2.10 (Bowles 1997c)); Stoke Beach, Plymouth, 11.10 (Hill 1998); NORTH DEVON (4): Lundy Island, 4.10; 9.10 (Hill 1998); SOUTH SOMERSET (5): Minehead, 2.10 (Hill 1998); DORSET (9): Easton, Portland, 4.10 (Hill 1998); Portland, 13.10 (Hill 1998) (probably the same as Portland Bird Observatory, 13.10 (Cade 1998)); Weston, 16.10 (Hill 1998); Weymouth, 4.10 (MC & Hill 1998); no locality given, 11.10; 12.10 - a dead individual (Bowles 1997c); WEST SUSSEX (13): Littlehampton, 56 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.11.2000 10.10 (Hill 1998); EAST SUSSEX (14): near Beachy Head, between Crowlink and Birling Gap, 13.9 at 1pm (flying east) (P. Whitcombe per CRP) (possibly the same as the one reported as 12.9 by Bowles (1997c)); near Beachy Head, at Shooter’s Bottom, 29.9, flying east (B. Forbes per CRP); WEST KENT (16): Stone, Dartford, 6.10 (S. Clancy per JM); GLAMORGANSHIRE (41): Caswell, south Gower, 23.10 - 1 found floating in a pond (White 1998); Crymlyn Burrows (heading north from), 18.10 (K. Dupe per White (1998)); MERIONETHSHIRE (48): Lilanabar, Barmouth, 2.10 (Jones 1998); KIRKCUDBRIGHTSHIRE (73): no locality given, 10.9 (Bowles 1997c); CO. CORK: Ballycotton 10.10 (Hill 1998) (probably the same as no locality given, 11.10 (Bowles 1997c)). Summary: (1): 2; (3): 2; (4): 2; (5): 1; (9): 6(?); (13): 1; (14): 2; (16): 1; (41): 2; (48): 1; (73); 1; Co. Cork: 1. LASIOCAMPIDAE Pine-tee Lappet Dendrolimus pini (Linnaeus) [I] CHANNEL ISLANDS (113): Le Chene, Guernsey, 4.8 (DJLA per Austin (1998a)). DREPANIDAE Dusky Hook-tip Drepana curvatula (Borkhausen) [I] EAST KENT (15): Dungeness, 11.8 (Clancy & Walker 1998) (1 male, DW per SPC); SOUTH ESSEX (18): Bradwell-on-Sea, 6.8 (AJD per Dewick (1999)). GEOMETRIDAE Sub-angled Wave Scopula nigropunctata (Hufnagel) [I] EAST KENT (15): Dymchurch, 9.8. (JO). Tawny Wave Scopula rubiginata (Hufnagel) [I] Note: Probable immigrant examples only. NORTH ESSEX (19): Copperas Wood, 7.8 (P. Smith per BG); Stour Wood, 1.8 (M. Shardlow & P. Smith per BG); EAST SUFFOLK (25): Ipswich, undated - 2; 20.8 (T. Prichard). Bright Wave Idaea ochrata (Scopoli) [I?] CHANNEL ISLANDS (113): La Broderie, Guernsey, 15.8 (PC per Austin (1998b)). Portland Ribbon Wave Idaea degeneraria (Hiibner) [I?] ISLE OF WIGHT (10): Freshwater, 11.8 (Knill-Jones 1998b); CHANNEL ISLANDS (113): Le Coin, Guernsey, 24.8 (JB per Austin (1998b)). The Vestal Rhodometra sacraria (Linnaeus) [I] WEST CORNWALL (1): Church Cove, 17.9; 18.9 (MT); Coverack, 17.10; 18.10 (MT); Kynance, 18.9 (MT); St. Agnes, Isles of Scilly, 10.8 - 4 (Hicks & Hale 1998); 16.8; 17.9; 18.9; 21.9; 1.10; 4.10; 10.10; 19.10 (MEH); autumn - 5 (Tunmore 1998e); The Lizard, 18.10 (Tunmore 1998c); The Lizard, end 9 - few (MT per Waring (1997d)) (probably includes some of preceding records); EAST CORNWALL (2): Kilkhampton, 22.9 (GEH); SOUTH DEVON (3): Abbotskerswell, 13.8; 3.9; 18.9; 6.11 (BPH); Plympton, 18.8 (RJH); Teignmouth, 19.10 (RFM); NORTH SOMERSET (6): Tyning, Timsbury, 27.9 (M. Bailey per Barnett, Edmonson & Evans (1997b)); SOUTH WILTSHIRE (8): Bullen Hill Farm, Ashton Common, 25.9 - 3; 29.9 (E.G. & M.H. Smith); DORSET (9): Portland Bird Observatory, 12.8 to 23.9 - 4 (Cade 1998); ISLE OF WIGHT (10): Binstead 19.9; 4.10; 17.10 (BJW); Freshwater, 16.8 (Knill- Jones 1998d); no locality given, undated - 4 (Knill-Jones 1998c) (probably refers to preceding records); SOUTH HAMPSHIRE (11): Bitterne, 19.9 (Goater 1998); Brockenhurst, 20.9 (Goater 1998); Sparsholt, 30.9 (RB); Woolston, 26.9 (Goater 1998); NORTH HAMPSHIRE (12): Farnborough, 21.8 (RWP); Selborne, 16.8 (AA); WEST SUSSEX (13): Walberton, 19.8; IMMIGRANT LEPIDOPTERA IN 1997 57 21.9; 24.9; 28.9; 30.9; 6.10; 7.10 (JTR per CRP); EAST KENT (15): Kingsgate, 8.8 - 2 (Solly 1998); Lydd, 31.8 (KR per SPC); New Romney, 2.9 (SPC); CHANNEL ISLANDS (113): La Broderie, Guernsey, 17.9; 26.9 (PC per Austin (1998a)) (as 18.9 & 27.9 in Austin (1998b)); Le Chene, Guernsey, 11.6; 22.8; 26.8 (TNDP per Austin (1998a)); St Martin’s, Guernsey, 17.8 (WA per Austin (1998b)). Summary: (1): approx. 22; (2): 1; (3): 6; (6): 1; (8): 4; (9): 4; (10): 4; (11): 4; (12): 2; (13): 7; (15): 4; (113): 6. The Gem Orthonama obstipata (Fabricius) [T] WEST CORNWALL (1): Church Cove, 16.9; 27.9; 15.10 - 2; 19.10; 4.11; 6.11 - 5; 10.11; 11.11 - 5; 19.11; 26.11 - 8; 28.11; 30.11 (MT); Coverack, 5.10 (DB); 5.10 (possibly same as previous record); 17.10 (MT); Kynance, 18.10 - 2; 19.10 (MT); St. Agnes, Isles of Scilly, 14.8; 21.9 - 4; 24.9; 1.10 - 2; 4.10; 17.10; 31.10; 25.11; 26.11 - 5 (MEH); 24.10 - 4; 29.10; 30.10 (Hicks & Hale 1998); Porthloo, St. Mary’s, Isles of Scilly, 17.10 - 2; 18.10; 22.10 - 4 (JPM); The Lizard, autumn - 28 (inc. 11 - 23 & 30.11) (Tunmore 1998e) (probably includes some of preceding records); The Lizard, 18.10 - 2 (Tunmore 1998c); SOUTH DEVON (3): Churston Court Farm (SX905564), 5.10; 26.11 (DSF per RFM); Exeter, undated (P. Butter per RFM); DORSET (9): Dawlish Warren, 1.8 (JPM); Portland Bird Observatory, 16.9 to 6.11 - 9 (Cade 1998); Studland, 19.10 - 2 (DB); ISLE OF WIGHT (10): Binstead, 28.8; 15.9; 20.9; 18.11; 19.11; 25.11; 26.11 - 2 (Goater 1998); (as 23.5; 28.9; 15.10; 20.10 (BJW)); Freshwater, 20.11; 25.11; 26.11; 27.11 - 2 (SAKJ); Hacketts Land, Branstone, 21.5 - 2; 25.11 (Goater 1998); no locality given, undated - 15 (Knill-Jones 1998c) (probably includes all of previous records); SOUTH HAMPSHIRE (11): Brockenhurst, 1.8 (Goater 1998); Linford, 2.9 (Goater 1998); Milkham Bottom, 6.9 (Goater 1998); Sparsholt, 16.5 (RB); NORTH HAMPSHIRE (12): Frith End, 14.6 (Goater 1998); Selborne, 25.8 - male; 26.8 - female; 27.11 - male (AA); WEST SUSSEX (13): Atherington, 16.11 - 1 female (MSP & JEC); Walberton, 17.5; 22.8; 23.8; 24.8 4127.27.65 SU:8:—2; 3.9: 18.10; 16:11; 18.11 = 3: 19.11: 21.115 23.11; 25.11; 26.11: 27.11; 28.11 - 2; 29.11 (JTR per CRP); EAST SUSSEX (14): Hastings, 16.8 (PT per CRP); Peacehaven, 17.8; 18.8; 19.8; 19.10; 27.11 - 2 (CRP): Rye Harbour, 18.5 (DJF per CRP); 17.8 (DJF & PP per CRP); 18.10 (as 2 in Funnell (1998)); 19.10 (PP per CRP); Rye Harbour, 20.11; 21.11; 22.11; 25.11 (PP per CRP); EAST KENT (15): Densole, 4.9 - 1 male; 24.9 - 1 female; 26.11 - 1 female (TR); Dungeness, 10.8 - 2 males (TR); 11.8 - 2 (Tunmore (1998a), also given as DW per SPC (possibly same as previous record); 30.8; 18.10 - 2 (DW per SPC); 16.9 (KR per SPC); 5.10 - 2 males; 17.10 - 1 female (TR); Folkestone Warren, 27.11 - 3 male (TR); Greatstone, 16.5 (Hill (1997), given as BB per SPC); 15.7; 19.8 (BB per SPC); Kingsdown, 11.7 (DB); Kingsgate, 22.8; 8.10 (Solly 1998); Littlestone, 15.5; 6.10 - 2 (KR per SPC); Lydd, 10.9; 11.9; 11.10 (KR per SPC); New Romney, 11.8; 21.8; 15.11 (SPC); Ramsgate, 17.8; 24.9; 26.9; 15.11 (Solly 1998); Sandwich Bay, 9 - 1 (Game & Lycett 1998); WEST KENT (16): Dartford, 19.9 (BKW); SURREY (17): Lingfield, 25.11 - 1 female; 28.11 - 1 female (JHC); SOUTH ESSEX (18): Bradwell-on-Sea, 24.9 to 27.11 - 12 (inc. 11 - 9) (Dewick 1998); 26.9 (DB); Maldon Memory Close, 6.6 (S.D. Wood per BG); NORTH ESSEX (19): Dovercourt, 27.9; 18.10 (CG per BG); Kirby-le-Soken, undated (PB per BG); St Osyth, 8.10 (RWA per BG); EAST SUFFOLK (25): Languard Bird Observatory, undated - 5 (Odin 1998); EAST NORFOLK (27): Lound, 25.11 (R. Murray per Hipperson (1998)); WEST NORFOLK (28): Holkham NNR, 9.8 (MT per Hipperson (1997)); EAST GLOUCESTERSHIRE (33): The Apiary (SO9424), 19.5 (R. Homan per RG); Cheltenham, undated (per RG) (possibly same as previous record); CHANNEL ISLANDS (113): L’Ancresse, Guernsey, 3.10 (RA per Austin (1998a)); La Broderie, Guernsey, 26.11 (PC per Austin (1998b)); Le Chene, Guernsey, 19.10 (TNDP per Austin (1998a)); St Martin’s, Guernsey, 19.10 (WA per Austin (1998b)). Summary: (1): approx. 61; (3): 3; (9): 12; (10): 16; (11): 4; (12): 4; (13): 24; (14): 15(or 16); (15): approx. 35; (16): 1; (17): 2; (18): 14; (19): 4; (25): 5; (27): 1; (28): 1; (33): 1(22): (113): 4. 58 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.111.2000 Rannoch Looper Itame brunneata (Thunberg) [I] ISLE OF WIGHT (10): near Shalfleet, 18.6 (Waring 1997b); WEST NORFOLK (28): Docking, 12.6 (A. Pettigrew per Hipperson (1997)) (correctly given as 11.6 in Waring (1997b) and Anon (1998b)); Holkham NNR, 11.6 (MT per Hipperson (1997)). Feathered Beauty Peribatodes secundaria ({[Denis & Schiffermiiller]) [I?] NORTH ESSEX (19): Kirby-le-Soken, 27.7 (PB per Anon (1998b)). Barred Red Hylaea fasciaria (Linnaeus) [I?] DORSET (9): Portland Bird Observatory, 25.7 (Cade 1998); EAST SUSSEX (14): Houghton Green, Rye, 11.9 - 2 (inc. 1 ab. prasinaria) (GAC); EAST SUFFOLK (25): Languard Bird Observatory, undated - 2 (Odin 1998). SPHINGIDAE Convolvulus Hawk-moth Agrius convolvuli (Linnaeus) [I] WEST CORNWALL (1): Church Cove, 6.9; 7.9; 11.9 (P. Sharpe per MT); 16.9 - 2; 29.9 (MT); Coverack, 6.10 (DB); Higher Moors, Isles of Scilly, 18.10 (JPM); Isles of Scilly, 9 - 5 or 6 per night (R. Edmonson per Barnett, Edmonson & Evans (1997a)); Kynance, 18.9 - 4; 19.10 (MT); Longrack, nr. Penzance, 9 (S. Barron per L. Rogers); Porthloo, St. Mary’s, Isles of Scilly, 22.10 (JPM); St. Agnes, Isles of Scilly, 10.8 - 3 (Hicks & Hale 1998); 14.8 - 2; 16.8 - 3; 20.8 - 2; 22.8 - 4; 24.8 - 6; 1.9 - 5; 3.9 - 2; 4.9 - 5; 6.9 - 2; 8.9 - 2; 10.9 - 4; 13.9; 15.9; 18.9; 20.9 - 2; 21.9 - 7; 22.9 - 2; 23.9; 24.9; 30.9; 19.10 - 2 (MEH); The Lizard, autumn - 12 (Tunmore 1998e); EAST CORNWALL (2): Welcombe, 22.9 (GEH); SOUTH DEVON (3): Abbotskerswell, 27.8 (BPH); Churston Court Farm (SX905564), 3.9 (DSF per RFM); Dawlish Warren, 8.9 to 14.9 - larvae (I. Lakin per RFM); Plymouth, 15.9 (P.G. Sutton per RFM); Thorverton, 11.9 (K. Bailey per RFM); Winkleigh, nr. Okehampton, 16.9 (per RFM); DORSET (9): Abbotsbury, early 9 (G. Hibberd-Jones per MSP); Durlston Head, 24.8 (RB); 30.9 (GAC); Portland Bird Observatory, 8.8 to 23.9 - 25 (inc. 7.9 - 5) (Cade 1998); Studland, 19.10 (DB); ISLE OF WIGHT (10): Binstead 15.8; 22.8; 6.9 - 2; 18.9; 19.9; 18.10 (BJW); Freshwater, 18.9 (SAKJ); no locality given, undated - 20 (Knill-Jones 1998c) (presumably includes previously listed records); WEST SUSSEX (13): Hassocks, 2.10 (G. Jerry per CRP); Hove, 5.9 (per Booth Museum of Natural History per CRP); near Pagham Harbour, 31.8 (SP per CRP); Portslade 9.9 (per Booth Museum of Natural History per CRP); Southwick, 17.9 (C. Rhodes per CRP); Walberton, 30.8; 2.9; 10.9; 27.9 (JTR per CRP); EAST SUSSEX (14): Crowborough, 21.9 - 1 larva (MJS per CRP): Hastings, undated (Mr Joy per CRP); Pett Levels, 31.8 (PT per CRP); Ringmer, 25.8 - 2 larvae (Mrs Hoskin per CRP); Rye Harbour, 25.8 (DJF per CRP); 4.9; 9.9 (DJF & PP per CRP); EAST KENT (15): Densole, near Folkestone, 28.8 - 1 male; 7.10 - 1 male; 8.10 - 1 female (TR); Folkestone, 7.10 - 1 male (TR); Greatstone, 10.9 (BB per SPC); Kingsgate, 23.8; 5.9 - 3; 10.9; 14.10 (Solly 1998); Littlestone, 30.8 (KR per SPC); Lydd, 9.10 (KR per SPC); WEST KENT (16): Allhallows, 11.9 (Mrs G. Salmon per JM’); SOUTH ESSEX (18): Bradwell-on-Sea, 21.8 to 6.10 - 11 (inc. 6.9 - 2) (Dewick 1998) (given as a total of 13 by BG); 25.9 (DB); Ingatestone, 10 - 2 (GS per BG); NORTH ESSEX (19): Bulmer, 10.9 (D. Sears per BG); Clacton-on-Sea, 7.8 (I. Fox per BG); Debden Green, 7.8 (RM per BG); Dovercourt, 15.9 (CG per BG); Kirby-le-Soken, undated - 2 (PB per BG); Mashbury, 27.9 (M. Tarrant per BG); Mersea Island, 4.9 (D. Nicholls per BG); Stanway, 22.8 (N. Cuming per BG); MIDDLESEX (21): Bedfort, 29.9 (W.H. Chester per CWP); EAST SUFFOLK (25): Languard, 9 (Waring 1997c); EAST NORFOLK (27): Cromer, 14.8 (G. Lee per Hipperson (1997)); East Tuddenham, 5.9 (A. Bull per Hipperson (1997)); Eccles, 11.6; 27.9; 28.9; 30.9 (NB per Hipperson (1997)) (16.6 - 2 in Bowman (1998), no mention of 11.6 record); Hempstead, 11.9 (D. Russell per Hipperson (1997)); Sea Palling, 11.6 - 2 (Hill 1997); WEST NORFOLK (28): Hindringham, 31.8 (GS per Hipperson (1997)); Holkham NNR, 31.8; 1.9 (MT per Hipperson (1997)); Scolt Head Island, 8.8 (N. Lawton per Tunmore (1998a)); IMMIGRANT LEPIDOPTERA IN 1997 59 CAMBRIDGESHIRE (29): Trumpington, Cambridge, mid 6 - 1 brought in by a cat (per Dr. I. Kitching); WEST GLOUCESTERSHIRE (34): St Briavels, 29.8 (RG); CARMARTHENSHIRE (44): Betws, 15.9 (Morgan & Lucas 1997); Ffairfach, 1.9 (Morgan & Lucas 1997); PEMBROKESHIRE (45): Skomer Island, 27.9; 30.9 (NL); CAERNARVONSHIRE (49): Cors Bodgynydd, 9.8 (Waring 1997c); NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE (54): Dalby, 25.8 (Mrs M.E. Dawson per RJ); Gibraltar Point, 19.9; 24.9; 27.9 (Wilson, K. 1998); Roughton Moor, 30.8; 5.9 (JJ per RJ); NOTTINGHAMSHIRE (56): Cotgrave, 20.9 (M. Musgrove per SW); SOUTH-EAST YORKSHIRE (61): Spurn Bird Observatory, 10.8; 31.8; 9.9; 14.9 (Spence 1998); Filey Country Park, 9 (Waring 1997c); ISLE OF MAN (71): Calf of Man Bird Observatory, 3.9 (TB); Dhoon Maughold, 4.9 (LK per GDC); “THE BORDERS”: no locality given, 9 - 2 (Waring 1997c); DUMFRIESSHIRE (72): 2 localities, details not given, 5.10 — 2 (Patterson 2000); WIGTOWNSHIRE (74): near Newton Stewart, 7.8 (A. Davis per Waring (1997c)); BERWICKSHIRE (81): Eyemouth, 5.10 — 3, to Nicotiana (Patterson 2000); MAIN ARGYLL (98): Oban, 8 or 9.9 (reported a; Agrius cingulata but almost certainly refers to A. convolvuli) (per JM”); ORKNEY ISLANDS (111): 28.8 to 7.9 - 8 (Gould 1998); SHETLAND ISLANDS (112): 22.8 to 5.9 - almost 30, including 6 in one garden at North Roe and 4 within 50m of each other at Baltasound (Penington 1998); CHANNEL ISLANDS (113): L’Ancresse, Guernsey, 17.10 (RA per Austin (1998a)); La Broderie, Guernsey, 5.8 - 2; 7.8; 4.9; 7.9; 23.9; 24.9 (PC per Austin (1998a)) (as 6.8; 8.8; 5.9; 8.9; 24.9 & 25.9 in Austin (1998b)); Le Gouffre, Guernsey, 28.9 (JB per Austin (1998a)) . Summary: (1): approx. 79; (2): 1; (3): 5 + larvae; (9): 29; (10): approx. 20; (13): 9; (14): 5 + 3 larvae; (15): 13; (16): 1; (18); 14; (19): 9; (21): 1; (25): 1; (27): 9; (28): 4; (29): 1; (34): 1; (44); 2; (45): 2; (49); 1; (54): 6; (56): 1; (61):5; (71): 2; (72): 2; The Borders: 2; (74): 1; (81): 3; (98): 1; (111): 8; (112): almost 30; (113): 9. Death’s-head Hawk-moth Acherontia atropos (Linnaeus) [I] WEST SUSSEX (13): Littlehampton, early 9 - 1 pupa (R. Feist per CRP); NORTH ESSEX (19): Cressin Tye green, 9.6 - | pair in cop. (L. Wenlock per BG); Cutlers Green, 10 - 3 larvae (RM per BG); Wimbish, 10 - | larva (RM per BG); CHANNEL ISLANDS (113): La Broderie, Guernsey, 22.9 (PC per Austin (1998a)) (as 23.9 in Austin (1998b)). Pine Hawk-moth Hyloicus pinastri (Linnaeus) [I?] CHANNEL ISLANDS (113): La Broderie, Guernsey, 13.7 (PC per Austin (1998b)). Humming-bird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum (Linnaeus) [I/R(t)?/R?] WEST CORNWALL (1): Church Cove, 6.9; 8.9 (P. Sharpe per MT); 29.9 - 1 to light (MT); 10.10 (I. Reid per MT); Lizard village, 23.11 (Tunmore (1998e), C. Wills per MT); St Agnes, istestof‘Seilly; 13:33:20.3; 21.3329.3; 10.4; 5.5; 11.5; 25.7 - 2; 22.8; 25.8; 1.9: 2.9: 4.9 = 2; 5.9: 18.9; 26.9 (MEH); SOUTH DEVON (3): Buckfastleigh, 5.7 to 31.7 (J. Waters per RFM); Churston Court Farm (SX905564) (DSF per RFM); Honiton, 8.3 (P. Hurst per RFM); Plymouth, undated, (P.G. Sutton per RFM); Sampford Spinney, 7 (M. D’Oyly per RFM); Teignmouth, 21.10 (R. & L. Normand per RFM); SOUTH WILTSHIRE (8): Coombe Bisset Down, 31.7 (GRE); DORSET (9): Portland Bird Observatory, 6 to 10 - less than 20 (Cade 1998); ISLE OF WIGHT (10): Binstead 12.5; 23.5; 17.9 (BJW); Freshwater, 20.3 (Knill-Jones 1998a); Wooton, 12.5 (Hill 1997); SOUTH HAMPSHIRE (11): Chandlers Ford, 11.3 (Goater 1998); NORTH HAMPSHIRE (12): Yateley, 4.4 (Goater 1998); WEST SUSSEX (13): Hove, 3.5 - 2 (R.M. Craske per CRP); Littlehampton, 21.8 (SP per CRP); West Chiltington, 21.6 (F. Dougharty per CRP); EAST SUSSEX (14): Beachy Head, 6.10 (R. Charlwood per CRP); Peacehaven, 14.5; 19.5; 20.5; 30.5; 31.5; 1.6 - 2; 3.6; 5.6; 2.8 (CRP); Rottingdean, 18.3 (M. Ruff per CRP); EAST KENT (15): Dungeness, 11.5; 31.5 (per DW per SPC); Kingsgate, 14.7 (Solly 1998); Newington, 16.3 (R. Lane); New Romney, early 3 (K. Redshaw per Tunmore (1997)); Sandwich, 18.6 - 1 found at rest at dusk (TR); SURREY (17): Croydon, 19.5 (Mrs L. Pitkin); Tooting, 3 or 4 (BFS per Waring (1997a)); Warlingham, 18.10 (M. Kerley); 60 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.iii.2000 Walthamstow, 3 or 4 (BFS per Waring (1997a)); SOUTH ESSEX (18): Bradwell-on-Sea, 22.9 (S. Dewick per Dewick (1998)); Brentwood, 29.7 (B. Wilkens per BG); NORTH ESSEX (19): St Osyth, 4.9 (RWA per BG); HERTFORDSHIRE (20): Hemel Hempstead, 21.3 (M. Newland per CWP); EAST NORFOLK (27): Cromer, 28.8 (G. Lee per Hipperson (1997)); Norwich, 7.1 (Tunmore 1997); Sheringham, 13.6 (F. Farrow per Hipperson (1998)); WEST GLOUCESTERSHIRE (34): Wotton-under-Edge, 12.3 (B.P.S. Cleal per RG); CARMARTHENSHIRE (44): Maesycrugiau, 10.4 (Morgan & Lucas 1997); ISLE OF MAN (71): Douglas, 19.5 (J. Rogers per GDC); Glen Maye Patrick, 16.5 (R. Walker per GDC); CHANNEL ISLANDS (113): L’Ancresse, Guernsey, 22.3 (IH per Austin (1998a)); La Broderie, Guernsey, 14.10 - 1 at mv light (PC per Austin (1998a)) (as 15.10 in Austin (1998b)); Le Chene, Guernsey, 1.5 (TNDP per Austin (1998a)); Les Amarreurs, Guernsey, 15.6 (IH per Austin (1998a)); Les Terres, Guernsey, 2.4 (IH per Austin (1998b)); Rue Marquand, St. Andrew’s, Guernsey, 9.4; 12.4 (J. Le Huquet per Austin (1998a)); St. Peter Port, Guernsey, 22.3 (IH per Austin (1998a)). Summary: (1): 23; (3): approx. 6; (8): 1; (9); approx. 20; (10): 5; (11): 1; (12): 1; (13): 4; (14): 12-45): 6; (17):,8:.(18): 2; 9): 1: (20): T: (27): 32'G 4): 1: (44): 1G): 22.C3) 8s Oleander Hawk-moth Daphnis nerii (Linnaeus) [I] EAST KENT (15): Densole, near Folkestone, 1.9 - 1 male (TR); SHETLAND ISLANDS (112): Baltasound, 2.9 (Pennington 1998). Spurge Hawk-moth Hyles euphorbiae (Linnaeus) [I] EAST KENT (15): Dungeness, 12.6 - 1 male (SPC). Bedstraw Hawk-moth Ayles gallii (Rottemburg) [I] ISLE OF WIGHT (10): Bonchurch, 16.7 (Knill-Jones 1998c); SOUTH HAMPSHIRE (11): Southsea, 20.7 (Langmaid 1998a); EAST SUSSEX (14): Rye Harbour, 5.7 (DJF per CRP); NORTH ESSEX (19): Lamarsh, 17.7 (IG per BG); EAST SUFFOLK (25): Dunwich Forest, 24.5 - flying by day (Hill 1997); Minsmere, 1.6 (Hill 1997) (as 2.6 in Anderson & Wilson (1998)); EAST NORFOLK (27): Edgefield, 29.6 (A. Starling per Hipperson (1998)); Kelling, 7.6 (Hill 1997); Morton, 8.8 (T. Crafer per Tunmore (1998a)); WEST NORFOLK (28): Holkham NNR, 11.8; 22.8 (MT per Hipperson (1997)); NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE (54): Grebby, 22.7 (W.G. Hoff per RJ); Scotton Common, 16.8 (K. Skelton per RJ); 17.8 (RJ); WESTMORLAND (69): South Walney N.R., 21.7; 22.7; autumn - at least 4 larvae (Makin 1998); ISLE OF MAN (71): Kirk Michael, 30.8 - 1 larva (D. & E. Ford per GDC). Summary: (10): 1; (11): 1; (14): 1; (19): 1; (25): 2; (27): 3; (28): 2; (54): 3; (69): 2 + 4 larvae; (71): 1 larva. Striped Hawk-moth Hyles livornica (Esper) [I] EAST KENT (15): Dungeness, 12.6 (Hill 1997); Kingsgate, 26.8 (Solly 1998); NORTHAMPTONSHIRE (32): Daventry area, 14.11 (Williams 1998). NOTODONTIDAE Scarce Chocolate-tip Clostera anachoreta ({Denis & Schiffermiiller]) [I?/V?/R?] EAST KENT (15): New Romney, 5.8 (Clancy & Walker 1998); SOUTH ESSEX (18): Bradwell-on-Sea, 5.8 (AJD per Dewick (1999)). THAUMETOPOEIDAE Oak Processionary Thaumetopoea processionea (Linnaeus) [I] CHANNEL ISLANDS (113): Le Chene, Guernsey, 17.8 (TNDP per Austin (1998a)) (as DJLA in Austin (1998b)). IMMIGRANT LEPIDOPTERA IN 1997 61 LYMANTRIIDAE Brown-tail Euproctis chrysorrhoea (Linnaeus) [I?] WEST CORNWALL (1): St Agnes, Isles of Scilly, 21.7 (MEH). Gypsy Moth Lymantria dispar (Linnaeus) [I] CHANNEL ISLANDS (113): Le Chene, Guernsey, 16.8 (TNDP per Austin (1998a)). ARCTIIDAE Dotted Footman Pelosia muscerda (Hufnagel) [I] WEST SUSSEX (13): Walberton, 11.8 (JTR per CRP); EAST SUSSEX (14): Icklesham, 11.8 (IDH per CRP); Winchelsea Beach, 5.8 (DB) (as Rye Harbour in Funnell (1998)); EAST KENT (15): Sandwich Bay, 19.8 (Game & Lycett 1998); SOUTH ESSEX (18): Beaumont, 8.8 (J.B. Fisher per Anon (1998b)). Hoary Footman Eilema caniola (Hubner) [I?/V?] DORSET (9): Portland Bird Observatory, 11.8; 1.9 (Cade 1998); ISLE OF WIGHT (10): Bonchurch, 7.9 (J. Halsey per Knill-Jones (1998b)) (as 9.9 in Knill-Jones (1998c)); SOUTH HAMPSHIRE (11): Brockenhurst, 19.10 (Goater 1998). Pigmy Footman Eilema pygmaeola (Doubleday) [I?] NORTH ESSEX (19): Tollesbury, 18.7 - 1 ssp. pallifrons (JF & BG per BG); CHANNEL ISLANDS (113): St Martin’s, Guernsey, 6.7 (WA per Austin (1998b)). Four-spotted Footman Lithosia quadra (Linnaeus) [I?] WEST CORNWALL (1): Coverack, 5.10; 7.10 (DB); The Lizard, 5.10; 18.10 (Tunmore 1998e) (given as Church Cove per MT). Speckled Footman Coscinia cribraria (Linnaeus) [T] EAST KENT (15): Kingsgate, 8.8 (Solly 1998). Crimson Speckled Utetheisa pulchella (Linnaeus) [I] WEST CORNWALL (1): Carlyon Bay Beach, 20.9 (P. Boggis per Anon (1998b)); Lower Lanner, The Lizard, 2.9 (R. Howard per Tunmore (1998e)); St Marys, Isles of Scilly, 19.10 (reported to be almost certainly this species) (A. Harding per JPM). Jersey Tiger Euplagia quadrpunctaria (Poda) [I?/R(t)?/V?] EAST SUSSEX (14): Rye Harbour, 12.8; 20.8 (DJF & PP per CRP). NOLIDAE Kent Black Arches Meganola albula ({Denis & Schiffermiller]) [I1?/V?/R?] NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE (54): Gibraltar Point, 19.7 (D. Brown per RJ); Saltfleetby- Theddlethorpe, 12.7 (JJ & G. Wright per R.J.). NOCTUIDAE Coast Dart Euxoa cursoria (Hufnagel) [I] EAST KENT (15): Ramsgate, 27.7 (Solly 1998); NORTH ESSEX (19): St Osyth Lane, 2.8; 6.8 (RWA per BG). Great Dart Agrotis crassa (Hibner) [I] WEST CORNWALL (1): St. Agnes, Isles of Scilly, 10.8 - 3 (Hicks & Hale 1998); DORSET (9): Portland, 11.8 (also what was considered to be same individual on 14.8 & 15.8 (Cade 1998)). Portland Moth Actebia praecox (Linnaeus) [R?/I?] EAST SUSSEX (14): Rye Harbour, 17.8; 21.8 (DJF per Tunmore (1998a)); EAST KENT (15): Dungeness, 12.8 - 2 (DW per Tunmore (1998a)); Greatstone, 11.8 (BB per Tunmore (1998a)); 62 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.11.2000 Littlestone, 5.8 (KR per Tunmore (1998a)); New Romney, 31.8 (KR per Tunmore (1998a)); EAST NORFOLK (27): Edgefield, 8.8 (S. Harrap & A. Starling per Tunmore (1998a)). Summary: (14): 2; (15): 5; (27): 1. Black Collar Ochropleura flammatra ((Denis & Schiffermiller]) [I] SHETLAND ISLANDS (112): Eswick, 28.6 (Rogers 1998). Radford’s Flame Shoulder Ochropleura leucogaster (Freyer) [I] WEST CORNWALL (1): St. Agnes, Isles of Scilly, 30.10; 21.11 (Hicks & Hale 1998). Great Brocade Eurois occulta (Linnaeus) [1] WEST SUSSEX (13): Walberton, 26.7 (JTR per CRP); EAST KENT (15): Kingston, Canterbury, 15 to 18.7 - 1 roosting among curtains (KE); SOUTH ESSEX (18): Bradwell-on- Sea, 22.7 - 1 at Buddleia blossom (Dewick 1998) (given as 3 by BG); NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE (54): Dalby, 24.7; 8.8 (Mrs M.E. Dawson per RJ); Grebby, 21.7 (W.G. Hoff per RJ); Wragby, 8 (C. Smith per RJ); NOTTINGHAMSHIRE (56): Wollaton Park, 6.8 (per SW); SOUTH-EAST YORKSHIRE (61): Spurn Bird Observatory, 23.7 (Spence 1998); NORTH ABERDEENSHIRE (93): Oldmeldrum, 25.7 and several subsequently (MY per Waring (1997c)); BANFFSHIRE (94): Ordiguhill, 5.8; 11.8 - 2; 13.8 (RL); SHETLAND ISLANDS (112): 20.7 to 2.9 - 60 (Penington 1998). Summary: (13): 1; (15): 1; (18): 1; (54): 4; (56): 1; (61): 1; (93): 14; (94): 4; (113): 60. Pale Shining Brown Polia bombycina (Hufnagel) [I] EAST KENT (15): Lydd, 13.6 - grey, continental form (Clancy & Walker 1998) (1 female, KR per SPC). Beautiful Brocade Lacanobia contigua (([Denis & Schiffermiiller]) [I?] EAST KENT (15): Dungeness, 11.6 - 1 male (DW per SPC). White-point Mythimna albipuncta ((Denis & Schiffermiiller]) [I/R(t)?] WEST CORNWALL (1): St. Agnes, Isles of Scilly, 10.8; 11.8; 14.8; 22.8 (MEH); SOUTH DEVON (3): Churston Court Farm (SX905564), 19.10 (DSF per RFM); DORSET (9): Durlston Head, Swanage 24.8 - 2 (RB); 2.10 (JHC); Portland Bird Observatory, 23.6 to 19.10 - 38 (Cade 1998) (given as 3.6 to 19.10 - 38 (MC)); Studland, 19.10 (DB); ISLE OF WIGHT (10): Binstead, 20.10 (BJW); Freshwater, 23.6 to 17.11 - 11 (considered “now resident’) (SAKJ); no locality given, undated - 40 (Knill-Jones 1998c) (presumably includes previous records); SOUTH HAMPSHIRE (11): Linford, 14.8 (Goater 1998); Woolston, 19.8; 26.8 (Goater 1998); WEST SUSSEX (13): Climping, 15.8 (JTR per CRP); Littlehampton, 3.9 (REP per CRP); Middleton-on-Sea, 31.5 - 1 to actinic light (RJB); Walberton, 10.8; 20.8; 22.8; 30.10; 17.11 (JTR per CRP); EAST SUSSEX (14): Beachy Head, 12.8 (JS per CRP); 22.8 - 2 (J. Platts per CRP); Crowborough, 22.8 (MJS per CRP); Fairlight, 9.8 (DJF, BFS & MSP); Icklesham, 14.6 - 2; 8.7; 12.8 - 3 (IDH per CRP); Peacehaven, 8.8 - 2; 11.8 - 2; 15.8; 16.8; 21.8; 22.8; 23.8; 24.8 - 3; 5.9 (CRP); Pett Levels, 31.8 (PT per CRP); Rye Harbour, 5.6; 6.6; 14.6; 16.6; 24.6; 7.7; 8.8 - 4; 11.8; 12.8; 31.8 (DJF per CRP); 10.8; 14.8; 23.8; 27.8; 30.8; 1.9; 4.9; 6.9 - 2; 7.9 - 3 (DJF & PP per CRP); 10.9 (PP per CRP); 11.9 (DB); Woodingdean, 10.8 (JS per CRP); EAST KENT (15): Densole, 8.6; 8.8; 9.8; 11.8; 18.8; 14.9; 19.9; 17.10 (TR); Dungeness, 6.6; 11.6 - 3 (Hill 1997); 6.6 (DB); 10.8; 18.8 - 6; 2.9 (TR); 11.9 (GAC); 26.8 (MT); 11.8; 15.8; 25.8; 30.8 - 3; 1.9; 4.9 - 2; 5.9 (KR per SPC); 6.6; 7.6; 10.8 - 3; 11.8 - 4; 12.8; 24.8; 6.9 (DW & SPC); Folkestone Warren, 8.8; 17.10 (TR); Greatstone, 30.5; 10.8; 11.8 - 5; 12.8 - 3; 13.8 - 2; 15.8; 19.8; 20.8 - 2; 26.8 - 2; 1.9; 4.9; 5.9 (BB per SPC); Littlestone, 16.5; 5.6; 11.6; 11.8 - 6; 13.8; 15.8; 17.8 - 2; 30.8 - 3; 31.8 (KR per SPC); Lydd, 15.8; 16.8; 20.8; 25.8 - 2; 27.8; 28.8 (KR per SPC); Lydd-on-Sea, 12.8 (SPC); New Romney, 12.8; 15.8; 16.8 - 2; 18.8; 22.8; 23.8; 31.8 (KR per SPC); 10.8; 16.8; 17.8; 24.8 - 3; 25.8; 5.9 (SPC); IMMIGRANT LEPIDOPTERA IN 1997 63 Sandwich Bay, 8 - 7 (Game & Lycett 1998); Stoneleigh (probably refers to Stonelees), 6.6 (Hill 1997); SOUTH ESSEX (18): Bradwell-on-Sea, 6.6; 7.6; 23.6; 10.8 to 3.9 - 24; 1.10 (Dewick 1998); Theydon Bois, 7.7 (J.G. Green per BG); West Tilbury, 3.8 (DGD); NORTH ESSEX (19): Dovercourt, 13.6 (CG per BG); Jaywick, 18.7 (JY per BG); St Osyth, 16.8 (RWA per BG); EAST SUFFOLK (25): Languard Bird Observatory, undated - 8 (Odin 1998); EAST NORFOLK (27): Eccles, 18.8; 20.8 (NB per Hipperson (1997); Hainford, 21.8 (Hipperson 1997); WEST NORFOLK (28): Holkham NNR, 22.8 (MT per Hipperson (1997)); SOUTH- EAST YORKSHIRE (61): Spurn Bird Observatory, 10.6 (Spence 1998); CHANNEL ISLANDS (113): small nos. between 17.5 and 18.10, “probably resident as well as a migrant” (Austin 1998a); “Small numbers to light on 43 nights at eight sites” 3.5 to 7.11 (Austin 1998b) Summary: (1): 4; (3): 1; (9): 42; (10): 40; (11): 3; (13): 8; (14): 53; (15): 117; (18): 30; (19): 3; (25): 8; (27): 3; (28): 1; (61): 1; (113): at least 43, “probably resident”. The Delicate Mythimna vitellina (Hibner) [I/R(t)?] WEST CORNWALL (1): Church Cove, 25.3 (Hill 1997); 7.7; 11.7; 15.9; 16.9; 27.9 - 3; 30.9; 1.10; 3.10; 6.10; 12.10; 14.10; 30.10 (MT); Coverack, 5.10 - 2; 16.10 (DB); 5.10 - 2 (possibly same as previous); 6.10 (MT); Kynance, 18.9; 18.10 - 2; 19.10 (MT); St. Agnes, Isles of Scilly, 12,5343. =. 2; 22.9°- 2: 29.5 = 2; 3.6 = 2: 9:6 = 5; 11.6 - 7; 14.6 7; 16.6 -.4; 21.6:- 5; 23.6 - 5: 28.6 - 3; 30.6 - 4; 3.7 - 2;5.7; 14.8 - 2; 15.8 - 2; 16.8; 24.8 - 2; 1.9 - 8; 3.9; 4.9 - 7; 6.9; 8.9 - 8; 10.9 - 14; 13.9 - 8; 15.9 - 5; 17.9 - 8; 18.9 - 7; 20.9 - 4; 21.9 - 5; 22.9 - 5; 23.9 - 3; 24.9 - 5; 25.9 - 13; 30.9 - 6; 1.10 - 5; 2.10 - 7; 4.10 - 8; 10.10 - 4; 15.10 - 2; 17.10; 18.10 - 4; 19.10 - 3; 22.10 - 2; 23.10 - 2; 24.10 - 2; 29.10; 30.10; 31.10; (MEH); Porthloo, St. Mary’s, Isles of Scilly, 17.10 - 2; 18.10; 19.10 - 2; 22.10 - 5; 23.10 - 3 (JPM); The Lizard, autumn - 14 (Tunmore 1998e) (possibly includes previous records); Tremelethen Farm, St. Mary’s, Isles of Scilly, 12.10 - 3; 13.10; 14.10 - 2; 16.10; 17.10 (JPM); EAST CORNWALL (2): Kilkhampton, 23.9 (GEH); SOUTH DEVON (3): Churston Court Farm (SX905564), 29.9 (DSF per RFM); Tuckermarsh, Bere Alston, 30.9 (Bogue 1998); NORTH DEVON (4): Abbotsham, Bideford, 25.9 (A.S. Henderson per RFM); DORSET (9): Durlston, 18.10 (DB); Durlston Head, Swanage, 30.9 (GAC); 2.10 (JHC); Portland Bird Observatory, 14.5 to 19.10 - 36 (inc. 1.9 - 3) (Cade 1998); ISLE OF WIGHT (10): Binstead, 6.9 (Goater 1998) (as 7.9 (BJW)); Freshwater, 28.8 - 3; 14.9; 17.9; 18.9; 20.10 (SAKJ); no locality given, undated - 15 (inc. 11.5) (Knill- Jones 1998c) (probably includes previous records); SOUTH HAMPSHIRE (11): Brockenhurst, 30.8 (Goater 1998); Sparsholt, 17.5; 31.5 (RB); NORTH HAMPSHIRE (12): Selborne, 31.8; 6.9 (AA); WEST SUSSEX (13): Littlehampton, 6.9 (SP per CRP); Walberton, 9.5; 30.8; 3.9 - 3; 4.9; 9.9; 11.10 - 2; 17.10; 25.11 (JTR per CRP); EAST SUSSEX (14): Hastings, 3.9 (PT per CRP); Peacehaven, 1.9; 3.9 - 2; 6.9; 18.9 (CRP); Pett Levels, 31.8 (PT per CRP); Rye Harbour, 24.7 (K. Palmer per CRP); 24.8; 30.8; 6.9; 8.9 (DJF & PP per CRP); 4.9 - 3 (DJF per CRP); 9.9; 10.10; 11.10 (PP per CRP); 14.11 (PP per CRP); EAST KENT (15): Dungeness, 30.9 (DW per SPC); 29.8; 30.8 - 2; 5.9 - 2 (KR per SPC); Herne Bay, 12.5 (Hill 1997); Lydd, 11.10 (KR per SPC); Nagden, Faversham, 23.8 (GAC); New Romney, 19.5 (KR per SPC); SOUTH ESSEX (18): Bradwell-on-Sea, 18.9 (Dewick 1998); NORTH ESSEX (19): St Osyth, 3.9 (RWA per BG); EAST SUFFOLK (25): Languard Bird Observatory, undated - 2 (Odin 1998); GLAMORGAN: Black Hope 7.6 (Hill 1997); CHANNEL ISLANDS (113): small nos. between 9.6 and 2.11, “probably resident as well as a migrant “(Austin 1998a); “Ones and twos to light on 34 nights at seven sites” 10.6 to 2.11 (Austin 1998b). Summary: (1): 254 (or 256); (2): 1; (3): 2; (4): 1; (9): 39; (10): 15(?); (11): 3; (12): 2; (13): 12; (14): 19; (15): 10; (18): 1; (19): 1; (25): 2; Glamorgan: 1; (113): at least 34, “probably resident”. White-speck Mythimna unipuncta (Haworth) [I] WEST CORNWALL (1): Church Cove, 5.3 - 2; 25.3; 27.9; 11.11; 18.11; 21.11; 22.11; 23.11; 25.11 - 6; 27.11 - 3; 28.11 - 3; 29.11 - 3; 30.11; 1.12 - 2; 3.12 (MT); Peninnis Head, Isles of Scilly, 19.10 (JPM); Porthloo, St. Mary’s, Isles of Scilly, 17.10 - 4; 18.10 - 2; 19.10; 22.10 - 38; 23.10 - 3 (JPM); St. Agnes, Isles of Scilly, 2.3 - 2; 9.3; 16.5; 21.5; 30.5; 3.6; 5.7; 6.8; 14.8; 64 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.111.2000 15.8; 18.8 - 2; 20.8; 22.8 - 3; 24.8 - 2; 3.9 - 2; 4.9 - 4; 6.9; 8.9 - 3; 10.9 - 2; 13.9 - 2; 18.9 - 4; 20.9; 24.9 - 2; 25.9 - 3; 30.9; 2.10; 4.10; 10.10 - 4; 15.10; 17.10 - 4; 18.10 - 16; 19.10 - 5; 22.10 - 16; 23.10 - 4; 24.10 - 5; 29.10 - 13; 30.10 - 14; 31.10 - 5; 1.11 - 16; 2.11 - 6; 12.10 - 7; 13.10 - 2; 21.11) - 9; 25:11 = 23;5°26.11 - 22; 28:11 - 63 3342: = 2: 112.1215; 912) AS 20 Ss (MEH); The Lizard, autumn - 28 (inc. 11 - 25) (probably includes previous records); 5.12 (Tunmore 1998e); Tremelethen Farm, St. Mary’s, Isles of Scilly, 12.10; 13.10 - 6; 14.10 - 2 (JPM); SOUTH DEVON (3): Teignmouth, 17.11 (RFM); DORSET (9): Portland Bird Observatory, 14.11 to 18.12 - 11 (MC); ISLE OF WIGHT (10): Arreton, 11.3 (D. Peach per Knill-Jones (1998b)); Freshwater, 9.3 (Knill-Jones 1998a); 31.8; 18.11 (SAKJ); Hacketts Land, Branstone, 11.3 (Goater 1998); no locality given, undated - 4 (Knill-Jones 1998c) (probably includes previous records); WEST SUSSEX (13): Walberton, 25.11; 29.11 (JTR per CRP); EAST KENT (15): Densole, 26.11 (TR); Newington, 12.7 (R. Lane); SOUTH ESSEX (18): Bradwell-on-Sea, 19.11 (Dewick 1998); EAST NORFOLK (27): Eccles, 13.6 (NB per Hipperson (1998)) (Bowman (1998) gives a single record on 27.11); CARMARTHENSHIRE (44): Trawsmawr, 24.7 (Morgan & Lucas 1997); ISLE OF MAN (71): Andreas, 19.10 (T. Callister per GDC). Summary: (1): 332; (3): 1; 9): 11; (10): 5;.(13):-2; (15): 2; 18): 1; @): 12); (44) las &: The Cosmopolitan Mythimna loreyi (Duponchel) [I] WEST CORNWALL (1): The Lizard, 29.9 (Tunmore 1998e) (given as Church Cove per MT); EAST KENT (15): New Romney, 23.7 (Clancy & Walker 1998) (1 female, KR per SPC); SOUTH ESSEX (18): Bradwell-on-Sea, 30.8 (Dewick 1998) (as 31.8 per BG); EAST NORFOLK (27): Eccles, 4.9 (NB per Hipperson (1997)). Golden-rod Brindle Lithomoia solidaginis (Hiibner) [I?/V?] SHROPSHIRE (40): Preston Montford, 16.8 (DB); SHETLAND ISLANDS (112): Eswick, 28.8 - 2 (T. Rogers per Waring (1997c)). Red Sword-grass Xylena vetusta (Hubner) [I?] NORTH ESSEX (19): Copperas Wood, 27.9 (P. Smith per BG). Sword-grass Xylena exsoleta (Linnaeus) [I?] EAST KENT (15): Herne Bay, 18.1 (B. Matlock per Anon (1998b)); SHETLAND ISLANDS (112): Eswick, 15.5; 26.9 (Penington 1998). Flame Brocade Trigonophora flammea (Esper) [I] Note: Does not include Channel Islands where the species is resident. DORSET (9): Durlston Country Park, 17.10; 18.10 (DB & RB per Anon (1998b)) (given as Durlston Country Park, 18.10 & Studland, 18.10 (DB)); West Bexington, 17.10 (R. Eden per Anon (1998b); EAST SUSSEX (14): Hastings, 10.10 (S. Richardson per Anon (1998b)); Rye Harbour, 10.10 (PP per CRP); EAST KENT (15): Dungeness, 15.10 (Clancy & Walker 1998) (1 male, S. Busulti per SPC); Lydd, 21.10 (Clancy & Walker 1998) (1 male, KR per SPC). Summary: (9): 3; (14): 2; (15): 2. Red-headed Chestnut Conistra erythrocephala ((Denis & Schiffermiiller)] [I] DORSET (9): Portland Bird Observatory, 27.11 (Cade 1998). Pale-lemon Sallow Xanthia ocellaris (Borkhausen) [I?] DORSET (9): Wareham, 5.10 (B. Withers per Tunmore (1998d)); ISLE OF WHITE (10): Wootton, 5.10 (T. Redfern per Tunmore (1998d)); EAST KENT (15): Dungeness, 20.9 (F. Butcher per BFS); 1.10 (DW per Tunmore (1998d)) (1 male, per SPC); NORTH ESSEX (19): Lamarsh, 3.10 (IG per Tunmore (1998d)); WEST NORFOLK (28): Stiffkey, 17.10 (C. Gambrill per Tunmore (1998d)). Summary: (9): 1; (10): 1; (15): 2; (19): 1; (28): 1. IMMIGRANT LEPIDOPTERA IN 1997 65 Tree-lichen Beauty Cryphia algae (Fabricius) [I] ISLE OF WIGHT (10): Freshwater, 21.8 (Knill-Jones 1998b); WEST SUSSEX (14): Middleton-on-Sea, 6.8 - 2; 7.8 - 3 (all to 40w actinic light) (RJB). Orache Trachea atriplicis (Linnaeus) [I?] Note: Does not include Channel Islands record. EAST KENT (15): Greatstone, 24.7 (Clancy & Walker 1998) (1 female, BB per SPC); EAST SUFFOLK (25): Languard Bird Observatory, 1.7 (Odin 1998). Purple Cloud Actinotia polyodon (Clerck) [I] EAST KENT (15): Whiteness, 20.5 (Hill 1997) (as Kingsgate, 26.8 (in Solly 1998)); EAST NORFOLK (27): Eccles, 7.8 (NB per Hipperson (1997)). Angle-striped Sallow Enargia paleacea (Esper) [1/V?] EAST KENT (15): Orlestone Forest, 14.7 - 1 male (TR); EAST NORFOLK (27): Cawston, 22.9 (J. Sutton per Hipperson (1997)). Concolorous Chortodes extrema (Hiibner) [I] EAST KENT (15): Greatstone, 5.6 - 1 male (BB per SPC, see also Hill (1997)); Kingsgate, 13.6 (Solly 1998). Dumeril’s Luperina Luperina dumerilii (Duponchel) [I] EAST SUSSEX (14): Peacehaven, 3.9 (CRP, conf. MSP). Small Mottled Willow Spodoptera exigua (Hubner) [I] WEST CORNWALL (1): St. Agnes, Isles of Scilly, 22.10 (Hicks & Hale 1998); SOUTH HAMPSHIRE (11): Chandlers Ford, 14.3 (Goater 1998); EAST KENT (15): Ramsgate, 24.9 (Solly 1998); Sandwich Bay, 10 - 2 (Game & Lycett 1998); CHANNEL ISLANDS (113): Le Gouffre, Guernsey, 5.7 (JB per Austin (1998a)). Scarce Bordered Straw Heliocoverpa armigera (Hiibner) [I] WEST CORNWALL (1): Porthloo, St. Mary’s, Isles of Scilly, 22.10 - 2 (JPM); Scilly Isles, 23.10 (JS per CRP); St. Agnes, Isles of Scilly, 20.9 (MEH); 22.10 - 3; 30.10 (Hicks & Hale 1998); The Lizard, autumn - 3 (Tunmore 1998e); EAST CORNWALL (2): Kilkhampton, 25.9 (GEH); SOUTH DEVON (3): Abbotskerswell, 18.9 (BPH); DORSET (9): Durlston Head, Swanage, 1.10; 2.10 - 2 (SHC); Portland Bird Observatory, 24.9; 19.10 (Cade 1998); ISLE OF WIGHT (10): Binstead, undated - 5 larvae on red geranium in garden (Goater 1998); no locality given, undated - 2 (Knill-Jones 1998c); SOUTH HAMPSHIRE (11): Woolston, 27.6 (Goater 1998); WEST SUSSEX (13): Walberton, 9.10 (JTR per CRP); EAST SUSSEX (14): Peacehaven, 23.8 (CRP); Rye Harbour, 8.8 (DJF per CRP); 25.9 (DJF & PP per CRP); EAST KENT (15): Dungeness, 12.8 (DW per SPC); Greatstone, 7.9 (BB per SPC); Kingsgate, 23.8 (Solly 1998); Lydd, 19.10; 20.10 (KR per SPC); New Romney, 16.8 (KR per SPC); Ramsgate, 14.8; 16.8 (Solly 1998); SURREY (17): Lingfield, 19.10 (JHC); SOUTH ESSEX (18): Bradwell-on-Sea, 3.10 (Dewick 1998); PEMBROKESHIRE (45): Skomer Island, 25.9 (NL); SOUTH-EAST YORKSHIRE (61): Spurn Head, 23.8 (P.A. Crowther per BRS); SHETLAND ISLANDS (112): Fair Isle, 28.8 (Penington 1998); CHANNEL ISLANDS (113): La Broderie, Guernsey, 22.9 (PC per Austin (1998a)) (as 23.9 in Austin (1998b)); Le Chene, Guernsey, 28.8; 26.9; 28.9 - 3 (TNDP per Austin (1998a)); Le Gouffre, Guernsey, 28.9 (JB per Austin (1998a)). Summary: (1): 8(or 9); (2); 1; (3): 1; (9): 5; (10): 2 (+ 5 larvae); (11); 1; (13): 1; (14); 3; (15): SuG)= Us (18): 13:€45): 1; (61):-1;.(112): 1;.(113); 7. Marbled Clover Heliothis viriplaca (Hufnagel) [I?/V?] SOUTH WILTSHIRE (8): Figheldean Down, 2.8 - 1 female (GRE); NORTH HAMPSHIRE (12): Magdalen Hill Down, 22.8 - 1 fresh example seen by day (Goater 1998). 66 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.111.2000 Bordered Straw Heliothis peltigera ({Denis & Schiffermiiller]) [T] WEST CORNWALL (1): St. Agnes, Isles of Scilly, 9.6 - 7 (Hale & Hicks 1998) (as 11.6 per MEH); SOUTH DEVON (3): Berry Head, Brixham, 22.10 - 1 by day (A. Rosier per RFM); Churston Court Farm (SX905564), 9 (DSF per RFM); DORSET (9): Portland Bird Observatory, 17.7 (Cade 1998); EAST KENT (15): Kingsgate, 8.8 - 2 (Solly 1998); EAST NORFOLK (27): Norwich, 17.8 (S. Paston per Hipperson (1998)). Summary: (1):7; G): 259) 1; (15)? 23 C7) 1. Small Marbled Eublemma parva (Hubner) [I] SOUTH DEVON (3): Heybrook Bay, 17.8 - 2 dead larvae in flowers of Pulicaria dysenterica; 20.8 - 2 live larvae (later died) (RJH). Golden Twin-spot Chrysodeixis chalcites [1/E] SOUTH HAMPSHIRE (11): Milton-on-Sea, 1.11 (B. Elliott per Anon (1998b); EAST KENT (15): Kingsgate, 10.10 (Solly 1998); SOUTH ESSEX (18): Bradwell-on-Sea, 5.6 (Dewick 1998) (as 6.6 per BG); Thundersley, 24.9 (DGD); NORTH ESSEX (19): Jaywick, 25.9 (JY per BG); [NORTHAMPTONSHIRE (32): Sywell, 25.11, pupal case later found in a rose which had been purchased from a local supermarket (Dunkley 1998)]. Summary: (11): 1;5.(15): 1; (18):2; (19): 1: (G2): 1) Scar Bank Gem Ctenoplusia limbirena (Guenée) [I] WEST CORNWALL (1): St. Agnes, Isles of Scilly, 13.9 (Hicks & Hale 1998); DORSET (9): Portland Bird Observatory, 29.7 (Cade 1998); SOUTH HAMPSHIRE (11): Southsea, 10.6 (Langmaid 1998b); CHANNEL ISLANDS (113): St. Ouen’s Pond, 30.8 (R.V. Burrows per Anon (1998c)). The Ni Moth Trichoplusia ni (Hubner) [1] WEST SUSSEX (13): Walberton, 8.9 (JTR per CRP). Dewick’s Plusia Macdunnoughia confusa (Stephens) [I] SOUTH ESSEX (18): Bradwell-on-Sea, 1.10 - 1 at Buddleia blossom (S. Dewick per Dewick (1998)) (As AJD per BG); EAST SUFFOLK (25): Languard Bird Observatory, 7.8 (Odin 1998); CHANNEL ISLANDS (113): Le Gouffre, Guernsey, 19.10 (JB per Austin (1998a)). Scarce Silver Y Syngrapha interrogationis (Linnaeus) [I/V?] EAST KENT (15): Lydd, 21.7 (Clancy & Walker 1998) (1 male, KR per SPC); EAST NORFOLK (27): Eccles, 21.7 (NB per Hipperson (1997)); SHETLAND ISLANDS (112): Burrafirth, 14.7 (Penington 1998); Eswick, 14.7 (Penington 1998). Clifden Nonpareil Catocala fraxini (Linnaeus) [T] EAST KENT (15): Kingston, Canterbury, 19.9 (KE); Reculver, 3.10 - by day (M. Lawson per Anon (1998b)); SHETLAND ISLANDS (112): Eswick, 28.8 (T. Rogers per Waring (1997c)); Ocraquoy, 28.8 (Waring 1997c). Lunar Double-stripe Minucia lunaris ({Denis & Shiffermiller]) [I] EAST KENT (15): Littlestone, 4.6 - 1 male (KR per SPC, see also Hill (1997)). The Passenger Dysgonia algira (Linnaeus) [I] DORSET (9): West Bexington, 10.9 (R. & S. Eden per Waring (1997d)). Four-spotted Tyta luctuosa ({Denis & Schiffermiuller]) [I?] SOUTH ESSEX (18): Bradwell St Peters, 20.7 (GS per BG); NORTH ESSEX (19): Lamarsh, 1.7 (IG & BG per BG); Layer Marney, 6.7 (JF per BG); Witham, 11.6 (R. Gerussi per BG). Waved Black Parascotia fuliginaria (Linnaeus) [I?] EAST KENT (15): Lydd, 11.8 (BB per SPC, see also Clancy & Walker (1998)). IMMIGRANT LEPIDOPTERA IN 1997 67 Bloxworth Snout Hypena obsitalis (Hiibner) [I?/V?] WEST SUSSEX (13): Atherington, 16.11 - 1 to ivy blossom (MSP & JEC); OXFORDSHIRE (23): Henley, 27.8 (slight possibility that it was a descendant of an escapee from a captive population) (D. Wedd per Waring (1998)). Plumed Fan-foot Pechipogo plumigeralis (Hiibner) [I?/R?] EAST SUSSEX (14): Rye Harbour, 25.8 (Funnell 1998); EAST KENT (15): Dungeness, 9.8 - 1 male (TR). ANNEX 2: SELECTED RECORDS OF “COMMONER” SPECIES This annex gives a very brief summary of the abundance over the year as well as the earliest and latest date for the more frequent immigrant species which are not covered in Annex 1. Other significant records or observations for 1997 which have been received and were not covered in Annex 1, such as large numbers of an individual species, are also given. YPONOMEUTIDAE Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus) An average year, widely reported in southern England. DORSET (9): Portland Bird Observatory, a total of 932 recorded over the year (MC); EAST SUSSEX (14): Peacehaven; a total of 309 recorded over the year (CRP); Rye Harbour, a total of 877 recorded over the year (Funnell 1998). Earliest dates: WEST CORNWALL (1): St Agnes, Isles of Scilly, 15.3 (MEH); CHANNEL ISLANDS (113): Guernsey, 5.5 (Austin 1998a); DORSET (9): Portland Bird Observatory, 22.5 (Cade 1998); Latest dates: DORSET (9): Portland Bird Observatory, 19.12 (MC); ISLE OF WIGHT (10): Freshwater, 28.11 (SAKJ); WEST CORNWALL (1): St Agnes, Isles of Scilly, 26.11 (MEH); EAST SUSSEX (14): Peacehaven, 26.11 - 3 (CRP); CHANNEL ISLANDS (113): Guernsey, 26.11 (Austin 1998b). Other significant records: WEST CORNWALL (1): St. Agnes, Isles of Scilly, 10.8 - 100 (Hicks & Hale 1998); 20.9 - 59; 24.9 - 47; 24.10 - 49; 30.10 - 46 (MEH); DORSET (9): Portland Bird Observatory, 10.8 - 214 (Cade 1998); EAST SUSSEX (14): Peacehaven, 7.8 - 22; 9.8 - 28; 11.8 - 38 (CRP); Rye Harbour, 16.8 - 121 (Funnell 1998); EAST NORFOLK (27): Eccles-on-Sea, 23.8 - 67 (Bowman 1998); EAST SUFFOLK (25): Languard Bird Observatory, 12.8 - 1570 (Odin 1998); NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE (54): Gibraltar Point, 8.8 - 140 (Wilson, K. 1998); SOUTH-EAST YORKSHIRE (61): Spurn, 22.7 - 755 in two traps plus “hundreds of thousands along the peninsula” (Spence 1998); NORTH ABERDEENSHIRE (93): Oldmeldrum, 12.8 - 50 (MY per Waring (1997c)). PYRALIDAE Udea ferrugalis (Hiibner) An average year, widely reported in southern England. DORSET (9): Portland Bird Observatory, a total of 237 recorded over the year (MC); EAST SUSSEX (14): Peacehaven; a total of 20 recorded over the year (CRP); Rye Harbour, a total of 60 recorded over the year (Funnell 1998); SOUTH ESSEX (18): Bradwell-on-Sea; a total of 23 recorded over the year (Dewick 1998). Earliest dates: CHANNEL ISLANDS (113): Guernsey, 11.4 (Austin 1998a) (as 12.4 in Austin 1998b); DORSET (9): Portland Bird Observatory, 3.5 (Cade 1998). 68 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.111.2000 Latest dates: DORSET (9): Portland Bird Observatory, 21.12 (MC); WEST CORNWALL (1): St Agnes, Isles of Scilly, 20.12 (MEH); The Lizard, 1.12 (Tunmore 1998e) (given as Church Cove per MT); NORTH HAMPSHIRE (12): Selborne, 20.12 (AA); CHANNEL ISLANDS (113): Guernsey, 14.12 (Austin 1998b). Other significant records: WEST CORNWALL (1): Porthloo, St. Mary’s, Isles of Scilly, 22.10 - 17 (JPM); St. Agnes, Isles of Scilly, 24.10 - 29 (Hicks & Hale 1998); 15.8 - 17; 16.8 - 25; 20.8 - 25; 24.8 - 39; 29.10 - 29; 25.11 - 11 (MEH); DORSET (9): Portland Bird Observatory, 6.11 - 35 (Cade 1998). Nomophila noctuella ((Denis & Schiffermiiller]) A very poor year, relatively few records received and unrecorded in some areas. DORSET (9): Portland Bird Observatory, a total of 9 recorded over the year (Cade 1998); EAST SUSSEX (14): Peacehaven; a total of 1 recorded over the year (CRP); Rye Harbour, a total of 3 recorded over the year (Funnell 1998). Earliest dates: CHANNEL ISLANDS (113): Le Gouffre, Guernsey, 8.3 (JB per Austin (1998a)); WEST CORNWALL (1): St Agnes, Isles of Scilly, 12.3; 15.3 (MEH); WEST SUSSEX (13): Nymans Garden, Handcross, 20.3 (JHC); SOUTH DEVON (3): Abbotskerswell, 25.3 (BPH per RFM). Latest dates: WEST CORNWALL (1): St Agnes, Isles of Scilly, several records in 10, last on 22.10 (MEH); DORSET (9): Canford, 1.10 - 1 dead (JHC). PIERIDAE Small White Pieris rapae (Linnaeus) Possibly significant record only: WEST NORFOLK (28): Scolt Head, 26.8 - 5000 (Tunmore 1998b). NYMPHALIDAE Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta (Linnaeus) An average year, widely reported. Earliest dates: CHANNEL ISLANDS (113): Guernsey, 13.1(Austin 1998b); SOUTH HAMPSHIRE (11): Hayling Island, 16.1 (Taverner 1998c); Southbourne 24.1 (Taverner 1998c); Acres Down, 26.1 (Taverner 1998c); EAST KENT (15): Sandwich Bay, 15.2 (Game & Lycett 1998); BUCKINGHAMSHIRE (24): Gussett Wood, 6.3 (DB); PEMBROKESHIRE (45): Skomer Island, 11.3 (NL). Latest date: SOUTH HAMPSHIRE (11): Boldre 31.12 (Taverner 1998c); ISLE OF WIGHT (10): Binstead, 28.12 (Taverner 1998c); 29.11 - 4; 13.12; 21.12; 30.12 (Warne 1998) (see Warne (1998) for a summary of the records over the winter of 1997/98 on the Isle of Wight); Arreton, 16.12 - 1 “hibernating in a wood pile” (Taverner 1998c); EAST SUSSEX (14): Peacehaven, 29.11 (CRP); DORSET (9): Portland Bird Observatory, 27.11 (Cade 1998). Other significant records: WEST CORNWALL (1): The Lizard, 19.3 - 1 at light (Tunmore 1998e); DORSET (9): Portland Bird Observatory, 6.8 to 10.8 - 8 recorded at mv light, including 6 on 7.8; 23.9 to 5.10 - 8 recorded at mv light (Cade 1998); NORTH HAMPSHIRE (12): Selborne, 29.8 - 1 at mv light (AA); EAST KENT (15): Sandwich Bay, 9.8 - 19 (Game & Lycett 1998); SURREY (17): Lingfield, 6.9 - 12 (JHC); Wildhern, 7.9 - 35 (Taverner 1998c); SOUTH ESSEX (18): Bradwell-on-Sea; 16.5 - 16; 4.7 - 17; 20.7 - 20; 27.7 - 26; 8.9 - 12; 16.9 - 18; 17.10 - 10 (Dewick 1998); EAST SUFFOLK (25): Languard Bird Observatory, 6.9 - 96 moving south (Odin 1998); ANGLESEY (52): Llanfoes, 16.8 - 1 to mv light (JHC); SOUTH-EAST YORKSHIRE (61): Spurn Head, 8.6 - 23 (BRS); WESTMORLAND (69): South Walney N.R., 2.8 - 500 (Makin 1998); BANFFSHIRE (94): Ordiquhill, 29.8 - 60 (RL); SHETLAND ISLANDS (112): 28.8 - “hundreds in the islands” (Penington 1998). IMMIGRANT LEPIDOPTERA IN 1997 69 Painted Lady Vanessa cardui (Linnaeus) A poor year, few records received, but widely reported (at least in southern England). Earliest dates: SOUTH HAMPSHIRE (11): Purbrook, 24.1 - 1 fluttered to ground when an allotment shed was being dismantled (Bloss 1998); EAST SUSSEX (14): Peacehaven, 6.3 (CRP); DORSET (9): no locality given, 8.3 (Bowles 1997a). Latest dates: PEMBROKESHIRE (45): Skomer Island, 1.11 (NL); CHANNEL ISLANDS (113): Guernsey, 26.10 (Austin 1998b); WEST CORNWALL (1): Hayle, 23.10 (Wacher 1998). Other significant records: DORSET (9): Portland Bird Observatory, 7.8 - 1 recorded at mv light (Cade 1998); NORTH ESSEX (19): Dovercourt, 17.9 - 11 (CG per BG). Small Tortoiseshell Aglais urticae (Linnaeus) The influx of this butterfly is covered by Tunmore (1998b), some of the more significant records are given here: WEST NORFOLK (28): Scolt Head NNR, 16.8 - c.50; 21.8 - “2500 present .... and 1000s more arriving from the east”; 26.8 - 231,000 estimated have arrived off the sea during the course of the day; 31.8 - estimated 1000 per hour moving west .Tunmore 1998b); “several fisherman reported clouds of Small Tortoiseshell moving west up to 15 miles off the north Norfolk coast” - late 8 (Tunmore 1998b); EAST NORFOLK (27): Winterton NNR, 24.8 - 20,000 (Tunmore 1998b); NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE (54): Gibraltar Point, 2.9 - estimated 1000 moving north (Tunmore 1998b); SOUTH-EAST YORKSHIRE (61): Spurn Point, 21.8 - over 1000; 26.8 - estimated 5000 flew north; 2.9 - 3000 moving north (Tunmore 1998b); WESTMORLAND (69): South Walney NR, 20.7 - 1000, 2.8 - 500 (Makin 1998). Peacock Inachis io (Linnaeus) NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE (54): Gibraltar Point, 14.8 - 100+ per hour arriving off the sea (Wilson, K.1998). NOCTUIDAE Dark Sword-grass Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel) An below average year, widely reported. DORSET (9): Portland Bird Observatory, a total of 116 recorded over the year (MC); EAST SUSSEX (14): Peacehaven; a total of 15 recorded over the year (CRP); Rye Harbour, a total of 217 recorded over the year (Funnell 1998); SOUTH ESSEX (18): Bradwell-on-Sea; a total of 124 recorded over the year (Dewick 1998). Earliest dates: ISLE OF WIGHT (10): Binstead, 3.3 (BJW); Freshwater, 6.3 (SAKJ); SOUTH ESSEX (18): Bradwell-on-Sea; 5.3 (Dewick 1998); SOUTH DEVON (3): Abbotskerswell, 8.3; 11.3 (BPH); DORSET (9): Portland Bird Observatory, 8.3 (Cade 1998); EAST KENT (15): Densole, 8.3 (TR); PEMBROKESHIRE (45): Skomer Island, 8.3 (NL); CHANNEL ISLANDS (113): Guernsey, 8.3 (Austin 1998b); EAST SUSSEX (14): Rye Harbour, 10.3 (Funnell 1998); WEST CORNWALL (1): Church Cove, 13.3 (MT); St Agnes, Isles of Scilly, 12.3 (MEH); SOUTH HAMPSHIRE (11): Chandlers Ford, 13.3; 14.3 (Goater 1998); NORTH HAMPSHIRE (12): Selborne, 16.3 (AA). Latest dates: DORSET (9): Portland Bird Observatory, 21.12 (MC); NORTH HAMPSHIRE (12): Selborne, 10.12 (AA). Other significant record: Rye Harbour, 30.8 - 14 (Funnell 1998). Pearly Underwing Peridroma saucia (Hiibner) An average year, widely reported. DORSET (9): Portland Bird Observatory, a total of 59 recorded over the year (Cade 1998); EAST SUSSEX (14): Peacehaven; a total of 3 recorded over the year (CRP); Rye Harbour, a total of 36 recorded over the year (Funnell 1998); SOUTH ESSEX (18): Bradwell-on-Sea; a total of 14 recorded over the year (Dewick 1998). Earliest dates: WEST SUSSEX (13): Turners Hill, 1.3 - 1 dead (JHC); ISLE OF WIGHT (10): Freshwater, 9.3 (Knill-Jones 1998b); SOUTH DEVON (3): Abbotskerswell, 11.3 (BPH); WEST CORNWALL (1): The Lizard, 13.3 (Tunmore 1998e) (given as Church Cove per MT); CHANNEL ISLANDS (113): La Broderie, Guernsey, 15.3 (PC per Austin (1998b)). 70 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.11.2000 Latest dates: WEST SUSSEX (13): Walberton, 29.12 (JTR per CRP); WEST CORNWALL (1): St Agnes, Isles of Scilly, several late 11 records and 20.12 - 6 (MEH); The Lizard, 1.12 (Tunmore 1998e) (given as Church Cove per MT); SOUTH ESSEX (18): Bradwell-on-Sea; 28.11 (Dewick 1998); ISLE OF WIGHT (10): Binstead 14.11 (Goater 1998); Freshwater, 26.11 (SAKJ); DORSET (9): Portland Bird Observatory, 25.11 (Cade 1998); CHANNEL ISLANDS (113): La Broderie, Guernsey, 22.12 (PC per Austin (1998b)). Other significant records: WEST CORNWALL (1): Porthloo, St. Mary’s, Isles of Scilly, 22.10 - 9 (JPM); St Agnes, Isles of Scilly, 19.10 - 9; 22.10 - 11 (MEH); DORSET (9): Portland Bird Observatory, 7.9 - 10 (Cade 1998). Silver Y Autographa gamma (Linnaeus) A below average year, widely reported. DORSET (9): Portland Bird Observatory, a total of 1216 recorded over the year (MC); EAST SUSSEX (14): Peacehaven; a total of 433 recorded over the year (CRP); Rye Harbour, a total of 956 recorded over the year (Funnell 1998); SOUTH ESSEX (18): Bradwell-on-Sea; a total of 959 recorded over the year (Dewick 1998). Earliest dates: EAST KENT (15): Densole, 9.3 (TR); ISLE OF WIGHT (10): Freshwater, 11.3 (Knill-Jones 1998a); SOUTH LINCOLNSHIRE (53): Bourne, 13.3 (Mrs A. Faulkner per RJ); DORSET (9): Portland Bird Observatory, 14.3 (Cade 1998). Latest date: WEST SUSSEX (13): Walberton, 30.12 (JTR per CRP); WEST CORNWALL (1): St Agnes, Isles of Scilly, 26.11; 28.11 - 2 by day; 20.12 (MEH); The Lizard, 28.11 (Tunmore 1998e) (given as Church Cove per MT); DORSET (9): Portland Bird Observatory, 20.12 (MC); ISLE OF WIGHT (10): Freshwater, 28.11 (SAKJ); locality not given, 10.12 (Knill- Jones 1998c); SOUTH DEVON (3): Churston Court Farm (SX905564), 2.12 (DSF per RFM). Selected significant records only: WEST CORNWALL (1): St Agnes, Isles of Scilly, 21.9 - 68 (MEH); DORSET (9): Portland Bird Observatory, 7.8 - 173 (Cade 1998); EAST SUSSEX (14): Peacehaven, 8.8 - 37; 30.9 - 28 (CRP); Rye Harbour, 8.8 - 98 (Funnell 1998); SOUTH ESSEX (18): Bradwell-on-Sea; 11.7 - 54 (Dewick 1998); WEST NORFOLK (28): Scolt Head NNR, 16.8 - 300 (Tunmore 1998b); SOUTH-EAST YORKSHIRE (61): Spurn Head, 29.7 - 70; 7.8 - 60; 8.8 - 150 (all records by day) (BRS); Spurn Point, 21.8 - 60 (Tunmore 1998b). Initials of recorders The recorders initials are listed alphabetically so that records can be extracted with relative ease. AA A. Aston DJF D.J. Funnell JF J. Firmin AJD A.J. Dewick DJLA DJ.L. Agassiz JF J. Franks BB B. Banson DSF D.S. Fish JHC J.H. Clarke BFS B.F. Skinner DW D. Walker JJ J. Jaines BG B. Goodey GAC G.A. Collins JM J. Maddocks BJW B.J. Warne GDC G.D. Craine JM? J. Muggleton BKW _ B.K. West GEH G.E. Higgs JO J. Owen BPH B.P. Henwood GRE G.R. Else JPM J.P. Martin BRS B.R. Spence GS G. Smith JS J. Shaugnessy CG C. Gibson IDH I.D. Hunter JTR J.T. Radford CRP C.R. Pratt IG I. Grahame JY J. Young CWP C.W. Plant TH I. Hall KE K. Elks DB D. Brown JB J. Brehaut KJO K.J. Orpe DGD _D.G. Down JEC J.E. Chainey KR K. Redshaw IMMIGRANT LEPIDOPTERA IN 1997 71 LK L. Kneale PP P. Philpot RM R. Mays MC M. Cade Pr P. Troake RWA _ R.W. Arthur MRH M.R. Honey RA R. Austin RWP _ R.W. Parfitt MJS M.J.Simmons RB R. Bell SAKJ S.A. Knill-Jones MSP M.S. Parsons REP Mrs R.E. Pratt SP S. Patten MT M. Tunmore RFM R.F. McCormick SPC S.P. Clancy MY M. Young RG R. Gaunt SW Dr S. Wright NB N. Bowman RJ R. Johnson TB T. Bagworth NL N. Littlewood RJB R.J. Brooker TNDP T.N.D. Peet PB P. Bergdahl RJH R.J. Heckford TR T. Rouse PC P. Costen RL R. Leverton WA W. Angell Other contributors P. Ackery; T.G. Benyon; Ms M. Broomfield; R.W. Jones; M. Kerley; Dr. I. Kitching; R. Lane; J. McGill; Mrs L. Pitkin; T. Prichard; L. Rogers; E.G. & M.H. Smith; R.A. Softly; J.W. Ward; Mrs W. & K. Wheatley Acknowledgements We would like to thank all of the above mentioned recorders and contributors. It is possible that we have unwittingly failed to acknowledge some contributors, if this is the case we would like to take this opportunity to apologise for this oversight. References Anderson, C. & Wilson, R. 1998. Reports from coastal stations - 1997. Guernsey, Channel Islands. Atropos, No. 4: 59-60. Anon 1998a. Evergestis limbata in Dorset. Atropos, No. 5: 68-69. — , 1998b. Coastal round-up. Atropos, No. 4: 66-67. — , 1998c. Footnote. Atropos, No. 4: 23. Austin, R. 1998a. Reports from coastal stations - 1997. Guernsey, Channel Islands. Atropos, No. 4: 45-46. — , 1998b. Moths and butterflies of Guernsey 1997. La Société Guernesiaise. Barker, A. 1998. Systematic Butterfly list, 1997. Clouded Yellow Colias croceus. Butterfly Conservation. Hampshire & Isle of Wight butterfly & moth report 1997: 30. Barnett, R., Edmonson, R & Evans, M. 1997a. Migrants. Bristol & District Moth Group, Newsletter No. 31: [3]. — , 1997b. Migrants. Bristol & District Moth Group, Newsletter No. 27: [1]. Beaumont, H.E. 1998. Vitula edmansii (Packard, 1864) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) new to Britain. Entomologist’ s Gazette, 49: 233-235. Bloss, J. 1998. Systematic Butterfly list, 1997. Painted Lady Cynthia cardui. Butterfly Conservation. Hampshire & Isle of Wight butterfly & moth report 1997: 32. Bogue, R. 1998. Palpita unionalis Hb. (Lep.: Pyralidae) and other migrants from Devon. Entomologist’s Record & Journal of Variation, 110: 118. Bowles, N. 1997a. Wildlife reports. Butterflies. British Wildlife, 8: 323-324. — , 1997b. Wildlife reports. Butterflies. British Wildlife, 9: 52-53. —, 1997c. Wildlife reports. Butterflies. British Wildlife, 9: 116-118. — , 1998. Wildlife reports. Butterflies. British Wildlife, 9: 188-189. 72 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.iii.2000 Bowman, N. 1998. Reports from coastal stations - 1997. Eccles-on-Sea. Atropos, No. 4: 60-61. Bradley, J.D. 1998. Checklist of Lepidoptera Recorded from the British Isles. Fordingbridge, Bradley & Bradley. Cade, M.1998. Reports from coastal stations - 1997. Portland Bird Observatory, Dorset. Atropos, No. 4: 48-50. Clancy, S. & Walker, D. 1998. Reports from coastal stations - 1997. Dungeness area, Kent. Atropos, No. 4: 52-53. Cook, R.R. 1998. 1997 Annual exhibition. Imperial College, London SW7 - 25 October 1997. British microlepidoptera. British Journal of Entomology and Natural History, 11: 90. Dawson, J. 1998. 1997 Annual exhibition. Imperial College, London SW7 - 25 October 1997. British microlepidoptera. British Journal of Entomology and Natural History, 11: 90. Dewick, S. 1998. Reports from coastal stations - 1997. Curry Farm, Bradwell-on-Sea, Essex. Atropos, No. 4: 55-58. — , 1999 Additional notable records from Curry Farm, Bradwell-on-Sea, Essex. Atropos, No. 6: 32. Dunkley, J. 1998. Golden Twin-spot Chrysodeixis chalcites pupa in cut flowers. Atropos, No. 4: 36. Emmet, A.M. 1998. 1997 Annual exhibition. Imperial College, London SW7 - 25 October 1997. British microlepidoptera. British Journal of Entomology and Natural History, 11: 90-91. Funnell, D. 1998. Reports from coastal stations - 1997. Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, East Sussex. Atropos, No. 4: 51-52. Game, M. & Lycett, I. 1998. Reports from coastal stations - 1997. Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory, Kent. Atropos, No. 4: 53-54. Goater, B. 1998. Moth report, 1997. Butterfly Conservation. Hampshire & Isle of Wight butterfly & moth report 1997: 45-61. Goodey, B. 1998. Second British record of Duponchelia fovealis. Atropos, No. 5: 70. Gould, S. 1998. Reports from coastal stations - 1997. Orkney. Atropos, No. 4: 65. Hale, J. & Hicks, M. 1998. Reports from coastal stations - 1997. St. Agnes, Isles of Scilly. Atropos, No. 4: 46-47. Henwood, B. 1998. 1997 Annual exhibition. Imperial College, London SW7 - 25 October 1997. British microlepidoptera. British Journal of Entomology and Natural History, 11: 91. Heppenstall, R. 1998. 1997 Annual exhibition. Imperial College, London SW7 - 25 October 1997. British microlepidoptera. British Journal of Entomology and Natural History, 11: 91. Hicks, M. & Hale, J. 1998. Notable rarities on St. Agnes, Isles of Scilly. Atropos, No. 4: 21-23. Hill, P.M. 1997. Insects reported in the early part of 1997. Atropos, No. 3: 53-55. — , 1998. Migrant butterflies in 1997. Atropos, No. 4: 67-68. Hipperson, D. 1997. Immigrant moths in Norfolk 1997. Norfolk Moth Survey Newsletter, No. 52: 9-10. — , 1998. Additions to the list of immigrant moths for Norfolk in 1997. Norfolk Moth Survey Newsletter, No. 53: 6. Iley, M. 1997. Camberwell Beauty in Suffolk. Bulletin of the Amateur Entomologists’ Society. 56: 141. Jones, R.W. 1998. Monarch butterfly Danaus plexippus L. (Lep.: Danaidae) in Gwynedd. Entomologist’ s Record & Journal of Variation, 108: 81. Knill-Jones, S.A. 1998a. Early butterflies and moths in the Isle of Wight during 1997. Entomologist’ s Record & Journal of Variation, 110: 135-138. — , 1998b. Notable moths recorded in the Isle of Wight during 1996 and 1997. Proceedings of the Isle of Wight Natural History & Archaeological Society, 14: 53-58. —, 1998c. Reports from coastal stations - 1997. Isle of Wight. Atropos, No. 4: 50-51. — , 1998d. 1997 Annual exhibition. Imperial College, London SW7 - 25 October 1997. British macrolepidoptera. British Journal of Entomology and Natural History, 11: 86-87. Langmaid, J.R. 1998a. 1997 Annual exhibition. Imperial College, London SW7 - 25 October 1997. British macrolepidoptera. British Journal of Entomology and Natural History, 11: 87. — , 1998b. Ctenoplusia limbirena (Guenée) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Hampshire. Entomologist’ s Gazette, 49: 90. IMMIGRANT LEPIDOPTERA IN 1997 73 Makin, W. 1998. Reports from coastal stations - 1997. South Walney Nature Reserve, Cumbria. Atropos, No. 4: 65-66. McCormick, R. 1998. 1997 Annual exhibition. Imperial College, London SW7 - 25 October 1997. British microlepidoptera. British Journal of Entomology and Natural History, 11: 93. Morgan, I.K. & Lucas, S. 1997. Carmarthenshire butterflies and moths 1996/97. Dyfed Invertebrate Group. Newsletter, No. 34: 9-19. Odin, N. 1998. Reports from coastal stations - 1997. Languard Bird Observatory, Suffolk. Atropos, No. 4: 58-59. Parsons, M.S. & Clancy, S.P. 1999. Vitula biviella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), a newly recognised British species. Entomologist’ s Gazette, 50: 77-82. Patterson, A. 2000. On hawk-moth patrol. Atropos, No. 9: 53-54. Penington, M. 1998. Reports from coastal stations - 1997. Shetland. Atropos, No. 4: 62-63. Rogers, T. 1998. Capture of Black Collar Ochropleura flammatra (D. & S.) in Shetland. Atropos, No. 4: 28-29. Rouse, T. 1998. 1997 Annual exhibition. Imperial College, London SW7 - 25 October 1997. British microlepidoptera. British Journal of Entomology and Natural History, 11: 93. Solly, F. 1998. Reports from coastal stations - 1997. Isle of Thanet, Kent. Atropos, No. 4: 54-55. Spence, B. 1998. Reports from coastal stations - 1997. Spurn Bird Observatory, East Yorkshire. Atropos, No. 4: 62-63. Taverner, J. 1998a. Systematic Butterfly list, 1997. Camberwell Beauty Nymphalis antiopa. Butterfly Conservation. Hampshire & Isle of Wight butterfly & moth report 1997: 30. — , 1998b. Systematic Butterfly list, 1997. Queen of Spain Fritillary Argynnis lathonia. Butterfly Conservation. Hampshire & Isle of Wight butterfly & moth report 1997: 38. — , 1998c. Systematic Butterfly list, 1997. Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta. Butterfly Conservation. Hampshire & Isle of Wight butterfly & moth report 1997: 33-34. Tunmore, M. 1997. Overwintering Humming-bird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum. Atropos, No. 3: 52-53. — , 1998a. Portland moth Actebia praecox (Linn.) - a resident reinforced by immigration? Atropos, No. 5: 31-33. — , 1998b. The 1997 Small Tortoiseshell Aglais urticae (Linn.) influx. Atropos, No. 4: 6-10. —, 1998c. Large-scale occurrence of Palpita unionalis on The Lizard, Cornwall. Atropos, No. 4: 38-39. — , 1998d. Pale-lemon Sallow Xanthia ocellaris - unusual records. Atropos, No. 4: 39-40. — , 1998e. Reports from coastal stations - 1997. The Lizard Peninsula, Cornwall. Atropos, No. 4: 47-46. Wacher, J. 1998. Successful overwintering of Painted Lady Cynthia cardui in the UK. Atropos, No. 5: 19-20. Waring, P. 1997a. Wildlife reports. Moths. British Wildlife, 8: 324-326. — , 1997b. Wildlife reports. Moths. British Wildlife, 8: 392-393. —, 1997c. Wildlife reports. Moths. British Wildlife, 8: 54-55. — , 1997d. Wildlife reports. Moths. British Wildlife, 8: 118-119. — , 1998. Wildlife reports. Moths. British Wildlife, 9: 189-191. Warne, B. 1998. Overwintering Red Admirals Vanessa atalanta (Linn.) on the Isle of Wight, 1997-1998. Atropos, No. 5: 17-19 White, M.J. 1998. The Monarch Danaus plexippus L. (Lep.: Nymphalidae) in Glamorgan. Entomologist’s Record & Journal of Variation, 110: 140. Williams, K.F. 1998. A rare immigrant for the Midlands. Bulletin of the Amateur Entomologist’ s Society, 57: 58. Wilson, K. 1998. Reports from coastal stations - 1997.Gibraltar Point NNR, Lincolnshire. Atropos, No. 4: 61-62. Wilson, R. 1998. The Queen of Spain Fritillary Argynnis lathonia (Linn.) - A new British breeding species? Atropos, No. 5: 3-7. 74 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.i11.2000 A large second brood of Heath Fritillary Mellitaea athalia (Rott.) (Lep.: Nymphalidae) in Essex The Heath Fritillary is probably one of the easiest butterflies to re-introduce to woodlands where it once occurred, provided that the food plant remains available, and that the coppicing regime is both suitable and carried out correctly. These butterflies were re-introduced to Hockley Wood, South Essex, a few years ago and during 1999 I was delighted to discover a large second brood of adults. After many years studying butterflies, this is the first time I have ever seen such large numbers of a second brood; whether this is a consequence of global warming or due to some local phenomenon remains to be seen. Several mating pairs were seen, though no egg-laying has so far been observed. The eggs generally take about two weeks to hatch and the small larvae then feed for several weeks before over-wintering in communal tents spun of silk amongst curled-up leaves. The fact that most of the food plant had dried up or else was in poor condition on 22 September, when butterflies were still appearing, may well limit the survival of the larvae that arise from this second generation of adults and it will be most interesting to see what effect, if any, this unusually large second brood in 1999 has on the first brood in 2000.— Don Down, “Aegeria’”, 16 Woodend Close, Thundersley, Benfleet, Essex SS7 3YA. New Vice-county records of Lepidoptera for the Isle of Wight during 1999 On 15 October 1999, Terry Rogers, on holiday here from the Shetland Islands, captured the first example of the noctuid Dryobota labecula (Esper) for mainland Britain at Freshwater; I was fortunate enough to take a second on 22 October in my garden, also at Freshwater. This species has evidently spread northwards in mainland Europe in the past few years and its arrival in Britain was perhaps predictable, having been added to the list for the Channel Islands in 1991 and now clearly resident there (see Burrow, 1996. Ent. Rec. 108: 136-137). On 8 January, a micro-moth emerged from a box containing various pupae and this was later identified by Dr John Langmaid as Niditinea fuscella (L.) — another new Isle of Wight record. On 14 June, Dr David Biggs found a pupa in a galled twig of Salix cinerea at Shide Chalk Pit. This transpired to be Cydia servillana (Dup.) and is also new to the Island list. Later, on 7 July, Dr Biggs found an adult Elachista at Luccombe, which was subsequently identified as Elachista luticomella (Zell.) by Dr Langmaid and is yet another new record for the Isle of Wight. Finally, on 14 November, I recorded an example of Blastobasis decolorella (Woll.) at Freshwater, and took another two weeks later on 26 November - another new Vice-county record.— S. A. KNILL-JONES, Roundstone, 2 School Green Road, Freshwater, Isle of Wight PO40 9AL. HEMARIS TITYUS IN BRECKLAND AS REDISCOVERY OF THE NARROW-BORDERED BEE HAWK-MOTH (HEMARIS TITYUS) (L.) (LEP.: SPHINGIDAE) IN BRECKLAND ANDREW J. MUSGROVE & MICHAEL ARMITAGE British Trust for Ornithology, The Nunnery, Thetford IP24 2PU. ON 21 MAY 1999, at around 13.00 hours, AJM and MA were birding/insecting in an area of the Brecks. The first Marbled Clover Heliothis viriplaca (Hufn.) of the year had been recorded, as well as several Mother Shipton Callistege mi (Clerck). Whilst returning to the car, an odd-looking bee flew past which on further observation soon resolved itself as being a bee hawk-moth (Hemaris sp.). The moth was frequenting an extensive patch (approximately 30 x 20 metres at its widest) of ground ivy Glechoma hederacea in dappled shade on the edge of some open woodland (an area which appeared to have been recently cleared). It was soon joined by at least one more bee hawk-moth. It was immediately assumed that these were Broad-bordered Bee Hawk-moths H.. fuciformis (L.), a species which occurs widely (although not commonly), in the Brecks. We netted one of the moths and took it back to The Nunnery to photograph. However, upon checking the few moth books we had in the BTO library, it soon became apparent that the moth we had netted looked far more like a Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk-moth H. tityus. The relatively narrow dark borders to the wings (particularly the hindwing), were apparent, but this obviously seemed to be a feature which was subject to wear and thus not completely reliable on a single individual. However, of far more interest was a feature mentioned in Pittaway (1993) which was that H. fuciformis has a forewing discal cell that is longitudinally dissected by a fold whereas H. tityus has an undivided forewing discal cell. This separating feature is clearly visible in the plates of that book, as well as in Skinner (1984), Brooks (1991) and the painted plates in Chinery (1991). The moth we had in front of us had an undivided discal cell and was therefore clearly H. tityus.. It seemed likely that this feature should be 100% reliable. In addition, the dark band on the abdomen appeared more diffuse than on plates of H. fuciformis. After cooling the moth in the fridge, AJM took a series of photographs in the office. AJM returned to the site at around 16.00 hours that afternoon and saw two more bee hawk-moths around the same patch of ground ivy, although neither could be netted. The sun soon went in and the hawk-moths disappeared. Further sightings were made at the site the following week, with one at noon on 24 May, at least three (and probably five) on 25 May and one in a spider’s web (and released!) on 26 May. Photographs in the field were taken by Richard Bashford. All of the bee hawk-moths caught and released showed the same distinguishing features of H. tityus, i.e. the undivided discal cell in the forewing, narrow dark borders to the wings and a diffuse abdominal band. We also notified the Norfolk and Suffolk Moth Groups. Tony Prichard of the SMG immediately phoned back and confirmed that this was an extremely rare insect in eastern England. He did (quite sensibly) express the view that it was more likely 76 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.111.2000 to be H. fuciformis, given the relative abundance of each species in the Brecks, and asked us to keep the specimen. Despite our certainty that the moth was H. tityus, inspection by several members of the Suffolk Moth Group proved inconclusive. AJM spoke soon after to Paul Waring who expressed great interest and asked for larval searches to be carried out on devil’s-bit scabious Succisa pratensis at the site. Since the scabious was not in flower, and we had fairly modest botanical abilities, this proved difficult and many fruitless hours were spent searching through the vegetation. The searches were initially unsuccessful, partly due to uncertainty about which was the correct plant and also probably due to searching a little too early. However, Tony Prichard visited the site on 19 June and after much searching found a single small larva of H. tityus, about 500 metres away from where the adult moths had been seen. Following this success, AJM, MA and Richard Bashford went to the same area at lunchtime on 21 June and located two small larvae of H. tityus on devil’s-bit scabious, which were retained to rear in captivity. MA, PW and TP also spent over two hours searching on 25 June and located just one H. tityus larva. Photographic records and habitat details were taken by PW. One of the retained larvae didn’t survive for long, but the other did well and devoured large amounts of devil’s-bit scabious that were provided, before pupating on 14 July 1999. The site will be monitored again during spring 2000 to try to establish the local abundance and range of the species. Although we would like other observers to be able to come and enjoy watching the moths, we feel it is prudent for the moment at least that the location of the site is not published, given the apparently exceedingly rare nature of this species in the east and the greater risk of over-collecting for a day- flying moth which congregates at discreet nectaring sites. We would urge any readers who do become aware of the site to keep it quiet for the time being, until the population can be properly assessed. However, it seems possible that the species may well be present at a low level in other parts of the Brecks and we would urge other observers to try to get a good look at any other bee hawk-moths in the region. In particular, the value of the discal cell feature seems not to have been emphasised enough in the literature and, if the moth is netted, is relatively easy to observe. It should therefore be straightforward to identify the moth with confidence. References Brooks, M., 1991. A Complete Guide to British Moths. Jonathan Cape, London. Chinery, M., 1991. Collins Guide to the Insects of Britain and Western Europe. Collins, London. Pittaway, A. R., 1993. The Hawkmoths of the Western Palaearctic. Harley Books, Colchester. Skinner, B., 1984. Colour Identification Guide to Moths of the British Isles. Viking, London. Reminder: The Orange Upperwing Jodia croceago (D. & S.) survey The Orange Upperwing survey — autumn 1999/spring 2000 was detailed in Ent. Rec. 111: 244-247. Please remember to forward any data referring to searches for this species (including any negative results), to Adrian Spalding at Tremayne Farm Cottage, Tremayne, Praze-an-Beeble, Cambourne, Cornwall TR14 9PH. PEPPERED MOTHS T7 A CENTURY AND A HALF OF PEPPERED MOTHS L. M. Cook The Manchester Museum, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL. IN PARTS OF Britain, the frequency of melanic forms of the Peppered Moth Biston betularia (L.) experienced a spectacular increase during the 19th century when melanic frequencies in other moths also increased. However, the species have responded in different ways to recent environmental changes, with the melanic form carbonaria Jordan of B. betularia undergoing a striking decline over the last two decades. Contributions to the entomological literature played a major part in demonstrating the patterns of change in both periods. During the nineteenth century observations by various collectors were published independently (e.g. Stephenson, 1858; Edelston, 1864; Cooke, 1877; Chappell, 1886). Tutt (1891) noted the association of melanics with more humid regions and the possible advantage conferred by camouflage in the presence of visual predation. Bateson (1900) requested current and historical information from collectors in order that the pattern of change could be pieced together. The results were published by Barrett (1901) and by Doncaster (1906). These reveal increasing frequencies of melanics in towns and cities of the north of England from the middle to the end of the 19th century, by which time populations comprised over 90 per cent carbonaria. South of this industrial heartland, melanic forms increased in frequency at a later date, although they never rose in the rural West and Southwest. Steward (1977) mapped the dates of first records, which seem to show a migration into the more polluted regions south of the Severn-Wash line in the late 19th and early 20th century. The pattern of change was largely achieved by then. Although the evidence showed some clear trends it was incomplete and patchy. There were very few quantitative records of early changes, partly because little attention was then paid to numbers. H.B.D. Kettlewell provided a quantitative picture by coordinating national surveys in the 1950s to the 1970s (Kettlewell, 1958, 1965, 1973). Kettlewell (1973) listed 175 recorders who contributed to his Appendix C, and these surveys revealed an essentially unchanging pattern. Over the last two decades industrial environments have become cleaner and melanic frequency has declined. An invaluable record of the change was made by Sir Cyril and Lady Clarke at a site in north-west England (Clarke et al., 1990, 1994; Grant et al., 1996). This consists of yearly estimates of melanic frequencies based on large samples examined from 1959 to the present. Less complete series have been obtained for other parts of the country (Mani and Majerus, 1993; West, 1994; Grant et al., 1998; Cook et al., 1999). The increase and decrease in carbonaria frequency in the Manchester area over one and a half centuries is shown in Figure 1. Declines have also been observed in the Netherlands (Brakefield, 1990) and in the United States (in B. b. cognataria, Grant et al., 1998). The recorded changes clearly demonstrate the selective process in action (Grant, 1999). Where figures from 25 years ago can be compared with those from the last few years, a striking pattern emerges. Cook (in press) analyses these changes in more detail. Figure 2 gives a 78 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.111.2000 general indication of the trend. The points would lie along the diagonal line if there had been no change. The line through them has a slope of 0.257, indicating that on average frequencies are now only a quarter of what they were. Where carbonaria was already rare it has declined little, but where it was at high frequency the change has been as rapid and extreme as any that occurred during the nineteenth century. Industrial melanism in the Peppered Moth is coming to an end. The Peppered Moth story is a celebrated example of a change in gene frequency under selection, that is, of the raw material of evolution. Two points cannot be stressed enough. First, our knowledge of the changes has, and will continue, to depend significantly on the work of those who record local occurrences. All information obtained is worth publishing, as individual records which apparently contribute nothing may illustrate patterns when combined with others. Second, the precise reasons for changes are not fully understood. The story has been recently discussed by Majerus (1998), who points out the gaps in our knowledge. Selective predation by birds is probably the most important cause of change, but just how selection relates to the moths’ resting background (Mikkola, 1984; Howlett and Majerus, 1987) needs further investigation, as do factors unrelated to appearance, such as differential pre-adult survival (Creed et al., 1980) which may also influence gene frequency. In trying to unravel the causative agents we are hampered by the fact that even the ecology of the species is incompletely known. Models which predict the patterns reasonably well assume low population densities and high migration rates (Cook and Mani, 1980; Mani, 1990). More observations relating to numbers and movement would be of great value. In this context, it is worth reporting some data on trapping carbonaria frequency Nn (=) 1850 1900 1950 2000 Date Figure 1. The apparent change in frequency of the carbonaria form of the peppered moth in the Manchester area. Data taken from a variety of sources summarised in Kettlewell (1973), Bishop et al. (1978) and Cook et al. (1999). The first three points are based on impressions by contemporary writers, the rest on samples of varying sizes. PEPPERED MOTHS 719 success by students with no special interest in Lepidoptera. In a survey run by Dr M.E. Varley for the Open University, students were provided with mercury vapour light traps, asked to run them over one or two periods of five nights each and to record the numbers and types of Peppered Moths caught. These records were then returned with information on locality. From 1983 to 1987 one specimen of each of the forms collected was supplied for verification (Cook, Mani and Varley, 1986). The survey provided a random sample from a broad range of sites in the United Kingdom. Overall catch rate was quite low, never exceeding 0.4 moths per night. The maximum number collected in a 5-night period was 40 and the most common non-zero value was 1 (Table 1). There was significant heterogeneity between years (P<0.001), with particularly low densities in 1984 and 1987. As a rule females fly only if they fail to mate where they emerge. About 4 per cent of the voucher specimens were female, suggesting that such failure is quite common, which would be consistent with low average densities. Table 1. Trapping success in Open University survey. Peppered moths caught in five-night periods of m.v. trapping at sights picked at random in the UK. Total five-night trapping periods 984 1043 276 526 1033 Total moths caught 1292 521 475 1016 385 Mean catch per night 0.26 0.09 0.34 0.39 0.07 Per cent femaie in voucher sample 4.1 4.1 5.1 2.4 4.3 Students were also asked to state whether their collecting area was urban or rural. This classification is highly subjective since one person’s town may look rural to another, but it does provide some indication of the nature of a site. In 1983 there were 502 rural and 482 urban sites. Of the sites with 6 or more insects, 45 (9.0 per cent) were rural and 13 (2.7 per cent) were urban. This difference is significant (P<0.001) suggesting that good catches are more likely to be made in the country than in town. Experienced observers such as the Clarkes may obtain hundreds of moths in a season (e.g. see Clarke et al., 1990a, 1990b, 1994). Their daily records can now be consulted through the Manchester Museum. Over 35 years, their catch was more than 17,000 insects, less than 0.5 per cent of which were females (C. A. Clarke, personal communication). Traps are run for longer periods, however, sometimes with the added attraction of assembling females, and high densities probably indicate fortunate trapping locations. The general picture is of low densities, fluctuating from year to year with lower averages in urban areas and occasional localities of high abundance. 80 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.11.2000 Almost all the work referred to above has benefited in some way from data provided by lepidopterists. This includes the early development of the pattern, the period of stability examined by Kettlewell and much of the evidence for decline. The evidence that different genotypes may have different survival rates (Creed et al., 1980) comes from analysing published breeding results dating back as far as Greening (1863), before the birth of Mendelian genetics. Owen (1996) referred to the declining frequency and requested data on catches. The response allowed the change over the last 25 years in many parts of the country to be recorded (Grant et al., 1998) and provides the majority of the points in Figure 2. The address for further data is given by Owen (1997). As the rise and fall of the melanic forms in the 100 a) fom —) Oo 2 5 50 = —) o v NM 0 0 50 100 First record Figure 2. Frequency of carbonaria in Biston betularia about 25 years ago compared with recent frequencies for a range of British localities. Data from Mani and Majerus (1993), West (1994), Grant et al. (1998) and Cook et al. 1999). peppered moth comes to its conclusion, records continue to be invaluable, either sent to a coordinator or published separately. Equally important are data from other species with melanic forms, which may or may not show parallel changes in frequency. The Scalloped Hazel Odontoptera bidentata Clerck and the Pale Brindled PEPPERED MOTHS 81 Beauty Phigalia pilosaria ({D.& S.]) are of particular interest, because records exist of distribution of melanics at earlier periods. In both P. pilosaria (Lees, 1981) and O. bidentata (Cook and Jacobs, 1983 and personal observation) the response to changing conditions has been less marked than in the peppered moth. For all the species involved we still know too little about larval and adult ecology, adult resting positions, dispersal patterns and population density. Some years ago Majerus (1990) pleaded for data to be published. As he says in his book on melanism (Majerus, 1998), “There is, perhaps, no other field in which the amateur lepidopterist can contribute more usefully to scientific research with so little effort beyond that which they normally devote to their hobby”’. Acknowledgements I am grateful to R. L. H Dennis for helpful comments. References Barrett, C. G., 1901. The Lepidoptera of the British Isles. Vol. VII. Reeve, London. Bateson, W., 1900. Collective enquiry as to progressive melanism in moths. Memorandum from the Evolution Committee of the Royal Society. Entomologist’s Rec. J. Var. 12: 140. Bishop, J. A., Cook, L. M. and Muggleton, J., 1978. The response of two species of moths to industrialization in northwest England. I. Polymorphism for melanism. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London B 281: 489-515. Brakefield, P.M., 1990. A decline of melanism in the peppered moth Biston betularia in The Netherlands. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 39: 327-334 Chappell, J., 1886. Varieties of Amphidasys betularia. Entomologist 19: 253-254. Clarke, C.A., Clarke, F. M. M. and Dawkins, H. C., 1990a. Biston betularia (the peppered moth) in West Kirby, Wirral, 1959-1989: updating the decline in f. carbonaria. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 39: 323-326. Clarke, C.A., Clarke, F. M. M., Dawkins, H. C. and Kahtan, S., 1990b. The role of moonlight in the size of catches of Biston betularia in West Kirby, Wirral, 1959-1988. Bulletin of the Amateur Entomologists’ Society 49: 19-29. Clarke, C.A., Grant, B, Clarke, F. M. M. and Asami, T., 1994. A long term assessment of Biston betularia (L.) in one UK locality (Caldy Common near West Kirby, Wirral), 1959-1993, and glimpses elsewhere. Linnean 10(2): 18-26. Cook, L. M., Jn press. Changing views on melanic moths. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society Cook, L. M. and Jacobs, Th. M. G. M., 1983. Frequency and selection in the industrial melanic moth Odontoptera bidentata. Heredity 51: 487-494. Cook, L. M. and Mani, G. S., 1980. A migration-selection model for the morph frequency variation in the peppered moth over England and Wales. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 13: 179-198. Cook, L. M., Dennis, R. L. H. and Mani, G. S., 1999. Melanic morph frequency in the peppered moth in the Manchester area. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, Series B 266: 293- 297 Cook, L. M., Mani, G. S. and Varley, M. E., 1986. Post-industrial melanism in the peppered moth. Science 231: 611-613. Cooke, N., 1877. On melanism in Lepidoptera. Entomologist 10: 92-96, 151-153. Creed, E. R., Lees, D. R. and Bulmer, M. G., 1980. Pre-adult viability difference of melanic Biston betularia (L.)(Lepidoptera). Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 13: 251-262. 82 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.111.2000 Doncaster, L., 1906. Collective enquiry as to progressive melanism in Lepidoptera. Entomologist’ s Rec. J. Var. 18: 206-208. Edelston, R. S., 1864. Amphydasis betularia. Entomologist 2: 150. Grant, B. S., 1999. Fine tuning the peppered moth paradigm. Evolution 53: 980-984. Grant, B.S., Owen, D. F. and Clarke, C.A., 1996. Parallel rise and fall of melanic peppered moths in America and Britain. Journal of Heredity 87: 351-357. Grant, B.S., Cook, A.D., Clarke, C.A. and Owen, D. F., 1998. Geographic and temporal variation in the incidence of melanism in peppered moth populations in America and Britain. Journal of Heredity 89: 465-471. Greening, N., 1863. Variety breeding. Proceedings of the Northern Entomological Society. 1863, 13-15. Howlett, R.J. and Majerus, M. E. N., 1987. The understanding of industrial melanism in the peppered moth (Biston betularia)(Lepidoptera: Geometridae). Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 30: 31-44. Kettlewell, H. B. D., 1958. A survey of the frequencies of Biston betularia L. (Lep.) and its melanic forms in Britain. Heredity 12: 51-72. —, 1965. A 12-year survey of the frequencies of Biston betularia L. and its melanic forms in Great Britain. Entomologist’s Rec. J. Var. 77: 195-218. — , 1973. The evolution of melanism. Oxford: Clarendon. Lees, D. R. 1981. Industrial melanism: genetic adaptation of animals to air pollution. /n Bishop, J. A. and Cook, L. M. (ed..) Genetic consequence of man made change. London: Academic Press. Majerus, M. E. N. 1990. The importance of form frequency data to ecological genetics. Bulletin of the Amateur Entomologists’ Society 49: 123-131. — , 1998. Melanism. Evolution in action. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Mani, G. S., 1990. Theoretical models of melanism in Biston betularia - a review. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 39: 355-371. Mani, G. S. and Majerus, M. E. N., 1993. Peppered moth revisited: analysis of recent decreases in melanic frequency and predictions for the future. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 48: 157-165. Mikkola, K., 1984. On the selective force acting in the industrial melanism of Biston and Oligia moths (Lepidoptera: Geometridae and Noctuidae). Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 21: 409-421. Owen, D. F., 1996 The rise and fall of melanic Peppered Moths Biston betularia L. (Lep.: Geometridae). Entomologist’s Rec. J. Var. 108: 23. Owen, J., 1997 Melanism in Biston betularia L. (Lep.: Geometridae). Entomologist’s Rec. J. Var. 109: 150. Stephenson, H., 1858. Varieties of A. Betularia. Entomologist’ s Weekly. Intelligencer 4: 75 Steward, R. C., 1977. Industrial and non-industrial melanism in the peppered moth Biston betularia. Ecological Entomology 2: 231-243. Tutt, J. W., 1891. Melanism and melanochroism in British Lepidoptera. Entomologist’s Rec. J. Var. 1: 5-7, 49-56, 84-90, 121-125, 169-172, 228-234, 293-300, 317-325. West, B. K., 1994. The continued decline of melanism in Biston betularia L. (Lep.: Geometridae) in NW Kent. Entomologist’s Rec. J. Var. 106: 229-232. NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS 83 Apeira syringaria (L.) (Lep.: Geometridae): a second generation specimen at Dartford, Kent in 1999 On 31 August 1999, a somewhat smaller than normal male specimen of A. syringaria, in perfect condition, was recorded at my garden m.v. light. Although obtaining second generation specimens in captivity is relatively easy, it is evident that wild examples are rare. Chalmers-Hunt (Butterflies and Moths of Kent, 1975, Supplement in Ent. Rec. 88) gives no examples, but Collins (Larger Moths of Surrey, 1997) quotes two records for the period 1976 to 1996, one of which refers also to the London area. Although the reporting the “out of season” records has always been a feature of entomological journals, it has become a more prominent feature since the widespread use of m.v lights, and static ones in particular. Despite the use of such lights for some fifty years, reference to suspected second generation A. syringaria seems to have been confined to the last eleven years. Those records which I have been able to track down are as follows: 27.vill.1989 Wiltshire, P. Waring (Ent. Rec. 102) 5.x.1989 Wiltshire, P. Waring (Ent. Rec. 102) 29.viii.1989 Addington, Surrey, B. Skinner (Collins, op. cit.) 21.ix.1989 Long Wittingham, Oxfordshire, D. Owen (Ent. Rec. 102) 4.1x.1992 Milford, Surrey, D. Baldock (Collins, op. cit.) 26.ix.1994 | Rothampsted, Hertfordshire, A. Riley (Ent. Rec. 110) 1.x.1995 Binstead, Isle of Wight, S. Knill-Jones (Ent. Rec. 108) 31.viu.1999 Dartford, Kent, B.K. West Such sporadic “out of season” specimens are worth recording. During the 1970s, three supposedly second generation specimens of the univoltine Campaea margaritiata (L.) attended my garden m.v. light; they were portents of change — in the 1990s, the light has attracted over seven hundred!— B.K. WEST, 36 Briar Road, Dartford, Kent DAS 2HN. The Yellow-legged Clearwing Synanthedon vespiformis (L.) (Lep.: Sesiidae) in Greenwich Park As there appears to be only a record “prior to 1900” of Synanthedon vespiformis for the Greenwich area (Plant, 1993. Larger Moths of the London Area. LNHS), it is worth reporting that on 24 August 1980 I observed an example flying about the base of a rather old, but sound, sweet chestnut Castanea sativa in the “Wilderness” in Greenwich Park, south-east London. Most likely, this moth occurs widely in the locality where, besides rather few oaks Quercus spp., sweet chestnuts (some of very great age), are the principal tree. Doubtless, however, it generally prefers stumps in which to breed; these are scarcely to be found in the park, for the chestnuts are very wind-resistant and virtually never get blown down, or felled. Clearly this moth is by 84 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.111.2000 far the most polyphagous of our clearwings, though oak is normally the preferred pabulum. At Blackheath, also in the Greenwich district, I found it breeding in woody cankers on the trunk of a wych elm Ulmus glabra in 1972 (Allen, 1975. Ent. Rec. 87: 47 - 49).— A. A. ALLEN, 49 Montcalm Road, Charlton, London SE7 8QG. Lasius brunneus (Latr.) (Hym.: Formicidae) in Hertfordshire and its occurrence on Norway Spruce Picea abies The ant Lasius brunneus, known in Britain since 1923, was first recorded in Hertfordshire in 1971. By the end of 1999, a gathering stream of records, most of them originating from a few observers and often not the result of systematic searching, had brought the Hertfordshire total to nearly twenty discrete localities. Most reports have been from the expected semi-natural woodland, parkland or hedgerow sites, but also included records of domestic infestations at Berkhamsted and in the house of the present writer’s parents at Garston, near Watford. L. brunneus is known to utilise a wide variety of deciduous trees for nesting, at least eleven different genera being quoted in Donisthorpe (British Ants, 1927). In 1996, trails were discovered on the trunk of a mature Picea abies in Whippendell Wood, near Watford, and later in the same year I located further trails on a similar specimen at Bricket Wood. Both localities are ancient woodland sites graded as SSSI status, and in both cases apparently suitable mature deciduous timber was present nearby. On 5 May 1999, at the Bricket Wood site, workers were present on all the mature P. abies trees that I examined, either on trails on the trunk or beaten from foliage. It is likely, although not certain, that nesting was taking place in at least one tree. There seem to be few records of L. brunneus utilising coniferous trees, despite the presence of both ant and spruce in the Scandinavian countries, where such an affiliation might be expected to occur: Collingwood (Fauna Entomologica Scandinavica. vol 8, 1979) reflects other sources in stating “old trees, chiefly oak”. In view of the growth in records of L. brunneus recently, both in Hertfordshire and elsewhere in southern England, those interested in the species should not confine their attentions solely to deciduous trees, and mature Picea in suitable habitat should be searched for its presence.— C. M. EVERETT, Wolfson College, Cambridge CB3 9BB. Steve Church The entomological community was saddened to receive the news of the sudden death of Steve Church from a heart attack on 11 January 2000, at the age of only 51. Steve’s endless optimism and positivity served as an inspiration to all who came into contact with him. Although he contributed little to this journal (he always said that writing was something he planned to do in retirement), he made an outstanding contribution to entomology through his field work. Almost never going to known sites to collect rare species, he made constant searches for such moths at new sites and was constantly seeking moths presumed to be extinct by visiting their former sites and similar habitats nearby. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him and our sympathies go to Lucy and other members of his close family. Colin W. Plant HAIR TUFT GENETICS OF VAPOURER LARVAE 85 GENETICS OF DORSAL HAIR-TUFTS ON THE CATERPILLAR OF ORGYIA ANTIQUA (L.) (LEP.: LYMANTRIIDAE) J.B. JOBE AND A. CHAN Rossett School, Green Lane, Harrogate HG2 9JP. THE CATERPILLAR of the vapourer moth Orgyia antiqua has four distinct tufts of hairs on its body. These are located dorsally on segments IV to VII. The coloration of these tufts is usually yellow (Porter, 1997), but has been found to vary, showing shades of yellow, white, ochre and brown. One of us (JBJ) found a normal (yellow) caterpillar of O. antiqua in his garden. This was fed up on garden Bergenia (the pabulum on which it was found) and, after pupation and subsequent emergence, the resulting wingless female was left outdoors for 24 hours in the hope that a wandering male would find it and impregnate it. This was successful, and an egg batch was obtained from her. Some of the resulting caterpillars were kept for rearing purposes and the rest were released back into the garden. At this stage it was planned to mate the siblings to see if any recessive varieties of the moth would ensue. After the first couple of instars, however, it was apparent that there were varieties aplenty in the larvae themselves; this variation being in the coloration of the hair tufts for which this species is noted. It was decided to record the colours of the four main tufts which are placed dorsally on segments IV to VII and then to mate some of these varieties in order to disentangle the underlying genetics. It was apparent that the colours of the two tufts on segments IV and V segregate separately from the other two tufts. These pairs are shown as S and R diagrammatically on figure 1. S R IIT EET CCE CC (ee Figure 1. Hair tuft groups R and S of the caterpillar of Orgyia antiqua (L.). In normal individuals, all four tufts are bright yellow, but we found four main colour types in this sample - yellow, ochre, brown and white. Ochre varied in shading from near-white to near- brown and yellow occurred in various shades also. As a first approximation, these shades were scored as near as possible to the four colours mentioned above. The four main colours segregated as follows : 86 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25 .iii.2000 Colour of Colour of Number with hair tuft hair tuft this combination group R group S (total = 77) OK Y O B Ww Ww B O B Y W B COCSEK KK Sw Figure 2. Colour patterns in hair group tufts of larvae of Orgyia antiqua (L.). Y = yellow, O = ochre, B = brown, W = white. The larva of the female parent had both tuft groups yellow; the larva of the male parent is unknown. Thus, of the seventy-seven individuals in this analysis, 42 were unicoloured (tuft groups R and S the same colour) and thirty-five were bicoloured (tuft groups R and S of different colours). In addition, there were two teratological specimens - one with five tufts and one in which the tufts on segments V and VII were reduced in size and laterally displaced. Successful matings were obtained from selected combinations when imagines subsequently emerged and the resulting egg batches were kept over the following winter. Most of these hatched, but disease struck early on. It became obvious that all of the stock would be lost and so the survivors were reluctantly released in the hope (vain, so far) of finding more descendants at a future date. Those adults which did emerge showed no obvious morphological variation. Discussion The results obtained appear to be an example of multifactorial inheritance with possibly as few as two loci, though probably more, being involved in the production of hair tuft colour. Using standard biometrical analysis, we have attempted to force the data to fit the patterns obtained, but the assumptions made have relied too heavily on highly improbable combinations of genotypes for both parents to be given much credence. The final analysis must wait until more stocks can be obtained to generate more detailed data. It may well be that what we observed involves the break-up of a supergene in a local population which controls the colours of all the hair tufts on the caterpillars. References Porter, J. 1997. The Colour Identification Guide to Caterpillars of the British Isles. Viking. INSECTS NEW TO IRELAND 87 LIPOSTHENUS LATREILLEI (KIEFFER) (HYM.: CYNIPIDAE) AND TORYMUS CINGULATUS NEES (HYM.: TORYMIDAE): INSECTS NEW TO IRELAND J. P. O° CONNOR National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2, Ireland. ON 4 JUNE 1999, the author visited the Burren, Co. Clare, to search for gall insects and mites. This is one of the most interesting areas in Ireland for the botanist. The Burren is an enigma for at first glance, there appears to be nothing but a barren expanse of limestone. However, it harbours wonderful plants. There is a juxtaposing of species which frequent lands within the Arctic Circle and others that are of southern extraction (Webb and Scannell, 1983; Nelson, 1991). These include mountain avens Dryas octopetela and dense-flowered orchids Neotinea maculata. Despite this richness, little work has been done on the plant galls. One of the best places to enjoy the Burren flora is the 10 kilometre coastal strip meandering from Black Head to Poulsallagh (Cabot, 1999). The author concentrated his efforts in this area where he had already discovered other rare Irish insects (e.g. O'Connor and O’Connor, 1982). Along the roadside near Black Head (Irish grid reference M1410), the galls of the cynipid Liposthenus latreillei (Kieffer) were discovered on ground ivy Glechoma hederacea L. This species is new to Ireland. The abundant galls were in varying stages of development ranging in size from 4 mm to 18 mm. The plants were growing on both sides of the base of a stone wall and were mixed in amongst brambles Rubus fruticosus L. The discovery of L. latreillei was surprising, for the author had searched for this species in various other parts of Ireland with no success, despite examining thousands of plants. The distinctive galls were identified using Eady and Quinlan (1963) and Dauphin and Aniotsbehere (1993). Subsequent dissection of one of the larger galls revealed a cynipid pupa and a selection of the more mature galls were placed in plastic bags in an attempt to rear the causers, although the adults are known to fly in March and April. According to Darlington (1975), L. latreillei is a widespread species which is common locally in Britain. On 21 July, a chalcid emerged from the largest gall. Using Graham and Gijswijt (1998), it was identified as a male torymid belonging to the species Torymus cingulatus Nees, an insect new to Ireland. This is a known parasitoid of L. latreillei and the only torymid known to attack that species. T. cingulatus has only been previously recorded from Austria, Czech Republic, Great Britain, Italy and the Netherlands. In Askew’s (1961) key to the Chalcidoidea associated with oak galls in Britain, T. cingulatus is included as a parasitoid of the galls of Cynips divisa Hartig, C. longiventris Hartig, Biorhiza pallida (Olivier), Andricus anthracina (Curtis), A. curvator Hartig and A. kollari (Hartig) (Hym.: Cynipidae). However this is a misidentification of the relevant torymid which is not referable to the true T. cingulatus. Instead, the correct taxon is Torymus geranii (Walker) (Graham & Gijswijt, 1998). Voucher specimens have been deposited in the National Museum of Ireland. 88 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.111.2000 Acknowledgements The author is grateful to John, Ann and Kevin O’Connor for their assistance. References Askew, R. R., 1961. On the biology of the inhabitants of oak galls of Cynipidae (Hymenoptera) in Britain. Trans. Soc. Brit. Ent. 14: 237-268. Cabot, D., 1999. Ireland. A natural History. The New Naturalist, 84. London. Darlington, A., 1975. The pocket encyclopaedia of plant galls in colour. Second edition. London. Dauphin, P. & Aniotsbehere, J. C., 1993. Les galles de France. Mémoires de la Société Linnéenne de Bordeaux. 2. Eady, R. D. and Quinlan, J., 1963. Hymenoptera. Cynipoidea. Key to families and subfamilies and Cynipinae (including galls). Handbk. Ident. Br. Insects 8(1a): 1-81. Graham, M. W. R. de V. and Gijswijt, M. J., 1998. Revision of the European species of Torymus Dalman (s. lat.) (Hymenoptera: Torymidae). Zool. Verh. Leiden 317: 3-202. Nelson, E. C., 1991. The Burren. A companion to the wildflowers of an Irish limestone wilderness. Aberystwyth and Kilkenny O’Connor, J. P. and O’Connor, M. A., 1982. Tinodes unicolor (Pictet) and Metalype fragilis (Pictet) (Trichoptera: Psychomyiidae) discovered in the Burren, Co. Clare. Entomologist’s Gaz. 33: 192-194. Webb, D. A. and Scannell, M. J. P., 1983. Flora of Connemara and the Burren. Cambridge. The proboscis: the ‘Achilles heel” of hawk-moths in southern Africa In the early months of 1950, whilst employed in Bulawayo, southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), each evening I passed some large yellow tubular-flowered ornamental shrubs. Several large species of hawk-moth spent the short twilight hovering at the flowers to imbibe nectar; they included Agrius convolvuli (L.), Daphnis nerii (L.) and Hippotion celerio (L.) — well-known as immigrants to Britain. Commonly, when near a bush, a persistent fluttering noise, which did not abate upon approach, was found to emanate from a hawk-moth which had been entrapped by its proboscis, courtesy of a large praying mantis (Dictyoptera: Mantodea). This occurred almost every evening and in the morning a scattering of tell-tale wings beneath the bush bore witness to the success of the mantids (although bats may also have taken advantage of the situation?). I have looked for evidence of this phenomenon elsewhere, but without success. Nor did I encounter it at Nassau, Bahamas, where a frequent evening pastime was to make the round of accessible Frangipani and other flowering shrubs where feeding hawk-moths would be silhouetted against the night sky immediately after dusk. In 1992, I revisited Louis Trichardt, northern Transvaal, but although the flowering shrubs in the hotel gardens attracted hawk-moths each evening they remained unmolested. Under somewhat different circumstances in a garden near Kpalimé, Republic of Tongo, the previous year, were several large specimens of what were possibly the same species of shrub that I had found in Zimbabwe, or at least a close relative. These were attended by the large black-and-yellow butterfly Papilio menestheus Drury, which imbibed at the flowers with rapidly vibrating wings, NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS 89 seemingly with impunity; hindwing tails were invariably intact, even with slightly worn specimens. This rather bizarre mode of predation may or may not be common or widespread, but at the Bulawayo site it was a common and successful behavioural routine, made particularly interesting in view of the large size of the moths, the successful grasping of so tenuous a feature and the subsequent drawing in of the prey. I have not seen reference to this mode of behaviour before, although Kirkpatrick (1957. Insect life in the tropics) refers to a large hawk-moth being held and lifted by a leg more than twelve inches several times before being overpowered by a preying mantis.— B.K. WEST, 36 Briar Road, Dartford, Kent DA5 2HN. Death-watch beetles Xestobium rufovillosum (Degeer) (Col.: Anobiidae) in the wild Like A. A. Allen (1999, Ent.Rec. 111: 222) I was surprised by Dr W. M. Blaney’s (1998, Antenna 22: 190-200) comments on the status of wild populations of death- watch beetle. The species is, in fact, pretty generally widespread through the lowlands of England, wherever there are large old open-grown oaks. I am aware of records from parkland and field oaks from as far north as Yorkshire, e.g., from Beningbrough Park (grid reference SE 516586) in 1999. This ignorance of the ecology and distribution of wild populations appears to be widespread amongst pest entomologists. A recent paper by S. R. Belmain, W. M. Blaney and M. S. J. Simmonds (1998, Ent. Exp. Appl. 89: 193-199) states that “The natural death-watch beetle habitat is hypothesised to be limited to dead and dying trees”. This misconception that death-watch beetle needs unhealthy or dead trees has been drawn to the authors attention, but I received no response. The key habitat requirement of death-watch beetle is for accessible heartwood — the dead woody tissues which form the core of the trunk of any Jive tree of any size — and the beetle is perfectly capable of running through its life cycle in a living healthy tree, provided that there is access to the disfunctional, ie. dead, heartwood within. I am aware of literally hundreds of living, healthy, ancient oak trees with exit-holes in exposed areas of heartwood. Hickin (1981, The Woodworm Problem. Rentokil Library) is much more accurate when he states that “Its outdoor habitats consist of dead wood in trees or dead branches of several hardwood species where fungal decay occurs”.— K. N. A. ALEXANDER, The National Trust, 33 Sheep Street, Cirencester, Gloucestershire GL7 1RQ. Hazards of butterfly collecting — the non-turbulent priest — Ghana 1994 We left on KLM as usual, on a trip to Ghana via Amsterdam; KLM gave us good service and cheap prices; their Ghana office had also waived restrictions and penalties on changing dates of return flights. My wife was also on the flight, but this was in the good old days of smoking on board, so I was down in smoking, and she was up in non-smoking. I settled down with a Guardian, just off the press. Soon the seat next to me was occupied by one of those tropicalized Catholic priests who have seen it all, with a safari jacket above the clerical garb. He was 90 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.111.2000 obviously also going on to Accra, like so many others on the first KL flight out of Heathrow. We bade each other good morning, and I got on with the Guardian. Less than an hour later we taxiing to the Schipol terminal, and that was when I realized that my travel companion was not all that tropicalized; he nudged me: “The big airplane there, with the bulge in front, is that what they call a jumbo-jet? Do you think we shall fly in one?”. I told him that, yes, it was indeed a jumbo-jet, but that, no, we would be proceeding on a MD-11. We exchanged greeting in the airport and on check-in and then did what one does on long rides in aeroplanes, including leaving the smoking sin-zone to talk to Nancy, having a chat with our priest on the way back from each visit. On arrival in Accra, it was clear that the priest was NOT in his element, so we roped him in: “Do you have a passport?”. A UK passport was produced. “Do you have a visa — let me have a look?”. He did have a valid Ghana visa, though it must be said that there are few places in Africa which are more lenient on such issues than Ghana. “Do you think they will want to see it?”. We thought they probably would. He was to be met by representatives of the Ghana Catholic Archbishopric. We still suggested he change some money — tomorrow was Sunday and the luggage line was so long that there was plenty of time (changing money before getting the luggage is a highly recommended practice). He came back a few minutes later: “They wouldn’t take my money”. We inspected his money — they were Scottish bank notes (his monastery was in Scotland). You would be lucky to have them accepted back home in Brixton! We exchanged them for UK notes (no discount demanded) and he got a fistful of cedis. He thought the baggage carrousel a most amazing thing, but the luggage eventually arrived. We took him through customs; the thought that someone might want to look at his luggage really fazed him. We assured him that his clerical garb would stand him in good stead and that we normally did not allow customs officers to look at ours. We were gradually learning a bit more about our new friend. He was a monk in a contemplative order in Scotland. During the past 30 years, he had left his isolated monastery only for occasional dental work. Now he was sent to Ghana since one of their fellow monasteries was a monk short (apparently eight monks was the absolute minimum for the functioning of a monastery). We exited to face the chaos that is common to airports in all developing countries. More than 40 relatives and friends are there to greet every passenger, together vast numbers of taxi-touts, hotel-touts, money-touts, and just touts. A few hand-signals established contact with our own people, so we thought we had better just check on the Archbishop’s crowd. No sign of them. But our poor monk was being drowned a crowd of touts. We went to the rescue. Pretty soon we were at the home of our local host, a British military officer giving technical assistance to the Ghana Army. A nice cup of tea was soon prepared, the Archbishopric was contacted, and our monk began to relax. He was very, very grateful: “Your husband is an angel”, he kept telling Nancy, who had the grace to nod and only raise her eyebrows slightly. After a second cup of tea, our people dropped off the monk; there had been a mistake in reading the KLM time-table. BOOK REVIEWS 91 Three weeks later, butterfly collecting in the Boabeng-Fiema Nature Sanctuary took us to the small town near which the monastery was. We went to visit. The monastery was beautiful, with well-manicured lawns and gardens. No costs had been spared. It could have been converted into a country club during a week-end (with a extra week for the golf course). I was reminded of the old quip: “You have no idea how much it costs the Congress Party to keep Gandhijee in poverty!”. We were well received by the Father Superior. The good Brother was located. We had a long chat, the upshot of which was: “You know, Ghana is very different from Scotland!”’. We were invited for dinner, which turned out to be accompanied by the readings about the good work of devout Catholics. As two people who have devoted our lives to the promotion of family planning and the use of condoms to combat AIDS, we were somewhat taken aback at sitting through a dinner to the background of the praise anti-abortionists: “And a further tribute to Hank O’Grady who picketed an abortion clinic in Memphis, Tennessee for 32 consecutive days’, and so on. We left just before vespers on good terms. If I ever need a bed in the area, I shall be most welcome. Father Superior was grateful for our help, the good Brother even more so. And they now had all the essential eight Brothers in place. I hate to think what would have happened had he gone missing! The monastery might have survived on emergency measures; the good Brother might not!— TORBEN B. LARSEN, 5 Wilson Compound, 2811 Park Avenue, Pasay City, Metro-Manila, The Philippines. BOOK REVIEWS Grasshoppers and crickets of Surrey by David W. Baldock. 112 pp., 31 distribution maps, 14 pages of colour plates, 2 pages of monochrome plates. 156 x 218 mm, hardbound, ISBN 0 9526065 4 2. Surrey Wildlife Trust, 1999. Available at £12 plus £2 postage and packaging from the publishers at School Lane, Pirbright, Woking, Surrey GU24 OJN. E-mail surreywt@cix.co.uk The Orthoptera now join Butterflies, Larger moths, Dragonflies and Hoverflies in this well- thought-out and highly commendable series of books on the fauna of Surrey, though the title is a little misleading since the work also includes native cockroaches (three species) and earwigs (four species). Almost everything that needs to be said about the series has, probably, already been said in earlier reviews (Ent. Rec. 108: 97 (butterflies), 108: 329 (dragonflies), 110: 147 (larger moths) and 111: 150 (hoverflies) and there is little point in repeating the praise here. Surrey is fortunate in possessing 30 out of the possible 35 British species of Orthopteroid insects within its boundaries and David Baldock has spent some thirty years studying these in the county before combining his knowledge with that of others (who are all acknowledged) into this splendid book. The work is comprehensive. It opens with notes on the structure and life-history of the Orthoptera (technically this should read Orthopteroidea, but it matters little and the difference becomes clear on the next page where the higher taxonomic relationship between the components of the group are indicated). It includes drawings of a “typical” grasshopper, cricket and cockroach, carefully labelling the body parts that are later referred to in the text. The present status of each species is then summarised in a single statement, such as 92 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.111.2000 ‘“‘Widespread and abundant” or “Very local in the extreme east”, against both English and scientific names, so forming a county check-list. Notes on migrant species (there are genuine Surrey records for immigrant Schistocerca gregaria (Forshal) and Locusta migratoria (L.)) and on alien species (there are thirteen) follow. The fossil record, a history of Orthoptera recording in Surrey and identification are also covered and there is a fascinating chapter concerned with locating and identifying grasshoppers and crickets through the use of electronic bat-detectors. The colour plates illustrate all the Surrey species and coverage is evidently sufficient to justify the distribution patterns obtained. There is much talk these days about Biodiversity, Local Records Centres and a host of issues that relate to these topics. Whilst the rest are still talking about it, Surrey is quietly getting on with it, and is now on its fifth book which combines the raw data on biodiversity, provided by naturalists, with the conservation responsibilities of the county wildlife trust. All involved are to be most warmly commended. That it is hard to fault any aspect of the work should come as no surprise. The experience of the author is supported by a now established system within the Surrey Wildlife Trust and these have clearly combined most effectively to eliminate errors. I happen to know that David Baldock is already working on the distribution of the aculeate Hymenoptera in Surrey and I truly hope that it will not be too long before this information joins that on Orthoptera in print. Colin W. Plant Provisional atlas of the longhorn beetles (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae) of Britain by P. F. G. Twinn and P. T. Harding. 96 pp., 63 distribution maps (60 covering individual species). AS, paperback, ISBN 1 870393 43 O (incorrectly cited as 1 870393 40 0 inside front cover). Biological Records Centre, 1999. £5 inclusive of postage from Institute of Terrestrial Ecology, Monks Wood, Abbots Ripton, Huntingdon PE17 2LS. E-mail K.Threlfall@ite.ac.uk This book is, it would seem, the first ever attempt to document in the literature the status and distribution of Britain’s longhorn beetles — something I find rather surprising in view of the attractive nature and often comparatively large size of the insects. A map of overall coverage suggests that the group is popular, though the records thin out in Scotland and there are none from the Outer Hebrides or Shetland. Ireland is excluded from the work. Interestingly, the map showing number of species recorded per ten-kilometre square is almost a double of the map of recording effort; surely this suggests that almost all areas, and many species, are under- recorded. Nevertheless, there are some interesting patterns — by way of example, Judolia cerambyciformis (Schrank) is shown to be decidedly western and Phytoecia cylindrica (L.) markedly south-eastern. Records are mapped for prior to 1970 and for 1970 to 1998. Under each map is a list of references under the headings of Threat status, Illustration, Description/key, Distribution and Biology and habitat; the references are listed in full at the rear of the book along with a list of record sources and the species index. At the front, an introductory section summarises knowledge, presents a synonymic checklist and discusses apparently extinct species and doubtfully native species before introducing the distribution maps. The work is presumably based to some extent at least on the data submitted by amateur entomologists to the national recording scheme and although I feel sure that the authors probably did more fieldwork themselves than the rest put together it is a shame that these contributors are not listed. This is a welcome addition to the series of provisional distribution atlases being produced from the Biological Records Centre and, at only £5 inclusive of postage, is sure to find a home on the bookshelves of most of Britain’s many entomologists. Colin W. Plant LACEWINGS IN LIGHT TRAPS REQUEST FOR SPECIMENS DURING 2000 There can be few people who operate moth traps who do not encounter green lacewings at some stage. Although there are several species in Britain, one, Chrysoperla carnea, stands out as being the most numerous — a bit like the Heart and Dart of the lacewing world. Unfortunately, this super-abundant species has recently been split into three — and all of these have now been found in Britain. This has, effectively, invalidated all the existing records and we have, at present, no real idea of the distribution of each of the three species. The three species can not be separated without recourse to the microscope and the boiling tube, unfortunately! During 2000, I plan to accumulate as much green lacewing material as possible for examination during the following winter. I therefore invite readers of this journal to collect and send to me all of the green lacewings from their moth traps during the year 2000. Specimens are likely to be encountered from March to October. I really do want all the material — I actually do want to receive several thousands of specimens and be confronted with a huge storage problem. Material from Ireland and Scotland is especially welcomed — Ireland is particularly under- recorded for all lacewing species. Specimens can be sent in one of three ways — in alcohol (preferred), dry in paper triangles, or pinned and set. Please note that I will not return specimens unless specifically requested to do so and then only if return postage is enclosed. I will, however, provide each contributor with a list of names in due course, at no cost, provided that the sample is labelled with a locality name, a 10km grid reference and a date (or date band). If sending material in alcohol or paper triangles, you can put all the catch together if you wish, since, unlike moths, there are no scales to rub off, and the bits that break off in the post are not needed for identification. Ideally each night’s catch should be put in one tube/envelope, but weekly samples (or even monthly if you are really pushed for time) are better than nothing. Please put all of the lacewings in the tube/packet as the relative frequencies are also being examined. Don’t forget to write the place, grid reference and date with the material. I am also interested in any brown lacewings, but these are an “optional extra” to the main project. You can send them to me at regular intervals or in one go at the end of the season. Please send to me at: British Isles Lacewing Recording Scheme 14 West Road Bishops Stortford Hertfordshire CM23 3QP Anglian Lepidopterist Supplies GOOD QUALITY AT LOW PRICES FULL RANGE OF ENTOMOLOGICAL SUPPLIES MV and actinic Moth traps. MV, Blended and Black bulbs in stock. Dissection equipment, Chemicals, Microscopes, Generators, Entomological cabinets, collecting tubes etc. For full details send a SAE to: PO BOX 232, NORTHWICH DELIVERY OFFICE, CW8 3FG. or phone 01263 862068 Proprietors: A Wander & J Clifton. AFRAID TO WRITE? Have you discovered something that might be of interest to other entomologists, but are a little unsure if it is really worth printing? Or perhaps you think it is worth putting into print and are just not sure how to go about it? If so, then this journal would like to hear from you. Almost all discoveries are of some interest — no matter how small. Very often an isolated observation can become more important when put with others. In addition to the peer-reviewed papers, this journal also accepts shorter notes on the basis of their content, and has no interest whether the author is a professor of entomology or a road sweeper, nor in whether he or she can write perfect English. You do not have to have a computer to contribute — although we certainly do prefer contributions on disk or by e-mail. This should in no way put you off if all you have is an ancient typewriter. We even accept contributions that are hand-written if there is really no alternative. We will rewrite the note, if necessary, to conform to the house style. At present moment you will rarely have to wait for more than two months to see your name in print. If notes are not suitable for this journal, we can advise you of an alternative and forward them for you. The main thrust of this journal is British moths (macro and micro) and butterflies, but we also carry material on beetles and other groups. European information of interest to British readers is also considered. The Editor is always pleased to discuss potential contributions with first time authors and others and welcomes telephone calls on 01279 507697 (daytime or evenings up to about 10 pm). The editorial address is printed inside the front cover of this issue. ‘Bug Club is for young people or the “young at heart” who find insects r creepy crawlies interesting and even fascinating. section of the Amateur Entomologists’ Society we are devoted to ertebrates to the younger generation who, afterall, will be the entomo morrow! ‘We look for help us in a number of ways, for example: by joining the Bug Club yourself, getting someone else to join the Bug Club, promoting the Bug Club to your local school/Scout or Guide Group etc, running a Bug Club event or writing an article for our exciting newsletter. If you can do anything to help then please write to us: AES Bug Club, PO Box 8774, London, SW7 5ZG. ISO 9001 SUPPORTER REGISTERED FIRM VA Aa J CONNOR National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2, Ireland. AS PART OF A study of the Irish cynipid fauna, the author has been collecting the stems of knapweed Centaurea in various parts of Ireland. Several species have been found living in the plant in Britain (Eady & Quinlan, 1963) but none of these have yet been discovered in Ireland. On 8.1v.1999, stems were obtained on the sand dunes at Woodstown strand, Co. Waterford (Irish grid reference S6905). After the winter storms, only a few were found in this very exposed locality and they were not identified to species. The material was placed in clear plastic bags and stored, hanging up, in an outdoor covered passage. This method has been very successful for rearing cynipids (e.g. O’Connor et al., 1993; O’Connor & Bond, 1996). On 18.v.1999, a cynipoid emerged but on close examination, it turned out to be a male eucoilid rather than a cynipid. The specimen was identified as Diglyphosema conjungens Kieffer using Quinlan (1978). This species is known from several localities in England and also from Dublin in Ireland. No further information is given by Quinlan (op. cit.) concerning the Irish record. D. conjungens is known to be a parasitoid of several species of Melanagromyza (Agromyzidae) whose larvae are internal stem-borers. On 25.v.1999, a small black fly emerged in the same bag as D. conjungens. The specimen was determined as a female Melanagromyza dettmeri Hering using Spencer (1972). M. dettmeri is new to Ireland. The genus Melanagromyza is poorly known on the island. Although sixteen species have been recorded in Britain, only M. aeneoventris (Fallén) has been previously reported from Ireland (Spencer, 1972; Chandler, 1998). This record is based on a single female collected by A.H. Haliday and preserved in the National Museum of Ireland. It was identified by Griffiths (1968). Unfortunately like most of the Haliday Collection (O’Connor & Nash, 1982), the only data on the specimen consists of a green label stating “Ireland” and a white label with “Haliday 20.2.’82”. The latter is the Museum’s registration number. Haliday lived from 1806-1870 but it is probable that the specimen was collected before 1850. M. dettmeri is widespread and common in Britain. The larvae are internal stem- borers, pupating in the stem. The host plants are yarrow Achillea millefolium L., mugwort Artemisia vulgaris L., common knapweed Centaurea nigra L., greater knapweed C. scabiosa L., hawkweed Hieracium umbellatum L. and common ragwort Senecio jacobaea L. D. conjungens is known to parasitize M. dettmeri (Quinlan, op. cit.). Since the latter’s host plants are widely distributed in Ireland (Scannell & Synnott, 1987), both species are probably common Irish insects. The specimens have been presented to the National Museum of Ireland. 106 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.v.2000 References Chandler, P. J. 1998. Checklists of insects of the British Isles (New Series) Part I: Diptera (incorporating a List of Irish Diptera). Handbk Ident. Br. Insects 12: xx + 234 pp. Eady, R. D. & Quinlan, J. 1963. Hymenoptera. Cynipoidea. Key to families and subfamilies and Cynipinae (including galls). Handbk Ident. Br. Insects 8(1a): 1-81 Griffiths, G.C.D. 1968. Agromyzidae (Diptera) from Ireland. Proc. R. Ir. Acad. 67B: 37-61. O’Connor, J. P. & Bond, K. G. M. 1996. Diastrophus rubi (Bouché) (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae), a gall wasp new to Ireland. Jr. Nat. J. 25: 190. O’Connor, J.P. & Nash, R. 1982. Notes on the entomological collection of Haliday (1806-1870) in the National Museum of Ireland, with a recommendation for type designations. Proc. R. Ir. Acad. 82B: 169-175, plates I-IV. O’Connor, J. P., O'Connor, M. A., Wistow, S. & Ashe, P. 1993. Notes on the distribution of Andricus kollari (Hartig) (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae) in Ireland. Bull. Ir. biogeog. Soc. 16: 57- 61. Scannell, M. J .P. & Synnott, D. M. 1987. Census catalogue of the flora of Ireland. 2nd edition. Stationery Office, Dublin. Spencer, K. A. 1972. Diptera. Family Agromyzidae. Handbk Ident. Br. Insects 10(5g): 1-136. Is the Large Ear Amphipoea lucens (Freyer) (Lep.: Noctuidae) resident in south-east England? On 9 August 1986, Mr A. Pearson boxed a noctuid he found resting on a light aboard the Hook of Holland to Harwich ferry, which had just docked at the Essex port, following an overnight crossing. Upon dissection I found this to be A. lucens, and at the time thought it may have been an example originating from stock resident along the coast of Holland, which had then hitched a lift on the ship. The species was hesitantly added to the Essex list as a Vagrant/Introduction. Then, on 31 August 1997, Mr I. C. Rose at Mistley (14 kilometres to the west of Harwich) took an Amphipoea specimen, which he thought might be A. fucosa Freyer, but which proved to be a second A. Jucens. I would urge recorders in East Anglia and south-east England to dissect any examples of Amphipoea adults which are found away from known A. fucosa and A. oculea L. colonies to help clarify its status in the area BRIAN GOODEY, 298 Ipswich Road, Colchester, Essex CO4 4ET. Cypress Carpet Thera cupressata Geyer (Lep.: Geometridae) new to Devon A single specimen of Thera cupressata was taken in the garden of Devon Moth Group member P. Franghiadi at Dawlish on 23 November 1999; the identity of the voucher specimen being verified by myself. This species was first discovered in Britain in the Swanage area of Dorset and it has since spread eastwards into Hampshire. The moth was in good condition and, in providing the first record of the species for Devon, its presence suggests that a westwards range expansion has also taken place.— Roy McCormick, 36 Paradise Road, Teignmouth, Devon TQ14 8NR. DRINKING IN HOVERFLIES 107 HOVERFLIES (DIP.: SYRPHIDAE) WITH A DRINKING HABIT MARTIN C. D. SPEIGHT Research Branch, National Parks & Wildlife, 7 Ely Place, Dublin 2, Ireland. E-mail: speightm@indigo.ie Introduction HAVING REPEATEDLY observed hoverflies drinking, I have attempted to put these observations together in this note, in the hope it may stimulate interest in this apparently neglected topic. Citation of individual observations has largely been avoided. Instead, an overview is provided of the circumstances in which drinking has been observed, with discussion of their potential implications. The note ends with a summary list of the 87 European species I have observed drinking. Circumstances under which drinking occurs Most of my observations have been made in forest habitats in southern Europe and should be considered in that context. It is a moot point whether they would relate equally to other habitat conditions or parts of the world. Three factors may be identified which have a strong influence upon whether or no syrphids may be found drinking: weather conditions, type of location and time of day. Weather conditions In general, drinking by syrphids becomes noticeable when shade temperatures exceed 25°C, humidity is relatively low (I am not able to provide precise values), available sources of water are few and it is sunny. As the temperature mounts above 25°C drinking visits become progressively more frequent until temperatures exceed 32°C-33°C, when visits again diminish in frequency. The increase in drinking activity with temperature is due to both increase in numbers of individuals and increase in the number of species arriving to drink. Similarly, the decrease in drinking activity above 33°C involves diminution in both numbers of individuals and number of species. Type of location Use made of water sources varies according to whether they are running or standing water, easy of access by flight, in the sun and have an appropriate marginal zone. Edges of streams or rivers may be used, as may be the edges of pools or temporary puddles, patches of damp mud or sand, active sap runs or the wet surfaces of fresh cow dung. In many instances it is difficult to observe drinking along the margins of streams or rivers, because the multiplicity of potentially appropriate drinking sites reduces the frequency with which any one site will be visited. However, experience, under conditions where appropriate drinking sites along streams are few and far between, Suggests stream edges are perhaps the most favoured type of location (Table 1, st). 108 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.v.2000 To generalise, stretches of stream that are for 2-3 metres in direct sunlight and have a mud, sand or gravel strip along the margin, receive maximal use. Characteristically, such stretches of water are only in the sun for limited periods of the day in forested conditions, going in and out of shadow as the angle of the sun’s rays changes. When such a stretch of water passes into shadow its margin is hardly visited by drinking syrphids, even in periods when drinking activity might be expected to be maximal e.g. at mid-day. In instances where the water is in the sun but the margin is shaded, visits continue undiminished. I would postulate that the attraction of running water in the sun is due to the multiple reflections given off by its rippled surface, visible to syrphids which happen to fly above it. I did once attempt a rather primitive experiment to test this, using two trays containing water, one of them white and the other lined by crinkled, metallic cooking foil, laid on the ground, in the sun, on a track in alluvial softwood forest. The latter tray attracted Ferdinandea cuprea and Helophilus pendulus, while in the same time period the former attracted nothing (users of “water traps’, please note!). I followed this up at a different location (in Fagus/Abies forest) by simply waiting beside a large (1.5 x 0.5m), crinkled piece of the same foil laid upon the ground, in the sun, to one side of a forest track. This piece of foil attracted Eristalis similis, Meligramma cingulata (Egg.), Myathropa florea, Syrphus ribesii and the stratiomyiid Chloromyia speciosa (Macquart.). The attractiveness of the roofs of parked cars to both syrphids and water beetles (!) on hot days is an analogous phenomenon with presumably a similar explanation. The use made of any water source seems to be much influenced by whether or no it is in the sun, being visited for drinking purposes while the sunlight falls upon it, but not otherwise. This effect is particularly dramatic in the case of sap runs (Table 1, sa), which are often in the sun only briefly when the sun is at its zenith. During the course of 30 minutes to one hour, while a sap run is in the sun, it may be visited by a large number of individuals of a range of species, arriving in rapid succession — species rarely seen otherwise and not found drinking along stream margins. Some of the sap-run visitors seem to visit stream margins only under particular circumstances. Sphegina species provide an interesting example. I have not found this genus drinking along stream margins except where the water flows over a near- vertical surface, like a small waterfall. There, Sphegina may be found drinking at the edge of the water film, either on the wet rock surface or among wet moss. The edges of pools or puddles seem to be visited by a narrower range of species than stream margins, and by the same species that visit patches of wet mud or sand (Table 1, d). However, under exceptional circumstances even patches of wet mud can prove highly attractive. The most extreme instance of this phenomenon I have experienced was on a hot day at c1400 metres, in forests in a part of the Swiss Jura which is entirely devoid of surface water except at the lowest altitudes (c700 metres). Two days after rain, one solitary section of a partially shaded track edge was still showing a feeble seepage of water, in the form of damp mud, for a distance of some 20 metres. Enormous numbers of syrphids accumulated along this stretch of track in the late afternoon and evening, attempting to drink. Visits continued until DRINKING IN HOVERFLIES 109 the last vestiges of sunlight had passed from the track surface. Among the species which arrived were a number I have never seen coming to drink elsewhere. Even small and extremely transitory patches of wet ground can prove attractive to syrphids. A bottle of mineral water, inadvertently spilt on leaf litter in an arid Fagus forest, very quickly attracted both Heringia (Neocnemodon) latitarsis and Merodon avidus on one occasion. This wet patch virtually disappeared within half an hour. Heringia species, in particular, seem adept at locating and using small patches of wet mud for drinking purposes. Wet cow dung (Table 1, c), another temporary source of moisture, which may be deposited far from stream margins or other water sources, would seem to have a small but rather particular fauna of syrphid visitors (excluding species which may arrive to oviposit), including Ferdinandea aurea. The use made of all these sources of moisture is subject to accessibility. Without clear line of flight down to and away from a potential drinking site it is little used. Larger species, like those of Milesia, Spilomyia or Volucella, seem to require a sizeable atrium under the canopy, above drinking sites they frequent. This is also so for Callicera species, which seem to prefer an almost cathedralesque space above their drinking stations. Time of day Within the general framework provided by the times at which a site is in the sun and temperatures are appropriate, at a given season and place syrphids come to drink at times seemingly characteristic for the species involved. To give contrasting examples, although during July Milesia semiluctifera and Spilomyia saltuum may be found feeding together on the same flowers and drinking at the same streams in evergreen oak (Quercus ilex/Q. suber) forest in southern France, they do not drink at the same times. Both species feed at flowers in the morning, appearing at about 09.00 hours and disappearing by 11.00 hours. S. saltuum may from then on be found drinking at stream margins until the early afternoon, after which it again disappears. On the same day, M.semiluctifera does not arrive to drink until the early afternoon, whereafter it continues to visit stream margins until sunlight leaves them for good in the evening (here about 18.00 hours). Such “drinking hours” can clearly vary with season. Thus Callicera species appear to drink at stream margins at mid-day in July, but appear at both mid-day and early evening in September. Then there are those species which may be present in the vicinity of drinking stations but do not seem to visit them. In my experience, most Eumerus species fall into this category. One obvious example is Eumerus flavitarsis, the adults of which are characteristically found along stream margins. I have never seen this species engage in drinking behaviour. Behaviour of the drinking fly In a typical occurrence of drinking by a syrphid, as recognised in this article, the insect settles on a moist substrate onto/into which it extends its mouthparts, thereafter remaining motionless for a time interval of 30 seconds to five minutes. Following this it flies away from the drinking site entirely, without engaging in any 110 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.v.2000 other activity there. Most syrphids flying down to drink do so without any apparent hesitation, or prolonged process of selecting a place to settle, and once settled they do remain almost entirely motionless. Essentially, they have to be observed as they arrive, because once in place drinking they are almost impossible to see — even the larger and more highly-coloured species. Exceptions to this typical drinking behaviour occur in genera like Eupeodes, Platycheirus and Syrphus, which tend to hover some centimetres above the surface for some seconds, before they settle. Heringia spends some seconds zig-zagging from side to side, very rapidly, just above the surface, before settling. The Eumerus species which do visit water sources tend to remain motionless for only a few seconds once settled, after which they move perhaps a metre before re-settling, a process repeated a number of times during one visit. And Spilomyia does not remain entirely motionless once settled, but instead often vibrates its wings, or waves them about slightly, in a fashion somewhat reminiscent of tephritids. Syrphids do not occur by themselves at drinking stations, but are usually accompanied by other insects which have also arrived to drink and by representatives of the indigenous water edge fauna. A noticeable feature of the drinking assemblage is that syrphid mimics of aculeate Hymenoptera are frequently found drinking in the company of their putative models. Intriguingly, although model and mimic frequently drink within a metre of each other, they rarely actually drink together, seemingly having small, but distinct, differences in the preferred characteristics of the sites at which they settle. The various social wasps and the honey bee (Apis), in particular, arrive repeatedly on the same few square centimetres of surface used previously by their own species. Apis, Vespa crabro, Vespula species and Pollistes species are all frequent visitors to stream margins to drink. V. crabro is so similar to Milesia crabroniformis (in both appearance and sound) that where they both arrive to drink distinguishing them can be difficult, though the wasp carries its wings folded over its abdomen once settled, which is not so in Milesia. Even more difficult is detecting Spilomyia among a mixed bunch of Pollistes species. But Pollistes usually take a considerable time in selecting places to settle, swinging from side to side above the generally-preferred spot, and once settled they tend to pulse the abdomen and hold their wings steady, unlike Spilomyia. Given that some of the insects found drinking can be predators of others accompanying them, it is perhaps surprising that there is an almost total lack of predatory behaviour among the drinkers. It would appear that aculeates which arrive to drink are there for that sole purpose. Indeed, syrphids which arrive to drink do so largely undisturbed. At stream edges there are occasional perturbations caused by patrolling dragonflies, notably Calopteryx, Cordulegaster or Gomphus species, but the only resident predators which seem to lie in wait for the unwary drinker are small lizards. A more bizarre interference originates with the conopids which characteristically station themselves along stream margins, awaiting the arrival of appropriate aculeate hosts to drink. These conopids (Leopoldius and small Conops species) may be numerous and not infrequently “attack” drinking syrphids, causing them to fly off. DRINKING IN HOVERFLIES Li Where standing or slowly-moving water is present, at least one further drinking technique may be observed among insect visitors. Pollistes wasps, especially, may alight directly onto the water surface, with all legs widely spread, so that they may drink while floating on the surface film. They then take flight directly from this floating position. This technique is not much used by syrphids in general, but may be employed at least by Eupeodes corollae, when visiting small bodies of still water, like garden ponds. A third technique, which may, however, not involve drinking at all, is very similar to the “dapping” activity of mayflies and tabanids. Dapping tabanids swoop down to the water surface of small streams, to briefly insert the tip of the abdomen into the water, for purposes of oviposition. This event is conducted very rapidly, and the insect flies up from the surface immediately afterwards. An egg-laying tabanid may touch the water surface in this way two or three times in quick succession, while flying over a stretch of stream surface, after which it zooms away from the stream. In some instances, it looks as though the fly inserts not the tip of the abdomen, but the mouthparts, into the water. But it would take high-speed photography to really establish what is taking place. On occasion, I have seen Callicera performing this same action over streams, but am unable to state whether oviposition or drinking was involved - I cannot even be sure whether the insects concerned were male or female because it was virtually impossible to capture them. Discussion That under certain circumstances adult syrphids visit sources of water in order to drink is indisputable. The extent to which access to water for drinking is a requirement for syrphids is less clear. When conditions have been optimal for observing drinking by syrphids I have only exceptionally gained the impression that the entire local population of some species might be coming to drink. Without experimentation, discussion of this point must remain largely conjectural. However, my general assessment of the situation would be that only a subset of the individuals comprising the local population of a species visits drinking stations on any one day. An associated conclusion is that only individuals from habitats within c100 metres of a drinking station will visit it. If these deductions are correct, they might be taken to imply that access to water is not critical for adult syrphids. However, they might equally be used to argue that, in hotter, drier parts of southern Europe, at least, accessibility of water may well dictate the distribution of some forest species, restricting them to the vicinity of water sources which remain available during the largely arid months, even if appropriate larval habitat occurs throughout the surrounding forests. Certainly, the consistent and persistent use made of forest stream margins, for drinking purposes, would argue that access to such a source of water must confer some advantage on the local syrphid populations, at the very least. The increased frequency of drinking activity under hot conditions might lead one to believe that the flies are drinking primarily to replace lost water and avoid desiccation. But other insects are known to drink not only to obtain water but also to 112 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.v.2000 obtain necessary minerals. So far as I am aware, there has been no investigation of this aspect of drinking activity for European syrphids. Drinking from moist cow- dung or from sap runs, in particular, would undoubtedly lead to ingestion of a range of potential nutrients, either in solution or suspension, and it may be entirely inappropriate to view these activities as manifesting primarily a need for water. Finally, there is the intriguing question of the potential role of mimicry in the drinking procedure. The theoretical advantages of mimicry are easy to understand, but specific circumstances in which mimicry may confer real advantage are less easy to identify. Motionless while drinking at a stream margin, large syrphids like Milesia crabroniformis and Spilomyia species are arguably at their most vulnerable. If the mimicry by these syrphids of Vespa crabro and Pollistes species, respectively, ever has any real significance, it must surely be an active force when they are drinking in the company of their models. This short account is generously sprinkled with supposition and interpretation not backed by rigorous experimentation. For this I make no apology. As I see it, there is a need to show that syrphid drinking behaviour requires more rigorous investigation — the extent to which the adult fly’s requirement for accessible water sources dictates either distribution or behaviour of a species is at the moment impossible to gauge. If this short essay precipitates some research on the topic it will have served its purpose. A second objective would be met if more of those interested in syrphids set out to observe syrphid drinking behaviour for themselves — they may well find that, on a hot afternoon, a rest beside a patch of sun reaching down to an otherwise shady forest stream can be transformed into a most productive experience! Table 1: syrphids observed drinking. The species are listed in the left-hand column, the substrate(s) on which they have been observed drinking in the right-hand column. c = cow-dung; d = damp mud/sand; sa = sap-run; st = stream edge SPECIES substrate SPECIES substrate Anasimyia contracta Claussen & Torp, 1980 d Callicera spinolae Rondani, 1844 st Baccha elongata (Fabricius), 1775 st Ceriana vespiformis (Latreille), 1804 st Brachyopa dorsata Zetterstedt, 1837 d Chalcosyrphus nemorum (Fabricius), 1805 _ st Brachyopa insensilis Collin, 1939 sa Cheilosia aerea Dufour, 1848 st Brachyopa panzeri Goffe, 1945 sa Cheilosia albipila Meigen, 1838 d Brachyopa pilosa Collin, 1939 sa Cheilosia chrysocoma (Meigen), 1822 d Brachyopa scutellaris Cheilosia faucis Becker, 1894 d Robineau-Desvoidy, 1843 sa, st Cheilosia frontalis Loew, 1857 d Brachyopa vittata Zetterstedt, 1843 d = Cheilosia lasiopa Kowarz, 1885 d Brachypalpus chrysites Egger, 1859 d = Cheilosia mutabilis (Fallen), 1817 st Callicera aurata (Rossi), 1790 st Cheilosia pubera (Zetterstedt), 1838 d Callicera fagesii Guerin-Meneville, 1844 st Cheilosia rhynchops Egger, 1860 d Callicera macquarti Rondani, 1844 st Cheilosia scutellata (Fallen), 1817 d, st MICROLEPIDOPTERA REVIEW OF 1995 113 SPECIES substrate Cheilosia soror (Zetterstedt), 1843 st Cheilosia urbana (Meigen), 1822 d Chrysogaster solstitialis (Fallen), 1817 st Chrysogaster virescens Loew, 1854 st Chrysotoxum octomaculatum Curtis, 1837 — st Criorhina berberina (Fabricius), 1805 st Criorhina floccosa (Meigen), 1822 sa Didea fasciata Macquart, 1834 st Doros destillatorius Mik, 1885 st Episyrphus balteatus (DeGeer), 1776 d, st Eristalinus taeniops (Wiedemann), 1818 st Eristalis arbustorum (L.), 1758 st Eristalis interrupta (Poda), 1761 d Eristalis pertinax (Scopoli), 1763 d, st Eristalis similis (Fallen), 1817 d, st Eristalis tenax (L.), 1758 d, st Eumerus funeralis Meigen, 1822 st Eumerus ornatus Meigen, 1822 st Eumerus sabulonum (Fallen), 1817 st Eupeodes corollae (Fabricius), 1794 d, st Eupeodes lapponicus (Zetterstedt), 1838 st Ferdinandea aurea Rondani, 1844 Cc Ferdinandea cuprea (Scopoli), 1763 st Helophilus pendulus (L.), 1758 st Heringia latitarsis (Egger), 1865 d, st Heringia pubescens (Delucchi & Pschorn-Walcher), 1955 d Mallota cimbiciformis (Fallen), 1817 sa Melanostoma mellinum (L.), 1758 st Meliscaeva auricollis (Meigen), 1822 st Merodon avidus (Rossi), 1790 d, st Merodon elegans Hurkmans, 1993 st Merodon geniculatus Strobl, 1909 st Milesia crabroniformis (Fabricius), 1775 st SPECIES substrate Milesia semiluctifera (Villers), 1798 st Myathropa florea (L.), 1758 st Myolepta dubia (Fabricius), 1803 sa, st Myolepta vara (Panzer), 1798 CHSE Paragus majoranae Rondani, 1857 d, st Parasyrphus lineolus (Zetterstedt), 1843 d Parasyrphus macularis (Zetterstedt), 1843 d Parasyrphus malinellus (Collin), 1952 d Parasyrphus punctulatus (Verrall), 1873 d Platycheirus albimanus (Fabricius), 1781 st Platycheirus scutatus (Meigen), 1822 st Psilota anthracina Meigen, 1822 st Riponnensia splendens (Meigen), 1822 st Scaeva pyrastri (L.), 1758 st Sphaerophoria scripta (L.), 1758 st Sphegina clunipes (Fallen), 1816 Sa, st Sphegina elegans Schummel, 1843 st Sphegina limbipennis Strobl, 1909 st Sphiximorpha subsessilis (Illiger in Rossi), 1807 sa Spilomyia manicata (Rondani), 1865 st Spilomyia saltuum (Fabricius), 1794 st Syritta pipiens (L.), 1758 d, st Syrphus ribesii (L.), 1758 st Syrphus vitripennis Meigen, 1822 d, st Temnostoma vespiforme (L.), 1758 st Volucella bombylans (L.), 1758 st Volucella inanis (L.), 1758 st Volucella inflata (Fabricius), 1794 st Volucella pellucens (L.), 1758 st Volucella zonaria (Poda), 1761 st Xanthogramma pedisequum (Harris), 1776 — st Xylota segnis (L.), 1758 st Xylota sylvarum (L.), 1758 st Acknowledgments I am grateful to Pierre Goeldlin for his helpful comments on an earlier draft of this text, and in particular for his mention of butterflies drinking as a means of obtaining necessary minerals, rather than as a “‘thirst-quenching” exercise. Further, I would like to thank him for the opportunity to include records of his with my own, from a memorable day we spent collecting in the Swiss Jura, when we found apparently the entire local syrphid fauna visiting wet mud on a hot evening. 114 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.v.2000 New vice-county records of microlepidoptera I recommend recorders to consult me before claiming that a species is new to their county. I hold distribution maps for all our British Microlepidoptera. These are as complete as I can make them, though no doubt there are some records that have not come to my notice. New records are frequently claimed incorrectly. For example, in the March-April issue of this journal (antea: 74), four records from the Isle of Wight were alleged to be new, but for two of them that was not the case. Niditinea fuscella (L.) and Elachista luticomella Zell. have both been recorded before and this is shown by dots on the distribution maps in The Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland Volumes 2 and 3 respectively. The maps in question were prepared in the first instance by the late E.C. Pelham-Clinton and are now in my possession. In each case he used the symbol he reserved for records where he had seen a specimen and confirmed the determination. Unfortunately I do not hold his sources, but they are probably available amongst his papers at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh. The other two species claimed, Blastobasis decolorella (Wollaston) and Cydia servillana (Duponchel) are indeed new to the Isle of Wight. May I ask recorders to send me a list of species they think may be new, as several do already, so that I can keep my maps complete and up to date. There is only one species of microlepidoptera that has been reported from all 113 vice-counties in Britain and all 40 in Ireland. Can you guess which it is?— A.M. EMMET, Labrey Cottage, 14 Victoria Gardens, Saffron Walden, Essex CB11 3AF. Euzophera bigeilla Zell. (Lep.: Pyralidae) new to Devon. On 6 September 1999 I purchased two pomegranates Punica granatum from a local greengrocer in Teignmouth; one of these was stuffed full of frass and silk in the hollow left by the flower whilst other had a smaller amount of silk and frass. After five specimens of Cryptoblabes gnidiella (Mill.) had emerged I noticed, in the fruit that had most frass, holes going down through the rind with larvae about a quarter to three eighths of an inch long (6-9mm) which disappeared down these holes when disturbed; there were three of these grey, almost colourless larvae. Two of these pupated (one spun up on the edge of the rind and the other left the fruit and spun up in the tissue in the container), though the third continued feeding. Two Euzophera bigella emerged on 3 and 8 October 1999 but, although I looked for it very carefully, the third larva could not be found. This species normally prefers peaches Prunus persica (Goater, 1986. British Pyralid Moths: Harley books) and, as far as I know, this is the first time this species has been found in pomegranates. The larvae burrow through the rind to the fruit seeds inside, but do not seem to affect the edible parts, leaving no frass in this area. These examples of E. bigella are evidently the fourth and fifth British examples and are new for Devon. Roy McCormick, 36 Paradise Road, Teignmouth, Devon TQ14 8NR. DISTRIBUTION OF TOADFLAX BROCADE 1 es, THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE TOADFLAX BROCADE CALOPHASIA LUNULA (HUEN.) (LEP.: NOCTUIDAE) IN BRITAIN MARK PARSONS Butterfly Conservation, UK Conservation Office, PO Box 444, Wareham, Dorset BH20 SYA. E-mail: mparsons@butterfly.conservation.org Historical background THE HISTORY OF this moth, which was introduced as British in the nineteenth century, based on specimens said to have been caught at Woodside, North Essex, was reviewed by Bretherton et al (1983). The origin of these Essex specimens has been questioned. Bretherton et al (op. cit.) give the first authenticated British examples as being from Shoreham, West Sussex, in 1939, followed by Bexhill, East Sussex in 1950 and Bradwell-on-Sea, South Essex and Dungeness, East Kent in 1951. Larvae were first found at Dungeness and at Stone, West Kent, in 1952. Large numbers of larvae were subsequently found at suitable sites along the coasts of Kent, Sussex and Essex. The record of a moth near Southampton, South Hampshire, in 1971 is also given in their review of this species. More recently, Skinner (1998) states that the species is “Well established and not uncommon at Dungeness, Kent, and found locally along the coast eastwards to Sandwich and westwards through East Sussex to Angmering, West Sussex” and cites additional records of larvae from Wakering, South Essex (1953 and 1954), Tonbridge, West Kent (1954) and Stone (1956), and of single adults from Pinden, West Kent (1953); Hamstreet, East Kent (1953 and 1996); Bookham Common, Surrey (1970); and Southsea (1992) and Gosport (1996), both South Hampshire. Chalmers-Hunt (1960-1981) gives records of larvae being found at Folkestone (1955), Lydd-on-Sea (1960 and 1965) and Greatstone (1965), all East Kent. A single larva feeding on purple toadflax Linaria purpurea was found at Larkfield, 5 miles north-east of Maidstone, West Kent, in 1983 (Chambers, 1985). Further records from East Kent are of a single adult at Willesborough in 1957 (Chalmers-Hunt, 1960-1981), a single adult at Dover in 1976 (Youden, 1976), a single adult at Folkestone Warren in 1976 (Whitbread 1977), Kingsdown in 1980, two on flowers (Chalmers-Hunt, 1960-1981), and a single adult at Lade, Lydd-on-Sea in 1985 (Woiwod, 1985). In 1991, a single adult was recorded at Folkestone Warren (Julian Clarke pers. comm.). During the 1990s, the moth has been recorded regularly at Greatstone, Littlestone, Lydd and New Romney (Sean Clancy pers. comm.) and in the last three years larvae have been found in the Walmer area, East Kent, feeding on purple toadflax (Tony Harman pers. comm.). In 1996, a single adult was recorded at Sholden, East Kent by Lynn Hirst (pers. comm.). Pratt (1999) gives records for Eastbourne (probably The Crumbles) in 1952, and in 1953 from The Crumbles, Hastings (dozens of larvae), Pett Levels (larvae), Pevensey to Bexhill (larvae) and Newhaven (larvae), all in East Sussex. Larvae were found during 1954 and 1955 from Shoreham Beach to Lancing and from Worthing in 1954, all West Sussex. An adult was recorded at Hailsham (1954), at least one 116 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.v.2000 adult was seen at Camber in 1955 and in 1966 a single adult was seen at Patcham, all in East Sussex. During the 1970s, larvae were still to be found at Worthing, Lancing, Shoreham Beach and on The Crumbles. The species was also reported from Milton Street (1970), Ringmer (1972 and 1974), Houghton Green (1975), Peacehaven (1977) and Eastbourne (1978), in East Sussex and from Angmering, West Sussex (given as 1978 in Waring (in prep.)). A few larvae were found at Normans Bay, East Sussex, in 1979. The adult was first recorded at Pebsham in 1985, and has been seen there subsequently, and there have been records of the adult from Haywards Heath (1983), East Grinstead (1983) and Crowborough (1993), all East Sussex. Elsewhere during the 1980s, the moth was found at Hove (1983) and Storrington (1985), West Sussex and on The Crumbles (larvae). The moth was recorded at Worthing in 1981 but has not been seen in the area subsequently. In the 1990s, single adults were seen at Rye Harbour in 1996 and 1997 (Barry Yates pers. comm.); Bulverhythe, near Hastings, in 1997 (two larvae) and in a Hastings garden in 1997 — one adult and larvae on purple toadflax (Paul Troake, pers. comm.), all East Sussex. Phil Budd found six larvae on common toadflax Linaria vulgaris on 1 July 1998 at Pagham Harbour, West Sussex. Other records for Sussex from 1990 to 1998, are from Guestling Thorn (1990, a pupa), The Crumbles (larvae), Normans Bay (single adults in 1995 and 1996), Brighton (1996 and 1997) all in East Sussex; and Hove (1996 and 1997, single larvae on purple toadflax) and Littlehampton marina (1996 and 1997), both in West Sussex (Pratt 1999). Waring (in prep.) suggests that the species is confined as a breeding species to a few places on the south coasts of Kent and Sussex and also gives records from Portland, Dorset, in 1990 (M. Cade) and a pre-1980 record from near Penzance, Cornwall (BRC database), though this latter record is not listed in Smith (1997). There is an additional record from Dorset, that from Wareham in 1998 (Davey & Sterling, 1999). There are three further 10-kilometre squares given in Bretherton et al (1983) with records that could not be traced; these are TQ55, TQ66 and TQ64, although the latter may refer to the Tonbridge record. All three of these are pre-1960 records. The species was listed as RDB 3 (Rare) in the insect Red Data Book (Shirt 1987), a status retained in Waring (in prep.). It was listed as a species on the Middle List of Globally Threatened/Declining Species (UK Biodiversity Group 1995) and was treated under a Species Statement in the UK Biodiversity Group Tranche 2 Action Plans (UK Biodiversity Group 1999). The 1999 survey results During 1999, an ad hoc survey was undertaken as part of Butterfly Conservation’s Action for Threatened Moths Project. This was prompted by the discovery of two adults at Shoreham Beach, West Sussex, on 25 May 1999 by Simon Curson. Effort was concentrated on locating larvae, which are easily found by day in association with various species of toadflax. Whilst visiting the Eastbourne area, on 1 July 1999, I surveyed part of what was left of The Crumbles, the coast at Pevensey Bay and an area of vegetated shingle at Normans Bay. Unfortunately the latter site did not appear to support any of the food DISTRIBUTION OF TOADFLAX BROCADE 117 plants, but larvae were found on purple toadflax at both the former two sites (25 in half an hour and seven during a 20 minute search respectively). A subsequent, more thorough search of a small area of The Crumbles located 132 larvae, all associated with purple toadflax (David Burrows pers. comm.). Much of The Crumbles has been decimated by development and part of the remaining area supporting this species is destined to become housing. A small remnant is being conserved and has been recognised as a Site of Nature Conservation Importance. On 2 July 1999 I found three larvae during a one-hour search of a thin strip of vegetated shingle at Shoreham Beach. All were feeding on purple toadflax. A brief search of sites around Lancing and Worthing in the adjacent western 10- kilometre square proved negative, despite the presence of both purple toadflax and common toadflax. Tide Mills, near Newhaven, East Sussex was also searched; this was found to have a profusion of common toadflax, but no larvae were found. The following month, on 17 August 1999, I searched parts of the Hampshire and West Sussex coast. No larvae were found on Browndown, South Hampshire, but larvae were found at Pagham Harbour (17 in total, 15 on purple toadflax and two on common toadflax) confirming the continued presence of this species at this site. Six larvae, all on purple toadflax, were found in an adjacent 10- kilometre square on a small area of beach at Middleton-on-Sea. Brief searches in the Elmer, Felpham, Aldwick and Atherington areas of West Sussex all proved negative, with no toadflax to be found at these sites with the exception of two plants of purple toadflax at Aldwick. A more extensive search was undertaken on the 19 August 1999. I surveyed a stretch of the coast from Deal, East Kent, to Newhaven, excluding Dungeness and The Crumbles area. The search route took in roads following the coast wherever possible and suitable sites spotted from the car in each of the 10-kilometre squares between these two points were searched. Larvae were found in East Kent at Kingsdown (two on common toadflax) and just to the east of Hythe Ranges (three all on purple toadflax). A previous search of the Ministry of Defence holdings at Hythe Ranges by Sean Clancy had proved negative. Two larvae were found at Bulverhythe on common toadflax. A search around Walmer Castle and Folkestone, East Kent, and Rye, Seaford and a further search of Tide Mills, all in East Sussex, on this date proved negative. On a later date, Paul Troake undertook a search of plants on Rye Harbour LNR, although toadflax is not well represented at the site; no larvae were found. A search by myself around the Witterings in the extreme west of Sussex on 23 August 1999 proved negative for the food plants. On 23 August 1999, Sean Clancy found larvae in both of the 10-kilometre squares that cover Dungeness. In the square TQ 01, all larvae were found on common toadflax, whereas in square TQ 02, larvae were found on both common toadflax and purple toadflax. 118 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 Toadflax Brocade Calophasia lunula @ 1980 - 1999 adult records @ 1980 - 1999 larval records O Pre-1980 adult records O Pre-1980 larval records Figure 1. Distribution of Toadflax Brocade Calophasia lunula, by 10km squares. 25.v.2000 DISTRIBUTION OF TOADFLAX BROCADE ie Discussion and summary Prior to the survey, records suggested a distribution between Sandwich, East Kent and Pagham, West Sussex, with few published larval records. Research for this paper gleaned recent (1980 onwards) larval records for nine 10-kilometre squares, two of which were from the Dungeness area and two of which were probably short- term establishments. No record has been found to substantiate the claim for Sandwich, although records have been found for nearby Walmer and Sholden. As a result of the 1999 survey, larvae were found in nine 10-kilometre squares. There is a further 10-kilometre square with records of larvae since 1990, although this is unlikely to represent a long-term establishment. Figure 1 summarises the known distribution of the species. Away from Dungeness, the sites where larvae were found are typically thin strips of vegetated shingle that had previously been disturbed and with a high proportion of open shingle. All the sites where the species survives suggest a requirement for a warm and dry micro-climate. It is still possible that some sites have been overlooked, for example time did not permit a survey of possible habitat between Littlehampton and Worthing (a further two potential 10-kilometre squares), a further site to the one searched at Normans Bay which supported the food plant at least as recently as 1998 (Colin Pratt pers. comm.) and the shingle beach at Cuckmere Haven (a further 10-kilometre square). Also, time did not permit the investigation of whether or not suitable habitat occurs at the base of cliffs, for example around Beachy Head and at Fairlight, East Sussex. The food plants of the species are given by Skinner (1998) to be “mainly common toadflax [Linaria vulgaris], also occasionally on purple toadflax (Linaria purpurea) and pale toadflax (L. repens)”. It is, therefore, interesting to note that, during the present survey, all but six larvae were found to be associated with purple toadflax. The known range of this species in Britain has not greatly altered as a result of this rather piecemeal survey, but it may occur on other parts of the Kent and possibly Essex coast (these areas were not searched). However, we now have a far better understanding of the species’ current distribution. It is apparent from the records that although it has been recorded inland as both larvae and adults on several occasions, it has still not been able to permanently establish itself away from the coast. Bretherton et al (1983) stated that “since about 1960 it has become scarcer in some places and disappeared from others’, although the 1971 record “may indicate either further extension westward or new immigration”. The records researched, and undoubtedly some have been missed, do indicate a comparative paucity of records of the Toadflax Brocade during the 1960s. However, it is possible that an alternative explanation for this apparent decline may be a reduction in specific searches for the species during those years. Perhaps the only way to determine possible fluctuations in this species fortunes are to annually monitor populations at the edge of its range and to survey adjacent, but currently unoccupied, suitable habitat. This summary, along with the present survey, demonstrates that the well known sites for scarce species are not always the only ones and effort concentrated on areas away from these well known sites could contribute greatly to our understanding of individual species. The Species Statement in the Biodiversity Action Plan (UK 120 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.v.2000 Biodiversity Group 1999) advocates monitoring of this species. It is hoped that, with local co-operation, annual monitoring will be put in place at key sites for the species. As Butterfly Conservation is the Lead Partner to oversee action for this species, we would be pleased to hear of any additional records of the Toadflax Brocade. Acknowledgements The Action for Threatened Moths Project is funded by English Nature (Species Action Programmes) and Butterfly Conservation. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Phil Budd, David Burrows, Dr Julian Clarke, Simon Curson, Tony Harman, Lynn Hirst and Barry Yates for allowing the use of their records, Bernard Skinner for his comments, and Sean Clancy and Paul Troake for records and for assisting with the survey. I would especially like to thank Colin Pratt for providing a preview of the Toadflax Brocade text from Pratt (1999) and for comments on an early draft of the text; Dr Ian McLean, Joint Nature Conservation Committee, for allowing a preview of Dr Paul Waring’s forthcoming review and David Green for preparing the map. References Bretherton, R. F., Goater, B. & Lorimer, R. I., 1983. Noctuidae (continued), in J. Heath & A.M. Emmet (eds.) The Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland. Volume 10. Harley Books, Colchester. Chalmers-Hunt, J. M., 1960-1981. The butterflies and moths of Kent. Published as supplements to Entomologist’s Rec. J. Var. 72-93. Chambers, D. A,. 1985. A non-coastal breeding record on Calophasia lunula Hufn.: Toadflax Brocade. Entomologist’s Rec. J. Var. 97: 108. Davey, P. & Sterling, P.H., 1999. Migrant highlights. Moths of Dorset Newsletter No. 6: 5. Pratt, C., 1999. A revised history of the butterflies and moths of Sussex. Booth Museum of Natural History, Brighton. Shirt, D., (ed.). 1987. British Red Data Books: 2. Insects. Nature Conservancy Council, Peterborough. Skinner, B., 1998. Colour identification guide to moths of the British Isles. Viking, London. Smith, F. H. N., 1997. The moths and butterflies of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Gem Publishing, Wallingford. UK Biodiversity Group, 1995. Biodiversity: The UK Steering Group Report. Volume 2: Action Plans. HMSO, London. — , 1999.UK Biodiversity Group Tranche 2 Action Plans. Volume IV - invertebrates. English Nature, Peterborough. Waring, P., in prep. Review of Nationally Scarce and Threatened Macro-moths of Great Britain. Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough. Whitebread, S. E., 1977. Calophasia lunula (Hufn.) and other interesting moths at Folkestone. Entomologist’s Rec. J. Var. 89: 11. Woiwod, I. P., 1985. A further record of the spring brood of the Scarce Chocolate Tip: Clostera anachoreta D. & S. Entomologist’s Rec. J. Var. 97: 164. Youden, G. H., 1976. Nola aerugula (Hubner) and other interesting occurrences at Dover. Entomologist’ s Rec. J. Var. 88: 267. DRYOCOETTES AUTOGRAPHUS IN SOUTH-EAST ENGLAND 121 DRYOCOETES AUTOGRAPAUS (RATZEBURG) (COL.: SCOLYTIDAE) IN SURREY, APPARENTLY NEW TO SOUTH-EAST ENGLAND, WITH A TAXONOMIC NOTE A. A. ALLEN! AND J. A. OWEN? '49 Montcalm Road, Charlton, London SE7 &QG. ? 8 Kingsdown Road, Epsom, Surrey KT17 3PU. E-mail: jaowen @talk21.com ON 3 SEPTEMBER 1999, at the edge of mixed woodland on Esher Common, Surrey, we chanced upon a fallen spruce Picea abies of no great size and were able to extract from the tough bark of the solid stump a few specimens of a scolytid beetle; its larvae also were present. To our surprise, the species turned out later to be Dryocoetes autographus. On a second visit to the spot on 8 September by JAO (accompanied by Martin Luff), further examples were found. All published British records of D. autographus that we have managed to trace, including recent ones, are for the more northern and western parts of the country. The southernmost county from which it appears thus far to be reported is Gloucestershire, especially the Forest of Dean area. Northward from there, records become more and more frequent though hardly numerous until Scotland is reached, and there the beetle occurs widely. JAO, who has collected over much of that country, met with it between 1971 and 1985 in five more or less scattered localities, stretching as far to the north-west as Dunvegan on the Isle of Skye Although the species is recorded from several coniferous host-trees, all British records except one — where the host-tree is specified — appear to be from spruce. Other hosts listed by authors, at all events pine and silver fir, are probably derived from experience on the continent where insects tend to be less restricted in their tastes and habits than in Britain. The exception just mentioned relates to the original British discovery of D. autographus near Scarborough in April 1869 by Lawson “in some young larch trees in a fir plantation” (Fowler, 1891: 437). Even there, it seems distinctly possible that the beetles had originally been attacking some of the “fir” trees (presumably spruce) in the plantation but, for some reason, found the young larches more to their liking and transferred their attention thereto. While on the subject of Dryocoetes, we think it should be pointed out that Balachowsky’s genus Dryocoetinus, used for two of our species in the current check-list (Pope, 1977), is taxonomically invalid, being based solely on a pronotal sculptural character of no more than specific value. Some time ago, one of us (AAA), being in touch with the scolytid specialist Dr R A. Beaver, put to him the question of its validity. He fully agreed that there was no basis for its retention. With so many needless (or at best dubious), generic names cluttering up the literature, the dropping of even one is a small positive gain. Acknowledgements We thank Miss Christine Tilbury and Dr Tim Winter for advising us that there are records of D. autographus in south-east England in the Forestry Commission records. References Fowler W. W., 1891. The Coleoptera of the British Islands 5. Reeve & Co., London. Pope, R.D., 1977. In Kloet & Hincks (Eds.) A check List of British Insects. Part 3: Coleoptera and Strepsiptera. Handbk. Ident. Br. Insects. 11(3). 122 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.v.2000 AN UNUSUAL ABERRANT MALE OF EREBIA RHODOPENSIS NICHOLL (LEP.: NYMPHALIDAE: SATYRINAE) STANISLAV ABADJIEV Institute of Zoology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1, Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd, Sofia 1000, Bulgaria. E-mail: stanislav.abadjiev@usa.net DURING MY summer visit to the Musala part of the Rila Mountains in south-west Bulgaria, an unusual somatic mosaic aberrant of Erebia rhodopensis Nicholl, 1900 was collected. This single specimen was caught together with a series of typical examples. Erebia rhodopensis Nicholl, 1900 ab. nov. Description: overall appearance asymmetric; right fore wing length 18mm, left-17mm; right fore and hind wings and left hind wing as in normal rhodopensis; left fore wing upper side without apical ocelli, under side only the first apical ocellus present, small ocellus in space 2 absent. Figures 1, 2. Erebia rhodopensis Nicholl, 1900 ab. nov.: (1) upperside; (2) underside. Labels: (1) printed (on white paper) “BULGARIA | Rila Mts | Markudzhika 2400 m | 23.VII.1999 | S. Abadjiev leg. | [line] | S. Abadjiev coll. 1505”; (2) printed (on red paper), double framed “HOLOTYPE d | Erebia rhodopensis | Nicholl, 1900 | ab. nova | [line] |S. Abadjiev det. 2000”. Material: 1 6, in S. Abadjiev collection, Sofia. The Pine Hawk-moth Hyloicus pinastri (L.) in Britain I am currently researching the history of H. pinastri in this country and am, therefore, requesting any unpublished records from previously sterile 10-kilometre squares, especially those situated to the west of a line drawn from the Severn to the Wash. All due acknowledgement will of course be given.— COLIN R. PRATT, 5 View Road, Peacehaven East Sussex BN10 8DE. (E-mail: colin.pratt@talk21.com) LADYBIRDS AND PHORIDS 123 SURVIVAL OF LADYBIRD HOSTS INFECTED WITH PHORID PARASITOIDS MICHAEL E.N. MAJERUS', ELIZABETH H. BAYNE’, HAZEL BETTS * AND PENELOPE R. HADDRILL ! ' Department of Genetics, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 2EH. E-mail: mennm@mole.bio.cam.ac.uk ? St. Catherine’s College, Trumpington Street, Cambridge CB2 IRL. 3 Churchill College, Storey’s Way, Cambridge CB3 ODS. Introduction THE SCUTTLE-FLIES Phalacrotophora fasciata (Fallén) and Phalacrotophora berolinensis Schmitz (Diptera: Phoridae), are well known parasitoids of ladybirds in Britain (Disney et al. 1994). Eggs are laid on, or in, ladybird pupae, usually during, or soon after, pupation. In previous reports of these flies, emergence of fly larva from a host has invariably been associated with the death of the host. We here wish to report two observations of pupae of the 2-spot ladybird Adalia bipunctata (L.) producing both phorids and adult ladybirds. Methods Between 24 and 29 June 1998, a sample of 730 A. bipunctata pupae were collected in the vicinity of Juniper Hall, Mickleham, Surrey (O.S. grid ref. TQ 173 527). The pupae were placed into individual Petri-dishes and retained in the laboratory until either phorids or adult ladybirds emerged. Phorid larvae were allowed to pupate and were weighed between 24 and 72 hours after pupation. The number of phorids from each host pupa was recorded. Thereafter, phorids were allowed to eclose and were identified as either P. fasciata or P. berolinensis (by R.H.L. Disney). Some A. bipunctata pupae failed to produce either adult ladybirds or phorids. Results Of the sample of pupae, 168 failed to produce either ladybirds or phorids. Of the remainder, 472 produced adult A. bipunctata, 88 produced phorids, with successful infection levels varying between one and seven phorids, while two pupae produced both single phorid larvae and healthy adult ladybirds. In both of these latter cases, the phorid larvae emerged before the ladybird pupae eclosed. The weights of the phorid puparia produced in these two instances were 1.0mg and 1.lmg. The weights of these two compare with a mean weight of 1.74mg of phorids from pupae producing a single larvae, and were the lightest puparia from such hosts (n=14). The adult phorids which eclosed from the two puparia were both male P. fasciata. The adult ladybirds which emerged from the two pupae were a female, which subsequently laid fertile eggs after mating, and a male which was mated to a virgin female that subsequently laid eggs with normal fertility rates, indicating that the interaction with phorids had not obviously affected the reproductive potential of these two hosts. The two ladybirds were not obviously smaller than other same sex adults from the pupal sample. 124 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.v.2000 Discussion The low weight of the two phorids from host pupae which also produced adult ladybirds suggests that these phorids gained less resources than those phorids which killed their hosts. It is feasible that the ladybirds in question have some physiological mechanism which confers a degree of immunity against phorid infection by protection of nutrient resources. On the other hand, as only a single phorid emerged from each pupa, and in both cases the phorids were abnormally small, it is feasible that the drain on their hosts resources accruing from their presence was insufficient to prove fatal to their hosts. The observations of phorid parasitisation failing to prove fatal to A. bipunctata pupae is unlikely to have significant consequences on the population demography of the host, because of the rarity of such events, unless novel immunity is involved and spreads. However, the observation may have importance in respect of the horizontal transmission of heritable cytoplasmic bacteria of ladybirds. These bacteria which are inherited only down the female line, kill male but not female host embryos. Phylogenetically similar bacteria have been found in different species of ladybirds. For example, similar Rickettsia-like bacteria have been found in both A. bipunctata (Werren et al. 1994) and in the closely related A. decempunctata (L.) (10-spot ladybird), the two bacteria showing over 99% sequence homology in the ITS gene (Schulenburg, pers. comm.). Similarly, A. bipunctata and Harmonia axyrids (Pallas), both harbour male-killing Spiroplasmas with >99% homology in the wsp gene (Hurst et al. 1999; Majerus, T. pers. comm.). The close homology of male-killing bacteria in different species suggests that horizontal transmission of the male-killers might occasionally occur, either via contagion or through some intermediate vector. The possibility that phorids might act as such a vector for male-killing bacteria has hitherto been disregarded as it was previously assumed, on the basis of literature reports and observation, that parasitisation by phorids was invariably fatal (Disney et al. 1994; Majerus, 1994). The observations described above make this assumption unsafe. It is possible that phorids could vector male-killing bacteria between host coccinellid species thereby causing novel invasions, as very rare events. Acknowledgements We are grateful to the staff of Juniper Hall Field Studies Centre for use of facilities and to Dr R.H.L. Disney for identifying phorids. References Disney, R.H.L., Majerus, M.E.N. & Walpole, M. (1994). Phoridae (Diptera) parasitising Coccinellidae (Coleoptera) Entomologist, 113: 28-42. Hurst, G.D.D., Von de Schulenburg, J.H.G., Majerus, T.M.O., Bertrand, D., Zakharov, ILA., Baungaard, J., Volkl, W., Stouthamer, R. & Majerus, M.E.N., 1999. Invasion of one insect species, Adalia bipunctata, by two different male-killing bacteria. Insect Molecular Biology, 8: 133-139. Majerus, M.E.N., 1994. Ladybirds. New Naturalist Series 81. 368pp. Harper Collins, London. Werren, J.H., Hurst, G.D.D., Zhang, W., Breeuwer, J.A.J., Stouthamer, R. & Majerus, M.E.N., 1994. Rickettsial relative associated with male killing in the ladybird beetle (Adalia bipunctata) J. Bacteriol., 176: 388-394. A BEETLE FROM A LIVING BAT 125 ITHOSTYGNUS (METOPHTHALMUS) SERRIPENNIS BROUN (COL.: LATRIDITIDAE) FROM A LIVING BAT J.A. OWEN!, A.C. LANE? AND R.S. GEORGE? ' 8 Kingsdown Road, Epsom, Surrey KT17 3 PU. E-mail: jaowen@talk21.com ? 7 Orchard Road, Skidby, Cottingham, East Yorkshire HU16 STL. 354 Richmond Park Avenue, Bournemouth, Dorset BH8 9DR. ON 15 MARCH1998, Mr and Mrs Nadin, the owners of a cottage in Routh, Humberside, found an injured bat lying on a gravel path in their garden. The bat, a specimen of the Common Pipistrelle Pipistrellus pipistrellus, was placed in a clean cardboard box lined with kitchen roll and brought the day it was found to ACL who noted small puncture wounds in a wing, together with a slightly inflated abdomen, features consistent with injury by a domestic cat. The bat was started on a course of an antibiotic and housed in a small plastic vivarium where it accepted a mealworm- based diet and water. : On the day after it was brought in, ACL carried out a routine examination of the bat for ectoparasites, putting the three specimens found into a tube. Thinking that they were fleas, he sent the tube to RSG who noticed, on close examination, that they were in fact small beetles. The latter were sent to JAO who identified them as examples of L. serrripennis. L. serripennis is a native of New Zealand, first found in Britain in a cellar in Reigate, Surrey (Stott, 1928). Since then, it has been found in many locations throughout the British Isles. It has been recorded from four sites in Humberside (Bob Marsh, pers. comm.), of which the nearest to Routh is Elstronwick, only 11 kilometres distant. Most of the sites where the beetle has occurred, have been synanthropic situations, usually the site of mould infection, but they have included a house sparrow’s nest and wasps’ nests (Halstead, 1959). It has been recorded out of doors, but such occurrences have practically all been in, or near, man-made structures such as in a dovecote (Welch, 1985) or in a large heap of cut grass (Owen et al, 1997). Less explicit synanthropic habitats include grass tufts (Luff, 1965) and moss on a mountain (Luff, 1985) but both sites were quite close to buildings (Luff, pers. comm.). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first record of the beetle being associated with any mammal. Conversely, beetles are not held to have an association with live bats other, that is, than-as dietary components (Hill & Smith, 1984). The precise origin of the three specimens in this case is uncertain. Though contamination of entomological field collections with stray specimens is not entirely unknown, we have no good reason to believe that the specimens were not on the bat when it was found on the garden path. No other examples of the beetle were seen before, or have turned up since, in the room where injured bats were kept. ACL has been a bat-carer since 1994 and has never observed any small beetles associated with the mealworm-based diet. We can only speculate, however, on whether the beetles were acquired by the bat before it reached the garden or afterwards. Published records cited above indicate 126 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.v.2000 that the beetle occurs in a considerable variety of microhabitats, compatible with it breeding in or near the garden where the bat was found. If the animal was caught by a cat, as was suggested by its wounds, the bat might have picked up the beetles in the course of the cat playing with it. Probably the most interesting possibility to be considered is that of the bat acquiring the beetles in its roost. This is presumably where bats usually acquire their fleas. Bat guano and other debris in the roost, such as might also occur in a dovecote, could provide conditions permitting the beetle to breed. In the roost, the beetles would probably meet up with the bat by chance. It is unlikely that the species has an in-built affinity for bats, for it lacks the specially morphology (usually of legs or tarsi) found in bat ectoparasites (fleas, bat flies, bed bugs, mites) giving them a secure hold on bats while they are flying. Moreover, these ectoparasites live on bat blood whereas the beetle and its relatives are mould feeders. Nevertheless, a limited ability of the beetle to hang on must exist if this is how the beetle reached the garden where it was found. Looking for the beetle in bat roosts might be a useful first approach in seeking support for this possibility (though readers are reminded that in view of the protected status of bats it would be necessary to obtain a licence before any such visit takes place). We must thank Mr & Mrs Nadin, for rescuing the bat and bringing it to ACL and Bob Marsh for information on the occurrence of L. serripennis in Humberside. References Halstead, D. G. M., 1959. The status of Metophthalmus serripennis (Broun) (Col.: Lathridiidae) in Britain. Entomologist’ s mon. Mag. 95: 100. Hill, J. E. & Smith, J. D., 1984. Bats: A natural history. British Museum (Natural History), London. Luff, M .L., 1965. A list of Coleoptera occurring in grass tussocks. Entomologist’s mon. Mag. 101: 240-245. — , 1987. Additions and some corrections to the Coleoptera of the Isle of Man. Entomologist’ s mon. Mag. 123: 219-221. Owen, J. A., Allen, A. J. W., Booth, R. G. & Luff, M. L., 1997. Beetles from a large grass-compost heap on Epsom Downs, Surrey studied over three years. Entomologist’ s. Gaz. 48: 111-124. Stott, C. E. 1928. The occurrence of Lithostygnus serripennis Broun a New Zealand beetle at Reigate Entomologist’s mon. Mag. 64: 140. Welch, R. C., 1985. Coleoptera from a dovecote at Fellbrigg Hall, Norfolk. Entomologist’s mon. Mag .121: 34. BRIAN BAKER We were saddened to hear of the sudden and unexpected death of Brian Baker earlier this year. Brian was for many years at the Reading Museum and was a well known figure in entomological circles. He was President of the British Entomological and Natural History Society for 1983, but was perhaps best known for his expert knowledge of the clearwing moths (Sesiidae), contributing the chapter on this family to The moths and butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland (Harley). STATUS OF TACHYSTOLA ACROXANTHA 127 TACHYSTOLA ACROXANTHA (MEYRICK) (LEP: OECOPHORIDAE) AROUND MANCHESTER: HISTORY AND CURRENT STATUS. STEPHEN H. HIND 32 Carleton Road, Higher Poynton, Stockport, Cheshire SK12 ITL. Introduction THE OECOPHORID MOTH Tachystola acroxantha was first recorded in England, from South Devon around 1920, having arrived from its native home in Australia, probably via a consignment of imported plants. It remained, restricted to South Devon until the 1980s, when it started to spread into the neighbouring counties of Somerset (1981) and Cornwall (1985). Records from around Manchester It was around this time that I started to take an interest in the microlepidoptera. The first T. acroxantha that I identified at my previous house in Hazel Grove, Stockport, was on 20 July 1988, although I had seen it during previous years without knowing its identity. I caught the odd specimen at the same site during the next two years and found another, two miles away on 24 May 1989. I lived in Hazel Grove until 1993 and ran a light trap intermittently throughout this period without catching any further specimens. During 1990, B. T. Shaw, knowing of my interest in the microlepidoptera, showed me an example of a moth which he was taking in numbers from his garden in Heald Green, Stockport, some eight miles to the west of me. This was also T. acroxantha. It has been abundant at this site every year since, flying almost continuously from late April until mid December. Although moths are not regularly counted at this site, 44 were caught on 15 May 1999. Whilst looking through a collection of photographs of micro-moths, which P. B. Hardy had sent to me to identify, I also came across examples of T. acroxantha. These he had taken. in his garden in Sale, some eight miles to the north west of Heald Green. Two from 1986 and one from 1987, all pre-dated my first Hazel Grove specimens. The earliest date being 5 July 1986. A further two moths were also obtained from Sale during 1995. All of the above mentioned sites are in Cheshire and lie along the southern edge of the Manchester conurbation. Towards the end of 1996, I was shown another example of T. acroxantha, taken on 17 October 1996 from Flixton, South Lancashire, a further five miles west-north- west of Sale, by K. McCabe. Apparently the species had been present at this site since at least 1994. During the 1998 and 1999 seasons, 284 and 297 individuals were caught; with a maximum catch of 45 on 13 May 1998. The flight period extended from late April until late November. In both years it was one of the fourth most abundant species of micro-moth entering the m.v. trap. On 31 July 1999, I attended a light being operated at a garden in Marple, Stockport, which attracted a single JT. acroxantha. This extended the species range by a couple of miles to the north east and, three days later, one finally entered my 128 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.v.2000 own garden trap, at Higher Poynton, which also extends the range by a couple of miles, this time to the south-east. In addition to these, A. Heginbottom, a colleague from work, showed me a specimen, taken at his house light, in Cheadle Hulme, Stockport on 21 September 1999. Discussion It would appear from the above sightings that T. acroxantha is not only well established throughout the south of the Manchester conurbation and has indeed been so for at least the past decade, but is also an extremely successful colonist, having become one of the most abundant species at suitable sites. Its status in the north of Manchester is less clear, as I am unaware of anyone trapping in this area. However, on a visit to Bolton Museum during November 1999, I was shown a single specimen by M. G. Prescott, which he had taken in his garden at Bury earlier in the year. Bury lies about 20 miles north of the species nearest known sites in the south of Manchester and I would not be surprised to discover that it was just as common in the areas in between. Although it appears to be extending its range in the area, it has not yet been taken from sites beyond the Manchester conurbation, such as those on the Cheshire Plain. Acknowledgements I would like to thank those above for the use of their records and to Barry T. Shaw and Kevin McCabe for providing further information during preparation of this paper. I would also like to thank Bill Hardwick for confirming my initial identification of T. acroxantha. References Bradley, J.D., 1998. Checklist of Lepidoptera Recorded from the British Isles. Privately published. Slade, A. & Farrar, W., 1999. Tachystola acroxantha (Meyrick) (Lep.: Oecophoridae) in Somerset. Entomologist’s Rec. J. Var. 111: 232. Slade, B. E., 1994. Parocystola acroxantha Meyrick (Lep.:Oecophoridae) at Berrow in Somerset. Entomologist’'s Rec. J. Var. 106: 35. More on unusual micro-moths in Somerset For nearly ten years the Bristol & District Moth Group has been actively recording in the field and also collating historic records for the region around Bristol and Bath. This area includes parts of Vice-counties 6 (North Somerset) and 34 (West Gloucestershire) and agrees with the region covered by the Bristol Regional Environmental Records Centre. Further to Slade & Farrar (Ent. Rec. 111: 232) the Group has records of Tachystola acroxantha (Meyr.) from Weston-super-Mare dating back to 1983 when it was recorded by Martin Evans. Since that time the species has been regularly reported by the same recorder and also by Dixie Dean. Consequently, the 1999 NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS 129 records of Slade & Farrar should not be interpreted as a linear extension of its range from its original Cornish stronghold. Calamatropha paludella (Hb.) as reported by Slade (Ent. Rec. 111: 210), had an excellent year in 1999. An earlier Somerset record though, is that of a specimen captured by Alan Bone in July 1996 at the Keynsham chocolate factory site (grid reference ST6 569) and sent to Bristol City Museum & Art Gallery for confirmation. The specimen was subsequently exhibited at the annual exhibition of the British Entomological & Natural History Society along with other interesting captures by members of the Group (Br. J. Ent. Nat. Hist. 12:152-153). During 1999, C. paludella was also taken by Rick Andrews, Dave Gibbs, Rupert Higgins, John Martin and Andy Pym on a mothing night at Weston Moor Nature Reserve in the Gordano Valley (ST 4473) on 7 July. Subsequently, John Martin also recorded the species in his garden in Pilning, South Gloucestershire (ST 5584) and another was captured on 15 July 1999 in Gwent, at grid reference ST 3485, by Kevin Dupe. Finally Monochroa palustrella Douglas has been recorded on three other occasions in vice-county 6 — on 20 August 1986 at Sand Point (ST 3266) by Martin Evans, 22 September 1995 at a field meeting of the Bristol Group at the Gordano National Nature Reserve (ST4473) and on Weston Moor Nature Reserve (ST 4473) by Dave Gibbs on 7 July 1999. The Bristol Group is currently working on a publication of the moths of the region which will cover both macros and micros. Records from the former county of Avon would be very gratefully received. My thanks to the members of the Group for permission to quote their records.- RAY BARNETT, City Museum & Art Gallery, Queen’s Road, Bristol BS8 1RL. Sympherobius klapaleki Zeleny (Neur.: Hemerobiidae): a second British record — from South Essex On 15 June 1999 at about 5pm, whilst undertaking an insect survey of Larks wood, South Essex (Vice-county 18 at grid reference TQ 382926), I swept a brown lacewing which keyed out as Sympherobius pellucidus in Colin Plant’s AIDGAP key (1997), except that it had pale antennal scapes and pedicels, a character taking it to S. klapaleki, as described in the footnote which also suggested that this species is possibly present in Britain. The specimen was duly passed to Colin Plant who confirmed that this was indeed an example of S. klapaleki. Since the publication of Colin’s key, S$. klapaleki has indeed been added to the British list — from Silwood Park, Berkshire (Whittington, 1998: Ent. Rec. 110: 288 - 289), reared from a pupa attached to a dead oak twig in April 1994 and so the present example is the second British record. Larks Wood is situated within one kilometre of Epping Forest and is a remnant of the ancient forest, although in former times it was managed as an oak and hornbeam coppice, rather than with pollards. It has a strong saproxylic beetle fauna, centred on a handful of sickly beeches and a few of the oak trees. I am not able to say whether the specimen of S. klapeleki was associated with dead wood in any way, but it is likely to have been swept from low 130 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.v.2000 branches rather than herbage as the coppicing has been long-neglected, leading to excessive shade as far as ground flora is concerned over much of the wood. To find S. klapeleki in Essex under the above circumstances supports the notion that it is an overlooked native species. As more records become available, its habits and habitat associations should become deducible. My thanks are given to Colin Plant for checking and identifying my lacewings and Nick Evans, London Borough of Waltham Forest ecologist for commissioning the survey.— DAN HACKETT, 3 Bryanstone Road, Crouch End, London N8 8TN (E-mail: Daniel@dhackett.fsnet.co.uk). Early Red Admiral An active Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta (L.) was seen on 26 February 2000 on Alderley Edge in Cheshire (grid reference SJ 8577), in bright sunshine. Considering the early date and that the butterfly was abundant on Alderley Edge during October 1999, this butterfly has very possibly over-wintered. A number of old, hollowed-out oaks line the sheltered sloping path along which it was seen and may well have provided it with an over-wintering site.— R. L. H. DENNIS, 4 Fairfax drive, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 6EY. First Millennium butterflies? My wife saw a Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta (L.) in central Exeter on 5 January 2000 which I thought was a good candidate for the first Millennium butterfly (on the same day, I also found eggs of the Brown Hairstreak butterfly on two new tetrads, at grid references SX 9698 and 9597). However, this has been eclipsed by my friend Colin White who saw a Peacock /nachis io (L.) on the beach at Seaton, Cornwall (SX 300542) at 12.15pm on 1 January 2000. My last adult butterfly of the old millennium was a Red Admiral on 1 December. Brown Hairstreak eggs were found in three new tetrads on 16 December (unfortunately, the last opportunity that I had for searching for them in 1999). Any challengers? - ROGER Bristow, Davidsland, Copplestone, Devon EX17 5NX. Millennial moths Curious to see which species would be my last of the old millennium, [ put my trap out on New Year’s Eve 1999 and was surprised in the morning to find in it a single specimen of Silver Y Autograph gamma (L.). I was even more surprised the following morning to find that my first species of the new millennium was Light Arches Apamea lithoxylaea (D. & S.), a moth I do not usually see until the end of May. Both moths were accompanied by several specimens of Epiphyas postvittana (Walk.) and Udea ferrugalis (Hb.), but I have come to expect to see those two species at any time of year._ P. D. M. CosTEN, La Broderie, La Claire Mare, St Peters, Guernsey GY7 9QA. ANTHOCHARIS GRUNERI IN GREEK ISLANDS 131 ANTHOCHARIS GRUNERI GRUNERI HERRICH-SCHAFFER, (LEP.: PIERIDAE) NEW FOR THE GREEK ISLANDS STANISLAV ABADJIEV Institute of Zoology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1, Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd, Sofia 1000, Bulgaria. E-mail: stanislav.abadjiev@usa.net GRUNER’S ORANGE-TIP Anthocharis gruneri gruneri Herrich-Schaffer, [1851], occurs locally in the southern part of the Balkan Peninsula. The known range here comprises: Albania (Rebel & Zerny, 1931: 67), Macedonia (Jaksic, 1988: 58: map 43; Schaider & Jaksic, 1989: map 47), Greece (Pamperis, 1997: 65) and Bulgaria (Abadjiev, 1992: 43). In Europe it has also been recorded for Hungary (a single specimen) (Balint & Janaky, 1989:229—230; Balint, 1991: 21). Island of Thassos NE SS Figure 1. UTM map showing the position of localities of A. gruneri gruneri Herrich-Schaffer, [1851] on the Island of Thassos: (1) Thassos, (2) Limenaria (black filled circles). 132 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.v.2000 When studying the rich butterfly collection of the National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) in Sofia, a small series of Anthocharis gruneri drew my attention. The specimens were collected by N. Karnozickij on the Island of Thassos in 1943. The localities and material examined are as follows: (1) Thassos (Limen) (UTM grid reference 35TLFO1): 25.IV.[1]943 — 1 3; 27.1V.[1]943 — 1 2; 30.1V.[1]943 — 1 2; (2) Limenaria (UTM grid reference 35TKF90): 30.1V.[1]943 — 5 436; all N. Karnozickij leg. (see also Fig. 1). It should be noted that in the period of 1942-1944 many expeditions for collecting zoological, botanical, geological and other materials were organised by some Bulgarian institutions. N. Karnozickij himself visited Greek Aegean Coast and the Island of Thassos in 1942-1943 as a member of an expedition organised by the NMNH and The Sea Biological Station, Varna. Zoological results (concerning Coleoptera) were published subsequently (Karnozickij, 1959) but, unfortunately, nothing about Lepidoptera appeared. After this unusual finding an extensive literature search has been carried out in order to find some published record about A. gruneri on Thassos. The only result was that the species has remained unrecorded for the Greek islands for a long time (cf Tolman, 1997: 49: “not reported from... Greek islands’’) and as far as the Island of Thassos is concerned it is really absent in the modern faunal lists (Olivier, 1987; Littler, 1991). Here the species is reported as new for the Island of Thassos (and even for the Greek islands as a whole). References Abadjiev, S., 1992. Butterflies of Bulgaria, Part 1, Papilionidae & Pieridae. Veren Publishers, Sofia. Balint, Z., 1991. Conservation of Butterflies in Hungary. Oedippus 3: 5—36. Balint, Z. & Janaky, I., 1989. Nappalilepke-jegyzetek. [Notes on Rhopalocera (Lepidoptera) ]. Folia ent. hung. 50: 229-232. Jaksic, P., 1988. Privremene karte rasprostranjenosti dnevnih leptira Jugoslavije (Lepidoptera, Rhopalocera). Jugoslavensko entomolosko drustvo, Posebna izdanja 1: 214 pp. Karnozickij, N., 1959. Materialien zur Koleopteren-Fauna der Agiischen Kiiste und Insel Thasos. Izv. zool. Inst. Sof. 8: 237-253. Littler, E. A., 1991. Autumn and Spring Butterflies of Thassos (Lepidoptera: Hesperioidea & Papilionoidea). Phegea 19 (1): 25-28. Olivier, A., 1987. Catalogue of the butterflies of the Greek islands in the collection of the Instituut voor Taxonomische Zodlogie (Zodlogisch Museum) Amsterdam (Lepidoptera: Hesperioidea & Papilionoidea). Phegea 15 (2): 77-88, (3): 165-170. Pamperis, L. N., 1997. The Butterflies of Greece. Bastas-Plessas Graphic Arts S. A., Athens. Rebel, H. & Zerny, H., 1931. Die Lepidopterenfauna Albaniens (Mit Beriicksichtigung der Nachbargebiete). Denkschr. Akad. Wiss. Wien 103: 37-161, 1 Taf., 1 Karte. Schaider, P. & Jaksic, P., 1989. Die Tagfalter von jugoslawisch Mazedonien. Diurna (Rhopalocera und Hesperiidae). Selbstverlag Paul Schaider, Miinchen, 82 pp., 46 Taf., 199 Verbreitungskarten. Tolman, T., 1997. Butterflies of Britain & Europe. Harper Collins. NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS 133 Apion brunnipes Boh. (Col.: Apionidae) in Dorset I find that one specimen in my series of Apion (Taphrotopium) brunnipes Boh, is labelled “Cranborne 18.vii.37. P.H.” This north-east Dorset locality was one of Philip Harwood’s occasional collecting-grounds. A. brunnipes is an extremely local species, living on Filago and Gnaphalium, for which Morris (1990. Handbk. ident. Br. Insects, 5:16) lists the British records as from North Devon, West Kent, Berkshire and East and West Suffolk only. In the sandy area of Tubney, Berkshire (near Oxford) it used to occur in some numbers to J. J. Walker and others in the first decade or two of the last century.— A. A. ALLEN, 49 Montcalm Road, Charlton, London SE7 8QG. Apion semivittatum Gyllenhal (Col.: Brentidae) in South Wiltshire Whilst staying with relations in Salisbury (grid reference SU 1231) in August 1987 I noticed small feeding holes in the leaves of young plants of Mercurialis annua growing in a narrow cultivated strip under their front window. Anticipating that these might be caused by the very locally distributed Apion semivittatum, I kept an eye on the patch and over the next few weeks I recorded over a dozen examples of the weevil. Morris ( 1990, Handbk. Ident. Br. Insects. 5, part 16: 41) reports the beetle from East and West Kent, East Sussex, South Essex and Wiltshire — the latter county being included, as far as I am aware, on the basis of the record presented here which was communicated to Dr Morris.— DAviID R. NASH, 3 Church Lane, Brantham, Suffolk CO11 1PU. A curious colour-variety of Quedius curtipennis Bernh. (Col.: Staphylinidae) A rather large female of this common, black Quedius, taken by Mr K. C. Lewis at Chalk Wood, Bexley, West Kent on 10 July 1989, proved to be abnormal in one very unusual respect. The whole of the epipleurs, or turned-down lateral edges of the elytra, are very distinctly and sharply reddish-yellow; the colour is narrowly visible from above at the shoulders. In normal specimens, these parts are concolorous with the rest of the body. No such variation in either this or the allied species appears to be mentioned in any of the works that I have seen. - A. A. ALLEN, 49 Montcalm Road, Charlton, London SE7 8QG. The juniper mirid Dichrooscytus gustavi Josifov (Hem.: Miridae) found on cypress On 24 June 1999, I knocked several specimens of a small brightly coloured mirid bug from a row of four-metre-high cypresses, bordering the car park just north of Chalfont and Latimer railway station, Buckinghamshire (grid reference SU 996976). The trees were probably the ubiquitous garden scourge Cupressocyparis leylandii (Jackson & Dallimore). Later, with the help of Mr P. J. Hodge, the bugs were quickly determined as Dichrooscytus gustavi, formerly D. valesianus (Meyer- Diir). This very local bug, accorded nationally scarce (Notable B) status by Kirby (1992; A review of the scarce and threatened Hemiptera of Great Britain), was previously known only from junipers, and at the time of Kirby’s review was 134 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.v.2000 recorded from only about 20 recent localities in Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Wiltshire and Worcestershire. It was thought to be declining because its foodplant and habitat have become much rarer in southern England over the last hundred years. However, its movement to a new foodplant has long been anticipated. Kirby listed two records from cultivated juniper species, and suggested the possibility that the bug would find a new foodplant among the myriad juniper-related garden shrubs and trees. Dichrooscytus gustavi would appear to have found that new foodplant, and follows the jumps earlier made by the juniper shield-bug Cyphostethus tristriatus (Fabr.) and juniper lygaeid Orsillus depresses (Mulsant & Rey) from wild juniper to garden cypress.— RICHARD A. JONES, 135 Friern Road, East Dulwich, London SE22 OAZ. Hockeria bifasciata Walker (Hym.: Chalcididae), an accidental import into Britain A female of this parasitic wasp was reared from a microlepidopteran pupa found on a peach Prunus persica purchased in a supermarket in Reading. The stated country of origin of the fruit was Italy. The wasp emerged on 1| July 1999 a few weeks after the date of purchase. Its identity was established by reference to Boucek (1952. The first revision of the European species of the family Chalcididae. Acta Entomologica Musaei Nationalis Pragae Supplementum 1: 1-108) and confirmed by comparison with identified specimens in the collections of the Natural History Museum, London. This species is normally found in the warmer parts of continental Europe but, although Ferriére & Kerrich (1958. Chalcidoidea. Handbooks for the Identification of British Insects VIII part 2(a): 1-40) anticipated the occurrence of Hockeria in Britain, there is no evidence of it being established here. The wasp and host remains will be deposited in the collection of Reading Museum and Archive Service. Thanks are due to Christine Taylor for access to the collections at the Natural History Museum and to Mr J. Notton for donating the specimen to Reading Museum.— Davip G. NOTTON, Curator of Natural History, Reading Museum and Archive Service, Museum of Reading, Blagrave Street, Reading RG1 1QH. (E-mail: david.notton@reading.gov.uk). Orange Upperwing Jodia croceago (D.& S. ) (Lep.: Noctuidae) in Devon A battered, desiccated and irretrievably damaged specimen of the Orange Upperwing moth was found in spider’s silk, hanging from a strand under a spider’s web, in the Stover Park area of Devon, near Newton Abbot, on 8 October 1999. The last time it was found in this area was on 30 October 1970 by Bernard Skinner. Other recent records are from Yarner Wood, near Bovey Tracey in 1977 and Heddons Mouth, on the Exmoor coast, in 1990. There are no specimens, as far as I am aware, to support these last two records.- Roy McCormick, 36 Paradise Road, Teignmouth, Devon TQ14 8NR. NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS 135 Two Species of Nepticulidae (Lepidoptera) new to Somerset and one new to North Somerset I would like to report the discovery of the following species of Nepticulidae in Somerset. Ectoedemia quinquella (Bedell) at Hollow Marsh (grid reference ST 6156) in Vice-county 6 (North Somerset), on 16 October 1999. A vacated mine was found on Quercus robur. This species has been spreading westwards and has been recorded from all the vice-counties adjacent to North Somerset except for South Somerset. Stigmella samiatella (Zeller) at King’s Cliff Wood (ST 2631) in VC 5 (South Somerset), on 20 July 1999. The vacated mine was found on Castanea sativa. The nearest records to this site are in South Wiltshire (VC 8) and South Wales. Ectoedemia angulifasciella (Stainton) was found on Rosa canina at Hollow Marsh on 14 October 1998 and again on 16 October 1999. I have also recorded it from Turn Hill (ST 4131) and Westhay Moor (ST 4544). All these sites are in North Somerset. This species had not been previously recorded in North Somerset although it is known from every other English vice-county except North Northumberland. I would like to thank John Robbins for identifying S. samiatella and confirming my identifications of EF. angulifasciella and E. quinquella. 1 would also like to thank Maitland Emmet for confirming the new county records and for the information on the distribution of these species— MARTIN ELLIS, 14 Great Ostry, Shepton Mallet, Somerset BA4 5TT. (E-mail: mjellis@tesco.net). Hazards of butterfly collecting: Visiting the Flemings — Malaysia, 1975 In November, 1975, I was on my first visit to Malaysia, part of a team running a seminar on the evaluation of family planning programmes. It was my first trip farther east than India; I would be able to take a ten-day vacation. I had written in advance to local members of various entomological societies. I had published Butterflies of Lebanon the year before, fine reviews were just coming out, and for the first time I had the vicarious pleasure of feeling famous! A few days before the end of my seminar, three of the most well-known butterfly collectors converged on the Equatorial Hotel for a planning session, together with my late wife Kiki. I was to be looked after sequentially: First a long weekend with Anthony Owston and his wife. Then four days with Henry Barlow in the Genting Highlands, just 40 km out of Kuala Lumpur. Then four days with Wicky and Alix Fleming, who had just published an excellent illustrated guide to the butterflies of the Malay Peninsula, somewhere up in Selangor. This seemed a splendid and most generous arrangement; it was actually much better than that! 136 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.v.2000 Anthony Owston took us to a wonderful forested valley south of KL, Ulu Langat, now long since logged to death. The first thing we saw was a large mudpuddling butterfly assemblage, with the Rajah Brooke Birdwing Trogonoptera brookiana as a major component. My first serious swing with a net in Malaysia yielded three picture-perfect Rajah Brookes! A dirt road, running along a small river provided almost perfect collecting conditions. We netted some 100 species that day, which is good for the Oriental Region — many more can be found in a day in Africa. Some hours later Vivien Owston unpacked what must have been the most sumptuous picnic I have ever seen. Several interesting skippers landed on an exceptionally good paté, showing a culinary discrimination with which they are not usually credited! One of my most marvellous experiences that day was running into a little group of orang asli on the river — they are the aboriginal inhabitants of Malaysia. A family was sitting on a sandy spit eating crabs. The father got up, shook hands, grabbed my killing bottle, and toppled out its contents. He was deeply unimpressed. Skippers and small blues! Not the stuff of commercial collecting. The orang asli make money out of butterflies! Next came the Genting Highlands. Henry Barlow was a gracious host. During a lifetime he has done wonders for the study and conservation of natural history in Malaysia. His old tea plantation — now allowed to go wild — was full of butterflies. I listed some 200 during our stay. I must have been reasonably energetic, for Henry wrote many years later in a book review: Larsen confidently predicts than several species remain to be discovered in Oman; for someone who has seen him in action this is difficult to believe. I also had my first taste of the famed Durian fruit. It tastes heavenly, but it smells like an ill-maintained public toilet. Henry had a durian-eating corner at the bottom of his garden and only served them if the wind was right. The last night at the Genting Tea Estate we had a lovely party, and were then removed to Selangor by the Flemings. We drove up late and were quickly in bed. The next morning we woke up in a time warp. Wicky Fleming managed a rubber estate in Bukit Rotan on which little had changed since colonial times. Servants in sarongs brought bed-tea at 06.30. Breakfast with fried eggs and kippers was served an hour later in the huge dining room, with the four of us sitting at a long table that could seat twenty-four. Wicky was a bit hard of hearing, and seated in the middle of the table we found ourselves transmitting messages between him and Alix, wondering how they managed when there were no guests. It could have been straight out of a Somerset-Maugham short story. Soon we went off on butterfly collecting and had an interesting day despite the poor weather, but we ended back on the plantation early. Time to inspect the collection — oops, collections! For Wicky and Alix were fiercely competitive. There was a his and her collection. I forget the exact details, but there are just about 1,000 species of butterflies in Malaysia; Wicky had about 992 and Alix about 990! Both collections must be the most complete of any tropical country anywhere. That evening over drinks, Wicky told us about his life, all of which had been spent in Malaysia. As a young planter he had been interned for the entire World War II in BOOK REVIEWS 137 a Japanese internment camp, an experience so horrendous that it can hardly be communicated. He decided to stay on after independence and was now reaching retirement age. But this surviving icon of the colonial age also wrote his simple, but excellent book on the butterflies of the Malay Peninsula. What a pity he could not put on record his unsurpassed field knowledge of the Malay butterflies. Nancy and I spent Xmas and new year 1998 in a Malaysia changed beyond belief. The sleepy town of KL is now a concrete megalopolis, proud of having the tallest building in the world. Its motorways allows you to travel north to south at 100 km/h — back home in Manila we manage 5 km/h. Anthony Owston and Wicky Fleming are dead. But on the first day of 1999 we did revisit Henry Barlow up in the Genting Highlands for a splendid lunch — with the occasional Rajah Brooke Birdwing swooping down on the Bauhinia just outside. I studied my handwritten list of species written in 1975; this was before portable computers — am I really that old? Henry is still a driving force in Malaysian natural history. He now has firm records of nearly half of all Malaysian butterfly species from the Genting Tea Estate. Henry also told us a fine little anecdote. Wicky was apparently very fond of cheap plonk, and he had a little tree-house on a remote hilltop, where some of his best butterflies were caught hill-topping, including one new to science. He threw empty bottles off the tree-house, and there are many indeed, after several dozen years. It will be very interesting to see what some some archaeologist will make of this some hundred years from now! — TORBEN B. LARSEN, 5 Wilson Compound, 2811 Park Avenue, Pasay City, Metro-Manila, The Phillipines. (E-mail: torbenlarsen@compuserve.com). BOOK REVIEWS The genus Rhipicephalus (Acari, Ixodidae): a guide to the brown ticks of the world by J. B. Walker, J. E. Keirans and I. G. Horak. 643pp. Numerous distribution maps. 265 figures (SEM plates). Hardbound. ISBN 0 521 48008 6. January 2000. Cambridge University Press. £70. Ticks are blood suckers which can transmit serious disease. Thus they have few friends in this world and there is probably little chance of a tick conservation society! Nevertheless, ticks are as fascinating as any other group of arthropods and if a person wants a challenging group to collect and identify, then this is it! In all, there are about 850 known species of ticks in the world and these are mainly placed in two families, the “hard ticks” (Ixodidae) and the “soft ticks” (Argasidae). The family Ixodidae is the bigger of the two and is composed of thirteen genera; the genus Rhipicephalus, the subject of this new book, is a relatively large genus with 74 species (most occur in Africa). This impressive book is the combined work of three highly respected specialists, most notably Jane B. Walker, who has spent forty years studying African ticks, particularly in the genus Rhipicephalus. The book divides the species into those occurring in the Afrotropical 138 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.v.2000 Region and those occurring elsewhere. Identification keys are provided for the adult male and female of every known species, while for the nymphal and larval stages, line drawings of the head parts of similar species are grouped together to facilitate identification. The treatment of each species includes further diagnoses of the male, female, nymph and larva, line drawings of the male and female, superb SEM plates of critical features, host records, a distribution map, notes on disease transmission and relevant references. Though inevitably the book will be of major appeal to specialists and academic institutions, it could easily be used by a keen naturalist, with no previous knowledge of the group, to identify specimens. The introductory sections of the book are sufficiently good for anyone to learn about the group and to proceed with identification. In fact, the book is so good, one only wishes that similar volumes on other genera might be forthcoming. If so, they would transform the study of ticks. Unfortunately, however, this present volume may remain a unique work as there are so few people in the world who have dedicated their lifetime to the study of a particular genus of ticks! Paul D. Hillyard World catalogue of insects. Volume 2. Hydrophiloidea (Coleoptera) by Michael Hansen. 416 Pp.. 240 x 170 mm, hardbound. ISBN 87-88757-31-5 and ISSN 1398-8700 for the series. 1999. Apollo Books, Kirkeby Sand 19, DK-5771 Stenstrup, Denmark. E-mail: apollobooks@vip.cybercity.dk. Price 690 Danish Krone plus postage. Subscribers to the series qualify for a 10% discount. Up-to-date and reliable catalogues and checklists provide essential underpinning to all those aspects of “organismal” biology that are concerned with the diversity of life. In principle then, any new series devoted to serious cataloguing should arrive on the scene to a ready-made welcome. In practice, however, such new ventures represent a “publishing opportunity” that may be seized by the unscrupulous. Feeding on the voracious hunger for new information products that our age demands, it is easy enough for uncritically processed information to be packaged for release on a market that, if not entirely unsuspecting, is nevertheless largely unable to realise that it is being sold a turkey. This is not to say that every “information product” dealing with names of organisms has to be the perfect scholarly work in order to be useful but, if the ratio of noise to information reaches above a certain level it is certainly possible for a catalogue to do more harm than good. Any review of a new cataloguing venture thus needs to address at least two questions. Is it effective in promoting the dissemination of much-needed information in a way that is timely and effective? Is the quality of the information up to the job? After that wordy preamble, let it be said that the World Catalogue of Insects, on the evidence of the first two volumes to appear, passes the second test with flying colours. In brief, these are well edited works of a high scholarly standard that can be relied upon to give an accurate representation of where we stand with respect to the task of describing and ordering the species of the insect groups (hydraenid beetles in Volume 1, hydrophiloid beetles in Volume 2) covered. And yes, there seems to be every indication that the series will include timely and effective products (see further below). Having given my personal thumbs-up to this series, what else might be said of the new cataloguing series that has been launched under the title World Catalogue of Insects, and of the volume in hand that covers the approximately 2,800 known species of the beetle superfamily Hydrophiloidea? BOOK REVIEWS 139 Taxonomic treatment of the superfamily. Whether or not the taxonomy behind the classification used is of a particular quality or meets with ones particular approval is not a really significant basis for any criticism of a catalogue. Suffice it to say that this catalogue has an adequate (if short) introduction describing and explaining the system used which is effectively that put forward by the catalogue’s author in recent comprehensive treatments of the classification of the group (Hansen, 1991, 1995). Whether or not this arrangement is somewhere near the final answer as to how best classify groups of Hydrophiloidea, it is certainly somewhere near (questions of ranking perhaps to one side), to being the best available system at present. The significant features, for those not familiar with Hansen’s recent studies, are that (following a consensus that surely can only grow stronger), the Hydraenidae are excluded as belonging to the Staphylinoidea, the Histeridae and allies are also excluded, as members of a separate superfamily the Histeroidea, and the remaining “Hydrophiloidea” proper (or Hydrophilidae proper to many), are referred to six families: Helophoridae, Epimetopidae, Georissidae, Hydrochidae, Spercheidae and Hydrophilidae. In large part, the exclusion of Histeroidea and the family system used for Hydrophiloidea in the narrow sense stem from questions of ranking, rather than any serious disagreement over relationships with the competing systems that decline to give separate superfamily status to Histeridae etc., and/or refer all Hydrophiloidea (excluding Histeridae etc.) to just one or two families. Following this “Hansen” system all taxa of Hydrophiloidea down to the level of subgenus are arranged in the catalogue in systematic order, with only species within genera/ subgenera listed alphabetically. Treatment of names. Despite the fact that the author is a taxonomist with intimate knowledge of the group, a few decisions made with respect to names have purely “nomenclaturist” justifications. If consistency and communication needs, rather than the letter of the law, had been considered the first priority, the author could, for example, have avoided listing the species well-known to European entomologists as Megasternum obscurum under the unfamiliar name of M. concinnum.. Format of entries. In the introduction to this catalogue and in the promotional material for the series it is made clear that, despite keeping to a consistent format, individual catalogues will vary with respect to the inclusion of “additional information” over and beyond a stipulated “minimum”. This variability is clearly sensible, as the ease with which additional data (on, for instance general biology of species, their applied significance, etc.) can be gathered and, indeed, its usefulness, varies greatly from group to group. This particular catalogue limits citations, generally speaking, to the original ones for each name (whether a valid name or one in synonymy), and additional citations in which taxonomic (e.g. new synonymies or combinations) or nomenclatural (e.g. emendations) changes have first been established or noted. Distributional data. The level of detail and quality of the geographical distribution information provided represents one of the strengths of this catalogue. Although the “detail” descends generally speaking only to the level of country or, in the case of some large countries (e.g. USA, Canada, China) state or province, this is entirely appropriate for a catalogue at world level. A little more precision than a country name would, however, have been welcome for some of the more narrowly endemic species. Importantly, but unlike many catalogues, the available distribution data are treated critically, and where these are doubtful or in error this is noted; when the presence of species in a given region or country is known to be due to introduction this is also made clear. Both of these features are very welcome and provide testimony to the great advantage of having a catalogue produced by an individual with extensive “hands-on” knowledge of the group in question, rather than being done as a “desk- study” from the literature without intimate knowledge of the group. 140 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.v.2000 References section. In the case of this volume the references section of almost 60 pages effectively represents a complete bibliography of taxonomic work on the Hydrophiloidea, and is of considerable value in its own right. Publication dates and other details have been well researched, with (as properly acknowledged), the help of a number of skilled librarians. The presentation of the references is slightly marred, however, by the method of justifying the type that has been used. This involves squeezing too many words into some lines, with the result that some words are effectively run together; for example, without a knowledge of German, the reader might reasonably conclude that “Mitteilungender” is all one word Appendices. There are three of these: (1) a list of fossil species of recent genera, with appropriate citations; (2) a list of nomina nuda; (3) a list of species now excluded from (but at one time at least nominally in), the Hydrophiloidea. All three may be of little concern to the general user, as there primary purpose is to provide guidance to those who may have to deal with problems of a purely nomenclatural nature. Not surprisingly, most of Appendix 3 is composed of early (many of them pre-1800) names that were described in or referred to Sphaeridium, Hydrophilus or Helophorus, all genera which once were repositories for a great variety of beetle species that have nothing to do with the Hydrophilidae in the modern sense. A list of 15 “species incertae” at the end of the main listings is composed of those hydrophiloid or probably hydrophiloid taxa that remain unplaceable at present. All of these names, no doubt, are (at least potentially) referable to species already well-known under other names. Indexes. Arranged over 30 pages, there are separate indexes for family-group, genus-group and species-group names. Sensibly, the details of each species entry are in smallish print, but the font used and print quality make all text clear enough (for me) to read without spectacles. There are very few typographical errors. Two, however, are unfortunately to be found in the “blurb” for the series to be found on the book’s back cover. This advertising material gives a useful statement of intent with respect to the series as a whole, but in English which is undoubtedly “strained”; the publishers would be well advised to get this re-drafted (minus typos) for future volumes. This is the second volume of the series to be published. It very much mirrors the style of the first on Coleoptera Hydraenidae (see review by Ribera, 1999). Seven more volumes are stated to be in the pipeline. In part, the eventual success of the series will be judged on whether the high standard of scholarship set by the volume in hand is maintained. Also, it is to be hoped that the series will provide active encouragement to the production of further catalogues that might otherwise gestate for a more protracted period or perhaps never see the light of day. If this is so, and a good flow of catalogues results, the World Catalogue of Insects may be deemed a success in all important respects. In addition, and of course, it is important that the production standards are maintained, along with an affordable price. References Hansen, M. 1991. The Hydrophiloid Beetles, Phylogeny, Classification and a Revision of the Genera (Coleoptera, Hydrophiloidea). Biologiske Skrifter, Det Kongelige Danske Videnskabernes Selskab 40: 1-368. Hansen, M. 1995. Evolution and classification of the Hydrophiloidea — a systematic review. In Pakaluk, J. & Slipinski, S.A. (eds), Biology, Phylogeny and Classification of Coleoptera. Papers celebrating the 80th birthday of Roy A. Crowson 1: 321-353. Muzeum I Instytut Zoologii PAN, Warzawa. Ribera, I. 1999. Review of ‘World Catalogue of Insects, Volume 1. Hydraenidae (Coleoptera) by Michael Hansen. Entomologist’s Rec. J. Var. 111: 200. Peter Hammond Continued from back cover Sympherobius klapaleki Zeleny (Neur.: Hemerobiidae): a second British record — from GHIBLI SS COTO CME CKCLE: fepe 25 fe oh an N el isan lols e Yee eae eel ade eyed st RE elas ove We 129-130 Easy TR@G! 2x CTE UG Obi Ray BY) 71) ia eter Pete NRe er aR eo ar RPA ona ae er ee 130 Binsimultennnum: butteriites? Roger Bristow 2.0.0... 05 006. 3.06 lb ewe. 130 PiMlcnnIanMoOUssh: DOMACOSIEN 3 cs. a nti ee lm ee Ne ow Oe See dae Os 130 Apion brunnipes Boh. (Col.: Apionidae) in Dorset. A. A. Allen .............02000- 133 Apion semivittatum Gyllenhal (Col.: Brentidae) in South Wiltshire. David R. Nash ... 133 A curious colour-variety of Quedius curtipennis Bernh. (Col.: Staphylinidae). A.A. Allen 1133 The Juniper Mirid Dichrooscytus gustavi Josifov (Hem.: Miridae) found on cypress. OI ACE) ONT CS iach eros sesh c Wanm @ RE peas ae cuten Ws en ctiwlhe atin, « Ba aves en eed ceegtelta «Le wilolielade gals 133-134 Hockeria bifasciata Walker (Hym.: Chalcididae), an accidental import into Britain. Baur GANOLOE ee see Pee ere eee eee ree 134 Orange Upperwing Jodia croceago (D.& S.) (Lep.: Noctuidae) in Devon. Roy SHE OTITIS Re PPS Pel 8 ch culertourst sar ste Cees o SaeED see deepen ev edn sean ch epecatt "eis 134 Two species of Nepticulidae (Lepidoptera) new to Somerset and one new to North SGMEDSC IMPACT ITIDES LIS ae terre, Sit. ocendaat sel ate aiaacnaese dhcan seca hele ae Maapetsye etwas eyes Se 135 Hazards of butterfly collecting: visiting the Flemings — Malaysia, 1975. Torben B. Larsen 135-137 In Memoriam TESST) [BVPI Ra a oan a nn a TG Ste wee 126 Book Reviews The genus Rhipicephalus (Acari, Ixodidae): a guide to the brown ticks of the world by ab evvalkenr ioe. Wwierans: 60-1. G, Horak: 2. a. ste 4a a aeiece as areas og Glee veeaie ote Sig's 137-138 World catalogue of insects. Volume 2. Hydrophiloidea (Coleoptera) by Michael Hansen 138-140 Entomologist’s Monthly Magazine Caters for articles on all orders of insects and terrestrial arthropods, specialising in the British fauna and groups other than Lepidoptera. Published March, July and November (4 months per issue) Annual subscription UK and Europe £33 ($72), USA and Rest of World £36 ($79). Entomologist’s Gazette An illustrated quarterly, devoted to Palaearctic entomology. It contains articles and notes on the biology, ecology, distribution, taxonomy and systematics of all orders of insects, with a bias towards Lepidoptera. Caters for both the professional and amateur entomologist. Published January, April, July and October. Annual subscription UK and Europe £29 ($64), USA and Rest of World £33 ($72). The Moths and Butterflies of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly by F.H.N. Smith (County Species Recorder) The systematic list gives details of localities, dates and provenance for over 1500 species, also noting the status currently assigned by English Nature to the nationally uncommon or endangered species which occur in Cornwall. Listed are species gained since the Victoria County History, 1906, and those not since recorded. 480 pages including 152 colour illustrations. Hardback £44 + P&P £3. Handbook of Palaearctic Macrolepidoptera VOLUME 1 Sesiidae — Clearwing Moths by K. Spatenka, O. Gorbunov, Z. LaStfivka, I. ToSevski and Y. Arita Synonymic lists. descriptions section, full data on male and female genitalia, bionomics and habitat and distribution maps. Most species illustrated by superb watercolour paintings by Stary, Holzinger and Gregor. Published October 1999. Price £120 + P&P: UK £5, Overseas £10. Payments by cheque or Giro Transfer to account no. 467 6912. GEM PUBLISHING COMPANY Brightwood, Brightwell, Wallingford, Oxon OX10 0QD For further details please write to: THE ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD AND JOURNAL OF VARIATION (Founded by J.W. TUTT on 15th April 1890) Contents A study of Gortyna borelii lunata Freyer (Lep.: Noctuidae): results from the first season of behavioural observation sessions. Zoé Ringwood, Julian Hill & Chris Gibson . Melanagromyza dettmeri Hering (Dip.: Agromyzidae) new to Ireland and a second Irish record of its parasitoids Diglyphosema conjugens Kieffer (Hym.: Eucoilidae). JOP. OF CONNOR es. oa alin wk eo eh a es ee Hoverflies (Dip.: Syrphidae) with a drinking habit. Martin C. D. Speight ........... The distribution of the Toadflax Brocade Calophasia lunula (Hufn.) (Lep.: Noctuidae) in Britain: Mark Parsons .c00 os cc0, 2 Coe eee oo ole 2 eee Dryocoetes autographus (Ratzeburg) (Col.: Scolytidae) in Surrey, apparently new to south-east England, with a taxonomic note. A. A. Allen & J.A. Owen ............ An unusual aberrant male of Erebia rhodopensis Nichol (Lep.: Nymphalidae: Satyrinae): Stanislav Abadjiev 2). ia. sar oben Jaleo secon dee Survival of ladybird hosts infected with phorid parasitoids. Michael E. N. Majerus, Ejizabeth H. Bayne, Hazel Betts & Penelope R. Madadrill. «=. 222. eee Lithostygnus (Metophthalmus) serripennis Broun (Col.: Latridiidae) from a living bat. J AcOwen A.C. Lane & BR. SiGeorge 2 3 ae oe ss lo eee Tachystola acroxantha (Meyrick) (Lep.: Oecophoridae) around Manchester: history and current. ptatlisseequnen TH. iind 2 2 = 82 ee Anthocharis eruneri Herrich- Schaffer (Lep.: Pieridae) new for the Greek Islands. Stanislav teas Ad SO PR or Ros en Notes and observations = Unesual occurrences of the Orange Ladybird Halyzia sedecimguttata (L.) (Col.: Coccinellidaeyt in the London Area, 1998 — 2000. Paul R. Mabbott ............. Se. Some autumn and winter observations of Halyzia sedecimguttata (L.) (Col.: ‘Coccinellidae) with notes on a concentration of wintering ladybirds. C. M. Everett . The ladybird as a twinkle in the eye of an-angel. Richard A. Jones ................ Over-wintering aggregations of the*Orange Ladybird Halyzia sedecimguttata (L.) (Col.: Coccinellidae) on trees in the gar ree Beare Mark Lane & ColiniWAPlantcee nies ee eS s A LE Spruce Carpet Thera:B ee an) Cypress res Thera cupréssata Geyer (en en McCormick ee New vice-county records of miciolepidoptena: 2 Emmet. PN 5 2 oe. Euzophera bigella Zell. (Lep.: Pyralidae) new to pen ey McC opie MN 3 abe More on unusual micro-moths in Somerset. Kay Barnett ...........-...-- sees Continued on inside back cover SPECIAL NOTICE. 93-99 105-106 107-113 115-120 121 122 123-124 125-126 127-128 131-132 100-101 101-102 102-103 103-104 104 106 106 114 114 128-129 We would be willing to consider the purchase of a limited number of back issues. Printed in England by Cravitz Printing Company Limited, 1 Tower Hill, Brentwood, Essex CM14 4TA. Tel: 01277 224610 THE ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD AND JOURNAL OF VARIATION Edited by C.W. PLANT, B.sc., F.R.E.S. ; = Assistant Editors R.A TONES, F.R.ES. & A. SPALDING, F.R.ES. July/August 2000 ISSN 0013-8916 THE ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD AND JOURNAL OF VARIATION World List abbreviation: Entomologist’s Rec. J. Var. Editor C.W. PLANT, B.Sc., FR.ES. 14 West Road, Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire CM23 3QP. Telephone: 01279 507697 E-mail: Colinwplant@compuserve.com Assistant Editors R.A. JONES, B.Sc., F.R.E.S., F.L.S. & A. SPALDING, M.A., F.R.ES. Editorial Panel A.A. Allen, B.Sc., A.R.C.S. A.M. Emmet, M.B.E., T.D., F.R.E.S. N. L. Birkett, J.P., M.A., M.B., F.R.E.S. J.A. Owen, M.D., Ph.D., F.R.E.S. J.D. Bradley, Ph.D., F.R.E.S. C.J. Luckens, M.B., Ch.B., D.R.C.O.G. J.M. Chalmers-Hunt, F.R.E.S. B. Skinner P.J. Chandler, B.Sc., F.R.E.S. P.A. Sokoloff, M.Sc., C.Biol., M.I.Biol., F.R.E.S. C.A. 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There are normally no page charges to authors for text or black and white photographs but authors wanting colour photographs will normally have to defray the cost. Contact the editor in advance for details. All papers are subjected to peer review and may be returned to authors for corrections before acceptance. Galley proofs of papers and book reviews are sent to authors for correction. Proofs of other contributions are checked by the editorial panel. Authors of papers receive 25 free reprints and may pay for additional copies; the order form will be sent with the galley proofs. Proofs of notes can be provided at cost and must be requested when submitting the manuscript. MOTHS OF CULM GRASSLAND 141 THE LARGER MOTHS (MACROLEPIDOPTERA) OF CULM GRASSLAND, NORTH DEVON ROBERT J. WOLTON English Nature, 1 Southampton Road, Lyndhurst, Hampshire SO43 7BU. Summary CULM GRASSLAND is the local name given to species-rich purple moor grass Molinia caerulea and rush Juncus pasture. The larger moths (macrolepidoptera) of four culm grassland sites in North Devon were surveyed to determine which species are characteristic of the habitat, particularly which rare and uncommon ones, and whether site management may be beneficially adjusted to favour these moths. A total of 3,600 individuals of 193 species was recorded. Three nationally scarce species were caught, Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk-moth Hemaris tityus, Devon Carpet Lampropteryx otregiata and Double Line Mythimna turca. A further 29 nationally Local species were found. This high number of restricted species suggests that culm grassland is an important habitat for moths. The Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk-moth and Double Line are priority species for conservation action within the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. The latter was the fifth most abundant species caught on the culm grassland sites that were surveyed. The larvae of both species feed on plants typical of the open sward (although the food plants of the Double Line need verification). Only thirty-seven (19%) of the 193 species caught show a clear preference for feeding as larvae on grasses and herbs typical of open culm grassland, as opposed to ninety (47%) on plants typical of associated scrub and woodland. Consequently it is recommended that site management should aim to conserve not just the open sward, but also associated woodland, scrub and hedges. The open sward is, however, relatively more important for scarce and local moths, probably supporting 12 such species compared to 15 for woodland, scrub and hedges. Thus, just as for the Marsh Fritillary Eurodryas aurinia, a butterfly for which culm grasslands are a national stronghold, care should be taken to burn or cut no more than half of a site in any one year. Introduction Culm grassland is the local name given to the species-rich purple moor grass and rush pastures that occur on the acidic, poorly-drained soils of North Devon and north-east Cornwall. The habitat has experienced severe declines in recent decades, largely as a result of agricultural intensification, and has its own habitat action plan within the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK Steering Group, 1995). Culm grassland sites possess an intricate, but distinctive, mix of various types of poor fen and mire plant communities (Wolton, 1993). Characteristically, sites contain a mix of fen meadow, rush pasture and wet heath and are dominated either by purple moor grass or by rushes, but with a wide variety of other plants present, in 142 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.vil.2000 particular sedges Carex spp. and herbs such as devil's-bit scabious Succisa pratensis and meadow thistle Cirsium dissectum. Frequently heathland plants such as heather Calluna vulgaris and western dwarf gorse Ulex gallii are present, together with bog mosses Sphagnum spp.. Stands of tall fen plants, in particular meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria, are occasional. The main National Vegetation Communities (NVC) present are M16b, M23b, M24c, M25c and M27c (Rodwell, 1992): Culm grasslands usually contain woodland and scrub, often in the form of small woods or thick hedges dominated by oak Quercus spp., birch Betula spp. and hazel Corylus avellana. Sites often have patches of willow Salix spp. scrub within them. These trees and shrubs possess luxuriant moss and lichen epiphytic communities. Traditionally culm grassland is used as rough summer grazing by cattle. Sites dominated by purple moor grass are usually burnt annually or biennially and those dominated by rushes topped (that is, cut at a height of 10 cm or more). Grazing on its own is seldom sufficient to prevent sites becoming rank and invaded by scrub. The aims of this study were to determine which larger moths (macrolepidoptera) are characteristic of culm grassland, whether the habitat supports any particular specialities and whether management practices may be beneficially adjusted to favour the moth fauna. The moth records made at Dunsdon Farm by Spalding (1989) are incorporated into this paper. Study sites and sampling methods Four culm grassland sites in North Devon were selected for sampling: Dunsdon Farm, Coombe Meadow, Hollow Moor and Southmoor Farm. The sites were selected on the basis that together they exhibited almost the full range of vegetation communities typical of Culm grassland. A description of each of the four sites is given in Appendix 1. The majority of sampling was carried out using portable “Heath” light traps. Up to three Heath traps were used on any one night on a site. In addition, at Dunsdon Farm a mercury-vapour light, positioned above a white sheet and powered by a portable generator, was used on seven nights. Moths were caught as they came to the light and stored in boxes until the end of the session so that numbers could be counted (Spalding, 1989). It was intended to sample each of the sites at least once a month between April and September. This was achieved at Dunsdon Farm and Hollow Moor, and also at Coombe Meadow except for April. At Southmoor Farm, the owners declined to grant access permission after the end of June 1987. Table 1 presents details of the number of trap nights at each site, and the first and last dates of trapping. All trapping was carried out during 1987 and 1988. In addition to the use of ultra-violet lights a few moths were caught with the aid of a strong halogen searchlight and a hand net, and by sugaring. Also some moths were caught by hand net during daytime visits and at dusk. MOTHS OF CULM GRASSLAND 143 Results The species of macrolepidoptera caught at each of the four study sites are given in Appendix 2, together with the number of individuals caught. No trapping was carried out after 22 June on Southmoor Farm, which explains the low number of species caught there. Numbers are given so as to provide a rough index of the relative abundance of species, albeit a very crude one due to differences in sampling effort during the course of the year and to differences between species in their response to ultra-violet light and weather conditions. Over 3,600 individuals of 193 larger moth species were recorded. Half of these species were recorded at three or more sites. Table 1. Trapping effort at each study site, and first and last dates of trapping. Number of light | Number of nights First date of Last date of aco site trap nights when traps operated trapping trapping Heath MV trap light 26 11 March 19 27 10 Dunsdon Farm 3 September Coombe Meadow 17 May 21 September Hollow Moor 24 April 4 October Southmoor Farm 12 April 22 June Table 2 picks out those rare, uncommon and local species as classified by Waring (1994, 1999), together with details of their larval food plants. Three species are nationally-scarce and a further twenty-nine are nationally-local. Further information on larval food plants is given in Table 3, this time for all species of moth caught. Thirty-seven species (19% of the total catch) feed only on plants typical of the open sward of culm grassland, while ninety (47%) feed only on those typical of associated scrub and woodland. For scarce and local moths a greater proportion (12 species: 37.5%) probably feed on plants typical of the open sward, compared to those of woodland and scrub (16 species: 50%). Discussion The high number (32) of scarce or local species strengthens the case for the conservation of culm grassland together with associated woodland and scrub. However, just how important the habitat may be for moths compared to other habitats is uncertain, since no comparable studies appear to have been published. C. Gibson (personal communication) found ten of the thirty-two scarce or local species to be common on culm grasslands near Chulmleigh (grid reference SS 686145) in 1969-70, and rarely on other habitats in that part of mid-Devon. These species were Devon Carpet, Ruddy Highflyer, Double Line, Wood Carpet, Barred Umber, Lunar Thorn, Brussels Lace, Striped Wainscot, Red Sword-grass and Small Rufous. He also found the nationally scarce (Grade B) Cloaked Carpet Euphyia biangulata frequently on culm grassland. I have myself recorded two of the above 144 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.vii.2000 ten species, Double Line and Brussels Lace, at Locks Park Farm (SS 518023) near Hatherleigh, which is 1 km away from the nearest culm grassland site, but not twenty-three of the thirty-two species despite frequent trapping over a number of years. In all, just fifteen local and one scarce species (out of 159), have been recorded at Locks Park Farm, adding weight to the suggestion that culm grassland supports an unusually large number of restricted species. Table 2. Species with restricted or local distributions (Waring, 1994, 1999), together with details of their larval food plants (Skinner, 1998). Only those food plants which occur in or near culm grassland sites are included. [Status: Nationally Scarce grade B: recorded from 31-100 of the 10 km grid squares in Britain since 1980] Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk-moth Devil’s-bit scabious Succisa pratensis Hemaris tityus Devon Carpet Lampropteryx otregiata Marsh bedstraw Galium palustris Fen bedstraw G. uliginosum Double Line Mythimna turca Grasses Wood rushes Luzula spp. [Status: Nationally Local: known from 101-300 of the 10 km grid squares in Britain since 1980] Five-spot Burnet Zygaena trifolii Bird’s-foot trefoils Lotus spp. Frosted Green Polyploca ridens Oak Quercus spp. Cream Wave Scopula floslactata In captivity on dandelion Taraxacum agg., knotgrass Polygonum spp. and dock Rumex spp. Oblique Carpet Orthonama vittata Bedstraws Galium spp. Wood Carpet Epirrhoe rivata Bedstraws Galium spp. Ruddy Highflyer Hydriomena ruberata | Eared willow Salix aurita Ling Pug Eupithecia goossensiata Heather Calluna vulgaris White-spotted Pug Wild angelica seeds Angelica sylvestris Eupithecia tripunctaria Elder Sambucus nigra Golden-rod PugEupithecia virgaureata | Grey willow Salix cinerea (first brood) Ragwort Senecio spp. (second brood) MOTHS OF CULM GRASSLAND 145 Sharp-angled Peacock Willows Salix spp. Macaria alternata Blackthorn Prunus spinosa Alder Alnus glutinosa Barred Umber Plagodis pulveraria Willows Salix spp. Birch Betula spp. Hazel Corylus avellana Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna Scorched Wing Plagodis dolabraria Oak Quercus spp. Birch Betula spp. Willows Salix spp. Lilac Beauty Apeira syringaria Ash Fraxinus excelsior Honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum Lunar Thorn Selenia lunularia Broad-leaved trees Brussels Lace Cleorodes lichenaria Lichens Small Engrailed Ectropis crepuscularia | Broad-leaved trees Great Prominent Peridea anceps Oak Quercus spp. Lunar Marbled Brown Oak Quercus spp. Drymonia ruficornis Black Arches Lymantria monacha Oak Quercus spp. Least Black Arches Nola confusalis Broadleaved trees Beautiful Brocade Lacanobia contigua Polyphagous Striped Wainscot Mythimna pudorina Purple moor grass Molinia caerulea Other grasses Old Lady Mormo maura Broadleaved trees Double Kidney /pimorpha retusa Willows Salix spp. Rufous Minor Oligia versicolor Probably grasses Red Sword-grass Xylena vetusta Polyphagous Lesser Common Rustic Grasses Mesapamea didyma Small Rufous Coenobia rufa Jointed rush Juncus articulatus Soft rush J. effusus Pinion-streaked Snout Unknown, possibly willow Salix spp. Schrankia costaestrigalis 146 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.vi1.2000 It is likely that further sampling would have substantially increased the species list on the four sites studied. Conversely some of the moths caught will have been strays or migrants. The preponderance of moths feeding as larvae on plants associated with scrub and woodland as opposed to those of the open sward argues strongly in favour of retaining and where appropriate encouraging scrub and woodland on culm grassland sites. Small woodlands and thick overgrown hedges which gradually grade from tall trees through to small shrubs before the open sward commences should be encouraged, particularly where willows are plentiful. The structural diversity of wooded areas is more likely to be important for the moth fauna than plant species diversity. Many moths, in particular rare ones, have precise spatial requirements in terms of habitat diversity and structure, and are not restricted by their food plants (M. Edgington, personal communication). The majority of moths caught that feed preferentially on plants associated with scrub and woodland are not host plant specific, but use a variety of different plants, usually woody ones. Willows stand out as being of special value, being the preferred food plant for fourteen species, as does oak, the preferred food plant for four local species. A greater proportion of scarce and local moths feed as larvae on plants typical of the open sward than of common species. Two of the three nationally-scarce moths recorded feed on plants typical of the open sward, Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk-moth feeding on devil's-bit scabious and Double Line on grasses and wood rushes. Another culm grassland speciality, the Marsh Fritillary butterfly Euphydryas aurinia, also feeds on devil’s-bit scabious. Like the Marsh Fritillary, the hawk-moth and Double Line are considered priority species for conservation action within the UK Biodiversity Action Plan and have their own species action plans (UK Biodiversity Group, 1999). The ranges of both moths in Great Britain have declined severely in recent decades, contracting to western Britain, particularly to south-west England. The third nationally-scarce moth, the Devon Carpet, may or may not be dependent on the open sward. Its larvae feed on marsh bedstraw and fen bedstraw. This fluttering moth is usually encountered near patches of scrub (A. Spalding, personal communication) and has been found in alder carr (P. Waring, personal communication). The double line was the fifth most numerous species caught (102 individuals). Although Skinner (1998) refers to the food plants of this moth as being various grasses such as cock's-foot Dactylis glomerata, wood meadow grass Poa nemoralis and wood rush Luzula spp., it seems likely that within culm grassland sites it feeds on some other grass, since none of the above are frequent in the habitat. Spalding (1989) has found the Double Line to be chiefly an open moorland species in Cornwall. The strong-flying, but elusive, Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk-moth is also a species of open sites: the author and others have seen it on several culm grasslands over the last decade. The importance of the open sward for a number of scarce and local moths adds weight to the standard recommendation (Wolton, 1992) that sites should not be burnt MOTHS OF CULM GRASSLAND 147 or cut in their entirety at once, but that preferably half of each field should be left unburned and uncut each year. This is likely to be particularly important for the Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk-moth, which may have similar habitat requirements to the Marsh Fritillary butterfly. Table 3. Numbers of species recorded in the present study in relation to the known larval food plants listed by Skinner (1984) Number of moth Food plants species recorded Grasses only Bedstraws (Galium spp.) only Heather (Calluna vulgaris) only Other plants typical of the open sward of Culm grassland Only plants typical of open Culm grassland Herbs not typical of Culm grassland (mostly ruderal) Bramble (Rubus fruticosus) or rose (Rosa spp.) only Willow (Salix spp.) only Birch (Betula spp.) only Oak (Quercus spp.) only | Other broadleaved trees and shrubs, or such trees and shrubs generally Lichens Only plants typical of woodland and scrub Polyphagous Miscellaneous Acknowledgements I am indebted to Adrian Spalding for his work at Dunsdon Farm, where he watched over a mercury-vapour lamp and ran several Heath traps for seven nights throughout the course of the year, and for sharing his expertise with me. I am grateful to Beverley Trowbridge for helping me with the moth trapping, to Roy McCormick for assistance with identification and to Matthew Dellaforce for assistance with word processing. My thanks go to Paul Waring, Adrian Spalding, Mark Parsons, Mike Edgington, Colin Plant and Charlie Gibson for helpful comments on this paper, and to David Sheppard for assistance with trying to find comparable published studies. I am grateful to the owners of the four sites where trapping was carried out for permitting me and others to spend many hours on their land: Tom and Kenneth Hopper at Dunsdon Farm, Gordon and Perry Barnes at Coombe Meadow, Edward and Frank Williamson at Hollow Moor, and Graham and Caroline Scott-Robertson at Southmoor Farm. 148 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.vu1.2000 References Bradley, J.D. & Fletcher, D.S., 1979. A recorder’s log book or label list of British butterflies and moths. Curwen. Rodwell, J. S. (Ed.) 1992. British Plant Communities. Vol. 3. Grasslands and montane communities. Cambridge University Press. Skinner, B., 1984. The colour identification guide to moths of the British Isles. Viking. — , 1998 The colour identification guide to moths of the British Isles. Viking. Spalding, A., 1989. The moths of Dunsdon Farm, north Devon. Entomologists Gazette, 40: 299-305. UK Steering Group, 1995. Biodiversity: The UK Steering Group Report. Volume 1: Meeting the Rio Challenge. Volume 2: Action plans. HMSO, London. UK Biodiversity Group, 1999. UK Biodiversity Group Tranche 2 Action Plan. Vol. IV — invertebrates. English Nature Waring, P., 1994. Annotated list of the macro-moths recorded in the British Isles, showing the current status of each species. National Moth Conservation project: News Bulletin, 5. Butterfly Conservation. — , 1999. Priority species covered by the National Recording Network for the rarer British macro- moths. National Moth Conservation Project: News Bulletin, 10. Butterfly Conservation. Wolton, R. J., 1992. Wildlife Enhancement Scheme: Management guidelines for Culm Grasslands. English Nature, Okehampton. — , 1993. Conservation of the Culm grassland of South-west England. /n Haggar, R. J. &. Peel, S. (Eds). Grassland Management and Nature Conservation. BGS Occasional Symposium No. 28, British Grassland Society. Figure 1. Double Line Mythimna turca Picture: J. Breeds Figure 2. Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk-moth Hemaris tityus Picture: P. L. Cook MOTHS OF CULM GRASSLAND 149 APPENDIX 1. Description of the four study sites Dunsdon Farm (grid reference SS 295078, altitude 130 metres) is located close to the Cornwall border between Holsworthy and Bude. The site is now a National Nature Reserve. The area sampled comprises a 27 hectare block of culm grassland divided into 14 small fields and bisected by the long-disused Bude Canal. The land to the west of the canal is largely covered by well-grazed, wet heath (NVC community M16b), with much heather, cross-leaved heath Erica tetralix, western dwarf gorse and creeping willow Salix repens, growing with purple moor grass, bog mosses, short sedges (especially Carex panicea) and abundant devil's-bit scabious among other herbs. That to the east is largely dominated by purple moor grass tussocks (NVC community M25c), although tufted hair grass Deschampsia caespitosa and meadowsweet are locally dominant. Very thick, tall, overgrown hedges that might more accurately be described as linear oak woodlands are frequent throughout the site, and patches of willow numerous. A conifer plantation lies to one side. The Bude Canal is now choked with reed grass Phalaris arundinacea and other wetland plants. Coombe Meadow (grid reference SS 496022, altitude 80 metres), lying four kilometres to the west of Hatherleigh, consists of a single 5 hectare field which is a fine example of species-rich fen meadow (NVC community M24c), characterised by abundant purple moor grass and short sedges (especially Carex hostiana, C. pulicaris and C. flacca) interspersed with herbs such as meadow thistle, devil's-bit scabious, saw-wort Serratula tinctoria and heath spotted orchid Dactylorhiza maculata. A small part of the field and an adjacent one are dominated by rushes, especially sharp-flowered rush Juncus acutiflorus, with greater bird's-foot trefoil Lotus uliginosus and marsh bedstraw Galium palustre (NVC community M23b). Thick overgrown hedges and a small wood surround the field, dominated by oak, birch, hazel, willow and aspen Populus tremula. Hollow Moor (grid reference SS 470015, altitude 120 metres), one kilometre further to the west, is a very large (170 hectare) site stretching along a shallow valley. Its vegetation ranges from rush pasture (NVC community M23a) dominated by soft rush Juncus effusus and grasses such as bents Agrostis spp. and Yorkshire fog Holcus lanatus, through species-rich fen meadow (NVC community M24c) as described for Coombe Meadow, to tussocky purple moor grass with much marsh thistle Cirsium palustre and wild angelica Angelica sylvestris (NVC community M25c). The site is liberally scattered with birch and willow bushes, especially eared willow Salix aurita, and with bramble Rubus fruticosus clumps. The valley stream is lined by a broad strip of woodland with oak, ash Fraxinus excelsior, birch and alder Alnus glutinosa. Southmoor Farm (grid reference SS 564003, altitude 125 metres) lies midway between Okehampton and Hatherleigh. At the time of the survey it was a diverse 29 hectare site divided into eight fields — regrettably it has since been severely damaged. Well represented here were wet heath (NVC community M16b), species-rich fen meadow (NVC community M24c) and meadowsweet tall herb fen (M27c), all of which are referred to above. Small patches of bracken Pteridium aquilinum occurred, and the fields were bordered by strips of oak woodland, with much birch, willow and alder. 150 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.vii.2000 APPENDIX 2. The number of each species of macrolepidoptera recorded at the four study sites during 1987 and 1988 Key: Column 1: B&F. = species numbers according to Bradley & Fletcher (1979) Columns 4 - 7: Where actual numbers are not presented, the following codes are used: P = present (usually refers to day-flying species). N = no trapping during flight period. Column 8: Common name Common Swift Five-spot Burnet Pale Eggar Lackey Oak Eggar Fox Moth Drinker Scalloped Hook-tip Oak Hook-tip Pebble Hook-tip Peach Blossom Buff Arches Common Lutestring Frosted Green March Moth Large Emerald Common Emerald Little Emerald Blood-vein Cream Wave Small Fan-footed Wave Single-dotted Wave Riband Wave Oblique Carpet Silver-ground Carpet Garden Carpet Shaded Broad-bar Lead Belle Common Carpet Wood Carpet Yellow Shell Shoulder Stripe Beautiful Carpet Water Carpet Devon Carpet Chevron Barred Straw Small Phoenix Dark Marbled Carpet Common Marbled Carpet Scientific name Hepialus lupulinus (L.) Zygaena trifolii (Esp.) Trichiura crataegi (L.) Malacosoma neustria (L.) Lasiocampa quercus (L.) Macrothylacia rubi (L.) Euthrix potatoria (L.) Falcaria lacertinaria(L.) Watsonalla binaria (Hufn.) W. falcataria (Fabr.) Thyatira batis (L.) Habrosyne pyritoides (Hufn.) Ochropacha duplaris (L.) Polyploca ridens (Fabr.) Alsophila aescularia (D.& S.) Geometra papilionaria (L.) Hemithea aestivaria (Hb.) Jodis lactearia (L.) Timandra comae (Schmidt) Scopula floslactata (Haw.) Idaea biselata (Hufn.) I. dimidiata (Hufn.) I. aversata (L.) Orthonama vittata (Borkh.) Xanthorhoe montana (D.& S.) X. fluctuata (L.) Scotopteryx chenopodiata (L.) S. mucronata (Scop.) Epirrhoe alternata (Miill.) E. rivata (Hb.) Camptogramma bilineata (L.) Anticlea badiata (D.& S.) Mesoleuca albicillata (L.) Lampropteryx suffumata (D.& S.) L. otregiata (Metcalfe) Eulithis testate (L.) E. pyraliata (D.& S.) Ecliptopera silaceata (D.& S.) Chloroclysta citrata (L.) C. truncata (Hufn.) re Dunsdon = NON KS DW COO UNF NWOT OF WeRK FW OC SO N — RoocmroococlUmrFr KS WN ES The status is taken from Waring (1994, 1999) a eee Coombe Meadow —_ _ Rr oaooocodooownZorrowna Oo) Nie Oo |= C70 Zw oO Co = Hollow Moor WwwWwWooorrFRONOAN CON ScoOoONnKFOoOROCOA HH — i=) Southmoor BAZ Z 2, Ceo OC ZZ, Wea 7 Zen OO 2 OsZ ZZ Ze — —_ © ZaorZ ZS NOVY ZZ Cc Oo 7 © National Status Common Local Common Common Common Common Common Common Common Common Common Common Common Local Common Common Common Common Common Local Common Common Common Local Common Common Common Common Common Local Common Common Common Common Scarce (B) Common Common Common Common Common MOTHS OF CULM GRASSLAND 151 National Status Scientific name Dunsdon Coombe Meadow Southmoor Cidaria fulvata (Forster) Common Electrophaes corylata (Thunb.) Barred Yellow Broken-barred Carpet Green Carpet Common Colostygia pectinataria (Knoch) Common Hydriomena furcata (Thunb.) Common July Highflyer May Highflyer Ruddy Highflyer Foxglove Pug Ling Pug Common Pug White-spotted Pug Golden-rod Pug Brindled Pug Larch Pug V-Pug Green Pug Early Tooth-striped Magpie Moth Clouded Border Sharp-angled Peacock Tawny-barred Angle Barred Umber Scorched Wing Brimstone Moth Bordered Beauty Lilac Beauty Canary-shouldered Thorn September Thorn Early Thorn Lunar Thorn Scalloped Hazel Scalloped Oak Pale Brindled Beauty Brindled Beauty _ Oak Beauty Peppered Moth Mottled Umber Mottled Beauty Brussels Lace Small Engrailed Common White Wave Common Wave Clouded Silver Light Emerald Privet Hawk-moth Eyed Hawk-moth Poplar Hawk--moth Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk-moth Elephant Hawk-moth Buff-tip Puss Moth Lobster Moth Iron Prominent Pebble Prominent H. impluviata (D.& S.) H. ruberata (Freyer) Eupithecia pulchellata Steph. E. goossensiata Mabille E. vulgata (Haw.) E. tripunctaria H.- S. E. virgaureata Doubleday E. abbreviata Steph. E. lariciata (Freyer) Chloroclystis v-ata (Haw.) C. rectangulata (L.) Trichopteryx carpinata (Borkh.) Abraxas grossulariata (L.) Lomaspilis marginata (L.) Macaria alternata (D.& S.) M. liturata (Cl.) Plagodis pulveraria (L.) P. dolabraria (L.) Opisthographis luteolata (L.) Epione repandaria (Hufn.) Apeira syringaria (L.) Ennomos alniaria (L.) E. erosaria (D.& S.) Selenia dentaria (Fabr.) S. lunularia (Hb.) Odontopera bidentata (C1.) Crocallis elinguaria (L.) Apocheima pilosaria (D.& S.) Lycia hirtaria (Cl.) Biston strataria (Hufn.) B. betularia (L.) Erannis defoliaria (Cl.) Alcis repandata (L.) Cleorodes lichenaria (Hufn.) Ectropis crepuscularia (D.& S.) Cabera pusaria (L.) C. exanthemata (Scop.) Lamographa temerata D.& S. Campaea margaritata (L.) Sphinx ligustri L. Smerinthus ocellata (L.) Laothoe populi (L.) Hemaris tityus (L.) Deilephila elpenor (L.) Phalera bucephala (L.) Cerura vinula (L.) Stauropus fagi (L.) Notodonta dromedarius (L.) Notodonta ziczac (L.) -ONnNnOORFP KH NWO = ~~ © WoOoFKNDOOWSGOAANSCHESCANDOAAAAANvwWwH oH crwyFocconHaodcdcodccceBZeroaonod woTonoc°oncoeoo Common Local Common Local Common Local Local Common Common Common Common Common Common Common Local Common Local Local Common Common Local Common Common Common Local Common Common Common Common Common Common Common Common Local Local Common Common Common Common Common Common Common Scarce (B) Common Common Common Common Common Common 152 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 Great Prominent Lesser Swallow Prominent Swallow Prominent Coxcomb Prominent Pale Prominent Marbled Brown Lunar Marbled Brown Pale Tussock Black Arches Common Footman Garden Tiger White Ermine Buff Ermine Muslin Moth Ruby Tiger Cinnabar Least Black Arches Heart And Dart Dark Sword-Grass Flame Shoulder Large Yellow Underwing Lesser Yellow Underwing Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing Least Yellow Underwing True Lover’s Knot Ingrailed Clay Purple Clay Small Square-spot Setaceous Hebrew Character Double Square-spot Dotted Clay Six-striped Rustic Square-spot Rustic Green Arches Red Chestnut Grey Arches Dot Moth Beautiful Brocade Pale-shouldered Brocade Bright-line Brown-eye Broom Moth Lychnis Antler Moth Hedge Rustic Feathered Gothic Small Quaker Powdered Quaker Common Quaker Clouded Drab Twin-spotted Quaker Hebrew Character Double Line Striped Wainscot Scientific name Peridea anceps (Goeze) Pheosia gnoma (Fabr.) P. tremula (C1.) Ptilodon capucina (L.) Pterostoma palpina (C1.) Drymonia dodonaea (D.& S.) D. ruficornis (Hufn.) Calliteara pudibunda (L.) Lymantria monacha (L.) Eilema lurideola (Zinck.) Arctia caja (L.) Spilosoma lubricipeda (L.) S. lutea (Hufn.) Diaphora mendica (C1.) Phragmatobia fuliginosa (L.) Tyria jacobaeae (L.) Nola confusalis (H.- S.) Agrotis exclamationis (L.) Agrotis ipsilon (Hufn.) Ochropleura plecta (L.) Noctua pronuba L. N. comes Hb. N. janthe (Borkh.) N. interjecta Hb. Lycophotia porphyrea (D.& S.) Diarsia mendica (Fabr.) D. brunnea (D.& S.) D. rubi (Viewig) Xestia c-nigrum (L.) Xestia triangulum (Hufn.) X. baja (D.& S.) X. sexstrigata (Haw.) X. xanthographa (D.& S.) Anaplectoides prasina (D.& S.) Cerastis rubricosa (D.& S.) Polia nebulosa (Hufn.) Melanchra persicariae (L.) Lacanobia contigua (D.& S.) L. thalassina (Hufn.) L. oleracea (L.) Melanchra pisi (L.) Hadena bicruris (Hufn.) Cerapteryx graminis (L.) Tholera cespitis (D.& S.) T. decimalis (Poda) Orthosia cruda (D.& S.) O. gracilis (D.& S.) O. cerasi (Fabr.) O. incerta (Hufn.) O. munda (D.& S.) O. gothica (L.) Mythimna turca (L.) M. pudorina (D.& S.) Dunsdon Ke NO OF WOR ON CO WNWOGOADFR OOF FKP ONUNUPKF KP QTO- NY oN N Ww 4 0 1 6 0 42 0 0 6 0 15 0 N 1 0 0 4 0 0 1 0 1 1 N N N N 0 N 19 14 R”Z™COC OF OC OWNFN SO SS SK BSeuUvwvovdFrONn w (fA 25.v11.2000 Southmoor Sw ZAAnoorwvr oMAeAYAZYAyYAAocoeoYArwnAYA YWNKeHocseceoceewAnYAAAZwvwoocrHoand i Oa National Status Local Common Common Common Common Common Local Common Local Common Common Common Common Common Common Common Local Common Migrant Common Common Common Common Common Common Common Common Common Common Common Common Common Common Common Common Common Common Local Common Common Common Common Common Common Common Common Common Common Common Common Common Scarce (B) Local MOTHS OF CULM GRASSLAND 153 National Status Scientific name B&F Common name Dunsdon Southmoor Common M. impura (Hb.) Brachylomia viminalis (Fabr.) Smoky Wainscot Minor Shoulder-knot ZZ Common Red Sword-Grass Xylena vetusta (Hb.) 2 Local Early Grey Xylocampa areola (Esper) 3 Common Brindled Green Dryobotodes eremita (Fabr.) 0 Common Chestnut Conistra vaccinii (L.) 0 Common Sallow Moth Xanthia icteritia (Hufn.) 5 Common Poplar Grey Acronicta megacephala (D.& S.) 1 Common Dark Dagger A. tridens (D.& S.) 1 Common Knot Grass A. rumicis (L.) 0 Common Copper Underwing Amphipyra pyramidea (L.) 5 Common Mouse Moth A. tragopoginis (Cl.) 0 Common Old Lady Morma maura (L.) 1 Local Brown Rustic Rusina ferruginea (Esper) 0 Common Small Angle Shades Euplexia lucipara (L.) 2 Common Angle Shades Phlogophora meticulosa (L.) 8 Common Double Kidney Ipimorpha retusa (L.) 0 Local Dun-bar Cosmia trapezina (L.) 4 Common Dark Arches Apamea monoglypha (Hufn.) 55 Common Light Arches A. lithoxylaea (D.& S.) Common Clouded-bordered Brindle A. crenata (Hufn.) Common Dusky Brocade A. remissa (Hb.) Common Small Clouded Brindle Rufous Minor Middle-barred Minor Common Rustic A unanimis (Hb.) Common Oligia versicolor (Borkh.) Local - LOA © O. fasciuncula (Haw.) Common _ Ww Mesapamea secalis (L.) Common M. didyma (Esper) Photedes minima (Haw.) -—- Or nwnonn — Lesser Common Rustic Local Small Dotted Buff Small Wainscot N —= Common Common Photedes pygmina (Haw.) Flounced Rustic Luperina testacea (D.& S.) Common Rosy Rustic Hydaecia micacea (Esper) Common Gortyna flavago (D.& S.) Coenobia rufa (Haw.) Frosted Orange Common Small Rufous Local Uncertain Hoplodrina alsines (Brahm) Common Green Silver-lines Pseudoips prasinana (L.) Common cooooF KF KH WAN CO Nut-tree Tussock Colocasia coryli (L.) Common Burnished Brass Common Diachrysia chrysitis (L.) ocowNocoooOOoOCCOCOcCUCUOCUMRRCUOOCUCOOCUUNCUWRLCOO KF DKF ONWNKH DO OKF UWOWN AZAeKH coo Wnnanawoorwododedcncedn Gold Spot Plusia festucae (L.) Common Silver Y Autographa gamma (L.) 11 Common Beautiful Golden Y A. pulchrina (Haw.) 11 Common Spectacle Abrostola tripartita Common Common Burnet Companion Euclidia glyphica (L.) S422 24490090 0700 0P HF Z2Z4Z4AZ4AZ2AZAAA“NSSC!A|NGSnNneoymA™yAAAccseAAAscoewywAccyn Herald Scoliopteryx libatrix (L.) Common Straw Dot Rivula sericealis (Scop.) Common Snout Hypena proboscidalis (L.) Common Pinion-streaked Snout Schrankia costaestrigalis (Steph.) Local Fan-foot Zanclognatha tarsipennalis (Tr.) Common Total number of individuals caught Total number of species recorded 154 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.vii.2000 Hypomedon debilicornis (Wollaston, 1857) (Col.: Staphylinidae) breeding in Surrey H. debilicornis was described by Wollaston (1857. A catalogue of the coleopterous insects of Madeira. British Museum. London.), under the name Sunius debilicornis, from a single specimen taken in Madeira by a Mr Bewicke and presented to him by the captor. Since then, the beetle has been found in many parts of the world in both the northern and southern hemispheres, including oceanic islands suggesting that it may have been distributed by commercial activities. The first British specimens (recorded as Chloecaris debilicornis), were found in 1989 in farmyard debris at Helindon in Northamptonshire (grid reference SP 54) (Drane, 1994. A belated note on Cloecharis debilicornis (Wollaston) (Staphylinidae) new to Britain. Coleopterist 3: 2-3.). Nothing more appears to have been seen of the species here until 1996, when it was encountered in decomposing farmyard straw at Heckfield, North Hampshire (SU 76) (Harrison, 1997. A second site for Hypomedon debilicornis (Wollaston) (Staphylinidae) in Britain. Coleopterist 6: 66). At both sites specimens were numerous, indicating that the beetle had bred locally. In 1998, Booth (1999. Specimen exhibited at the Annual Exhibition. Brit. J. Ent. nat. Hist. 12: 172), obtained a single specimen from a flight interception trap at Silwood Park, Berkshire (SU 97). We can now report another breeding site situated near Littke Bookham, Surrey (TQ 15). The beetles were first noted on 1 December 1999 and were in a large heap of floor sweepings from a nearby stable for horses. The heap was composed mostly of straw, but with a little well decomposed dung. Other specimens were found on a further visit by us to the site on 8 December and on later visits by other coleopterists. Among the other beetles present were numerous examples of Euconnus duboisi Méquignon and Scydmaenus rufus Miiller & Kunze. We have dissected 12 specimens from the heap at Little Bookham and all have proved to be females. This was also the case with specimens from Helindon and Heckfield and with 60 examples from many localities world-wide examined by Coiffait (1961. Les Hypomedon d’Europe et de la région mediterranéenne. Rev. fr. Ent., Paris 28: 16-40). Later, however, a specimen from tropical Africa was found to be a male (Coiffait, 1984. Nouv. Revue Ent. 8: suppl. 5 Coléoptéres staphylinides de la région paléartique occidentale. 142-143). It seems reasonable to accept that when the species evolved many years ago it had sexual reproduction and that parthenogenesis arose later. How far parthenogenesis has been a factor in promoting the present-day cosmopolitan occurrence of this species is a matter for speculation. The ability of a virgin female on reaching a new area to reproduce without the involvement of a male might seem an advantage, but many equally cosmopolitan beetle species do not exhibit parthenogenesis. Conversely, many parthenogenetic beetle species are not cosmopolitan. JOHN OWEN, 8 Kingsdown Road, Epsom, Surrey KT17 3PU. jaowen@talk21.com & A.J.W. ALLEN, 56 Windsor Way, Alderholt, Fordingbridge, Hampshire SP6 3BN. NUMBERS OF BRITISH ISLES MICROLEPIDOPTERA Nes: TABLES SHOWING THE NUMBER OF MICROLEPIDOPTERA RECORDED FROM THE BRITISH ISLES, MAY 2000 A.M. EMMET Labrey Cottage, 14 Victoria Gardens, Saffron Walden, Essex CBI1 3AF. I AM BASING this account on vice-county records, since that is how they are expressed in Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland (Harley Books). Only vice-county totals are given. If any reader wishes for a breakdown by families, genera or species, his best course would be to pay me a visit and consult my distribution maps. If he seeks this information by correspondence, he cannot expect a prompt reply and will have to accept a list of Log Book numbers rather than specific names. I have several reasons for writing this list. First, some readers may like to know how their county compares with its neighbours and speculate on the reasons for discrepancy. Secondly, I may receive additional records; some county recorders may find that their own list exceeds mine, since they hold hitherto unpublished records or ones that have appeared in local journals of which I am unaware. On the other hand, there may be others whose lists are shorter and who would wish to receive my additions. Let no-one expect total accuracy in my figures. I have counted between 75,000 and 80,000 records and as in a political election, a recount might yield different totals. As well as distribution maps, I have a gridded chart with vice-county numbers in the vertical columns and specific names in the horizontal columns, records being shown by ticks in the appropriate intersecting squares. It is possible that a tick has occasionally been misplaced. I have reached my totals by adding these ticks by family and then adding the family totals. I first learnt mental arithmetic as a toddler on my father’s knee, but now as a nonagenarian my accuracy may have diminished. However, I am confident that there are no major errors and that the picture presented is sound. Various factors affect the fecundity of a vice-county. Obviously, latitude is of great importance and as one progresses northwards, numbers diminish quite rapidly. Secondly, the presence of a coast-line, especially if it includes salt-marsh, gives over a 5% boost. Geological variety is important; counties with cretaceous downland, heather heathland or fenland reap an advantage over those that are mainly on clay soil under cultivation. Good deciduous woodland is of high importance. Then there is the human factor. Records will not come without good recorders, and they must be field-workers as well as light-trappers. A mere light-trapper may record little more than 50% of the species in his area. Everybody needs help with identifications and if a county lacks an experienced microlepidopterist, someone who can make good genitalia preparations and a reference collection, perhaps at a local museum, records will be lost or, worse still, incorrectly claimed. The best counties, as one would expect, are those along the south coast of England from Devon to Essex. Before I started counting, I wondered whether south Hampshire (VC11) or east Kent (VC15) would top the list and was surprised to find 156 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.vii.2000 the former an easy winner. I attribute this to its having more resident microlepidopterists who record all year round; the records in East Kent are made mainly by late summer and autumn visitors. For the same reason, West Kent (VC16) narrowly surpasses East Kent. Among the southern counties, North Devon (VC4) stands out as grossly under-recorded. Northwards numbers diminish rapidly but rather erratically, depending on the factors mentioned above and entomological expertise, until one reaches the shores of the Irish Sea in North Wales, Cheshire (VC58) and Lancashire (VCs 59 & 60) where relative abundance is increased. By contrast, along the northern shores of the Irish Sea, from Cumberland (VC70) to Wigtownshire (VC74), microlepidoptera seem to be remarkably scarce. This may in part be due to under-recording, but I myself and other collectors have fared badly in these counties, indicating a genuine impoverished fauna. The lowest English vice-county is North-west Yorkshire (VC65), where records are particularly hard to achieve. I believe that with full coverage over the whole of England North-west Yorkshire would still remain bottom of the list. Wales, apart from the northern coastal counties, is probably under-recorded. There are two counties that stand out for the paucity of their records. One is Montgomeryshire (VC47). The late H.N. Michaelis, who added so much to our knowledge of the Microlepidoptera of North Wales, said to me once that it was a wretched county and not worth visiting. I am sure he was right, but because it is so seldom visited, even its limited fauna is under-recorded. The other county, which is worse still, is Radnorshire (VC43). I am sure it is better populated than its present numbers show. Unfortunately, requests for records made of the County Recorder have met with no response, and several lists sent to him by me have not been acknowledged. Scotland breaks the rules given above in that its most prolific county is Mid- Perthshire (VC88), the farthest from the sea. The reason for its pre-eminence may be human, since it harbours the Rannoch district, which has always been popular with collectors. Equally popular is east Inverness-shire (VC96), but it lags well behind, probably because it is situated further to the north. Aberdeenshire and its neighbours are high on the list because of the active recording conducted by the biological staff at Aberdeen University. The more northerly counties of Banffshire (VC94) and Moray (VC95) have recently attracted their attention and notable additions to their lists have ensued. Caithness (VC109) has the lowest score in Britain and it is indeed a barren county. As a result, it is rarely visited and its meagre assemblage of Microlepidoptera is largely unexplored. Yet entomological wildernesses sometimes produce highly localised rarities and time spent on a fuller survey of the county would not be ill-spent. Recording in Ireland is patchy. Potentially the most prolific counties are those that border the Irish Sea, facing those from Anglesey to Lancashire, and, as one would expect, Cos. Wicklow (VCH20) and Dublin (VCH21) rank highly. However, they are surpassed by Co. Clare (VCH9) which is visited for its marvellous Burren terrain by virtually every lepidopterist in the British Isles. Coastal counties are reasonably NUMBERS OF BRITISH ISLES MICROLEPIDOPTERA ly Map showing the number of Microlepidoptera recorded from each vice-county in the British Isles in May, 2000 1100 =] 101 — 200 segeniaueenee 201 — 300 301-400 401-500 501 — 600 ay 601 — 700 aS 701 — 800 a 801 — 900 a 901 — 1000 aa 1001 + ae as ii Ls ] "96 9 4 M <) eo @ seit 158 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.v11.2000 well covered, but clearly there is more recording to be done in them. Most of the central counties are almost unknown, the number of recorded Microlepidoptera sinking to 47 in Longford (VCH24), where the highest scoring family is Nepticulidae, partly as a result of John Langmaid and myself driving through the county on 16 September 1995. In five other counties Nepticulidae are second behind Tortricidae, owing to casual road-side recording done by my wife and myself or John Langmaid and myself. The 317 new vice-county records made by John and me in our eight day Irish tour of 1995 were mostly leaf-miners and about half were Nepticulidae. It is a sad fact that there are very few Scottish or Irish microlepidopterists, Ken Bond of Ireland being a notable exception. Almost all the recording in these countries has been made by Englishmen. Some of the vice-county totals are very close and no doubt the order will be changed by the Microlepidoptera review for 2000. Vice-county lists showing the number of Microlepidoptera recorded from each 1. England 1. VC11 South Hampshire 1139 31. VCS South Somerset 790 2. VC16 West Kent LOPE 22 V C2 East Commwall 773 3. VCI5 East Kent 1069 33. VC38 Warwickshire 755 4. VC9 Dorset 1060 VC60 West Lancashire 5. VC17 Surrey 1040 35. VC54 North Lincolnshire SP 6. VC22 Berkshire 993 36. VC26 West Suffolk 750 7. VC13 West Sussex 986 37. VC59 South Lancashire 745 8. VC18 South Essex 978 38. VC63 South-west Yorkshire 740 9. VC19_ North Essex 960 39. VC21 Middlesex 737 10. VC14 East Sussex 951 VC69 Westmorland 11. VC3 South Devon 948 41. VC31 Huntingdonshire J28 12. VC12 North Hampshire 944 42. VC39 Staffordshire 13 13. VC28 West Norfolk 883 43. VCl West Cornwall 711 14. VC23 Oxfordshire 875 44. VC66 Co. Durham 703 15. VC1O Isle of Wight 868 45. VCS57 Derbyshire 696 16. VC29 Cambridgeshire 863 46. VC33 North Gloucestershire 653 17. VC8 South Wiltshire 861 VC40 Shropshire 18. VC20 Hertfordshire 853. 48. VC56 Nottinghamshire 638 19. VC36 Herefordshire 844 49. VC53_ South Lincolnshire 618 20. VC25__ East Suffolk 833 50. VC64 Mid-west Yorkshire 588 21. VC6 North Somerset 830 51. VC55 Leicestershire 574 22. VC37 Worcestershire 828 52. VC4 North Devon 561 23. VC27 East Norfolk 823 53. VC61 South-east Yorkshire S57 24. 'VCil North Wiltshire 821 54. VC67 South Northumberland 539 25. VC32 Northamptonshire 818 55. VC68 North Northumberland 530 26. VC34 South Gloucestershire 811 56. VC70 Cumberland 506 27. VC58 Cheshire 810 57. VC113 Channel Islands 443 28. VC30 Bedfordshire 800 58. VC71 Isle of Man 364 29. VC62 North-east Yorkshire 796 59. VC65_ North-west Yorkshire 347 30. VC24 Buckinghamshire 794 NUMBERS OF BRITISH ISLES MICROLEPIDOPTERA 2. Wales 1. VC41 Glamorgan 735. ~ 35. VC108 2. VC49 Caernarvonshire 677 36. VC78 3. VC50__Denbyshire 660 37. VCII1 4. VC35 Monmouthshire 651 38. VC74 5. VC51__ Flintshire 548 39. VC110 6. VC48 Merionethshire 539 =40. VC112 7. VC46 Cardiganshire 520. 41. VC107 8. VC42 Breconshire 472 9. VC45 Pembrokeshire 446 * aban VC52_~=~Angiesey > VCH21 11. VC44 Carmarthenshire 424 VCH20 12. VC47 Montgomeryshire 309 7 VCH? 13. VC43 Radnorshire 198 5 VCH3 3. Scotland 6. VCH4 1. VC88 Mid-Perthshire 331 7. VCH39 2. VC92 South Aberdeenshire 497 8. VCHI 3. VC83 Mid-Lothian 457 9. VCHS5 4. VC96 East Inverness-shire 453 10. VCH16 5. VC99___ Dunbartonshire 428 11. VCH38 6. VC82___ East Lothian 418 12. VCHI15 7. VC98 Argyll Main 389 =: 13. VCH33 8. VC86 Stirling 370 =614. VCH28 VC95 Moray 15. VCH18 10. VC76 Renfrewshire 369 ~=16. VCH6 11. VC93 North Aberdeenshire 363 VCH36 12. VC81 Berwickshire 361 18. VCH37 13. VC89 East Perthshire 358 19. VCH7 14. VC85___ Fifeshire 331 20. VCH12 VC91 ‘Kincardineshire 21. VCH19 16. VC87 West Perthshire B29" 222 NCH2Z7 17. VC77 Lanarkshire 323°. 23. /VCHI4 18. VC80 Roxburghshire 318 24. VCH8 19. VC97 West Inverness-shire 302 25. VCH40 20. VC94 Banffshire 293 26. VCHI17 21. VC84 West Lothian 283. ~ 276-VCH22 22. VC104 North Ebudes 268 28. VCH35 23. VC76_ Ayrshire 263 29. VCHI10O 24. VC1O1 Kintyre 252< & 305 ViGCH23 VC105 West Ross 31. VCH30 26. VC90 Angus 247. 32: VCHIi 27. VC106 East Ross 246 VCH26 28. VC73___ Kirkcudbrightshire 237 34. VCH13 VC107 East Sutherland 35. VCH31 30. VC103 Mid-Ebudes 225° 36. VGH25 31. VC72 Dumfrieshire 223 37. VCH29 32. VC79 Selkirkshire 222 VCH34 33. VC100 Clyde Islands 218 39. VCH32 34. VC102 South Ebudes 217 40. VCH24 Most widespread micro-moth West Sutherland Peebleshire Orkney Islands Wigtownshire Outer Hebrides Shetland Islands Caithness Clare Dublin Wicklow North Kerry West Cork Mid-Cork Antrim South Kerry East Cork ‘West Galway Down South-east Galway Fermanagh Sligo Offaly Waterford South Tipperary Wexford Kildare West Mayo Leix Limerick Londonderry North-east Galway Meath West Donegal North Tipperary West Meath Cavan Kilkenny East Mayo Carlow Louth Roscommon Leitrim East Donegal Monaghan Longford In the May issue of this journal (antea: 114) Maitland Emmet asked if anyone could guess the identity of the only species of micro-moth that has been recorded from all 113 vice-counties of Great Britain and Ireland. The correct answer is Celypha (was Olethreutes) lacunana (D.& S.). 160 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.vii.2000 Observations regarding Cydia illutana (H.-S.) (Lep.: Tortricidae) in Essex The first Essex example of this species was a female taken at light on 31 May 1997 at Markshall Estate, Coggeshall, and was subsequently kindly dissected and identified by Mr K. R. Tuck at The Natural History Museum, London. During 1999, I visited the site on a number of occasions to try and establish whether the moth was resident, searching principally the established stands of Larix decidua. On several trees I was able to see a number of candidate specimens flying among the uppermost branches, and rarely did they stray lower. With the help of a three-metre net handle and a precarious perch on a log pile I was able to secure just one of these, a male, on 28 May 1999. A mercury vapour lamp, positioned directly under the tree and only eight to 12 metres from where the moths had been flying, failed to attract any specimens. From this, it seems that males fly most strongly at dusk whereas females fly later at night when they are occasionally taken at light. A full account of its occurrence in Britain, details supplied by A.M. Emmet (pers. comm.) is as follows: The first specimen was taken by Dr J. Langmaid in his trap at Southsea, Hants (VC11) on 10 June 1975, but was at first misidentified until a second specimen was taken. Langmaid exhibited the first specimen (Langmaid, 1987. Exhibit — Annual Exhibition, 1986. Proc.Trans. Br.Ent.Nat.Hist.Soc. 20: 53) and wrote a note (Langmaid, 1988. Ent. Rec. 100: 162). The second specimen was taken by the late Mr B. Baker, also at light, at Unhill Wood, Berks (VC22) on 15 June 1984. He exhibited it tentatively as C. illutana (Baker, 1985. Exhibit — Annual Exhibition, 1984. Proc. Trans. Br. Ent. Nat. Hist. Soc. 18: 1-22), and his identification was confirmed by Mr J. Bradley, who wrote a full description of the imago, its genitalia, life history, foodplants and continental distribution (Bradley, 1986. Ent. Gaz. 36: 97- 101). Larvae were found in cones of Larix decidua on 6 August 1989 at Tubney Wood (VC22, formerly Berks but now Oxon) by Mr M. F. V. Corlett et al (Baker, 1994. The butterflies and moths of Berkshire, p. 130). Then, an adult was taken at mercury vapour light at RAF Chilmark, Wilts (VC8) on 8 June 1993 (Palmer, 1995. Ent. Gaz. 46: 277; Agassiz et al., 1996. Ent. Rec. 108: 177-193), and now the two at Coggeshall, Essex (VC19).— BRIAN GOODEY, 298 Ipswich Road, Colchester, Essex CO4 4ET (E-mail: aave45@dial.pipex.com). Diasema reticularis L. (Lep.: Pyralidae) in Devon On 30 July 1999, a example of this species was captured at Bideford, North Devon by Dr Adrian Henderson. The identification was confirmed by myself, and it has since been exhibited at the AES Exhibition on 2 October 1999, the BENHS Exhibition on 27 November 1999 and the Devonshire Association AGM on 22 January 2000. The history of the species in Devon is a bit hazy. E. S. Norcombe said that he captured it (with no locality) around 1858 (Entomologists Weekly Intelligencer 4: 157). J. J. Reading quotes “about two dozen” at Plymouth in June NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS 161 and September (Ent. Annual: 1861: 101). J. Hellings (Ent. mon. Mag. 13: 93) does not state the locality or date of his capture of this species, but although he lived at Exeter it is thought that he did not see it there. G. C. Bignell (1870) and E. Parfitt (1878) repeat the locations given, with Barrett (1904) saying “more than forty years ago it was found near Plymouth, and more recently in other parts of Devon”. The species has been captured in other parts of Great Britain— Roy McCormick, 36 Paradise Road, Teignmouth, Devon TQ14 8NR. Leptura fulva (Degeer) (Col.: Cerambycidae) in South Wiltshire. Michael Darby has recently shown (1997. Recording Wiltshire No. 2: 10-11. Wiltshire Biological Records Centre) that Leptura fulva Degeer appears to be well established in Wiltshire (5 sites) despite Hyman and Parsons (1992. A review of the scarce and threatened Coleoptera of Great Britain. Part 1: UK Nature Conservation No. 3. JNCC) describing it as “very local and much declined” nationally and assigning it Red Data Book category 3 (rare) status. In his article, he observes that almost all recent Wiltshire specimens have been observed on downland sites away from suitable living/rotting timber and suggests that fence posts are the likely breeding site. My sole encounter with the species in the county was not on downland, but would support this hypothesis. Between 27 July and 1 August 1991, I found several specimens on hogweed Heracleum sphondylium umbels beside a narrow bye-road flanked by arable fields at Milford near Salisbury (grid reference SU 159295). Although there were small scattered hawthorns Crataegus present, no sign of breeding in these was detected and the field boundary fence posts seemed the most likely breeding site— DAvID R. NASH, 3 Church Lane, Brantham, Suffolk CO11 1PU. Leptura melanura L. (Col.: Cerambycidae) in Middlesex I found one example of this longhorn beetle in a field here in Sunbury on 21 May 1988 where it was resting on, or perhaps feeding from, a hogweed Heracleum sphondylium umbel. I was somewhat surprised to find it so close to the London suburbs and indeed, R. Uhthoff-Kaufmann in this journal (1998. 100: 63 - 71), does not list it from Middlesex. Nor have I any other records from this vice-county. — D.A. PRANCE, 8 The Ridings, Sunbury-on-Thames, Middlesex TW16 6NU. EDITORIAL COMMENT: I was, initially, a little surprised on receiving this note, since I find the beetle (known previously as Strangalia melanura) occasionally on ruderal sites in eastern London, affecting the vice-counties of South Essex and West Kent in the vicinity of the River Thames (the “East Thames Corridor”). However, careful checking does indeed reveal that in spite of carrying out much field work in the eastern sector of London I do not have any records from this side of adjacent Middlesex. Hogweed umbels also feature in my own records from the East Thames Corridor, though most records are from yellow water-traps. 162 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.vi1.2000 ALBINISM IN A MALE OF COENONYMPHA LEANDER LEANDER (ESPER, [1784]) (LEP.: NYMPHALIDAE: SATYRINAE) STANISLAV ABADJIEV Institute of Zoology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1, Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd, Sofia 1000, Bulgaria. E-mail: stanislav.abadjiev@usa.net THE RUSSIAN Heath Coenonympha leander (Esper, [1784]) is well known as a polytypic species. The nominate subspecies is mentioned in connection with Bulgarian colonies (Abadjiev, 1993: 76). Stating the polytypism here it is necessary to reveal that this taxon exhibits a wide range of variations at an infrasubspecific level. They are in their great part individual. Many of the specimens collected during my regular visits to localities of the species in SW Bulgaria differ from each other in ocelli number, amount of the fulvous flush in the basal and discal part of the forewing, etc. It can be said that it is simply difficult to find two identical specimens, even in a same locality. 1 s 4 cm Figure 1. Males of Coenonympha leander leander (Esper, [1784]): (left) normally pigmented, Bulgaria: Osogovo Mts: Kyustendil: 22.V.1993: S. Abadjiev leg. et coll.; (right) albino, Bulgaria: Iskar Valley: Pancharevo Gorge: 28.V.1998: S. Abadjiev leg. et coll. Within this great variability special attention requires an interesting aberrant male with strong tendency to albinism, here illustrated (Fig. 1 right). Compared with the more or less normally coloured specimens (Fig. | left) it is the sole specimen I have seen with such a strong reduction of the black pigment. This reduction is especially well pronounced on the upper side of the wings. Other colours are not affected. Reference Abadjiev, S., 1993. Butterflies of Bulgaria, Part 2, Nymphalidae: Libytheinae & Satyrinae. Veren Publishers, Sofia. PHYTOMYZA HELLEBORI 163 PHYTOMYZA HELLEBORI KALTENBACH (DIP.: AGROMYZIDAE), A RECENT ADDITION TO THE BRITISH FAUNA: FURTHER RECORDS IN EAST NORTHAMPTONSHIRE , HUNTINGDONSHIRE AND CAMBRIDGESHIRE R. COLIN WELCH The Mathom House, Hemington, Peterborough PE8 5QJ E-mail: robert_colin.welch@which.net ON 23 MARCH 2000 my wife Joan asked me what was causing the older leaves on practically every plant in a large clump of Helleborus foetidus in our rural garden at Hemington, east Northamptonshire (grid reference TL 091852), to shrivel and die. Closer examination showed the apparently dead, brown, areas of each leaf to be the result of a severe infestation of a species of leaf-miner. I am certain that I recall noticing similarly shrivelled leaves in previous years, but never in such numbers. The mines were restricted to last year’s evergreen leaves on the lower parts of each plant, with very few individual leaflets (3-11 per leaf) appearing devoid of a single mine. The new season’s growth was unaffected. I soon realised that the causal agent was most probably a dipterous leaf-miner in the family Agromyzidae. Reference to an ancient German work by Kaltenbach (1874) provided a possible answer. He described a new species, Phytomyza hellbori from material collected by Ernst Hofmann mining the leaves of Helleborus niger at Stuttgart during May. This species was not included in the latest Diptera Checklist (Chandler, .1998). Two days later at the AGM of the Huntingdonshire Fauna & Flora Society I described the leaf mines to the (vice) county recorders for Diptera — Jon Cole, and Lepidoptera — Barry Dickerson. Neither knew of any species which mined the leaves of Helleborus in this country. On 26 March, I collected about a dozen mined leaves, close examination of which revealed there to frequently be more than one larval mine in each leaflet. These typically start at, or near, the midrib and while in some the mines remain separate, in others they cross over each other or fuse together (Figurel). Multiple occupancy could be determined by the presence of puparia with their spiracles protruding from either leaf surface. These leaves were stored in a plastic sandwich box indoors in my study and by 5 April 16 6 d and 112 2 agromyzid flies had emerged together with five chalcidoid parasites. By the following day a further 14 66 and 5 @Q agromyzids, and four more chalcids had emerged. About this time I received a photocopy of Spencer’s (1976) description of Phytomyza hellebori Kalt. from Jon Cole, and dissection of the aedeagus of a reared male conformed to the figure (743) for that species. Believing that I or, strictly speaking, my wife had discovered an agromyzid new to Britain I promptly dispatched those specimens which had emerged on 5 April to the Natural History Museum, London. The next day’s emergence was sent to Jon Cole. As one would expect emergence to be advanced through bringing the mined leaves into a centrally heated house, several H. foetidus plants in the garden were tapped over a tray on 6 April to see what insects were present on them. Three female 164 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.v11.2000 agromyzids collected in this way appeared identical to those reared indoors from the leaf mines. Seventeen species of Coleoptera were also recorded, the majority of which were obviously casual strays, half of which were phytophagous species known to be associated with other host plants. Only the ladybird, Coccinella septempunctata L., and the two species of predatory Staphylinidae, Tachyporus dispar (Paykul) and T. pallidus Sharp, were probably feeding on the heavy infestation of Macrosiphon hellebori Theobald & Watson, an aphid which Ian Woiwod informs me is “holocyclic and monoecious on Helleborus niger, H. viridis L. and H. foetidus” . Some small parasitic Hymenoptera were collected at the same time but released as there was no guarantee that they were in any way associated with the Helleborus, let alone its insect fauna. A further 46 ¢6 and 7? 2 agromyzids, together with three chalcids and five ichneumonoid parasites, had emerged by 11 April after which only the occasional single specimen of each species was seen in the plastic box containing the mined Helleborus leaves. After examining the flies sent to him Jon Cole noted a number of discrepancies in colouration compared with that given by Spencer (1976) in his account of Scandinavian Agromyzidae. Spencer described the scutellum as “broadly yellow centrally, but black at sides”, whereas Cole found 5d ¢ and 1@ with the scutellum all black, 46 ¢ and 32 ¢ with centre to apex vaguely pale, and 5d.46 and 1@ witha distinct yellow stripe. Spencer gave the “humerus, notopleural area and upper half of mesopleuron, bright yellow”. Cole found the notopleuron black in 26 6 and 2? 2; patchily darkened in 10d ¢ and 32 9; and bright yellow in 2d 6 and 29 @; with the mesopleuron yellow in the upper quarter only. Spencer gives “coxae and femora yellow”. Cole found the front coxae variably pale in apical half only; mid and hind coxae nearly all black, and in 2d d and 1¢ the femora were black with a yellow tip while the rest had variable dark streaks and patches, not noticeably paler than the brownish tibiae. To a non-dipterist like myself the pure white halteres appeared particularly distinctive. Although it seemed likely that the Hymenoptera reared from the mined leaves would prove to be broad spectrum rather than specific parasites they were sent to my old friend and chalcid expert Dick Askew. He identified them as being two species of Eulophidae — 73 6 and 4@ Diglyphus minoeus (Walker, 1838), which he comments are “known chiefly as an ectoparasitoid of larvae of Napomyza, Phytomyza (Agromyzidae), but occasionally reported from Phyllonorycter (Lepidoptera; Gracillariidae)’. The second species, Elachertus (Hyssopus) nigritulus (Zetterstedt, 1838) was represented by a single female, of which Askew states — “well known to attack microlepidoptera (Tortricidae, Cosmopterygidae, etc.) but I have no other report from Diptera”. He was also able to identify the 3d d and 29 ¢ ichneumonids as Colastes braconius Halliday, 1833 (Brachonidae). He comments that this species “is usually a parasitoid of Lepidoptera, especially Gracillariidae, and I cannot recall any records from Agromyzidae”. In more recent correspondence Mark Shaw informs me that although C. braconius “is a very regular parasitoid of some species of “Phyllonorycter it is probably even better known as a parasitoid of Agromyzidae (particularly agricultural pests)”. In his experience “it is a generalist on PHYTOMYZA HELLEBORI 165 leaf-mines, on both trees and low plants, of Lepidoptera, Diptera, Coleoptera (e.g. Rhynchaeus fagi [L.]), but only rarely Hymenoptera”. Of the Elachertus record Askew remarks that “all other species (of this genus) seem to be primary or secondary parasitoids of Lepidoptera’, and that my “record from Phytomyza must be questionable unless you have irrefutable evidence that this was indeed the host’. In order to double check for any other possible host, each of the twelve leaves which had remained sealed in a plastic box, was thoroughly examined leaflet by leaflet. The only pupae and skins from parasitised larvae found in the P. hellebori mines were all dipterous. No indication of anything lepidopterous could be found and, on this evidence, one can only assume that the parasites all had P. hellebori as their host. Fig. 1. Leaf of Helleborus foetidus L. showing mines of Phytomyza hellebori Kaltenbach (Dip.: Agromyzidae). Dotted ovals indicate the positions of puparia. Whilst awaiting Askew’s parasite determinations I met David Henshaw at an entomological fair in Kettering on 16 April only to be told that Alan Stubbs had pre- empted me by three months in recording P. hellebori mining Helleborus foetidus in his Peterborough garden, approximately 17.5 km north-east of Hemington. I immediately telephoned him to learn that he had also found it mining H. foetidus in a presumed natural population in Bedford Purlieus National Nature Reserve, some 17 kilometres north by north-west of Hemington (see Gent & Wilson, 1995). He had already submitted an account bringing Phytomyza hellebori forward as a species new to Britain (Stubbs, 2000) which included additional records by Andrew Halstead from the Royal Horticultural Society’s gardens at Wisley, Surrey, and from a garden at Royston, Hertfordshire. A search in Hemington revealed the presence of mined H. foetidus in the gardens of two of my immediate neighbours and in the churchyard (TQ 091849). \ 166 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.v1i.2000 Inquiry of Terry Wells, botanical recorder for Vice County 31, Huntingdonshire, indicated that H. foetidus had been recorded from two sites in the southwest of the county, at West Wood, Ellington and Stow Longa churchyard. I visited both sites on 18 April but found no plants at either site. On the same day I visited the house at Wyton (TL 271725) from which we had obtained our original stock of H. foetidus over 25 years ago. The present owners, Mr & Mrs Hepworth, showed me the few plants still present in their garden, all of which were mined. That same day former colleagues Jane Croft and Mark Telfer searched plants in their Huntingdonshire gardens and reported H. foetidus mined at Stow Longa (TL 107769) and St. Ives (TL 306727) respectively. Later, on 24 April Sheila Wells confirmed the presence of mines in the same host at Upwood (TL 256824). More recently Peter Wood has informed me of a further infestation on Helleborus foetidus in his Cambridge garden (TL 450595). Clearly Phytomyza hellebori has already been shown to be widely distributed in East Northamptonshire and the Soke of Peterborough (VC 32), Huntingdonshire (VC 31) and Cambridgeshire (VC 29) and David Henshaw has informed me that he has more recent records from mid-Essex. Other entomologists who saw Alan Stubbs’ exhibit at the British Entomological & Natural History Society’s meeting on 11" January will doubtless, by now, have discovered its presence elsewhere in the southern counties of England. At present P. hellebori has only been found mining H. foetidus in England. Alan Stubbs, Jon Cole and I all have other species of Helleborus growing in our gardens, and Andrew Halstead examined other species at Wisley, but none showed any signs of leaf mining. Acknowledgements I am grateful to Jon Cole for confirming my original determination and providing a copy of Spencer’s description of P. hellebori; to Alan Stubbs and Peter Chandler for providing me with a pre-publication copy of Alan’s paper in Dipterist’s Digest; to Dick Askew for identifying the parasitic Hymenoptera reared from the leaf mines; to Andrew Halstead and Mark Shaw for information regarding these parasites; to Terry & Sheila Wells, Jane Croft, Mark Telfer and Mr & Mrs Hepworth for providing records from their gardens. References Chandler, P. J. (Ed.), 1998. Checklists of Insects of the British Isles (New Series), Part 1: Diptera (Incorporating a list of Irish Diptera). Handbook for the identification of British Insects, 12 (1), i-xix, 1-234. Royal Entomological Society, London. Gent, G. & Wilson, R., 1995. The Flora of Northamptonshire and Soke of Peterborough. Kettering and District Natural History Society and the Northamptonshire Flora Group, 335pp. Kaltenbach, J. H., 1874. Die Pflanzenfeinde aus der Klasse der Insekten, v-viii, 1-848. Julius Hoffmann, Stuttgart. Spencer, K. A., 1976. The Agromyzidae (Diptera) of Fennoscandia and Denmark. Fauna Entomologica Scandinavica 5 (2): 305-306. Stubbs, A. 2000. The hellebore leaf-miner, Phytomyza hellebori Kaltenbach (Diptera, Agromyzidae) new to Britain. Dipterist’s Digest 7: 33-35. NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS 167 Hazards of butterfly collecting — Chasing Papilio parsimon, London 1999 Hazards of butterfly collecting is not just a matter of what happens in the field, but also what happens in the library and the museum, and sometimes leads to unexpected results. Papilio parsimon was described from Sierra Leone by Fabricius as long ago as 1775; he was a fellow Dane. It is an unremarkable brown member of the Lycaenidae, now placed in the genus Lepidochrysops, a genus that has some hundred species. L. parsimon was the first member of the genus to be described and till 1923, when Bethune-Baker revised it, the name was applied to males and females of several different species, some blue, some brown, some tailed, and some un-tailed. This despite the fact that the description could only apply to one of the un-tailed, brown species of Lepidochrysops. The confusion was compounded by the fact that in the Banks’ collection, kept at the Natural History Museum, London, there is an un-tailed blue female marked parsimon TYPE, that was never mentioned anywhere by Fabricius (each time I look at material in the Banks’ collection I feel a real thrill at looking at a butterfly that was caught more than 200 years ago). However, Bethune-Baker correctly pointed out that the original description clearly specified that it was a brown, un-tailed butterfly and that the Banks’ specimen could not be the true type. Fabricius’ type specimen was generally believed to be lost. So Bethune-Baker figured what he thought matched Fabricius’ description, a brown male from Kenya. However, there was a problem with this, because Fabricius described the species from ‘Sierra Leon’, and nothing like the species considered to be L. parsimon by Bethune-Baker has ever been collected in West Africa. One simple way of resolving this kind of issue would be to declare Sierra Leone patria falsa and redesignate Kenya as type locality. While considering this option, I found that Bethune-Baker’s L. parsimon only occurred in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and eastern Zaire, which made such an action impossible, for the simple reason that in 1775 no-one had ever swung a butterfly net within the range of this butterfly. Since the species is quite common, it seemed impossible to maintain the polite fiction that it was caught once only in Sierra Leone before 1775 and then nowhere between Sierra Leone and Kivu in eastern Zaire. Three brown Lepidochrysops are currently known from West Africa; though none has been found in Sierra Leone, any of the three might well occur there. Lepidochrysops victoriae Karsch, 1895 and L. nigeriae Stempffer, 1957 are known species, while Haydon Warren-Gash obtained an undescribed species from Guinea in 1999. In order to minimize confusion, I resolved to redescribe the Kenyan species as L. parsimon Larsen (not Fabricius) since it has been used consistently for a hundred years or so. I would then name the Guinea species L. fabricii in honour of Fabricius and apply to the International Commission for Zoological literature to rule that Papilio parsimon Fabricius should be considered a nomen dubium. But the best laid plans of mice and men .... to be on the safe side I checked the book on the Fabrician butterflies written by Ella Zimsen; what was written about Papilio parsimon? “Type in Banks’ collection (one in Copenhagen)”. I happened to 168 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.v11.2000 be in Copenhagen and rushed to the Museum. Niels-Peder Kristensen had already located the specimen, which was a brown Lepidochrysops labeled Parsimon in Fabricius’ handwriting. It was clearly the type that had for so long been considered lost. What happened was that Fabricius usually kept a single syntype of each species, and when he heard that there also was one in the Banks’ collection, he kept the only specimen that he ever actually saw. This was in a part of his collection that was kept in Kiel, Germany and which was placed in storage after his death until Ella Zimsen gained access to it in 1950 and arranged for it to come to the Zoological Museum, University of Copenhagen on permanent loan. She also had the collection immaculately curated. The type, almost certainly a female, is clearly that which Stempffer described as L. nigeriae in 1957; I could immediately compare it with the Museum’s series from Lagos that I collected 30 years ago. So what began as a quest to conserve the name parsimon, as it is currently understood, turned into an abject failure; there is no way in which Fabricius’ type can be ignored. L. parsimon is a senior synonym of L. nigeriae; it cannot be used for the East African species, for which the most senior name is L. loveni Aurivillius, 1921. Fortunately, I located the type before my original plan was carried out, but it is of such stumbling detective work that the occasional changes in nomenclature arise. Such name changes will be fewer under the revised Code of Zoological Nomenclature that becomes effective in 2000 and permits sleeping dogs to lie. A name that has not been used for 100 years should not be resurrected to replace a well-known and a well-used name; a formal ruling will not be necessary for its suppression. However, Papilio parsimon does not fall in that category. So the changes will have to be made: L. parsimon and L. loveni for East Africa.— TORBEN B. LARSEN, 5 Wilson Compound, 2811 Park Avenue, Pasay City, Metro- Manila, The Philippines. Hazards of moth collecting: taking the hiss in Hampshire Naturally, it is not in any way my intention to plagiarise the long-running series of articles by Torben Larsen — but then some opportunities are too good to miss, especially at a time when I am seriously short on copy for these pages! Three continuous days and nights in a camper van at Oxenbourne Down, Hampshire, during June 2000, where I was undertaking a ecological study of the Biodiversity Action Plan hoverfly Doros profuges (Harris) for English Nature, gave me ample opportunity for a rather leisurely moth-trapping session or two; evening entertainment for me and extra records for the country park people. One evening, feeling adventurous, I ran the cable all the way down the steep slope of the down from the trees at the top where the van was parked, and set a Skinner trap on a 45 degree slope amongst chalk grassland and very short scrub. By lam, very little had been attracted in the way of moths, and I decided to top up the generators and get some sleep (cissy, yes, but I had been up since 4am). I arose three hours later to a NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS 169 heavy mist and light drizzle. A quick inspection of the trap revealed nothing new so I decided to sleep again and pack up the traps later — well, the hoverfly only comes out in sunshine so why should I be any different. I awoke again at 9am to glorious sunshine. Having already checked the moths five hours earlier, I had a leisurely coffee and then wandered down to gather in the traps, not really expecting any surprises. Nevertheless, the sound of Paul Waring’s famous advice ringing in my ears made me check under the sheet in case I had missed anything. No — nothing there. The trap was duly packed up into the carrying bag and off I went slowly, but surely, up the steep chalk slope to the van. Halfway up I became aware of a rustling in the bag. I thought nothing off it. I reached the top of the slope and the rustling continued. It was large — probably that Poplar Hawk-moth still on the egg trays, I thought. The bag was duly opened and a hand inserted. The egg trays came out — nothing. Then the sheet. Ah ha! Inside the sheet. The sheet was duly shaken and at my feet dropped the offending wriggler — a 12-inch long adder Vipera berus! It is debatable who moved the fastest — adder to stage left or entomologist to stage right! So, Paul, if you are reading this, you might like to modify your famous (and quite correct) advice to beginners. Check under the sheet and check inside the carrying bags too.— COLIN W. PLANT, 14 West Road, Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire CM23 3QP. Aryresthia cupressella Wals. and A. trifasciata Stdgr. (Lep.: Yponomeutidae) in Essex Adults of both of these species were found to be common in my Colchester garden on 26 May 1999 whilst I was removing a large specimen of the conifer Chamaecyparis lawsoniana “Minima Aurea”. Cocoons containing pupae were gathered and adults of A. cupressella emerged a few days later. Other ornamental conifers in the immediate area include various Juniperis, Thuja and Cupressocyparis, but no signs of Argyresthia feeding were found on those checked. Both moths species showed reluctance at flying during the day, but at night were strongly attracted to mercury vapour light. On 10 June 1999, Dr C. Gibson reported A. cupressella adults at his Dovercourt garden. For A. cupressella, this and the Colchester record represents small, but significant, easterly and southerly range extension from the area of Suffolk and North Essex where it was first discovered in Britain in 1997 (Agassiz and Tuck, 1999. Ent. Gazette 50: 11-16) and, although the activities of its larvae do not cause host trees to become obviously unsightly, it seems destined to become something of a garden pest. For A. trifasciata, first recorded in Britain by R. A. Softly at Hampstead, London in 1982 (Emmet, 1982 Ent. Rec. 94: 180-182) and since in a number of localities, this is a new county record. BRIAN GOODEY, 298 Ipswich Road, Colchester, Essex CO4 4ET. 170 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.vi1.2000 An observation on Acherontia atropos L. On the Hermigua road west of San Sebastian, La Gomera, Canary Islands, we encountered large numbers of larvae of A. atropos feeding on Nicotiana glauca growing by the roadside. They ranged in size from fully fed larvae, wandering off to pupate, down to newly emerged ones — a few unhatched ova were also seen. At least 90% of the larvae had been oviposited upon by a parasitic fly of the family Tachinidae; many of the fly larvae had emerged and entered the host leaving a brown scar at the point of entry. Some A. atropos larvae had many white ova adhering to their skins (20-30 in some cases on the bigger larvae).— D. HALL, 5 Curborough Road, Lichfield, Staffordshire WS13 7NG and P.J.C. RUSSELL, Oakmeadow, Wessex Avenue, East Wittering, West Sussex PO20 8NP. Eublemma ostrina (Hb.) (Lep.: Noctuidae) in North Hampshire A perfect female Eublemma ostrina flew to m.v. light here on 1 November 1999. I took several photographs of the specimen, which exhibited the habit of raising its wings just above “shoulder-height” and resettling them immediately. It is not clear whether this was a direct immigrant or whether it had bred locally from an influx earlier in the year but, whichever was the case, it seems that 1 November is the latest UK date on record. There had been only two previous occurrences noted in VC12: 1957 (Micheldever) and 1969 (Martyr Worthy — two). I am grateful to Barry Goater for travelling over promptly and confirming the identification ALASDAIR ASTON, Wake’s Cottage, Selborne, Hampshire GU34 3JH. Millennium butterflies In reply to Roger Bristow’s note (antea: 130), I saw my first butterfly of the Millennium at about 11am on 1 January. I was waiting to take part in an orienteering competition at Bulford Down, Wiltshire and a Brimstone Gonepteryx rhamni flew past. When I finished competing, at about midday, a Peacock Inachis io flew over.— SARAH PATTON, Eastern Cottage, 2 Watery Lane, Kingsham, Chichester, West Sussex PO19 2XH (E-mail: squirrel@care4free.net). Lilac Beauty Apeira syringaria (L.) (Lep.: Geometridae): a second generation specimen at Charlecote, Warwick The interesting note by B.K. West (antea: 83) on second generation Apeira syringaria prompted me to report the capture of an under-sized specimen in my garden mv light trap on 12 September 1999. This was followed by two more unexpected guests — a Comma butterfly Polygonia c-album (L.) on 20 September and a Migrant Hawker dragonfly Aeshna mixta (Latr.) on 22 September, both resting comfortably in the egg cartons.— DAVID BRowNn, Jacksons Lawn, Charlecote, Warwick CV35 9EW. BEHAVIOUR OF ADELA CUPRELLA L/il NOTES ON THE BEHAVIOUR OF ADELA CUPRELLA ([D. & S.]) (LEP.: INCUVARIIDAE). IAN SIMS 2 The Delph, Lower Earley, Reading, Berkshire RG6 3AN. THE LONG-HORN moth Adela cuprella is a species I had been looking for off and on for five or six years. During this period I visited Cothill Fen and Burnwood Forest in Oxfordshire, a large area of sallows I know at Twyford in Berkshire and Burnham Beeches (VC24) in Berkshire (some of these several times over the years) to look for cuprella in season. On 29 March 1998 I found it by chance at MV in Ashley Hill Forest, Berkshire, and a couple of days later saw what I believed were others in flight by day around the tops of sallow bushes at the same locality. In an attempt to confirm this sighting I returned to these woods on 14 March 1999 to search for it again. On this occasion none were seen and I surmised that this visit was a little early in the year. Subsequent to this, on 27 March 1999, again by chance I discovered three males of this species in flight around sallows growing beside the road near Sindlesham Mill at Lower Earley near Reading in Berkshire. The weather was sunny and hot for the season, with a light westerly breeze. The moths were seen between 11.00 and 12.30 hrs. Having observed adults at Lower Earley earlier in the day I went to Ashley Hill Forest that afternoon and saw several adelids, all males, in flight around high sallows. On this occasion, by virtue of a net attached to the end of a roach pole (Figure 1), I was able to confirm that these were indeed A. cuprella. Moths were observed on the wing between 14.30 and 16.00 hrs. Encouraged by these records and spurred on by comments from Brian Baker who I had informed of these sightings, on 28 March I again looked for cuprella around the sallows near Sindlesham Mill. The weather was less than ideal, there being a stiff breeze blowing, and I failed to find it here on this occasion despite working the area from 10.00 to 13.30 hrs. That afternoon I decided to visit Dinton Pastures Country Park at Winnersh (about two miles from Sindlesham Mill) to search for it in a spot I remember thinking looked a promising cuprella site a couple of years earlier. The conditions were still less than ideal as the breeze had strengthened. However, during a calm spell around 15.00 hrs. a male was seen to take flight from the high flowering branches, fly for 30 seconds or so and then settle on the flowers as soon as the wind strengthened again. Several males (at least three and perhaps more) were seen in the same area here the next day during a brief visit between 14.30 and 15.00 hrs. On 2 April 1999 I revisited the sallows at Sindlesham Mill where I had seen males in late March. This time the weather was sunny, hot and calm. I searched these and other sallows nearby that I had not examined before, between 09.30 and 14.00 hrs. Here a further two males were noted, the first at 11.10 hrs., together with three females. These females, the first I have seen, were all observed between 13.00 and 14.00 hrs. A further visit to this site on 9 April between 11.00 and 14.00 hrs., again during ideal weather conditions, failed to turn up the adults I had seen earlier that week, or any others. 172 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.v11.2000 These observations suggest that A. cuprella flies mostly in calm weather conditions and requires bright sunshine in order to do so. As soon as even a light cloud shrouded the sun all flight activity stopped, to be resumed again almost the instant bright sunshine was restored. No flight was observed on sunny hot days with a strong wind. The earliest time that I observed adults in flight was 11.00 hrs., so cuprella does not appear to be an early riser. Perhaps warming of the air to a critical point is required before it will take to the wing. Males appear to take flight first, with the females flying an hour or two later (although the numbers of observations concerning this aspect of their biology are somewhat limited). All flight activity was observed to have ceased by 16.00 hrs. Also it appears that their flight season is short, Figure 1. A “pole net” in use at Ashley Hill Forest. Photograph courtesy of P. Verdon BEHAVIOUR OF ADELA CUPRELLA W3 as at Sindlesham moths were seen over a seven day period, from 27 March to 2 April. Of course, they may have been on the wing a few days earlier and/or later than this, but by 9 April cuprella’s season was over at this site. No further examples were seen here, or elsewhere, this Spring despite visiting the cuprella sites at Dinton Pastures and Ashley Hill Forest on 10 April and Sindlesham Mill the following day. In volume | of MBGBI (1976) John Heath and Ted Pelham-Clinton (both of whom I can assure readers I have the utmost respect for) state that cuprella is notorious for being common one year and apparently absent in following seasons. However, in this work no mention is made of its ability to pass up to three winters in the larval state (Emmet, Life-cycle table, MBGBI 7(2), p 76, 1991). As the adult requires sunny, warm and calm weather conditions during a limited period of the day and at a time of year when, generally speaking, the weather is seldom ideal, opportunities for recorders to note its’ presence at a site are probably very limited. This being the case it appears that A. cuprella is not an easy species to record, especially when one considers its’ small size and altitude of flight. Similarly, the moths opportunities for mate location, pairing and oviposition are probably also limited by the weather conditions during the adults flight period. This, coupled with variations in predation pressure from season to season and its’ ability to survive for up to three years in the larval stage mean that A. cuprella has evolved a strategy for surviving unfavourable seasons. Hence, the years of abundance followed by seasons of extreme scarcity, which this species is notorious for, are not surprising. Variation in abundance from season to season is a feature of the population dynamics of many insects but is particularly pronounced with this species. It would be interesting, though I suspect quite difficult, to investigate what environmental cues are involved in protraction of the larval stage. Tawny Pinion Lithophane semibrunnea Haw. (Lep.: Noctuidae) in north Yorkshire On the morning of 3 May 2000, I recorded a single Lithophane semibrunnea in the immediate vicinity of my m.v. light at Eddlethorpe near Malton in north Yorkshire (technically in Watsonian vice county 61, East Yorkshire). Heath and Emmet (1983. The Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland, Vol.10), have this species occurring no further north than South Lincolnshire in the east, and Blackpool in the west. The trap site is Manor Farm, an all-arable enterprise on which UAP, an agricultural chemical merchant, is undertaking numerous initiatives to increase biodiversity. There are mature hedgerows and a fragment of ancient woodland containing this moth’s foodplant, ash Fraxinus excelsior, in the immediate vicinity of the trap site— W. R. MEEK, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Monks Wood, Huntingdon, Cambs PE28 2LS. 174 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.vil.2000 Clitostethus arcuatus (Rossi) (Col.: Coccinellidae) in central London To the new vice-county records for the Endangered (Red Data Book category 1) ladybird Clitostethus arcuatus given by Colin Welch and Martin Jukes during 1999 (Ent. Rec. 111: 133-134), can now be added another in the form of Middlesex. A single specimen was recently identified by me from a mass of small beetles which Colin Plant had sorted from the malaise trap in the garden of Buckingham Palace; the single specimen was in the sample collected in the period from 27 July to 3 August 1996. The species is allegedly associated with ivy Hedera helix and it is of interest that a small patch of ivy carpets a small area of ground adjacent to the trap, on the slope of a wooded mound. The plant is also present on several trees throughout the garden and also grows at various points on the perimeter wall. That this rare beetle should be present in the very centre of London seems surprising, though it is by no means the only surprise that Buckingham Palace Garden has to offer. The survey of the garden was carried out between 1995 and 1997 by the London Natural History Society, with gracious permission of Her Majesty the Queen. A full list of beetles recorded at this site, together with a discussion, will be presented by me in December 2001 in the second and final part of the work The natural history of Buckingham Palace Garden, London which will form a supplement to The London Naturalist for that year— S. ALEX WILLIAMS, 40 Preston Park, Faversham, Kent ME13 8LN. Dienerella argus Reitter (Col:. Latridiidae) on Lundy My wife and I spent a few days on Lundy last September. Among some beetles shaken out of a heap of old hay in a barn on 17.ix.1999 were three specimens of a small Dienerella. The key provided by von Peez (in Freude, Harde & Lohse, Eds., 1967. Die Kafer Mitteleuropas. vol 7) indicated that they were D. argus and this was subsequently confirmed by comparing them with material in The Natural History Museum, London. D. argus is relatively small, at 1.3 - 1.4 mm in length, with large eyes and no temples and is only likely to be confused with D. filum (Aubé), which has a two-jointed antennal club whereas the club in argus has three joints. The specimens of D. argus were accompanied by many example of D. ruficollis (Marsham). D. argus was introduced to the British list by Newberry (1907. Entomologist’s mon. Mag. 43: 136) who recorded an example taken at a wholesale druggist in London. It has been recorded in Britain in imported Indian oilcake and Rhodesian maize (Aitken, 1975. Insect Travellers, vol. 1: Coleoptera. Inspectorate of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Technical Bulletin 31). I have not found any other published record of this beetle in Britain, but the Manchester Museum holds five specimens dated 23.ix.1971 collected from a house in Dukenfield, Manchester and The Natural History Museum, London holds four specimens dated 14.11.1977 collected from a house in Epping Forest, Essex. Enquiries at other British museums have not produced further records. NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS 175 On the continent of Europe, the beetle is recorded from wet grassland and from under decayed bark of oaks (von Peez, op. cit.). It is known also from North Africa and from North America where it has been found in ground cereals and in standing wheat (Hinton, 1945. A monograph of the beetles associated with stored products. vol.1. British Museum (Natural History), London). I thank Mr Howard Mendel for arranging access to material held in The Natural History Museum, London, Mr Colin Johnson for information on material in the Manchester Museum and Dr Brian Levey for information on material in the National Museum of Wales. I thank also Mr M. Sinclair for advising me that there are no British specimens in the Royal Museums, Edinburgh and no records in the Scottish Insects Records Index. Lastly I thank Miss Lisa Coles, National Trust Warden, Lundy for her help in our study of beetles on the island.— JOHN OWEN, 8 Kingsdown Road, Epsom, Surrey KT17 3PU (E-mail: jaowen@talk21.com). Harpalus griseus Panzer (Col.: Carabidae) in Britain — a postscript In recording a specimen of this beetle taken in the second half of July 1995 in a light trap at Wimbledon, Surrey (Owen, 1996 Ent. Rec. 108: 69-72), I suggested that it might be the first definitely British example. I did this with some hesitation because the beetle was at one time on the British list, though I had not been able to trace an unequivocally British specimen. To try and clarify the situation, I wrote in the note that I would be pleased to learn of any specimen thought to be a British example of the species to which I had not referred and, to the same end, exhibited the specimen at the British Entomological and Natural History Society’s Exhibition in November 1996. Professor Dacie, to whom I am indebted for the specimen, continued to run his light trap at Wimbledon until the end of 1998, but no further examples of the species were trapped. To date (March 2000), I have not heard of any further records, but one additional piece of information has come to light. Rye (1863 Ent. Ann. 65-115), put forward the view that H. griseus was a British beetle having seen two examples in the Waterhouse collection. As reported in my note, there is a specimen of H.griseus on a card inscribed “G.R.W. coll” in the Waterhouse collection in the Royal Scottish Museums, Edinburgh. This is presumably one of the two specimens seen by Rye in the Waterhouse collection. Now, my friend Roger Booth has found what is almost certainly the other Waterhouse specimen, among material in The Natural History Museum, London. Like the one in Edinburgh, it is mounted on a card inscribed “G.R.W. coll.” and also like the Edinburgh specimen has a pin-hole in the right elytron. The specimen bears what are apparently two accession labels, one of which refers to Power, but no date or locality is given. I thank Dr Booth for allowing me to refer to his discovery and for arranging inspection of the specimen in question.— J. A. OWEN, 8 Kingsdown Road, Epsom, Surrey KT17 3PU (jaowen@talk21.com). 16 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.vii.2000 Another Welsh record of Calamotropha paludella (Hb.) (Lep.: Pyralidae) In an earlier note (antea 41-42) I reported the discovery of some moth species new to Monmouthshire (VC50), including Calamotropha paludella, which was also apparently new to Wales. Since then a further Welsh record of paludella has surfaced. Barry and Sandra Stewart captured a singleton at Manselfield, South Gower, on 11 August 1995. No suitable habitat exists for paludella in the immediate vicinity of Manselfield, but a few miles to the west and east are two fenland National Nature Reserves, Oxwich and Crymlyn Bog/Pant-y-Sais Fen, where the species might perhaps be profitably searched for. However, Goater (British Pyralid Moths, 1984) describes paludella as a wanderer, inclined to turn up outside its normal range, so the Glamorgan specimen could have come from much further afield, whereas the large numbers discovered in suitable habitats around Newport indicate that paludella is definitely resident in Monmouthshire. It now appears that the Glamorgan specimen was the first Welsh record.— MARTIN J. WHITE, 8 St. Nicholas Square, Maritime Quarter, Swansea SA1 1UG. Records of Argyresthia conjugella Zell. (Lep.: Yponomeutidae) from Glamorgan On 23 July 1999, I identified a specimen of Argyresthia conjugella (Zell.) which was among several smaller moths captured by David Gilmore on 24 June 1999. These came from Dare Valley Country Park near Aberdare in the north of Glamorgan. Though common across Britain and recorded in all adjacent counties, a glance at the map in Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland 3: 85 suggested that this distinctive species had not previously been recorded in VC41. However, a scan of records held by Lepidoptera Recorder Barry Stewart showed that two specimens of conjugella were captured in 1988 by the late Richard G. Warren at Gelli-hir, an ancient woodland nature reserve in Gower in the west of the county. Clearly the species has previously been largely overlooked here, but with the abundance of its larval foodplants, Rowan Sorbus aucuparia and Apple Malus spp., it will no doubt prove to be far more widespread within Glamorgan.— MARTIN J. WHITE, 8 St. Nicholas Square, Maritime Quarter, Swansea SA1 1UG. Pseudopostega crepusculella (Zell.) (Lep.: Opostegidae) new to Glamorgan On 10 August 1999, with Rob Taylor of the Glamorgan Moth Recording Group, I visited Pant-y-Sais Fen National Nature Reserve between Neath and Swansea. We spent approximately one hour between 9 pm and 10 pm “dusking” for moths with nets and hand-held lights. Along the canal towpath bordering the eastern side of the fen, numerous whitish moths were flying. These were mostly Brown China-marks Elophila nymphaeata (L.), but I retained one moth that I identified as Pseudopostega crepusculella. This species is quite distinctive, but as it has rarely been recorded from Wales and according to Emmet & Heath (1976. Moths and Butterflies of Great NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS 177 Britain and Ireland 1: 271), is on the wing in June and July, I was anxious to carefully check this identification. At the first opportunity, I took it to the National Museum of Wales where another Glamorgan Moth Recording Group member, David Slade, is currently working on the Lepidoptera collection. Microscopic examination clearly confirmed it as P. crepusculella. Consultation with Maitland Emmet, who maintains updated distribution maps for all the microlepidoptera, revealed that previous Welsh records of this species number only three. There is one confirmed, but undated, recent record from Breconshire, and records from both Monmouthshire and Anglesey without data, but certainly made during the 1970s. The present record is thus new to Glamorgan and only the fourth for Wales. I am most grateful to Lt. Col. Maitland Emmet for his kind assistance in checking the current status of this moth in Wales.— MARTIN J. WHITE, 8 St. Nicholas Square, Maritime Quarter, Swansea SA1 1UG. Hemicoelus nitidus (Herbst) (Col.: Anobiidae) in a second Suffolk locality Hemicoelus nitidus (Herbst) was added to the British list by my friend Howard Mendel on the basis of a single male beaten from Black Poplar Populus nigra on the Icklingham Plains in the Suffolk Breck (1982, Ent. mon. Mag. 118: 253). Later, five Specimens were reared from fallen branches of Field Maple Acer campestre collected in Windsor Great Park (Owen, J. 1990. Ent. Rec. 102: 274). As far as I am aware, these are the only captures of the beetle in this country. On 25 July 1998, I beat a single male from an old oak Quercus in Horringer Park near Bury St. Edmunds (grid reference TM 8162). This capture lends further support to Mendel’s view (1989. Trans. Suffolk Nat. Soc. 25: 23-28), expressed when describing the unique nature of the Icklingham Plains area and its saproxylic beetles, that Hemicoelus nitidus would be recognised as an ancient woodland relict species I thank Keith Alexander (National Trust) for permission to record on the Ickworth Estate and Prof. J. Owen for helpful information on his capture at Windsor._ DAVID R. NASH, 3 Church Lane, Brantham, Suffolk CO11 1PU. Biphyllus lunatus (Fabr.) (Col.: Biphyllidae) and Annomatus duodecimstriatus (Miller, P.W.J.) (Col.: Bothrideridae) both feeding on sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus bark Biphyllus lunatus and Annomatus duodecimistriatus are well known to have rather specific habitat requirements. Biphyllus occurs almost exclusively in cramp balls or King Alfred’s cakes, the round, hard, black fungus Daldinia concentrica which attacks ash logs and trunks. Anommatus is a blind beetle, completely lacking eyes, a feature suited to its secret, subterranean life, where it is recorded as feeding on decaying potatoes, buried wood and other decaying vegetable matter in the soil. I was, therefore, a little startled to find both of these beetles feeding on sycamore bark. 178 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.vii.2000 On 4.vi.1996 I rolled over some cut sycamore logs recently felled in Dacres Wood, a small community open space in Lewisham, south-east London (grid reference TQ 355725) and discovered several Biphyllus and an Anommatus. They were all gathered on the underside of the logs in the black sooty spores of the “sooty bark disease”, a fungus Cryptostroma corticale, specific to sycamore and which had killed the trees. The logs were resting on and partly sunken into the earth, a habitat not altogether unlikely for Anommatus, and it is quite conceivable that the decaying sycamore was just as good as any other log in providing shelter or nourishment for the beetle. But the very many (at least 30) specimens of Biphyllus could, surely, only indicate that they were breeding there. Although completely different in form, at least Cryptostroma is similar to the normal Biphyllus food-fungus in that it is as black and apparently unappetising as Daldinia. Hammond & Lawrence (1989. Appendix. Mycophagy in insects: a summary. In: Wilding, N. et al. (eds), Insect- fungus interactions. London: Academic Press. pp. 275-324), list Biphyllidae (Biphyllus and Diplocoelus) as generally being associated with Daldinia, Numularia and Cryptostroma, but I do not recall ever seeing a specific record of Biphyllus associated with sooty bark disease. On the other hand Diplocoelus fagi Guerin- Meneville is now one of the commonest beetles under sycamore bark in the London area and finding it under beech bark, nominally its true host, is something of a novelty. The number of beetles associated with sycamore, and more specifically with the sooty bark disease continues to grow (Jones, 1993. Sycamore: an underrated pabulum for insects and some beetles associated with. Ent. Rec. 105: 1-10 & 1999; Saprosites mendax Blackburn (Scarabaeidae) under sycamore logs in Battersea Park, London. Coleopterist 8: 120). One wonders what will be found feeding there next. — RICHARD A. JONES, 135 Friern Road, East Dulwich, London SE22 OAZ. (bugmanjones@hotmail.com). Trinodes hirtus (Fabr.) (Col.: Dermestidae) — a further Suffolk locality Ten years ago I reported the re-discovery of this Red Data Book category 3 beetle at Shrubland Park, Coddenham (1990, Ent. Rec. 102: 186), a locality in which the species continues to thrive, it last being noted there by myself and Martin Collier in June 1998. It is perhaps worth adding that, in addition to being found under Sweet Chestnut Castanea sativa bark in this locality — not Spanish Chestnut as stated in my original note — the larvae are also found under that of live Sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus. On 30 June 1999, I was pleasantly surprised to beat a single example from an old oak with cobwebbed cavities, growing on the edge of a grazed pasture at Freston, near Ipswich (OS grid reference TM 1639). This is the third Suffolk locality for the beetle, Claude Morley having described how he found larvae in a huge Polyporus sulphureus (now Laetiporus sulphureus) bracket on a very old Crack Willow Salix fragilis (1942. Trans. Suffolk Nat. Soc. V part 1: 36). Although he does not give the provenance of the fungus, some of the NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS 179 larval skins are present in his collection at Ipswich Museum and show that it was collected at Brandeston (TM 26) on 2 September 1942. Morley (loc. cit.) states that “it is pretty surely a mere scavenger in other Beetles’ burrows” which is not correct, the larvae feeding on cast spider exuviae and the desiccated remains of spiders’ prey in cobwebs under bark. The beetle is normally considered to be associated with ancient broad-leaved woodland and pasture woodland; there are extensive old woodlands adjacent to the Freston locality, but this does not appear to be the case in the Brandeston area and its occurrence on an old willow likewise seems most unusual. I thank David Lampard, Keeper (Natural History) at the Ipswich Museum for access to the Claude Morley collection— DAviD R. NAsH, 3 Church Lane, Brantham, Suffolk CO11 1PU. The Geranium Bronze Cacyreus marshalli (Butler) (Lep.: Lycaenidae) in Granada During a holiday in southern Spain, my girlfriend and I went to the city of Granada, mainly to visit the magnificent Moorish palace, the Alhambra. On 9 April 2000, after spending several hours in the palace and its gardens, we walked down into the town to get some food. Though the weather was quite dull, I noticed a lycaenid butterfly flitting amongst the awnings outside a row of cafés and bars. Once it had settled, it was Clearly identifiable as the Geranium Bronze. Tom Tolman, in the 1997 Collins Field Guide Butterflies of Britain and Europe mentions that this species was noted in Granada as long ago as 1995, so unless the butterfly is being constantly re- introduced with its foodplants, our sighting would indicate that the butterfly has maintained its presence in the city for at least five years— MARTIN J. WHITE, 8 St. Nicholas Square, Maritime Quarter, Swansea SA1 1UG. Early emergence of Anthophora plumipes (Pallas) (Hym.: Anthophoridae) Anthophora plumipes is a large and distinctive, sexually dimorphic solitary bee which nests in earth banks and occasionally the mortar of buildings. Males are light or tawny brown with plumose middle tarsi. Females are largely black with a distinctive fringe of orange hairs on the hind legs; both look rather like a small bumblebee, but have a less shaggy appearance. Although widespread in Surrey, it is my experience that this species is more abundant in the London suburbs than in the wider countryside, and is especially common in my garden in Mitcham where, on any suitable days, several males and females can be seen at garden flowers between March and May. As one of the early spring species which can be readily identified, this is a bee which I regularly record and generally note the first emergence each year. My data for the London area suggest that adults usually appear around the middle of March. This year, however, my first record from my garden in Mitcham (TQ2868) was a male on 13 February 2000 and both a male and female on 20 February. Prior to this 180 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.v.2000 I had just one record for February (a male on 15.11.1998). The range of dates I hold is shown in Table 1 below. Table 1. Recorded dates of observations of Anthophora plumipes (Pallas) in Surrey [ae] a aaa] 17 [es] sai] aaa] a] sn] 2] wae ae] 39 | vo eal aes eo ln al With the growing awareness of early emergence of insects, this strikes me as one which might be investigated in more detail. For example, do they emerge earlier in central London than in the suburbs or in more rural areas? I would be interested to hear from anyone who has records of this species over a period of years, or who would be interested in establishing a monitoring scheme to use this species to investigate the impact of urbanisation on insect emergence.— ROGER K. A. Morris, c/o 241 Commonside East, Mitcham, Surrey CR4 1HB. Psilota anthracina Mg. (Dip.: Syrphidae) and Melanochaeta capreolus (Haliday) (Dip.: Chloropidae) — two enigmatic species found together at a site in East Kent On 24 May 2000, the opportunity to record flies was taken whilst accompanying some sixth form students to Denge Wood near Garlinge Green, East Kent (grid reference TR 106528). The site visited is managed by the Woodland Trust and consists of a small area of west-facing chalk grassland fringed by beech Fagus sylvatica and hazel Corylus avellana woodland. Management seems concerned largely with maintaining populations of certain orchids, e.g., Lady orchid Orchis purpurea and the Duke of Burgundy Fritillary Hamearis lucina L., although previous visits by myself have also revealed a good diversity of less common insects, such as Microrhagus pygmaeus (Fabr.) (Col.: Eucnemidae), Nymphalis antiopa L. (Lep.: Nymphalidae) and Macronychia polyodon (Mg.) (Dip.: Sarcophagidae) on 1.vi.1998, 16.iv.1996 and 16.vii.1996 respectively. Between 12.00 and 12.30 hours, sweeping was confined to a small area of recent coppice work around a mature beech in the lowermost part of the reserve, within which someone had built a “camp” of birch Betula pendula logs. On returning home, the contents of the pooter were quickly sorted and pinned and the resultant material scanned for unfamiliar forms. The first specimen to deserve closer attention was a deep blue-black fly which, at the time of collection, was taken to be Hydrotaea ignava (Harris), being about the same size and equally sluggish in nature. It was only on examining the wing venation that the fly was seen to be a syrphid and subsequent reference to Stubbs and Falk (1983. British Hoverflies. British Entomological and Natural History Society), revealed it to be a male Psilota anthracina Mg.. Falk (1991. A review of the scarce and threatened flies of Great Britain (part 1). Research NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS 181 and survey in nature conservation 39), states that the species has its stronghold in the New Forest and Windsor and referred to other sites in Dorset, Essex, Surrey and Warwickshire. Chandler, 1969 (The Hover-flies of Kent. Transactions of the Kent Field Club 3:139-202) considered that P. anthracina was a species unlikely to be found in Kent. The larvae are now known to develop in sap runs on trees (Stubbs, 1996. British Hoverflies, second supplement. British Entomological and Natural History Society). Numerous specimens of Oscinella were also swept during the visit, including several O. maura (Fall.) which is conspicuous because of its white arista. A single female with darkened wings was at first thought to a teratological form of the latter as here the arista was much thickened (considerably more so than in the genus Elachiptera) and covered with dark pubescence. Using the key by Collin (1946. The British genera and species of Oscinellinae (Diptera, Chloropidae). Transactions of the Royal Entomological Society of London 97: 117-148), the specimen readily ran to Melanochaeta capreolus (Haliday). Collin stated “...except for its arista, might easily pass as a species of Oscinella” and he had personally taken the species in three different localities in Cambridgeshire in May and June. Dr J. Ismay (pers. comm.) has additional records from Berkshire, Herefordshire, Lancashire, Norfolk, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire, Surrey and Yorkshire. The discovery of these two individuals raises the number of Syrphidae recorded from the county to 194 species and Chloropidae to 123.— LAURENCE CLEMONS, 14 St. John’s Avenue, Sittingbourne, Kent ME10 4NE. Another record of the bee-wolf, Philanthus triangulum (Fabr.) (Hym.: Sphecidae) in urban central London On 5 August 1999, I netted an unusual-looking wasp from a narrow and undistinguished scrubby stretch of trees, mainly ornamentals, lining the railway trackside at Parson’s Green, London (grid reference TQ 249766). It proved to be the bee-wolf Philanthus triangulum. Although listed as “Vulnerable” (RDB2) by Else & Spooner (1987. Philanthus triangulum, the bee wolf. In: Shirt, D. B. (Ed.) British red data books: 2. Insects. Nature Conservancy Council) and Falk (1991. A review of the scarce and threatened bees, wasps and ants of Great Britain. Nature Conservancy Council), this characteristic insect has now spread widely. Else (1997. Philanthus triangulum (Fabricius, 1775). In Edwards, R. (Ed.) Provisional atlas of the aculeate Hymenoptera of Britain and Ireland. Part 1. Biological Records Centre) demonstrates this remarkable increase and even relates a record from central London at Battersea Bridge roundabout. The wasp’s appearance on the other side of the Thames just goes to confirm that when an insect starts to spread, it can find a foothold in even the unlikeliest of sites. In London, these unlikely sites are often scrappy bits of rough ground, usually derelict or disturbed. Here is another tick in the list of unusual species associated with ruderal plots, that enthusiastic euphemism for “wasteland”.— RICHARD A. JONES, 135 Friern Road, East Dulwich, London SE22 OAZ. (bugmanjones@hotmail.com). 182 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.vii.2000 Butterfly rape During a visit to Corregidor Island, just off Manila in the Philippines, I had the opportunity of observing the mating behaviour of Cethosia biblis insularis C. & R. Felder, 1861. Most butterflies go through some sort of mating ritual, sometimes most intricate. Cethosia biblis does not. The male grabs the female in the air, forces her to the ground, sits on top of her, and gradually aligns himself to curl the abdomen so copula is established. It is just ten seconds between the intercept in the air and copula. It looks like rape of the most brutal nature. This is also the common procedure among the Acraea, which is interesting. Though the Cethosia have traditionally been considered members of the Nymphalinae, recent findings indicate that they may be closely related to the Acraeinae. So maybe we have to include rape in future cladistic and systematic studies. Males and females must live in different habitats and the females only come into male territory only when they “want” to get raped; when going about the important business of laying eggs they cannot afford to be waylaid by males intent on rape. So here is a nice little research project for someone going to Corregidor for more than a weekend of quality time with their wife. TORBEN B. LARSEN, 5 Wilson Compound, 2811 Park Avenue, 1300 Pasay City, Metro Manila, The Philippines (E-mail: torbenlarsen@compuserve.com). Odontomyia tigrina (Fabr.) (Dip.: Stratiomyidae) in urban London Folkestone Gardens, a small 2.4-hectare public open space in Deptford, south-east London (grid reference TQ361770), is dominated by an artificial pond. Edged with willow trees and covered with lily pads, at first sight it looks promising, but a closer inspection shows, unfortunately, that tyres, plastic bags and empty beer cans lurk in the shallows. Thinking that there was fairly little hope for invertebrates in another of London’s vandalised ponds, I was pleasantly surprised to sweep a specimen of Odontomyia tigrina off of emergent vegetation on 8 June 1999. This rather local fly is nationally scarce, accorded Notable status by Falk (1991, A review of the scarce and threatened flies of Great Britain. Part 1) who reports that it is primarily found near ponds and ditches in southern England, especially on the coastal marshes of Monmouthshire, Somerset and the Thames Estuary. Although close to the River Thames, less than a kilometre as the insect flies, Folkstone Gardens is about as far removed from the fly’s normal habitat as can be imagined. The small site is completely surrounded by railway lines, dense urban housing and busy roads. Ironically, the “gardens” of its title refer to an oddly-named series of apparently gardenless streets of small blocks of flats, built at the end of the 19th century. They were demolished by a V2 rocket in 1945 and the site was derelict, then home to various industrial units, until it was cleared in the late 1960s or early 1970s and the pond created. The pond leaked and dried out in the early 1990s, but was restored in 1994 when a new butyl liner was put in place. The present aquatic fauna of the pond is very poor. There are plenty of water hoglice Asellus species in the eutrophic, leaf-polluted mud, four common water NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS 183 beetles Hyphydrus ovatus (L.), Haliplus confinis Stephens, Helochares lividus (Forster) and Noterus clavicornis (Degeer), one water boatman Cymatia coleoptrata (Fabr.), the water walker Hydrometra stagnorum (L.), the saucer bug /lycoris cimicoides (L.) and two common damselflies Enallagma cyanthigerum (Charpentier) and Ischnura elegans (Vander Linden). Only two soldier flies, the single Odontomyia tigrina and several specimens of the pretty black and yellow species Oxycera rara (Scopoli) elevated the site from the wholly mundane and offered the promise of some slight invertebrate potential for the pond.— RICHARD A. JONES, 135 Friern Road, East Dulwich, London SE22 OAZ. (bugmanjones@hotmail.com). Prionocyphon serricornis (Muller) (Col.: Scirtidae) in Wiltshire and Suffolk Prionocyphon serricornis was originally assigned Red Data Book category 3 (Rare) status by Shirt (1987, British Red Data Books: 2. Insects. NCC), but was subsequently downgraded to Notable B by Hyman & Parsons (1992, A review of the scarce and threatened Coleoptera of Great Britain. Part 1. UK Nature Conservation No. 3. JNCC ). Larvae occur in wet or water-filled rot-holes in trees; they are also frequently encountered in the root-plate pools of beech Fagus sylvatica. Larvae appear to be more often recorded than adults. As I am unaware of any published records for Wiltshire and Suffolk the following captures would seem noteworthy. Wiltshire: Bemerhills, Grovely Wood, Great Wishford, grid reference SU 0634, 2 beaten from mature oak Quercus, 11.viii.1971; Bagfield Copse, Hamptworth, SU 22, 1 beaten from oak Quercus, 7. vili. 1986. Suffolk: Shrubland Park Estate, Coddenham, TM 1253, 1 swept near beeches Fagus sylvatica, 20.1x.1986. I thank Mr. N. Anderson (Hamptworth Estate), The Earl of Pembroke (Grovely Wood) and Lord de Saumarez (Shrubland Park) for permission to record on their property.— DAvID R. NAsH, 3 Church Lane, Brantham, Suffolk CO11 1PU. Fourth update of early emergences of moths at Selborne The table overleaf continues the comparison (Ent. Rec. 111: 286-287) between my earliest observations of non-hibernatory species in 1992-94 with those in 1995-1997. The m.v. light was run here on just over 320 nights during each year of the survey. Of these next 42 species, 29 arrived earlier in 1995-97 than in 1992-94. Three species shared the same earliest date in both periods. Fifteen species were up to a month earlier than is usually expected. 184 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.v1i.2000 1995-1997 MBGBI imago 15 May 97 May-Aug 15 May 95 May, Jun 15 May 97 May-Jul 15 May 97 May, Jun 15 May 95 Jun, Jul 15 May 97 Jun, Jul 15 May 97 May-Jul 15 May 95 May-Jul 15 May 97 May-Jul 15 May 95 Jun, Jul 16 May 97 Jun-Aug 17 May 97 May-Sep 17 May 97 Jun-Aug 17 May 97 May, Jun 17 May 97 May, Jun 2089 Axylia putris (Linn.) 17 May 97 Jun, Jul 1819 Eupithecia exiguata exiguata (Hb.)} 18 May 95, 97 May, Jun ea eee 18 May 91 May Jan 2337 Oligia strigilis (Linn.) 18 May 97 May-Jul 19 May 97 May, Jun 20 May 95 Jun-Aug 20 May 97 Jul-Sep 20 May 95, 97 May-Jul 20 May 95 May-Jul 20 May 97 22 May 94 Jun, Aug 21 May 97 26 May 93, 94 May-Oct Species 947 Aethes smeathmanniana (Fabr.) 1764 Chloroclysta truncata (Hufn.) 1802 Perizoma affinitata (Steph.) 1832 Eupithecia assimilata (Doubl.) 1976 Sphinx ligustri (Linn.) 1994 Phalera bucephala (Linn.) 2069 Tyria jacobaeae (Linn.) 2158 Lacanobia thalassina (Hufn.) 2289 Acronicta rumicis (Linn.) 2291 Craniophora ligustri (D.&S.) 1021 Cnephasia asseclana (D.&S.) 1219 Lathronympha strigana (Fabr.) 1259 Cydia fagiglandana (Zell.) 1868 Aplocera efformata (Guen.) 1958 Lomographa temerata (D.&S.) 2078 Nola confusalis (H.-S.) 1428 Aphomia sociella (Linn.) 1937 Peribatodes rhomboidaria (D.&S.) 1944 Hypomecis punctinalis (Scop.) 2326 Apamea crenata (Hufn.) 2387 Caradrina morpheus (Hufn.) 2126 Xestia c-nigrum (Linn.) NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS 185 2173 Hadena bicruris (Hufn.) 1778 Hydriomena impluviata (D.&S.) 22 May 97 Fszmmerenntm) | m8 [eam [om — ALASDAIR ASTON, Wake’s Cottage, Selborne, Hampshire GU34 3JH. The recent occurrence of Anthocoris minki Dohrn (Hem.: Cimicidae) in London An invertebrate survey of Forster Memorial Park, Catford (grid reference TQ 385723), in the south-east London borough of Lewisham produced a surprising species list, with several ancient woodland indicator species, supporting the notion that the park sits on the site of a double assart — an assart being a clearing made inside a woodland for agricultural use, leaving boundaries of wooded strips rather than hedgerows. The boundary of one of the assarts has apparently been destroyed, and is replaced by a modern (probably middle 20th century) row of Lombardy poplars. It was here that one of the most unusual finds was discovered — the small “flower” bug Anthocoris minki. This very local bug is accorded “nationally rare” status (Red Data 186 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.vii.2000 Book category 3) by Kirby (1992. A review of the scarce and threatened Hemiptera of Great Britain. Joint Nature Conservation Committee). At the time of that review it was recorded only from the Thames tow-path at Kew, and Three Locks, Soulbury, Buckinghamshire. Previous confusion over the identity of species in this difficult genus means that records before Jessop (1993. The British species of Anthocoris (Hem: Anthocoridae) Entomologist’s Monthly Magazine 119: 221-223), who confirmed the bug as British, are probably referable to A. simulans Reuter. There are many small (3-4 mm) chequered brown and yellow bugs in this genus. They are variously predators of aphids, psocids or other small insects. Anthocoris minki is unusual in that it lives inside the peculiar spiral plant galls made by its aphid prey in the leaf petioles of Lombardy poplar. The aphid which creates these characteristic galls, Pemphigus spirothecae (Passerini), is a common and widespread species, but the bug is apparently very rare. Even when this close association was first recorded in Britain, by Jessop, the disparity between the aphid’s widespread abundance and the bug’s national scarcity was commented upon. Despite searches of apparently suitable sites, Kirby reports that the bug was not found elsewhere. The occurrence rate quoted for Kew was of the order of 2%, two of approximately 100 galls contained 5th instar Anthocoris, seven of which were reared to adulthood. In Forster Memorial Park, Anthocoris minki was very common in the Pemphigus galls and seemingly in much greater abundance than at any of the other recorded sites. Although I did not make a detailed count, I probably examined less than 50 galls and yet found eight examples of the bug, an “infestation” rate of at least 16%. Strangely, this was not the first time I had come across the bug. On 5 July 1998 I swept an Anthocoris in Morden Cemetery (TQ 233673) in south-west London. It seemed to work to A. minki, and it occurred near a row of Pemphigus-galled Lombardy poplars, but I was not completely confident of the determination and a return visit, perhaps too late in the season, failed to find any specimens in the spiral galls. Comparison with the bugs from Forster Memorial Park, however, confirms the identification. | But even before this, I had come across a prior reference to the bug in another survey, of London’s Battersea Park. An unpublished report by Sorenson et al. (1993 Battersea Park nature areas. The nature reserve and wilderness) lists A. minki with only a brief comment on its rarity and no mention of its ecology in a creditable list of 140 insects an 40 other invertebrates. Nothing is known about those carrying out the survey, but judging from the bibliography which accompanies their report, they concentrated on the more characteristic groups and had limited access to authoritative identification guides. They found two noteworthy species, the hoverfly Volucella zonaria Poda (found again in 1998, and in fact quite common in London) and Anthocoris minki. At the time I read their report I was sceptical about the A. minki record, but now I have doubts about my doubts and it seems quite possible that the bug is established in Battersea Park also. — RICHARD A. JONES, 135 Friern Road, East Dulwich, London SE22 0AZ. (bugmanjones@hotmail.com). NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS 187 Winter Red Admirals Vanessa atalanta (L.) (Lep.: Nymphalidae) It is increasingly possible that, whatever may have been the case earlier, Vanessa atalanta now often hibernates in southern England with apparent success — presumably as a result of global warming. It appears that January 2000 was the warmest on record for the country as a whole, which may well have resulted in a record crop of sightings. Mr K. C. Lewis has noted two or three in the last few years: one on the white, outside wall of the Orangery Tea-rooms at Kew Gardens, Surrey, in warm sunshine, on 23.1.2000, and a probable one near the Palm House not far away three weeks later; also one on the tiled wall of the Co-op building in Welling High Street (north-west Kent), 16.11.1999, where he had seen one the previous winter. He suggests a possible hibernation site in the permanently illuminated sign here, which, if a butterfly could somehow gain entrance to its interior, would possibly provide the necessary shelter and warmth. A. A. ALLEN, 49 Montcalm Road, Charlton, London SE7 8QG. BOOK REVIEW AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Insects on cherry trees by Simon R. Leather and Keith P. Bland. With illustrations by Miranda Gray. Naturalists’ Handbooks number 27, series editors S.A. Corbet and R.H.L. Disney. 82pp., 209 x 147mm. Published for the Company of Biologists Ltd by Richmond Publishing Co Ltd., PO box 963, Slough SL2 3RS. Price £15 hardback (ISBN 0 85546 312 0) or £8.95 paperback (ISBN 0 85546 311 2). Cherries make interesting study for the entomologist. There are a variety of native and non- native species, planted and naturalised, deciduous and evergreen trees. Whilst the true bird cherry Prunus padus is mainly northern, the wild cherry or gean Prunus avium is more widespread. Nearly 80 insect species associated with cherries are covered by the book: Hemiptera (21 species), Lepidoptera (37 species), Diptera (four species), Hymenoptera (three species) and Coleoptera (14 species). The handbook follows the usual style for the series. Illustrated keys and coloured plates allow identification of the insects whilst introductory chapters detail some of the interesting ecological lessons learned from their study. The relationships between the abundance and spread of different cherry foodplants in Britain and the numbers of insect species found on each cherry type makes interesting reading. This is an update of the more-or-less well known feature that common, widespread and long- established plants have more insects associated with them. 188 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.v11.2000 Insect-plant interactions are examined with reference to the ways in which different insects partition the cherry trees, some attacking the leaves, others the buds, some at one time of year others in a different season. The identification keys are well illustrated. I had no trouble determining the leaf mines of Lyonetia clerkella and the case of Coleophora hemerobiella. { had a little more trouble with the key to cherries because, inevitably, I found an unusual-looking bush when no flowers or fruit were available. The ecological bent, in common with the entire series of these handbooks, is geared towards the undergraduate biologist rather than the field entomologist, nevertheless it is an interesting read and with many stimulating ideas. RICHARD A. JONES Log Book of British Lepidoptera by J. D. Bradley. Privately published, 2000. ISBN 0 9532508 1 4. John Bradley’s updated Checklist of Lepidoptera recorded from the British Isles (1998) was reviewed in this journal in volume 110, pages 256-258. An updated checklist was long overdue and the names, though unfamiliar in some cases, have now been adopted by most British lepidopterists. However, those of us who were familiar with the 1979 “Log Book” were to some extent disappointed by the large size of the new checklist. That problem has now been solved in this new work, in which John has condensed the checklist into a new volume, the same size and format as the 1979 “Log Book”, with a wipe-clean cover. Distribution data and rarity status are added and some errors in the large-format checklist are corrected. A far more satisfactory volume! Log Book numbers are included. Available at £6, plus £1 UK postage and packing, from David Bradley, The Glen, Frogham, Fordingbridge, Hampshire SP6 2HS. A provisional atlas of the Pyralidae of Somerset by Martin Ellis. Devon Moth Group, 2000 This is not really a book, but a set of maps with no text, and does not warrant a full review, but is well worth drawing to the attention of readers of this journal. The atlas is based on 5800 pyralid records received to February 2000. The maps show all the records in the Somerset Moth Group database (including historic records). In most cases records are mapped to tetrads, but in a few species where the record can not be placed more precisely they are mapped to 10- kilometre square. A total of 137 species of Pyralidae has been recorded from Somerset. Three species are listed as unconfirmed — Euchromius ocellea, Nascia cilialis and Sciota hostilis. Records for two species, Paratalanta hyalinalis and Mutuuraia terrealis, cannot be placed more precisely than “Somerset” and “South Somerset” respectively. The work is described by the author as continuously brooded, which basically means that it is regularly updated and your copy may well have more dots on the maps than mine! Copies may be obtained in one of two ways — free of charge in exchange for Somerset moth records (macro or micro) or for £2 inclusive of postage (payable to Somerset Moth Group) for those with nothing to offer in return. In both cases, the address to write to is Somerset Moth Group, 14 Great Ostry, Shepton Mallet, Somerset BA4 5TT or e-mail your records to mjellis@tesco.net. Continued from back cover Biphyllus lunatus (Fabr.) (Col.: Biphyllidae) and Annomatus duodecimstriatus (Miiller, P. W. J.) (Col.: Bothrideridae) both feeding on sycamore Acer pacraopiatanus Watk. Richard A, JONES | pds: cle ool we rele ern PN OM ee ae 177-178 Trinodes hirtus (Fabr.) (Col.: Dermestidae) — a further Suffolk locality. David R. Nash En Ayn oh OR ne eee Re Ones eet eee SIN OR YOST, MA ofemegtn tae 178-179 The Geranium Bronze Cacyreus marshalli (Butler) (Lep.: Lycaenidae) in Granada. EV ECUGIURTR MVNA LIL Coe arclee. os. Sae git, geome Ceo aas diay Geer vsbee HuDIR CONE es TRIOS BRR 179 Early emergence of Anthophora plumipes (Pallas) (Hym.: Anthophoridae). Roger K. BAM VAGIIATGES Maratha ites Sirk ade ncaa Seo 5 So atin are 0 (es Sseshaifcd ulcer Reale 6 Spat NYAS) a sob nich Olan Canes Vee’ stab sie 179-180 Psilota anthracina Mg. (Dip.: Syrphidae) and Melanochaeta capreolus (Haliday) (Dip.: Chloropidae) — two enigmatic species found together at a site in East Kent. BOT CH CERO CIMONS” eco Hie aie tous Rinse uo, een cthnc een So a ee AO Me te oes iS os coue ts. OP 180-181 Another record of the bee-wolf Philanthus triangulum (Fabr.) (Hym.: Sphecidae) in Unpanceniranlondon: Kichard A. JONES. .2 2s castes 5 osu sie wc) steteis wie flees oe as « 181 Bittentivalapes OL VCD. LAISCN: incase canine, Mets Ouida Seo ORIN eS Onis Pa hake 182 Odontomyia tigrina (Fabr.) (Dip.: Stratiomyidae) in urban London. Richard A. Jones .. 182-183 Prionocyphon serricornis (Miller) (Col.: Scirtidae) in Wiltshire and Suffolk. David R. INOHO 5S oR Ee ne Ne re Were ee POT TPR ye 0k ay ar re ed 183 Fourth update of early emergences of moths at Selborne. Alasdair Aston ........... 183-185 The recent occurrence of Anthocoris minki Dohrn (Hem.: Cimicidae) in London. PRU GIL QMANAM ONES Ae Ls Pitis, STR ea eae eek aet yee odicrce voles Sysco cottons 185-186 Winter Red Admirals Vanessa atalanta (L.) (Lep.: Nymphalidae). A.A. Allen ...... 187 Book Review and Announcements Insects on cherry trees by Simon R. Leather and Keith P. Bland ................. 187-188 toe Book of British Lepidoptera by J.D. Bradley ...............02.-.-+00200%- 188 A provisional atlas of the Pyralidae of Somerset by Martin Ellis ................. 188 Entomologist’s Monthly Magazine Caters for articles on all orders of insects and terrestrial arthropods, specialising in the British fauna and groups other than Lepidoptera. Published March, July and November (4 months per issue) Annual subscription UK and Europe £33 ($72), USA and Rest of World £36 ($79). Entomologist’s Gazette An illustrated quarterly, devoted to Palaearctic entomology. It contains articles and notes on the biology, ecology, distribution, taxonomy and systematics of all orders of insects, with a bias towards Lepidoptera. Caters for both the professional and amateur entomologist. Published January, April, July and October. Annual subscription UK and Europe £29 ($64), USA and Rest of World £33 ($72). The Moths and Butterflies of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly by F.H.N. Smith (County Species Recorder) The systematic list gives details of localities, dates and provenance for over 1500 species, also noting the status currently assigned by English Nature to the nationally uncommon or endangered species which occur in Cornwall. Listed are species gained since the Victoria County History, 1906, and those not since recorded. 480 pages including 152 colour illustrations. Hardback £44 + P&P £3. Handbook of Palaearctic Macrolepidoptera VOLUME 1 Sesiidae — Clearwing Moths by K. Spatenka, O. Gorbunov, Z. LaStfvka, I. ToSevski and Y. Arita Synonymic lists, descriptions section, full data on male and female genitalia, bionomics and habitat and distribution maps. Most species illustrated by superb watercolour paintings by Stary, Holzinger and Gregor. Published October 1999. Price £120 + P&P: UK £5, Overseas £10. Payments by cheque or Giro Transfer to account no. 467 6912. GEM PUBLISHING COMPANY Brightwood, Brightwell, Wallingford, Oxon OX10 0QD For further details please write to: THE ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD AND JOURNAL OF VARIATION (Founded by J.W. TUTT on 15th April 1890) Contents The larger moths (macrolepidoptera) of culm grassland, North Devon. Robert J. Wolton Tables showing the number of microlepidoptera recorded from the British Isles, May 2000 AM. MMe oss a. ce i Po acs Sin deca ee CR Ok ee he Albinism in a male of Coenonympha leander leander (Esper, [1784]) (Lep.: Nymphalidae: Satyrinae): Stanislav Abadjiey 225-2 4.- ..- eee Phytomyza hellebori Kaltenbach (Dip.: Agromyzidae), a recent addition to the British fauna: further records in east Northamptonshire, Huntingdonshire and Cambridgeshire:.R.. Colin Welch. 20502 ue eae e hes oll ee eee Notes on the behaviour of Adela cuprella ({D.&S.]) (Lep.: Incurvariidae). Jan Sims .. Notes and observations Hypomedon debilicornis (Wollaston, 1857) (Col.: Staphylinidae) breeding in Surrey. J. Owen & A. JW. Allen. 4. 2 cco oie ere oe 3 Bens ee Most widespread micro-moth: Bditon >. =. .2 + 222 -. 2 a eee Observations regarding Cydia illutana (H.- S.) (Lep.: Tortricidae) in Essex. Brian Goodey Diasema reticularis L. (Lep.: Pyralidae) in Devon. Roy McCormick .............. Leptura fulva (Degeer) (Col.: Cerambycidae) in South Wiltshire. David R. Nash Leptura melanura L. (Col.: Cerambycidae) in Middlesex. D. A. Prance ........... Hazards of butterfly collecting — Chasing Papilio parsimon, London 1999. Torben B. | 1 | ne re ee Cera are Caren mE ERE Aix RS Ao oo ec aE Hazards of moth collecting: taking the hiss in Hampshire. Colin W. Plant .......... Argyresthia cupressella Wals. and A. trifasciata Stdgr. (Lep.: Yponomeutidae) in Essex. Brian Goodey: os. 5 sis 0 Spoke a He a See wince. hs Oe ee An observation on Acherontia atropos L.. D. Hall & P.J.C. Russell .............-. Eublemma ostrina (Hb.) (Lep.: Noctuidae) in North Hampshire. Alasdair Aston ..... Millennium) buttertiies; Sarah Patton, 2o2. 5-2... ee eee Lilac Beauty Apeira syringaria (L.) (Lep.: Geometridae): a second generation specimen at Charlecote, Warwick. David Brown 52.0... 44.--2 4 te Tawny Pinion Lithophane semibrunnea Haw. (Lep.: Noctuidae) in north Yorkshire. W. Re MOCK i lasihe re sare Gish U aie Os Hele Se I Once Rien oe Clitostethus arcuatus (Rossi) (Col.: Coccinellidae) in central London. S$. Alex Williams . Dienerella argus Reitter (Col.: Latridiidae) on Lundy. John Owen ................ Harpalus griseus Panzer (Col.: Carabidae) in Britain —a postscript. J. A. Owen ..... Another Welsh record of Calamotropha paludella (Hb.) (Lep.: Pyralidae). Martin J. GO ne nner PPM it ear Sinema eT EEN Heth RM inc sonia cos 5 a6 3 Records of Argyresthia conjugella Zell. (Lep.: Yponomeutidae) from Glamorgan. Martins. Wie 2025 che Ged hese Se A dT ee ee Se WHC 28 ah ec es es aod A ae he on ee Pe Pa eee LEE ee oe ea INGSTE es eo Ee a SIRES IRD eA I, on eat race te rr rr Continued on inside back cover Printed in England by 141-153 155-159 162 163-166 171-173 154 159 160 160-161 161 161 167-168 168-169 169 170 170 170 170 173 174 174-175 17S 176 176 176-177 177 Cravitz Printing Company Limited, 1 Tower Hill, Brentwood, Essex CM14 4TA. Tel: 01277 224610 aL PUBLISHED BI-MONTHLY Eh. 2 ENT Vol. 112 Part 5 fwde ol ENTOMOLOGIST $ RECORD AND JOURNAL OF VARIATION Edited by C.W. PLANT, B.sc., F.R.E.S. Assistant Editors R.A. JONES, F.R.E.S. & A. SPALDING, F.R.E.S. Fe ISSN 0013-8916 THE ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD AND JOURNAL OF VARIATION World List abbreviation: Entomologist’ s Rec. J. Var. Editor C.W. PLANT, B.Sc., F.R.E.S. 14 West Road, Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire CM23 3QP. Telephone: 01279 507697 E-mail: Colinwplant@compuserve.com Assistant Editors R.A. JONES, B.Sc., F.R.E.S., F.L.S. & A. SPALDING, M.A., F.R.E.S. Editorial Panel A.A. Allen, B.Sc., A.R.C.S. A.M. Emmet, M.B.E., T.D., F.R.ES. N. L. Birkett, J.P., M.A., M.B., F.R.E.S. J.A. Owen, M.D., Ph.D., F.R.E.S. J.D. Bradley, Ph.D., F.R.E.S. C.J. Luckens, M.B., Ch.B., D.R.C.O.G. J.M. Chalmers-Hunt, F.R.E.S. B. Skinner P.J. Chandler, B.Sc., F.R.E.S. P.A. Sokoloff, M.Sc., C.Biol., M.I.Biol., F.R.E.S. C.A. Collingwood, B.Sc., F.R.E.S. Registrar R.F. McCormick, F.R.E.S. 36 Paradise Road, Teignmouth, Devon TO14 8NR Hon. Treasurer Official Photographer Ce Penney, F.R.E.S. 109 Waveney Drive, David Wilson, 9 Lode Lane, Wicken, Springfield, Chelmsford, Essex CM1 7QA Cambridgeshire CB7 5XP WHERE TO WRITE Papers, notes, books for review, notices, adverts etc — Editor Changes of address — Registrar New subscriptions, renewals, donations, non-arrival of Journal — Treasurer Back issues — Paul Sokoloff, 4 Steep Close, Green Street Green, Orpington, Kent BR6 6DS ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION RATES Individual subscriber £28 Institutional subscriber £40 Readers are respectfully advised that the publication of material in this journal does not imply that the views and opinions expressed therein are shared by the Editor, the Editorial Panel or any party other than the named author or authors. Guidelines for contributors This journal publishes original papers and notes from both amateurs and professionals. It is not necessary for contributors to be subscribers. The emphasis of the journal is on British and European Lepidoptera but papers on other aspects of British and European entomology are considered, particularly concerning species in Europe which may eventually reach Britain. The preferred method of submission is by e-mail or on floppy disk — even for very short articles. However, we acknowledge that these facilities are not available to everyone and we also accept typed or hand-written manuscripts. E-mailed contributions are best sent as binary attachments so that formatting is preserved. Disks must be PC compatible and the file format must be readable by Word 2000. A single paper copy should accompany disks. In both cases contributions should employ correct use of capital letters, bold and italic type etc and should be single spaced. Leave a single line of space between paragraphs and do not indent the first line. Pay particular attention to the style and punctuation in lists of references. 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There are normally no page charges to authors for text or black and white photographs but authors wanting colour photographs will normally have to defray the cost. Contact the editor in advance for details. All papers are subjected to peer review and may be returned to authors for corrections before acceptance. Galley proofs of papers and book reviews are sent to authors for correction. Proofs of other contributions are checked by the editorial panel. Authors of papers receive 25 free reprints and may pay for additional copies; the order form will be sent with the galley proofs. Proofs of notes can be provided at cost and must be requested when submitting the manuscript. The Aurelian Legacy — British Butterflies and their Collectors by Michael A. Salmon with additional material by Peter Marren and Basil Harley Foreword by The Hon. Miriam Rothschild, DBE, FRS A history of British butterflies cannot be separated from that of their collectors, since our knowledge of them is the result of four hundred years of collection and study. A mere fifty years ago many now uncommon species were wide- spread and abundant - their subsequent seemingly irreversible decline owing more to changes in land management and the environment than past collect- ing. Given the present state of butterfly populations, indiscriminate collecting can no longer be justified. This thoroughly researched, highly informative and enjoyable book includes a short history of butterfly collecting in Britain and of equipment used; brief biographies of 101 deceased lepidopterists generously laced with anecdotes and quotations, and many contemporary monochrome portraits; accounts of selected species of historical interest; and an appraisal of the effect of collect- ing and current conservation policies. Appendixes list all the British and Irish butterflies with their earlier vernacular names; and provide a chronological account of entomological societies, publications and significant events. The work concludes with a comprehensive Bibliography and Index. As well as colour photographs of historic specimens, the superlative colour plates and text figures of butterflies by eighteen artists from Petiver to Frohawk — some never previously reproduced — are an outstanding feature of the book. Michael Salmon has made a lifelong study of British butterflies and, with his collaborators, provides a fascinating account of the men and women who have made such valuable contributions to our knowledge of British butterflies and of their past and often complex history. The Aurelian Legacy is not only a very ‘good read’ for naturalists but an excellent scholarly resource for lepidopterists and social historians. 275 x 210mm, approx. 432 pages, including 42 colour and 162 b/w illustrations ISBN 0 946589 40 2 Clothbound and jacketed Due December £30.00 net Checklists of the Flora and Fauna of Wicken Fen edited by Laurie E. Friday and Basil Harley Wicken Fen, a property of the National Trust and one of this country’s first nature reserves, has been studied by naturalists and ecologists for over 100 years. This Checklist complements Wicken Fen — the making of a wetland nature reserve, published in 1997, and is an inventory with current nomencla- ture of all species recorded to date at the Fen, from the most primitive algae to the higher vertebrates — some 8000 species, providing a benchmark for further research, particularly among the lower orders. ISBN 0 946589 61 5 Limpbound, 244 x 172mm, 128pp. Due October £12.50 net Order from: HARLEY BOOKS, FREEPOST, Great Horkesley, Colchester CO6 4YY, adding £3.75 or £2.00 respectively for p. & p.; Mastercard, Visa and Amex accepted; tel: 01206 271216; fax: 01206 271182; or e-mail: harley@keme.co.uk. Entomologist’s Monthly Magazine Caters for articles on all orders of insects and terrestrial arthropods, specialising in the British fauna and groups other than Lepidoptera. Published March, July and November (4 months per issue) Annual subscription UK and Europe £33 ($72), USA and Rest of World £36 ($79). Entomologist’s Gazette An illustrated quarterly, devoted to Palaearctic entomology. It contains articles and notes on the biology, ecology, distribution, taxonomy and systematics of all orders of insects, with a bias towards Lepidoptera. Caters for both the professional and amateur entomologist. Published January, April, July and October. Annual subscription UK and Europe £29 ($64), USA and Rest of World £33 ($72). The Moths and Butterflies of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly by F.H.N. Smith (County Species Recorder) The systematic list gives details of localities, dates and provenance for over 1500 species, also noting the status currently assigned by English Nature to the nationally uncommon or endangered species which occur in Cornwall. Listed are species gained since the Victoria County History, 1906, and those not since recorded. 480 pages including 152 colour illustrations. Hardback £44 + P&P £3. Handbook of Palaearctic Macrolepidoptera VOLUME 1 Sesiidae — Clearwing Moths by K. Spatenka, O. Gorbunov, Z. LaStfivka, I. ToSevski and Y. Arita Synonymic lists, descriptions section, full data on male and female genitalia, bionomics and habitat and distribution maps. Most species illustrated by superb watercolour paintings by Stary, Holzinger and Gregor. Published October 1999. Price £120 + P&P: UK £5, Overseas £10. Payments by cheque or Giro Transfer to account no. 467 6912. GEM PUBLISHING COMPANY Brightwood, Brightwell, For further details please write to: Wallingford, Oxon OX10 0QD Times Change... : a 5 ih . . Standards shouldn't At Cravitz Printing we blend the latest technology with good old fashioned quality to give you the best quality print and service at competitive prices. PRINTING COMPANY LIMITED Established 1969 1 Tower Hill, Brentwood, Essex CM14 4TA. Tel: (01277) 224610 « Fax: (01277) 262815 * E-mail: CravitzPtg@compuserve.com MICROLEPIDOPTERA REVIEW OF 1999 189 MICROLEPIDOPTERA REVIEW OF 1999 J.R. LANGMAID! AND M.R. YOUNG’ Wilverley, 1 Dorrita Close, Southsea, Hampshire PO4 ONY. ‘Culterty Field Station, Department of Zoology, University of Aberdeen, Newburgh, Aberdeenshire AB41 6AA. BY COMMON CONSENT, 1999 continued the run of poor years for Microlepidoptera, at least in southern Britain, with leaf-mining species again scarce and catches generally low. The winter of 1998/1999 was again rather mild and 1999 itself the warmest year on record, with much sunshine but frequent thunderstorms and local flooding. January to March were mostly mild and wet, with only a little snow but April was unsettled and briefly rather wintry, although it was also warmer than usual overali. May was also unseasonably warm but also dull and unsettled, whereas June was unusually cool and wet. This dull and then cool weather gave a rather poor early summer. July was very dry and warm in the south, but less settled in the north. It ended with some very hot days and these continued into early August, which then became unsettled and wet. September was again sunny and warm but with some unsettled, thundery spells and October was also sunny and mostly dry. Finally November was dry and mostly mild, as was early December but there was then a wintry period before Christmas, making the month rather wet. As an unusual start to our review we can report that Anthophila fabriciana (Linnaeus) has now been recorded from every British vice-county, following the earlier achievement of Agonopterix heracliana (Linnaeus) and Celypha lacunana ({Denis & Schiffermiiller]). The latter is also found in every Irish vice-county, so far a unique distinction! Two species were recorded as new to the British list, namely Bryotropha dryadella Zeller, which has been found in the south-west between 1984 and 1999 but only recently recognised by R.J. Heckford and Ancylodes pallens Ragonot, found by P. Davey at Gaunt’s Common, Dorset in January, as a migrant. Two further species have been recognised as British after further examination of old specimens. J.R. Langmaid and K. Sattler found one Teleiodes flavimaculella (Herrich-Schaffer) in the collection of J.T. Radford from West Sussex and also one in the collection of BMNH from Blean Wood, Kent, the latter prior to 1949. R.J. Heckford and K. Sattler have re-examined British Scrobipalpula spp. and have found that those called S. psilella (Herrich-Schaffer) are in fact all S. diffluelia (Frey). Accordingly the latter name replaces the former on the British list. Three species have been found new to Wales, namely Ectoedemia louisella (Sircom), Ochsenheimeria vacculella (Fischer von Réslerstamm) and Stathmopoda pedella (Linnaeus); two new to Scotland, Argyresthia trifasciata Staudinger and Digitivalva pulicariae Klimesch; and two new to Ireland, Myelots circumvoluta (Fourcroy) and Homoeosoma sinuella (Fabricius). R.J. Heckford has continued his remarkable series of observations on the larvae of species which have not previously been recorded or properly described in Britain, including Schiffermuelierina grandis (Desvignes), Denisia subaquilea (Stainton), D. albimaculea (Haworth), Borkhausenia fuscescens (Haworth), Bryotropha terrella 190 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.1x.2000 ({Denis & Schiffermiiller]), Gelechia senticetella (Staudinger), Oegoconia caradjai Popescu-Gorj & Capuse, Crambus pascuella (Linnaeus) and C. uliginosellus Zeller. The Scottish Entomologists’ Meeting in June was based on the Isle of Arran (100), to try and find new records for a neglected area of Scotland and, despite rather poor weather, found an amazing 62 species not previously recorded there. These included Phalonidia affinitana (Douglas), at its most northern British location, as well as a series of other species which are generally more southern. This emphasises the mild climatic conditions in south-west Scotland. We are most grateful to those who contributed records and they have been identified in the list by their initials: H.E. Beaumont, K.P. Bland, K.G.M. Bond, S.D.S. Bosanquet, K.V. Cooper, A.M. Davis, B. Dickerson, A.H. Dobson, B. Elliot, A.M. Emmet, R.G. Gaunt, B. Goodey, M.W. Harper, R.J. Heckford, B.P. Henwood, R.I. Heppenstall, S.H. Hind, D. Hipperson, M.R. Honey, S.A. Knill-Jones, J.R. Langmaid, R. Leverton, D.V. Manning, D. O’Keeffe, R.M. Palmer, S.M. Palmer, M.S. Parsons, J.T. Radford, A.N.B. Simpson, E.G. Smith, F.H.N. Smith, I.F. Smith, M.H. Smith, R.A. Softly, P.H. Sterling, W.G. Tremewan and M.R. Young. SEM denotes the Scottish Entomologists’ Meeting; the Lepidopterists present were KPB, AMD, JRL, RMP, MRY, Caroline Allen, Graham Irving, Duncan Williams, Peter Wormell and Jessie Wormell. Titles of journals are abbreviated as follows: Ent. Gaz. for the Entomologist’s Gazette; Ent. Rec. for the Entomologist’s Record and Journal of Variation; Atropos is given in full; and /r. Nat. J. for the Irish Naturalist’ s Journal. As a general rule only new VC records are included in the following systematic list. We have taken advantage of A.M. Emmet’s maps to recognise these and are most grateful for his time and trouble in checking them. They are both bold and underlined. We have used J.D. Bradley’s 1998 checklist as our guide to nomenclature and species order, including the “log book” numbers. We would request that records for the 2000 review are sent to John Langmaid as soon as possible, as we would like to publish the Review during 2001. Please try and use the full and exact format that is used in the Review, as this greatly eases the task of collation. It is also possible to send records by e-mail to john@langmaidj.freeserve.co.uk We are most grateful to the efforts of so many recorders, who have contributed to increasing our knowledge of the distribution of our British and Irish Microlepidoptera. SYSTEMATIC LIST MICROPTERIGIDAE 3 Micropterix aureatella (Scop.) — Ordiquhill (94) vi.1999 — RL & MRY 5 M. calthella (Linn.) — Castleoliver Wilderness (H8) 22.iv.1999 — KGMB ERIOCRANITDAE 9 Eriocrania sparrmannella (Bosc) — Glenloig, Isle of Arran (100) tenanted mine on Betula pubescens 27.vi.1999 — SEM MICROLEPIDOPTERA REVIEW OF 1999 191 NEPTICULIDAE 20 Ectoedemia decentella (H.-S.) — Bishopstrow (8) 10.viii.1999 — EGS & MHS 22 E. louisella (Sirc.) — Dingestow (35) 8.vi.1999 — SDSB, New to Wales 23 E. argyropeza (Zell.) — Knockando (94) tenanted mines on Populus tremula 24.x.1999 RL, RMP & MRY; Collum Point (H24) mines 7.xi.1999 — KGMB 28 E. angulifasciella (Staint.) — Rindown Wood (H253) tenanted mines 5.x.1999 — KGMB 34 E. occultella (Linn.) — St John’s Wood (H25) mines 17.x.1999 — KGMB 37 E. albifasciella (Hein.) — Leemount (H4) mines 14.x.1999; Culnagore (H24) vacated mines 7.xi.1999 — KGMB 38 E. subbimaculella (Haw.) — Rossington (63) 26.v.1999 — RIH 50 Stigmella aurella (Fab.) — Knockando (94) vacated mines on Rubus fruticosus 24.x.1999 — RL, RMP & MRY; Helensburgh (99) mines on R. fruticosus x1.1999 — MRY 65 S. speciosa (Frey) — Tattenhall (58) mines on Acer pseudoplatanus 21 viii.1999 — B.T. Shaw & SHH; Flixton (59) mines on Acer pseudoplatanus 28.ix.1999, det. S.H. Hind — K. McCabe per SMP 67 S. plagicolella (Staint.) — Cashel Wood (H24) mines 7.xi.1999 — KGMB 68 S. salicis (Staint.) — Machrie, Isle of Arran (100) mines on Salix sp. 27.vi.1999 — SEM;; Portlick (H23) mine 6.xi.1999 — KGMB 74 S. assimilella (Zell.) — Formby (59) mines on Populus alba 11.1x.1999, det. AME — IFS 82 S§. paradoxa (Frey) — Hugginstown Fen (H11) mine 23.vii.1999 — KGMB 84 S. ruficapitella (Haw.) — Knockando (94) vacated mines on Quercus 24.x.1999 — RL, RMP & MRY; Leemount (H4) mines 14.x.1999 — KGMB 86 S. roborella (Johan.) — Knockando (94) vacated mines on Quercus 24.x.1999 — RL, RMP & MRY 87 S. svenssoni (Johan.) — Thompson Common (28) vacated mine on Quercus 16.x.1999 — AME 89 S. basiguttella (Hein.) — Knockando (94) vacated mines on Quercus 24.x.1999 — RL, RMP & MRY 92 S. anomalella (Goeze) — Knockando (94) vacated mines on Rosa 24.x.1999 — RL, RMP & MRY;; Portlick (H23) mine 6.xi.1999; Cashel Wood (H24) mines on Rosa pimpinellifolia 7.xi.1999 — KGMB 99 S. hybnerella (Hiibn.) — Shiskine, Isle of Arran (100) vacated mines on Crataegus 25.vi.1999 — SEM 111 S. microtheriella (Staint.) — Cashel Wood (H24) vacated mine 7.xi.1999 — KGMB 112 S. luteella (Staint.) — Craigellachie (94) vacated mines on Betula 24.x.1999 — RL, RMP & MRY 116 S. lapponica (Wocke) — Glenloig, Isle of Arran (100) vacated mines on Betula pubescens 27.vi.1999 — SEM 117. ‘S. confusella (Wood) — Holcroft Moss (59) mines on Betula 10.ix.1999 — S.H. Hind & K. McCabe per SMP OPOSTEGIDAE 121 Opostega crepusculella (Zell.) — Turraun (H18) 13.vii.1999 — KGMB 192 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.1x.2000 INCURVARIIDAE 128 Phylloporia bistrigella (Haw.) — Machrie, Isle of Arran (100) vacated mines and cut-outs on Betula 27.vi.1999 — SEM; St John’s Wood (H25) vacated mine 17.x.1999 — KGMB 129 Incurvaria pectinea Haw. — Marlay Park (H21) larval feeding on Betula 6.vi.1999 — KGMB 136 = Lampronia corticella (Linn.) = rubiella (Bjerk.) — Breidden Hill (47) 5.vi.1999 — D.J. Poynton & IFS 138 L. fuscatella (Tengst.) — Cardiff (41) 21.vi.1998 — D. Gilmore, Ent. Rec. 111: 146 Nemophora cupriacella (Hiibn.) — Combrook Farn NR (38) 10.vii.1999 — J. Robbins, Ent. Rec. 112: 12 149 Adela cuprella ({D. & S.]) — Gait Barrows NNR (60) spring 1999, det. SMP — R. Petley-Jones per SMP 152 A. rufimitrella (Scop.) — The Ross, Isle of Arran (100) 26.vi.1999 — SEM; Midleton (HS) 1.vi.1999; Ardmore (H19) 10.vi.1999; Nose of Howth (H21) 21.vi.1999; Newcastle Lough (H22) 30.v.1999 — KGMB HELIOZELIDAE 156 Heliozela resplendella (Staint.) — Portlick (H23) mine 6.xi.1999 — KGMB 157 H. hammoniella (Sorh.) — Holcroft Moss (60) mines on Betula 10.ix.1999 — S.H. Hind & K. McCabe per SMP PSYCHIDAE 185 Luffia ferchaultella (Steph.) — Grendon (32) cases 17.v.1999 — G. Crawford per DVM; Dingestow (35) cases 28.vii.1999 — SDSB TINEIDAE 199 Psychoides verhuella Bruand — Loggerheads (50) larvae on Phyllitis 22.v.1999 — D.J. Poynton & IFS 200 “~P. filicivora (Meyr.) — South Kensington (21) bred from Phyllitis scolopendrium 20.v.1998 — MRH; Glenshelane (H6) larvae 23.vii.1999; The Raven (H12) larvae 2.iv.1999; St John’s Wood (H25) larvae 17.x.1999 — KGMB 196 Morophaga choragella ({D. & S.]) — Anston Stones Wood (63) 16.vii.1999 — HEB 219 Nemapogon ruricolella (Staint.) — Newstead Abbey Park (56) 9.vili.1998 — KVC 229 Monopis obviella ({D. & S.]) — Dan-y-Graig NR, Risca (35) 2.vii.1999 — SDSB 237 Niditinea fuscella (Linn.) — Dingestow (35) 7.vii.1999 — SDSB 239 Tinea columbariella Wocke — Cockayne Hatley (30) in RIS trap 2-8.vii.1999, genitalia det. — DVM 243 =‘ T. dubiella Staint. — Fineshade (32) in RIS trap 16-22.vii.1999, genitalia det. — DVM; Leighton Moss (60) 12.viii.1999, genitalia det. — SMP 245 __ T. pallescentella Staint. — Dingestow (35) 16.vii.1999 — SDSB 246 -T. semifulvella Haw. — Oldmeldrum (93) 9.vii.1999 — MRY; Newcastle House (H22) 8.vil. 1999 — KGMB 247 _ T. trinotella (Thunb.) — Whitewells (94) 12.vii.1999 — RL & MRY BUCCULATRICIDAE 266 Bucculatrix nigricomella (Zell.) — Flixton (59) 17.viii.1998, det. SMP — K. McCabe per SMP MICROLEPIDOPTERA REVIEW OF 1999 193 267 8B. maritima Staint. — Dingestow (35) 27.viii.1998 — SDSB; Claughlands, Isle of Arran (100) mines on Aster tripolium 27.vi.1999 — SEM 273 ~=B. thoracella (Thunb.) — Eccleston (58) vacated mines and cocoonets on Tilia sp. 31.viii. 1999 — SHH; Flixton (59) 31.vii.1999 — K. McCabe per SMP 276 B.demaryella (Dup.) — Glaister Bridge, Isle of Arran (100) 29.vi.1999 — SEM GRACILLARIIDAE 282 Caloptilia elongella (Linn.) — Claughlands, Isle of Arran (100) mines and tenanted spinnings on Alnus glutinosa 27.vi.1999 SEM; Ballygawley Lough (H28) mine 23.vili. 1999 — KGMB 283 ~=C. betulicola (Hering) — Dingestow (35) 25.x.1998 — SDSB; Glenloig, Isle of Arran (100) mines and spinnings on Betula pubescens 27.vi.1999 — SEM 285 C. azaleella (Brants) — Pennington (59) v.1999 — K. McCabe per SMP 288 C. stigmatella (Fab.) — Kildonan, Isle of Arran (100) vacated spinning on Salix caprea 26.vi.1999 — SEM 292 C. leucapennella (Steph.) — Dingestow (35) 31.vii.1998 — SDSB 289 C. falconipennella (Hiibn.) — Kingsteignton (3) cocoon on Alnus glutinosa 30.x.1999, moth bred — BPH; Dingestow (35) 17.111.1999 — SDSB 304 Parornix devoniella (Staint.) — Machrie, Isle of Arran (100) mines and spinnings on Corylus 27.vi.1999 — SEM; Cashel Wood (H24) mines 7.xi.1999 — KGMB 313. Acrocercops brongniardella (Fab.) — Doncaster (63) mines on Quercus sp., moths bred vill. 1999 — RIH 321a Phyllonorycter platani (Staud.) — Trago Mills (3) mines on Platanus 11.x.1999 — BPH 323 P. oxyacanthae (Frey) — Shiskine, Isle of Arran (100) mine on Crataegus 25.vi.1999 — SEM 327 +P. cydoniella ({D. & S.]) — Portlick (H23) mine 6.x1.1999; St John’s Wood (H25) mines on Malus sylvestris 17.x.1999, moths bred — KGMB 329 =P. pomonella (Zell.) = spinicolella (Zell.) — Milltown of Auchindoon (94) mines on Prunus spinosa 24.x.1999 — RMP & MRY 330 ~P.. cerasicolella (H.-S.) — Delamere Forest (58) mines on Prunus cerasus 16.x.1999 — K. McCabe & SHH 332a_ P. leucographella (Zell.) — Poole Head (9) mines on Pyracantha 22.11.1999 — RJH; Cross-in-Hand (14) mines 23.xi.1999 — KGMB; Northampton (32) mines on Pyracantha 25.1x.1999 — RJH; Cheltenham (33) mines xii.1998 — R. Homan per RG; Ledbury (36) mines 19.x.1998 — MWH,; Salford (59) mines on Pyracantha 12.11.1999, moths bred — K. McCabe per SMP 333 -P. salictella viminiella (Sirc.) — Filby (27) 1.iv.1999 — K.G. Saul per DH 335 “~P.. salicicolella (Sirc.) — Dingestow (35) 22.vii.1999 — SDSB; Portlick (H23) mine 6.x1.1999; Rindown Wood (H25) mines 5.x.1999 — KGMB 339 ~~ P.. ulicicolella (Staint.) — Dinmore Village (36) 14.vi.1999 — MWH 342 P. coryli (Nic.) — Machrie, Isle of Arran (100) mines on Corylus 27.vi.1999 — SEM; Portlick (H23) mines 6.xi.1999; Cashel Wood (H24) mines 7.xi.1999 — KGMB 343 P. quinnata (Geoff.) — Dingestow (35) 22.viili.1998 — SDSB; Clumber Park & Rufford Park (56) mines on Carpinus, moths bred 1i — 111.1999 — RIH 351 ~P. lautella (Zell.) — Rindown Wood (H25) mines 4.x.1999 — KGMB 194 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.ix.2000 359 ~~ P.. nicellii (Staint.) — Cashel Wood (H24) mines 7.xi.1999 — KGMB 362 ~—~P.. acerifoliella (Zell.) — Billinge (59) 23.v.1999 — C. Darbyshire per SMP 363 ~—~P. platanoidella (Joann.) — Hilcot End (33) mines on Acer platanoides 16.x.1999 — MSP; Sale Water Park (58) mines 6.viii.1999 — SHH; Flixton (59) mines 17.x.1999, det. SHH — K. McCabe per SMP; Doncaster (63) bred 111.1999; Fairburn Ings NR (64) bred 1.iv.1999 — RIH 368 Phyllocnistis unipunctella (Steph.) — Flixton ($9) 3.viii.1998 — K. McCabe per SMP 369 P. xenia Hering — Colchester (19) 17.vii.1999 — BG, Atropos 9:34 CHOREUTIDAE 385 Anthophila fabriciana (Linn.) — Shiskine, Isle of Arran (100) 25.vi.1999 — SEM 387 Prochoreutis sehestediana (Fab.) — Machrie, Isle of Arran (100) 27.vi.1999 — SEM 389 Choreutis pariana (Clerck) — Dingestow (35) 30.vi1i.1999 — SDSB GLYPHIPTERIGIDAE 397 ~=Glyphipterix thrasonella (Scop.) — Ballyvalden (H11) 10.vi.1999; Carlanstown (H22) 31.v.1999; Reynella (H23) 31.v.1999 — KGMB YPONOMEUTIDAE 401 Argyresthia laevigatella (Heyd.) — Ordiquhill (94) 1.vii.1999 — RL & MRY 403 A. glabratella (Zell.) — Penyclawdd Wood (35) 10.vi.1999 — SDSB 407_ ‘A. dilectella Zell. — Flixton (39) 2.vii.1999 — K. McCabe per SMP 409a_A. trifasciata Staud. — Colchester (19) 26.v.1999 — BG; Norwich (27) 28.v.1999 — S. Paston, Ent. Rec. 111: 238; Northampton (32) 3.vi.1999, det. HEB — G. Boyd per HEB; Bucksburn (92) 3.vi.1999 — RMP, Ent. Rec. 111: 259, New to Scotland 412 A. pygmaeella ({[D. & S.]) — Newcastle Lough (H22) 30.v.1999 — KGMB 414 A. curvella (Linn.) — Lightfoot Green (60) 6.vi.1999 —SMP 415 A. retinella Zell. — Catacol, Isle of Arran (100) 27.vi.1999 — SEM 417 A. spinosella Staint. — Penyclawdd Wood (35) 3.vi.1999 — SDSB; Swettenham Meadow (58) 31.v.1999 — SHH; Billinge (59) 9.vii.1999, det. SMP — C. Darbyshire per SMP 418 A. conjugella Zell. — Lochranza, Isle of Arran (100) 29.vi.1999 — SEM 420 _ A. pruniella (Clerck) — Lightfoot Green (60) 5.vii.1999 — SMP 422 A. albistria (Haw.) — Hugginstown Fen (H11) 23.vii.1999 — KGMB 428 Yponomeuta rorrella (Hiibn.) — Old Hall Marsh (19) larvae on Crataegus 1.v.1999, moths bred, det. BG — D. Warner, Ent. Rec. 112: 43-44 440 Paraswammerdamia albicapitella (Scharf.) — Solutia (35) 15.vii.1999 — M.J. White, Ent. Rec. 112: 42 443 Cedestis subfasciella (Steph.) — Cleddon Bog (35) 6.vii.1999 — SDSB 449 Prays fraxinella (Bjerk,) — Bucksburn (92) 2.vii.1999 — RMP; Shiskine, Isle of Arran (100) 26.vi.1999; f. rustica (Haw.) — Corrie, Isle of Arran (100) 28.vi.1999 — SEM 451 Ypsolopha mucronella (Scop.) — Sandhurst (33) 18.iv.1999 — RG 452 Y. nemorella (Linn.) — Penyclawdd Wood (35) 5.vii.1998 — SDSB; Clashavey River (H13) 24.vii.1999 — KGMB 463 _ Y. vittella (Linn.) — Machrie, Isle of Arran (100) 27.vi.1999 — SEM 251 Ochsenheimeria taurella ({D. & S.]) — Blorenge (35) 1.vili.1999 — SDSB 253 464 472 473 MICROLEPIDOPTERA REVIEW OF 1999 195 O. vacculella (F. v. R.) — Llandegfed Reservoir (35) 20+ aestivating in old nesting box 8.viii. 1999 — SDSB, New to Wales Plutella xylostella (Linn.) — Blackwaterfoot, Isle of Arran (100) 28.vi.1999 — SEM Digitivalva pulicariae Klim. — Kildonan, Isle of Arran (100) mines with larvae on Pulicaria 26.vi.1999, moths bred — SEM, New to Scotland Acrolepiopsis assectella (Zell.) — Spurn (61) 25.vii.1999 — B.R. Spence per HEB LYONETIIDAE 254 Leucoptera laburnella (Staint.) — Dingestow (35) 27.viii.1998 — SDSB; Lochranza, Isle of Arran (100) tenanted mines on Laburnum 27.vi.1999 — SEM COLEOPHORIDAE 491 493 498 501 504 510 518 519 526 541 547 555 556 560 561 562 564 567 568 Coleophora gryphipennella (Hiibn.) — Cashel Wood (H24) case on Rosa pimpinellifolia 7.xi.1999; St John’s Wood (H25) case 17.x.1999; Ballysadare (H28) mines on Rosa pimpinellifolia 29.v.1999 — KGMB C. serratella (Linn.) — Castleoliver Wilderness (H8) case on Alnus glutinosa 22.i1v.1999; Hollybrook House (H13) case on Betula 11.vi.1999; Ballybay (H25) cases 22.viil. 1999 — KGMB C. alnifoliae Barasch — Southwick (11) cases on Alnus glutinosa 5.vi.1999, moths bred, the vc 11 record in MBGBI 3 was an error — RJD, PHS & JRL C. siccifolia Staint. — Chorley (59) case on Crataegus 12.vi.1999 — SMP; Rossington (63) 12.vi.1999, genitalia det. — RIH C. lusciniaepennella (Treits.) — St John’s Wood (H25) case on Myrica gale 17.x.1999 —KGMB C. juncicolella Staint. — South Kensington (21) cases on Erica ciliaris 12.v.1998, probably introduced — MRH C. mayrella (Hiibn.) — Claughlands, Isle of Arran (100) 27.vi.1999 — SEM C. deauratella L. & Z. — South Kensington (21) 30.vi.1998 — MRH C. laricella (Hiibn.) — Ordiquhili (94) 1.vii.1999 — RL & MRY C. pyrrhulipennella Zell. — South Kensington (21) 17.vi.1998, possibly introduced with Erica ciliaris — MRH; Newcastle House (H22) 8.vii.1999 — KGMB C. discordella Zell. — Dixton Embankment (35) 11.vi.1999 — J.S. Baker & SDSB C. follicularis (Vallot) — The Derries (H14) cases on Eupatorium 10.vi.1999 — KGMB C. trochilella Dup. — Cockayne Hatley (30) in RIS trap 9-15.vii.1999, genitalia det. — DVM C. paripennelia Zell. — Killoughter (H20) mines on Centaurea nigra 25.vi.1999 — KGMB C. therinella Tengst. — South Kensington (21) 24.vi.1997, genitalia det — MRH C. asteris Mihlig — South Kensington (21) 26.viii.1999, genitalia det. — MRH C. obscenella (H.-S.) — Hale (59) cases on Aster tripolium 9.x.1999 — S.H.Hind, K. McCabe & B. Shaw per SMP; Broad Lough Quarry (H20) 24.vii.1999 — KGMB C. adspersella Ben. — Pool Hill (34) 9.vii.1998, det. J.D. Bradley — M.J. Bradley per RG; Pitsford Water NR (32) 30.vii-5.viii.1999 — DVM; Burton (58) 26.vi.1999, genitalia det. SMP — SHH C. versurella Zell. — Bishopstrow (8) 10.viit.1999, genitalia det. -—- EGS & MHS; Pool Hill (34) 6.viii.1998, det J.D. Bradiey — M.J. Bradley per RG 196 577 52 581 583 584 586 587 588 589 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.1x.2000 C. artemisicolella Bruand — Camber Sands (14) cases on Artemisia vulgaris ix.1998 — MSP C. lassella Staud. — South Kensington (21) 12.vi.1997, genitalia det. — MRH C. taeniipennella H.-S. — Penyclawdd Wood (35) cases on Juncus articulatus 15.ix.1998 — SDSB; Wakefield (63) 9.vii.1999, genitalia det. — HEB; Cahore (H12) 26.vi.1999; Turraun (H18) 13.vii.1999 — KGMB C. tamesis Waters — Scorton (60) 3.vii.1999, genitalia det. — SMP; Claughlands, Isle of Arran (100) 27.vi.1999, genitalia det. — SEM C. alticolella Zell. — The Ross, Isle of Arran (100) 26.vi.1999, genitalia det. — SEM C. adjunctella Hodgk. — Burton (58) 26.vi.1999, genitalia det. SMP — SHH; Claughlands, Isle of Arran (100) 27.vi.1999, genitalia det. — SEM C. caespititiella Zell. — Cuedon Valley Country Park (59) 16.vi.1997, genitalia det. — SMP; Skipwith Common (61) cases concealed in seedheads of Eriophorum 7.iv.1999, moths bred, genitalia det. — HEB C. salicorniae Hein. & Wocke — Caldicot (35) 24.vii.1999 — SDSB C. clypeiferella Hofm. — Berry Head (3) 31.vii.1999 — RJH ELACHISTIDAE 594 596 600 601 606 609 610 613 614 616 617 630 Elachista gleichenella (Fab.) — Garn Ddyrys (35) 30.vi.1999 — SDSB; Craigellachie (94) vacated mine on Luzula sylvatica 24.x.1999 — RL, RMP & MRY E. poae Staint. — Brampton Wood (31) 18.vi.1999 — BD E. luticomella Zell. — Kildonan, Isle of Arran (100) 26.vi.1999 — SEM E. albifrontella (Hiibn.) — Shiskine, Isle of Arran (100) 25.vi.1999 — SEM E. humilis Zell. — The Ross, Isle of Arran (100) 26.vi.1999, genitalia det. — SEM E. maculicerusella Bruand — Cranstal (71) 7.vii.1999 — L. Kneale per KGMB; Clonmannon Fen (H20) 25.vi.1999; Newcastle Lough (H22) 8.vii.1999 — KGMB E. argentella (Clerck) — Kildonan, Isle of Arran (100) 26.vi.1999 — SEM E. subocellea (Steph.) — Maltby Far Common (63) 2.vii.1999 — HEB E. triseriatella Staint. — Storrington (13) 18.vii.1997 — JTR E. bedellella (Sirc.) — Kinnoull Hill (89) larvae on Helictotrichon pratense 24.iv.1999, moths bred — KPB E. megerlella (Hiibn.) — Penyclawdd Wood (33) 15.vii.1999 — SDSB Biselachista albidella (Nyl.) — Trellech Bog (35) 8.vi.1999 — SDSB; Mexborough (63) 3.viil.1999, second VC record — HEB OECOPHORIDAE 634 636 635 638a 640 641 644 Schiffermuellerina grandis (Desv.) — larval description — RJH, Ent. Gaz. 50: 223-224 Denisia similella (Hiibn.) — Olchon Valley (36) 12.vii.1999 — MWH D. subaquilea (Staint.) — larval description and pabulum — RJH, Ent. Gaz. 50: 224-227 D. albimaculea (Haw.) — larval description — RJH, Ent. Gaz. 50: 227-228 Batia lunaris (Haw.) — Dingestow (35) 22.vii.1999 — SDSB B. lambdella (Don.) — Dinnet (92) larvae in dead stems of Ulex 18.v.1999, moths bred —RJH & MRY Borkhausenia fuscescens (Haw.) — Dingestow (35) 23.vii.1999 — SDSB; larval description and pabulum — RJH, Ent. Gaz. 50: 229-229 MICROLEPIDOPTERA REVIEW OF 1999 197 647 Hofmannophila pseudospretella (Staint.) — Borris (H13) 23.vi1.1999 — KGMB 648 Endrosis sarcitrella (Linn.) — Shiskine, Isle of Arran (100) 26.vi.1999 — SEM 649 = Esperia sulphurella (Fab.) — Ordiquhill (94) 1.vi.1999 — RL 650 E. oliviella (Fab.) — Colchester (19) 17.vii.1999, first vc record for c.100 years — BG, Atropos 9: 34 656 Tachystola acroxantha (Meyr.) — Chessington (17) 12.v. & 29.x.1999 — J. Porter per RMP 664 Diurnea lipsiella ((D. & S.]) = phryganella (Hiibn.) — Knockando (94) 24.x.1999 — RL, RMP & MRY 877 Stathmopoda pedella (Linn.) —Forest of Dean (34) 9.viii.1998 — SDSB per RG; Dingestow (35) 23.vi.1999 — SDSB, New to Wales 672 Depressaria pastinacella (Dup.) — Annamarran (H32) larva 10.vii.1999 — KGMB 674 __ D. badiella (Hiibn.) — Tumduff Mor (H18) 29.viii.1999, genitalia det. — KGMB 682 D.chaerophylli Zell. — Pitsford Water NR (32) 8.x1.1999 — DVM 689 Agonopterix ciliella (Staint.) — Merkland, Isle of Arran (100) larvae on Angelica sylvestris 28.vi.1999, moths bred — SEM 698 A. kaekeritziana (Linn.) — Llanymynech Quarry (47) larva on Centaurea nigra 5.vi.1999, moth bred — D.J. Poynton & IFS 701 A. ocellana (Fab.) — Glaister Bridge, Isle of Arran (100) larvae on Salix aurita 29.v1.1999, moths bred — SEM 706 A. nervosa (Haw.) — Breidden Hill (47) larva on Cytisus 5.vi.1999 — D.J. Poynton & IFS GELECHIIDAE 724 Metzneria lappella (Linn.) — South Kensington (21) 30.vi.1999 — MRH 730 = Apodia bifractella (Dup.) — Dixton Embankment (35) 31.vii.1999 -—— SDSB; Stockport (58) bred from Pulicaria 27.11.1999 —- IFS; Lightfoot Green (60) 13.viii.1999 — SMP 735. Monochroa tenebrella (Hiibn.) — Kildonan, Isle of Arran (100) 26.vi.1999 — SEM 736 = M. lucidella (Steph.) — Gait Barrows NNR (60) 10.vii.1999 — SMP 737 Mz. palustrella (Dougl.) — Berrow (6) 5.vii.1998 — D.F. Miller, Ent. Rec. 111: 210; Portland (9) 31.vii.1999 — M. Cade per PHS 742 = M. lutulentella (Zell.) — Harnham Lines (8) — 14.vii1.1999, genitalia det. — EGS & MHS 746 = Chrysoesthia drurella (Fab.) — Dingestow (35) 22.v1i.1999 — SDSB 747 ~~ C. sexguttella (Thunb.) — Dingestow (35) 23.vi1.1999 — SDSB 777a_ Bryotropha dryadella Zell. — Berry Head (3) 1984—1999 and Upton Towans (1) 1988, moths found between mid-May and end of July — RJH, Ent. Gaz. (in preparation). New to Britain 7719 ~=~B affinis (Haw.) — Dingestow (35) 29.vii.1999 — SDSB 783 B. boreella (Dougl.) — Wartle Moss (93) 4.vi1.1999 — MRY 787 ~=B. terrella ({D. & S.]) — larval description — RJH, Ent. Gaz. 50: 229-230; Dixton Embankment (35) 10.vi.1999 — SDSB; Tullybryan (H32) 9.vii.1999 — KGMB 789 B. domestica (Haw.) — St Ives (31) 30.vii.1999 — BD; Tullybryan (H32) 9.vii.1999 — KGMB 764 Pseudotelphusa scalella (Scop.) — Colchester (19) 29.v.1999 — BG 774a_ Teleiodes flavimaculella (H.-S.) — Walberton (13) 2.vi.1995 — JTR, Ent. Gaz. 50: 5- 10, New to Britain 198 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.1x.2000 775 -T. sequax (Haw.) — Llanymynech Quarry (47) larvae on Helianthemum 5.vi.1999 — D.J. Poynton & IFS 801 Gelechia scotinella H. -S. — South Kensington (21) 5.vii.1999, genitalia det. — MRH 80la_ G. senticetella (Staud.) — Pitsford Water NR (32) 30.vii-5.viii.1999 — DVM; life history and larval description — RJH, Ent. Gaz. 50: 230-232 803. G. muscosella Zell. — Goole (63) 5.vii.1998, genitalia det. HEB — T. Ezard per HEB, Ent. Gaz. 50: 238 822 Scrobipalpa acuminatella (Sirc.) — Machrie, Isle of Arran (100) mine on Cirsium palustre 27.vi.1999 — SEM 823 Scrobipalpula diffluella (Frey) — Identity of the British specimens previously thought to be S. psilella (H.-S.), Ent. Gaz. 50: 255-260 826 Caryocolum vicinella (Dougl.) — Isle of May (85) 29.viii.1999 — KPB 845 Syncopacma sangiella (Staint.) — Gait Barrows NNR (60) 10.vii.1999, det. JRL — SMP 847 _ S. taeniolella (Zell.) — Dixton Embankment (35) 29.vii.1998 — SDSB; Chee Dale (57) 17.vii.1999, det. SMP — SHH 850 S. polychromella (Rebel) — Chessington (17) 1.11.1999, det. K. Sattler — J. Porter, Atropos 7: 56 854 Anacampsis blattariella (Hiibn.) — Great Hayes Wood (30) 19.vii.1999 — DVM 857. Anarsia lineatella Zell. — Norwich (27) larva in imported peach 29.vi.1999 — A.G. Irwin per DH 858 Hypatima rhomboidella (Linn.) — Glaister Bridge, Isle of Arran (100) larvae on Betula 29.vi.1999, moths bred — SEM 864 Dichomeris ustalella (Fab.) — Tintern (35) 25.vi.1999 —DO’K 868 Helcystogramma rufescens (Haw.) — Catacol, Isle of Arran (100) 27.vi.1999 — SEM 749 Sitotroga cerealella (Olivier) — Saffron Walden (19) at m.v. light 11.vii.1999 — AME 808 Platyedra subcinerea (Haw.) — Jaywick (19) larvae on Lavatera arborea ii —v.1999, previously unrecorded foodplant — J. Young per BG AUTOSTICHIDAE 871 Ocegoconia deauratella (H.-S. — Filby (27) 27.vii.1999 — K.G. Saul per DH; Hilcot End (33) 30.vii.1999 — MSP 871la O.caradjai Pop.-Gorj & Cap. — larval description — RJH, Ent. Gaz. 50: 232-233 BLASTOBASIDAE 873 Blastobasis lignea Wals. — Gt Staughton (31) 31.vii.1999 — BD; Borris (H13) 23.vii.1999; Ballysadare (H28) 23.viii.1999 — KGMB 874 8B. decolorella (Woll.) — Freshwater (10) 14.xi.1999, det. JRL — SAK-J; Pennerley (40) 20.vi.1998 — D.J. Poynton per IFS; Findochty (94) 7.vi.1998 — RL & MRY; Shiskine, Isle of Arran (100) 25.vi.1999 — SEM BATRACHEDRIDAE 878 Batrachedra praeangusta (Haw.) — Dingestow (35) 6.viii.1999 — SDSB MOMPHIDAE 882 Mompha locupletella ({D. & S.]) — Gouganebarra (H3) 3.vi.1999 — KGMB MICROLEPIDOPTERA REVIEW OF 1999 199 883 M. raschkiella (Zell.) — Ballygawley Lough (H28) mine 23.vi1i.1999 — KGMB 891 M. sturnipennella (Treits.) — Portland (9) 5.v.1999 — M. Cade per PHS 892 WM. subbistrigella (Haw.) — Dingestow (35) 29.viii.1999 — SDSB 893 M. epilobiella ({D. & S.]) — Pollardstown Fen (H19) larvae 14.vii.1999, moths bred — KGMB COSMOPTERIGIDAE 898 Limnaecia phragmitella Staint. — Gaer Pond (35) 6.vii.1999 — M.J. White, Ent. Rec. 112: 42 904 Spuleria flavicaput (Haw.) — Dingestow (35) 15.v.1999 — SDSB 905 Blastodacna hellerella (Dup.) — Newcastle House (H22) 8.vii.1999 — KGMB 906 B. atra (Haw.) — Dingestow (35) 29.vii.1999 — SDSB 909 Sorhagenia lophyrella (Dougl.) — Anston Stones Wood (63) 16.vii.1999, genitalia det. — HEB TORTRICIDAE 921 Phtheochroa inopiana (Haw.) — Penyclawdd Wood (35) 27.vi.1998 — SDSB 932 Phalonidia affinitana (Dougl.) — Peterstone Wentlooge (35) 6.vili.1998 — SDSB; Claughlands, Isle of Arran (100) 27.vi.1999, genitalia det., most northerly record — SEM 936 Cochylimorpha straminea (Haw.) — Evesham (37) 29.v.1999, first county record for nearly 100 years — ANBS; Machrie, Isle of Arran (100) 27.vi.1999 — SEM; Glendine Quarry (H11) 2.1x.1999 — KGMB 937 Agapeta hamana (Linn.) — Saint Mullins (H13) 23.vii.1999 — KGMB 945 Aethes cnicana (Westw.) — The Ross, Isle of Arran (100) 26.vi.1999 — SEM 946 A. rubigana (Treits.) — Ardee Bog (H31) 10.vii.1999 — KGMB 952 Commophila aeneana (Hiibn.) — Evesham (37) 6.vi.1999, seemingly associated with Senecio erucifolius rather than S. jacobaea — ANBS 954 Eupoecilia angustana (Hiibn.) — Float (H23) 25.viii.1999 — KGMB 956 Cochylidia implicitana (Wocke) — Dingestow (35) 22.vii.1999 — SDSB 962 Cochylis roseana (Haw.) — Dixton Embankment (35) 29.vii.1998 — SDSB 964 C. dubitana (Hiibn.) — Brittas Bay (H20) 26.vi.1999 — KGMB 965 C. hybridella (Hiibn.) — Eccles-on-Sea (27) 17.vii.1999 — N. Bowman, Atropos 9: 34 966 = _C. atricapitana (Steph.) — Stourport (37) 30.vii.1999 — ANBS 970 Pandemis cerasana (Hiibn.) — Kildonan, Isle of Arran (100) 26.vi.1999 — SEM; Turraun (H18) 13.vii.1999 — KGMB 985. Cacoecimorpha pronubana (Hiibn.) — Newport (35) 5.vi.1999 — K. Dupe, Ent. Rec. 112: 41 987 Ptycholomoides aeriferanus (H.-S.) — Prestbury (58) 12.vii.1999 — D.J. Poynton per SHH; Wigan Flashes (59) 26.vi.1999 — R. Banks, P. Cleary-Pugh & SMP 989 Aphelia paleana (Hiibn.) — Machrie, Isle of Arran (100) 27.vi.1999 — SEM: Newcastle Lough (H22) 8.vii.1999; Cordoo Lough (H32) 10.vii.1999 — KGMB 1002 Lozotaenia forsterana (Fab.) — Newcastle House (H22) 8.vii.1999 — KGMB 1009 Philedonides lunana (Thunb.) — Pennerley (40) 27.iii.1999 — I.F. Smith per SHH 1011 Pseudargyrotoza conwagana (Fab.) — Inchmarlo (91) vii.1999 — C. Holmes, RMP & MRY 200 1016 1019 1023 1038 1041 1042 1043 1044 1047 L059 1013 1070 1074 1082 1085 1093 1095 1108 1109 1111 lllla 1113 1118 1126 1132 1135 1136 1139 1142 1144 1145 1150 1156 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.1x.2000 Cnephasia longana (Haw.) — Dingestow (35) 26.vii.1998 — SDSB C. conspersana Dougl. — St Helens (59) 23.vii.1999, genitalia det. SMP — D. Owen per SMP; Killoughter (H20) 24.vii.1999 — KGMB C. genitalana P. & M. — Sulby (32) — 23.viii.1999 — DVM Acleris laterana (Fab.) — Float (H23) 25.viii.1999; Rindown Wood (H25) 16.x.1999 — KGMB A. sparsana ({D. & S.]) — Glenloig, Isle of Arran (100) larva on Acer pseudoplatanus 27.vi.1999, moth bred — SEM A. rhombana ({D. & S.]) — Glendine Quarry (H11) 2.ix.1999 — KGMB A. aspersana (Hiibn.) — Corrie, Isle of Arran (100) larva on Filipendula ulmaria 28.vi.1999, moth bred — SEM; Float (H23) 25.viii. 1999 — KGMB A. ferrugana ({D. & S.]) — Hazel Grove (58) 2.x.1999, genitalia det. SMP — SHH A. schalleriana (Linn.) — Pitsford Water NR (32) 13-19.viii.1999 — DVM A. abietana (Hiibn.) — Inchmarlo (91) x.1999 — C. Holmes, RMP & MRY Olindia schumacherana (Fab.) — Nantgywyn (44) 17.vii.1999 — J. Baker, Atropos 9: 34 Olethreutes mygindiana ({D. & S.|) — Ben Rinnes (94) 21.vi.1998 — RL & MRY O. palustrana (L. & Z.) — The Ross, Isle of Arran (100) 26.vi.1999 — SEM Hedya pruniana (Hiibn.) — Shiskine, Isle of Arran (100) 25.vi.1999 — SEM Metendothenia atropunctana (Zett.) — Shorncliff (34) 8.v.1999 — RG Apotomis betuletana (Haw.) —Whitewells (94) 7.viii.1998 — RL & MRY A. sororculana (Zett.) — Ordiquhill (94) 7.viii.1998 — RL & MRY Lobesia abscisana (Doubld.) — Penyclawdd Wood (35) 17.vii.1999 — SDSB L. littoralis (H. & W.) — Kildonan, Isle of Arran (100) 26.vi.1999 — SEM Bactra lancealana (Hiibn.) — Kildonan, Isle of Arran (100) 26.vi.1999 — SEM; Newcastle Lough (H22) 30.v.1999; Ardee Bog (H31) 10.v1i.1999; Cordoo Lough (H32) 10.vii.1999 — KGMB B. lacteana Caradja — Freshwater (10) 1.viii.1999, genitalia det. RJH — SAK-J Eudemis profundana ({D. & S.]) — Bowden Housteads Wood (63) 23.vii.1999 — HEB Ancylis uncella ({D. & S.]) — Trellech Hill & Cleddon Bog (35) 11.vi.1999 — J.S. Baker & SDSB A. badiana ({D. & S.]) — The Ross, Isle of Arran (100) 26.vi1.1999 — SEM Epinotia subocellana (Don.) — The Ross, Isle of Arran (100) 26.vi.1999 — SEM; Cloneybeg (H19) 10.vi.1999 — KGMB FE. demarniana (F.v.R.) — Risley Moss (59) 10.vi.1999, det. SMP — P. Cleary-Pugh per SMP E. immundana (F. v. R.) — Dingestow (35) 15.v.1999 — SDSB; Newcastle Lough (H22) 25.viii.1999 — KGMB E. tenerana ({D. & S.}) — Lamlash, Isle of Arran (100) 26.vi.1999 — SEM E. tedella (Clerck) — Crochandoon, Isle of Arran (100) 26.vi.1999 — SEM E. signatana (Doug!.) — Penyclawdd Wood (35) 6.vii.1998 — SDSB E. nanana (Treits.) — Horton Woods (32) 17.vii.1999 — DVM E. abbreviana (Fab.) — Shiskine, Isle of Arran (100) larvae on Ulmus sp. 25.v1i.1999, moth bred — SEM E. solandriana (Linn.) — Crochandoon, Isle of Arran (100) 26.vi.1999 — SEM LtS7 1159 1163 1176 1184 1186 1192 1193 1201 1205 MICROLEPIDOPTERA REVIEW OF 1999 201 Crocidosema plebejana (Zell.) — Pitsford Water NR (32) 30.vii-5.viii.1999 — DVM; Kilnsea (61) 14.x.1999 — B.R. Spence per HEB Rhopobota naevana (Hiibn.) — Shiskine, Isle of Arran (100) 25.vi.1999 — SEM Zeiraphera ratzeburgiana (Ratz.) — Flixton (59) 8.vii.1999 — K. McCabe per SMP Epiblema trimaculana (Haw.) — Shiskine, Isle of Arran (100) 25.vi.1999 — SEM E. scutulana ({D. & S.]) — Kildonan, Isle of Arran (100) 26.vi.1999 — SEM E. sticticana (Fab.) — Corrie, Isle of Arran (100) 28.vi.1999 — SEM Eucosma conterminana (Guen.) — Bullen Hill Farm (8) 12.vii.1999, genitalia det. — EGS & MHS E. tripoliana (Barrett) — Caldicot (35) 24.vii.1999 — SDSB E. cana (Haw.) — Tullybryan (H32) 9.vii.1999 — KGMB Spilonota ocellana ({D. & S.]) — Inchmarlo (91) vii.1999 — C. Holmes, RMP & MRY 1205a S. laricana (Hein.) — Newcastle Lough (H22) 7.vii.1999 — KGMB 1212 1233 1234 1245 1246 1247 1250 1254 1256 1257 1259 1260 1262 1273 Rhyacionia pinivorana (L. & Z.) — Ordiquhill (94) 1.vii.1999 — RL & MRY Pammene aurita Razowski — Pitsford Water NR (32) 17.vii.1999 — DVM P. regiana (Zell.) — Shiskine, Isle of Arran (100) pupae under bark of Acer pseudoplatanus 25.vi.1999, moths bred — SEM Cydia janthinana (Dup.) — Dingestow (35) 7.vii.1999 — SDSB C. tenebrosana (Dup.) — Dingestow (35) 20.v1.1999 — SDSB C. funebrana (Treits.) — Dingestow (335) 7.v1i.1999 — SDSB C. lathyrana (Hiibn.) — Burton Bradstock (9) larvae on Genista tinctoria 31.v.1999, moth bred — PHS C. strobilella (Linn.) — Inchmarlo (91) vii.1999 — C. Holmes per MRY C. servillana (Dup.) — Shide Chalk-pit (10) pupa in galled twig of Salix cinerea 14.v1.1999 — D.T. Biggs per SAK-J C. nigricana (Fab.) — Pollardstown Fen (H19) 14.vii.1999 — KGMB C. fagiglandana (Zell.) — Burton (58) 26.vi.1999, det. SMP — SHH; Pennington (59) 28.v.199, det SMP — P. Cleary-Pugh per SMP; Gait Barrows NNR (60) 10.vii.1999, det. SMP — R. Petley-Jones per SMP cS splendana (Hiibn.) — Clonmannon Fen (H20) 24.vii.1999 — KGMB C. amplana (Hiibn.) — Stockaton (2) 29.viii.1999, genitalia det. K.R. Tuck — W.E. Birkett per FHNS & WGT; Spurn (61) 3.viii.1999 — B.R. Spence per HEB Dichrorampha petiverelia (Linn.) — Dixton Embankment (35) 10.vi.1999 — J.S. Baker & SDSB 1279 D. acuminatana (L. & Z.) — South Kensington (21) 18.v.1998, genitalia det. — MRH 1286 D. sedatana Busck — Flixton (59) 5.v.1999, genitalia det. SMP — K. McCabe per SMP EPERMENIIDAE 477 Phaulernis dentella (Zell.) — Pershore (37) 6.v1.1999 — ANBS 481 Epermenia falciformis (Haw.) — Wakefield (63) 10.vi.1999 — HEB 483 E. chaerophyllella (Goeze) — Shiskine, Isle of Arran (100) larvae on Heracleum 25.v1.1999 — SEM SCHRECKENSTEINIIDAE 485 Schreckensteinia festaliella (Hiibn.) — Askham Bog (64) 10.iv.1999 — HEB 202 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.ix.2000 PYRALIDAE 1292 Calamatropha paludella (Hiibn.) — Weston Moor (6) 7.vii.1999 — R. Higgins per AMD; Slimbridge (34) 6.viii.1999 — N. Woodward per RG; Solutia (35) 15.vii.1999 — M.J. White, Ent. Rec. 112: 42 1293 Chrysoteuchia culmella (Hiibn.) — Tullybryan (H32) 9.vii.1999 — KGMB 1294 Crambus pascuella (Linn.) — Newcastle House (H22) 8.v1i.1999; Ardee Bog (H3]1) 10.vii. 1999 — KGMB; larval description — RJH, Ent. Gaz. 50: 233-234 1297 C. uliginosellus Zell. — larval description — RJH, Ent. Gaz. 50: 234-235 1299 C. hamella (Thunb.) — Hampstead (21) 28.viii.1999 — RAS 1309 Agriphila geniculea (Haw.) — Boytonrath House (H7) 31.vii.1999; The Curragh (H19) 1.viii.1999 — KGMB 1314 Catoptria margaritella ({D. & S.]) — Clonmannon Fen (H290) 24.vii.1999 — KGMB 1316 C. falsella ({D. & S.]) — Rixton Clay Pits (59) 9.vii.1999 — S.H. Hind & K. McCabe per SMP 1330 Donacaula mucronellus ({D. & S.]) — Wigan Flashes (§9) 26.vi.1999 — R. Banks, P. Cleary-Pugh & SMP; Leighton Moss (60) 15.vi.1999 — G. Powell & SMP; Newcastle House (H22) 8.vii.1999 — KGMB 1331 Acentria ephemerella ((D. & S.]) — Inverurie (92) in RIS trap 15.viii.1999 — RMP 1334a Scoparia basistrigalis Knaggs — Minehead (5) 10.vii.1999 — M. Ellis per AMD 1338 Dipleurina lacustrata (Panz.) — Bahana Wood (H13) 23.vii.1999; Newcastle House (H22) 8.vii.1999; Tullybryan (H32) 9.v1i.1999 — KGMB 1336 Eudonia pallida (Curt.) — Turraun (H18) 13.vii.1999 — KGMB 1340. E. truncicolella (Staint.) — Hugginstown Fen (H11) 23.vii.1999; Borris (H13) 23.v1i.1999; Ballybrackan (H18) 21.vi1i.1999; Newcastle Lough (H22) 25.vi1i.1999 — KGMB 1344 E. mercurella (Linn.) — Newcastle House (H22) 8.vii.1999 — KGMB 1345 Elophila nymphaeata (Linn.) — Shiskine, Isle of Arran (100) 25.vi.1999 — SEM; Cornalara Lough (H30) 9.vii.1999; Carrickmacross Lough (H32) 10.vii.1999 — KGMB 1356 Evergestis forficalis (Linn.) — Corragarry Lough (H32) 9.vii.1999 1358 E. pallidata (Hufn.) — Owenashad Valley (H6) 23.vii.1999 — KGMB 1367 Pyrausta cingulata (Linn.) — Cwmyoy (35) 24.vi.1999 — SDSB 1370 Sitochroa palealis ({D. & S.]) — Castlemorton Common (37) 14.viii.1999 — P. Garner per ANBS 1371 S. verticalis (Linn.) — Cranwich Heath (28) 5.vi.1999 — J. Clifton per AMD 1373 Paratalanta pandalis (Hiibn.) — Mere Sands Wood (59) 27.v.1999, det. SMP — D. Rigby per SMP 1376 Eurrhypara hortulata (Linn.) — Ballygown (H11) 23.vii.1999; Newcastle House (H22) 8.vii.1999 — KGMB 1381 Anania funebris (Str6m) — Twyford Forest (53) 17.vii.1999 — R. Johnson, Atropos 9: 34 1384 Phlyctaenia stachydalis (Germar) — Trawsmawr (44) 1|.vii.1999 — J. Baker per AMD 1390 Udea prunalis ({D. & S.]) — Castlecomer (H11) 25.vii.1999; Turraun (H18) 13.vii.1999 — KGMB 1392 U. olivalis ({D. & S.]) — Newcastle House (H22) 8.vii.1999 — KGMB 1400 Antigastra catalaunalis (Dup.) — Bradwell-on-Sea (18) ix.1999 — A.J. Dewick per BG 1403a Duponchelia fovealis Zell. — Southsea (11) 3.1x.1999 — JRL; Stoke Holy Cross (27) ix.1999 — A. Musgrove per DH; Pennington (59) 6.v.1999 — P. Cleary-Pugh per SMP 1405 Pleuroptya ruralis (Scop.) — Bahana Wood (H13) 23.vii.1999; Newcastle House (H22) 8.v11.1999 — KGMB 1424 1426 1436 1445 1446 1447 1453 1455 1458 1486 1461 1462 MICROLEPIDOPTERA REVIEW OF 1999 203 Endotricha flammealis ({D. & S.]) — Chartley Moss NNR (39) 25.vii.1999 — J. Clifton per AMD; Misson (56) 17.vii.1999 — HEB Achroia grisella (Fabr.) — Trawsmawr (44) 8.vii.1999 — J. Baker per AMD; Parr, St Helens (59) 31.vii.1999 — R. Banks per SMP Conobathra repandana (Fab.) — Cog Moors (41) 26.viii.1999 — D.R.W. Gilmore per AMD Pempelia formosa (Haw.) — Westonzoyland (6) 11.vi.1999 — D. Miller per AMD; Rossington (63) 6.vii.1999 — RIH Salebriopsis albicilla (H.-S.) — Shrawley Wood (37) larvae on Tilia cordata 11.1x.1999 — MWH & ANBS Sciotia hostilis (Steph.) — Icklesham (14) 17.vii.1999, det. MSP — I. Hunter, Atropos 9: 85-86 Pima boisduvaliella (Guen.) — Spurn (61) 31.vii.1999 — B.R. Spence per HEB Dioryctria simplicella Hein. — Newborough Warren NNR (32) 13.vili.1999 — J. Clifton per AMD Myelois circumvoluta (Fourcroy) — Clonmannon Fen (H20) 25.vi.1999 — KGMB, New to Ireland, /r. nat. J. in press Apomyelois bistriatelia (Hulst) — Heysham (60) 6.vii.1999, genitalia det. SMP — P. Marsh per SMP Assara terebrella (Zinck.) — near Ludlow (36) 22.viii.1999 — MWH Pempeliella dilutellia ({(D. & S.J) — Cwmyoy (35) 24.vi.1999 — SDSB 1464b Ancylodes pallens Rag. — Gaunt’s Common (9) 5.1.1999, genitalia det. PHS — P. 1465 1481 1483 1484 1485 Davey per PHS, New to Britain Nephopterix angustella (Hiibn.) — Ipswich (25) vi.1998 — J. Higgott per AMD; Luton (30) 5.vili.1999 — R. Wilson per DVM Homoeosoma sinuella (Fab.) — Broad Lough Quarry (H20) 26.vi.1999 — KGMB, New to Ireland, /r. Nat. J. in press Phycitodes binaevella (Hiibn.) — Rossington (63) 22.vii.1999 — RIH P. saxicola (Vaugh.) — Machrie, Isle of Arran (100) 26.v1.1999 — SEM; Clonmannon Fen (H20) 25.vi.1999 — KGMB P. maritima (Tengst.) — Sharnbrook (30) 2.viii.1999 — DVM; Hempsted (33) 2.vili.1999 — G.R. Avery per AMD PTEROPHORIDAE 1492 1494 1509 1517 1518 1520 1519 1523 Oxyptilus laetus (Zell.) — Walberton (13) 24.v1.1998, det. C. Hart — JTR, Ent. Rec. 111: 289-290 Capperia britanniodactyla (Gregs.) — Cliatterin’ Brig (91) larvae on Teucrium scorodonia 11.vi.1999 — K.P. Bland per MRY Stenoptilia pterodactyla (Linn.) — Rathbaun (H13) 25.vii.1999; Poliardstown Fen (H19) 14.vui.1999 — KGMB Adaina microdactyla (Hiibn.) — The Derries (H114) 10.vi.1999 — KGMB Ovendenia lienigianus (Zell.) — Luton (30) 15.vi — 5.vii.1999 — C.W. Plant, Ent. Rec. 112: 38-39 Hellinsia osteodaciylus (Zell.) — St Cyrus NNR (91) 3.vi.1999, most northerly record — MRY, Ent. Rec. 114: 259 Euleioptilus carphodactyla (Hiibn.) — Dixton Embankment (35) 10.vi.1999 — SDSB Oidaematophor us lithodaciyla (Treits.) —- Dingestow (35) 7.viii.1999 — SDSB 204 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.1x.2000 The Small Ranunculus Hecatera dysodea (D.& S.) (Lep.: Noctuidae): A new moth for the Middlesex Vice-County and a new larval foodplant The return of this species to Britain, ending its presumed extinction, was summarised by Agassiz and Spice (1998. Ent. Rec. 110: 229-232). Although the moth was at that time (1997 and 1998), apparently confined to a very small area of West Kent near to London, it seemed logical to assume that it would eventually spread along the River Thames on both the southern and northern banks. I was therefore pleased, though not especially surprised, to discover a number of second instar larvae on the flowering head of a prickly lettuce plant Lactuca serriola at a disused wharf on the northern bank of the Thames on the Isle of Dogs, Middlesex, on 17 July 2000. Adults were bred through to confirm the identification and a single adult male was found in a malaise trap sample from the same site (trap operated from 17 July to 20 August 2000). A few days later, on 24 July 2000, at a site in Twickenham, towards the western side of Middlesex, three small larvae resembling the early instars H. dysodea were discovered on the flowering head of an isolated plant of bristly ox-tongue Picris echioides. No plants of Lactuca were growing within any reasonable distance of this plant and, in spite of searching, only these three larvae could be found. Although the similarity in physical structure of the flowering heads of Lactuca serriola and Picris echioides is remarkably high, it was considered rather unlikely that the larvae would prove to be H. dysodea. Nevertheless, they were taken home and supplied with their original foodplant until pupation; a few weeks afterwards, one adult H. dysodea emerged (it is assumed that the other two failed to pupate as their remains could not be found in the compost). This would appear to be a completely new foodplant record for this species. Although Heath and Emmet (1979. Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland, 9: 227) refer to the moths and larvae as being “locally common. . . around London .. .” up to about 1895, a complete review of London records (Plant, 1993. Larger Moths of the London Area. LNHS) reveals that the moth has never before been recorded in Middlesex (VC 21). The moth has now also been recorded in Essex. Don Down reported larvae at East Tilbury during 1999 (Atropos No. 9: 84) whilst more recently Ian Kimber took an adult at Boscombe Avenue, Grays on the night of {2 August 2000. I am grateful to lan for permission to mention his record in this note. These are the first Essex records since 1918. Further round the coast, a single adult was taken at light at Landguard Bird Observatory, Suffolk on 16 June [1999?] (Atropos No. 9: 71). There can be no doubt that this species is set to spread further along the Thames, both eastwards into Kent and Essex and westwards past London. Quite what significance can be attached to the switch to a new foodplant is unclear at present, but it is obviously worth looking for larvae on P. echioides and possibly other related plant species. As a species whose re-appearance in Britain is well- documented, detailed monitoring of its spread is clearly possible. All new sightings should be reported to the appropriate county moth recorder. COLIN W. PLANT, 14 West Road, Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire CM23 3QP (E-mail: Colinwplant@compuserve.com). MELANISM IN ACRONICTA RUMICIS 205 ACRONICTA RUMICIS L. (LEP.: NOCTUIDAE): THE DEVELOPMENT AND DECLINE OF MELANISM IN NORTH-WEST KENT B. K. WEST 36 Briar Road, Dartford, Kent DAS 2HN. IN BRITAIN, many moth species have developed melanistic trends, but attention has been bestowed disproportionately upon the Peppered Moth Biston betularia L., and the phenomenon has been neglected regarding most other species. Acronicta rumicis is one of those other species. It has a well defined melanic form, or forms, stated by Kettlewell (1973) to comprise ab. salicis Curtis and ab. Jugubris Schultz, both industrial melanics, and their descriptions not dissimilar. Added to this there is the further complication that the latter is described by Kettlewell as phenotypically identical with the ancient rural melanics, which he does not identify by name, found in western Scotland and western Ireland. However, these non-industrial melanics are widespread in Ireland (Baynes, 1964) and in Britain (Skinner, 1984). Thus the melanics of north-west Kent have a dual origin, their appearance is identical and they are invariably referred to as ab. salicis. Barrett (1898) states that the melanic form of A. rumicus is found “even so far south as Salop” implying that it was absent from southern Britain for most of the nineteenth century. This is substantiated by Chalmers-Hunt (1965) asserting that melanism in rumicis was unknown in Kent prior to 1892. In north-west Kent there has also been a development of industrial melanism, but not to the extent attained in central and east London where f. salicis has been the dominant form (Plant, 1993). Several aspects, including melanism and voltinism, of this species were considered in West (1985), but the relative darkening of typical rumicis in this area was not noted. Thus, these are a somewhat darker grey than, for example, specimens from the New Forest, or from Co. Clare and Co. Mayo; this feature is a parallel development to that in A. psi ab. suffusa Tutt which Kettlewell (op. cit.) lists as an industrial melanic, and so this form of rumicis must be similarly categorised. Although these specimens vary slightly, so far none have been observed to compare with typical New Forest or western Ireland examples. Table 1 shows the annual percentages of f. salicis for the years 1976 to 1999 inclusive, omitting 1980, 1981 and 1986 when samples of A. rumicis at the garden m.v. light remained in single figures. Validity of the percentages for several other years is questionable. However, despite these reservations, the table portrays a significant, but erratic decline in the incidence of f. salicis over the first half of the period from 20% to under 10%, and for the second half to an average of about 7.5%, with only the initial year possessing a figure over 10%. Presumably the incidence for north-west Kent will stabilise at the figure prevailing for rural south-east England, a figure I have failed to find quoted for any such region. The absence of such information emphasises the somewhat shallow nature of so many county and other regional publications on the macrolepidoptera, yet regularly operated static traps, ideal for such quantative surveys, are legion. Percentage of f. salicis in the population 206 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.1x.2000 Sample 62) 61| 24) 27); 6} 6 | 35] 99; 34) 10; 4 | 13] 44) 73) 40| 34) 143) 64) 21/134) 74) 39) 101] 55] ice) ~ [2.e) [°>) [o) - N (op) st wo O ~w © [e)) (2) cm AN (op) wT wo ice) y foe) [op) ~~ Mm ~ wR foe) [ee [2.0) foe) foe) fee) foe) fee) fee) foe) Oo fop) [op) [op) fo) [op) [o>) [op) Lop) (o>) o oO (o>) (o>) o [o>) oO oOo o [o>) (o>) fe) [o>) [o>) [o>) [e>) fe) o [o>) o [op) o [o>) o = oo v= = = = = _- = = = _- = — bed = = = ae he St — bo tice Year Table 1. Acronicta rumicis: annual percentages of f. salicis at m.v. light at Dartford for each year from 1976 to 1999. No results are available for the years 1980, 1981 and 1986 when the overall catch fell to single figures. References Barrett, C., 1896. The Lepidoptera of the British Islands, III, Reeve & C., London. Baynes, E., 1964. A revised catalogue of Irish Macro-lepidoptera, Classey, Hampton, Middlesex. Chalmers-Hunt, M., 1965. The Butterflies and Moths of Kent, Sup. Entomologist’s Rec. J. Var. 771: 205: Kettlewell, B., 1973. The Evolution of Melanism. Clarendon Press, Oxford. Plant, C. 1993. Larger Moths of the London Area. London Natural History Society. Skinner, B., 1984. A Colour Identification Guide to Moths of the British Isles. Viking, Harmondsworth. West, B.K., 1985. Apatele rumicis L.: Knotgrass — voltinism and melanism. Entomologist’s Rec. J. Var. 97: 107. WALL BROWN IN CENTRAL ENGLAND 207 THE WALL BROWN LASIOMMATA MEGERA L. (LEP.: NYMPHALIDAE) IN CENTRAL ENGLAND, 1997-1999 CHRIS TYLER-SMITH Northview, North Lane, Weston-on-the Green, Bicester, Oxon OX6 8RG. THE WALL BROWN has declined more than any other common butterfly within the last few years (Fox and Asher, 1999; Goodhand, 1999), but the causes are unknown. This study reports its current abundance in one region of central southern England, where the decline has been greatest, and identifies the habitats where it does survive. The abundance of the Wall Brown was measured during 1997, 1998 and 1999 as part of a survey for the Millennium Butterfly Atlas. The area covered lay largely within northern Oxfordshire and northern Buckinghamshire, but included a few records from southern Northamptonshire. Recording consisted of visiting one kilometre squares and counting the numbers of adult butterflies seen; exact, rather than approximate, numbers were used. A total of 747 successful visits were made, in each of which at least one butterfly was identified to the species level, and a total of 15,077 individual butterflies was recorded (Table 1). This is a slight underestimate of the total seen, because some individuals of some species (Small White/Green-veined White/female Orange Tip; Small Skipper/Essex Skipper) could not be identified to species level and were therefore not included. Thirty-four species were recorded. Among them were two Wall Browns (Table 1), which thus made up 0.013% of the total. Only the Black Hairstreak and Clouded Yellow were recorded less frequently (one each); eight “key” species within the area (as defined by Asher, 1994: Grizzled Skipper, Wood White, Green Hairstreak, Purple Hairstreak, White-letter Hairstreak, Small Blue, Brown Argus and White Admiral) were more abundant. The Wall Brown thus remains within the area surveyed, but at a very low level. A subset of 25. tetrads in ten-kilometre grid squares SP 51 and SP 52, which received an average of 12 visits each (range 8 — 20), were considered well- recorded and were analysed further. Change during the last 20 years was evaluated by comparison with two previous tetrad surveys: Knight and Campbell (1986) for the period 1980-1985, and Asher (1994) for the period 1987-1992. The first survey found the Wall Brown in eight of the 25 selected tetrads (32%); the second recorded it in three (12%), while the present survey found it in only one (4%). Thus the Wall has declined in this area during the last 20 years, as it has done nationally. These figures reflect both the abundance of the butterfly and the recording effort. If the presence of the widespread and common Meadow Brown is used as an indicator of effort, the ratios of tetrads containing the Wall Brown: tetrads containing the Meadow Brown are 8:11, 3:23 and 1:25 respectively. Thus the first survey was incomplete and the decline is even more marked than revealed by the raw figures. Current habitat preferences within the area were investigated. The 25 selected tetrads were ranked in three different ways: according to total number of individual 208 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.1x.2000 butterflies recorded, mean number of individuals per visit, or total number of species. These ranged from 854 to 60 individuals in total (mean 316), 68 to 8 individuals on average per visit (mean 26) and 26 to 14 total species (mean 19). The tetrad containing the Wall Brown was ranked sixteenth according to the number of individuals encountered, twelfth according to the number of individuals per visit and eighteenth according to the number of species. Thus the Wall’s habitat was average to poor as defined by these indicators of “butterfly quality”. Similarly, there were 32 occurrences of key species within the area (some consisting of more than one individual), but none in the tetrad containing the Wall Brown. It was seen in intensively-farmed agricultural land at the edge of a village, a poor environment for most butterflies. The second Wall Brown record was from a less thoroughly recorded tetrad, but was again in a poor butterfly environment lacking key species, at the side of a road passing through intensively-farmed agricultural land. Table 1. Summary of butterfly records. Number of visits Total butterflies Wall Browns Thus within this area of central southern England, the Wall Brown has declined substantially during the last 20 years, and is now rarer than many key species. The only remaining Walls were found in unattractive agricultural habitats. The reasons for their survival in these environments, but apparently not elsewhere, require further investigation. References Asher, J., 1994. The Butterflies of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. Pisces Publications. Fox, R. and Asher, J., 1999. Butterflies for the New Millennium 1999, Provisional Atlas. 2nd Edition. ITE. Goodhand, A., 1999. The mysterious decline of the Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera). Butterfly Conservation News 71, 7. Knight, R. and Campbell, J. M., 1986. An Atlas of Oxfordshire Butterflies. Oxfordshire County Council. NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS 209 Privet Hawk-moths galore! I usually record from eight to ten Privet Hawk-moths Sphinx ligustri L. annually in the light trap in my garden in Saffron Walden, North Essex. In 1999, for example, I had ten, two on one night and eight singletons. In 2000, although I ran the trap intermittently, I had 62. The first was on 9 June and between then and 2 July, during which period I worked the trap on 16 nights, I recorded 53. The peak nights were on 15 June — six; 16 June — nine; 17 June — eight; 18 June — ten. I did not run the trap between 3 and 17 July, partly because of the poor weather and partly for personal reasons. I began again on 18 July and continued until 30th, after which I became unable to carry on. During those 13 days I recorded nine more Privet Hawk-moths. The last moth was not in the trap. I come down at half light, just before 5 am at the end of July, and after switching off often see a small procession of moths, mostly micros, flying out. So I lift the metal cone that bears the bulb, spread an old net over the Perspex and replace the cone, thus effectively sealing the trap. On this occasion the hawk-moth was on the grass under the garden seat with a Blackbird Turdus merula, which had presumably dislodged it from the woodwork, dancing up and down over it. I shuffled to the rescue and finding the moth unharmed picked it up and placed it on the wall of the summerhouse that faces north-east, to be out of direct sunshine (there was no sun that day). It remained where I had put it for at least 16 hours, being still there when I set the trap in the evening. The next morning it had gone and there was no hawk-moth in the trap. The abundance of Privet Hawk-moths was not confined to Saffron Walden, and a local paper, not printed here, had a photograph and a brief article about the species. It may entertain readers as an example of bad journalism. A couple of old-age pensioners found a large moth on their privet hedge. They caught it in a jug and it was identified for them as a Privet Hawk-moth. The lady said “It was very peculiar. I’ve never seen anything like it before. It had a lot of fangs so I did not want to handle it — I was quite frightened. You can’t be too careful with insects, especially at our age. They could sting you and cause an infection”. The couple gave their story to the newspaper and a journalist referred it to an academic at Cambridge University, with a doctorate degree and “an expert on insect classification”. He is alleged to have said “Often at this time of year people will see caterpillars which have rather formidable-looking mouth-pieces in their hedges”. I never knew that moth and caterpillar appeared at the same time of year. The doctor continued “As this was the moth, I imagine the couple mistook the insect’s feet for fangs. It has large feet for sucking nectar from flowers”. Either the moth, the learned doctor or the journalist put his foot in it. Possibly the doctor added after “large feet” “and a haustellum”’ and the journalist, not understanding the word, omitted it and wrote nonsense. The moths are very docile and some crawl off their tray and onto my clothes, so that I find myself festooned with hawk-moths. However, they can easily be persuaded to walk off on a tree-trunk, wall or fence. I have to do this with most of those that remain in the trap until J liberate the catch at dusk after the Blackbirds have gone to bed.— A. M. Emmet, Labrey Cottage, 14 Victoria Gardens, Saffron Walden, Essex CB11i 3AF. 210 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.1x.2000 American Painted Lady Vanessa virginiensis (Drury) (Lep.: Nymphalidae) on La Gomera, Canary Islands We visited the Canary Island of La Gomera from 19 to 26 October 1999 mainly to look for Hypolimnas misippus L. Unhappily we saw no sign of that butterfly, but we did see sixteen other species. Most interestingly, on 20 October when visiting the town of Hermigua, we found larvae of Vanessa virginiensis. They were in nests woven in the leaves and flower heads of Jersey Cudweed Gnaphalium luteoalbum which was growing on gravelly, cultivated ground in the middle of the town. We found the cudweed growing in a few other places, near El Cedro, Valle Gran Rey and in San Sebastian, but found no more larvae. However this record from Hermigua does confirm that V. virginiensis is still resident on Gomera, from where it does not seem to have been recorded for many years. The other species seen were: Pieris rapae L. — widely distributed at low to medium altitude. Pontia daplidice L. — seen at low and high altitudes. Larvae seen on Hirschfeldia incana. Catopsilia florella Fab. — at low levels around Cassia didymobotrya planted in gardens. Ova, larvae and imagos present; larvae parasitised by a Tachinid fly whose white ova and points of larval entry were clearly visible. One parasitised larva produced a perfect butterfly, another produced two tachinid fly pupae. Colias croceus Geoffroy. Only one specimen seen in municipal gardens at San Sebastian. Gonepteryx eversi Rehnelt. — common in the laurisilva above 600m, mainly on the north slopes of Garajonay. Lycaena phlaeas L. — only a few seen at El Cedro (900m) and Temocoda (1200m). Lampides boeticus L. — flying around Trifolium sp. in the hotel garden at Santiago. Cyclyrius webbianus Brullé — at both medium and high altitudes feeding on Vicia bitumastica. The possibility of this species being used as a larva foodplant, when their more usual ones eg. Adenocarpus sp. are not in flower, could be investigated. Zizeria knysna Trimen. — Seen at low levels in the hotel garden at Santiago and near the harbour and in gardens at San Sebastian. Observed ovipositing on Amaranthus sp. at the latter site. Also seen at El] Cedro (900m). Danaus plexippus L. — a few adults seen in the municipal garden at San Sebastian; no sign of ova or larvae on the vine-like Asclepiadaceae species growing there. Vanessa atalanta L. — a few seen in the laurisilva. Vanessa indica vulcania Godart. — seen in the laurisilva ovipositing on Urtica morifolia Poir. Vanessa cardui L. — not common, seen occasionally at all levels. Vanessa virginiensis Drury — see above. Pseudotergumia wyssii gomera Higgins. — one very worn female at Pastrana (100m) near Targa. Pararge xiphioides Stand. — observed at Pastrana and in the laurisilva near Temocoda (1200m) and Roque del Diablo (800m). — D. HALL, 5 Curborough Road, Lichfield, Staffordshire WS13 7NG and P.J.C. RUSSELL, Oakmeadow, Wessex Avenue, East Wittering, West Sussex PO20 8NP. CORNISH COLEOPTERA Ziel LITTLE-KNOWN NOTABLE RECORDS OF CORNISH COLEOPTERA A. A. ALLEN 49 Montcalm Road, Chariton, London SE7 8QG. MY GOOD FRIEND Keith C. Lewis kindly sent me not long ago a copy of the beetle list for Cornwall, by Prof. J. Clark (1906), in the Victoria County History series. Despite its early date, I find in it a number of records of more than ordinary interest which have been very widely, indeed it appears often completely, overlooked in the later literature; and to which I consider it worth drawing attention. In particular they have virtually all been missed by Fowler & Donisthorpe (1913) in their extensive list of additional localities and records brought together in the supplementary volume of Canon Fowler’s great work; likewise in the comprehensive review of Hyman & Parsons (1992); and by the present writer. (As far as I am aware no later beetle list for the county has been published.) The following notes are in the order in which the species chosen for comment occur in the list, and include a few additional points of interest. Carabus intricatus L.: p.188. This rare south-western species is generally thought to have been found in Cornwall only in recent times. However, Clark’s entry reads: “Under the bark of trees near Carthamartha; two taken by the Rev. G. Lupton Allen at sugar, near Millook [i.e. Millhook], in 1905”. The two places are widely separated, being near Launceston and Bude respectively, in the extreme east of the county; the latter must be our northernmost record so far, widely remote from the nearest Devonshire centres. Calosoma sycophanta (L.): p.187. “A single specimen captured running along the pavement at Fowey, June, 1899”. Fowler & Donisthorpe include a record from Penzance (Rudd). Nebria complanata (L.): p.188. Not recognised as Cornish today. Yet Clark’s rather curious record (for a normally highly gregarious beetle) is: “One specimen obtained at Bude, and two at Tresco, Scilly, under the fronds of Asplenium marinum at the foot of some rocks”. The second is particularly interesting and can by no means be dismissed as erroneous, the beetle being utterly unmistakable. Diachromus germanus (L.): p.188. “Taken on the pathway, near Falmouth station, in June, 1904”. Of special interest is the late date, 65 years after that given by Hyman & Parsons as the last recorded in Britain “about 1839” — a date which seems, however, too early by two or three decades. This colourful beetle, presumed long extinct here, was possibly always adventitious like Calosoma sycophanta. The above appears to be the sole 20th-century find. Pterostichus aethiops (Panz.): p.188. “Altarnun” — 8 miles S.W. of Launceston. No further details for this moorland and mountain species, known from Devon (Dartmoor and Exmoor districts) northwards. 212 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.1x.2000 Bembidion lunatum (Dufts.): p.189. “Four specimens obtained near Morwinstow in 1904; apparently the only record for the south-west of England.” It is remarkable that the latter statement remains true today, nearly a century later; as the distribution-map in Luff (1998:63), which shows the record, confirms. Emus hirtus (L.): p.192. Besides the well-known record of one at the Lizard, autumn 1888, by A.H. Jenkin (Fowler & Donisthorpe, p.232, give the locality as Redruth near Lizard Point), Clark mentions a specimen taken close to Falmouth in 1901, and a few days later another on horse droppings nearby; and one more near Swanpool, on the coast near Falmouth, the same year. Thanatophilus dispar (Herbst): p.194. “Occurs sparingly under refuse in the Penzance district.” No record of this rarity for the south-west in Hyman & Parsons. Olibrus particeps Muls.: p.195. “Some numbers by sweeping in Whitsand Bay, Sept. 1895 (Keys).” Currently excluded from our list (Thompson, 1958:16). Although J.H. Keys was a highly competent coleopterist, it seems likely that the species in question was really O.affinis Sturm.) Lucanus cervus L.: p.196. The Stag Beetle had, up to 1906, occurred twice in S.E. Cornwall: Mount Edgcumbe (2) and Saltash (1); probably, as Clark comments, casual strays. Whether there are later records I am unable to say. Aphodius sturmi Harold: p.196. The specimen taken by Keys at Whitsand Bay (near Devonport) in 1902, remains unique as British; its true status in our fauna thus remains an open question (see Allen, 1967:224). However after nearly a century without further records, the presumption of adventive origin becomes strong. Clark’s statement contains a curious error: he ascribes the identification to a “Herr Bourkill’”. How Frank Bouskell (the actual identifier) would have viewed this strange metamorphosis, we can but surmise! Pleurophorus caesus (Creutz.): p.196. The occurrence of this great rarity in the Scilly Islands is hardly well-known; as Clark states here, two or three (four in the Dale collection at Oxford, according to J.J. Walker) were found on Tresco by C.W. Dale in October, 1890. That year saw the publication of “Fowler” vol.4, so the record was in any case too late for inclusion. There was an example from Tresco (no date) in the G.C. Champion collection. It cannot, of course, be ruled out that the beetles had resulted from an introduction with exotic plants. Clark does not mention the record by Leach from Pentire Point, near Padstow,whence Stephens recorded Aphodius scrofa (F.). Psammodius porcicollis (Mil.): p.196. At Whitsand Bay, the chief British locality, it was eventually found in some quantity, always very locally, by Walker and later by Keys. i quote from the iatter’s remarks as given in Clark’s note: “I find it in sandy places under stones on the cliffs and at roots .. . extremely siuggish in its CORNISH COLEOPTERA 213 movements. . . I once took twenty several inches down in the soil’. Jessop (1986) places this in a genus Brindalus, which I prefer to regard as subgeneric. (The ever- growing tendency to multiply genera on minute or trivial differences must surely be resisted.) Donacia simplex F.: p.198. “The larva of this insect in 1903 and 1904 destroyed a number of leaves of the Arum lily by eating inside the petiole”; scarcely a normal larval pabulum for any of the reed-beetles. (Query: are similar instances known?) Meloe autumnalis O1.: p.200. “Valley of the Lynher”. More detail would have been welcome for this very rare and seldom recorded oil-beetle. Meloe rugosus March.: p.200. “Looe valley’. Likewise no Cornish record in Hyman & Parsons. Meloe brevicollis Panz.: p.200. “Saltash; on the moors above Liskeard”. (“E.Cornwall” in Hyman & Parsons is due to a record of mine from Millhook.) Sitaris muralis Forst.: p.200. “This extremely interesting species has occurred sparingly for the past three years in a very restricted area not far from Truro about the nests of Anthophora. On 14 April, 1904, a female bee was caught with several of the early stage larvae of Sitaris attached to the body hairs.” The Cornish record seems as unknown today as several others listed in this paper. Not known to have been seen in Britain since 1969. Ceutorhynchus syrites Germ.: p.202. “Padstow (Lamb)”. A very rare species with us, for which Hyman & Parsons give eight county divisions. They include W.Cornwall in its distribution; but because of the location of Padstow, that can hardly refer to C.G. Lamb’s find. References Allen, A.A. 1967. A review of the status of certain Scarabaeoidea (Col.) in the British Fauna. Entomologist’ s Rec. J. Var. 79: passim. Clark, J. 1906. in Page, W. The Victoria History of the County of Cornwall, Coleoptera. London. Fowler, W.W. & Donisthorpe, H. StJ. K. 1913. The Coleoptera of the British islands, 6. Reeve & Co., London. 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. Jessop. L. 1986. Dung Beeties and Chafers (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea). Handbk Ident. Br. Insects. §: (11). Luff, M.L. 1998. Provisional atlas of the ground beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae) of Britain. Huntingdon, Biological Records Centre. Thompson, R.T. 1958. Coleoptera: Phalacridae. Handbk Ident. Br. Insects, 5: 5b. 214 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.1x.2000 A winter weekend in Epsom for a Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta (L.)(Lep.: Nymphalidae) About 13.00 hours on 19 February 2000, I spent some minutes in the garden here in Epsom watching a Red Admiral flying about a bush of Japanese Apricot Prunus mume in full bloom, settling on the blossom and feeding (one could see it using its proboscis). The bush was in full sunshine, but the air temperature round the bush was only 9°C. An immediately adjacent Rosebud Cherry tree Prunus subhirtella in full blossom and a bush of the Lonicera fragrantissima, also in full blossom a short distance away, were totally ignored. The butterfly itself was quite undamaged. About the same time on the next day, the butterfly (I can only presume it was the same individual), repeated its performance. The sun was shining, but again the air temperature was only 9°C. The overnight minimum in the garden from 19-20 February was 0°C and there was a sharp ground frost. On the following day, 21 February, the butterfly was present yet again, settling on the blossom and feeding or, at times, just sunning itself. It was seen first at 11.05 hours and was still flying around at 12.30 hours. The air temperature at the time was 11°C, which was the maximum temperature recorded in the garden during the period 18-22 February. Sightings of V. atalanta in Britain in the first few months of the year are not infrequent. Current thinking (Tucker, 1997. The Red Admiral Butterfly. British Butterfly Conservation Society) is that the species over-winters here in a state of quiescence rather than in a state of true hibernation, becoming active whenever the temperature permits. The presence, however, of apparently the same specimen flying in the same garden on three consecutive days in February is, as far as I can determine, unusual. I thank Howard Mendel for drawing my attention to Tucker’s report.— J. A. OwEN, 8 Kingsdown Road, Epsom, Surrey KT17 3PU (E-mail: jaowen@talk21.com). Smaller Heath on the Great Orme On 29 May, whilst in Llandudno, Caernarvonshire, I took the opportunity to visit rough grassland on the Great Orme, where I caught and released a number of male Small Heath butterflies Coenonympha pamphilus L.. These all measured 24 mm in wing span. In Emmet & Heath (1990. Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland. 7(1): 277), the male wingspan is given as approximately 33 mm., although the male illustrated on Plate 18 (figure 8) measures only 30 mm. So, these Great Orme specimens could perhaps represent a dwarf race. Having read long ago of the dwarf races of the Grayling butterfly Hipparchia semele and the Silver-studded Blue Plebejus argus, then recently discovered in North Wales, I wonder if there is a possibility that other species also appear there in dwarf form.—R. J. R. LEVETT, 28 The Drive, Tonbridge, Kent TN9 2LP. NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS 215 Ethmia funerella (Fabr.) (Lep.: Oecophoridae) re-found in Somerset On 4 June 2000, at Cheddar Wood, Somerset (grid reference ST 4455), I took a striking micro-moth which was unfamiliar to me. This subsequently proved to be Ethmia funerella, a Nationally Notable (Na) species, which according to Parsons (1995. A review of the scarce and threatened ethmiine, stathmopodine and gelechiid moths of Great Britain) was known from Cheddar prior to 1970. Martin Ellis of the Somerset Moth Group has confirmed that they know of no other records other than that published in Turner, A.H. (1955. Lepidoptera of Somerset),namely a record by H. Slater from 1917 listed as “Cheddar”. The current known status of this moth is that it occurs in the Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire fens with scattered records on the eastern side of the country from Yorkshire to Kent. The present record suggests that it still persists, probably in low numbers, at this western locality. The favoured habitat 1s given as fens and damp woodland, the latter according well with that in Cheddar Wood. Foodplants listed by Parsons are Common Comfrey Symphytum officinale, Tuberous Comfrey S. tuberosum, Lungwort Pulmonaria officinalis, Common Gromwell Lithospermum officinale and aiso Wood Forget-me-not Myosotis syivatica. Although I have yet to confirm the presence of these plants in the wood, the moth was found on a path with a flourishing population of Purple Gromweil L. purpurocoeruleum and it is possible that this was the plant being used. The identity of the specimen was confirmed by Ray Barnett and it is now in the collection of the City Museum & Art Gallery, Bristol— PAUL FLETCHER, 39 Old Church Road, Axbridge, Somerset BS26 2BE. Dioryctria schuetzeella (Fuchs) (Lep.: Pyralidae) new to North Hampshire On 12 July 2000, I was pieased to find an unusual pyralid resting partly in rain water on the top of my moth trap here. Fortunateiy, the moth was undamaged and I am grateful to Barry Goater who has identified it as Dioryctria schuetzeella and confirmed its status as new to North Hampshire. This species, which is widespread on the continent, feeds on Norway Spruce Picea abies, and was first recorded as British in Kent during 1980, with a specimen noted in and Sussex during 1981. The first sighting on the Isie of Wight took place in 1985 and from 1992 to 1999 five specimens were recorded in South Hampshire. Although Selbourne is not prime coniferous country, its occurrence here would suggest that the moth may be spreading northwards in this county.— ALASDAIR ASTON, Wake’s Cottage, Selborne, Hampshire GU34 3JH. Dioryctria schuetzeeila Fuchs (Lep.: Pyraiidae), new to Hertfordshire and a modern county record of Piniphila bifasciana (Haw.) (Lep.: Tortricidae) Having spent ali of the previous night, until 5 am., out with the lamps at Rye Meads Nature Reserve on an outing of the Herts. Moth Group, it was with some initial reluctance that I agreed to join Rob Souter at Bramfield Woods, near to Welwyn 216 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.1x.2000 Garden City, on 29 July 2000 (grid reference TL 2816). However, it was a new site in an under-recorded area of the county and Rob managed to persuade me that the number of suitable lamping nights this year had been so low that this one was an opportunity not to be missed! Our effort was rewarded with the capture of a single, apparently freshly-emerged, male example of a Dioryctria, which I considered most likely to be D. schuetzeella. 1 set the specimen, but then, as always when there is something interesting to do, work got in the way of pleasure. It was not until I received the note above from Alasdair Aston recording schuetzeella in North Hampshire, that I contrived to make time to critically examine the Hertfordshire moth and thus confirmed that it is indeed D. schuetzeella. This constitutes the first record of the species for Hertfordshire, and brings the county moth total to 1458 species. The larval foodplant (Picea abies) dominates sections of Bramfield Woods and the moth must surely be breeding there. Aliso of interest during the same session was the arrival at the sheet of several examples of the tortricoid moth Piniphila bifasciana (Haw.).This is a pine-feeding species that is evidently quite local in its distribution. The only other Hertfordshire record available would appear to be one made at Hitchin in 1934 and included by Foster in his 1937 county list (Foster, A. H., 1937. Trans. Herts. Nat. Hist. Soc. 20 (4):157-280).— CoLIn W. PLANT, 14 West Road, Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire CM23 3QP (E-mail: Colinwplant@compuserve.com). Delayed Emergence of Puss Moth Cerura vinula (L) (Lep.: Notodontidae) In summer 1998, whilst sweep netting in East Field, Monks Wood NNR, I caught a large green caterpillar, which I assumed was that of a Puss Moth or related species. I reared it, in a plastic box, on Aspen Populus tremula and willow Salix species. It pupated on a piece of branch that I had put in the box with it, spinning an almost invisible cocoon, as described in various text books. In 1999 I expected it to emerge, and inspected the box on a reowlae basis. At the end of the summer I assumed that the creature had died, perhaps having found life in a plastic box on top of a bookcase in my bedroom too unnatural. On 2 June 2000, soon after I switched out my bedroom light, I was roused by a noise, which I soon traced to the plastic box. To my surprise, the moth had emerged, and was fluttering its wings. Its identity as a Puss Moth was later confirmed by my colleague Nick Greatorex-Davies, and the specimen was released in Monks Wood close to where the larva had been captured. This moth had spent at least twenty-one months in the pupal stage. Such a long period does not appear to have been recorded in this species before, though it has been reported for the related Poplar Kitten Furcula bifida (Heath, J. and Emmet, A.M., 1979. The Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland. 9. Curwen). Incidentally, this moth only survived through my lack of tidiness! I thought several times about disposing of the contents of the box on the fire, but never got round to it. Just as well, and a lesson to us all — never throw anything away!— HENRY R. ARNOLD, Windyridge, Shillow Hill, Bury, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire. NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS ZAG Hazards of butterfly collecting — Juche in Burkina Faso, February 1988 In June 2000, I was inspired to write this column through the grand meeting of Kim Tweedle Dum and Kim Tweedle Doo in Pyongyang, North Korea — Kimaraderie, as a gifted scribe in the Economist put it. February 1988 saw me descending on Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, one of the poorest and most remote countries in the world. Ouga, as we old West Africa hands call it, is not an inspiring place for butterflies. It is on the border of the Sudan and the Sahel savannah zones and there are very few butterflies. | saw only 50 species during my month-long stay, but it was interesting that 35 of these could also be caught in our back yard in Gaborone, Botswana. The savannah zones of West Africa have very few special species, most inhabiting all the savannah zones of Africa from Senegal right to southern Africa. Why this should be so, I am not very sure. The Somali/North Kenya zone has a very rich and specialised fauna that 1s entirely missing from West Africa. I think that savannah territory at some time must have been almost squeezed out of West Africa by climatic changes and never re- colonised. | The small family planning association that we had come to evaluate turned out to be a very go-getting outfit. Their main immediate concern was that a large proportion of all girls in secondary schools became pregnant. But they were not allowed by law to give family planning advice to unmarried women with no children. They drew up a fine statistical profile showing that: age 16, enter high school; age 17, get pregnant; age 18, get baby and park with rural family members; age 19, complete high school — with now permissible family planning curbing further pregnancies. The Association took their fine graphs to the new radical president’s Citizens’ Tribunal. They received immediate permission to offer family planning advice also to unmarried women. A fine piece of lobbying — and one that was immediately implemented. The incidence of pregnancy in Ouga’s secondary schools immediately dropped steeply. It was deemed necessary for my colleague and I to visit a remote northern province so see the barriers towards expanding the service delivery programme — cultural, logistical, and practical. It was a gruelling six-hour drive. My colleague was good enough to agree to an early start so that we were able to check many small river beds for butterflies along the way, with a signal lack of success. This is typical of the dry savannahs — unless you are in the right spot at the right time, there is nothing. On the practical side, there are no hotels to speak of in northern Burkina Faso. We were entrusted to the excellent care of the Family Planning Association’s local chairman, a charming man who was also the Regional Director of Primary Education. We had an excellent dinner, as far as locai circumstances allowed. And we Slept weil. The next morning we looked at what little was possible to do in family planning, which was happening in co-operation with the few medicai personnel available. After lunch our host toid us about his problems with primary education. He was 218 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.1x.2000 supervising some 120 primary schools with some 400 teachers. But he had no transport: “Sometimes I can hitch a ride with the District Commissioner when he goes on tour — and when there is space in his car”. However, our host was a resourceful person, and genuinely tried to do his best, and that under circumstances that most would consider impossible. And it was also his resourcefulness that had equipped his home with a huge bookshelf, housing a series of well-bound books — twice as many as the complete Encyclopedia Britannica. And this brings us back to Kim & Kim, for this was the total, unabbreviated speeches and writings of Kim il Sung, the Great Leader of the People’s Democratic Republic of Korea, weighing in at about 60 kilograms of possibly the most turgid prose ever written, including three volumes on juche, Kim’s somewhat fantastical and incomprehensible ideas about self-sufficiency (and in French). In those days both Koreas made a point of having diplomatic relations with anyone willing to accept; any country with just one Korean Embassy was a deep embarrassment to the other Korea. The books had actually been delivered in person by a senior diplomat from the North Korean Embassy, a two day journey, but on reflection it is difficult to see what more important work a North Korean diplomat might actually do in Burkina Faso. Our host agreed that the books were quite unreadable, but he still thought that it was fun having ten times the amount of printed matter than the rest of the town combined, and the book cases came for free (he had a good line in humour as well). On the way back to Ouga the pretty Guineafow! Butterfly Hamanumida daedalus Fabr. was everywhere, but our brief stops yielded nothing of interest. However, the thought of our host, trying his best under impossible conditions, and with the largest set of books within 500 km, was a pleasant one.- TORBEN B. LARSEN, 5 Wilson Compound, 2811 park Avenue, Pasay City, Metro-Manila, The Philippines (E-mail: Torbeniarsen@compuserve.com). Hazards of moth collecting — Uganda I have read Torben Larsen’s series of articles with interest and thought I should add one of my own whiist it is still fresh in my memory. My wife, Dot, and I have enjoyed spending the last two years in the highlands of Kenya. In holidays and spare moments collecting microlepidoptera has been a delightfully absorbing interest for me. Before returning to England we decided to spend seven weeks travelling in East Africa, the first country to visit was Uganda. We drove across the country from east to west, camping in wonderful primary forest and filling several plastazote boxes with moths. Our final destination was Murchison Falls National Park. There we decided to stay at Sambiya River Lodge, a hotel overlooking a tributary of the Victoria Nile. Like many East African hotels, the bedrooms are in self-contained “bandas” which are little chalets often modelled on NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS Zo circular African huts, and these are spread out along the site so that each can enjoy the available view; the bar, restaurant and reception are in a separate block. On our first evening I asked the manager about putting out my lamp and he said it was fine, but avoid a certain area where some friendly buffalo sometimes wander in and have a drink from the swimming pool, and he didn’t want them to damage my apparatus. The first two evenings produced some good moths, including some Nymphulinae in which I specialise, so we decided to stay a third night. This time I put out two lights, one on a sheet by the furthest banda, and the trap near the main building. After supper I strolled off to see what had come to the sheet. About 20 yards down the path I suddenly noticed, in the half light ahead of me, a large pair of horns speeding towards me. They can’t have been more than six feet away so there was no time to consider the etiquette of such an occasion; instinctively I turned and fled. I can still run quite fast, but at maximum speed my control is not what is was and after some yards I stumbled and fell. I lay on the ground wondering what the next sensation would be. There was none. The buffalo had luckily hit a steel lamp-stand and this seemed to put him off his pursuit. Dot, still drinking her tea in the bar, had heard the pounding of hooves and a yell from me and raised the alarm; the hotel staff appeared and for a while guarded me very closely! Next morning at breakfast, the waiter told me I did the wrong thing running away, he said “Next time you are charged by a buffalo you should drop to the ground.” Until next time!— DAvip AGassiz, 23 St James’s Road, Gravesend, Kent DA11 OHF. Lilac Beauty Apeira syringaria (L.) (Lep.: Geometridae): Second generation examples at Selborne, North Hampshire Interesting notes by B. K. West (antea: 83) and David Brown (antea: 170) on second generation Apeira syringaria reminded me to look out some similar records of specimens from my garden light trap. There were four occurrences — 30 August 1994, 3 September 1994, 24 August 1997 and 8 September 1999. In only the last instance did I record the sex of the insect, which was male. The moths may not have had far to fly, since we grow both mauve and white lilacs here. Many more Specimens are usually seen here from May to July. ALASDAIR ASTON, Wake’s Cottage, Selborne, Hampshire GU34 3JH. Index of entomology Web sites i have been staggered by the huge response to my January request for the electronic addresses of web sites of relevance to British Isles entomologists. A number of conclusions can be drawn from what I have received so far. First, a great many entomologists are evidently able to access the Worldwide Web or have a relative who does it for them. Second, almost everybody is confused by the vast amount of data potentially available and annoyed by the time and effort required to iocate web 220 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.1x.2000 sites of relevance and by the non-relevant pages they have to search through to get where they want to be. Most people feel that the web is likely to prove an invaluable source of information on entomological topics if only they knew how to access it. This reassures me that my plan is a good one. I already have a large number of addresses and I am busy visiting each of them to check if they really are what they say they are. I have not forgotten the time that my young son accessed the Spice Girls web page only to find to his disappointment (and my own purely academic interest!) that the spice girls featured were not the ones in the pop group! In due course, later this year with luck, I shall produce the list in these pages. I am anxious to include as many sites as possible, though inevitably the list will require updating regularly as new sites appear and some old ones cease to exist. Meanwhile, I repeat my request for people to send me the addresses of all and any web sites that seem to have some relevance, no matter how insignificant, to British Isles entomology. If you have visited them yourself and are able to include a brief (say 30 words) summary then so much the better. - COLIN W. PLANT, 14 West Road, Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire CM23 3QP. (E-mail Colinwplant@compuserve.com). Not really a record of the Slender Burnished Brass breeding in Britain The Slender Burnished Brass Thysanoplusia orichalcea Fabr., is a rare migrant visitor to the United Kingdom. It has not, to my knowledge, been recorded as breeding here. However, on 8 June 2000, I found a nearly fully fed caterpillar, which later developed into this pretty and characteristic moth. I must admit, however, that I did not find the caterpillar “in the wild’, but in the supermarket. On 18 May 2000, a visit to my local supermarket at Dog Kennel Hill, East Dulwich, was enlivened by the discovery of some obvious particles of frass in one of the many packets of fresh basil leaves. I opened the pack, and whilst my two-year- old daughter Verity held the leaves, I extracted a healthy-looking, bright green, striped caterpillar about 40mm long. I brought it to the attention of the grocery manager, and once it was ascertained that I was not some rascal likely to try and sue the supermarket chain, I was duly presented with the animal in the interests of science, to try and rear it. Many of the basil leaves had been nibbled, but there were enough in the pack for it to continue feeding for a few more days in a large gauze-topped glass vase. About a week later the caterpillar was trying to spin a web on the side of the glass container, but later seemed to have vanished. Some leaves spun together with silk suggested it had pupated and sure enough the dark brown chrysalis was just visible between the greenery. The adult moth emerged on 22 June 2000. The packet of basil leaves, in which the caterpillar was found, was labelled as having come from Spain, well within the moth’s known Mediterranean distribution. Unfortunately, every time we now go into the supermarket, Verity points at the packets of fresh herbs and demands in a loud voice to look at the caterpillars.— RICHARD A. JONES, 135 Friern Road, East Dulwich, London SE22 0AZ. (E-mail: bugmanjones@hotmail.com). COMMA IN NORTH-EAST ENGLAND 221 RECORDS OF THE COMMA POLYGONIA C-ALBUM L. (LEP.: NYMPHALIDAE) IN NORTH-EAST ENGLAND FROM 1995 TO 1999 'HEWETT A. ELLIS AND “IAN J. WALLER ‘16 Southlands, Tynemouth, North Shields, Tyne & Wear NE30 2QS. ?42 College View, Delves Lane, Consett, County Durham DHS 7DB. IN A PREVIOUS paper one of us reported the remarkable improvement in the fortunes of the Comma Polygonia c-album L. which has occurred in Northumberland (Watsonian Vice County 67) over the period 1995-98 (Ellis, 1999). At the time there was evidence that the species was becoming re-established in the county. This view has been reinforced by further records obtained during the 1999 season, when one of us (HAE) recorded 44 adults in Northumberland. This is more than the personal total of 23 for the previous four years combined. Both the pale hutchinsoni Robson and normal dark forms of butterfly occurred, indicating there was a partial double brood. In addition to the adult and pupa, the ovum and larva were also found in the county, for the first time during 1999, thus verifying that the Comma is breeding in Northumberland (Ellis, 2000). Similar changes in the distribution and frequency of the Comma have occurred further south in County Durham (VC66) during the mid to late 1990s (Waller, 1997). It therefore seems opportune at the close of the 20th century to document the present recorded distribution of the Comma in North-east Engiand as a whole. There are now too many records to be individuaily listed and the data have been summarised in the accompanying distribution map (Fig. i). For this purpose we have combined our own records for Northumberland and County Durham with those submitted by numerous other observers who regularly contribute their records to one of us (IJW) who acts as the Biological Records Centre Recorder for the counties. The map includes all records known to us corresponding to the period 1995-99 for County Durham (VC66), South Northumberland (VC67) and North Northumberland (Cheviot, VC68). Each record is based on the presence of the species within a tetrad (2km xX 2km square). Overall the Comma has been recorded in 253 tetrads within sixty-three 10km xX 10km squares distributed throughout the three Vice-counties. The tetrad records tend to be concentrated towards the south-east of the region, and are less dense in the west and north. Thus only 6% of tetrads occur in VC68 compared with 37% and 57% respectively in VC67 and VC66. This distribution pattern supports our hypothesis that the Comma has become re-established from the south. However, it may weil be exaggerated since there are fewer recorders active in the northernmost parts of the region (VC68). Fig. 1 iilustrates the magnitude of the change in the fortunes of the Comma compared with what is known of its previous history in the region (e.g. Cook, 1990; Ellis, 1999 & 2000). When Cook (1990) expressed the hope “that the Comma may be a more frequent sight before the end of the century’, he couid not possibly have imagined how widespread and relatively common the species was to become within 25.ix.2000 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 222, R Sf ¢ 8&8 & 2 8 8 8 AN Sasccenam _@ &S88 &) SSSSRREREeNG sRRESS CERRBESAY SEES08 2S BR BS Bees BS 4Q00088 SRREEe8.: SESRSS. B82 SSSes Fee 8B = on ‘ Tt aT 8 Pe-. Pe - BA! SS SSSRREES © SeeRees eee rah SUBB ‘SES BS 8 BREE Bm SHEERS ane gencnensee Ne ; S558 BSBe BEEN 2588 SESEER Ber 4 = Tpit tf it hl SE ERE Ee Sauneuen _ S2en me ITT TT tl IItiilimeftiiid SERRE RR SaReeeen 3 pgp lla ar a see as ww on SRR ORP «a SEn8 aeaaceu O58 BESSEES BRR SeSE ousseanenas a Neal Mla fattert ee pefnnlrrel od meshed eset REBAR Ree ee’.et BEGSSSE Ban 8 BB = OS GEER SRSRRERESSEEeS Be esi ee eee va the te Ete = wea e NER SSSRRRSESS aR OR Ue SSR eeP RR Be Ue $5 : hey eens =Be8 ve .geecee, see lg Ogee HSE tall Bien Y o ‘e) ‘o) Q oO o © 8 oO S Fig. 1 Distribution map of the Comma Polygonia C-album L. in Durham (VC66) and Northumberland (VCs 67 & 68). The map summarises records for 1995-99. The river Tyne forms the boundary between VCs 66 & 67 in the east; the river Coquet forms the boundary between the southern and northern parts of Northumberland, VC 67 & 68 throughout. COMMA IN NORTH-EAST ENGLAND 223 a decade! It is truly remarkable that the Comma has recolonised North-east England so rapidly in the course of only about five years. Additionally, in that time the species has extended its range yet further northwards into Scotland (R. Buckland, pers. comm.). It is worth mentioning that the leaves of Elm U/mus trees continue to be an important foodplant for the Comma larva in North-east England. Apart from an example of a caterpillar feeding on Blackcurrant Ribes nigrum (Johnson, 1998) in a garden in Durham City in 1997, to date all larvae and pupae have been found on Ulmus. Acknowledgements We wish to thank all those individuals who contributed their records of the Comma as part of Butterfly Conservation’s “Butterflies for the New Millennium Project”. References Cook, N.J., 1990. An Atlas of the butterflies of Northumberland & Durham. The Hancock Museum, Newcastle upon Tyne. Special Publication No.5. pp. 14-15. Ellis, H.A., 1999 Return of the Comma Polygonia C-album L. (Lep.: Nymphalidae) to Northumberland: Historical review and current status. Entomologist’s Rec. J. Var. 111:227-231. — , 2000. Further evidence that the Comma Polygonia C-album L. is breeding in Northumberland (VC67). Vasculum 85 (1): 5-9. Johnson, P., 1998. Comma caterpillar on Blackcurrant. Vasculum 83 (1) : 15. Waller, I., 1997. Some notable butterfly records for County Durham, 1996. Vasculum 82 (1) : 14-15. Bruchela rufipes (Olivier) (Col.: Urodontidae) in West Suffolk Since its original discovery in South Essex in 1984 (Hyman, 1987, Entomologist’ s mon. Mag. 123: 90.) Bruchela rufipes has been expanding its range and I have been awaiting its arrival in Suffolk. A few months ago, Paul Lee very kindly sent me a list of beetles which he had recorded whilst carrying out a contract survey at Mildenhall Airbase for the Suffolk Wildlife Trust on behalf of the USAF. Amongst his captures was B. rufipes which he had swept from the grassy heath there (grid reference TL 678771), on 7 July 1999. Whilst recording at Icklingham on 26 July 2000 I swept numerous individuals from Reseda iutea and R. luteola beside a field of Flax on the edge of the Plains (TL 7673) as well as from R. lutea growing on a set-aside field at Canada (TL 7775). I thank the Earl of Iveagh and his Conservation Officer Mr. J. Rudderham for permission to record on the Elveden Estate and Paul Lee and the Suffolk Wildlife Trust for allowing me to include his unpublished record.— DAviD R. NASH, 3 Church Lane, Brantham, Suffolk CO11 1PU. 224 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.ix.2000 Extreme size variation in the hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus (Degeer) (Dip.: Syrphidae) This very common hoverfly is particularly characteristic, with its double, black bands on tergites 3 and 4, but these abdominal markings can be extremely variable. It also varies tremendously in its size: Stubbs & Falk (1983, British hoverflies: an illustrated identification guide. BENHS) give a wing length of from 6 to 10.25 mm. In a collection of set specimens, such variation is easy to overlook; relative proportions and overall appearance seem much more important to the entomologist’s eye. But seeing them next to each other in nature can be quite a jolt, as was brought home to me when I took the accompanying photograph. On 8 August 1997, several hogweed umbels on the wayside of a small parking place near the National Trust reserve at Frithsden Beeches (grid reference SP 998110), Buckinghamshire, were dripping with hoverflies. Many dozens of Episyrphus balteatus, Scaeva pyrastri (L.) and Eupeodes luniger (Mg.) were jostling together in the sultry morning warmth. After taking a few general photos I noticed two dramatically different specimens of Episyrphus (Figure 1). The original 35mm slide was taken at a magnification of approximately life-size; thus, the lightly-marked male, to the left, has a wing length of about 10mm, whilst the heavily-marked but diminutive female to the right has a wing length of only about 6.5mm.— RICHARD A. JONES, 135 Friern Road, East Dulwich, London SE22 OAZ. (E-mail: bugmanjones@hotmail.com). Figure L. Size variation in Episyrphus balteastus (Degeer). TEPHRITIS MATRICARIAE — NEW TO BRITAIN 225 TEPHRITIS MATRICARIAE (LOEW, 1844) (DIP.: TEPHRITIDAE) NEW TO BRITAIN AND BREEDING IN EAST KENT LAURENCE CLEMONS 14 St. John’s Avenue, Sittingbourne, Kent ME10 4NE. THE CURRENT checklist of the Diptera of the British Isles (Chandler, 1998) lists seventy-three breeding species of Tephritidae together with an additional seven occasional imports. The last resident species to be discovered from field work was in 1974 when Stubbs found Campiglossa malaris (Séguy) at a site near Folkestone, Kent (Stubbs, 1976) and this has now extended its range within the county (Clemons, 1992, 2000; Plant & Smith, 1996). White (1986) described Campiglossa solidaginis (White) as new to science on the basis of museum material from Herefordshire and elsewhere, whilst Allen (1999) recorded the capture of the exotic Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett) at light in a suburban situation in south-east London. | On 29 April 2000, I attended a meeting of the Kent Field Club at Sandwich Bay Local Nature Reserve, the major coastal sand-dune site within the county. At about 10.45 British Summer Time, during sunny and warm conditions, two specimens of Tephritis were swept along a narrow strip of grassland just inside the Kent Wildlife Trust Reserve and bordering the Prince’s Golf Club (Ordnance Survey grid reference TR 357592, Watsonian Vice-County 15). One of these was instantly recognised as T. vespertina (Loew), the commonest species of the genus throughout the British Isles, and which occurred sporadically within the site surveyed later the same day. The other, a female, was clearly different being larger and with the hyaline wing spots much more pronounced, even to the unaided eye. An attempt to identify the specimen using White (1988) placed it somewhere within the Tephritis conura- ruralis group on the basis of wing-pattern although the colour of the oviscape was different and a dissection of the aculeus revealed it to have a small apical notch akin to that in vespertina. The specimen was subsequently sent to Dr Ian White at the Natural History Museum, London who in turn referred it to Dr Bernhard Merz in Geneva. Within three weeks the specimen had been identified as Tephritis matricariae (Loew, 1844) and returned with a covering e-mail printout from Dr Merz. He stated “The species 1s quite widespread and sometimes extremely common in the Mediterranean up to central Germany, but almost absent more in the north, but it was recorded from the Netherlands by van Aartsen. Its host plant in Central Europe is probably only Crepis taraxacifolia which is a ruderal plant along roads; I could rear the species in the Mediterranean from some other species of Crepis 99 (foetida, pulchra, rubra, ...)’. Armed with this information Sandwich Bay was revisited on 4 June 2000 in an attempt to find more specimens and to elucidate the host plant(s) here. Sweeping the area where the original individuai had been found produced more adults of T. vespertina and the only fruiting Asteraceae were of Taraxacum, most of which were spreading their achenes and hence deemed unsuitable for coilection. The first 226 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.1x.2000 “green” capitulum of the latter examined contained a relatively large and white dipterous larva which subsequently fell to the ground and was lost and no larvae could be found in further such capitula. A short distance northwards along the Bay, numerous plants of Crepis vesicaria L. spp. taraxacifolia (Thuill.) Thell. were present and here cautious splitting of some of the seeding capitula revealed dipterous larvae orientated head-down and parallel with the achenes. A collection of seed heads was made and, on returning home, these were spread over a layer of kitchen- roll in an open seed tray to minimise the risk of mould development. By 9 June, seven puparia had formed on the paper and these were transferred to an aerated glass tube containing a wad of tissue paper. The remainder of the capitula were placed within a plastic confectionery container. Between 22 and 24 June, nine males and seven females emerged from both sets of material, the isolated puparia eclosing first. It would appear that the larvae developing in Crepis vesicaria are non cecidogenous and feed on the achenes of the host-plant, pupating externally before the fruits are dispersed by the wind. On 12 July 2000, 7. matricariae was discovered some 19 kilometres west of Sandwich. On that date, whilst involved in a year 9 ladybird survey within the grounds of St. Anselm’s Catholic School, Canterbury (TR 162561), Miss Sarah Dean presented me with a male swept from a hawthorn Crataegus monogyna hedge. The adjoining area had been heavily mown and no Asteraceae were visible, although evidence that suitable host-plants must grow nearby came the following day when a single female of Dioxyna bidentis (Rob. -Des.) (Tephritidae) was swept from the same hedge. On 26 July 2000, adults were found to be numerous at Cherry Garden Hill, near Folkestone (TR 209382). The site is largely open and grazed, south-facing chalk downland and as the species could only be found in areas where Crepis capillaris (L.) Wallr. was growing, it is likely that this plant is an alternative host here as in France (Séguy, 1934 as Crepis virens L.). On 30 July 2000, Mr Norman Heal tubed two males (one teneral) as we were recording insects at Lydden LNR near Dover (TR 286447). The latter site is also south-facing chalk downland, but with a much more rank ground flora. Again Crepis capillaris seemed the likely host especially as a small Diptera larva was discovered feeding on the achenes of one capitulum examined. A small collection of Capitula was made and on 3 and 4 August 2000 one male and one female respectively emerged. Finally, on 28 August 2000, a further female was swept from an area of chalk downland at Round Hill, Folkestone (TR 220383). Identification Tephritis matricariae closely resembles T. conura (Loew, 1844) and both species were keyed at the same number by Hendel (1927) and Séguy (1934). In Britain, 7. conura is a northern and western species, mainly associated with Cirsium spp. The key to the British species of Tephritis by White (1988) may be modified to accommodate matricariae thus: TEPHRITIS MATRICARIAE — NEW TO BRITAIN 227 8 Crossvein r-m with adjacent small hyaline spots next to vein R4+5, but not M era mr suet R ct ae nue Me ed Rees a ease cty warns pated aaadeay Panne te dud lass dudepa naar Tnosinea Lee ERTAOES 8a 8a Larger; WL = 4.6-5.7mm. Posterior notopleural seta dark brown to black. Oviscape orange to dark orange, black at apex. Aculeus apex pointed...................04 conura (Loew) 8b Smaller; WL = 3.3-4.5mm. Posterior notopleural seta pale. Oviscape black with orange side-patches. Aculeus with an apical notch. .............eeseeeeseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees matricariae (Loew) — Crossvein r-m with adjacent small hyaline spots next to both veins R4+5 and M etc. PES eae siti ct ia URORD Tom eS PE Uae ee ga ANEEEONOT OD ER Ee Re cr me eoneeiia oes et eatne Bea TEV ECA UN omnes aves etsaraants ruralis (Loew) A more detailed description based on the reared material is given below. Head: antennae, proboscis and palpi entirely orange; upper orbits and lunule silvery- grey dusted; ocellar triangle and occiput darker grey. Thorax: dorsum grey-dusted, covered with small pale scale-like setulae and with faint brown lines in the acrostichal, dorsocentral and intra-alar areas (distinct when viewed in sunlight); postpronotal lobe with orange ground colour; a single long black postpronotal seta; two notopleural setae, anterior long and black, posterior short, pale and scale-iike becoming orange towards the base; two pairs of long, black postsutural dorsocentral setae, anterior very close to suture; presutural, anterior and posterior supra alar and intra alar setae long and black; two pairs of long, black scutellar setae, apical pair less than half length of basal pair; halteres orange. Wings: length in male 3.3-4.3 mm (n = 10, mean = 3.67 mm), in female 3.5-4.5 mm (n = 8, mean = 3.98 mm); three hyaline spots in ceil R1, two small hyaline spots at proximal and distal sides of the upper end of r-m (in some specimens there are traces of hyaline spots at the lower end of r-m); apical hyaline spot large, broadest along costa (fig. 1). Abdomen: grey dusted, tergite 1+2 with narrow orange side patches; tergites 3-6 entirely covered with small, pale, scale-like setulae; oviscape black with broad orange side patches (fig. 2). Legs (including coxae): orange, usually with faint dark anteroventral stripe on hind femora. Puparium: approximately 3.4mm x 1.5mm ; entirely dark brown; cephalopharyngeal skeleton as in fig. 3. Distribution Tephritis matricariae is largely a Mediterranean species and Foote (1984) simply gave Southern Europe, Turkey and Egypt. Séguy (1934), on the other hand, was much more specific, listing it from Apt, Bicétre, Cannes, Chérence, Clamart, Corse, Fontainebleau, Hyéres, Lannemezan, Marseille, Meudon, Mont-de-Marsan, Rambouillet, Royan, Sacias, Saint-Sever and Var in France and aiso Macedonia, Constantinople and Aigeria. Van Aartsen (1992) recorded it from Colmont and 228 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.ix.2000 Maastricht in the Netherlands and Merz (1994) from Jura, Mittelland, Wallis and Tessin in Switzerland. In the Natural History Museum, London there are specimens from Crete: Aghii Galini, Alikiandu, Alymyrida, Georgioupolis, Geropotamos Estuary, Gonies, Kastelli, Knossus and Rodopon; Corfu: Agios Georgios, Ayia Kiriahi, Glifada, Kaiser’s Throne, Lake Korission and Perouli; Corsica: Cateraggio and Etang de Dianne; France: Airaines, Baréges, Montesquien, Peyreleau, St. Paul and Veyreau; Georgia: Kazbegi; Macedonia: Prespa Geul; Montenegro: Kolasin; Morocco: Mikadane and Mouyougou; Spain: Albarracin, Huseca, Ibiza, Jaraco, Lanyaron and Zaragoza; Switzerland: Aigle. b Figure 2. Tephritis matricariae - female post-abdomen. a: dorsal view of oviscape showing extent of orange side patches; b: dorsal view of outline of aculeus; c: dorsal view of detail of apex of aculeus. TEPHRITIS MATRICARIAE — NEW TO BRITAIN 229 Given the widespread distribution of T. matricariae in the Western Palaearctic it is not surprising that it should eventually be found in Britain although Niblett (1939) did not include it in his list of predicted additions to our fauna. Exactly when the species first arrived here must, in the absence of other records, be a matter for conjecture. Acknowledgements In addition to Dr. Bernhard Merz, who identified the original specimen, I am grateful to Dr. Ian White for passing on the latter and for permitting access to the collections in the Natural History Museum, London and to the Kent Wildlife Trust and the White Cliffs Countryside Project for permission to collect on land under their management. Mr. Geoffrey Kitchener advised as to the correct nomenclature of the species of Crepis. Specimens of the reared material have been deposited in the collections of the British Entomological and Natural History Society at Dinton Pastures, Berkshire, in Liverpool Museum and in the Natural History Museum, South Kensington, London. Figure 3. Tephritis matricariae - cephalopharyngeal skeleton from puparium. References Allen, A. A. 1999. Bactrocera cucurbitae Coquillett (Dip.: Tephritidae): first known British capture at large. Entomologist’s Rec. J. Var. 111: 36. Chandler, P. J. (Ed.) 1998. Checklist of insects of the British Isles (new series) part 1: Diptera. Handbooks for the Identification of British Insects 12: 234 pp. Clemons, L. 1992. The distribution of Paroxyna lhommei Hering (Dipt.: Tephritidae) in East Kent. Entomologist’ s Rec. J. Var. 104: 183. — , 2000. The Annual Exhibition 1999: Rare and local Kent Diptera 1998-1999. Bull. Kent Field Club 45: 40-43. Foote, R. H. 1984. Tephritidae (Trypetidae) in Sods, A. and Papp, L. (eds.) Catalogue of Palaearctic Diptera 9: 66-149. Budapest. Hendel, F. 1927. 49. Trypetidae. Die Fliegen der Paldarktischen Region. 5(1): 1-221. Merz, B. 1994. Diptera Tephritidae. Insecta Helvetica 10: 1-198. Niblett, M. 1939. Notes on food-plants of the larvae of British Trypetidae. Entomologist’ s Rec. J. Var. 51: 69-73. 230 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.1x.2000 Plant, C.W. & Smith, D. 1996. Gymnosoma nitens (Tachinidae, Phasiinae): second, third and fourth British records. Dipterists Digest (Second series) 3: 47-48. Séguy, E. 1934. Diptéres (Brachycéres) (Musicdae Acalypterae et Scatophagidae). Faune de France 28: 1-832 + xxvii. Stubbs, A.E. 1976. Channel Tunnel Survey: Insects. Trans. Kent Field Club 6 (1): 17-22. van Aartsen, B., 1992. Nieuwe en zeldzame boorvliegen voor de Nederlandse en Belgische fauna (Diptera: Tephritidae). Entomologische Berichten 52 (6): 73-76. White, I. M. 1986. A new species of Paroxyna Hendel and notes on the nomenclature of other British Tephritidae (Diptera). Entomologist’ s Monthly Magazine 122: 145-163. — , 1988. Tephritid flies Diptera: Tephritidae. Handbooks for the Identification of British Insects 10 (Sa): 1-134. BOOK REVIEWS A fly for the prosecution: How insect evidence helps solve crimes by M. Lee Goff. 226 pp., several line drawings in text. 237 x 160 mm., hardbound. ISBN 0 674 00220 2. Harvard University Press, 2000. £15.50. Generally speaking I am not a great one for the personalised American style of writing, though that is just a personal preference. However, after reading the introductory chapter of Dr Goff’s book I was immediately hooked. Unfortunately, work commitments prevented me from continuing the read through for several weeks until I sat down one evening to watch the television with my two offspring. The programme we were watching was concerned with forensic aspects of murder investigations. Suddenly, there on the screen before me was Dr Goff — who is Professor of Entomology at the University of Hawaii, and Consultant in Forensic Entomology to the Honolulu Medical Examiner — extolling the virtues of maggots as agents for solving the difficult problem of placing a time of death on the badly decomposed body of a murder victim. The programme was fascinating and I determined to pick up the book again. I did so the next day, and every quickly found the same case history there that had been presented on the television the night before. The few discrepancies I put down to poor video-editing! The book is full of case-histories in which insects, in one form or another, have helped convict murderers in Hawaii. In particular, the use of insects to calculate the post-mortem interval (time lapse between death and discovery), is emphasised. The process is not simply a matter of knowing how long a particular fly larva on the body has been there. The interval is complicated by factors such as how long it takes a particular species of fly to actually find the body, and how is this period affected by seasonal temperature variation, by whether the body is naked, or completely wrapped or by other factors. In many cases, the answer to a particular problem may not be known and Dr Goff describes the experiments performed to find out. These generally tend to involve obtaining a dead pig and using it in his garden to duplicate the situation in which the body was found. And my neighbours think I am weird! Dating decomposed bodies is not the only use of insects in forensic entomology. Maggots taken from a body can be analysed for poisons, for example. Personally, however, I particularly liked the case in which the remains of a grasshopper were found with a body. The grasshopper was missing its left hind leg; nobody gave the insect any great thought, but it was routinely collected in any event. When the suspect was caught and searched, the left hind leg of a grasshopper was found in his trouser turn-up. Microscopy showed that the fracture on leg and insect matched perfectly! The suspect was subsequently convicted. Although somewhat autobiographical, the book is a serious attempt at enlightenment, aimed at the various law-enforcement agencies around the world that are not aware of the great benefits of forensic entomology. BOOK REVIEWS 2 It is not a text book, but it is a jolly good read in which a great wealth of factual information is effortlessly transferred from page to brain. The considerable enthusiasm of Lee Goff, who clearly loves his job as much as his Harley-Davidson motor-cycle, is evident throughout. As Christmas approaches yet again, I can thoroughly recommend this book to anyone with even a passing interest in insects. Colin W. Plant Also received... A checklist of the butterflies and larger moths of Cumbria edited by Bill Kydd and Stephen Hewitt. 44 pp., A5, folded and stapled. Published by Carlisle City Council from the Tullie House Museum, Castle Street, Carlisle, 2000. £3. Cumbria consists of the Vice-counties of Westmorland (VC 69) and Cumberland (VC 70), together with a small part of North-west Yorkshire (VC 65). The checklist is presented in “log Book” order and the year of the latest record is given for each of these three Vice-counties. National status and status in Cumbria are also given. Although provisional, this is an essential work of reference for anyone interested in butterflies and moths in north-west England. The Pioneers of the research on the insects of Dalmatia by Guido Nonveiller. 390 pp, 66 text figures. 240 x 170 mm, softback. Croatian Natural History Museum, Zagreb, 1999. ISBN 953-6645-04-1. This is the first English translation of a work that was originally published in 1989. The Dalmatian coastline of Croatia will be familiar to some readers as a one-time holiday location, though recent troubles have meant that few English people are likely to go there at present. This book is a scholarly summary of the history of entomology of that region of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, presented as a comprehensive series of 60 biographies of Dalmatian entomologists, 38 of entomologists from neighbouring countries and 274 of foreign entomologists (including three Britons: S. M. Saunders — Hymenoptera, M. Nicholl — Lepidoptera, M. Burr — Orthoptera). There is also a useful chapter entitled “The knowledge on insects of Dalmatia on the eve of Word War IT”. Though there is little on actual entomology, the book is a very useful reference work for anyone collecting or recording in the region. The Birder’s Bug Book by Gilbert Waldbauer. 290 pp., 38 colour photographs. 220 x 155 mm, softback. ISBN 0 674 00206 7. Harvard University Press, 2000. £10.50. This is the paperback version of the hardbound volume that was reviewed in Ent. Rec. 111: 47 and which sells at £17.50. Millions of Monarchs, bunches of beetles: how bugs find strength in numbers by Gilbert Waldbauer. 264 pp., 240 x 155 mm., hardbound. ISBN 0 674 00090 0. Harvard University Press, 2000. £15.50 Although some may find the personalised approach of the American author difficult, this book nevertheless contains a wealth of useful information on how insects have become so successful through sheer strength of numbers. in spite of the fact that the examples used are all from the Nearctic Region, the book would make exceilent background reading for someone studying for an A-levei in Environmental Science or a related subject and could be considered as an interesting Christmas present for almost anyone who has an interest in insects at a non- professional level. 232 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.1x.2000 Food webs and container habitats: The natural history of the Phytotelmata by R. L. Kitching. 432 pp., 235 x 155 mm, hardbound. ISBN 0 521 77316 4. Cambridge University Press, 2000. £65. The term “Phytotelmata” was coined in 1928 by the German biologist Ludwig Varga to include all the aquatic habitats that occur as plant-based containers, the most familiar of which are surely the pitcher plants. This new book by Roger Kitching, Professor of Ecology at Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia, is a comprehensive study of these plant container habitats. Five principal types occur — bromeliad “tanks”, pitcher plants, water-filled tree holes, bamboo internodes and axil waters collected by leaves, bracts or petals; of these at least numbers three and five will surely interest British readers. The aquatic fauna associated with these five principal habitats ranges from the unicellular Protozoa right up to Odonata and amphibians, though inevitably, few of the examples given are from Britain, in spite of the author being an Englishman. This is an important reference work, but one which is nevertheless written in an easy style. It is recommended reading for anyone with an interest in aquatic ecosystems. Insect predator-prey dynamics: ladybird beetles and biological control by A. F. G. Dixon. 258 pp., 235 x 155 mm., hardbound. ISBN 0 521 62203 4. Cambridge University Press, 2000. £45. Much of our understanding of insect predator — prey dynamics is based on studies of insect parasitoids. In this book, Dixon, who is Emeritus Professor of Biological Sciences at the University of East Anglia, examines true predators — the ladybirds — to establish if they operate in a similar way and to explore how this affects their use in biological control. The work explores the basic biology of ladybirds, their association with their prey and its effect upon development rate and body size. Optimal foraging theory, field observation and laboratory experiments are used to illustrate how ladybird larvae maximise their rate of energy intake and adults their fitness. The inter-dependence of these life-history parameters is used to develop a predator — prey model which highlights the specific attributes of potentially successful biocontrol agents. Milton Keynes: More than just concrete cows. compiled by the Milton Keynes Natural History Society. 96 pp., 230 x 170 mm., softback. ISBN 0 953 8787 0 8. Milton Keynes Natural History Society, 2000. Available from the Society at The Hanson Environmental Study Centre, Wolverton Road, Great Linford, Milton Keynes MK14 5AH. £3.99 retail: £3.00 if ordered direct from the society. It was a recently as thirty years ago that Milton Keynes did not exist, other than as a drawing in the planning offices of a development destined to be realised on what was then an agricultural landscape. This compilation of ali currently known records of flora and fauna in the Milton Keynes area, presented alphabetically within each of the major groups, is therefore surely a major work of reference not only for anyone interested in this general area of Britain, but also for ecologists, ecological consultancies and town planners invoived in the design of new settlements and others besides. The natural history society is to be congratulated for undertaking such a major task. A NEW RECORDING SCHEME LEAF-MINING LEPIDOPTERA Following the success of the National Pyralid and Plume Recording Scheme run by Tony Davis, a new national recording scheme, covering the leaf-mining species of Lepidoptera, has been set up. At the helm is Martin Ellis. The scheme covers ail of the leaf-mining families of moths as well as the Micropterigidae, Eriocraniidae and Opostegidae. The full list of families covered by the scheme, is as follows: B&F Log B&F Log Family Book Number Family Book Number Micropterigidae 1 — Lyonetiidae 254 — 264 Eriocraniidae 6 — 13 Bucculatricidae 265 — 276 Nepticulidae 19 — 118 Gracillariidae 280 — 369 Opostegidae 119 — 122 (includes old Phyllocnistidae) Tischeriidae 123 — 127 Dougiasiidae 398 — 399 Heliozelidae 154 — 159 Elachistidae 590 — 633 Records of all species within these families are sought from the whole of the British Isles. It would help if records could be submitted by site, rather than by species, although all records are, of course, wanted. A grid reference, preferably to four figures (one-kilometre square), as well as the vice-county name (or number) is needed for each site, please. For further information on this new scheme, or to submit records, readers are invited to contact the organiser. MARTIN ELLIS 14 Great Ostry, Shepton Mailet, Somerset, BA4 5TT E-mail: mjellis@tesco.net AFRAID TO WRITE? Have you discovered something that might be of interest to other entomologists, but are a little unsure if it is really worth printing? Or perhaps you think it is worth putting into print and are just not sure how to go about it? If so, then this journal would like to hear from you. Almost all discoveries are of some interest — no matter how small. Very often an isolated observation can become more important when put with others. In addition to the peer-reviewed papers, this journal also accepts shorter notes on the basis of their content, and has no interest whether the author is a professor of entomology or a road sweeper, nor in whether he or she can write perfect English. You do not have to have a computer to contribute — although we certainly do prefer contributions on disk or by e-mail. This should in no way put you off if ail you have is an ancient typewriter. We even accept contributions that are hand-written if there is really no alternative. We will rewrite the note, if necessary, to conform to the house style. At present moment you will rarely have to wait for more than two months to see your name in print. [f notes are not suitable for this journal, we can advise you of an alternative and forward them for you. The main thrust of this journal is British moths (macro and micro) and butterflies, but we also carry material on beetles and other groups. European information of interest to British readers is also considered. The Editor is always pleased to discuss potential contributions with first time authors and others and welcomes telephone cails on 01279 507697 (daytime or evenings up to about 10pm). The editorial address 1s printed inside the front cover of this issue. The Amateur Entomologists’ Society Saturday 7th October 2000 Kempton Park Racecourse Staines Road, Sunbury, Middlesex Over 100 dealers Rare and Recent Books Caterpillars and Buterflies Meet other enthusiasts Praying Mantids Stick insects Exotic Pets Tarantulas and Scorpions Antique Boxes and Cabinets Netting and Cages Insect Identification Guide Mounted Specimens * * an a * * * * * * * * Bug Pottery and Toys * Nets, Traps and Equipmen: = fe * * Join Clubs and Societies Leading Insect Artists Whether you’re young or old, beginner or expert, there is something for everyone who loves bugs at the largest insect extravaganza of the year. Join us at Kempton Park Racecourse on Saturday 7th October. Kempton Park is situated under a mile from Junction 1 of the M3. Rail services operate to Sunbury Station, half a mile from the racecourse, from London Waterloo. For further : details contact the AES at PO Box 8774, London SW7 5ZG or alternatively e-mail aes@theaes.org or visit the Society’s Website at http://www.iheaes.org Continued from back cover Book Reviews A fly for the prosecution: How insect evidence helps solve crimes by M. Lee Goff .... A checklist of the butterflies and larger moths of Cumbria by Bill Kydd & Stephen Hewitt The pioneers of the research on the insects of Dalmatia by Guido Nonveiller........ ieeipiraer sinus book by Gilbert Waldbauer |. .....5 22-6 cce5s4 vee eee see yen. ee Millions of Monarchs, bunches of beetles: How bugs find strength in numbers by RGM Cia VAALG DAU CT es arenes teas, a 2 oc, ee thease ayes ba she eRTaS eG Pode enNeuS ear coc, GRSe hea Food webs and container habitats: The natural history of the Phytotelmata by R. L. MGI Ge AIG reeere setae ues Araya Eopray Seite Pode eal Wane) oan ted crouse cuentas we Beat cavemen seve send waa ee Insect predator-prey dynamics: Ladybird beetles and biological control by A. F. G. MOS Ad PP SON tk cee EN IC Tac ase Ce peeled Vv SG ane craked umes anion naka iere MNES Milton Keynes: More than just concrete cows by the Milton Keynes Natural History SOCIO Eo Sierra oca meena Roem erg Mara ee ein ine oO tiene Oo ea a Announcements index of entomology Web sites. Colin W. Plant ... 2.2.5.5... 5. cesses eect nee: 230-231 jas) Zon Zo Dol Zan, 232 232 219-220 THE ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD AND JOURNAL OF VARIATION (Founded by J.W. TUTT on 15th April 1890) Contents Microlepidoptera review of 1999. J. R. Langmaid & M.R. Young ...........20.05. Acronicta rumicis L. (Lep.: Noctuidae): The development and decline of melanism in north-west Kent.:BicK, Wests. csieieevon etcy apamelere beer oe soca eee ee The Wall Brown Lasiommata megera L. (Lep.: Nymphalidae) in central England, 1997 - 1999. Chris-Tyler-Smith «05: oo SS e eee ad 0 es se eee Little known records of Cornish ColeopterazAl Ay Alien =. 3. 322 a eee Records of the Comma Polygonia c-album L. (Lep.: Nymphalidae) in north-east England from 1995 to 1999: Hewett 1. Ellis & lan J..Waller. =. = eee Tephritis matricariae (Loew, 1844) (Dip.: Tephritidae) new to Britain and breeding in East Kent. Laurence’ Clemons wna: ose es oo ee Notes and observations The Small Ranunculus Hecatera dysodea (D.& S.) (Lep.: Noctuidae): A new moth for Middlesex Vice-county and a new larval foodplant. Colin W. Plant ............. Privet Hawk-moths galore! A.M. Emmet <7 3709. 1-0. 2 ee eee American Painted Lady Vanessa virginiensis (Drury) (Lep.: Nymphalidae) on La Gomera, Canary Islands. D. Hall &P. J.C. Russell’. 25 2. A winter weekend in Epsom for a Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta (L.) (Lep.: Nymphalidae)! J AVOwenvs.i0 sys wale og Fae eects 0c.) ne Smaller Heath onthe Great Orme: Ki J: R. evett=. 75.55 eee Ethmia funerella (Fabr.) (Lep.: Oecophoridae) re-found in Somerset. Paul Fletcher .. Dioryctria schuetzeella Fuchs (Lep.: Pyralidae) new to North Hampshire. Alasdair Aston Dioryctria schuetzeella Fuchs (Lep.: Pyralidae) new to Hertfordshire and a modern county record of Piniphila bifasciana (Haw.) (Lep.: Tortricidae). Colin W. Plant... Delayed emergence of Puss Moth Cerura vinula (L.) (Lep.: Notodontidae). Henry R. ATNOIE «foie 6 caer d ie Poe ols Biot ae, Bo ene AU Ne or Eee aC he Hazards of butterfly collecting - Juche in Burkina Faso, February 1988. Torben B. Larsen Hazards of moth:collectine -Uganda! David Agassiz .. 72.5... 2.4.) see Lilac Beauty Apeira syringaria (L.) (Lep.: Geometridae): Second generation examples at'Selborme; North Hampshire; Alasdair Aston 22 223..22 42-5 2 eee Not really a record of Slender Burnished Brass breeding in Britain. Richard A. Jones . Bruchela rufipes (Olivier) (Col.: Urodontidae) in West Suffolk. David R. Nash ...... Extreme size variation in the hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus (Degeer) (Dip.: Syrphidae)..Richard. A. Jones: 2°. 32.0.2 ne se 2 oe ee Continued on inside back cover SPECIAL NOTICE. 189-203 205-206 207-208 211-213 221-223 225-230 204 209 210 214 214 215 yA) 215-216 216 217-218 218-219 219 220 223 224 We would be willing to consider the purchase of a limited number of back issues. Printed in England by Cravitz Printing Company Limited, 1 Tower Hill, Brentwood, Essex CM14 4TA. Tel: 01277 224610 = 2 & a PUBLISHED BI-MONTHLY ENTOMOLOGIST S RECORD AND JOURNAL OF VARIATION Edited by C.W. PLANT, B.sc., F.R.ES. Assistant Editors AX JONES, F.R.E.S. & A. SPALDING, F.R.E.S. November/December 2000 ISSN 0013-8916 THE ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD AND JOURNAL OF VARIATION World List abbreviation: Entomologist’ s Rec. J. Var. Editor C.W. PLANT, B.Sc., F.R.E.S. 14 West Road, Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire CM23 3QOP. Telephone: 01279 507697 E-mail: Colinwplant@compuserve.com Assistant Editors R.A. JONES, B.Sc., F.R.E.S., F.L.S. & A. SPALDING, M.A., F.R.E.S. Editorial Panel A.A. Allen, B.Sc., A.R.C.S. A.M. Emmet, M.B.E., T.D., F.R.E:S. N. L. Birkett, J.P., M.A., M.B., F.R.E.S. J.A. Owen, M.D., Ph.D., F.R.E.S. J.D. Bradley, Ph.D., F.R.E.S. C.J. Luckens, M.B., Ch.B., D.R.C.O.G. J.M. Chalmers-Hunt, F.R.E.S. B. Skinner P.J. Chandler, B.Sc., F.R.ES. P.A. Sokoloff, M.Sc., C.Biol., M.I.Biol., F.R.E.S. C.A. Collingwood, B.Sc., F.R.E.S. Registrar R.F. McCormick, F.R.E.S. 36 Paradise Road, Teignmouth, Devon TO14 8NR Hon. Treasurer Official Photographer CC. Penney, F.R.E.S. 109 Waveney Drive, David Wilson, 9 Lode Lane, Wicken, Springfield, Chelmsford, Essex CM1 7QA Cambridgeshire CB7 5XP WHERE TO WRITE Papers, notes, books for review, notices, adverts etc — Editor Changes of address — Registrar New subscriptions, renewals, donations, non-arrival of Journal — Treasurer Back issues — Paul Sokoloff, 4 Steep Close, Green Street Green, Orpington, Kent BR6 6DS ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION RATES Individual subscriber £28 Institutional subscriber £40 Readers are respectfully advised that the publication of material in this journal does not imply that the views and opinions expressed therein are shared by the Editor, the Editorial Panel or any party other than the named author or authors. Guidelines for contributors This journal publishes original papers and notes from both amateurs and professionals. It is not necessary for contributors to be subscribers. The emphasis of the journal is on British and European Lepidoptera but papers on other aspects of British and European entomology are considered, particularly concerning species in Europe which may eventually reach Britain. The preferred method of submission is by e-mail or on floppy disk — even for very short articles. However, we acknowledge that these facilities are not available to everyone and we also accept typed or hand-written manuscripts. E-mailed contributions are best sent as binary attachments so that formatting is,preserved. Disks must be PC compatible and the file format must be readable by Word 2000. A single paper copy should accompany disks. In both cases contributions should employ correct use of capital letters, bold and italic type etc and should be single spaced. Leave a single line of space between paragraphs and do not indent the first line. Pay particular attention to the style and punctuation in lists of references. Typed or hand-written texts should not use bold or italic. Please underline words to be set in italic and leave the bold type to us; please double space lines so that editorial marks can be added for the typesetter. Only type on one side of the paper. We require two copies of paper contributions: a photocopy is acceptable for the second copy. In all cases, we require the originals of photographs, drawings etc.; these will be returned after publication. All authors should refer to this issue as a guide, particularly with regard to the format of dates, lists of references and lists of species. Names of British Lepidoptera should follow Bradley, J.D. (1998. A checklist of Lepidoptera recorded from the British Isles) and authors of species names should be given at the first mention. A full list of instructions may be obtained by sending a stamped addressed envelope marked “Ent. Rec. Guidelines” to the Editor. There are normally no page charges to authors for text or black and white photographs but authors wanting colour photographs will normally have to defray the cost. Contact the editor in advance for details. All papers are subjected to peer review and may be returned to authors for corrections before acceptance. Galley proofs of papers and book reviews are sent to authors for correction. Proofs of other contributions are checked by the editorial panel. Authors of papers receive 25 free reprints and may pay for additional copies; the order form will be sent with the galley proofs. Proofs of notes can be provided at cost and must be requested when submitting the manuscript. IMMIGRANT LEPIDOPTERA IN 1998 233 THE IMMIGRATION OF LEPIDOPTERA TO THE BRITISH ISLES IN 1998 BERNARD SKINNER! AND GRAHAM A. COLLINS? ' 5 Rawlins Close, South Croydon, Surrey CR2 8JS. ? 15 Hurst Way, South Croydon, Surrey CR2 7AP. In 1998 lepidopterists experienced some of the poorest moth-trap catches of both resident and immigrant species seen this decade. Unfavourable weather was probably the prime cause, but even on seemingly “good” nights trap attendances were frequently abysmally low. Fortunately, even in the poorest years there are always a few species that manage to prosper and in 1998 one of these was Tebenna micalis Mann. A number of both larvae and adults were reported in Devon and Co. Cork in 1982, but normally this micro species, which is associated with common fleabane Pulicaria dysenterica, is a rather rare visitor. However, during the latter half of the summer there were many sightings of adults and evidence of larval feeding in south-west England and south-west Wales, and even adults in south-west Scotland. The only new addition to the British Isles was Herpetogramma licarsialis (Walk.); an example was captured at light in the Isle of Wight in early November. It is a fairly large pyrale not too dissimilar to the Mother of Pearl Pleuroptyna ruralis (Scop.). Most notable amongst the macrolepidoptera were the third British capture of Porter’s Rustic Athetis hospes (Freyer) taken in the Isles of Scilly on the last day of August and an example of Lesser Belle Colobochyla salicalis (D. & S.) from the Norfolk coast on 23 June. This species was formerly resident near Hamstreet, East Kent, but has not been noted since 1977. Until now the only indication that it might occasionally migrate was a record from South Devon in 1965. In the hope of aiding the compilation of the immigration reports for future years and enabling a quicker publication it is requested that records should be stated Clearly with as full details as possible and ideally the Watsonian vice-county should be given. If it is not possible to give the vice-county, a six figure grid-reference would aid the placing of the record within a vice-county at the compilation stage. The dates given for the records should be the day of the sighting, or if from a light trap it should be the date of the evening that the trap was operated. The species listed in the annexes are laid out following Bradley (1998). Several records were supplied by more than one contributor and it is possible that some duplication of records has occurred, although every effort was made to eliminate this. The abbreviations listed below are used in Annex 1. Abbreviations E Exotic introduction/escape I Primary immigrants In Introduction (including importations) R Resident R(t) Temporary resident Vv Vagrant/wanderer 234 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.xi.2000 ANNEX 1: RECORDS OF “SCARCER” SPECIES CHOREUTIDAE Tebenna micalis (Mann) [I/R(t)] W. CORNWALL [1] St Agnes, Scilly, 19.6, 2.9 (Hale and Hicks, 1999); South Milton Sands (SX6741), 27.7 larva; Porthallow (SW7923), 1.8 larva; Mayon Cliff, (SW3425), 4.8 larva; Porthgwarra (SW3721), 4.8 pupa; Sennen (SW3526), 4.8 larva (BPH). E. CORNWALL [2] Tregantle, 31.7, c.30 larvae; Freathy, 31.7, c.12 larvae (RJH). S. DEVON [3] Heybrook Bay, 27.7, 30 larvae and an adult, 4.8, 14 larvae; Wembury, 28.7, 49 larvae; Plympton, 31.7, larvae; Clumpfield Plantation, 2.8, 3 larvae; Plymouth, 2.8, feeding signs; Saltram, 10.8, 90 larvae and 2 adults; Chelson Meadow, 10.8, 6 larvae; Bovey Heathfield, 12.8, feeding signs; Plymstock, 14.8, feeding signs; Venton Cross, 15.8, feeding signs; Totnes, 15.8, feeding signs; Stantyway, 22.8, feeding signs (RJH); Abbotskerswell (SX8568), 30.7 larva, 4.9 adult, 9.9 larva; Colyton (SY2494), 12.9 larva (BPH). N. DEVON [4] Barnstaple, 6.8, c.12 larvae (RJH). S. SOMERSET [5] Brakeley Steps, Selworthy, 8.8, 22+ larvae (RJH). DORSET [9] Portland 4.7, 15.8 larval signs and a pupa, 19.8 (2), 29.8 many (MC); Corfe Castle, 19.9, larva, Cogden Beach, 19.9, larva (RJH). PEMBROKE [45] Skomer Island, 24.6, 4.9 larval spinnings (Littlewood, 1999b). KIRKCUDBRIGHT [73] Abbey Burn Foot (NX7444), 21.6 (3) (Plant, 1999). OECOPHORIDAE Ethmia bipunctella (Fab.) [1?/V?] DORSET [9] Portland Bird Observatory, 14.8 (MC). TORTRICIDAE Eupoecilia ambiguella (Hb.) [1] DORSET [9] The Grove, Portland, 11.8 (MC); Durlston, August (Davey, 1999). Cydia amplana (Hb.) [I] DORSET [9] Portland Bird Observatory, 31.8-3.9 (5) (MC). PYRALIDAE Euchromius ocellea (Haw.) [1] W. CORNWALL [1] Penrose, 15-19.2 (3) (RH); St Agnes, Scilly, 25.2 (Hale and Hicks, 1999). DORSET [9] Portland Bird Observatory, 24.2, 17.3 (MC). S. HANTS [11] Fareham, 14.5 (RD). E. SUSSEX [14] Rye Harbour, 23.2 (PT). E. KENT [15] Tenterden, 29.3 (G. Hollamby). CAERNARVON [49] Bangor, 10.1 and 24.2 (Brown, 1998a, 1998b). W. LANCASTER [60] Lightfoot Green, Preston (SD5133), 14.2 (2) (SMP). Evergestis extimalis (Scop.) [I?/R?] DORSET [9] Portland Bird Observatory, 11.8 (MC). CHANNEL ISLANDS Guernsey: L’Ancresse, 12 and 19.6 (RA); Le Chéne, 19.8 (TNDP); St John, 30.8 (RA) (Austin, 1999). Loxostege sticticalis (L.) [I] W. CORNWALL [1] St Agnes, 31.8 (4), 1.9 (2) (Hale and Hicks, 1999). S. WILTS [8] Sutton Veny (ST8942), 24.9 (FDL). Sitochroa palealis (D. & S.) [1?/R?/R(t)?] S. DEVON [3] Abbotskerswell (SX8568), 28.7 (BPH); Rousden (SY2990), 13.8 (RFM); Thatcher Point, Torquay (SX9463), 18.8 (RFM). S. WILTS. [8] Horse Down, Tilshead IMMIGRANT LEPIDOPTERA IN 1998 235 (SU0247), 25.7 (GAC); (SU0348), 27.7 (RFM). DORSET [9] Portland Bird Observatory, 9.7- 17.8 (11) (MC). IOW [10] Binstead, 23.7 (BW); Freshwater, 4.8; Cranmore, 10.8 (SAK-J). N. HANTS [12] Sparsholt, 21.7-11.8 (7) (RAB). E. SUSSEX [14] Rye Harbour (TQ9418), 8.8 (5) (JHC). E. KENT [15] Dungeness, 5.7, 26.7, 31.7 (DW); Littlestone, 26.7 (KR); New Romney, 28.7 (SPC). SURREY [17] Field Common, West Molesey (TQ1367), 24.6 (GAC); Featherbed Lane, Addington (TQ3762), 31.7 (GAC). WARWICK [38] Bishop's Bowl Lakes, Southam (SP3858), 10.7 (GAC). PEMBROKE [45] Skomer Island, 10.8 (Littlewood, 1999b). N. LINCS [54] Gibraltar Point, 28.6 (Wilson, 1999). CHANNEL ISLANDS Guernsey: Le Chéne, 2.8 (TNDP per Austin, 1999). Ostrinia nubilalis (Hb.) [1?/R?/R(t)?] W. CORNWALL [1] St Agnes, Scilly, 31.8 (Hale and Hicks, 1999); Lizard, 27.9 (MT). N. SOMERSET [6] Berrow, 29.11, larvae in stems of Artemisia vulgaris (RJH). DORSET [9] Portland Bird Observatory, 9.7 (MC). IOW [10] Freshwater, 9.7, 17.7 (SAK-J). E. SUFFOLK [25] Westleton, 5.7, 8.7 (BLS); Kelsale (TM4064), 19.7 (JHC). E. NORFOLK [27] Eccles-on- Sea (TG4128), 27 and 28.7, 7.8 (Bowman, 1999). N. LINCS [54] Gibraltar Point, 28.9 (Wilson, 1999). Phlyctaenia perlucidalis (Hb.) [1] E. SUSSEX [14] Icklesham, 19.6 (3) (IH and PJ). Psammotis pulveralis (Hb.) [I] E. KENT [15] New Romney, 19.7 (2), 20.7 (3) (KR); Dungeness, 20.7 (TR and DW). Phlyctaenia stachydalis (Germar) [I?] E. SUSSEX [14] Rye Harbour, 30.6 (PP). Udea fulvalis (Hb.) [1?/R(t)?] IOW [10] Freshwater, 26.7, 6.8, 8.8, 12.8 (SAK-J). Herpetogramma licarsialis (Walk.) [I] IOW [10] Freshwater, 9.11 (SAK-J). New to Britain Antigastra catalaunalis (Dup.) [I] W. CORNWALL [1] St Marys, Scilly (SV9011), 28.9 (CT). DORSET [9] West Bexington, August (Davey, 1999). Diasemia reticularis (L.) [1] DORSET [9] West Bexington, 26.7 (R. Eden per Davey, 1999). Diasemiopsis ramburialis (Dup.) [I] W. CORNWALL [1] Penrose, 3.9 (RH per Tunmore, 1999); St Agnes, Scilly, 21.9, 25.9, 15.10 (Hale and Hicks, 1999); Falmouth (SW7829), 26.10 (JHC). DORSET [9] Gaunts Common, 19.9 (Davey, 1999). W. SUSSEX [13] Kingston, 11.8 (SP). E. SUSSEX [14] Icklesham, c.30.8 (IH). GLAMORGAN [41] Pitton, 28.9 (Warmsley per Anon., 1999). CAERNARVON [49] Bangor 2.9 (Brown per Anon., 1999). N. LINCS [54] Willingham Forest (TF1389), 20.9 (CS). Hymenia recurvalis (Fab.) [I] E. SUSSEX [14] Rye Harbour (TQ9317), 8.8 (JHC). Pleuroptera ruralis (Scop.) [1?/V?] ZETLAND [112] Eswick, 28.7 (Pennington & Rogers, 1999). 236 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.xi.2000 Palpita unionalis (Hb.) [1] W. CORNWALL [1] Kennack Sands (SW7416), 2.8 (BPH); Lizard, 27.9, 9 and 10.10 (MT); Coverack, 16.10 (2) (MT), 16 others in September and October (Tunmore, 1999). S. DEVON [3] Teignmouth (SX9473), mid-August (RFM); Abbotskerswell (SX8568), 21.9 (BPH); Bere Alston (SX4467), 25.9 (RWB); Torquay (SX9463), 27.9 (BD). DORSET [9] Portland Bird Observatory, 6-25.7 (3), 25-26.9 (2) (MC). IOW [10] Freshwater, 22-28.9 (5) (SAK-J); Binstead, 25.9 (BW). W. SUSSEX [13] Walberton, 30.9, 9.10 (JTR). E. SUSSEX [14] Peacehaven, 18-20.9 (3) (CRP); Rye, 27.9 (PP and PT). E. KENT [15] Densole, 25.9 (TR); Folkestone Warren, 25.9 (TR); Kingsgate, 23.10 (2); Ramsgate, 23.10 (Solly, 1999). S. ESSEX [18] Bradwell-on-Sea, 25-30.9 (4) (Dewick, 1999). N. ESSEX [19] Wrabness (TM2031), 25.9 (P. Smith per BG). E. SUFFOLK [25] Felixstowe, 26.9 (Odin, 1999). IOM [71] Claughbane Ramsey (SC4493), 22.6, 10.7 (CW). CHANNEL ISLANDS Guernsey: Le Chéne, 2.8 (2) (TNDP per Austin, 1999). Orthopygia glaucinalis (L.) [I1?/V?] IOM [71] Claughbane Ramsey (SC4493), 30.8 (CW). First Manx record. Conobathra tumidana (D. & S.) [I?] DORSET [9] Durlston, August; West Bexington, August (Davey, 1999); Portland Bird Observatory, 1.9 (2) (MC). Sciota hostilis (Steph.) [I?] E. KENT [15] New Romney, 20.6 (KR). Sciota adelphella (F.v.R.) [1?/R(t)?] E. KENT [15] Densole, 14.7 (TR). N. ESSEX [19] Dovercourt (TM2230), 11.8 (BG). Dioryctria abietella (D. & S.) [1?] DORSET [9] Portland Bird Observatory, 11.8 (MC). N. HANTS [12] Selborne, 3.7 (AA). SURREY [17] South Croydon (TQ3363), 5.7 (GAC). N. LINCS [54] Gibraltar Point, 28.6 (Wilson, 1999). CHESTER [58] Thurstaston Country Park, Wirral (SJ2383), 15.8 (DJP & IFS). Vitula biviella (Zell.) [1?/R(t)?] E. KENT [15] Lydd, 5.7-26.7 (4) (KR). PAPILIONIDAE Papilio machaon (L.) Swallowtail [In/I?] W. SUSSEX [13] Birdham, 12.8 (R. Tell per CRP). CHANNEL ISLANDS Guernsey: Fosse Andree, 10.7; Beau Sejour, 12.8 (L. Thomson per Austin, 1999). y, Iphiclides podalirius (L.) Scarce Swallowtail [In/I?] CHANNEL ISLANDS Guernsey: Arculon Lane, 5.8 (V. Webb per Austin, 1999). PIERIDAE Colias hyale (L.)/alfacariensis Berger “‘Pale” Clouded Yellow E. SUSSEX [14] Cuckmere Valley, 1.8, 2.9, “without black borders to hindwings”, vouchers not retained (P. Wilson per CRP). Colias croceus (Geoff.) Clouded Yellow [I/R(t)] W. CORNWALL [1] St Agnes, Scilly, 19-20.6 (Hale and Hicks, 1999); Porthallow (SW7923), 1.8 (BPH); Truro (SW8245), 5.8, 14.8, 22.9; (SW8443), late August, several dozen; Porthleven IMMIGRANT LEPIDOPTERA IN 1998 23H (SW6325), 11.8 (6+); Prussia Cove (SW5527), 30.8 (6+); Godrevy Head (SW5527), 30.8 (13+) (RDP); Coverack, 13.9 (30+) (CH); Drift Reservoir, Penzance (SW4329), 17.9 (6) (RDP). E. CORNWALL [2] Tintagel (SX0586), 20.9 (RDP). S. DEVON [3] Colaton Raleigh Common (SY0587), 20.6 (per RFM); Thurlestone, 20.6, 30.8, 20.9 (BPH); Bere Alston (SX4467), 20.6, 21.6, 28.8 (2), 19.9; Tavistock, 30.6 (RWB); Berry Head, Brixham (SX9456), 3.7 (BG); Slapton (SX8345), 22.8 (40) (SHC). N. DEVON [4] Braunton Burrows, 3.7 (R. Homan per RFM); Morwenstow, 29.8 (6) (RWB); Hartland Quay (SS2224), 24.9 (4+) (RDP). N. WILTS [7] Avebury, 19.9 (2) (K. Sattler). S. WILTS [8] Great Cheverell, 19.9 (4) (GRE). DORSET [9] Portland Bird Observatory, 20.6-18.10 (69) (MC); Burton Bradstock, 31.8, pair in cop.; Cogden Beach, 18.9 (8) (RJH); West Bexington (SY5386), 22.9 (50), 25.9 (10) (JHC). N. HANTS [12] Bramley Frith Wood, 23.9 (A. Cleave per AHD). W. SUSSEX [13] and E. SUSSEX [14] many from 10.5 to 30.10 (per CRP); Rye Harbour, 28.9 (JFB). E. KENT [15] Dungeness, 9.5, 12.5, 15.5, 19.7, 24.7, 25.7 (2), 26.7, 9.8, 29.8, 19.9 (2), 18.10 (Bird Observatory per SPC); Dover, 7.8 (4), 25.8 (5) (REL); Lydd 6.9, 22.9 (SPC). SURREY [17] Mitcham Common (TQ2868), 24.6 (GAC); Westcott Downs, Dorking (TQ1349), 8.7 (GAC); The Moors, Merstham (TQ3052), 22.7 (GAC); Robins Grove Wood, Oxted (TQ3752), 30.8 (GAC); South Croydon (TQ3363), 1.9 (GAC). S. ESSEX [18] Hadleigh, 25.6, 27.8; Pitsea, 19.8 (DD); Bradwell-on Sea, 20 and 27.8, 4.9 (Dewick, 1999); Thundersley, 29.8 (DD). NORTHANTS [32] Yardley Chase, 30.7 (GEH). GLAMORGAN [41] Harding’s Down, Gower, 21.6 (N. Jones per MRH). CAERNARVON [49] Llandudno, 21.6 (A. Daw per MRH). N. LINCS [54] Gibraltar Point, 18- 19.9 (Wilson, 1999). DERBYS [57] Holmewood, 5.8 (BLS). W. LANCASTER [60] Warton (SD4128), 1.7 (M. Mysercough per SMP); Claughton, 24.9 (MB). S.E. YORK [61] Spurn, 21.6- 18.9 (12) (BRS). WESTMORLAND [69] South Walney, 12.5, 20.6, 6.7 (Littlewood, 1999a); Hutton Roof, Kirkby Lonsdale, 28.6 (MB). IOM [71] Lhen (NX3701), 20.6, flew in from sea (AS); Rue Point (NX4103), 20.6 (AS); Kerrowdhoo Reservoir (SC4080), 20.6 (J. Jones per GDC); Doolish Cashen (SC2378), 20.6 (AS); Douglas (SC3677), 20.6 (G. Wilson per GDC); Dalby (SC2477), 20.6 (B. Fraser per GDC); Castletown (SC2667), 20.6, 24.9 (Kneen per GDC); Guthrie (SC4491), 21.6 (AS); Jurby (NX3700), 21-27.6 (4), 3 and 21.9 (LK); Scarlett Malew (SC2566), 27.6 (A. Moore per GDC); Chasms (SC1866), 27.6 (A. Moore per GDC); Gleneedle (SC2679), 27.6 (AS); Lewaigue (SC4692), 28.6 (AS); Ballure (SC4592), 1.7 (AS); Derbyhaven Malew (SC2867), 5.7 (2) (R. Walker per GDC); Knockaloe Moar (SC2382), 7.7 (AS); Bullrenny (SC3692), 7.7 (AS); Dhoon Maughold (SC4586), 25.7 (LK); Jurby East (SC3899), 7.9 (N. Pinder per GDC); Kentraugh (SC2268), 13.9 (A. Moore per GDC); Peel Hill (SC2383), 20.9 (A. Moore per GDC). ORKNEY [111] 22.6, 7 and 9.7 (Gauld, 1999). ZETLAND [112] Mail, Bressay, 23.6 (Pennington & Rogers, 1999). LOUTH [H31] Ardee, 20.6 (per TB’). DOWN [H38] Kearney, 20.6 (per TB’). [H38/39] Belfast, 20 and 21.6 (per TB’). CHANNEL ISLANDS Guernsey: 19.6-15.10, over 40 (Austin, 1999). Gonepteryx cleopatra L. Cleopatra [In?] E. SUSSEX [14] Friston Forest, 19.9 (M. Oates per CRP). LYCAENIDAE Lampides boeticus (L.) Long-tailed Blue [I?/In?] W. SUSSEX [13] Selsey, 20.9, photographed (C. Watkins per CRP). [S. ESSEX [18] Billericay, 24.5, inside a greengrocer’s window (DD)]. NYMPHALIDAE Argynnis lathonia (L.) Queen of Spain Fritillary [1] IOW [10] Mottistone, 23.9 (Biggs & Cheverton per SAK-J). 238 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.x1.2000 Danaus plexippus (L.) Milkweed [I] W. CORNWALL [1] Coverack, 27.9 (R. James per Tunmore, 1999); Nanquidno (SW3629), 23.9 (Cornwall Birdwatching Soc. newsletter per RDP). W. CORNWALL [2] Penlee Point, Rame (SX4449), 17.10 (ibid.). E. SUSSEX [14] Beachy Head, 19.10 (2) (Z. Ringwood per CRP). GEOMETRIDAE Aplasta ononaria (Fuess.) Rest Harrow [I?/V?] E. SUSSEX [14] Rye Harbour, 20.6 (PT). E. KENT [15] New Romney, 20.6 (SPC). Cyclophora puppillaria (Hb.) Blair’s Mocha [T] W. CORNWALL [1] Penrose, 20.6 (RH per Tunmore, 1999). DORSET [9] Portland Bird Observatory, 29.9 (MC). IOW [10] Freshwater, 30.6 (D. Wooldridge per SAK-J). N. HANTS [12] Sparsholt, 22.8 (RAB). W. SUSSEX [13] Walberton, 26.9, 1.10 (JTR). FLINT [51] Sealand, 24.9 (Raynes per Anon., 1999). Scopula rubiginata Hufn. Tawny Wave [I] W. CORNWALL [1] Penrose, 19.6 (RH per Tunmore, 1999). HUNTS [31] Hemingford Grey (TL2970), 11.8 (NG-D). Rhodometra sacraria (L.) Vestal [I] W. CORNWALL [1] Lamorna Cove, Mousehole, 25.6 (MT); St Marys, Scilly (SV9011), 26.9- 2.10 (13) (CT); Lizard; 27.9, 23.10, 23.11, (MT); Falmouth (SW7/829),.28:10 GHC)._S. DEVON [3] Bere Alston (SX4467), 20.6 (RWB); Abbotskerswell (SX8568), 14 and 16.8 (BPH); Starcross, 8.9 (AHD). N. SOMERSET [6] Catsgore, 6-7.9 (GEH). S. WILTS. [8] Horse Down, Tilshead (SU0247), 25.7 (GAC). DORSET [9] Portland Bird Observatory, 23.7, 31.8-24.9 (14) (MC). IOW [10] Binstead, 9-13.5, 13.8-15.9 (BW); Freshwater, 20.7, 1.9, 3.9 (2) (SAK-J). N. HANTS [12] Sparsholt, 7.7-5.10 (29) (RAB); Selborne, 1.9 (2), 28.9 (AA). W. SUSSEX [13] Walberton, 21.6, 21-25.7 (4), 16.8, 21.8, 1-9.9 (19), 18-24.9 (3) (JTR); Kingston, 1-2.9 (SP); Atherington (TQ0000), 28.9 (MSP). E. SUSSEX [14] Ringmer, 1.8, 9.8, 26.9 (2) (AKB); Newhaven, 12.8 (D. Dey per CRP); Rye, 16.8, 1.9, 17-26.9 (PT and PP); Iden, 17.8 (PT); Peacehaven, 1.9, 5.9, 18.9, 24.9 (CRP); Icklesham, 1.9 (IH); St Leonards, September (4) (SR). E. KENT [15] Dungeness, 22.6, 6.9, 7.9, 17.9 (KR and DW); New Romney, 24.7, 25.7, 30.7, 1.9 (KR and SPC); Kingsgate, 27.7 (Solly, 1999); Densole, 1.9 (TR); Newington, 3.9 (REL); Greatstone, 4.9, 6.9 (3), 7.9 (BB); Littlestone, 5.9 (KR); Lydd, 6.9 (KR). SURREY [17] Buckland (TQ2250), 12.5 and 5.9 (CH); South Croydon (TQ3363), 1.9 (GAC); Chessington (TQ1864), 1.9 (JP); Lingfield (TQ3842), 3 and 6.9 (JHC); Epsom Downs (TQ2257), 16.9 (BJG). S. ESSEX [18] Bradwell-on-Sea, 17.8 (Dewick, 1999); North Chingford (TQ3993), 1-2.9 (2) (B. Pateman per BG); Theydon Bois (TQ4599), 3 and 6.9 (J. Green per BG); Maldon (TL8406), 18.9 (S. Wood per BG); Thundersley (TQ8087), 20.9 (DD). N. ESSEX [19] Coggeshal (TL8425), 23.5 (N. Cuming per BG); Dovercourt (TM2230), 9.9 (CG); Kirby-le-Soken (TM2222), 19.9 (P. Bergdahl per BG). BUCKS [24] Willen, 10.9 (GEH). E. SUFFOLK [25] Westleton, 9.7 (BLS); Walberswick (TM4974), 21.7 (JHC). E. NORFOLK [27] Sheringham (TG1642), 4.7; Cawston, 17.8; Eccles-on-Sea (TG4128), 28.8, 7.9; Winterton, 19.9 (Hipperson, 1998). WARWICK [38] Rugby, 19.8 (P. Nicholas per DCGB); Charlecote, 30.8, 5.9, 14.10 (AG); Kenilworth, 6.9, 25.9 (P. Atherton per DCGB). SALOP [40] Highley (SO7582), 28.6 (CT). S. LINCS [53] Temple Wood (TF0528), 14.5 (J. Lamin per RJ). N. LINCS [54] Far Ings (TA0123), 22.6 (McGowan & Credland per RJ). DERBYS [57] Matlock, 19.9 (BLS). S.E. YORK [61] Spurn, 23.6 (BRS). CHEVIOT [68] Scremerston, 2.7 (JTR). IOM [71] Claughbane Ramsey (SC4493), 29.4, 20.6 (CW); Dhoor Ramsey (SC4496), 20.6 (G. Wilson per GDC); Glenlough Marown (SC3378), 25.6 IMMIGRANT LEPIDOPTERA IN 1998 PB) (K. Hawkins per GDC); Dhoon Maughold (SC4586), 25.6 (LK); Andreas (SC4199), 5-11.7 (6), 22.9 (TC); South Barrule (SC2776), 3.9 (DA). CHANNEL ISLANDS Guernsey: Le Chéne, 16.8, 22.8, 3.9 (TNDP); La Broderie, 29.8-20.9 (5) (PC) (Austin, 1999). Orthonama obstipata (Fab.) Gem [I] W. CORNWALL [1] Lizard, 29.3 (RH), 25.9-23.11 (11) (MT); St Marys, Scilly (SV9011), 26.9-2.10 (3) (CT). S. DEVON [3] Starcross, 10.5-30.8 (8) (AHD); Abbotskerswell (SX8568), 12.5-7.9 (12) (BPH); Bere Alston (SX4467), 1.9, 27.9 (RWB). N. SOMERSET [6] Catsgore, 3-4.9 (GEH). DORSET [9] Portland Bird Observatory, 9.5-4.10 (74) (MC). IOW [10] Binstead, 9.5-5.9 (16) (BW); Freshwater, 13.5-27.11 (22) (SAK-J). N. HANTS [12] Sparsholt, 14.5-1.9 (16) (RAB); Selborne, 8-29.8 (5) (AA); Bramley Frith Wood, 13.10 (AHD). W. SUSSEX [13] Walberton, 24.6, 20-28.7 (14), 9.8, 14.8, 17.8, 21.8, 25.8, 27.8, 1-10.9 (8), 26.9, 20-21.10 (3), 9-11.11 (3), 26.11 (JTR); Lyminster, 6.8 (REP); Kingston, 11-16.8 (6), 31.8-2.9 (6) (SP); Littlehampton, 22.10 (REP). E. SUSSEX [14] St Leonards 6-19.5 (12), 18.7, 5.8- i t1G1) GSR); Rye, 19.5, 24.6, 16 and 17.8,.1.9 (PT and PT); Peacehaven, 25.5, 5.7, 20.7, 31.7, 6 and 7.8, 15.8, 18.8, 18.10 (CRP); East Grinstead, 3.7 (JHC); Icklesham, 3.7 (2), 10.7 (4), 14.8 (3) (IH and PJ); Ringmer, 9.7, 9.8, 27.9 (AKB); Staplefield, 20.7 (R. Revell per CRP); Balcombe, 18.8 (D. Dey per CRP); Iden, 18.8 (PT). E. KENT [15] New Romney, 10 and 11.5, 26'675010N6.7525.7, 26:7,29.8, 5.9 (KR); Littlestone, 10:5, 11.5. @),13.5,; 14.7, 25.8, 31.8, 1.9 (KR); New Romney, 10.5, 13.5, 10.8, 18.8, 28.9, 29.9 (2) (SPC); Greatstone, 11.5, 4.7, 13.8- 6.9 (9), 19.9 (BB); Lydd, 11.5, 24.8, 5.9, 1.10 (KR); Dungeness, 13.5, 24.6, 20.7, 12.8-5.9 (7), 18.9 (DW), 20.7 (TR); Densole, 21.5, 23.5, 3.6, 19.9, 24.9 (TR); Folkestone Warren, 19.6 (TR); Kingsgate, 5.7, 26.7 (2), 19.8, 24.9 (2) (Solly, 1999); Sandwich Bay, 11.8 (Tordoff, 1999). SURREY [£7] Lingfield (TQ3842), 11.5, 5.7, 16.7, 10.8, 11.8,.1.9, 10.11 GHC); Buckland (TQ2250), 15.5, 21.7, 21.8, 9.9 (CH); South Croydon (TQ3363), 5.7, 11.8 (GAC). S. ESSEX [18] Bradwell-on-Sea, 23 and 25.7, 25.9, 11 and 12.10 (Dewick, 1999); Thundersley (TQ8087), 4.9 (DD); Ingatestone (TQ6499), 19.9 (G. Smith per BG). N. ESSEX [19] Frinton- on-Sea (TM2320), 20.8 (B. Lock per BG); Jaywick (TM1312), 24.9 (J. Young per BG). OXON [23] Merton, 22.6 (L. Murphy per GEH). BUCKS [24] Willen, 17.7, 8.8, 10.10 (GEH); Radnage (SU7996), 18.9 (AMG); Stony Stratford, 23.9 (M. Killeby per GEH). E. NORFOLK [27] Eccles-on-Sea (TG4128), 29.9 (Hipperson, 1998). WARWICK [38] Charlecote, 8.5, 13.5, 21.5, 15 and 16.7, 14.8, 29.8, 10.9 (DCGB and AG); Wilmcote, 10.7 (DCGB). STAFFS [39] Highgate Common (SO8489), 3.8 (CT). PEMBROKE [45] 2.7, 15.7, 21.7, 26.8 (Littlewood, 1999b). W. LANCASTER [60] Lightfoot Green (SD5133), 20.8, 2.9 (SMP). S.E. YORK [61] Spurn, 19.5, 17.8, 8.9, 15.9, 28.9, 3.10 (BRS). WESTMORLAND [69] South Walney, 27.8- 19.9 (6) (Littlewood, 1999a). IOM [71] Calf of Man (SC1565), June (T. Bagworth per GDC); Ballacriy Colby (SC2370), September (Scott per GDC); Claughbane Ramsey (SC4493), 3.9 (CW). ZETLAND [112] Baltasound, Unst, 21.9 (Pennington & Rogers, 1999). CHANNEL ISLANDS Guernsey: La Broderie, 11.5, 20.6, 8.8, 24.8-5.9 (8) (PC); L’ Ancresse, 19.5, 29.8 (2) (RA); St John, 11.8 (RA); Le Chéne, 18.8 (TNDP) (Austin, 1999). Chloroclysta miata (L.) Autumn Green Carpet [I?] S.E. YORK [61] Spurn, 12.10 “resembling the Scandinavian form’, det. H.E. Beaumont (BRS). Ennomos autumnaria (Werneburg) Large Thorn [I?] N. LINCS [54] Gibraltar Point, 19.9 (Wilson, 1999). Selenia lunularia (Hb.) Lunar Thorn [I] E. KENT [15] Greatstone, 10.8 (BB). 240 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.x1.2000 Cleorodes lichenaria (Hufn.) Brussels Lace [I] E. KENT [15] Dymchurch, 5.6 (JO per SPC); Dungeness, 20.7 (KR). SPHINGIDAE Agrius convolvuli (L.) Convolvulus Hawk [I] W. CORNWALL [1] Lizard, 29.6, 26-27.9 (5) (MT), 12.9 (CH); St Agnes, Scilly (SV8808), 2.10, a larva (CT); 2 adults and a number of larvae (Hale and Hicks, 1999). S. DEVON [3] Dawlish (SX9679), 22.8, dead in road (PF); Abbotskerswell (SX8568), 7.9 (BPH); Torquay (SX9463), 26.9 (BD). N. DEVON [4] Bideford (SS4326), 28.9 (ASH). S. WILTS [8] Longleat (ST8342), 26.9 (BPH). DORSET [9] Portland Bird Observatory, 16.8-1.10 (6); Southwell, Portland, September, a larva (MC). IOW [10] Binstead, 24-31.9 (5) (BW); Freshwater, 26.9 and 3.10 (SAK-J). N. HANTS [12] Sparsholt, 30.9 (RAB). W. SUSSEX [13] Littlehampton, 25.7, 30.9 (REP); Kingston, 6.9 (SP); Walberton, 1.10 (JTR); Lancing, 14.10, a larva on bindweed (D. Sadler per CRP). E. SUSSEX [14] St Leonards, 19.7, 18.8, 2.10 (2) (SR); Beachy Head, 9.8 (S. Young per CRP); Icklesham, 16.8, 29.9 (IH); Rye, 11.9, 19.9, 26.9, 4.10 (per CRP); Seaford, 12.9 (P. Wilson per CRP); Peacehaven, 20.9 (CRP). E. KENT [15] Ramsgate, 29.6 (Solly, 1999); New Romney, 30.6, 1.10 (KR); Sandwich Bay, 18.7, 14 and 19.8 (Tordoff, 1999); Densole, 24.9 (TR); Folkestone Warren, 25.9 (TR); Dymchurch, 29.9 (JO); Kingsgate, September (4) (Solly, 1999). S. ESSEX [18] Bradwell-on-Sea, 2.9-1.10 (12) (Dewick, 1999); Little Baddow (TL7806), 6.9 (J. Stockton per BG). N. ESSEX [19] Beaumont-cum-Moze (TM1725), 4.9 (J. Fisher per BG); Kirby-le-Soken (TM2222), 18.9 (A. Bergdahl per BG); Jaywick (TM1312), 2.10 (J. Young per BG); Great Bentley (TM0921), 4.10 (W. Kempster per BG). BERKS [22] Silwood Park, 9.9, dead on road (M. Cock per MSP). E. SUFFOLK [25] Felixstowe, 3.9 (Odin, 1999). E. NORFOLK [27] California (TG5114), 24.8 a larva; Winterton, 31.8 (2); Blickling, 8.9; Eccles-on-Sea (TG4128), 12.9, 27 and 28.9 (Hipperson, 1998). W. NORFOLK [28] Holme, 29.8; Stiffkey, 2, 4 and 9.9; Thornham, 6.9; Hindringham, 9.9; Titchwell, 17 and 20.9; Heacham, 18.9 (Hipperson, 1998). WARWICK [38] Bishops Tachbrooke, 24.8 (M. Hancock per DCGB); Charlecote, 10.9 (DCGB). PEMBROKE [45] Skomer Island, 13.8, 31.8 (2), 26.9 (2) (Littlewood, 1999b). N. LINCS [54] Muckton (TF3781), 20.8, 1.10 (GW); Mablethorpe (TF5085), 31.8 (P. King per RJ); Dalby (TF4070), 21.9 (M. Dawson per RJ); Gibraltar Point (TF5660), 25.9 (Wilson, 1999). S.E. YORK [61] Spurn, 25.8 (2), 2.9, 16.9, 3.10 (BRS). WESTMORLAND [69] South Walney, 18.9 (Littlewood, 1999a). IOM [71] Andreas (SC4199), September (per Manx Museum per GDC); South Barrule (SC2776), 8.9 (2) (DA); Kirk Michael (SC3190), 27.9 (D. and L. Ford per GDC); Blue Point (NX3902), 5.10 (J. Thorpe per GDC). S. ABERDEEN [92] Aberdeen, 10.9 (A. Buchan). ORKNEY [111] 11.8, 2.9, 10.10 (Gauld, 1999). ZETLAND [112] Mainland, mid-July; early September (c.8) (Pennington & Rogers, 1999). CHANNEL ISLANDS Guernsey: St Peter’s Port, 24.7 (R. Lord per MSP); Le Chéne, 30.8, 3.9 (TNDP); La Broderie, 21.9 (PC); Icart, 22.9 (C. David) (Austin, 1999). Acherontia atropos (L.) Death’s-head Hawk [I] S. DEVON [3] Widdon Down, Chagford (SX7289), 5.6 (2) (Mrs Newsome per RFM); Dawlish (SX9679), 12.8 (PF). DORSET [9] Ame, 23.7; Poundbury, November (Davey, 1999). E. SUSSEX [14] Exceat, 1.9, full-grown larva (P. Wilson per CRP). E. KENT [15] Willesborough, 12.9 found dead (per SPC). W. KENT [16] Tonbridge, 6.9 fully grown larva (M. Hill per AHD). SURREY [17] Gatwick Airport, 10.8 (K. Ruff per CRP). N. ESSEX [19] Fingringhoe (TM0320), 10.6, 2 larvae (Mr Bowler per BG); Dovercourt (TM2230), 8.7 (CG). MIDDxX [21] Camden, 27.9 (G. Crow per MSP). E. NORFOLK [27] St Olaves, 29-30.5 (5) (J. Crouch). W. NORFOLK [28] Titchwell, 6.9 (Skeen per Anon., 1999). WARWICK [38] IMMIGRANT LEPIDOPTERA IN 1998 241 Barford, 16.9 larva (C. Cadogan per DCGB). IOM [71] Maughold (SC4689), 8.10 (C. Christian per GDC). CHANNEL ISLANDS Guernsey: Le Chéne, 11.8 (TNDP) (Austin, 1999). Hyloicus pinastri (L.) Pine Hawk [I?/V?] DORSET [9] Portland Bird Observatory, 9 and 11.8 (MC). Macroglossum stellatarum (L.) Humming-bird Hawk [I] W. CORNWALL [1] St Agnes, Scilly, 19-20.6 (Hale and Hicks, 1999); Upton Towans, 1-4.7 (up to 31 at valerian) (MT); Loe Bar, Helston (SW6424), 17.9 (CH); St Keverne (SW8021), 19.9 (A. Allcorn per RDP); Constantine (SW7429), 23.9 (H. Jonas per RDP); Lizard, 24.9, 27.10 at light (MT). S. DEVON [3] Prawle (SX7836), 2.3 (J. Bailey per RFM); Bere Alston (SX4467), 25.4, 1.5, 20.6, 21.9 (RWB); Exeter (SX9790), 19.6, 17.7 (R. Rowden per RFM); Lydford (SX4783), 6.7 (J. Hale per RFM); Pew Tor, Dartmoor, 8.8 (RWB); Slapton (SX8345), 22.8 (JHC). DORSET [9] Portland Bird Observatory, 22.7-5.10 (MC); West Bexington (SY5386), 25.9 (JHC). S. HANTS [11] Northney, Hayling Island, 20.9 (GRE). N. HANTS [12] Bramley Frith Wood, 31.8-7.9 seen daily (A. Cleave per AHD). W. SUSSEX [13] Hove, 19-20.3 (4), 19.7 (2), 25 and 26.7 (RMC); Kingston, 28.8 larva (J. Holloway per CRP). E. SUSSEX [14] Northiam, 15.5, 28.6, 4.7 (D. Burrows per CRP); Rye, 30.5 (PT), 31.7, 8.8 (B. Yates per CRP); Peacehaven, 20.7-5.8 (7), 17 and 18.8, 25.9 (CRP); Heathfield, 20.8 (AKB); Ringmer, 10 and 22.10 (AKB); St Leonards, 25.8 (SR); Battle, 28.8 (P. Belchamber per CRP); Seaford/Cuckmere Valley, 8-24.9 (3) (P. Wilson per CRP); East Dean, 12.11 (SR). E. KENT [15] Sandwich, 22.6 (JHC); 25.6 (3) (TR); 24.6-9.8 (13) (Tordoff, 1999); Dungeness, 26.7, 22.8-4.9, 22.9-10.10 (Bird Observatory per SPC); Densole, 9 and 10.8 (TR); Lydd, 29.9 (KR). S. ESSEX [18] Bradwell-on-Sea, 23-25.6 (4), 8.7-8.8 (18), 14.8-5.9 (4), 20-21.8 (5 larvae) (Dewick, 1999). HERTS [20] Ware, 28.6 (per MRH). BUCKS [24] New Bradwell, 1.10 (A. Wood per GEH). E. NORFOLK [27] Filby, 24.6; Barnham Broom (TG0707), 25.6; Hainford (TG2110), 22.7 (Hipperson, 1998); Reedham (TG4270), 24.7 (JHC). W. NORFLOK [28] Foulden, 20.6; Beeston (TG1641), 21.6; Caston, 8.8 (Hipperson, 1998). PEMBROKE [45] Skomer Island, 20-21.6 (c.7), 27.7 (2) (Littlewood, 1999b). N. LINCS [54] Roughton Moor (TF2164), 3.7 (JJ); Barton upon Humber (TA0322), 9.7 (A. McGowan per RJ); Scunthorpe (SE8910), 22.7 (P. Medland per RJ); Haxey (SK7799), 23.9 (CS). CHESTER [58] Halton Common (SJ5482), 26.6, 7.7 (SJM). W. LANCASTER [60] Claughton, 21.6 (MB). S.E. YORK [61] Bridlington, 27.6 (C. Griffin); Spurn, 4.7, 25.7, 6.8 (larva, adult reared) (BRS). IOM [71] Jurby (SC3699), 20.6 (2) (K. McCallum per GDC); Andreas (SC3999), 20.6 (B. Leach per GDC); Castletown (SC2667), 21.6 (GDC); Peel (SC2584), 21.6 (I. Heard per GDC); Marown (SC3678), 27.6 (J. Atkinson per GDC); Kirk Michael (SC3190), 28.6 (L. Sheen per GDC); Peel (SC2484), 4.7 (A. Moore per GDC); Calf of Man, 3.10 (TB). ZETLAND [112] Yell, 12.7; Whalsay, 7.9 (Pennington & Rogers, 1999). DOWN [H38] Helen’s Bay, 21.6 (per TB’). CHANNEL ISLANDS Guernsey: 14.4-20.10 (15) (Austin, 1999). Hyles gallii (Rott.) Bedstraw Hawk [I] DORSET [9] Portland Bird Observatory, 5.7 (MC). E. KENT [15] Sandwich Bay, 21.8 (Tordoff, 1999). E. SUFFOLK [25] Westleton, 8.7 (BLS). W. NORFOLK [28] Brancaster, 15.8 (Skeen per Anon., 1999). S.E. YORK [61] Spurn, 2.7 (C. Jones per BRS). E. PERTH [89] Enochdu, 8.8 (Boyd per Anon., 1999). S. ABERDEEN [92] Wartle, 1.8 (Francis per Anon., 1999); Balmedie, 17.8 (Landsman per Anon., 1999). ORKNEY [111] 15 and 21.7 (Gauld, 1999). ZETLAND [112] 15-29.7 (c.20 including 7 at Eswick) (Pennington & Rogers, 1999). DAD ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.xi.2000 Hyles livornica (Esp.) Striped Hawk [I] W. CORNWALL [1] Penzance, 3.3 (SJB). DORSET [9] Weymouth, 15.2 (Harris per Anon., 1999); Portland Bird Observatory, 21.3 (MC). E. SUSSEX [14] Winchelsea, 20.7 (PP). E. KENT [15] Herne Bay, 20.2 (Hunt per Anon., 1999). BUCKS [24] High Wycombe, 24.2 (Wedd per Anon., 1999). GLAMORGAN [41] Kenfig, 14.2 (S. Moon). NOTODONTIDAE Notodonta tritophus (D. & S.) Three-humped Prominent [I] N. ESSEX [19] Jaywick (TM1312), 22.6 (J. Young per BG). THAUMETOPOEIDAE Thaumetopoea processionea (L.) Oak Processionary [I] IOW [10] Freshwater, | and 6.9 (SAK-J). CHANNEL ISLANDS Guernsey: L’Ancresse, 30.8 (RA); La Broderie, 30 and 31.8 (PC) (Austin, 1999). LYMANTRIIDAE Lymantria dispar (L.) Gypsy Moth [I] E. KENT [15] Dungeness, 26.7 male (KR). ARCTIIDAE Eilema sororcula (Hufn.) Orange Footman [I?] DORSET [9] Portland Bird Observatory, 14.5 (MC). Lithosia quadra (L.) Four-spotted Footman [I?] W. CORNWALL [1] St Agnes, Scilly, 31.8 (83), 1.9 (111), 2.9 (29), 4.9 (1) - all males (Hale and Hicks, 1999). IOM [71] South Barrule (SC2776), 21.7 (DA). CHANNEL ISLANDS Guernsey: L’ Ancresse, 1.8 (RA); Le Chéne, 17.8 (TNDP) (Austin, 1999). Euplagia quadripunctaria (Poda) Jersey Tiger [I?/R?] DORSET [9] Portland Bird Observatory, 28.7, 13.8, 19.8 (MC). E. SUSSEX [14] Rye, 11- 21.8, on four occasions, possibly the same individual (PP); St Leonards, 16.8 (SR). NOLIDAE Meganola albula (D. & S.) Kent Black Arches [I?/R?] E. NORFOLK [27] Eccles-on-Sea (TG4128), 9.7-8.8 (24) (Bowman, 1999). N. LINCS [54] Gibraltar Point (TF5660), 7.7 (K. Wilson per RJ). Nola aerugula (Hb.) Scarce Black Arches [I] E. KENT [15] New Romney, 20.6 (KR), 22.7 (SPC). NOCTUIDAE Agrotis crassa (Hb.) Great Dart [I] E. KENT [15] Dungeness, 13.8 (DW). Actebia praecox (L.) Portland Moth [R?/I?] E. SUSSEX [14] Winchelsea, 21.7 (PP). Eurois occulta (L.) Great Brocade [I] ORKNEY [111] 4.9 (Gauld, 1999). ZETLAND [112] Eswick, 11-13.8 (c.2), 6.9 (Pennington & Rogers). IMMIGRANT LEPIDOPTERA IN 1998 243 Mythimna albipuncta (D. & S.) White-point [I/R?] W. CORNWALL [1] Coverack, 25.9 (Tunmore, 1999). S. DEVON [3] Lydford (SX4783), 6.7 (J. Hale per RFM); Abbotskerswell (SX8568), 10.7 (BPH). DORSET [9] Portland Bird Observatory, 28.5-25.9 (37) (MC). [OW [10] Freshwater (15)(considered resident) (SAK-J). S. HANTS [11] Hayling Island, 24.9 (2) (RAB). N. HANTS [12] Sparsholt, 1.9, 23.9 (RAB). W. SUSSEX [13] Littlehampton, 7.8 (SP); Walberton, 11.8-28.9 (14) (JTR); Kingston, 12-16.8 (2) (SP); Arundel, 14.8 (JTR). E. SUSSEX [14] Icklesham, 15.5, 15.8-28.9 (30) (IH); Peacehaven, 30.5, 11.8, 27.8-3.9 (3), 20-22.9 (4) (CRP); Rye, 2-7.6 (4), 16.8-28.9 (14) (PT and PP); St Leonards, 17.7, 14.8-28.10 (20) (SR); Ringmer, 31.8, 1.9 (AKB); Eastbourne, 28.9 (AKB). E. KENT [15] Folkestone Warren, 13.5, 3-25.9 (8) (TR); Greatstone, 20.5, 14-8.24.9 (24) (BB); Lydd, 1-26.6 (4), 24.8-28.9 (7) (KR); Densole, 1.6-10.10 (15) (TR); Dungeness, 3.6, 22.6, 29.8-25.9 (11) (KR, DW and DD); New Romney, 5.6 (SPC), 19.6, 28.8-18.9 (8) (KR); Kingsgate, 10.8, 4.9 (Solly, 1999); Littlestone, 25.8-23.9 (15) (KR); Faversham (TQ9860), 15.9 (JHC); Sandwich Bay, August-September (6) (Tordoff, 1999); Ramsgate, 1.10 (Solly, 1999). SURREY [17] Buckland (TQ2250), 6.6, 14.8 and 18.8 (CH). S. ESSEX [18] Bradwell St Peters (TM0308), 20.5 (G. Smith per BG); Bradwell-on-Sea, 8.6-12.10 (40) (Dewick, 1999); Steeple (TL9202), 30.7 (DD). N. ESSEX [19] Jaywick (TM1312), 1.9 (J. Young per BG); Little Oakley (TM2129), 24.9 (G. Slater per BG). E. SUFFOLK [25] Felixstowe, 21.5 (Odin, 1999). E. NORFOLK [27] Eccles-on-Sea (TG4128), 3.6, 1.9, 6.9, 11.9 25.9 (Bowman, 1999); Winterton, 31.8 (2), 3.9 (Hipperson, 1998). Mythimna vitellina (Hb.) Delicate [I] W. CORNWALL [1] Lizard, 28-30.6 (4), 26.9-26.10 (27) (MT); St Marys, Scilly (SV9011), 26.9-2.10 (13) (CT); Coverack, 4.10 (2), 16.10 (MT). S. DEVON [3] Teignmouth (SX9473), 4.7, 3.10 (RFM); Abbotskerswell (SX8568), 6.7 (BPH); Torquay (SX9463), 26.9 (BD); Prawle Point (SX7735), 28.9 (4) (RFM). DORSET [9] Portland Bird Observatory, 10.6-12.10 (69) (MC); Maiden Newton (SY5998), 24.9 (JHC); West Bexington (SY5386), 25.9 (2) (JHC); Portland, 27.9 (5) (TR). IOW [10] Freshwater, 8.9-20.10 (15) (SAK-J); Binstead, 26.9 (BW). N. HANTS [12] Sparsholt, 16.7, 29.9 (RAB). W. SUSSEX [13] Walberton, 20.6, 26.7, 24 and 26.9, 9.10, 21-23.10 (3) (JTR); West Wittering, 5.9 (2) (C. Dewhurst per CRP); Atherington (TQO0000), 28.9 (MSP). E. SUSSEX [14] Rye, 12-30.6 (3), 4.8, 27.9-5.10 (5) (PP and PT); Icklesham, 30.6, 3.7, 19.9-2.10 (6) (IH); Peacehaven, 24.9, 23.10, 14.11 (CRP); Eastbourne, 25.9 (MSP); St Leonards, 4.10-7.11 (5) (SR). E. KENT [15] New Romney, 22.6, 29.9 (KR); Dungeness, 29.6 (DW), 20.7, 30.8 (6), 24.9 (TR), 6-28.9 (6) (KR and DW); Densole, 9.7, 14.7, 9.10 (TR); Greatstone, 13.7 (BB); Lydd, 28.9, 21.10 (KR); Sandwich Bay, 30.9 (Tordoff, 1999); Kingsgate, 21.10 (2), 22.10 (Solly, 1999). SURREY [17] Lingfield (TQ3842), 5.7 (JHC). S. ESSEX [18] Bradwell-on-Sea, 2.10 (Dewick, 1999). N. ESSEX [19] Dovercourt (TM2230), 27.9 (CG). BUCKS [24] Willen, 28.7 (GEH). E. SUFFOLK [25] Felixstowe, 2.5 (Odin, 1999). PEMBROKE [45] Skomer Island, 25 and 27.9 (Littlewood, 1999b). CHANNEL ISLANDS Guernsey: 23.5-15.10 (Austin, 1999). Mythimna I-album (L.) L-album Wainscot [I] IOW [10] Binstead, 4.7 (BW). E. KENT [16] Dymchurch, 29.9 (3) (JO). S. ESSEX [18] Bradwell-on-Sea, 24.6, 27.9 (Dewick, 1999). Mythimna unipuncta (Haw.) White-speck [T] W. CORNWALL [1] Penrose, 5 and 13 .1 (RH); Lizard, 26.3, 24.9-27.11 (28) (MT); St Agnes, Scilly, 12.5 (4), 27.11 (18) (Hale and Hicks, 1999); Lamorna Cove, Mousehole, 25.6 (MT); St Marys, Scilly (SV9011), 26.9-2.10 (26) (CT); Coverack, 15-16.10 (3) (MT). S. DEVON [3] Torquay (SX9463), 19.9 (BD); Abbotskerswell (SX8568), 19.9 (BPH); Teignmouth (SX9473), 244 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.x1.2000 27.9 (RFM). DORSET [9] Portland Bird Observatory, 21 and 23.3, 21 and 26.5, 17.9-2.10 (8), 9-16.12 (5) (MC); Durlston Head (SZ0377) 14.12 (SN). IOW [10] Freshwater, 20.9, 14.12 (SAK-J). N. HANTS [12] Selborne, 25.9 (AA). E. KENT [15] Greatstone, 27.9 (BB). PEMBROKE [45] Skomer Island, 13.8, 24.9, 2.10 (Littlewood, 1999b). IOM [71] Dhoon Maughold (SC4586), 30.8, 1.9 (LK); Calf of Man, 21 and 28.9 (TB); Ballacriy Colby (SC2370), 27.9 (Scott per GDC); South Barrule (SC2776), 21.10 (DA); Knocksharry German (SC2785), 22.10 (DA). CHANNEL ISLANDS Guernsey: Le Chéne, 28.8 (TNDP); La Broderie, 1.9, 16.11 (PC) (Austin, 1999). Mythimna loreyi (Dup.) Cosmopolitan [I] W. CORNWALL [1] Lizard, 27.6, 27.9-27.11 (11) (MT); St Marys, Scilly (SV9011), 26.9 (2) (CT). DORSET [9] Portland Bird Observatory, 17.8 (MC). E. KENT [15] New Romney, 19.9 (KR). PEMBROKE [45] Skomer Island, 13.6, 7.10 (Littlewood, 1999b). Conistra erythrocephala (D. & S.) Red-headed Chestnut [T] E. SUSSEX [14] Peacehaven, 10.1 (CRP). Xanthia ocellaris (Borkh.) Pale Lemon Sallow [I?] E. KENT [15] New Romney, 28.9 (KR). Cryphia raptricula (D. & S.) Marbled Grey [T] E. SUSSEX [14] St Leonards, 10.8 (SR). Trachea atriplicis (L.) Orache Moth [I?] DORSET [9] Portland Bird Observatory, 20.6 (MC). Chortodes elymi (Treits.) Lyme Grass [I?/V?] W. KENT [16] Isle of Grain, 10.8 (AJGB). Spodoptera exigua (Hb.) Small Mottled Willow [I] W. CORNWALL [1] St Agnes, Scilly, 9.5, 12.5 (2) (Hale and Hicks, 1999); St Marys, Scilly (SV9011), 26.9-1.10 (7) (CT); Lizard, 27.9, 2.10 (MT). E. CORNWALL [2] Wadebridge (SW9672), 16.9 (RFM). S. DEVON [3] Lydford (SX4783), 7.7 (J. Hale per RFM); Abbotskerswell (SX8568), 2.10 (BPH). DORSET [9] Portland Bird Observatory, 12.1, 9.5- 26.9 (39) (MC). IOW [10] Freshwater, 9 and 22.5 (SAK-J); Binstead, 11.5 (BW). N. HANTS [12] Sparsholt, 12-21.5 (4), 21.7 (RAB). W. SUSSEX [13] Kingston, 1-2.9 (2) (SP); Walberton, 25.9 (JTR). E. SUSSEX [14] Peacehaven, 20.5, 24.7-9.8 (6) (CRP); Rye, 30.6, 3.7, 19.7, 30.8 (PP and PT); Icklesham, 3.7, 28-30.7 (2) (IH); Iden, 18.8 (PT). E. KENT [15] New Romney, 24.6, 26.7 (2), 1.8, 10.8, 3 and 5.9, 24.9 (KR and SPC); Lydd, 8.7, 1.9 (KR); Greatstone, 7.8, 11.8, 3.9 (BB). S. ESSEX [18] Bradwell-on-Sea, 30.6, 25.7, 30.8, 6 and 8.9 (Dewick, 1999). E. NORFOLK [27] Barnham Broom (TG0707), 3.7 (Hipperson, 1998). WARWICK [38] Charlecote, 15.5, 25.7 (AG). WESTMORLAND [69] South Walney, 4.7, 11.8, 30.8 (Littlewood, 1999a). IOM [71] Calf of Man, 19.6 (TB); Claughbane Ramsey (SC4493), 20.6 (CW); Dhoor Ramsey (SC4496), 20.6 (G. Wilson per GDC); Dhoon Maughold, 20.6 (4), 27.6, 5.7, 26.7 (3), 28 and 29.7, 1.8 (2), 2.8 (3), 9.8, 30.9 (LK); Andreas (SC4199), 7.7 (2) (TC). CHANNEL ISLANDS Guernsey: L’Ancresse, 20.5, 15.8 (RA); Le Chéne, 22.6 (TNDP); La Broderie, 16.8 (PC) (Austin, 1999). Proxenus hospes (Freyer) Porter’s Rustic [I] W. CORNWALL [1] St Agnes, Scilly, 31.8 (Hale and Hicks, 1999). IMMIGRANT LEPIDOPTERA IN 1998 245 Helicoverpa armigera (Hb.) Scarce Bordered Straw [I/In] W. CORNWALL [1] Penrose, 12.1 (RH); St Agnes, Scilly, May (Hale and Hicks, 1999); Lizard, 27.9-4.10 (17) (MT); St Marys, Scilly (SV9011), 28.9-1.10 (7) (CT); Coverack, 16.10 (MT). S. DEVON [3] Lydford (SX4783), 20.6 (J. Hale per RFM); Teignmouth (SX9473), 9.9, 28.9, 5.10 (RFM); Torquay (SX9463), 27.9 (BD); Prawle Point (SX7735), 28.9 (6) (RFM); Kingskerswell (SX8868), 5.10, 7.10 (BD). N. DEVON [4] Bideford (SS4326), September (ASH). S. WILTS [8] Longleat (ST8342), 26.9 (2) (BPH). DORSET [9] Portland Bird Observatory, 3.9, 24.9-4.10 (46) (MC); West Bexington (SY5386), 25.9 (JHC); Portland, 27.9 (10) (TR). IOW [10] Freshwater, 2.9, 26.9 (4), 27.9 (4), 28.9 (3), 2.10, 4.10, 5.10 (SAK-J); Binstead, 26.9-12.10 (3) (BW). N. HANTS [12] Sparsholt, 25.9- 5.10 (5) (RAB); Selborne, 9.10 (AA). W. SUSSEX [13] Walberton, 1.9, 27.9-2.10 (8), 13 and 23.10 (JTR); Littlehampton, 5.10 (2) (REP). E. SUSSEX [14] Rye, 5.7, 7.7, 25.7, 26 and 28.9, 14.10 (PT and PP); Ringmer, 26.9 (AKB); Eastbourne, 28.9 (5) (AKB); Peacehaven, 1.10 (CRP); St Leonards, 4, 13 and 22.10 (SR). E. KENT [15] Folkestone Warren, 29.8 (TR); New Romney, 26.9, 29.9 (2), 1.10 (KR); Kingsgate, 27.9, 28.9 (3), 5.10, 21.10 (Solly, 1999); Greatstone, 27 and 28.9 (BB); Dungeness, 28.9 (2) (DW); Densole, 28.9 (TR); Sandwich Bay, 28 and 30.9, 2.10 (Tordoff, 1999); Littlestone, 29.9 (KR). SURREY [17] Lingfield (TQ3842), 26.9 (JHC). S. ESSEX [18] Bradwell-on-Sea, 18.9-9.10 (7) (Dewick, 1999); Theydon Bois (TQ4599), 2.10 (J. Green per BG). E. SUFFOLK [25] Felixstowe, 26.9 (Odin, 1999). WARWICK [38] Charlecote, 6 and 7.10 (AG). PEMBROKE [45] Skomer Island, 27.9 (Litthewood, 1999b). N. LINCS [54] Roughton Moor (TF2164), 25.9 (JJ); Muckton (TF3781), 26.9, 9.10 (GW). [IOW [10] larva in a supermarket pepper (SAK-J)]. CHANNEL ISLANDS Guernsey: La Broderie, 20.6 (PC); Le Chéne, 26.9-4.10 (8) (TNDP) (Austin, 1999). Heliothis viriplaca (Hufn.) Marbled Clover [I?/V?] S. ESSEX [18] Chelmsford (TL6808), 26.6 (S. Wilkinson per BG). W. NORFOLK [28] Stiffkey, 28.7 (MT). Heliothis peltigera (D. & S.) Bordered Straw [I] W. CORNWALL [1] St Agnes, Scilly, May (Hale and Hicks, 1999). S. DEVON [3] Lydford (SX4783), 20.6 (3) (J. Hale per RFM). DORSET [9] Portland Bird Observatory, 19.5 (2), 1.7, 11 and 13.8 (MC); West Bexington (SY5386), 25.9 (JHC). IOW [10] Freshwater, 23.6 (SAK- J); Binstead, 27.9 (BW). W. SUSSEX [13] Walberton, 26.8 (JTR). E. SUSSEX [14] Rye, 22- 26.6 (3), 7.7, 6.8, 17.8, 1.9, 1.10, 10.10 (PP and PT), 8.8 a larva (JHC). E. KENT [15] Dungeness, 24.6, 29.8 (DW); Kingsgate, 24.6, 10.8, 19.8 (2); Ramsgate, 2.7 (Solly, 1999); New Romney, 9.8 (SPC); Sandwich Bay, 11.8 (Tordoff, 1999); Folkestone Warren, 29.8 (TR). S. ESSEX [18] Bradwell-on-Sea, 24.6, 27.8 (Dewick, 1999); 26.7, c.20 larvae (DD). BUCKS [24] Willen, 25.6 (GEH). E. SUFFOLK [25] Felixstowe, 26.9 (Odin, 1999). E. NORFOLK [27] Winterton, 4.9 (Hipperson, 1998). STAFFS [39] Wall Heath (SO8890), 25.6 (CT). N. LINCS [54] Muckton (TF3781), 28.6 (GW). CHESTER [58] Thurstaston Country Park, Wirral (SJ2383), 15.8 (DJP & IFS). W. LANCASTER [60] Lightfoot Green (SD5133), 10.7 (SMP). S.E. YORK [61] Spurn, 3.7 (BRS). IOM [71] Knocksharry German (SC2785), 25.4 (DA); Dhoon Maughold (SC4586), 20.6, 27.6 (LK); Peel Hill (SC2383), 22.6 (CW); Calf of Man, 2.7 (TB). CHANNEL ISLANDS Guernsey: La Broderie, 26.9 (PC) (Austin, 1999). Schinia scutosa (D. & S.) Spotted Clover [IT] N. LINCOLN [54] Laughton Common, Gainsborough, 25.8 (K. Rodgers). 246 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.xi.2000 Eublemma ostrina (Hb.) Purple Marbled [I] W. CORNWALL [1] Penrose, 5.7 (RH). S. DEVON [3] Slapton Ley, 22.8, a larva in Carlina vulgaris (JHC). S. SOMERSET [5] Yeovil, 6.7 (J. Astley per PAD). DORSET [9] Portland Bird Observatory, 20.5 (MC). Eublemma parva (Hb.) Small Marbled [T] W. CORNWALL [1] Lizard, 27.6 (MT); St Agnes, Scilly, 30.6 (Hale and Hicks, 1999); St Marys, Scilly (SV9011), 27.9 (CT). S. DEVON [3] Lydford (SX4783), 20.6 (J. Hale per RFM); West Hill, Ottery St Mary, 8.7 (PJB); Teignmouth (SX9473), 20.7 (RFM). DORSET [9] West Bexington, 1, 2, 6, 9, and 10.7 (R. Eden per PAD), 26.7 larvae in Pulicaria (PS); Portland Bird Observatory, 7.7 (MC). FLINT [51] Hawarden (SJ3066), 23.6 (G. Neal). NOTTS [56] Woollaton Hall, 27.7 (S. Wright per PAD). W. LANCASTER [60] Lightfoot Green (SD5133), 2.7 (SMP); Gait Barrows, 10.7 (George, 1999). CHEVIOT [68] Holy Island, 29.6 (JTR). IOM [71] Smeale (NX4303), 24.6 (LK). WIGTOWN [74] Drummore, 20.6 (R. Mearns per PAD). CHANNEL ISLANDS Guernsey: La Broderie, 11.5 (PC); Le Chéne, 22.6 (TNDP) (Austin, 1999). Deltote deceptoria (Scop.) Pretty Marbled [I] E. SUSSEX [14] Icklesham (TQ8815), 24 6 (PJ and IH). E. KENT [15] Greatstone, 20.6 (BB). Deltote bankiana (Fab.) Silver Barred [I?/V?] E. SUSSEX [14] Winchelsea, 24.6 (PP). [Acontia lucida (Hufn.) Pale Shoulder [In] S. DEVON [3] Thorverton (SS9202), 10.7 (K. Bailey) - probable importation] Chrysodeixis chalcites (Esp.) Golden Twin-spot [I/In] N. HANTS [12] Sparsholt, 23.9 (RAB). E. SUSSEX [14] Rye Harbour, 25.9 (PP and PT). S. ESSEX [18] Steeple, 23.9 (Anon., 1999). E. NORFOLK [27] Eccles-on-Sea (TG4128), 1.10 (Bowman, 1999). [IOW [10] larva on supermarket celery (SAK-J)]. Trichoplusia ni (Hb.) Ni Moth [I] S. DEVON [3] Dawlish, 14.5 (PF); Lydford (SX4783), 20.6 (J. Hale per RFM). IOM [71] Knocksharry German (SC2785), 24.9 (DA). Thysanoplusia orichalcea (Fab.) Slender Burnished Brass [I] W. CORNWALL [1] Penzance, 28.8 (SJB); St Agnes, Scilly, 1.9 (Hale and Hicks, 1999): Boskenna, 5.9 (A. Kennard per Anon., 1999); Lizard (SW6721), 17.9 (CH). E. CORNWALL [2] Downderry, 20.9 (Madge per Anon., 1999). S. DEVON [3] Bere Alston (SX4467), 24.9 (RWB); Dawlish, 29.9 (PF). GLAMORGAN [41] Pilton, 21.9 (Warmsley per Anon., 1999). CHANNEL ISLANDS Guernsey: Le Chéne, 30.8, 1.9 (TNDP) (Austin, 1999). Macdunnoughia confusa Steph. Dewick’s Plusia [I] S. DEVON [3] Prawle Point (SX7735), 28.9, fertile female (RFM). N. HANTS [12] Greywell, 2.10 (Dr P. Boswell per AHD). Abrostola triplasia (L.) Dark Spectacle [I?] DORSET [9] Portland Bird Observatory, 15-21.5 (3), 26.9 (MC). Catocala fraxini (L.) Clifden Nonpareil [I] IOW [10] Freshwater, 4.10 (SAK-J). BERKS [22] Fernham, 26.9 (Nash per Anon., "1999). E. NORFOLK [27] Beccles, 20.9 (Fairless per Anon., 1999). IMMIGRANT LEPIDOPTERA IN 1998 247 Minucia lunaris (D. & S.) Lunar Double-stripe [I] CHANNEL ISLANDS Guernsey: Le Chéne, 6.6 (TNDP) (Austin, 1999). Colobochyla salicalis (D. & S.) Lesser Belle [I?] E. NORFOLK [27] Eccles-on-Sea (TG4128), 23.6 (Bowman, 1999). Parascotia fuliginaria (L.) Waved Black [I?] E. KENT [15] New Romney, 5.8 (KR). Hypena obsitalis (Hb.) Bloxworth Snout [I?/V?] DORSET [9] The Grove, Portland, 29.7 (MC); Portland Bird Observatory, 15.10 (MC). Pechipogo plumigeralis (Hb.) Plumed Fan-foot [I?/R(t)?] E. SUSSEX [14] Rye Harbour, 20.7, 25.7, 10.8 (Troake, 1999). Trisateles emortualis (D. & S.) Olive Crescent [I?/V?] S. ESSEX [18] Bradwell-on-Sea, 20.6 (Dewick, 1999). ANNEX 2: SELECTED RECORDS OF “COMMONER” SPECIES YPONOMEUTIDAE Plutella xylostella (L.) Records received from the following vice-counties: [1]; [3]; [8]; [9]; [10]; [12]; [13]; [14]; [15]; [17]; [21]; [25]; [26]; [27]; [34]; [58]; [59]; [60]; [61]; [71]; [112]. PYRALIDAE Udea ferrugalis (Hb.) An above average year, reported from January to December and across the country. Annual counts from fixed traps included: W. CORNWALL [1] Lizard, 33 (MT); S. DEVON [3] Starcross, 129 (AHD); DORSET [9] Portland Bird Observatory, 610 (MC); IOW [10] Freshwater, 84 (SAK-J); N. HANTS [12] Selborne, 82 (AA); S. ESSEX [18] Bradwell-on-Sea, 166 (Dewick, 1999); E. NORFOLK [27] Eccles-on-Sea (TG4128), 39 (Bowman, 1999); S.E. YORK [61] Spurn, 21 (BRS). Earliest dates: CHANNEL ISLANDS Guernsey, 9.1 (Austin, 1999); N. HANTS [12] Selborne, 9.1 (AA); DORSET [9] Portland Bird Observatory, 9.5 (MC); IOW [10] Binstead, 9.5 (BW); Freshwater, 13.5 (SAK-J); E. KENT [15] Densole, 11.5 (TR); IOM [71] Calf of Man, 18.5 (TB). Latest dates: W. CORNWALL [1] Lizard, 27.11 (MT); DORSET [9] Portland Bird Observatory, 27.11 (MC); S. DEVON [3] Starcross, 9.12 (AHD); IOW [10] Freshwater, 9.12 (SAK-J). Other significant records: EASTERNESS [96] Kincraig Wood (NH8205), 27.6 (GAC). ZETLAND [112] Eswick, 26.6, 11.7, September (20); Unst, 22.9 (Pennington & Rogers, 1999). Nomophila noctuella (D. & S.) An excellent year with a very significant increase over the previous one. Annual counts from fixed traps include: S. DEVON [3] Starcross, 33 (AHD); DORSET [9] Portland Bird Observatory, 2035 (MC); IOW [10] Freshwater, 349 (SAK-J); N. HANTS [12] Selborne, 144 (AA); S. ESSEX [18] Bradwell-on-Sea, 253 (Dewick, 1999); E. NORFOLK [27] Eccles-on- Sea (TG4128), 23 (Bowman, 1999); S.E. YORK [61] Spurn, 52 (BRS). 248 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.xi.2000 Earliest dates: CAERNARVON [49] Bangor, 10.1 (Brown, 1998a); W. LANCASTER [60] Lightfoot Green (SD5133), 14.2 (SMP); E. CORNWALL [2] Mevagissey, 16.2 (RE); S. ESSEX [18] Bradwell-on-Sea, 19.2 (Dewick, 1999); DORSET [9] Portland Bird Observatory, 24.2 (MC); W. CORNWALL [1] Lizard, singletons throughout March (RH). Latest dates: S. ESSEX [18] Bradwell-on-Sea, 8.11 (Dewick, 1999); IOW [10] Freshwater, 9.11 (SAK-J); E. KENT [15] Densole, 10.11 (TR); DORSET [9] Portland Bird Observatory, 13.11 (MC); W. CORNWALL [1] Lizard, 27.11 (MT). Other significant records: ORKNEY [111] 25.7-8.9 (Gauld, 1999). ZETLAND [112] Eswick, 30.6, 29.9 (13) (Pennington & Rogers, 1999). PIERIDAE Pieris brassicae (L.) Large White Significant records: W. CORNWALL [1] Portreath, 2.8, hundreds, possibly thousands, in a field (RWB); DORSET [9] Portland Bird Observatory, 1-2.8 a steady stream of some hundreds flying in off the sea (MC); W. SUSSEX [13] Hove, 25.7 (c.100) (RMC). NYMPHALIDAE Vanessa atalanta (L.) Red Admiral Earliest dates: W. SUSSEX [13] Chichester, 9.1 (S. Curson per CRP), 10.2 (N. Mitchell per CRP); E. SUSSEX [14] Isfield, 9.1 (G. Parris per CRP), Staplecross, 9.1 (S. Webb per CRP), Northiam, 13-24.2, many sightings (D. Burrows per CRP); SURREY [17] West Byfleet, 7.2 (D. Carter), Wotton, 10.2 (J.D. Holloway), Kew Gardens, 14.2 (MRH); S. DEVON [3] Bere Alston (SX4467), 28.3 (RWB); N. LINCS [54] Gibraltar Point, 28.3 (Wilson, 1999); DORSET [9] Portland Bird Observatory, 30.3 (MC); S.E. YORK [61] Spurn, 31.3 (BRS). Latest dates: W. CORNWALL [1] Lizard, 24.11 (MT); DORSET [9] Portland Bird Observatory, 11.12 (MC). Other significant records: DORSET [9] Portland Bird Observatory, 100+ arriving in off the sea on 2.10 (MC); ORKNEY [111] 29.5-8.10 (Gauld, 1999); ZETLAND [112] late May-early September (Pennington & Rogers, 1999). Vanessa cardui (L.) Painted Lady Earliest dates: E. SUSSEX [14] Brighton, 9.1 (D. Sladen per CRP); SURREY [17] South Croydon (TQ3363), 14.3 (GAC); CHANNEL ISLANDS Guernsey, 24.3 (Austin, 1999); W. CORNWALL [1] Gunwalloe, 24.3 (MT); S. DEVON [3] Bere Alston (SX4467), 28.3 (RWB); DORSET [9] Portland Bird Observatory, 28.3 (MC) Latest dates: CHANNEL ISLANDS Guernsey, 2.11 (Austin, 1999); W. CORNWALL [1] Mullion, 9.11 (MT). Other significant records: ORKNEY [111] 25.6, 2.8 (Gauld, 1999); ZETLAND [112] Unst, 6.7, 21.9, Noss, 14.7 (Pennington & Rogers, 1999). ! NOCTUIDAE Agrotis ipsilon (Hufn.) Dark Sword-grass A better year than the previous one. Annual counts from fixed traps include: DORSET [9] Portland Bird Observatory, 452 (MC); IOW [10] Freshwater, 92 (SAK-J); S. ESSEX [18] Bradwell-on-Sea, 410 (Dewick, 1999); E. NORFOLK [27] Eccles-on-Sea (TG4128), 113 (Bowman, 1999); S.E. YORK [61] Spurn, 140 (BRS). Earliest dates: W. CORNWALL [1] Lizard, 20.2, 13.3, 28.3, 30.3 (RH/MT); DORSET [9] Portland Bird Observatory, 24.2 (MC); S. ESSEX [18] Bradwell-on-Sea, 6.3 (Dewick, 1999); IOW [10] Binstead, 8.3 (BW), Freshwater, 12.3 (SAK-J); CHANNEL ISLANDS Guernsey, IMMIGRANT LEPIDOPTERA IN 1998 249 18.3 (Austin, 1999); ZETLAND [112] Eswick, 22 and 26.3 (Pennington & Rogers, 1999); S. DEVON [3] Abbotskerswell (SX8568), 22.3 (BPH), Bere Alston (SX4467), 28.3 (2) (RWB); IOM [71] Calf of Man, 30.3 (TB). Latest dates: E. NORFOLK [27] Eccles-on-Sea (TG4128), 2.11 (Bowman, 1999); S. ESSEX [18] Bradwell-on-Sea, 3.11 (Dewick, 1999). E. KENT [15] Densole, 8.11 (TR); DORSET [9] Portland Bird Observatory, 17.11 (MC); W. CORNWALL [1] Lizard, 26.11 (MT). Peridroma saucia (Hb.) Pearly Underwing An average year. Annual counts from fixed traps include: DORSET [9] Portland Bird Observatory, 104 (MC); IOW [10] Freshwater, 22 (SAK-J); S. ESSEX [18] Bradwell-on-Sea, 24 (Dewick, 1999); E. NORFOLK [27] Eccles-on-Sea (TG4128), 28 (Bowman, 1999); S.E. YORK [61] Spurn, 6 (BRS). Earliest dates: W. CORNWALL [1] St Agnes, Scilly, 11.1 (Hale and Hicks, 1999); S. DEVON [3] Teignmouth (SX9473), 20.2 (RFM); DORSET [9] Portland Bird Observatory, 29.3 (MC). Latest dates: E. KENT [15] Densole, 9.11 (TR); DORSET [9] Portland Bird Observatory, 10.11 (MC); W. CORNWALL [1] Lizard, 27.11 (MT); IOW [10] Freshwater, 21.12 (SAK-J). Other significant records: IOM [71] Calf of Man, 7.8, 26.9.(2) (TB), Andreas (SC4199), 20.8, 6.10 (TC), Dhoon Maughold (SC4586), 10-18.9 (5) (LK). ZETLAND [112] Eswick, 22 and 29.9 (Pennington & Rogers, 1999). Autographa gamma L. Silver Y An average year. Annual counts from fixed traps include: DORSET [9] Portland Bird Observatory, 1389 (MC); IOW [10] Freshwater 303 (SAK-J); S. ESSEX [18] Bradwell-on- Sea, 1952 (Dewick, 1999); E. NORFOLK [27] Eccles-on-Sea (TG4128), 17.5-23.10 (843) (Bowman, 1999). Earliest dates: IOW [10] Freshwater 15.2 (SAK-J); W. CORNWALL [1] Lizard, 24.2, 14.3, 27.3 (RH/MT). Latest dates: W. CORNWALL [1] Lizard, 27.11 (MT); DORSET [9] Portland Bird Observatory, 28.11 (MC). Other significant reocrds: S.E. YORK [61] Spurn, 17.8 c.5000, 28.8 c.7000 (BRS). Initials of recorders AA _ A. Aston BW _ B. Warne GEH GL. Higgs AG _ A. Gardner CG C. Gibson GM _—_ G. Martin AKB_ A. K. Batten CH C. Hart GRE G.R. Else AGJB A.G.J. Butcher CRP CR. Pratt GW __ G. Wright AHD_ A.H. Dobson CS C. Smith IDS — IF. Smith AMG A.M. George CT C. Timmins IH I. Hunter AS A. Sapsford CW C. Wormwell JFB J.F. Burton ASH __ A.S. Henderson DA _ D. Allan JHC J.H. Clarke BB B. Banson DCGB D.C.G. Brown JJ J. Jaines BD B. Deakins DD D. Down JO J. Owen (Dymchurch) BG _ B.Goodey DJP DJ. Poynton JP J Porter BJG _ B.J. Grabasky DW _ D. Walker JTR = J.T. Radford BLS _ B.L. Statham FDL F.D. Lowe KR ~ K. Redshaw BPH B.P. Henwood GAC_ G.A. Collins LK L. Kneale BRS __ B.R. Spence GDC_ G_D. Craine MB Mrs M. Broomfield 250 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.x1.2000 MC M. Cade RA _— R. Austin SAK-J S.A. Knill-Jones MRH M. Honey RAB R.A. Bell SJB S.J. Barron MSP M.S. Parsons RAS R.A. Softly SIM S.J. McWilliam MT MM. Tunmore RD _ R. Dickson SMP _ S.M. Palmer NG-D N. Greatorex-Davies RDP R.D. Penhallurick SN S. Nash PAD P.A. Davey RE R. Edmondson SP S. Patton PB P. Butter REL R.E. Lane SPC _ S.P. Clancy PC P. Costen REP R_E. Pratt SR S. Richardson PF P. Franghiadi RFM_~ R.F. McCormick TB T. Bagworth Py P. Jones RH ~— R. Howard TB? ~~. Boyd PJB_ PJ. Baker RJ R. Johnson TC T. Callister PP P. Philpott RJH R.J. Heckford TNDP T.N.D. Peet PS P. Sterling RMC_ R.M. Craske TR T. Rouse PT P. Troake RWB R.W. Bogue Other contributors R. Arthur, J. Astley, P. Belchamber, P. Bergdahl, D. Biggs, P. Boswell, A. Buchan, D. Burrows, D. Carter, J. Cheverton, A. Cleave, R. Crane, A. Credland, J. Crouch, N. Cuming, S. Curson, C. David, M. Dawson, C. Dewhurst, D. Dey, J. Fisher, P. Gay, J. Green, C. Griffin, M. Hancock, K. Hawkins, M. Hill, G. Hollamby, J. Holloway, J.D. Holloway, R. James, C. Jones, W. Kempster, M. Killeby, P. King, J. Lamin, B. Lock, R. Marsh, A. McGowan, R. Mearns, P. Medland, N. Mitchell, L. Murphy, M. Mysercough, G. Neal, M. Oates, G. Parris, B. Pateman, R. Revell, Z. Ringwood, K. Rodgers, D. Sadler, K. Sattler, D. Sladen, G. Slater, G. Smith, P. Smith, J. Stockton, M. Stone, R. Tell, J. Thorpe, C. Watkins, S. Webb, V. Webb, S. Wilkinson, G. Wilson, K. Wilson, P. Wilson, A. Wood, S. Wood, D. Wooldridge, S. Wright, B. Yates, J. Young, S. Young. Acknowledgements We would like to thank all of the above mentioned recorders and contributors. It is possible that we have unwittingly failed to acknowledge some contributors, if this is the case we would like to take this opportunity to apologise for this oversight. References Anon. 1999. Migrant round-up. Atropos 5: 66-67. Austin, R. 1999. Reports from coastal stations — 1998. Guernsey, Channel Islands. Atropos 5: 45-46. Bowman, N. 1999. Reports from coastal stations — 1998. Eccles-on-Sea, Norfolk. Atropos 5: 60. Bradley, J.D. 1998. Checklist of Lepidoptera Recorded from the British Isles. Bradley & Bradley. Brown, D. 1998a. Euchromius ocellea (Haworth) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae, Crambinae) in North Wales. Entomologist’ s Gazette. 49: 142. Brown, D. 1998b. A further record of Euchromius ocellea (Haworth) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae, Crambinae) from North Wales. Entomologist’ s Gazette. 49: 198. Davey, P. 1999. Notes on scarcer immigrant moth species seen in Dorset during 1998. Atropos 5: 50-51. Dewick, S. 1999. Reports from coastal stations — 1998. Bradwell-on Sea, Essex. Atropos 5: 56-58. IMMIGRANT LEPIDOPTERA IN 1998 251 Gauld, S. 1999. Reports from coastal stations — 1998. Orkney. Atropos 5: 63-64. George, A.M. 1999. The Small Marbled Eublemma parva (Hb.) (Lep.: Noctuidae) in Lancashire in 1998. Entomologist’s Rec. J. Var. 111: 43. Hale, J. and Hicks, M. 1999. Reports from coastal stations — 1998. St Agnes, Isles of Scilly. Atropos 5: 46-47. Hipperson, D. 1998. Immigrant moths for Norfolk in 1998. Norfolk Moth Survey Newsletter. 54. Littlewood, N. 1999a. Reports from coastal stations — 1998. South Walney Nature Reserve, Cumbria. Atropos 5: 64. Littlewood, N. 1999b. Reports from coastal stations — 1998. Skomer Island NNR, Pembrokeshire. Atropos 5: 65-66. Odin, N. 1999. Reports from coastal stations — 1998. Landguard Bird Observatory, Suffolk. Atropos 5: 58. Pennington, M. and Rogers, T. 1999. Reports from coastal stations — 1998. Shetland. Atropos 53: 62-63. Plant, C.W. 1999. Noteworthy Scottish lepidoptera in 1998. Entomologist’s Rec. J. Var. 111: 39. Solly, F. 1999. Reports from coastal stations — 1998. Isle of Thanet, Kent. Atropos 5: 55-56. Tordoff, G. 1999. Reports from coastal stations — 1998. Sandwich Bay, Kent. Atropos 5: 54-55. Troake, P. 1999. Reports from coastal stations — 1998. Rye Harbour, East Sussex. Atropos 5: 51-53. Tunmore, M. 1999. Reports from coastal stations — 1998. Lizard Peninsula, Cornwall. Atropos 5: 48-49. Wilson, K. 1999. Reports from coastal stations — 1998. Gibraltar Point, Lincolnshire. Atropos 5: 61. Rediscovery of Hoary Footman Eilema caniola (Hb.) (Lep.:Arctiidae) on Anglesey On the evening of 23 August 2000, I visited the RSPB reserve at South Stack on Anglesey. In 1999 we had found Square-spot Dart Euxoa obelisca at this site in early August and the aim of the trip was to survey for that insect. Two m.v. traps were run around the highest car park. The night was very windy, and few moths were caught. Although Square-spot Dart failed to appear, a pristine Hoary Footman Eilema caniola was taken at one of the lights. Both Skinner (Colour Identification Guide to Moths of the British Isles. Viking, 1984) and Heath & Emmet (1983. Moths and Butterflies of Britain and Ireland vol 9, Harley) give the range of Hoary Footman as the coasts of Devon and Cornwall reaching north to Pembrokeshire and formerly resident on Anglesey. The only records listed in Heath & Emmet (op. cit.) for Anglesey are pre-1960. I therefore contacted Doug Murray (the recorder for Anglesey), who kindly informed me that this species was last seen on Anglesey “new Holyhead” in 1949. Given the ideal habitat for the insect at the site and the lack of migrants present on the night in question (only a single Silver Y Autographa gamma was caught), it seems highly possible that Hoary Footman is still resident at South Stack ADRIAN WANDER, 5 Almond Grove, Weaverham, Cheshire CW8 3ET. 252 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.x1.2000 Two uncommon immigrants to Westmoreland (VC 69) I had the good fortune to attract two rarities to my garden m.v. light here in Grange- over-Sands (O.S. grid reference SD 401768) recently. On the night on 7/8 June 2000, a male Ni Moth Trichoplusia ni (Hb.) was taken. I nearly failed to see it as, resting on the inside wall of the trap it looked like a small, rather worn Silver Y Autographa gamma (L.). Working on the principal that anything which looks odd should be boxed and examined more closely indoors, I confirmed that the insect was indeed T. ni. So far as I know this is only the third specimen to be recorded in Westmoreland (VC 69). Bernard Skinner took an example at light at Witherslack on 7 July 1968 (Ent. Rec. 81: 110). The second record is from South Walney Nature Reserve, where one was taken in the light trap there by the then-warden, W. Makin, on 17 June 1996. The second rarity to my trap was a female Bedstraw Hawk-moth Hyles gallii (Rott.), on 17/18 July 2000. The moth was a little tattered, at least in part owing to the fact that she was emulating the habits of the May bugs Melolontha spp. and had become partly stuck in the down spout of the rain funnel in the trap. H. gallii has been much more frequently recorded than T. ni in this district. The hawk-moth is more usually found in the larval stage and in general on the coastal sandhills of the district.— NEVILLE L. BIRKETT, Beardwood, Carter Road, Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria LA11 7AG. Crescent Dart Agrotis trux ssp. lunigera Steph. (Lep.: Noctuidae) in Staffordshire A female Crescent Dart Agrotis trux lunigera Stephens was caught in a moth trap at Norton near Stourbridge, Staffordshire (VC 39) by Mr D. N. Friday on 24 July 2000. This constitutes only the second record for the Vice-county; the first being at Himley Hall on 20 July 1981. Both these records are extraordinary given the usually coastal distribution of the species. They also indicate that Crescent Darts may be more migratory than is generally appreciated. The latter record occurred at a time when Humming-bird Hawk-moths Macroglossum stellatarum L. were also being widely reported.— DAvID EMLEy, School of Earth Sciences and Geography, Keele University, Keele, Staffordshire, STS 5BG (E-mail: d.w.emley@esci.keele.ac.uk). SUBSCRIBER NOTICE Fisher’s Estuarine Moth Gortyna borelii lunata Freyer As a part of my continuing research into the biology and ecology of Fisher’s Estuarine Moth Gortyna borelii lunata Freyer (see antea: 93), I am currently trying to find out if G. borelii feeds as an adult. In spite of many hours in the field observing the moths I have not observed them feeding and it does not seem as if anybody else has either. I would be very keen to hear from anyone who has — either in the field or in captive stock.— ZOE RINGWOOD, Writtle College, Writtle, Chelmsford, Essex CM1 3RR. (E-mail: zoe@ orbweb.freeserve.co.uk) RHAGOLETIS MEIGENII IN BRITAIN 253 RHAGOLETIS MEIGENII (LOEW, 1844) (DIP.: TEPHRITIDAE) REDISCOVERED IN BRITAIN RICHARD A. JONES 135 Friern Road, East Dulwich, London SE22 O0AZ E-mail: bugmanjones@hotmail.com ON 19 JUNE 2000, I swept a small tephritid fly from dense herbage on “Goose Island”, one of three, small, man-made islands on the ornamental lake in London’s Battersea Park (O.S. grid reference TQ 2877, VC 17 — Surrey). It worked, in the key by White (1988), to a small and lightly-marked male Rhagoletis meigenii, a species thought to be extinct in Britain. According to various works (e.g. Hendel, 1927; Séguy, 1934; White, 1988), this fly breeds in the fruits of barberry Berberis vulgaris L., an uncommon and only doubtfully native plant in Britain. A return visit to the island on 6 July 2000 failed to find any further specimens of the fly, or indeed any Berberis plants. . Another visit to the island on 17 July 2000 again failed to find either fly or host plant. However, many exotic Berberis bushes are widely planted elsewhere in the park’s ornamental gardens and from one of these bushes, later identified as Berberis thunbergii DC, another Rhagoletis was swept. This specimen, a large and strongly marked female, confirmed the identification. White (1988), Falk (1991) and Clemons (1996) all relate that the only known record of this insect is a single male collected at Lyndhurst, Hampshire, in 1897. Falk (1991) and Clemons (1996) also give an unconfirmed record from Moseley, Worcestershire, in 1908, but both agreed that the fly was undoubtedly extinct in Britain, if, indeed, it ever was a truly established native species. The discovery of two specimens, male and female, on different dates and from slightly different localities must indicate that the insect is firmly, if not well-established, in Battersea Park. Battersea Park As an ornamental garden, Battersea Park contains a large number of garden and exotic plants. The Park was created in 1846 when spoil from the newly dug Surrey Docks at Rotherhithe was used to landscape and fill what had previously been the open-aspect Battersea Fields, an oft-cited locality in many Victorian natural histories. In 1854, the carriage drives, lake and several large mounds, which still define the park’s landscape today, were laid out. The park was officially opened by Queen Victoria in 1858. It seems unlikely that the fly could have existed undetected in the locality from that date. The last major horticultural work carried out in the park is likely to have been done in 1950/51, when Battersea Park hosted the pleasure gardens for the Festival of Britain celebrations. Certainly the islands have remained largely untouched for very many years and have overgrown into dense, secondary woodland. At present major “restoration” work is being undertaken to restore the park to something resembling 254 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.xi.2000 its original, newly landscaped state. Much new planting has been carried out, but only of waterside and emergent plants along the lakeside. Thinning of some trees has been undertaken on the islands and, in the case of “Goose Island”, where the first Rhagoletis specimen was found, a large area has been felled to create a sizeable clearing. This area is now shoulder high in new herb growth, largely stinging nettles, sow thistles, greater cabbage and deadly nightshade. No new planting has been carried out on the islands. No Berberis appears to have been planted anywhere in the park for many years. The stand of Berberis where the second specimen was discovered could have been laid out at any time from the 1960s to the 1980s. Fig. 1: Rhagoletis meigenii (Loew) from Battersea Park, London. Male (left) and female (right). Origin of the Battersea population The discovery (or rediscovery) of Rhagoletis meigenii in Britain prompts the questions where did it come from, how did it get here and when did it discover Berberis thunbergii? On the Continental mainland, Rhagoletis meigenii is known from much of central and northern Europe (Hendel, 1927; Séguy, 1934). Its distribution in Europe and its spread into Britain is most likely to have been constrained by the limited abundance of its natural foodplant. Berberis vulgaris occurs throughout Europe, except the extreme north, but is rare in the Mediterranean region (Clapham et al., 1989; Stace, 1991). In Britain it is widespread in hedges, but is everywhere very local. There is no full agreement on its British status; Clapham et al. (1989) suggest that it is possibly native in a few places in England, whilst Stace (1991) reports that it is probably RHAGOLETIS MEIGENII IN BRITAIN 239 introduced and anyway is long naturalised here. Ironically, it was probably more common in previous times, having been widely planted for its berries. However, at the end of the 19th century it was blamed by farmers as being an alternative host for a widespread smut on wheat and was vigorously grubbed up. Despite initial scepticism by the scientific and agricultural authorities, the farmers’ fears were later proved to be correct. Our “native” Barberry, Berberis vulgaris, is widespread, but still very uncommon. However, Berberis thunbergii 1s widespread and abundant. Originally a native of Japan, this tough and thorny bush is now often mass planted in parks and gardens for its spikes of flowers, and later berries. Both the typical green- leaved form and the purple-leaved cultivar atropurpurea were planted in the bed where the second Rhagoletis was found. Many other Berberis species are also planted in parks and gardens throughout the United Kingdom. The 1897 record from Hampshire suggests that the fly can reach Britain either on its own or by some human agency. Situated in central London, Battersea Park and surrounding gardens are full of imported exotic plants and it must be expected that the mass movement of horticultural material will also move invertebrates around too. Battersea Park is already home to a growing band of odd invertebrate hitch-hikers and invaders, including the Australian terrestrial amphipod Arcitalitrus dorrieni Hunt (Jones, 1999a), the Australian scarabaeid beetle Saprosites mendax Blackburn(Jones, 1999b) and an African ichneumon Crenochares bicolorus (L.) (Jones, in press). The occurrence of Rhagoletis meigenii on Berberis thunbergii, a novel foodplant record, suggests that it may have developed a taste for something new. Perhaps this distinctive little tephritid will become well and truly established in Britain this time round. Acknowledgements Robert Wells, project manager for the Battersea Park restoration project commissioned the survey of Battersea Park and its islands and arranged access; London botanist Nick Bertrand located and then identified the Berberis thunbergii and Ian White of the Natural History Museum re-confirmed the flies’ identification. References Clapham, A.R., Tutin, T.G. & Moore, D.M. 1989. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 54. Clemons, L. 1996. A provisional atlas of the Tephritidae (Diptera) of Britain and Ireland. Supplement to the Tephritidae Recording Scheme Newsletter number 6. Falk, S. 1991. A review of the scarce and threatened flies of Great Britain. Part 1. Research and survey in nature conservation, number 39. Nature Conservancy Council. Hendel, F. 1927. Trypetidae. Die Fliegen der palaearktischen Region. vol. 49. pp. 74-75. -Jones, R.A. 1999a. The terrestrial “sandhopper” amphipod Arcitalitrus dorrieni and other invertebrate oddities from Battersea Park. London Naturalist 78: 119-123. — , 1999b. Saprosites mendax Blackburn (Scarabaeidae) under sycamore logs in Battersea Park, London. Coleopterist 8: 120. — , in press. Ctenochares bicolorus (Linnaeus), an African ichneumon found in Britain. British Journal of Entomology and Natural History 13. 256 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.x1i.2000 Séguy, E. 1934. Diptéres (Brachycéres) (Muscidae Acalypterae et Scatophagidae). Faune de France vol. 28. Paris: Lechevalier. p. 115. Stace, C. 1991. New flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press. p. 120. White, I. M. 1988. Tephritid flies. Diptera: Tephritidae. Handbooks for the Identification of British Insects 10(5a): 39, 61. Sarcophaga subulata Pandellé (Dip.: Sarcophagidae): Probable first record for West Kent and the London area On 3.vii.1967, I took a single male of this rare species, probably better known to many as S. /aciniata Pand., in a shrubbery in my former garden at Blackheath in this district — also a favourite haunt of S. rosellei Boéttcher in the garden. Van Emden (1954. Hand. Ident. Brit. Insects, 10(4a): 113), who provides very useful figures, notes only six records of the present species from four counties, of which that for Kent concerns the eastern vice-county (Ham Street). Laurence Clemons, to whom I am grateful for much information, tells me that this last record (1937) is due to C. J. Wainwright, and that he has himself taken the species in East Kent, on three occasions.— A.A. ALLEN, 49 Montcalm Road, Charlton, London SE7 8QG. Notes on breeding the Small Ranunculus Hecatera dysodea (D.&S.) and the Flame Brocade Trigonophora flammea (Esp.) (Lep.: Noctuidae) Rob Dyke kindly gave me eight pupae of Hecatera dysodea obtained from Stone Marshes in Kent at the end of 1998. Five emerged in the summer of 1999 during May, June and July and a sixth emerged the following year on 26 May 2000. Two pupae failed to hatch. Brian Warne was given six pupae by Barry Goater in the spring of 1999. One emerged that year, but the other five hatched during the summer of 2000 giving further evidence that this species can spend two years as a pupa. Whether this is the case in the wild remains to be seen, but it is probably most likely. On 26 October 1999 I captured a female Trigonophora flammea at light at Freshwater, which laid over one hundred ova. Many of these, or young larvae, were distributed to other collectors and I kept about forty for myself. About thirty of these were kept indoors in the hall, by the front door, and they fed up quickly on coarse grasses and buttercup, then finally on privet in the final two instars. The first pupated in March and the first emerged on 19 June 2000. The remaining larvae I kept in the outside greenhouse in the cold. These fed up more slowly and pupated at the end of May and the first of this batch emerged on 15 August 2000. The last to emerge was on 27 September 2000. I had very few casualties and it seems that forcing this species presents no problem. I was successful in breeding them both that way and by keeping them cool in the winter months.—S.A. KNILL-JONES, Roundstone, 2 School Green Road, Freshwater, Isle of Wight PO40 9AL. f ARGYRESTHIA TRIFASCIATA IN BRITAIN 257 ARGYRESTHIA TRIFASCIATA STDGR., 1871 (LEP.: YPONOMEUTIDAE) NEW TO HERTFORDSHIRE (VC 20) AND SOUTH ESSEX (VC 18), WITH FURTHER RECORDS FROM LONDON (VC 17, 21) AND WITH A SUMMARY OF ITS BRITISH DISTRIBUTION AND STATUS 'COLIN W. PLANT, 7MARTIN R. HONEY & *>GEOFF MARTIN '14 West Road, Bishop’ s Stortford, Hertfordshire CM23 3QP 43 The Natural History Museum, Department of Entomology, Cromwell Road, London SW7 SBD. TWO MALES OF Argyresthia trifasciata Staudinger presented themselves at CWP’s garden light trap in Bishops Stortford, at around 11 pm on 15 May 2000. This constitutes the first record of the moth for Hertfordshire (VC 20). A stand of mature Cupressocyparis leylandii trees was a mere three metres from where the trap was situated. A few days later, Brian Elliott, in a telephone conversation with Dennis O’Keefe (pers. comm.), also recorded the species presence in Hertfordshire, stating that the moth was present “in dozens” around a coniferous shrub in his daughter-in- law’s garden in Letchworth. There were also signs of feeding, i.e. brown tips to the plant shoots. On the night of 19 May 1999 MRH, who runs a light trap in the grounds of The Natural History Museum, London, found, among the 19 species of Lepidoptera trapped that night, a single specimen of an unrecognised Argyresthia species. The specimen was retained and was later identified, using the plates in Emmet (1996: pl. 10, fig. 8) and from a comparison of the specimen with others in the Museum’s British collection, as Argyresthia trifasciata. Subsequent research has shown that the specimen is the second record of this species for Middlesex (VC 21). A further specimen was taken at the same locality on 12 May 2000. On the morning of 7 May 2000 GM found in his garden m.v. trap at Plaistow, South Essex (VC 18), a specimen of an unrecognised Argyrethia species. It was later shown to MRH who was able to identify it immediately as Argyresthia trifasciata. This specimen constitutes the first record for VC 18, further specimens were taken in the same location on 14 May and 19 June. This small and rather attractive moth which, when at rest in a moth trap, may perhaps be overlooked by the inexperienced Lepidopterist as a peculiar Phyllonorycter species, is evidently becoming widespread in Britain and, since its first appearance at Ray Softly’s balcony trap in Hampstead, north London, has spread (or been spread) as far north as Aberdeen. Whilst its origins and the cause of its spread may remain open to discussion, it would seem sensible to pull together, at this relatively early stage, all the available records of the species into a single summary, so that future researchers may be able to locate the early records rather more easily. After the publication of the original article adding A. trifasciata to the British list (Emmet, 1982), 15 years elapsed before the second specimen was discovered in Heald Green, Greater Manchester (VC 58) (Shaw, 1999). Since then there have been reports of numerous further examples from a total of 14 separate vice-counties. The following summary is an attempt to list, in chronological order, all known British records of 258 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.xi.2000 Argyresthia trifasciata, though there will almost certainly be additional records of which we are unaware. Some of these records are previously unpublished and we are grateful for the permission to publish them, and some were found from web sites as indicated. This highlights the problems of recording in general and of publishing records in particular. Hampstead, Middlesex (VC 21), [3] June 1982, R. A. Softly (first British record. Reported by Emmet, 1982). Heald Green, Cheadle, Greater Manchester, Cheshire (VC 58), 19 June 1997, (Shaw, 1999: 74). The record for Stockport, 19 June 1997, attributed to B. T. Shaw, and incorrectly given as relating to VC 57 in the Microlepidoptera review of 1997 (Langmaid & Young, 1999a: 109), but corrected later (Langmaid & Young 1999b: 258), refers to this example. Farnborough, North Hampshire (VC 12), 20 May 1998 [and one earlier in May that escaped and so is unverified] (Parfitt, 1999; Langmaid & Young, 1999b: 252). Raynes Park, Surrey (VC 17), 20 and 23 May 1998, four examples (Parsons, 2000) — also reported by Langmaid & Young, 1999b: 252, and exhibited at the 1998 Annual Exhibition of the British Entomological and Natural History Society. Castlegate, Prestbury, Cheshire (VC 58), two on 18 May 1999 and nine more on subsequent nights. A hedge of “Leylandii” surrounds the garden (Poynton, 1999). Raynes Park, Surrey (VC 17), 28.v.1998 (M. Parsons, pers. comm.). The Natural History Museum Wildlife Garden, South Kensington, Middlesex (VC 21), 19 May 1999, M. R. Honey (mentioned in Paston, 1999). Colchester, North Essex (VC 19), 26 May 1999 (Goodey, 2000; Langmaid & Young, 2000: 194). Norwich, East Norfolk (VC 27), 28 May 1999 (Paston, 1999; Langmaid & Young, 2000: 194). Bucksburn, Aberdeen (VC 92), 3 June 1999, at rest on Cupressocyparis leylandii (Palmer, 1999; Langmaid & Young, 2000: 194). Northampton (VC 32), 3 June 1999, G. Boyd (Langmaid & Young, 2000: 194). Chessington, Surrey (VC 17) [two specimens, undated 1999] (Porter, 2000). Plaistow, South Essex (VC 18) 6 May 2000, G. Martin (here reported). Raynes Park, Surrey (V. C.) 6/7.v.2000 (Mark Parsons, pers. comm.). Petts Wood, West Kent (VC 16), 8 May 2000, D. O'Keeffe (pers. comm. to MRH, unpublished record held by John Langmaid). South Kensington, Middlesex (VC 21) on 12 May 2000 a further specimen, M. R. Honey (here reported). ARGYRESTHIA TRIFASCIATA IN BRITAIN 259 Castlegate, Prestbury, Cheshire (VC 58), one in the Rothamsted Insect Survey light trap in the week ending 14 May 2000 (S. Palmer, pers. comm.). Plaistow, South Essex (VC 18) 14 May 2000, G. Martin (here reported) Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire (VC 20), 15 May 2000, two males, C. W. Plant (here reported) Buckhurst Hill, South Essex (VC 18), 20 May 2000, G. Beccaloni (det. GM, here reported) Letchworth, Hertfordshire (VC 20) 22 May [2000?] (Brian Elliott pers. comm. via D. O’ Keefe to MRH “in dozens around a coniferous shrub in his daughter in law’s garden where there are also signs of feeding (brown tips)”’). Flixton, Greater Manchester (VC 59) 12 & 14 May 2000 singletons at mv light by Kevin McCabe (Ian Kimber pers. comm.; Stephen Palmer, microlepidoptera recorder for Lancashire, pers. comm.; and Lancashire Moth Group Newsletter, Nov. 2000). Buckhurst Hill, Essex (VC 18), 13 June 2000, G. Beccaloni (det. GM, here reported). Littleborough, Lancashire (VC 59), 16th June 2000 (Ian Kimber pers. comm.). This specimen is illustrated in colour on Ian’s web site (UKmoths) (URL http://www.ukmoths.force9.co.uk) a second individual was caught two nights later (18 June 2000). Plaistow, Essex (VC 18) 19 June 2000, G. Martin (here reported). Walberton, W. Sussex (VC 13) 2000 (no date available), John Radford (pers. comm. via Mark Parsons to MRH). Undated record Eakring & Kersall district, Nottinghamshire (VC56) (no date available) from: http://www.eakring99.freeserve.co.uk/MOTH%20LIST.htm The distribution of these records is presented in Figure 1. Many of the specimens recorded to date have been collected from gardens or primarily urban locations and are thought to be specimens emerging from recently introduced, infested plants. The disjunct distribution, involving no fewer than 14 vice- counties, is mainly centred in the southern half of Britain and especially around the Greater London area, with the most surprising record being from Aberdeen. This would also suggest a species that is being transported artificially, perhaps on C. leylandii plants from garden centres, rather than one which is spreading naturally after either unaided arrival or accidental introduction. Obtaining proof of such introductions is often difficult. The first specimen of trifasciata from The Natural History Museum garden in May 1999 was quite unexpected and initially thought unlikely to have been a recent introduction as most of the juniper in the garden had been planted in a chalk 260 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.xi.2000 grassland area in 1994/95. Two additional juniper shrubs, however, were planted in 1998 in a small island bed adjacent to where the trap had been in operation. These plants had been purchased from Natural Surroundings, a wildlife garden centre near Holt, Norfolk. Perhaps it is pure coincidence, but GM, who first trapped the species in his garden in May 2000, had also recently purchased a native Juniper plant from the same garden centre. Stuart Paston was kind enough to contact the company and was informed that their stock came from the only supplier of British provenance Juniper, a nursery in Hampshire. Fig. 1. Known distribution, by Vice-County, of Argyresthia trifasciata Stdgr. in the British Isles at November 2000. The spread of this species has not just been confined to Britain as it is also expanding (or being introduced), to other parts of northern Europe. Parsons (2000) cites references to it as new to the Netherlands in 1982 (the same date as its occurrence in Britain, another coincidence?) and Denmark in 1987. Svensson (1994) recorded it as new to Sweden in 1993 and it is supposed to be found in Germany and Belgium. It also occurs in France, Spain, Switzerland, Austria and possibly Italy. ARGYRESTHIA TRIFASCIATA IN BRITAIN 261 Alford (1991), in his book on pests of ornamental trees and shrubs, gives details of the life history, damage (figured) and control measures. The written description he gives of the adult “fore wings blackish, each marked with whitish crosslines” is erroneous and no doubt based on the photograph reproduced as a half-tone illustration in Emmet (1982), rather than the accurate description given there “fore-wings glossy golden”. Sokoloff (1992) also discusses briefly its pest status in the Netherlands and cites damage to Chamaecyparis, Cupressocyparis and Thuja, as well as to Juniperus. After publication of a paper (Agassiz & Tuck, 1999), in which another Cupressus feeding Argyresthia species was added to the British fauna, (A. cupressella Wals.), we became aware that there is a legal requirement, under Article 20 of the Plant Health (Great Britain) Order 1993, to notify the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food (MAFF) of pests/potential pest insects (i.e. “any plant pest which is of a description specified in Schedule 6, or which is not normally present in Great Britain’). The occurrence of Argyresthia trifasciata was mentioned to Justine Clark of the Invertebrate Identification Team, Central Science Laboratory, and she has since informed the Plant Health Division of the MAFF, A copy of this paper will be forwarded to the PHD for information. Acknowledgements The authors are most grateful to John Langmaid for much helpful information and for previously unpublished records of this species, as well as to George Beccaloni, Dennis O’Keefe, John Radford, Brian Elliot, Mark Parsons, Stephen Palmer and Ian Kimber for details of their unpublished records. References Agassiz, D. J. & Tuck, K. R., 1999. The Cypress Tip moth Argyresthia cupressella Walsingham, 1890 (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutidae) new to Britain. Entomologist’ s Gazette 50: 11-16. Alford, D.V., 1991. A Colour Atlas of Pests of Ornamental Trees, Shrubs and Flowers. Wolfe Publishing Ltd. Emmet, A.M., 1982. Argyresthia trifasciata Staudinger, 1871 (Lep.: Yponomeutidae) in Britain. Entomologist’s Rec. J. var. 94: 180-182. — , (Ed.) 1996. The Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland. Volume 3. Harley Books. Goodey, B., 2000. Argyresthia cupressella Wals. and A. trifasciata Stdgr. (Lep.: Yponomeutidae) in Essex. Entomologist’s Rec. J. var. 112: 169. Langmaid, J. R. & Young, M. R., 1999a. Microlepidoptera Review of 1997. Entomologist’s Rec. J. var. 111: 105-119. — , 1999. Microlepidoptera Review of 1998. Entomologist’ s Rec. J. var. 111: 249-258. — , 2000. Microlepidoptera Review of 1999. Entomologist’s Rec. J. var. 112: 189-203. Palmer, R.M., 1999. Argyresthia trifasciata Staudiger [sic] (Lep.: Yponomeutidae) new to Scotland. Entomologist’s Rec. J. var. 111: 259. Parfitt, R.W., 1999. Argyresthia trifasciata Stdgr. (Lep.: Yponomeutidae) new to Hampshire. Entomologist’s Rec. J. var. 111: 44. Parsons, M.S., 2000. Further records of Argyresthia trifasciata Staudinger, 1871 (Lep.: Yponomeutidae). Entomologist’ s Gazette 51: 31-32. . Paston, S., 1999. Argyresthia trifasciata Stdgr. (Lep.: Yponomeutidae) new to Norfolk. Entomologist’s Rec. J. var. 111: 238. 262 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.x1.2000 Porter, J., 2000. Ruddy Streak Parocystola acroxantha and other Micro-moths in Surrey. Atropos 10: 52. Poynton, D.J., 1999. Further records of Argyresthia trifasciata Stdgr. (Lep.: Yponomeutidae) in Cheshire. Entomologist’s Rec. J. var. 111: 238-239. Shaw, B.T., 1999. Argyresthia trifasciata in 1997 and 1998. Atropos 6: 74. Sokoloff, P., 1992. News from the Netherlands. Entomologist’s Rec. J. var. 104: 196. Svensson, I., 1994. Anmarkningsvarda fynd av smafjarilar (Microlepidoptera) i Sverige 1993. [Remarkable records of Microlepidoptera in Sweden during 1993.] — Entomologisk Tidskrift 115: 45-52. The Light Knot Grass Acronicta menyanthidis (Esp.) (Lep.: Noctuidae) in Norfolk Seven light traps (three mercury-vapour bulbs and four actinics), were operated at Dersingham Bog, Norfolk (grid reference TF 665283) on the very foggy night of 8 May 2000. Dersingham Bog is an extensive area of acid bogland, managed by English Nature, with flora typical of this habitat, including Cotton grass Eriophorum sp. and Bog Myrtle Myrica gale. It is one of only a handful of such sites in north Norfolk. We were hoping to encounter the somewhat local plume moth Buckleria paludum (Zell.), which feeds as a larva on sundew Drosera spp., and can also be seen during daylight. No examples of the plume moth were seen, but we were quite surprised when we visited one of the more secluded mercury vapour traps out on the bog amongst boggy Heather Calluna vulgaris, and discovered a very fresh looking Light Knot Grass. The British distribution of this species is not now much altered from that presented by Heath & Emmet (1983. Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Treland (MBGBI), volume 10, distribution map on page 138). In this work, records are shown confined to the north and west of a line drawn between the Humber and the Severn, with a single pre-1970 locality shown for Norfolk in grid square TF91. Records are also shown for Ireland. The Norfolk records are, therefore, apparently worth reviewing here. The record shown in MBGBI is that included on a recording card submitted to Monks Wood by K. C. Durrant and gives a list of macro moths for the 10-km square TF91, which he labels “East Dereham area: arable with small plantations”. The records come from the period 1940-1960, but there is no further information of relevance. In the nineteenth century, single larvae were found at Hickling Broad (grid reference TG42) and Barton Turf (grid reference TG32) in about 1870, and an adult was reared so confirming the records (Barrett, 1901. Lepidoptera. In Victoria County History 1: 135-162). Bog myrtle still grows at Barton Turf, though no longer at Hickling. These records evidently escaped the compilers of VBGBI. The moth is known currently from Roydon Common (grid reference TF 6922), which lies some six kilometres to the south-east of Dersingham. Bernard Skinner attracted twenty adults to a single light on 13 June 1980 (of which two were the melanic ab. suffusa Tutt), whilst Gerry Haggett informs me that several have been NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS 263 taken since, including by himself in 1992 and 1993. I therefore visited Roydon Common myself on 15 May 2000 to see if I could demonstrate its continuing presence and was delighted to capture four examples — all of the typical form. As much a surprise was a Flame Wainscot Mythimna flammea (Curtis) at the sheet, rarely known away from the Broads and the fens of Cambridgeshire. A Barred Hook-tip Watsonalla cultraria (Fabr.) also came to light as well as a good selection of moorland/heathland tortrix moths such as Ancylis uncella (D.& S.), A. unguicella (L.). Pseudococcyx turionella L.), P. posticana (Zett.), Epinotia rubiginosana (H.- S.) and Acleris rufana (D.& S.). In spite of being known to a select, though evidently fairly wide, circle of entomologists, it would appear that the existence of this locality has never before made it in to print? There do not appear to be any other records of this species away from north-west Britain. I am most grateful to Mark Telfer at the Biological Records Centre, ITE Monks Wood, to Gerry Haggett, Bernard Skinner and Colin Plant for helpful information on the Norfolk records of this species.— JON CLIFTON, Kestrel Cottage, Station Road, Hindolveston, Norfolk NR20 5DE. The Nine-spotted Amata phegea (L.) (Lep.: Ctenuchidae) in Essex Mr Peter Smith recently passed to me a photograph taken in the Clacton-on-Sea area of an adult moth, apparently Amata phegea, sitting on a cluster of developing blackberries. The image was taken on 24 July 2000 by Mr R. Goodson. Mr Goodson at first thought the insect was a butterfly, but fellow amateur photographer Mr R. Cowling recognised it as being a moth and sought confirmation with Mr E. Sewell, who realised the possible importance and showed the picture to Peter. Peter made some enquiries and acquired the slide, and with his help I was able to interview Mr Goodson and find out a little more of the circumstances, although by now two months had passed. Mr Goodson, who was not at all interested in the record and found the fuss his picture had generated rather a surprise, is retired and noticed the insect during a cycle ride, the purpose of which was to try out his new camera with some shots of the local railway. Having a lens with macro capability allowed Mr Goodson to take a sharp, well-exposed picture of what we assume is most likely to be Amata phegea. The only other British occurrence of A. phegea was on the Kent coast between Folkestone and Dover, on 24 June 1872, when one was taken flying in sunshine (Batchelor, 1874. Entom. 7: 88 as Syntomis phegea — see also Emmet & Heath 1979. Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland, vol. 9: 111); that specimen is figured in South (1961. The Moths of the British Isles. Warne). The distribution map given in de Freina & Witt (1987. Die Bombyces und Sphinges der Westpalaearktis. Verlag) shows that A. phegea is widespread in Europe. Although absent from Iberia, the Mediterranean islands and southern Italy, it extends eastwards from France through the entire Western Palaearctic Region, but 264 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.x1.2000 not extending further north than approximately latitude 50 degrees north. Thus, it is absent from Denmark and the entire coastal area of the English Channel, the North Sea and the Baltic. There are, however, two sibling species in Europe, from which A. phegea can only be reliably separated by examination of the genitalia. A. ragazzi Turati is endemic to central and southern Italy whilst A. kruegeri Ragg. affects Italy, former Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Greece, Romania and eastwards around the north coast of the Black Sea. The larvae of all three species are polyphagous, though A. phegea is said to prefer Rumex, Plantago and Galium (de Freina & Witt op. cit.) and thus none are particularly likely to be accidentally imported to Britain with produce. Of the three, neither A. ragazzi nor A. kruegeri seem likely to be good candidates for immigration to Britain. On the basis of all this information, the identification of the Essex specimen as A. phegea is considered to be about 99% certain. I am grateful to Colin Plant for drawing my attention to the existence of the two sibling species of A. phegea in Europe, and for providing biological and distributional information on all three.— BRIAN GOODEY, 298 Ipswich Road, Colchester, Essex CO4 4ET. (brian.goodey@dial.pipex.com) The larval habitat and biology of Anoplodera livida (F.) (Col.: Cerambycidae) It would seem that no proper account has yet appeared in British works of the very unusual life-history, recently discovered, of the above-named smallish longicorn — better known to most of us as Leptura livida. The natural assumption had been, up to lately, that it develops in dead wood, stumps, boughs or twigs like the vast majority of its family. I therefore reproduce here a brief account freely translated from Klausnitzer and Sander (1981), kindly furnished by Dr R.R. Uhthoff-Kaufmann. The beetle’s life-history was worked out in detail by B. Burakowski, 1979 Ann. Zool. 35: 25-42. ‘Researches have revealed an extraordinary metamorphosis, quite unlike that of any normal Leptura species. Egg, larva and pupa are described in detail. The female with her specially adapted ovipositor lays her eggs in meadowland, preferably on bare, sunbaked patches, from July until August; dried earth particles adhere to the egg’s chorion; it hatches in ten days’ time. Any other information regarding the early stages of this beetle is entirely untrue. The larva is found at a depth of 2-6cm where it feeds on the mycelium of the fungus Marasmias oreades Bolt, already established, and perhaps on some humus fragments and the dead roots of the fungus. Larval growth lasts two years; in the second winter it constructs an earthen cell, 2- 5cm underground, and in the following spring weaves a parchment-like pupal case inside the earthen cell. During April and May, the imago emerges from its cocoon into the open after some ten days, towards the end of May or beginning of June. The adult takes a week to attain full coloration and is then found on flowers.”— A.A. ALLEN, 49 Montcalm Road, Charlton, London SE7 8QG. NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS 265 The occurrence of Oedemera species in Surrey (Col.: Oedemeridae) I noted with interest Laurence Clemon’s article (Ent. Rec. 111: 141-143) on the occurrence of Oedemera species in Kent. This prompted me to look at the records I hold for Surrey. These records, which were collected on an ad hoc basis in the course of recording hoverflies from 1985 to 1999, may not be fully representative; however, they are probably sufficient to give a fair idea of overall distribution of both O. nobilis (44 records) and O. lurida (69 records). Both species occur throughout the summer months from early May through to August (see Table 1). The data for O. nobilis suggest that this species may have two broods a year, whilst the picture for O. lurida is less clear, but it is possibly multiple brooded. In Surrey, O. nobilis occurs widely across the Chalk, Lower Greensand and the London and Wealden clays (see Map 1), but would appear to be poorly represented on the Bagshot Sand and within the London suburbs. Overall distribution does not correlate with the distribution of commoner thermophilic species or those associated with dry habitats; rather, it seems to coincide more with grassland habitats with no obvious affinities to either hard rock or drift geology. Habitat notes include woodland rides and open grasslands. Adults are regular flower visitors and I have noted visits to dog rose Rosa canina, upright hedge parsley Torilis japonica, perennial sow-thistle Sonchus arvensis and ox-eye daisy Leucanthemum vulgare. Oedemera lurida pa Oetemeraturiaas pf May tune tety [August | Sept 2{3[4]s|2]3{4[s |i] 2/3 [a fif2 a fats (ale | Rees. -]1 | 7F4]s[s]s]2{5]i]7]s]s[4]7]3]-]4]2|- es ee ee Rees. Ji [i fifa {-]o}a]3}s]-]-fa fs] peti fi fad f- Table 1. Weekly records of Oedemera spp. in Surrey. Week | starts on 1 May and the week numbers follow sequentially. It is apparent that O. Jurida is much the commoner species (Map 2), which seemingly occurs more extensively into the London suburbs and north Surrey. Records suggest that it may be more frequently associated with ruderal habitats such as waste ground and roadside verges. The only note I have for flower visits is to ox- eye daisy Leucanthemum vulgare. ROGER K.A. Morris, c/o 241 Commonside East, Mitcham, Surrey CR4 1HB. 266 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.xi.2000 Map 2. Distribution of Oedemera lurida in Surrey. STICTOPLEURUS PUNCTATONERVOSUS 267 STICTOPLEURUS PUNCTATONERVOSUS (GOEZE, 1778) (HEM.: RHOPALIDAE) BREEDING IN MIDDLESEX RICHARD A JONES 135 Friern Road, East Dulwich, London SE22 0AZ E-mail: bugmanjones@hotmail.com I SWEPT TWO specimens of a Stictopleurus from the flowery area of rough grassland on the embankment of the River Thames, next to Chelsea Power Station (O.S. grid reference TQ 264769, VC 21 — Middlesex), on 8 August 2000. A third specimen escaped. Several more, including some ee were found on a follow- up visit on 16 August 2000. At first, I took them to be Stictopleurus abutilon (Rossi), which I had previously found elsewhere in the London conurbation in West Acton and Woolwich (Jones, in press). But reference to Moulet (1995) showed that the Chelsea specimens were in fact S$. punctatonervosus. This medium-sized, brown, ground bug is known, in Britain, from just a handful of specimens. Several were found during the 19th century, suggesting that it became temporarily resident in the Charlwood area of Surrey. It was listed as “extinct” by Kirby (1992), who reported that a record from Kent probably referred to S. abutilon and one from Essex was unsupported by a specimen. The Essex specimen was later discovered to be a misidentification of Rhopalus subrufus (Gmelin) (Kirby, 1997). However, the bug was rediscovered in Britain in 1997, when three specimens were found in separate localities in North Essex (Bowdrey, 1999), suggesting that it _ had again become established. Jerry Bowdrey visited The Moors, Colchester, in that county, on 21 September 2000 and located two adult Stictopleurus punctatonervosus, so it still appears to be thriving in at least one site (Bowdrey, pers. comm.). Careful examination of the Chelsea specimens made me realise that I had actually found S. punctatonervosus before in the London area, but had assumed that they were S. abutilon. This was because I had relied on the male genitalia to identify the insects and named accompanying female by association. As it turns out, both species occurred together on the same site at West Acton, as they have on at least one other site (P. Kirby, pers, comm.) Having, now, a number of specimens of both sexes of both species, it is clear that S. punctatonervosus is the more widespread species in London, and I also have two specimens from Woodlands Farm, Bexley (TQ 4476, West Kent, VC 16), 7 July and 20 August 1998, swept in derelict farm building site, and one from West Acton, (TQ 197817, Middlesex, VC 21), 5 October 1999, swept on rough grassy railway embankment. The insect’s ecological requirements are unclear, since so little is known of its ecology, but Kirby (1992) states that the maintenance of dry, open and sunny conditions might be important, with long and short vegetation and areas of bare ground. The Chelsea population is breeding on a small (approximately one hectare) site, exactly fitting these requirements. The site is a prime example of “London 268 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.x1.2000 urban derelict” habitat. It had once been a riverside oil-intake terminal for the Chelsea Power Station, but since its disuse several years ago had been bulldozed and abandoned. It was now taken over with a rough growth of thin grasses, flowering herbs, some brambles and many bare areas. The Bexley site was also a sparsely-vegetated derelict plot, and very similar in character. Once a farmyard, it had been roughly levelled or bulldozed then abandoned for several years. The West Acton railway embankment was a mixture of tall grass and bramble scrub, but with some bare areas where recent digging had taken place. Other noteworthy species, found at Chelsea, were typical of such a sparsely vegetated London site and included the local shieldbugs Aelia acuminata (L.) and Podops inuncta (Fabr.); the mainly coastal rhopalid bug Chorosoma schillingi (Schum.); the recently established lygaeid Nysius senecionis (Schilling); the clouded yellow butterfly Colias croceus (Geoff.); the nationally scarce sphecid Gorytes bicinctus (Rossius) and its cuckoo parasite Nysson trimaculatus (Rossius); the nationally scarce eumenid wasp Microdynerus exilis (H.- S.); the nationally scarce Adonis ladybird Adonia variegata (Goeze); the Red Data Book (RDBK - insufficiently known to categorise) beetle Olibrus flavicornis (Sturm); and the uncommon pill woodlouse Armadillidium nasatum Budde-Lund. All are warmth- loving species, characteristic of the sparsely vegetated, dry, well-drained plots which are London’s threatened ruderal habitats. References Bowdrey, J. P. 1999. Stictopleurus punctatonervosus (Goeze, 1778) (Hem.: Rhopalidae) rediscovered in Britain and new to Essex. Entomologist’s Rec. J. Var. 111: 135-136. Jones, R. A. 2001. [Stictopleurus abutilon (Rossi) exhibited at BENHS annual exhibition, 11 November 2000.] British Journal of Entomology and Natural History 14: in press. Kirby, P. 1992. Review of the scarce and threatened Hemiptera of Great Britain. UK Nature Conservation No. 2. Peterborough: Joint Nature Conservation Committee. —, 1997. Essex Heteroptera report for 1996. Essex Naturalist 14 (new series): 18-20. Moulet, P. 1995. Hemiptéres Coreoidea (Coreidae, Rhopalidae, Alydidae) Pyrrhocoridae, Stenocephalidae Euro-Méditerranéens. Faune de France vol. 81, pp. 206-221. Bruchidius varius (Ol.) (Col.: Bruchidae) in south-east London This recent addition to our list was discovered in East Sussex in 1994 by P.J. Hodge (Coleopterist 5(3): 65-8). The description and admirable figures there given show it to be very distinctive among our members of the family. In conversation with Mr Hodge I learnt that the species appeared to be spreading outward from Sussex, so — given that the chief foodplant, red clover, often grows freely on Woolwich Common here — it was not wholly unexpected when among my captures there on 10.vi.2000 a single female B. varius was found. Now that the species has reached this locality, it will doubtless be encountered again in due course.— A.A. ALLEN, 49 Montclam Road, Charlton, London SE7 8QG. NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS 269 A concentration of the Wall Brown Lasiommata megera L. (Lep.: Nymphalidae) in Cambridgeshire, August 2000. The recent note by Chris Tyler-Smith concerning the scarcity of the Wall Brown butterfly in central England from 1997 to 1999 (antea: 207-208) prompted me to record an observation made in Cambridgeshire this year. On 10 August, at 11.00 am, I walked along the bank of the Old Bedford River, the northern boundary of the Ouse Washes Nature Reserve, to see which butterflies were feeding on the teasel, thistle and ragwort plants that abound here. The steep bank rises to some twenty-five feet above ground level and runs from south by south-west to north by north-east, creating a warm, south-easterly aspect. The banks are lightly grazed by cattle in summer; no shrubs are present, but stands of the above mentioned perennials are extensive. Cattle have worn their tracks into the bank at various levels and created bare patches close to the river’s edge, surrounded by coarse grasses. The weather was fine and warm. It was soon obvious that a number of Wall Browns were present and in little more than a quarter of a mile of walking at least fifteen were noted. Care was taken to avoid double-counting in view of the species’ habit of “accompanying” observers by flying a short distance ahead, settling and reappearing. If anything, the count underestimates the number present. Males and females were seen in approximately equal numbers. No oviposition was observed, but females were watched fluttering close to the ground, particularly where grass grew over the indentations made by cattle’s hooves; this habit is described in Heath and Emmet (1990. Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland, 7(1): 250). No doubt egg-laying was taking place, and it is unfortunate that these banks are invariably flooded for several weeks each winter and spring. Presumably this would result in the loss of over-wintering larvae. The Wall Brown was not uncommon in this part of Cambridgeshire in 2000. Several other records involving smaller numbers were made, but it is interesting that they were all associated with bare earth on tracks and droves, close to arable fields. — ROBERT PARTRIDGE, 11 New Road, Mepal, Ely, Cambridgeshire CB6 2AP. Is this the return of the Wall Brown Lasiommata megera (L.) (Lep.: Nymphalidae)? Whilst participating in a butterfly count on some waste ground on Canvey Island, Essex, I was very pleased to see a few freshly emerged Brown Argus. Many Peacock, Green-veined White, Orange-tip and Large White were also present, but the greatest delight was the recording of sixteen-plus Wall Brown. This species has been thin on the ground in recent years and so it was a surprise to observe so many on one count. It generally seems to be mainly coastal at the moment, perhaps this year may give us a population spread. One of the rarest butterflies this spring in this part of Essex has been the Small Tortoiseshell. Last summer and autumn this species was low in numbers and at the time of writing this note (27 May), I have not seen a single larval nest anywhere during my many local rambles.- D.G. Down, Aegeria, 16 Woodend Close, Thundersley, Essex SS7 3YA. 270 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.xi.2000 Red-necked Footman Atolmis rubricollis (L.) (Lep.: Arctiidae) in Essex On the night of 17 June 2000, with two other members of Essex Moth Group, Ian C. Rose and Reg Fry, a mercury-vapour lamp and a trap were run at Bunting’s Meadow, Lexden, Colchester from 10pm until midnight to monitor the moth population in this municipal open space and small nature reserve, which is owned by Colchester Borough Council. The 25 acres of grassland, hedgerows, flowery banks and field margins and three small spinneys adjoin a larger Council-owned open space and invertebrate reserve known as The Hilly Fields. The Bunting’s site once covered 52 acres and was a seed production farm and a trial ground for flower and vegetable varieties. Among the night’s total of 54 species (macros and micros) was a fresh specimen of the Red-necked Footman Atolmis rubricollis found in Reg Fry’s Robinson trap. This is only the second record for Essex for the past two decades, the other being from Friday Wood, south of Colchester, recorded by B. Goodey and R. Arthur on 27 June 1986. Single specimens, probably immigrants, were recorded by A.J. Dewick at his Bradwell-on-Sea light in 1951 and 1952. In case the Lexden specimen of rubricollis could indicate possible residency rather than being an immigrant or vagrant, Ian Rose and I returned to Bunting’s Meadow with an m.v. lamp on the night of 19 June. No luck with rubricollis on this occasion, but among the 42 species recorded was a Dotted Fan-foot Macrochilo cribrumalis. This is the first record of this usually fen and salt marsh species for this inland site, which is on the outskirts of Colchester, but close to a recently-created wetland area fed by springs. These records from Bunting’s Meadow give me much personal pleasure as I grew up before and during the war on the Bunting’s farm, where my late father was the manager for 40 years and where I started my lifelong interest in Lepidoptera among the acres of flowers EON for seed._JOE FIRMIN, 55 Chapel Road, we Bergholt, Colchester, Essex. | Bledius talpa Gyll. (Col.: Staphylinidae) — a former British species? That this very distinctive Bledius was once a member of our fauna is strongly suggested (but by no means proved), by the presence in the British beetle collection at The Natural History Museum of two ancient specimens, labelled as determined by P.M. Hammond, 1975. Most unfortunately they are without data, and in extremely bad condition through having originally been pinned and the pins removed at some later time. They are marked only “W.A. Power / B.M. 1896-69”. Whether he was related to the well-known coleopterist J.A. Power I cannot say, but it would appear likely. For the above details I am indebted to my friend K.C. Lewis. Bledius talpa may at once be known by its dark metallic-blue elytra with long, pale, waved pubescence. It is a rare species of scattered and mainly southern distribution, but is found in (for instance) Denmark, so its occurrence in Britain can hardly be excluded.— A.A. ALLEN, 49 Montcalm Road, Charlton, London SE7 8QG. ) NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS PETE| Lepidoptera observed in Lanzarote during February 2000 Between 10 and 17 February 2000, I spent a holiday based at the Hotel Beatriz just inland from Costa Teguise, on the east coast of the island of Lanzarote, during which time only five species of butterfly were seen. However, for two, Danaus plexippus (L.) and Cacyreus marshalli (Butler), my observations appear to represent the first reported sightings from Lanzarote. Neither are included in publications such as Owen (1988, Ent. Rec. 100: 259-260) or Baldwin (1991, Ent. Rec. 103: 79-81). A single adult D. plexippus was seen in the grounds of the Hotel Melias Salinas in Costa Teguise town on 11 February. This example may well have been a stray from the neighbouring island of Fuerteventura, where it has been reported by Owen (1992, Ent. Gaz. 43: 87-92), though even there Owen considered that it may not be a permanent resident. Alternatively the Lanzarote example could have originated from further afield, such as from Madeira, where it known to be established. It would seem doubtful that this striking species is resident in Lanzarote. The acknowledged larval food plant was not seen during my stay and it is hardly likely to have been overlooked by previous observers. However, Owen (/oc.cit.) reports that larvae of the related Danaus chrysippus (L.) feed on the cactus-like milkweed Carraluma burchardii on the neighbouring island of Fuerteventura; this plant also occurs in the northern half of Lanzarote. Cacyreus marshalli is probably established on the island and is presumably a recent arrival. Two adults were seen flying around a planted Pelargonium sp. within the grounds of the Hotel Beatriz on 15 February, and closer examination revealed a few empty pupal cases, presumed to be of this species, on walls adjacent to other flower beds containing Pelargonium within the hotel grounds. The spread of this South African species and its association with planted Pelargonium is well known, especially in the Mediterranean area, e.g. Reid (1998, Ent. Gaz. 49: 253-256), though so far as I know this is the first reported sighting from the Canary Islands. Importation of larvae on a food plant would seem a likely source of origin for the Lanzarote population. Incidentally, I have also seen adults of this species in mainland Spain, in central Barcelona, Catalonia, during October 1997; and in Mijas, Andalucia during June 1998. The other butterflies seen on Lanzarote were: Elphinstonia charlonia (Donzel), a few fresh examples in the arid terrain inland from Costa Teguise on most days, with adults repeatedly seen visiting the flowers of a small yellow flowered crucifer; Vanessa atalanta (L.), only two — one at Costa Teguise, 12 February, and one near El Islote in the centre of the island, 13 February; and Cynthia cardui (L.), common around Costa Teguise most days. Adult moths were virtually absent in and around Costa Teguise. Examination of street and hotel lights revealed only a few Silver Y Autographa gamma L., though on 14 February, eight approximately half-grown larvae of Hyles tithymali (Bois.) were found on a single plant of a bushy Euphorbia sp. (probably E. obtusifolia) growing the sea front at Costa Teguise.— A. P. FOSTER, 23 The Dawneys, Crudwell, Malmesbury, Wiltshire SN16 9HE. 27) ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.x1.2000 Chrysoteuchia culmella (L.) (Lep.: Pyralidae) captured in September I was most surprised indeed to attract a single male of the very common grass moth Chrysoteuchia culmella to an m.v. light on 10 September 2000, whilst trapping in the grounds of Hillmead School in Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire. I normally associate this moth with earlier in the year and a quick check in Barry Goater’s 1986 book British Pyralid Moths (Harley) confirmed my own experience — “Single-brooded; flies in June and July”. An identical flight period is given by Palm (1986. Nordeuropas Pyralider. Bgger/Apollo) though the range of months is longer, from June to August, in Blezyriski (1965. Microlepidoptera Palaearctica: Crambinae. Fromme). A conversation with Barry Goater on 14 September revealed that he was not aware of any other records of C. culmella so late in the year, and it thus appears that this may be the first autumn record of the species for Britain. The moth was fresh on arrival, though it has since lost its forewing cilia in the pill box! Goater (op. cit.) suggests that since the moth is reported at lightships well out to sea it is evidently sometimes migratory; this could perhaps account for the present record from Bishops Stortford? There had been a number of reports of a variety of immigrant moth species in the weeks prior to this record, although the only other potential immigrant at my lights on the night in question was a single Plutella xylostella (L.). In June and July C. culmella is usually abundant, and it is perhaps Surprising that only one arrived at the sheet if it represented a genuine second generation? The record presents something of a problem for me as Hertfordshire Recorder. The sheet was laid out on the school playing field at Hillmead School, firmly in Hertfordshire, but the moth was watched flying in from under the trees of Birchanger Wood, the edge of which is defined by a fence exactly 2.7 metres from the light bulb — and beyond which is North Essex, from where records are the province of my good friends Brian Goodey and Maitland Emmet!— COoLin W. PLANT, 14 West Road, Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire CM23 3QP. (E-mail: Colinwplant@compuserve.com). Epiphyas postvittana (Walker) (Lep.: Tortricidae) assembling on a cool night in May Thursday 25 May 2000, was a fairly cool evening after a day of sunny intervals. At 21.30 hours I had just been examining a netted flowerpot of mixed larvae when I noticed a small moth flying around outside of the netting. This was soon to be joined by a second, then a third and on closer inspection they turned out to be male E. postvittana assembling to a freshly emerged female. I had no sooner boxed them when others began to arrive and by 22.00 hours I had a total of thirty-five specimens. Despite this species being rather a pest in my garden, I was astonished to see so many assemble to this one female. It looks as if I am going to experience another troublesome year with my show Chrysanthemums. During 1998-99 I had a few moths of this species in my trap practically every suitable night of each month of the year, including December.— D.G. Down, Aegeria, 16 Woodend Close, Thundersley, Essex SS7 3YA. NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS 293 Judolia cerambyciformis (Schrank) (Col.: Cerambycidae): tThe first Kent record This attractive longhorn is above all a western species in our islands, as a glance at Map 25 in the valuable Provisional Atlas of the group (Twinn & Harding 1999, Biological Records Centre) will at once show. Southern records are concentrated in Wales and the south-west, with a smaller group occupying the area of (roughly) Surrey, Berkshire and Hampshire; in the first of these it is extremely local. The occurrence of the species in Kent is thus of interest as the eastern-most British record, even though not recent: A single specimen was found (I believe, on an umbel), in Squerry’s Park, Westerham, West Kent about fifty years ago, in June, by my late friend Arthur Gould, but the record I think was never published. The park is an extensive partly wooded area and it was in such a part that the beetle was taken. It is a safe conclusion that J. cerambyciformis must be very rare in the county.— A.A. ALLEN, 49 Montcalm Road, Charlton, London SE7 8QG. Lacanobia w-latinum (Hufn.) (Lep.: Noctuidae) at Charlton, south-east London On 29.v.2000, I detected an unfamiliar, well-marked noctuid moth at rest on a fence under lime trees in a residential road near here. Wishing to take it for identification, but not being equipped for so unlikely an event, I was (for once) grateful to the litter- lout who had left some dirty old sheets of newspaper on the pavement not far off. To improvise a small holder was the work of a few moments; and the very torpid moth was carried home without the least trouble or damage. Plant (1993. Larger Moths of the London Area: 153-4) classes this species as very local in the area, the recorded sites “widely spaced and not particularly numerous”. He also connects it with the chalk, a formation not found at the surface in this district, where the moth is probably best regarded as casual.— A.A. ALLEN, 49 Montcalm Road, Charlton, London SE7 8QG. Hazards of butterfly collecting — late 1999. What is Brephidium exilis doing in the Emirates? In November 1999 had an e-mail from Albert Legrain who met me briefly at some meeting more than ten years ago. He had just been to the United Arab Emirates and had caught a tiny lycaenid that he did not recognise from my books on the Arabian butterflies. He thought it might be a Brephidium, a genus known only from South Africa and the dry zone of Mexico/USA (the Sonoran Region). Henri Stempffer considered that the genus was proof pure of a pre-Gondwanan connection. Its presence in the Emirates would only compound a biogeographical conundrum. A good photograph was attached to the e-mail. Sitting in Manila, I could only confirm that 1) nothing like it was known from Arabia; 2) nothing like it had ever been recorded from Iran or southeastern Asia. I promised to make what inquiries that I could. Legrain was faster than I was, and got hold of Dr. Trafford Gillet in the Emirates. He knew the butterfly well and had even published a small note in a local newspaper. He had pinned it down to Brephidium exilis, a common butterfly in places like Arizona and dry Texas (the Sonoran subregion). But how was B. exilis in the Emirates? 274 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.x1.2000 The answer to that question came swiftly from my good friend Tony Pittaway in the UK. He wrote the first and only paper on the butterflies of the Emirates in the 1980s. He was quite sure the butterfly was not there at the time — and you do not doubt his judgments on Arabian butterflies. But he also had the solution to the biogeographical conundrum. Just after he left the Emirates, an American company was hired for a dune stabilisation project. They brought in many Sonoran plants and the butterfly must have slipped in as well (no credit to the company involved). The butterfly has since transferred to several local dune plants and seems to be quite common and well established in the Emirates and in northern Oman. There are two interesting aspects to this story. The first is that this kind of permanent introduction of a butterfly into a new continent is actually a rare occurrence indeed. I have not looked up the full literature, but a few were imported into North America, where they now thrive (Pieris rapae Linnaeus was introduced to North America in the 1860s — and into Australia around 1940; Thymelicus lineola Ochsenheimer was introduced early in the 20th century and is now well distributed). Pieris brassicae Linnaeus established itself in Chile around 1970 and then again in the Cape Province of South Africa during the 1980s; I found it hugely common in Cape Town in November 1999 and local farmers said they had given up trying to grow cabbages. The giant skipper, Erionota thrax Linnaeus, an Asian butterfly, was introduced during the 1970s to Mauritius where it thrived on its usual host plant, bananas; it was almost certainly introduced with banana cultivars from the Far East. However, it seemed to disappear not long after its introduction. The most recent long-range introduction was that of the South African Cacyreus marshalli Butler, 1898 into Spain and then southern France. It has now even been found in Belgium and the UK, though it could probably not survive there on a permanent basis. The species feeds on geraniums and was almost certainly brought to Mallorca, where it was first recorded, by some nice blue-rinse lady from Cape Town visiting friends or relatives and bringing a cutting of her favourite Geranium. However, with 19,000 butterflies to choose from, the fact remains that accidental intercontinental introductions of butterflies are very few indeed. So Brephidium exilis is a rare bird, flourishing in a habitat generally inhospitable to butterflies. But it was also a showcase for how useful the internet is in situations like this. Within a few weeks, through e-mail communications between France, Belgium, the Philippines, USA, Denmark, and the Emirates, all the relevant facts were in place. Fifteen years ago such a discovery process might well have taken years. The presence of Brephidium exilis in Arabia is actually a bit of a scandal; it should never have been accidentally introduced. But it is a tiny little thing, among the smallest butterflies in the world; since it probably does no damage, let us wish it well in its new habitat. And let us be happy that we know what happened; no huge biogeographical puzzle here!- TORBEN B. LARSEN, 5 Wilson Compound, 2811 Park Avenue, Pasay City, Metro-Manila, The Philippines. (E-mail: Torbenlarsen@compuserve.com) BOOK REVIEWS 278 More “smaller” Lepidoptera on the Great Orme I read with interest the note from R. J. R. Levett (antea, 214) concerning a “small” form of the Small Heath butterfly Coenonympha pamphilus on the Great Orme — and his question of other dwarf races in this part of North Wales. Some years ago (1974), as a youngster, I collected what I thought were dwarf Silver Studded Blues Plebejus argus caernensis on the Great Orme’s Head, Llandudno. As the time of year was late August I considered these to be a possible “second brood”. However, on closer examination they turned out to be the Brown Argus Aricia agestis! All those on the wing were very small indeed. I still have one specimen and this measures under 20mm, and recall this as being a particularly fine (=large) example!— MARK YEATES, The White House, Montacute Road, Stoke Sub Hamdon, Somerset TA14 6UQ. BOOK REVIEWS The ground beetles of Northern Ireland (Coleoptera - Carabidae) by Roy Anderson, Damian McFerran and Alastair Cameron. x plus 246pp., including 65 coloured plates of species and habitats, 166 distribution maps. 210mm x 148mm, hardbound. ISBN 0 900761 37 7. Ulster Museum, 2000. £14.99 plus postage and packing (£1.70 UK; £2.70 Europe), payable to National Museums and Galleries of Northern Ireland. Available from Ulster Museum Bookshop, Botanic Gardens, Belfast BT9 SAB. This magnificent work, produced at an affordable price, is the first in what I hope will be a lengthy series to be produced by the Centre for Environmental Data and Recording (CEDaR) at the Ulster Museum. Other volumes currently in preparation cover macrolepidoptera, mammals and non-marine Mollusca. The database for the carabid mapping project apparently contains 14,082 records from 1,052 sites within Northern Ireland, with records available from all of the 186 ten-kilometre squares. It is fair to say that recording coverage is adequate, albeit not even; a map on page 3 uses colour-coded grid squares to indicate species richness in each square, smoothed using means amongst neighbourhoods of nine grid squares. The work takes the form of several chapters. Chapter one is entitled Edaphic conditions and ground beetle community structure; Chapter two is concerned with The biogeography of Irish ground beetles. Following the colour plate section, a Systematic list of Irish Carabidae precedes the main body of the text, which comprises individual species accounts of all the 211 ground beetles (apparently known colloquially in Northern Ireland as “clocks” or “black beetles”) regarded as Irish. Species known from Northern Ireland are mapped on the basis of 5 x 5 kilometre squares. Two symbols are used in the maps, dividing records into pre-1970 and 1970 — 1999 date bands. For each species, subheadings indicate information on world distribution, Northern Irish status and distribution, Ecology and British Red Data Book status where appropriate. There is also a contributed chapter on “The impact of land use changes and management on ground beetle community structure and diversity - a review of recent research” by J. H. McAdam and W. I. Montgomery, occupying twenty pages and providing a wealth of valuable information that will be of great interest to all ecologists as well as ground beetle specialists. There follows a Glossary and a Bibliography, as well as two Appendices — the 2716 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.xi.2000 first a Summary of faunal elements within the Irish Carabidae and the second Faunal elements within the British Carabidae (essentially, a list of Carabids known to have had breeding British populations in historical times with those species that are on the Irish List indicated. Ireland has always been comparatively poorly recorded in comparison with Britain, and recent problems in the northern six counties have scarcely provided active encouragement for English entomologists looking for an entomological holiday. For this reason alone, this book, and the series which it commences, is to be warmly welcomed. But it is more than just that. The book is a magnificent work in its own right, packed with useful information, produced to a high level of scientific accuracy and presented in an attractive manner. As one who knows a little of the group, but makes no claim to be an expert, I especially welcome the appearance of colour plates of a large number of the species. Here is proof, were it to be needed, that not all ground beetles are black! The photography is excellent, and the captions under each picture helpfully tell us the length in millimetres of the species illustrated. Apart from providing a valuable record of ground beetles in Northern Ireland, this book will surely do much to popularise the group. Witness the great increase in popularity of hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae) upon the publication of Alan Stubbs’ and Steven Falk’s 1983 book British Hoverflies. Ground beetles contain many important indicators of ecological conditions and change, and are of immense value to the ecologist. The combination of books such as this and the publication of modern keys such as those reviewed below, will render the group far more accessible. Colin W. Plant Ground beetles by Trevor G. Forsythe, with colour plates by Sophie Allington. Naturalists’ Handbooks number 8 — second edition with a new key to all British species. 96 pp., four pages of colour illustrations, many drawings of identification features. A5, paperback (ISBN 0 85546 263 9) £8.95; hardcovers (ISBN 0 85546 264 7) £15.00. Published for the Company of Biologists Ltd. by The Richmond Publishing Co. Ltd., 2000. Available from the publisher at P.O. Box 963, Slough, SL2 3RS. The first edition of this volume was reviewed in 1989 (Ent. Rec. 101: 138-139) and subsequent volumes in this excellent series, which the Richmond Publishing Company took over in 1987 from Cambridge University Press, have been reviewed at various times in this journal. Given this, and that the only significant difference between this and the first edition is the inclusion of all British species in the keys rather than just common ones, this review will be, inevitably, rather short and restricted to the identification keys. I have never, personally, seen the point in producing keys that leave out several species. This seems to me to be either an insult to the intelligence of the reader or else sheer laziness on the part of the author, perhaps both, and in any case, we seasoned entomologists are all fully aware that the best insect is inevitably caught by the beginner on his/her first trip out! Such an omission is all the more annoying when the key with the missing species is beautifully easy to use whilst the one that has all the others is considerably more difficult to interpret and out of date with respect to additional species and recent name changes. In fact nine species have been added to the British list since publication of the first edition of this volume in 1986 (Gf you believe the preface and the publishers advertising blurb) or 1987 (if you believe the title page of the first edition). These are included and an up-to-date checklist of British species is presented in alphabetical order. Testing keys is a time-consuming and precise task, best carried out by those with some experience of the group, though there is also merit in testing the couplets on beginners (as is BOOK REVIEWS 277 done with keys in the AIDGAP series produced by the Field Studies Council) and those middle-of-the-road generalists such as yours truly who fall somewhere between the two. I have run a small selection of common species originally identified by myself through these new keys and arrived at the same answer (Amara aenea, Carabus granulatus, Notiophilus biguttatus and Pterostichus melanarius). I also ran through some species identified for me by more qualified personnel and also reached the identical conclusion (Bembidion biguttatum, Metabletes obscuroguttatus and Harpalus froelichi). Overall, therefore, the keys appear to work. This new book should be of great interest to all coleopterists, both expert and beginner alike. Like the others in the series, it also has immense appeal to the general entomologist, who frequently encounters “interesting looking” insects beyond the limits of his or her own group and would like to identify them if only an easy key was available. Here is that easy key. The book lacks colour illustrations (apart from four pages, accurately depicting a handful of species). I would recommend that anyone starting out on ground beetles should obtain and use this key in conjunction with excellent colour photographs in The ground beetles of Northern Ireland, reviewed above. It is interesting to see that the increase in price over the first edition is relatively small (from £5.95 to £8.95 for the paperback version and from £12 to £15 for the hardback), making the work extremely good value for money. / Colin W. Plant Die Larven der Europaischen Noctuidae. Revision der Systematik der Noctuidae by Herbert Beck. 2000. Volume 3: 128 pages, 99 plates and Volume 4: 512 pages including Index, published as Bands 5/3 and 5/4 of the Herbipolana series by Dr Ulf Eitschberger, Markleuten, Germany. A4, hardbound with dust-wrappers. German text mostly with English translations that includes all the species descriptions in Vol. 4. ISBN 3 923807 04 X. DM520. Review of volumes | and 2 was given in 1999 Ent. Rec. 111: 5, 247-248. Now volumes 3 and 4 are published to complete this great work. It was anticipated by the author that these two volumes might prove to be the more attractive to a wider market as they combine superb illustrations with larval descriptions, hence the release of each pair separately although all four can be purchased together at the slightly reduced price of DM1030. In order that each pair of volumes should be self-contained, there is repetition of text of Vol. 1 in Vol. 4. Both volumes 3 and 4 contain much new material that maintains the high standard of scholarship and research backed by printing and presentation of the highest order. Volume 3. The early pages give frank and meaningful comment on the success and relevance of photography as a medium for the identification of larvae, its limitations and the size problem. Advice is offered on how to recognise last and penultimate instars and on the most important features that assist identification. The author’s pioneer work in inventing devices and procedures for description is updated in which characters can be actually measured in relation to other features. The figures and diagrams of Vol. | are repeated as are the Systematic List and literature references. The plates each display 18 figures 65mm x 45mm with the species numbered to conform with the sequence of the descriptions in Vol. 4. Splendid enlargements are presented of features significant for identification, such as prothoracic and anal plates, head and body markings. The photography is of a very high standard and the printing excellent. The poses are natural and attractive yet offer clear identification potential: shadow and the irritating highlight from flash are largely absent. The colours are life-like, even the greens are mostly pleasingly and individually natural, showing intersegmental folds in their true delicate overlay. The author 278 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.x1.2000 earlier laments that the limitations of space prohibit presentation of different aspects of all species so the endeavour has been made to display dorsal and lateral ornamentation in the same specimen and this is generally successful. Those most difficult of genera Oligia, Apamea, Amphipoea and the internal-feeders are all better than we have yet seen published and mainly allow for identification to the species, but the determination of Mythimna species remains as much dependent upon location and habitat as to illustration or description. Last instar Catocalids suffer from being reduced in size whereas the plates of Euxoa and Agrotis are outstanding. Volume 4. The important keys that lead first to the Noctuidae and second to the subfamilies, some tribes and some genera are repeated from the first volume and are given in German and English. The List of Abbreviations and Terms is also repeated along with the definitions. A key to genera of the Noctuinae (Noctuinae, Hadeniinae and Ipimorphinae but excluding Euxoa, Agrotis and Apameinae) is new. Other new and fascinating reading comprises: A thought-provoking Preface that reviews the basic concepts and raw material of classification of noctuid moths. An Abstract that examines the merits of larval and imaginal systematics. Comment on the accelerated development of the study of noctuid moth that summarises the more profound and relevant publications. Discussion on the merits and problems of modern systematics dependent upon adult structure, the over-valuation of genitalia, and appraisal of systems based on the hairy-eye and spiny tibiae that finally lay Hampson to rest. Appreciation of the morphospecies and of characters used to define higher taxa compared with those of the species. A summary of the marathon controversy over the niceties of noctuid systematics between Beck on the one hand and by Fibiger et a/ on the other, giving examples of species and genera at length. The bulk of the volume is devoted to “short” descriptions in German and English of the larva of each species prefaced by a crisp but revealing definition of its genus or higher taxon characteristics. Each subfamily or tribe is well discussed for both ornamental and morphological features. Well defined varietal forms are separately described under the epithet fl. with a given name, rather as adult variation has attracted ab. or var. Salient characters throughout all descriptions are printed in bold. The text uses all the conventions and abbreviations outlined in Beck’s List of Definitions and Terms again reproduced from Vol. 1 presented in both languages in combined alphabetical sequence. I again stress the importance of these volumes that will influence Noctuidae classification through the medium of their larvae, although the work is firmly based on the broadest principles that reflect evaluation of recent and current work by leading specialists. The field worker may feel more at home with vols. 3 and 4 and the serious student will find an abundance of learning in all volumes, while all of us sooner or later have to come to terms with the relationships of species and genera and the meaningful understanding of them; this work will enormously assist that goal. The four volumes make an exceedingly handsome and impressive set and the contents match their appearance. The price may seem high, but is no more than comparable volumes fetch today for less substance; here the subject matter is profoundly stimulating and brilliantly handled. Our debt to Dr Beck will be truly revealed only as the years pass. G.M. Haggett CORRIGENDA 219 CORRIGENDA The following corrections to the current volume have been notified to the Editor: Page 95, Table — existing line 3 in column 2 should be on line 4 as follows: Grooming Stationary; moving legs or antennae or defaecating Page 121, Acknowledgements — the text should thank Miss Christine Tilbury and Dr Tim Winter for advising that there are no records of D. autographus in south-east England in the Forestry Commission records. Page 125, Title — the first word should read LITHOSTYGNUS and not ITHOSTYGNUS Page 19, Table — Lycia zonaria britannica the Belted Beauty and Trichopteryx polycommata Barred-tooth-striped should have been listed in the Priority Species Action Plan column and not in the Species Statement column. Scotopteryx bipunctaria Chalk Carpet should have been in the Species Statement column and not in the Priority Species Action Plan column. Page 188, final book review, heading — the book A provisional atlas of the Pyralidae of Somerset was, of course, produced by the Somerset Moth Group and not by the Devon Moth Group as stated. From the Editor’s chair ... Five years on and I am still here, so I suppose I must be doing something right! Somehow we managed to get the journal out on the correct dates and, apart from a few minor postal delivery delays that are not at all our fault, everyone seems to have received their copy on time. We are so up to date with our backlog that we no longer have one. We have completely caught up with the annual immigration reviews, and that covering 1998 appears in this issue. The target is to produce these papers about 18 months to two years after the end of the year reviewed (it takes that long for information to be sent in and for it to be validated and typed up), so expect the review of 1999 to appear within the next six months. The annual review of the most important records of microlepidoptera is bang up to date, with that covering 1999 in the last issue of this volume. Our finances are satisfactory, and we survive this year with an extremely small profit that will be put back into producing more pages. No doubt everyone will be delighted to learn that this means we do not have to raise the subscription this year! 280 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 112 25.xi.2000 My analysis of the numbers of contributions published in each entomological category follows for volume 112. This year, the numbers in brackets following the current year’s totals are the totals for my five years as Editor. Readers will form their own conclusions and tell me, I am sure, if things are not progressing the way they wish. You can always write something yourself! Subject area Papers Notes and All Communications contributions British macro-moths 11 (41) 34 (122) 45 (163) British micro-moths 5(21) 23-102) 28 (123) British butterflies 4 (17) 13°'469) 17 (76) Foreign moths 0 (7) 1 (4) Leach) Foreign butterflies Zs) 4 (13) 6 (30) British beetles 5 (22) 24 (69) 20 (91) British flies 5 (10) 4 (25) OMG) Other orders (British) 2 (16) 8 (38) 10 (54) Miscellaneous topics 1A) 8 (57) 9 it) Book reviews -— (-) —- (-) 22 (116) Subscriber notices etc — (-) —- (-) 8 (38) Of course, as Sir Isaac Newton once wrote, for every reaction there is a reaction which is equal and opposite. Applied to this journal, this translates to something along the lines of “for every plus there is a minus”, a principal famously encapsulated, presumably later, by the infamous Murphy in his own “Law”. In this case, the minus is that we have caught up so totally that we have nothing left to publish! Of course, a particularly unkind season has not helped. Rain and low temperatures featured very strongly and, unless I had my own personal cloud which followed me everywhere as I travelled the country on various entomological contracts, this applied practically everywhere. Whether this is the infamous global warming is a matter for conjecture, though it occurs to me that if that hole in the ozone layer is at the root of the problem then “Maybe, just maybe” there is a use for “The Dome” after all. The upshot of it all is that there seems to have been nothing entomological of any interest for anyone to write about! It is interesting to note that over each of the last five years, the number of subscribers submitting an article for publication has ranged from 12.5% to 15.7% of all subscribers, with the average being 14.2%. Looking more closely at the number of articles submitted by each person, it seems that around 8% of subscribers are writing the journal for the other 92% to read. Can it really be that 92% of our readers really have passed an entire year without discovering anything at all that would be of interest to other entomologists? Interesting! Let us hope that, as we enter the real new millennium, this journal does not have to reduce the number of its pages in order to survive Colin W. Plant Continued from back cover Lacanobia w-latinum (Hufn.) (Lep.: Noctuidae) at Charlton, south-east London. A. A. Pe Ce fra as eee hh Sr Sagres ae Bote cst es AAU Ss SEs a ese oop alls i ge as haar Scam eyfae tReet 278 Hazards of butterfly collecting — late 1999. What is Brephidium exilis doing in the eM AMUtCAR SY MOLL TIC FICS. “CACTI CF xs, isso ies OMe ences see) eee Is this the return of the Wall Brown Lasiommata megera L. (Lep.: Nymphalidae)? Di GAD OWN he Rea alk Oe ee Oeil ata i SO a ee Red-necked Footman Atolmis rubricollis L. (Lep.: Arctiidae) in Essex. Joe Firmin .. Bledius talpa Gyll. (Col.: Staphylinidae) — a former British species? A.A. Allen ... Lepidoptera observed in Lanzarote during February 2000. A. P. Foster ............ Chrysoteuchia culmella (L.) (Lep.: Pyralidae) captured in September. Colin W. Plant Epiphyas postvittana (Walker) (Lep.: Tortricidae) assembling on a cool night in May. DEG Downie se ee te on AT er en enna ey Pune IE ALAR S29 6 dy ne Judolia cerambyciformis (Schrank) (Col.: Cerambycidae): The first Kent record. A. A AVON 8.5 when Gee ola 8 cd tote Se a ee ake Siete ces nk ee Continued on inside back cover SPECIAL NOTICE. 233-251 253-256 257-262 267-268 Za Dye 252 256 256 262-263 263-264 264 265-266 268 269 269 270 270 Zak 272 272 213 We would be willing to consider the purchase of a limited number of back issues. Printed in England by Cravitz Printing Company Limited, 1 Tower Hill, Brentwood, Essex CM14 4TA. Tel: 01277 224610 rie er » et : re : _ a f) 1 HECKMAN i rr SS BIN DE R Y, EN: ‘C: s Bound-To-Please® JUNE 01 N. MANCHESTER, INDIANA 46962 Mercer