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HARVARD UNIVERSITY 7 Library of the
Museum of
Comparative Zoology
at s hy
ite
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Entomologist’s Record
AND JOURNAL OF VARIATION
EDITED BY P. A. SOKOLOFF, F.R.E:S.
CONTENTS 1986
Acronycta alni L. (Lep., Noctuidae) in Kent. D. O’Keefe 253 Aglais urticae. Unusual Egg-Laying Stra- tegies of the Small Tortoiseshell
: Butterfly A. S. Pullin 9 Amphipyra berbera svenssoni (Fletcher) and the Mouse Amphipyra_trago- pogonis (Clerck) Lepidoptera Noc- tuidae. Unusual Foodplants of Svensson’s Copper Underwing E. G. Hancock and I. D. Wallace 7 Anarsia lineatella Zell. (Lep., Gele- chiidae). A Further Record of
A. M. Emmet 82 Anasimyia interpuncta Harris (Dipt., Syrphidae in the Thames Estuary Area. A Further Colony of C. W. Plant DD Antichloris eriphia Fab. (Lepidoptera Ctenuchidae) First Record for Britain. R. J. Barnett 240 Antigastra catalaunalis Duponchel (Lepi- doptera Pyralidae) in 1985, and an Account of its Previcus History. The Occurrence of J. M. Chalmers- Hunt PSI Apion pallipes Kirby W. (Col., Apionidae) in West Cumbria. R. W. J. Read
~ 124
Argyrotaenia pulchellana Haw. (Lep. Tortricidae) on Vitis vinifer P. Sokoloff 254 Aswan, Upper Egypt, December 1983. Buttertless trom J! "G," ‘Goutsis
176
Athous subfuscus Mull. (Col., Elateridae) in Surrey. A Few Remarks on
A. A. Allen 136 Baracaldine, Argyll, in 1982-1984. Rarer Moth Species at J.C. A. Craik 38 Beetles apparently Unrecorded from Surrey. Two D. A. Prance 165 Biselachista trapeziella Stainton (Lep., Elachistidae) for Scotland. A Be- lated Record of J. M. Chalmers-
Hunt 1097 Blastobasis lignea Wals. in November. A. A. Allen a) Brimstone Moth. A White R. T. Lowe 258
Book Talk Eight. J. M. Chalmers-Hunt
ZAD British Butterflies in 1984. A Review of C. J. Luckens ait
Bryotropha senectella (Zeller) (Lep., Gelechiidae) on Flowers of Leu- canium vulgare. R. J. Heckford
123
Bryotropha Species (Lep., Gelechiidae) on Flowers. H. N. Michaelis 250
Butterflies in Morocco. D. Hall 62
Cacoecimorpha pronubana (Hubner). Damage to Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) by M. A. Easter- brook 218
Cacoecimorpha pronubana Hubn. (Tor- tricidae). Foodplants of M. Parsons
196
Caloptilia rufipennella (Hubner) (Lep., Gracillaridae) in Kent. A. A. Emmet 1272
Cape Clear Island, Co. Cork, Ireland. An Autumn Visit to M. G. W. Terry
£7
Capperia britanniodactyla (Gregson) from West Scotland J. D. Wallace
L235
Celaena haworthii Curt. (Haworth’s Rus- tic) and Eupithecia tenuiata (Slen- der Pug) on Jersey 1984. A. M.
Riley 192 Celastrina argiolus Linn. in February. N. W. Lear 203
Ceramidia viridis Druce (Lep., Ctenuchi idae) A Further Record of F. N. H. Smith 166 Chilodes maritimus Tausch. Silky Wains- cot) in) Late “Summer. (G ss Blathwayt L272 Chrysodeixis chalcites Esp. (Golden Twin Spot) in Dorset. EF. H. Wild
30
Chrysolina banksi F. (Col.) in West Kent. A. A. Allen By Clouded Yellows in Fife in 1982. P. K. Kinnear 95
Coccinellids: Some Observations on an Old Controversy. Interspecific Hy- bridisation in the H. Ireland, P. Kearns, M. Majerus 181
iv
Cochylis flavicilliana (Westwood) (Lep. Tortricidae) and Phycitodes saxt- cola (Vaughan) Lep., Pyralidae) in Bedfordshire A. M. Riley 230
Coenagrion pulchellum (v. d. Linden) (Odonata, Coenagriidae) in Che- shire and parts of its Adjacent Counties in the 100KM square SJ (33). The Past and Present Statusof the Damselfly S. Judd Si
Coleophora taeniipennella H.-S. (Lep., Coleophoridae). A Hitherto Un- recorded Foodplant of A. M. Emmet 81
Comma Butterfly attempting to Copu- late with a Small Tortoiseshell.
R. Hobbs 165 Coleoptera in 1985. A Few Late Dates for A. A. Allen 222
Cosmopterix orichalcea Stainton (Lep., Momphidae) E. C. Pelham Clinton
143
Cryptophagidae (Coleoptera) occurring at Loch Garten, Inverness-shire. Notes on Some J. A. Owen 219 Cucullia lychnitis Ramb. (The Striped Lychnis) in West Sussex J. W. Phillips 46 Curate’s Ovum. R. S. Wilkinson 24 Current Literature: » 35,)36, 83; 84, 2S NZS. 170, 72, 203-2116, 259-263. Diachrisia orichalcea (Fabricius). The Early Stages D. G. Sevastopulo 31 Dragon Fly. A Spider-eating R. A.
Jones 255 Duke of Burgundy. Egg Batch Size in the D. Stokes 256
Ectropis crepuscularia (D. & S.) in Essex in 1984. An Apparent pronounced Second Generation of G. A. Pyman
118
Ectropis crepuscularia (D. & S.). Second
Generation of E. C. Pelham Clinton
119 Edinburgh’s Clouded Drab Summer. M. R. Shaw 79
Egira conspicillaris L. (The Silver Cloud). Notes on the Finding of eggs in the Wild J. Platts 78 Eilema complana (L.) from South West Scotland. Probable Records of the Scarce Footman B. Wallace, I. D. Wallace 210
Elachista unifasciella Haw. and Bryo- tropa politella Stt. in Hampshire. D. H. Sterling 169 Emus hirtus (Linn.) (Col., Staphilinidae) in Gloucestershire (Vice County 34) The Capture of V. W. Lear 135 Erynnis tages L.. The Larval Foodplants of NV. W. Lear 82 Ethmia bipunctella F. and E. sexpunctella Hubn. in Sussex. A. A. Allen
169 Eupithecia. Delayed Emergence in P. A. Cattermole 230
Eupithecia distinctaria H.-S.: Thyme Pug (Lep., Geometridae) in Ross-shire
A. M. Riley 81 Eupithecia goossensiata Mab. (the Ling Pug) and £. absinthiata Cl. (The Wormwood Pug) (Lep.,Geometrida).
A Review of the Status of A. M. Riley 85 Eupithecia lariciata Freyer (Larch Pug). Suspected Second Brood of A. M. Riley 207 Eupithecia tenuiata Hubn. (Slender Pug) in Inverness-shire A. M. Riley 125, 164
Euproctis similis (Fuessly) (Lep., Lyman- triidae) The Early Instars of the Larva of A. M. Emmet 2) (Eurodryas aurinia Rott.) in Dumbarton- shire. The Marsh Fritilary R. Cain
69
Eustrotia bankiana F. (The Silver Barred) in Hampshire L. J. L. Tillotson 36 Euzophera bigella (Zell.) and Euchro- mius ocellea (Haw.) (Lep., Pyra- lidae) in Yorkshire. A. M. Riley
2? Francillon F. L. S.: A Few Facts. John C. F. Cowan 139
Halipus apicalis Thoms. (Col.) in Fresh Water in the London Suburbs A. A.
Allen 32 Harminius undulatus (Degeer). Notes on the biology of J. A. Owen 90 Hawkmoth in Gardens. The Number of Species of D. F. Owen 24 Hecatera dysodea D. “& (Sa Phe Small Ranunculus. A Modern Review of the Demise of C. Pratt
70, 114, 154
Heliophorus griseus Ubst. (Col. Hy- drophilidae) in S. E. London.
A. A. Allen gl Heterogenera asella (D. & S.) in North Hampshire. First Record of the Triangle: 7. G. Winter 210 Hipparchia neomiris Godart (Lep., Saty- ridae) at Sea Level in Corsica.
D. F. Owen 163 Hyles livornica livornica (Lepidoptera) Sphingidae) from South West Ire- land. Spring Records of L. Wright
10
Hypena obsitalis Hbn. in Kent. The Bloxworth Snout G. H. Youden 8 Hypena rostralis L. (Buttoned Snout) in the Chilterns. Population Ex- plosion of D. Wedd 80 Immigration of Lepidoptera to the British Isles in 1985. R. F. Bret- herton and J. M. Chalmers-Hunt
159, 204, 223 ‘Just a Short Series” F. H. N. Smith 166
Karpathos with Notes on WHipparchia christenseni Kudrna. The Butterflies of the Greek Island A. Riemis 149 Kefalonia, Zakynthos, Samos and Chios Islands (Greece) and the Kusadasi Region (S. W. Turkey) in 1983 and 1984. Rhopalocera from D. E. Gaskin, E. A. Littler - - 186 Leopard in Brief. A. W. Plant Zi) Lepidoptera of one Site near Cahors, France, from 23rd to 30th June 1984. Observations on the A. Spalding 147 Leucodonta bicoloria D. & S. in the Channel Islands NV. W. Lear 138 Leucodonta_ bicoloria Schiff. (Lep., Notodontidae) (The White Promi- nent) — a possible occurrence in Dorseta tS) MessaSi7 Browns 173 Leucoma salicis L. (White Satin Moth) in Hereford. Recent increase in B. E. Miles 6 Limnoporus rufoscutellatus (Heterop- tera, Gerridae) breeding in Ireland. A. M. Murray 167 Lithophane leautieri hesperica Bours. and Thera britannica Turn. in Norfolk in 1985. M. R. Hall 124 (Lithophane leautieri hesperica Bours) in North Worcestershire. Blair’s Shoulderknot M. D, Bryan 164
(Lithophane leautieri hesperica Bours) in Staffordshire. Blair’s Shoulder-
knot R. G. Warren 259 Low Plants’. “It is found on all sorts of D. F. Owen
Lygephila craccae Fab. (Scarce Black- neck) in S. W. Cornwall. B. K. West
148
(Lygephila pastinum Treits.) in Stafford- shire. The Blackneck A. G. Warren
250 Lymantria dispar L. in Dorset. E. H. Wild 21
Macroglossum stellatarum L. (Humming Bird Hawk-Moth) in Devon. H. L. O’Heffernan 28
Mesapamea secalis (L.) and Mesapamea secalis (L.) and Mesapamea seca- lella Remm. (Lep., Noctuidae). The Genitalia of the Species Pair M. J. R. Jordan 41
Mesapamea Species. Some Practical Hints for Treating D. Agassiz 45
Microlepidoptera Records from Somer-
set. R. J. Heck ford 193 Microlepidoptera. Some Records of Scottish K. P. Bland 25 Migrant Records for 1985 D. E. Wilson 164
Mompha lacteella (Stephens) on Epilo- bium montanum, R. J. Heckford
11
Montpellier Region of Southern France. Butterflies of the R. D. J. Tilley
106
Mordellistena costa (Col., Mordellidae) Resembling parvula Gyll. On the British Species of A. A. Allen 47 Morocco. Butterflies in D. Hall 62 Mylothris chloris agathina Cramer (Lep., Pieridae) A Species which has Extended its Range of Distribution from the Easterly Part of South Africa to the Extreme Western Cape. A. J. M. Claassens and
C. G. C. Dickson 1 Mythimna loreyi Dup. (Lep., Noctuidae) in Cornwall. B. K. West 120
Mythimna loreyi (Dup.) (The Cosmo- politan) in West Wales. 1. J. L. Tillotson 61
Neuraphes talparum Lokay (Col., Scy- maenidae) recaptured in London A. A. Allen 174
v1
Ochthera spp. (Dipt., Ephydridae) A Correction A. A. Allen 89 Orange Tip in Fife P. K. Kinnear 123 Opsiphanes tamarindi Felder and Felder (Lep., Nymphalidae, Brassolinae). A Further British Record of D. A. Lott 256 Opisphanes tamarindi Felder and Felder (Lepidoptera, Satyridae) in Britain C. R. Bristow 96 Pararge aegeria L. in North East Scot- land. Expansion of Range of the Speckled Wood Butterfly D. A.
Barbour 98 Pararge aegeria L. (Speckled Wood) in Fife. P. K. Kinnear Pai
Pararge aegeria L. (Speckled Wood) in Wester Ross. A. J. Showler 174 Parascotia fuliginaris L. (Waved Black) in South Hampshire R. A. Mackin- tosh a2 Parornix carpinella (Frey 1863) A Dis- tinct Species from P. fagivora (Frey 1861) (Lep., Gracillariidae)
A. M. Emmet 144 Peacock Butterfly Overwintering in Fife P. K. Kinnear 259
Peribatodes secundaria D. & S. (Lep., Selidosemidae) Feeding at Ragwort
B. K. West 28 Phragmatobia fuliginosa L. (Lep., Arc- tiidae) Some Aspects of the Natural History of the Ruby Tiger Moth
B. K. West 129 (Phyllodesma ilicifolia (Linn.)) still Re- sident in Britain. V. W. Lear 138 Phyllonorycter comparella Dup. Feeding on Populus nigra R. Fairclough 81 Phyllonorycter distentella (Zeller 1846) Univoltine in Britain. A. M. Emmet
168
Platypalpus articulatoides (Frey.) (Dipt., Empididae) New to Britain. A, A. Allen 177 Plea minutissima Fuessly (Heteroptera, Pleidae) in West Cumbria R. W. J. Read 124 Polygonia c-album L., The Comma Butterfly: A History and Investi- gations into the Fluctuations of
C Pratt 197, 244 Pyralidae and Pterophoridae (Lep.) in North Wales H. N. Michaelis 231
Pyrrhia umbra (Hufn.) The Bordered Sallow on Young Hazel Coppice.
P. Waring 80 Pyrgus malvae L. in Mid-July. A. A. Allen 61
Rannoch: August 1985. Around J. M™. Chalmers-Hunt and G. Chatelain 29 Rhodometra sacraria Linn. (The Vestal) in Berwickshire A. G. Long 123 Rhopalocera Recorded in Andorra during 1981 and 1983 K. D. Z.
Samuels 11 Sceliodes laisalis (Walker) (Pyralidae) in _ Leicestershire D. F. Owen 203
Scolopostethus puberulus Hor. and Lim- noporus rufoscutellatus (Latreille) (Hemiptera) in Ireland, J. P. O’Connor 33
Scopula emutaria Hubn. (Lep., Geo- metridae). The Feral Larva of the
Rosy Wave, J. Platts 137 Scottish Lepidoptera in 1985. Interes- ting K. P. Bland 241
Scydmaenus rufus Mull. & Kunze (Col.): an Ecological Note. A. A. Allen
211
Scydmaenus rufus Mull. & Kunze (Col., Scydmaeniidae) A Note about J. A.
Owen 78 Sitochroa palealis D. & S. (Lep., Pyra- lidae) M. A. Easterbrook 256 Spilosoma Luteum Hufn. (Buff Ermine). A Late A. A. Allen 61 Sugaring. A New Technique of B. Goater 37
Synanthedon culiciformis (Lepidoptera, Sesiidae) K. P. Bland and K. R. Watt
bas
Synanthedon myopaeformis (Bork.) in Herefordshire (V.C. 36) The Red- Belted Clearwing J. Cooter 82 Syndyas nigripes Zett. (Diptera: Hyboti- dae) in Somerset. J. F. G. McLean
30
Temperatures Associated with the Blue Butterfly at Malvern in January
1983 J. E. Green 39 “Testaceous’’ in Entomology. A Note on the term A. A. Allen 254
Thaumatopia processionea L. (Oak Pro- cessionary Moth) and Lymantria dispar L. (Gipsy Moth) on Jersey, 1984. A. M. Riley 146
Thera cupressata Geyer: A Species of Geometrid Moth New to _ the Channel Islands. P. D. M. Costen and 7. N. D. Peet PANT
Tineola_ bisselliella (Hum.) (The Com- mon Clothes Moth) in Notting-
hamshire. M. Sterling DW Triaxomasia caprimulgella Stt. in S. E. London A. A. Allen D5),
Trifurcula beirnei Puplesis, 1984 (pali- della sensu auct.) (Lep., Nepticu- lidae) in South Hampshire. A. M. Emmet 134
Trox scaber (Col.) in Epping Forest, and a Habitat Note. A. A. Allen
53
Vanessa cardui L. and Hyles livornica Esp. in North Africa, April 1985. D. Hall 40
Xanthorrhoe biriviata Bork. (Lep., Geo- metridae) in Kent. D. O’Keefe
256
Zophopetes dismephila (Trimen) A But- terfly Introduced into the Extreme Western Cape on Palms. A. J. M. Claassens and C. G. C. Dickson
4 Current literature 35, 36, 83,84, 125-128, 170-172, 213-216, 259-263
CONTRIBUTORS
Agassiz D. J. L. 45 Allen A. A. 32, 37, 47, 61, 89 121 136, 153, 169: VAM 2 D2 254, 250
Barbour D. A. 98
Barnett, R. J. 240
Bland K. P. 25, 113, 241 Blathwayt C. S. H.
Bretherton R. F. 159, 204, 223 Bristow C. R. 96
Brown S.C. S. 173
Bryan M.D. 164
Cain R. 69
Cattermole P. A. 230
Chalmers-Hunt J. M. 29, 192, DOAS2LON223» 251
Chatelain R. G. 29
vii
Claassens A. J. M. 1 Cooter J. 82 Costen P. D: M. 217 Coutsis J. G. 176 Cowan C. F. 139 Craik JC vAs 38
Dickson C. G.C. 1, 4
Easterbrook M. A. 218, 256 Emnret A. M> Si) 82°97" 12255134 144, 168
Fairclough R. 81
Gaskin D. E. 186 Goater B. 37 Green J. A. 39
Hall D. 62
Hall M. R. 124
Hall U. K. D. 40
Hancock E. G. 7
Hecktords R- Jn 6), 12 1235. 098 Hobbs R. 165
Ireland H. 181
Jones R. A. 255 Jordan M. J. R. 41 Judd, 8.57
Kearns P. 181, 259 Kinnear PK 21955 123
Lear, N. W. 82, 135, 138, 203 Littler E. A. 186
Long A. G. 123
Lott D. A. 256
Lowe R. T. 258
Luckens C. J. 51
Mackintosh R. A. 32 Majerus M. 181
McLean I. F. G. 30 Michaelis H. N. 231, 250 Miles B. E. 6
Murray A. M. 167
O’Connor J. P. 32 O’Heffernan H. L. 28 O’Keefe D. 253, 356 Owen D. F. 24, 179, 203
Vili
Parson M. 196
Peet T. N. D. 217
Pelham Clinton E. C. 119, 143 Phillips J. W. 46
Plant C. W. 22, 257
Platts 3. 78. 137
Prance D. A. 165
Pullin A. S. 9
Pyman G. A. 118
Read R. W. J. 124, 146 Riemis A. 149 Riley A. M. 81, 85, 125, 164, 19222 07 2A 230
Samuels K. D. Z. 11 Sevastopulo D. G. 31 Shaw M.R. 79 Showler A. J. 174 Smith F. N. H. 166 Sokoloff P. 254 Spalding A. 147
Sterling D. H. 169 Sterling M. 212 Stokes D. 256
Terry M.G. W. 175 Tilley R. D. J. 106 Tillotson L. J. L. 36, 61
Wallace B. 210 Wallace I. D. 7, 123 Waring P. 80
Warren A. G. 250, 259 Watt K. R. 113
Wedd D. 80
West B. K. 28, 120, 129, 148 Wild EF. H221, 30 Wilkinson R. 24 Wilson D. E. 164 Winter T. G. 210 Wright L. 10
Youden G. H. 8
Printed by Frowde & Co. (Printers) Ltd., London, SE5 8RR
Vol. 98 Nos. 1-2 January/February 1986 ISSN 0013-8916
THE ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD
AND JOURNAL OF VARIATION
Edited by P. A. SOKOLOFF, M. Sc., C.Biol., M. I. Biol., F.R.ES.
with the assistance of
A. A. ALLEN, B.SC., A.R.C.S. P. J. CHANDLER. B.SC., F.R.ES. NEVILLE BIRKETT, M.A., M.B. C. A. COLLINGWOOD, B:SC., F.R.E.S. S. N. A. JACOBS, F.R.E.S. J. HEATH, F.R.E.S., F.L.S.
J. D. BRADLEY, PH.D., F.R.E.S. E. S. BRADFORD
Lieut. Col. A. M. EMMET, M.B.E., T.D., F.R.E.S. J. M. CHALMERS-HUNT, F.R.E.S. C. J. LUCKENS, M.B., CH.B., D.R.C.O.G.
MCZ LIBRARY
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MYLOTHRIS CHLORIS AGATHINA IN S. AFRICA l
MYLOTHRIS CHLORIS AGATHINA (CRAMER) (LEPIDOPTERA: PIERIDAE),
A SPECIES WHICH HAS EXTENDED ITS RANGE OF DISTRIBUTION FROM THE EASTERLY PART OF SOUTH AFRICA TO THE EXTREME WESTERN CAPE
By A. J.M. CLAASSENS PhD.,M.Sc..* and C. G.C. DICKSON M.Sc. **
Mylothris chloris agathina (Dotted Border) has been known to migrate to some extent and has previously been recorded from Aber- deen (Mr. and Mrs. Wykeham); from Port Elizabeth; and in 1965 from Knysna, where C. G. C. D. found it not uncommonly, despite no sightings known previously, to us, from there. Since 1976 A. J. M. C. found it to be plentiful at Plettenberg Bay, Sedgefield, the Wilderness and George, and he found it later in Swellendam, where its presence was confirmed by R. J. Southey, on 11th March, 1981. But up till fairly recently it was only firmly established well to the east of Port Elizabeth. Trimen, in S. A. Butt. III: 32 (1889), mentions it as becoming numerous “about King William’s Town”. It has always been common at East London.
Agathina’s great trek to the extreme west seems to have started in about 1980; although the initial movement from well within the Eastern Cape itself evidently preceded, considerably, the final migration. B. van der Riet states in Metamorphosis No. 6, April, 1984, that he noticed the butterfly at Hermanus and Onrust Rivier in the early 1980’s. Dr. J. Ball observed a specimen in good con- dition at Somerset West on Ist March, 1981. In the following year he caught two examples in his garden at Pinelands, on 6th and 14th March. Far more northerly records of his, for mid-April, 1983, have been, from: Clanwilliam, the Pakhuis Pass, Wupperthal, Grey’s Pass and Citrusdal. Claassens found a flourishing colony at Greyton in early 1981; and where the species still occurred in January, 1982. He recorded it also from Hermanus in January, 1982, from Ceres in late May, 1982, from Onrust Rivier in December, 1982 and from
*203 High Level Road, Sea Point, Cape, South Africa. ** “Blencathra”’, Cambridge Avenue, Cape Town, South Africa.
Legend to plate I
Mylothris chloris agathina (Cramer). Fig. 1. larvae, final instar, on Col- poon compressum Berg. (X0.5); Fig. 2. pupae (x0.9); Fig. 3. male, under- side (x0.9); Fig 4. male and female uppersides (x0.4) Zophopetes dysme- phila dysmephila (Trimen). Fig. 5. eggs on palm leaf; Fig. 6. final instar larva on palm leaf (x0.85); Fig. 7. exposed pupae (x1.1) : Fig. 8. male and’ female uppersides (x0.59). (The recorded degree of reduction or en-
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2 | ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD, VOL. 98 25 1.1986
Mossel Bay in early July, 1984. Other lepidopterists have sighted the butterfly in the following places:—
C. W. Wykeham: at Claremont in early March, 1981; in the Oranjezicht district of Cape Town a little later in the year; at Ottery, in the Cape Peninsula and at Gordon’s Bay on 20th August, 1982; at Tulbagh-Kloof on Sth September, 1982 and at Strandfontein in November, 1982; also on the Waai Hoek Mtns. on March, 1984; Dr. D. M. Kroon: In Kogelberg Reserve, west of Kleinmond, in the first half of April, 1981; G. J. Howard: in his garden at Lakeside on 17th April, 1982; and his son William at Kalk Bay on 22nd April, 1982: T. Waters and H. Selb: at Kleinmond in numbers on 16th December, 1981 and at the same place in the later part of July, 1982; also many specimens at Kleinmond and Gordon’s Bay on 31st December, 1982. Dr. J. Giliamee of Stellenbosch referred in a letter of 21-9-82 to hundreds of specimens having been seen just outside Gordon’s Bay; and his having seen specimens in his own garden, for the first time, on September, 1981.
Since 1983 agathina has been common in the South Western Cape, especially in the coastal areas including the entire Cape Penin- sula. It has been established with certainty that the butterfly breeds readily in its new westerly territories and that its food-plant is the widely distributed shrub, Colpoon compressum Berg. (Santalaceae).
Dickson reared many larvae and pupae, and finally 32 imagines, from eggs laid in captivity. Three females caught at Michell’s Pass (near Ceres) in late May, 1982, by Claassens in the company of his wife, oviposited readily on leaves of the food-plant collected in Cape Town, and provided the material for the above rearing of the species as well as the photographs in the article. He also successfully reared many imagines from eggs laid by the butterfly on the food-plant in Blinkwater Gorge, at Camp’s Bay, and found by Claassens in late April, 1984.
Dr. Mark Williams mentioned in Metamorphosis, No. 6, April, 1984, that he had found the species, commonly, all over the slopes of the Muizenberg Mtns., above St. James, and had found larvae feeding on Colpoon compressum, in January, 1984.
The somewhat barrel-shaped eggs, bright yellow in appearance, are generally laid on the underside of the leaves, and in batches, with as many as 82 eggs in one. case, in one batch. The larvae emerged from the eggs after about 24 days of incubation. Emerging larvae ate the egg shells and sometimes the shells of neighbouring eggs from which larvae were emerging, as well as unfertilised eggs. The larvae cluster together in a strange manner, presumably as a protective measure, when resting, and are then hardly distinguishable indivi- dually as larvae. When disturbed the clustered larvae quickly descend from their resting place by means of a silken tread, thus rendering themselves inconspicuous among the foliage and allowing them to escape from predators. More recently, a considerable group of cap-
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4 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD, VOL. 98 251.1986
tive final-instar larvae were seen to move in well-defined proces- sionary formation when temporarily removed from their container.
From the literature consulted the final-instar larvae should have dull-red or red-brown intersegmental bands, but this was not so in any of the present final-instar larvae, in which the bands were devoid of any decidedly reddish tone. There are five larval instars. In the case of the present observations one batch of larvae attained full growth and pupated in about 53 days and the butterflies emerged from the pupae after about 20 days. There was little disparity in the incubation period of the different groups of eggs and the rate of development of the resultant larvae. Our observations represent, of course, those of a Cape winter brood of the species. The butterfly occurs throughout the year, if not equally plentiful in all months.
For the entire life-history of Mylothris chloris agathina, by the late Gowan C. Clark, see Van Son’s work, The Butterflies of Southern Africa, Pt. 1 : 225-6, Pl. XL. (1949). The plate is, however, only a half-tone reproduction.
ZOPHOPETES DYSMEPHILA DYSMEPHILA (TRIMEN), A BUTTERFLY INTRODUCED INTO THE EXTREME WESTERN CAPE ON PALMS
By A. J.M.CLAASSENS Ph.D.,M.Sc..and C. G. C. DICKSON MSc.
Zophopetes dysmephila dysmephila, known by its English name as the Palm Nightfighter, belongs to the family Hesperiidae (Skip- pers). The natural haunts of this butterfly are found in the Eastern Cape, Natalland the Transvaal (but not the Highveld portions there- of), where it breeds on the common Date Palm, Phoenix dactylifera L. and another palm species, P. reclinata Jack.
The butterfly was first recorded from the Cape Peninsula by K. Gallon, from her home at Claremont on 10th September, 1980. Her identification of the specimen was confirmed by C.G.C. Dickson. Subsequent observations revealed that the early stages of the Skipper occurred on the Date Palms growing in the surrounding garden. This discovery of the butterfly in the extreme Western Cape was soon followed by the capture of specimens and records of early stages on Date Palms in a number of localities near and in the Cape Peninsula. Claassens and Dickson found the eggs and larvae of the butterfly on palms at Kirstenbosch on 24th May, 1981. The photographs of the early stages appearing in this article were taken from material collected at Kirstenbosch. G. J. Howard found eggs and larvae near his house at Lakeside on an earlier date. D. van der Walt caught a number of specimens on his veranda at Rondebosch,
ZOPHOPETES DYSMEPHILA ON PALMS 5 and Dr. J. B. Ball has observed the butterfly feeding at Flowers in his garden at Pinelands. Others who have observed it, in the suburbs of Cape Town, have been Messrs. A. K. Brinkman, L. A. C. Buchanan and W. J. Copenhagen, who apparently was the first one to capture the butterfly here, without realising its significance or identifying it initially. The first specimen to be found in Cape Town itself was a dead one, picked up by V. Wykeham in the house of his father on 27th February, 1983. The early stages were then located readily on Date Palms in the vicinity of the house. The presence of the species in the centre of Cape Town was indicated, subsequently, when Dickson observed leaves which had been partly eaten by larvae on palms in the grounds of the Houses of Parliament. He also found larvae on Date Palms in his own garden. Claassens found the early stages on a young Date Palm in a garden at Hout Bay (Beach Estate). He also found them on P. canariensis and another palm, tentatively identified as Chrysalidocarpus (Areca) lutescens, the Butterfly Palm, standing between specimens of P. canariensis. The latter two records were from two nurseries, one at Hout Bay and the other at Constantia. These nurseries are supplied with young palms by Transvaal nurseries. No doubt other nurseries in the Cape Peninsula and in the South Western Cape introduced the early stages of Z. d. dysmephila in this way into these areas, and this introduction may well have started many years ago.
It may be mentioned that Messrs. V. L. and E. L. Pringle of Bedford, Cape, maintain that specimens of this species from Port Elizabeth (previously the butterfly’s most western known limit) are darker than those from other localities and that, in their opinion, they represent at least another race.
At Kirstenbosch, Claremont, etc., the butterfly has established itself permanently and there must be other suitable areas where it has occurred for a number of years. In nurseries the larvae of this Skipper can do considerable damage to the leaves of young palms. On large palm trees the damage is negligible. A. L. de Villiers and C. R. McDowell (1982) pointed out that the introductions of plants from one part of the country into another can be a stepping stone to introductions of another kind. These authors referred to the Palm Skipper (as it is also called) as an example. A matter of interest which has not been investigated at all in the case of dysmephila is the fact that, together with the early stages, insect parasites not indigenous to the Peninsula may have been introduced there. G. C. Clark (1978) recorded parasites from all three early stages of this species.
Dysmephila is crepuscular and is thus not often seen in the day- time. It visits flowers at dusk and tends to be attracted to light. It is, therefore, perhaps surprising that the butterfly had not been recorded from the Cape Peninsula many years ago. It does, how- ever, resemble a moth and this fact coupled with the butterfly’s
6 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD, VOL. 98 25 1.1986 habit of flying at dusk may have confused people, who are, generally speaking, not interested in moths. In the Cape Peninsula dysmephila appears to breed all the year round, but the main breeding season is during summer. C. W. Wykeham caught a fresh specimen when it was at rest on a Banana plant in his garden at about 2.30p.m., on 16th June, 1984. The butterfly can be reared easily from any of the early stages. The larvae, however, need to be supplied with fresh palm leaves of the right kind. For the complete life-history, with beautiful illustrations in colour, see Clark, loc. cit. One of the most striking habits of the larvae of dysmephila is the manner in whch they construct a shelter. After eating the egg-shell the larva com- mences, very soon, to construct a shelter for itself near the end of a leaf, the halves of which are brought together with silken strands. They are not, however, pulled together by the larva, the process being a gradual one through, apparently, the contraction of the successive strands of silk. The extremity of the leaf is first eaten, and the larva then moves down the leaf, extending the shelter as it does so. Finally, it should be stated that there are no indigenous palms in the Cape Peninsula. The Date Palm, which is so common here today, was presumably introduced by the early Dutch settlers, possibly centuries ago.
References
Clark, G. C., 1978, in Pennington’s Butterflies of Southern Africa, Edited by C. G. C. Dickson, with the collaboration of Dr. D.M. Kroon. Ad. Donker, Johannesburg.
De Villiers, A. L. and McDowell, C. R., 1982. The indigenous exotic vegetation of Table Mountain. African Wildlife, 36 (3) : 120.
Trimen, Roland. 1889. S$. A. Butt. Ili : 327-29. (Contains most interesting observations on the habits of the species by Colonel J. H. Bowker, in the Eastern Cape (as previously constituted) and Natal.)
RECENT INCREASE IN LEUCOMA SALICIS L. (WHITE SATIN MOTH ) INHEREFORD — I have run an my. light in Hereford City since 1973 and the numbers of this insect have increased drama- tically over this period, as the following records show. The number of individuals is given in brackets : 1973-1977 (0) : 1978 (1) ; 1979 (2) ; 1980-1982 (0) ; 1983 (17) : 1984 (70), with 35 on July Sth ; 1985 (68) with 31 on July 8th.
My orchard on the banks of the River Wye would seem an ideal habitat with a large variety of willows and poplars. Dr. M. Harper tells me that he has noticed an increase in this species in his garden near Ledbury. Is this phenomenon local or more widespread? — Dr. B. E. MILES, 68 Hampton Park Road, Hereford, HR1 1TJ.
FOODPLANTS OF AMPHIPYRA SPP. 7
UNUSUAL FOODPLANTS OF SVENSSON’S COPPER UNDERWING (AMPHIPYRA BERBERA SVENSSONI FLETCHER) AND THE MOUSE (AMPHIPY RA TRAGOPOGINIS {|CLERCK] ), LEPIDOPTERA: NOCTUIDAE
By E. G. HANCOCK * and I. D. WALLACE **
Since the separation of Amphipyra berbera svenssoni from A. pyramidea (L.) (Fletcher, 1968), the possible list of foodplants remains small. According to Bretherton et al., (1983) only ‘oak (Quercus spp.) is recorded with certainty.
On several occasions recently we have found larvae of A. berbera svenssoni in circumstances which appear to indicate a wider range of possible foodplants. On 16 June, 1983 one of us (E.G.H.) found a larvain the panicle of a white cultivar of the lilac (Syringa vulgaris). The camouflage was extremely effective amongst the loose flowers and the resemblance to a sphingid larva was noticeable. In the opinion that this was an accidental association, other foodplants were offered, birch (Betula pendula Roth), which overhangs the lilac shrub and Rosa spp. which grow nearby in the same garden in Bolton, Lancashire (grid ref. SD712118). These were all rejected in favour of the flowers of lilac which were consumed for seven days before pupation. The mature larva matched exactly the description given in Bretherton, et al. (1983) and the adult emerged on 6 July, 1933"
On discussion, it was discovered that similar experiences had occurred to the other author (1.D.W.). A larva which reared out as A. berbera svenssoni was found on 14 June 1978 eating young rhododendron (Rhododendron ponticum Linn.) leaves at Cole Mere, Shropshire (grid ref. SJ43-33-). The plant was growing at the base of a bare-trunked sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus Linn.) in the middle of a trampled area. It seems likely that the larva had fallen from the sycamore and not finding any other leaves had turned to rhododendron.
In captivity it ate both sycamore and rhododendron. (A november moth larva, Epirrita dilutata (D. & S.) found at the same place only ate rhododendron when offered a choice and also successfully emerged.) Two larvae of A.b. svenssoni were found also eating the leaves of rhododendron forming the shrub layer under tall trees (species not recorded) by the Nant Felin Blwm, Fynnongroyw, Clwyd (grid ref. SJ138888), on 1 June 1982. These-larvae were particularly fond of rhododendron flowers. Quaker larvae (Orthosia sp.) found at the same time starved rather than eat the alien plant.
* Giasgow Museums and Galleries, Kelvingrove, Glasgow, G3 8AG. ** Merseyside County Museums, William Brown Street, Liverpool, L3 8EN.
8 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD, VOL. 98 25 1.1986
Once again it seems likely that all the caterpillars had fallen from the deciduous trees above .
At least one other species of this genus shows a predeliction for flowers as a food source. To quote Barrett (1899), Amphipyra tragopoginis (Clerck) is “very fond of the blossoms of garden flowers and apparently of yellow flowers whether cultivated or wild .. . I have noticed its liking for the handsome yellow blossoms of Eschscholzia californica (California poppy) in the hollow of which it will lie through the day and eat the petals at night”. In confirma- tion of this a larva of this species was found (I.D.W.) feeding on the flowers of monkey-flower (Mimulus guttatus DC) at Bettisfield, Clwyd (grid ref. SJ466356). It would only eat the flowers and was the only insect found feeding on an extensive stand of the plant. The adult emerged successfully. s
The small number of insect species which have managed to colonise rhododendron and other established alien plants indicates the potential interest in relatively large lepidopterans feeding on such plants. Further observations on this genus of moths might be of value in making any deductions concerning the biological im- plications of this behaviour.
References
Barrett, C. G. (1899) The Lepidoptera of the British Islands, 5:254.
Bretherton, R. F., Goater, B. and Lorimer, R. I. (1983) in Heath, J. (Ed.) The Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland, 10: 153-158.
Fletcher, D.S., (1968) Amphipyra pyramidea (Linn.) and A. berbera Rungs (Lep., Noctuidae), two species confused Ent. Gazette, 19: 91-106.
THE BLOXWORTH SNOUT HYPENA OBSITALIS HBN. IN KENT — On 18th August 1985_I found a specimen of this rare moth in my m.v. trap, which I operate in my garden. This appears to be the ninth recorded British specimen and the first for Kent. On referring to J. M. Chalmers-Hunt’s note (Ent. Rec. 95 (1983) p.126) I find that recent records — Scilly (1962) Dorset (1965) Sussex (1983) and now Kent (1985) indicate a spread eastwards. Does this mean a mig- ration in each of these years, each in a more easterly direction or is the species established and spreading eastwards? If the latter it is surprising that it survived last winter. The food plant is given as nettle which is plentiful in various parts of the garden. The species hibernates in the perfect state and in Malta where the moth is very common, it is said to occur all the year round. (Ent. Rec. 95 (1983) p.74) G.H. YOUDEN, 18 Castle Avenue, Dover.
EGG LAYING IN SMALL TORTOISHELL 9 UNUSUAL EGG LAYING STRATEGIES OF THE SMALL TORTOISESHELL BUTTERFLY, AGLAIS URTICAE
By A. S. PULLIN *
The small tortoiseshell is normally thought of as a butterfly which lays eggs in batches on the underside of the leaves of the stinging nettle, Urtica dioica. The result of this being that the ensuing brood of larvae, all from a single female, live gregariously up until their final instar and presumably gain advantage in terms of survivability by doing so (Stamp 1980, Chew and Robbins 1983, Courtney 1984).
Recent observations by the Author on the oviposition be- haviour of the small tortoiseshell complicate this otherwise simple strategy. Whilst recording oviposition on large nettle patches during June and July 1984 females were observed laying eggs on top of previously deposited egg batches. The mechanism by which the female locates previously layed eggs is not known, however female searching behaviour was only of a limited nature, the butterfly would alight on a small number of nettle leaves and investigate the underside before oviposition. This behaviour could not be distin- guished from the apparently normal situation where the female eventually chooses an ‘eggless’ leaf on which to oviposit.
Further evidence for this strategy of egg-laying has come from observations on the composition of larvae on nettle patches. First instar groups collected were found to be unusually large in some cases ( > 150). Larvae collected at a later stage commonly fell into two developmental groups, one group being one or two days behind the other. The numbers of larvae belonging to each group in the latter situation were not always of the same order and further investigation is being undertaken.
It seems to me that there may be several explanations for the above behaviour. The most obvious is that a female is returning to a previously deposited egg batch to lay additional eggs, implying the ability to memorise locations, as has been recorded for Heli- coniine butterflies (Gilbert 1975, Benson et al 1975). The second explanation is that larger groups of eggs or larvae may have a greater advantage than small groups (probably true since this species has aposematic larvae), provided that food in not limiting. This applies equally to the same female returning to an egg mass, or a second female locating an egg mass, and is merely an extension of the idea of gregarious lifestyles being advantageous to this, and other species (Stamp 1980). A third possiblity is that some females seek to spread their eggs in small batches onto the previously laid larger batches of other females, thereby gaining for their offspring the advantage
*Dept. Biology, Oxford Polytechnic, Headington, Oxford.
10 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD, VOL. 98 251.1986
of a gregarious lifestyle without the risk of catastrophic mortality rendering their genetic line extinct.
References
Benson, W., K. Brown, Jr., and L. Gilbert. 1975 Coevolution of plants and herbivores: passion flower butterflies. Evolution 29: 659-680.
Chew, F. S., and R. K. Robbins. 1983 Egg laying in butterflies. Symp. R. Entomol. Soc. Lond. 11: 65-79.
Courtney, S. P. 1984 The evolution of egg clustering by butterflies and other insects. Am. Nat. 123: 276-281.
Gilbert, L. 1975 Ecological consequences of a coevolved mutualism between butterflies and plants. in L. Gilbert, and P. Raven, eds. Coevolution of animals and plants. pp. 210-240, Univ. of Texas Press, Austin.
Stamp, N. E. 1980 Egg deposition patterns in butterflies: why do some species cluster their eggs rather than lay them singly? Am. Nat. 115: 367-380.
SPRING RECORDS OF HYLES LIVORNICA LIVORNICA ( LEPIDOP- TERA :SPHINGIDAE ) FROM SOUTH-WEST IRELAND. = JOnvorm April 1985, a female striped hawk-moth, Hyles livornica livornica (Esper), was captured indoors at Kilnaclasha near Skibbereen, West Cork (VC H3) (W 140366), 8km from the open sea. Two specimens of the painted lady, Cynthia cardui (L.), were observed on the same occasion.
A further female H. /. livornica was taken by Dr. T. Adams at Courtmacsherry Hotel, Courtmacsherry, on the West Cork coast (W 317423) on 30th April 1985. This specimen was also found indoors and was in a very worn condition.
During the first six days of April winds were from a generally southerly direction on the south coast of Ireland. This would have been suitable for immigration of this species. However, the pre- vailing winds were from a westerly to north-westerly direction to- wards the end of the month. This, combined with the very worn condition of the later specimen may indicate that it arrived at the beginning of the month.
Note: The nomenclature used here follows that of Eitschberger & Steiniger (1976) (Atalanta 7: 71-73). These authors consider that Hyles lineata lineata (Fabricius, 1775) and A. livornica livornica (Esper, 1779) should be treated as distinct species. — K. G. M. BOND and J. A. GOOD, Department of Zoology, University College, Cork, Rep. of Ireland; LYNN WRIGHT, Kilnaclasha, Skibbereen, Co. Cork, Rep. of Ireland.
RHOPALOCERA IN ANDORRA 11
RHOPALOCERA RECORDED IN ANDORRA DURING 1981 AND 1983
By KD) ZESAMUEBIS, BiSc., FEReE-Ss
The Principality of Andorra is situated in the Pyrenees between France and Spain and can easily be reached by car from London in two days. The two-dimensional size of Andorra is only 468 square kilometres (175 square miles). However, the mountainous nature of the Principality is such that the surface area is many times this figure, with the lowest point being 838m (2750ft) and the highest point being 2942m (9652ft) above sea level. Andorra’s only resident entomologist, Dr. Patrick Roche, has recorded and collected in the Principality for a number of years. Roche (1982a and 1982b) lists 134 species recorded by both himself and a number of visiting entomologists.
During my first visit to Andorra between 16 vii.81 and 21 viii. 81, with fellow lepidopterist T. Wrigley, 103 species of Rhopalocera were recorded. During my second visit between 14-.viii.83 and 24 viii.83, an additional two species were recorded. Of the 105 species recorded during the two visits reported here, four were previously unrecorded by Dr. Roche and a further two were new to his Andorran collection. Representatives of all six species have been deposited in his extensive reference collection of Andorran insects. This collection will form the basis for a national collection.
A total of over 40 sites ranging in size from a 100m to a lkm quadrat were worked during 1981 and 1983 covering almost all except the most inaccessible of the entomologically promising areas between 900m (2950ft) and 2400m (7875ft) above sea level. Figure 1 shows the U.T.M. grid system and allows the positions of the localities mentioned in the list of species to be located. As an example, the dark circle indicating the centre of Sant Julia de Loria is situated within the Ikm grid square CH.76.03. Where a 100m grid square reference is given, this can be more accurately located on the 1:50,000 or 1:10,000 official maps of Andorra.
Unless otherwise stated, the data given in the list of species applies only to specimens recorded during the two visits in 1981 and 1983. The order followed is that of Gomez-Bustillo and Fernandez- Rubio (1974a and 1974b). The nomenclature followed is that of Higgins and Riley (1980). |
The 31 species listed by Roche (1982a and 1982b) which were not recorded during the two visits reported here are given under each family in order to present a more complete list of the Rhopa- locera of Andorra. |
*] Martin’s Mount, Meadway, Barnet, Herts. ENS 5LQ.
12 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD, VOL. 98 25 1.1986
PRINCIPALITY OF ANDORRA
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Figure 1. Main localities in Andorra.
List of species Hesperiidae Carcharodus alceae Esp., ssp. australis Zell. Recorded from Aixi- rivall (CH.767-8.043. 1050m) between mid-July and mid-August and
from Coll de Jou (CH.74.02. 1150m) and Cortals de Sispony (CH. 76.10. 1500m) during the third week of August.
C. flocciferus Zell. Recorded from Aixirivall (CH.768.043. 1050m) on 26 .vii.81.
C. lavertherae Esp. A species new to Dr. Roche’s Andorran list. Two specimens recorded from Les Neres, Coll d’Ordino (CH.82.12. 2200m) on 1 1.viii.81.
Pyrgus carthami Hb. A species new to Dr. Roche’s Andorran list. Recorded from Coll de la Botella (CH.732.130. 2070m) on 2.viii.8 1 and 15 viii.83, Pal (CH.744.129. 1650m) on 9.viii.81, Els Cortals (CH.87.11.2050m) on 18.viii.81 and from Cortals de Sispony (CH.76.10. 1500m) on 17.viii.83.
RHOPALOCERA IN ANDORRA jes. P. serratulae Ramb. Recorded from Fontaneda (CH.726-7.022-3. 1700m), Els Cortals (CH.87.11. 2050m), Coll de la Botella (CH.73. 13. 2100m) and La Rabassa (CH.783.003. 2050m) between late July and the third week of August.
P. alveus Hb., ssp. accreta Ver. Fairly common and widespread at 1050-2300m during July and August.
Spialia sertorius Hoff. Recorded from Fontaneda (CH.726-7.022-3. 1700m), Pal (CH.744.123. 1750m) and Cortals de Sispony (CH.76. 10. 1500m) between late July and the third week of August.
Thymelicus flavus Brunn., ssp. major Tutt. Fairly common and widespread at 1600-2000m during July and early August.
T. lineola Ochs., ssp. ludoviciae Mab. (?). Fairly common and widespread at 1600-2300 between late July and the third week of August.
Ochlodes venatus Brem. & Grey, ssp. faunus Turati. One colony recorded from Aixirivall (CH.767-8.043. 1050m) during the third week of July.
Hesperia comma L. Common and widespread at 1150-2300m between mid-July and late August.
(Additional species: Erynnis tages L., ssp. brunneus Tutt., Pyrgus cacaliae Ramb., P. malvae L., ssp. malvoides Elnes & Edward, P. carlinae Ramb., ssp. cirsii Ramb., Thymelicus acteon Rott.).
Lycaenidae Laeosopis roboris Esp., ssp. demissa Ver. Recorded from Aixirivall CH.767-8.043. 1050m) during Jul y and August.
Nordmannia ilicis Esp. Recorded from Aixirivall (CH.767-8.043. 1050m) and Fontaneda (CH.741.024. 1290m) during July.
Thecla betulae L. Recorded from Aixirivall (CH.767-8.043. 1050m) during August.
Heodes virgaureae L. Common and widespread at 1250-2300m between mid-July and late August.
H. alciphron Rott.,spp.gordius Sulz. Small colonies recorded throughout S. W. Andorra at 1630-2100m between mid-July and mid-August.
H. tityrus Poda. Recorded from Fontaneda (CH.726-7.022-3. 1700m), Aixirivall (CH.767-8.043. 1050m) and Coll de Jou (CH. 74.02. 1150m) during late August.
Palaeochrysophanus hippothoe L., ssp. mirus Ver. Common and widespread at 1050-2000m during late July and August.
Lampides boeticus L. Two colonies recorded from Aixirivall (CH. 767-8.043. 1050m) during the third week of July and from Cortals de Sispony (CH.76.10. 1500m) during the third week of August.
14 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD, VOL. 98 25 1.1986 Maculinea arion L., ssp. obscura Christ. Fairly common and wide- spread throughout W. Andorra at 1050-2000m between mid-July and early August.
Celastrina argiolus L., ssp. calidogenita Ver. Fairly common between Aixirivall and La Rabassa (CH.76-80.00-04. 1050-2050m) between mid-July and early August.
Everes alcetas Hoff. Recorded in abundance from Aixirivall (CH.767- 8.043. 1050m) between late July and early August.
Cupido minimus Fuess., ssp. noguerae Haig-Thomas. Two specimens recorded from Coll de la Gallina (CH.72.03. 1800m) on 17.vii.81.
Plebjus argus L., ssp. philonomus Berg. (?). Common and wide- spread, especially in W. Andorra, at 1050-2250m between late July and the third week of August.
Lycaeides idas L., ssp. saturior Ver. Common and widespread at 1050-2300m between late July and the third week of August.
Agriades glandon de Prunner, ssp. magnaglandon Ver. (?). Two colonies recorded from La Rabassa (CH.783.003. 2050m) during late July and from Vall d'Incles (CH.93.18. 2000m) during mid- August.
Eumedonia eumedon Esp. One colony recorded from Vall d’Incles (CH.93.18. 2000m) on 15.viii.81. Roche (1982a) states that this Species occurs in excessively localised colonies, not straying further than about two metres from its larval foodplant.
Cyaniris semiargus Rott., ssp. montana Mayer-Dur. Fairly common and widespread throughout W. Andorra at 1050-2300m between late July and mid-August. | Polyommatus eros Ochs. A species new to Dr. Roche’s Andorran list. Two colonies recorded from Pal (CH.744.123. 1750m) on 4 viii.81 and Coll de la Botella (CH.73.13.2100m) on 15 viii.83. P.icarus Rott. Fairly common and widespread at 1050-1700m between early and mid-August.
Agrodiaetus amanda Schneider, ssp. pyrenaeorum Ver. Two colonies recorded from Fontaneda (CH.726-7.022-3. 1700m) and Pal (CH. 744.123 .1750m) between late July and early August.
A. escheri Hb., ssp. rondoui Obthr. Two colonies recorded from Fontaneda (CH.740.014. 1500m) and Aixirivall (CH.767-8.043. 1050m) during late July.
Plebicula dorylas D. & S. Fairly common and widespread at 1630- 2000m during late July and August.
Lysandra coridon Poda. Abundant and widespread at 1150-2300m during July and August.
RHOPALOCERA IN ANDORRA 15
L. bellargus Rott. One colony recorded from Fontaneda (CH.740. 014.1500m) during the third week of July.
Aricia agestis D. & S., ssp. cramera Eschscholtz. Fairly common and widespread throughout S. W. Andorra at 1700-2100m during the first two weeks of August.
A. artaxerxes F., ssp. montensis Ver. Fairly common and widespread throughout S. W. Andorra at 1500-1 700m between late July and the third week of August.
Pseudoaricia nicias Meig., ssp. judithi Gomez-Bustillo. Recorded by Gomez-Bustillo and Fernandez-Rubio (1974b) as extremely rare in the Iberian Peninsula, occurring solely in Vall d’Aran, E. Pyrenees. One very localised colony was recorded from Vall d’Incles (CH.930.185. 1925m) on 15-18.viii.81 and 21 .viii.83 within an area of only 5m2. A second colony was recorded from Segudet (CH.80.13. 1500m) on 18 viii.83.
(Additional species: Quercusia quercus L., Callophrys rubi L., ssp. virgatus Ver., Strymonidia spini D. & S., ssp. bofilli Sagarra., S.w- album Knoch., Nordmannia acaciae F., N. esculi Hb., Lycaena Phlaeas L., Glaucopsyche alexis Poda., Maculinea alcon D. & S., Everes argiades Pallas., Agrodiaetus thersites Cantener.)
Satyridae
Pararge aegeria L. One colony recorded from Coll.de Jou (CH. 74.02. 1150m) during late August.
Lasiommata megera L. Fairly common and widespread throughout S. W. Andorra at 1050-2050m between mid-July and late August. L. maera L., ssp. adrasta Hb. Fairly common and widespread throughout W. Andorra at 1050-1800m between late July and the third week of August.
Coenonympha arcania L. Abundant and widespread throughout W. Andorra at 1050-2050m between mid-July and mid-August. C.dorus Esp. Three colonies recorded from Aixirivall (CH.767- 8.043. 1050m), Fontaneda (CH.726-7.022:3. 1700m) and Wa Rabassa (CH.783 .003. 2050m) between mid- and late July.
C. pamphilus L. Fairly common and widespread throughout W. Andorra at 1050-2050m between late July and mid-August. Melanargia galathea L., ssp. lachesis Hb. Common and widespread throughout W. Andorra at 1050-1500m between mid- and late July.
M. russiae Esp., ssp. centralis Sagarra. Fairly common and wide- spread throughout S. W. Andorra at 1050-1700m between mid- and late July.
16 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD, VOL. 98 251.1986
Hipparchia alcyone D. & S. Common and widespread throughout W. Andorra at 1050-2050m between late July and mid-August.
H. semele L., ssp. cadmus Fruh. A single specimen recorded from Aixirivall (CH.767-8.043.1050m) on 29.vii.81.
Neohipparchia statilinus Hufn. One colony recorded from Aixirivall (CH. 767-8 .043. 1050m) during the third week of August.
Brintesia circe F. Two large colonies recorded from Aixirivall (CH. 767-8.043. 1050m) and Coll de Jou (CH.755.030. 1050m) between mid- and late July.
Satyrus actaea Esp. Common and widespread throughout W. Andorra at 1050-2000m between mid-July and mid-August.
Chazara briseis L. Fairly common and: widespread throughout W. Andorra at 1050-1700m during the third week of August.
Pyronia tithonus L. Fairly common and widespread throughout S. W. Andorra at 1050-2050m between late July and early August.
Maniola jurtina L. Common and widespread throughout S. W. Andorra at 1050-1700m between late July and the third week of August.
Evrebia euryale Esp., ssp. pyraenaeicola Goilz. Fairly common and widespread at 2000-2050m during August.
E. epiphron Knoch, ssp. fauveauti de Lesse. Abundant and wide- spread at 1700-2200m between mid-July and the third week of August
E. triaria de Prunner, ssp. evias Godart. A single specimen recorded from Vall d’Incles (CH.93.18.2000m) on 15 .viii.81.
E. gorgone Boisd. Two colonies recorded from Coma del Forat (CH.753.222.2200m) and Vall d’Incles (CH.93.18.2000m) between | early and mid-August.
FE. cassioides Hochenworth, ssp. amernensis Obthr. Abundant and widespread at 1790-2100m between the third week of July and late August.
E. lefebvrei Boisd. A species new to Dr. Roche’s Andorran list. A single specimen recorded from Pont de la Coma (CH.744.123. 1750m) on 4.viii.8 1.
E. neoridas Boisd. Talbot (1928) collected a series of males from “Soldeu to Andorra-la-Viella, valley of the Valira del Oriente, 3000-S000ft, 21.viii.26” and from “Las Escaldas to Encamp, 3000- 4000ft, 3.ix.26’’. However, there are no further Andorran records of this species in the literature. Two males were recorded from Fon- taneda (CH.726-7.022-3. 1700m) on 19 wiii.81. During the 1983 visit this species was the commonest Erebia, with males and females being recorded from. Anyos (CH.80.11. 1600m), La Gonarda (CH. 79.13. 1350m), Cortals de Sispony (CH.76.10. 1500m) and Coll de la Gallina (CH.72.03..1800m).
RHOPALOCERA IN ANDORRA 17 FE. meolans de Prunner, ssp. pyrenaica Ruhl. Abundant and wide- spread at 1250-2050m between the third week of July and late August.
(Additional species: Hipparchia fagi Scopoli., Hyponephele lycaon Kuehn., Erebia hispania Butler., k. oeme Hb., ssp. podia Staud., E. pandrose Borkhausen. Also Nemeobiidae: Hamearis lucina L.)
Libytheidae
Libythea celtis Laicharting. One colony recorded from Aixirivall (CH.767.043. 1050m) on 19-26.vii.81. The adults remained on the larval foodplant, Celtis australis L., unless disturbed, in which case they quickly returned. Also recorded only from this site during 1983.
Nymphalidae
Apatura ilia D. & S., ssp. barcina Ver. A single specimen f. clyfie D. & S. recorded from Aixirivall (CH.768.043. 1050m) on 13.viii.81.
Limenitis camilla L. A single specimen recorded from Fontaneda (CH.741.024. 1290m) on 17 vii.81.
L. reducta Stdgr., ssp. herculeana Tichell. A single specimen recorded from Fontaneda (CH.741.024. 1290m) on 17.vii.81.
Vanessa atalanta L. One colony recorded from Aixirivall (CH.767-8. 043. 1050m) during the third week of July.
Cynthia cardui L. Common and fairly widespread at 1050-2000m between early and mid-August. 3
Inachis io L. Fairly common and widespread at 1050-1500m during July and August.
Aglais urticae L. common and widespread at 1470-2050m during July and August.
Nymphalis antiopa L. A single specimen recorded from Vall d’Incles (CH. 915.183. 1800m) on 18 viii.81.
Polygonia c-album L. One colony recorded from Aixirivall (CH. 767-8 .043.1050m) between late July and mid-August.
Mellicta deione Geyer. Two colonies recorded from Coll de la Botella (CH.732.130. 2050m) and Aixirivall (CH.767-8.043. 1050m) during August.
M. athalia Rott., ssp. aguilari Sagarra. Abundant and widespread throughout W. Andorra at 1050-2050m between mid-July and mid- August.
18 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD, VOL. 98 25 1.1986 M.parthenoides Keferstein. Three colonies recorded from Coll de la Botella (CH.732.130. 2050m), Fontaneda (CH.726-7.022-3. 1700m) and Pal (CH.74.12. 1600m) between late July and mid- August.
Melitaea didyma Esp., ssp. near meridionalis Stdgr. Abundant and widespread at-1050-2050m between mid-July and mid-August.
M. phoebe D. & S. Two colonies recorded from Aixirivall (CH.767-8. 043. 1050m) and Fontaneda (CH.726-7.022-3. 1700m) between mid-July and late August.
Boloria pales D. & S., ssp. pyrenesmiscens Ver. Fairly common and widespread at 1630-2050m between late July and mid-August.
B.napaea Hoff. Common and fairly widespread at 1750-2050m between mid-July and early August.
Clossiana selene D. & S. A single specimen recorded from La Rabassa (CH.783.003. 2050m) on 29 .vii.81.
C.euphrosyne L. Common and fairly widespread at 1050-2200m between late July and mid-August.
C. dia L., ssp. laectior Ver. One fairly large colony recorded from Aixirivall (CH.767-8.043. 1050m) between mid- and late July.
Brenthis daphne D. & S. One colony recorded from Aixirivall (CH.767-8.043. 1050m) between mid- and late July.
B. ino Rott. Two colonies recorded from Pal (CH.744.123. 1750m) and Pal (CH.744.129. 1630m) during early August.
Issoria lathonia L. Common and widespread throughout S. W. Andorra at 1050-1700m between late July and the third week of August.
Fabriciana adippe D. & S. Fairly common and widespread through- out S. W. Andorra at 1050-1700m between the third week of July and the third week of August.
Mesoacidalia aglaja L. Abundant and widespread throught W. Andorra at 1050-2050m between the third week of July and the third week of August.
Argynnis paphia L. Two colonies recorded from Aixirivall (CH. 767-8.043. 1050m) and Segudet (CH.80.13. 1500m) between the third week of July and the third week of August.
(Additional species: Nymphalis polychloros L., Eurodryas aurinia Rott., ssp. debilis Obthr., Melitaea cinxia L., M. diamina Lang., ssp. vernetensis Obthr., Proclossiana eunomia Esp., Fabriciana niobe L.)
Pieridae Leptidea sinapis L. Common and fairly widespread at 1050-2050m between late July and the third week of August.
RHOPALOCERA IN ANDORRA 19
Aporia crataegi L. Common and fairly widespread throughout W. Andorra at 1050-2050m between the third week of July and early August.
Pieris brassicae L. Fairly common and widespread throughout S. W. Andorra at 1050-1700m between late July and late August.
Artogeia rapae L. Abundant and widespread at 1050-1800m be- tween mid-July and the third week of August.
A. napi L. Abundant and widespread at 1050-1600m between mid- July and mid-August.
Pontia daplidice Hb. Two colonies recorded from Aixirivall (CH. 767-8 .043. 1050m) and Cortals de Sispony (CH.76.10. 1500m) between late July and the third week of August.
P. callidice Hb. Three colonies recorded from Coma del Forat (CH 753.222, 2200m) on svi 8l> Port dEnvalira (CH.94.12- 2400m) on 20.viii.81 and Coll de la Botella (CH.73.12. 2100m) on Saves oe
Anthocharis cardamines L. A single specimen recorded from Aixirivall (CH.768 .043. 1050m) on 27 vii.81.
Colias hyale L. A single specimen recorded from Coll de Jou (CH. 74.02. 1150m) on 22.viii.83.
C. australis Ver. Recorded by Roche (1982b) as being common and widespread. However, only three specimens were recorded, from Fontaneda (CH.740.014. 1500m) on 21.vii.81, Fontaneda (CH.726-7 .022-3. 1700m) on 29 vii.81 and Coll de Jou (CH.74.02. 1150m) on 22.viii.83.
C. phicomone Esp., ssp. oberthuri Ver. One very large colony recorded from La Rabassa (CH.783.003. 2050m) during late July. Smaller colonies recorded from Port de Cabus (CH.704.128. 2300m) and Vall d’Incles (CH.93.18.2000m) between early and mid-August.
C. crocea Geoffr. Very common and widespread at 1050-2100m between the third week of July and the third week of August. However, only two specimens of the female-form helice Hb. were recorded, from Cortals de Sispony (CH.76.10.) on 10 viii.81 at 1600m and on 7.viii.83 at 1500m. Higgins and Riley (1980) state that the white female-form heliceis genetically controlled and behaves as a dominant to the common yellow form, in a balanced polymorphism with a ratio of about 10% in most populations. It is interesting to note that although the yellow form is very common and widespread an Andorran female-form helice has only been reported on one previous occasion, again from Cortals de Sispony (Gossling, 1980-81).
Gonepteryx rhamni L. Common and widespread at 1050-2100m between late July and late August.
20 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD, VOL. 98 25.1.1986
G. cleopatra L., ssp. europaea Ver. A single specimen recorded from Aixirivall (CH.768.043. 1050m) on 27.vii.81.
(Additional Species: Euchloe ausonia Hb., ssp. simplonia Frey.., Anthocharis belia L., ssp. euphenoides Staud.)
Papilionidae
Papilio machaon L., ssp. hispanicus Eller. Two colonies recorded from La Rabassa (CH.783.003. 2050m) and Fontaneda (CH.74.01. 1450m) between late July and the third week of August.
Iphiclides podalirius L., ssp. feisthamelii Duponchel. Two colonies recorded from Fontaneda (CH.739.017. 1470m) and Aixirivall (CH.767.043. 1050m) between late July and early August.
Parnassius apollo L., ssp. pyrenaicus Hardcourt-Bath. Abundant and widespread at 1500-2000m between the third week of July and mid-August.
(Additional Species: Zerynthia rumina L.)
Postscript
During November 1982 Andorra was subjected to relentless rain, causing sudden and severe flooding. Some bridges and many stretches of road just vanished, houses and other buildings on river banks were partially or totally washed away and cars were swept away and overturned. The press reported 14 dead and 15 missing. There is no doubt that the Rhopalocera, like the rest of the flora and fauna, suffered. Many habitats literally disappeared overnight. |
In spite of this Andorra still remains an entomologically rich area that has been largely overlooked by lepidopterists, particularly at the more remote peaks and valleys. It is likely that the explora- tion of these sites will reveal a few more species of Rhopalocera to add to the Andorran list.
Acknowledgements
I wish to thank the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers’ for the award of the Northcott Travelling Scholarship which enabled me to undertake the 1981 visit. I also thank Tim Wrigley for his assis- tance and especially Patrick Roche for very many hours of his time.
RHOPALOCERA IN ANDORRA 21
References
Gomez-Bustillo, M. R. & Fernandez-Rubio, F., 1974a. Mariposas de la Peninsula Iberica, 1. Ministerio de agricultura, Madrid. Gomez-Bustillo, M. R. & Fernandez-Rubio, F., 1974b. Mariposas de la Peninsula Iberica, 2. Ministerio de agricultura, Madrid. Gossling, N. F., 1980-81. Observations on Rhopalocera in Andorra — June/July 1979. Bull.amat.Ent. Soc. 39 (329): 192-208 and 40 (330): 2947.
Higgins, L. G. & Riley, N. D., 1980. A Field Guide to the Butterflies of Britain and Europe. 4th ed. Collins.
Roche, P., 1982a. A Preliminary List of the Rhopalocera of Andorra (1st Part). Butll.Soc.Cat Lep.36: 21-25.
Roche, P., 1982b. A Preliminary List of the Rhopalocera of Andorra (2nd Part). Butll.Soc.Cat.Lep. 37: 23-28.
Talbot, G., 1928. Lepidoptera Collected in the Republic of Andorra and in the Neighbouring Pyrenees. Bull.Hill Mus.Witley. Il: 95-100.
LYMANTRIA DISPAR LINN IN DORSET — a fine male of this species turned up in my garden m.v. trap on the night of 29th August 1985. This was a warm night with a southerly wind and the only night this August when the trap count passed the 100 mark! E. H. WILD, 7 Abbots Close, Highcliffe, Christchurch, Dorset.
PARAGE AEGERIA L. (SPECKLED WOOD) IN FIFE = (in (ora! October 1984, Dr. M. P. Harris was very fortunate to see a single speckled wood butterfly on the Isle of May. Not only is this the first record for this National Nature Reserve, but is also the first record for Fife this century, the only previous record being from Aberdour in 1890 (Thompson, G. The Butterflies of Scotland). Although there were colonies around Perth and in the Borders earlier this century these are now extinct (Heath, J., Pollard, E. and Thomas, J. 1984 Atlas of Butterflies in Britain and Ireland). The nearest known colonies are on the Moray/Loch Ness area on the west coast of Scot- land. To the south there appear to be only isolated sites in north- east England. It would be interesting to know of any other sightings of this species away from regular haunts. P. K. KINNEAR, Nature Conservancy Council, 11 Hillview Road, Balmullo, St. Andrews, Fife:
[We hope shortly to publish a paper on the extension of the range of aegeria in north-east Scotland. — Ed.|
22 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD, VOL. 98 251.1986
A FURTHER COLONY OF ANASIM YIA INTERPUNCTA HARRIS (DIPT.: SYRPHIDAE) IN THE THAMES ESTUARY AREA
By C. W. PLANT BSc FRES *
The recent article by A. A. Allen on Anasimyia interpuncta Harris on the Thames marshes at Erith, Kent, (Ent. Rec. 97: 85-86), prompts me to report on a colony of this species at Rainham, South Essex during 1985. Credit for this discovery must go to my young friend Ian Wynne, whose determinations I was pleased to confirm. The site involved is a very small one, being a short stretch of the Ingrebourne River just south of the A.13 trunk road. I visited the site myself daily from 26th to 29th May 1985, and on each occasion found the species in evidence. Capture was another matter however, and whilst sweeping proved most un-productive, the best method seemed to be standing still on one spot amongst the reeds at the waters edge and swiftly netting each Anasimyia as it appeared. Subsequent visits during the first two weeks of June proved less productive however, with only a few worn individuals being noted up to the 6th.
Since some of my observations are at variance with those of Mr. Allen, some comments seem to be appropriate. Allen records the species well into June 1984, whilst my own observations during 1985 seem to confirm the statement in Stubbs and Falk (1983) that the flight period is May. However, 1985 could hardly be described as a typical year, with the cold and wet weather extending beyond the end of spring and on to the end of June! The fact that a few stragglers were indeed noted in the first week of June at the Rain- ham site however, may support Allen’s observations, and clearly both sites would repay further examination during 1986. It would be interesting to read Allen’s 1985 observations on the Erith colony in the pages of this journal.
Allen also notes this species in association with buttercups (Ranunculus spp.). At the time of my researches I was unaware of his observations, but I did carefully work all the flowers present, including a large number of buttercups, for hoverflies, and found no evidence of this species, (again the 1985 weather may have had some bearing on this). Indeed, I have been unable to locate the species anywhere other than amongst fairly dense stands of Phrag- mites at the very edge of the water which, at this point, is stationary.
Apparently suitable habitats exist 1.5 Km to the north-east at Ingrebourne Marsh and Berwick Pond, but here I could locate only A. lineata (Fabr.) and in lesser numbers A. transfuga (Linn.). North across the River Thames from the Kent colony lies Aveley Marsh,
*Passmore Edwards Museum, Stratford, London, E15 4LZ.
A FURTHER COLONY OF ANASIMYIA INTERPUNCTA 22 a Ministry of Defence area for which an entry permit is required. Again I could find no evidence of A. interpuncta here in the pre- sence of similar habitat areas. I understand that lan Wynne has however, located the species some 6 Km west of the Rainham site, in Barking, on land formerly managed as an ecology park. I have not seen this specimen, but there is no reason to doubt his identification. Again, the species was taken here in association with Phragmites.
Combining Ian Wynne’s observations with my own, the Rain- ham colony would appear to have comprised some 70 to 80 indi- viduals during 1985. The ratio of the sexes appears to have been in the order of one male to four females, which is itself of interest. A number of other hoverfly species were noted at the Rainham site, notably. A. lineata (Fabr.), and A. transfuga (Linn.) in reasonable quantity, along with A. contracta Claussen & Torp sparingly. Among the other genera, Chrysogaster hirtella Loew, Lejogaster metallina (Fabr.) and Platycheirus fulviventris (Macquart) were much in evi- dnece, along with Parhelophilus versicolor (Fabr.), Myathropa florea (Linn.), Helophilus pendulus Linn.) and several common species of E7istalis. ;
My observations on the habits of this species here were limited by the time available for study. It was noted at least between 0800 and 1830 hours, with no apparent peak of activity, although this could be a function of the sunshine during this period. One thing noted in particular was the apparent reluctance of this insect to fly any great distance, with both males and females restricting their flight activity to the cover of the reeds, occasionally venturing just above or around the edge of the plants. Not so A. lineata, the males of which were seen patrolling a stretch of riverside some 9 or 10 metres in length, always returning to the same resting place at regular intervals between flights. Females of this latter species were only rarely encountered amongst the reeds with A. interpuncta, but females of A. transfuga more frequently so.
No doubt there is much that can be learned from both the Erith and Rainham colonies of A. interpuncta and it is particularly unfortunate therefore that the latter site is likely to be “developed” for a supermarket store.
Reference
Stubbs, A. E. and Falk, S. J. 1983 British Hoverflies: BENHS (London).
[The apparent discrepancies between Mr. Plant’s observations and my own must, I think, be due to either or (more probably) both of two circumstances: differing conditions at the sites, and weather differences between the two seasons. I have unfortunately not managed to re-visit the Erith site this summer for various rea- sons, but hope to do so next year. The discovery of A. interpuncta
24 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD, VOL. 98 25 1.1986
at three separate spots in the Thames marshes within two years tends to show that the species must have been widely overlooked, probably by reason of its extreme localization. — A. A. A.|
CURATE’S OVUM. —Mt.A. A. Allen (Ent. Rec. 97:69) is indeed correct in his recollection that the late P. B. M. Allan anticipated Lt. Col. W. A. C. Carter (Ent. Rec. 96:285) in objecting to the wide- spread entomological usage of the terms ovum and ova. Mr. Allan’s final thoughts on the matter were included as a sub-chapter, “This matter of eggs,” in his posthumous volume, Leaves from a moth- hunter’s notebooks (1980), which I had the privilege of completing and editing. Mr. Allan also anticipated Lt. Col. Carter’s observation about ordering a fried ovum for breakfast; the “Old Moth-Hunter” suggested that “we do not allude to our breakfast dish as “bacon and ova’ nor do we eat a boiled ovum, served in a ovum-cup and eaten with an ovum-spoon. The unsuccessful batsman does not score a ‘duck’s ovum’; we do not pelt a poor performer with rotten ova...” Mr. Allan’s last book, which abounds with good humour and wisdom, is still in print and is available from the publisher, E. W. Classey Ltd. — R. S. WILKINSON, 228 Ninth Street, N. E., Washington, C. D. 20002.
THE NUMBER OF SPECIES OF HAWK-MOTH IN GARDENS. — There is growing interest in the butterflies of gardens, so why not the easily-identified and conspicuous hawk-moths as well? B. K. West (Ent. Rec. 97: 113-117) records seven species in his garden, which is good, but not as good as the ten species recorded by my brother, John Owen, in his garden near Dymchurch on Romney Marsh, Kent. His list is: Laothoe populi, Smerinthus ocellata, Mimas tiliae, Sphinx ligustri, Deilephila elpenor, D. porcellus, Acherontia atropos, Agrius convolvuli, Macroglossum stellatarum, and Hyles lineata, the last four being immigrants.
My experience is that L. populi, S. ocellata, M. tiliae and D. elpenor are eventually recorded in most gardens in lowland Britain, and that additional species are to be regarded as something of a bonus, dependent on the proximity of the nearest suitable habitat or on luck in picking up one or more species of immigrant which, in turn, may depend on location as well as on year.
I propose, therefore, to initiate a survey of hawk-moths found in gardens in order to try and ascertain if there are broad geo- graphical patterns. I shall be most interested to receive species lists for gardens from all parts of Britain. Please include years of ob- servation and the exact locality (grid reference, if known), and send details to —: DENIS F. OWEN, 2 Shelford Place, Headington, Oxford OX3 7NW.
SCOTTISH MICROLEPIDOPTERA 25 SOME RECORDS OF SCOTTISH MICROLEPIDOPTERA
By K.P. BLAND*
The following records of uncommon or under-recorded species of microlepidoptera from Scotland are worthy of note:—
Nepticula assimilella Zeller, 1848. Several empty mines of this species were found in Aspen leaves in Hallyards Castle Wood, Mid- lothian (O.S.Grid NT/1273; V.c.83) on 27.x.1984. This species is much less frequent in Scotland than the other Aspen-feeding nep- ticulid, Ectoedemia argyropeza (Zell.); this is only the fourth Scottish vice-county from which it has been recorded.
Stigmella basiguttella (Heinemann, 1862). The distribution of this species extends much further north than previously suspected. Prior to 1984, this species was only recorded in Scotland from Dum- friesshire (V.c.72) and Dunbartonshire (V.c.99). On 23.vi.1984 a female Stigmella basiguttella was taken flying in the morning sun- shine in Dinnet Oakwood SSSI, Aberdeenshire (O.S.Grid NO/4698; V.c.92). Its identity was confirmed by microscopic examination of the genitalia (see Johansson, 1971). Later in the season (10.xi.1984) two vacated mines belonging to this species were found, in oak leaves, just south of Tenandry, Perthshire (O.S.Grid NN/9161; V.c.88). This species thus appears to be quite widespread in Scotland.
Lampronia capitella (Clerck, 1759). The only previous Scottish record for this species was at Ballater in 1955, where the larvae were damaging blackcurrant bushes (Shaw, 1956). After nearly 30 years it has reappeared in its old haunts for on 24.vi.1984 two males were captured flying around a riverside gooseberry bush at Ballater, Aberdeenshire (O.S.Grid NO/3795 ;V.c.92) by Dr. M. R. Young and M. Harper.
Coleophora argentula (Stephens, 1834). This species was re- corded for the first time in Scotland in 1981 (Bland, 1982). Although occasionally searched for in its previous locality and other similar ones, it was not seen agdin until August 1983 when several imagines were taken at Pettycur, Fife (O.S.Grid NT/2686; V.c.85). Their identity was confirmed by Mr. E. C. Pelham-Clinton. Old larval cases were later found on the dead flower-heads of Achillea mille- folium L. at two sites in East Lothian (V.c.82), viz. Longniddry fore- shore (O.S.Grid NT/4477) on 27.xii.1983 and Gullane foreshore (O.S.Grid NT/4783) on 28 xii.1983, as well as at the original East Lothian locality of Yellowcraigs LNR (on 1.iv.1984).
*35 Charterhall Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3HS.
26 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD, VOL. 98 25 1.1986
Coleophora genistae Stainton, 1857. A third locality for this species in Scotland was found when Dr. R. Knill-Jones and | found larval workings (but no cases) on Genista anglica L.and then captured an imago on Muir of Dinnet NNR, Aberdeenshire (O:S. Grid NO/4398;V.c.92) on 24.vi.1984. For details of the other two localities see Bland (1982).
Coleophora lithargyrinella Zeller, 1849. To the single publshed Scottish record for this species (Bland, 1983) can now be added two further records from widely separated localities. Four larval cases of this species were collected from Stellaria holostea L. in Capper- cleuch Hazelwood (alias Henderland Bank SSSI), Peebleshire (O.S. Grid NT/3360; V.c.78) on 10.iv.1984. Unfortunately all 4 proved to be parasitized. Also 3 cases identified as this species (identity con- firmed by Mr. R. W. Uffen) were found fixed to the base of an oaktree surrounded by Stellaria in Milton of Drimmie Wood SSSI, Perthshire (O.S.Grid NO/1651;V.c.89) on 21.v.1983. Again only parasites were reared.
Coleophora lixella Zeller, 1849. Previously only recorded in Scotland from Kincardineshire (V.c.91) (Hulme, Pakner & Young, 1978), the discovery of this species in Fife in 1983 suggests that the species may be more widespread in Eastern Scotland. The small larval cases made from thyme seed-capsules were common at Pet- tycur, Fife (O.S.Grid NT/2686;V.c.85) on 1.iv.1983. The large cases made from a mined grass-blade were present a month later (1.v.1983) but attempts to rear the imago were unsuccessful.
Coleophora milvipennis Zeller, 1839. There appears to be no published records of this birch-feeding species in Scotland so the fol- lowing two records from Perthshire are of interest. A single male was taken in flight amongst birches on Flanders Moss NR, Perthshire (O.S.Grid NS/6297:V.c.87) on 11.vi.1981 and subsequently identi- fied by Mr. E. C. Pelham-Clinton. Later the same year a single empty larval case, fixed next to a cut-out area in a birch-leaf was found at Craighall Gorge SSSI, Blairgowrie, Perthshire (O.S.Grid NO/1748; V.c.89) on 14.viii.1981. It is probable that this species is more wide- spread than these few records suggest.
Coleophora virgaureae Stainton, 1857. Previously published records of this species, namely from Kincardineshire (V.c.91) and Orkney (Vc. 111), wrongly suggest a coastal districution for Coleophora virgaureae in Scotland. Larval cases of this species have now been found on Solidago virgaurea L. in a number of inland habitats such as Fealar Gorge SSSI, E. Perthshire (O.S.Grid NN/9979 ;V .c.89) on 20. ix.1983 and Beinn Lawers NNR, Mid Perthshire (O.S.Grid NN/
SCOTTISH MICROLEPIDOPTERA 27
6039;V.c.88) on 1.ix.1984. A single empty case was also found on Golden-rod at Pettycur, Fife (O.S.Grid NT/2686;V.c.85) on 30.x. 1984. These records suggest not only a more widespread distribution but also a wide diversity of habitats.
Biselachista trapeziella (Stainton, 1849). Not previously re- corded from Scotland, this species has now been reared from two different localities in Midlothian (V.c.83). A larva mining Luzula sylvatica (Huds.) Gaudin. near Arniston Mains (O.S.Grid NT/3360) on 9.iv.1984, pupated on 19.iv.1984 and produced an imago on 22.v.1984; while a larva mining Luzula pilosa (L.) Willd. at Maggie Bowies Glen (O.S.Grid NT/3860) on 31yv.1984, pupated on 4.vi. 1984 and emerged at some time between 25.vi and 20 vii.1984. It is difficult to decide whether this data suggests a single protracted generation Or two successive ones.
Agonopterix yeatiana (Fabricius, 1781). A single specimen of this uncommon species came to a battery-operated M.V. light-trap at Mount Lothian Marsh, Midlothian (O.S.Grid NT/2757; V.c.83) on the night 26/27 viii.1984. Widely distributed along the west coast of Scotland this is the first record of it from the east. Previously the most easterly Scottish record was Aberfoyle (Christie & Christie, 1982).
Anacampsis temerella (Lienig & Zeller, 1846). Several speci- mens of this rare gelechiid were reared from pupae in spun shoots of Salix repens L. collected on 25 vii.1984 on the coast near Cornaig- beg, Isle of Coll (O.S.Grid NM/2363 ;V.c.103). The imagines emerged between 27 and 31.vii.1984. This appears to be the first record of this species north of the Border.
Acknowledgements
I am very grateful to Mr. E. C. Pelham-Clinton and Mr. R. W. Uffen for assistance with identification and to Dr. M. R. Shaw of the Royal Scottish Museum for allowing liberal use of the Scottish Insect Records Index. I am also grateful to Dr. R. Smith of the Nature Conservancy Council for arranging access to some of the sites.
References
Bland, K. P. 1982. Scottish Microlepidoptera Notes for 1981. Entomologist’s Record 94:219-220.
Bland, K. P. 1983. Notes on Scottish Microlepidoptera, 1982. Entomologist’s Record 95: 183-184.
Christie, I. C. & Christie, E. R. 1982. The Lepidoptera of East Lomondside and Aberfoyle. N.C. C. Report.
28 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD, VOL.98 25 1.1986
Hulme, P. D., Palmer, R. M. & Young, M. R. 1978. Lepidoptera of Aberdeenshire and Kincardineshire. Entomologist’s Record 90: 237-241.
Johansson, R. 1971. Notes on Nepticulidae (Lepidoptera) I. A Revision of the Nepticula ruficapitella Group. Ent. Scand. 2: 241-262.
Shaw, M. W. 1956. Lampronia capitella in Scotland. Plant Pathology Se /p
PERIBATODES SECUNDARIA D. & S. [LEP. SELIDOSEMIDAE ] FEEDING AT RAGWORT. — On the night of August Ist, 1985, I was surprised to find a considerable number of moths feeding at ragwort flowers (Senecio jacobaea) in a ride of Orlestone Wood, Kent — surprised because ragwort seems to attract fewer moths than formerly, and also this plant is not common in the rides of these woods. The flowers had attracted vast numbers of the small Pyralid Endotricha flammealis Schiff. and about a score each of P. secundaria and Miltochrista miniata Forst. on two patches of ragwort each of a dozen or so plants, compared with only two or three of each species at an m.yv. light in an adjacent ride. Other species at these flowers were Filema lurideola Zinck., E. deplana Esp., Cabera pusaria L., Apamea scolopacina Esp., Mesapamea secalis L. and Idaea biselata Hufn., and singletons of P. rhomboi- daria Schiff., Semiothisa liturata Clerck f. nigrofulvata Collins, Noctua janthina Esp. and Mythimna impura Hubn. Nearby patches of wood sage, rose-bay willowherb, knapweed, hogweed, thistles and rushes in flower were devoid of macrolepidoptera. I can find no previous reference to secundaria feeding at flowers in this country. B. K. WEST, 36 Briar Road, Bexley, Kent.
MACROGLOSSUM STELLATARUM L. (HUMMING-BIRD HAWK- MOTH) IN DEVON ~-— _ Single sightings of this moth at the north end of Slapton Sands, Devon, were made on 25 July, 21 August, 1 and 10 September 1985, at valerian flowers. The moth observed on 21 August laid two eggs on the seed head of valerian — one failing to hatch, and the other hatching after only 78 hours. H. L. O’HEFFERNAN, 24 Green Park Way, Chillington, Devon TQ7 2HY.
RANNOCH 1985 29 AROUND RANNOCH:AUGUST 1985
By J. M. CHALMERS-HUNT*® and R. G. CHATELAIN **
In spite of the pathetic season, we decided to motor up to the Highlands in the hope that the weather was at last due to improve. We were wrong. We arrived at Kinloch Rannoch on the morning of Monday, 19th August where we had booked accommodation with Mrs. Baxter at Glenrannoch House. This is an establishment we can thoroughly recommend as ideal for visiting entomologists. The food is plentiful and good, the terms moderate and the Baxters do all they can to make one’s stay enjoyable. The village also meets all one’s needs with reasonable real ale in the Dunalastair Hotel and bar meals in the Bunrannoch.
That evening, we set up the lights on the south side of the loch in the woods at Kilvecht. This was to be the only good night during our stay with a temperature of 12°C at midnight. Fifty-two species of macro and 23 of micro attended the lights including Entephria caesiata D. & S., Carsia sororiata Hbn., Epione repandaria Hufn.., Colostygia olivata D. & S., Alcis jubata Thunb., Apamea exulis ssp assimilis Doubleday, Svngrapha interrogationis L, Stilbia anomala Haw., and Eugnorisma depuncta L. Among the micros were Exo- teleia dodacella L, Yponomeuta evonymella L, a bright and well- marked form of Zeiraphera diniana Guen., and a lovely extreme ab brunneana Sheldon of Epinotia brunnichana L.
The next day, the weather clamped down with a vengeance and we decided that it would be useless to undertake any collecting but on Wednesday, 21st August, things were a little better and we drove the 80 odd miles to Loch Arkaig in the hope that, in a late season, Perizoma taeniata Steph. might be hanging on. Attempts to flush out the beast by day resulted only in a few C. olivata and P. didy- mata but it was interesting to see Lrebia aethiops Esp. flying in heavy showers. It rained intermittently that night but among 42 species of macro logged, we were pleased to see 15 P. taeniata, three of which were females. These have laid but it is a difficult moth to rear and advice would be welcomed. Other visitors included Venusia cambrica Curtis, Mythimna impura ssp scotica Cockayne, Enargia paleacea Esper and Celaena leucostigma ssp. scotica Coc- kayne; and, among the micros, Catoptria margaritella D. & S.., Zeiraphera ratzeburgiana Ratz., and Y. evonymella L.
On the nights of 23rd-and 24th August, we worked the moors near Trinafour but were obliged by the strong wind to abandon the most likely spot overlooking the village in favour of a sheltered location lower down the hill. On the first night, it only rained but on the second it came down in the proverbial stair-rods. Neverthe-
*1 Hardcourts Close, West Wickham, Kent. **65 East Drive, Orpington, Kent.
30 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD, VOL. 98 251.1986
less, the moths swarmed at light, inclusing one each of Autographa bractea D. & S., Aporophyla luneburgensis Frey., and Lithomoia solidaginis Hubn. Xestia agathina Duponchel, X. castanea Esper and Paradiarsia glareosa Esper came in small numbers, accompanied by hoardes of Diarsia dahlii Hbn, a species common throughout our stay.
The last night of our visit looked more promising when we set up in the woods near Kilvecht but a chilly wind soon put paid to our hopes and little of note was seen. Day work was virtually impossible but we did find commonly larvae of Clostera pigra Hufn., spun up in the sallow and a number of yet unidentified micro larvae on bog myrtle at Trinafour (one of which has since produced a moth of Acleris maccana Treits.) In all, a pleasant trip, entomologically rather disappointing but made enjoyable by the magnificent scenery and pleasant accommodation.
SYNDYAS NIGRIPES ZETTERSTEDT (DIPTERA ; HYBOTIDAE ) IN SOMERSET — _ During the late afternoon of 5 July 1985 I visited Shapwick Heath National Nature Reserve and sampled Diptera by sweeping the field layer peatland vegetation and the foliage of some carr (mainly alder) within the meadow at grid ref. ST 440 393. Amongst the Empidoidea from this locality identified during the course of the evening was a single female Syndyas nigri- pes Zett., a species hitherto known in Britain only from a bog in the Mark Ash Enclosure of the New Forest, Hants. (Collin, 1961, Empididae, British Flies 6:234-235, Cambridge University Press) where it was found by E. A. Fonseca, J. Cowley and J. E. Collin in July 1954. There have been no subsequent British records that I am aware of, so it is particularly pleasing that Collin’s guarded prediction (“‘may well be found elsewhere in Great Britain” p. 235 op. cit.) has at last been fulfilled — DR. I. F. G. MCLEAN, Nature Conservancy Council, Northminster House, Peterborough PE1 1UA.
CHRYSODEIXIS CHALCITES ESP. (GOLDEN TWIN-SPOT) IN DOR- SET -— a male of this immigrant species came to my garden m.y. on the night of 9th September, and was found sitting on a door frame near the trap at dawn. This is a new record for VC10O. The night was warm with light variable wind, and total cloud cover. Together with other entomologists, a number of lights were run on my local cliffs on the 10th, and then at Portland on the 11th. Apart from a small number of Autographa gamma there were no signs of other immigrant species. E. H. WILD, 7 Abbots Close, Highcliffe, Christchurch, Dorset.
EARLY STAGES OF DIACHRYSIA ORICHALCEA 3
THE EARLY STAGES OF DIACHRYSIA ORICHALCEA (FABRICIUS)
By D. G. SEVASTOPULO, F.R.E.S.*
I was interested in Messrs. David Brown & Andrew Gardner’s account of the breeding of this species from a U.K. caught female (Ent. Rec., 96 : 220-1) as their larvae, and particularly their pupae, shewed considerable differences from those I reared in India (1947, Journ. Bomb, Nat. Hist. Soc., 47 : 38) and Mombasa (unpublished).
I described the ovum as pale green, a very much flattened spheroid, with numerous raised ribs radiating from the micropyle.
The newly hatched larva had the head black, not becoming black in the course of the instar, as stated by Messrs. Brown & Gardner, this is virtually impossible as the pharate head is developed behind the old head capsule and not within it. The head in the second and third instars is yellow brown, finally becoming green in the last (fifth) instar.
My actual description of Mombasa larvae was as follows: |
lst instar — Head black. Body when first hatched colourless and transparent, becoming green after feeding. Clothed with short, colourless setae arising from black points. Legs blackish. Ist and 2nd pairs of prolegs absent.
2nd instar — Head yellow brown. Body similar to preceding instar.
3rd instar — Similar.
4th instar — Head yellowish. Body pale green with a slightly darker green dorsal line and lateral strip, the latter edged with a white line. Setae blackish. The whole body, both dark and light portions, with very fine, longitudinal, wavy white lines.
Sth (final) instar — Head greenish. Body pale green, a darker green dorsal line, finely edged with white, a fine white subdorsal line with an indistinct whitish stripe between it and the dorsal stripe. A white lateral line edged above with slightly darker green. A series of black verrucae just above the lateral line emitting colourless setae, other setiferous verrucae white. Spiracles white rimmed with black. Legs black. Venter pale green, prolegs pale green, the first two pairs absent. The larvae vary considerably in the width and depth of colour of the dorsal stripe, and some have all the setiferous verrucae black.
The major difference between Messrs, Brown & Gardner’s description and mine is in the pupa. The U.K. pupae are described as dark mahogany brown. My Indian pupae were stated to be dull olive black with the inter-segmental areas dull olivegreen. The Mombasa pupae were green with the thorax dark brown dorsally,
* PO. Box 95617, Mombasa, Kenya.
33 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD, VOL. 98 251.1986
the abdomen with a dark brown dorsal line and intersegmental dark brown suffusion.
My list of food-plants is enormous:— Bidens pilosa, Cichorium, Coreopsis, Helianthus, Lactuca, Zinnia (Compositae), Brassica, Raphanus (Cruciferae), Ipomoea batatas (Convolvulaceae), Cup- ressus lusitanica (Cupressaceae), Pelargonium (Geraniaceae), Zea mays (Gramineae), Linum usitatissimum (Linaceae), Gossypium (Malvaceae), Antadraphragma angolense (meliaceae), Dalbergia, Medicago, Phaseolus, Pisum sativum, Trifolium, Vigna (Papilionaceae) Phyllopodium (Scrophulariaceae), Nicotiana tabacum, Solanum (Solanaceae), Daucus (Umbelliferae).
PARASCOTIA FULIGINARIA L. (WAVED BLACK) IN SOUTH HAMP- SHIRE — whilst examining sugar patches by torchlight on 31.7. 1985 near Brockenhurst, a single female of this species was netted. I understand that this is the first confirmed record of this species in the New Forest. R. A. MACKINTOSH, 19 Upper Selsdon Road, South Croydon, Surrey.
HALIPLUS APICALIS THOMS. (COL.) IN FRESH WATER IN THE LONDON SUBURBS. — I was pleased and not a little surprised when a solitary Haliplus dredged from pond-weed in the Princess of Wales Pond on Blackheath, 14.x.84, turned out to be a male of the above brackish-water species. It must, of course, have been a vagrant, far from its typical saline haunts, which in this instance might have been the marshes on either bank of the Thames considerably farther east; where, on 18.ix.48 in a ditch at Higham, I took a single male apicalis amongst other commoner Halipli of the same group (rficol- lis Deg., immaculatus Gerh.). There is, almost certainly, no previous record for the immediate environs of London. — A. A. ALLEN.
CHRYSOLINA BANKSI F. (COL.) IN WEST KENT. — Although the localities given by Fowler (1890, Col. Brit. Isl., 4:304) show this fine Chrysolina to have been not uncommon in the south-east in earlier times, it has for long been extremely local in that part of the country, while becoming progressively more frequent towards the west. In the former area I have met with it only in the well-known South Essex locality, Mucking Marsh near Stanford-le-Hope, under clumps of black horehound (Ballota nigra L.). It is of interest there- fore to publish a relatively recent find in West Kent — Wilmington, near Dartford — where Mr. J. M. Chalmers-Hunt took it on the latter plant in 1976. Dartford is one of the localities mentioned by Fowler (l.c. & VCH list for Kent), and it was taken there by the late E.C. Bedwell in the 1910s or thereabouts. — A. A. ALLEN.
IRISH HEMIPTERA 33
NOTES ON SCOLOPOSTETHUS PUBERULUS HORVATH AND LIMNOPORUS RUFOSCUTELLATUS (LATREILLE) (HEMIPTERA) IN IRELAND
By J. P. OCONNOR* Scolopostethus puberulus Horvath
Recently I discovered two Irish specimens of the lygaeid Scolo- postethus puberulus Horvath preserved in the J. N. Halbert Col- lection of Irish Hemiptera in the National Museum of Ireland. They are labelled in Halbert’s hand “‘Curracloe 17.6.36. J. N. H.” and “S. puberulus Horv”. There is also a determination label stating ‘“puberulus Hor det. W. E. China 1936”. Fortunately many of Halbert’s manuscripts, notes etc. have survived and these include a letter dated 18 December 1936 from China (British Museum (Natural History)) who commented ‘‘The Scolopostethus species from Curracloe is S. puberulus Horv. as you surmised’’. Halbert’s (1935) list of the Irish Hemiptera predates this find and the record appears therefore to be unpublished. The author’s copy of the list is annotated by him and it noted that the material was collected under rushes at Curracloe marsh. The right antenna of one specimen is abnormal (Fig. 1).
\ \
\ L/
Fig. 1. The antennae of the abnormal specimen of Scolopostethus puberulus Horvath.
Curracloe marsh is situated in Co. Wexford (T 113270) and a description of it will be found in O’Connor and O’Connor (1983). These authors added the sawfly Calameuta pallipes (Klug) to the Irish list from there and noted that in 1982 the marsh was being drained. A visit in 1984 revealed that much of the marsh had been destroyed by drainage. It is not known if the population of S. puberulus has been affected.
*National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2.
34 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD, VOL. 98 25 1.1986
S. puberulus is an interesting addition to the Irish fauna. In Great Britain, with the exception of an odd specimen once found in the Scottish Highlands, it is largely confined to East Anglia and the coastal counties from Kent to Cornwall. There are a few records from Glos., Oxon., Surrey, Berks. and Somerset. Damp mosses, vege- tation at the foot of cliffs and moss on chalk downs are amongst its habitats. The presence of the insect in East Anglia suggests that it prefers low-lying, perhaps, marshy places (Southwood and Leston, 159).
Limnoporus rufoscutellatus (Latreille)
Although found throughout the Palaearctic, Limnoporus rufoscutellatus (Latreille) is scarce in western Europe. Southwood and Leston (1959) knew of only 15 records of macropters taken in the British Isles and these had been collected over some ninety years. The specimens had been found between March and early June. No nymphs had been obtained and no captures made of more than two individuals at a time. Most records were in Kent or Nor- folk. These authors suggested therefore that the species was a migrant in the British Isles and that it was unable to establish itself.
Halbert (1935) reported three Irish specimens; two of which are unlocalised individuals taken by A. H. Haliday in the nineteenth century. The third one was captured by E. F. Bullock in a bog-pool close to Lough Guitane, Killarney, Co. Kerry,-on 23 April 1929. Halbert suggested that this site might be the very place that Haliday found his specimens. On 23 September 1960, a fourth Irish speci- men was taken from a lake in Co. Clare. Lansbury (1961) stated that it may have been an arrival from the continent but since it is the first occurrence in late September in the British Isles, the species possibly breeds in western Ireland.
In view of this gerrid’s rarity I was surprised to find fifteen previously unreported specimens in the Halbert and Bullock Col- lections in the museum. Thirteen were taken at Cahernane, Kil- larney, Co. Kerry in September 1938. An annotation in Halbert’s list states that several specimens were found, at Cahernane by Bullock, running very actively on the surface of a dyke flowing into Lough Leane (one of the Killarney Lakes) on 11 September 1938. A further two specimens in the Bullock Collection are labelled respectively “Ballast Killarney 9.47 E.F.B.” and “‘Flesk Killarney Oy Sion) Che) Bla Bit
Leston (1956) suggested that Holland was a probable source of the specimens immigrating into Britain. He considered that all the bugs were of the previous year and reached these islands from a pre- or post-hibernation flight. However on the basis of the capture of the September specimen in Clare, Lansbury (1961) stated that Leston’s hypothesis was not proven. The discovery of the Killarney material strongly supports Lansbury’s theory that L. nfoscutellatus
IRISH HEMIPTERA 35
is breeding in Ireland. I suspect that Bullock stopped collecting the species because he had sufficient specimens and ran out of space in which to store them. There are two instances where specimens were mounted one above the other on the same pin. Certainly, the south-west of Ireland warrants an intensive search for breeding populations of L. rufoscutellatus.
Acknowledgements
I am very grateful to W. R. Dolling, P. Harding and B. Eversham for their assistance with this paper.
References
Halbert, J. N. 1935. A list of the Irish Hemiptera (Heteroptera and Cicadina). Proc. R. Ir. Acad. 42B: 211-318.
Lansbury, I. 1961. Gerris rufoscutellatus (Latreille), (Hem. Het. Gerridae) new to Co. Clare, Eire. Entomologist. 94: 149-150.
Leston, D. 1956. The status of the pondskater Limnoporus rufo- scutellatus (Latr.) (Hem., Gerridae) in Britain. Entomologist’s mon. Mag. 92: 189-193.
O’Connor, J. P. and O’Connor, M. A. 1983. Calameuta pallipes (Klug) (Symphyta: Cephidae), a species and a family of sawfly new to Ireland. Entomologist’s Rec. J. Var.95: 111-112.
Southwood, T. R. E. and Leston, D. 1959. Land and water bugs of the British Isles. Warne. London.
Current Literature
Hawk-moths of the British Isles by Michael Easterbrook. 24pp.
26 colour, 6 bw illustrations. 3 figs. Wrappers. Shire Publications
td oles.
This little booklet provides a general introduction to the British hawk-moths. After a brief treatment of the general biology of the Sphingidae, each of the 17 resident and immigrant species is con- sidered in terms of its distribution, foodplants, larva and other interesting features. The book concludes with a brief outline of methods of study and breeding techniques.
It is perhaps inevitable that such a concise treatment of a group of insects will result in omissions and generalisations. Whilst the reviewer would challenge one or two points of detail, the overall impression is of an informative and readable text. The photographic illustrations are mainly of living insects and, whilst not comprehen- sive, are of very high standard. The sheer number of colour illustra- tions in a book of this price makes it very good value indeed. P.A.S.
36 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD, VOL. 98 25 1.1986
An Atlas of the Water Beetles of Northumberland and Durham. By M. D. Eyre, S. G. Ball and G.N. Foster. 112” x 8”, typeset, comb binding, stiff paper covers, 66 pp. Northumberland Biological Research Centre Special Publication no. 1, 1985. Obtainable at £2 post free from the Hancock Museum, Barras Bridge, Newcastle- upon-Tyne, NE2 4PT.
This is much the most exhaustive and important publication on the aquatic Coleoptera of the above region since the pioneer work of Hardy and Bold in the latter half of last century, being the outcome of a large amount of both collation from the literature and original investigation. The families covered are all those of the Hydradephaga except the Hygrobiidae (unrepresented in the area), of the Palpi- cornia except Sphaeridiinae, plus the Heteroceridae (water beetles by courtesy only!), Dryopidae, and Elmidae. An introductory page describes the topography of the area and its aquatic habitats, whilst a further two set forth the sources of records and explain the system used for the maps. Of these latter, the first two (whole-page) show general features and geology respectively; a third shows density both of species numbers and of occurrences in terms of national grid squares, but for the 90 individual distribution maps (two to a page) the unit employed is the tetrad. The area comprises three Watsonian vice-counties.
A list of the species (8 pp.) serves as an index to the maps and gives distribution by tetrads of the species not mapped, together with notes on records and habitats, so that all species are covered. The distribution maps follow (45 pp.), all species recorded from ten or more tetrads being mapped, and under each map is a useful habitat-note; pre- and post-1950 records are distinguished through- out. A copious bibliography concludes the whole.
Very little can be said in criticism. It would have been more convenient for frequent reference had the maps on opposite pages been printed the same way up, instead of inverted with respect to each other. There are a few minor spelling or typing errors such as ‘seperated’ (p. 1) and ‘relevent’ (pp. 4, 8).
The region under notice now appears one of the best docu- mented in the country for water beetles, even if parts of it are still underworked. A great deal of labour has gone into making this Atlas a work of lasting value, and its authors are to be commended on their industry. — A. A.A.
Notes and Observations
EUSTROTIA BANKIANA F. (THE SILVER BARRED ) IN HAMPSHIRE — | have identified a specimen of bankiana from the contents of a Rothamsted trap sited at Denny Lodge, New Forest on the night of 4th July 1985. L. J. L. TILLOTSON, Chief Warden, NCC Dyfed Powys Region.
NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS a7]
A NEW TECHNIQUE OF SUGARING — While in Denmark in the spring of 1985, I was shown a sugaring technique that was new to me and might be of interest to readers of the Record:
Some ordinary clothes line is cut into lengths of about 3 metres which are boiled in soapy water to remove tars and thoroughly rinsed in clean water. They are placed in a large plastic bucket with a lid and over them is poured a saturated solution of table sugar in a bottle of cheap red wine. Before use, the contents of the bucket (with the lid firmly in place!) are thoroughly shaken to moisten the ropes with the mixture. The ropes are taken out one by one and hung across the branches of suitable trees and bushes upwind of the area to be pervaded by the odour. The idea is that each source emits odour on a much broader front than does the traditional streak of black treacle on a tree trunk, though of course fewer baits are laid. The moths which are attracted are easy to box, being strung out indeed like washing on a line. We found in Denmark that a good ten times as many specimens came to these sugar ropes than to normal sugar patches. The techniques was used again this summer in France and Spain, in conditions one would not regard as ideal for sugaring. Nonetheless, there was a good attendance which included several species which do not seem to come to ‘conventional’ sugar. Thus I had Deilephila elpenor Linn. (large elephant hawk), Plusia festucae Linn. (gold spot), Autographa gamma Linn. (silver Y), Abrostola sp. (spectacle), Herminia tarsicrinalis Knoch (shaded fanfoot), Hypena proboscidalis Linn. (snout) and several species of Geometridae and Pyralidae as well as ‘heart-stoppers’ such as Cato- cala electa Vieweg (rosy underwing) and Trachea atriplicis Linn. (orache moth).
A further advantage is the economy of the technique. At the end of each session the ropes are gathered back into their container and can be used again and again, with occasional reinforcement with a little wine. It is a messy business, though, and one needs a handy stream or a box of ‘Wet Ones’ to remove stickiness. B. GOATER, 22 Reddings Avenue, Bushey, Herts, WD2 3PB.
BLASTOBASIS LIGNEA WALS. IN NOVEMBER. — On the night of 7.xi.84, a small moth flying in my kitchen proved most un- expectedly to be a fresh example of the above species (abundant here at light during August, the only month given for the imago in our literature). The fact that its congener, B. decolorella Woll. — formerly very rare but now likewise common here (S. E. London) — is double-brooded, with its second brood lasting into November, leads one to wonder whether B. lignea might not occasionally follow a similar pattern and produce a very small second brood. (That of decolorella, 1 may add, is here very much smaller than ‘the first, and in fact I have seen but few of these late specimens.) The weather at the time was unseasonably mild. — A. A. ALLEN.
38 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD, VOL. 98 25 1.1986
RARER MOTH SPECIES AT BARCALDINE, ARGYLL, IN 1982-1984. — This note reports some of the less common species of Macrolepidop- tera recorded in 1982-1984 at a Robinson 125-watt m.v. light trap which was run almost nightly during the spring, summer and autumn of the years 1980-1984. Some species are common in southern Britain but apparently scarce or local here and these are recorded for that reason. All were single specimens, except where numbers are given in brackets. These are numbers recorded in the stated year and in each subsequent year up to 1984. The site at Barcaldine (Argyll) is at map reference NM 964414.
Recorded in 1982 but not in 1980-81: Tethea or D. & S., Idaea straminata Borkh., Hydriomena ruberata Freyer, Perizoma bifaciata Haw., Ourapteryx sambucaria L. (1,0,1), Ematurga ato- maria L. (2), Orgyia antiqua L., Nudaria mundana L. (2,2,1), Euxoa cursoria Hutfn., Agrotis segetum D. & S. (1,2,0), Paradiarsia sobrina Dup., Mythimna conigera D. & S., M. pallens L., M. unipuncta Haw. (2,0,1), Craniophora ligustri D. & S. (3,2,6), Thalpophila matura Hufn., Luperina testacea D. & S. (2,0,3), Rhizedra lutosa Hubn. (1,1,9).
Recorded in 1983 but not in 1980-82: Cyclophora albipunctata Hufn., Rhodometra sacraria L. (2), Eulithis prunata L., Chloroclys- tis rectangulata L., Eilema lurideola Zincken, Polia hepatica Clerck, Cucullia umbratica L. (2,1), Xylena exsoleta L. (2), Acronicta leporina L. (1, 1), Mormo maura L., Apamea unanimis Hubn. (1,3), Nycteola revayana Scop. (2,0).
Recorded in 1984 but not in 1980-83: Perizoma blandiata D. & S. (2), Lobophora halterata Hufn., Semiothisa clathrata L., Clostera pigra Hufn., Phragmatobia fuliginosa L. (2), Mamestra brassicae L., Lacanobia contigua D. & S.
The following species have been recorded previously (1980/ 81) at this site but are scarce. Numbers in brackets are numbers of specimens in 1982-83-84. Plemyria rubiginata D. & S. (3,0,0), Colostygia olivata D. & S. (0,1,0), Perizoma taeniatum Stephens (4,3,2), Carsia sororiata Hubn. (0,0,1), Trichopteryx polycommata D. & s. (1,3,5), Abraxas grossulariata L. (0,0,1), A. sylvaia Scop. (2,3,0), Semiothisa notata L. (1,2,3), Cleora cinctaria D. & S. (0,1,0), Cleorodes lichenaria Hufn. (3,2,5), Dyscia fagaria Thunb. (5,2,1), Setina irrorella L. (0,4,2), Xestia rhomboidea Esper (0,0,2), X. agathina Dup. (0,4,1), Eurois occulta L. (20,2,1), Panolis flam- mea D. & S.(1,1,0), Lithomoia solidaginis Hubn. (2,6,0), Acronicta menyanthidis Esper (2,2,1), Apamea exulis Lefebvre (5,6,4), A. ophiogramma Esper (0,0,5), Eustro tia uncula Clerck (0,2,0).
The following corrections should be made to the previous list from this site (Ent. Rec. 1982, 94: 243-244):
Delete F. flavicinctata Hubn.
For P. bombycina Hufn. read Lacanobia biren Goeze.
For A. tridens D. & S. read A. psi L.
NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS 39
For B. prasinana L. read Pseudoips fagana britannica Warren.
I am indebted to E. C. Pelham-Clinton for confirming the
identities of most of the above species, and to I. C. Christie for
advice and encouragement. J. C. A. CRAIK, Marine Laboratory, P. O. Box 3, Oban, Argyll.
TEMPERATURES ASSOCIATED WITH THE BLUE BUTTERFLY AT MALVERN IN JANUARY 1983. — Further to the mention by Dr. C. J. Luckens in Ent. Rec. 96: 237-242, the blue butterfly was disturbed from a pile of logs by a Mrs. K. Edwards on January 8th. The logs were near to mature holly trees, and with plenty of ivy in the area it seemed probable that it was C.argiolus Linn, a holly blue. Observations since support this assumption because this species is often plentiful there, eg. the second brood in 1984.
Through the kindness of Mr. Frank Hill of the Meterological Office Radar Research Station at Malvern, I receive detailed infor- mation of local climatic conditions, therefore I have been able to study daily records for the period before the sighting. Mr. Hill considers that the location of Mrs. Edwards’ garden is such that temperatures there should be similar to those at the recording site which is about 1% miles away. The records show that maximum shade temperatures reached 59°F on December 15th, 54° on the 19th, and there was a warm period over Christmas from 24th to 27th. Then there was a most exceptional warm period in early January when temperatures reached levels normally associated with late April, as follows:—
Date January 1983 ] y 3 4 5 6 7
OA maximum oC NOR, Wis TD BS) aba a 78 minimum °C TV Al, S) 6.0 8.8 OA ii
Long term averages for early January:— day maximum 6.5°C Moone soomeuTaao LAC
Maximum temperatures far exceeded the normal maximum, reaching a record 14.4°C (58°F approx) on the 5th. Furthermore on three nights even the lowest temperature exceeded the normal maximum daily temperature for early January. Understandably these high temperatures coincided with a low pressure period and there was much cloud and rain, however there were some periods of sunshine, notably three hours on the Sth.
Mr. Hill also analysed local records from 1955 to 1985 for the first 7 days of January, and found that 1983 was the warmest on all three criteria of highest maximum, highest mean and highest minimum. Interestingly, a rank order plot showed that the next warmest years were 1975 and 1976; also 1979 and 1963 were the coldest.
40 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD, VOL. 98 25 1.1986
The studies by H. C. Gunton over the period 1919 to 1937 provided a reference work on the factors influencing emergence dates for macrolepidoptera. (Gunton, H. C. 1938. Nature Study Above and Below the Surface. London. Publisher H. S. & G. Witherby.) One of his conclusions was:— “‘— From a careful exami- nation of the records of different years it appears that while, in the absence of exceptional drought, excess temperature is the principal factor in producing earliness, the maximum degree of earliness is often found to occur during a warm period which coincides with, or follows shortly after, a wet period.’ Another was:— “--Early emergences depend on the occurence of a warm period within a certain time distance in advance of the normal date for appearance.” Argiolus was one of 50 species he studied and his normal date was 30th. April; his earliest date was 2nd. April, but “‘time distance” was not quantified. Perhaps a month or 5 weeks would seem appro- priate? (I once saw argiolus at Malvern in late March).
Thus the ‘Malvern blue’ in January 1983 conformed with Gunton’s deductions apart perhaps from the extreme earliness. However, since a holly blue of a third brood is occasionally seen in a warm October — which would normally remain in the pupa state until the following spring — it is foreseeable that a most excep- tional warm period during the winter months might stimulate emergence. I should be interested to learn of any records for the months November — February, in order to further study the meteo- logical factor.
My grateful thanks to Mr. Frank Hill for his invaluable help, without which this analysis could not have been made. — J. E. GREEN, 25 Knoll Lane, Poolbrook, Malvern, Worcs, WR14 3JU.
VANESSA CARDUI L. AND HYLES LIVORNICA ESP. IN NORTH AFRICA, APRIL 1985 —_ Further to the article by P. A. Davey (Ent. Rec. 97: 165-167) on the immigration of the above species in 1985, the following observations may be of some interest : I was on holiday in Morocco from 4th to 18th April, first in Marrakesh and then Agadir. Both cardui and livornica were extremely common. On April 5th, and for a few subsequent days, I noted at Marrakesh “. . . clouds and clouds of cardui on the waste ground near my hotel .. .” They appeared to be flying S. W., and maintained this movement for several days. The painted lady was also common in Agadir a few days later, but here /ivornica was the dominant species, swarming over flowers in the hotel gardens on 15th April. I noted “. . ..lots of striped hawks washed up in the surf on the beach. ..”, and the moth was also abundant around the light outside my room. It is probable that these insects were part of the migration that eventually reached the U.K. D. HALL, Lichfield School, The Palace, Lichfield, Staffs.
THE ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD AND JOURNAL OF VARIATION (Founded by J. W. TUTT on 15th April 1890)
CONTENTS
Mylothris chloris agathina (Cramer) (Lepidoptera: Pieridae), a species which has extended its range of distribution from the easterly part of South Africa to the extrerne Western Cape. A. J. M. CLAASSENS and C. G. C. DICKSON, 1. Zophopetes dysmephila dysmephila (Trimen), a butterfly introduced into the extreme Western Cape on palms. A. J. CLAASSEN and C. G. C. DICKSON, 4. Unusual foodplants of Svensson’s copper underwing (Amphipyra berbera svenssoni Fletcher) and the mouse (Amphipyra tragopoginis (Clerck)) E.G. HANCOCK and1I.D. WALLACE, 7. Unusual egg laying strategies of the small tortoishell butterfly, Aglais ‘urticae A. S. PULLIN, 9. Rhopalocera recorded in Andorra during 1981 and 1983 K. D. SAMUELS, 11. A further colony of Anasimyia inter- puncta Harris (Dipt.: Syrphidae) in the Thames Estuary area. C. W. PLANT, 22. Some records of Scottish microlepidoptera K. P. BLAND, 25. Around Rannoch: August 1985. J. M. CHALMERS-HUNT and R. G. CHATELAIN, 29. The early stages of Diachrysia orichalcea (Fab) D. G. SEVASTOPULO, 31. Notes on Scolopostethus puberulus Horvath and Limnoporus rugoscutellatus (Latreille) (Hemiptera) in Ireland J.P O'CONNOR, 33:
CURRENT LITERATURE 35-36.
NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS 6, 8, 10, 21, 24, 28, 30, 32, 36-40.
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Vol. 98 Nos.34 2bobS% March/April 1986 ISSN 0013-8916
LL IB} V/
MAY 13 1986 THE NITOMOLOGIST’S RECORD
AND JOURNAL OF VARIATION
0c \ 7
Edited by P. A. SOKOLOFF, M. Sc., C.Biol., M- I. Biol., F.R.E.S.
with the assistance of
A. A. ALLEN, B.SC., A.R.C.S. P. J. CHANDLER, B.SC., F.R.E.S. NEVILLE BIRKETT, M.A., M.B. C. A. COLLINGWOOD, B.SC., F.R.E.S. S. N. A. JACOBS, F.R.E.S. J. HEATH, F.R.E.S., F.L.S.
J. D. BRADLEY, PH.D., F.R.E.S. E. S. BRADFORD
Lieut. Col. A. M. EMMET, M.B.E., T.D., F.R.E.S. J. M. CHALMERS-HUNT, F.R.E.S. C. J. LUCKENS, M.B., CH.B., D.R.C.O.G.
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PUBLISHED BIMONTHLY
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BUTTERFLY DISTRIBUTION IN FIFE & KINROSS — It is hoped to complete 1 km distribution maps by 1990. Please send recent or unpublished records (including date and number for scarce species) to: P. K. KINNEAR, 11 Hill view Road, Balmullo, St. Andrews, Fife KH16 ODR.
CAN YOU HELP? HELL COPPICE/BERNWOOD FOREST — Does anybody have photographs, notebooks etc. relating to Hell Coppice or Bernwood Forest, Bucks. for the first half of this century — up to 1950? I am studying history of this site and would be grateful for any material. Anthing relevant would be copied and returned.
RACHEL THOMAS, Biology Department, Oxford Polytechnic, Headington, Oxford OX3 OBP. Tel. (0865) 64777 ext 578.
MICROLEPIDOPTERA OF WILTSHIRE — I am attempting to gather all available information on the distribution of microlepi- doptera in Wiltshire, for a future publication. I would be grateful to receive records of all species, with full data. All contributors will be acknowledged. S.M.PALMER, The Warren, Hindon Road, Dinton, Wilts SP3 SEG.
MESAPAMEA SECALIS AND M. SECALELLA 4]
THE GENITALIA OF THE SPECIES PAIR MESAPAMEA SECALIS (L.) AND
MESAPAMEA SECALELLA REMM, (LEP.: NOCTUIDAE)
By M. J, R. JORDAN*
These two species were first separated in 1983 by Dr. H. Remm (Remm 1983) in the Estonian SSR of the USSR, on the grounds of the male genitalia. Since then further studies (Fibiger et al. 1984; Agassiz & Goater pers. comm.; Jordan 1985) have shown that both species also occur in North Western Europe and Britain, and that separation of the two species on female genitalia may be pos- sible.
The genitalia of these two species have not yet been figured in a British Journal, and this paper seeks to remedy this by des- cribing the main diagnostic characters used to separate secalis from secalella.
The genitalia of Mesapamea secalis (L.)
MALE: The clavus of this species is narrow and heavily chiti- nised, with many small thorn like projections (figs. 1 and 6). The aedeagus is curved and when the vesica is everted there is a large, broad cornutus which is joined to the vesica along its entire length. There are also many minute cornuti and an ancillary pouch where the everted vesica turns into a narrow tube (fig. 2).
FEMALE: The female genitalia have one major diagnostic character. When viewed from the ventral side the swelling of the ductus bursae faces to the right (fig. 5).
The genitalia of Mesapamea secalella Remm.
MALE: In this species the clavus is broad and only lightly chiti- nised, with scattered fine setae (figs.3 and 7). The aedeagus is straighter and the large cornutus on the everted vesica is narrow and only joined to it along part of its length. Where the everted vesica turns into a tube there are many cornuti which are very much larger than those of secalis (fig. 4).
FEMALE: The distinguishing character is that in this species the
swelling of the ductus bursae faces to the left when viewed ven- trally (fig. 5).
*School of Biological Sciences, Queen Mary College, Mile End Road, London.
42 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD, VOL. 98 15 .itt.1986
Narrow clavus heavily chitinised, with many chorns
Fig. 1. Mesapamea secalis: male genitalia.
aedeagus curved
\ ancillary pouch cornutus broad and
fixed to vesica along
cornuti very small its entire length
Fig. 2. Mesapamea secalis: aedeagus.
SNES SS ‘ \ =
ie
Pasa = = LE ~~ Zz Ai — ee es KN \
a \N
Co) SS Se SON, (KEES
8, SS? EEE, x SEL= 023 = Khia Swe
Se)
wide clavus only Ssightly chitinised with fine setae
Fig. 3. Mesapamea secalella: male genitalia.
aedeagus straighter
cornutus narrower Se and free at end
Fig. 4. Mesapamea secalella: aedeagus.
MESAPAMEA SECALIS AND M. SECALELLA 43
swelling of ductus swelling of ductus bursae faces left bursae faces right secalella Remm secalis(L.)
Fig. 5. Mesapamea secalella (left) and secalis (right): female. genitalia.
It must be stressed that at the present time the male and female genitalia described for each species are only linked by frequency and are not confirmed by captive breeding.
In addition four specimens have been found in which the genitalia conform to neither species, but appear to represent an intermediate of the characters of both species. The exact significance of these specimens wili hopefully also be clarified by a captive breeding programme.
Acknowledgements
My Thanks are due to D. J. Carter of the British Museum (Natural History), for allowing me access to the RCK coll. and especially to M. R. Honey, also of the British Museum (Natural History), for many useful comments and for checking the manu- script of this paper.
References Fibiger, M., Mikkola, K. Moberg, A. & Svendsen, P., 1984: “Mesa-
pamea secalella Remm, 1983, A species found in Western Europe”, Nota lepid. 7(2): 121-131.
44 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD, VOL. 98 15 1.1986
Jordan, M. J. R., 1985: “A study of the species pair, Mesapamea secalis (Linn.) and Mesapamea secalella Remm, at Weyhill, Hampshire (VC 12).’’, Thesis submitted for the degree of BSc.., Zoology Dept., Royal Holloway College, University of London. Unpublished.
Remm, H., 1983: “New species of Noctuidae (Lepidoptera) from the USSR”, Ent. Obozr. LXIi: 596-600.
Fig. 7. Mesapamea secalella: detail of clavus (photograph D. J. L. Agassiz).
MESSAPAMEA SECALIS AND M. SECALELLA 45
SOME PRACTICAL HINTS FOR TREATING MESAPAMEA SPECIES
By the Rev. DAVID AGASSIZ *
The structural differences between M. secalis and its sister species M. secalella are adequately described in Michael Jordan’s paper in this issue of the Record. Readers will know that it is pos- sible to guess from the wing colouration and pattern which species they are looking at, but they cannot know for certain without examination of the genitalia. This is a deterrent for many amateur lepidopterists because they may not have the facilities for making genitalia preparations, which is also very time consuming. Besides this cabinet specimens without abdomens never look quite as good as complete ones!
I offer these simple techniques which enable males of Mesapa- mea species to be identified quickly and definitely without the need to kill or damage them in any way. They can be applied in the same way to other difficult groups, e.g. Acronicta psi/tridens, EDIE OCS spp. and Oligia spp..
The specimen is anaesthetised by placing it in a killing jar charged with ethyl acetate for about a minute, just long enough for it to become unconscious and no longer moving. It is then taken out and placed on the microscope stage or other suitable surface. Magnification between x10 and x30 is ideal. The moth is placed on its back and with one hand, using e.g. curved entomolo- gical forceps, gentle downward pressure is exerted on the underside of the abdomen until the genitalia begin to be extruded. Maintaining gentle pressure on the abdomen (which keeps it steady) the valves can then be prised apart with very fine forceps, until all the critical characters can be seen. With Mesapamea species the valves need to be spread very wide because the distinguishing shape of the clavus is right at the base of the valve. The projecting shape in M. secalis is dark brown, in contrast to the hairs and most of the rest of the genitalia.
Once the determination is made the specimen can be released, if only the record is of interest. Moths usually regain consciousness within a few minutes, if they suffer aches in the lower abdomen at least their complaints are inaudible! Specimens to be kept are not damaged if carefully handled.
This examination can be done quickly and easily for recording purposes, and the secalis/secalella group with practice can be deter- mined at a rate of 3 or 4 per minute. Unfortunately no such proce- dure is possible with females since all the structures are internal. Whilst the technique is simplest with a stereoscopic microscope, it should equally be possible with a x20 or x10 hand lens. The only *The Rectory, 10 High View Avenue, Grays, Essex, RM17 6RU.
46 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD, VOL. 98 15 .it1.1986
difficulty then is that if two hands are needed to manipulate the abdomen it is hard to hold the lens in place!
When specimens of such critical species are set it is always worth arranging the genitalia so that they can be examined without dissection (c.f. MBGBI 1: 130). Even if they have been determined it is good to allow further inspection without damage to the speci- men. To achieve this it is again necessary to squeeze the abdomen (ventro-dorsally) to force out the genitalia. The valves should then be held open as wide as possible with a pair of pins, when dry the critical parts can then be examined with ease, using either lens or microscope.
NOTE: As yet there are no reliable criteria for separating secalis and secalella by means of external characters. Both species are illustrated by Skinner (1984) in Colour identification guide to moths of the British Isles (plate 38 figs. 1-5), but the text comment on p. 160 of the first printing : “May be separated from the usually slightly smaller M. secalis..... ” is erroneous, as secalis is generally slightly larger than secalella. This error has been corrected in the second printing. Both species appear to be common in suitable habitats throughout the British Isles, and we await with interest further details of the biology of these two species. A recent paper (in Danish) by Michael Fibiger and Poul Svendsen (Ent. Meddr. 53:31-38) has half-tone illustrations of a short series of each species as well as photpgraphs of genitalia preparations. Editor.
CUCULLIA LYCHNITIS RAMB. (THE STRIPED LYCHNIS) IN WEST SUSSEX — On 26th August 1985 whilst walking a small section of The South Downs Way above Treyford, West Sussex, I came across in excess of twenty five full grown larvae of C. lychnitis. Ramb. — the striped lychnis — feeding on two adjacent plants of Verbascum nigrum.
Surprisingly C. Pratt (A History of the Butterfly and Moths of Sussex) gives only two records for Sussex since 1945 and the distri- bution map in J. Heath (The Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland: 10) shows no records for this area despite a suggestion in the accompanying text that it should occur.
Larvae have also been found relatively commonly in the Win- chester area of Hampshire this year, thus hopefully a revival in the fortunes of this insect is perhaps indicated. J. W. PHILLIPS, 16 Grove Road, Havant, Hants.
BRITISH MORDELLISTENA SPECIES 47
ON THE BRITISH SPECIES OF MORDELLISTENA COSTA (COL.: MORDELLIDAE) RESEMBLING PARVULA GYLL.
By A. A. ALLEN, B.Sc., A.R.C.S.*
With the publication of Vol. 8 of Freude, Harde & Lohse, Die Kafer Mitteleuropas (1969), it became evident that our British representatives of this family would almost certainly prove more numerous than had yet appeared. The object of these notes is to point out that the Mordellistena parvula Gyll. of British catalogues and collections comprises more than one species; and further, that others very similar, not yet recorded here, also occur with us. That much was clear from a study of my very scanty material of the group (strictly speaking not a single homogeneous group, as will appear); which, even on a cursory inspection, was readily seen to be composite.
To identify securely each of the four species hitherto found (distinct enough in themselves), among the very large number in- cluded in the key by the late Karl Ermisch in the above-named work, was at first a somewhat daunting task. When, however, the key was perused in greater detail and the sectional characters care- fully re-checked, it became a simpler exercise. Finally I was fortu- nate in having the help of Mr. R. Batten in Holland, the successor to Dr. Ermisch as a specialist in the Mordellidae, who was good enough to verify my eventual determinations.
None of these species can be regarded as other than very un- common with us, except occasionally at a particular spot. They are the smallest known species of the genus in Britain. Usually they occur by sweeping mixed vegetation, and unlike some others of the genus do not appear to patronize flowers much. The plants with which they are specifically associated have, with one exception, not been well ascertained.
The common feature on which it is convenient to group them together for present purposes is a similar facies or general aspect consequent on the coloration, notably of the pubescence. The four species are split down the middle, as it were, by a very definite structural character; the members of each pair are closely allied. Thus, one pair falls into the first section of Ermisch’s key with 63 species, the other into the second with only six. (These sections are treated there as subgenera — see below.) The following key will, it is hoped, enable the four species dealt with here to be determined with little trouble :—
*49 Montcalm Road, Charlton, London SE7 8QG.
48 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD, VOL. 98 15 01.1986
Small to very small species, never entirely deep black (thus contrasting with the M. pumila group) but to the naked eye ap- pearing dark olive-brown to somewhat greenish-grey-black with a silky sheen, by reason of the usually shining yellowish pubescence; appendages in part, notably the anterior coxae and femora, base of antennaé, palpi and mouthparts (least clearly in 9 parvuloides), and often front of head narrowly, more or less distinctly paler, yellow-brown to rufous; antennae slightly to decidedly (parvula) more elongate in male than in female, except in nanuloides.
1/4 Hind tibiae with an accessory spur barely half the size of the large one, situated ventrally and visible from the side or behind! (sg. Mordellistena s str.2). (Length about 2.5-3.3mm.)
2/3 Viewed laterally or dorsolaterally, pronotal side-margins in basal half practically straight; hind angles bluntly rounded, obtuse. (Form somewhat variable.) .......... parvula Gyll.
3/2 Viewed thus, pronotal side-margins in basal half distinctly concave; hind angles well-marked, about 90° or less (Form rather TRO DUS) aren ee ete ee cen anes rene parvuloides Erm.
4/1 Hind tibiae without an accessory spur (sg. Pseudomordellina Erm.). Pronotal characters as 3/2, very clearly in acuticollis, less so in some nanuloides.
5/6 Antennae long, exceeding combined length of head and prono- tum, segments 5-10 about twice as long as broad; size larger, up to fully 3mm. (More slender and elongate than parvu- LOTL CSI ere See Te ee Te re ane ae Re ae acuticollis Schils.
6/5 Antennae short, not quite equalling combined length of head and pronotum, segments 5-10 about 1% times as long as broad; size very small, 2.3-2.8 mm. (Antennae similar in the seXes, unlike parvula; head in @ entirely black, in do narrowly reddish INPERONC Serer Mee ee Aen ee eee ae nanuloides Erm.
Notes on the species
M. parvula (Gyllenhal). — A very distinct species, within its group at once known by the pronotal character given above; its immediate allies include the next. It is indeed surprising that the true parvula has so long been confounded with nanuloides in Britain (under the former name, of course). Actually, Fowler (1891:73) did distinguish them to some extent, correctly noting the important thoracic difference — other characters he gives appear in part con-
The hind legs in these species should always be set, or disposed, in such a way that it can readily be seen whether or not accessory spurts are present.
2Includes all other known British species of the genus apart from the last two above, and abdominalis F .
3M. inaequalis Muls. is now treated as a good species, known only from France.
BRITISH MORDELLISTINA SPECIES 49
fused, at least in the light of present knowledge — yet he still re- ferred all British specimens to ‘parvula v. inaequalis’3 , and, except that the varietal name has lately been dropped, British authors and catalogues have continued to do likewise.
The foodplant is perhaps often Artemisia vulgaris (mugwort), but it seems likely that other plants too are utilized. Of the single specimens I have taken (Broxbourne, Herts.; Arundel, Sussex) one was shaken from Achillea millefolium (yarrow), but mugwort was near at hand; in the other case it was not, but yarrow may have been. Possibly, therefore, the last-named is another host. M. parvula is scattered thinly about the south-east and south, extending (ac- cording to the records I have) westward to Cornwall and northward to Norfolk. Probably all the localities given by Fowler (J.c.) except Sheerness, and by Fowler & Donisthorpe (1913:299), apply to this species.
M. parvuloides Ermisch. — On 1st July 1985, 1 captured a single female by sweeping in oak woodland at Shooters Hill near here (now Oxleas Woods SSSI), very close to the locality for the next species. The actual source of both insects is at present problematic. In the case of parvuloides there was little at the spot (which was very shady) but grass, brambles, and oaks. At the time I could only sup- pose the beetle to be another acuticollis, though even in the net it appeared too large and stout. As the exact location was only some 20 yards in from the woodland edge, the possiblity of its having strayed from that likelier situation to where it was found cannot be ignored. The host-plant of parvuloides seems to be quite unknown. The species is recorded only from the Rhineland, Bavaria, Switzerland, Italy, and Hungary (Ermisch, p.176). It may perhaps be found representing parvula, or mixed with that species, in a few collections; or it may be a newcomer to our fauna. This, of course, applies equally to the next species.
The pubescence in my specimen is appreciably a little darker and less shining than in parvula, and the mouthparts and antennae considerably darker than appears usual in that species; but whether the latter difference is true of the male also of parvuloides, 1 cannot say. M. acuticollis Schilsky. — Also found at Shooters Hill (see above), where two examples occurred to me in successive years (20. vii.84, 7.vii.85) by general sweeping on the western fringe of the woods verging on Eltham Common. The first was swept amongst long grass with a few nettles intermixed and some taller vegetation consisting of young trees — hawthorn, birch, oak etc.; the second in a rather more exposed spot about 20 yards distant with shorter grass and little else but a few low docks, nearly under an oak. Ermisch (p.187) notes the beetle as having been swept from Cirsium arvense, the common field thistle; I therefore gave this plant special
50 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD, VOL. 98 15 .it1.1986
attention where it grew along the edge of the woods, likewise the flowers of hogweed locally present there, but to no avail. (Artemisia is a notable absentee.)
- The nearest ally of this species is the following, which however is a maritime or estuarine insect. Now that attention has been drawn to them, acuticollis and parvuloides will surely turn up in other localities. It goes without saying that any parvula-like specimen ought to be subjected to careful scrutiny. M. acuticollis is recorded from Austria, Hungary, Steiermark, Switzerland, Slovakia, Bavaria, Wiirttemberg, and the Middle Elbe district (Ermisch, /.c.). Southern England is, of course, a notable extension north-westward of the known range of this and the last species.
M. nanuloides Ermisch. — This is the very small Mordellistena formerly taken in abundance at times on Artemisia maritima at Sheerness on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent, by J. J. Walker, G. C. Champion and probably others, but confused by British authors with ‘parvula y. inaequalis ’ (see under M. parvula). Mr. P. M. Hammond (BMNH) suggested to me its true identity at about the time that I had independently come to the same conclusion. All the BMNH material from several British collections appears to be from the above source, and I know of no other locality in this country; though one would expect the species to exist in other maritime or saltmarsh areas where the sea wormwood occurs, especially perhaps on the east coast. On the Continent also the distribution appears very restricted. Ermisch (p.187) notes that M. nanuloides was described from the above-named foodplant in Holland, and gives Meissen in Saxony as the only other record. It would be interesting to know whether it is still present on Sheppey. Even if not, it can hardly fail to turn up again somewhere in our area, since alone of the four species considered here the host-plant is not in doubt.
Acknowledgements
I am grateful to Mr. R. Batten (Middelburg) for confirming my determinations, and for other relevant information; and to Mr. P. M. Hammond (London) for helpful discussion, and, as always, for affording me facilities for examining British Museum material.
References
Ermisch, K., in Freude, H., Harde, K. W., & Lohse, G. A. 1969. Die Kafer Mitteleuropas, 8. Krefeld.
Fowler, W. W.1891. The Coleoptera of the British Islands, 5. London.
Fowler, W. W. & Donisthorpe, H. St. J. K. 1913. Idem, 6. London.
CORRIGENDA. Vol. 97, p.137, 1.20 up: for ‘Gardener’ read ‘Gardner’. p.138, 1.21: for the second ‘the’ read ‘that’.
BRITISH BUTTERFLIES REVIEW 1984 51 A REVIEW OF BRITISH BUTTERFLIES IN 1984
By Dr. C. J. LUCKENS*
Three good butterfly seasons in a row are most unusual in these troublous times, and 1984 was an exceptional year for many species. Most butterflies showed gains, but there were a few unexpected declines also. Weather patterns were unusual, to say the least. In the south a cold March suddenly flowered into a dry sunny April. The eastern counties remained cold and less favourable at this time, but throughout the rest of southern and western England there were very early emergences and unprecedented numbers of spring butterflies. May and early June were both a little disappointing but after June 5th the weather remained generally very good until the end of the summer. The northern half of Britain shared in this excellent weather and Scotland had its driest warmest summer for several decades.
The glorious April weather in southern England brought out most of the hibernators in good numbers (especially Gonepteryx rhamni) but Polygonia C-album L. was rather scarcer than usual. By mid April Anthocharis cardamines L. and Celestrina argiolus L. started to emerge and thereafter produced exeptional numbers throughout their range. There were also good numbers of Pararge aegeria L. at this time in our south Hampshire garden, but else- where, in the south at least, reports seemed to indicate that it was scarcer than usual in the spring broods. Average numbers appeared in the summer broods, though none were recorded from the usual sites in Easter Ross. In coastal Argyll I saw several single examples in Appin, Benderloch and along the north shore of Loch Etive.
Lasiommata megera L. also produced a small first brood in most areas and a somewhat better summer brood. In west Sussex this seemed confined mainly to downland sites. Megera appears to be continuing its spread in Northumberland, where in the 1970’s it was scarce, and is now widespread and numerous along the Tyne valley and spreading west and north year by year. Another scarce Satyrid in the north-eastern Highlands this year was Erebia aethiops Esp, and this after abundance during the three previous seasons. We found this butterfly widespread and common in central Argyll, however, with heavy concentrations in some sites in Appin, Ben- derloch and on the Isle of Seil. Maniola jurtina L. had another good year. It did better at Portland than for several past seasons, and was recorded as abundant (but slightly down in numbers from 1983) in north Dorset. In Scotland it had an extended season and one was recorded on Buddleia at Muir of Ord on 20th/21st August. It was fairly common throughout Easter and Wester Ross,
*Swallowfield, Manor Road, Durley, Southampton, SO3 2AF.
5) ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD, VOL. 98 15 it1.1986
and I recorded a few worn specimens flying on the Isle of Seil, Argyll, on August 18th.
Pyronia tithonus L. appeared in enormous numbers in this area of south Hampshire and this seems to have been reflected throughout its range in the south.
Melanargia galathea L. also had a very good season generally, though numbers were again rather low in some of its former strong- holds in west Sussex. Another success story concerned Hipparchia semele L. Portland produced a very good showing of this butter- fly with several of the usual vars taken with obsolete or reduced spotting. It was also recorded in several sites not previously noted in North Dorest and was not uncommon near Corfe Castle. The New Forest heathland produced smaller numbers than usual, but in one of its normally sparse colonies on the east Sussex Downs near Alfriston, 60 were recorded in one day. New localities for the Grayling were found at Gruinard Bay in Wester Ross (at an early date for this species in Scotland — July 2nd) and we recorded one or two specimens on the north shore of Loch Etive, Argyll during late August. Numbers of Aphantopus hyperantus L. were reported as average in north Dorset and down in some areas of Hampshire but it was encouraging to hear of an increase in the New Forest after several seasons of scarcity. It also appeared abundantly near Cressage in Shropshire. Tim Melling, who worked extensively on Coenonympha tullia Mull. in 1984,sent a useful report of his ac- tivities and the welcome news that one Northumberland colony was estimated at well over 1,000 specimens on July 7th. Seventy different bogland localities were detected in the county in that year. On Thorne Waste in Yorkshire he was able to find 60 larvae in May within a 100-yard square. In spite of major fires at Whixall Moss, Shropshire early in the year, tullia also had a reasonable season there.
An interesting report regarding Eurodryas aurinia Rott. came from Wiltshire where larvae were found in late April near Tilshead, feeding naturally on Dipsacus, wild teazle. It appears to have been an excellent year for this local species in both south Wiltshire and north Dorset — especially at Hod Hill and Bratton Castle. The iso- lated Worcester colony had a real population explosion. Here the first aurinia was seen on May 14th, and by June 7th the butterfly was in its thousands. There was some evidence of spread to neigh- bouring areas also. This was not the earliest emergence date how- ever, as it was seen near Street in Somerset on May 13th, and in this same county the butterfly continued for nearly a month, as several were recorded at Charterhouse on June 10th. Several records also appeared from the woods on the Surrey/Sussex border. There was a single record from Sedgehurst Wood and large numbers were noted at Botany Bay near Chiddingfold. I visited this latter site
BRITISH BUTTERFLIES REVIEW, 1984 33
in mid-August and found larval webs in prodigious numbers along a fifty yard stretch of woodland ride. It would be very interesting to know if this is the result of introduction or of natural colonisa- tion. There were also excellent numbers of larval webs in nearly all the Argyllshire stations in August. Some new colonies also turned up and I was glad to find a strong extensive population on a headland near Benderloch.
Clossiana euphrosyne L. and Clossiana selene D. & S. unfor- tunately continued to suffer from the “bushing out” of their wood- land habitats. Both are now rarities in Sussex apart from the colonies on the Surrey border. Reasonable numbers appeared in Wyre Forest
however (especially selene) and euphrosyne had a good showing in some of the Lake District sites. Melitaea cinxia L. was reported in numbers from the Isle of Wight and appears to be spreading along the south coast from its strongholds around Compton Bay and St. Catherine’s Point. An interesting report from the Channel Islands revealed that this butterfly was abundant on Alderney and the south coast of Guernsey in 1984. It was pleasing to hear that good numbers of Mellicta athalia Rott. were seen on the Cornwall/Devon border between June 21st and 23rd, and that the Exmoor colonies were also in very good shape — the emergence there commencing in early June. Argynnis aglaia L. appeared in small numbers in north Dorset, but there were increased sightings in the Channel Islands especially on Sark and Jethou, and a definite record from Guernsey.
The high brown fritillary, Argynnis adippe, D: & S. continued to cause concern, though slightly better numbers were reported from the Malvern area (with a first sighting around June 20th), and it appeared in good numbers in the scattered limestone woodland in the Witherslack hills. An average season was the consensus for Argynnis paphia L., though there appeared to be a slight gain in the west Sussex woods and evidence of spread into a wooded area near Highley, Shropshire. The dark valezina form was not uncom- mon in some areas of north Dorset but fewer than usual were seen in the Winchester woods. In some areas of the New Forest paphia did fairly well but the main emergence did not occur until mid- July. At this stage Limenitis camilla L. was also seen in some num- bers in the New Forest. In fact the White Admiral seems to have had an excellent season from Shropshire to the south coast. It was re- ported to be spreading north to woodland in south Staffordshire and Worcestershire and was also found in Haugh Wood, Hereford. The 1899 Malvern. Catalogue records camilla as ‘very rare’, but the butterfly is now fairly common around the Malvern Hills with a sprinkling in Wyre Forest.
For Apatura iris L. 1984 was an exceptional year. From my own observations in south Hampshire and Wiltshire it was the best since 1976. A casual search of sallows in one Hampshire wood at
54 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD, VOL. 98 15 .i1.1986
the end of July revealed 9 ova in just under an hour. Reports from west Sussex and Surrey were slightly less encouraging however, though it was recorded as “quite common” in one or two localities. Aglais urticae L. also had a remarkable year throughout most of the country. In south Wiltshire and Dorset adults were common all through the year, with many nettle patches completely defoliated in August, and a large third brood was produced. Good numbers of urticae were seen in the northern Highlands between 19th March and 29th May, and again between 4th July to the 15th October. We saw many imagines in Argyll in late August (usually feeding on Scabious flowers) and a large late brood of full fed larvae was noted on the Isle of Seil during this time. Polygonia C-album on the other hand seemed to have rather a lean year but it was interesting to learn that it had returned as a breeding species to Guernsey after being last recorded in 1947. Nymphalis io L. appeared in good num- bers in April, and the summer hatch in most areas was excellent, appearing as early as July 10th. There were also several records of the rare Nymphalis polychloros L. Some of these may have been the result of released specimens but there was definite evidence of persistent colonies in Somerset. The fine April weather brought out Hamearis lucina L. as early as April 25th in Hampshire, and in the Witherslack colonies (which normally emerge later), the Duke of Burgundy was first seen on May 7th. Most colonies of this local butterfly appeared to be holding their own in 1984, reports being received from downland sites in Sussex, west to Hawkesbury in Somerset and north to Witherslack.
The main reason for decline of Plebejus argus L. nowadays seems to be destruction of habitat, but in its remaining colonies this butterfly seemed to do quite well. It was late in emergence at Portland, but reasonable numbers were seen, and on Ashdown Forest it also had a good year. The isolated heathland locality at Chailey, Sussex also produced good numbers but it appears to have been scarcer than usual on the New Forest heaths. There is an isolated, fragile locality in Shropshire, and here, also, it was recor- ded in some plenty. In spite of the ‘post 1970’ dots on the distribution maps for the Channel Islands the last record was apparently from Jethou in the 1960’s. T.N.D. Peet has searched for it over the last 5 years without success on Guernsey where it formerly occurred on the light soils in the north of the island.
Aricia agestis D. & S. showed something of an increase in 1984 in north Dorset but populations in west Sussex were in general very low. It was reported as very common on one site near Brighton however. Moderately good numbers were noted at St. Catherine’s Down near Winchester. Aricia artaxerxes. was detected commonly in several inland sites in Berwickshire. Cupido minimus Fuess. fared less well in this area of Hampshire in
BRITISH BUTTERFLIES REVIEW 1984 55
1984. I failed to see a single specimen at St. Catherine’s Down and numbers were hardly up to scratch on Portsdown. There was an early record on May 13th for Frome in Somerset, and it was recorded in fair numbers, locally, in the Cotswolds near Stroud and Painswick.
At Portland, Lysandra coridon Poda. was common (about the same numbers as 1983) and the usual vars turned up such as fowleri and marginata. Obsoleta forms were less common than usual how- ever and there were no really striking aberrations. Coridon appeared sparsely in north Dorset and Wiltshire, but some of the localities near Cheddar in Somerset produced good numbers. Most other areas had an average year with an extended season to the end of Sep- tember. Very small numbers in the first brood of Lysandra bellargus Rott. were reported from most localities where this local insect survives. None were seen at Martin Down, for example, on June 15th, and the spring brood in Sussex was described as very poor. Late summer broods were generally up to strength throughout however (in- cluding Martin) and one or two newcolonies were discovered in Sussex.
In its double brooded range Polyommatus icarus Rott. shared a similar pattern to bellargus. There was a somewhat sparse first brood followed by avery good summer brood. In northern Scotland it was found commonly between mid-June and mid-July in Ros- shire and northwest Sutherland, especially in coastal localities. The early spring hatch of argiolus was common in nearly all areas. As far north as Witherslack over 25 were seen by one recorder in a quarter-mile walk on April 27th (some holly trees were tapped in order to produce this excellent score for the north). There was a correspondingly large summer brood (in the south at least) and this delightful butterfly was recorded as abundant in Dorset, Somerset and Hampshire. Heavy parasitism of the resulting larvae were noted in west Sussex.
The small copper, Lycaena phlaeas L. produced at least 3 broods in most areas, the 3rd being particularly numerous in north Dorset, Wiltshire and Hampshire. A possible 4th brood was noted at Lewes in Sussex. I found phlaeas ubiquitous in coastal Argyll in mid to late August. Callophrys rubi L. on the other hand, was generally rather scarce in 1984. It was recorded from Torridon, Wester Ross on May 11th and 15th, and it was seen in hun- dreds in Northumberland along the Tyne valley on May 2nd. The females here were noted depositing ova in the buds of bilberry. This butterfly had a very early emergence due to the warm April, and J. E. Green suggests the possibility of a 2nd brood, since one or two were seen in mid to late August in his area of the west Midlands. After the super-abundance of Thecla quercus L. in 1983 the purple hairstreak appeared in much lower numbers in 1984. This was cer- tainly the case in most of the strong Hampshire colonies and the same disappointing reports came from Wiltshire and Shropshire.
56 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD, VOL. 98 15 .i1.1986
On the other hand several new Hampshire colonies were detected of Strymonidia w-album Knoch and it was reported as hanging on in small numbers in several Shropshire and Breconshire colonies and recorded in small numbers from near Bath, Somerset. In Wor- cestershire it was discovered breeding on common elm saplings and was recorded commonly at one site near Hereford. At its only known site in the west Midlands in Worcestershire, good numbers of Thecla betulae L. eggs were seen and in the blackthorn-lined lanes north of Oxford, T. Bernhard andI recorded around 100 ova during a few hours’ search of the hedgerows. In Sussex a few new sites were found but numbers were reportedly low in many of the localities.
Anthocharis cardamines L. had an excellent year nearly every- where; in the Black Isle, Rosshire, 20- were seen at Rosemarkie on May 14th where it was first recorded in 1973. It has also been noted in west Lancashire for the first time in the last two years. Pieris brassicae L. and Pieris napi L. on the other hand were rather scarce in southern England, and the latter unusually so in the High- lands. The brimstone had a remarkable year throughout its range. It was abundant here in April and over the six miles of country road between my home and Southampton, where I would normally expect. to see perhaps half a dozen, I counted no less than 18 on April 9th. The fragile, weak-flying Leptidea sinapis L., though fairly common on the south Devon undercliff east of Sidmouth, appeared to be contracting its range in the west Midlands and pro- duced low numbers on the Sussex/Surrey border. I did see one or two second brood specimens while inspecting the aurinia colony near Chiddingfold, but in general sinapis did not seem to do well in 1984. Carterocephalus palaemon Pall also was reported as slightly lower in Argyll but Ochlodes venatus Br. & Grey continue to in- crease its numbers in the Tyne valley and appeared to be spreading its range northwards. Pyrgus malvae L., though generally scarce in 1984 was seen near Droitwich, Shropshire on July 31st — possibly a second brood specimen. Along with the small fritillaries, euphro- syne and selene, the two skippers Pyrgus malvae and Erynnis tages L. appear to be suffering from the lack of suitable coppice woodland. This, unfortunately, must be one of the more difficult habitats to maintain artificially over a large enough area in the few woodland nature reserves that exist in southern England.
Acknowledgements
I am indebted to the following lepidopterists for communicating to me their interesting butterfly records for 1984:— R. D. G. Barrington, T. Bernhard, R. F. Bretherton, J. M. Chalmers-Hunt, R. M. Craske, D. Dey (per J. M. C-H.), A. C. Derry, M. J. Y. Foley, J. E. Green, G. Haines, D. C. Hulme, N. Lear, T. Melling, A. Sankey- Barker (per J. M. C.-H.), G. Smith, Dr. T. N. D. Peet, Rear Admiral A.D. Torlesse.
STATUS OF COENAGRION PULCHELLUM a
THE PAST AND PRESENT STATUS OF THE DAMSELFLY COENAGRION PULCHELLUM (VAN DER LINDEN) (ODONATA: COENAGRIIDAE) — IN CHESHIRE AND PARTS OF IT’S ADJACENT COUNTIES, CORRESPONDING TO THE IOOKM SQUARE §S J.(3 3).
By S. JUDD*
Introduction
The gradual disappearance in Britain this century of the dam- selfly Coenagrion pulchellum has been noted by Lucas (1900), Longfield (1949) and Hammond (1977), in their classic books on the British Odonata. In 1980, The Nature Conservancy Council publication “The Conservation of Dragonflies’ categorised the species as being ‘locally common’ in Britain, expressing the fear that the insect is ‘fast declining and requires particular attention if it is not to reach endangered status’.
The most recent Biological Record Centre (B.R.C.) map, ib lished in the second edition of Hammond (1983), shows the British distribution of the species to be mainly southern and eastern, with the notable exceptions of populations in Gloucestershire and Somer- set, South Wales and Anglesey. In this context a series of thirteen specimens of Coenagrion pulchellum in the Merseyside County Museum collection, from Meols, Wirral, Cheshire (now Merseyside), was of interest. The specimens, nine male and four female, were all collected between 1939 and 1951 by W. K. Ford, a past Keeper of the museum’s invertebrate zoology collections. Ford’s comment in a letter to a local naturalist in 1971, that the damselfly had been ‘common at times’ on the Wirral, led to speculation that the species might still occur locally. The area chosen for investigation corre- sponds to the 100km. square S J. (3 3) and is centred on Cheshire and parts of its adjacent counties which fall within this boundary.
Pre 1984 records B.R.C. records published in Hammond (1983):—
Whixall Moss, Shropshire (SJ. 4--, 3--), H. L. Burrows, 9.8.1931 (Manchester Museum specimen).
Between Leeswood and Mold, Clwyd (SJ. 2--, 6--), C. M. Swaine, 6.8.1944 (Ent. Mon. Mag. 82 : 42).
Marton Pool, Shopshire (SJ.293,025), D. A. L. Davies, 7.7.1947.
*Department of Invertebrate Zoology, Merseyside County Museums, Liverpool.
58 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD, VOL. 98 15 iti.1986
Top Pool, Berrington, Shropshire (SJ.520,072), M. D’Oyly, — — 1980.
Berrington Pool, Shropshire (SJ.525,073), R. G. Kemp, 15.6.1980, (R. G. Kemp collection). (These last two records are both covered by the same ‘dot’ on the map).
Additional pre 1984 records:—
Rainhill, Lancashire (Merseyside) (SJ.4/5--, 9--), H. H. Higgins? pre 1900, (ex Merseyside County Museums specimen).
Frodsham, Cheshire (SJ.5--, 7--), 9.6.1892, L. Greening? (Warrington Museum spcimen).
Hatchmere, Cheshire (SJ. 55-, 72-), 7.6.1900, L. Greening? (Warring- ton Museum specimens).
Delamere Forest, Cheshire (SJ.5--, 7--), W. M. Tattersall, 27.5.1915, (Lucas W. J. Lancashire and Cheshire Naturalist, 12: 55-60).
Newchurch Common, Cheshire (SJ.6--, 6--), C. R. Brown, 31.5.1915, (Lucas W. J. Lancashire and Cheshire Naturalist, 12: 55-60).
Delamere Forest, Cheshire (SJ.5--, 7--), A. R. Jackson, -6.1920, (Lucas, W. J. Lancashire and Cheshire Fauna Committee Report, 8:10-11).
Sinderland, Cheshire (Greater Manchester) (SJ.7--, 9--), H. Britten, 15.6.1922, (Manchester Museum specimens).
Meols, Cheshire (Merseyside) (SJ.23-, 89-), W. K. Ford, 9.6.1939, 11.6.1939, 30.6.19--, 6.7.1947, 1.7.1950, (Merseyside County Museums specimens).
Between Manley and Hatchmere, Cheshire (SJ.5--, 7--), J. P. Savidge, 1950-1953, (Ford, W. K. North Western Nauralist, 2(XXV): 602-603).
Upton, Cheshire (Merseyside) (SJ.27-, 88-), W. T. C. Rankin, 17. 5.1952, (Birkenhead School Natural History Society Journal, LOS Pals),
Landican, Cheshire (Merseyside) (SJ.28-, 85-), N. I. Dalziel, 20.6. 1953, (ibid. 1953:13).
Landican, Cheshire (Merseyside) (SJ.28-, 85-), W. T. C. Rankin, 27.5.1961, (ibid. 1953:14).
The B.R.C. map published in Hammond (1983), contains only three pre-1960 records and one post-1960 record. Another fourteen
STATUS OF COENAGRION PULCHELLUM 59 site records have been added to this (above). Ideally a voucher specimen is necessary to substantiate records for Coenagrion pul- chellum as confusion can arise between this species and the widely distributed Coenagrion puella (L.), ‘both species have variations which may overlap’ Hammond (1983). The Merseyside, Manchester and Warrington museum specimens were all correctly identified. I am satisfied that the Birkenhead School records are correct; W. K. Ford accepted them in his Odonata of Lancashire and Cheshire (1953 and 1954), and there is a correctly identified, non data speci- men in the School’s collection. The Rainhill specimen was verified by Ford (1953), but is no longer in the Merseyside County Museum collection. Voucher specimens for the Betton Pool and Berrington Pool sites are housed in the collection of R. G. Kemp. The remaining records are not known to be substantiated by existing voucher specimens, although many were accepted and published by W. J. Lucas in his Odonata of the Lancashire and Cheshire District (1919) and in a subsequent addition to this list (1922).
1984 Status
A search for Coenagrion pulchellum in 1984 was guided by the past distribution records for the species, centred on the Wirral peninsula, Delamere Forest, and some of the larger Cheshire and Shropshire meres. Other site information was kindly provided by R.G. Kemp and B. J. Walker. The damselfly was re-discovered at Hatchmere, Cheshire, on the edge of Delamere Forest (SJ.533,722). A chance meeting at Hatchmere with a local naturalist, Mr. B. J. Walker, revealed that the damselfly had been common there since 1977, when he first visited the site. Two new sites were discovered for the species at Hanmer Mere, Clwyd (SJ.454, 397) and a pool in Little Budworth Country Park (SJ.587,658). The insect was abun- dant at Hatchmere and Hanmer Mere, but Mr. Walker has only recorded a few males from Little Budworth. 1984 voucher speci- mens for the Hatchmere and Hanmer Mere sites are held in the Merseyside County Museums collection. Mr. R. G. Kemp has also kindly informed me that the damselfly was common at Berrington Pool (SJ.525,073) and Top Pool Berrington (SJ.520,072) in 1984. It is presumed that the species can still be found at Betton Pool (SJ.520,072).
The damselfly’s habitat at Landican and Upton on the Wirral has been destroyed by modern housing developments. There is no evidence of the damselfly at Meols; the only large water body is now heavily pressurised by fishermen, most of the local marl pit ponds have been filled in and many of the streams and ditches between Meols and the Mersey estuary are canalised and polluted. The Sinderland, Rainhill and Marton Pool sites were not visited. Most of the larger Shropshire and Cheshire meres were visited, but in the time available no further records were found.
60 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD, VOL. 98 15.01.1986
Discussion
Coenagrion pulchellum was historically far more widely distri- buted in Cheshire and its adjacent counties than it appears to be today. The damselfly’s disappearance from many of these localities would seem to be due, in part, to the combined environmental pressures of urbanisation and agricultural intensification. Except for the pool at Little Budworth Country Park, the sites where the damselfly was found in 1984, are all large relatively undisturbed water bodies, rich in nutrients and fringed with emergent vegetation. They do not seem to fit Hammond’s (1983) description of the typi- cal habitat for the species as being, ‘characterised by watermeadows and dykes’. It is possible that these larger undisturbed water bodies might be the last refuges for the species in the study area.
These findings do in part enforce the Nature Conservancy Council’s view that the species is ‘fast declining and requires par- ticular attention’. However, I am sure that because of similarities with the common Coenagrion puella, Coenagrion pulchellum is, and always has been, under recorded in the study area. The ad- dition of the new sites in 1980 and three more in 1984 provides some encouragement. I am optimistic that further new sites for Coenagrion pulchellum might be discovered if a systematic search of the area is made, especially of the larger water bodies around Mold, Wrexham and the Cheshire flashes.
Acknowledgements
I should like to thank Mr. C. Johnson The Manchester Museum, Mr. A. Leigh Warrington Museum, and Mr. J. M. Griffith Birkenhead School, for giving me access to the collections in their care. Also Mr. B. J. Walker, Mr. R. G. Kemp and Mr. R. Merritt for providing distributional information; Dr.I. D. Wallace for his help and advice.
References
Chelmick, D., Hammond, C., Moore, N., Stubbs, A., 1980 The Conservation of Drangonflies. Nature Conservancy Council.
Ford, W. K., 1953. Lancashire and Cheshire Odonata (A Preliminary List). North Western Naturalist, 1 (XXIV): 227-233.
Ford, W. K. 1954. Lancashire and Cheshire Odonata (Some Further Notes). North Western Naturalist ,2 (XXV): 602-603.
Hammond, C. O., 1983. The Dragonflies of Great Britain and Ireland (Second Edition). Harley Books, Colchester.
Longfield, C., 1949. The Dragonflies of the British Isles.
Lucas, W. J. 1900. British Dragonflies. Upcott Gill, London.
Lucas, W. J., 1917. Odonata Report 1916. Lancashire and Cheshire Fauna Committee Report No.3 : 89-90.
STATUS OF COENAGRION PULCHELLUM 61
Lucas, W. J., 1919. The Odonata of the Lancashire and Cheshire District. Lancashire and Cheshire Naturalist, X11:55-60.
Lucas, W. J., 1922. Lancashire and Cheshire Records 1920. Lan- cashire and Cheshire Fauna Committee Report No. 8: 10-11.
Swaine, C. M., 1946. Entomologist’s Mon. Mag., 82:42.
PYRGUS MALVAE L. IN MID-JULY. -— While collecting on the chalky part of Foulden Common, W. Norfolk, on 14th July last, I swept a specimen of the grizzled skipper, a butterfly I had sup- posed long over by that date. Had it been worn, there might have been little cause for surprise; but in fact it appeared in faultless condition, neither rubbed nor chipped. No others of the species seemed to be about. Whether, therefore, it was an individual whose development had for some obscure reason been retarded, or one of an exceptional second brood such as are occasionally noted, is a question I leave to readers better qualified to judge. — A. A. ALLEN .
A LATE SPILOSOMA LUTEUM HUEN. (BUFF ERMINE). — On 18th August, 1985, I came upon a quite undamaged and fresh- looking male of this familiar insect sitting on the pavement by a busy road not far from my house, slightly overhung by bushes in an adjoining park. One of these, almost above the spot, was a white- flowered buddleia — to which possibly the moth had been attracted whilst in flight the previous night; and from which it may have fallen shortly before I arrived on the scene, luckily escaping the feet of passers-by. It seems that normally the species is over by mid-July or thereabouts, and that August specimens are exceptional. — A.A. ALLEN.
MYTHIMNA LOREYI (DUP)(THE COSMOPOLITAN ) IN WEST WALES — I was pleased to capture a fine specimen of loreyi at Tregaron, Dyfed on the night of 10th October 1985. I believe this is the first record of this immigrant species in Dyfed. My thanks are due to Mr. A. Riley of Rothamsted for confirming my identification. I. J. L. TILLOTSON Chief Warden, NCC Dyfed Powys Region.
OECOPHORA BRACTELLA (LINNAEUS) (LEP: OECOPHORIDAE) IN DEVON. — _ On 2nd. May 1985 I bred one specimen of this species from a larva I found under the bark of a stump of Betula on 17th. March at Spitchwick Common, Devon. This is a wooded area on the southern edge of Dartmoor about 4 miles to the west of Ashburton. It appears that this is the first record for the county and only the fifth vice-county record in the British Isles. R. J. HECKFORD , 67, Newnham Road, Plympton, Plymouth.
62 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD, VOL. 98 15 .iii.1986 BUTTERFLIES INMOROCCO By D. HALL* Part I — August 1982
Several friends had recently visited Morocco and had told me what an interesting country it was, so in the summer of 1982 I decided to pay a visit there myself. Accordingly I arrived in Marra- kesh on July 30th and spent the first few days exploring this fascina- ting city and its environs. The weather was very hot and few butter- flies were on the wing. The lawns of my hotel produced the little blue Zizeeria knysna Trimen in good condition and the gardens Parage aegeria L. and Artogeia rapae L. neither of which were common or very fresh.
Marrakesh is set on the edge of the plain of Haouz at the foot of the High Atlas Mountains and the city is surrounded by large groves of olives and date palms. Nearly all the vegetation beneath the trees and at the roadsides was completely dried up at this time of year but the few remaining flowers attracted many large Lycaena phlaeas L.form elea Fabricius with its dusky wings and long tails. On an abundant spiny shrub Zizyphus vulgaris there were many of the attractive little Tarucus theophrastus Fabricius with its beauti- fully marked undersides. The olive grove in the Menara garden near my hotel was well irrigated and the paths between the trees were overgrown with fennel and here Papilio machaon L. was fairly common.
It was obvious that to see more butterflies I must head for the mountains, so on August 3rd I got the bus to Ourigane at about 4000 feet in the High Atlas. As we climbed out of the plain into the mountains, the vegetation became fresher and the olive groves were replaced by orchards of apples, peaches and walnuts, the bright greens contrasting strongly with the pinks and reds of the soil. The bus stopped at Asni so we could refresh ourselves and while buying a drink, I noticed a large dark butterfly fluttering in the window of the bar. I managed to box it without attracting too much attention and was pleased to find it was a very fresh specimen of Pseudoter- gumia fidia L.
At Ourigane I investigated some rocky slopes leading down to the N’Fiss river which were covered with spiny Capparis bushes and around them were flying many Desert Orange Tips — Colotis evagore Lucas. This was a butterfly I was particularly pleased to see but they were not easy to catch without entangling ones net and legs in the thorns. My antics soon attracted an audience of Berber children who all wanted to help and shouted ‘Voici Monsieur’ whenever another butterfly came in range.
*The Cathedral School, Lichfield, Staffs., WS13 7LH.
BUTTERFLIES INMOROCCO 63
Walking back through the village the hedgerows were an in- teresting mixture of oleander, prickly pear and blackberries, with pomegranates and peach trees overhanging the lane. Here Jphiclides podalirius feishamelii Duponchel was quite common sailing in and out of the trees but all the ones I saw were very worn. The ditches at the roadside were overgrown with mint and the flowers were alive with butterflies, Pararge aegeria L. Colias crocea Fourc, Arto- geia rapae L. Pontia daplidice L. and Lycaena phlaeas L. were all common. I caught one Syntarucus pirithous L. and several small Polyommatus icarus Rottemburg. Here also Lysandra punctifera Oberthur was common also in a small late season form together with a few Aricia agestis cramera Eschscholtz.
The next day I went by bus over the High Atlas to Ouarzazate at 3000 feet. On the way there were tempting glimpses of large black butterflies from the bus windows as we ground our way over the Tichka Pass with boiling radiator. We stopped at the little mining village of Aguelmous in the mountains and here I got a closer look at Berberia abdelkader Pierret but didn’t manage to catch any. Pontia daplidice L. and Aricia agestis cramera Eschscholtz were both fairly common at the roadside.
When we arrived in Ouarzazate the temperature was 115°F which made collecting rather heavy work but the lucerne fields near the river produced large numbers of Colias crocea Fourc and very fresh Lampides boeticus L. It was novel to be papering ones specimens under the shade of palm trees with the sound of the wailing muezzin calling the faithful to prayer across the fields.
On August 6th I went by bus up the Ourika valley near Arh- balou in the High Atlas at about 4000 feet. Here in light woodland and wet meadows beside the river the wild mint flowers proved as attractive to butterflies as they had at Ourigane and similar species were present. Artogeia rapae L. and Pontia daplidice L. were both present in small forms only 18 mm across the wings. In addition I caught Carcharodus alceae Esper and Nordmannia esculi maure- tanica Staudinger, a hairstreak which has not perhaps been recorded in the High Atlas before.
On August 9th I hired a car to visit Oukaimeden at 6000 feet in the High Atlas. The lower mountain slopes were cool and showery but higher the weather was dry but windy and overcast. This didn’t seem very promising but the rocky slopes below the gorge leading to the village were a rich collecting ground and butterflies abounded on the flowers, especially on the large bluish-grey thistles. Here Lysandra punctifera Oberthur was common in a large brilliant form together with Jssoria lathonia L., Melitaea didyma occudentalis Staudinger, Maniola jurtina hispulla Esper and many large fresh Chazara briseis L. | was also very pleased to see many Berberia abdulkader Pierret most of which were, however, rather worn
64 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD, VOL. 98 15.11.1986 but I did manage to net some fairly good specimens. Another large dark butterfly proved to be Satyrus ferula Fabricus. Here also I caught one Neohipparchia stalilinus Hufnagel and one Coeno- nympha pamphilus L. From here I drove up to the village of Oukai- meden, set in a valley reminiscent of a landscape in one of the bleaker parts of the Lake District. Here the grassy meadows and hillsides were alive with Melanargia galathea lucasi Rambur and Aricia artaxerxes montensis Verity. The roadside thistles also pro- duced many Gonepteryx cleopatra L., Pseudocharzara atlantis Austaut and Hyphonephele maroccana Blachier, the last two local and interesting Moroccan species. I also caught the magnificient Pandoriana pandora Denis and Schiff and the attractive Hesperia comma benuncas Oberthur in which the white spots on the hind- wings are joined to form a wide band. =
This was an excellent locality but thundery showers put an end to further collecting, so I returned to Marrakesh.
On August 10th I had another trip to Ourigane to see again the charming little Colotis evagore’ Lucas and also caught Coenonympha dorus fettigii Oberthur feeding on the blackberry flowers.
Early in the morning of August 13th I sadly made my way to the airport for the plane to Casablanca and London, very pleased with my first visit to Morocco.
Part II — April 1983
I had found my trip to Marrakesh in August 1982 so interesting. that I was very keen to pay Morocco another visit. At the end of the Spring Term 1983, therefore, I was packed and ‘ready for off again.
I flew out on March 28th to Gibralter and the morning of the next day I spent touring the Rock, visiting the caves of St. Michael and photographing the apes. After lunch I walked up the steep streets past the Moorish Castle to an area of light woodland and flowery lanes near St. Catherine’s Battery. Here were pine trees, bright yellow gorse, broom and bushes draped with wild clematis, honeysuckle and Aristolochia. I was very pleased to see sailing along the roadside many Zerynthia rumina rumina L. with occasionally a few Gonepteryx rhamni L. and Gonepteryx cleopatra europaea Verity which required a more determined chase.
In the clearings of the woods were several of the lovely little Anthocharis belia euphenoides Staudinger, very freshly emerged, the females with lovely creamy markings. Here also there were a few Pararge aegeria aegeria L. and later, by the roadside, a small white butterfly proved to be Euchloe tagis tagis Hubner.
A plane late in the evening took me across to Tangier so that now my second visit to Morocco had really started. After breakfast the next day. I walked out a mile or so along the Avenue D’Espagne to the east of the town. There was a welcome profusion of colourful
BUTTERFLIES IN MOROCCO 65
wild flowers along the sandy roadside and in the vacant lots and gardens. Although it was windy there were several species of butter- flies on the wing. Artogeia rapae L. and Pontia daplidice L. were common together with a few worn Papilio machaon L. and several Iphiclides podalirius feisthamelii Duponchel fluttering around the fruit trees. Euchloe belemia belemia Esper was very common ap- parently first and second broods flying together. Lycaena phlaeas phlaeas L. darted along the flowery roadsides and on the way back to town on some waste ground, I was very pleased to find several Tomares ballus Fabricius settling on the rough herbage. It is a very beautiful little insect especially the velvety sage green of its underside. That afternoon I spent exploring the medina with all its lively bustle. I was surprised to see a Berber woman with a large basket of live hedgehogs for sale. I walked up through the narrow streets to the Kasbah for some mint tea and to enjoy the wide views across the straits to Spain. Also from here I could see a range of wooded hills to the west of the town which looked interesting and worth investigating. The following morning I was up early and making my way across the town and out along already hot and dusty streets to the west. I was soon out in the country with masses of flowers at the roadside, buttercups, vipers bugloss, wild gladiolus, cistus, lavender, brilliant scarlet vetch and carpets of tiny iris which were in bud. The road was busy with camels and donkeys carrying huge bundles of firewood to the town and also old men and women trudging along with great piles of heather and brushwood on their backs. Here by the roadsides and on the gorse and lavender covered banks were many of the bright yellow males of Anthocharis belia belia L. and the pale females, differently marked to those I had seen in Gibralter a few days before. Here also were many more Jomares ballus which were rather wary of being stalked with the camera. As I was focusing on one, I noticed how pale was the underside of its forewings. I put the camera down and netted the butterfly. It was a beautiful aberration in which the orange of the upperside was replaced by a very pale silvery yellow. As I walked through the low scrub, small dark butterflies fluttered up here and there and then sank lazily back to earth a few feet away. This proved to be Tomares mauretanicus Lucas which was local but common and easy to net as its flight was so sluggish. On these heathy slopes Polyommatus icarus Rott. was also common together with Lysandra punctifera Oberthur including many of the large and beautifully marked females and Avicia agestis cramera Eshscholtz. In the damper areas near streams, I found Lasiommata megera L and Coenonympha arcanoides Pierret fluttering about and sitting on the leaves. The gardens of some cottages by the roadside pro- duced sightings of several more P. machaon and I. podalirius feis- thamelii but they were not easy to catch.
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After a lunch of a couple of oranges under the shade of the umbrella pines near the hilltop, I started back as the sun was now very hot. On the way I was interested to see several shrikes or but- cher birds perched high on the thorn bushes and to find many of the large moths which they had impaled on the thorns. In the heather and low scrub I frequently came across huge red and black devil’s coach horse beetles whose warning colouration certainly detered me from interfering with them.
I, podalirius feisthameliti was still to be seen around the gardens I had passed earlier in the day. One large female which had settled low on an almond tree was too tempting to leave. I furtively clam- bered through the hedge and made my way through the garden. I had just successfully netted the butterfly and almost made my escape, when a vociferous gentlemen whom I took to be the owner of the garden, emerged from his cottage higher up the hill. Fortuna- tely he only waved and shouted what I took to be cheery arabic greetings. The roadsides suddenly seemed to have little of entomolo- gical interest to detain me further so I returned hastily towards the town. The butterfly later obliged by laying several eggs which I have enjoyed rearing up after my return to England. I collected in this area, known as la Montagne, several times during the next two weeks and added Zerynthia rumina africana, and Pieris brassicae to the list of species I had seen as well as the beautiful Glaucopsyche melanops algirica Heyne which was local on the higher slopes and rocky hillsides.
This was a delightful area in which to collect, hot pine scented breezes, hillsides covered with white cistus and purple lavender and an ever changing parade of donkeys, camels and carriers on the road far below. In a stream side pool I found a pond tortoise Emys orbicularis and in several areas in the scrub, I found colonies of the fantasic purple orchid Serapias cordigera which I had never seen before.
On my way back the tiny irises — Iris sisyrinchium Linn. I had noticed in bud earlier in the day were now fully out and I realized they only opened in the afternoon. The meadows and roadsides were blue with great sheets of flowers.
I was soon back in the town and a cafe in the medina provided some very welcome tea delicately scented with orange flowers and a chance to rest after a very enjoyable days collecting.
On the Ist of April I got a bus which took me south to Fez from where I hoped to go up into the Middle Atlas to visit Ifrane and Azrou, but the weather was disappointingly cold and wet and there seemed little point in going further into the mountains so I took the chance to do some sightseeing and to visit Meknes, Moulay Idriss and the marvellous roman ruins at Volubilis.
On my way back north I made a detour to the Rif Mountains
BUTTERFLIES IN MOROCCO 67
to stay at Chaouen for a couple of days. This was a very beautiful little town of whitewashed houses perched high in the mountains with spectacular views across a patchwork of fields and wide valleys with groves of poplar trees and braided silver rivers far below.
Here the weather was hot and sunny and a rough track leading up beside some waterfalls into the mountians behind the town, proved to be a rich collecting area.
The brightly marked Eurodryas aurinia beckeri Herrich — Schaffer was common along the honeysuckle draped hedges and the dark red Nymphalis polychloros erythromelas Austaut was frequent sailing across the rough ground but was not easy to net on such rocky slopes. Callophrys rubi L. was very common on the blackberry bushes and I also saw Anthocharis belia, Gonepteryx cleopatra, Tomares mauretanicus, Lycaena phlaeas, Coenonympha pamphilus, and Lasiommata megera.
Some steep abandoned fields covered in Anchusa were an excellent locality for J. podalirius feisthamelii and had I known I need not have bothered to tresspass earlier, as here it was easy to take two or three in the net at once, as they hovered in front of the blue flowers.
The track up into the mountains was a busy thoroughfare with cattle and goats being taken up and down and donkeys carrying vast piles of hay and brushwood. The berbers who passed me were very interested in my collecting activities and to see what I had caught. It was charming to receive splendid smiles from behind the lowered veils of the young country women or a wave from their henna painted hands.
In the cool of the evening I enjoyed relaxing with a large glass of fresh orange juice or some coffee and sorting through the days catch at a table under the mulberry trees in the square and watching the huge pink and grey mountains fade in the shimmery dusk. Here indeed was a place to visit again.
The bus I took back to Tangier stopped for a couple of hours at the village of Khemis as it was market day. This was one of the most colourful markets I had ever seen at which all the people from the mountain villages congregated each week. The Berber women wore wide brimmed straw hats decorated with ropes and pompons of indigo wool and layers of very brightly coloured dresses and petticoats with huge belts around their waists and heaps of gaudy jewellery in silver and amber about their necks and wrists. The men were dressed in rough brown djellabas with hoods or crocheted caps on their heads. The square was a riot of colour and noise, huge piles of brilliant oranges, baskets of yellow and brick-red spices, beautiful fresh vegetables and fruit, gaudy sweetmeats and fly covered heaps of offal on the butchers stalls. It was easy to wander for hours amongst so much colour and bustle but the blar-
68 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD, VOL. 98 15 it1.1986
ing horn of the bus reminded me it was time to go and in another couple of hours I was back in Tangier and comfortably settled at the Rif Hotel. |
During the last few days of my visit I was content to relax and explore the intricacies of Tangier.
However, I had several walks out to the east of the town to an area of low hills covered with dwarf oaks and palms, lavender and white flowered cistus. The only species I saw here I had not noticed before were the tiny silvery blue Pseudophilotes abencerragus Pierret and the skipper Spialia sertorius ali Oberthur.
There were many V. cardui here and by following a female I was able to collect a few ova, however, they were very small and difficult to see, their jade green colour exactly matching the under- side of the thistle leaves. These ova I reared up on my return home and was able to take some photographs of the very attractive larvae and pupa. In this same area I noticed a small striped mammal scurry- ing about in the scrub, it was Mus barbarus the Barbary Striped Mouse.
My two trips to Morocco had provided plenty of colour and interest and the opportunity to see about fifty different species of butterflies of which thirty five or so were kinds I had not seen be- fore. Also I had seen a fascinating sample of the Natural History of a beautiful and friendly country.
List of butterflies from Morocco (M) — Marrakesh (August 1982) (A) — Ourika and Ourigane High Atlas (August 1982) (O) — Oukaimeden High Atlas (August 1982) (G) — Gibralter (April 1983) (T) — Tangier (April 1983) (C) — Chaouen Rif Mountains (April 1983)
Papilio machaon L. (M) a few worn ones. Iphiclides podalirius feisthamelii Dup. Common near gardens and orchards. (A) worn, (C & T) fresh. Zerynthia rumina rumina L. (G) common. Zerynthia rumina africana Stichel (T) becoming worn. Artogeia rapae L. (M.A.) a few worn ones. Pontia daplidice L. (A) a few worn ones. Euchloe belemia belemia Esp. (T) very common both first and. second broods flying together. Euchloe tagis tagis Hub. (G) one fresh. Anthocharis belia belia L. (T. & C) common and fresh. An- thocharis belia euphenoides Staud (G) common and fresh. Colotis evagore nouna Lucas (A) locally common and fresh. Colias crocea Geoff (M.A.O.T.C.) common. Gonepteryx rhamni L. (G) a few. Gonepteryx cleopatra cleopatra L. (O) common. (T) common. Gonepteryx cleopatra europaea Verity (G) several. Nordmannia esculi mauretanica Staud (A) a few worn ones. Callophrys rubi L. (T & C) very common. Tomares ballus Fab (T) common. Jomares
BUTTERFLIES IN MOROCCO 69
mauretanicus Lucas (T & C) locally common. Lycaena phlaeus L. ubiquitous. Lampides boeticusL. (M. A & O) common near villages. Syntarucus pirithous L. (A) only one seen.Tarucus theophrastus Fab. (M. A & O) very common. Zizeeria knysna Trimen (M & O) common near farmland and gardens. Glaucopsyche melanops algirica Heyne (T) locally common. Pseudophilotes abencerragus Pierret (T) very local and uncommon. Aricia agestis cramera Eschsholtz (O. A & T) fairly common. Aricia artaxerxes montensis Verity (O) very common. Lysandra punctifera Oberthur (O. A & T) frequent. Polyommatus icarus Rott (O & A) common in a very small form, (T) locally common. Nymphalis polychloros erythromelas Austaut (C) common. Cynthia cardui L. (A & O) A few, (T) common. Padoriana pandora Denis & Schiffermuller(O)common. Jssoria lathonia L. (O & A) a few, (C) one. Melitaea didyma occidentalis Staudinger (O) several..Eurodryas aurinia beckeri Herrick-Schaffer (C) common and fresh. Melanargia galathea lucasi Rambur (O) very common and fresh. Neohipparchia stalilinus sylvicola Austaut (O) only one. Pseudotergumia fidia L. (Asni) only one. Chazara briseis L. (O) very common. Pseudochazara atlantis Austaut (O) common but worn. Satyrus ferula atlanteus Verity (O) abundant and fresh. Berberia abdelkader Pierret (0) common but worn. Maniola jurtina hispulla Esper (O) several. Hyponephele maroccana Blachier (O) common but getting worn. Coenonympha pamphilus L. (O) a few, (T & C) fairly common. Coenonympha dorus fettigii Oberthur (A) only one. Coenonympha arcanoides Pierret (T) locally common. Parage aegeria aegeria L.(M. A. T & C) common in woodland. Lasiommata megera L. (T) locally common. Spialia sertorius ali Oberthur (T) local and uncommon. Carcharodus alceae Esp. (A) only one. Hesperia comma benuncas Oberthur(O) common.
THE MARSH FRITILLARY (EURODRYAS AURINIA ROTT.) IN DUNBARTONSHIRE — On June 15th 1985 I was searching a swampy field in the Ben Bowie area near Helensburgh. The area is grazed by sheep and occasionally stray cattle. Devil’s bit scabious is present in the wetter areas, but is not abundant. Although I was searching for Boloria selene D. & S., which is common here, I was surprised to find a female marsh fritillary. Further searching turned up a male, in average condition. This is particularly interesting in view of the comments by Thompson (Butterflies of Scotland) who states: “The species has its headquarters in Argyllshire, possibly extending into Dunbartonshire. . .”. The distribution map shows only a pre-1900 record for this species.
There are no artificial fertilizers or pesticides used in this area, but unfortunately large scale drainage in underway to prepare for conifer planting. R. CAIN, 32 Nelson Place, Helensburgh, Dunbar- tonshire.
70 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD, VOL. 98 15 .it1.1986
A MODERN REVIEW OF THE DEMISE OF HECATERA DYSODEA D.& S.: THE SMALL RANUNCULUS
By COLIN PRATT*
“Establishing the facts about extinct species has considerable detective interest, but at the end it is usually probability and not certainty which results” (Bretherton, 1951). This paper is no excep- tion to the general rule.
A number of reasons for the local and national extinction of the small ranunculusmoth have been proposed — climatic change, parasites, decline in lettuce seed production, change of lettuce variety, the introduction of glasshouse lettuce growing, the increase in small birds, and the most popular but vague “agricultural changes” — all without supportive evidence. Hecatera dysodea was a locally com- mon moth during parts of the 19th century, although it may well have been much less frequent before the dramatic increase in the growing of eating lettuce, and that grown for seed, over those years. During the last quarter of the 19th century the insect dis- appeared from most of the localities where it had not been common, away from the east; the most striking decline occurred over the decade following the mid 1880s, when inroads were made in more eastern areas.
At the close of the century it was said of the species that “thirty years ago it was one of the most reliable .. . of visitors... but no such attractive visitant now haunts our London gardens” (Barrett, 1897), and it was completely absent in the south and west. After a rally in 1900, the insect rapidly lost ground in its eastern heartland and within a decade had disappeared from all but one of its traditional homelands. From 1912 onwards the insect became very rare in the whole country. After the First World War there were no sightings until the 1930s when it was seen in Hertford- shire, Somerset and Sussex. These were the last unquestionable British records.
As a rule the imago flew during the latter part of June and early July and usually came to entomological notice feeding from flowers at early dusk. Larvae fed on the flowers and unripe seed- pods of cultivated lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), wild lettuces (Lactuca serriola L., L. virosa L., and L. saligna L.), various sow-thistles (Sonchus spp.), and reportedly on smooth hawks-beard (Crepis capillaris L.); its name of dysodea probably originated from the larvae, as it means “‘ill-smelling’’. The larva pupates just underground at the end of August.
*5 View Road, Peacehaven, Newhaven, Sussex.
DEMISE OF HECATERA DYSODEA 71 The Records
A distribution map has been published (Heath & Emmet, 1979) showing that the species was found mainly in eastern England but completely absent north of the Wash; the insect was also almost absent from central southern England and usually rare south of London and west of Hertfordshire.
During parts of the 19th century the species was reported as locally common in Suffolk, Essex, Norfolk, Surrey, north-west Kent, Cambridgeshire, Huntingdon, and the Greater London area; it was uncommon, but present, in Sussex, Dorset, Berkshire, Oxford- shire, Somerset, Herefordshire, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Wor- cestershire, Glamorgan, Hertfordshire, Northamptonshire, and Bedfordshire.
In Kent, and many of the leading counties for fresh vegetable and seed growing, the distribution of dysodea followed that of the market-gardens; by far the most records came from these areas and larvae were sometimes “really mischievous” (loc. cit.). The in- sect’s headquarters in Kent were at Dartford, in Cambridgeshire at Wicken and Cambridge, and in Hertfordshire in five places all around Hoddesdon.
@ established since 19th century. @ transient 20th century records.
ie pecs Wicken - 1911 ———____
Whittlesea - 1909
Cambridge - 1905 ee Harwich - 1903 —
Colchester - 1910
Berkhamsted - 1936,1937 —~
Dartford = 1909 - Arundel - 1939 _ : y Yeovil - 1935, SS : y
Ss Le sea nate eet
Figure 1. Status and distribution of Hecatera dysodea 1901 to date.
Dates of last record. |
YX ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD, VOL. 98 15 .i1.1986
The heyday for the small ranunculus was between 1896 and 1900 inclusive, when it was found in at least seven counties — Kent, Suffolk, Surrey, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Gloucestershire, and the West Country (Somerset?).
The recorded occurrence of the insect wascyclic;in Kent the records are virtually annual between 1845-48, 1857-60, 1871-76, with later sightings in 1896 and 1909 ‘yers-Hune, 1960-61). Similarly in Cambridgeshire although there are isolated records for 1825, 1845, and 1885, dysodea was noted almost continuously from 1896 to 1911 inclusive; it was also seemingly briefly estab- lished at Berkhamsted in Hertfordshire during the 1930s. There are relatively few dated reports from other counties. Nationally the moth was inclusively recorded from 184348, 1857-60, 1871-76, 1896-1911, and 1935-37, almost sequentially; it was also found in 1825, 1888, at Colchester in 1918, and in 1939 at Arundel, Sussex. The last British mention is contained within an anonymous field note published in 1951; the insect was reported as having “almost disappeared. In fact until a few years ago it was held to have deser- ted our island. However, it still exists in at least one county” (Anon 1951). A summary of the known records was then published (Bre- therton, 1951) and only a few additions and corrections have been made since — but no more dysodea have turned up. Surely there are unpublished details on specimens in private collections that would add to our knowledge and the records listed here?
An extreme view would be to suggest that the species was never permanently established here, as serial sightings from indivi- dual spots are few, but this seems unlikely — at least until after the First World War.
Foreign Imports
The insect was widespread and locally common in France and Belgium over the first third of this century (Culot, 1909-13; L’Homme, 1923-35), as elsewhere on the continent, and this status has been retained to the present day, although a decline has been reported in north-central Europe after 1960 (Heath & Emmet, 1979). There is no evidence of a European decline synchronous with our own.
About 20% of lettuce consumed in Britain over the early years of this century (about 10,000 tons per annum) was imported from Holland and France, together with small quantities from Belgium. The French supplies usually arrived from December to May from Perpignon and just south of Paris; Dutch imports arrived from late April through to November (Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries, 1932). In England, mainly in black soil areas, Cos lettuces were pulled rather than cut (Min. of Ag. & Fish, 1955) and if this practise was also performed in the European exporting countries it is just conceivable that the occasional dysodea pupa could have been im-
DEMISE OF HECATERA DYSODEA 73
ported with root-attached earth. Could imported pupa have con- tributed to, or even be the source of, the records in this country after the First World War ended — or even before? The insect was late established at Berkhamsted during the 1930s but had previously been reported close by — but not for about half a century; singletons were also noted at Arundel and Yeovil during this decade. Immi- gration seems unlikely, as not a single specimen has been seen in this country, despite the advent of coastal mercury-vapour moth traps, since the beginning of the Second World War. Therefore, on the available evidence, it is more likely that the moth maintained itself here at a very low density.
“The majority of recorded distributional changes and persistant changes in the abundance have resulted from vegetational changes — most of them from vegetational changes that either were caused by man or arose from the ecological successions of vegetation that human activities permitted to commence” (Beirne, 1955). There were only three ways in which dysodea could have existed in this country — on wild plants, on lettuce grown for seed, or on cultivated eating lettuce which had bolted.
Wild Plants
It has been pointed out (Heath & Emmet, 1979), that the geographical distribution of dysodea broadly corresponds with that of the wild lettuces L. serriola L. and L. virosa L. (Perring & Walters, 1976, Prince & Carter, 1977). Both of these possibly
alien plants were first recorded during the first half of the 17th century and were not common or widespread; the increase in dis- tribution to todays level commenced during the1920’as and followed the expansion of suitable habitats accompanying arterial roads (Salisbury, 1964). The distribution of L. serriola L. is especially coincidental with dysodea but that of L. virosa L., perhaps formerly the most frequent of the wild lettuce, declined in some western parts and a few localities in Suffolk at some time prior to 1930 (Perring & Walters, 1976) — it has been shown that the moth first dis- appeared from the west (Heath, 1974). However, this apart, there is no evidence of a national decline in the frequency or distribution of the wild lettuces coincidental with the disappearance of the small ranunculus, quite the reverse; moreover, there are only a few pub- lished records of larvae feeding on these wild plants, especially smooth hawks-beard — commercial and home-grown lettuce being much prefered — and the distributional coincidence is meteoro- logical and not botanical. This is illustrated, for example, by the fact that the distribution of the insect is markedly similar to that of British vineyards during the Middle Ages (Lamb, 1965) — clearly a climatic coincidence.
Wild plants were never preferred in this country and the insect
74 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD, VOL. 98 15 ,i11.1986
was always local even in its commercially gardened strongholds, making successful dispersion to these plants when under pressure from lack of flowering domesticated lettuce less likely; but the main reason why the moth did not profitably transfer to wild plants was apparently because those it favoured were rare.
Lettuce grown for seed
The larva of dysodea feeds only on flower buds, heads, and unripe seed-pods of lettuce. Bolted lettuce, even before flowering, are of no use for human consumption due to the development of a bitter tasting substance. Therefore when dysodea was “a pest of lettuce” this would surely refer only to those plants grown for seed — the insect would scarcely be called a pest on an already written off plant.
Growing lettuce for seed was substantially confined to the counties of Essex, Kent, Cambridgeshire, and probably Suffolk. In Essex vegetable seed growing was mainly carried out at Coggle- shall, Kelvedon, Marks Tey, Boxted, Lawford, and Frating (Pettit, 1941); in Kent seed crops were grown at Thanet and Romney Marsh (Stamp, 1943), and at Hoo, Sheppey and Sandwich (Hall & Russell, 1911) but these last three had ceased production at some time before the turn of the century; fields of vegetables grown for seed could be seen at Ipswich, in Suffolk (Butcher, 1941), but little is known about the seed gardens in Cambridgeshire apart from the fact that a small amount was farmed.
Unusually advantageous opportunities existed, and were sometimes utilised, for dysodea when lettuce was grown for seed; writing at the time, it was said of larvae that “when it is common. the prospect of seed is sometimes quite destroyed” (Barret, 1897). Essex was by far the foremost county for vegetable and other seed growing during the 19th century, including lettuce, and the early history of the county’s industry has been published (Glenny, 1907); it is probably typical of the whole industry. The wholesale growing for seeds commenced about 1780 and increased considerably over the following decades — this being a locally large industry in Essex by the 1820’s. During this decade the industry continued its growth, especially at Kelvedon and Coggleshall, and later at Colchester and elsewhere. During the rest of that century the whole local eating vegetable industry had to move several times due to encroachment by housing, although it was still mainly confined to south Essex, and no doubt the seed growers were forced to follow suit. Lettuce seed growers soon had to contend with imported seed, from France, and by the turn of the century most came from that source. Before 1900, in Essex the moth was only reported from Walton-on-the-Naze on wild lettuce, and at Coggleshall and Colchester on L. sativa —
DEMISE OF HECATERA DYSODEA 75
both seed growing districts — and the insect was not as widespread here in entomologically historical times as might have been thought, probably due to the disruption of the market-gardens. By 1907 there were 45 firms growing general seed in the county and these were still increasing, some probably migrating from south of the Thames, and more than 4000 acres were involved. Lettuce seed continued to be grown in this country over the following decades but at a much reduced level; the industry was still largely localised to Essex and heavy foreign imports continued to have an increa- singly large impact. Through the Second World War years lettuce seed was probably imported from California but some was still produced here. Soon after the war, due to imports and the un- certainess of home produced lettuce seed, this part of the industry finally collapsed. Over the years the competition in lettuce seed had come from Spain, France, the USA, Italy, Australia, and New Zealand — all having a more equable climate. British growers were crucially dependant upon good weather to cure the seeds and decrease shattering, and many disasters must have been experienced due to our capricious climate and the attentions of other insects. For example, the maggots of the lettuce-fly (Anthomyia lactucae) were very destructive to the seed crop and sometimes caused its complete failure by devouring the seeds.
It has been suggested that the decline of the small ranunculus was linked to the demise of the British lettuce seed growing industry, but without supportive evidence. (Firmin et al, 1975). This could only have occurred in the four counties mentioned but the industry did dramatically decline at the latter end of the 19th century and subsequently, which certainly accounts for many, or all, of the local disappearances within those counties.
Eating Lettuce
The first known record of Lactuca sativa L., the worlds most popular salad plant, as a cultivated vegetable is in an Egyptian tomb painting dated about 4500 BC (Lindquist, 1960); its cultivation spread into Greece and Italy and then to the rest of Europe. Lettuce was introduced into English gardens in 1562 (Rhind, 1860) but the date of its very first arrival into this country is unknown al- though it may have been about 1440 (Webber, 1968).
Traditionally, commercially grown lettuce and that grown for seed has been predominently farmed in the eastern counties due to the adventageous climate; the quantitative distribution in 1958 (Coppock, 1964), and to a lesser amount that about a quarter of a century earlier (Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries, 1932), due to less detail, is similar to that of the small ranunculus moth — although the plant is also grown north of the insects apparent range limit. In the years leading up to 1930, up to 10,000 acres of land were
76 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD, VOL. 98 15.11.1986
under commercially grown eating lettuce, the former figure pro- bably being farmed since before the end of the 19th century.
- Commencing at the end of the 16th century, commercial vegetable cultivation took place at localities then near London — Fulham, Kensington, Chelsea, Stepney, Bermondsey, Battersea, and Lambeth, have been mentioned (Fisher, 1935) — but most soon had to move as the city grew; by the mid 17th century gardens were also to be found at Putney, Sandwich, in Surrey and Bedford- shire, and elsewhere (Beavington, 1965). In the 18th century the Middlesex market-gardeners were famed for there lettuce and the gardens stretched from Teddington to the city. As London con- tinued to grow the market-gardens previously strategically placed within a few miles of the metropolis, for reasons of accessibility to dung and for the quick transportation of perishable products, were forced to move further afield. By 1850 “the growth of gas-works, chemical works, and factories had so vitiated the atmosphere of the whole district as to prevent the satisfactory growth of vegetables even on such land as still remained available” (Glenny, 1907) and the growers were forced to move again. At this time most of the Brompton area was devoted to market-gardens but due to the con- tinuing spread of house building they had to move in about 1868; this also happened to the gardeners at Hammersmith and Earls Court just after 1860, and to those at Rotherhithe in about 1880 (Olsen, 1976). The moths disappearance from the London suburbs, noted by Barrett who lived near Camberwell, was precisely coincidental with one of the main periods of market-garden removal. Many of the gardens which moved at this time recommenced on the north bank ot the Thames, in Essex, joining the very early gardeners at Blackwater Valley — movements of 13 to