INSECTS 211
Butterflies in the Clacton area.—Although I have done little collecting
this year I have noted a small colony of the Grayling butterfly (Eumerus
semele L.) at Weeley, also a few Broad-bordered Bee Hawk moths (Hemaris
fuciformis L.) neither of which I have seen in Essex before. The Large
Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis polychloros L.) is well established in several woods
east of Colchester.
There have been two mass immigrations from the Continent, at least
one of the "White" butterflies (mostly Large White (Pieris brassicae L.))
and at least one large influx of the Silver Y. moth (Plusia gamma L.). Both
of these species swarmed in every garden on the Frinton front.
The Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus Fourer.) is rampant in every field,
especially in lucerne fields, but I have seen no Pale Clouded Yellow (Colias
hyale L.) this summer. The Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta L.) and the
Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui L.) have been plentiful.
A. P. Seabrook.
Striped Hawk and Convolvulus Hawk moths.—Mr. J. T. Friedlein reports,
in The Entomologist for September 1949, that he saw a Striped Hawk moth
(Celerio livornica Esp.) feeding on Spur Valerian in his garden at North
Fambridge at 9.35 p.m. on June 7th, 1949. The next night at 10 p.m. a
Convulus Hawk moth (Herse convolvuli L.) was seen feeding on Honeysuckle.
The Marbled White butterfly in Essex.—Mr. H. C. Huggins reports in
The Entomologist for October 1949, that this butterfly (Melanargia galathea
L.) still occurs in suitable localities in the Rochford Hundred from Benfleet
to Paglesham, in several places quite common. Mr. J. Friedlein informs him
that he took and released a specimen on July 25th, 1948, at Mundon near the
Blackwater.
Some butterflies in Essex in 1949.—In spite of almost perfect weather all
through the summer butterflies did not attain any great abundance as far
as I am aware. The Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas L.) was distinctly scarce
all through and in all my visits to various parts of the county I saw less than
half-a-dozen specimens. As far as the western part of the county is concerned
the usual autumn butterflies were also scarce. In several gardens, including
my own, single specimens only of such species as Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais
urticae L.) and Comma (Polygonia c-album L.) were to be seen on the Michael-
mas daisies. One Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus Foure.) was seen in
Epping town on July 10th, single specimens were seen in widely separated
areas throughout the following months, several on Lucerne at Sewardstone
on August 14th, but the only report of abundance in Essex which I have
received is that from Mr. Seabrook at Frinton. While with several members
of the Club at Coopersale Common on May 12th a fresh specimen of the
Pearl-bordered Fritillary (Argynnis euphrosyne L.) was closely watched as it
sat sunning itself on a Dandelion bloom. It was only a few hundred yards
from the spot where an example of this species was seen on the Club ramble
on May 19th, 1948. C. B. Pratt.
Wormwood Shark moth at Ilford.—I took a good specimen of this moth
(Cucullia absinthii L.) after dark on July 22nd, 1949; it was feeding on
Spur Valerian in my garden at Newbury Park, Ilford. The next evening
another of the same species was taken on the same plant. During nearly
forty years collecting in Essex I had never before seen this species.
The Broad-barred White moth (Hadena serena Schiff.) seems to be on
the increase in this district in spite of the great expansion of the built-up
area. I first took it about fourteen years ago and since then I have taken it
every year, usually about dusk on Buddleia. A. R. Ness.