44
THE ESSEX NATURALIST
the trap; it proved to be Plusia limbirena, of which there is only one previous
British record—Swanage, Dorset, 13 September 1947. At the time of the
Swanage capture it was looked upon as a native of India, Ceylon, and East
and South Africa, but more recently has been reported as probably estab-
lished in the Canary Islands. Among the known larval food-plants are salvias,
Verbascum, and hollyhock.
Finally on 3 October another strange Plusia was taken. The Y mark of
P. gamma was replaced by an elongated silvery blotch, with a silver line from
it to the base of the wing. It was determined by the British Museum (Nat. Hist.)
as Plusia gutta (Guenee), a Central and South European species, of which
there seems to be no previous British record.
A year ago it was mentioned that the Grayling butterfly (Eumenis semele
(L.)) seemed to be a newcomer to the district. It was again seen in 1951,
including a female in a new locality. The Marbled White (Agapetes galathea
(L.)) continues to be widespread on both sides of the Crouch. It would be
interesting to know if it occurs further north on the Essex coast at the present
time or in East Anglia. In the fairly recent work, Butterflies, by Dr. E. B.
Ford, it is stated to be extinct in Yorkshire and is not shown as occurring near
the coast north of the Thames. It seems to be one of the few butterflies to have
maintained or even increased its numbers since 1949.
The Orange Tip (Euchloe cardamines (L.)) was about in fair numbers, being
first seen on 10 May.
No doubt the poor weather during most of the summer made butterflies
seem even scarcer than they actually were. When fine warm days eventually
occurred in late September and early October acres of lucerne in full bloom
were almost deserted.
Butterflies at North Fambridge
in 1951
BY JACK T. FRIEDLEIN
On 11 April the first Brimstones and Small Tortoiseshells appeared but no
more butterflies were seen until the 18th, when Peacocks also turned up.
During the next four weeks there were very few warm days and in consequence
few butterflies.
19 May was decidedly warmer and Peacocks, Blues, Orange-tips and Whites
were well on the wing. 20th. Brimstones were numerous but no Pearl-bordered
Fritillaries were yet to be seen in the woods. On 27th we saw the first Red
Admiral of the season and on the next day, the first Comma. On the 30th we
observed three perfect freshly-emerged Pearl-bordered Fritillaries and by
2 June we had discovered the species in six local woods. A nice useful founda-
tion stock which should have done well, as the days were then perfect for
mating and egg laying. It will be interesting to see the 1952 result; there
should be an increase in numbers.
3 June. Wall butterflies and one or two Green Hairstreaks were on the
wing: 6th. Pearl-bordered Fritillaries, Dingy Skippers and Orange-tips were
plentiful. On the 15th Elephant Hawk moths were feeding at honeysuckle.