108 THE ESSEX NATURALIST
Lepidoptera in South-East Essex
in 1952
BY H. C. HUGGINS, F.R.E.S.
Amongst butterflies my first note 18 one of regret: both the Silver-
washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia (L.)) and the Large Tortoiseshell
(Nymphalis polychloros (L.)), which, after many years' absence, appeared
in the district in 1942 and were not seen in 1951, did not appear in 1952
either, and I have come to the reluctant conclusion that they have, at any
rate temporarily, receded from the district.
The Comma (Polygonia c-album (L.)) is as common as ever, and the
White Admiral (Limenitis camilla (L.)) maintains itself in very small
numbers in most of the local woods.
I did not see any of the March immigrant specimens of the Painted Lady
(Vanessa cardui (L.)) which appeared in many parts of the country, but as
I was informed that a brood of fresh insects was on the wing here at the
end of June, it appears that some must have arrived. There was also a
large immigration in May: I saw one at Battlesbridge on 9 May, about
half a dozen at North Benfleet on 12 May, and several at Westcliff in the
next few days.
The large numbers of cardui present at the end of July and in August
were no doubt the progeny of the later invasion.
Immigrant Red Admirals (Vanessa atalanta (L.)) were generally dis-
tributed in early May; the first seen was in my garden at Westcliff on
3 May, and the species was abundant in August, September and October.
I saw but four Clouded Yellows (Colias croceus (Fourc.)): a male on 2
August and two males on 15 August at Battlesbridge, and a female in my
garden on 21 August. I saw no Pale Clouded Yellows (Colias hyale (L.))
for the first year since 1946.
Amongst moths, the Convolvulus Hawk moth (Herse convolvuli (L.)) was
present in small numbers, the first being reported on 15 August. Migrants
generally, except the Silver Y (Plusia gamma (L.)), were scarce, but I again
saw Vine's Rustic (Caradrina ambigua (Fabr.)) and the Large Thorn
(Ennomos autumnaria Werneb.) and think that both are now established
in the district.
Mr. D. More, of Hockley, and I are both working mercury vapour lamps,
though I did not install mine until the end of September.
I am glad to report that the Sloe Carpet (Bapta distincta (H.S.)) has
turned up commonly at Hockley: we have not seen it here for many years.
Mr. More has also taken the variety of the Beaded Chestnut (Agrochola
lychnidis (Schiff.) ab. conjuncta Cockayne), which has the orbicular and
reniform spots on the forewing joined as in Orthosia gothica (L.) Dr.
Cockayne, to whom I wrote concerning this record, informs me that it is
apparently a very scarce form.
Another insect re-discovered locally by the M.V. lamp is the Barred
Sallow (Tiliacea aurago (Fabr.)), of which I saw 22 specimens in my garden
during the only five evenings in early October when the weather was good
enough to make it worth while to switch on the lamp; Mr. More has also
seen a few at Hockley.
Generally speaking, the year has not been up to the average in this dis-
trict, but I was absent in Ireland in June and July when we had most of
the fine weather (and, incidentally, in which I did not have a wet day in
south-west Ireland, which must constitute a local record!), so possibly I
missed some good thing's.