LEPIDOPTERA IN SOUTH-EAST ESSEX 205
Admiral butterflies (Vanessa atalanta L.). I only heard of one Convolvulus
Hawk moth (Herse convolvuli L.) and no Death's-head Hawk moths
(Acherontia atropos L.).
Amongst residents it was a good year for the Wood Leopard moth
(Zeuzera pyrina L.). I took several males in the trap and six newly-
emerged females on tree trunks before leaving for Ireland, and on my
return found three more pupa-cases of moths which had emerged in my
absence.
The Figure of Eighty (Tethea ocularis L.) was not rare in the trap, and
I obtained a number of the melanic forms, practically unknown in Great
Britain until two years ago. I have written a detailed account of these in
the Entomologist's Record.
The Sycamore Dagger (Apatele aceris L.) was also not uncommon,
ranging from the usual grey to almost black (candelisequa); the extreme
form was, however, rare.
Other interesting insects were an intermediate form of the Peppered moth
(Biston betularia L.), black peppered with white instead of white peppered
with black: Centre-barred Sallow (Atethmia xerampelina Hubn.) and Barred
Sallow (Tiliacea aurago Fabr.).
The most interesting micro was the new apple pest, Adoxophyes orana
V. Roesl., both broods of which appeared in the trap. This is apparently
well established in an orchard at the bottom of my garden. It was not
known in this country until four years ago, and until now had not been
found outside Kent. As it is rather destructive to apples, its spread is
unfortunate.