340 THE ESSEX NATURALIST
Sonchus oleraceus L.
Trifolium repens L.
Matricaria maritima ssp. inodora
(L.) Clapham.
Alopecurus geniculatus L.
Poa palustris L.
P. angustifolia L.
Plantago major L.
Polygonum convolvulus L.
Solanum nigrum L.
Agropyron repens (L.) Beauv.
Arctium minus (Hill) Bernh.
Cichorum intybus L.
Euphorbia virgata Waldst. & Kit.
Agrostis stolonifera L.
Rubus fruticosus agg.
Taraxacum officinale agg.
Centaurea scabiosa L.
Convolvulus arvensis L.
Armoracia rusticana Gaertn. Mey &
Scherb.
Bunias orientalis L.
Lamium album Li-
Viola tricolor L.
Rumex acetosa L.
Plantago lanceolata L.
Melandrium album x rubrum.
Rumex obtusifolius L.
Hordeum murinum L.
Carduus crispus L.
Anthemis cotula L.
Equisetum arvense L.
Colutea arborescens L.
Malva sylvestris L.
Anthriscus sylvestris (L.) Bernh.
Fumaria officinalis L.
Euphorbia helioscopia L.
Pastinaca sativa L.
Symphytum officinale L.
Phalaris arundinacea L.
Raphanus raphanistrum L.
Betula verrucosa.
Oenothera biennis L.
Notes on the Lepidoptera
BY C. B. PRATT
MR. RICHARD ward has from time to time shown me specimens of various
moths which he has taken on the Bromley Gasworks ground. They
include several of the more conspicuous species, all of which are common
in this part of Greater London.
The Puss Moth feeds on Poplar, and larvae of this species were seen
during our visit in August on Black Poplar. The Poplar Grey and the
White Satin moths also feed on Poplar. Another tree-feeding species is
the Brindled Beauty, often found feeding gregariously on Lime and Privet.
The Elephant Hawkmoth feeds on Willow-herb and occurs throughout
the metropolitan area. The remaining moths on the list are the Large
Yellow Underwing, the Garden Tiger, the Dot and the Broom moth. These
all feed on a variety of herbaceous garden and wild plants, so that there is
plenty of suitable food for them on the site.
Butterflies which Mr. Ward has recorded on the site include the Large
White, Small White, Green-veined White and the Small Tortoiseshell.
For these species suitable food plants are plentiful. One migrant—the
Painted Lady—is included in the list.
Incidentally, it rather surprised me to hear that the Stag beetle has been
recorded repeatedly on the site. One is accustomed to finding this beetle
among ancient Oaks, in the wood of which its larva feeds for several years.
I wonder if it breeds on the site and, if so, in which trees its larva feeds.