LEPIDOPTERA IN SOUTH-EAST ESSEX 69
and the whole place is full of crickets and other insects not usually existing in
the open. Attempts to solve the hitherto unknown life-history of this moth by
Mr. Uffen and Mr. S. Wakely were a failure, though Mr. Uffen came near to
success. The moth undoubtedly moves about a good deal in attempts to extend
its range, I took more than a score in my garden trap on hot nights when the
wind was south-west, and Mr. More several at Hockley.
At the beginning of May I was pleased to take three Orthosia advena
Schiff. (Northern Drab) in my garden as I had not seen it since 1939 and, as its
old locality had been built on, feared it was extinct locally. On July '25th I
took a worn Nephopterix similella Zinck. (Oak Knothorn) in the garden, this
seems to be the first Essex record though I have little doubt more would be
found if the M.V. light could be used all night (it is a very late flyer) in our
local woods. Another new Essex record appears to be the capture of a
Cucullia absinthii L. (Wormwood Shark) at Hockley by Mr. More. This moth
has recently extended its range over many parts of England, where the larva
has begun feeding on mugwort (previously it had been confined to wormwood on
the south-west coast) and it will probably appear again in the future. Other
insects worth recording are a second Dicycla oo L. (Heart moth) at Hockley by
Mr. More, and a second local example of Freyer's Pug (Eupithecia arceuthata
Frey.) by Mr. D. Down. Mr. Down has also taken our first Rochford Hundred
example of Boarmia roboraria Schiff. (Great Oak Beauty), a somewhat melanic
specimen. It may also he worthy of note that melanism appears to be increasing
with Tethea ocularis L. (Figure of Eighty). I made a careful record of all
specimens this year for Dr. Kettlewell and the proportion had risen to 30%.
Lepidoptera in East Essex in 1956
BY A. J. DEWICK.
1956 proved to be yet another year without any spectacular numbers of
migrant butterflies. There was, however, a considerable influx of Silver-Y
moths (Plusia gamma L.) in the last two days of May and an immigration of
several species of moths during September.
The Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta L.) first appeared on May 30th, and
lasted until October 25th with a total for the year of 91.
The Painted Lady (V. cardui L.) was first seen ou May 28th and only 18
were noted during the season, the last on September 10th. Neither the Clouded
Yellow (Colias croceus Fourcr.) nor the Pale Clouded Yellow (C. hyale L.)
were seen at all. The small Tortoiseshell (Vanessa urticae L.) and the
Peacock (V. io L.), with totals of 181 and 73 respectively, were also below
average.
Plusia gamma first appeared in the light-trap on May 29th with 56 speci-
mens; next day there were 2,868, followed by 2,645, after which the species
soon became quite scarce. Maximum numbers later in the year were 1,132 on
August 9th, 1,244 on August 11th, 1,308 on September 10 and 1,048 on the 11th.
The last specimen was on December 18th and the year's total was 20,978.
Death's Head Hawkmoth (Acherontia atropos L.). Five specimens in the
first half of September, four males and one female.