development, is the best locality for calcicolous microlepidoptera.
(4). Grassland. Farming in Essex is arable rather than pastural and we have
very little of the rough grazing that supports sheep. However, in the eyes of the
entomologist the best grassland is that which includes the widest variety of
herbaceous plants. Roadside verges, provided they are not over-controlled by
local councils, are first-rate and ubiquitous habitats which support a wide
range of species. Sea-walls are also productive and often harbour species which
are scarce or absent inland. Of the strictly grass-feeding species, the Cramb-
inae are well-represented and more or less universal, but less so the Elachist-
idae, though this may be due in some measure to underrecording. The acquis-
ition of Hitchcock's Meadows Nature Reserve by the Essex Naturalists' Trust is
to be welcomed.
(5). Waste ground. Disturbed ground, rubbish-tips, etc. are quickly colonised
by grasses, Umbelliferae, Chenopodiaceae and herbaceous plants such as
ragwort; these areas are among the best for microlepidoptera. Unfortunately,
the land-hungry Essex farmer leaves little such ground - indeed, why should
he? It is to be found more than elsewhere along the Thames estuary.
(6). Suburban gardens and parks. With agriculture making ever-increasing
demands on the countryside, these are becoming increasingly important as
havens for wildlife. Many species show remarkable facility for adapting to this
alien form of habitat, which is not surprising considering the extremely wide
range of food-plants available. Some species, such as Leucoptera laburnella,
feed on introduced plants and can only occur where man provides for them.
Pest species of man's foodstuffs are chiefly to be found in towns. The sparrows
of the lepidopterous world are plentiful.
(7). Hedgerows. Hedges, especially ancient ones of varied composition, pro-
vide an extremely important habitat. Attention has already been drawn to the
entomologically evil consequences of the uprooting of hedgerows in arable
country. The elm may be regarded as a hedgerow tree and it is satisfactory to
report that Dutch elm disease has had little effect on the phyllophagous
species. In general, 1978 and 1979 were poor years for leaf-miners, but the
species on elm have been more in evidence than ever before; even the local
Acleris boscana seems to have become widespread. This apparent increase may
to some extent be illusory; with the loss of the trees, these species are turning to
hedgerow saplings where they are more conspicuous. The effect on xylo-
phagous species such as Cydia leguminana (if it survives in Essex) may be more
serious; but this is speculation.
(8). Coastal localities. Essex, with its numerous estuaries and creeks, has more
coastline relative to its size than any other county in the south-east; and the
microlepidoptera, like human beings, do like to be beside the seaside. Some
species, like Ectoedemia spinosella and E. erythrogenella, are virtually confined
to localities within sight of the sea although their food-plants are not maritime.
Others, although they are also found inland, occur much more plentifully near
the coast. I imagine this is due to microclimate, but it is also possible that the
chemical constituents of plants growing in salty air and soil may be different; I
do not know whether this has been studied. Agriculture generally stops some
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