less well represented in Essex than most of the microlepidoptera, only 23 of the
38 British species having been recorded. The three subfamilies, Agdistinae,
Platyptiliinae and Pterophorinae, do not show marked discrepancies and are
given a common introduction.
Agdistis bennetii (Curt.) Res., 1833-1980. Limonium vulgare. Wdspd and c. in salt-marshes. 90
*Tollesbury, the type locality (Curtis, 1833).
Oxyptilus parvidactylus (Haw.) Res., 1897-1980. Hieracium pilosella. V. loc. and r.
VC 18. 58 *Rainham, one 26 June 1897 (Burrows diary); 67 Grays Chalk Pit (DGD; AME).
Buckleria paludum (Zell.) NRR., c. 1895. Drosera rotundifolia.
VC 18.88 Southend, two undated specimens labelled "Southend, F.G. Whittle" in the captor's
handwriting, now in coll. Vine at the Liverpool Museum; one of them has been dissected. The
foodplant has not been recorded at Southend though it has been found in several sites in Essex
in addition to Epping Forest where it persists (Jermyn, 1974: 106). Whittle does not seem to
have recorded their capture, possibly because the locality was so improbable that he doubted
the determination. Ultimately he may have sent them away for dissection, probably by Pierce
whose collection is also at Liverpool. They were never returned, perhaps because of Whittle's
sudden death or because of some muddle - all sheer conjecture.
Capperia britanniodactyla (Gregs) Res., 1891-1976. Teucrium scorodonia. V. loc. and r.
VC 18. 59 *Warley, reared 1891 (AT); 68 Laindon, 1947 (HCH); Mucking by CRNB, 1918
(coll. Pierce); 70 Little Baddow, 1976 (GAP); 88 Belfairs Wood, 1955 (HCH).
Marasmarcha lunaedactyla (Haw.) Res., 1877-1980. Ononis. Loc. c. in the north-west; elsewhere
loc. and r.
VC 18.78 Benfleet (Whittle, 1899a; 1904d; GHC; CRNB in coll. Purdey); 88 Hadleigh downs,
1970 (HCH). VC 19. 43 Littlebury; 53 Newport; 54 Little Chesterford (AME); 81 *Witham
(Cansdale, 1877-1878b; VCH); 83 Alphamstone (AME).
Cnaemidophorus rhododactyla [(D. & S.]) Res., (1834)-1978. Rosa canina. Loc. and r.; perhaps
once more extending its range but still to be regarded as an endangered species.
VC 18. 38 *Hackney Marshes (Stephens, 1834: 376); 49 Loughton by WM (VCH); Chigwell
Row, 1976 and 1978 (IS); 59 Navestock by Claxton (Tutt, 1906); 69 Thorndon Park, 1900-1903
(Whittle, 1904a); Brentwood (Huggins, 1951); 78 Benfleet, from 1955 (HCH; many other
recorders); 70 Little Baddow, 1976 (GAP); 89 Canewdon, 1950-1964 (HCH); 90 Bradwell-on-
Sea, 1972 (AJD). VC 19.02 Colchester (Morris, 1872).
Amblyptilia acanthadactyla (Hubn.) Res., 1872-1964. Stachys, Ononis, etc. V. loc. and r.
VC 18.38 Leytonstone by McIntyre (Tutt, 1906); 49 *Epping Forest (Machin, 1872-1873b); 88
Leigh-on-Sea (Vaughan, 1889); 80 Hazeleigh by Raynor (Tutt, 1906); 90 Bradwell-on-Sea, two
1958 (AJD). VC 19. 53 Saffron Walden by Jeffrey (Tutt, 1906); reared 1964 (AME); 81
Witham; Rivenhall (Cansdale, 1905); 02 Colchester by WHH, 1906).
A. punctidactyla (Haw.) ?Res. or vag., 1960. Ononis, Stachys sylvatica, etc. Once only.
VC 18.90 Bradwell-on-Sea, one at m.v. light 24 June 1960 (AJD).
152