crataegi), bordered sallow (Pyrrhia umbra), streamer (Anticlea derivata) and treble brown spot
(Idaea trigeminata). In the thickets of hawthorn, blackthorn and wild rose, the sloe carpet (Aleucis
distinctata) and barred yellow (Cidaria fulvata) may be found.
Small areas of reed swamp support a number of wainscots including the twin-spotted wainscot
(Archanara geminipuncta), whereas the brackish marshes and saltings hold a different selection of
species such as the saltern ear (Amphipoea fucosa), the star-wort (Cucullia asteris) and the newly
discovered sandhill rustic (Luperina nickerlii). The Essex emerald (Thetidia smaragdaria)
disappeared about 50 years ago.
The Benfleet Downs are possibly the most famous locality in the county for microlepidoptera.
Well-known species include Ectoedemia spinosella, E. erythrogenella, Tischeria angusticollella,
Ochsenheimeria mediopectinellus, Parectopa ononidis, Coleophora prunifoliae, C. adjectella,
C. conspicuella, Eucosma catoptrana which was first discovered there as a British species by the late
H. C. Huggins, and the rare Cnaemidophorus rhododactyla.
THE BACKWARDEN NATURE RESERVE, DANBURY COMMON
by G. A. Pyman
The Backwarden comprises the south-western portion of Danbury Common. It is managed by the
Essex Naturalists' Trust under an agreement with the National Trust, which is the owner. Its 30 acres
are situated on glacial gravels overlying London clay, and it is noteworthy for the range of habitats it
contains - heather and gorse heathland, ancient and secondary woodland, blackthorn thickets, a
marsh, sphagnum bogs and other wet depressions, and a variety of pools. A small stream flows
through the reserve into a tributary of the Sandon Brook which forms the southern boundary. Thanks
to this diversity of terrain, the Backwarden possesses a rich flora, including a great variety of trees and
shrubs which play host to an abundance of insects.
Twenty species of butterfly have been recorded on the Backwarden, although one of them, the
pearl-bordered fritillary (Boloria euphrosyne), died out many years ago. The brimstone butterfly
(Gonepteryx rhamni) is well represented owing to the abundance of one of its foodplants, alder
buckthorn; the green hairstreak (Callophrys rubi) and purple hairstreak (Quercusia quercus) are both
regular, the small copper (Lycaena phlaeas) is often common amongst the heather. That recent
recoloniser of southern Essex, the speckled wood (Pararge aegeria), is now firmly established.
Of the larger moths, 226 species have been recorded to date and clearly the list is far from complete.
Little work has as yet been done in spring and autumn and, judging by the numbers of absentees from
the list which are known to be widespread elsewhere on Danbury Ridge, the potential is likely to be in
excess of 300.
From such an assemblage it is difficult to select moths for specific mention. Amongst those that fly
by day are the orange Underwing (Archiearisparthenias) which flies round the birches in early spring,
and the speckled yellow (Pseudopanthera macularia) which should be sought where the wood-sage
grows, a little later in the season.
Undoubtedly the reserve's speciality among the moths is the diminutive rosy marbled (Elaphria
venustula). Extremely local in Britain, it has its Essex stronghold on Danbury Ridge. It flies at dusk in
early summer over its larval foodplant, tormentil.
The four-dotted footman (Cybosia mesomella) and the quaintly named true lover's knot
(Lycophotia porphyrea) both survived the drastic post-war decline in the heather and are still to be
found in the restored heather heathland. Other Essex species associated with heathland which are
present include the satin wave (Idaea subsericeata), mottled grey (Colostygia multistrigaria) and
triple-spotted clay (Xestia ditrapezium), the last two being very local in Essex.
The aspen drifts support populations of the poplar lutestring (Tethea or) and lead-coloured drab
(Orthosia populeti), and from the oak woodland come the blotched emerald (Comibaena bajularia)
and the beautiful autumnal merveille-du-jour (Dichonia aprilina). Birch-feeders include the
magnificent large emerald (Geometra papilionaria) and the rarer peacock moth (Semiothisa notata),
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