(Lampropteryx suffumata), the peacock moth (Semiothisa notata) and the superbly marked,
autumnal, brindled green (Dryobotodes eremita) which was first noted in 1983.
NEW HOUSE FARM, GREAT BROMLEY
By J. Heath
New House Farm is in the parish of Great Bromley, five miles east of Colchester, and covers about
84 acres. The land is mainly arable under cereals, sugar beet and potatoes. Its fields, hedgerows,
verges and farmyards provide a range of habitats typical of the largely arable farming landscape of
north-east Essex. However, in addition, the farmer at New House has put aside a strip of rough
grassland along Bromley Brook, adjacent to two farm reservoirs, for the purpose of encouraging
wildlife.
Following up his own particular interest in lepidoptera, the farmer invited the Colchester Natural
History Society onto his land for light-trapping and the recording of moths and butterflies in 1973.
Since then the Society has held regular recording sessions at New House Farm, both in the meadow
strip and amongst the farm buildings. The lists from these meetings, together with the farmer's own
records kept throughout the year, form a log of the moth fauna of the area. The Natural History
Society has also surveyed the farm's plant life, gleaning useful information about possible foodplants
which with the Lepidoptera species lists forms the basis of the following account
Although there is no macrolepidoptera pest problem at New House Farm with the exception of the
cabbage moth (Mamestra brassicae) in the farmer's vegetable garden, species which are known to
pose threats to crops do occur commonly. These are mostly polyphagous as larvae and likely to be
breeding in the meadow with its wide range of available foodplants. Noctuid 'cutworm' moths include
the heart and dart (Agrotis exclamationis) and large yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba). The
garden dart (Euxoa nigricans), which will attack sugar beet seedlings, occurs on the farm but is not a
pest. Other species, notably the swift moths (Hepialidae), attack plants at the roots, and the common
swift (H. lupulinus) is probably resident Stem-borers such as the rosy rustic (Hydraecia micacea)
and common rustic (Mesapamea secalis) are regularly recorded, and so is the bright-line brown-eye
(Lacanobia oleracea), sometimes a pest of tomato plants, but here probably flourishing amongst its
wild foodplants, oraches and goosefoots (Chenopodiaceae).
Around farmyards, manure heaps, track edges and machine-disturbed ground grow plants such as
knotgrasses, Chickweed, nettles, docks, sorrels and goosefoots which attract a range of butterflies and
moths typical of wasteground habitats. Indeed, such species as the setaceous Hebrew character
(Xestia c-nigrum) and the shuttle-shaped dart (Agrotis puta) are often in evidence around the farm
buildings. The dark spinach (Pelurga comitata), whose foodplants are goosefoots and oraches, has
come to light, and the frosted orange (Gortyna flavago), a thistle and burdock feeder, is also listed. As
might be expected, butterflies and moths associated with nettles are evident such as the small
tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae), red admiral (Vanessa atalanta) and peacock (Inachis io) butterflies
and the snout (Hypena proboscidalis), burnished brass (Diachrysia chrysitis) and spectacle
(Abrostola triplasia) moths.
There are small, scattered woods in the Great Bromley area, but on New House Farm itself the
woodland element is provided by hedgerows, and by shrubs and trees in the rough grassland. Typical
woodland moths such as the day-flying speckled yellow (Pseudopanthera macularia), the peppered
moth (Biston betularia), the mottled beauty (Alcis repandata) and the buff arches (Habrosyne
pyritoides) turn up regularly. The iron prominent (Notodonta dromedarius) and the very variable
marbled carpet (Chloroclysta truncata) prefer light woodland, probably favouring the sallow bushes
to be found in the uncultivated grassland. Marshy ground near the stream with stands of alder and
willow may support populations of species recognised as frequenters of damp woodland. Amongst
these we might include the May highflyer (Hydriomena impluviata), poplar grey (Acronicta
megacephala), pale prominent (Pterostoma palpina), swallow prominent (Pheosia tremula) and
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