THE SYSTEMATIC LIST
The distinction between butterflies and moths, and between macrolepidoptera and microlepidoptera,
are traditional and useful, but lack scientific foundation. The sequence of families in this list starts with
those regarded as the most primitive and proceeds to those believed to be the most advanced. The
primitive families are mostly microlepidoptera, but five families contain relatively large species and
have been traditionally regarded as macrolepidoptera. These families precede the butterflies in the
systematic list
PRIMITIVE MOTHS
HEPIALIDAE
The 'swifts' are a family of very primitive moths in which the forewings and hindwings are almost
identical in shape and the antennae are very short The moths have no haustellum (the haustellum is
sometimes called the 'tongue' or 'proboscis') and so do not feed in the adult state. The five British
species have all been recorded in Essex; they range in size from small to large. The larvae burrow in
soil and feed on the roots of various non-woody plants (some species specialising on bracken); it is this
stage that overwinters. The pupa is cylindrical and very active: it works its way towards the soil
surface before the moth emerges.
Hepialus humuli (Linn.) Ghost Moth
p55. Resident, widespread and common.
Hepialus sylvina (Linn.) Orange Swift
p55. Resident, widespread; locally fairly common.
Hepialus hecta (Linn.) Gold Swift
p55. Resident, rather local, locally common.
Hepialus lupulinus (Linn.) (H. lupulina (Linn.)) Common Swift
p55. Resident, widespread and very common.
Hepialus fusconebulosa (DeG.) Map-winged Swift
Only two old records: 64 Kedington (Gaze, 1842) and 88 Southend-on-Sea, 1860 (Vaughan,
1889).
COSSIDAE
A primitive family of mostly large moths. They lack a haustellum but the frenulum (wing-coupling
mechanism) is well-developed. Two of the three British species are resident in Essex and there is an
old record of the third. The smooth-skinned larvae burrow inside their foodplant the two Essex
residents in the wood of trees. The larvae overwinter - and take more than one year to complete their
growth. The goat moth leaves its burrow to pupate in the ground while the leopard moth pupates in the
larval burrow.
Phragmataecia castaneae (Hb.) Reed Leopard
Only one old record: 'Epping Forest' (Morris, 1872). The location may well have been 39 the Lea
Valley.
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