Ladoga camilla (Linn.) (Limenitis camilla) White Admiral
p29. Resident, now very local and generally scarce. This fine butterfly was largely confined to N.
Essex until the 1930s when it extended its range, becoming widespread by the end of that decade. Its
decline began in the 1950s and by the mid-1960s it had become very local and scarce *, as it is today.
The only records notified since the Guide was published are: 49 Epping Forest, 1978 (RS); 70
Danbury Ridge, a few in Blakes Wood up to circa 1971 (MS); 73 Shardlowes Wood, 1978 (TS); 80
edge of Hazeleigh Wood, intermittently and singly to 1984 (GS); Maldon Wick NR, 1981 (DT); 82
Stisted, 1979 (RWJL); 13, 23 Wrabness/Ramsey, established (MEA, RL, PS et al.).
Apatura iris (Linn.) Purple Emperor
p28. ? Vagrant, very rare. This magnificent insect seems to have been widespread, mainly at low
density, in Essex at one time and was formerly common in N.E. Essex woodland (Douglas, 1842),
but by the end of the last century it was already very rare, and the only comparatively recent record
accepted by the Guide as fully authentic concerns one at Weeley in 1956. The following are the only
subsequent records: 49 Epping Forest, a male on two occasions in July 1983 (MC) following an
unconfirmed sighting in 1982; 02 Wivenhoe, inside a house on 20 August 1983 (Mrs R. Hirst
per JF).
Vanessa atalanta (Linn.) Red Admiral
p29. Migrant, widespread and often common. Numbers of this migrant butterfly vary widely from
year to year: in some years it is common but in others rather scarce. It may be found anywhere in the
County but, as would be expected, it is most numerous in coastal regions. Its numbers may have
declined: early this century it was said to be abundant in some years *. In 1982 it was more numerous
than for many years.
Cynthia cardui (Linn.) (Vanessa cardui) Painted Lady
p30. Migrant, sometimes common. This butterfly's status is similar to the Red Admiral's but its
numbers are seldom as great and in some years it is scarce and largely confined to the coast.
Aglais urticae (Linn.) Small Tortoiseshell
p31. Resident, widespread and common or very common; generally distributed. Although in
favourable years it is still very numerous, it is markedly less abundant than formerly.
Nymphalis polychloros (Linn.) Large Tortoiseshell
p30. Periodic; currently very rare and status unknown. Apparently well distributed early this
century, by about 1910 this fine butterfly, now a national rarity, seems to have been confined to the
north of the county. It extended its range in the 1930s and was widespread for a few years from the
mid-1940s, when it went into a rapid decline *. There have been very few subsequent records, the only
fully acceptable post-Guide one being: 80 Maldon, August 1975 (LS); 90 Bradwell -on- Sea, 31
May 1985 (AJD). The reference in the Guide to an occurrence at Bocking c.1936 should be
deleted: the authority quoted (Gilles, 1936) makes no mention of the species having been taken
there.
Nymphalis antiopa (Linn.) Camberwell Beauty
p30. Migrant, rare. Only nine examples of this magnificent insect were seen in Essex between 1925
and 1975 *. However, a total of 14, scattered over the County, were noted in 1976 which saw the
species' largest immigration since 1872. With the exception of one at 99 Canewdon (MW) details of
the latter occurrences have already been published (Chalmers-Hunt, 1977). 40 Epping, 1983 (per
CWP); 01 West Mersea, 1984 (FWG); 02 Alresford, 1977 (DLC); additionally a 'probable' was
seen in 69 Norsey Wood in 1983 (per KC); 49 Theydon Bois, 1983 (TWG).
Inachis io (Linn.) (Nymphalis io) The Peacock
p30. Resident, widespread and common or very common. Generally distributed and often
numerous, but perhaps less abundant than formerly, at least in parts of the County.
47