Idaea aversata (Linn.) (Sterrha aversata) Riband Wave
p101. Resident, widespread and very common.
Idaea straminata (Haw.) (Sterrha straminata) Plain Wave
p101. Resident, local and generally scarce.
Rhodometra sacraria (Linn.) The Vestal
p101. Migrant, irregular and normally scarce or rare but occasionally widespread. A major
immigration, perhaps exceeding that of 1947 (see Guide), occurred in 1983 when it became quite
widespread, and a total of 85 was logged at 90 Bradwell-on-Sea alone (AJD, SFJD). An
exceptionally late occurrence was of one at 88 Thundersley on 20 Dec. 1981 (DGD).
Larentiinae
With 157 species on the British list this is the largest subfamily of macro-moths. The 'pugs' are very
small and the 'carpets' small, thin-bodied moths. In the majority the wings and haustellum are fully
developed in both sexes, though in the genus Operophtera (winter moths) the latter is reduced and the
female brachypterous (short-winged) and flightless. The larvae often rest in a pose resembling a'?'.
Most species are monophagous or oligophagous on herbaceous plants - many of the pugs specialising
in feeding on the flowers of their foodplant The tree-feeding members of the subfamily tend not to be
monophagous. The species vary in the overwintering stage - although very few hibernate as adults.
106 species are resident in Essex.
Lythria purpuraria (Linn.) Purple-barred Yellow
pl34. No recent record. Recorded by Button (1870) from "Essex", the exact locality not being
disclosed. The circumstances were as follows: Button, who lived at Gravesend, Kent, possessed a
boat and sometimes crossed the Thames to collect in Essex. On one of these expeditions he took three
specimens of L. purpuraria which he showed to Newman (1869) who confirmed the identification
and published the record before Button himself. Button has never been suspected of deliberate
deception but several of his Kent records are questionable on the grounds of misidentification (J. M.
Chalmers-Hunt, pers. comm.). However, since these specimens were verified by Newman, it would
appear that the record (which the Guide rejected) is authentic. Button's locality is likely to be within
walking distance of his landing place and it is possible that the adults or early stages (or the parent) had
been transported by sea from the Continent where the species is locally common.
Phibalapteryx virgata (Hufn.) (Mesotype virgata) Oblique Striped
pl06. Vagrant, very rare. 12 Hamford Water, 9 July 1975 (JBF), the third Essex record (see
Guide).
58