This list includes all species mentioned in the text, and all additional British species with a
particular association with elm which have not yet been recorded from Essex. Species for which
elm is the sole or major host are indicated by an asterisk.
References
[Nomenclature for Heteroptera follows Kloet and Hincks (1964) and for Auchenorrhyncha Le Quesne and
Payne (1981)]
Claridge, M. F. and Wilson, M. R. (1981) Host plant associations, diversity and species-area relationships
of mesophyll-feeding leafhoppers of trees and shrubs in Britain. Ecological Entomology. 61. 217-238.
Kloet, G. S. and Hincks, W. D. (1964) A checklist of British insects. Part 1. 2nd ed. Handbooks for
identification of British Insects. 9 (1).
Le Quesne, W. J. (1965) Hemiptera: Cicadomorpha (excluding Deltocephalinae and Typhlocybinae).
Handbooks for identification of British Insects, 2 (2a).
Le Quesne, W. J. (1969) Hemiptera: Cicadomorpha, Deltocephalinae. Handbooks for the Identification of
British Insects. 2 (2b).
Le Quesne, W. J. and Payne. K. R. (1981) Cicadellidae (Typhlocbinae) with a checklist of the British
Auchenorrhyncha (Hemiptera, Homoptera). Handbooks for the identification of British Insects. 2 (2c).
Southwood, T. R. E. and Leston, D. (1959) Land and water bugs of the British Isles. London. Warne.
Wilson. M. R. (1979) Kyboasca bipunctata (Oshanin) (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Typhlocybinae) a
species new to Britain. Entomologist's Record & Journal of Variation. 91. 194.
Wilson, M. R. (1981) Identification of European Iassus species (Homoptera: Cicadellidae) with one species
new to Britain. Systematic Entomology. 6. 115-118.
3) Lepidoptera. Rev. David Agassiz
A large number of lepidopterous larvae can be found feeding on elm. The majority eat the
leaves, some mine within leaves, others feed on the flowers or fruit or even in the bark.
Many such larvae will also feed on other trees. This chapter is. however, confined to those
which feed solely, or mainly, on elm. Within the genus Ulmus there is no knowledge about the
preference of lepidoptera other than between Wych Elm and the remaining Ulmus species.
The White-letter Hairstreak (Strymonidia w-album Linn.) (Fig. 11) is the only butterfly
confined to elm. It is found locally throughout Essex but is often common where it occurs.
Before the onset of Dutch Elm Disease it was common in many places, but the population having
declined now seems fairly stable (see Distribution Map).
The larva is more at home on Wych Elm, but will accept other elms. At first they have been
noted to feed on the flower buds and flowers, later on the leaves. By observing eaten leaves
overhead at the end of May they can be noticed, especially if searched for with binoculars. In
this way the species can more easily be noted than as an adult butterfly, which is on the wing
in July and August.
Among the moths, Blomer's Rivulet (Discoloxia blomeri Curtis) is a western species which
feeds on Wych Elm. It has only once been recorded from Essex, at Wanstead in the last century.
The clouded Magpie moth (Abraxas sylvata Linn.) is another species commoner in the west,
which has a strong preference for Wych Elm. It will also feed on other elms. In Essex it is very
local and uncommon.
The Dusky-lemon Sallow (Xanthia gilvago [D. & S.]) is a species whose larva feeds on the
fruits of elm. Presumably affected by the reduction of its food supply this species has declined
in numbers and is now uncommon in Essex. It is said to have begun to decline even before the
worst ravages of Dutch Elm Disease; however the reliance of recent entomologists on light traps
may be part of the reason for this impression, for the species is one more readily obtained as a
caterpillar.
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