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The Essex Naturalist
1 have 15 records so far for the Camberwell Beauty Nymphalis antiopa. Most
occurred during August, just three being noted in September and October.
Even more surprising were no less than three reports of Queen of Spain
Fritillary Argynnis lathonia - at Bradwell on 23rd July (G Smith), Thorrington
on 9th August (R Catford) and Landermere on 22nd August, the latter
recorded on video by R Wood. This butterfly was last recorded in Essex in
1918.
The advance of the Speckled Wood Parage aegeria continues and there are
now few 10km squares left without records. Most of these are in the central
northern area.
A Grayling Hipparchia semele was seen at Great Oakley by J P Bowdrey on
10th August, adding to the mystery of why scattered records appear from time to
time. It is not a species that tends to wander over great distances and colonies
can remain undetected, as was shown by the West Thurrock affair, so the true
picture in Essex is not clear cut.
Finally, a Milkweed Danaus plexippus was seen by J Young et al. on 23rd
August at Jaywick. A nearby butterfly house breeds this species, and I have
heard of releases from further afield so, despite the date (which ties in nicely
with migrant activity) this specimen may not be a migrant.
Larger moths
Most interest came from coastal localities. At Jaywick, Jon Young recorded an
Oblique Carpet Orthonama vittata on 11th August, an Ash Pug Eupithecia
fraxinata on 26th July and a Golden-rod Pug E. virgaureata on 17th June, the
county's first record for thirty years. Jon has noted over the past few years a
continuing build-up in numbers of the Featheted Ranunculus Eumichtis lichenea,
which at times has been the commonest autumn moth in his trap. The giant
light trap at Bradwell-on-Sea run by Bob and Stephen Dewick provided some
interesting migrant records, such as a Bedstraw Hawk-moth Hyles gallii on 5th
September and the county's first two Oak Processionary moths Thaumetopoea
processionea on 4th August. Two wanderers, possibly from other parts of Britain,
were a Grey Carpet Lithostege griseata on 16th June (also new to Essex) and a
Satin Lutestring Tetheella fluctuosa on 14th July.
Three species appear to be on the increase, both in numbers and range. The
first is the Black Rustic Aporophyla nigra. Common at Bradwell, where 112 were
recorded during the year, it appears to be moving steadily northwards and is now
recorded regularly at St Osyth. The diminutive Least Carpet Idaea vulpinaria has
also appeared with increasing frequency on the east and north-east coast and is
moving gradually inland. Finally, the beautiful Maiden's Blush Cyclophora
punctaria, once thought to be in decline, has recovered well. Now common in
Epping Forest, it has also recolonised some northern woodlands, such as Friday
Wood.