50
1952 Common Heath Ematurga atomaria L. Margaretting, Dawes Farm reservoir. Was present
from 1994 to 1996 but now appears to have died out since the site management was changed
(per G. Smith). 3 DBR
1960 Early Moth Theria primaria Haw. Kirby Cross, four females in a mv trap on 15 February
(R. Marsh). These are flightless so must have walked to the trap! 29 DBR
Sphingidae
1972 Convolvulus Hawk-moth Agrius convolvuli L. Bradwell-on-Sea. twelve between 2
September and 1 October (Dewick. S.J., 1999); Little Baddow, at rest in a garden, 6 September
(J. Stockton per G.A. Pyman); Kirby-le-Soken, 18 September (A. Bergdahl); Dovercourt, 1
October (C. Gibson); Jaywick, 2 October (J. Young); Great Bentley, 4 October (B. Kempster
per J. Firmin). 37 DBR
1973 Death's-head Hawk-moth Acherontia atropos L. Fingringhoe, two larvae, 10 June (Mr
Bower); Wethersfield. July (Mrs Johnson); Dovercourt, 8 July (C. Gibson). 14 DBR
1976 Privet Hawk-moth Sphinx ligustri L. Reported from 15 sites. A large influx occurred at
Jaywick on 20 - 22 June (J. Young). In Earls Colne, 18 were recorded on 22 June (D. Warner).
Dovercourt monthly counts were June - 29, July - 56 and August -1, giving a total of 86 (C.
Gibson). 62 DBR
1978 Pine Hawk-moth Hyloicus pinastri L. Theydon Bois, 26 June, 3 July and 31 July (J.G.
Green); Dovercourt, 19 July (C. Gibson); Mistley, 18 August (I. Rose). 11 DBR
1984 Humming-bird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum L. Langenhoe, six from 21 June
to 2 July (H. Owen); Bradwell-on-Sea, 26 adults and five larvae between 23 June and 5
September (Dewick, S.J., 1999); West Bergholt, 26 and 30 June (J. Firmin); Dovercourt, 4 July
(C. Gibson); Jaywick, 6 August (J. Young); Tiptree, 12 September (J. Howchin per G.A.
Pyman); Frinton-on-Sea, 22 September (P. Robinson). 54 DBR
1992 Small Elephant Hawk-moth Deilephila porcellus L. Jaywick, 15 June (J. Wilde), 15 and
22 June, and two on 5 July (J. Young); Chelmsford. 16 June (C.C. Penney). 10 DBR
Notodontidae
1999 Lobster Moth Stauropus fagi L. North Chingford, a total of eight in the year (B.
Pateman); Colchester. Friday Wood, 1 June (J. Young). 6 DBR
2002 Three-humped Prominent Notodonta tritophus D. & S. Jaywick, 23 June (J. Young).
Eighth British specimen this century and the first for Essex for 156 years. First added to the
British list in July 1842 when a specimen was taken at nearby St Osyth by J.W. Douglas. 1 DBR
Noctuidae
2087 Turnip Moth Agrotis segetum D. &. S. Jaywick, 1 July (J. Young det. B. Skinner). An
example of aberrant semiconjluens Cockayne, believed to be the first British example. 65 DBR
2105 Dotted Rustic Rhyacia simulans Hufn. Thundersley, 30 September (D.C. Down). First
from here for six years but there is little evidence of a widespread return to former numbers. 28
DBR
2127 Triple-spotted Clay Xestia ditrapezium D. & S. Dovercourt, 28 June (C. Gibson). Third
example from here; the only other post-1985 record was from Colchester in 1988. 2 DBR
2152 White Colon Sideridis albicolon Hb. Jaywick, six recorded from 26 May (J. Young);
Little Oakley, 2 June (G. Slater); Dovercourt monthly totals: May-3, June-5, July-5, and August-
3 (C. Gibson). 9 DBR
2184 Northern Drab Orthosia opima Hb. Skipper's Island, 26 April (R. Marsh); Jaywick, 21
May (J. Young). This is the 'saltern form' figured in Skinner (1998) on plate 43. 10 DBR
2195 Delicate Mythimna vitellina Hb. Dovercourt, 27 September (C. Gibson); Bradwell-on-Sea,
2 October (Dewick, S.J. 1999). 11 DBR
Essex Naturalist (New Series) 16 (1999)