Review of the Lepidoptera of Essex for 1999
91
1245 Cydia janthinana (Duponchel) Dovercourt, Oakley Road 16 July (C. Gibson); Great Horkesley,
17 July (B. Harley and A.M. Emmet). 6DBR
Pyralidae
1370 Sitochroa palealis (Denis & Schiffermuller) Dovercourt Dunes, 4 July (C. Gibson and B.
Goodey); Mistley, 17 July (l.C. Rose); Langdon Hills CP, 16 July (P. Hams); Kirby-le-Soken,
17 July (P. Bergdahl); Walton on Naze, ten from 31 July to 1 August (P. Smith); Dovercourt,
Oakley Road, two on 17 July, and a further pair on 20 July (C. Gibson). A large and showy
species particularly common this year. Apart from 1998,1 have continuous records from 1992
to 1999. 21DBR "
1400 Antigastra catalaunalis (Duponchel) Bradwell-on-Sea, Curry Farm, 21 September (A.J.
Dewick). A distinctive species, which is a very rare migrant to these shores. New to Essex
1403 Diasemiopsis ramburialis (Duponchel) Bradwell-on-Sea, Curry Farm, 20 September (Dewick
2000). ?Fourth Essex record. 1DBR
1433 Cryptoblabes bistriga (Haworth) Kirby-le-Soken, June (P. Bergdahl); Dovercourt, Oakley
Road 1 and 5 July (C. Gibson). Perhaps surprising localities for this woodland insect. 6DBR
1449 Elegia similella (Zincken) Theydon Bois TQ4599, two on 26 June (J.G. Green and B. Goodey).
Third Essex record. Requires mature oaks, so its presence here, in the shadow of Epping Forest,
is not too surprising. Another locality is Hatfield Forest, where D.J.L. Agassiz had found it in
1992. 3DBR
1451 Pyla fusca (Haworth) Dovercourt, Oakley Road 22 August (C. Gibson). Second from this site.
Associated with heathers, it may be able to exist on garden plants. 6DBR
1474 Ephestia parasitella unicolorella (Staudinger) Dovercourt, Oakley Road 26 May (dissected),
another two in June and one on 16 July (C. Gibson and B. Goodey). 5DBR
1479 Plodia interpunctella (Hubncr) Mistley, 12 March (I.C. Rose); Danbury, Eve's Corner 1998
and July 1999, adults and larvae in shop supplying bird food (S.D. Wood). 6th and 7th county
record since 1976. A pest species, living on stored grain and other vegetable matter. 7DBR
Pterophoridae
1496 Cnaemidophus rhododactyla (Denis & Schiffermuller) Colchester, Ipswich Road 7 July (B.
Goodey). A Red Data Book species which appears to favour Essex. However, the only recent
breeding record was in the Thundersley area in 1996 - all other records refer to single adults at
light traps. 8DBR
Pieridae
1543 Colias hyale (L.) Pale Clouded Yellow North Weald Bassett, 8 June (per J. Young). 1DBR
Nymphalidae
1584 Limenitis camilla (L.) White Admiral Brentwood, Thorndon CP, 5 August (J. Patterson and
M. Mitchell). Hopefully the start of another colony, since this would appear to be a suitable
area. The butterfly is still regarded as expanding its range in Britain and this is the 7th post-
1990 site. 15DBR
1590 Vanessa atalanta (L.) Red Admiral Ardleigh, flying among bushes, 8 January 2000 (B.
Goodey). Not the first butterfly to be seen in 2000, but certainly a surprise! 99DBR
1594 Aglais polychloros (L.) Large Tortoiseshell Brightlingsea, Ford Farm, 28 August (D. Scott).
The eighth Essex report since 1990 that I am aware of, though only the third confirmed record.
The specimen was photographed and appeared in several publications. 5DBR
1597 Inachis io (L.) Peacock Colchester, Ipswich Road 10 December, flying in sunshine (M.A.
Goodey). Last butterfly of the year. Layer Breton Heath, 1 January 2000, flying over trees.
Essex Naturalist (New Series) 17 (2000)