02
Review of the Lepidoptera of Essex for 1999
First butterfly of the year! Other butterflies were reported in southern Britain around this
date.l09DBR
1613 Melitaea athalia (Rottemburg) Heath Fritillary Hockley Wood, Hockley. Substantial second
brood, numbering several hundreds, between 28 August and 5 September. Their ability to
survive the winter must remain questionable. (G.Bailey). 3DBR
1615 Lasiommata megera (L.) Wall Brown Canvey Island, 35 on 19 May (G. Bailey). Just one of
only four records received so far, but one that should help allay the usual fears that crop up
when this species has its periodic declines. 94DBR
1620 Melanargia galathea serena (L.) Marbled White Colchester, Friday Wood 5 August (R.
Cornhill per J. Firmin). Notable for its northerly location, and species number 808 for this site.
38DBR
1621 Hipparchia semele semele (L.) Grayling Grays Chalk Quarry NR, two adults on 4 and 14
August (I. Cotgrove), progeny of stock transferred from Millhouse Pit? 8DBR
1629 Aphantopus hyperantus (L.) Ringlet Coggeshall, Markshall Wood c.lOOO on 4 July (N.
Cuming). Astonishing numbers. 34DBR
Lasiocampidae
1639 Dendrolimus pini (L.) Pine-tree Lappet A larva given to D.G. Down on 10 June by a Benfleet
resident, who had noticed a large caterpillar eating the foliage of her new pine tree. This had
been bought locally and DGD was able to establish the tree's origin as Italy, where D. pini is
resident. The moth emerged on 20 July. New to Essex, though certainly introduced.
1642 Gastropacha quercifolia (L.) Lappet Langdon Hills, One Tree Hill CP TQ6986, 16 July (P.
Harris). Still very scarce, only six post-1990 records from six sites of singletons. 11DBR
Geometridae
1681 Cyclophora linearia (Hiibner) Clay Triple-lines Theydon Bois, Woodland Way, 7 June (J.G.
Green). Also reported from Chadwell Heath, 13 July (S.L. South). 3DBR
1688 Scopula rubiginata (Hufnagel) Tawny Wave Dovercourt, Oakley Road, 31 July (P. Smith);
Copperas Wood, 2 August (J. Firmin et al). Second from this site, the first was in 1997. 6DBR
1716 Rhodometra sacraria (L.) Vestal Frinton-on-Sea, 26 August (B. Lock); Hamford Water, 28
August (J. Clifton); Takeley, Bambers Green, 29 August (G Sell); St Osyth, 29 August (two),
30 and 31 August (R.W. Arthur); Theydon Bois, 3, 5 and 8 September (J.G Green). At Curry
Farm, Bradwell-on-Sea eleven were reported between 19 July and 23 September (Dewick, S.J.
2000). Not comparable to 1998, but still a productive year. 22DBR
1720 Orthonama obstipata Fabr. Gem Bradwell-on-Sea, 20 April and 21 September (Dewick 2000);
St Osyth, 21 September (R.W Arthur). 16DBR
1722 Xanthorhoe designata (Hufnagel) Flame Carpet North Chingford, 12 May and two on 3
June - the 19th from here since 1992 (B. Pateman); Mistley, 20 May (l.C. Rose); Theydon
Bois, seven between 7 June and 6 September (J.G. Green); Takeley, Bambers Green, 3 August
(G. Sell). 12DBR
1739 Epirrhoe rivata (Htibner) Wood Carpet Little Baddow, The Ridge 17 July (G.A. Pyman).
The last significant record Geoff made, 60 years after his first in Essex. 11DBR
1760 Chloroclysta siterata (Hufnagel) Red-green Carpet Wrest Bergholt, 5 April (J. and L. Firmin);
North Chingford, 1 and 2 May (B. Pateman); South Woodham Ferrers, 7 August (M.C. Perry);
St Osyth, 18 September (R.W. Arthur); Coggeshall, 7 October (J. Firmin et al); Mistley, 29
October (l.C. Rose); Chelmsford, 31 October (G Wilkinson); Theydon Bois, seven between
26 September and 18 October, a total of 12 since 1997 (J.G Green). The spread continues.
16DBR.
1793 Euphyia biangulata (Haworth) Cloaked Carpet Copperas Wood/Stour Wood area, 16 and
Essex Naturalist (New Series) 17 (2000)