Review of the Lepidoptera of Essex for 1999
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on-Sea one hundred were reported between 27 May and 27 September (Dewick 2000). 16DBR
2196 M. pudorina (Denis & Schiffermuller) Striped Wainscot Dovercourt, Oakley Road 22 June
(C. Gibson). Third post-1990 record. 5DBR
2202 M. l-album (L.) L-album Wainscot St Osyth, 7 September, specimen photographed by P.
Smith (R.W. Arthur); Bradwell-on-Sea 14, 18, 22 and 24 September (Dewick, S.J. 2000);
Bradwell St Peters, 19 September (G. Smith); Dovercourt, 26 September (D.M. Anthoney per
P. Smith). The only other post-1990 record is Bradwell-on-Sea in 1998. 5DBR
2230 Aporophyla australis pascuea (Humphreys and Westwood) Feathered Brindle Bradwell St
Peters,19 September (G. Smith); Dovercourt, Oakley Road 20. 21, 22 and 26 September (C.
Gibson); Dovercourt, Oakley Road, 29 September (P. Smith); Dovercourt, 30 September (D.M.
Anthoney per P. Smith). Has occurred 13 times in the Dovercourt area since 1997. 5DBR
2241 Xylena vetusta (Hubncr) Red Sword-grass Skippers island, 7 October (R Marsh). Other
post-1990 records are St Osyth 1990, Bradwell-on-Sea 1993, and Copperas Wood 1997.4DBR
2275 Xanthia gilvago (Denis & Schiffermuller) Dusky-lemon Sallow Mashbury, 25 September
(M. Tarrant); Frinton-on-Sea, 29 September (B. Lock); Copperas Wood, 1 October (P. Smith),
second from this site, the first was on 3 October 1997; Dovercourt, Oakley Road 9 September
(C. Gibson); St Osyth, undated (R.W. Arthur) A noticeable increase in records since 1997.
18DBR
2300 Mormo maura (L.) Old Lady Common this year generally. Highest light trap totals were 21
at North Chingford (B Pateman), and 54 at Dovercourt (C. Gibson). Seems more prevalent at
mercury vapour light nowadays, for no obvious reason. 44DBR
23 54 Luperina nickerlii demuthi Goater and Skinner Sandhill Rustic Peak in numbers at Dovercourt
occurred on 1 and 3 August, whereas at Jaywick it was between 4 and 8 August (J. Young).
This is slightly earlier than most people would consider searching for adults but is constant at
Jaywick and probably elsewhere. A meeting at Dovercourt Dunes on 28 August yielded a
number of adults which were mostly worn. The puipose of this visit was to improve identification
techniques. 10DBR
2357 Amphipoea lucens (Freyer) Large Ear Mistley, 31 August 1997 (l.C Rose), but not dissected
and identified by B. Goodey until 1999. Second for Essex, raising the question of whether the
species is resident here. Recorders are urged to supply specimens of any Amphipoea away
from known colonies.
2365 Gortyna borelii lunata Freyer Fisher's Estuarine Moth Dovercourt, Oakley Road 25
September and 1 October, though it may have been same specimen (P. Smith). These can be
added to the one taken in September 1996 from the same site. An estimate by Essex Lepidoptera
Panel, working with data supplied from several sources, notably T. Tarpey, put the population
on Skipper's Island at c.500 adults. 33 entries from 7 sites.
2400 Helicoverpa armigera (Hiibner) Scarce Bordered Straw Bradwell-on-Sea, 5, 7 and 19
September, also 9 and 11 (Dewick, SJ. 2000); Dovercourt, 24, 25 (two) and 26 September (C.
Gibson); Langenhoe, 31 October (H. Owen). 9DBR
2413 Deltote bankiana (Fabr.) Silver Barred Curry Farm, Bradwell-on-Sea, 2 June and 2 July
(Dewick 2000). 8DBR
2428 Chrysodeixis chalcites Esper Golden Twin-spot Curry Farm, Bradwell-on-Sea, 1 September
(Dewick, S.J. 2000); Dovercourt, Oakley Road 15 September (C. Gibson). Tenth and eleventh
occurrences since 1990. 7DBR
2436 Macdunnoughia confusa (Steph.) Dewick's Plusia Curry Farm, Bradwell-on-Sea, 1 September
(Dewick 2000). Fifth Essex record. 2DBR
2465 Tyta luctuosa (Denis & Schiffermuller) Four-spotted Abberton Reservoir N.R., 24 July (S.D.
Wood). Sixth record since 1997. 6DBR
2475 Parascotia fuliginaria (L.) Waved Black Theydon Bois, 28 June (two) and 17 July (T and
Essex Naturalist (New Series) 17 (2000)