Review of the Wildlife of Epping Forest in 2000
Year Caught in Forest other catches* TOTALS
1995 4 37 41
1996 18 12 30
1997 2 6 8
1998 3 8 11
1999 5 12 17
______2000______________1_______________4(2)_____________5(2)______
* Note: the totals in this column have been revised since 1999 (based on MAFF figures)
The male moth trapped in the Forest was caught after 14th August, a date by which most captures are
normally made. So, as well as lower numbers, the moths were emerging later than normal, suggesting
their breeding may well have been affected by climatic conditions.
The moth continues to survive at a low population level. Despite the captures of males south of the
North Circular Road (A406) in 1997 and 1998 the moth's breeding attempts do seem to be confined,
thus far, to the south-cast corner of Walthamstow Forest and to a few gardens in Peel and Carnarvon
Roads. It is to be hoped that this is the case.
One of the biodiversity action plan species, the Heart Moth Dicycla oo, was the subject of a special
trapping effort in late June. A Heath trap was raised into the canopy by a specially positioned pulley
at Barn Hoppitt, Chingford amongst the ancient oaks there. It was left up for 3 nights but only 3
moth species were caught, all common, and so it seems that a more powerful lamp may be required
for another try in 2001.
Elsewhere, Geoff Martin of the Natural History Museum trapped over a number of nights in locations
deep within the Forest. This is the first such trapping for many years and obviously surprised some
people! Despite being informed beforehand, the local police scrambled a search helicopter in response
to a horserider s reports of strange activities in Bury Wood. Poor Geoff was subjected to searchlights
and sirens whilst he sat awaiting his catch. Sadly, there were no apparent positive effects of the
searchlight on that night's catch!
The highlight of Geoff's early summer's work was the capture of Rosy Marbled Elaphria venustula
moths on two nights at The Furze Ground. Jean Green first caught this species in 1998 at her Theydon
Bois garden trap (Goodey 1998). It was hoped this indicated a good population further into the
heathy habitats of the Forest and these captures in 2000 suggest that this is the case.
A nice find at the same site was of a larva of the Emperor Moth Pavonia pavonia on bramble
leaves. This species has not been recorded for around twenty years in the Forest and for even longer
in the northern heaths. Also in the traps were Variegated Golden Tortrix Archips xylosteana - not
recorded in the Forest since 1983 and Large Fruit-tree Tortrix Archips podana, a common species
but a new record for the Forest. Finally, Geoff trapped Pine Hawk Moth Hyloicus pinastri at
Hangboy Slade/Furze Ground, a species seemingly on the increase in the area as Jean Green has
caught 5 at Theydon Bois recently. In the county as a whole it has increased from only 6 records pre-
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Essex Naturalist (New Series) 18 (2001)