Review of the Lepidoptera of Essex for the year 2001
1987 Bedstraw Hawk-moth Hyles gallii Mashbury, 27 July (MT); Langley Upper Green, 29 July
(EP).
1992 Small Elephant Hawk-moth Deilephila porcellus Clacton, Gorse Lane, 27 June (PJS);
Beaumont-cum-Moze, 9 July (JBF).
Notodontidae
1999 Lobster Moth Stauropus fagi From nine sites this year: Theydon Bois, Woodland Way;
Epping Forest, Oak Hill Farm; Great Leighs, Mann Wood; Pods Wood, Tiptree; Layer-de-la-Haye;
Colchester, Oliver's Orchard; Shut Heath Wood; Maldon, Memory Close and Great Braxted.
2010 Scarce Prominent Odontosia carmelita Epping Forest, Oak Hill Farm, 6 May (TG). Third
post-1990 record, others being Bradwell in 1994 and Thundersley in 1996.
Arctiidae
2039 Red-necked Footman Atolmis rubricollis St Osyth, Daltes Lane, two, 26 June (RA); Lawford,
27 June, (IR); Beaumont-cum-Moze, 3 July (JBF). Two were also seen at Ipswich. Suffolk on 26
June (per AP). When you think of the number of traps operating (and their limited pulling power),
these few must have represented much larger numbers, possibly running into the thousands. At this
time, in late June, we had a number of Silver Barred which presumably came from the same point
of origin.
2043 Orange Footman Eilema sororcula Reported from eleven sites this year. A few years ago
this was considered a scarce insect, but since 2000 TG has recorded eighty-two at Oak Hill Farm
near Epping Forest! Recently reported from 19 sites.
2045 Hoary Footman Eilema caniola Wix, 28 July (CB, JR). New to Essex.
2058 Cream-spot Tiger Arctia villica West Bergholt, well inland, 18 June (PJS). From five other
sites this year.
2062 Water Ermine Spilosoma urticae Had a very good year, appearing at Pods Wood, Tiptree;
Layer-de-la-Haye; Little Oakley, Rectory Road; Felsted; and an Abberton, garden. At Maldon in
his garden trap, SW recorded eighteen between 20 and 29 June, and twelve more were attracted to
CG's Dovercourt lamp.
Nolidae
2076 Kent BlackArches Meganola albula St Osyth, 30 June (RA); Langdon Hills CP, 13 July
(PH); Rayleigh, Cedar Close, 22 July (AM); Walton-on-Naze, 25 July (PS).
Noctuidae
2081 White-line Dart Euxoa tritici Felsted, 13 July (GG); St Osyth, Daltes Lane, 31 July, 1 and 5
August (RA).
2085 Archer's Dart Agrotis vestigialis St Osyth, 23 August (RA).
2093 Sand Dart Agrotis ripae Frinton-on-Sea, 4 July (BL); Dovercourt, two in July (CG).
2108 Lunar Yellow Underwing Noctua orbona Beaumont-cum-Moze, 14August (JBF).
2119 Pearly Underwing Peridroma saucia Stanway Green, 12 September (AT); Brightlingsea,
27 September (DS); Lawford, 11 October (I R); Little Oakley, 11 October (GS); Felsted, 13 October
(GG); Dovercourt, October (CG); St Osyth, 25, 27 and 30 October (RA).
2127 Triple-spotted Clay Xestia ditrapezium Dovercourt, 20 July (CG). This is the only post-
1990 Essex site.
2137 Great Brocade Eurois occulta Theydon Bois, 6 August (JG).
2184 Northern Drab Orthosia opima'Jaywick, 12 and 13 May (JY); Dovercourt, 12 and 13 May
(CG); Wivenhoe, 19 May (PE); St Osyth, Daltes Lane, six from 23 April to 7 May (RA); Skipper's
Island (RM).
2187 Common Quaker Orthosia cerasi Theydon Bois, 24 October (JG, TG) and 2190 Hebrew
X4
Essex Naturalist (New Series) 19 (2002)