Species lecording at Abbotts Hall Farm, Great Wigborough
Orthoptera (10 species)
The ten species recorded include both Essex Groundhoppers (Tetrix subulata and T. undulata),
Oak Bush Cricket Meconema thalassinum (attracted to an outside light) and Short-winged Conehead
Conocephalus dorsalis, but as yet no Great Green Bush Cricket Tettigonia viridissima. The seawalls
have a typical abundance of Lesser Marsh Grasshopper Chorthippus albomarginatus and Roesel's
Bush Cricket Metrioptera roeselii.
Bugs (45 species, including water boatmen and gall causers)
Much of the information on this group comes from survey work by Peter and Pam Wilson and also
the "BUZZ" field ecologists who have been monitoring some aspects of the farm's ecology. The
farmhouse pond has yielded a good number of aqualic bugs, including Plea leachi (a small water
boatman-like bug, although it resides in a family all of its own), Cymatia coleoptrata (a water
boatman), as well as several other water boatmen in the genera Corixa, Hesperocorixa, Callicorixa
and Sigara.
Other records cut across the broad spectrum of "bug-life", from Adelges abietis forming
"pseudocone" galls on Norway Spruce (Picea abies) to the Hawthorn Shieldbug Acanthosoma
haemorrhoidale via the aphid Hayhurstia atriplicis, causing roll galls on Spear-leaved Orache.
There is doubtless much still to be learnt about the bug fauna of the farm and any specialists would
be welcome to help add to the know ledge of this group (see below for access arrangements).
Butterflies (23 species)
A good total for an arable farm! The more surprising species include Green Hairstreak Callophrys
rubi (only seen on one occasion, but where did it corne from?) and Ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus.
Small numbers of Wall Brown Lasiommata megera have been seen and Clouded Yellows Colias
croceus were seen in 2002 and 2003. The large number of Buddlejas around the garden has ensured
that passing butterflies have lingered long enough to be recorded. Clover crops, grown as part of
an organic conversion programme, have attracted large numbers of whites and a few Clouded
Yellows in 2003, while some of the flower-rich areas of the newly sown field margins have likewise
been well used.
Moths (258 species)
George Catchpole lias run a trap periodically in various parts of the farm since the autumn of 2001.
resulting in an ever-growing list. Probably his most significant catch was the Silver Hook Eustrotia
uncula, recorded in 2001 and 2002. These constitute the first Essex records of the species, associated
with grasses and sedges in wetland areas, since 1958.
Other specimens have been retrieved from around the security lights around the office buildings,
including a number of micros, which have been kindly identified by Brian Goodey via e-mailed
digital photographs. The highlight from this source was a Ground Lackey Malacosoma castrensis.
the locally widespread RDB3 species that feeds on Sea Lavender Limonium vulgare and other
Saltmarsh plants. Although the presence on the farm of this species was not unexpected, it was
interesting that this individual was attracted so far from the Saltmarsh. A farm specialist also attracted
to the outside lights was Large Tabby Aglossa pinguinalis, a pyralid that feeds on stored hay.
Another important species was first recorded in larval form when a caterpillar of the Goal Moth
Cossus cossus was seen by Trust Director John Hall crossing the main access track, the first breeding
Essex Naturalist (New Series) 20 (2003)
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