SUFFOLK LEPIDOPTERA IN 1972 H . E . CHIPPERFIELD
a mild winter many of the spring insects were early on the wing. The first Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni Linn.) and Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae Linn.) were noted at Härtest on 16th March. A Large Garden White (Pieris brassicae Linn.) was seen at Metfield on 20th March and quite a number of Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae Linn.) just over the Norfolk border at Brockdish on the same day. Most of the Quaker Moths were seen before the end of March with the Pine Beauty (Panolis flammea Schiff.) in Dunwich Forest on 24th of the month. The Orange Underwing Moth (Archiearis parthenias Linn.) was Aying in numbers in Dunwich Forest and in Blythburgh Fen Wood on 22nd and for some weeks afterwards. AFTER
Mr. and Mrs. E. C. Green reported seeing a Large Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis polychloros Linn.) at Playford on 13th April. Although this butterfly is seen in various parts of the country from time to time, it is no longer the common species it was some twenty years ago in many of our Suffolk woods. The Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus Linn.) which made a dramatic recovery two years ago was present in reasonable numbers in late spring and again in the autumn, but it was not nearly as common as in 1970 and 1971 and may be entering another period of decline, which it does periodically. DĂźring a Bird Section meeting at Minsmere on 21 st May, stems of water plantain in the nearby meadows were found to contain larvae and pupae of the Tortrix Moth (Phalonidia alismana Rag.) which subsequently produced imagines. This was considered a rarity by Claude Morley. The day-flying moth Geoffroy's Tubic (Oecophora geojfrella Linn.) was quite common in a lane in Walberswick in mid-June. Until the middle of July, in spite of quite warm days the nights were cool and clear and insects did not appear in any numbers until the nights warmed up. This warmer weather coincided with a visit to Suffolk of a party of entomologists and ornithologists belonging to the West Wickham Field Club. It must also have coincided with an immigration of Bedstraw Hawk Moths (Celerio galii Rott.) for two of these fine insects were attracted to the mercury vapour lights of Messrs. E. H. Wild and P. Renshaw and I hear that two more were taken in Lincolnshire and one in Hampshire on the same night and two seen in Herefordshire around the same period. Another migrant, the Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui Linn.) was seen in Walberswick on 15th July and for several days afterwards.