September 1992

KIRBY MUXTOE . tEP HOT-SPOT rgg2l

It was a close shave for a convolvulus hawk moth (Agrius convoJvuLi L) (Sunday 13th September 1992 SK513040) when its resting place in long damp grass was mown over. Tony Russell of Kirby Muxloe noticed the moth and promptly went to the rescue. After the moth had dried out it was seen to be a beautiful mgle, apparently none the worse for j.ts escapade. Thanks to Tony for bringing the moth round for inspection so it could be recorded in the Museurnarchives.

[The records for this species held which turned up in May; and a small by the Museum are of three in the elephant hawk ( DeilephiLa porcelTus 1960s, five in the 1970s and six in L) which was caught in the actinic the 1980s. This Kirby Muxloe trap in July. Though far from record in the second known for the being in pristine condition, this 1990s - Editorl long-awaited species was stilI beautiful to me. Other rarities fncreasing species A white admiral butterfly (Ladoga canill-a L) was sunning itself on fncreasing locally are the treble bare ground at Kirby Muxloe bar (Aplocera pJagiata L) appearing (SK521037) during June and there as spring and autumn generaLions were five sightings of the scarce and the nullein moth (CuculLia tissue moth (R&eunaptera cervinaLis verbasci L) which has turned up Scop) in May and early June. This regrularly at mvl ever since the latter species was presumably a food plant was established in the result of the many larvae which garden. The yellow-barred brindle were observed feeding on Oregon (Acasis v:retata Hb) has also been grape (Mahonia aquifoJiun) in 1991- more connon this year. Numbers of golden plusia (PoTychrysia moneta Species new to the garden Fabr) were well upr rather at the expense of the delphiniums on which These included: the seraphin the larvae feed. The patch of (Lobophora halterata Hufn) which prize blooms of yester-year is not was caught at mvl and actinic on looking too healthy under the four occasionsl the oak nycteoline onslaught ! (Nycteol-a revayara Scop); the grass cont p2 rivulet (Perizona afbulata D&S) Kirby Muxtoe contd More on the lunar Buff tips (PhaLera bucephaLa L) hornet moth have increased by 202 this year in the garden traps. A local resident bembecitormis Hb) called in help when she noticed her cherry tree being decimated by the Iarvae of this moth. The Ecology Following on from the item Museum moved in about Unit at the and this species in the LES Newsletter took away a jam jar full! These Number 8 ("Notables of the 90s") well-fed larvae guickly adapted to Mark (ex (beech) Sterling Derbyshire their change of diet and Entomological Society) recorded the pupated within a few days of the larval workings in goat sallow move. (Salix caprea) at Herbert's Meadow, Ulverscroft Nature Reserve on The noth (lVola short-cloaked 23.iii.85. The record is on file cueul"Latella L) and the least black in the Museum but has not (lVoJa H-S) been arches confusafis are transferred to the Lepidopteran having good year also a on the Recording Scheme cards an'd wa! thus local 1evel. overlooked.

On the decJine Anona Finch Apparently on the decline, at least 1ocally, are species which have previously turned up regularly at mvl or actinic light. These Newstetter available include the rivulet (Perizona affinitatun Steph), the small (Perizona rivulet alchenil-lata L), As part of the ongorng cooperation fan-foot (Herninia the with other groups working on tarsipennaJis Treit), the rosy invertebrates, (Hydraecia the Society has rustic nicacea Esp), the established contact with (Mythinna ferrago one of the clay Fabr), the oldest of the entomological snall square spot (Diarsia rubi (Anticl-ea societies in the country. The View) and the streamer Lancashire and Cheshire D&S) failed put derivata which to Entomological Society holds many of in an appearance. j.ts meetings at the Liverpool Museumand it is hoped that one of Generally speaking, after a their members, Steve Judd, will promising year, moth- be start to the visiting the LES in the not it into fairly too wise, deteriorated a distant future. The Newsletter of mediocre season. the LCES is available from Derek Lott at the Museum. Jane McPhaif If you have any Newsletters (Editor: you with an do have any news of entomological interest which you no your 1992 - let know) season us longer require please let us have them. Such literature is essential when conparing the fauna of one part Oak Eggar confirmed of the country with another. at Sharrrford Lepidopteran I am grateful to Dennis and Betty Byrne of the Hinckley and District wanted! Natural History Society for drawing Bublications my to nvl attention the capture at References to lepidoptera in two specimens of of the oak eggar Leicestershire and Rutland are moth (Lasiocanpa quercus L) at urgently needed with the aim of Sharnford on 27.vi.92. publ ishing a def initive just bibliography for the county. Please The site is located a couple send to Ray Morris. of fields away from the 1990 report at I'osse Meadows ( see LES Newsletter Number 5).

L Death amongst the buddleias

The attraction of buddleias as a source of nectar for butterflies is so well known that they are widely called "butterfly bushes". I have heard stories of the concentration of butterf lies at buddle:.as attracting the predatory attention of birds. Mr patrick O'Shea recently rang the Museum to report a tale of mass slaughter in a sirnilar vein but with a differenc culprit.

Whilst visiting his sister's cottage garden in the grounds of Noseley Hall estate, his attention \.ras drawn to a carpet of white butterfly wings under the Buddleja bush. He observed that this was due to the activities of hornets which were seizing the butterflies, biting off their wings and then carrying the bodies back to their nest.

It seems obvious that such a concentrati.on of prey would attract the attentions of predators. One can only surmise that the scarcity of hornets in gardens is the reason for the rarity of reports of this kind_ of carnage at buddleias. My thanks 9p_to Mr O'Shea for taking the trouble to inform me of his interesting observations.

Derek Lott

July the tree is completely denuded of leaves. Below, vast guantities The Vapourer of frass crunch underfbot like tree biscuit crumbs while above the skeletal midribs flutter forlornly on the bare branches. In a busy street by Leicester market, a paving stone was removed Ful1y fed, the larvae pupate in and a rowan tree planted complete large silken cocoons attathed to with a colony of small gr€y, , red twigs, giving the tree a ga1l--this and_ yellow tufted caterpillars. infested appearance. Using year Each the life cycle- of the respite, the poor old tree once Vapourer moths has revolved around again draws on its resources and is this single tree, which has miraculously clothed in a leafy displayed a fascinating capacity- canopy within a few weeks. for regrowth and surviva-l . A sunny.day, usually in mid-Augrust, At the beginning of April the first will bring out the adult mothi antl flush of spring green bursts from it is a wonderful sight to see the the rowan buds and is irnmediately males, like shimmering smuts around set- . upon by the furry feeding a bonfire, dancing attendance on machines. Initially the tree's the wingless females. growth keeps ahead of the damage but as the larvae develop they contd p4 outpace the tree. By the end of 3 Yapourer tree contd

Eggs, laid on the many cocoons, over-winter and hatch the following spring to continue the "Vapourer Treett story.

As polyphages, it is interesting that the moths have not yet migrated to the other three trees in the vicinity. These naPles are quite near enough for a -larva or aautt female to "squirrel" across. Perhaps this will occur by necessity if the colony increases in size.

Jane McPhaiL

IDragonfly records wanted!

The map indicates the occurrence of Anax inperator, the emPeror dragonfly, iD the county between 1950 and 1992 - or does it??? Early records come from the Ashby and Grand Union Cana1s and also from the gravel pits at Wanlip and Dunton Bassett. Barwell Lane, Hinckley, proved a haven for the species when many were recorded in 1986. Unconfirmed records come from Owston Wood and Ulverscroft, while Groby turned up a single in 1991.

In June of this year, three males and two females were noted at Dunton Bassett. A little earlier in the same month a specimen crash landed in a Leicester garden and was discovered by the household cat. Whispers on the grapevine tell of many more sightings of the emperor dragonfly during 1992 particularly in Leicestershire gardens. But where are the records?

If you have any information about this species, or indeed any others of the Odonata, please send them post haste to the Biological Records Centre at Leicester Museum Next copy date: where the records are being coIlated. JANUARY 25TH 1993

+ Moths at Baldercdale

Members nay recall the fascinating television programme about the hard life lead by Hannah Hawkswell in the North Yorshire Moors. Hannah lived at an isolated farm at Baldersdale near to Barnard's Cast1e where she tended a few sheep and cattle, Ieading a hard, very frugal, but by all accounts, a very satisfying life. When she died her farm came into the control of the Nature Conservancy Council (as it was then) and was rapidly recognised as being of SSSf status because of the flora. The Dales flora of old had been retained by the lack of any modern farming practices, the grasslands being used as traditional hay meadows and for grazing.

In July of this year I was BarweII - despite apparently good fortunate enough to be able to mothing conditions, moth numbers spend two weeks in a farmhouse and variety seemed to be depressed. cottage (Blind Beck NYg38188)just two fields away from Hannah's farm. Nevertheless, the first night of I can understand why she found the trapping produced the first place to her satisfaction. surprise. At home, the gold spot Baldersdale is only a handful of (Pl-usia festucae L) is only an miles from Barnard's Castle but the occasional visitor to the garden. sense of isolation is acute. There At Blind Beck that first night gave is nothing more evocative than the thirty three of the species. This sound of curlews on the early level was not to be repeated during morning wind or so unnerving as the the rest of the stay although the carrying of voices across the sti.tl noth regularly came to light in dale in the evening. Perhaps less sixes or sevens. welcome were the 1ow flying jets each day although the pilots of Scarcity of micros these were probably the nearest people for miles! Throughout the trapping period, when weather varied from dry clear ESA nights to wet and windy ones, moths continued to be attracted to the The whole dale is now classed as an light. A total of 57 species were environrnentally sensitive area recorded but it was noticeable tht despite the presence of athe most micro moths were almost entirely boring piece of reservoir that I absent. The only ones to turn up have seen for some time! Hay were the Mother of Pearl making is delayed until the first (Pleuroptya ruraljs) and the week in July to ensure that the crambid Chrysoteuchia cufnel.La. meadows have a chance to seed down. The day I arrived the local meadows Amongst the macromoths there were had just been cut for their hay and virtually no surprises. True so the undoubted rich flora, apart lover's knot (Lycophotia porphyrea) from masses of nettle-leaved is always a beautifully marked moth bellflower, was missed. Perhaps to see but it was not until the that alone will justify a further, last night and the last moth out of but earlier visit, at some other the trap that the special turned time. up! Moth trapping The grey scalloped bar (Dyscia fagaria) cannot be mistaken for any Needless to say, no self-respecting other geometer and is described by lepidopterist would travel without Skinner as being locally widespread the old trusty mercury vapour light in the northern half of Wales, west trap! The trap was run in the Midlands, northern England and much garden of the cottage for most of Scotland - a disti.nctly northern nights of the stay at Baldersdale species although apparently it does and, despite the nuisance of a full occur in the New Forest. fn moon on some nights, the moth Leicestershire the species is trapping was fairly fruitful. marked on the county recording card Overall there seemed to be some but this seems to relate to report agreement between the trapping from Ulverscroft by a recorder experiences at Baldersdale and naned Broad. those experienced at home in contd p6 Batdersdate contd t_ The records of Broad are currently being scrutinised - he had a habil of picking up virtually alI the rarer moths at Ulverscroft! As a consequence the occurrence of the grey scal loped bar in Lei.cestershire must be considered suspect.

The fulI list of moths recorded rs on its way to the l-ocal county moth recorder. If you should ever record moths away from the county please do the sane! The names and Le$er itag be€tle - 6ate t+}!,or! addresses of all the county moth recorders in Britain are available either from the Society or from the fn my pond =:-;ae Leicester Museum. at ho:e _ :: ::e water beetle .4c:i:--_: _.'._3::.-: :.ave been f ound. ::ei j_y Ray Morris . a:e eas: recognised by !.::e:: s:-a;€ - :n6 -.:ery trrst segmentof :::e:.-.:::x:s f elongated . ::.e:: - :,:e ol propulsion makes ::e.-.::j::a--:cn Beetles! more certain. ::.e:,. :3:.. :-jtt by very rapid movene::-,s:: -_::e:: ::arry 1.g=. Alterna::-.'e_r. :: escape During the LES meeting at Charnwood danger-flexinj they wj-1: =:..'e :.::e - phil :alirtl Lodge in Augn-rstof this year, by ani =i= =1,;--ii.rl Thomas collected ;:-.; water be-etles from entire body. i :a-;e ;;:-_:-:es them the old reservoir, a nearby marshy cgnstructing p-:pa::::- :.-.::Jers area and some puddles. which look like _:---__e:;_::s nade Identifications were carried out by of mud. PhiI and also by Derek Lott oi Leicester Museum.

The species recorded were: HaLipl"us ruficolTis, Hydroporus palustTis, Agabus bipustulatus, Ilybius ater, Rhantus f rontaLis, Colynbete's fuscus, Dytiscus narginalii and AciTius nuLeatus.

All, lrt the Agabus bipustulatus, were found in the reservoir with lhe remaining species being found in the marshy area and puaates. All of_ -the, Dytiscus were newly emerged females - do the males come out later?

Lesser staq beetTe again!

A1so, following on fron the noces by Reg Price (LES Newsletter 4), r saw a male lesser stag-cI beetle ( Dorcus ^ para I 7 eI i pi pedes ) imbing the wa1l of rny home in Earl Shiltoi during Augrust 1992. We live abouc a mile from Barwell Lane where Reg first saw them. Larva olAelllur rulcatur tomm when full grown * FORTHCOMING ATTRACTIONS!

LES Occasional Publications Series

No.7 Provislonal Attas of the Leicesterslrire Microtepidoptera

Jane McPhaiI

This major review of the smarrer moths of Leicestershire will be the first comprehensive county-wide listing of lepidoptera since the Victoria County Histories were published over eighty years ago. Due end of November 1992.

No. B T'lre Lepldoptera of Bunnlr Hill v David tongden

Another in our series of specific site surveys, this time reporting on the lepidopterous fauna of a woodland on the Leicestershire/Uottingharnshire border. Due January 1993.

No.e Ttre Harvestmen of Leicesterchire

Jon Dawes

The first publication on this fascinating group of arthropods in Leicestershire. Due Januarv 1993.

No. 10 Ten lrears of mottr recording at Banvell Ray Morris

A detailed report on the lepidoptera taken at mercury vapour Iights at BarwelL over a decade. Due Easter 1993. v No. i1 A Bibliography of Pubtications on Lelcestershire Lepidoptera

Ray Morris and Jane McPhail

The only known review of all known published references to Leicestershire lepidoptera. rndispensable for future research into t\" county's moths and butterfties. Due end of j993, hopefully !

No. 12 WILL THIS BE YOURS? LET US HAVEYOUR COPY NO9I!

Newsletter: copy always wanted - nothing too trivial for us!

send all manuscripts, notes, drawings, photographs (B&l.lonry) to - Ray Morris 142 Hinckley Road, Barwell, Leicestershire LE9 8DN

f WINTER PROGRAMME TII92.'

Evening meetings are held this year on MoNDAYSat Leicester Museum in the Council Roomentered from West Street. All meetinosmeetings start ataf 7.307 ?o p.m.n m ThereTlrara ,r :ill_P:_lt,oPPo_ttTlt^1, for members'.exhibit_s,members' exhibits at 1nethe start of ali meeting-.meetinqs- Workshops *iJf be at the same venue but on SATURDAySstarting - at 10.30 a]m. Entrance will be from the main reception ar6E-or-ttre Museum.

MONDAY26 OCTOBER ANNUALGENERAL MEETING ANd MEMBERS'MEETING.

A chance for members to present exhibits, show entomological slides and give short (maxj.mum 10 minutes) talks to the Society on subSects of rnteresr after the summer season. SATURDAY 7 NOVEMBER MACROLEPTDOPTERAWORKSHOP

A chance to use the Museum's collections to identify those more difficult specimens. May include genitalia preparations . MONDAY30 NOVEMBER AN EVENINGOF DRAGONAND DAMSELFLIES

Stuart BalI (Joint Nature Conservation Committee) -on Photoqraphinq Draqonfties and Steve Grover. (Ecology Unit) on Tbe Draqonf Iies of Leicestershire.

MONDAY 25 JANUARY THE LARGECOPPER TN BRITAIN: PAS?, PRESENTAND FUTURE Ian Mclean of English Nature. Since the extinction of the British subspecies of this beautiful butterfly in about 1850 and the establishment of the outch subspecies into the Cambridgeshire Fens in 1927, one population has maintained a precarious foothold here and is now of international signi_ficance. Work is now under way to strengthen its chances of survival here in the future.

MONDAY 8 MARCH AN TNTRODUCTIONTO STUDYINGSPIDERS

Stan Dobson (Stockport) has run annual courses on spiders for the Field Studies Council at Orielton (Pembrokeshire). IThis is coupled to the Workshop on March 20thl

SATURDAY 20 MARCH SPIDERS, HARVESTMENAND WOODLICEWORKSHOP

Stan Dobson (above) and Jon Dawes (Leicester Museum). For_complete beginners and experienced aIike. Stan will bring along material to work on but also brrng some Leicestershire specimens and spur on recordinf in the county!

:T4e Society is grateful for the support which it receives fron the Leicestershire MuseumsService.

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