ApriJ-:,,,19,9 2 WHAT IS GOING ON? Green issues are a major part of our lives these days. Politicians are keen to be seen as caring for our environment, developers undertake landscaping schemes and environmental assessments and the European Commission makes Directives on environmental impact.

But what is really going on? The facts are simple our countryside is being ravished regardless of what is being said publicly to support the countryside.

The M40 just missed several towns" around Leicester may important sites including not, destroy sensitive areas Hells Coppice and Bernwood but it. is still less of our Forest but only after countryside at the end of prolonged enquiries and the day - and this at. a time protests. Now it,s the Lurn when there is a slump in the of St Catherine's HiIl on housing market and many Twyford Down to come under hundreds of homes already the bulldozer for the availablel Where, s the extension of the M3, arguably sense in building new homes the best butterfly site in when so many remain unsold? the country with over forty species recorded, about two what is going on? The truth thirds of the British Iist,! is that those who are in a The site is destined to position to exert pressure disappear, at leasL in partr so that they can meet. their under tarmac. The exhaust financial aspirations (or pollution resulting from is it more a case of them this monst.rosity wil1r ho satisfying their greed?) do doubt, have an adverse effect not have any genuine regard on the invertebrate fauna. for our environment. So much for politicians caring for the environment! politicians, deveropers, mineral extractors, the lot Nearer home it cannot have they do not care. But do mj-ssed anyone's attention you? The generar erection that Buddon Hill is now a has just gone - make sure mere pimple. croft Hill is that your Mp is arguing the another site which may well case for the prote-tion of go the same way. So much our countryside and not for the caring mineral letting the unscrupulous extractors! few deitroy itl

Plans to build massive "new Ray Morris Notables oI the 9Os -

Mottrs of red data book status found in

Three new macro-mot.hs have been recorded in the count.y in the 1990s so far along with a few nat.ionally notable species. These are listed below in B&F order. Many thanks to the faithful recorders particularly to Harry Ball for collat.ing the masses of paperwork. I notice wit.h regret that a fair proportion of the rarer species have been recorded from Swithland Sidings. Until recently this was an area very worthy of a day* or night-time visit. Now there are reports of its being laid waste by JCBs spurred on by developers. So what chance now for the lunar horneL. and reddish light arches moths?

- ^9esra bembiciformis Thera juniperata Lunar hornet Juniper carpet B&F 371 B&F 1771 Nationally notable a Nationally notable b

Swithland Sidings (SK565131 ) Swithland Sidings on 12. x.90 on 12.vii.90 by Peter Gamb1e by Peter Gambl-eand Jack and Jack Ward. A new species Ward. Although not often for Leicestershire although recorded in the "wild", over MBGBI vol 2 comments that forty records have now been the species is generally received from garden sites distribut.ed through Britain during t.he 1980s. It i.s with most records in central possible that this species and southern England. will lose its Nb status

Drepana cu.Ttraria Barred hook tip B&F 1647 Nationally notable a

Recorded twice in 1991. Ho1ywe11 Wood (SxS0-18-) on 26. vii .91 by Harry Ball- and Audrey Lomas. Ketton Quarry (SK97-04-) on 9.viii.91 by Harry BaII and Steve Telling. OnIy two other records known for the count,y (Beacon HilI, Ulverscroft NR) both in the 1980s. MBGBI vo1 7 (2) says that the mot.h is mainly associated with beechwoods on gravel and chalk in England.

Drepana cuftraria

cont p3 Notables of the 9Os contd

Colostygia ol-ivata S Poole (18.viii.90). The Beech green carpet species has been recorded in B&F 1774 the county three times in the Nationally not.able b 1970s and ten times in the 1980s. The moth is widespread Holywe11 Wood on 26.vii.91 but 1ocal according to Skinner. by Harry BalI and Audrey Lomas and again at Ket,ton Quarry on 9.viii.91 by Boarmia roboraria Harry Ball and Steve Tel1ing. Great oak beauty New to the county. Skinner B&F 1943 describes the species as Nationally notable b being loca1 mainly on chalk/ limestone in England but it The species is local but not is more frequent, in northern uncommon in southern woods parts of Britain. with Leicest,ershire being near its northern boundary. Recorded at Great Easton by Eupithecia trisignaria Ron and Jean Harvey during Triple-spotted pug June and July in 1988 and is B&F 1826 a new county record. Nationally notable a

This widespread but local Perconia strigillaria species has been recorded Grass wave freguently in the county B&F 1970 over the last two decades Nationally notable b with seven records in the 1970s and ten in the 1980s. Ketton Quarry on 28.vi.91 Most records have been from by Adrian Russe1l. New county the norLh west of the county record. Regarded by Skinner but the species was taken at as widespread and common in (SK54-97-) some souL,hern counties but by Harry Bal-l-, Steve Telling sporadic elsewhere. and Audrey Lomas on 24.v.91 .

Rhyacia simuJ-ans Eupithecia virgaureata Dotted rustic Golden-rod pug B&F 2105 B&F 1851 Nat.ionally notable b Nationally notabl-e b Peter Gamble and Jack Ward Widespread but loca1 in recorded this species at Britain with Leicestershire Swithland Sidings on 14.ix.90. having eight previous llhile there were only four records from the 1980s" records in the 1970s, there S Poole took Lhe moth at were 67 in the 1980s! The Wigston during 1990 (exact distribution map in MBGBI date not given). vol9showsascaLtered range but since its public- ation the range of the moth Eupithecia dodoneata has expanded rapidly. rt Oak-tree pug is possible that its red data B&F 1853 book status will be reviewed. Nationally notable b cont p4 Again taken at lrligston by Notables of the 9Os contd f

Lacanobia contigua Apamea subJ-ustris Beautiful brocade Reddish light arches B&F 2156 B&F 2323 Nationally notabl-e b Nationally notable b

Ketton Quarry during the Both county records of this period 1986-1991 by Adrian moth have come from Peter Russe1I (no details given). Gamble and Jack Ward. The Four other records are known first was in the period (two in each of the 1970s 1976-80 at and the i980s). MBGBr vo19 and the latest at Swithland describes the species as Sidings on 29.vj-.91. MBGBI being locally common in vol 10 describes the species acid situations in southern as distinctly south eastern England and the Midlands particularly on chalk. with a disconLinuous distribution. U Photedes fLuxa Mere wainscot B&F 2349 Nationally notable a

This rare wainscot is locally common in eastern England and has just 'i!L been recorded t*- over the border at Bedford r) I li i ,/.----..i-F.l d-t\ Purlieus, Northamptonshire. \-.]g./ I \ Leicest.ershire haC one record i '##=++/ T-|l for the 1970s and five in the : '']{ "?r"-l- 1980s. Recorded twice at t -L.L 1-.' ,.. t fi Ketton Quarry in recent years by Adrian Russell in the period 1986-91 and by Harry Ball and Steve Telling on 9.viii.91

Jane McPhaiL

Apamea subl-ustris

Hibernating 2-spots

An,,interesting f ield observation near Repton, Derbyshire (just over the Leicestershire boundary) on 3.xi.91 was a hibetnating cluster of seventy six AdaJ ia bipunctata (two 5p.6t, ladybird) beneath the bark of an old elder. Included in'this:group were five melanistic patterns.

Dave Budwotth - Glow-vrorrns in Rutland lggr

Background

During 1990 British Gas announced plans to pipe gas to Rutland and East Northamptonshire vilIages. rtre planned route would have passed through one roadside verge whlre glow-worms (Lanpytis noctil-uca L) had colonised. public pressure resu.Lted in a change of route and as a result a study was carried out during 1991 to assess the distribution of giow-worms in Rutl-and. The full survey report is availaSle from t.he Rutland Natural- History Society but, by their kind permission via LES member Jean Harvey, w€ are able to reprbduce piiCs or the report here. This important study was undertaken by members of the RNHS under the guidance of Graham and Linda ivorrall_.

Two areas of st.udy were undertaken: (a) a st.udy of emergence v from pupation on a Barrowden roadside verge and (b) a *5r" general survey of the district.

Barrowden verge study

The first glowing female was weight before pupation can noted on 3.vii.91, the commence and successful emergence from pupation being emergence of the adult apparently triggered by the achieved. The maximum number increase in air temperature of females was observed on and/or the smaller increase i7.vii.91. The gap in in soil temperat.ure at 50mm observations on 22.vii.91 depth. The Worralls also coincided with the one swathe hypothesise that the larvae cut made to the verges on need to reach a critical body this day (see figure).

cont p6

Records of glow-worms on a Barrowden roadside verge \ggl.

70

No. 5

5 70 t3 20 25 30 J I I I I I I I July August Glow-Tyofttrs contd were found at 20 locations. t Preliminary findings suggest. that the colonies exist upon Rutl-and distribution survey acid as well as calcareous sites. The RNHS survey As part of a national- survey amounted to about 1 0t of the of glow-worms, supported by sites surveyed in the national the BBC Wildlife magazine, investigation. a group of RNHS members recorded the beetle at many The maximum number of females sites in Rutland and east noted on any one visit in Northamptonshire. The choice Rutland on any one vi-sit was of sites was influenced by 50 at a roadside verge at whether (a) a site was known Essendine. In contrast, a to have had glow-worms in visit to Barnack Hil1s and recent, years, (b) a sj-te was Ho1es, just over the border known to have had glow-worms in Northamptonshire, gave about ten years ago and (c) more than 450 ! A single a site which, due to l-ack larva was noted j-n building of disturbance in recent rubble aL , ! yearsr rdy hold glow-worms. some distance from Rutland!

Each site was visited after IEditor's note: such surveys nightfall, usually on one are the essential basis for occasion on1y. This limited constructive conservation level of survej-Ilance may measures - it is to be hoped well mean t,hat sites recorded t.hat a more intensive survey as negative may well have will be carried out in forth- have had glow-worms at other coming years by the RNHS times. A t,clt.al of forty perhaps the members of the two sites were visited over LES could volunteer their a 33 day period in July and services? l August 1991. Glowing females

Rutl-and srtes with glow-worms 7991

Barrowden (road verges) 8 females, 1 male Ketton PiL Lane (regraded st.one quarry) 7 females South Luffenham level crossing (hedge bottom on public foot,pat.h ) 2 females Essendine (road verge) 50 female

IPreviously also recorded from:

Cuckoo farm (verge) about 40 years ago Wakerley Road, Barrowden (verge) 1989 Live HilI, Barrowden (verge) about 20 years agol Stop press!

_,. News has just arrived of two good county recordsl Mottled lY)n grey moth was taken at mvl at Burleigh Wood, Loughborough on 17.iv.92 and a second county record of Epinotia immundana t\iL. (Tortricidae) was taken at a garden mvl in Kirby Muxloe by Jane McPhail on 20.ix.92. 6 It

v Clouded yellows Liverpool meetings

in Rutland tjw- As part of the LES attempts t.o gain contact with other entomological groups in Lhe count.ry r w€ have obt.ained While 1991 was noL a clouded a copy of the programme of yellow year compared with the Lancashire & Cheshire 1983, it is pleasing t.o note Ent Soc which holds monthly that the butterfly was seen meetings at Liverpool Museum. in the east of the region While it is a fair way to by members of the Rutland travel the programme may NHS. be of interest to t.hose who are willing to make the The first was recorded in a effort! Details from Stephen garden on the Teigh/naarket Judd at the museum on 051- Overton boundary by Graham 207-0001. Worrall on 20.viii.91 . Ten days later J Levisohn spot.Led 4th April - British solitary another in a Langham garden wasps (Michael Archer) (30.viii.91 ). On the same date two were seen on lucerne 2nd May Cheshire dragonflies in a set-aside field off (Richard Gabb & David Kitching) Burley Road, Oakham by J Mallett and a further two 1?th October - An introduction (?same two) were at t.he same to the biology, distribution location a day later this and identification of the time identified by Jim Eaton. larger Brachycera (Martin The last sighting at this Drake ) site was on 4.ix.91 again by Jim Eaton. 21st November - Longhorns and other Incurvarioid moths Jean Harvey (Keith B1and)

Meetings run from 14.00 to 17.00 t- t\\ Hurnmingbird hawks r99r e ...ot Shearsby ...ot Loughborough

The first one seen at Shearsby Heritage number 123, the was on July 14th, the last Newsletter of the Loughborough on September 20th with many Naturalists Club lists two sightings between. They records of the hummingbird often turn up guite late in hawk both from peter Gamble. t.he evening and on JuIy 31st The first was from a euorn I was lucky enough to see garden on 26.vii.91 with the one settling down for the second being seen :-n a night in a Cupressus bush. Leicester garden (no further I now regard the species as details). the most commonly seen hawk moth at Shearsby, Lhe reasons I4onica Gil_Lham being that it is a day flier and its attraction to red Any more to come? valerian (Centranthus ruber) . A few of these plants in your : garden and any hummingbird hawks in your area wil1 almost Convolvulus certainly visit. them. ff ftfi the first flowers are removed as they fade, it will flower in Rutland right into October attracting a wide range of moths and butterflies. Having deep Jean Harvey, recorder for tap roots, it is a good dry the Rutland Natural History weather plant which explains Society has given the LES why 1976, a notoriously dry information of a sighting year, was the best ever for of the largest of the hummingbird hawks in my British hawkmoths in Rutland. garden. A single convolvulus hawk Harold Godsmark (Agrius convolvul-il was seen at Park Farm, Ridlington by RNHS member M Smith on - ...in Rutland 10.x.91 .

The moth was definitely A single hummingbird hawk identified by Roy Butchart. moth was seen at valerian in a garden at Whissendine Jean Harvey on JuIy 17th, 21sL and ZgLln as well as 1st August by Rutland NHS member Mrs WJ lThis rare migrant is only Stevenson. Later in August occasionally reported in ( 1Oth) G uoulden saw one the county" The last known feeding at pink phlox in an record was in August 1989 Oakham garden while Tim at Thurmaston with a total Appleton report.ed one over of six records in the 19g0s l geraniums in his garden at Fishponds Cottage, Rutland Water on 4.x.91 wit.h another on 30.10.91 .

Jean Harvey

8 rb Butterflies in rggr

Brian Mitchell, one of our out-of-county members (but only just! ) reports on butterflies seen on the Leicestershire/ Warwickshire borders during 1991.

The Leicester border at Pinwall by Andrew Hickinbotham at is not very far from my home Shenton (reported in "Aspect"). at Grendon and I regularly travel along the 85000 into Ho7ly bLue i<\L Atherstone. Here are some of the more interest.ing Seen at SP320999 with purple sightings. hairstreak on August 4th and also at SP320987 on ground Brimstone {+L, ouLside Mythe Cottage, but the date escapes me for the May 6th: one near Sheepy Magna moment. Also at Ulverscroft and another along the 85000 on 4th August, a ma1e. near Pinwall (not regularly seen along roadways around Uiverscroft here ) . 'r\ Also at Ulverscroft on August, ll"'t ; Purple hairstreak (f. t$' 4th were comma hutchinsoni), fi J-\, meadow browns, gatekeepers, According t.o the Market small- skippers and a some 1Lc) Bosworth magazine "Aspect" odonata including Aeshna a purple hairst.reak was in grandis, A cyanea, Sympetrum Bosworth Park on 23rd JuIy striol-aLus and fschnura and f had one around oak elegans. along the road from Ratcliffe Culey/Pinwall to Sheepy Brian Mitchel-l- (SP320999) on 31st August. r also thought I had one at another site in the north west but this is unconfirmed. Certainly, I had one taking nectar at snowberry at Grendon Jersey tiger at Ketton church among hol1y blues on 1r1*z 30th August where I have not recorded the species before despite the preponderance Harry BalL picked off an oak and ash. The site is obviously tiger moth larva only 3/4 mile from the from foliage at Ketton Quarry Leicestershire boundary. during the summer of 1990. After a week of feeding up ,{r.\ painted lady at home the larva pupated.

31st August at Norton Lane, The moth that emerged in Orton-on-the-Hi1l at 7p.m. June 1991, although not fully formed, turned out to Red adniraL be the first Leicest.ershire r{tu record of the Jersey tiger. 30t.h August near Pinwall. will the moth be in evidence ,-, - Brown argus again at this site? The most exciting reporL. must be of the brown argus spotted SUMMERPROGRAMME f

Before Lurning up please check with t.he leader that the event is still on!

Meet at 09.45 park in the Museum Car or 10.30 at the site but for Thorne (21st, Moors June) please note that the meet time is 08.00 at the car park and Lnat the outino is by coach.

A venue for lunch and discussion of the morning,s results will be decided during the morning.

Saturday 16th May PRTOR'S COPPTCE meet at the wood entrance at map reference SK 832048. Lead bv : Derek Lott (0533 - 473031) Saturday 6th June LEA MEADOWS Meet minor road north of Lea Wood map reference SK 50511 7. Lead by John Mousley (0533 - 473262\

Sunday 21st June THORNEMOORS, YORKSHTRE Meet Museum car park 0900 for coach. Places must be booked via Jan Dawson for this joint trip with the Natural History Section of the Lit & Phil Society. Lead by Brian Eversham of the Biological Records Centre, Monk's Wood.

Saturday 25th July BTG PITS, CLTPSHAM Harvest,man and woodlice recording Iead by Jon Dawes (0533 - 473031i. - Meet at lay-by on A'1 south of stretton ( sK 9511 39 ) . Saturday 22nd August CHARNWOODLODGE Flea foray lead by Frank Clarke. Meet at the Lodge SK 469156.

Additionally, moth traps are being run on a regurar basis at many sites, e:g. Lockington t"tarshes, Burreigh frood, Martinshaw wood contact individula repidopterists toi aetaiis er initialry, : r Ray Morris (0455 94214s) for contact names and phone numbers.

Stop Press! A second county record for the grey shoulder knot moth has been ,, reported lLw'- \l by Adrian Russell from Pickworth Great Wood 1ast record was from Vligston in 1983!

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