Sphingidae ...

Privet Hawk-moth (Sphinx ligustri)

S. ligustri (Linnaeus, 1758) is our largest resident hawk-moth, with a wing span of 100-120mm, and can be found across the southern half of Britain. In Sussex it usually occurs singly or sparingly, though occasionally can be fairly common at mercury vapour light in a wide range of habitats. The adult, which has distinctive pink and black barring on the body and correspondingly striped hindwings (which are typically concealed unless the insect is disturbed), usually flies in June and July. The larvae are even more spectacular than the adult, being bright green with lilac and white stripes along the side, and a curved black horn to the rear. It feeds on privet (Ligustrum), lilac (Syringa), holly (Ilex) and ash (Fraxinus).

This specimen, one of two, from the South Downs today ...

References:

www.ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=1669

www.sussexmothgroup.org.uk/speciesData.php?taxonNum=1976

Catocala fraxini ...

Clifden Nonpareil

The beautiful Clifden Nonpareil (Catocala fraxini), or Blue Underwing as it is also known, is an immigrant to Sussex and suspected resident since 2001 or 2005. It is generally only found singly and is attracted to sugar, usually at dusk, and occasionally to MV light. Immigrants appear in a wide range of habitats, chiefly in the south of the county; while residents prefer wooded landscapes in the far east. During the middle part of the 20th century it was resident in certain parts of Kent and Norfolk. C. fraxini is single-brooded; flying mainly from mid August to mid October. The larvae, which can be as much as 75mm long, feed mainly on aspen (Populus tremulosa). It overwinters as an egg.

Nowadays, only a handful are recorded per year, mainly from the south and south-east of England; September being the most likely month. On 17th October 2011, my good friend Alec Harmer, took a gravid female at MV light in his garden on the edge of the New Forest in Hampshire. Her forewings were in reasonable condition, but her hindwings were badly torn. She laid 21 eggs and sadly died within a few days of capture. One of her offspring has subsequently laid over 563 ova and it is from her successors that the following larvae were reared. They were photographed on 4th July 2012.

Long may her descendants live on ...

Exam fever ...

Chiddingfold Forest, 9 and 10 June 2012

With exam fever continuing to take over our household, any opportunity to make a dash for fresh air and solitude is grabbed with both hands. A brief chance yesterday afternoon and likewise earlier today was greatly welcomed …

My reward yesterday, a beautiful female Orange Moth (Angerona prunaria). Though pleased, I was rather surprised to see this insect at 3.30 in the afternoon, as the male of this species typically flies at dusk, whilst the rather elusive female, generally much later into the night. It is a widely distributed species and generally only locally common in woodland and heathland across its range. Its larvae feed on a variety of trees and plants including birch, hawthorn, blackthorn and heather. Today as I entered the wood, I was greeted by a small company of the rather enchanting longhorn moth, Nemophora degeerella, gracefully dancing along the edge of the track. Numerous specimens of the highly distinctive Speckled Yellow (Pseudopanthera macularia) were also present, as indeed were numerous Speckled Wood and two Red Admiral making strategic claims for territory.

A male Stag Beetle (Lucanus cervus), the second I’ve found this year, provided a welcome find to end my visit.

Until next time ...

Pterophorus galactodactyla …

Rewell Hill Wood, 2 May 2012

The delicate Spotted White Plume, Pterophorus galactodactyla, is a nationally scarce species. The adult moth, which has a wingspan of around 20-25mm, has a pale forewing with a diagnostic backward-pointing rear lobe. The species is most likely to be recorded in the larval stage, when feeding signs, on the leaves of Lesser and Greater Burdock, are relatively easy to find where they are present. The characteristic evidence of feeding appears as white-rimmed, rounded holes in the leaves, starting at 2mm diameter in April up to around 8mm by the time they mature in May. The larva can often be found nearby, resting along the edge of a vein on the underside of the leaf. The larva pictured was around 7mm long. A shed skin can be seen in the bottom left of the picture. The adult moth flies in June and July ...

Beauty in minature ...

West Sussex, 2 May 2012

If you are a lepidopterist, particularly one who limits their personal interest to butterflies, there will always be days of disappointment, particularly if looking for the adult insect. Term yourself an entomologist and your eyes will be opened to a world of intense beauty, one of mystery and one of intrigue, all played out on a stage in front of your very eyes - providing they are open and receptive.

Today conditions were grey and although my target did not appear, what did was a gem to behold …

The Green Longhorn (Adela reaumurella) is a small day-flying micromoth belonging to the family Adelidae, the fairy longhorn moths. They have a wingspan of approximately 14 to 18 mm. The upper wings of both sexes are a beautiful metallic green, their under wings metallic bronze. The males have extremely long white antenna and have rough black hair on their heads. In comparison, the females have relatively short white-tipped black antenna with shorter and lighter hair on their heads. It is a fairly common species in England, Wales and southern Scotland, though more localised in Ireland. They typically fly from April to June and can often be observed flying in swarms. The larvae feed on leaf-litter and live in portable cases.