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APRIL 1994 ISSN 0952-7583 Vol. 7, Part 2
BRITISH JOURNAL OF
ENTOMOLOGY
AND NATURAL HISTORY
Published by the British Entomological and Natural History Society and incorporating its Proceedings and Transactions
Price: £6.00
BRITISH JOURNAL OF ENTOMOLOGY AND NATURAL HISTORY Editor:
Richard A. Jones, B.Sc., F.R.E.S., F.L.S. 13 Bellwood Road Nunhead London SE15 3DE (Tel: 071 732 2440) (Fax: 071 277 8725)
Editorial Committee:
Rey. D. J. L. Agassiz, M.A. T. G. Howarth, B.E.M., F.R.E.S.
R. D. G. Barrington, B.Sc. I. F. G. McLean, Ph.D., F.R.E.S.
E. S. Bradford Mrs F. M. Murphy, B.Sc.
P. J. Chandler, B.Sc., F.R.E.S. M. J. Simmons, M.Sc.
B. Goater, B.Sc., M.I.Biol. T. R. E. Southwood, K.B., D.Sc., F.R.E.S. A. J. Halstead, M.Sc. R. W. J. Uffen, M.Sc., F.R.E.S.
R. D. Hawkins B. K. West, B.Ed.
P. J. Hodge
British Journal of Entomology and Natural History is published by the British Entomological and Natural History Society, Dinton Pastures Country Park, Davis Street, Hurst, Reading, Berkshire RG10 OTH, UK. Tel: 0734-321402.
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Cover illustration: Larva of Cresias serra (F.) (Coleoptera: Dermestidae), in spiders’ webs under bark of old oak tree, Richmond Park. Photo: R. A. Jones.
NOTE: The Editor invites submission of photographs for black and white reproduction on the front covers of the journal. The subject matter is open, with an emphasis on aesthetic value rather than scientific novelty. Submissions can be in the form of colour or black and white prints or colour transparencies.
MCZ LIBRARY
33
BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 7: 1994
PARDASENA VIRGULANA perieaepe a 9 1994 (LEPIDOPTERA: NOCTUIDAE), A SPECTES NO PREVIOUSLY FOUND IN THE WILD IN BRITAIN
MARTIN R. HONEY HARVARD Department of Entomology, The Natural History Museum, Crom well'Roadl, Mesa bab. AND MARK STERLING 9 Upper Heath Road, St Albans, Hertfordshire ALI 4DN.
On 27.ix.1992 Mark Sterling joined John Phillips and David Young on a trip to search for Gortyna borelii lunata (Frey.) at a site on the edge of Hamford Water near Thorpe le Soken in Essex. A number of lights were run at the site, including a 15-watt actinic, which attracted a small noctuid which was initially misidentified as Nycteola revayana (Scop.). On closer inspection it had several unusual features, including bright white hind wings and hind legs. The specimen was therefore taken to the Natural History Museum where it was determined by Martin Honey as a female Pardasena virgulana (Mabille).
This species was originally described by Mabille (1880: xvii) as Sarrothripa virgulana and has also been known as Giaura nigriscripta Hampson. The species is listed by Hampson (1912: 245) and Gaede (1935: 181) as occurring in South and East Africa and Madagascar but there are specimens in the Natural History Museum collection from most tropical and non-tropical areas of Africa, including North Africa and certain Middle Eastern States, Cameroun, Comoro Islands, Ethiopia, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Southern Yemen, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
There is little published information on the natural foodplants of this species but there are specimens in the Natural History Museum collections reared from pigeon pea, Cajanus cajan (L.) (Leguminosae), and Lantana, Lantana camara (L.) (Verbenaceae). Larvae have also been previously imported into Britain on okra, Abelmoschus escultentus (L.) (Malvaceae) from Cyprus and on peas from East Africa. The latter were successfully reared at the M.A.F.F. laboratories at Harpenden. With the proximity of the collecting site to both Felixstowe and Harwich the most likely explanation for its occurrence in Britain is as a vagrant imported on a ship.
Fig. 1. Pardasena virgulana. This specimen was photographed at the 1993 BENHS Annual Exhibition and appears in colour on Plate II, Figure 3, Br. J. Ent. Nat. Hist. 1994; 7(3).
34 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 7: 1994
DESCRIPTION OF ADULT SPECIMEN
Wingspan 23 mm. Head and tegula fuscous mixed with white. Antennae simple, fuscous, segments of basal third ringed whitish. Underside of first and second segments of palpi brilliant white, upperside and all of third segment fuscous-tinged orange mixed with white. Thorax similar to head and tegula, but with less white. Upper surface of fore- and mid-legs fuscous with tawny and white scales, hindlegs bright shining white, foreleg tarsi ringed with white, foreleg femur covered with long scales. Underside of legs and body bright shining white. Forewing costa strongly arched towards base, termen rounded. Forewing colour white mixed fuscous, giving an overall grey appearance to the naked eye. The fuscous scales, especially towards the costa, have a tawny appearance. Costa edged with a small row of tawny orange scales. There is some black scaling at the base, forming a basal spot at the costa and extended into the wing to form a short black basal streak. An intermittent black fascia runs obliquely outwards from above (not touching) the dorsum towards (not touching) the costa, passing just beyond the end of the basal streak. There is an indistinct darker triangular area at mid-costa. Veins marked by dashes of black scales from about mid-way, those near the costa forming continuous black lines. Cilia light fuscous. Body fuscous. Hindwing shining white with fuscous terminal shade, veins fuscous. Cilia white, shading to whitish fuscous towards costa.
CLASSIFICATION
Pardasena virgulana (Mabille) falls within the noctuid subfamily Sarrothripinae. The only other British members of this subfamily are the two recorded species of Nycteola. If it is deemed necessary, an English vernacular name for this species already exists in the African literature (Pinhey, 1975), namely the ‘grey square’.
REFERENCES
Gaede, M. 1935. In: Seitz, A. 1913-1939. Die Gross-Schmetterlinge der Erde 15. iii+358pp. Stuttgart.
Hampson, G. F. 1912. Catalogue of the Lepidoptera Phalaenae in the British Museum 11. xvii + 689pp. London.
Mabille, P. 1880. Annis Soc. Ent. Belg. 23: xvi-xxvii.
Pinhey, E. C. G. 1975. Moths of Southern Africa. 273pp. Cape Town.
BOOK NOTICE
Tachinid flies. Diptera: Tachinidae, by R. Belshaw. Handbk Ident. Br. Insects 10(4ai). Royal Entomological Society of London, 1993, 170 pp, paperback, £20.— Not a rewrite of van Emden’s 1954 Handbook, but a new book completely. The artificial key, of 60 pages, is illustrated with diagrams throughout. Ecological notes for each species are given in the central part of the book. Following the recent trend of the Handbooks, further illustrations are grouped together at the end. A new check list is included. Despite numerous books on the family, (Lundbeck, 1927; Wainwright, 1928 etc; Day, 1946, 1947; van Emden, 1954), the Tachinidae remain an under-worked group. As important lepidopterous (and other) parasitoids, the flies ought to be better studied, and perhaps Belshaw’s book will enhance this possibility.
R. A. JONES
BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 7: 1994
SCLEZROCONA ACUTELLUS (EVERSMANN) (LEPIDOPTERA: PYRALIDAE), THE SECOND BRITISH RECORD
P. J. BAKER Mount Vale, The Drive, Virginia Water, Surrey GU25 4BP.
On the 13.vi.1989 I took from the garden light trap a pyralid which I did not recognise. Due to the pressure of work this was set aside and no attempt to identify it was made until late 1992. Early in 1993 the insect was finally identified as the second recorded specimen in Britain of Sclerocona acutellus (Eversmann).
Retzlaff and Wittland (1986) suggest that the larval pabulum is Phragmites, a plant which is quite common around the edges of gravel workings and ornamental! lakes and along some stream sides within a 5-km radius of my garden in Thorpe/ Virginia Water. No significant area of marshland including Phragmites communities is known from this area. Goater (1990) suggests a possible association of S. acutellus with low-lying damp sandy areas which dry out in summer. These areas include scrub and more open patches with species of Carex, Scirpus, grasses and a variety of herbaceous plants with Phragmites mainly along ditches. Such a habitat existed along the verges of the Thorpe bypass for several years after it was constructed in the early 1970s until the late 1980s when intensive cleaning up by the local council reduced the area to a characterless green roadside verge.
This year, 1993, an extensive search of Phragmites occurring within some 3 km of my garden was conducted and large samples of dead stems from the previous year as well as new growth were collected. A range of Lepidoptera associated with the reed was obtained but included no examples of S. acutelia. More searches will be made in 1994 especially among the many Phragmites communities which will be destroyed when the local M25 is widened to fourteen lanes.
The possibility of some connection between this specimen and the first capture of this insect by Sterling (1989) less than a year earlier has to be considered. The Thorpe example could have been an accidental importation via the adjacent M25/M3 and Longstock is not that remote from an arterial road. Lack of other records seems to rule out migration but more examples need to be recorded before an informed conclusion can be suggested.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
My thanks are due to Mr M. Schaffer of the Natural History Museum for his assistance with the identification of this insect and to Mr B. F. Skinner who very kindly provided details of recent relevant publications.
REFERENCES
Goater, B. 1990. Sclerocona acutellus (Eversmann) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in the South of France. Entomologist’s Gaz. 41: 4.
Retzlaff, H. & Wittland, W. 1986. The overwintering larva of Sclerocona acutella (Eversmann, 1842) from the Ebro-Delta (Spain) (Lep. Pyralidae, Pyraustinae). Mitteilungen, Band 3 (Nr. 36).
Sterling, D. H. 1989. Sclerocona acutellus (Eversmann) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) new to Britain. Entomologist’s Gaz. 40: 1-3.
36 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 7: 1994
SHORT COMMUNICATION
Xyleborus saxesenii (Ratzeburg) (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) new to Cornwall.—A single live specimen of Xyleborus saxesenii was found beneath the bark of a large beech trunk section lying in Higginsmoor Wood on the Lanhydrock Estate in E. Cornwall, 16.iii.1993. The beech lay alongside a well-used public path and had presumably been felled for ‘‘public safety’’ reasons. This is a new county record and a further extension of the known range. The nearest records known to me are from Gloucestershire (Atty, 1983), Cornwall (Duff, 1993) and in the far east of Dorset-—Cranborne Chase (Pearce, 1926) and Wareham in 1991 (T. Winter, pers. comm.). It is clearly rare in these counties.
Higginsmoor Wood is a large area of oak- and beech-dominated woodland on the alluvial flats of the Fowey River. It appears to be ancient woodland and is therefore a rare example of ancient alluvial floodplain woodland—a type which has been extensively cleared for agriculture over the millennia throughout the British Isles.
Beech is believed not to be native in Cornwall, and the old beech of this particular estate undoubtedly originate from landscape plantings in the early 18th century. Although the favoured tree of X. saxesenii (in my experience, at least), this scolytid does also breed in a wide range of other tree species, and so its presence here does not contradict its recognized association with ancient woodland and pasture-woodland (Harding & Rose, 1986). The same beech timber also contained the beetles Cerylon Serrugineum Steph. and Cylindronotus laevioctostriatus (Goeze), and the bug Xylocoris cursitans (Fall.). Another scolytid, Dryocoetinus villosus (F.), was abundant in the thick bark of a fallen oak branch close by, and I took a single specimen of Selatosomus bipustulatus (L.) on a riverside oak here in 1989. All of these appear to be good indicators of ancient woodland and pasture-woodland in Cornwall (Alexander, 1991, 1993), although only the last is recognized as such for Britain as a whole (Harding & Rose, 1986).
My thanks to Tim Winter for his comments on an earlier draft of this note.—K. N. A. Alexander, National Trust, 33 Sheep Street, Cirencester, Gloucestershire GL7 1QW.
REFERENCES
Alexander, K. N. A. 1991. The fauna of dead and decaying timber in Cornwall. Zoological Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly 1: 22-25.
Alexander, K. N. A. 1993. The deadwood fauna of Cornwall. Br. J. Ent. Nat. Hist. 6: 97-101.
Atty, D. B. 1983. Coleoptera of Gloucestershire. Cheltenham, privately published.
Duff, A. 1993. Beetles of Somerset: their status and distribution, Taunton, Som. Arch. Nat. Hist. Soc., pp 270.
Harding, P. T. & Rose, F. 1986. Pasture woodlands in lowland Britain. Institute of Terrestrial Ecology.
Pearce, E. J. 1926. A list of the Coleoptera of Dorset. Dorset Fld Club Proc. 47: 51-128.
BOOK NOTICE
A review of the scarce and threatened Coleoptera of Great Britain. Part 2, by P.S. Hyman and M. Parsons, Peterborough, JNCC, 1994, 248 pages, paperback, £15 + £3 p. & p.—Families covered in this volume are: Cryptophagidae, terrestrial Hydrophilidae, Lathridiidae, Leiodidae, Nitidulidae, Pselaphidae, Ptiliidae, Scydmaenidae, Sphaeridiidae and Staphylinidae. There are also several pages of addenda to part 1. The beetles con- tained in this part of the review are the ‘difficult’ groups, and a footnote to every page states that the statuses of the species are open to debate because of the difficulty of identi- fication. Nevertheless this is an extremely valuable and welcome book which, together with part 1, serves as a basis from which coleopterology in Britain can move forward.
BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 7: 1994
THE TORSTENIUS COLLECTION OF SCANDINAVIAN LEPIDOPTERA
C. B. ASHBY 31 Tudor Close, Cheam, Sutton, Surrey SM3 8OT.
In parts of Scandinavia the western extension of the great European and Eurasian coniferous forest, the taiga, is the dominant habitat. Swamps, lakes, rivers and river deltas add diversity to these tall, dark forests of the north temperate zone. Travel northwards and you find the pines and spruces giving way to birch which, unlike elsewhere in Europe, forms the tree-line on the northern mountains. Beyond lies the treeless tundra and the Arctic Sea. Travel westwards across the rocky spine which separates Sweden from Norway to find the high altitude wilderness areas of the Dovrefjell, Jutonheimen and Hardangervidda. Travel eastwards to the shores of the land-locked Gulf of Bothnia and south to the Baltic and its thousands of islands, of which the largest are Oland and Gotland. The pastoral lowlands of Denmark and Skane in Sweden are notable for their coastlines, lakes and marshes but give no hint of the vast areas of wild country and low population to which they give access.
Within the easily accessible literature, the diversity of butterflies in Scandinavia has been most ably presented by Howard and others in six papers in The Entomologist’s Record between 1964 and 1976. The English translation of Henriksen and Kreutzer’s useful book (1982) provides a comprehensive text and a wealth of coloured illustrations of the life histories and habitats of the Scandinavian butterflies. Kruys (1991) has given an account of the butterflies of Ostergotland, one of the southern counties of Sweden, with notes of the habitat. The moths are well served for English readers by Skou’s illustrated work (1986) on the Geometridae of Europe, and it is to be hoped that an English edition of his recent (1991) volume on the Noctuidae will follow soon. Kettlewell (1973) discussed in Chapter 6 of The evolution of melanism certain aspects of non-industrial melanism as illustrated by moths in Scandinavia, quoting numerous examples. Dr E. B. Ford, in his book Moths in the New Naturalist series (1955) has a valuable chapter on relict species and arctic-alpine faunas and refers to, among others, the three Anarta species which frequent the northern mountains and moorlands of Britain and Scandinavia. In Lappland, as Dr Guy Howard has pointed out (1969), the number of Anarta and closely related species rises to 13. Northern Scandinavia having much in common with northern Asia and North America at these latitudes, it is very likely that a significant number of its moths and butterflies could be shown to have a circumpolar distribution. Scandinavia, with its friendly, helpful people and its enormous range of habitats through 15 degrees of latitude, has much to offer the visiting naturalist.
When in Stockholm in June 1977, I had the good fortune to be introduced to Bankjuristen Stig Torstenius, a member of this Society and one of the leading lepidopterists in Sweden. I was invited to his home in Stocksund and spent an unforgettable evening going through what must be one of the major European collections of Lepidoptera in private hands. I came away with an astonishing offer: if the Society would accept it, Stig Torstenius would provide the material for a representative collection of Scandinavian macrolepidoptera, to be held at the Society’s rooms, then at South Audley Street.
+Deceased.
38 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 7: 1994
Bl = Blekinge
Boh = Bohuslan
Dir = Dalarna
Dsl = Dalsland
Gstr = Gastrikland Gtl = Gotland
Hjd = Hiarjedalen
Hl = Halland
Hls = Halsingland Jtl = Jamtland
Lu lpm = Lule lappmark Ly lpm = Lycksele lappmark Mpd = Medelpad
Nb = Norrbotten Nrk = Narke
Pipm = Pite lappmark Sk = Skane
Sm = Smaland
Srm = Sodermanland Tlpm = Torne lappmark Up! = Uppland
Vb = Vasterbotten
Vg = Vastergotland Vrm = Varmland Vstm = Vastmanland Ang = Angermanland As lpm = Asele lappmark Og = Ostergétland Ol = Oland
Fig. 1. Provinces and Lapp-districts of Sweden.
Gaston Prior, then Secretary, and Eric Bradford, then Curator, were very ready to agree that this generous offer should be accepted, a view endorsed by the Council at its meeting in August of that year. At first two, and later three, 10-drawer Hill units were made available and by early October 1977 the first consignment of about 300 specimens was safely received. No time was to be lost if these were to be shown at the Annual Exhibition on 29 October, and in fact 159 species of 22 families were exhibited. This early flurry of activity was but the prelude to an extended period of assembling and cataloguing the material prior to curation. Two drawers were shown at the 1978 Exhibition and a further ten in 1979. By 1981, 20 drawers were installed at South Audley Street, the remaining 10 drawers following a year later. No material was sent by post or carrier, all the many consignments being brought over by Stig and myself and our families; by car, ship and air. Nothing was damaged.
Long runs, even of variable species, were at no time contemplated, the general plan being on the basis of two males and two females of each species. Some
BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 7: 1994 iy
rarities or immigrants were fewer than this, some valuable paratypes were more. About 900 species and subspecies, forming some 90% of the Swedish total, are represented. I have never counted up the number of specimens, but it must be between three and four thousand. As very little of this was withdrawn from the donor’s main collection, most of it being specially prepared and set for the purpose from reserve and newly collected material, members can be in no doubt of the generosity and time-consuming effort involved.
The Society has in its library a major work on the Lepidoptera of Sweden: Svenska Fjarilar by Nordstrom, Wahlgren, Tullgren and Ljungdahl, published in Stockholm in 1941. This large, beautifully illustrated volume was invaluable in coming to terms with the significant number of species in the consignments which were not to be found in the normally accessible reference works in Britain. Inevitably, there were problems with the nomenclature. That in the three useful handbooks by Bertil Gullander (1971) which I acquired was frequently at variance with the revised Kloet and Hincks Checklist of 1972. But it was from the outset seen to be very desirable to produce a catalogue of the collection, and the full catalogue which eventually came into existence in 1982 was based on the best information to be held at the time. The label list of Bradley and Fletcher, which has been widely accepted since its appearance in 1979, was not available when curation of the collection began in earnest in 1978. The excellent label list published by T. W. Harman, being in conformity with Kloet and Hincks, was adopted for the first drawers and, rightly or wrongly, was continued for the remainder. Recognizing the rapid establishment of the Bradley and Fletcher list as the norm, the 1982 catalogue included the serial numbers of both lists.
Further material was added to the collection in 1984 and 1985, often the results of expeditions to remote parts of Scandinavia to collect species previously not represented. The enforced removal from South Audley Street led to the whole collection coming again under my roof, affording the opportunity to update the nomenclature, fill in gaps and add more new species. The catalogue is in course of revision to include these additions and the changes made necessary by the six (at least) major works on the Lepidoptera of Scandinavia which have appeared since the catalogue was written in 1982.
The data labels are a notable feature of the collection, being fully visible and of uniform presentation. Sweden, the country of origin of most of the material, is divided into 29 Lapp-districts and Provinces. Line 1 of each data label gives the standard abbreviation for the province (or county), line 2 the location, line 3 the date. Long (38-mm) continental pins are used throughout, so that all the information may be read without removing the specimen. Some of the material is from such outstanding areas of Norway as the Dovrefjell and the Jutonheimen, indicated on the labels by ‘NO’, the abbreviation for the Norwegian Nordland. The collection has been designed to have visual appeal, with fresh, unfaded material meticulously set, presenting a user-friendly introduction to a lepidopterous fauna largely drawn from the land of Linnaeus.
The list which follows is not the complete catalogue, copies of which may be had on loan from the Curator at the Pelham-Clinton Building, Dinton Pastures. It is a selection to highlight those species which are normally not to be found in the Society’s other collections, and takes note of the changes in nomenclature. Where the genus has changed, the earlier generic name is given in brackets; where the specific name, or sometimes the whole name, has changed, the earlier usage is given as synonymy. Even the most cursory examination of the list will confirm that here, for perhaps the first time in Britain, is displayed in one fully accessible collection the remarkable diversity of species and forms inhabiting the highest
40 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 7: 1994
latitudes in Europe. It includes most of the notable species to which the literature
draws special attention. I am most grateful to Mr Barry Goater for his helpful comments and for his valued
assistance with the recent changes in nomenclature.
REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING
Bingman, I. 1984. National parks in Sweden. English Edition: Box 1302, S-171 25 Solna, Sweden.
de Freina & Witt, 1987, 1990. Die Bombyces und Sphinges der Westpalaearktis 2 vols. Munchen.
Fibiger, M. & Hacker, H. 1990. Systematic list of the Noctuidae of Europe. Esperiana, Band 2. Staffelstein & Schwanfeld.
Ford, E. B. 1955. Moths. The New Naturalist series. Collins, London.
Goater, B. & Mikkola, K. 1988. The taxonomic status of Apamea exulis, assimilis, maillardi and zeta (Noctuidae). Entomologist’s Ent. Gaz. 39: 249-257.
Gullander, B. 1971. Nordens dagfjdrilar (Butterflies). Norstedt & Soner, Stockholm.
Gullander, B. 1971. Nordens svarmare och spinnare. Norstedt & Soner, Stockholm.
Gullander, B. 1971. Nordens nattflyn (Noctuidae). Norstedt & Soner, Stockholm.
Henriksen, H. J. & Kreutzer, I. B. 1982. The butterflies of Scandinavia in nature (English edition). Skandinavisk Bogforlag, Odense, Denmark.
Higgins, L. G. 1975. The classification of European butterflies. Collins, Glasgow.
Higgins, L. G. & Riley, N. D. 1970. A field guide to the butterflies of Britain and Europe. Collins, London.
Howard, G. 1969. Lepidoptera in Lapland. Entomologist’s Rec. J. Var. 81: 75-77.
Johnson, G. 1964. Abisko revisited. Entomologist’s Rec. J. Var. 76: 259-260.
Johnson, G. 1969. Butterflies in Scandinavia. Entomologist’s Rec. J. Var. 81: 316-318.
Kettlewell, B. 1973. The evolution of melanism. Clarendon Press, Oxford.
Kruys, I. 1991. Notes on the butterflies of Ostergétland, Sweden. Br. J. Ent. Nat. Hist. 4: 77-82.
Marsden, W. 1980. Lapland. The World’s wild places series. English Edition. Time-Life Books, Amsterdam.
Mentzer, E. von & Moberg, A. 1987. Agrotis luehri sp.n. from Norway and its relation to the group a. fatidica (Noctuidae). Ent. Tidsk. 108(1-2): 33-43.
Nordstrom, Wahlgren, Tullgren & Ljungdahl. 1941. Svenska Fjarilar. Stockholm.
Perceval, M. J. 1974. Gargia, Finnmark, July 1973. Entomologist’s Rec. J. Var. 86: 81-84.
Shaw, M. R. 1971. Butterflies in Arctic Scandinavia. Entomologist’s Rec. J. Var. 83: 371-378.
Skou, P. 1986. The geometroid moths of North Europe. English Edition. Copenhagen.
Skou, P. 1991. Nordens Ugler. Copenhagen.
Svendsen, P. 1976. Collecting butterflies in Denmark. Entomologist’s Rec. J. Var. 88: 47-50.
Torstenius, S. 1971. Orodemnias cervini Fallou ssp. fridolini ssp.n. (Arctiidae). Ent. Tidsk. 92(3-4): 173-177.
During the Society’s move from the Alpine Club to its new headquarters at Dinton Pastures, the Torstenius collection was maintained and curated by Brad Ashby, allowing him to catalogue the collection and prepare this paper. The cabinets containing the collection are now at Dinton Pastures.
The following list of species is not a complete catalogue, rather it is a selection of interesting species, subspecies and races which will be of interest to British as well as European lepidopterists.
BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 7: 1994
SELECTION OF SPECIES IN THE TORSTENIUS COLLECTION
Drawer 1 Hepialidae 6 spp. Gazorycta (Hepialus) fuscoargentea B.-Haas; Torne lappmark. Cossidae 2 spp. Lamellocossus (Cossus) terebrus D. & S.; Uppland. Zygaenidae 8 spp. Zygaena minos D. & S.=diaphana Stdgr; Smaland, Oland, Skane.
Z. osterodensis Reiss.; Uppland.
Z. exulans Hochw. ssp. vanadis Palm.; Torne lappmark.
Z. viciae D. & S.=meliloti Esp. ssp. nigrina Beff.; Skane. Limacodidae 1 sp. Sesiidae 3 spp. Pennisetia (Bembecia) hylaeformis Lasp.; Uppland. Drawer 2
Hesperiidae 11 spp. Carterocephalus silvicolus Meig.; Uppland.
Pyrgus alveus Hiibn. ssp. scandinavicus Strand; Gotland.
P. armoricanus Ob.; Skane.
P. andromedae Wallgr.; Torne lappmark.
P. centaureae Ramb.; Lappland, Angermanland. Papilionidae 3 spp. Parnassius apollo L.; Uppland.
P. apollo L. ssp. linnaei Bryk.; Gotland.
P. mnemosyne L. ssp. romani Bryk.; Uppland.
Papilio machaon L. ssp. bigenerata Ver.; Gotland. Pieridae 12 spp. Colias hecla Lefeb.; Torne lappmark.
C. nastes Boisd.; Torne lappmark.
C. palaeno L.; Torne lappmark, Dalarna.
Drawer 3 Aporia crataegi L.; Halland, Uppland. Pieris napi L. ssp. bicolorata Pet.; Lappland, Jamtland. ssp. adalwinda Fruhst.; Torne lappmark. Lycaenidae 21 spp. Nordmannia ilicis Esp.; Skane.
Drawer 4 Lycaena helle D. & S.; Angermanland, Jamtland. Heodes virgaureae L.; Uppland, Skane. ssp. oranula Frr.; Norrbotten. Palaeochrysophanus hippothoe L. spp. stiberi Gerh.; Lappland. ssp. euridice Rott.; Skane. ssp. hippothoe L.; Uppland. Lycaeides idas L.; Uppland, Dalarna. f. lapponicus Gerh.; Torne lappmark. L. argyrognomon Bergstr.; Smaland. Aricia nicias Meigen ssp. scandica Wahl.; Halsingland, Gastrikland. Albulina orbitulus de Prunner; Jamtland; also a series from Norway in Drawer 5. Eumedonia eumedon Esp.; Uppland. ssp. praticola Burr.; Gotland. ssp. borealis Wahl.; Norrbotten. Agriades glandon de Prunn. ssp. aquilo Boisd.; Torne lappmark. Vacciniina optilete Knoch.; Uppland, Narke. ssp. cyparissus Hiibn.; Torne lappmark.
Drawer 5 ‘i Plebicula dorylas D. & S.; Skane. Oland, Gotland. Plebicula (Agrodiaetus) amanda Schn.; Oland, Uppland, Dalarna.
42
Drawer 5 (cont.)
Nymphalidae
Drawer 6
Drawer 7
Drawer 8 Satyridae
Drawer 9 Lasiocampidae
Saturniidae Lemoniidae
Drawer 10 Drepanidae Thyatiridae Geometridae
31 spp.
20 spp.
13 spp.
2 spp.
1 sp.
6 spp. 9 spp. 301 spp.
BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 7: 1994
Cyaniris semiargus Rott.; Uppland, Skane.
Glaucopsyche alexis Poda ssp. schneideri Stdgr.; Gastrikland. Maculinea alcon D. & S. ssp. rebeli Hirshke; Skane. Scolitantides orion Pall.; Uppland.
Euphydryas (Hypodryas) maturna L.; Uppland.
E. iduna Dalman; Torne lappmark.
Fabriciana niobe L.; Sodermanland, Uppland.
Brenthis ino Rott.; Jamtland, Gastrikland, Uppland. Boloria napaea Hffsgg.; Torne lappmark, Jamtland.
B. aquilonaris Stichel; Torne lappmark, Jamtland, Uppland.
Proclossiana eunomia Esp.; Torne lappmark, Dalarna, Angermanland.
Clossiana freija Thunb.; Torne lappmark.
C. polaris Boisd.; Torne lappmark.
C. thore Hubn. ssp. borealis Stdgr.; Torne lappmark.
C. frigga Thunb.; Torne lappmark, Lule lappmark.
C. improba Butler ssp. improbula Bryk.; Torne lappmark.
C. chariclea Schneider; Torne lappmark.
Melitaea diamina L.; Uppland, Skane.
Mellicta britomartis Assm.; Gastrikland, Uppland.
Lasiommata maera L.; Uppland. L. petropolitana F. ssp. ominata Krul.; S6dermanland. Lopinga achine Scop.; Gotland. Erebia embla Thunb.; Lule lappmark, Dalarna. E. pandrose Borkh.; Torne lappmark, Harjedalen. ssp. Jappona Thunb.; Torne lappmark. E. disa Thunb.; Torne lappmark. E. ligea L.; Gastrikland, Uppland. ssp. dovrensis Strd.; Torne lappmark. E. medusa D. & S. ssp. polaris Stdgr.; Finnmark, Norway. Oeneis norna Thunb.; Torne lappmark. O. bore Schn.; Torne lappmark. O. jutta Hiibn.; Lule lappmark, Dalarna, Uppland. Coenonympha hero L.; Dalarna. C. arcania L.; Uppland.
Eriogaster arbusculae Freyer; Harjedalen, Hjerkinn (Norway).
Dendrolimus pini .; Uppland.
Cosmotriche (Selenephera) lunigera Esp.; Torne lappmark, Sd6dermanland.
Aglia tau L.; Skane
Lemonia dumi L.; Uppland.
Drepana curvatula L.; Skane.
Achlya flavicornis L. ssp. finmarchica Schéy; Jamtland.
The systematic treatment of the Geometridae is contained in drawers 11-16. These were made up in 1978. Late additions (17 species) are in drawer 10.
BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 7: 1994
Drawer 10 (cont.)
Drawer 11
Drawer 12
Drawer 13
Drawer 14
Drawer 15
Scopula decorata D. & S.; Gotland.
Eulithis testata L. ssp. insulicola Stdgr.; Norrbotten. Ecliptopera capitata H.-S.; Uppland.
Selenia dentaria F., arctic form; Torne lappmark, Norrbotten. Lycia lapponaria Boisd.; Norway.
Jodis putata L.; Vasterbotten, Gastrikland, S6dermanland. Cyclophora quercimontaria Bastelb.; Uppland. Rhodostrophia vibicaria Cl.; Gastrikland, Uppland. Scopula incanata L.; Oland, Medelpad, Uppland. Idaea pallidata D. & S.; Angermanland, Gastrikland, Uppland. I. deversaria H.-S.; Skane. Lythria rotaria F.=purpuraria L.; Oland, Skane.
ssp. sordidaria Zett.; Skane.
Xanthorhoe abrasaria H.-S.; Torne lappmark. X. annotinata Zett.; Torne lappmark. Epirrhoe pupillata Thunb.; Uppland.
E. hastulata Hiibn.; Norrbotten, Uppland. Entephria polata Dup.; Torne lappmark.
E. byssata Aur.; Torne lappmark.
E. nobiliaria H.-S.; Torne lappmark.
Chloroclysta infuscata Tengst.; Torne lappmark, Uppland. C. latefasciata Stdgr.; Uppland.
Thera serraria Lien. & Zell.; Torne lappmark.
Colostygia aptata Hubn.; Halsingland.
C. turbata Hibn.; Torne lappmark.
Horisme aquata Hiibn.; Skane.
Rheumaptera subhastata Nolck.; Torne lappmark, Jamtland. Malacodea regelaria Tengstr.; Uppland, Sodermanland. Perizoma minorata Treits. f. borealis; Torne lappmark.
P. parallelolineata Retz.; Uppland.
Psychophora sabinii Kirby; Torne lappmark.
Baptria tibiale Esp.; Jamtland. (Drawer 16)
Eupithecia analoga Djak. = bilunulata Zett.; Jamtiand, GAstrikland.
. actaeata Wald.; Uppland, Sédermanland.
. orphnata W. Pet.; Oland. _
. sinuosaria Evers.; Smaland, Osterg6tland.
. gelidata Mosch. = hyperboreata Stdgr.; Torne lappmark. . innotata Hufn.; Oland, Skane.
. conterminata Lien. & Zell.; Uppland, S6dermanland. . lanceata Hiibn.; Uppland.
Aplocera praeformata Hiibn.; Finland.
Lithostege farinata Hufn.; Skane.
Nothocasis (Trichopteryx) sertata Hiibn.; Skane.
jeoMesMtsme oes esiles
Arichanna melanaria L.; Uppland, Gastrikland. Semiothisa signaria Hiibn.; Uppland.
“bd
Drawer 15 (cont.)
Drawer 16
Drawer 17 Sphingidae
Drawer 18 Notodontidae
Thaumetopoeidae
Drawer 19 Lymantriidae
Arctiidae
Drawer 20
Ctenuchidae Nolidae Noctuidae
Drawer 21
10 spp.
28 spp.
1 sp.
11 spp.
32 spp.
1 sp.
6 spp. 349 spp.
BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 7: 1994
Itame (Semiothisa) loricaria Evers.; Halsingland. Pygmaena fusca Thunb.; Torne lappmark, Jamtland. Hypoxystis pluviaria F.; Uppland.
Peribatodes secundaria D. & S., Skane.
Gnophos obfuscata D. & S.=myrtillata Hibn.; Uppland.
Parietaria vittaria Thunb. = Gnophos sordaria Thunb.; Torne lappmark.
Notodonta torva Hibn.; Dalarna, Uppland.
Odontosia sieversi Mén.; Uppland.
Pterostoma palpina Cl. ssp. lapponicum Teich.; Norrbotten. Pygaera timon Hiibn.; Smaland.
Clostera (Pygaera) anastomosis L.; Skane. Thaumetopoea pinivora Treits.; Gotland.
Teia (Orgyia) ericae Germ.; Skane.
Calliteara (Dasychira) abietis D. & S.; Uppland. Setina (Endrosa) roscida D. & S.
Eilema lutarella L.; Uppland, Gotland.
Setema (Eilema) cereola Hiibn.; Vastmanland.
Pararctia (Hyphoraia) lapponica Thunb.; Torne lappmark.
Hyphoraia aulica L.; Skane.
Grammia (Orodemnias) quenseli Payk.; Torne lappmark.
Dysauxes ancilla L.; Oland.
Nola karelica Tengst.; Gastrikland.
The systematic arrangement of the Noctuidae is contained in drawers 21-30 (1979). Late additions (12 species) are accommodated in drawer 20.
Agrotis luehri sp. n. Mentzer & Moberg (see References). Paratypes (6): Leirdalen, Norway.
Catocala pacta \..; Gotland.
Euxoa recussa Hiibn.; Uppland.
E. adumbrata Evers.; Oland.
E. vitta Esp.; Gotland.
Opigena polygona D. & S.; Uppland, Gotland, Oland.
Actinotia hyperici D. & S .; Ostergétland.
Chersotis cuprea D. & S.; - Uppland, Vastmanland.
Epipselia (Rhyacia) enivencens F. ssp. septentrionalis Fibiger; Uppland.
Spaelotis clandestina Harris = suecica Aur.; Gastrikland.
Coenophila (Eugraphe) subrosea Steph. ssp. subcaerulea Stdgr.; Vastmanland.
BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 7: 1994
Drawer 22
Drawer 23
Drawer 24
Drawer 25
Drawer 26
Xestia tecta Hiibn.; Torne lappmark.
X. kongsvoldensis Gronlein; Torne lappmark.
X. alpicola Zett. ssp. hyperborea Zett.; Torne lappmark.
X. ashworthii Doubl. ssp. burraui Nord.; Oland. ssp. jutonensis Schoy.; Uppland.
X. collina Boisd. ssp. kenteana Stdgr.; Varmland.
X. lyngei Rebel=Archanarta lankialai Gronblom; Torne lappmark.
X. (Anomogyna) laetabilis Zett.; Torne lappmark.
X. distensa Evers.; Norrbotten.
X. gelida Sparre-Schneider; Torne lappmark.
X. rhaetica Stdgr.; Halsingland.
X. borealis Nordstr.; Torne lappmark.
X. speciosa Hiibn.; Uppland. ssp. arctica Zett.; Torne lappmark.
Anomogyna caecimacula D. & S.; Uppland.
Protolampra (Cerastis) sobrina Dup.; Uppland, Vastmanland.
Mesogona oxalina Hibn.; Halland.
Lasionycta leucocycla Stdgr. = Lasiestra dovrensis Wocke; Torne lappmark; Nordland (Norway).
Polia (Anarta) richardsoni Curt.; Torne lappmark.
P. lamuta Herz = Anarta asiatica Stdgr. ssp. rangnowi Ping.; Torne lappmark.
Sympistis heliophila Payk. = melaleuca Thunb.; Torne lappmark.
S. lapponica Thunb.; Torne lappmark.
S. zetterstedti Stdgr.; Torne lappmark.
S. funebris Hiibn.; Torne lappmark, Lule lappmark.
Anartomima sedescens Walk. = bohemanni Stdgr.; Torne lappmark.
Lasionycta skraelingia H.-S., Torne lappmark.
L. proxima Hiibn.; Uppland.
Eriopygodes imbecilla F.; Gastrikland.
Hadena filograna Esp. = filigrama Esp. ssp. xanthocyanea Htibn.; Oland. Cucullia argentea Hufn.; Skane.
Cucullia lucifuga D. & S.; Ostergétland.
Hillia iris Zett.; Lycksele lappmark; Nordland (Norway).
Lithophane consocia Borkh. = ingrica H.-S.; Angermaniand, Uppland.
Staurophora (Calotaena) celsia L.; Ostergdtland, Uppland.
Polymixis (Antitype) gemmea Treits.; Uppland, S6dermaniand.
P. polymita L.; Uppland.
Conistra rubiginosa Scop. = vau-punctatum Esp.; Uppland, Ostergétland.
Agrochola nitida D. & S.; Oland, Uppland.
46
Drawer 27
Drawer 28
Drawer 29
Drawer 30
BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 7: 1994
Acronicta cuspis Hiibn.; Uppland. Cryphia raptricula D. & S.; Uppland. Amphipyra perflua F.; Smaland.
Apamea maillardi Gey. ssp. schildei Stdgr.; Nordland (Norway). See Goater and Mikkola in references.
A. zeta Treits. ssp. marmorata Zett.; Nordland (Norway). See Goater and Mikkola in references.
A. lateritia Hufn.; Uppland, Oland.
A. furva D. & S.; Uppland, Oland.
A. illyria Freyer; Uppland, Sédermanland, Smaland.
A, rubrirena Treits.; Uppland.
Hydraecia nordstroemi Horke; Uppland, Oland.
Calamia tridens Hufn.; Gotland, Halland.
Phragmitiphila (Nonagria) nexa Hiibn.; Narke.
Platyperigia montana Brem. = Caradrina cinerascens Tengst.; Uppland.
Paradrina (Caradrina) seleni Boisd.; Uppland.
Athetis gluteosa Treits.; Norway, Gotland.
A. lepigone Mosch. ssp. fennica Ndsm.; Vasterbotten.
Eublemma minutata F.=noctualis Hiibn. ssp. egestosa Drt.; Skane.
Nycteola degenerana Hiibn.; Uppland, S6dermanland.
Panthea coenobita Esp.; Skane.
Macdunnoughia confusa Steph.; Uppland, S6dermanland.
Lamprotes c-aureum Knoch; Skane.
Autographa macrogamma Evers.; Norrbotten.
A. mandarina Freyer; Uppland (Drawer 20).
Syngrapha microgamma Hiibn.; S6dermanland.
S. hochenwarthii Hochw.; Norway.
S. diasema Boisd.; Norway.
Abrostola asclepiadis D. & S.; Oland, Uppland.
Lygephila viciae Hiibn.; Sédermanland, Ostergétland. Polypogon (Herminia) tentacularia L.; Uppland (Drawer 20). P. tentacularia L. ssp. modestalis Heyd.; Torne lappmark. Paracolax tristalis F.= Herminia glaucinalis D. & S.; Uppland.
IN MEMORIAM
We regret to announce the death of Mr C. B. Ashby, shortly after the receipt of this article in January 1994. Mr Ashby was a trustee of the BENHS and an active member. The funeral, at which the Society was represented, was held on 21 January. A full obituary will appear in a future issue of the Journal.
BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 7: 1994
SHORT DISTANCE FORM FREQUENCY DIFFERENCES IN MELANIC LEPIDOPTERA ACROSS HABITAT BOUNDARIES
TAMSIN FRAIERS Downing College, Cambridge University, Regent Street, Cambridge CB2 1DQ. TOM BOYLES Emmanuel College, Cambridge University, St Andrew’s Street, Cambridge CB2 3AP. CARYS JONES AND MICHAEL MAJERUS*
Department of Genetics, Cambridge University, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EH.
The evolution of industrial melanism in the peppered moth, Biston betularia (L.), is considered to be a classic example of evolution in action. The primary selective agent involved has been shown to be differential bird predation, the melanic morph f. carbonaria being more cryptic in heavily polluted regions, but less cryptic than the typical form in relatively unpolluted areas (Kettlewell, 1955a, 1956). Mani (1990) has successfully shown by computer simulation that fitness differences between the forms estimated from bird predation experiments provide good agreement with geographic differences in the frequencies of the forms, at least on a coarse scale.
Recent work on melanic polymorphism in other species of Lepidoptera has shown that the frequencies of melanic forms may change abruptly and significantly over very short distances across habitat boundaries. Kearns and Majerus (1987) showed that the frequencies of melanic forms of Alcis repandata (L.) and Semiothisa liturata (Clerck), taken in a moth trap under a close plantation conifer canopy, in Dyfed, Wales, were significantly higher than in a moth trap some 50 yards away in open deciduous woodland. Similar results have subsequently been obtained for Agriopis marginaria (F.) (Majerus, 1989) in Hampshire, A. repandata, Peribatodes rhomboidaria (D. & S.) and Idaea aversata (L.), in Surrey (Jones ef a/., in press), and Chloroclysta truncata (Hufn.), Thera obeliscata (Hiibn.), Thera firmata (Htibn.) and Noctua pronuba L., in Gloucestershire (Aldridge ef a/., 1993).
We here provide data from a short period of moth trapping at Box Hill, Surrey showing that morph specific frequency differences over short distances occur in many, but not all, species of moth with melanic forms. In so doing we extend the list of species in which significant habitat-related frequency differences have been recorded, and provide the first data showing species in which such differences do not occur.
METHODS
Trapping was carried out from 22.vi to 2.vii.1992, between approximately 21.30 p.m. and 1.00a.m., in Juniper Bottom, Box Hill, Surrey.
Juniper Bottom is an east-west running valley with mature yew woodland along its sides. The canopy of the wood is extremely dense leading to a very dark under-canopy with virtually no ground cover, except under occasional broad-leaf trees, such as whitebeam, and below breaks in the canopy caused by the blowdowns of October 1987. This sparse ground cover consists mainly of dog’s mercury.
*Author for correspondence.
48 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 7: 1994
The bottom of the valley is separated from the yew slopes by a sharply defined, thick, mixed broad-leaf natural hedge. This provides a sharp habitat boundary between the darkness inside the wood and the light of the open valley floor. The valley floor is characterized by short, partly rabbit-cropped, chalk grassland. (For further details of the vegetation types see Jones ef al., 1993.)
The traps used were 100-W mercury vapour discharge bulbs set on ‘dustbin’ traps. They were set in pairs across the habitat boundary approximately 27 m apart and with 77 m between each pair.
Nine species with melanic forms were scored as typical, half-melanic, melanic or dark banded according to morph phenotype. For Apamea monoglypha (Hufn.), which displayed continuous variation, the morphs were graded from | to 5, lightest to darkest respectively, using representative standard individuals of each class for comparison. Similarly, for Hydriomena furcata (Thunb.), many different morphs were seen. They were recorded according to colour (yellow, green or pink), pattern (speckled or banded), strength of pattern and whether they were melanic, half-melanic or typical (absence of large areas of black). For statistical analysis only melanic, half melanic and typical classes were considered. The numbers of three species, N. pronuba, Craniophora ligustri (D. & S.) and B. betularia were too small for any meaningful analysis to be performed or deductions to be drawn, and results for these three are not included.
RESULTS AND ANALYSIS
The results for six species are given in Table 1. The data were analysed using heterogeneity chi-squared analysis. (The chi-squared test determines the probability
Table 1. The numbers of moths of different forms of six species taken in yew woodland or in chalk grassland at Juniper Bottom from 22.vi to 2.vii.1992. Data from the three traps set each night in the yew woodland are totalled. Similarly the data from the three traps set in chalk grassland each night are totalled.
Peribatodes rhomboidaria Typical Melanic Total Yew woodland 85 66 151 Chalk grassland 46 8 54 Alcis repandata Typical Half-melanic Melanic Banded Total Yew woodland 47 97 16 13 173 Chalk grassland 43 39 11 5 98 Ectropis bistortata Typical Half-melanic Melanic Total Yew woodland 17 5 6 28 Chalk grassland 35 2 5 42 Idaea aversata Unbanded Banded Total Yew woodland 34 13 47 Chalk grassland 17 3 20 Apamea monoglypha Darkest <== (Class = Lightest
5 4 3 2 1 Total Yew woodland 1 0 10 4 7) 17 Chalk grassland 2 2 13 9 0 26 Hydriomena furcata Typical Half-melanic Melanic Total Yew woodland 22 5 25 oy
Chalk grassland 27 8 18 53
BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 7: 1994 £9
that a particular deviation, in an observed data set, from the expectation based on a scientific hypothesis, for example that the frequencies of typical and melanic P. rhomboidaria should be the same in yew woodland and chalk grassland, could occur by chance sampling error.) The comparisons tested, the chi-squared values, degrees of freedom and corresponding probabilities are given in Table 2.
The data from P. rhomboidaria and A. repandata confirm the findings of Jones et al. (1993). In P. rhomboidaria, significantly more melanics were taken under the yew canopy than in the chalk grassland. (In this context, significant is used as a technical statistical term, meaning that the likelihood that a particular deviation from expectation is less than one in twenty, if the usual significant level (P) of 0.05 is set.) In A. repandata, the relative frequencies of the half-melanic, melanic and banded forms were homogeneous in the two habitats, with the frequencies of all three being higher under the yew canopy than in chalk grassland. However, the frequency of the typical form when compared to the three darker morphs was significantly higher in the chalk grassland than under the yew canopy.
In the case of /. aversata, the frequency of the banded form was higher in the yew traps than in the chalk grassland traps, but not significantly so. However, the data are not significantly different from those obtained by Jones ef a/. (1993), when trapping at Juniper Bottom, in 1990 (data given in Table 3 for convenience) either under the yew (x; =0.070; P>0.05), or in the chalk grassland (x7 = 0.700; P>0.05).
The frequencies of darker forms (half-melanic and melanic) of Ectropis bistortata (Goeze) were significantly higher inside the yew woodland than in the chalk grassland.
Conversely, the frequencies of the darker grades (classes 3, 4 and 5) of A. monoglypha, did not differ significantly from those of the paler grades in the two habitats. In H. furcata, the frequency of full melanics in the yew traps was
Table 2. Analysis of data, giving chi-squared (x7) values, degrees of freedom (d.f.) and probabilities (P) (ns = non-significant).
x rc ha P
P. rhomboidaria Typical vs melanic, yew vs grass: 14.40 l <0.001
A. repandata
All forms, yew vs grass: 9.352 3 <0.05 Melanic vs half-melanic, yew vs grass: 1.610 l ns Melanic + half-melanic vs banded, yew vs grass: 0.064 l ns Melanic + half-melanic + banded vs typical, yew vs grass: 7.869 l <0.05 E. bistortata
Melanic + half-melanic vs typical, yew vs grass: 4.500 1 <0.05 I. aversata
Typical vs banded, yew vs grass: 1.237 l ns A. monoglypha
Classes 1+2 vs classes 3+4+5, yew vs grass: 0.002 ] ns
H. furcata Typical + half-melanic vs melanic, yew vs grass: ARIST / ] ns
50 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 7: 1994
Table 3. Numbers of two forms of /. aversata taken in paired m.v. light traps at Juniper Bottom, Box Hill, Surrey, 22.vi-6.vii.1990. Traps of a pair were sited 20 m apart, one inside and one outside mature yew woodland. (From Jones ef al., 1993.)
Unbanded Banded Total Inside yew 51 27 78 Outside yew 23 3 26
The banded form is the nominate form. The unbanded form is f. remutata. Test of unbanded vs banded, inside vs outside yew woodland: xX; =5.05, P<0.05.
higher than in the chalk grassland, the converse being the case for both the typical and half-melanic classes, but the differences were very slight.
DISCUSSION
Jones et al. (1993) suggested two possible causes for the presence of higher frequencies of melanic and dark banded forms under dark canopies than in more open habitats. Either, as a result of selective predation by birds in the past, morph-specific habitat preferences have evolved so that their degree of crypsis and thus protection from visually hunting predators is maximized. Alternatively, in the absence of such preferences, continual bird predation, by eliminating light forms in dark habitats, and dark forms in open habitats, may maintain the frequency differences year on year. Several authors make the assertion that the latter is an unlikely explanation because the level of differential bird predation would have to be very high to maintain abrupt frequency differences over such short distances (Majerus, 1989; Jones ef al., 1993; Aldridge et al., 1993). However, Jones (1993) has shown that sharp clines in morph frequencies may be maintained by relatively weak differential bird predation, as long as dispersal distances are not high.
Aldridge et al. (1993) put forward a third hypothesis, namely that differential habitat selection has evolved for reasons not associated with bird predation and the degree of crypsis. They note, as a possibility, that the night temperature would generally be higher under closed woodland canopies than in the open. As the degree of irradiation from a surface is at least in part dependent on its colour, a dark surface radiating heat faster than a pale one, they suggest that melanics may be at a disadvantage if they fly in cooler more open situations. However, in this context it must also be pertinent to ask why some species appear not to show morph-related habitat selection.
While the data available are not sufficient to allow more than speculation on the three alternative explanations of the data, consideration of the origin and genetic control of melanism in the species which do, and those which do not show abrupt frequency differences, may be informative. In all the species in which sharp morph frequency differences over short distances have been recorded previously, the melanism is thought to be controlled by one or two genetic loci, and to be of relatively ancient origin (Jones ef al., 1993; Aldridge et a/., 1993). This is significant because Howlett (1989) has demonstrated that morph-specific behavioural differences will take substantial amounts of time to evolve. The likelihood of morph-specific habitat preferences evolving will thus increase with time, and be more frequent in species in which melanism is of relatively ancient origin.
In E. bistortata, Kettlewell (1973) cites melanism as being ‘? industrial’, from a number of sites in southern England and Wales. The inheritance of melanism
BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 7: 1994
is not noted, but progeny from a number of crosses suggest that half-melanics and melanics are controlled by separate single loci, with their respective alleles both dominant to the typical alleles (Majerus, unpublished). Jones (1993) questions Kettlewell’s suggestion that melanism in £. bistortata is industrial in origin, noting the occurrence of melanic individuals from a number of rural regions.
In both A. monoglypha and H. furcata, Kettlewell (1973) reports the existence of ancient, non-industrial melanics. In neither species has the inheritance of the colour pattern variation been analysed, but the continuous variation in A. monoglypha is likely to be under polygenic control, with the darkest form, f. aethiops Tutt (not present in the Juniper Bottom samples), possibly being due to a single gene showing incomplete dominance (Kettlewell, 1973). In H. furcata preliminary analysis suggests at least five gene loci are involved, three of these respectively controlling ground colour, flecking, banding, and two affecting melanism (Majerus, unpublished data). That the genetic control of melanism in the two species which do not show sharp morph-specific frequency changes is more complex than that in any of the species which do show this phenomenon, raises the possibility that the mode of inheritance of melanism, as well as its time orgin, may be important in the evolution of morph-specific habitat preferences. If the mechanism by which a particular type of behaviour (such as actively preferring a particular habitat) becomes associated with a specific phenotype is because the genes controlling the behaviour and the phenotype are tightly linked, as suggested by Howlett (1989), such linkage may only be possible if melanism is controlled by one or two gene loci. In species where melanism is controlled polygenically, it may be that morph-specific habitat preferences and morph-specific resting site preferences can only evolve if choice is made through a mechanism such as Kettlewell’s (1955b) contrast-conflict hypothesis of resting site selection. That is to say if a moth’s behaviour is dependent on its own perception of its phenotype.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We wish to express our thanks to the National Trust for permitting us to trap in Juniper Bottom and John Bebbington, the staff of Juniper Hall field centre and the Field Studies Council for providing facilities at Juniper Hall. Liam Cox, Sarah Hunt, Clare Mason, Catherine Martin, Bryony Green and Clare Dornan assisted with moth trapping. June Hunt typed the manuscript. Tamsin Majerus corrected the manuscript. Carys Jones is supported by an SERC Quota Award. Michael Majerus is the recipient of an NERC grant.
REFERENCES
Aldridge, D., Jones, C. W., Mahar, E. & Majerus, M. E. N. 1993. Differential habitat selection in polymorphic Lepidoptera in the Forest of Dean. Entomologist’s Rec. J. Var. 105: 203-214.
Howlett, R. J. 1989. The genetics and evolution of rest site preference in the Lepidoptera. Ph.D. thesis. Cambridge University.
Jones, C. W. 1993. Habitat selection in polymorphic Lepidoptera. Ph.D. thesis. Cambridge University.
Jones, C. W., Majerus, M. E. N. & Timmins, R. 1993. Differential habitat selection in polymorphic Lepidoptera. Entomologist 112: 118-126.
Kearns, P. W. E. & Majerus, M. E. N. 1987. Differential habit selection in the Lepidoptera: a note on deciduous versus coniferous woodland habitats. Entomologist’s Rec. J. Var. 99: 103-106.
Kettlewell, H. B. D. 1955a. Selection experiments on industrial melanism in the Lepidoptera. Heredity 9: 323-342.
52 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 7: 1994
Kettlewell, H. B. D. 1955b. Recognition of appropriate backgrounds by pale and black phases of the Lepidoptera. Nature 175: 943.
Kettlewell, H. B. D. 1956. Further selection experiments on industrial melanism in the Lepidoptera. Heredity 10: 287-301.
Kettlewell, H. B. D. 1973. The evolution of melanism. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
Majerus, M. E. N. 1989. Melanic polymorphism in the peppered moth, Biston betularia, and other Lepidoptera. J. Biol. Educ. 23: 267-284.
Mani, G. S. 1990. Theoretical models of melanism in Biston betularia—a review. Biol. J. Linn. Soc. 39: 355-371.
SHORT COMMUNICATION
Bryoporus rugipennis Pandellé (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) in Northern England.— This rare montane beetle is mostly known from the north of Scotland, but it has also now been found at three English localities. Day (1923) mentions a record by Donisthorpe from Skiddaw, and K. Houston collected four females in pitfall traps at Cow Green, Upper Teesdale, County Durham in 1967 and 1968. The site is now under the reservoir. These four were identified for Houston by R. C. W. in 1974, but the record has never been published. Two were found in ‘‘Calluna grassland on glacial drift overlying Melmerby Limestone’’ (NY814303), the other two in Festuca ovina L. grassland (NY814303). The traps were in operation from late May to late July.
More recently, a single specimen was found by K. N. A. A. in an area of blanket peat bog at 670m on the summit ridge about Scar Crags (NY207206), to the west of Causey Pike in the Derwent Fells, Cumbria, 29.vii.1992. The vegetation here is of a typical undegraded high level blanket bog type, with a good cover of the dwarf shrubs Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull, Vaccinium myrtillus L., and Empetrum nigrum L., plus some V. vitis-idaea L., within a matrix of Eriophorum and Juncus Squarrosus L.
The information gathered for the forthcoming Review of the scarce and threatened Coleoptera of Great Britain, Part 2 (Mark Parsons, pers. comm.) so far includes recent Scottish records only from Mid-Perth, S. Aberdeen, Easterness and Wester Ross vice-counties, with older records additionally from Stirlingshire and Elgin. Another unpublished record known to R. C. W. is of three taken in water traps by David Horsfield on 11.vii.1982, at Meall a’Chrasgaith (NH186734) Fannich Hills SSSI, Wester Ross. The traps were placed on ‘‘rocky Rhacomitrium health’’ at 883 m altitude. It is also worth noting that R. C. W. never came across B. rugipennis himself during several years of intensive collecting in the Cairngorms and sorties to many other Scottish peaks. R. C. W. also identified all the Staphylinidae collected by R. Goodier in Snowdonia and no specimens of B. rugipennis were discovered.
K. N. A. A. would like to thank John Owen for his identification of the specimen of B. rugipennis and Mark Parsons for access to the as yet unpublished national review.—Keith N. A. Alexander, National Trust, 33 Sheep Street, Cirencester, Gloucestershire GL7 1QW, and R. C. Welch, Institute of Terrestrial Ecology, Monks’ Wood, Abbots Ripton, Huntingdon, PE17 2LS.
REFERENCE
Day, F. H. 1923. The Coleoptera of Cumberland, Part III. Trans. Carlisle Nat. Hist. Soc. 3; 70=107%
BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 7: 1994
THE CURRENT STATUS OF THE LESSER MOTTLED GRASSHOPPER, STENOBOTHRUS STIGMATICUS (RAMBUR) ON THE ISLE OF MAN
ANDREW CHERRILL
Department of Agricultural and Environmental Science, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Porter Building, St Thomas Street, Newcastle upon Tyne NEI 7RU.
The discovery of the lesser mottled grasshopper, Stenobothrus stigmaticus (Rambur), on the Isle of Man in 1962 was a surprise (Ragge, 1963). Although present in Northern France, the Low Countries and Scandinavia, the grasshopper has not been recorded from any other site in the British Isles. The mystery of the origin of the population on the Isle of Man is discussed by Ragge (1963, 1965) and Burton (1965, 1990). A more immediate practical concern, however, is the lack of quantitative information on the grasshopper’s habitat requirements on the island. In 1990, a proposal to extend an existing golf course over much of the grasshopper’s site highlighted the importance of such basic data. In late July of that year I visited the island to assess the situation at first hand (Cherrill, 1990), returning in early August 1993 to review subsequent developments. This article reports on these field visits and makes tentative suggestions for the species’ conservation.
IDENTIFICATION OF S. STIGMATICUS
S. stigmaticus is an inconspicuous green grasshopper, with brownish wings. The most obvious characteristics separating it from other members of the British fauna are its small size and the presence of a tooth on each valve of the ovipositor in females (Ragge, 1965; Marshall & Haes, 1988). In the British Isles, the latter characteristic is shared only by females of Stenobothrus lineatus (Panz.) which measure 17—23 mm in length, compared to a length of 12-15 mm for adult females of S. stigmaticus. The dimensions of a number of grasshopper specimens collected by the author on the Isle of Man in July 1990 are shown in Table 1. Although the numbers of specimens of each species are low, it is evident that the small overall size of S. stigmaticus can be attributed largely to its relatively short wings. Along other dimensions, S. stigmaticus is as large or larger than co-occurring specimens of Myrmeleotettix maculatus (Thunb.). Both species are considerably smaller than the common field grasshopper, Chorthippus brunneus (Thunb.).
DISTRIBUTION
On the Isle of Man, the grasshopper occurs solely on and in the vicinity of the Langness Peninsula which forms the South Eastern tip of the island. The peninsula, which is approximately 2.5 km long and 0.5 km wide, supports a number of historical landmarks including the Sea Mark (usually called the Herring Tower), the Powder House, ancient earthworks and a working lighthouse (Fig. 1). With the exception of a raised beach and small areas of sand-dune and salt-marsh on its western side, the peninsula’s shore-line is steeply rocky. The peninsula is renowed for its aesthetic appeal and is an important site for breeding birds. The peninsula lies within an ornithological reserve, but otherwise neither the peninsula nor the grasshopper currently enjoys special protection under Manx law.
The landward half of the peninsula is dominated by a golf course on sand-dunes and blown sand. The seaward portion supports substantial outcrops of slate,
54
BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 7: 1994
Table 1. Mean linear dimensions of adult grasshoppers collected on Langness Peninsula in July 1990 (all measurements in mm, with standard deviation in parentheses).
Species Sexeneg Head Pronotum Fore-wing Hind-femur Body M. maculatus M 5 1.96 (0.16) 2.16 (0.15) 8.33 (0.66) 7.20 (0.54) 12.45 (0.94) F 14 2.28 (0.11) 2.50 (0.12) 10.14 (0.48) 8.37 (0.42) 14.92 (0.57) S. stigmaticus M 12 1.91 (0.21) 2.20 (0.12) 6.76 (0.28) 7.37 (0.48) 10.88 (0.41) F 14 2.39 (0.11) 2.88 (0.14) 8.24 (0.62) 9.11 (0.60) 13.51 (0.71) C. brunneus M 12 2.22 (0.19) 2.17 (0.21) 12.54 (0.41) 9.29 (9.55) 17.46 (0.64) F 11 3.07 (0.24) 3.62 (0.17) 15.77 (0.78) 12.20 (0.65) 22.46 (0.90)
former agricultural land (now reverting to rough grassland) and extensive areas of unimproved vegetation (Garrad, 1972; Allen, 1984). The latter include maritime grassland and heath. In addition to supporting a diversity of invertebrates (Luff, 1990), these plant communities are of some conservation value in their own right.
Fig. 1. Map of Langness Peninsula, showing the distribution of S. stigmaticus in July 1990 (hatched areas), the golf course (stippled areas) and other features mentioned in the text: 1 Ronaldsway airport; 2 Derby Haven; 3 Sandwick; 4 Kiln and Smelt House (ruins); 5 Hotel; 6 Langness Farm (ruins); 7 car park (open symbol), earthwork (broken line) and Powder House (filled circle); 8 Herring Tower; 9 Lighthouse; 10 The Arches; 11 Dreswick Point.
BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 7: 1994
In the European context, the Ulex gallii/Calluna vulgaris heath is a scarce vegetation type (NCC, 1989).
Happily, in 1990, I found the grasshopper to be widely distributed over the peninsula. Although most areas of maritime grassland and heath were occupied, densities appeared to be greatest in the seaward half of the peninsula, and especially around rocky outcrops. In the landward half of the peninsula, the grasshopper occurred only along the eastern edge of the golf course, where maritime turf and heath were restricted to a narrow strip of rocky outcrops and slopes above the shore. Here, and elsewhere, the grasshopper occurred on the edges of cliffs and to within several metres of high water. Evidently, the species is tolerant of vegetation receiving considerable quantities of sea spray. However, in contrast to its occurrence in these exposed conditions, the grasshopper was apparently absent from the golf course and areas of tall grassland in the centre of the peninsula (including areas of former arable land).
Isolated colonies recorded previously (Burton, 1965) on the edge of the golf course near Derby Haven could not be located. However, in some measure of compensation, the grasshopper was found in a narrow strip of fore-dune (measuring roughly 200 m by 20m), sandwiched between the golf course and the shingle beach at Sandwick in Castletown Bay (Fig. 1). This site represents the first record of S. stigmaticus landward of the peninsula’s narrow neck.
Due to the proximity of Sandwick to Ronaldsway Airport, and the uncertainty as to the species’ origin on the island, the opportunity was taken to search the abandoned Second World War hangar areas, runway aprons and grasslands within the airport’s perimeter. A careful search of the southern coastal fringe between Douglas Head (OS grid reference SC382742) and The Chasms (SC192665) was also undertaken (Cherrill, 1990). Both searches, conducted in July 1990, drew a blank, despite ideal weather and seemingly suitable vegetation at many sites. The three other species of grasshopper recorded from the island were widespread. Of these, M. maculatus and C. brunneus were found to occur with S. stigmaticus on the peninsula and at Sandwick. The third species, Omocestus viridulus (L.), was recorded in the vicinity of Derby Haven in the late 1960s (Dr Garrad pers. comm.), but now seems to be absent from the areas occupied by S. stigmaticus.
Overall, my observations on the distribution of S. stigmaticus were encouraging, with the species occurring more widely than was previously thought. Nonetheless, closer consideration of the species’ habitat requirements suggests that there may be little cause for complacency amongst those seeking to secure the future of the grasshopper on the Isle of Man.
HABITAT REQUIREMENTS
In Continental Europe, S. stigmaticus occurs in a range of habitats, including sheep pasture, moorland and woodland glades. However, only the driest, warmest sites with short turf are occupied (Harz, 1975; Bellmann, 1988; van Wingerden & Bongers, 1989; van Wingerden ef al., 1991a, 1991b, 1992). Holst (1986) notes that S. stigmaticus occurs at sites similar to, but warmer and drier than, those favoured by the congeneric species, S. lineatus. This observation serves to emphasize the curious isolation of S. stigmaticus on the Isle of Man, because in Britain S. /ineatus is restricted to Southern England. Nonetheless, the ecological requirements of S. stigmmaticus at Langness and in Continental Europe appear to be broadly similar.
My observations on Langness peninsula suggest that S. stigmaticus is never found far from short turf (usually less than 5-10 cm tall) and reaches high densities only
56 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 7: 1994
where extensive areas of such turf are present (often with a mixture of sparse grass tussocks or heather bushes). Areas dominated by heather (Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull and Erica cinerea L.) and western gorse (Ulex gallii Planchon) were occupied, but densities appeared to be lower than in more open grassy areas. Densities were particularly high in short maritime turf on the Arches, and along the shore south of the lighthouse at Dreswick Point. Towards the centre of the peninsula densities were greatest around slate outcrops (and especially near the Powder House). At Sandwick the grasshopper occupied an area of short turf, again with only a scattering of grass tussocks.
The floristic composition of the vegetation occupied by S. stigmaticus differed greatly between Sandwick and the peninsula, yet its distribution in relation to sward height appeared to be similar. Information on sward structure is difficult to convey without quantitative data. In these circumstances, the distribution of S. stigmaticus can perhaps be described most effectively via comparison with the better known habitat preferences of the two co-occurring species, M. maculatus and C. brunneus. The former species is known to occur exclusively within areas of very short turf (Marshall & Haes, 1988), while the requirements of C. brunneus are more complex. The early juvenile stages of C. brunneus occur predominantly in areas of short turf, while the later stages are associated with tussocky grass (Richards & Waloff, 1954; Atkinson & Begon, 1988). In comparison with these two species, S. stigmaticus was observed to be intermediate in its habitat preferences. Thus, while S. stigmaticus was associated with patches of short turf, this relationship was not as pronounced as that exhibited by M. maculatus. Conversely, S. stigmaticus was rarely found in the taller vegetation occupied by adult C. brunneus.
If my interpretation of the species’ habitat requirements is correct, the species’ absence from short turf on the golf course requires explanation. The most likely cause is the disturbance associated with maintenance of the fairways and playing activity. It is possible that an intensive search of the ‘rough’ would reveal small colonies surviving on remnants of heath, but the golf course as a whole appears to offer a sub-optimal habitat for S. stigmaticus.
THREATS TO THE SPECIES’ SURVIVAL ON THE ISLE OF MAN
In 1990 a proposal for the extension of the existing Langness golf course into the seaward section of the peninsula was rejected at public enquiry. Whilst many long-established golf courses are valuable wildlife refuges (NCC, 1990), the applicants’ submission that wildlife may actually benefit from the further development of Langness peninsula (RPS Clouston, 1990) gained little credence. Despite this judgement, the future of the lesser mottled grasshopper is yet to be secured unequivocally. By the time the inspector’s decision was given, the owners of Langness had already ceased livestock grazing on the peninsula several years previously. At the time of my visit in August 1993, this traditional means of managing the vegetation of the peninsula had not been reinstated with the result that many areas of turf, which supported S. stigmaticus in 1990, now appeared to be too tall for the species. Unfortunately, poor weather in 1993 prevented a direct reassessment of the species’ distribution.
At Sandwick, and along the rocky shores of Langness peninsula, environmental conditions alone may be sufficient to maintain an open sward of low growing plants. Towards the mid-line of the peninsula, however, S. stigmaticus appears vulnerable to shading from unchecked growth of the vegetation. In the continued absence of grazing, the build up of dead plant material presents an additional risk from uncontrolled heath fires.
BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 7: 1994 $7
THE FUTURE
In conclusion, the little information available suggests that ensuring the continued presence of S. stigmaticus on the Isle of Man will require careful monitoring of both the species’ distribution and the state of its habitat. Preliminary field observations at Langness, indicate that the species’ primary requirements is for areas of short turf, perhaps interspersed with sparse tussocks or heather clumps. At the time of writing, grazing has yet to be reinstated and the future management of Langness is uncertain. Resolution of the problem hinges on the success of long-running negotiations between Manx National Heritage (the island’s governmental body with responsibility for nature conservation) and the owners of Langness.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Thanks are due to Manx National Heritage, and to Larch Garrad and Nick Pinder for their assistance and hospitality during my time on the Isle of Man. Thanks are also due to the staff of Ronaldsway Airport for allowing access to restricted areas in 1990.
REFERENCES
Allen, D. E. 1984. Flora of the Isle of Man. Manx Museum and National Trust, Douglas.
Atkinson, D. & Begon, M. 1988. Changes in grasshopper distribution and abundance at sites in the north Merseyside sand dunes. Naturalist 113: 3-19.
Bellmann, H. 1988. A field guide to the grasshoppers and crickets of Britain and northern Europe. Collins, London.
Burton, J. F. 1965. Notes on the Orthoptera of the Isle of Man with special reference to Stenobothrus stigmaticus (Rambur) (Acrididae). Entomologist’s Mon. Mag. 100(1964): 193-197.
Burton, J. F. 1990. The mystery of the Isle of Man’s endangered grasshopper. British Wildlife 2: 37-41.
Cherrill, A. J. 1990. A survey of the grasshoppers of the Isle of Man, with particular reference to the distribution, biology and conservation of Stenobothrus stigmaticus (Rambur) on Langness Peninsula. Unpublished report to the Manx Museum and Natural Trust.
Garrad, L. S. 1972. The naturalist in the Isle of Man. Newton Abbot.
Harz, K. 1975. The Orthoptera of Europe IT. Series Ent. 11, W. Junk, The Hague.
Holst, K. 1986. The Saltatoria of northern Europe. Fauna Ent. Scand. 12. E. J. Brill/Scandinavian Science Press, Copenhagen.
Luff, M. L. 1990. An entomological survey of the Langness peninsula, Isle of Man. Proc. I. O. M. Nat. Hist. Antiqu. Soc. 9: 565-586.
Marshall, J. A. & Haes, E. C. M. 1988. Grasshoppers and allied insects of Great Britain and Ireland. Harley, Colchester.
Nature Conservancy Council. 1989. Guidelines for the selection of biological SSSIs. Nature Conservancy Council, Peterborough.
Nature Conservancy Council. 1990. On course conservation—managing golf’s natural heritage. Nature Conservancy Council, Peterborough.
Ragge, D. R. 1963. First record of the grasshopper Srenobothrus stigmaticus (Rambur) (Acrididae) in the British Isles, with other new distribution records and notes on the origin of the British Orthoptera. Entomologist 96: 211-217.
Ragge, D. R. 1965. Grasshoppers, crickets and cockroaches of the British Isles. Warne, London.
Richards, O. W. & Waloff, N. 1954. Studies on the biology and population dynamics of British grasshoppers. Anti-Locust Bull. 17: 1-182.
58 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 7: 1994
RPS Clouston. 1990. Langness Peninsula. Ecological evidence given on behalf of the Palace Group. RPS Clouston, Oxon.
Van Wingerden, W. K. R. E. & Bongers, W. 1989. De verspreiding van Stenobothrus stigmaticus (Rambur) 1839 (Orthoptera, Acrididae) in relatie tot de vegetatiestructuur van Deschampsia flexuosa bij begrazing. Nieuwsbrief Saltabel 2: 20-27.
Van Wingerden, W. K. R. E., van Kreveld, A. R. & Bongers, W. 1992. Analysis of species composition and fannie of grasshoppers (Orthoptera, ee in natural and fertilised grasslands. J. Appl. Ent. 113: 138-152.
Van Wingerden, K. R. E., Musters, J. C. M., Kleukers, R. M. J. C., Bongers, W. & van Biezen, J. B. 1991a. The influence of cattle grazing intensity on grasshopper abundance (Orthoptera: Acrididae). Proc. Exp. Appl. Ent. 2: 28-34.
Van Wingerden, W. K. R. E., Musters, J. C. M. & Maaskamp, F. I. M. 1991b. The influence of temperature on the duration of egg development in West European grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Acrididae). Oecologia 87: 417-423.
BOOK REVIEW
Hoverflies, by Francis S. Gilbert, with plates by Steven J. Falk, 67pp, 68 half-tone figures & line drawings, 4 colour plates, Naturalist’s Handbooks 5, Revised 2nd edition, Richmond Publishing Co Ltd, Slough, 1993, ISBN 0-85546-266-8, paperback, £7.95, ISBN 0-85546-256-6 hardback, £13.—This book was well received when originally published by Cambridge University Press in 1986. The new revised edition is very similar; in the acknowledgements the author refers to the opportunity to correct mistakes and the adding of some of the more interesting discoveries in the last few years.
Among the extra information is that on p. 7 which refers to the possible use of Eristalis as indicators of pollution, citing an example of such a project in Egypt, but giving no advice as to the pollution thresholds of British species. Since the previous paragraph refers to the larvae using the foulest of foul water, which is true of E. tenax, the reader is left unaware that some (most/all?) British Eristalis species breed in natural eutrophic conditions that are unpolluted by man. On p. 9 the over-wintering biology of Eristalis tenax is a useful addition.
Under Volucella (pp. 14-16), the reader is briefly told that the larvae show a range of key evolutionary innovations which led to the evolution of other genera. In the next chapter, on p. 17, there is a short new paragraph on the evolution of hoverflies, with references.
New ecological information is given, as on p. 23 where the discovery of larvae of Callicera rufa is mentioned. At the end of chapter 4, p. 36, there is reference to new work on the effectiveness of mimicry.
Just over 18 pages are devoted to the identification of selected common species as in the first edition, complemented by four colour plates; the tone of the plates is different from my copy of the first edition but the quality is overall much the same. The final chapter, on techniques, is essentially the same. The first edition had a compilation of 85 references to hoverflies; the revised edition has 95.
For anyone with the first edition of this book, it would not be worth buying the second edition since the revision is minor. The book remains a useful one for the target audience, especially students and the general naturalist.
ALAN E STUBBS
BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 7: 1994 «
SOME RARE AND THREATENED BEES RECORDED FROM SALISBURY PLAIN, WILTSHIRE
G. R. ELSE Department of Entomology, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 SBD. AND S. P. M. ROBERTS 22 Belle Vue Road, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP1 3 YG.
INTRODUCTION
Salisbury Plain is located in south Wiltshire, extending westwards from the county's eastern border to Westbury and Warminster, and from the Vale of Pewsey 10 miles south to the vicinity of Amesbury. Except for a few small villages, the western half of the region is sparsely inhabited, the main centres of population being the army garrisons. The Plain is about the same size as the Isle of Wight, with vast tracts of countryside designated as the Salisbury Plain Training Area (S.P.T.A.), the property of the Ministry of Defence (M.o.D.), and used primarily as artillery ranges and for training personnel. Much of the area consists of chalk grassland, with scrub and isolated plantations. The S.P.T.A. encompasses the largest remaining piece of semi-natural chalk grassland in Europe (37,651 ha.) (McOmish & Field, 1993). Some of the grassland is mown annually for hay in late June and early July, an activity which unfortunately coincides with the peak flight period of several of the rarer bees in these areas, as many pollen and nectar sources are removed.
Possibly because of its M.o.D. administration (permits are required for access to the ranges), the region has been largely neglected by entomologists. Our recent survey has shown that Salisbury Plain has a very rich aculeate fauna (especially comprising those species characteristic of calcareous grassland), and includes a number of nationally rare or threatened species. The latter includes the bees Melitta dimidiata Mor. and Nomada armata H.-S., both of which are accorded RDB! status (i.e. they are categorized as nationally endangered species in the insect Red Data Book (Else & Spooner, 1987) and A review of the scarce and threatened bees, wasps and ants of Great Britain (Falk, 1991). In Britain M. dimidiata is known only from a few grassland sites in Wiltshire.
In the period 1983-85 a thriving population of M. dimidiata was found by G. R. Else and M. Edwards on chalk grassland near Easton Royal in the Vale of Pewsey. A subsequent search in this site on 25.vi.1989 by both authors revealed only a single male. None was encountered on further visits by us, the most recent in June 1993. The bee had been found here first by K. M. Guichard on the 29.vii.1972 (Guichard, 1973). This site is a small, isolated cutting, consisting of a footpath and an adjacent steep grassy slope; the area is surrounded mainly by ‘improved’ sheep pasture (a euphemism for artificially fertilized grassland which is deficient in most plants characteristic of chalk downland). The population crash seems to have been due to rabbits which had eaten many of the sainfoin (Onebrychis viciifolia Scop.) plants on which this bee solely relies for both pollen and nectar. Encouragingly this plant had fully recovered to its former abundance by June 1993.
The depressing decline of this bee prompted us, in 1991, to undertake a survey of the four sites (all on Salisbury Plain) where the species had also been found in the past, and to investigate other grassland sites on the Plain where sainfoin was well established in the hope of finding further populations of M. dimidiata. As a result, over the three seasons 1991-93, a most encouraging picture of the fortunes of this
60 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 7: 1994
bee emerged. Indeed the species is proving to be well established over a wide area of Salisbury Plain, and here it is clearly not endangered. The survey also revealed the presence of other scarce bees on Salisbury Plain and should provide a basis on which conservation measures for these can be implemented if considered appropriate in the future. Preliminary results of some of the species encountered are presented below as an annotated list. We plan to continue with this survey in future seasons.
SCARCE BEES RECORDED FROM THE SALISBURY PLAIN, 1949-1993
Hylaeus cornutus Curt. (Colletinae). This is a rare species, restricted to the south-central and south-eastern counties of England, the range extending from Kent to Dorset, northwards to Wiltshire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire, Suffolk and Norfolk (Else, in prep.). It has been reported from open, broad-leaved woodland, fenland and chalk grassland. A male of this bee was collected from an oxeye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare Lam.) flower on Tilshead Down by G. M. Spooner on the 14.vi.1974. A female was collected from scentless mayweed (Tripleurospermum inodorum Schultz Bip.) blossom on Figheldean Down (between Netheravon and North Tidworth) on 22.vii.1993 by S. P. M. R., and two other females on wild carrot (Daucus carota L.) inflorescences by G. R. E. on Great Cheverell Hill (a chalk downland reserve of the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust near West Lavington) on 21.viii.1993. These records seem to be the only ones known from the county. The national flight period of this single-brooded species extends from June to August.
Andrena hattorfiana (F.) (Andreninae). This is one of the largest of British Andrena species and is widely distributed but very local in southern Britain. Its range extends from east Kent to west Cornwall, northwards to Wiltshire, Oxfordshire, Surrey, Essex, Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire, Suffolk and Norfolk; there are also old records from South and West Glamorgan (Else, in prep.). Until recently there were very few records from Wiltshire. C. H. Andrewes collected single specimens of A. hattorfiana in or near Salisbury on 11.vii.1947 and 31.vii.1948, and from his garden at Coombe Bissett (west of Salisbury) on 25.vii.1974. One of us (G. R. E.) found many specimens near Easton Royal from 1983 to 1985. Several were also recorded by G. R. Else and M. Edwards on the roadside at Cow Down, north of North Tidworth, on 7.vii.1985. During the course of our survey we found the bee on seven sites on Salisbury Plain. These are summarized (from west to east) as follows: Great Cheverell Hill, Tilshead (several places), near the Bustard vedette, Bulford, Figheldean Down (including the roadside), Weather Hill (south of Everleigh) and Cow Down. Both sexes are almost exclusively associated with the flowers of field scabious (Knautia arvensis (L.)), a plant characteristic of the grasslands of Salisbury Plain. We have occasionally found individuals visiting small scabious (Scabiosa columbaria L.) (including a female collecting pollen) and greater knapweed (Centaurea scabiosa L.) flowers. Nest burrows of the bee have been found in wheel ruts along a track near Tilshead (these included a small, loose aggregation of five burrows) and another in a soil exposure on the edge of a field. The rarer red-marked form of the female is not uncommon on the Plain, perhaps comprising 30% of the female population in some sites. Nationally, the flight period is from late June to mid August.
A. marginata F. Males of this species were observed visiting the flowers of small scabious on Figheldean Down on the 14.vii.1993 (apparently the first Wiltshire records of this bee). Females were found here on 19 and 22.vii.1993. Several females were also encountered on roadside flowers of the same species at Weather Hill on 20 and 31.vii. This is a rare and local bee, but is very widely distributed in the British Isles,
BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 7: 1994 ‘
ranging from Kent to west Cornwall, northwards to Gloucestershire, Northamptonshire and Norfolk; it is known too from Wales, central Scotland and southern Eire (Else, in prep.). The species is mainly associated with scabious flowers: small scabious, devil’s-bit scabious (Succisa pratensis Moench) and field scabious. The flight period in the British Isles of this single-brooded species is from mid July to late September.
A, nitidiuscula (Schck). This is a very local bee in Britain, known from East Sussex to east Devon (and including the Isle of Wight), Surrey and Berkshire (Else, in prep.). It has been mainly found on the coast, but is also known from heathland and open, broad-leaved woodland. The bee is associated with the flowers of various species of Apiaceae. The first Wiltshire record was a female found by S. P. M. R. near Tilshead on 19.viii.1991. In July and early August, 1993, a thriving nesting aggregation of this bee was observed by us on an exposed track on Figheldean Down. Females foraged nearby on wild carrot blossom; some males visited yellow Asteraceae flowers. A pair was found in copula on the ground within the nesting area on 7.viii. In Britain the species is single-brooded and is active from the end of June to early September.
Interestingly, many Nomada rufipes F. were observed in the vicinity of this nesting aggregation, but not elsewhere on the Down. It seems possible that this Nomada is a cleptoparasite of A. nitidiuscula in this site. This association has not previously been suspected. The nationally endangered N. errans Lepeletier is a known cleptoparasite of A. nitidiuscula in Britain (though the former is only known in this country from a single site on the Isle of Purbeck, Dorset). N. rufipes is considered to be a cleptoparasite of certain species in the Andrena fuscipes (Kirby) group, to which A. nitidiuscula does not belong. On heaths and moors it attacks A. fuscipes (Evans, 1906; Frisby, 1906), but elsewhere it seems to be associated with A. denticulata (Kirby) (Perkins, 1918, 1919; Chambers, 1949; Spooner, pers. comm.) and A. nigriceps (Kirby) (Swale, 1893; Jones, 1928; Chambers, 1949). None of these Andrena species has been recorded on Figheldean Down. However, A. simillima Smith, F., a close relative of A. nigriceps, does occur in this site in small numbers.
A. simillima Smith, F. This is another very scarce bee with a restricted range in Britain. It has mainly been found in east Kent (Folkestone Warren), south-east Devon and Cornwall. In addition there are old, unconfirmed records from the Isle of Wight, Suffolk and Norfolk (Else, in prep.). Inland sites are very unusual; the only ones known to us, prior to our survey, were in Dorset (Morden, 1928) and Hampshire (Abbotstone Down, near Alresford, 1985). The bee is mainly associated with flowers of Asteraceae, including thistles, knapweeds, scentless mayweed and common ragwort (Senecio jacobaea L.). S. P. M. R. found a male A. simillima on Figheldean Down on 11.vii.1993, followed by further single records of females on 14 and 22.vii, and 1.viii. Finally, G. R. E. found two females in the same site on 7.viii; one was visiting a flower of greater knapweed, the other scentless mayweed. Nationally, the bee flies as a single brood from early July to August.
Melitta dimidiata Mor. (Melittinae). This, the largest of the four British Melitta species, was first found in Britain near Tilshead by P. W. E. Currie on 9.vii.1949 (Baker, 1965). According to D. B. Baker (pers. comm.) the site was close to White Barrow, a neolithic long-barrow on Tilshead Down to the south of the village. Baker has also encountered the species on the barrow and, on numerous visits from 1964 to 1989, found the bee on the adjacent grassland and at Yarrow’s site (see below). In the 1970s the custodians of White Barrow, The National Trust, attempted to control scrub invasion on the ancient monument by erecting a fence around it and introducing a flock of sheep. The sheep succeeded in eradicating both scrub and sainfoin, the latter being the sole pollen source of this bee!
62 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 7: 1994
On 10.vii.1965, I. H. H . Yarrow discovered the species in a second site on Salisbury Plain (Yarrow, 1968). Shortly before he emigrated to Australia in the 1980s, he disclosed to G. R. E. that the site was a neolithic barrow south-west of Tilshead (near Horse Down, north of the Chitterne road), not far from Currie’s site.
In 1991 we rediscovered the bee near White Barrow on 16.vii, and on the following day at both Yarrow’s site and West Down (east of and overlooking the army camp). In addition we also encountered it in two new sites: about a kilometre north of Tilshead and on the roadside about a kilometre east of West Down. It was particularly common at West Down, but only occurred in small numbers in the other sites visited. S. R. Miles (pers. comm.) found the bee at West Down in both July 1986 and July 1991.
In the following year we again found it on several dates in late June and July to the north of Tilshead and at West Down. Seven females and at least 36 males were seen by us on West Down on 27.vi, and both sexes plentifully on 28.vi byS. P.M. R. (from the roadside, south across the army range towards the main Tilshead to Shrewton road).
A further three sites for the species were found in 1993: Great Cheverell Hill (1.vii and on subsequent visits in the same month); Figheldean Down (in late June by D. Sheppard, and later by the authors on 11.vii and on a few visits thereafter). R. Gabriel encountered several males at a site 1 kilometre north-west of Tilshead on the West Lavington Road (east of Horse Down) on 16.vii.
The bee is protandrous, the males emerging ahead of the females. The former begin flying in late June and continue well into July. When freshly emerged, males are clothed over much of their bodies with rich, reddish brown hairs, but this colour rapidly fades to whitish, when specimens appear silvery on the wing.
Males fly rapidly between the sainfoin plants, only pausing occasionally for brief visits to the flowers. During cool, cloudy conditions this sex has been observed sheltering within the racemes of sainfoin and in the flowers of clustered bellflower (Campanula glomerata L.), field scabious and oxeye daisy. Females are generally active from late June to mid August (in 1993 an apparently freshly emerged specimen was found on 31.vii). In common with the other three species of British Melitta, they are not as frequently seen in the field as males. The females excavate their nesting burrows in the soil, but no nests of this bee have been found in Britain.
In Britain both sexes are known to forage only from the flowers of sainfoin. Thus M. dimidiata is entirely restricted to sites where there is sufficient sainfoin to maintain these populations. This plant is very widely distributed over the semi-natural grasslands of Salisbury Plain, with significant populations in many sites. Indeed, as a single unit, the Plain probably has the most extensive populations of this plant in the country.
Two forms of sainfoin occur in southern England, one native, the other introduced. The native one (ssp. montana Hegi) is characterized by deep pink flowers and fewer leaves, and is semi-procumbent to erect in form (Hegi, 1924; Dony 1953; Grose, 1957). There are late glacial British pollen records of sainfoin (Godwin, 1975), and it is presumed that M. dimidiata subsequently arrived in Britain in boreal or sub-boreal times (Baker, 1965). In addition, there are records of sainfoin in the writings of Gerarde. (1597), Goodyer (c. 1634), Martyn (1792) and Britton (1801-25). Gerarde noted it in areas which today support strong populations of ssp. montana.
During the seventeenth century, another variant (ssp. sativa Hegi) was introduced as a fodder plant (Aubrey, 1685). This taxon differs from the native form in being taller, more erect, and the stems bearing paler flowers and more leaves, with broader leaflets, than its relative (Hegi, 1924). This introduction is now found as a relic
BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 7: 1994 63
of former cultivation and it has been found in some localities on Salisbury Plain. It also seems to flower earlier in the season; for example, in late May 1990, it was in full flower in a site in east Dorset, yet the semi-procumbent form flowered about a month later on Salisbury Plain.
The difference in flowering periods of the two forms would largely restrict M. dimidiata to the native one. However, in sites where the grassland is mown for hay, plants of the introduced form of O. viciifolia flower again at a time when the bee can benefit from these additional flowers, although such a late flowering of this form is not as prolific as earlier in the season.
Apparent intermediates between the two strains (which appear in some localities on the Plain) are probably of hybrid stock. At least one farming family (Home Farm, near Cholderton, south of Bulford) has been growing the introduced variant as a seed and fodder crop for about a hundred years (A. Summers, pers. comm.) (sainfoin was mainly used as hay for horses, but the market for this has largely gone and very few farms currently grow the plant). Several commercial varieties of sainfoin have been developed for use on particular soil types.
Nomada argentata H.-S. (Anthophorinae). This is a rare but widely distributed species in southern England. It has been reported from Kent to east Cornwall, Somerset, Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Surrey, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire and has also been found in Eire (Carlow and Leix) (Else, in prep.). In Wiltshire it is currently known only from Figheldean Down, where it was found on 22.vii, 1 and 7.viii.1993. This species, in common with its host Andrena marginata, is extremely local in this site. Although a few specimens of the cleptoparasite were encountered visiting the flowers of small scabious, most (including both sexes) were observed flying low over the bare soil of tracks, the females presumably in search of the nests of A. marginata. Some N. argentata are very dark and can easily be passed over as small species of other aculeate genera. In the British Isles the species flies from mid July to mid September.
N. armata H.-S. This is a very rare cleptoparasite of the mining bee Andrena hattorfiana. Nationally, this Nomada species has been reported from Kent, the Isle of Wight, Dorset, Devon, Cornwall, Wiltshire, Oxfordshire, Surrey, Essex, Norfolk and West Glamorgan (Else, in prep.). It was first recorded in Wiltshire in July 1991 when we found a pair (male on 17th and female on the 21st) near Tilshead. We did not encounter it in 1992, but in the following year it was noted by us in the following sites: to the north of Tilshead, 27.vi. and on a few subsequent dates; Great Cheverell Hill, 1, 4 and 7.vii; Bulford, 4 and 7.vii; Figheldean Down, 15.vii; and Weather Hill, 20.vii. The Weather Hill specimen was visiting a flower of small scabious; all the others visiting flowers were at field scabious. A specimen was also seen on the east side of the West Lavington road (opposite Horse Down), | kilometre north-west of Tilshead, on 16.vii.1993 by R. Gabriel. A total of 35 individuals was encountered in 1993. The most recent British records are from east Dorset (1945 and 1949), Oxfordshire (1968) and Norfolk (1977). The majority of records refer to very small numbers of specimens. An exception was a record of many flying with their host Andrena at Tubney, near Oxford in July, 1900 (Hamm, 1901). Both host and parasite are usually encountered on the flowers of field scabious, less commonly on those of small scabious or unrelated plants. Some females, however, found by us, were flying low over occupied nesting burrows of the host Andrena. Salisbury Plain is undoubtedly the most important locality in Britain for N. armata. Nationally, the flight period extends from late June to the end of July.
Bombus ruderatus (F.) (Apinae). More than half the number (ten of seventeen) of native species of British bumblebees (excluding the six species of cuckoo
64 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 7: 1994
bumblebees—Psithyrus species) have been found on Salisbury Plain. Of these ten, B. humilis I., B. lapidarius (L.), B. ruderarius (Muller) and B. sylvarum (L.) are associated mainly with dry, calcareous grassland in southern England. An abraded queen of B. ruderatus was found just north of Tilshead on 27.vi.1992 by G. R. E. (the only specimen he has encountered anywhere in the past 24 years).
B. ruderatus was formerly a common and widely distributed species in Britain, the range extending from Kent to Cornwall, northwards to Northumberland (Else, in prep.); in Wales there is an old record from southern Gwynedd (see map in Anon., 1980). Sladen (1912) mentions that the species occurs in Scotland, and also cites a single Irish record. These old records cannot be confirmed and may be based on misidentifications. There can be no doubt that this bumblebee has declined dramatically this century. To Sladen it was a very common bee in England (his ‘Large Garden Humble-bee’), but today it is rarely encountered, most other recent records originating from east Kent (P. Williams, pers. comm.) and East Anglia (S. Falk, pers. comm.). Even in these localities the species is very scarce. The British flight period of the species is from mid April to mid October.
B. sylvarum (L.). Although formerly widespread in southern Britain, the range of this bumblebee has diminished greatly in recent years. It has been recorded from Kent to Cornwall, northwards to Gwynedd, southern Cumbria and Northumberland (Anon., 1980). It is a rare and sporadic bee in Ireland, with only a single confirmed Scottish record. It occurs in various biotopes, but especially in chalk grassland. On Salisbury Plain it was found near White Barrow, in July 1983 and June 1984; and north of Tilshead in July 1991 and June 1992. R. Gabriel found the species on the east side of the West Lavington road (opposite Horse Down), 1 kilometre to the north-west of Tilshead, on 16.vii.1993. The national flight period is from mid May to September.
Psithyrus rupestris (F.). Formerly this cuckoo bumblebee was found throughout much of the British Isles, except for the far north of Scotland, the Scottish Islands and the Isle of Man (Else, in prep.). During this century the species’ range has contracted dramatically, so that currently the bee is largely restricted to sites in southern England and Wales, and coastal Eire (Anon., 1980). Even in these areas the bee is very sporadic. The reason for the decline is unknown. The species is a social parasite of Bombus lapidarius, a bumblebee which remains common and widespread throughout much of the British Isles. In the past Sladen (1912) estimated that in east Kent females of P. rupestris usurped 20-40% of B. lapidarius nests. Nationally, this cuckoo bumblebee flies from late May to late September.
In recent years this species has been found in several sites on Salisbury Plain: Parsonage Down, near Winterbourne Stoke, a male, 17.vii.1982; Great Cheverell Hill, many females, 6 and 20.vi, one female 4.vii, and several males 21.viii.1993; Bulford, female, 6.vi.1993; near Tilshead, several females, 27.vi (unusually one had a bright yellow pronotal hair band) and 1.vii.1993, and a male 21.viii.1993.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We would like to thank D. B. Baker, M. Edwards, R. Gabriel, K. M. Guichard, S. R. Miles and D. Sheppard for allowing us to publish records of their observations of aculeates from Salisbury Plain. We are also grateful to the late I. H. H. Yarrow and the late G. M. Spooner for their records. Two Wiltshire botanists, Audrey Summers and Barbara Last, kindly provided information concerning the distributions of sainfoin and scabiouses on the Plain and encouraged us to look at the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust reserve at Great Cheverell Hill. D. E. Coombe, O. Rackham and
BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 7: 1994 65
P. F. Yeo have also given us the benefit of their considerable experience in our attempts to sort out the taxonomy of sainfoin. D. B. Baker helped us to pinpoint origina! localities for Melitta dimidiata. We are also grateful to D. B. Baker and C. R. Vardy for discussing the manuscript.
Finally we would like to thank the Army Conservation Group chairmen Maj. R. H. Warren (Imber), Lt. Col. C. Stuart Nash (Larkhill) and Maj. N. Payne (Bulford) for arranging permits for us to enter the respective training areas.
REFERENCES
Anon. 1980. Atlas of the bumblebees of the British Isles. Bombus and Psithyrus (Hymenoptera: Apidae). European Invertebrate Survey. International Bee Research Association, London and the Biological Records Centre, Huntingdon.
*Aubrey, J. 1685. Memoires of Naturall Remarques in the County of Wilts.
Baker, D. B. 1965. Two bees new to Britain (Hym., Apoidea). Entomologist’s Mon. Mae. 100(1964): 279-286.
*Britton, J. 1801-25. The Beauties of Wiltshire.
Chambers, V. H. 1949. The Hymenoptera Aculeata of Bedfordshire. Trans. Soc. Br. Ent. 9: 197-252.
Dony, J. G. 1953. Flora of Bedfordshire. The Corporation of Luton Museum and Art Gallery.
Dony, J. G., Jury, S. L. & Perring, F. H. 1986. English names of wild flowers. The Botanical Society of the British Isles.
Else, G. R. [In prep.]. The bees of the British Isles. The Ray Society, London.
Else, G. R. & Spooner, G. M. 1987. Hymenoptera: Aculeata. The ants, bees and wasps. In: Shirt, D. B. (Ed.). British red data books. 2. Insects. pp. 259-293. Nature Conservancy Council, Peterborough.
Evans, W. 1906. The host of Nomada solidaginis. Entomologist’s Mon. Mag. 42: 140.
Falk, S. 1991. A review of the scarce and threatened bees, wasps and ants of Great Britain. Research and Survey in Nature Conservation no. 35. Nature Conservancy Council, Peterborough.
Frisby, G. E. 1906. The host of Nomada solidaginis. Entomologist’s Mon. Mag. 42: 90.
*Gerarde, J. 1597. The herball or general historie of plants.
Godwin, H. 1975. The history of the British flora. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
*Goodyer, J. C. 1634. List of plants. Manuscript in Magdalen College, University of Oxford.
Grose, D. 1957. The flora of Wiltshire. Wiltshire Archaeological & Natural History Society, Devizes.
Guichard, K. M. 1973. Melitta dimidiata (Morawitz) (Hym., Melittinae) again in Wiltshire. Entomologist’s Mon. Mag. 109: 39.
Hamm, A. H. 1901. Andrena hattorfiana, Fab., and Nomada armata, H. Schff., near Oxford. Entomologist’s Mon. Mag. 37: 16.
Hegi, G. 1924. I/lustrierte Flora von Mittel-Europa. 4(3): 1113-1748.
Jones, H. P. 1928. Aculeate Hymenoptera, etc., at Milford-on-Sea, Hants, 1927. Entomologist’s Mon. Mag. 64: 14.
*Martyn, T. 1792. Flora rustica.
McOmish, D. & Field, D. 1993. Ancient agricultural communities on the Salisbury Plain Training Area. Sanctuary. No. 22: 17-19.
Perkins, R. C. L. 1918. Nomada furva K. and its hosts. Entomologist’s Mon. Mag. 54: 226.
Perkins, R. C. L. 1919. The British species of Andrena and Nomada. Trans. Ent. Soc. London. 1919: 218-319.
Sladen, F. W. L. 1912. The Humble-bee, its life-history and how to domesticate it, with descriptions of all British species of Bombus and Psithyrus. Macmillan & Co., Ltd, London.
Swale, H. 1893. Hymenoptera and Hemiptera in June, 1893, at Saunton Sands, N. Devon and Morthoe. Entomologist’s Mon. Mag. 29: 261-262.
Yarrow, I. H. H. 1968. Recent additions to the British bee-fauna, with comments and corrections. Entomologist’s Mon. Mag. 104: 60-64.
*Not seen: relevant sections on sainfoin quoted in full by Grose (1957).
66 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 7: 1994 BOOK NOTICES
The encyclopedia of land invertebrate behaviour, by R. & K. Preston-Mafham, London, Blandford (Cassell), 1993, 320 pages, hardback, £30.—This very readable and entertaining book covers insects, spiders, molluscs and other land invertebrates. It is divided into chapters on sexual behaviour, egg-laying, parental care, feeding and defence. It is illustrated throughout with the excellent colour photographs for which the authors are renowned, together with numerous line drawings and diagrams. The whole gamut of behaviour is covered, with examples selected from species from around the world. An extensive bibliography is also given.
Caterpillars: ecological and evolutionary constraints on foraging, edited by N. E. Stamp and T. M. Casey, London, Chapman and Hall, 1993, xiv+588 pages, hardback, £39.—Seventeen chapters by nineteen international contributors examine the ecology of caterpillars. Part 1 covers foraging: the effects of temperature, nutrition, circumventing plant defences, interactions between species, predators, parasitoids and body size. Part 2 looks at evolutionary consequences: crypsis, aposematic warnings, sociality and ant mutualism. Part 3 concludes with environmental variation: population dynamics, seasonality, climate and other factors affecting foraging.
Wood: decay, pests and protection, by R. A. Eaton and M. D. C. Hale, London, Chapman and Hall, 1993, x +546 pages, hardback, £70.—A very detailed analysis of wood, its decay, its attackers, its preservation and its protection. Five of its 22 chapters consider insects attacking wood: the biology of wood-boring insects; taxonomy and worldwide distribution of pests; beetles; termites, and other wood- boring insects.
A directory for entomologists, by M. Colvin and D. Reavey, Amateur Entomologists’ Society, 2nd revised edition, 1993, 62 pages, paperback, £2.40.—This is an extended and updated version of the 1989 edition. It contains names and addresses of all the national organizations that entomologists should need: national and local societies, special interest groups, recording schemes, field courses, grants, libraries, periodicals, museums, exhibitions, butterfly farms, trade fairs and entomological traders.
Dead wood matters: the ecology and conservation of saproxylic invertebrates in Britain, edited by K. J. Kirby and C. M. Drake, Proceedings of a British Ecological Society Meeting held at Dunham Massey Park on 24 April 1992, Peterborough, English Nature, 1993, 106 pages, comb-binding, £9.—Dead wood is one of the greatest resources for invertebrates in a forest and many of the rarest and most threatened species in Europe depend on it. The papers in this book deal with the history of Britain’s dead wood fauna and how British sites compare with those on the Continent. Recent studies on both woodland and parkland dead wood habitats are presented.
Among papers on what saproxylic invertebrates are, fossil evidence, the European context, historic parklands and commercial forestry are articles on the liability of landowners having large old trees on their land, ideas on positive management for saproxylic invertebrates, a conservation guide for entomological investigation and © an invertebrate conservation code for dealing with storm-damaged woodland.
BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 7: 1994 ‘
DO TORTOISE BEETLE PUPAE MIMIC LACEWINGS? RICHARD A. JONES
13 Bellwood Road, Nunhead, London SE1I5 3DE.
At first, this question may seem rather strange; how could the stout, wingless, wholly functional carapace of any coleopterous pupa resemble, in the slightest, the delicate winged and lithe form of the Neuroptera? The answer, as I hope the accompanying photographs show, is ‘yes, when seen in profile’. | would argue that this is not just coincidental, not an accident of light, and not a trick played by a notorious trickster—the camera. However, it was the sight through the camera viewfinder that revealed this resemblance, a sight not usually seen by the field entomologist because the combination of focal length of the macro-lens and extension tubes produces an image on an insect-to-insect scale. Even armed with a hand lens, the perspective and depth of field of this image is not usually available to the human eye.
During its five larval instars, the tortoise beetle larva, in this case Cassida viridis L., carries about its previous larval skins, ornamented with its own droppings, in the form of a ‘parasol’ which it waves over its back to deter any would-be predator, or which camouflages the larva by resembling a bird dropping or other rubbish. The particular structure which allows the larva to do this is a long bifurcate prong called the caudal furca, caudal process, anal fork, or even ‘feces fork’ (Gressitt, 1952). By the time it pupates, the accumulated exuviae and frass may
Fig. 1. The fifth instar larva of Cassida viridis waves its ‘parasol’ of accumulated shed skins and frass over its back while continuing to eat the mint leaf. Photo: R. A. Jones.
68 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 7: 1994
be almost as large as the larva itself (Fig. 1) and remains a deterrent and camouflage throughout the pupal stage.
The ‘merdigerous’ behaviour of tortoise beetle larvae is well known and well documented (Westwood, 1839; Sharp, 1909; Van Emden, 1962). But should the loose bundle of dried exuviae be disturbed from the pupa, only the first four instar skins become dislodged, leaving the fifth and final instar skin still firmly attached (Fig. 2). It is now that the profile of the pupa comes to resemble a lacewing (Figs 3 and 4).
This resemblance is not fanciful, although it may be coincidental in that the pupa resembles a generalized insect form, with porrect ‘head and thorax’. The caudal process comes to resemble two prominent antennae, the hind two lateral processes come to resemble large prognathous jaws while other lateral processes come to resemble legs.
This type of mimicry, where the relatively expendable tail-end of a creature distracts attack from the vulnerable head-end is common throughout the insect kingdom. The tails of ‘tailed’ butterflies, be they swallowtails, blues, skippers or hairstreaks, are supposed to resemble antennae and lure the attacks of birds away from the real antennae. Likewise, the eye spots of many butterflies resemble eyes, confounding a predator. The streaked markings at the wingtips of various microlepidoptera resemble eyes, legs and antennae when the moths are at rest, giving the impression of a reversed head/tail axis, e.g. Ancylis badiana (D. & S.), some Glyphipteryx species, and in particular many Leucoptera species. Some small leafhoppers (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) have similar markings.
Thus, the resemblance of the Cassida pupa to a lacewing is not as comical as it might seem. It could be that an attacking predator is fooled into pecking or biting at the erect ‘head’, but instead of snatching up a tasty morsel, comes away with
Fig. 2. Dorsal view of the Cassida pupa, the caudal process and other remains of the fifth larval skin are clearly visible, although in this aspect not strikingly so. Photo: R. A. Jones.
BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 7: 1994
Figs 3 and 4. Pupa of Cassida viridis, in side view. The resemblance to a lacewing now becomes apparent. The ‘antennae’ are the remnants of the caudal process, the ‘jaws’ the
hind-most lateral processes and the ‘legs’ other lateral processes of the shrivelled larval skin. Photos: R. A. Jones.
10 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 7: 1994
a dry husk of dead skin. Should its first line of defence, subterfuge under what looks like bird manure, fail it, the pupa can hope for a second chance by offering its fifth cast skin as a decoy head and shoulders, and if this disguise is removed it must hope that its final flattened form, held tight onto the leaf, will conceal it until the adult beetle emerges, a few days later.
REFERENCES
Gressitt, J. L. 1952. The tortoise beetles of China (Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae). Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. 27: 435.
Sharp, D. 1909. The Cambridge natural history. Insects, Part 2, pp. 283-285.
Van Emden, H. F. 1962. Key to species of British Cassidinae larvae (Col., Chrysomelidae). Entomologist’s Mon. Mag. 98: 33-36.
Westwood, J. O. 1839. An introduction to the classification of insects; founded on the natural habits and corresponding organisation of different families. London, Longman et al., Vol. 1, pp. 376-381.
BOOK REVIEW
Australian weevils, by E. C. Zimmerman. Melbourne, CSIRO, Volume 5, colour plates 1-304, 1991 and Volume 6, colour plates 305-632, 1992.—This ambitious series is envis- aged to comprise 8 volumes, the remaining six (text) volumes to be published by 1996. Although perhaps only of peripheral interest to British entomologists, or to weevil specia- lists, the books are remarkable for their colour plate presentation of the insects themselves.
Each of the 632 colour plates is made up of 8 photographs arranged two by four down the page. Each pair of photographs shows dorsal and side view of a single specimen. A uniform blue background and careful lighting show the delicate colouring, sculpturing and scaling of each beetle to full advantage. Each specimen is mounted on a card point (occasionally one is pinned), allowing many underside characters to be seen in side view. The odd head or tail is shown in particular close- up and there are a few general shots of habits, but most of the plates are given over to this novel presentation. Books such as these represent landmark achievements; debate on whether photographs or paintings are superior hinge about them.
The various editions of South’s The moths of the British Isles are accorded greater or lesser status depending on their colour plate style. With the appearance of Skinner’s Moths of the British Isles photography looked set to take over from paintings, at least for the Lepidoptera. On the other hand set specimens of beetles are not so photogenic; the carabid volumes of the Fauna Entomologica Scandinavica series (Lindroth, C. H., 1985 and 1986) contained 8 colour plates from photographs and worked well enough for some of the prettily marked species.
At the BENHS’s own annual exhibitions, highly interesting specimens are selected for photographic reproduction in the journal. Where butterflies and moths are regularly chosen, the occasional fly or bee makes an appearance, but beetles are seldom done justice, though not for want of interest on the part of the exhibit or technological expertise on the part of the photographer. At life size reproduction, beetles just do not photograph well. Here then is an example of how beetle photography can work—at between two and twenty times life size.
The lavish production of these two volumes could not have been possible without © what must be some considerable financial input from the author and friends to subsidize the publishing costs. The author’s faith in financing such a venture must surely be rewarded by the knowledge that the books are a remarkable achievement. The text volumes are awaited with interest.
R. A. JONES
BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 7: 1994
THE MELIGETHES (COLEOPTERA: NITIDULIDAE) OF MONTGOMERYSHIRE (VICE-COUNTY 47)
A. H. KIRK-SPRIGGS Department of Zoology, National Museum of Wales, Cathays Park, Cardiff, CF] 3NP, Wales.
INTRODUCTION
The genus Meligethes Steph. has adults and larvae which develop in flowers, feeding on pollen as well as developing buds. Many of the species exhibit a high degree of species specificity in larval host-plants, although this is often less marked, notably in M. aeneus (F.) and M. viridescens (F.), which are both serious pests of cultivated oilseed rape and other yellow Brassicaceae. The genus is represented in Britain by thirty-four extant species (Kirk-Spriggs, in press), which utilize the botanical families Cistaceae, Rosaceae, Campanulaceae, Brassicaceae, Lamiaceae, Fabaceae and Boraginaceae as larval host-plants. Other flowering plants are often fed upon by adults before and after the flowering period of the larval host-plant (see Kirk-Spriggs, 1992), which explains why some species can be collected from a wide range of plants.
The genus is very poorly recorded in Wales. After an extensive search of the entomological literature I have only been able to trace one record from Montgomery: M. aeneus (F.), Lake Vyrnwy, [23/9821], (Ansorge, 1966: 70). The late Dr A. M. Easton made several trips to the vice-county during the 1960s and his detailed notebooks give full data on species and localities. I have included his unpublished records in this paper (indicated by his initials A. M. E.).
The nomenclature of the British species has changed considerably since the publication of the check-list of British Coleoptera (Kloet & Hincks, 1977); the names used here are according to Bacchus & Kirk-Spriggs (1991). I have also used the name Meligethes persicus Falderman, 1837, which is the new name for the species formerly known as M. pedicularius (Gyll., 1808) nec auctt. (Audisio, in press; Kirk-Spriggs, in press). The national conservation statuses given are those revised by Hyman & Parsons, in press.
I have made two collecting trips to the vice-county, in 1990 as part of the Coleoptera recording weekend organized by Roger Key (Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough), and in 1991 with Adrian Plant who was recording Empididae (Diptera).
The object of this paper is to give detailed records of the genus from this much under-collected county, in the hope that it will provide base-line data for future recorders, and perhaps help to spark interest in the group.
SPECIES AND LOCALITIES Meligethes atratus (Olivier, 1790)
Very common, on Rosa spp. In Wales also occurring in Monmouth, Glamorgan, Brecon, Radnor, Cardigan, Merioneth, Caernarvon, Denbigh, Flint and Anglesey. Our largest British species.
Material examined: 1 Nelly Andrews Green, 33/2609, 3.ix.1961, Centaurea nigra L., (A. M. E.); 2 Long Mountain, 33/2808, 14.vi.1964, general sweeping, (A. M. E.); 2 Llanymynech Hill SSSI, TNR, 33/262216, 30.viii. 1964, Succisa pratensis Moench, (A. M. E.); 1 male & 1 female Llanymynech Hill SSSI, TNR, 33/262216, 9.vi.1990, Rosa sp., (A. H. K.-S.); 1 male & 1 female same data in copula,
72 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 7: 1994
(A. H. K.-S.); 1 male Llyn Mawr SSSI, TNR, 32/0097, 10.vi.1991, Crataegus monogyna Jacq., (A. H. K.-S.); 1 Mochdre Dingles SSSI, 32/080878, 2.vi.1991, Crataegus monogyna Jacq., (A. H. K.-S.); 3 Pen-dugwm Woods SSSI, TNR, 33/107140, 31.v.1991, Sorbus aucuparia L., (A. H. K.-S.); 8 same data, Crataegus monogyna Jacq., (A. H. K.-S.); 2 near Gwernafon, 22/923906, 30.v.1991, Anthriscus sylvestris (L.) Hoffm., (A. H. K.-S.).
Meligethes flavimanus Stephens, 1830
Occurring broadly over much of England, on Rosa spp. In Wales also occurring in Monmouth, Glamorgan, Brecon, Cardigan, Merioneth, Caernarvon and Flint.
Material examined: 2 Crew Green, 33/3215, 14.vi.1964, Rosa sp., (A. M. E.); 1 Aber Bechan, 32/1493, 12.vii.1964, sweeping along canal side, (A. M. E.); 6 males & 1 female Llanymynech Hill SSSI, TNR, 33/262216, 9.vi.1990, Rosa sp., (A. H. K.-S.); 1 male Moel y Golfa SSSI, 33/290122, 1.vi.1991, Crataegus monogyna Jacq., (A. H. K.-S.); 1 Caerhowel camp site, 32/203979, 2.vi.1991, Crataegus monogyna Jacq., (A. H. K.-S.); 1 Pen-dugwm Woods SSSI, TNR, 33/107140, 31.v.1991, Crataegus monogyna Jacq., (A. H. K.-S.).
Meligethes viridescens (Fabricius, 1787)
On yellow Brassicaceae. Common and widely distributed, over the whole of England and Wales and much of Scotland.
Material examined: 1 Trinity Well, 33/267078, 3.ix.1961, Centaurea nigra L., (A. M. E.); 1 Nelly Andrews Green, 33/2609, 3.ix.1961, Centaurea nigra L., (A. M. E.); 2 Long Mountain, 33/2808, 14.vi.1964, Viburnum opulus L., (A. M. E.); 1 Aber Bechan, 32/1493, 12.vii.1964, Heracleum sphondylium L., (A. M. E.); 2 Cwm fron, near Llanidloes, 22/972813, 20.ix.1964, Brassica sp., (A. M. E.).
Meligethes aeneus (Fabricius, 1775)
On yellow Brassicaceae. Common and widely distributed, over the whole of England and Wales and much of Scotland.
Material examined: 7 Breidden Hill SSSI, 33/294145, 5.vi.1960, Ranunculus repens L., (A. M. E.); 1 Trinity Well, 33/267078, 3.ix.1961, Centaurea nigra L., (A. M. E.); 1 Frochas, 33/295102, 1.v.1964, Ranunculus ficaria L., (A. M. E.); 1 same data, Anemone nemorosa L., (A. M. E.); 1 same data, Oxalis acetosella L., (A. M. E.); 4 Frochas, 33/295102, 30.iv.1967, Ranunculus ficaria L., (A. M. E.); 1 same data, Taraxacum officinale agg., (A. M. E.); 9 Llanymynech Hill SSSI, TNR, 33/262216, 31.v.1964, Crataegus monogyna Jacq., (A. M. E.); 2 Crew Green, 33/3215, 14.vi.1964, Rosa sp., (A. M. E); 1 Llandrinio, 33/2917, 14.vi.1964, Ballota nigra L., (A. M. E.); 34 Llandrinio, 33/2917, 12.vii.1964, Ballota nigra L., (A. M. E.); 1 Four Crosses, 33/2718, 14.vi.1964, Aegopodium podagraria L., (A. M. E.); 2 Long Mountain, 33/2808, 14.vi.1964, general sweeping, (A. M. E.); 1 same data, Viburnum opulus L., (A. M. E.); 1 Corndon Hill SSSI, 32/309966, 14.vi.1964, general sweeping at foot of hill, (A. M. E.); 1 Aber Bechan, 32/1493, 12.vii.1964, Heracleum — sphondylium L., (A. M. E.); 27 same data, sweeping along canal side, (A. M. E.); 5 Cwm fron, near Llanidloes, 22/972813, 20.ix.1964, Brassica sp., (A. M. E.); 1 Llyn Mawr SSSI, TNR, 32/0097, 10.vi.1991, Taraxacum officinale agg., (A. H. K.-S.); 16 same data, Crataegus monogyna Jacq., (A. H. K.-S.); 1 edge of Montgomery Canal, near Welshpool, 33/2206, 9.vi.1990, Stachys sylvatica L., (A. H. K.-S.); 5 same data, Taraxacum officinale agg., (A. H. K.-S.); 6 Newtown railway station, 32/1191,
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10.vi.1990, Sisymbrium officinale (L.) Scop., (A. H. K.-S.); 1 same data, Rosa sp., (A. H. K.-S.); 1 Moel y Golfa SSSI, 33/290122, 1.vi.1991, pre-flowering Teucrium scorodonia L., (A. H. K.-S.); 2 same data, Alliaria petiolata (Bieb.) Cav. & Gra., (A. H. K.-S.); 1 Llanmerewig Glebe TNR, 32/160929, 2.vi.1991, Anthriscus sylvestris (L.) Hoffm., (A. H. K.-S.); 1 same data, Crataegus monogyna Jacq., (A. H. K.-S.); 1 Mochdre Dingles SSSI, 32/080878, 2.vi.1991, Anthriscus sylvestris (L.) Hoffm., (A. H. K.-S.); 10 Breidden Hill SSSI, 33/294145, 31.v.1991, Hyacinthoides non-scripta (L.) Chouard ex Rothm., (A. H. K.-S.); 133 same data, Barbarea vulgaris R. Br., (A. H. K.-S.); 3 Pen-dugwm Woods SSSI, TNR, 33/107140, 31.v.1991, Crataegus monogyna Jacq., (A. H. K.-S.); 1 Coedydd Llawr-y-Glyn SSSI, Gwernafon, 22/924906, 30.v.1991, Ranunculus ficaria L., (A. H. K.-S.); 1 Corndon Hill SSSI, 32/309966, 1.vi.1991, Taraxacum officinale agg., (A. H. K.-S.).
Meligethes atramentarius Forster, 1849 (Notable)
A local species on Lamiastrum galeobdolon (L.) Ehrend. & Polatschek. In Wales also occurring in Monmouth, Glamorgan, Brecon, Radnor, Carmarthen and Flint.
Material examined: 1 female Frochas, 33/295102, 1.v.1964, Anemone nemorosa L., (A. M. E.); 2 male Pen-dugwm Woods SSSI, TNR, 33/107140, 31.v.1991, Lamiastrum galeobdolon (L.) Ehrend. & Polatschek, (A. H. K.-S.).
Meligethes brunnicornis Sturm, 1845
A common species on Stachys sylvatica L. In Wales also occurring in Monmouth, Glamorgan, Brecon, Radnor, Pembroke, Cardigan, Caernarvon and Flint.
Material examined: 1 Breidden Hill SSSI, 33/294145, 5.vi.1960, Geum urbanum L., (A. M. E.); 1 male Frochas, 33/295102, 31.v.1964, Lamiastrum galeobdolon (L.) Ehrend. & Polatschek, (A. M. E.); 2 males & 1 female Llanymynech Hill SSSI, TNR, 33/262216, 9.vi.1990, Stachys sylvatica L., (A. H. K.-S.); 5 males & 1 female Pen-dugwm Woods SSSI, TNR, 33/107140, 31.v.1991, Lamiastrum galeobdolon (L.) Ehrend. & Polatschek, (A. H. K.-S.).
Meligethes kunzei Erichson, 1845
A locally common species, on Lamiastrum galeobdolon (L.) Ehrend. & Polatschek. In Wales also occurring in Monmouth, Glamorgan, Brecon, Radnor, Carmarthen, Denbigh and Flint.
Material examined: 1 male & 2 females Frochas, 33/295102, 30.iv.1967, Lamiastrum galeobdolon (L.) Ehrend. & Polatschek, (A. M. E.).
Meligethes difficilis (Heer, 1841)
A very common species on Lamium album L. In Wales also occurring in Monmouth, Glamorgan, Brecon, Radnor, Carmarthen, Denbigh and Flint.
Material examined: 1 Garth-derwen, 33/263097, 3.ix.1961, Lamium album L., (A. M. E.); edge of Montgomery Canal, near Welshpool, 33/2206, 9.vi.1990, Lamiurm album L., (A. H. K.-S.); 1 male & 2 females Caerhowel camp site, near Montgomery, 32/203979, 1.vi.1991, Lamium album L., (A. H. K.-S.).
Meligethes pedicularius (Gyllenhal, 1808) nec auctt. (=M. viduatus (Heer, 1841))
A local species, on Galeopsis tetrahit L. sensu lato. In Wales also occurring in Brecon, Cardigan, Merioneth and Caernarvon.
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Material examined: 2 females Cwm fron, near Llanidloes, 22/972813, 20.ix.1964, Galeopsis tetrahit L. sensu lato, (A. M. E.).
Meligethes morosus Erichson, 1845
A common and widely distributed species on Lamium album L. In Wales also occurring in Monmouth, Glamorgan, Brecon, Radnor, Carmarthen, Denbigh and Flint.
Material examined: 5 Garth-derwen, 33/263097, 3.ix.1961, Lamium album L., (A. M. E.); 6 Four Crosses, 33/2718, 31.v.1964, Lamium album L., (A. M. E.); 1 female Llanymynech Hill SSSI, TNR, 33/262216, 9.vi.1990, Thymus polytrichus A. Kerner ex Borbas, (A. H. K.-S.); 3 males edge of Montgomery Canal, near Welshpool, 33/2206, 9.vi.1990, Lamium album L., (A. H. K.-S.); 1 male Llanmerewig Glebe TNR, 32/160929, 2.vi.1991, Lamium album L., (A. H. K.-S.); 3 males & 2 females Caerhowel camp site, near Montgomery, 32/203979, 1.vi.1991, Lamium album L., (A. H. K.-S.).
Meligethes persicus Faldermann, 1837 (=M. pedicularius (Gyll.) auctt.)
A common and widely distributed species on Stachys officinalis (L.) Trev. St Leon. In Wales also occurring in Monmouth, Glamorgan, Brecon, Radnor, Carmarthen, Pembroke, Cardigan, Denbigh and Flint.
Material examined: 1 male & 2 females Old Church Stoke, 32/2894, 12.vii.1964, Stachys officinalis (L.) Trev. St Leon, (A. M. E.).
Meligethes nigrescens Stephens, 1830
A common and widely distributed species on Trifolium repens L. In Wales also occurring in Monmouth, Glamorgan, Brecon, Radnor, Carmarthen, Pembroke, Cardigan, Caernarvon, Denbigh and Anglesey.
Material examined: 1 Trinity Well, 33/267078, 3.ix.1961, Centaurea nigra L., (A. M. E.); 1 Four Crosses, 33/2718, 14.vi.1964, Aegopodium podagraria L.., (A. M. E.); 1 male & 1 female Breidden Hill SSSI, 33/294145, 31.v.1991, Hyacinthoides non-scripta (L.) Chouard ex Rothm., (A. H. K.-S.).
Meligethes obscurus Erichson, 1845
A common and widely distributed species on Teucrium scorodonia L. In Wales also occurring in Monmouth, Glamorgan, Brecon, Radnor, Carmarthen, Pembroke, Cardigan, Merioneth, Caernarvon, Denbigh, Flint and Anglesey.
Material examined: 1 Breidden Hill SSSI, 33/294145, 5.vi.1960, Ranunculus repens L., (A. M. E.); 2 same data, Teucrium scorodonia L., (A. M. E.); 4 same data, Veronica chamaedrys L., (A. M. E.); 4 same data, Fragaria vesca L., (A. M. E.); 7 same data, Hieracium sp., and Senecio aquaticus Hill, (A. M. E.); 6 same data, Geum urbanum L., (A. M. E.); 2 same data, Hieracium agg., (A. M. E.); 57 same data, Ajuga reptans L., also on almost every flower seen, including Viola sp. & Digitalis purpurea L., (A. M. E.); 1 same data, Lotus corniculatus L., (A. M. E.); 4 Breidden . Hill SSSI, 33/294145, 3.ix.1961, Hieracium agg., (A. M. E.); 4 same data, Solidago virgaurea L., (A. M. E.); 1 same data, Centaurea nigra L., (A. M. E.); 1 Trinity Well, 33/267078, 3.ix.1961, Leontodon autumnalis L., (A. M. E.); 2 Long Mountain, 33/2808, 14.vi.1964, general sweeping, (A. M. E.); 1 male & 1 female Todleth Hill, 32/2894, 12.vii.1964, Clinopodium vulgare L., (A. M. E.); 1 female Long Mountain, 33/2808, 12.vii.1964, Clinopodium vulgare L., (A. M. E.); 1 male & 1 female
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Isygarreg, 22/736987, 20.ix.1964, Leontodon hispidus L., (A. M. E.); | male & 2 females Isygarreg, 22/736987 plus 22/708984, 20.ix.1964, Jasione montana L.., (A. M. E.); 1 male Llanymynech Hill SSSI, TNR, 33/262216, 9.vi.1990, Helianthemum nummularium (L.) Miller, (A. H. K.-S.); 4 males & 5 females same data, Thymus polytrichus A. Kerner ex Borbas, (A. H. K.-S.); 1 female Moel y Golfa SSSI, 33/290122, 1.vi.1991, Teucrium scorodonia L., (A. H. K.-S.); 1 female Breidden Hill! SSSI, 33/294145, 31.v.1991, Lotus corniculatus L., (A. H. K.-S.); 1 female same data, Lepidium campestre (L.) R. Br., (A. H. K.-S.); 1 female same data, Fragaria vesca L., (A. H. K.-S.); 3 males same data, Hyacinthoides non-scripta (L.) Chouard ex Rothm., (A. H. K.-S.); 7 males & 2 females same data, Alliaria petiolata (Bieb.) Cav. & Gra., (A. H. K.-S.); 3 males & 2 females same data, Hieracium agg., (A. H. K.-S.); 18 males & 19 females same data, Polygala vulgaris L., (A. H. K.-S.); 1 male Coedydd Llawr-y-Glyn SSSI, Esgairleth, 22/918905, 30.v.1991, Potentilla sp., (A. H. K.-S.).
Meligethes carinulatus Forster, 1849 (=M. erythropus (Marsham) auctt. partim.)
A common and widely distributed species on Lotus corniculatus L. In Wales also occurring in Monmouth, Glamorgan, Brecon, Radnor, Carmarthen, Pembroke, Cardigan, Merioneth, Caernarvon, Denbigh, Flint and Anglesey.
Material examined: 2 Breidden Hill SSSI, 33/294145, 5.vi.1960, Lotus corniculatus L., (A. M. E.); 1 male Frochas, 33/295102, 30.iv.1967, Taraxacum officinale agg., (A. M. E.); 3 males & 6 females Llanymynech Hill SSSI, TNR, 33/262216, 9.vi.1990, Lotus corniculatus L., (A. H. K.-S.); 2 males & 1 female Llanmerewig Glebe TNR, 32/160929, 2.vi.1991, Lotus corniculatus L., (A. H. K.-S.); 1 male Llyn Mawr SSSI, TNR, 32/0097, 10.vi.1991, Lotus corniculatus L., (A. H. K.-S.); 3 males Mochdre Dingles SSSI, 32/080878, 2.vi.1991, Lotus corniculatus L., (A. H. K.-S.); 1 male Breiddon Hill SSSI, 33/294145, 31.v.1991, Barbarea vulgaris R. Br., (A. H. K.-S.); 3 males & 1 female Pen-dugwm Woods SSSI, 33/107140, 31.v.1991, Lotus corniculatus L., (A. H. K.-S.); 4 males Corndon Hill SSSI, 32/309966, 1.vi.1991, Taraxacum officinale agg., (A. H. K.-S.).
Meligethes exilis Sturm, 1845 (Notable)
A local species, on Thymus polytrichus A. Kerner ex Borbas (= 7. praecox Opiz subsp. (arcticus E. Durand) & Jalas). In Wales also occurring in Glamorgan, Carmarthen, Pembroke, Cardigan, Merioneth, Caernarvon, Denbigh, Flint and Anglesey.
Material examined: 2 females Llanymynech Hill SSSI, TNR, 33/262216, 31.v.1964, Thymus polytrichus A. Kerner ex Borbas, (A. M. E.); 1 female Llanymynech Hill SSSI, TNR, 33/262216, 30.viii.1964, Knautia arvensis (L.) Coulter, (A. M. E.); 12 males & 10 females Llanymynech Hill SSSI, TNR, 33/262216, 9.vi.1990, Thymus polytrichus A. Kerner ex Borbas, (A. H. K.-S.).
Meligethes ovatus Sturm, 1845
A fairly common species, on Glechoma hederacea L. In Wales also occurring in Monmouth, Glamorgan, Brecon, Radnor, Carmarthen, Pembroke, Cardigan, Merioneth, Caernarvon, Denbigh, Flint and Anglesey.
Material examined: 4 females Winllan Hill, 33/216212, 19.iv.1964, Glechoma hederacea L., (A. M. E.).
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The use of unpublished data included in this paper was due to the great kindness of the late Dr A. M. Easton, who passed his notes and records to me before his death. Mr David Boyce (Countryside Council for Wales), was very helpful in organizing permission to visit SSSIs, and also helped with the collection of specimens at some of the sites. I am very grateful to Mr Gerry Longley (Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust) and Mr Jerry Longford (The Woodland Trust) who both very kindly gave permission to collect specimens on their reserves. Botanical names were checked by Dr George Hutchinson (Botany Department, National Museum of Wales).
REFERENCES
Ansorge, E. 1966. Some Coleoptera from Wales. Entomologist’s Gaz. 17: 69-71.
Audisio, P. A. (in press). Coleoptera Nitidulidae e Kateretidae. Fauna d’Ttalia. Calderini, Bologna, Vol. 33.
Bacchus, M. E. & Kirk-Spriggs, A. H. 1991. The Meligethes (Col., Nitidulidae) described by T. Marsham & J. F. Stephens—changes in nomenclature and type designation. Entomologist’s Mon. Mag. 127: 209-214.
Hyman, P. & Parsons, M. S. (in press). A review of the scarce and threatened Coleoptera of Great Britain. UK Nature Conservation 2, Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Kirk-Spriggs, A. H. 1992. 32. Host specificity and seasonality in two species of Meligethes Stephens (Col., Nitidulidae), associated with the White Dead-Nettle, Lamium album L. In: Harley, R. M. & Reynolds, T. (Eds). Advances in labiate science, pp. 393-398. Royal
Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Kirk-Spriggs, A. H. (in press). Pollen Beetles, Coleoptera: Kateretidae and Nitidulidae: Meligethinae. Handb. Ident. Br. Insects 5(6a).
Kloet, G. S. & Hincks, W. D. 1977. A Check List of British Insects, Part 3: Coleoptera and Strepsiptera, Second Edition. Revised R. D. Pope. Royal Entomological Society of London, xiv + 10Spp.
BOOK REVIEW
Insects on cabbages and oilseed rape, by William D. J. Kirk, Naturalists’ Handbooks 18, Richmond Publishing, Slough, 1992, 66pp, £7.95 paperback, £13 hardback.— Like other books in its series, this one selects a field that can be presented in reasonable detail within a small space. Thus, the author has managed to provide some very interesting background information on brassicas and their special role as insect foodplants, while also outlining the biology of many of the principal foliage and flower-feeding insects. No such work would be complete without a guide to identification, and this is duly supplied in the form of illustrated keys to all the common brassica-inhabiting insects, together with monochrome and colour plates depicting those most likely to be encountered by farmers and gardeners. There is also a short guide to collecting and other techniques.
One of the nice things about this sort of subject is that it can be studied on one’s own doorstep, and this book should therefore help many people whose curiosity about local creepy-crawlies is not matched by a comprehensive knowledge of the many taxonomic groups to which they belong. It also highlights the scope for research, some areas of which could readily be tackled by the amateur. Thus, there is plenty here for entomologists of all persuasions, as well as studenis, farmers and gardeners.
D. LONSDALE
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SILENE ACAULIS (L.) JACQ. (CARYOPHYLLACEAE), THE LARVAL FOODPLANT OF DELIA PILIVENTRIS (POK.) (DIPTERA: ANTHOMYIIDAE)
K. P. BLAND 35 Charterhall Road, Edinburgh EH9 3HS.
The first British records of Delia piliventris (Pokorny, 1889) appear to be those of Collin (1933). Under the name of ‘Delia fasciventris Ringdahl M. S.’, Collin reports that ‘3 males and a possible female were taken by Dr Edwards at 2000 to 3000 feet [i.e. 600-900 m] elevation in different localities in the Killin district (Perthshire)’. This species has since been found very locally in several widely scattered montane localities in western Scotland (Horsfield, 1984, 1988; D. Horsfield, pers. comm.). Abroad the species has a circumpolar distribution; its headquarters is Scandinavia but it extends via the Faroes to much of the arctic part of North America. It is also well distributed in the Alps (Hennig, 1974). In spite of its widespread distribution abroad, its larval habits do not appear to have been recorded.
In July 1984 while collecting at 840 m on the south slopes of Sanna, in Kilpisjarvi, Finland, I came across some dipterous larvae boring down the shoots of moss campion, Silene acaulis (L.) Jacq. Although one of the larvae eventually pupated, it failed to develop any further.
On 2.viii.1992 similar dipterous larvae were found at 500m on the crags in Corrie Fee (O. S. grid ref. NO2474), Glen Doll, Angus (vice-county 90). Again they were boring down the centre of the shoots of Silene acaulis. Each larva bored down the centre of a shoot eating out the mesophyll from each leaf in turn until nearly all the green leaves had been reduced to empty brown sheaths. It then emerged from the shoot, crawled over the surface of the leaf cushion and bored down another shoot often a centimetre or more away. Several shoots were consumed in this way before the larva descended to the base of the cushion to pupate in the damp substrate. If the larva fell through the cushion while moving from one shoot to another—a difficult action in the wild but easily engineered in a rearing tube—it seemed unable to find its way back up onto the cushion of growing shoots. This phenomenon indicates that the larva is very dependent on the physical structure of its foodplant for its survival and so may be restricted to Silene acaulis. This possible specificity to moss campion is further supported by the close similarity of the known distributions of the fly and of S. acaulis (Jones & Richards, 1962). Towards the end of August a single larva burrowed into the damp tissues beneath the foodplant, successfully pupated and became quiescent for the winter. In early May the puparium started to show imaginal development within but the male imago died fully formed within the puparium at the beginning of June. Dissection of the genitalia indicated the fly to be Delia fasciventris Ringdahl, 1933 (based on illustrations in Ringdahl, 1959) or Delia piliventris (Pokorny, 1889) (based on illustrations in Hennig, 1974). Hennig (1974) gives fasciventris as a junior synonym of piliventris.
On 16.viii.1992 at 600 m on Meall nan Tarmachan (O. S. grid ref. NN5940), near Killin, Perthshire (vice-county 88) further dipterous larval signs were found on Si/ene acaulis. Most of the larvae had abandoned the plants but a single larva was procured. This larva pupated on 29.viii.1992. Again the larva burrowed down some | cm into the damp substrate beneath the Si/ene acaulis before pupating. On 23.vi.1993 this puparium poduced a female Delia piliventris. It is probable that this site is one of Dr Edwards’s original localities.
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Figs 1-4. Details of the puparium of Delia piliventris. Figs 1 & 2. Dorsal and frontal views of anterior end of puparium. Figs 3 & 4. Dorsal and anal views of posterior end of puparium. Scale bar 0.5 mm.
Figure 5. Reconstructed larval mouthparts of final instar larva of Delia piliventris.
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Comparison of the unemerged puparium from Kilpisjarvi, Finland with that from Corrie Fee showed no appreciable differences between them, suggesting them to be the same species. Details of the puparium and larval mouth-parts of the male specimen from Corrie Fee are shown in Figs 1-5.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I am grateful to Mike Nelson for invaluable assistance with identification and loan of materials, to Graham Rotheray for nursing the Beinn Lawers female through its final critical stages of development, to Derek Penman for assistance with the scanning electron microscopy and to Colin Warwick for preparation of the photographs. | also acknowledge the cooperation of the Royal Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh in allowing use of the Scottish insect records index.
REFERENCES
Collin, J. E. 1933. Notes on Perthshire Anthomyiidae, etc. Scottish Naturalist, 202: 119-123.
Hennig, W. 1974. Anthomyiidae. In: Lindner, E. (Ed.) Die Fliegen der Palaearktischen Region 63a (pt 308), 876.
Horsfield, D. 1984. Delia caledonica Assis Fonseca (Dipt., Anthomyiidae) and other Diptera from the Fannich Hills, West Ross. Entomologist’s Mon. Mag. 120: 162.
Horsfield, D. 1988. Delia caledonica Assis Fonseca (Dipt., Anthomyiidae) and other Diptera from An Teallach, Wester Ross. Entomologist’s Mon. Mag. 124: 6.
Jones, V. & Richards, P. W. 1962. Biological flora of the British Isles; Silene acaulis (L.) Jacq. J. Ecol. 50: 475-487.
Ringdahl, O. 1959. Svensk Insektfauna. 11 Tvavingar. Diptera; Cyclorapha Schizophora Schizometopa. I Fam. Muscidae pt. 3 Stockholm/Uppsala.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Recent Lepidoptera papers in the journal. I was absolutely delighted to discover on receipt of the latest issue (Br. J. Ent. Nat. Hist. 1993, 6(4) ), two papers on British Lepidoptera. These papers, The British Epermeniidae and The British species of Caryocolum are of a similar style and format to their predecessors. Since I cannot recall noting any published responses relative to this ‘series’ I would like to take the opportunity to state that I find such papers extremely valuable as a data source. The Society performs a valuable service to its members in publishing papers of this type. Although my interests are heavily biased towards the Lepidoptera, and thus I am not entirely in a position to comment, I can well imagine that similar papers on the other orders are equally valuable. Whilst fully appreciating the amount of time and effort which has to be invested in compiling these accounts I hope we may look forward to further contributions. In addition, in the plates of the latest publication | think the inclusion of specimens from yesteryear is most welcome. I would like to think that if messers Bankes and Ford are looking down on us now they would be delighted that full use is still being made of their collections.
However, I do have one query. Whilst perusing the accounts of the various species I noted under Caryocolum blandulella that the larva has been found in Britain and in Sweden. But no dates are quoted! I referred to such literature as was within reach from the comfort of my armchair and noted that there was a vacancy for this particular piece of information in all the volumes which were at hand. Information upon this small point would be most welcome as dates are quite often the base from which searches for various species are conducted.—M. H. Smith, 42 Bellefield Crescent, Trowbridge, Wiltshire.
80 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 7: 1994 BENHS ANNOUNCEMENTS
Assistant Treasurership.—Our Assistant Treasurer, Geoff Burton, is stepping down after serving the Society in this capacity for more than ten years and we are seeking a replacement as soon as possible.
The duties of the Assistant Treasurer are, inter alia, to keep the membership list up to date on the Society’s computer, which is kept at his house, recording changes in membership and keeping the Distribution Secretary, the Sales Secretary and other Council Members informed. He is responsible for producing address labels from the computer to assist the Distribution Secretary. He is responsible for receiving and recording all subscriptions paid and sending reminder letters to those who do not pay on time or who underpay and taking any other necessary actions, which may include directing that distributions be withheld from defaulters or advising Council that they be removed from Membership.
The Assistant Treasurer may be co-opted to Council but it will not normally be necessary for him to attend more than one or two meetings a year. He will normally be recruited from the Ordinary Membership and will be interested in communicating and want to put back something into the Society.
The busiest times of the year are around December and January when the majority of subscriptions are received and have to be checked off against the bank statements, early Spring when reminder letters are sent and at the Annual Exhibition when many subscriptions are paid. However, the Assistant Treasurer has to be prepared to do some- thing every week as there are address changes to note, late subscriptions and queries to attend to and information to impart to and receive from other Council Members.
The routines in use have largely been developed by Geoff Burton and it will be necessary to collect the computer and be briefed on the procedures, all assistance will be given in this. It is not necessary to have prior knowledge of computers.
If you feel you can help the Society please contact the Treasurer initially for more details.—A. J. Pickles, Treasurer, 2a Park Avenue, Lymington, Hampshire SO41 9GX. Tel: 0590-675 366.
The Society’s Council.—The Council of the BENHS comprises the officers of the Society, several assistant secretaries to organize meetings, sales, exhibitions and mailings, and ‘ordinary’ members. All combine to run the Society and carry out its objectives.
A new Council is elected each year, but although many names remain the same, new Council members are constantly sought. There are always additional tasks for Council members to undertake, but these need not be at all arduous. For new Council members, the only ‘task’ set them is to attend as many of the monthly Council meetings as they are able and to contribute their opinions and knowledge to the discussions.
If you would like to get more involved in the running or organization of the Society, Council would be pleased to hear from you. A list of current officers and other Council members appears inside the back cover of this issue of the journal; these and others are also listed on the Society’s current meetings card. Alternatively, please telephone the Editor, Richard A. Jones, 13 Bellwood Road, Nunhead, London SE15 3DE. Tel: 071-732-2440.
BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 7: 1994
LYCIELLA STYLATA PAPP AND L. SUBPALLIDIVENTRIS PAPP (DIPTERA: LAUXANIIDAE) NEW TO BRITAIN
ANDREW GODFREY
Ecosurveys Ltd, Priory Lodge, Hagnaby, Spilsby, Lincolnshire PE23 4BP.
Whilst sorting and identifying Diptera in the collections at Cliffe Castle Museum, Keighley, West Yorkshire, four specimens which key out in Collin (1948) as Lyciella pallidiventris (Fallén, 1820) were identified. Papp (1979a) describes two species of Lyciella very similar to L. pallidiventris. On checking the specimens with this paper I found that they agreed with the description and figures of L. stylata. Subsequent checking of specimens from other collections revealed the presence of the second Papp species, L. subpallidiventris. Specimens of the newly recognized British species were exhibited at the 1991 BENHS annual exhibition and published in the Exhibition Report (Godfrey, 1992). Full details of these species are provided here.
Lyciella stylata Papp, 1979
Very similar to L. pallidiventris. Only separable on the male genitalia. The left gonite is very long and slightly bent at the tip whilst the right gonite is extremely short and hook-like (Fig. 1). These structures are visible without dissection; the long left gonite being particularly noticeable. Further illustrations are given by Papp (1979a).
L. stylata is known from Hungary, Romania, Czechoslovakia, former Yugoslavia, Austria, Latvia and Estonia. I have also taken two males from Loupiac, near Soilliac, France on 7.vii.1993. British records available to me are as follows (all records refer to single males unless otherwise stated).
Figs 1-3. Male gonites, ventral view. 1: Lyciella stylata. 2: L. subpallidiventris. 3: L. pallidiventris. Scale bar 1 mm.
82 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 7: 1994
England. Bucks.: Chenies 17.viii.1893 (AP); at flowers of Japanese knotweed, Burnham Beeches SU98, 15.ix.1970 (PJC). Cambs.: one on Lombardy poplar, Pembroke College Sports Ground, TL437572, 3.vi.1987. Devon: edge of reedbeds, Slapton Marsh NR SX8144, 3.vi.1978 (JC). Hants: Lyndhurst, 22.vi.1872 (JEC); New Forest, 14.viii.1901 (FCA); New Forest, 8.vii.1907 (JJFXK); Matley Bog, New Forest, 15.iv.1953 (CNC); Park Ground Inclosure, New Forest SU303064, 30.v.1980 (IP); Royden Woods near Brockenhurst SU307013, 25.vi.1988 (IP). Herts.: in cop Felden, 18.vii.1894 (AP); single male ditto, 17.ix.1897 & 10.vi.1899 (AP); Knebworth, 10.vi.1923 (FWE). Hunts.: disused railway cutting Pingle Cutting NR TF215815, 27.vi.1984 & 26.v.1985 (JC). Kent: Footscray, 7.vii.1869 (NHML); Hook Farm, Bromley TQ4167, 26.viii.1964 (PJC); Crofton Heath, Orpington TQ4366, 6.x.1966 (PJC); Blean Woods NNR TRI16, 3.ix.1967 (PJC); Cudham, 6.vii.1969 (RIVW); Cromers Wood near Sittingbourne TQ905605, 29.vii.1983 (LC); Mincing Wood, Blean near Canterbury TR1160, 2.vi.1983 & 31.vii.1983 (LC); Crockham Wood, Dunkirk near Canterbury TR076606, 26.ix.1983; Claypits Wood, Dunkirk near Canterbury TRO74595, 26.ix.1983 (LC); Carter’s Wood, Hamstreet TR0033, 19.vi.1984 (LC); Denstead Wood, near Chartham Hatch TR0857, 22.viii.1985 (LC); Sladden Wood, Alkham near Dover TR258428, 19.vi.1988 (LC); Ashford, Hothfield TQ9745, 18.vii.1987 (WAE). N. Yorks.: Ashberry Pastures, vi.1977 (PS); Dallowgill, Ripon SE1871, 7.vii.1979 (WAE). Oxon: village garden, Goring on Thames, 16.v.1961 (JC). S. Yorks.: Slackcotes near Delph, puparia coll. from marshy soil with coltsfoot, iv.1964, emerged 8-12.v.1965 (PS); Edlington Wood near Doncaster, 22.vii.1965 (and associated female) (PS); Roche Abbey near Maltby, 15.ix.1965 (PS); Silverwood, Rotherham SK4873, 15.v.1977 (WAE); Cantley Park, Doncaster, 25.v.1977 (PS); 2 males Low Hall Wood, Sheffield SK330967, 20.vii.1977 (SA); Greno Wood, Sheffield SK324958, 25.vii.1977 (SA); Ecclesall Woods, Sheffield, 3 males SK325826, 15.vi.1980 & one male SK322818, 25.vi.1980 (SW); Pot Ridings Wood, Sprotbrough, Doncaster 27.vii.1991 & 28.vii.1991 (AG). Staffs.: five swept from large felled beech trunk by river bank, Dimmings Dale SSSI, surrounding habitat is secondary woodland (sycamore and silver birch with bracken), SK053431, 27.vii.1990; two specimens of L. pallidiventris s.s were also taken (Nature Conservancy Council per D. Denman). Suffolk: Sussex Lodge, Newmarket, 18.vii.1911 (JEC) & 31.viii.1912 (CY); Cavenham Heath NNR TL760725, 13.vi.1988 (IP). Warks.: Sutton Park (acid grassland/ heathland with wet woodland) SP0998, 31.v.1990 (SJF); Herald Way Marsh (disturbed ground with carr, scrub and marsh) SP3776 11.vi.1990 (SJF). West Yorks.: four males taken on 30.vii.1927 (JW). The specimens have the letter P on the data label; according to a list of site codes made by the collector, P is either Park Wood, Keighley or Pollington near Snaith, both in West Yorks. Worcs.: Tarrington, 31.vii.1903 (CY).
Wales. Denbigh: Rhyd y Crellau, Betws y Coed, 30.vii.1971 (PS); at light at same locality, 8.viii.1975 and 2 males at light at same locality, 9.viii.1975 (PS).
Scotland. Aber.: Crathie Wood, Aberdeen, 11.vii.1970 (PS). Dum.: Spitalriding, Annan, 25.ix.1992 (AG). Easter Ross: Culbin Sand Hills, Nairn, vili.1899 (CY); Loch Loy, Culbin Sands (calcareous seepage dominated by Schoenus nigricans passing into scrub and bordered by birch woodland) NG9358, 17.vii.1991 (AG). Inv.: Spey Bridge, 29.vi.1905 (JEC); Falls of Tarnash, 9.vii.1936 (RLC). Islay: in sycamore wood, Baleachdrach, Ballygrant NR4264, 11.viii.1992 (AG), in car in Ballygrant Inn car > park, Ballygrant, 13.viii.1992 (AG). Perth.: Rannoch, 19.vii.1927 (JEC coll.), Black Wood of Rannoch, 17.vi.1992 (AG). Rhum: Kinloch, 3.vi.1960 (AB). Skye: Coille Thogabhaig (birch-alder woods with flushes) NG614120, 11.vii.1991 (AG); 2 males Dunvegan Castle Woods NG2439, 9.vii.1991 (JC); Loch Suardal (fen with Carex, Eriophorum, Eleocharis and Phragmites with woodland fringe on eastern side)
BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 7: 1994
NG259512 9.vii.1991 (central point) (AG). Stirl.: Mugdock Country Park, 18.vi.1992 (AG). Sutherland: Lochinver, 21.v.1911 (CY).
From the records amassed it would seem that L. sty/ata is a common and widespread species in Britain. It appears to be the most frequent of the three species.
Lyciella subpallidiventris Papp, 1979
Very similar to pallidiventris and only distinguishable on the male genitalia. Gonites shorter than pallidiventris, not or barely extending beyond surstyli (Fig. 2). Papp (1979a) provides a further illustration of the male genitalia.
L. subpallidiventris is so far known from Hungary, (West) Germany and Estonia. Records available to me are as follows.
England. Glos.: Beaudesert Park School, Stroud, 23.ix.1960 in light trap (ACP). Hants: New Forest, 10.vii.1900 & 19.ix.1900, 2 males (FCA); Milton, 30.vii.1907 in cop (WW). Herts.: Felden, 6.vii.1899 (AP). Kent: Cromers Wood, near Sittingbourne TQ905605, 29.vii.1983 (LC); Mincing Wood, Blean TR1160, 31.vii.1983 (LC); Mersham-le-Hatch, near Ashford TR0540, 18.viii.1983 (LC); Darenth Wood, 27.vi.1987 (AG).
Eire. Wicklow: Glendalough T19, 16.iv.1968 (PJC).
Scotland. Skye: Dunvegan Castle Woods NG2439, 9.vii.1991 (AG).
Lyciella pallidiventris (Fallén, 1820)
Male genitalia as in Fig. 3 with the gonites of more or less equal length or with the right slightly longer and both strongly curved apically. Papp (1979a) provides further illustrations. Records available to me are as follows.
England. Berks.: Windsor Forest, 30.vi.1971 (PJC). Cambs.: Chippenham Fen, 11.iv or vi.1948 (JEC). Hants: New Forest, 21.vi.1869 (no collector given); 16.ix.1900 (FCA). Oxon: Crowell Hill, 20.ix.1970 (PJC). Kent: Bysing Wood near Faversham TQ998623, 28.vi.1986 (LC); Bredgar near Sittingbourne TQ893597, 5.ix.1986 (LC). S. Yorks.: signal box, Wharncliffe Wood (43/311937) in cop, 5.ix.1980 (AUB). Staffs.: two from fallen beech trunk by river bank, Dimmings Dale SSSI, 27.vii.1990 (taken with L. stylata; see this species for more details of the collecting site) (DD).
Remm & Elberg (1979) illustrated variation of the male genitalia of L. pallidiventris. Their figures however, are attributable to L. pallidiventris s.s. (Fig. 27E), L. stvlata (27A,B,D), and L. subpallidiventris (27C). Collin (1948) also referred to the ‘very considerable variation in the length of the genital rods’ in L. pallidiventris. He did not separate specimens of this species group which is unusual given that he did for a much smaller perceived variation in other species. Variation in the lengths of the gonites have been noted whilst examining specimens of the three species covered in this paper and it has proved difficult to ascribe some individuals to species. Further studies are required to prove whether these are all good species. | would therefore welcome male-associated females, especially those taken im cop, and reared material.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I am grateful to Bill Ely, Keeper of Natural History, Clifton Park Museum, Rotherham and Miss Margaret Hartley, Keeper of Natural History, Cliffe Castle Museum, Keighley for arranging for me to examine the collections of the latter institution, to Dr Laszlo Lapp and Evi Remm for advice and information, to Oxford University Museum and the Natural History Museum, London, and to the entomologists named for their records and assistance.
84 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 7: 1994
Collectors’ abbreviations: FCA (F. C. Adams); SA (Susan Ashurst); AUB (Austin Brackenbury); AB (Allan Brindle); PJC (Peter Chandler); LC (Laurence Clemons); RLC (R. L. Coe); JC (Jon Cole); JEC (James Collin collection, Oxford); CNC (C. N. Colyer); DD (David Denman); FWE (F. W. Edwards); WAE (Bill Ely); SJF (Steven Falk); AG (Andrew Godfrey); JIFXK (J. King); NHML (Natural History Museum London); IP (Ivan Perry); AP (A. Piffard); ACP (A. C. Pont); PS (P. Skidmore); RIVW (Richard Vane-Wright); SW (Susan Watson); WW (W. Wesche); JW (John Wood); CY (Colonel Yerbury).
REFERENCES
Collins, J. E. 1948. A short synopsis of the British Sapromyzidae (Diptera). Trans. R. Ent. Soc. Lond. 99: 225-242.
Godfrey, A. 1992. Exhibit at 1991 Annual Exhibition. Br. J. Ent. Nat. Hist. 5: 69.
Papp, L. 1979a. Contribution to the revision of the Palearctic Lauxaniidae (Diptera). Ann. Hist. Nat. Mus. Natn. Hung. (Budapest) 70(1978): 213-231.
Papp, L. 1979b. New species and taxonomical data of the Palaearctic Lauxaniidae and Carnidae (Diptera). Acta Zool. Acad. Sci. Hung. 27(1-2): 159-186.
Remm, F. & Elberg, K. 1979. Terminalia of the Lauxaniidae (Diptera) found in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Dipteroloogilisi Uurimusi, Eesti NSV Tead. Akad. 66-117.
SHORT COMMUNICATION
Dolichopus caligatus Wahlb. (Diptera: Dolichopodidae) new to eastern England.— During the Norfolk field meeting of the Diptera Recording Schemes I visited Burgh Common, Fleggburgh, (TG445130) on 5.vii.1993 in company with Jonathan Cole and Keith Porter.
Subsequently Dr Porter handed to me a male Dolichopus he had collected during the visit and which I identified as D. caligatus, a species hitherto unreported in eastern England. Dr Porter kindly allowed me to retain the specimen in my own collection and it was exhibited at the annual meeting of the Diptera Recording Schemes in November.
Assis Fonseca E.C.M. (1978. Diptera Orthorrhapha Brachycera. Dolichopodidae. Handb. Ident. Br. Insects 9(5): 24), records the distribution of this species as limited to five British localities only, all from northern Scotland, three of the records being prior to 1913.
In 1984 the species was found in four localities on the Isle of Lewis, the typical habitat seeming to be the edge of peaty lochs and beside streams in peat bogs, (MacGowan, I. 1986 Entomologist’s Mon. Mag. 122: 213).
The species was found at Traeth Dulas (Anglesey), in 1987 by Peter Chandler (pers. comm.), and there is an undated record for Silverdale (N. Lancs.), by Harry Britten who died in 1954.
The latter record appears in The Diptera of Lancashire and Cheshire, Part 1, by L. N. Kidd and A. Brindle, published by the Lancashire and Cheshire Fauna Committee in 1959. This very useful reference work may have been overlooked by Mr Fonseca when he was compiling the distribution details for the ‘Handbook’, — because there are similar omissions which come to light from time to time.
The Norfolk habitat was along the side of a drainage ditch in an overgrown grazing marsh; no other specimens were found on the occasion of our visit and the single specimen constituted the only record during the week.—Roy Crossley, 1 The Cloisters, Wilberfoss, York YO4 5RF.
BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 7: 1994 aS
SOME RARE ACALYPTRATE DIPTERA TAKEN IN RECENT YEARS
ANDREW GODFREY
Ecosurveys Ltd, Priory Lodge, Hagnaby, Spilsby, Lincolnshire PE23 4BP.
During 1991, 1992 and 1993 I have been fortunate to find several rare and little known acalyptrate Diptera. These include the second British specimen of Pseudopomyza atrimana (Pseudopomyzidae), a third locality and the first British inland records for Parochthiphila coronata (Chamaemyiidae), and recent records of Stenomicra delicata (Stenomicridae). In addition, a number of interesting species, collected during the same period, have been identified in material sent to me for identification. Peter Chandler has also kindly added his records of Stenomicra delicata. Details of these are given below.
Typhamyza bifasciata Wood (Anthomyzidae)
A single female was taken by beating Carex paniculata L. tussocks at the centre of a dried-out pond vegetated by Typha at Thompson Common, Norfolk (Grid Reference TL 99) on 11.viii.1991. More recently, I took a single specimen by sweeping a Typha-rich ditch on Neatscourt Marshes, Isle of Sheppey, Kent (TQ918714) on 25.vi.1993. I have also identified another female from Norbrigg Pool, Derbyshire SK4475 taken on 5.vii.1992 by Derek Whiteley (specimen in the collection at Weston Park Museum, Sheffield). An increasing number of recent records (for example: Ismay, 1981; McLean, 1987; Withers, 1987) suggests it is more widespread and not as rare as was previously thought. Rohacek (1992) has recently provided an excellent account of the taxonomy, morphology and ecology of this species.
Stenomicra delicata (Collin) (Stenomicridae)
This obscure and very rare fly was described as new to science by J. E. Collin (1944) from a small number of specimens taken from a dried-up artificial pond in a garden in Newmarket in June and July 1942 and 1943. As far as I am aware, the only published records since are from Czechoslovakia (Papp, 1978; Rohacek, 1983). Papp recorded a single specimen whilst Rohacek took two females at light. It is currently given Red Data Book Status 2 in Britain (Falk, 1991).
I took a single female of this species whilst examining the tussocks of Carex paniculata at Holwell Mouth SSSI, Leics. (SK724245) on 1.ix.1991. The tussock sedge grows by the streamside in a small valley and is surrounded by an area of marshy ground dominated by Carex riparia Curtis, Filipendula ulmaria (L.) Maxim. and Equisetum telmateia Ehrh. with sallow carr nearby and throughout the valley. The streams here are spring fed. Several other interesting flies were taken in the tussocks including Stilpon graminum (Fall.), Drapetis assimilis (Fall.), Elaphropeza ephippiata (Fall.), Elachiptera brevipennis (Meig.), Oscinisoma cognata (Meig.) and Trimerina madizans (Fall.).
Two males and six females of S. delicata were taken from Carex paniculata tussocks at Barnby Marshes, Suffolk (TM482904) on 7.vii.1993. One male and one female were taken a few days later amongst Carex pseudocyperus L. and Deschampsia caespitosa (L.) P. Beauv. in a damp ditch at Swangey Fen, Norfolk (TM013933) on the 10.vii.1993. Peter Chandler has informed me that he has taken this species from Carex paniculata at two sites in Hampshire—The Moors, Bishop’s Waltham on 13.vii.1990 (one male, two females); and Greywell Fen on 15.vii.1990 (one male).
86 ’ BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 7: 1994
Since S. delicata was described, a second species, S. cogani, has been described as new to science from Britain (Irwin, 1982). There are at least two further undescribed species from Europe (J. Ismay, pers. comm.; Andersson, 1991).
Parochthiphila coronata (Loew) (Chamaemyiidae)
This species was swept in small numbers from short grassland at Blackburn Meadows (also known as Tinsley Sewage Beds), Sheffield, South Yorks (SK4191 & SK4192) on 29.vii.1991 and on 18.vii.1993. It was only previously recorded in Britain from two localities on the coasts of Essex and Norfolk (McLean, 1980) and is accorded Red Data Book Status 1 (Falk, 1991). The male genitalia were checked since there are several further Parochthiphila species in Europe and the CIS, and because the Sheffield specimens are the first inland records for this species in Britain (the species occurs inland throughout the rest of the Palaearctic, however). Differences in the genitalia were detected using the work by Tanasijtshuk (1986) but they are very similar to the figures given by Raspi (1983). The ecology of P. coronata has been described by these workers. The larvae have been recorded feeding on coccids at the base of Elymus repens (L.) Desv. ex Nevski and Ammophila arenaria (L.) Link. (Grasses from the exact site of the Tinsley specimens have been identified for me by Mr Tim Smith and comprise Agrostis stolonifera L., Dactylis glomerata L., Lolium perenne L., Holcus lanatus L. and Arrhenatherum elatius (L.) P. Beauv. ex J. S. & C. Presl.)
Pseudopomyza atrimana Frey (Pseudopomyzidae)
A male of this species was taken by sweeping on a visit to Loch na Dal, Isle of Skye (NG704160) on 11.vii.1991. This obscure fly has been given Red Data Book Status | (Falk, 1991) and is the second (first male) British specimen. The species was added to the British list by Chandler (1983) from a female taken in Kent in 1972.
The site is an area of open seepage with Sphagnum, Eriophorum, and Myrica passing into birch and sallow woodland on a gentle slope at the head of the Loch. Unfortunately it is not clear whether the fly came from the open area or from the woodland. The fly was recognized as unusual when sorting out the catch in the evening and it was subsequently identified as this, species by Dr John Ismay and Peter Chandler. The genitalia compare well with that illustrated by Frey (1952) and is illustrated in Fig. 1.
Since Chandler (1983) published his record, the species has also been recorded from Hungary (Sods & Papp, 1984) and a second record for Czechoslovakia has been published (Frouz & Maca, 1985).
Periscelis annulata (Fall.) (Periscelidae)
A male was swept by my collecting partner, John Mousley, from Ballinluig Shingle Island on the River Tay near Pitlochry (NN9754) on 15.vi.1992 and subsequently ~ passed to me in the evening along with other ‘rubbish’. — : =) This species like all periscelids is rarely recorded and it Fig. 1. Pseudopomyza iS currently regarded as notable by Falk (1991). The larvae atrimana, posterior part of | Of the Periscelidae are associated with oozing tree sap (see, male abdomen. Bar Imm. for example, Papp, 1988).
BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 7: 1994
Asteia elegantula Zett. (Asteiidae)
A single specimen of this rare species was swept from the overhanging bank of a small stream near South Fearns (NG5835) on the Isle of Raasay, Inner Hebrides on 8.vii.1991. The partially dry stream bed comprised large water-worn stones and pebbles, no doubt derived from the boulder clay through which the stream was incised. The stream banks were approximately 2 feet high and vertical, with gentle bracken-covered, landslipped slopes above. Chandler (1978) records the fly from Moray, Ross and Herefordshire, the most recent being from Grantown-on-Spey in 1945. Irwin (1985) recently recorded it from Norfolk and Plant (1989) recorded it from Essex.
This species is given Red Data Book Status 2 in Falk (1991). The life history of Asteia elegantula was described by Freidberg (1984) from observations in an Israeli garden where the insect proved to be common. Freidberg does, however, state his specimens may represent another species.
Pseudopachychaeta heleocharis (Nartshuk) (Chloropidae)
A female was swept on the south side of the main lagoon at Blackburn Meadows, Sheffield, South Yorks (SK411918) on 31.vii.1991. The vegetation here includes Phragmites, Glyceria, Typha, Eleocharis and Potentilla palustris (L.) Scop. Ismay (1991) recently added this to the British fauna.
Crumomyia pedestris (Meig.) (Sphaeroceridae)
A female of this very distinct and infrequent brachypterous fly was taken in a pitfall trap placed on the edge of Carex marsh by the River Ock, near Noah’s Ark public house, Abingdon, Oxon SU441960. The trap was in position for two weeks and was emptied on 14.vii.1992.
Neottiophilum praeustum (Meig.) (Neottiophilidae)
A female was identified in material sent to me by John Mousley. This specimen was swept along the River Babingley, Flitcham, Norfolk TF7326 on 19.v.1992. The larvae are parasites on nestling passerines; a list of hosts is given by Owen (1957). Adults are rarely seen although Irwin (1987) recently recorded the species from Norfolk.
Parydroptera discomyzina (Collin) (Ephydridae)
A single male was found in a pitfall trap at Iwade Marshes, Iwade, Kent (TQ911690). The trap was put down on the 26.vi.1993 and the contents recovered on 5.vii.1993. The trap was placed in herb-rich grazing marsh.
This species was originally described by Collin (1913) from Rye in Sussex and from Southwold in Suffolk. Ismay (1980) has published details of further specimens taken at Rye. I know of no other British records. The species is given Red Data Book Status 2 in Falk (1991).
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
My thanks to Dr Martin Drake, Brian Eversham, John Mousley, Alan Stubbs and Derek Whiteley for arranging field meetings and access, Peter Chandler and Dr John Ismay for checking determinations or identifying specimens and John Mousley and Derek Whiteley for material.
88 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 7: 1994
REFERENCES
Andersson, H. 1991. [Stenomicridae (Diptera), first record of the family from Fennoscandia]. Ent. Tidskr. 112: 149-151.
Chandler, P. J. 1978. A revision of the British Asteiidae including two additions to the British list. Proc. Trans. Br. Ent. Nat. Hist. Soc. 11: 23-34.
Chandler, P. J. 1983. Pseudopomyza atrimana (Meigen) (Diptera, Pseudopomyzidae), a fly of an acalyptrate family new to the British list. Proc. Trans. Br. Ent. Nat. Hist. Soc. 16: 87-91.
Collin, J. E. 1913. Parydroptera discomyzina and Philygria semialata; new Palaearctic Ephydridae (Diptera). Entomologist 46: 1-3.
Collin, J. E. 1944. The British species of Anthomyzidae (Diptera). Entomologist’s Mon. Mag. 80: 265-272.
Falk, S. J. 1991. A review of the scarce and threatened flies of Great Britain Part 1. Nature Conservancy Council.
Freidberg, A. 1984. The mating behaviour of Asteia elegantula with biological notes on some other Asteiidae (Diptera). Entomol. Gener. 40: 217-224.
Frey, R. 1952. Uber Chiropteromyza n. gen. und Pseudopomyza Strobl (Diptera, Haplostomata). Notul. Ent. 32: 5-8.
Frouz, J & Maca, J. 1985. Faunistic records from Czechoslovakia. Diptera: Pseudopomyzidae. Acta Ent. Bohemoslov. 82: 154.
Irwin, A. G. 1982. A new species of Stenomicra Coquillet (Aulacigastridae) from Anglesey, North Wales. Entomologist’s Mon. Mag. 118: 235-238.
Irwin, A. G. 1985. Asteia elegantula (Diptera, Asteiidae) in East Anglia. Entomologist’s Mon. Mag. 121: 138.
Irwin, A. G. 1987. Neottiophilum praeustum (Dipt., Piophilidae) new to East Anglia, with a cautionary note. Entomologist’s Mon. Mag. 123: 82.
Ismay, J. W. 1980. Parydroptera discomyzina Collin (Dipt., Ephydridae) recaptured in Sussex. Entomologist’s Mon. Mag. 114(1979): 244.
Ismay, J. W. 1981. Some Diptera from Wytham Wood. Entomologist’s Mon. Mag. 117: 26.
Ismay, J. W. 1991. A revision of the British species of Lasiosina Becker and Pseudopachychaeta Strobl (Diptera, Chloropidae). Entomologist’s Mon. Mag. 127: 243-250.
McLean, I. F. G. 1980. The genus Parochthiphila (Dipt., Chamaemyiidae) in Britain. Entomologist’s Mon. Mag. 116: 32.
McLean, I. F. G. 1987. Anthomyza bifasciata Wood (Diptera, Anthomyzidae) recorded from East Sussex & Norfolk. Proc. Trans. Br. Ent. Nat. Hist. Soc. 20: 136.
Owen, D. F. 1957. Neottiophilum praeustum in birds’ nests. British Birds 1: 160-164.
Papp, L. 1978. Bizonytalan helyzetu torpikkelnelkuli legynemek. Fauna Hung. 133: 195-202.
Papp, L. 1988. Periscelis kabuli sp.n. and P. kaszabi sp.n. with notes on larvae and pupae of the Families Aulacigastridae and Periscelidae (Diptera). Acta Zool. Hung. 34: 273-284.
Plant, C. W. 1989. Thorndon Park, Essex, 22 July 1989. Field Meetings Report. Br. J. Ent. Nat. Hist. 2: 176.
Raspi, A. 1983. [Contribution to the knowledge of the Chamaemyiids. 2 Ethology and morphology notes of Leucopis interruptovittata Aczel, Chamaemyia flavipalpis (Haliday) and Parochthiphila coronata (Loew) in the coast of Tuscany]. Frust. Entom. New series 6: 103-139.
Rohacek, J. 1983. Faunistics of the Czechoslovakian species of Anthomyzidae and Stenomicridae (Diptera). Cas. Slez. Muz. Opava [A] 32: 125-135.
Rohacek, J. 1992. Typhamyza gen. n. for Anthomyza bifasciata Wood, with description of immature stages (Diptera, Anthomyzidae). Boll. Mus. Reg. Sci. Nat. Torino 10: 187-207.
Soods, A. & Papp, L. (Eds) 1984. Diptera of the Palearctic region Vol. 10. Akadémiai kiad6, Budapest.
Stubbs, A. E. & Chandler, P. J. (Eds) 1978. A dipterist’s handbook. The Amateur Entomologist’s Society.
Tanasijtshuk, V. N. 1986. Fauna CCCP: Diptera Chamaemyiidae. No. 134: 335.
Withers, P. 1987. Anthomyza bifasciata Wood (Diptera, Anthomyzidae) discovered in an actively worked aggregate pit. Proc. Trans. Br. Ent. Nat. Hist. Soc. 20: 136.
BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 7: 1994 ny
ADHESION MARKS ON THE ABDOMEN OF PUPAL CHIRONOMIDAE (DIPTERA)
PETER H. LANGTON 3 St Felix Road, Ramsey Forty Foot, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE17 1YH.
Smooth patches on the abdominal tergites and sternites (Fig. 1) of chironomid pupae have been called ‘Fensterflecken’ (‘window marks’) (Thienemann, 1944), and, more recently, ‘Muskelmale’ (‘muscle marks’) (Hirvenoja, 1973). Saether (1980), in his glossary of chironomid morphology terminology favours the term muscle marks. However, Dr M. Hirvenoja informs me that these are inaccurately called ‘Muskelmale’, and suggests a return to ‘Fensterflecken’, thereby prompting the following investigation.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Pupae and fourth instar larvae of Chironomus annularius auctt. were collected from a rain-water butt. Larvae showing different stages of pupal development within them were selected and killed in either 70% isopropanol or Bouin’s solution (picric-formol-acetic). They were then cut longitudinally (either vertically or horizontally), or transversely. Some of the preparations were transferred to orcein acetic, until the musculature was stained reddish-purple. The pupae were prepared for examination in the same way. All the specimens were examined under the microscope in 70% isopropanol; the more revealing examples were further dehydrated in 100% isopropanol and slide-mounted in Euparal.
OBSERVATIONS
The lateral band of dorsoventral muscles in each abdominal segment of the pupa is attached to the cuticle beneath the lateral marks of tergum and sternum, but
Fig. 1. Segment III, dorsal view, of the pupal abdomen of Chironomus annularius. a: anterior adhesion marks; b: row of lateral adhesion marks: c: posterior adhesion marks. Scale line 1 mm.
90 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 7: 1994
Fig. 2. Posterior adhesion point in late fourth instar larva of Chironomus annularius. a: adhesion point between larval and pupal cuticles; b: larval cuticle; c: pupal cuticle; d: posterior margin of abdominal segment V. Scale line 0.1 mm.
there are no muscle attachments to the cuticle beneath the anterior and posterior marks.
In late fourth-instar larvae, the nearly fully formed pupal cuticle remains attached to the otherwise apolysed larval cuticle at all the points that remain smooth upon ecdysis (Fig. 2). At this stage the larva is still feeding, and its movements are still larval: it crawls using its anterior and posterior parapods, and remains capable of curling into a spiral when disturbed. Shortly before ecdysis, the lateral adhesion points are seen to be separated from the larval cuticle. The separation of the cuticles at the anterior and posterior marks occurs later, upon ecdysis.
DISCUSSION
The late fourth-instar chironomid larva is a complex animal. In Chironomus the pupal head (and the developing adult head within it) forms in the anterior thorax of the larva (Miall & Hammond, 1900). (In many other chironomids the pupal head develops partly in the posterior part of the larval head and partly in the anterior thorax.) Apolysis of the larval cuticle is progressive, beginning at the developing wing and leg sheaths, subsequently spreading around the thorax and along the abdomen. Even when the pupa is nearly fully apolysed and adult features can be seen within it, the animal is still behaving as a larva and continues to feed. Final preparation for ecdysis is very rapid. Extensions into the larval head and parapods are withdrawn. The pupal abdomen becomes dorsoventrally flattened, presumably by the contraction of the lateral dorsoventral muscle bands. At the same time the pupal cuticle comes away from the larval cuticle at the lateral adhesion points. Movements now are the dorsoventral undulations characteristic of the pupa, which serve to drive the pupa forwards in the larval cuticle and out through the split dorsal suture of the larval thorax. During this process the pupal and larval cuticles pull apart at the anterior and posterior adhesion points.
The adhesion points between the pupal and larval cuticles enable the larva to transmit its movements to the substratum from musculature now enclosed within the pupal cuticle. The time between the cessation of larval feeding and the emergence of the imago is thus greatly reduced, for the adult is already nearly fully formed when the pupa leaves the larval exuviae. (In Paratanytarsus grimmii Schneider imaginal eclosion may take place only 25 minutes after pupal ecdysis (Kriiger, 1941).)
BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 7: 1994 y
The smooth areas on the abdomen of pupal Chironomidae, previously called Fensterflecken or Muskelmale/muscle marks are more accurately termed adhesion marks.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I thank Dr M. Hirvenoja for stimulating this investigation.
REFERENCES
Hirvenoja, M. 1973. Revision der Gattung Cricotopus van der Wulp und ihrer Verwandten (Diptera, Chironomidae). Ann. Zool. Fenn. 10: 1-363.
Kriiger, F. 1941. Parthenogenetische Sty/otanytarsus-larven als Bewohner einer Trinkwasserleitung. (Tanytarsus-Studien III: Die Gattung Stylotanytarsus). Arch. Hydrobiol. 38: 214-253.
Miall, L. C. & Hammond, A. R. 1900. The structure and life-history of the harlequin fly (Chironomus). 196pp. Clarendon Press, Oxford.
Seether, O. A. 1980. Glossary of chironomid morphology terminology (Diptera: Chironomidae). Ent. Scand. Suppl. 14: 1-51.
Thienemann, A. 1944. Bestimmungstabellen ftir die bis jetzt bekannten Larven und Puppen der Orthocladiinen (Diptera, Chironomidae). Arch. Hydrobiol. 39: 551-664.
BENHS FIELD MEETING Oakers Wood, Dorset, 22 May 1993
Leader: Mick Parker. Eight members turned up for the daytime meeting, followed by seven for the moth trapping session. Conditions were cloudy, slightly damp, but warm and as a result, it was decided to work the outskirts of the main locality, heading north through mixed woodland, west through wet heath, up on to dry heath, then south into the main oak wood which by this time had dried out.
Thirteen species of sawfly were noted plus a small number of other hymenoptera of which Vespa crabro (L.) was the most obvious. The hoverfly list was rather better with 23 species, including the RDB 1 species Chrysotoxum vernale (Leow), caught sitting on bracken. Other uncommon species were: Brachypalus laphiformis (Fall.), Brachyopa scutellaris (R.-D.) and Criorhina asilica (Fall.), all on Crataegus monogyna L. flowers and Pelecocera tricincta, (Meig.), which was swept. None of these were new to the Oakers Wood list.
The evening session produced five moth traps. The evening was warm with frequent showers. A total of 59 macros and 6 micros were recorded of which the most notable were: marbled pug (Eupithecia irriguata Hiibn), ringed carpet (Cleora cinctaria D. & S.) and the little thorn (Cepphis advenaria Hiibn). As the evening wore on the showers became heavier and we were worried that some M.V. bulbs might start exploding—one did, mine! As I forgot to pack a spare, my collecting ceased about midnight. Most of the moth records are due to the rest of the group, and to them I am grateful. Thanks are also due to Mr John Shelly of Oakers Wood House for permission to hold the field meeting.
92 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 7: 1994
BENHS INDOOR MEETINGS
12 October 1993
The President, Dr D. LONSDALE, announced the deaths of Mr F. Wright and Mr P. S. Crowhurst.
Mr I. D. FERGUSON showed a larva of the clouded magpie moth, Abraxas sylvata (Scop.). This was one of eight larvae obtained by beating at High Elms near Orpington, Kent. One larva had succumbed to a parasitoid, the other six had pupated. Colin Plant in The larger moths of the London area (1993) states that “‘any breeding populations of this attractive moth in the London area should be rigorously protected’’. Mr Ferguson also showed a sample of rice grains from his kitchen that had become infested with psocids.
Stephen Muddiman, John Bouscal Parker, Colin Leslie Grace, Derek George John Telfer and Christopher Robert Spilling were elected as members.
Mr M. Simmons said that a light trap at his home in Crowborough, Sussex, had caught about 20 species of moths on the previous Sunday night, 10.x.93, in spite of the heavy rain. Seventeen species had been taken on the following night including a specimen of the delicate moth, Mythimna vitellina (Hiibn.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).
Mr M. OaTEs then spoke on the New Forest as it used to be and how it has developed during the present century. The talk was illustrated with colour transparencies and readings from contemporary accounts of the Forest in former times. Collecting insects became a popular pastime during the Victorian era when the development of the railway system made the Forest accessible to people living in London and elsewhere in Southern England. During the collecting season hotels in the main centres of Lyndhurst and Brockenhurst were heavily used by collectors and dealers, and local people found employment as guides and providers of livestock and pinned specimens. There was considerable rivalry between collectors and some ill feeling between them and the dealers, with butterfly aberrations being highly sought after.
In 1850 the Forest authorities passed an order aimed at controlling fallow deer and excluding them from the inclosures. In the following years their numbers were drastically reduced and the reduced grazing pressure allowed increased growth of the ground flora, with the rides becoming lined with brambles. Butterflies benefitted from the greater abundance of nectar sources and were present in prodigious numbers. 1888 was a superb year, with the hot summer allowing univoltine species to produce two generations. Even poor years during that period would be considered good by modern standards. Collecting trips could, however, be marred by the attentions of excessive numbers of biting flies.
The nature of the Forest was greatly changed by felling during the 1914-18 war. The 1923 Transfer of Woods Act resulted in the New Forest being handed over to the Forestry Commission in the following year. Their mandate was to produce commercial timber in order to reduce the nation’s dependence on imports. Some conifer planting had been done in the Forest in the 19th century but this was greatly increased after the Forestry Commission took over. By 1937 the broad-leafed woodland had been reduced to 54%. Further changes took place during the second world war when parts of the Forest were used for airfields, bombing ranges and arable crops. Alder buckthorn was cut for making charcoal for gas masks. 1941 and 1942 appear to have been the last great years for butterfly aberrations in the Forest. The quality of the habitat and butterfly numbers were declining.
During the 1950s the Forestry Commission used heavy machinery to clear ditches and control vegetation in the rides. The fallow deer population was recovering
BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 7: 1994 73
and grazing out the sallow and brambles. In 1964 cattle, ponies and other livestock were allowed into the inclosures, adding to the grazing pressure. By 1970 about 70% of the Forest had been coniferized, despite a declaration in 1928 to keep a 60:40 ratio of broad-leaf to conifer trees. In 1982 a halt was called to the planting of more conifers and of felling mature broad-leaf woods. This ironically may have resulted in further declines, since the habitat provided by felled and replanted areas is now denied to those butterflies dependent on it. Although some good areas still exist, the New Forest today is largely poor for butterflies. Mr Oates showed slides of many of the butterflies recorded in the Forest, described their current status and outlined the reasons why many of them had declined.
In 1985 the Forestry Commission was given a new remit to encourage conservation in its forests. During the late 1980s it began replacing fences and gates but overgrazing remains a problem. Areas which have been cleared of conifers are less favourable for insects than similar clearing in broad-leaf areas. This is probably due to a reduction in the seed bank in the soil and increased acidification while under conifers. The application of conservation measures is being restricted by limited funding. The possibility of the government privatizing the Forestry Commission raises the interesting question of whether the New Forest would be better managed if it remained in their care, or whether it should be passed to another organization such as the National Trust.
9 November 1993
The President, Dr D. LONSDALE announced the death of Mr P. W. Cribb.
Dr D. LONSDALE showed a live specimen of the orange ladybird, Halyzia 16-guttata (L.) found on 9.xi.93 on a poplar in an experimental plot at Alice Holt Forest, Hants. This is a widespread species, having been found as far north as northern Caithness, but this was the first occasion the exhibitor had seen it at Alice Holt. It is one of a few British ladybirds that feeds on fungi, such as mildews, rather than preying on aphids.
Mr S. MILEs drew the meeting’s attention to some recently received publications produced by the Department of the Environment, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, and non-governmental organizations in response to the Rio Conference on Biodiversity. Also on display were minutes of a recent meeting of the Joint Committee for the Conservation of British Invertebrates, together with a report on the Committee’s activities by the National Trust’s representative. Mr Miles also displayed a copy of a report by Wildlife Link on the future ownership of Forestry Commission woodlands. Mr Softly asked if a summary of these reports could appear in the Society’s journal. The President thought that editors were able to make use of this material. Mr Miles invited members who are interested in forming a conservation action group to contact him.
There then followed a report and discussion on the Society’s 1993 Annual Exhibition. Mr M. SIMMONS said that the Exhibition had been well attended with numbers of both members and visitors slightly up on the previous year. The number of exhibits compared favourably with previous years, with Coleoptera being particularly well represented. Mr D. HACKETT suggested that name badges should be issued to people attending. As a new member he would have found it helpful in locating exhibitors of insects which were of particular interest to him. Mr R. MORRIS noted that the space allocated to Diptera and Coleoptera had been somewhat cramped. The President raised the topic of the format of exhibits; he personally
94 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 7: 1994
preferred exhibits that gave additional information about the insects’ biology or ecology. The Exhibition notice had been reworded this year to discourage the showing of long series of insects taken from a site in one season. A discussion took place on the practical application of this ruling with reference to some of the exhibits shown at the Exhibition.
Various members then showed some of their slides.
Dr J. MUGGLETON showed slides taken during a visit to the Sierra de Grados mountain range in Spain in June 1993. These depicted various wild plants, including narcissus, paeony, dwarf lupin, Lavandula stoechas and Endymion hispanicus. The invertebrates included various beetles, crickets, the local stick insect Leptynia attenuata found in a new locality, the mantid Empusa pennata, a centipede, and some termites found under a rock. After crossing the border into Portugal, Dr Muggleton also photographed a large solitary wasp, probably Scolia flavifrons, that had alighted on a car window, and a mating pair of grasshoppers that were superbly camouflaged against the stony ground.
Mr R. SOFTLY showed some examples of the lesser yellow underwing moth, Noctua comes ab. sagittifer Cockayne taken at light on the Isles of Scilly, together with a specimen close to this form taken at Hampstead Heath. He also showed photographs of the dark spinach, Pelurga comitata (L.), a species not in the Agassiz list of Scilly Lepidoptera, and an as yet unidentified form of an Jdaea sp. A typical larva of the chamomile shark, Cucullia chamomillae (D. & S.) was compared with an example found on Scilly. It was almost entirely white and was photographed feeding on the white flowers of mayweed where its coloration gave it excellent camouflage.
Mrs F. MurPHY showed slides of various spiders and plants seen on a visit to the Céte Sauvage, France, in the summer of 1993. In the previous autumn she had visited Singapore and Queensland, Australia, where she photographed various plants, spiders, lizards and green tree ants. She closed her display by showing slides of members taken at the Pelham-Clinton building at Dinton Pastures on 20 September 1992.
Members at Dinton Pastures, 20 September 1992. Left to right: Tony Pickles, John Muggleton, Peter Chandler, lan McLean. Photo: F. M. Murphy.
BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 7: 1994 rs
Dinton Pastures, 20 September 1992. While passers-by look on bemused, Roger Morris searches unsuccessfully for the spider Nuctenea sclopetaria (Clerk), webs of which were seen on the bridge balustrade. Photo: F. M. Murphy.
Mr N. A. CALLOw had visited eastern Nepal in March and April and showed slides of the area, including butterflies drinking from wet mud and Primula irregularis in flower at the snow line. This was followed by photographs taken mainly in Britain of a wide range of insects, spiders, wild flowers and birds. Some of these illustrated insect behaviour, such as brown ants attending black aphids, a dolichopodid fly drinking from a water droplet and a solitary wasp, Symmorphus sp., flying off with a figwort weevil larva, Cionus sp., clasped in its jaws and front legs. He showed a series of photographs taken of two slugs, Arion ater (L.), feeding on a dead earthworm, which was also being eaten by a social wasp. A black ant nearby appeared to be threatening the wasp, which was responding by whirring its wings.
Mr D. HACKETT showed a slide of the buprestid beetle Agri/us pannonicus (P. & M.) photographed on oak bark near its characteristic semicircular emergence hole. This beetle has become widespread in NE London in recent years. Also shown were slides of the purple hairstreak and the white-letter hairstreak butterflies taken in the grounds of Alexandra Palace. The former is local in London and Alexandra Palace is a new site for the white-letter hairstreak. The remaining slides were of an Orthosia sp. larva on buckthorn, a larva of Blair’s shoulder knot, Lithophane leautieri (Boisd.) on a /eylandii hedge and a drinker moth, Philudoria potatoria (L.) recently emerged from its cocoon.
14 December 1993
Mr A. J. HALSTEAD showed a live queen Dolichovespula media (Retz.) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) found 5.xii.93 in a wood at Knaphill, Surrey. It was one of two found separately hibernating on the undersides of logs on the ground. The queens of this species, which was first recorded in Britain in 1981, presumably require hibernation sites with a high humidity if this is a typical situation for this species.
Mr R. A. JONES showed the local hoverfly Scaeva selenitica (Meig.) found sunning itself on a pine trunk at The Chart, Limpsfield, Surrey, on 18.xi.1993. This large, scarce hoverfly was previously regarded as solely a migrant, but is now considered to be resident, having been recorded as breeding here. When
96 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 7: 1994
found, the glossy black of the abdomen and contrasting yellow bands were very bright, suggesting that the specimen was freshly emerged rather than freshly blown from abroad.
He also showed several specimens of Carpophilus sexpustulatus (F.) (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) found under fungoid beech bark at Knole Park, Sevenoaks, on 15.xi.1993. Several Carpophilus species are cosmopolitan, and are regularly introduced into Britain in stored food products. Such was the case with this species at the turn of the century, when only two (imported) specimens were known. By the 1930s it had been found out of doors, although only very rarely. It has since spread and although not very common is recorded across a wide range of sites, often in abundance. In Knole Park on this occasion it was very common under bark infected with Bulgaria inquinans, the black bulgar fungus also known by the delightful name ‘rubber buttons’.
Mr C. B. ASHBY showed a home-made slide viewer which accommodates six 35-mm transparencies side by side above a light box lit with a small fluorescent tube. Above the transparencies was a lens mounted on two rails so that it could be slid along to view each slide in turn. The device is particularly useful for comparing similar slides in order to select the best exposure and image. The slides used to demonstrate the viewer were of Roesel’s bush cricket, Metrioptera roeselii (Hagenb.). This species has become more widespread in southern England in recent years and the slides were taken at a recently discovered site at Cherry Orchard Farm, Ewell, Surrey, where it was discovered by Dr I. Menzies.
Mr R. SOFTLY showed a live sawfly larva (subsequently identified as a Dolerus sp.) that had crawled into an actinic light trap he had been running recently in his garden at Hampstead. The larva had been feeding in captivity on the leaves of pendulous sedge, Carex pendula Hudson, a plant that was growing near the trap site. The majority of sawflies overwinter as non-feeding prepupal larvae in the soil and subsequently pupate during the spring.
Mr R. UFFEN said that he had also recently found a sawfly larva feeding on Carex. It appeared to be a different species to that shown by Mr Softly.
The following persons were elected as members at the December Council meeting: Stephen Hallam, Peter G. Kelly, Michael Dockery, William G. Kittle, Michael E. New, Nigel L. Sawyer, Stuart W. Campbell, Thomas D. Sleep, David B. Spencer, Anthony P. Pittaway, David F. Lloyd, Bernard Verdcourt, Charles Watson, Brian J. Warne, David John Slade, Stuart P. M. Roberts, John Derek Baston, Brian Eversham and Adrian Barnes; the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (Scotland) was elected as a corporate member and James Brian Prout was elected as a life member. Existing members Ken Merrifield and Henry S. Barlow have converted from ordinary to life membership.
Mr R. HAWKINS reported that the hoverfly book had been reprinted and was now available again.
Dr J. ISMAy then spoke on the subject of an entomologist in Papua New Guinea, where he had worked as the only insect taxonomist with the Department of Agriculture between 1980 and 1986. He showed a series of slides to indicate the variety of habitats found on the island, including mangrove swamps, agricultural activities ranging from plantation crops to mountainside smallholdings, rain forest and hill tops. The fauna of Papua New Guinea was depicted with a series of slides of frogs, lizards, snakes, crabs, millipedes and centipedes, spiders and a wide range of insects. Many of these are larger and more colourful than their British counterparts. Dr Ismay closed his talk with some pictures of the native people in ceremonial dress. These costumes involve the use of large numbers of bird of paradise feathers.
BRITISH ENTOMOLOGICAL AND NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY
Officers and Council for 1994
President: P. M. Waring, M. A., Ph.D., F.R.E.S.
Vice-Presidents:
D. Lonsdale, B.Sc., Ph.D M. J. Scoble, B.Sc., M.Phil., Ph.D., F.R.E.S.
Treasurer: Secretary:
A. J. Pickles, F.C.A., F.R.E.S. R. F. McCormick, F.R.E.S. Curator: Librarian:
P. J. Chandler, B.Sc., F.R.E.S. S. R. Miles Lanternist: Editor:
M. J. Simmons, M.Sc. R. A. Jones, B.Sc., F.R.E.S., F.L.S. Ordinary Members of Council:
B. R. Baker J. Muggleton G. Collins C. Penney J. Dobson S. Pittis A. J. Halstead D. Young
I. F. G. McLean
INSTRUCTIONS TO AUTHORS
Contributions must be double-spaced with 3 cm margins either side to facilitate marking up. They should be typed if possible, on one side only of A4 paper. Layout should follow that of the journal, but apart from underlining scientific names, no marks should be made to define typeface.
Line and continuous tone figures are accepted. Writing on figures is best listed separately for setting and its placing indicated on a duplicate figure. Seek advice before drawing. Reduction may otherwise necessitate redrawing.
Authors of original papers of more than one page qualify for 25 free reprints. Extra copies (prices on application) must be ordered when proofs are returned.
Contents continued from back cover
BOOK REVIEWS AND NOTICES
34 Tachinid flies. Diptera: Tachinidae
36 A review of the scarce and threatened Coleoptera of Great Britain. Part 2
58 Hoverflies. Naturalists Handbooks 5
66 The encyclopedia of land invertebrate behaviour
66 Caterpillars: ecological and evolutionary constraints on foraging
66 Wood: decay, pests and protection
66 A directory for entomologists
66 Dead wood matters: the ecology and conservation of saproxylic invertebrates in Britain 70 Australian weevils
76 Insects on cabbages and oilseed rape
BRITISH JOURNAL OF ENTOMOLOGY AND NATURAL HISTORY VOLUME 7, PART 2, APRIL 1994
ARTICLES
Pardasena virgulana (Mabille) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), a species not previously found in the wild in Britain. M. R. HONEY AND M. STERLING
Sclerocona acutellus (Eversmann) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), the second British record. P. J. BAKER
The Torstenius collection of Scandinavian Lepidoptera. C. B. ASHBY
Short distance form frequency differences in melanic Lepidoptera across habitat boundaries. T. FrRarersS, T. BoYLES, C. JONES AND M. MAJERUS
The current status of the lesser mottled grasshopper, Stenobothrus stigmaticus (Rambur) on the Isle of Man. A. CHERRILL
Some rare and threatened bees recorded from Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire. G. R. ELSE AND S. P. M. ROBERTS
Do tortoise beetle pupae mimic lacewings? R. A. JONES
The Meligethes (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) of Montgomeryshire (vice-county 47). A. H. KIRK-SPRIGGS
Silene acaulis (L.) Jacq. (Caryophyllaceae), the larval foodplant of Delia piliventris (Pok.) (Diptera: Anthomyiidae). K. P. BLAND
Lyciella stylata Papp and L. subpallidiventris Papp (Diptera: Lauxaniidae) new to Britain. A. GODFREY
Some rare acalyptrate Diptera taken in recent years. A. GODFREY Adhesion marks on the abdomen of pupal Chrionomiidae (Diptera). P. H. LANGTON
SHORT COMMUNICATIONS
Xyleborus saxesenii (Ratzeburg) (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) new to Cornwall. K. N. A. ALEXANDER
Bryoporus rugipennis Pandellé (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) in Northern England. K. N. A. ALEXANDER AND R. C. WELCH
Letter to the editor. Recent Lepidoptera papers in the journal. M. H. SMITH
Dolichopus caligatus Wahlb. (Diptera: Dolichopodidae) new to eastern England. R. CROSSLEY
PROCEEDINGS AND TRANSACTIONS
Assistant Treasurership
The Society’s Council
BENHS Field Meeting
BENHS Indoor Meetings, 12 October to 14 December 1993
Continued inside back cover
SEPTEMBER 1994 ISSN 0952-7583 Vol. 7, Part
BRITISH JOURNAL OF
ENTOMOLOGY
AND NATURAL HISTORY
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Published by the British Entomological and Natural History Society and incorporating its Proceedings and Transactions
Price: £3.00
BRITISH JOURNAL OF ENTOMOLOGY AND NATURAL HISTORY Editor:
Richard A. Jones, B.Sc., F.R.E.S., F.L.S. 13 Bellwood Road Nunhead London SE15 3DE (Tel: 071 732 2440) (Fax: 071 277 8725)
Editorial Committee:
Rev. D. J. L. Agassiz, M.A. T. G. Howarth, B.E.M., F.R.E.S.
R. D. G. Barrington, B.Sc. I. F. G. McLean, Ph.D., F.R.E.S.
E. S. Bradford Mrs F. M. Murphy, B.Sc.
P. J. Chandler, B.Sc., F.R.E.S. M. J. Simmons, M.Sc.
B. Goater, B.Sc., M.I.Biol. T. R. E. Southwood, K. E ., D.Sc., F.R.E.S. A. J. Halstead, M.Sc. R. W. J. Uffen, M.Sc., F.R.E. sh
R. D. Hawkins B. K. West, B.Ed.
P. J. Hodge
British Journal of Entomology and Natural History is published by the British Entomological and Natural History Society, Dinton Pastures Country Park, Davis Street, Hurst, Reading, Berkshire RG10 OTH, UK. Tel: 0734-321402.
The Journal is distributed free to BENHS members.
©1994 British Entomological and Natural History Society.
Typeset by Dobbie Typesetting Limited, Tavistock, Devon. Printed in England by Henry Ling Ltd, Dorchester, Dorset.
BRITISH ENTOMOLOGICAL AND NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY Registered charity number: 213149
Meetings of the Society are held regularly in London, at the rooms of the Royal Entomological Society, 41 Queen’s Gate, London SW7 and the well-known ANNUAL EXHIBITION is planned for 22 October 1994 at Imperial College, London SW7. Frequent Field Meetings are held at weekends in the summer. Visitors are welcome at all meetings. The current Programme Card can be had on application to the Secretary, R. F. McCormick, at the address given below.
The Society maintains a library, and collections at its headquarters in Dinton Pastures, which are open to members on the second and fourth Sundays of each month, telephone 0734-321402 for the latest meeting news.
Applications for membership to the Membership Secretary: A. Godfrey, 10 Moorlea Drive, Baildon, Shipley, West Yorkshire BD17 6QL.
Subscriptions and changes of address to the Assistant Treasurer: M. G. Telfer, 12 Jasmine Close, Norwich, Norfolk NR4 7NE.
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Orders for books and back numbers of the Journal and Proceedings to the Sales Secretary: R. D. Hawkins, 30d Meadowcroft Close, Horley, Surrey RH6 9EL.
General Enquiries to the Secretary: R. F. McCormick, 36 Paradise Road, Teignmouth, Devon TQ14 8NR. Tel: 0626-779543.
Cover illustration: Black Darter, Sympetrum danae (Sulzer). Photo: R. Williams.
NOTE: The Editor invites submission of photographs for black and white reproduction on the front covers of the journal. The subject matter is open, with an emphasis on aesthetic value rather than scientific novelty. Submissions can be in the form of colour or black and white prints or colour transparencies.
BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 7: 1994 92
BREEDING EURODRYAS AURINIA ROTT. AB. VIRGA TA TUT RUPERT BARRINGTON
101] Egerton Road, Bishopston, Bristol, Avon BS7 8HR.
E. aurinia ab. virgata is characterized by having the central row of upperside forewing black spots greatly reduced or absent, leading to the pale markings extending to form a pale median fascia (Porter, 1989). It is a form that probably occurs from time to time in most colonies of this species, although extreme forms are rare. Some colonies, however, have produced well-developed forms on a regular basis. Hod Hill! in Dorset was, in the past, one such locality.
In the field transitional forms from type through to extreme virgata may be found, which would suggest that this is an example of multifactorial/polygenic variation. In this type of variation ‘a number of different genes may have similar effects and, should they act cumulatively, they may give rise to a graded series of varieties in which distinct segregation cannot be recognised’ (Ford, 1945). This is as opposed to recessive, dominant or semidominant aberrations in which a single mutant gene is responsible for the variation, and will, when bred, ‘produce two or three clear cut classes’ (Berry, 1977) of aberrations in the subsequent generations.
It appears that the terms ‘multifactorial’ and ‘polygenic’ (and hence ‘single-factor’ and ‘monogenic’ when discussing single mutant genes) are synonymous, as various authors have used one or the other to describe the same phenomenon. Multifactorial is used by Ford (1945) and Berry (1977), whereas Ford (1964), Robinson (1971) and Robinson (1990) use polygenic. Kettlewell (1973) uses both as a heading to his paragraph on this form of variation.
In June 1990 a worn male virgata was taken in Dorset. This was placed in a cage with a fresh, wild-captured typical female, and a pairing was soon observed. As the male of this species leaves a permanent plug after mating to ensure that the female will not pair again, it was certain that the female had not mated previously. Two batches of eggs were laid and a brood of approximately 120 adults reared the following spring. This contained two male virgata (not extreme), and a small number of transitional forms in the male. All females were of the typical form, as were the rest of the males. A pairing was obtained between a transitional male and a typical female. The weather at this time was cold and windy, and the female waited 7 days before pairing. A single batch of eggs was deposited.
In the spring of 1992 about 100 larvae emerged from hibernation, but they were weak, and many more succumbed to disease than is usual in this species. About 50 adults emerged. The whole brood was graded from type to fully developed virgata in both sexes (a male is illustrated here). Expecting pairing to be as easily achieved as is usual with aurinia, a number of the most extreme adults were placed in breeding cages, but despite continuous warm and sunny weather no pairings were observed and no eggs laid. The brood was weak, with a number of deformed adults and some that were unable to hang onto the netting of the emergence cage for long enough to allow full expansion of the wings.
The graded nature of the brood supports the suggestion, based on fieldwork, that this variation is multifactorial/polygenic, and it clearly has a weakening effect on the aberrant individuals. This is very much in line with the classic study of a colony of aurinia near Carlisle over a period of 55 years as described by H. D. and E. B. Ford (1930) and summarized by E. B. Ford (1945). Here variation increased dramatically when the population rose sharply from a period of scarcity, and many of the aberrations were weak or deformed. They described and illustrated an aberration (virgata) which appears to have been the most frequent form of variation in this colony
98 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 7: 1994
Fig. 1. Eurodryas aurinia Rott. ab. virgata Tutt (x 1.5 life size).
during a 6-year period of extreme abundance of the species (1894-1899). When the population stabilized aberrations were hard to find. (R. M. Craske (pers. comm.) made similar observations during a population explosion of the species near Plaistow, Sussex in 1945/6.) The authors attributed this phenomenon to the fact that weaker, aberrant individuals would have a chance to survive to become adults during a period in which the population was increasing in size from a point far below its average towards its optimum size. This is because, during a period of increasing population size, selection would be less intensive than when the population reached its optimum level.
REFERENCES
Berry, R. J. 1977. Inheritance and natural history. Collins, London.
Ford, H. D. & Ford, E. B. 1930. Fluctuations in numbers, and its influence on variation in Melitaea aurinia Rott. (Lepidoptera). Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. 78: 345-351.
Ford, E. B. 1945. Butterflies. Collins, London.
Ford, E. B. 1964. Ecological genetics. Chapman and Hall, London.
Kettlewell, B. 1973. The evolution of melanism: the study of a recurring necessity. Oxford University Press.
Porter, K. J. 1989. Eurodryas aurinia. In: Emmet, A. M. & Heath, J. (Eds). The moths and butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland 7(1): 234-237. Colchester, Harley Books.
Robinson, R. 1971. Lepidoptera genetics. Pergamon Press, Oxford.
Robinson, R. 1990. Genetics of European Butterflies. In: Kudrna, O. (Ed.) Butterflies of Europe. Volume 2. Aula-Verlag, Wiesbaden.
SHORT COMMUNICATION
The white-letter hairstreak in south-east London.—One the warm and muggy morning of 17.vii.1994 a large Buddleja bush in Nunhead Cemetery, London SE1S, attracted only a single butterfly, a rather battered white-letter hairstreak, Strymonidia w-album (Knoch). This was the first time I had encountered the species in Nunhead, although a dead hairstreak caterpillar was brought to me, from the cemetery, some years ago. The several hundred large English elms, U/mus procera Salisb., which punctuated the cemetery grounds were killed in the 1970s by Dutch elm disease; many of their trunks still lie prostrate in wooded corners. Suckers and sapplings are regenerating; they now reach about 6m high and the disease is reappearing to kill a few each year. The butterfly is obviously very local in the London area, but its appearance in Nunhead (vice-county 17, ‘‘Surrey’’) may support ideas that it is recolonizing as elms regrow.—Richard A. Jones, 13 Bellwood Road, Nunhead, London SE15 3DE.
BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 7: 1994 ny
SEPARATION OF SOME ERISTALIS SPECIES USING ABDOMINAL COLOUR PATTERN
GRAHAM J. HOLLOWAY
Department of Pure & Applied Zoology, University of Reading, Whiteknights, P.O. Box 228, Reading, Berkshire RG6 2AJ.
Some sets of hoverfly species are rather difficult or laborious to separate in the field (e.g. Baccha spp., Paragus spp., Sphaerophoria spp.) and collectors often decide to capture a few to identify them later on with the aid of a microscope. When all species concerned are interesting for one reason or another this poses no real problem, but occasionally a rare or scarce hoverfly resembles a particularly abundant species. In this situation many records of the less common species may be completely overlooked and, consequently, an accurate picture of their distribution and abundance may take a very long time to emerge. Any studies on long-term population changes in a species such as this would have little value given the unreliability of past distribution and abundance estimates.
Stubbs and Falk (1983) describe Eristalis abusivus Collin as a “‘local’’ species but “the commonest Fristalis in some coastal districts’’. The separation of E. abusivus from the closely related E. arbustorum (L.) is relatively straightforward, but requires inspection of the fine structure of the arista. Other characters that can be used include the distance over which the eyes touch in the males (van der Goot, 1981) and the amount of yellow on the tibia of the middle leg. Apart from perhaps the eye character in the males, none of them are very accessible to use in the field. However, the biggest problem is that similar species, such as EF. arbustorum and E. nemorum (L.), are so abundant and widespread. In a mass of Eristalis species, not many entomologists would be prepared to devote time to checking hundreds of individuals on the chance that a few E. abusivus are present. Stubbs and Falk (1983) also consider it likely that this species is overlooked in the field.
Recently, I carried out a study of colour variation in certain Fristalis species using museum specimens held at the Natuurhistorische Museum in Leiden, The Netherlands (Holloway, 1993). The sample sizes were large and for FE. arbustorum, E. abusivus and FE. nemorum 3169, 843 and 826 individuals were inspected, respectively. Using these specimens, I was able to ascertain not only the amount of pattern variation shown, but also any consistent pattern differences among the species (Figure 1). Although this type of quantitative variation is not generally considered useful to identify species, I found, in the course of my study, that I was able to identify many individuals immediately solely on the basis of their colour pattern. A couple of E. arbustorum that had somehow crept into the E. abusivus boxes stuck out like sore thumbs! It occurred to me that colour pattern differences may be a quick and easy way of provisionally assessing in the field the occurrence of £. abusivus. Having captured a likely looking candidate, the accepted qualitative characters could then be used to confirm identification.
There was always a considerable difference between the sexes in all species with most of the variation in females occurring on tergite 2 and in males on tergite 3. There were a number of important consistent differences between the colour patterns of E. arbustorum and E. abusivus. In E. abusivus, the yellow patches on the abdomen never touched the trailing edge of tergite 2 in females and tergite 3 in males. In E. arbustorum, the trailing edges of these tergites were often reached by the yellow patches. In female FE. abusivus, the yellow patches on tergite 2 when present assumed a hooked shape, whilst in female EF. arbustorum the yellow patches were more
BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 7: 1994
100
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triangular. In male E. abusivus, the yellow patches on tergite 3 were squarish with the vertical inner edge and the bottom edge of the yellow patch forming a 90° angle. In male E. arbustorum the inner edge of the yellow patch on tergite 3, more often than not, curved outwards towards the lateral margins of the tergite. Of course, colour pattern could not always be used. For example, the females of both species are sometimes devoid of all paler pigmentation on the abdomen. However, over 60% of female E. arbustorum were assigned to the categories 3 and 4 shown in Figure |! and over 30% of female E. abusivus were category 3. All of these insects could be instantly identified without reference to further characters. As for the males, over 85% of E. abusivus were of category 6 and over 60% of FE. arbustorum fell into category 6 or 7. Again, all of these individuals were easy to identify. Clear differences also existed between FE. nemorum and the other two species, as can be seen from Figure 1, which again facilitate separation of E. abusivus from E. nemorum.
This study was carried out using insects that were collected in The Netherlands. It is likely, although yet to be established, that the range and type of colour variation shown by E. abusivus in Britain is the same as found in The Netherlands. If this indeed proves to be the case, then colour pattern differences could be a useful way of screening large numbers of Eristalis species quickly and efficiently.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I am very grateful to Dr Peter van Helsdingen for allowing me access to the Syrphidae collection at the Natuurhistorische Museum in Leiden, The Netherlands.
REFERENCES
Holloway, G. J. 1993. Phenotypic variation in colour pattern and seasonal plasticity in Eristalis hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae). Eco/. Ent. 18: 209-218.
Stubbs, A. E. & Falk, S. J. 1983. British hoverflies: an illustrated identification guide. British Entomological and Natural History Society, London.
van der Goot, V. S. 1981. De zweefvliegen van NoordwestEuropa en Europees Rusland, in het bijzonder van de Benelux. Koninklijke Nederlandse Natuurhistorische Vereneging, Amsterdam.
ANNOUNCEMENT
Librarian needed.—I am leaving this position after the 1995 annual general meeting, having performed this function since 1982. Therefore a replacement person is sought for this post as soon as possible. The main duties are to monitor the members’ use of the library using computer methods, purchase new material, monitor existing exchanges of journals and arrange new exchanges with other entomological organizations and manage the organization and shelving of the stock.
The new facilities at Dinton Pastures, combined with the installation of a new computer to use with the society’s existing library database make the job of library management somewhat easier than it used to be at our old rooms in South Audley Street. However attendance is required at the new rooms once a month, as a minimum, to open the post, record and shelve incoming items and monitor loans.
Due to ever-increasing work commitments and other considerations | feel | can no longer give as much time to the position as it requires. A full description of the duties of the post are available from me, Stephen Miles, Librarian, 469 Staines Road West, Ashford, Middlesex TW15 2AB, tel: 0784 252274.
102 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 7: 1994
BENHS INDOOR MEETINGS 11 January 1994
The President, Dr D. LONSDALE, announced the deaths of Mrs K. Emmet and Mr C. B. Ashby.
Mr R. A. JONES showed three ‘bird nest’ beetles, Hister merdarius Hoffmann, J., (Histeridae), Quedius ventralis (Aragona) and Q. brevicornis (Thomson, C. G.) (Staphylinidae), collected from Honor Oak, S.E. London, on 7.1.94 from nest material in a hollow tree (probably oak) exposed after wind had torn off a large branch. All three species are regarded as very local or rare and are specifically associated with birds’ nests. There was no way of knowing what had made the nest, composed of a mixture of leaves and wood mould, but the presence of two specimens of the flea Orchopeas howardi howardi (Baker) suggests that its host the grey squirrel had used the nest fairly recently. Although the grey squirrel must be about the commonest wild mammal in this area, this was the first record of the flea in the 10-km square TQ37. Mr R. S. George kindly identified the flea.
Mr D. HACKETT showed a male specimen of the spring usher moth Agriopsis leucophaearia (D. & S.) close to the melanic form merularia Weymer. It had been beaten from holly in Queens Wood, north London, on 8.1.94. This appears to be an early date for a moth more usually seen in late February and March.
Mr R. SOFTLY said that he had also taken A. /Jeucophaearia recently at light in Hampstead and agreed the first week of January was early for this species.
Mr S. MILEs drew the meeting’s attention to copies of the Wildlife Link newsletter and Annual Report for 1992, which were made available.
Dr C. GIBSON spoke on the subject of ‘‘Insects and habitat restoration’’. The talk was based largely on the restoration of limestone grassland at Wytham Wood, Oxford. This ancient woodland has a number of grassy clearings which were converted to arable farming but have now been allowed to revert to grassland. Before restoration can be attempted, or its success monitored, it is necessary to know what plants and animals were present in the past. The degree and speed of colonization is largely dependent on how much of the original fauna and flora has survived in uncultivated patches and how close these are to the restored areas. Recolonization has to take place in a sequential manner with plants establishing first before their associated invertebrate faunas can develop. Some insects, however, had arrived in the restored areas at Wytham before their typical food plants were established. It was found that the brown argus and marbled white butterflies had been able to colonize the area by switching to alternative host plants.
It can take 100 years or more for the floral diversity to become indistinguishable from the original grassland, so restoration is inevitably a long-term process. Plant colonization can be crudely divided into three phases. The early colonizers predominate in the first 5-10 years, followed by a second group that flourish after 10-100 years but later decline. The third group does not occur in numbers until the grassland is about 100 years old. Each of these three groups has its own associated insect fauna. Although the early colonizers are mostly common species, in some situations they may include scarce or local insects. At a Center Parcs holiday complex in the Breckland it was found that the grey carpet moth, Lithostege griseata (D. & S.) quickly took advantage of the growth of flixweed that grew on disturbed ground. The management plan for the site now includes rotovating strips of land to maintain the habitat requirements of the moth and its host plant.
The insect fauna and plants at Wytham, especially in the grassy areas, have been well documented in the past. Experimental plots have been set out to monitor the return
BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 7: 1994 103
of plants and invertebrates to the restored areas. The research has four main aims. These are: (1) to update the records for certain selected groups of invertebrates in and around the core experimental areas; (2) to establish suitable sheep grazing regimes; (3) to monitor the distribution and structure of plants on the site; (4) to monitor the distribution and abundance of insects and spiders on the site. The main sampling method for invertebrates is the use of vacuum suction equipment. The target groups of invertebrates selected for the survey are Coleoptera, spiders, leafhoppers and heteropteran bugs, as these are suitable for collection by this means. Leaf miners are also recorded as their feeding activities enable many species to be identified, even if the insects are no longer on the plants. Certain target species of plants and their associated insects have been intensively surveyed to map their arrival and distribution through the plots.
Dr Gibson concluded that the early indications of the survey are that in the right places a great deal can be achieved quite quickly in restoring the habitat, and with a suitable management regime it should, in the long term, be possible to regain something resembling the original ancient grassland.
22 February 1994
Mr R. A. JONES showed a range of specimens of Mycetophagus piceus (F.) (Coleoptera: Mycetophagidae) collected under the fungoid bark of an oak stump in Knole Park, Sevenoaks, Kent, on 15.xi.93. The delicate pattern of this species varies from light with darker markings to dark with lighter markings. The range of patterns is aptly summed up by a term one might borrow, or translate, from German authors— Aberrationsspektrum.
Mr Jones also showed a specimen of M. quadripustulatus (L.). Typically this species varies very little; it is dark brown or black with four large orange spots on its elytra. However, this specimen, from under the bark of a sycamore tree on Bookham Common, Surrey, found on 13.xi.77, showed a peculiar departure from this. The anterior spot on the left elytron was drawn out behind into a long droplet-shaped appendage, while just in front of the posterior mark on the right elytron was a small supernumerary spot. Whatever process caused the aberrant pattern, its development was controlled independently across each of the beetle’s wing-cases.
Mr Jones’s third exhibit was of a specimen of a Philonthus spp. (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) attacked by a parasitic entomophagous fungus. The beetle was found dead among grass roots near Hengistbury Head, Bournemouth, Dorset, on 8.viii.93. The unidentified fungus was characterized by long sinuous tendrils extruded between the chitinous plates of the insect’s body.
Mr C. W. PLANT showed a specimen of Hemerobius fenestratus Tjeder (Neuroptera: Hemerobiidae). This lacewing was added to the British list by the exhibitor when he took a male during a BENHS field meeting at Etchden Wood, East Kent, in 1986. This was the only British record until the exhibited specimen, a female, was taken in a Rothamsted light trap by Geoff Burton in his garden at the Isle of Sheppey, East Kent, between 30.vii and 5.viii.92. It is closely related to H. pini Steph. and H. contumax Tjeder, all three originally being regarded as a single species. It can, however, be distinguished in the field by the lack of dark shadowing on the outer series of gradate cross-veins in the forewings and the transparent forewing patch anterior to the cubital vein, from which the specific epithet fenestratus is derived.
Mr A. J. HALSTEAD showed an undersized male Platystoma seminationis (L.) (Diptera: Platystomatidae). It had a wing span of 8.5 mm and body length of 4mm, compared with the more usual 12 mm wingspan and 6 mm body length. A typical male
104 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 7: 1994
and female were shown for comparison. All three specimens were swept from chalk grassland at the BENHS field meeting at Therfield Heath, Royston, Herts, on 29.v.93. The larval stage of this fly has been recorded as feeding in a fungus, Tricholomopsis rutilans.
The following persons have been elected as members: Neil Arnold, James Brock, Paul A. Boswell, Wolfgang Billen, Gareth King, Graeme P. Smith and Malcolm Cotterill.
Mr R. D. HAWKINS reminded members that the Society’s hoverfly book had been reprinted and was available again.
Dr P. WARING described his experiences with two overwintering goat moth larvae, about 7 cm long, that he is rearing. These are recorded in the literature as making a cocoon in which they overwinter and then sometimes making another in the spring in which they pupate. He was keeping the larvae indoors at 50—60°F in plastic boxes with some soil and with brown bread and half apples as food. From time to time the food material needs replacing as it becomes mouldy. Each time when the larvae have been disturbed they have remade a loose, coarse cocoon for themselves. They have continued to feed intermittently at about 2- to 3-week intervals. One larva had moulted just after the New Year. A head capsule was found although there was no sign of the cast skin.
The ordinary meeting was closed and was then followed by the Annual General Meeting.
Minutes of the Annual General Meeting of the Society held at the rooms of the Royal Entomological Society of London at 6.30 pm, 22 February 1994. Chairman: The President, Dr D. Lonsdale. Present: 33 members.
Minutes of the last Annual General Meeting were read and signed.
The Secretary read the Council’s report, followed by the Treasurer who read his report. The Treasurer then invited questions on his report but there were none. The Editor, Librarian and Curator then read their reports and Dr M. J. Scoble read the report of the Hering Memorial Fund. The President proposed the adoption of the reports; this was seconded by Dr I. F. G. McLean and passed unopposed.
The President then read the names of the Officers and Members of Council recommended by the Council for 1994-95 and, as no other names had been submitted, he declared the following duly elected. President: Dr P. Waring; Vice-Presidents: Dr D. Lonsdale, Dr M. J. Scoble; Treasurer: A. J. Pickles; Secretary: R. F. McCormick; Editor: R. A. Jones; Curator: P. J. Chandler; Librarian: S. R. Miles; Lanternist: M. J. Simmons; Building Manager: P. J. Baker; Ordinary Members of the Council: B. R. Baker, J. R. Dobson, A. J. Halstead, C. Penney, S. C. Pittis, J. Muggleton, I. F. G. McLean, G. A. Collins, D. Young and R. K. Merrifield.
The Secretary then read Bye-law 26(d) and invited motions or questions. Mr R. Softly asked about the vacant Trustee position. Mr Pickles said that Rev. D. Agassiz had agreed to become a Trustee of the Society.
The President then read his report and gave his address.
The President then installed the new President, Dr P. Waring.
The President proposed a vote of thanks to the retiring President, and this was seconded by Mr D. Young. The President asked for permission to publish the Presidential address, and this was given.
Rev. D. Agassiz gave a vote of thanks to the retiring Officers and Council.
Auditors: The President proposed the election of Mr R. A. Bell and Col. D. H. Sterling as Auditors for the coming year with Council being empowered to appoint registered auditors under the Charities Act if necessary. This was seconded by Mr C. Plant and Mr R. Softly and passed unopposed.
BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 7: 1994 105
8 March 1994
The President, Dr P. WARING, showed a cocoon of the striped lychnis moth, Cucullia lychnitis Ramb. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). He had collected larvae in 199! and, although some adults had emerged in 1992, a greater number were produced in 1993. Delayed emergence is well known in this species. The larvae prefer to feed on the flower spikes of Verbascum nigrum L., which is a biennial or short-lived perennial plant. The extended adult emergence may help the species survive years when flowering plants are scarce.
Miss L. FARRELL circulated a copy of a newsletter on Shetland Lepidoptera produced by a newly formed entomology group in the islands.
Mr R. SOFTLY showed two colour transparencies of larvae of the belted beauty moth Lycia zonaria (Harrison) (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) found feeding in an area of machair grassland on Iona in mid-June 1990.
The following persons have been elected as members: Paul R. Mabbot, John Arthur Thompson, David Graham Hemingway, John Leslie Dyer, Robin Williams, Roger Guy Gaunt, Roland Humpheryes, Edward Lawrence Bee and John Szezur.
Mr A. J. HALSTEAD and Dr Waring reminded members of the forthcoming workshops to be held at Dinton Pastures. The clearwing meeting on 23 April would be followed by light trapping in the evening.
Miss Lynne Farrell spoke on ‘‘Wild flowers in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland’’. The lecture took the form of a journey through some of the prime botanical sites in Scotland, starting in Angus and going through Ben Lawers, Mull, the Treshnish Isles, Skye, Orkney and Shetland. Many of the alpine plants shown have a very restricted distribution and are at risk from overgrazing, plant collectors and, in some cases, dry summers. Miss Farrell described some of the work she has done to assess the population sizes and distribution of some of the rarer plants. Quadrats and transects are used to assess plant density and photographic records are kept of the size of colonies. Similar measurements in subsequent years indicate any changes in the plants’ status and provide an indication of the success or otherwise of the site’s Management regime.
The lecture was not without entomological interest. Slides were shown of the burnet moths Zygaena loti (Rowland-Brown) and Z. purpuralis Tremewan on Mull, the scarce chrysomelid beetle Chrysolina crassicornis (Hellie.) on Skye, the bumble bee Bormbus muscorum (L.), the hoverfly Sericomyia silentis (Harris) and local forms of the red carpet and ghost swift moth on Shetland.
In recent years the waters around Shetland have become busy with shipping due to the oil industry and the increase in fish processing vessels. The poor condition of some of the latter, coupled with the severe weather encountered in the area, result in shipwrecks which can have a major impact on wildlife. The speaker showed slides of several wrecks, including the oil tanker Braer. The oil spillage from the tanker seems to have had little lasting effect on the higher plants on Shetland but mosses and lichens have been killed by oil blown onto the land.
12 April 1994
The President, Dr P. WARING, showed some distribution maps for Great Britain of moths based on post-1980 records which update maps given in The butterflies and moths of Great Britain and Ireland. The maps indicated the changing status of some moths. The oak tree pug appears to be more widespread than before 1980 but this probably reflects improved recording and it is no longer classified as notable. The sloe pug, which was new to Britain in the 1970s, is now known to be widespread. The
106 BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 7: 1994
obscure wainscot is expanding its range, especially in Yorks. and Lincs. The satin lutestring is common in the Weald of Kent and occurs in pockets along the west coast but remains a nationally uncommon species. Dr Waring referred to the need to have a regionally notable classification. He also circulated a map indicating “‘hot spots’”’ where scarce macrolepidoptera requiring further recording and research occur.
Mr R. A. JONES showed specimens of Calopteron discrepans (Newm.) and C. terminale (Say) (Coleoptera: Lycidae) and a large unidentified ichneumon species, all from tropical oak woodland in central Florida, USA, in March 1994. Beetles of the family Lycidae (net-winged beetles) are said to be distasteful to predators. Most are brightly and warningly coloured red and black. Various other insects are said to mimic them, including several black and red arctiid moths. Despite the obvious