Moths and Butterflies - Historical Records

Here are presented some historical records which relate to the Wanstead area...

THE MACRO-LEPIDOPTERA OF EPPING FOREST IN JULY. (1883)
By Arthur J. Rose. The Entomologist

Author: British Trust for Entomology; Royal Entomological Society of London
Volume: v. 16 1883

(P164) "A trip to Wanstead Flats about the middle of the month would ensure Hadena pisi ; Hepialus sylvinus, and its congener H. hectas can be taken, hovering over the ferns, in any quantity in all open parts. The larvae of Euchlidia mi may also be found in plenty in that direction."

(Hadena pisi is now Melanchra pisi the Broom Moth and the two Hepialus species are the Orange Swift and the Gold Swift respectively The reference to "hovering over the ferns" would not be apt now as there are few ferns (probably relating to bracken) on Wanstead Flats nowadays. Broom, on the other hand, is plentiful - though as yet of these only one Orange Swift has been recorded locally, in a garden on the Lakehouse Estate. Euclidia mi is now Callistege mi - Mother Shipton - and although as yet not identified on Wanstead Flats has been found locally.)

TORTRICES AND TINEINA BRED AND CAPTURED IN 1883.
By George Elisha. The Entomologist

Author: British Trust for Entomology; Royal Entomological Society of London
Volume: v. 16 1883

(P245) "At Wanstead I found the larvae of C. hemerohiella on white-thorn, C. gryphypiennella on rose, C. genistcecolella and G. albi-palpella on Genista anglica, and G. mouffetella in shoots of honey-suckle ; also imagines of (T). emortuella, Ypsolojohus alpella, Laverna stephensiella , G. lucidella, and many others on oak trunks"

THE LEPIDOPTERA OF ESSEX.
By Edward A Fisch ; December 2nd , 1890. Essex Naturalist

Author: Essex Field Club
Volume: 5 January-December 1891

(P154)  "Vanessa cardui was rare as a garden insect. I did not see more than two or three at Leyton, the only Essex specimens taken between 1868 and 1874 having been captured in the plantations on the Forest near the Wanstead Orphan Asylum."

(Vanessa cardui is the Painted Lady butterfly, which as a migrant species is sporadic in its appearence. It has been recorded in the area on numerous occasions, however.)

GELECHIA VELOCELLA AT WANSTEAD.
By A. Thurnall ; August 1st, 1913. The Entomologist

Author: British Trust for Entomology; Royal Entomological Society of London
Volume: v. 46 1913

(P269)  " Until Wednesday last I had never met with more than five or six specimens of this local moth, but on this occasion, when crossing a dry piece of meadow land, I noticed the second brood in abundance amongst the dried-up stems of its food-plant [Rumex acetosclla). I managed, after many attempts, to box a couple for verification. This is the most active member of the genus with which I am acquainted. Duponchel certainly gave it a most appropriate name !"

(This is Aroga velocella, not identified in the area in recent times, though its food-plant Sheep's Sorrell is certainly common enough.)

ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 1 08 1 5 .xi. 1996
The Entomologist's record and journal of variation (1890)

Author: Tutt, James William, 1858-1911, ed
Volume: v.108 (1996)

(P294) Notes on the larvae of Nola cucullatella L., 1758 (Lep.: Nolidae) on Wanstead Flats, east London

Between 2. v. 1996 and 13. v. 1996, Crataegus bushes were beaten for Lepidoptera larvae, the most frequent species being N. cucullatella. The sixteen bushes beaten yielded no less than 54 larvae, with 13 being the maximum number noted on a single plant. The majority of the larvae were in 3rd instar.

Despite the abnormally cool weather in May, 1.8°C below average (deviation from 1961-1990 norms. Meteorological Office, London), a return visit to the area for the same purpose on 27.V.1996, yielded one larva of this Nolid species, out of the four Crataegus bushes beaten. The probability that all larvae had pupated, was evidenced by another individual larva being beaten from hawthorn, out of ten bushes, visited at Stratford cycle track, 29.V.1996. Assuming that the moth was also found at the same density in Stratford as on Wanstead Flats over the month of May, the larvae must have developed quickly despite the weather conditions, as an initial survey of the hawthorn in Stratford on 26. v. 1996, yielded no larvae of any Macrolepidopteran.

Revell (1983, Nolidae in The Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland, eds. Heath, J. & Emmet, A.M., Harley Books, Essex) describes the larvae of N. cucullatella as awakening from hibernation in early to mid-April, with pupation occurring in early June.

Gareth E. King, 25d Windsor Road, London E7 OQX

(This is the Short-cloaked Moth, which has been found on a few occasions in the moth traps at Capel Road and on the Lakehouse estate.)

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