Review of the Lepidoptera of Essex for the year 2003
1716 Vestal Rhodometra sacraria (L.) Felsted, 21 July (G. Geen); Epping Forest, August (T.
Green); Jaywick, 16 September (J. Young); Takeley, 22 September (G Sell); Great Horkesley, 25
September (R. Neave); EWT Abbotts Hall, 28 September (P. Smith); Magdalen Eaver,
September (T. Green)
1720 Gem Orthonama obstipata (Fabr.) Rainham Marshes, 10 July, 16 and 19 August (D.
Funnell, J. Clifton); Stour Wood, 18 July (J. Clifton); Jaywick, 5 August (J. Young); Maldon, 12
August (S. Wood); Beaumont-cum-Moze, 14 August (J.B. Fisher); Maldon, 23 August (R.
Neave); Langenhoe, 3 October (H. Owen); Dovercourt, 3 October and 11 November (P. Smith)
1721 Balsam Carpet Xanthorhoe biriviata (Bork.) Jaywick, 2 July (J. Young), new to Essex;
Bradwell-on-Sea, 23 July (AJ. & S.F. Dewick), new to vc18
1728 Garden Carpet X. fluctuata (L.) Boreham, 26 January (G. Ekins). April is the previous
earliest date!
1894 Latticed Heath Chiasmia clathrata (L.) Moderate explosion of numbers; 106 on 17
August at Maldon (S. Wood); 55 at Dovercourt on 21 August (C. Gibson); and 41 at Boreham on
19 August (G. Ekins)
1922 Swallow-tailed Moth Ourapteryx sambucaria (L.) Kirby-le-Soken 30 September (P.
Bergdahl). Incredibly late, or possibly second generation
Sphingidae
1972 Convolvulus Hawk-moth Agrius convolvuli (L.) Beaumont-cum-Moze, 8 August (J.B.
Fisher); Theydon Bois, 9 August (J. Green); Stanway, 9 August (J. Henderson per D. Owen);
Shoeburyness. 13 August (T. Taylor); Langley Upper Green, 16 and 21 August (E. Ponting);
Kirby-le-Soken, 16 August (P. Bergdahl); Saffron Walden, 18August(A. Beadle); Steeple, 18
August (D. Down); Thundersley, three, 20 August (D. Down); Langenhoe, two on 21 August (H.
Owen); Old Hall Marsh NR, larva, 23 August (C. Tyas); Landermere, 24 August (J.B. Fisher);
Westcliff. 3 September (per R. Payne); West Mersea, 9 September (K. Woolsey); West Bergholt,
11 September (N. Rayner); Kirby-le-Soken, 18 and 27 September (P. Bergdahl); Maldon, 21
September (R Neave); Bradfield, larva, sometime in September (I. Rose); Lawford, 1 October
(A. Lansdown); Mashbury, 11 October (M. Tarrant); Rainham Marshes, 15 November (N.R.
Bruce-White)
1973 Death's-head Hawk-moth Acherontia atropos (L.) From six sites in the Southend area
(per D. Down and R. Payne). One of these, at Westcliff, was of a larva in September
1984 Humming-bird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum (L.) A very good year, reported
from forty-eight sites, mostly from June to October with a peak in mid-August
1987 Bedstraw Hawk-moth Hyles gallii (Rott.) Kirby-le-Soken, 5 July (P. Bergdahl)
Arctiidae
2041 Dotted Footman Pelosia muscerda (Hufn.) St Osyth, 15 and 16 July (R.W. Arthur). Three
other post-1990 sites
2060 White Ermine Spilosoma lubricipeda (L.) Basildon, 29 March (P. Harris). Very early date
Noctuidae
2154 Cabbage Moth Mamestra brassicae (L.) Woodford Green, 24 December (R. Barfoot).
Very late
2165 Small Ranunculus Hecatera dysodea (D.& S.) Pitsea, 18 July (P. Harris); Sewardstone,
larvae 31 July and 13 September (A. Middleton)
2183 Blossom Underwing Orthosia miniosa (D.& S.) Dovercourt, 29 March (C. Gibson); EWT
Abbotts Hall, 6 April (G Catchpole); Frinton-on-Sea, two on 15 April (B. Lock); Layer-de-la-
Haye, five during April (P. Pyke)
Essex Naturalist (New Series) 21 (2004)
67