Current Volume - (131) 2019:

131(1):

SECOND UPDATE TO THE CHECKLIST OF THE LEPIDOPTERA OF THE BRITISH ISLES, 2013
1 DAVID J. L. AGASSIZ, 2 S. D. BEAVAN & 1 R. J. HECKFORD
1 Department of Life Sciences, Division of Insects, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD
2 The Hayes, Zeal Monachorum, Devon EX17 6DF
Abstract
This update incorporates information published since 26 March 2016 and before 20 November 2018 into A Checklist of the Lepidoptera of the British Isles, 2013.

TRACHYPEPLA CONTRITELLA (WALKER, 1864) (LEP.: OECOPHORIDAE) NEW TO BRITAIN
ANDY BANTHORPE
32 Long Close, Lower Stondon, Bedfordshire SG16 6JS (E-mail vc30moths@picus.co.uk)
Abstract
Trachypepla contritella (Walker) is added to the British list from six individuals in lighttraps in Bedfordshire and Huntingdonshire in 2012 and 2018.
Keywords. Britain, Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, Lepidoptera, Oecophoridae, Trachypepla.

OBSERVATIONS OF OVERWINTERING TISSUES TRIPHOSA DUBITATA L. (LEP.: GEOMETRIDAE) IN SOUTH-EAST SCOTLAND
1 KATTY BAIRD & 2 MARK CUBITT
1 4 Rhodes Holdings, North Berwick EH39 5PH (E-mail: kattybaird@gmail.com) corresponding author
2 12 Burgh Mills Lane, Linlithgow, EH49 7TA
Abstract
Adult Tissue Triphosa dubitata L. (Lep.: Geometridae) were monitored in caves and mines in Berwickshire and Haddingtonshire between August 2017 and April 2018. Peak activity and numbers were observed during September, after which numbers fell and only eight individuals, all females, were recorded in the spring 2018. No males were recorded after October. Through regular visits to overwintering sites and identification of individuals based on unique wing markings, this study revealed that Tissue numbers in Scotland are much higher than previously thought.
Key Words: Tissue, Triphosa dubitata, Scotland, overwintering, hibernation

THE CADDISFLY HYDROPSYCHE FULVIPES (CURTIS, 1834) (TRICHOPTERA: HYDROPSYCHIDAE): FINALLY CONFIRMED
AS AN IRISH SPECIES
1 JAMES P. O’CONNOR, 1 MARY A. O’CONNOR AND 2 MARTIN P. GAMMELL
1 c/o National Museum of Ireland – Natural History, Merrion Street, Dublin 2, D02 F627, Ireland.(e-mail: joconnor@museum.ie)
2 Marine and Freshwater Research Centre, Department of Natural Sciences, Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Dublin Road, Galway, H91 T8NW, Ireland.(e-mail: martin.gammell@gmit.ie)
Abstract
A female adult of Hydropsyche fulvipes (Curtis, 1834) (Trichoptera: Hydropsychidae) was collected at a small stream in Edenvale, County Wexford, confirming the presence of the species in Ireland. Previous Irish larval records of the species are discussed.
Key words: Trichoptera, caddisfly, Hydropsyche fulvipes, adult, species confirmed, Ireland.

A POSSIBLE LEAF BLOTCH MINER MOTH (LEPIDOPTERA: GRACILLARIITES) FROM MID-EOCENE BALTIC AMBER
MARTIN J. F. FOWLER
Les Rocquettes, Orchard Road, South Wonston, Winchester SO21 3EX E-mail: danebury216@hotmail.co.uk
Abstract
A micro-moth fossil from a specimen of Mid-Eocene Baltic amber is described and
tentatively identified as a leaf blotch miner from the Lepidopteran family Gracillariidae Stainton, 1854 and belonging to the genus Gracillariites Kozlov, 1987. The good quality of the fossil, including the preservation of wing scales, graphically illustrates the ability
of Baltic amber to preserve in exquisite detail insect remains dating from over 41 million years ago.
Keywords: Lepidoptera, fossil micromoth, Gracillariidae, Gracillariites, Baltic amber, Middle Eocene.

131(2):

A CONTRIBUTION TO KNOWLEDGE OF THE BALKAN LEPIDOPTERA: SPECIES COLLECTED IN THE AUTUMN OF 2018 IN ALBANIA (MACROLEPIDOPTERA WITH SOME CRAMBIDAE)
1 STOYAN BESHKOV & 2 ANA NAHIRNIC
1, 2 National Museum of Natural History, Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd.1, 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria
(E-mails: 1 stoyan.beshkov@gmail.com; 2 ananahirnic@nmnhs.com)

131(3):

OBSERVATIONS ON THE LARVA AND FOODPLANTS OF LOBESIA RELIQUANA (HÜBNER, [1825]) (LEP.: TORTRICIDAE,
OLETHREUTINAE)
¹ S. D. BEAVAN AND ² R. J. HECKFORD
¹ The Hayes, Zeal Monachorum, Devon EX17 6DF ² Department of Life Sciences, Division of Insects, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD (Correspondence address: 67 Newnham Road, Plympton, Plymouth, Devon PL7 4AW)
Abstract
This paper considers accounts of the larva and larval foodplants of Lobesia reliquana (Hübner, [1825]) in British and mainland European literature as a result of finding larvae in withered brown leaves of Hornbeam Carpinus betulus L. and oak Quercus sp. in Devon, England. Certain cited foodplants are considered to be erroneous or requiring confirmation. Only a few larval descriptions are considered to be reliable.
Key words: Lepidoptera, Tortricidae, Lobesia reliquana, larva, foodplants, Carpinus betulus, Quercus sp., dead leaves.

THE BOX-TREE MOTH CYDALIMA PERSPECTALIS (WALKER, 1859) IN BRITAIN: AN OVERVIEW OF ITS SPREAD AND
CURRENT STATUS
1 COLIN W. PLANT, 2 CHRIS POOLE, 3 ANDREW SALISBURY& 3 STEPHANIE BIRD
1 Corresponding Author: 14 West Road, Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire CM23 3QP
2 European Boxwood and Topiary Society (UK), PO Box 256 Stroud GL5 5WZ
3 Plant Health (Entomology), Royal Horticultural Society, Wisley, Surrey GU23 6QB
Guest Editor: DAVID J. L. AGASSIZ
Abstract
The arrival of Cydalima perspectalis (Walker, 1859) (Lep.: Crambidae) in the British Isles in 2007 and its subsequent geographical spread to the end of 2018 are documented. Earliest reports might relate to wandering adults from Europe, but the establishment of a breeding population is most likely a consequence of accidental importation of preimaginal stages in association with the larval foodplant of Box, primarily Buxus sempervirens, which is also a native British tree. Once established the adults are capable of significant dispersal, in both sexes, so that continued range expansion does not depend on further importations. The spread of the species from 2007 to 2018 is illustrated by a series of distribution maps. The moth now affects all of England apart from the far northwest and has established a foothold in both South and North Wales, though much of that Principality is, apparently, unaffected at present. In Scotland, the moth is known from
the south-east in Fifeshire, but is likely to spread. The pest status and potential control measures are discussed briefly.
Keywords: Box-tree Moth, Cydalima perspectalis, Buxus sempervirens, invasive species, introduced species, pest species.

CNEPHIDIA FUSCORUBRA RIEL, 1928, DESCRIBED FROM FRANCE: A NEW SYNONYM OF ALOPHIA COMBUSTELLA
(HERRICH-SCHÄFFER, 1855) (LEP.: PYRALIDAE, PHYCITINAE)
FRANTIŠEK SLAMKA
Racianska 61, SK-83102 Bratislava, Slovakia (Email: f.slamka@nextra.sk)
Abstract
Cnephidia fuscorubra Riel, 1928, described from France, was examined and the results show that the female genitalia of the holotype are identical with Alophia combustella (Herrich-Schäffer, 1855). The holotype and its genitalia are illustrated.
Keywords: Cnephidia fuscorubra Riel, 1928, Alophia combustella (Herrich-Schäffer, 1855), new synonym.

131(4):

THE IMMIGRATION OF LEPIDOPTERA TO THE BRITISH ISLES IN 2015
SEAN P. CLANCY
24 Prospect Road, Hythe, Kent. CT21 5NH E-mail: trapsite@vfast.co.uk
Abstract
Formally accepted records of immigrant Lepidoptera occurring in the British Isles during the year 2015 are listed and discussed. For less frequently encountered species, full information is given in Annex 1, presented in vice-county order, the individual localities then listed alphabetically for each VC. For the more regular/frequent immigrant species recorded during the season, annual summaries and a selection of the more important records are presented in Annex 2.

131(5):

A NEW IRISH LOCALITY FOR THE RARE CADDISFLY LIMNEPHILUS PATI O’CONNOR (TRICHOPTERA:
LIMNEPHILIDAE)
1 JAMES P. O’CONNOR, 2 JERVIS A. GOOD & 3 IAN D. WALLACE
1 Emeritus Entomologist, National Museum of Ireland – Natural History, Merrion Street, Dublin 2, D02 F627, Ireland. (e-mail: joconnor@museum.ie)
2 Jervis A. Good, Glinny, Riverstick, Co. Cork, P43 T262, Ireland. (e-mail: Pygidicrana@gmail.com)
3 National Museums Liverpool World Museum, William Brown Street L3 8EN3, United Kingdom (e-mail: Ian.Wallace@liverpoolmuseums.org.uk)
Abstract
In 2003, a male adult of Limnephilus pati O’Connor, 1980 (Trichoptera: Limnephilidae) was collected in a modified Owen insect emergence trap on a limnocrene tufa spring at Pollardstown Fen, Co. Kildare, Ireland. The species has now been recorded from five Irish localities; three of these records are from the 19th Century. The possible larval habitat is discussed.
Key words: Trichoptera, caddisfly, Limnephilus pati, Ireland, male, limnocrene tufa spring, larval habitat.

EPERMENIA INSECURELLA (STAINTON, 1849) (LEP.: EPERMENIIDAE) REDISCOVERED ON THE ISLE OF WIGHT AFTER 92 YEARS AND CONSIDERATION OF THE TYPE LOCALITY
1 R. J. HECKFORD AND 2 S. D. BEAVAN
¹ Department of Life Sciences, Division of Insects, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD
² The Hayes, Zeal Monachorum, Devon EX17 6DF
(Correspondence address: 67 Newnham Road, Plympton, Plymouth, Devon PL7 4AW)
Abstract
This paper records the rediscovery of Epermenia insecurella (Stainton, 1849) on the Isle of Wight after 92 years and reviews prior records from there. Places of larval pupation are considered and also the name of the type locality.
Keywords: Lepidoptera, Epermeniidae, Epermenia insecurella, Isle of Wight, records reviewed, rediscovery, pupation site, type locality

QUANTITATIVE COMPARISON OF CATCHES MADE BY TWO BULBS FITTED TO ROBINSON MOTH-TRAPS
1 CLIVE CRAIK & 2 ANDY MCLEOD
1 Scottish Association for Marine Science, Dunstaffnage Marine Laboratory, Oban, Argyll PA37 1QA (clive.craik@sams.ac.uk)
2 School of Geosciences, University of Edinburgh, Crew Building, The King’s Buildings, Alexander Crum Brown Road, Edinburgh EH9 3FF
(andy.mcleod@ed.ac.uk)
Abstract
In a 53-night comparison, a Robinson trap with a 125-watt MBF bulb caught 2.1 times as many individual macro-moths and 1.7 times as many species/night as an “Eco- Robinson” trap (an identical trap body with a 20-watt Wemlite bulb). Statistically, both differences were highly significant. The MBF bulb caught more individual moths than the Wemlite bulb on 49 of the 53 nights and more species on 46 nights. The MBF bulb emitted 7.4 times as much total radiation as the Wemlite, with 72 times as much UVB, 1.6 times as much UVA and 34 times as much visible radiation. Under new legislation, MBF and similar bulbs with >0.1% mercury are banned in the EU. More reliance will
have to be placed on legal substitutes such as the above Wemlite bulb, new multi-tube Actinic traps and new LED sources. No commercially available replacement product has yet been shown to rival the moth-catching ability of MBF, MBU and similar highpressure mercury-vapour bulbs of 125 and higher wattages. Methods of comparing bulbs, such as that used here, may therefore be useful in assessing new bulbs and traps as they become available.
Keywords: macromoths, MBF bulbs, Wemlite bulbs, EU Directive, conservation.

A CONTRIBUTION TO KNOWLEDGE OF BALKAN LEPIDOPTERA: SOME NEW AND RARE SPECIES FOR ALBANIA AND NORTH MACEDONIA (MACROLEPIDOPTERA)
STOYAN BESHKOV 1 & ANA NAHIRNIC 2
National Museum of Natural History, Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd.1, 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria stoyan.beshkov@gmail.com; ananahirnic@nmnhs.com
Abstract
Data for 45 nocturnal Lepidoptera species collected mainly in June-August 2018 by the authors are presented. The majority of reported species are from Albania, from where six genera and 19 species are reported for the first time. Seventeen other species are reported for the second time for Albania or are confirmed for the country. Three species are new for the North Macedonia (formerly known as the yugoslav Republic of Macedonia). Two other species are reported for the second time for that country. Reported species and collecting localities are illustrated in colour, when necessary with genitalia, including everted vesicas.
Keywords: Albania, North Macedonia, faunistics, Lepidoptera, Macrolepidoptera

131(6):

THE FIRST BRITISH RECORDS OF HORISME RADICARIA (LA HARPE, 1855) (LEP.: GEOMETRIDAE): AN OVERLOOKED OR
NEW BRITISH SPECIES?
1 GRAEME J. SMITH AND 2 SEAN P. CLANCY
1 36 Honeysuckle Close, Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire, CM23 4RL graemejsmith1@btinternet.com
2 24 Prospect Road, Hythe, Kent, CT21 5NH sclancy@vfast.co.uk
Abstract
The discovery of the geometrid moth Horisme radicaria (la Harpe) in Britain is reported and discussed. Evidence from Europe suggests that it is a recent/current colonist rather than a long-overlooked resident. Adult moths and the genitalia of both sexes are illustrated in comparison with the widespread resident Fern H. tersata. Some examples are likely to require genitalia examination for reliable separation. The colloquial name Crytic Fern is proposed for this species.
Keywords: Horisme radicaria, Cryptic Fern, Geometridae, range expansion.

MAHOGANY SHOOT BORER HYPSIPYLA GRANDELLA ZELLER, 1848 (LEP.: PYRALIDAE) A NEW ADVENTIVE SPECIES FOR BRITAIN
ROY LEVERTON Whitewells, Ordiquhill, Cornhill, Banffshire AB45 2HS
Abstract
An adult Mahogany Shoot Borer Hypsipyla grandella Zeller, 1848 was found on 5 October 2017 on the windowsill of a house in Meadowbank, Edinburgh, Scotland. It is an important pest species of Mahogany Swietenia spp. in the Americas, but is presumed
to be an accidental introduction here. It has been allocated the number 62.0415 on the British checklist.
Keywords: Pyralidae, Hypsipyla grandella, adventive, Scotland, UK.

PLEUROPRUCHA INSULSARIA (GUENÉE, 1858) (LEP.: GEOMETRIDAE, STERRHINAE) THE COMMON TAN WAVE: A FIRST UK RECORD OF THIS NORTH AMERICAN SPECIES
1 MIKE HALSEY & 2 AXEL HAUSMANN
1 Oxford Brookes University, Headington, Oxford OX3 0BP (mmmh61@outlook.com)
2 SNSB – Bavarian State Collection of Zoology, Muenchhausenstr. 21, D-81247, München, Germany (hausmann.a@snsb.de)
Abstract
Pleuroprucha insulsaria (Guenée, 1858) (Geometridae) was trapped at an MV light at Bonchurch, Isle of Wight; the identification was confirmed by dissection and DNA barcoding. This represents the first UK record of this species, which has a normal resident distribution in the eastern half of North America. Wind-blown dispersal or accidental importation are considered as possible explanations for this surprising record in the UK. A proposed name for the purpose of the UK list is given.
Keywords: Pleuroprucha insulsaria, United Kingdom, Isle of Wight, Geometridae.

MICROLEPIDOPTERA REVIEW OF 2018
1 A. M. DAVIS AND 2 G. M. TORDOFF
1 Butterfly Conservation, Unit 2 Bull Pens, Manor Farm, Itchen Stoke, Hampshire, SO24 0QT. (tdavis@butterfly-conservation.org)
2 Butterfly Conservation Wales, 4D Cwm Road, Hafod, Swansea, SA1 2AY (gtordoff@butterfly-conservation.org)
Abstract
Noteworthy records of microlepidoptera obtained in the British Isles during 2018 are summarised, including three species new to the British Isles. Numerous new vice-county records are detailed, with notable records of 430 species in total being reported.