THE SEASON OF 1911. 138 



The Season of 1911 in the Abertillery District of Monmouthshire. 



By W. KAIT SMITH. 



A few notes on collecting during the extraordinary season of 1911, 

 in the Western Valleys of Monmouthshire, which are practically terra 

 incognita entomologically, may be of some interest to entomologists. 

 Up till August I shall, unfortunately, only be able to give approximate 

 dates, as on August 15th I had a gladstone bag, containing the whole 

 of my entomological outfit and my note books, with all my notes for 

 the last seven years, stolen at Paddington, whilst on my way to Kent 

 for my summer holidays. I can only hope the thief found my notes 

 of sufficient interest to compensate him for the various articles of 

 clothing which he no doubt expected to get. 



During January and February insects, of course, were scarce, and 

 nothing of much interest was taken. A few Phifjalia pedaria g s were 

 found at rest on tree trunks, principally beech, specimens approaching 

 ab. monacharia were not uncommon. One or two Hybernia rupica- 

 praria J s were taken on gas lamps at Gilwern. This generally abun- 

 dant species is by no means common in this district, probably owing 

 to the comparative scarcity of its food plant, the whitethorn. It will 

 be as well to mention that these Monmouthshire valleys are only 

 cultivated to a very small extent, by far the greater part of the ground 

 is left to nature, and is covered with bracken, bilberry, and heather. 

 A few years ago there were extensive woods in this district, but they 

 have nearly all been cut down now ; the few woods that are left are 

 composed chiefly of larch and birch, with a few scattered oaks and 

 beeches. There are extensive patches of oak scrub on the sites of former 

 woods, but these are not productive collecting grounds, and produce 

 little except swarms of Tortrix viridana, which occur in countless 

 thousands. Similar patches of birch produce Adela viridella in almost 

 equal numbers. 



During February and March a close search was made for Apo- 

 cheinia liispidaria, but without success. Hybernia leucophaaria, mostly 

 typical, but with a fair percentage of ab. marmorinaria, were common 

 at rest on tree-trunks and fence-posts. Hybernia marginaria and 

 Anisopteryx aescidaria were decidedly scarce this year, not more than 

 three or four of each species were seen. Anisopteryx aescidaria six or 

 seven years ago was exceedingly abundant in this district, but has been 

 getting scarcer each year, and has now almost entirely disappeared. 

 A single specimen of Anticlea nigrofasciaria, the first I have seen here, 

 was taken at light at Gilwern, towards the end of March. I have not 

 as yet found the allied A. badiata in these valleys. The <? s of Tortrix 

 hyiiienana were common in woods flying in the sunshine. 



During April insects became much more plentiful, Pieris napi, the 

 common "white" of the district, put in an appearanje. A few fine 

 Pieris brassicae were bred from larvtie found in my own small garden. 

 A search was made at Pen-y-van and other places, where the holly 

 flourishes, for Cclastrina argiolns, but not a single specimen was seen. 

 This species occurs here but is rare, not more than half-a-dozen 

 examples have been taken during the last seven years. A few 

 Polyploca {Asphalia) Jiavicornis were seen at rest on birch trunks ; this 

 is another species which is getting rarer each year. In the last week 



June 15th, 1912. 



