INSECTS 



August 2, 1884, and there are specimens in the Saffron Walden Museum 

 which Mr. Joseph Clarke says were caught in that neighbourhood. It 

 does not seem to have occurred elsewhere in the county. 



HETEROCERA 



Moths 

 SPHINGES AND BOMBYCES 



The Death's Head Hawk Moth (Acherontia atropos) is usually 

 scarce, but occasionally the larvae and pupae are found in some numbers. 

 In 1900 it was exceptionally common throughout the county. The 

 Convolvulus Hawk (Sphinx convo/vu/i) seems to be found in larger or 

 smaller numbers every season ; from its powerful flight no limit can 

 be set to its range, and if looked for at dusk on a warm September 

 evening it would probably be found everywhere. The Privet Hawk 

 (S. /igustri) is also of general occurrence, and in the larva state frequently 

 common on privet, lilac, ash and other trees. The Bedstraw Hawk 

 (Deilephila galii) is nearly always rare, but occasionally occurs in some 

 numbers. In 1888 its larvas abounded on various species of Galium all 

 along the coast in August and September, and many Were found dead 

 on the sands when the nights became cold. In previous seasons it has 

 been found on Glarkia and (Enothra at Colchester, and has been recorded 

 from several other localities. The last occurred in 1895 when five 

 larvae were found between Brightlingsea and Clacton-on-Sea. The 

 Striped Hawk (D. Iruornica) is an occasional migrant like the last, but 

 is always very rare. Colchester, Mistley, Upton Park, Walton-on-the- 

 Naze and Walthamstow are recorded localities. The Silver Striped 

 Hawk (Chcerocampa ce/erio), another rare migrant, has repeatedly occurred, 

 larvae having been found feeding on vine at Colchester, Coggeshall and 

 Chelmsford, and perfect insects at Great Baddow, Chelmsford, Harwich, 

 Walton-on-the-Naze and other places. The Small Elephant Hawk 

 (C. porcellus) is very widely distributed, especially near the coast. 

 The Large Elephant Hawk (C. elpenor) is occasionally found rather 

 freely in the larva state on willow-herb and bedstraw in damp meadows 

 at Colchester and sometimes in gardens on Clarkia and fuchsia, and 

 doubtless occurs under similar conditions throughout the county. The 

 Eyed, Poplar and Lime Hawk Moths (Smerinthus oce//atus, S. populi 

 and S. tilice) are generally common among the trees and shrubs upon 

 which their larvae respectively feed. The Humming Bird Hawk 

 (Macroglossa stellatarum) occurs everywhere, and though usually scarce 

 and sometimes absent from some districts for long periods is occa- 

 sionally quite common, as was the case in 1899 and 1900. The 

 Broad-bordered Bee Hawk (M. fuciformis) seems to be found in all 

 woods where bugle and campion flowers abound ; its larva feeds on 

 the honeysuckle and may sometimes be found in hedges. The Narrow- 

 bordered Bee Hawk (M. bombyliformis), the larva of which feeds on 

 Scabiosa succisa, is extremely rare and local. A single specimen was 



M3 



