A HISTORY OF ESSEX 



HADENID^ 



Eremobia ochroleuca was common and generally distributed in the 

 county some twenty years ago, and after remaining more or less common 

 for several seasons completely disappeared. During the past two years it 

 has reappeared in the Southend and Maldon districts, and will very pos- 

 sibly soon be common again for a period. It is probably a migratory 

 species which has so far failed in its endeavours to become a permanent 

 resident. Diantbcecia nana (conspera, Esp.) was taken at Epping by Mr. 

 H. Doubleday. D. capsincola is common everywhere among Lychnis. 

 D. cucubali and D. carpophaga are not uncommon. The larvae may some- 

 times be found on Silene inflata and S. maritima^ but the former has not 

 been seen for several years. Hecatera chrysozona (dysodea, Hb.) was for- 

 merly very common about Coggeshall, where its larvae fed on lettuce 

 flowers and seed, but the particular species of lettuce it mostly favoured 

 is little cultivated there now and the moth is proportionately scarce. It 

 has also occurred at Colchester, and larvae have been found on wild lettuce 

 (Lactuca virosa) at Walton-on-the-Naze. H. serena is generally common, 

 especially in the larva state on flowers of Crepis wrens. Polia Jiavicincta 

 is often found at rest on walls and palings in the autumn. Epunda 

 lutulenta is scarce and local, but in 1898 was taken in some numbers by 

 Mr. Burrows at Mucking. Cleoceris viminalis may often be taken freely 

 in the larva state on sallow. Miselia oxyacanthce^ Agriopis aprilina, 

 Euplexia lucipara and Phlogophora meticulosa are common and occur 

 throughout the county. Aplecta prasina (herbida y Hb.) seems to be scarce. 

 Mr. Raynor took it at Warley, and it has several times been found at 

 Colchester. A specimen bred there in a warm room on January 10, 

 1 90 1, was perhaps the first British Noctua to appear in the new century. 

 A. occulta is a very uncertain and local species, but has been taken by 

 Professor Meldola near Woodford, by Mr. Doubleday at Epping, and also 

 at Colchester and Hazeleigh. A. nebulosa is frequently found on the boles 

 of trees in woods and comes freely to ' sugar.' A. tincta is rare. Mr. 

 Doubleday records it for Epping, and it has also been taken at Hazeleigh 

 and Woodford. A. advena, though not common, is often taken at ' sugar,' 

 and is very partial to dogwood flowers. Hadena adusta, H. frotea, H. 

 dentina and H. trifolii occur generally. (H. atriplicis is given as an Essex 

 species in Newman's British Moths.} H. dissimilis (suasa, Bork.) is found 

 in many places on the coast, including Benfleet, Dovercourt, Northey 

 Island and St. Osyth. H. o/eracea, H. pisi and H. thalassina are generally 

 distributed and common. Some of the Essex forms of H. pisi are very 

 beautiful. H. contigua is extremely local ; it was frequently found at 

 Dedham up to 1890. H.genistce is generally distributed though far from 

 common. 



XYLINID^E 



Xylocampa areola (lithoriza, Bork.) is generally to be found on posts 

 and tree trunks in April. Xylomiges conspicillaris is a rarity in Britain, and 

 only two specimens have been met with in Essex, one at Danbury and 

 the other at Brentwood, both by Mr. Raynor. Calocampa vetusta is not 



