BR, I INI NA'l HIST., 13: 2001 249 



Trust (BBONT). It consists of a large complex of woods, mostly pine and beech, with 

 forest titles and areas of chalk downlantl. 



The first thing I encountered, while waiting to see if anyone was going to show up. 

 was a full-grown larva of Abraxas sylvata (Scop.) (clouded magpie) descending on a 

 silken thread from wych elms (Ulmus glabra) at the car park. In fact, it landed on my 

 head! Searching the wych elms revealed many more larvae of this species in various 

 stages of growth. Also seen on these trees were mines and larvae of Bucculatrix 

 albedinella Zcll., and mines of Stigmella marginicolella (Stt.) and S. ulmivora (Fol.). 



Along the border of a path through the woods plants of wood avens {Geum 

 urhanwn) were being mined by S. aurella (Fab.) gei (Wocke). The taxonomic status 

 of these moths is still, I believe, uncertain. Another interesting stigmellid. 

 S. aeneofasciella (H.-S.) was found mining leaves of agrimony (Agrimonia 

 eupatoria) in a small area of chalk dowland. along with Fomoria 

 ieptembrella (Stt.) in perforate St John's wort {Hypericum perforatum). In 

 a damp area of woodland Ectoedemia arcuatella (H-S.) was found in wild 

 strawberry (Fragaria vesca). One of the few oaks (Quercus robur) in this 

 complex of woods contained E. albifasciella (Hein.) along with S. atricapitella ( Haw.) 

 and Tischeria ekebladella (Bjerk.). Bedel I in somnulentella ( Zcll. ) was 

 abundant in field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis) growing along most of 

 the borders of many woodland rides, early instar larvae of Stephensia 

 brunnichelia (L.) were abundant in wild basil {Clinopodium vulgare) while 

 vacated feeding sites of Parornix fagivora (Frey) were found on several of 

 the large beeches (Fagus sylvatica). Several species of phyllonoryctids were 

 seen, the best was probably Phyllonorycter lantanella (Sen.)- Larvae were 

 found in leaves of the wayfaring-tree (Viburnum lantana), but only in 

 plants that had been cut back to ground level during management of the 

 chalk downland and had subsequently regrown a little. Cases of 

 Coleophora artemisicolella Bru. were frequent on seeds of mugwort 

 (Artemisia vulgaris). This species is not mapped for VC 24 in MBGBI, 3. 



A total of 7 species of Macrolepidoptera and 76 micros were recorded in various 

 stages, not bad for a relatively poor leafminer year. A full species list has been sent to 

 our archivists and supplied to BBONT, to whom I extend my thanks for permission 

 to hold this meeting. 



Wye Valley Woodlands, Gloucestershire, 8 May 1999 



Leader: Roger Gaunt. — This meeting was planned to do some recording in an area 

 of semi-natural broad-leaved woodland that has scarce hook-tip Sahra harpagula 

 (Esp.) and Salebriopsis albicilla (H.-S.) later in the season, but in which there has 

 been no previous recording at this time of the year. 



Unfortunately weather conditions were such that only a limited amount of 

 recording took place. Gavin Boyd travelled all the way from Northampton for the 

 morning meeting to be the only visiting member. Before heavy rain curtailed 

 activities, Gavin recorded just one bee, Nomada flava (Panzer), and in addition a 

 handful of moths of no special interest were knocked up. 



In view of the conditions it did not seem likely that anyone would turn up in the 

 evening; however Norman Binsted set out from Romsey in dry weather and having 

 travelled all that way was undeterred by the rain, now light, that continued to fall. 

 His MV light, stationed at Shorn Cliff, attracted 28 species of moth. By far the most 

 common was orange footman Eilema sororcula (Hufn.) (Notable Nb.). Also recorded 

 was a speciality of these woods, pauper pug Euphithecia egenaria (H.-S.) (RDB5). 



