however, larvae were seen in profusion on the cliff paths of Guernsey. During the last few years the Brown- 

 tail had warranted articles in Guernsey newspapers concerning the spraying being carried out in Guernsey 

 and Herm, and notices were placed in recently sprayed areas on the islands, including on Sark. The Brown- 

 tail is recognised as the most notorious moth in the Channel Islands. However, there is certainly evidence to 

 suggest that other species that have similar webbing habits are all being lumped together under the general 

 term 'Brown-Tail'. The species chrysorrhoea is conceivably not the only culprit for causing rashes on 

 exposed skin from the urticating larval hairs, or for the larval habit of making extensive webbing over 

 foliage, or even extensive defoliation. The closely related Yellow-tail (Euproctis similis) has different habits 

 to the Brown-tail, lacking the extensive webbing produced by the larvae. Adults were seen in very large 

 numbers on Herm in 1995 at the Cafeteria area of Shell Beach, simultaneously, chiysorrhoea was also 

 present on the island. Extensive webbing caused by larvae of the Lackey (Malacosoma neustria), is also a 

 common sight in spring, plus webbing of the Yponomeutid moths (Yponomeuta spp.) which can also be 

 seen, especially on cliff paths on Guernsey, covering defoliated Blackthorn in much the same manner as 

 Brown-tail larvae. Defoliation of Blackthorn, (but minus the webbing) is also caused by a Geometrid 

 species, the Winter Moth {Operophtera brumata), noted often on Sark. 



Early effects of a growing urbanisation and developing commercialisation 



C.J. Shayer in the annual report for 1952 (1953: 171-172), noted that since the War there had been a 

 noticeable decline in butterflies on Guernsey. He attributed this to "....the misguided policy of overbuilding 

 in the island, especially in rural districts. The choice had been made to develop Guernsey commercially and 

 natural habitats for birds and insects have gone into discard". Shayer expected this decline to continue, 

 having noted that the wilder parts of the island were being restricted to the coastal areas, and noted with 

 regret the ruination of what were once favoured collecting sites. In a continuing paper (1953: 172-174), 

 Shayer gives an interesting account of the biology of two species, the Puss Moth (Centra vinula) and the 

 Goat Moth (Cossus cossus), illustrating the life-cycle of the latter. 



For the next few years, both Shayer and Le Quesne diligently produced the annual reports on the 

 Lepidoptera, but due to a run of poor seasons, wrote on relatively few species, although new and rare species 

 were still being collected. In Guernsey especially, Shayer was having reasonable collecting success with the 

 use of a 150- watt lamp. Proof not only that ordinary light bulbs were useful for this work, but importantly, 

 showing also that if the time and effort were being put into monitoring the moths attracted to a good light 

 source, moth collecting at night could be more profitable. 



Visiting entomologists have their impact 



From the amount of collecting carried out by the resident island recorders, with the aid of their 

 regular visiting contributors, it is always surprising that from time to time visitors on short holidays will 

 account for first records for the islands as a whole, or for an individual island. Such was the case in 1956 

 when M.J. Leech from Formby, Lancashire took the first recorded specimen in Jersey of the Bloxworth 

 Snout (Hypena obsitalis) (1957: 49). But such events happen regularly. One classic case being the first 

 discovery of the Large Chequered Skipper (Heteropterus morpheus) in Jersey during 1946, first caught by 

 the Symington brothers while on holiday from Market Harborough. Having collected in the islands for many 

 years since 1958, the author became aware of many potential and actual new Channel Islands records from 

 available voucher material, when many years later the collection was finally analysed in preparation for and 

 during the writing of this book. These first records along with all other material are incorporated into this 

 present work. The anticipation was that much of the material would be of common species and that the rarer 

 species would have already been documented. Surprisingly this was not so. More will be stated later of the 

 contributions made by visiting holiday makers and entomologists from England, but as demonstrated since 

 the beginning of the 19th century, most visitors over the years have been fortunate enough to have made 

 many valuable contributions to the records of Channel Islands Lepidoptera. These records from visitors are 

 gratefully received by the island's recorders, however, only the new, rare or migratory species are likely to 

 become entries for the current annual entomological reports. Visiting entomologist's who prefer to see their 

 full amount of records and notes accounted for, would need to publish the accounts in an English 

 entomological journal. 



Enter the mercury-vapour light-traps, their virtues and possible disadvantages 



From 1960 onwards, mercury- vapour light sources have dominated the collecting methods used in 

 the Channel Islands. The controlled usage of this light source has clear advantages over other collecting 

 methods, as it will attract most night Hying insects to the ultraviolet light and encourage them to settle in 

 traps or come to rest near the light source. Once at rest the collector then has a greater opportunity of 

 surveying and assessing the night's catch. Because of the enhanced opportunities for collecting, their 

 application in the Channel Islands deserves closer examination. 



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