At this time, there was no information available on a comparative listing for the Bailiwick of 

 Jersey. However, during the compilation of this present work on listed families and subfamilies (see pages 

 51-55), the numbers of species recorded had been constantly updated. By the time the listing had been 

 completed and included the species published up to the end of 1905, there was listed a complete coverage for 

 the entire Bailiwick of Guernsey, including Sark and Brecqhou and the Bailiwick of Jersey. The listing up to 

 and including the literature covering 1905, showed that a total of 789 species of Lepidoptera had so far been 

 recorded from all the Channel Islands, as compared to the total of 557 Luff had given for the incomplete 

 Guernsey Bailiwick. Thus the contribution that might have been added from Sark and Brecqhou, and that 

 from Jersey, would have accounted for an additional total of 232 species of Lepidoptera. At this period 

 apparently, in comparison to the extensive recording being carried out and published by entomologists in the 

 Guernsey Bailiwick, notably by WA. Luff and other collectors and recorders, (principally E.D. Marquand, 

 F.E. Lowe, Mrs Boley and G. Baker), very little information had been added by resident recorders in Jersey 

 apart from F.G. Piquet in 1873 and GP. Coney in 1903. 



Luff established an entomological legacy for the Edwardian era 



Towards the end of his life, the island's most assiduous entomologist WA. Luff, managed to 

 complete his entomological survey of all the islands; the Lepidoptera section particularly was fully 

 complete. His other entomological pursuits showed that in reality he achieved a great deal more. In 1907, the 

 Guernsey Society published his paper 'The Insects of Sark' (1907a: 185-199), a few years later this island 

 list was updated by Luff (1910: 54-57). In 1908 he saw it appropriate to write 'The non-British insects of the 

 Sarnian Islands' (1908b: 349-350). By this time, there was the realisation that not all the species to be found 

 in the Channel Islands were necessarily found in mainland Britain. Such species as Euplagia 

 quadripunctaria (Poda) and Cacoecimorpha pronubana (Hiibner) are examples recognised as resident in the 

 Channel Islands years before they were found in mainland Britain. Luff in 1908 itemised the following 

 species that he surmised were still in this unknown category: - Adela violella ([Denis & Schiffermiiller]), a 

 single specimen caught in 1892 and identified by C.G. Barrett, this species is still unknown in Britain [this 

 record might prove to be a misidentification of Cauchas rufimitrella (Scopoli)]; Eubolia peribolata (= 

 Scotopteryx peribolata (Hiibner), first recorded in Jersey in 1864, first taken in North Devon in 1890; 

 Agrotis crassa (Hiibner), first recorded in Guernsey in 1874, but was first taken in Essex in 1841; 

 Polyphaenis sericina [sic] (= Polyphaenis sericata (Esper), first recorded in Guernsey in 1872, but still 

 unknown in Britain; Dianthaecia [sic] luteago var. lowei (Hadena luteago barrettii (Doubleday) var. lowei 

 Tutt), first recorded in Guernsey in 1890, with the variety described in 1898, the subspecies was already 

 known in Britain, but the variety is known only from the Channel Islands. Though Luff at the time of writing 

 was not quite correct in the species he chose to list, the list did show that there was a small element that were 

 indeed still unknown in Britain. The list of known Channel Islands species still not recorded in Britain has 

 however developed since Luff s time, covering species from a wide range of families. This nucleus of 

 species clearly suggests the influence that the proximity of mainland France has on the island's insect fauna. 

 Of particular interest therefore to British entomologists, is the fact that the Channel Islands are within a 

 natural pathway for migratory species from the Continent, and for species that are extending their westerly 

 distribution. 



The year 1909 saw the publication of a final major paper by Luff, it was the last remaining large 

 listing required for the islands, 'The insects of Jersey' (1909b: 486-495). As befitting his lifetime dedication 

 to Entomology, William Ambridge Luff finally produced the 'Report of the Entomological Section' for the 

 year 1909 (1910: 17-20) and last of all Additions to the insects of Sark' (1910: 54-57)/ 



In 1910, Luff s close friend and fellow amateur entomologist F.E. Lowe, had the sad duty of 

 writing an account of the recent deceased, 'Obituary' (1910: 187-189, reprinted 1911:152-154), followed by 

 a tribute from E.D. Marquand, 'In Memoriam' (1911: 147-151). Luff as a youngster was already a keen 

 collector of butterflies and beetles, this interest paved his way to a lifelong enthusiasm for entomology. His 

 first lepidopterous note was published in the Zoologist (1873: 3367). The glowing tributes from Lowe and 

 Marquand hold testimony to the high esteem he had earned himself in entomological circles, which he richly 

 deserved. When he died at his home, La Chaumiere, at the age of 59, on Thursday 19th May 1910, the 

 Channel Islands lost their most industrious entomologist. 



The Victorian inheritance ends in Guernsey 



Rev. F.E. Lowe took over the production of the annual entomological reports for the Guernsey 

 Society, commencing in 1911 and continuing until 1918. By 1914, Lowe noted ...'that the extensive 

 building of greenhouses, the increase in tree felling and land clearance to provide space for them, was 

 affecting the Lepidoptera populations'. Apart from these constructions, it was looking inevitable that even 

 more open countryside would eventually be lost to the general increase in urbanization. Habitat loss was to 

 become a problem that warranted repeated commentary in future years by other recorders in Guernsey. 



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