Page:VCH Hertfordshire 1.djvu/157

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INSECTS CARADRINID^E (continued) Polia aprilina, L. Bricket Wood (Cottam, A. Lewis, A. E. G.); Sandridge (Griffith); Hitchin (Durrani) ; Haileybury (Bow- yer), ' Heath,' School List; Hertford (Stephens) ; Bushey and Oxhey Wood (Cutts) ; Tring (Le Quesne, Elli- man) ; Cheshunt (Boyd) This moth often comes freely to 4 sugar ' at Bricket Wood in the autumn. The larvae may be found in the spring and early summer by searching the trunks of oak trees at night, when they are ascending to feed. They also hide in the crevices of the bark, their colour and markings assimilating very closely to a lichen- covered tree trunk and thus afford- ing protection. Mr. Boyd describes this species as scarce in the Cheshunt district flavicincta, F. St. Allans (A. Lewis, A. E. G.) ; Bricket Wood (A. E. G.) ; Hitchin (Durrant) ; Hertford (Ste- phens) ; Bushey (Cutts) ; Bushey Heath (Barraud) ; East Barnet (Gillum) ; Watford (Spencer, Wigg, Cottam) ; Tring (Le Quesne) ; Bishop Stanford (Taylor) ; Cheshunt Street (Boyd) This species seems to be more abundant in some parts of the county than at others. At Haileybury it has only been taken once ; at Ches- hunt it is scarce ; whilst at St. Albans, Watford and Tring it is rather common, both at ' light ' and on palings. I have taken the larvae on artichokes in my garden, and Mr. Lewis captured them on ivy at Sparrowswick, St. Albans Miselia oxyacanthas, L. Bricket Wood (A. Lewis, Cutts, A. E. G.) ; Sandridge (Griffith) ; Hitchin (Durrant); Hailey- bury (Bowyer), ' at " light," ' School List; Oxhey Wood and Bushey (Cutts); Watford (Wigg); Bushey Heath (Barraud); Oxhey (H. Rowland- Brown) ; Tring (Goodson) ; Ches- hunt (Boyd) var. capucina, Mill. Bricket Wood (A. E. G.); Bushey Heath (Bar- raud) Diloba coeruleocephala, L. St. Albans and Bricket Wood (A. E. G.) ; Sandridge (Griffith) ; Hitchin (Durrant) ; Haileybury (Bowyer) ; Bushey (Cutts); Bushey Heath (Barraud) ; Watford (Spencer, Wigg) ; East Barnet (Gil- lum) ; Tring (Elliman) ; Stevenage (Matthews) ; Bishop Stortford (Tay- CARADRINID.S (continued) lor, Mellows) ; Oxhey (H. Rowland- Brown) ; Cheshunt and Bay ford (Boyd) This moth is abundant at ' light,' and its conspicuously-coloured larvae are often to be met with on hawthorn hedges Asteroscopus sphinx, Hufn. (cassinea, Hb.). Bricket Wood, larvae (Lewis) ; Sand- ridge (Griffith) ; Haileybury (Bowyer), ' at " light," at rest,' School List ; Hertford (Stephens) ; Bushey (Cutts) ; Bushey Heath (Barraud); Aldenham Wood, one specimen (Spencer) ; Watford (Wigg) ; East Barnet (Gil- lum) Aporophyla lunosa, Hw. St. Albans, Bricket Wood and Harpenden (A. E. G.) ; Sandridge (Griffith) ; Haileybury (Bowyer) ; Hertford (Stephens) ; Oxhey Wood (Cutts) ; Oxhey (H. Rowland-Brown) ; Bushey (Cutts) ; Bushey Heath (Barraud); Watford (Spencer, Heaton, Wigg) ; East Barnet (Gillum) ; Tring (Elliman) ; Cheshunt (Boyd) When the Haileybury School List was published this insect was described as not common, but Mr. Stockley states it is now fairly abundant. It is reported by most observers to occur rather freely Orthosia xerampelina, Hb. St. Albans (A. E. G.) ; Sandridge (Griffith) ; Wat- ford (Spencer, Cottam) ; Haileybury (School List) ; Tring (Le Quesne, Elliman) ; Cheshunt (Boyd) ; Colney Heath (Pilbrow) A scarce species croceago, F. Hertford (Stephens) citrago, L. St. Albans (A. E. G.) ; Bricket Wood (Cottam, A. E. G.) ; Gorhambury, larvae (A. E. G.) ; Haileybury (Bowyer) ; East Barnet (Gillum) ; Bushey Heath (Barraud) ; Cheshunt (Boyd) aurago, F. Bricket Wood, one speci- men (A. E. G.) ; Watford (Spencer) flavago, F. (silago, Hb.). Bricket Wood (A. E. G., Lewis, Cottam) ; Har- penden (A. E. G.) ; Sandridge and Knebworth (Griffith) ; Hitchin (Dur- rant) ; East Barnet (Gillum) ; Oxhey Wood (Cutts) ; Oxhey (H. Rowland- Brown) ; Watford (Wigg) : Bushey Heath (Barraud) ; Tring (Elliman) ; Cheshunt (Boyd) A fairly common insect in most of the districts, coming rather freely 117