Page:VCH Sussex 1.djvu/228

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A HISTORY OF SUSSEX lying between Arundel and the western boundary of the county. It has been reported from Hay-ward's Heath and Horsham ; no station however is re- corded in Arnold's Flora of Sussex near either of these towns for the food plant of this species (Verbascum nigrum) Cucullia asteris, SchifF. Not uncommon in woods and on heaths, probably occur- ring wherever its food plant, golden rod (Solidago virgaurea), is abundant; generally taken in the larval state — gnaphalii, Hb. Very rare ; Abbots TVood, Hay-ward's Heathy Tilgate Forest — chamomillse, SchifF. Not uncommon along the coast ; apparently rare inland. The moth is sometimes found sitting on gate-posts and palings, and the larvae may be found tolerably freely on the scentless mayweed (Pyrethrum inodo- rum) ; Apptedram, Bognor, Brighton^ Bat- tle, Chichester, Eastbourne, Hay-ward's Heath, Horsham, Le-wes, Thorney, Til- gate Forest, Worthing — umbratica, Linn. Common and generally distributed — libatrix, Linn. Generally common Abrostola tripartita, Hufn. Local ; common at Brighton and Leives, rare at Hast- ings ; occurs also at Bognor, Chichester, near Ems-worth, Fernhurst, Horsham, Worthing — triplasia, Linn. Apparently rare in East Sussex, being only recorded from Guest- ling. In West Sussex seems quite com- mon, far more so than the preceding species. The larvae may be obtained freely in nettle beds, preferring those at the base of a wall or building. Bury, Chichester, Bognor, Horsham, Worthing Plusia chryson, Esp. Very rare ; taken by Mr. Robinson near Hastings (Hastings list), Tilgate Forest (J. H. A. Jenner, Macro-Lep. of East Sussex). The late Mr. W. Buckler met with the larvas near Ems-worth, but Mr. Christy, who is familiar with its liabits in the Cam- bridgeshire fens, has not succeeded in finding it in Sussex ; as however, in addition to Mr. Buckler's experience, Mr. Robinson records the capture of two moths near Petersfteld, it is not improbable that the species may yet be found more freely in Sussex — chrysitis, Linn. Locally common — festucae, Linn. Very local ; occasionally at Hastings and Le-wes, sometimes not uncommon at Shoreham ; met with by Professor Meldola at Pagham in l 900 ; also recorded from Horsham Plusia iota, Linn. Occurs occasionally in Ash- do-wn Forest, at Bognor, Brighton, Charl- ton Forest, Cocking, near Ems-worth, Hastings, Horsham, Hay-ward's Heath, Linchmere, Le-wes, Pagham — pulchrina, Hw. Not common ; Ash- do-wn Forest, Brighton, Charlton Forest, near Ems-worth, Fernhurst, Hastings, Horsham, Hay-ward's Heath, Le-wes — gamma, Linn. Generally abundant — interrogationis, Linn. Mr. J. H. A. Jenner states {Macro-Lep. of East Sussex, p. 14) : 'I took one specimen at Battle in 1872.' This most remarkable cap- ture is referred to E?tt. Ann. 1872, p. 1 10, and Barrett, Brit. Lep. vi. 133. In tlie latter the date is given as 1870 — moneta, Fb. This recent addition to the British list was first taken in this county on 2 July, 1890, by Mr. W. M. Christy in a wood near his residence near Ems-worth {Ent. 1890, pp. 254, 344). Mr. Christy has bred other specimens from larvas found on Aconi- tum napellus. The species has also since occurred at Chichester, Lodsworth, Hastings, Uckfield and other places in the county. It seems to be not un- common at Tunbridge Wells, which is partly in Kent and partly in Sussex Anarta myrtilli, Linn. Common in all the heathy districts of the county Heliaca tenebrata, Scop. Widely distributed in the county ; Abbots Wood, Chichester, Battle, Brighton, near Ems-worth, Fern- hurst, Hastings, Hay-ward's Heath, Horsham, Le-wes, Ring>ner Heliothis peltigera, SchifF. Local and rare generally, though the larvae are not at times uncommon on restharrow (Ononis arvensis) near Brighton ; has occurred also at Bognor, Hastings, Le-wes — armigera, Hb. Very rare and irregu- lar in appearance. Mr. Vine writes that specimens are occasionally taken at rest on walls ; has occurred at Bognor, Brighton, Chichester, Hastings, Le-wes, IForthing, Guestling Chariclea umbra, Hufn. Probably occurs wherever restharrow (Ononis arven- sis) grows Acontia luctuosa, Esp. Rare and local ; has been taken at Brighton, East- bourne, Lewes, Ovingdean — lucida, Hufn. Very rare ; probably an occasional immigrant. A specimen was taken in a clover field at Brigh- ton on 25 August, 1859 {Ent. Ann. i860, p. 131). It passed into the collection of the Rev. Henry Burney, 182