The Moths of the British Isles, First Series: Comprising the Families Sphingidæ to Noctuidæ — John Shaqi
The Moths of the British Isles, First Series: Comprising the Families Sphingidæ to NoctuidæSouth, Richard
History
The Moths of the British Isles, First Series: Comprising the Families Sphingidæ to Noctuidæ
South, Richard
Lepidoptera -- Great Britain; Moths -- Great Britain
Pl. 12.
1. PRIVET HAWK-MOTH.
2. PINE HAWK-MOTH.
[Illustration]
Pl. 13.
PRIVET HAWK-MOTH.
_Eggs, natural size and enlarged; caterpillars and chrysalis._
{31} In 1895 an invasion seems to have effected a landing in the autumn, on
the south-west coast, chiefly, perhaps, in the Portland district, where
some fifty individuals were captured between August 12 and October 7;
twenty-three were caught near Bournemouth in August and September; sixteen
were taken at Christchurch, August 11 to October 2; and eight were recorded
from Milford. Several were reported from Devon, but only two from Cornwall,
although four larvæ were found in October at Port Wrinkle in the latter
county. At Cork, in Ireland, ten specimens were obtained in October.
Eastward, the captures in September were Norfolk (seven), Essex (one),
Lincoln (one). Odd specimens were taken here and there in Kent, Surrey, and
Herts. Several were reported from Gloucestershire, and one from South
Wales. The northward extension was evidenced by the capture of one example
at Alnwick, in Northumberland, in September, and of two in Aberdeenshire,
one as early as August 31, the other September 9.
The moth was almost a defaulter in 1896, but in 1897 about forty specimens
were taken, twenty-seven of which occurred in the Scilly Isles and eleven
at Portland (August 14 to September 16). One example was reported from
Yorkshire and another from Sutherlandshire, both in September.
A female was taken at Brighton, July 18, 1898, and in the autumn of that
year a good many specimens were obtained in various parts of England but
chiefly in the south. Portland again heading the list with over fifty
(August 4 to October 3) and a number were taken in the Isle of Wight during
September. Captures in 1899 seem to have been only pretty good. Portland
twenty, August 25 to September 20, perhaps less than a dozen in other parts
of England and one in Scotland, all in September {32} or October. In 1900
one specimen was taken at an Eastbourne electric light, and one at
Portpatrick in Scotland, both end of August. There appears to have been an
arrival of moths in this country in early June, 1901. Captures were
reported from Portland (June 2), Bedford, and S. W. London. Larvæ and pupæ
were found in many parts of England, as already mentioned. Then in August,
from about the 14th to September, moths were captured throughout the
greater part of England; in some places caterpillars were also obtained in
August, chrysalids in September. After a lull towards the end of the latter
month, moths suddenly appeared again during the first week in October.
Several observers remarked that whereas the August to September moths were
mostly females, large in size, and not in the best condition, the later
moths were chiefly of the male sex, small in size, and fine in condition.
It would seem therefore that these late specimens were the descendants of
the early August moths and represented a second generation on British soil
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