Trans. Suffolk Nat. Soc. 36 (2000)

Suffolk Natural History, Vol. 36 88

Feathered Beauty, Peribatodes secundaria (Esp.) (Lepidoptera: Ennominae) - a moth new to Suffolk

On 24 September 1999 whilst checking the contents of my garden trap, a Robinson mercury vapour lamp, I found a moth on a nearby hedge that I had not seen before. It was similar in appearance to Willow Beauty, Peribatodes rhomboidaria, but was much smaller. It was identified by Rafe Eley, to whom I am very grateful, as a male Feathered Beauty, Peribatodes secundaria. The first record for Suffolk (Plate 10).

Skinner (1999) shows it as a resident of the British Isles and a suspected immigrant. It was first recorded at Hamstreet, Kent in July 1981 and appears to be well established at that location. Elsewhere it has been recorded from West and East Sussex, Surrey and a single specimen from Greatstone, Kent on 15 July 1994, I am grateful to Brian Goodey, the Essex moth recorder for the following Essex records; Bradwell-on-Sea 7 July 1987, Kirby-le-Soken 27 July 1997 and Old Heath, Colchester 22 August 1997 all of these Essex records are of single male adults. This species normally flies in July and early August and was therefore almost two months out of season.

Skinner shows the larval food plant as Norway Spruce, Picea abies, but noted that in captivity it had been reared on Western Red Cedar, Thuja plicata, The Sicklesmere specimen was, in fact, found on a hedge of Western Red Cedar.

The question is raised as to whether this Sicklesmere record is a wanderer from Kent or from an, as yet, unfound resident Essex population, although no larvae have been found in that County. Another possibility that cannot be ruled out is that it is from an unfound Suffolk resident population, although this is unlikely. It would appear, therefore, that this specimen should be treated as a probable immigrant.

My thanks go to Rafe Eley for the initial identification and to Brian Goodey and Bernard Skinner for advice and comments on the current status.

Reference Skinner, B. (1984) Colour Identification Guide to Moths of The British Isles.

Viking

Stan Dumican Anglezarke, Sicklesmere, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP30 0TJ

Plate 10: Feathered Beauty, Peribatodes secundaria (Esper) at Sicklesmere,

September 1999. First Suffolk record (p. 81 & 88).

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