East Sussex Wanderer

Wednesday, 13 August 2025

The Grayling

The Grayling (Hipparchia semele) is a very rare butterfly in East Sussex and is restricted to just one downland site, which I have visited regularly over the years.

However, I haven't managed any visits to the site since about 2020 and so I was very keen to reacquaint myself with this interesting species in 2025.

I have always found the peak flight period at this site to be about the last week of July and the first week of August but when I arrived on 6th August, I didn't see any after two hours of searching. It seems that the Grayling has not had a very good year.

By way of allaying my disappointment, here are some images of the Grayling, taken between 2007 and 2015.

Grayling (Hipparchia semele)

(males)

(females)

(mating)

The first two images are of a mating pair successfully fending off a male interloper.

The same pair at rest.

Tuesday, 5 August 2025

Some Moths during July

Weather conditions have been excellent throughout July, for moth-trapping.

The variety of species attracted to the light has been good and has included a first record for my garden of a relatively common moth and multiple visits from what were once only rare migrants.

Privet Hawkmoth (Sphinx ligustri)

Drinker (Euthrix potatoria) (female)

This is the first record for my garden.

Jersey Tiger (Euplagia quadripunctaria) (form lutescens)

This once rare migrant is now becoming a frequent visitor to the light trap.

Ruby Tiger (Phragmatobia fuliginosa fuliginosa)

Alder Kitten (Furcula bicuspis)

Sallow Kitten (Furcula furcula)

Pale Prominent (Pterostoma palpina)

Vapourer (Orgyia antiqua) (male)

Black Arches (Lymantria monacha) (male)

Oak Hook-tip (Watsonalla binaria) (female)

Clay Triple-lines (Cyclophora linearia)

Riband Wave (Idaea aversata)

Phoenix (Eulithis prunata)

Small Phoenix (Ecliptopera silaceata)

July Highflyer (Hydriomena furcata)

Green Pug (Pasiphila rectangulata)

Lunar Thorn (Selenia lunularia)

Purple Thorn (Selenia tetralunaria)

Scalloped Oak (Crocallis elinguaria)

Engrailed (Ectropis bistortata)

The next two Red Data Book species only occur as residents in the New Forest, Hampshire. However, in recent years, their numbers have been augmented by increased migration from Europe, leading to episodic breeding in southern England. They are both becoming frequent visitors to moth-traps.

They are very closely related and can be tricky to positively identify. Forewing markings can indicate one from the other but there is some overlap in wing size and markings. The only reliable way to separate them is by getting a good view of the central black band on the hindwing.

Light Crimson Underwing (Catocala promissa)

The central black hindwing marking is thinner and less wavy than in the next species.

Dark Crimson Underwing (Catocala sponsa)

The central black hindwing marking has more acute bends which are thicker.

Waved Black (Parascotia fuliginaria)

Herald (Scoliopteryx libatrix)

Slender Brindle (Apamea scolopacina)

Common Wainscot (Mythimna pallens)

Clay (Mythimna ferrago)

Pyrausta purpuralis

Wax Moth (Galleria mellonella)

Sunday, 20 July 2025

Summer Butterflies in a Wealden Wood

Every year, butterfly abundance and emergence dates vary according to weather conditions. This year, in my local woods, most summer species have emerged early and in excellent numbers, with the possible exception of the Ringlet which seems to have had a rather average year.

By the middle of June, I had seen my earliest ever White Admiral (on the 14th). My first Silver-washed Fritillary of the year appeared on 13th June (my earliest date for this species was on 10th June, over a decade ago).

The Purple Hairstreak was also early to emerge and by the time I caught up with this species during the last week of June, there were a mixture of fresh and frayed examples about.

Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia)

(male)