I changed the title from "Moths of the Spring" to "Moths in the Early Part of the Year" because some of the species, including the Spring Usher, come out in what is generally regarded as Winter. Less than 10% of our 446 total are on the wing before about mid-May and consequently are often overlooked and under-recorded as many of us make few, if any, entomological expeditions until there are prospects of a reasonable 'bag'. If our County records are to be representative we must make a real effort to cover these early species, about half of which are common and widespread.

These common species are mostly missing from one or more of our 17 best recorded 10km squares, as follows:

• Hebrew Character - SJ29
• Common Quaker - SJ57
• Small Quaker - SJ29, SJ44
• Clouded Drab -
• Twin-spot Quaker - SJ29, 38, 44, 65, 75, 98
• Powdered Quaker - SJ44, 46, 57, 76, 77
• Red Chestnut - SJ28, 38, 46, 57, 66, 75, 98
• Pine Beauty - SJ29, 46, 66, 75, 76, 77, 98
• Chestnut - SJ29, 38, 44, 66, 98
• Satellite - SJ29, 46, 57, 65, 75, 98
• Early Grey - SJ46, 57, 75, 78, 88, 98
• Herald - SJ57
• March Moth - SJ98
• Shoulder Stripe - SJ44, 57, 98
• Early Moth - SJ57, 98
• Dotted Border - SJ57, 76
• Early Thorn -
• Pale Brindled Beauty - SJ29, 66, 98

This list includes three hibernators and only two species recorded in all 17 squares, while the only square in which all 18 are recorded is SJ87 (i.e. Alderley Edge!). The other two squares with a total of over 300 each have only one species on this list missing, viz: Red Chestnut in SJ28 and Early Grey in SJ88 - both of which must surely have been overlooked.

The remaining species which can be expected in the early part of the year are less common and to some extent specialised in habitat, for example:

• Yellow Horned and Orange Underwing among birch, the latter being a day flier.
• Blossom Underwing.
• Spring Usher.
• Oak Beauty.
• and Small Brindled Beauty in Oak woods.

And Belted Beauty on Sand dunes - which leaves a few more not often recorded in Cheshire:

• Lead-coloured Drab
• Northern Drab
• Dark Chestnut
• Early Tooth-striped
• Mottled Grey
• Streamer
• Autumn Green Carpet.

There seems no good reason why these species should not be recorded more often.

Moths: changes to the 1978 records made in 1979:

A. Species on the 'B' list now recorded from all ten 10km squares and now added to the 'A' list:

• True Lover's Knot
• Fan Foot
• Small Fan-footed Wave
• Barred Straw
• Grey Pine Carpet
• Brown Silver Lines.

B. Species on the 'C' list now recorded in additional square(s) up to 7 or more and moved to the 'B' list:

• Scalloped Hook-tip
• Alder Moth
• Lunar Underwing
• Dark Marbled Carpet
• Blue-bordered Carpet
• Mottled Pug
• Barred Red

C. Species on the 'D' list for which there are now additional records making a total of 3 or more and so added to the 'C' list:

• Brown-line, Bright-eye (L.conigera)
• Mother Shipton
• Yellow Barred Brindle
• Tissue
• Juniper Carpet
• Autumnal Moth
• Gem
• Netted Pug
• Leopard.

D. Many species have been added to the 'D' list, either because they were recorded for the first time since 1960, or because old records have just come to hand, or because they have been recorded in one or more of the other 20 10km squares:

• Striped Hawk-moth
• Pale Oak Eggar
• Scarce Silver Lines
• Large Footman
• Sycamore
• Grey Rustic
• Great Brocade
• White Spotted Pinion
• Sprawler
• Double Kidney
• Northern Drab
• Bordered Straw
• Red Underwing
• Small Scallop
• Maidens Blush
• Argent and Sable
• Welsh Wave
• Larch Pug
• Ochreous Pug
• Slender Pug
• Grass Wave
• Satin Beauty
• Lunar Hornet Clearwing
• Yellow-legged Clearwing
• Forester.

103 species - 9 + 27 = 121 species in the 'D' list.

The species total for the County of Cheshire now stands at: 446.

C.I. Rutherford - (Tel.: 01625-583683)                                                                                                                                                                 January 1980
Longridge
Macclesfield Road
Alderley Edge
Cheshire, SK9 7BL