Current Volume - (138) 2026:

138 (1):

SECOND UPDATE TO A CHECKLIST OF THE LEPIDOPTERA OF THE BRITISH ISLES (Second edition), 2024
1 DAVID J. L. AGASSIZ, 2 S. D. BEAVAN & 3 R. J. HECKFORD
1, Department of Science, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4300-8067
2, Department of Science, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD
https://orcid.org/0009-0007-7662-3393
3, Department of Science, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD
https://orcid.org/0009-0008-4036-5748
Abstract
This update incorporates information published before 1 January 2026 into A Checklist of the Lepidoptera of the British Isles (Second edition), 2024.

PHYLLOCNISTIS TRIANDRICOLA VOITH, AARVIK & BERGGREN, 2023 (LEP.: GRACILLARIIDAE) NEW TO THE UK
SEB BUCKTON
5a Kings Road, Rodborough, Stroud, Gloucestershire GL5 3SE
https://orcid.org/ 0009-0000-0564-7813
Abstract
Phyllocnistis triandricola voith, Aarvik & Berggren, 2023 is confirmed from the United Kingdom for the first time, from an adult female trapped at Surlingham, Norfolk on 14 August 2025.
Keywords: Lepidoptera, Gracillariidae, Phyllocnistis triandricola, Phyllocnistis saligna, Norfolk.

WAS THE BUTTERFLY PHOTOGRAPHED AT THE LANGUARD NATURE RESERVE, SUFFOLK, UK, ON 2 AUGUST 2025 REALLY
SOUTHERN SMALL WHITE PIERIS MANNII (MAYER, 1851)? (LEP: PIERIDAE)
PETER J. C. RUSSELL
Oakmeadow, Wessex Avenue, East Wittering, West Sussex PO20 8NP peterjcrussell82@yahoo.com
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6211-4706
Abstract
A photograph of a female pierid butterfly taken by William Brame at the Languard Nature Reserve, Suffolk, UK on 2 August 2025 has been identified by a number of well known entomologists as Southern Small White Pieris mannii (Mayer, 1851).
This identification has been echoed by an article in Antenna by its editor, Richard Harrington, and in Wikipedia, referencing an article in BBC News by Tim Dodd, their climate and science reporter. This article argues that in fact it was simply an aberrant P. rapae (Linnaeus, 1758).
Keywords: Butterfly identification, Mutant forms, Lepidoptera, Pieridae, Pieris rapae, P. mannii, Suffolk

PARORNIX ATRIPALPELLA WAHLSTRÖM, 1979 (LEP.: GRACILLARIIDAE): DISCOVERY OF THE LARVA
IN THE BRITISH ISLES
¹ S. D. BEAVAN, ² R. J. HECKFORD & ³ W. B. v. LANGDON
¹ Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD
https://orcid.org/0009-0007-7662-3393
² Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD
https://orcid.org/0009-0008-4036-5748
³ Appletree House, Higher Vexford, Taunton, Somerset, TA4 3QF
https://orcid.org/0000-001-8695-403X
Abstract
An account is provided of the discovery of the larva of Parornix atripalpella Wahlström, 1979 at Dungeness, Kent, England, the only known British locality for the species. The larva is described and illustrated, apparently for the first time in Europe.
Keywords: Lepidoptera, Parornix atripalpella, larval description, Prunus spinosa

A POSSIBLE EXAMPLE OF INDUSTRIAL MELANISM IN THE FIELD GRASSHOPPER CHORTHIPPUS BRUNNEUS (THUNBERG )
(ORTHOPTER: ACRIDIDAE) IN SOUTH-EAST LONDON
JOHN F. BURTON
Augustinum, Jaspersstrasse 2, App .434 / U-5, 69126 Heidelberg, Germany johnfburton@gmx.de
https:orcid.org/0009-0001-5981-889X
Abstract
Details are presented of a series of observations made of populations of the polymorphic Field Grasshopper Chorthippus brunneus (Thunberg) by the author at urban and suburban sites in south-east London from 1957 to 1989, especially at Blackheath in the Borough of Greenwich. These showed that a high proportion of both sexes in the 1950s were melanistic, either almost entirely black, partly black
dorsally or entirely dark greyish black. It is concluded that the melanism was an example of industrial melanism, such as was the dominant form at this period in the Peppered Moth Biston betularia (L.), due in the author’s opinion to the intensive smoke and soot pollution present before the introduction from 1956 of the Clean Air Acts in the United Kingdom. Since then, as with the Peppered Moth, melanistic
individuals have, or almost have, completely disappeared.
Keywords: Industrial melanism, fire melanism, phenotype, polymorphism, Field Grasshopper, Peppered Moth, Lesser Marsh Grasshopper, Blackheath, London, UK Clean Air Acts

REARING TARUCUS BALKANICA (FREYER, 1844) (LEP.: LYCAENIDAE, POLYOMMATINI) LARVAE UNDER LABORATORY CONDITIONS
PETER J. C. RUSSELL
Oakmeadow, Wessex Avenue, East Wittering, West Sussex PO20 8NP peterjcrussell82@yahoo.com
https://orcid.org/ 0000-0001-6211-4706
Abstract
A few larvae of Tarucus balkanica (Freyer, 1844) were collected from the leaves of Ziziphus mauritiana (Lam.), their host-plant, growing in a dry river bed in Praia, Santiago, Cabo verde. They were fed on this plant through to pupation in individual plastic boxes placed in a heated box at 30ºC under 50/50 light/darkness. All butterflies emerged successfully.

138 (2):

BLEPHARUCHA ZAIDE (STOLL, 1790) ZIGZAG PEARL (LEP.: CRAMBIDAE), AN ADVENTIVE NEW TO BRITAIN
BARRY HENWOOD
6 Lakeland, Abbotskerswell, Newton Abbot, Devon TQ12 5YF barryhenwood@gmail.com
https://orcid.org/0009-0004-8457-426X
Abstract
Blepharucha zaide (Stoll, 1790) Zigzag Pearl (Crambidae) is added to the British list of Lepidoptera as an adventive.
Keywords: Blepharucha zaide, British Lepidoptera, Crambidae, Paignton, South Devon

ERECHTHIAS MINUSCULA(WALSINGHAM, 1897) (LEP.: TINEIDAE), AN ADVENTIVE SPECIES NEW TO THE BRITISH ISLES AND THE FIRST PUBLISHED RECORD FROM THE PALAEARCTIC REGION
1 R. J. HECKFORD & 2 M. J. STERLING
1,2 Department of Science, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD
https://orcid.org/0009-0008-4036-5748 (RJH)
https://orcid.org/0009-0006-5118-2838 (MJS)
1 Correspondence address: bob.heckford@btinternet.com
Abstract
A specimen of Erechthias minuscula (Walsingham, 1897) was reared by RJH from a larva found feeding under the dried remnants of stigma at the flowering end of a fruit of an imported Carica papaya L. in Devon, England. This larva and the resulting adult are described. The species has not been previously recorded in the British Isles, and is an accidental introduction here. It is the first published record from the Palaearctic region.
Keywords: Lepidoptera, Erechthias, Carica papaya, Devon, England, morphological structures

THE EARLY STAGES OF ELACHISTA LITTORICOLALE MARCHAND, 1938 (LEP.: ELACHISTIDAE) IN BRITAIN
WILLIAM B. V. LANGDON
Appletree House, Higher Vexford, Lydeard St Lawrence, Taunton, Somerset, TA4 3QF will.langdon12@gmail.com
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8695-403X
Abstract
Elachista littoricola Le Marchand, 1938 is reported again in Britain from around Keyhaven, Hampshire after a seeming 30-year gap. The early stages in Britain on what appears to be a new foodplant Elymus athericus (Link) Kerguélen are described and illustrated.
Keywords: Elachista littoricola, Elachistidae, Hampshire, Elymus athericus, leaf mine

FURTHER CONSIDERATION OF MORPHOLOGICAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN UPPERSIDE AND UNDERSIDE LEAF-MINING LARVAE OF PHYLLOCNISTIS UNIPUNCTELLA(STEPHENS, 1834) (LEP.: GRACILLARIIDAE)
¹ S. D. BEAVAN & ² R. J. HECKFORD
¹ Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD
https://orcid.org/0009-0007-7662-3393
² Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD
https://orcid.org/0009-0008-4036-5748
¹ Correspondence address: The Hayes, Zeal Monachorum, Devon EX17 6DF
Abstract
The authors of a paper in this journal in 2016 recorded finding larvae of Phyllocnistis unipunctella (Stephens, 1834) mining the upperside and underside of leaves of Populus spp. and whose prothoracic plate differed in pigmentation depending on which side of the leaf was being mined. The prothoracic plate of those mining the upperside was dark, whereas that of those feeding on the underside was not. In August
2023 we found larvae mining the upperside and underside of leaves of Populus nigra L. Those mining the underside had a dark pigmented prothoracic plate whereas those on the upperside did not. This is the opposite of the observations recorded in 2016. A detailed paper published in 1903 is considered as well as images of larvae on two mainland European websites. We consider that the question of differing pigmentation of the prothoracic plate depending on the orientation of the larval mine, and its purpose, needs further observations and investigation.
Keywords: Lepidoptera, Phyllocnistis unipunctella, prothoracic plate, leaves, Populus spp