Subject: Migrating Lepidoptera

From: Bart Vanholder <[email-masked]>
Date: 9 May 1995 20:53:32 GMT

Migration of butterflies started in Belgium. Due to our excellent
weather of the last days (20-28 °Celsius)some migrants were reported.

Vanessa atalanta (Red Admiral)
Was seen by several observators overwintering this year. Last week
started observations of regular migration on 4th, 5th,6th, 7th May.
One chrysalid was seen overwintering in a building and is now about 
to emerge.
Vanessa carui
The firts Painted Lady is reported on 4th May.
Plutella xylostella
The first were found on the light-trap 4th and 5th May.
Autographa gamma
First one at Mercury Vapour-light on 7th May. I trapped the second
on 8th May. Seen in the Netherlands in begin of May.
Macroglossum stellatarum
The Hummingbird sphinx was seen in the beginning of April feeding
on flowering Willows. Was it overwintering here ? The second last
week.Last year we had a lot of them
Nomophila noctuella
This Pyralid was very common last year. Normally only seen from august 
till november. Very strange that it was present on the light trap on 
30th April. Was is overwintering as well ? We had a very warm winter.

Has anyone seen migration, always welcome.
Bart Vanholder
[email-masked]
Co-ordination BTO (Belgian Survey on Migrating Lepidoptera)