LEPIDOPTERA OF ABERDEENSHIRE AND KINCARDINESHIRE 127 Species new to N. Aberdeenshire (93): Ectoedemia occultella L.: Stigmel/a malella Stt.: Tischeria ekebladella Bjerk.: Argyresthia semitestacella Curt.: Teleiodes decorella Haw.: Byrotropha mundella Doug.: AethespierceiOhraz.: Philedonides lunanaThunh.: Endothenia marginana Haw.: E. capranaF. Species now recorded from all three Vice Counties: Stigmella aurella F.: 5. tityrella Stt.: 5. microtheriella Stt.: Phylloporia histrigella Haw.: Incurvaria pectinea Haw.: Bucculatrix demaryella Dup.: Parornix betulae Stt.: Phyllonorycter rajella L.: P. genicule/la Rag.: Elachista regificella Sire: E. gleichenella F.: E. kilmunella Stt.: Scrobipalpa samadensis plantaginella Stt.: Mompha conturbatella Hb.: M. propinquella Stt.: Olindia schumacherana F.: AncylisgeminanaDon. Hedychridium coriaceum (Hymenoptera: Chrysididae) and other less common aculeate Hymenoptera from Mitcham Common, Surrey. In 1984, A.D. Sclater (in Morris 1984) recorded a single specimen of Hedychridium coriaceum which he took "at a flower" (pers. comm.) on Mitcham Common. Since then, I have frequently found H. coriaceum on this site and in my experience, flower visiting is not unusual although there do not seem to be published records of such habits. Specimens taken on 30.7.1988 were found at yarrow Achilea millefolium. In 1990, I also took this species at hogweed Heracleum sphondylium and cinquefoil Potentilla reptansand an unidentified Leontodon sp. (Compositae). On Mitcham Common, H. coriaceum can be extremely abundant, and is often found on the bare compacted sand of footpaths where its host Lindenius albilabris nests. However, I have also seen it flying in numbers over very short turf. Currently H. coriaceum is listed as RDB 3 (Shirt 1987) and it seems hkely that Mitcham Common is an important stronghold. The flight period in 1990 was 10.06 to trapping period 28.07/04.08.1990. This species is frequently taken in water traps, sometimes well away from the main host nesting sites, amongst ranker grassland. Indeed, H. coriaceum appears to be more abundant than either H. roseum or H. ardens on Mitcham Common. Mitcham Common has yielded many other interesting aculeates amongst which, the discovery oiAdrenaflorea(RDB 3) was particularlypleasing, so far, I have taken only two individuals ofthis species, both ofwhich were at white bryony Bryonia dioica in 1990. Another surprise was Hylaeus cornutus which proved to be widespread and was often seen at hogweed. Andrena bimaculata was also common in 1990 and was found to be nesting along the edge of a footpath in very short turf. Nests ofthis species appear to be widely spaced and not obviously colonial. The solitary wasp fauna is also very rich. One of the more surprising finds was the pompilid Auplopuscarbonariuswhich was first found nesting in the root plate ofa lombardy poplar which was also colonised by Colletes 128 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 103 21.v.1991 bees and various Ectemnius and Crossocerus species. Further examples of A. carbonarius were taken in a water trap in tall grassland which mainly comprised Holcus mollis interspersed with brambles. Nysson trilineatus is frequently taken in water traps and is also often seen on bramble leaves. So far, I have only found its normal host Gorytes quadrifasciatus on a single occasion but G. bicinctus is present in low numbers. Nysson dimidiatus is also present, although its normal host Gorytes tumidus has not been recorded and it is possible that Lindenius albilabris is the alternative here. L. albilabris is very common on this site and I have occasionally found pairs in cop. on hogweed flowers. Whilst paired, the male beats its wings very rapidly in a curious fashion, so much so that I initially mistook the pair for flies. Mitcham Common is a site which must rank very highly in a London context. So far, over 120 species of Aculeate Hymenoptera have been recorded here; on the basis of discoveries so far, it seems likely that further important records will emerge. Acknowledgements: I would Hke to thank the warden Mr M. Boyle, for permission to study and record insects on Mitcham Common. I would also like to thank Mr M. Edwards for identifying Hylaeuscornutusand Andrena bimaculataand for confirming mytentative identification ofAndrenaflorea. References: Morris, R.K.A. (Ed.) 1984. TheEcologyofMitcham Common. Unpublished report to the Board ofConservatorsofMitcham Common. Shirt, D.B. (Ed.) 1987. British Red Data Books: 2. Insects. Nature Conservancy Council, Peterborough. —R.K.A. Morris, 241 Commonside East, Mitcham, Surrey CR4 IHB. An early sighting of the Small White (Pieris rapae L.) at Niton, Isle of Wight Mrs Audrey Wilkinson of Niton, Isle of Wight, was sitting in her back room on 9th January 1991 working on her moth records when her attention was drawn to a flapping sound aroung the ceihng light. At first she thought that it was a moth but discovered that it was a Small White (Pieris rapae L.). She released it in the back porch and noticed that it had settled on a string of onions with its wings tightly closed. It remained there until 22nd January. She has some broccoli growing in the garden and I expect a larva came indoors where it pupated during the autumn and that the warmth of the room caused it to hatch. It is however an exceptionally early sighting of this butterfly and the earliest known sighting of this species in England was on 4th January 1918 at Faversham, Kent (Robertson, Ent. 51: 45).— S.A. Knill-Jones, Roundstone, 2 School Green Road, Freshwater, Isle ofWight.