Investigated nocturnal butterflies

The nocturnal butterflies (Lepidoptera) which have been investigated by own observations at one or several localities in the surroundings of Heidelberg include (in alphabetical order of Latin names) the Tau Emperor Aglia tau (LINNAEUS 1761) (Saturniidae), the Jersey Tiger Euplagia quadripuncta-ria (PODA 1761) (Arctiidae), and the Six-Spot Burnet Zygaena filipendulae LINNAEUS 1758 (Zygaeni-dae).

In addition to the afore reported nocturnal butterflies from which I have documented the results of my own observations at one or several localities in the surroundings of Heidelberg, various examp-les of mass occurrences of nocturnal butterflies have been taken from the literature. Apart from the above mentioned nocturnal butterflies where the comments are based on own observations, examp-les of mass occurrences that are based on literature evaluation are also presented for (in alphabetical order of Latin names) the Dark Spectacle Abrostola triplasia LINNAEUS 1758 (Noctuidae), the Yel-low Horned Achlya flavicornis (LINNAEUS 1758) (Thyatiridae), the Pale Shoulder Acontia lucida (HUFNAGEL 1766) (Noctuidae), the Sycamore Acronicta aceris LINNAEUS 1758 (Noctuidae), the Scarce Dagger Acronicta auricoma SCHIFFERMÜLLER (in D^ENIS & SCHIFFERMÜLLER 1775) (Noctuidae), the Miller Acronicta leporina LINNAEUS 1758 (Noctuidae), the Poplar Grey Acronicta megacephala SCHIFFERMÜLLER (in D^ENIS & SCHIFFERMÜLLER 1775) (Noctuidae), the Light Knot Grass Acronicta men-yanthidis (ESPER 1879) (Noctuidae), the Knot Grass Acronicta rumicis LINNAEUS 1758 (Noctuidae), the Marsh Dagger Acronicta strigosa SCHIFFERMÜLLER (in D^ENIS & SCHIFFERMÜLLER 1775) (Noctuidae), the Pale-Shouldered Cloud Actinotia hyperici SCHIFFERMÜLLER (in D^ENIS & SCHIFFERMÜLLER 1775) (Noctuidae), the Cistus Forester Adscita geryon (HÜBNER 1813) (Zygaenidae), the Forester Adscita statices (L^INNAEUS 1758) (Zygaenidae), the Almond-Tree Leaf Sleletonizer Moth Aglaope infausta LINNAEUS 1767 (Zygaenidae), the Convolvulus Hawk-Moth Agrius convolvuli LINNAEUS 1758 (Sphingidae), the Brick Agrochola circellaris (HUFNAGEL 1766) (Noctuidae), the Flounced Chestnut Agrochola helvola LINNAEUS 1758 (Noctuidae), the Brown-Spot Pinion Agrochola litura LINNAEUS

1761 (Noctuidae), the Red-Line Quaker Agrochola lota (CLERCK 1759) (Noctuidae), the Yellow-Line Quaker Agrochola macilenta (H^ÜBNER 1809) (Noctuidae), the Heart and Club Agrotis clavis (HUFNAGEL 1766) (Noctuidae), the Heart and Dart Agrotis exclamationis (LINNAEUS 1758) (Noctui-dae), the Dark Sword-Grass Agrotis ipsilon (H^UFNAGEL 1766) (Noctuidae), the Shuttle-Shaped Dart Agrotis puta (HÜBNER 1803) (Noctuidae), the Turnip Moth Agrotis segetum SCHIFFERMÜLLER (in DENIS

& SCHIFFERMÜLLER 1775) (Noctuidae), the Archer´s Dart Agrotis vestigialis (H^UFNAGEL 1766) (Noc-tuidae), the Green-Brindled Descent Allophyes oxyacanthae LINNAEUS 1758 (Noctuidae), the Svens-son´s Copper Underwing Amphipyra berbera RUNGS 1949 (Noctuidae), the Copper Underwing Am-phipyra pyramidea L^INNAEUS 1758 (Noctuidae), the Beautiful Yellow Underwing Anarta myrtilli (LINNAEUS 1761) (Noctuidae), the Clouded-Bordered Brindle Apamea crenata (HUFNAGEL 1766)

(Noctuidae), the Clouded Brindle Apamea epomidion (HAWORTH 1809) (Noctuidae), the Confused Apamea furva SCHIFFERMÜLLER (in DENIS & SCHIFFERMÜLLER 1775) (Noctuidae), the Light Arches Apa-mea lithoxylea SCHIFFERMÜLLER (in DENIS & SCHIFFERMÜLLER 1775) (Noctuidae), the Dark Arches Apa-mea monoglypha (HUFNAGEL 1766) (Noctuidae), the Dusky Brocade Apamea remissa HÜBNER 1809 (Noctuidae), the Slender Brindle Apamea scolopacina (E^SPER 1788) (Noctuidae), the Rustic Shoul-der-Knot Apamea sordens (HUFNAGEL 1766) (Noctuidae), the Reddish Light Arches Apamea sublus-tris (E^SPER 1788) (Noctuidae), the Small Clouded Brindle Apamea unanimis (H^ÜBNER 1813) (Noctui-dae), the Festoon Apoda limacodes (HUFNAGEL 1766) (Limacodidae), the Deep-Brown Dart Aporo-phyla lutulenta SCHIFFERMÜLLER (in DENIS & SCHIFFERMÜLLER 1775) (Noctuidae), the Black Rustic Aporophyla nigra (H^AWORTH 1809) (Noctuidae), the Brown-Veined Wainscot Archanara dissoluta (TREITSCHKE 1825) (Noctuidae), the Twin-Spotted Wainscot Archanara geminipuncta (HAWORTH

1809) (Noctuidae), the Garden Tiger Arctia caja L^INNAEUS 1758 (Arctiidae), the Cream-Spot Tiger Arctia villica (LINNAEUS 1758) (Arctiidae), the Black V Moth Arctornis l-nigrum (MÜLLER 1764) (Lymantriidae), the Fen Wainscot Arenostola phragmitidis (HÜBNER 1803) (Noctuidae), the Spraw-ler Asteroscopus sphinx (HUFNAGEL 1766) (Noctuidae), the Centre-Barred Sallow Atethmia centrago (HAWORTH 1809) (Noctuidae), the Marsh Moth Athetis gluteosa (TREITSCHKE 1835) (Noctuidae), the Gold Spangle Autographa bractea SCHIFFERMÜLLER (in D^ENIS & SCHIFFERMÜLLER 1775) (Noctuidae), the Silver Y Autographa gamma LINNAEUS 1758 (Noctuidae), the Beautiful Golden Y Autographa pulchrina (H^AWORTH 1809) (Noctuidae), the Flame Axylia putris L^INNAEUS 1761 (Noctuidae), the Six-Belted Clearwing Bembecia ichneumoniformis SCHIFFERMÜLLER (in DENIS & SCHIFFERMÜLLER

1775) (Sesiidae), the Dark Brocade Blepharita adusta (ESPER 1790) (Noctuidae), the Beautiful Arches Blepharita satura SCHIFFERMÜLLER (in DENIS & SCHIFFERMÜLLER 1775) (Noctuidae), the Minor Shoulder-Knot Brachylomia viminalis (FABRICIUS 1777) (Noctuidae), the Burren Green Calamia tri-dens (H^UFNAGEL 1766) (Noctuidae), the Scarlet Tiger Callimorpha dominula L^INNAEUS 1758 (Arctii-dae), the Mother Shipton Callistege mi (CLERCK 1759) (Noctuidae), the Pale Tussock Calliteara pu-dibunda L^INNAEUS 1758 (Lymantriidae), the Mottled Rustic Caradrina morpheus (H^UFNAGEL 1766) (Noctuidae), the Yellow Underwing Catocala conversa ESPER 1787 (Noctuidae), the Rosy Under-wing Catocala electa (VIEWEG 1790) (Noctuidae), the Blue Underwing Catocala fraxini LINNAEUS

1758 (Noctuidae), the Red Underwing Catocala nupta (LINNAEUS 1767) (Noctuidae), the Yellow Underwing Catocala nymphaea ESPER 1787 (Noctuidae), the Light Crimson Underwing Catocala promissa SCHIFFERMÜLLER (in D^ENIS & SCHIFFERMÜLLER 1775) (Noctuidae), the Dark Crimson Under-wing Catocala sponsa (LINNAEUS 1767) (Noctuidae), the Haworth´s Minor Celaena haworthii (CUR

-TIS 1829) (Noctuidae), the Antler Moth Cerapteryx graminis L^INNAEUS 1758 (Noctuidae), the White-Marked Cerastis leucographa SCHIFFERMÜLLER (in DENIS & SCHIFFERMÜLLER 1775) (Noctuidae), the Cypress Spurge Chamaephecia empiformis E^SPER 1783 (Sesiidae), the Treble Lines Charanyca tri-grammica (H^UFNAGEL 1766) (Noctuidae), the Concolourous Chortodes extrema (H^ÜBNER 1809) (Noctuidae), the Mere Wainscot Chortodes fluxa (HÜBNER 1809) (Noctuidae), the Small Wainscot Chortodes pygmina (H^AWORTH 1809) (Noctuidae), the Chinese Character Cilix glaucata (S^COPOLI 1763) (Drepanidae), the Scarce Chocolate-Tip Clostera anachoreta SCHIFFERMÜLLER (in DENIS &

SCHIFFERMÜLLER 1775) (Notodontidae), the Small Rufous Coenobia rufa (HAWORTH 1809) (Noctui-dae), the Nut-Tree Tussock Colocasia coryli LINNAEUS 1758 (Noctuidae), the Red-Headed Chestnut Conistra erythrocephala SCHIFFERMÜLLER (in DENIS & SCHIFFERMÜLLER 1775) (Noctuidae), the Black-Spot Chestnut Conistra rubiginosa (S^COPOLI 1763) (Noctuidae), the Chestnut Conistra vaccinii L^IN

-NAEUS 1761 (Noctuidae), the Lesser-Spotted Pinion Cosmia affinis LINNAEUS 1767 (Noctuidae), the Lunar-Spotted Pinion Cosmia pyralina SCHIFFERMÜLLER (in D^ENIS & SCHIFFERMÜLLER 1775) (Noctui-dae), the Dun-Bar Cosmia trapezina LINNAEUS 1758 (Noctuidae), the Tree-Lichen Beauty Cryphia algae (F^ABRICIUS 1775) (Noctuidae), the Marbled Beauty Cryphia domestica (H^UFNAGEL 1766) (Noc-tuidae), the Marbled Gray Cryphia raptricula SCHIFFERMÜLLER (in DENIS & SCHIFFERMÜLLER 1775) (Noctuidae), the Mullein Moth Cucullia dracunculi (HÜBNER 1813) (Noctuidae), the Oak Lutestring Cymatophorima diluta SCHIFFERMÜLLER (in D^ENIS & SCHIFFERMÜLLER 1775) (Drepanidae), the Elephant Hawk-Moth Deilephila elpenor LINNAEUS 1758 (Sphingidae), the Small Elephant Hawk-Moth

Deile-phila porcellus LINNAEUS 1758 (Sphingidae), the Silver Barred Deltote bankiana (FABRICIUS 1775) (Noctuidae), the Pretty Marbled Deltote deceptoria (SCOPOLI 1763) (Noctuidae), the Burnished Brass Diachrysia chrysitis LINNAEUS 1758 (Noctuidae), the Clouded Buff Diachrysia sannio LIN

-NAEUS 1758 (Arctiidae), the Purple Clay Diarsia brunnea SCHIFFERMÜLLER (in DENIS & SCHIFFERMÜLLER

1775) (Noctuidae), the Fen Square-Spot Diarsia florida (F. S^CHMIDT 1859) (Noctuidae), the Ingrai-led Clay Diarsia mendica FABRICIUS 1775 (Noctuidae), the Small Square-Spot Diarsia rubi (VIEWEG

1790) (Noctuidae), the Merveille du Jour Dichonia aprilina L^INNAEUS 1758 (Noctuidae), the Figure of Eight Diloba caeruleocephala LINNAEUS 1758 (Noctuidae), the Oak Hook-Tip Drepana binaria (HUFNAGEL 1767) (Drepanidae), the Dusky Hook-Tip Drepana curvatula (BORKHAUSEN 1790) (Dre-panidae), the Pebble Hook-Tip Drepana falcataria L^INNAEUS 1758 (Drepanidae), the Scarce Hook-Tip Drepana harpagula ESPER 1786 (Drepanidae), the Marbled Brown Drymonia dodonaea SCHIF

-FERMÜLLER (in D^ENIS & SCHIFFERMÜLLER 1775) (Notodontidae), the Oak Marbled Brown Drymonia querna SCHIFFERMÜLLER (in DENIS & SCHIFFERMÜLLER 1775) (Notodontidae), the Lunar Marbled Brown Drymonia ruficornis (HUFNAGEL 1766) (Notodontidae), the Undotted Marbled Brown Drymonia tri-macula SCHIFFERMÜLLER (in DENIS & SCHIFFERMÜLLER 1775) (Notodontidae), the Brindled Green Dryo-botodes eremita (FABRICIUS 1775) (Noctuidae), the Handmaid Dysauxes ancilla (LINNAEUS 1767) (Arctiidae), the Silver Cloud Egira conspicillaris (L^INNAEUS 1758) (Noctuidae), the Hoary Footman Eilema caniola (HÜBNER 1808) (Arctiidae), the Scarce Footman Eilema complana LINNAEUS 1758 (Arctiidae), the Buff Footman Eilema depressa (E^SPER 1787) (Arctiidae), the Dingy Footman Eilema griseola (HÜBNER 1803) (Arctiidae), the Common Footman Eilema lurideola (ZINCKEN 1817) (Arctiidae), the Ivory Footman Eilema palliatella (SCOPOLI 1763) (Arctiidae), the Pigmy Footman Eilema pygmaeola (DOUBLEDAY 1847) (Arctiidae), the Orange Footman Eilema sororcula (HUFNAGEL

1766) (Arctiidae), the Rosy Marbled Elaphria venustula (HÜBNER 1790) (Noctuidae), the Spotted Sulphur Emmelia trabealis (S^COPOLI 1763) (Noctuidae), the Angle-Striped Sallow Enargia paleacea (ESPER 1788) (Noctuidae), the Willowherb Yellow Underwing Epilecta linogrisea SCHIFFERMÜLLER

(in D^ENIS & SCHIFFERMÜLLER 1775) (Noctuidae), the Dusky Sallow Eremobia ochroleuca S^CHIFFER

-MÜLLER (in DENIS & SCHIFFERMÜLLER 1775) (Noctuidae), the Burnet Companion Euclidia glyphica (LINNAEUS 1758) (Noctuidae), the Autumnal Rustic Eugnorisma glareosa (ESPER 1788) (Noctuidae), the Rosy Marsh Moth Eugraphe subrosea (STEPHENS 1829) (Noctuidae), the Small Angle Shades Euplexia lonigera LINNAEUS 1758 (Noctuidae), the Yellow-Tail Euproctis similis FUESSLY 1775 (Ly-mantriidae), the Satellite Eupsilia transversa (H^UFNAGEL 1766) (Noctuidae), the Great Brocade Eurois occulta LINNAEUS 1758 (Noctuidae), the Drinker Euthrix potatoria LINNAEUS 1758 (Lasiocam-pidae), the Garden Dart Euxoa aquilina SCHIFFERMÜLLER (in D^ENIS & SCHIFFERMÜLLER 1775) (Noctui-dae), the Square-Spot Dart Euxoa obelisca SCHIFFERMÜLLER (in DENIS & SCHIFFERMÜLLER 1775) (Noc-tuidae), the Alder Kitten Furcula bicuspis (B^ORKHAUSEN 1790) (Notodontidae), the Lappet Gastro-pacha quercifolia L^INNAEUS 1758 (Lasiocampidae), the Dusky Marbled Brown Gluphisia crenata (BRAY 1929) (Notodontidae), the Fisher´s Estuarine Moth Gortyna borelii (PIERRET 1837) (Noctui-dae), the Frosted Orange Gortyna flavago SCHIFFERMÜLLER (in D^ENIS & SCHIFFERMÜLLER 1775) (Noc-tuidae), the Double Dart Graphiphora augur (FABRICIUS 1775) (Noctuidae), the Buff Arches Habro-syne pyritoides (HUFNAGEL 1766) (Thyatiridae), the Shears Hada plebeja LINNAEUS 1761 (Noctuidae), the Varied Coronet Hadena compta SCHIFFERMÜLLER (in DENIS & SCHIFFERMÜLLER 1775) (Noctuidae), the Marbled Coronet Hadena confusa (HUFNAGEL 1766) (Noctuidae), the Tawny Shears Hadena per-plexa SCHIFFERMÜLLER (in D^ENIS & SCHIFFERMÜLLER 1775) (Noctuidae), the Barrett´s Marbled Coronet Hadena luteago (DOUBLEDAY 1864) (Noctuidae), the Scarce Bordered Straw Helicoverpa armigera (H^ÜBNER 1808) (Noctuidae), the Bordered Gothic Heliophobus reticulata (G^OEZE 1781) (Noctuidae), the Shoulder-Striped Clover Heliothis maritima GRASLIN 1855 (Noctuidae), the Bordered Straw Heliothis peltigera SCHIFFERMÜLLER (in D^ENIS & SCHIFFERMÜLLER 1775) (Noctuidae), the Marbled Clo-ver Heliothis viriplaca HUFNAGEL 1766 (Noctuidae), the Broad-Bordered Bee Hawk-Moth Hemaris fuciformis LINNAEUS 1758 (Sphingidae), the Common Swift Hepialus lupulinus LINNAEUS 1758 (He-pialidae), the Small Fan-Foot Herminia nemoralis SCHIFFERMÜLLER (in D^ENIS & SCHIFFERMÜLLER 1775) (Noctuidae), the Shaded Fan-Foot Herminia tarsicrinalis (KNOCH 1782) (Noctuidae), the Uncertain

Hoplodrina alsines BRAHM 1791 (Noctuidae), the Vine´s Rustic Hoplodrina ambigua SCHIFFERMÜL

-LER (in DENIS & SCHIFFERMÜLLER 1775) (Noctuidae), the Rustic Hoplodrina blanda SCHIFFERMÜLLER (in DENIS & SCHIFFERMÜLLER 1775) (Noctuidae), the Powdered Rustic Hoplodrina superstes (OCHSENHEI

-MER 1816) (Noctuidae), the Butterbur Hydraecia petasitis (DOUBLEDAY 1847) (Noctuidae), the Spurge Hawk-Moth Hyles euphorbiae (L^INNAEUS 1758) (Sphingidae), the Bedstraw Hawk-Moth Hyles gallii (ROTTEMBURG 1775) (Sphingidae), the Striped Hawk-Moth Hyles livornica (ESPER 1779) (Sphingidae), the Pine Hawk-Moth Hyloicus pinastri L^INNAEUS 1758 (Sphingidae), the Snout Hype-na proboscidalis LINNAEUS 1758 (Noctuidae), the Marsh Oblique-Barred Hypenodes humidalis (DOUBLEDAY 1850) (Noctuidae), the Brown Tiger Hyporaia aulica (LINNAEUS 1758) (Arctiidae), the Saxon Hyppa rectilinea (E^SPER 1788) (Noctuidae), the Olive Ipimorpha subtusa SCHIFFERMÜLLER (in DENIS & SCHIFFERMÜLLER 1775) (Noctuidae), the Bright-Line Brown-Eye Lacanobia oleracea (LIN

-NAEUS 1758) (Noctuidae), the Dog´s Tooth Lacanobia suasa SCHIFFERMÜLLER (in D^ENIS & S^CHIFFER

-MÜLLER 1775) (Noctuidae), the Light Brocade Lacanobia w-latinum (HUFNAGEL 1766) (Noctuidae), the Poplar Hawk-Moth Laothoe populi (LINNAEUS 1758) (Sphingidae), the Oak Eggar Lasiocampa quercus LINNAEUS 1758 (Lasiocampidae), the Beautiful Hook-Tip Laspeyria flexula SCHIFFERMÜLLER

(in DENIS & SCHIFFERMÜLLER 1775) (Noctuidae), the White Prominent Leucodonta bicoloria SCHIFFER

-MÜLLER (in D^ENIS & SCHIFFERMÜLLER 1775) (Notodontidae), the White Satin Moth Leucoma salicis LINNAEUS 1758 (Lymantriidae), the Blackneck Lygephila pastinum (TREITSCHKE 1826) (Noctuidae), the Silver Hook Lithacodia uncula (C^LERCK 1759) (Noctuidae), the Pale Pinion Lithophane hepatica (CLERCK 1759) (Noctuidae), the Nonconformist Lithophane lamda (FABRICIUS 1787) (Noctuidae), the Grey Shoulder-Knot Lithophane ornitopus (HUFNAGEL 1766) (Noctuidae), the Tawny Pinion Litho-phane semibrunnea (HAWORTH 1809) (Noctuidae), the Sandhill Rustic Luperina nickerlii (FREYER

1845) (Noctuidae), the Flounced Rustic Luperina testacea SCHIFFERMÜLLER (in DENIS & SCHIFFERMÜL

-LER 1775) (Noctuidae), the True Lover´s Knot Lycophotia porphyrea SCHIFFERMÜLLER (in D^ENIS &

SCHIFFERMÜLLER 1775) (Noctuidae), the Gipsy Moth Lymantria dispar LINNAEUS 1758 (Lymantrii-dae), the Black Arches Lymantria monacha L^INNAEUS 1758 (Lymantriidae), the Dewick´s Plusia Macdunnoughia confusa STEPHENS 1850 (Noctuidae), the Hummingbird Hawk-Moth Macroglossum stellatarum (LINNAEUS 1758) (Sphingidae), the Ground Lackey Malacosoma castrensis LINNAEUS

1758 (Lasiocampidae), the Lackey Malacosoma neustria LINNAEUS 1758 (Lasiocampidae), the Cab-bage Moth Mamestra brassicae LINNAEUS 1758 (Noctuidae), the Kent Black Arches Meganola albu-la SCHIFFERMÜLLER (in D^ENIS & SCHIFFERMÜLLER 1775) (Nolidae), the Dot Moth Melanchra persicariae (LINNAEUS 1761) (Noctuidae), the Common Rustic Mesapamea secalella REMM 1983 (Noctuidae), the Common Rustic Mesapamea secalis L^INNAEUS 1758 (Noctuidae), the Rosy Minor Mesoligia lite-rosa (HAWORTH 1809) (Noctuidae), the Rosy Footman Miltochrista miniata FORSTER 1771 (Arctii-dae), the Lunar Double-Stripe Minucia lunaris SCHIFFERMÜLLER (in D^ENIS & SCHIFFERMÜLLER 1775) (Noctuidae), the Old Lady Mormo maura (L^INNAEUS 1758) (Noctuidae), the White-Point Mythimna albipuncta SCHIFFERMÜLLER (in DENIS & SCHIFFERMÜLLER 1775) (Noctuidae), the Brown-Line Bright-Eye Mythimna conigera SCHIFFERMÜLLER (in D^ENIS & SCHIFFERMÜLLER 1775) (Noctuidae), the Clay Mythimna ferrago FABRICIUS 1787 (Noctuidae), the Smoky Wainscot Mythimna impura HÜBNER

1808 (Noctuidae), the L-Album Wainscot Mythimna l-album (LINNAEUS 1767) (Noctuidae), the Cos-mopolitan Mythimna loreyi (DUPONCHEL 1827) (Noctuidae), the Striped Wainscot Mythimna pudo-rina SCHIFFERMÜLLER (in DENIS & SCHIFFERMÜLLER 1775) (Noctuidae), the Fen Wainscot Mythimna tur-ca L^INNAEUS 1761 (Noctuidae), the White-Speck Mythimna unipuncta (H^AWORTH 1809) (Noctuidae), the Delicate Mythimna vitellina (HÜBNER 1808) (Noctuidae), the Lesser Yellow Underwing Noctua comes (H^ÜBNER 1813) (Noctuidae), the Broad-Bordered Yellow Underwing Noctua fimbriata S^CHRE

-BER 1759 (Noctuidae), the Lesser Broad-Bordered Yellow Underwing Noctua janthina SCHIFFERMÜL

-LER (in D^ENIS & SCHIFFERMÜLLER 1775) (Noctuidae), the Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba LINNAEUS 1758 (Noctuidae), the Scarce Black Arches Nola aerugula (HÜBNER 1793) (Nolidae), the Iron Prominent Notodonta dromedarius LINNAEUS 1767 (Notodontidae), the Large Dark Prominent Notodonta torva (H^ÜBNER 1803) (Notodontidae), the Three-Humped Prominent Notodonta tritophus SCHIFFERMÜLLER (in DENIS & SCHIFFERMÜLLER 1775) (Notodontidae), the Pebble Prominent Notodonta

ziczac LINNAEUS 1758 (Notodontidae), the Oak Nycteoline Nycteola revayana (SCOPOLI 1772) (Noc-tuidae), the Common Lutestring Ochropacha duplaris (LINNAEUS 1761) (Thyatiridae), the Flame Shoulder Ochropleura plecta LINNAEUS 1761 (Noctuidae), the Scarce Prominent Odontosia carmeli-ta (ESPER 1798) (Notodontidae), the Middle-Barred Minor Oligia fasciuncula HAWORTH 1809 (Noc-tuidae), the Tawny Marbled Minor Oligia latruncula SCHIFFERMÜLLER (in D^ENIS & SCHIFFERMÜLLER

1775) (Noctuidae), the Marbled Minor Oligia strigilis LINNAEUS 1758 (Noctuidae), the Rufous Minor Oligia versicolor (B^ORKHAUSEN 1792) (Noctuidae), the Lunar Underwing Omphaloscelis lunosa (HAWORTH 1809) (Noctuidae), the Polygone Moth Opigena polygona SCHIFFERMÜLLER (in DENIS & SCHIFFERMÜLLER 1775) (Noctuidae), the Vapourer Orgyia antiqua LINNAEUS 1758 (Lymantrii-dae), the Scarce Vapourer Orgyia recens (H^ÜBNER 1819) (Lymantriidae), the Small Quaker Ortho-sia cruda SCHIFFERMÜLLER (in DENIS & SCHIFFERMÜLLER 1775) (Noctuidae), the Hebrew Character Orthosia gothica L^INNAEUS 1758 (Noctuidae), the Clouded Drab Orthosia incerta (H^UFNAGEL 1766) (Noctuidae), the Blossom Underwing Orthosia miniosa SCHIFFERMÜLLER (in DENIS & SCHIFFERMÜLLER

1775) (Noctuidae), the Twin-Spotted Quaker Orthosia munda SCHIFFERMÜLLER (in DENIS & SCHIFFER

-MÜLLER 1775) (Noctuidae), the Common Quaker Orthosia stabilis SCHIFFERMÜLLER (in DENIS & SCHIF

-FERMÜLLER 1775) (Noctuidae), the Feathered Ear Pachetra sagittigera (HUFNAGEL 1766) (Noctuidae), the Glaucous Muslin Paidia rica F^REYER 1858 (Arctiidae), the Pine Beauty Panolis flammea S^CHIF

-FERMÜLLER (in DENIS & SCHIFFERMÜLLER 1775) (Noctuidae), the Nun or Monk Moth Panthea coeno-bita (E^SPER 1785) (Noctuidae), the Glaucous Shears Papestra biren (G^OEZE 1781) (Noctuidae), the Pale-Mottled Willow Paradrina clavipalpis (SCOPOLI 1763) (Noctuidae), the Wood Tiger Parase-mia plantaginis LINNAEUS 1758 (Arctiidae), the Suspected Parastichtis suspecta (HÜBNER 1817) (Noctuidae), the Common Fan-Foot Pechipogo strigilata (CLERCK 1759) (Noctuidae), the Dotted Footman Pelosia muscerda HUFNAGEL 1766 (Arctiidae), the Raspberry Clearwing Pennisetia hylaei-formis (L^ASPEYRES 1801) (Sesiidae), the Great Prominent Peridea anceps (G^OEZE 1781) (Notodonti-dae), the Pearly Underwing Peridroma saucia (HÜBNER 1808) (Noctuidae), the Buff-Tip Phalera bucephala L^INNAEUS 1758 (Notodontidae), the Map-Winged Swift Pharmacis fusconebulosa ^DE GEER 1778 (Hepialidae), the Lesser Sallow Prominent Pheosia gnoma (FABRICIUS 1777) (Notodonti-dae), the Angle Shades Phlogophora meticulosa LINNAEUS 1758 (Noctuidae), the Reed Leopard Phragmataecia castaneae (HÜBNER 1790) (Cossidae), the Ruby Tiger Phragmatobia fuliginosa LIN

-NAEUS 1758 (Arctiidae), the Gold Spot Plusia festucae LINNAEUS 1758 (Noctuidae), the Lempke´s Gold Spot Plusia putnami (G^ROTE 1873) (Noctuidae), the December Moth Poecilocampa populi LINNAEUS 1758 (Lasiocampidae), the Large Ranunculus Polymixis flavicincta SCHIFFERMÜLLER (in D^ENIS & SCHIFFERMÜLLER 1775) (Noctuidae), the Cameo Polymixis gemmea (T^REITSCHKE 1825) (Noc-tuidae), the Black-Banded Polymixis xanthomista (HÜBNER 1819) (Noctuidae), the Guernsey Under-wing Polyphaenis sericata E^SPER 1787 (Noctuidae), the Frosted Green Polyploca ridens (F^ABRICIUS 1787) (Thyatiridae), the Marbled White Spot Protodeltote pygarga (H^UFNAGEL 1766) (Noctuidae), the Shining Marbled Pseudeustrotia candidula SCHIFFERMÜLLER (in DENIS & SCHIFFERMÜLLER 1775) (Noctuidae), the Green Silver-Lines Pseudoips prasinana (W^ARREN 1913) (Noctuidae), the Pale Pro-minent Pterostoma palpina (CLERCK 1759) (Notodontidae), the Coxcomb Prominent Ptilodon capu-cina LINNAEUS 1758 (Notodontidae), the Plumed Prominent Ptilophora plumigera SCHIFFERMÜLLER (in DENIS & SCHIFFERMÜLLER 1775) (Notodontidae), the Bordered Sallow Pyrrhia umbra (HUFNAGEL

1766) (Noctuidae), the Dark Forester Rhagades pruni SCHIFFERMÜLLER (in DENIS & SCHIFFERMÜLLER

1775) (Zygaenidae), the Large Wainscot Rhizedra lutosa (H^ÜBNER 1803) (Noctuidae), the Straw Dot Rivula sericealis (SCOPOLI 1763) (Noctuidae), the Emperor Moth Saturnia pavonia LINNAEUS 1758 (Saturniidae), the Giant Peacock Moth or Large Emperor Moth Saturnia pyri SCHIFFERMÜLLER (D^ENIS

& SCHIFFERMÜLLER 1775) (Saturniidae), the Spotted Clover Moth Schinia nuchalis (GROTE 1878) (Noctuidae), the Pinion-Streaked Snout Schrankia costaestrigalis S^TEPHENS 1834 (Noctuidae), the Blair´s Wainscot Sedina buettneri (E. HERING 1858) (Noctuidae), the Flame Wainscot Senta flam-mea (CURTIS 1828) (Noctuidae), the Dew Moth Setina roscida SCHIFFERMÜLLER (in DENIS & SCHIFFER

-MÜLLER 1775) (Arctiidae), the White Colon Sideridis albicolon (H^ÜBNER 1813) (Noctuidae), the Reed Dagger Simyra albovenosa (GOEZE 1781) (Noctuidae), the Stout Dart Spaelotis ravida SCHIFFERMÜL

-LER (in DENIS & SCHIFFERMÜLLER 1775) (Noctuidae), the Argentine Spatalia argentina SCHIFFERMÜLLER

(in DENIS & SCHIFFERMÜLLER 1775) (Notodontidae), the Privet Hawk-Moth Sphinx ligustri LINNAEUS

1758 (Sphingidae), the Buff Ermine Spilarctia luteum (HUFNAGEL 1766) (Arctiidae), the White Er-mine Spilosoma lubricipeda LINNAEUS 1758 (Arctiidae), the White Tiger Spilosoma menthastri (E^SPER 1786) (Arctiidae), the Water Ermine Spilosoma urticae (E^SPER 1789) (Arctiidae), the Feathe-red Footman Spiris striata (LINNAEUS 1758) (Arctiidae), the Small Mottled Willow Spodoptera exi-gua (H^ÜBNER 1808) (Noctuidae), the Lobster Moth Stauropus fagi L^INNAEUS 1758 (Notodontidae), the Orange-Tailed Clearwing Synanthedon andrenaeformis (LASPEYRES 1801) (Sesiidae), the Red-Belted Clearwing Synanthedon myopaeformis (BORKHAUSEN 1789) (Sesiidae), the Yellow-Legged Clearwing Synanthedon vespiformis (L^INNAEUS 1761) (Sesiidae), the Scarce Silver Y Syngrapha interrogationis LINNAEUS 1758 (Noctuidae), the Nine-Spotted Moth Syntomis phegea LINNAEUS 1758 (Arctiidae), the Figure of Eighty Tethea ocularis L^INNAEUS 1767 (Thyatiridae), the Poplar Lutestring Tethea or SCHIFFERMÜLLER (in DENIS & SCHIFFERMÜLLER 1775) (Thyatiridae), the Satin Lutestring Tetheella fluctuosa (HÜBNER 1813) (Thyatiridae), the Straw Underwing Thalpophila matura (HUFNA

-GEL 1766) (Noctuidae), the Oak Processionary Thaumetopoea processionea LINNAEUS 1758 (Thau-metopoeidae), the Hedge Rustic Tholera cespitis SCHIFFERMÜLLER (in DENIS & SCHIFFERMÜLLER 1775) (Noctuidae), the Feathered Gothic Tholera decimalis (P^ODA 1761) (Noctuidae), the Round-Winged Muslin Thumatha senex (HÜBNER 1808) (Arctiidae), the Peach Blossom Thyatira batis LINNAEUS

1758 (Thyatiridae), the Pale Eggar Trichiura crataegi L^INNAEUS 1758 (Lasiocampidae), the Four-Spotted Moth Tyta luctuosa SCHIFFERMÜLLER (in DENIS & SCHIFFERMÜLLER 1775) (Noctuidae), the Green-Brindled Dot Valeria oleagina SCHIFFERMÜLLER (in DENIS & SCHIFFERMÜLLER 1775) (Noctui-dae), the Barred Hook-Tip Watsonalla cultraria (FABRICIUS 1775) (Drepanidae), the Orange Sallow Xanthia citrago LINNAEUS 1758 (Noctuidae), the Pale-Lemon Sallow Xanthia ocellaris (BORKHAUSEN

1792) (Noctuidae), the Heath Rustic Xestia agathina (D^UPONCHEL 1827) (Noctuidae), the Neglected Rustic Xestia castanea (ESPER 1798) (Noctuidae), the Setaceous Hebrew Character Xestia c-nigrum (L^INNAEUS 1758) (Noctuidae), the Triple-Spotted Clay Xestia ditrapezium SCHIFFERMÜLLER (in D^ENIS

& SCHIFFERMÜLLER 1775) (Noctuidae), the Square-Spotted Clay Xestia rhomboidea (ESPER 1790) (Noctuidae), the Double Square-Spot Xestia triangulum (HUFNAGEL 1766) (Noctuidae), the Square-Spot Rustic Xestia xanthographa SCHIFFERMÜLLER (in DENIS & SCHIFFERMÜLLER 1775) (Noctuidae), the Blood Droplet Moth Zygaena carniolica SCOPOLI 1763 (Zygaenidae), the Variable Burnet Zygaena ephialtes L^INNAEUS 1767 (Zygaenidae), the Narrow-Bordered Five-Spot Burnet Zygaena lonicerae (SCHEVEN 1777) (Zygaenidae), the Slender Scotch Burnet Zygaena loti SCHIFFERMÜLLER (in DENIS &

SCHIFFERMÜLLER 1775) (Zygaenidae), the Transparent Burnet Zygaena purpuralis (B^RÜNNICH 1763) (Zygaenidae), the Transalpine Burnet Zygaena transalpina (ESPER 1781) (Zygaenidae), the Five-Spot Burnet Zygaena trifolii E^SPER 1783 (Zygaenidae), and the New Forest Burnet Zygaena viciae SCHIFFERMÜLLER (in D^ENIS & SCHIFFERMÜLLER 1775) (Zygaenidae).

The various examples of mass occurrences of diurnal and nocturnal butterflies which have been taken from the literature have mainly been retrieved and interpreted from the annual and topical re-ports in the journals Atalanta (Zeitschrift der Deutschen Forschungszentrale für Schmetterlingswan-derungen) and Melanargia (Nachrichten der Arbeitsgemeinschaft Rheinisch-Westfälischer Lepido-pterologen) as well as from a selection of papers in other journals. The interpretation and discussion of mass occurrences of diurnal and nocturnal butterflies according to the review of the literature has predominantly been restricted to examples from localities in Germany and contains only subordina-tely also some cases from countries adjacent to Germany. A more comprehensive literature survey of examples of mass occurrences of beetles, butterflies, dragonflies, damselflies and other insects has been beyond the limit of this volume and has therefore been postponed to a future compilation and evaluation of observations and reports of swarm phases and mass flights of various insects.

Numerous examples of mass flights of diurnal and nocturnal butterflies from the older literature are compiled in W^ILLIAMS (1930), F^RAENKEL (1932) and W^ILLIAMS, C^OCKBILL, G^IBBS & D^OWNES (1942).

The English and French names of the aforementioned butterflies have been taken from WROBEL

(2000) and from http://en.wikipedia.org, http://fr.wikipedia.org, http://www.leps.it, http://uk - moths.org.uk, http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk and http://www.uksafari.com where descriptions and photographs of every species are available. For the purpose of limitation of the width of the spec-trum of selected species, the Geometridae and the Microlepidoptera (with the exception of a few clearwings of the Sesiidae) have not been considered here.