With the death of Richard Warren, Staffordshire lost one of its best known and most experienced naturalists. Not only was he the leading authority and recorder of the butterflies and moths of the county, he also had a deep knowledge of its caddisflies, damselflies, dragonflies and lacewings as well as its birds and plants. He was, in fact, one of that rare breed of people - an all-round naturalist.
Richard was Chairman of the Entomology Section of the North Staffordshire Field Club from 1951 until his death and was made a Life Vice President of the Club in 1987. He was a founder member of the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust and was its Treasurer for many years. He will be forever associated with two of its reserves - Loynton Moss and, in particular, Burnt Wood.
I was fortunate to learn at the feet of the master. We travelled all over the county and spent many hours watching a blue lamp on a white sheet, often in the middle of nowhere! His dexterity with a net and enthusiasm for his beloved lepidoptera, especially the "micros" never diminished. It was a severe blow to him when his health prevented him from handling the "small fry" as he called them. He was always quick to share his knowledge and he corresponded widely with other lepidopterists throughout the county. He had country-wide connections too and was often contacted by other county recorders and national experts when new atlases etc. were being compiled.
Over the years Richard built up a fine and important collection of both macro and microlepidoptera, which is now housed in the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery and is available for inspection on request.
Like all naturalists Richard enjoyed finding species that were new to the county and, I suspect, dreamed of finding a species new to the British Isles. However, he went even one better than that and found something completely new and, as far as I know, unique to science - a wild hybrid between the Spring Usher and the Dotted Border Agriopis leucophaearia x marginaria. It was one of his proudest achievements.
Sadly, Richard was unable to see his revision of the Larger Moths of Staffordshire in print. It has been my privilege to complete this and to see it through to publication. It is, of course, dedicated to his memory.
David W Emley - Staffordshire Moth Recorder
