Irish Yellow Slug

Several new moths for the year at home on Sunday 19th, namely Large Fruit-tree Tortrix Archips podana, Woodland Marble Orthotaenia undulana, Garden Grass-veneer Chrysoteuchia culmella, Little Grass-veneer Platytes cerussella, Yellow Shell, Mottled Beauty and White-point.

Woodland Marble Orthotaenia undulana, North Elmham, 19th June

Large Fruit-tree Tortrix Archips podana, North Elmham, 19th June

Yellow Shell, North Elmham, 19th June

White-point, North Elmham, 19th June

Mottled Beauty, North Elmham, 19th June

Little Grass-veneer Platytes cerussella, North Elmham, 19th June

 

Garden Grass-veneer Chrysoteucha culmella, North Elmham, 19th June

Other moths that night were 7 Diamond-back Moths Plutella xylostella, Buff Rush Case-bearer Coleophora caespititiella, Barred Marble Celypha striana, 3 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Plum Tortrix Hedya pruniana, Rush Marble Bactra lancealana, Yellow-faced Bell Notocelia cynosbatella, Triple-blotched Bell Notocelia trimaculana, 2 Hook-streaked Grass-Veneers Crambus lathoniellus, Bee Moth Aphomia sociella, Common Swift, Maiden's Blush, Treble Brown Spot, Riband Wave, 3 Silver-ground Carpets, 2 Common Marbled Carpets, Green Carpet, Currant Pug, Common Pug, 2 Willow Beauties, Pale Oak Beauty, 2 Clouded Silvers, Elephant Hawkmoth, Coxcomb Prominent, 3 White Ermines, 2 Heart and Darts, 3 Flames, Ingrailed Clay, 5 Brown Rustics, 2 Middle-barred Minors, 4 Treble Lines, 2 Mottled Rustics, Burnished Brass, 5 Straw Dots and 2 Snouts.

I've updated this paragraph since I first posted it.  Paul Cobb recently advised me that Chrysoperla carnea has been split into 2 species, not covered in the excellent FSC key (a third split was already covered in the key).  He sent me some notes on how to separate carnea from the new pallida - which requires looking at the male genitalia (no dissection required).  This was my first carnea agg. since getting this but unfortunately I got the notes mixed up and misidentified it as Chrysoperla pallida.  Completely my fault - the notes were perfectly clear!  Anyway, I mentioned it to Paul and my error was uncovered - apparently pallida would have been the first East Anglian record!  It was, of course, just Chrysoperla carnea!  Still, my first positively identified one!

Chrysoperla carnea, North Elmham, 19th June - lower shot shows the tip of the abdomen

Other insects in the trap included a Cockchafer and the caddisflies Limnephilus flavicornis and Limnephilus marmoratus.

There were another 5 new moths for the year the following night: Small Clover Case-bearer Coleophora alcyonipennella, Large Ivy Tortrix Lozotaenia forsterana, Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiotata, Elder Pearl Anania coronata and Lobster Moth.

Small Clover Case-bearer Coleophora alcyonipennella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 20th June

Lobster Moth, North Elmham, 20th June

Large Ivy Tortrix Lozotaenia forsterana, North Elmham, 20th June

Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiotata, North Elmham, 20th June

The others were Cypress Tip Moth Argyresthia cupressella, 5 Diamond-back Moths Plutella xylostella, Brown House Moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella, Privet Tortrix Clepsis consimilana, 2 Light Brown Apple Moths Epiphyas postvittana, 6 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, 2 Triple-blotched Bells Notocelia trimaculana, Hook-streaked Grass-Veneer Crambus lathoniellus, 6 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, Garden Pebble Evergestis forficalis, 8 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, 2 Bee Moths Aphomia sociella, Common Swift, Blood-vein, 2 Treble Brown Spots, Silver-ground Carpet, Common Carpet, Sandy Carpet, Common Pug, Clouded Border, 2 Scorched Wings, Scalloped Hazel, 2 Clouded Silvers, 2 Eyed Hawkmoths, Elephant Hawkmoth, Coxcomb Prominent, Pale Prominent, Marbled Brown, 5 Buff-tips, Pale Tussock, 2 White Ermines, 17 Buff Ermines, Heart and Dart, 2 Flames, Large Yellow Underwing, Ingrailed Clay, 2 Bright-line Brown-eyes, Rustic Shoulder-knot, 6 Brown Rustics, 2 Middle-barred Minors, 2 Treble Lines, Mottled Rustic, Burnished Brass and 12 Straw Dots.

Eyed Hawkmoth, North Elmham, 20th June

A slug on the side of the moth trap proved to be an Irish Yellow Slug, a new one for me.  Also new was the caddisfly Lype phaeopa.  Other caddis included 2 Hydropsyche pellucidula and Limnephilus lunatus.

Irish Yellow Slug, North Elmham, 20th June

Lype phaeopa, North Elmham, 20th June

Holkham moth night

A couple of unsuccessful attempts to see Great Knot at Titchwell produced 3 Diamond-back Moths Plutella xylostella (17th) and a Timothy Tortrix Aphelia paleana (18th).

At home 17th wasn't a great night with just 40 species, none of which were new for the year: 5 Diamond-back Moths Plutella xylostella, Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana, Yellow-spot Tortrix Pseudargyrotoza conwagana, Barred Marble Celypha striana, Common Marble Celypha lacunana, Triple-blotched Bell Notocelia trimaculana, 3 Hook-streaked Grass-Veneers Crambus lathoniellus, 2 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, 2 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, 4 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, Common Swift, Treble Brown Spot, 3 Silver-ground Carpets, Garden Carpet, Small Rivulet, Foxglove Pug, Scorched Wing, Brimstone Moth, Willow Beauty, Light Emerald, Pale Tussock, Orange Footman, Common Footman, 5 White Ermines, 7 Buff Ermines, 5 Heart and Darts, Large Yellow Underwing, Ingrailed Clay, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Lychnis, Common Wainscot, Brown Rustic, 7 Marbled Minors, 2 Middle-barred Minors, 8 Treble Lines, Mottled Rustic, 3 Burnished Brasses, Beautiful Golden Y, 3 Straw Dots and 2 Snouts.

A new caddisfly, Athripsodes aterrimus, saved the night.  Other caddis included Limnephilus auricula, Limnephilus flavicornis, Limnephilus lunatus and 2 Limnephilus marmoratus.

Athripsodes aterrimus, North Elmham, 17th June

On Saturday 18th I headed up to Holkham for the Norfolk Moth Survey event.  The forecast hadn't been great but it turned out to be cloudier than we'd expected, the wind had dropped right down and at first it didn't feel as cold as we'd feared.  But things seemed a bit slow anyway, despite several highlights.

I didn't get there early enough to do any dusking beforehand but those that did found and retained some New Holm-Oak Pigmies Ectoedemia heringella, the first time I've seen this species.

Surprisingly we saw more micro moths than macro, though slightly less variety according to my personal totals (which are always incomplete for events like this).  Apart from Common Grey Scoparia ambigualis, the most numerous micro was Large Groundling Teleiopsis diffinis, for which I estimated a dozen, followed by Beautiful Groundling Caryocolum marmorea (maybe half a dozen or more?).

Beautiful Groundlings Caryocolum marmorea, Holkham, 18th June

Large Groundling Teleiopsis diffinis, Holkham, 18th June

Someone found a Small Saltern Conch Gynnidomorpha vectisana, a new moth for me.  I only saw it in a pot so my photos aren't worth sharing.  Another moth passed round in a pot was claimed as a Strophedra.  I didn't get a good enough look to challenge that but subsequently it turns out that it's probably Pine-cone Piercer Cydia conicolana.  I've not heard that it's been gen detted yet but assuming the ID proves correct then that's another lifer for me.  We also caught a Momphid which I wasn't able to identify on the night.  It was very worn and frankly looked nothing like the Little Cosmet Mompha raschkiella that it proved to be on dissection.  Surprisingly, as this is a much commoner and more widespread species, this was also a new moth for me.

Little Cosmet Mompha raschkiella (male, gen det), Holkham, 18th June

The other micros were 4 Diamond-back Moths Plutella xylostella, Painted Neb Eulamprotes wilkella, Desert Groundling Bryotropha desertella, London Dowd Blastobasis lacticolella, Hedge Shade Isotrias rectifasciana, 3 Hook-streaked Grass-Veneers Crambus lathoniellus, Pearl Grass-veneer Catoptria pinella, 2 Little Greys Eudonia lacustrata, Narrow-winged Grey Eudonia angustea and Ochreous Pearl Anania crocealis.

Ochreous Pearl Anania crocealis, Holkham, 18th June

Desert Groundling Bryotropha desertella (female, gen det), Holkham, 18th June

Painted Neb Eulamprotes wilkella, Holkham, 18th June

Pearl Grass-veneer Catoptria pinella, Holkham, 18th June

Among the macros the highlight for me was 2 Pine Carpets - a species I've only seen once before.

Pine Carpet, Holkham, 18th June

Nothing else remarkable among the macros - the others I recorded were Common Swift, Cream Wave, 3 Silver-ground Carpets, 3 Green Carpets, Common Pug, 2 Clouded Borders, 2 Scorched Carpets, Brimstone Moth, Peppered Moth, Privet Hawkmoth, Buff Ermine, 12 Cinnabars, Archer's Dart, Shoulder-striped Wainscot, Brown Rustic, Treble Lines, Spectacle and 2 Straw Dots.

Privet Hawkmoth, Holkham, 18th June

Scorched Carpet, Holkham, 18th June

I think this beetle is the Marram Weevil Philopedon plagiatum.  Assuming my ID is correct then that's a new one for me.  Another new beetle that should be correct as Andy M gave me the ID was the Click Beetle Prosternon tessellatum.

Marram Weevil Philopedon plagiatum (I think), Holkham, 18th June

Prosternon tessellatum, Holkham, 18th June

The Caddisflies didn't turn up anything that I don't get at home: Phryganea grandis, 4 Limnephilus auricula and 4 Limnephilus marmoratus.

Back at home the moth trap wasn't exactly overloaded with goodies.  I didn't get any False Cacao Moths Ephestia unicolorella last year so this one was new for the house.

False Cacao Moth Ephestia unicolorella (male, gen det), Holkham, 18th June

Riband Wave and Common Wave were new for the year here and the other moths recorded at home were 2 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, Common Marble Celypha lacunana, Hook-streaked Grass-Veneer Crambus lathoniellus, Small Magpie Anania hortulata, Common Swift, 2 Silver-ground Carpets, Common Marbled Carpet, Common Pug, Clouded Border, 2 Willow Beauties, Common White Wave, Elephant Hawkmoth, Common Footman, 2 White Ermines, 5 Buff Ermines, Cinnabar, 2 Heart and Darts, Ingrailed Clay, Brown Rustic, 4 Treble Lines, 2 Mottled Rustics, 2 Burnished Brasses and Straw Dot.  Limnephilus lunatus was the only caddisfly recorded.

Oblique Carpet and Shaded Pug, unexpected local records

15th June was fairly unremarkable by mid June standards.  Poplar Grey was the only new moth for the year.

Poplar Grey, North Elmham, 15th June

The other moths were 2 Diamond-back Moths Plutella xylostella, 4 Buff Rush Case-bearers Coleophora caespititiella, Garden Cosmet Mompha subbistrigella, Plum Tortrix Hedya pruniana, Hook-streaked Grass-Veneer Crambus lathoniellus, 2 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, 5 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, Bee Moth Aphomia sociella, 2 Common Swifts, 2 Silver-ground Carpets, Foxglove Pug, 4 Common Pugs, Clouded Border, 2 Scorched Wings, Willow Beauty, Common White Wave, Light Emerald, Poplar Hawkmoth, Elephant Hawkmoth, Common Footman, 5 White Ermines, 3 Buff Ermines, Cinnabar, 7 Heart and Darts, Flame, Ingrailed Clay, 2 Small Square-spots, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Common Wainscot, 2 Brown Rustics, Marbled Minor, Middle-barred Minor, 15 Treble Lines, 2 Mottled Rustics, 3 Burnished Brasses, 2 Spectacles and 4 Straw Dots.

One of the caddisflies was a new species for me: Tinodes waeneri.  The others included Rhyacophila dorsalis, Limnephilus flavicornis, 2 Limnephilus lunatus and Mystacides longicornis.

Tinodes waeneri, North Elmham, 15th June

Limnephilus flavicornis, North Elmham, 15th June

The following night was much better.  The highlight was a surprise Oblique Carpet, a species I associate with the Broads.  In fact there are a handful of records from elsewhere in Norfolk but they appear to be very thin on the ground away from the Broads.  In west Norfolk (VC28) there don't appear to have been any other records since one in 2013, so it's not something I particularly expected to turn up in my trap.

Oblique Carpet, North Elmham, 16th June

Another species I didn't really expect to see here was Shaded Pug.  This is mainly a Breckland species, though with a fair few records along the north and west coasts too.  In the middle of the county there aren't many records at all, so another good local record.

Shaded Pug, North Elmham, 16th June

Among the 67 species recorded were a further 9 new for the year at home: Fulvous Clothes Moth Tinea semifulvella, Light Grey Tortrix Cnephasia incertana, Marbled Orchard Tortrix Hedya nubiferana, Little Grey Eudonia lacustrata, Lesser Pearl Sitochroa verticalis, Maiden's Blush, 2 Large Yellow Underwings, 2 Dark Arches and 2 Dusky Brocades.

Lesser Pearl Sitochroa verticalis, North Elmham, 16th June

Maiden's Blush, North Elmham, 16th June

Fulvous Clothes Moth Tinea semifulvella, North Elmham, 16th June

Dusky Brocade, North Elmham, 16th June

Marbled Orchard Tortrix Hedya nubiferana, North Elmham, 16th June

Other species were Carrion Moth Monopis weaverella, Cypress Tip Moth Argyresthia cupressella, 9 Diamond-back Moths Plutella xylostella, Buff Rush Case-bearer Coleophora caespititiella, Privet Tortrix Clepsis consimilana, Barred Marble Celypha striana, 5 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Plum Tortrix Hedya pruniana, Crescent Bell Epinotia bilunana, Yellow-faced Bell Notocelia cynosbatella, Hoary Bell Eucosma cana, 4 Hook-streaked Grass-Veneers Crambus lathoniellus, Common Grey Scoparia ambigualis, Narrow-winged Grey Eudonia angustea, 12 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, 5 Common Swifts, Pebble Hook-tip, Blood-vein, 3 Treble Brown Spots, 5 Silver-ground Carpets, Garden Carpet, Common Marbled Carpet, Green Carpet, Sandy Carpet, Foxglove Pug, Lime-speck Pug, Common Pug, 2 Grey Pugs, 3 Clouded Borders, Brown Silver-line, 3 Scorched Wings, 2 Brimstone Moths, 2 Willow Beauties, Clouded Silver, 7 Light Emeralds, Poplar Hawkmoth, Elephant Hawkmoth, Buff-tip, Orange Footman, 2 Common Footmen, 5 White Ermines, 2 Buff Ermines, 9 Heart and Darts, 2 Flames, 2 Ingrailed Clays, Setaceous Hebrew Character, 3 Bright-line Brown-eyes, Rustic Shoulder-knot, 8 Brown Rustics, Clouded-bordered Brindle, 2 Middle-barred Minors, 8 Treble Lines, 2 Mottled Rustics, 3 Burnished Brasses, Beautiful Golden Y and 3 Straw Dots.

Plum Tortrix Hedya pruniana, North Elmham, 16th June

Burnished Brass, North Elmham, 16th June

Crescent Bell Epinotia bilunana, North Elmham, 16th June

Grey Pug (male, gen det), North Elmham, 16th June

Caddisflies included anoither Tinodes waeneri, Hydropsyche pellucidula and Limnephilus lunatus.

Rough-winged Conch (Phtheochroa rugosana)

In my lunch break on Monday 13th June I popped in to Whin Hill quarry, a small abandoned quarry that is often good for insects.  I have visited this site maybe 3-4 times a year over the last decade and never had the impression that anyone else goes in there before.  This time I found evidence of recent use - discarded food & drink wrappers lying around and vast numbers of spent gun cartridges.

I didn't have long this time but 3 moths recorded: Common Nettle-tap Anthophila fabriciana, Olive Pearl Udea olivalis and Cinnabar.  Also something I'd never seen before: the larva of a Bloody-nosed Beetle.

Bloody-nosed Beetle larva, Whin Hill, 13th June

For the second night running my moth trap delivered a striking tortrix moth that I'd never seen before.  This time it was the long-awaited Rough-winged Conch Phtheochroa rugosana.  Quite a commonly recorded species so surprising that it has taken me this long to see, but fittingly splendid for a milestone moth - my 1000th species in the UK.

Rough-winged Conch Phtheochroa rugosana, North Elmham, 13th June

New for the year here were Plum Tortrix Hedya pruniana, Red Piercer Lathronympha strigana, Small Dusty Wave and Sharp-angled Carpet.

Plum Tortrix Hedya pruniana, North Elmham, 13th June

Red Piercer Lathronympha strigana, North Elmham, 13th June

Sharp-angled Carpet, North Elmham, 13th June

Other moths recorded were 11 Diamond-back Moths Plutella xylostella, Buff Rush Case-bearer Coleophora caespititiella, 2 Rush Marbles Bactra lancealana, Yellow-faced Bell Notocelia cynosbatella, Triple-blotched Bell Notocelia trimaculana, 3 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, Small Magpie Anania hortulata, 2 Common Swifts, Figure of Eighty, 3 Treble Brown Spots, 2 Silver-ground Carpets, Common Marbled Carpet, Green Carpet, Foxglove Pug, Mottled Pug, Common Pug, 5 Scorched Wings, Scalloped Hazel, Willow Beauty, Pale Oak Beauty, Clouded Silver, 2 Light Emeralds, Elephant Hawkmoth, Swallow Prominent, Coxcomb Prominent, Buff-tip, 2 Pale Tussocks, Common Footman, 3 White Ermines, Buff Ermine, Least Black Arches, Heart and Dart, 2 Flames, Flame Shoulder, Ingrailed Clay, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Shears, Bright-line Brown-eye, 2 Brown Rustics, 17 Treble Lines, 2 Spectacles and 3 Straw Dots.

Figure of Eighty, North Elmham, 13th June

Elephant Hawkmoth, North Elmham, 13th June

Mayflies continued to give me headaches.  This one shows several features of Lake Olive Cloeon simile but some features don't tie up with that ID so I'm really not sure.

possible Lake Olive Cloeon simile, North Elmham, 13th June

Caddisflies included Ecnomus tenellus, Limnephilus auricula and Limnephilus vittatus.

Ecnomus tenellus (female), North Elmham, 13th June

The following night was poor by comparison.  What was very probably the same Rough-winged Conch Phtheochroa rugosana turned up in the trap but asides from that there were just 39 moths of 21 species: Cypress Tip Moth Argyresthia cupressella, Common Grey Scoparia ambigualis, 3 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, 2 Common Swifts, Common Marbled Carpet, Sharp-angled Carpet, Foxglove Pug, Clouded Border, Peppered Moth, Orange Footman, 3 White Ermines, 4 Buff Ermines, Heart and Dart, 2 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, Shears, Lychnis, Common Wainscot, 10 Treble Lines, Mottled Rustic, Spectacle and Straw Dot.

Rough-winged Conch Phtheochroa rugosana, North Elmham, 14th June