Description


A diary of my mothing activity covering highlights and photos from my moth trapping activities. Mainly Norfolk (UK), occasionally beyond. I may mention other wildlife sightings here, especially insects, but for birds see my birding diary.

Wednesday 29 June 2016

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

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