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.

Friday 12 April 2019

Brindled Green and a few other autumnal insects

I didn't catch many moths on 21st September but one of them was a Brindled Green, my first and only example in 2018.  It's actually a pretty good moth here - only my fourth since moving in in 2014, recorded every other year.

Brindled Green, North Elmham, 21st September


The other moths were Garden Midget Phyllonorycter messaniella, Light Brown Apple-moth Epiphyas postvittana, 5 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Common Marbled Carpet, Beaded Chestnut, 11 Lunar Underwings and Snout. There wasn't much else either - the caddisfly Limnephilus lunatus and the barkfly Ectopsocus briggsi.

Next day a visit to the Cathedral Meadows produced a few bits and pieces.  A rather attractive shiny green fly turned out to be a Twin-spot Centurion Sargus bipunctatus.  The pair of pale spots on the face that give it its name aren't especially obvious if you're not looking for them, though easy enough to see when you do.



Twin-spot Centurion Sargus pipunctatus, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 22nd September


This leafhopper proved to be Edwardsiana rosae.

Edwardsiana rosae (male, gen det), North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 22nd September


I've updated this page to show a revised ID for this aphid.  At the time I didn't have very good information and I tentatively identified it as something entirely different.  Now (in May 2019) I realise it was a Common Sycamore Aphid Drepanosiphum platanoidis.

Common Sycamore Aphid Drepanosiphum platanoidis, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 22nd September


Moths consisted of 2 Horse-chestnut Leaf-miners Cameraria ohridella and a Rhomboid Tortrix Acleris rhombana.

Rhomboid Tortrix Acleris rhombana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 22nd September


A little shake of a bunch of ash keys was productive.  The invertebrates that fell out included a new beetle for me, a Cabbage-stem Flea Beetle Psylliodes chrysocephala.

Cabbage-stem Leaf Beetle Psylliodes chrysocephala, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 22nd September


There were also 4 Common Earwigs, 2 caddisflies, both Limnephilus lunatus, 4 7-spot Ladybirds, a spider that I think was probably an immature Philodromus aureolus and the psyllid Psyllopsis fraxinicola.

Psyllopsis fraxinicola, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 22nd September


Philodromus sp., possibly Philodromus aureolus, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 22nd September


That night at home there was an unremarkable selection of moths: 5 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Common Marbled Carpet, Brimstone Moth, 4 Large Yellow Underwings, 2 Lesser Yellow Underwings, Common Wainscot, 24 Lunar Underwings, 2 Sallows and 2 Snouts.

There were also 2 Limnephilus auricula, Limnephilus flavicornis and 7 Limnephilus lunatus (caddisflies), the barkfly Ectopsocus petersi and the beetle Aphodius rufipes.

Strong winds the following night meant for a distinct lack of variety in the moth trap: just Large Yellow Underwing, 25 Lunar Underwings and Pink-barred Sallow.

It was even worse on 24th with just 1 Narrow-winged Grey Eudonia angustea and 10 Lunar Underwings.

A little better the next night with 2 Light Brown Apple-moths Epiphyas postvittana, 4 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Small Dusty Wave, Common Marbled Carpet, Green Carpet, Large Yellow Underwing, 2 Lesser Yellow Underwings, Beaded Chestnut and 15 Lunar Underwings. There were also a few caddisflies again that night: Ithytrichia lamellaris, Mottled Sedge Glyphotaelius pellucidus, 2 Limnephilus auricula and 4 Limnephilus lunatus.

Next day at the meadows there was a Southern Hawker, a 7-spot Ladybird and 2 Harlequin Ladybirds.  I found 3 Willow Flea Beetles Crepidodera aurata on the White Willow and a female (and thus unidentifiable) Edwardsiana leafhopper on some Dogwood.

Southern Hawker, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 26th September


There were 2 more Arytaina genistae in the Broom.

Arytaina genistae, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 26th September


I think this spider that was also in the Broom was Tetragnatha montana.

Tetragnatha montana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 26th September


This spider was in the Black Horehound.  I couldn't make out any epigynal or palpal features to confirm it but Dyctina arundinacea seems to be the best fit, especially in view of its dark-tipped tarsal segments.  Not a speices I've identified before.

Dyctina arundinacea, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 26th September


Moths at home that night consisted of Clover Case-bearer Coleophora alcyonipennella, Privet Tortrix Clepsis consimilana, Light Brown Apple-moth Epiphyas postvittana, Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, 18 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, 2 Riband Waves, Mallow, Green Carpet, Ruby Tiger, Large Yellow Underwing, Lesser Yellow Underwing, 16 Lunar Underwings, Pink-barred Sallow and 2 Snouts.

There was the green lacewing Chrysoperla carnea agg. and Limnephilus auricula and 2 Limnephilus lunatus were the caddisflies.  Other bits and pieces included the beetle Aphodius rufipes, the hoverfly Eupeodes latifasciatus and a Hornet.

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