TORTRIX MOTHS (TORTRICIDAE) (continued)
Spruce Tortrix Dichelia histriona - One to LED lights at Swanton Great Wood on 27th August 2019 proved to be my most exciting find of the year and indeed probably my rarest moth find to date. It was new to Norfolk and apparently only the second record for Britain! The first, in London, was believed to be accidentally imported with nursery stock or timber but the origin of this individual is not known. Apparently there have been no recent imports of Spruce at Swanton Novers. They occur on the Continent and this record did follow a spell of easterlies that brought some migrant insects to the UK, so a natural origin should perhaps not be ruled out completely.
Cycalmen Tortrix Clepsis spectrana - One caught at home on 24th July 2019. 2020 was my second blank year here and I've never had more than 3 in a year. Elsewhere 6 at the meadows on 4 nights between 7th July and 22nd August 2019, one at Weybourne and one at Hellesdon in 2019 and just one at the meadows in 2020.
Privet Tortrix Clepsis consimilana - At least 75 in my garden (not counted on a couple of nights) across 36 nights between 3rd June and 14th October 2019. A good year, but not my best (90 on 38 nights in 2018). 2020 wasn't far off with 71 over 30 nights between 13th June and 2nd October (peaked at 12 on 25th June, one short of my record count). Also recorded at the meadows on 6 dates (where up to 10 netted along the track on several nights in the second half of June 2019) and at Bintree Wood, Weybourne and Tresidder in Cornwall.
Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana - Over 100 at home in 2019, recorded on 55 nights between 20th May and 26th November. In 2020 one here on 26th January and then 113 recorded over 69 nights between 28th April and 9th November. A count of 10 on 7th August 2020 matched my previous best. Elsewhere just one at the Cathedral Meadows, and recorded at Whitwell Street, Weybourne, Row Heath (West Runton), my parents' house in Keswick and Tresidder in Cornwall.
Orange Pine Tortrix Lozotaeniodes formosana - 10 at Weybourne on 5th July 2019; none in 2020. I've had a total of 3 here in the past, all in 2017 and 2018.
Summer Fruit Tortrix Adoxophyes orana - None. I recorded this for the first time in my garden in 2018.
Deep Brown Shade Neosphaleroptera nubilana - None. I've never seen this scarce species but the handful of Norfolk records are quite widespread so it's definitely one to look out for.
Winter Shade Tortricodes alternella - 2 at Bodney in the Brecks on 14th March 2020 - my only record in the 2 years. Although I've averaged one a year at home these weren't my first blank years (2 here so far in 2021 which seems to be a much better year for this species).
Bluebell Shade Eana incanana - Singles in my garden on 17th July 2019 and 28th June and 3rd July 2020. I've only had one here before, in 2016. Prior to 2019 there were only 8 Norfolk records despite large numbers being recorded at both Weston Park and Hockering Wood on 2 Norfolk Moth Survey events that I've attended. With 3 county records in 2019 and 8 in 2020 perhaps this species is increasing and expanding? Some individuals can look extremely similar to some Cnephasia and while I can see that worn examples could need dissecting to be sure I'm not entirely convinced that this species couldn't be promoted to Grade 3, i.e. requiring a good photo or specimen but not necessarily examination of genitalia.
Light Grey Tortrix Cnephasia incertana - Singles at home on 1st and 27th June 2019, my worst year to date (I average 7-8 a year here). A bit better in 2020 with 5 between 15th and 29th June. Elsewhere 7 at the meadows between 25th May and 7th July. This species can look extremely similar to Cnephasia asseclana so personally I would advise dissection for all but the most obvious individuals.
Spruce Tortrix Dichelia histriona - One to LED lights at Swanton Great Wood on 27th August 2019 proved to be my most exciting find of the year and indeed probably my rarest moth find to date. It was new to Norfolk and apparently only the second record for Britain! The first, in London, was believed to be accidentally imported with nursery stock or timber but the origin of this individual is not known. Apparently there have been no recent imports of Spruce at Swanton Novers. They occur on the Continent and this record did follow a spell of easterlies that brought some migrant insects to the UK, so a natural origin should perhaps not be ruled out completely.
female Spruce Tortrix Dichelia histrionana, Swanton Great Wood, 27th August (showing genitalia in last 3 images)
Cycalmen Tortrix Clepsis spectrana - One caught at home on 24th July 2019. 2020 was my second blank year here and I've never had more than 3 in a year. Elsewhere 6 at the meadows on 4 nights between 7th July and 22nd August 2019, one at Weybourne and one at Hellesdon in 2019 and just one at the meadows in 2020.
Cyclamen Tortrix Clepsis spectrana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 7th July 2019
Cyclamen Tortrix Clepsis spectrana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 22nd August 2019
Cyclamen Tortrix Clepsis spectrana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 18th July 2020
Privet Tortrix Clepsis consimilana - At least 75 in my garden (not counted on a couple of nights) across 36 nights between 3rd June and 14th October 2019. A good year, but not my best (90 on 38 nights in 2018). 2020 wasn't far off with 71 over 30 nights between 13th June and 2nd October (peaked at 12 on 25th June, one short of my record count). Also recorded at the meadows on 6 dates (where up to 10 netted along the track on several nights in the second half of June 2019) and at Bintree Wood, Weybourne and Tresidder in Cornwall.
Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana - Over 100 at home in 2019, recorded on 55 nights between 20th May and 26th November. In 2020 one here on 26th January and then 113 recorded over 69 nights between 28th April and 9th November. A count of 10 on 7th August 2020 matched my previous best. Elsewhere just one at the Cathedral Meadows, and recorded at Whitwell Street, Weybourne, Row Heath (West Runton), my parents' house in Keswick and Tresidder in Cornwall.
Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana, North Elmham, 24th June 2020
Orange Pine Tortrix Lozotaeniodes formosana - 10 at Weybourne on 5th July 2019; none in 2020. I've had a total of 3 here in the past, all in 2017 and 2018.
Summer Fruit Tortrix Adoxophyes orana - None. I recorded this for the first time in my garden in 2018.
Deep Brown Shade Neosphaleroptera nubilana - None. I've never seen this scarce species but the handful of Norfolk records are quite widespread so it's definitely one to look out for.
Winter Shade Tortricodes alternella - 2 at Bodney in the Brecks on 14th March 2020 - my only record in the 2 years. Although I've averaged one a year at home these weren't my first blank years (2 here so far in 2021 which seems to be a much better year for this species).
Winter Shades Tortricodes alternella, Bodney, 14th March 2020
Bluebell Shade Eana incanana - Singles in my garden on 17th July 2019 and 28th June and 3rd July 2020. I've only had one here before, in 2016. Prior to 2019 there were only 8 Norfolk records despite large numbers being recorded at both Weston Park and Hockering Wood on 2 Norfolk Moth Survey events that I've attended. With 3 county records in 2019 and 8 in 2020 perhaps this species is increasing and expanding? Some individuals can look extremely similar to some Cnephasia and while I can see that worn examples could need dissecting to be sure I'm not entirely convinced that this species couldn't be promoted to Grade 3, i.e. requiring a good photo or specimen but not necessarily examination of genitalia.
male Bluebell Shade Eana incanana, North Elmham, 17th July 2019
male Bluebell Shade Eana incanana, North Elmham, 28th June 2020
female Bluebell Shade Eana incanana, North Elmham, 3rd July 2020
Light Grey Tortrix Cnephasia incertana - Singles at home on 1st and 27th June 2019, my worst year to date (I average 7-8 a year here). A bit better in 2020 with 5 between 15th and 29th June. Elsewhere 7 at the meadows between 25th May and 7th July. This species can look extremely similar to Cnephasia asseclana so personally I would advise dissection for all but the most obvious individuals.
male Light Grey Tortrixes Cnephasia incertana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 31st May 2019
male Light Grey Tortrix Cnephasia incertana, North Elmham, 1st June 2019
female Light Grey Tortrix Cnephasia incertana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 6th June 2019
male Light Grey Tortrix Cnephasia incertana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 25th May 2020
male Light Grey Tortrix Cnephasia incertana, North Elmham, 15th June 2020
male Light Grey Tortrix Cnephasia incertana, North Elmham, 27th June 2020
Grey Tortrix Cnephasia stephensiana - Totals of 52 at home between 24th June and 1st August 2019 and 25 between 22nd June and 26th July 2020. 2019 was above average but 2019 was just about my worst year here. Elsewhere 6 identified at the meadows in each year. Although these are verification grade 2 (gen det not required for recording) I am only confident identifying a small minority of extreme individuals without checking their genitalia.
male Grey Tortrix Cnephasia stephensiana, North Elmham, 5th July 2019
male Grey Tortrix Cnephasia stephensiana, North Elmham, 7th July 2019
male Grey Tortrix Cnephasia stephensiana, North Elmham, 9th July 2019
male Grey Tortrix Cnephasia stephensiana, North Elmham, 10th July 2019
male Grey Tortrix Cnephasia stephensiana, North Elmham, 14th July 2019
male Grey Tortrixes Cnephasia stephensiana, North Elmham, 17th July 2019
female Grey Tortrix Cnephasia stephensiana, North Elmham, 19th July 2019
male Grey Tortrix Cnephasia stephensiana, North Elmham, 22nd June 2020
male Grey Tortrix Cnephasia stephensiana, North Elmham, 5th July 2020
Flax Tortrix Cnephasia asseclana - Totals of 27 at home between 21st June and 26th July 2019 and 12 between 3rd June and 9th July 2020 - 27 was pretty average but 12 was my lowest annual total here. Elsewhere 4 identified at the meadows and 4 at Bintree Wood. Although these are typically smaller than the previous species and there are average differences in pattern I am not entirely convinced that these are really identifiable without dissection, despite their 'grade 2' status, especially when you thrown in other Cnephasia which can also look extremely similar. Indeed I'd be interested to hear from anyone who can point to any non-genitalic feature or combination of features that is diagnostic of this species.
female Flax Tortrix Cnephasia asseclana, North Elmham, 21st June 2019
male and female Flax Tortrixes Cnephasia asseclana, North Elmham, 24th June 2019
female Flax Tortrix Cnephasia asseclana, North Elmham, 28th June 2019
male and 2 female Flax Tortrixes Cnephasia asseclana, North Elmham, 29th June 2019
female Flax Tortrix Cnephasia asseclana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 7th July 2019
male Flax Tortrix Cnephasia asseclana, North Elmham, 21st July 2019
female Flax Tortrix Cnephasia asseclana, North Elmham, 3rd June 2020
female Flax Tortrix Cnephasia asseclana, Bintree Wood, 13th June 2020
female Flax Tortrix Cnephasia asseclana, North Elmham, 4th July 2020
female Flax Tortrix Cnephasia asseclana, North Elmham, 9th July 2020
Meadow Shade Cnephasia pasiuana - None. These are very difficult to determine from pumicana even when looking at their genitalia. I have only identified one, and none locally, but I do occasionally get individuals that I'm not completely certain about that could perhaps be this species.
Cereal Tortrix Cnephasia pumicana - Singles in my garden trap on 17th and 22nd July 2019 and on 3 dates between 11th and 29th July 2020 - poor totals compared to the 11 and 7 I had in 2015 and 2016. Also one at Weybourne on 5th July 2019. Although these are typically large, pale and relatively plain, some individuals can be strongly patterned, and of course other species can be plain and pale too (especially genitalana).
male Cereal Tortrix Cnephasia pumicana, Weybourne, 5th July 2019
male Cereal Tortrix Cnephasia pumicana, North Elmham, 17th July 2019
male Cereal Tortrix Cnephasia pumicana, North Elmham, 22nd July 2019
male Cereal Tortrix Cnephasia pumicana, North Elmham, 11th July 2020
female Cereal Tortrix Cnephasia pumicana, North Elmham, 21st July 2020
male Cereal Tortrix Cnephasia pumicana, North Elmham, 29th July 2020
Dover Shade Cnephasia genitalana - Totals of 17 in the garden trap between 17th and 31st July 2019 and 17 again between 24th June and 10th August 2020, pretty average years. Also singles next door, at the meadows, at Bintree Wood and at Brancaster.
male Dover Shade Cnephasia genitalana, North Elmham, 11th July 2019
male Dover Shade Cnephasia genitalana, North Elmham, 19th July 2019
female Dover Shade Cnephasia genitalana, North Elmham, 28th July 2019
female Dover Shade Cnephasia genitalana, North Elmham, 30th July 2019
female Dover Shade, Cnephasia genitalana, North Elmham, 31st July 2019
female Dover Shade Cnephasia genitalana, North Elmham, 8th August 2019
male Dover Shade Cnephasia genitalana, North Elmham, 25th June 2020
female Dover Shade Cnephasia genitalana, North Elmham, 8th July 2020
May Shade Cnephasia communana - None. I've never seen this species and although it's never been recorded anywhere near here (it's mostly in the Brecks) there are records from elsewhere in Norfolk so you never know...
Long-winged Shade Cnephasia longana - One at Brancaster on 2nd July 2020. I've only ever had one here, in 2016.
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