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.

Tuesday 23 February 2021

Review of 2019 - Tubics (Oecophoridae and Chimbachidae) and Long-horned Flat-body (Peleopodidae)

TUBICS (OECOPHORIDAE)


Italian Tubic Metalampra italica - Singles in the garden moth trap on 23rd and 24th July 2019 plus one in my bedroom on 5th August.  Then 5 in 2020 between 8th August and 8th September.  This species was new to Norfolk in 2014 when 3 were recorded (2 by me, one in my old house just before I moved out and one in the new house soon after moving in).  Since then increasing numbers have been recorded each year although after my first ones in 2014 I didn't see it again until 2018.

Italian Tubic Metalampra italica, North Elmham, 5th August 2019


Italian Tubic Metalampra italica, North Elmham, 8th August 2020



White-shouldered House Moth Endrosis sarcitrella - Singles here on 23rd May and 16th June 2019 and then on 8 dates between 1st August and 5th October.  One on 24th April 2020 and 9 more between 27th May and 22nd September.  Both fairly typical showings although in some years the spring/early summer generation is the busier one.  Also one at the Cathedral Meadows and at a handful of other places including Whitwell Street, Norwich, Suffolk, Cornwall and Mull.  A couple were found at wine ropes.

White-shouldered House Moth Endrosis sarcitrella, North Elmham, 23rd May 2019



Brown House Moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella - Totals of 42 here between 1st June and 27th August 2019 and 67 between 20th May and 15th September 2020, a minority of which were found in the house.  Recorded at the meadows on a couple of dates each year and also recorded at a few other sites including Norwich and Mull.

Brown House Moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella, North Elmham, 8th September 2020



Small Dingy Tubic Borkhausenia fuscescens - 8 at home between 4th July and 18th August 2019 with a peak of 3 on 25th July.   I average over 15 a year here and this was my worst year in 5.  2020 was better with 21 between 9th July and 12th August.


Golden-brown Tubic Crassa unitella - 2019 was my best year for these here with at least 36 (not counted on a couple of nights) between 5th July and 10th August.  2020 was a reasonable year with 24 between 26th June and 19th August.  Also 10 at the meadows (including one on an earlier date of 23rd June) and a small number elsewhere.

Golden-brown Tubic Crassa unitella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 23rd June 2020



Lesser Tawny Tubic Batia lunaris - Totals of 11 here between 5th and 26th July 2019 and 12 between 26th June and 27th August 2020, my best years yet.


Greater Tawny Tubic Batia lambdella
- None.  I'm yet to see this species but it's widespread enough in Norfolk so must be round here somewhere.


Sulphur Tubic Esperia sulphurella - Singles at the Cathedral Meadows on 19th and 30th April and 2nd May 2019 and 15th and 27th May 2020.  None at home although I have recorded the species here 3 times (in 2016 and 2017).

Sulpur Tubic Esperia sulphurella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 19th April 2019


Sulpur Tubic Esperia sulphurella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 15th May 2020



Common Tubic Alabonia geoffrella - 2 at the Cathedral Meadows on 22nd May 2019 and then with Thomas Spencer's help we found 8 there on 25th May.  I'd only ever seen 2 before so was pleased with this.  Another 5 at the meadows betewen 25th May and 3rd June 2020.



Common Tubics Alabonia geoffrella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 22nd May 2019


Common Tubic Alabonia geoffrella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 27th May 2020



Ruddy Streak Tachystola acroxantha - One flew in through my office window in Norwich on 24th September 2020, a completely new moth for me.  Rob Lee found the first (and second) Norfolk records of this adventive species in 2015 and since then it has clearly become established in parts of Norwich.  My second and third records of this species came soon after, during a trip to Cornwall where I trapped singles overnight on 3rd and 6th October.  I didn't find the species when I stayed at the same cottage in the same week in 2018, so I wonder if it's arrived there in just the last couple of years?

Ruddy Streak Tachystola acroxantha, Norwich, 24th September 2020


Ruddy Streak Tachystola acroxantha, Tresidder (Cornwall), 3rd October 2020


Ruddy Streak Tachystola acroxantha, Tresidder (Cornwall), 6th October 2020




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TUBICS (CHIMABACHIDAE)


March Tubic Diurnea fagella - 6 at home between 17th and 27th March 2019 plus 15 (over 2 nights) at the meadows during this period.  7 at home between 13th and 26th March 2020 and 2 in the Brecks.  This species is annual here but not in big numbers - only 2018 was better than this.

March Tubic Diurnea fagella, North Elmham, 17th March



male and female March Tubics Diurnea fagella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 18th March 2019



November Tubic Diurnea lipsiella - None.  I still await my first one - I heard several reports in the autumn of 2020 so got hopeful, but no luck.



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LYPUSID TUBICS (LYPUSIDAE)

No representatives of this family are particularly likely here, though I guess there's a small chance of getting either of the rare Agnoea species at some point.



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LONG-HORNED FLAT-BODY (PELEOPODIDAE)


Long-horned Flat-body Carcina quercana - Recorded on 19 nights here between 1st July and 16th August 2019.  Total numbers uncertain as wasn't counted every night but at least 24.  Recorded on 26-30 nights in each of the previous 3 years so not a good year for this species.  2020 was more typical with 45 on 31 nights between 29th June and 27th August plus one on 28th October (this new second generation has produced a crop of records in the last few years except 2019).  Elsewhere recorded from next door, the meadows and from Swanton Novers in August 2019, Bintree Wood in July 2020 and the Cathedral Meadows in August 2020.

Long-horned Flat-body Carcina quercana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 26th July 2019


Long-horned Flat-body Carcina quercana, North Elmham, 29th June 2020


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