Review of 2019 and 2020 - Moths: Gelechiids (Gelechiidae) (Part 7: Groundlings - subfamily Gelechiinae III)

GELECHIIDS (GELECHIIDAE) (continued)


Subfamily GELECHIINAE (continued)


Common Groundling Teleiodes vulgella - Singles in the garden trap on 5 nights between 4th and 25th July 2019.  This species is just about annual here but although I had 6 in 2018 previous year totals had ranged from 1-3.  2020 was back down again with just one on 17th July.

Common Groundling Teleiodes vulgella, North Elmham, 25th July 2019

Crescent Groundling Teleiodes luculella - One here on 1st June 2019 was only my second record for the garden following one in 2015

Crescent Groundling Teleiodes luculella, North Elmham, 1st June 2019

Large Groundling Teleiopsis diffinis - Singles here on 28th August and 5th September 2019 and 31st July 2020.  This was a welcome (and I think overdue?) addition to my garden list.  Also one at Bintree Wood on 13th June 2020.

Large Groundling Teleiopsis diffinis, North Elmham, 28th August 2019

Large Groundling Teleiopsis diffinis, North Elmham, 5th September 2019

Large Groundling Teleiopsis diffinis, North Elmham, 31st July 2020

Elm Groundling Carpatolechia fugitivella - One in the garden trap on 17th July 2019 was my second record of this species following one here in 2015.  The 2015 record was the first post 19th century record for Norfolk but there have been nearly 20 since.

male Elm Groundling Carpatolechia fugitivella, North Elmham, 17th July 2019

Suffused Groundling Carpatolechia alburnella - One in my garden moth trap on 29th June 2020.  This was my first here and only my second anywhere.

Suffused Groundling Carpatolechia alburnella, North Elmham, 29th June 2020

Black-speckled Groundling Carpatolechia proximella - None.  I've had just a single record here, in 2015.


Horse-shoe Groundling Altenia scriptella - One in the garden moth trap on 21st May 2020 was a completely new moth for me.

Horse-shoe Groundling Altenia scriptella, North Elmham, 21st May 2020

White-barred Groundling Recurvaria leucatella - Another new moth for me caught in the garden on 6th August 2020.

White-barred Groundling Recurvaria leucatella, North Elmham, 6th August 2020

Pine Groundling Exoteleia dodecella - None.  I've only had one of these here, in 2017.


Black-dotted Groundling Stenolechia gemmella - 2019 was a good year for this species in Norfolk enabling me to see not only my first, but also my second and third, all at different locations.  The first was in my garden trap on 26th August, the second was the following evening at Swanton Great Wood and then there was one at Row Heath (West Runton) later that week on 31st.

Black-dotted Groundling Stenolechia gemmella, North Elmham, 26th August 2019

Wood Groundling Parachronistis albiceps - One in the garden trap on 26th June 2020.  I had 3 of these here in 2018 but I've not recorded this species in the garden any other year.

Wood Groundling Parachronistis albiceps, North Elmham, 26th June 2020

Next page: Batrachedridae plus

Review of 2019 and 2020 - Moths: Gelechiids (Gelechiidae) (Part 6: Groundlings - subfamily Gelechiinae II)

GELECHIIDS (GELECHIIDAE) (continued)


Subfamily GELECHIINAE (continued)


Pointed Groundling Scrobipalpa acuminatella - Singles in my garden trap on 18th April, 1st June and 23rd July 2019 and 14th June and 17th July 2020.  I've had up to 4 of these here each year except 2015.  Elsewhere what I'm pretty sure was this species at the meadows on 22nd April 2019 (but it escaped in my study and this species requires confirmation by gen detting to be officially recorded) and one on Mull in June 2019.

male Pointed Groundling Scrobipalpa acuminatella, North Elmham, 18th April 2019

female Pointed Groundling Scrobipalpa acuminatella, North Elmham, 17th July 2020

Sea-blite Groundling Scrobipalpa suaedella - Of 15+ similar-looking Scrobipalpa at Brancaster on 2nd July 2020, 3 were retained and confirmed to be this species.

male Sea-blite Groundlings Scrobipalpa suaedella, Brancaster, 2nd July 2020

Sea-aster Groundling Scrobipalpa salicorniae - Dave Norgate asked me about a Gelechiid he'd taken at home (Toftwood, Dereham) on 26th July 2019.  It looked really interesting - apparently a Scrobipalpa, and suspiciously similar to salicorniae.  But this is a pretty rare species even in its saltmarsh habitat with none recorded in the county since 2 in 2004.  Indeed there haven't been any other records since I was born in 1971.  So the odds of the next one turning up far inland in Toftwood seem remote to the extreme.  Surely it wasn't this.  But if not, the other similar species are mainly coastal and/or extremely rare, so this one had to be resolved and I agree to give it the chop.  And sure enough, it WAS salicorniae!  Wow!  What an amazing record!  I was pretty impressed with my 2018 record of the equally saltmarsh-specific (but much commoner) Saltern Groundling Scrobipalpa instabilella here in North Elmham, but this record tramples all over mine!

male Sea-aster Groundling Scrobipalpa salicorniae, Toftwood, 26th July 2019 (caught by Dave Norgate)

Saltern Groundling Scrobipalpa instabilella - None.  Being a saltmarsh species this isn't something I'd expect to see locally, but nevertheless I did get one in my garden trap in 2018.


Goosefoot Groundling Scrobipalpa atriplicella - One at the meadows on 25th May 2019 was very unexpected.  Until recently there was just a single old record from 1874 in Norfolk but then Graham Geen caught 2 in Methwold in 2017, followed by another 5 in 2018 and 29 (!) in 2019.  Another 3 recorders found the species at different locations in 2019 too, so it would seem that this species is undergoing a dramatic change in fortunes in Norfolk at least.

male Goosefoot Groundling Scrobipalpa atriplicella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 25th May 2019

Winter Groundling Scrobipalpa costella - Singles here in the garden on 16th August 2019 and 19th October 2020.  I've recorded this species here twice before (2016 and 2018).  Also one at Tresidder in Cornwall in October 2020.

Winter Groundling Scrobipalpa costella, North Elmham, 16th August 2019

Narrow Groundling Caryocolum alsinella - One at Brancaster on 2nd July 2020 was a nice surprise, a new moth for me and only the 8th county record.

male Narrow Groundling Caryocolum alsinella, Brancaster, 2nd July 2020

Mouse-ear Groundling Caryocolum fraternella - Caught in the garden on 1st and 4th August 2020 but not in 2019.  I've had it here on 4 occasions before.  Also one at the meadows on 4th August 2019 and 18th July and 7th August 2020.

male Mouse-ear Groundling Caryocolum fraternella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 4th August 2019

male Mouse-ear Groundling Caryocolum fraternella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 18th July 2020

male Mouse-ear Groundling Caryocolum fraternella, North Elmham, 4th August 2020

Short-barred Groundling Caryocolum blandella - None.  I've never seen this species but although it's scarce there are a few records including in mid Norfolk, so I think there's a good chance it will turn up here (or at least at the meadows where there is plenty of Greater Stitchwort, its foodplant).


Three-colour Groundling Caryocolum tricolorella - One to light at Swanton Great Wood was my first ever of this species.

female Three-colour Groundling Caryocolum tricolorella, Swanton Great Wood, 27th August 2019

Next page: more Gelechiidae

Review of 2019 and 2020 - Moths: Gelechiids (Gelechiidae) (Part 5: Groundlings - subfamily Gelechiinae I)

GELECHIIDS (GELECHIIDAE) (continued)


Subfamily GELECHIINAE


Dotted Grey Groundling Athrips mouffetella - One in the garden trap on 23rd July 2019 was my first for 3 years.  I've only seen this species here, twice in 2015 (probably involving one individual) and twice in 2016.

Dotted Grey Groundling Atrhips mouffetella, North Elmham, 23rd July 2019

White-shouldered Groundling Sophronia semicostella - None.  I've only ever seen this species in the Brecks which seems to be its stronghold in Norfolk, but there are widespread records elsewhere so it might crop up locally.


Gorse Groundling Mirificarma mulinella - One in the garden trap on 8th September 2020, my third here following individuals in 2016 and 2018.

Gorse Groundling Mirificarma mulinella, North Elmham, 8th September 2020

Dusky Groundling Aroga velocella - One at the meadows on 30th June 2019, 2 in next-door's garden on 8th August and then singles in my own garden trap on 21st and 23rd August.  For a species that I'd only seen twice here before (in 2014 and 2015) that represents a pretty good showing.  2020 carried on good with 5 caught in the garden between 27th June and 21st August.

Dusky Groundling Aroga velocella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 30th June 2019

Dusky Groundling Aroga velocella, North Elmham, 8th August 2019

Dusky Groundling Aroga velocella, North Elmham, 21st August 2019

Dusky Groundling Aroga velocella, North Elmham, 23rd August 2019

Dusky Groundlings Aroga velocella, North Elmham, 21st August 2020

Eastern Groundling Chionodes distinctella - 2 at Brancaster on 2nd July 2020, a new moth for me.

Eastern Groundlings Chionodes distinctella, Brancaster, 2nd July 2020

Humped Groundling Psoricoptera gibbosella - One to light at Swanton Great Wood on 27th August 2019 was a completely new moth for me.  As such I thought I would confirm the ID with reference to the genitalia, but as it turned out this was possible without dissection as its highly distinctive uncus was visible protruding from the end of the abdomen.  Even better in 2020 as I caught one in my own garden, on 24th July.

male Humped Groundling Psoricoptera gibbosella, Swanton Great Wood, 27th August 2019 - showing the uncus and valvae tips

male Humped Groundling Psoricoptera gibbosella, North Elmham, 24th July 2020

Next page: more Gelechiidae

Review of 2019 and 2020 - Moths: Gelechiids (Gelechiidae) (Part 3: Nebs - subfamily Anomologinae I)

GELECHIIDS (GELECHIIDAE) (continued)


Subfamily ANOMOLOGINAE


House Neb Bryotropha domestica - 15 in the garden and one next door between 23rd July and 12th September 2019 and 25 between 17th July and 8th September 2020.  2019 was a fairly typical showing here but 2020 was my best ever (and included a record count of 5 on 5th August).

House Neb Bryotropha domestica, North Elmham, 31st July 2020

Cinerous Neb Bryotropha terrella - Recorded here on 43 nights between 14th June and 17th August.  I didn't count every night but assuming only one on those nights (it was probably more) the total was 140 (including a count of 15 on 16th July).  In previous years here the total counts have varied from 31 to 62 so this was an exceptional year.  2020 was good again with 119 over 43 nights between 3rd June and 20th August.  Elsewhere recorded next door, at the meadows (19 in total), Bintree Wood, Hellesdon and Weybourne.

male Cinerous Neb Bryotropha terrella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 15th June 2019

male Cinerous Neb Bryotropha terrella, North Elmham, 26th June 2019

female Cinerous Neb Bryotropha terrella, North Elmham, 3rd August 2019

male Cinerous Neb Bryotropha terrella, North Elmham, 3rd June 2020

female Cinerous Neb Bryotropha terrella, North Elmham, 31st July2020

female Cinerous Neb Bryotropha terrella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 7th August 2020

female Cinerous Neb Bryotropha terrella, North Elmham, 8th August 2020

Thatch Neb Bryotropha basaltinella - 5 in the garden moth trap between 24th July and 3rd September 2019 and 4 between 31st July and 21st August 2020.  These follow 5 in 2018 and a total of 5 between 2014 and 2016 which were the first 5 to be recorded anywhere in Norfolk.  Since 2018 this species has started to be recorded elsewhere (2 sites in 2018, another 2 in 2019 and a 5th in 2020) so I no longer have the monopoly of county records.  Presumably this represents a real increase rather than just better detection?

female Thatch Neb Bryotropha basaltinella, North Elmham, 24th July 2019

female Thatch Neb Bryotropha basaltinella, North Elmham, 25th August 2019

male Thatch Neb Bryotropha basaltinella, North Elmham, 30th August 2019

male Thatch Neb Bryotropha basaltinella, North Elmham, 3rd September 2019

male Thatch Neb Bryotropha basaltinella, North Elmham, 20th August 2020

female Thatch Neb Bryotropha basaltinella, North Elmham, 21st August 2020

Dull Red Neb Bryotropha senectella - 5 in the garden moth trap between 16th and 27th July 2019 and 4 between 14th July and 8th August 2020.  They're fairly average totals for here.  Also one at the meadows on 26th July 2019.  Although this is a grade 2 (dissection not required) I think this can be a trickier species to be sure about than the grading suggests and normally check the genitalia for confidence.  Although my pre-dissection provisional IDs are usually correct I have mistaken these with other Bryotropha, so care is needed if you don't dissect them.

male Dull Red Neb Bryotropha senectella, North Elmham, 16th July 2019

male Dull Red Neb Bryotropha senectella, North Elmham, 14th July 2020

male Dull Red Neb Bryotropha senectella, North Elmham, 18th July 2020

Dark Neb Bryotropha affinis - recorded here on 18 nights between 5th June and 8th September (not counted every night so no total count).  That's the equal highest number of nights since moving here but it hasn't varied a great deal from year to year so far.  31 over 14 nights between 26th June and 15th August 2020, my second highest total.  Also recorded next door and at the meadows in 2019.

male Dark Neb Bryotropha affinis, North Elmham, 16th August 2019

Obscure Neb Bryotropha similis - One in the garden on 29th July 2020.  2019 was the only complete year in 6 where I haven't recorded this species here at all, although with only one most years (2 in 2016) it was bound to happen sooner or later.

male Obscure Neb Bryotropha similis, North Elmham, 29th July 2020

Heather Neb Aristotelia ericinella - None.  I've not found this species locally yet but it has been recorded fairly close so it might pop up one day.

 
White-bordered Neb Isophrictis striatella - One in the garden trap on 1st August 2019, the third consecutive year I have recorded one here.  None in 2020.

White-bordered Neb Isophrictis striatella, North Elmham, 1st August 2019

Next page: more Gelechiidae