Review of 2019 and 2020 - Moths: Tortrix Moths (Tortricidae) (Part 4: Buttons II (Acleris to Pseudargyrotoza))

 TORTRIX MOTHS (TORTRICIDAE) (continued)


Tufted Button Acleris cristana - None in 2019 but one in the garden moth trap on 30th January 2020.  2019 wasn't my first blank year here but I had 6 here in the previous 3 years.

male Tufted Button Acleris cristana, North Elmham, 30th January 2020

Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana - A total of 92 in the garden trap between 20th July and 18th October 2019.  Although only one less than 2018 this was my worst year since moving here and I recorded double this number in 2016.  It picked up a bit in 2020 with 123 between 6th July and 28th October.  Very few elsewhere: one next door, one at the meadows and 2 in Cornwall.

Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 22nd August 2019

Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 6th July 2020

Ginger Button Acleris aspersana - None.  I've only recorded 3 of these, all in my garden in 2016-2017.


Meadow-sweet Button Acleris shepherdana - One at the meadows and 2 in my garden trap on the same night, 4th August 2019, and another at home 5 nights later.  3 in my garden is exceptional - I'd only ever had one here before, in 2015, but it wasn't a particularly good year for the species elsewhere in Norfolk - in fact there were only 2 others reported in the county in 2019!  None in 2020.

male Meadow-sweet Button Acleris shepherdana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 4th August 2019

male and female Meadow-sweet Buttons Acleris shepherdana, North Elmham, 4th August 2019

male Meadow-sweet Button Acleris shepherdana, North Elmham, 9th August 2019

Sallow Button Acleris hastiana - One in the garden trap on 25th December 2019, a nice Christmas present being a species I have only recorded here 3 times before (2016 and 2017).  None in 2020.

male Sallow Button Acleris hastiana, North Elmham, 25th December 2019

Heath Button Acleris hyemana - I caught my first ever example of this species in my parent's garden in Keswick (the one in Cumbria not the one in Norfolk) on 6th April 2019.  It was quite a worn individual that wasn't showing the distinctive markings often associated with this species, and so required gen detting to resolve (although I did have an inkling that it might be this species).  This species does occur in Norfolk and can apparently be seen on sunny days, though it hasn't ever been recorded close to here, and nowhere even remotely close since the start of this millenium.

male Heath Button Acleris hyemana, Keswick (Cumbria), 6th April 2019

Rusty Oak Button Acleris ferrugana - A total of 8 caught in my garden trap in 2019 which is just about my highest annual total here (average 5 a year).  3 were between 15th March and 22nd April, the spring (hibernated) generation, one on 12th July was the only one from the summer generation and the other 4 were from the autumn (and overwintering) generation between 28th September and 25th November.  The same generation made up 4 of 2020's records between 16th January and 15th February and then there were singles on 11th and 13th July.  Elsewhere a larval record from the meadows on 24th August 2020 (thanks to Rob Edmunds for confirming this one).

male Rusty Oak Button Acleris ferrugana, North Elmham, 15th March 2019

female Rusty Oak Button Acleris ferrugana, North Elmham, 22nd April 2019

female Rusty Oak Button Acleris ferrugana, North Elmham, 12th July 2019

male Rusty Oak Button Acleris ferrugana, North Elmham, 28th September 2019

male Rusty Oak Buttons Acleris ferrugana, North Elmham, 25th November 2019

male Rusty Oak Button Acleris ferrugana, North Elmham, 31st January 2020

male Rusty Oak Button Acleris ferrugana, North Elmham, 4th February 2020

male Rusty Oak Button Acleris ferrugana, North Elmham, 13th July 2020

caterpillar and pupa of Rusty Oak Button Acleris ferrugana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 24th August 2020 (pupa photographed on 9th December)

Rusty Birch Button Acleris notana - None.  Despite the close proximity of 2 Birch trees (one very mature) to my garden I have never recorded this species here (or anywhere locally).


Elm Button Acleris kochiella - None.  I've never seen this species but the species has increased significantly in recent yearas and is now widespread in Norfolk, so I should think I must be in with a good chance of catching one locally.


Grey Birch Button Acleris logiana - One in my garden moth trap on 5th July 2020 was my first here, and indeed my first anywhere since just before I moved here in 2014.

female Grey Birch Button Acleris logiana, North Elmham, 5th July 2020

Lichen Button Acleris literana - None.  Another one I'm yet to connect with, but with a scattering of records around the county there must be a fair chance of me finding one round here.  Hope so anyway - they look fabulous!


Brassy Tortrix Eulia ministrana - One in my garden trap on 31st May 2019 was a new moth for the garden.  None in 2020.

Brassy Tortrix Eulia ministrana, North Elmham, 31st  May 2019

Yellow-spot Tortrix Pseudargyrotoza conwagana - Singles caught in my garden on 4 nights between 31st May and 31st July 2019 and 3 between 12th June and 4th July 2020.  Although these are average showings I've had 2 blank years (and 10 in 2016).  Elsewhere 3 at the meadows and one at Weybourne.

Yellow-spot Tortrix Pseudargyrotoza conwagana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 21st June 2019

Yellow-spot Tortrix Pseudargyrotoza conwagana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 23rd June 2020

Next page: more Tortricidae

A new bug and several new moths and bugs for the year

I think of Ashy Button Acleris sparsana as being a late autumn species so it was a surprise to find one in my moth trap on 16th August.  But although they peak in October it's actually quite normal for the first ones to fly in August.  It was my earliest though, albeit only by a week or so.

Ashy Button Acleris sparsana, North Elmham, 16th August

Otherwise it wasn't a very eventful night with 63 moths of 24 species.  The others were Common Oak Pigmy Stigmella roborella, Red Hazel Midget Phyllonorycter nicellii, Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, Barred Marble Celypha striana, Common Marble Celypha lacunana, 18 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, 2 Elbow-stripe Grass-veneers Agriphila geniculea, 4 Garden Pebbles Evergestis forficalis, Mother of Pearl Pleuroptya ruralis, Beautiful Plume Amblyptilia acanthadactyla, Single-dotted Wave, Double-striped Pug, 3 Brimstone Moths, Canary-shouldered Thorn, Poplar Hawk-moth, 2 Swallow Prominents, 3 Flame Shoulders, 2 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, Six-striped Rustic, Common Rustic, 13 Flounced Rustics, Rosy Rustic and Straw Dot.

The following night was a bit better, with Figure of Eighty new for the year - my only one last year as it turned out (I average one a year here).

Figure of Eighty, North Elmham, 17th August

My third and final Butterbur of the year was good.  I had 3 in 2016 too but those 6 are the only ones I've ever seen anywhere.  Indeed they're a pretty scarce species in Norfolk - there was only one other record in 2016, three in total in 2017 and two others in 2018.  They are usually pretty obvious, not only because they're ginormous compared to the average Rosy Rustic, but the structure is different and the colour too.  I think there's also a slight difference in the curvature of the crossline too, but I haven't quite worked out how diagnostic that is.  But although size is usually pretty obvious, this is by no means a reliable means of identifying them.  I also caught a Rosy Rustic on this occasion, and it happened to be the largest Rosy Rustic I've ever seen.  In the photo below it appears to be even bigger than the Butterbur.  To be honest I don't think it was, quite (it's standing higher off the ground in the photo so is nearer the camera), but it was very very close.

Butterbur (top right) and Rosy Rustic (bottom left), North Elmham, 17th August

One of two Garden Rose Tortrixes Acleris variegana was the all-dark form f. caeruleaoatrana.  Quite a nice moth when fresh...

Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana (f. caeruleoatrana), North Elmham, 17th August

Other moths were Hawthorn Slender Parornix anglicella, Diamond-back Plutella xylostella, Barred Marble Celypha striana, 4 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, 35 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, 2 Elbow-stripe Grass-veneers Agriphila geniculea, Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiotata, 2 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Ermine Knot-horn Phycitodes binaevella, 3 Common Plumes Emmelina monodactyla, Maiden's Blush, Blood-vein, 2 Single-dotted Waves, Lime-speck Pug, Tawny Speckled Pug, Double-striped Pug, 4 Brimstone Moths, Canary-shouldered Thorn, 2 Dusky Thorns, Flame Shoulder, 2 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, 2 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, 3 Six-striped Rustics, 14 Flounced Rustics, 3 Straw Dots and Snout.

Mayflies and lacewings consisted of 2 Pond Olives Cloeon dipterum and Chrysopa commata respectively, and caddisflies were 2 Hydropsyche siltalai and Medium Sedge Goera pilosa.  2 Nicrophorus investigator and an Aphodius rufipes represented the beetles and there were 3 Hornets and a Common Frog.

The following night saw an improvement with 5 new moths for the year.  One of these was a Pale Thistle Case-bearer Coleophora peribenanderi, my first for a couple of years.

Pale Thistle Case-bearer Coleophora peribenanderi (male, gen det), North Elmham, 18th August

I've seen rather more Birch Marbles Apotomis betuletana, but not at home - this was my first trapped at home since 2015.

Birch Marble Apotomis betuletana, North Elmham, 18th August

2 Square-spot Rustics, Centre-barred Sallow and Frosted Orange were also new species for the year.

Square-spot Rustic, North Elmham, 18th August

Centre-barred Sallow, North Elmham, 18th August

Frosted Orange, North Elmham, 18th August

Other moths were Carrion Moth Monopis weaverella, Bird’s-nest Moth Tinea trinotella, Dark Neb Bryotropha affinis, Dingy Dowd Blastobasis adustella, Light Brown Apple-moth Epiphyas postvittana, Dark-triangle Button Acleris laterana, 2 Garden Rose Tortrixes Acleris variegana, Barred Marble Celypha striana, 5 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Marbled Piercer Cydia splendana, 46 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, 4 Elbow-stripe Grass-veneers Agriphila geniculea, Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiotata, 2 Garden Pebbles Evergestis forficalis, Pale Straw Pearl Udea lutealis, 2 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Grey Knot-horn Acrobasis advenella, 2 Common Plumes Emmelina monodactyla, Orange Swift, Maiden's Blush, Single-dotted Wave, Garden Carpet, Common Carpet, Lime-speck Pug, Double-striped Pug, 4 Brimstone Moths, Canary-shouldered Thorn, 2 Dusky Thorns, Rosy Footman, Flame Shoulder, 2 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, Small Square-spot, Setaceous Hebrew Character, 12 Flounced Rustics and 3 Straw Dots.

A Green Drake Ephemera danica was the only mayfly. Among the green lacewings, Chrysopa perla was new for the garden.  It's a very common species that I've recorded up the road at the meadows before, but apparently it's a species that doesn't turn up in gardens all that often.  Other lacewings were Chrysopa commata, Chrysoperla carnea, 2 Hemerobius lutescens and Micromus variegatus.

Chrysopa perla, North Elmham, 18th August

There was a selection of caddisflies: Cyrnus flavidus, Polycentropus flavomaculatus, 2 Hydropsyche pellucidula, Hydropsyche siltalai and Limnephilus marmoratus.  Beetles were 4 Bradycellus verbasci, a Nicrophorus investigator and another Curculio venosus.

It was a good night for bugs too, with one completely new species and two new for the year.  I've seen several of the Psallus species in the garden but they can be pretty tricky to identify.  This one keyed out to either Psallus flavellus or Psallus lepidus, either of which would be new to me, but I wasn't entirely confident I had adequately eliminated all of the other species, especially falleni (which, as it flies later than others was really quite a likely contender from the start).  The only way to resolve it was to check its genitalia, and this placed it as Psallus flavellus.

Psallus flavellus (male, gen det), North Elmham, 18th August

The two other bugs that were new for the year were the striking Campyloneura virgula and Neolygus contaminatus.  Other bugs were Birch Shieldbug, 5 Forest Bugs, 2 Tarnished Plant Bugs Lygus rugulipennis and the leafhopper Empoasca vitis. 

Campyloneura virgula, North Elmham, 18th August

Neolygus contaminatus, North Elmham, 18th August

A good year for Small Clouded Brindles?

After a brilliant night at Ringstead I returned home to check my own trap which was relatively quiet with fewer than 60 species.  New for the year here were White Sallow Case-bearer Coleophora albidella and Golden-brown Tubic Crassa unitella while Rusty Oak Button Acleris ferrugana was my first since March.

Golden-brown Tubic Crassa unitella, North Elmham, 24th June

White Sallow Case-bearer Coleophora albidella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 24th June

Rusty Oak Button Acleris ferrugana (male, gen det), North Elmham, 24th June

The other moths were 8 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, Hedge Case-bearer Coleophora striatipennella, Brown House Moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella, London Dowd Blastobasis lacticolella, Hook-marked Straw Moth Agapeta hamana, Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis cerasana, Large Fruit-tree Tortrix Archips podana, 2 Privet Tortrixes Clepsis consimilana, 3 Large Ivy Tortrixes Lozotaenia forsterana, Grey Tortrix Cnephasia stephensiana, Light Grey Tortrix Cnephasia incertana, 3 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 9 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Plum Tortrix Hedya pruniana, Triangle-marked Roller Ancylis achatana, Bramble Shoot Moth Notocelia uddmanniana, Triple-blotched Bell Notocelia trimaculana, Codling Moth Cydia pomonella, 9 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 4 Grass-veneers Crambus pascuella, 9 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, Little Grey Eudonia lacustrata, 5 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, Rosy Tabby Endotricha flammealis, Bee Moth Aphomia sociella, 2 Common Emeralds, 3 Small Fan-footed Waves, 5 Dwarf Cream Waves, 11 Single-dotted Waves, 4 Treble Brown Spots, 12 Riband Waves, 7 Barred Straws, 2 Barred Yellows, Wormwood Pug, 4 Clouded Borders, Willow Beauty, Common White Wave, 2 Elephant Hawk-moths, 2 Buff-tips, 7 Rosy Footmen, 2 Dingy Footmen, Scarce Footman, 6 Common Footmen, 5 Buff Ermines, Heart and Dart, 2 Flames, 3 Double Square-spots, 2 Clays, Smoky Wainscot, 4 Brown Rustics, 2 Dark Arches, Small Clouded Brindle, 17 Uncertains, Mottled Rustic, 3 Beautiful Hook-tips and 4 Snouts.

The Small Clouded Brindle was my sixth this year which is remarkable given that previously I had never seen one here before and only ever seen one anywhere.

Next day I found a Common Clothes Moth Tineola bisselliella in the house - my second here after one last September.  The species seems to be undergoing some kind of resurgence with a scattering of recent records in the county.

Common Clothes Moth Tineola bisselliella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 25th June

That night Small Dingy Tubic Borkhausenia fuscescens, Rough-winged Conch Phtheochroa rugosana, Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana and Dusky Pearl Udea prunalis were new for the year here in a relatively quiet night.

Small Dingy Tubic Borkhausenia fuscescens, North Elmham, 25th June

Rough-winged Conch Phtheochroa rugosana, North Elmham, 25th June

Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, North Elmham, 25th June

Dusky Pearl Udea prunalis, North Elmham, 25th June

Other moths were Clover Case-bearer Coleophora alcyonipennella, London Dowd Blastobasis lacticolella, Large Fruit-tree Tortrix Archips podana, Cnephasia sp., 5 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 10 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Plum Tortrix Hedya pruniana, Triangle-marked Roller Ancylis achatana, Bramble Shoot Moth Notocelia uddmanniana, Triple-blotched Bell Notocelia trimaculana, 5 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, Grass-veneer Crambus pascuella, Yellow Satin Veneer Crambus perlella, 3 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, Little Grey Eudonia lacustrata, 3 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, Elder Pearl Anania coronata, Fenland Pearl Anania perlucidalis, 2 Bee Moths Aphomia sociella, 2 White Plumes Pterophorus pentadactyla, Small Blood-vein, 5 Small Fan-footed Waves, 2 Dwarf Cream Waves, 6 Single-dotted Waves, 5 Riband Waves, Common Pug, 2 Clouded Borders, 3 Willow Beauties, Common White Wave, Privet Hawk-moth, 2 Dingy Footmen, 15 Common Footmen, 10 Buff Ermines, 3 Flames, Double Square-spot, Bright-line Brown-eye, Lychnis, Smoky Wainscot, 3 Brown Rustics, Dark Arches, 2 Light Arches, 27 Uncertains, Rustic, Beautiful Hook-tip, Snout and Fan-foot.