Review of 2019 and 2020 - Moths: Tortrix Moths (Tortricidae) (Part 5: Conches I (Phtheochroa to Aethes))

TORTRIX MOTHS (TORTRICIDAE) (continued)


Plain Conch Phtheochroa inopiana - Singles in the garden on 1st August 2019 and 16th July 2020.  I usually (but not always) see more than this.

female Plain Conch Phtheochroa inopiana, North Elmham, 16th July 2020

Rough-winged Conch Phtheochroa rugosana - One in the garden on 29th June and one at Weybourne on 5th July 2019.  It took me until 2016 to record this species anywhere but since then I've had 1-2 here each year - up until 2020 when there were none.


Bluebell Conch Hysterophora maculosana - None.  I've not recorded this in my garden yet, and perhaps it's not all that likely as I think most records (all of mine at least) have been flying around bluebells in sunshine.


Straw Conch Cochylimorpha straminea - Singles in my garden trap on 17th and 23rd August 2019 and 15th August 2020.  Although I had 6 here in 2018 I'd only had 0-1 a year prior to that.

Straw Conch Cochylimorpha straminea, North Elmham, 17th August 2019

Water-mint Conch Phalonidia manniana - None.  One in my garden in 2018 was my first here.


Common Yellow Conch Agapeta hamana - Recorded on 37 nights between 1st June and 17th August 2019 involving at least 100 individuals (not counted every night).  This was my best year here, about 50% better than average.  A more typical 57 between 11th June and 16th August 2020.  Also recorded next door, at the meadows on numerous occasions (including on the earlier/later dates of 25th May and 3rd September in 2019), and at Weybourne.


Knapweed Conch Agapeta zoegana - 5 in the garden trap between 6th July and 16th August 2019 was slightly short of 2018's total but more than usual.   2020 was exceptional with 19 here between 17th June and 12th August (including at least 5 of the brown form ferrugana).  Also found next door, at the meadows and at Thompson Common.

Knapweed Conch Agapeta zoegana, North Elmham, 18th June 2020

Knapweed Conch Agapeta zoegana, North Elmham, 31st July 2020

Marbled Conch Eupoecilia angustana - 2 at Weybourne on 5th July 2019 and one at home on 9th July.  The latter was only my second for the garden following one in 2016.  None in 2020.

Marbled Conch Eupoecilia angustana, Weybourne, 5th July 2019

Marbled Conch Eupoecilia angustana, North Elmham, 9th July 2019

Yarrow Conch Aethes smeathmanniana - None in the garden in 2019 (for the second year running) but 4 in 2020 (3 between 21st and 25th May and one on 8th August).  I'd had 2 here in 2015 and again in 2017 but blank years every other year.  Elsewhere singles at the meadows on 22nd August 2019 and 17th May 2020.

Yarrow Conch Aethes smeathmanniana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 22nd August 2019

Yarrow Conch Aethes smeathmanniana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 17th May 2020

Yarrow Conch Aethes smeathmanniana, North Elmham, 25th May 2020

Downland Conch Aethes tesserana - 2 at Brancaster on 2nd July 2020.  I've never had this species locally but there are a few inland records so it's not out of the question.


Hemlock Conch Aethes beatricella - Singles in the garden trap on 29th June and 2nd July 2019, my second and third records here following one in 2017.  Also one at Weybourne on 5th July.  None in 2020.

Hemlock Conch Aethes beatricella, North Elmham, 29th June 2019

Hemlock Conch Aethes beatricella, North Elmham, 2nd July 2019

Long-barred Yellow Conch Aethes francillana - None.  I've never seen this species but although it's quite scarce there's no reason why I shouldn't find it locally.


Thistle Conch Aethes cnicana - None.  I've had one in the garden, in 2018.


Burdock Conch Aethes rubigana - Recorded in 2019 in the garden on 21st and 25th July, the meadows on 26th July and 4th August and next door on 7th August.  I've had 2-6 here each year since moving in until 2020 when I didn't catch any anywhere.

Burdock Conch Aethes rubigana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 26th July 2019

Next page: more Tortricidae

Purple Hairstreaks

One of the highlights of a productive visit to the Cathedral Meadows on 2nd July was finding at least 30 Purple Hairstreak butterflies.  Judging from various reports on social media it seemed to be a good year for them so I'd been keeping an eye out for them.  After a couple of failed efforts I finally found them where I most expected them, in the oaks running along the  bottom of the meadows alongside the disused railway.  They were keeping high up so my photographic efforts leave something to be desired...

Purple Hairstreaks, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 2nd July

Other butterflies included over 100 Ringlets and my first Gatekeeper of the year.  The former seem to be having a good year, although I don't have any previous years' data from this site to compare with, but I ended up seeing very few Gatekeepers indeed this year.

Moths included White Oak Midget Phyllonorycter harrisella, 6 Common Nettle-taps Anthophila fabriciana, Common Yellow Conch Agapeta hamana, Timothy Tortrix Aphelia paleana, 15 Privet Tortrixes Clepsis consimilana, Light Grey Tortrix Cnephasia incertana, 2 Yellow Oak Buttons Aleimma loeflingiana, Barred Marble Celypha striana, 4 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Plum Tortrix Hedya pruniana, 5 Common Cloaked Shoots Gypsonoma dealbana, Bud Moth Spilonota ocellana, 5 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, Straw Grass-veneer Agriphila straminella, 2 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, 2 Blood-veins, Small Fan-footed Wave and thousands of mines of Horse-Chestnut Leaf-miners Cameraria ohridella.

Yellow Oak Button Aleimma loeflingiana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 2nd July

Common Cloaked Shoots Gypsonoma dealbana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 2nd July - dark and pale forms

One of at least 3 waxflies was retained for checking and proved to be Conwentzia psociformis,a species I'd only identified once before.

Conwentzia psociformis (male, gen det), North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 2nd July

I only checked 3 of them but if all the soldier beetles were the same species there were at least 40 Rhagonycha fulva.  Other insects included 2 Emperor dragonflies, 8 Meadow Grasshoppers, the mirid bug Stenotus binotatus, a Common Froghopper Philaenus spumarius and an Ichneumon wasp that I tried and failed to identify, but a member of the genus Tryphon apparently.

Rhagonycha fulva, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 2nd July

Stenotus binotatus, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 2nd July

Tryphon sp., North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 2nd July

That night new for the year (for the garden) were Common Nettle-tap Anthophila fabriciana, Orange Crest Helcystogramma rufescens, Drinker, July Highflyer and Buff Footman, but better than any of them was another Wood Carpet.

Orange Crest Helcystogramma rufescens, North Elmham, 2nd July

Drinker, North Elmham, 2nd July

Buff Footman, North Elmham, 2nd July

Other moths were Beech Midget Phyllonorycter maestingella, Diamond-back Plutella xylostella, Tipped Oak Case-bearer Coleophora flavipennella, Little Dwarf Elachista canapennella, Burdock Neb Metzneria lappella, Privet Tortrix Clepsis consimilana, Light Brown Apple-moth Epiphyas postvittana, Grey Tortrix Cnephasia stephensiana, 4 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 8 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, 5 Triangle-marked Rollers Ancylis achatana, Triple-blotched Bell Notocelia trimaculana, Hoary Bell Eucosma cana, Many-plume Moth Alucita hexadactyla, 9 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 2 Inlaid Grass-veneers Crambus pascuella, 2 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, 2 Little Greys Eudonia lacustrata, 4 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, Fenland Pearl Anania perlucidalis, Mother of Pearl Pleuroptya ruralis, Rosy Tabby Endotricha flammealis, 3 Buff Arches, 3 Small Emeralds, 4 Small Fan-footed Waves, 2 Dwarf Cream Waves, 8 Single-dotted Waves, 3 Riband Waves, 7 Barred Straws, 2 Sandy Carpets, Grey Pug, V-Pug, 2 Green Pugs, 2 Brimstone Moths, 2 Early Thorns, 2 Willow Beauties, 3 Mottled Beauties, 2 Engraileds, Privet Hawk-moth, Elephant Hawk-moth, Buff-tip, 3 Rosy Footmen, Scarce Footman, 39 Common Footmen, 12 Buff Ermines, 2 Heart and Clubs, 2 Heart and Darts, Large Yellow Underwing, Double Square-spot, 2 Bright-line Brown-eyes, 5 Smoky Wainscots, 2 Common Wainscots, 2 Brown Rustics, Dark Arches, Rufous Minor, Common Rustic (and 1 agg.), 13 Uncertains, Rustic, 5 Mottled Rustics, 3 Beautiful Hook-tips, Straw Dot and Snout.

There was also a Common Earwing and Caddisflies included Medium Sedge Goera pilosa (new for the year) and Limnephilus lunatus.

Next day Scarce Obscure Oegoconia deauratella, Burdock Conch Aethes rubigana and Mere Wainscot were new for the year.

Scarce Obscure Oegoconia deauratella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 3rd July

Burdock Conch Aethes rubigana, North Elmham, 3rd July

Mere Wainscot, North Elmham, 3rd July

Other moths (there were only 33 species, a low number in July) were 2 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 3 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Garden Grass-veneer Chrysoteuchia culmella, 2 Inlaid Grass-veneers Crambus pascuella, 2 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, Rosy Tabby Endotricha flammealis, Bee Moth Aphomia sociella, 3 Small Fan-footed Waves, Dwarf Cream Wave, 2 Single-dotted Waves, 5 Riband Waves, 3 Barred Straws, Sandy Carpet, Clouded Border, Swallow-tailed Moth, Willow Beauty, Mottled Beauty, Engrailed, Coxcomb Prominent, 24 Common Footmen, 18 Buff Ermines, Cinnabar, 3 Heart and Darts, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Smoky Wainscot, Common Rustic, 14 Uncertains, 3 Mottled Rustics, Burnished Brass and Snout.

Four Leopards in the garden

When I started recording Rose Tortrix Archips rosana at Bawdeswell there were relatively few records in Norfolk, and most of them were from just 2-3 observers.  I added to the pattern recording quite a few while I was there, though I see that there are now quite a few more records from a greater variety of other people too.  I didn't get any at North Elmham last year despite there being far more roses in the immediate vicinity than there were at Bawdeswell.  This year they have appeared - starting with this one on 17th July.

Rose Tortrix Archips rosana, North Elmham, 17th July

The best macros that night were 4 Leopard Moths.  None of them were in the trap - 3 were in the grass or on the sheet round the trap in the evening and the fourth was on the side of the shed in the morning.

Leopard Moth, North Elmham, 17th July

Also new for the year were White Sallow Case-bearer Coleophora albidella, Burdock Conch Aethes rubigana and Small Scallop.

Small Scallop, North Elmham, 17th July

Burdock Conch Aethes rubigana, North Elmham, 17th July

White Sallow Case-bearer Coleophora albidella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 17th July

Overall there were significantly fewer moths than the night before, but 74 species wasn't all that bad (well, maybe quite bad for the peak of summer in reasonable conditions).  Other micros were Hawthorn Ermel Paraswammerdamia nebulella, 3 Diamond-back Moths Plutella xylostella, Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis cerasana, Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis heparana, 2 Large Fruit-tree Tortrixes Archips podana, Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana, Red-barred Tortrix Ditula angustiorana, Grey Tortrix Cnephasia stephensiana, 2 Flax Tortrixes Cnephasia asseclana, Light Grey Tortrix Cnephasia incertana, Barred Marble Celypha striana, 5 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Plum Tortrix Hedya pruniana, Marbled Orchard Tortrix Hedya nubiferana, Triangle-marked Roller Ancylis achatana, Holly Tortrix Rhopobota naevana, Hoary Bell Eucosma cana, Two-coloured Bell Eucosma obumbratana, 3 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 2 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, 2 Water Veneers Acentria ephemerella, 3 Little Greys Eudonia lacustrata, 2 Small Greys Eudonia mercurella, 2 Ringed China-marks Parapoynx stratiotata, Beautiful China-mark Nymphula nitidulata, Chequered Straw Evergestis pallidata, 2 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, 3 Elder Pearls Anania coronata, Dusky Pearl Udea prunalis and Bee Moth Aphomia sociella.

The other macros were Common Emerald, Small Emerald, Lesser Cream Wave, 3 Small Fan-footed Waves, Dwarf Cream Wave, 3 Single-dotted Waves, 15 Riband Waves, Yellow Shell, Barred Yellow, Green Pug, Double-striped Pug, 3 Clouded Borders, 3 Early Thorns, 4 Scalloped Oaks, Willow Beauty, Engrailed, Common White Wave, 2 Clouded Silvers, Poplar Hawkmoth, Buff-tip, Brown-tail, 2 Rosy Footmen, 9 Dingy Footmen, 2 Scarce Footmen, 29 Common Footmen, 18 Buff Ermines, Cinnabar, 3 Flames, 2 Double Square-spots, Bright-line Brown-eye, Clay, 7 Smoky Wainscots, 2 Dark Arches, Tawny Marbled Minor, 14 Uncertains, Rustic, 5 Nut-tree Tussocks, Burnished Brass and 2 Snouts.

The caddisflies were quite good.  One species was new to me: Oecetis lacustris.

Oecetis lacustris (female), North Elmham, 17th July

Two apparently different female Hydropsyche were the trigger for my re-assessment of the ID I've been making of these.  Initially I had a male pellucidula among numerous females, which are harder to ID.  I struggled with these as they showed one feature that seemed to fit siltalai better but in other ways were unconvincing, and although I can't recall the details one day when I had two different examples I figured out that the majority had to be pellucidula - no doubt partly influenced by the ID of the male.  Well as time went on I became increasingly uncomfortable with this ID but all I was getting was females.  Eventually I got one or two male siltalai but it wasn't until 17th when I got two different females, one of which may well have really been pellucidula and the other, like the majority of the previous ones that it resembled, I'm now fairly convinced was siltalai.  I'm still not entirely clear on these though, and won't be submitting these records without taking expert advice. Externally they've all looked pretty similar, except the worn ones that haven't shown much pattern.

probable Hydropsyche siltalai (female), North Elmham, 17th July

Hydropsyche sp., possibly pellucidula (female), North Elmham, 17th July

There were also Ecnomus tenellus, Polycentropus flavomaculatus, Agrypnia pagetana, Athripsodes aterrimus, 3 Leptocerus tineiformis and 3 Mystacides longicornis.

Agrypnia pagetana (male), North Elmham, 17th July

Polycentropus flavomaculatus (male), North Elmham, 17th July

Ecnomus tenellus (female), North Elmham, 17th July

Athripsodes aterrimus (female), North Elmham, 17th July

Mystacides longicornis (female), North Elmham, 17th July

Other things included Green Drake (Mayfly) Ephemera danica (and a Cloeon/Procloeon sp. that I can't identify) and a Summer Chafer.

Dotted Grey Groundling (Athrips mouffetella)

After the poor showing on the night of 30th July, 31st was back on form.  Among the 178 moths of 61 species was a lifer, Dotted Grey Groundling Athrips mouffetella.

Dotted Grey Groundling Athrips mouffetella, North Elmham, 31st July

There were 3 more new for the year: Small Clover Case-bearer Coleophora alcyonipennella, Large Birch Bell Epinotia brunnichana and Oak Nycteoline.

 Large Birch Bell Epinotia brunnichana, North Elmham, 31st July

Small Clover Case-bearer Coleophora alcyonipennella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 31st July

Oak Nycteoline, North Elmham, 31st July

A variety of other micros recorded: Cinereous Groundling Bryotropha terrella, House Groundling Bryotropha domestica, Hook-marked Straw Moth Agapeta hamana, 2 Burdock Conches Aethes rubigana, Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis cerasana, 3 Large Fruit-tree Tortrices Archips podana, Red-barred Tortrix Ditula angustiorana, Flax Tortrix Cnephasia asseclana, 2 Cereal Tortrices Cnephasia pumicana, Dover Shade Cnephasia genitalana, Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, Barred Marble Celypha striana, 3 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Common Cloaked Shoot Gypsonoma dealbana, 6 Marbled Piercers Cydia splendana, 9 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 36 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, 5 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, Chequered Grass-veneer Catoptria falsella, 2 Little Greys Eudonia lacustrata, 3 Small Greys Eudonia mercurella, Dusky Pearl Udea prunalis, 6 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, 4 Rosy Tabbies Endotricha flammealis and Beautiful Knot-horn Rhodophaea formosa.

 Beautiful Knot-horn Rhodophaea formisa, North Elmham, 31st July

Burdock Conch Aethes rubigana, North Elmham, 31st July

Marbled Piercer Cydia splendana, North Elmham, 31st July

Other macros were 4 Chinese Characters, 4 Small Fan-footed Waves, Single-dotted Wave, 2 Riband Waves, Red Twin-spot Carpet, Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet, Large Twin-spot Carpet, Common Carpet, 3 Clouded Borders, 2 Willow Beauties, 2 Coxcomb Prominents, Pale Prominent, 2 Chocolate-tips, Yellow-tail, 10 Dingy Footmen, 4 Scarce Footmen, 13 Common Footmen, Buff Ermine, 2 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, Nutmeg, Bright-line Brown-eye, Antler Moth, 3 Clays, Cloaked Minor, 2 Common Rustics, Dusky Sallow, 7 Uncertains, Rustic, 3 Nut-tree Tussocks, Beautiful Hook-tip, Snout and Fan-foot. 

Chocolate-tip, North Elmham, 31st July

Cloaked Minor, North Elmham, 31st July - is it just me that finds individuals like this very hard to separate from Marbled Minor agg.?

Coxcomb Prominent, North Elmham, 31st July