Review of 2019 and 2020 - Moths: Grass moths (Crambidae) - Part 1: Pearls I (Pyrausta to Anania)

GRASS MOTHS (CRAMBIDAE)


Silver-barred Sable Pyrausta cingulata - 3 along the track running west from Tiroran on Mull on 10th June 2019.  This is a non-Norfolk species and it was a new one for me.

Silver-barred Sables Pyrausta cingulata, west of Tiroran (Mull), 10th June 2019

Straw-barred Pearl Pyrausta despicata - New for the garden in 2020 when not one but 10 (!) over 8 nights between 28th June and 3rd September.  Elsewhere one at the meadows on 22nd August 2019, 6 at Brancaster in July 2020 and 2 on Mull in June 2020.  Although I had this species at my last house in Bawdeswell it took me 6 years to get it here - made up for that now though.

Staw-barred Pearl Pyrausta despicata, Glen More, 9th June 2019

Staw-barred Pearl Pyrausta despicata, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 22nd August 2019

Staw-barred Pearl Pyrausta despicata, North Elmham, 28th June 2020

Staw-barred Pearl Pyrausta despicata, North Elmham, 21st August 2020

Small Purple & Gold Pyrausta aurata - A total of 15 in the garden between 23rd July and 14th September 2019 was a record year but somewhat eclipsed by 44 between 10th April and 25th August 2020.  11 in 2018 was the first time I'd caught more than 3 in a year.  In this case the increase here may be nothing to do with its county-wide population but more to do with the mint we planted in the garden a few years ago getting a bit out of hand.  Records consisted of a mixture of daytime observations and individuals caught in the moth trap and interestingly this species showed a similar pattern to several other species that I see both in daytime (often at the meadows) and at night (here or elsewhere) with the majority of those at the start of the flight period being seen in the day and the majority of those towards the end of the flight period being caught at light.  In this case I'd seen 17 during the day before I caught any at light (first to light on 26th June) and I caught 11 in the trap after I saw the last during the day (on 26th July).

Small Purple & Gold Pyrausta aurata, North Elmham, 23rd July 2019

Small Purple & Gold Pyrausta aurata, North Elmham, 25th August 2020

Common Purple & Gold Pyrausta purpuralis - This species doesn't live up to the first part of its vernacular name in Norfolk, at least not round here, but I finally added it to my garden list in 2020 when I caught one on 8th August 2020.  Elsewhere one along the track west of Tiroran on Mull on 10th June 2019.

Common Purple & Gold Pyrausta purpuralis, west of Tiroran (Mull), 10th June 2019

Common Purple & Gold Pyrausta purpuralis, North Elmham, 8th August 2020

Orange-rayed Pearl Nascia cilialis - None.  I've only ever seen one of these and that wasn't local, but David Knight caught one at Worthing in 2018 so that gives me hope that I might find one locally.


Sulphur Pearl Sitochroa palealis - None.  I'm yet to find this species anywhere but although there are no records from my 10k square it's fairly widespread so there must be a fair chance of it turning up here.


Lesser Pearl Sitochroa verticalis - An average showing at home with 4 between 3rd June and 23rd July 2019 and 5 between 21st May and 17th June 2020.  Also singles at the meadows both years.

Lesser Pearl Sitochroa verticalis, North Elmham, 3rd June 2019

Lesser Pearl Sitochroa verticalis, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 7th July 2019

Lesser Pearl Sitochroa verticalis, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 18th July 2020

Long-winged Pearl Anania lancealis - One in the garden on 24th June 2020, my 4th record here (previous ones all 2016-17).  Elsewhere one at the meadows on 7th July 2019 and one at Hellesdon on 14th July 2019.

Long-winged Pearl Anania lancealis, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 7th July 2019

Long-winged Pearl Anania lancealis, North Elmham, 24th June 2020

Elder Pearl Anania coronata - Totals of 23 at home between 24th June and 23rd July 2019 and 24 between 16th June and 22nd July 2020, the lowest totals I've had since coming here.  I averaged around 30 a year here.  Also a couple at the meadows.  Ever the optimist I always check these for Woundwort Pearl Anania stachydalis but no luck with that one yet!

Elder Pearl Anania coronoata, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 7th July 2019

Elder Pearl Anania coronoata, North Elmham, 22nd June 2020

Fenland Pearl Anania perlucidalis - 11 caught in the garden between 17th June and 23rd July 2019, making it my best year to date here (previously I've caught 5-8) but then just 3 in 2020 between 14th June and 10th July.  Also one at the meadows.

Fenland Pearl Anania perlucidalis, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 7th July 2019

Fenland Pearl Anania perlucidalis, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 24th June 2020

Golden-rod Pearl Anania terrealis - I caught my first example of this non-Norfolk species at Carsaig on Mull on 12th June 2019.

male Golden-rod Pearl Anania terrealis, Carsaig (Mull), 12th June 2019

Ochreous Pearl Anania crocealis - One in the garden on 17th July 2019 and 2 on 18th July 2020.  I had only recorded this species here twice before (2017 and 2018).  Elsewhere one at Weybourne on 5th July 2019

Ochreous Pearl Anania crocealis, Weybourne, 5th July 2019

Ochreous Pearl Anania crocealis, North Elmham, 18th July 2020

Golden Pearl Anania verbascalis - None.  I am yet to find this species locally but it seems to be cropping up away from the main strongholds more often so it seems worth looking out for.


Small Magpie Anania hortulata - A total of 77 in my garden between 1st June and 4th August 2019, making it my worst year ever for this common species.  2020 wasn't much better with 80 between 18th May and 22nd July.  Prior to this year 112 in 2015 was my lowest total so these were quite a way short.

Small Magpie Anania hortulata, North Elmham, 18th July 2020

European Corn-borer Ostrinia nubilalis - None.  I've only caught this species at home once, in 2016.


Next page: more Crambidae

Ox-tongue Conch and Yarrow Plume

There were two new moths for the garden on 8th July - Ox-tongue Conch Cochylis molliculana and Yarrow Plume Gillmeria pallidactyla.  The molliculana was only my second anywhere and it was interesting to compare the plume with the similar (but rarer) Tansy Plume Gillmeria ochrodactyla that I added to the garden list just 3 nights before.

Ox-tongue Conch Cochylis molliculana, North Elmham, 8th July

Yarrow Plume Gillmeria pallidactyla, North Elmham, 8th July

New for the year here were Grey-streaked Diamond-back Plutella porrectella (not annual here), Ochreous Pearl Anania crocealis (only my second here), 2 Double-striped Tabbies Hypsopygia glaucinalis, Dotted Oak Knot-horn Phycita roborella, Ash-bark Knot-horn Euzophera pinguis, Dark Umber and 2 Ruby Tigers.

Grey-streaked Diamond-back Plutella porrectella, North Elmham, 8th July

Ochreous Pearl Anania crocealis, North Elmham, 8th July

Ash-bark Knot-horn Euzophera pinguis, North Elmham, 8th July

Dark Umber, North Elmham, 8th July

The rest of the 98 species were 6 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, Hawthorn Ermine Paraswammerdamia nebulella, Clover Case-bearer Coleophora alcyonipennella, Meadow Case-bearer Coleophora mayrella, 5 Little Dwarfs Elachista canapennella, Golden-brown Tubic Crassa unitella, Brown House Moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella, 3 Long-horned Flat-bodies Carcina quercana, Burdock Neb Metzneria lappella, 2 Cinerous Nebs Bryotropha terrella, 3 Gorse Crests Brachmia blandella, Orange Crest Helcystogramma rufescens, Common Yellow Conch Agapeta hamana, Large Fruit-tree Tortrix Archips podana, Cyclamen Tortrix Clepsis spectrana, 2 Privet Tortrixes Clepsis consimilana, Red-barred Tortrix Ditula angustiorana, Grey Tortrix Cnephasia stephensiana, Dover Shade Cnephasia genitalana, 4 Marbled Orchard Tortrixes Hedya nubiferana, 2 Triangle-marked Rollers Ancylis achatana, 5 Hoary Bells Eucosma cana, Many-plume Moth Alucita hexadactyla, 17 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 3 Inlaid Grass-veneers Crambus pascuella, 2 Satin Grass-veneers Crambus perlella, 11 Straw Grass-veneers Agriphila straminella, 4 Water Veneers Acentria ephemerella, Common Grey Scoparia ambigualis, Little Grey Eudonia lacustrata, Small Grey Eudonia mercurella, 2 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, Fenland Pearl Anania perlucidalis, Dusky Pearl Udea prunalis, 6 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis,  Beautiful Knot-horn Rhodophaea formosa, Ermine Knot-horn Phycitodes binaevella, White Plume Pterophorus pentadactyla, Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla, Leopard Moth, Common Emerald, Small Emerald, Small Blood-vein, Lesser Cream Wave, 4 Small Fan-footed Waves, 2 Dwarf Cream Waves, Small Dusty Wave, 13 Single-dotted Waves, 10 Riband Waves, Barred Straw, Sandy Carpet, Common Pug, V-Pug, Double-striped Pug, 3 Clouded Borders, Brimstone Moth, 5 Early Thorns, 2 Scalloped Oaks, 4 Swallow-tailed Moths, Peppered Moth, 3 Engraileds, Common Wave, Clouded Silver, Privet Hawk-moth, Elephant Hawk-moth, Lesser Swallow Prominent, Buff-tip, 2 Brown-tails, 3 Yellow-tails, 8 Rosy Footmen, 4 Dingy Footmen, 72 Common Footmen, 9 Buff Ermines, 2 Short-cloaked Moths, Flame Shoulder, Large Yellow Underwing, Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, 4 Double Square-spots, Dot Moth, Bright-line Brown-eye, Clay, 3 Smoky Wainscots, 2 Common Rustics, 28 Uncertains, 3 Rustics, 2 Mottled Rustics, Beautiful Hook-tip, Snout and 2 Fan-foots.

Caddisflies consisted of Athripsodes aterrimus (new for the year) and 2 Hydropsyche pellucidula; there was a Common Earwig, and beetles included Hydrobius fuscipes (new for the garden) and Lagria hirta.

The following day I found a Common Clothes Moth Tineola bisselliella and then overnight there were 102 species including the following additions to the garden year-list: Two-coloured Bell Eucosma obumbratana, 2 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, Dun-bar, Light Arches, 2 Lesser Common Rustics and Dusky Sallow.

Two-coloured Bell Eucosma obumbratana, North Elmham, 9th July

Common Grass-veneer Agriphila tristella, North Elmham, 9th July

Light Arches, North Elmham, 9th July

Lesser Common Rustic (male, gen det), North Elmham, 9th July

Dusky Sallow, North Elmham, 9th July

The others were Beech Midget Phyllonorycter maestingella, 3 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, Ermine sp. Yponomeuta padella/malinellus/cagnagella, Diamond-back Plutella xylostella, Clover Case-bearer Coleophora alcyonipennella, Meadow Case-bearer Coleophora mayrella, Little Dwarf Elachista canapennella, Long-horned Flat-body Carcina quercana, Burdock Neb Metzneria lappella, 2 Cinerous Nebs Bryotropha terrella, 2 Gorse Crests Brachmia blandella, Orange Crest Helcystogramma rufescens, Scarce Obscure Oegoconia deauratella, Grey Tortrix Cnephasia stephensiana, Acleris laterana agg., 8 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 4 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Triangle-marked Roller Ancylis achatana, Common Cloaked Shoot Gypsonoma dealbana, 4 Hoary Bells Eucosma cana, Many-plume Moth Alucita hexadactyla, 26 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 2 Inlaid Grass-veneers Crambus pascuella, Satin Grass-veneer Crambus perlella, 13 Straw Grass-veneers Agriphila straminella, Pearl Grass-veneer Catoptria pinella, 5 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, Base-lined Grey Scoparia basistrigalis, 6 Little Greys Eudonia lacustrata, Small Grey Eudonia mercurella, Small Magpie Anania hortulata, 2 Elder Pearls Anania coronata, 5 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Double-striped Tabby Hypsopygia glaucinalis, 2 Rosy Tabbies Endotricha flammealis, Dotted Oak Knot-horn Phycita roborella, Brown Plume Stenoptilia pterodactyla, 2 Chinese Characters, Buff Arches, Lesser Cream Wave, Least Carpet, 2 Small Fan-footed Waves, Dwarf Cream Wave, 11 Single-dotted Waves, Small Scallop, 14 Riband Waves, 2 Large Twin-spot Carpets, Common Carpet, 3 Barred Straws, Barred Yellow, V-Pug, 6 Double-striped Pugs, 3 Clouded Borders, 2 Brimstone Moths, 4 Early Thorns, 3 Scalloped Oaks, Swallow-tailed Moth, Peppered Moth, Willow Beauty, 2 Mottled Beauties, Engrailed, 2 Common White Waves, Clouded Silver, Privet Hawk-moth, 3 Poplar Hawk-moths, Elephant Hawk-moth, Buff-tip, 13 Rosy Footmen, 10 Dingy Footmen, Scarce Footman, 72 Common Footmen, 4 Buff Ermines, Heart and Club, Lesser Yellow Underwing, Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, 6 Double Square-spots, Dot Moth, Bright-line Brown-eye, Clay, 5 Smoky Wainscots, 2 Brown Rustics, 8 Dark Arches, Marbled Minor, Common Rustic, 42 Uncertains, Rustic, 5 Mottled Rustics, 3 Nut-tree Tussocks, Burnished Brass, Silver Y, 2 Spectacles, 3 Beautiful Hook-tips, Straw Dot, 5 Snouts and 3 Fan-foots.

Caddisflies included 3 Limnephilus auricula and Limnephilus flavicornis.  The click beetle Stenagostus rhombeus was new for the year while other beetles were Common Red Soldier Beetle Rhagonycha fulva and Lagria hirta.

Stenogastus rhombeus, North Elmham, 9th July

Holkham moth night

A couple of unsuccessful attempts to see Great Knot at Titchwell produced 3 Diamond-back Moths Plutella xylostella (17th) and a Timothy Tortrix Aphelia paleana (18th).

At home 17th wasn't a great night with just 40 species, none of which were new for the year: 5 Diamond-back Moths Plutella xylostella, Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana, Yellow-spot Tortrix Pseudargyrotoza conwagana, Barred Marble Celypha striana, Common Marble Celypha lacunana, Triple-blotched Bell Notocelia trimaculana, 3 Hook-streaked Grass-Veneers Crambus lathoniellus, 2 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, 2 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, 4 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, Common Swift, Treble Brown Spot, 3 Silver-ground Carpets, Garden Carpet, Small Rivulet, Foxglove Pug, Scorched Wing, Brimstone Moth, Willow Beauty, Light Emerald, Pale Tussock, Orange Footman, Common Footman, 5 White Ermines, 7 Buff Ermines, 5 Heart and Darts, Large Yellow Underwing, Ingrailed Clay, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Lychnis, Common Wainscot, Brown Rustic, 7 Marbled Minors, 2 Middle-barred Minors, 8 Treble Lines, Mottled Rustic, 3 Burnished Brasses, Beautiful Golden Y, 3 Straw Dots and 2 Snouts.

A new caddisfly, Athripsodes aterrimus, saved the night.  Other caddis included Limnephilus auricula, Limnephilus flavicornis, Limnephilus lunatus and 2 Limnephilus marmoratus.

Athripsodes aterrimus, North Elmham, 17th June

On Saturday 18th I headed up to Holkham for the Norfolk Moth Survey event.  The forecast hadn't been great but it turned out to be cloudier than we'd expected, the wind had dropped right down and at first it didn't feel as cold as we'd feared.  But things seemed a bit slow anyway, despite several highlights.

I didn't get there early enough to do any dusking beforehand but those that did found and retained some New Holm-Oak Pigmies Ectoedemia heringella, the first time I've seen this species.

Surprisingly we saw more micro moths than macro, though slightly less variety according to my personal totals (which are always incomplete for events like this).  Apart from Common Grey Scoparia ambigualis, the most numerous micro was Large Groundling Teleiopsis diffinis, for which I estimated a dozen, followed by Beautiful Groundling Caryocolum marmorea (maybe half a dozen or more?).

Beautiful Groundlings Caryocolum marmorea, Holkham, 18th June

Large Groundling Teleiopsis diffinis, Holkham, 18th June

Someone found a Small Saltern Conch Gynnidomorpha vectisana, a new moth for me.  I only saw it in a pot so my photos aren't worth sharing.  Another moth passed round in a pot was claimed as a Strophedra.  I didn't get a good enough look to challenge that but subsequently it turns out that it's probably Pine-cone Piercer Cydia conicolana.  I've not heard that it's been gen detted yet but assuming the ID proves correct then that's another lifer for me.  We also caught a Momphid which I wasn't able to identify on the night.  It was very worn and frankly looked nothing like the Little Cosmet Mompha raschkiella that it proved to be on dissection.  Surprisingly, as this is a much commoner and more widespread species, this was also a new moth for me.

Little Cosmet Mompha raschkiella (male, gen det), Holkham, 18th June

The other micros were 4 Diamond-back Moths Plutella xylostella, Painted Neb Eulamprotes wilkella, Desert Groundling Bryotropha desertella, London Dowd Blastobasis lacticolella, Hedge Shade Isotrias rectifasciana, 3 Hook-streaked Grass-Veneers Crambus lathoniellus, Pearl Grass-veneer Catoptria pinella, 2 Little Greys Eudonia lacustrata, Narrow-winged Grey Eudonia angustea and Ochreous Pearl Anania crocealis.

Ochreous Pearl Anania crocealis, Holkham, 18th June

Desert Groundling Bryotropha desertella (female, gen det), Holkham, 18th June

Painted Neb Eulamprotes wilkella, Holkham, 18th June

Pearl Grass-veneer Catoptria pinella, Holkham, 18th June

Among the macros the highlight for me was 2 Pine Carpets - a species I've only seen once before.

Pine Carpet, Holkham, 18th June

Nothing else remarkable among the macros - the others I recorded were Common Swift, Cream Wave, 3 Silver-ground Carpets, 3 Green Carpets, Common Pug, 2 Clouded Borders, 2 Scorched Carpets, Brimstone Moth, Peppered Moth, Privet Hawkmoth, Buff Ermine, 12 Cinnabars, Archer's Dart, Shoulder-striped Wainscot, Brown Rustic, Treble Lines, Spectacle and 2 Straw Dots.

Privet Hawkmoth, Holkham, 18th June

Scorched Carpet, Holkham, 18th June

I think this beetle is the Marram Weevil Philopedon plagiatum.  Assuming my ID is correct then that's a new one for me.  Another new beetle that should be correct as Andy M gave me the ID was the Click Beetle Prosternon tessellatum.

Marram Weevil Philopedon plagiatum (I think), Holkham, 18th June

Prosternon tessellatum, Holkham, 18th June

The Caddisflies didn't turn up anything that I don't get at home: Phryganea grandis, 4 Limnephilus auricula and 4 Limnephilus marmoratus.

Back at home the moth trap wasn't exactly overloaded with goodies.  I didn't get any False Cacao Moths Ephestia unicolorella last year so this one was new for the house.

False Cacao Moth Ephestia unicolorella (male, gen det), Holkham, 18th June

Riband Wave and Common Wave were new for the year here and the other moths recorded at home were 2 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, Common Marble Celypha lacunana, Hook-streaked Grass-Veneer Crambus lathoniellus, Small Magpie Anania hortulata, Common Swift, 2 Silver-ground Carpets, Common Marbled Carpet, Common Pug, Clouded Border, 2 Willow Beauties, Common White Wave, Elephant Hawkmoth, Common Footman, 2 White Ermines, 5 Buff Ermines, Cinnabar, 2 Heart and Darts, Ingrailed Clay, Brown Rustic, 4 Treble Lines, 2 Mottled Rustics, 2 Burnished Brasses and Straw Dot.  Limnephilus lunatus was the only caddisfly recorded.