Review of 2019 and 2020 - Moths: Geometers (Geometridae) - part 9: Magpies and Peacocks etc. (Abraxas to Pseudopanthera)

GEOMETERS (GEOMETRIDAE) (continued)


Magpie Moth Abraxas grossulariata - 4 singles in the garden between 3rd and 9th August 2019.  This was my poorest year since moving here - I'd averaged about 15 a year between 2015 and 2018.  But if 4 was bad then it was crash and burn in 2020 with none at all.

Magpie Moth, North Elmham, 5th August 2019

Clouded Magpie Abraxas sylvata - None.  I've had 3 here previously (2016 and 2018).


Clouded Border Lomaspilis marginata - 62 in the garden trap between 19th May and 19th August 2019 and 48 between 21st May and 12th August 2020.  I average over 70 a year and these were my worst years here so far.  Elsewhere 16 at the meadows, one at Bintree Wood, 8 in Hellesdon, one at Hills and Holes, 4 at Weybourne and 6 at various sites on Mull.

Clouded Border, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 7th July 2019

Clouded Border, North Elmham, 1st June 2020

Scorched Carpet Ligdia adustata - 6 at home between 7th June and 4th September 2019 (the last being my latest ever) and 9 between 8th May and 9th August 2020.  Numbers here have varied from zero to 13 a year but average just over 6.  Elsewhere one next door, one at the meadows and one at Sculthorpe Moor (the latter on the earlier date of 26th April 2019).

Scorched Carpet, North Elmham, 7th June 2019

Scorched Carpet, North Elmham, 8th May 2020

Peacock Moth Macaria notata - None in 2019 but the first for my garden appeared in my trap on 23rd May 2020.  Prior to 2020 there were very few records of this species in mid Norfolk but there were several from a range of locations in 2020.

female Peacock Moth, North Elmham, 23rd May 2020 - the exquisite piece of engineering in the bottom photo is the signa in the corpus bursa (I don't think this spiky scleretised plate is helpful for the ID but it's so fantastic I thought it was worth sharing!)

Sharp-angled Peacock Macaria alternata - None.  I've never seen this species locally and there are only a handful of records in mid Norfolk.  Enough though, perhaps, to think it might turn up here one day.


Tawny-barred Angle Macaria liturata - Singles caught in the garden on 1st June 2019 and 26th June and 20th August 2020.  I had 2 here in June 2018 but they were my first garden records since one on the very first night I trapped here after moving in in August 2014.  Elsewhere 3 at Swanton Great Wood on 27th August 2019 and 2 at Hills and Holes on 21st May 2020.

Tawny-barred Angle, North Elmham, 26th June 2020

Latticed Heath Chiasmia clathrata - I believe 2019 was a good year for this species (either migrants or locally-bred moths, or both, I'm not sure) but none made it to my garden trap, however 2020 was another good year and I caught 3 here between 14th July and 8th September.  Blank years aren't unusual here - I've only caught them before in 2015 (once) and in 2018 (4 times), both good years across the county, although not as good as 2019).  Elsewhere singles at the meadows in both 2019 and 2020 and at Hills and Holes and Whitwell Street in 2020. 

Latticed Heath, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 4th August 2019

Latticed Heath, Hills and Holes, 21st May 2020

Latticed Heath, North Elmham, 8th September 2020

Brown Silver-line Petrophora chlorosata - Singles in the garden moth trap on 24th and 30th June 2019 and 7th and 26th June 2020.  Four a year is more typical here.  Elsewhere 22 at Bintree Wood, 6 at Hills and Holes, 2 in Keswick and 3 on Mull.

Brown Silver-line, North Elmham, 7th June 2020

Brown Silver-line, Bintree Wood, 13th June 2020

Barred Umber Plagodis pulveraria - None.  I've never seen this species and don't really expect it to turn up here, it being a rare woodland species.  But it does occur in woodlands not all that far from here so there must be a fair chance of finding it somewhere near here, perhaps in Bintree Wood?


Scorched Wing Plagodis dolabraria - My worst years so far here with just 6 singles between 2nd June and 7th July 2019 and then only one in 2020, on 27th May.  I've had up to up to 33 in a year (2016) and was averaging 19 a year from 2015 to 2018.  Elsewhere singles at the meadows on 25th and 31st May 2019 and 23rd June 2020, 3 at Bintree Wood and one at Hills and Holes.

Scorched Wing, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 25th May 2019

Scorched Wing, Hills and Holes, 21st May 2020

Scorched Wing, North Elmham, 27th May 2020

Horse Chestnut Pachycnemia hippocastanaria - 2 in NW Spain between Sant Vicenc and Torrelles de Llobregat on 23rd February 2020, the first time I've seen this species which doesn't occur in Norfolk.

Horse Chestnuts, between Saint Vincenc and Torrelles de Llobregat (Spain), 23rd February 2020

Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata - Totals of 119 trapped at home between 5th May and 3rd October 2019 and 141 between 8th May and 19th September 2020.  On average I catch around 190 a year and these were my lowest annual totals so far.  Elsewhere caught next door on 3 nights, at the meadows on 14 nights (total 27), at Swanton Great Wood, Hellesdon, Whitwell Street, Hills and Holes, Brancaster, Weybourne, Row Heath (West Runton) and in Cornwall and on Mull.

Brimstone Moth, North Elmham, 19th May 2019

Brimstone Moth, North Elmham, 18th July 2018

Bordered Beauty Epione repandaria -7 in the garden between 20th July and 18th August 2019 and then singles on 29th July and 8th August 2020.  It took me a long time to catch my first of these (2 here in 2016) but after 4 more at different sites in 2017-18 I then caught 7 in the garden in 2018 and now another 7 in 2019.  For such a beautiful moth this increase was welcome - let's hope that 2020's return to lower numbers is temporary.

Bordered Beauty, North Elmham, 21st July 2019

Bordered Beauty, North Elmham, 8th August 2020

Speckled Yellow Pseudopanthera macularia - One west of Tiroran on Mull on 10th June 2019.  In Norfolk this day-flying species is restricted to the Brecks - I last saw it here way back in 1991.

Speckled Yellow, west of Tiroran (Mull), 10th June 2019

Orange Moth Angerona prunaria - None.  I've never seen an Orange Moth but although they're pretty rare in Norfolk the few records there have been are pretty widespread across the county, so surely I must have as much chance as anyone of catching one...?


Next page: more Geometridae

A good year for Bordered Beauties

Another White-bodied Conch Cochylis hybridella was probably the best moth on 20th August.  The species has only recently become established in the county and all four of my own records have been in the last couple of years.

White-bodied Conch Cochylis hybridella, North Elmham, 20th August

An Ash-bud Moth Prays fraxinella was new for the year here.

Ash-bud Moth Prays fraxinella, North Elmham, 20th August

This Bordered Beauty was my 7th here this year, a fantastic tally for a moth that I'd only ever seen that many times before, and only twice before in the garden.  It's a great-looking moth so a good year of them was very much appreciated.

Bordered Beauty, North Elmham, 20th August

Other moths were Blackthorn Slender Parornix torquillella, Firethorn Leaf-miner Phyllonorycter leucographella, 6 Golden Argents Argyresthia goedartella, White-headed Ermine Paraswammerdamia albicapitella, Diamond-back Plutella xylostella, Long-horned Flat-body Carcina quercana, House Neb Bryotropha domestica, Common Yellow Conch Agapeta hamana, 3 Light Brown Apple-moths Epiphyas postvittana, 2 Garden Rose Tortrixes Acleris variegana, 9 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Birch Marble Apotomis betuletana, Blotched Marble Endothenia quadrimaculana, Small Birch Bell Epinotia ramella, Marbled Piercer Cydia splendana, 27 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, 4 Elbow-stripe Grass-veneers Agriphila geniculea, Water Veneer Acentria ephemerella, 2 Ringed China-marks Parapoynx stratiotata, 2 Garden Pebbles Evergestis forficalis, Chequered Pearl Evergestis pallidata, 2 Beautiful Plumes Amblyptilia acanthadactyla, Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla, Orange Swift, Pebble Hook-tip, Common Carpet, 4 Double-striped Pugs, 5 Brimstone Moths, Bordered Beauty, Willow Beauty, Light Emerald, Shuttle-shaped Dart, 2 Flame Shoulders, Large Yellow Underwing, 3 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, 4 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, 3 Six-striped Rustics, 4 Square-spot Rustics, Straw Underwing, 18 Flounced Rustics, Frosted Orange, Vine's Rustic and 4 Straw Dots.
 
The waxfly Coniopteryx tineiformis was new for the year for the garden, and only my second here.  I've had a few elsewhere though, and all these records aren't bad considering that until 2016 there was only one county record.  Other Neuroptera were the green and brown lacewings Chrysoperla carnea agg., 2 Cunctochrysa albolineata, Dichochrysa flavifrons, Hemerobius humulinus and 6 Hemerobius lutescens.

Among the caddisflies 3 Small Silver Sedges Lepidostoma hirtum were new for the year. The others were Ithytrichia lamellaris, 3 Hydropsyche pellucidula, 4 Hydropsyche siltalai and Mottled Sedge Glyphotaelius pellucidus.

Small Silver Sedge Lepidostoma hirtum, North Elmham, 20th August

The barkfly Elipsocus hyalinus was new for the garden.  There was also another Ectopsocus petersi.

Elipsocus hyalinus, North Elmham, 20th August

The stunning leafhopper Zygina flammigera was also new for the garden, although I have suspected them in the past (they can be a bit tricky to identify positively).  Other leafhoppers included 5 Empoasca vitis, 2 female Kybos sp. and a female Edwardsiana sp. - in both cases males are needed for a full ID.  Other bugs were 2 Forest Bugs and 2 Tarnished Plant Bugs Lygus rugulipennis.

Zygina flammigera, North Elmham, 20th August

The following night was quieter - the moths were 2 Bird’s-nest Moths Tinea trinotella, Hawthorn Slender Parornix anglicella, Four-spotted Obscure Oegoconia quadripuncta, Little Mompha Mompha raschkiella, 2 Light Brown Apple-moths Epiphyas postvittana, 7 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Birch Marble Apotomis betuletana, 21 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, 7 Elbow-stripe Grass-veneers Agriphila geniculea, 2 Garden Pebbles Evergestis forficalis, Beautiful Plume Amblyptilia acanthadactyla, 2 Common Plumes Emmelina monodactyla, 2 Orange Swifts, 2 Blood-veins, Single-dotted Wave, Garden Carpet, 2 Double-striped Pugs, Scorched Carpet, 3 Brimstone Moths, Common Wave, 2 Light Emeralds, 2 Large Yellow Underwings, Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, 2 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, 7 Six-striped Rustics, Square-spot Rustic, Lychnis, 25 Flounced Rustics, Frosted Orange, 3 Vine's Rustics, Spectacle and 4 Straw Dots.

There were no lacewings but Pond Olive Cloeon dipterum and Green Drake Ephemera danica represented the mayflies.  There was a good variety of caddisflies given the low overall numbers: Ithytrichia lamellaris, Hydropsyche pellucidula, Hydropsyche siltalai, Small Silver Sedge Lepidostoma hirtum, Mottled Sedge Glyphotaelius pellucidus, Limnephilus lunatus and Molanna angustata.

Among the beetles the water beetle Ilybius fuliginosus was new for the year here.  A Lesser Mealworm Beetle Alphitobius diaperinus was only the second I've identified.  There were also 8 Bradycellus verbasci and 2 Aphodius rufipes.  A Birch Shieldbug was the only bug.

Ilybius fuliginosus, North Elmham, 21st August

Lesser Mealworm Beetle Alphitobius diaperinus, North Elmham, 21st August

The next day a wander round the meadows produced less than usual - 2 Chrysoperla carnea (green lacewings), Brown Rowan Argent Argyresthia semifusca, 3 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, a Common Froghopper Philaenus spumarius and a Red Fox.

Common Froghopper Philaenus spumarius, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 22nd August

Record count of 331 straminella (and a few more interesting bits and pieces)

Compared to the excellent night of 23rd July there were more moths on 24th (645 vs. 594) but fewer species (120 vs. 127) and rather less quality.  The numbers were swelled by a record count of 331 Straw Grass-veneers Agriphila straminella.

Perhaps the best moth was a White-border Neb Isophrictis striatella, my second here and third anywhere.

White-border Neb Isophrictis striatella, North Elmham, 24th July

Other new moths for the year were Gold-ribbon Argent Argyresthia brockeella, Chalk Knot-horn Phycitodes maritima, Bordered Beauty, 2 Black Arches, Copper Underwing and Twin-spotted Wainscot.

Gold-ribbon Argent Argyresthia brockeella, North Elmham, 24th July

Chalk Knot-horn Phycitodes maritima (male, gen det), North Elmham, 24th July

Bordered Beauty, North Elmham, 24th July

Black Arches, North Elmham, 24th July

Copper Underwing, North Elmham, 24th July

Twin-spotted Wainscot, North Elmham, 24th July

Other moths were Bird’s-nest Moth Tinea trinotella, Maple Slender Caloptilia semifascia, Pointed Slender Parornix finitimella, Garden Midget Phyllonorycter messaniella, 3 Horse-Chestnut Leaf-miners Cameraria ohridella, Willow Bent-wing Phyllocnistis saligna, 2 Golden Argents Argyresthia goedartella, 6 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, Grey Ermine Yponomeuta sedella, Diamond-back Plutella xylostella, 3 Clover Case-bearers Coleophora alcyonipennella, 2 Little Dwarfs Elachista canapennella, 2 Golden-brown Tubics Crassa unitella, 4 Brown House Moths Hofmannophila pseudospretella, 4 Long-horned Flat-bodies Carcina quercana, Brindled Flat-body Agonopterix arenella, Dark Neb Bryotropha affinis, Dull Red Neb Bryotropha senectella, 3 Cinerous Nebs Bryotropha terrella, House Neb Bryotropha domestica, Ash-coloured Crest Acompsia cinerella, 2 Orange Crests Helcystogramma rufescens, Four-spotted Obscure Oegoconia quadripuncta, 6 Dingy Dowds Blastobasis adustella, Hawthorn Cosmet Blastodacna hellerella, Chamomile Conch Cochylidia implicitana, Black-headed Conch Cochylis atricapitana, 2 Dark Fruit-tree Tortrixes Pandemis heparana, 2 Privet Tortrixes Clepsis consimilana, Red-barred Tortrix Ditula angustiorana, Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, Barred Marble Celypha striana, Common Marble Celypha lacunana, Rush Marble Bactra lancealana, 5 Holly Tortrixes Rhopobota naevana, 2 Common Cloaked Shoots Gypsonoma dealbana, Bright Bell Eucosma hohenwartiana, 10 Hoary Bells Eucosma cana, Bud Moth Spilonota ocellana, Red Piercer Lathronympha strigana, 7 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, Inlaid Grass-veneer Crambus pascuella, 12 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, Pearl Grass-veneer Catoptria pinella, Chequered Grass-veneer Catoptria falsella, 2 Water Veneers Acentria ephemerella, Base-lined Grey Scoparia basistrigalis, 5 Little Greys Eudonia lacustrata, 3 Small Greys Eudonia mercurella, Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiotata, Small China-mark Cataclysta lemnata, 2 Garden Pebbles Evergestis forficalis, Chequered Pearl Evergestis pallidata, 14 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Double-striped Tabby Hypsopygia glaucinalis, 4 Rosy Tabbies Endotricha flammealis, Dotted Oak Knot-horn Phycita roborella, Buff Arches, Least Carpet, 3 Small Fan-footed Waves, 9 Single-dotted Waves, Small Scallop, 12 Riband Waves, 2 Flame Carpets, 3 Red Twin-spot Carpets, 7 Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpets, Shaded Broad-bar, 4 Common Carpets, July Highflyer, Small Rivulet, Lime-speck Pug, Wormwood Pug, 2 Double-striped Pugs, 3 Clouded Borders, Scorched Carpet, Brimstone Moth, 4 Early Thorns, 3 Scalloped Oaks, 2 Willow Beauties, Poplar Hawk-moth, Coxcomb Prominent, Pale Prominent, Yellow-tail, 18 Dingy Footmen, 2 Scarce Footmen, Buff Footman, 4 Common Footmen, 3 Ruby Tigers, 3 Shuttle-shaped Darts, 7 Flame Shoulders, Setaceous Hebrew Character, 4 Double Square-spots, Antler Moth, 4 Clays, 2 Smoky Wainscots, Common Wainscot, Mouse Moth, 7 Dun-bars, 2 Dark Arches, Double Lobed, 2 Cloaked Minors, Common Rustic, 2 Lesser Common Rustics, 2 Dusky Sallows, 2 Ear Moths, Fen Wainscot, 14 Uncertains, 5 Rustics, 4 Nut-tree Tussocks, Straw Dot and Snout.

Flame Carpet, North Elmham, 24th July

Double Lobed, North Elmham, 24th July

I often have problems with Blackbirds feeding on my discarded moths but this year a new problem cropped up from time to time - wasps attacking moths that I'd released from the trap.  This Poplar Hawk-moth seemed unable or unwilling to fly away from the attentions of the wasp (Common Wasp I think but I didn't check its face markings).  It was difficult to see what was going on exactly but I didn't see the wasp sting the moth and it seemed to be focusing on the wings, which it was possibly eating (cerrtainly damaging at any rate).

Poplar Hawk-moth attended by wasp, North Elmham, 24th July

Mayflies were 2 Pale Evening Duns Procloeon bifidum and 3 Blue-winged Olives Serratella ignita. Among the lacewings Dichochrysa ventralis was new for the year and there was 3 Cunctochrysa albolineata and 2 Micromus variegatus.

Dichochrysa ventralis, North Elmham, 24th July - showing its characteristic black-marked ventral surface

Caddisflies included Polycentropus irroratus and Tinodes waeneri, both new for the year, and Polycentropus flavomaculatus, Hydropsyche pellucidula, Hydropsyche siltalai, Mottled Sedge Glyphotaelius pellucidus and Limnephilus rhombicus.

Polycentropus irroratus (female), North Elmham, 24th July

Tinodes waeeri (male), North Elmham, 24th July

New bugs for the year were 2 Birch Shieldbugs, Phytocoris varipes and Psallus haematodes.  Other bugs were Forest Bug, Lygus pratensis, Megalocoleus molliculus and Trigonotylus caelestialium.

Phytocoris varipes, North Elmham, 24th July

Psallus haematodes, North Elmham, 24th July

Megalocoleus molliculus, North Elmham, 24th July

There were 2 Ectopsocus barklice, one of which I checked and confirmed was my first Ectopsocus briggsi of the year.

Ectopsocus briggsi (male), North Elmham, 24th July

The click beetle Melanotus villosus was new for the year; other beetles were 2 Amara apricaria and Lagria hirta.

Melanotus villosus, North Elmham, 24th July