Review of 2019 and 2020 - Moths: Noctuids (Noctuidae) part 8: Chestnuts and allies, Pale Pinion and Shoulder-knots

NOCTUIDS (NOCTUIDAE) (continued)


Beaded Chestnut Agrochola lychnidis - Totals of 37 caught here between 20th September and 5th November 2019 and 24 between 18th September and 19th October 2020, my worst years yet (although the 2020 total was reduced by me being away for a few nights in early October).  Plotting my annual totals here gives me a smooth downward curve from the 84 here in 2014.  Elsewhere 79 over 7 nights in Cornwall in early October 2020 and 2 at the meadows on 8th November 2020.

Beaded Chestnut, North Elmham, 18th September 2020

Beaded Chestnuts, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 8th November 2020

Brown-spot Pinion Agrochola litura - Singles in the garden on 3 consecutive nights 2nd to 4th October 2019.  I caught 30 of these in 2014 but in the 5 years since then I've only caught 19 in total; 2020 was my first year without catching any at all.

Brown-spot Pinion, North Elmham, 2nd October 2019

Flounced Chestnut Agrochola helvola - None.  I first saw this species in 2017 and that remains the only one I've caught here.


Red-line Quaker Agrochola lota - Totals of 10 in the garden between 2nd October and 2nd November 2019 and 24 between 22nd September (my earliest ever) and 7th November 2020.  I've averaged about 11 a year here and 2020's total was my highest ever, and included my best count of 4 on 20th October.

Red-line Quaker, North Elmham, 2nd October 2019

Yellow-line Quaker Agrochola macilenta - Totals of 22 in the garden between 14th October and 27th November 2019, the last being my latest ever, and 17 between 17th October and 15th November 2020.  These totals were a fair bit below the average annual total of over 35.  Singles seen at the meadows on 5 dates from 4th October 2019.

Yellow-line Quaker, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 4th October 2019

Brick Agrochola circellaris - None here in 2019 but 5 between 2nd and 13th November 2020.  I've had poor years before (e.g. just one in 2016) but 2019 was my first complete blank.  I've caught up to 12 here in a year, averaging at 5.  Elsewhere 9 at the meadows on 4 dates (mostly on Ivy) including 5 on 4th October 2019. 

Bricks, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 4th October 2019

Brick, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 28th September 2020

Brick, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 30th October 2020

Lunar Underwing Omphaloscelis lunosa - Totals of 360 caught in my garden between 10th September and 14th October 2019 and 348 between 8th September and 20th October 2020, both over my average annual tally of 282.  Elsewhere 316 in Cornwall in the first week of October (including 92 at our Tresidder cottage on 8th October).  Incredibly, I haven't managed to find this species at the meadows yet.

Lunar Underwing, Tresidder (Cornwall), 7th October 2020

Chestnut Conistra vaccinii - My best years for this species at home with 58 up to 27th March  2019 and then 17 from 1st October to the year end, 27 up to 10th April 2020 and then 66 from 29th September to the year end (including a record 8 on 16th October).  The totals of 75 and 93 compare with an average annual total of less than 60.  At the meadows recorded on 12 nights with a total of 24.  The record at home on 29th September 2020 and 4 at the meadows the same night were my earliest autumn records ever.  So far 2021 is shaping up to be another excellent year for this species.

Chestnut, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 22nd March 2019

Chestnut, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 22nd April 2019

Chestnut, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 4th October 2019

Chestnut, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 8th March 2020

Chestnuts, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 29th September 2020 (the second being a confirmed male)

Dark Chestnut Conistra ligula - 5 caught in the garden in the first winter period of 2019, up to 23rd February, then 4 in the autumn between 21st October and 24th November followed by one on 13th February 2020.  5 between 2nd October (my earliest ever) and 21st December 2020.  I average just under 7 a year here.  Elsewhere one at the meadows on 4th October 2019 and one in Cornwall in October 2020.  I find some Conistra quite difficult to be certain about and so dissect a few of the trickier individuals to confirm - the results suggest I'm being over-cautious as my suspected ID nearly always proves right, but I do occasionally get it wrong and sometimes think these are over-simplified, especially with worn examples.

Dark Chestnut, North Elmham, 22nd February 2019

Dark Chestnut, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 4th October 2019

female Dark Chestnut, North Elmham, 13th February 2020

female Dark Chestnut, North Elmham, 2nd October 2020

male Dark Chestnut, North Elmham, 16th October 2020

male Dark Chestnut, North Elmham, 21st December 2020

Dotted Chestnut Conistra rubiginea - None at home in either year.  This species has very recently colonised Norfolk and is still spreading - I caught my first here in 2016 and a second in 2018.  Elsewhere one at Cranwich Heath on 14th March 2020.

Dotted Chestnut, Cranwich Heath, 14th March 2020

Tawny Pinion Lithophane semibrunnea - None.  This is a scarce species and I've never seen one, but it's pretty widespread so I remain optimistic that one will land in my trap sometime.


Pale Pinion Lithophane socia - Singles in my garden on 26th March 2019 (my earliest ever record) and 1st April 2020.  The 2019 individual had one wing very much shorter than the other.  This species isn't quite annual here though I average one a year.

Pale Pinion, North Elmham, 26th March 2019

Pale Pinion, North Elmham, 1st April 2020

Grey Shoulder-knot Lithophane ornitopus - singles caught in my garden on 17th October and 4th November 2019 and 18th October 2020.  1-2 a year is normal though numbers have varied from 0 to 4.

Grey Shoulder-knot, North Elmham, 17th October 2019

Grey Shoulder-knot, North Elmham, 4th November 2019

Grey Shoulder-knot, North Elmham, 18th October 2020

Blair's Shoulder-knot Lithophane leautieri - One trapped in the garden on 28th October 2019.  This recent colonist seemed to be going from strength to strength at the time I moved here and I caught 22 in my first autumn (2014).  Since then it slumped - I caught 4 in each of the next 2 years, 3 in 2017 and none in 2018 or 2020.  A temporary dip, as in the usual peak-and-trough cycle of insect populations, or a long-term trend signalling the end of a temporary colonisation?  Time will tell, but I suspect the former.

Blair's Shoulder-knot, North Elmham, 28th October 2019

Next page: more Noctuidae

Phyllonorycter trifasciella and other mid October moths

An evening stroll round the meadows on 17th October was worthwhile.  I caught a couple of Garden Midgets Phyllonorycter messaniella at dusk but it got more productive after dark.  One of the better moths was another Phyllonorycter, found resting on a leaf by torchlight - a Honeysuckle Midget Phyllonorycter trifasciella.  This is a species I don't encounter very often.

Garden Midget Phyllonorycter messaniella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 17th October

Honeysuckle Midget Phyllonorycter trifasciella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 17th October

Other moths were 3 Long-horned Flat-bodies Carcina quercana, Common Flat-body Agonopterix heracliana, London Dowd Blastobasis lacticolella, 3 Common Plumes Emmelina monodactyla, 2 November Moths, 2 Green-brindled Crescents and Yellow-line Quaker.

Long-borned Flat-body Carcina quercana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 17th October

Green-brindled Crescent, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 17th October

There were two of the darker flower bugs on Oak trunks but as I subsequently identified both confusus and nemoralis along here it isn't safe to name these without a specimen.  An easier bug to identify was Pinalitus cervinus.

Pinalitus cervinus, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 17th October

A new beetle for me was the rove beetle Ocypus brunnipes.  Also a 7-spot Ladybird.

Ocypus brunnipes, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 17th October

Finally I photographed this harvestman in the hope of working out its ID.  I think I have - Leiobunum rotundum.

Leiobunum rotundum, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 17th October

Not a great deal in the moth trap at home that night: 3 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, 2 November Moths, 2 Feathered Thorns, Shuttle-shaped Dart, 2 Large Yellow Underwings, 3 Green-brindled Crescents, Red-line Quaker, Yellow-line Quaker, Beaded Chestnut and Lunar Underwing.

The following night was very poor with Narrow-winged Grey Eudonia angustea, November Moth, Green-brindled Crescent, Chestnut and the caddisfly Halesus radiatus. The 19th was even worse with just November Moth, 2 Green-brindled Crescents and Beaded Chestnut.

A fungus foray at Beeston Common on 20th October was extremely interesting, the first I've ever been on.  A Brown Rat was above head height in the hedge by the entrance to the common - I don't ever recall seeing one so high up before.  We also saw an Adder, but of course these delights weren't what we were there for.  Expertly led by Tony Leech I learnt an enormous amout about fungi.  I took a lot of photos but quickly and badly, so they really aren't worth sharing here.  I did it mainly with the intention of helping me learn what I was seeing, recording the names as I did so.

A couple I think are worth mentioning were the Gorse Cramp Ball Daldinia fissa, a species that only occurs on gorse that has been burnt. and the Ergot Claviceps purpurea, which was once a very problematic contaminant of rye used in bread-making.

Gorse Cramp Ball Daldinia fissa, Beeston Common, 20th October

Ergot Claviceps purpurea, Beeston Common, 20th October

I am very grateful to Tony and the others who helped find and identify fungi - a very educational event that will not be my last fungus foray.

Afterwards I went to Beeston Priory for a drink with the Mrs.  There was Common Darter here, and this thing.  It's quite aphid-like but lacks obvious siphuncular cones shown by most aphids.  I think some lack them though, so maybe an aphid, or perhaps a nymph of a bug of some sort.

unidentified bug, Beeston Priory, 20th October

A small selection of moths in the garden trap that night included the first Mottled Umber of the autumn, and Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, 8 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, 5 November Moths, 7 Feathered Thorns, Sprawler, 3 Green-brindled Crescents, 2 Bricks and Snout.   There were also the caddisflies Limnephilus lunatus and 2 Halesus radiatus, and the beetle Lagria hirta.

Mottled Umber, North Elmham, 20th October

Sprawler, North Elmham, 20th October

Brick, North Elmham, 20th October

There was a bigger and better selection of moths the following night: London Dowd Blastobasis lacticolella, 2 Privet Tortrixes Clepsis consimilana, 2 Light Brown Apple-moths Epiphyas postvittana, Rhomboid Tortrix Acleris rhombana, 9 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Spruce Carpet, 13 November Moths, 3 Pale November Moths (and 1 other Epirrita sp.), 4 Feathered Thorns, White-point, Sprawler, 3 Green-brindled Crescents, 2 Bricks, Red-line Quaker, 5 Yellow-line Quakers and Vine's Rustic.  Caddisflies were Brown Sedge Anabolia nervosa, 3 Limnephilus auricula and Limnephilus lunatus.  There was also one bug, Pinalitus cervinus and the barkfly Ectopsocus briggsi.

Ectopsocus briggsi (male), North Elmham, 21st October

There was much less again the following night with Narrow-winged Grey Eudonia angustea, Pale November Moth, Feathered Thorn, Red-line Quaker and 4 Yellow-line Quakers.

The following night's selection was 2 Garden Midgets Phyllonorycter messaniella, 7 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, November Moth, 4 Pale November Moths, 2 Feathered Thorns, Turnip Moth, 2 Sprawlers, 6 Green-brindled Crescents, Red-line Quaker and 2 Yellow-line Quakers. Caddisflies were Limnephilus auricula, 3 Limnephilus lunatus and Halesus radiatus, and there was a Tarnished Plant Bug Lygus rugulipennis.

Next day a Hornet was the only insect noted at the Cathedral Meadows.  Fungi included this Jelly Ear.

Jelly Ear, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 24th October

That night the garden moth trap produced Garden Midget Phyllonorycter messaniella, Light Brown Apple-moth Epiphyas postvittana, 5 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Double-striped Tabby Hypsopygia glaucinalis, 3 Pale November Moths, 4 Feathered Thorns, 2 Sprawlers, Red-line Quaker, Yellow-line Quaker and the caddisfly Halesus radiatus.

Orange Sallow heads up another good night

An Orange Sallow was the headliner in the garden trap on 13th October, only the third adult I've ever seen.

Orange Sallow, North Elmham, 13th October

A Brown Pine Knot-horn Dioryctria simplicella was also new for the year, and only my second in the garden.  A Common Thorn Midget Phyllonorycter oxyacanthae was also my second here.

Brown Pine Knot-horn Dioryctria simplicella, North Elmham, 13th October

A count of 17 Garden Midgets Phyllonorycter messaniella smashed my previous record for this species (7).

In total there were 37 species of moth which is a pretty respectable total for this time of year.  The others were 2 Long-horned Flat-bodies Carcina quercana, 3 Privet Tortrixes Clepsis consimilana, 4 Light Brown Apple-moths Epiphyas postvittana, 2 Ashy Buttons Acleris sparsana, Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, Nut-bud Moth Epinotia tenerana, 7 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Gold Triangle Hypsopygia costalis, 2 Double-striped Tabbies Hypsopygia glaucinalis, Single-dotted Wave, Treble Brown Spot, Riband Wave, Mallow, Common Marbled Carpet, 2 November Moths, Turnip Moth, 9 Shuttle-shaped Darts, 3 Large Yellow Underwings, Setaceous Hebrew Character, White-point, Black Rustic, 8 Green-brindled Crescents, Brick, 2 Red-line Quakers, Yellow-line Quaker, 2 Brown-spot Pinions, 3 Beaded Chestnuts, Lunar Underwing, 7 Barred Sallows, Pink-barred Sallow, Sallow, Large Wainscot and Silver Y.

Green-brindled Crescent, North Elmham, 13th October

Brick, North Elmham, 13th October

In addition to the moths there was another 28 Chrysoperla carnea (green lacewings, 12 confirmed males and 16 presumed females).  Caddisflies consisted of 2 Brown Sedges Anabolia nervosa, Limnephilus affinis, 6 Limnephilus auricula, Limnephilus decipiens, Limnephilus flavicornis, 9 Limnephilus lunatus and Halesus radiatus.   The true (heteropteran) bugs were 4 Birch Catkin Bugs Kleidocerys resedae, Black-kneed Capsid Blepharidopterus angulatus, 2 Tarnished Plant Bugs Lygus rugulipennis and Pinalitus cervinus.

If there were a lot of leafhoppers the previous night, this night was crazy.  There were so many small green and  yellow leafhoppers I couldn't possibly check them all.  I checked 8 Kybos spp., but again they were all females so not resolvable anyway.  The yellow ones were mostly female Edwrdsiana spp. which again cannot be fully identified.  There were a couple of male Fagocyba cruenta there too.  The rest of the leafhoppers I did check more carefully - they were Balclutha punctata, Empoasca decipiens, 7 Empoasca vitis and Lindbergina aurovittata.

Balclutha punctata, North Elmham, 13th October

Lindbergina aurovittata, North Elmham, 13th October

There were also lots of Ectopsocus barkflies, of which I checked about 3 (all Ectopsocus petersi).  There weren't so many beetles though 4 Lagria hirta was a good count.  The only other beetle was Bradycellus harpalinus, only the second time I've seen this species.

Bradycellus harpalinus, North Elmham, 13th October

The following night was a completely different story with far less.  The moths were 5 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Mallow, Common Marbled Carpet, 2 November Moths, Turnip Moth, 4 Shuttle-shaped Darts, 2 Large Yellow Underwings, 5 Black Rustics, 2 Green-brindled Crescents, Chestnut, 3 Yellow-line Quakers, 2 Beaded Chestnuts, 2 Lunar Underwings, Barred Sallow and Frosted Orange.  Caddisflies were 5 Limnephilus affinis, 9 Limnephilus auricula, 19 Limnephilus lunatus and Limnephilus vittatus.

In stark contrast to the night before there was just a single leafhopper - mind you that was a better one, Fagocyba carri.  There was only a single Ectopsocus too, a female Ectopsocus briggsi.  There was also another barkfly, Valenzuela flavidus.

The following night was pretty so-so too with 17 species of moth and nothing very remarkable among them: Garden Midget Phyllonorycter messaniella, Diamond-back Plutella xylostella, 7 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Gold Triangle Hypsopygia costalis, Blood-vein, Mallow, 4 November Moths, 2 Shuttle-shaped Darts, 2 Large Yellow Underwings, Black Rustic, 3 Green-brindled Crescents, Satellite, Red-line Quaker, 4 Yellow-line Quakers, 2 Beaded Chestnuts, Sallow and Straw Dot.

There was one green lacewing Chrysoperla carnea agg. and a few caddis: Mottled Sedge Glyphotaelius pellucidus, Limnephilus affinis, 11 Limnephilus auricula, Limnephilus flavicornis, 15 Limnephilus lunatus and 2 Halesus radiatus.  Only one leafhopper, Fagocyba cruenta, and one beetle, a Black Sexton Beetle.

Next day Brown-spot Flat-body Agonopterix alstromeriana made it on to the year list. I've managed one every full year I've lived here (i.e. since 2015) but have never had more than 2 in a year.

Brown-spot Flat-body Agonopterix alstromeriana, North Elmham, 16th October

A Notch-wing Button Acleris emargana was equally unusual for the garden, though not new for the year.  A Pale November Moth was new for the year though.

Pale November Moth (male, 8th sternite det), North Elmham, 16th October

A Rosy Tabby Endotricha flammealis was unexpected being my first ever October record.  My previous latest was 29th August so this being a fresh individual was presumably part of a new second generation.

Rosy Tabby Endotricha flannneakus, North Elmham, 16th October

Other moths that night were Brindled Flat-body Agonopterix arenella, Privet Tortrix Clepsis consimilana, 3 Light Brown Apple-moths Epiphyas postvittana, Ashy Button Acleris sparsana, 13 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Mallow, Common Marbled Carpet, 13 November Moths, Feathered Thorn, Shuttle-shaped Dart, 2 Large Yellow Underwings, White-point, Black Rustic, 12 Green-brindled Crescents, Brick, 3 Yellow-line Quakers, 4 Beaded Chestnuts, Lunar Underwing, Sallow and Straw Dot.

Caddisflies were Limnephilus affinis, 9 Limnephilus lunatus and Halesus radiatus. The only other things I noted were 1-2 Ectopsocus petersi.