Review of 2019 and 2020 - Moths: Grass moths (Crambidae) - Part 5: Grass-veneers II (Catoptria to Platytes)

GRASS MOTHS (CRAMBIDAE) (continued)


Pearl Grass-veneer Catoptria pinella - Both years beat the previous records at home with 44 counted on 19 nights between 9th July and 7th August 2019 and two nights in the peak period when they weren't counted.  Then 53 between 17th June and 22nd August 2020.  28 was my previous best annual total.  Elsewhere recorded next door, at the meadows (just one) and at Weybourne.

Pearl Grass-veneer Catoptria pinella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 26th July 2019

Pearl-band Grass-veneer Catoptria margaritella - Probably my moth of the year, indeed one of the best moths I have ever caught, was one trapped in my garden on 13th July 2019.  This species is common in parts of northern and western England but does not appear to be common anywhere closer than Yorkshire.  I'm not sure of its exact status in the counties between there and here but I can't find anything to suggest that it normally occurs anywhere near Norfolk (less than 10 records in Lincolnshire apparently).  There 3 records of coastal migrants in Norfolk and Suffolk including 2 from Eccles in 2001 and 2015 (the only previous Norfolk records) and one from Felixstowe in 2003.  My garden is terrible for migrants and, with no other coastal records that I'm aware of in 2019 it seems to me to be a bit of a stretch to think this was an immigrant.  It was, however, a bumper year for this species in its normal range with, for example, at least 3,100 one night at one site in Yorkshire.  I suspect my record was a wanderer from a British population rather than an immigrant.

Pearl-band Grass-veneer Catoptria margaritella, North Elmham, 13th July 2019

Chequered Grass-veneer Catoptria falsella - Totals of 18 here between 11th July and 3rd September 2019 and 14 between 1st and 15th August 2020.  Numbers here vary considerably with 11 in 2017 and 50 in 2015 but these were below average.  Elsewhere one next door and 3 at the meadows.

Chequered Grass-veneer Catoptria falsella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 22nd August 2019

Chequered Grass-veneer Catoptria falsella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 7th August 2020

Powdered Grass-veneer Thisanotia chrysonuchella - None.  I've only seen this species in the Brecks and it's pretty rare elsewhere in Norfolk.  However there are a scattering of records around the county so it's plausible I might turn one up here sometime.


Waste Grass-veneer Pediasia contaminella - 3 in the garden and one at the meadows all between 25th July and 1st August 2019.  I thought this was a staggering total for a moth that I recorded in my garden for the first time in 2018 (and only twice elsewhere before this), but then 2020 happened!  I caught 14 here between 16th July and 5th August, 3 at the meadows (18th July and 7th August), one at Bintree Wood and one at Brancaster (2nd July). This recent surge of records was reflected by other recorders across the county and at the moment it looks more like an upward trend than simply a couple of good years.  Although the head-down posture is distinctive I think it would be easy to confuse this species with Barred Grass-veneer Agriphila inquinatella.

Waste Grass-veneer Pediasia contaminella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 26th July 2019

Waste Grass-veneer Pediasia contaminella, North Elmham, 26th July 2019

Waste Grass-veneer Pediasia contaminella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 7th August 2020

Little Grass-veneer Platytes cerussella - Sinlges in the garden trap on 24th June 2019 and 22nd June 2020.  This species isn't quite annual here although I have averaged one a year.  It is much commoner in the Brecks.

Little Grass-veneer Platytes cerussella, North Elmham, 24th June 2019

Little Grass-veneer Platytes cerussella, North Elmham, 22nd June 2020

Hook-tipped Grass-veneer Platytes alpinella - One in the garden trap on 25th July 2019, only my third record here and first since 2015.  Although I've had a couple of other records locally this species is much easier to find at the coast.  None in 2020.

Hook-tipped Grass-veneer Platytes alpinella, North Elmham, 25th July 2019

Next page: more Crambidae

A new ant, a new fly and a new barklouse

On 19th August I did some moth-trapping at the meadows.  There was a nice selection of moths, though nothing earth-shattering.  The highlight was probably Hook-tipped Grass-veneer Platytes alpinella, a species I had at home twice in 2015 but not since.

Hook-tipped Grass-veneer Platytes alpinella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 19th August

The other moths were Carrion Moth Monopis weaverella, Blackthorn Slender Parornix torquillella, Brown Rowan Argent Argyresthia semifusca, Dark Ash-bud Moth Prays ruficeps, 2 Wainscot Smudges Ypsolopha scabrella, White-shouldered Smudge Ypsolopha parenthesella, 6 Clover Case-bearers Coleophora alcyonipennella, Brown House Moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella, Mouse-ear Groundling Caryocolum fraternella, Knapweed Conch Agapeta zoegana, Chequered Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis corylana, Common Marble Celypha lacunana, Rush Marble Bactra lancealana, 2 Marbled Piercers Cydia splendana, 20 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, Chequered Grass-veneer Catoptria falsella, Marsh Grey Eudonia pallida, Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiotata, Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet, 2 Common Carpets, Green Carpet, Tawny Speckled Pug, 2 Brimstone Moths, Turnip Moth, 2 Flame Shoulders, Large Yellow Underwing, Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, 15 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, 6 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, Six-striped Rustic, Square-spot Rustic, Nutmeg, 2 Common Wainscots, Centre-barred Sallow, Dun-bar, 3 Vine's Rustics, 2 Silver Ys and Straw Dot.

White-shouldered Smudge Ypsolopha parenthesella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 19th August

Chequered Grass-veneer Catoptria falsella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 19th August

This Dark Bush-cricket spent the evening on the sheet that the trap was sitting on.

Dark Bush-cricket, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 19th August

2 Dichochrysa prasina were the only lacewings I noted and there was a Common Earwig.  I didn't check all the caddisflies, but of the ones I did there was a nice selection: Ithytrichia lamellaris, 2 Hydropsyche pellucidula, 2 Small Silver Sedges Lepidostoma hirtum, Limnephilus lunatus, Limnephilus sparsus, Molanna angustata, Athripsodes albifrons and Grouse Wing Mystacides longicornis.

Bugs included Common Green Capsid Lygocorus pabulinus, Tarnished Plant Bug Lygus rugulipennis (I confirmed one but there were lots of similar bugs), Macrosteles sexnotatus and 4 water boatmen.  I retained one of the latter for checking, making sure, or so I thought, that I had retained a male.  At home I discovered it was in fact a female, so not identifiable.

Beetles included 2 Violet Ground Beetles Carabus violaceus, 4 Strawberry Seed Beetles Harpalus rufipes, Bradycellus verbasci, Hydrobius fuscipes, Orange Ladybird, 2 Harlequin Ladybirds and Acorn Weevil.

Violet Ground Beetle Carabus violaceus, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 19th August

Hydrobius fuscipes, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 19th August

The only lifers I had this night were a flying ant which I keyed out to Lasius umbratus and a fly which I would normally ignore but it was such a beauty I had to see if I could identify it.  Turns out it was a Green Gem Microchrysa flavocornis - the vernacular name is very appropriate.  My photos don't do it justice.

Lasius umbratus, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 19th August

Green Gem Microchrysa flavocornis, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 19th August

I had previously reported that last time I moth trapped down here I got stung by a German Wasp.  Well I'm sorry, I got mixed up.  It was actually this night that I got stung, not back then, and although I never discovered the true identity of the actual wasp that stung me, the only wasp I did identify this night was a Common Wasp.

Spiders included at least one Nuctenea umbratica.

At home that night a migrant species, Rush Veneer Nomophila noctuella was the only new moth for the year.

Rush Veneer Nomophila noctuella, North Elmham, 20th August

Other moths were New Oak Slender Caloptilia robustella, 2 Blackthorn Slenders Parornix torquillella, Phyllonorycter sp. (escaped before identification), Large Lance-wing Epermenia falciformis, House Neb Bryotropha domestica, Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis cerasana, Light Brown Apple-moth Epiphyas postvittana, Dark-triangle Button Acleris laterana, 3 Garden Rose Tortrixes Acleris variegana, 3 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 6 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, 2 Blotched Marbles Endothenia quadrimaculana, Nut-bud Moth Epinotia tenerana, 23 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, 6 Elbow-stripe Grass-veneers Agriphila geniculea, 4 Garden Pebbles Evergestis forficalis, Pale Straw Pearl Udea lutealis, Mother of Pearl Pleuroptya ruralis, Beautiful Plume Amblyptilia acanthadactyla, 2 Common Plumes Emmelina monodactyla, 3 Orange Swifts, Blood-vein, Small Blood-vein, Garden Carpet, Tawny Speckled Pug, 4 Double-striped Pugs, 5 Brimstone Moths, 2 Dusky Thorns, Rosy Footman, Turnip Moth, 4 Flame Shoulders, Large Yellow Underwing, 2 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, 3 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, Square-spotted Clay, Antler Moth, Common Wainscot, 7 Flounced Rustics, 2 Vine's Rustics, Spectacle and 3 Straw Dots.

Mayflies, lacewings and caddisflies consisted of 2 Pond Olives Cloeon dipterum, Blue-winged Olive Serratella ignita, 2 Chrysopa commata, Chrysoperla carnea, 3 Hemerobius lutescens, Micromus variegatus, Polycentropus irroratus, Hydropsyche pellucidula and Mottled Sedge Glyphotaelius pellucidus.

The barkfly (or barklouse) Ectopsocus petersi was a new species for me, or at least the first time I had identified one.

Ectopsocus petersi, North Elmham, 19th August

Most of my Kybos leafhoppers are unidentifiable females so it was nice to get a male Kybos betulicola, the first I've had this year.  Arguably the Alebra albostriella was a better looking insect.

Kybos betulicola (male, gen det), North Elmham, 19th August

Alebra albostriella, North Elmham, 19th August

Other bugs were Birch Shieldbug, 2 Forest Bugs and Tarnished Plant Bug Lygus rugulipennis.  Beetles were Amara apricaria, 7 Bradycellus verbasci and Aphodius rufipes.

Hedgehog in the garden

I found this Common Clothes Moth Tineola bisselliella in the house on Monday 24th July, my third in less than a year - not bad for a moth that was only twice recorded in Norfolk between 1874 and 2014!

Common Clothes Moth Tineola bisselliella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 24th July

That night (a windy one) was poor for moths with just Bird-cherry Ermine Yponomeuta evonymella, House Groundling Bryotropha domestica, 2 Timothy Tortrixes Aphelia paleana, Dover Shade Cnephasia genitalana, 3 Marbled Piercers Cydia splendana, Many-plumed Moth Alucita hexadactyla, 4 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 14 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, Common Grass-veneer Agriphila tristella, Garden Pebble Evergestis forficalis, 2 Chequered Straws Evergestis pallidata, 11 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Rosy Tabby Endotricha flammealis, Large Emerald, Blood-vein, Small Fan-footed Wave, 10 Single-dotted Waves, 6 Riband Waves, Red Twin-spot Carpet, Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet, Early Thorn, Scalloped Oak, Willow Beauty, Pebble Prominent, Swallow Prominent, 2 Yellow-tails, 2 Rosy Footmen, Dingy Footman, 4 Common Footmen, Flame Shoulder, 2 Nutmegs, Dun-bar, 2 Uncertains, 3 Rustics and Nut-tree Tussock.

I did get a lifer though - a mayfly... Pale Watery Baetis fuscatus.

Pale Watery Baetis fuscatus, North Elmham, 24th July

Numerically it was a good night for mayflies but apart from the above there was no variety - just 13 Pond Olives Cloeon dipterum.  Lacewings were represented by 2 Dichochrysa flavifrons and Caddisflies by Hydropsyche siltalai and 2 Limnephilus marmoratus.

The next night was even worse - just Woundwort Case-bearer Coleophora lineolea, Long-horned Flat-body Carcina quercana, Orange Crest Helcystogramma rufescens, Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana, 5 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, 2 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, Small Grey Eudonia mercurella, Large Emerald, Maiden's Blush, Blood-vein, 11 Single-dotted Waves, Riband Wave, Red Twin-spot Carpet, 3 Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpets, 3 Scalloped Oaks, Peppered Moth, 3 Pebble Prominents, Swallow Prominent, Pale Prominent, Common Footman, Buff Ermine, Ruby Tiger, Large Yellow Underwing and Dun-bar. Well there were some nice moths there I suppose, if not many species.  No mayflies, lacewings, caddisflies, bugs or beetles.

Wednesday 26th July was a bit better.  It started off during the day with perhaps my highest number of different butterflies seen in the garden on any one day - Large White, Brimstone, Peacock, Red Admiral, Comma, Meadow Brown and Speckled Wood, all but the last courtesy of the buddleia.

That night produced the first new moths for the year for 5 nights (crumbs, that's bad in July!) - Barred White Clothes Moth Nemapogon clematella, Chequered Grass-veneer Catoptria falsella, Pebble Hook-tip and Maple Pug.

Barred White Clothes Moth Nemapogon clematella, North Elmham, 26th July

Chequered Grass-veneer Catoptria falsella, North Elmham, 26th July

Pebble Hook-tip, North Elmham, 26th July

Maple Pug (male, gen det), North Elmham, 26th July

Other moths were Brown Birch Slender Parornix betulae, Bird-cherry Ermine Yponomeuta evonymella, Hawthorn Ermel Paraswammerdamia nebulella, Brown House Moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella, Long-horned Flat-body Carcina quercana, Dark Groundling Bryotropha affinis, 6 Cinereous Groundlings Bryotropha terrella, Orange Crest Helcystogramma rufescens, 3 Dingy Dowds Blastobasis adustella, 2 Hook-marked Straw Moths Agapeta hamana, Knapweed Conch Agapeta zoegana (f. ferrugana), Cereal Tortrix Cnephasia pumicana, 2 Dover Shades Cnephasia genitalana, Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, Common Marble Celypha lacunana, Pine Marble Piniphila bifasciana, Holly Tortrix Rhopobota naevana, Hoary Bell Eucosma cana, 2 Marbled Piercers Cydia splendana, 3 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 20 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, 4 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, 2 Little Greys Eudonia lacustrata, 2 Small Greys Eudonia mercurella, Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiotata, Garden Pebble Evergestis forficalis, 10 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, 4 Rosy Tabbies Endotricha flammealis, Chinese Character, Least Carpet, 3 Single-dotted Waves, 2 Riband Waves, Flame Carpet, Red Twin-spot Carpet, 2 Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpets, Common Carpet, 2 Lime-speck Pugs, Currant Pug, Yellow-barred Brindle, Scalloped Oak, Willow Beauty, Pebble Prominent, Lesser Swallow Prominent, Swallow Prominent, Pale Prominent, Yellow-tail, Dingy Footman, Scarce Footman, Common Footman, 2 Ruby Tigers, 2 Shuttle-shaped Darts, 3 Flame Shoulders, Large Yellow Underwing, Nutmeg, 2 Nut-tree Tussocks, Silver Y and Straw Dot.

A Turnip Sawfly was new for the garden and the bug Phytocoris varipes was new for the year.

Turnip Sawfly, North Elmham, 26th July

Phytocoris varipes, North Elmham, 26th July

Other insects included 3 Pond Olives Cloeon dipterum (mayflies), 2 Dichochrysa flavifrons (green lacewings), Hydropsyche siltalai and Limnephilus marmoratus (caddisflies).

Butterflies at Burnham Overy on 27th included 4 Brown Arguses, Common Blue, Painted Lady, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper and Wall Brown.  There was also a Stoat.

I've been seeing frogs in the garden most nights this summer but on 28th there was a Common Toad for a change.  It was an absolutely dire night for moths with just Common Flat-body Agonopterix heracliana, London Dowd Blastobasis lacticolella, Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana, Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, Common Marble Celypha lacunana, 3 Marbled Piercers Cydia splendana, 4 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 3 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, 4 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Large Emerald, 2 Single-dotted Waves, Riband Wave, Red Twin-spot Carpet, 2 Canary-shouldered Thorns, 2 Poplar Hawk-moths, Lesser Swallow Prominent, Common Footman, Buff Ermine, Shuttle-shaped Dart, Flame Shoulder, Setaceous Hebrew Character and 2 Rustics.  Also a Case-bearing Clothes Moth Tinea pellionella in the house.

Next day (Friday 28th) was a substantial improvement, though not exactly great for July.  There were Carrion Moth Monopis weaverella, Cherry Fruit Moth Argyresthia pruniella, Bird-cherry Ermine Yponomeuta evonymella, Cinereous Groundling Bryotropha terrella, 3 Dingy Dowds Blastobasis adustella, 2 Light Brown Apple Moths Epiphyas postvittana, Dover Shade Cnephasia genitalana, 3 Garden Rose Tortrixes Acleris variegana, Common Marble Celypha lacunana, Marbled Piercer Cydia splendana, Garden Grass-veneer Chrysoteuchia culmella, 13 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, Little Grey Eudonia lacustrata, Small Grey Eudonia mercurella, 12 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Rosy Tabby Endotricha flammealis, Grey Knot-horn Acrobasis advenella, Large Emerald, Blood-vein, 2 Least Carpets, 3 Single-dotted Waves, 4 Riband Waves, 3 Red Twin-spot Carpets, 2 Large Twin-spot Carpets, Garden Carpet, Common Carpet, Small Rivulet, Magpie Moth, Canary-shouldered Thorn, Willow Beauty, Poplar Hawk-moth, 2 Dingy Footmen, 2 Flame Shoulders, 2 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, Nutmeg, 3 Dun-bars, Dark Arches, Slender Brindle, Common Rustic and 4 Straw Dots.

Cherry Fruit Moth Argyresthia pruniella, North Elmham, 28th July

There were also 5 Pond Olives Cloeon dipterum and a good selection of green lacewings: Chrysopa commata, 5 Chrysoperla carnea (2 confirmed males and 3 aggregate females), Cunctochrysa albolineata and 11 Dichochrysa flavifrons.  Also the caddisfly Limnephilus lunatus, 3 Forest Bugs and the leafhopper Empoasca vitis.  As I was emptying the moth trap I was delighted to have this Hedgehog visit me, the first time I've seen one in the garden (though I've heard them before).  It soon shuffled off again when I started trying to take its picture.

Hedgehog, North Elmham, 28th July