Review of 2019 and 2020 - Moths: Noctuids (Noctuidae) part 9: Satellite to Dark Brocade

NOCTUIDS (NOCTUIDAE) (continued)


Satellite Eupsilia transversa - In 2019 one caught in the garden on 9th February and then singles on 5th and 26th October.  In 2020 singles on 17th March and 1st April and 3 between 20th October and 25th November.  I average about 6 a year here and have never had less than 3.  At the meadows singles on 4th October 2019, 29th September 2020 (my earliest ever autumn record) and 8th November.

Satellite, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 4th October 2019

Satellite, North Elmham, 17th March 2020

Satellite, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 29th September 2020

Satellite, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 8th November 2020

Olive Ipimorpha subtusa - None.  Apparently some people catch these regularly but I've only ever caught one, here in 2018.


Lesser-spotted Pinion Cosmia affinis - Singles in the garden on 4th August 2019 and 1st August 2020, my first ever records of this species anywhere.

Lesser-spotted Pinion, North Elmham, 4th August 2019

Lesser-spotted Pinion, North Elmham, 1st August 2020

Dun-bar Cosmia trapezina - At least 10 between 12th and 31st July 2019 (not counted on one night but unlikely to have been much more than one) and 20 between 10th July and 10th August 2020.  2019 was my worst year here for this species - on average I catch around 28 a year.  Elsewhere singles at the meadows on 3 dates and one at Bintree Wood.

Dun-bar, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 26th July 2019

Dun-bar, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 7th August 2020

Lunar-spotted Pinion Cosmia pyralina - Singles trapped in the garden on 16th and 24th July 2019.  I've caught exactly 2 here in 4 out of the 6 years I've lived here (but none in 2017 or 2020).


Centre-barred Sallow Atethmia centrago - 2019 was my worst year for this species with just 2 singles caught on consecutive nights 2nd and 3rd September; 7 in 2020 between 5th and 15th September.  The average annual tally is 9-10.  Elsewhere 10 at Whitwell Street on 3rd September 2020 and one at the meadows.

Centre-barred Sallow, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 8th September 2020

Minor Shoulder-knot Brachylomia viminalis - None.  I had never recorded this species anywhere until 2018 and still haven't found it locally, which is surprising given the large numbers that occur in Foxley Wood, for example (which had a direct line of sight to my light when I lived in Bawdeswell).  Surely it will turn up here sometime...


Suspected Parastichtis suspecta - None.  I caught this species twice when I lived in Bawdeswell but so far haven't found it here in North Elmham.


Dingy Shears Apterogenum ypsillon - One in the garden on 10th July 2019, the 5th I've caught here in 5 years but none here in 2020.  Elsewhere one at Weybourne on 5th July 2019 and one at the meadows on 18th July 2020.

Dingy Shears, Weybourne, 5th July 2019

Dingy Shears, North Elmham, 10th July 2019

Dingy Shears, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 18th July 2020

Merveille du Jour Griposia aprilina - 5 trapped in the garden between 16th October and 2nd November 2019 and 14 between 11th and 22nd October 2020 including a record count of 4 on the last date.  I average 9-10 a year

Merveille du Jour, North Elmham, 16th October 2019

Merveille du Jour, North Elmham, 23rd October 2019

Merveille du Jour, North Elmham, 11th October 2020

Merveille du Jour, North Elmham, 16th October 2020

Merveille du Jour, North Elmham, 19th October 2020

Brindled Green Dryobotodes eremita - None in 2019 but 3 here on consecutive nights from 18th to 20th October 2020 (they appeared to all be different individuals, certainly the first two were).  This species is surprisingly scarce here - before 2020 I'd only caught 4 in 6 years.  I used to get more when I lived in Bawdeswell.  Elsewhere one at the meadows on 8th September 2020.

Brindled Green, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 8th September 2020

Brindled Green, North Elmham, 18th October 2020

Deep-brown Dart Aporophyla lutulenta - None.  I've never seen this species and records in mid Norfolk are few and far between.  Not out of the question that I could find one round here though.


Black Rustic Aporophyla nigra - Totals of 17 in the garden between 25th September and 1st November 2019, my worst year since 2014, and 28 between 15th September and 22nd October 2020 (during which period I was away for a week).  I've averaged 32-33 a year here.  Elsewhere one at the meadows on 4th October 2019 and 32 in Cornwall.

Black Rustic, North Elmham, 25th September 2019

Feathered Ranunculus Polymixis lichenea - None in 2019; 42 at Tresidder in Cornwall between 3rd and 9th October 2020.  I've never seen this species in Norfolk and as it's almost only found at the coast and in the Norwich area I don't particularly expect to find one locally.  But there have been a couple of records not all that far away (e.g. Stibbard) so maybe there are a few knocking around this part of Norfolk too...

Feathered Ranunculus, Tresidder (Cornwall), 3rd October 2020

Feathered Ranunculus, Tresidder (Cornwall), 6th October 2020

Large Ranunculus Polymixis flavicincta - None.  Some people catch these regularly but I've only ever caught one here in North Elmham, in 2016, and just a small number elsewhere.


Dark Brocade Mniotype adusta - This must be one of the most widespread moths in Norfolk to have avoided me - there's even been a record in my road.  But until 2019 I'd never seen one, and I've still not found one in Norfolk.  It's perhaps a bit commoner on Mull where I caught 3 at Ceann Chnocain on 13th June 2019.

Dark Brocades, Ceann Chnocain (Mull), 13th June 2019

Next page: more Noctuidae

Two more trigeminella on the best night of the year?

I've just realised that the Black-blothched Marble Endothenia nigricostana that I posted about yesterday was my 750th species of moth in my garden - another milestone reached.  Reached, and galloped past the following night with another four new moths for the garden.

The night of Wednesday 21st June was probably the best night of the year with 325 moths of 114 species, though that's quite a long way short of the best few nights of 2016.  There were no lifers among the moths but as I say, four new for the house including one remarkable record.  The Ash Bud Moth Prays fraxinella wasn't a surprise addition to the garden list, with the next door neighbour having a large Ash tree in their garden, and other Ashes growing nearby.  Netted Argent Argyresthia retinella wasn't much of a surprise either.  A Fen Crest Brachmia inornatella was a little less expected being a reedbed species but what was a real surprise was 2 Scarce Thorn Case-bearers Coleophora trigeminella.  This is the moth which I recorded at Warham Greens five nights earlier, the second ever for Norfolk - so these were the third and fourth for Norfolk!

Ash Bud Moth Prays fraxinella, North Elmham, 21st June

Fen Crest Brachmia inornatella, North Elmham, 21st June

Scarce Thorn Case-bearers Coleophora trigeminella (males, gen det), North Elmham, 21st June

Others new for the year here were Large Clothes Moth Morophaga choragella, Hawthorn Argent Argyresthia bonnetella, Larch Case-bearer Coleophora laricella, 3 Bud Moths Spilonota ocellana, Gold Triangle Hypsopygia costalis, Large Emerald, Least Carpet, 2 Shaded Pugs, Round-winged Muslin, Brown-line Bright Eye and Dingy Shears.

Large Clothes Moth Morophaga choragella, North Elmham, 21st June

Hawthorn Argent Argyresthia bonnetella, North Elmham, 21st June

Larch Case-bearer Coleophora laricella (female, gen det), North Elmham, 21st June

Bud Moth Spilonota ocellana, North Elmham, 21st June

Least Carpet, North Elmham, 21st June

Dingy Shears, North Elmham, 21st June

3 Cnephasia sp. escaped and a very worn male Argyresthia was practically bare so couldn't be identified from external features.  So far I've been unable to match its genitalia to any species, though I can't find any images of male dilectella genitalia to compare it to (or a few of the rarer species).  The other micros were 3 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, Meadow Case-bearer Coleophora mayrella, Woundwort Case-bearer Coleophora lineolea, 2 Brown House Moths Hofmannophila pseudospretella, 3 Burdock Nebs Metzneria lappella, 3 London Dowds Blastobasis lacticolella, 4 Buff Cosmets Mompha ochraceella, Garden Cosmet Mompha subbistrigella, 5 Hawthorn Cosmets Blastodacna hellerella, 6 Hook-marked Straw Moths Agapeta hamana, Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis cerasana, 9 Large Fruit-tree Tortrixes Archips podana, 8 Privet Tortrixes Clepsis consimilana, Large Ivy Tortrix Lozotaenia forsterana, Red-barred Tortrix Ditula angustiorana, Yellow-spot Tortrix Pseudargyrotoza conwagana, White-barred Tortrix Olindia schumacherana, 12 Grey Tortrixes Cnephasia stephensiana, 2 Flax Tortrixes Cnephasia asseclana, 3 Yellow Oak Buttons Aleimma loeflingiana, 3 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 5 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Plum Tortrix Hedya pruniana, 2 Marbled Orchard Tortrixes Hedya nubiferana, Triangle-marked Roller Ancylis achatana, Brown Elm Bell Epinotia abbreviana, Common Cloaked Shoot Gypsonoma dealbana, Bramble Shoot Moth Notocelia uddmanniana, Triple-blotched Bell Notocelia trimaculana, 23 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, Grass-veneer Crambus pascuella, 2 Hook-streaked Grass-Veneers Crambus lathoniellus, 10 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, 3 Little Greys Eudonia lacustrata, 2 Ringed China-marks Parapoynx stratiotata, 4 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, 2 Elder Pearls Anania coronata, Fenland Pearl Anania perlucidalis, 2 Bee Moths Aphomia sociella, 4 White Plumes Pterophorus pentadactyla and 2 Common Plumes Emmelina monodactyla.

dark form of Common Marble Celypha lacunana, North Elmham, 21st June

Brown Elm Bell Epinotia abbreviana (female, gen det), North Elmham, 21st June

The other macros were 2 Common Emeralds (including an exceptionally small individual), 3 Small Blood-veins, 3 Small Fan-footed Waves, Dwarf Cream Wave, 9 Single-dotted Waves, 4 Treble Brown Spots, 19 Riband Waves, Large Twin-spot Carpet, Garden Carpet, Common Carpet, 2 Phoenixes, 3 Barred Straws, 2 Barred Yellows, Blue-bordered Carpet, Sandy Carpet, Currant Pug, Common Pug, 2 V-Pugs, 4 Green Pugs, Double-striped Pug, 2 Small Yellow Waves, Clouded Border, 2 Scorched Wings, 2 Brimstone Moths, Willow Beauty, 2 Mottled Beauties, 2 Engraileds, 4 Common White Waves, Common Wave, 6 Clouded Silvers, 3 Elephant Hawk-moths, Coxcomb Prominent, 4 Rosy Footmen, Dingy Footman, 8 Common Footmen, 3 Buff Ermines, Cinnabar, Heart and Dart, 2 Flame Shoulders, Large Yellow Underwing, 4 Double Square-spots, Clay, 3 Smoky Wainscots, Poplar Grey, 3 Brown Rustics, Small Angle Shades, 3 Dark Arches, Middle-barred Minor, Treble Lines, 13 Uncertains, Marbled White Spot, Green Silver-lines, 5 Beautiful Hook-tips, 3 Straw Dots, 5 Snouts, 3 Fan-foots and Small Fan-foot.

Barred Yellow, North Elmham, 21st June

If the moths were good then the other insects were just as good!  So good in fact that I think I'll save them for another post!

Over-run with Garden Grass-veneers and Uncertains

Seems I forgot to post this pic of the Archer's Dart in yesterday's post about our Winterton trip.  A decent enough moth to be worth rectifying that oversight.

Archer's Dart, Winterton, 11th July

Winterton didn't have the monopoly of good moths that evening - at home I recorded a monster 580 moths of 117 species.  Lots were new for the year for the garden, including several species we had recorded at Winterton during the evening: Dusky Groundling Aroga velocella, Hook-tipped Grass-veneer Platytes alpinella, Double-striped Tabby Hypsopygia glaucinalis, Brown-tail and Dingy Shears.

 Hook-tipped Grass-veneer Platytes alpinella, North Elmham, 11th July

Dusky Groundling Aroga velocella, North Elmham, 11th July

Dingy Sheers, North Elmham, 11th July

Other new moths for the year were White-backed Marble Hedya salicella, 7 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Dotted Oak Knot-horn Phycita roborella, 3 Leopard Moths, July Highflyer, Wormwood Pug, Pine Hawkmoth, Buff Footman, Sycamore, Dun-bar and Blackneck.

Blackneck, North Elmham, 11th July

Leopard Moths, North Elmham, 11th July

Pine Hawkmoth, North Elmham, 11th July

Dotted Oak Knot-horn Phycita roborella, North Elmham, 11th July

The numbers were swelled by 120 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteucha culmella.  The other micros were 7 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, White Sallow Case-bearer Coleophora albidella, 2 Grey Rush Case-bearers Coleophora glaucicolella, Little Dwarf Elachista canapennella, 2 Burdock Nebs Metzneria lappella, 2 Cinereous Groundlings Bryotropha terrella, Gorse Crest Brachmia blandella, Buff Cosmet Mompha ochraceella, Hook-marked Straw Moth Agapeta hamana, Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis cerasana, 3 Large Fruit-tree Tortrices Archips podana, 3 Privet Tortrices Clepsis consimilana, Red-barred Tortrix Ditula angustiorana, Grey Tortrix Cnephasia stephensiana, Flax Tortrix Cnephasia asseclana, 4 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 7 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, 3 Marbled Orchard Tortrices Hedya nubiferana, Triangle-marked Roller Ancylis achatana, Holly Tortrix Rhopobota naevana, Hoary Bell Eucosma cana, Bud Moth Spilonota ocellana, Grass-veneer Crambus pascuella, Chequered Grass-veneer Catoptria falsella, Water Veneer Acentria ephemerella, 2 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, 13 Little Greys Eudonia lacustrata, 2 Small Greys Eudonia mercurella, 4 Small Magpies Eurrhypara hortulata, 3 Elder Pearls Anania coronata, 2 Rosy Tabbies Endotricha flammealis, Bee Moth Aphomia sociella, White Plume Pterophorus pentadactyla and 2 Common Plumes Emmelina monodactyla. 

Elder Pearl Anania coronata, North Elmham, 11th July

Hoary Bell Eucosma cana, North Elmham, 11th July

White Sallow Case-bearer Coleophora albidella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 11th July

Some good lookers among the macros, like 2 Buff Arches, Large Emerald, Phoenix, 3 Swallow-tailed Moths, 3 Peppered Moths, Poplar Hawkmoth, an impressive 11 Elephant Hawkmoths, 3 Lesser Swallow Prominents, 5 Buff-tips, 13 Rosy Footmen, 6 Dot Moths, Cream-bordered Green Pea and 6 Burnished Brasses.

Buff Arches, North Elmham, 11th July

Phoenix, North Elmham, 11th July

With the macros it was 65 Uncertains that boosted the numbers.  Gen detting got me all three of the Marbled Minor aggs: 3 Marbled Minors, Rufous Minor and Tawny Marbled Minor, as well as Grey Dagger and Common Rustic.

Rufous Minor (male, gen det), North Elmham, 11th July

The rest of the macros were 3 Common Emeralds, 10 Small Fan-footed Waves, 4 Dwarf Cream Waves, 5 Single-dotted Waves, 2 Treble Brown Spots, 13 Riband Waves, Large Twin-spot Carpet, 3 Shaded Broad-bars, Common Carpet, 7 Barred Straws, 8 Green Pugs, Small Yellow Wave, 4 Clouded Borders, 3 Brimstone Moths, Early Thorn, Scalloped Oak, 4 Willow Beauties, 4 Mottled Beauties, Engrailed, 3 Common White Waves, 9 Clouded Silvers, 3 Yellow-tails, 3 Dingy Footmen, Scarce Footman, 27 Common Footmen, 2 Buff Ermines, Short-cloaked Moth, Heart and Club, 4 Heart and Darts, 10 Flames, Large Yellow Underwing, 3 Ingrailed Clays, 24 Double Square-spots, 8 Bright-line Brown-eyes, 6 Clays, 9 Smoky Wainscots, 2 Common Wainscots, 2 Brown Rustics, 10 Dark Arches, Light Arches, 3 Rustics, 4 Mottled Rustics, Marbled White Spot, 4 Beautiful Hook-tips, Straw Dot, 8 Snouts and 2 Fan-foots.

It was getting dark by the time I finished sorting through the trap and with an overwhelming number of moths in pots awaiting attention I decided to give it a break the following night.  Hate to think what I missed as the weather was still good, but there just aren't enough hours in the day and night to do everything!