Review of 2019 and 2020 - Moths: Pyralids (Pyralidae) - part 1: Aphomia to Nephopterix (Bee and Wax Moths and Knot-horns I)

PYRALIDS (PYRALIDAE)


Bee Moth Aphomia sociella - One at home on 21st March 2019 was a whole month earlier than I've ever found this species before.  Otherwise a total of 57 between 16th May and 25th July 2019 and 54 between 8th May and 29th July 2020, which are about average totals here.   Elsewhere 9 at the meadows and one at Bintree Wood.

Bee Moth Aphomia sociella, North Elmham, 21st March 2019

Bee Moth Aphomia sociella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 25th May 2019

Bee Moth Aphomia sociella, North Elmham, 8th May 2020

Lesser Wax Moth Achroia grisella - None.  I've not seen this species locally but there are a few records from the mid Wensum valley area so it may turn up here.


Wax Moth Galleria mellonella - None in 2019 but one in the garden on 23rd July 2020 and then one at the meadows on 8th September.  I've had 6 records here since moving in in 2014, but all in even years.

Wax Moth Galleria mellonella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 8th September 2020

Double-striped Knot-horn Cryptoblabes bistriga - One at Swanton Great Wood on 27th August 2019 and one at Hills and Holes on 21st May 2020.  I've only ever had one in the garden, in 2015.

male Double-striped Knot-horn Cryptoblabes bistriga, Swanton Great Wood, 27th August 2019

Brown Knot-horn Matilella fusca - None.  I've not seen this any closer than Marsham Heath.  The species seems to be pretty widespread in the east of the county but there are no records from the west half of central Norfolk.  Yet.


Brown Powdered Knot-horn Delplanqueia inscriptella - None, my first full years here without recording this spccies (it had been averaging 2 a year).


Rosy-striped Knot-horn Oncocera semirubella - None.  This distinctive species seems to be increasing and becoming established in Norfolk with widespread records, but it hasn't graced my garden yet and nor have I found it anywhere else.  Hopefully it won't be long before I connect.


Heather Knot-horn Pempelia palumbella - None.  Although I've found this species quite easily at several different heathland sites I get the impression it doesn't tend to wander far from heaths and I've never recorded it anywhere else.


Beautiful Knot-horn Rhodophaea formosa - One in the garden trap on 24th June 2019.  Numbers here have ranged from zero (2017 and again in 2020) to 4 (2018).  Also one at Weybourne on 5th July 2019.

Beautiful Knot-horn Rhodophaea formosa, North Elmham, 24th June 2019

New Pine Knot-horn Dioryctria sylvestrella - One in the garden on 22nd July 2019.  I caught this species at home on 3 previous occasions, once in 2015 and twice in 2018.  Elsewhere one at Swanton Great Wood on 27th August 2019.

New Pine Knot-horn Dioryctria sylvestrella, Swanton Great Wood, 27th August 2019

New Pine Knot-horn Dioryctria sylvestrella, North Elmham, 22nd July 2020

Brown Pine Knot-horn Dioryctria simpliciella - None.  I've recorded this species at home twice (2016 and 2018).


Dark Pine Knot-horn Dioryctria abietella - None.  I've recorded this species at home twice too (2014 and 2017).


Dotted Oak Knot-horn Phycita roborella - 2019 was my best year for this species at home with at least 20 (not counted on a couple of nights) between 13th July and 7th August.  That total is as many as I'd recorded here between moving in in August 2014 and the end of 2018.  Not a bad year again in 2020 with 10 between 25th June and 15th August.  Elsewhere one next door, 7 at the meadows and one at Bintree Wood.

Dotted Oak Knot-horn Phycita roborella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 7th July 2019

Dotted Oak Knot-horns Phycita roborella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 18th July 2020

Spindle Knot-horn Nephopterix angustella - One trapped at home on 23rd September 2019 was a new moth for the garden and only my third anywhere but it was followed by 2 more in the garden in 2020, on 1st and 16th August.  This species has increased massively in the last few years.

Spindle Knot-horn Nephopterix angustella, North Elmham, 23rd September 2019

Spindle Knot-horn Nephopterix angustella, North Elmham, 1st August 2020

Next page: more Pyralidae

Birch Mocha

I had the Yellow-legged Clearwing lure out again on 19th July, more in hope of getting another Orange-tailed Clearwing than Yellow-legged (they come to the same lure), but I was nonetheless impressed with a monster haul of 7 Yellow-legged Clearwings.  I also had the Raspberry Clearwing lure out but only caught a Common Wasp at that one.

Just 201 moths of 55 species that night with two new for the year: Large Beech Piercer Cydia fagiglandana and Canary-shouldered Thorn. I always think Canary-shoulderd Thorns signal the start of the end of the season, which was not a welcome sign as this season has barely started to get going.

Large Beech Piercer Cydia fagiglandarna, North Elmham, 19th July

Canary-shouldered Thorn, North Elmham, 19th July

The others were Hawthorn Ermine Paraswammerdamia nebulella, Common Oak Case-bearer Coleophora lutipennella, Apple & Plum Case-bearer Coleophora spinella, Clover Case-bearer Coleophora alcyonipennella, 2 Little Dwarfs Elachista canapennella, Cinerous Neb Bryotropha terrella, Gorse Crest Brachmia blandella, 2 Orange Crests Helcystogramma rufescens, Four-spotted Obscure Oegoconia quadripuncta, Privet Tortrix Clepsis consimilana, Flax Tortrix Cnephasia asseclana, Bright Bell Eucosma hohenwartiana, Hoary Bell Eucosma cana, 2 Marbled Piercers Cydia splendana, 77 Straw Grass-veneers Agriphila straminella, Small Grey Eudonia mercurella, Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiotata, Beautiful China-mark Nymphula nitidulata, 5 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Rosy Tabby Endotricha flammealis, Thicket Knot-horn Acrobasis suavella, Grey Knot-horn Acrobasis advenella, Pebble Hook-tip, 2 Least Carpets, 3 Small Fan-footed Waves, 10 Single-dotted Waves, Riband Wave, 4 Red Twin-spot Carpets, Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet, Magpie Moth, Clouded Border, Brimstone Moth, 3 Scalloped Oaks, Poplar Hawk-moth, Lesser Swallow Prominent, Swallow Prominent, 3 Yellow-tails, 3 Dingy Footmen, Scarce Footman, 13 Common Footmen, 5 Buff Ermines, Large Yellow Underwing, 2 Bright-line Brown-eyes, 5 Smoky Wainscots, Common Wainscot, Dun-bar, 5 Dark Arches, Lesser Common Rustic, 16 Uncertains, 3 Rustics, Nut-tree Tussock, Silver Y and Beautiful Hook-tip.

Other insects included 2 Blue-winged Olives Serratella ignita, the caddisfly Hydropsyche siltalai, the beetle Hydrobius fuscipes and a new species for the garden, 14-spot Ladybird.

14-spot Ladybird, North Elmham, 19th July

The following night was a substantial improvement and I think the best night of the year so far with 741 moths of 145 species.  Mind you, this did include 298 Straw Grass-veneers Agriphila straminella! The highlight was a new macro for the garden, and a species I'd only ever seen twice before: Birch Mocha.

Birch Mocha, North Elmham, 20th July

New Pine Knot-horn Dioryctria sylvestrella was only my second, following one here in 2015.

New Pine Knot-horn Dioryctria sylvestrella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 20th July

There were 2 Grey Ermines Yponomeuta sedella, another species I'd only previously seen in 2015 (though three times that year).

Grey Ermine Yponomeuta sedella, North Elmham, 20th July

The following were all new for the year: Ribwort Slender Aspilapteryx tringipennella, Long-streak Midget Phyllonorycter salicicolella, Red Birch Midget Phyllonorycter ulmifoliella, Willow Bent-wing Phyllocnistis saligna, Golden Argent Argyresthia goedartella, Purple Argent Argyresthia albistria, Honeysuckle Moth Ypsolopha dentella, Wainscot Smudge Ypsolopha scabrella, Two-spotted Neb Eulamprotes atrella, House Neb Bryotropha domestica, Brown China-mark Elophila nymphaeata, 2 Small Purple & Golds Pyrausta aurata, Small Phoenix, Least Yellow Underwing, Mouse Moth and Dingy Shears.

Long-streak Midget Phyllonorycter salicicolella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 20th July

Red Birch Midget Phyllonorycter ulmifoliella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 20th July

Willow Bent-wing Phyllocnistis saligna, North Elmham, 20th July

Honeysuckle Moth Ypsolopha dentella, North Elmham, 20th July

Wainscot Smudge Ypsolopha scabrella, North Elmham, 20th July

Two-spotted Neb Eulamprotes atrella, North Elmham, 20th July

Small Purple and Gold Pyrausta aurata, North Elmham, 20th July

Small Phoenix, North Elmham, 20th July

Least Yellow Underwing, North Elmham, 20th July

Mouse Moth, North Elmham, 20th July

Dingy Shears, North Elmham, 20th July

There were a couple of species that I only had for the first time very recently: Chestnut Pigmy Stigmella samiatella and Common Case-bearer Coleophora serratella.

The rest were probable Spotted Black Pigmy Ectoedemia subbimaculella, Bordered Carl Coptotriche marginea, Pale-backed Clothes Moth Monopis crocicapitella, Brown Birch Slender Parornix betulae, 4 Horse-Chestnut Leaf-miners Cameraria ohridella, 13 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, Little Ermine Swammerdamia pyrella, 2 Hawthorn Ermines Paraswammerdamia nebulella, 3 Diamond-backs Plutella xylostella, Common Oak Case-bearer Coleophora lutipennella, 2 Clover Case-bearers Coleophora alcyonipennella, Pistol Case-bearer Coleophora anatipennella, Little Dwarf Elachista canapennella, Small Dingy Tubic Borkhausenia fuscescens, 4 Brown House Moths Hofmannophila pseudospretella, 10 Long-horned Flat-bodies Carcina quercana, Common Groundling Teleiodes vulgella, 5 Cinerous Nebs Bryotropha terrella, 4 Gorse Crests Brachmia blandella, 3 Orange Crests Helcystogramma rufescens, Four-spotted Obscure Oegoconia quadripuncta, 2 Dingy Dowds Blastobasis adustella, 2 Common Yellow Conches Agapeta hamana, Knapweed Conch Agapeta zoegana, Burdock Conch Aethes rubigana, Privet Tortrix Clepsis consimilana, Light Brown Apple-moth Epiphyas postvittana, Red-barred Tortrix Ditula angustiorana, 2 Grey Tortrixes Cnephasia stephensiana, 2 Maple Buttons Acleris forsskaleana, Barred Marble Celypha striana, 4 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Brown Elm Bell Epinotia abbreviana, Holly Tortrix Rhopobota naevana, 2 Bright Bells Eucosma hohenwartiana, 9 Hoary Bells Eucosma cana, 2 Marbled Piercers Cydia splendana, Bulrush Veneer Calamotropha paludella, 3 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, Inlaid Grass-veneer Crambus pascuella, 298 Straw Grass-veneers Agriphila straminella, 11 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, 5 Pearl Grass-veneers Catoptria pinella, Chequered Grass-veneer Catoptria falsella, Water Veneer Acentria ephemerella, 3 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, 2 Base-lined Greys Scoparia basistrigalis, 2 Little Greys Eudonia lacustrata, 2 Small Greys Eudonia mercurella, Beautiful China-mark Nymphula nitidulata, Small Magpie Anania hortulata, 2 Dusky Pearls Udea prunalis, 29 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Double-striped Tabby Hypsopygia glaucinalis, 6 Rosy Tabbies Endotricha flammealis, Grey Knot-horn Acrobasis advenella, Beautiful Knot-horn Rhodophaea formosa, Ash-bark Knot-horn Euzophera pinguis, Ermine Knot-horn Phycitodes binaevella, Brown Plume Stenoptilia pterodactyla, 2 Pebble Hook-tips, 2 Buff Arches, Least Carpet, 7 Small Fan-footed Waves, 2 Dwarf Cream Waves, 15 Single-dotted Waves, 8 Riband Waves, 5 Red Twin-spot Carpets, 5 Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpets, 4 Large Twin-spot Carpets, Garden Carpet, 2 Shaded Broad-bars, 3 Common Carpets, Yellow Shell, 5 Small Rivulets, Sandy Carpet, 2 Slender Pugs, Wormwood Pug, 10 Double-striped Pugs, Small Yellow Wave, 4 Clouded Borders, 3 Brimstone Moths, 2 Early Thorns, Scalloped Oak, 3 Peppered Moths, 6 Willow Beauties, Mottled Beauty, Common Wave, 2 Clouded Silvers, Elephant Hawk-moth, Pale Prominent, Chocolate-tip, 5 Yellow-tails, 7 Rosy Footmen, 22 Dingy Footmen, 4 Scarce Footmen, 2 Buff Footmen, 13 Common Footmen, Buff Ermine, Turnip Moth, 2 Shuttle-shaped Darts, 2 Flames, Flame Shoulder, Large Yellow Underwing, Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, 10 Double Square-spots, 2 Nutmegs, Dot Moth, 4 Clays, 3 Smoky Wainscots, 3 Dun-bars, 12 Dark Arches, Light Arches, 3 Cloaked Minors, Common Rustic, 4 Dusky Sallows, 2 Ear Moths, 2 Fen Wainscots, Small Rufous, 20 Uncertains, 3 Rustics, 4 Nut-tree Tussocks, 4 Snouts and 3 Fan-foots.

Pale-backed Clothes Moth Monopis crocicapitella, North Elmham, 20th July

Mayflies and lacewings consisted of 8 Blue-winged Olives Serratella ignita, Chrysoperla carnea agg., Dichochrysa prasina and 2 Micromus variegatus.

Among the caddisflies Cyrnus flavidus was new for the year and there were 3 Hydropsyche pellucidula, 3 Hydropsyche siltalai, Limnephilus flavicornis, Limnephilus lunatus, Molanna angustata, Athripsodes aterrimus and Grouse Wing Mystacides longicornis.

Cyrnus flavidus, North Elmham, 20th July

I don't think either of the Macrotylus bugs are particularly common but after getting 3 records of Macrotylus solitarius last year I thought I might get more again this year.  In fact I have now had two records of the other one, Macrotylus horvathi, the second one being tonight.  The only other true bug was Forest Bug (or Red-legged Shieldbug) which was new for the year.  There were also 2 of the leafhopper Iassus lanio.

Macrotylus horvathi, North Elmham, 20th July

Among the beetles Amara apricaria was new for the garden and Harlequin Ladybird was new for the year excluding those that remained in my study after hibernating at the end of last year.  Other beetles were 2 Strawberry Seed Beetles Harpalus rufipes, Hydrobius fuscipes and 2 Common Red Soldier Beetles Rhagonycha fulva.

Amara apricaria, North Elmham, 20th July

Two micro ticks and a striking Figwort Sawfly larva

After the previous day's poor showing, 6th August was another great night.  Although 290 moths of 89 species was some way short of the best this summer they included two lifers, and any night with two ticks has to be a good night.  Both were pine-feeders: Pine Leaf-mining Moth Clavigesta purdeyi and New Pine Knot-horn Dioryctria sylvestrella, neither enormously rare but still good to get under the belt.  I was surprised how distinctive the latter was - not only very strikingly marked but also massive - quite a different beast from other Dioryctria that I've seen before.

Pine Leaf-mining Moth Clavigesta purdeyi, North Elmham, 6th August

New Pine Knot-horn Dioryctria sylvestrella, North Elmham, 6th August

Nothing else was new for the year but there were some notable moths among the micros including Grey Ermine Yponomeuta sedella, Base-lined Grey Scoparia basistrigalis and Chalk Knot-horn Phycitodes maritima.

Grey Ermine Yponomeuta sedella, North Elmham, 6th August

Other micros were 2 Ribwort Slenders Aspilapteryx tringipennella, Golden Argent Argyresthia goedartella, 10 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, Little Ermel Swammerdamia pyrella, Speckled Case-bearer Coleophora sternipennella, Brown House-moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella, 4 Long-horned Flat-bodies Carcina quercana, Burdock Neb Metzneria lappella, Cinereous Groundling Bryotropha terrella, House Groundling Bryotropha domestica, 2 Hook-marked Straw Moths Agapeta hamana, Burdock Conch Aethes rubigana, Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis heparana, 2 Dover Shades Cnephasia genitalana, Maple Button Acleris forsskaleana, 4 Garden Rose Tortrices Acleris variegana, Barred Marble Celypha striana, Common Marble Celypha lacunana, Marbled Orchard Tortrix Hedya nubiferana, 3 Holly Tortrices Rhopobota naevana, Two-coloured Bell Eucosma obumbratana, Bud Moth Spilonota ocellana, 3 Marbled Piercers Cydia splendana, 3 Round-winged Drills Dichrorampha simpliciana, Garden Grass-veneer Chrysoteuchia culmella, Pale-streak Grass-veneer Agriphila selasella, 48 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, 24 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, Chequered Grass-veneer Catoptria falsella, 3 Small Greys Eudonia mercurella, 2 Ringed China-marks Parapoynx stratiotata, Garden Pebble Evergestis forficalis, Chequered Straw Evergestis pallidata, 18 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Rosy Tabby Endotricha flammealis and Grey Knot-horn Acrobasis advenella.

Dover Shade Cnephasia genitalana (female, gen det), North Elmham, 6th August

Dark Umber, Fen Wainscot and Small Rufous were the best macros, the rest being Small Blood-vein, 3 Single-dotted Waves, 5 Riband Waves, 5 Red Twin-spot Carpets, Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet, Shaded Broad-bar, 2 Common Carpets, Yellow Shell, Slender Pug, Scorched Carpet, 2 Canary-shouldered Thorns, 5 Willow Beauties, Pebble Prominent, Coxcomb Prominent, Buff-tip, 6 Yellow-tails, 5 Rosy Footmen, 10 Dingy Footmen, 11 Scarce Footmen, 8 Common Footmen, Buff Ermine, 5 Ruby Tigers, Shuttle-shaped Dart, Flame Shoulder, 6 Large Yellow Underwings, Lesser Yellow Underwing, 12 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, 2 Double Square-spots, Dot Moth, Lychnis, Smoky Wainscot, Straw Underwing, Dun-bar, Dark Arches, Cloaked Minor, 2 Common Rustics, Lesser Common Rustic, 4 Dusky Sallows, Flounced Rustic, 3 Ear Moths, 7 Uncertains, Rustic, 3 Nut-tree Tussocks, Straw Dot, Snout and Fan-foot.

Dark Umber, North Elmham, 6th August

 Small Rufous, North Elmham, 6th August

This rather striking caterpillar was found on the Buddleia.  If I'm not mistaken it's a Figwort Sawfly, a species that's supposed to feed on Figwort, as its name suggests.  I'm not sure if that's meant to be Figwort in the strict sense or anything in the Figwort family, but the leafmines website doesn't give this species among those that feed on Buddleia.  With that being in the Figwort family though, I suspect it's appearance on the Buddeia was not coincidental.

Figwort Sawfly larva on Buddleia, North Elmham, 6th August