Review of 2019 and 2020 - Leafhoppers part 7: subfamily Typhlocybinae III

LEAFHOPPERS (CICADELLIDAE) continued


SUBFAMILY TYPHLOCYBINAE (continued)


Fagocyba carri - One to light at the meadows on 7th August 2020 and one in the garden moth trap on 22nd September 2020.  None in 2019 but I caught 3 here in 2018 (and one at the meadows).  I also got round to identifying one from Wiveton Downs in 2016 which I had retained for checking (but didn't at that time know how).  The RES key seems to imply that cruenta can be yellow or brownish-grey whereas carri is always yellow, but this is at odds with my experience.  I don't think I've ever caught a cruenta that hasn't been yellow (some are strong deep yellow while others are washed out whitish yellow) but carri appears to be much more variable.  The 4 carri I found in 2018 were all yellow appearing identical to cruenta but 2 of the 3 featured here (one from 2020 and the recently-identified one from 2016) were brown, and the other one from 2020 was intermediate.  All of these brown or intermediate individuals had the pigment pretty much restricted to the top and centre of the wing, the costal region below being clear.

male Fagocyba carri, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 7th August 2020

female Fagocyba carri, North Elmham, 22nd September 2020 - showing seventh abdominal sternum and ovipositor

female Fagocyba carri, Wiveton Downs, 26th October 2016 (identified in 2021)

Fagocyba cruenta - 2 on my beach hedge on 21st June 2019 followed by a total of 9 in my moth trap up to 14th October.  A total of 12 caught in my garden moth trap between 23rd June and 7th November 2020.  Also recorded at Swanton Great Wood and Row Heath (West Runton) in late August 2019 and in Cornwall in October 2020.  Quite a bit of variation in the intensity of yellow (males may average brighter but a lot of overlap):

male Fagocyba cruenta, North Elmham, 29th June 2019

female Fagocyba cruenta, North Elmham, 10th October 2019

female Fagocyba cruenta, North Elmham, 1st October 2019

female Fagocyba cruenta, North Elmham, 14th October 2019

male Fagocyba cruenta, North Elmham, 28th June 2020

female Fagocyba cruenta, North Elmham, 23rd July 2020

Edwardsiana sp. - Another tricky genus where for the most part at least, females can't be identified.  8 females caught in my moth trap in 2019 and 3 in 2020, plus a few elsewhere.  Also 2 males I couldn't resolve as their genitalia didn't quite match any of the species.  One was probably a mal-formed rosae but the other was a complete mystery as I couldn't find its aedeagus.  The following males were satisfactorily identified.


Edwardsiana crataegi - None.  I've caught and identified this species here once, in 2018.


Edwardsiana flavescens - None.  I've caught and identified this species here once, in 2017.


Edwardsiana geometrica - None.  I've caught this relatively distinctive species here once, in 2016.


Edwardsiana lethierryi - A male caught in the garden moth trap on 29th August 2020.  I've caught this species here once before and once at the meadows, both in 2018.

male Edwardsiana lethierryi, North Elmham, 29th August 2020 - showing aedeagus at different orientations

Edwardsiana prunicola - One on willow at the Cathedral Meadows on 21st June 2019 was the first I identified of this species.

male Edwardsiana prunicola, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 21st June 2019 - showing aedeagus at different orientations

Edwardsiana rosae - A male in my moth trap on 2nd July 2019 was the first time I've identified this species in my garden although it's the Edwardsiana I've identified most often elsewhere (including one at the meadows in 2018).  3 caught in Cornwall in early October 2020 - I'd caught 3 here in 2018 too.

male Edwardsiana rosae, North Elmham, 2nd July 2019

male Edwardsiana rosae, Tresidder (Cornwall), 6th October 2020 - showing aedeagus at different orientations

male Edwardsiana rosae, Tresidder (Cornwall), 6th October 2020 - second individual

Edwardsiana spinigera - A new species for me in 2020 but 4 males caught in the garden moth trap between 1st and 16th July.

male Edwardsiana spinigera, North Elmham, 2nd July 2020

male Edwardsiana spinigera, North Elmham, 3rd July 2020 - showing aedeagus at different orientations

Edwardsiana ulmiphagus - One in my garden moth trap on 14th June 2020 was a new leafhopper for me.  It was followed by 3 in Cornwall on 6th-7th October.  This species keys to Edwardsiana hippocastani using the RES key but if I understand other sources correctly this is now known as Edwardsiana ulmiphagus.

male Edwardsiana ulmiphagus, North Elmham, 14th June 2020 - showing aedeagus at different orientations

Alnetoidea alneti - Singles in my garden moth trap on 12th July and 16th August 2019.  Athough I had seen this species before I had forgotten how similar they are to Fagocyba and Edwardsiana spp.

female Alnetoidea alneti, North Elmham, 12th July 2019

male Alnetoidea alneti, North Elmham, 16th August 2019

Arboridia ribauti - Singles in my garden moth trap on 14th August and 30th October 2020, my second and third records following one here in 2018.

Arboridia ribauti, North Elmham, 14th August 2020

Arboridia ribauti, North Elmham, 30th October 2020

Next page: more Leafhoppers plus

A new Pigmy moth and some good bugs

92 moths of 30 species on 18th September was good for the time of year.  They included my first Barred Sallow of the year, my fifth Vetch Sober Aproaerema anthyllidella of the year (not a bad tally for a species I'd only ever seen three times before) and also by far my latest ever Clouded Silver.  The latter was worn, so unlikely a new second generation, but over a month past my previous latest (9th August).  I think it might be the latest ever in Norfolk too.

Barred Sallow, North Elmham, 18th September

Clouded Silver, North Elmham, 18th September

There were a few Neuroptera too: 3 Chrysoperla carnea (plus 2 female aggs.), Conwentzia psociformis and 5 Hemerobius lutescens.  Also no shortage of caddisflies with Oxyethira flavicornis, Hydropsyche pellucidula, 2 Mottled Sedges Glyphotaelius pellucidus, Limnephilus affinis, 6 Limnephilus auricula, 2 Limnephilus flavicornis, 16 Limnephilus lunatus, 2 Limnephilus marmoratus, 2 Limnephilus sparsus and Limnephilus vittatus.

A new bug for me was Orthotylus marginalis.  Well, it keyed out to this, but the key recommends you check the male genitalia, and this was a female, so not sure if the ID of females is 100% safe or not.

Orthotylus marginalis, North Elmham, 18th September

Another good bug, new for the garden, was the psyllid Psyllopsis fraxinicola.

Psyllopsis fraxinicola, North Elmham, 18th September

A Birch Catkin Bug Kleidocerys resedae was new for the year.

Birch Catkin Bug Kleidocerys resedae, North Elmham, 18th September

Apparently it's normal for Hawthorn Shieldbug to get darker before hibernating, but I don't often see them like this.

Hawthorn Shieldbug, North Elmham, 18th September

Other bugs were Forest Bug, Psallus varians, 2 Empoasca vitis, 2 Kybos betulicola, 2 Kybos strigilifer, 2 other (female) Kybos sp. and a female Edwardsiana sp.  Other things included 2 Ectopsocus sp. (barflies), the beetle Aphodius rufipes and a Hornet.

I don't think Kybos betulicola and Kybos strigilifer can be reliably separated other than by their male genitalia but interesting that both betulicola differed from both strigilifer in their general colouration, the strigilifer being paler and more yellowy-green.

Kybos betulicola (male, gen det), North Elmham, 18th September

Kybos strigilifer (male, gen det), North Elmham, 18th September

The following night there weren't quite so many moths but among them was a Norway-maple Pigmy Ectoedemia sericopeza, a new species for me.  It's a relatively distinctive species among the Nepticulids but although the colour of the collar is a clue it's hard to tell apart from Maple-seed Pigmy Ectoedemia louisella.  The collar colour suggested sericopera but this species was new to Norfolk as recently as 2013 and I'm not sure where my nearest Norway Maple is, it seemed sensible to check its genitalia (well, ok, I would have done anyway even if it was common).  Fortunately there are a couple of very clear differences between the male genitalia of these two species, so the ID was confirmed.  I think it was the first time an adult has been recorded in Norfolk, except where bred out from a mine (but there's been another since).

Norway-maple Pigmy Ectoedemia sericopeza (male, gen det), North Elmham, 19th September

The other moths were 2 Garden Midgets Phyllonorycter messaniella, White-shouldered House Moth Endrosis sarcitrella, Large Fruit-tree Tortrix Archips podana, Privet Tortrix Clepsis consimilana, Light Brown Apple-moth Epiphyas postvittana, Rhomboid Tortrix Acleris rhombana, 3 Garden Rose Tortrixes Acleris variegana, 7 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Maiden's Blush, Blood-vein, Small Blood-vein, Single-dotted Wave, Riband Wave, 2 Common Marbled Carpets, 3 Brimstone Moths, 3 Dusky Thorns, Light Emerald, Large Yellow Underwing, 4 Lesser Yellow Underwings, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Square-spot Rustic, White-point, Common Wainscot, Beaded Chestnut, 10 Lunar Underwings, Straw Dot and 2 Snouts.

A Hemerobius lutescens was the only lacewing and there were fewer caddisflies: Grammotaulius nigropunctatus, 10 Limnephilus auricula, Limnephilus flavicornis, 11 Limnephilus lunatus, Limnephilus marmoratus, Limnephilus sparsus and Halesus radiatus.

There were a few leafhoppers though, including Edwardsiana lethierryi, a new species for the garden.

Edwardsiana lethierryi (male, gen det), North Elmham, 19th September

The other leafhoppers were 2 Empoasca vitis, Kybos sp. and 4 Fagocyba cruenta. Other bugs were Birch Catkin Bug Kleidocerys resedae and Lygus pratensis.  The barkfly Valenzuela flavidus was new for the year for the garden.

Valenzuela flavodus, North Elmham, 19th September

The only other things I recorded were 2 Hornets and 2 Common Frogs.

The following night was much quieter with just 17 moths: Large Fruit-tree Tortrix Archips podana, 3 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Dusky Thorn, Light Emerald, Large Yellow Underwing, 2 Lesser Yellow Underwings, 2 Beaded Chestnuts, 4 Lunar Underwings, Vine's Rustic and Snout.

Other things were 2 Chrysoperla carnea (green lacewings), Hemerobius lutescens (brown lacewing), Mottled Sedge Glyphotaelius pellucidus, 5 Limnephilus auricula and 3 Limnephilus lunatus (caddisflies), Birch Shieldbug, Forest Bug, Birch Catkin Bug Kleidocerys resedae, Ectopsocus petersi (barkfly) and 2 more Ectopscous sp.

Jewel-like Willow Flea Beetles and two new leafhoppers

There were a few noteworthy moths at home on 9th September, including Carnation Tortrix Cacoecimorpha pronubana (average one a year here) and Birch Marble Apotomis betuletana (my fifth in 2018 but prior to that I'd only had singles here in 2014 and 2015).

Carnation Tortrix Cacoecimorpha pronubana, North Elmham, 9th September

Other moths were Diamond-back Plutella xylostella, 2 Privet Tortrixes Clepsis consimilana, 2 Light Brown Apple-moths Epiphyas postvittana, Dark-triangle Button Acleris laterana, Ashy Button Acleris sparsana, Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, 10 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, 2 Small Birch Bells Epinotia ramella, 2 Elbow-stripe Grass-veneers Agriphila geniculea, 2 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Chinese Character, Blood-vein, Single-dotted Wave, Common Carpet, 4 Brimstone Moths, Early Thorn, Light Emerald, Flame, 9 Large Yellow Underwings, 3 Lesser Yellow Underwings, 3 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, 4 Square-spot Rustics, Centre-barred Sallow, Lunar Underwing, Mouse Moth, Frosted Orange, 2 Vine's Rustics, Burnished Brass, 6 Snouts and Pinion-streaked Snout.

Pinion-streaked Snout, North Elmham, 9th September

Mayflies and lacewings were represented by 2 Pond Olives Cloeon dipterum and Hemerobius lutescens respectively.  Caddisflies were Oxyethira flavicornis, Hydropsyche pellucidula, 4 Limnephilus flavicornis, 6 Limnephilus lunatus and Grouse Wing Mystacides longicornis.

There was also a Forest Bug, the leafhopper Alebra albostriella, the barkfly Ectopsocus petersi and 2 Hornets.

A walk round the meadows the next day produced a few things.  There were 2 Hornets, a Common Carder Bee, a 7-spot Ladybird and the only moth, a Common Marble Celypha lacunana.  I found another unidentifiable (by me) Philodromus spider in some Black Horehound.  I have spent a lot of time trying to identify these spiders but with no success.  Either I've not worked out how to view the epigyne properly on female spiders or else they're all immature.  Maybe this coming year I'll find some adults and figure it out...

Shaking some Acer keys produced some insects including the green lacewing Chrysoperla carnea, the barkfly Valenzuela flavidus (in Sycamore) and a new species of leafhopper for me, Edwardsiana lethierryi (in Field Maple).  I think this was also how I found the bug Deraeocoris lutescens but I forgot to record that at the time.

Edwardsiana lethierryi (male, gen det), North Elmham Cathedral Meadows 10th September

Deraeocoris lutescens, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows 10th September

The big old White Willow tree produced a couple more lifers.  Two female Kybos leafhoppers could only be partially identified based on their appearance but the fact that I found them on White Willow is, I think, sufficient to finish the job and label them as Kybos virgator.  I also found at least 6 Willow Flea Beetles Crepidodera aurata which looked like tiny little pink and green jewels (the photos don't do them justice).

Kybos virgator, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows 10th September

Willow Flea Beetle Crepidodera aurata, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows 10th September

That night's garden moth trap's contents were Large Fruit-tree Tortrix Archips podana, Common Marble Celypha lacunana, Elbow-stripe Grass-veneer Agriphila geniculea, Narrow-winged Grey Eudonia angustea, Garden Pebble Evergestis forficalis, Blood-vein, Brimstone Moth, Dusky Thorn, 2 Light Emeralds, Turnip Moth, 3 Large Yellow Underwings, 4 Lesser Yellow Underwings, 2 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, 2 Square-spot Rustics, 2 Common Wainscots, Centre-barred Sallow, Lunar Underwing, Spectacle and Snout. Mayflies and lavewings were Pond Olive Cloeon dipterum, Dichochrysa prasina, Hemerobius lutescens and Micromus variegatus. Caddisflies were Hydropsyche pellucidula, 3 Limnephilus auricula, 4 Limnephilus flavicornis, 8 Limnephilus lunatus, Limnephilus marmoratus and Limnephilus sparsus. There was also a Forest Bug, an Ectopsocus barkfly, the beetle Aphodius rufipes and 3 Hornets.

Next day I had Brown House Moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella and Small Dusty Wave in Norwich. At home a worn White-shouldered Smudge Ypsolopha parenthesella and a Yellow-line Quaker were both new for the year.

Yellow-line Quaker, North Elmham, 11th September

Other moths included Ruddy Flat-body Agonopterix subpropinquella, another Carnation Tortrix Cacoecimorpha pronubana and an Oak Hook-tip. .

Carnation Tortrix Cacoecimorpha pronubana, North Elmham, 11th September

Oak Hook-tip, North Elmham, 11th September

Other moths were Beech Midget Phyllonorycter maestingella, 2 Diamond-backs Plutella xylostella, 2 Little Dwarfs Elachista canapennella, Light Brown Apple-moth Epiphyas postvittana, 2 Garden Rose Tortrixes Acleris variegana, 2 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Elbow-stripe Grass-veneer Agriphila geniculea, 2 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla, 2 Blood-veins, Small Blood-vein, Small Dusty Wave, 2 Brimstone Moths, Early Thorn, 4 Large Yellow Underwings, 4 Lesser Yellow Underwings, 2 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, Square-spot Rustic, 2 Common Wainscots, 3 Lunar Underwings, 2 Flounced Rustics, Rosy Rustic, 3 Frosted Oranges, Spectacle and 2 Snouts.

A Hemerobius lutescens was the only lacewing but there were a few caddisflies including my first Limnephilus vittatus of the year.  The other caddis were 4 Mottled Sedges Glyphotaelius pellucidus, 4 Limnephilus auricula, 3 Limnephilus flavicornis, 12 Limnephilus lunatus and 3 Limnephilus sparsus.

Limnephilus vittatus, North Elmham, 11th September

This fly looked like it might be distinctive enough for me to find an ID, and so it proved - my first Twin-spot Centurion Sargus bipunctatus, so named because of the pair of white spots on its face.  I would have taken a photo front-on if I'd realised that at the time...

Twin-spot Centurion Sargus bipunctatus, North Elmham, 11th September

The following night was quiet with 2 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Early Thorn, 3 Large Yellow Underwings, 4 Lesser Yellow Underwings, 2 Square-spot Rustics, 2 Lunar Underwings and 3 Flounced Rustics.  The caddisflies Mottled Sedge Glyphotaelius pellucidus and Limnephilus flavicornis were the only other insects I recorded.