Review of 2019 and 2020 - Moths: Grass moths (Crambidae) - Part 2: Pearls II (Udea to Evergestis)

GRASS MOTHS (CRAMBIDAE)


Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis - One in my garden on 4th July 2019 was my earliest ever by over a month and was followed by 10 more between 4th August and 13th September.  An even earlier one turned up in 2020, on 15th June, and was followed by 7 more between 12th September and 28th November.  As is expected for a migrant species this moth varies in numbers here from year to year - 2014 and 2016 were better years but I only trapped 0-2 in 2015, 2017 and 2018.  Elsewhere 11 in Cornwall in the first week of October 2020.

Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis, North Elmham, 4th July 2019

Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis, North Elmham, 15th June 2020

Pale Straw Pearl Udea lutelais - 7 trapped in the garden between 22nd July and 22nd August 2019: a much poorer showing than before - I've had as many as 61 in a year here (average 37).  2020 was better but still unimpressive, with 19 between 21st July and 20th August.  Singles recorded at the meadows on 6 dates - it's often easier to find in the day time here than coming to light.

Pale Straw Pearl Udea lutealis, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 19th July 2019

Dusky Pearl Udea prunalis - 5 caught in the garden between 8th July and 1st August 2019 and 4 between 30th June and 17th July 2020.  I average about 10 a year here and these were (just) my worst years to date.  Also one at Weybourne on 5th July 2019.

Dusky Pearl Udea prunalis, North Elmham, 30th June 2020

Olive Pearl Udea olivalis - One at Weybourne on 5th July was my only record in 2019 and none in 2020.  Although this species is quite common in parts of Norfolk and occurs pretty much everywhere, I've yet to find one here in North Elmham.  I only ever caught one when I was living at Bawdeswell too, so they do seem to be quite scarce locally.


Mother of Pearl Patania ruralis - Caught at home on 45 nights between 5th July and 9th September 2019.  I can't give a meaningful total as I didn't count them on 18 of these nights, but there were 100 either side of this busy period (including 18 on 23rd July).  The number of nights was slightly lower than in any of the previous 4 years.  They were counted every night in 2020 but there were only 146 over 34 nights between 1st July and 23rd August, far and away my worst showing here (I averaged 365/year in 2015-18).  Also recorded next door, at the village allotments and at the meadows where there were at least 200 feeding on Rosebay Willowherb along the railway on 4th August 2019.  Further afield, recorded at Bintree Wood, Hellesdon, Swanton Great Wood and Row Heath (West Runton).

Mother of Pearls Patania ruralis, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 4th August 2019

Madder Pearl Mecyna asinalis - In the UK this species is restricted to SW coasts and I've never seen it here, but I did have one come to LED lights in NW Spain in February 2020.

Madder Pearl Mecyna asinalis, near Sant Vicenc (Catalonia, Spain), 23rd February 2020

Olive-tree Pearl Palpita vitrealis - One in the garden on 16th October 2020 was the first one I've ever caught this scarce migrant in Norfolk, and very welcome it was too!  It didn't go into the trap but was found resting on the lawn round the outside.  Previously I'd only ever seen one in Cornwall (plus one that Dave caught in Toftwood, but I don't count that as I didn't catch it).

Olive-tree Pearl Palpita vitrealis, North Elmham, 16th October 2020

Rush Veneer Nomophila noctuella - None.  My first blank years for this migrant species since moving in in 2014 though most years I've only had 1-2 (13 in 2016).


Box-tree Moth Cydalima perspectalis - None.  I still haven't connected with this adventive species despite it now getting quite common in Norwich and increasing number of records from other parts of the county.  I should imagine that any local Box growers are rather less keen than I am to see it arrive, as surely it will do before long...


Garden Pebble Evergestis forficalis - An average year in 2019 with at least 47 here between 19th May and 4th September 2019 (not counted on a couple of nights), and just about my best ever year in 2020 with 77 between 7th May and 8th September.  Elsewhere 6 at the meadows.

Garden Pebble Evergestis forficalis, North Elmham, 19th May 2019

Garden Pebble Evergestis forficalis, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 21st May 2019

Garden Pebble Evergestis forficalis, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 7th August 2020

Marbled Yellow Pearl Evergestis extrimalis - None.  I've never seen this species but although it's mainly recorded from the Brecks or round the coast there are a scattering of records elsewhere so it's feasible that one might crop up round here sometime.

Chequered Pearl Evergestis pallidata - 5 caught in the garden between 17th July and 5th August 2019 and 5 between 3rd July and 6th August 2020 - my worst years for this species here so far (averages 9 a year).  Elsewhere 4 at the meadows and one at Bintree Wood.

Chequered Pebble Evergestis pallidata, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 7th July 2019

Chequered Pebble Evergestis pallidata, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 4th August 2019

Chequered Pebble Evergestis pallidata, North Elmham, 3rd July 2020

Next page: more Crambidae

More Maple Prominents before a lull

Another crop of new-for-the-year on 11th included Gorse Crest Brachmia blandella, Orange Crest Helcystogramma rufescens, Chequered Straw Evergestis pallidata, Drinker, Peach Blossom and Yellow-tail, but 2 Maple Prominents and a Rough-winged Conch Phtheochroa rugosana were more unexpected than any of those.

Maple Prominent, North Elmham, 11th July

Rough-winged Conch Phtheochroa rugosana, North Elmham, 11th July

Drinker, North Elmham, 11th July

Peach Blossom, North Elmham, 11th July

Gorse Crest Brachmia blandella, North Elmham, 11th July

Chequered Straw Evergestis pallidata, North Elmham, 11th July

Other macros were Buff Arches, Large Emerald, Common Emerald, Small Emerald, 4 Small Fan-footed Waves, 3 Single-dotted Waves, 5 Riband Waves, Yellow Shell, 2 Barred Straws, Clouded Border, Brimstone Moth, 2 Early Thorns, 4 Swallow-tailed Moths, 3 Peppered Moths, 4 Willow Beauties, 4 Mottled Beauties, Clouded Silver, 2 Elephant Hawkmoths, 3 Coxcomb Prominents, 2 Rosy Footmen, 7 Common Footmen, 13 Buff Ermines, Short-cloaked Moth, 3 Flames, Flame Shoulder, 2 Large Yellow Underwings, 2 Double Square-spots, Bright-line Brown-eye, 2 Clays, Poplar Grey, 4 Dark Arches, Marbled Minor, Tawny Marbled Minor, 5 Common Rustics, 11 Uncertains, 3 Rustics, Mottled Rustic, Straw Dot and 6 Fan-foots.

Rustic, North Elmham, 11th July

Other micros were Hawthorn Ermel Paraswammerdamia nebulella, Diamond-back Moth Plutella xylostella, Grey Rush Case-bearer Coleophora glaucicolella, Dark Groundling Bryotropha affinis, London Dowd Blastobasis lacticolella, Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis cerasana, Large Fruit-tree Tortrix Archips podana, Privet Tortrix Clepsis consimilana, 3 Large Ivy Tortrixes Lozotaenia forsterana, Grey Tortrix Cnephasia stephensiana, 2 Flax Tortrixes Cnephasia asseclana, Barred Marble Celypha striana, 5 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, 2 Pine Marbles Piniphila bifasciana, Triple-blotched Bell Notocelia trimaculana, 9 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 2 Grass-veneers Crambus pascuella, Yellow Satin Veneer Crambus perlella, Meadow Grey Scoparia pyralella, Common Grey Scoparia ambigualis, 6 Little Greys Eudonia lacustrata, Small Magpie Anania hortulata, Elder Pearl Anania coronata and White Plume Pterophorus pentadactyla.

The only other invert noted was the bug Stenotus binotatus, again.

The following night a Blackneck was the only moth new for the year here (but always a welcome one to find at home).

Blackneck, North Elmham, 12th July

Other macros were 2 Drinkers, 3 Small Fan-footed Waves, Dwarf Cream Wave, 3 Single-dotted Waves, 10 Riband Waves, Phoenix, 3 Barred Straws, 2 Clouded Borders, Early Thorn, 3 Swallow-tailed Moths, 3 Peppered Moths, Willow Beauty, 2 Mottled Beauties, Engrailed, Poplar Hawkmoth, 2 Buff-tips, 6 Rosy Footmen, 13 Common Footmen, 11 Buff Ermines, 2 Cinnabars, Short-cloaked Moth, 2 Heart and Darts, Flame, Flame Shoulder, Large Yellow Underwing, 2 Double Square-spots, Dot Moth, Bright-line Brown-eye, 3 Clays, 5 Smoky Wainscots, Grey Dagger, Brown Rustic, 5 Dark Arches, Light Arches, 22 Uncertains, 6 Mottled Rustics and Snout.

Relatively few micros: 2 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, Common Oak Case-bearer Coleophora lutipennella, Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis cerasana, 2 Large Ivy Tortrixes Lozotaenia forsterana, Light Grey Tortrix Cnephasia incertana, 2 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Hoary Bell Eucosma cana, 5 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, Grass-veneer Crambus pascuella, Little Grey Eudonia lacustrata, 2 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, 2 Elder Pearls Anania coronata and False Cacao Moth Ephestia unicolorella.

A Waxfly was one of the Conwentzia species but it was a female and apparently these can't be resolved to species level.

Conwentzia sp., North Elmham, 12th July

Caddisflies were Limnephilus auricula and Limnephilus lunatus.

I can't remember when I last didn't get any new moths for the year - seems like ages ago!  But there weren't any on 13th July, and only 34 species: Bird-cherry Ermine Yponomeuta evonymella, Large Ivy Tortrix Lozotaenia forsterana, 4 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, 2 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, Common Grey Scoparia ambigualis, Small Magpie Anania hortulata, Buff Arches, Small Fan-footed Wave, Dwarf Cream Wave, Single-dotted Wave, 4 Riband Waves, Clouded Border, Scalloped Oak, Peppered Moth, 3 Willow Beauties, Privet Hawkmoth, Swallow Prominent, Buff-tip, Rosy Footman, 11 Common Footmen, 6 Buff Ermines, Cinnabar, Flame Shoulder, Large Yellow Underwing, Dot Moth, 3 Bright-line Brown-eyes, 8 Clays, 2 Smoky Wainscots, Dark Arches, 2 Common Rustics, 17 Uncertains, Rustic, 3 Burnished Brasses and Snout.

Scalloped Oak, North Elmham, 13th July

A Limnephilus auricula was the only caddisfly noted.

New moth: Acompsia cinerella

After a night off, 13th July was another good night with 100 species, though lacking some of the big numbers of the 11th.  Instead it produced a new moth for me, Ash-coloured Sober Acompsia cinerella.  I guess from its vernacular name you wouldn't expect it to be much of a looker, and it lived up to expectations.

 Ash-coloured Sober Acompsia cinerella, North Elmham, 14th July

Some really good moths among the others too.  Two years ago when I first found Pine Cosmet Batrachedra pinicolella it was the first Norfolk record for 129 years.  Since then there have been 9 more records in the county, so not quite the rarity it seemed, though what caused the sudden surge in records after such a long gap I have no idea.  Anyway, it's still a good moth, so good to find another one at home.

Two more scarce moths that have enjoyed a recent upsurge in numbers of records were Dull Red Groundling Bryotropha senectella and Base-lined Grey Scoparia basistrigalis, both confirmed by gen detting.

Dull Red Groundling Bryotropha senectella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 14th July

Base-lined Grey Scoparia basistrigalis (female, gen det), North Elmham, 14th July

Yarrow Case-bearer Coleophora argentula and Coronet were both my second ever records.  The Coronet was interesting being a dark form - I had forgotten how green they are.

Coronet, North Elmham, 14th July

Yarrow Case-bearer Coleophora argentula (male, gen det), North Elmham, 14th July

Also new for the year (for home) were Chequered Straw Evergestis pallidata, Round-winged Muslin and Purple Clay. 

Purple Clay, North Elmham, 14th July

Round-winged Muslin, North Elmham, 14th July

Chequered Straw Evergestis pallidata, North Elmham, 14th July

The best of the other micros was another Black-brindled Bell Epinotia signatana.  The others micros were 7 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, White-headed Ermel Paraswammerdamia albicapitella, Meadow Case-bearer Coleophora mayrella, Little Dwarf Elachista canapennella, Brown House-moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella, Burdock Neb Metzneria lappella, Cinereous Groundling Bryotropha terrella, 4 Hook-marked Straw Moths Agapeta hamana, 3 Privet Tortrices Clepsis consimilana, Large Ivy Tortrix Lozotaenia forsterana, 5 Grey Tortrices Cnephasia stephensiana, 6 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 7 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Triangle-marked Roller Ancylis achatana, Holly Tortrix Rhopobota naevana, 2 Common Cloaked Shoots Gypsonoma dealbana, Triple-blotched Bell Notocelia trimaculana, Hoary Bell Eucosma cana, 32 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, Yellow Satin Veneer Crambus perlella, Pearl Veneer Agriphila straminella, Pearl Grass-veneer Catoptria pinella, 3 Water Veneers Acentria ephemerella, 2 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, 11 Little Greys Eudonia lacustrata, Small Grey Eudonia mercurella, Brown China-mark Elophila nymphaeata, Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiotata, 3 Small Magpies Eurrhypara hortulata, 3 Elder Pearls Anania coronata, 2 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Rosy Tabby Endotricha flammealis, 2 Bee Moths Aphomia sociella and Dotted Oak Knot-horn Phycita roborella.

Black-brindled Bell Epinotia signatana, North Elmham, 14th July

Dotted Oak Knot-horn Phycita roborella, North Elmham, 14th July

Other macros were 2 Buff Arches, 2 Common Emeralds, Small Blood-vein, 11 Small Fan-footed Waves, 2 Single-dotted Waves, Treble Brown Spot, 9 Riband Waves, 3 Large Twin-spot Carpets, Shaded Broad-bar, 6 Barred Straws, July Highflyer, Sandy Carpet, Wormwood Pug, Common Pug, 2 Green Pugs, Small Yellow Wave, Clouded Border, 4 Brimstone Moths, Lilac Beauty, Early Thorn, 5 Swallow-tailed Moths, 5 Peppered Moths, 4 Willow Beauties, 3 Mottled Beauties, 3 Common White Waves, 11 Clouded Silvers, 2 Poplar Hawkmoths, 8 Elephant Hawkmoths, Iron Prominent, Yellow-tail, 6 Rosy Footmen, Dingy Footman, 2 Scarce Footmen, Buff Footman, 31 Common Footmen, Buff Ermine, Heart and Dart, 7 Flames, Flame Shoulder, 8 Double Square-spots, Dot Moth, 2 Lychnises, 5 Clays, 5 Smoky Wainscots, Brown Rustic, Small Angle Shades, 7 Dark Arches, Tawny Marbled Minor, Common Rustic, Lesser Common Rustic, 28 Uncertains, 3 Mottled Rustics, Spectacle, 2 Beautiful Hook-tips, 13 Snouts and 6 Fan-foots. 

Buff Footman, North Elmham, 14th July

Wormwood Pug, North Elmham, 14th July