Review of 2019 and 2020 - Moths: Tortrix Moths (Tortricidae) (Part 13: Piercers II (Cydia to Grapholita))

TORTRIX MOTHS (TORTRICIDAE) (continued)


Marbled Piercer Cydia splendana - At least 38 in the garden between 10th July and 2nd September 2019 (though not counted on several dates so possibly more) and 32 between 8th July and 8th September 2020.  Number-wise this species has been fairly consistent here each year.  Elsewhere seen in next door's garden 3 times and at the meadows on 4 dates between 26th July and 3rd September 2019 and 2 on 7th August 2020.  Also at Bintree Wood, Swanton Great Wood and Row Heath (West Runton).

Marbled Piercer Cydia splendana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 7th July 2019

Large Beech Piercer Cydia fagiglandana - Singles at home on 21st and 24th July 2019 but none here in 2020.  2020 wasn't my first blank year but I had 1-2 every year from 2016-19.  Also singles at the meadows on 7th and 26th July 2019 and 3 there on 7th August 2020 plus one at Bintree Wood on 13th June 2020.

Large Beech Piercer Cydia fagiglandana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 7th July 2019

Large Beech Piercer Cydia fagiglandana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 26th July 2019

Vagrant Piercer Cydia amplana - None.  This species has always been regarded as a rare migrant and as such the odds of me getting one here would be very small.  But in very recent years there have been so many records at inland Norfolk sites it must surely have become established.  Some of these aren't all that far away, like one at Sparham and a ludicrous 20+ that Dave Norgate has had at Toftwood, so I now have high hopes of finding my first before too long.


Scarce Maple Piercer Cydia inquinatana - Having been at the event where Norfolk's first (and Britain's 4th) record of this species was taken, but having not seen it as I didn't hear about it on the night, it was nice to catch one in my own garden on 11th July 2020.  Of course there have been quite a few in Norfolk since that first one in 2011 - I think mine is the 16th.

female Scarce Maple Piercer Cydia inquinatana, North Elmham, 11th July 2020

Red Piercer Lathronympha strigana - 6 between 23rd July and 21st August 2019 and 15 between 21st May and 17th August 2020.  Numbers don't fluctuate all that much here and these were my worst and best years respectively.  Also 2 next door, one at the meadows and one at Bintree Wood.

female Red Piercer Lathronympha strigana, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 23rd June 2020

Triple-stripe Piercer Grapholita compositella - One netted at the meadows on 20th July 2020 was only my second record of this species although it was one I was half-expecting there as there's an abundance of clover.  Not sure how often this species comes to light so my chances of catching one at home are perhaps not so high?

Triple-stripe Piercer Grapholita compositella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 20th July 2020

Dark Gorse Piercer Grapholita internana - None.  I've not had this species very locally, though I always look for it around the gorse at the meadows.


Crescent Piercer Grapholita orobana - None.  This seems to be quite a scarce species in Norfolk but there's no reason I can see why it shouldn't occur locally.  I've not seen it yet though, anywhere.


Vetch Piercer Grapholita jungiella - 6 at the meadows over the 2 years between 22nd April and 12th May.  I haven't recorded this species at home yet but I usually see it in the day-time.

Vetch Piercer Grapholita jungiella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 12th May 2019

Vetch Piercer Grapholita jungiella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 22nd April 2020

Kent Fruit Piercer Grapholita lobarzewskii - following Norfolk's second record in my garden in 2018 I had another 5 in 2019!  The first turned up to the lobarzewskii pheremone lure on 29th June and I imagine the next two were attracted to it to, but they actually turned up in the moth trap that night.  Then there were 2 more to lure on 12th July.  One more in 2020 on 11th July.

male Kent Fruit Piercers Grapholita lobarzewskii, North Elmham, 29th June 2019

male Kent Fruit Piercers Grapholita lobarzewskii, North Elmham, 12th July 2019

male Kent Fruit Piercer Grapholita lobarzewskii, North Elmham, 11th July 2020

Plum Fruit Moth Grapholita funebrana - One at Weybourne on 5th July 2019.  None at home where this species has been very irregular - none most years but 6 in 2016 and one in 2018.  None in 2020.

male Plum Fruit Moth Grapholita funebrana, Weybourne, 5th July 2019

Deep-brown Piercer Grapholita tenebrosana - None.  I've never seen this species but apparently it comes to the pheremone lure for Grapholita funebrana so I'm hoping to attract one soon.


Pale-bordered Piercer Grapholita janthinana - One here on 27th July 2019 was only my second here to MV light (first in 2015).  2 came to the pheremone lure for Grapholita lobarzewskii on 11th July 2020 (the second time I've caught them here using this method).  Also one to light at Weybourne on 5th July 2019. 

male Pale-bordered Piercers Grapholita janthinana, North Elmham, 10th July 2020

Next page: more Tortricidae

Chestnut Pigmy and Oak Eggar

After a poor night on 13th July things got back on track on 14th with 93 species of moth.  One of these was a new one for me, Chestnut Pigmy Stigmella samiatella.

Chestnut Pigmy Stigmella samiatella (female, gen det), North Elmham, 14th July

Another was new for the house: Pistol Case-bearer Coleophora anatipennella.

Pistol Case-bearer Coleophora anatipennella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 14th July

A Grey Alder Case-bearer Coleophora binderella was only my second ever, following one here in 2016.

Grey Alder Case-bearer Coleophora binderella (female, gen det), North Elmham, 14th July

A Plum Fruit Moth Grapholita funebrana was another species I had only previously seen in 2016, though I did catch 6 of them that year.

Plum Fruit Moth Grapholita funebrana (male, gen det), North Elmham, 14th July

A White-bodied Conch Cochylis hybridella was also only my second here.

White-bodied Conch Cochylis hybridella, North Elmham, 14th July

A further 5 were new for the year here: Garden Midget Phyllonorycter messaniella, Apple & Plum Case-bearer Coleophora spinella, Grey Rush Case-bearer Coleophora glaucicolella, Oak Eggar and Maple Pug.

Garden Midget Phyllonorycter messaniella, North Elmham, 14th July

Apple & Plum Case-bearer Coleophora spinella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 14th July

Oak Eggar, North Elmham, 14th July

Maple Pug (male, gen det), North Elmham, 14th July

A Wood Groundling Parachronistis albiceps was my third here this year, surprisingly for a species I had not seen in my garden until this year.

The rest of the moths were Hazel Slender Parornix devoniella, 2 Beech Midgets Phyllonorycter maestingella, 9 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, Hawthorn Ermine Paraswammerdamia nebulella, 2 Meadow Case-bearers Coleophora mayrella, Golden-brown Tubic Crassa unitella, 3 Brown House Moths Hofmannophila pseudospretella, 3 Long-horned Flat-bodies Carcina quercana, Burdock Neb Metzneria lappella, 2 Cinerous Nebs Bryotropha terrella, Dingy Dowd Blastobasis adustella, Plain Conch Phtheochroa inopiana, Common Yellow Conch Agapeta hamana, Privet Tortrix Clepsis consimilana, 2 Red-barred Tortrixes Ditula angustiorana, Grey Tortrix Cnephasia stephensiana, Flax Tortrix Cnephasia asseclana, Dover Shade Cnephasia genitalana, Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, 5 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 2 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Marbled Orchard Tortrix Hedya nubiferana, 2 Nut-bud Moths Epinotia tenerana, Holly Tortrix Rhopobota naevana, 2 Common Cloaked Shoots Gypsonoma dealbana, 3 Hoary Bells Eucosma cana, 3 Many-plume Moths Alucita hexadactyla, 12 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 2 Inlaid Grass-veneers Crambus pascuella, 48 Straw Grass-veneers Agriphila straminella, 3 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, Pearl Grass-veneer Catoptria pinella, 2 Small Greys Eudonia mercurella, Small Magpie Anania hortulata, 18 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, 3 Grey Knot-horns Acrobasis advenella, 2 Common Plumes Emmelina monodactyla, Buff Arches, 4 Least Carpets, 11 Small Fan-footed Waves, 3 Dwarf Cream Waves, 12 Single-dotted Waves, Treble Brown Spot, 8 Riband Waves, Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet, Shaded Broad-bar, Common Carpet, V-Pug, 2 Double-striped Pugs, Clouded Border, Brimstone Moth, 4 Early Thorns, 2 Willow Beauties, Mottled Beauty, Elephant Hawk-moth, 2 Yellow-tails, Round-winged Muslin, Rosy Footman, 16 Dingy Footmen, 19 Common Footmen, 3 Buff Ermines, Cinnabar, Heart and Club, 2 Flame Shoulders, 4 Double Square-spots, Dot Moth, 2 Bright-line Brown-eyes, Clay, 3 Smoky Wainscots, 2 Dun-bars, 2 Dark Arches, Slender Brindle, 2 Common Rustics, 4 Lesser Common Rustics (and another Common Rustic agg.), 3 Dusky Sallows, 18 Uncertains, 3 Rustics, 3 Mottled Rustics, 3 Nut-tree Tussocks, Straw Dot, Snout and Fan-foot.

There was a good range of other insects too.  Mayflies consisted of Pond Olive Cloeon dipterum, Green Drake Ephemera danica and 4 Blue-winged Olives Serratella ignita.  The brown lacewing Hemerobius micans was only my second here and there was a good selection of caddisflies: Oxyethira flavicornis, 2 Hydropsyche siltalai, Mottled Sedge Glyphotaelius pellucidus, Limnephilus auricula, Limnephilus flavicornis, 2 Leptocerus tineiformis and Grouse Wing Mystacides longicornis. Mirid bugs were Phylus palliceps and Stenotus binotatus, the latter new for the year, and beetles comprised 2 Hydrobius fuscipes, 2 Nicrophorus investigator, Rhagonycha fulva and Lagria hirta.

A saltmarsh species in North Elmham

29th July was another good night with 516 moths of 128 species.  The highlight from my perspective was my second ever Sorrel Bent-wing Opostega salicella.

Sorrel Bent-wing Opostega salicella, North Elmham, 29th July

Another nice addition to the garden list was this Mottled Marble Bactra furfurana.

Mottled Marble Bactra furfurana (female, gen det), North Elmham, 29th July

North Elmham, in the middle of Norfolk, isn't renouned for its saltmarsh species, so a Saltmarsh Bell Eucosma tripoliana was quite a surprise.  This species does turn up inland occasionally - I had two together at Bawdeswell once and at the time I recall Jon mentioning that he'd had them at Hindolveston a couple of times too.  Even so, a very good one to add to the garden list.  I don't recall the weather on the night but looking it up it seems like there was a light northerly breeze during the night, so perhaps this helped move this individual down from the coast.

Saltmarsh Bell Eucosma tripoliana (female, gen det), North Elmham, 29th July

I didn't realise the identity of the above Eucosma until I dissected it, though perhaps in hindsight I should have at least suspected it at the time.  I thought it might be Bright Bell Eucosma hohenwartiana.  In an odd twist there was a Eucosma hohenwartiana among the moths I retained, but an unusually plain individual which I thought was a Bactra species!  Obviously I wasn't having a very good morning when I looked at these!

Bright Bell Eucosma hohenwartiana (male, gen det), North Elmham, 29th July

Other goodies among the micros included Body-marked Case-bearer Coleophora clypeiferella and another Plum Fruit Moth Grapholita funebrana.

Body-marked Case-bearer Coleophora clypeiferella, North Elmham, 29th July

Plum Fruit Moth Grapholita funebrana (male, gen det), North Elmham, 29th July

The remaining micros were Bird’s-nest Moth Tinea trinotella, Brown Birch Slender Parornix betulae, Garden Midget Phyllonorycter messaniella, 14 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, 4 Diamond-back Moths Plutella xylostella, Small Clover Case-bearer Coleophora alcyonipennella, Speckled Case-bearer Coleophora sternipennella, Little Dwarf Elachista canapennella, Golden-brown Tubic Crassa unitella, Brown House Moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella, 2 Long-horned Flat-bodies Carcina quercana, 2 Dark Groundlings Bryotropha affinis, 2 Orange Crests Helcystogramma rufescens, Dingy Dowd Blastobasis adustella, Bulrush Cosmet Limnaecia phragmitella, 2 Hook-marked Straw Moths Agapeta hamana, Burdock Conch Aethes rubigana, Timothy Tortrix Aphelia paleana, Privet Tortrix Clepsis consimilana, Red-barred Tortrix Ditula angustiorana, 2 Grey Tortrixes Cnephasia stephensiana, Flax Tortrix Cnephasia asseclana, Dover Shade Cnephasia genitalana, Maple Button Acleris forsskaleana, Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, 2 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 4 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, 2 Holly Tortrixes Rhopobota naevana, Two-coloured Bell Eucosma obumbratana, Bud Moth Spilonota ocellana, 5 Marbled Piercers Cydia splendana, Many-plumed Moth Alucita hexadactyla, 5 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, Grass-veneer Crambus pascuella, Pale-streak Grass-veneer Agriphila selasella, 35 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, Common Grass-veneer Agriphila tristella, 3 Pearl Grass-veneers Catoptria pinella, Chequered Grass-veneer Catoptria falsella, 3 Pale Water-veneers Donacaula forficella, 12 Water Veneers Acentria ephemerella, 5 Little Greys Eudonia lacustrata, Small Grey Eudonia mercurella, Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiotata, 3 Beautiful China-marks Nymphula nitidulata, Small China-mark Cataclysta lemnata, Chequered Straw Evergestis pallidata, Small Magpie Anania hortulata, Elder Pearl Anania coronata, 6 Pale Straw Pearls Udea lutealis, 2 Dusky Pearls Udea prunalis, 19 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Gold Triangle Hypsopygia costalis, 3 Rosy Tabbies Endotricha flammealis, Grey Knot-horn Acrobasis advenella, Dotted Oak Knot-horn Phycita roborella and White Plume Pterophorus pentadactyla.

Brown Birch Slender Parornix betulae (female, gen det), North Elmham, 29th July

Small Clover Case-bearer Coleophora alcyonipennella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 29th July

Timothy Tortrix Aphelia paleana, North Elmham, 29th July

Although most of the excitement was with the micros there were some noteworthy macros too, inlcuding my first Sallow Kitten here this year and another Bordered Pug.

Sallow Kitten, North Elmham, 29th July

Bordered Pug, North Elmham, 29th July

It was another good night for Footmen with 15 Rosy Footmen, 39 Dingy Footmen, 18 Scarce Footmen, 3 Buff Footmen and another count of 76 Common Footmen.  This rather tired-looking individual was tiny - perhaps 60% the size of a typical Common Footman.  Can't see that it can be anything else though.

Common Footman, North Elmham, 29th July

Dingy Footman, North Elmham, 29th July

Others were a male Ghost Moth, 3 Pebble Hook-tips, Chinese Character, Buff Arches, 2 Blood-veins, 8 Small Fan-footed Waves, Dwarf Cream Wave, 4 Single-dotted Waves, 22 Riband Waves, Flame Carpet, 3 Red Twin-spot Carpets, 2 Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpets, Large Twin-spot Carpet, 5 Shaded Broad-bars, 2 Common Carpets, Yellow Shell, Sharp-angled Carpet, 6 Small Rivulets, Foxglove Pug, Double-striped Pug, 2 Clouded Borders, Early Thorn, 3 Scalloped Oaks, Swallow-tailed Moth, Peppered Moth, 2 Willow Beauties, Privet Hawkmoth, Iron Prominent, 5 Yellow-tails, 2 Black Arches, 3 Buff Ermines, 3 Shuttle-shaped Darts, 2 Flame Shoulders, Large Yellow Underwing, 5 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, 4 Double Square-spots, Nutmeg, 2 Dot Moths, 3 Bright-line Brown-eyes, Brown-line Bright-eye, 6 Clays, 7 Smoky Wainscots, 3 Grey Daggers, 3 Dun-bars, 6 Dark Arches, Slender Brindle, Cloaked Minor, 3 Common Rustics, 2 Lesser Common Rustics, 4 Dusky Sallows, 2 Ear Moths, 24 Uncertains, 2 Rustics, 2 Nut-tree Tussocks, 2 Spectacles, 2 Beautiful Hook-tips, Straw Dot and 3 Fan-foots.

Ear Moths (males, gen det), North Elmham, 29th July

Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet (female, gen det), North Elmham, 29th July

I mentioned the 2 Dichochrysa prasina (Green Lacewings) at the end of my post for 28th July and apart from those there wasn't a great deal of non-Lep interest in the trap.  Bugs were represented by my first Forest Bug (aka Red-legged Shieldbug) of the season and bettles by a Brown Chafer.

On the outside of the trap was this slug.  I've attempted to identify a few slugs this year but am struggling a bit.  I think this one is probably a Great Red Slug Arion rufus, but am not sure if I can rule out the red form of Lusitanian Slug Arion vulgaris, or possibly other Arion species.  Any clues would be appreciated...

possible Great Red Slug Arion rufus, North Elmham, 29th July

Two-tick night at home

While I was out mothing at Brancaster my trap was running at home (16th July).  I didn't manage any new moths at Brancaster but made up for it at home with two new moths: Small Rush Case-bearer Coleophora taeniipennella and Plum Fruit Moth Grapholita funebrana.

Small Rush Case-bearer Coleophora taeniipennella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 16th July

Plum Fruit Moth Grapholita funebrana (male, gen det), North Elmham, 16th July

I was also very pleased to find my second ever European Corn Borer Ostrinia nubilalis.

European Corn Borer Ostrinia nubilalis, North Elmham, 16th July

A record of 4 Bulrush Cosmets Limnaecia phragmitella was interesting, a new species for the house.  At the old house I had 4 one night which were the first I'd seen there in 5 years, and then I went on to record lots more that same year (2014 - 27 in total).  I've only been at North Elmham 2 years, but didn't catch any at all here last year and like at Bawdeswell in 2014 this year kicked off with 4 and was followed by lots more (19 in the space of 2.5 weeks).  Of course all species are prone to fluctuation in numbers but maybe this one more so than others, with lots emerging in a short space of time?

Bulrush Cosmet Limnaecia phragmitella, North Elmham, 16th July

A good selection of other new moths for the year: Woundwort Case-bearer Coleophora lineolea, Long-horned Flat-body Carcina quercana, Burdock Neb Metzneria lappella, 3 Dull Red Groundlings Bryotropha senectella, Two-coloured Bell Eucosma obumbratana, 2 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, 2 Chequered Grass-veneers Catoptria falsella, 3 Small Blood-veins, 3 Dingy Footmen, Buff Footman, Cabbage Moth, Dun-bar and 2 Lesser Common Rustics.

Long-horned Flat-body Carcina quercana, North Elmham, 16th July

Woudwort Case-bearer Coleophora lineolea (female, gen det), North Elmham, 16th July

Burdock Neb Metzneria lappella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 16th July

Dull Red Groundling Bryotropha senectella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 16th July

Cabbage Moth, North Elmham, 16th July

Lesser Common Rustics (males, gen det), North Elmham, 16th July

I think this night was the first of 2016 to have reached over 100 species at home - 262 moths of 104 species.  Just over half were macros, the ones not already mentioned being 2 Drinkers, Buff Arches, 3 Small Fan-footed Waves, 3 Dwarf Cream Waves, Small Dusty Wave, 4 Single-dotted Waves, Treble Brown Spot, 13 Riband Waves, Garden Carpet, Yellow Shell, Barred Straw, Foxglove Pug, Green Pug, 2 Clouded Borders, Brimstone Moth, Swallow-tailed Moth, Mottled Beauty, 2 Common White Waves, Clouded Silver, Privet Hawkmoth, 3 Poplar Hawkmoths, 2 Elephant Hawkmoths, 2 Buff-tips, Brown-tail, 16 Rosy Footmen, 4 Scarce Footmen, 8 Common Footmen, 8 Buff Ermines, 2 Flames, Flame Shoulder, 5 Double Square-spots, Brown-line Bright-eye, 3 Clays, 2 Smoky Wainscots, 8 Dark Arches, Light Arches, Tawny Marbled Minor, Cloaked Minor, 2 Common Rustics, 24 Uncertains, Marbled White Spot, Burnished Brass, Spectacle, Herald, Beautiful Hook-tip, 2 Straw Dots, 4 Snouts and 7 Fan-foots.

Herald, North Elmham, 16th July

The micros not yet mentioned were Bird’s-nest Moth Tinea trinotella, 4 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, Hawthorn Ermel Paraswammerdamia nebulella, 2 Diamond-back Moths Plutella xylostella, Common Oak Case-bearer Coleophora lutipennella, Pale Thistle Case-bearer Coleophora peribenanderi, 2 Golden-brown Tubics Crassa unitella, Small Dingy Tubic Borkhausenia fuscescens, Brown House Moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella, 2 Cinereous Groundlings Bryotropha terrella, Gorse Crest Brachmia blandella, Hawthorn Cosmet Blastodacna hellerella, Large Fruit-tree Tortrix Archips podana, Red-barred Tortrix Ditula angustiorana, 2 Grey Tortrixes Cnephasia stephensiana, 2 Flax Tortrixes Cnephasia asseclana, 2 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 3 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, 2 Pine Marbles Piniphila bifasciana, Plum Tortrix Hedya pruniana, Marbled Orchard Tortrix Hedya nubiferana, 3 Triangle-marked Rollers Ancylis achatana, Holly Tortrix Rhopobota naevana, Hoary Bell Eucosma cana, 7 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 2 Pale Water-veneers Donacaula forficella, 2 Water Veneers Acentria ephemerella, 6 Little Greys Eudonia lacustrata, Small Grey Eudonia mercurella, Chequered Straw Evergestis pallidata, 3 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, 3 Elder Pearls Anania coronata, Fenland Pearl Anania perlucidalis, Dusky Pearl Udea prunalis, 8 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Bee Moth Aphomia sociella, False Cacao Moth Ephestia unicolorella, 2 Ermine Knot-horns Phycitodes binaevella and Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla.