Review of 2019 and 2020 - Moths: Geometers (Geometridae) - part 13: Emeralds (Geometra to Hemithea)

GEOMETERS (GEOMETRIDAE) (continued)


Grass Emerald Pseudoterpna pruniata - None.  I've not seen this species locally and indeed there are very few records locally, so maybe a bit optimistic to hope for one here.


Large Emerald Geometra papilionaria - 3 in my garden between 5th July and 1st August 2019 and 8 between 15th June and 22nd July 2020.  That's better than the one in 2018 but short of the 11-12 in each of the previous 3 years.  Also 3 at Bintree Wood on 24th July 2020.

Large Emerald, North Elmham, 28th June 2020

Small Emerald Hemistola chrysoprasaria - 4 caught here between 9th and 28th July 2019 and 11 between 19th June and 20th July 2020.  11 is my highest annual total - I average 6-7 a year here, however I haven't had a single one anywhere else since moving here in 2014.

Small Emerald, North Elmham, 30th June 2020

Little Emerald Jodis lactearia - None.  I've not seen this species locally and there aren't any records in the immediate vicinity.  But it's been recorded at Stibbard to the north and Dereham (several times) to the south, so hopefully I'll find one locally at some point.


Common Emerald Hemithea aestivaria - 8 in the garden between 23rd June and 16th July 2019 and 4 between 22nd and 29th June 2020 - my worst years here so far.  My average annual total here is about 17.  Elsewhere 7 at the meadows and 2 at Weybourne.

Common Emerald, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 30th June 2019

Next page: Notodontidae

A new beetle (Hallomenus binatatus) and more moths

Quite a few new moths for the year on 19th June again, with Hawthorn Ermine Paraswammerdamia nebulella, 2 Meadow Case-bearers Coleophora mayrella, White Sallow Case-bearer Coleophora albidella, Variegated Golden Tortrix Archips xylosteana, Flax Tortrix Cnephasia asseclana, Yellow Oak Button Aleimma loeflingiana, Inlaid Grass-veneer Crambus pascuella, 2 Small Fan-footed Waves, Large Twin-spot Carpet and 2 Lilac Beauties.

Meadow Case-bearer Coleophora mayrella, North Elmham, 19th June

White Sallow Case-bearer Coleophora albidella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 19th June

Yellow Oak Button Aleimma loeflingiana, North Elmham, 19th June

Inlaid Grass-veneer Crambus pascuella, North Elmham, 19th June

Large Twin-spot Carpet, North Elmham, 19th June

Lilac Beauty, North Elmham, 19th June

The rest of the moths were 2 Brown House Moths Hofmannophila pseudospretella, Buff Mompha Mompha ochraceella, Common Yellow Conch Agapeta hamana, Large Fruit-tree Tortrix Archips podana, Privet Tortrix Clepsis consimilana, Light Brown Apple-moth Epiphyas postvittana, 2 Large Ivy Tortrixes Lozotaenia forsterana, 4 Green Oak Tortrixes Tortrix viridana, Barred Marble Celypha striana, 10 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Marbled Orchard Tortrix Hedya nubiferana, 5 Triple-blotched Bells Notocelia trimaculana, Hoary Bell Eucosma cana, 10 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, Hook-streak Grass-veneer Crambus lathoniellus, Marsh Grey Eudonia pallida, Small Grey Eudonia mercurella, 2 Ringed China-marks Parapoynx stratiotata, 4 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, Elder Pearl Anania coronata, 2 Bee Moths Aphomia sociella, Twin-barred Knot-horn Homoeosoma sinuella, 2 Common Plumes Emmelina monodactyla, Common Swift, 5 Common Emeralds, Dwarf Cream Wave, Small Dusty Wave, 4 Single-dotted Waves, 3 Treble Brown Spots, 6 Riband Waves, 2 Silver-ground Carpets, Barred Straw, Barred Yellow, Sandy Carpet, Common Pug, Green Pug, Small Yellow Wave, 3 Willow Beauties, Mottled Beauty, Clouded Silver, Elephant Hawk-moth, Coxcomb Prominent, 2 Pale Prominents, Common Footman, 2 White Ermines, 9 Buff Ermines, 5 Heart and Darts, 4 Flames, 2 Flame Shoulders, 2 Ingrailed Clays, 2 Double Square-spots, Shears, Common Wainscot, 7 Brown Rustics, Small Angle Shades, Dark Arches, 3 Middle-barred Minors, 4 Treble Lines, 6 Uncertains, Mottled Rustic, Burnished Brass, 39 Straw Dots, 4 Fan-foots and 3 Small Fan-foots.

Barred Straw, North Elmham, 19th June

Green Pug, North Elmham, 19th June

Caddisflies consisted of Ecnomus tenellus, Holocentropus picicornis, Polycentropus flavomaculatus and Grouse Wing Mystacides longicornis, the first two of which were new for the year.

Holocentropus picicornis, North Elmham, 19th June

A Psallus varians was the only heteropteran bug but leafhoppers included what was probably my first Macrosteles sexnotatus (but a female, and you can't eliminate less likely congeners without a male) and Fagocyba cruenta.

probable Macrosteles sexnotatus (female), North Elmham, 19th June

Beetles included one lifer (Hallomenus binotatus), one new for the year (Summer Chafer), a Hydrophiliid I can't identify at the moment and have retained to look at again another day, and the soldier beetles Cantharis rufa and Cantharis cryptica.

Hallomenus binatatus, North Elmham, 19th June

Summer Chafer, North Elmham, 19th June

Just 4 new moths for the year the following night: Orange Pine Tortrix Lozotaeniodes formosana, Bulrush Veneer Calamotropha paludella, Rosy Tabby Endotricha flammealis and Large Emerald.

Orange Pine Tortrix Lozotaeniodes formosana, North Elmham, 20th June

Bulrush Veneer Calamotropha paludella, North Elmham, 20th June

Rosy Tabby Endotricha flammealis, North Elmham, 20th June

Large Emerald, North Elmham, 20th June

Others were Diamond-back Plutella xylostella, 2 Tipped Oak Case-bearers Coleophora flavipennella, 2 Privet Tortrixes Clepsis consimilana, 4 Large Ivy Tortrixes Lozotaenia forsterana, Yellow Oak Button Aleimma loeflingiana, 2 Green Oak Tortrixes Tortrix viridana, 2 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 10 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Marbled Orchard Tortrix Hedya nubiferana, 4 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 3 Inlaid Grass-veneers Crambus pascuella, 4 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, Marsh Grey Eudonia pallida, 2 Little Greys Eudonia lacustrata, Small Magpie Anania hortulata, Fenland Pearl Anania perlucidalis, Bee Moth Aphomia sociella, False Cacao Moth Ephestia woodiella, 2 Common Plumes Emmelina monodactyla, 2 Small Fan-footed Waves, Treble Brown Spot, 3 Riband Waves, Silver-ground Carpet, Garden Carpet, Purple Bar, Barred Straw, Common Pug, Small Yellow Wave, 4 Scorched Wings, 6 Willow Beauties, 3 Mottled Beauties, Engrailed, Common Wave, Light Emerald, 2 Poplar Hawk-moths, Coxcomb Prominent, 16 Buff Ermines, 3 Heart and Darts, 2 Flames, 5 Ingrailed Clays, Bright-line Brown-eye, Common Wainscot, 2 Brown Rustics, 3 Dark Arches, Marbled Minor, 3 Uncertains, 2 Mottled Rustics, Marbled White Spot, 3 Burnished Brasses, Beautiful Hook-tip, 12 Straw Dots and Snout.

The brown lacewing Hemerobius humulinus was new for the year as was the caddisfly Limnephilus rhombicus.   There was a Giant Cranefly Tipula maxima, the first I've noticed this year though I don't check craneflies carefully and representing the beetles, both Summer Chafer and Brown Chafer, the latter new for the year.

Limnephilus rhombanus, North Elmham, 20th June

Brown Chafer, North Elmham, 20th June

Vestal, Yellow-legged Clearwing and metamorphotic mayflies

I checked my lure trap when I got home from Burnham Overy and there was nothing in it.  I happened to look out ten minutes later and saw something in it... and it proved to be my first Yellow-legged Clearwing.  Lurvely!

Yellow-legged Clearwing, North Elmham, 26th June

That night I trapped a Vestal!  A migrant species that I encountered in Cornwall in 2011 but which I have failed to find in Norfolk since, despite there being a good year for them recently.  It's a moth I really wanted to see here, so great to find one at last.

Vestal, North Elmham, 26th June

Apart from that Hawthorn Ermel Paraswammerdamia nebulella and Pearl Veneer Agriphila straminella were new for the year but it wasn't a big haul by any means.

Hawthorn Ermel Paraswammerdamia nebulella, North Elmham, 26th June

Pearl Veneer Agriphila straminella, North Elmham, 26th June

Other moths caught were Hazel Slender Parornix devoniella, 2 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, Tipped Oak Case-bearer Coleophora flavipennella, Hawthorn Cosmet Blastodacna hellerella, Rough-winged Conch Phtheochroa rugosana, 2 Hook-marked Straw Moths Agapeta hamana, Large Ivy Tortrix Lozotaenia forsterana, Grey Tortrix Cnephasia stephensiana, Flax Tortrix Cnephasia asseclana, 2 Yellow Oak Buttons Aleimma loeflingiana, Sallow Button Acleris hastiana, 6 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 11 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, 2 Marbled Orchard Tortrixes Hedya nubiferana, 2 Triangle-marked Rollers Ancylis achatana, Bramble Shoot Moth Notocelia uddmanniana, 11 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 5 Grass-veneers Crambus pascuella, Yellow Satin Veneer Crambus perlella, 5 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, 2 Little Greys Eudonia lacustrata, 3 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, 2 Elder Pearls Anania coronata, Fenland Pearl Anania perlucidalis, Rosy Tabby Endotricha flammealis, Bee Moth Aphomia sociella, Brown Plume Stenoptilia pterodactyla, Ghost Moth, Large Emerald, Least Carpet, 3 Small Fan-footed Waves, 4 Dwarf Cream Waves, 4 Single-dotted Waves, 2 Treble Brown Spots, 5 Riband Waves, 4 Barred Straws, 3 V-Pugs, Green Pug, Double-striped Pug, Small Yellow Wave, 3 Clouded Borders, Scorched Wing, Mottled Beauty, Engrailed, Common Wave, Buff-tip, 3 Rosy Footmen, 3 Dingy Footmen, 38 Common Footmen, 5 Buff Ermines, 2 Cinnabars, Heart and Dart, Double Square-spot, Smoky Wainscot, 8 Uncertains, 2 Mottled Rustics, 2 Spectacles, Beautiful Hook-tip and Snout.

Hazel Slender Parornix devoniella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 26th June

Sallow Button Acleris hastiana, North Elmham, 26th June

Large Emerald, North Elmham, 26th June

Least Carpet, North Elmham, 26th June

The micro-caddisfly Oxyethira flavicornis was new for the year.

Oxyethira flavicornis (male), North Elmham, 26th June

The following night was poor - a Timothy Tortrix Aphelia paleana was the only moth new for the year.  The others were 2 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, London Dowd Blastobasis lacticolella, Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis heparana, Light Grey Tortrix Cnephasia incertana, 4 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, Common Marble Celypha lacunana, 11 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 2 Grass-veneers Crambus pascuella, Common Grey Scoparia ambigualis, Little Grey Eudonia lacustrata, Small Magpie Anania hortulata, Elder Pearl Anania coronata, Ghost Moth, 9 Small Fan-footed Waves, Single-dotted Wave, Barred Straw, V-Pug, Double-striped Pug, 2 Clouded Borders, Mottled Beauty, 2 Engraileds, Common Wave, Clouded Silver, Coxcomb Prominent, Rosy Footman, Dingy Footman, 10 Common Footmen, 3 Buff Ermines, Cinnabar, Flame, Bright-line Brown-eye, 4 Uncertains, Mottled Rustic, Beautiful Hook-tip, 3 Snouts and Small Fan-foot.

The caddisfly Ceraclea dissimilis was new for the year.

Ceraclea dissimilis (male), North Elmham, 27th June

Things were even slower the following night with just 38 moths of 21 species - a staggeringly poor show for the end of June.  Two of the few were new for the year though: Lesser Cream Wave and Silver Y.

Lesser Cream Wave, North Elmham, 28th June

Silver Y, North Elmham, 28th June

The others were London Dowd Blastobasis lacticolella, 2 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 2 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, 5 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 2 Grass-veneers Crambus pascuella, Common Grey Scoparia ambigualis, Small Magpie Anania hortulata, Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla, Small Fan-footed Wave, 3 Single-dotted Waves, Riband Wave, Barred Straw, Double-striped Pug, Clouded Silver, Eyed Hawk-moth, 7 Common Footmen, Buff Ermine, 2 Uncertains and 2 Snouts.

The 29th wasn't much better with no new moths for the year.  The most interesting moth was a Silver-ground Carpet which was minute.  The forewing length is supposed to be 14-17mm - this one's forewing was just 11mm long!

Silver-ground Carpet, North Elmham, 29th June

The other moths were Bird-cherry Ermine Yponomeuta evonymella, Hook-marked Straw Moth Agapeta hamana, Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis heparana, Large Fruit-tree Tortrix Archips podana, Grey Tortrix Cnephasia stephensiana, Flax Tortrix Cnephasia asseclana, Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, 3 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, 2 Triangle-marked Rollers Ancylis achatana, Bramble Shoot Moth Notocelia uddmanniana, Bud Moth Spilonota ocellana, Garden Grass-veneer Chrysoteuchia culmella, 3 Grass-veneers Crambus pascuella, 3 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, Little Grey Eudonia lacustrata, 3 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, Elder Pearl Anania coronata, Rosy Tabby Endotricha flammealis, Brown Plume Stenoptilia pterodactyla, Small Emerald, Blood-vein, Small Fan-footed Wave, 2 Single-dotted Waves, Barred Straw, Common Pug, 5 Clouded Borders, Early Thorn, Light Emerald, Poplar Hawk-moth, Buff-tip, 4 Rosy Footmen, Dingy Footman, 15 Common Footmen, 7 Buff Ermines, 3 Double Square-spots, Bright-line Brown-eye, Brown-line Bright Eye, 2 Clays, 3 Smoky Wainscots, Brown Rustic, 14 Uncertains, 2 Mottled Rustics, Silver Y and 2 Straw Dots.  There was also a single forewing belonging to a Swallow-tailed Moth which must have been predated by something during the night - maybe a bat?

At Ryburgh on Friday 30th June there was this hoverfly, Baccha elongata.

Baccha elongata, Ryburgh, 30th June

Once I'd realised that the reason it wasn't on rose was it wasn't a Large Rose Sawfly (superficially similar, at a stretch), I twigged that this was in fact a fly.  It looks like Sciara hemerobioides but there are apparently other similar species and I've no idea how to eliminate those.

probable Sciara hemerobioides, Ryburgh, 30th June

Back at home a White-shouldered House Moth Endrosis sarcitrella came into the house.  The mothing got a bit livelier again that night, though still short of what late June can offer in a good year.  Orange Swift, Shaded Broad-bar and Slender Brindle were all new for the year.

Shaded Broad-bar, North Elmham, 30th June

Slender Brindle, North Elmham, 30th June

Other moths were Bird-cherry Ermine Yponomeuta evonymella, White Sallow Case-bearer Coleophora albidella, Little Dwarf Elachista canapennella, Brown House Moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella, Long-horned Flat-body Carcina quercana, Hook-marked Straw Moth Agapeta hamana, 2 Large Fruit-tree Tortrixes Archips podana, 2 Flax Tortrixes Cnephasia asseclana, Barred Marble Celypha striana, 5 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Marbled Orchard Tortrix Hedya nubiferana, Triangle-marked Roller Ancylis achatana, Bramble Shoot Moth Notocelia uddmanniana, Hoary Bell Eucosma cana, Bud Moth Spilonota ocellana, 3 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 6 Grass-veneers Crambus pascuella, Common Grey Scoparia ambigualis, Marsh Grey Eudonia pallida, Little Grey Eudonia lacustrata, Small Grey Eudonia mercurella, Small Magpie Anania hortulata, 2 Elder Pearls Anania coronata, Mother of Pearl Pleuroptya ruralis, Rosy Tabby Endotricha flammealis, Ghost Moth, Drinker, Large Emerald, Small Blood-vein, 2 Small Fan-footed Waves, 2 Dwarf Cream Waves, 3 Single-dotted Waves, Treble Brown Spot, Riband Wave, 5 Barred Straws, 2 Double-striped Pugs, 2 Clouded Borders, 2 Brimstone Moths, Willow Beauty, 5 Mottled Beauties, Engrailed, Clouded Silver, Light Emerald, Poplar Hawk-moth, Elephant Hawk-moth, 4 Rosy Footmen, Dingy Footman, 36 Common Footmen, White Ermine, Buff Ermine, Heart and Club, 2 Heart and Darts, 5 Flames, Flame Shoulder, Large Yellow Underwing, 4 Double Square-spots, 2 Dot Moths, Bright-line Brown-eye, Clay, Smoky Wainscot, 2 Dark Arches, 24 Uncertains, Rustic, 3 Mottled Rustics and 10 Snouts.

Dot Moth, North Elmham, 30th June

There was clearly an emergence of mayflies that night too, with 8 Pond Olives Cloeon dipterum, of which 6 were sub-imago.  It was good to see several of the sub-imago insects shedding their skins and becoming imagos.  Apart from this being interesting in and of itself it gave a good opportunity to get to grips with the identification better than I had done up to now.  Here are two female imagos, one with what I think is a typical appearance and the second with darker body and almost black eyes.

female imago Pond Olives Cloeon dipterum, North Elmham, 30th June

The next two photos show the same female insect, firstly as a sub-imago and secondly after it had moulted into imago.

female sub-imago then imago Pond Olive Cloeon dipterum, North Elmham, 30th June

And here is a male before and after.

male sub-imago then imago Pond Olive Cloeon dipterum, North Elmham, 30th June

Finally here's another male where it didn't quite manage to shed its sub-imago skin.

male sub-imago then imago Pond Olive Cloeon dipterum, North Elmham, 30th June

A Limnephilus auricula was the only caddisfly, but my first of this common species for a few weeks.  A Brown Chafer was the only beetle and there was only one bug too, but a new one for me, Phytocoris ulmi.

Phytocoris ulmi, North Elmham, 30th June