Review of 2019 and 2020 - Moths: Noctuids (Noctuidae) part 6: Dusky Brocade to Common Rustics

NOCTUIDS (NOCTUIDAE) (continued)


Dusky Brocade Apamea remissa - Singles caught in the garden on 20th and 26th June 2020 were my first here since 8 in 2015-16.  Elsewhere 5 caught over 4 nights at our accommodation at Carsaig on Mull between 9th and 13th June 2019.

Dusky Brocades, Carsaig (Mull), 9th June 2019

Dusky Brocade, Carsaig (Mull), 13th June 2019

Dusky Brocade, North Elmham, 20th June 2020

Dusky Brocade, North Elmham, 26th June 2020

Clouded Brindle Apamea apomidion - One in the garden on 26th June 2020, my third here following individuals in 2016 and 2017.  Elsewhere one at Weybourne on 5th July 2019.

Clouded Brindle, Weybourne, 5th July 2019

Clouded Brindle, North Elmham, 26th June 2020

Clouded-bordered Brindle Apamea crenata - 2 in the garden, on 31st May and 5th June 2019.  None in 2020.  This species fluctuates quite a bit here - I had 12 in 2017 but none in 2018.  Elsewhere a total of 6 on Mull in June 2019.

Clouded-bordered Brindle, North Elmham, 31st May 2019

Clouded-bordered Brindle, Carsaig (Mull), 9th June 2019

Clouded-bordered Brindle, Carsaig (Mull), 13th June 2019

Large Nutmeg Apamea anceps - One in the garden on 21st May 2020.  I've only recorded this species at home 3 times before, in 2015, 2016 and 2018.

Large Nutmeg, North Elmham, 21st May 2020

Rustic Shoulder-knot Apamea sordens - 5 caught in the garden between 14th and 30th May 2019 and 10 between 22nd May and 12th June 2020.  8-9 is the average annual total here.  Elsewhere one at the meadows in May 2019.

Rustic Shoulder-knot (with Setaceous Hebrew Character), North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 25th May 2019

Small Clouded Brindle Apamea unanimis - Singles caught in the garden on 31st May and 25th June 2019 and 3 between 28th June and 8th July 2020.  I've only caught this species at home in one previous year, but that year (2017) I caught 6.  Also one at the meadows.

Small Clouded Brindle, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 31st May 2019

Small Clouded Brindle, North Elmham, 31st May 2019

Small Clouded Brindle, North Elmham, 25th June 2019

Small Clouded Brindle, North Elmham, 28th June 2020

Slender Brindle Apamea unanimis - 3 singles trapped in the garden between 17th and 27th July 2019 and one on 8th July 2020.  Around 4-5 a year is average.  Elsewhere one at Bintree Wood.

Slender Brindle, North Elmham, 8th July 2020

Dark Arches Apamea monoglypha - At least 121 caught in the garden between 3rd June and 8th August 2019 (not counted on 4 dates) and 109 between 12th June and 30th August 2020.  These were just a little below average for here.  Elsewhere one next door, 25 at the meadows (including my earliest ever on 31st May 2019), one at Bintree Wood, 4 at Hellesdon, one at Brancaster and 12 at Weybourne.

Dark Arches, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 30th June 2019

Dark Arches, North Elmham, 1st July 2019

Dark Arches, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 18th June 2020

Light Arches Apamea lithoxylaea - 3 in the garden between 27th June and 9th July 2019 and one on 4th July 2020.  I'd never had less than 3 in a year before.  Elsewhere recorded at the meadows on 23rd and 30th June 2019.

Light Arches, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 23rd June 2019

Light Arches, North Elmham, 4th July 2020

Reddish Light Arches Apamea sublustris - None.  In Norfolk this species is pretty much restricted to the Brecks but there are a scattering of records elsewhere so it's not beyond the bounds of possibility that I might get a local one.


Double Lobed Lateroligia ophiogramma - 6 caught in my garden between 17th and 31st July 2019, my best year ever.  I'd not had more than 3 in a year here before and there were none in 2015.  2020 was more typical with singles on 24th June and 8th July.  Elsewhere singles at the meadows on 2 dates, 3 together at Hellesdon (my first threesome anywhere) and 2 at Weybourne on 5th July, all in 2019.

Double Lobed, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 7th July 2019

Double Lobed, North Elmham, 8th July 2020

Common Rustic Mesapamea secalis - Totals of 33 confirmed from my garden between 6th and 29th July 2019 and 63 between 17th June and 14th August 2020.  I'd averaged 70 a year over the previous 4 years but in previous years I'd gen detted nearly all of the Common Rustic aggs. whereas in 2019 I was a bit more selective.  Even so, the total number of Common Rustic aggs. in 2019 was my lowest ever so it does seem that it was a poor year for this species.  Elsewhere just one confirmed from the meadows.

 male Common Rustic, North Elmham, 13th July 2019

male Common Rustic, North Elmham, 14th July 2019

male Common Rustic, North Elmham, 16th July 2019

male Common Rustic, North Elmham, 17th July 2019

male Common Rustic, North Elmham, 18th July 2019

male Common Rustics, North Elmham, 20th July 2019

male Common Rustic, North Elmham, 21st July 2019

male Common Rustic, North Elmham, 23rd July 2019

male Common Rustic, North Elmham, 29th July 2019

male Common Rustic, North Elmham, 13th July 2020

male Common Rustic, North Elmham, 14th July 2020

female Common Rustic, North Elmham, 2nd August 2020

female Common Rustic, North Elmham, 7th August 2020

Lesser Common Rustic Mesapamea didyma - Only 4 confirmed from my garden in 2019, between 7th and 26th July.  In previous years I'd averaged over 20 a year but as more were left undetermined this year I can't be sure it was a bad year (but I think it was).  A bit better in 2020 with 12 between 6th July and 22nd August.  None elsewhere.

female Lesser Common Rustic, North Elmham, 7th July 2019

male Lesser Common Rustics, North Elmham, 23rd July 2019

male Lesser Common Rustic, North Elmham, 26th July 2019

male Lesser Common Rustic, North Elmham, 17th July 2020

female Lesser Common Rustic, North Elmham, 4th August 2020

male Lesser Common Rustic, North Elmham, 7th August 2020

Common Rustic agg. Mesapamea secalis agg. - Undetermined examples recorded in the garden on 12 dates in 2019 with at least 17 individuals (but possibly a few more as not counted on 5 dates).  Also recorded on 3 nights next door, 2 at the meadow, about 10 at Hellesdon and 2 at Weybourne.   Only one undetermined in 2020, at home.


Next page: more Noctuidae

Ox-tongue Conch and Yarrow Plume

There were two new moths for the garden on 8th July - Ox-tongue Conch Cochylis molliculana and Yarrow Plume Gillmeria pallidactyla.  The molliculana was only my second anywhere and it was interesting to compare the plume with the similar (but rarer) Tansy Plume Gillmeria ochrodactyla that I added to the garden list just 3 nights before.

Ox-tongue Conch Cochylis molliculana, North Elmham, 8th July

Yarrow Plume Gillmeria pallidactyla, North Elmham, 8th July

New for the year here were Grey-streaked Diamond-back Plutella porrectella (not annual here), Ochreous Pearl Anania crocealis (only my second here), 2 Double-striped Tabbies Hypsopygia glaucinalis, Dotted Oak Knot-horn Phycita roborella, Ash-bark Knot-horn Euzophera pinguis, Dark Umber and 2 Ruby Tigers.

Grey-streaked Diamond-back Plutella porrectella, North Elmham, 8th July

Ochreous Pearl Anania crocealis, North Elmham, 8th July

Ash-bark Knot-horn Euzophera pinguis, North Elmham, 8th July

Dark Umber, North Elmham, 8th July

The rest of the 98 species were 6 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, Hawthorn Ermine Paraswammerdamia nebulella, Clover Case-bearer Coleophora alcyonipennella, Meadow Case-bearer Coleophora mayrella, 5 Little Dwarfs Elachista canapennella, Golden-brown Tubic Crassa unitella, Brown House Moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella, 3 Long-horned Flat-bodies Carcina quercana, Burdock Neb Metzneria lappella, 2 Cinerous Nebs Bryotropha terrella, 3 Gorse Crests Brachmia blandella, Orange Crest Helcystogramma rufescens, Common Yellow Conch Agapeta hamana, Large Fruit-tree Tortrix Archips podana, Cyclamen Tortrix Clepsis spectrana, 2 Privet Tortrixes Clepsis consimilana, Red-barred Tortrix Ditula angustiorana, Grey Tortrix Cnephasia stephensiana, Dover Shade Cnephasia genitalana, 4 Marbled Orchard Tortrixes Hedya nubiferana, 2 Triangle-marked Rollers Ancylis achatana, 5 Hoary Bells Eucosma cana, Many-plume Moth Alucita hexadactyla, 17 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 3 Inlaid Grass-veneers Crambus pascuella, 2 Satin Grass-veneers Crambus perlella, 11 Straw Grass-veneers Agriphila straminella, 4 Water Veneers Acentria ephemerella, Common Grey Scoparia ambigualis, Little Grey Eudonia lacustrata, Small Grey Eudonia mercurella, 2 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, Fenland Pearl Anania perlucidalis, Dusky Pearl Udea prunalis, 6 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis,  Beautiful Knot-horn Rhodophaea formosa, Ermine Knot-horn Phycitodes binaevella, White Plume Pterophorus pentadactyla, Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla, Leopard Moth, Common Emerald, Small Emerald, Small Blood-vein, Lesser Cream Wave, 4 Small Fan-footed Waves, 2 Dwarf Cream Waves, Small Dusty Wave, 13 Single-dotted Waves, 10 Riband Waves, Barred Straw, Sandy Carpet, Common Pug, V-Pug, Double-striped Pug, 3 Clouded Borders, Brimstone Moth, 5 Early Thorns, 2 Scalloped Oaks, 4 Swallow-tailed Moths, Peppered Moth, 3 Engraileds, Common Wave, Clouded Silver, Privet Hawk-moth, Elephant Hawk-moth, Lesser Swallow Prominent, Buff-tip, 2 Brown-tails, 3 Yellow-tails, 8 Rosy Footmen, 4 Dingy Footmen, 72 Common Footmen, 9 Buff Ermines, 2 Short-cloaked Moths, Flame Shoulder, Large Yellow Underwing, Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, 4 Double Square-spots, Dot Moth, Bright-line Brown-eye, Clay, 3 Smoky Wainscots, 2 Common Rustics, 28 Uncertains, 3 Rustics, 2 Mottled Rustics, Beautiful Hook-tip, Snout and 2 Fan-foots.

Caddisflies consisted of Athripsodes aterrimus (new for the year) and 2 Hydropsyche pellucidula; there was a Common Earwig, and beetles included Hydrobius fuscipes (new for the garden) and Lagria hirta.

The following day I found a Common Clothes Moth Tineola bisselliella and then overnight there were 102 species including the following additions to the garden year-list: Two-coloured Bell Eucosma obumbratana, 2 Common Grass-veneers Agriphila tristella, Dun-bar, Light Arches, 2 Lesser Common Rustics and Dusky Sallow.

Two-coloured Bell Eucosma obumbratana, North Elmham, 9th July

Common Grass-veneer Agriphila tristella, North Elmham, 9th July

Light Arches, North Elmham, 9th July

Lesser Common Rustic (male, gen det), North Elmham, 9th July

Dusky Sallow, North Elmham, 9th July

The others were Beech Midget Phyllonorycter maestingella, 3 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, Ermine sp. Yponomeuta padella/malinellus/cagnagella, Diamond-back Plutella xylostella, Clover Case-bearer Coleophora alcyonipennella, Meadow Case-bearer Coleophora mayrella, Little Dwarf Elachista canapennella, Long-horned Flat-body Carcina quercana, Burdock Neb Metzneria lappella, 2 Cinerous Nebs Bryotropha terrella, 2 Gorse Crests Brachmia blandella, Orange Crest Helcystogramma rufescens, Scarce Obscure Oegoconia deauratella, Grey Tortrix Cnephasia stephensiana, Acleris laterana agg., 8 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 4 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Triangle-marked Roller Ancylis achatana, Common Cloaked Shoot Gypsonoma dealbana, 4 Hoary Bells Eucosma cana, Many-plume Moth Alucita hexadactyla, 26 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 2 Inlaid Grass-veneers Crambus pascuella, Satin Grass-veneer Crambus perlella, 13 Straw Grass-veneers Agriphila straminella, Pearl Grass-veneer Catoptria pinella, 5 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, Base-lined Grey Scoparia basistrigalis, 6 Little Greys Eudonia lacustrata, Small Grey Eudonia mercurella, Small Magpie Anania hortulata, 2 Elder Pearls Anania coronata, 5 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Double-striped Tabby Hypsopygia glaucinalis, 2 Rosy Tabbies Endotricha flammealis, Dotted Oak Knot-horn Phycita roborella, Brown Plume Stenoptilia pterodactyla, 2 Chinese Characters, Buff Arches, Lesser Cream Wave, Least Carpet, 2 Small Fan-footed Waves, Dwarf Cream Wave, 11 Single-dotted Waves, Small Scallop, 14 Riband Waves, 2 Large Twin-spot Carpets, Common Carpet, 3 Barred Straws, Barred Yellow, V-Pug, 6 Double-striped Pugs, 3 Clouded Borders, 2 Brimstone Moths, 4 Early Thorns, 3 Scalloped Oaks, Swallow-tailed Moth, Peppered Moth, Willow Beauty, 2 Mottled Beauties, Engrailed, 2 Common White Waves, Clouded Silver, Privet Hawk-moth, 3 Poplar Hawk-moths, Elephant Hawk-moth, Buff-tip, 13 Rosy Footmen, 10 Dingy Footmen, Scarce Footman, 72 Common Footmen, 4 Buff Ermines, Heart and Club, Lesser Yellow Underwing, Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, 6 Double Square-spots, Dot Moth, Bright-line Brown-eye, Clay, 5 Smoky Wainscots, 2 Brown Rustics, 8 Dark Arches, Marbled Minor, Common Rustic, 42 Uncertains, Rustic, 5 Mottled Rustics, 3 Nut-tree Tussocks, Burnished Brass, Silver Y, 2 Spectacles, 3 Beautiful Hook-tips, Straw Dot, 5 Snouts and 3 Fan-foots.

Caddisflies included 3 Limnephilus auricula and Limnephilus flavicornis.  The click beetle Stenagostus rhombeus was new for the year while other beetles were Common Red Soldier Beetle Rhagonycha fulva and Lagria hirta.

Stenogastus rhombeus, North Elmham, 9th July