Review of 2019 and 2020 - Moths: Noctuids (Noctuidae) part 7: Minors to Sallows

NOCTUIDS (NOCTUIDAE) (continued)


Rosy Minor Litoligia literosa - None.  I've only ever seen this species at the coast but there are quite a few records locally including some very nearby, so it must be high up on the "next most likely new moth for the garden" list.


Cloaked Minor Mesoligia furuncula - At least 13 in the garden between 7th July and 21st August 2019 (not counted on 2 nights but unlikely to have been many more than singles).  That was about average (then 15 a year) but in 2020 I caught a record 53 including a peak count of 12 on 31st July, 3 times my previous highest count.  Elsewhere recorded next door on 4 consecutive nights in 2019, one at the meadows in 2019 and 11 there in 2020 over 2 nights.

Cloaked Minor, North Elmham, 14th July 2019

Cloaked Minor, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 3rd August 2020

Cloaked Minor, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 7th August 2020

Marbled Minor Oligia strigilis - Totals of 10 confirmed in the garden between 26th May and 25th June 2019 and 12 between 20th May and 25th June 2020.  I'd been thinking that I wouldn't bother confirming all the Marbled Minor aggs. from 2019 to save time (and moths) but there were so few I only let one go unconfirmed in the end.  The average annual tally here is 17-18.  Also 4 at the meadows in 2019.

male Marbled Minors, North Elmham, 1st June 2019

male Marbled Minor, North Elmham, 5th June 2019

male Marbled Minor, North Elmham, 18th June 2019

female Marbled Minor, North Elmham, 30th May 2020

male Marbled Minor, North Elmham, 17th June 2020

Tawny Marbled Minor Oligia latruncula - 6 caught in the garden between 7th June and 18th July 2019 and 8 between 20th May and 27th June 2020.  2019 was my worst year to date for this species - I catch 14 a year on average.

male Tawny Marbled Minor, North Elmham, 27th June 2019

male Tawny Marbled Minor, North Elmham, 4th July 2019

male Tawny Marbled Minor, North Elmham, 14th July 2019

male Tawny Marbled Minor, North Elmham, 20th May 2020

male Tawny Marbled Minor, North Elmham, 3rd June 2020

male Tawny Marbled Minor, North Elmham, 27th June 2020

Rufous Minor Oligia versicolor - Singles trapped and confirmed at home on 15th and 21st July 2019 - my third consecutive year of recording 2 here (following 5 in 2015 and 10 in 2016).  Better in 2020 when 5 between 26th June and 13th July.  Also one at the meadows on 7th July 2019.

male Rufous Minor, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 7th July 2019

male Rufous Minor, North Elmham, 15th July 2019

male Rufous Minor, North Elmham, 21st July 2019

male Rufous Minor, North Elmham, 26th June 2020

female Rufous Minor, North Elmham, 9th July 2020

Marbled Minor agg. Oligia strigilis agg. - In addition to those detailed above, 3 at home, 4 at the meadows and 2 at Weybourne.  The following chart shows the relative flight times of the 3 species based on records here from 2015 to 2020.  Throughout this time I identified all individuals throughout their flight periods, with the exception of the a few random individuals that got away.

Middle-barred Minor Oligia fasciuncula - Totals of 28 trapped at home between 1st and 28th June 2018 and just 4 between 21st May and 23rd June 2020.  I started with 59 in 2015 and each year since has been worse than or the same as the year before, but the 4 in 2020 was especially lame.  Elsewhere 6 at the meadows on 4 dates (including a later one on 7th July 2019).

Middle-barred Minor, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 23rd June 2019

Middle-barred Minor, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 23rd June 2020

Orange Sallow Tiliacea citrago - One at the meadows on 15th September 2019; none in 2020.  I've caught 4 of these in the garden, in 2014, 2017 (2) and 2018.

Orange Sallow, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 15th September 2019

Barred Sallow Tiliacea aurago - 6 in the garden between 30th September and 11th October 2019 and just one in 2020, on 16th October.  I've had up to 21 in a year here and never less than 6 before (the poor total in 2020 may have been partly down to me being away in Cornwall for a few days during its peak flight period).  Also one on Ivy at the meadows on 4th October 2019.

Barred Sallow, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 4th October 2019

Pink-barred Sallow Xanthia togata - 12 caught in the garden between 28th September and 7th October 2019 and 7 between 22nd September and 14th October 2020.  Excluding 2020 when I was away for a few days during the peak flight period, the annual average here is 15-16.  Elsewhere 2 on Ivy at the meadows on 4th October 2019 and 4 in Cornwall in early October 2020.

Pink-barred Sallows, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 4th October 2019

Sallow Cirrhia icteritia - Totals of 18 trapped in the garden between 21st September and 15th October 2019 and 21 between 15th September and 16th October 2020 (during which flight period I was away for a few days).  The annual average here is about 22.  Elsewhere 2 on Ivy and blackberries at the meadows and one in Cornwall.

Sallow, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 4th October 2019

Sallow, North Elmham, 18th September 2020

Sallow, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 28th September 2020

Dusky-lemon Sallow Cirrhia gilvago - None.  I'm still missing this species here in North Elmham, despite having had 3 to light in my bedroom in Bawdeswell before moving here.


Pale-lemon Sallow Cirrhia gilvago - None.  I've only ever caught one of these, in my garden soon after moving here, in September 2014.


Next page: more Noctuidae

Two nice new moths for the garden and a rare but distinctive caddisfly

Saturday 26th May was a quieter night than the previous night but there was still plenty of interest.  Best of all was this Triple-barred Argent Argyresthia trifasciata, new for the garden and only my second ever - and a beautiful little moth.

Triple-barred Argent Argyresthia trifasciata, North Elmham, 26th May

Other moths that were new for the year were Fulvous Clothes Moth Tinea semifulvella, Hedge Case-bearer Coleophora striatipennella, Common Carpet, Flame and Marbled Minor agg., though the last of these doesn't count as it got away preventing a species-level ID.

Fulvous Clothes Moth Tinea sermifulvella, North Elmham, 26th May

Hedge Case-bearer Coleophora striatipennella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 26th May

Common Carpet, North Elmham, 26th May

Flame, North Elmham, 26th May

Other moths were Bird’s-nest Moth Tinea trinotella, Beech Midget Phyllonorycter maestingella, Rush Marble Bactra lancealana, Common Birch Bell Epinotia immundana, Bee Moth Aphomia sociella, Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla, 2 Silver-ground Carpets, Garden Carpet, Broken-barred Carpet, Green Carpet, 6 Mottled Pugs, Currant Pug, 4 Common Pugs, 2 Brimstone Moths, 2 Pale Tussocks, 2 Orange Footmen, 5 White Ermines, Cinnabar, Flame Shoulder, 2 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, Common Wainscot and 4 Treble Lines.

Setaceous Hebrew Character, North Elmham, 26th May

There was only one caddisfly in the trap but it was a highly distinctive creature that I didn't recognise at all.  It turned out to be Limnephilus elegans, a species of raised bogs and fens that according to the RES handbook is "Local in New Forest, north Midlands, N England, Wales and Scotland."  Well I don't know about you but in view of that I wouldn't expect to find this species in a central Norfolk garden!  But there seemed to be no mistaking it and a quick check with the county recorder confirmed that there is at least one county record (at Ranworth).  But it does seem to be pretty rare anywhere in East Anglia, so probably my best caddisfly yet.

Limnephilus elegans, North Elmham, 26th May

By catch also included a couple of new species for the garden, Common Red Ant Myrmica rubra (I'm sure that wasn't really new for the garden of course, but its the first red ant here that I've looked at critically) and the beetle Bembedion lampros.  Also the mayfly Pond Olive Cloeon dipterum and a Common Wasp.

Next day this Cream Wave was on my gate, a new species for the year.

Cream Wave, North Elmham, 27th May

In the trap that night the highlight was a Large Brindled Clothes Moth Triaxomera parasitella, my second new moth for the garden in consecutive nights.

Large Brindled Clothes Moth Triaxomera parasitella, North Elmham, 27th May

Also new for the year were Garden Grass-veneer Chrysoteuchia culmella, Blood-vein, 2 Sandy Carpets, Brown Rustic and a fully-identified Marbled Minor.

Garden Grass-veneer Chrysoteucha culmella, North Elmham, 27th May

Blood-vein, North Elmham, 27th May

Sandy Carpet, North Elmham, 27th May

Brown Rustic, North Elmham, 27th May

Marbled Minor (male, gen det), North Elmham, 27th May

Other moths were Beech Midget Phyllonorycter maestingella, 2 Little Dwarfs Elachista canapennella, Common Marble Celypha lacunana, Yellow-faced Bell Notocelia cynosbatella, Hook-streak Grass-veneer Crambus lathoniellus, Small Magpie Anania hortulata, Bee Moth Aphomia sociella, 2 Silver-ground Carpets, 2 Green Carpets, Mottled Pug, 2 Common Pugs, 2 White Ermines, 2 Heart and Darts, Shears, 2 Common Wainscots and 2 Treble Lines.

Hot on the heels of the previous day's indivual there was another Bembidion lampros.

Bembedion lampros, North Elmham, 27th May

Lilac Beauty, Green Silver-lines and other nice things

Lilac Beauty is always a favourite and one on 25th June was my first of the year.  Single-dotted Wave and Rufous Minor (a gen det job) were also added to the year list that night.

Lilac Beauty, North Elmham, 25th June

Rufous Minor (male, gen det), North Elmham, 25th June

Other moths that night were London Dowd Blastobasis lacticolella, Large Ivy Tortrix Lozotaenia forsterana, 2 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 3 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Marbled Orchard Tortrix Hedya nubiferana, Red Piercer Lathronympha strigana, Garden Grass-veneer Chrysoteuchia culmella, 5 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiotata, 4 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, False Cacao Moth Ephestia unicolorella, Buff Arches, 3 Treble Brown Spots, Silver-ground Carpet, Purple Bar, Foxglove Pug, Clouded Border, 3 Scorched Wings, 3 Brimstone Moths, 2 Peppered Moths, 6 Willow Beauties, 2 Common White Waves, Eyed Hawkmoth, Swallow Prominent, 6 Common Footmen, 2 White Ermines, 13 Buff Ermines, 5 Cinnabars, Heart and Club, Flame Shoulder, Ingrailed Clay, Setaceous Hebrew Character, 2 Bright-line Brown-eyes, Clay, 7 Brown Rustics, 2 Dark Arches, Marbled Minor, Treble Lines, Uncertain, Mottled Rustic, Burnished Brass and 2 Spectacles.

Heart and Club, North Elmham, 25th June

Uncertain, North Elmham, 25th June

And if Lilac is a favourite then Green Silver-lines is even more so, and that was one of the new moths for the garden year list the following night, along with Ermine Knot-horn Phycitodes binaevella, 2 Barred Straws and Rivulet.

Green Silver-lines, North Elmham, 26th June

Barred Straw, North Elmham, 26th June

Ermine Knot-horn Phycitodes binaevella, North Elmham, 26th June

I found a Common Rush Case-bearer Coleophora alticolella in the house while others that made it to the moth trap were 2 Brown House Moths Hofmannophila pseudospretella, Sloe Flat-body Luquetia lobella, Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis cerasana, Large Ivy Tortrix Lozotaenia forsterana, Barred Marble Celypha striana, 9 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, 10 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, Grass-veneer Crambus pascuella, 2 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, 3 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, 4 Bee Moths Aphomia sociella, Common Swift, Buff Arches, 2 Treble Brown Spots, 2 Riband Waves, Silver-ground Carpet, Common Marbled Carpet, Common Pug, Grey Pug, Green Pug, Clouded Border, Scorched Wing, 3 Peppered Moths, Clouded Silver, Privet Hawkmoth, Poplar Hawkmoth, Elephant Hawkmoth, 2 Swallow Prominents, Buff-tip, 2 Common Footmen, 5 Buff Ermines, Cinnabar, 2 Heart and Darts, 4 Flames, Flame Shoulder, Large Yellow Underwing, Ingrailed Clay, Setaceous Hebrew Character, 3 Bright-line Brown-eyes, 2 Brown Rustics, 4 Dark Arches, 2 Marbled Minors, Rufous Minor, Tawny Marbled Minor, another Marbled Minor agg. that escaped the knife, Middle-barred Minor, Treble Lines, Uncertain, Mottled Rustic, Marbled White Spot, 3 Burnished Brasses, 4 Straw Dots, 6 Snouts and Small Fan-foot.

Privet Hawkmoth, North Elmham, 26th June

Rufous Minor (male, gen det), North Elmham, 26th June

Marbled Minor (male, gen det), North Elmham, 26th June

Caddisflies included Limnephilus lunatus, Limnephilus marmoratus, Limnephilus rhombicus and Mystacides longicornis.

Limnephilus rhombicus, North Elmham, 26th June

Common Emerald was the only new moth for the year in the garden on 27th, the rest being Diamond-back Moth Plutella xylostella, Sloe Flat-body Luquetia lobella, 3 Barred Fruit-tree Tortrices Pandemis cerasana, Large Ivy Tortrix Lozotaenia forsterana, 2 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 9 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, 2 Plum Tortrixes Hedya pruniana, Triple-blotched Bell Notocelia trimaculana, 2 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 4 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiotata, 4 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, Elder Pearl Anania coronata, White Plume Pterophorus pentadactyla, Ghost Moth, Common Swift, Blood-vein, Single-dotted Wave, 3 Riband Waves, Barred Straw, Mottled Pug, Common Pug, Clouded Border, Scorched Wing, 2 Peppered Moths, Willow Beauty, 2 Mottled Beauties, Common White Wave, Clouded Silver, Poplar Hawkmoth, Eyed Hawkmoth, Elephant Hawkmoth, Swallow Prominent, 2 Pale Prominents, Buff-tip, 2 Common Footmen, 2 White Ermines, 11 Buff Ermines, 5 Cinnabars, Heart and Club, 6 Heart and Darts, Large Yellow Underwing, Ingrailed Clay, Brown Rustic, Dark Arches, Middle-barred Minor, 2 Uncertains, 2 Burnished Brasses, 2 Spectacles, Straw Dot and 3 Snouts.

Elder Pearl Anania coronata, North Elmham, 27th June

Eyed Hawkmoth, North Elmham, 27th June

Dark Arches, North Elmham, 27th June