Review of 2019 and 2020 - Moths: Gelechiids (Gelechiidae) (Part 4: Nebs - subfamily Anomologinae II)

GELECHIIDS (GELECHIIDAE) (continued)


Subfamily ANOMOLOGINAE (continued)


Burdock Neb Metzneria lappella - 10 in the garden between 22nd June and 4th July 2019 and 6 between 19th June and 31st July 2020; also 4 at Weybourne on 5th July.  I average about 8-9 here a year.  I don't find the darker examples of this species very easy to separate from metzneriella so tend to check the genitalia of any that are on the darker end of the spectrum (and some worn ones).  This is by far the commoner of the two in my experience.

male Burdock Neb Metzneria lappella, North Elmham, 30th June 2019

female Burdock Neb Metzneria lappella, North Elmham, 10th July 2019

Meadow Neb Metzneria metzneriella - One in my garden moth trap on 22nd June 2019.  For all my nervousness about separating this species from darker examples of lappella, I was pretty sure from the off that this one would prove to be metzneriella, and so it proved.  Only my second here following one in 2017.

male Meadow Neb Metzneria metzneriella, North Elmham, 22nd June 2019

Dark Fleabane Neb Apodia bifractella - 10 at Foxley Wood on 17th August 2019, the only site where I've seen this species previously.  They were all on Fleabane flowerheads in sunshine and all disappeared around mid afternnon.  2 at Whitwell Street on 12th August 2020, also on Fleabane but later in the day.


Bracken Neb Monochroa cytisella - One in Bintree Wood on 24th July 2020, my first local record.  There's no Bracken growing at the meadows or here in the garden but there's plenty along the railway in between, including some that's a stone's throw from the meadows, so I'm optimistic that I'll get one either there or here before too long.

Bracken Neb Monochroa cytisella, Bintree Wood, 24th July 2020

Common Plain Neb Monochroa tenebrella - One netted at the meadows on 1st June 2020 and then on 13th June one found on an Ox-eye Daisy in the same place and 2 more swept from Bird's-foot Trefoil a few steps away.  Apart from 2 in 2019 there hadn't been any other records in Norfolk since the 90s, but 2020 was clearly a good year for them as they were recorded at 3 other sites in the county too.

Common Plain Neb Monochroa tenbebrella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 1st June 2020

Common Plain Neb Monochroa tenbebrella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 13th June 2020

Buff-marked Neb Monochroa lucidella - one at Weybourne on 5th July 2019.  I've recorded this species twice before, here in North Elmham in 2015 and 2016.

female Buff-marked Neb Monochroa lucidella, Weybourne, 5th July 2019

Wainscot Neb Monochroa palustrellus - I was very happy to add this striking species to the garden list when I caught one in the garden trap on 30th July 2019, and then I caught another one on 22nd July 2020.  I have seen a couple elsewhere before but there were no previous records in this or the neighbouring 10k squares (although it was recorded in 3 neighbouring squares in 2020).

Wainscot Neb Metzneria palustrellus, North Elmham, 30th July 2019

Wainscot Neb Metzneria palustrellus, North Elmham, 22nd July 2020

Painted Neb Oxypteryx wilkella - 4 at Brancaster on 2nd July 2020.  Although I have recorded this species here before (in 2015) it's not one I would expect to see here on a regular basis - there hasn't ever been another record in this or the surrounding 10k squares.

Painted Neb Oxypteryx wilkella, Brancaster, 2nd July 2020

Two-spotted Neb Oxypteryx atrella - None.  I had singles here in each of the previous 3 years.


Next page: more Gelechiidae

Monopis obviella

After an excellent night's mothing at Warham Greens I returned home to check my garden moth trap - and it was busy!  Actually 244 moths of 98 species isn't remarkable for the second half of June but it was one of the best nights of the year so far and there were lots new for the year.  The highlight was a belated lifer, Yellow-backed Clothes Moth Monopis obviella.  I've had a few of the similar but rarer Pale-backed Clothes Moth Monopis crocicapitella before but obviella has eluded me until now.  When I did get a good candidate for one last year it managed to escape before I could confirm it, so nice to get one sorted at last.

Yellow-backed Clothes Moth Monopis obviella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 16th June

New for the house was Meadow Neb Metzneria metzneriella and it was interesting to compare it to a Burdock Neb Metzneria lappella (new for the year) - very similar but the rufousy tones along the costa on metzneriella were distinctive if subtle.

Meadow Neb Metzneria metzneriella (female, gen det), North Elmham, 16th June

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

A Larch-bud Moth Spilonota laricana was only my second and new for the house.

Larch-bud-Moth Spilonota laricana (female, gen det), North Elmham, 16th June

An Osier Case-bearer Coleophora lusciniaepennella was only my third.

Osier Case-bearer Coleophora lusciniaepennella (female, gen det), North Elmham, 16th June

Others new for the year here were Bird-cherry Ermine Yponomeuta evonymella, Tipped Oak Case-bearer Coleophora flavipennella, Grey Rush Case-bearer Coleophora glaucicolella, Long-horned Flat-body Carcina quercana, Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis heparana, Red-barred Tortrix Ditula angustiorana, Grey Tortrix Cnephasia stephensiana, Blotched Marble Endothenia quadrimaculana, Codling Moth Cydia pomonella, Yellow Satin Veneer Crambus perlella, Giant Water-veneer Schoenobius gigantella, Brown China-mark Elophila nymphaeata, Long-winged Pearl Anania lancealis, Small Blood-vein, Blue-bordered Carpet, Swallow-tailed Moth and one of my favourites, Green Silver-lines.

Bird-cherry Ermine Yponomeuta evonymella, North Elmham, 16th June

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

Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis heparana, North Elmham, 16th June

Blotched Marble Endothenia quadrimaculana, North Elmham, 16th June

Codling Moth Cydia pomonella, North Elmham, 16th June

Yellow Satin Veneer Crambus perlella, North Elmham, 16th June

Giant Water-veneer Schoenobius gigantella, North Elmham, 16th June

Brown China-mark Elophila nymphaeata, North Elmham, 16th June

Blue-bordered Carpet, North Elmham, 16th June

Swallow-tailed Moth, North Elmham, 16th June

Green Silver-lines, North Elmham, 16th June

Other moths were presumed Case-bearing Clothes Moth Tinea pellionella, Sloe Flat-body Luquetia lobella, 3 Hawthorn Cosmets Blastodacna hellerella, 5 Hook-marked Straw Moths Agapeta hamana, Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis cerasana, 5 Large Fruit-tree Tortrixes Archips podana, 6 Privet Tortrixes Clepsis consimilana, Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana, 3 Large Ivy Tortrixes Lozotaenia forsterana, Light Grey Tortrix Cnephasia incertana, (and another Cnephasia sp.), 4 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, 7 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, 3 Pine Marbles Piniphila bifasciana, Rush Marble Bactra lancealana, Crescent Bell Epinotia bilunana, 3 Triple-blotched Bells Notocelia trimaculana, 2 Hoary Bells Eucosma cana, Red Piercer Lathronympha strigana, 5 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 2 Hook-streaked Grass-Veneers Crambus lathoniellus, Meadow Grey Scoparia pyralella, 2 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, Marsh Grey Eudonia pallida, 2 Little Greys Eudonia lacustrata, 8 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, Elder Pearl Anania coronata, Bee Moth Aphomia sociella, White Plume Pterophorus pentadactyla, Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla, Buff Arches, 6 Common Emeralds, Blood-vein, 2 Small Fan-footed Waves, Small Dusty Wave, 5 Single-dotted Waves, 13 Treble Brown Spots, 3 Riband Waves, 2 Silver-ground Carpets, 5 Barred Straws, Green Carpet, 2 Sharp-angled Carpets, Sandy Carpet, Currant Pug, Double-striped Pug, Clouded Border, Scorched Wing, 6 Brimstone Moths, 3 Willow Beauties, Mottled Beauty, 2 Common White Waves, Common Wave, 4 Clouded Silvers, Light Emerald, White Ermine, 3 Buff Ermines, Heart and Dart, 3 Flames, 2 Flame Shoulders, Large Yellow Underwing, 7 Ingrailed Clays, 2 Double Square-spots, Common Wainscot, Shoulder-striped Wainscot, 6 Brown Rustics, Small Angle Shades, Tawny Marbled Minor (and another Marbled Minor agg.), 10 Middle-barred Minors, 6 Uncertains, 3 Mottled Rustics, Marbled White Spot, Spectacle, 4 Beautiful Hook-tips, 13 Straw Dots, 4 Snouts, 5 Fan-foots and 4 Small Fan-foots.

Hook-marked Straw Moth Agapeta hamana, North Elmham, 16th June

Large Fruit-tree Tortrix Archips podana, North Elmham, 16th June

Sharp-angled Carpet, North Elmham, 16th June

Mayflies included a male Pond Olive Cloeon dipterum, subimago when caught but emerging into imago state by the time I came to identify it.

There were four beetles in the trap, three of which were new for the house (no doubt because I'm trying much harder than before): the water beetle Rhantus suturalis, Lesser Stag Beetle Dorcus parallelipipedus and completely new for me, Mealworm Beetle Tenebrio molitor (the fourth was Cantharis cryptica).

Rhantus suturalis, North Elmham, 16th June

Lesser Stag Beetle Dorcus parallelipipedus, North Elmham, 16th June

Mealworm Beetle Tenebrio molitor, North Elmham, 16th June

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.

Another Luquetia lobella

Still catching up...

While I was at Brancaster on the night of 27th June my trap at home was pulling in the goods too.  It wasn't the warmest of nights and correspondingly not the best night, but still a few to note.  Probably the rarest was another Sloe Flat-body Luquetia lobella, hot on the heels of my first the previous night (pretty sure it wasn't the same individual, as I hadn't released that one until after I'd turned the trap off).

Sloe Flat-body Luquetia lobella, North Elmham, 27th June

Another 'second' was Buff Long-horn Nematopogon metaxella.  New for the year were Burdock Neb Metzneria lappella, Hawthorn Cosmet Blastodacna hellerella, Grey Tortrix Cnephasia stephensiana, Hoary Bell Eucosma cana, Barred Straw and Bordered White.

Bordered White, North Elmham, 27th June

Barred Straw, North Elmham, 27th June

Burdock Neb Metzneria lappella, North Elmham, 27th June

Hawthorn Cosmet Blastadacna hellerella, North Elmham, 27th June

Hoary Bell Eucosma cana, North Elmham, 27th June

Grey Tortrix Cnephasia stephensiana (male, gen det), North Elmham, 27th June

The others were Cork Moth Nemapogon cloacella, Cypress Tip Moth Argyresthia cupressella, 4 Hook-marked Straw Moths Agapeta hamana, 3 Large Fruit-tree Tortrices Archips podana, Light Grey Tortrix Cnephasia incertana, 3 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, 2 Marbled Orchard Tortrices Hedya nubiferana, Triple-blotched Bell Notocelia trimaculana, Garden Grass-veneer Chrysoteuchia culmella, Meadow Grey Scoparia pyralella, 2 Little Greys Eudonia lacustrata, Beautiful China-mark Nymphula stagnata, 6 Small Magpies Eurrhypara hortulata, Figure of Eighty, Dwarf Cream Wave, 2 Single-dotted Waves, Riband Wave, Sandy Carpet, 3 Clouded Borders, Brimstone Moth, Willow Beauty, Common White Wave, Clouded Silver, Light Emerald, Elephant Hawkmoth, 3 Buff-tips, Orange Footman, 4 Common Footmen, White Ermine, 16 Buff Ermines, 2 Cinnabars, 5 Heart and Clubs, 8 Heart and Darts, 2 Flames, Ingrailed Clay, 2 Double Square-spots, Bright-line Brown-eye, 4 Shoulder-striped Wainscots, 5 Brown Rustics, 2 Marbled Minors (gen det), 2 Middle-barred Minors, 3 Treble Lines, 10 Uncertains, 2 Mottled Rustics, 2 Burnished Brass, Spectacle, 2 Beautiful Hook-tips and 5 Straw Dots.

Light Grey Tortrix Cnephasia incertana (male, gen det), North Elmham, 27th June

Heart and Club, North Elmham, 27th June

Next day was better in number of species, though perhaps not in quality. Green Oak Tortrix Tortrix viridana, Bramble Shoot Moth Notocelia uddmanniana, Ermine Knot-horn Phycitodes binaevella, Common Emerald, Rustic and 4 Marbled White Spots were new for the year.

Green Oak Tortrix Tortrix viridana, North Elmham, 28th June

Marbled White Spot, North Elmham, 28th June

Common Emerald, North Elmham, 28th June

Bramble Shoot Moth Notocelia uddmanniana, North Elmham, 28th June

Other moths recorded that night were Diamond-back Moth Plutella xylostella, 2 Cinereous Groundlings Bryotropha terrella, 2 Large Fruit-tree Tortrices Archips podana, 3 Large Ivy Tortrices Lozotaenia forsterana, Barred Marble Celypha striana, 8 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Plum Tortrix Hedya pruniana, 2 Marbled Orchard Tortrices Hedya nubiferana, Woodland Marble Orthotaenia undulana, 3 Triple-blotched Bells Notocelia trimaculana, 3 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 5 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, Marsh Grey Eudonia pallida, 6 Little Greys Eudonia lacustrata, Small Grey Eudonia mercurella, Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiotata, Beautiful China-mark Nymphula stagnata, Small Magpie Eurrhypara hortulata, Fenland Pearl Anania perlucidalis, Bee Moth Aphomia sociella, Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla, Dwarf Cream Wave, Small Dusty Wave, 2 Single-dotted Waves, 2 Treble Brown Spots, 4 Riband Waves, Silver-ground Carpet, Garden Carpet, Yellow Shell, Sandy Carpet, Common Pug, Green Pug, Brimstone Moth, 6 Willow Beauties, Mottled Beauty, Common White Wave, Clouded Silver, Marbled Brown, 2 Buff-tips, Pale Tussock, 9 Common Footmen, 15 Buff Ermines, 2 Heart and Clubs, 7 Heart and Darts, 4 Flames, Flame Shoulder, Small Square-spot, 2 Double Square-spots, Lychnis, Common Wainscot, 3 Shoulder-striped Wainscots, 5 Brown Rustics, Small Angle Shades, 4 Dark Arches, 4 Middle-barred Minors, 7 Uncertains, 2 Mottled Rustics, Burnished Brass, 2 Spectacles, 4 Straw Dots, 4 Snouts and 4 Small Fan-foots.

Woodland Marble Orthtaenia undulana, North Elmham, 28th June

Fenland Pearl Anania perlucidalis, North Elmham, 28th June

Non-lepidopteran interest was maintained with this Common Green Caspid:

Common Green Caspid Lygocorus pabulinus, North Elmham, 28th June

The species count was a bit lower again next day but still four new for the year including one of my favourites, Barred Yellow.  The other three were Chequered Grass-veneer Catoptria falsella, Brown-line Bright-eye and Smoky Wainscot.

Barred Yellow, North Elmham, 29th June

Brown-line Bright-eye, North Elmham, 29th June

Smoky Wainscot, North Elmham, 29th June

Chequered Grass-veneer Catoptria falsella, North Elmham, 29th June

Also recorded were Case-bearing Clothes Moth Tinea pellionella (gen det), Hook-marked Straw Moth Agapeta hamana, Large Fruit-tree Tortrix Archips podana, 5 Large Ivy Tortrices Lozotaenia forsterana, Barred Marble Celypha striana, 5 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, 2 Plum Tortrices Hedya pruniana, Marbled Orchard Tortrix Hedya nubiferana, Bramble Shoot Moth Notocelia uddmanniana, 5 Triple-blotched Bells Notocelia trimaculana, Meadow Grey Scoparia pyralella, 6 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, Little Grey Eudonia lacustrata, Small Grey Eudonia mercurella, 4 Small Magpies Eurrhypara hortulata, Dwarf Cream Wave, 2 Single-dotted Waves, Treble Brown Spot, 3 Riband Waves, Common Carpet, Common Marbled Carpet, Common Pug, 2 Clouded Borders, Brimstone Moth, 2 Willow Beauties, Mottled Beauty, Pale Oak Beauty, Clouded Silver, Light Emerald, 4 Buff-tips, Four-dotted Footman, 2 Common Footmen, 17 Buff Ermines, 2 Cinnabars, 4 Heart and Clubs, 4 Heart and Darts, Flame, Flame Shoulder, 4 Double Square-spots, Bright-line Brown-eye, 2 Common Wainscots, 4 Shoulder-striped Wainscots, 10 Brown Rustics, 3 Middle-barred Minors, 2 Treble Lines, 8 Uncertains, 2 Mottled Rustics, 6 Burnished Brass, 2 Beautiful Hook-tips, 6 Straw Dots, Fan-foot and Small Fan-foot. 

Four-dotted Footman, North Elmham, 29th June

Bramble Shoot Moth Notocelia uddmanniana, North Elmham, 29th June