Review of 2019 and 2020 - Moths: Momphas (Momphidae), Dowds (Blastobasidae) and Owlets (Scythrididae)

MOMPHAS (MOMPHIDAE)


Buff Mompha Mompha ochraceella - Singles caught in the garden on 30th June and 5th July 2019 and on 6 dates between 22nd July and 11th July 2020.  A poor year and a good year, but neither quite my worst nor quite my best.


Marbled Mompha Mompha propinquella - One caught in the garden on 26th July 2019 and 4 between 17th July and 21st August 2020.  This species isn't quite annual here though I average over one a year - the 4 in 2020 was unprecedented.  This species frequently shows buff tones to the "white" head and thorax so this should not be taken as indicative of Rust-blotch Mompha Mompha lacteella and it's almost never pure white.  Possibly lacteella shows a deeper more clearly buff head and thorax compared with most propinquella but I suspect that the mantra that propinquella has a white head and thorax must lead to misidentifications of some as lacteella.  I gen det any examples with significant (and sometimes slight) buff tones head and thorax and I am yet to come across a real lacteella.

female Marbled Mompha Mompha propinquella, North Elmham, 17th July 2020

male Marbled Mompha Mompha propinquella, North Elmham, 4th August 2020

male Marbled Mompha Mompha propinquella, North Elmham, 18th August 2020

Scarce Mompha Mompha jurassicella - None.  One in my garden in 2018 is my only record of this species.


New Neat Mompha Mompha bradleyi - None.  I've never seen this species and until recently it never seemed particularly likely with very few Norfolk records.  However a few recent records in mid Norfolk gives me hope.  There's plenty of its foodplant along the railway here including at the meadows.


Garden Mompha Mompha subbistrigella - Only one record in 2019, an individual I found dead inside the house.  It hadn't been there before so I presume it was recently arrived on 7th June.  This is the nearest I've come to a blank year so far in North Elmham, averaging 2 a year, and 2020 was on average with singles trapped on 2nd and 17th June.  I've never seen Kentish Mompha Mompha sturnipennella and am never quite sure how obvious it will be when one appears, so I tend to gen det any but the freshest clearest examples of subbistrigella.

male Garden Mompha Mompha subbistrigella, North Elmham, 2nd June 2020

male Garden Mompha Mompha subbistrigella, North Elmham, 17th June 2020

Common Mompha Mompha epilobiella - Singles at home on 30th May and 14th August 2019 and 22nd July 2020.  2020 was my worst year here; 2 in a year isn't unusual but I had 10 in 2017.  Netted at the meadows on 4 dates (19th April 2019 and 3 dates in 2020).  Also one in Hellesdon on 14th July 2019.

Common Mompha Mompha epilobiella, Hellesdon, 15th July 2019

Common Mompha Mompha epilobiella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 2nd May 2020

Clouded Mompha Mompha langiella - None.  There are several rare or scarce species of Mompha that I haven't yet encountered but this is perhaps one of the more likely to appear here.  There aren't any recent records from this vice county but there are a few widespread recent records from the eastern half of the county.  Another possibility is Enchanters Mompha Mompha terminella, with plenty of recent records from east Norfolk and numerous mines found in the Brecks in 2020.


Little Mompha Mompha raschkiella - Singles here on 17th June and 26th August 2019 and 6th August and 15th September 2020.  I didn't record this species here in my first 2 years here but have now had 9 since 2017.  Elsewhere one at Weybourne on 5th July 2019, occupied leaf-mines in Rosebay Willowherb at the meadows on 8th September 2019 and 10th July 2020 and an adult there on 13th July 2020.

Little Mompha Mompha raschkiella, North Elmham, 17th June 2019

leaf-mine of Little Mompha Mompha raschkiella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 8th September 2019, and caterpillar that emerged from it on 11th September 2019

Little Mompha Mompha raschkiella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 13th July 2020

Little Mompha Mompha raschkiella, North Elmham, 6th August 2020

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DOWDS (BLASTOBASIDAE)


Dingly Dowd Blastobasis adustella - Recorded on 29 nights at home in 2019 which is slightly more than in previous years.  I didn't count them every night but the highest of those I did count was 23 on 23rd July.  In 2020 I caught 228 here over 35 nigthts between 16th July and 2nd September, the most I've ever recorded here.  Also recorded next door, at the meadows, in Hellesdon, Swanton Great Wood, Whitwell Street and Row Heath (West Runton).

Dingy Dowd Blastobasis adustella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 4th August 2019

London Dowd Blastobasis lacticolella - Totals of 29 in the garden trap between 2nd June and 24th November 2019 and 20 between 21st May and 12th November 2020, with records spread out and never more than 3 in a night.  2019 was my best year so far, although totals have been in the 20s for the last 4 years.  Elsewhere recorded at the meadows on 8 occasions, County School Station, Bintree Wood, Swanton Great Wood, Weybourne and on Mull.

London Dowd Blastobasis lacticolella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 21st May 2019

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ALDER SIGNAL (STRATHMOPODIDAE)


Alder Signal Stathmopoda pedella - None.  I have recorded this twice in the garden, in 2016 and 2017.

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OWLETS  (SCYTHRIDIDAE)


White-dusted Owlet Scytrhis picaepennis - One at Brancaster on 2nd July 2020, the first time I've ever seen this species and the 10th record for Norfolk.  There is one previous record from north-west Norfolk and a handful of records from the Brecks, all since 2013.

male White-dusted Owlet Scythris picaepennis, Brancaster, 2nd July 2020

Sorrel Owlet Scytrhis potentillella - None.  I've never seen this species but it's perhaps one of the more likely species to turn up locally?


Next page: Alucitidae plus

A distinctive new beetle, Anthocomus fasciatus

The night of Wednesday 9th May wasn't anywhere near as good as the previous night but there were a few nice things.  New moths for the year included Common Mompha Mompha epilobiella, 2 Currant Pugs and Pale Prominent.

Common Mompha Mompha epilobiella, North Elmham, 9th May

Currant Pug, North Elmham, 9th May

Pale Prominent, North Elmham, 9th May

Other moths were Hazel Slender Parornix devoniella, Little Ermel Swammerdamia pyrella, 2 Little Dwarfs Elachista canapennella, Many-plumed Moth Alucita hexadactyla, Chinese Character, 2 Common Pugs, Brindled Pug, Double-striped Pug, Purple Thorn, Waved Umber, Lesser Swallow Prominent, 3 Chocolate-tips, 3 Muslin Moths, Cinnabar, Clouded Drab, 2 Hebrew Characters and 2 Nut-tree Tussocks.

A few other nice bits and pieces in the trap including the caddisfly Rhyacophila dorsalis (not so common here - only 3 last year), Black Sexton Beetle, a very striking red-and-black Anthocomus fasciatus (a completely new species of beetle for me), the bug Harpocera thoracica (new for the year), the hoverfly Melanostoma scalare and the ant Lasius niger.

Rhyacophila dorsalis, North Elmham, 9th May

Anthocomus fasciatus, North Elmham, 9th May

Harpocera thoracica, North Elmham, 9th May

Next day I dropped something off at the allotments and found this Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet.

Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet (male, gen det), North Elmham allotments, 10th May

Not many moths in the trap that night: just Coxcomb Prominent, 3 Muslin Moths, Hebrew Character and Nut-tree Tussock.

Next day a Holly Blue was in the garden, and that night a Black Clock Beetle Pterostichus madidus on the ground by the moth trap.

Another Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet that night was new for the garden year list, as was a lovely Maiden's Blush.  Other moths were Hazel Slender Parornix devoniella, 2 Beech Midgets Phyllonorycter maestingella, 3 Little Dwarfs Elachista canapennella, Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana, 2 Bee Moths Aphomia sociella, Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla, 3 Common Pugs, Brindled Pug, Brimstone Moth, Coxcomb Prominent, Pale Prominent, Muslin Moth, Cinnabar, 2 Shuttle-shaped Darts and 2 Hebrew Characters.

Maiden's Blush, North Elmham, 11th May

There were 3 species of caddisfly: Mottled Sedge Glyphotaelius pellucidus, Limnephilus auricula and, new for the year, Micropterna lateralis. Other than that just Black Sexton Beetle and the hoverfly Platycheirus albimanus.

Micropterna lateralis (male), North Elmham, 11th May

December's moths and things

A Chestnut was the only moth on 1st December but the following evening produced 2 Winter Moths, Feathered Thorn and another Chestnut.  3 Winter Moths and a Mottled Umber on 3rd were followed by a couple of nil returns.  Another Winter Moth showed up on 6th accompanied by the caddisfly Limnephilus lunatus.

This spider appeared inside the house on 7th - so far I haven't been able to identify it as there seem to be a number of similar species.

unidentified spider, North Elmham, 7th December

A better showing on the night of 7th December: December Moth, 2 Winter Moths, Scarce Umber and 2 Mottled Umbers. Four species again the following night with Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana, Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis, Winter Moth and Mottled Umber. Nice to get a migrant (the Rusty-dot Pearl) in December!

Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana, North Elmham, 8th December

Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis, North Elmham, 8th December

Other insects that night included Common Earwig, another Limnephilus lunatus and this Rove Beetle which I cannot identify.  Any help welcome!

unidentified Rove Beetle, North Elmham, 8th December

A surprise on 9th December was by far my latest ever Narrow-winged Grey Eudonia angustea.  Apart from one in Cornwall in mid November my previous latest was 6th November, so over a month later than any I've recorded in Norfolk before.

Narrow-winged Grey Eudonia angustea, North Elmham, 9th December

A Mottled Umber was the only other moth that night, along with another Common Earwig and Limnephilus lunatus.  The following night produced Winter Moth, Mottled Umber and Chestnut, with just single Mottled Umbers the following two nights.  Next day I found a moth in the bathroom, presumably having come indoors the night before, or perhaps beforehand.  It proved to be a Common Cosmet Mompha epilobiella, only my second record at home this year.  Presumably it was trying to over-winter here.

Common Cosmet Mompha epilobiella, North Elmham, 13th December

That night there was another Mottled Umber and the bug Pinalitus cervinus.

Pinalitus cervinus, North Elmham, 13th December

The following night there were 2 Winter Moths and a Mottled Umber.  No moths on 15th but another Pinalitus cervinus.

Pinalitus cervinus, North Elmham, 15th December

A Mottled Umber on 16th and the caddisfly Limnephilus lunatus on 17th.  Winter Moth on 18th, Mottled Umber on 19th, nothing on 10th, 4 Winter Moths on 21st, nothing on 22nd and Winter Moth and Mottled Umber on 23rd.

Nothing on 24th or on the very mild but windy night of Christmas Day.  The ladybirds hibernating (or more accurately in winter dormancy - apparently insects don't actually hibernate in the strict sense of the word) in my study have noticed the change in temperatures though... some of them are going for little wanders now.

Small Dotted Buff and Gothic

22nd July wasn't such a good night with just Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana new for the year.

Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, North Elmham, 22nd July

 
Other stuff was 2 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, Gorse Crest Brachmia blandella, Barred Marble Celypha striana, Common Marble Celypha lacunana, 5 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, 6 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, Common Grass-veneer Agriphila tristella, 2 Little Greys Eudonia lacustrata, Beautiful China-mark Nymphula stagnata, Small Magpie Eurrhypara hortulata, 2 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Bee Moth Aphomia sociella, Drinker, Chinese Character, Buff Arches, 3 Small Fan-footed Waves, 7 Single-dotted Waves, Barred Straw, 4 Peppered Moths, 2 Willow Beauties, Common White Wave, Privet Hawkmoth, Pine Hawkmoth, Elephant Hawkmoth, Pebble Prominent, 2 Buff-tips, Yellow-tail, Dingy Footman, Scarce Footman, 31 Common Footmen, 8 Buff Ermines, 3 Heart and Darts, Shuttle-shaped Dart, Large Yellow Underwing, 5 Double Square-spots, Dot Moth, 6 Clays, Smoky Wainscot, 3 Dark Arches, 2 Common Rustics, Lesser Common Rustic, 22 Uncertains, 8 Rustics, Nut-tree Tussock, Spectacle and 3 Snouts.

23rd July was much better.  363 moths of 94 species including a macro lifer, albeit a fairly common species that I ought to have seen already: Small Dotted Buff.

Small Dotted Buff, North Elmham, 23rd July

A Gothic was only my second ever:

Gothic, North Elmham, 23rd July

New for the year were 2 Orange Crests Helcystogramma rufescens, Diamond-back Marble Eudemis profundana, Large Tabby Aglossa pinguinalis (in my study), Tawny Speckled Pug and Dusky Sallow.

Dusky Sallow, North Elmham, 23rd July

Tawny Speckled Pug, North Elmham, 23rd July

Diamond-back Marble Eudemis profundana, North Elmham, 23rd July

Orange Crests Helcystogramma rufescens, North Elmham, 23rd July - a typically marked one and a plainer then usual example

With 5 Least Carpets it's hard to imagine that until recently they were quite rare and until last year I had never seen one.

Other macros were 3 Pebble Hook-tips, 3 Chinese Characters, Lesser Cream Wave, 8 Small Fan-footed Waves, 10 Single-dotted Waves, 10 Riband Waves, Red Twin-spot Carpet, Common Carpet, V-Pug, Double-striped Pug, 5 Clouded Borders, Brimstone Moth, 3 Early Thorns, 3 Scalloped Oaks, 4 Peppered Moths, 3 Willow Beauties, 2 Common Waves, Clouded Silver, Poplar Hawkmoth, Elephant Hawkmoth, 2 Lesser Swallow Prominents, Swallow Prominent, Marbled Brown, 8 Yellow-tails, 6 Rosy Footmen, 8 Dingy Footmen, 4 Scarce Footmen, 49 Common Footmen, 3 Buff Ermines, 2 Ruby Tigers, Heart and Dart, 2 Large Yellow Underwings, 3 Nutmegs, 3 Dot Moths, 2 Bright-line Brown-eyes, Brown-line Bright-eye, 3 Clays, Smoky Wainscot, Sycamore, Brown Rustic, Dingy Shears, 3 Dun-bars, Lunar-spotted Pinion, 7 Dark Arches, Rufous Minor, 7 Common Rustics, 27 Uncertains, 4 Rustics, Nut-tree Tussock, Burnished Brass, Beautiful Hook-tip and 4 Snouts.

Lesser Cream Wave, North Elmham, 23rd July

Lunar-spotted Pinion, North Elmham, 23rd July

Brown-line Bright-eye, North Elmham, 23rd July

Other micros were 15 Bird-cherry Ermines Yponomeuta evonymella, Golden-brown Tubic Crassa unitella, Common Flat-body Agonopterix heracliana, 3 Cinereous Groundlings Bryotropha terrella, House Groundling Bryotropha domestica, Common Cosmet Mompha epilobiella, 2 Hook-marked Straw Moths Agapeta hamana, Cyclamen Tortrix Clepsis spectrana, Privet Tortrix Clepsis consimilana, Large Ivy Tortrix Lozotaenia forsterana, Red-barred Tortrix Ditula angustiorana, 2 Flax Tortrices Cnephasia asseclana, Cereal Tortrix Cnephasia pumicana, Maple Button Acleris forsskaleana, 3 Barred Marbles Celypha striana, Triangle-marked Roller Ancylis achatana, Summer Rose Bell Notocelia roborana, 12 Garden Grass-veneers Chrysoteuchia culmella, Grass-veneer Crambus pascuella, 52 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, Common Grass-veneer Agriphila tristella, 2 Pearl Grass-veneers Catoptria pinella, Chequered Grass-veneer Catoptria falsella, Common Grey Scoparia ambigualis, 3 Little Greys Eudonia lacustrata, 2 Small Greys Eudonia mercurella, Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiotata, 2 Beautiful China-marks Nymphula stagnata, 2 Small Magpies Eurrhypara hortulata, Elder Pearl Anania coronata, Dusky Pearl Udea prunalis, 6 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, Rosy Tabby Endotricha flammealis, Grey Knot-horn Acrobasis advenella and White Plume Pterophorus pentadactyla.

Cyclamen Tortrix Clepsis spectrana, North Elmham, 23rd July

Common Cosmet Mompha epilobiella, North Elmham, 23rd July

Summer Rose Bell Notocelia roborana (male, gen det), North Elmham, 23rd July

The night of 24th July was wet and windy so no surprise that there were few moths: Little Dwarf Elachista canapennella, Small Dingy Tubic Borkhausenia fuscescens, Barred Marble Celypha striana, 5 Pearl Veneers Agriphila straminella, Mother of Pearl Pleuroptya ruralis, Rosy Tabby Endotricha flammealis, Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla, Large Emerald, 2 Single-dotted Waves, Scalloped Oak, Swallow-tailed Moth, Yellow-tail, Dingy Footman, Scarce Footman, 3 Common Footmen, Buff Ermine, Large Yellow Underwing, Double Square-spot, Smoky Wainscot, 6 Uncertains and Rustic. 

Large Emerald, North Elmham, 24th July