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 bumper crop of new moths for the year

I found this Corn Moth Nemapogon granella in the house on Friday 25th May, the third consecutive year I've recorded this generally scarce species, all inside the house.

Corn Moth Nemapogon granella, North Elmham, 25th May

While I was out trapping at the Meadows I had the trap running in the garden, where during the course of the night I trapped exactly the same number of moth species as I'd caught at the Meadows, 61.  These included a notable total of 16 new for the year: Pale-backed Clothes Moth Monopis crocicapitella, 3 Bird’s-nest Moths Tinea trinotella, Buff Rush Case-bearer Coleophora caespititiella, Garden Mompha Mompha subbistrigella, Hedge Tortrix Isotrias rectifasciana, 3 Yellow-faced Bells Notocelia cynosbatella, Triple-blotched Bell Notocelia trimaculana, Narrow-winged Grey Eudonia angustea, 2 Silver-ground Carpets, Common Marbled Carpet, Broken-barred Carpet, Foxglove Pug, Grey Pug, Brown Silver-line, Setaceous Hebrew Character and Rustic Shoulder-knot.

Pale-backed Clothes Moth Monopis crocicapitella, North Elmham, 25th May

Bird's-nest Moth Tinea trinotella, North Elmham, 25th May

Buff Rush Case-bearer Coleophora caespititiella (female, gen det), North Elmham, 25th May

Garden Mompha Mompha subbistrigella, North Elmham, 25th May

Hedge Tortrix Isotrias rectifasciana, North Elmham, 25th May

Yellow-faced Bell Notocelia cynosbatella, North Elmham, 25th May

Triple-blotched Bell Notocelia trimaculana, North Elmham, 25th May

Common Marbled Carpet, North Elmham, 25th May

Broken-barred Carpet, North Elmham, 25th May

Foxglove Pug, North Elmham, 25th May

Grey Pug (male, gen det), North Elmham, 25th May

The other moths trapped were Little Dwarf Elachista canapennella, 2 White-shouldered House Moths Endrosis sarcitrella, Light Brown Apple-moth Epiphyas postvittana, Common Birch Bell Epinotia immundana, Hook-streak Grass-veneer Crambus lathoniellus, Garden Pebble Evergestis forficalis, 3 Bee Moths Aphomia sociella, 2 Common Swifts, Red Twin-spot Carpet, 2 Green Carpets, Small Rivulet, Mottled Pug, 8 Common Pugs, Brimstone Moth, Common White Wave, Poplar Hawk-moth, Pale Tussock, 3 White Ermines, Cinnabar, Small Square-spot, Common Wainscot and 5 Treble Lines.

Two caddisfly species were new for the year too: Ithytrichia lamellaris and Hydropsyche pellucidula.  The only other caddis was Limnephilus sparsus.

Ithytrichia lamellaris (female), North Elmham, 25th May

Hydropsyche pellucidula (female), North Elmham, 25th May

A Common Wasp was the only other by-catch I identified.

Cydia ulicetana - garden first

When I got home from Row Heath it wasn't far off time to go through the moth trap at home.  The biggest surprise was a moth that's abundant around gorse but which hadn't made it to my garden before: Grey Gorse Piercer Cydia ulicetana.

Others new for the year here were Hedge Shade Isotrias rectifasciana, Woodland Marble Orthotaenia undulana, Figure of Eighty, Clay Triple-lines, Purple Bar, Common White Wave, Small Square-spot, Middle-barred Minor and Small Fan-foot (plus the Mayfly Green Drake Ephemera danica).

Hedge Shades Isotrias rectifasciana, North Elmham, 27th May

Woodland Marble Orthotaenia undulana, North Elmham, 27th May

Figure of Eighty, North Elmham, 27th May

Clay Triple-lines, North Elmham, 27th May

Purple Bar, North Elmham, 27th May

Small Square-spot, North Elmham, 27th May

A late Tufted Button Acleris cristana was unexpected - and it looked like it had been out too long!

Tufted Button Acleris cristana, North Elmham, 27th May

Other moths were Dark-barred Tortrix Syndemis musculana, 3 Light Brown Apple Moths Epiphyas postvittana, 6 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Yellow-faced Bell Notocelia cynosbatella, 2 Triple-blotched Bells Notocelia trimaculana, 2 Hook-streaked Grass-Veneers Crambus lathoniellus, 3 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis, Small Magpie Anania hortulata, Blood-vein, 3 Silver-ground Carpets, 2 Common Carpets, Common Marbled Carpet, Broken-barred Carpet, 2 Green Carpets, 8 Common Pugs, Clouded Border, Brown Silver-line, Peppered Moth, Pale Oak Beauty, 5 Light Emeralds, Coxcomb Prominent, Buff-tip, 2 Pale Tussocks, Orange Footman, 5 White Ermines, 2 Buff Ermines, Cinnabar, Heart and Dart, 2 Shuttle-shaped Darts, Light Brocade, 2 Rustic Shoulder-knots, 3 Brown Rustics, Clouded-bordered Brindle, 5 Treble Lines and 3 Straw Dots.  Also the caddisfly Glyphotaelius pellucidus.

Light Brocade, North Elmham, 27th May

Next day Dave and I headed up to Salthouse Heath to search for Large Red-belted (and Yellow-legged) Clearwings using pheronome lures.  We drew a total blank unfortunately, but saw a few other moths: probable Bridge Roller Ancylis uncella, >200 Grey Gorse Piercers Cydia ulicetana, Small Rivulet and 2 Brown Silver-lines.

At home this Garden Cosmet Mompha subbistrigella was inside the house, new for the year.

Garden Cosmet Mompha subbistrigella, North Elmham, 27th May

Also during the day there was a Chalk Knot-horn Phycitodes maritima in the garden.  Next post will cover the night's moth trap contents.

A visit from an Emperor

On Tuesday 11th Slender Groundhopper, Orange-tip butterfly and Common Green Shieldbug were all found in the garden during the day, all new for the year here.

Slender Groundhopper, North Elmham, 11th April

Common Green Shieldbug, North Elmham, 11th April

A Red Fox crossed the road in front of me in Hellesdon in the evening but there were very few moths in the trap overnight: Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla, Muslin Moth and 3 Hebrew Characters.

The Norfolk Moth Survey spring meeting took place on the evening of Wednesday 12th and Matthew Casey found this Garden Cosmet Mompha subbistrigella in the building.  At home there was just Muslin Moth and 5 Hebrew Characters, along with Black Sexton Beetle and the ichneumon wasp Ophion obscuratus.

Garden Cosmet Mompha subbistrigella, Mangreen Hall, 12th April

While eating lunch in the garden on Thursday 13th I saw a small moth flying and hand-caught it - turned out to be a Red Hazel Midget Phyllonorycter nicellii - my first ever!

Red Hazel Midget Phyllonorycter nicelli (male, gen det), North Elmham, 12th April

I'd bought an Emperor Moth lure at the Norfolk Moth Survey event and tried it out at home.  If I put it in the garden at the recommended height I wasn't going to be around long enough to see if it attracted any moths so instead I placed it by the window of my upstairs study.  I've never seen Emperor here and wasn't sure if they are anywhere close by, and I was placing the lure far too high, so I wasn't really expecting a result.  I glimpsed something flash by a couple of times but wasn't sure what I'd seen then after a bit longer a superb Emperor Moth appeared.  It vanished immediately but it or another soon returned.  I still failed to get a photo but lovely to see and great to get it on the house list.

That evening there were only 4 moths in the moth trap: Little Dwarf Elachista canapennella, 2 Hebrew Characters and Early Grey.  The Elachista was new for the year.  Also a Common Earwig and another Ophion obscuratus.

Little Dwarf Elachista canapennella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 13th April

Butterflies seen at Barton Broad on Good Friday included Orange-tips, Brimstones, Peacock and Small Tortoiseshells.  Also my first Dark-edged Bee-fly for the year.  That evening there was just one moth in the trap, a Hebrew Character, plus a Shoulder Stripe on the outside of the trap.  Saturday night was only slightly better with 5 Hebrew Characters, Early Grey and my first Angle Shades here this year.

Angle Shades, North Elmham, 15th April

On Easter Sunday night Powdered Quaker was new for the night.  Others were Muslin Moth, Common Quaker and 12 Hebrew Characters.

Powdered Quaker, North Elmham, 16th April

Next day Dave pointed out this Ashy Mining Bee at Bittering and I found a new species of hoverfly in the garden, Melanostoma scalare.

Ashy Mining Bee, Bittering, 17th April

Melanostoma scalare, North Elmham, 17th April

The moth trap that night produced just Muslin Moth, 3 Hebrew Characters, Early Grey and this Silpha atrata.

Silpha atrata, North Elmham, 17th April

There wasn't a single moth in the trap on the night of 18th April - unusual to get a nil return this late into the season. Next day a Large Red Dameslfly was taking advantage of the sunshine in the garden, a Stoat was seen at Ryburgh.  The moth trap only contained three species but one of those was a Mullein, new for the year and only my fourth ever.  Also 9 Hebrew Characters, Early Grey, Common Earwig and Black Sexton Beetle.

Mullein, North Elmham, 19th April

As usual there are lots of Early Purple Orchids growing along the roadside verge at Rawhall Wood.

Early Purple Orchid, Rawhall Wood, 19th April