Review of 2019 and 2020 - Moths: Tortrix Moths (Tortricidae) (Part 11: Bells and Shoots III (Notocelia to Rhayacionia))

TORTRIX MOTHS (TORTRICIDAE) (continued)


Yellow-faced Bell Notocelia cynosbatella - 14 in the garden between 22nd May and 6th June 2019 and 12 between 8th May and 2nd June 2020, both a bit below average.  Elsewhere one at the meadows in 2019 and one at Frost's Common in 2020.

Yellow-faced Bell Notocelia cynosbatelle, North Elmham, 22nd May 2019

Yellow-faced Bell Notocelia cynosbatelle, North Elmham, 8th May 2020

Bramble Shoot Notocelia uddmanniana - 7 in the garden between 24th June and 6th July 2019 and 6 between 13th June and 2nd July 2020, which are about average.  Elsewhere 2 at the meadows and singles at Bintree Wood, Whitwell Street (on the later date of 3rd September 2020) and Weybourne.

Bramble Shoot Notocelia uddmanniana, North Elmham Cathedtral Meadows, 7th July 2019

Bramble Shoot Notocelia uddmanniana, Bintree Wood, 13th June 2020

Summer Rose Bell Notocelia roborana - One trapped in the garden on 23rd July 2019 and 3 between 18th June and 30th July 2020.  I average 3 a year and 2019 was the first year I only caught one.  I used to get them at my previous house in Bawdeswell too but so far I've never found one anywhere else.

Summer Rose Bell Notocelia roborana, North Elmham, 23rd July 2019

Summer Rose Bell Notocelia roborana, North Elmham, 18th June 2020

Common Rose Bell Notocelia rosaecolona - None.  I've not found this species anywhere yet but it's fairly widespread, if a little scarce, so wouldn't be very surprising round here.  Some WhatsApp discussion about this species' identification in 2020 made me realise I had misremembered or somehow got confused about one of the characters and it's therefore possible that I've overlooked one or two in the past.  There are one or two "trimaculana" that I've photographed which in hindsight I wish I'd retained to check, although I think they probably are just trimaculana.


Triple-blotched Bell Notocelia trimaculana - Totals of 16 here between 24th May and 29th June 2019 and 13 between 19th May and 5th July 2020, my worst years for them (they average 26 a year).  Also recorded at the meadows and in Keswick.

Triple-blotched Bell Notocelia trimaculana, North Elmham, 24th June 2019

male Triple-blotched Bell Notocelia trimaculana, North Elmham, 20th May 2020

male Triple-blotched Bell Notocelia trimaculana, North Elmham, 26th May 2020

Dark Pine Shoot Pseudococcyx posticana - None.  I've never seen this species but it seems to be quite widespread in Norfolk, if thin on the ground.


Pine Bud Moth Pseudococcyx turionella - None.  I've not found this species locally but there's no reason why it shouldn't occur round here.


Pine Leaf-mining Moth Clavigesta purdeyi - One in the garden trap on 26th July 2020, the 4th year in 6 that I've seen it here.  None here in 2019 but one in next door's garden on 8th August.  Also one at Swanton Great Wood on 27th August 2019 and one at Bintree Wood on 24th July 2020.  Stunning little moths.

Pine Leaf-mining Moth Clavigesta purdeyi, North Elmham, 8th August 2019

Pine Leaf-mining Moth Clavigesta purdeyi, Swanton Great Wood, 27th August 2019

Pine Leaf-mining Moth Clavigesta purdeyi, Swanton Great Wood, 26th July 2020

Pine Shoot Rhyacionia buoliana - None.  I am yet to find this species anywhere but it's pretty widespread so probably occurs round here somewhere.


Orange-spotted Shoot Rhyacionia pinicolana - One caught in the garden on 25th July 2019, my third record here (2 together in 2016, one in 2018).  Also one at Swanton Great Wood on 27th August.  None in 2020.

Orange-spotted Shoot Rhyacionia pinicolana, North Elmham, 25th July 2019

Spotted Shoot Rhyacionia pinivorana - One in the garden moth trap on 18th May 2020 was only my second here and first since 2015.  The only one I found in 2019 was at Carsaig on Mull on 11th June and it turned out to be a new moth for the island!  Apparently there was an old record for the vice county that didn't specify the location - odds are that was on Mull too but that can't be assumed.  Actually I was a bit disappointed because I had been hoping mine would turn out to be an Elgin Shoot Rhyacionia logaea, a species that I've never seen but does occur on Mull, but perhaps I should be satisfied enough that it was a useful 'first' record anyway.  Also one at Hills and Holes on 21st May 2020.

male Spotted Shoot Rhyacionia pinivorana, Carsaig, 11th June 2019 - the first for Mull

Spotted Shoot Rhyacionia pinivorana, North Elmham, 18th May 2020

Next page: more Tortricidae

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.

Black-headed Gold

On the night of 12th May there were three new moths for the year at home: Brown House Moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella, Common Marble Celypha lacunana and 2 Yellow-faced Bells Notocelia cynosbatella. Not a great deal else: Little Dwarf Elachista canapennella, Many-plumed Moth Alucita hexadactyla, 2 Red Twin-spot Carpets, Common Pug, Scalloped Hazel, 3 Muslin Moths and Hebrew Character.

Yellow-faced Bell Notocelia cynosbatella, North Elmham 12th May

Common Marble Celypha lacunana, North Elmham 12th May

Brown House Moth Hoffmanophila pseudospretella, North Elmham 12th May

There was also a Common Earwig and this Garden Snail, my first this year.

Garden Snail, North Elmham 12th May

Next day at Ryburgh I found a female (unfeathered) Feathered Bright Incurvaria masculella and what seems to be another Phyllobius maculicornis.

Feathered Bright Incurvaria masculella, Ryburgh, 13th May

Phyllobius maculicornis, Ryburgh, 13th May

That evening I went to a concert at Snape so wasn't at home.  I put the trap on anyway and checked it the following afternoon on returning home - don't know how much more I would have found if I'd checked it earlier in the morning but there were just five moths left: Peppered Moth was new for the year, and Green Carpet, Shuttle-shaped Dart, Flame Shoulder and Nutmeg.  Also the caddisfly Limnephilus auricula.  I did at least see a Common Lizard at Aldeburgh in the morning.

On Sunday afternoon I found a few moths at Ryburgh: 4 Plain Golds Micropterix calthella, Meadow Long-horn Cauchas rufimitrella, 5 Common Nettle-taps Anthophila fabriciana and Cocksfoot Moth Glyphipterix simpliciella.  Beetles included one of the pollen beetles Meligethes sp. and Byturus ochraceus.

Byturus ochraceus, Ryburgh, 13th May

After this I moved on to Whitwell Common where butterflies were represented by Small Copper and Red Admiral.  Among the many Plain Golds Micropterix calthella (over 100) I found at least 3 Black-headed Golds Micropterix mansutella, a new species for me.  Sadly the sun was going in by the time I reached the spot where Dave had seen Red-barred Gold Micropterix tunbergella which would have been another lifer for me.

Black-headed Gold Micropterix mansutella, Whitwell Common, 14th May

Other moths were Long-streak Midget Phyllonorycter salicicolella, 3 Vetch Piercers Grapholita jungiella, Common Grey Scoparia ambigualis, 2 Green Carpets and 2 Rivulets.

Long-streak Midget Phyllonorycter salicicolella, Whitwell Common, 14th May

Vetch Piercer Grapholita jungiella, Whitwell Common, 14th May

Common Grey Scoparia ambigualis, Whitwell Common, 14th May

Rivulet, Whitwell Common, 14th May

Beetles included a Rove Beetle Tachyporus sp. (I can't figure out how to reliably identify these to species level except using a very complex key to the arrangement of the tiny hairs on the elytra which I could barely see under the microscope) and another one that was surprisingly challenging to identify to species level (though I think I got there in the end): Malthodes marginatus.

Tachyporus sp., Whitwell Common, 14th May

Mathodes marginatus, Whitwell Common, 14th May

That night Coxcomb Prominent, Least Black Arches and Treble Lines were new for the year here, with Red Twin-spot Carpet, Green Carpet, 4 Muslin Moths and Flame Shoulder.

Coxcomb Prominent, North Elmham, 14th May

Least Black Arches, North Elmham, 14th May

Treble Lines, North Elmham, 14th May

Diamond-back invasion

I should imagine most of my readers will be aware that we are amidst an impressive invasion of migrant Diamond-back Moths Plutella xylostella.  These have been the dominant species in my moth trap over the last few nights.  It started last Sunday night, though I only saw one that night.  A pale indidivual, as many have been this invasion.

Diamond-back Moth Plutella xylostella, North Elmham, 29th May

The best moth on Sunday night was this Dark Spectacle.

Dark Spectacle, North Elmham, 29th May

Also new for the year were Heart and Dart and Tawny Marbled Minor.

Tawny Marbled Minor (male, gen det), North Elmham, 29th May

Heart and Dart, North Elmham, 29th May

Other moths on Sunday night were Yellow-faced Bell Notocelia cynosbatella, Common Swift, Silver-ground Carpet, 2 Common Pugs, Scalloped Hazel, Poplar Hawkmoth, Coxcomb Prominent, 5 White Ermines, Cinnabar, 2 Shuttle-shaped Darts, 4 Flame Shoulders, Light Brocade, Angle Shades and 6 Treble Lines.

Yellow-faced Bell Notocelia cynosbatella, North Elmham, 29th May

Glyphotaelius pellucidus and Limnephilus auricula were the only Caddisflies.

On Monday night Lime Hawkmoth was new for the house and Clouded Silver new for the year.

Lime Hawkmoth, North Elmham, 30th May

Clouded Silver, North Elmham, 30th May

Not many other moths but 11 Diamond-back Moths Plutella xylostella, Brindled Flat-body Agonopterix arenella, Cinnabar, 2 Shuttle-shaped Darts, 2 Flame Shoulders and Treble Lines. Two hoverflies in the trap both proved to be species I'd not identified before (though common): Eupeodes corollae and Syrphus torvus.

Eupeodes corollae, North Elmham, 30th May

Syrphus torvus, North Elmham, 30th May

By far the most dominant feature of Tuesday night was an impressive 135 Diamond-back Moths Plutella xylostella, my peak count up to the time of writing.

Diamond-back Moths Plutella xylostella, North Elmham, 31st May

They weren't the only migrants - this Silver Y sneaked in too.

Silver Y, North Elmham, 31st May

A Vine's Rustic was new for the year but the only other moths were Brimstone Moth and 5 Treble Lines.  Also a caddisfly Limnephilus auricula.

Vine's Rustic, North Elmham, 31st May

A quick look round the garden on Wednesday evening got me White Oak Midget Phyllonorycter harrisella, new for the house, and Common Marble Celypha lacunana, new for the year here.

White Oak Midget Phyllonorycter harrisella, North Elmham, 1st June

In and around the trap that night there was a slight reduction to 120 Diamond-back Moths Plutella xylostella.  The only other moths were Narrow-winged Grey Eudonia angustea, 2 Common Swifts, Poplar Hawkmoth, Muslin Moth, 2 Flame Shoulders and 5 Treble Lines. This Mayfly, a Pond Olive Cloeon dipterum was new for the year, one of the few Mayflies I had identified prior to this year.

Pond Olive Cloeon dipterum, North Elmham, 1st June

If you're a Snail and there's a big Snail in the way, what do you do?  Go round it?  Nope, you go over it.  This Kentish Snail (I think) walked straight over the top of a Garden Snail.  Also 2 Strawberry Snails and Brown-lipped Snails in the garden.

Kentish Snail (I think) walking all over a Garden Snail, North Elmham, 1st June

Thursday night produced 63 Diamond-back Moths Plutella xylostella, White-shouldered House Moth Endrosis sarcitrella, Common Marble Celypha lacunana, Common Swift, 2 Garden Carpets, Common Marbled Carpet, Green Carpet, Poplar Hawkmoth, 3 Flame Shoulders, Clouded-bordered Brindle, 4 Treble Lines, Silver Y, Cockchafer and antoher Eupeodes corollae (Hoverfly).

Garden Carpet and Common Marbled Carpet, North Elmham, 2nd June

Clouded-bordered Brindle, North Elmham, 2nd June

There will be more to say about Diamond-backs in a post covering Saturday when I didn't catch so many in the trap but saw 10s if not 100s of 1000s in the field.